Kaieteur News

Saturday Edition

Online readership yesterday 89,533

July 06, 2013 - Vol. 7 No. 26 - Price $80 kaieteurnews@yahoo.com Website:http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Taxi driver battling for life

after execution attempt Building Expo to churn out 1,000 new potential homeowners

The mural at the building expo

Miners press for fuel, Ryan Hoppie, Bibi Khan duty free concessions as are GT&T Jingle and song competition winners gold prices slide further - judges’ scores coincide with national votes

Drug enforcers find 640 kilos of ganja in container

Stand fan electrocutes two-year-old

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Kaieteur News

Saturday July 06, 2013

Taxi driver battling for life

after execution attempt I

n what is believed to be an execution attempt, gunmen early yesterday opened fire on a taxi driver at Cummings and Sixth Streets, Alberttown, leaving

him in a critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Up to press time, the taxi driver, Leslie Woode, 25, of Campbellville, Georgetown

was unconscious and doctors in the health institute’s Accident and Emergency Unit (A&E) were trying their best to save his life. The 25year-old was shot to his head, chest and shoulder.

Sources said that Woode’s face was damaged by a bullet which entered through his forehead, he also sustained internal injuries.

According to reports, a little after 04:00am yesterday, Woode had just dropped off a group of Brazilian Dancers at Cummings Street; after which he was seen in his car talking on his cellular phone in a corner of the Street.

Minutes after, a green car reportedly pulled up alongside Woode’s white 212 and opened fire after which they fled the scene.

A number of spent shells were recovered.

Police, in a statement s a i d t h a t Wo o d e w a s standing on the roadway at Cummings and Sixth Streets, Alberttown, when shots were discharged at him

from a passing motor vehicle.

He was hit about his body.

Ye s t e r d a y, w h e n Kaieteur News visited the scene, eyewitnesses were giving a mixed version of what transpired.

One person said that the 2 5 - y e a r- o l d m a n w a s pulled from a drain in Cummings Street around 04:10am yesterday with gunshots to his forehead, upper body and shoulder.

“After the men them fire off the six shots I run in a nearby yard because the men them speed off the scene and they fire off some more shots when they de leaving.”

The eyewitness also said that residents of the area after hearing and witnessing the ordeal were afraid to come outside and render assistance to the man who had his hands in the air as if he was pleading for assistance.

Another eyewitness who requested anonymity said that when he heard the gunshots he ran behind a car

to avoid getting shot and heard a man shortly after calling for help, but did not venture outside.

“The man who been in the front seat pull out the gun and shoot he about six times. I see this man buss up after them bullets ketch he and fall to the ground.

He keep saying ‘Help!

Ow lawd somebody help me’. But it was early so nobody ain’t come out,” the eyewitness said.

The man added that about 10 minutes later, police arrived on the scene and took the man to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he has remained in a critical condition.

Meanwhile, at the hospital yesterday, family members stood quietly in front the hospital’s A&E awaiting word from medical practitioners about his condition.

The injured man’s fiancé, Jasmaine Murray, could not relate what had transpired yesterday morning.

She said that Woode

would normally return home from work every night at 09:00pm and when he didn’t go home on Thursday, she and his mother got worried and made several calls to his cellular phone but none were answered.

“We keep calling but nobody answered. It was around 09:00am today (yesterday) his mother called back his phone and a police answered and said he is at the hospital,” Murray said.

The woman said that her fiancé has no enemies and has never been attacked before.

Wo o d e h a s b e e n described as a quiet person who was never involved in any wrongdoings. His friends are few and are known to his family members as “good people.”

The man’s mother told Kaieteur News that ever since her son has been shot, she has been receiving several threatening phone calls from blocked numbers.

The woman is calling on the police to conduct a thorough investigation.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Waste oil in Berbice River killing ‘IMPRESSIONS’ unveils mangroves, seedlings - beekeeper masterpiece at Building Continues to change the face of advertising, Expo -branding and creative production in Guyana

T

he existence of white mangroves f r o m N e w Amsterdam to Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice; is being threatened by waste o il co n tamin atin g th e Berbice River. Apiculturists are calling on the relevant authorities to investigate the origin of the waste oil and to put an end to this harmful situation.

The damaging effects of the waste oil on marine life are already being felt with the death of many fishes, destruction of white mangroves and seedlings that line the river bank, and the repulsion or killing of bees.

This is according to Devon Gilead, a beekeeper operating in Ithaca, who related that the emptying of waste oil and diesel into canals and creeks that flow into the river, has been ongoing for several years.

But, over the past week oil pollution in the river has directly threatened the livelihoods of apiculturists and fishermen and the existence of mangroves.

The livelihood component of the Guyana M a n g ro v e R e s t o r a t i o n Project was touted as the sustainer of mangroves along Guyana’s vulnerable coastline when the Government of Guyana-

European Union funded programme ends. The idea that those dependent on mangroves for their living would be the protectors has materialized.

Gilead, who has been benefiting from training to enhance his operations and range of products, related that the waste oil has killed a significant stretch of the w h i t e m a n g ro v e s a n d seedlings. In addition, investment in 70 beehives was wasted because the insects were repelled by the scent and many died.

With his sole dependence on the bee business to produce honey roasted nuts, candles, soaps and bottled honey, the man invested in another 70 hives.

However, without the bees and mangroves his business may fold.

“Bees play an important role in mangrove life and in our livelihood, because without the bees we cannot get food.

The bees pollinate the mangroves and that’s how we are able to get so many seedlings. None of the seedlings on the river bank were planted by man,” he stressed.

According to Gilead, he has been trying to educate fishermen and contractors about the importance of mangroves. The slashing of

mangroves in that area has minimized, but the threat of erosion in some areas such as Glasgow is a reality.

“Before time you can stand up on the river bank at Glasgow and talk on the other side of the bank but now that cannot happen; the land eroded. And, another serious thing is that where the road is erosion happening. It has one and two wild bush but mangroves or a revetment should be there,” he added.

Another destroyer of mangrove seedlings is large piles of grass. According to Gilead, piles of grass cut from the creek flows into the Berbice River and lands on the river bed stifling thousands of seedlings. The beekeeper recommended that the grass be cut in smaller pieces.

In addition, Edinburg residents have been dumping their wastes along the river bed amongst mangroves. This is another human act that is harmful to mangroves and marine life particularly marine turtles.

While emphasis on replanting mangroves in areas exposed to the Atlantic Ocean is important, Gilead believes equal attention should be placed on preventing the destruction of mangroves in riverain areas.

A slippery catch

The reptile in the photograph had reportedly caught a dog in Second Alley, Wismar, near to a creek. A few enterprising youths caught the slithery creature after it ventured into a yard, probably in search of another meal

I

n a world where the graphics and media are quickly evolving into a magnificent tool that captivates society with its rapidly growing technologies, Impressions, a private company, continues to lead the way in Guyana.

Impressions leads the industry with its creativity and new advertising technologies, making it the single one stop creative marketing company in Guyana.

Impressions is a registered member of several international printing and advertising organizations.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, Neil Sukhlal, the company has been a pioneer in advertising and creative production in Guyana for the past 15 years.

He said that there is an exceptional production which is reflected in its unique creativity showcased at every national exposition, held in Guyana over the past few years.

At this year’s Building Expo, Impressions has transformed the National Stadium tarmac into a Silica City. According to Sukhlal, the company presented an artist’s impression of a green city (amidst the mountains and hills) and therefore decided on this masterpiece as the artistic centerpiece for this year Building Expo. The creation was built on a 350x20 feet digitally printed vinyl.

Apart from this central attraction, the company produced 10 to 25 feet arches also on digitally printed

vinyl, depicting the Ministry of Housing and Water’s main objectives under the broader theme “Living the Guyanese Dream” of home ownership.

The main entrance arch, printed and constructed with a glow effect was also created by Impressions. The company also created the outlook, designed, decorated and branded some of the main booths including GT&T and GBTI. The company emerged 15 years ago, out of the need for a creative one-stop production agency here in Guyana; one that offers a complete package, from concept design to execution of marketing campaigns, signage, branding, novelties, expo facilities and advertising.

Initially the company

was known for its embroidery and screen printing expertise and gradually evolved into Guyana’s most sought after creative production house, especially by large corporations including those in banking and finance, m a n u f a c t u r i n g , entertainment as well as the public sectors.

It has been the first to introduce digital screen printing, and digital billboards both indoor and outdoor. Its state-of-the-art full color digital fabric printer that has the capacity to print approximately 10,000 T-shirts per day, and its novelty printing machine makes Impressions the second in the Caribbean, other than Trinidad, to be utilizing this technology.

Cops thwart attack on commercial bank customer

A

lert police ranks yesterday thwarted an attack on a citizen who had transacted business at a city bank.

Police said that at around 14:30hrs yesterday, police ranks observed a vehicle which appeared to be trailing the citizen in the vicinity of Camp and New Market Streets.

The ranks intercepted the vehicle, which had false registration plates and found an unlicensed .32 pistol with

11 matching rounds.

Two men have been arrested and are in police custody assisting with the investigations.

There have been numerous reports of people being robbed shortly after leaving commercial banks with large sums of cash.

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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

The abolition of a flawed policy Two years ago the Education Ministry introduced a system that many said would actually remove learning from within the confines of the school. This system was one of no child being left behind. It meant that regardless of whether the child ‘passed’or ‘failed’that child would have to be promoted.

The system was more pronounced in the secondary schools where already teachers claim that they are finding it difficult to discipline children. Some teachers reported that the children, particularly those who appeared not to be academically inclined, said that they need not study, that they would be promoted anyhow.

Of course, there were some schools who did not agree with the so-called no child left behind policy. One head teacher in Linden decided that he was not going to adopt such a policy in his school and attracted a sanction from the Education Ministry.

For the greater part the schools were not excited about the apparent relaxation in trying to educate children. Whether they passed or not the children had to be promoted. On Thursday, the Head of St Stephen’s Primary School reported that a mere thirty per cent of the children who wrote the Grade Two examinations were successful.

And using that school as a reflection of what passes in the education system, it transpired that three of the more than thirty children who write the National Grade Six Examination qualified for senior secondary schools. Of course, there are other factors responsible for such a performance but that is for another forum.

In other schools where discipline was under threat, many teachers simply gave up and this affected entire classrooms.

Coupled with poor supervision, the school was relegated to a place to keep children when they did not want to stay at home.

The decision to adopt the no child left behind policy, according to the education officials had some positives. The incidence of school dropouts was lessened. The officials attributed this to the reduced embarrassment to the poor performing children.

They no longer had to sit in a classroom with younger children.

There was what the administrators called another plus.

The children had a chance to excel at the subjects they did best without having to worry about those subjects that actually caused their grades to slide.

Yet one must answer some questions. National bodies do not readily institute measures without consulting with the intended beneficiaries. But this is what the Education Ministry did. In the end, two years after it took the decision, it found that the decision was unpopular. When even the children would not agree with the policy of automatic promotion it says something about measures implemented by the Education Ministry without consultation. Those children who must work hard for their successes would not have been happy to see their less industrious colleagues simply moving along with them in the classroom.

The Education Ministry might not have found itself in this position had it maintained some of the good things from the previous administration. A long time ago, educationists found that all children do not learn at the same pace and that all are not academically inclined. That being the case there was streaming. Science-minded children were directed to those areas; technical students were sent to the multilateral schools and later, to the technical institutes.

The system worked until a change in Government brought about a change in the education system and the scrapping of some of the institutions to the detriment of the very system.

Fortunately, some sanity is returning to the education system. The administrators now recognize that the children could be streamed to pursue those subjects in which they are strongest. But there is a marked silence if the child is one who has a learning disability. Guyana has no special schools.

The one good thing to come out of this is the insistence that every academic must be proficient in Mathematics and English. The other thing is that the Ministry might have created extreme laziness among teachers who might have grown accustomed to not really pressing the students because of the no child left behind policy.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

How could anyone morally and ontologically elevate Burnham above Rodney?

DEAR EDITOR, Forbes Burnham is entitled to the O.R. Tambo Award. However, the outcry over that award has raised a bigger issue; the Walter Rodney versus Forbes Burnham philosophical and moral debate.

This debate vaults to the very heart of Guyanese and overwhelming African consciousness in this country.

There are those, and they are many and mostly African, who will vehemently defend Forbes Burnham over Walter Rodney and it is nothing more, nothing less than the absurd moral caricaturization of our consciousness as a people and nation.

Guyana produced two postIndependence African national giants, Walter Rodney and Forbes Burnham, both incredibly brilliant, intellectually gifted and charismatic. But this is where the similarities end.

One was a politically immoral power-crazed tinpot dictator practicing racial division, despotism and economic necrosis, a tropical Stalin without Stalin’s industrialism, while the other was a freedom fighter hellbent on creating a nation of democracy, freedom, racial tolerance and economic advancement.

The moral and philosophical difference between Rodney and Burnham could not be starker.

One practised despotism and ethnic revulsion and division while the other pursued freedom, justice and racial

tolerance. One saw immorality as reality while the other saw morality as truth.

Walter Rodney’s ethnic inclusivity and ethnic fairness model rooted in ethnic reconciliation for Guyana would have created a better post-PNC future for Africans.

Africans who were made economically destitute by the PNC’s catastrophic economic mismanagement would have secured a better and fairer share of the pie under a Rodney government rooted in ethnic fairness.

Instead, Africans emerged from PNC rule heavily marginalized and impoverished and were further economically castrated under the PPP. Burnham’s racialized politics inevitably led to PPP’s racialized politics.

No rational political analyst in this country could argue the future post1992 under the PPP was going to be any different. It was always going to be payback time and we have had 20 years of payback time.

You govern by the political sword and you will end up being governed by that same sword. You pillage with a terrible constitution and this constitution will be used to pillage you.

Forbes Burnham failed to change the racial antagonisms of this country, although he had absolute power to do so. He failed to use his authoritarian force to make this country more inclusive when he had the obvious power to do so. This era of ethnic retribution and racial retaliation politics

is Burnham’s legacy and it is a legacy that continues to economically cripple Africans in a country they helped to build with their hands.

Burnham economically blunted Africans with his socialist idiocy and his broken economy. The PPP has, under a growing capitalist economy, enriched some Indians with wealth not even Burnham thought was attainable.

If the PPP falls from power tomorrow, its controllers and their friends will not suffer, as they own this country. What they do not own they will sell to the highest foreign bidder.

Even if the African cabal running the PNC/APNU gains power tomorrow, there will be nothing left and nothing to be seized without foreign invasion or political undermining.

Africans will have to grin and bear this atrocious economic reality created by the PPP out of ethnic reprisal politics. Even if the PNC/APNU retaliates it will face capital depletion, flight and departure that hammered the PNC regime when it held power.

Yes, Burnham strived to develop African pride and pushed to create a Guyanese identity but in the shroud of his dictatorship, it came across as nothing more than self-serving posturing to strengthen his hold on power.

Ethnic pride in a sea of poverty is defeating and worthless. Politically decent and morally courageous Africans paid a price under Forbes (Continued on page 23)

When the judgement is clouded DEAR EDITOR, Reference to your report on the sexual assault allegation in Region Three.

This is very troubling.

The treatment the victim received merely highlights the prevailing attitude to getting friendly with the opposite sex to develop the customary ‘friend with benefits’ scenario. “What’s wrong with a man making a pass at a woman?”

However if a woman makes a pass at a man there is no serious problem. Society accepts that to be of no legal violation except in some rare and serious complicated situations.

All the persons to whom the current victim went to seek recourse appeared to smile her off with “What’s wrong with the man making a pass at a woman?” He hustling she, so what’s wrong with that?

So the woman found it impossible to get the situation resolved.

In my opinion, all the persons to whom this woman went are at fault. Granted that their societal outlook might have blinded them, they should know that in this day and age in any office, the persons in authority have to

treat all employees respectfully, listen to their complaints and reports, and resolve all issues before greater conflict ensues.

Now we have a series of denials; some uncharitable words thrown at her. Her attitude suddenly takes prominence! Her location

assignment runs out. Prior scheduling becomes immediate.

In my opinion these are silent punishment for raising the matter.

The most troubling words in your report were from the Local Government Permanent Secretary Collin

Croal “… that a decision was taken earlier to remove the woman because of her attitude.”

Was this ‘attitude’ her complaining to everyone in authority above her being sexually harassed? I think so unapologetically.

Carl Veecock

Is this the ‘Spirit’ we’re promoting in the CPL? DEAR EDITOR, In a country which has no services available for persons whose lives have been destroyed by alcohol consumption, there is a certain irony in how the Caribbean Premier League deals with the Guyanese branding of alcohol.

Beneficial and very Guyanese Limacol is branded in the cricket. But we are told in several reports this week, that El Dorado Rum will be Spirit of Caribbean Premier League.

According to the VP of marketing, Mr Samaroo - “The Eldorado Rum brand embodies the spirit of Guyana and the Caribbean - competitiveness and fun, hard work and enjoyment – all at the same time” We could sympathise with the marketers of DDL who are probably numb and immune to the stories of the horrors of alcohol and who probably ignore the ravages wreaked on Guyanese families by that ‘spirit’.

Far from fun and competitiveness, hard work and enjoyment…The tales are more often of death, violence, illness, poverty,

violence. No enjoyment for those who have died in the accidents, no fun for the children who have to make the decisions about whether to honour their parents’ wishes to go and buy the product which will result in further problems for them.

Is this the Spirit of Guyana we are promoting in this Caribbean Premier League?

Do we want our cricketers to dishonour those children, women and men whose lives have been wrecked by the consumption of rum?

Hashim Amla is a South African cricketer who has had to advocate hard to remove himself from the alcohol branding of cricket.

A few years ago paying a fine for refusing to carry an alcohol brand.

Would the CPL be penalising any of the cricketers who would want to distance themselves from the ‘Spirit of Guyana and the Caribbean’ and who might want to promote a different kind of vision for our society in which alcohol consumption is not celebrated?

