Kaieteur News

Online readership yesterday 100,181

January 29, 2013 - Vol. 6 No. 05 - Price $80

Email: kaieteurnews@yahoo.com Online: http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Brassington seeks $204M compensation for Linden building Digicel's “Mash Fit Camp” With Republic Day (Mashramani) less than a month away, Telecommunications giant “Digicel” is making sure that Guyanese are fit and ready for “Mash”.

GDF dispatches Mazaruni River crash… $1M demanded team to investigate Speed, no life jackets from Brazilians for ganja-smoking increased death toll remains of Mazaruni soldiers at Cuyuni - Transport Minister accident victim Sugar industry gets lifeline …

EU extends Guyana’s quota system to 2020

Page 2

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Chinese celebrate with New Year’s fair, 160 years of arrival - 2013 is Year of the Snake After waiting for some four hours for the arrival of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, the Chinese New Year 2013 fair began with scores of families turning out expecting an amazing event. Many were not disappointed.

The event coincided with the 160 years of the arrival of Chinese in Guyana. It was held Sunday at the National Park.

The official Chinese New Year begins on February 10, 2013 and is the Year of the Snake. According to Chinese astrology, the associated colour for water is black, so 2013 is the Year of the Black Water Snake.

The event was graced by members of the Cabinet, the Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman, Members of Parliament and Chinese officials and diplomats.

The event featured acts

from Chinese performers, the National School of Dance, the Indian dance group, and a fashion show by designer Sonia Noel.

President of the Chinese Association to Guyana, Chow Shoo Long, said that over the years Chinese have made Guyana their home becoming business owners, lawyers, doctors and upstanding members of society.

“We have become a part of the Guyanese society; we are contributing to the development of Guyana.” He said. Underscoring that the first President of Guyana was Arthur Chung who was a Chinese, Long said Chinese people are hard working and want to live in peace and harmony with others.

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Zhang Limin, said that in approximately two weeks it would be the Chinese New Year spring festival.

He explained that like Christmas in the Western world, the spring festival is the most important to the Chinese. This signifies the blossoming of flowers in the world and a new beginning.

“At this fair, guests can

sample snacks. Be part of the traditional practice, witness performance and enjoy…

Chinese and Guyanese share the same air, work hard and realize their dreams and live in peace and harmony.”

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds thanked the Chinese for a supportive and mutually beneficial relationship throughout the years. In addition, he said the fair should be an annual event.

“Guyana/China relations have grown over the past 40 years with diplomatic relations between the two countries. This transformed our relationship into a more dynamic, comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership that encompasses corporation in a wide spectrum of spheres.”

Underscoring China’s economic growth over the past three decades, the Prime Minister said the twenty century was a period of marvelous achievements for the Chinese people and government.

“In the area of investment Guyana remains committed to creating a favourable climate for economic growth and for attracting investment

One of the many scenes at the event between Guyana and China to further harness the potential of economic relationship…we welcome

the introduction of Chinese businesses investing in the industrial sector and consolidation of

An acrobatic display

ventures and expansion of joint partnerships with the local private sector,” The Prime Minister said.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 3

Sugar industry gets lifeline …

EU extends Guyana’s quota system to 2020

By Leonard Gildarie Guyana’s ailing sugar industry, faced with more worries over a 2015 deadline that would see the end of an era of sugar quotas to Europe’s lucrative market, has been given a major boost with news that its quota has been extended to 2020.

Last Wednesday’s vote by the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, to extend the sugar quotas will help to ensure fair, stable and reasonable remunerative European Union (EU) sugar market prices to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States.

In 2006, EU decided to end the quota system by 2015 as pressure grew by beet and other players in the sweeteners’ industry for a liberalization of the market.

Guyana has an annual sugar quota of 190,000 tonnes to the EU, a demand that has been hard to meet.

According to the ACP Group in a statement, it has been calling for the long term predictability with continued preference assured to them by tariff barriers and robust mechanism for EU sugar market management.

EU has extended the 2015 deadline to end its sugar quota system to 2020.

“Several ACP/LDC (least developed countries) suppliers wish to continue to export raw cane sugar for refining. The ACP is therefore also calling for conditions which can support a viable EU sugar refining industry to provide a dedicated entry to the EU market and to maintain a plurality of potential buyers for EPA/EBA sugar.”

The ACP Sugar Group said that it recently mounted a strong lobbying action at the political and diplomatic levels and is pleased that the results so far have been positive.

Chairman of the ACP Sugar Subcommittee, Guyana’s Ambassador Patrick Gomes, said, “This is indeed a positive development but we have a long way to go. I seek the support of the European Parliament and the European Council as the final decision is taken on this critical issue.

The Committee reportedly voted 32-11 against the 2015 ending of the quota.

There has been anger from the soft drinks and other sweets company in the EU at the decision of the committee

to extend the quota system.

Reportedly Kraft and other companies like Kellogg and Coca Cola have all been blaming the quota system for high sugar prices there.

Sugar prices have risen in the last two years especially with as much •700 being paid per tonne. There was a sugar supply shortfall of almost three million tonnes last year.

Sugar exports had become one of the biggest earners for Guyana but fell over the years as costs mounted, the work force dwindled and infrastructure became harder

to maintain.

A US$200M investment in a brand new factory at Skeldon that was supposed to increase production as part of a larger sugar “turnaround” plan has not worked that well; as there are still a number of issues being corrected at the facility. While it has done better last year, rains and a delay to bring more lands under cultivation too hampered production and this fell way below the projected figures last year.

Several estates had also closed as part of a consolidation programme to reduce costs.

Large swaths of land were also sold for housing.

A US$12M packaging plant at Enmore has also been commissioned to help bring more cash to the industry but the industry has been battling against rains to meet the quota and this has suffered to an extent. Guyana has been hoping to sell more of its packaged sugar within the region.

Last December, during a critical meeting of the sugar committee, Guyana’s Foreign Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues, had expressed concern that the EU financial assistance to help sugar-producing

Guyana Ambassador to EU, Patrick Gomes countries prepare for the freeing up of the market in 2015 had been scaled down for 2012 and 2013.

Following its staggered 38 per cent price cut to the ACP/LDC countries, EU has been assisting Guyana with a number of projects to help reduce the impact of the revenue losses.

With the sugar industry employing over 16,000 persons, government has been insisting that it will not turn its back on the industry, despite the hardships.

Page 4

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Criminal-minded law enforcers Guyana, by virtue of its natural resources, has attracted a wave of people from foreign lands because these people have the technology to exploit these resources, technology that we lack in Guyana. We have been panning for gold for as long as we can remember. When the first wave of foreigners came at our invitation to help exploit the gold; they came from the Caribbean shores, mainly from St Lucia and St Vincent. They came equipped to undertake the backbreaking work.

These people made their wealth and most of them settled.

The hinterland communities of Bartica, Mahdia, Ekereku, Imbaimadai and Kurupung bear testimony to the impact these people made. They are populated by the offspring of these islanders.

Today, there is a new generation of foreigners; they come from Brazil and from those parts of Africa where the search of gold is not dissimilar from the search in Guyana.

The Brazilians came with sophisticated equipment that allows for exploration in areas previously considered inaccessible and they have been remarkably successful. So successful has been their exploration that the amount of gold produced is Guyana has all but equaled the production figures during the days of the Omai Gold Mines—a large open pit gold mining operation.

The Brazilians are also settling in the same way the St Lucians and other Caribbean nationals are. They, however, are concentrating in the city where they have established businesses that include hotels and eating houses that cater to Brazilian tastes. They have brought their culture.

Yet the success of the Brazilians does not come without a cost to them. They have been the targets of armed criminals and more recently, people professing to be members of the law enforcement agencies. They have been shaken down, and sometimes killed. In cases where they have fought back the end result has been nothing less than frustrating to them.

Recently, there was a report that some of them pursued and killed two policemen. The policemen had actually robbed their mining camps. There were arrests but then the suspects have had to be released. It transpires that one of the policemen was posted to the hinterland after he was found to have been involved in a corrupt transaction on the coast while a serving member of the Guyana Police Force. This was because the authorities felt that punishing an errant policeman meant posting him to the hinterland. A hinterland posting for these policemen is a blessing in disguise.

Now there is another event, this time featuring members of the army. They have reportedly raided a Brazilian mining camp while fully armed and of robbing the people. This is an embarrassment to law enforcement in Guyana; it highlights the extent of corruption in the society. It is not often that a member of the law enforcement agencies would barefacedly engage in criminal activities.

For this to happen, the officers in charge must be in collusion.

This was the case when some soldiers took a young man off a boat at Parika and killed him after they had robbed him. The abduction of this man was done in full view of members of the travelling public.

We had policemen who effected a robbery getting captured by an equally corrupt group who was more interested in taking control of the stolen loot. Fortunately all these people have been arrested. Quite common, too, are the reports of shakedowns. A Brazilian died in the recent boat collision in the Mazaruni River.

The Brazilians say that the decomposed body is now no good because the police refused to cooperate with its transportation unless they were paid a substantial sum.

This recent case of ranks of the army openly robbing Brazilians is ugly. The army says it will do something about this. This effort should see the culprits not only being kicked out of the ranks they should also be jailed for an extended period.

People who take an oath to serve and to protect deserve a harsher punishment than the ordinary criminal. They are the people who conspire to tarnish the image of the law enforcement entities and consequently, the image of the entire country.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

A pathetic display from a government that enjoys excessive executive powers DEAR EDITOR, The PPP does not seem to have a sense of time and place, nor does it seem to understand the serious implications of its actions.

Walking out of Parliament is a pathetic and dangerous constitutional step for any elected government to take.

By walking out of Parliament, the PPP is confirming it does not respect the role of the legislature, although the very Burnham constitution the PPP so vigorously defends now after belittling it from 1980 to 1992, references the role of the legislature.

In any event, a legislature is a key facet of any democratic state, whether it has a functioning or valid constitution or not. Walking out conveys weakness, cowardice and disrespect.

Imagine a party with incredible executive power choosing to walk out of

Parliament. No matter how upset and peeved the PPP was about the proceedings, it had a moral duty as the other arm of the state (the executive) to at least remain in Parliament and register its complaints.

In walking out, the PPP, with its Cabinet sitting in Parliament, has actually strengthened the argument for separation of powers to keep the executive out of Parliament. Further, in its departure from the Parliamentary sitting, the PPP acted like the opposition has acted for the past 20 years, despite the fact that the PPP is in power. That exudes weakness and exposes the PPP’s many contradictions in its use of power since November 2011.

Despite its hold on extreme executive powers, the PPP continues to mistreat the legislature, which was elected by the free and fair voting of

the populace.

I suspect the PPP has decided this is their new strategy - to suddenly walk out of the legislature. But to walk out over a mundane matter of setting up a heritage commission - something that will benefit the entire nation is dumbness at its best.

It is clear that these socalled leaders have no appreciation of the moment and are incapable of making the right decisions in the right circumstances. The PPP may be testing a new strategy here of trying to seek political pity from adopting a victimized stance, but this will backfire.

Nobody respects an elected government, minority or not, walking away from Parliament, particularly in Guyana, where even some PPP supporters see the new dispensation in Parliament as a good, redemptive thing for the country.

The PPP continues to

stumble from one blunder to another. With their own internal polls showing a precipitous decline from the high 40s to the low 40s in national voter support and the Amerindians likely to make a mass exodus from the PPP in light of the recent court case on Amerindian lands, this is a party that could fall from power tomorrow if an election is held. The only saving grace for the PPP is the PNC is unlikely to capture any of those Amerindian voters who will leave the PPP, but the PPP is on the brink right now and it continues to walk ever closer to the edge.

From alienating its core supporters from voting in their own party elections to mistreating Amerindians with an Amerindian Act now exposed as a dagger in the back - the PPP is in its final throes.

M. Maxwell

DEAR EDITOR, It is so sad when a country’s people seem forever at loggerheads, largely because of the difference in the texture of their hair and their culture patterns. A Government walkout seems to indicate severe internal disagreements, no doubt leaving the nation on edge, perhaps wondering ‘what next’?

It came as a shock to learn that Guyana now has five

separate holidays annually, based on race and religion and “the Amerindians have their own month of celebrations”.

It seems to me that this emphasises division and not cohesion.

What has happened to the principle of ”One People, one Nation, one Destiny”? We seem to be a nation of contradictions.

Incidentally, what a fine collection of letters in your column recently. Provides mental stimulation and

causes one to reach for the thinking cap. (I would like to see more input from women, from their perspective).

The most recent to grip my attention was the one about ‘taking a village to raise a child’. I agree with the principle, but do not much care for the sound of the Berbician village where children “were lucky to be whipped by the neighbour or stranger for wrongful acts”, some of them perhaps perceived as wrongful by the

self-appointed substitute parents, but really childish naughtiness we were all guilty of when growing up, because we knew no better.

No villager, no stranger, would have been allowed to hit my child; no one allowed to chastise, whip (slap or box) him and then.......”inform me.....” I certainly would NOT then “put an additional whipping on” my child - I would tell that person off in no uncertain terms and take Continued on page 5

We seem to be a nation of contradictions

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 5

Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news

We need to create a reading revolution DEAR EDITOR, It took me a long time to come up with the courage to express these thoughts about an essential pursuit that I am convinced will genuinely make this nation develop, mature, progress, advance and stand tall among others—reading.

I travelled throughout London in buses, trains and sat in the parks from time to time, and on every occasion I found people reading a book.

I am well aware of the benefits these people derive from such practice.

Reading sharpens the mind. Reading helps to develop your thinking.

Reading strengthens your memory. Reading inspires and motivates you to positive action. Reading makes you see things that you never saw before. Reading puts you ahead of others and places you in advantageous positions.

I know of instances where several young people [adults] go to work every day in a company bus, travelling for over an hour, every morning, and all they do is look around from the window where they are seated to see who is passing by. It never crossed their mind that they could be reading an inspiring book based on real life.

Many years ago I served my community as a local librarian. Many adults would come to the library and borrow books while others would seek to purchase. In those days [1970s] there were no cell phones around and

internet services to take up people’s time; rather, reading was the culture of the young and old.

Men took pleasure in reading, whether it was a James Hadley Chase special, an Agatha Christie mystery or a J.T. Edson western. Some people would read biographies, while others would lose themselves in Harold or Denise Robbins novels, a James Baldwin or a recent Mills and Boon classic.

Sometime last year I spoke to a young man whom I knew was preparing to write his CSEC exams. I asked him one question – How is your reading? Without thinking, he answered, “I Texting!”

Now this answer speaks volumes of the state or culture that has taken over our future generation.

There must be something we can do as a Nation to revive and restore the culture of reading and make Guyanese and Caribbean people readers once more.

When people read, their thinking capacity is enhanced, and such practice prepares them to comprehend and face the many issues and challenges that lie ahead of them.

We need to create a reading revolution across continents, showcasing Guyana with a book that is regarded as a gripping and inspiring story of life, highlighting areas of lifechanging experiences that would move the reader to heights beyond the natural mode of income and lift them

From page 4 positive action if repeated.

I found myself bristling.

Those ‘chastisers’ could have been perverts, sadists, bullies, who took a delight in punishing the weak and defenceless.

As a child of 9 years, sent to the shop to make purchases for an elderly neighbour while my mother was out, and neglecting my normal chores in the meantime, that woman stood by, without saying a word, when my mother, on her return, whipped the living daylights out of me for not working.

Perhaps she underestimated my mother’s anger and capacity for punishment and was taken by surprise.

But I knew my mother was always scared of her and, as usual, became tongue-tied.

I never forgave that neighbour, although she ‘made overtures’, and have had strong feelings ever since about violence towards children.

I think every child needs

unconditional love and careful training from an early age in the home.

Then the child should know how to behave outside the home. That is my belief and we brought up our son in that tradition.

We let him know why we insisted on certain rules being observed and talked every major domestic decision through with him beforehand.

It seems to have paid off.

He now does voluntary work in his community and is popular with residents, his MP and the bureaucrats so involved.

H o w e v e r, it is gratifying to note that efforts are now being made to protect the rights of children in that Berbice community and that ”today, you can’t ........put a whipping on a child for wrongdoing, because you are likely to get into trouble for child abuse, or corporal punishment, etc.”. Amen to that.

Geralda Dennison

We seem to be a ...

to unlimited potential of prosperity unimaginable, thus bringing them into a new, exciting and exhilarating reality of a changed mindset.

A book they will never want out of their sight.

A revolution in their reading appetite should be created. Such book should be distributed free to schools, communities, and institutions for single families or where disabled persons abide.

Reading is the epicentre of a nation’s development, progress and maturity. Twice

within a ten-year period [1992 to 2002] I volunteered my services to two schools to do a session [45 minutes]. At a primary school located on Church Road [Middle Walk], Buxton, East Coast Demerara, I taught the children to read poetry. The poem I wrote for the children brought first prize at a national or regional function in that time and season. [Reading of poetry helps to quicken and sharpen the memory] Again in 2008/9, during both years our church

managed a program for young people to write and read their poems at the National Library and offered awards for their efforts.

As a writer and publisher for over thirty years I have been making presentations of books that I have written over the years to organizations and persons from different walks of life. My vision for 2013 is to continue to do the same, as many people who need to read sometimes cannot afford to go into a book store and purchase one.

My greatest satisfaction in not in making a fortune in selling my books, but in receiving a phone call every now and then from conscientious readers who would compliment me on the book they just read, and ask when is the next book due.

These calls would come from as far as Nigeria, Africa; Athens, Greece; Jamaica, Suriname, United States of America, Canada or London.

Apostle Vanrick Beresford Senior Pastor

Page 6

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news...

The majority prefer men with Is this deliberate hypocrisy, or is it that horsepower than men on top of the horse our leaders genuinely don’t understand?

DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Lionel Lowe (KN Jun 27) penned that he would always recommend that people take the man on horseback (meaning PNC) over the men with the horsepower (meaning PPP) to govern Guyana.

I don’t think anyone would quarrel with Mr. Lowe about his description of the pervasive nature of corruption in our homeland under both regimes, but none of the politicians have made a serious effort to reduce much less eliminate it. Not even the AFC, the party that is supposed to be the conscience of the nation.

Almost all of the politicians just want to take charge of the state so they then can fill their pockets.

Less than a majority of our population subscribe to

the view held by Lowe that the men who “rode us” to poverty were better than the men who are stealing today.

A few teachers were chatted about our experiences of governance in Guyana in Bushwick on Sunday. His view would reflect those of the majority of Guyanese. He condemned both (PPP and PNC) governments for poor governance. He described one as thieving everything, showing no progress in the nation, starving people to death, and causing them to leave for foreign shores. He described the other one as taking something, giving a little to people, and doing something productive with the rest.

Under one regime, there was no progress and mass starvation. Under the other regime, you can see progress

even though they are thieving.

