Kaieteur News

Monday July 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

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

A vote of no confidence will IN SUPPORT OF MINISTER go a long way in removing MANICKCHAND the stain on this nation

DEAR EDITOR, This is a eureka moment for Guyana! That the AFC has thrown down the gauntlet and is inviting the larger party in the opposition, APNU to consider a no confidence vote against the PPP is superb and indeed cause for hope. I would like to think that this is an opportunity to demonstrate political maturity among the opposition parties and show that they can do big and meaningful things that puts the interest of Guyana first. The results of the 2011 general elections presented the opposition with a unique opportunity and the time is long past when this action should have been taken against the corrupt and kleptocratic PPP regime masquerading as a legitimate government of all the people. Any honest assessment of the PPP’s twenty-two unbroken years in office must take into account how the PPP over the last decade or more has reduced Guyana to a

pimper ’s paradise where the national patrimony is being frittered away to the “family and friends network” or to nationals of two of the most corrupt and unscrupulous countries in terms of business practices, China and India. Now that the opposition has dangled the sword of Damocles over the PPP’s head, there can be no turning back because to do so would embolden the PPP to continue with impunity their wretched excesses in depriving the nation of equal opportunity and justice under the law. There is nothing that precludes the AFC and APNU from putting aside their differences and form a preelection coalition that must guarantee the following: 1) prosecution of all government officials who have stolen or cause to be stolen or conspired with those who have stolen and or defrauded the national treasury since 2000. 2) Draft a more just and inclusive

constitution that promises equality for all from pauper to president. 3) Stand up an independent judiciary that is not beholden to any single politician and make Guyana a nation of laws where the rule of law prevails against presidents with despotic tendencies. 4) Promote transparency and accountability to eradicate corruption, torture and narco-trafficking. I think if the opposition is sincere in their efforts and lay out the facts to the nation I think they will be rewarded by the people to right the wrongs of this immoral PPP government. It is said that sunlight is the best disinfectant as it relates to politics and lord knows Guyana is in need of disinfectant in the worst way. A vote of no confidence against the PPP that will lead to fresh elections and a change of government will go a long way in removing the stain that the PPP has wrought on this nation. Nigel Jason

Minister Manickchand and LGE DEAR EDITOR, Priya Manickchand conducted a public verbal ‘crucifixion’ of the outgoing US Ambassador on the occasion of his Country’s birth Anniversary. However, instead of the crowd shouting ‘crucify him, crucify him’, she ended-up being the one to be virtually stoned by the crowd. She is lucky to have left that auspicious occasion in one piece. We Guyanese are a peaceful and somewhat docile people. That’s why the present regime continues their fancy gallop in a ‘horse and rider’ relationship with the Guyanese people. Ambassador Hardt has discerned the demagoguery of the rider and has been calling for the holding of Local Government elections. His message is simple, “Stop the dilly-dallying”. This PPP regime has made

an art of dilly-dallying in their brand of democracy. The brand of democracy that is practiced by the PPP Government these past 20 years bears the name tag, “Made in China”. Manickchand’s fierce castigation of the Ambassador is in keeping with the ‘Made in China’ brand, where toeing the line is absolute. In fact, Minister Manickchand who bears an uncanny resemblance to the Supreme leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, has exposed another deep seated trait of the PPP regime Neemakaramism. As a child growing up on the West Bank of Demerara near the Canals Polder, I would hear both African and Indian Guyanese use the Hindi term ‘neemakaram’ to describe someone who was downright ungrateful. The USA has been Guyana’s main benefactor

over the last two decades and deserves our gratitude. Manickchand’s cantankerous chastisement of the Ambassador makes her the Neemakaram-inchief of Guyana. Protocol has been severely breached and the water is t r o u b l e d . We a r e n o w down to the nitty-gritty. The best apology the majority Parliamentary Opposition can give to President Barrack Obama and Ambassador Brent Hardt, on behalf of the Guyanese people, is to bring the dillydallying to an abrupt stop. Guyanese chanted the phrase ‘Yes we can’ long before President Obama adopted it. Standhope Williams

DEAR EDITOR, I am responding to the fallout of Acting Foreign Minister, Ms. Priya Manickchand’s speech at the US Embassy, observing the 238th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. Before I proceed, let me make it very clear that I am not a member of any political party in Guyana. I criticize and praise all parties equally. I was once told that the former president, Bharrat Jagdeo, once referred to me as a traitor to the PPP. I must also emphasize that there is no excuse for not having local government elections since the 1990’s in Guyana. This is a shame. All elections should be held on a regular basis and I blame the government for the blatant disregard for this democratic process. I am not concerned with any actions of the minister in the past, as it is irrelevant to this issue. Also, I believe the speech was approved at a higher level of government and the minister was only the messenger. However, I am flabbergasted at the outpouring of criticism levied against the minister, in the newspaper and the social media regarding her speech. After viewing a video of her speech, which lasted nine minutes and twenty seconds, I absolutely don’t understand what the fuss is all about. She was calm in her presentation and the contents of her speech were accurate. She made an analysis of the out going ambassador’s tenure in Guyana and as a representative of the government of Guyana, she would be derelict in her duty if she did not make a critical analysis of the ambassador who is known to have meddled in Guyana’s internal politics from the day he

assumed his position. However, I blame the PPP government for not expelling the ambassador when he started his officious behavior. Any Guyanese government should never tolerate another Brent Hardt in our country. To those of you who are critical of the minister ’s speech think that our ambassador to the Unites States of America, Bayney Karran, could act in such a manner in Washington as Brent Hardt did in Guyana? Do you think ambassador Karran can tell president Obama that he is the worst president when it comes to deportation of immigrants and to end his policy immediately? Do you thing he can demand that Obama pardon political prisoners in the USA, including Mumia Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier. He would be presumptuous and violating his ambassadorial duties and president Obama would be right to expel him immediately. If it’s not acceptable for the United States, it should not be acceptable for Guyana. If she is criticized and denounced for her speech, those who began to heckle close to the end of her speech should be denounced and criticized also. They were extremely disrespectful to the minister. It appears to me that the benefactors of the US intervention in Guyana is at it again and is trying to kiss the ass of the outgoing ambassador. We have had the painful experience of the US meddling in our affairs since the late 1950’s. Today as an independent nation, we continue to suffer the seeds of destruction

planted by the US, Britain and local puppets, political parties, individuals, unions and religious bodies to divide our nation. The extremely disruptive and disrespectful behavior of the ambassador, his close relationship with opposition and the presence of the International Republican Institute [IRI] in Guyana, could this be a pretext for another US intervention and destabilization of the PPP government? Could the virulent denunciation of the minister by the opposition be an act of gratitude to the ambassador for his actions against the government? According to one publication, Mr. David Granger, leader of the PNC described Ms. Manickchand’s speech as, “vulgar and worst than useless.” He called on president Ramotar to disassociate his administration “from these worthless remarks and issue an unconditional apology to H.E. Ambassador D. Brent Hardt and the people of the United States of America.” Mr. Granger recently said that there is nothing to apologize to the Guyanese people, for the twenty-eight years of PNC abuses in Guyana. Therefore, there is nothing for Ms. Manickchand or president Ramotar to apologize for. Guyanese and only Guyanese should solve our problems. And as Guyanese we should always denounce those external forces that attempt to get involved in our internal affairs. Good riddance to the ambassador. Chuck Mohan

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Kaieteur News

Monday July 07, 2014

Cooperatives still relevant to Can the region absorb the number Guyanese society - Dr. Gopaul of lawyers being produced? Officially called the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Guyana is home to thousands of Cooperatives. There are about 1,200 active Cooperatives and this figure may not drastically increase with many groups opting to establish Friendly Societies rather than the financially lucrative Cooperatives. A Cooperative is a group comprising persons who pool their resources to benefit socially, economically and culturally. In Guyana, there are various Cooperatives such as Credit Unions that have been benefiting their members tremendously. During a recent interview with this publication Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul expressed confidence that the word “Cooperative” in the country’s title is still very relevant. He related that when the country was being named, policy makers had in mind the Cooperative Movement.

But even with Cooperatives being successful, several have become defunct while others have outlived their usefulness. Those in existence have to be audited and abide by strict guidelines. Those found in breach of the laws are held accountable by the Ministry. Highlighting the relevance of Cooperatives, he said that the aggregate asset of Credit Unions belonging to GAWU, GPSU, Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force is about $15B. He referred to them as strong financial institutions. Additionally, other Cooperatives created by individuals with similar interests such as rice farming, have experienced financial gains. To emphasize the importance of and stimulate persons’ interest in Cooperatives, the Ministry of Labour has commenced hosting sensitization seminars in observance of the Week of Cooperatives from July 4 to July 11. On Saturday, the Ministry’s

Dr. Nanda Gopaul Cooperative Department held a sensitization seminar in Essequibo, Region Two, which is home to over 40 Cooperativesmainly incorporating cattle and rice farming. The seminar focused on several areas including governance and management. Dr Gopaul added that the aim is to continue having Cooperatives be success stories in Guyana. For instance, fishermen’s cooperative and Regions Five and Six, as well as rice lands Cooperatives are good examples.

The 35th meeting of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government has concluded and among other things the comprehensive review of legal education in the West Indies was discussed. Attorney General Anil Nandlall who was present at the meeting outlined that talks are ongoing to ascertain whether the University of the West Indies Council of Legal Education should continue to operate the way it does or whether changes should be made. This has to be taken against the backdrop of what recently occurred where the 2014 law students from the University of Guyana (UG) had lost their automatic placement within the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago even though there was an agreement between UWI’s Council of Legal Education and UG that every year, 25 automatic placements were offered by the Council to UG for entry into the said School. The government, however, through its Attorney General, made advances to have that decision rescinded and was successful in its endeavour following a meeting at the Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Caricom Secretariat that involved Caricom Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque. The meeting, which was instigated by President Donald Ramotar, specifically addressed the protracted impasse affecting the local law students’ entry to the

- Caricom considering changes to UWI Council of Legal Education Trinidad based law school and the review of legal education in the West Indies. Nandlall had disclosed that “it was decided that the top 25 Guyanese Nationals, graduates of the University of Guyana Law Programme, 2013, will enjoy automatic entry into Hugh Wooding Law School, for the academic year commencing September 2014-2015.” An additional 10 students who are non-Guyanese nationals graduating out of the said programme will secure automatic entry to the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica or Eugene Dupuch Law School in Bahamas, depending on which zone their territory falls. Nandall said that as the situation currently stands, the Heads of Government are contemplating whether the law schools in the Region are “adequate to accommodate students studying law in the region because the Council which was established 40 years ago is in charge of a structure that is 40 years old.” He said that the review will tell us if the structure would be changed… “There are now many universities in the region that are producing law students and offering law degrees outside of the UWI such as the University of Technology in Jamaica, the University of Trinidad and Tobago and University of Guyana. In addition, there are many UK (United Kingdom) universities that offer law degrees, the University of London for example has several centers in Trinidad that teach law to students. So there are many more students

now that are being produced outside of the traditional UWI that used to produce the majority of students.” As such the question of adequacy of the current system will be reviewed and “the whole role of the function, should it be a Council that is managing or running the law school or whether it should be an Accreditation unit,” Nandlall outlined. He said that the syllabus will also be reviewed because the same syllabus has been used at UWI largely for the last 40 or more years. “The deans of the Caribbean in respect of legal services will also be addressed to see if we can absorb the number of lawyers that are being produced. That is another factor.” “It’s a very comprehensive review and hopefully the importance of it being done as early as possible was underscored because we have students that graduate annually from various places and the simply do not enjoy guaranteed secured spaces at regional law schools,” said Nandlall. Contrary to what was announced earlier about Guyana having interest in its own Law School for students completing the Law programme, Nandlall said that the “government of Guyana will continue a solution to this matter at the level of CARCIOM. We will not operate outside of CARICOM. Legal education in the Caribbean is regionally driven and Guyana does not act unilateral of that.”

Monday July 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

Shi’ite cleric Sadr urges Maliki’s bloc to choose new Iraq PM candidate (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s coalition should withdraw its support for his bid for a third term and pick another candidate, Shi’ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr urged, amid parliamentary deadlock over the formation of a new government. Maliki has come under mounting pressure since Islamic State militants took swathes of the north and west of Iraq last month and declared a caliphate on land they and other Sunni armed groups have captured in Iraq and Syria. In a statement published on his website late on Saturday, Sadr said Maliki “has involved himself and us in long security quarrels and big political crises” and suggested that preventing Maliki from serving a third term would be a “welcome step”. “It is necessary to demonstrate the national and paternal spirit by aiming for a higher, wider goal from individuals and blocs and by that I mean changing the candidates,” said Sadr, who gained political influence during the U.S. occupation. The radical cleric and his political allies had previously advocated the next prime minister should be a Shi’ite chosen from outside of Maliki’s State of Law coalition. “I remain convinced that the brothers in the State of Law coalition must present the candidate for prime minister ... because it is the biggest bloc within the National Alliance,” Sadr said. State of Law is part of the National Alliance, a bloc comprising the country’s biggest Shi’ite parties, including both Maliki’s list and his foes. Dhiya al-Asadi, secretary general of the Al-Ahrar bloc, the Shi’ite political party loyal to Sadr, told Reuters: “We are fine with any State of Law candidate as long as he is not Maliki.” The United States, Iran,

the United Nations and Iraq’s own Shi’ite clerics have called on Iraqi politicians to overcome their differences to face the insurgency. Maliki’s military spokesman Qassim Atta told reporters yesterday “the security apparatus is working” to analyse a video posted online of a man purporting to be the leader of Islamic State praying at the grand mosque in Mosul. The city is one of those seized by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) last month before the group changed its name and declared its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi caliph, a title held by successors of the Prophet Mohammad. Interior Ministry spokesman Saad Maan had earlier said the 21minute video, which carried Friday’s date, was “false”. Atta said the video was being “cross-referenced with intelligence data to determine whether it is in fact” the reclusive Baghdadi. Before the video was released on jihadist forums and Twitter accounts associated with the group, reports appeared on social media that Baghdadi would make his first public appearance. Government forces were yesterday continuing to battle Islamic State militants south of the rebel-held city of Tikrit, which the army has yet to retake after an offensive began on June 28, Atta said. He said forces had killed 14 militants since Saturday in the al-Dayoum and Wadi Shisheen areas near Tikrit and troops were reinforcing the village of Awja, recaptured three days ago, and preparing to push 8 km (5 miles) north into the city. Maliki’s opponents blame his divisive rule for fuelling the political crisis and want him to step aside. They accuse him of ruling for the Shi’ite majority at the expense of the Sunni and Kurdish minorities.

