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July 08, 2014 - Vol. 7 No. 27 - Price $80
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Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
Govt. to spend even more $$ on US$3M Supenaam Stelling
Main city artery is death trap
Saffon St. just past La Penitence market
- caused several accidents in past few weeks
Bad weather blamed for plane crash in interior
Govt. unable to restore $700M to Contingencies …APNU insists Finance Fund Minister is liable
Nothing can stop continuation of controversial projects - Finance Minister
Luncheon admits Cabinet being “shafted” by some contractors - but stands by China Railway Co for road expansion
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Nothing can stop continuation of “…Govt will persevere” controversial projects - Finance Minister By Abena Rockcliffe Even as he rejected public opinion that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration has reduced the National Assembly to a mere rubber stamp; the Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh affirmed that Government will complete controversial projects despite actions taken in the House. The joint parliamentary opposition-Alliance for Change and A Partnership for National Unity-has had qualms about several developmental projects fashioned by the government over the last few years. The result has seen both the parties, individually and collectively, making efforts to fully scrutinize the projects and in some cases impose discontinuation or a pause until other measures are put in place. The ongoing Cheddi Jagan International Airport
(CJIA) expansion project and the Specialty Hospital project are among some of the projects that the opposition and the government aren’t seeing ‘eye to eye’ on. Members of the opposition had said that while some of the projects would be good for Guyana, their structure and the contracts to execute them are unacceptable. At his most recent press conference, at the National Communications Networks studio, Dr. Singh told the media that the PPP administration has every intention to finish all the projects it has started despite what the opposition says or does. He said that this is because the administration most candidly feels that it is what is best for Guyana. “We will not let these development projects be derailed, we will persevere with them; we have no difficulties subjected them t
o the ultimate degree of parliamentary scrutiny,” said the Minister. He said that each one of the projects that is deemed controversial has substantial merit which the government “fully articulated.” The Minister noted that abandonment of any of these projects will not be without consequences as there are legally binding contracts. He said that in the particular cases of the Specialty Hospital and the CJIA expansion projects, the government has binding agreements with lending agencies and with a contracting firms for the provision of services. He said therefore that abandonment will not only reflect the absence of benefits from the project but there will be legal ramifications. The Minister told the media that it is the government’s intention to “persevere with these
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh projects as we believe their merit is demonstrable… in each instance the values are considerable to the people of Guyana, so we intend to persevere.” To “persevere” with these projects, the Minister has already expended sums not approved by the National Assembly. Just recently, Dr. Singh
presented financial papers reflecting that he spent $4.5B that was not approved by the national assembly and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has signaled its intention to approach the Courts over the very expenditure. The Finance Minister hosted a press engagement this past week and in justifying the legitimacy of the $4.5B expenditure, pointed to Article 218 (3B) of the Guyana Constitution. But Shadow Finance Minister, Carl Greenidge, appeared on the ‘Nation Wa t c h ’ t e l e v i s i o n programme on Sunday last and objected to Dr Singh’s reliance on Article 218 (3B) of the Constitution to spend in excess of $4.5B. According to Greenidge, the Minister is misconstruing the Constitution of Guyana. He said that Article 218 (3B) is only applicable when there is no Budget (Appropriations Act) in place.
According to Greenidge, Dr Singh would have been able to justifiably expend the money and rely on that section of the Constitution prior to April, but when the House approved a Budget, that Act forbade him from making any expenditure utilizing that course of action. The $4.5B spent by Dr Ashni Singh and documented in the Statement of Excess, which he tabled, represents just $4.5B of the $37B that was voted down by the Opposition when it considered the 2014 Budget. Dr Singh in justifying the expenditure had chided the Opposition over the stance they have adopted, saying that a Statement of Excess is not unknown to them and that they have already voted on three such documents, approving 60 per cent of the funds covered under the documents between 2012 to present.
Main city artery is death trap The La Penitence Public Road – one of the main city arteries - records several vehicular accidents daily, especially at nights, as repairs being carried out by t h e G u y a n a Wa t e r Incorporated (GWI) and Ministry of Public Works have caused more problems for drivers. A ruptured pipeline under the public road is still not fixed and has been so for over a month to date. According to residents in the area, many drivers – particularly those on the southbound lane – have smashed into the crater-like hole or swerved from the large opening, into an oncoming vehicle especially in the nights. “Imagine how these people don’t care! There are no barricades around the five-foot hole other than a stall placed by vendors to warn drivers in the day that
there is a large crater in the road. There are no reflectors in the nights and these people dig up that road about four times and still can’t fix it properly, that says a lot about the so called contractors we have,” one resident lamented. “It look like the President got to intervene for this open manhole to be fixed, because like is only when he look at something then something is done. That says a lot about the people he has around him.” It was further noted that the Ruimveldt Police Station is a stone’s throw away and traffic ranks have not seen it fit to be present to direct traffic or to place reflectors around the area where the hole is a major traffic hazard. According to one driver, “This is so disrespectful to drivers; we have to suffer because of a lawless mentality by people in
TREE CRUSHES MAN TO DEATH Dexter Dey, 28, of D’Urban Street, Georgetown was pronounced dead at the Mackenzie Hospital around 16:00hrs on Sunday, reportedly after a tree fell on him. The incident occurred at Frenchman Backdam in the Essequibo River during a period of high winds.
- caused several accidents in past few weeks
Two cars squeeze their way through a narrow passage created by the pothole on La Penitence Public Road authority, you know when people will get serious is when they themselves crash into this hole or their families crash into it then people get serious.” The size and depth of a pothole can vary
substantially. Even shallow potholes may cause an accident. Tyre blowouts, damage to the undercarriage of the car, loss of control due to the jarring, whiplash, muscle strains, or dental damage caused by severe
jarring are some consequences of driving over or swerving from a pothole. “It is rather easy to not see a pothole, especially when it is dark and potholes are less visible. It is also hard to avoid a pothole during
inclement weather.” another driver noted.
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Ramkarran does an extraordinary The Mentality of the PPP Government... job trying to balance on a high-wire DEAR EDITOR, In his latest piece, “The defence of Guyana’s sovereignty,” on his Conversation Tree blog site, former House Speaker, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, tried to be as delicately balanced as he could in trying to frame his opinion on the recent ManickchandHardt diplomatic snafu. But I think he may have inadvertently exposed what has become so radically wrong with the PPP: It is no longer the Jagan PPP he knew, and which is why he is out and the self-serving political and material hustlers are in! Before delving deeper on that point, I have taken careful note of the startling context of Mr. Ramkarran’s statement in the second paragraph: “Ambassador Hardt should therefore consider himself very lucky to get away with only what Dr. Luncheon described as a ‘feral blast’ by a ‘warrior.’ Feral indeed! As for being a ‘warrior,’ the United States itself may soon be in jeopardy with the number of warriors, the President included, in and around the Guyana Cabinet. Maybe we can live without the United States, but what if Guyana’s warriors declare
war on all of its tormentors at the same time – the US, Canada, UK and the whole of Europe?” The first sentence seems to imply that the Ambassador was lucky; that he could have suffered worse than a ‘feral blast’… perhaps expulsion? The second sentence seems to imply that Mr. Ramkarran is privy to inside information that says the PPP regime is planning to take some sort of action that could jeopardize Guyana-US relations, perhaps severance of ties? The third sentence or qualifying interrogatory seems to wonder aloud about the fallout from similar jeopardizing action by the PPP regime against the rest of the West, dubbed here as ‘tormentors’ of the regime. If I take the interpretation of the foregoing piece extracted from Mr. Ramkarran’s column at face value, I am compelled to ask the following three questions: Is the PPP regime seriously planning to jeopardize Guyana’s relations with the US beyond the socalled ‘feral blast’ at its Ambassador? Will the rest of the West react unkindly to the PPP government if it further jeopardizes its relations with the US? More importantly, will Guyanese, at
home and abroad, willingly support the PPP government if it jeopardizes relations with the US and the West or even follow any undisclosed adventure by the PPP? Getting back to the opening point, Mr. Ramkarran noted that after the Ambassador pointed out what he saw as inconsistencies with President Ramotar’s position on the constitution, vis-à-vis, local government elections, the President, ‘relying on ‘feral’ responses by an invited ‘warrior’ to the Ambassador’s home…lost the opportunity of defending his position, which he is quite capable of doing’. To which I ask: If the President was capable of defending his position, why didn’t he do so in person? And to which I answer: He could not because he was caught in a concoction of his own making and obviously sought refuge vicariously in t h e J a g d e o style cussing down whenever he, Jagdeo, was caught in his own web. I have repeatedly said President Ramotar is unqualified for his position and refuses to surround himself with people who are Continued on page 23
DEAR EDITOR, The people of Guyana continue to be victims of the Cold War which caused the United States and British governments to displace an elected government in 1964 by an electoral contrivance intended to put the Peoples National Congress in power with Forbes Burnham as the controller. The United Force under Peter D’Aguiar was a useful tool to create a coalition which was never intended to work, after it had helped these two governments to ensure independence in 1966 with a façade of legality which was transparent, because the political party which had the largest support in the country was out of it. The new regime was an implant of the United States which had endeavoured to prevent the Peoples Progressive Party from being in government after independence. The Peoples National Congress did not have political support to win an election and once imposed upon the nation, proceeded to maintain power by poisoning every institution of government using a
fraudulent electoral process to create and develop fake institutions. By 1992, when the United States decided that a free election was to be allowed, the institutions had already broken down and a contrived Constitution had been rigged into place in 1980 by the Peoples National Congress. Since 1992 the economy has seen a revival, but the revival is no more than ten per cent of what could have been achieved if the institutions had not been poisoned to permit corruption and poor governance to inhibit development. Despite political splitting and namechanging, the two main party institutions remain the Peoples Progressive Party and the Peoples National Congress. During the period from independence in 1966 when the country came under the dictatorial rule of the Peoples National Congress, and the Peoples Progressive Party was kept out of office, the United States and Britain washed their hands and never sought to intervene to prevent the dictatorship from being harsh and oppressive.
There is a current perception that the United States and the European Union would wish to see an end to Peoples Progressive Party government, but the most likely replacement will be the Peoples National Congress, which has no experience, save the creation and maintenance of rigged and subverted institutions and a failed economy, in which even bare necessities of life were hard to come by. The suffering which the Continued on page 23
A cancer that will remain in the body politic for two centuries
From page 4 country does not inspire nor is their hope within persons they can realize their full potential in Guyana. · Guyanese migrate in the thousands every day, among these are the best and brightest. We have an emigration rate of approximately 34% with more than 80% of persons with a tertiary level education emigrating annually. We have the highest rate of brain drain in the Western Hemisphere. Yet the Government tells us that Guyana is so developed, such an inspiring place to be, has great opportunities, a lot of potential, etc. Well I have never gone to the shop with potential or opportunity. They have never paid a bill for me. · Guyana is arguably the most corrupt country in the Caribbean. Why does it persist and why is the Government dragging its feet when it comes to setting up the Public Procurement Commission, etc. The main issue is that people do not earn enough to meet daily survival needs; therefore the pros of corruption outweigh the cons, which make it easier for people to rationalize and justify corrupt activities. · Drug-trafficking has become the norm in Guyana. Our youth are being pulled into this world because many of them are frustrated, need finance to survive, and our job market is very limited. We are now known internationally as a major player in the international transshipment of illicit narcotics. This is a people issue that is allowed to spread because of several factors, including high employment levels. · We are a rich nation with so much potential is a phrase that successive generations of Guyanese had heard. Yet we continue to live in poverty, as we say “life pon de dam.” It is no secret that Guyana is a very poor country. What may be less know is that there are two main underlying reasons why we remain poor – collective education level of our people and mismanagement of the country’s economy and natural resources by Government. What needs to improve is clear as day
in front of our eyes, it is not rocket science. Be this as it is, the PPP Government still chooses to focus the country’s investment energies elsewhere for its own narrow agenda of selfpreservation and control. Freddie Kissoon likes to compare Guyana’s post-Independence development to that of Malaysia. A closer analysis will reveal a major difference, perhaps even the key reason why a similar number of years as an independent nation (Malaysia – 1957 and Guyana – 1966), Malaysia is leaps and bounds ahead of Guyana – investment in education and youth. As we say in Guyana, “dis time nah lang time” and “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.” The Government of Guyana is not the ruler of Guyana; it works for the people of Guyana. We do not and must not act subservient to any Minister, President, etc. This is Guyana, a country for the people, by the people, and governed by the people. The concept of centralized democracy that the PPP Government is attempting to push down the throats of the Guyanese people will cause exactly what we see happening in our country today, as it will always rest unsettled in the bowels of the population. (2) Secondly, Minister Manickchand did an interview on NCN channel 11 on July 4, 2014 in which she said and I paraphrase here, that she was surprised to observe a couple “friends” of hers and the PPP Government booing and expressing displeasure at her remarks and behavior during the occasion.
The Minister shouldn’t be surprised, the country is fedup, and many of the Government’s so-called “friends” are only friends because of the profits of this friendship. For some, it means business opportunities, scholarships, protection, and social status and for others it means daily survival – bread and butter issues. Secondly, being a friend of someone doesn’t mean I agree with all he/she does or says and it certainly does not mean I am a blind supporter of my friend. If my friend robs a bank because his/her family is starving, and in the process of the robbery kills a mother of five among others, should I be afraid to voice by disagreement and dissatisfaction because this person is my friend? I don’t think so! Any nation that seeks to improve the lives of its citizenry in the face of Government oppression and repression must stand up and be counted. The PPP Government has lost its way and more than likely all sorts of “unfortunate circumstances” will be facilitated and/or manufactured by the ruling party to exercise dominance and create conditions favourable to its continued existence in power. I pray that just as the patrons of the event at the former Ambassador’s residence expressed their displeasure, Guyanese across the length and breadth of this rich yet poverty-stricken country are courageous enough to express their displeasure and vision for a brighter and more prosperous future. Mike Archer
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Caricom agrees on “regional Bad weather blamed for plane commission” on medical marijuana crash at Monkey Mountain ...addresses public awareness on Reparation Photo courtesy of: Guyana Aviation
A pilot and passenger onboard a Britten Norman Islander aircraft reportedly walked away unharmed yesterday after the plane they were travelling in crashed at an airstrip located at Monkey Mountain in Region Eight. Information coming out of the interior location alleged that bad weather was the catalyst for the accident which saw the twin engine aircraft veering off the airstrip. The Guyana Civil
Aviation Authority (GCAA) in a press release expressed that investigators were on their way to Monkey Mountain, (Potaro/Siparuni), “to determine what caused the Britten Norman Islander aircraft to run off the Monkey Mountain airstrip.” They said that the incident occurred around 9:50 am. “The pilot, Orlando Charles, and another passenger were reportedly not injured. The twin-engine
aircraft, registration 8RGGY, was damaged,” but the extent of the wreck could not be immediately determined. The Authority said that the aircraft had left the Ogle International Airport earlier in the day and made stops at Omai and Mahdia before heading to Monkey Mountain. The domestic airways aircraft which is owned by Ned Baksh was said to be shuttling supplies to the location at the time. It is alleged that the plane had circled the airstrip several times before landing. Shortly after setting down, it was claimed that the aircraft veered off the runway.
