Thursday Edition July 03, 2014 - Vol. 7 No. 26
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Priya Manickchand booed at US 4th July reception Dynamic Airways still to operate out of JFK P. 6
No political interference at Tender Board - says De Clou Teen shot in mouth sued state for $30M AN EYESORE This car has been parked on Yubani Avenue, Eccles. For several years residents have been begging the owner to remove it to no avail.
Ex-French PM Sarkozy charged with corruption
Works on Amaila Falls Hydro Access Road at a standstill
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 03, 2014
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Priya Manickchand booed at US 4th July reception …attempts to humiliate US Ambassador
I
n what can only be the most shocking abuse of hospitality and a disregard for the diplomatic norms, Guyana’s Acting Foreign Minister, Priya Manickchand, last evening launched into an attack on United States Ambassador, Dr. D. Brent Hardt. And for her efforts she was soundly booed by the invitees. The occasion was the observance of America’s 238th anniversary of its independence. Just two days earlier, Ambassador Hardt, addressing a youth forum called Blue Caps, was critical of the Guyana Government for its failure to hold Local Government elections. This so rankled the ruling People’s Progressive Party that yesterday, it issued a statement that chided Ambassador Hardt for
meddling in the internal affairs of a sovereign government. Minister Manickchand extended this criticism when she shared the podium at the American Independence Anniversary, last night. Early in her speech she lauded Ambassador Hardt for his comments about Guyana. “For a very long time, we were a country that lacked free and fair elections. Thanks to your good record keeping and declassification of documents, we have confirmed that those elections were presented by external forces effectively retarding the democratic process.” She then launched into an attack on the comments of the Ambassador but not before she had noted the absence of democracy in some agencies. She said that
there is a situation today where Guyana must comply with certain international acts. “Our banks will soon have to comply” with a measure that will see local commercial banks providing information to the United States Government on American citizens banking in Guyana. “We have to comply with what Big Brother wants.” By the same measure, Guyana cannot expect the United States to accept or to comply with actions demanded against it. Antigua and Barbuda secured a ruling by t h e Wo r l d Tr a d e Organisation against the United States which is still to comply with that decision. Below is an excerpt of her address at the independence anniversary celebration. “The occasion is mine
tonight to reflect specifically on the activities of the representative of the US Government here, Ambassador Brent Hardt. Less than three years ago, Ambassador Hardt was made welcome to Guyana. During those years of his posting in Guyana, Ambassador Hardt has contributed to a tensionfilled relationship with the Government of Guyana. These areas of tense relationships have attracted considerable efforts on our part to address oftentimes without much success. Ambassador Hardt’s most recent assault on the President and Government of Guyana in his remarks to the recently created NGO, the Blue Caps, has in our judgment, gone beyond the b o u n d a r i e s o f professionalism and diplomacy.
Teen shot in mouth sued state for $30M - also seeking damages against Top Cop and Cadet Officer Fifteen-year-old Alex Griffith, through his attorney Dexter Todd, is suing the State for $30M, resulting from the shooting in his mouth by a Police Cadet Officer almost three months ago. Citing several articles of the Constitution of Guyana, the teenager is alleging that the state breached his constitutional rights in many ways. He is also asking the court for damages totaling $5M from Cadet Officer Franz Paul and Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, for false imprisonment and assault and battery. Griffith was taken from his home in April last when the Police Cadet Officer
allegedly rushed into his home and dragged him out of his house to question him about a robbery he was told that the teen witnessed. The robbery victim is the sister of the same policeman. Although Griffith repeatedly told the policemen that he did not “see anything”, the Cadet Officer allegedly kept beating him before dragging him out of his yard and driving off with him. A gun was eventually placed into his mouth by the cop who later pulled the trigger in Russian roulette style, sending a bullet through the back of the teenager’s head. “I felt my ears ringing and I was feeling pain, then I hear one of the policemen
saying how the boy bleeding bad (and) ‘we got to take he to the hospital’. I was dumped in the vehicle and taken to the hospital,” the teenager said in his affidavit to support his claim. Griffith is contending that the State breached articles 141 and 154 of the Constitution, which deals with his fundamental right against torture and degrading treatment. Citing article 139, he is also accusing the state of depriving him of his personal liberty, since he was falsely detained without charge. The matter was filed yesterday in the High Court. However, according to reports, it has not yet been served on the respondents.
Days after the incident, Griffith’s mother Marcelle Griffith turned down compensation that was offered to her by the policeman. The boy’s mother had told the media that she had been receiving a number of telephone calls from persons claiming to be Attorneys representing the interest of the policeman. She claimed that the persons had offered her up to $2 Million to settle the matter. The police Cadet Officer has since been charged and is currently on bail. Meanwhile, a group calling itself The Georgetown Hub of the Global Shapers Community, has said in a (Continued on page 11)
Priya Manickchand For a professional Foreign Service Office, with the appointment of an Ambassador, to make such declarations, accusations, allegations and innuendos about the Executive President of Guyana, or of any country for that matter, is to our mind, totally unacceptable. As one reads his diatribe against our President, our outrage mounts at the liberties he has taken with diplomatic conventions, commitment to accuracy and sense of occasion. This situation, I report, is intolerable. The Ambassador has been associated with a dedicated attack on the President and the government on the holding of Local Government elections. The Ambassador has been supported in his…this ill-conceived venture, by the opposition section of the
Dr. D. Brent Hardt media and his colleagues in the diplomatic corps. We have not lost any efforts in correcting their hopelessly jaundiced views of the situation. His superficial grasp is revealed by his misinformation about the Bill. Worse yet, is his reluctance to have views of the hosting of Local Government elections corroborated by other k n o w l e d g e a b l e stakeholders, other than the Chairman of GECOM. The Ambassador’s behaviour is totally unacceptable. It is this government’s pledge that it will not accept such. The superpower status of the United States is acknowledged. Ambassador Brent (sic) has probably p r e s e n t e d G u y a n a ’s … A m e r i c a ’s credentials as a model nation for the rest of the world. His (Continued on page 8)
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Schools are institutions of learning, not Dr. Westmaas ought to know better repositories for ill-mannered children DEAR EDITOR, Whoever the child, whatever the circumstances, whatever the behaviour, schools and teachers are “mandated” to put up with it. That’s the concept of some parents and they go about it with enthusiasm and inspiration. This foolishness has ingrained in the psyche of some individuals that sooner or later it was bound to spill over into the public domain. That is why a parent, (name withheld) could have penned a letter captioned “children have feelings too.” Reading that letter you get the expressed opinion of the parent of an errant teen who is determined to peddle the idea that tutors are “duty bound” to accommodate a child, irrespective of that student’s behaviour. It was meant to convey the erroneous thought that the feelings of the child should be of paramount importance. Sure enough the feelings of the child should be considered whenever disciplinary matters are
Guantanamo Bay is on an Island, isn’t it?
DEAR EDITOR, I enjoyed reading US Ambassador Brent Hardt’s letter on LGBT rights in the Guyana Chronicle of June 17th. I fully endorse all his ideas on human dignity and the need to civilize the minds of those trapped in a Bronze Age ethos. It is a difficult task to educate those folks as they are convinced that they are being righteous, though they are, in fact, preaching and practicing hate, bigotry and intolerance. The change that is needed is generational; eventually the dinosaurs and their archaic ideas will die out. One point that stuck out in the Ambassador’s letter, though, was when he said, “no man or woman is an island — or should be sent to live on one.” And I couldn’t help but think, except in Guantanamo Bay on the Island of Cuba, eh Mr. Ambassador? Justin de Freitas
addressed, but are the child’s feelings, thoughts, opinions, excuses the only ones that matter? Well, if that’s the only way to deal with these cases then heaven help us, certainly we are in real trouble. And that’s my point, once you have a situation where the feelings of the transgressor are germane to the issue, or the only ones that count, we are into a USAtype problem mode. This is the way it is done in the USA, where there are a myriad of problems with no solutions in sight. So, what about the feelings of the victim or the teacher…theirs do not count? Absolute trash! No wonder so often the USA witnesses mass killings at various institutions of learning. It is a direct result of this foolishness where the perpetrator’s feelings are paramount. Errant, out of place students always have a point, they are brimful of excuses many times over. Their lies and innuendos are astounding to say the least; they are so innovative in their approach that if you are not on the alert you are caught flat-footed and totally off guard. As I hinted at a staff meeting here recently, if these students utilize those skills used at worming their way out of trouble into their schoolwork, then, we are definitely looking at the geniuses of tomorrow. But this is not to be. What we find Guyana today is a small yet irritating group of students who believe that society must put up with their nonsense. Well, they are ever so wrong. Errant schoolchildren should be dealt with condignly so as to bring an end to this moral
decline facing our schools and our nation as a whole. The Linden situation where students could have mustered the courage to trounce a teacher is the watermark of indiscipline and this situation should never raise its ugly head again. No sensible excuse can be given for a student putting his/her hand on a teacher, period! That should never be tolerated in our schools. So, this nonsensical idea that a teacher is deserved of a flogging because he yelled at a student or called him out of his name is most outrageous. Guyana has been doing tremendously well on the academic front. Some would attribute this solely to the skill and brilliance of the student, but I strongly disagree, I solemnly believe that all success hinges on discipline. It has everything to do with it - that is, a strong sense of discipline, one’s conduct and general attitude to work. Some would argue that discipline is not learning, seeing it only from the standpoint of a punitive measure. But I would retort with the question: how else can a student change the course of his downward spiral if some corrective measure is not put in place? And the answer comes back yes, correction is definitely needed. From the wearing of uniforms to one’s punctuality at school all fits into the aspect of good sound learning. Schools are institutions of learning, and that only, they are not repositories for illmannered, out of place children. If we lose sight of this, then we are in for big trouble. We can ill-afford such indiscipline at this juncture of our development. Neil Adams
DEAR EDITOR, I am shocked to read Prof. Nigel Westmaas’ (KN Jun 21) accolades of controversial columnist Freddie Kissoon for his writings. Dr. Westmaas ought to know better about public writings especially in the media – which, among other criteria, must be objective, truthful, balanced, non-personal, evidencedriven, and if coming from an academic, must be intellectually sound. Can Nigel say which one of Freddie’s columns or letters have met the preceding criteria? Just look at the man’s ramblings and his misstatements of facts (deliberately done) and arguments advanced by others (theorists, scholars and common folks) and the inevitable conclusion is, Freddie is very biased in his expositions. I knew Nigel well during the days of the anti-dictatorial
struggle when I used to visit Rodney House regularly, and interacted with him, Eusi and several others who fought in the revolution that toppled the Burnham/Hoyte dictatorship. Nigel did a lot of PR work for the WPA and its organs. So he has a lot of writing experience (added to the fact he has a PhD and is an academic — achievements that require a lot writings that are objective and supportive of arguments) on couching an argument and supporting it with credible evidence. Nigel studied the social science of which social theory is a critical component. Can Nigel s a y w h i c h o f F r e d d i e ’s columns and/or letters is factually correct, evidence-driven, and logically argued? Can Nigel examine Freddie’s explanation of any social, political, economic
and psychological theory and say which one is correct? As an example, Nigel should read Fareed Zakaria on “Illiberal Democracy” and then read Freddie’s interpretation of Zakaria’s theory – Nigel would immediately recognize Freddie’s lack of understanding of theories. Nigel should also take a look at the several pieces Freddie penned attacking D r. Dolly Hassan, Gowkarran Sukhdeo, myself, etc. (KN Jun 15, 20, 22, 24, etc.) Which respected academic would engage in personality attacks on people? I ask Nigel to examine the caption (title) of Freddie’s articles and say whether the content is actually about the topic – which one of the articles has supporting evidence? Nigel ought to know better. Vishnu Bisram
DEAR EDITOR, The preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” For those who are unaware, this is where the right to religious and indeed all other freedoms come from. For example, your right to free speech - for everyone - every human being, and therefore gays and lesbians. The first article of the Declaration reinforces the preamble. “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity
and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” As a labour and community activist, I am truly disgusted by the cruel and degrading comments of those opposed and the lack of a coherent or any response for that matter, to these attacks. Given this controversy, I must ask: Are there real human rights groups in Guyana? If there are, where are they in
terms of the advancement, promotion and protection of human rights? The silence is deafening. Finally, it should be noted, while those opposed to this lifestyle may be in the majority, the numbers cannot diminish nor extinguish the fundamental rights of this group. Rights which any democratic society and in particular, a signatory to the declaration, should seek to protect. June Veecock
Are there real human rights groups in Guyana?
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 03, 2014
Dynamic Airways still Works on Amaila Falls to operate out of JFK Access Road at a standstill ... hopes to rectify issues by Monday
A completed section of the Amaila Falls Access Roads
Captain Gerry Gouveia in his address to the press Dynamic Airways will continue to operate outside of John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport since it is still to meet certain requirements that will allow them to fly in and out of the New York port. The American-based charter company is hoping that by next Monday all issues would be resolved when it provides outstanding documentation to JFK authorities; hires a new ground handling team and identifies a terminal to operate out of. Head of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia reiterated during a press conference yesterday that US airport authorities denied operations at JFK when the initial ground handling crew
placed untagged bags on the aircraft. Gouveia assumed blame for the problems that arose as a result of the ground crew since he said that he recommended the ground handling team to Dynamic Airways because it is headed by a Guyanese-national. Outside of that, a letter addressed to Dynamic’s Business Development Vice President Thomas Johnson from JFK’s Environmental Specialist Aeronautical and Technical Services Division showed that while the airline acquired environmental clearance they were still to fulfill other requirements. The letter which speaks to aircraft noise, operational restrictions and weight is
dated July 2, and is a response to the airline’s request of June 25 for the operation of a Boeing 767-200 at JFK. This suggests that the company had not cleared matters with JFK before it started operations out of New York to Guyana on June 26. The letter had stated further that the airline had to finalize business and emergency plans with JFK’s Commercial Development Unit and Aeronautical Services Unit. It included appropriate operating agreements, submission of required security deposits, emergency plans among other things. Gouveia admitted to Continued on page 10
By Gary Eleazar Plagued by problems from its inception, the Amaila Falls access road has yet again run into another snag with works now virtually suspended as a result of incessant rains. Of recent, contractors have been managing to get work done only on the few dry days that they would get. Observers have noted that in future when Government and contractors ink contracts for roads in the interior, they must take into account the documented patterns of rain given that they are expected to undertake works in a “rainforest.” Work has been completely suspended at some sections while at others, workers utilize the dry days that are few and far between to complete the road that is desperately behind schedule. As it relates to the troubled ‘section seven’ of the road, all of the laterite has been put in place but the
Chinese contractors are yet to level and compact it. Head of State, Donald Ramotar, was asked on Saturday why liquidated damages are not being activated against contractors for failing to meet deadlines. In the case of the Amaila road there have been numerous deadlines and extensions largely because of poor planning for the rains. According to Ramotar, he has given clear instructions that should contractors not be able to fulfill their obligations under the contract then Ministers must apply the penalty clauses. Benn, during his presentation to the 2014 Budget Debates had announced that the road would be completed at the end of April. This did not occur. The delay in the completion of the road is also compounded by the fact that the final cost of the
construction of the Amaila Falls Access Road is still to be had. Government is yet to finalise and allocate contracts for two key crossings, the Kuribrong and Butakari. Kaieteur News understands that bids are expected to be opened for the Butakari crossing in the coming week. It is expected that the Butakari crossing would be via pontoon while the design for a bridge across the Kuribrong River has been completed. The road project is being undertaken in a number of segments, with the Ministry of Public Works assuming responsibility for ‘Section Two.’ That section runs along the Mabura Road to the Essequibo River and has a contract price of $336,094,861. Section Three was allocated to Toolsie Persaud Continued on page 21
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
Ex- French PM Sarkozy charged with corruption (Reuters) - Former President Nicolas Sarkozy said yesterday France’s justice system was being used for political ends, after he was put under investigation on suspicion of using his influence to gain details of a probe into his 2007 election campaign. The judicial step, which often but not always leads to trial, is a major setback to Sarkozy’s hopes of a political comeback after his 2012 defeat by Socialist Francois Hollande. The conservative politician denies wrongdoing in a string of investigations where his direct or indirect implication has cast doubt on his viability as a candidate in the 2017 elections. “I say to all those who are listening or watching that I have never betrayed them and have never committed an act against the Republic’s principles a n d t h e r u l e o f l a w, ” Sarkozy said in his first interview since losing the 2012 election. “The situation is sufficiently serious to tell the French people where we stand on the political exploitation of part of the legal system today.” In the 17-minute interview on broadcaster T F 1 ’s n a t i o n a l e v e n i n g news, a determined and angry Sarkozy launched an attack on the magistrates who had placed him under investigation, saying they had wanted to “humiliate” him. Describing the accusations against him as “grotesque”, he accused Justice Minister Christiane Taubira and Prime Minister Manuel Va l l s of manipulating the process and being aware of details of the probe they should not have known. “I passionately love my country and I am not a man who gets discouraged in the face of dirty tricks and political manipulations,” Sarkozy said. Magistrates are looking at whether Sarkozy used his influence to secure leaked details of an inquiry into alleged irregularities in his victorious 2007 campaign. He is suspected of influence-peddling, corrupting officials, and benefiting from breach of professional secrets, the prosecutor’s office said. The first former president to spend time in police custody, Sarkozy, 59, was detained for 15 hours on Tuesday before appearing before investigating magistrates who will run the
Nicolas Sarkozy inquiry. He was then released without bail. Sarkozy “has gone through other ordeals of this nature, he has always known how to fight”, said Paul-Albert Iweins, the attorney for Sarkozy’s own attorney, Thierry Herzog, who is also being investigated for influencepeddling along with a judge involved in the affair. Iweins said the inquiry was weak as it relied on legally questionable phone taps of conversations between Sarkozy and Herzog as well as between Herzog and the president of the French Bar. Sarkozy’s allies cast doubt over the impartiality of one of the investigating magistrates, with Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, telling France Info state r a d i o t h a t H o l l a n d e ’s government had whipped up “an atmosphere of hate”. I n v e s t i g a t i n g magistrates have a unique and powerful role under French l a w, both gathering evidence and determining whether it is solid enough for a trial. A f t e r t h e i n q u i r y, t h e magistrate can drop the case for lack of evidence or “charge” the accused, sending the case to trial. Influence-peddling can be punished by up to five years in prison and corrupting officials can trigger a sentence of up to 10 years. It was the second time the ex-president, who lost immunity from legal prosecution a month after he left office in June 2012, had been placed under such a judicial probe. The first was in 2013 but magistrates later dropped the case against him. Six legal cases,
including this one, hang o v e r t h e e x - p r e s i d e n t ’s head, a shadow that many in his fractured UMP party believe compromises his ability to lead a comeback in 2017. “This legal saga is disastrous,” wrote Le Monde daily in a front-page editorial. “Each of these episodes ... demonstrate that for its actors and the leading one in particular, the end justifies all the means.” When asked whether he would throw his hat into the ring for the opposition UMP party’s leadership later this year, Sarkozy said he did not give up in the face of adversity and would make a decision after the summer. “The question of whether I give up or not is irrelevant ... because one has a duty and not rights towards their country. I am concerned by the situation in France, the state of France and I know of the worries of the French and their suffering. “I will have to decide, after a period of reflection, at the end of August (or) start of September, on what I should do. “In the current affair, Sarkozy is accused of using his influence to get information on a troublesome legal inquiry into funding irregularities in his victorious 2007 election campaign. S p e c i f i c a l l y, magistrates are looking to see whether Sarkozy tried to get a judge promoted to the bench in Monaco in exchange for information on that campaign funding inquiry, in which he was accused of exploiting the mental frailty of France’s richest woman, L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, for campaign funds. Those accusations against Sarkozy were dismissed in October. But as investigators last year used phone-taps to examine separate allegations that late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi funded the same campaign, they began to suspect that Sarkozy had kept tabs on the Bettencourt case, before he was dropped from it, through a network of informants. Those suspicions prompted police to launch an inquiry in February, which led to yesterday’s events. Under French law, a suspect is not formally charged with a crime unless he is sent to trial.