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Guyana Trades Union Congress The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) joins with our peoples, local and regional, in celebrating the 41st Anniversary of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Reaching this milestone has not been without challenges, setbacks and achievements, all of which the Region’s peoples must evaluate as we move forward. CARICOM today stands on the shoulders of men and women who from the days of enslavement fought for the fundamental rights to equality, dignity and selfdetermination. Our forebears

recognised the struggle for liberty and empowerment lies through forging ties built on the oneness of strength and purpose, which continues to serve the Region well. In 1926 when the Labour leaders, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow and others met in Georgetown in the hallowed halls of the Legislature they marked the first show in the early 20th century to make the aspirations of theirs and their forebears possible. These leaders committed, among other things to chart a course for the Caribbean’s peoples; realise minimum wage

People’s National Congress Reform On this the 41ST Anniversary of the Regional Integration Movement, the People’s National Congress Reform extends warm congratulations to the peoples of the Caribbean Community, the staff of the Community Secretariat and to the Guyanese people, for a happy and meaningful CARICOM Day 2014. Our Party trusts that, even as we celebrate this occasion, we will all continue to commit ourselves to the strengthening and advancement of our common Caribbean home. The PNCR recognises that, within recent times, the integration process has been subject to very testing times, including the impact of the global economic and financial crisis, which have resulted in new and additional challenges for the integration process. It is not surprising, therefore, that important components of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) have come under critical scrutiny and challenge. Trade frictions have emerged among important and significant states of the Community. Across the region there seems to be a renewed

questioning of the integration process itself. The PNCR, which has played a pivotal role in promoting and sustaining the movement for the development of a common Caribbean identity and a strong Regional Economy, is familiar with the vicissitudes which have tested the resolve and commitment of the Leaders of the Community. The integration process has been challenged before, in various ways, but it has survived them and, as a result, is today one of the oldest integration movements in the world. The PNCR would never lose faith in the resilience of the community, despite these trials. We reaffirm our commitment to the integration process and our Caribbean leaders, in the confident expectation that all obstacles and challenges will be overcome, so that the Community will be enabled to play an even greater role in the lives of all of the citizens of this our Caribbean Region.

legislation; forty-four hour week; old age pension; national health insurance and sickness benefits; federation; universal adult suffrage; free compulsory primary education; nationalisation; state ownership of public utilities; cooperative marketing of agriculture produce; Workmen’s Compensation; a standard eight- hour working day; the abolition of child labour; prison reform, peremptory challenge to jury and the abolition of the Special Jury. When the Caribbean Congress of Labour was founded in 1960 it worked with the regional political establishment and civil society to make real the ground work laid by predecessors. Another wave of leaders came in the 1940-70s and realised the West Indian Federation in 1958, though short lived (disbanded in 1962), it worked to make real the above mentioned. This was later followed in 1965 by the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) founded by Forbes Burnham (Guyana), Vere Bird (Antigua and Barbuda), Errol Barrow (Barbados) and Eric Williams (Trinidad and Tobago). Another milestone was achieved in 1973 by Forbes Burnham (Guyana), Errol Barrow (Barbados), Eric

Williams (Trinidad) and Michael Manley (Jamaica), who were the Founding Fathers of CARICOM. Today CARICOM has within its fold 15 Member-States and five Associate Members. The peoples of the Region can also lay proud claim to the Caribbean Development Bank, Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) which includes free movement of skills, Decent Work Agenda, CARICOM Charter of Civil Society, Caribbean Court of Justice, Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, universal education, the Caribbean Examination Council, to name some. The people of the region have come a far way, but still has a far way to go. As we celebrate yet another milestone in the march for self-determination, equality and dignity, it becomes over important to as we mark our achievements we also address perceptions that CARICOM is not serving its people, and the prevailing hopelessness among one of our most vulnerable group, the youth. Our regional governments must also re-commit to making real the dreams of their predecessors and the desires of the peoples they are elected to serve. Onward upward may we, as a people, ever grow!

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Kaieteur News

APNU signals Court action over 'illegally' spent $4.5B By Gary Eleazar While the Alliance for Change (AFC) is finalizing its statement to be submitted to the Guyana Police Force for action to be taken against Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh for allegedly spending $4.5B illegally, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has signaled its intention to approach the Courts over the very expenditure. This view was made known yesterday when Shadow Finance Minister, Carl Greenidge, appeared on the 'Nation Watch' television program and objected to Dr Singh's reliance on Article 218 (3B) of the Constitution to spend in excess of $4.5B. According to Greenidge, the Minister is misconstruing the Constitution of Guyana. He said that Article 218 (3B) is only applicable when there is no Budget (Appropriations Act) in place. According to Greenidge, Dr Singh would have been able to justifiably expend the money and rely on that section of the Constitution prior to April, but when the House approved a Budget, that Act forbade him from making any expenditure utilizing that course of action. As a result, APNU is of the position that the Minister did in fact spend monies illegally, hence the move to the court. The Finance Minister hosted a press engagement this past week and in justifying the legitimacy of the $4.5B

…law quoted by Finance Minister not applicable post Budget - Greenidge expenditure, pointed to Article 218 (3B) of the Guyana Constitution. That Article reads: “If in respect of any financial year it is found—that any moneys have been expended for any purpose in excess of the amount appropriated for that purpose by the Appropriation Act or for a purpose for which no amount has been appropriated by that Act, a supplementary estimate, or as the case may be, a Statement of Excess showing the sums required or spent shall be laid before the Assembly by the Minister responsible for finance or any other Minister designated by the President.” Greenidge is adamant however that the President and the Minister tried to mislead the public “primarily by selective reference to Articles of the Constitution.” According Greenidge, for the Minister to cite Article 218 is “utterly unacceptable.” He said that spending before and after the Budget was passed cannot be both legal, adding that a Statement of Excess can only be resorted to, in the absence of the House passing an Appropriation Act, commonly referred to as the budget. He said that when a government enters a new year and the need for expenditure arises for which there is no money

Shadow Finance Minister, Carl Greenidge and the Budget is still to be passed, a process can be triggered and the Minister can subsequently submit a Statement of Excess to cover the period when authorization was not there. Greenidge insists that once a Budget has been passed, then the Finance Minister cannot access the Consolidated Fund viaArticle 218 (3B). “We have no doubt that a court is going to recognize that this is a flagrant breach of a decision taken by the House…We will take the matter up in the court with a view to having the court pronounce that these expenditure were unauthorized and illegal.” He said that APNU will also be looking to have the

Minister be refrained from making any similar expenditure in future. The $4.5B spent by Dr Ashni Singh and documented in the Statement of Excess, which he tabled, represents just $4.5B of the $37B that was voted down by the Opposition when it considered the 2014 Budget. Dr Singh in justifying the expenditure had chided the Opposition over the stance they have adopted, saying that a Statement of Excess is not unknown to them and that they have already voted on three such documents, approving 60 per cent of the funds covered under the documents between 2012 to present. The first was submitted in 2012 asking for $1.6B and the Opposition approved $1B of that amount, which was a bailout/subsidy to meet the cost of the fuel bill of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL). The second Statement of Excess was also tabled in 2012 asking for $204M but this was also rejected. The last one was to the tune of $3.4B, and $2B found favour with the Opposition, $1.7B of which was again for the GPL. According to Dr Singh, the fact that the Opposition approved 58.9 per cent of the $5.1B gives rise to their acceptance of the legitimacy of the Constitutional Provision allowing the expenditure by the Finance Minister from the Consolidated Fund. Dr Singh was adamant that even if it was a case that only one item was approved, “the fact of the matter is that the Parliament recognized the instrument of a Statement of Excess and approved it, even if it is one item.”

Monday July 07, 2014

Assault rifle magazines, thousands of spent shells found in Albouystown - army clothing also recovered Police last night unearthed what appeared to be the remnants of a massive arms cache during a surprise raid at a James and Victoria Street, Albouystown property. The find, which occurred around 20.30 hrs, included four assault rifle magazines, army clothing and thousands of spent shells. The clothing and magazines were reportedly found in a house, while the shells, which appeared to be various calibers, were found in a shed located at the back of the property. At press time police ranks were still scouring the scene, but it is unclear whether

anyone has been taken into custody. A senior police official told Kaieteur News that ranks had gone to the house after receiving reports of an altercation in which a man had struck his brother with a piece of wood. Th e t e a m , w h i c h i n c l u d e d ‘ A’ D i v i s i o n Commander Clifton Hicken, then entered the property and located the magazines, clothing and a huge mound of rifle shells. Police have been mounting daily patrols in Albouystown since last April, but this is the first time that a find of such magnitude has been made.

Jamaican man gets six years in British Virgin Islands jail for committing incest Jamaica Gleaner - A Jamaican who recently pleaded g u i l t y i n t h e British Virgin Islands in May to having sexual intercourse with his underage daughter has been sentenced to six years imprisonment. The man who hails from Clarendon is charged with three counts of incest, and three counts of indecent assault. He was sentenced to six years each on the incest counts, 18 months for two counts of indecent assault, and 12 months on another count of indecent assault. Justice Vicki Ann Ellis, who handed down the sentences in the High Court

on Thursday, ordered that they should run concurrently. This means that the father will only serve six years behind bars. The judge also expressed disappointment with the maximum sentence for the sex crime, adding that it was regrettable that she could not have given a lengthier prison time. The man confessed to engaging in oral and penetrative sex with his daughter over a three-year period, from 2009 to 2012. His identity is being withheld in order to protect that of the daughter who suffered at the hands of her father from she was 11 years old.

Monday July 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

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THE GENTLE POLITICS OF DONALD Donald Ramotar is the President of Guyana. As President of Guyana he holds Executive authority. His Ministers are beholden to him. They are merely advisors. Without him, they have no Executive authority. They are neither above him or equal to him. He is not obligated to accept their opinions. He can refuse to do so. He is the custodian of Executive authority. There are some jurisdictions where the Cabinet holds Executive authority. Not in Guyana. It is the President who holds such authority and therefore he is not bound by any majority decision of his colleagues. He can overrule anything that his Ministers propose and which his Cabinet may agree to. Obviously, any good President has to listen to what his Ministers say. But listening and agreeing are two different things. Burnham listened to what

his Ministers and advisers had to say. He rather enjoyed the jousting amongst his colleagues on issues. But in the end Burnham made up his mind. He had the final say. He made the final call. This is the responsibility of those in whom Executive authority is reposed. There is nothing democratic about Executive authority. Never was; never will be! In 1977, Burnham was under pressure to moderate his socialist thrust. There were persons within his party, within his Cabinet and within the government bureaucracy who were leaning on Burnham to moderate his tone and to develop closer relations with the Jimmy Carter administration in the United States. Burnham, for political reasons relating to his survival, was keen on improving relations with the US administration. But in 1977, he had a heart attack and

he also was keen to complete his radicalization of the country as fast as possible. Recent declassified documents from the United States indicate that the assessment of the United States was that Burnham was deeply disturbed by his split of the nationalist movement on racial lines when he created the PNC. Sources close to Burnham further felt that he was deeply jealous of Cheddi Jagan’s international reputation as a radical, revolutionary and foremost socialist theoretician. He wanted to be seen in that light. So there were two sets of pressure bearing down on Burnham. On the one hand, pressures to moderate and on the other hand his own belief that his health problems could shorten the time he had left to complete his personal ambitions. Ultimately, Burnham made his own decision. It was not left to his Cabinet

Dem boys seh

Jagdeo pack stupidness in Ash Knee head Dem boys know a lot of things. Because dem in de newspaper business people from all walks of life, rich and poor does call dem, send letters, send notes, e-mails, gmail and even de word-omouth mails does come to dem. For example that’s how dem boys know scampishness and thiefing happening wholesale in Guyana. Dem see some poor ass government officials become filthy rich overnight. Dem see a president who didn’t even have a bicycle when he tun president; today he live in a mansion and he got expensive properties. But de laws of libel don’t allow dem boys fuh talk dem minds or fuh express how dem scamps get all dem things. Dem find out a way fuh tell de nation bout dem scamps. Dem boys can’t call dem thieves but dem can seh that dem believe that dem is thieves. Of course de thieves can go to court and dem boys gun get de chance fuh force de scamps to explain de wealth dem got under dem control. Ramroop deh in that same boat when he carry dem boys to court in New York. He had fuh talk things wha he never expect fuh talk and he got more things to answer to. He never dream that de day woulda come when he woulda confess to dem boys. Of course, he go suh far fuh ask that wha he disclose be a secret. De judge tell he that is not Jagdeo private

money spend fuh buy de drugs. She seh that is de taxpayers dollars and de public got a right to know everything he seh and do in her court. Imagine nobody in Guyana can get a peep at one of de invoices much less get one in dem hand to see wha he charge de government. One holler from de Judge Joanie and dem boys not only see one invoice, dem see several. But dem boys believe all is fake. Dem boys believe Jagdeo give Ramroop exclusive rights to supply de hog of de Ministry budget fuh drugs. Dem boys believe that Ash Knee is a scamp. He compare

de Berbice Bridge arrangement to Kaieteur News, a company that is privately-owned. He did also compare de Marriott wid de Hyatt in Trinidad when he try to defend building Marriott in Guyana. Dem boys did tell he that Trinidad economy is more than four times Guyana and de population deh is almost three times Guyana own. He is not stupid. Dem boys believe that Jagdeo and Brazzy pack that stupidness in he head. Talk half and wait fuh hear more answer that Ramroop gun give Judge Joanie.

colleagues or to those within his party pressing for moderation, or the radical wing of the PNC seeking deepening of socialist reforms. There is no doubt that Donald Ramotar faces similar pressures. He is surrounded within his Cabinet by a strong faction that is extremely supportive of the former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo. He himself owes his presidency to the astuteness of the former President. But in the final analysis, these pressures do not matter. The final decision rests with Donald Ramotar. He has to decide how he wants his Presidency to be judged. Right now the judgment of many is not in his favour. After three years, he comes across as looking and smelling just like Jagdeo. He has not put his stamp on the Presidency. After three years, apart from his overall thrust towards greater transparency in terms of government dealings, there is nothing else to separate his policies from that of his predecessor. Admittedly he has been pushed on the back foot by the Opposition. He has had a baptism of political fire from the Opposition. But this has been mild compared to what other political leaders of the PPP experienced. Both former Presidents Janet Jagan and Bharrat Jagdeo faced more

formidable political pressure from the opposition than Ramotar has. And they tried to be different. But not Ramotar! His Presidency is now at a crisis point. There is a view that he is merely going through the motions. That he had run out of ideas and even if he has not, he is not keen to try new approaches that would make him different from his predecessor. Others have taken this theory to another level. They have uncharitably referred to the phenomenon of seat-warming. Those wishing to be generous to him point to the fact that he is surrounded by a government that is still loyal to Jagdeo. They have also pointed to him trying to gain control of the PPP by giving up the post of General Secretary and maneuvering allies into strategic positions within the party. But they insist that within the government he seems not to have the same impact and is therefore dependent on Jagdeo loyalists. This brings us back to our original point. The President holds executive power. He is not bound by anything that any minister or adviser tells him. He does not have to listen to them. He certainly does not have to act on anything they say. It is they who have to be

a worried about him rather than the other way around. He has the capacity and the authority to exercise his political will on those around him. His personality also allows him to be suited to the political challenges the country faces. There are many who believe that Donald Ramotar is the most decent politician this country has ever produced. He is an honest man. He is extremely likeable. They do not come any better in these qualities than Donald Ramotar. He is gentleman but his political style need not be as gentle as his personality. The question that the next two years will answer is whether he wants to make a difference or he is merely content on surviving his remaining two years in office and retiring to write his memoirs. Those who like him are hopeful that when he leaves active politics, the theme of those memoirs will be about doing things his way rather than simply surviving and warming the seat of the presidency.