Vidyaratha Kissoon

Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

Opportunists continue to cannibalise Rodney’s name to ensure their relevance DEAR EDITOR, Reference is made to M. Maxwell’s KN letter July 1, 2013 “Here are the facts that support Burnham’s involvement in Rodney’s assassination.”

Based on the claims, no rational thinker can see the linkage of Forbes Burnham’s culpability in Walter Rodney’s death.

So far the known facts are: a) WPA’s Press Release June 14, 1980, which says Rodney was “murdered;” b) the releases of June 16 and 17, 1980, say Rodney was “assassinated” by the PNC Government/State; and c) these claims have been reported by local and external media and repeated across the continents, with the assassination claim becoming the main talking point and mainstream acceptance.

Maxwell’s law cannot determine culpability when Guyana is governed by a Constitution and laws, and culpability is best determined by an adjudicating agency. His ‘facts’ are mere conjectures arising from the

need to believe - as distinct from prove - Burnham’s guilt.

Consequently, Maxwell’s quoted arguments are presented adjacent to mine and readers will determine:1) “Rodney was Burnham’s biggest threat because of …appeal to the PNC’s African constituency.

Further, Rodney matched Burnham intellectually and charismatically and surpassed him morally.”

The WPA historically claimed Rodney appealed to Indians and Africans. If this is true ipso facto Rodney was a threat to both Burnham’s PNC and Jagan’s PPP. The personal comparisons are immaterial to the issue since they are perceptions and Maxwell is entitled to these.

2) “A major political and international figure like…Rodney could not be assassinated …without Burnham’s knowledge and endorsement.”

No credible evidence (testimony, research, record, document, objects) was presented to justify

Maxwell’s conclusion.

3) “…Burnham replaced the armed forces leadership with his loyalists…. four WPA activists were killed by the Burnhamite-controlled security forces (Ohene Koama on November 18, 1979, Claude Bovell on November 18, 1979 and Edward Dublin on February 29, 1980). Within 13 months of its formation, the WPA suffered the most casualties.”

It was within Burnham’s legal remit to determine the armed forces leadership. And, were the incidents of the three political or criminal?

Public records say: a) the three were in various confrontations with police while in possession of (army) Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) and, b) Dublin had a rap sheet of 19 charges, 8 of which he was jailed for and a record that goes back to 1962. Claiming these associations and their concomitant demise as political, present a scenario the WPA had/has a proclivity for criminality.

4) “Minette Bacchus says Rodney was stockpiling arms

and therefore, planning to overthrow the Burnham regime and kill Burnham.

Logically, wouldn’t Burnham want to kill Rodney who was plotting to kill him?”

I made no such statement!

The statement’s first part was made by WPA co-leader Rupert Roopnaraine (SN, September 19, 2010 “WPA had been accumulating weapons prior to Rodney’s death) and duly credited. The latter is Maxwell’s view and the sentence thereafter is his usual sloppy argument.

5) ”Burnham defenders say Rodney had an accident and blew himself up….Rodney’s death was no accident. Logically, it can only be an accident if Rodney knew he was holding a bomb.

No rational human being…knowingly tests a live bomb that could be remotely triggered in the enclosed space of a car….”

Maxwell failed to prove whether this aspect of Rodney’s political thinking was rational and he was unaware he was in possession of an explosive device.

6) “Gregory Smith admitted in his book a bomb could be triggered in a walkietalkie by external forces hacking its channels.”

Maxwell in his KN June 1, 2013 letter “If Burnham did not plan Rodney’s…” says Smith’s book is “salaciously fraudulent…infantile attempts at deceit in that book literally leap off the page.”

A source cannot be outright rejected as fraudulent and seen as credible at the same time!

7) “The bomb exploded upwards, not outwards. The car roof was damaged. The bomb’s small blast force and upward not outward projection means it could have barely dented the Georgetown prison’s metal fence. This was a bomb made to kill a human being, not blow up a metal fence.”

These are not Maxwell’s thoughts and like Freddie Kissoon, he doesn’t have the decency to give credit to authorship.

He is regurgitating the WPA’s June 17, 1980 release but in spite of this, was the party’s claim

based on expert advice and who was the expert?

8) “Further, the prison goes into standard lockdown at night and there is no reason to bomb a prison in lockdown. The PNC never released the reports of the two British bomb experts…Dr. Skuse was later disgraced in the UK for many flawed findings.”

Maxwell failed to provide a rationale for the first sentence and deliberately withheld information that WPA’s activists were inmates at the time.

The experts’ report is the property of the State, not the PNC, and should still be the State’s possession or a copy accessible from the British’s files. Skuse’s so-called disgrace does not automatically disgrace the Rodney report.

There is no smoking gun here. Readers are advised when the PNC government sought assistance from the US State Department, the US declined citing the WPA’s accusation of the C.I.A’s (Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday July 06, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

Opportunists continue...

From page 5 probable “aid” in Rodney’s death (confirms in WPA’s release of June 17, 1980).

The USA offered to solicit the support of the British which was accepted. The team was scheduled to arrive in Guyana on June 19 and 21. On June 17, 1980 a WPA release says ”the regime has been brazen enough to tell the Guyanese people that it has invited experts from well-known imperialist police forces from imperialist capitals in a highly political incident in which they may have been involved at an earlier stage.” Decipher.

9) ”In a country notorious for lax police response…personnel reached the explosion within minutes…Death Squad members were seen double parked near the jail just before the bombing.”

It is normal, unto today, to have police presence within the environs of the prison. Camp Street is Guyana’s main and largest prison.

10) “The pre-prepared PNC radio statements at 6 am on June 14, 1980 said the victim was unrecognizable and that the explosion took place right next to the prison wall.”

Can Maxwell produce the radio statements for the readership to determine accuracy?

11) ”PNC… admitted this fact with its flyer later that morning of June 14, 1980, stating quite crudely, “Rodney blows himself on way to blow up the prison.”

Provide evidence of claim.

12) “WPA press release dated June 17, 1980 said a senior PNC security official was overheard around 8.45 pm at a party stating he was leaving to meet with Burnham and other PNC heavyweights because Rodney was killed.”

The release named a State security official,

not a PNC security official and in spite of who is named or the ‘credibility’ of reported speech, how does this confirm Burnham’s culpability?

13) “The only plausible explanation is to cover up the killing. Burnham was in Guyana when Rodney died.”

How is geography consequential?

14) “1980 US State Department review on Guyana states ‘available information indicates that the government was implicated in the June 13 death of WPA activist Walter Rodney and the subsequent removal of key witnesses from the country.’”

State Department collects information from various sources, including media, press releases and man in the street. Note the Department’s reference to “available information indicates.. .implicated” which is different from ‘the facts are’ or ‘the court found’ or ‘evidence points to’ or ‘evidence shows.’

15) “…Burnham is now preserved on video …suggesting a theory of Rodney’s death by accident that has always been utterly rejected by forensic, logical and factual evidence and rejected by the US findings.”

Maxwell has to provide evidence to support No. 15 because what he has so far presented fails to do so!

Opportunists continue to cannibalise Rodney’s name on a ‘story’ of how he met his death to ensure their career/relevance/ sympathy.

They remain content to accuse and not prove; avoiding any mechanism be put in place to test their credibility or shame them and make public the truth of whom (including Rodney) was responsible.

Minette Bacchus

Breaches of these protocols must have consequences DEAR EDITOR, Sexual harassment is an offence that is totally underlegislated though it is all too prevalent. Unfortunately, in too many workplaces, both in the public and private sectors, the practice is to avoid

addressing complaints or to make it impossible for the victim to continue in the workplace. The reports on the situation at the Democratic Council Office Region 3 present a fairly typical picture of the offence and the failure

An open letter to Khurshid Sattaur Mr Khurshid Sattaur, Commissioner General, Guyana Revenue Authority, Camp Street, Georgetown.

DEAR SIR, We the staff of the Inter Service Enterprise Security Service of 21 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, are formally making a complaint against our employer who is deducting income tax from our salaries every month to be paid to your department.

However, upon not receiving any income tax return forms for the past years of our deductions, we have decided to visit your department to ensure that our taxes are being paid.

However, when we get there it was disclosed to us that our taxes are not being paid.

We are therefore asking if you can kindly look into this matter of interest. We also are

looking forward for a speedy resolution of this matter, which we all deem as being a serious one.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Employees of Inter service Enterprise.

of persons in authority to address complaints.

The most unusual feature in the Region 3 situation, as reported, is the determination and courage that the victim has displayed in not allowing herself to be bullied or intimidated into silence.

Women have an equal right to work without being subjected to unwelcome advances, and all places of work must establish policies which make clear that a supervisory position does not give the supervisor any rights over the bodies of juniors male or female. Breaches of these protocols must have consequences.

Karen de Souza For Red Thread

Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday July 06, 2013

Absent ambulance stalls Linden municipality works The non-provision of an ambulance for the Linden Hospital Complex by the Ministry of Health, even after several requests were made for same, yesterday resulted in the suspension of the July statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council.

The motion for suspension was voted by Councilors Charles Sampson, Maurice Butters and Lesley Gonsalez, and was supported by all the other councilors except one, Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon told media operatives in a press briefing yesterday.

According to Solomon the issue of the ambulance was to be the first on the matters arising from the action list of the last statutory meeting, which was held in June.

The action list, Solomon said, stated that the Chairman should update Council on what the response was from the Ministry of Health (through the Permanent Secretary), relating to the provision of an ambulance for the Linden Hospital Complex.

“Now in the motion that was carried by council, this was amended to include Region Ten, and not just the Linden Hospital Complex, because we recognize that also in Kwakwani we have issues with an ambulance not being available to residents in the sub region areas between Kwakwani, Ituni and Aroaima.

“It is with that motion that the suspension and further instruction by Council to make known to the Minister and the Government that the People of region 10 are totally dissatisfied with the response being shown or demonstrated by the Ministry of Health, in this very important matter.”

Solomon said that it was an utter disgrace that the people of Linden (30,000 residents) and Region Ten (50,000), which is a vital region, should be without an ambulance, as people are at the mercy of private transportation providers.

“As Chairman of Region 10, I am in full support of Councilors’ position,” Solomon declared.

Solomon added that as early as June 6th last, a call was made to the permanent Secretary who was brought up to date on the matter relating to the need for an ambulance. That call, he said, was made immediately after the last statutory meeting of the council.

The response was that there wasn’t much that the Ministry could do at that time, but all was being done to acquire an ambulance, Two more ‘contacts’ were subsequently made in relation to the provision of an ambulance, including one on the very day that two Bosai Workers were killed and three others injured in a horrific accident, on the Coomacka Mines haul road. The injured were unable to be transported properly, as alternative transportation had to be used.

To date no word has been received about the situation as regards the

ambulance, even though the need for one is now, Solomon emphasized.

He added that the Region intends to take further action to ensure that there is an ambulance in the community.

The Linden Hospital Complex has been without the services of an ambulance for over two months now, after the one that had been serving the institution broke down on its way to Georgetown, while transporting a patient to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Repeated calls were made to the Permanent Secretary for another vehicle to provide the services of an ambulance in the interim, according to Councilor Maurice Butters, but to date nothing has been done.

Butters said that for more than five years, the Ministry of Health had been approached for an ambulance, as the vehicles at the hospital are over 12 years old.

Apart from that, an ambulance that had been

provided to the Linden Hospital by the Region in 2006, only worked for about a year. It developed mechanical problems soon after and has not worked since, even though almost $3 million was spent on repairs. The vehicle is presently y parked in the old hospital compound.

Butters said that the amount of money that was spent on the ambulance could have b ought four vehicles.

As it relates to Kwakwani, Butters said that at present there is only one ambulance serving the area, and that whenever it leaves the community, there is no guarantee that it would reach its destination, because of the difficult terrain. Quite often, he pointed out, persons have to be put into other vehicles to continue their journey to Linden.

With this in mind, he suggested that when acquiring an ambulance for the Kwakwani and Ituni consideration should be

Sharma Solomon given to acquire a vehicle that could stand up to the difficult terrain, that the vehicle would have to traverse in and out of these districts.

Vice Chairman Byron Lewis said that it was totally disrespectful and embarrassing for the community to be out of an ambulance for so long, and called the decision to suspend the Statutory meeting yesterday, to attend to the issue of the ambulance, as a

bold and authoritative step taken by councilors.

Also condemning the attitude of the Permanent Secretary and the Ministry of Health were Councilors Audwin Rutherford and Lesley Gonsales, while Councillor Stanley Collins voiced his intention to mobilize persons across the community to take further action, if the ambulance issue is not treated with the urgency it deserves.

Meanwhile Council has made a decision not to proceed with any other matter until the issue of the ambulance is settled. All the Councilors present at the press briefing said that they fully endorsed the suspension of Council yesterday.

Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon has meanwhile said that he expects the issue of the ambulance to be dealt with within a week, or further action will be taken.

Boy, four, allegedly sexually assaulted - perpetrators aged 9, 13, said to be part of gang in crime-ridden community A young mother is seeking justice for her fouryear-old son, who was reportedly sexually assaulted by two other boys who are members of a juvenile gang that is located in a crimeridden community.

She said that the child was molested on Thursday by two boys, aged nine and 13, after he was lured into a house a short distance from his home.

The victim’s mother said

that police detained the culprits but released the elder boy, who is reportedly the main perpetrator. She alleged that relatives of this boy are now threatening her.

She said that around 14:00 hrs on Thursday, her son went to a nearby community to play with other children.

The mother said that a girl in the group was about to give the child some coconut water when she realised that he was missing.

The girl then went to a house in the area and reportedly saw two older boys sexually assaulting the fouryear-old. According to the woman, the girl immediately called an uncle and also contacted her.

Kaieteur News was told that the culprits were taken into a yard and questioned, and they immediately began accusing each other.

The mother said it was also revealed that the boys

had given her son “cigarettes and black sage” to smoke before forcing themselves on him.

The woman said that she made a report at the East La Penitence Police Station, and the two boys were taken into custody.

She was then sent to the Brickdam Police Station, but a rank there informed her that her son wound not undergo a medical examination until the following day.

According to the mother, after he was medically examined yesterday, a female rank told her that the doctor found no evidence of sexual penetration.

She claimed that the rank said “as long as nothing happen to your child you don’t have to worry.”

But the young mother alleged that the mother and a sister of the 13-year-old boy stood outside her home around 07:00 hrs yesterday and threatened to kill her.

The woman said she has told police about the threats, but she is concerned that she may not get justice since police have released the 13year-old boy.

The woman and other relatives alleged that the two young men are constantly picked up by the police, since they are part of a gang of juveniles who prey on residents in their community and even in Georgetown. According to the residents, none of the gang members is older than 13.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

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WHAT IS HARDER TO FIND THAN LOVE? My first job interview required that I produce some form of identification and proof that I was of working age. Since I did not have a Guyana identification card at the time, I took along my driver’s licence and my birth certificate.

I hoped that the former would identify me and at the same time allow me to get into the transport section, while my birth certificate would show that I was of working age.

The interviewing officer took my driver’s licence and wrote something down on a sheet of paper. He then picked up my birth certificate and took a long time looking over it. So long that I decided to ask, “Is anything wrong, sir?”

To which he replied, “Yes, I cannot find the expiration date.”

From the number of birth certificates which the General Register Office issues each year, one may be tempted to believe that birth certificates now carry an expiry date. The sheer number of applications would suggest that persons are of the view that every few years they need to apply for

a new birth certificate.

The problem is that too many persons in Guyana are no longer taking care of their important documents. They are misplacing them much too easily, with the result that every few years they need to apply to have replacements issued.

It is simply unacceptable for such large numbers of applications to be made in any one month. Even for one year, this amount would be simply too much in a small country like Guyana. It places undue pressure on the system, with the result that processing times are bound to be extended. It is unacceptable, and the only persons to blame are those who are losing their certificates.

This was hardly the case up to thirty years ago. People took good care of their documents. Many of them may not have had even a file folder to store their documents, but they resorted to keeping them in plastic bags or used envelopes.

More importantly they had a fixed place, usually some drawer, where all their

important papers were kept.

And keep them safely they did. Today there are persons who still have their British Guiana birth certificates.

Somebody should run-off a competition in Guyana to see who can produce the oldest birth certificate. I am sure that quite a few birth certificates dating back to the early 1900’s can still be found.

Unfortunately, not many of these older certificates are accepted for use. There are many places in Guyana, including embassies, which refuse to accept a British Guiana birth certificate as proof of birth.

It is not clear what position the Registration Office took during the national registration exercise a few years ago, but no one should be denied registration simply because they have a British Guiana birth certificate. In fact, anyone who can produce such a certificate should be given an award for being able to safely keep that document.

In the old days there was no photocopying and persons had to take their documents, for example,

Dem boys seh...

House is big business De crow is de only bird does wait till rain fall before he build he house. Dem had some Guyanese who was like that.

Dem got some birds that does thief nest.

Dem does wait till some bird build a nest and lay eggs, then move.

Of course dem still got a couple people who like that. Dem does move in house wha people build and tek it over.

Is a dangerous game because dem does even get document to tek over de property.

Burnham and Cheddi did know bout that suh dem had a housing programme. Dem didn’t have money like nowadays suh dem housing programme was nutten fancy.

Today, though, is a really big housing programme and it paying off. Dem boys was shocked to hear that all de house lots give away pun de East Coast.

Dem boys know that Eddie Boyah got land fuh build house pun de same East Coast. He buy from de government and dem boys waiting to see if de government will buy it back.

And dem boys notice that in a quiet move Irfaat moving de capital from wheh it deh. He setting up a place called Silica City up de highway wheh global warming can’t touch it. Is nuff land up there and Silica City gun be a powerful place especially since de contractors don’t have to go anywhere fuh de sand.

Now if that is to be de case dem boys want to know wha gun happen to Pradoville2. Dem wouldn’t be surprised if all of a sudden de people who live in Pradoville 2 give way dem house and move into Silica City.

