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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
CRIME WILL EVENTUALLY CONQUER US In Guyana, we are forced to return to the issue of crime. This is prompted by the upsurge in murders and armed robberies over the last month. It calls for a concerted response by the Police and by the newly elected APNU+AFC Coalition government. It is both shocking and disturbing. It comes as no surprise in a country where the hard core criminals seem to outnumber and out-gun the police. Almost daily the nation is bombarded with reports of shooting incidents and burglaries. It seems that there is no serious effort on the part of the Guyana Police Force to go after the bandits. Unlike the former administration which was complacent, the APNU+AFC Coalition government which in its Manifesto had promised to be tough on crime must act to end this increasing lawlessness. However, it is not certain that the government or the police alone can reduce crime; everyone must be involved because the high number of unsolved murders proved that the performance of the police has been unsatisfactory. High unemployment and under-employment among youths and the absence of adequate amenities and facilities in the depressed communities across the country, have laid the foundation for the high crime rate which has created hell on earth for law abiding citizens. This is a significant cause for concern for the government, because the illegal use of guns is the primary reason for the high murder rate in the country. People need answers to some burning questions, which the new political directorate should answer: Who are the persons or groups that are responsible for the illegal import of high caliber combat weapons, such as the AK-47 and AR15 as well as sub-machine guns (SMGs) and ammunition into the country? Why they are not caught and prosecuted? Are these weapons entering the country with or without the knowledge of the Customs officials? The transformation of some relatively peaceful neighbourhoods and regions in the rural and urban areas of the country to high crime zones did not happen overnight. These areas have degenerated into fertile domains for armed robbery and murders by bandits with high powered rifles and guns. There are far too many illegal guns on the streets. Truth be told, there ought to be no illegal guns at all. Sadly, that is not the case. Gun-related crimes have always existed but in the last ten years or so they have escalated to the point where every gang member or bandit, mostly young people, is armed with these sophisticated weapons. It cannot be that the average criminal on the streets is importing these expensive weapons. This kind of business transaction requires huge amounts of money, which the ordinary criminal does not have. It also requires powerful connections/contacts and the cooperation of persons in high positions at the Ports of Entry. Since 2000, Guyana has had two Ministers of Home Affairs from the previous administration, whose responsibility was to protect the citizens and maintain the security of the country. None has made a difference in that, not one person has been held or charged, prosecuted and convicted for importing illegal weapons. As a result of their failures, crimes, especially armed robberies and murders have intensified to the point where it is threatening not only the tranquility of the communities the residents have enjoyed, but also the economic lifeline of the country. In fact, several businessmen have been kidnapped and murdered over the years which suggest, that murders and armed robberies have spilled over into the nation’s economy and have disrupted its activities. The almost daily
Thursday July 09, 2015
Letters... Where your views make the news
Your newspaper brings enlightenment to the Guyanese public DEAR EDITOR, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the letter section of your newspaper for printing my letters over the years and especial thanks to Mr. Glenn Lall and Mr. Adam Harris for their thoughtful consideration in reviewing and publishing my opinions. I must mention that Mr. Harris’ articles in the Sunday edition of KN are not missed by me, and his style of writing and observations of regular life in Guyana are subtle and definitely to the
point, but with a simplicity which only Mr. Harris can provide. Since KN has hit the streets as a daily newspaper, the positions your publication has taken towards the politics of Guyana has been very positive for our national interests. The KN exposures into corruption, abuse of power and the excesses of the former government while in office, has had a telling effect on all politicians, who now have to watch what they do and what they say in the public eye.
The freedom of the press and thus KN’s freedom of expression has to be upheld at all costs and it has been wonderful for all of our citizens to see that KN, even though intimidated, threatened and bullied, has soldiered on to become a viable source of information, and more so, a source of resistance to any pressures by politicians or others upset by its reporting. Editor, your newspaper, along with SN, brings enlightenment to the Guyanese public and I feel humbled that my letters are
good enough to make it into your publication. Keep up the good work, because journalism allows a wide range of approaches to press freedom and KN has certainly carved out it’s unique image as straight-up and hard- hitting, which I suspect comes from the prerogatives of its owner and publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, who is obviously a public reformer committed to exposing half-truths and outright lies by those in power, like the former PPP government. Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr.)
The greatest of writers self-published DEAR EDITOR, The letter column should be an avenue of information, but as all things human, it sometimes expresses depressing opinions of disinformation. On Monday March 2, 2015, Kaieteur News published a Ryhaan Shah letter of usual insinuations, some green-eyed arrows at Ruel Johnson with the caption ‘Should self-published books and manuscripts still be accepted for the Guyana prize?’ This letter was accompanied by another expression in the same vein on Tuesday June 2, 2015 in the Stabroek News by Krishna Nand Prasad captioned ‘Writers whose work is self–published should not be recognised’. These were opinions that I assumed would be blown into the dust against the knowledge base obvious to anyone gifted and who merited being published. But not so, that was an arrogant assumption on my part, so now, I have on behalf of a young friend seeking answers, penned this letter. The obvious fact is that all books evolve as manuscripts. Books are not coated stock with super-designed covers. Books are content; substance that holds a reader transfixed from page to page. The greatest books have never entered a competition.