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Monday July 07, 2014

PPP has already accepted intervention in Guyana’s internal affairs - Ramkarran President Donald Ramotar lost the opportunity to defend himself by relying on “‘feral’ responses by an invited ‘warrior’ to the Ambassador’s home”, according to Former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran. Ramkarran in his weekly online column commented on the recent “verbal attack” by Minister Priya Manickchand towards US Ambassador Brent Hardt. On Friday last, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, made it known that it was Cabinet who prepared and cleared the speech that was delivered by Minister Manickchand, and which chided the US Ambassador, Hardt, during a recent reception held in observance of America’s Independence Anniversary at his residence on Wednesday last. According to Ramkarran, while the Ambassador’s public remarks about the President’s inconsistencies may not be usual, public figures are expected to defend themselves, which is what the Ambassador no doubt

expected. “In all of these situations, I try to think of what Cheddi Jagan would have done…Never, ever, taking criticism personally, being offended by it or being confrontational or personal, he would have first engaged the Ambassador by telephone as he often did. Then, if necessary, he would have made a public response to the issue,” Ramkarran posited. He noted that Guyana had already accepted the precedent for intervention in its internal affairs in relation to elections. It was December 1989 when former President Cheddi Jagan, in a letter to President George H. W. Bush, urged his support for free and fair elections in Guyana. President Bush, as if in response but without saying so, expressed the hope to President Desmond Hoyte on Republic Day, February 23, 1990, that the elections would be free and fair. The message was repeated by the US State Department and six Senators later wrote Secretary of State James Baker requesting that

US aid be tied to free and fair elections. Ramkarran said that President Hoyte’s initial reaction to President Bush and the late Senator Edward Kennedy making the same call was similar to the reaction of the present Government. He said that President Hoyte had said that he had thrown Senator Kennedy’s letter in the garbage. But President Carter then entered the picture and free and fair elections came under direct American tutelage. Apart from national elections, the PPP fought for Local Government Elections since 1970 when they were last held under the PNC. “If the US is inconsistent, what about Guyana?” Ramkarran questioned. CONTEMPT …… Contempt such as what Ambassador Hardt is accused of in relation to the Head of State, is a serious matter, according to Ramkarran. In 1631, in one of the earliest reported cases of contempt, a prisoner, condemned for felony, threw

a brick at the judge that narrowly missed. An indictment was there and then drawn against him, immediately upon which, his right hand was cut off and fixed to the gallows. He was then taken and hanged in the presence of the Court. (‘The Due Process of Law’ by Lord Denning p. 5, courtesy of Mr. Siand Durjohn, in-service law student at Cameron & Shepherd). Ramkarran said that Ambassador Hardt should therefore consider himself very lucky to get away with only what Dr. Luncheon described as a ‘feral blast’ by a ‘warrior.’ Feral indeed! As for being a ‘warrior,’ the United States itself may soon be in jeopardy with the number of warriors, the President included, in and around the Guyana Cabinet. He said that maybe Guyana could live without the United States, but what if Guyana’s ‘warriors’ declare war on all of its tormentors at the same time – the US, Canada, UK and the whole of Europe? Ramkarran further explained that the principle of non-interference in the affairs of one state by another, crystalized by the UN Charter, has been invoked in defence of sovereignty on numerous occasions since the end of the Second World War.

Ralph Ramkarran Guyana and the PPP were victims of this double standard and it is this history that conditions Guyana’s response to calls for Local Government Elections from the United States. Ambassador Hardt is aware of this but said that this is US Government policy, so this ‘intervention’ is not likely to stop anytime soon. Ramkarran noted that while “we await the responses of the other Western and European diplomats to see if their ardour for Local Government Elections will now cool, we must recognize that there are well-established diplomatic protocols by which responses to such calls, if considered to be interference in the internal affairs of Guyana, or even insulting to the President, can be delivered.” Ambassador Hardt will

probably accept but seek to explain the inconsistencies of the US’s post war diplomatic history, some of which are maintained in its current postures, but argue that those are no reasons why Guyana should not have Local Government Elections or why the United States cannot call for them, according to Ramkarran. The Ambassador may then well argue that the issue of democracy has long ceased in international relations and in US foreign policy to be purely a domestic matter. Ambassador Hardt has been accused of being disrespectful to the Head of State, President Ramotar, by pointing out what he saw as seeming inconsistencies in his defence of the Constitution. He pointed out that President Ramotar rejected the Local Government Commission Bill on the ground that it is unconstitutional but defends not holding Local Government Elections which violates the Constitution. “Ambassador Hardt has been a friend of Guyana, has laboured diligently to contribute to the welfare of Guyana and to further strengthen relations between the United States and Guyana,” Ramkarran said.

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Trigger-happy police putting the Muslim Community hosts delegation from public at greater risk - Felix “If you are a cop and two men ride away from you, having breached the traffic law or any other law, you have to give chase and not shoot at them because they commit an offence in your view.” This is the contention of former Commissioner of Police and A Partnership for National Unity‘s (APNU) shadow Minister of Home Affairs, Winston Felix. Felix was at the time speaking about the recent incident on Leopold Street where residents claimed that police ranks fired their high powered weapons indiscriminately while pursuing two men on a motorcycle. Kaieteur News was told that some of the police ranks returned to the scene and apologized to the residents. They also reportedly searched for the bullet casings and asked the residents to hand over any that they might have found. Felix said he has a personal “view in these situations because the police are not shooting under the conditions laid down in the charge of firearms whether in any public space.” He further outlined that the rules of engagement require the police to fire if they are attacked and they are unable to defend themselves by any other means, “meaning that even though a

man may have a gun, you don’t need to shoot him if he could be arrested without the use of more force.” According to the former Top Cop, somebody’s little child could have been shot or killed by a stray bullet because the ranks did not hit the targets. “It is not a situation where they should’ve fired in the first place, so my position is not to criticize the police, my position is that the police ought to be aware of their roles in relation to establishing and maintaining public safety given the fact that they have powerful firearms.” Speaking to the powerful firearms that the patrol officers have on them, Felix said that they are unnecessary. He said that based on the spent shells retrieved from the scene at Leopold Street, the weapons that the officers were using were high powered rifles. “My position is that the police don’t have cause to engage anybody with a high powered weapon more than a hundred meters,” said the former Top Cop. Using an example, Felix posited “if there is a domestic dispute, more than likely the police will be in your face with a high-powered rifle because they are the ones on patrol and they won’t put away their guns and come to you;

APNU’s Shadow Minister of Home Affairs Winston Felix they have to come right away.” “Don’t get me wrong, all I am saying is that these rifles should be in background for emergencies. They have other weapons which they can use on patrol and not look unnecessarily menacing to the public.” Speaking to the procedure that should be established by the police when engaging, Felix outlined that there are two cases, one where the situation is threatening and the other where it is nonthreatening. According to the former Top Cop, in non threatening situations, the procedure is that police are to engage in the way that they were trained. “You intervene whether in plain clothes or uniform with a nice pleasant introduction of yourself and state that you are investigating this matter and you proceed along that

line.” In a threatening situation where shooting is involved, he said, you should obviously know who you are shooting at because in a situation where two persons are shooting at each other, one the robber and the other the victim, the intervening officer would not know which person to engage. “You got to get yourself immersed in the situation and understand what you are dealing with before you open fire. Otherwise you could be shot while defending yourself and that is not the intention of law enforcement.” The other aspect Felix outlined is where the officer is aware of who the target is. In that position, “where possible, a warning should be given, but assuming the warning could not be given, the police can fire or they can abstain from firing by explaining that the presence of persons in the neighborhood prevented them from so doing.” “So not because you have a situation where you could shoot you wantonly discharge your firearm and knock anybody other than the real target. The police have a right to restrain themselves from shooting. That is the training that I understand the police to be getting, it hasn’t changed. It started long before I joined and it continues onto now,” said Felix. The former Commissioner of Police said that he is “condemning the shooting because it is unprofessional and it puts the public at greater risk at the hands of the police who should be protecting them.”

International Org.

One of the many medical outreach programmes held at ACIC

The Guyanese Muslim Community benefitted recently from a visit of a delegation from International Charity Organization, Friends Humanity International Inc. (FHII) headed by its Director of Volunteer Program, Naima Khan-Ghany. While here, the delegation was based at the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) and distributed millions of dollars in foodstuff, children’s school supplies, clothing and medical supplies. The group, which included several Medical Students, also conducted screening and medical outreach programmes in communities across Guyana. FHII is a Florida, USA based organization,

committed to providing help to the needy in a transparent and accountable manner overseen by a committed and dedicated team of Directors/ Workers. The organization is headed by Mohamed Javed Qureshi and Sis. Naima KhanGhany. The group has organized similar projects in several other countries, with their visit to Guyana being their first of what is hoped to be a long partnership with the Guyanese nation. Their motto is to help people beyond colour, race or creed. Its youth division – Youth Volunteer Board (YVB) is very active in promoting the ideals of FHII and is headed by Sis. Afeefa Abdool-Ghany, a high school student in the USA. One of its main programs is labeled “Adopting Global Communities” and the Guyana visit was part of that program. Ms Khan-Ghany and group conducted their medical outreach as well as distributed hampers at Masjid Najm (Georgetown), Zeelught (Essequibo), Shaheed Orphanages, Anna Catherina and CIOG. The delegation also met with representatives of the Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman (GUSIA), The Central Islamic Organization, Guyana Islamic Trust and the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex.

Say no to corruption it, it hurts us all.

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New twist in murder of Grove tailor ...

Stolen bike left at scene, killer took nothing from victim It had seemed like a straightforward case of robbery, but the murder of 26year-old tailor Bharrat Pitember has developed into a baffling case involving stolen bicycles, a caged bird and a killer who fled without stealing a thing from his victim. It was at around 20.30 hrs last Tuesday that Pitember, of Grove, East Bank Demerara, was found dead, with a stab wound to the chest a short distance from a dismal, poorly lit shortcut that links the Diamond Housing Scheme to neighbouring Grove. Residents have named the shortcut 'The Aqueduct', and it also a haven for drug users and youths who prey on passersby. It appeared that Pitember was attacked, robbed and slain while riding home after leaving his tailoring establishment, located on the East Bank Demerara Public Road. Wounds on his hands suggested that the young man had put up a brave struggle. Police retrieved a large

'Rambo' knife from the scene, as well as a bicycle. Pitember had sold a caged bird earlier in the day for about $45,000 and initial reports suggested that the killer(s) had made off with this money, as well as the victim's cell phone. But police sources later confirmed that the $45,000 was still in the slain man's pockets when investigators reached the scene. Police also retrieved the victim's cell phone and a receipt from his pockets. PLEADED FOR HELP According to reports, at least two young boys were the first to arrive at the scene. Pitember, still alive, was reportedly lying on the roadway, pleading for help. Two bicycles and a bird cage were reportedly nearby. One of the boys, it is alleged, picked up the newer bicycle and rode to a nearby area in Diamond Housing Scheme and summoned help. Meanwhile, someone else reportedly made off with the

caged bird, which Pitember had reportedly also bought on the day of his murder. By the time police arrived, Pitember had succumbed. Kaieteur News was told that the 'shine bike' at the scene belonged to the slain tailor, and the boy who had picked it up eventually handed the bike over to Pitamber's family. The 'old bike' that was found near the body was reportedly stolen late last month from an elderly man. It is believed that the killer may have arrived at the scene on this bicycle and left it there after attacking Pitamber. Police still seem to believe that the killing began as a robbery attempt and that the robber fled empty-handed after the victim fought back. On Saturday, police questioned two boys, aged 13 and 15, before releasing them. An 18-year-old and two other youths remained in custody yesterday. Relatives said that Pitamber had narrowly escaped being robbed while

Freak storm rips through Upper ... From page 20 said he visited the Upper Corentyne areas to assess the damages. “Quite a few posts fall down in the Corentyne…a lot of people's zinc sheets get blown away and trees [uprooted]. Eighteen zinc sheets were blown off at Johanna Primary School…Corriverton Market lost thirty zinc sheets,” he told Kaieteur

News. “We haven't been able to assess the real damage in Black Bush Polder… we will go in there tomorrow [Monday] to see what assistance we can render for the people who suffered damages.” It should be noted that millions of dollars were invested into the establishment of the National Weather

Watch Centre at Timehri, equipping that site with a costly modern Radar which was supposed to have enhanced Guyana's weather-reporting capability. However, Berbicians were not informed about any such possible weather as was experienced yesterday. Kaieteur News was unable to reach an official at the Weather Watch Centre for a comment.

riding through the shortcut a few days prior to the fatal attack. A relative said that they had subsequently warned him about traversing that area. Pitamber and his spouse were married last December and have a six month-old daughter. Meanwhile, residents of the neighbouring Grove and Diamond communities are appealing for more police patrols in the area. Those who live near to 'The Aqueduct' also appealed for street lights to be erected in the area. Some spoke of sometimes having to rescue

Bharrat Pitamber and his wife, who were married last year passersby from robbers. Another resident recalled coming home one night to find his back door open, while a neighbour said thieves had twice broken into his car. The residents are also calling on the Grove/Diamond Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to clear empty

lots and other areas of bush that encourage the presence of criminals. The Grove/Diamond Community Policing Group has been appealing for more members, since they said they have been experiencing difficulty in patrolling the two expanding communities.

Finance Minister compares private ... From centre examine the ownership structure of the Berbice River Bridge, it was financed predominantely with private capital.” He said therefore that the demanded reduction is essentially an expropriation of private property. Meanwhile, APNU leader, David Granger told Kaieteur News that the Berbice people must now stand up for themselves. He said, “They need to bring pressure to bear on the party, which the majority of them voted for... on both sides of the river there are RDCs controlled by the PPP; the majority of the inhabitants of Region Five and Six must

call on their Leader to treat them better. If APNU were there, we would treat them better even though they don’t support us.” He said his party did its part to help the Berbice people but now they have to continue the struggle. Granger added that “government always ignores our resolutions, they are the great ignorers.” He said the people must now try to see if they can melt the heart of President Donald Ramotar. The APNU’s position is that since the Government holds some $950M in shares in the bridge, it is incumbent for the Administration to have its Director on the Board call for the reduction of the toll.

Harmon, during debate of the Motion, had noted that when the toll was calculated, the then President Bharrat Jagdeo announced that it was done to cover operating costs, make repayments and earn a profit. The APNU Member of Parliament lamented that there was nothing in the consideration of the toll “about public good; only money”. Harmon pointed to a number of bridges across the world, including neighbouring Venezuela, Suriname and Brazil where the tolls for bridges in those countries are either free or far below that which is being charged to cross the Berbice River.