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Court of Appeal upholds CJ ruling in Sooba/King matter The Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling by Chief Justice Ian Chang in which he stated that the Local Government Ministry could not appoint Carol Sooba to the substantive post of Town Clerk. According to the ruling which was handed down by Chief Justice Chang in April, on the basis of the Constitution, the Minister does not have the power to appoint any official within the Local Government arm, to any position once the official is earning a certain salary – the Town Clerk position falls into that category. The Chief Justice said that Sooba will remain in the position but as a de facto (not legally ordained) Town Clerk since the Minister used power he did not have to appoint her. He said that the Constitution provides for a Local Government Service Commission; the body authorized for staffing among other things. In the absence of this Commission, the Minister can place a person to act in a certain position, but cannot appoint them to the substantive post. The CJ explained that since the law was passed in 1969 to convene the Commission, this has never been done. It
Town Clerk (Ag) Carol Sooba
M&CC Public Relations Officer, Royston King
was thus his view that appointments cannot be made in default because of an absent Commission which is legally required. The Chief Justice said, that Sooba is a de facto (not legally ordained) Town Clerk and the Minister used power he did not have. An appeal was filed by the Attorney General for a stay of the CJ’s order. Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall was appealing on the grounds that Chang made a judgment “against the weight of the evidence before him.” The Appeal Court is being asked to set aside the order made by the CJ to have the Local Government Minister explain Sooba’s appointment. However, the appeal was denied on Friday after a Court of Appeal Judge, ruled that there is no need for stay of execution, enforcing the initial order granted by the Chief Justice.
Meanwhile, councilors are anticipating another Court of Appeal ruling in regard to the issue, for which the City Council Public Relations Officer, Royston King, through his attorney had also filed legal documents challenging certain aspects of Justice Chang’s High Court ruling. The document which was filed at the Court of Appeal asked that the decision by Chief Justice Chang to allow Sooba to function as the Georgetown Mayor and City Council’s de facto Town Clerk, “be varied or amended.” The appeal is also seeking to have it confirmed (made absolute) that when the applicants applied for the post of Town Clerk based on the criteria established by the Local Government Ministry, they had a legitimate expectation.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 03, 2014
Questions raised on Venezuela accused of forging demand for foreign exchange Maduro assassination plot evidence Trinidad Express Independent Senator Dhanayshar Mahabir questioned whether illegal activities in an informal economy was causing a crunch in the availability of United States currency in this country. Speaking on the Finance (Supplementation and Variation of Appropriation) (Financial Year 2014) Bill, 2014 at the Senate sitting on Tuesday at the International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain, Mahabir asked whether Government was hiding something from the population as it relates to the high demand for foreign exchange. “It has to be somewhere in the informal eco-nomy, agencies are demanding what they ought to not demand and using our petro dollars to send abroad, and I think we need to understand whether in fact that informal could be the informal illegal...what kind of stress that is putting on our formal exchange rate,” said
Dhanayshar Mahabir Mahabir. He noted Trinidad and Tobago has 12 months of import cover, where not a single barrel of oil needs to be exported to cover foreign exchange transactions. He said he was also surprised to hear the Finance Minister say a foreign-exchange shortage usually occurs in June. Mahabir said he was
always of the view there was a demand during October and November, when there was more importation because of Christmas and Carnival. He said it cannot be that there was increased travelling and demand for foreign currency because the peak period for this was July and not June. “June, to me, is appearing to me to be a little bit spurious,” said Mahabir, as he questioned whether in the month of June people are trying to purchase houses, stocks and shares abroad. He said the entire issue was mysterious. Mahabir said the foreign exchange market and the exchange rate stability were critical for the economic health of a small de v e l o p i n g country. He said the system in place with respect to foreign exchange has been working “reasonably well” since 1993 and the question now was what w a s causing the demand.
(Reuters) - Venezuelan officials used forged emails to accuse government adversaries of plotting to kill President Nicolas Maduro, according to a private investigation firm hired by one of the accused. Ruling Socialist Party leaders in May said a group of ardent government critics were preparing to “annihilate” Maduro as part of a planned coup, showing images of emails they said were evidence of the plot. The images of the emails showed “many indications of user manipulation,” according to the report released on Tuesday by Kivu Consulting. Records subpoenaed from Google also showed that messages attributed to consultant Pedro Burelli had never actually been sent, the report added. “The ‘emails’ ... are clearly mock ups and do not reflect actual screenshots,” reads the
report. “There is no evidence of the existence of any emails between Pedro Burelli’s Google email accounts and the alleged recipients on those dates.” Burelli, whose lawyers retained the services of Kivu, called the accusations “farcical and defamatory.” The Information Ministry did not respond
t o p h o ne calls seeking comment. Party officials had said government critics including Burelli, former opposition deputy Maria Corina Machado, and one-time presidential hopeful Diego Arria were part of the plan. The alleged plotters have denied the accusations, which opposition critics widely dismissed as a sham. In June, the country’s top prosecutor said arrest warrants had been obtained for three of the accused for not appearing in court to testify in an investigation, but the prosecutor added that the suspects were out of the country. Maduro, like his mentor late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, has repeatedly denounced assassination plots against him. This year he weathered three months of opposition protests over soaring consumer prices and rampant crime that he called an attempt to overthrow him.
CARACAS (Reuters) Venezuela has restored full diplomatic ties with Panama, President Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday, months after he angrily broke off formal relations with the Central American country. Diplomatic relations stopped on March 5 after Maduro used the anniversary of former President Hugo Chavez’s death to accuse Panama’s conservative government of joining the
United States in an “open conspiracy” against him. Panama had said in May consular relations would be restored soon on Venezuela’s wishes but the socialist Maduro indicated this extended to full diplomatic cooperation. “I send a greeting to the president of Panama. We have reestablished diplomatic and political relations with Panama this very day,” Maduro said in a televised
address. “We are going to deepen economic, diplomatic, trade and energy relations. Applause and a hug to the Panamanian people,” he said, wearing a tracksuit top in the yellow, blue and red colors of the Venezuelan flag. Maduro’s government survived weeks of protest marches from February that resulted in more than 40 deaths and which erupted from anger at insecurity, inflation and shortages of basic goods.
Nicolas Maduro
Venezuela restores diplomatic ties with Panama
Priya Manickchand booed at US... From page 3 reported declarations to the Blue Cap (sic) NGO, made in his presentation, unreservedly laud America and its democratic norms and practices. All of us here know better. Among us here, the memory of 1950 to 1960 US interference in Guyana persists. All of us here…are daily reminded of the consequences of America’s zeal to democratize the world…And the consequences and the people of Guyana live those consequences until today. Those consequences question the Ambassador’s moral correctness in lecturing Guyana and for that matter the rest of the world. For the Guyana Government, his nuanced resort to
justifying insurrection in his remarks to the NGO Blue Caps, and here tonight, is profoundly disturbing. A collection of young minds being invited to such a mind-set for future engagement with an elected government warrants our immediate repudiation. Like his President, Barack Obama, there exists a red line. This Ambassador has crossed that line. Unlike his President, we are resolved, we have resolved and we so advise our partners, with whom we share conventions and symbiotic relations, this is our red line. Behaviour such as this would not be tolerated within the boundaries of mutual respect, diplomatic relations and inter-government collaboration. In closing, we extend
warmest greetings and congratulations to President Obama and the people of America on this historic occasion. I thank you. Please allow me to propose a toast to the President of America and the people of the United States of America. Happy Independence.” Soon after, in an unprecedented move, the Ambassador returned to the podium to proclaim. “Oh, What a send off!” He then challenged the government to provide evidence that he has not acted in the best interest of the country and its people. He leaves Guyana in August. And Minister Manickchand, in the company of Presidential Advisor Gail Teixeira, staged a walkout from the reception.
Thursday July 03, 2014
There continues to be calls for Local Government elections. These calls include undiplomatic conduct by some foreign emissaries accusing the President of Guyana of being inconsistent in his defense of the constitution. Even if that is the opinion of the representative of a foreign State in Guyana, it is undiplomatic for the issue to have been expressed publicly. A Letter of Protest should be dispatched by the government to the foreign power expressing disappointment and regret at the comments of its emissary. But even as sections of the diplomatic community are prepared to make undiplomatic comments about the consistency of our
Kaieteur News
President, it is clear that the ruling party is far from being disinterested in Local Government elections. The ruling party is trying to do what the opposition parties did to it in the 2011 elections campaign. Back then, the opposition parties ran low-keyed campaigns and these lulled the supporters of the ruling party into believing that victory would have been easy. Many supporters of the ruling party stayed away from the polls and this cost the ruling party its parliamentary majority. The recent census results confirm that there has been no appreciable decline in population that can account for the large number of registered voters that stayed away from the polls. In so far
as the ruling party was concerned the loss of votes, compared to 2006, that it suffered at the 2011 polls was not a result of a decline in the resident population. As such it can only be attributed to their supporters staying away from the polls for various reasons, primarily over confidence and complacency. The PPP is attempting to return the favour to the opposition. It is attempting to lull the opposition parties into believing that it is not fearful of holding Local Government elections. It wants the Opposition to become complacent and to deliver to the ruling party a landslide victory as it achieved the last time Local Government elections were held. The PPP is practicing
Dem boys seh...
When people like talk, it bad If is one thing, some people don’t know, is when fuh keep dem mouth shut. When dem boys use to go to de cinema dem had people who would talk all de way through de movie. Was a steady commentary and if dem did see de movie before, de talking was worse. Some people use to get up and go home but dem had a set who use to get suh vex that if dem can beat de talker dem would do it. Well dem boys know a lady who just had to talk. If she wasn’t complaining she was nagging she husband. As soon as de man wake up she gone complaining. De poor man use to just keep he mouth shut and go bout he business. De first thing he hear in de morning is he wife voice and de last thing before he sleep is he wife voice. One day he get up and go to he farm at the back of he yard. He hook up he mule and he start fuh plough. Just as de sun get too hot he sit down under a tree fuh ketch he breath. De same time he wife bring he lunch. And she start wid she nagging. De mule had to be fed up because he tun
and give she one kick in she back. She fall down and dead. Dem boys seh that de funeral was a moving affair. People would walk up to he and offer dem condolence. De pastor notice something strange. When dem woman come to de widower, de man wouldn’t seh a word. All he would do is nod. When dem man come to he de pastor see that he would listen then he would shake he head. This was de same wid every man and de same action wid every woman. De priest decide to talk to de man. “Son, I notice every time you spoke to a woman you would nod at the end but when you spoke to a man you would shake your head.” De man tell de pastor that it easy. Dem woman would tell me how nice me wife look and how she dress nice and how peaceful she look and I would nod in agreement. When dem man come all of dem would tell me that I lucky and ask me if de mule is fuh sale and I have to tell dem no. Talk half and tell some people fuh keep dem mouth shut.
rope- a- dope politics. It is allowing the Opposition parties to punch themselves out in demanding these polls and then the PPP will spring a surprise date on them which will see the Opposition parties so drained of energy and resolve that by the time the elections come around, the PPP would have kayoed them. As part of the rope-a dope, the PPP is claiming that the Guyana Elections Commission is not in a state of readiness for the polls and that there are constitutional hurdles to the signing of the Local Government Bills. And the diplomatic community is being unwisely drawn into commenting on this state of affairs. But while there is this demand for the holding of Local Government elections, there also remain concerns about the electoral system that will be used within the Municipalities. At least one potential candidate has expressed concern about the fact that citizens are not going to directly elect their Mayors within the Municipalities. There has been a call for the election of Executive Mayors, a suggestion that is being
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rejected in some quarters. What this shows is the unsettled nature of the electoral system for Local Government elections. It is ironic that the holding of Local Government elections is being held out as important to democracy and yet the people have not been directly asked whether they agree to the present system of a nonexecutive Mayor. Is the will of the legislature, including the Opposition parties, reflective of the wishes of the people? In other words, do people want to directly elect their Mayor or do they wish to simply elect a council which would in turn elect a Mayor? The disadvantage that this present system presents to individual candidates and to small parties is obvious. These small parties stand little chance of gaining any Mayorship unless they can win at the minimum a plurality of seats on a Council. There is also the problem whereby in Georgetown, the largest municipality, some five wards are to be assigned one seat in the fifteen that will be contested for using a plurality system. Would the citizens of Georgetown not be more comfortable with having a
representative from each ward? These are important concerns about the system of local government elections which are being glossed over in favor of pressing for the holding of local government polls. Instead of foreign diplomats devoting their energies to forcing the holding of local government elections as part of their democracypromotion projects, they should question how democratic is the present system of local government elections. The best way for foreign powers to promote democracy is not to press for local government elections but instead of using the same resources that they are devoting to this exercise towards encouraging opinion polls that would help to determine whether the people indeed are in agreement with the system that is being used for local government elections
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 03, 2014
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
The census-taker, the dog and snap elections During the heyday of “SKA” which preceded reggae, one popular tune was “Census-taker.” The censustaker couldn’t do his work properly because the owner came out and loose the dog and the census-taker ran away. In Guyana, there was no dog but the question that must be asked is; in a country where the human resource base is extremely low, how reliable is the 2012 census? For example, no census-taker came to my home. And surely there must be many more like me. The barest information has been released. We know that the population dropped. But the figures do not seem right to me. Between 2002 and 2012 there was a drop of only three and a half thousand persons. Frankly, I don’t believe this. The World Bank says that 82 percent of persons with tertiary training migrate. The US Embassy says 14 persons left Guyana per day and this was three years ago. This number of fourteen was only for the US. What about Canada which five years ago offered Guyanese self-sponsorship and there were mass applications? Antigua’s population consists of one Guyanese for every five Antiguans. Guyanese are overflowing in Surinam and Trinidad. I cannot believe that against
this background the population of this country dropped over a two year period by just over 3000 citizens. The figures for individual regions are very small too. And this just does not sound accurate. Take Essequibo. I don’t have the figures as yet but just a small part of Region Three – Wakenaam – has been losing people steadily in large numbers. I wrote a column about the declining population of Suriname many years ago. I would say over a ten-year period, Wakenaam alone in Region Three has lost two thousand persons. What must be shocking for all PPP supporters is that despite humongous claims by the PPP leadership of Guyana being one of the countries that was not affected by the international recession of 2008 and how much growth Guyana has achieved in comparison with the rest of the worlds’ countries, our population is declining. All over the world, the population of countries is growing. The population decline comes at an interesting time when Prime Minister of St. Vincent, Ralph Gonsalves, published an analysis of some of the Caribbean countries and in reference to Guyana in comparison with other CARICOM nations, stated that Guyana is a
“nation that possesses enormous potential.” That perception of a CARICOM Prime Minister one month after Guyana celebrated forty-eight years of Independence tells the extraordinary tragedy of this land. Literally forty years before Mr. Gonsalves made that observation most people who studied Guyana came to the same conclusion. Today people continue to say it. So when will this country ever realize its potential? Surely, Ralph Gonsalves had to know that when he made that statement he made a huge Freudian dismissal of Guyana. Gonsalves was a UWI lecturer in the seventies when Walter Rodney and Maurice
Bishop and others were speaking about Guyana having the potential to be the centre of the Caribbean. Gonsalves knew both Walter and Maurice personally. Now long after his days of friendship with the radical intellectual Left of the Caribbean in the seventies, Gonsalves still sees Guyana as a country with gigantic potential. Can some Caribbean journalist ask the St. Vincent Prime Minister when he thinks Guyana will realize that potential? Before we return to the census-taker, we should remind Mr. Gonsalves that in 1960, Guyana had a higher GDP and GNP than Malaysia. Any book on modern global economics will tell you that Malaysia is now listed as a
developed state. So this country with enormous potential is losing its population. And I repeat; I am not accepting those statistics. I believe our migration has been greater. The people of this rich land do not want to wait for the realization of the potentials. They are leaving. Of course, the entire contours of the census are still to be revealed. The Government said that will be forthcoming in mid 2015. But since the Government is in possession of the compilation, then it knows all the dimensions of the census including ethnic composition. For a party that has won elections from 1957 to 2011 on the basis on the ethnic vote,
Frederick Kissoon the census will be a nightmare for the PPP. And for this reason there will not be any snap elections. The census will reveal what even the average school boy knows – the Indian percentage of the population puts them below that of Africans and Coloureds combined. Trust me! Uncle Donald or De Donald ain’t calling no snap poll.
Dynamic Airways still to operate out of JFK... From page 6 media personnel that in hindsight, given all that has taken place, it would have been prudent for the airline to have waited until everything was finalized. “In terms of (Dynamic’s) start up, the haste with which it was done could have been delayed, and would have overcome these issues...and I will be the first to admit that. Unfortunately, I basically handled the Guyana part of the operation and I trusted Dynamic’s people to do their part.”
Gouveia added, however, that Dynamic and Roraima are in it together and they are working to resolve all issues. Currently, Dynamic Airways’ passengers are being flown to alternate airports and are shuttled to JKF via buses. Gouveia stated that tickets are being sold with JFK as the final destination, but passengers are being informed before hand, that they will not be landing there. He said that the point of taking passengers to alternate airports is to ensure that they are not stranded as a result of what is taking place at the New York port. Last Sunday, passengers were shuttled from JFK to Atlantic City International Airport before being flown to
Guyana. They are also using the Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. On Tuesday, passengers arrived there and were then shuttled to JFK. At the level of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Zulphicar Mohamed told the publication that they are aware of the issues the company is facing in New York. Dynamic had acquired permission to operate locally, a day before it entered the Guyanese market. Mohamed said that the airline problem is with JFK where certain requirements have to be fulfilled by the airline to operate there. He continued that since Dynamic is an American carrier the local Authority had to merely verify that
clearance was given from the US Department of Transport (DOT) among other oversight agencies. The Authority also had to ensure that the airline made its security deposit, while safety and security checks had to be made locally. The airline has authorization to operate out of any airport in the US, but will submit a schedule to the DOT to operate on specific routes such, for example Georgetown/ New York route. While the airline has the permission from both sides to operate, Mohamed reiterated that the difficulties come at the level of the airport. It is for that reason, he mentioned that flights were entering and exiting at other airports.
