Kaieteur News

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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

DELUSIONAL!

Since losing the election on May 11, 2015, Bharrat Jagdeo, the leader of the opposition, has predictably been relentless in his attacks on a government which has been in office for only eight months. Apparently he has convinced himself that he is the only person in Guyana who is capable of running the country. Any objective observer who takes the time to seriously examine Jagdeo’s 12-year record as President would recognize that his view of himself borders on delusion. The truth is that the former president presided over the second most corrupt country in the Western Hemisphere, after Haiti. Guyana also had the highest crime rate during his tenure. He did not preserve the economic and social structures bequeathed to him by the previous governments or upheld the principles of statesmanship and etiquette as the leader of a state. During the 1960s and 1970s, Guyana gained its Independence and was established as the first Cooperative Republic. But the Burnham-led government subsequently lost its way and the next regime lost power. In 1992, many Guyanese both at home and in the diaspora were ecstatic at the defeat of the PNC government by the PPP, because of what was deemed the harsh rule and alleged rigged elections by the Burnham regime. But it took Guyanese a while to realize that they were getting rid of one monstrous regime, but had elected an atrocious PPP government that turned the country into a corrupt, drug-infested and criminal state. While the public had given the PPP regime the chance to govern, it was secretly dismantling most of the respected institutions established. In a matter of a few months, the PPP administration fired hundreds of qualified senior civil servants and career diplomats and replaced them with unqualified party activists and cronies. Yet, because of his youth, the nation extended an olive branch to Jagdeo when he assumed power in 1999. They quickly realized that he would continue the indiscretions of years past, and in the most dastardly manner. Jagdeo did not bring with him the 1960s political baggage of Jagan and Burnham, but whatever he brought appeared to be worst. Under his presidency, extra-judicial murders took the life of almost 500 young men, drug lords were given a free reign and Guyana remained stuck as the second poorest country in the Caribbean. There was merciless marginalization and those who disagreed with him were victimized and systematically denied access to the country’s resources, contracts and jobs. Despite his poor record as President, Jagdeo still believes that he is the only person who could lead Guyana, which is bizarre to say the least. His attempts to portray himself as the person who could solve all the social and economic ills of the country have raised eyebrows among the population. It is delusional. While in office, Jagdeo reduced state funding for key sectors and places of higher learning, especially at UG, as well as health care and social services, but at the same time squandered billions of taxpayer funds on the unnecessary Marriott Hotel, the White Elephant Skeldon Sugar Factory, and on bogus contracts awarded to friends and relatives. In theory, he supported the idea of alternative energy and a green economy, but he did not implement any policies to enhance their development. It was all a charade. Having experienced the brutality, massive corrupt practices, contempt of the Constitution and political incompetence by the Jagdeo/Ramotar administration, it is highly unlikely that Jagdeo will ever be even considered to run this country again. Guyana desperately needs solutions to its predicaments, Jagdeo certainly isn’t the answer.

Tuesday January 19, 2016

Letters... Where your views make the news

Kaieteur news should retract its erroneous statement DEAR EDITOR, The Ministry of the Presidency calls on the Publisher and Editor of Kaieteur News (KN) to immediately retract the erroneous statement attributed to the His Excellency President David Granger that appears in the KN Editorial, Monday January 18, 2016- under the caption, ‘Perpetuating the Myth’. In the Editorial it is erroneously and misleadingly stated that President Granger in his address to Parliament on January14, 2016, said that he is optimistic that Guyana will achieve economic independence by the time it celebrates its 50th independence in May ( 2016). President Granger never made such

a statement in his address to Parliament. The President in his address made reference to our (Guyana’s) continued quest for economic independence by saying “Changing the name of a country was a simple matter. Revolutionising the economy, indeed, was a difficult and never ending process. This year -2016- is an opportunity to hasten our economic development. Our Golden Jubilee year presents us with the challenge of renewing the ‘Independence Covenant’ and rekindling the enterprising spirit of ‘26th May.’ This year has been designated the ‘Year of Renaissance.’ It will be devoted to the rebirth and the renewal of the promise of economic

Independence and resilience.” The President further explained that “Our task today is to complete our mission by securing within the next decade, a ‘good life’ for all Guyanese. The necessity of economic transformation cannot be denied or delayed.” The Ministry of the Presidency calls on Kaieteur News to immediately remove the misleading statement. Mark A. Archer Director of Communication Ministry of the Presidency Editor’s note: We regret the mistake and apologize. It was an unfortunate lapse of our guest editorial

Dr. Bulkan asking questions about BaiShanLin DEAR EDITOR, I begin with a question -If there is no FDI document for Bai Shan Lin, how could there be fiscal concessions for more than ten years? Minister with some responsibility for the Natural Resources Sector, Raphael Trotman, and Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, allegedly said that they could not find the documents covering the foreign direct incentive (FDI) tax concessions awarded by the PPP/C regime a decade ago to the Chinese transnational logger Bai Shan Lin (‘Concessions granted under PPP must be renegotiated – Govt. Official’, Kaieteur News 18 January 2016). The Ministry of Finance has been awarding tax concessions to BSL annually during this decade, and publishing the amounts from time to time in the Guyana Chronicle. So some person or unit in the Ministry of Finance must be aware of the legal authority for such dispensation. If the currently chaotic Special

Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) and Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) are unable to deal with this simple case, no doubt our Attorney General, Basil Williams, has reminded the Cabinet that the National Assembly itself can take action? ‘Where it appears to a legislative body that anyone within Guyana is able to give any information with respect to the subject matter of any question arising for its determination or has any books, plans, or documents in his possession or under his control in any way relating to the subject matter of that question, that body may cause a summons to be issued to the person . . . requiring the person to be and appear before the legislative body . . . for the purpose of being examined (and, if so required, then and there to produce the books, plans, or documents mentioned in the summons . . .’ (section 3 (1) in the Legislative Bodies (Evidence) Act (cap. 1:08, 1880/1977)). This Act goes on to prescribe penalties for failing to appear when

summoned and for failing to produce the documents. Thus the National Assembly can compel evidence from the Ministries, Bai Shan Lin itself and from the innermost recesses of the PPP/C. We look forward to immediate action by the National Assembly, given that Bai Shan Lin has been receiving more than US$ 40 million income from its sales of unprocessed timber logs, entirely contrary to approved national policies and the manifestos of the main political parties since 2006, plus those investment incentives, but has failed to construct even the foundations for its long promised US$70 million wood processing facility. And don’t forget the sales of steel imported duty free by BSL and then sold on to the private sector instead of being used for construction of the BSL wood processing facility (http://www. kaieteurnewsonline.com/2016/01/17/ baishanlin-ventures-into-hardwaresupplies/) – a blatant illegality. Janette Bulkan

The lady says the police charging the wrong drivers DEAR EDITOR, Please permit a little space for this important and far-reaching topic affecting all law abiding citizens as regards to the conduct and law affecting the populace. I was driving at 59km on a 50 km roadway in New Road, West Coast Demerara and was charged by traffic police making their daily hide and pounce method with speed guns. What I noticed when in the company of the traffic ranks was about 10 other drivers there awaiting their traffic tickets, some begging the ranks for leniency. Some drivers were issued tickets with violations of speeding at 52km and 53 km. Editor, please note that if anyone is driving at speeds of 59km on this roadway, almost all other drivers will

overtake him, this is the daily life on the roadway. This now left the police with the options of who and when to charge, meaning that they can now bargain with each and every driver which includes decent as well as errant drivers. When the law is such that it places all citizens in a position as defaulters it clearly lose touch with reality and stuck in medieval times. When we plead with the ranks to give us a chance as we are still within the decent 60km range, the officers remarked that the Government need revenues to maintain the country and the police have to play their part in collecting some of this revenue. Considering the carnage, deaths, loss of property, loss of revenue and grieving relatives that characterized our roadway in recent history, one can only

ask if the law and traffic police are contributing to these scourges?. What I mean is this; are police looking in the right direction to stop the carnage? Is the law there to engulf all decent drivers in the web of criminality? This complaint is not meant to tarnish anyone but to point out that the police and by extension the governmental system are looking in the wrong direction and the law is allowing decent citizens to bear the pain of the real criminals out there. Now who are the real criminals on the roadway? At any moment of the day one can witness the following happening: speeding over 120 km on any road, drag racing, undertaking, stopping without trafficator lights on, (Continued on page 23)

Tuesday January 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

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

More analysis on the suicide syndrome DEAR EDITOR, At an alarming rate of 44.2 suicides per 100,000 people, nearly four times higher than the global average, Guyana has the highest rate of suicide in the world. It remains Guyana’s most troubling social problem and one that seems to be getting ever more desperate. As such, it is of urgent need that Guyana unites at all levels to resolve this highly reckless phenomenon. It is without question that this situation can only be tackled as a united front with parents, teachers, doctors and youngsters working together whilst being regulated by legislation to ensure that measures put in place are effective. Guyana has become comfortable with its lifestyle of alcoholism, domestic violence, child abuse, inadequate teaching measures and lack of justice, thus, leaving an expectation of hopelessness. It has become clear to me that we are a nation that has considerably let our children down. They are no longer able to distinguish between being children and being adults and we need to collectively work together to ensure that we turn this around promptly. There is a complete lack of respect shown to our young people. How can we teach them to respect value and honour themselves when we don’t lead by example? Children need to be taught to love themselves. Parental as well as teaching skills are highly lacking with a sense of shame being put upon our children for simple childhood mistakes, whereas these ought to be used as opportunities to learn. To tackle this, I believe that we should implement legislation which imposes parental classes for those parents lacking such skills, focusing on motivating our youngsters. Teaching methods in schools also need to be overhauled whereby we provide an environment of free speech and debate rather than corporal punishment. There also needs to be zero tolerance approach to bullying in schools. We should also introduce self motivation classes into our national curriculum. Culturally, our nation has become one that accepts forced marriages and under-

age marriages as the norm. Our children need to be allowed to be children and embrace childhood whilst learning independence and growing into well motivated young adults with a healthy mind set. Marriage at a young age does not allow this natural process of growing up to occur, resulting in mental illnesses. As such, I believe the legal age of marriage should be raised to twenty one years old. Legislation should be implemented whereby it becomes a crime to force your children into marriage or allow them to marry underage, carrying with it effective punishments for those who do not abide by the said legislation. In a country of broken children, it’s little wonder that there is a sense of hopelessness and despair hovering over our nation. This has in turn led to an increase of mental illnesses, mainly depression. To make already desperate matters worse, there is a complete lack of understanding regarding such mental illnesses, and so the cycle continues. What we have now is a culturally enshrined acceptance that suicide is the answer to our problems. The cycle needs to be broken and broken now. There needs to be serious investments into improving mental health services, providing more psychiatrists as well as easily accessible services such as local walk-in centres so that mental health problems can be dealt with effectively and efficiently. The people of Guyana have been let down for many, many years by the PPP government under which corruption was rife and justice was lost. This has led to a build up of the sense of despair and hopelessness which our people face everyday. I call upon new government to effectively and strictly rid our nation of the said corruption within the justice system so that we can promptly deal with issues such as domestic violence and child abuse. President Granger, take your people under your wings and lead the way for them towards a brighter, healthier and happier future. Dale Shaka Kalamazad

Politicians are the enemies of national unity DEAR EDITOR, This society must at all time call for explanation and proof of concepts that will impact our wellbeing from those who expound them. We need to know what these concepts mean in serious terms and how they will work given the framework under which they are proposed to correct. For instance, no Guyanese would disagree with national unity in principle given that it implies the nation coming together as one. In fact, from this yearning it can arguably be said our motto “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” is birthed. Giving meaning therefore to this concept is reliant on a system of laws where all are held to the same standards and play by the same rule. This is where the rule of law becomes important in the sense that its application and enforcement is not guaranteed for some but for all. Such law has in place the protection of the right to freedom of association (Constitution, Article 147). Universal respect for this law will accept and ensure our right to association with Party X as against Party B. In our multi-racial/cultural society, where the law enshrines protection from discrimination on the grounds of race (Article 149), then respect for this law will ensure that regardless of our race, we are free to associate with the group we think best suit our needs, can represent our needs, speak on our behalf

and there will be no discrimination against us given our identity and for such an association. In essence what the two rights represent, if understood, applied and respected, is acceptance of diversity based on race and representation, which when upheld will ensure social cohesion. For social cohesion and national unity cannot happen in the absence of acceptance, respect and enforcement of the rule of law. Humankind (individual and collective) has diverse interests and where a society respects diversity in its citizens systems will be put in place to recognise same and allow growth for it. The law in its preamble enjoins us to do so and this is because diversity in itself is not inherently bad. Where diversity becomes clouded and can lead to unsavoriness is by those who seek to represent diversity or insist that it only matters when all are herd like cattle into a box or conform to a group-think that it only matters when it is prescribed. We must reject this notion since it not only goes against the spirit and intent to foster meaningful diversity but creates space for a new class to lord it over us in similar fashion as the colonial authority who felt they knew what was best for their subjects. In this environment the enjoying of fundamental rights will be hinged to alliance or one must be prepared to kneel for them lest he be

PPP aligned media house is mischievous DEAR EDITOR, “Notably at the meeting, concerns were also raised about the cost on the taxpayers in Guyana for the Secret Service escort to the event.” The foregoing is taken from an article on the visit to New York of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo published in a recent issue of one of the PPP aligned media houses. As far as I am aware the costs of Secret Service security for visiting government leaders are borne by the host government-The United States Government. Why would this PPP aligned media house publish such inaccurate and misleading information which a reporter could easily have checked either through a call

to the US embassy or by visiting the Google web site? This article, as well as another recent misleading one about the stripping of responsibilities from the Prime Minister are a clear demonstration of poor journalism and the ethics of the profession. These two articles suggest an attempt by this media house to mislead and confuse in support of a political agenda. How unfortunate for a publication that dubs itself ‘the beacon of truth.” Wesley Kirton

denied them. And this brings attention to the configuration of our electoral system, which in itself is diverse and should it be upheld augur well for the sought after social cohesion and national unity. This country does not have a rigid Westminster system of “winner-takes-all.” What this country is witnessing is absence of commitment and will to study, understand and apply/respect the electoral system consistent with the expressed will of the people. And this is primarily so because it does not fit into the desire to control the people by those who think they know what is best for the people. Since 1992 our legislature, executive, regional and local government branches and tiers of government have become more diverse. Yet in spite of this the rule of law that mandates inclusionary democracy through involvement in the management and decisionmaking processes of the State on matters that affect our wellbeing (Article 13) is being observed more in the breach. The rule of law that entrusts responsibility to the legislature to make laws to ensure the autonomy of our local democratic organs and allow the regions to develop their own programme which would be incorporated into the National Budget and funded are yet to be given deserving respect (Article 75, 76 and 77). From this present electoral system in 2015 the APNU+AFC won the executive and legislature. At the regional level the PPP won seven regions and the APNU+AFC three. In 2011 the PPP won the executive, the combined opposition (APNU+AFC) controlled the legislature, and in the regions the combined opposition won four and the PPP six. The people have been expressing their will very clearly but the political leadership is ignoring it when it does not fit into their grand design. It would be interesting to see if central government and

the opposition are respecting the will of the people in its present form by ensuring the law too works for those whose confidence they did not secure in the 2015 elections. This country’s problem is not the “winner-takes-all” system or the constitution. The problem is the wedded notion of a few whose desire it is not to give national unity a chance consistent with the present rule of law because it does not fit into their theory/sense that they know what is good for the people. So the obvious is ignored in preference to fostering/imposing a new political hustle where elections now see individuals/groups forming alliance to cash in on the voters’ will in order that they can find a seat at the table, reap the benefits of elected privilege, on claim to being representatives of the people. Persons have now found a way to rig the system to acquire power and foist themselves on us. Winning over the people to ideas and competing for the privilege to represent them which is what elections are about no longer seen important. If this is allowed to continue it is only a matter of time before it is being advanced that elections are unimportant and the spoils be divided among a chosen few based on the racial demographics. The new Local Government system allows for more diversity in electing leaders and choice of representation yet it is feared this will be subsumed to this emerging culture and accusation made that it fits into a “winnertakes-all” system. We have reached a situation where some are not interested in respecting and implementing the rule of law, but more in ensuring their view holds sway and determine the system of government they think we deserve to live under. We, the people, must reject it. Let the rule of law in its present configuration be given a chance to work, and when it is put work where failure exists, then let us fix it. Lincoln Lewis

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Kaieteur News

Body found in Mahaica Canal…

Man charged with wife’s murder A Mahaica East Coast Demerara (ECD) man was yesterday remanded to prison, on being charged with the murder of his reputed wife, whose lifeless body was found in a canal at Helena, Mahaica, ECD four days after she went missing. Lakeram Harinarine, 23, of Lot 6 Helena Mahaica, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that he killed 28 yearold Hafeeza Rohoman between January 7 and 10. Magistrate Zamilla AllySeepaul sitting in the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court ordered the accused to make his next court appearance yesterday, in the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court. According to reports, the partially decomposed body of Rohoman was pulled out of the canal on January 10. The woman, who is said to be a constant victim of domestic violence, had gone missing. A post mortem revealed that the woman died of drowning, but there was evidence to support that she received blows to the head. It was reported that Harinarine confessed to police that he played a role in the woman’s death. Police Inspector, Hattie

MURDERED: Hafeeza Rohoman Anthony, presented the prosecution’s case. She told the court that the accused and Rohoman shared a common law relationship. She said that on January 7, they had a misunderstanding over the woman going back to live with the father of her children. The prosecutor related that it is alleged that Harinarine hit the woman to the head with a bicycle bar and she fell overboard into the canal and drowned.

