Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

DIPLOMACY OVERBOARD Today is America’s birthday, but the fireworks exploded here two days ago. There are pertinent reasons why in certain situations words are carefully chosen and actions are controlled, to allow for a respectful, if not cordial setting. Such was not the case at the United States Ambassador’s residence on Tuesday evening when the envoy hosted a reception in observance of America’s 238th anniversary of its independence. In what this newspaper could only describe as “the most shocking abuse of hospitality and a disregard for the diplomatic norms”, Minister Priya Manickchand, acting in the capacity of Foreign Minister, launched into an unprecedented and obviously calculated verbal attack on outgoing Ambassador Brent Hardt, when given the customary opportunity to address the gathering. Needless to say, those present were clearly stunned by the undiplomatic flare-up. And given the occasion and location, it seems even more incomprehensible. We reiterate that this was an obviously calculated move, and as fate would have it, the coup de grâce was delivered by one of the government’s fiercest defenders, in the absence of two individuals – President Donald Ramotar and Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett – who though they may share the same views, would not have been inclined to boldly express such sentiments in those surroundings. This task required blind loyalty. The messenger was carefully selected. In hindsight this should not have come as a surprise. The now familiar cuss-out syndrome was already in full effect. Earlier in the day the ruling party had issued a statement that chided the Ambassador for meddling in the internal affairs of a sovereign government. Minister Manickchand merely extended this criticism to the diplomat’s doorstep. It was two days earlier that Ambassador Hardt, addressing a youth forum hosted by the Non-governmental organisation, Blue Caps, was critical of the Guyana Government for its failure to hold Local Government elections - a searing topic at this time. This apparently was the straw that broke the camel’s back. There was evidently a decision to give the outgoing envoy a send-off he would never forget. He was clearly offended and certainly did not envisage being ambushed in his own backyard. Particularly given the fact that the issues he has raised during his tenure are those considered vital to the country’s development. Early in her 10-minute speech, the Minister’s cold tone and references suggested that a whirlwind was brewing. She related to a current situation where Guyana must comply with certain international acts. She then reflected “specifically on the activities of the representative of the US Government here”. Ambassador Hardt was accused of contributing to “a tension-filled relationship with the Government of Guyana” that “attracted considerable efforts on our part to address oftentimes without much success”. The Minister said that Mr. Hardt’s remarks to the Blue Caps had “gone beyond the boundaries of professionalism and diplomacy”. It was ironic to note that while blasting the ambassador for his “totally unacceptable” modus operandi, the Minister mentioned among the government’s peeves “the liberties he has taken with…sense of occasion”. Yes, sense of occasion. The Minister used an occasion recognising America’s liberty, to take extraordinary liberties with the character and integrity of the host, because he “has been associated with a dedicated attack on the President and the government on the holding of Local Government elections…and has been supported in this illconceived venture, by the opposition section of the media

Friday July 04, 2014

Letters... Where your views make the news

Manickchand should ‘cuss down’ her comrades for not calling Local Government Elections DEAR EDITOR, We are appalled and disgusted at the cuss-down of the United States Ambassador Dr. Brendt Hardt by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Pyria Manickchand. Ms. Manickchand is not only a certified dunce at diplomacy but at everything she says and does. How dare the Minister visit the Ambassador’s home t o c e l e b r a t e A m e r i c a ’s Independence and insult him and the people of the United States. Does she not have time and place for her vulgarity? We want to remind the people of Guyana that during the budget debate in April, Ms. Manickchand was both vulgar and abusive towards APNU MP Jaipaul Sharma. Her vulgarity was even more apparent when Speaker Raphael Trotman asked her to apologize and she refused. It is now clear to us that Ms. Manickchand has acquired the unofficial title of the PPP female cuss-down prototype of Jagdeo. Her behavior is reprehensible to say the least and is a very bad example for our children. Therefore, we call on all the parents of Guyana to demand her resignation as the Minister of Education. It is evident that only an inept government such as the minority PPP regime does not understand how the US State Department conducts its foreign policy. Ambassador Hardt is not on a fishing trip by himself to make these bold statements. Let us make it very clear to Minister Manickchand that every single statement made by Ambassador Hardt has to be certified before he issues them. Unlike Ms. Manickchand who does not represent the people of Guyana, Ambassador Hardt represents the people and the United States Government. When he speaks, he does so on behalf of the United States Government and all

Americans. Ambassador Hardt’s call for Local Government elections is justified and accepted by 70 percent of Guyanese who believe in democracy. Not having Local Government elections for over 20 years is undemocratic and those at Freedom House who claim to believe in democracy are

and his colleagues in the diplomatic corps”. Yes, those meaningless Local Government Elections; that annoying opposition section of the media and those meddlesome diplomats. There was an air of utter contempt in her delivery. It was wholly inappropriate for the occasion. Even America wasn’t spared on her birthday. She was reminded of the consequences of her “zeal to democratize the world”. The conclusion of the speech saw emphasis on the existence of a “red line”, and that the ambassador had crossed it by his “profoundly disturbing”, in government’s view, “nuanced resort to justifying insurrection in his remarks to the NGO Blue Caps”. More of the classic fear-mongering. And to what red line does the Minister refer? Such a line would have been totally erased and was repeatedly crossed

perfect hypocrites. How can they claim to believe in democracy and not call Local Government in 20 years? So if the Minister has any decency left, then she should cuss-down her comrades in the PPP for not calling the elections and not the Ambassador. We deemed her a disloyal servant of Guyana and Speaker

Trotman and AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes are quite correct to say that she is a total disgrace to the nation and does not speak for the people of Guyana or for them. For anyone to display such obnoxious behavior is repugnant. We strongly believe that it was (Continued on page 5)

during the Jagdeo administration. It is open season. There is absolutely nothing diplomatic about this government; its methods are abrasive and at times, primitive. Its members have proven that they do not possess an ability to deal with people politely. There is a profound lack of class in their midst and a lack of respect for those outside of their circle. Diplomacy has long since been thrown overboard. The tough questions remain about local government among other issues. Substantive responses are non-existent. The diversionary tactics continue. Minister Manickchand’s contemptuous invective, effectively on foreign soil, is just another example of the unrestrained power and abuses associated with entrenched incumbency. Guyana, of course, remains poorer for it. Oh, by the way…Happy Birthday, America!

Friday July 04, 2014

Kaieteur News

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

The WPA was composed of independent cells DEAR EDITOR, The WPA was composed of independent cells and all other cells were not privy to the others’ existence neither were they aware by isolation what the others were doing according to Mr. Tacuma Ogunseye’s candid testimony to the Rodney Commission of Inquiry (RCOI) on Wednesday 2nd July 2014. Mr. Ogunseye was not asked by the RCOI why this was necessary and by whose directive it was done. The WPA executive member, however, publicly confirmed the WPA was stockpiling weapons. Assuredly, their successful clandestine accumulation and uses in any military venture was hazardous, full of personal risks and sacrifices altogether requiring much secrecy and subterfuge. Since free and fair elections were not possible by democracy under the PNC government before the 1980s, the WPA’s secret weapon stockpiling was preparatory for other necessities. Repeatedly Mr. Ogunseye asked the PNC’s cross examining lawyer Mr. Basil Williams to clarify his questions turned commentary before he understood it to give a reply. Even though Mr. Ogunseye was not directly asked by anyone at the RCOI his explanations served to indirectly corroborate Dr Rupert Roopnarine’ stunning disclosure just before they

merged into APNU that the WPA was stockpiling weapons. Whether the WPA’s Dr Nigel Westmaas who also testified the previous day before Mr. Ogunseye was aware of the WPA weaponry stockpiling, even though he was not personally involved as he denied, is still unclear. Without a shadow of doubt it finally confirms that Dr Walter Rodney did not trust everyone within the WPA. Buxton’s notable Mr. Eusi Kwayana, was definitely out like south from their WPA leader’s circle of trust. For Dr Rodney to discuss with the entire WPA executive whom he should trust, or not, was neither realistic nor astute. Obviously the “trust” issue was solely made only by Dr Rodney’s solitary personal analysis, evaluation and implementation. Why he specifically chooses his beloved brother Donald to accompany him to the fatal rendezvous and no one else, must be crystal clear. Either Dr Rodney trusted Mr. Kwayana’s vast political experience without reservation or he was privately wary of him. Since Dr Rodney was best equipped to handle the truth, he only humored him in toleration. Mr. Kwayana completely ducked the entire issue during his garrulous testimony with rambling crafty diversionary information outside the scope of the RCOI’s inquiry.

No one at the RCOI directly inquired from him about his role and awareness of the WPA’s weaponry accumulation neither did he voluntarily refer to those facts. Without doubt the clandestine WPA arms stockpile deployed in any violent overthrow of the PNC government would have escalated out of control into race acrimony among Guyanese. Defenseless Indians inevitably would have been paying the usual price of black retaliation. Dr Rodney’s wisdom not to trust everyone is understandable considering Dr Roopnarine’s naïveté in hiring his policeman jailor, Mr. Robert Allan Gates as his personal bodyguard. Mr. Gates told the RCOI that he was also a double agent working undercover for the state. Even Mr. Ogunseye was out the loop on issues of WPA operations. In a letter to the press he sought clarification about Dr Rodney’s secret agreement with Dr Cheddi Jagan’s PPP of later national reunification of the PPP with the WPA within. During Dr Jagan’s meeting with Dr Rodney the former reportedly confessed to Dr Rodney that he was facing difficulties in attracting black Guyanese and he was most anxious to restore the multi racial composition of the

PPP 1950s origins. By mutual resolution for the WPA to concentrate principally in Afro Guyanese communities and with the PPP to instead concentrate among Indo Guyanese the anticipated unification of the WPA in the PPP was to be made easier. Was Dr Rodney very cognizant of possible repercussions coming from predominantly black WPA activists when the unity merger was to become reality? He chose to keep the merger plans with the PPP confidential. Many outside his “circle of trust” did not need to know. Certainly Dr David Hinds had no need to know and did not know about the merger by his own written words of obfuscation. In a letter to SN of 11-11-11 titled “the PPP marginalized Rodney” Dr Hinds sought to big up himself when he wrote “When Walter Rodney returned to Guyana in 1974 he joined the WPA. He was an ardent advocate of a broad alliance similar to what we have now (sic) in the form of the APNU. He wanted a close relationship with the PPP”. Those who failed to counsel Dr Rodney to refrain from confronting the PNC by violence were most intent on preventing him from his final goals of unity within the PPP. Dr Hinds prominently typifies those who distort Dr

Response to Messrs.

An attempt to denigrate and Rustum Bulkan Dr. Westmaas’ qualifications? Ronald advised that the parties were DEAR EDITOR, 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” Nigel Westmaas gives testimony”. It is unclear whether enclosing the word Historian in quotes was an error or an attempt to denigrate Dr. Westmaas’ qualifications or his professional integrity and competence. As the Counsel for the WPA of at this Inquiry, 1 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 Binghamton New York and

his doctorate (PHD) in Historical Sociology for which his thesis was the history of the 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 person. Christopher Ram Counsel, Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry EDITOR’S NOTE: No insult was intended to Dr. Westmaas and we apologise if the Historian felt offended.

We refer to letter titled “An open letter to Chris Ram” which was published in your 2014 and signed by Messrs. Ronald and Rustum Bulkan. A copy of the said letter, which was dated May 29, 2014, was received and was followed by a second letter dated June 20, 2014. We attempted to hand deliver our response to 35 Industrial Estate, Ruimveidt, stated on their letter, but were

no longer at that location. We then dispatched the response by post. In our response we advised the writers that auditors are not authorised to engage customers of clients except in the course of the audit or if authorised by the client. We also suggested that the writers take the matter up with the Bank or seek legal advice. We would appreciate if you could publish this response. Christopher Ram

Rodney’s legacy to validate the fallacy of preference that he also “was an ardent advocate of a broad alliance similar to what we have now (sic) in the form of the APNU”. Why any likely WPA merger within the PPP was

even pursued and led by Dr Rodney but was constantly rejected as the worse possible alternative and horror imaginable compared to the current barren APNU crown jewel status? Sultan Mohamed

No longer the most hospitable people DEAR EDITOR, And they claim that Guyanese are the most hospitable people...I have heard that statement one million times and Guyana having its acting Foreign Minister/Minister of Education (Priya Manickhand) insulting the outgoing US Ambassador D.Brent Hardt at his residence for a farewell reception has me wondering about many things. Guyana on the other hand has its inaugural “Guyana Festival 2014” slated for August 2014 and I was under the impression that one of Guyana’s main focus in attracting visitors to this side of the globe was always North Americans, but after that drama, I am not so sure

that Guyana will witness the large number of overseas visitors which were expected to grace this National Event which is hosted by the Ministry of Youth, Culture & Sport. What happens if overseas based artistes ( I think a few mentioned to perform are based overseas) decide to boycott this event because of this national embarrassment. Can we now understand the reason why it would be difficult to ever have Guyanese born and International renowned singer Mr.Eddy Grant grace his presence for a concert? Can we also see the reason why Guyana is becoming more difficult to market to the globe? T.Pemberton

Manickchand should... From page 4 appropriate for the crowd to boo her mercilessly and relentlessly because she was truly out of place and rude. Who in their right and sound mind would go the U.S. Ambassador’s house and insult him; only Ms. Manichckand and her PPP rag-tag-puerile crew at Freedom House. However, those who know the PPP are fully aware that she will be rewarded and not fired for displaying such vulgarity. At no time in the history of Guyana did a Minister of Education who is respon-

sible for the discipline of our children display such boorish behavior. This is a party that has no morals and will go to extraordinary lengths to hide their corrupt and criminal practices. The PPP is not only corrupt financially and politically but also electorally. We call on President Ramotar to apologize to the people for not calling Local Government elections and to Ambassador Hardt for the cuss-down levelled on him by the uncouth Minister. Asquith Rose and Harish Singh.

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 04, 2014

$42.7M ECD road extension project…

China Railway awarded contract despite incomplete bid By Kiana Wilburg It appears that China Railway First Group has been awarded a contract to upgrade and widen the East Coast Demerara Public Road by Cabinet, despite the fact it was found by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board to have submitted to a defective bid. When asked why the company was awarded the project even though it was found that its bid was incomplete and that Tender Board recommended for it to be retendered, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh said, “Well I suppose it depends on what the nature of the incompleteness is, because there may be fatal and nonfatal incompleteness. The bottom line is that all of the bidders came from a pool of six that were prequalified and found to be capable, and of four bidders we awarded to the lowest…Had we gone

with the highest bidder, a different level of accusation would have been made.” The Minister was at the time responding to questions posed to him yesterday during a press conference held at the National Communications Network. Four Chinese construction companies had tendered for the Ministry of Public Works project to widen the East Coast Demerara (ECD) public road. But it 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

“Well I suppose it depends on what the nature of the incompleteness is. Because there may be fatal and non-fatal incompleteness,” - Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh 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 ECD road from Better Hope to Belfield in Region Four.