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
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President joins other Caricom leaders for 35th Heads Meeting The opening ceremony of the high level 35th Caricom Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda Tuesday evening saw current Chairman Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, outlining several issues affecting the region that will be discussed over the next three days. These include climate change, economic and immigration issues and challenges affecting the region, all of which will be addressed via Caricom’s Strategic Plan. Addressing fellow Heads of Government and regional officials, the St. Prime Minister, who formally handed over the grouping’s chairmanship to Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne, called for hard, smart and productive work to overcome the challenges facing the region. Dr. Gonsalves noted that a large portion of the region’s populace is facing economic hardship and this cannot be denied. The solution, he said, was not one to be addressed by individual members, but by a combined effort from the Caricom group. “There is no magic wand” to fix these challenges, Dr. Gonsalves noted. The task
ahead for Caricom over the next five years, according to Dr. Gonsalves, is not easy, but they could be overcome. “Our fore-parents faced far more serious challenges and overcame them so we can do the same”. Accepting the Caricom chairmanship, Prime Minister Browne declared that his government and country was fully committed to regional integration as a vital component to regional development. Challenges such as unfair trading practice, reduced foreign aid, the insistence of the opening of local markets by developed nations must be addressed. He reiterated the growing call for reparation for the scourge of slavery, and resultant stymied development, and the need to harmonise efforts to achieve maximum benefit for all of the Caricom member states. The changes in the global economy, the incoming Caricom chairman added, strengthen the need for regional integration and the firm establishment of the single market and economy which he described as “a work unfinished”. He also pledged his support for the Caribbean
Guyana’s Head of State, Donald Ramotar (3rd from right) and other Caricom Heads at the 35th Caricom Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda Court of Justice and added that he will hold a referendum in his country to determine the way forward, as it was unfair that the final appellate court, based in Britain, should be governed by those who were their former colonial masters. He called for the strengthening of the Caricom Secretariat and removal of barriers to integration such as work permit requirements, and
said it was time for “a coalition of the willing” to achieve the stated goals and overcome the challenges facing the region. During the meeting President Donald Ramotar,
the holder of Caricom’s agricultural portfolio, will lead discussions of the region’s need for better food security, climate change preparations and joint ventures in the agricultural sector.
Ramotar has explained that with the regional food import bill averaging US$3B, the need for the region to enhance its food security, cannot be over-emphasised. (GINA)
Teen shot in mouth sued... From page 3 recent statement that it is deeply saddened not only by this act, but by similar incidents that are in direct contravention of Article # 5 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights which states: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment.” The group described itself as a collection of young Guyanese citizens who, in many ways, are exceptional in their potential, and work to make meaningful contributions to their communities and the country as a whole.
It is part of a global nonpolitical, non-partisan and social development community, geared towards promoting the greater good for all human kind. “In keeping with our core beliefs, the Georgetown Hub renders unequivocal support of the basic human rights for all individuals living within our beautiful country. As a result, the members of the Georgetown Hub would like to encourage the relevant authorities to take swift action against all rogue elements who continue to tarnish the reputation of the Guyana Police Force,” the body stated.
It said that as young citizens, the members are extremely concerned about the frequency of allegations and seeming trend of human rights violations that continues to plague Guyana. “Moreso, our concerns squarely lay in the realization that these acts of brutality are perpetrated by the very officers who took a solemn oath to serve and protect our citizens.”
The Guyana delegation in Antigua
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Kaieteur News
No political interference at Tender Board - says De Clou
Head of Tender Board, Donald De Clou Head of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) NPTAB, Donald De Clou, has debunked the concept that Cabinet sidelined the Board and awarded a US$57.6 M contract for the East Coast Demerara Highway project to China Railway Group. The contention is that there was intense lobbying by an ex-government official. Since the published reports on Cabinet sidelining the Administration, members of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change have expressed their concerns over political interference in the work executed by the board. Yesterday, De Clou said that the entity has always been independent and that he never came across any level of Cabinet interference. Four Chinese construction companies had tendered for the Ministry of Public Works project to widen the East Coast Demerara public road. In the end the contract was awarded to China Railway First Group Company Limited which had the lowest bid. This company is also the contractor for the Amaila Falls Hydro-Electric Project.And
as part of a continued deal with government, it was gifted two plots of land to continue its work on a critical section of the access road at a reduced price. China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd, the contractor in the US$150M expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, submitted a bid for US$60.4M ($12B). Meanwhile, China National Machinery Import/Export Company Limited, which was involved in the construction of the problematic US$200M Skeldon expansion project, submitted a proposal for US$55.6M ($11B). The highest bid came from China State Construction Engineering Corporation for US$71.4M. The Engineer’s estimate for the project was US$57.6M. Cabinet gave its no objection to the award of US $42.7 M contract for the road widening and upgrading of the East Coast Demerara road from Better Hope to Belfield. But the Chinese company actually put in a bid for US$46.9M, an $8.7B difference. Chief Works Officer of the Ministry of Public Works, Jeffrey Vaughn, had concluded that the reason for the difference could possibly be because “there was a change in the cost facilitated by cross checks. They realized that there were errors in the bill.” Vaughn had said that evaluators have to cross check their figures. “The first thing that has to be done is that you have to cross check tenders to make sure that the bills submitted by the contractor is correct, all multiplications and additions have to be done correctly. “If there is any variation we would put the variation and put what is the right amount.”The East Coast Demerara widening project will be one of the costliest in recent times in terms of infrastructural works, after the
ongoing CJIA and Marriott. When asked yesterday to comment on accusations that Cabinet had sidelined the tender board after being lobbied by an ex-government official and the concerns over political interference at the Administration, Tender Board head, De Clou said, “In a case where a contract has not been awarded I would not give a comment. I refuse to. It is only when a contract has been signed between the parties involved that it means it was awarded. “When cabinet gives its no-objection it does not mean that the contract was awarded to that company and people need to understand the difference between a contract being awarded and one where a no-objection was granted.” Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill, explained yesterday what exactly is meant when Cabinet gives its no-objection to. “When a project is advertised, bids are received, they are then evaluated and a recommendation is made from the evaluators to the NPTAB. “The Tender board would then say whether it agrees or not and if it agrees, then it would make a recommendation for the said company to receive the contract to Cabinet. Cabinet would then look at it and if it deems that everything is in order, grant its no-objection for the recommendation. Afterwards, it is now up to Tender Board to proceed.” De Clou added, “As it relates to concerns over political interference at the Tender Administration, let me make it clear that we have always been an independent entity and we are allowed to be independent. I have never come across any level of Cabinet interference.” “I will not comment on any contract that has not been awarded because it means that that process is incomplete.”
Thursday July 03, 2014
US Ambassador meddling in Guyana’s internal political affairs - PPP
US Ambassador to Guyana, Brent Hardt (right) during a recent engagement with General Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee The Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) yesterday lashed out at outgoing US Ambassador, Dr. Brent Hardt, over comments he would have made at a recent Blue Caps forum. The ruling party accused him of meddling in the internal political affairs of a sovereign country. Hardt, during the forum held at Duke Lodge on Monday, again called on President Donald Ramotar, to hold Local Government Elections. He told those in attendance that civil society must also demand that the Executive hold the election which was crucial to democracy. According to the PPP, Hardt has once again displayed his proclivity for petty, partisan and unadulterated anti-government politicking as he draws the final curtain on his tenure as US Ambassador to Guyana. The PPP said that the Ambassador launched into a barrage of undiplomatic tirades, while mockingly referring to statements emanating from the Party in respect of the holding of Local Government elections in Guyana. “Hardt remarks were most regrettable to say the least… He
unreservedly used the Blue Caps forum to stir up controversy and level political invective against the General Secretary of People’s Progressive Party (Clement Rohee).” The PPP said that Hardt has exposed to the Guyanese public the hidden political agenda of the Blue Caps Organisation by unfrocking it as a handmaiden set up to accomplish clear political objectives. The Party said that while Clinton Urling, the Blue Caps founder, has been busy trying his level best to convince many that it has no political agenda, “the US Ambassador has declared to the contrary and in fact, has laid bare what Urling was trying so hard to conceal. Urling is now saddled with the herculean task of repairing the damage which Hardt has inflicted on the fledgling Blue Caps outfit.” The PPP in its public missive yesterday said, it is to be regretted that the outgoing US Ambassador rather than focusing on economic diplomacy and promoting Guyana as a country to which US business entities should invest, preferred to meddle in the internal political affairs of a sovereign country.
“Breaching all diplomatic protocols, Mr. Hardt launches a barrage of anti-government farewell salvos towards the Office of the President and Freedom House, Headquarters of the People’s Progressive Party... “He even goes so far as to evoke the revered name of Cheddi Jagan to suit his political posturing and gaffe in respect to democracy and elections in Guyana.” The PPP said, too, that Hardt in a most undiplomatic manner sought to lecture a duly elected President namely, Donald Ramotar, about what he should do and should not do, “speaking presumptuously from the rank of Ambassador to Head of State.” According to the PPP, “Even a Head of State of another sovereign state would be hard pressed to intrude in a fellow colleague’s domestic political agenda as Mr. Hardt brazenly did, totally abandoning all pretences at conventional diplomatic practices.” The PPP said that it is indeed sad to observe how Hardt threw diplomatic protocol out of the window and downgraded himself to the level of an interloper in the domestic politics of Guyana.
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 03, 2014
Govt backdated Gazette to validate Rodney COI proceedings of June 23 - says APNU lawyer
T
he Guyana Government is being accused of backdating the Official Gazette which purported to extend the life of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry. This is the allegation by Counsel for the People’s National Congress, Basil Williams, in a letter to the press. According to Williams, the minutes of the work of
the Commissioners before the announcement of the extension, was delayed until an Official Gazette purporting to extend the life of the COI was hastily printed and presented to them. On June 26, last, Chairman of the Commission, Sir Richard Cheltenham, QC, announced that the life of the inquiry was extended, but this was only after Williams
had inquired about the legality of the proceedings since it had gone beyond the stipulated time. “Three senior counsel, each from a different Caricom country, delayed the work of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) for about one hour, until an Official Gazette purporting to extend the life of the COI was hastily printed and presented to them,” Williams stressed.
Juvenile detainees pick handcuffs, bolt from Alberttown Police Station
T
he police have launched a search for two juvenile inmates who escaped from their custody yesterday morning while waiting to be taken to court. The revelation was made yesterday morning at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court when the cases involving the teens were called before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. The Prosecution, who did not give details of the escape, reported that the two had escaped from the Alberttown Police Station. They were scheduled to appear before the courts yesterday to answer to their separate charges. According to reports, the youths
were brought from the Diamond/Grove police station and since they could not be placed among the adult prisoners, they were being held at Alberttown, pending their court appearance. However, the youths who have been described as seasoned criminals picked their handcuffs and bolted from the station, leaving two bewildered ranks behind. Kaieteur News understands that one of the juveniles is a well known motorcycle thief. He has been charged with stealing five motorcycles, three of which have been recovered. The other is also a well known cell phone thief.
Williams said that he and his support team which included UG students, had s e a r c h e d t h e O ff i c i a l Gazette’s website and had seen no such extension in the months of May and June, 2014, nor did the Office of the President issue any hard copies of the Gazette with that information for those months. He said that the Chairman of the COI responded that he was in receipt of a letter under the hand of President Ramotar, indicating that he had extended the life of the Commission and that he would proceed. Williams contends that no Official Gazette was produced on June 23, 24, 25 or June 26, 2014, evidencing any extension of the life of the COI, by the President. According to Williams on the morning of June 26, 2014 before the business of the day began, he had again inquired of the commissioners if the elusive Official Gazette had surfaced and the answer was no. Williams then proceeded to elucidate the importance
of the COI having its life extended. The COI was commissioned on February 8, 2014 with a mandate to conclude its work within four months, by June 8, 2014. The COI did not conclude its work by June 8, 2014. Williams informed the Commissioners that unless the COI was covered by an extension of its life then any work done by the COI would be without legal authority and could only be cured or ratified subsequently by an act of Parliament and not the President. Williams also contended that all the work done since June 23, 2014 would be imperiled since it is questionable whether the opposition majority in Parliament would pass such an act to ratify evidence taken without the period allotted by the President. Williams also suggested that the Commissioners delay the start of the day’s proceedings until the position was clarified. The Chairman then consulted with the lawyers of the Rodney family and it was
agreed to suspend the start of the proceedings accordingly. About an hour later the COI was supplied with freshly printed copies of a purported Official Gazette dated June 24, 2014 and purporting to state, “The President hereby grants” the COI an extension from June 8, 2014 to September 30, 2014. That Gazette also purported to state:- “The extension of time granted hereof shall be effective from the 23rd day of June, 2014.” This meant that President Ramotar was attempting to subsequently legitimize the work done by the COI on June 23, via Gazette publication on June 24, 2014. President Ramotar has no such power, Williams posited. The purported extension to cover the June 23, 2014 proceedings is therefore ultra vires, null, and void and in excess of the jurisdiction granted the President under the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act Cap 19:03. Williams noted only an Act of Parliament can validate the work of the COI on that date.
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry...
Ogunseye says police Corentyne man who torched searches were justified home remanded to prison
W
o r k i n g People’s Alliance Member, Tacuma Ogunseye, yesterday admitted that security forces knew that the WPA had weapons so “searches” were justified. Ogunseye had earlier told the Rodney Commission that members of the WPA were subjected to searches by the Police Force. Under cross examination by lawyer for the PNC, Basil Williams, Ogunseye said that he believed that the searches were justified. Ogunseye also admitted that he was operating outside of the laws of Guyana when he was handing out guns to members of the WPA. Williams asked Ogunseye on whether the WPA had made a conscious decision to cause a civil rebellion. But the witness did not accept that proposal. He stated that he had no knowledge. However, Williams produced several pieces of writing by Eusi Kwayana among others. Kwayana had authored a booklet, “Walter Rodney, G e o rg e t o w n : Wo r k i n g People’s Alliance, 1988". “This movement which we have called the Civil Rebellion, for the reason that it was a civilian movement, saw almost the whole society creeping out of the shadows into the light of hope once more, standing in defiance of the power that was extracting submission
of their very self-respect, and imposing economic and financial oppression and hardship. “It embraced all of the coastlands, except the western part of Essequibo, and included the bauxite belt,” stated a portion of the book that Kwayana wrote and which Ogunseye was questioned about. Ogunseye said that the court system under the rule of former President Forbes Burnham was unfair. According to the witness most judicial members back then would normally agree with the government. He said that on a scale from one to a hundred, 75 percent of rulings were unfair while a mere 25 percent were fair. He said that judicial workers then didn’t have the “backbone” to stand up to Burnham. He was making special reference to his own experience and that of Rodney’s brother, Donald Rodney, who was charged and later convicted for the possession of explosives without legal authority. Ogunseye said that he believes that Burnham was very personal in his oppressive tactics as a Leader, and did not want too many political prisoners. Ogunseye said he thinks Burnham was responsible for the death of Dr. Rodney; that he cracked under political threat from the WPA and lost his nerves. Ogunseye maintained that Burnham and the security
forces masterminded a plan to kill Walter Rodney. Further, Ogunseye said that the “plan” was carried out by former army sergeant, Gregory Smith. Ogunseye denied that the WPA was acquiring arms and ammunition even though several other witnesses had said that the party was involved in such an exercise. Ogunseye is also claiming that, that extra judicial killing was very rampant under the rule of the People’s National Congress (PNC) government. However, according to the witness, extra judicial killings worsened when the current People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime took office. He said that the WPA developed a political defence which was to win the army over and make it an ally of the revolution. He conceded that among the Party’s objective was to overthrow the government outside of the electoral process and admitted that some leaders were given automatic pistols. The WPA Executive denied knowing of any plan to blow up the Georgetown Prisons, as was alleged, or that Rodney had any such plans. He said the WPA was not violent in any way in its revolution movement. He added that the Party never killed any member of the Police Force or PNC supporters.
T
he man who allegedly flew into a drunken rage and torched the concrete home of his common- law wife and their two children, turned himself in at the Number 51 Village Police Station on Monday. Deodat Heera, 32, a joiner of N u m b e r 5 9 Vi l l a g e , Corentyne, subsequently appeared before Magistrate R. Weaver yesterday at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court to answer a charge of arson. He was refused bail and remanded to prison. He is to return to court at a later date. It was alleged that last Tuesday, Heera, set fire to the one-flat concrete home of Sumintra Samwaroo, 32, after he returned home from work in an intoxicated state. He immediately fled the scene. Meanwhile, the woman and her two children are currently lodging at her mother’s house situated in
refrigerator, microwave, stereo set, clothing and $10,000 in cash. “We came out with our nightgownsand that was it. People helped us with clothes.” Samwaroo is making an appeal to persons for assistance. “We are glad if the public can see and help us get back a little shelter—I have my two children.” Persons interested in assisting the mother of two in any way can contact 3381137 or 628-3425.
Deodat Heera the front portion of the Lot 101 burnt- out lot. “Neighbours give us clothes. We ain’t left with nothing,” she told this newspaper. The woman lost everything—valuables, three television sets, three beds, wardrobes, a circle-set, gas stove, washing machine,
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 03, 2014
CARICOM Heads to meet Regional private sector A
s the Region continues to take steps to respond to the economic challenges confronting it, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government are placing increased emphasis on the private sector as the engine of sustainable growth. Heads of Government, on the second day of their meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, engaged captains of industry and commerce on implementing the C o m m u n i t y ’s g r o w t h agenda. The decision to meet
with the private sector at that level was made at the Tw e n t y - F i f t h I n t e r Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, held in St Vincent and the Grenadines last March. The centre-piece of the March deliberations was the economic situation facing Member States and ascertaining appropriate ways to get back on track following the global recession of 2008-10 and other exogenous challenges. Those discussions were held in the context of the
Commission on the Economy which was established in 2013, following the TwentyFourth Meeting of the Bureau of the Conference of Heads held in Trinidad and Tobago. The Commission has as its overarching goal, the recommendation of short to medium-term actions that would restore growth in Member States’ economies. Since it was established, the Commission has begun the analysis of priority issues identified by the Bureau of Heads.