In the absence of a local publishing house, most of our books are selfpublished by creative people with little money. Our best literature still remains in manuscript form, thus accepting manuscripts and self-published material suits our circumstances; ours is a democracy not a caste system. Over two decades ago local short stories with local illustrations executed to accompany the story were published in the Sunday newspapers. These encouraged many to explore their talents and come forward. Self-publishing constitutes the following; Creative talent, the passion and skill to tell the story in script, force your spouse to read it, negotiate a proofreader who’ll work with you cheap, type the story or get it typed. Whether Poetry, Play, short story or novel, once that is done, if you can convince an Artist to back up for a reasonable raise [or get aspects sponsored] with some illustrations, you are on your way. I have self-published; Ras Michael, Paloma Mohamed, Stephanie Bowry, President Granger and many others have. Some of us have done so under business names, but it amounts to the same hands-in-your-own-pocket issue.
Famous Murder Stories of Guyana by John Campbell was self-published with help from GNCB “without which this publication would not have been possible”. His acknowledgement. ‘A short story of St George’s, Georgetown, Guyana’ was written and published by Reverend Derek H. Goodrich, and I can go on. The recent opportunity in Guyana for a local publishing house was wasted with the mismanagement of the Caribbean Press. Young writers, let no one make you an idiot or undermine your passions by telling you that your talent is worthless because you are attempting to selfpublish. Follow the formula and selfpublish. I’ll conclude by adding some known international names who were and have currently self-published; Deepak Chopra, William Blake, Alexandre Dumas, Walt Whitman, Edgar Allen Poe of yesterday and currently James Redfield ‘The Celestine Prophecy’ and E.L James’s ‘Fifty Shades of Grey, among many others in a rising selfpublishing movement, all running away from the proven, less astute publishing agents who don’t seem to have the feel for the best books. Barrington Braithwaite
There is nothing to celebrate if Parliament has members who have contempt for women DEAR EDITOR, The PPP has announced that Bheri Ramsaran and Anil Nandlall are on their list of MPs for the 11th Parliament. Bheri Ramsaran resigned as Minister of Health after condemnation of his “slap and strip” comments to Sherlina Nageer. Sherlina Nageer was asking him about the deaths of women in
the public health system. Anil Nandlall’s contempt for a female reporter led to calls for his resignation, calls led by the late Courtney CrumEwing, who was killed while calling on people to vote. There is something ugly about Guyana’s democracy and history, in that the PPP and its supporters could think that it is okay for men
murders and robberies by heavily armed bandits have tarnished the traditional image of Guyana as a tranquil, easygoing paradise where investors happily go about their business in relative safety. Today, the armed bandits are overpowering the nation. Either we conquer crime, or crime eventually will conquer us.
who have contempt for women to sit in parliament. What is the use of condemnation if there is going to be collaboration with those whose attitudes and behaviour make them unfit for public office? The PPP list of MPs includes people who were part of the condemnation. That condemnation is useless, since these people are now going to be asking the nation to accept those who have contempt for women as part of the leadership. There have been reports of the PPP supporters very
vocally agreeing with Bheri Ramsaran’s “slap and strip” approach to the woman who demanded accountability from him. The man who eventually asked Bheri Ramsaran to resign has not stated as yet why he is not willing to serve on the PPP list of MPs. There is nothing to celebrate about Guyana’s 50 years of independence if the 11th Parliament will have members who have contempt for women. Members of Parliament are paid by tax payers. Vidyaratha Kissoon
Thursday July 09, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Shiv must continue to play, but beyond the boundary DEAR EDITOR, I am tired of listening to and reading a lot of piffle about Shivnarine Chanderpaul not being given the opportunity to break Brian Lara’s record of scoring the most test runs by a West Indian batsman and him being unjustly treated by the West Indies Cricket Board. Chanderpaul has a fantastic cricket record. According to Cricinfo, he played 164 test matches, batted 280 times, scored 11,867 runs, including 30 centuries and 66 fifties, and averages 51.37. He was not out on 49 occasions. Perhaps, we can allow him to play some more test cricket in order that he can achieve an even fifty not outs. Chanderpaul had ample opportunity to break Lara’s record, particularly when he was batting with the tail-enders. And what did he do several times? Instead of taking most of the bowling and scoring runs, he often took a single off the first or second ball of an over leaving ‘nine, ten and jack’ to face the chin and spin music. The result is history. The bowlers cleaned them up. Chanderpaul’s average went up. He became world ranking and a few times the number one batsman in the world. He read the
bowling well on the field of play, but not off the field. He failed to read the straight ball usually bowled by the West Indies Cricket Board at great players approaching the twilight of their career. The Board is certainly not altruistic in its interpersonal relationship with its employees. It is pernicious. Self-destructive at times. Talk to Lance Gibbs. Discuss with Clive Lloyd. Confabulate with Vivian Richards. Text Desmond Haynes. Tweet Carl Hooper. Engage Brian Lara and many other retired West Indian cricketers. All will say the same thing. They had wanted to play more test matches, but the Board unceremoniously abbreviated their careers. It was very quick to press the delete button. Let us give Shiv another opportunity to continue contributing towards Guyana and West Indies cricket. Allow him to utilize his massive powers of concentration. Use his knowledge, skill and attitude to influence our youth cricketers so that they will not only break his records but those of Brian Lara. Shiv must continue to play, but beyond the boundary Clinton Conway