Truck driver killed in driver highway crash - bus detained

A 22-year-old truck driver died at around 14.00 hrs yesterday after being struck by a speeding bus near Aruni, on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway. Lenny Jaisingh of Lot 7-8 Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara, was reportedly struck from behind shortly after emerging from his vehicle to clean his number plate. He succumbed at a private city hospital. A brother-in-law of the victim told Kaieteur News that Jaisingh and another driver had come from an interior location earlier in the day and had parked their trucks on the highway. Kaieteur News understands that at around 10.30 hrs, Jaisingh emerged from his vehicle and cleaned one of his number plates. He was heading back into the truck when a bus which was heading south up the

Dead: Lenny Jaisingh highway struck him from behind. Kaieteur News understands that the bus driver claimed that he lost control and swerved into Jaisingh while trying to avoid a pool of water on the roadway.

Jaisingh’s brother-in-law said that the truck driver was still alive when he was rushed to a private hospital in the city. The injured man was placed on a life-support machine but passed away at around14.00 hrs. The bus driver has been detained. The relative explained that Jaisingh’s fiancée is overseas and the couple had expected to be married within a few months. “This is a real blow to the family…he (Jaisingh) only buried his father about a week ago,” the brother-in-law said. He said that one of Jaisingh’s brothers was married last Sunday, and the family was attempting to put the father’s passing behind them. “We were trying to turn a new page (after the father’s death) and now comes this…”

But the Chinese company actually put in a bid for US$46.9M, a $4.2M difference. Chief Works Officer (CWO) of the Ministry of Public Works, Jeffrey Vaughn had concluded that the reason for the difference could possibly have been because “there was a change

in the cost because they have to do cross checks and they realized that there were errors in the bill...” However, it was later discovered that three of the companies, including the China Railway First Group which had tendered for the project produced incomplete bids, and as such Tender Board had recommended that it be retendered. But in defence of this, the Finance Minister referred to a release by government which was sent out on

Wednesday. Dr. Singh was told that the release didn’t adequately address the issue, but the Minister insisted that it did, and went into cite some sections of it. He said that a technical evaluation panel evaluated the bids received and recommended that the tender be awarded, not to the lowest or even to the second lowest bidder, but to the third lowest (or second highest) bidder, China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd., who tendered (Continued on page 31)

Opposition meet on possible no-confidence vote...

Decision pending By Latoya Giles Late yesterday afternoon, talks continued between the joint opposition, the Alliance for Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), on a possible noconfidence vote against the current administration. The AFC, through its Chairman Moses Nagamootoo, had sent a 10-point resolution in contemplation of a motion of no-confidence against the PPP government. One of the reasons was the Finance Minister’s “violation of the law” by spending $4.5B of monies not approved by the National Assembly in the 2014 budget, AFC charged. APNU’s Joseph Harmon told Kaieteur News yesterday afternoon that both entities are exploring a range of options, one of which is the no-confidence motion. He said that they have decided to further explore the notion of a no- confidence vote against the government. He said that there are several things that need to be addressed. Harmon told Kaieteur News that they are also contemplating other actions in the face of the perceived violation of the constitution. He noted that those options are not being disclosed now,

but will be known at the next sitting of parliament which is set for next Wednesday, July 9. Member of Parliament for the AFC, Cathy Hughes, told Kaieteur News that they are still in conversation with APNU and other stakeholders. “We are in lots of conversations…it’s a discussion,” Hughes told Kaieteur News. On Monday, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Clement Rohee, said that he challenged the opposition parties to demonstrate their ‘testicular capacity’ by giving effect to their stated desire for a no-confidence motion in parliament. Failing this they should “shut up and forever hold their peace”. Rohee stated that the fact remains that the AFC and the APNU are “basking in the glory of their combined Parliamentary one-seat majority which they full well know would not continue in any future elections. “The statements by the opposition are therefore nothing but the work of a politically bankrupt opposition intended to make up for their pathetic performance in and out of Parliament rather than out of any clear and well thought out position.” If a motion of no-

confidence is passed on the current government, then a period of six months is given before National Elections are called. Rohee, who is of the opinion that the opposition would lose its one-seat majority should new elections be held, was asked to justify his statements against the backdrop of the statement by former political executive and analyst, Ralph Ramkarran, who is contending that the new elections could yield the same results. He responded that everyone is free to give their prognosis of what they discern or predict, based on their analysis, could be the outcome of any future elections. After talks about a possible no-confidence vote being brought against his administration, Head of State Donald Ramotar said that he was ready for early general elections if the opposition went ahead with the noconfidence vote. It was AFC Member of Parliament Moses Nagamootoo who said that his main reason for calling the no-confidence motion was the fact that government has already spent G$4.5 billion of the $37.4 billion which had been cut by the joint opposition from the $220 billion 2014 budget.

Friday July 04, 2014

Kaieteur News

Reception Fallout…

PPP executive prepared Manickchand’s 4th of July statement - Source

Minister Priya Manickchand toasts with US Ambassador Brent Hardt By Gary Eleazar Priya Manickchand, acting in the capacity of Foreign Affairs Minister, was on Wednesday evening vociferously booed and heckled while speaking at a function held at the residence of the US Ambassador, Brent Hardt, but sources in Government believe that the core issue is being ignored. Kaieteur News, speaking with a senior Foreign Affairs pundit on the condition of anonymity, has learnt that Manickchand did not herself pen the statement she read. This publication was told that whichever government official that would have represented the administration at the function would have had to read the same statement. It was pointed out that Manickchand is largely known for making presentations without the use of pre-prepared statements such as the one prepared for her to read on Wednesday evening. According to a Government source, the administration is of the view that the Ambassador crossed the proverbial red line, when he launched personal attacks directly on the President at the function hosted by Blue Caps on

Monday last at Duke Lodge. It was pointed out too that a great many of those in the audience that booed the Minister were ranks in the opposition or affiliates. The official opined that 100 persons at a function do not represent the views of the Guyanese populace. Government, according to the source, holds firm to its position that Ambassador Hardt was disrespectful to the President and therefore the people of Guyana. The government, the source said, is extremely concerned about, essentially, his call to rise up against the administration. This statement was qualified by pointing to Ambassador Hardt’s reference to how the US gained its freedom rising up against King George. The source said too that Government believes that it is justifiable and further is an enshrined right for Guyanese to call for the holding of local government elections and not the US Ambassador. It was pointed out that persons should take a breath and analyse the issues at hand and not react emotionally to what is transpiring. Government, the source said, stands firm in its belief that it is not the role of

diplomats to meddle in internal politics of a sovereign state. In recent weeks, the row between the ruling Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C) administration and the US Diplomat has been escalating to what transpired on Wednesday evening at the Ambassador’s residence, a reception meant to celebrate a US Independence Anniversary. The Minister a idst boos and heckling, told those gathered that 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 boundaries of professionalism and diplomacy….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.” Following Manickchand’s speech, several influential persons have sought to distance themselves from her comments, saying she does not speak for them.

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Kaieteur News

World Cup helps Brazil’s Rousseff score higher in polls BRASILIA (Reuters) - The World Cup has improved the mood of Brazilians, brightened their country’s economic outlook and given President Dilma Rousseff a lift in popularity as she prepares to seek re-election in October, a new poll published late Wednesday showed. Support for the leftist president has risen to 38 percent from 34 percent a month ago, the survey of eligible voters by Brazilian polling firm Datafolha said. Support for her main challenger Aecio Neves has risen one percentage point to 20 percent from the previous Datafolha poll in June, while another rival Eduardo Campos advanced two percentage points to 9 percent, the survey showed. Rousseff’s popularity has been hurt by high inflation in a stagnant economy and her support among voters had been falling steadily from 47 percent in November, according to Datafolha polls. Criticism over Brazil’s hosting of the World Cup also

bit into Rousseff ’s poll numbers over the past year, with many Brazilians concerned over excessive spending on stadiums and potential for embarrassing organizational problems. But the World Cup, which many international commentators cite as one of the most exciting in recent decades, has gone more smoothly than many expected and anti-World Cup protests have all but fizzled out. Public opinion has since shifted, according to the poll, with 63 percent of those surveyed in favor of hosting the event up from 51 percent a month earlier. Those polled who say the nation’s hosting of the Cup has made them proud as Brazilians rose from 45 percent to 60 percent. The poll also showed Brazilians taking a rosier view of the economy, with 30 percent saying they are optimistic the economy will improve, up from 26 percent in July. Fewer Brazilians now think inflation will continue rising, 58 percent polled

compared with 64 percent a month earlier, while 43 percent see unemployment rising, down from 48 percent. The new poll confirmed, however, that Brazil is heading for a tough presidential race that will likely go to a second-round vote three weeks later between Rousseff and Neves, of the centrist PSDB party. Rousseff is still favored to win an expected run-off, though Neves has narrowed her lead to 7 percentage points in July from 8 points last month, Datafolha said. “While the World Cup is leading to a small rebound in Rousseff’s approval ratings, it is occurring hand in hand with stable or even tightening second-round simulations,” the Eurasia risk analysis consultancy said in a note to clients. Rousseff’s odds of winning re-election still stand at 70 percent, according to Eurasia, as long as unemployment remains low and real wage gains made under Workers’ Party rule are maintained.

Friday July 04, 2014

Jamaica, T&T to set up joint commission Barbados Nation - Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have agreed to the urgent formation of a joint commission “or a similar entity” to advance the issue of enhanced functional cooperation between them. A joint communiqué following the second round of bilateral talks between the two Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries also reaffirmed “the importance of the consultations as a mechanism for strengthening political dialogue, reviewing bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on a range of pertinent issues”. The first round of bilateral consultations on free movement in the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) was held in Kingston last December following the controversy that erupted when Port of Spain deported a number of Jamaican nationals. The move resulted in calls for a boycott of Trinidad and Tobago products in Jamaica. Foreign Minister A.J Nicholson and his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Winston Dookeran met in Port of Spain last week and according to the communiqué released Monday, both ministers said they were cognisant of the fact that the Trinidad and Tobago and J a m a i c a ’s bilateral relationship is based on a history of shared values, respect, friendship and a

A.J Nicholson

Winston Dookeran

tradition of cooperation at all levels of government, business and civil society. The communiqué noted that the meeting had assessed the progress made since the initial round of consultations “and agreed on the need to maintain and intensify efforts with a view to implementing initiatives on the bilateral agenda. “In this regard, both sides agreed to explore urgently the formation of a Joint Commission or a similar entity to advance the issue of enhanced functional cooperation between the two countries.” The communiqué said that both countries “have a vital stake in and share a common commitment” to Caricom and in the spirit of regional cooperation, “will work together closely, seeking to advance common

approaches to regional and international issues”. On the issue of hassle-free travel, the ministers called for further discussions among their immigration and other relevant officials on the implications of the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the case involving the Jamaican national Shanique Myrie and Barbados. The CCJ had in October last year ruled that Myrie be awarded BDS$75 000 in non-pecuniary damage and BDS$2 240 in pecuniary damages after she had alleged that when she travelled to Barbados on March 14, 2011 she was discriminated against because of her nationality, subjected to a body cavity search, detained overnight in a cell and deported to Jamaica the following day.

Friday July 04, 2014

Kaieteur News

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The Ambassador deserved what he got! Sometimes you must say it as it is. The acting Foreign Minister of Guyana, Ms. Priya Manickchand, said it as it was. She did not engage in meaningless diplomatic platitudes. She did not feign pretence that everything was hunky-dory between the government and the US Ambassador. She was candid and unpretentious. She called a spade a spade. She put the Ambassador in his place. In fact, given his inconsiderate and disrespectful remarks, he more than deserved the mouthful that he got. Perhaps a little more sophistication could have been employed. But he had to be told how the government felt about the role he has played and his continued undiplomatic remarks about affairs in Guyana. I have said before that the US Ambassador was very fortunate to still have been in Guyana. In most other countries in Latin America,

any US leader having the temerity to indicate that his government will go ahead with a project despite the objections of the sovereign government of the day would have long been kicked out. There is no reason why any self-respecting government should have allowed a US Ambassador to have been a guest of its country after the brazen announcement that a project, not sanctioned by the government, would have gone ahead. It is not clear if his tenure had naturally come to an end, or if it was the controversy over the project that led to his recall after the Guyana government would have lodged a Letter of Protest. The US administration does not usually publicly chastise their representatives, but surely the US State Department must have examined the Guyana Government’s complaint and acted both publicly and privately on the matter.

But I do recall a senior US official in the 1970’s indicating to Forbes Burnham that it was Burnham’s diatribes against the United States, following the downing of the Cubana airliner that had earned the official’s recall to Washington. In spite of the two sides mending fences on the matter of the democracy project, the US Ambassador continued with his undiplomatic ranting. He ought to have known that it was beyond the norm for him to have publicly criticized a sitting Head of State in the manner that he did. He could have made the same point that he was attempting to make, by simply indicating that the Constitution of Guyana requires the holding of local government elections and the US government supports such democratic practices. To have injected the President’s name into the discourse and to have accused him of being inconsistent was a clear case of him being misadvised and

also acting undiplomatically. In so doing he crossed the proverbial line between acting in his country’s interest and meddling in the internal affairs of the country. I observe that some persons in our society are rushing to the Ambassador’s defence after the dressing down that he justly received from the acting Foreign Minister. But let us be fair, I did not hear these same individuals indicate that he was out of place and undiplomatic when he made those remarks about our President. So why then should they be criticizing the acting Foreign Minister for being undiplomatic? Even if they agreed with the criticisms of the Ambassador, they should acknowledge that it was not his role to be saying those

things that he said and they should have reprimanded him for so doing. I am also disgusted by some of the reports about the booing and heckling of the Minister. That these things happened must be reported, but many of the reporters were gleeful in reporting that the minister was at the receiving end of heckling and hisses at a reception to mark American Independence. There have been suggestions that if the acting Minister had something to say, she should have picked a better occasion. Well, she must have felt strongly about what was said by the Ambassador and felt the need to respond immediately. Any selfrespecting government would have done the same. These things had to be said. The

Minister chose to say them at the reception. There will remain those who will feel that another occasion may have been more suitable, but I would not deny that a response such as what the Minister made had to have been made by a self – respecting government. The Ambassador spoke his mind and the Minister spoke hers. That is democracy is it not? Or is it okay for a foreign power to say what they like in our backyard and we must stay quiet and not respond? I think not!