Govt. reviewing public sector employees’ wages Government is in the process of reviewing the national minimum wage, with a view to raising it, through the law, for private sector workers. The current minimum wage paid to public servants stands at $50,000 per month, while that of private sector employees is about $35,000 per month. According to Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott, who has responsibility for labour, the Ministry is currently conducting a countrywide survey to ascertain what the average employees working in the private sector are being paid. During an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Minister Scott explained that the survey is currently ongoing among employers, employees and other stakeholders. It will

conclude by February month end. He said that this move will seek to regularise wages and salaries. “There is a clamour out there that people want to feel that if Government’s minimum wage is $50,000, that everybody should have the same. That is something that I feel should happen. I feel that if we take that $50,000 across the board, that we will have a happier work force… bear in mind that we do have to measure these increases with the ability to pay. Nevertheless from an economic point of view, it is better to have a happy workforce than a discontented one,” Minister Scott added. Further, he said that this is also in keeping with the mandate of the manifesto of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC).

Tuesday January 19, 2016

Canada further supports GECOM’s LGE-related endeavours The Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) ongoing voter education campaign is set to be further enhanced through foreign provisions. The body has been given funding earmarked for the purchase of several pieces of equipment and manuals needed to facilitate such a drive. In less than two months, Guyanese will head to the polls to vote in the first Local Government Elections (LGE) in decades. The Government of Canada has joined with GECOM in the body’s quest to host smooth elections that receive participation from a well informed voting population. In this regard, the Canadian High Commission in Guyana has signed an agreement with GECOM for a C’dn$25,000 grant. The agreement was signed at GECOM’s Kingston location yesterday morning. At the ceremony, Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Pierre Giroux, indicated that the contribution will go to procure equipment to assist GECOM in its preparations for the elections as well as on E-day. The envoy said, “Canada has been a strong supporter of the electoral process here in Guyana and we were extremely pleased when we heard of the fixed date of March 18 for the local elections”. He restated a

Signing the Agreement, from left: GECOM’s Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally and High Commissioner Pierre Giroux position long held by his country which is, that Local Elections are extremely important to democracy. He said that Local Government institutions bring government closer to the people fostering greater inclusion, civic responsibility, empowerment and participation. The Canadian envoy vowed continuous Canadian support for Guyana. “Canada remains committed to the Americas and is working with its partners to increase economic opportunity, strengthen security and institutions and foster lasting relationships.”

Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, thanked the Canadian government for the support, while pointing out that “no amount of support would be adequate”. GECOM intends to use the money contributed by the Canadian Government to purchase several pieces of equipment including public address systems and steps which will be used across the country as part of GECOM’s education of the voter drive. The Chairman of GECOM, Dr. Steve Surujbally, noted that GECOM has been stepping up its public education programme for the local government elections,

recognising that it will have to do more. Dr. Surujbally pointed out that training has been ongoing with GECOM staff members as they gear up for the local government polls. The elections will be held in neighbourhood democratic councils and municipalities across the country. A whopping 103 symbols have been accepted by GECOM to represent various groups, parties, organisations and persons who will be contesting the elections. LGE will be held on March, 18. The last LGE took place in 1994. (Abena Rockcliffe)

Govt. appeals ruling on Jagdeo’s racial incitement case By Abena Rockcliffe The Attorney General is not pleased with the ruling handed down by Supreme Court Judge, Navindra Singh, in the Bharrat Jagdeo racial incitement case. As a result, Attorney General, Basil Williams yesterday filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal on five grounds. In his filed appeal on behalf of the government, Williams stated that he is “dissatisfied with the whole of the decision” handed down by Justice Singh. The Judge had ruled that the facts submitted in the case of racial incitement that Attorney –at-Law Christopher Ram brought against former President Bharrat Jagdeo were insufficient to constitute the offence for which he was charged. Jagdeo faced a private criminal charge after he was accused of racial incitement during a speech at Babu Jaan, Corentyne, during the elec-

tions campaign last year Ram had filed the matter last April at the Whim Magistrates’ Court, Corentyne, Berbice. The charge was that Jagdeo uttered words intended to cause racial or ethnic hatred, contrary to Section 139 D (1) (a) of the Representation of the People’s Act, Chapter 1:03. Ram said that the statement “could result in racial or ethnic violence or hatred among the people.” The case was being heard by Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the Whim Magistrate’s Court. However, Jagdeo’s lawyer, Murseline Bacchus had argued that the charge was frivolous. Justice Singh later threw out the case. The grounds upon which Williams appealed the case are quite detailed. For each ground, the AG pointed to numerous sections of Singh’s ruling that he deemed mistaken. The grounds of appeal included opinions that the ruling by Justice Singh is “erro-

neous in point of law in as much as he misdirected himself on the elements of the law constituting the offence charged and took extraneous matters into consideration to arrive at his decision. Williams also contended that the invalidity of an act must be established by the party who alleges and cannot be presumed. He also noted, “The court cannot assist an individual in establishing that invalidity.” The AG also said that Justice Singh misinterpreted the provisions of the Act which he said guided his decision. The ten-page decision that was handed down by Singh in December gave a breakdown of the natural and ordinary meaning of the words and phrases in this context in the statue. The Judge noted the use of the words “opposition, coolie people and the PPP” in the statement attributed to Jagdeo. He underscored that without any further particu-

Attorney General, Basil Williams lars a race or an ethnicity cannot be attributed to the opposition much less a race or ethnicity different from “coolie people.” He noted, too, that for the charge to be valid, the statements to constitute an offence must be shown to be calling for, supporting or encouraging the hatred of one group by another race or ethnicity.

Tuesday January 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

China seen posting slowest economic growth in 25 years as policy risks grow

An employee works on an assembly line producing electronic cars at a factory of Beijing Electric Vehicle, funded by BAIC Group, in Beijing, China. China is expected to report its weakest quarterly economic growth in nearly seven years today, adding pressure on policymakers to take bolder steps to ward off fears of a sharper slowdown that are jolting global financial markets. Chinese leaders have been struggling to put a floor under the economy, even as a fresh plunge in its stock markets and yuan currency have stoked worries from Washington to Wellington that conditions may be rapidly deteriorating. Fourth-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to slow to 6.8 percent from a year earlier, down from 6.9 percent in the third quarter and the weakest since early 2009, according to analysts polled by Reuters. Full-year growth is seen at 6.9 percent, enviable by Western standards but China’s poorest showing in a quarter of a century. Analysts expect the world’s second-largest economy will cool further this year, with growth of 6.5 percent even if Beijing hikes spending and cuts interest rates again as widely expected. Some China watchers believe real growth is already much weaker than official data suggests — UK-based Fathom Consulting believes it could be as low as 2.4 percent — though the government has rejected accusations it is being inflated. Regardless of what the official reading is, it will likely suggest no material change in what most economists have been telling the world for years. After being a major locomotive of global growth for over a decade, China is now in the midst of an inevitable and bumpy slowdown from

sizzling double-digit growth to a hopefully more manageable pace in the mid-single digits. “The economy still faces relatively big downward pressure this year despite signs of stabilisation in property and auto sales,” said Nie Wen, an economist at Hwabao Trust in Shanghai. “Macro-economic policies will stay accommodative.” Weak exports, factory overcapacity, slowing investment, a soft property market and high debt levels are all compounding problems for the government as it tries to transition from a centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented model that will require it to cede a large degree of control. That policy dilemma has been clearly in evidence this year, prompting global investors to question if Beijing has the ability to manage the slowing economy and modern markets. Shanghai stocks have plunged to 13-month lows despite a massive government rescue, while the central bank has sown confusion globally by allowing the yuan to weaken sharply then intervening to stop the fall. Its intent is still not clear. Beijing has set five key goals for 2016 including reducing overcapacity, shrinking a glut of unsold homes, deleveraging balance sheets, reducing costs for businesses and encouraging new technology. But few specifics have been announced. SLOWING DOWN, NOT MELTING DOWN To be sure, the outlook for some parts of the $10 trillion economy is looking better as 2016 begins. China’s home prices continued to rise in December, adding to signs of improve-

ment in the housing market, although the recovery remains uneven across the country. On the factory side, vehicle sales are seen growing 6 percent in 2016, accelerating from last year on demand for more green cars and sportutility vehicles, good news for the likes of General Motors (GM.N). “Regardless of whether Q4 growth was 6.8 percent or 6.9 percent, we do not expect full-year GDP to change the evolving narrative about the weak state of global demand,” analysts at PRC Macro Advisors said in a note. Policy advisers say the government could widen this year’s budget deficit to about 3 percent, the biggest in perhaps half a century, as leaders increase spending to support activity. The central bank has already cut interest rates six times since November 2014, and reduced the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves, but such steps have had limited impact on growth due to high debt levels in the economy. Other measures have included more government spending on infrastructure and easing of curbs on home purchases. Activity data for December also will be released today, and analysts will be looking for clues on whether momentum is still fading or if the economy may be slowly stabilising. Factory output likely grew 6.0 percent in December on-year, easing from November, while annual growth in fixed asset investment, a crucial driver of China’s economy, likely cooled to 10.2 percent in 2015 - the weakest in nearly 15 years. Retail sales, one of the few bright spots in 2015, likely grew 11.3 percent in December.

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Tuesday January 19, 2016

Iran boosts oil output, foreign firms keen to seal deals Iran ordered a sharp increase in oil output yesterday to take immediate advantage of the lifting of international sanctions, and some foreign firms raced to snap up deals as Tehran emerges from years of international isolation. Others were more wary, mindful of the risk of falling foul of residual U.S. penalties despite the lifting of nuclearrelated sanctions on Saturday by the United States, European Union and United Nations. Those measures were scrapped as part of a landmark deal between Iran and world powers, rewarding the Islamic Republic for scaling back its atomic energy program in ways that U.S. President Barack Obama said would prevent it from getting its hands on a nuclear bomb. “We will be committed to the nuclear deal as far as the other side is,” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday, adding that his country was “morally and religiously committed not to seek weapons of mass destruction”. The agreement restores Iran’s access to tens of billions of dollars in frozen assets, reopens the country to foreign investment and allows it to resume selling oil on world markets, albeit at a time when they are drowning in excess supply. Deputy Oil Minister Rokneddin Javadi said Iran could increase output by 500,000 barrels a day “and the order to increase production was issued today”. The sanctions revoked at the weekend had cut Iran’s oil exports by about 2 million barrels per day (bpd) since their pre-sanctions 2011 peak, to little more than 1 million bpd. Oil prices touched their lowest since 2003 on Monday as the market braced for additional Iranian oil exports. The lifting of sanctions opens up business opportunities across a host of sectors, from planes to telecoms. “Iran is a huge market and in our focus,” Kaan Terzioglu, head of Turkey’s biggest mo-

bile operator, Turkcell, said in an interview with Reuters. He said Iran could be a target market as the company looks for regional acquisitions: “We are closely watching the Iranian market and in touch with all of its fixed line and mobile operators.” NEW MIDDLE CLASS Dennis Nally, global chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers, told Reuters before the start of this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos that the audit and consultancy firm was seeing strong client interest in opportunities in Iran. “Without question the energy, energy-related and infrastructure industries stand to benefit, but also sectors like retail, with the potential creation of a new middle class,” he told Reuters. A clutch of German firms were among those to signal their appetite to ramp up business ties with Tehran, and the Berlin government said it planned to revive state export guarantees for companies that wanted to do so. Daimler said its trucks division had signed letters of intent with joint venture partners in Iran in order to re-enter the market, where it was selling up to 10,000 vehicles a year until 2010. Its rival Audi said it had representatives in Iran right now to discuss the “growing potential for luxury cars”. Herrenknecht, a familyrun German tunneling company that helped to build the Tehran metro in the 1990s, said it expected Iran to put up new projects for tender, and it was ready to pounce on the opportunity. Commerzbank, Germany’s number two lender, also said it was considering the possibility of returning to Iran. That announcement was especially striking, less than a year after Commerzbank agreed to pay $1.45 billion to U.S. authorities for sanctions violations partly linked to Iran. At the time, it joined a long line of foreign banks similarly penalized - France’s BNP Paribas alone paid $8.9 billion.

For that reason, most international banks are expected to tread very carefully to avoid violating U.S. trade sanctions that remain in place. DEALS AND DIPLOMACY In further signs of likely deals in the pipeline, Switzerland’s Zurich Insurance said it would look into insurance cover for corporate customers doing business with Iran, and the head of British Airways’ parent company IAG said it hoped to start flying to Tehran “in the very near future”. Russia, another party to last year’s nuclear deal, said it was looking to sell military helicopters to Iran and export more grain. India’s national aluminum company NALCO said it would soon send a team to Iran to explore setting up a smelter complex worth about $2 billion, taking advantage of cheap and plentiful gas there. Spain’s foreign minister said Madrid and Tehran were discussing the building of an Iranian-owned oil refinery on the southern tip of Spain. In a burst of diplomatic activity that will provide opportunities for discussing investment deals, Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit both Iran and its regional arch-rival Saudi Arabia this week. In Rome, a diplomatic source said the Iranian president would travel to Italy and France next week on his first trip to Europe since the lifting of sanctions. The nuclear deal removed restrictions that stifled Iran’s economy for most of this decade - on banking, money transfers, insurance, trade, transport and technology procurement. This will allow Iran to satisfy pent-up demand for goods and services that it had trouble obtaining at affordable prices under sanctions, from aircraft to factory machinery, medicines and some consumer goods such as cosmetics and branded clothing. In an indication of the scale of potential deals, the transport minister said at the

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano (L) speaks during a news conference in Tehran, Iran yesterday. weekend that Iran intended to buy 114 civil aircraft from Airbus - a deal that could be worth more than $10 billion at catalog prices. Airbus said on Saturday it had not yet held commercial talks with Iran. OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS Entering the Iranian market is not without risks: indebted local banks, a primitive legal system, corruption and an inflexible labour market. Many foreign companies will remain wary that sanctions could “snap back” if Tehran is later found in breach of the nuclear agreement. “A lot of work has been done to get to where we are now. A similar and sustained effort will be required in the future,” U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Yukiya Amano said on a visit to Tehran. “We must

maintain the momentum.” U.S. companies look set to lag rivals from other countries in restoring trade with Iran, because Washington will retain broad sanctions that predate the nuclear crisis and were imposed over other issues such as terrorism and human rights abuses. But U.S. business with Iran may still increase, after the U.S. Treasury said on Saturday that it would permit foreign subsidiaries of American companies to trade with Iran - a channel that big multinationals may be able to exploit. A big foreign investment presence may take longer to rebuild than trade ties. Some firms may want to wait until they see the stance of the next U.S. president towards Iran; many will worry about “reputational risk”, or expo-

sure to legal action from shareholders or lobby groups, if they invest there. Further complicating the picture, the United States imposed new sanctions on Sunday on 11 companies and individuals for supplying Iran’s ballistic missile program, even as it removed the old nuclearrelated measures and carried out an exchange of prisoners with Tehran. The new sanctions are much smaller in scope, but Tehran denounced them yesterday. Foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said they had “no legal or moral legitimacy”, because U.S. weaponry sold to regional allies was used to commit “war crimes against Palestinian, Lebanese and most recently Yemeni citizens”.

Oil slumps below $28 to 2003 low as Iran sanctions lifted Oil prices slumped to a 2003 low below $28 per barrel yesterday as the market anticipated a rise in Iranian exports after the lifting of sanctions against Tehran over the weekend. Responding to Tehran’s compliance with a nuclear deal, the United States and major powers revoked international sanctions that had cut Iran’s oil exports by about 2 million barrels per day (bpd) since their pre-sanctions 2011 peak to little more than 1 million bpd. Iran, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), issued an order yesterday to increase production by 500,000 bpd, the country’s deputy oil minister said. Worries about Iran’s return to an already oversupplied oil market drove down Brent crude to $27.67 a barrel early yesterday, its lowest

since 2003. The benchmark was down 29 cents at $28.64 by 1850 GMT (1350 ET). U.S. crude was down 48 cents at $28.94 a barrel, not far from a 2003 low of $28.36 hit earlier in the session. Trading volumes were thin with U.S. markets closed for the Martin Luther King Day holiday. “You can’t say this was unexpected, but the Iran news is an additional factor that’s working against oil prices,” said TD Securities analyst Bart Melek, who also pointed to global oversupply and concerns about demand from China. He said oil could fall further if Chinese economic data released overnight, including GDP and retail sales data, points to more weakness in the economy. “If we get nasty economic numbers from China there’s potential for another swoosh

lower,” Melek said. Analysts expect Iran will realistically be able to export an extra 500,000 bpd in the short term from storage, but there are doubts whether the state of Iran’s oil infrastructure will allow further boosts anytime soon. SEB Markets assumes Iranian oil output will rise by 400,000 bpd to 3.2 million bpd in 2016, while Tehran has said it will add 1 million bpd to its existing output by the yearend. Iran has at least a dozen Very Large Crude Carrier super-tankers filled and in place to sell into the market. In a sign of the pain low prices are inflicting on oil producers, OPEC forecast that supply outside the organization would decline by 660,000 bpd in 2016, led by the United States. Last month OPEC predicted a drop of 380,000 bpd.