Under the dictatorship, you would have been killed if you spoke up or your head would be buried in filthy drains (ask Nokta about his experiences under the dictatorship). Under the other government, you can say or write whatever you want.

A colleague of mine said he would prefer the latter anytime over the former. The one with the horsepower will take you somewhere, whereas the one on top of the horse will forever ride you and you won’t get past your grave. Or maybe you will get to America or Canada. In that sense it is positive, because one can get to migrate to Canada or New York where Lowe enjoys a healthy life.

And if one goes by numbers, most people would back my colleague and not Lionel Lowe. Only about 40% of the population support the men on horses while in democratic elections in 1957 thru 64 and from 1992 thru 2011, the majority supported the men with the horsepower to drive society forward.

Vishnu Bisram

DEAR EDITOR Congratulations for your editorial article “Culture Karma” on the 18th January 2013. You have touched many important points of which our leaders ought to take note.

But will they?

The history of the 1823 slave rebellion should be accurately recorded both academically (books) and physically (monuments).

The monument ought to be sited where the incident actually took place. It’s a history future generations of that community can be proud of, and benefit economically from the spinoffs generated guided tours etc.

To u r i s m i n G u y a n a should not be exclusively about our rainforest. “The cultural GENESIS of the country must have its REVELATION through the written words (Books); the n a t u r a l f l o r a / fauna; the mountains and waterfalls our Victorian city architecture; and our man-made inscribed monuments/sights”.

Every aspect of our country must be showcased

in ways that help to fuel the economy if we are really serious about tourism.

For example;There are three canals in Guyana worthy of “world heritage” recognition, and as such need protection from destruction. They are the no.1 and no.2 canals on the West Bank of the Demerara River, and the no.3 (better known as Mocha Canal) on the East Bank. These canals were hand-dug by s l a v e s . P r e s e n t l y, t h e Mocha Canal is seriously threatened with soil erosion due to the housebuilding activities taking place along its bank.

Our Culture Minister was duly informed by recorded letter almost two years ago (sent by the Mocha-Arcadia Community Association) of the imminent danger of destruction of this historic heritage site that should be protected.

To date we are still awaiting a reply. That letter was carbon-copied to those toothless organizations, the “Guyana Heritage Society” and the “Guyana National

Trust”.

It is ironic that on one hand we are building a monument to commemorate the struggle of the slaves, and on the other hand we are allowing the destruction of an historic legacy left by those very slaves.

Is this deliberate hypocrisy, or is it that our leaders genuinely do not understand what cultural historical gem of a legacy this country has inherited and it should not only be jealously protected but should be economically exploited?

Just take a look at the British with their Tower of London, Israel with its concentration camps, Egypt with its Pyramids/ P h a r a o h To m b s ; G h a n a with its Cape Coast slave castles.

Those historical sites are now “cash cows” to those countries’ economies. It’s time Guyana wakes up and not only protects and preserves its historic past, but takes advantage of the economic boost these legacies present.

Trenton Daniels

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 7

GDF dispatches team to investigate High court trial ganja-smoking soldiers at Cuyuni for rape accused The Guyana Defence Force is in the process of dispatching an investigative team, headed by a Lieutenant Colonel and Guyana Police Force ranks to the Cuyuni district to investigate allegations that some rogue soldiers raided the mining operations there and relieved miners of various amounts of raw gold.

The allegations were carried in an article in the Monday edition of Kaieteur News in which a local miner claimed that five soldiers from the GDF base at Eteringbang carried out the act.

The GDF in a press release yesterday stated that it “acknowledges the report in the Kaieteur News dated Monday January 28, 2013. The COS has already started to speak to miners in the area and will dispatch an investigative team headed by a Lieutenant Colonel and Guyana Police Force ranks immediately to the area.”

According to the local miner, on Friday last, the ranks landed at the Julian Ross Landing, Devils’ Hole, Cuyuni and appeared to have one purpose in their minds-

Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best —banditry.

“They did not come with any police, no Immigration, no GGMC personnel,” the miner told Kaieteur News.

He said that upon arrival at the landing, the soldiers confronted some small time drug pushers, seizing their drugs, which they consumed in the full view of the public.

This high seemed to spur the soldiers on to greater heights, for they began harassing persons including women, who voiced their objection to their actions.

The miner related that the soldiers became even more determined to carry out their mission, and they managed to force the owner of an allterrain vehicle to transport them to an area where several Brazilian mining operations are taking place.

There they allegedly relieved several camps of raw gold before making their way back to their camp.

The local miner yesterday informed this newspaper that he did make contact with Commodore Gary Best and he was assured that no effort would be spared to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The GDF in its statement is calling on the mining community to cooperate with its investigators so that it can get to the bottom of the allegations.

“The GDF wishes to categorically state that any GDF ranks found culpable of this dastardly act will face the full brunt of Court Martial Proceedings or the Civil Law. Further, the Guyana Defence Force intends to ask for the

maximum penalty for anyone found guilty.”

The GDF is assuring miners of all nationalities that soldiers are not authorized to conduct any mining operations except with the permission of the Chief Mining Officer.

However, the GDF said that no such mining operations are currently authorized.

“In this regard the mining community is advised that the Force will not tolerate its ranks committing offences and wishes to assure all miners that there must be no fear of recrimination by anyone in the Force.

Any suggestion of recrimination by any serving rank must also be reported and those involved will also face the full brunt of the law. “ This is a very serious matter and it will have the full rigor of our investigations,” the army statement said, adding that the GDF is committed to making the mining community a safe zone so our citizens and international investors can ply their trade peacefully.”

Nandram Nandan, 39, a mechanic from Lot 70 D Field, North Sophia has been committed to stand trial in the High court. Nandan is facing a carnal knowledge charge after it was alleged that he had raped an underage female relative. The charge read that on April 21 2011, Nandan had carnal knowledge of a female under the age of 15 years old.

He was not required to plead to the charge.

Facts of the case state that on Phagwah day, 2011 the child and her parents went to the Sophia residence of the accused to engage in the sacred celebrations. In the heat of the Holi festivity, the teen told police investigators that she was pulled into a

bathroom located in the yard, where Nandan forcefully had sexual intercourse with her.

The ruling was passed by Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday.

Defense Counsel Bernard De Santos made a no case submission at the close of the Preliminary Inquiry. His submission was responded to

by Prosecutor Neville Jeffers.

However the Magistrate in her decree to the court stated that a prima facie case had been made out against the accused.

Hence, Nandan was committed to stand trial in the High Court at the next practical sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes.

Page 8

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 9

MAKE SQUATTING A CRIMINAL OFFENCE Regardless of who is the owner of a property, regardless of whether or not there is a dispute over ownership of a property, no one has a right to be squatting on another land.

In other areas, squatters have set up permanent residence on the banks of major canals, posing a threat to health and to effective drainage. The affected are forced to sell their properties at next to nothing.

Take a walk through Tiger Bay and you will be horrified.

There are many properties which were leveled by fire many years ago. Those properties are now occupied by squatters. How is anyone going to remove them?

The government has spent millions to give lots to those who were living in poor conditions in that area. It is not clear whether those who were given lots are the same persons who are still living in these squalid conditions, but if they are they should be asked to return the house lots and any other help that the taxpayers of this country

provided.

If they are not, then it means that those persons who are unlawfully occupying private property should be encouraged to remove. There are obviously lawful means to have these persons removed but this means taking court action and given the sloth in the courts, this process will take an eternity.

As such, if the authorities are keen on maintaining law and order, they have to ensure that there is an efficient system of law and order to prevent the lawlessness that is taking place whereby persons can simply go onto your property and occupy it and you have a difficult time to get them out.

This should not be allowed and laws should be passed that would make squatting and trespassing criminal offences.

In London, consideration is being given to making squatting a criminal offence as it is in Scotland. Unless this is done, there is going to be a great many problems. A major

Dem boys seh...

Brazzy try a hustle and get ketch Brazzy try fuh hustle de Linden Commissioners. He hear that dem paying compensation and he tun up fuh claim $204 million in compensation. He plan was to collect de money and hide it away. Before he guh before de commission he call Bharrat.

Like any good money man Bharrat tell he that he got to mek a claim; then he can keep de money in NICIL till de Bees ready fuh it. When he go to de Commission and he mek de claim, dem commissioner ask he if he mad. One commissioner ask he who gun pay de money. Another one ask he wheh de money going.

Brazzy tell dem that de government paying de money and he smile. He think he was smart. Is when de commissioner ask he if he mad, that he jump –well not really jump because he can’t get off de ground.

De Commissioner tell he that claiming de money is like tekking from Peter to give to Peter. Imagine de government tekking its own money to give to Brazzy to give back to de government. Dem boys seh that it was alright except that by de time de money reach back to de government it woulda short.

And all this happen when Donald gone to Chile. De President find that de capital mek Guyana look like a garbage heap. Dem got a subway but people can’t vex that Guyana ain’t got none. De mud can’t tek a tunnel but de place got lights all de time, everybody wukking and dem restaurant always attracting people which mean that money deh round.

Dem boys seh that when he went he was deciding to invite some of dem world leaders but he change he mind because when he call Bharrat and ask he if some of dem could stay at he house Bharrat seh that dem got to pay. When world leaders get invite to another country dem don’t pay.

Bar Bee seh that he house got medicine store in three of de bedrooms and Donald know that State House still got to get clean up because of de rat smell in de place.

Food would never be a problem but fuh ask some of dem restaurant to prepare fuh all dem people after dem had to do a lot of preparation de other day fuh Bharrat birthday party is a task.

He tell some of de leaders that he gun invite dem when de Marriott finish but dem boys seh that the hotel might never finish because de government ain’t announce who is de private people who put in dem money.

However, is only time before de whole story come out.

Talk half and wait fuh de news.

private investment was lost many years ago when a man planning to establish a major hotel discovered that a squatter had moved onto his property.

The investor simply abandoned the idea.

Many poor persons are also affected by squatting.

Squatting in many parts of the country has turned neighborhoods into eyesores and many have been forced to move before the situation gets worse and they lose all that they have invested in their properties.

If the government has an enterprising housing drive, it should not be regularizing squatting. It should simply deem squatting criminal and allow the law to take its course.

The government has already expressed its concern over the unlawful squatting that is taking place on public lands. Many years ago, most of the areas north of the East

Coast Public Road were reserved for the protection of the sea defenses.

A great many of these lands were over time occupied by persons and the authorities were forced to regularize these areas, with the result that today there is limited space for holding ponds to help drain the Coast.

Should there be a breakaway of the seawall, there is no place for the sea water before it gets to the traditional housing areas.

The complaint is often made that persons who are squatting have nowhere to go. Well, they must have been somewhere before they ended up squatting and there is no reason why they should not return to where they used to be.

There is also often the charge that they are not receiving government house lots. With the declared number of lots that have been distributed in Guyana, every

single Guyanese family should have by now received a house lot from the government.

That all have not, suggests that persons who are not entitled are receiving.

These are excuses that are often made about squatting and whenever the demolition squads descend on squatters, there is always a huge outcry about the injustice being done.

But what about the injustice that squatters commit when they act unlawfully. What about the rights to legitimate home owners which are affected whenever someone unauthorized moves onto someone else’s land.

Consider the investment that person would have made and still cannot have uses of their property because someone decided that they should go there.

The government has begun to take action. They

have passed legislation prohibiting persons who are squatting on state lands from gaining prescriptive rights.

But this law does not apply to private lands and there is a need for a system to be put in place to make squatting a criminal offence so that legitimate property owners are not unduly frustrated by the actions of the lawless.

At the same time, the poor will be encouraged to squat when they notice influential persons being allowed to occupy state reserves.

Unless therefore that the government ensures that the rich are also constrained in occupying state reserves, the task of limiting squatting by the poor will be more difficult.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

=== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ===

Speaker Trotman’s dress code and his barricades On Friday afternoon, while at the Kaieteur News offices, I received a call from the current chairman of the People’s Parliament, Leonard Craig, that he was being prevented from entering the National Assembly to observe the proceedings. He said that security complained about the clothes he was wearing.

This was strange because just minutes earlier we had lunch with some friends so I knew what Craig was wearing – a white shirt with blue jeans.

I journeyed down to the House where I enquired about the treatment of Craig.

It turned out that the enforcer was not the security officials but a telephone operator. She said that she knows the dress code drafted by the Speaker and it excludes blue jeans, not jeans in general but blue jeans (I was wearing black jeans at the time which is what I testified with in court earlier in the day in my Jagdeo libel trial.)

There were three security personnel at the entrance, two of whom said that they were only there because Parliament was in session. The other gentleman was a permanent security official

employed by the National Assembly. His outfit was exactly what the bellboy wore in the Italian hotel Jack Lemmon stayed at in the film “Avanti!” It was sartorial incongruity.

All three security personnel deferred to the telephone operator. I rejected the presence of the telephone operator on the basis that she was not authorized in any way to enforce the dress code and that the House had other employees who were more familiar with that aspect of the administration of Parliament.

Craig and I demanded to see a copy of the dress code.

The four persons at the entrance of Parliament Building bluntly told us that copies of the clothes requirement were in print.

A stand-off ensued because Craig and I were not moving until we saw the printed document. Unknown to us, the telephone operator summoned the superintendent of police in charge of total security for the parliamentary estate including buildings and lawns. He pleaded ignorance of the dress code but said he will accept the telephone operator’s edict. He then told

Craig he cannot enter until Parliament takes a recess and that he will summon the Sergeant at Arms.

Lady Luck appeared. We saw Khemraj Ramjattan on the balcony and told him what they did to Craig. Ramjattan said they cannot stop Craig because there are persons sitting right at the moment in Parliament who were wearing blue jeans.

Now brace yourself for a strange piece of human misbehaviour.

The superintendent drew me aside and told me not to relay to Ramjattan that it is him that was preventing Craig from entering.

I went right up to his face and said; “I will tell Ramjattan it is you because it is you who are stopping the guy from entering.”

The superintendent said to Craig, “Come, come; come go in.”

Brace yourself for more nonsense. As Craig and the superintendent stepped onto the entrance, the telephone operator took over again and literally talked down to the man in charge of parliamentary security.

Throughout Craig’s ordeal the woman was quoting the Speaker all the time making

one believe that Speaker Trotman had empowered this woman.

I herby direct a question to Speaker Trotman; “Does this woman have the authority she arrogates to herself?”

Craig and I will pen a joint letter requesting to see Trotman’s dress code. I don’t know if Trotman has a dress code but if he has and it prevents blue jeans wearers from entering Parliament, then he is wrong.

The behaviour in the House is so unbecoming that it would not be insulting to say such a dog kennel should not have a dress code.

Leonard Craig was so

amused by the absurdity he was caught in that he was no longer interested in observing Parliament in action. We stepped across to DEMICO to enjoy some Malta. DEMICO was ringed by barricades one of which a policeman had to move to let us in.

We witnessed a worker leaving DEMICO but the policeman told him he cannot take his cycle with him because no one can ride a cycle when Parliament is in session. He told the policeman he would push it but was still refused. The bottom line was that he had to leave without his cycle.

Craig and I would have none

Frederick Kissoon of it.

We demanded he let the man push his bicycle. The poor policeman pointed to Inspector Wilson who was giving the orders. We let the man take his bicycle through the barricades and we went over to Wilson to explain how wrong his instructions were.

Brassington seeks $204M compensation for Linden building …commissioners see it as “taking from Peter to give to Peter”

By Abena Rockcliffe Executive Director of the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) Winston Brassington yesterday appeared before members of the Linden Commission of Inquiry (COI) seeking compensation to the tune of over $204M for the destruction of what was described as an “old beat-up building.” Ye s t e r d a y ’s resumption of the COI into the July 18 shooting of protesters at Linden and the events that followed was focused on hearings of victims affected so that the commission may or may not recommend compensation by the Government of Guyana.

The members of the Commission of the Inquiry are Justice Lensley Wolfe O.J., Mr. K.D. Knight S.C, Ms. Dana Seetahal S.C. along with Guyana’s former Court of Appeal Judge, Claudette Singh, CCH, and Justice Cecil Kennard, CCH, a former Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana.

During the afternoon session, commissioners dealt with Ulric Cameron, Lindener and victim of the shooting, and Winston Brassington who was there representing

NICIL’s building which was destroyed. Brassington told the Commission that NICIL is seeking compensation of $204.7M to replace the building that housed the Linden’s arm of NICIL and several other businesses.

He provided a breakdown of how he arrived of 204.7M as he attached cost to every section of the building, such as the drawing room and washrooms.

However, Attorney at Law representing Lindeners, Basil Williams, told the commission that he fails to understand why Brassington is requesting so much for “one of the oldest buildings in the world.”

Williams said that the building stood since the colonial time and was “merely fire wood.”

While the Commissioners had a different issue with Brassington’s request, members unanimously failed to understand why a government-owned company would seek reimbursement from the said government.

“It is like taking from Peter to give Peter - that is absurd,” said Commissioner K.D Knights. Knights, from the outset, told Brassington that he sees no point in embarking on an exercise that will be futile based on the fact that it makes no sense to let the

government pay the government.

However, Brassington sought to explain that NICIL is not government-owned. He said that the government is a shareholder. Brassington told the Commissioners that he worked “long enough” in the corporate world to know that shareholders don’t own a company.

Similarly, he said, the government has significant shares in NICIL but does not own it. Brassington told the Commission that NICIL’s staffers are paid “only” from the revenue of the company and not from the consolidated fund.

Further, he noted that NICIL expends monies from the consolidated fund on a special appropriation that must be approved by the National Assembly.

Brassington, upon a request for clarification, told the Commission that NICIL is not constituted by an Act of parliament but it is stateowned. However, Williams was adamant when he told the Commission that NICIL is fully controlled by the Government of Guyana.

He said that NICIL has been entrusted with many of Government properties and land. “I am saying and I know this for sure that company holds the assets of government. So once again, the question was asked, “Why would the government want to pay itself?”

With no response there, Knights asked who else would pay this money if not the government. At this point the once fluent Brassington started to stutter. “I, I, I don’t know that will have to be determined.”

He was asked to make available to the Commission of Inquiry a copy of the agreement made between NICIL and the Government.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Page 13

Kaieteur News

Banks DIH modernizes after record profits - Reis

By Leon Suseran Chairman of Banks DIH Limited, Clifford Reis, has stated that the company is undergoing a modernization like no other time in its history. This announcement was made at the company’s 18th Berbice Shareholders’ reception at Peter D’Aguiar Street, Banks Tarmac, New Amsterdam on Sunday.

This modernization, he stated, includes a new pasteurizer, a new equipment for the soft drink plant, a new water well—up to 400 gallons per minute—and soon 800 gallons per minute, a new ice-cream plant, a new boiler, new generators, etc.

Reis added, too, that the company is heading sharply towards more automation, meaning that the machinery is doing the brunt of the work, with just a handful of human labour overseeing these operations.