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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Priya Manickchand and Luis Suárez Most, if not all the commentators who wrote on the Suárez biting incident believe he has a psychological problem and should seek help. The factor that they took into consideration was that the biting thing occurred three times on the field. Many psychologists took the view that it is probably something that goes back to Suárez’s childhood. Those who believed Suárez, including the citizenry of his country, Uruguay, were

embarrassed when Suárez retracted his bite denial and apologized for the biting. Priya Manickchand falls into the same category as Suárez. I first observed Manickchand’s behaviour when she was a student of mine at UG. She hung out with a group of quiet young ladies, including Manzoor Nadir’s daughter. It was plain for the teacher to see that in certain circumstances, she came across as someone easily given to cuss-down mode, though her personality on campus betrayed that character fault. When she became a Minister, my eyes caught her first speech in Parliament. This was unbelievable. Manickchand performed her delivery as no other person in the history of Parliament. You looked at this woman in the National Assembly and she was not performing her maiden speech – she was cussing down. And to make it more shocking, she was gesticulating in a manner that was common to a certain section of Bourda Market. Since that maiden speech, she has behaved like that in

every other session in Parliament, the latest being her unbecoming attack on Jaipaul Sharma. One day, Manickchand turned up in the High Court to hear her benefactor’s libel against me. I refer to Bharrat Jagdeo. During the recess, she went straight up to Mark Benschop to complain about something uncomplimentary his web page carried on her. And it was the usual market approach with the accompanying gesticulations. Suárez only bit thrice. But Manickchand is a serial offender. The latest person to feel the effect of her teeth and tongue was the US Ambassador. But her teeth and tongue have now catapulted her into the history of infamy. Her fisherwoman conduct at the US Fourth of July celebrations was not only sickening, but has nastier dimensions than the Suárez biting incident. Suárez was on a field where passions were running high and players were capable of doing things that they would not normally do. Manickchand has no excuse. A country cannot treat a foreign ambassador in the

manner that Manickchand did to the American Ambassador, in his home, at an official governmental function. This may have no precedence elsewhere in the world. The United States Government must immediately intervene because this is not the type of treatment foreign envoys should be made to endure. What Manickchand did, does not happen in diplomatic circles around the world. Leaders and Ministers do express themselves strongly at such functions, but always, the language is academic and diplomatic. Always the leader of the host country and his/her Ministers must show respect, because that is what the envoy expects from a host government. There was not even a modicum of diplomacy, subtlety, euphemistic words. Manickchand was in a cussdown mood and she cussed out the head of the American diplomatic mission in this country

It is most definite that Ramotar, Luncheon, Teixeira, Rohee and others are going to rally around Manickchand. This is the nature of the PPP. Like the millions of atrocities, immoralities, depravities and abominations the PPP Government have committed since 1992, the PPP will sit this one out. The PPP is going to tell its leaders that the storm will pass over. But the US Government and the people of Guyana should not accept this kind of sickening conduct. What Manickchand did affects the people of this country. It will have deleterious consequences for the citizens of this land if the US decides to retaliate. What Manickchand did will cast a long shadow. The usual talk in the highest circles of the Caribbean will be – well what do you expect from such a country; that is Guyana. We are so looked down upon by the Caribbean and now Manickchand has added fuel to the fire. The talk will

Frederick Kissoon be about lost, hopeless Guyana even in higher circles outside of the Caribbean. Remember it was just a few years ago when then Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding called us an international beggar. So will the Guyanese people allow President Ramotar to retain Manickchand as Education Minister? We should not. We should demand the immediate sacking of this troubled woman. If the PPP cares about Manickchand, it should immediately begin to seek psychological assistance for her. If not, as sure as night follows day, she will do it again. She is a female Suárez.

Dem boys seh... Some people mouth does fly off de hook Be careful wha you say. People can always run away wid de wrang impression. Priya talk a lot ah tings de other night when she represent de Faren Minister. De Ambassador criticise de guvament fuh nuff things and dem don’t like people bad mouth dem. De Waterfalls paper does criticise dem and dem hate de paper yet every day dem gat to see if de tings wha dem do get expose. Priya go an cuss de Ambassador in he own house. That never happen before. When people get invite to somebody house dem does behave dem self. Is de same thing when somebody dead. People don’t cuss de dead. Well dem boys seh that Priya eyes pass de Ambassador. Dem boys know seh if people did go to she house and cuss she down, she and she whole family woulda beat dem out de house. She go an talk how de Ambassador preaching wha he don’t do and de big man just look at she and shake he head and say is wha kind farewell I getting hey.

Dem boys seh that she better don’t go to Little Guyana, in New York, cause dem people waiting fuh she. Dem say how she trying fuh mek things bad fuh dem family who does line up outside de embassy everyday hoping fuh get a a visa. But dem boys get de shout dat is de Rat who write a speech den give Priya fuh go an read at de Ambassador house. Dem prappa boo she but she still cut de cake, drink de man likka den walk out with Gail. Gail dem is de same people who did beg de Americans fuh meddle in Guyana. Dat is when dem been in de opposition. Donald decide that he gun cuss down de Ambassador too. He forget is de same Ambassador who give he boats fuh de Coast Guard and who bring in de DEA. Up to yesterday he give de police more prags. Talk half but watch how you talking when you invite Guvament people to yuh house.

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Constitution appears to give Govt. blank cheque …as Finance Minister justifies $4.5B spending, rules out illegalities By Gary Eleazar The Constitution of Guyana, the supreme law of the land, appears to have provided Government with a proverbial blank cheque for seemingly unlimited expenditure from the Consolidated Fund. Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, recently tabled a Statement of Excess in Parliament documenting more than $4.5B that the Administration has already spent - allocations that had been voted down by the Opposition - prompting

allegations of illegal spending. Dr Singh yesterday hosted an engagement with the press where he provided excerpts of the relevant sections of the Constitution that authorize spending outside of the budget using the Consolidated Fund and legislative provisions allowing access to the Contingencies Fund. The Minister, in justifying the legitimacy of the $4.5B expenditure, pointed to Article 218 (3B) of the Guyana Constitution which reads: “If in respect of any financial

year it is found—that any moneys have been expended for any purpose in excess of the amount appropriated for that purpose by the Appropriation Act or for a purpose for which no amount has been appropriated by that Act, a supplementary estimate, or as the case may be, a statement of excess showing the sums required or spent shall be laid before the Assembly by the Minister responsible for finance or any other Minister designated by the President.” This provision, Dr Singh said, has been in the

GT&T facilitates online payment of bills

GT&T’s CEO Radha Krishna Sharma demonstrates the new service As E-commerce gains momentum locally, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) yesterday launched its online billing service with the aim of saving money and making customers happier. With this platform, GT&T post-paid customers can now experience the convenience of accessing telephone bills online using any internet-enabled device including smartphones, iPads, tablets, and laptops. The free service which can be accessed at https:// myaccount.gtt.co.gy allows customers to view all their telephone details including their current telephone charges, previous bills, payment history, account balances, due dates or call details. Customers who prefer to have a physical copy of the bill for record keeping have the option to download, save and print bills from MyAccount. The service is available for all GT&T postpaid customers with landline, mobile and DSL accounts. For registration, customers will require their telephone number, telephone account number and an

invoice number from a telephone bill within the last three months. Upon successful registration, a notification will be highlighted, and a temporary password will be sent to the email address of the applicant. After entering this temporary password, the applicant will receive a prompt to change the password. The applicant will then login with this new password to access their account. Once registered, the customer can add accounts (other postpaid telephone numbers) to their profile and management them from one login ID. “GT&T sees this service as very convenient not only for our residential customers but also corporate customers who will be better able to integrate and manage their telephone accounts with ease and convenience. “The introduction of this service is the first phase in GT&T’s move to offer a complete electronic Telephone Account Management platform for customers as we move to introduce new technology and improve our customer service.” GT&T’s Chief Executive Officer, Radha Krishna

Sharma, told the media that his company is proud of the move and will be launching two new initiatives soon to further push mobile technology. GT&T also hopes to save some cash, which it will, once a significant amount of customers move to the ebilling system. Sharma said that the money the company spends monthly on the postage of 200,000 bills countrywide runs into the millions – at least US$50,000 (G$10M). He explained that the cost has to also be viewed as more than just the dollar value. He said that the process of moving such volumes of paper through the post office system will be eliminated. He explained that through GT&T Mobile Money system, the company will be setting up points of sale that will allow customers to make purchases at supermarkets across the country. The company’s Director of Customer Services, Pamela Briggs said “We envisage customers no longer having to join queues, whether our business offices or via our Call Centre, to obtain billing information”.

Constitution ever since 1980, and further, a Statement of Excess is not unknown to the political opposition, since over the past two years they would have approved at least 58.9 per cent of the amounts on three Statements of Excess that he has tabled as a result of the various budget cuts. The first was submitted in 2012 asking for $1.6B and the Opposition approved $1B of that amount, which was a bailout/subsidy to meet the cost of the fuel bill by Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL). The second Statement of Excess was also tabled in 2012 asking for $204M but this was also rejected. The last one was to the tune of $3.4B, and $2B found favour with the Opposition, $1.7B of which was again for the GPL. According to Dr Singh, the fact that the Opposition approved 58.9 per cent of the $5.1B gives rise to their acceptance of the legitimacy of the Constitutional Provision allowing the expenditure by the Finance Minister from the Consolidated Fund. Dr Singh was adamant that even if it was a case that only one item was approved, “the fact of the matter is that the Parliament recognized the instrument of a Statement of Excess and approved it, even if it is one item.” Asked about the consequences of not getting the approval, and what would happen since the House did not approve $2.1B, his response was, “nothing.” Dr Singh was also unable to give a definitive answer as to why from 1980 to present; there were only three Statement of Excesses voted on in the House, without research confirming that such was the case. Asked what was the point of approving or disapproving of programmes in the Budget, if the Government is empowered under that clause of the Constitution to spend the monies anyway, Dr Singh responded by saying, “do not underestimate the value of Parliamentary scrutiny.” According to the Minister, “the Parliament has an extremely important role to play in scrutinizing the operations of government at various points in the budgetary cycle.” He said that this is not limited to the deliberations of the Estimates, Financial Papers, the Public Accounts Committee or Treasury Memoranda, but also at the level of Standing Sectoral Committees. Dr Singh said whether the Opposition wanted to approve the financial paper or not, when it comes up for a

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, as he defended the $4.5B expenditure yesterday at the NCN studio vote, they must judge each of the items based on merit. The political Opposition has already voted against and strongly voiced disapproval of expenditure incurred such as those for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project, the Specialty Hospital, NCN and GINA, among others. He reminded too that when the first allocation for the CJIA expansion was brought to the House it was approved, while recently, a provision for the Specialty Hospital was also approved. What Dr Singh did not say is that subsequent to the initial approval of the CJIA Expansion, several revelations caused them to change their positions and called for full disclosure before there can be further support. What Dr Singh also did not say is that on the occasion of the vote for the Specialty Hospital, one

Member of the Opposition, Deborah Backer (now deceased) was out of the country for treatment while another, Volda Lawrence, fell ill at the time of the vote. Asked what plans are in place should the Opposition decline to support the Statement of Excess currently before the House, Dr Singh reminded that the money has already been spent. He said that should the House not approve of it, then he really wouldn’t be able to say what the consequences would be. Reminded that there are monies from the three previous Statement of Excess that were not approved and asked to say what would happen, Dr Singh said “nothing.” Asked if with the provision in place, Parliament is now merely a ‘rubber stamp,’ Dr Singh responded in the negative.

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M15 teens found guilty - TO KNOW FATE FOLLOWING PROBATION REPORT The two teenagers, who were earlier this year indicted for an illegal gun, matching ammunition and grenades, have been found guilty on two of the three instituted charges and are set to know their fate next week after the court receives their probation reports. The gun-toting eighteenyear-olds, Kevin George and Dapper Johnson, made headlines earlier this year when police ranks busted them in South Ruimveldt with one M15 rifle, 61 live rounds of matching ammunition and grenades. Two days after the January 22 discovery, George of Costello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, and Johnson, of Curtis Street, Albouystown, were taken before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to be arraigned for three gunrelated crimes. The first charge laid against them alleged that on January 22, last at South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, without lawful authority, they had explosive devices in their possession - one concussion and one explosive grenade.

The Prosecution sought to prove too that the duo had one M15 rifle and sixty-one rounds of .223 ammunition while neither was the holder of a firearm licence. It was reported that the two youths were seen by ranks on a motorcycle patrol around 11:15 hours, acting suspiciously on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, in the vicinity of Penny Lane, moments before they were nabbed with the weapons. At the time, George, who was named as the number one accused, was spotted with a haversack on his back but as the ranks approached them, he quickly handed it over to the other teen. However, Johnson retaliated by throwing it on the ground where the ranks were able to pick it up and search through it. Upon checking the bag the ranks uncovered the items. The two were then apprehended and taken to the Brickdam Police Station where charges were subsequently laid. Before the party left the scene of the discovery, one of the ranks reportedly asked

George and the other accused whether they were licenced firearm holders. They both indicated that they were not. At the city court on January 24, both teens were formally charged and they pleaded not guilty to the three charges. A trial subsequently got underway before the Chief Magistrate. During the course of the trial, George’s lawyer Peter Hugh and Johnson’s lawyer Clive Forde, raised arguments against the admissibility of their confession statements and contended that the charge which was administered for the explosives was not befitting the alleged crime. The Prosecution’s closing statements yesterday were made by Corporal Bharat Mangru. Mangru called upon the evidence of Constable Gravesande, and asked the court to consider that the teens were charged under the correct Act. He asked that the charge stand before the court. Neither of the two lawyers responded to that submission. As she read her decision, the Chief Magistrate lamented on the circumstances through which

The accused teenagers

the two were charged. She said that after conducting a voir dire, the court had found that the confession statements of both accused were inadmissible. Sewnarine-Beharry recapped, stating that as the teens lead their defence, George denied the “bag” while Johnson remained silent. She said that though the two accused had no legal burden to prove anything, the court had disbelieved George. The Magistrate indicated too that the court was of the opinion that he knew of the bag and what was in it. She said that Johnson also knew what was in the bag. She said on account of the firearm and ammunition charge, the Prosecution had proven its case beyond

reasonable doubt and they were found guilty. As it relates to the explosives, the Chief Magistrate ruled that that charge was “improperly brought” and it was as a consequence dismissed. During mitigation, Hugh stated that this was George’s first conviction. He stated that he suspects that the penalty is mandatory and asked the court for the minimum. Hugh urged the court to consider too that his client had been in custody since his first arraignment. On behalf of Johnson, Forde said that at the time of the incident his client was 17 years old. He asked that the court refer to the Caribbean Court of Justice decisions

and note that his client was a first-time offender. Forde requested that a probation report be prepared for his client before sentencing. Responding, Corporal Mangru asked the court to act as a deterrent to both defendants. He asked the court to consider that a M15 rifle and 61 matching rounds of ammunition were found when ruling, so as to send a strong message to society. Defence Attorney Hugh, however, argued that “murderers get seventy years yet murders are going on. The penalty isn’t a deterrent. A penalty is what a penalty is.” A probation report was ordered for the defendants and the case was set for ruling next Tuesday (July 8).