Tuesday January 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

Page 9

NO LEGAL LIMB TO STAND ON This is an edited version of a column published three and one half years ago in these pages. It is resurrected because there are reports that the police are being asked to investigate alleged breaches of the Constitution by NICIL Such breaches have to be addressed by the constitutional courts and not by the CID. If NICIL breached the Constitution then those aggrieved have to seek remedies in the Constitutional Court, not in criminal courts. .This is not a defence of NICIL. It is a counter to the proposition that the revenues and other moneys earned by NICIL should be passed into the Consolidated Fund. NICIL was created UNDER an Act of Parliament and specifically the Companies Act, and as a body corporate is required to keep certain accounts and funds. This very fact excludes it from having to pass its revenues through the Consolidated Fund. The critics also find themselves in a quandary when it comes to explaining how it is that the revenues earned by GUYSUCO, also a body corporate, are not paid into the Consolidated Fund. And the reason is that, like NICIL, the revenues of GUYOIL, GNSC and GUYSCO are not con-

trolled by the Consolidated Fund because if this were the case it would make these agencies Budget agencies and not corporations. It should be recalled that when the former PNC government wanted to extract moneys from the Guyana Sugar Corporation, it did not argue that the revenues from the sale of sugar should pass through the Consolidated Fund. What it did was move a law that allowed it to institute a levy on the corporation. When interpreting an article of the Constitution, one has to, apart from examining the literal words used, consider the specific intent of the article. Article 216 was intended to create the Consolidated Fund. When interpreting constitutional provisions, it is also at times necessary to do so in the context of case law since this can clarify useful concepts and relationships, including about the standing of public corporations. Denning L. J. in Tamlin v Hannaford (1950) had this to state about the public corporation: ‘ In the eye of the law, the ( public) corporation is its own master and is answerable as fully as any other person or corporation. It is not the

Dem boys seh... Jagdeo and 61 others got more wealth than half de world population - just Google it. Power is a good thing, and it can be bad. If you get power you got lights and you can see good. No power, you got to feel you way round or feel you way through. Ask Ten Edghill when he use to pick up collection in de dark. Dem got another kind of power. That does mek de good people tun like beasts. Ask Lumumba and Brazzy. Most of dem grab as much as dem can put dem hand pon. Dem is people who does tek so that generations cannot eat it out. A survey show that 62 people in de world own more than half of de wealth on Planet Earth. De world got seven billion people and imagine that 62 people got more wealth than 3.5 billion people. When dem boys Google dem get a shock to see Jagdeo name in de 62. Dem couldn’t believe wha de seeing. Dem check fuh see if de Bharrat Jagdeo was de same spelling as the scamp in Guyana because several dogs does name One Pompey. Dem know was he because de spelling was right and de address on de internet listed as Pradoville2- Two Acres. And this is de man who still fighting fuh more money. He claim how he got to get de same pension package wha he did give to heself, Donald Dumb and Sam Blind others. Dem boys also hear that he want power again and how he planning wid a team of executive in de party to gangster Rohee. Dem boys hear he want put Irfaat, that li’l thief, as General Secretary so that Irfaat can continue to dance to Jagdeo tune. Dem boys hear some old heads ain’t gun fall fuh this gangsterism from Jagdeo. Dem sticking wid dem old buddyRohee. Talk half and hope Rohee keep he head on.

Crown and has none of the immunities and privileges of the Crown. Its servants are not civil servants and its property is not Crown property.’ NICIL is not required under the constitution to pass its revenues through the Consolidated Fund. It, however, as a 100% governmentowned entity, can pay dividends, as it claims it has been doing for the past twenty years, into the said Consolidated Fund. NICIL is not the first and will not be the last holding and parent company for state assets and entities. Before NICIL, there was the

Public Corporations Secretariat. And before that, there was GUYSTAC, and also COFA and a host of other parent companies that were responsible for the many public enterprises that existed. As the State divests itself of public assets and invests the proceeds, there will always be a need for a NICIL type body. Those who wish to see parliament control the funds held by NICIL have no legal case. If they did they would have sought judicial review of the actions of NICIL. They have not and are not likely to risk their considerable reputations on this score.

We have been hearing a great deal about the possible abuse of funds and the lack of audited statements There have also been criticisms about the level of transparency and disclosure of NICIL. This is all part of the arguments to establish a political/moral case against NICIL. The issues about disclosure, transparency and the wisdom of investments of NICIL are however separate from the legal arguments about whether NICIL is lawfully required to pass its funds through the Consolidated Fund. Those who are insist-

ing that the constitution allows for NICIL funds to pass through the Consolidated Fund and this be controlled by parliament, may have a moral case about the need for timelier and greater disclosure by NICIL about its work in the past. But they have no legal limb to stand on when it comes to the right of NICIL to not pass its revenues through the Consolidated Fund.

Unlikely Guyana will lower gas prices anytime soon - Ramjattan - Badal urge linking fuel sales to world prices By Leonard Gildarie World prices for oil yesterday recorded its lowest in 13 years, leaving a number of big producing countries reeling. But it is unlikely that Guyana, an importer, will see its consumers smiling or any noticeable benefits filtering down to the pumps across the country anytime soon. The prices on the world market fell below US$28 per barrel during trading yesterday but recovered slightly, staying under US$29. Analysts are even predicting price to fall below US$25. Currently, Government is collecting up to 50 percent Excise Tax on every barrel of gasoline and diesel coming in- monies that Government says it can ill-afford to lose now because of its under-performing key sectors. That Excise Tax is the highest since last year when prices started sliding on the world market. It had stood then at 45 percent. A decision was reportedly taken to hike the tax to 50 percent in the last quarter. At the SOL gas station on Regent Street, gas was retailing for $190.90 per litre while the GuyOil service station not far away, had it for $190. This works out to about $860 per gallon. In the US, in New Jersey, the service stations were averaging around US$1.65 per gallon while in Queens, New York where taxes are higher, for US$1.99- or about G$400 per gallon. Yesterday, asked whether his party, the Alliance For Change (AFC), will be lobbying for a drop in the current 50 percent tax, leader and current Vice President/Minister

of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, said it is unlikely. “As the AFC leader, I would love to see a reduction but we (Government) will have to make a collective decision. And because there is a lot of expenditure we have to incur in relation to the social projects we have, the argument will forever be made that revenues will have to be taken in somehow, to carry them out.” The AFC leader said that because of poor world prices for rice, sugar and even gold, the shortfall in revenue is being felt. “And so it might not be the… (best)…time to carry that down. I can see an argument and I can make the argument as to why we just can’t carry it down, especially in the context of our three primary products… the current prices on the world market.”

AFC Leader: Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

Hotelier, Robert Badal

It is always desirable, Ramjattan argued, that as the world prices go down, that the country benefits with a few extra dollars “here or there”. “…But indeed when our world market prices for all our key products go down, which brings in the revenues, how do you get the revenues to run the social projects. It is extraordinarily difficult. So we

can have the benefit of a reduction, but we will have to run with the burdens also of the lower revenues for sugar and gold and rice and so on, and that is the constraining factor that I will argue why it should not be done at this time.” But while Ramjattan was arguing for the current situation, one of the (Continued on page 21)

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 19, 2016

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

I disagree yet agree with Royston King The Town Clerk, Mr. Royston King, in a telephone conversation, expressed some disappointment with two critical columns that looked at the City Council operations against market vendors and the East Street car park controversy. He expected me to understand and help to return Georgetown to its pristine, immaculate face (my words). When it was my turn to speak, I outlined my particular approach to life in Guyana, that I believe the working classes and the poorer strata must not be disadvantaged. I said to Mr. King that if

he has to move vendors do it with accountability and democratic consultations. I advised that if the Council is going to move vendors (they are from the poorer classes) then, talk to them about alternative arrangements and see if the City Council can by itself implement the alternative arrangements. For example, if you do not want vending any longer on Merriman Mall between Orange Walk and Cummings Street, then if you select the avenue on East Street as an alternative, landscape it; put the vendors there and the issue is closed. But don’t de-

scend on them like a bully and chase people off the land. I will never, and I repeat, never, accept vendors being moved without the availability of other sites. If I am going to vote in the imminent local elections, I want to see how the candidates deal with the style and operations of the Office of the Town Clerk and the City Constabulary. The city police have little respect for vendors and they operate as bullies. I want to tell Mr. King that many moons ago, before he ever had a desire to become the Town Clerk, I saw what the city Police did, and I re-

ceived countless complaints about them. Many times I journeyed to the head office to make representation for these poor souls. At this moment, I would say that Mark Benschop should be in the Council. I will devote an entire column to the new faces that should be in the Council. Based on our telephone conversation, I would expect Mr. King to deal with the vendors using an ideological orientation that is specific to Guyana – this is a “dankey kyaart” economy and we cannot use power as if it is a Mercedes Benz economy. Vendors are poor people that the State in Guyana cannot illtreat because you will relegate them to a life of misery. It was a pleasant telephonic dialogue and I hope the era of City Council bullying is over. It should be. We will now have elections every three years. If the Council that is elected refuses to curtail the oligarchic tentacles of the Office of the Town Clerk and the violent arm of the City Constabulary,Georgetowners will vote them out. Mr. King did emphasize that the Council wants to

bring back Georgetown to the scenic beauty it once possessed and he indicated that he would expect to see people like me helping him. I couldn’t agree more. One of the fantastic things to have emerged in this county since the phenomenal vision of President Burnham is the topographical rebirth of Georgetown that is currently taking place. This cartographical resuscitation is almost ethereal. One has to support the efforts of the City Council and the central government in the creation of this miracle. I grew up in a city that one, with a little bit of exaggeration, can say was impeccably clean. I remember the idyllic days of Georgetown when I was courting the woman who is now my wife. I long for the return of those days. She lived on Hadfield Street in Wortmanville; I on D’Urban Street. We would catch the big yellow bus on clean D’Urban Street and end up on clean Stabroek Market Square. Those days are returning and I and all of Guyana need to thank the City Council and the central government for the ongoing efforts. Man oh

Frederick Kissoon man, Georgetown is looking beautiful again! I would think that Mr. King wants to rid the city of those enclaves of dirty appearances. How can any decent Guyanese disagree with the need to tell vendors to stop selling in areas that are horribly dirty? No one in this entire country can tell me about Bourda Market and Bourda Green. I visit there five days out of every week for the past millions of years. This article is being typed on Monday midday, and three hours before, I filled up my one litre bottle with coconut water at the Bourda Green. Some vendors need to shape up. Some stands are terribly looking, dilapidated structures and food is on top of them for people to buy.

Tuesday January 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Rohee pushes Gov’t to seek international help for Zika virus The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has called for the government to request a team of Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) experts to assess the country’s capacity to respond to the Zika virus and the potential for it to spread. This was communicated during the party’s weekly press conference at Freedom House yesterday and comes in the wake of Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton’s reporting to the National Assembly on Thursday that the Zika virus had been detected in Guyana. The party’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee, stated that in addition to PAHO/ WHO experts, the intervention of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) should be sought. Rohee was adamant that this assistance will be important to strengthen Guyana’s institutional capacity to detect the whereabouts of the Zika virus locally, as well as to keep an eye on its potential circulation. “Concerns have been raised about the health sector’s capacity to cope with the detection and potential spread of the virus throughout the national territory,” Rohee said. “Guyanese must exert greater pressure on the administration to do much more to prevent the spread.” Last week, the Vector Control Services had commenced fogging for vector control purposes, in areas including Kingston, Cummingsburg, Bel Air Gardens and Springs, Prashad Nagar, Kitty, Ogle, Timehri, North and South Sophia and other areas. Warnings about the dreaded Zika virus which causes a dengue like illness fever, headache, skin rash, red eyes and muscle ache-- have also been in the public domain. In addition, priority health care is being given to pregnant mothers and there have been warnings to citizens about how to control the spread of the Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Polynesiensis mosquitoes. According to Rohee, however, the current measures in place are “woefully inadequate.” He noted that the fogging exercises are sparse and inconsistent and he was adamant that geo-scientific methodology is not being applied to conduct these exercises. Rohee was also critical of the government having to send blood samples to a lab in Trinidad for testing. This is despite the fact that this was a common practice under the previous administration whenever blood testing had

Fogging exercise being conducted for vector control to be done for crime fighting or health care purposes. In light of this, Rohee was roasted about his party’s performance in the public health sector while in Government. Responding to queries about the PPP record with developing the country’s health care sector, Rohee said, “There is the famous adage, the king is dead, long live the king,” he said. “That means that when a government changes you (new government) inherit all that was done, all that was not done and all that was partly done.” “I find it interesting for persons, whenever challenging issues are raised, to turn to the performance of the PPP in order to justify why something is not being done.” When pressed to answer the question directly, however, Rohee refused to comment further. During his address, Dr. Norton had indicated that on Tuesday (January 12), his Ministry was informed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s Laboratory in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, that it had detected the presence of the Zika Virus in

a sample of blood from Guyana. The sample was taken on January 4, 2016. Dr. Norton had stated that the virus was detected in a 27year-old female who hails from Rose Hall, Corentyne, Berbice, but also resides at Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara. The Minister had also given assurances that there have been checks to ascertain the condition of the patient and family members. In addition to fogging and larvicidal treatment methods in the patient’s area, the Minister had related that fogging exercises were proceeding apace in Region Four, as well as household inspections, education drives and the distribution of long lasting insecticide- treated bed nets to pregnant mothers and households with children under five years old. While studies are ongoing and are being planned to educate people about the virus, evidence is growing that it may cause the catastrophic birth defect called microcephaly (reduced brain size). In 2015, Zika virus RNA was detected in the amniotic fluid of two fetuses, which indicates

that it crossed the placental barrier and that fetal infection is possible. In December 2015, the PAHO/WHO noted that the transmission of Zika virus infection had occurred within nine countries - Brazil, Chile (specifically Easter Island), Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela. The organizations’ recommendations had been for surveillance, case management, and prevention. On January 15, last, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a level two travel alert for people traveling to regions and countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guyana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. According to the CDC, Brazilian health authorities reported more than 3,500 microcephaly cases between October 2015 and this month. Some of the affected infants have had a severe type of microcephaly and some have died.

There is no shortage of dentists - Dr. Ali Every year, the dental sector is being boosted with an addition of 10 dental surgeons which means that there is no shortage in the area of dentistry in the country. This is according to the Director of the Cheddi Jagan Dental Center, Dr. Shameer Ali, during a recent interview. The senior medical official explained that the country had a severe shortage of dentists, but this changed in 2006 when the school of dentistry opened at the Cheddi Jagan Dental Center and immediately started training persons in this field. “We had less than 25 dentists in the entire country and in five years we were able to double that and in another 10 years we can double what we have now,” Dr. Ali said. There are currently a total of 55 registered dentists in both Private and Public sector. “We take in students every year so every year a batch is graduating,” the Director pointed out. At the school of dentistry, there are three training programmes running simultaneously. These include dental auxiliary, Dentex and Bachelor of Dental surgery (University of Guyana programme). A Dental auxiliary is any of the dentists supporting team who helps with dental treatment. Among the auxiliary are dental assistants, dental therapists, dental hygienists and dental technicians. These programmes are open to everyone and require different qualifications to en-

ter. “Different levels required different qualification; a dental assistant would need to have at least three subjects including English.” “For Dentex, you must have five subjects including Math and English and one science subject. The Dentex are trained to work on children and anyone below 18 years old. They go out to the schools and work at health centres,” Dr. Ali explained. Dentex are trained to do extractions, examinations, fillings, cleaning and oral health education. These are people who work one level below a dental surgeon. Persons from the Amerindian communities are usually trained in this field and are then sent back to their hometown where they continue their practice in their respective villages. “The UG programme runs parallel to the dental programme. The first two years are the foundation years where they do basic sciences, physiology and biochemistry. Both the medical and dental students go along in that programme together until they reach the third year. (From year three to year five) they are here in this building all the time. We have lectures, training here and practical.” So far 27 students have graduated from the School of Dentistry.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 19, 2016

CPCE introduces pastoral care initiative - hopes to help arrest worrying societal trends

A section of the gathering at the launch of the pastoral care initiative “Why would somebody look at another human being in the eye and kill that person? Why would a young man get into a house of an aged woman and rape and then kill her? Why would a mother lock her children up for days without leaving food for those children? And why would we pass each other on the road or in

the classrooms without greeting each other? Why do we use words that hurt and not think of healing words? Why can’t we encourage instead of discourage efforts and good intentions?” These were some of the many searching questions that were asked by Principal of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), Ms. Viola

Rowe, when she officially launched a pastoral care initiative. Pastoral care refers to a friendship that intentionally seeks to help a person along life’s path. Its focus is to offer emotional and spiritual support. The recent launch of the initiative, which is expected to help reverse worrying trends in the society including a skyrocketing suicide situation, was convened in the Bain Gray Hall of the Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara teachers’ training institution. And according to Rowe, who addressed a gathering of mostly teachers in training and CPCE Faculty members, “It is not by chance we have stumbled upon this initiative. It was well thought out and we believe we have to start somewhere and we have to keep going...” She noted that the College is seeking to embrace the pastoral care initiative with “a deliberate focus on the affective domain of learning. Because we are educators, whatever we do must be tied to our education principles and philosophies, and so for us it is

CPCE Principal, Ms. Viola Rowe nothing happening in isolation.” She moreover shared her conviction that “the affective domain of learning is all part of what educators are about, those along with the cognitive aspect of development and the psychomotor aspect as well.” But even as Rowe boasted that CPCE has been doing well with regards to the cognitive development of its students, she however confessed that “we still have to work hard on the affective domain.” It was primarily against this background, she noted, that CPCE with its newly introduced initiative will be seeking to help young people embrace values, skills and attitudes that are needed in today’s society. “It is the pastoral care approach that will support the affective domain of learning against the backdrop of the apparent lack of value by some of our students, particularly for self and others,” said Rowe. And according to her, it has to become necessary to have a consolidated approach

to complement the affective attitudes garnered by students through classroom experiences. Rowe noted that the general objective of the initiative is to equip or re-inform in students’ transferrable skills and values which include interpersonal skills such as basic courtesy, communication, decision making, volunteerism, problem solving, conflict resolution and negotiation, respect for self and others, group leadership and followership. “We are also going to be looking at and placing emphasis on personal skills, time management, motivating self, self esteem, self respect, confidence building, anger management, personal health consciousness, personal appearance and deportment, professional and spiritual development,” Rowe shared. But according to her, “We are not going to lose sight of what we are about at this College in terms of the cognitive abilities and development.” The Principal noted that emphasis will simultaneously be directed to improving study

skills, peer support, reading and research skills. The ambitious initiative will see the involvement of staff members of the College who are willing to participate in extra-curricular activities in the interest of the all-round development of students. Rowe pointed to the importance of collaboration to realise the needed change but acknowledged too that it isn’t likely that change will occur overnight. “We are not talking about just self change; we are talking about the nation’s children. We have a responsibility to make significant difference out there. Education and educating others is our business; it does not stop with students passing exams in a classroom; it does not stop with students gaining five, 10 , 15, 20 CSEC subjects; its more than the cognitive development,” stressed Rowe. The initiative has already attracted support from Dr. Kenneth Hunte who has written a book that coincidentally speaks to pastoral care titled ‘Towards education for the common good’. Dr. Hunte has also written other publications. The pastoral care book, however, is expected to serve as a guide to the pastoral care initiative at CPCE. Even as he lauded the initiative and reiterated his support, Dr. Hunte said that he had long recognised that all teacher training institutions have a role to play in pastoral care. “I was saying to myself, I wonder if I would live long enough to see it happen. I am happy, really, really happy to know that CPCE has started the ball rolling.” The programme, which is already in motion, has in place a committee and will be coordinated by Mr. Paul Cameron. Although the programme will initially target students at CPCE, it is designed to eventually be filtered down into the wider society.