He, however, stated that the company has never seen the need to lay-off any employee since that was not required in the “family company”, rather workers were moved to other areas in the business.

“You have guys sit down with laptops and this machine produced Coca

Cola and Sprite—fills the bottles to the perfect height and the speed it comes off with, the humans just cannot compete with it”, he noted.

A new brew house, fully automated, will be operational within 6 weeks and will enable the company to produce more than 400,000 cases of beer per month—900 bottles per minute or 42, 43 cases per minute!”

T h e c o m p a n y, t h e Chairman said, is also becoming more and more self-sufficient in terms of its basic operational r e q u i r e m e n t s — w a t e r, electricity, etc. The company is producing 4.4 Megawatts of power, and another 1.7MW will be added shortly.

“We do not depend on anyone beyond the fence of Banks and we produce energy cheaper than GPL”, he stated, to loud applause from the gathering.

Banks DIH was once asked to manage Guyana Power & Light Inc (GPL)…”that’s a long story”, he stated jokingly.

“Your company has taken these decisions to make sure that we fulfill the dreams of our shareholders and investors”. In another

The attractive local biscuit/cracker line of products made in Guyana year, a brand-new fleet of vehicles will be added.

New Amsterdam will benefit from a spanking new Citizen’s Bank branch. “We have completed 80 per cent of the approval to build this new bank up here – and we hope that it will finish within 15 months and you will have your own bank—a replica of what the Head Office looks like because what we want to do is to brand the bank just

like we brand Coca Cola and Banks Beer”.

“The soft drink industry is doing well; the brewery industry is doing well; even Guinness Stout has shown an increase of 25 per cent.”

For the first time in the history of the Caribbean, he said, Banks DIH sold 93,000 cases of Guinness in December, surpassing the 56,000 cases it sold during the year. The company

recorded more successes. In December, the company sold more than 1 million units of cases of products…Never in the history of this company have we done that!”

He praised his Berbice Operations manager, Mr Reginald ‘Reggie’ Matthews, for selling more than $2B… “a fantastic number and he not only sold it—but thanks to the consumers who drank it— $2B is not an easy

number—Reggie sold 1.4M units of products (a 14 per cent increase)...We are talking about 24 billion bottles of products.”

Berbice Manager, Mr Matthews praised the c o m p a n y ’s p r u d e n t environmental practice capability of having a new fleet of trucks. More recently a forklift that works with propane gas [no fumes] was added to the fleet. “We are not only making profits, but we are respecting the environment”.

The New Amsterdam ‘Qik Serv’ Restaurant has increased its sales in spite of competition right around it, selling $90.5M, an increase of 13 per cent over the previous year. Sales are on the increase for the local restaurant chain, ne noted.

“We remain number one when it comes to cleanliness and service!” Export sales through Berbice also generated revenue of $22M. Banks DIH recorded $4B profit in 2011compared to $3.081B in 2010, an increase of $955M or 31 percent. The company’s net profit increased from $1.362B in 2010 to $1.934B in 2011 reflecting an increase of $572.0M or 42 per cent.

Page 14

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Local CSIs learn from French experts

The crime scene management capabilities of the Guyana Police Force will receive a shot in the arm at the completion of a oneweek training programme for crime scene investigators (CSI).

The training programme commenced yesterday at the Police Officers mess and is being facilitated by the inter-ministerial centre for anti drug training (CIFAD), a French organization based in Martinique.

More than 20 detectives from police locations across the country are benefitting from the training, which will certainly go a far way in

developing the necessary skills for crime scene investigations.

And with Guyana set to launch its first national forensic laboratory in the not too distant future, crime scene investigation will certainly take on a greater role hence the need for extensive training of ranks.

Deputy Crime Chief Winston Cosbert explained that training is never too much and this type of training will definitely enhance what the local police already know.

“Crime scene training is very, very important for the investigator because of what is being done at the scene of

French CSI trainers (sitting) pose for a photograph with participants of the training programme. Also in photos are Deputy Crime Chief Winston Cosbert (sitting centre), Force Training Officer, Senior Superintendent Paul Williams (third right) and Superintendent Phillip Azore of the police forensic laboratory. a crime. The scene is an important part, that is where the crime has been committed and that evidence has to be properly collected and packaged, then presented as part of the case.

This course here is very important to us because it will…also show us best practice of international standards,” Assistant Commissioner Cosbert told

this newspaper. Crime scene investigation is the meeting point of science, logic and law.

Processing a crime scene is a long, tedious process that involves purposeful documentation of the conditions at the scene and the collection of any physical evidence that could possibly illuminate what happened and point to who did it.

Police officers are typically the first to arrive at a crime scene and they are responsible for securing the scene so no evidence is destroyed.Over the years the Guyana Police Force has benefitted from training by US, British and Canadian law enforcement experts and according to Cosbert, the organization welcomes the involvement of the French in

this area.

“This is just part of an ongoing training programme for the Guyana Police Force; it was offered to us and we are taking it on board,” the Deputy Crime Chief stated.

Based in Fort-de-France, Martinique, CIFAD’s mission is to organize in the Caribbean and Latin America, extremely sensitive training seminars for Law enforcement.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 15

Kissoon continues to detail reasons for calling Jagdeo ‘ideological racist’ Kaieteur News columnist and former University of Guyana lecturer, Frederick Kissoon yesterday continued to explain in detail, reasons for calling former President Bharrat Jagdeo an ‘Ideological racist’. The columnist, with the use of research material said to have been gathered over two years of study, continued to present before Justice Brassington Reynolds, at the High Court, results that are based mainly on state institutions which play pivotal roles in the governance of the country.

Led by his Counsel, Nigel Hughes, Kissoon spoke on findings from studies conducted at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), the Critchlow Labour College, Education Ministry and the Guyana Water Authority.

Along with National Media and Publishing Company, Publisher of Kaieteur News, and Editor-inChief Adam Harris, Kissoon is being sued for over $10M, after Jagdeo sued for libel reported to have been in one of Kissoon’s 2010 articles.

Kissoon said that his research showed that at GPHC, at least 22 professional positions; from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to the Chief Surgeon, were taken

away from Afro-Guyanese and refilled with IndoGuyanese. He said other health institutions where similar moves were made, included the Jagan Dental School which is a public entity.

The former lecturer recalled that he had done voluntary work at the Critchlow Labour College in 1990, a time when he said his classroom consisted of mainly Afro-Guyanese. The school, he said, was being funded by a government grant, but since the appointment of the plaintiff into office, that grant had been withdrawn.

Kissoon claimed that he based his conclusions on his historical knowledge. He said that these things never occurred under any other president, including the Jagans. The grant, Kissoon said, has never been restored, despite this institution offering a second chance to students who did not succeed at the mainstream CXC examinations.

In relation to the Education Ministry, Kissoon zeroed in that Ms Genevieve Whyte-Nedd who acted as Chief Executive Officer for five years, and retired without being confirmed as the Chief Education Officer. (This

Kaieteur Columnist Fredrick Kissoon meant that she lost half of her service benefits.)

Kissoon said that in the case of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), a similar victim was Ingrid Griffith who acted twice in the capacity of Trade Commissioner, being bypassed for the confirmation of the position, and being replaced by an Indo-Guyanese Colonel from the GDF, despite, Griffith working at the institution for over 20-years.

Who can challenge the Government on behalf of the Guyana Cricket Board?

- by D’Andra Lewars, Norman Manley Law School I’m a part of a club that cannot sue in law, can I bring a case as its representative?

This was the question before the Caribbean Court of Justice in the appeal case taken by Robin Singh and Rajendra Singh against the Attorney General of Guyana in 2012.

In an earlier decision, Chief Justice Ian Chang had stated that the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and its affiliates were not capable of suing or being sued under the law.

This, the Chief Justice said, made GCB a ‘legal non-entity’. The Chief Justice then went on to suggest that the Ministry of Sport in Guyana take control of national cricket administration in place of the GCB. The Ministry accepted the Chief Justice’s suggestion and took steps to implement it.

Trustees of GCB, however, applied to the Court as representatives of GCB to quash the Ministry’s

decision to control the national administration of cricket.

The Chief Justice heard the application by the trustees and decided that the trustees had no power to bring a case on behalf of GCB to challenge the acts of the Government.

The trustees appealed to the Full Court of Guyana. The Full Court agreed with the Chief Justice and also stated that the Full Court had no power to give leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Finally, at the Court of Appeal the trustees were told that the Court had ‘no jurisdiction to hear the matter’.

The trustees appealed to the CCJ. The Judges of the CCJ first looked at the Guyana Constitution before interpreting any further law.

As a result of their approach of holding the Constitution supreme, they resolved the problems by asking: How should an application to the Court, by representatives of an association, to stop the government from taking some

action adverse to the interests of the association, be dealt with considering (1) the nature of the application (2) the nature of the order and (3) the Constitution?

This question is crucial as the decision by the Ministry potentially affects the property rights and rights of the association of members of GCB. The CCJ recognized that such actions which affected constitutional rights demand that there be the right to appeal to a higher Court.

According to the CCJ: “The seeking of such a public law remedy to prevent alleged unlawful abuse of public powers is of such significance in the light of G u y a n a ’s Constitution that an appeal lies as of right to the Court of Appeal.”

Therefore, the trustees should have a p p e a l e d directly to the Court of Appeal rather than the Full Court. In order to rectify this procedural error, the CCJ gave the trustees an extension of time to appeal to the Guyanese Court of Appeal.

Kissoon argued that no Indo Guyanese was ever prosecuted when fraud was discovered in the government departments. In terms of the Guyana Water Authority, Kissoon pointed out that despite alleged improprieties against Chief Executive Officer Karran Singh, there

was no police investigation into the matter. He continued that like in the case of Nirmal Rekha, Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance, who was found by the GRA to have signed off at least 50 bogus duty free letters, there was no prosecution.

When asked, Kissoon said that during his two-year study, he noticed a trend that Indo-Guyanese holding managerial positions were not being prosecuted by the state when found acting in contradiction with their duties.

This however, caused much back and forth between the defence and the Plaintiff ’s lawyer, Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos.

De Santos was not satisfied with the explanation Kissoon gave in relation to him making the statement that police investigations were not being done. The varying objections and responses were recorded by the court.

Kissoon also told the court those nine Permanent Secretaries, all Afro-Guyanese, were replaced by IndoGuyanese. He said that despite these persons holding

University degrees, some with Masters and Doctorates, they were all removed, while no Indo-Guyanese holding the same position, were replaced by Afro-Guyanese.

Last Friday Kissoon started to explain how he came to term Bharrat Jagdeo an ‘ideological racist’. He pointed out through studies, the societal trend of both Indo and Afro-Guyanese in early Guyana up to current day, and claimed that under the Jagdeo Administration and the PPP take over in 1992; massive changes were made removing the balance of ethnic representation in the public sector.

Kissoon spoke then of the ‘Plural model’ which he said was used to describe a satisfied Guyanese society and the co-habitation of the citizens. He continued yesterday to highlight the entities and the changes that were being made to the public sector, destroying that model which he described.

The court hearing is scheduled to continue on February 4 when the defendant will continue his testimony.

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Linden residents injured during ‘unrest’ testify for compensation -By Latoya Giles The Linden Commission of Inquiry has started again.

This time the commissioners are taking evidence from persons who are seeking compensation for the injuries they sustained as a result of the July 18, 2012 shooting which left three protestors dead and dozens injured.

First to take the stand was grocery shop owner, Sheila Austin. According to Austin, she was shot in her right hand, abdomen and left leg.

Lawyer attached to the commission Ganesh Hira, questioned Austin about whether she was part of the protest.

Austin told the commission that she was not part of the protest, but was there for a “meeting”.

She explained that after she was shot, she was unable to work. Austin stated that she would normally earn approximately $60,000 per month.

The woman said that due to her injury her entire arm was swollen and she was unable to do most

Injured Linden resident Ruben Bowen

Injured Linden resident Alisha Barker

Injured Linden resident Sheila Austin

Injured Linden resident Janice Burgon

things. Austin told the commission that she spent about $17,000 for laundry services since she could not have done it by herself. Another average of $30,000 was the estimate by the woman who said a number of items in her shop spoiled because the shop was closed during the time of her injuries.

Commissioner Knight in questioning the witness asked how come the medical report did not mention that she was shot in the abdomen.

At this point the witness remained adamant that she had been shot in the abdomen, offering to show her wounds. She was then asked who she lived with, and according to Austin she lived with her 10-year-old nephew.

Alicia Barker was the next witness called to give evidence. According to Barker who is a mother of four said, she was unemployed at the time of the shooting.

Barker told the commission that she was shot while she went looking for her 15-year-

old son.

The woman told the commission that she was shot in both legs and had to undergo surgery. Barker said that her medical bills exceeded $200,000. The witness told the commission that she was still feeling pain in her legs even after the surgery.

Barker stated that since she could not move around, she was forced to go to New Amsterdam with her children to an aunt so that she could receive medical attention at another hospital there. The bill according to Barker was $15,000.

The commission further heard from the witness that she was hospitalized for five days and would need years of therapy since she received

nerve damage in her legs.

Appearing also yesterday was pastry salesman Rueben Bowen, who was shot to the left knee and now needs crutches to walk. Bowen told the commissioners that he would make about two trips to various parts of the interior selling pastries and bread to miners who were working there. According to the man his trade was very lucrative and he would normally make about $75,000 to $80,000 per week. Bowen said that he would make around $320,000 per month. The man says he has not worked since and is depending on relatives and friends. However since Bowen is still receiving treatment because of his injuries, the commission has asked that he

be evaluated by an orthopaedic surgeon before they make a decision on compensation. He is expected to return on Wednesday.

Jameki Brummell who was also shot during the protest said that he was shot in the right leg. He said that he was examined the same day by the doctor and received a medical.

He said that after receiving the injury he was still feeling discomfort such as “burning and itching”.

Brummell said he went to the hospital 42 times for “dressing”. At the time of the injury Brummell said that he was wearing clothing and it got damaged. He said that totals to about $20,000. He also stated that he could not work because of the injury and that he would normally earn about $8,000 per week.

Linden dressmaker Janice Burgan who was shot in the back said that she has lost income due to the injury. The woman still undergoes therapy.

Meanwhile, Chairman for the commission Justice Wolfe, announced that Hugh Denbow, who had been the commission’s administrator, was the new secretary. He replaces attorney at law Ronald Burch Smith as the Secretary. Burch Smith has resigned.

Chinese child assault case deferred - Plaintiff’s representative absent The case against the two Chinese nationals accused of assaulting an 11-year-old girl was yesterday postponed until February 8.

The adjournment came after the fact that the representative of the victim was absent.

The matter was called up before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Jiang Pen Ren, 42, and her husband, Jun Zhang, 32, the proprietors of Sino Mall located in the vicinity of Stabroek Market, opposite Demico House made their

second appearance before the Magistrate.

After short court appearance the Magistrate also called on the prosecution to “ensure that the parent or guardian of the virtual complainant is summoned to attend court on the next occasion.”

On January 4, the couple allegedly beat an 11-year-old Muslim girl, after she was reportedly found roaming in their premises under “suspicious circumstances.”

The child told reporters that she was beaten and insulted by the Chinese

couple due to a misunderstanding about her mode of dress.

She claimed that the owners of the store attacked her calling her a masked thief because she was wearing a Khimar.

However Jiang Pen Ren, stated that she physically abused the child, after the girl was found hiding in their home.

The couple is being represented by Attorney at law Satesh Kissoon. On the last occasion they were placed on $80,000 bail each after denying the charges.

Lawyer makes final submission in schoolboy murder case Defence Attorney, Mark Waldron made his final submission at the preliminary inquiry involving Samuel Cornelius, 18, who is accused of fatally stabbing his fellow schoolmate, Anfernee Bowman.

During his submission Waldron argued that the Prosecution’s case against

the accused points to provocation, accident and self defense which are not active or main ingredients for the indictment of murder.

He explained that the court must establish there was a clear intent to kill or cause grievous bodily harm by the accused for a committal to be made.

Waldron said the

prosecution called several witnesses but few have offered relevant information to the court in relation to the case.

The matter which is before Magistrate Judy Latchman has been adjourned until January 30 when the Prosecution is expected to respond to the lawyer‘s submission.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Home Affairs Ministry inks consultancy contract with British firm

Clement Rohee hands over the contract to Associate Director, Capita Symonds, Paul Wadsworth at the Home Affairs Ministry’s boardroom, Brickdam. Also in photograph are Police Commissioner (ag), Leroy Brumell and British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre.

The Home Affairs Ministry today signed a contract with the United Kingdom (UK)-based Capita Symonds firm for the provision of consultancy services for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in keeping with the Security Sector Strategic Plan.

The contract, valued US$129,750 or approximately $25M, is expected to last about four to six weeks, focusing on four critical areas- administration, succession planning, integrity/ probity, and public relations/ communications.

This consultancy firm is no stranger to the Guyana Police Force, as it has held engagements with the law enforcement agency since 2000. Work on the Strategic Plan is rapidly moving apace since its launch in December.

Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee spoke of the need for changes to be made to the Force, which is a 173year old institution.

Already advertisements have been placed in the local media for 10 highly trained civilians, who will form the strategic management department and will work

hand-in-hand with the leadership of the Force to ensure proper implementation of the plan. Thus far, several applications have been received.

“I have complete confidence in the Capita Symonds team because they have worked in Guyana for many years and they were associated with one of the first strategic plans that was drafted for the Force known as the ‘Symonds Report’,” Minister Rohee stated.

Associate Director, Capita Symonds, Paul Wadsworth said the company has had very good experiences working in Guyana over the years and it looks forward to lending its support towards the successful implementation of the reforms in the Force.

The team leader, Paul Mathias said that Capita Symonds has had a strong presence in the Region over the years, having worked with the Jamaican Constabulary and CARICOM. Mathias said that he has worked with the Force during the years when the late Laurie Lewis was Police Commissioner. “It is

heartening to see the developments that have taken place since then and now to be part of this major initiative is indeed an honour.”

Police Commissioner, Leroy Brumell expressed the Force’s appreciation and excitement to be embarking on this journey with the Capita Symonds team.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Andrew Ayre, said that this initiative is valuable for the future development of this country and called on all parties to support its implementation.

The Strategic Plan was drawn up by the Capita Symonds firm in 2010 while the Implementation Plan was drawn up and commenced by the United States based firm, the Julian Laite Consultancy in February, 2012.

(GINA)Clement Rohee hands over the contract to Associate Director, Capita Symonds, Paul Wadsworth at the Home Affairs Ministry’s boardroom, Brickdam. Also in photograph are Police Commissioner (ag), Leroy Brumell and British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre.