Caricom Heads have decided to set up a “regional commission” to ascertain the effects of legalising marijuana for medical purposes. The body is seeking to determine whether the 15 plus residents in the Caribbean bloc should be allowed to use the drug and what legal ramifications should accompany the possession of small amounts. Acknowledging that the legalisation of the herb raises the issue of social and criminal implications, Caribbean leaders made the announcement when discussions on the matter were conducted on the second day of the Thirty-Fifth Conference of Caricom Heads of Government in Antigua. It was reported that in an announcement pointed “to the nature of the subject, it is proposed that the work of a regional commission be supported by national commissions” and that the commissions will be “responsible for conducting research and consultations at the national level, the output of which will feed into the work of the regional commission.” Reports out of the regional meeting said also that a number of months have been given for the work of the Commission, while reports on its progress are expected to be handed into leaders. It was claimed that efforts to mobilize resources are on the way. However, should those resources not materialize; it is
proposed that States take responsibility for their members. September will see the establishment of the Commissions. It was projected by Caricom members that large sums of money can be generated from the sale of medical herbs. It was noted, however, that appropriate study and understanding are required before any moves ahead in the legalization process. The issue of the legalization of small quantities of marijuana is a growing matter in the region, with Caricom leaders considering strongly the necessity of legalizing the Cannabis plant. They are convinced however, that a comprehensive study is also necessary before they can permit the legalization of the plant for any purpose. Leaders had earlier this year, expressed concerns over negative public, mental health effects and “persons including youths for possession of small quantities of marijuana and the resultant effects on their post sentencing life chances.” On another issue, Caricom leaders agreed to convene the Second Regional Conference on Reparations in September 2014 to increase public dialogue and civil society engagement as well as an Academic Conference. It was explained that an effort between Caribbean Universities and the
University of Essex, with expert opinions and scientific evidence, would be presented as an intervention to reach the Regional, European and International public. A Regional Strategic and Operational Plan for a Caribbean Reparatory Justice Programme (CRJP), was adopted by the Regional Reparations Commission. In late 2014, early 2015, a Draft Notice of Complaint; letter from the Chair of the Prime Ministerial SubCommittee (PMSC) on Reparations, by Rt. Hon. Freundel Stuart, Prime Minister of Barbados, to the relevant European Governments with a request for a Conference be held, was adopted. The UN General Assembly in 2014 saw Caricom leaders advancing the case of Reparations through their statements and other diplomatic forms of engagement. They are seeking various forms of compensation for the crimes of native genocide and slavery. All Caribbean member States are asked to provide relevant information of those events for submission to Europe so claims can be made. Caricom is willing to go to the International Court if Europe fails to hear their cries. Currently, an English-based law firm is handling the Region’s legal matters in this regard.
Two detained for AK-47 magazines, assault rifle shells find Police have detained two men in connection with Sunday night’s discovery of four AK-47 magazines and thousands of assault rifle shells at an Albouystown property. The men are said to be occupants of the James and Victoria Streets’ house in which the magazines were found. Kaieteur News understands that police will be seeking legal advice shortly to ascertain whether they can be charged. An official said that investigators are still trying to ascertain where the assortment of assault rifle shells came from and of what use they might have been to the individuals who stashed them. Kaieteur News was told that the shells of various calibers appeared to be old while the magazines appeared to be relatively new. The bullet casings were found stashed in bags in a shed at the back of the Albouystown
The assault rifle shells property. Police had visited the house around 19.30 hrs after receiving reports of an altercation in which a man had struck his brother with a piece of wood. The team, which
included ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken, then entered the property and located the assault rifle magazines, army clothing and a huge mound of rifle shells.
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Merkel says U.S spying allegations are serious
Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel reviews an honour guard during a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. Credit: Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon (China - Tags: politics) (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday allegations that a German man had worked as a double agent for U.S. intelligence were serious and, if true, were a clear contradiction of what cooperation between partners is supposed to be about.The case risks further straining ties with Washington, which have been sorely tested by revelations last year of largescale snooping on Germany by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). “If the reports are correct it would be a serious case,” Merkel told a news conference in Beijing, standing next to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. “If the allegations are true, it would be for me a clear contradiction as to what I consider to be trusting
cooperation between agencies and partners.” The White House and State Department have so far declined to comment on the arrest of a 31-year-old employee of Germany’s BND foreign intelligence agency. According to intelligence and political sources, the man admits passing documents to a U.S. contact. Those include information about a parliamentary committee looking into allegations by former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden that Washington carried out major surveillance in Germany, including monitoring Merkel’s phone. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who was on a trip to Mongolia while Merkel was in China, said the spying case would have consequences if the
circumstances are confirmed. “We haven’t finished clearing this up yet. But if suspicions are confirmed that American secret services were involved, it will become a political issue and we can’t just get back to business as usual,” he told reporters in Ulan Bator. Surveillance is a sensitive issue in a country where memories of the Nazi’s Gestapo secret police and communist East Germany’s Stasi ensure the right to privacy is treasured. Speaking in Berlin, Snowden’s lawyer in Germany, Wolfgang Kaleck, said he hoped the latest allegations might eventually help change Germany’s stance towards his client, noting that European states had profited from his information but were not prepared to protect him.
Hamas says air strikes kill six of its men; Israel denies (Reuters) - Israel called up reserve troops on Monday for a possible escalation of hostilities with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip where Hamas said six of its fighters were killed by air strikes, something Israel denied. Hamas vowed revenge for what it said were deadliest attacks in a surge of violence since the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli youths and a Palestinian teen. Palestinian militants kept up their now-daily rocket launchings into Israel as pressure mounted from hardliners in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition for tougher action against Hamas, the dominant force in the Gaza enclave. The Israeli military said its
aircraft had targeted “terror sites and concealed rocket launchers” in the enclave, but had not hit the southern Gaza area of Rafah, on the Egyptian border, where the Hamas gunmen died. Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said the militants had died when explosives went off in a smuggling tunnel that Israel had bombed several days ago. The Hamas fighters had apparently gone there to inspect the damage, he said. Lerner said the rocket fire at Israel from Gaza by Hamas fighters meant that “now the Israeli military is talking about preparedness for an escalation”. It had called up several hundred reservists and was prepared to mobilise
a total of 1,500, he said. Israel said about a dozen rockets and mortar bombs were fired from Gaza on Monday, wounding one soldier. Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have risen over the killing of three Jewish teenagers in the occupied West Bank, which Israel has blamed on Hamas, and of a 16-year-old Palestinian in East Jerusalem. Israel on Sunday announced it had arrested six Jewish suspects in what police believe was the revenge murder of Mohammed Abu Khudair, whose charred body was found in Jerusalem on Wednesday, a day after Naftali Fraenkel and GilAd Shaer, both 16, and Eyal Yifrah, 19, were buried.
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THE PPP HAS BEEN CAUGHT NAPPING The political protests by rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast should cause deep introspection on the part of the ruling People’s Progressive Party. These protests reveal, yet again, the Achilles Heel of the party. The AFC has once again outfoxed the ruling party. It has penetrated deep into the party’s support base in a Region which the PPP has swept in all the free and fair elections since and including the 1992 elections. That alone should be a frightening development for the PPP. It should be recalled that in 2011, the AFC lost support in Region Four. But where it penetrated deeply was in Regions Five and Six, more the latter than the former and stole valuable votes and seats from the PPP. The AFC owed the support it got in those two regions to the hard work done by remnants of Ravi Dev’s ROAR who went over to the AFC after the demise of ROAR. The AFC can no longer count on the former ROAR membership to rally support in Berbice. And to compound the AFC agonies in Regions Five and Six is the fact that the PPP has done its homework. Just after the 2011 elections, it began a concerted campaign
to regain the votes that it lost. There is no need for an opinion poll to assess the extent to which this has been successful. You just need to ask the people on the ground in those Regions about the AFC. Their answers will confirm that the people do not wish to hear anymore about the AFC. The AFC is a spent political force in Berbice. The PPP has regained the ground that it lost there. But while the PPP has been concentrating its efforts in Berbice, it has neglected another of its strongholds, the Essequibo Coast. And the AFC did not need former ROAR activists to pounce on the PPP’s neglect. The AFC capitalized on concerns of rice farmers and led a strong protest that descended into unlawful actions such as the blockading of roads. Another PPP stronghold has been penetrated and the PPP will have to ask serious questions about the work of its own activists on the ground in the Essequibo Coast. The AFC has gained traction in that area and this comes at a time when the PPP is facing the strong possibility of an AFC noconfidence motion in parliament. The AFC used a traditional tactic to penetrate
Dem boys seh...
DEA gun mek dem boys wish come true CANU mek two big drug busts Monday. Dem go to one house and dem find enough ganja to mek de whole Cabinet high. Was couple thousand pound of good Jamaicans weed. Then dem same CANU people go to a next house and find a good portion of cocaine. Dem boys seh that is de DEA who mek CANU find dem two house. If was de police acting pun dem own, dem woulda go to de wrang village. Without DEA dem CANU woulda go to de 0wrang house. Some people happy but dem got some who not happy because de DEA deh pun dem tail. Now that Donald announce that he welcome de DEA dem boys want he to announce a team that gun go after corruption. Of course, that gun bruck up de crew. Nuff of dem gun get pull in and is only de law mek dem boys don’t want call some of dem name. But fuh certain de Rat, Ash Knee, Brazzy, Irfaat, Rob de Earth and de Bees gun get removed to a special place in Camp Street. Dem boys got some other wish fuh dem. De wish deh in dem heart but if you watch dem face you gun know. Some contractors gun get pull in too. Dem does tek de taxpayers money and give dem kok wuk. Even Luncheon admit that dem contractors does shaft de government. De contractor who wuk and lef a crater pun de East Bank road is people who does mek a road within two hours. Now dem boys want to know if is a case wheh Guyana ain’t got money to fix that hole. Dem boys seh that de fact that de whole deh right in de middle of de road and does cause dozens of accident every day and another set at night show how everybody disrespect de people. That big hole deh three house from de police station and de police ain’t doing nutten. De Works Ministry is de people who does fix de road but dem and all ignoring de crater. De Water people does dig up de road and lef it suh de big hole in de road is normal fuh dem. Dem boys don’t like wish bad fuh people but all of dem who got a right to fix de road should crash inside. Is only then dem gun understand de danger. Talk half and watch how de DEA gun reel in some big ones.
into the PPP’s base. It used an economic concern, this time the plight of the rice farmers. In the run up to the 2011 elections, the AFC sided with sugar workers who were demanding outstanding benefits. The PPP seeing how the sugar workers rallied to the side of AFC protests at Diamond were forced to relent its opposition to paying severance pay to the sugar workers of Diamond Estate which was being closed. But even the payment to these workers and a stirring rebuke by the PPP leadership of the AFC could not change things for the PPP. The sugar workers in Diamond collected their lawfully due severance pay and stayed away from the
polls while their colleagues in Berbice told the then President Jagdeo that “boat done gone a falls”. The boat may not have yet gone over the falls in terms of the PPP support in Essequibo but there must be concern about the protest in Essequibo. The PPP has two issues to address in relation to these protests. The first is its leadership in Essequibo. The PPP has traditionally had problems with the quality of its leaders in the rural areas. In these modern times, it has persisted with the traditional method of recruiting and identifying its leaders. The people have long lost confidence in many of the PPP leaders in rural Guyana and
this cost them handsomely in Berbice in the 2011 polls. The PPP has to look closely at who are and how it determines its leaders and activists in Essequibo and indeed in other parts of the country. Now that it is in government, it has lost many of its hardworking activists to official duties and therefore it has to ensure that there is quality leadership on the ground. The second concern is the fact that it did not see these protests coming. The AFC pounced on an issue that was of great concern to the people of Essequibo. They should never, from the perspective of the PPP, have been given that opportunity. The concerns of the people
should have long been attended to. The PPP will have to ask serious questions about how this threat was not detected earlier and what were its cadres and leadership in Essequibo doing about the issue. But more importantly, it will have to ascertain why the Ministry of Agriculture did not act more swiftly on the matter before it became a lightning rod for the AFC.
Luncheon admits Cabinet being “shafted” by some contractors “I am willing to concede that there are instances when we have indeed gone behind the lowest responsive tender and indeed we get shafted. I won’t pull any punches; we don’t have to hide that. That’s a fact. There are instances when the lowest responsive tender turned out to be a disaster.” This is according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr. Roger Luncheon as he was addressing the issue of Cabinet’s no objection in awarding China Railway First Group Company Limited, the contract to upgrade and widen the East Coast Demerara Public Road even though it was found by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to have submitted to a defective bid. Four Chinese construction companies had tendered for the Ministry of Public Works project to widen the East Coast Demerara (ECD) Public Road. But it was awarded to China Railway First Group Company Limited which had the lowest bid. This company is also the contractor for the Amaila Falls Hydro-Electric Project. And as part of a continued deal with government, it was gifted two plots of land to continue its work on a critical section of the access road at a reduced price. China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd, the contractor in the US$150M expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, submitted a bid for US$60.4M ($12B). Meanwhile, China National Machinery Import/ Export Company Limited, which was involved in the construction of the problematic US$200M Skeldon expansion project, submitted a proposal for
…stands by China Railway for road expansion US$55.6M ($11B). The highest bid came from China State Construction Engineering Corporation for US$71.4M. The Engineer’s estimate for the project was US$57.6M. Cabinet gave its no objection to the award of US$42.7M contract, for the road widening and upgrading of the ECD road from Better Hope to Belfield in Region Four. But the Chinese company actually put in a bid for US$46.9M, a $4.2M difference. Chief Works Officer (CWO) of the Ministry of Public Works, Jeffrey Vaughn had concluded that the reason for the difference could possibly
have been because “there was a change in the cost because they have to do cross checks and they realized that there were errors in the bill…” However, it was later discovered that three of the companies, including the China Railway First Group which had tendered for the project, produced incomplete bids, and as such the Tender Board had recommended that it be retendered. Luncheon said that even though running after the lowest responsive bidder turned out to be a disaster in the past, with China Railway Co. the case was different. He said that Cabinet understood, clearly, that the tenders were deemed technically fit. They were
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon cleared by the evaluation committee as all being technically equipped to discharge this contract, our (Continued on page 18)
Dr. Frank Anthony to face steel pan music in Parliament The operation of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport is once again under scrutiny, this time for hiring a foreign steel pan tuner and for not inviting prominent local tuners to a training workshop purportedly held during Mashramani 2014 celebrations. On Thursday, Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, is expected to supply the National Assembly with an oral response on these issues that are bothering local pan tuners. This is not the first time that the Minister would be answering questions on this matter. The Minister ’s initial responses have prompted additional questions. A Partnership for National Unity’s Member of Parliament, Christopher Jones, yesterday, said he is anxiously awaiting Dr. Anthony’s response since pan tuners have dismissed earlier claims Dr. Anthony made in Parliament. Jones said that pan tuners had approached him about the Ministry’s behaviour during this year’s Mashramani celebrations. He related the tuners’ primary concern was that the Ministry retained the services of a Trinidadian pan tuner during the Panorama
competition. Dr. Anthony had told the House that local tuners were unavailable because of the busy season and this forced the Ministry to hire a foreigner. But, according to Jones local pan tuners who had enlightened him about the situation said, they were never approached to take up the task. Jones said this revelation is startling and he questioned why the Ministry would want to hire a foreigner. In addition, the Ministry raked up a bill of just under $500,000 to retain the Trinidadian’s service. Another claim of the Minister that local tuners have denied is the hosting of a training workshop. Jones said prominent local tuners have denied being part of a training workshop facilitated by the said Trinidadian tuner whilst he was in Guyana. Jones said that these conflicting reports by the Minister and local tuners have caused him to pose new questions to the Minister. He said that the Minister would have to reveal where, when and how many local tuners participated in the workshop.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 08, 2014
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
De female warriyah with de feral weppaan Very few countries have a population whose sense of humour is as evocative as Guyanese. I like the way they put Creolese phonetics into English words. Fire becomes fyaah – “mo fyaah pun deh backside, maan.” Freddie becomes Fredaay – “Fredaay, wuh yuh writing tomorrow, bhaai?” Weapon becomes weppaan –”bhaai, dem police tek out dey weppaan and start shooting like mad.” Warrior becomes warriyah “ya’ll hear Luncheon say Manickchand is a warriyah, bhaai?” Indeed, Luncheon referred to Manickchand as a warriyah with a feral weapon – her mouth. Manickchand’s mouth and other attributes may portray her as a warriyah
but is she a warriyah? For the sake of argument let us agree with Luncheon that she is. What she and the PPP have done and have been doing may not be in harmony with good manners and protocol but in the context of the political and ethnic divide, it has a purpose – the will to fight back. It is the Opposition that lacks the will to fight back and lacks the warriyah instinct. The PPP is involved in the naked exercise of power yet unlike the rulers in the Burnham and Hoyte Governments, the PPP is willing to fight, is fighting and is telling its activists and leaders to go out and be warriyahs. Compare Burnham with the PPP Government. Burnham was so pressed by a combination of opposition parties that in many instances, he failed to aggressively respond to them. No doubt when it came to life and death situation as
the Walter Rodney factor and the Rupununi uprising, Burnham was pro-active. But as the head of an unpopular government, Burnham was a very restrained man. Hoyte was in more boiling water than Burnham. So colossal was the weight on Hoyte’s shoulder that he literally agreed to hand over power. I need to remind readers that part two of my theories of Hoyte being one of the best post-colonial leaders will be published soon. It is just that in Guyana events always overrun what a columnist plans. You may not like what Manickchand did to Jaipaul Sharma and the American Ambassador; how Luncheon was gloating over what Manickchand did to the US Ambassador; how barefaced is Rohee at his press conferences. But give jack his jacket, the PPP leaders are not retrained or deterred. They know they are unpopular and
undemocratic governors but they will come at you hard. Give them credit for that. The PPP is not fearful about reaction from the society. For example, if Burnham and Hoyte had presided over a capital city that was the most fetid in the entire world both Presidents would have backed down on government hosting the annual meeting of the Caribbean Tourism Association. The PPP did that and pulled it off without any opposition demonstration outside the conference hall. There can be no question about it, if there is a conference being planned about the progress of Black people in the New World, the PPP Government will jostle with other Third World governments to be host. The PPP leaders will not be scared by the thought that there are mountainous cries of discrimination against Black people in Guyana. This is the
PPP. The leaders see themselves as warriyahs. The headline in the Chronicle on the day Cheddi Jagan died was, “A Warrior Has Fallen.” Sharief Khan the editor said that he was given that headline by the PPP bosses. It is the opposition parties that lack the warriyah instincts. The opposition and pressure groups need to have a few Priya Manickchands that behave with more dignity than Ms. Manickchand but possessed of the warriyah instinct. Go to anything opposition sponsored demonstration and you will see a tea party structure. Placard-bearers must be careful not to shout too loudly. Beware not to shout things that are illegal and make sure which part of the parapet they are on. Here is an example. A pressure group called a picket exercise outside the Ministry of Health on Brickdam in support of Colwyn Harding,
Frederick Kissoon the boy allegedly sodomized by police ranks. Dennis Atwell of the Alliance for Change and I were next to each other in the line. There was rejection of certain slogans Dennis was shouting and my suggestion that we move across the road on the parapet directly in front of the Ministry was also rejected. Atwell, a veteran of picket-demonstrations, decided that he was not at a picnic and left. Of course I came with him so I departed out of solidarity. If it was a PPP led demonstration, the picketers would have been at the gate of the Ministry.