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VACANCY

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Monday July 07, 2014

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Letters... Where your views make the news

The Constitution and the Brent Hardt affair DEAR EDITOR, In respect to what may be described as a spat between the Guyana Administration and the former Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Brent Hardt, it is important to recognise that although Article 37 of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana is not without considerable relevance, this provision is not determinative. What is determinative is the customary rule of international law which precludes a diplomatic envoy from interfering in the domestic affairs of the receiving state, a primordial obligation encapsulated in Article 41.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1963) and also reflected in Article 2(7) of the United Nations Charter. It must be borne in mind

that even though Article 8 of the constitution establishes this instrument as the supreme law in Guyana, it is trite international law that the laws of a state may not be invoked as a ground for noncompliance with an international obligation: Article 27 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969). As a matter of law, a state may not even invoke its constitution as a ground for non-compliance with an international obligation: Article 13 of the International Law Commission’s Draft Articles on the Rights and Duties of States. In this context, reference may be made to Oppenheim’s International Law, 9th Edition, at p. 1068 where it is stated: “(i)t is universally recognised that envoys (or other diplomatic agents)

must not interfere with the internal political life of the state to which they are accredit. It certainly belongs to their functions to watch political events with a vigilant eye and to report their observations to their home state. But they have no right whatever to take part in that political life, to encourage one political party or to threaten another. It matters not whether an envoy acts thus on his own account or on the instructions from his home state. If he does so, he abuses his position, and the receiving state will either p r o t e s t , o r, i n a m o r e serious case, request his home state to recall him and appoint another individual i n h i s p l a c e , o r, i f h i s interference is very

Give us our Local Govt. Elections Ms. Priya Manickchand was out of line DEAR EDITOR, Guyana is a beautiful country known primarily for its hospitality and friendly nature to its visitors. This usual gesture to our visitors can now be questioned as a result of what transpired at the residence of the American ambassador on the eve of celebrating his country’s birthday by a leading figure head of the ruling administration, Ms Priya Manickchand. The conduct of the Minister of Education acting in the capacity of Foreign Affairs Minister can be categorize as shocking, rude, disrespectful, undiplomatic and just plain stupid. Her theatrical performance and utterances epitomized her ignorance or plain failure to exercise diplomatic norms/protocol and it has certainly place our country in yet another bad light regionally and internationally. Ms Manickchand’s conscious verbal abuse and insults leveled at the outgoing American Ambassador at “his” farewell reception and his country’s celebration speaks volume and leaves much to be desire. This behavior is a very clear representation of government’s disrespect for protocols and by extension the Guyanese people they claim to represent. Why did the Minister behaved that way? Was she sent and ordered to do what she did? Is this a new persona she is trying to embody? First, that we know of, was her insult to Mr Jaipaul Sharma (MP), now the

American Ambassador, who will be next? As a Minister of government particularly of education, the eyes of the youths and future of the nation are always upon you because better is always expected and what was displayed was again shocking and certainly unbecoming. Ms Minister, we are most disappointed in you, for we believe you know better. Why such an attack on the ambassador whom most Guyanese would consider to be the most vocal, visible, involved, people oriented and arguable the best American ambassador to grace these sores. What wrong has he committed, done or as she puts it red line crossed? Is it his call for Local Government elections? If it is, then he has only repeated the calls made by countless Guyanese locally and abroad. The fact that foreign representatives have to ask government to honor its own constitution and provide its constitutional requirement for their own people, who have been

denied of it for two decades, is what is most disappointing. And they have the audacity to call it “meddling” what a joke! Is local government elections not our constitutional right? Does it not embodies what democracy is all about? If the answer is yes, then what is the problem? Isn’t twenty years of denying the people of their constitutional right long enough? The people of Guyana especially the young people are most desirous of having these long over due elections. We long to share in the decisions of our communities, townships and of government which will shape our lives. We want to participate and contribute towards our nation’s development but sadly, the oppressor to this will of the people, is our very own Government. Enough is enough, isn’t it? Give the people what they want, give us our local government election. Life pun de dam deserves a change. Jermaine Figueira

flagrant, dismiss him”. Oppenheim, an authoritative publicist on international law, further stated: “a line must, however, be drawn between functions which it is proper that a diplomatic mission may exercise, and those which it may not, although it has to be recognised that it is not always easy to draw such a line”(at p. 1067). Ambassador Brent Hardt was due to leave Guyana on July 6, 2014 on determination of his assignment to this country. Justice Duke Pollard Department of Law University of Guyana

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Monday July 07, 2014

Rotary Club of G/T Central receives Int’l citations The Rotary Club of Georgetown Central (RCGC) has received three international citations for its commitment to improving lives through community service. Last month, the club received an International Presidential Citation for actively working to “Engage Rotary and Change Lives,” 2013- 2014, Certificate of Reconnaissance for Club Administration and Certificate of Recognition for Setting Strategic Goals. Outgoing President Judy Semple-Joseph explained that the club was awarded after it

met the criteria outlined by the Rotary International. “Each year, we set goals and guidelines... Last year, we set our guidelines using the markers set by the Rotary International… and we met the areas of focus, engagement and networking,” Semple-Joseph said as she explained that the activities must be conducted within a specified period. “The activities must be conducted between July 1 to March 3 and it must be in accordance with the foundation for Rotary International… We received points for our observance of World Understanding and Peace Month and other active engagements in communities.” Semple-Joseph said that areas of focus included promoting growth, enhancing service through the Rotary foundation, strengthening the Rotary foundation and strengthening network through the family of Rotary. “A lot of persons contributed,” Semple-Joseph said as she referred to one such project.

“The Sophia Promise community service project is an ongoing programme with three main components: health and wellness initiative, which deals with the prevention of noncommunicable diseases, the dental bus unit, the literacy empowerment programme and environmental sustainability.” “I’m glad we were able to set a three year strategic plan and received our citation for working towards goals set by rotary international and goals relative to our own development as a club.” For more than quarter of a century, Rotarians have been committed to “service above self” in their various community efforts. The Rotary comprises of business and professional persons united in the idea of service. The first Rotary was formed in Chicago, Illinois, USA on February 23, 1905. Today, the organisation has blossomed into an international body with 1.3 million volunteers and 32,000 clubs in 166 countries, all with a primary goal of eradicating poverty. In Guyana, the first club—

the Rotary Club of Georgetown—was initiated in 1959. To date, there are five more Rotary Clubs in Guyana—the Rotary Club of Demerara, the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam, the Rotary Club of Corriverton, the Rotary Club of Stabroek, and the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central. The Rotary Club of Georgetown Central was inaugurated on November 30, 1983, with the aim of reaching communities within the boundaries of Greater Georgetown and beyond. Within the past year, the RCGC has based its work on providing service through worthy enterprise, thus affording its members the opportunity of contributing immeasurably to the growth of developing communities. In recent years, the organisation has focused on “individual community development”. East Ruimveldt, Enterprise and Kuru Kururu, are some of the beneficiaries of the initiative.

Monday July 07, 2014 ARIES: (Mar. 21- April 20) Refuse to let others make unrealistic demands of you. Your diplomacy will be of utmost importance today. Try not to get upset or angry without having all the facts. TAURUS: (Apr. 21- may 21) Don’t put all your cash in one place. A change of attitude has probably disrupted your home environment. Your ability to talk circles around your colleagues will help you forge ahead in the workforce. GEMINI: (May 22-June 21) Expect to pay more than anticipated for entertainment or other purchases. Make sure that you have all the pertinent facts before taking action. You have the stamina and determination to succeed. CANCER: (June 22-July 22) Don’t gamble unless you can afford to lose. Social events will be plentiful. You may not be happy if members of your family are not pulling their weight. LEO: (July 23-Aug 22) Your stubborn nature will backfire if you give your mate an ultimatum. This will not be the best day for communication or travel. Try not to take everything so seriously. VIRGO: (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Trouble could be brewing at home. Someone you live with may cause drastic alterations in your usual routine. Make sure that new mates live up to your high standards.

LIBRA: (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You should look into making some physical changes, such as new hair color or toning up your body. You may experience setbacks due to additional responsibilities with loved ones. SCORPIO: (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You will get upset over trivial matters. Get involved in activities that will be fun for the whole family. Changes in your home will be positive. Property investments should payoff. SAGITTARIUS: (Nov. 23 Dec. 21) You can pick up some overtime today. Take the time to do your job correctly or you may find yourself looking for a new one. Try to include the one you love in your plans today. CAPRICORN: (Dec 22.Jan. 20) You’re in the mood to spend money. Make changes to your living quarters that will please the whole family. Don’t push your opinions on others today or you may find yourself in the doghouse. AQUARIUS: (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Someone may not be thinking of y o u r b e s t interests. Jealousy may get in the way of a good relationship. Try to be patient and understanding. PISCES: (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Pay attention to small but important details. Recognition will be yours if you meet your deadline. Involvement in financial schemes will be followed by l o s s e s .

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Ukraine says forces will press forward after taking rebel stronghold SLAVIANSK Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine’s government said it would quickly seize more territory from pro-Russian separatists after re-taking their stronghold of Slaviansk in what President Petro Poroshenko called a turning point in the fight for control of the country’s east. “My order is now in effect - tighten the ring around the terrorists,” Poroshenko tweeted on Sunday. “Continue the operation to liberate Donetsk and Luhansk regions,” he said, naming Ukraine’s two major eastern parts which have boiled with separatist rebellion since April. There were no immediate figures for casualties caused by the government offensive in Slaviansk, launched after Poroshenko refused to renew a unilateral ceasefire and ordered the resumption of a government offensive on June 30. In Slaviansk, where Ukrainian forces had been tightening their grip for more than a month, around 200 residents lined up in the city’s central square for meat,

potatoes, onions and bread distributed by troops. “Everything is different now. Tonight is the first night with no shelling,” said Mikhail Martynenko, 58, a guard at a local market near Slaviansk. “People are in a better mood and there are more people on the streets. Everyone was afraid. They had no idea when another mortar would come flying,” he said. Under rebel commander Igor Strelkov, a Muscovite declared defence minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Slaviansk had put up some of the fiercest resistance to Ukrainian forces, bringing down at least three military helicopters and one Antonov-30 intelligence plane. Slaviansk’s re-capture represents Kiev’s most notable military victory in three months of fighting in which more than 200 Ukrainian troops have been killed as well as hundreds of civilians and rebels. “This is not full victory. But the clearing out of people armed to the teeth from

Newly-appointed Ukrainian Defence Minister Valery Heletey (C) walks with troops at a temporary base near the city of Slaviansk yesterday. REUTERS/ Gleb Garanich Slaviansk has huge symbolic importance. It is the beginning of the turning point in the battle with fighters for the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” said Poroshenko. He said hostages held there by the separatists had

been released and a significant number of weapons had been seized. But he said the rebels were re-grouping in other big towns and he was far from euphoric. “There are further tests ahead.” Rebel commander Strelkov said between 80 and 90 percent of the rebels in Slaviansk had escaped the

city but that a mistake had cost the lives of a number of the militants who had carried out a diversionary attack during the escape, Interfax reported. Ukrainian forces said they now had full control of Slaviansk and the nearby town of Kramatorsk. Many rebels appeared to have retreated towards Donetsk, the east’s main industrial hub

where separatists first declared a “people’s republic”. Strelkov, whose exact whereabouts are unclear, said he intended to prepare Donetsk for active defence and said the city was “much easier to defend than little Slaviansk”. More than 1,000 proRussian separatists and their supporters gathered on Donetsk’s central Square on Sunday. The mayoral office warned of armed people in the city. “On the streets of the city, there is a large number of people in camouflage and weapons. A request to residents: do not enter into conflicts with them and when possible avoid areas where armed people are congregated” In Slaviansk and neighbouring areas, Andriy Lysenko, a senior official of Ukraine’s “anti-terrorist operation”, said scores of rebels were surrendering and providing information on locations of rebel units and weapons. Deputy security council chief Mykhailo Koval said blockades were being prepared around the capitals of the two separatist regions, Donetsk and Luhansk.

Israel arrests suspects in Palestinian teen’s killing JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel has arrested Jewish suspects in the abduction and killing of a Palestinian teen whose death touched off violent protests in Jerusalem and in Israeli Arab towns, a security source said yesterday. Six suspects were in custody, the source said, but added the number may change as the investigation into the killing of Mohammed Abu Khudair, 16, progressed. The source gave no other details about the suspects other than to say they were Jews. There was no official comment from the police. Investigators believe Mohammed Abu Khudair was slain out of “nationalist motives”, the source said, in comments that appeared to confirm Palestinian suspicions that far-right Jews were involved and that his death was a

vengeance killing. Abu Khudair’s burnt body was discovered in a Jerusalem forest on Wednesday, a day after the burial of three Jewish teens who were abducted while hitchhiking in the occupied West Bank on June 12. Their bodies were found last Monday, near the road where they had gone missing, and Israel blames Hamas militants for their kidnapping and killing. The Islamist group has neither confirmed nor denied involvement. Palestinians have clashed with Israeli police in Jerusalem over the past several days. The violence spread on Saturday to Arab towns and villages in central and northern Israel. The areas were largely quiet yesterday, but police remained on high alert.

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U.S. needs ‘to do right’ for immigrant children: official (Reuters) - A top U.S. official said yesterday the U.S. border is not open to illegal entry into the country, but acknowledged the government does need to be sensitive to the tens of thousands of migrant children flowing into detention centers. More than 52,000 unaccompanied minors from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have been caught trying to sneak over the U.S.Mexico border since October, double the number from the same period the year before. Thousands more have been apprehended with parents or other adults. “We have to do right by the children, but at the end of the day, our border is not open to illegal migration and we will stem the tide,” Jeh Johnson, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

Johnson said that the government administers deportation proceedings to illegal migrants seized at the border, including children. But he added that the government is looking at being more flexible toward the children seized at the border. “We are looking at ways to create additional options for dealing with the children, in particular, consistent with our laws and our values,” Johnson said. Johnson repeated the stance, taken by President Barack Obama last week, that the president would take executive action to revamp the U.S. immigration system. “There are a number of things the president and I, within the confines of existing law, can do to fix the broken immigration system. If Congress doesn’t act, we will,” Johnson said. Johnson would not answer a question on the

Sunday show pertaining to whether the U.S. government would deport the current wave of Central American children, s aying only that U.S. authorities would stem the tide, and that deportation processes are commenced against illegal immigrants. U.S. immigration officials say the crisis is being driven by a mix of extreme poverty, gangs and drug violence in Central America, as well as rumors perpetuated by human smugglers that children who reach the U.S. border will be allowed to stay. Critics say that the Obama administration has not moved quickly enough to address the problem. Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat whose congressional district includes a stretch of the Texas-Mexico border, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” program that 48,000 people,

British PM Cameron under pressure to launch child abuse inquiry LONDON (Reuters) British Prime Minister David Cameron is facing calls to launch a full-scale inquiry into allegations that wellknown politicians abused children in the 1980s, after an official said the government had lost files that may shed light on the matter. The allegations, which purportedly involve powerful and famous figures of that era including politicians, made headlines after an opposition lawmaker raised them in parliament. They have resurfaced at a time when the British authorities are investigating and trying to prosecute celebrities and other wellknown figures in public life over other unrelated historic allegations of sexual misconduct. The opposition Labour Party has called for an “overarching review” into the child abuse allegations, accusing Cameron’s Conservative-led government of not doing enough and of failing to grasp the matter’s gravity. “Given the extent of concern about this, Theresa May (the Home Secretary) should not simply be leaving it to officials and to the prime minister to resolve,” Yvette Cooper, Labour’s spokeswoman for home affairs, said in a statement. “She needs to make sure there is a process people can feel confident in - to get truth and justice, but also to

David Cameron protect children in future.” The way the public perceives Cameron’s government’s handling of the allegations is important for the British leader, who is up for re-election next year. One of the country’s top civil servants, Mark Sedwill, wrote to Cameron on Saturday to say he was appointing a “senior independent legal figure” to judge whether the conclusions of an internal review into the matter last year remained sound. That person would be appointed “within the next week”, he said. Sedwill said separately on Saturday in another letter that the review last year had concluded that Britain’s Home Office (interior ministry) had passed nine allegations about child abuse onto the appropriate authorities at the

time. He said the review had uncovered a further four pieces of information which had not been previously disclosed which had since been passed to the police. In comments which prompted some politicians to talk of a possible cover-up, he said that 114 “potentially relevant files” had been destroyed, were missing or could not be found. Michael Gove, Cameron’s education minister, said yesterday that whilst he did think it was important the allegations were looked at he did not think a full-scale inquiry was necessary. “It’s also important, I think, to emphasize that many of the allegations that are being made are historic and that what we do now ... in order to keep children safer is immeasurably better and stronger than was the case, you know twenty or thirty years ago,” Gove told BBC TV. “No”, he said when asked if the government should undertake a public inquiry. Norman Tebbit, a former Conservative minister, said he thought there “may well” have been a political coverup in the 1980s, but said: “But it was almost unconscious. It was the thing people did at that time.” However, David Mellor, another former Conservative minister, said he thought the matter had been exaggerated and that a “witch hunt” was underway.