It has taken on board the decisions emanating from the Twenty-Fifth InterSessional Meeting and has prepared a Work-Plan to advance initiatives agreed by the Heads of Government in March. The Commission is also expected to serve as coordinating mechanism to carry forward the output from ongoing regional initiatives directed at driving growth in Member States. These initiatives include Community projects such as the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
Growth and Development Strategy; Draft Strategic Plan for Regional Development (SPRD) and Aid for Trade Strategy; the Caribbean Convergence Model, proposed by Winston Dookeran, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago; the World Bank-led Caribbean Growth Forum; Inter-American Development Bank-led Compete Caribbean Initiative; and the International Monetary Fund-led Caribbean Forum. TIME IS RIPE Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister of Barbados, Darcy Boyce, head of the Commission, stressed that the time was ripe for a meeting with the R e g i o n ’s c a p t a i n s o f industry who make decisions on investments. It was time, he said, to ascertain, from them, their thoughts on how a better environment could be created for them to invest. Areas that are likely to form the core of the high level consultations with the private sector include the partnership between government and the private sector in driving growth and, in particular, creating the enabling environment for doing business in Member States; lessons from business success stories; and the pursuit of public private partnerships to ensure the production of critical economic services to improve the competitiveness of CARICOM firms. In the run-up to the Heads of Government Meeting, a series of meetings between the regional business sector and Community Organs and offices were conducted. In keeping with a
decision made by Trade Ministers, the Council for Tr a d e a n d E c o n o m i c Development (COTED) met representatives of the regional private sector in May. That engagement was aimed at establishing a formal structure within which the private sector and the trade policymakers could interact. Regional engagement with the business community, ahead of the Heads of Government Meeting, continued with consultations that were aimed at shaping a policy for regional micro, small and medium-sized enterprises ( M S M E s ) . T h e consultations between the CARICOM Secretariat and representatives of the private sector of Member States began in Guyana and continued, via videoconferencing, with Grenada and Suriname and in at least four other Member States. The consultations are being conducted to fulfill the urgent need for a legislative and policy framework in which to nurture MSMEs. The MSME sector is considered a critical pillar of the economic development of CARICOM, as it contributes considerably to the GDP of some Member States and often employs more people than large businesses across the Region. It is anticipated that a draft policy will be completed by September and presented to CARICOM Member States for review. A final draft, which will be presented to the Council for Tr a d e a n d E c o n o m i c Development (COTED), is expected to be completed by October month-end. (CARICOM Secretariat)
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 17
APNU exploring all possibilities including No Confidence motion - Harmon A
Partnership for National Unity (APNU) will be meeting with the Alliance for Change (AFC), t o d a y, t o d i s c u s s t h e outcome of bringing a motion of no confidence against the government. This is according to APNU Executive and Shadow Minister of Public Works and Transportation, Joseph Harmon. He said that the coalition held a Shadow Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to
discuss the no confidence motion among other things. He added that APNU has a range of options with the no confidence being one of them. “Some of them have to do with how we would respond to the Finance Minister’s spending of the monies which we disapproved by the National Assembly.” According to Harmon, APNU has discussed a range of options but has not concluded those discussions as yet. “We have not arrived
Rape accused jailed, fined for smuggling cigarettes, ganja into prison
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xactly two weeks after being charged for smuggling cigarettes and marijuana into the Georgetown Prisons, a 22-year-old rape accused was yesterday jailed on a drug trafficking and another charge. It was on May 7, last, that a prison warder busted Ronald Armstrong, a remanded prisoner, with a quantity of marijuana and cigarettes in his backpack. While being held in custody for carnal knowledge, Armstrong who hails from Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo was taken before Magistrate Judy Latchman on June 18, last at the Georgetown Magistrates’Court. The first charge against him alleged that on May 7, last, at the Georgetown Prisons he had 181 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. Armstrong was accused, too, of conveying 35 packets of cigarettes into the prison. He had pleaded not guilty to both charges. Inspector Joel Ricknauth, the prosecutor, explained that on May 7, last, Armstrong was returning from a proceeding at the Leonora Magistrates’ Court to the Camp Street prison facility. He said that upon arrival, a prison officer searched his bag and found the packets of cigarettes and two large taped parcels. He said that a further search on the parcels unearthed a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be marijuana. The officer made a report
to the police and Armstrong was subsequently charged for the offence. On June 18, he was brought before the courts to be formally charged and the trial subsequently commenced on June 27. At the conclusion yesterday, Armstrong was told that coupled with a 50month prison sentence he will also have to pay a $97,016 fine on the drug trafficking charge.
at a definitive position but we are exploring all of these possibilities.” He said that his party is going to meet with AFC “to further the idea of a no confidence motion. We will explore with them what is it they have in mind because if you are going to move a no confidence motion you will have to determine what the outcome would be. “We will also share with them some of our own ideas as to what they think we need to do in the National Assembly when that matter comes up next week.” The AFC, through its Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo, had expressed the intention of bringing such a motion since the government had developed a total disregard for accountability. One example to support this, he said, was that government had already spent $4.5 Billion of the $37.4 Billion which had been cut by the political opposition from the $220 Billion Budget of 2014. The Finance Minister has since said that he has the right to do so under the Fiscal Management and Accountability (FMAA) Act which the combined
APNU Executive Joseph Harmon
Leader of the AFC Khemraj Ramjattan
AFC Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo
opposition has since rubbished citing that the Minister’s actions were indeed “insulting” and “illegal” because the Act that he was referring to, has to do with the contingency fund which deals with situations of emergencies and unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters. Nagamootoo said that “The Appropriation Bill [Budget] was passed with certain reductions; the government had to agree to those reductions, i.e. to take away those items not approved. “To ignore the fact that these items were there before and bringing them as if these
are sudden unplanned emergencies, we believe is unacceptable.” President Donald Ramotar has since come out supporting his Minister stating that the government has the power to spend the money under article 218 of the Constitution. However, leader of the AFC Khemraj Ramjattan said, “218 is saying that you have to come with a supplementary estimate. Assuming now that we do not support those things, we would’ve had spendings that are without authorization and the rule of law is that under article 217 of the constitution, no monies shall
be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund except by way of an Act called the Appropriation Act.” According to Ramjattan, “They are misconstruing the constitution and throwing things in our eyes… They never had any legislative authorization; it was never appropriated and yet the government went ahead and spent. So what is it saying there? It’s illegal and people must understand that.” Ramjattan said that his party will be brining the no confidence motion in the National Assembly against the government. He asserts that support will be had from the APNU, since most of the persons he spoke to have expressed interest in bringing a motion of no confidence against the government of the day.
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Kaieteur News
Destitute man murdered at Linden
Japanese Co. partners with STARR computers
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TARR Computers is set to shine even brighter as it partners with one of the world’s largest printer manufacturers, Star Micronics. The company is now the authorized distributor of all POS (point of sale) printers and mobile printer products for the booming industry. Recently at the company headquarters at 59 Brickdam, Georgetown, Star Micronics Latin America Sales Director, Javier Vento, underscored that with more than 30 years of manufacturing expertise and a highly-skilled retail and distribution department, Starr not only has the best POS (point of sale) services but has developed printers which offer high performance and reliability that’s suits the hospitality sector, healthcare system, banking, airline, lottery, gaming, supermarkets and any other business that cares about efficiency and customer service. Sales Director of STAR Micronics, Javier Vento, covers the Region of South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Javier holds a Degree in marketing, and has over 16 years experience in the Point of Sales business. President of Starr Computers, Michael Mohan, said that the Japanese company, Star Micronics, is one of the world’s largest
printer manufacturers has designed a portfolio of thermal, portable and multifunction printers for use in a wide variety of applications. Mohan explained that Star Micronics’ experience and understanding of market trends, has led to a broad range of innovative receipt printers, POS (point of sale) printers and mobile printer products developed with one key objective - provide an easy integration into existing POS software and systems, resulting in the ultimate customer experience across markets. “Star Micronics has not only developed printers which offer high performance and reliability, but introduced a number of unique profit-making features for the user without extra cost or extensive IT knowledge required.” Mr Mohan explained. Mohan further emphasised that in 1990 the first printer ever sold by STARR Computers is a Star Micronics wide carriage printer. “To date all POS printers sold with a STARR Computer Point of Sale solution has been a Star Micronics receipt printer. Today, there are literally thousands of STAR receipt printers used in Guyana and tens of millions around the world…Over the past two decades STARR maintained its relationship with the brand due to the fact the
printers are robust, durable and highly reliable. Another important factor is the excellent after sale support.” Starr Computers POS hardware includes a computer, printer, barcode scanner, cash drawer, display pole, and a host of other modern peripherals. Software solutions range from retail management, membership, hospitality amongst others. General Manager of S TA R R C o m p u t e r s , Rehman Majeed, underscored that as a company heavily involved in IT-related technologies and the manufacturing and assembly of miniature highprecision devices, Star Micronics acknowledges the importance of engaging in environmental management activities and has invoked eco-friendly practices as an integral part of its operations. This philosophy forms the basis of the company’s efforts to carry out operations in harmony with the global environment and play an active role as a responsible member of society. The POS hardware includes a computer, printer, barcode scanner, cash drawer, display pole, and a host of other modern peripherals. Software solutions range from retail management, membership and hospitality.
Thursday July 03, 2014
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he body of a destitute man identified as Andrew Dey aka Plastic, because of the bags he wore on his feet and head, and Mafia, was found early yesterday morning by passersby aback of the Linden/Georgetown Municipal Park. The victim was also believed to be of unsound mind.
According to the police, the body bore stab wounds. It is alleged he was murdered in the Mackenzie Market area and dumped behind the bus park. One person claimed that when she saw the body, a bottle was inserted into the victim’s anus but this was refuted by the police. Investigations are ongoing.
Tucville teen goes missing
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t has been almost three weeks since 16year-old Keisha La Rose, of Perry Street, Tucville, went missing. Despite efforts of her relatives and the Guyana Police Force, to locate her there is still no sign of the teen. She left seemingly without a trace. Her mother, Patricia John, recalls returning in the wee hours on June 14, last,
from her shift as a gas pump attendant to find the teen missing and all her belongings removed from their Lot 4 Perry Street, Tucville premises. “The day before Father’s Day I left for work and left her home alone. When I come back at 12:45, as usual I check her room and she wasn’t there. When I check, there was nothing there for her…none of her clothes or belongings, her suitcase everything de gone.” She said that she tried calling her daughter ’s cellular phone but to no avail. Johnson told Kaieteur News that she kept getting voice mail which indicated that the phone was turned off. “I called her the night to know where she was but I got voicemail.” “She wasn’t supposed to be having any problems. I don’t know if she has a boyfriend and I don’t know of any friends who she would just pick up and go at, especially for their parents not to call me and let me know that she is there.” The distressed mother explained that prior to her disappearance, the only disagreement she had with the teen was about the different ideas they had for her tertiary level education. “I feel real terrible. If I am to think of where she is, I have no clue. She had every comfort that she needed in our house,” the distraught mother stressed.
Missing: 16-year-old Keisha La Rose Johnson said that she has checked with every possible person her daughter might be with but no one has claimed to see the Tucville Secondary school student. A report has since been lodged at the East La Penitence Police Station. The woman is pleading with public spirited citizens to help her find her daughter. Johnson said that her child has no reason to stay away from her home as this is the first time an incident like this has occurred. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Keisha La Rose is asked to contact the nearest police station or her mother on telephone 670-5278 or 6611224.
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 19
Persons allege being fleeced by N/A M&TC official S
everal persons have come forward with stories of allegedly being fleeced by a prominent New Amsterdam municipal officer. The individuals all claimed that they paid the official large sums of monies to get legal paperwork done, but only have been getting the royal runaround. Mrs. Kaisree Ramphal of Canefield, East Canje and Power of Attorney for landowner, Mr. Balkarran Samaroo, who resides in Ohio, USA, stated that she paid the official $200,000 since 2011 to investigate and correct a Deed of Gift for a property at Number Six Village, West Berbice. This deed was made fraudulently in Berbice. “I showed [name of official] and he said, ‘yes, we can cancel this Deed of Gift, and get the property back into the man son’s name.’” “He claimed that he does work with some lawyer…and he insisted that I pay him the monies,” Ramphal stated. “The man took the money and this man ain’t do nothing- $200,000-I have the receipts.” She has provided the receipts to this newspaper. Ramphal stated that recently, the official has been refusing her telephone calls. “He only keep telling me ‘today’, ‘next month’, ‘the other month’.” She noted that the matter should have been finished by now, some three years later. “The people from overseas, too, keep calling him and he not telling them anything. Last week, he got me like a fool….and he told me that some ‘Mr. Rodney coming up and that I could
get him at 11 o’clock’. The man never showed up and I don’t know who Mr. Rodney is.” “He’s a fraud! If by chance I get through, then he will give me some kind of lame excuse.” She stated that M r. S a m a r o o i s a l s o frustrated about the matter and loss of all of the money. Dhanmattie Jaikissoon, of Lot 74 Alness, Corentyne, stated that she consulted the official after her mother died and left the family in a land dispute. “He had to put in for a transport for me. He told me he will charge $180,000 and I will get the transport,” she added. “When we pay him, he say in three months we will get it (the transport). But three, four and five months passed, and he said he had to go clear compliance and I had to give him $20,000 more…” When she checked, he had made no application for any compliance. “This is over 10 years now and up to now, the transport is not here. Last year, he told me I had to pay $30,000 and I will get the transport and I gave him the money. She then started to ask for refunds of all her monies but is encountering the royal runaround. Jaikisoon is trying to get back all her monies paid to this official. However, she is claiming that the official owes her $100,000. “And when you calling, he cuts off the phone.” “Every week is this week and next week. He said that his money gone to England and his daughter has to come and put his name in the bank, a whole set of ignorance.” Then Mark Pooran, a weeder/grass-slasher of Vr y h e i d , We s t C a n j e
Berbice, claimed too, that he was also fleeced by the official for unpaid monies for weeding his compound. “I does do work for he, and like for a period of time now he owing me and he ain’t paying me. Sometimes he gives me a piece and he leaves all the rest.” “If he get $10,000 for me, he only giving me $2,000-this thing can’t work-I get four children and a wife, plus another child on the way,” Pooran complained. Pooran claimed that the official still owes him $3,000 for slashing grass in his yard. I asked him for the money days ago and he told me to come back and when I go back, he does holler up on me.” “I does go by his place and hear a lot of other people there cussing him up, saying that he didn’t do work on their transports and so on.” When contacted, the Town Clerk of the New Amsterdam municipality, Ms. Sharon Alexander, was unaware of the allegations. The official in question a rg u e d t h a t h e n e v e r accepted monies from the p e r s o n s . H o w e v e r, h e disclosed that the individuals may have transacted business with a lawyer who has his office at the bottom flat of his building at King Street, New Amsterdam. That lawyer has since died, he claimed, and all of the matters pending have been “forwarded” to another lawyer in Georgetown. He refused to state the name of that lawyer and could not say when those persons would be repaid their money. ‘B’ Division Commander, Mr. Brian Joseph was unavailable for comment.
Ministries disown Berbice sex predator
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former Senior Government Official has been disowned by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Region Six Administration. The official has been charged with sexual molestation. And the Ministry of Social Service and Social Security remains mum. The man once boasted that he walked and associated with kings and queens, and PPP big boys and used his position to terrorise a number of women for years. He would demand sexual favours from them in order to help them secure jobs. The Ministry of Home Affairs in a release in relation to a Kaieteur News article did not challenge the article, but only stated that the man is no longer working there. The Ministry’s release continued, “Chattergoon’s contract was terminated with effect from August 1, 2013 and he does not have any other affiliation with the Ministry of Home Affairs.”
The Region Six Chairman, in a telephone interview, stated that Chattergoon was never an employee with the region. He was the Regional Cooperatives Officer, employed with the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security. He was only accommodated in the compound after we were asked to help find somewhere for him to operate from. That office was subsequently closed and he was relocated to the Ministry’s building at Princess Elizabeth road. Chairman, Armogan, said that he cannot say if the man still works there.
Receipts provided by Ramphal for monies apparently paid to the official
Page 20
The condition of an access road in Barnwell North, Mocha after a period of heavy rainfall.
Kaieteur News
Thursday July 03, 2014
APNU announces plans for improved Mocha farming area
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Partnership for National Unity ( A P N U ) Member of Parliament, Joseph Harmon, recently announced that there will be several infrastructural developments in the farming area of Mocha/Arcadia, East Bank Demerara. Harmon updated residents of Barnwell North of plans to build two access roads in the community. Harmon added that the Opposition is in talks with
t h e G u y a n a Wa t e r Incorporated, (GWI) and the Guyana Power and Light, (GPL) for the provision of basic utility service in the area. Harmon also announced that residents of the community will be able to uplift titles for their lands by November. Barnwell North is a small farming community located east of Mocha Arcadia. The area which is sparsely populated was established after the people were given leases for the purpose of small agricultural development. Over the past week members continued to visit communities along the coastland as part of its campaign in preparation for Local Government elections. The party has been forging ahead with its campaigns despite the uncertainty surrounding the possibility of Local Government elections being held this year. The group has been making steady progress on its campaign trail by covering virtually all the constituents earmarked for the elections. The opposition coalition has taken its campaign to Paramakatoi, Port Kaituma, Pomeroon, Mahdia, Belladrum, Moleson Creek, the upper Corentyne, Bartica, Wakenaam and other places in the Essequibo
Region. The campaign is aimed at reaching out to citizens to update and educate them on issues of national importance as well as ensuring that the people are fully enlightened on issues pertaining to Local Government Elections. During a recent campaign outreach, Opposition Leader, Brigadier David Granger, and several other leaders and activists of the Partnership, met with residents of Mocha/Arcadia, Soesdyke and Herstelling, East Bank Demerara. The party met and listened to the concerns of residents of the village of Ann’s Grove, East Coast of Demerara. At Mocha/Arcadia a large crowd gathered for a public meeting, which focused on the need for improved infrastructure in the area, the ongoing Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (COI), the controversy surrounding the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML CFT), and the need for the immediate holding of the long overdue Local Government Elections. The main speakers were Brigadier David Granger and APNU Member of Parliament Mr. Joseph Harmon.
Ranks hold four with unlicenced weapon ‌woman confesses to being owner
The unlicenced weapon and matching rounds
R
anks of the Guyana Police Force, on Monday evening held four persons in James Street, Albouystown, with an unlicensed firearm. The four were travelling in a Silver AT212 car, PJJ 8620. According to sources, one of the occupants was a female who admitted to being the owner of the weapon. The .38 weapon had six live rounds and the female who confessed to owning it claimed that she bought from a man at Aranka, in the Cuyuni Mazaruni area. Charges are expected to be laid shortly.