Tuesday January 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Wismar woman stabbed to PPP slams Gov’t failure death by reputed husband to provide updates on outstanding issues

Dead: Leolyn Sullivan

A Wismar, Linden woman was early yesterday morning stabbed to death by her reputed husband who vented his wrath with a knife after she returned home in the wee hours after a weekend out. The woman, 34-year-old Leolyn Sullivan was reportedly stabbed 31 times by her 57year-old reputed husband, Lawrence Carter. Sullivan, was cornered in a neighbour’s yard after she had jumped through a window, shattering several louvre panes in a desperate but unsuccessful bid to escape the attack. She reportedly died before receiving medical attention. This newspaper was reliably informed that Carter and Sullivan got into an early morning argument at their Phase 1 B Wisroc house after she returned home around 2 o’ clock yesterday morning. She had reportedly left the home for Georgetown since Friday to transact business for her vending operation, and did not make contact with the husband throughout the weekend. The man told investigators that he confronted his wife when she arrived home yesterday morning about her weekend out and the two got into a heated argument. He accused her of being unfaithful to him and questioned several photographs of her in a compromising position with another man. The photographs were reportedly found in her daughter’s cell phone. A neighbour, who declined to give her name, said that she was awakened by “pounding” on her door and upon looking out, she saw the man stabbing Sullivan repeatedly as

Sullivan’s two daughters receiving medical attention at the Mackenzie Hospital.

she lay on the ground. The woman said that the man then calmly walked out of the yard. “By this time people start coming out, and maybe that is why he ain’t follow up the daughter, because is she and de mother run in de yard,” the neighbour related. The dead woman’s 18-year-old daughter, Sheneika, is hospitalized with stab wounds to her neck, which she sustained when she tried to intervene as the man repeatedly stabbed her mother. Another daughter reportedly ran away after witnessing the incident. She had to be treated for severe trauma. “The child just develop a condition, so she had to be admitted too. I think is because she witnessed the whole thing how that man killed her mother mercilessly. He turned that knife and gouged out the back of she neck,’’ one of Sullivan’s relatives related. According to the neighbour, Sullivan and her reputed husband shared a tumultuous relationship. They were always quarrelling, but she never expected things to turn so ugly. However, Sullivan’s brother, Orrin Charles, who travelled all the way from Buxton, East Coast Demerara after hearing of the incident, described his sister’s killer as a sneaky person, whom he never appreciated. “This guy was lazy; he just used to stay home while my sister had to go out and work,” Charles said. Meanwhile, Carter who was also hospitalized after he attempted to take his own life by slashing his neck was subsequently discharged and is in police custody. (Enid Joaquin)

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has called out the administration on a number of cases that were being pursued by Government, but the pursuits now appear to have lost steam. This was reported during the PPP press conference yesterday. PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee, chided the administration for making initial pronouncements on these issues, then allowing months to go by without updating the public. Among the issues that Rohee raised were the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (CRG) registration number plates for Government vehicles, the pronouncement on lotto funds and the preliminary report on Guyana’s drainage system. One issue that Rohee raised was the Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) fuel scam. He recalled that Minister of State Joseph Harmon is on record as speaking about a “fuel scam involving millions of dollars”, which was uncovered at GUYOIL. He noted that the Government had announced a probe last July, but as of now there has been no word about the outcome of this probe, or the status of the “three ministries” which were said to have been involved. Rohee also recalled that back in July there had been the announcement that the lottery funds would be returned to the consolidated fund by the close of 2015. However, Rohee decried the

PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee fact that it has not been made known whether the funds had been returned. “(The year) 2015 has come and gone; we are yet to learn whether the lotto funds were transferred now that we are in the middle of January 2016,” he said. “The Minister of Governance is yet to update the Nation on the status of the promise.” Rohee noted that last July, there had also been an announcement by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson that a preliminary report on Guyana’s drainage system would be completed in six months. “We are now in January 2016, the Guyanese Nation expects by the end of this month that the report will be made public,” the General Secretary warned.

In 2015, the government had also announced that it had sent a team to India to assess the administration and finances of the Guyana High Commission in New Delhi, India. According to Rohee, however, nothing has been heard of the findings of the team since. “The PPP recalls, in the same month of July, Mr. Harmon had declared that the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) was making progress in the recovery of state assets from a number of individuals”. “Harmon did not disclose which assets had been recovered and from whom they had been recovered.” Rohee also brought the media’s attention to the announcement made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, last year. It had been stated that special number plates for state-owned vehicles would be initiated by October 2015, to make for easy recognition of state owned vehicles. Harmon had stated back in September that all stateowned vehicles will be affixed with CRG registration number plates that will serve to easily identify vehicles that are registered to the state. This was with the intention to ensure that vehicles are not abused by functionaries, following on the heels of complaints of misuse or the vehicles not being cared for. “All vehicles which will be procured in future for use by the state and state agencies will be fitted with CRG registrations,” he had also said.

Unlikely Guyana will lower... From page 9 country’s top businessmen, Robert Badal, owner of Pegasus Hotel and Guyana Stockfeeds, believed that Government should have fuel prices indexed to world market price, and publish a weekly advisory in the local media without further delay. “Since the last half of 2014, international crude oil prices have plunged to more than a third to under US$30 from over $100 per barrel. This has done a great deal economically in oil importing countries all over the world,” Badal noted. Sadly, he said, this is not the case in Guyana. “When oil prices were over US$100 per barrel and increasing, the local oil cartel was adjusting prices every week even though they were not having weekly shipments. Now that those prices are now a third what they were in 2014 those companies have all held on to high prices.”

The businessman noted that the last reduction was in April last year when he raised the matter publicly. The then former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, slashed the price by 30 percent. “International prices have since halved what they were then, yet a reduction is yet to be made. The local business sector in particular need lower fuel prices to make their businesses and exports more competitive. So, too, do the wider public. No single item in an economy reduces poverty to the level as lower fuel prices does since it affects everything in daily life.” The businessman noted that it’s the Government’s responsibility to ensure that a competitive price is offered for fuel. “The relevant Ministry should set up a weekly advisory on fuel prices indexed on prevailing world market price and publish this in the local media. Otherwise the cycle of

low fuel prices would soon end with no benefit to Guyanese. “When prices were going up we were the first to be charged; when it is down we are consistently denied its benefit. How unfortunate, even as we are the poorest in the hemisphere, we are still being asked to pay the highest price.” The truth is that countries far richer than Guyana are charging more than Guyana at the pump. The cheapest fuel is sold in Venezuela— US$0:02 per litre. Hong Kong is selling fuel at US$1:30 per litre. Guyana is selling at US$0:95 per litre, slightly higher than Trinidad at US$0:85 per litre.

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Kaieteur News

PROPERTY FOR SALE

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. Building Construction, house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:629-4946 or 225-4822 Building or renovating for quality construction services from foundation to fine finished. Call Carlos: 592-6829935; 592-223-2695 Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Mahadeo Construction for all construction, carpentry, masonry, pluming, painting etc. Free estimates and plan Contact # 669-7376

WANTED Damage batteries in any quantity, best price offeredCall: 696-5728, 656-2783, 6225941, 648-9395, 223-1111 1 Experienced male to look after layer birds in the Interior. Call: 678-0565 1 Experienced cook for a family in the Interior. Call:6780565 One tutor to teach student ‘A’ Level Physics & Pure Maths. Call: 222-2475 or 6216006 Security to work in the Interior, must have past military/police experienced, ages 40-50. Call: 226-9768; 615-6172 Security to work in Georgetown- Call: 227-1717 Female domestic to work in Trinidad, must be educated & know to cook. Between 25-35 years. Call/ text 1868-6831528 1 Farm worker to live in and take care of farm. Call: 2653586 (8am-4pm) Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 1 Female to work in snackette & bar. Must know to cookbetween ages 20-35 -Call: 6477432/ 223-5798 One experienced domestic to work at resident –Call: 6970157

Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461. 3 Bedrooms concrete house 22feetX48feet, land 50X90feet @ Vision Garden, Versailes, W.B.D – $11M negotiable. Call: 609-1367; 658-5803 Church and 2 storey building Lot 180 Charlotte Street Bourda-Call: 227-6817; 6247341 House for sale with 3 bedrooms upper & bottom flat, @ Lot 153 Green Acres, Stadium Road- Call: 681-7366 2 Storey 45x35 concrete property, lower flat incomplete. Land 65x120 @ Diamond N/S 5th Avenue, E.B.D- Call: 664-5052 2-Storey building for sale at Herstelling E.B.D –Call: 2271309; 665-6298 Property @ 650 Section ‘A’ Block Great Diamond East Bank Demerara. Call: 2254792; 609-1114 2 Storey wooden houselot 20ftx38ft in Kitty, transported land, price $15M negotiableCall Monday 18 th January onwards 8:00am-6pm: 6666934 2 Bedrooms house in Georgetown, not far from Ashmin’s Supermarket $35,000,000. Call: 645-6498 3068 Amelia’s Ward Linden: 4 bedrooms, 1 selfcontained-Call: 640-4731; 624-6609

WANTED Driver with taxi & Minibus licence to work partly contract & partly on the roadCall: 664- 0802

Farm on Lower Soesdyke Highway, Seeking large quantities of cow mold. Urgent! Call 219-0468 DRESSMAKING Turn your flair for fashion into an exciting career or hobby. Clas s e s s t a r t i n g January –Call: 626-2629; 676-6312 Sewing: Do you think you can sew? Compete for cash and prizes- Call: 227-8538 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

Straight stitch, surger, button and button-hole machineCall: 227-8538 One mature female to bake pastries and bread. Call: 2262320 One live in waitress 18-25yrs, salary -$60,000 monthly, boarding & lodging free. Call: 610-3974 One female age 18-25 to work afternoon in snackette. Call: 226-2320 Experienced wash bay & janitorial, attractive salary. Call: 646-8748

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals and Black Opal - Cosmetology Courses - Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Earn a Certificate in cosmetology, nails, wig designs & hair cutting etc. Classes commencing February! Register Now! Call: 666-5241; 619-7603

LAND FOR SALE Parfaite Harmonie -$ 1.6M, 1.8M, $1.5M, 1.3M, Tuschen 11 street -$3M with foundation, Phase 2 – $1.4M, Uitvlugt $3M, Terms available – Call: 604-6724 House lot for sale, located at 246 Mon Repos, E.C.D. Foundation and columns completed-Call: 233-2486 50X100 houselot at Uitvlugt, De Groot Housing Scheme W.C.D, price $3M negotiableCall: 698-8617 Residential: Ramsville Court, Cove and John 50’X100’ corner, quiet neighbourhood. Call: 2267585 Providence Scheme (115ftx81ft) located on a Cul de Sac close to Bai Shan Lin $8.2M negotiable. Call: 6014163; 223-0719 Parfaite Harmonie, house lot, house with land, Belle West W.B.D and Enmore, E.C.DCall: 604-4945 or 639-8474 K&R Realty

Taxi drivers and contract car (dispatcher) salary paid for drivers. Call: 231-0316

1 Domestic worker to work 2 INNOVATIVE MARKETING days a week in Campbellville& PUBLISHING INC –TEL: age 35-50 yrs. Call: 658-2866 600-4212: We create A/ Part time driver for works, logos, business cards, afternoons, age 40-50, Must posters, etc, placements of be responsible, courteous, ads included. reliable- Call: 648-1821

Tuesday January 19, 2016

We are buying lands. Call: 639-8474 or 604-4945, K&R Realty

EDUCATIONAL

TOURS Suriname tour (return): Mashramani weekend February 20 th -23 rd 2016. Shopping, site seeing and more. Call: 639-2663; 665-5171

Practical Electronic Course beginning 26 th January. Register early! Call: 226-6551; 225-0391 NURSERY EDUCATION: Living with Dignity Foundation; offers scholarships for students 18months-4yrs. Half & Full day programs. Call: 690-9378

Urgent: Cleaner & kitchen helper (dayshift) required at Aagman Indian Restaurant. Apply at aagmanrestaurant@gmail.com or call: 219-0158 Driver/Salesman- Five CXC and license for a lorry. Telephone 624-0092 email info@fernandesgy.com BARTENDERS & WAITRESS, APPLY IN PERSON TO MIDTOWN HOTEL, RESTAURANT & BAR @ 176 MIDDLE STREET G/TOWN

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One furnished food stall in Merriman’s Mall. Call: 2278538 One top flat Diamond, New Scheme- Call: 615-5833 One 3 bedrooms, bottom flat at Lot 28 Church Street Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara, with parkingCall: (592)698-5185; (592)672-2591 Office Space at Camp Street –Call Naz: 639-4499

Labourers & Porters, apply in person to Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling.