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Pre-trial liberty for Labourers granted bail attempted murder accused on burglary charge Two Kopinang, North Pakaraimas farmers appeared briefly in the City magistrate’s court yesterday and were granted bail in connection with charges of attempted murder. Delroy Pio and Jarvis Joseph were granted $350,000 bail each by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry before whom they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The charge against Pio alleged that on June 15, last, in the North Pakaraimas, he attempted to murder Dolphin Johnny by stabbing him in the right abdomen. Joseph was accused of attempting to murder Vernacious Pio during the dispute. Also involved in the dispute was Dolphin’s father Randolph Johnny, who was accused of assaulting Gilford Pio and causing bodily harm. According to the

ACCUSED: Jarvis Joseph Prosecution, Randolph, reacting to Pio allegedly stabbing his son, picked up a piece of wood and dealt him several blows. Even though he pleaded guilty at their first court appearance on June 22, a not guilty plea was entered for him by the Chief Magistrate because of the circumstances

surrounding the attack. It was yesterday reported by Police Prosecutor, Corporal Bharat Mangru that Johnny has been released from the hospital. Reports of the matter by the Prosecution are a bit sketchy. After hearing the case, the Chief Magistrate contemplated attaching conditions to bail for the two men. She asked which police station was the closest to their village and they said Orinduik. “It does just take one day to walk to Orinduik.” The Chief Magistrate, upon receiving such information, stated that she will attach no condition to their bail. They are scheduled to appear at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court on September 1. Bail was granted in the sum of $350,000 each. Randolph is also scheduled to appear at that court on the said date.

Ramotar slams US diplomat over... From page 3 governor in the country and not as an ambassador. “I think he would have probably done much better in doing his business as an ambassador. However if he was so concerned about democracy, I think he should probably think about the fact that the United States has been passing laws in their Congress where Guyana nor the rest of the Caribbean doesn't have a say, but we are forced to implement those laws like the financial laws that they recently passed, where banks must report American citizens who have their deposits here.” Ramotar said that many of the issues raised by the American diplomat “are really way out and the ambassador would do very very well, instead of getting involved in local politics, to really represent the interest of his country properly”. President Ramotar said that the outburst

by the US envoy, is not a “one-off shot” issue adding “if you look also at the Wikileaks, this very ambassador, when he was ambassador in other parts of the Caribbean, has been sending all kinds of personal things about leaders of the Caribbean. “So I am not worried about his comments, I think that if he was really concerned about democracy, there are many many places like Egypt where the United States has very close relationships, they have serious democratic problems, maybe they should go and talk to them.” An angry Guyana head of state also suggested that the diplomat should go to his own country “where you have governors in different states taking decisions…where public servants don't have collective bargaining. Those are things that are trampling democracy. If he is so mindful he should get involved in that type of politics,” Ramotar told CMC.

Bail was yesterday set to the tune of $100,000 for two Baramita, Barima-Waini (Region One) labourers who were charged for burgling a business owner’s house and making off with over $600,000 in gold, raw silver and other items. Dexter Griffith, 43, and Junior Melville, 19, were jointly indicted for break and enter and larceny before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The charge against them alleged that between June 16 and June 28, last, at Central Baramita, they broke and entered into Noran Ramroop’s business and stole a quantity of items totaling $666,000. The items listed in the charge included 10 pounds of raw silver, a gold chain and ring, hydraulic oil, 40 men’s jerseys and a cellular phone. To the allegation, they pleaded not guilty and asked the Magistrate to consider bail. Police Prosecutor, Corporal Bharat Mangru, explained that on June 16, last, the businessman secured his place but had returned on June 28 around 12:00 hours to discover the items missing. Ramroop reported the

ACCUSED: Dexter Griffith

ACCUSED: Junior Melville

matter and the subsequent day, the police caught the two men with a quantity of teeshirts and other items. Mangru explained that they were selling the items at a cheaper cost and the entrepreneur identified the clothes as his. Melville and Griffith were arrested and further investigations led to the two being charged for the offence. The Prosecution offered no objections to bail but asked that conditions be applied. Forde, who was unrepresented by legal counsel, denied involvement in the burglary and stated that he was “given two jerseys.”

He told the court that he has a drug-related case pending at the Wales Magistrates’ Court. He said that he is from Vive La Force, West Bank Demerara but works as a labourer at Baramita. Meanwhile, Melville told the Chief Magistrate that Ramroop was his employer and he had owed him $15,000. She advised him to make such reports to the Ministry of Labour. The sludge worker stated that he had no previous brushes with the law. Bail was granted and the case is set to be called on August 4 at the Matthew’s Ridge Magistrates’ Court.

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US Peace Corps volunteers Williams’ allegations are vexatious, to tackle health, education Rodney COI…

outrageous and sinister - Nandlall By Latoya Giles Attorney General Anil Nandlall yesterday categorically denied that government backdated the Official Gazette which purported to extend the life of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry. The allegation was made by APNU’s Lawyer Basil Williams. Nandlall said that allegations are totally “vexatious, outrageous and sinister”. According to the Attorney General, the allegations are obviously calculated to undermine the integrity of the Commission, which is not surprising. Nandlall said that “it has been the agenda of Williams and his party even before the Commission was established”. “I can only surmise that they realized that they would not be able to deal with the evidence that was likely to emerge and in fact is emerging from the Commission,” Nandlall stated. “From the outset, they attacked the Terms of Reference….that failed…then they next challenged the integrity of Commissioner Seenath Jairam, SC. That failed…then they attacked the integrity of the Chairman Sir Richard Cheltenham, QC…All these attempts failed,” said Nandlall. He said that the contention this time is that the extension of the life of the

Commission is improper and unlawful. Williams, he said, is hopelessly wrong. Nandlall explained that on June 23rd last, before the commencement of the third sitting of the Commission, the President sent a letter to the Chairman extending the life of the Commission until September 30th 2014. This notification was published in the Official Gazette in an extra ordinary publication dated June, 24th 2014 which stated that it was effective from June 23rd, 2014. Nandlall stated that the Commissions of Inquiry Act, Chapter 19:03 by virtue of Section 3 gives the President the power to alter a Commission of Inquiry established under that Act. Section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, Chapter 19:03 provides thus: “In case any commissioner shall be or become unable or unwilling to act, or shall die, the President may appoint another commissioner in his place; and any commission issued under this Act may be altered as the President may deem fit by any subsequent commission issued by the President or may be revoked altogether by a notification to that effect published in the Gazette”. It was, therefore, well within the power of the President to include in the publication that the extension was to be effective from June 23rd 2014.

Nandlall further stressed that Section 21 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act, Chapter 2:01 gives the President the power to publish subsidiary legislation, such as, the notification for extension and for them to have retrospective operation. Section 21 (2) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act, Chapter 2:01 states: “Statutory Legislation other than those specified in subsection (1) need not be published unless expressly required by the Act conferring power to make them, and, whether published or not, such instruments shall come into operation at the time of their making or at such other time as may be specified therein” the Attorney General stated. He explained that the evidence taken by the Commission on June 23rd 2014, is therefore beyond any legal challenge. “A simple reading of the relevant sections of the Commissions of Inquiry Act and the Interpretation and General Clauses Act would have saved Williams from much embarrassment,” Nandlall said. “It is my considered view Williams, rather than making those the objections before the Commission itself…leads me to the ineluctable conclusion that Williams not only intends to mislead the public but also to disparage the integrity of the Commission,” Nandlall lamented.

The US Peace Corps volunteers taking the Oath at yesterday’s ceremony The 32 United States Peace Corps volunteers, who recently completed their twomonth training in Guyana and were sworn in officially as volunteer workers yesterday, are expected to tackle the areas of health and education as they move forward in their two years of service. After two days of commencing their training, the volunteers were already making recommendations for the areas where they were placed and it was recognized immediately, that much work has to be done in the areas of adult literacy, community waste management and health among other areas. Ambassador Brent Hardt who administered the Oath to the volunteers at the Conference Centre on the East Coast of Demerara, recognized Guyana as a developing country which is

faced with challenges of poverty, HIV/AIDS epidemic, ethnic/ racial divisions, crime and security threats and education gaps. The US, he said, has a strong interest in the partnership with Guyana to support national interest in addressing diverse challenges. Minister of Health Bheri Ramsaran, after giving a history lesson on the contribution of Americanborn former President Janet Jagan and speaking extensively on the partnership of Guyana and the US, expressed eagerness in the volunteers commencing their service in the health sector. He highlighted that the Ministry would be advocating feverishly in addressing the issue of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

The Minister hopes to launch, this year, a Presidential Commission on NCDs. The Minister hoped also that the Peace Corps and the Ministry on the next occasion would work closer in looking at areas to address, since he touched on environmental areas where he thought the Corps would be more effective. Deputy Chief Education Officer, Donna Chapman, explained that literacy development is an integral part of the Education Ministry’s 2008-2013 strategic plan. She said that now that the Ministry is in the process of completing the new plan, literacy continues to be emphasized. She was enthused that the volunteers would be working in the areas of teaching strategies, development and maintenance of school libraries and remedial work to list a few. Peace Corps Country Director, Linda Arbogast, explained that the Peace Corps officers are the 26th batch to offer their services in Guyana. The thirty-two persons will operate in the service Corps which was started by former American President John F. Kennedy in 1961. The group received their pins and certificates yesterday. They will be posted in Regions one, two, three, four, five, six and ten. Arbogast pointed out that the volunteers have recognized gaps in adult literacy among other areas and suggested the operation of community clean-up campaigns; compost systems, book clubs, after school homework clubs, and healthy cooking classes, among lessons on the kindness to and respect of creatures. Volunteers will reside with host families, and will receive stipends from the Embassy for modest living.

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Charges for salesman GT&T appoints Russell Davis who faked $9M heist as Chief Technical Officer - claims he stashed $1.3M for himself before attack The driver/salesman who police say stole $9M from his employer and then claimed he was robbed is to be charged today. He has been in custody since Monday, when he allegedly gave police two conflicting stories about being attacked and robbed in Cemetery Road. The money disappeared shortly after the Associated Industries Limited (AINLIM) employee uplifted the cash from Neal and Massy Ltd., which is a subsidiary of AINLIM. Kaieteur News understands that the salesman first told police that he was driving back to his workplace at around 14.00 hrs on Monday when two gunmen on motorcycles intercepted him and made off with the money. However, under interrogation, the employee reportedly came up with an even

more bizarre story. According to sources, the salesman claimed that he had received word some days prior to the heist that bandits were planning to rob him. He is said to have claimed that on the day of the ‘attack’, he received a call from the ‘bandits’ who told him to drive to Cemetery Road. On reaching there, a man emerged from a ‘red car,’ held him at gunpoint, and escaped with the money. However, the salesman reportedly stated that he had stashed $1.3M for himself prior to the attack. That money was recovered at a Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara location. Kaieteur News understands that the salesman continues to insist that the ‘bandits’ made off with the rest of the money.

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) has appointed its Director of Technical Operations and Planning, Russell Davis, as Chief Technical Officer effective July 1, 2014. According to the company, Davis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alberta and brings a wealth of experience, institutional knowledge and demonstrated leadership in areas of microwave and satellite communications, submarine cable design and construction, central office

design and implementation, mobile (2G, 3G and 4G) and fibre optic network system design and operations. “Mr. Davis joined GT&T as an Engineer-in-Training – Expansion Project in 1993 and continually assumed increased roles and responsibilities in the ongoing rollout of the nationwide GT&T mobile and fixed network services per GT&T’s New Product and Development Plans.” From 2009 to date, Davis held the position of Director, Technical Operations and Planning with primary responsibility for the national

‘Ice cream man’ charged with rape of girl, 14 A man who was entrusted with the care of some school children has been charged with raping one of the minors. Colin Caesar, 47, called ‘Ice Cream man’, of Fort Ordnance, East Canje Berbice, who is a businessman, as well as a community and youth group leader, is accused of having sexual intercourse with a 14year-old girl. He appeared on Tuesday at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Shurdel Isaacs and was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge.

He is alleged to have committed the act on May 19 in a car on a street in Fort Ordnance Housing Scheme. Police Prosecutor Sergeant Godfrey Playter did not object to bail, but told the court to consider that the victim lives a few houses away from the accused. Caesar was told that he should not be seen within 20 feet of the victim. It is reported that the accused and the victim - who is a third form student of a popular secondary school in New Amsterdam - are well known to each other.

- granted $175,000 bail The man and the girl’s family are also well acquainted and on occasion the girl’s family would usually entrust her in Caesar and his family’s care. Caesar, who is an executive member of the Fort Ordnance Housing Scheme Developmental Organization, is also a youth group leader in the area. It is said that on the day in question the girl was left with Caesar and his family,

and he allegedly had sexual intercourse with her. The matter was reported and after investigation the man was arrested and subsequently placed on bail. A file was prepared and subsequently sent to the DPP for advice. In court, bail was set at $175,000. Caesar is to report once every fortnight to the Central Police Station. He is scheduled to return to court on July 18

Colin Caesar called ‘Ice-Cream Man’

New Chief Technical Officer: Russell Davis and international transmission, switching and mobile network operations. GT&T said that Davis has also been recognized by his regional and international peers, as demonstrated by his being requested to chair sessions at Caribbean Association of National Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Organizations (CANTO) Annual Conference and Trade Exhibitions in addition to presenting technical and project papers at Caribbean Telecommunication Union (CTU) and Commonwealth Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Organization ( CTO) forums. Davis joins R.K. Sharma (Chief Executive Officer) and Justin Nedd (Chief Financial Officer) as members of the company’s Executive Management team.

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 04, 2014

Spread of Chikungunya virus...