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
Black Bush Polder murder accused walk free
Carlton Chaitram
Nazim Azimulla
Kumar Mangru
Rajesh Singh
Following the no case submission by Defence Attorney, Mursaline Bacchus, the four men who were on trial for the murder of Black Bush Polder resident, Jeewanlall Deonarine, called ‘Bingle’, 49, have been freed. Deonarine of Lesbeholden; South Black Bush Polder, was killed on October 5, 2013. The matter was discharged by Magistrate Rhondell Weaver on Monday at the conclusion of the preliminary inquiry
which was conducted in the Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court, Black Bush Polder. The four men on trial were Carlton Chaitram, 37, of Mibicuri, South Black Bush Polder; Nazim Azimulla, 42, of Johanna South, Black Bush Polder; Rajesh Singh, 38, and Kumar Mangru, 17, of Lesbeholden, North Black Bush Polder. Chaitram and Azimulla, were represented by Attorney- at- Law Mursalene Bacchus while the two other
accused, Singh and Mangru, were represented by Senior Council Bernard De Santos. Attorney Bacchus submitted that there was no case for his clients to answer. He stated that under cross examination the main prosecution witness changed his story drastically. He said that he did not see what happened. The witness was detained by the police and made to sign a statement. He had also admitted under cross examination during the initial confrontation that he did not see anything. The magistrate in handing down her decision found that the evidence was manifestly unreliable. She thus had no other alternative than to discharge the matter. According to the Prosecution, Deonarine a labourer, had left his residence around 20:15hrs on the day in question in a car PFF 8720, with a group of men to buy cigarettes from a neighbouring shop. At the time his family was hosting a farewell party. At the shop an altercation ensued between Deonarine’s group and another group of men. That group was allegedly armed with knives and cutlasses. During the altercation Deonarine was allegedly pounced upon and battered to death. The police eventually turned up and scoured the area. They found Deonarine’s body on the Lesbeholden Public Road. A post mortem examination was performed on the body, showed that the man died from a fractured skull.
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Fire strikes in Essequibo
Family members were unable to savage anything An electrical fire which destroyed the upper flat of a two-flat building at Phantom Street, Anna Regina, on Friday, has left the Balkaran family counting their losses. The family members were unable to salvage anything. Sasewattie Balkaran recalled returning to her residence from work when her granddaughter who was in the upper flat, alerted her to the
fire. Mrs. Balkaran said that her granddaughter first noticed the fire emanating from the upper flat of the building but before she could have ventured up to the flat, the flames had already engulfed the building. Balkaran said that some men who were drinking next door, at a liquor restaurant came over; they formed a bucket brigade and assisted
in extinguishing the fire. Although fire attendants from the Anna Regina Fire Service were alerted of the fire, they arrived without water, Mrs. Balkaran said. She said since the fire Friday afternoon, she has been forced to seek refuge at her next door neighbour. She said she and her family had lived at the house for over two decades.
From page 6 Quarries Inc. for $373.3M. That section of the Amaila Falls road stretches from Butukari to the Kaburi Village bypass. The same company has also been awarded a contract for Section Four of the road for $246M. Section Four runs between from the Kaburi/ Omai junction to the Issano bypass. Ivor Allen was awarded the $182.3M contract for
Section Five of the road that runs from the Issano junction to Craig Road.Section Six of the road was awarded to G. Bovell Construction Services for $281.7M, but that contract had to be terminated. It was subsequently granted in two lots, with the first from Issano Junction to Sorrow Hill being allocated to Ivor Allen for $145M. The second lot of Section Six was awarded to Dwarka Nauth for $45M. Hassan N Pasha General
Building and Civil Contractor was handed the last and reportedly the most difficult section of the road, ‘Section Seven’ with a contract price of $838M.That contract was terminated in April 2012 after only 15 per cent of the work was completed. Pasha received almost $315M. The contract was subsequently handed to China Railway First Group (Guyana) Inc. for $1.7B (US$8.5M).
Works on Amaila Falls Access...
Page 22
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Dressed and mill cut lumber: Kabukalli, Silverballi, Greenheart, Crab Wood etc Call: 688-6579 Spares for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 One Water Dredge; 14" Missile, in excellent condition, situated in upper Mazaruni River – Contact: 685-7193 Fluffy dachshund pups – Call: 670-2653; 618-1706 Three caterpillar engines: Model 3406-$1,6M, 3116 - $1,1M, 3208$1,1M. Contact 650-0402; Serious Inquiries Only
Kaieteur News
FOR SALE One Grocery stall & one snackette – Call:679-1157 (7:00am -6:00pm only) 5000 gas fuel tank – Call: 601-3194 One smoothie machine and ice machine – Call: 231-0655 or 683-8734 New Brazilian Beef Saw – Tel: 671-7482 Chicken- Whole plucked available at BM Enterprise Inc. contact: 227-8175/8176 Delivery also available. New and used fryers, food warmers, 1 RX8, 125 KVA Diesel Generator 5500 watts generator – Contact Raj: 2604643 Yamaha outboard engines, various sizes, tundra wheels, boat trailer – Tel: 220-1981, 690-1945
One Nissan X-trail 2004 Model PRR Series – Call: 647-0016 One lady-driven new model RAV 4J ‘KK’ series - $2.5M negotiable – Tel: 609-8425 15 cu ft. Frigidaire Gallery Freezer and one Ultra Chef 13 cu ft. cooler/chiller - Call 622-2899 HP Printer Ink - $2,000; Cannon printer ink - $2,500. Phone: 650-7699 Used pedicure chair, hair dryer and salon chair – Tel: 668-9583, 698-5272 Lots of Original PS2, PS3, 3Ds XBOX360 systems – Game & game parts – Call: 683-8386 One Double stall with overhead storage at a prime location in Stabroek Market – Call: 619-7925 can be inspected One fruit dryer machine (new) 2 compressors, distilled water machine, 4 mag rims – Call: 231-5171 or 619-7134
ProgressiveAuto Rental: Cars & SUV for rental- $4,000 & up per day- Call: 643-5122, 219-3900 ,Email:pro_ autorental @yahoo.com
Fully furnished houses at La Parafaite Harmonie - $19M, Foulis - $75M, Ogle -$65M, Republic Gardens - $45MContact 223-8479; 647-3768/ www.spaceseek.gy Land located at Mon Repos - $95M, Linden Highway$1.6M Size: 100X200 Contact 223-8479; 647-3768/ www.spaceseek.gy
LAND FOR SALE Land for sale 110X60 at 5th Avenue Diamond, EBD. For quick sale - $7M. Contact: 652-5601 Diamond, Grove, Land 40X80 feet $3.3M, Hadfield Street $14M, $12M, Kitty Railway 96X89X20X50ft – Contact GME Realty: 231-2209; 618-7483 Land for sale at Better Hope South – Price $6,350,000, negotiable – Tel: 642-7898 Eccles (100ftx50ft) - $3.5M, La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.1M, Grove (with foundation) $2.6M, Tuschen -$1.5M – Tel: 218-5591; 675-7292 LEARN TO DRIVE
One used Xbox360 & TV with two controls & four games - $100,000 – Tel: 6217497; 603-8643
Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
One slate pools table 8’X4’ $360,000 – Tel: 601-8083, 6892658
VACANCY
PROPERTY FOR SALE
24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 670-8893/684-2838
1-2 storey wooden & concrete house with 5 bedrooms, upper flat & lower flat 4 apartments located@ Shell Road, kitty - $38.9M Tel: 642-7898 Diamond: Avenue A - Three bedrooms, two-storey concrete house & 1st Bridge - Flat concrete & high house. Have property for sale? Contact: 643-7633 1-3 storey business – Opposite GPHC, Middle Street, 2 business property @ Whim Public Road Corentyne, Price Negotiable – Contact:619-7134; 225-6481 3rd Avenue Diamond 95X30feet, flat concrete house (nice deal) – Contact GME Realty: 231-2199; 2312200; 618-7483
One female clerk – Tel: 225-6481 Office clerk senior/junior CXC: English, Mathematics & computer knowledge an asset- Call: 225-0188/225-6070 Experienced News Reporter - $150,000 -$200,000; Hours: Midnight – 8AM; 6 days per week - Tel: 673-5475 GUARD for Land of Canaan, accommodation available, LORRY DRIVER living on E.B.D. 266 4427 One female cleaner: Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. Salesgirls- $10,000 weekly: Come into Dian’s Delhi, opposite Kitty Market. One Experienced Hauler Driver: Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. One night security: Apply in writing with a valid Police Clearance to GCC Ground, Bourda. Exist for one handyman – Salary - $22,000 weekly – Call: 223-0595
CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 2257126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com
Thursday July 03, 2014
MASSAGE #1 Massage Therapist: Trinidadian decent, professional massages, male & female – 8am-6pm – Call: 690-0341
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Furnished new apartments USD$600-$1000 located in Ogle: Pool, parking, hot water, AC, Wi-Fi. Contact Richard: 622-7236 1- Two bedroom apartment at 35 Howes St. G/Town$45,000 per month- Contact: Pet Boy’s Shop between 11am-6pm Mining Blocks to rent at Mazaruni and Kwakwani – Tel: 627-4900 Hair & nails station to rent @ Prime Location – Tel: 2254665; 602-0333
TO LET 1 Bedroom apartments at Prashad Nagar – Fully furnished with internet, hot & cold water, air condition etc – Call: 611- 8584 for further information One 1-bedroom bottom flat to rent located at L.B.I, East Coast Demerara – Contact: 220-7399 or 682-6294 One bedroom bottom flat apartment, located at Middle Road, La Penitence - $25,000 per month. Preferably single working person – Contact: 666-9534 Suburban Suites 1039 Fifth Avenue, Section A, Diamond, EBD, Guyana - Call: 609-2466 Two bedroom apartment to let on E.C.D – Tel: 684-8906 Two apartments to let at Lot 25 Hill Street AlbouystownContact Bibi Baksh on Tel: 661-7765
GT TOOL RENTALS SPECIALSCONCRETESAW; JACK HAMMER WELDING MACHINE, PRESSURE WASHER & RANSOM – CALL: 675-0767; 627-5098. One bedroom apartment preferably working couple or single working person with no children, Price: $25,000 – Call: 657-8335 Wash bay and snacknette @ Good Hope East Bank Essequibo- Contact:663-2882 2 BEDROOM UPSTAIRS FLAT, LARGE VERANDAH & WASHROOM, PARKING ETC at LAMAHA GARDENS – SERIOUS ENQUIRIES – CALL: 609-8132 OR 6728569 (MAX) Houses & apartments at Queenstown - $1800USD, Kitty-$45,000, $50,000, $120,000, Bel-Air $2500USD, Campbellville - $65,000Contact 223-8479; 647-3768/ www.spaceseek.gy
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773 Summer Special: Earn a certificate in cosmetology, wig designs or nails alone, limited spaces - Call Abby: 619-7603, 666-5241
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Permanent & Visitors Vi s a Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 2256496, 662-6045 Repairs, sales & spares, air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032,647-2943 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312, 627-3206 (Nick) COOL TECH : Repairs Services & Installation of all types if homes appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units – Tel: 233-2008; 675-4959 For low cost: Repairs to fridge, freezer, A/C unit, microwaves, TV & washing machine - Call: 629-4946 or 225-4822 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING AND ESTIMATES FOR ONLY $10,000- CALL:6949843/227-2766 Meditation: Learn transcendental meditation, gain deep rest, and eliminate stress. Call Ashoke:6093701; 233-6921 for introductory lecture Farm Developing Experienced Agronomist (Hi Tech)- all your information – Call J.W Miller: 654-9106 Cold storage-facility available at BM Enterprise Inc. Contact: 227-8175/8176 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655, 683-8734
CATERING Roxy’s Snackette & Catering Services: Any occasion, daily breakfast, lunch, snacks, fruit juices, power porridge – Call: 223-0092; 223-0095
VEHICLE FOR SALE Cheapest – New model, fully loaded Spacio, VVTI Manual & Automatic buses, one Vizio 42" High Definition Television – Tel: 616-7635 One Toyota Spacio, PNN Series, fully loaded, in excellent condition, Price: $1.850 Negotiable – Call: 6519892 2006 Blue Nissan Titan. Fully Loaded GSS Series. Contact: 604-6108. Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered 212, Allex, old & new model Spacio, 05 & 03 Allion, Voxy- Call:6523820/ 665-4529 One Leyland Daf dump truck $2,5M, One S130 Bobcat $2,1M -Contact 6500402; Serious Inquiries Only One BZ – Touring Corolla Wagon: AC, CD, 17" mags all wheels, Disk Brake, PPP series, never worked here – $1,050,000 -Tel: 6191047. New model Toyota RAV 4 $2.5M negotiable – Tel: 2255034, 639-5577 Toyota Avensis, Corolla 110, Tundra – Tel: 645-0078; 6030078 Toyota Sietna, 7 Seater $2.1M, Toyota Voxy bus both fully loaded - $1.8M negotiable, financing available – Tel: 629-2314 New Toyota Noah: TV, Camera, 15" Rim – Tel:6632700, 629-2619 One Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, PMM Series Call: 2250188, 223-7500, Mon-Fri 8:154:15pm, Sat – 8:15-1:15PM One Leyland truck – Call: 6561067 Diamond Auto Show: Black Nissan, Blue Bird 2007, fully loaded, 2/4 wheel drive – Tel: 682-1822 One Toyota Marina 1992, Red, mag rim, DVD Player, AC. Price- $800,000 negotiable – Contact: 6735475 Toyota 4 Runner great condition -$1.7M negotiable – Tel:223-9719; 227-1028 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms - Call: 680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash. Also parts available & 30 seater buses; extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 Toyota Premio (grey), Spacio & Belta. Never registered – Call: 269-0432; 686-0323 CF65 Leyland Daf Truck $2.5M, single axle. Working Condition! – Contact Shaba: 667-3436; 655-5018 (Continued on page 23)
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Boyfriend on trial for murder of Sophia woman - Relatives recall woman’s body
The deceased Shoala Gilgeous
Accused Paul Anthony Lo Hing
Close relatives of murdered Sophia woman, Shoala Gilgeous, were among the first set of witnesses to testify, as the murder trial of Paul Anthony Lo Hing got underway at the High Court, yesterday. Lo Hing stands accused of the murder, which took place on August 6, 2012. Gilgeous was reportedly strangled by Lo Hing her boyfriend at the time, during a heated argument at their Block ‘E’ South Sophia residence. Reports suggested that the accused had shared a turbulent one-year relationship with the victim. The accused is being represented by Attorney- atLaw, Huckumchand Parag.
Yesterday, State Prosecutor Natasha Backer called Monica Charles to the stand. Charles was a neighbour of the victim and the accused. She recalled hearing the couple arguing but that she didn’t find it strange as the couple would usually row. The witness said that she went out and when she returned, there were no sounds coming from the apartment, so she assumed that the quarrel had ended. Relatives had discovered the woman’s lifeless body at the Block ‘E’, South Sophia home around 17:30 hrs on Sunday. They had reportedly received a telephone call from the boyfriend, who asked them to check on the woman.
The victim’s teenage niece also took the stand yesterday. The teenager recalled that she was the first person to make the discovery. She said that she went over to her aunt’s apartment on August 6, 2012 and knocked on the door, but got no response. She said that the door was open and she entered the apartment where she found her aunt lying on floor, motionless. The girl recalled that her aunt had a boyfriend named “Paul,” at the time before identifying him as the accused sitting in the prisoner’s dock. “She looked as though she was sleeping. I touched her on her shoulder but she wasn’t responding. I called my mother and my father came too. He touched her but she didn’t respond.” The girl’s mother, Alana Gilgeous, recalled the day, she received telephone calls from the accused, who asked her “to go check Shoala.” She inquired of the accused what had happened between him and her sister but he said that he wasn’t sure. However, the man called repeatedly to tell her, she should check on her sister. “He say they had a problem and she told him to move out.” She said that she later went to her sister’s home where she found her motionless on the floor of the apartment.
Letters... Where your views make the news
Technological advancement and... From page 4 gaming for seventy-two hours; a young man shoots and kills innocent people in the USA after spending countless hours practicing war games in cyberspace. A young girl posts nude pictures of herself and awaits the feedback blogs. Oh, what is really going on with us “humans”? Oh, what a form of mental illness. Technological communication has improved, but basic human communication has deteriorated. A man, his wife and children sit in the living room and it is absolutely silent, everyone focused on different screens, pushing buttons and listening for a
peculiar, reoccurring sound for hours, and not a word is said to each other. People have said and done pretty crude things when they thought that no one would ever know it was them? Beware of firing off nasty postings with venom and hate on the internet. Think before you type, think before you click on that website link; for every atom weight of evil we do, we will be questioned and every atom weight of good we do, it will stand for us. The technological advancement of the super highway is phenomenal. Let us use it for the right purposes and stay away from the dirty
obscenities. Get your degrees, do your trade, send your emails, but establish and keep a limit. Years ago I read that Winchester -the inventor of guns - apologized to the world for their inventions. When they made the gun accessible to the public it was for recreation, hunting and protection from dangerous animals. Today, humans use the gun for indiscriminate killing sprees of the human kind. I do hope that Mr. Bill Gates, Mr. Mark Zuckerberg and the owners of Apple Incorporated would not have to be compelled to do the same as Winchester. Nazar Mohamed
Haphazard overseas visits for our ... From page 4 erosion cycle hits the area. Existing designs should be updated to enable the sea defences to resist the larger forces generated by higher tides, waves of greater amplitudes, and have stronger, stable soil embankments. The larger predicted hydro-dynamic forces on the sea defence structures could be easily computed by MPW
hydraulic engineers without the need for them to go the US to acquire the knowledge to do so. After all, this is not ‘rocket science’. Finally, Minister Benn must have in place, and start executing, a strategic plan to upgrade and repair the existing sea and river defences which are falling apart for want of due care and attention.