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
Stakeholders adopt Linden Electricity Disruption Manual The Linden Electricity Disruption Manual was last week adopted by important stakeholders within the community, at the Regional Administration Office on Republic Avenue. Chaired by Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon, the event was attended by key stakeholders in the Town’s electricity sector, such as representatives from Bosai Inc, LECI and LUSCSL among others. The blackout emergency team comprised representatives from agencies whose responsibilities are to prevent blackouts, (as much as possible) restore power, prepare agencies to investigate black outs, advise residents to prepare kits to cope with black outs and communicate with residents during the black outs. It is headed by LECI Chief Executive Officer who is responsible for the distribution of electricity to the community. Other representatives of the committee are Bosai – responsible for making available, adequate generating capacity; LECI - responsible for transmission and distribution of electricity on the east bank and in bulk to Luscsl, which is responsible for transmission and distribution of electricity on the west bank; Guyana Water Inc.- responsible for producing and distributing water to the entire Linden community, Hospitals; Police – responsible for maintaining law and order and provide extra security services during black out; Fire Service– to be able to respond to any fire emergency, RDC – Chairman and Councillors – representatives of Region Ten; Mayor and Town Council – representatives of citizens of the town; Regional Health Authority, Town Council Health Department, Linden Chamber of Commerce and representatives of the business community Before the Electricity Disruption Manual was adopted, the contents were highlighted and explained by CEO of Linmine Secretariat,
Horace James. James said that Linden has no emergency preparedness and adequate response to cope with prolonged periods of blackout. He added that the electricity generation system is old and below what is required for adequate, continuous safe and reliable power. As the transmission and distribution system are both in need of upgrading, the area is prone to sometimes prolonged electricity disruption, he added. COMMITTEE Under the guidance of the Region Ten Democratic council, and headed by the Regional Chairman, the committee comprises key stakeholders in the electricity distribution system, utility and services- including water distribution, medical, security, regional administration and was set up to plan and coordinate activities to develop the blackout emergency manual to prevent and reduce blackouts, to prepare the community to deal with blackouts, to set up a communication system to inform stakeholders and the rest of the community of cause and estimated period of blackouts and to report on cause, timing and effects after major blackouts. The population is about 40,000 and there is a total of 9,000 businesses and residences attached to the grid. The plant is an island grid and not attached to any generating and distribution system in the country, James stated. Wismar residents have always opined that the restoration of power to the West Bank had been discriminatory. That notion was however, refuted by Horace James, who blamed the absence of reclosers on Wismar for the disparity in restoration of power. (Enid Joaquin)
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Govt. unable to restore $700M …APNU insists to Contingencies Fund Finance Minister The Contingencies Fund is out by some $700M for which there is no approval for its replenishment. Commentators are holding the Finance Minister responsible. Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran, has said that the Minister is to be held responsible for what he calls a loss of public funds. The Contingencies Fund is a sub account of the Consolidated Fund and allows for advances for emergency spending and subsequent approval in the National Assembly will facilitate this fund being replenished. Between 2011 and today, some $700M has been disapproved by the House and as such cannot be replenished. Shadow Finance Minister, Carl Greenidge, is the latest to weigh in on the debacle. He insists that the money has been misappropriated and despite the fact that the Minister has said that the majority of the money has been approved, $700M is not an insignificant amount. According to Greenidge, while the majority of the money has been approved, the “difference is what constitutes the crime.” Greenidge is adamant that the issue is not whether the entire contingency advance was abused, “the fact is some proportion of that money, and in the Minister’s estimate, roughly a billion was spent without being able to convince the House that it was properly spent.” According to Greenidge at the end of the day misappropriation is misappropriation. Greenidge said that Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, is a former auditor and in that capacity had he found instances where misappropriation would have taken place in whichever private company he worked, he would have had to recommend that the guilty
Carl Greenidge party be charged. He said that if such a rule is a rule which professionally would be applied in private companies for the use of funds, “why is he seeking to excuse himself from those laws.” According to Greenidge, Guyana currently has an administration “that seems to feel that they are above the law.” Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, in insisting that there has been no abuse of the Contingencies Fund, recently pointed to the fact that over the past three years he has tabled Financial Papers representing $9.4B in advances from the Contingencies Fund 92.2 per cent of which was approved by the opposition. Using this logic, according to Dr. Singh, the
Fund was not abused. Former Auditor General Goolsarran was of the opinion that the Minister should consider himself extremely fortunate that the Assembly approved 92.2 per cent of the expenditure from the Contingencies Fund, but he cannot escape liability for the 7.8 per cent, or $700 million, which was not approved. According to the former Auditor General, “This represents unauthorised expenditure and a loss of public property for which appropriate sanctions are provided for under Section 76 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. He noted that the section of the Act reads: (1) If a loss of public property should occur and, at the time of that loss, a Minister or official has caused or contributed to that loss through misconduct or through deliberate or serious disregard of reasonable standard of care, that Minister or official shall be personally liable to the Government for the amount of loss; (2) Where the misconduct or disregard of the person is not the sole cause or the loss referred to in subsection (1), the person shall be liable to pay only so much of the loss as is just and equitable having regard to the person’s share of the responsibility for the loss; If a loss of public property should occur and, at the time
is liable of that loss, a Minister or an official had nominal custody of that property, that Minister or official shall be personally liable to the Government for the amount of the loss. Dr. Singh has insisted that there was no loss incurred by himself. The sitting Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, in his 2012 report had stated that advances continued to be issued from the Contingencies Fund which did not meet the required criteria for such advances resulting in monies being drawn from the Fund and utilised to meet expenditure that did not meet the eligibility criteria as defined in the Act. He noted too, that according to the Statement of Receipts and Payments of the Contingencies Fund, amounts totalling $4.7B were drawn from the Fund by way of thirty-nine advances. “Previous reports highlighted instances where the criteria were not fully met for the granting of some advances.” The Audit Office again recommended that the Ministry of Finance adopt stringent measures to ensure that there is compliance with the FMA Act concerning the criteria for the granting of advances from the Contingencies Fund.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 08, 2014
President commissions $91M floodlights at Albion Sports Complex By Leon Suseran President Donald Ramotar last evening commissioned the $91M floodlight project at the Albion Sports Complex on the Corentyne. He was assisted by Guyanese Cricket Legend, Mr. Clive Lloyd; Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Mr. Raj Singh; Estate Manager of Albion Estate, Mr. Dev Kumar and Region Six Chairman, Mr. David Armogan. The $91M project got underway a few months ago and saw the erection of six towers with seventeen luminaries on each pole, totaling 102 -1500 watts bulbs being powered by Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. A high power generator is expected to be acquired in the near future. The massive project was completed in several phases. The first phase included the supply of the equipment
to provide the floodlights; phase two included the actual construction which entails placing of the foundation and erection of towers; while the third phase saw the project come into being with the installation of all the imported equipment and powering of the system. To oversee the management and operations of the ground and new light project, a Management Committee was put in place. Its members comprise Veemen Walters, Omesh Shrikishun, Anil Beharry, Imran Saccoor; and Pawaan Baldeo, CEO of the Albion Sports Complex. Dr. Anthony noted how long Berbicians had to wait for the lights to come into being, “and to enjoy lights at Albion.” “We know that you are passionate about cricket, and from the history of Berbice, the players that you have produced over the years, without these players, we would not have been the kind of champion country in cricket that we are.” Investment in players,
therefore, is crucial to improve the quality of players we have. He described the Albion lighting project “as a true investment.” “This has been a really substantial investment we have made. The lights and towers that you see cost us close to $110M and we feel that this is a good investment because we want to see players emerging from here and people utilizing these lights.” Mr. Lloyd was quite pleased about the lights that now illuminate the popular cricket ground. He named some of his colleagues with whom he played right there at Albion. “This is a stepping stone to greater things in Guyana, and I hope with the lights here, in the not too distant future we would have more Test matches here; more CPL here for Guyana.” President Ramotar said that lights at the ground will be used to carry on various kinds of activities. He noted the changing times of cricket these days. “Cricket is changing in its nature, and therefore, if Berbice is to continue playing an important role and making an important contribution to Guyana and West Indies cricket, we need to put the infrastructure in place to deal with the changing nature of the game itself, and thus, these lights are extremely important in that regard.” More John Trims, Rohan Kanhais, Kallicharrans and Roy Fredericks can be produced, he said. “Berbice has always produced a rich crop of cricketers for us.” He linked the development of cricket to the sugar industry in Guyana. “It was thanks to sugar that we were able to produce
President Ramotar in the company of other officials, unveils the plaque before switching on the lights at the Albion Sports Complex. the many cricketers in this county, and we see the industry very important— and it has played a historically important part in our economy.” He hopes that the facility, the first of its kind in Region Six, can be used to bring international sports to the county, “so that we can
inspire our youths to have healthy role models.” “I hope you will care these facilities so that they will continue to produce more and more sportsmen and women of international standards,” the President stated. After President Ramotar unveiled the plaque and
switched on the lights, the final of yesterday’s T20 match between Albion and Port Mourant was then played under floodlights, after the Guyanese leader bowled the first ball. Trophies for the winners of the matches in the competition were donated by Anirud Construction Services.
GECOM unable to provide composition of registrants The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the entity responsible for the administration and conduct of elections in Guyana, is unable to provide information on the make-up or composition of registrants. According to the entity, it has no database from which information such as the nationality or ethnicity of registered persons could be extracted. Public Relations Officer, Vishnu Persaud, explained to Kaieteur News last week that the agency registers Guyanese, but does not keep data based on the background of registrants. Persaud explained that under the National Registration Act Chapter 19:08 the Commission has to register every citizen who is older than 14 or would attain the age by a specific date. Those persons are then entered into the National Register of Registrants and this list produces a preliminary list of voters. The list goes through a phase of claims and objections for persons not registered to get onto the list. The objections may speak to clarifications on
GECOM PRO Vishnu Persaud a person who might be dead, but who ends up on the voters list. This list is revised and is also put up for public scrutiny before the official list is made. In the whole process, Persaud stated, Guyanese are registered since the process of naturalization “is totally outside of GECOM’s remit.” He said that the process has nothing to do with the agency; however, “If someone had gone through the process and had become
naturalized then that person would come with his naturalization certificate and birth certificate.” Persaud continued that GECOM would then be legally obligated to register that person once he fulfills also other obligations such as age. In the case of the Chinese influx, which seems to be occurring in Guyana, Persaud said, “If we are saying this person is Chinese, we also have many other Guyanese who are of Chinese membership. We have no way of differentiating native Chinese or those who became nationalized. They would be entered as Guyanese. We would not differentiate from a Guyanese born, Chinese or otherwise.” They are qualified on the basis of being naturalized, he said. He said there is no specific category that nonGuyanese born registrants fit into. “We don’t use ethnicity to differentiate anything. “It is one database that contains Guyanese citizens who qualify for registration.” Kaieteur News was told that the Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for the processing of all foreigners.
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 08, 2014
CORENTYNE FREAK -STORM...
Areas returning to normalcy as power resumes T
he Black Bush Polder and other areas along the Upper Corentyne are slowly returning to normalcy as residents begin the task of repairing their rooftops and organising their surroundings. Additionally, power is being restored bit by bit to the affected communities. Roofs were ripped apart by Sunday’s freak- storm. Electric poles too were downed, leaving much of the Corentyne Coast without electricity. Just after noon on Sunday, the area was hit by a freak storm that brought high winds that tore through several areas. The hardest- hit areas were Kiltearn, Number 61 Village and Black Bush Polder. The storm was accompanied by a heavy downpour of rain which lasted over an hour. Yesterday, Region Six C h a i r m a n , M r. D a v i d Armogan continued his assessment of the areas that were affected. He visited Black Bush Polder and had a first-hand look at the damage and destruction. “Persons have started to replace zinc sheets (that were ripped off),” he said. However, the Region Six Administration, he mentioned, will give specific assistance to a mother of three whose house was swept off its pillars. He said the government would assist Michelle Singh
of Lot 7, Yakusari, whose two daughters were nearly crushed to death as their wooden home was blown off the posts and deposited on the ground. Singh had left two of her daughters’ home and had gone to church. “Two of my daughters were sitting on the steps. When I was coming back I saw the house falling down and I ain’t see my two children.” The girls barely made it to safety in time; they jumped off the steps. “I started to scream because I knew that I left the two of them on the steps and I was not seeing them.” The mother was relieved when she saw her daughters, Ashlee, 12, and Natalie, nine, alive. Repairs will have to be effected to the Joanna Primary School which lost several zinc sheets and the Corriverton Market. As for electricity supply which was cut off as a result of several downed poles and high-power cables, Corriverton and Line Path were re-powered yesterday morning. Mr. Armogan noted that Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) Berbice Manager, Mr. Ayube Bacchus, had assured him that crews have been working feverishly to reenergize Black Bush. “He said that by [last evening] all areas should be repowered—at least that’s what he told me today [yesterday],” Armogan noted.