De building expo mek nuff people open dem eye. Dem bank got so much money that dem set up booth and beg people to borrow.

De contractors show off some nice house and some of dem who been last year ain’t show this year because dem busy building house fuh sell. Dem ain’t got time fuh exhibition.

Talk half and watch de housing situation.

when applying for a passport.

They did not lose these documents.

Yet today, with the luxury of photocopying, people are still losing their original documents. Perhaps it is because replacements come too easily. All it takes, according to the General Registrar Office, is for an application to be made and an inexpensive fee to be paid for a replacement copy.

If however, the replacement fee was $1,000, then perhaps persons would lose their original certificates less. It is something that should be considered, for in as much as Guyana would like

its citizens to be able to afford to have replacements of important documents such as birth or marriage certificates, there needs to be some controls and disincentives against persons losing their original documents.

An increase in the cost of these certificates will do the trick, because if there is anything that dissuades Guyanese from losing anything, it is the high cost of replacement.

Guyanese need to keep their documents safely and ensure they are stored in an easily accessible place. A good way to know how organised someone is, would

be to see whether when at home they can find their birth certificate within five minutes.

If they cannot, then it says that they need to get themselves better organised.

In May, last year, President Obama quipped at a dinner that there were a few things in life harder to find and more important than love. Then he added, “Well, love and a birth certificate.”

Stand fan electrocutes two-year-old Police are questioning the parents of a two-year-old girl who was electrocuted around 20:30 hrs after coming into contact with a fan at La Bonne-Intention, East Coast Demerara.

Relatives identified the child as Amanda Bannister.

Kaieteur News was told that little Amanda was running in the house with other children when she accidentally clutched the fan’s cord and was electrocuted.

David Bannister, the child’s father, said he was in

the top flat when he heard screams in the bottom flat.

The child was rushed to the Woodlands Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Police arrived at the hospital at around 23:00 hrs to question relatives.

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Saturday July 06, 2013

Miners press for fuel, duty free Don’t be surprised if GuySuCo’s concessions as gold prices slide further Chairman is new CEO – Dr. Luncheon

Dr. Rajendra Singh

Representatives of GGDMA meeting with Minister Robert Persaud and GGMC officials on Thursday.

Miners, claiming pressure from a worrying fall in gold prices on the world markets, wants Government to relax duties on pickup vehicles and take actions against heavy equipment suppliers for price gouging.

According to the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), the concessions are urgently needed to help maintain viability in the mining sector.

Members of the recently elected executive of the GGDMA led by their President, Patrick Harding, and President of the Guyana Women Miners’ Organization (GWMO), Simona Broomes,

met with Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud, senior officials of the Ministry, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) on Thursday to ask for relief.

“The aim of this meeting was to stress the GGMDA’s call for some concessions and to identify additional measures to cushion the decline in the price of gold.”

Among the issues discussed, the association said yesterday, were the relaxation of import duties and taxes on new 4-door pickup vehicles. “Safety for workers including women miners who

would usually have to ride in the tray of these pick-up trucks was highlighted as good reason for the adjusting of the duty.”

The miners also complained that suppliers of heavy equipment were involved in price gouging and not honouring warranties on equipment sold.

Also raised during the meeting was a shortage of foreign currency.

“The unavailability of foreign currency to miners who sell their gold to the Guyana Gold Board was discussed as an outstanding problem, moreso since the Continued on page 32

Government seems all set on the appointment of Dr. Rajendra Singh, the current Chairman of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), as the new Chief Executive Officer.

Chief Government spokesman, Dr. Roger Luncheon, who is also Head of the Presidential Secretariat, in confirming that the administration has been mulling Singh to take the helm of the troubled industry, said that the New Jersey-based official has returned home to live in Guyana.

“So I wouldn’t be surprised if what I said is a bit stronger than a rumour…that we may in the short term…soon…to be advised…be informed about the appointment of a CEO of GuySuCo.” He went further. “…and I

am saying, do not be surprised if it were to be the Chairman of the Board of Directors of GuySuCo.” Luncheon hinted of a press statement that will be issued shortly on the matter.

“I suspect that a release would soon be forthcoming that clearly identifies…that provides greater clarity about his future association which I am assured will happen (his future association, that is), with the industry.”

There was no immediate word about who the new Chairman is likely to be.

Earlier this week, Kaieteur News stated that Dr. Singh was tipped as the new CEO. That position is currently held

by Paul Bhim.

Government and GuySuCo had taken flak after it was learnt that the stateowned Corporation had been flying in the official every month from the US and paying his hotel bills.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, had defended Singh saying that he is qualified and worked in sugar for a number of years at a senior level and that he has the expertise to manage GuySuCo. Singh reportedly joined the sugar industry in Guyana in 1975 as an Industrial Relations Officer and left as a Regional Industrial Relations Manager. He reportedly has been attached to the City University of New York

Dr. Roger Luncheon (CUNY) for over 20 years now.

Bhim was appointed to the CEO post after Errol Hanoman, a former Booker Tate official, was let go in 2010.

Bhim is now likely to be Dr. Singh’s deputy.

Currently, the Deputy CEO position is held by Rajaindra Singh, a former Chairman of the Guyana Forestry Commission.

Yesterday, a GuySuCo official said that there has been much confusion in the media reports over Dr. Singh and the Deputy CEO, Rajaindra Singh, with even a letter appearing in the media up to yesterday. “These are two different persons though their names sound alike.”

GuySuCo’s flagship Skeldon Factory, failed to take off with a number of technical problems besieging the industry.

The US$200 million modernization project, was supposed to take 2012 national production levels to around 400,000 tonnes of sugar. Last year, the industry fell to 218,069 tonnes-- its lowest in 20 years.

Industry experts have blamed the low production on poor yields, weather, industrial action, worker migration to other sectors and inefficiency.

Parliamentarians have said that factories stood idle around 50 percent of the time during crops. Between 2006 and 2012, Guyana collected compensation payments from the EU of $24.7B, geared to prepare Guyana for the ending of sugar quota to Europe. There have been criticisms that all the monies did not go to the industry.

This year, to fix the Skeldon factory, Government announced the hiring of Bosch Engineering, a South African company to carry our remedial works. A reported US$8M ($1.6B) was said to be budgeted for the works.

At Skeldon, production last year was 33,309 tonnes of sugar and not the 100,000 tons projected. This year’s first crop, across the country, was described as one of the worst in recent years.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Drug enforcers find 640 kilos of ganja in container The drug enforcement agents of the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Guyana Police Force and the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit, yesterday busted a quantity of marijuana that landed in Guyana last month end at the John Fernandes Container Terminal.

Kaieteur News understands that the officials found the illegal drugs yesterday morning in a container that had been stored in the terminal on Mandela Avenue.

An official related to this publication that the drugs weighed some 640 kilograms in 14 bags, and concealed in the container.

The marijuana which was placed in jumbo white, blue and grey bags appeared to be hurriedly packed into the container, probably in Jamaica as the vessel was on its way to Guyana.

A source close to the investigation said that the container had left Japan with

four cars. The vessel transporting the container stopped in Jamaica where someone forced opened the container and stuffed the bags containing the marijuana inside. The source said that no sooner had the local authorities opened the container than the bags began falling out.

One investigator said that this bust coincides with the holding of a major annual event—Jamzone.

He said that the authorities have noticed the trend of large shipments of marijuana coming into the country at this time.

He said that there is nothing to link the Jamzone organizers to the marijuana, but that there are some major dealers who capitalize on the event.

A release from the GRA stated that they discovered a quantity of marijuana in a container containing four motor vehicles at the John Fernandes Terminal,

Industrial Site, Georgetown.

GRA also said that the container originated from Japan and was transshipped in Jamaica and arrived on the vessel Vega Sachsen on June 27, 2013.

“An examination of the consignment was conducted and a large quantity of drugs of a compressed nature with a weight of approximately 640 kgs was discovered in an assortment of bags and packaged with various markings.

“The agency’s Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) was subsequently informed and Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) was called in and took possession of the drugs.

The two agencies are currently conducting examinations and investigations”, GRA said.

Up to late yesterday the shippers and the brokers were cooperating with the local drug enforcement authorities, the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit stated.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Bank of Baroda renews ‘unionised’ labour agreement

(From left to right )President of CCWU, Sherwood Clarke, Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle and the Management team of Bank of Baroda In keeping with mandate of ensuring that clerical and commercial workers are provided with suitable and improved employment conditions, the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union, (CCWU) renewed its labour agreement with the Bank of Baroda (Guyana) Incorporated.

Representatives of the Union and a Management team from the Bank signed the three-year contract at the Labour Ministry Brickdam Office, yesterday.

The agreement was reviewed to ensure the terms and conditions of the Bank’s employment are in accordance with the labour laws. These include the hours of work, salary, overtime allowance and probation of Bank employees.

General Secretary of the CCWU, Ann Anderson, spoke about the relationship between the Bank and the Union.

Anderson said that even as the Bank of Baroda has a “family like relationship with its staff members,” it was the management who approached the union with the proposal after receiving the approval from the staff.

“It is a quiet company, in terms of industrial relations, the staff and management operates more like a family and therefore there is not much dispute for us to interfere …. I would like to compliment the management for their approach and for providing jobs in Guyana.”

Bank of Baroda, Managing Director, Amit Kumar, says that over the years the company has catered to the banking needs of the local populace with the absence of major setbacks.

“We have been creating jobs for the Guyanese people and more opportunities for Guyana and quality working environment for our staff members.”

Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle commended the organisation for their initiative. While, Ogle noted that the Bank of Baroda may be the only ‘unionised’ bank in Guyana, he advised that other companies and organizations should have a similar labour trend.

“I observed that this is a three-year agreement and we always encourage that other companies follow in similar manner, lengthen their agreements …..I’m glad to hear that the initiative came from management; the mere fact that we did not have to intervene or conciliate, a show that there is a good relationship between the two parties and this is commendable for labour relationship.”

Ogle congratulated the Bank Management and the Union on the renewed agreement for continued success, progress and good relations.

Tattoo artist to face Jury for Rose Hall Town killing Shamdyal Ramroop, called ‘Muscle, 32, a tattoo artist of Tain Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice was on Thursday committed to stand trial in the next sitting of the Criminal Assizes of the Berbice High Court.

A prima facie case was made out against him at the end of a Preliminary Inquiry held by Magistrate Roby Benn at the Albion Magistrate’s court.

Ramroop, a father of two was on trial for the murder of Ajai Cecil, 18, of Rose Hall Town Corentyne, Berbice.

The killing occurred on Sunday November 11, 2012.

Ramroop who first made an appearance before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at

the same court was earlier remanded.

He was represented by attorney at law Ian Annamayah.

According to prosecutor corporal Sherlock King, Ajai who had earlier attended a fun day at Rose Hall, Corentyne was on his way home when he was attacked and stabbed to death during a robbery. He was first rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital by his father who found the gate locked. He diverted to the New Amsterdam hospital where doctors pronounced his son dead.

The man had left his home around 19:30 hours on Saturday to attend a Fun Day at the Area Hall Ground, Rose Hall. He was heading home

around 12:30 hours, with a relative when he was attacked by three men, one of whom stabbed him.

Cecil was the only son for his parents but had three other siblings. The young man would have celebrated his first wedding anniversary one day after he died. His wife, Alisha, was eight months pregnant with their first child at the time. The man worked with his father as a vendor.

A post mortem examination performed on the body at the New Amsterdam hospital by Dr Vivekananda Brijmohan gave the cause of death as shock and Hemorrhage due to a stab wound to the heart.

Saturday July 06, 2013

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UG workers not impressed following meeting with VC Although it commenced on an optimistic note yesterday, a meeting between Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi and workers of the University of Guyana ended in discouraging mode.

According to reports, nothing new was disclosed at the meeting thus workers were unimpressed. They said that there is still no concrete output from the Vice Chancellor’s leadership and there is no clear directional plan.

“We were told nothing new at the meeting and it is clear that he is still learning the University’s system,” said Vice President of the University Senior Staff Association (UGSSA), Dr. Melissa Ifill.

She said, too, that it is the view of the University’s Workers Union (UGWU), that the meeting lacked expected details such as a financial road map to extricate the institution from its existing challenges.

There was also no mention of an enhanced policy assurance proposal, said Dr. Ifill, who noted that there was no definitive financial sustainability plan that would serve to avert future delayed payment of

salaries.

Yesterday’s meeting followed on the heels of a request from the Union after workers were last month denied payment of salaries on the stipulated date, an occurrence said to be nothing new to the institution.

At a recent emergency press conference it was revealed that in addition to late salary payments, the University has not been making payments towards workers NIS, PAYE, pension and other contribution dues.

In light of the unacceptable outcome of yesterday’s meeting, the Union now has plans to engage in discussions with the university’s negotiating team with a view to addressing the concerns of the workers.

At an earlier forum President of the UGSSA, Dr. Pat Francis, suggested a Government bailout as the way forward for the University.

Alluding to the ever growing financial crisis of the tertiary institution, the UGSSA President made reference to a revolving student loan fund which was established by Government several years ago. Although

Dr. Melissa Ifill designed to accrue interest to aid the functioning of the university, she noted that this has not been the case since a lot of students have not been repaying their loans.

However, the financial challenge should not be one placed on the shoulders of the University.

According to Dr. Francis, “This (Students’ Loan) Unit only sits at the University but is not part of the University’s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n responsibility...”

She explained that “somehow or the other in the accounting done in the budget it is placed in there as though it is, but it really is

not...so the University finds itself where it is underfunded for many years.”

This plight remains, according to her, despite the fact that the Students’ Loan system was put in place to alleviate the very problem that exists.

“We have been going into debt little by little; even our pension.

The Actuary had determined several years ago that significant money should have gone into taking us out of a hole but we headed to some kind of bad situation...They have never honoured that so over the years the debt has grown until we are in this terrible state,” Dr. Francis lamented.

It was this development, according to her, that had prompted the Government itself to start questioning the efficiency of the University’s operation.

As such she expressed her belief that “at this point regardless of what the auditors find, the debt that has been built up over the years has to be written off.”

This is necessary, Dr. Francis noted, if Government “really wants to give this Vice Chancellor a chance. They will have to write off that debt

Another Corentyne man penalised for beating wife Looknauth Sundat, 50, of Lot 356 Belvedere Squatting Area, Corentyne, Berbice was on Friday ordered to pay $10,000 or spend 20 days i n jail by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Albion Magistrate’s court and pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting his wife,

Deomatie Nandram.

Prosecutor Corporal Sherlock King told the court that on June 29, last, about 18:00 hrs., the accused returned home and started to behave in a disorderly manner.

He was upbraided by his wife and an argument ensued.

The accused got angry and

dealt the woman a series of blows about her body.

The matter was reported to the Albion Police Station and the accused was arrested and charged. In court he pleaded guilty.

When asked by the magistrate if he had anything to say he declined.

The woman told the court that it was not the first time that her husband had beaten her up.

and then they will have to put money into this University at various levels.”

But addressing the various concerns at the University of Guyana requires a holistic approach and not merely a Government bailout, said Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.

She said that the “easiest thing to do would be a bailout but that is not going to solve the issues that caused the University to be indebted in the first place...it is far more than a bailout that is needed.”

The Minister’s disclosure was forthcoming when she addressed a press conference on Thursday at the National Centre for Education Resource Development. She disclosed, then, plans to meet with officials of the University yesterday.

But according to her it is imperative that moves be made at the tertiary institution to “divorce ourselves from every other agenda – political, social...and aggressively

address the issues that UG has, so that we can sustain the kind of University that Cheddi Jagan envisioned and the kind that many of us matriculated from.”

The Minister alluded to the work of Consultant Trevor Hamilton and Associates which was tasked with conducting a consultancy titled: Review and Enhancement of the Regulatory Framework for the Improvement of Operations at the University of Guyana.

With funding from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the consultancy was aimed at enhancing the University’s capacity to carry out its daily operations and to boost its effectiveness to function as a national tertiary education institution in the 21 st Century.

The consultancy has since produced a final report which outlines what should be done to enhance the operation of the institution.

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Saturday July 06, 2013

Vryheid’s Lust Primary honours first QC student

F

ifty-two students of the Vryheid’s Lust Primary School on T h u r s d a y, o f f i c i a l l y completed their primary education at a prize giving and graduation exercise.

The event saw many students performing a number of cultural dances and a group song entitled “to teachers with love”, which was dedicated to the individuals who helped them to their success.

Being the first student in the history of the school to place in the top one hundred and securing a spot at Queen’s College, Jasmine Lall said, that she remembered the first day she started school. The Valedictorian in her speech added that she was greeted by her then first grade teacher who gave her the nickname “Princess”.

She added that while going through the different levels at school, she was given the opportunity to work with some of the “best teachers”.

“As I entered grades five

and six I decided that I had to pull my socks up and work harder,” the 12-year-old said. She added that her teacher, Andrea Thornton, played a pivotal role in her success.

“Ms Andrea… she is the teacher who inspired me and helped me through the two best years of my life,” Lall said.

Guest Speaker Pastor David Warner said that he was pleased with the overall performance of the students.

“You have done well; you have begun a great journey and a great road to success”, Warner said.

The pastor told the students that education is vital to the future and urged them to exercise a more mature lifestyle while being humble.

“I want to thank the students for their hard work, sacrifice, dedication and commitment. I see this as a great team of success and victory”, David said.

He also advised them to study hard and to achieve success wherever they go.”

Take the same mentality into

the next phase of your life and in the next five years apply the same sacrifice and obedience to their parents that you do now”.

He also told the students that the next five years in Secondary School will have challenges but urged them to be brave as they enter a new environment and new friends.

“The next few years will crown you and make you the man or the woman you will be in the future”, Pastor Warner said.

Meanwhile, the head teacher of the school Rajmanie Mohanlall said that she was elated because this was the first time in history that a student from the school made the top hundred.