Demonstrators picket before the possible arrival of undocumented migrants who may be processed at the Murrieta Border Patrol Station in Murrieta, California. including 9,700 children traveling without parents, were detained on the Texas border in May. “We should have been ready for this surge,” he said. “The administration should have been ready ... They should have seen this coming a long time ago.”

Idaho Representative Raul Labrador, a Republican, said the U.S. needs to take a strong stance against what is happening at border facilities. “The thing that the administration needs to do is immediately deport these families, these children. I

know it sounds harsh, I know it sounds difficult, but they’re creating a crisis that’s going to harm these children,” he said on “Meet the Press.” Labrador added that the frustration building up is because the administration is doing nothing about border security.

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Germany’s Merkel arrives in China with trade topping agenda

Angela Merkel with Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn (left) and FAW Group CEO Xu Jianyi (right) during her visit to the FAW-Volkswagen plant in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan province yesterday. (AFP Photo/Goh Chai Hin)

Beijing (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in China yesterday for her seventh visit since 2005, with economic ties topping the agenda and a highpowered business delegation in tow. Merkel touched down early yesterday in the southwestern city of Chengdu, where she met local officials, visited a market and toured a factory operated by German car manufacturer Volkswagen. She then travelled to Beijing, where she wrapped up the first day of the threeday visit with a meeting with Premier Li Keqiang and a banquet at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Merkel’s visit comes just over three months after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s trip to Germany, when both parties signed a raft of economic pacts. China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported Sunday that both Merkel and Li promoted the benefits of cooperation between the two countries. For the EU’s biggest economy, China is a crucial

mass market. Chinese companies want its technology and millions of newly prosperous citizens crave German goods ranging from Audi sedans to luxury home appliances. Germany last year sold goods worth 67 billion euros ($91 billion) to China, its number-two export market outside Europe after the United States. Imports from the Asian powerhouse, meanwhile, topped 73 billion euros ($99 billion). Merkel angered Beijing in 2007 by meeting Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, whom ruling Communist Party leaders consider a dangerous separatist. But during the latest visit, any discussion of human rights is likely to take place behind closed doors, an approach that German officials have argued can be more effective in China than finger-wagging reprimands. In a commentary, Xinhua on Sunday hailed Merkel’s trip. “It is fair to say that China-Germany relations are at their best in history, which

have been strongly underpinned by the pragmatic cooperation between the two economic heavyweights,” it said. Among the companies represented in Merkel’s delegation — and eyeing deals that could further cement bilateral ties — are Siemens, VW, Airbus, Lufthansa and Deutsche Bank, according to German media reports. In Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, Merkel attended an urban forum with provincial Communist Party secretary Wang Dongming, went shopping at the Shenxianshu Market and visited the FAW-Volkswagen factory, where she was hosted by VW CEO Martin Winterkorn and FAW group CEO Xu Jianyi. Merkel is expected to hold a joint press conference Monday with Li and will also attend the China-Germany Economic and Trade Commission before meeting Xi. On Tuesday she will address students at Beijing’s renowned Tsinghua University before departing for Berlin.

Gunmen kill at least 29 in latest raids on Kenyan coast MOMBASA Kenya (Reuters) - Gunmen killed at least 29 people in two coastal areas of Kenya in raids the deputy president indicated yesterday were the work of political rivals, despite Somali Islamists al Shabaab claiming responsibility. The raids will hammer Kenya’s beleaguered tourist industry after a wave of militant attacks and will deepen public frustrations about poor security, a day before a big opposition rally in the capital. The Interior Ministry said one of the Saturday night attacks killed nine in the trading town of Hindi in Lamu County, close to where 65 people were killed by gunmen last month in Mpeketoni. Another was further south in the Gamba area, where 20 died. “They went around shooting at people and villages indiscriminately,” said Abdallah Shahasi, a senior official for the Hindi area, which lies near the old trading port of Lamu. Militant raids on the coast have fanned an already tense political atmosphere in Kenya, which has sent troops to join African Union soldiers battling al Shabaab in neighbouring Somalia. Sheikh Abdiasis Abu

Musab, spokesman for the military operations of al Shabaab, told Reuters in Mogadishu the group was behind both attacks. The group, which attacked Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi last year killing 67 people, had also said it was responsible for the Mpeketoni attacks. But, just as President Uhuru Kenyatta dismissed al Shabaab’s claim last month and pointed the finger at local politicians over Mpeketoni, his deputy yesterday suggested political rivals were again to blame. “We want to tell our friends they cannot blackmail us using criminal elements in our country,” Deputy President William Ruto said on a visit to the Lamu area. He offered no names. “If you are unable to wait for the next general election, you are in a hurry, you want to make the country ungovernable so you can get into office through the backdoor, that will not happen in Kenya,” he said. “You can forget about it.” The comments are likely to stoke an already fierce row with the opposition, which has denied any role. Police Deputy Inspector General Grace Kaindi also cast doubt on al Shabaab’s role,

saying a blackboard ripped from a school, scrawled with slogans and placed at a junction near Hindi could implicate the separatist Mombasa Republic Movement (MRC). “At first we thought it was al Shabaab, but now it is turning out that it is MRC as they have put it there clearly,” she told a news conference. She said other scribbled phrases seemed to back opposition leader Raila Odinga. Slogans included “MRC You are sleeping”, “Muslims your land is being grabbed”, “Raila is adequate” and “Uhuru down”. The MRC swiftly denied any role. “The government should stop using us as a scapegoat,” Randu Nzai Ruwa, the MRC Secretary General, told Reuters by telephone. Veteran opposition leader Odinga, defeated by Kenyatta in last year’s election, has held rallies over the past month criticising the government over frequent militant attacks. He planned to hold a major rally on Monday in Nairobi. Police said attackers hit government offices and burnt a church in Hindi during the latest raids.

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Switzerland gets the edge on EU with China trade deal Basel (Switzerland) (AFP) - Switzerland has oneupped its European Union neighbours with a free trade deal with China that its politicians and business sector say is crucial to boosting ties with the world’s second-largest economy. The free trade agreement (FTA), in force since Tuesday, is China’s first with a mainland European country and was sealed in 2013 after two years of talks. “We look to the huge Chinese market, but on the other side, China will find in Switzerland partners on a top technology level and a top innovation level,” said Economy Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann, as he marked the start of the FTA with Chinese officials in Basel. The deal will cut red tape and tariffs on Swiss farm and industrial exports to China, giving them access to the country’s 1.4 billion increasingly wealthy consumers. China already imports mainly Swiss machinery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and watches, and experts expect the FTA to benefit the small- and medium-sized technology and engineering businesses that form the bedrock of Switzerland’s economy. In turn, Chinese manufacturers will get dutyfree access to Switzerland, where their primary products will be cheaper for factories to use. “Customs duty savings can provide a decisive edge

compared to competitors from countries who have no agreement with China,” said Swiss customs service chief Rudolf Dietrich. Business experts say the deal could pave the way to making Switzerland a centre for Chinese companies in Europe as they increase their international investments. The accord also bolsters intellectual property protection for Swiss goods — a persistent concern for Western firms in China. “Experience has shown that FTAs give an extra push to trade growth,” Jan Atteslander, head of international affairs at Swiss business federation Economiesuisse, told AFP. “The FTA is also a positive message for global trade because China proves its commitment to open its markets.” The deal is China’s second European FTA since it signed one in April 2013 with Iceland. Like Switzerland, Iceland is not a member of the 28-nation EU. Politicians say the Swiss agreement could also offer a model for a future accord between Brussels and Beijing. “The experience that they have with us over coming years will probably be a step towards an extension to the European Union,” said Schneider-Ammann. EU divisions are rife, however, between the likes of Britain, a key supporter, and players such as France and Italy, which are wary of a

Economy Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann (left) and Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng shake hands after a signing ceremony in Beijing. (AFP Photo/Wang Zhao) flood of Chinese imports. Brussels and Beijing have also been locked in tit-for-tat disputes over tariffs, Chinese rules favouring state-run companies and intellectual property. During a visit to Brussels last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping won a pledge from the EU to consider an FTA, provided that they can wrap up a narrower investment deal

Egypt leader wishes journalists weren’t tried CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s president acknowledged for the first time that the heavy sentences handed down to three Al-Jazeera journalists had a “very negative” impact on his country’s reputation, saying he wished they were never put on trial. The comments by AbdelFattah el-Sissi to editors of Egyptian media outlets were published late yesterday. They were the first public recognition by Egyptian officials that the case had been damaging to the country’s relations with the international community. The sentencing of the three journalists on June 23, after a five-month trial described as a “sham” by rights groups, caused an international outcry. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the sentences “chilling and

Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi draconian,” and urged Egyptian authorities to address international concerns. A day after the sentences and following an outpouring of international condemnation, el-Sissi

appeared to be rebuffing the pressure, saying in televised comments that he will not interfere in court rulings. In his remarks published yesterday, he said the case represented one of the foreign policy challenges facing Egypt, but stopped short of saying whether he will issue a clemency. He seemed to be refuting claims that the case is politically motivated, and a reflection of the tension between Egypt and Qatar, the Gulf state that owns the television network. Qatar was a supporter of the ousted Islamist President Mohammed Mursi, and his Muslim Brotherhood group. After Mursi’s ouster last year, many of the group’s leaders moved to Qatar to avoid an intense government crackdown that landed thousands in jail.

first. “One of the most important issues is political will on both sides to enhance bilateral relations,” Chinese trade envoy Yu Jianhua told reporters in Basel. “The firm support of industries is also important, based on the actual needs of industries on both sides,” he added. EU exports to China were worth almost $192 billion in 2013, compared to $382 billion of imports. That dwarfs the $9.9 billion of exports Switzerland sent to China last year, and the $12.8 billion of goods it bought in return. “The small country is looking for a big market. But the big market, China, we are looking for the quality of the economy,” said Yu.

“Small is beautiful,” he quipped at the FTA ceremony in Basel. With the strong Swiss franc and high labour costs making it hard to beat rivals on price, Switzerland’s firms have long made quality their selling point. China’s growing pool of increasingly wealthy and

brand-aware consumers is a major draw. “The free trade agreement will definitively endorse our efforts to anchor our Lindt brand as Swiss premium chocolate in China,” Nathalie Zagoda of Lindt & Sprungli told AFP. For Jean-Daniel Pasche, president of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, the deal “provides a framework for our economic relations with China”. Rising Chinese labour costs are also increasing the need for automation in the world’s second-largest economy, offering new openings for the Swiss machine industry. “The opportunities are huge,” said Peter Daetwyler, head of Daetwyler Management, which employs 550 people worldwide in the printing machine sector and currently does about a fifth of its business in China. “The US and the Europeans don’t have an agreement with China. Switzerland has one, so that’s a milestone,” he told AFP. Jean-Guy Carrier of the International Chamber of Commerce said the agreement could also help draw more Chinese investment into Switzerland. “There is going to be much more investment by Chinese companies over the next few years, making acquisitions and investing in existing businesses elsewhere,” he said.

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C’bean leaders to discuss economic issues during Cuba-CARICOM summit ST. JOHN’S, Antigua CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders will use the December CubaCARICOM Summit to discuss ways of strengthening relations, according to an official communiqué issued here. Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez met with regional leaders during their annual summit that ended on Friday. According to the communiqué issued afterwards, “as Cuba developed its new economic model, the forthcoming CubaCARICOM Summit on 8 December 2014 was viewed as presenting an opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen economic relations”. Rodriquez underlined Havana’s “unfailing solidarity and partnership” with CARICOM and expressed his country’s “appreciation for the solidarity…in reaction to the many hostile acts harmful to its economic development such as the US embargo and the extraterritorial application

Bruno Rodriguez of US laws as well as the CFATF (Caribbean Financial Action Task Force) grey listing of the country. “Heads of Government condemned these hostile acts and rejected as unfounded and without merit the placing of Cuba, a victim of terrorism, including in Community waters, and which works internationally to fight terrorism, on the US list of sponsors of terrorism,” the communiqué said.

It said that the leaders had reiterated their solidarity with Cuba, “a member of the Caribbean family in good standing and in which all member states have now established diplomatic missions”. The communiqué said that the regional leaders had expressed their appreciation for the technical assistance and cooperation provided by Cuba in a variety of areas including capacity building, education and health, and looked forward to the December summit. The United States has maintained a trade an economic embargo against Cuba since 19th October 1960, nearly two years after Fidel Castro deposed the Batista regime. The embargo was extended on February 7, 1962 to include all exports to Cuba. The embargo is enforced mainly with six statutes. The United States has consistently voted against United Nations resolutions calling for an end to the embargo.

Monday July 07, 2014

Barbadians told to pay new solid waste tax or face penalties BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – Barbadians have been told to pay the Municipal Solid Waste Tax even though they have not yet received information from the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA). BRA director of Shared Services, Wayne Forde, said the first instalment of the tax is due by July 28. He said that property owners who have structures with an improved value on their land, were required to pay the solid waste tax, which has been calculated at a rate of 0.3 per cent of the site value. “The Municipal Solid Waste Tax Act 2014 does not make any provisions for exemptions from the payment of the tax. However, the Minister of Finance has the authority to remit or refund part or all of the tax on the grounds of undue hardship or for any other reason, as stated in Section 5 of the Act,” Forde said. Forde warned that failure to pay the tax by the specified dates would result in a penalty of five per cent of the tax demanded and unpaid. In addition, interest at the rate

Wayne Forde of one per cent for each month on the penalty and the unpaid tax at the prescribed time, will be charged. The tax was introduced this year to assist with the management of solid waste, that is, all garbage generated from residential households, apartment buildings, commercial and business establishments, institutional facilities, construction and demolition activities, municipal services and treatment plant sites. But former prime minister Owen Arthur, is mobilising

members of his constituency to protest payment of the tax, claiming that they are unable to pay. Arthur and the main opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) have complained that tax places another financial burden on Barbadians. “The people who are going to want relief most from this tax are the people who don’t know about writing no minister, (they) don’t know about using the law to help themselves,” Arthur said, adding “I am going to organise my constituency office, and bring all of my key people in St Peter together. And I am going to identify all who are living in house and shed, all the pensioners”. Forde said that any objection to the value of a property must be made in writing to the Revenue Commissioner. “You are still required to pay the tax although you have lodged an objection. It is advisable to pay the first instalment, and if your objection is successful, the adjustment will be made in the second instalment,” he added.

UNC: Beating of effigy of PM disrespectful

Trinidad Express - The executive of the United National Congress (UNC) Tabaquite constituency is calling on the relevant authorities to act on what it has described as the disrespectful act of dragging and beating an effigy of Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar through the streets of Port of Spain by the leader of New National Vision (NNV), Fuad Abu Bakr, son of 1990 attempted coup leader Yasin Abu Bakr. In a release Saturday, the executive stated: “The Tabaquite constituency executive strongly condemns the disrespect shown to the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, by the leader of the NNV, Mr Fuad Abu Bakr, in

which an effigy of the Prime Minister was displayed in Port of Spain. “This kind of disrespect to the office of the Prime Minister must not be allowed to perpetuate itself, even if there are differences of opinions with respect to governance. The Tabaquite constituency executive expects that those in charge of upholding law and order will ensure that the institutions of the State are not brought into disrepute.” The release added that the country continues to be transformed by the work of the People’s Partnership Government and the executive of the constituency is confident in the country’s leadership and Persad-Bissessar ’s governance.