2 Bedrooms fully furnished apartment in Queenstown, free light and water, AC$160,000. Call:645-6498

Security officers wanted by security company-Contact: 672-1920, between 8:00am5:00pm

3 Bedrooms furnished house in Farm E.B.D - $160,000 monthly. Call: 645-6498

Network technician to install outdoor internet wireless antennas. Email CV to jobs@awngy.com Experienced seamstress; surger and straight, floor girl. Call: 227-8538 One farming family to live in and work on farm-Call:2278538 One Trainee A.C, Refrigerator, Technician – Call: 231-0655 1 Sales representative,3 office assistant & 2 bag packers. Send application & passport picture size to Survival, 173 St C/Ville Accounts clerk: experienced in QuickBooks, accounting software, VAT, NIS & PAYE, @ Technical Services, 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles. 1 Female cleaner apply Technical Services, Lot 18-23 Eccles Industrial Site E.B.D Sales Assistant/Truck Porter Contact Fernandes Guyana Enterprise Inc. telephone 6240092 email info@fernandesgy.com Security Officers, apply in person. Massey Security (Guyana) Inc, Lot 0 Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Call: 225-5773-6 Popular East Coast Gas Station Day/Night: pump attendants, sales clerk & office assistant. Contact: 6694755; 695-9880, Non-Pareil

TAXI SERVICES

Office Clerk: minimum 3 CSEC subjects, apply: Avinash Complex, Water Street, Georgetown. Call: 226-3361; 227-7828 TO LET

GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)

1- Two bedroom fully furnished apartment for overseas rental-Call: 682-9021

Weekend trips to MontRox Nature Resort & Fun Park. Call: 622-4386; 227-8538 MASSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heavens touch, visit us today! –Call: 690-6079

VACANCY Cook/baker and truck driver for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020

4 Bedrooms house in LBI $60,000 monthly. Call 6456498 Apartments for rent @ Nandy Park- 2 bedrooms, recently renovated, free WiFi asking $80,000-$90, 0000Call: 227-5194 Fully furnished apartment with A/C, Wi-Fi @ Festival City North Ruimveldt, price $120,000 monthly-Call: 6680306; 694-7817 One exclusive three bedrooms apartment @ First Bridge Diamond -$80,000Call: 225-5533

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494 ACCOMMODATION Harmony Inn Apartments: accommodation, internet, hot & cold water, 24hrs tea/coffee, $5,000-$10,000 –Call: 668-0306; 218-1400; 694-7817 Continued on page 23

Tuesday January 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Letters... Where your views make the news

Region 5 REO must show allegiance to Berbice not the PPP DEAR EDITOR, It is ashamed that the opposition party PPP is saying that they want to represent the people of Guyana especially those that voted for them at the last elections. His Excellency President David A. Granger visited region 5 on Friday 15th January, 2015 to commission two school buses that was donated by community minded businessmen across Guyana and afar for the children of region 5. And I repeat the children of Region 5, not the APNU+AFC supporter’s children but all the children of the region. His Excellency was warmly welcomed to the region by hundreds of supporters from all races and political parties. There were several Ministers that also grace the function, as H.E has said almost his entire cabinet was present. The entire region had welcomed all with open hearts. But the most astonish thing is that the PPP Regional Chairman stayed away from the function, in fact I was told that he was advised not to attend the commissioning because the people and children of Region 5 will be benefiting from this. The regional chairman has shown blatant disregard for his office as Regional Chairman. He is not Chairman for PPP but for all of Region 5 and he needs to understand that and stop his nonsense of

being PPP Regional Chairman alone. The Regional Chairman spends almost most of the working hours at Freedom House in Bath Settlement taking advice from someone that hardly knows anything about administration. The vehicle that the Chairman was given is to do regional work not PPP work and as a Regional Councilor; if this is to continue I along with other Councilors will asked for his fuel to be cut. He is hardly in the office when the day comes but at Freedom House. This Chairman has shown that he doesn’t care about the people of Region 5, but all he cares for is the work of the PPP designed to stymied development in the Region. He is a young man and took the oath as to serve the people of the Region no matter what race, religion or political background we belong to but it seems like he is not adhering to the oath he swore to. We the people of the Region are happy that those buses were given to the children of the Region, we welcome it with open hearts. We will like to thank all the donors that made it possible and we will ensure that our children make full use of it. We will also like to assure all that the buses will carry all kind of children be it Indian, African, Amerindian, Chinese, etc. Be it from PPP, APNU and

AFC, Christian, Hindu or Muslim. All the children are going to benefit from this. I call on the PPP to please teach Region 5 Chairman some protocol and to respect the Head of State and the Government at all times. The PPP needs to put people who are educated to properly advice this young man. It is time for us to work together for the benefit of our people. Together we can make the difference in making Guyana a better place where all can be united and not separated. Unity is the key and this Government wants all to be united and work together, so that there can be a better life for all. Come on Regional Chairman be a Chairman for the Region not the PPP. If you have an agenda to not make this Region look good and move forward, then you need to stop that agenda now because you will not succeed at all. Be yourself and if you need better advice then I am willing to give such and more over, all of the APNU+AFC Councilors are willing to lend you advice so that we can move Region 5 forward. Let’s continue to work for Region 5 so that our people can have a better life under this APNU+AFC Government. Abel Seetaram APNU+AFC Regional Councilor, Region 5

Is GTT doing a disservice to these children? DEAR EDITOR, It is pellucid that GT&T seems to be reluctant in expanding the landline telephone service in this country. It seems to have been an eternity since residents of the De Hoop Branch Road, West Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, have been pleading with this telephone company for the expansion of the landline service (that is already there at the front part of the village) to further into the community. Several petitions were done over the years, the last of which was sent a few months ago, through the Regional Chairman’s office, Region 5, to GT&T. However,

they have all been ignored, or so it seems. I am quite aware that it may not be lucrative business for the telephone company when it comes to the money raked in from landline calls, but management needs to look on the bright side. De Hoop is a very populated community of mainly middle class families all of whom can afford to pay the $9,980 per month for the internet service provided via the landlines. Even though we are in the 21st century, when it comes to information technology, while other countries around the world are moving ahead by leaps and bounds, we are stuck in a rut somewhere in the 19th century, thanks to a

lack of innovation by a telephone company that has the monopoly over the landline service in Guyana. The provision of this basic service should definitely be opened to competition from other service providers. I believe that it is criminal to deny hundreds of primary and secondary schools students the opportunity to use this basic facility, the internet, to assist them with their daily research in their quest to access a proper education and be somebody in society. Hence, I would like to use this forum to once again appeal to GT&T, on behalf of residents of the community, for immediate action in the

The lady says the police...

From page 4 pulling out close to incoming traffic without trafficator lights, forming illegal lanes, breaching traffic lights, obstructing the flow of traffic, overtaking while there is incoming traffic, forcing vehicles off the road by driving in wrong lanes. These traffic violations are not one off infringements but happening each seconds of the day. With a ten minutes’ drive by a decent driver at any time of the day, on any road, he will have to dodge 10 accidents if he was not cautious or alert. Yet the police and the law will drag this decent driver into its books as offenders. What I am advocating is that if the Government really want revenues from errant drivers, then it will not only make millions but billions if the right persons are roped in. This might be the highest source of income for the budget, beating gold, sugar and rice. Not the few decent drivers who try all means to avoid accidents by driving at the pedestrian 59 km and still have to pay up. There will be a twofold benefit to the Government and people of Guyana if the right persons are charged; the

billions in revenue earned and the reduction of accidents that caused loss of revenue to the country. Who the traffic police are targeting all the while will not stem the deaths and accidents, that is why the statistics continue to climb. The police have primarily targeted drivers who marginally drive above the speed limits, drivers with expired license, expired insurance, expired fitness, tint, and music. Unfortunately these simple infringements are only responsible for less than 5 % of all accidents and the police have dedicated 100% of their energies and resources here. With suitable methods, honesty and skill, it is easy to capture errant drivers that even a school boy will tell you, not by jumping in the middle of the roadway to make your revenue. If the police needs my suggestion on the methods to capture the real road renegades, then I can do another letter. All the while, people were left to wonder why no control on the roadways and now we can see who are the real criminals and who had to bear the pain. Marcia Seepersaud

installation of the landline phone service and by extension, internet service, in the De Hoop Branch Road area. Mr. Janaknauth Panchu. Resident.

From page 22

VEHICLE FOR SALE We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 Fantasy Auto Sales: Xtrail 2008, Mitsubishi RVR 2010, Audi A4, pre-ordered vehicles & get $100,000 discount. Call: 611-1833 BMW 318i- $2.9M, BMW 320i- $4M, Audi A4- $4M, Suzuki Escudo- $4M, new model Premio- $3M- Contact# 650-0402/260-4988 Venus Auto Sale New Year Sale! Unregistered 2004 Toyota Premio- $2.250M-Call: 624-5617 Toyota Hilux 4x4 2L, Turbo Diesel pickup. Excellent condition. Call 648-0111; 6850942 One RZ, One Town Ace BusCall: 663-4813; 614-4275 New model Premio 2007 model $3.1M negotiable. Preorder Allion, Premio, Bluebird 2006 model- Call: 655-3400 One extra cab Tacoma 2005, mag rims. Call: 687-6083; 6692887; 687-6083; 216-2465

VEHICLE FOR SALE One Toyota new model Avensis, fully loaded and in excellent condition. Call: 6153595; 264-2870 STAR CARS AUTO SALE: 30-06 PREMIO, 03-07 FIELDER, NEWRAUM, IST, BLUEBIRD, AXELA, PITBULL. CALL: 679-3140; 268-3509

2008 Fielder- fully loaded vehicle, never registered $2.5M- Call: 617-2891 2- New model Toyota Tacoma, crash bar, step, alarm, bed covering, mag rimCall: 695-6461; 639-7758 One Accent Hyundai $225,000.Call: 695-1744 Noah & Voxy in ‘G’ series, fully loaded, never registered -$1.7M –Call: 617-2891 Honda CRV, PJJ series GYD$1M –Call: 231-5080; 641-4704; 613-7091

TO LET Fully furnished luxury apartment: 3 bedrooms for rent- Call: 603-6351 Prime business spot in Lethem including bond storage & living quarters. Call: 601-9650 & 692-3573 3 Bedrooms upper flat for rent at Vreed-en- Hoop - Call: 661-0162 Business place located on Robb Street next to Bourda Market. Call: 623-7731; 629-0636

1 Toyota IST, PLL series, alarm, rims, etc. Price $1.350M negotiable –Call: 666-2027, 673-7652 1 Toyota Hilux Surf, 3RZ engine, alarm /rims, price $2.850 negotiable. Call: 6662027; 673-7652 One Toyota ISIS, 7 seats, alarm, chrome rims, DVD, rev. camera, price -$3.2M negotiable- Call: 666-2027; 673-7652 Manual and automatic super GL pit-bull buses & VVTI buses, extra cab Hilux with 1 RZ engine-Call: 616-7635

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. One new cash register- Call: 227-8538 Wholesale & Retail quantity of all types of belts –Call: 670-2343 ADORABLE PUPPIES FOR SALE. CALL: 6004212 Crazy Deals: Dell/HP desktop & laptop computers from $49,000, free games & educational programs @ FutureTech: 231-2206 1,500 lb snapper sein e i n excellent condition. Call: 6570044 Dachshund pups mixed with Pekingese for sale, males only -$20,000-Call: 677-2476 Lots @ Blankenburg behind the gas station- $3.9M- Call Us Today: 650-0402 Household items: wall dividers with wares, plus many more items, owner migrating-Call: 688-5446 ask for Allison. 1-300 tons Japanese made cargo ship and reusable marine steel plates: ¼” 3/8"Call: 688-7256 Combines: 7300 John Deere (2000 hours), Fiatagri L413 (2500 hours), Laverda 132 & Tractors: Massey 399, Fiat 110/90, Ford 6610-Call: 6859878; 338-4354 Stalls 64-72 (47feet long x 7 feet wide) @ La Penitence Market Albouystown. Call: 663-1597; 218-4837 TM 6X6 parts for sale: engines, gearbox, power box, def, drive shaft, etc. Call: 6017001 1 Complete music set and also studio equipment (music studio). Call: 265-3586 (8am4pm) Mix & raw loom to any part of Georgetown by Mr. Brock trucking for $40,000 size, 20 cubic yard- Contact: 6720470 White & Black sand to any part of Georgetown by Brock Trucking for $22,000, size 20 Cubic Yard-Call: 672-0470 VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Toyota Fun Cargo: AC, CD, 17" mags and flair kit never worked hire -$1.250M- Call: 619-1047

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Woman, 74, killed on pedestrian crossing By Jacquey Bourne A pensioner, 74-year-old Henrietta Cadogan, was struck down about 08:45h on Monday at the Four Corner in Wismar. It is alleged that Cadogan was hit by Hire Car licence number HC 5603 driven by 35-year-old Wendell Smith of M12 One Mile, Wismar. Cadogan of 572 Canvas City, Wismar, and mother of seven was returning from her daughter in Block 22 when she was struck down by a speeding car while she was using the pedestrian crossing. According to an eyewitness Cadogan was hit and flung in the air and the driver drove away. Cadogan’s daughter, Dianne Cadogan, a Corporal at the Mayor and Town Council said she spoke to her mother only a few hours before when she told her she was going to visit

her sister in Block 22. “Ow. He kill me mother; mommy you call me, I didn’t know was me last call.” The daughter lamented that her mother told her she was going to the shop on her way home from her daughter. “When dey big dey too own way. I tell she leh one of dem boy go, but she say no ah doan want dem bring wrong thing. She was going to Dianne Bomba shop to buy cassava because she does get good cassava.” Cadogan’s granddaughter said that the driver hit her grandmother and drove away. He did not even stop to render assistance. “He left she on de ground.” According to sources Smith drove away then went to the Linden Hospital Complex to take one of his relatives for treatment when he was arrested by police ranks present. He is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

E’bo mother sues Suddie Hospital for in excess of $20M Suddie Public Hospital Complex, Essequibo Coast

A Reliance Essequibo mother is suing the Suddie Public Hospital on behalf of her infant son Arveer Ashok Amarnauth, who allegedly suffered multiple injuries during his delivery at the institution. Parbattie Ramdatt has filed a lawsuit at the Georgetown Supreme Court claiming in excess of $20 million worth of damages, for personal injuries, pain and suffering, she endured as a result of the incident. Ramdatt is claiming there was negligence on the part of the medical practitioners who conducted the delivery, which caused severe injury to her infant son. In reports previously published by sections of the media, the mother had out-

lined her baby had suffered injuries to both arms and a fractured skull as a result of the delivery. According to the writ, Dr. Mirtha Johnson of the Public Hospital at Suddie, Essequibo Coast and Attorney General Basil Williams are named as defendants in the case. The document clarified that Dr. Johnson has been implicated as the doctor supervising the delivery of the Plaintiff at the Maternity Ward of the Suddie Hospital on October 26, 2015. According to the endorsement of claim the Plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $10 million for personal injuries, pain and suffering of and to herself and

child, caused by the negligence of the servants and/or agents of the hospital. Ramdatt is also seeking damages in excess of $10 million for recklessness as a result of the acts and/or omissions of servants and/or agents of the institution on or about the 26th day of October, 2015, at the Maternity Ward at the Public Hospital Suddie, Essequibo Coast. The defendants are commanded to enter an appearance in response to the action within 10 days after the service of this Writ. The document outlined that failure to do so can result in the judgment being given against them in their absence. Attorney –at- Law, Anil Nandlall is representing the Plaintiff.

Wife beater remanded to jail Balram Collins, 39, of Lot 35 Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice, was on Friday remanded to jail by Magistrate Rhondell Weaver when he appeared before her at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s court. He was charged with assaulting his wife, Ashwanie Barran, called Rachelle on Thursday 7th January 2016 at their home. Prosecutor Corporal Rochell Mars told the court that the accused is always in the habit of assaulting the woman. He said that the woman recently returned from an overseas trip when the abuse became worse. He kept accusing her of “going away”

to take man, the Prosecutor said. About 09:00hrs on the day in question, Collins and Barran were at home when the man began to abuse the woman accusing her of infidelity. Collins subsequently picked up a piece of wood and lashed Barran about her body. He then ripped her clothes, the court heard. The abuse was not done yet. The accused grabbed a cutlass and placed it to Barran’s neck and threatened to kill her. The matter was reported and he (Collins) was arrested and charged. In court he pleaded not guilty and was remanded to jail.

Tuesday January 19, 2016

Vendors remanded for one gram of cocaine One gram of cocaine was the cause of two men being remanded to prison yesterday by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, when they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Shemroy Robertson, a clothes vendor, 31, who resides at 101 Mandela Avenue, East La Penitence and Odinga Chase, also a vendor, 29, from 169 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme were not required to plead to the indictable charge. The charge read that on January 15, last at Princes Street, Georgetown, they had in their possession 1.6 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The Magistrate refused bail for the duo and adjourned the matter to February 15. Attorney-at-Law, Mark Conway, who represented the men made an application for bail citing special reasons. The Attorney said that his clients have never been convicted for any crimes in the past, thus they are not labelled as ‘flight-risks’ and will appear for court on the stipulated date. He also stated that both men have fixed places of abode and will return. Prosecution facts were presented by Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Kunyo Sandiford-Thompson who debated the Attorney’s special reasons while strongly objecting to

Shemroy Robertson and Odinga Chase bail. Sandiford-Thompson argued that no special reasons were put forward by the Attorney. According to her, such offences require special reasons for bail to be considered by the court. The Prosecutor also told the court that investigators were unsure of the address given by Robertson. Ranks conducted a search at the address for the defendant mentioned in the charge but

were unable to locate him. According to the Prosecutor, information given by persons who were arrested at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport late last year, pointed to Robertson being a drug supplier. She further added that these persons are willing to give audio/video testimony against Robertson. The Magistrate upheld the prosecution’s objections and remanded the men.

Teen chopped, victim criticizes police intervention Loggers, miners and fishermen who are working in Moruka, Region One have all complained bitterly about the unprofessionalism of the police officers operating in that particular area of the interior. They want the intervention of other law making bodies. Just last week 19-yearold Pernel Fiedtkou, of Rel i a n c e Vi l l a g e , o n t h e Essequibo Coast almost lost his life after a resident of Moruka attacked and chopped him to his left hand. The wound took seven stitches. Fiedtkou, who worked as a logger, said the incident oc-

curred last Monday evening. The injured young man said that he was in the house with two of his friends when an older man whom he knew from the area came and started to throw gasoline on the building. Fiedtkou said he jumped out of his hammock and attempted to confront the man who was throwing the gasoline. He said before he knew it, the man who was armed with a cutlass chopped him to his left hand. He however managed to escape before another chop was launched by the man. That blow landed on a

friend’s face as he rushed to rescue him. What is worrying is the unprofessional approach the police have since taken, Fiedtkou stressed. He noted that the police released the assailant on $50,000 station bail. He also lamented that the police hand picked persons and recorded their statements. Meanwhile, a fisherman from Dartmouth Village who plies his trade in the interior also complained about the unprofessionalism of the police officers operating in Region One. (Yannason Duncan)

Loss-making Wales factory to... From page 13 the past ten years, that the corporation was diverting scarce resources from the estates to assist with the financing of the new Skeldon project.” In making its case for Wales' closure this year, Government said that it is a fact that GuySuCo was denying the high performing estates funding as they propped up

the poorly performing ones. “The result was a general decline in performance, production and financial, across the industry. The practice of diverting scarce funds from the good estates to keep the poor performers in operation can no longer be tolerated as the survivability of these estates could not now be guaranteed.

Wales is by far the estate in poorest shape.” With regard to Wales estates, the statement said that 60 percent of the drainage and irrigation is run down with 75 percent of the bridges in poor shape. Cultivation in the canefields there is also in poor condition. The factory is old and in need of major investment.