Situation likely to “get worse before it gets better,” says officials “It’s going to get much worse before it gets better,” a few senior health officials have said of the Chikungunya virus outbreak here. Initial reports out of the Ministry of Health were that the virus was first detected in Region Six, then in sections of Georgetown, and even more recent reports suggest that it has infiltrated three more Regions, with the total number of confirmed cases rising to 31. But this publication understands that currently the number of suspected cases have amounted to a few hundreds, forcing the Health Ministry to further spread out its human resources to battle the impact of the mosquitoborne virus. Minister Bheri Ramsaran in a televised broadcast recently disclosed that moves have been made to train additional vector control workers from at least four Regions in an attempt to bolster the Ministry’s efforts

to tackle the virus. This comes even as efforts are being made to train personnel to test for the virus here at the National Reference Laboratory. Thus far, all cases here have been confirmed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad. Several attempts by this publication to contact Dr. Ramsaran, to ascertain to what extent the efforts of the Ministry have been intensified in light of the spread of the disease were futile. Dr. Ramsaran has in recent days been filtering controlled information about his Ministry’s efforts to deal with the virus through the State’s official media outfit – the Government Information Agency (GINA). According to a GINA report, “the Chikungunya virus has made its way to other parts of the country with seven of the 12 newly confirmed cases emanating

The Aedes Aegypti mosquito which spreads the Chikungunya virus

from Regions Three, Four, Five and the City.” According to GINA, the Minister has said that there are three cases from the areas of Bath Settlement, Bush Lot and Number Nine Village, all in West Berbice; one each from Mahaicony and Ithaca; one from North Ruimveldt and one from Crane, West Coast Demerara. The Ministry, since the detection of the virus, has intensified its surveillance efforts, and according to reports reaching this publication, about 10 cases matching the virus’s case definition are reported on a daily basis. I ts case definition include: fever, rash, headache, muscle and joint pains, and malaise. These symptoms are known to cause moderate to severe ailment that can even be lifethreatening if there are certain

existing pre-conditions. The Minister, who had insisted that all of the initial cases, even those among residents of Georgetown, originated in Berbice, has since disclosed that he is unaware whether the later cases had any linkage to the Ancient County. He has however noted that the Epidemiologist, attached to the Health Ministry, Dr. Morris Edwards, is tasked with analysing the acquired data. The Health Minister at the onset of the outbreak had insisted that strategic moves were being made to contain the virus to East Berbice. However, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Shadow Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton, had insisted that such an ambition was unrealistic, since containment measures were

not in place. According to Dr. Norton, “when one takes into consideration the Chikungunya virus situation in St Lucia, we can possibly be in a worse situation here in Guyana”. Reports are that the virus, which surfaced in the Caribbean for the first time last year, has reached disturbing proportions in the Windward Island. In fact, he theorised that since the symptoms of the virus are very similar to those of dengue fever, the possibility exists that a number of Chikungunya virus cases are being passed off as dengue fever. “We have the mosquito here, we have all the conditions here, and we have persons coming down with the symptoms, so we can very well have a high percentage of the Chikungunya virus right here in Georgetown,” the Shadow Health Minister speculated. In addition to raising awareness about the virus, the Health Ministry has been intensifying its fogging efforts, particularly in the city and Berbice. The Chikungunya virus is spread by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which is prevalent in sections of Guyana. The same mosquito is also known to transmit dengue fever which is characterised by similar symptoms, all of which are treatable. However, it can

result in some long-term effects primarily joint pains and paralysis. Depending on an individual’s body reaction after the incubation period, persons may experience pain even after seeking medical attention. This period can last from two to six days with symptoms lasting four to seven days after infection. Individuals experiencing any such symptoms are asked to visit a health facility as soon as possible. Also, persons are encouraged to keep their environment clean in order to reduce the breeding ability of the mosquito. According to information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as of June 27, 2014, a total of 259,723 suspected and 4,721 laboratoryconfirmed Chikungunya cases had been reported in the Caribbean, Central America, or South America. The disease was first reported in the Caribbean in December 2013, and has since touched Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Suriname, Turks and Caicos Islands, and US Virgin Islands.

Friday July 04, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Food and Drug Dept. set to clamp down on illegal water companies The absence of a certified operator on any water processing site could see the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GAFDD) taking legal action. At least this is according to the GA-FDD Director, Marlan Cole, who has insisted that “failure to comply with the Department’s rules and processing requirements will result in legal action against defaulting establishments.” Without an operator in place, Cole said that water processing/distribution establishments will be denied operating licences. The Department had earlier this year convened a workshop with water

distributors and processors in order to highlight the requirements for such businesses, including the employment of a certified water processing operator, by June 30, 2014. Previously the water processing companies were required to be licenced by April 30 annually. However, since the requirement for trained operators was being recommended, moves were made to collaborate with EMPRETEC Guyana, to facilitate training. EMPRETEC is a non– profit institution with a mission to enhance private sector development by providing support to established, and emerging

small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Moreover, training sessions were convened on two occasions – in March and May – where a total of 37 water processing operators were trained, allowing for the facilities they are associated with to seek operating licences. But according to Cole, there are currently more than 70 known water processing and distribution locations in Guyana. And so given the number of trained operators, there are a number of such facilities that are yet to put themselves in order. An EMPRETEC official yesterday said that the organisation is prepared to train even more operators - in

Dynamic Airways aircraft ousted... From page 20 looked at as the US Authorities got involved in rectifying the matter. Dynamic Airways recently commenced service on the Guyana/New York route and already experienced numerous problems on the NY leg. Roraima Airways is Dynamic's local partner. Roraima's head, Gerry Gouveia stated that while the Guyanese operations are not connected to what happened in Brazil, what happened there was a result of a cracked windshield. While clearing up other negative issues facing the airline, Gouveia explained that Dynamic was in no way selling tickets for domestic flights in Brazil. He said the airline was chartered by a company to take 220 persons from Houston, Texas

to Brazil. He said the passengers expected to land at Manaus Airport and then onto Natal. However, when the passengers arrived at the first airport, a crack was noticed in the plane's windshield and they had to switch planes. As a result, Gouveia said that the flight schedule mixed up, so the plane got to Natal late. The plane was also supposed to leave Natal within a certain time, since planes could not fly over the stadium during the games. Dynamic was then stuck at the airport in Natal and in addition to the time issues etc., authorities zeroed in. “Dynamic was not in Brazil selling tickets or picking up new passengers, they were moving the exact passengers that they had flown in,” Gouveia claimed.

batches of at least 15 - in the quest to ensuring that all functional water processing/ distribution facilities are outfitted with the requisite personnel to enable licencing. The official disclosed that more than 50 representatives from various water processing organisations were enlightened to crucial water processing practices at the workshop held earlier this year. That workshop was spearheaded by the Food and Drug Department in collaboration with EMPRETEC. The Food and Drug Director, at that sensitisation forum in January, regarded it as a necessary undertaking, since according to him “some of the practices, that obtain in the (water processing/ distribution) industry today, have spiralled out of control...” As such, Cole, in reminding that the stipulated deadline for licencing of such facilities has passed, emphasised that the presence of the Certified Operators on site must always be evident. According to him, too, manufacturers/processors of water are also being reminded

of the Department’s requirement for sale of water, which calls for safe bottling, sealing and correct labelling to protect consumers. In addition, Cole said that the operators of the water facilities are being asked to desist from illegal, unauthorised and unhygienic practices in the water processing and distribution industry. These practices, he stated, include: “the use of funnels to aid the distribution of water in five gallon bottles to consumers; the use of unsealed or re-used caps on bottles leaving the processing establishment and the non-use of labels on bottles leaving the premises and in many cases the use of competitors’ labels on bottles that leave the premises of some proprietors.” As a result, Cole said that the Department is calling on consumers and corporations, including ministries, to purchase water only from licenced entities. He disclosed that since licenced operators are mandated to display their licences conspicuously on their premises, customers could be

Director of the Food and Drug Dept., Marlan Cole able to easily ascertain the approved facilities. “If you go to buy water and you do not see that licence on display you have the right to ask to see it before you decide to buy water from that facility,” Cole told this publication yesterday.

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Kaieteur News

VACANCY

PROPERTY FOR SALE

SALON

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

Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773

One female clerk – Tel: 225-6481 FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. One smoothie machine and ice machine – Call: 231-0655 or 683-8734 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 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

FOR SALE One Grocery stall & one snackette – Call:679-1157 (7:00am -6:00pm only)

Office clerk senior/junior CXC: English, Mathematics & computer knowledge an asset- Call: 225-0188/225-6070

Dressed and mill cut lumber: Kabukalli, Silverballi, Greenheart, Crab Wood etc Call: 688-6579

Experienced News Reporter - $150,000 -$200,000; Hours: Midnight – 8AM; 6 days per week - Tel: 673-5475

New Brazilian Beef Saw – Tel: 671-7482

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.

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 One fruit dryer machine (new) 2 compressors, distilled water machine, 4 mag rims - Call: 231-5171 or 6197134 1-10 Ton Winch & Cable, One Cylinder Diesel Engine (New) – Tel: 618-4872 Hallow block machine – Call: 617-3001

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 Yamaha outboard engines, various sizes, tundra wheels, boat trailer – Tel: 220-1981, 690-1945 One slate pools table 8’X4’ $360,000 – Tel: 601-8083, 6892658 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 One used Xbox360 & TV with two controls & four games - $100,000 – Tel: 6217497; 603-8643 One Samsung S4 19500 cell phone, 64GB storage, 2GB RAM, good condition$65,000- Tel:672-7422; 2256455 Computers, freezer, laminating machine, game controllers, UPS, chairs, etc - Call: 696-4832; 234-0530

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 Cashiers @ Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) – Tel: 265-7305

CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 2257126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com ProgressiveAuto Rental: Cars & SUV for rental- $4,000 & up per day- Call: 643-5122, 219-3900 ,Email:pro_ autorental @yahoo.com Wings Car Rental- Call: 6906494/ BBM pin: 24E17558 Aidan’s Car Rental, Canter & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 6987807

CATERING

Friday July 04, 2014

1- Live in maid, must be from the country between age 3545yrs & know to cook Indian Dish – Tel:662-1124; 611-0200

LAND FOR SALE Land for sale 110X60 at 5th Avenue Diamond, EBD. For quick sale - $7M. Contact: 652-5601 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

Roxy’s Snackette & Catering Services: Any occasion, daily breakfast, lunch, snacks, fruit juices, power porridge – Call: 223-0092; 223-0095

1-3 storey business – Opposite GPHC, Middle Street, 2 business property @ Whim Public Road Corentyne, Price Negotiable – Contact:619-7134; 225-6481 Property for sale around Banks DIH area – Telephone:231-6693

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 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 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

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

DRESSMAKING Jean offers courses in dressmaking, designing curtains, floral decoration & cake decoration – Tel: 6181706; 670-2653.

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

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 Commercial and domestic building designs from $10,000 estimates and electrical works available – Contact Sean: 667-2189 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, washing machines, A/C units – Call Lindon: 6411086, 694-2202, 227-8907 VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota IST - $1.6M, excellent condition, chrome rims – Contact Chad: 685-7728; 2671551

VEHICLE FOR SALE 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. 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 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 1 Backhoe - $6.5M, 2 Chipper - $300,000 each, XTai brush cutter - $80,000 (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 Two EFR Dump truck, aluminum tray, 2001 model $6.5M negotiable each (vehicle unregistered)– Contact: 662-0701, 692-0661 1 Seddon Atkinson truck 3 side dump, 2003 model $6.5M negotiable (vehicle unregistered)– Contact: 6620701, 692-0661 (Continued on page 31)

Friday July 04, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 31

Lethem businesses reject electricity rates increase - say 100% hike will cause prices of goods to go up The business community of Lethem, an area that borders with neighbouring Brazil in Region Nine, has rejected an electricity tariff increase announced last Friday by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds. The hike took effect from Tuesday, July 1. “The Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) executives and members of the business community are very disturbed, and peeved about the decision taken to increase the electricity rates without proper consultation with its members.” In a statement yesterday, the RCCI said the Prime Minister held a meeting on the rates hike last Friday at the Arapaima Primary School where about 35 residents were present, and not hundreds, as was reported by another newspaper. The business body denied that the increase was agreed to by residents, as was reported on Sunday. In February, the Power Company and Chamber had accepted and agreed to electricity rate as follows: First 15 kilowatt (KWH) hours of electricity will remain free for residential and commercial consumers. “For residential consumers, from 16- 45 KWH, the rate will be $55 per KWH, and from 46 KWH and above, the cost will be $60 per KWH. It was agreed that for commercial consumers, from 16 to 100 kwh, the rate will be $55 per KWH, from 101 to 200 kwh, $60 per kwh, from 201 to 400KWH, $70 per KWH, and for over 400 units consumed, $75 per KWH.” The chamber insisted that even if the new rates were effective in February, the reality is that the power company has not been supplying a reliable service.

This was even though the company had acquired two new generators. “Additionally, the consumers both residents and commercial were finding it difficult to cope with the rates agreed upon in February. On July 1st, the Power Company in an effort to recover monies for electricity consumed from consumers, revealed that there were in excess of 300 consumers who were unable to pay their May month bills on time; a total value of approximately $10M. The Chamber is of the view that with this new increase many consumers will be unable to meet that demand.” The new rates effective from July 1st are first 15 kilowatt of electricity free; $60 per kilowatt for electricity consumed from 16 to 50 kw, and $100 per KWH for any unit above 50kw. “The Chamber has found this to be very harsh compared to the rates agreed upon last February, and the Chamber is therefore questioning why such an increase without proper consultation with consumers. It is therefore, calling on the Power Company to review this rate immediately, and ask that the previous rate be continued until a workable solution could be reached.” The Chamber urged Government to increase its subsidy to the power company so that consumers can be cushioned. “Should this increase stand, then there will be no alternative but to increase prices of commodities and services that are being provided by various businesses. From February to now the price of electricity has gone up by 100%. For businesses to survive, they will have to increase their prices by a similar margin.

Some are contemplating closing while others are thinking to move their businesses to neighbouring Brazilian town of Bon Fim, where electricity costs are much lower than Lethem.” The RCCI said that it is fully aware that the power company is experiencing its fair share of financial difficulties. “The Government must support the development of Lethem and the Rupununi region by increasing its financial and other support to its agencies. The private sector has invested an estimated $4B over the last eight years and has created jobs for hundreds of Amerindian residents who stand to go on the breadline if these new electricity rates are not rescinded. The Chamber is calling on President Ramotar and his Cabinet to intervene in what can escalate into a crisis situation if not resolved amicably.” At a meeting with its members Wednesday evening, businesses also voiced their concerns about the continued deplorable state of the Lethem to Linden road, and “viewed this as a great hindrance to development of the border town, thus bringing additional hardships to the rapidly growing population of the Rupununi.” The Chamber noted that since the Moco Moco Hydropower station collapsed some eleven years ago, several efforts were made by the Chamber to have the facilities rehabilitated. “The RCCI is once again calling on government to give consideration towards harnessing the Moco Moco hydro and any other suitable potentials of alternative energy.”