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LifeSport revealed: $200,000 a month to cut grass Trinidad Express LifeSport paid companies $200,000 a month to cut grass in the recreation grounds where the programme was held. Friends of Ministry of Sport officials, soldiers and a journalist were beneficiaries of those LifeSport contracts. The Ministry of Sport submitted documents to the Ministry of Finance requesting the $200,000 a month “for (3 sports/fields) x 33 venues for 24 months”. The funding, with 33 centres, would work out to a cost of $6.6 million a month. It would have cost taxpayers $79.2 million in 2013. Documents obtained from the Ministry of Sport show that nine companies were contracted to maintain 26 recreation grounds. Of the nine companies, two companies with a common incorporator—

James Dedier—maintain eight recreation grounds. Those two companies are S.O.S West Indies Limited and Reno Energy Company Limited. Reno Energy Company Limited, based in Edinburgh 500 in Chaguanas, has the contracts to maintain Carapo Recreation Ground, Morvant Recreation Ground, Point Fortin Recreation Ground and Samaroo Recreation Ground. S.O.S West Indies Limited, which is based at the same address, has the contract to maintain Mt Dor Recreation Ground, La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Maraval Recreation Ground and Moruga Recreation Ground. Contacted Saturday on the contracts, Jolene Legere, director at Reno Energy, said: “You have said who you are. I do not know who you are so I can’t speak to you.”

Roamfort Enterprises, based in Balmain, Couva, is owned by a soldier, Andy Berahazar, with another soldier, Anthony Superville, as a director. Roamfort was contracted to maintain four grounds— Maloney Recreation Ground, Enterprise Recreation Ground, Carenage Recreation Ground and La Romaine Recreation Ground. Walter Alibey, a sports reporter at Newsday newspaper, through his company Agro Aggressive Organisation and Maintenance Services Limited, also received a contract from the LifeSport programme. Alibey was the reporter on the stories about the death threat on the life of Ruth Marchan, deputy director of Physical Education and Sport at the Ministry of Sport, and the corruption she exposed about how $34

Jamaican man gets six years in British Virgin Islands jail for committing incest Jamaica Gleaner - A Jamaican who recently pleaded guilty in the British Virgin Islands in May to having sexual intercourse with his underage daughter has been sentenced to six years imprisonment. The man who hails from Clarendon is charged with three counts of incest, and three counts of indecent assault. He was sentenced to six years each on the incest counts, 18 months for two counts of indecent assault, and 12 months on another count of indecent assault. Justice Vicki Ann Ellis, who handed down the sentences in the High Court on Thursday,

ordered that they should run concurrently. This means that the father will only serve six years behind bars. The judge also expressed disappointment with the maximum sentence for the sex crime, adding that it was regrettable that she could not have given a lengthier prison time. The man confessed to engaging in oral and penetrative sex with his daughter over a three-year period, from 2009 to 2012. His identity is being withheld in order to protect that of the daughter who suffered at the hands of her father from she was 11 years old.

Simpson Miller encourages joint CARICOM position on Small Island issues ST JOHNS, Antigua and Barbua – Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has encouraged fellow heads of government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to make the region’s voice heard in relation to issues facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS), climate change and the Post 2015 Development Agenda. Simpson Miller said that the regional grouping must send a clear and unified message on these issues considering the commonality among the three processes, noting that CARICOM needs to ensure that the opportunity provided by the confluence of these processes is seized in a timely manner. The Prime Minister was speaking during the businesses session of the 35th Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government at the

Portia Simpson Miller Sandals Grande Antigua Resort in Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday (July 2). She recommended that CARICOM issues a clear statement articulating the priorities of the region to inform member countries’ participation in the three processes and endorsed the

call by other member states that the CARICOM community speak with one voice to the international community and development partners to ensure that the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals and Post2015 Development Agenda fully reflect the priorities of SIDS. The Jamaican Prime Minister commended the work of the Regional Task Force looking at these matters and signalled that Jamaica stands ready to provide any technical support as the region pushed for the advancement of issues of interest to SIDS on the global agenda. CARICOM member states are now preparing for discussions on the sustainability and unique vulnerabilities of SIDS at the Third International Meeting on SIDS to be held in Samoa, September 1-4 this year.

million was paid from LifeSport funds for Math and English lessons to a wellknown educator, but no work was done. Contacted Saturday, Alibey said he started the company since 2011 and has worked for different organisations. “They called me for the contract and I went for it,” he said. Questioned on whether it was not a conflict of interest then for his reporting on Marchan’s death threat, he replied: “I didn’t know all this was going to happen. I didn’t foresee all this was happening.” He said he had a friendship with Marchan for more than 20 years. The Sunday Express was unable to find one of the nine companies which had a contract for four of the recreation grounds. The matter is being reviewed by the Central Audit Committee of the Ministry of Finance. The Sunday Express understands that despite the exorbitant sum paid to companies by LifeSport to maintain the grounds, they were actually being maintained by the regional corporations of the respective areas. National Security Minister Gary Griffith Saturday said the contracts were the key to unravelling how millions of taxpayers dollars were spent. “Giving one person tens of thousands of dollars in a brown paper bag with claims of handing it over to invisible participants because they

PARLIAMENT PROTEST: Members of the LifeSport programme on June 27 outside Parliament at Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain, during their demonstration in support of the programme. Photo: ANISTO ALVES have no bank account has to be a sick joke. If that is not a sign of financial mismanagement, questionable activity and incompetence, then I don’t know what is,” said Griffith. “Jump high, jump low, no desperate PR spin with advisors to ministers openly making adverse statements about me, or paying people to assemble in front of Parliament, or senior officials of the Programme getting a handful of people together to state that there are no ghosts when it is supposed to be over 1,800, but then claim that their life is at risk because of the same Programme that they claimed was so pure, would deter me from cleaning up the Programme. “Read my lips—there

would be no room for ghosts, financial mismanagement, or persons of interest in LifeSport,” he added. “I would ensure that no gang leader has access to State funding. I also do not believe in the practice of paying people not to commit crime. If you sleep with the Devil, there is a price to pay, and I have no intention for our citizens to pay that price. This is not a witchhunt. But I am not going to have any criminal acquire State resources and funding to fuel crime. “Next stop is URP (Unemployment Relief Programme). If they don’t change their ways and want to continue killing youths to fight for contracts, they would lose it. They can’t have their cake and eat it.”

CARICOM defers approval of PANCAP anti-discrimination report Jamaica Gleaner CARICOM governments have deferred approving a report by the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) that critics say is designed to encourage a negative re-order of the Caribbean society. PANCAP presented regional leaders with a declaration entitled: Getting to Zero Discrimination Through Justice For All as part of efforts for the elimination of HIV-related stigma and discrimination. In a statement yesterday, St. Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas said based on deliberations, regional governments are not yet in a position to advance the document in the form that it was presented. And he says it must not

Dr. Denzil Douglas to be interpreted as support for gay rights and same-sex marriage going into the future. He says at a later stage, heads of governments will have a second look at the document. Dr. Douglas has

responsibility in CARICOM for Human Resource Development, Health and HIV and AIDS. One hundred and forty organisations had written to the CARICOM secretary general about PANCAP’s document, calling for transparency and expressing opposition to some of the recommendations. The groups said they are opposed to the repealing of any law which protects the structure of the family and marriage between one man and one woman. The St Kitts-Nevis leader has said many people may have taken the declaration out of context. He says issues such as same sex marriage have never come up in the discussions with regional leaders.

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Monday July 07, 2014

Historic surgery on stage-four cancer patient Jamaica Observer WHEN cancer spreads to the lining of the abdomen, the disease is considered to be in its fourth stage. In fact, if a group of patients with stagefour cancer is left alone, as is, allowing the disease to progress, most will perhaps not be around in another six months. This is according to general surgeon Dr Cherian Cherian, a member of a team of Jamaican doctors at the Kingston Public Hospital, who, just over two weeks ago, with the assistance of general surgeon and surgical oncologist Dr Wesley Francis from The Bahamas, performed the first ever Sugarbaker procedure on the island. According to Dr Cherian, outside of The Bahamas and The Cayman Islands, no other Caribbean country has done the procedure. It was performed on a stage-four cancer patient who is in his 60s. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Dr Cherian, admitting that the patient is not yet out of the woods, said that he is doing well and that they are taking it one step at a time. “The prognosis for a patient with stage-four cancer is never good,” Dr Cherian said. “But with the Sugarbaker procedure, his chances have increased tremendously.” The general surgeon explained that the Sugarbaker procedure targets malignancy from the abdominal cavity that has spread to the lining of the abdomen. “We remove the peritoneal surface, which is the lining of the abdominal cavity; we remove any deposits that may be on organs, including the spleen,” Dr Cherian asserted. “The aim is to actually shrink the tumour mass to a volume such that chemotherapy, which is instilled in the abdomen at the typical temperature of 40 degrees Celsius, will be able to sufficiently manage in terms of oblation. “So physically we oblate or remove, and chemically, with the use of chemotherapy, we further oblate,” Dr Cherian continued.

- Jamaica becomes third Caribbean island to undertake procedure Formally called cytoreductive surgery, which is followed by hyperthermic i n t r a p e r i t o n e a l chemotherapy, the Sugarbaker procedure also removes “any obvious disease anywhere else”. For example, if the condition reaches the liver in a limited sense, then a piece of the liver is taken out and if it’s “a bowel, but it’s any significant bowel, we will take that segment of bowel. “So literally it is a debulking procedure, but we debulk to its maximum in order to allow chemotherapy, with the aid of a pump, to sort of bathe the organs of the peritoneal cavity for at least an hour,” Dr Cherian disclosed. The general surgeon said that the procedure is a technical one that carries a morbidity rate of up to 25 per cent and a mortality rate close to 20 per cent. Therefore, patient selection and cancer origin are factors that must be carefully considered before such a procedure. Dr Cherian stressed that the patient must be otherwise well, to be considered for the procedure. “Certainly you can understand (the patient) cannot have significant heart disease, significant kidney disease, (they) need not be selected for surgical procedure,” Dr Cherian told the Sunday Observer. “We also consider the actual cancer origin, for example cancer from the appendix, as with this patient... something that is well-suited for this procedure as opposed to, for example, cancer from the stomach or even the pancreas.” Dr Cherian also insisted that “a patient who understands the risks as well as is willing to accept them in the hope that the procedure will improve survival” is also crucial to such a procedure. When asked about the survival rate after this invasive procedure, the doctor explained that the procedure is performed for a variety of malignancies and that it is highly dependent on

Dr Cherian Cherian (left), general surgeon; Dr Jason Copeland (centre), resident in general surgery; and general surgeon and surgical oncologist Dr Wesley Francis during the first ever Sugarbaker procedure at the Kingston Public Hospital on Friday, June 20. the prognosis, but he did tell this newspaper that “this particular patient will do well in the long term because the primary problem is something that responds well. “If I were to do it with someone with gastric cancer I can’t guarantee him six months, so it’s important to look at the tumour biology,” he explained. Dr Cherian believes that the situation that currently obtains should be changed and that the Sugarbaker procedure should be an option that doctors are able to offer upfront. “Perhaps it should not be considered a last resort, perhaps it should be what follows after the diagnosis is made, be it after the initial surgery or after imaging, perhaps,” Dr Cherian pointed out. “The problem I think with considering it a last resort is we get these patients when the disease has advanced even more significantly. “I would say a last resort for a patient with the spread of cancer to the lining of the abdomen is chemotherapy, but between chemotherapy and the point of diagnosis, I think it should be the option in-between,” Dr Cherian said. He is hoping that after successfully perfoming the surgery locally, it will mean that the floodgates will open, certainly as it relates to medical staff as they now know that the possibility exists. The doctor was unable to provide a cost for the procedure because, having been performed at a public hospital, it was not billed, but

he insisted that “we know now there is an option”. Previous attempts were made to have the surgical procedure done locally but for a variety of reasons, Dr Cherian said it never happened. While speaking for his colleagues with whom he has worked, Dr Cherian said doctors have recognised that there are patients who are likely to benefit from the Sugarbaker procedure, but admitted that one of the

limitations is surgical expertise. He told the Sunday Observer that within the last year, he has come across at least five people who could benefit from the procedure. Can Jamaica repeat this feat? The general surgeon said that the country would have to enlist the assistance of Dr Francis, who in his fellowship training had done quite a lot in the area, but it can certainly be done. “We are in a position to

repeat the surgery with Dr Francis’ assistance. He brought in specialised equipment, and his involvement is needed until we achieve our appropriate learning curve here,” Dr Cherian admitted. Dr Cherian described the patient as “strong” and said that they decided to proceed after a recommendation from a multidisciplinary board review. The Sugarbaker procedure has been widely criticised, but Dr Cherian, admitting that much of the controversy surrounds chemotherapy use, patient selection and malignancy selected, said that once the patients are selected carefully, bearing in mind that the majoirty are not suitable for this procedure, then a lot can be learned as it continues to evolve. Meanwhile, the general surgeon told the Sunday Observer that had it not been for the support of the hospital, a surgery that took a year to plan and another 12 1 /2 hours to complete, it would not have been possible. “I can tell you that we are in dire times economically, but we are still trying to do what we need to do,” said Dr Cherian. “Everything seems to be crumbling, and I know people are worried about the health-care issue. “There are problems, but in spite of everything we are able to accomplish this,” Dr Cherian said.

Questions over top cop’s retirement KINGSTON JAMAICA Almost a week after Police Commissioner Owen Ellington stunned the country with news of his retirement, Jamaicans are still speculating about the real reason for his sudden departure. Rumours have been flying thick and fast, suggesting that most people do not believe National Security Minister Peter Bunting’s news release on the matter last Monday. “Commissioner Ellington has indicated that his decision to retire is based on the need to separate himself from the leadership and management of the [police] force prior to the commencement of the upcoming Commission of Enquiry into the conduct of the operations of the security forces in Western Kingston and other areas during the limited state of emergency in 2010,” Bunting’s news release said.