The top student Jasmine Lall scored 529 marks walked away with most of the awards including highest marks in Social Studies, Mathematics, English and Science.

The second place student was Shaniyah Moore who scored 514 and settling for third was Shiyan

The students with their certificates Moore with a total of 513 m a r k s . B o t h M o o r e ’s secured a spot at St Rose’s High School.

Thornton said that preparing her students for the exam demanded a lot of work and commitment. “I feel great because I had to work hard with them, although sometimes I felt a bit down but they motivated me to go on”, the teacher said.

The woman who has been a teacher for the past 21 years said that the school

has been progressing through the years and that it

looks forward for a next top student.

Hunt on for killer, car mirror thief

F

ive days after he reportedly killed his fellow villager with a car, the police have issued a wanted bulletin for Satish Neil Ramcharitar of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

The police said that Ramcharitar is wanted by the police for questioning in relation to the “murder” of Jagdeo Thakurdeen.

Thakurdeen, called ‘Blondie’, of Django Town, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, was hurled from a car after he jumped onto its bonnet in an attempt to apprehend the persons who had stolen the mirrors off his friend’s vehicle. The wanted man was reportedly the driver of the car.

Thakurdeen’s body was discovered lying on the Good Hope Railway Embankment around 22:00 hours, next to the crashed car from which he was hurled.

The police had initially issued a statement to the effect that, Thakurdeen, 37, of East Coast Demerara, was “struck down” by a motor car as he was walking along the Good Hope Railway Embankment.’

But several persons including Thakurdeen’s reputed wife gave a different account of how he met his death, an account that points to a deliberate act on the part of the driver of the car.

Thakurdeen had been clinging to the bonnet of the car from La Bonne Intention a few miles away from where his body was found.

It was said that he positioned himself in front

WANTED: Satish Neil Ramcharitar the car in an attempt to prevent the car from driving Kaieteur News learnt that a few friends went after the car and it became a high speed chase, all the time with the now dead man on the bonnet.

The driver managed to elude his pursuers and by the time the car was seen again, it had crashed and Thakurdeen was lying motionless next to it on the Railway Embankment.

The account given by T h a k u r d e e n ’s w i f e i s reminiscent of the scenario surrounding the death of bank employee Sheema Mangar, who was killed by a car while she tried to retrieve her stolen cellular phone.

Yesterday the police asked that “Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Satish Neil Ramcharitar is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 2256411, 226-6978, 225-8196, 229-2702, 229-2557, 911 or the nearest police station. All information will be treated with strict confidence.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 15

American social worker jailed for four kilos of cocaine - “mastermind” remanded

Brianna Rodney Brianna Rodney, a 25year-old American woman, who claimed that she saw an opportunity to hit the jackpot and took it, was yesterday sentenced to four years’ imprisonment and fined $30,000 fine after she pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Her partner, Andre Gustavo, who is the alleged engineer of the crime, was remanded.

Presiding over the case at the Georgetown Magistrates’ court was Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine Beharry.

On July 3, at the Cheddi Jagan Airport, the

unrepresented defendant had 4.130 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Gustavo, 24, of Vryheid’s Lust is said by the prosecution to be the “engineer or rather the architect of the entire plan.”

He pleaded not guilty when the said charge was read to him by the Chief Magistrate which stated that on the said date, he had in his possession, the said narcotics, at Sheriff Street.

C.A.N.U’s (Customs Anti Narcotics Unit) special prosecutor, Oswald Massiah, said that Gustav shared a close relationship with Rodney. From the suitcase containing the illegal substance, to the taxi that took Rodney to the airport, he is said to have orchestrated every move with regard to the arrangement.

The prosecutor also stated that Rodney is an American by birth and gave her address as, 2121 Westbury, Brooklyn. She is also said to be a social worker in her country. The defendant’s passport shows that she visited Guyana on two occasions, the last being on March 12, 2013. During her stay, it was noted that

Rodney picked up a string of associates and thus has several addresses, the last being at Hotel Inn on Sheriff Street.

It is believed that due to the clique of associates she established during her visit, she arranged with them to take the illegal substance to the U.S.A for a fee.

Massiah added that the suitcase the defendant came with to Guyana was intended to be used to carry the suspected narcotics to the U.S.A but it got damaged in the process and was subsequently replaced. The new case was then packed and given to the defendant who was escorted to the Airport.

The suitcase was locked and came with a pair of keys which the defendant had in her possession. On the day in question, officers attached to the anti narcotics branch who were on duty, noticed the defendant acting in a suspicious manner and carried out a search on the said suitcase which was checked in by the defendant.

The case was searched in her presence and the ranking officers found six packets concealed in a false bottom

Immigration INFO: Questions & Answers By: Attorney Gail S. Seeram, Gail@GailLaw.com Through this “Question & Answer” column, our goal is to answer your immigration questions. Many of you have questions on backlog time and eligibility – we seek to clarify these issues and more. We appreciate your comments and questions. If you have a question that you would like answered in this column, please email: Gail@GailLaw.com.

Question #1: I went with my wife, who is a U.S. citizen, to my interview at the Embassy, we were told my status was going to be reviewed in 6 - 8 weeks.

When I emailed the embassy in Guyana they told me the petition my wife filed for me was being sent back to the U.S. for review and possible revocation. What does this mean?

Answer #1: This means that based on your interview and evidence presented, the U.S. Embassy has some doubts about your marriage. The file will be sent back to the U.S. and either (1) the U.S. will uphold the Embassy decision and revoke your petition or (2) you will have an opportunity to rebut any allegations made by the U.S. Embassy and the petition may be reinstated and visa issued. This process can take

6-9 months.

Question #2: I would appreciate your assistance in advising me with my problem.

I surrendered my green card recently at the U.S Embassy (Guyana) and choose to live in Guyana. In return I was given a 10-year visitor’s visa.

My wife has since applied for a holiday visa but was turned down. The Officer told her that her husband already has a visa. Does this mean that as long I have a 10-year visa irrespective of whether my wife applies again in the next 6 month would she be turned down again?

Answer #2: I n response to your question, the Embassy has wide discretion in approving and denying visitor visa applications. Your wife must have strong financial, property, family and job ties to Guyana. Don’t assume that your wife is automatically eligible for a visitor visa because you got one.

Question #3: I was issued a 10-year visitor visa to the US. I traveled once nearly every year, and most times I spent between 4-5 months. However, on my last trip July 2011 as I was waiting my turn to approach the immigration officer, another officer approached me and asked to see my passport and asked me to follow him in the interrogation room. He and

a female officer started to interrogate me. Asking me my purpose for coming,,,they kept insisting I had to be seeking work and asked if at anytime I sought jobs on my previous visits. Although I knew I did on some trips I tried denying...they asked to search my luggage and pocketbook. They discovered a few employment agency cards and a letter from a lady thanking me for taking such good care of her mother.

What does this mean for me?

Answer #3: The U.S. immigration officer probably revoked or cancelled your visitor visa because you violated the terms of the visa by working. You cannot work in the U.S. with a visitor visa.

If a family member sponsors you in the future, you will need to file a waiver.

Question #4: My mom, 92 years old, has petitioned for my siblings. All relevant documents have been submitted since August 2011, and so far my mom hasn’t got any feedback from the immigration (US). What should my mom do?

Answer #4: Assuming your mom is a U.S. citizen and your siblings are married (F3 preference category), visa availability subject to 8-9 year wait. If your mom is a U.S. citizen and your siblings are unmarried (F1 preference category), visa availability subject to 5-6 year wait.

of the suitcase. It turned out to be cocaine. The defendant was then told of the offence, cautioned and arrested.

The suitcase containing the drugs was then escorted to the C.A.N.U Headquarters where additional investigations were carried out.

Massiah said that Rodney was very compliant and gave a detailed statement which she signed.

Advice was then sought on the matter and the said charge was instituted.

The C.A.N.U prosecutor disclosed that due to additional investigations that Continued on page 32

Andre Gustav

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Saturday July 06, 2013

Saturday July 06, 2013

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Kaieteur News

Saturday July 06, 2013

Albouystown resident remanded for 6 kilos of “weed”

A

54-year old Albouystown resident was yesterday remanded after the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking was read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The charge read to Ronald Satamby by Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry stated that on June 26, at 32 Callendar Street, Albouystown, the defendant had in his possession 6.9 kilograms of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The father of two pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Officers attached to the narcotics unit, acted on information and conducted a search on a building with a shop and several rented apartments. In one of the rooms cannabis was found.

The officers also found t h e d e f e n d a n t ’s b i r t h certificate, rent receipts and pictures of him in the room.

The defendant was then

arrested, cautioned and charged.

The ganja was then taken to the station where it was weighed and amounted to 6 kilograms 860 grams of cannabis.

Representing Satamby was Attorney at Law, Peter Hugh, who stated that his client resides at 90 James Street, Albouystown and not where the ganja was found.

The lawyer added that his client was simply purchasing an alcoholic beverage from a shop located at the premises of the building.

Prosecutor Vernette Pindar objected to the defendant being granted bail on the grounds that he had served three years on a possession of narcotic charge and added that no special reasons were presented by the Lawyer for bail to be considered.

Bail was subsequently refused. Satamby is expected to return to court on July 16.

ASL honours Port Kaituma student

Air Services Ltd. continues to recognize the needs and efforts of the people who live in the far-flung hinterland communities they serve.

Earlier this week ASL Captain Feriel Ally took time out to congratulate young JOANNA DE OLIVEIRA of the Port Kaituma Primary School and to present her with a trophy for being the student from that area with the highest marks in Mathematics in this year’s National Grade 6 Examinations.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 19

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Kaieteur News

Saturday July 06, 2013

Orealla Toshao accuses Peneux brothers of staging a coup

Toshao of Orealla and Siparuta, Floyd Edwards

F

loyd Edwards, To s h a o o f Amerindian villages, Orealla and Siparuta, believes that the allegations of discrepancies in financial reports and misappropriation of the Council’s funds m a d e against him by resident, Carl Peneux, is a way to retrieve power “through the backdoor” for himself.

According to Peneux, since Edwards was elected in April 2012 as Head of the Village Council in April 2013, there have been several imbalances and discrepancies in the financial reports.

He also charges Edwards with several other acts of misappropriation of the Council’s funds.

Peneux was said to have collected 140 signatures of

residents in Orealla for a petition calling for Edwards’ removal from the position as Toshao.

More recently, he was moving to have the village council disbanded while installing an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the financial affairs of the existing Council.

During a Press Conference yesterday at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Toshao Edwards said that he is disturbed by the issues raised by Carl Peneux and his brother, Lloyd Peneux, about the Amerindian community. “They are trying to paint a bad picture of the Council in and around the country.” Chairman of the National Toshaos Council

(NTC), Derick John, at the conference, described the issue as one which eliminates law and order.

The chairman said that the allegations made by Peneux show disrespect to the village council, who are democratically elected to lead the community.

According to the Toshao, the issues raised by the Peneux brothers have been adequately dealt with by the Ministryof Amerindian Affairs.

Edwards said that after he had won the majority of the votes at the elections in 2012, the brothers had lodged a complaint with the Minister of Amerindian A ff a i r s a n d e v e n t h e President, saying that the election was “rigged”. The To s h a o n o t e d t h a t i n response to the claims, the Minister issued a report which stated that the election was transparent and that the Toshao and other members of the council were duly elected according to the Amerindian Act. Further, responding to the allegations lodged of the misuse of the Council’s funds, the Toshao said that auditors were sent to audit

the first four months of the Council’s account. “The Ministry went there about four times dealing with these cases”, he said.

He added that not only did staff of the Ministry conduct the investigation but the Minister herself went into the village to declare what was found in the auditors’ report, “that the Toshao and the secretary didn’t take the money and put it in their pockets but that they spent the money on the village.”

According to Edwards, Peneux is not accepting the reports. He said that Peneux claims that “some internal agreement” had been made between the Council and auditors so as to produce a transparent report.

Edwards, in turn, believes that Peneux has not been transparent in setting up the Interim Management Committee aimed at disbanding the Village Council. The Toshao believes that the “so-called” IMC was not set up in accordance with the Amerindian Act. He said that it has therefore been deemed unconstitutional.

Edwards said that the IMC set up by Peneux

“doesn’t have the authority to transact any business on behalf of the Orealla Village Council or on behalf of the residents of Orealla.

Edwards said that, at present, the Orealla Village Council is trying to develop their village and they would not tolerate any outside interference that would cause confusion in the community.

He said that the village had proposed projects with outside donors but it is likely that because of the allegations of the Peneux brother that appeared in the newspapers, the “donor agencies would feel that the people of Orealla are not capable of handling projects or funds” and therefore decline from lending their assistance.

Edwards believes that if Peneux “works together with him to get things done in the community”, it would lead to development.

Pointing to Janice Herman, who was also present at the conference, Edwards said that the woman, although leader of one of the minority groups, is fully supportive of his Council and believes that Peneux should adopt the same attitude.

The woman said that she knows that the Toshao and the Council were elected democratically and therefore deserve the cooperation of the residents. She said that in order for the village to move forward with development the all residents need to support the Council. She added that the issues raised by the Peneux brother were issues that started long before Edwards came into office.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Building Expo to churn out 1,000 new potential homeowners - Financing arrangements to wrap up by end of event

A

t the end of this y e a r ’ s International Building Expo, 1,000 potential homeowners would not only secure their house lots but would have accessed financing from financial institutions to erect their dream homes.

This was according to Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali, at the opening ceremony last evening on the tarmac of the National Stadium, Providence. The tarmac was transformed into a market place for goods and services in the building and construction sector, financial sector and home furnishings.

“Silica City”, the exposition’s centre piece symbolizes a significant stride for the housing sector as it seeks to provide residential and commercial d e v e l o p m e n t simultaneously among hills and valleys. This initiative is as a direct result of limited land on the coastland.

Kuru Kururu has been identified as the community the Ministry wants to openup for this transformative development along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

Selling the idea of “Silica

City” as a desirable location Ali said Kuru Kururu is 43 kilometres away from the Demerara Harbour Bridge, 37 kilometres away from Diamond and 11 kilometres away from Splashmins.

Ali said that with the right infrastructure and public transport system this investment could be done in a sustainable manner.

Inviting interested persons to be part of this new development, Ali said that the Ministry is willing to listen to ideas to create the right incentives and environment for investments.

According to the Minister, Government is in discussions with a number of off shore universities that want to be established in Guyana. This would provide the opportunity to benefit from education on tourism, with thousands of foreign students coming to Guyana, he added.

Directing his attention on the building and construction sector, which has benefited tremendously from Guyana’s housing boom, he said that Guyana needs to push ahead with major contracts such as the

A section of the gathering at the opening

expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, construction of the Marriott Hotel and East Coast and East Bank Demerara fourlane roads expansion projects.

He said that not many could measure the trickle down benefits of the construction sector. The construction of the M i n i s t r y ’s Yo u n g Professional Homes employs more than 600 young Guyanese.

“And we are proud to say that more than 40 Guyanese who returned from Barbados

are working on the young professional homes,” he said.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Ronald Webster, also praised the building and construction sector for contributing to economic growth and development.

According to Webster,

the theme of this year’s exposition “Consolidating Partnerships for Sustainable Development” is most apt since this event, “which is a harmonious and positive collaboration between the public and private sectors that results in a wider choice for consumers whether they are seeking to build or

expand a home or simply to enhance an existing dwelling”.

He said that the construction industry stimulates economic activities, provides employment and provides investment benefits.

Providing an insight into (Continued on page 27)

Page 22

Kaieteur News

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Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Letters... Where your views

How could anyone...

From page 4 Burnham and now all Africans are paying a price under the PPP, because of Burnham and the PPP. So why do so many continue to back a man who destroyed Africans financially and left them constitutionally, irrevocably out in the cold?

Why continue to back this leader over another leader who would have given Africans a better deal? How could anyone morally and ontologically elevate Burnham above Rodney?

Everywhere we turn in this country, Forbes Burnham continues to haunt Africans in the most dehumanizing ways. He has constitutionally protected the PPP to practice tit for tat race politics.

He engineered massively failed economic policies that have rendered many Africans into a persistent underclass.

Why does Forbes Burnham enjoy the support he does over Rodney?

For most of the Burnham backers, it comes down to race. This is the most degrading aspect of this nation’s psyche. It destroys rationality. It lacerates decency.

For many Burnham backers over Rodney, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham must be defended at all costs because he is African, even if his government murdered another African giant whose policies meant more for African liberation and salvation.

This is not a moral decision, it is a racial decision. For others, it is ethnic treachery to defend Rodney who opposed an African government, notwithstanding that government killed Africans pursuing truth, justice, fairness and freedom.

The reprehensible immorality and depravity of that position is evident.

Burnham is a symbol of African power to some of those people and that is all that matters. It does not matter that Burnham’s policies actually devastated Africans into their most powerless position since slavery.

For some, Burnham must be defended out of reflexive racial protectionism. It is the same reflexive racial protectionism that nastily pushes the PPP to fatten its friends in frightening ways.

Those who support Burnham over Rodney morally support Van Hogenheim over Cuffy, Charles Bean and Governor Smyth over Damon, Governor John Murray over Quamina and Jack Gladstone and Governor Wooley over the Enmore Martyrs.

They also support the PPP today, despite their protestations against this regime, for they cannot defend Burnham over Rodney and still decry the PPP’s chicanery and heinousness. This hypocrisy of decrying despots in the name of freedom and fairness today, while defending dictators of yesteryear, is morally crooked and fraudulent. If freedom is good enough now, then it had to be good enough then.

These hypocrisies are rooted in ethnic distortions and tragedies in this land.

They continue to destroy morality and inflate the crippling hypocrisy that is really and truly the Guyanese condition. They continue to impede us from advancing in this land. We are a nation of many Benedict Arnolds. No one could morally crown Burnham above Rodney, not in the historiography of this nation from 1964 to present.