CARICOM members should respect the Treaty of Chaguaramas DEAR EDITOR, The decision to establish CARICOM was taken by Heads of Government on July 4, 1972, and the following year, the Treaty of Chaguaramas was signed, replacing CARIFTA, to have a more “togetherness” not only in terms of free trade and free movement, but to “enhance levels of international competiveness” and “enhance coordination”. It is regrettable that after 42 years the regional body is not heeding to the Treaty in several ways: (a) decisions taken by Heads of Government are not implemented (b freedom of movement is not adhered to, hence the reason why the Jamaican woman Shanique Myrie sued the Barbados immigration authorities after she was finger searched and refused entry (c) harassment of some nationals, especially Guyanese and Jamaicans, and now members are undecided on a candidate to submit for the post of Commonwealth Secretary General. Trinidad and Tobago has nominated Dr. Bhoendradatt
Tewarie who is hardly known outside his native country. The Commonwealth of Dominica has submitted Baroness Patricia Scotland, who was an active member of the London-based Privy Council, and Antigua and Barbuda named Sir Ronald Sanders, a Guyanese-born senior diplomat who served in committees for the Commonwealth Secretariat, knows the operation of the Secretariat, and will do an excellent for the 53-nation body at this time in its history. The Heads of Government should have discussed the nomination at its recently concluded meeting, but because of time constraints, the important issue was not discussed. Caricom Chairman Freundel Stuart said he is heading a three-member committee to look into the matter and to make suitable recommendations. G r e n a d a ’s Prime Minister, Keith Mitchell, who is supporting Sir Ronald, said if the region does not agree on a single candidate it could be costly. The post is rotated between Commonwealth
regions and the Caribbean is next in line. But the Grenadian Prime Minister said disunity in Caricom may jeopardise this practice. Chairman Stuart, who is also the Prime Minister of Barbados, said if the Caribbean misses out, it could take 40 years before the position rotates to the Region. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, said Sanders is the forerunner candidate. He is not trailing behind any other; he has the most pledges, and moreso he is the best prospect for the job. It is disturbing that regional leaders are so biased/nationalistic and blind to reality. They should look closely at the curriculum vitae of the three. It is clear, beyond a shadow of doubt that Sir Ronald Sanders is miles ahead of the other two candidates. Oscar Ramjeet
Last Call for Alcohol DEAR EDITOR, Permit me the opportunity to comment on a divisive issue of late, and that is the decision to enforce the closure of clubs and drinking pubs by 2 am. I recognize and accept the immediacy with which the Minister of Public Security feels compelled to act due to an extremely high crime rate; however I suspect this decision was done in haste and poorly consulted on. As others have noted, crimes seen of late are not impulse crimes associated with inebriated persons acting in haste and out of their normal self. These are planned crimes by two or more individuals who may be underlings in the drug trade. Apart from the impact this decision will have on the business community, I do believe the time has come to look at the dangerous culture of extreme drinking in public that we have had in Guyana for the longest time. Something must be done to curb this excess in our society which I believe has played a hand in the degradation of our communities and culture in the last few decades. I wish to highlight,
however, my experience as an ex-pat returning home from the US. The 2 am decree only applies to the selling of alcohol and does not extend to the closure of the operating establishment. I rationalized this law was meant to protect citizens from the plague of drunk driving by limiting the available time a person may be permitted to consume alcohol. What is not worthy is that the law allows the operating entity the flexibility to operate after the 2 am point, since money can still be made for the rest of time the entity chooses to remain open. This also has the added advantage of allowing persons who may be considered over the limit or somewhat inebriated at the time to regain themselves before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, even though there are strict laws prohibiting drinking and driving and it is always advisable to have a designated driver. But we do not live in a perfect world and leeway must be given. I would like to call on the powers-that-be to relook at
this issue - albeit good intentioned and a step in the right direction towards curbing extreme alcohol consumption and the crimes associated – which will have little impact on the types of crimes seen today and will no doubt hurt our business and tourism sector. I surmise a more thorough and holistic approach is needed to reduce the high incidence of crime in this country, and which is costing us dearly on every front. We need help from wherever we can get it immediately. As others have suggested, Guyanese citizens must also step-up and be vigilant and responsible, but we need systems in place if the citizenry are to do that, such as an effective and functioning 911 system with a responsive policing force. Also a relook at the strict gun ownership laws in this country which does little to stop criminals from arming themselves, but creates an unfair and dangerous disadvantage to the average citizen. D. Persaud Patriot & Son
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Thursday July 09, 2015
Ramotar draws curtain on career, confirms Jagdeo as Opposition Leader - Ramsammy pulled off list due to serious health problems By Jarryl Bryan Former President Donald Ramotar has finally broken the seal of secrecy on his exclusion from the list of Members of Parliament. He made it pellucid that he will not seek public office in the future. He also confirmed that Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, former Minister of Health and of Agriculture, has withdrawn from the list and politics in general due to very serious health problems. This came out during a press conference held at the party’s Headquarters of Freedom House yesterday. Ramotar, who hosted the conference, fielded questions about his exclusion from the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) list of MPs for Parliament which was made public only Tuesday, in addition to his subjugation as Leader of the Opposition in favor of his predecessor in Office, former President Bharrat Jagdeo. Ramotar, who held the Presidency from 2011 to last May, stated that although he personally preferred a parliamentary list composed of the younger generation of PPP members, from whom the leader should have also been chosen, he stood behind his party’s decision to go with former President Bharrat Jagdeo as Leader of the Opposition. According to Ramotar, he had been waiting until the party completed its selection of a list of MPs before speaking publicly. “My personal view is that the party should go with a transition, to younger leaders, at this point in time to take us to future success.” “And I had thought that the party should have chosen a leader from this