Political controversy over mosquito nets

APNU questions sidelining of Region Eight chairman By: Romila Boodram Government and the Opposition are at loggerheads over the recent distribution of 5000 insecticide treated mosquito nets to Region Eight, Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ronald Harsawack.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Parliamentarian, Ronald Bulkhan, on Friday questioned the Minister of Health, Bheri Ramsaran as to why the nets were handed over to a government official instead of the Regional Chairman.

Government has lost Region Eight and the Opposition is accusing the ruling party of not trying to develop that Region.

Last July, the Region Eight Democratic Council (RDC) had taken a vote of no confidence against its executive officer, accusing

Ronald Bulkhan him of committing breaches in the course of his duties.

However, the Minister of Health, after beating around the bushes several times said that Harsawack who is a public servant is the accounting officer of that region and as such there is nothing wrong with the decision. The Minister also

added that Region Eight’s Executive Officer was in Georgetown at the time of the presentation; hence the nets were presented to him.

He also explained that his Ministry made similar donations to several other regions and the accounting officer was the one who received the distribution. “…Those nets were sent to the accounting officer for the Regions and in this case, the REO is the accounting officer and he was in town,” Dr Ramsaran said.

The Minister continued talking about the distribution his Ministry made but the Opposition interrupted him saying, “We did not ask for all of that.”

This however angered the Minister who claimed that they were behaving like “malarious mosquitoes.”

Page 17

Page 18

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Mazaruni River crash…

Speed, no life jackets increased death toll - Transport Minister Government has admitted that enforcement in the hinterland’s waterways remains a major problem and unveiled a number of measures to increase safety.

Ten bodies were recovered after a horrific twoboat collision in the Mazaruni River last Tuesday afternoon.

It was the second crash since December and the death toll from both has climbed to 16 for the year…a terrible start for regulators.

Yesterday, Transport Minister, Robeson Benn, blamed the accident partly on speed.

The accident was also due to the failure of both speedboats to observe anti-collision measures that included right-of-way.

The deaths, always a “distressing” one for government, could also have been greatly reduced had more of the passengers been wearing life jackets, Benn said.

Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the government regulator for vessels, is now stepping up its checks to ensure vessels are fully certified and licensed.

Investigators last week found that one of the vessels was equipped by two 200horsepower (HP) engines while the other had two 75horsepower engines. The approach speed of the two vessels was in excess of 100 miles per hour, he said. The incident occurred at a ‘blind turn’ in the vicinity of Crab Falls, Mazaruni. The boats should have slowed. None of them did. The result was that the front of one of the boats

Transport Minister, Robeson Benn

The remains of one of the boat. was obliterated.

The Minister said that certification may now hinge on the size of the engines.

With increased activities in the mining districts, the use of speedboats has become a necessity and is posing a major challenge for MARAD. Cargo boats in especially Bartica, Region Seven area have been proven to be problematic as far as compliance is concerned, the Minister said.

MARAD was in the

process of its increased activities for re-certification and re-licensing when the collision occurred last Tuesday.

According to the Transport Minister, MARAD has captains in strategic locations and they liaise with the department on issues.

New inspectors Admitting that MARAD need resources, Benn said that since last year, some 20 persons were under training with half of them to become

inspectors and the rest as captains for the larger, government-owned ferries and vessels. The training is expected to be completed within four months and they will be deployed to the critical areas.

Benn also signaled a greater role from the speedboat associations which have operations between the Parika/ Supenaam area and at Bartica, among other points.

The associations will now have to conduct monthly

safety meetings and nominate a representative to liaise with MARAD. Quarterly meetings with the associations will also become mandatory, Benn said.

Regarding the accident, the Minister disclosed that the findings so far are disturbing.

With one of the laden vessels coming down from the rapids and around a bend, it was clear that safety protocols were not observed.

The Minister also said that it was clear that many of the passengers were not wearing life-jackets which effectively, could up to “90 per cent” of the times saved lives.

There are also questions whether there were enough life jackets on board. With the cost of each jacket at $4,000, the official made it clear that safety measures were not followed. He called for a concerted effort from even family members and friends to ensure that more awareness is brought to the fore about the importance of life jackets.

On Saturday, the search and rescue team in the Mazaruni River recovered yet another body who has since been identified as that of Ricky Bobb of Barr Street, Kitty. The recovery has taken the death toll to ten.

Circling carrions On Friday the team recovered the bodies of, Kevon Ambrose of, Vergenoegen, East Bank, Essequibo; Deon Moses, 33 of Norton Street, Georgetown; Keanu Amsterdam, 17, of Barr Street Kitty; and Francisco Alves, a Brazilian national.

The team had earlier recovered the remains of Jermaine Calistro, 27, of Boodhoo Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE); Ulric Grimes, 39, of Salem, EBE; Christopher Narine, 21, of Parika, EBE; and Zahir Baksh, 34, of Kaneville; EBD, Christopher Narine, and 52year-old Jewan Seeram.

The bodies were found not far from each other and the crash site.

Benn yesterday said that circling carrion crows led searchers to some of the bodies.

Involved in the search were members of the Joint Services, MARAD, miners and public-spirited individuals.

Initial reports are that one boat carrying passengers was coming out from one location while another laden with fuel was heading in the opposite direction. Benn had reported that the two boats, one with 12 passengers and another, collided around 12:30 hours on Tuesday.

(Leonard Gildarie)

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

‘POWER PLAY’ - AG defends ‘PM’s contractor’ against envious competitors

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan (Trinidad Express) Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has defended contracts awarded by the Government to companies affiliated with the People’s Partnership.

The AG was responding to a Sunday Express story in which a $232.5 million contract for a Motor Vehicle Authority (MVA) was awarded to Super Industrial Services (SIS), the contractor linked to the completion of construction of the homes of Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar and former minority leader of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Ashworth Jack.

SIS was the contractor behind the $45 million Siparia Market and the $70 million Couva/Preysal Interchange.

SIS has also benefitted from Programme for Upgrading Roads Efficiency (PURE) contracts awarded by Nipdec on behalf of the Ministry of Works.

“The large majority of contracts awarded has not necessarily changed hands,

whether it is prisoner transport, construction, or financial consulting. But the issue of who contracts are awarded to must be seen as a power play by desperate commercial interests that are seeking to protect and preserve their monopoly on lucrative work in the State sector. This group is seeking to shut out small players and newcomers to protect their turf. You hear no complaint when they get a contract but you hear a cacophony when anyone outside their circle gets anything,” Ramlogan told the Express in a telephone interview Sunday.

When the question was posed to the AG about the extent of SIS owner Krishna Lalla’s power and influence in the People’s Partnership, he admitted that “that talk has been around”.

“But the talk has also been around that a group of Port of Spain businessmen from a certain community financed the People’s National Movement (PNM) campaign in Tobago and in the last general election. No one expressed concern when they received contracts from the PNM and continue to receive contracts from this Government,” Ramlogan said.

The Attorney General added: “The Constitution gives each citizen and corporate citizen the right to

freedom of association and freedom of political affiliation and expression.

So companies are free to support political parties, but that is not a ground for discrimination because that will expose the State to litigation. The focus must be on the process and the process must be fair and transparent, that you cannot discriminate based on political bias and perception.”

But while the Lalla-owned SIS has become a preferred contractor of the People’s Partnership Government, the administration is aware of issues with the company which have impacted on delivery and construction management.

These issues were raised in a report as part of the audit conducted by the Attorney General’s office into Evolving Technologies and Enterprise Development Company (eTeck). SIS was one of four companies identified by Akbar Ali, the AG’s attorney in the audit, for investigation to determine whether the State could pursue civil proceedings to regain money for uncompleted work.

Under the PNM administration, SIS had won a $150 million contract for roads and drainage works at the Tamana Intech Park in June 2006. It was supposed to be completed in 18 months.

Gov’t, UC Rusal to ink bauxite deal by month end (Jamaica Gleaner) The Government is hoping to reach an agreement with Russian company UC Rusal by month end on the timeline for the reopening of the Alpart and Kirkvine bauxite plants.

The downturn in the global aluminium market forced the company to close the plants in 2009.

UC Rusal has cited the high cost of electricity in the country as one of the main

challenges to its operations in Jamaica.

The government has been seeking to negotiate a deal with the company for the reopening of the plants and Energy Minister Phillip Pauwell said the talks are at a critical stage.

Paulwell said the discussions are advanced and the government and UC Rusal have signed off on an energy solution for the

plants.

He had previously said that finding an alternative to oil was a critical hurdle which needed to be crossed for the talks with UC Rusal to progress.

The energy minister has declined to divulge which alternative energy solution has been agreed to with UC Rusal saying that he plans to make a comprehensive statement soon.

(Barbados Nation) The war of words between two of the island’s telecommunications providers is heating up, with Digicel accusing competitor LIME of trying to block its entry into the landline market and declaring that it will not be bullied by the telecoms giant.

Digicel Barbados’ chief executive officer Barry

O’Brien has made it clear that his company will not stop challenging LIME on its interconnection rates.

“Digicel will not allow itself to be bullied and browbeaten by LIME. We will engage to the best of our ability with the [Fair Trading Commission] to ensure that the interests of fair competition are protected and that the people of Barbados

get the benefits of a truly competitive regime,” he said in a statement on Friday.

The row between the two surrounds Digicel’s efforts to change the terms of the existing interconnection deal with LIME to allow it to add fixed line services to its mobile network in keeping with a full domestic services licence issued by the Government on August 22, 2012.

Digicel talks tough in Barbados

Page 19

Crime takes toll on Caribbean economies WASHINGTON, USA — Crime and violence have had a dramatic impact on women, youth and the economic wellbeing of families in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to several studies commissioned by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

The new studies underscore the more hidden dimensions of the cost of crime on Latin America’s economies, by looking at issues such as women’s health and property values.

The studies were the result of a call for proposals to academics and other experts to use innovative and appropriate methodologies to measure the cost of crime and violence in the region. Out of a total of 117 proposals received, eight were presented by their authors at a January 24–25 seminar at the IDB headquarters in Washington.

The children of women who have suffered from domestic violence have a greater risk of being born underweight, and grow up

with more feeble health, with less chance they will be vaccinated and more likely to suffer from diarrhea, according to one study on seven countries in the region.

In Brazil, a greater sense of insecurity lowers the value of urban properties through higher rents. Pregnant women in Brazil are more likely to give birth to underweight babies if they live in higher crime areas, to cite a few examples.

In Mexico, a 1 percent increase in the number of homicides decreases the price of a home by 1.8 percent.

In Uruguay, the economic costs of violence total $1.2 billion a year, or 3.1 percent of GDP. Latin American and Caribbean citizens cite crime and violence as their top concern, above unemployment, healthcare and other issues. The region suffers from some of the world’s highest homicide rates and 20 of the world’s most violence cities are located in Latin America and the Caribbean. Public trust in public institutions and the

police is also lower than for other regions in the world.

“Crime has tangible direct costs such as the cost of funding a private and public security infrastructure to prevent and combat crime,” said Ana Corbacho, sector economic advisor of the IDB’s Institutions for Development (IFD) Sector, which covers citizen security at the IDB. “But the implications of crime on the r e g i o n ’s w e l l b e i n g a r e potentially much greater.

Vi o l e n c e not only victimizes individuals — it undermines trust in public institutions.”

In Mexico, municipalities with greater levels of violence triggered by drug cartels during 2006-2010 had electricity consumption — a proxy for GDP — trail t h o s e by less violent municipalities by 6.8 percent per year. Municipalities with higher homicide rates also experienced lower employment and lower levels of business ownership, according to one study.

Page 20

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Raymond takes Chutney Soca crown (Trinidad Express) Raymond Ramnarine, leader of the band Dil-e-Nadan, has claimed the title of 2013 Lotto Plus Chutney Soca Monarch.

He won the $1 million first prize with a performance that was hailed as spectacular on Saturday night at Skinner Park, San Fernando.

Ramnarine, who returned to the competition after 13 years, dethroned Kris “KI” Persad, who had to settle for third place.

Rikki Jai, six-time Chutney Soca Monarch, placed second with his song “Ent yuh know”.

Ramnarine performed in seventh position and was

accompanied on stage by the Shiv Shakti dancers.

The crowd sang every word of Ramnarine’s runaway hit “I ain’t marriding no more”. And on his command they chanted: “Raymond, Raymond”.

Spectators were in a frenzy when Ramnarine invited “Trinidad and Tobago’s most popular couple” on stage and Peter Minshall’s creations Tan Tan and Saga Boy danced to Ramnarine’s hit—which became the most requested chutney soca song on the airwaves in recent weeks.

And when Ramnarine included a verse that he would

U.S. warns Antigua against “government-authorized piracy” WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States yesterday warned Antigua and Barbuda not to retaliate against U.S. restrictions on Internet gambling by authorizing the “theft” of U.S. intellectual property.

“Government-authorized piracy would undermine

chances for a settlement” in the Internet gambling case, said Nkenge Harmon, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative’s office.

“It also would serve as a major impediment to foreign investment in the Antiguan economy, particularly in hightech industries,” Harmon said.

emerge chutney soca king, the fans went wild.

As he exited the stage, patrons continued chanting “Raymond, Raymond”, making it clear that the night belonged to Ramnarine.

The competition was judged both manually and by text messaging.

At the end, Ramnarine tallied an overall total of 43.7 points, while Jai accumulated 42.6 points.

The runner-up, who received $300,000, was accompanied by tassa drums and pan during his powerful presentation.

KI, who descended on the stage on a zip line to perform his song “Friends for the night”, received 33.7 points and $200,000.

As the results were being announced at around 4 a.m, the patrons became anxious.

They began chanting “Raymond, Raymond” long before Ramnarine was named the winner.

Ramnarine, in tears, walked calmly to the front of the stage and thanked his thousands of screaming fans.

“When I entered Chutney

Soca Monarch, I didn’t care about the money. I did this for my people, my culture and about moving forward. I would serve my people and uplift my culture to the highest,” he said before kissing the stage.

The celebrations continued on stage as Ramnarine was joined by his wife Niala, brothers Rennie and Richard and members of his band.

He was congratulated by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Southex chief executive officer George Singh, the show’s promoter.

Ramnarine, who also topped the semi-final round of the competition, told reporters: “I came into Chutney Soca Monarch not thinking about the bright lights and the big stage. Now the journey has just started. I have to deliver now.

“I want to go out and I really want to inspire the young ones. I couldn’t have asked for anything more from these loyal fans that I have in Skinner Park. I am lost for words right now.”

Ramnarine said support from his fans, endless prayers and blessings from his parents contributed to his success.

“I had my deya lighting and I was praying for God to protect me and guide me through this. And God has blessed me. I said that 2013 is

2013 Chutney Soca Monarch Raymond Ramnarine going to be a much happier year.”

Ramnarine said he intends to visit schools, promoting culture. And he wants to use part of his winnings to help the underprivileged.

2013 Lotto Plus Chutney Soca Monarch results: 1. Raymond Ramnarine – 43.7 points 2. Rikki Jai – 42.6 points 3. Kris “KI” Persad – 33.7 points 4. Kenneth Supersad –

25.5 points 5. Drupatee Ramgoonai – 23.9 points 6. Anil Bheem – 22.9 points 7 (tie). Rick Ramoutar and Lalchan “Hunter” Babwah – 22.5 points 9. Prophet Benjamin – 22.2 points 10 (tie). Omadath Maraj and Sally Sagram – 21.2 points 12.

Saleem “Stinky”Beharry – 21.2 points

Holness says Gov’t has made economy unsustainable

(Jamaica Observer) Opposition Leader Andrew Holness on Sunday said that his party was Jamaica’s only hope for economic stability, while blasting the Government for what he said was poor leadership.

Holness said the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has a track record of growing the economy, and painted the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) as bad managers, who “care more about money and their pockets” than they do the citizenry.

“It’s undeniable that it’s the Labour Party that grows this country the most...,” said the former prime minister in an address to an Area Council

- ‘PNP has no plan for the country’ One meeting in his West Central St Andrew constituency.

He said it’s obvious that the PNP has no clear plan for the country, likening the Government to a ship with no destination. “Wherever it ends up, that’s its destination,” he said.

He said, under the current Administration, the economy has not only become “unstable” but “unsustainable”.

Holness said the JLP is the only alternative to the Government, and his party has the “better plan”. The

plan, he said, include crime reduction, access to education and health care, job creation, and reducing the cost of living.

The small gathering at the Olympic Gardens Civic Centre went into a frenzy when he said he was “not the same as those PNP people”. He said he never misled anyone to secure votes, and that he was straightforward about what was needed to move the country forward. “So don’t mix me up with them,” he said to favourable response.

He also said that the PNP did not have the moral authority to lead the country as it was asking public sector workers to accept a wage freeze and at the same time buying expensive vehicles for its Cabinet ministers.

Holness urged “young” people who are frustrated with the hike in the cost of living, crime and hardship to get enumerated to have their say at the polls.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 21

T&T Chief Justice: Mediation the way to go (Trinidad Guardian) Chief Justice Ivor Archie has issued a call to all judges, attorneys and litigants to work together for the introduction of an effective and permanent system of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as part of the justice system of T&T. He made the appeal as he formally launched an ADR pilot project during a function at the Hall of Justice last week.

He also referred to previous ADR initiatives including Judicial Settlement Conferences which he said have yielded positive results.

Archie said: “Since the inception of the Court Annexed Mediation Pilot Project in 2011, and having reviewed the reports on that project with a settlement rate of 60 per cent, and a customer satisfaction rating of 95 per cent, the question in my mind has been, not whether mediation should form part of our judicial system, but rather and quite simply, why was it not done a long time ago.

The Chief Justice also observed that since 2011, there had been an increase in

the number of Judicial Settlement Conferences being conducted by judicial officers and at least one Senior Counsel.

Expanding on the experimentation of the ADR concepts, the Chief Justice noted that for many in the legal profession, they constituted “a strange new thing” where disputants could, in a controlled environment, resolve challenging commercial disputes which would ordinarily consume much of the parties and the court’s limited resources; where agreements could be fashioned outside the limits and parameters of the parties pleaded case, and where motives and emotions were resolved, dissipating the legal battle, and where disputants leave the court satisfied that they had obtained justice through the exertion of their own collaborative efforts and where peaceful solutions could be crafted creatively within the shadow of the law.

“A strange new thing indeed in Judicial Settlement Conferences,” the Chief

IMF team coming to wrap up talks, says Bunting

PNP’s Peter Bunting (Jamaica Observer) General Secretary of the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) Peter Bunting says a delegation from the International Monetary (IMF) is expected to arrive in the island within the next three weeks to conclude the final round of negotiations with Government representatives.

“When that teams comes down, within the next two to three weeks, that will be the last meeting between our team and their delegation before an agreement is inked,” Bunting told a press briefing following a meeting of the PNP’s National Executive Council (NEC) at William Knibb High School in Martha Brae, Trelawny, Sunday.