The plan must also include new works necessary to protect vulnerable areas. Coastal residents should be aware that crisis management and neglect of the Country’s sea and river defences will only result in serious consequences to their lives and properties if Minister Benn continues his dilly-dally course of action. Charles Sohan
VEHICLE FOR SALE
(From page 22)
First Class Auto: 2006 Premio, 2006 Allion, 2004 Spacio, IST, Axela, Fielder, Rush – Call: 609-8188; 638-3045 Toyota IST - $1.6M, excellent condition, chrome rims – Contact Chad: 685-7728; 2671551 2003 Toyota Premio with back camera & TV - $2.4M, 2008 Toyota Premio - $3.6M & 2004 Toyota IST $2.2M – Tel: 615-4114 1 Man curtain side truck, 2005 model, hydraulic back life $6.8M negotiable (vehicle unregistered)– Contact: 6620701, 692-0661 1 Seddon Atkinson truck 3 side dump, 2003 model $6.5M negotiable (vehicle unregistered)– Contact: 6620701, 692-0661 Two EFR Dump truck, aluminum tray, 2001 model $6.5M negotiable each (vehicle unregistered)– Contact: 662-0701, 692-0661 Two Massey Ferguson 3115/ 3095, German made, and England Standard - $5.5 M each- (vehicle unregistered) – Contact: 662-0701, 692-0661 1 Backhoe - $6.5M, 2 Chipper - $300,000 each, X-Tai brush cutter - $80,000 - (vehicle unregistered) – Contact: 6620701, 692-0661
LEARN TO DANCE Learn Ballroom dancing in 10 weeks, every Monday & Thursday – starting 10 July 2014 – Call: 642-9053; 617-0170
EDUCATION: I.A.E is registering students for its secondary school, Forms1-5; CXC classes for adults – Repeaters and beginners – Call: 223-0604; 683-5742 Now Enrolling for a Diploma in computers (9 courses) Special discount for 2014 CXC students @ MicroGraphics, Vreed-EnHoop –Tel: 264-3057 Now Enrolling for summer computer classes – Ages: 514yrs, certificate course @ MicroGraphics Technology – Vreed-En- Hoop –Tel: 264-3057 Summer Classes: Phonics, Language, Mathematics, Art & Craft, fun day (4-12yrs) July 15th – August 15th @ Roxanne Burnham – Call: 6194355; 218-2076 CXC Mathematics/English Etc, Additional Maths, January/June 2015, Workers/ Students Form 1-5 -Call Mr. Lee: 227-7850 I.A.S : 2nd Street Alberttown, CXC Adults Classes, $1200 per subject, summer classes for children – 4-17yrs old $5,000 (6 weeks) – Tel: 2237906; 690-5008 Transitional/Foundation Summer Classes, Grade 6Grade 7 & 8: Mathematics, English, Spanish/Music, I.T. etc. Placement in July – Call Mr. Lee: 231-2076
DRESSMAKING Jean offers courses in dressmaking, designing curtains, floral decoration & cake decoration – Tel: 6181706; 670-2653.
FOR THE BEST AVERTISING RATES CALL US ON 226-8210 OR 225-8452
WANTED Experienced roti/puri Cook, curry cook, handy boys Apply at Hacks Halaal, 5 Commerce Street, Georgetown One experienced general domestic. Must know to cook a variety of dishes; pleasant & trustworthy- Tel: 656-6388 Live out domestic babysitter and live in babysitter –Call: 225-0188, 225-6070 (Monday to Saturday ) (8:15am4:15pm) Female worker needed, 3 CXC subjects or sound secondary school education - Call: 612-1595 Children feeding program continues, celebrating any occasion or just want to partake? – Call: 696-7467 Welder, Gardener, Carpenter – Call: 265-3586 One handy boy to work in the interior- Tel:681-6044 Experienced cashiers, counter servers. Apply at Hacks Halaal with written application: 5 Commerce Street. 1 DJ, must know to play both Indian & English Music, 1 Handyman/woman/gardener, 1 electrician – Call Office: 2653586 General workers to work shift system- Tel: 218-1400; 6680306 Experienced taxi & bus driver at Princess Hotel, Providence – Tel: 616-5419/265-7076 One Oak Sports Bar: two Waitresses - Tel: 660-3360; 227-4897. Address: 23 Hadfield Street, Stabroek, Georgetown. Mechanic & Assistant Mechanic with experience at Lot 23 Hadfield Street, Stabroek, Georgetown- Tel: 660-3360; 227-4897 Land to buy in Eccles, La Parfaite Harmonie, Tuschen & all low income areas – Tel: 218-5591; 675-7292 Skilled carpenters – Call: 6157526; 668-9863 Shop Assistant to work in the interior, age 30-40, salary $80,000 – Call: 664-5199 Between 9am-6pm Minibus Driver to work relief on Sundays – Call: 675-3093 ACCOMMODATION Tourist Villa: Furnished Rooms & apartments- 1, 2 &3 bedroom apartments at affordable rates – Lot 95 Fifth Avenue, Subryanville – Tel: 227-2199; 227-2189; 227-2186
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 03, 2014
Taxpayers’ $$$ being wasted on Bartica/ Potaro road – says youth group “Enough is enough. Not another cent of tax dollars must go towards the yearly patching and repairing of the Bartica-Potaro Road which is continuously being eroded. That money could have been used to make an asphalt surface or a heavy-duty all weather highway.” This is the contention of the Bartica United Youth Development Group (BUYDG) through its President, Micah Williams, who was speaking on behalf of the residents of the mining community. They now want the authorities to make a heavy duty road and stop wasting tax dollars to do repair work every year from One Mile to the Sherima Crossing. BUYDG is appealing to the Region Seven Chairman, Gordon Bradford, to fulfill his “constitutional mandate to look after the welfare and interest of the Region Seven residents.” He made reference to all the protest actions of bus operators over the conditions of the road and an agreement in 2012 between the bus operators and Mr. Bradford who led the Regional Democratic Office (NDC) team. The team, he said, had failed to fulfill the September 2012 agreement and commitments made, which stated that corrective works will be done from One Mile to Five Miles Potaro Road. “To date no work was done from Four to Five Miles Potaro Road. Further, it was agreed by the parties that the RDC will continue to maintain the road and not allow it to go back to the current deplorable surface conditions.” According to the BUYDG, the implementation of a highway will boost development in the gold and diamond mining sectors and reduce the cost of “food stuff, while fuel supplies can be transported from Bartica to operation sites in a timely manner.” “Whenever tourists and other persons travel to
Bartica by airplane to visit the Region and land at the Five Mile airstrip, as soon as they join the transportation to go to other locations in Bartica, most times the first thing they observe is the horrible state of the Potaro Road. BUYDG had also called on the Finance Ministry and Public Works Ministry to include the rehabilitation of the Bartica/Potaro road in the 2014 Budget.
Williams said that the government got approval for $1 Billion for Hinterland roads but “to date no work has started on the Potaro Road which is in its known/regular deplorable condition.” “The Potaro road from One to Four Miles was repaired/ patched in September 2013. Within three weeks the road ended up back to its normal horrible and shoddy condition.”
In September 2012 the road was repaired from One Mile to Four Miles and two weeks after the road ended up back to its deplorable condition. To maintain the road the body is suggesting the implementation of toll gates from Seven Miles Potaro Road to the Sherima Crossing. The revenue will recover the construction cost of the highway.
Part of the 7 Mile road which is very hard to traverse
A vehicle maneuvering the craters
Are we insulting Westmas? DEAR EDITOR, Your report of the evidence given by Dr. Nigel Westmaas on July 1, 2014 at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry was captioned “’Historian’” N i g e l We s t m a a s g i v e s testimony. It is unclear whether enclosing the word Historian in quotes was an error or an attempt to denigrate Dr. Westmaas’s qualifications or his
professional integrity and competence. As the Counsel for the WPA of at this Inquiry, I reject any inference that Dr. Westmaas, a member of the WPA is not a historian and person worthy of the professional description. For your respectful information, Dr. Westmaas obtained a B Sc. (Honours) in History from the University of Guyana, M.A. in Philosophy
from the University of B i n g h a m t o n N e w Yo r k and his doctorate (PHD) in Historical Sociology for which his thesis was the h i s t o r y o f t h e media in Guyana from the 17th century to the end of the 191h century. Dr. Westmaas has to his credit eight peer-reviewed full-length articles in academic journals. He is currently writing a history of
the Working People’s Alliance. I think that the ethics of journalism requires that if there is any concern about an individual’s qualifications, the journalist’s duty is to make enquiries before launching an implicit ad hominen attack on the son. Christopher Ram A Counsel Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Clashes in Jerusalem after body found U.S. increases security at overseas JERUSALEM (AP) — Hundreds of Palestinians hurled stones at Israeli police who responded with tear gas in clashes that erupted yesterday following reports that an Arab teen was kidnapped and a body found in a Jerusalem forest. Police have not determined whether the reported incidents are related or what motive may have been behind them. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged authorities to swiftly investigate the “reprehensible murder” and called on all sides “not to take the law into their own hands.” Tensions have mounted between Israel and the Palestinians after the bodies of three Israeli teens were found in the West Bank more than two weeks after they went missing. Israel has accused Hamas of abducting and killing the three teens, and has arrested hundreds of its members across the
West Bank. Rocket fire from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip has meanwhile intensified, and been met with Israeli air strikes. Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said police received a report early yesterday that an Arab teen was “forcibly pulled into a vehicle” in an area of east Jerusalem and that an hour later a body was discovered in a separate part of the city. He said security was heightened in Jerusalem, with extra units dispatched and the city’s light rail train service cut short to avoid the scene of the violence. Police also closed a key holy site in Jerusalem’s Old City to visitors after rock throwing there. Israeli officials urged calm as police investigated the incidents, hoping to contain the violence. “Everything is being examined. There are many possibilities. There is a criminal possibility as well as a political one,” Israel’s public security minister,
Yitzhak Aharonovitch, told Israel Radio. “I am telling everyone, let us wait patiently.” Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Israel was being held responsible for the death and called on it to “find the killers and hold them accountable,” according to the Palestinian official news agency Wafa. The Arab teen, who was identified as 17-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir, was approached by a car early yesterday and then forced into it before it sped off, his cousin Saed Abu Khdeir said. On Tuesday thousands attended the funerals of Eyal Yifrah, 19, Gilad Shaar, 16, and Naftali Fraenkel, 16, the three Jewish seminary students who went missing last month and whose bodies were found Monday in a field near the West Bank city of Hebron. Also Tuesday, several hundred right-wing Israeli youths marched through Jerusalem, demanding revenge for the deaths.
CARICOM Secretary General calls for collective solutions to Caribbean challenges ST. JOHN’S, Antigua CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General Irwin La Rocque says regional countries must find collective solutions to the serious challenges being posed by an ever changing global environment. La Rocque, speaking at the opening of the 35th CARICCOM Summit here on Tuesday night, said that Dickinson Bay where the three-day summit is being held provides an opportunity for Caribbean governments “to do what is required to make our integration arrangements more effective in its response to the challenges of the day”. In December 1965, the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago signed the Dickenson Bay Agreement, establishing the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA), the forerunner to CARICOM. But La Rocque told delegates that in order to make the transition, regional countries “must find collective solutions to the serious challenges, particularly with respect to our economic condition, that threaten the hard won gains of our people. “The structural and
institutional characteristics which affect growth in our small, vulnerable economies combine to restrict our ability to compete internationally, expose our vulnerability to external events, and constrain our capacity for adjustment.” He said that vulnerability is demonstrated by the lingering effects of the global economic and financial crisis in the region resulting among other things in stubbornly low growth rates. “When added to a heavy debt burden and falling fiscal revenues, it leaves our governments with precious little room to manoeuvre especially as the International Financial Institutions and our development partners use the misleading criterion of per capita income to graduate us out of access to much needed concessionary development financing.” La Rocque said importantly, neither the economic and financial crises nor the causes of climate change, originated within the Caribbean. “However, there is analytical evidence to prove that their impact on the economies of most CARICOM States has heightened the debt and fiscal challenges we face. “Formidable as these challenges are, our
Community’s history clearly shows that we have never been daunted in the face of trials. It is now, in this period of acute economic stress faced by our region that the spirit of unity that brings us together in all forms of adversity, is infusing our actions as we seek to build the Community’s resilience to withstand the shocks, whether they are economic, social or climatic.” He said never before in recent history, have so many of our member states faced such challenges at the same time for such a protracted period. La Rocque said that it is in recognition of the need to find a regional resolution to the regional problem that regional governments mandated that “we prepare a strategic plan, which seeks to reposition the Community and which will inform the institutional mechanism to carry it forward. “Having consulted extensively throughout the Community over the past year, the first ever Community Strategic Plan has been prepared. That plan, geared towards refocusing, redirecting, and reorganising the Community, is before this meeting and will set our course for the immediate future and beyond.”
airports amid bomb concerns WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - The United States said yesterday it would increase security at overseas airports with direct flights into the country and U.S. officials cited concerns al Qaeda operatives in Syria and Yemen were developing bombs that could be smuggled onto planes. European airports would be taking the extra precautions, the U.S. officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity. The Department of Homeland Security said “enhanced security measures” would be implemented in the next few days at “certain overseas airports with direct flights into the United States.” It did not specify which airports or what countries would be affected, nor did it say what triggered the extra precautions. “We are sharing recent
and relevant information with our foreign allies and are consulting the aviation industry,” DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a s t a t e m e n t . E a r l i e r, l a w enforcement and security officials told Reuters the United States and European authorities were discussing measures that could include extra scrutiny of U.S.-bound passengers’ electronics and f o o t w e a r, and installation of additional bomb-detection machines. Bombmakers from the Nusra Front, al Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, and Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, are believed to be working together to try to develop explosives that could avoid detection by current airport screening systems, U.S. national security sources said. The main concern is that militant groups could try to blow up U.S.- or
Europe-bound planes by concealing bombs on foreign fighters carrying We s t e r n p a s s p o r t s w h o spent time with Islamist rebel factions in the region, the sources said. AQAP has a track record of plotting such attacks. It was behind a 2009 attempt by a militant with a bomb hidden in his underwear to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner. U.S. officials believe Nusra and AQAP operatives have carried out operational testing of new bomb designs in Syria, where Nusra is one of the main Islamist groups fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, a national security source said. The “stealth” explosives the bombmakers are trying to design include non-metallic bombs, ABC News reported. There was no immediate indication U.S. intelligence had detected a specific plot or time frame for carrying out such an attack.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 03, 2014
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
Neymar’s injury is not... Brazil’s training ground in Teresopolis. ‘He will be evaluated again, but team doctor Jose Luiz Runco said fans don’t have to worry because he’s not a concern for the match.’ Neymar undertook a light swimming session with his team-mates on Monday, but he was seen hobbling as he got off the team coach. The Barcelona forward, who has scored four goals for Brazil at the World Cup, could be rested from training over the next couple of days to aid his recovery.
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari criticised English referee Howard Webb for not giving Neymar, who scored the winning penalty in Belo Horizonte, more protection against Chile. ‘Neymar needs to be valued for what he did because it was a big effort,’ Scolari said. ‘He played 75 minutes of the match after a strong hit on the thigh and we couldn’t understand how somebody hits with that strength and gets no card.’ (Mailonline)
ThursdayJuly 03, 2014 ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 19): As you follow the path toward acquiring the latest, greatest, fastest, and best, you might find that you're leaving behind some fundamental principles and values along the way, Aries. *************************** TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20): Key into your sensual, beautiful nature, Taurus. Take time each day to attend to your soul and make sure it's getting the nourishment it needs to radiate into the world. *************************** GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20): You may sense a nervous restlessness today that urges you to take action, Gemini. A journey to one place may have you bouncing off to another place that may lead you on an adventure to someplace completely different. It might seem like you're on some crazy scavenger hunt toward a pot of gold. *************************** CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22): A good tip for you to remember is to be careful about what you say about others, Cancer. If you're talking about someone who isn't present, act as if he or she is. What is your motivation for saying those things? Is it necessary to speak in such a manner? *************************** LEO(JUL23-AUG22):You might need some time alone today to bring yourself back to center, Leo. Independence is a keyword, so keep it in the back of your mind. Make sure you aren't the victim of a commitment you made long ago. ************************ VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22): Don't automatically think that beauty always has to be defined by old-fashioned standards, Virgo. It's time to create your own definition. There's no need to fit into some socially constructed mold that doesn't resonate with who you truly are. Your job isn't to try and make sure that everyone loves you. There's only one person you need to satisfy, and that is you.
LIBRA (SEP 23 - OCT 22): Issues may get a little heavier than you'd perhaps like today, Libra. Your job is to infuse some amusement into the situation. *************************** SCORPIO (OCT 23 - NOV 21): YIf the doorknob doesn't want to turn today, Scorpio, don't force it. You'll only succeed in breaking the key. Perhaps you just need to try another door. *************************** SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 DEC 21): Your newfangled approach to things might get some serious flack from others today, Sagittarius, but don't let that stop you. Realize that your independent and somewhat rebellious nature is a key ingredient in keeping the world in balance. *************************** CAPRICORN (DEC 22 JAN 19): You might be called upon to choose between two ways of handling a situation, Capricorn. The old ways of doing things are in conflict with the new. Which way are you going to proceed? Don't be thrown off course by fast talk and sleight of hand. Also, don't assume that the way that has worked forever is still the best solution.
*************************** AQUARIUS (JAN 20 FEB 18): Unexpected events may be shuffling the cards when you least expect it, Aquarius. If you have kept a close eye on the deck, counting the jacks as they turn up, you might get thrown for a loop. *************************** PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20): Your sense of self may be a bit challenged today, Pisces. You might just have trouble getting out of bed at all. Remember that the way others see you doesn't necessarily mean that's the way you really are. Don't feel like you have to change in order to please anyone. Ultimately, your only responsibility is to you.
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Patience and Tactics delivered... could.
From page 28 2015. “The experience I got in those races most of all is to be patient. Even though they are shorter than the road race, you have to be patient if you are going to win, they are short but extremely hard, fast and technical.” That experience, Williams said, was transferred into the race on Sunday. “I had to be patient because it was a long race. For the first 50 miles I had to allow the break to go because I couldn’t ride at 100% for 100 miles and expect to be able to win at the end. I had to be smart and just be patient and wait until the right moment.” Williams stated that after he realized that Paul De Nobrega, Jeffrey and Marlon Williams were all riding good he had to be even more patient and manage his efforts as best as he
“But it’s great, I am happy to have won this race because I actually left a series I was racing in the USA to come home for this race. I am happy that my team gave me the time off to come home for this event, they know the importance of a championship, so a lot of thanks to them.” Looking ahead to the Commonwealth Games, Williams said that he does not get the opportunity to race such distances regularly but his racing in the USA is his training since he does so regularly. “We probably race four times a week; I call it maintenance training in between we only do like two hours a day to be able to rest, to be able to be fresh for the other races.” Williams is expected to return to the USA, today.
World Cup teams catch... From page 29 quick, the tempo has been so high and we have seen 29 goals scored by substitutes, a record.” “But among the technicians, we think we should have the possibility of another substitution.” Although 24 of the original 32 finalists are now out of the tournament, there is no respite for the remaining teams with the stakes about to get even higher. The teams will have another day off before the quarter-finals get underway when France tackle Germany in Rio de Janeiro and hosts Brazil face Colombia in Fortaleza. On Saturday, Argentina meet Belgium in Brasilia before the last quarter-final between the Netherlands and Costa Rica in Salvador. The eight remaining teams all won their groups and the line- up offers a tantalizing clash between styles, with four teams each from Europe and the Americas. No European team has ever won a World Cup played in the Americas but at least
one is assured of making the semis with Germany and France meeting in the last eight. Germany received a timely boost when defender Mats Hummels and winger Lukas Podolski both took part in training after battling with health issues.
“Everyone was in training today and ready for action,” assistant coach Andreas Koepke said. Brazil striker Neymar is still nursing a thigh injury picked up in the second-round match against Chile but looks certain to start.