generation of people.” He disclosed that the party, though initially agreeing with that position, had after thorough discussions, decided on a transitional process before the reins of responsibility were handed over to the younger generation. Ramotar stressed the point that it was as a result of this party consensus that the decision had been made for Jagdeo to come as Leader of the Opposition. “It was felt that we need to work, over the next five years, towards transitioning the party into the hands of younger people.” Ramotar lauded the current leadership of the party as “extremely capable and talented” who he said could take the party into future success. On his own political future, Ramotar made it clear that he would not seek public office again, unless “something dramatic” should take place in the future that would create a demand from his Party that he return. In response to queries as to why the list was one person short, Ramotar revealed that former Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, had withdrawn from the list and would not head to parliament, due to health concerns. “He has expressed his desire to go there and do battles, but he has serious health problems,” Ramotar disclosed. According to him, the spot would probably be filled by today. The inclusion of the controversial former Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsarran and former Public Service Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford on the list of MPs was heavily criticized by several sections of society. In April Ramsarran
became embroiled in the ‘Bherigate’ scandal, where a recording of him threatening to “slap and strip” a female activist surfaced. Ramsarran was subsequently relieved of his Ministerial portfolio by then President Ramotar after immense public pressure. Dr. Westford was also embroiled in scandal late last month after documents came to light implicating her and others, including two senior Government functionaries, in the transfer of at least eight Government vehicles from the Ministry of Public Service. Reminded of these transgressions, Ramotar stated that their inclusion on the list was as a result of the party’s final decision, despite internal division as to whether they should be selected. “There were people in our party who were not in favour of everyone on the list, but in the final analysis, that was the final decision by the party of the people they want to take to parliament.”
Dr. Leslie Ramsammy As it related to the PPP’s continued absence from parliament, which convened on June 10 with A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) taking oaths as MPs while the PPP staged a protest outside the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Ramotar affirmed that while
he always knew the party must enter Parliament, timing was a strong consideration. Asked whether the list had finally been submitted to GECOM, Ramotar affirmed that this should happen at some point over the coming days. He also revealed that the question of when the PPP would enter Parliament had not been settled. It has been widely circulated that Ramsammy, who held the portfolio of Minister of Health from 2001 to 2011, was in declining health himself. During the recently concluded elections, it was also reported that the career Microbiologist was ailing and receiving overseas treatment. The PPP list, which was released on Tuesday, features ten new faces including Collin Croal, a former Permanent Secretary; Gillian Persaud, Zulfikar Mustapha; Alister Charlie; Venkatasuma Anamayah; Nigel Dharamlall; Dr. Clive Jagan; Charles Ramson Jr, and Africo Selman.
Also included in the list and drawn from Geographic Constituencies are Carnel Damon; Irfaan Ali; Komal Chand; Anil Nandlall; Neendkumar; Priya Manickchand; Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo; Dr. Jennifer Westford; Dr. Frank Anthony; Indranie Chandarpal; Juan Edghill; Joseph Hamilton; Odinga Lumumba; Ganga Persaud; Dr. Vindhya Persaud; Dr. Bheri Ramsaran; General Secretary, Clement Rohee; Dharamkumar Seeraj; Pauline Sukhai; and Gail Teixeira. Missing from the list is businessman Clinton Urling, who after endorsing the party in the lead-up to the May 11 elections clashed with senior officials after criticizing Jagdeo. Dr. Ashni Singh, former Finance Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues, former Foreign Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, former Public Works Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, former Minister of Labour and Bibi Shadick are also excluded from the list.
Regent Multiplex boss was shot six times - post mortem Investigators who were hoping to use bullets from the body of murdered businessman, Ganesh ‘Boyo’ Ramlall, to assist in their probe will have to look elsewhere. All six bullets that struck Ramlall exited his body. This was revealed when a post mortem examination was done by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh yesterday. An examination of the body revealed that Ramlall was shot once in his head and five times about his upper body. Kaieteur News
- all bullets exited body understands that police recovered seven spent 9mm shells at the scene of Ramlall’s shooting. Ramlall had just returned home around midnight on Saturday and after putting down his gun and changing his clothes preparing to eat the bar-b-que chicken that he had brought home, went to use an outdoor bathroom when he was attacked. He raised an alarm and from all indications he put up
a fierce fight with his attackers, who then shot him several times about his body. Ramlall’s wife, who had retired upstairs after opening the door for him, secured herself and managed to contact other neighbours and relatives. The bandits escaped with Ramlall’s gold chain and a gold band. The bandits were so hasty in their retreat after neighbours responded by discharging rounds into the air from their licensed weapons, that they left Ramlall with an expensive gold ring on his finger. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has maintained that so far there is no evidence to suggest that the killing of businessman Ganesh ‘Boyo’ Ramlall is anything other than a robbery. There is speculation that Ramlall’s death may have been a ‘hit’ given the number of bullets pumped into his body last Sunday when bandits attacked him at his La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara home. However, Blanhum, speaking with this newspaper
Dead: Ganesh Ramlall last evening, said that at the moment the police investigations have not unearthed anything that points to an execution. Kaieteur News understands that investigators found a piece of rope which they strongly believe was left behind. This gives weight to the theory that Ramlall’s killers were there to rob him. “People who come to execute you don’t come with rope to tie you up,” a close friend of the businessman remarked.