The roof disappeared
Another casualty
An uprooted tree and a house that was blown off its pillars at Black Bush
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Linden commemorates 50th anniversary of Son Chapman L
indeners, on Sunday, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Son Chapman tragedy that claimed 54 lives after the launch was blown to bits by an explosion. The date was July 6, 1964; the explosion occurred at Horadia, some 18 miles from Linden. The launch which was owned by businessman, Norman Chapman, was returning to Linden from Georgetown, with less than its complement of passengers, according to reports. The boat never reached its destination, as it was rocked by the explosion and sank with its cargo of passengers. Five decades later, the real cause of the explosion is yet to be determined, and this has prompted the call for an enquiry into the tragedy. The call was repeated by several persons who attended a symposium at the Egbert Benjamin Hall, in memory of those who perished in the tragedy. Among them were a few overseas-based Guyanese, who lost their relatives in the explosion. Dr. Stephen Carryl and his brother, who lost their mother, who was eight months pregnant at the time, with her eighth child in the blast, were there for the anniversary. Dr. Carryl was only two years old at the time, while his mother was 33. A clothes vendor in the mining town, it was to be her last trip, before she gave birth, her sons said. Mrs Carryl must have had a premonition, because she had given her eldest son fifty dollars and told him, “If I don’t come back, take this money and buy stuff for Stephen and your sister”. The brothers cried openly as they spoke emotionally and candidly of losing their mother. Earlier in the day close to 100 had journeyed to Horadia where wreaths were laid, and emotional tributes were given to those that perished. EXHORTATIONS Several speakers, including Leader of the Opposition David Grainger and Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon, exhorted Lindeners to ensure that there is never a recurrence of the Son Chapman tragedy. Grainger said, “We must continue to remember; we must continue to show reverence to the 54 persons who died. We must continue to have respect for the families. At the same time we must be
stern, we must be dedicated to ensuring that atrocities such as those that occurred in the sixties do not recur. “This must not become a hollow meaningless event; it must not become a ritual or an occasion for the renewal of old hatreds. It must become a recommitment to ensure that such an atrocity such as the Horadia massacre does not re-occur. “I encourage you to look to the future so that our children could grow up with a vision of something different to that which we had on July 6, 1964. I pray to God to rid our nation of the hatred, crime and violence and to unite our people just as our Partnership for National Unity is seeking to do. “We’ve not come here to perpetuate the atrocities; we’ve not come here to perpetuate hatred.” Charles Sampson said that a Son Chapman memorial should be placed in a very prominent place in the Linden community in 2015, so that young people could learn about the tragedy. He said that the Son Chapman was ‘genocide’ and one of the worst acts of terrorism in the world, much worse than the September 11, 2001 World Trade Centre disaster, if the comparisons were made based on the population of the two countries. Charles Corbin, who said he was a young boy at the time, and was an able swimmer, swam out into the river and helped to retrieve body parts of some of the victims of the explosion. He also called for the memorial site to be ‘anchored’ in a prominent place in the community He emphasized that the memorial site, must be anchored in the community, so that persons could pass and talk about the incident any day of the year. Chairman of Region Ten, Sharma Solomon, said, “Let us not forget, there are so many others that would like to tell their story, and those individuals must be given an opportunity also. It is there I would like to say that our recognition of this event must not be buried. Adding that the Region had moved to have commemoration observances of the Son Chapman tragedy closer to Linden, Solomon said that, that move prompted the administration to seek to set aside $500,000 in its budget annually, towards the commemorative
event. That move was however unsuccessful, he noted, since it has not been approved by government. “I can say to you, however, that it would not stop the Council from recognizing how important this event is, and to ensure that we continue to ask for it to be recognized financially and through the institutions that represent the people of Region Ten. “So there you have two
institutions, the RDC promoting to have resources so that we can continuously have the sort of support to have this event commemorated, and here it is that we have the church resolving to ensure that they have the commitment to the survivors of those who perished.” Solomon added that the RDC has also engaged the Chapman family and in a move to adopt the tragedy as a Regional commemorative
event, and said that the administration will ensure that young people do not forget this important part of the community’s history. “...We can never forget 50 years ago, where this community stood and how we had to work to overcome challenges after the 6th of July when that incident occurred. “I believe that as a community, we must resolve to do much better...to ensure that this act which was
perpetuated fifty years ago, (that) it is not only recognized as a commemorative celebration, but it is also given the sort of support and guidance.” Owner of the launch, Norman Chapman, chided those who coordinated the event at the Egbert Benjamin Hall for not allowing him, ‘to have his say’. He was also adamant that the Son Chapman memorial must remain at Horadia.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 08, 2014
EIGHT ACCUSED REMAIN HOPEFUL FOR PI COMMENCEMENT Meten-Meer-Zorg grocer murder…
… Magistrate expected to be permanently appointed at Leonora Magistrate’s Court Almost ten months after being accused and incarcerated for the murder of a Meten-Meer-Zorg grocer, the eight persons charged are now hopeful that the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) will commence within two weeks at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court. The installation of a
permanent Magistrate at the curt has been signaled by a senior member of the judiciary. Last September, eight persons, including a mother of one, were indicted before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for the murder of the businessman, Zulficar Namdar. The 25-year-old
entrepreneur was reportedly shot and killed after heavilyarmed, masked gunmen invaded the family’s Lot 76 Third Street Meten-Meer-Zorg home on September 10, last. Namdar was murdered whilst his mother was robbed of $1.3M worth in jewellery and $320,000 cash. Ten days after the
incident, Jermaine “Yankee” Williams, 36; Esan Lawrence, 33; Delwyn Croft,32; Khyran “50 cents” Khan, 26; Samuel Bacchus, 38; Andrew “Sonic” Chandler, 34; Alan Dorsett, 38; and his 31-year-old wife Cassindra Singh were brought before the courts to be arraigned on a murder
Accused: Cassindra Singh
Victim: Zulficar Namdar
Accused: Delwyn Croft
Accused: Khyran Khan
Accused: Alan Dorsett
Accused: Andrew Chandler
charge. To date, the accused are yet to hear the State’s case against them because the absence of a permanent Magistrate at the Leonora court has continuously stalled the commencement of the PI. Since their first court appearance on September 20, last year the eight have been remanded to prison and they have so far made about 10 fruitless court appearances. It is behind that backdrop that Defence Attorneys M e l v i n D u k e , G e o rg e Thomas, James Bond and Nigel Hughes sought the High Court’s intervention for what was described as a breach of their clients’ constitutional rights. Earlier this year, the Attorneys filed a writ of mandamus against Chief
Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry seeking to have the matter commence and dealt with expeditiously. Duke, in a previous interview, had indicated that the lack of a permanent Magistrate is no reason to delay a PI. The lawyer had said that it is a breach of his clients’ rights since the constitution specifies that a fair trial must be conducted within a reasonable amount of time. He said that his clients have instead been languishing for almost a year as remanded prisoners. Speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday, the attorney stated that the eight accused remain hopeful that the PI will commence at their next scheduled court hearing. He said that the lawyers (Continued on page 19)
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Health Minister must lead from the front - insists APNU MP T Chikungunya virus outbreak...
he efficacy of fogging exercises being undertaken by the Ministry of Health to tackle the Chikungunya virus is being called into question by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Ernest Elliott. Elliott, during the past week convened a community meeting in Canje Berbice, Region Six, where the virus was first detected over a month ago. During his visit there Elliott said that community members expressed great concerns about the mosquito borne virus and even shared their belief that Ministry officials have not been highlighting the real state of affairs regarding the outbreak. “The people are saying that the numbers are more than what the Minister is giving,” said Elliott, as he disclosed that reports out of the Region suggest that the ongoing fogging activities are forcing the virus carrying mosquitoes to migrate. “We are getting reports that since they started the fogging the mosquitoes have gone over to New Amsterdam and spreading... they are not killing the mosquitoes,” intimated a worried Elliott. Moreover, the Member
Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran
Member of Parliament, Ernest Elliott
of Parliament is calling on Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, to travel to the County of Berbice to better understand the situation before be seeks to pronounce on its progression. “The Minister needs to stop sitting down in his office; he has to come on the scene and see w h a t ’s h a p p e n i n g f o r himself...he has to visit places like Canje and New Amsterdam,” added Elliott. While in Berbice, Elliott recalled seeing several persons inflicted with the virus some of whom are suffering from intense joint pains. “When I left Berbice there was one lady who was barely able to walk properly because of her pains,” recounted the Member of
Parliament. He related another woman’s story of her household’s infliction which started with her daughter, then herself, before her husband too developed of the virus. They were all eventually diagnosed with the virus. “She said she carried her daughter to the doctor with symptoms of the virus and by the time she returned home she had to be taken to the doctor and by the time she got back home her husband was on his way to get medical attention...it is a really worrying situation,” said Elliott. “People are afraid, and they are convinced they are not getting the truth from the Ministry...it is very difficult
Mibicuri Hospital left in darkness after storm … Nurses, residents crying out for help
D
espite the presence of a Regional Health Authority in Berbice, which incidentally is the only one in the country, the health situation in the Ancient County is in total chaos. Reports coming out of the Black Bush Polder area are not encouraging. Residents stated that the Mibicuri Hospital is in disarray with a malfunctioning generator unable to provide electricity to the facility whenever there is a blackout. Nurses and patients alike are forced to endure the horrendous condition that presents itself. The residents want a thorough investigation into the functioning of the facility and are questioning the purpose of the Regional Health Authority. The situation has reached unbearable proportions with Sunday Night’s scenarios being the latest episode in a long tale of woes. On Sunday following the storm that caused some damage on the Corentyne Coast, the electricity in the area went out after some post fell. The standby generator, according to residents, hardly works because it is almost always out of fuel or is malfunctioning. So after the generator worked for a while it ceased to function thus, the medical institution was left without electricity.
The nurses that worked the night shift had to endure the frightening and hellish situation, which according to the residents, is a norm. There was one patient in the medical institution, the victim of attempted suicide. The one female patient had to endure a lonely night of Halloween like experience. The nurses were forced to seek help in the pitch dark building. The doctor in charge, one Tariq Uddin, refused to leave his quarters. Nurses and visitors have to use whatever means possible including light from their cell phones. Nurses sometimes, have to resort to lights loaned to them by the patients and their relatives. The hospital is in dire straits at the moment with the electricity not being returned to the area more than 24 hours later. The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is not sure when the electricity would be restored. The hospital has one small rechargeable light which has long ‘gone dead’ and which has to be taken around by the nurses. The Hospital Administrator, it is understood, is responsible for the Skeldon, Port Mourant and Black Bush Polder Hospitals. She has her office in the Regional Health Administration Complex in New Amsterdam. A similar situation exists at the New Amsterdam Hospital whenever there is a power failure.
and people are very skeptical about the information they are getting.” Added to this Elliott is of the belief that the people in Canje are at a disadvantage since they are not always afforded treatment for their symptoms. According to him residents informed that a doctor at the Goed Bananen Land clinic is only on duty there on Mondays leaving patients to travel to other facilities to access needed attention. “I am saying that the Minister should and must visit; be on the ground with the people and give needful information to the people...he has to be forthcoming about this situation,” insisted Elliott. APNU members during the past week were engaged in an outreach to the Ancient County to discuss a number of issues including the need for the holding of Local Government Elections when the subject of the Chikungunya virus was raised by residents. Elliott was designated to meet with residents of Canje. The Chikungunya virus is transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which
The Aedes Aegypti mosquito which transmits the Chikungunya virus
also transmits dengue fever. According to reports out of the Health Ministry, as at last week, there were a total of 31 confirmed cases of the virus. Following the detection of the first cases in Region Six the Health Minister had told this publication that efforts were being made to contain the virus to that section of the country. However, he disclosed last week that the virus has since been confirmed in Regions Three, Four and Five. The cases of the virus were confirmed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad since Guyana does not have trained personnel to utilise the testing equipment
available at the local National Public Health Reference Laboratory. The symptoms of the virus include: headache, joint and muscle pains, high fever, nausea and rash. There is no cure for the virus but the symptoms are treatable though some may be long lasting, such as the joint pains, with death rarely occurring. The Ministry is therefore urging the public to take precautions by keeping their environment clean and free of water that can allow the breeding of mosquitoes and protect themselves by using insect repellent as far as possible and/or wear long clothing.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 08, 2014
CANU makes coke bust at Diamond
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anks of the country’s main anti-drug unit y e s t e r d a y unearthed a massive quantity of cocaine and marijuana during two separate undercover operations in Diamond New Scheme, East Bank Demerara. In the first instance, agents from Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) seized some 2,700 pounds of marijuana in Diamond. One
Ranks in Diamond yesterday where the cocaine and marijuana were found.
person has been detained to assist with investigations. And, another person was arrested after 4.2 kilograms of cocaine was found in a house at Fourth Bridge, Diamond New Scheme, along with $1million in local currency. The undercover operation came three days after a 42-year-old American, Jermaine Carter, was busted with a quantity of 7.057 kg of suspected cocaine in three packets of ‘Kerigold’ milk powder at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. And a press release from the Guyana Police Force stated that at about 08:10 hrs yesterday, ranks from the Police Narcotics Branch conducted a search of cargo contained in an airline bond at the CJIA and was found cocaine within ceramic ornaments. The quantity has not yet been ascertained but two men and a woman have been arrested and are in police custody assisting with investigations.
E’bo protestors for court today Statements are being processed by senior Police officers stationed at the Anna Regina police station before they are forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions in an attempt to institute more serious charges against Alliance For Change Regional Councillor, Naith Ram and Tage Sewnarine. Police have since named them as “instigators” into Friday’s protest. Ram and 18 others are however scheduled to appear before resident Magistrate Sunil Scarce, today, to answer to the more minor offences. They were arrested Friday evening and released late Saturday evening yhrough efforts by AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan. Those detained each had to post $5,000 station bail. A protest led by AFC Regional Councillor and Tage Sewnaraine, a Pastor, turned ugly Friday evening last. The protestors numbered some 100 rice farmers and their wives who marched from Cotton Field on the Essequibo
Coast to the High Bridge at Anna Regina. The initial plan was to observe a vigil during the night. The police monitored the protestors who became picnickers, cooking and imbibing alcohol at the Anna Regina High Bridge. They later relocated to Land Of Plenty, where they burnt tyres on a recently constructed bridge. While at Land Of Plenty, protestors proceeded to block the public road with tractors, trucks and other vehicles. The police were subsequently summoned to the scene. A proclamation by the police was also read to them. They were reports of a police rank and a soldier being assaulted after they attempted to arrest the protestors, including Ram who was stripped naked. The protest stemmed from late payments for paddy sold for three months prior. Proper drainage and accurate weight and dockage were some of the additional concerns.
Luncheon admits Cabinet being... From page 9 laws our practices commit to under those circumstances the one with the lowest tender.” Additionally, beyond being the lowest bid China Railway was responsive in the application of its technical and other considerations. “So when we say the lowest competent, the lowest responsive, we are covering all angles. First you must be responsive and then when you are the lowest” said Luncheon. He said that they were not committed to the bid that NPTAB was contending because it was not the lowest and “it was not to the Cabinet’s satisfaction.” He said that beyond that, the company China Railway “can give us the product that
we are looking for” According to Luncheon, China Railway Co. “is a company that, as indeed of all of the others, has done work on building roads in very difficult circumstances.” He made mention of the company doing Lots 1 to 7 of the Amelia falls road project and other cases “where they went and delivered the goods.” “If I am here, building roads in the country surely it will be much easier for me to mobilize and my cost starting off will be infinitesimally lower than a man who doesn’t know anything about building roads, he has to start from scratch” said Luncheon. He said that those were the consideration that “Cabinet felt weren’t dealt with properly and that is why our no objection was withheld.”
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 19
Region Five officials say octogenarian was hysterical
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egion Five health care officials have dismissed claims by a West Berbice family that an 86year- old woman was physically abused by two nurses at the Fort Wellington Hospital. Relatives of Julia Melville of Lot 289, Number 8 Village, West Coast Berbice claimed that the woman’s death was as a result of her being hit in the head and face by two nurses at the Fort Wellington Hospital after being admitted two Tuesdays ago with high blood pressure. During the visit Thursday morning, the family members said that they noticed the entire face of the woman was swollen. “The head was swollen on the right side and also the face, so we touched her and right away we noticed that she suffered a stroke, because [of] the way she was speaking,” said the woman’s daughter Oswyn. “She kept telling us, ‘they ill- treated me last night—they beat me—and I did calling for police, for help, for murder. They really ill-treat me. The porter boy from Hopetown and them two nurses, them ain’t treat me good—I want come out.’” However, the acting Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Region Five, Dr. Alexander Sinclair refuted all of the allegations. He said that around 03:00 hrs on Wednesday, the patient had to be restrained since she was behaving erratically and violently.