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Four Trinis fighting for ISIS Delay becoming pregnant captured by Turkish forces –Health Ministry cautions women as Zika Virus gets closer to Jamaica

(Trinidad Express) The Turkish newspaper Hürriyet is reporting that four nationals of Trinidad and Tobago fighting for ISIS were among 961 fighters captured by the Turkish security forces in 2015. The following is the report Some 961 foreign members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from 57 countries were caught by Turkish security forces in 2015, intelligence sources have told daily Hürriyet. The question of foreign fighters and the security of Turkey’s border with Syria has been raised again following the ISIL suicide attack in Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet Square, which killed 10 German tourists. Intelligence sources speaking on condition of anonymity said strict measures had been taken at the border to prevent and catch foreign fighters trying to enter Turkey from Syria or vice versa, but admitted it was almost impossible to totally prevent illegal crossing. The same sources said 961 ISIL members had been caught in Turkey by security forces in 2015, without naming the 57 countries from which the foreign fighters had come as they did not want the

countries’ representation offices in Turkey to react negatively, as was previously the case. In December 2015, Turkey released a list of 913 foreign jihadists caught in Turkey in the first 11 months on the same year with open numbers of which countries they had come from. Most of the embassies in Ankara whose citizens were listed are reported to have reacted against being so openly cited. China tops list of foreign fighters According to the list announced in December, China tops the list with 324 citizens caught in Turkey fighting for ISIL. Russia comes second as 99 foreign fighters with Russian passports were caught in Turkey, while the Palestinians made up the third country in the list with 83 fighters. There were also 63 fighters from Turkmenistan, 57 from Afghanistan, and 44 from Indonesia. Fighters include Trinidad Tobago, Maldives citizens The caught fighters included in the December list came from far afield, with six carrying South Korean passports, five from Australia,

four from Trinidad Tobago and two from the Maldives. There were also a number of fighters from western European countries, including 19 from Germany and the United Kingdom each and 18 from France. While remaining tightlipped about the overall 2015 list, sources said two U.S. citizens were among the 961 caught and fighters carrying Syrian passports were also included. Sources did not share information about the other two countries among the 57. The most frequently used area for illegal border crossings from Turkey to Syria and vice versa is reported to be the Elbeyli district of Turkey’s southern province of Kilis. Most ISIL fighters attempting to cross into Syria through Turkey claimed in their testimonies that they were simply trying to look for their relatives. Some of the fighters crossing into Turkey from the Syrian side of the border said they had fled ISIL oppression, while others said they had been given bomb training at ISIL camps in Syria and were planning to conduct attacks inside Turkey.

Jamaican women are being encouraged to delay becoming pregnant for the next six to 12 months as the zika virus (ZIKV) comes closer to the island. The Ministry of Health also says pregnant women should take extra precaution to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes. ZIKV has been linked to microcephaly. Microcephaly is an abnormal growth of the brain and stunting of the growth of the head of the foetus arising from infection in the first months of pregnancy. Babies who develop microcephaly in the womb may not live to full term, may be born prematurely, may be still born or may survive, but with life-long disability. A number of cases have been reported in Brazil and this has triggered concerns. Permanent Secretary in the health ministry, Dr Kevin Harvey, says while the evidence of a link between microcephaly and ZIKV are inconclusive at this stage, the local health authorities decided to issue the advisory to Jamai-

Health Minister Horace Dalley can women as a precautionary measure. Noting that there is no specific treatment for ZIKV, Dr Harvey says it is critical that pregnant women do everything possible to avoid contracting the virus. He emphasises that there could be severe outcomes for a pregnant woman who becomes infected with ZIKV. Meanwhile, Health Minister, Horace Dalley, says the country’s health authorities are seeking to prevent any possible adverse outcome to pregnant women in Jamaica.

Dalley is calling for every Jamaican to play their part in taking the necessary steps to rid their communities of mosquito breeding sites and to protect themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes. Persons can protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellent containing DEET, putting mesh on windows and doors and wearing long sleeved clothing where possible. The health ministry has heightened its alert and is scaling up its vector control activities.

New protocol coming for overseas recruitment of teachers (Jamaica Observer) Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites says there will have to be a revision and reactivation of protocol regulating the recruitment of Jamaican teachers by overseas recruiters. This, as the education ministry revealed last week that 494 maths and science teachers left the public education sector last year alone to pursue overseas employment. “So often schools do not know that the teacher is leaving until the teacher has left, which is our greatest difficulty,” Thwaites said during a press conference at HEART Trust/NTA corporate offices in St Andrew, last Friday. The minister said that with the current framework

which allows for oversees recruiters — who are primarily from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada — to come to Jamaica to privately recruit teachers the ministry was blindsided when many teachers, without officially resigning, simply did not turn up for work. “Now, we are planning to approach the taking companies, and work out protocol even though on a government to government basis we know when an approach is being made and we know that there can be some kind of insurance because if they are taking our teachers, whom we have trained, then certainly there should be some level of reciprocity in helping to train our teachers for the local market and certainly for the foreign market,” Thwaites explained. One reason given for the high lev e l o f d e p a r t u r e from the classroom i s t h e a t t r a c t i v e e m p l o y ment opportunities ove r s e a s and the poor remuneration that teachers

Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites receive here, a report r e l e a s e d b y t h e education ministry stated. Thwaites said the loss of mathematics and science teachers has rocked the island’s education system. “We lost a great number of good math and science teachers and it has been a

blow to the education system. This has happened for a number of reasons but an even greater issue at hand is the fact that we risk losing may more,” Thwaites said. Thwaites said the ministry will be pulling

out all stops to ensure that positive trends that have been recorded in mathematics over the past three years is not greatly affected in light of this revelation. However, while they work to iron out this wrinkle, Thwaites said that there are also other ongoing efforts organised by his ministry which will be in motion by September. “We are taking nothing off the table and we will have to put a number of things in place (and) one that we have looked at is incentivising mathematics and science teachers and it may very well be that we may have to offer contracts of service to people with particular expertise-probably they are people who have already retired or those who are not in the education system ¬ because we n e e d people who can come and offer the strengths in these areas,” the minister proffered. Among the other proposals listed by Thwaites to address the drain on the education system is offering scholarships to people who have an interest in

pursuing mathematics and the sciences starting September, as well as recruiting exceptional mathematics and science students to pursue education degrees in the disciplines under the condition that they submit to a bonding period of five years. The minister acknowledged that this thrust to focus on mathematics and sciences ¬ is linked to the global demands for people who specialise in STEAM areas (science, technology. engineering, arts and mathematics). He said the disappointing number of students registering for subjects in the sciences as well as the reduction in science passes in the 2015 Caribbean Examination Council exams was enough evidence that the issue needs to be addressed urgently. Thwaites also briefed journalists on the current state of the education ministry, as well as projected plans for the 2016/2017 academic year.

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Bahamas crime statistics frightening, says US embassy US Charge D’affaires in Nassau, Lisa Johnson

NASSAU, Bahamas — US Embassy in Nassau charge d’affaires Lisa Johnson said The Bahamas’ crime statistics are “frightening” and the local crime problem is an issue that needs to be tackled before it begins to have a notably adverse effect on tourism and the country’s economy. “Look, it’s a difficult problem. The statistics are frightening,” said Johnson in a roundtable meeting with Bahamian media on Thursday. During that meeting, Johnson expressed concern that the problem needs to be addressed urgently, although she noted relief won’t come overnight. She also told reporters the US government has now stepped up its assistance to the Bahamian government to hopefully bring a resolution to the issue that has prompted several crime warnings from different countries. Last week, the embassy issued a warning to US citizens travelling to and living in The Bahamas not to patronize jet ski operators on New Providence due to the poorly regulated nature of the industry and several alleged rapes of American tourists in The Bahamas. The US has also expressed concern about armed robbery and murder in The Bahamas. Yet some have suggested the US has a critical role to play in violent crime in The Bahamas due to the proliferation of guns originating from the US flooding the local black market. In the majority of the 149

murders committed last year, a gun was used. Recently, opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis recently said that the country must “declare war on guns” and establish a dedicated intelligence gathering facility to partner with the international community. Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe recently said a conversation between The Bahamas and the US government must be had to address illegal firearms from America finding their way into the country. However, Johnson insisted that gun control in the US, despite efforts by US President Barack Obama to tighten restrictions when buying guns in certain instances, will not solve the problem with guns in The Bahamas. “You’re not going to find the answer to your gun problem in US legislation or change in policy,” she said. “You’re going to find it by working closely with us both on investigating and trying to shut down some of these criminal rings that are bringing guns into this country and trying to stop that.” Johnson maintained that The Bahamas and the US are still great friends and this was displayed during minister of national security Dr Bernard Nottage’s recent meetings with US law enforcement officials in Washington, D.C. Johnson said she attended all those meetings she said were focused on gangs. “Really, one of the takeaways is that when

you’re investigating or prosecuting cases of gun violence or retaliatory violence, that you’ve got to have investigators and prosecutors working together from the beginning,” Johnson said, likely referencing a recent failed effort by the government to prosecute several men under new anti-gang legislation. “So it was just really instructive to them to hear how that partnership works, and we do expect some follow up with the people we met with – FBI and the prosecutors; we’d like to have them down here to The Bahamas. “The prime minister has asked them if they would come down and I’m sure they’d love to.” Johnson said the meetings with Nottage also focused on how to better use electronic monitoring to curb crime and to oversee accused repeat offenders. “The Court [Services and] Offender Supervision Agency, we’re trying to discuss and learn more about electronic and bracelet monitoring that’s in use in the United States and how it can be applied more effectively here,” she said. “And we also went out to the Fairfax [County] Police Department and 911 Center to hear how they do emergency response and how they use technology to direct their assets quickly to scenes of crimes.” Johnson said she’s hopeful The Bahamas can rid itself of its vexing crime problem before it’s too late. (Nassau Guardian)

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Head stifles Renegades’ chase despite Gayle heroics ESPNcricinfo - Melbourne Renegades needed to chase down Adelaide Strikers’ 170 in 16 overs to set up a rematch in a Big Bash League semi-final at Adelaide Oval on Thursday. An outrageous 12ball 50 from Chris Gayle, equalling Yuvraj Singh’s fastestever T20 half-century, looked to be carrying them to an unlikely victory, before the Strikers’ spinners fought back to strangle the Renegades, who at one stage lost seven for 37, and win the game. As a result, Sydney Thunder qualified for their first semi-final in BBL history. Gayle had 51 of his team’s first 60 runs, including seven sixes. But by then, Renegades had already lost three wickets. Tom Cooper - who had watched Gayle pummel four consecutive Greg West deliveries for four sixes in the innings’ first over - was the first to go when he nicked the first

Chris Gayle’s 12-ball half-century was the lone bright spark for Melbourne Renegades as their BBL campaign came to a grinding halt © Getty Images ball off Michael Neser to the wicketkeeper. Travis Head then dismissed Cameron White and Dwayne Bravo off consecutive deliveries to derail the chase. It was a truly scintillating

passage of hitting from Gayle, and one that had been brewing. Throughout the competition, he has looked far more comfortable chasing than setting a target, and he has become well-acquainted with

Docklands Stadium’s short square boundaries. After West was tucked to deepmidwicket for two, followed by a defensive stroke, Gayle let fly, pulling a short ball over cow twice, then flicking one behind square and then over long-on, all for six. He hit the first two balls he faced from Ben Laughlin for six too, a wide full toss over long-off, then the resultant free hit was sent to cow corner. Head’s first ball, bravely flighted, also went the distance over long-on to bring up Gayle’s half-century. Head - who could only manage a duck on the day he was called up to Australia’s T20 squad for the first time, exhibited his all-round ability. He had two in two as Cameron White and Dwayne Bravo fell off successive deliveries, but Gayle didn’t back off, hitting him nonchalantly over longoff. Then came perhaps the biggest moment of the evening as he cramped Gayle for room as the top edge was well pouched by Tim

Ludeman, the wicketkeeper. With Gayle gone, there was a feeling that the Renegades had already sunk, even though Peter Nevill kept pinching boundaries. But he was run out by sharp work by Brad Hodge before the tail, that looked to hoick the spinners into the Tasman, came a cropper. Some late heave from tailenders Nathan Rimmington and Cameron Gannon proved in vain as they lost by 27 runs. In truth, Renegades did not deserve to qualify. They failed to win a game at home, and regularly failed to capitalise on good starts, and, like Gayle himself, struggled badly while batting first. They bowed out with fewer wickets than any BBL team in history, 32, having particularly been unable to pick up wickets in the first ten overs. Here, as Strikers casually compiled a professional 170, they made it to halfway 82-0, thanks to some powerful hitting from Jono Dean. Dean, who hit four sixes,

fell in the 11th over, top-edging a Bravo slower ball back to the bowler. Head was caught deep in the legside next over. Before they realised, Xavier Doherty quickly snared Alex Ross and Tim Ludeman, who had played attractively after recovering from a slow start. Hodge and Jade Lehmann came together to share a vital 45. Lehmann pulled and square drove impressively before falling in Rimmington’s final over, while Hodge was canny as ever, his innings full of short arm jabs and bunts over square leg. Thunder, watching this game as a squad in Sydney, will have breathed easy when Gayle fell, and they travel to Adelaide for Thursday’s semi with no fear; their record as the only team this season to beat the Strikers is intact. Scores: Adelaide Strikers 5 for 170 (Ludeman 49, Dean 48, Doherty 2-30) beat Melbourne Renegades 143 (Gayle 56, Head 3-16) by 27 runs.

Sheikh Salman rejects Ali’s back-room election deal charge Tuesday Jan 19, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may have a problem at work with a female coworker. Today is not the day to try to comer people by giving them ultimatums. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Travel in pursuit of pleasure and knowledge. Your communication skills may win you points. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may be offered opportunities that will result in a higher earning potential. Social activity should be on your agenda. Make any necessary changes to your insurance policy. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may find that purchases or entertainment could be expensive. You can't make things better if you don't know what to fix. Unreliable people will be negative about your ideas. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You can dazzle members of the opposite sex with your quick wit and aggressive charm. Extravagance and overindulgence are not a cure if you're feeling sorry for yourself. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your involvement with groups will raise your self esteem. Don't overlook that fact that someone you care about may be hiding something.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This could be a difficult day to deal with coworkers. You may find that others do not do things the way you want; however, if the job gets done, let it pass. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Get together with friends and catch up on reading and letter writing. If you are not already, think about going into business for yourself. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Uncertainties regarding your love life will surface if you have neglected your mate. Find out more, if you want to start your own business. You may want to have a heart-toheart talk with a close and trusted friend. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You should be able to get involved in an interesting proposition today. Don't let your mate force you into making a decision that you aren't ready to make. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Caustic language may cause you to want to get out of the house. You will have a great day if you just say what you feel. Look into some form of physical recreation. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Deal with the needs of children. Don't bother trying to make someone you live with see your point of view.

Kigali, Rwanda (AFP) — Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa has dismissed accusations of underhand electioneering levelled at him by one of his FIFA presidential rivals as “entirely inaccurate”. Jordanian Prince Ali bin al Hussein on Saturday accused the Bahraini head of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) of “a breach of electoral rules” and demanded an investigation. Prince Ali was upset at news of a deal between the AFC and the powerful Confederation of African Football (CAF) to organise tournaments and programmes for technical development. The Prince inferred that the agreement signed in Kigali on Friday suggested Sheikh Salman was trying to secure backing from CAF for the February 26 vote to become the new president of FIFA. The choice of the 54strong CAF could be crucial in the election to succeed suspended FIFA boss Sepp Blatter in Zurich next month. The African confederation enjoys the biggest membership ahead of UEFA (53), Asia (46), Concacaf (35), Oceania (11) and South America (10). “I have always promoted cross-regional understanding,” Prince Ali said. “However the timing of this memorandum of understanding between the AFC and the CAF looks like a blatant attempt to engineer a bloc vote.” Hitting back, Sheikh

Salman strongly refuted any notion of a back-room deal with Africa. “I am astonished about my friend’s comments, which are wholly dismissed and entirely inaccurate”, the Bahraini AFC head said yes-

terday. In a statement he was at pains to point out that the AFC and CAF had begun talking about joining forces in May 2015, five months before he threw his hat into the FIFA election ring.

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Groups set for 2016 CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup Guyana drawn in Gr. 5 with Puerto Rico & Anguilla St. John’s, Antigua – The Antigua night sky and trade winds, fireworks, dancers, a fire-throwing limbo dancer and soca artiste Tian Winter set the stage for the first ever draw for the 2016 Men’s Caribbean Cup since the competition began in 1989. The event was held poolside at Sugar Ridge Resort. Veteran sportscaster Lance Whittaker from SportsMax and Kirsy Rijo Charles Kullman, who performed bilingual duties, presided over the draw. The four CFU teams still in 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifiers – Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines – received a bye from Round 1. The seven-group Round 1 is as follows:Group 1 - Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis and Aruba Group 2 - Grenada, St. Maarten and United States Virgin Islands (USVI)

A flame dancer helps set the mood for the 2016 Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup Draw on January 16, 2016 at Sugar Ridge Resort in Antigua Group 3 - Cuba, Bermuda and French Guiana Group 4 - Barbados, Curacao and the Dominican Republic Group 5 - Guyana, Puerto Rico and Anguilla Group 6 - Guadeloupe, St

Martin and Suriname Group 7 - Martinique, British Virgin Islands and Dominica Round 1 will be played from March 21-29; Round 2 May 15-21; Round 3 October 3-11; Fifth Place Playoff November 7-15; and the finals are

Upper Corentyne Mashramani Cup 2016

Sarfraz Photo Studio and Video Recording Centre on board

scheduled for May 2017. The audience at the event included CONCACAF Acting General Secretary Ted Howard, CFU President Gordon Derrick and his Executive

Veteran sportscaster Lance Whittaker (left) and co-host Kirsy Rijo-Charles Kullman (right) are assisted with the Round 1 draw by FIFA Executive Committee Officer and CFU Executive Member Sonia Bien-Aime (second from left). CFU Media officer Troy Gibson is also pictured. Committee Members, as well as the presidents and general secretaries of the CFU Member Associations, Hon. Minister of Sports in Antigua and Barbuda EP Chet Greene, Par-

liamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Sports Senator Colin James and FIFA presidential candidates Jérôme Champagne and HRH Prince Ali Al Hussein.