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Tobago House of Assembly called on to account for missing $1 billion PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has been called on to account for TT$1 billion (US$158 million) in its 2006 financial statements, while it is asking for one of the largest allocations ever from Central Government in the 2015/2016 budget. The THA wants $5.7 billion (US$900 million). Last year its budget was $5.68 billion and the year before, $4.95 billion. Tobago opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) senator Shamfa Cudjoe, after the recent budget presentation, said Tobago deserved its “fair share”. According to the Voice newspaper, the Office of THA Chief Secretary Orville London is asking for $229 million, more than what it wants for the island’s declining tourism sector, its main revenue earner. Yet, London has remained silent on where $1 billion went. The THA health department is asking for the largest share of its budgetary allocation but, according to
Orville London
minister of Tobago development, Delmond Baker, a medical doctor, residents on the island do not seem to be getting the worth of the money allocated to the sector. Baker said at one time, for six months, the health department was able to provide only two ambulances for all its residents and questioned the mismanagement of money at the Tobago Regional Health Authority, which gets its directives from the health department. Some
commentators have questioned the spending of $5.7 billion on an island with a population of just over 60,000, or $95,000 per person, compared to a total national budget last year of $64.4 billion for Trinidad’s population of around 1.3 million people, or $50,000 per person. “Has Tobago really been denied of its ‘fair share’ from Central Government over the years? Or is the money being mismanaged?” the Voice asked.
Brazil’s detects billions in suspicious financial activity RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Investigators with Brazil’s Finance Ministry say they have identified as much as $17 billion worth of suspicious activity that may be part of a kickback scandal engulfing the state-owned oil company Petrobras. Antonio Gustavo Rodrigues, head of the ministry’s financial intelligence unit, told a congressional committee the unit had detected the “suspicious movement of 55 billion reals in operations linked to Petrobras.” That’s equivalent to $17.2 billion. The website of the lower house of Congress said he made his comments on Tuesday. Rodrigues said police and prosecutors must now determine if the suspicious actions
were in fact illegal. Investigators say Brazil’s top construction and engineering companies paid bribes to a handful of Petrobras’ politically appointed executives in return for inflated contracts. Prosecutors have alleged that some of the money then flowed into the campaign coffers of the governing Workers’ Party and its allies, which they deny. In April, Petrobras acknowledged it chalked up $2.1 billion in losses over the past eight years as a result of the kickback scheme. However, Carlos Fernando Santos Lima, one of the prosecutors investigating the allegations, said last week that he suspects that Petrobras’s losses were much higher.
Colombia Farc rebels call unilateral ceasefire
The Farc has been taking part in peace talks with the Colombian government since 2012, but violence has increased in recent weeks. The Farc’s chief negotiator at the talks in Cuba, Ivan Marquez, said he hoped the ceasefire, starting on 20 July, could lead to a bilateral truce. The government welcomed the move but gave no sign it would do likewise and said the rebels needed to do more. “We appreciate the gesture of a unilateral ceasefire by the Farc but more
is needed, especially concrete commitments to speed up the negotiations,” President Juan Manuel Santos said on Twitter (in Spanish). For his part, Mr Marquez said the truce would “create favourable conditions in order to advance with the opposing side toward a bilateral and definitive ceasefire.” Four countries helping to facilitate the peace talks Cuba, Norway, Chile and Venezuela - issued a call on Tuesday for a de-escalation in the violence.
A previous Farc ceasefire was called in December, but clashes resumed in April with the killing of 11 soldiers and subsequent bombing raids on rebel positions. Farc suspended that unilateral ceasefire on 22 May. Since the ceasefire ended, several dozen rebels and soldiers have been killed. In June, the group blew up an oil pipeline, which contaminated water and left at least 16,000 people without supplies in the municipality of Catatumbo in the north.
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Greece seeks new EU loan deal in race to avert collapse A race to save Greece from bankruptcy and keep it in the euro gathered pace yesterday when Athens formally applied for a threeyear loan and European authorities launched an accelerated review of the request. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called in a speech to the European Parliament for a fair deal, acknowledging Greece’s historic responsibility for its plight, after EU leaders gave him five days to come up with
convincing reforms. The government submitted a request to the European Stability Mechanism bailout fund to lend an unspecified amount “to meet Greece’s debt obligations and to ensure stability of the financial system”. It promised to begin implementing tax and pension measures sought by creditors as early as Monday. With its banks closed, cash withdrawals rationed and the economy in freefall, Greece has never been closer
to a state bankruptcy that would probably force it to leave the euro and print an alternative currency. Yet the leftist premier seemed almost nonchalant, albeit with a note of humility, when he appeared before EU lawmakers in Strasbourg to cheers and scattered boos. Speaking hours after euro zone leaders, at another emergency summit in Brussels, set Greece a deadline of the end of the week to come up with farreaching reform proposals, Tsipras said Greeks had no choice but to demand a way out of “this impasse”.