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Kaieteur News
Letter to the Sports Editor
ECB responds to Prince Holder DEAR EDITOR, The Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) would like to clear the air as it relates to a letter captioned, “ECB coach should have been suspended for improper conduct” published in the Tuesday 24th, June 2014 edition of the Kaieteur News, written by Prince Holder. Mr. Holder stated that he had formally written to the ECB to launch an investigation into the conduct of one of its executive members, who as coach of the Under-15 team in 2013 allegedly made players catch cricket balls after turning off the lights. Mr. Holder further stated that “astonishingly neither the ECB nor the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) cared to launch an investigation; instead I was banned by the E.C.B for seeking an investigation.” Mr. Editor, it seems as if
Mr. Holder’s memory is fast eroding. After a complaint on the above issue was made to the ECB, the executive met and decided to establish a committee, headed by Mr. Alvin Johnson to investigate same. Mr. Holder had vehemently stated that he has evidence to support the allegation. The committee twice fixed dates for Mr. Holder to present his evidence. These dates were communicated to Mr. Holder well in advance by the Secretary of ECB Mr. Otto Christiani. Lo and behold Mr. Holder never showed up. Mr. Editor, at the statutory meeting of the ECB, the members decided that Mr. Holder should apologise to the coach since he could not have proven his allegations. He bluntly refused and stormed out of the meeting. It was then decided that Mr.
Holder be suspended until he apologised to the coach. Additionally, the President and Secretary of the GCB never uttered a word in all that transpired. Their presence at the meeting was at the request of the ECB which had a few issues to discuss with the GCB. So for Mr. Holder to state that the GCB President and Secretary participated in silencing him is far from the truth. In concluding Mr. Editor, it is clear that Mr. Holder has a personal vendetta against the ECB. Apparently, he is disgruntled by the defeat he suffered at the hands of Fizul Bacchus for the Presidency of the ECB at the last elections. Well Mr. Holder, democracy prevailed! Yours Respectfully, Nazeer Mohamed Public Relations Officer Essequibo Cricket Board
Patience and Tactics delivered the prize – Geron Williams By Franklin Wilson New National Raod Race King, Geron Williams, now riding professionally in the USA as a member of Champion System Stan’s Notubes is elated that he has been finally able to lift the crown as the best rider in the Land of Many Waters. Williams achieved the feat on Sunday last when the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) held the 2014 edition of the National Championships which takes the form of a Time Trials and Road Race. This year, the GCF increased the miles quite handsomely from 80 last year to 100 this year which made the event a grueling one that brought out the best in all the competitors. When all was settled, it was the Continental Cycle Club member Geron Williams who staved off a valiant final ditch effort from Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams and last year’s winner Raynauth Jeffrey to emerge winner. The top three riders are also part of Guyana’s team to the Commonwealth Games later this year in Glasgow, England. Speaking after the race, Williams was quick to point out that it was a tough contest and it was by no means easy going at any point coming up against the local based riders. “They all rode excellent and made it hard but I’m just happy to be able to win this race. It’s good that for the first
Thursday July 03, 2014
RBC/CARICOM Day ‘Wheat Up’ Cycling Classic
Sponsorship package upped to $500,000
By Franklin Wilson With the promise of the event being more interactive and appealing, the 11th annual Roraima Bikers Club/ CARICOM Day ‘Wheat Up’ Cycling Classic was unveiled yesterday in the Boardroom of sponsor, National Milling Company of Guyana Inc. (NAMILCO), Agricola, East Bank Demerara. The event is fixed for the Seawall Bandstand on Monday July 7, CARICOM Day holiday pedaling off at 09:00hrs. Financial Controller Mr. Fitzroy McLeod, who delivered feature remarks in the absence of Managing Director Mr. Bert Sukhai, expressed his company’s pleasure in partnering with Roraima Bikers Club (RBC) to bring off one of the more lucrative race meets in Guyana. This year, NAMILCO has upped the ante with regards to the overall sponsorship package increasing same to five hundred thousand dollars. “Last year there were some new initiatives and innovations which were introduced to make the event a little more interactive as well as appealing to a broader cross section of riders at the different levels. We also want to have the whole family involved and have the spectators
socializing to make it more entertaining,” McLeod noted. He said that the company was very pleased with the way things worked out last year and they will seek to continue along a similar line this year. “As mentioned before it would be held under our Wheat Up brand, which is a staple of many of our top riders and one of the prizes that we have had from year to year is that the top riders gets a year ’s supply of Wheat Up and this is something that they don’t joke about. They work hard towards it and probably see it more important than some of the trophies,” McLeod shared. In most of the 12 categories, there has been a 10% increase in prizes with the BMX riders also set to cash in. Assistant to the Managing Director, Ato Lakeram gave a briefing on the history of NAMILCO’s partnership with RBC which he said they started under former Club President and now patron, George Humphrey of Humphrey’s Bakery and Farm Products in Charlestown. He noted that the relationship between the two entities has grown over the years and that NAMILCO will continue to support this Cycling Classic.
Current Club President Brian Allen shared details on the new prize structure whilst also thanking the company for their investment in the club and sport over the years. For the feature race, a trophy would be awarded with each of the top six places. A new champion would be crowned for the feature race since last year ’s winner, Alanzo Greaves in currently training and competing in the USA ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Following is the list of races and prizes: Race Laps Prizes 12-14 years juveniles 37,000, 5,000, 4,000 Juniors / Category 49,000, 7,000, 5,000 Categories 1-3 59,000, 7,000, 5,000 Veterans Under-50 58,000, 6,000, 4,000 Veterans Over-50 58,000, 6,000, 4,000 Win and Out (open) 810,000, 7,000, 5,000 Points Race 1212,000, 10,000, 8,000 Mountain bikes (open)5 7,000, 5,000, 3,000 BMX 6-9 years 2 5,000, 4,000, 3,000 BMX 10-14 years 25,000, 4,000, 3,000 Females 57,000, 5,000, 4,000 Wheat-Up Classic (open) 3030,000, 25,000, 15,000, 10,000, 8,000, 5,000
Defending champion Murray crushed by Dimitrov at...
Proud Parents! Geron Williams is flanked by his father Glen and mother, Gemma time I have the national road race title, it’s something that I had wanted for a while. It evaded me once in 2012 but this year I was able to fight through and battle all the obstacles that were placed in front of me.” Williams, who won the contest in Four Hours 25 Minutes 02 Seconds, noted that his exposure in the USA would have complimented his existing knowledge of the terrain in Guyana.
He shared that the types of races they do in the USA are a shortened version called criterium racing and that he recently transferred from Team Foundation to Champion System Stan’s Notubes which is the first UCI team from New York City. He would be riding professionally with his latest team until December with the provision for his contract being renewed in (Continued on page 27)
From page 31 Murray’s remarkable run of winning 17 successive matches at the All England Club, dating back to the 2012 London Olympics, as he bowed out in two hours and one minute. “I am excited and just happy I got through that match in straight sets. It’s never easy coming to play Andy in front of a home crowd and I am just f o r t u n a t e a n d h a p p y, ” Dimitrov said after preventing the British hero from reaching his sixth successive Wimbledon semifinal. “As soon as we started warming up I sensed his game was not at the highest level and I was feeling good. I held my ground ... the tiebreak was crucial. I went into the third set very positive.
“It’s tough when you know the person well outside the court and you have to face them. I have hopefully two more matches left and I am just focusing on that and trying not to get carried away.” Seven-time champion Roger Federer and top seed Novak Djokovic both had to fight back to claim their place in the Wimbledon semi-finals. Federer, 32, lost the opening set of his quarterfinal to fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka before coming through 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 64 on Centre Court. Djokovic, 27, was two sets to one down to Croatia’s Marin Cilic, but recovered to win 6-1 3-6 67 (4-7) 6-2 6-2. The Serb will meet Grigor Dimitrov, who beat defending champion Andy
Murray. On the other side of the draw, eighth seed Milos Raonic stands between 17-time Grand Slam winner Federer and his ninth Wimbledon final after the Canadian overcame Nick Kyrgios 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Australian Kyrgios, ranked 144th in the world and only in the main draw as a wildcard, had defeated world number one Rafael Nadal and 13th seed Richard Gasquet on his way to the last eight. But Raonic ended his dream run to become the first Canadian man to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals in 106 years. The 11th seed will next play either Serbian top seed Novak Djokovic or Croatian 26th seed Marin Cilic for a place in the final.
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
All parties must come to the table and talk - Baptiste says on cricket debacle Commenting on the ongoing cricket debacle between the Guyana Government, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), veteran sports enthusiast and former Executive Member of the GCB and veteran educator and Guyana Teachers’ Union sportsman, Mr. Lancelot Baptiste, believes that the parties involved must come to the table and talk. The GCB, Government and other stakeholders have been in a quandary regarding the state of cricket in Guyana over the past months. Speaking to this newspaper recently, Baptiste concluded that all sides “seem to have a reason for doing what they are doing.” He remembered a great Trade Unionist Mr. Pollydore, former General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress for many years, “saying, ‘whenever you are finished fighting…you have got to sit down at the table to settle all your matters.’” The veteran sports enthusiast is very surprised, “that our situation has not reached to the point where we can sit around the table— have all the aggrieved parties—the Guyana Cricket Board, the Guyana Government, the elected officers of the GCB, the Demerara Cricket Board—all the sub-
Lancelot Baptiste associations…everybody get around the table and if you have got to spend the whole day…come up with a solution.” Everybody, he said, seems to have a strong point. “For me, if we don’t do that, our cricket will continue to suffer.” There were the days, he noted, when the GTU ran cricket from the junior level. “We ran cricket from Under 10, 12, 16 and Open...and if one were to look back at the history of cricket, we produced all the youth cricketers.” For over 7 consecutive years, GTU won the cricket competition in the Caribbean, “and we were producing all the top cricketers…from Kallicharran all the way down…there
wasn’t a national cricketer who never played under the GTU’s banner.” He recalled names such as Alvin Kallicharran, Clive Butts, Roger Harper and Shiv Chanderpaul. “I remember going to Mahaica, many-adays and taking away Chanderpaul from his father who was a fisherman there, just to get him to go into school to have his name marked present, because you had to make a certain amount of percentage [of attendance] to play in our cricket, and since those days, I have noticed a sharp decline of our youth cricketers.” This has paved the current condition of not many Guyanese serving in the West Indies (WI) team, “and we are now searching for one and two and three.” Baptiste is saying that the door should be opened. “I don’t know who is supposed to initiate it but I would want to suggest that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) should initiate that meeting—for everybody to sit down there to trash it out and come up with a solution. We are suffering as a result of it—not only in seeing cricket, but also in participating in it!” The powers that be, he noted, seem not “to want to have the matter resolved in the best interest of the cricketers and community as a whole.” (Leon Suseran)a
Fifa says no proof of Cameroon match-fixing BBC Sport - Fifa says there has been no evidence of match-fixing at any World Cup match and has called on a German magazine making allegations to provide proof. Convicted match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal has denied he correctly predicted Cameroon’s result against Croatia before the game. Der Spiegel magazine, which made the allegations, is standing by its report. Fifa’s head of media Delia Fischer said: “So far we have no evidence of any match manipulation.” She added: “We have requested Der Spiegel provide us with all the communications with Perumal and any other material in order to prove the allegations they have made.” Cameroon lost each of their three Group A games, including a 4-0 defeat by Croatia in which midfielder Alex Song was sent off in the 40th minute. The Croatian FA
Wilson Raj Perumal (AP)
says it did not have any concerns “during or after the match”. A spokesman added: “We feel like we won that match on the field and at this moment it will stay at that.” Asked if he had seen any
evidence or had suspicions of match-fixing at the World Cup, former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier - a member of Fifa’s technical support group - said: “No, not at all.”
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Cricket For Unity
Diamond Auto Show & Trophy Stall lend support As the days wind down before this Saturday’s Cricket for Unity T20 cricket match that will feature prominent members of society in a competitive setting, two more business entities have come on board in support. Diamond Auto Show of Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara and the Trophy Stall of Bourda have chipped in with support to ensure the game is a success. Managing Director of Diamond Auto Show, Mr. Jermaine Horatio and Sales Representative of Trophy Stall Ms. Marcia Shakes handed over their respective contributions to Chairman of the Cricket For Unity Committee, Dexter Garnett. Both complimented Garnett for the initiative and said they are eagerly awaiting the game since it presents an opportunity for members of the public to see prominent persons of the society
Mr. Jermaine Horatio of Diamond Auto Show and Ms. Marcia Shanks of Trophy Stall hand over their contributions to Dexter Garnett. competing against each other in a different setting. Gratitude was extended to both entities for their timely support by Garnett who said that all the stops would be pulled out to ensure that fans
are treated to some exciting play. The game is set for Saturday under lights at the Demerara Cricket Club Ground (DCC) from 17:30hrs between Roraima Strikers and Kaieteur Thunders.
World Cup teams catch breath on rare day off RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - After three weeks of unrelenting drama and excitement, the World Cup took a rare time-out yesterday as the eight surviving teams tried to catch their breath before the quarter-finals kick off tomorrow. A tournament which was derided as a disaster waiting to happen, has captivated the world, proved all the doommongers wrong and has already been declared as one of the greatest World Cups ever. The tardy preparations which plagued the build-up have long been forgotten with supporters in Brazil and around the planet still gasping at the astonishing quality of play and heart-stopping tension. “This has been the best one in terms of quality of football and entertainment,” said Gerard Houllier, the most experienced member of FIFA’s Technical Study Group which analyses tactics, trends and all aspects of technical play in the tournament. “There has been top quality drama right from the start of the group phase.” The on-field drama has succeeded in overshadowing any off-field scandals that threatened to tarnish the event but still linger. FIFA president Sepp
Blatter praised Uruguay striker Luis Suarez after he apologized for biting an Italian defender during the World Cup while FIFA also addressed claims that matches had been rigged, but said there was no supporting evidence. Suarez was banned for nine competitive internationals and cannot take part in any soccer activities for four months after he sank his teeth into the shoulder of Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat of the Italians on June 24. It took the forward nearly a week to confess that he had bitten his opponent, after protesting his innocence when the furor surrounding the incident first broke. “He said ‘I’m sorry’ to the soccer family, and that’s fair play too,” Blatter told reporters. “That shows he’s a great player and I hope he can have his soccer career back.” Ralf Mutschke, FIFA’s head of security, cast doubt on reported claims that convicted match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal had correctly predicted Cameroon’s result against Croatia before the game. Perumal has denied making the predictions himself, which were reported by the German magazine Der
Spiegel and Mutschke said FIFA had “substantial doubts about the allegations published by Der Spiegel” and had asked the magazine for some proof. “This article has put the integrity of the FIFA World Cup matches in question which is a serious allegation,” he said. “We have carefully monitored all 56 games to date and we will continue to monitor the remaining eight matches. So far we have found no indication of any manipulation on the betting market of any World Cup matches.” EXHAUSTION POINT The incredible pace of the matches has even prompted discussion about changing the rules on substitutions after watching players run themselves to the point of exhaustion with four of the eight last-16 matches going to extra time. Under the current rules, teams are only permitted to use three replacements in a match but Houllier said consideration should be given for allowing a fourth substitute in extra time in the future. “I personally think it’s time,” he said. “You have probably noticed at this World Cup everything is so (Continued on page 28)
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 03, 2014
Guyana’s overseas record at the CBC level (1982 - 2000) Statistician Charwayne Walker this week looks back at Guyana’s performance at the Caribbean Basketball Championship (CBC) even as this year’s event is underway with Guyana naming a team led by former NBA player Rawle Marshall as they hope to win the men’s championship for the first time. Guyana will return to the Regional Basketball scene this year since their last outing in Puerto Rico in 2007. This year’s championships will be hosted by the British Virgin Islands and it will be Guyana’s ninth overseas CBC tournament. The first time the Land of Many Waters contested a CBC championship overseas was December 1982 in Jamaica. Guyana led by Eagles Centre Hewley Harry failed to qualify for the semifinals after suffering losses to the Bahamas 79-59, Mark Agard top scored with 13 pts; 85-71 against Suriname, James Brusche 16 pts, Compton Hinds 15 pts; their only victory was over the Cayman Islands. The first team to
represent Guyana overseas at the CBC was: Hewley Harry (Captain) Eagles, Stanislaus Hadmon - Eagles (deceased), Schubert Cappell - D.Y.C (deceased), Eon Andrews – Ravens, Mark Agard – Pacesetters, Brentnol Carmichael – Pacesetters, James Brusche - Y.M.C.A Kings, Royston Telford Yellow Birds, Compton Hinds – Celtics, Merton Fitzalbert – Eagles, Shelly Hubbard – Eagles, Mike Brusche - Coach Eagles, Melroy Fitzalbert – Manager. Guyana’s next overseas outing at the CBC was August 1985 playing under the captaincy of Pacesetters’ Eon Andrews. Guyana fell to hosts Barbados 100-73, they also suffered losses to Bahamas 100-82, Jamaica 7058, Trinidad and Tobago 8778, while Andrews’ men only success was a walk over victory against Martinique. Trinidad and Tobago was Guyana’s next CARICOM Championship venue in August 1986. This time the land of the Majestic Kaieteur Falls was led by James Brusche. Guyana started their
1986 campaign with losses to the Bahamas 80-64 and Jamaica 86-67 led by skipper James Brusche 22 pts and Auric Tappin 17 pts. Guyana humbled Grenada 69-52. In their final preliminary match host Trinidad and Tobago thrashed the South Americans 84-50. Under the leadership of Hi Flyers Leon Christian, Guyana returned to the place of their first overseas CARICOM Championship, Jamaica, in July 1991 but just like in 1982 their only victory was against the Cayman Islands. Guyana lost to Barbados 107-88, Wayne Andries 23 pts, Auric Tappin 22 pts, Leon Christian 14 pts and Sean Semple 9 pts were the top shots. Guyana lost to host Jamaica 87-75, Auric Tappin 28 pts, Leon Christian 17 pts, Wayne Andries 14 pts and Gregory Wyles 13 pts were on target. Guyana demolished Cayman Islands 132-66. Sean Semple 21 pts 13 rbs, Gregory Wyles 19 pts, Wayne Andries 14 pts, Auric Tappin 24 pts, Leon Christian 13 pts led the rout. Guyana lost to Suriname
88-86, Gregory Wyles 18 pts, Auric Tappin 16 pts and Leon Christian 12 pts. Guyana’s next overseas CARICOM championship was in Nassau Bahamas in July 1995 and playing under co-captains Leon Christian and Lugard Mohan Guyana failed to win a game in the preliminary round. Ravens’ Lugard Mohan took over the National Captaincy in full in July 1996 and Guyana departed for Trinidad and Tobago with Thieran Caesar calling play. Mohan’s men announced their arrival with an emphatic 84-78 points win over Barbados. Skipper Mohan led from the front with 22 pts, Lorenzo Withrite 18 pts and Remington Ram, 17 pts. The Kaieteur force then hit the Mighty Bahamas, they were blown out 104-86, Wayne Bristol 17 pts, Mohan 17 pts, Lorenzo Withrite 16 pts, Remington Ram 12 pts, Steven Nurse 11 and Lancelot Loncke 10 pts, led the locals. Host Trinidad and Tobago cooled off Mohan’s men 11188, skipper Mohan had 13 pts, Remington Ram 13 pts, Rawlwin Loncke 12 pts and
Wayne Bristol 11 pts. Jamaica caused some panic with a 10698 win; Mohan 19 pts, Steven Nurse 14 pts and Lorenzo Withrite 14 pts were on target. Guyana then bounced back and defeated St. Lucia and Dominica: Guyana 86 to St. Lucia’s 63, Rawlwin Loncke 15 pts, Lorenzo Withrite 14 pts, Dane Kendall 12 pts, Orin Mohan 12 pts led the team. Guyana 86 to Dominica’s 73, Wayne Bristol 23 pts, Lorenzo Withrite 22 pts and Lancelot Loncke 10 pts. Jamaica, with former NBA players Andrew Kennedy and Rumeal Robinson in their line-up edged Guyana in the semifinals 100-97. Lorenzo Withrite 27 pts & 9 rbs, Wayne Bristol 23 pts and Mohan 20 pts were the top shots for Guyana. Bahamas then outplayed Guyana in the third place match 133-120, Captain Mohan 22 pts, Rawlwin Loncke 22 pts, Remington Ram 18 pts and Lorenzo Withrite 16 pts led Guyana. The (2000) championship in Barbados was Guyana’s last overseas tournament under the CARICOM banner, the men from the Land of
Many Waters, again under Mohan’s leadership started with a disappointing loss to host Barbados 86-69, Dereck Boyd scored 20 pts and Lorenzo Withrite 15 pts for the Guyanese. Guyana then humbled Antigua and Barbuda 74-64 points with Lorenzo Withrite hitting 17 pts and 9 rebounds, Mohan 15 pts, Deryck Boyd 8 pts, 8 rbs, 5 steals and 2 blocks. Guyana then destroyed Dominica with Lancelot Loncke 18 pts and Deryck Boyd 9 pts. The U.S Virgin Islands then outplayed Guyana in the semifinals 96-75 pts, Mohan 26 pts which included six three pointers from seven tries led from the front. Guyana rebounded and defeated defending champs Belize for third place 87-69. Mohan poured in 26 pts, Deryck Boyd 10, 14 rebs and Lancelot Loncke 10 pts. Now, 16 years later the show is in the BVI and this time around there are no Tappin, Christian, Semple, Mohan and Cadogan. Let’s see if Marshall, Kanhai, Ifill, etal can bring the bacon home, only time will tell.