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PROPERTY FOR SALE

One- (2) Bedrooms apartment for rent- Call:617-3001

1 Two Storey Business Property (Transported): Brickery Public Road, East Bank Demerara. Call: 660-8128

CITY TAXI SERVICE (SINCE 1968)- CALL:2256222/ 226-7150/ 2261088/ 225-8600/ 227-1101

Town & Country Real: 5bedrooms concrete 2 stories $35M: 225-0853, 225-0854, 672-7390

Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, m i c r o w a v e s , washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool.

Call: 225-9032, 647-2943

LAND FOR SALE House lot for sale: Friendship EBD & drafting of house plans. Call: 2230733, 223-0730 2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at ParikaCall:226-7968 2 House Lots (39×150 & 38×150) $16M each: Blankenburg public road, W.C.D- Call: 658-0132 Grove/Diamond $5M, $5.5M, $4M, $6.5M, $3.5M: 6727390, 225-0854, 2250843 Eccles New Scheme 50 x 100 $5.5M: 6727390, 2250854, 2250843 Republic Park 7 Bedrooms, 2 Stories Concrete, Fixed kitchen very spacious $40M, 2250854,2250853,6727390 Tuschen 5 Bedrooms, 2 Stories concrete $29.5M: 2250854,2250854,6727390

NEWLY BUILT TWO STOREY BUILDING, MC DOOM PUBLIC ROADCALL:600-1375 Business place located @ 94 Tushen New Scheme main road- Call:655-6945 Furnished (2) Bedrooms house @ Crane H/Scheme $45,000- call:671-6855

Vacancy exists for security guard: Apply at Alabama Trading Ferry Stelling Stabroek, G/Town

Alexander St between Regent & Robb $60M: 6727390, 225-0843, 225-0854

1 General domestic must know to prepare vegetarian meals: Apply @ Alabama Trading Ferry Stelling Stabroek, G/Town

House and Land @ D’Edward, W. C.B. Call: 6892973/698-3703

One female shop assistant, age 35-45 years, preferably from W.C.D or W.B.DCall:655-8688 for information

Georgetown Computer repairs & virus cleaning in homes- Call:675-7292

Charlotte between Cummings & Orange Walk Bourda $50M (Neg) 2 Stories-3 bedrooms: 6727390,2250854 ,2250843

Skilled carpenters: Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Ferry Stelling Georgetown

TransponderTV: No Monthly Fees, No Hidden Fees, No Additional Charges: 250 Channels + 50 HD Channels- Call: 675-3201

North Rd 2 Storey Building: Business Premise $1.5US (Neg): 672-7390, 225-0854, 2250843

Middle Street Poudroyen 2 Bedrooms Flat house 39x150: 2250854,2250853,672-7390

Diamond main road property 5 bedrooms flat house $37M: 225-0853, 225-0854, 672-7390 Diamond/Grove 2 Stories Concrete Newly Built: Automatic Gate/Garage, Spacious Kitchen& 4 Bedrooms $36M: 6727390, 2250854, 225-0843

W.B.D, Current Operational: Business Property, Land 200’x25’: Ideal Location $50M (Negotiable) 672-8569 /686-9888 / 609-8132.

Versailles W.B.D new Exclusive large 2 storied 5bedrooms house with extra lot, (Gated Community): 6728569, 686-9888,609-8132

House Plans, estimates and construction- Contact T.Boodhoo 625-9883 / 6759296

West Bank $18M, Bel-Air Park $45M, Campbellville $30M, AA Eccles $65M- Call Diana @ 227-2256/ 626-9382

Newly built concrete 3bedrooms house in Parfaite Harmony $19M, $17M, $8M: 672-7390, 225-0854, 225-0843

Land 50’x 90’, with foundation, Posts, Roof etc.

Building 30’ x 50’, Parfaite Harmonie, WBD $6.8M (Negotiable) 672-8569 / 6869888/ 609-8132

Professionally designed website at affordable prices: Get a free consultation & quote.

Email: trinidadbusiness@gmail.com or call: 868-397-3589

Salesboys, salesgirls and security guards: Apply @ Avinash Water streetCall:226-3361/ 227-7828

Tushen Flat house 2 Bedrooms concrete double lot $9.5M: 2250854, 2250853, 6727390

Commercial / Residential property 150’ x 45’ Building 70’ x 30’, Kitty ($4M per year income) (Negotiable) 6727390 / 672-8569 / 609-8132

SERVICES

Going concern building: Prime area Sheriff street by owner- Call:682-7733

Parfait Harmonie- $1.5M, $2M, $2.5M: 2250853, 2250854, 6727390

PROPERTY FOR SALE

VACANCY

Versailles 5 Bedroom House with modern facilities and beautiful landscape- Call: 592-684-9203 / 592-624-8704

2 Storey Building 70 x 28 Land 150 x 45 Kitty $75M (Residential/Commercial) Main Rd:672-7390, 225-0854 ,225-0843

3,000 Sq.Ft. building prime location W.B.D public roadCall:610-2227

(From page 26)

3 Stories, 6 Apartments, 8 bedrooms Corner house, Charlestown $32M: 6727390, 2250854, 225-08433 Diamond 6 bedrooms, 2 families House $26M: 2250854, 2250853, 672-7390 Parfaite Harmony 2 Bedrooms Flat house Unfinished $6.5m (neg) 2250854,2250853,672-7390 Lodge H/S 2 Storey Concrete (needs repairs) $14M neg: 672-7390, 225-0854, 2250843 2-bedroom flat house, on land 35x150, Poudgroyen, W.B.D $6.5M 672-8569,6869888,609-8132 Parfaite Harmonie-2-stories, concrete 3-apt, 5-bedrooms, 3 toilets & bath. Concrete yard $18.7M (Neg):672-8569/ 686-9888/ 609-8132

Electrician, Welders & Fabricators (3 years experienced), Machinist: Apply @ Technical Services Inc. 18-23 Eccles Industrial Site, E.B.D 1- Road Foreman- Full timeCall:603-4524

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer. Call:2310655, 683-8734 Omar

Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call: 225-6496, 662-6045, 223-8115 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000CALL:694-9843/227-2766 Austin’s Repairs & Services: We repair fridges, freezers, washers, A/C, dryers & House wiring etc.Call:685-2588/ 629-8136

TO LET Fully furnished short term apartments @ Eccles call: 689-6668 Secret Villa apartment, fully furnished apartments Land-of-Canaan E.B.DCall:266-5243/266-5245 Harmony Inn: Fully furnished,air conditioned apartments; Parfaite Harmonie, 5,000 Per night call:668-0306, 694-7817,602-8769 Diamond $35,000; Eccles $55,000; Queenstown $140,000; Nandy Park US$1200- Call Diana @ 2272256/ 626-9382 One bedroom house @ Mon Repos, E.C.D- Call:698-6764

Need a Babysitter/ Caregiver? Call:694-0689/ 691-8699 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves, TV: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick)

LEARN TO DRIVE B & C Driving School: Lot 5 Hadfield Lodge- call:2250150,229-7258,680-6826 Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166, 622-2872, 615-0964 FOR RENT Two (2) bedrooms furnished apartment in Georgetown for short term local and overseas guestsContact:699-7559

MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call:678-7499.

2 Bedrooms House @ Diamond: Call Candie:6708793/685-5710

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Saturday July 06, 2013

Ryan Hoppie, Bibi Khan are GT&T Jingle and Song Competition winners - judges’ scores coincide with national votes

G

uyana has voted, and West Bank Demerara’s Bibi Halima Khan and Georgetown’s Ryan Hoppie have been named this year’s Guyana Stars.

And it seems rightly so, because Guyana’s votes coincided with what the judges had on their scoring sheets. This was according to Sean Bhola of the English segment, and the Bollywood’s Aditya Persaud.

The winners, Khan and Hoppie, each won a Toyota Raum motor car, a BlackBerry Z10 phone, and $1M. Khan was followed in the Bollywood segment by Essequibo’s Andy Rambharack who earned for himself a BlackBerry Z10 cellular phone, and $750,000.

Likewise, this year’s youngest finalist, Michael

Ecstatic winners: Ryan Hoppie and Bibi Halima Khan Small, copped second position in the English segment, outshining his more mature rivals. He is

now the rightful owner of the latest BlackBerry cellular phone, a Z10, and $750,000.

Guyana had about a

month to vote, and the much anticipated results were announced yesterday during a simple ceremony at the Guyana Telephone and Te l e g r a p h ( G T & T ) ’ s B l a c k B e r r y O ff i c e o n Brickdam in Georgetown.

Like Brandon Harding and Gail Ann Singh, Bibi Khan and Ryan Hoppie have suddenly become household names, with already established fan bases.

Hoppie is a 25-year-old former Saint Joseph’s High School student who grew up in Lodge, Georgetown. He has a passion for Gospel singing and has been doing so from an early age.

On a mission to help Guyana’s young people live better lives, Hoppie founded the ‘Come Alive Network’, a non-profitable organization for youths.

He is also a mentor for the Youth Ambassador Programme undertaken by the United States Embassy.

Upon being named the winner, an overly ecstatic Hoppie said that he is very pleased that Guyana chose him as the winner of the English segment, but added that his rivals are as equally talented.

“I knew that I was a strong contender, but I also knew that the others were equally talented, so while I was hoping for the best, I didn’t know what (yesterday) would bring,” Hoppie said During the Jingle and Song finale, Hoppie copped the hearts of his audiences when he reinvented Chris B r o w n ’s ‘ C r a w l ’ . H i s smooth performance had the packed National Culture Centre going wild, and received much praises from the judging panel.

Meanwhile, Bibi Khan, the vocal power house as described by the judges, is a mother of two who resides at Vr i e s l a n d , We s t B a n k Demerara. She is 28, and her eldest child is 11.

Khan grew up singing in Masjids and in Qaseeda Competitions. She then emerged to be the Melody Queen of Region Three.

The cash prize, she said, would help her to further secure the future of her children, while the car that she already had, would be replaced with her brand new Toyota Raum. Her older vehicle would be placed into a taxi service for the purpose of generating additional income. The woman is currently employed with the DAX New Generation Band as a singer.

She was a contestant of the GT&T’s Jingle and Song Competition before, but did not get very far. Nonetheless, Khan believed in dusting oneself off and moving forward, so she did just that.

And today, she is looking back to give herself a tap on the shoulder for getting back on the horse and auditioning once again.

Heading into the competition, Khan said that

she wanted to mostly make a name for herself, and gaining as much experience as she could.

“I used to always look at the billboards around and say to myself that I want to be on one of those someday.

My aim was to make a name for myself. I wanted people to know who Bibi Halima Khan is,” a smiling Bibi Khan told Kaieteur News.

Her last performance was a treat to the NCC audience, and saw the panel of judges lauding her with a standing ovation. She showed off her vocal range by doing short pieces of two filmi songs, as well as a chutney piece that had the audience on its feet.

Following that performance, the vocal powerhouse was also deemed the next Guyana Star and the judges were not wrong.

Both winners, overwhelmed and ecstatic, plan to make good use of the one year contract offered to them by GT&T. Khan and Hoppie described their major support as being their respective families and communities.

The other finalists in the Bollywood segment included Yeataindra Singh Denishwar Bisessar, Eric Sukrah, Reshma Persaud, Devchandra Ramrattan, Bunty Singh, and Haresh Singh.

The English finalists were Lerone Souvenir, Natasha Yhap, Diana Chapman, Lemuel Chester, Dorian Obermuller, T’Shanna Cort, Edward Perez, and Darren Benjamin.

The finalists all received BlackBerry Z10 cell phones.

They are all very thankful to the telephone giant for once again promoting young talents, and moving them one step closer towards fulfilling their dreams of making their own music.

So thumbs up to GT&T for pulling off yet another successful year of the Jingle and Song Competition.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday July 06, 2013

Police celebrate 174th anniversary in Berbice

A section of the gathering of ranks from the disciplined services yesterday L to R: Commander Hicken, Traffic Chief Brutus, Representative of Republic Bank and St. Francis Community Developers President, Mr. Alex Foster “I am asking you as we celebrate our 174th Anniversary to come on board with us…We cannot do it alone.”

The Police Commander of ‘B’ Division, Senior Superintendent Clifton Hicken made an appeal to members of civil society to come on board and to assist the police with the execution of their duties. He was speaking at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Thanksgiving and Interfaith Service in observance of the 174TH Anniversary of the organization, yesterday, at the Divisional Headquarters in New Amsterdam.

He said that having experienced 174 years, the police force is very much a part of civil society. “They have Godly laws and Earthly laws—and that is where we [the force] come into play.”

He noted that the organization was established to ensure that humans don’t impede on the rights of others. “Our society is going through a change.”

He spoke about how globalized the world is becoming especially as it relates to technology. “We are required to exhibit to a professional Code of Conduct when dealing with members of the public.”

Hicken added, “You have to come on board with us in order for us to achieve our goals and objectives in the force.”

He stated that the GPF is going through a modernization process at the end of which the Strategic Action Plan will be realized.

He also praised the construction of the state-ofthe-art Forensic Lab in Georgetown. “That is to make our work easier and accessible to technology.”

The senior rank noted that while some of the members of the public are supportive of the police from

time to time, others are not.

In the aspect of the media, he stated, “They are the ones giving us the glory and they are the ones who are sending the message to society whenever there is misconduct by members of the force.”

Hicken said that, instead of getting into confrontation with defaulting police officers, the public should approach the Management Committees or senior ranks of the police stations and let their complaints be heard.

There is also the Community Policing Group (CPG)” and we are doing as much as we could to ensure we gel with society.”

The Commander noted the importance of the core values in the police force and stressed that they be respected and upheld at all times. The force, he added, is in the stage of development and it will be a gradual process which “cannot be done drastically”.

“As we develop, we will want you to keep embracing your faith and put the Lord first in the GPF, because only the blessing of the Lord can change us to be the type of force we want.”

He urged everyone to “put the past behind, to start a new step and let’s live in love—If you see we’re doing wrong…don’t upbraid us in a manner that can cause confrontation, but get on to the leaders or superior of these people so that we can deal with it and can have a professional force so that we can provide the service that are required by you, the members of the public, who are paying taxes for us to support and protect you.”

Pastor Wilbert Daniels was the guest speaker at the event while other religious leaders offered prayers for a ‘cleaner’ and less corrupt police force in Guyana.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

Cops fleece passengers of ‘speeding’ car - Driver not charged

F

requent reports of bribery on the part of supposed law enforcement officers have led many to question whether it is the police that they should be on-guard against.

Following his own ‘costly’ confrontation with the police, Jagdesh, a United States citizen vacationing in his homeland, is concerned that the situation has been occurring too regularly.

He said that the money “passed” to police officers without legal cause could have been used to the advantage of the poor.

The man recounted that, en route to his residence following a visit to neighbouring Suriname, a t r a ff i c r a n k a t Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, halted the vehicle.

At the time the vehicle was carrying a Suriname national and another Guyanese in addition to himself and driver.

He said that after charging that the car had been moving beyond the speed limit, a “black clothes police” ordered everyone to r e p o r t t o t h e Beterverwagting Police Station, where their pieces of luggage were opened and searched.

Jagdesh said that the passengers, all carrying several bags and suitcases were required to open up their luggage after which the police rummaged through them, charging that the items contained in the bags were being smuggled into Guyana or that they contained drugs.

“After they search we,

Jagdesh they tell we that we have to go to Eve Leary, what we gon do?”

Jadgesh said that he had already interpreted the meaning of that question, but was not in a position at the present time to offer any payments.

According to the man, the police demanded $50,000 to be handed over before he could be freed.

Seeing the situation as unavoidable, Jagdesh was compelled to solicit a family member to have the payment delivered.

He said that after being freed, he found out that the other passengers were also required to “pay up” before they were allowed to leave; however, the driver had not been charged.

Jagdesh says that he finds it very strange that the car was initially stopped on charges that the driver was speeding, however, no such charge was issued.

The passengers reportedly handed over in excess of $100,000 to police in order that they may freely proceed on their way to their respective destinations.

Building Expo to...

From page 21 housing in Guyana, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds emphasized the journey to a transformative housing sector from haphazard squatting to ones where house lots are allocated through a system.

He stressed that when the PPP/C Government took office regularizing squatting settlements was one of its main tasks. Areas that were being eyed as prime squatting locations were

developed by Government as housing schemes.

And, Government has reached a level where it could provide already constructed houses on lands for citizens.

More than 100 exhibitors, including companies from United States of America, Canada, China, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil and Malaysia are participating in this year’s event that is slated to conclude on Sunday.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday July 06, 2013

Egypt left leader backs military At least 17 dead as Islamist role, sees short transition protests spread across Egypt

CAIRO (Reuters) Egypt’s leading left-wing politician endorsed military intervention to oust elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi and said he expected a short transition to a new democratic president and parliament.

Hamdeen Sabahi, leader of the Popular Current movement, who came third in last year ’s presidential election, said the army had implemented the will of the people and was not seeking power for itself.

“This action has led to a reconciliation between the people and the army after a long time of estrangement,”

he told Reuters in an interview yesterday as pro- and antiMursi demonstrators clashed in central Cairo.

Those who called Mursi’s removal this week a military coup were insulting the Egyptian people, who had turned out in their millions to demand his ouster, Sabahi said.

He called for former U.N. nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei, a prominent liberal politician, to be appointed prime minister for an interim period he hoped would not last longer than six months until an amended constitution was in place.

The armed forces

suspended the constitution, placed Mursi in detention and appointed the head of the supreme constitutional court, Adli Mansour, as interim head of state.

Sabahi, a firebrand orator who models himself on former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, spelled out the sequence of steps he said had been agreed for the transition.

“We have agreed on a roadmap that has a new constitution that will be drafted by a committee to amend the suspended constitution and change the disputed articles, after which people will vote on it in a referendum. Then, there will be a presidential election, then a parliamentary election,” he said.