“We are determined not to have a clash with Europe but to tackle head-on the establishment in our own country and to change the mindset which will take us and the euro zone down,” he said to applause from the left. But he gave scant details of his reform plans, frustrating many lawmakers. The head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers of the 19-nation currency area, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, asked the European Commission and the European Central Bank to evaluate the loan request, assess Greek debt
sustainability and study whether Greece poses a risk to the financial stability of the euro zone. EMERGENCYFINANCE The aim is for Eurogroup ministers meeting on Saturday to be in a position to recommend a loan, and some emergency bridging finance, which a full summit of the 28 EU leaders would approve on Sunday if they are satisfied with Greek reform commitments. That is a big ‘if’, both due to Athens’ chequered record and because many of the liberalization measures required run counter to the leftist ideology of Tsipras’ Syriza party. The prime minister promised to deliver detailed reform plans today and avoided the angry rhetoric that has alienated many European partners. He did however criticize attempts to “terrorize” Greeks into voting for “never-ending austerity”. The European Central Bank kept Greece’s banks on a tight leash, holding a freeze on emergency funding that means they could soon run out of cash. European Council President Donald Tusk reiterated that the final deadline for Greece to submit
convincing reform plans and start implementing them was this week. “Our inability to find an agreement may lead to the bankruptcy of Greece and the insolvency of its banking system,” Tusk told EU lawmakers. “And for sure it will be most painful for the Greek people. “I have no doubt that this will affect Europe, also in the geopolitical sense. If someone has any illusion that it will not, they are naive,” he said. In the turbulent chamber, some lawmakers held up “Oxi” (No) signs to back Greek voters’ rejection of more austerity, while far-right speakers praised the radical leftist government for standing up to what several called the European “oligarchy”. Euro zone officials want Greece to rush a first wave of measures through parliament before Sunday to prove its serious intent. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she would ask parliament in Berlin to authorize the opening of loan negotiations if the Greek measures are deemed satisfactory. Merkel made clear earlier that that she was “not exaggeratedly optimistic” that a deal could be found to save Greece by Sunday.
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NOT MANY FOREIGN JUDGES WILL BE INTERESTED Some people simply do not get it. It is not that there is anything wrong with advertising judicial positions. Indeed advertising these posts allows for the best persons to be selected. The point is what use is advertising positions going to be when the Constitution of Guyana provides that there has to be agreement between the President and the Leader of the Opposition in so far as the appointment of the Chancellor is concerned.
There is already a substantive Chief Justice so that position will not become vacant unless the substantive holder of the office is upgraded to Chancellor. All the arguments about the need for the government to advertise the positions are therefore premature. You cannot advertise the position of Chief Justice unless you fill the position from the incumbent. To fill that position you will need the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition.
The Constitution is silent on what is to happen should there be agreement. That was apparently either not contemplated or the existing provision was intended to ensure that there had to be compromise somewhere along the line. In any event it is not the government that is required to advertise for any positions. It is the Judicial Service Commission. And the JSC has in the past advertised for positions of Judges. These Judges are not handpicked.
Mother pleads with daughter to return home A mother is pleading with her 13-year-old daughter to return home. The girl, Serena Tobin of 50 Russell Street, Charlestown, went missing on June 29. According to her mother, Colleen Tobin, her daughter was left in the care of her aunt. The mother explained that her daughter was last seen wearing a three-quarter jeans, white top with blue writing and blue sneakers on the evening of June 29. She had left the home to attend lessons. Colleen recalled that she had called her daughter’s phone on numerous
occasions but it would usually be forwarded to voicemail. Serena Tobin is currently a second form student at the Queenstown Secondary School. The mother is begging her daughter to return home to be reunited with her family. The matter has since been reported to the Ruimveldt Police Station. Anyone with information on Serena Tobin’s whereabouts is asked to contact her mother, on telephone # 672-1882 or aunt, Yvonne Daniels on telephone # 678-9763/233-4804 or the nearest police station.
being eligible. The problem is that not many Guyanese who are judges overseas are going to come back to Guyana to work as judges for a mere US$5,000 per month. That may seem large in Guyana but it is chicken feed to those judges who currently work overseas. They earn far more than that and they are not likely to come back to Guyana to work for that sort of cash. For argument sake, what happens if the Judicial Service Commission decides to advertise the position of Chancellor and the person acting at present emerges as the best choice? There is no guarantee that the Leader of the Opposition and the President will find agreement and therefore the person who would have been deemed to be the best suited would be
unable to take up the position. The best option would be for the persons who are acting as Chancellor and Chief Justice to be confirmed. It makes a mockery of the system when after acting for such a long time these persons cannot be confirmed. And there is only one reason why these persons cannot be confirmed, and that is because there has never been agreement between the President and the Leader of the Opposition on the confirmation of these two distinguished jurists. The situation is not likely to change and therefore these two men are likely to continue with their acting appointments until they both reach the age of retirement.
Granger to address Parliament on Venezuela controversy
Missing: Serena Tobin
Dem boys seh ...