Owen Ellington “In addition, he believes it will allow the Independent Commission of Investigations, (INDECOM) to conduct its investigation into allegations of policeinvolved killings in the Clarendon Division (some of which occurred during his tenure) without any perception of influence or interference on his part,” the

release added. But late last week, as Government officials remained mum on the bombshell announcement, a highly-placed source with intimate knowledge of State affairs likened Bunting’s release to an attempt at diplomacy. Last Monday, before the news of Ellington’s retirement was made public, the commissioner had his usual early morning meeting with the constabulary’s Executive Management Board. After that meeting he met with his deputy commissioners and informed them of his decision. Bunting, in his release, said that Deputy Commissioner Glenmore Hinds has been appointed to act as commissioner of police effective, Tuesday, July 1, while the Police Service Commission begins the process of appointing a new police chief. (OBSERVER)

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BVA shortlist male and female Grand Commissioning ceremony players for upcoming competitions planned for Albion Sports Complex The Selection Committee of the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) has shortlisted a number of players to undergo intensive training over the next two weeks to become members of the association’s male and female squads in preparation for upcoming InterAssociation competitions. According to Head Coach, former national captain, Levi Nedd, the list is a preliminary one and more persons can be added as time goes by. Nedd stated that the BVA’s Under 23 Squad will also be chosen from the players named. An Under 19 Squad (Male) is already involved in training. The players named are:- Males- Ian Bagot, Luen David, Junior Jhingree,

Quacy Matheson, Trevlon McRae, Shemroy Ross, Jason Seelochan, Satesh Seenauth, Mahesh Motiepersaud, Satesh Motiepersaud, Julius Seenarine, Safraaz Hussain, Errol Chase, Neehaul Sukdeo, Levian Butchey, Glenroy Clement, Jason Johnny, Zaide Quintyn, Akbar Hosein, Rohan Dhanpat, Navin Jairam, Sohan Dhanpat, and Ryan Dhoray. The female squad includes-Vashti Pooran, Darshanie Pooran, Nadine Benjamin, Shenne Subrattie, Malika Jarvis, Tinesha Cort, Cynthia Harris, Tamala Felix, Lisa Marks and Melissa Marks. The BVA’s Under 16 squad will be announced shortly. (Samuel Whyte)

Mary Fung-A-Fat pips Larissa... From page 39 back into the game, even though DeGroot had game ball. Wiltshire held her nerve and won this game 12 - 10. The third game was close throughout with neither player having more than a two point advantage, but with DeGroot leading 9 - 7 it seemed as if she would force the match into a fourth game. However, this was not to be as Wiltshire won the next four points and the game 11 - 9 to close out the match 3 - 0. The first Men’s semi-final was between US based former Caribbean champion and number one seed Richard Chin and Jason Ray Khalil the number three seed. Chin showed his vast experience and was clinical in his victory over Khalil. He won the first game 11 - 4 and in the second game with Khalil trailing 3 – 4, Chin won the next 7 points and the game 11 - 3. The trend continued in the third game and from 2 points all Chin was able to win the next nine points and the game 11 - 2. In the second Men’s semi-finals, defending national champion and number two seed Alex Arjoon was up against three-time Caribbean Champion Nyron Joseph. Arjoon was quickly up 8 1 before Joseph seemed to finally settle into the match. At 10 - 3 game ball it seemed as if this game would be over in a flash but Joseph stayed focused and got to as close as 8 - 10 before Arjoon closed out the first game 11 - 8. Again Arjoon was out quickly in the second game and this time did not allow Joseph to get close as he finished the game 11 - 4. The third game was a lot closer as Joseph seemed to concentrate more and not make as many errors. With Joseph leading 8-5, the spectators sensed that a fourth game may be on the cards but Arjoon made no furthers mistakes and even though the score was tied at 9 all, Arjoon won the next two

points and the game 11 - 9. In the Men’s Classic Plate match-up between Deje Dias and former National champion Regan Pollard, Dias won the first game 11 – 9, but Pollard won the second game 11 - 9 however Dias then won the third game 11-7 and the fourth by an identical score of 11-7 to close out the match 3-1. National under-17 Champion and two-time junior Caribbean Champion Ben Mekdeci was ruthless in his victory over Nicholas Narain in the second of the Classic Plate matches. Mekdeci won the first game 11-5, the second 11-6 and the third game 11- 2. In the Men’s Veterans 3549 category semi-finals between Brian Yong and Alwyn Callender, the latter took the first game 11-7 but Young bounced back, winning the second game 1412. With Young ahead at 9-2 in the third, it seemed another upset was in the making. Callender won the next 5 points to get to 7 but with Young leading 10-7 he seemed assured of securing the third game. However, Callender won the next 5 points and the game 12 -10. The loss of this game seemed to take the fight out of Young, as Callender won the fourth game, 11-1. In the second Men’s Veterans semi-finals, number one seed Joe Mekdeci took on Medhy Ramdhani. Mekdeci proved much too strong and easily won the first two games 11-4. Even though the third game was close Mekdeci still won 11-9. The other exciting match of the night occurred in the women plate as a still fit looking Kathy Ten-Pow took on the much younger Taylor Fernandes. Fernandes won the first game 11 - 9 and when she took a two-game to love lead by winning the second game 1311, it seemed all over. But TenPow displayed wonderful fight and won the third game

11-5 before taking the fourth 11-9. Ten-Pow was always slightly ahead in the fifth game and closed it out 11-8 to secure an impressive come-from-behind victory. Saturday’s results: Women’s Open Mary Fung A Fat beat Alysa Xavier 11 - 8, 11 - 3, 11 -3 Mary Fung A Fat beat Larissa Wiltshire 9 - 11, 11 - 9, 12 - 10, 11 - 9 Akeila Wiltshire beat Ashley De Groot 11 - 4, 12 10, 11 - 9 Men’s Open Richard Chin beat Jason Ray Khalil 11 - 4, 11 - 3, 11 - 2 Alex Arjoon beat Nyron Joseph 11 - 8, 11 - 4, 11 - 9 Men’s Classic Plate Deje Dias beat Regan Pollard 11 - 9, 9 - 11, 11 - 7, 11 -7 Ben Mekdeci beat Nicholas Narain 11 - 5, 11 - 6, 11 - 2 Men’s Veterans 35 - 49 Alwyn Callender beat Brian Yong 11 - 7, 12 - 14, 12 10, 11 - 1 Joe Mekdeci beat Medhy Ramdhani 11 - 4, 11 - 4, 11 - 9 Men’s Veterans 35 - 49 Plate Philip Fernandes beat Gerry Mekdeci 11 - 4, 10 - 12, 11 - 4, 11 - 6 Philip Fernandes beat Timothy Jonas 11 - 8, 11 - 7, 11 - 9 Stephen Fernandes beat David Fernandes 11 - 4, 15 13, 11 - 9 Women’s Plate Kathy Ten-Pow beat Tiffany Solomon 11 - 7, 11 - 6, 11 - 3 Victoria Arjoon beat Andrea King 11 - 3, 11 - 5, 11 -4 Victoria Arjoon beat Alysa Xavier 11 - 9, 11 - 8, 12 - 10 Kathy Ten-Pow beat Taylor Fernandes 9 - 11, 11 13, 11 - 5, 11 - 9, 11 - 8 Men’s Plate Oliver Kear-Downes beat Joshua Abdool 11 - 3, 11 - 6, 11 - 9 Alec Melville beat Robert Hiscock 11- 3, 11 - 9, 11 – 0

By Samuel Whyte The eagerly awaited and anticipated commissioning ceremony of the Albion Community Centre Lighting projected in slated for today (Caricom Day) with President Donald Ramotar expected to be the chief celebrant. A day of cricketing activities that will include 20/ 20 cricket matches involving four top teams in Berbice will be a part of the events. The teams slated to participate are Young Warriors of East Canje, Albion Community Centre, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club and Port Mourant Cricket Club. Proceedings begin at 12:000hrs with the semifinal play which will be of 15 overs duration. The final, which will be a 20/20 affair, is expected to commence at 18:30 hrs. An official opening ceremony is expected to commence at 17:00hrs with President Ramotar, Regional Chairman David Armogan and other Senior Government officials expected to officiate. This activity is expected to see the lights being switched on. The grand final will be played under lights making it

President Ramotar expected to be chief celebrant the first time that permanent flood lights will be used at the venue. Cash, trophies and other incentives will be up for grabs for the winning and runner up teams along with the outstanding individual performers, including man of the match, best batsman and best bowler. Admission is free. The project was completed in May and done at a cost of $91M. It was done in three phases- Supply of equipment, civil works and electrical installation. The first saw the arrival of the Electrical Components from overseas back in January. The second phase which was undertaken by Cummings Electrical and supervised by Engineering Consultant and Engineering Firm was scheduled to be completed to the tune of $44M. This aspect had many hiccups with some sections of the project having to be redone due to some flaws. Cummings Electrical was

responsible for the construction of the foundation for the Light Towers, the construction of the Electrical hut and the installation of the equipment. The third phase was supervised by Musco Lighting and saw the project coming to being with the installation of all the imported equipment and powering of the system. Musco Lighting is the same company that supplied the Lighting for the Guyana National Stadium and a few other facilities. There are six towers with seventeen luminaries on each pole, totaling 102 - 1500 watts bulbs. The lights will be powered by a generator or local power source. The energy saver type lights are expected to be used. The project is said to have been given a 10 year warranty. The Albion Community Centre was the venue for the first one day international match played in the Caribbean.

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Kaieteur News

Lewis Hamilton speeds to hometown win at F1 British Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix to close to within four points of Nico Rosberg. (Getty Images)

SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — Lewis Hamilton won a crash-hit British Grand Prix yesterday to cut Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg’s lead in the drivers’ championship from 29 points to just four after the German had his first non-finish of the season. Hamilton, the 2008 champion, started sixth on the grid. The British driver leapt to fourth on the opening lap before it was red-flagged, and suspended for an hour, following a crash involving 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari and Felipe Massa of Williams. Hamilton then took the lead after 29 laps as Rosberg retired with gearbox failure. Hamilton came home 30 seconds clear of Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams, who started 14th. Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull finished third ahead of Jenson Button, the 2009 champion, of McLaren and defending fourtime champion Sebastian Vettel in the second Red Bull.

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari was sixth. It was Hamilton’s fifth win this year, his second in his home event and the 27th of his career, drawing him level with fellow-Briton and threetime champion Jackie Stewart in the record books. “England! What a great feeling guys, I couldn’t be happier, I’m sorry about yesterday, but a fantastic job today, as ever!” a delighted Hamilton told his team by radio. Hamilton made a mistake in qualifying on Saturday after wrongly deciding the track was too damp, or wet, for him to improve his best lap time. From the winners’ podium, Hamilton added: “This shows you never give up! Right now, it’s very mixed emotions at the moment, but we have the greatest fans here. It was you guys who spurred me on. At the beginning, I allowed him (Rosberg) to get a good gap and look after the tires. “But we came out on the harder tire and could not

Neymar injury could unite Brazil - Schweinsteiger BBC Sport - Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger fears Neymar’s injury could galvanise Brazil when the two sides meet in Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final. Barcelona striker Neymar injured his back in Friday’s quarter-final win against Colombia. He will miss the rest of the World Cup, and Schweinsteiger said: “Neymar’s team-mates will want to win the World Cup for him. “They’ll derive strength from that.” Germany finished runners-up at the 2002 World Cup, when they lost 2-0 to Brazil in the final. Since then they have lost at the semi-final stage in each of the last two tournaments. They lost to eventual champions Spain in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but Schweinsteiger believes the current Germany squad is stronger than the one from four years ago. “We’re a step further now,” he added. “Not only is the national team a step further but every player has developed further with their clubs. “The number of really good players on the team is greater now than before. That’s why we’re better.”

believe I had that kind of pace. I don’t want to see a team-mate fail, I want a onetwo, but I really needed this result.” Raikkonen was involved in a spectacular high-speed opening lap accident that halted the race for an hour to allow repairs to the barriers. The Ferrari driver lost control, spun, hit the barriers and collided with the Williams of Brazilian Massa, who was starting his 200th Grand Prix. Both escaped serious injury but Raikkonen, whose car was massively damaged, limped away and required later X-rays on his right ankle. Massa was forced out with a damaged car, but like Rosberg, stayed to cheer the teams at the end of the race. Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen finished seventh for McLaren ahead of German Nico Hulkenberg of Force India, Russian rookie Daniil Kvyat of Toro Rosso and 10th-placed Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne in the second Toro Rosso. Drivers’ Standings (After 9 of 19 races) 1. Nico Rosberg, 165 points. 2. Lewis Hamilton, 161. 3. Daniel Ricciardo, 98. 4. Fernando Alonso, 87. 5. Valtteri Bottas, 73. 6. Sebastian Vettel, 70. 7. Nico Hulkenberg, 63. 8. Jenson Button, 55. 9. Kevin Magnussen, 35. 10. Felipe Massa, 30. 11. Sergio Perez, 28. 12. Kimi Raikkonen, 19. 13. Jean-Eric Vergne, 9. 14. Romain Grosjean, 8. 15. Daniil Kvyat, 6. 16. Jules Bianchi, 2. Constructors’ Standings 1. Mercedes, 326 points. 2. Red Bull, 168. 3. Ferrari, 106. 4. Williams, 103. 5. Force India, 91. 6. McLaren, 90. 7. Toro Rosso, 15. 8. Lotus, 8. 9. Marussia, 2.

Monday July 07, 2014

GASA July Sprints – Goodwill Trials

Aleka Persaud smashes 8 & under 50m butterfly record; usual standouts impress The 2014 edition of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) July Sprints which also served as a qualifier for this year’s Goodwill multi nation championships set for Suriname next month, ended yesterday at the National Aquatic Centre. The usual standouts continued their impressive showing including the likes of Britany van Lange who achieved the A-Times for Goodwill this year in the 200m free and 50m back, Accalia Khan also achieved the Goodwill A-Time in the 50 back; Hannibal Gaskin, Amy Grant, Raekwon Noel and Leon Seaton among others also turned in consistent performances. Another one of the emerging swimmers destined for big days in the future if the relevant persons and GASA can hone the talent of her and others is 7-year-old Aleka Persaud who smashed the 8 & Under 50m butterfly record of 47.39 set by Accalia Khan on November 9th 2008 by setting a new mark of 47.12 on Saturday. Persaud, daughter of GASA President Ivan Persaud, has been very dominant since arriving on the competitive scene and still has some time in this age group as she continues to impress. A member of the Orca Speed Swim Club, Persaud, who did not compete yesterday, was also triumphant on Saturday in the 100m Individual Medley (IM) clocking 1:47.72 and the 50m free (38.91). GASA President Ivan Persaud disclosed that the Goodwill team would be announced early this week ahead of next month’s Meet in neighboring Suriname.

Britany van Lan completing victory in the 100m butterfly

Hannibal Gaskin

Aleka Persaud

Following are the results from yesterday’s final day: Name Age Group Event Jadyn George Girls 9-10 200m Free Leon Seaton Boys 9-10 “ Amy Grant Girls 11-12 “ Antonia Hussein Boys 11-12 “ Accalia Khan Girls 13-14 “ Joseph De Nobrega Boys 13-14 “ Britany van Lange Girls 15-17 “

Club Sliver Sharks “ “ Dorado Orca Dorado Dorado

Hannibal Gaskin Athena Gaskin Aleka Persaud Raekwon Noel Lian Winter Sekhel Tzedeq Amy Grant Nathon Hackett Accalia Khan

Boys 15-17 G 18 &Over G 8&Under B 8&Under Girls 9-10 Boys 9-10 Girls 11-12 Boys 11-12 Girls 13-14

“ “ 50m Back “ “ “ “ “ “

Dorado Dorado Orca Dorado Dorado Dolphin Silver Shark Silver Shark Orca

Britany van Lange

Girls 15-17

“

Dorado

Athena Gaskin Joseph deNobrega Angel Rodrigues Britany van Lange Hannibal Gaskin

G 18&Over Boys 13-14 Boys 15-17 Girls 15-17 Boys 15-17

“ “ “ 100m Fly “

Dorado Dorado Sliver Gliders Dorado Dorado

Time 3:14.41 2:51.37 2:59.46 2:32.53 2:28.25 2:12.81 2:16.89 (G14A) 2:09.23 2:43.20 50.57 44.03 47.46 39.43 41.31 37.61 33.89 (G14A) 33.47 (G14A) 40.75 33.25 34.67 1:14.59 1:02.62

Monday July 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

Etheridge win St. Stanislaus College Inter House Hockey Tournament The St. Stanislaus College Inter House Hockey Tournament concluded recently with last year’s runners-up, Etheridge emerging champions in thrilling fashion. It was Galton who emerged from the round robin phase as the points leaders with 7 points from three matches, they were followed by Etheridge, Weld and last year’s champions Butler, respectively. That meant that the semifinals would be a repeat of 2013 with Butler facing Galton and Etheridge coming up against Weld. The first semifinal was much closer than expected with Butler showing the heart of a champion, by competing with great resolve in spite of the absence of their inspirational captain Paramanand Dindial, through injury. It took a moment of individual brilliance by Galton’s captain Shemar Boston to settle matters, when he scored after a solo run down the right side. In the other semifinal, Hilmar Chester put Weld up