Jamaica has been without an IMF agreement for almost

20 months, and the finance minister, Dr Peter Phillips, has not realised his wish to ink a deal with the fund by the end of last December An IMF deal is necessary to shore up Jamaica’s balance of payments position and provide access to other multilateral sources of funds that usually take their cue from the fund’s vaunted seal of approval.

Bunting told reporters that Phillips, in his address to delegates at the closed-door meeting Sunday, pointed out that with the broad parameters which the IMF already agreed on, “they (IMF team) will only be coming to finalise the details”.

“So when they come it will be the last mission, and we can expect a letter of intent thereafter,” said Bunting.

On Sunday as well, PNP Chairman Robert Pickersgill said the finance minister, in his address, warned that it cannot “be business as usual” because of the size of the country’s debt.

He added that the delegates, who were fully briefed by the finance minister about “the seriousness of the task ahead”, gave their commitment to be a part of the solution.

The well-attended NEC meeting was also addressed

by PNP President Portia Simpson Miller.

Justice said,”where judicial officers were actually helping parties to settle their disputes using the language of collaborative consensus, giving preliminary forecasts of the likely outcome of litigation.” Having witnessed these forms of ADR, Archie said, there were now many converts to them, and it now sets the stage for the formal integration of a model of ADR-tailored to meet T&T’s needs and consistent with our local culture. Also

welcoming the initiatives were Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Minister of Legal Affairs Prakash Ramadhar, whose portfolios had representation on the committee which undertook the project.

Other participants in the preparation for the introduction of the system were the Law Association of T&T and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce whose president and chief executive officer respectively

also witnessed the launch.

The Chief Justice praised the Law Association for its participating in the project, for their mature input in the court’s processes and selection of roistered mediators and judicial officers as well as for their helpful suggestions as the judiciary finalised the practice direction for the project.

During the year-long run of the pilot project, 200 commercial cases are to be referred to mediation by the

judge at first case management conferences.

These cases will be chosen randomly to participate in the pilot project, and the parties have the option of agreeing to their matter being referred to mediation by an order of the court.

In the case of Judicial Settlement Conferencing, 100 cases will be referred to mediation, 40 per cent of these being chosen randomly and the remainder selected by the judge.

Page 22

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Violence flares in Egypt after emergency law imposed (Reuters) - A man was shot dead yesterday in a fifth day of violence in Egypt that has killed 50 people and prompted the Islamist president to declare a state of emergency in an attempt to end a wave of unrest sweeping the Arab world’s biggest nation.

Emergency rule announced by President Mohamed Mursi on Sunday covers the cities of Port Said, Ismailia and Suez. The army has already been deployed in two of those cities and cabinet approved a measure to let soldiers arrest civilians.

A cabinet source told Reuters any trials would be before civilian courts, but the step is likely to anger protesters who accuse Mursi of using high-handed security tactics of the kind they fought against to oust President Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt’s politics have become deeply polarised since those heady days two years ago, when protesters were making most of the running in the Arab Spring revolutions that sent shockwaves through the region and Islamists and liberals lined up together.

Although Islamists have won parliamentary and presidential elections, the disparate opposition has since united against Mursi.

Late last year he moved to expand his powers and push a constitution with Islamist leanings through a referendum, punctuated by

violent street protests.

Mursi’s call for a national dialogue meeting yesterday to help end the crisis was spurned by his main opponents.

They accuse Mursi of hijacking the revolution, listening only to his Islamist allies and breaking a promise to be a president for all Egyptians. Islamists say their rivals want to overthrow by undemocratic means Egypt’s first freely elected leader.

Anti-Mursi protesters were out on the streets again in Cairo and elsewhere yesterday, the second anniversary of one of the bloodiest days in the revolution that erupted on January 25, 2011, and ended Mubarak’s iron rule 18 days later.

CONCERNS Hundreds of demonstrators in Port Said, Ismailia and Suez, cities which all lie on the economically vital Suez Canal, had turned out against Mursi’s decision on Sunday within moments of him speaking. Activists there pledged to defy a curfew that starts at 9 p.m.

Instability in Egypt has raised concerns in Western capitals, where officials worry about the direction of a key regional player that has a peace deal with Israel.

The political unrest has been exacerbated by street violence linked to death penalties imposed on football supporters convicted of

Riot policemen beat a protester opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, during clashes along Qasr Al Nil bridge, which leads to Tahrir Square in Cairo. (Credit: Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh) involvement in stadium rioting a year ago.

In Cairo yesterday, police fired volleys of teargas at stone-throwing protesters near Tahrir Square, cauldron of the anti-Mubarak uprising.

A 46-year-old bystander was killed by a gunshot, a security source said. It was not clear who opened fire.

“We want to bring down the regime and end the state that is run by the Muslim Brotherhood,” said Ibrahim Eissa, a 26-year-old cook,

protecting his face from teargas wafting towards him.

Propelled to the presidency in a June election by the Muslim Brotherhood, Mursi has lurched through a series of political crises and violent demonstrations, complicating his task of shoring up the economy and of preparing for a parliamentary election to cement the new democracy in a few months.

“The protection of the nation is the responsibility of

everyone. We will confront any threat to its security with force and firmness within the remit of the law,” Mursi said, angering many of his opponents when he wagged his finger at the camera.

The president offered condolences to families of victims of violence and also called a dialogue meeting yesterday between Islamist allies and their liberal, leftist and other opponents to discuss the crisis.

The main opposition National Salvation Front coalition rejected the offer as “cosmetic and not substantive” and set several conditions that have not been met in the past, such as forming a national salvation government. They also demanded that Mursi announce his responsibility for the bloodshed.

SECURITY MEASURES “We will send a message to the Egyptian people and the president of the republic about what we think are the essentials for dialogue. If he agrees to them, we are ready for dialogue,” opposition politician Mohamed ElBaradei told a news conference.

The opposition Front has distanced itself from the latest flare-ups but said Mursi should have acted far sooner to impose security measures that would have ended the violence.

“Of course we feel the president is missing the real problem on the ground, which is his own policies,” Front spokesman Khaled Dawoud said after Mursi made his

declaration.

Other activists said Mursi’s measures to try to impose control on the turbulent streets could backfire.

“Martial law, state of emergency and army arrests of civilians are not a solution to the crisis,” Ahmed Maher of the April 6 movement that helped galvanise the 2011 uprising said. “All this will do is further provoke the youth.

The solution has to be a political one that addresses the roots of the problem.”

Thousands of mourners joined funerals in Port Said for the latest victims in the Mediterranean port city.

Seven people were killed there on Sunday when residents joined marches to bury 33 others who had been killed a day earlier, most by gunshot wounds in a city where arms are rife.

Protests erupted there on Saturday after a court sentenced to death several people from the city for their role in deadly football violence last year, a verdict residents saw as unfair. The anger swiftly turned against Mursi and his government.

Rights activists said Mursi’s declaration was a backward step for Egypt, which was under emergency law for Mubarak’s entire 30year rule. His police used the sweeping arrest provisions to muzzle dissent and round up opponents, including members of the Brotherhood and even Mursi himself.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 23

U.S. Senators push bipartisan Grief turns to anger after Brazil club fire; band in custody immigration reform plan

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has agreed on an immigration reform plan that would provide a path to citizenship for the 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States but only after borders are better secured.

The plan, unveiled a day before President Barack Obama is to outline his immigration reform proposals, tackles the most explosive issue - how to deal with the millions of people living in the United States illegally.

Under the group’s proposal, undocumented immigrants would be allowed to register with the government, pay a fine, and then be given probationary legal status allowing them to work.

Ultimately, they would have to “go to the end of the line” and apply for permanent status, according to the document drafted by eight Senators including Republicans Marco Rubio of Florida, John McCain and Jeff Flake of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Democrats Charles Schumer of New York, Dick

Durbin of Illinois, Michael Bennet of Colorado and Robert Menendez of New Jersey.

Under the plan, no one would be given more permanent legal status until new measures were implemented to stem the flow of immigrants across U.S. borders, a critical concession to conservatives and border state members of congress.

The path to citizenship would also be contingent on a new enforcement measure to track the status of immigrants who may have overstayed visas, the document said.

The proposal resembles previous immigration bills including a 2007 measure that died in Congress in part because of disagreement over the timing and balance of border-enforcement measures versus granting citizenship to the millions of undocumented immigrants.

Democrats have considered future citizenship for undocumented immigrants a “bottom line” for a bill, as Schumer said Sunday at a news conference.

Republicans, in turn, have tended to stress border security.

While the framework released yesterday includes something for all these groups, translating the fourpage outline into legislation with a chance of passing is likely to prove challenging, notwithstanding the bipartisan makeup of the group and support that came early yesterday from U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

SUPPORT FROM CONSERVATIVES Rubio’s involvement has helped give the plan credibility among some Republicans. His proposals have attracted support from influential conservatives, including former vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan and TV commentator Bill O’Reilly.

Last year, Rubio had a hard time getting conservatives on board for allowing “dreamers” to stay here - children of illegals, many of whom have spent most of their lives in the United States, are in the country through no fault of their own and attend U.S. schools.

Rubio is a CubanAmerican who is often mentioned as a presidential contender. He is a favourite of the Tea Party conservative movement.

In addition to the path to citizenship, the Senators’ proposal outlines three other legislative goals: retaining and attracting highly qualified workers; creating a system to prevent identity theft and the hiring of unauthorized workers: and establishing a way to bring in unskilled labour while providing them with workers rights.

The immigration issue was largely pushed aside during Obama’s first term as he tackled healthcare and the economy. But the president, who had overwhelming support from Hispanic voters in his 2012 reelection, cited it as part of his agenda when sworn in for a second term last week.

Immigration has been among the toughest issues confronting Congress over the past two decades, in part because so many powerful interest groups have a stake in it, from business organizations in need of skilled labour to the trade union movement, which worries that a flow of immigrant labour unprotected by U.S. workplace laws could depress wages.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has made immigration reform a priority this year, expressing particular support for provisional visas for lesser-skilled workers and expansion of green cards for foreign nationals who receive advanced degrees from U.S. colleges and universities.

(Reuters) - Relatives of the 231 people who died in a Brazilian nightclub fire demanded answers yesterday as to how it could have killed so many people, while police questioned the club’s owner and members of the band whose pyrotechnics show allegedly caused the tragedy.

Several coffins, many draped with flags of the victims’ favorite soccer teams, lined a gymnasium that has become a makeshift morgue since the fire in the early hours on Sunday, one of the world’s deadliest such incidents in a decade.

The death toll was revised down overnight from 233 to 231, as officials said some names had been counted twice.

Eighty-two people remained hospitalized in and around the southern city of Santa Maria. At least 30 of them were in serious condition.

As shell-shocked residents attended a marathon of funerals starting in the pre-dawn hours yesterday, the focus began to

shift to what will likely be a barrage of police investigations, lawsuits and recriminations aimed at politicians and others.

“We can’t trust in the ability of city hall, or the police, or anybody who permits a party with more a thousand people under these conditions,” said Erica Weber, who was accompanying her daughter to a funeral for one of her classmates.

Most of the dead were suffocated by toxic fumes that rapidly filled the Kiss nightclub after the band set off a pyrotechnics display at about 2:30 a.m, witnesses said.

State prosecutor Valeska Agostini told Reuters one of the club’s owners and members of the band had been taken into police custody to answer questions although no arrests or criminal charges are likely until after the investigation is completed.

The band’s guitarist, Rodrigo Lemos Martins, 32, said he doubted the band was responsible for the blaze. “There were lots of wires (in the ceiling),

maybe it was a short circuit,” Folha de S.Paulo newspaper quoted him as saying.

The band’s accordion player, Danilo Jaques, 30, was among those killed but the other five members survived.

It seems certain others will share the blame for Brazil’s second-deadliest fire ever. The use of a flare inside the club was a clear breach of security regulations, fire officials said, and witnesses said bouncers initially tried to prevent people from fleeing from the one functioning exit because they believed they were trying to skip out on their bar tabs.

Clubs and restaurants in Brazil are generally subject to a web of overlapping safety regulations, but enforcement is uneven and owners sometimes pay bribes to continue operating.

The investigation of the Kiss fire could drag on for years. After a similar fire at an Argentine nightclub in 2004 killed 194 people, more than six years passed before a court found members of a band criminally responsible for starting the blaze and causing the deaths.

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

French seal off Mali’s Timbuktu, rebels torch library (Reuters) - French and Malian troops yesterday sealed off Timbuktu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, after fleeing Islamist rebel fighters torched several buildings in the ancient Saharan trading town, including a priceless manuscript library.

Without a shot being fired to stop them, 1,000 French soldiers including paratroopers and 200 Malian troops seized the airport and surrounded the centuries-old Niger River city, looking to

block the escape of al Qaedaallied fighters.

The retaking of Timbuktu followed the swift capture by French and Malian forces at the weekend of Gao, another major northern Malian town which had also been occupied by the alliance of Islamist militant groups since last year.

A two-week intervention

by France in its former Sahel colony, at the request of Mali’s government but also with wide international backing, has driven the

Islamist rebel fighters northwards out of towns into the desert and mountains.

A French military spokesman said the assault forces at Timbuktu were being careful to avoid combat inside the city so as not to damage cultural treasures and mosques and religious shrines in what is considered a seat of Islamic learning.

But Timbuktu’s mayor, Ousmane Halle, reported that fleeing Islamist fighters had torched a South Africanfunded library in the city

containing thousands of priceless manuscripts.

“The rebels set fire to the newly-constructed Ahmed Baba Institute built by the South Africans ... this happened four days ago,” Halle Ousmane told Reuters by telephone from Bamako.

He said he had received the information from his chief of communications who had travelled south from the city a day ago.

Ousmane was not able to immediately say how much the concrete building had

been damaged. He added the rebels also torched his office and the home of a member of parliament.

The Ahmed Baba Institute, one of several libraries and collections in the city containing fragile ancient documents dating back to the 13th century, is named after a Timbuktu-born contemporary of William Shakespeare and houses more than 20,000 scholarly manuscripts. Some were stored in underground vaults. The French and Malians have faced no resistance so far at Timbuktu, but they face a tough job of combing through the labyrinth of ancient mosques and monuments and mudbrick homes between alleys to flush out any hiding Islamist fighters.

“We have to be extremely careful. But in general terms, the necessary elements are in place to take control,” French army spokesman Lieutenant Thierry Burkhard said in Paris.

Timbuktu member of parliament El Hadj Baba Haïdara told Reuters in Bamako the Islamist rebels had abandoned the city.

“They all fled. Before their departure they destroyed some buildings, including private homes,” he said.

The United States and European Union are backing the French-led Mali operation as a strike against the threat of radical Islamist jihadists using the West African state’s inhospitable Sahara desert as a launch pad for international attacks.

They are helping with intelligence, airlift of troops, refuelling of planes and

logistics, but do not plan to send combat troops to Mali.

FRANCE: MALI “BEING LIBERATED” “Little by little, Mali is being liberated,” French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told France 2 television.

At Gao, more than 300 km (190 miles) east of Timbuktu, jubilant residents danced to music in the streets on Sunday to celebrate the liberation of this other ancient Niger River town from the sharia-observing rebels.

A third northern town, the Tuareg seat of Kidal, in Mali’s rugged and remote northeast, remains in the hands of the Islamist fighters, a loose alliance that groups AQIM with Malian Islamist group Ansar Dine and AQIM splinter MUJWA. With its cultural treasures, Timbuktu had previously been a destination for adventurous tourists and international scholars.

The world was shocked by its capture on April 1 by Tuareg desert fighters whose separatist rebellion was later hijacked by Islamist radicals who imposed severe sharia law.

Provoking international outrage, the Islamist militants who follow a more conservative Salafist branch of Islam destroyed dozens of ancient shrines in Timbuktu sacred to moderate Sufi Moslems, condemning them as idolatrous and un-Islamic.

They also applied amputations for thieves and stoning of adulterers under sharia, while forcing women to go veiled.

SANTIAGO (Reuters) Five years ago during the closing speeches of a summit in Chile, Spain’s king told Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to “shut up” in an exchange that epitomized the fruitless meetings between Europe and Latin America at the time.

Dominated by leftist rhetoric and instability in the Andes, the summits were sideshows to the rapid economic growth in Europe that followed the introduction of the euro a decade ago, and the concerns of Madrid and Brussels lay elsewhere.

But a debt crisis in Europe has turned the relationship between former imperial powers and their colonies on its head. EU leaders meeting in Santiago for a summit with Latin American heads of state this weekend were frank about their eagerness to piggy-back onto the region’s impressive economic growth.

“This is now a strategic relationship between equal partners,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, leading a huge delegation of European Union leaders and business executives.

With so many bilateral meetings during the two-day summit, Merkel had barely finished delivering her remarks before she rushed off to Santiago’s business district to try to arrange investments and seal trade deals. “We invite you to invest in Germany,” she said, echoing Spanish premier Mariano Rajoy, who the day before made his plea from Chile’s presidential palace.

With 60 percent of young Spaniards unemployed, and the German economy, Europe’s biggest, struggling with the impact of a public debt crisis that nearly broke up the euro zone last year, Latin America clearly has the upper hand.

In search of business, Europe changes tone in Latin America

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Shippers to ramp up calls for the $1M demanded from Brazilians for speedy implementation of SWAPS remains of Mazaruni accident victim The Shipping Association of Guyana (SAG) has said that its clamor for the implementation of an electronic Single Windows Automated System (SWAPS)

by Government to speed up shipping and clearance transactions by the Customs Administration Department (CAD) will become louder in 2013.

SAG officials last week stated, “The performance of the maritime industry in Guyana continues to be challenged by the need for higher levels of efficiency across the board.”

The Association said that in this regard most business support organizations across the business spectrum in Guyana have joined the concerted call on the CAD to implement the fully computerized SWAPS. SAG said that much time and money have in the past been expended by importers and exporters as a result of the delays posed by the partly manual system being currently used by the CAD.

The SWAPS system, as disclosed by the Government in 2011, is intended to electronically link licensing bodies that account for transactions associated with Guyana’s trade to the GRA’s Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (TRIPS).

SWAPS will simplify, harmonize and electronically integrate the business processes of the licensing bodies that account for the transactions associated with Guyana’s trade and allow for quicker trade of produced commodities not only locally but across borders, another official source explained.

This automation is expected to drastically reduce the cost and time incurred by importers, exporters, customs brokers and even members of the public involved in the clearance of imported and exported goods.

Disclosing information on the modernizing of the

Customs systems two years ago, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh had assured that SWAPS will reduce the time required to process an import/export licence from 35 working days to within one working day and that Government is committed to implementing it.

From the point of view of Government, SWAPS will strengthen the GRA system for detecting false declarations.

SAG however feels that the process towards implementation is taking too long.

SAG said last week that it intends to increase its efforts to bolster the instruments and institutions that impact operators.