Sabahi accused Mursi of having pursued the same wrong foreign policy of following the West as expresident Hosni Mubarak, toppled in a 2011 popular uprising. He blamed the United States for supporting the Muslim Brotherhood long after Egyptians had turned against the Islamist president.

Protesters who are against former Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi throw stones at pro-Mursi supporters yesterday. (Reuter) CAIRO (Reuters) - At least 17 people died across Egypt yesterday as Islamists opposed to the overthrow of President Mohamed Mursi took to the streets to vent their fury at what they say was a military coup.

Five of the confirmed dead were in Cairo, security sources and state television said, and pro- and anti-Mursi protesters clashed in running street battles after dark, while armored personnel carriers sped between them on a bridge close to the city’s historic Egyptian Museum.

Five police officers were gunned down in separate incidents in the North Sinai town of El Arish, and while it was not clear whether the attacks were linked to Mursi’s ouster, hardline Islamists there have vowed to take up arms in protest.

In the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, one person was killed in sometimes fierce clashes between rival factions, and in the southern city of Assiut at least one more person died from gunshot wounds.

Tens of thousands of

people marched across the country in what Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement called a “Friday of Rage” to protest against his ouster and an interim government set up to prepare for new elections.

Egypt’s first freely elected president was toppled on Wednesday, the latest twist in a tumultuous two years since the fall of Hosni Mubarak in “Arab Spring” uprisings that swept the region in 2011.

Yesterday’s fatalities add to the dozens of deaths in a month of unrest during which huge rallies in Cairo and other cities called for Mursi’s resignation, amid anger over economic stagnation and perceptions of a Brotherhood power grab.

His overthrow was

greeted with wild scenes of celebration involving millions of people, but infuriated supporters who fear a return to the suppression of Islamists they endured under generations of military rule.

It has also deepened Egypt’s crisis. With its supporters enraged by M u r s i ’s r e m o v a l f r o m power, the Brotherhood says it wants nothing to do with what the army has billed as an inclusive transition plan, culminating in fresh elections.

The military has provided scarce details - its roadmap gave no timeframe for a new ballot - adding to political uncertainty at a time when many Egyptians fear violence could worsen in an increasingly polarized society.

Judge denies request for Zimmerman acquittal SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — A Florida judge has denied a request from George Zimmerman’s defense

attorney to acquit the neighborhood watch volunteer of second-degree murder for fatally shooting Trayvon Martin.

Defense attorney Mark O’Mara argued for acquittal yesterday after prosecutors rested their case.

O’Mara said prosecutors hadn’t proved their case. He said there was enormous evidence presented over the past two weeks that Zimmerman had acted in self-defense.Prosecutor Richard Mantei argued the state had met its burden and that Zimmerman had lied about what happened.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for fatally shooting 17-yearold Martin last year. He pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defense.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

EU threatens to suspend data-sharing with U.S. over spying reports (Reuters) - The European Union is threatening to suspend two agreements granting the United States access to European financial and travel data unless Washington shows it is respecting EU rules on data privacy, EU officials said yesterday.

The threat reflects European disquiet about allegations that the United States has engaged in widespread eavesdropping on European internet users as well as spying on the EU. Cecilia Malmstrom, the EU’s home affairs commissioner, wrote to two senior U.S. officials on Thursday to voice European concerns over implementation of the two agreements, both struck in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks and regarded by Washington as important tools in the fight against terrorism.

“Should we fail to demonstrate the benefits of (the agreements) for our citizens and the fact that they have been implemented in full compliance with the law, their

Cecilia Malmstrom credibility will be seriously affected and in such a case I will be obliged to reconsider (whether) the conditions for their implementation are still met,” Malmstrom said.

EU-U.S. relations are going through a “delicate moment”, she wrote in the letter to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and David Cohen, Treasury under-secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

“Mutual trust and confidence have been

seriously eroded and I expect the U.S. to do all that it can to restore them,” she said in the letter, seen by Reuters.

Malmstrom is dispatching a team of officials to Washington next week for previously scheduled reviews of both information-sharing agreements.

The Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme (TFTP) provides the U.S. Treasury with data stored in Europe on international financial transfers. The Passenger Name Record agreement covers data provided by passengers when booking tickets and checking in for flights. All such information is passed to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The United States and the EU need to show that the two data-sharing agreements “continue to bring benefits to our security and that the robust safeguards attached to them are respected to the full.

We need complete transparency and a maximum of information on both programmes,” Malmstrom wrote.

Britain’s PM Cameron wins symbolic vote on EU referendum LONDON (Reuters) Prime Minister David Cameron won a parliamentary vote yesterday on making a referendum on Britain’s European Union membership legally binding, but his victory is largely symbolic as it will not tie the hands of a future government.

Trailing in the polls before a 2015 election, Cameron hopes his support for the bill will end his Conservative Party’s feuds over Europe, win back voters lost to antiEU rivals and expose the opposition Labor Party’s refusal to back a referendum.

MPs backed the bill, which legislates for an EU referendum by the end of 2017, by 304 votes to zero, in an exercise seen as a way to convince eurosceptic Britons that Cameron is serious about giving them an “in/out” EU vote.

Cameron’s pro-EU coalition partner, the Liberal Democrats, and most opposition Labor MPs abstained after dismissing the vote as a parliamentary “stunt” that wasted lawmakers’ time.

Unable to put forward a referendum bill as a government due to Liberal Democrat opposition, Cameron threw his support behind the bill proposed by

his party’s youngest lawmaker, 29-year-old James Wharton. “It is about time we gave those millions of British people who want a say the chance to do so,” Wharton told a charged session of the House of Commons.

Cameron, who wants Britain to stay inside a reformed EU, says upheaval in the EU since the euro zone crisis makes it the right time to give voters their first say on Europe since they opted to stay in the bloc in a 1975 referendum.

The bill could still be defeated as it passes through parliament. Even if it becomes law a future government

could repeal it. The Liberal Democrats pointed out that Britain already has a law guaranteeing a referendum if the 28-nation bloc seeks treaty changes that would transfer more powers to Brussels.

Labor leader Ed Miliband refuses to back an EU vote, though media reports suggest the party might soon change tack, perhaps even seeking an early referendum.

Page 29

Zimbabwe’s Mugabe launches “fight for life” poll campaign HARARE (Reuters) Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe launched a “fight of our life” campaign yesterday to extend his three-decade grip on power in a July 31 election already being criticised as poorly planned, underfunded and plagued with irregularities.

Speaking to tens of thousands of supporters in a sports ground in Harare’s Highfield township, the 89year-old said his ZANU-PF party wanted to stay in office to push through its plans to increase black ownership of the economy.

Critics accuse Mugabe, who led the former Rhodesia to independence from Britain in 1980, of ruining one of Africa’s most promising economies by seizing whiteowned farms and giving them to landless blacks with no farming experience.

“This is the fight of our lives. This is a battle for survival,” Mugabe told the crowd, adding that ZANU-PF had reorganised and strengthened itself for a “devastating victory” after

Robert Mugabe nearly losing power five years ago. “Those who work with our enemies, our former colonisers the British, never again shall we allow them to taste leadership of the state,” he said. Although there have been no formal opinion polls, surveys in the past year by Freedom House, a U.S. political think tank, and African research group AfroBarometer have given Mugabe a narrow lead over his main rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

The campaign launch comes a day after the

Constitutional Court rejected appeals, including from Tsvangirai, to delay the vote in order to allow more time for reform of the security forces and state media.

The legal argument over the election date has raised fears of another disputed poll, although with just three weeks to go, there are few expectations of the kind of violence and bloodshed that marred the 2008 elections, after which Mugabe and Tsvangirai were forced into a power-sharing government.

Instead, Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says the biggest threat is ZANU-PF “software rigging” essentially tampering with the voters roll, or making it hard for MDC supporters to register to vote.

ZANU-PF have denied the allegations.

The MDC also alleges that some members of the army have been deployed in the countryside to intimidate potential opponents - a charge the security forces also deny.

Page 30

Kaieteur News

‘Comprehensive tax reform, no piecemeal’

Chamber, JMA add their voices

From left) Jamaica Chamber of Commerce President, Francis Kennedy; Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica President, Chris Zacca; and Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association President, Brian Pengelley.

Jamaica Observer - Two private sector lobby groups have heaped more pressure on the Jamaican Government to implement sweeping tax reform.

The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) and Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA) in separate statements called on the authorities to urgently make broad-based changes to the tax policy, saying the measures are desperately needed to stimulate economic growth.

They added their voice to calls from the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), which last week made several proposals, including the elimination of input taxes for exporters and dropping corporate income tax to 15 per cent from 25 per cent.

The JCC said comprehensive tax reform was long overdue, noting that the last one occurred in the 1980s.

“Virtually all tax reform measures since then have been piecemeal, and designed almost solely to increase tax revenue to meet budget shortfalls caused by Jamaica’s continuing lack of growth,” the JCC, which is led by Francis Kennedy, said yesterday.

“The JCC is calling for a comprehensive tax reform that promotes exports through full integration with the international marketplace. We believe this is the only way to promote the faster economic growth required to lift ourselves out of Jamaica’s current debt trap,” added the organisation.

According to the JCC, “Jamaica’s last best chance for economic transformation” is the country taking advantage of its location and transforming into one of the world’s top logistic hubs, similar to Singapore, Dubai,

Rotterdam and Panama. But, noting that competing nations are more businessfriendly with much lower corporate tax rates or extensive incentives, the JCC said Jamaica is throwing away the opportunity out the door with its prohibitive tax policies.

“To have any chance of becoming an Englishspeaking ‘Gateway to the America’s’, specifically the alternative to Panama or Miami, we will require a tax and tariff regime that is far more competitive,” the JCC said.

He reasoned that the cutting of input taxes and lowering of the corporate income tax rate would help with the elimination of distortionary tax incentives, while creating a globally competitive economic environment for investment in Jamaica.

Saturday July 06, 2013

CARICOM leaders discuss transportation PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders went into an all day retreat yesterday, resuming “frank and open” discussions on the issue of air and sea transportation within the 15member grouping.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves told reporters that the issue had been discussed during the first day of deliberations on Thursday as well as matters pertaining to the CARICOM Multilateral Services agreement.

Gonsalves said he had presented the leaders with a report from the Council of Trade and Economic Development (COTED) that dealt with the air transportation issue in May. “Among the issues discussed were issues concerning the new Multilateral Air services Agreement, some issues relating to the aeronautical services entity here in Trinidad which manages the Piarco flight information region which covers the OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) region as well as Barbados, the taxes and the relationship between the various state owned airlines and critically the issue of the subsidy”.

Gonsalves confirmed that the discussions would continue in caucus yesterday but said he was heartened by

the frank and open discussions to date by the regional leaders.

“The discussions were very open, very frank so that we knew where all of us stood on the question. I am optimistic that we will have a resolution on some of the issues and particular modality adopted on others going forward.”

The leaders have gathered in Point-a Pierre in the south of the island at the Petrotrin compound for their retreat, and Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer said he too remains optimistic about a solution to the air transportation problems in the region. “we discussed the matter fully and various aspects on a very important topic were ventilated.

We decided at the end of the day that the heads should look more closely into the matter when we meet in caucus...and coming out of those deliberations some decisions will be arrived at”.

Spencer said “anything having to do with transportation” will be discussed at the retreat “because as you realise that transportation is key to the integration process and we have to make sure that we get it right this time around”.

He described the deliberations among the leaders on Thursday as “being very candid on the

matter” with regional leaders stating their position “in a way that was not aggressive.

“It was just a question of stating the situation as they saw it and for us to address this thorny issue which we have been skirting along for a very long time and we all have decided we need to deal with this matter if the whole question of integration is to make any sense, if the CSME (CARICOM Single Market and Economy) is to make any sense we need to address this issue frontally.”

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller also has her own concerns as it relates to the ongoing relationship between Air Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines.

In 2010, Port of Spain and Kingston agreed to a deal that allowed the Jamaica government to own 16 per cent of CAL as part of the conditions for CAL taking over the lucrative routes of Air Jamaica.

The deal also allowed for Trinidad and Tobago agreeing to a US$300 million transition plan for CAL to acquire and operate six Air Jamaica aircraft and eight of its routes.

But the deal has had teething problems and Jamaica has given the new board of Caribbean Airlines one month to get its house in order or face the prospect of Kingston withdrawing the Air Jamaica brand.

Teachers left out of IMF deal

Danny Roberts Jamaica Gleaner - A leading trade unionist has urged the Government to revisit the deal it struck with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as it relates to education.

Head of the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Education Institute, Danny Roberts, said the IMF deal fails to take into consideration the important role teachers have to play in moving the

education system forward.

Speaking at a forum by the institute held on the University of the West Indies, Mona campus on Wednesday, Roberts said although the IMF has called for education to be the main driving force behind economic stability, many of its stipulations were done without consultations with the teachers.

“Some of them (IMF conditions) are not about empowering the teachers as an important part of the system, but about bureaucratising the process, and the dead hand of bureaucracy is going to cripple the system,” Roberts noted.

He also chided the Government for making such an important agreement that will affect the operations of the education system without the teachers.

Meanwhile, senior adviser to Education Minister Ronald Thwaites, Dr Franklin

Johnston, said the IMF is now a major stakeholder in the country’s education system.

“As of last month, we can add one other major stakeholder to this group, and I refer to the International Monetary Fund because they are now relying on good educational outcomes to get their loan paid back.”

However, JTA president Clayton Hall said the IMF is being used as a sledgehammer to run with policies that will not benefit the education system.

He reiterated his questions as to how long will the teachers be asked to make sacrifices under the agreement when other stakeholders in the ministry are not holding up their end of the bargain.

The forum at the trade union institute was held under the theme, ‘Special Interest vs Public Good: Reconciling the Debate over the Teachers’ Issue’.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

Thousands protest coalition People’s Partnership government

Thousands took to the streets yesterday in protest the coalition government of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissesar. (FP) PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Thousands of people took to the streets yesterday in protest against the coalition People’s Partnership government of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar calling for early general elections and accusing her administration of selling out the labour agenda.

With heavy police security, the marchers, carrying placards in support of their calls for an early poll, chanted that the coalition, which came to power in the May 2010 general election, had betrayed the trust of the labour movement.

The protest had been organised by the Joint Trade

Union Movement (JTUM) and according to David Abdulah, the secretary general of the powerful Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU), the turnout had been more than had been anticipated given that there were other activities such as the international cricket match between the West Indies and India at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Abdulah, whose Movement for Social Justice (MSJ), quit the coalition government last year after complaining that it had failed to keep its promise of implementing the “Workers Agenda”, said that the march was also to highlight the poor governance in the country.

“It is a march to deal with all the poor governance issues in the country, corruption, nepotism, discrimination and the nonimplementation of the workers agenda which we signed which was the mandate given to my party to take into the People’s Partnership in 2010.

Health, labour, education, all of these form part of the workers agenda,” he added.

“People are fed up and the demonstration is in keeping with the mood of the country, Abdulah told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

The unions had called the march during the Labour Day activities in June after it gave the Persad Bissessar government a failing grade.

Grenada PM calls for CARICOM free movement Trinidad Guardian Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell is calling for the removal of aliens’ landholding requirements for Caricom nationals. Mitchell made the appeal during his address at Wednesday’s opening of the 34th Caricom Heads of Government Meeting at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s.

He said it would be a significant first step towards the free movement of people and capital in the region.

Mitchell said the most urgent issue which should be addressed at the meeting, which ends on Sunday, is transportation within the region, and without a proper transportation system the dream of economic union will continue to be elusive.

It is easier and cheaper for a Caribbean citizen to travel to Miami and New York, Toronto and London than to get from Port-of Spain to Castries, he said. He said

manufacturing products in T&T are not able to reach another Caricom state in a timely manner and remain at competitive rates.

Mitchell said the meeting should set up “a broader task force on transportation to deliver results in six months.”

Mitchell said Caricom heads should be on that task force, which would include businessmen, trade union representatives and other stakeholders. He said the issue of taxation on travel and tickets should also be addressed. In many instances, he said, the taxes were higher than the basic price of the ticket itself. Mitchell also suggested that greater emphasis be placed on developing the region’s information and communication technology (ICT).

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, chairman of Caricom, said it is time for the regional body to consider

expanding its membership and include the Dominican Republic in the Caricom family, along with the Dutch and French Caribbean islands. She also called for the setting up a regional thinktank on security, with a special mandate to examine the multiple security threats facing the region.

“Such an approach would also identify ways of improving co-operation between governments and law-enforcement agencies in countering illicit activity in our hemisphere,” she said. “We must also attack crime at the root, which means we must develop approaches to combat poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and the rising cost of living.”

Persad-Bissessar also spoke of the need to examine regional transportation and to develop a policy to facilitate the free movement of people and thus enhance regional integration and convergence.

Page 31

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Incestuous father in custody Charges of attempted murder and rape have been instituted against the 52-yearold father, who, according to his daughter repeatedly raped her over a period of time at the family’s Friendship home in the Lower Pomeroon River. He was apprehended by police Wednesday night.

He had previously evaded the police after his daughter lodged complaints pertaining to sexual molestation and attempted murder against him.

He is scheduled to appear at the Charity Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Reports’ relating to the allegations by the girl suggests that between June 19 and June 20, last, the man raped her.

After he was seen by his younger daughter, who informed their mother, he proceeded to scold the victim.

He attempted to set her alight after dousing her with gasoline. Fearing for her life, the victim managed to escape by swimming a canal in the Friendship Area.

After her escape, she visited the Charity Outpost, where she related to the police her horrifying story, which subsequently led to the police hunting the man.

The child was later taken into her aunt’s custody, at Lima Sands, where she was examined by a doctor, at Suddie Public Hospital, after she had a miscarriage. During that period, a relative had related that the child was in a weak state and was in need of blood.

Most recently, the mother and her two daughters had returned to the Pomeroon.