… Needed to be restrained “The patient was restrained but the restraint was removed after observation that there were marks from where the restraint was,” he added. “She was behaving erratic and shouting ‘murder’ and ‘rape’ and trying to come off the bed. She was taking drip and all of that so they had to restrain her,” Dr. Alexander stated. Region Five Councilor, Ms. Carol Smith Joseph, who is also familiar with the incident and Melville’s behaviour, said, “[Melville] kept talking a set of madness and shouting for murder and so on.” “Nobody ever hit the patient. After the bandage was released, she tried on several occasions to get up and then nurses told her to lie down. The rails that were on the bed came off and the patient dropped to the ground. The nurses called the porter to assist her to get the patient back on the bed.” Melville was then stabilized. Joseph said that around 05:30 that morning, the woman’s relatives visited and, “were promptly informed by the nurses what had happened.” “As the day progressed, Dr. Sinclair visited the patient, ordered further treatment and the patient continued to rest comfortably,” she added. Joseph added that the woman’s daughter visited the doctor and “he advised her (she wanted to remove her mother) he advised her to wait until 16:00 hrs, that he
EIGHT ACCUSED REMAIN HOPEFUL... From page 16 have been reliably informed by an official in the judicial system that the Preliminary Inquiry will get underway soon. Duke said that it was explained to him that another Magistrate is set to be permanently appointed to take up the mantle at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court. The resignation of Magistrate Adele Nagamootoo a few months ago left the Leonora
Magistrate’s Court without a permanent Magistrate. Since then, Magistrate Clive Nurse and Faith McGusty have been fulfilling magisterial duties at the court. Duke said that it is with regards to the signaled intentions to have a Magistrate installed at that court that the accused are now hopeful for the matter to be heard and dealt with in an expeditious manner. The case will be called again on July 23.
was monitoring her.” But the doctor stated that the daughter was upset about that. “At 12:30hrs she stormed in and removed the mother against the doctor’s advice. She refused to sign the ‘refusal to take treatment paper’ and stormed out with her mom. At no time at all did the doctor send away the
patient unconscious.” Meville died later that night at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), sending the family berserk about the treatment they believed their relative received at Fort Wellington. “The patient was in an advanced state of senility and was screaming for ‘murder’ and ‘rape’ all the time …at no time at all was this woman unconscious. We can boast about proper
health care in Region Five. When we cannot handle a case here, either that person is transferred to GPHC or New Amsterdam Hospital,” Joseph added. She added that Dr. Subhan was the doctor oncall during the night of the incident, and the patient was being monitored by Dr. Sinclair who is the Doctor in Charge and acting Regional Health Officer. (Leon Suseran)
Julia Melville
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Faulty Caesarean section…
GPHC is a teaching institution for Doctors and Nurses - Dr. Norton
S
hadow Minister of Health for A Partnership for National Unity, Dr. George Norton, is of the view that doctors and nurses at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) are not facing the consequences for the mistakes they make on patients. He said that the medical institution is more of a teaching institution for the nurses and doctors rather than one which operates in the interest of the people of this country. Norton, who is also an Ophthalmologist at the hospital, accused the facility’s management of allowing doctors and nurses to operate on patients after ‘destroying’ another. He made this disclosure in light of allegations made by a Mabaruma mother, Simone Hernandez that a faulty C-section has landed her 20-year-old daughter in the facility’s Intensive Care Unit. According to reports, D e n i k a H e r n a n d e z ’s
intestines were reportedly damaged after the doctor who delivered her child “went too deep” whilst suturing the incision from the Caesarean section and mistakenly involved her intestines. This allegedly occurred on May 23, last. The 20-yearold is still hospitalised. “All the departments at the hospital have a Head who is also a consultant and who in most cases have been around for some time, so you cannot blame the doctors or the nurses alone but also those who are in charge,” Dr. Norton said. According to the Ophthalmologist, no doctors, regardless of how brilliant they might be, would be as competent if they do not have the experience to go with their brilliance. “If a doctor in any department functions incompetent then the Head of that Department will be responsible for that because they must know who they are working with and what that person is capable of doing,”
Dr. George Norton APNU shadow Minister stressed. “I must admit that the GPHC is more of a teaching institution. We might not have to hold the hands of the general practitioners that work with us but it is stipulated that they must have supervision,” Dr. Norton said. According to the APNU s h a d o w M i n i s t e r, t h e situation regarding Denika
Hernandez is unacceptable. “I would want to believe that if there was supervision then the situation with Ms. Hernandez would have been avoided.” Responding to Simone Hernandez’s allegation that no one from the hospital met with her to give her a detailed explanation of her daughter’s condition or what went wrong during the operation, Dr. Norton said that the hospital should have explained what went wrong to the family and do not allow them to speculate. “The first thing that should have been done is you call up the family members and you try to explain to them what really happened and how things can be fixed rather than allowing them to speculate,” the Ophthalmologist explained. It is still unclear whether an investigation regarding Hernandez’s accusations was launched but the woman claimed that the doctor has been meeting with her regularly to explain her d a u g h t e r ’s p r e s e n t condition.
Mayor slams administration over micro management of Council
C
ity Mayor Hamilton Green has lashed out at Minister of Local Government, Norman Whittaker, accusing him of micro managing and disrespecting the duly elected Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC). In a letter addressed to the editor, Mayor Green outlined his concerns regarding Minister Whittaker ’s continued involvement in the operations of M&CC. Green explained that he raised the issue at a recent forum, which was attended by the Local Government Minister. According to Mayor Green, the Minister in an attempt to deny the accusation that the duly elected Mayor and Councillors were neither consulted or informed about this $500M clean up for Georgetown, stated that he had the benefit of inviting two officers to his meetings. “Therein lies the major problem. The Minister of Local Government continues to micro manage the Georgetown City Council, yet, as one of the minions suggested at the meeting, blame the Mayor and Councillors for the ills of the City. “This is untrue, dishonest and part of the state propaganda blitz.” Green said that when it was pointed
Mayor Hamilton Green out that Parliament passed a bill for the Restoration of Georgetown; Minister Whittaker stated that two Committees had not submitted reports but that this was the cause of the delay—one headed by Mr. Kit Nascimento and the other by Mr. Joe Harmon, M.P. “I was surprised because I have known Mr. Nascimento for five decades and one may not always agree with him. However, I know him to be an efficient and effective professional with a penchant for meeting deadlines. Mr.
Harmon also takes assignments seriously.” He said that inquiries about the projects proved that the Minister was not aware of the whole story. “It appears that the government is not truly interested in helping to restore the Capital City, Georgetown...Last year, Town Clerk, Ms. (Carol) Sooba sent me the usual approved form for my signature, to purchase trucks, a procedure used for years. It was to buy old trucks. “After discussions with both retired and current mechanics, it was decided that it is better to purchase one new vehicle rather than two or three used vehicles. “Later Sooba arrogantly stated, the Minister has signed the document in place of the Mayor.” Green says that Minister Whittaker did not deny this serious violation of a principle and total disregard for a duly elected official of the people. “The bottom line is, after the Mayor noted the Minister’s total disregard for the Council … he (Minister) walked out, he threatened to dissolve the City Council and install an IMC; disregard 73 per cent of the voters, but wishes to put in place, a system for 27 per cent to rule. So much for the Constitution and plain decency,” Green added.
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 21
Cove and John head-on collision… Judge admits caution statement, Survivor says he was sleeping three more witnesses testify
…as trial for murder of seven-year-old continues The trial of murder accused Fazal ‘Mongoose’ Mohamed, called ‘Boy’, 23, of No 67 Village, Corentyne Berbice for the murder of seven-year-old Saheed ‘Buddy’ Muknauth, is continuing in the Berbice High Court before Justice Rabindranauth Singh and a mixed jury. Muknauth, called “Shiam” of No. 68 Squatting Area, Corentyne, Berbice was killed on August 20, 2012. The matter continued with Justice Singh admitting a caution statement purportedly given by the accused. This was following a voir dire which followed some objections made by Defence Attorney, Raymond Alli. Three other witnesses were also called to the stand. In his statement the accused admitted to taking the lad to a secluded area and beating him that day. Most of the information contained in the accused’s admission statement was similar to what was narrated by State Prosecutor Renita Singh in her
opening statement to the jury. The Prosecutor had stated that the child’s mother, Anita Persaud, had earlier in the day ingested kerosene and was admitted at the Skeldon Hospital, leaving her six children ages ranging from 12years to two months at home. She had later in the afternoon taken a selfdischarge to be home with the children, when she discovered Saheed missing. It was later learnt that the child was seen around 17:30 hrs on the day in question with the accused holding his hand, crossing the road. He was reportedly the last person seen with the lad on the day he disappeared. Muknauth’s body was discovered at the back of a rice mill in a pond in a clump of bushes some two days after. His body was lying face up. It was in an advanced state of decomposition. An on-the-spot post mortem gave the cause of death as multiple injuries. Anita Persaud, the mother
of the dead child testified that on the day in question, upon returning home, she did not see her son. Upon inquiring, she was told he was seen with the accused. She had made further inquiries including making a missing person report to the police. The deceased’s now 14 year old sister, also testified. She said that on the day in question she saw her brother Saheed in company with Mohammed leaving. She called him back, but he refused to heed her instructions. Also on the witness stand was neighbour Sanjay Kowlessar who testified that on the day in question he saw the deceased and accused together. Testifying earlier was woman Detective Sergeant Joanne Johnson and Detective Corporal Dwayne Harvey who both testified to the parts they played in the investigations. The matter is expected to continue today.
both the heifer and her unborn calf could die. Cooke said that he has since lodged reports with the police at Anna Regina. The ranks who visited the scene did not recover any spent shell. The heifer is due to give birth in two weeks’ time.
Cooke said he does not have any grievances with anyone. He described the shooting as reckless behaviour of a few unknown persons who were intoxicated. Cooke added that a stray bullet could have possibly hit some innocent person.
Pregnant cow injured in drive-by shooting
The shot heifer The reckless discharge of gunshots by unknown occupants of a dark blue 212 car, Saturday evening last, at Coffee Grove, Essequibo Coast has injured a pregnant cow. Owner of the cow, O’neil Cooke, said his pregnant cow was tied in Bakery Street, at Coffee Grove. The taxi driver said that he later learnt from one of his neighbours that several male occupants drove by and discharged several shots at the heifer. A bullet remains inside the cow. An examination revealed that the injured cow was discharging blood in her urine. A veterinary officer who inspected the injured animal failed to locate the bullet. The veterinarian has said that
Selwyn Carryl, one of the two survivors from last Saturday’s head-on collision at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara, said that he was sleeping when his brother crashed into the minibus around 13:00 hrs. The 36-year-old father of two, who recently arrived in Guyana to spend a month with family members, is hospitalized in a stable condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). According to Carryl, on that fateful day, he was heading home with his now dead brother, Sebastian Frank, who was driving motorcar PJJ 867. The father of two could not say how exactly his brother ended up in the path of the minibus BSS 3854. “I don’t know what happened. I really can’t say. I was sleeping when I hear the collision and then I fainted,” Carryl said, adding that the only pain he is experiencing is minor chest pain. The accident has resulted in the death of 33-year-old Sebastian Frank, a father of four of Lot 108 Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The driver of the minibus, Leonard Lloyd, sustained minor injuries. According to reports, Frank, who was heading east along the Public Road collided head-on with the minibus after he tried to overtake a vehicle and ended up in the same lane with the bus which was heading in the opposite direction. Luckily, all the bus passengers escaped with only minor abrasions.
SURVIVOR: Selwyn Carryl
The brothers’ mother, Debbie Wilson, had explained that she was at home when she received the news. She added that she had no idea that the accident was so serious. She only knew when she arrived at the hospital. “When I was going to the hospital I hear Sebastian overtake and ended up in the same lane with the bus but I don’t know what happened really. At the hospital, the doctor told me that he couldn’t save Sebastian and he showed me Selwyn,” the mother said. “He (Selwyn) and his brother went to look after a barrel that he posted before
he left to come here. They left around 8 o’clock (Saturday) and they were coming home when the accident happened,” the mother lamented. Neighbours and family members described Frank as a quiet person who spent most of his life in the small village after moving there as a child. “I wouldn’t say he (Frank) was my best child but he was good to me. He was quiet and loving. Over 10 years now his father get a stroke. He use to live in Berbice and he (Sebastian) went and bring he father here so that he could look after him,” the mother said in tears.
Page 22
Kaieteur News
VACANCY
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Tuesday July 08, 2014
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EDUCATION I.A.E is registering students for its secondary school, Forms1-5; CXC classes for adults – Repeaters and beginners – Call: 223-0604; 683-5742
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
DRESSMAKING Jean offers courses in dressmaking, designing curtains, floral decoration & cake decoration – Tel: 6181706; 670-2653. VEHICLE FOR SALE One AE 100 Corolla Wagon, L-Touring $775,000, one AT212 Carina - $875,000, one unregistered Toyota Noah $1.8M – Tel: 611-6632; 6643488
MASSAGE The Gents Spa: Beautiful qualified masseuses, new attendants from Cuba & Trinidad, drinks available – Tel:657- 5979 TO LET Three-bedroom bottom flat to rent, located at Diamond Housing Scheme - $35,000 per month – preferably working couple – Contact: 628-2388 One three bedroom top flat unfurnished – Contact: 6815058; 687-0835; 644-7207
Certified electrician: Does your house / business need electrical installation & wiring. Affordable cost (negotiable)- Contact Zaheer Ibrahime: 638-4311; 234-1626 We Refill HP Printer Ink $2,000; Cannon printer ink $2,500. Phone: 650-7699 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING AND ESTIMATES FOR ONLY $10,000- CALL:6949843/227-2766 FOR HIRE Moving? Need to transport goods? One canter for hire – Contact: 694-5441 or 685-4161
VEHICLE FOR SALE 2006 Blue Nissan Titan. Fully Loaded GSS Series. Contact: 604-6108. New model Toyota RAV 4 $2.5M negotiable – Tel: 2255034, 639-5577 Toyota Avensis, Corolla 110, Tundra – Tel: 645-0078; 6030078 One Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, PMM Series Call: 2250188, 223-7500, Mon-Fri 8:154:15pm, Sat – 8:15-1:15PM Diamond Auto Show: Black Nissan, Blue Bird 2007, fully loaded, 2/4 wheel drive – Tel: 682-1822 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms - Call: 680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash. Also parts available & 30 seater buses; extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 Toyota Premio (grey), Spacio & Belta. Never registered – Call: 269-0432; 686-0323 CF65 Leyland Daf Truck $2.5M, single axle. Working Condition! – Contact Shaba: 667-3436; 655-5018 2003 Toyota Premio with back camera & TV - $2.4M, 2008 Toyota Premio - $3.6M & 2004 Toyota IST $2.2M – Tel: 6154114 Toyota Rav4, 2004 Series, PNN - $3.6M Neg., one Corolla NZE PLL Series $1.5M Neg. Contact: 6687660 Toyota Raum, AT212, AT192, L-Touring Wagon, AE110 Corolla, Tacoma, 2007 Year Model, fun cargo – Tel: 6445096; 6971453 Best 2007 Nissan Titan f l a i r, t r u n k c o v e r, 2 2 " mags, air brush $2.8MCall: 674-9593 Toyota Fun cargo, PMM series, immaculate condition - $1.250M – Call: 601-8625 Toyota Raum, PMM Series, leather interior, DVD, touch screen, 17" rims, candy paint, alarm & remote start $1.4M – Tel: 601-8625 2005 Audi A4, leather interior, 17" rims factory, PSS series, after market head & Tail lights Halo - $4.2M – Call: 601-8625 J’s Auto Imports: In stock Allion, Premio, Blue Bird, Spacio, Madza Axela – Tel: 696-4659 First Class Auto: 2006 Premio, 2006 Allion, 2004 Spacio, IST, Axela, Fielder, Rush – Call: 609-8188; 638-3045 Mitsubishi Car EVO 2 mag rims, DVD/CD, air brush – Tel: 610-6927 (Continued on page 23)
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Cigarette smoking most detrimental to women - Cardiologist Although research suggests that men are more prone to cigarette smoking, the effects of such activities could be more detrimental to women. This state of affairs was amplified by Resident Cardiologist at the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI), Dr. Mahendra Carpen, who said “the effect of cigarette smoking for a woman is much worse than it is for a man. It affects their health more severely as it results in much more complications.” Dr. Carpen’s assertion has been substantiated by a number of researches which have the common conclusion that, although women smokers are fewer, they are at greater risk for developing a variety of complications ranging from lung and cervical cancer to premature menopause and infertility, and even osteoporosis and heart disease. But although data suggest that women are at greater risk in the cigarette smoking equation, there is still need for great attention to be focused on men who are
the chief smokers of this substance. Apart from developing respiratory challenges, Dr. Carpen disclosed that even greater numbers of men are prone to heart disease. And this situation is evident right here in Guyana as according to the Cardiologist, “there is a very higher percentage of men I see who smoke cigarettes and develop heart disease...” Moreover, the challenge faced by the health sector Dr. Carpen said, “Is how do we do the things that have been shown to prevent our cardiovascular mortality and morbidity...There are some things you can change and some things you can’t change.” According to him among the things that can be changed are lifestyle behaviours, such as smoking and drinking which together or individually can have very daunting health effects. “Some people are at risk because of their genetics or because of diseases they would have developed like diabetes and hypertension
which you can try to control as best as you can,” said Dr. Carpen. He however, noted that “as you get older your risk for cardiovascular diseases goes up and you can’t change that. What you can change is your social behaviour pattern.” “You can change alcohol consumption, you can change cigarette smoking and there is always hope for you if you stop,” stressed the Cardiologist who added that “your risk goes down but there is not an immediate decrease in your risk. However, the longer you stay off of these substances the better your risk profile starts to look.” And those at especially high risk for cardiovascular diseases, according to Dr. Carpen, are those persons who suffer from diabetes and/ or hypertension and yet indulge in cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. Their condition can be compounded with high cholesterol and a sedentary lifestyle, the Cardiologist noted. And even as he highlighted the need to raise
awareness to reduce these health threats in society, Dr. Carpen recalled that long ago medicines were given to persons to help curb their desire for alcohol for instance. However, he cautioned that this practice should not be encouraged. “Medicines were given to patients and that saw a taste of alcohol making them violently upset but that is not really the way to go...People should make that choice on their own,” noted Dr. Carpen. He added that “history has shown that forcing people to act a certain way is only so good to an extent, after that people revert to what they feel normal and comfortable doing.” The advantage of reduced alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking, according to Dr. Carpen, will allow for reduced chronic lung disease, lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases, among other health complications, a development that is already unfolding with legislative moves to curb public smoking.