This action, it said, will be influenced for the most part by the incontrovertible realities of Guyana being left behind as the rest of the commercial world from South America and the Caribbean outward to the far reaches of Eastern Asia, advances with new high tech equipment and facilities.

Helena Rodrigues, who survived the Mazaruni River boat accident that claimed 10 lives, including her reputed husband, Francisco Oliveira Alves, yesterday, expressed extreme discontent over the way her husband’s remains were handled.

Kaieteur News understands that the woman, a Brazilian national, was forced to seek the assistance of the Brazil Mining and General Association (BM&GA) as $1M was being demanded in exchange for Alves’ remains.

Alves’s lifeless body was fished out of the Mazaruni River on Friday last, three days after the tragic accident.

He was said to be 50 years old. Antonio Szala, secretary of the association, told Kaieteur News that members of his organization had to visit the Parika Police station to inquire about the body.

According to him, only then were the remains handed over. This is after it was left for several hours in the station compound.

Ranks at the station told

Francisco Oliveira Alves Szala that the monetary request in exchange for the dead Brazilian, did not come from any police attached to the station.

Instead, he said that he was advised that the call was coming from a taxi driver who was transporting the family.

Szala said that it matters not who requested the money. He said that it all boils down to the fact that Brazilians are continuing to be

taken advantage of in Guyana.

Further, he said that what made it even more unconscionable, is that the persons are going through a mournful period “and others can only think about making money” unlawfully.

He pointed that Brazilians have been making contributions to Guyana and should not be taken advantage of.

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

President Ramotar raises food bill, drugs fight at key regional meet President Donald Ramotar, who is attending the First Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Chile, told his colleagues on Sunday, that while member states have managed to escape the effects of the financial crises with the region actually recording positive growth, when disaggregated, the situation in the Caribbean is a matter of great concern.

Many of the countries are having tremendous difficulties and are still reeling from the effects of the crisis.

The President, in lauding the birth of the CELAC, spoke of the importance of more peopleto-people contact. He posited that “at every level we should try to get to know each other.”

The challenges associated with transportation in the region were highlighted as a hindrance to integration.

Infrastructure integration is also important if the region is

President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett with other Heads of State in the Chile meeting. to realise its full potential, President Ramotar said.

On the issue of the fight against drugs, Ramotar said it is no longer good enough to say that the region is not consumers and so the problem is not ours.

“The fight against drugs

has to be one of cooperation amongst all countries as this transnational “business” continues to infiltrate every aspect of our societies”.

As the lead Head of Agriculture in CARICOM, the President took the opportunity to speak about

cooperation in this area through learning from the Latin American countries that have transformed their agricultural sector. He mentioned the more than US$3B food import bill of the

Caribbean which can be reduced if the agricultural and transport sectors improve.

Recognising the progress already made in reducing poverty, President Ramotar nevertheless referred to the

many inhabitants of the region that still live in poverty.

This situation is unacceptable, he said, given that the region is endowed with vast resources.

He challenged his colleague Heads of Government to work to eradicate poverty.

Further addressing human development, the President thanked Cuba for their great contributions to developing human capital in the region and more particularly Guyana.

The President also thanked the Government of Chile for the work they have done to advance the CELAC objectives and wished President Raul Castro and his Government every good wish for a successful tenure as Cuba assumes the presidency of the Organisation.

President Ramotar was accompanied by Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Audrey Waddell, Ambassador to UNASUR. (GINA)

Chinese ferry suffers mechanical problems

The Sabanto being towed by the Malali, yesterday The newly-acquired Chinese ferry, Sabanto, suffered engine problems yesterday and had to be towed by the MV Malali.

According to passengers, the incident happened around 05:45hrs between the Leguan and Parika Essequibo River edge area. Sabanto, which started its run on the route late last year, reportedly

had about15 minutes more to reach the stelling.

The vessel started to move after the workers managed to restart the engines after several attempts.

Malali, which was headed to Parika, turned back to help Sabanto, towing it to Parika.

By the time it was all tied up, the engines started again and

the Malali left. But the troubles with the vessel continued after the engines failed again.

Sabanto was one of two ferries gifted to Guyana and which became operational late last year in the Essequibo River. Before the arrival of the two vessels, Guyana had to depend on ferries that were built several decades ago..

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 27

Page 28

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Toddler infected with deadly bacterium ...forces young mother to seek public assistance At merely 18 months old, Shafiyah Mohamed has already had two surgical interventions and today requires endless hospital visits and medication even as she awaits a bone marrow transplant to save her life.

This has however not stopped the toddler from being almost normal.

Although her playful ways and glowing infectious smile suggest that all is well in her world a glance at her right leg indicates a much different story; a very painful story of constant pain caused by a bacterium which has literally been eating away at her flesh and has already consumed her right hip bone.

The cause of her dilemma has been linked to M e t h i c i l l i n resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which is a bacterium responsible for several difficult-totreat infections in humans.

MRSA is said to be especially troublesome in hospitals, prisons, schools, and nursing homes, where patients with open wounds, invasive devices, and weakened immune systems are at greater risk of infection than the general public.

The bacterium, according to the child’s mother, Sandra Seepersaud, was however not detected until after the child underwent an operation at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

She recounted that it was shortly after turning oneyear-old that little Shafiyah started exhibiting signs that something was wrong with her right foot. “She just start limping and getting a hot, hot fever; when I bathe she and rub her right foot she would cry and try to pull away. I realise something wrong but I didn’t really know is what happen.”

Shafiyah Mohamed seated on her mother’s lap.

As a result, the woman said one of her uncles decided to anoint the toddler’s foot to ascertain whether she had sustained an injury. By this time the young child’s upper thigh was swollen.

This forced the woman to take her child to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where an x-ray of her right leg was done. While nothing was found to be wrong with any bone, Seepersaud said that the attending doctor there concluded that the child might have an infection of some sort. She was as a result administered an antibiotic suspension.

During a subsequent visit to the hospital, another x-ray was done and an internal abscess was detected by the attending doctor. “Right away he transfer she to the public hospital for more medical

attention,” said a distraught Seepersaud.

She recalled that soon after being examined at the Georgetown Public Hospital efforts were immediately made to rush the child to the operating theatre for a surgical procedure to the upper portion of the child’s thigh to remove the destructive bacterium.

A few days later a doctor again examined the child’s foot and recognised that “everything didn’t clean out and they, he said, have to carry her back and recheck it...and with that they carry she and burst she foot down further,” said Seepersaud.

Having done this, the woman said that a doctor informed her that the child had an incurable bacterium and even insisted that she would have been brought to the

hospital already infected.

Young Shafiyah’s condition continued to deteriorate to such an extent that she was unable to eat and would only breastfeed, Seepersaud informed. “One, one time she would take PediaSure but she wasn’t eating too much. If she eat a little piece a bread that was plenty because she wasn’t taking nothing more...”

The child would remain a patient at the hospital for almost one month before she was discharged in May last year in no better a condition than when she was admitted.

There were constant hospital visits and medications were prescribed in abundance to help reduce the impact of the bacterium which was beginning to spread to the child’s private parts.

So severe was the condition by last December that doctors at the public hospital made the suggestion to Seepersaud that she

contemplate having the child’s right leg amputated to prevent the bacterium from spreading.

“I come home and I tell me husband and one of he cousins put we on to this doctor at (St. Joseph) Mercy Hospital and he tell we that these kind of sick you does only pick it up in the hospital, not your home nor your community....”

Although considerably strained for finances, Seepersaud said that she and her husband, who is an employee of the Ministry of Agriculture, were able to accumulate funds for yet another operation. However satisfactory results were almost immediately realised.

“Thank God that we go to he when we did but if we did know about he before it could have saved her from so much of pain,” said Seepersaud.

Although the doctor has since indicated that he can undertake a bone marrow

transplant to treat the bacterium he would first have to control it and bring it to a minimum in terms of impact before such an operation can be done. At the moment Shafiyah is required to take two injections twice daily.

These are administered at home by a nurse from St Joseph Mercy Hospital.

According to Seepersaud, the high cost of medications has effectively exhausted her family’s finances but there is yet more to be spent if her daughter is to gain a chance of a normal life.

The distraught woman is appealing to caring members of the public and business organisations to lend a helping hand to fund her daughter’s recovery.

Those desirous of rendering assistance can contact Seepersaud or one of her relatives on telephone numbers 265-5971, 681-5967 or 678-3671.

Troy Green

Bibi-Rafeena-S bibirafeena-saymaraymar

Second Preliminary inquiry into hairdresser murder continues By: Romila Boodram

The second Preliminary Inquiry into the murder of hairdresser Bibi Rafeena Saymar, who was 23-yearsold at the time of her death, is continuing before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate Court.

Saymar lived at Hague, West Coast Demerara. On trial for murder is Troy Green of Howes Street, Charlestown.

He is accused of murdering Saymar on May 29, 2010.

So far Deputy Superintendent Paul has testified. He related what transpired at the scene on the day of the murder.

Saymar ’s reputed husband, Canada-based Guyanese, Dennis Persaud, was also arrested and charged with the murder. He was later freed on no-case submissions.

Both Persaud and Greene were committed to stand trial in the High Court but

Persaud’s lawyer, who was the late Vicramadictya ‘Vic’ Puran, had filed a motion to have the case quashed.

Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang ruled that the court lacked sufficient evidence to charge Persaud and the case against him was quashed while the hit-man who was unable to hire a lawyer, remained behind bars. But the

court ordered another preliminary inquiry.

Reliable sources said that Persaud left Guyana almost immediately after he was freed.

The 57-year-old man is said to be a real estate agent who transacts most of his business in Canada.

Yesterday, throughout the preliminary inquiry Green stood quietly. He appeared confused as he keenly listened to what was being said in the court room.

The case will continue on February 12, at the Vreed-enHoop Magistrate’s Court.

On May 29, 2010, the 23year-old hairdresser was found lying on the floor of the couple’s two-bedroom house around 02:00hrs with about eleven stabbed wounds about her body.

She died before receiving medical attention. Death was due to shock and haemorrhage.

It is alleged that Saymar gave the police a description of her attacker before she passed away.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 29

Nations University, AIB offers international MBA courses - Courses tailored for wide section of entrepreneurs, career officials Nations University in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Business (AIB) is offering tuitions in Guyana for Masters in Business Administration (MBA) courses for persons interested in furthering their respective careers.

The university is also offering degrees and diplomas from a variety of leading international Universities. The School of the Nations is located at 41 New Market Street, Georgetown.

According to the Director of Nations University, Dr. Brian O’Toole, these qualifications are recognised worldwide for their quality and value. Studying through Nations University is one of the greatest investments someone can make. The fees for the various programmes are a fraction of what it would cost persons to undertake the same programme overseas.

“The fees can also be paid in installments. Come in and see us at Nations University to see if this programme can work for you.” “Whether you are looking to grow or start a business, climb the corporate

From Left) Director of Nations University, Dr. Brian O’Toole and Marketing Director of AIB, Joel Abraham. ladder, increase your salary, change your career path, maintain your current position or just get qualified – the 12-month MBA, while you work, will get you there sooner.” It was noted that the monthly learning model allows persons to accelerate their learning by focusing on one subject every month before moving onto the next.

“And if something comes up

at work or home, you can always defer a subject or two.

It’s a 12-month MBA but you have up to three years to finish, if you need it.”

The Directors said that students will be provided with access to a state- of-theart online library so that they can study whenever it is convenient; custom made learning material – this will allow students to know what

to study, and access to support - so they can seek guidance through their journey. He added that the programme is rated amongst the top ten MBA programmes globally. “We understand that not everyone has taken the traditional route to get to where they are. Many of our students have not completed a first degree but may have years of management or

business experience. Others have formal qualifications but not much work experience.”

At present the fourth batch of MBA students are in training, Dr. O’Toole said these persons will graduate in June 2013.

“We have been able to attract people of experience, Bank Managers, Permanent Secretaries, Insurance Brokers, and Entrepreneurs amongst others.”

The certification, Dr O’Toole said, is internationally recognized and well organised. The cost attached is US$5,200 which is insignificant compared to international pricing.

According to Marketing Director of Australia Institute of Business, Joel Abraham, as a-12 month MBA student, persons will be provided with academic, administrative, and student services second to none.

Whether they’re looking for some help with writing their first assignment, nervous about exam, or just want some general study advice; there is an academic and student support team that will assist every step of the way. The Marketing Director explained that the MBA assessments

will help students address real work issues that face them.

Subjects are assessed through take-homeworkbased assignments, and open-book practical examinations. In addition, a final project allows you to address a problem you have always wanted to address at work– so students with their business, gain an immediate return on investment.

Adding that two institutions applied for recognition at the National Accreditation Council in Guyana and Internationally, the Marketing Director said AIB teaches across the continents and have students from 70 countries.

“Our courses are not only accredited within the Australian Qualifications Framework but also through a number of international government departments, agencies and registries. So when you are going for that next job or business deal, planning to move overseas, or looking to enroll in your next qualification – you can be assured that our degrees are fully accredited and globally recognised.”

Abrahams explained.

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

GTUC applauds Government’s first step to minimum wage issue Head of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) Norris Witter, has said, “As a labour union, we can never be satisfied with any wage, minimum or otherwise, that does not reflect the reality in terms of the cost of living.”

However, he has applauded the government for making the first step toward addressing the minimum wage issue.

Witter, at a press briefing last Friday, said that the minimum wage has not been attended to for more than two decades. He said that the need to have something in place, even if not adequate, to demonstrate some willingness on the part of the Government to address the question of an appropriate minimum wage was needed.

Witter said that although the wage is not appropriate, the minimum wage is pegged to a public service minimum wage which was felt to be a good beginning.

Witter said that the idea of the minimum wage was not totally at the goodwill of the government. The GTUC head told reporters, “While one may get the impression reading from the media that the national minimum wage is purely from the good intent of the government , it is not so.” He charged that the

GTUC President Norris Witter minimum wage was determined by the National tripartite Committee, which has government representation, the employer’s organization and the Labour Ministry.

He said that the implementation was a recommendation coming from the committee to the Labour Ministry, which was subsequently tendered to Cabinet for its approval.

“So it is not correct to say that the national minimum wage was purely as a result of the Government’s initiative, but as a consequence of tripartite discussions, deliberations and recommendations,” Witter corrected. The government

earlier this month announced that it was proceeding with a plan to institute a national minimum wage. It was said that the introduction of a national minimum wage could put an end to underpayment across all sectors and lessen complaints of exploitation by employers.

Apart from the established minimum wage of $35,000 for public sector workers, the government, through the Ministry of Labour, would periodically dictate what the minimum wage for certain categories of workers in the private sector, but now, it was highlighted, everyone would be covered.

“This initiative is an improvement; it is the ultimate improvement that binds employers across the scale to subscribe to a minimum wage.

No employee would earn less than, no employee, not just sectors but no employee,” Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon had stated.

It was noted that a high level team of Government Ministers would be tasked with rolling out the initiative, including holding consultations so that all parties would buy into the initiative. No deadline has however been set for the date the new regime would be put in place.

Fraud probe may have netted scapegoats - Union rep The Guyana Public Service Union Region Ten representative Maurice Butters, has said that the three employees attached to the accounts department of the Linden Hospital Complex, who are under probe for alleged fraudulent activities committed at the institution, should not be used as scapegoats, to cover the tracks of others in Senior Managerial positions, at the institution.

According to Butters the fraud allegation as highlighted in the Sunday edition of the Kaieteur News, has been going on for some time.

Employees had observed over a year ago that there were pay sheets with the names of former employees, who had either left the country, retired or had died.

When the Union raised the matter with the management, the spreadsheet was withdrawn, and employees were given a blank foolscap paper, to sign on, he said.

“The Union is therefore calling for a thorough investigation into this matter, because for many years the

Union has been calling on the Management to ensure that the Accounts Department was properly streamlined.

“Some years ago there was the disappearance of a CPU; the Police were called in and their investigation revealed that there was no breakage, or forced entry.”

However that matter was swept under the table, the union representative said.

Then subsequently, calls were also made for an investigation into the pay sheet matter, but nothing was done, he added.

Butters said that the matter was subsequently taken to the Board, which discovered that there was an account at the Republic Bank with only two signatories, and that the payroll is not seen by the Chief Executive Officer when the ruling by the board is that the payroll must be signed by the CEO. Butters said that all along, Senior Management officials were aware of everything that was going on, as it relates to the discrepancies at the institution.

“So the important point I would like to make is that

these three persons should not be used as the scapegoats to cover up what has been going on. The ordinary employees should not be taking the fall for this.

Let the blame fall where it should.”

Butters pointed out that the payroll from the hospital has to go to the Ministry of Health for verification, so he found it surprising that the irregularities that were being perpetrated at the institution were not discovered years ago.

The three employees attached to the accounts department of the Linden Hospital Complex were arrested following allegations of a multimillion-dollar fraud.

Kaieteur News understands that the three were arrested on Friday last after a $25 million fraud was uncovered.

According to reports several senior officials from the Criminal Investigations Police Headquarters in Georgetown travelled to Linden on Friday to carry out the arrests.

The three suspects were subsequently taken to the city for further interrogation.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

NCN CHANNEL 11 03:00 hrs - Movie 05:00 hrs - Inspiration 05:30 hrs - Newtown Gospel 06:00 hrs - NCN Late Edition(R/B) 06:30 hrs - Kala Milan 07:00 hrs - Guyana Today 08:00 hrs - Feature 08:30 hrs - Pulse Beat(R/B) 09:00 hrs - Cartoons 10:00 hrs - CCTV 11:00 hrs - History 12:00 hrs - CNN 12:30 hrs - NCN Newsbreak 12:35 hrs - Movie 14:30 hrs - Rise & Be Healed 16:00 hrs - Youth Expressions (R\B) 17:00 hrs - Anderson 18:00 hrs - NCN News Magazine – Live 18:30 hrs - Close Up 19:00 hrs - Al Jazeera 20:00 hrs - 3d/daily millions/ play de dream/lotto draw 20:05 hrs - NCN Newsbreak 20:10 hrs - Feature 21:05 hrs - XI Interface 21:35 hrs - Feature 22:05 hrs - NCN News Late Edition 22:35 hrs - Caribbean Newsline 23:30 hrs - Movie

MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 Sign on 05:30 hrs - Revelation and Power 06:00 hrs - Islamic Perspective 06:30 hrs - News Update 07:00 hrs - DAYBREAK 08:00 hrs - Dabi’s musical 08:30 hrs - Avon Video & DVD: Avatar 09:00 hrs - BBC World News 09:15 hrs - Top Notch Music Break 09:30 hrs - Caribbean Temptation Music Mix 10:00 hrs - Amanda’s music break 10:30 hrs - Clairan’s Ent. Music Hour 11:00 hrs - National Geographic 12:00 hrs - The View 13:00 hrs - Weekly Digest 13:30 hrs - The young and The restless 14:30 hrs - Days of Our Lives 15:00 hrs - General Hospital 16:00 hrs - The Bold and The beautiful 16:30 hrs - Cartoons 17:00 hrs - Birthday & other

greetings 17:15 hrs - Death Announcements/ In Memoriam 17:30 hrs - CNN News 18:00 hrs - Pulse Beat: Presentation of Ministry of Health 18:30 hrs - Ma Ke Mahema 19:00 hrs - Focus on GRA 19:30 hrs - News Update 20:30 hrs - DJ Stress Quiz 21:30 hrs - Islam for Guyana 22:00 hrs - Movie: Mahatma Ghandi 23:00 hrs - News update 23:30 hrs - Movie: Mahatma Ghandi continues Sign Off DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55 hrs. Sign On 09:00 hrs. GMA 10:00 hrs. Live! With Kelly and Michael 11:00 hrs. The Ricki Lake Show 12:00 hrs. The View 13:00 hrs. Prime News 13:30 hrs. The Young and the Restless 14:30 hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 15:00 hrs. The Talk 16:00 hrs. Steve Harvey

Tuesday January 29, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Even the unimportant things can be annoying today, especially if they are the result of careless thinking. Unfortunately, you may be in a hurry and judge others harshly if they can’t keep up with your pace.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) There isn’t a lot of room for frivolous activities today; however, a bit of fun isn’t out of the question.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You might not be the most meticulous worker in the world, yet you can move very quickly once you start a job.