The victim’s mother teaches at the Friendship Primary School.

In another case involving a pastor and his granddaughter, who accused him of repeatedly raping her also, the Lima Sands man was previously arrested and later released on $25,000 bail.

Police have engaged the Director Of Public Prosecution.

To date the file has not been returned.

Only a few weeks ago, a Westbury man accused of raping his eight-year-old granddaughter, was released on$150,000 bail, after being on remand for almost a month.

The 54-year-old man was cautioned by magistrate Sunil Scarce not to have any contact with the eight-yearold, or her siblings.

He was also advised to relocate and to desist from living in the same premises as his grandchildren and his daughter.

Miners press for fuel, duty free...

From page 10 miners need funds to import spares, etc, which will greatly assist their mining operations.”

According to the association, a mechanism for relief in the price of fuel was also discussed and a proposal will be presented to the Government of Guyana soon.

“The programme of interior roads was also discussed indicating key roads and bridges linking the hinterland/mining locations, thereby greatly assisting miners to transport their equipment and supplies to

their locations.” The newly elected Executive Committee of GGDMA comprises Patrick Harding – President; Charles Da Silva – Vice President; Azeem Baksh – Treasurer; Terrence Adams – Secretary and Andron Alphonso – Organizing Secretary. Dabria Marcus, Chunilal Baboolal, Terry Singh, Mahendra Persaud are Committee Members, with Alfro Alphonso as the Past President.

“As a follow-up to this meeting, the GGDMA plans to meet with President Donald Ramotar later this month to

accelerate actions on the issues which were discussed.

The meeting between the GGDMA and Minister Robert Persaud, GGMC and GGB Officials is part of an ongoing agreement for monthly meetings to address issues in the Mining sector.”

Gold prices dropped even further yesterday to US$1223, after reaching a high of over US$1900 per ounce.

Gold was the biggest foreign export earner for the country last year with production the highest since large scale producer, Omai Gold, pulled out in mid-2000.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Bath murder...

Police have released the three suspects that were held for the gruesome murder of 34-year-old Jaipaul ‘Jai’ Sampuran of Waterloo New Housing Scheme, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, on station bail.

Two of those detained were last seen drinking with the dead man while another was arrested where Sampuran’s dead body was discovered.

A post mortem performed on the body on Wednesday at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital by Dr. Vivekanand Brijmohan concluded that Sampuran died of a fractured skull and cerebral haemorrhage.

But new details about the murder are coming to light. Kaieteur News spoke with Sampuran’s brother.

Charranjit ‘Ryan’ Sampuran stated that the family believes that robbery was the motive behind their relative’s murder.

He stated that Sampuran left his home shortly after returning from work on Friday afternoon last on his bicycle with his earnings of over $100,000 in his possession.

He was reportedly having a few drinks with two individuals at a shop at Number 11 Village, when an argument ensued.

“One of he friends, Rakesh, came and called he around 10:30 am [Friday] to go to the wedding house and he came and they went. Like an hour later, the friend came home back and called for Jai’s wife…She asked what had happened and asked for her husband.”

Police release suspects on bail He added that the friend reported to the dead man’s wife that he left him at the shop and asked if he had come home. “And he went away and she didn’t hear back anything until the next morning.”

Sampuran did not come home that night and his wife became worried.

She then visited the friend’s house the following morning and enquired again about her husband’s whereabouts. He said that the friend stated that he did not know.

She then filed a missing person’s report at the Fort Wellington Station. It was that same morning around 04:25 hrs when Sampuran’s bloody body was discovered under a house in Number 11 Village, some distance away from the shop where he was last seen drinking with the friends.

Charranjit went on to state that the body was then taken to the morgue at Number 4 Village.

The owner of the house was also questioned at the station. “He said that around 3 am he heard a couple men beating somebody at his downstairs and he thought it was the police were beating thieves.

When he peeped he saw a man lying downstairs and he called the neighbours and the police and nobody assisted to take the man to the hospital because it was said that he was still bleeding.”

Charranjit believes that the friends attempted to rob his brother and he (his brother) resisted and they ran him down the road and beat him to death.

“All of them were drinking at the shop,” he stated.

Nobody in the village saw anything, he stated.

They also criticized how the police are handling the case. “They ain’t come and tell we nothing”, stated Babita Ramoo, a cousin of the murdered man.

She said that the police gave the family all assurances that the three suspects would have passed through court on Thursday but to her surprise she discovered that the men were released on station bail.

“All the police told me that the file gone to DPP….because up to yesterday at the post mortem; they said they got enough evidence to send those men down.”

“It appears to be a robbery because he had a large amount of cash like over $100,000—he draw pay at his workplace, so with the same pants he left the home…apparently it’s a robbery and he fought back and they double bank him.”

Only $500 was discovered in the man’s pocket.

The dead man’s brother believes that the murderers combined their efforts, since his brother was a big- built individual.

He believes that they beat his brother to death with the piece of wood recovered from the murder scene.

Additionally, the murdered man’s bicycle was also never recovered.

The man’s relatives are concerned about the welfare of the five children as well as the man’s pregnant wife. He was the sole breadwinner of the home.

Sampuran leaves to mourn his wife, Renita and children Rajpaul, 4; Shaun Paul, 1; Tiffany, 3; Britney, 8; and Sherry, 15. There is also Jenny, 12 from another union.

Sampuran will be buried today at the Bush Lot Cemetery.

American social worker...

From page 15 were done, it showed that several persons were also involved and charges are likely to befall those implicated.

A remorseful Rodney who has no previous convictions known to the court, then said, “Your worship, I was fully aware of what I was doing and what I was carrying. I saw an opportunity and I took it. I am sorry your worship. I did this because I have my great grandmother, my grandmother, my mother, two brothers and one sister back home and my mom and I are the only bread winners of the home. I am really sorry for what I did your worship and at this time I beg for your leniency.”

The Chief Magistrate then said, “Taking into

consideration the a g g r a v a t i n g circumstances…the prevalence of the offence, quantity trafficked and the fact that you are remorseful and you are taking responsibility for your actions, you are sentenced to four years imprisonment together with a fine of $30,000.”

Though Gustavo volunteered to give a written statement and was cautioned, bail for the mastermind behind the plan, was refused by the prosecution on the grounds that he was convicted for a matter of a similar nature.

The matter of Gustavo was then transferred before Magistrate Ann McLennan who adjourned the case until July 13 for report and fixture.

Saturday July 06, 2013

MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 Sign on 06:00hrs - Living Word presentation 06:30hrs - Peace Love & Harmony (live) 07:00hrs - Dabi’s bhajan Hour 07:30hrs - Times of Refreshing (live) 08:00hrs - Full Life Broadcast with Pastor Findlay 08:30hrs - News Update 09:30hrs - Living the Life 10:00hrs - Camille’s Institute Presentation 10:30hrs - Children movie: Kung Fu Panda 13:00hrs - National Geographic: Mile Wild Tornado

Kaieteur News

14:00hrs - National Geographic: Oceans Border 15:00hrs - Sitcom 16:00hrs - Sitcom: Friends sponsored by Payless Variety 16:30hrs - Alabama Trading Music break 17:00hrs - Birthdays & other Greetings 17:15hrs - Death Announcements/ In Memoriam 17:30hrs - CNN News 18:00hrs - Searching the Scriptures with Pastor Floyd 18:30hrs - Cabinet Briefing 19:00hrs - Apex Forum (Live) 20:15hrs - MTV music break 20:30hrs - Indian Movie: Madhoshi 23:00hrs - English Movie:

One for the Money Sign off DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55 hrs. Sign On 09:00 hrs. Robot and Monster 10:00 hrs. Smart Guy 11:30 hrs. Prime News 12:00 hrs. Movie: Wild Things 14:00 hrs. Movie: The Perfect Roommate 17:00 hrs. The Baptist Hour 18:00 hrs. World News 18:30 hrs. Nightly News 19:00 hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00 hrs. Alliance on the Move (Live) 21:00 hrs. DTV’s Summer Movie Fest 00:00 hrs. Sign Off

Saturday July 06, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): You can earn someone’s affection today with your honest and innovative approach to love.

Unfortunately, you could also alienate a close friend if you don’t know when to call it quits.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20): It’s nearly impossible to be rational about what you like today because your key planet Venus aligns with unpredictable Uranus. You might as well set aside your responsibilities for a while and do something new and exciting.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20): Your fantasies create a buzz today that you find irresistible. You crave more action and yet you probably already have so much going on that you can’t figure out how to add one more thing on to your plate.

CANCER (June 21–July 22): Although the idea of adventure sounds enticing today, it’s hard to imagine yourself out there on your own when you don’t even want to leave the safety of your home.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22): You have big ideas about doing all kinds of amazing things today, but your goals might be so unrealistic that you don’t have a chance of reaching them. You may feel trapped by a previous commitment, but your fear of stagnation feeds your recklessness.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22): Your friends and associates may turn your day inside out if they do something that’s not very sensible now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Your key planet, Venus, is zapped awake by shocking Uranus today, attracting unusual people, places and things like a magnet collects iron. Your reluctance to doing everything the same old way enables you to test the waters by interacting with someone who is completely different from anyone else in your life.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): Your world is alive with social possibilities and you’re ready to shake things up and do something out of the ordinary. Still, you worry about participating in an activity where you don’t have complete control over your schedule.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): You may have relationship issues to handle that could get in the way of more adventurous plans today. Perhaps you assumed that it would be difficult to find encouragement for your current dreams.

CAPRICORN(Dec.22–Jan.19): You can be unusually freewheeling in your approach to relationships today, but your temporary sense of detachment may conflict with your more serious nature.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18): You can make an exciting conceptual breakthrough today that turns your life around and forces you to come up with a whole new set of plans.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): A surprising solution to a long-standing money problem might catch you off guard today, but don’t push it away before giving it a try.

Page 33

CONCACAF Selects Group of Elite...

From page 30 We are confident that this group will manage each of the important CONCACAF Gold Cup matches at a world-class level.”

One referee, two assistant referees and a fourth official will be named for each CONCACAF Gold Cup match, beginning with Sunday’s opening double header at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, featuring matchups between Canada and Martinique, followed by Mexico and Panama.

The referees for those opening day matches, as well as those assigned to the opening rounds of Group B in Harrison, NJ, and Group C in Portland, will be announced on-line via the GoldCup.org and CopaOro.org websites, at 2:30 PM Pacific Time on Saturday June 6.

Following that announcement, referees for each additional group play double-

header will be revealed online 24 hours prior to the beginning of each match day.

At the conclusion of group play, ten referees and ten assistant referees will be selected to officiate the critical quarterfinal and semi-final matches. From this group, two referees and two assistant referees will be appointed to direct the final game of the tournament. The 36-man official roster (6 referee assessors and 30 referees) for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup is as follows: Referees: Aguilar, Joel (SLV); Bonilla, Elmer (SLV); Boria, Eric (USA); Brea, Marcos (CUB); Brière, Philippe (CAN); Browne Graeme (SKN); Campbell, Courtney (JAM); Castro, Armando (HON); Cruz, Hugo (CRC); Fletcher, Joseph (CAN); Gantar, David (CAN); Geiger, Mark (USA); Hurd, Mark (USA); Jara, Octavio

(CRC); Leal, Hermenerito (GUA); Louisville, Ramon (SUR); Marrufo, Jair (USA); Morgan, Ricardo (JAM); Page, Garnet (JAM); Quesada, Walter (CRC); Quintero, Marcos (MEX); Ramírez, Christian (HON); Rodriguez, Marco (MEX); Rodriguez, Héctor (HON); Santos, Javier (PUR); Solís, Jeffrey (CRC); Torrentera, Marvin (MEX); Torres, William (SLV); Wijngaarde, Enrico (SUR); Zumba, Juan Francisco (SLV) Referee Assessors: Campos, Donald (NCA); Darville, Stanley (BAH); Ramírez, José Francisco (MEX); Recinos, Neftali (SLV); Wilbur, Donald (USA); Yero, Luis (CUB).

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Saturday July 06, 2013

PETER SAGAN WINS STAGE SEVEN IN ALBI Green jersey holder Peter Sagan extended his lead in the Tour de France point’s competition as he outsprinted John Degenkolb to win stage seven.

Britain’s Mark Cavendish saw his chances of winning the green jersey suffer a blow as he was part of a group dropped on the second climb of the day.

Slovak Sagan, last year’s point’s winner, won by a bike length in Abli to take his first stage of the 2013 Tour. Chris Froome finished in the

peloton as Daryl Impey retained the yellow jersey.

With no real change in the overall race standings, Friday’s 205.5km race from Montpellier was all about the point’s jersey.

Sagan picked up 45 points for the stage win, to add to the maximum 20 he collected for winning the intermediate sprint, to move onto 224 points, a lead of 94 over Germany’s Andre Greipel, while Cavendish is third on 119.

Sagan’s Cannondale team-mates pushed hard on the toughest climb of the day, just 90km into the stage, in an effort to distance sprinters Cavendish and Greipel, who have both won on this year’s Tour.

The tactic worked

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO TO DEFEND TITLES AGAINST ALEXANDER POVETKIN Wladimir Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko will defend his multiple heavyweight titles against Alexander Povetkin of Russia in Moscow on October 5.

Povetkin, 33, has held the WBA Heavyweight belt since August 2011 and is unbeaten in 26 professional fights.

Ukrainian Klitschko holds the IBO and IBF belts, and is also the WBA and WBO “super champion”.

“This is the best fight that the Heavyweight division has to offer at the moment,” said Klitschko.

The WBA enforced a rule in 2012 meaning Povetkin, their “regular champion”, had to face Klitschko as mandatory challenger.

Povetkin, the 2004 Olympic Super-Heavyweight gold medallist, won his WBA title when he outpointed Ruslan Chagaev.

He has successfully

defended his title four times, most recently in May when he stopped Poland’s Andrzej Wawrzyk in the third round for the 18th knockout of his professional career. Klitschko retained his WBA, IBF and WBO World Heavyweight titles on 4 May with a sixthround stoppage victory against Italian Francesco Pianeta in Mannheim, Germany.

“I’ve never boxed in Moscow and I’m looking forward to many Ukrainians and Russians who will come to the arena and create a special atmosphere,” said Klitschko, who boasts a career record of 60 wins with three defeats.

He has not been beaten since being stopped by Lamon Brewster in 2004, and his elder brother Vitali holds the WBC version of the world heavyweight title.

Peter Sagan celebrates winning the seventh stage of the Tour de France

handsomely, with Greipel losing two minutes on the climb and Cavendish three.

The duo’s respective Lotto Belisol and Omega PharmaQuickstep teams came

together to try to chase down the Cannondale-led peloton but eventually called a truce with around 40km of the stage remaining.

Cavendish, who won the

green jersey in 2011, tweeted: “Well, one of the “maybe a sprint” days definitely wasn’t!! Finished with about 80 riders after @opqscyclingteam did some gutsy chasing.”

Sagan still had to finish off the sprint in Albi and he almost ruined the good work of his team-mates when he ran wide at a roundabout in the closing kilometres.

However, he regained his composure and emerged from Degenkolb’s slipstream in the final metres to take the win, with German rider Degenkolb holding off the challenge of Italy’s Daniele Benatti. The race now heads into the Pyrenees and race leader Impey is already resigned to losing the race leader’s yellow jersey on Saturday.

British rider Froome, who finished second behind Team Sky team-mate Sir Bradley Wiggins last year, is in seventh place.

With Wiggins unable to defend his title because of illness and injury, Froome is favourite to become the second British winner of the race and he will start Saturday’s stage eight seconds adrift of Impey.

Froome is six seconds clear of Alberto Contador, his main rival for the overall victory. Saturday’s 194km race - from Castres to Ax 3 Domaines - contains two mountain ascents and a summit finish at the ski station and the riders who have ambitions of winning the race are expected to come to the fore.

WICB, Scotiabank strengthen stand Kingston, Jamaica - The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Scotiabank on Wednesday signed a new five-year sponsorship agreement, which will see the banking institution continuing as the official bank of West Indies cricket and exclusive sponsor of its Kiddy Cricket programme.

The signing, which took place at the offices of the Jamaica Cricket Association, will see the two entities deepening their relationship though a number of initiatives aimed at improving the standard of the regional game.

New WICB President, Dave Cameron, and CEO Michael Muirhead led the board’s charge during the contract signing proceedings, while Heather Goldson, director of marketing for the English Caribbean represented Scotiabank.

HIGH-PRIORITY INITIATIVE “The WICB holds the Kiddy Cricket programme as a high-priority initiative, as it is the base of the cricket development path in the region, and we are very pleased to renew this sponsorship with our longstanding sponsor and partner, Scotiabank,” said Muirhead.

The five-year deal, which is set to see the bank going close to doubling its investment in the Kiddy Cricket programme, represents the longest sponsorship contract

that the bank has signed with the WICB during their 14year association.

“We have seen significant progress in the Kiddy Cricket programme over the last 14 years as title sponsors,” said Goldson.

West Indies and Scotiabank officials share a light moment after the signing.

“We have reached over 750,000 children since inception, and have had the satisfaction of seeing Kiddy cricketers rising to the pinnacle of the game as national and as West Indian players.

“We are, therefore, fully committed to continuing to play our part in growing the sport, and building that next generation of cricket greats,” she added.

The partnership, according to Scotiabank, will, among other things, allow the WICB to execute an expanded technical education programme aimed at teaching foundation cricketing skills to the more than 150,000 students who are currently enrolled.

As part of the expanded programme, Scotiabank is also set to fund the provision of close to 10,000 Kiddy Cricket

programme gear and equipment kits featuring bats, balls and stumps to a number schools across the region.

The sponsorship arrangement is also set to

play a role in the new Cricket Coach Education programme that was recently launched by the WICB in association with the University of Technology.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

Guyana Police Force Headquarters host sports and fun day The Guyana Police Force Headquarters will be the hosts of a fish fry and fun day at the police Sports Club Ground tomorrow morning and patrons are assured of a fun filled experience.