Ramkarran does an extraordinary job trying to ... From page 5 eminently qualified, which explains why someone like Minister Manickchand could represent him in the most undiplomatic of ways. I say most undiplomatic, b e c a u s e M r. R a m k a r r a n f u r t h e r ventured what the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan might have done: “In all of these situations I try to think of what Cheddi Jagan would have done. Never, ever, taking criticism personally, being offended by it or being confrontational or personal, he would have first engaged the Ambassador by telephone as he often did. Then, if necessary, he would have made a public response to the issue.” So here is the crux: this is not Cheddi Jagan’s PPP, anymore; it is the JagdeoRamotar PPP that has
lowered the standard of government to a level that expressive letter writer, GHK Lall, identified as ‘gutter’ politics. And the sad paradox is that some have been literally defending the PPP’s every move, even when proven wrong! There is definitely no ‘Redemption Song’ for the PPP! I did say at the top that Mr. Ramkarran tried to be as delicately balanced as he could, because apart from his foregoing points I addressed, he ventured his opinion about Guyana’s sovereignty, which he felt was violated by the US in the 60s when the democratically-elected PPP was ousted via a Western engineered plot, even as the US liked to promote and defend democracy. “Guyana and the PPP were victims of this double standard and it is this history
th a t c o n d i t i o n s G u y a n a ’s r e s p o n s e to calls for local government elections from the United States. Ambassador Hardt is aware of this, but says that this is US Government policy so that this ‘intervention’ is not likely to stop anytime soon,” Mr. Ramkarran wrote. Then, as part of his conclusion, he asked: ‘If the US can be inconsistent, then why not Guyana?’ On reading that, I immediately wondered: Is M r. R a m k a r r a n b e i n g inconsistent while trying to be balanced? Put another way: Is he defending the PPP’s actions today of denying Guyanese their constitutional right to Local G o v e r n m e n t Elections because of what the US did to the PPP 50 years ago?
At what point do Guyana’s elections ever become about the people of Guyana and not about the US, the PPP, the PNC or even the AFC? Lost somewhere in this ongoing political battle among the political titans are the suffering people who are at wits end about what to do to barely survive, let alone pick a side to fight for. The fact that Guyanese continue to migrate to the West tells me which side Guyanese really prefer, and that is why it is up to a party that resonates with the people to step up and assume the mantle of leadership with whatever help from the West, because even if the Jagan PPP was a people’s party, this RamotarJagdeo PPP definitely is not a party of the people! Enough said! Emile Mervin
A cancer that will remain in the body politic for ...
From page 5 people endured was grave. After Burnham’s death his successor Desmond Hoyte massively rigged an election and became clothed with political power which he used to try to improve conditions in the wilderness left by Burnham, but the institutions remained poisoned while he retained office. The Burnham/Hoyte legacy was a poisoned chalice. To the voting community and to external observers, politics is a matter of perception. It is perceived in
some quarters that local government elections under a system of poisoned institutions will reflect the dislike or unpopularity of the existing regime, which itself is the product of rigged governance with its roots deep in the Peoples National Congress. The dominant minority which controls the current regime is seen by some to be corrupt and incompetent, with its guiding philosophy being a combination of kleptomania and eroticism. It is also seen as affected
by a cancerous nepotism which regards skills and integrity as parasitic. The mass of the population hardly knows or understands the reasons for their under development and deprivations, but they see exile in alien lands as a hope of greater promise. They will all be happy to leave the sinking ship. The replacement of the regime will simply take the country back to the time of the Burnhamite implant and the exercise of authoritarian power to savage its enemies.
It is not unexpected that the United States will wash its hands as it did before. The rule of law died under Burnham. It will not be resuscitated. The current regime only maintains its grave. The United States and the European Union do not wish to be enemies of the People of Guyana, but the harm done by the imposition of Burnham will remain as a cancer in the body politic for two centuries, only a quarter of which has passed. Subhas Singh
(From page 22)
LEARN TO DANCE Learn Ballroom dancing in 10 weeks, every Monday & Thursday – starting 10 July 2014 – Call: 642-9053; 6170170
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Mining Blocks to rent at Mazaruni and Kwakwani – Tel: 627-4900 GT TOOL RENTALS SPECIALS CONCRETE SAW; JACK HAMMER WELDING MACHINE, PRESSURE WASHER & RANSOM – CALL: 675-0767; 627-5098. Houses & apartments at Queenstown - $1800USD, Kitty-$45,000, $50,000, $120,000, Bel-Air $2500USD, Campbellville - $65,000Contact 223-8479; 647-3768/ www.spaceseek.gy One building with spacious yard space at Coverden, E.B.D. Call 623-1615 for more information.
WANTED Live out domestic babysitter and live in babysitter –Call: 225-0188, 225-6070 (Monday to Saturday ) (8:15am4:15pm) One handy boy to work in the interior- Tel:681-6044 Experienced taxi & bus driver at Princess Hotel, Providence – Tel: 616-5419/265-7076 One Oak Sports Bar: two Waitresses - Tel: 660-3360; 227-4897. Address: 23 Hadfield Street, Stabroek, Georgetown. Mechanic & Assistant Mechanic with experience at Lot 23 Hadfield Street, Stabroek, Georgetown- Tel: 660-3360; 227-4897 Skilled carpenters – Call: 6157526; 668-9863 Shop Assistant to work in the interior, age 30-40, salary $80,000 – Call: 664-5199 Between 9am-6pm Male & Female Cashiers apply in written application at NIRVA supermarket – Tel:2275771 One experienced domestic must know to cook & bake. Starting salary $70,000 monthly – Tel:610-5043 Over edge and straight stitch operator to work at Garment Factory – Call: 222-2541 Monday – Friday Salesgirl/boys and porters apply in person, to Avinash Water Street 8:30 to 4:30 M A N U FA C T U R E / IMPORTER, FOOD PRODUCTS SEEKING A G G R E S S I V E SALESPERSON FOR BERBICE AREA, PREFERABLYARESIDENT FROM BERBICE.CALL:231-8344 FOR INTERVIEW.
TO LET Suburban Suites 1039 Fifth Avenue, Section A, Diamond, EBD, Guyana Call: 609-2466
ACCOMMODATION Tourist Villa: Furnished Rooms & apartments- 1, 2 &3 bedroom apartments at affordable rates – Lot 95 Fifth Av e n u e , Subryanville – Tel: 2272199; 227-2189; 227-2186
FOR AVERTISING RATES CALL US ON 226-8210
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
Afghanistan’s Ghani wins presidential election: preliminary results
(Reuters) - Afghanistan declared former World Bank official Ashraf Ghani the winner of last month’s presidential election run-off on Monday on preliminary results that threaten to split the country along ethnic lines. The Independent Election Commission said Ghani won the June 14 second round with 56.44 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results. The tally might still change, however, when the final official numbers come out on July 22. There was no immediate reaction from Ghani’s rival Abdullah Abdullah, a former anti-Taliban resistance fighter who has claimed widespread
fraud in the messy vote and insisted results should be delayed until all fraudulent votes were thrown out. A bloody standoff between ethnic groups or even secession of parts of the country could ensue if he rejects the results. “The announcement of preliminary results does not mean that the leading candidate is the winner and there is possibly the outcome might change after we inspect complaints,” IEC chief Ahmad Yousuf Nuristani told reporters. The deadlock over the vote has quashed hopes for a smooth transition of power in Afghanistan, a concern for the West as most U.S.-led forces withdraw from the country this year. Earlier yesterday, rival camps tried to find a lastminute compromise to keep Afghanistan from sliding into a protracted period of uncertainty. Nuristani said the commission had received a request from Abdullah’s camp to review ballot papers from more than 7,000 polling stations on suspicion of fraud - a big enough number which, if recounted, could significantly alter the result. “We announced preliminary results today and it is now the complaints commission’s duty to inspect this case,” he said. “We are ready to provide any
assistance until the end of the process.” The election was intended to mark the first democratic transfer of power in Afghan history, a crucial step towards stability as NATO prepares to withdraw the bulk of its troops by the end of the year. Western powers, particularly the United States, had hoped for a trouble-free process that would show that 12 years of their military involvement in Afghanistan were not in vain and contributed to the country’s nation-building. But the process has been fraught with accusations of cheating from the start. Abdullah, son of a Pashtun father and a Tajik mother, draws much of his support from the Tajik minority in northern Afghanistan. Ghani has strong support from Pashtun tribes in the country’s south and east. Without a unifying leader accepted by all sides, Afghanistan could split into two or more fiefdoms along tribal fault lines, or even return to the bloody civil war of the 1990s. Abdullah has accused Karzai, also a Pashtun, of playing a role in the alleged rigging in Ghani’s favor and says he would accept the vote only if he saw firm evidence that fraudulent votes had been thrown out and the final result was clean.
(Reuters) - Japan’s weather agency yesterday issued emergency warnings to urge people in the country’s southern islands to take maximum precautions as a super typhoon described as a “once in decades storm” is set to rake the Okinawa island chain with heavy rain and powerful winds. Typhoon Neoguri was already gusting at more than 250 km an hour (150 mph) and may pick up still more power as it moves northwest, growing into an “extremely intense” storm by today, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. But it was not expected to be as strong as Typhoon Haiyan, which killed thousands in the Philippines last year. The JMA issued emergency storm and high sea warnings for Japan’s small southern island of Miyakojima, some 300 km (188 miles) southwest of Okinawa island, and for a smaller nearby islet.
The agency said last evening it also planned to issue an emergency high sea warning for Okinawa island, host to three-quarters of U.S. military facilities in Japan. “In these regions, there is a chance of the kinds of storms, high seas, storm surges and heavy rains that you’ve never experienced before,” a JMA official told a news conference. “This is an extraordinary situation, where a grave danger is approaching.” The storm was south of Okinawa but moving northwest at 25 kph (16 mph) with sustained winds of 180 kph (110 mph) by 7:00 p.m. (1000 GMT), the JMA said on its web site. The JMA official urged people in the target areas to evacuate early and take precautions. Television showed fishermen winching their boats out of the water. There are no nuclear plants on Okinawa, but there are two on Kyushu, Japan’s
westernmost main island that lies in the area through which the typhoon is likely to pass, and one on Shikoku island, which borders Kyushu and could also be affected. All are halted in line with current national policy. A spokeswoman at Kyushu Electric Power Co said there were no specific plans related to this typhoon but the company had plans in place year-round to protect the plants from severe weather. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, crippled by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011, is on the other side of the country, which is likely to see rain, at the worst. Keiji Furuya, state minister in charge of Disaster Management, cancelled a planned trip to the United States. The commander at Kadena Air Base, one of the largest U.S. military establishments on Okinawa, warned that damaging winds were expected by early today.
Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. CREDIT: REUTERS/OMAR SOBHANI
Super typhoon takes aim at Japan, emergency warnings issued
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Kaieteur News
J’ca PM encourages joint Caricom position on SIDS issues
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (Jamaica Observer) Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has encouraged her fellow Caribbean Community (Caricom) heads of Government to make the region’s voice heard in relation to issues facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS), climate change and the Post-2015 Development Agenda. She said the regional grouping must send a clear and unified message on these issues, considering the commonality among the three
processes, noting that Caricom needs to ensure that the opportunity provided by the confluence of these processes is seized in a timely manner. Simpson Miller was speaking during the businesses session of the 35th Meeting of Caricom Heads of Government at Sandals Grande Antigua Resort in Antigua and Barbuda last Wednesday. She recommended that Caricom issues a clear statement articulating the priorities of the region so as the inform member countries’ participation in the three processes. Simpson Miller also endorsed the call by other member states that the Caricom community speak with one voice to the international community and development partners to ensure that the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals and Post-2015 Development Agenda fully reflect the priorities of SIDS. The Jamaican prime minister commended the work of the Regional Task Force looking at these matters and signalled that Jamaica stands ready to provide any
technical support as the region pushed for the advancement of issues of interest to SIDS on the global agenda. Jamaica is of the view that a legally binding agreement on climate change is needed by 2015, and that the commitment to financing the Green Climate Fund should be honoured. The country also wants greater institutional support for SIDS from the United Nations (UN) system and other multilateral organisations and is pressing for the prioritisation of Small Island Developing States issues in the work of the UN so that there is mainstreaming of SIDS priorities on the international agenda. The Jamaica country position views focused attention and global support for SIDS as being vital for building resilience, eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development. Caricom member states are now preparing for discussions on the sustainability and unique vulnerabilities of SIDS at the Third International Meeting on SIDS to be held in Samoa, September 1-4 this year.