Chandila banned for life, Hiken Shah for five years

Ajit Chandila ©AFP

Mr. Sarfraz Gaffor, (left) proprietor of Sarfraz Photo Studio and Video Recording Centre of Corriverton hands over the sponsorship to UCCA president Mr. Dennis De Andrade. The popular Sarfraz Photo Studio and Video Recording Centre has come on board to support the UCCA by assisting the Association financially with the Upper Corentyne Mashramani Cup cricket tournament which will be held on February 21, 2016 at the No.69 Vikings ground. The one day event will fea-

tured 10 teams in a 5/5 cricket extravaganza. Proceeds will go towards cricket development in the Upper Corentyne area. At a simple presentation ceremony Mr. Sarfraz Gaffor, Proprietor of the Studio, said he is pleased with the work of the UCCA and is always willing to support cricket devel-

opment not only in Upper Corentyne but Guyana in general. Sarfraz Photo Studio and Video Recording Centre was a major sponsor in 2012 when the Berbice Cricket Board organized the first 20/20 cricket competition in the Upper Corentyne area after which the UCCA was resuscitated.

ESPNcricinfo - Former Rajasthan Royals offspinner Ajit Chandila has been banned for life from all official cricketing activities for his role in the IPL 2013 spot-fixing case. Former Mumbai batsman Hiken Shah, who had been suspended by the BCCI in July 2015 for making an “illegal approach” to a player, was handed a five-year ban. A release from the BCCI said Chandila was “held guilty of misconduct and corruption”, having breached seven clauses of Article 2 of the BCCI’s anti-corruption code relating to corruption and betting. Shah, the release said, had breached three clauses of Article 2, all related to corruption. The BCCI’s disciplinary committee had met in Mumbai on Monday, and pronounced the penalties against the two. This is the first definite

Hiken Shah ©Fotocorp action taken against Chandila by the BCCI, since the Indian board suspended him in May 2013 following his arrest by Delhi Police for his alleged involvement in corruption in the IPL. While the others arrested at that point - former Royals players Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan - were banned from cricket by the BCCI on September 13, 2013, a decision on Chandila was deferred as there was no chance for Ravi Sawani - who led the BCCI’s probe into the matter and whose report formed the basis for the board’s actions - to question him; he had been in police or judicial custody since his arrest on May 16 till September 9, 2013, when he was granted bail, while Sreesanth and Chavan were out on bail since June 11. Since then the BCCI has

been embroiled in internal turmoil and engaged in an administrative makeover stemming from the spot-fixing scandal, possibly pushing Chandila’s case on the backburner. On the legal front, charges against all three players were dropped by a trial court in Delhi in July 2015, on the court on grounds of lack of sufficient evidence for prosecution under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The court’s decision did not have an impact on the life bans imposed by the BCCI. Shah, meanwhile, it is understood, had approached a Mumbai team-mate ahead of IPL 2015. He was found to be in breach of Articles 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.4 of the BCCI anti-corruption code.

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Bishundial, Allick are Lusignan SC cricketers of the year

Respective awardees display their accolades with GCB president Drubahadur (seated second from left) and Secretary Anand Sanasie (seated second from right) and officials of the Lusignan SC and East Coast Cricket Committee. Kumar Bishundial and Steven Allick copped the cricketer of the year awards when the Lusignan Sports Club hosted its annual awards ceremony on Saturday night

on the East Coast of Demerara. Bishundial who represented the club’s A team also carted off the overall cricketer of the year prize; Allick repre-

sented the B team. Leon Morgan and Ferron Kadir both of the A team won the best batsman and bowler awards, while Safraz Haniff and Dexter Jones won the said prizes in the B

Milo Under-20 Schools Football Tournament launched -Thirty-two teams to vie for top honours The exciting Milo Under20 Schools Football Competition, which is in its fourth year, was launched yesterday, during a simple ceremony that was conducted, at the Beepat’s Establishment in Sophia. Among those in attendance at the occasion were Nestle Caribbean Development Manager Sudesh Mahase, Petra Organisation Director Troy Mendonca, Guyana Football Federation 3rd Vice-President Thandi McAllister, Ministry of Education representative Nicholas Fraser and Milo’s representative Renita Sital. Mahase speaking at the Launch told the gathering of the Company’s delight to be on board once again, adding that Nestle Milo is looking at the tournament as a perfect alignment for its brand. He added that from all reports, the programme has gone well over the past three years and while it is a sizeable investment it is money well spent. Mahase thanked the Petra Organisation for once again inviting them to be on board and applauded the Organisers for maintaining the high standard that they had set from the inception of the tournament. McAllister in her remarks said it was indeed a pleasure for the GFF to grant its approval for the tournament to be staged and is extremely grateful to the Petra Organisation for assisting in the further development of the sport here. According to her, the tour-

nament provides irrefutable evidence of the Organisation’s seriousness in promoting the development of the game, adding that the combination of sports and academics is exactly what the GFF is hoping that could evolve during this competition and in the future. The GFF official extended hearty congratulations to the thirty-two participating teams and urged them to not only use the platform to showcase their on-field skills, but to also enhance their skills in the classroom as well. Fraser said giving approval to the Petra Organisation has become very easy due to their track record of staging projects that usually seek to uplift the personal and wider development of young individuals. “We understand the importance of initiatives such as these (Milo Tournament) and usually we have no hesitation in offering our support,” Fraser stated. The Education official urged all other Organisers to use the stakeholders’ approach a mechanism that Petra Organisation has em-

ployed to their advantage. Commenting on the tournament, Fraser noted that its benefit does not only serve the players, but the school as well, citing the acquisition of an IT Lab as an example of a winning school profiting from the success of its players. Mendonca in his presentation welcomed all, before speaking about the genesis of the tournament which he said was borne out of the recognition of the poor standard that typified football in Georgetown, especially at the junior level. He said that from the onset they had set themselves certain goals and according to him last year’s competition has to be considered as the best to date. The Petra official pointed to the development of players which has seen many of them assume starting positions in their respective clubs following participation in the Milo competition. Mendonca also recognised the huge effort that Milo is making to maintain sponsorship of the programme in spite of underperformance of the economy. He also recognised the important support of the Ministry of Education and the Public Health Ministry, two entities whose involvement to the programme. The tournament which will be run on a round robin basis with the teams divided into groups will commence on January 23 and run until March 17.

team. Robin Williams was the club’s most outstanding batsman and overall cricketer at the U15 level while Tamesh Motiram won the best bowler prize in the said category. Gavin Boodwah took the best batsman and overall cricketer prizes, while Dambuka Ngondo grabbed the best bowler trophy at the U19 level. The most discipline player award went to Vishnu Ramjeet, Steve Ramdass pocketed the most improved player trophy, while C.

Jeenarine was the best over40 player. Brian Sattaur, Boodwah, Williams and Motiram were given special recognition for their contribution to various national and inter-county teams. The club also presented an award to Sharon Jailall, wife of its late former president Samaroo Jailall in recognition for his services rendered. Speaking at the ceremony, president of the club Christopher Singh said the organisation had a fruitful 2015 despite a number of challenges. He congratulated the

awardees and urged the youths to remain committed to cricket and focus on their education. He added that his sole objective is to see youths fulfill their potential. The president stated that while the club has done fairly well over the past year, they have learnt some valuable lessons and that there is always room for improvement. He appealed to the NDCs and RDCs to support clubs in the area so that sports can develop. Singh expressed gratitude to his fellow executive and sponsors.

Sri Lanka suspend Anusha Samaranayake over alleged fixing attempt

No Sri Lanka players are implicated in the alleged fixing attempt. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - Sri Lanka have suspended fast bowling coach Anusha Samaranayake for two months over an alleged attempt to fix a Test against West Indies. He is accused of bringing in a man with no top-level cricketing experience to help the squad at training sessions. The allegations centre around the first Test in Galle in October, which Sri Lanka won by an innings and six runs. It was suggested wicketkeeper Kusal Perera and spin bowler Rangana Herath were offered money to lose the match. Sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said in December that the fee offered was 10M Sri Lanka ru-

pees (£48,600) to engineer a batting collapse. The man in question is net bowler Gayan Vishwajith, who has been given a lifetime ban from any cricketing premises in Sri Lanka. “Sri Lanka Cricket has received several complaints regarding a close acquaintance of Anusha Samaranayake with the main suspect Gayan Vishwajith, who had approached several national players for the alleged illegal activities of match-fixing,” said a statement from the country’s cricket board. After involvement from Jayasekara, police have taken statements from captain Angelo Mathews and team manager Jeryl Woutersz.

“The aim of the police investigation is not to destroy the good name of the national cricketers but to protect it,” Jayasekara told BBC Sinhala. “We do have clear information that players were offered money to fix matches. All the players have rejected that offer,” the minister added. The International Cricket Council began an investigation following a complaint by Perera. Perera himself is facing a four-year ban after failing an out-of-competition drugs test in October. In December, Jayasekara suggested that the failed drugs test could be a “conspiracy” against the 25-yearold wicketkeeper-batsman.

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Tuesday January 19, 2016

Tenelec Inc Under-15, Under-15 Cricket Competition

Karim, Veersammy, Deodat help Blairmont upset Albion and advance to Final

Chanrdadat Veersammy

Nigel Deodat

Javed Karim

Blairmont Community Centre created a big upset by beating the joint defending champions Albion Community Centre outright to gain a place in the final of the Tenelec Inc Under-15, Two-innings Cricket Competition in Berbice. In the quarter-final which was played and which Blairmont Community Centre won by an innings and 129 runs, Albion Community Centre, sent in to take first strike, lost an early wicket and had reached 18 for 1 after which Berbice Under-15 left arm spinner Nigel Deodat got into the act and picked up three consecutive wickets to see them slide to 21 for 4. After another one fell to offspinner

Adim Shewtahal, Deodat snapped up two more without conceding a run and they further slipped to 26 for 7. They were eventually bowled out for a paltry 34 with Nigel Deodat taking 5 wickets for 2 runs and pacer Keon Gangoo 2 for 11 from 8-Overs. When Blairmont replied, they got a start of 43 from Berbice Under-15 batsman Javed Karim and Saheed Khan. After Khan fell for 20, Karim and Chandradat Veersammy then proceeded to bury Albion by putting on 110 between them for the 3rd wicket. After Karim fell for 76 (8 fours and 2 sixes) and Veersammy for 54 (5 fours and 1 six), Azad Isahack (44) and Adim Shewtahal (34) put on

65 for the 6th wicket that helped Blairmont reach 262 all out. Bowling for Albion Community Cen t r e , f o r m e r Guyana Under-15 pacer Steven Kamaludin took 4 for 52 and Guyana Under15 left arm spinner Kelvin Umroa 2 for 36. Facing a deficit of 228 runs, Albion in their second innings could only manage to rustle up 99 all out with Jermain Pollard 23 and Azim Alli 21. Doing the damage this time for Blairmont were Adim Shewtahal who took 5 for 15 from 5.4 Overs, Berbice Under15 offspinner Seon Glasgow Jnr with 3 for 24 and Deodat with 2 for 12 to see him end with match bowling figures of 7 for 14 from 9-Overs.

CFU will regroup to mull proposed FIFA/CONCACAF Reform Statues

CFU President Gordon Derrick listens as CONCACAF Acting General Secretary Ted Howard makes a point during the CFU General Meeting held in Antigua on January 16, 2016. St. John’s, Antigua – The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) ended the two-day General Meeting in Antigua on Sunday last with a commitment to regroup in the coming weeks, ahead of the CONCACAF Extraordinary Congress on February 25 and the FIFA Extraordinary Congress a day later. The next CFU general meeting was occasioned by a motion from the floor on

Saturday, which had the support of the membership, for a meeting to consider the draft of the FIFA/ CONCACAF Statue Reforms to ensure that the membership comprehends the proposals and to seek consensus. This came after a discourse and robust debate on aspects of the proposed reformation. CFU President Gordon Derrick later said, “The CFU is in support of the

reforms. We want that to be clear. It is just one or two specific areas with which we have questions, and we will meet and discuss amongst our membership how we will address these.” The January 16-17 meeting in Antigua also heard from three FIFA presidential candidates, Jérôme Champagne and Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein on Saturday, and Gianni Infantino on Sunday.

Anderson, Sinclair and Simpson see Rose Hall Town to semi-finals Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes have joined Blairmont Community Centre, Tucber Park and Albion Community Centre in the semi-finals of the Tenelec Inc Under-15 Two-innings Cricket Competition in Berbice after beating Bush Lot United New Generation on first innings and their drawn quarter-final encounter. In the match which was played at the Area “H” Ground in Rose Hall Town, Rose Hall choosing to bat first, lost an early wicket at 15 for 1, but at that point, two Guyana Under-15 cricketers Kevlon Anderson joined Junior Sinclair and they proceeded to put on 112 between them for the 2nd wicket before Sinclair fell for 53 at 127 for 2. Anderson, who made 113 not out, continued, putting on 50 for the 3rd wicket with

Kevlon Anderson Berbice Under-15 batsman Keith Simpson (25) and then featuring in an unbroken 4th wicket stand of 98 with Brandon Corlette (30 N.O) to see Rose Hall Town declaring their first innings at 275 for 3. Bowling for Bush Lot, Guyana Under-15 offspinner

Nivendra Prasad took 2 for 87. When Bush Lot began their 1st inning response, they got a start of 32 from Adrian Ramnarine and Hanskumar Singh, but after the latter batsman fell for 19, the innings declined to 89 all out. Doing the damage were Rose Hall offspinner Junior Sinclair with 5 for 8 from 5.2 Overs and Keith Simpson 3 for 10 from 7-Overs. Ramnarine top scored with 34 for Bush Lot. Enjoying a first innings lead of 186, Rose Hall Town, choosing not to enforce the follow on, started their 2nd innings and soon found themselves at 79 for 4 but then Simpson with 75 N.O and Anderson 60 N.O; ensured no further wicket fell to take Rose Hall to 180 for 4 when the game was called off. Sinclair had earlier made 26.

Eagles soar to GABA U-23 League title with Pacesetters sweep -Nets bag Division II, Colts extend Division I contest By Edison Jefford Eagles swept Pacesetters 20 in their best-of-three series Sunday night to soar to the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) Under-23 League title, holding off a late surge from an intimidating Pacesetters team at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Eagles forward Travis Belgrave scored 23 points to ensure the 81-75 win. Eagles won the first of the best-ofthree series Friday night at the same venue. Darroll Williams had 15 points and Kevin Higgins 13 points to support the mammoth effort from Eagles. Guard Nathan Saul and Jaleel Duke had 23 points apiece for Pacesetters. Despite the brilliance of Saul in the game, he must be finding immense fault with his decision to throw up an unnecessary three-point attempt with his team down 73-75 and a minute to play. That was the defining moment of the game that began with Eagles up 19-17 at the end of the first quarter. Eagles’ Williams finished a left-hand layup that led Eagles to a 12-2 run for a 32-22 lead three minutes before halftime. However, Pacesetters ‘big man’ Roger John had two huge blocks, which resulted in outlet passes for an 8-2 offensive response. Pacesetters, Dequan Wray finished a floater off the glass to narrow the Eagles advantage 36-32 midway through

the game. Upon resumption, Keon Marks equalised 36-36 with a put-back early in the third period. But the defensive pressure that got Eagles enroute to the title, surfaced again and the result was a stumped Pacesetters that could not get it going offensively in the third period. Higgins finished back-toback plays for a 42-37 Eagles lead with six minutes to play. A dribble penetration and pass to Belgrave, who was left alone on the perimeter beyond the three point arc, pushed Eagles ahead further ahead. Belgrave then finished a put-back for a 10-point lead as Pacesetters made five straight turnovers trying to rush the ball up-court in an attempt to play up-tempo basketball. It did not work. Eagles capitalised on the offensive end to edge closer to the coveted title. However, Saul led Pacesetters on a 10-2 run to begin the final quarter that helped to within three 62-65, but Pacesetters only added four points in three minutes opposed to Eagles’ seven to set up a riveting showdown in the final minutes. Marks drained a threepoint jumper to haul within four, 71-75, lurking again as they did earlier in the quarter. Saul beautifully drove the ball to make it a two-point game; but with a minute to play Saul was drawn into temptation to attempt a three-pointer, which would

have given Pacesetters a onepoint (76-75) lead. However, Saul missed the shot and surrendered possession to Eagles. The rest is now history as the young talented team flew to the U-23 title. Similarly, Republic Bank Nets swept Pepsi Sonics in the Division II category, after winning 54-42 Sunday night. Guard, Darian Lewis scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Hodayah Stewart scored 13 and Mortimer Williams 10 points for Nets. National shooting guard, Jason Squires was the lone player in double figures for Sonics with 15 points. Sonics were kept to just seven points in the final quarter compared to Nets’ 24 points that they poured in to win the Division II title. Meanwhile, Bounty Colts and Plaisance Guardians set up a showdown for the GABA Division I Championship when Colts leveled the series 1-1 with a 77-74 victory. Guardians had won game one Friday night. Guard Dave Causway scored 21 points and centre Shane Webster 17 points to help Colts avoid a sweep. Shelroy Thomas finished with 14 points. For Guardians, Trenton Woolford scored 25 and Nikkoloi Smith 18 points while Nicholas Cassius added 12 points. The deciding game three is set for Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Tuesday January 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Djokovic, Serena star as match-fixing charges hit tennis MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Defending champions Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams raced into the Australian Open second round Monday as the year’s first Grand Slam was rocked by claims of widespread match-fixing in tennis. Former winners Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova also progressed smoothly on a day of high temperatures at Melbourne Park, where one ballboy felt faint and had to be helped from the court. D j o k o v i c ’s m a i n opponent was the 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) heat as, cooling himself with ice vests on the change-overs, the top seed dispatched Korean rising star Chung Hyeon 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. “ Yo u t r y t o s t a y composed, not get carried away by heat, get distracted,” said the Serb, who was forced out of the 2009 quarter-finals as he struggled with the heat. “Of course, there were some long rallies, long exchanges that got both of us a little bit short on air. But I think physically I was really good on the court.”