Jagdeo seh he never thief, You believe? De devil is alive and well. He always creating trouble and pushing people fuh do evil things to one another. He got nuff family in Guyana and he first cousin is none other than Jagdeo. De devil mek that man do so much wrang thing to de people of this country that if dem didn’t have a Creatah who more powerful than de devil, Jagdeo woulda never come out of office and he woulda do evil things to people, things that you can’t even dream about. This is de same man who swear to de nation and tell de world he never thief. He also tell de people that he nah got none interest in political life. In Trinidad during Obama visit, he tell a Bajan reporter that he don’t want nothing to do wid third term or nothing to do wid parliament when he come out of office. De other day he seh he nah want he name pun none political party list. Fuh de election he name been pun de election list. Yesterday, he name deh pon MP list and dem boys hear that he is de opposition leader. Dem boys seh that if he could be such a bareface liar then how anybody can believe that he never thief. Dem boys want he to know he don’t have immunity now and that he can’t go in parliament and lie or get caught corrupting anybody. Is straight to jail. Donald Dumb know how Jagdeo stay and that is why he not going and sit down next to
They have to apply for the position after it has been advertised and they have to go through the usual process. So there is no issue with advertising. It is done at present. But in the case of the appointment of the top two judicial positions in the country, there has to be a meeting of minds between the President and the Leader of the Opposition. In the past, there has been no agreement nor has there been an agreement on how to break the deadlock. As a result we probably have the two longest acting Chief Justice and Chancellor in the world. No one is trying to deny foreign jurists from being chosen for these two positions. No one is also trying to deny overseas based Guyanese jurists from
him in parliament. De evil Jagdeo do filter down not only to de ordinary people but also to de religious leaders in de country. Tek de Berbice pandit. A family call him to jaray dem sick, sick daughter. Wha he do she dem boys shame fuh talk. It ended up wid de police carrying him to de station wid handcuffs and de gyal family walking behind dem wid he brief and he pants in dem hands. Dem boys would be paying keen attention to dis story because dem boys hear that Jagdeo is he family. Talk half and wait fuh hear when he gun tell de police that de gyal did agree to wha he do she.
President David Granger is set to address Parliament today on the Venezuela claims controversy, the Ministry of the Presidency announced yesterday. The address to the National Assembly will start at 14:45hrs and likely to be broadcast live. With deep worry over a simmering border controversy, the situation with Venezuela has been a major issue engaging the Granger administration since they were declared victors in the May 11 General and Regional Elections. Venezuela is not only restating an old claim, but has expanded it to waters that Guyana has licensed to USowned ExxonMobil to drill for oil. That company recently announced that it has found significant evidence of oil. On May 26, the same day
that Granger was inaugurated, Venezuela issued a decree claiming the lands and water and ordering its navy to patrol the area. Guyana had complained to CARICOM which over the weekend called on Venezuela to withdraw the decree. Several Caribbean states, including Trinidad, have come out in support of Guyana. The United Nations has promised to send down a team to assess the situation. Venezuela toned down on the decree this week but there are indications now that the neighbouring country is flexing its muscles by
threatening to end a rice and paddy deal which is expected to expire in November. It means that Guyana will have to find new markets. An estimated 30 percent of Guyana’s rice exports goes to Venezuela. Last year, the deal was worth US$114M. On Monday, Venezuela’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, announced that he was withdrawing his Ambassador and reviewing diplomatic ties. According to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon yesterday, Granger is expected to discuss Guyana’s response to the two decreesboth in the local and international arena.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 09, 2015
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Stupid police force, stupid magistrates in a stupid country Once you live in this country, its comical nature makes you feel we are the most asinine land on Planet Earth. In the space of one week, the Guyanese people learned we got more Judges and UG will get a top class scholar as its Vice-Chancellor. Do you see the irony? If UG needs erudite minds to run it then the Judiciary needs such minds too. No one can complain about the
learned scholar who is likely to be the next Vice-Chancellor of UG. I went to UG the same time Professor Ivelaw Griffith was a student there. Griffith is indeed an excellent find for UG. I am not sure elevating Magistrates nationally known for their intellectual bareness into Judges makes sense. If any Guyanese wants to see how important and powerful Judges are, then
they should Google the court cases between the Opposition and the PPP Government between 2011 until the change of government in May this year, and from May to the present time. Here are some examples of how powerful a Judge is in Guyana. A Judge injuncted the swearing in of Janet Jagan as President but Jagan tossed away the court papers.