However, you may put extra attention toward the details today if you are trying to impress someone, especially your boss.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may do better today if you schedule your activities in advance, rather than flying by the seat of your pants.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Make time to catch up on financial matters today since your mental acuity is even sharper than usual. However, the best application of your skills isn’t just to pay bills or balance your accounts.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You might feel somewhat uncomfortable with your irrational mood swings today as the emotional Moon visits your analytical sign.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) It’s becoming harder every day to contain yourself, but you’re probably not quite ready to let others know your feelings yet.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Spending time with your friends and associates today offers the change of pace you seek, but don’t try to micromanage your social activities.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Attempts to accomplish too many things all at once today could lead to doing a poor job at all of them. Tread lightly in all of your interactions because understating your responses is the most efficient use of your energy now.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) There are powerful forces at work today, yet they may be hiding behind the scenes so you can’t see them directly.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Consider the potential benefits of working in close collaboration with a partner now, whether you’re starting a new endeavor or simply doing a project around the house.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may feel as if everything you do today falls short of other people’s expectations.

17:00 hrs. The Ellen DeGeneres Show 18:00 hrs. Awakening 18:30 hrs. World News 19:00 hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00 hrs. Alliance on the Move 21:00 hrs. NCIS 22:00 hrs. NCIS: Los Angeles (New Episode) 23:00 hrs. Vegas (New Episode) 00:00 hrs. Sign Off

Guides are subjected to change without notice

Page 31

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 33

Sri Lanka clinch rain-marred thriller to win series 2-0

Mahela Jayawardene lofts one straight down the ground (Getty Images)

(Reuters) - Sri Lanka prevailed in a rain-hit thriller to clinch the second and final Twenty20 international against Australia and seal the series 2-0 on Monday.

Glenn Maxwell hit two successive boundaries to bring Australia agonisingly close to their target but could not make contact with the last delivery sent down by Thisara Perera as Sri Lanka eked out a narrow victory via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Put into bat, Mahela Jayawardene (61 not out) featured in fifty-plus partnerships with Jeevan Mendis (25) and Perera (35 not out) to help Sri Lanka overcome a slow start and post 161-4 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia lost both their openers cheaply but captain George Bailey (45) and Shaun Marsh (47 not out) guided them to 60-2 in 10 overs before rain led to the loss of five overs’ play.

Australia were required to score 122 runs from 15 overs under the revised target and 18 runs from the last over from Perera, who removed Bailey with the second ball and followed it with a waisthigh full toss which was adjudged a no-ball.

There were heated exchanges after a closely contested match (Getty Images) Marsh managed a single off the next delivery and watched from the other end as Maxwell hit two straight boundaries to raise hopes of a memorable victory before failing to put bat to the ball at

Doping-Retired German rider Niermann admits to doping Rabobank rider Grischa Niermann of Germany arrives at the sign-in podium with a fake antenna on his helmet before the start of the tenth stage of the 96th Tour de France cycling race between Limoges and Issoudun, July 14, 2009. REUTERS/ Bogdan Cristel

BERLIN (Reuters) German rider Grischa Niermann, who rode for the Netherlands-based Rabobank team for 12 years, has admitted using banned substances to boost his performance, the Dutch cycling federation said on Monday.

“Thanks to the people around me I realised in 2003 that banned substances was not the path I wanted to follow, the 37-year-old said.

“I will give anti-doping

bodies and relevant commissions all further information,” Niermann was quoted as saying on the federation website (www.knwu.nl).

The federation said the rider, who retired last year, admitted to using EPO “several times” between 2000-2003.

“I went through hell and back the last few weeks, but I decided that this is the only possible way to go for me,” said Niermann, who competed

in nine editions of the Tour de France.

Niermann is the latest of several German cyclists to have used banned substances.

Jan Ullrich, Tour champion in 1997 and threetimes runner-up to Lance Armstrong, was found guilty of doping by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last year in relation to the Operation Puerto blooddoping scandal that engulfed cycling six years ago.

He was banned for two years and CAS annulled his results from 2005 until his retirement two years later.

Former Rabobank rider Thomas Dekker, suspended for two years in 2009 for doping, said last week he would give the Dutch AntiDoping Agency the full extent of his knowledge about cheating.

Cycling has long battled a doping problem and this month American Armstrong admitted to using banned drugs in all of his seven Tour de France victories after the International Cycling Union (UCI) stripped him of his titles last year.

the death.

There were a few heat exchanges among the players

during the tense game.

Score: Sri Lanka 4 for 161 (Jayawardene 61*, T

Perera 35*) beat Australia 3 for 119 (Marsh 47*) by 2 runs (D/L method).

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

National female cyclist Marica Dick has been rewarded for her efforts

By Samuel Whyte National Female cyclist Marica Dick recently was the recipient of some financial assistance compliments of Scotia Bank New Amsterdam branch.

Dick, who is still at school pursuing studies in her Advance level examinations, is one of the top female cyclists in the country.

Dick, who has represented the country successfully on a number of occasions, was accompanied by her Coach Randolph Roberts as they paid a visit to the bank’s New Amsterdam Branch at Strand, New Amsterdam where she was presented with a cheque for a tidy sum which will assist her in her ongoing cycling exploits.

Doing the honours for the bank was Assistant branch Manager Mohamed Azim, who congratulated Dick, on behalf of the management and staff of the bank for her

successes in 2012 and wished her well for the New Year.

Azim stated that the bank is always willing to throw back support into the community, for without the community’s support there will be no bank.

He said that they are particularly keen in helping young people in their development and success.

Dick expressed her gratitude to Scotia Bank for coming forward and assists her and assured those gathered that their assistance will be put to good use. She gave the assurance that she will continue to make all those who has assisted her proud.

Coach Roberts also thanked Scotia Bank for answering to their call and sounded out other business entities to follow the example set by the bank.

Dick is a member of the Flying Ace Cycle Club.

The next event of the club is slated for the 18th February when the club in collaboration with former

Assistant branch Manager Mohamed Azim (right) presents the cheque to Marica Dick as Staff of the bank and Coach Roberts appreciates the moment. national cyclist Wilbert Benjamin stages the Benjamin open cycle race.

Tiger Woods wraps up California win for 75th PGA Tour title BBC Sport - Tiger Woods survived a sloppy back nine to win California’s fogdelayed Farmers Insurance Open by four shots - his 75th victory on the PGA Tour.

Resuming six clear of the field with 11 holes of his final round remaining, the American was never in any real danger. The 37-year-old’s eighth triumph at Torrey Pines equals the PGA record for the number of wins at a single course.

Woods’s compatriots Brandt Snedeker and Josh Teater tied for second place, four shots behind Woods at 10 under par.

Woods had got his final round off to an excellent start on Sunday, carding birdies at the third, fourth and sixth holes, and resumed on Monday in solid fashion, reaching the turn in 33.

A birdie followed at the 13th as he calmly two-putted from 52 feet, but having earlier dug himself out of trouble a couple of times after some wayward play from the tee, he bogeyed 14 and double-

U.S. golfer Tiger Woods holds up the trophy after winning at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego, California January 28, 2013.

REUTERS/Mike Blake

bogeyed 15 to reduce his lead from eight shots to five.

Another bogey on 17 will have irked Woods, and taken the gloss off an otherwise highly satisfactory week’s work for the 14-time Major winner at the scene of his 2008 US Open triumph.

He finished his level-par round of 72 with a routine par.

“It got a little ugly towards the end,” he admitted. “I just lost my patience and concentration a little bit.”

Woods has now won three PGA Tour events seven times - the Farmers Insurance Open follows the WGCBridgestone Invitational and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Defending champion Snedeker dropped one shot in the five holes he had to complete on Monday, signing off with a 69 - the same threeunder par final-round score as Teater.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Banks Premium Beer Knockout Futsal Classic It was goals in abundance on the first night of competition in the Unique Entertainment/ Banks Premium Beer Knockout Futsal Classic which was played on Saturday evening, at the Mackenzie Sports Club as four teams were sent packing after suffering defeats.

Hard Knocks made life extremely difficult for Sharp Shooters who they crushed 19-0, New Era Russians then cruised past Vipers 6-2, Young Ballers came from behind to beat Barsonal 4-2, while Retrieve Unknowns edged Canvas City All-Stars 1-0.

Many heard about the $500,000 first prize, but they probably were not told that it would take some amount of skills, grit and determination to get it.

Sharp Shooters learnt the hard way when they came up against a star studded Hard Knocks in a vicious first game.

Watched by a packed

Kaieteur News

Page 35

Hard Knocks hit 19 goals past Sharp Shooters - New Era Russians, Retrieve Unknowns and Young Ballers also victorious house at the town’s premier sporting facility, John Waldron and Alister Johnson each fired in five goals to see their side Hard Knocks past Sharp Shooters.

Sharp Shooters knew they were in for a long night after Randy Small scored a rocket right foot volley just two seconds into the contest for Hard Knocks who went on to hold a 10-0 half time lead.

With the fans urging onHard Knocks, the scoring onslaught continued. Colwin David netted four, Edwin Benjamin had a double, while Trenton Benjamin and an own goal totaled the goals for Hard Knocks who moved one spot closer to the Half a Million Dollars first prize.

Meanwhile, tournament favourites New Era Russians also turned in an impressive performance when they took the venom from the Vipers.

Team Captain Travis

Waterton shots were on point throughout the game, while Odel Allicock excellent saving between the uprights saw the Russians leading 4-0 at half time.

But, Vipers struck back with consecutive goals until the Dwayne ‘Uncle’ Charles led defence tightened up and with Dingo Greene and Carlos Grant adding a goal apiece, the six scored was more than enough to send the New Era Entertainment sponsored team through to the next round.

Darrell George’s long strike did the trick for Retrieve Unknown over Canvas City All-Stars in one of the most entertaining games of the night.

After a scoreless first half, fans were kept on their feet as the two sides attacked each other relentlessly, but good defending on both sides thwarted any real chances until George was able to slip one through in the closing

seconds of the game.

The tournament was officially declared open by Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon, who charged the players that gathered to be

good ambassadors both on and off the court.

The tournament will be played every Friday and Sunday and is set to culminate on February 17.

The second place finishers will pocket $300,000 and third place $150,000 in the event that was made possible by Banks DIH and their Premium Beer brand.

JAYASURIYA NAMED SRI LANKA’S CHAIRMAN OF SELECTORS COLOMBO (Reuters) Former Sri Lanka cricketer turned politician Sanath Jayasuriya was appointed chairman of selectors in a new-look five-member committee named by sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage on Monday.

Jayasuriya, 43, is joined by 1996 World Cup winning team mate Pramodya Wickramasinghe.

Former Sri Lanka players Hemantha Wickramaratne, Eric Upashantha and Chaminda Mendis were the

other selectors appointed.

Wickramaratne is the only surviving member of the previous committee headed

by Ashantha de Mel whose extended term ends on Jan. 31.

A destructive left-handed opener, Jayasuriya represented Sri Lanka in 110 Tests and 445 one-day internationals in a 22year career before quitting in 2011 and taking to politics.

He is a Member of Parliament of the ruling party United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in his hometown Matara.

Sanath Jayasuriya

Page 36

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Top local fighters on show in Elton Dharry/ Pearl Promotions Mashramani boxing card Just over two months after staging his inaugural boxing promotions, Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) bantamweight champion, Elton ‘Bully’ Dharry (he requested the ‘Coolie’ be dropped from his sobriquet), will head a list of local and international fighters showing off their skills at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Sunday February 24 next.

Dharry left for the United States of American, shortly after he had disposed of Barbadian, Ricardo Blackman,

inside of 2 rounds last month, where he engaged several individuals in discussions to make the card a reality. He spoke with Kaieteur Sport, Sunday afternoon last, at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing gym, where he had gone to engage in light gym work.

He said that the partnership with Pearl Vodka, a business entity of the USA is still intact but negotiations pertaining to the final compilation of the card are in its embryonic stages.

However, he has procured a

blueprint of the card.

Dharry will headline the proceedings but at the moment is mulling over three possible opponents from the Dominican Republic, Jamaica or Mexico.

‘The Bully’ also hinted that negotiations with Jamaican Rudolph Hedge are ongoing and Hedge might very well be the eventual choice.

“Within a week or two we will have finalized all arrangements,” assured Dharry.

Former bantamweight

Syrian pugilist, Mahmood Loul (centre) is flanked by Elton Dharry (left) and Dexter Marques. champion, Dexter ‘The Kid’ Marques is also scheduled to lace up his gloves against either Mexican Jose Riviera, a 2 times New York Golden Gloves champion, and if negotiations fall through, Selwyn Lett should fill the void.

Two other top Guyanese fighters, local featherweight, lightweight and WBC CABOFE jnr/welterweight champion, Clive Atwell and local super/middleweight champion, Lennox Alleyne are

scheduled to complete the card. Dharry hinted that both fighters might be matched against international opponents.

Meanwhile, another fighter, Mahmood Loul, a Syrian living in New Jersey will also comprise a part of the card. Loul accompanied Dharry to Guyana and was also in the gym yesterday afternoon.

The 22 years old pugilist said that he has been engaged in kick boxing from

the tender age of three but was also an amateur boxer in his country.

He said that fighting is in his blood so when he was asked to appear on the imminent card he immediately took up the challenge.

He said that he has fought 18 times as a kick boxer and has suffered only 3 losses.

Dharry is still to reveal who his opponent will be but he said that he is searching for someone that will offer stiff competition.

Windies girls show benefits from time at Sagicor High Performance Centre Mumbai, India – The members of the West Indies Women’s team, presently in India for the ICC Women’s World Cup, are showing the benefits of their time at the Sagicor High Performance Centre. This is the view of Andre Coley, the High Performance Coach, who has accompanied the 15-member squad to India for the prestigious event.

Coley, a former Jamaica wicket-keeper and West Indies Under-19 coach, has been based at the Sagicor High Performance Centre since inception in 2010.

He is presently working alongside Sherwin Campbell, the former West Indies Vice Captain, who has been Women’s Head Coach for five years.

“Having the opportunity to train at the excellent indoor and outdoor facilities at the Sagicor HPC has helped the girls in a major way. They had

the chance to fine-tune some technical areas when they were in Barbados for a month at the end of last year. In the time they were there we saw some tremendous improvements in all departments,” said Coley, who also worked with the team when they reached the semi-finals of the ICC World T20 in Sri Lanka last year.

“We have seen the confidence levels improve among the girls. We have also seen an improvement in the skill levels, and the performances overall as a team have also moved up.

Their awareness of how to play the game at this level, in home and foreign conditions, has also improved and these are some of the key areas that have to be worked on if we are to become a stronger force in women’s cricket.”

Since the stint at the Sagicor HPC, West Indies tied the five-match ODI rubber

against South Africa and then easily beat the visitors 2-0 in the Twenty20 series at Beausejour Cricket Ground.

They left home last week for the ICC Women’s World Cup, which will be played in the Indian cities of Mumbai and Cuttack. West Indies will have a warm-up match on Monday against Australia followed by another warm-up on Tuesday against a Local XI. They have been drawn in Group A alongside defending champions England, hosts India, and Sri Lanka. Group B will include Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.

“We have an excellent coaching staff and support staff so we believe we will do well in India. The overall aim is to win the tournament, but we also want to see the girls doing the basics right as we continue to build a team for the future,” Coley said.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 37

PREPARATIONS HEIGHTENED FOR BUSH LOT UNITED SEASON OPENING HORSERACE MEET With less than one week away for the 2013 opening horserace meet organised by the Bush Lot United Turf Club set for next Sunday, 3rd February at the club entity Sea View Park Bush Lot West Coast Berbice, season preparations have heightened.

The venue, which has been considered the most improved over the past year and has been gaining in prominence since the club returned to competitive racing two years ago, has been a hive of activity over the past week.

The authorities were busy putting in finishing touches on the track, stands, Paddocks and lavatory facilities and with this being the opening act for year the organisers led by coordinator Lakeram “Buddy” Sookdeo will want to set a high standard for the others to follow. Nine races are carded for the day with the action set to get rolling at 12:30 hrs.

Entries have mounted to 60 and with over $8.5 M in cash and trophies up for grabs and an action packed day of racing is anticipated. With this being the first race of the day owners, trainers, grooms and jockeys will be looking for the early advantage.

Some of the horses taking

entry are - Sleeping in Town, Diamond Illusion, Majestic Windy Killer, Red and Lovely, Silent Flight, Flying Baby, Diamond Dazzling, Spice and Obama. They joined other like Score’s even, California Strike, The Message, Technology, Grande Roja, Got TO Go, Home Bush Baby, Settle In Seattle, Third World, Top Of the Line, Captain Crook, Windy War, Serenity, Storm In a Tea Cup, It my Turn, Silent Lizzy, Another Jet, I want Revenge, Who is on The Case, Wild Grinder, Rosanna, Wonder Flower, Gold Rush, The Girl Them Sugar, Indian King, Fresh Again, Ameera’s Joy, Karina, De Gump, Alana, Secretariat, Mr. Kool, Flying Object and Pixie Fire and Mona Lisa among others as the early entrants for the day’s meet.

Among the sponsors on board are Banks DIH, Eron Lall Civil Engineering and Construction Company, Mohammed “Nankoo” Shariff of the Shariff racing stable, Rommel Jagroop, Trophy Stall, Bourda Market, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, Inshan Bacchus, Buddy Shivraj, Shano Seenarine Phagoo General Store and Balbadose Sue Sankar of West Berbice among others.