VEHICLE FOR SALE First Class Auto: 2006 Premio, 2006 Allion, 2004 Spacio, IST, Axela, Fielder, Rush – Call: 609-8188; 638-3045 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

TO LET One 1-bedroom bottom flat to rent located at L.B.I, East Coast Demerara – Contact: 220-7399 or 682-6294 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 2 BEDROOM UPSTAIRS FLAT, LARGE VERANDAH & WASHROOM, PARKING ETC @ LAMAHA GARDENS – SERIOUS ENQUIRIES – CALL:6098132 OR 672-8569 (MAX) Large unfurnished three bedroom top flat apartment with master room, AC & Parking, located @ Republic Park - USD$600. Phone:6216888 Furnished and unfurnished two bedrooms apartment in Eccles, for short or long term – Tel: 690-6494

China Railway awarded contract... From page 6 US$60.418 million. “It would be recalled that the latter company is engaged on the airport expansion project. The justification given by the evaluation panel for not awarding the contract to the lowest bidder was that the panel had reservations about the bidder ’s ability to complete the works at the tendered price,” the Finance Minister said. He added, “The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) transmitted the recommendation of the evaluation committee to the Cabinet for its no objection,

whereupon the Cabinet withheld its no objection. The Cabinet’s reservations were based on the fact that all of the invited bidders were prequalified and therefore judged to have both the financial and technical capacity to execute the works...” “The matter was therefore returned to NPTAB in view of the withholding of Cabinet’s no-objection, for reconsideration. The same evaluation panel then reconsidered the matter, and revised its recommendation in favour of the lowest bidder, and that revised recommendation was

resubmitted to the Cabinet and received its no objection. The contract was therefore awarded to the lowest prequalified bidder, China Railway First Group.” He said that the incident also drives home clearly, the importance of retaining the Cabinet no-objection to contract awards above a certain level. “Had this Cabinet right of no-objection been denied, as is the Opposition’s wont, the nation would have been $2.8 billion poorer for the absence of Cabinet oversight.” The Minister was then reminded of the fact that the Chinese Company, regardless

of it being the lowest bidder, had incomplete documentation. As it relates to comments that there was political interference in selecting China Railway despite the discovery, the Minister said, “If that were the case, we would not have opened bids. My favourite newspaper, Kaieteur News, even carried the tendered prices…”

(From page 30)

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Modi and McCain talk of desire to ‘revitalize’ India-U.S. ties NEW DELHI (Reuters) Newly elected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushed for improving U.S. ties during a meeting with Senator John McCain in New Delhi yesterday, as the two countries seek to patch up their differences and boost their economic relationship. The treatment of an Indian diplomat arrested in New York in December triggered a serious spat between the two countries and was widely blamed for the resignation of the U.S. ambassador to India. The Obama administration has been seeking to revive ties since Modi’s election in May, seeing India as a key strategic counterbalance in Asia to an increasingly assertive China. Modi “conveyed his desire to further deepen and expand the strategic partnership,” a statement from the Indian government said. It said that he hoped for a “forward looking, result-oriented visit” to the United States in September when he is due to attend the

U.S. Senator John McCain and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting in New Delhi. Photo courtesy: PIB United Nations General Assembly in New York. McCain, who told the Senate last week that Washington should seek to help India’s economic and military development, spoke of high expectations about a new momentum in India’s economic growth under the new government. There was no mention in the statement of defense deals. Both

governments have signaled they are keen to ramp up bilateral trade, which stands at about $100 billion annually and is considered to be below potential due to disputes over protectionism and intellectual property rights. McCain’s visit comes at an awkward time - just days after reports that the U.S. National Security Agency was authorized to spy on Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in 2010, when the party was in the opposition. On Wednesday, India’s foreign ministry summoned a senior U.S. envoy in Delhi and said it had sought an assurance that the surveillance would not happen in the future. The Indian government statement of their remarks released after the McCainModi meeting did not mention the snooping row. Modi was denied a visa in 2005 for travel to the United States following religious riots in 2002 while he was a state chief minister. Even so, he has responded positively to the U.S. advances and shown no resentment publicly. In addition to discussing the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, Modi emphasized that the fight against terror should be a global priority, the statement said.

Friday July 04, 2014

World Bank commits US$10.2 billion to the Caribbean this year WASHINGTON – CMC The World Bank says it has committed US$10.2 billion this year to support Latin America and the Caribbean efforts to boost economic growth and maintain historic social gains. The Washington-based financial institution said that the amount included resources from its International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). The World Bank’s IBRD and IDA “maintained its strong support for the region” by approving more than US$5.1 billion in new loans in fiscal year 2014, US$4.6 billion

from IBRD and US$455 million from IDA, the bank’s fund for the poorest countries, the statement said. “Support was aimed at generating opportunities for all through public and private sector projects that expand public services, improve regional productivity, competitiveness and integration, create new quality jobs and assist those most in need,” said the bank, adding that Haiti received US$103 million in IDA grants. Transportation, fiscal management and education received the most IBRD funding, said the World Bank, with the region receiving one fourth of IBRD?s total global new lending. The bank said that this fiscal year, IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank

Group, identified infrastructure as one of the most urgent priorities to help boost competitiveness and job creation, especially for the region’s growing urban population.In fiscal year 2014, the World Bank said IFC invested US$1.7 billion in 34 infrastructure projects, including energy, ports, telecom and more. In total, the World Bank said IFC supported 148 projects in Latin America and the Caribbean this fiscal year with US$5.1 billion in investments, including US$1.1 billion mobilized from other financial institutions. It said IFC clients help support jobs for more than 1,580,000 people and provide over 25 million people with connections to power, water and telephone services.

Phones, shoes to face scrutiny as airport security tightened: U.S (Reuters) - Airlines with direct flights to the United States have been told to tighten screening of mobile phones and shoes in response to intelligence reports of increased threats from al Qaeda-affiliated militant groups, U.S. officials said yesterday. The officials singled out smartphones including iPhones made by Apple Inc and Galaxy phones made by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd for extra security checks on U.S.-bound direct flights from Europe, the Middle East and Africa. U.S. security officials said they fear bombmakers from the Yemen-based al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) have figured out how to turn the phones into explosive devices that can avoid detection. They also are concerned that hard-to-detect bombs could be built into shoes, said

the officials, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue. A U.S. official said that other electronic devices carried by passengers also are likely to receive more intense scrutiny. Airlines or airport operators that fail to strengthen security could face bans on flights entering the United States, the officials said. The U.S. Homeland Security Department announced on Wednesday plans to step up security checks, but they offered few details on how airlines and airports will implement them. An official familiar with the matter said the United States believes that while it is possible there may be some additional delays at security checkpoints, at most major airports p a s s e n g e r s w i l l not be

seriously inconvenienced. The official said most passengers taking longdistance flights arrive well in advance of scheduled departures, leaving time for extra screening. But he said the United States could not rule out disruptions in countries where airport infrastructure and security procedures are less sophisticated. U.S.-based airlines had little to say about the enhanced security. American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller said the Department of Homeland Security had been in contact with American on the issue, but declined to comment further. Luke Punzenberger, a spokesman for United Airlines Inc[UALCO.UL], said: “We work closely with federal officials on security matters, but we are not able to discuss the details of those efforts.”

Friday July 04, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Friday July 04, 2014

Achievers waltz to top spot in 4th Trophy Stall Volleyball tourney Achievers Volleyball Club (AVC) of West Demerara defeated Port Mourant Training Centre (PMTC) of Berbice on Sunday last to win the first place trophy when the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) hosted the 4th annual Trophy Stall Volleyball competition at the Port Mourant Training Centre, Corentyne. The competition attracted six male teams and two female teams: PMTC, Port Mourant Jaguars, Rollers of New Amsterdam, Achievers of West Demerara, GDF, BVA Under-19, BVA Select Female and GDF Female. The competition was

played in hot sunshine on a round-robin basis with the four top teams advancing to the knock-out segment to determine the winner. The females played two matches which were won by the GDF 25-8, 25-10. In the male knock-out stage, Achievers defeated Rollers 30-23 while PMTC swept past BVA U-19, 25-15. The final between PMTC and Achievers was competed in semi-darkness due to the inadequate floodlights at the venue. PMTC raced to a sizeable 15-4 lead in the match with both teams deciding that the first to score 30 points would

be declared the winner. When the teams exchanged sides PMTC found points hard to come by and the determined and more focused Achievers after initially appealing about the bad light and wanting to forfeit the match, battled to even the scores at 21-21. Achievers then pulled ahead 23-21 and PMTC seemed to fall apart executing a series of erratic spikes and serves into the net thereby allowing Achievers to race to a 29-23 lead. PMTC after a time- out managed to creep up 28-29 but by then it was just a matter of a forced error and Achievers scored the point needed to seal victory,

Friday July 04, 2014 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Recent spiritual breakthroughs might have you feeling both exhilarated and downcast. Your sensitive side tells you that this is a definite step forward on your spiritual path, but your logical side might cause you to doubt the reality of it. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Many of your personal goals have either been met or are in the process of manifesting, Taurus. This has you feeling exhilarated. However, others around you might have their hands out. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) More confirmation of career and business success could come your way today, Gemini. You're probably feeling excited and motivated to keep pushing ahead. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Success on all levels is filling your life and making you feel absolutely wonderful, Cancer. The downside of this is that you might be a little too conscientious. Are you putting in a lot of extra hours? LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication are now paying off for you financially, Leo. New opportunities could be opening up for you to profit from your artistic talents VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) People close to you might be a bit worried about you, Virgo. Too much work and socializing might have you feeling a bit less than your usual self, perhaps even a little feverish and headachy. If so, this is a good day to take some time out, stay home, and get some rest.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) All continues to go well personally and professionally, Libra. You're feeling strong and vigorous, but you might find that you're a bit vague today. Your mind may not have its usual acuity, and you could be easily distracted. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your high from your recent successes could have you wanting to go crazy purchasing luxury items you didn't feel were practical before, Scorpio. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Not only your own success but that of members of your household could have you on a real emotional high today, Sagittarius. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Today may prove to be one of your busiest in a long time, Capricorn. The promise of continuing success could find you spending a lot of time on the phone, sending faxes or emails, or perhaps making a few short trips around the community. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Business and financial successes have you feeling happy and satisfied, Aquarius. You're also looking forward to moving ahead. The downside of this period is that people who aren't particularly trustworthy could decide to grab your coattails for their own purposes. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) As your career dreams continue to unfold, Pisces, you may find that there is a downside. First, there are new responsibilities and you might doubt your ability to fulfill them.

winning 30-28. Cleveland Peters, Wendell Austin and Deven Samaroo were the main architects of the Achievers victory. In the round-robin stages: PMTC defeated GDF 30-28, Achievers 36-34 and PM Jaguars 30-16. Rollers got the better of PM Jaguars 37-35, BVA U-19 30-20 and GDF 3025. Achievers took care of BVA U-19 30-14, PM Jaguars 30-15 and Rollers 30-23. The BVA U-19 beat GDF 34-32. At the presentation ceremony, Competition Director Godwyn Allicock expressed thanks to Mr. Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall for his sponsorship and unwavering support for the promotion and development of volleyball in Guyana. He congratulated the winner and thanked all teams for participating. Prizes were presented to the following: Female Category - Leanna Miller for being adjudged the MVP, Best Setter and Best Spiker. Corletta Mc Naughton (Best Server) and Melissa Marks (Best Defense). In the Male Category Cleveland Peters was adjudged MVP, Best Spiker and Blocker; Jason Seelochan (Best Setter), Ian Bagot (Best Server) and

Mix Up, TNT... From page 37 Street. Action gets underway at 15:00hrs and teams registered before double six-time will be given a free entry. Thereafter teams will be required to pay an entrance fee of $6,000. One re-entry will be accepted and the winning team will pocket a trophy and $90,000. The second and third place prizes are yet to be decided. The finals will be played on July 7 at the same venue.

Tiana Badley receives the trophy on behalf of the GDF team from BVA President Gregory Rambarran. Wendell Austin (Best Libero). BVA President Gregory Rambarran in his remarks thanked the sponsor, participants and officials and for making the tournament a success but chided the teams for not being punctual. He complimented the winners for remaining focused despite the lighting conditions and said they displayed the true spirit of the game pointing out that volleyball fosters friendship apart from competition. The

teams were urged to continue practicing for upcoming competitions. Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) President, Mr. John Flores who was on hand for all the matches and assisted in officiating as a referee, reiterated what was said by the BVA and praised the sponsor, organizers and players. The next BVA activity is scheduled for July 11 and will be a competition for Under16 school children.

Friday July 04, 2014

Kaieteur News

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King James reigns over one Callender wins over-50 title lap of the track in Lausanne GSA/Digicel National Squash Championships

The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) in collaboration with Digicel commenced the National Senior Squash Championships at the Georgetown Club Squash Courts on Wednesday evening last. A fit Alwyn Callender defeated Mike Atherly and Robin Low in the Veteran Over-50 category to capture the title on the opening night. Last night, matches were played in three of the four categories and the bespectacled Callender rolled back the years to beat Atherly

Alwyn Callender 11-7, 11-6, 11-4. He maintained his dominance in the division

with 11-4, 11-2, 11-5 victory over Low. In the Men’s Open category Antonio Joseph defeated Dustin Barrow 11-9, 3-11, 11-8, 11-9 while Haopei Yang beat Jamaal Douglas 117, 11-6, 11-1 to advance to the next stage. Brian Yong defeated Jerry Mekdeci 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 and Timothy Jonas got past David Fernandes 11-8, 11-6 in the Veterans 35-49 years division. The competition continues this evening from 18:00h at the same venue with action in the Men’s and Women’s Open.

Eugenie Bouchard beats Simona Halep to reach Wimbledon final - to play Petra Kvitova who defeated Lucie Safarova Eugenie Bouchard beat Romania’s Simona Halep to become Canada’s first Grand Slam singles finalist at Wimbledon. The 20-year-old from Montreal won 7-6 (7-5) 6-2, and will face 2011 champion Petra Kvitova in tomorrow’s final. Bouchard, seeded 13th, won the junior title in 2012 and reached the semi-finals at the first two Grand Slams of the year in Australia and France. Third seed Halep, who had suffered a thigh injury earlier in the tournament, turned her ankle in the fourth game and

required heavy strapping in a medical timeout. On a hot afternoon on Centre Court, the 22-year-old pushed hard in the first set but let a 4-2 lead slip in the tie-break and could not recover. The result means Bouchard will move into the world’s top 10 after Wimbledon, and there could be more good news for Canadian tennis on Friday, when Milos Raonic plays Roger Federer in the men’s semi-finals. Bouchard and Halep arrived in yesterda’s semi-

final as the form players in Grand Slams in 2014 with 15 wins apiece, and their only previous meeting resulted in a tight three-set win for Halep in Indian Wells earlier this year. Former champion Petra Kvitova saw off fellow Czech Lucie Safarova in straight sets to return to the Wimbledon final. Kvitova, seeded sixth, won 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 in the first all-Czech semi-final at a Grand Slam. Kvitova and Safarova are Fed Cup team-mates and train at the same club in Prostejov.