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Govt. to spend even more $$ on US$3M Supenaam Stelling
A section of the driveway of the Supenaam stelling where metal sheets were placed to cover large holes The Guyana Government is gearing to spend millions more on the beleaguered Supenaam Stelling which has already attracted just about US$3M ($600M), a figure well above its original price tag. Rehabilitative works are also to be carried out on the Parika Stelling. According to an advertisement that has been running in the Guyana Chronicle in recent weeks, the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) which falls under the Ministry of Public Works, is inviting sealed bids from eligible contractors to undertake the rehabilitation projects. This publication understands that the work is targeting the sections of the driveway of the Supenaam Stelling that had caved-in under the pressure of trucks traversing the facility, coupled with erosion. T&HD had placed metal sheets over the large holes to allow the safe passage of vehicles. Bidders have up to next week Tuesday to submit their
bids for evaluation and must lodge a non-refundable fee of $10,000 to uplift the bidding documents. There is no bid security required for the works to be undertaken on the Supenaam Stelling but a bid security of $600,000 will have to be in place for those interested in the works on the Parika Stelling. Since the commissioning of the Supenaam Stelling it has been plagued by a number of incidents, including the dislodging of the loading ramp, a sunken pontoon as well as trucks toppling into the Essequibo River. The Supenaam Stelling, because of its seemingly high costs, problems and importance, had sparked an inquiry involving the contractor, BK International – with neither the government nor the consultants prepared to accept blame. BK International was adamant that the problems stemmed from a flawed design, but insisted that the
structure had been built to the specifications it was provided with. In September last year, workers had noticed erosion in a particular section of the concrete stelling and that quickly developed into a major problem when it collapsed under the weight of a riceladen truck heading for the city. A gaping hole was left in the structure. Engineers sought to repair the problem using steel sheets. As a result of the problem, Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn had announced that a decision was taken to restrict the weight of vehicles from 22 tonnes to 16 tonnes. Both of the new Chinese ferries, MV Sabanto and MV Kanawan, ply the Supenaam/ Parika route. The beleaguered Supenaam stelling has been a major embarrassment with several mishaps since it was commissioned. In May 2010, the stelling ramp buckled under the weight of a heavy vehicle, days after it was open to ferry traffic. Ferries were forced to revert to the Adventure Stelling which government had hoped to abandon. The administration, under pressure, ordered a report on the incident and tasked Prime Minister Samuel Hinds to oversee investigations. Two private engineers were hired to investigate the incident. Late in April 2010, an extra pontoon being installed by the Ministry sank while work was being done to attach it to the ramp. While the project was originally budgeted for $431M, repairs and modifications were made pushing the figure closer to the $600M mark.
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 27
Neymar’s absence could be danger for us - Germany stars
Germany’s midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger (right, back) and Sami Khedira embrace as they celebrate winning the quarter-final football match against France at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on Friday. (PHOTO: AFP)
Tuesday July 08, 2014 ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You can finish projects early, which will bring you praise from superiors. Take time to relax. Stress and pressure at home may have worn you ragged. TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) You may want to take a look at courses offered at a local institute. Disappointments regarding partners will be subject to the way you react to their personal comments. Your talent will be recognized.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Do not get involved in joint financial ventures. Be prepared to take care of the issues at hand. You will find that social activities will be enjoyable and will promote new connections. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)
Not the best day for business trips. You should get out and meet some of those clients that you only speak to on the phone.
GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Don't be taken advantage of by any fast talking salesperson trying to part you from your cash.
SAGIT (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You will be extremely sensual; take precautions and don't take any risks. So smile! You need to focus on yourself, not on others.
CANCER (June 22-July 22) Social events held in your home will be successful and entertaining for those who attend. Be careful not to misplace your wallet or belongings.
CAPRI (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Help those incapable of taking care of their personal affairs. Do your chores and get on with the things you enjoy doing.
LEO (July 23-Aug 22) This is a turning point. Changes in your domestic scene are apparent. A day at the beach may satisfy the whole family. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Listen to the advice given by those with experience. Money problems will be difficult to deal with if you have a partner. Try not to get backed into corners.
AQUAR. (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) You will enjoy interaction with others today. Don't confront the situation if you don't feel you can keep your cool. You will be well looked upon due to your compassionate and giving nature. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You have been going through a period of change that has caused problems for you with your loved ones.
SANTO ANDRE, Brazil (AFP) — Germany are disappointed Brazil’s star Neymar is ruled out of tomorrow’s World Cup semifinal and believes his injury could yet galvanise the Selecao, star midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said. Schweinsteiger, captain Philip Lahm and midfielder Sami Khedira all made comments supporting Neymar, who was ruled out of the World Cup after suffering a fractured vertebrae in Brazil’s quarter-final win against Colombia. Germany wants Neymar to play at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte and his injury could galvanise the hosts, said Schweinsteiger. “We’re all sad that Neymar can’t play, it’s always better when the opponent has all their best players on the pitch,” said the Bayern Munich star at a press conference. “It’ll bring the (Brazil)
team together and they’ll want to win the title for him.”“Neymar is a sensational player who has shown his class at the World Cup,” Lahm told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. “At a World Cup you always want to measure yourself against the best. That is why I would prefer Brazil played with Neymar,” he added. “It is bad news for us and for fans of football,” Khedira told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. The Germans are still wary of Brazilian power. “The Brazilians will put out a super team even without Neymar,” said Khedira. “Brazil have enough players to help in his place,” added Lahm. Brazil are also without suspended captain Thiago Silva, but Schweinsteiger says, regardless of who plays, the Selecao is still a class outfit. “They have two coaches in (Felipe) Scolari and (Carlos Alberto) Parreira who have
won the title already, they have the home advantage and players with individual class,” said Schweinsteiger, who will win his 107th cap. “Their coaches have a lot of experience of this kind of situation. “It’s an honour and a challenge to play against the hosts, but it would be better to play Brazil in the final.” Assistant coach Hansi Flick said Barcelona’s Neymar had justified the huge expectations on him coming into the tournament. “He’s a loss for Brazil, he’s an excellent player who fulfilled the expectations on him, he’s had a great tournament,” said Flick. With the exception of hamstring-injury victim Shkodran Mustafi, Flick said the entire Germany squad is fit and free of the mild-flu virus which blighted them last week.
From page 27 statistics and analysis, can be found at CONCACAF.com. CONCACAF Champions League 2014/15 – Group Stage Schedule - Home teams are listed first. All times are Eastern.-
08:00pmET DC United (USA) vs. Waterhouse FC (JAM)
10:00pmET Club Deportivo FAS (SLV) vs. Impact de Montreal (CAN)
Alpha United to host Club...
WEEK 1 Tuesday, August 5, 2014 08:00pmET Alpha United FC (GUY) vs. Club Deportivo Olimpia (HON) 08:00pmET Cruz Azul FC (MEX) vs. Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (CRC) 08:00pmET Impact de Montreal (CAN) vs. Club Deportivo FAS (SLV) 10:00pmET AD Isidro Metapán (SLV) vs. Club León (MEX) Wednesday, August 6, 2014 08:00pmET Club de Fútbol Pachuca (MEX) vs. Real Club Deportivo España (HON) 10:00pmET Real Estelí Fútbol Club (NCA) vs. Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) Thursday, August 7, 2014 1 0 : 0 0 p m E T Comunicaciones FC (GUA) vs. Puerto Rico Bayamón FC (PUR) 10:00pmET Tauro FC (PAN) vs. Waterhouse Football Club (JAM) Week 2 Tuesday, August 19, 2014 08:00pmET Alpha United FC (GUY) vs Portland Timbers (USA) 08:00pmET Club América (MEX) vs. Puerto Rico Bayamón FC (PUR) 10:00pmET Chorrillo FC (PAN) vs. Cruz Azul FC (MEX) 10:00pmET Real Estelí Fútbol Club (NCA) vs. Sporting Kansas City (USA) Wednesday, August 20, 2014
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Kaieteur News
Letter to the Sports Editor
Letter to the FIFA General Secretary Dear Mr Secretary, We in Guyana have a serious Administrative problem plaguing us in this part of the region. That was the reason for a faction of Football Administrators making a move to oust Mr Christopher Matthias as President of the Guyana Football Federation. In hindsight they probably went about it wrong but they felt it was the correct modus operandi based on the lack of vision and wisdom of this guy. Sir, this individual comes across as a dictator and selfopinionated, with an ego which is hampering the development of football in Guyana. He preaches accountability, transparency, structure & development and one year in power has seen football digress. Let me see if I can list down some of the atrocities that are being perpetrated by our President. The Vice President resigned after he questioned some high handed and dictatorial decisions that the President made without consulting the Executive & General Council. He even sent the VP a lawyer’s letter which actually turned ugly hence the VP, a qualified engineer, resigning in frustration. Mr Matthias was delighted, because VP Adams was identifying his failures and he was a treat to his iron grip. He initiated for one of the bigger Associations’ Executives (UDFA) to be suspended because they defied a so called directive not to play a game which the GFF sanctioned on New Year’s Day. Mr Secretary if you can initiate an enquiry you will be amazed to hear of the irregularities that transpired with the playing of the tournament which resulted in the executive suspension. What is interesting to know
is that Mr Matthias called an Extra Ordinary Congress, which is unconstitutional, to deal with the so called trial. Presidents don’t call Congress, maybe in a dictatorial regime and the GFF is bordering on being led down that road. He usually says that FIFA and CONCACAF are in constant dialogue with him. Mr Secretary, Guyana was slated to participate in a CONCACAF Beach Soccer tournament sometime last year and he withdrew the team after he was finding it difficult to finance the air fare, however there was a travel agency who was willing to give the GFF credit. But he refused it saying that the GFF could not afford to send the team and FIFA and CONCACAF had assured him that if he withdrew from participating there would not have been any penalty. Hence he withdrew the team on the eve of the team departure. Some months after the Gen Secretary received word from FIFA how do they intend to pay the fine and he was amazed. The Gen Secty approached the President on the matter and to his surprise and bewilderment he was shown a letter which the President received quite a while, probably pondering how to deal with that issue regarding the fine, which FIFA took out from the Annual Grant. The Goal Project Issue is another matter which is deliberately being stifled by the President, the reason or reasons are baffling all the football pundits, Government who are behind the project and the footballers and public. There are only four eligible executives around and only two are functioning. One VP resigned, one VP was suspended unconstitutional,
one VP has been calling on the President to resign publically and has withdrawn his service and another Committee Member has absented herself due issues with the President forthrightness. The Gen Secretary resigned due to many, many issues, too much to mention. He has handpicked two of his colleagues to be Vice President, replacing the two who has resigned and suspended. This is a breach of GFF Constitution and by extension FIFA & CONCACAF. The Accountant has resigned due improper accounting practices that will put a strain on the institution’s finances. FIFA has been sending funds to Guyana on a constant basis yet the monies are not being used for the purpose what It came for. Football is not being developed as is expected. Nothing is being done locally, just much talk. Quite recently the most powerful Associations and Affiliates attempted to rescue Guyana’s Football but somewhere along the way the defaulted. But Sir, something has to be radically wrong with the administration of football in Guyana for all of the aforementioned and the many more deficiencies that are transpiring in Guyana. No National Male game since he came into power. We have a strong Female team, yet they are being overlooked. Mr Secretary, please do something real fast to save Guyana Football or you may be forced to ban us and that will be a sad day for Guyana. Send in a high level team to Guyana as early as possible. Please take the concerns seriously. Thank you Yours in football Gerald Archibald Smith
Marcel Kittel wins Tour de France 2014 third stage in London BBC Sport - German Marcel Kittel headed a late sprint to win the Tour de France’s third stage from Cambridge to London. The Giant-Shimano rider, who has won two of three stages in this year’s race having triumphed on Saturday, prevailed as thousands watched on The Mall. Slovakia’s Peter Sagan finished second, ahead of
Australia’s Mark Renshaw in third, on the final leg in England. Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali retained the race lead, while Britain’s defending champion Chris Froome remains fifth. Kittel said his sixth Tour stage victory was among the biggest of his career. “Emotionally, this win is close to the one I got on the Champs-Elysees in Paris last
year,” the 26-year-old said. Froome and his Team Sky colleagues were similarly happy with their efforts over the first three days as they safely negotiated two tricky stages in Yorkshire and a slippery rain-soaked finish in London. The 29-year-old is two seconds behind Nibali, who is one of his main rivals for the overall race win.
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Deosarran, Ramlakan guide Country Side to huge win
Rafam Ali softball tourney
By Zaheer Mohamed A fluent 94 from Jagdesh Deosarran and a six-wicket haul by Mahendra Ramlakan guided Country Side to a 112run victory over Jaguars when the Rafman Ali softball tournament continued yesterday at Everest Cricket Club. Deosarran slammed four fours and eight sixes and put together 124 for the fifth wicket with Roy Seebarran as Country Side posted 191-6 off their allotted 15 overs, batting first in the open category. Seebarran scored 43 as K. Ramcharran and H. Beaton picked up three wickets each. Jaguars were restricted for 799 in 15 overs in reply. Ramlakan ended with figures of 6-9 from three overs. Country Side overcame Wolf Warriors by 26 runs in their encounter. Country Side managed 102 all out in 14 overs after taking first strike. Sachin Ramcharran led with 26; Vishnu Tammechandra snared 2-20. Wolf’s Warriors were sent packing for 76 in 12 overs in response. Jagdesh Deosarran claimed 4-10 and Steve Ramlakan 3-20. Wolf ’s Warriors rebounded to inflict a 206-run defeat over Accomplishment. Wolf’s Warriors took first turn at the crease and posted 2345 in 15 overs. Amrit Rai top scored with 82 (5x4,9x6) and Lincoln Leander smashed 50 (7x6). The pair blossomed after a watchful start adding 150 for the third wicket. Accomplishment were skittled for 28 in 6.1 overs in their turn at the crease. Safraz Karim bagged 5-11 and Ricardo Adams captured 4-7. Tradesman got the better of Starboys by nine wickets. Starboys scored 131 all out in 14.1 overs, taking first knock. Sunil Boodhoo and Safo Haniff took three wickets each. Tradesman responded with 133-1 in 9.3 overs. Jeff
Safraz Karim
Kennard Luke
Ramnauth slammed 82 and Seeraj Sadram 31. Renegade went down to Trophy Stall by five wickets. Renegade scored 176-7 in 15 overs, batting first. Yunnis Yusuf made 25 and Randolph Perreira 22. Trophy Stall replied with 177-5 in 12 overs. In the over-40 category, Park Rangers defeated Sundeen Masters by 10 runs. Park Rangers took first turn at the crease and rattled up 156-5 in 20 overs. Greg De Franca scored 39, Shawn Massiah 29 and Ramjit Singh 23. Sundeen Masters replied with 146-8 in 20 overs. Rafeek
Ali made 36 as Toney Singh claimed 3-28 including a hattrick and S. Ramdeen took 219. Industry Super Kings thumped Fazal Khayume XI nine wickets. Fazal Khayume XI mustered 114 all out in 12 overs, taking first knock. Fallim Mohamed cracked 51 and Hardat Narine 50. Rupert Basdeo picked up three wickets. Industry Super Kings reached their target in 12.2 overs ending on 117-1. Kennard Luke was their leading batsman with 53 not out (7x4,2x6), while Yougestir Salikram chipped in with 32.
ESPNcricinfo - Shakib Al Hasan has been suspended by the BCB from all cricket for six months and will not be granted an NOC to play in overseas competitions until the end of 2015. The punishment was handed out because of Shakib’s “serious misbehaviour” with Bangladesh’s new coach Chandika Hathurusingha, and for his altercation with a spectator during the recent first ODI against India in Mirpur.
“He has a severe attitude problem, which is unprecedented in the history of Bangladesh cricket. We think that his behaviour is such that it’s directly impacting the team,” BCB president Nazmul Hassan told reporters. He said the decision to suspend Shakib, which was taken at a board of directors meeting on Monday, had been unanimous. “What is perhaps more alarming is that other players have started to behave like
him [Shakib],” Hasan said. “If this continues, our future will be destroyed. So that’s why we believe he deserves a strict punishment. Our board has unanimously decided to ban him from competitive cricket for the next six months, both national and international cricket. Also till December 31, 2015, he won’t receive any NOCs for foreign tournaments and his current NOCs have been withdrawn.”