Activities will get underway with a 5-a-side football competition followed by a six a-side 5 overs cricket tournament followed by a domino competition among several teams.

Each participating domino team is asked to contribute an entrance fee of $10,000 while the football teams pay a $5000 entrance fee; the cricket teams pay a similar amount.

Competitors will battle for trophies and other prizes while music will be provided

by International Sound System.

Food and drinks will also be on sale. Activities get underway at 09:30hrs.

Saturday July 06, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 35

TCL Cricket Academy & Republic GAY POSTS SECONDFASTEST 100M OF 2013 Bank Summer Camp starts Monday

Leading the way: Noone could keep up with Gay, who is having a superb 2013 Tyson Gay proved that he is the man in form over 100 metres this season as he eclipsed a high-quality field to win the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne. The American powered through in 9.79sec, the second fastest time in the world this year.

Only Gay, 30, has run quicker, and has recorded the three quickest times of any athlete in 2013.

Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt has run only 9.94, and world champion Yohan Blake is a doubt for August’s World Championships in Moscow with a hamstring injury. Gay said: ‘I’m pleased.

I feel good. It’s all about consistency, staying fit and

keeping competing at this level.’

Four men took advantage of a two metres-per-second tailwind to break the 10second barrier, with Asafa Powell second in 9.88 and Michael Rodgers third in 9.96.

Veteran Kim Collins, now 37, set a St Kitts and Nevis national record of 9.97 to finish fourth.

Great Britain’s Shara Proctor came third in the long jump with 6.92m, a season’ s best and the second-longest leap of her career.

Tiffany Porter also ran her quickest time of 2013, 12.65secs, to finish fifth in a very strong 100m hurdles race. Christine Ohuruogu,

however, was a disappointing fourth in the 400m, running 51.03secs.

Olympic bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz cleared 2.24metres but then failed three times at 2.27m to finish last in the high jump.

Ukraine’s Bohdan Bondarenko, however, scaled 2.41m, the highest jump since world record-holder Javier Sotomayor in 1994 and a feat that puts the 23-year-old third on the all-time list.

Glasgow, meanwhile, lost out to Buenos Aires in its bid to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

It got just 13 votes and was knocked out in the first round.

Watch out Messi, Neymar has your number Brazilian Neymar and Argentina’s Lionel Messi will form a mouth-watering strike force for Barcelona next season but they were on opposite sides on Wednesday for a charity match in Peru.

The South American stars joined the likes of Dani Alves, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Javier Mascherano and Eric Abidal for the match between Messi and friends and the Rest of the World. It was the first time they had been on the same pitch since Barca legend Johan Cruyff suggested fourtime Ballon d’Or winner Messi might be sold to make way for the £50million new arrival.

‘No, I wouldn’t have signed Neymar,’ Cruyff told Marca. ‘With Neymar on board, I would have planned for the possibility of selling

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (right) and Brazil’s Neymar Messi - and some would agree with that, others not.

And Neymar eclipsed Messi, who were both wearing No 10 for the match, by scoring a stunning 45-yard lob. He then produced a moment of magic to embarrass Malaga’s Uruguay

defender Diego Lugano. But Messi had the final word as his side ran out 8-5 winners.

All proceeds from the fixtures will go directly to the foundation, which works to build a better future for children and adolescents internationally.

The 16th annual Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) Cricket Academy organised by the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) is set to bowl off on Monday at the Area ‘H’ Ground from 09.00hrs.

Some 120 young players between ages 8 to 18 years would be part of the two weeks Academy which is being sponsored by TCL (Guyana). The Club would also from Monday be hosting the 6th annual Republic Bank Summer Camp for Sixth Grade students and the first ever Mathematics Summer Camp for Secondary School Students.

Plans for all three summer programmes have been completed according to RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster who stated that the Academy would be conducted

by Coaches Michael Hyles-Franco, Winston Smith and Renwick Batson. Special emphasis would be placed on developing the young cricketers’ abilities on the field of play while at the same time ensuring that they understood their responsibilities as role

models and sporting ambassadors.

The Club at the end of the Academy is hoping to name an elite list of 40 promising players for further coaching and personal development programmes.

The Republic Bank Summer Camp is especially for Grade Six Students preparing for Secondary School and would last for five weeks. The students would be taught five subjects – Mathematics, Spanish, English A, English B and Integrated Science.

They would also receive special coaching to improve their cricketing skills. The 60 students will also be involved in several lectures on topics of importance including drug abuse, peer pressure, importance of education and public speaking.

The Mathematics Camp would he held three days per week from the July 8 to August 9, 2013 will attract students from Forms 3 and 4.

Admissions to all the programmes are free and the Club would like to encourage youths in Berbice to take advantage of the available opportunities.

All-round India crush West Indies After a listless performance against Sri Lanka, where they were trounced in all departments, there was a feeling that India had lost its intensity and drive after the highs of the Champions Trophy.

However, against a different opponent and at a new venue, none of those weaknesses were on show.

Virat Kohli led by example with a blistering 102 off 83 balls to lift India to an imposing 311 before the seamers turned a new leaf and consigned the match to a nocontest even before the halfway stage.

West Indies struggled either side of a lengthy rain delay and at no stage were they allowed to mount any kind of resistance. The Indian seamers drew plenty of criticism against Sri Lanka, failing to pick up any.

Following the rain delay, they attacked as a pack, getting the ball to bounce, nip and keeping the batsmen in check.

They helped seal the game in comprehensive fashion, restricting West Indies to well under 219 to bag the bonus point and open up the tournament. It wasn’t a bad toss to lose for India after they were put in to bat on a pitch that had a layer of grass.

Dwayne Bravo had plenty of expectations from his bowlers, but the wait for the first wicket lasted 23 overs, by which time the Indian openers had added a healthy 123.

It provided the platform for Kohli, who built a skyscraper in quick time to push the score past 300 in a frenzied assault against pace and spin. Shikhar Dhawan showed class when driving through the off side, punishing width and bisecting

a packed off side-ring that included an extra cover.

The powerful square drives, missing against Sri Lanka, reappeared today.

Rohit Sharma was in good touch with his drives through cover and it was he who gave the innings momentum after a watchful first three overs.

Dhawan fell clipping the ball to deep midwicket but India then went off the radar, losing four wickets for 45 when it was time for consolidation.

Both Kemar Roach and Tino Best picked up wickets to lift West Indies, but it was a matter of time before India snatched back the initiative.

Kohli, and the demoted M Vijay, helped India add a breezy 42 in the Powerplay.

The seamers tried bouncing the batsmen again but Kohli negotiated the short stuff with ease and his confidence seemed to rub off on Vijay, who feasted on some poor bowling.

Vijay’s dismissal, caught at backward point, and Ravindra Jadeja’s run-out raised West Indies’ hopes of possibly wrapping up the innings within 50 overs, but R Ashwin and Kohli upset those plans. The West Indies seamers were shoddy with their lengths, bowling far too short and allowing Kohli in particular enough time to find the gaps on the leg side.

Bravo himself was no less guilty, leaking 17 in his sixth over. The yorkers were nonexistent and when the bowlers resorted to bowling short, they were pulled and slashed down to third man.

Kohli brought up his 14th ODI century with a push wide of midwicket and in the process gave his bowlers a strong total to try and redeem themselves after the Sri Lanka

hammering.

West Indies were denied a strong start when they lost their biggest hitter, Chris Gayle, cheaply. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, back after missing the previous game, showed how much India had missed him.

Bowling over the wicket to Gayle, he got the ball to move away and a circumspect Gayle merely poked his bat out, edging to Dinesh Karthik.

Bhuvneshwar then changed his angle to Darren Bravo, pitched it up and induced a drive. It was wide outside off but Bravo didn’t move across enough to get behind the line and ended up edging to first slip. After completing the shot, his head was still facing cover.

Rain intervened after the 10th over, forcing the players off the field for an hour and a half. The target was then revised to 274 off 39 overs, adding further pressure on the batsmen. Marlon Samuels looked out of sorts against Ishant Sharma, and after surviving a confident appeal for caught behind off a delivery that lifted, edged the next ball to the keeper.

Bhuvneshwar got one to kick up, forcing Kieron Pollard to slash to slip for a golden duck, before Ishant got Johnson Charles to top edge to square leg. Charles was the only batsman to show some aggression, scoring 45 off 39, but his dismissal had all but squeezed out West Indies’ hopes.

Umesh Yadav nipped out three quick wickets to hasten India’s march to victory.

Final scores: India 311 for 7 (Kohli 102, Dhawan 69, Rohit 46) beat West Indies 171 (Charles 45, Bhuvneshwar 329, Yadav 3-32) by 102 runs

by D/L Method.

Page 36

Kaieteur News

NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ferocious battle of wits and words as Gafoor goes after McDonald’s title

By Michael Benjamin Moen Gafoor is thinking WIN while Abigail McDonald will be thinking RETAIN; both are scrabble words and the person with superior vocabulary, buys the right tiles and form the most bingos, is sure to cart off the spoils when they square off for the coveted crown when the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) stages a 3 best of 5 duel to determine the National Scrabble Champion at the Bank of Guyana Sports Club, Avenue of the Republic Georgetown, this afternoon.

The two players have earned the right to contest for the accolade after occupying the two top spots in the just concluded qualifiers where McDonald scored 19 points and a positive spread of 2951 while Gafoor amassed a tabulated total of 18 points and a positive spread of 3955.

Indeed, both players are in top form; Gafoor had enjoyed two phenomenal days where he had compiled a huge spread and at the start of the final round, was comfortably placed at 17 games and a positive spread of 3767. Up to that point, McDonald had amassed 18 points and a positive spread of 2671 while the other front runner, Fred Collins, was placed at a threatening 17 points and a positive spread of 2196. In reality, it was anyone’s game for, had McDonald lost and Gafoor win the final game, the latter player would have advanced while the former would have suffered a setback.

Further, with Collins lurking in the third place slot,

just one point adrift, with a large spread, McDonald could have been relegated to the third place slot thus paving the way for a showdown for the national championship between Gafoor or Collins.

The astute word former threw a monkey wrench into the equation when she humbled Michael Benjamin by a large spread of 180 points while Gafoor triumphed over Grace Hercules. At last year’s nationals McDonald and Leon Belony had scored the highest points and had proceeded to battle for the top prize.

During combat, fortunes had swayed like a pendulum, from one way to the other, before McDonald eventually prevailed by a mere 7 points to retain the accolade 3-2.

When she faces Gafoor today the situation is expected to be just as grueling but it is difficult to predict a winner.

Both players possess impeccable concentrative powers coupled with a wide array of unconventional words. McDonald has had immense exposure and has represented this country at the 2009 World Scrabble Championship in Malaysia.

Gafoor might not have had such exposures but he has demonstrated verve and alacrity that has stood him in good stead. He has also carted off the lion’s share of prizes at most of the competitions staged for the year and his meritorious rise to the top where he has outshone top seeds the likes of Collins, Leon Belony, James Krakowsky and Colin Chichester among others speaks highly of his determined spirit.

Otherwise, both players

will ponder on the luck of the bag; there are days when fate works terribly against the players and sometimes one may buy a plethora of vowels or consonants. For this reason, both McDonald and her foe will be keen to learn words where the vowels outweigh the consonants and vice versa.

Game strategy will also play a decisive role in the determination of the champion and both players have employed witty strategies in the past.

Scrabble can hardly qualify as a spectators’ sport but supporters have viewed the actual matches on close circuit television at the venue while debating on the validity of plays and wits and offering moral support to their choice.

Whichever way it goes, this afternoon’s duel is shaping up to be intense and only one champion can emerge. Who will it be? The nation will just have to wait until the final tile has been placed. The winner of this year’s Nationals 2013 will cart off $50,000 and a chance to represent Guyana at the World Scrabble Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, December 3 – 8, next. The runner up receives $30,000 while the third place finisher receives 20,000. The 5th and 6th places will receive $10,000 and $5,000 respectively while the best newcomer pockets $5000. There will also be other prizes for the highest individual score and most bingos among others.

Both principals may be in line for some of these auxiliary prizes but for now their thoughts are on the bigger stakes—the National Scrabble Championship of Guyana.

Saturday July 06, 2013

SEBASTIAN VETTEL TOP AS REVISED PIRELLI TYRES LAST Formula 1’s first day of track action after the multiple tyre failures at the British Grand Prix passed without incident at Germany’s Nurburgring. Five days after six cars suffered dramatic punctures at Silverstone, new tyres produced here performed well.

Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes and Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull topped the times in each of the two practice sessions. The day centred on tyres after drivers threatened a race boycott if there was a repeat of the Silverstone problems.

World champion Sebastian Vettel said: “The bottom line is, one: we are very happy Pirelli brought a new tyre for this event so they had the flexibility to react in a couple of days.

All but three of the drivers are represented by the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), which put out a statement on Thursday saying they would “immediately withdraw” from this race in the event of further failures.

Chairman Pedro De La Rosa clarified on Friday morning that in the event of a failure the drivers would seek to establish what has happened with tyre supplier Pirelli before making any decision about how to proceed.

The three non-members are Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen, Force India’s Adrian Sutil and Williams’s Valtteri Bottas.

Raikkonen and Bottas sad they would race regardless, while Sutil said he would “think about” joining any boycott should there be one.

Pirelli has supplied a new tyre using different materials in its construction to ensure there were no further problems.

The Mercedes cars were fastest by a second in the first session, with Hamilton ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg.

But Vettel turned the tables on them in the second, pipping Rosberg by 0.235 seconds.

Red Bull’s Mark Webber was third in the second session, ahead of Lotus’s Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen, and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. Hamilton was eighth fastest behind Ferrari’s Felipe Massa.

McLaren’s Jenson Button was ninth fastest ahead of Scot Paul Di Resta in the Force India. Hamilton was 0.653secs behind Rosberg on one-off lap time but looked in good shape

compared to his partner on the race-simulation runs later in the session.

Those laps, when the teams fill the cars up with fuel and prepare for the race, suggested that Ferrari were back to their usual form after struggling at Silverstone.

Red Bull looked very strong on race pace while Mercedes were difficult to read - they are either in the region of half a second slower than the Red Bulls and Ferraris or were running a heavier fuel load to see how their tyres performed under the most challenging conditions. Vettel said: “Mercedes were quick this morning. We couldn’t have done that [time].

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra summariser Susie Wolff, the Williams development driver, said: “I think it will be a tight fight at the front. I do think Mercedes have the edge on Red Bull in qualifying at the moment, and Lotus and Ferrari are close behind.”

7TH CARIBBEAN & 14TH IPF/NAPF/FESUPO PAN AMERICAN POWERLIFTING C/SHIPS

Morgan smashes Pan Am deadlift record; becomes 5-time Caribbean champion RCMTC&SF & PMTC Horse Race Unprecedented is the day two, Thursday.

American deadlift record that Meet dates are confirmed word to describe Guyanese Morgan’s performance was minutes before set by

The Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports Facilities (RCMTC&SF) of Alness Village, Corentyne, Berbice and The Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) also of Corentyne, Berbice have confirmed that the new date for the upcoming Race Meet is Sunday, July 21st at the famous Port Mourant Turf Club from at 12:30hrs.

According to the organisers, this will be the first Meet to commence the second half of the 2013 Horse Race season and after a long layoff due to the prolonged inclement weather.

Horses will have adequate time to get in shape after the long layoff.

The activity will now be a sprint Meet with none of the races over 1300M and this is to ensure that horses will not have to do too much on their first day back on the track after the long break. This Meet will also be used as preparations for the highly anticipated Digicel Meet set for August 1st at the PMTC. More sponsors have come on board for

the RCMTC&SF/ PMTC Race Meet - Toolsie Persaud Limited, South Land Incorporated, Bobby and Indranie and R and C Poonai all joining forces with those on board so far which includes The Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, Banks DIH Limited, Omai Transportation and Delmur Shipping Company, among others.

With the rain taking a break, most of the stables have already started to utilize all of the available space to get their animals in shape for this mega event. Nine events will be contested with over $6M up for grabs in cash, trophies and other incentives.

On track activities will be run using the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA).

Interested persons can contact the Club’s Office at Number 13 Hermitage East Coast Berbice (19 Road). Bobby Vaughn (624-6788), Loresa Mohabir (333-0290, 333-0301), Francis Chichester (2332984, 690-1943), Kris Jagdeo (624-6123, 3220369), Rajendra (618-7278), Ramnauth (3375311) or any member of the PMTC.

powerlifting sensation Randolph ‘The Accomplisher’ Morgan who once again destroyed the best the Caribbean has to offer in his category at the 7th Caribbean Powerlifting Championships that is taking place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Miami Florida, USA. Competing in the 83kg class yesterday, Morgan led one/two finish for Guyana which saw Anis Ade-Thomas taking the silver medal capping another successful day for the Guyanese athletes which saw Kimberly MarsLonke winning gold on day one followed by Winston ‘Little Master’ Stoby and Vijai Rahim with similar feats on

saw him being crowned Caribbean champion for the 5th consecutive year, a wonderful achievement.

In the Pan American segment of the competition, the World No. 4 ranked Jose Castillos of Ecuador denied Morgan the gold medal, the Guyana Police Force Officer having to settle for the silver medal.

Castillos winning Total was 895kg with Morgan’s being 835kg and Ane-Thomas who took the bronze coming in at 687.5kg.

This category was the most competitive and attracted 14 lifters. Despite not winning the gold medal, Morgan smashed the Pan

Castillos who did 325kg, Morgan erased that mark with a new deaflift of 330kg.

Based on reports from Miami, almost all the Guyanese lifters have set new records in the Caribbean of competition but full details will be known upon ratification by the relevant body.

Meanwhile, Rahim became Guyana’s first lifter to be selected for drug testing.

He is no stranger to this having been tested last year at the South American Championships which returned negative.

The results of this current test will be known in one month’s time.