1-0, clinically finishing a well worked team goal. Etheridge’s Nicholas Nervais then leveled proceeding before his captain Shemuel King sent her team through to the final with an exception finish from the tightest of angles. In the third place playoff it was Chester again who provided the finishing touch, but this time around, his goal was enough to secure Weld third place for the second consecutive year, over last year’s champions Butler. The final was a tight affair from the very beginning with both teams working extremely hard to recover their defensive structure after turnovers. This resulted in a 0-0 draw at the end of full time. The match would now be settled by penalty flicks and even after that it was still tied. It then fell on the shoulders of the Captains to find a result in the sudden death penalty shootout. Galton’s Shemar Boston went agonizingly close but just missed to the left. Etheridge’s Shemuel King

then stepped up and with no hesitation sent the ball down the middle of the goal to set off wild celebrations by members of her house and the former students who termed out to witness the final. It was a very satisfying win for the team made up of a majority of female players against the three other male dominated sides. Compete Results Champions - Etheridge Shemuel King (Capt), Marcia Persaud, Nicholas Nervais, Shani Naughton, Delice Adonis, Cherub Autar, Ciana Cummings, Takyle Fraser and Jeremiah Young Runners-up - Galton Shemar Boston (Capt), Nicole Bevany, Myron Philips, Troy Hodge, Edmond Chinian, Malique Ferreira, Jonathan Persaud, Nathan Hacket, Alex Winter, Daniel Scott and Angela John Third Place - Weld Hilton Chester (Capt), Shenay Stewart, Shameeka Bhagwandin, Meshach Williams, Ezekiel Springer, Samuel Clarke, Hilmar Chester and Tyriq Scott

Letter to the Sports Editor

Horseracing in trouble again, time for horse owners to act DEAR EDITOR, Here we go at it again. What are the functions of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority? A look into its functions shows clearly that the organisation should act as a facilitator to provide guidance and sometimes act as a referee when any breaches occur towards the rules governing the sport. The functions of the GHRA have clearly been hijacked by the race track owners without any consideration towards the horses their owners, trainers, grooms and jockeys who are the ones faced with the daily costs in keeping the sport alive at tremendous loss, while the track owners are fighting for control of the Racing Authority to protect their ‘God given’ racing dates. So we have forced upon us a Guyana Horse Racing Dates Authority, this problem will never be resolved unless the whole arrangement that they call the GHRA is changed. For example the last election saw six race tracks with their representatives from each track voting, giving a total of eighteen votes Mr. Vic Oditt was elected President by gaining eleven

of the eighteen votes. A request was made by me as the horse owners representative for there to be equal representations with voting rights on the Guyana Horse Racing Authority so all the stakeholders would be represented and have a say, this was denied. So what we have here again same old grievances from the track owners, fighting over dates and using a Kangaroo court to remove their racing date President Mr. Vic Oditt. We are living in a tropical country with May to June likely being our most rainy months so with the type of tracks currently hosting horse races no racing is possible maybe with the exception of Port Mourant. As July is upon us we are eager to have our horses out and racing, but guess what, the track owners have secured and owned the dates, that even a small Gymkhana track, Budhan Memorial Sports Complex, was given full voting rights of three members and racing dates to run races such as J class, K class and unclassified one and two. We are going backwards my friends with no offence to the small track. When these track

owners could have petitioned to have a large entity like Digicel, who was scheduled to run a multimillion dollars Digicel Cup on the 27th of July at Port Mourant Turf Club with the feature race carrying a first prize of over Three million Guyana dollars, stage their event and the small track withdraw. Instead they are claiming that the small Gymkhana track was given that date and must run, while Digicel and Port Mourant cannot carry off their meeting. What is the message here to potential sponsors, Turfites, horse owners, trainers etc? I am appealing to my fellow horse owners to wake from their slumber and let’s start to move forward by looking into our own interest and leave the tracks to fight among themselves over dates that nobody as far as I am concerned owns. Looking forward for my fellow suffering horse owners to come together as a body and save this sport from some greedy, short sighted, arrogant and deceitful bunch that imposed themselves as the Guyana Horse Racing Authority, it’s a farce and cannot continue. Colin Elcock Horse Owners/Trainers

Page 35

5th Seven Seas, Dr. Chase 50-Mile Road Race

De Nobrega is senior champ; Anthony wins junior category Paul De Nobrega returned to winning ways on the road ways with victory in the 5th annual Seven Seas Multivitamin and Joint Care/Dr. Chase Nerve Food 50-mile cycle road race on the West Demerara. From a field of sixteen starters, De Nobrega was able to out sprint veteran Robin Persaud who looked as if he stepped off the accelerator in the final meter of the sprint and Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams to win in One Hour 52 Minutes 56 Seconds bettering last year’s time of 1:55.04 posted by Persaud. National junior Time Trial winner, Michael Anthony took the fourth place overall which meant he was the top junior on show, Mark Harris and Enzo Matthews closed out the top six positions in the senior category. Williams and Matthews took two prime prizes each with one apiece for De Nobrega, Persaud, Anthony and Raymond Newton. Raul Leal and Alanzo Ambrose trailed Anthony to the line in that order to round out the junior division. Berbician Wasim Hasnoo topped the field in the veteran category clocking One Hour 23 Minutes 42.38 Seconds. Hasnoo was unchallenged to the line, coming in a distant second was Ralph Williams with Shameer Baksh third. Stamping his authority yet again in the mountain bike category was Ozuia Macullay who stopped the clock at One Hour 23 Minutes 45.38 Seconds, to win from

Products Specialist, Seven Seas Brand Ms. Karen Connell presents the winning trophy and prize to Paul De Nobrega. Emanuel Gay Raul and Julio Melville. Tashwanna Doris was the lone female on show while the first Over-60 rider to cross the line was the consistent Montgomery Parris. Yesterday’s race got off to a fine start outside the Wales Police Station, West Bank Demerara with the senior and junior riders proceeding to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo before returning to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish. Veterans, mountain bike and female riders turned back at Uitvlugt on the West Coast of Demerara. On hand to chat with the cyclists after the race

whilst offering tips on healthy lifestyles was Ms. Karen Connell, Products Specialist for Seven Seas and Brand Representative for Guyana. Ms. Connell told the riders that her company was very pleased to be supporting the sport of cycling and offered quite a few tips on the Seven Seas products and the benefits of using these products. Kurt Seymour, Representative for Dr. Chase Products also shared brief remarks and assisted in the presentation of prizes. All the competitors received samples of the Seven Seas and Dr. Chase products. (Franklin Wilson)

Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club Horserace Meet set for Sunday July 13 The Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports Facilities is gearing to get back in full flow again with the staging of a grand one day horserace set for next Sunday 13th July at the club’s Alness, Corentyne, Berbice racetrack. Known to having the best track among all the racing clubs in Guyana, the current inclement weather should not cause much bother for the organizers of the race meet. Over $5M is up for grabs and a total of 8 races are billed for the day’s card with attractive cash incentives ad trophies at stake. With this being the first meet billed for the entity in more than two years, horseracing fans are expected to come out in their numbers to swarm the entity where an action packed and scintillating day of racing is anticipated. So far over 30 of the country’s top horses have taken entry in what is expected to a signature opening event. Sponsorship has been garnered from Banks DIH, Guyana Tourism Authority, Trophy Stall and Shariff Business Enterprise and Racing Stable with a few others expected to come on board. With their well known ability in bring off successful events, the organizers

have vowed to make this occasion a memorable one and set the stage for the rest of the year. The events listed to be contested are the A and lower 1600M event for a first prize of $1M and trophy with a total purse of over $2M. The G and lower event over 1400M with a first prize of $300,000 and trophy. The 3 years old Maiden and Guyana bred open will see the horses galloping over 1300M for take home money of $300,000. The Guyana bred two year old horses will compete for a winners money of $200,000 over 1100M. The I and lower1200M even will see the animals racing for a $250,000 purse and trophy. The animals in the ‘J1’ class event will be competing for a $180,000 prize over 1200M. The K&L unclassified event will fetch a winning prize of $150,000over 1200M. Outstanding individual performers including top Jockey, trainer and stable will be presented with accolades compliments of the Trophy Stall, Bourda Market and the RCMTC&SF. Interested persons can make contact with Marcel Crawford Jr on Telephone number 6785342. (Samuel Whyte)

Page 36

Kaieteur News

Lewis Hamilton speeds to hometown win at F1 British Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix to close to within four points of Nico Rosberg. (Getty Images)

SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — Lewis Hamilton won a crash-hit British Grand Prix yesterday to cut Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg’s lead in the drivers’ championship from 29 points to just four after the German had his first non-finish of the season. Hamilton, the 2008 champion, started sixth on the grid. The British driver leapt to fourth on the opening lap before it was red-flagged, and suspended for an hour, following a crash involving 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari and Felipe Massa of Williams. Hamilton then took the lead after 29 laps as Rosberg retired with gearbox failure. Hamilton came home 30 seconds clear of Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams, who started 14th. Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull finished third ahead of Jenson Button, the 2009 champion, of McLaren and defending fourtime champion Sebastian Vettel in the second Red Bull.

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari was sixth. It was Hamilton’s fifth win this year, his second in his home event and the 27th of his career, drawing him level with fellow-Briton and threetime champion Jackie Stewart in the record books. “England! What a great feeling guys, I couldn’t be happier, I’m sorry about yesterday, but a fantastic job today, as ever!” a delighted Hamilton told his team by radio. Hamilton made a mistake in qualifying on Saturday after wrongly deciding the track was too damp, or wet, for him to improve his best lap time. From the winners’ podium, Hamilton added: “This shows you never give up! Right now, it’s very mixed emotions at the moment, but we have the greatest fans here. It was you guys who spurred me on. At the beginning, I allowed him (Rosberg) to get a good gap and look after the tires. “But we came out on the harder tire and could not

Neymar injury could unite Brazil - Schweinsteiger BBC Sport - Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger fears Neymar’s injury could galvanise Brazil when the two sides meet in Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final. Barcelona striker Neymar injured his back in Friday’s quarter-final win against Colombia. He will miss the rest of the World Cup, and Schweinsteiger said: “Neymar’s team-mates will want to win the World Cup for him. “They’ll derive strength from that.” Germany finished runners-up at the 2002 World Cup, when they lost 2-0 to Brazil in the final. Since then they have lost at the semi-final stage in each of the last two tournaments. They lost to eventual champions Spain in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but Schweinsteiger believes the current Germany squad is stronger than the one from four years ago. “We’re a step further now,” he added. “Not only is the national team a step further but every player has developed further with their clubs. “The number of really good players on the team is greater now than before. That’s why we’re better.”

believe I had that kind of pace. I don’t want to see a team-mate fail, I want a onetwo, but I really needed this result.” Raikkonen was involved in a spectacular high-speed opening lap accident that halted the race for an hour to allow repairs to the barriers. The Ferrari driver lost control, spun, hit the barriers and collided with the Williams of Brazilian Massa, who was starting his 200th Grand Prix. Both escaped serious injury but Raikkonen, whose car was massively damaged, limped away and required later X-rays on his right ankle. Massa was forced out with a damaged car, but like Rosberg, stayed to cheer the teams at the end of the race. Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen finished seventh for McLaren ahead of German Nico Hulkenberg of Force India, Russian rookie Daniil Kvyat of Toro Rosso and 10th-placed Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne in the second Toro Rosso. Drivers’ Standings (After 9 of 19 races) 1. Nico Rosberg, 165 points. 2. Lewis Hamilton, 161. 3. Daniel Ricciardo, 98. 4. Fernando Alonso, 87. 5. Valtteri Bottas, 73. 6. Sebastian Vettel, 70. 7. Nico Hulkenberg, 63. 8. Jenson Button, 55. 9. Kevin Magnussen, 35. 10. Felipe Massa, 30. 11. Sergio Perez, 28. 12. Kimi Raikkonen, 19. 13. Jean-Eric Vergne, 9. 14. Romain Grosjean, 8. 15. Daniil Kvyat, 6. 16. Jules Bianchi, 2. Constructors’ Standings 1. Mercedes, 326 points. 2. Red Bull, 168. 3. Ferrari, 106. 4. Williams, 103. 5. Force India, 91. 6. McLaren, 90. 7. Toro Rosso, 15. 8. Lotus, 8. 9. Marussia, 2.

Monday July 07, 2014

GASA July Sprints – Goodwill Trials

Aleka Persaud smashes 8 & under 50m butterfly record; usual standouts impress The 2014 edition of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) July Sprints which also served as a qualifier for this year’s Goodwill multi nation championships set for Suriname next month, ended yesterday at the National Aquatic Centre. The usual standouts continued their impressive showing including the likes of Britany van Lange who achieved the A-Times for Goodwill this year in the 200m free and 50m back, Accalia Khan also achieved the Goodwill A-Time in the 50 back; Hannibal Gaskin, Amy Grant, Raekwon Noel and Leon Seaton among others also turned in consistent performances. Another one of the emerging swimmers destined for big days in the future if the relevant persons and GASA can hone the talent of her and others is 7-year-old Aleka Persaud who smashed the 8 & Under 50m butterfly record of 47.39 set by Accalia Khan on November 9th 2008 by setting a new mark of 47.12 on Saturday. Persaud, daughter of GASA President Ivan Persaud, has been very dominant since arriving on the competitive scene and still has some time in this age group as she continues to impress. A member of the Orca Speed Swim Club, Persaud, who did not compete yesterday, was also triumphant on Saturday in the 100m Individual Medley (IM) clocking 1:47.72 and the 50m free (38.91). GASA President Ivan Persaud disclosed that the Goodwill team would be announced early this week ahead of next month’s Meet in neighboring Suriname.

Britany van Lan completing victory in the 100m butterfly

Hannibal Gaskin

Aleka Persaud

Following are the results from yesterday’s final day: Name Age Group Event Jadyn George Girls 9-10 200m Free Leon Seaton Boys 9-10 “ Amy Grant Girls 11-12 “ Antonia Hussein Boys 11-12 “ Accalia Khan Girls 13-14 “ Joseph De Nobrega Boys 13-14 “ Britany van Lange Girls 15-17 “

Club Sliver Sharks “ “ Dorado Orca Dorado Dorado

Hannibal Gaskin Athena Gaskin Aleka Persaud Raekwon Noel Lian Winter Sekhel Tzedeq Amy Grant Nathon Hackett Accalia Khan

Boys 15-17 G 18 &Over G 8&Under B 8&Under Girls 9-10 Boys 9-10 Girls 11-12 Boys 11-12 Girls 13-14

“ “ 50m Back “ “ “ “ “ “

Dorado Dorado Orca Dorado Dorado Dolphin Silver Shark Silver Shark Orca

Britany van Lange

Girls 15-17

“

Dorado

Athena Gaskin Joseph deNobrega Angel Rodrigues Britany van Lange Hannibal Gaskin

G 18&Over Boys 13-14 Boys 15-17 Girls 15-17 Boys 15-17

“ “ “ 100m Fly “

Dorado Dorado Sliver Gliders Dorado Dorado

Time 3:14.41 2:51.37 2:59.46 2:32.53 2:28.25 2:12.81 2:16.89 (G14A) 2:09.23 2:43.20 50.57 44.03 47.46 39.43 41.31 37.61 33.89 (G14A) 33.47 (G14A) 40.75 33.25 34.67 1:14.59 1:02.62