Williams also made a positive return to competitive tennis, four months after a heartbreaking defeat in the US Open semifinals ended her bid for a rare calendar-year Grand Slam. Showing no discomfort from the swollen knee which forced her out of this month’s Hopman Cup mixed-team tournament, Williams toughed it out 6-4, 7-5 against Italy’s Camila Giorgi. “I haven’t played a competitive match in a really long time so it was good for me to come out here and get through it,” Williams said. “I was able to stay in it and stay calm and that is what matters most.” Williams, 34, is seeking an Open-era recordequalling 22nd Grand Slam title, while Djokovic can become only the second man to win six Australian Open crowns after Roy Emerson. Federer was also untroubled in his 6-2, 6-1, 62 win over Georgia’s Nicoloz Basilashvili as he continued his quest for a record-extending 18th Grand Slam title. Sharapova, the women’s winner in 2008, beat Japan’s

Nao Hibino 6-1, 6-3 in just 73 minutes in her first match of the year after a forearm injury forced her out of the Brisbane International. “I’m feeling really good, which is a positive. I’m just happy to finish off today and be able to get ready for the next one,” said the Russian. - ‘No cover-up’Kei Nishikori, Tomas Berdych and Australia’s Nick Kyrgios also went through without significant problems, while Caroline Wozniacki was the biggest casualty on day one. The former world number one, who joined fellow seeds Sloane Stephens, Sara Errani and Ivo Karlovic on the sidelines, was stunned in three sets by Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva. “I would say it’s a pretty shitty start to the season,” the downcast Dane told reporters. C a n a d a ’s E u g e n i e Bouchard safely reached the second round, and Spain’s Carla Suarez earned applause when she helped a ballboy from the court as he swooned in high temperatures. However, the day was

Current Australian Open Men’s and Women’s champions Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams of the U.S. hold their trophies as they pose for a photograph after arriving for the official draw ceremony at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 15, 2016. (Reuters/David Gray) overshadowed by a report which said top-50 players, including Grand Slam champions, had repeatedly been suspected of matchfixing without facing action. Three suspect matches were at Wimbledon, and eight of the players under suspicion were due to take to the courts for the Australian

Fuss-free Federer roars into second round M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) A rampaging Roger Federer kicked off his 17th Australian Open campaign with a 6-2 6-1 6-2 demolition of Georgian battler Nikoloz Basilashvili to reach the second round on Monday. On a day when matchfixing allegations cast a pall over the tournament’s opening matches, the purity of Federer’s game shone through in a floodlit Rod Laver Arena as the Swiss master put on a masterclass of clean hitting. Spared the sweltering conditions of the day session, Federer barely raised a sweat in hammering Basilashvili, sending 31 winners whistling past the 117th-ranked Georgian. Having battled a flu during his run to the final of the Brisbane International, the 34-year-old, a winner of four Australian Open titles, was grateful to save his

Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates after winning his first round match against Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 18, 2016. (Reuters/Jason Reed) energy for more taxing encounters ahead. “I’m really pleased how I was able to play. Definitely gives me a bit of a lift in confidence, you know,

because this year I haven’t been able to play properly yet,” Federer told reporters. “I mean, I had some decent matches in Brisbane, but it was all under sort of a

cloud knowing that I wasn’t 100 percent. “But this was a match where I was able to focus on my game, on tactics, all that stuff. So it was nice to play that way.” Federer’s only wobble c a m e e a r l y, w h e n h e surrendered serve in the sixth game of the first set, but he responded by winning six straight games to leave the Georgian reeling. The third seed preserved his perfect record of surviving the opening round at the year’s first grand slam but faces a stiffer test against 35th-ranked Alexandr Dolgopolov, a hard-hitting Ukrainian with two tour titles. “I think it’s going to be very tough, to be honest,” said Federer, who practised with the mercurial 27-yearold in the off-season in Dubai. “He’s got the fitness, the power, the speed, tennis IQ, all that.”

Open, the BBC and BuzzFeed claimed. Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) chief Chris Kermode rejected any suggestion that match-fixing evidence had been covered up or ignored. “The Tennis Integrity Unit and the tennis authorities absolutely reject any suggestion that evidence

of match-fixing has been suppressed for any reason or isn’t being thoroughly investigated,” Kermode told reporters. “And while the BBC and BuzzFeed reports mainly refer to events from about 10 years ago, we will investigate any new information, and we always do.”

Ramroop guides All Youth SC to victory A fine century by Jermaine Ramroop guided All Youth Sports Club of Independence Street, La Grange to a 192run win over Western United of Patentia in a T20 fixture on Sunday. Ramroop struck eleven fours and six sixes in an unbeaten 113 and got support from Randy Ramroop and Imtiaz Ghanni who both made 30

each as All Youth SC posted 270 in 20 overs, batting first at Belle Vue ground. Orin Stanley claimed 2-36 for Western United who were skittled for 78 in 13 overs in reply. Alvin Charles and Stephenson made 17 and 11 respectively as Abid Haniff snared 4-19 and Randy Ramroop 4-20.

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Franklin, Edghill are new senior TT Champs -Britton wins 21-and-under title

Tuesday January 19, 2016

Cheddi Jagan Memorial T20 to commence in February The annual Cheddi Jagan Memorial T20 masters competition organised by Seeraj Bhamsain in observance of the former president 19th death anniversary is set to commence in February across Guyana. The Essequibo zone which is being sponsored by Bhamsain of Reliance and teams can contact Darshan Persaud on 625-8191 and Omesh Odit 690-0405 for more information. Berbice leg is being sponsored by Shalindra Ramnauth of Corentyne. The theme for this year’s competition is love, peace and unity. The winning and runner up teams as well as the manof-the-match in the final, best batsman, bowler and MVP will receive trophies.

GHB election for office bearers scheduled for Jan.30 The Annual General Meeting of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) is scheduled to he held on Saturday, January 30, at the Georgetown Cricket Club Pavilion, commencing at 14:00hrs. According to a release from the GHB, among the items slated on the agenda are: 1) President’s report. 2) Secretary’s report. 3) Auditor’s Report – 2014/15 Accounts. 4) Election of Office bearers for 2016/2017. 5) Election of Auditors. 6) Any other business.

GCB/BANKS DIH/Digicel NSSCL recommences today National Champs! GTTA President, Godfrey Munroe (second, right) and a Commissioner on the National Sports Commission, Nigel Hinds (third, left) join other GTTA Executives (seated), and various winners Sunday night following the National Championships. Christopher Franklin and Chelsea Edghill became the new senior Table Tennis (TT) Champions Sunday night at the National Gymnasium. The two replaced former champs from four years ago, Nigel Bryan and Trenace Lowe respectively. Franklin returned from a five-year hiatus from table

tennis to advance to the Men’s round-robin final, which included Bryan, Edinho Lewis and Orin Hickerson. He played undefeated in the group to win the Men’s Singles title. Franklin dominated the group, beating Bryan, Lewis and Hickerson 3-0. Bryan finished second in the championship while Lewis

was third and Hickerson fourth. Meanwhile, Edghill, who is on scholarship in the United States, also dominated her opposition in t h e Wo m e n ’s S i n g l e s category. She beat Natalie Cummings 3-0 in the women’s final and also won the 21 and under category after playing undefeated.

Shemar Britton won the male 21 and category, defeating Kyle Edghill 4-1 in an exciting match that went 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9 and 11-9. Nicholas Romain won both the ‘B’ and ‘C’ Class categories, topping Kevon Corbin in the ‘B’ Class final 4-1 while defeating Tyriq Saunders 3-0 in the ‘C’ Class final.

Mix Up capture Wiltshire Dominoes crown Mix Up chalked up 41 games to win the final of the Mark Wiltshire four-game dominoes competition on Sunday night at R and R Sports Club. Phantom took the runner up spot with 38 games while Gangster finished third on 35. Ganesh Sankar and Gilbert Mendonca scored 11 each for the winners, while Ewie Gordon made 11 and Orin Favourite 10 for Phantom. Shell o n C o l l y m o r e a n d Susan Collymore got 1 0 a p i e c e f o r G a n g s t e r. Mix Up marked 40 games to win the semi final encounter ahead of Gangster

31 and Rugged 24. Mark Wiltshire 11 and Mendonca 10 were Mix Up leading players, while Dereck Collymore made 10 games for Gangster and Osmond Brathwaite 10 for Rugged. Meanwhile, Wiltshire will be hosting a free-entry tournament starting on Wednesday at Faye Joseph residence, Gaulding Place. Action gets underway at 19:00 hrs and corporation teams are also invited. Among the sponsors on board are All Season Racing Service, Eswick Nauth, Linden Boston Construction Service, C Point and Faye Joseph.

Mark Wiltshire accepts the cheque from Faye Joseph.

The GCB/Banks DIH/Digicel National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) resumes today at the Fairfield ground with Lancaster Secondary clashing with Hope Secondary in the Mahaica Zone. The Fairfield ground will be the home to a week of matches, as schools in both the Mahaica and Mahaicony Zones will compete for top Zone honours. The winnings school from both Zones will then play for the Mahaica/Mahaicony District Champion Trophy. Additionally, matches between schools will also continue in the East Bank Demerara and Bartica Zones, and the Districts of East Coast Demerara, the Corentyne, Upper Demerara, East Bank Demerara and East Bank Demerara. The completion of which, shall set the stage for competition between the winners of the respective Zones and Districts, as a means towards determining the countrywide winner. The GCB/Banks DIH/ Digicel NSSCL Country winner shall enjoy the privilege of sponsorship to participate in the 2016 Sir Garfield Sobers School Tournament. The final of the NSSCL Inter Schools aspect of the League is scheduled for 19 February, 2016.

The NSSCL will also feature a Combine Elite aspect with the selected group of better players from each Zone and District competing for Elite honours within two broad Country Districts – namely Upper Demerara/Essequibo and Georgetown/Berbice. An illustration of Upper Demerara/Essequibo sees the Upper Demerara Combine Elite Squad versus the High Way Combine Elite, the winner of which shall play the East Bank Demerara Combine Elite, the winner of which shall play the West Demerara Combine Elite, the winner of which shall play the Essequibo Combine Elite. The latter (Essequibo Combine Elite) would have been derived from matches played between their Zone and districts teams. The winner of the Upper Demerara/Essequibo Country District will then clash in the countrywide finals against the winner of the Georgetown/Berbice Country District. The Georgetown/Berbice Country Districts covers the districts of Georgetown, East Coast Demerara, Mahaica/Mahaicony, West B e r b i c e , N e w Amsterdam/Canje and Corentyne. The final for the NSSCL Combine Elite phase of the League is scheduled for 4 March, 2016.

Tuesday January 19, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Medicine Chest presents over $200,000 worth of equipment to Fruta Conquerors Medicine Chest added its name to the list of business entities to come forward and support Fruta Conquerors after ahnding over a large quantity of football kits for the club’s Elite League Under-17 Competition, during a simple ceremony, at its business location on M i d d l e S t r e e t yesterday. The gift it was disclosed is valued in excess of $200,000 and includes branded uniforms, resistance parachutes, cones and agility ladders. Aaron Fraser, acting on behalf of the entity shortly after wishing the team the best of luck in its upcoming e n d e a v o u r, t o l d t h e gathering of club officials, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Technical Development Officer (TDO) Lyndon France and the media that while he has unofficially been a staunch supporter of the club, the occasion marked the first time that he has contributed officially to the club.

He opined that the executives and management staff of the club must be commended for their attentiveness to the club, adding that other such organisations should try to emulate their work. Club Secretary Daniel Thomas in his remarks thanked the entity for its support, informing that their initial approach was met with assurance of support and the rest is history. The uniforms will be adorned with the entity’s logo. Meanwhile, Captain of the Elite U-17 squad Jeremy Garrett praised the company for its donation, before stating his delight in being able to compete in the GFF U-17 league. Coach Seon Hescott, who also extended thanks to the entity, echoed earlier sentiments expressed by Thomas in calling for other members of the business sector to get on board and support the sport. Head Coach of Fruta Conquerors Calvin Allen

Aaron Fraser of Medicine Chest (3rd right) hands over the U-17 Elite League kits and uniforms to Club Secretary Daniel Thomas in the presence of club officials and GFF TDO) Lyndon France (right) yesterday. praised the company for their contribution, assuring that the gift will be properly utilised for the benefit of the players. France in his remarks

said the GFF has decided that the U-17 Elite League should be the matching part of the senior Elite League, adding that if we are to produce elite athletes the

procedure must commence at an early age. According to the TDO, U-13 and U-15 Elite Leagues are strongly being considered and with this

support there is optimism that more companies will come on board and offer assistance which will ultimately be of benefit to the game locally.

Djokovic admits indirect fixing approach, questions betting sponsors M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) World number one Novak Djokovic said a member of his staff was approached about fixing a match early in his career, and he questioned whether betting companies should be allowed to sponsor big tennis tournaments. The reigning Australian Open champion was speaking after the sport was rocked by allegations that the authorities had failed to deal with widespread matchfixing. Djokovic said that as far as he was aware there was no longer a problem with what he described as a “crime in sport” at the top level of tennis, but added that he had once been approached indirectly to throw a match. “I was not approached directly, I was approached through people that were with my team,” he said, after cruising through his opening match at the tournament against South Korean teenager Chung Hyeon on Monday. “Of course, we threw it

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic stretches to hit a shot during his first round match against South Korea’s Hyeon Chung at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 18, 2016. (Reuters/Jason Reed) away right away. The guy that was trying to talk to me, he didn’t even get to me directly. There was nothing out of it. “Unfortunately, there were some, in those times,

those days, rumors, some talk, some people were going around. They were dealt with. In the last six, seven years, I haven’t heard anything similar.” In 2007, Djokovic said

an approach had been made offering him $200,000 to throw a match at the St Petersburg Open in Russia, a tournament he did not ultimately play in. The 28-year-old Serb

said that although he was confident there was no longer a problem at the top level, he could not speak for further down the tennis rankings. Djokovic was also asked about the propriety of betting companies being sponsors of major tennis tournaments, even if there had never been allegations that such companies were involved in any wrongdoing. William Hill became the first “official wagering partner” of the Australian Open last year, and this year advertisements for the British bookmaker adorned the three main showcourts at Melbourne Park for the first time. Critics, who say the relationship sends out the wrong message, have called on Tennis Australia to end it, and Djokovic said there should at least be a debate. “Well, this is a subject for discussion, I think, today and in the future. It’s a fine line. Honestly it’s on a borderline, I would say,” he said.

“Whether you want to have betting companies involved in the big tournaments in our sport or not, it’s hard to say what’s right and what’s wrong. “One of the reasons why tennis is a popular and clean sport is because it has always valued its integrity,” he added. William Hill defended its association with Tennis Australia. “Close partnerships between regulated and licensed betting operators like William Hill and sporting bodies are part of the solution to integrity issues, not part of the problem,” said group director of security, Bill South, in a statement. “ W e h a v e comprehensive information sharing agreements to inform the sport’s integrity bodies and for the sport to promote licensed operators is key to ensuring transparency,” he added. Tennis Australia did not have an immediate comment to make.

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Milo Under-20 Schools Football Tournament launched -Thirty-two teams to vie for top honours

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Nestle Caribbean Development Manager Sudesh Mahase (3 left) hands over the championship trophy to Petra Organisation Director Troy Mendonca in the presence of GFF 3 V-President Thandi McAllister (2nd right), Ministry of Education rep Nicholas Fraser (2nd left), Milo rep Renita Sital (left) and Petra official Mark Alleyne (right) yesterday.

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Eagles soar to GABA U-23 League title with Pacesetters sweep -Nets bag Division II, Colts extend Division I contest

The winning Eagles team celebrates along with GABA President, Andrew Hercules (left) and the VP, Adrian Hooper (second, right), who is also Eagles Coach Sunday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

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