New kids on the block ready for Wimbledon semis Reuters - Young upstarts Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov have caused quite a stir at Wimbledon over the last two weeks with a string of fine performances but the pair know they must rise to the challenges that await them in the men’s semi-finals today. With defending champion Andy Murray booted out of the tournament by Dimitrov and Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios dismantling two-time winner Rafael Nadal, only Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic remain from the socalled Big Four in men’s tennis. The emergence of the young guns has been the topic of conversation at the All England Club and an expectant Center Court crowd will wait with baited breath to see how Raonic and Dimitrov compete against two of the game’s most accomplished performers in Federer and Djokovic. Eighth seed Raonic, who became the first Canadian to reach Wimbledon’s last four

since 1908, comes up against seven-time champion Federer, while Bulgarian Dimitrov meets 2011 winner Djokovic for a place in the final. Raonic has not beaten Federer in four attempts but the 23-year-old, who regularly thunders 135mph serves past his opponents, is confident he can unsettle the silky Swiss with his brutal shot making. “I’ve got in close with him in the past and I’ve found a lot of things that give me belief that I can do this,” said Raonic who beat Kyrgios in Wednesday’s quarter-final. “I’m playing a guy that is standing in my way of what I want to achieve, and I’ve got to focus on everything that’s there, on the situation, how best to deal with it to give myself the best possibilities to achieve what I want. “But there’s no point to talk about it. I’ve got to step up and do it.” After winning his fourth career title and his first on grass at the prestigious Queen’s Club event in London earlier this month, 11th-seed Dimitrov has

continued his fine form on the Wimbledon grass courts. Dimitrov, who is the first Bulgarian man to reach the last four of a grand slam, took No.3 seed Murray apart with consummate ease during Wednesday’s straight sets victory. Murray had no response to Dimitrov’s exquisite winners and the 23-year-old is hoping to take that cold, calculated approach into his match against top-seed Djokovic today. “We all know how well Novak is competing and how he’s playing when he’s at his top level,” Dimitrov said. “I’m not expecting an easy match. “But I’m out there to go through a match, to win it. I’m always going to focus on my game, whoever I’m going to play. “Now it’s a semi-final match. I think we both going to really want that match. “He has the experience and all that behind him. But in the same time, I’ve been playing great tennis. I believe in my skills at the moment.”

– IAAF Diamond League

The last clash couldn’t have been closer, but in Lausanne there was clear daylight between Kirani James and LaShawn Merritt in the 400m at the IAAF Diamond League meeting yesterday. In Eugene at the end of May, the pair both broke the 44-second barrier with James awarded the victory in a photo finish as they both clocked 43.97: that race also saw James go one up on Merritt in their career-long head-tohead contest, 5-6. In Lausanne, Merritt was looking to settle the score. Since his loss at the Prefontaine Classic, the world champion had recorded wins in Rome, New York and Ostrava, all with fast times. And it looked as though he had more in the tank. Indeed he did; he dipped below 44 seconds and recorded a season’s best of 43.92, but even that wasn’t enough to stop the flying London 2012 Olympic Games champion. After coming off the final bend neck-and-neck with his arch-rival, the 21year-old Grenadian stormed to an IAAF Diamond League record of 43.74. It also took 0.2 off his own national record James set when winning the Olympic title two years ago. The last time someone ran faster than that was back in 2007. Just to intensify the rivalry between James and Merritt, they now own identical personal bests. “I wanted to come out and give my best this evening,” said James, a former world champion at the senior, junior and youth levels. “The conditions were perfect and the crowd was brilliant. I’m very happy with my run. A national record is always something to be proud of. “It was overall a very good field. LaShawn was strong and he pushed me. I

feel I’m in top shape and I’d like to carry this form to the Commonwealth Games.” Although James and Merritt appear evenly matched on paper, their approach to this season has been quite different. This was Merritt’s 12th race over one lap of the track already this year. In contrast, it was just James’ third. He has faced Merritt in all three of those races, losing the first but now winning the last two. With their head-to-head record now in James’ favour at 7-5, the young Grenadian will turn his attention towards the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this month, where he will be among the most prohibitive favourites in the athletics events. And Justin Gatlin beat the returning Tyson Gay in the 100m at the same meet. Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion, won in 9.80 seconds to outstrip fellow American Gay, 31, who was making his comeback from a 12-month drugs ban. Gay clocked 9.93secs to finish second, ahead of Mike Rodgers in 9.98secs. Panama’s Alonso Edward created an upset in the 200m metres winning in 19.84 seconds ahead of Jamaica’s Nickel Ashmeade (20.06). Race favourite Yohan Blake could only manage sixth in 20.48 seconds. Blake was in the running off the curve but faded badly as Edward finished strongly in lane seven. Chtistophe Lamaitre of France finished third. A sore hamstring forced sprint star Veronica CampbellBrown out of the meet. Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye had never before competed in an IAAF Diamond League meeting but the 22-year-old wasn’t intimidated by lining up against the likes of double Moscow 2013 silver medallist

Justin Gatlin (AFP) Murielle Ahoure and world 200m bronze medallist Blessing Okagbare over 100m. After a relatively poor start, the diminutive Ahye drew level with Ahoure and stole victory on the line as both athletes were timed at 10.98. Ronald Kwemoi may not be a household name, but the 18-year-old Kenyan has never lost a 1500m race. He maintained that record in Lausanne when stunning a quality field that included 2011 world silver medallist Silas Kiplagat, Ethiopian record holder Aman Wote, USA’s world silver medallist Matt Centrowitz and Morocco’s former world indoor champion Abdalaati Iguider. Led by the pacemakers through 800m in 1:51.06 and 1200m in 2:50.06, Kwemoi kicked hard on the final lap to edge ahead of Kiplagat. Unstoppable, the teenager continued to charge towards the line and stopped the clock at 3:31.48, the fastest time in the world by a junior for 10 years. Kiplagat finished a few strides behind in 3:31.81 with another Kenyan, James Magut, taking third in 3:31.91.

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Hosts braced for another continental challenge Is it possible to predict how exciting a FIFA World Cup™ knockout match will be, simply based on where the two teams are from? On the basis of Brazil 2014, the answer would appear to be no, with thrills and spills abounding across a Round of 16 stage in which a record five encounters went to extra time. Nor were followers of the host nation spared any nailbiting, with A Seleção taken all the way to a dramatic penalty shoot-out finale by continental rivals Chile. And intriguingly, despite Brazilian supporters generally expecting their team to come up against European heavyweights in the decisive stages of the global showpiece – such as in all five of their Final triumphs – they are now set to meet another familiar face, Colombia, in the last eight in Fortaleza. “That means, in general terms, a different type of game,” said Ramires, when asked by FIFA.com about facing South American rather than European opposition. “Sometimes it seems they want to beat you even more than other teams do. There’s no knack to tackling these games, they’re always incredibly difficult. They’ve got an added dimension.” Logic backs up the Chelsea midfielder, with two main scenarios facing O País

Pentacampeão when they meet regional rivals at the World Cup. The first is an always fiercelycontested clásico against ageold foes Argentina or Uruguay; the second a clash with a team over which Brazil have enjoyed significant historical dominance, the case with the rest of the CONMEBOL Zone, thus handing opponents even more motivation to turn tradition on its head on the biggest stage of all. Record books in their favour Even so, to date Brazil have lost just two of their 13 encounters with SouthAmerican teams at this competition: the 1950 Maracanazo against Uruguay and their Italy 1990 Round of 16 tie with Argentina. Of the remaining 11, nine were won and two drawn, including Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Chile in Belo Horizonte. Encouraging news, surely, for Brazilian supporters? Moreover, in competitive games with quarter-final opponents Los Cafeteros, Brazil have won 15, drawn eight and lost just twice, with Venezuela the only CONMEBOL nation to have recorded fewer victories against A Seleção - one. Yet nobody in the Brazil camp is expecting an easy ride on Friday, particularly with Colombia star man James Rodriguez in such inspirational form.

“There’s no doubt that being continental rivals has a huge impact,” said Dani Alves, also in conversation with FIFA.com. “Emotionally, they’re very tough games, because unlike European nations, we come up against each other all the time – in the Copa America, in World Cup qualifying. “In technical terms too, it’s a different style of football, though that side of things is changing,” continued the Barcelona rightback. “Football has evolved a lot and nearly all the best South American players are in Europe. That’s made the national teams here get even better and stronger. The games are still intense, with that South American flavour, but with more players used to always playing at the very highest level.” All of which suggests that a record of just 87 defeats from 449 competitive games against continental rivals – over half of those losses coming against Uruguay or Argentina – can arguably be discounted at the Estadio Castelao. “In a way, this game has a Copa America feel to it,” said Alves, as the discussion concluded. “Except it’s even more important and the pressure even greater. I think that sums it up.”

Shakira to sing Brazil 2014 anthem at World Cup’s Maracana final Colombian pop singer Shakira will make her third consecutive World Cup appearance at the closing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium before the final match on July 13. Shakira will perform her song “La La La (Brazil 2014)” alongside Brazilian percussionist and singer Carlinhos Brown.‘I have an intricate relationship with football for obvious reasons, and I truly understand what the World Cup means to so many people, myself included,’ said Shakira, who is the partner of Barcelona and Spain star Gerard Pique. Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana, HaitianAmerican hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean and Brazilian singer Alexandre Pires will perform the official anthem of the 2014 World Cup “Dar Um Jeito,” Portuguese for “We Will Find a Way.” The closing ceremony will also feature a samba performance from one of the Rio de Janeiro schools that participate in the city’s famous Carnival celebrations. It remains to be seen whether Shakira’s native Colombia can reach their first final. (MailOnline)

The colourful Colombian performs her song “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” at the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg

Friday July 04, 2014

Costa Rica preparing for Netherlands test Santos, Brazil – Following the United States’ elimination at the hands of Belgium on Tuesday, Costa Rica is the lone CONCACAF representative remaining in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Ticos will face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals tomorrow and they are already thinking about their clash with the 2010 runner-up. After a very demanding encounter in which it overcame Greece in the round of 16 on penalties, Costa Rica is looking to recover physically after playing nearly an hour with only 10 players. “We are fine,” said standout goalkeeper Keylor Navas. “ In a competition like this, it is logical that a player expends himself little by little, but there are days of rest, massages and other things to recuperate and be able to go into the next match at 100 percent.” For defender Giancarlo Gonzalez, the match against

Giancarlo Gonzalez the Dutch represents another opportunity to show the rest of the world Costa Rica’s quality. “We are focused on recovery work to be fully fit for the match against Holland and be able to continue demonstrating what Costa Ricans are made of,” commented the Columbus

Crew star. “It is true that we have faced renowned players, but we don’t give ourselves any less. We have shown that against these figures we can excel and get results as a team.” Nevertheless, Navas acknowledges that it is a historic match, since Costa Rica has never played in a World Cup quarterfinal. The 27-year-old also trusts that the team will step on the field with the same winning mentality. “I believe that it will be one of the most beautiful matches of our lives,” he finished. “We want to win it and although we know that we are against a world power, we have demonstrated that we have what it takes to play. We know that anything can happen, but there is a team to win.” Costa Rica is 3-3-3 in nine all-time World Cup games against European opposition. (CONCACAF.com)

Seven Germany players fall ill ahead of World Cup quarter-final clash with France Germany have suffered a blow ahead of their World Cup quarter final clash with France after it was revealed a number of the squad have been hit by illness. Seven members of Germany’s squad are reported to be suffering from flu, coach Joachim Low confirmed that the players were ‘slightly ill’. Low attempted to play the issue down, betraying only that most of the affected players had ‘sore throats’. ‘It’s not that bad at the moment,’ he said, ‘I don’t want to over-dramatise it.’ But given the number of players it has affected, there are concerns that the issue may be more serious than Low is letting on. Mats Hummels and Christoph Kramer are considered to be among those suffering after Hummels missed Germany’s second round tie against Algeria, while Kramer sat out an entire day of training this week. Hummels, certainly, was hit by more than a sore throat, with Low admitting that the Dortmund star was bed ridden for the Algeria match, his condition having worsened the night before. Thomas Muller is also suspected to be among those affected. His coach admitted that the Bayern forward had shown ‘symptoms of the flu’ even before Germany’s last game. As for the reasons for the sudden plague, Low blames the climate in Brazil, and the constant necessity to travel.

Muller (left) and Bastian Schweinsteiger get on their coach to travel during the World Cup. ‘We’re constantly having to travel between different climate zones,’ the Germany boss complained. ‘It’s understandable that the guys get a bit under the weather, and that it starts to spread.’ Germany have certainly seen some extreme weather during their stay in Brazil. For their opening game against Portugal, they were forced to endure thirty degree heat, while their win over the USA was played out in the flooded city of Recife. It is a particularly sensitive issue for this German team, given that

fitness has been one of the major issues surrounding their World Cup campaign. Several of their key players, including Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose, arrived in Brazil having only just returned from long term injury. With Shkodran Mustafi ruled out of the rest of the tournament, and seven other players gripped by what the Germans call ‘Grippe’, Low’s hopes of having a team at 100 per cent physical fitness are now little more than a pipe dream. (MailOnline)

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FIBA rule benches overseas-based players By Edison Jefford The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) is facing suspension from the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) after it supported the national team’s protest over the removal of its overseas-based players from its roster in Tortola. Guyana is currently in the British Virgin Island competing at the Caribbean Championships with losses to the host, the United States Virgin Islands and Barbados (69-80). The Guyanese men nearly opted out of the competition over its roster disruption. “Before the first game against BVI, the Guyanese players refused to play and my support was unwavering. However, after the Manager spoke with the players they agreed to play,” President of the GABF, Nigel Hinds said in a circular yesterday. “Also I spoke with the Executive Director of CBC, Patrick Haynes and he indicated that Guyana would likely be suspended and our women team would not likely be allowed to participate in the 2014 CBC Championships,” Hinds informed. The controversy surrounds the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) classification of Asia-based Guyanese forward, Gordon Klaiber, who plays in Japan,

as a “Naturalised Guyanese” that forced the team to play him under the allowance of an ‘overseas-born’ player, leaving out United States of America-born point guard, Andre De Florimonte. In addition, the six foot, seven inches forward, USbased, Tyler Persaud was also unable to play along with another US-based player, Richard Hall. The issue forced the Guyanese team down to ten players ahead of its superimportant first game against the host. “FIBA has broken their own rules by treating a Guyanese born player, namely Gordon Klaiber as a Naturalised Guyanese; this is totally in contravention of FIBA 3.21.a Rules for Eligibility,” the head of the GABF had said in an earlier email. However, FIBA is contending that its rules of eligibility is very clear in that though the overseas-based players may have been born in Guyana, they must claim Guyanese nationality in the form of preferably a passport before the age of 16 years old. The federation had indicated to FIBA that Klaiber was born in Guyana and the rule should not apply to him. The Article 3.21.a of the FIBA Internal Regulations applies to players who have acquired legal nationality of