Mahendra Ramlakan (left) and Jagdesh Deosarran
Shakib Al Hasan suspended for six months by BCB
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 29
Marlon Williams eases to victory in another exciting duel; Michael Anthony outstanding RBC/CARICOM Day ‘Wheat Up’ Cycling Classic
By Franklin Wilson On a sunny day with consistent Atlantic breeze gliding across the seawall bandstand and the race course, the 11th annual CARICOM Day ‘Wheat Up’ Cycling Classic organised by the Roraima Bikers Club (RBC) saw some classic racing as the riders enjoyed a lucrative day of racing. Witnessed by Managing Director of sponsors NAMILCO, Mr. Bert Sukhai, Financial Controller Mr. Fitzroy McLeod, Assistant to the Managing Director, Mr. Ato Lakeram, Director of Sport Mr. Neil Kumar, RBC Patron Mr. George Humphrey and Attorney-at-Law Mr. Gordon Gilhuys among others, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams stormed to victory in the feature 30-lap contest narrowly staving off a spirited effort from veteran Robin Persaud. This feature race saw National Junior Time Trial champion Michael Anthony putting in a humongous effort as he staked a claim for the winner’s prize of $30,000 but in the end it was the experience of Williams and others that stood out. From around lap 5, Anthony went on a solo run as he pulled away from the second pack to win 11 of the 15 sprint prizes on offer; every other lap attracted a prime. The Team Coco’s rider
Marlon Williams receives the feature race prize and trophy from Mr. Bert Sukhai. Others in photo from right are Ato Lakeram, Fitzroy McLeod, Neil Kumar, George Humphrey and Gordon Gilhuys. was caught with 11 laps to go but again pulled away from the pack only to be caught again with four laps remaining. Anthony ($15,000) had to eventually settle for the third place behind Persaud ($25,000) with Paul De Nobrega ($10,000) coming in fourth followed by Akeem Wilkinson ($8,000) and Alanzo Ambrose ($5,000) in that order. The early pace in the race was carried by Enzo Matthews and Jaikaran Sukhai who shared a prime each with the other two going to Williams and Wilkinson. Anthony had earlier won the junior/category 4 race which went for 5 laps, he
pocketed $9,000 for the win, Mark Harris ($7,000) and Mario King ($5,000) took the other two spots. Anthony also placed 2nd in the points race which was won by Williams with De Nobrega, 3rd. He {Williams} had to settle for the 3rd place in the win and out 6-lap duel which went to Robin Persaud with Romello Crawford 2nd. The win and out race format: the bell was sounded on lap 3 so it meant that the first rider to cross the line on lap 4 was the winner and that was Persaud. The first rider to cross the line on lap 5 (Crawford) took the 2nd place, while Marlon
Williams who won lap 6 placed third. Jeremiah Harrison won the BMX 6-9, one lap race from Shay Due Hung and Alexander Leung in that order. Some patrons were of the view that one lap would have been too harsh for the youngsters but the trio sped around the course in quick time making it look all too easy. As a matter of fact, Harrison was so energetic that he took the outrider around for another lap to the excitement of the fans on hand. At the presentation ceremony, Managing Director Bert Sukhai was loud on praise for RBC and the manner in which the event
CONCACAF Champions League 2014/15 Season Group Phase
Alpha United to host Club Deportivo Olimpia of Honduras, Aug 5 Guyana’s most successful club side, Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United will open their quest for top honours in the CONCACAF Champions League when they host Club Deportivo Olimpia of Honduras on August 5 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence under lights. Some Twenty-Four Teams will compete for Regional Club Championship in play kicking off on August 5; this was announced by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) on Thursday when they unveiled the group phase schedule for the 2014/15 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League, the region’s premier competition for clubs. The schedule for opening
day on August 5 includes action for defending CONCACAF champion Cruz Azul – set to represent the Confederation at this December’s FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco. The Champions League holders will welcome fellow 2013/14 CCL semifinalist and 2013 Costa Rica Winter Tournament champion LD Alajuelense at Estadio Azul in Mexico City for the opener in Group 6. That match is among the first of eight slated for the opening week as CCL action begins for 11 countries across the Confederation, from Guyana to Canada. Two-time defending Liga MX champion Club Leon also begins its bid for the Confederation title on August 5, with a visit to veteran Salvadoran CCL participant AD Isidro
Metapán. 2014 Canadian Championship winner Impact de Montreal will initiate participation for Major League Soccer clubs in the 2014/15 CCL, hosting El Salvador’s Club Deportivo FAS at Stade Saputo that same night. The following day, fourtime CCL champion CF Pachuca (three CCL and one Champions Cup) which last lifted the trophy in 2010 – returns to continental action, at home against Real España of Honduras. Twenty-four teams are set to participate in this season’s Champions League, marking the seventh edition in which a Confederation-wide group phase has been disputed before the knockout rounds. Sixteen clubs debut in the tournament’s first week, with
the other eight – including Major League Soccer sides DC United, New York Red Bulls, Portland Timbers, and Sporting KC and Liga MX entrant Club America – entering play on weeks 2 and 3, scheduled from August 1921 and August 26-28. September will feature two more rounds of play, before the group phase wraps up with a final set of encounters in October, including a number of marquee match ups. The top club from each of the eight three-team groups advances to the knockout round. The quarterfinal, semifinal and final rounds are slated for early next year. More information on the CONCACAF Champions League, including team-byteam capsules and in-depth Continued on page 25
was conducted. He challenged RBC President, Brian Allen yet again to make the event a truly CARICOM one where riders from across the Region are invited to compete. Director of Sport Neil Kumar in his remarks supported Sukhai’s call for a bigger race which should be advertised more to attract more fans. Representing RBC, Attorney-at-Law Gordon Gilhuys called on Allen to submit a comprehensive budget to Sukhai which would see riders from overseas being involved. Mr. McLeod extended gratitude to the riders for making the event another successful one for all; Mr. Lakeram also shared remarks at the presentation. Following are the full results: Race Laps 1st – 3rd 12-14 juveniles 3 Romello Crawford, Raphael Leung, Daniel Vossey Junior Cat.4 5 Michael Anthony, Mark Harris, Mario King Category 1-3 5 Warren Mc Kay, Marlon
Williams, Paul De Nobrega Veterans U-50 5 Ralph Williams, Ian Jackson, Turan Harris Veterans O-50 5 Linden Blackman, Virgil Jones, Montgomery Parris Points Race (open) 6 Marlon Williams (10), Michael Anthony (10), Paul De Nobrega (8) Win and Out 6 Robin Persaud, Romello Crawford, Marlon Williams Mountain Bike 5 Ozia Macullay, Emanuel Gay Raul, Julio Melville Ladies 5 Toshwanna Doris, Crystal Lambert, Deancae Welch BMX (6-9) 1 Jeremiah Harrison, Shay Due Hung, Alexander Leung BMX (10-14) 2 Amunike Gomes, Timothy Gay Raul BMX Open 3 Raphael Leung, Adrian Sharma, Keron Rutherford Wheat Up Classic 30 Marlon Williams, Robin Persaud, Michael Anthony, Paul De N o b r e g a , AkeemWilkinson, Alanzo Ambroze
Fifa will not take action over Neymar challenge BBC Sport - Colombia’s Juan Zuniga will not face disciplinary action for the challenge that led to Neymar’s World Cup exit. The Brazil striker broke a vertebra in his spine during his side’s 2-1 quarter-final win on Friday following a challenge from defender Zuniga, 28. A Fifa statement said there could be no disciplinary action because the incident was spotted and dealt with by referee Velasco Carballo on
the pitch. “We wish Neymar a prompt and complete recovery,” said a Fifa spokesman. Fifa has also announced it will not overturn the yellow card shown to Brazil captain Thiago Silva during the Colombia game, saying “there is no legal basis entitling it to grant such request”. Brazil face Germany in the World Cup semi-final tomorrow.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 08, 2014
Arjoon, Fung A Fat, Mekdeci, Callender crowned National Champions GSA’s Digicel Nat Squash C/Ships
The curtains came down on Sunday on the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) Digicel National Senior Squash Championships at the Georgetown Club squash courts. Defending champion Alex Arjoon retained his crown with a masterful performance over Former Caribbean Champion and No 1 seed Richard Chin. Mary Fung A Fat was clinical in the securing of her first National Title with victory over upcoming junior player Akeila Wiltshire. Joe Mekdeci won the Veterans 35-49 category, while Alwyn Callender secured the Veterans Over-50 Title. In the Men’s final Chin quickly took an early 5 points to 2 lead and after numerous long rallies won the first game 11 - 6. He again took an early lead in the second game but then Arjoon started to move Chin more around the court and to volley more and won a close second game 11 - 8. Chin jumped out to a quick 5 - 1 lead in the third game but after several brutal rallies with the lead changing from one person to the other Arjoon was finally able to win the third game 12 - 10. Chin was obviously beginning to tire and the heat of the midday match was obviously affecting both players, but Arjoon held his nerve and after almost an hour of intense squash he won the fourth game 11 - 6 and the match 3 - 1. In the Women’s final Mary Fung A Fat was all business and definitely was looking to finish the match as quickly as possible. Fung A Fat was quickly out to a 6 - 3 lead. Wiltshire won the next two points but Fung A Fat then won the next five points
to take the first game 11 - 5. Both players were playing extremely well and the game was extremely close now. No player held more than a two point lead. At 7 - 5 it looked as if Wiltshire would take the second game but Fung A Fat would have none of it as she won the next five points before Wiltshire could secure another then closed out the game 11 - 8. The same trend continued in the third game and with Wiltshire again being up this time at 9 - 7 it looked as if the match would go into a fourth game but Fung A Fat won the next four points and the game 11 - 9 and the match 3 - 0. In the Veterans 35 - 49 final Alwyn Callender was looking to be a double champion having already won the Veterans Over-50 title. Callender won a close first game 11 - 8 but Mekdeci responded with an emphatic 11-2 game win in the second game. The third game was
closer but Mekdeci still managed to win it 11-7. Callender quickly jumped out to an 8 - 2 lead in the fourth game and Mekdeci could get no closer than 6 as Callender won the fourth game 11 - 6. The fifth and deciding game was close throughout and with Callender leading 9 - 6 it seemed as if he would indeed be a double champion but Mekdeci was not to be denied and won the next five points and the game 11 - 9 to win the match 3 - 2. In the Men’s third place match, Jason Ray Khalil defeated Nyron Joseph 3 games to one. Khalil quickly won the first game 11 - 4 but Joseph settled into the match and won the second game 11 - 7. The third game was close throughout but Khalil eventually prevailed 11 - 9 and from being down 7 - 6 in the fourth game Khalil won the next five points to take the game 11 - 7 and the victory 3 games to one.
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari hinted in training Saturday that midfielder Willian is his first option to replace Neymar in Brazil’s World Cup semi-final against Germany. Willian took Neymar’s position when Brazil’s reserves played against a local Under-20 squad at their training camp outside Rio de Janeiro. The regular starters stayed in the gym and didn’t practice on the field, but all players touted as possible
Neymar replacements trained normally. Willian was used in the middle, in front of Brazil’s defensive midfielders, the same way Neymar played before being ruled out of the tournament because of a back injury. The other options for Scolari include Ramires, Bernard and Hernanes. Brazil won the training match 3-0 with goals by Bernard, Dante and Ramires. It was Brazil’s second-to-last practice session before travelling to Belo Horizonte for tomorrow’s match at the Mineirao Stadium.
“You can’t compare Neymar to any other player, he has a lot of quality,” Willian said. “I have a different style. He is more of a striker, scores more goals, while my strong suit is to set up my teammates.”The Chelsea player left practice near the end of Saturday’s session because of a hit on the back but said the injury was not a problem even though it “was still bothering” him a bit. Bernard said he is prepared to play but acknowledged it won’t be easy to replace the team’s biggest star.
Mary Fung-A-Fat (right) in a ding dong battle with Akeila Wiltshire in the Women’s Open Final.
Scolari hints Willian may replace Neymar in semi-final
In the Women’s third place contest Ashley De Groot rebounded from her upset loss in the semi-finals to Akeila Wiltshire to convincingly beat younger sister Larissa Wiltshire in straight games 11- 6, 11 - 4, 11 - 4. In the Men’s Classic Plate final Deje Dias used all of his experience and guile to upset young junior player Ben Mekdeci three games to one. Ben must rue the loss of the first game as he never recovered after that. At 10 - 2 up in the first game he mentally relaxed and Deje clawed his way back and won the next 8 straight points and eventually the game 13 - 11.
Deje then won the second game 11 - 8 and even though Ben won the third game 11 - 8 he was physically drained and lost the fourth game 11 - 3. Victoria Arjoon was the winner of the Ladies Plate with victory over Kathy TenPow in straight games 12 - 10, 11 - 5, 11 - 9. Prizes were presented to the winners by Digicel’s Sponsorship and Events Manager Gavin Hope, who congratulated the GSA for a wonderfully organized tournament and informed all present about the recently signed deal committing Digicel to another three year partnership with the Guyana Squash Association. Final day results: Men’s Open Alex Arjoon beat Richard Chin 6 - 11, 11 - 8, 12 - 10, 11 6 Jason Ray Khalil beat Nyron Joseph 11 - 4, 7 - 11, 11 - 9, 11 -7 Women’s Open Mary Fung A Fat beat Akeila Wiltshire 11 - 5, 11 - 8, 11 - 9 Ashley De Groot beat Larissa Wiltshire 11 - 6, 11 - 4, 11 - 4 Men’s Classic Plate Deje Dias beat Ben Mekdeci 13 - 11, 11 - 8, 8 - 11, 11 - 3 Nicholas Narain won by walkover from Regan Pollard Women’s Plate Victoria Arjoon beat Kathy Ten-Pow 12 - 10, 11 - 5, 11 - 9 Taylor Fernandes beat Alysa Xavier 12 - 10, 11 - 2, 11 - 6 Men’s Plate Alec Melville won by
walkover from Oliver KearDownes Men’s Veterans 35 - 49 Joe Mekdeci defeated Alwyn Callender 8 - 11, 11 - 2, 11 - 7, 6 - 11, 11 - 9 Brian Yong beat Medhi Ramdhani 11 - 9, 11 - 8, 5 - 11, 11 - 9 Stephen Fernandes beat Philip Fernandes 8 - 11, 11- 9, 11 - 3, 11 - 9. Final placing in the respective categories: Men’s Open Alex Arjoon Winner Richard Chin second Jason Ray Khalil third Nyron Joseph fourth Deje Dias fifth Ben Mekdeci sixth Nicholas Narain seventh Regan Pollard eighth Alec Melville ninth Oliver Kear-Downes tenth Women’s Open Mary Fung A Fat Winner Akeila Wiltshire second Ashley De Groot third Larissa Wiltshire fourth Victoria Arjoon fifth Kathy Ten-Pow sixth Taylor Fernandes seventh Alysa Xavier eighth Veterans Men’s 35 - 49 Joe Mekdeci Winner Alwyn Callender second Brian Yong third Medhi Ramdhani fourth Stephen Fernandes fifth Philip Fernandes sixth Timothy Jonas seventh Damon Woodroffe eighth Veterans Men’s over 50 Alwyn Callender winner Mike Atherly second Robin Low third
NSBF opens with wins for PC, NATI and Plaisance - tournament being used to select IGG teams The ninth National Schools’ Basketball Festival (NSBF) tipped-off Sunday night, following what can be called another Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) trademark Opening Ceremony at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The Ceremony featured the march-past of teams and an address from Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony validating the success of the NSBF, stating that it is the forum for the selection of Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) basketball teams. The NSBF, as it is known, is the culmination of six weeks of Regional Conference Tournaments- organised in six separate zones, after which the best Under-14,
Under-16 and Under-19 teams are invited to the highly anticipated eight-day national competition. In the Under-19 competition after the Opening Ceremony, President’s College (PC), New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) and Plaisance Academy made winning starts. P r e s i d e n t ’s C o l l e g e beat St. Roses High School 47-44 with Shaquille Adonis scoring 21 points and grabbing six rebounds; Eli Innis s u p p o r t e d with 10 points and seven rebounds. For St. Roses, Nathan Saul had a mammoth effort with 25 points and four rebounds. New Amsterdam TI won against Linden’s McKenzie High School 32-18 as Dunash
Roopnarine put in 11 points and Edmar Simple nine points for New Amsterdam. Daniel Anthony scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds for McKenzie High School. Plaisance Academy had a 47-33 points win against JC Chandisingh with Mallol Powder scoring 15 points and Kelvin Yorrick 14 points and nine rebounds for Plaisance. Michael King scored 13 points while Kobe Crawford had 10 points for JC Chandisingh. The NSBF is a collaborative effort between YBG and the National Sports Commission; the event is sponsored now for the sixth consecutive year by Digicel, Edward B. Beharry and Company LTD, and Banks DIH LTD.