The feature race will once again be for horses classified

Pocket Rocket Gym to host Pre-Mash Boxing Card

Mark Thom (left) and Orlan Rogers Pocket Rocket Gym of New Amsterdam will host a Pre-Mash night of boxing on March 2 to usher in the New Amsterdam Mashramani Celebrations against two Georgetown-based Gyms at the Big Head Pool on Angoy’s Avenue.

The card is set to start at 7pm with the organisers Orlan ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers and Mark Thom promising a riveting night of boxing. They told Kaieteur Sport yesterday that they are putting all the necessary things in place for the card to succeed.

“Right now we are putting in the mechanisms to return competitive boxing to New Amsterdam on this night. We are confirming with our sponsors and we hope that they will help us enhance this event,” Rogers indicated.

The duo said that they plan to host a card every month to keep boxers from the community active as they prepare for a robust scheduled ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games. They believe that with the right support they can accomplish their goal.

‘B’ and lower with the animals set to cover a distance of 1400M. The winner is set to take home a whopping $1.2M and trophy.

The event for three year old Guyana and West Indies Bred horses which will see the winner running away with $500,000 and trophy over 1400M. The horses classified D and lower will be racing for a top prize of $450,000 and

trophy over 1400M. There is an event for animals classified F and lower for a first prize of $400,000 and trophy over 1200M. The G class race will be a 1200M affair with the animals running for a winning purse of $350,000 and trophy.

There is also $350,000 and trophy available for the winner of the Guyana Bred three year old event which will

be a 1400M affair. The race for I class horses has a pole position taking of $200,000and trophy over 1200M. The J class event will see the animals racing for a winner’s money of the $150,000 and trophy in another 1200M contest. The K class match up will see the winner pocketing $120,000 and trophy over 1200M. The individual performers

including top jockey, stable and trainer will be presented with trophies compliments of The Trophy Stall, Bourda Market.

Interested persons can make enquiries with Coordinator and Treasurer Lakeram B. Sukhdeo on telephone Number 232-0558 or 672-0810 or President R. Jagit (tel 232-0231). (Samuel Whyte)

Page 38

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Loja Brazilian, K&B Mining support Leroy Brummel’s 10/10 Cricket Competition K&B Mining’s Sita Hussein hands over one of the championship trophies to Guyana Police Force Sports Officer, Colin Boyce yesterday.

Loja Brazilian’s, Ruibiane and Anarita Pineheiro (right) make a presentation to Guyana Police Force (GPF) Sports Officer, Colin Boyce yesterday.

Loja Brazilian, a subsidiary of Mark Interior Communications, and K&B Mining offered support yesterday for acting Commissioner of Police, Leroy Brummel’s Birth Anniversary

10/10 Cricket Competition.The Police competition, which will host its grand final on February 10 at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, started last week.

Headquarters will take on ‘D’ Division in one of the semis while ‘G’ Division battle ‘B’ Division in another semi the same day.The female competition, which includes six teams, will get

underway tomorrow. The grand final will also feature games between 4R Lioness and Trophy Stall Angels in the female segment with Floodlight Masters taking on Police Officers in a male contest.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

GCA\Noble House Sea Foods 2nd division tourney

Alkins bags 7 wkt haul as UG beat MYO, ECC draw with Police Off-spinner Royston Alkins bagged 7 wickets for 30 runs as University of Guyana defeated MYO by 8 wickets when the latest action in the Georgetown Cricket Association\ Noble House Sea Foods 2 day 2nd division competition concluded last weekend.

Playing at MYO, the home team resumed on their overnight second innings score of 40-1 and were bowled out for 156 in 49 overs. Zamal Khan made 60 (12x4), while Asif Mohamed supported with 30 (5x4) and Abdool Karim 20 (4x4).

UG then reached their winning target of 84 in 13.4 overs losing 2 wickets in the process. Leon Williams top scored with an even half century which contained nine fours.

Scores: MYO (124 and 156, UG 199 and 84-2).

At GYO, Everest and Police played to an exiting draw. Everest began the final day on 183-7 and took their first innings total to 269-9 declared in 64.5 overs. Riyad Sattaur, who ended day one unbeaten on 51, took his score to 76 (13x4) before he was dismissed.

Vishal Jaigobin and Kevin Leach took 3 wickets each.

Riyad Sattaur

Garfield De Roche

Trailing by 79 runs, Police in their second turn at the crease managed 165 all out in 41.2 overs with Rawl Haynes 45 (3x4,4x6) and Munilall Persaud 32 (5x4,1x6) being their principal scorers.

Pacer Garfield De Roche grabbed 4-41, Christopher Surat 3-56 and Raphael Singh 2-24.

Everest needed to score 88 for victory which would guarantee them a place in the semifinals were 63 -6 in 8 overs

when play was halted due to bad light. Surat and Mohan Ramdeen made 19 apiece; Steven Black picked up 4-16 and Lanson La Rose 2-25.

Meanwhile, members of the Everest team later told Kaieteur Sport that they will lodge a protest to the GCA since 7 overs were still to be bowled with 14 minutes remaining in the day’s play, and the fielding team (Police) was wasting time.

Scores: Police (191 and 165, ECC 269 and -63-6).

Athletics official hails Jamaica as model country SEOUL, Republic of Korea — President and managing director of Special Olympic North America, Bob Gobrecht, said Jamaica is a model for developing countries across the globe seeking to improve their respective programmes for intellectually disabled athletes.

Speaking to the Jamaica Observer at the World Winter Games registration centre in Seoul, Republic of Korea, Gobrecht said Special Olympics Jamaica is doing work that Jamaicans should be “proud of”.

“The Jamaican nation is actually a leader in the movement around the world.

For a developing country you have said ‘this is important’, and we look at Jamaica with a great deal of respect.

“A lot of countries want to model their Special Olympics programme like Jamaica, and Jamaicans

should be proud of that,” said the region’s Special Olympics head.

The Special Olympic Games provide the opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities to display their skills and capabilities and target the breaking down of barriers that exclude them from mainstream society.

The disabilities can either be acquired or genetic, and can include cases of cerebral palsy, Down’s Syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and autism.

Gobrecht stressed that he wants to see these athletes get the recognition similar to legendary Jamaican Olympian Usain Bolt, and added that the Pyeongchang 2013 World Games could be one of the biggest Special Olympics to date.

“The movement is about human potential and inclusion. Our athletes deserve the right to be on the platform like any athlete... Like

your great athlete Usain Bolt or any athlete.

“The Korean nation has come together to put on a world-class event. We have over 2,000 athletes from all over the world and I think it’ll be one of our best Winter Games... We are very excited about it.

“The Summer and Winter Games are both growing.

There is more demand for it and we now have over four million athletes throughout the world and all of those have the aspiration to come to the World Games. Over 100 nations are here and over 175 nations across the world are involved with the Special Olympics,” he said.

The Jamaicans will compete in floor hockey and ice figure skating at the January 29 to February 5 Championships. Jamaica won floor hockey gold in Idaho 2009 after defeating Canada in the final. (Jamaica Observer)

Page 39

Black Sharks look ominous, ravages Rose Hall Town Sharks are known for their endurance and will power to fight and keep coming and those attributes were displayed by the Fyrish Black Sharks. After a not so impressive start to the competition with 2 loses from two matches the Fyrish Black Sharks have found their range and showed their resilience to bounce back and devour all in their way to book their place in the final of the Inaugural Banks Classic Inter Club Basketball competition being played in Berbice.

In the second semifinal game which was played at the Fyrish basketball court the

ICC Women’s World Cup, India ESPNcricinfo - India Women won their first warmup fixture against New Zealand Women, beating them by eight wickets in Mumbai. Chasing a modest target of 202, India’s top order took the match away from New Zealand.

Openers Poonam Raut (69) and Thirush Kamini (43) put on 119 within 27 overs but both were dismissed in quick succession. The captain Mithali Raj (36*) and Harmanpreet Kaur (46*) steered them to victory form there, with an 83run partnership.

Earlier, New Zealand lost their top three wickets for 44 after they were put in to bat.

Sara McGlashan (56) and Frances Mackay (69) stabilised their innings but a lower-order collapse meant

Black Sharks took some time to settle in after trailing 21-17 at half time before sorting out their prey and then going on a rampage to conquer their opponents 52-44.

The Sharks triumph was a total team effort as they showed their hunting skill and why they are good at hunting in packs as none of their players had a runaway score.

They attacked relentlessly, swarming their opponents and distributed the ball evenly. Leading hunters for the Black Sharks were Joel Fraser 12, national Crandon Royston Crandon 8 and Linden Joseph 8.

For Rose Hall Town the consistent Eon Wiggins scored a game high 16 with Assym Aslam contributed 12.

The Black Sharks have now booked their place in the final alongside Central New Amsterdam who defeated a Smythfield Rockerfella in a keenly contested first semifinal 50-49.

The date and venue for the finals will be decided shortly. The top team and runner up will receive attractive prizes, while outstanding individual players will also be recognized with trophies and other incentives.

(Samuel Whyte)

India, England start with victories they were dismissed for 201 in 47.5 overs.

Defending champions England Women beat South Africa Women by 51 runs in their opening warm-up fixture in Mumbai. England were put in to bat and opener Charlotte Edwards (78) led them till the 30th over. Lydia Greenway (35) and Heather Knight (42), along with some boundaries from the lower-order, ensured England a total of 270.

South Africa Women were in the hunt, led by Trisha Chetty (57) and Mignon du Preez (64*) after they lost Shandre Fritz early. But their scoring rate was hovering around four runs per over and wickets towards the end meant they fell short of the target.

Sri Lanka Women

suffered a four-wicket loss at the hands of Mumbai Combined XI in Mumbai.

Put in to bat, Sri Lanka were rocked by early wickets as they were reduced to 27 for 4 and then 47 for 8 even though some of their batsmen got to bat twice. A flurry of boundaries towards the end

by Prasadani Weerakkody (39) and Chamani Seneviratna (38) and opportunities to bat twice for the others took their team total to 189.

Mumbai Combined were led by a half-century from Ashutosh Singh at the top and knocks of 49 and 34 from Abhishek Desai and Vinay Mishra respectively. Even though Sri Lanka dismissed six of Mumbai’s batsmen, the total of 189 was not enough to earn them a victory.

Page 40

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 29, 2013

GIRLS GO DOWN HEAVILY TO AUSTRALIA Deandra Dottin ducks under a bouncer (ICC Solaris Images)

Jess Cameron made 62 from 53 balls (ICC Solaris Images)

ESPNcricinfo MUMBAI, India – Australia Women cruised to a 135-run victory over West Indies

Women at the MIG Ground in Mumbai. Choosing to bat first, Australia’s openers gave them a flying start with Elyse

Villani (50) and Rachael Haynes (61) putting on 165, followed by half-centuries from Jess Cameron (62) and

Lisa Sthalekar (59). The middle order also chipped in to ensure they scored 333.

West Indies’ batsmen got off to starts but they lost wickets regularly, until Deandra Dottin (52) stabilised the innings. The top four put up only 50 runs together, which made the chase

tougher. Once Dottin was dismissed in the 26th over, Australia dismissed their remaining batsmen cheaply and completed a comprehensive victory.

Scores: AUSTRALIA 333 for five off 50 overs (Jess Cameron 62, Rachael Haynes 61, Lisa Sthalekar

59, Elyse Villani 50, Jodie Fields 35 not out, Alex Blackwell 27) WEST INDIES 198 all out off 44.3 overs (Deandra Dottin 52, Merissa Aguilleira 32, Shakera Selman 29 not out; Ellyse Perry 2-36, Lisa Sthalekar 2-42)-Jess Cameron

Dwayne Bravo ready for return to Windies colours Canberra, Australia – Dwayne Bravo is set to make a return to the West Indies team when he turns out against the Prime Minister’s XI in today’s warm-up match at the Manuka Oval.

It will be the first international day/night match at the ground.

The Windies Vice Captain last wore the Number 47 jersey when he celebrated victory in the ICC World T20 Championship final on October 7 last year – his 29th birthday. He missed the tour of Bangladesh late last year but is promising to be back with a bang as he lines up against the Ricky Ponting-led side.

“We are happy to be here. I’ve been out for a while and I’m happy to be back for the West Indies. The Prime Minister always fields a good XI – as we can see led by Ricky Ponting, one of the greatest captains to play the game. We are looking forward to playing against him once again and starting the tour with a win,” said Bravo.

He was speaking on

Monday afternoon as the West Indies held a full training session at the match venue. After training they were special guests at the official welcome function hosted by Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Bravo has represented West Indies for nine seasons and is on his fourth trip Down Under.

“As a senior player, I am looking to share my knowledge and experience of having played in Australia over the years with the younger players. We have a few players who are here for the first time, so we hope they can come along and have a good five-match ODI series,” Bravo added.

“Playing [against] Australia at home is never going to be easy, but we feel our chances are very good.

We have some good players in the set-up and as a team we will give it our best shot and the people in Australia will see some good cricket.

Playing in Australia is always great – lovely conditions and pitches and the fans come out and

support cricket. We will focus on what we have to do.”

Bravo also suggested that the team has benefitted from the knowledge and experience of the players who participated in the Australian Big Bash League.

“It gives us an advantage and gives us an insight into how the Aussies think,” Bravo said. “The Big Bash helped us a lot in getting used to the conditions and we’re going to try to make sure to pass on whatever advantage we have.”

Chris Gayle, the game’s most powerful batsman, has also attracted the attention of everyone in Canberra. Three years ago when the two sides last met, the 33-year-old smashed an amazing 146 off just 89 balls – with eight sixes – as the Windies made 399-5 off 45 overs.

Bravo noted: “We all know Chris is one of the best players in the world, you can’t hide that, and these conditions suit him. I hope that people remember that and know that he’s still a dangerous batsman.”

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 41

‘Sleeping in Town’ will be awake and running for more glory in 2013 Amidst the ongoing debate of which was the better or champion horses for 2012, perhaps the animal that shined out like a beacon, was no other than Sleeping in Town. That is, because its wins came at the end of the season which saw it winning four consecutive races, including two in one day.

If the name has anything to go by, then Sleeping in Town might be just another participant. But the animal has destroyed the old adage of name and nature to end 2012 as one of the better racehorses in Guyana.

Owned by Cyril Crawford and his wife Savitree Persaud of the Crawford/Persaud stable of Tain, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice, the animal was sourced from Trinidad just over a year ago.

Brought in as a G class horses it has quickly climbed through

the different stages of the G class category to destroy all and sundry in its path. It now campaigns in the E class and has already chalked up an impressive win running from down the pack. What was telling, it was the final race meet for last year. The animal known for its blistering finish moved up in class to compete among the established E class animals, but the move did not affect it and only enhanced its reputation as the horse romped to victory, finishing with a blaze of speed, running past everything in front of it to seal victory and collecting the $500,000 and trophy up for grabs. As Crawford assured that will be the pattern for 2013. He stated that as we end 2012 the pattern will continue in 2013 with an even more impressive display.

Crawford stated that he

has been into horseracing for a very long time. He migrated and was out of the game for a while, but stated that he has returned and is out to reclaim his status. He knew Sleeping in Town was a winner from the day he bought it, but some horses take some time before they develop and was fully ready. He knew it would have been a champion. He stated that the horse is getting to the desired standard and will pose problems for its opponents during this year.

“I know I have the best animal in Guyana, so I don’t have to worry. I will be moving from stage to stage. I have already taken care of the G class. The E is also under control. The D will be next then it will be on to the bigger boys. Trained by Carlton Pluck, the animal will be looking to start the New Year right with another thumping

Goed Fortuin collect prize after dominating Mayor Green’s birthday tournament

Major Hamilton Green (2nd R) poses with the winning captain, Anthony Harding (3rd right), Levi Braithwaite (extreme right), Lennox Arthur (extreme left) and other members of the winning team Footballers of the Goed Fortuin community braved the inclement weather among other vicissitudes that forced the postponement of many of the fixtures, to eventually emerge winners and eventual champions when they opposed Den Amsteel in the Mayor Hamilton Green’s 78th birth anniversary Inter-Ward knockout soccer t o u r n a m e n t at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground, January 24.

The winners prevailed 4-

3 on penalty kicks and carted off the top prize of $200,000 while each player received one food hamper of Ricks and Sari products, donated by that entity. The runners up received $100,000.

The representatives of the two teams and the organizer of the tournament, Lennox Arthur, convened at the office of Major Hamilton Green yesterday morning for the prize giving ceremony.

Mr. Green congratulated Mr. Arthur on his organizational

skills which he said reflected in the quality of the tournament.

He also extended congratulations to the two top teams while urging them to keep on honing their skills to excellence. Captain of the winning team, Anthony Harding collected the prize and expressed delight at his team’s accomplishments. His opposite number, Levi Braithwaite was also present and collected on behalf of the Grove Hi Tech squad.

victory when it competes at the Bush Lot United Turf Club one day horse race meet on February 3rd.

It has already built a reputation and has all intentions of upholding it.

One such is being among the band of animals that has scored two victories in two categories on the same day.

Another unique feature of the animal is that it is being ridden by an apprentice jockey Brandon Solomon who has only started riding during the latter part of 2012.

In fact Solomon’s first race saw him piloting Sleeping In Town to victory in what was the start of its four successive victories. As Crawford asked, ‘if that performance is not enough to propel it to champion horse status, then we will have to show them something different this year.’

Sleeping in Town likes to go out early and also has a good finish as was seen in its last race when it ran down the homestretch to win the E class

Sleeping In Town about to enter a race.

event.

Crawford stated that he will be enhancing his stocks with a few more horses. One of his other animal’s Windy Killer is already building a name for itself among the lower category horses. Quite unlike its name Sleeping in

Town will be wide awake and according to owners the animal is now coming on and getting better, having taken some time to settle in. In the meantime all eyes will be wide open and looking at the animal in its quest to put is opponents to sleep.

t r o Sp

Aussie PM hosts Windies team Kemar Roach to join Windies tour in Perth

Members of the West Indies team pose with Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard at Monday's gala function at her official residence. (WICB)

C

anberra, Australia – Members of the West Indies team were hosted at a gala function at the official residence of Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday.

The team play the PM’s XI in a day/night practice match today at the Manuka Oval. The Windies will hope to start on a winning note and maintain that form if they are the defeat the Aussies at home.

Meanwhile, West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach will miss today’s warm-up match against the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval. The 24-year-old was based in Australia since December but was given leave to attend a personal matter.

He will join the team later this week in Perth. He is expected to be available for the first One-Day International at the WACA Ground on Friday.

The match between West Indies and the Prime Minister’s XI will be the first international game under lights at Manuka Oval.

Following the interaction yesterday, Members of the West Indies team posed with Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard for a photo.

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