Favourite Dominoes Tourney

Mix Up, TNT, All Season to battle for title tonight Mix Up, TNT and All Season Racing Service will clash in the final of the Orin Favourite 58th Birth Anniversary dominoes competition tonight at R and R Sports Club Meadow Brook Gardens. Mix Up marked 81 games to win their semi final match up against TNT and Rage played recently at the said venue. TNT placed second with 77 games and Rage third on 74. Mark Wiltshire scored 17 and Clarence Whitehead 16 for the winners while Trevor Smith chalked up 17 and Sonia Goodluck 16 for TNT. Mark Welch and Ronald Beharry were Rage’ leading players with 17 and 16 games respectively. Rage and All Season were the successful teams in the quarterfinal matches contested at the said venue. Rage registered 78 games to overcome Mix Up with 74 and R and R 66. Welch made the maximum

18 games for Rage while Beharry contributed 16. Rawl Peters and Gilbert Mendonca led Mix Up with 16 and 15 respectively. Orin Favourite (16) and Carl Brown (15) were the outstanding players for R and R. Raymond Ali scored 17 and Frankie Seaforth supported with 16 as All Season who drew the bye to the final, recording 77 games in the second quarter final. Providence took the runner up spot with 70 followed by Lodgers on 61. Deon Telford and John Davis made 16 each for Providence while Loraine Reid got 16 for Lodgers. The winning team will pocket $60,000, runner-up $40,000 and third place $20,000. The MVP of the final will receive $3,000. Meanwhile, La Belle Hotel & Bar pre Caricom Day Dominoes tournament will commence tomorrow at La Belle Sports Club, Norton (Continued on page 34)

a respective country by naturalisation or by any other means after having reached the age of 16 years old. The provision applies also to any player having the right to acquire a second nationality at birth but who did not lay claim to this right until after having reached the age of 16 years old. Sport and Eligibility Senior Manager at FIBA, Ivanka Toteva asked the federation to provide any

- Guyana faces CBC suspension evidence to show that Klaiber claimed his Guyanese nationality before the restrictive age, which in all likelihood, the federation will be unable to prove since Klaiber was issued with a Guyanese passport only last week. However, the federation maintains that FIBA interpretation of the rules is

“improper”. “One of our players (De Florimonte) was forcibly removed from the court by his team-mates due to the mayhem caused by the FIBA ruling,” the federation said yesterday. “We of the GABF have already protested and appealed the decision by FIBA to treat Klaiber as a ‘Naturalised Guyanese,” the

local body continued, adding that “legal action against FIBA is very much on the table”. According to the GABF, Guyana is playing in an environment where a “misguided FIBA ruling has disrupted team chemistry and the morale of the team”. The national federation is affiliated to CBC, which is allied with FIBA. Hinds believes that the FIBA decision represents a “miscarriage of justice”.

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 04, 2014

QC exact revenge on Carmel to advance

By Rawle Welch Queen’s College (QC) exacted revenge on Carmel by beating them 4-3 in penalty kicks shootout after regulation time ended in a 22 stalemate yesterday, at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary. The fixture in the Digicel Schools Football Competition had to be replayed following a protest by Queen’s College after it was established that Carmel who won the first encounter 2-1 had fielded twelve players during the game which gave them an unfair advantage, forcing the Organisers to order a rematch. Carmel looked to be resolutely on course to register another win and seemed to be coasting along merrily, before QC begun their comeback. It started with Joel Richards, who pounced on a pass from mid-field, before rifling a shot past the goalkeeper three minutes after the resumption from the break. Bouyed by their quick strike in the second period, QC attacked with menace, but the experienced Marlon Allen, who had netted both goals for Carmel, came back

Action in the clash that featured eventual winners Queen’s College (White jerseys) and Carmel Secondary School yesterday. to bolster a backline that was clearly sagging under the pressure. However, in the 78th minute of play, Shemar Britton, more known for his tremendous exploits on the tennis table, turned hero when he leaped above both Allen and a hesitant advancing keeper from a bouncing ball to head into an empty goal. It immediately evoked wild celebrations from the small band of QC supporters as they sensed momentum had swayed in their favour. Allen clearly the best player in for Carmel tried on a few occasions to come forward in search of a goal, but the penetrating runs by the QC strikers kept him afraid to go forward with conviction and the score line stayed level until the final whistle sounded. Earlier, Allen got the first opportunity to score when

his side-footed shot sped past the advancing QC keeper, but cannoned on to the left upright and rebounded into play, before being cleared by a defender. He, however, quickly made amends when he weaved past two defenders, before beating the keeper, who had pressed forward with the hope of narrowing his angle, but his well-placed effort ended up inside the goal. That came in the 10th minute of play. Allen returned thirty minutes later to replicate a similar goal, outpacing his markers, before hammering a fierce shot past the goalkeeper which gave them a 2-0 cushion. That lasted until the break. His efforts proved futile in the end as QC, who had also trailed in the shootout, came storming back once again to seal the win. Meanwhile, over at the

Queen’s College goal scorers Shemar Britton (left) and Joel Richards (right) pose with one of their supporters yesterday at Eve Leary. Ministry of Education ground, Lodge Secondary - 3 vs Houston Secondary – 3. Lodge Scorers: Jarrol Granum - 33rd, 68th and 70th.

Houston Scorers: Lorenzo George – 20th, Akosi Jarvis 22nd and 54th. Lodge won 20 on penalty kicks. At Victoria Ground -

Annandale Secondary - 3 vs President’s College – 1. Jeremiah Thorne - 6th and 33rd, Demetry Grant – 9th. PC Scorer: Yuan Armstrong – 7th.

Friendship needles Covent Garden in keenly contested affair Friendship Secondary (FSS) and Covent Garden Secondary Schools (CGSS) engaged in a fierce battle for honours and after a keen tussle, the former institution

emerged victorious compliments of a 64th minute strike by their captain, Naphtali Joseph, when activities continued in the Digicel School Football

Championship at the Hauruni Community Centre Ground, Linden Soesdyke Highway yesterday afternoon. The score is hardly reflective of what transpired

Limacol CPL tickets go on sale from today CPL OPCO Guyana Inc. has informed that the eagerly awaited sale of tickets for the 2014 Limacol Caribbean Premier League will commence today July 4, 2014 at the CPL OPCO Offices on Middle Street, Georgetown. Patrons wishing to purchase tickets will be allowed ten (10) tickets per person for each game and where possible they may be allowed to purchase tickets with the seats of their choice in their preferred Stand depending on availability. The costs of tickets are as follows: · Red and Green Stands $4,000 GY or $20 US each

· Orange Stand, renamed the Palm Court VIP Party Stand, $5,000 GY or $25 USD · The mound $2000 GY or $10 USD. This year the organizers have put in place many security features to prevent counterfeiting and unlike the other venues, tickets for the Guyana National Stadium are numbered to match the seat number which will eliminate the possibility of overcrowding. Patrons are advised to make early purchases in order to avoid the rush

getting close to Match Days. Three exciting and high quality games will be played in Guyana as follows: · Thursday 17th July – Guyana Amazon Warriors vs T&T Red Steel at 7:30pm · Saturday 19th July Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Lucia Zouks at 4:00pm · Sunday 20th July – Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Jamaica Tallawahs at 4:00pm For further information on ticketing patrons can contact the CPL OPCO Office on 223 1437.

in the match as both teams wasted golden opportunities that cost them dearly and almost sent the game into penalty kicks. Matthew Robinson represented the CGSS and should have been the one to register the first goal but he mistimed a free kick just outside the box much to the dismay of his teammates. Jauanzaa Garnett of FSS was also guilty of a similar offence when he struck with much force and little direction to waste a clear chance that slammed into the uprights and bounced back into play. Joseph next erred when he collected a neat pass and sent the ball past the Covent Garden custodian only for the referee to blow offside rendering his effort inconsequential. The tussle for the lead continued with both sides launching ferocious attacks and likewise, both teams exhibited staunch defensive skills that

kept the score at a nil all stalemate at the end of the first session. The whistle to commence the second session was still echoing when Omali Henry wended his way to the Covent Garden berth in what was the best scoring opportunity presented for his team. He was on the verge of sending in a wicked right foot shot when one of the opposition’s defenders brought him down in what the referee ruled was a dangerous play and awarded Friendship a penalty. The kick was precise and sharp but the CGSS custodian chose the right side and averted sure disaster after grabbing the ball on the second attempt. Thereafter, CGSS launched a vicious attack and Matthew Robinson dribbled down the left wing and chipped the ball over only for the FSS custodian to intercept. Kevin Sobers almost sent the FSS ahead shortly

afterwards when he dribbled to the opposition’s goal but when all alone with the goalie he lost his nerve and the goalie scooped up his tame flat footed strike. As the seconds dwindled, goals seemed hard to come by and the few spectators were already anticipating the imminent penalty shootout when Joseph, who had been hard at work in the midfield position collected a dolly of a pass just to the left of the CGSS goal and sent in a mighty kick that flew past the goalie standing in the centre of the goal. Covent Garden counter attacked and was awarded a corner kick but the FSS defenders tenaciously held on to the slim lead with good defensive tactics and despite their most valiant efforts, the CGSS players had to contend with the ‘needle’ as the final whistle sealed their fate. Activities continue today with matches at venues countrywide.

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 04, 2014

Familiar names boost West Indies The switch to T20 cricket brings a familiar look to West Indies. Their two-match series against New Zealand which starts tomorrow in Roseau, Dominica will mark Kieron Pollard’s return from a year-long injury break. Sunil Narine, who was sidelined from the Tests owing to IPL commitments, will take up national duty again. So will Samuel Badree, the no.1-ranked T20 bowler. All three players had

Kieron Pollard & Darren Sammy been involved in the IPL, along with some of the New Zealand squad. Pollard had shared a dressing room with the big-hitting Corey Anderson at Mumbai Indians. Badree was a teammate of the New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum at Chennai Super Kings and he believed the insights he had gained would come in handy. “Obviously Brendon McCullum is one of their key performers in this version,” Badree said. “I’ve been with him in the IPL at Chennai and I know him quite well. Kane Williamson seems to be in good form, I don’t know who the other opener will be. I don’t think they’ve brought specialist openers for these two games. So I’ll work with the analyst before the game and come up with my game plan. “Always mentally ready for any challenge. Physically, some might say I’m a bit short on practice, given the weather conditions and the fact there’s no cricket on in Trinidad & Tobago, but that’s no excuse. I’ve been working in the nets and so on

Sunil Narine

so like I said looking forward to two games against New Zealand.” West Indies had trialled an inexperienced team under a new captain during the three-Test series. Though there were some heartening individual performances, they lost the series 2-1. Most of the T20 squad is consistent with the one that turned out for the World Cup in March. Krishmar Santokie, the leftarm seamer, might make his first appearance on this tour. His assortment of slower balls and yorkers helped him play all of West Indies’ games at the World Cup and a couple of matches for Mumbai in the IPL as well. “Always be watchful of the batters. That’s my main thing,” Santokie said. “On occasions, it depends on the situation of the game, you might have to change things. I’ve been working on some more variations in the nets but nothing in particular. “Regardless of what kind of pitch you play on. Everywhere in the world, variation is the key and that’s what I bring to the team.” (ESPNcricinfo)

Christopher Barnwell

Interact with CPL cricketers, win tickets at Courts Cricket fans are invited to interact, mingle and take pictures with some of the stars of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team today from 11:00 hrs at Courts, Main Street store. The atmosphere will be pulsating as persons will also have the opportunity to win tickets for the Guyana Amazon Warriors games at the Providence Stadium on July 17, 18 and 20. Jerseys and other fabulous prizes, CPL branded items such as Key rings, balls, bats, cups, t-shirts will also be on sale. Customers who shop $99,999 and over will also be eligible for a chance to be one of three lucky winners to enjoy the games VIP style with three friends from the Courts Best Seat in the House on the field with lots of food and drinks.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 04, 2014

Guyana to open Regional U-17 campaign against Leewards

Travis Persaud Guyana will begin their quest to win the Regional Under-17 50-over tournament against the Leeward Islands July 8 at Bon Accord, Tobago. The team which is currently undergoing intense training sessions under Coach Garvin Nedd will depart on Sunday. Guyana finished in the penultimate position in last year’s tournament registering their only victory against Jamaica. Travis Persaud has been chosen to lead the team while 2013 regional Under15 MVP Ronaldo Ali Mohamed will serve as his deputy. Talented all-rounders Sherfene Rutherford and Keemo Paul are expected to weigh-in big for their team while Raymond Perez, Ronaldo Renee and Ramnarine Chatura are likely to offer valuable support. In an invited comment, Manager Nazeer Mohamed told Kaieteur Sport yesterday that team spirit is high and the players are ready to go. “Our preparation was somewhat affected by the rain, but I am confident we can go all the way this time around. Most of the guys played in last year’s tournament so they know what to expect”, he added.

Sherfene Rutherford Guyana will take on Barbados on July 9 at Louidore, Trinidad and Tobago on July 11 at Shaw Park, Jamaica on July 13 at Bon Accord and the Windward Islands on July 15 at Mt. Pleasant. Meanwhile, the U-17 team defeated the national U15 team by seven wickets in a warm up game played yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club. Batting first after the game was reduced to 25 overs due to rain; the U15 lads managed 106-7 off their allotted overs. Kurt Lovell stroked 25, Akenie Adams and Timothy Mc Almont grabbed two wickets each. The U-17 team replied with 107-3 in 21 overs. Perez slammed 40 while Adrian Sukwah made 23 not out, Renee 17 and Rutherford 15. The full team reads: Travis Persaud (captain), Ronaldo Ali Mohamed (vice captain), Adrian Sukwah, Raymond Perez, Ronaldo Renee, Sherfane Rutherford, Ramnarine Chatura, Ti m o t h y M c A l m o n t , Brandon Prashad, Keemo Paul, Kelvin Shewprasad, Akenie Adams, Richie Looknauth and Retesh Umroa. The coach is Garvin Nedd and the manager is Nazeer Mohamed.

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FIBA rule benches overseas-based players -

Guyana faces CBC suspension Nigel Hinds

P.37 Tyler Persaud

Gordon Klaiber Andre De Florimonte

Hosts braced for another continental challenge P.36

The crowds in Brazil have been great Š Getty Images

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