Britton siblings in top form at Junior Karate Championships The Britton siblings copped three first places at last Sunday’s Banks Malta Supreme sponsored Junior Karate Championships organized by the Guyana Wado Ryu Karate Association at Banks DIH Sports Club, Thirst Park. Sadelle Britton won in the 6-8 girls category, winning from Mandy Moe and Farida Sultan who placed second and third respectively. Shay Britton secured first place in the boys 9-11 (Category ‘A’) with Shaun Jemott claiming the second position and Leonard Garraway third. The 12-14 girls division was won by Samela Britton who overcame Shania DeGroot. Emmanuel Campbell was the winner of the 6-8 boys (Category ‘B’) with Trevaun Smartt securing second and Brandon Rutherford third. The boys 6-8 ‘A’ category was won by Stephon Prince who came out ahead of Akeino Abrams and Dakari Jones. Nandanie Kuldip won the girls 9-11 division from Alicia Benjamin and Towanna Success, while the boys’ 9-11 division – (Category ‘B’) saw Lakeram Persaud coming out ahead of Shamar Michael and Kensell Davis. Simeon Campbell triumphed in the Boys 12-14
Participants of the Guyana Wado Ryu Karate Association, Banks Malta Supreme Junior Karate Championships at the Banks DIH Sports Club, Thirst Park last Sunday take time out for a photo. with Dwight Peters finishing second and Shaun Campbell third. Students of Mae’s School, Eccles Primary, East Bank Essequibo and Banks dojos participated in the tournament. Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters, who declared the
championships open, encouraged the students to be disciplined and focused in their pursuit of excellence. He urged the young karatekas to balance karate with a sound education. Prizes were presented by Chief Instructor Sensei Winston Dunbar, President of the GWKA
Darren Nurse, parents and well-wishers who witnessed the championships. The results: 6-8 Female - 1st Sadelle Britton, 2nd Mandy Moe, 3rd Farida Sultan 6-8 Male Category B - 1st Emmanuel Campbell, 2nd Trevaun Smartt, 3rd
Brandon Rutherford 6-8 Male Category A - 1st Stephon Prince, 2nd Akeino Abrams, 3rd Dakari Jones 9-11 Female - 1st Nandanie Kuldip, 2nd Alicia Benjamin, 3rd Towanna Success 9-11 Male Category A - 1st
Shay Britton, 2nd Shaun Jemott, 3rd Leonard Garraway 12-14 Female - 1st Samela Britton, 2nd Shania DeGroot, 12-14 Male - 1st Simeon Campbell, 2nd Dwight Peters, 3rd Shaun Campbell
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 31
The Limacol CPL & its Financier, Founder Ajmal Khan By Sean Devers The West Indies Cricket Board first announced the plans for the Caribbean Premier League in September 2012. On December 13, 2012, the WICB announced that they had finalized an agreement with Ajmal Khan owner of Verus International, for the funding of the league. Nigerian born Billionaire Ajmal Khan is the Owner, Financier, Founder and Chairman of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League CPL. As part of the agreement, the WICB will receive additional funding from Verus International for additional retainer contracts for players in addition to the annual retainer contracts the board currently funds. Guyana Amazon Warriors Franchise owner is Guyanese Dr. Ranjisingh ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, owner of the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (New GPC) and several media outfits including the Guyana Times, and five radio frequencies. Ramroop also owns the title sponsor under the Brand Limacol which has the branding rights for the tournament which is named the Limacol CPL. CEO of the CPL is Damian O’ Donahue.
The Jamaica Tallawahs beat the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the 2013 final, while the 2014 and 2015 tournaments will take place from 11 July to 16 August and 21 June to 26 July respectively. The ‘Warriors’ will play three games at the Providence Stadium on July 17, 19 & 20. The LCPL is expected to net a significant sum from Television rights and signed a two-year deal with UK sports broadcaster, BT Sport, to show exclusive live coverage of the tournament. Sport will show live coverage of all thirty CPL matches this year, with former England spinner Graeme Swann forming part of the commentary team. UK fans will be able to catch all of the live action from one of the world’s most exciting T20 competitions, and each match will also be repeated in one-hour highlights shows throughout the tournament. The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is an annual Tw e n t y 2 0 c r i c k e t tournament held in the Caribbean. It was created in 2013 and replaced the Caribbean Twenty20. Khan is the founder of Verus Capital in 1985, and later the merchant banking company Verus International Corporation in 1999, he has
SEALED Guyana franchise partner Dr Ranjisingh Bobby Ramroop (left) and CPL CEO Damien O’Donohoe after the signing of the contract. (Photo by CPLT20) made millions turning companies into successes around the world. “Verus Capital has invested in companies in the internet, media, biotechnology and real estate fields. From 1985 to 1993, Verus Capital acquired and resold over US$2 billion in real estate. Khan is a citizen of Canada but currently lives in Barbados. Khan’s interest in the Caribbean Premier League might remind of Stanford, but the WICB seems confident it won’t be a repeat. “The CPL is going to be the one to make sure that
Host BVI downs Guyana in CBC opener Host of the 2014 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships, British Vi r g i n I s l a n d s ( B V I ) thrashed Guyana 99-63 Tuesday night in the feature game of the commencement of the Men’s competition in Tortola. H. Chiverton scored 17 points while R. Cann had 16 points, nine assists and five rebounds to lead BVI to an opening win at home. S. Parillon and N. Carey had 12 points each with D. Blyden adding 11 points in a complete BVI team effort. For Guyana, Asia-based forward, Gordon Klaiber, who plays in Japan, led with 17 points, while former NBA player, Rawle Marshall chipped in with 12 points and five assists. Andrew Ifill and Akeem Kanhai had eight points apiece with five and six rebounds respectively. Meanwhile, Guyana lost 95 - 75 against the defending
- USVI also top Guyanese
Rawle Marshall
every single player it hires or it retains is going to be paid, for which I am responsible,” Ajmal Khan said. However, by placing its T20 series, formerly known as the Caribbean T20, in the hands of a private entrepreneur, the WICB showed a lot of faith in Khan, Verus, and the Caribbean Premier League. Five years ago, their faith in another Caribbean-based foreign businessman backfired in a big way. Allen Stanford, now imprisoned in the United States for massive fraud, ran his Stanford 20/20 series with the full blessings of the WICB up to 2008. The ECB also became entangled in the Texan’s cricket dealings, sending a team to play the Stanford All-Stars in a match in which the players on the winning team each earned $1million. The Stanford bandwagon came to a halt with his arrest in 2009. In July 2013, however, the WICB allowed Khan to roll out the first edition of the CPL, a franchise-based operation which had teams based in six territories and included not just Caribbean cricketers but professionals from around the world. The WICB has
sanctioned the CPL and spoke confidently about the financial security the venture will bring to a larger pool of players in the region and said the CPL would fund the contracts of the Region’s First-Class players. It is also the CPL and Khan who are the guarantors of the players’ salaries. Khan himself confirmed this. “The most important thing in my life is my reputation. I have a track record of what I’ve done in my life... I’m not a person who reneges on anything I do... Obviously within the fiduciary duty of the WICB, they needed to make sure that I had the means to do this and they’ve done enough due diligence on me to know there’s enough to run the league for the next number of years... to make sure every single player is paid... The CPL is going to be the one to make sure that every single player it hires or it retains is going to be paid, for which I am responsible,” Khan promised when the CPL was launched. The CPL deal with the West Indies Board is for 20 years. The WICB has declared that it has done its due diligence on Khan. But four years ago, that was also said about Stanford. Their interest in cricket as business aside, though, Khan appears a man of different stock to his predecessor. But business, not philanthropy is what the CPL is about. The Stanford 20/20 series, supported entirely by Stanford’s millions, was not a money-making enterprise. Neither has been the West Indies Board’s subsequent competition. Khan is thus entering uncharted waters in trying to make the CPL a profitable business and a product to rival the T20 leagues of India and Australia. The small economies and populations
of the Caribbean will not by themselves make this possible. It is why Khan and his colleagues are counting on attracting interest well beyond the region. “The only way that I have an interest in doing anything is if I know that I can sustain it,” he says. “The reality is that we have less than eight million people that live in the Caribbean. If you are in India, we would have 1.3 billion people to go and attract. The only way that this is going to be successful and be sustainable is if we can put together, basically, a global partnership, where the world will see this as a product not made for one market. “The first key thing that we need to do is to bring the local, the regional and the international bodies and partners to be able to create the CPL into something where it becomes a global audience.” Khan is quick to declare he is not corporation sole. “This is not a one-man show. I don’t believe in that, first of all. This is not about me, this is not about my ego, this is not about the money I have. This is about creating and building something in partnership with everyone to make this exciting.” This year more overseas stars have decided to participate in what should be a bigger and better tournament, hyped as the Biggest Party in Sport. St Kitts where the finals will be played after a massive concert to bring the curtains down on the event, has been included as a venue for the first time. Six Regional Franchise teams will vie for this year’s title and the right to play in the Champions League in South Africa, namely Antigua Hawksbills, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Lucia Dukes, Trinidad Red Steel.
Defending champion Murray crushed by Dimitrov at Wimbledon
Champions USVI. Rawle Marshall had a game high 23 points, 8 rbs, 5 asst, 1 steal,
Andrew Ifill had 14pts, 9 rbs, Gordon Klaiber 13 pts and Shane Webster 10 pts, 7rbs.
LONDON (Reuters) Grigor Dimitrov broke British hearts by ending Andy Murray’s reign as Wimbledon champion with a sublime and serene 6-1 76(4) 6-2 victory in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. The third seed had confidently marched into the last eight without dropping a set, but his meek abdication
on Wednesday left the Centre Court crowd, which included Prince William and his wife the Duchess of Cambridge, stunned into silence. The man who had sparked wild celebrations around the country a year ago when he became the first h o m e - g r o w n m e n ’s champion in 77 years, appeared to sleepwalk
through a one-sided first set, threatened to fightback in the second and was simply outclassed in the third. A forehand into the net handed Dimitrov the biggest win of his career and he became the first Bulgarian man to reach the semi-finals of a grand slam tournament. The result ended (Continued on page 29)
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 03, 2014
Millington to lead Guyana in TTCB U-19 T/20 tourney
Members of the Guyana U-19 female team. Coach Clive Grimmond is at far right (front row) while manager Tramaine Smartt is at extreme left (front row). Captain Plaffiana Millington is far right (back row). By Zaheer Mohamed Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) off spinner Plaffiana Millington has been chosen to lead Guyana in the upcoming Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o Cricket Board (TTCB) T/20 U-19 tournament. Latoya Smith will serve as her deputy. The team was selected yesterday after the players were involved in another trial match at the Everest Cricket Club. The squad includes ten players with previous experience at this level while the four newcomers are Nagma Budhoo, Christine Quintyn, Amanda Persaud and Shanna Vanderstoop. The players along with the five standbys will be engaged in practice sessions today and tomorrow at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation Sports Club from 11:00 hrs. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport yesterday afternoon, Millington said the team is an experienced one and has a good chance of winning the tournament. “The team spirit is strong and the girls are eager to showcase their talent. We are prepared to work hard and will be doing a lot of work within the next two to three days and as long as we play as a unit we stand a good chance of going all the way”, she said. Millington who represented Guyana for the past three years at the U-19 level and made her senior team debut in the 2010 regional tournament said
that while the bowling is strong, there is still some work to be done in their batting and fielding departments. The team will break camp on Saturday before they regroup on July 8 and depart Guyana on July 9. C o a c h C l i v e Grimmond informed that a lot of emphasis will be placed on Game awareness and fitness during the encampment period. Guyana placed third in last year’s competition which also included Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o , Barbados, St. Lucia and the Board XI. They defeated St. Lucia before losing to the Board XI while the games against the host nation and Barbados were rained out. Meanwhile, Smith XI defeated Millington XI in the final trial game played yesterday. Millington XI batted first and managed 87-6 in 20 overs. Openers Mandy Mangru and Shanna Vanderstoop were their leading batters with 16 and 14 respectively. The pair added 43 in 12 overs for the opening stand and were aided by 35 extras. Yo g e e t a B a l k i s h u n claimed 2-20 while Steffi Rodney, Odessa Caesar and Smith had one each. Smith XI replied with 91-3 in 20 overs. Rodney who top scored with 21 not out and Quintyn (12*) put together 40 for the fourth wicket to see their team home. Smith had earlier made 17. The full squad reads; Plaffiana Millington (capt.), Latoya Smith (vice capt.), Shirley Boyce, Erica Batson, Teneisha Cort, Shabika Gajnabi, Steffi Rodney, Lashana Toussaint, Mandy Mangru, Odessa Caesar, Nagma Budhoo, Christine Quintyn, Amanda Persaud and Shanna Va n d e r s t o o p . Clive Grimmond is the coach and the manager is Tremaine Smartt. The standbys are Sheneta G r i m m o n d , Yo g e e t a Balkishun, Mavney King, Nyokabie Thorman and Alana Arokium.
Thursday July 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
GAWA hosts successful Olympic Day exhibition
Page 33
Challengers are Parbhu General Store softball champs Challengers were crowned champions of the K. Parbhu General Store 10/10 softball tournament which was contested on Friday night last at Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park. Challengers overcame Omesh XI by six wickets and Maryville by eight wickets in the three – team competition. Omesh XI batted first and compiled 111-7 in 10 overs. Azaad Azeez top scored with 86. Kevin Olford
claimed 4-3. Challengers replied with 113-4 in 9.2 overs. Nandsham Boodhoo led the chase with an attacking 30 at the top of the order before Seekumar Budram and Anand Rooplall took their team home with an unbeaten fifth wicket stand of 46. Budram scored 30 and Rooplall 20. Maryville took first strike and mustered 38-9 after the game was reduced to six overs. Huckumchand Savitir made 19; Nigel
Ramdial snared 3-7. Challengers responded with 39-2 in four overs for victory. Budram stroked 20. E a r l i e r, O m e s h X I overcame Maryville by 106 runs. Omesh XI rattled up 186-3 in 10 overs with Azeez top scoring with 88. Maryville were bowled out for 80 in 10 overs in reply. Hemraj Persaud made 25. Omesh Parbhu captured 4-20 for the winners. Challengers received a trophy for their efforts.
GAWA President, Mr. Frank Tucker (3rd right) poses with Secretary Deion Nurse (left) and others following the exhibition on Saturday last. The Guyana Amateur Weightlifting Association (GAWA) on Saturday last hosted a successful weightlifting exhibition in observance of International Olympic Day activities and to also showcase the new equipment received from the Pan American Weightlifting Federation. According to a press release from the Association, a sizeable and appreciative crowd was on hand to witness demonstrations of the clean and jerks, and snatch, the various lifts associated with the sport. Among the lifters were GAWA Secretary Deion Nurse, National Coach Sean Cozier and young female lifter, Sheriah Melville. The local body recently received two brand new weightlifting sets from the Pan American Weightlifting Federation as part of the federation’s development
Manager of Banks DIH SC Christopher Hopkinson (left) presents the trophy to the captain of the victorious Challengers team, Diaram Ramnauth in the presence of his teammates.
Neymar’s injury is not a concern ‘Neymar looks set to be fit for Brazil’s World Cup quarter-final against Colombia tomorrow. Neymar suffered thigh and knee injuries during Brazil’s dramatic win on penalties against Chile on Saturday.
Ms. Sheriah Melville executing the snatch outside Demico House. assistance to needy member federations. GAWA President, Mr. Frank Tucker expressed gratitude to the regional
body for all the assistance received in the past noting that they are looking forward to taking the sport back to the glory days.
But the 22-year-old Brazil star is making a good recovery, according to team spokesman Rodrigo Paiva. ‘The worst is the knee it’s what’s hurting the most,’ Paiva told reporters at (Continued on page 27)
Neymar should be fit to face Colombia in World Cup quarter-final
champion World Cup teams catch Defending Murray crushed by breath on rare day off Dimitrov at Wimbledon
Argentina’s soccer team players joke with a teammate during a training session at the team’s training center in Belo Horizonte city July 2, 2014. (REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado)
Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria reacts after defeating Andy Murray of Britain REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett
RBC/CARICOM Day ‘Wheat Up’ Cycling Classic
Sponsorship package upped to $500,000
NAMILCO Financial Controller Mr. Fitzroy McLeod (2nd right) hands over the 1st place trophy for the feature race to RBC VP Mr. Royston Wright. Others in photo from left are Ato Lakeram, Brian Allen and Affeeze Khan. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210