Another Judge ruled that the 1997 election was not conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Representation of the Peoples Act. That very Judge also said that the election was not conducted according to the law because of the introduction of ID cards, but the government survived because of the doctrine of necessity cited by the very Judge. How interesting! She declared the election was not consistent with the law then she declared that the government can continue in office. And a Judge will have to decide if the 2015 election was legal because the PPP filed an election petition. Guyana has seen a court case where a Judge stopped the DPP from charging a Police Commissioner with rape. These examples show the enormous scope a High Court Judge possesses. It follows logically then that Judges must be of the highest intellectual caliber. Should a Magistrate be made a Judge within the peculiar context of what takes place in Guyana? First, the Chancellor and other high-ranking Judicial officials have said several times that low pay is
a disincentive for the Magistracy to attract quality lawyers. You can deconstruct or psychoanalyze those words how much you want, the meaning is simple – the Magistracy does not receive learned lawyers because they will not work for a small salary. Secondly, you examine the Magistrates in the entire territory of Guyana and you find one factor common among them – intellectual mediocrity. Are we then going to take that quality and elevate them to the High Court? Most Magistrates in this country have a punitive mentality. This makes a mockery of justice and exposes in the most graphic way, the class basis of justice. Magistrates punish poor people by assigning enormous bail to them knowing that they would be unable to raise such huge sums. Magistrates are filling up the remand system and they are all poor people, especially young men found with marijuana cigarettes. Take the latest case of a Magistrate that put a hotel owner and his barman on bail for using one of the rooms for the purpose of prostitution. Surely, our silly police force
Frederick Kissoon has plenty of time on their hands. They can’t stop crime but want to stop prostitution. I will follow this case to see how a conviction can be obtained. Reminds me of Minister Broomes who took her broom to Bartica and swept a hotel looking for traffickers in person, but ended up arresting and charging women for overstaying their time. In other words, the women were suspected of prostitution. But what is wrong with prostitution? It is illegal in Guyana but so is open homosexual behaviour, but Mr. Bryan Hunt, the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy, is asking the Government to consider legalization of same sex marriage. This is a funny, stupid country. Same sex marriage can be debated but prostitution is a serious crime. I wonder if Broomes will take her broom outside of St. George’s Cathedral in the night looking for male prostitutes. How does the broom lady feel about legalization of same sex marriage? I don’t have a problem with it. I don’t have a problem with legalization of prostitution. One of my philosophical beliefs is that the most aesthetically attractive value in nature in general is the beauty of a woman’s body. It is no concern of the state how she wants to use her body. The argument for prostitution is the same for abortion – a woman’s right to her body.
Thursday July 09, 2015
Kaieteur News
Govt. happy Jagdeo has returned …
Fmr. President has to answer questions for actions in office - Harmon Government says it is waiting anxiously on the return of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who has reversed his earlier stance of retiring from public office. Jagdeo is set to make his return as the new Opposition Leader, heading the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) list of Parliamentarians. Jagdeo as Opposition Leader, was further confirmed yesterday by former President Donald Ramotar who himself was left of the list when it was released Tuesday evening. Jagdeo’s two terms in office ended in 2011. Since then he has mounted a constitutional challenge intended to clear the legal hurdles for him to run again. Yesterday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon during his weekly post-Cabiner press briefings, was questioned about Jagdeo’s presence. “Jagdeo as the Opposition Leader? I don’t think he is as yet because he has to go to Parliament… he is not confirmed,” Harmon said. He pointed out that Jagdeo’s credibility is at stake as he had vowed not to run for public office and had made it clear several times before. However, Jagdeo backtracked in the lead-up to the May 11 General Elections in which the PPP/C lost for the first time in its 23 years in office. While international observers have cleared the elections as being free and fair, the PPP has cried that it was rigged and has gone to court challenging the results. “…Mr Jagdeo…remember he said he is not going to run for public office? So it is his credibility that the people must make a determination on. He is going to be there, according to what he says. He also has a criminal charge against him, in the Magistrate’s Court…we will see what happens.” Harmon said that his Government is unfazed and will stand resolutely. “We will be able to defend our position from anybody that the PPP brings… Jagdeo or whoever… We have no fear of him. In fact, we welcome him in Parliament because there are still a couple of questions he has to answer for his term in office
Bharrat Jagdeo as President.” Jagdeo’s return on the list would see the exit of a number of prominent faces, including former President Donald Ramotar; former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, Robeson Benn and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett. And indeed, the new coalition Government under President David Granger has vowed to run a corrupt-free Government. Several audits are ongoing at state agencies amidst questions over spendings during previous PPP administrations. A number of multi-billiondollar infrastructural projects spearheaded by Jagdeo are in deep trouble because of cost and other questions. These include the Amaila Falls Hydro-Electric Power project, the expansion of the Timehri Airport, the Berbice River Bridge Project and the Marriott Hotel project. Also being questioned are the sale of several state assets and multi-billion awards of pharmaceutical supply contracts to New GPC, a company controlled by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, close friend of Jagdeo. Under his watch, no Minister was sanctioned or charged despite accusations of corruption.
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Lodge man escapes execution attempt Jamel Lewis, 32, of 77 Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, Georgetown, came face to face with the wrath of the person(s) behind the trigger of the gun(s) which fired some alleged five gunshots at him in what appears to be a failed execution. According to reports, Lewis was struck twice about the body by bullets, once to his right chest and another to his back. Kaieteur News
understands that Lewis the lone occupant of the bottom flat of the two-storey family home was alerted by strange sounds around 3:57 hours yesterday. Upon investigating, he was greeted by the gunshots. One relative, who opted to remain anonymous, said that she is not fully aware of what really transpired. She recalled that about 3:57am she and other relatives were awakened by the sound of gunshots and upon looking
out they saw Lewis running. Five gunshots were heard. The relative said that Lewis was shot inside his home and it was unclear how the shooter(s) were able to gain access to his residence. W h e n a s k e d, it was admitted that Lewis had quite a few brushes with the law in the past. It is unclear what may have led to the early morning shooting. Lewis is lucky to still be alive after he managed to
evade further injuries by running for his life. According to information after running out into the street he was rescued by Police Ranks on patrol, who happened to be in the vicinity at the time. He was then rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for medical attention. Up to press time he was still recovering. Investigations are continuing.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 09, 2015
Rohee calls for ‘scientific Man rescued hours after being kidnapped data’ to support 2a.m. curfew Twenty-two-year-old Treon Harris of Paradise Housing Scheme is lucky to be alive after hours of being held captive in the trunk of his car which was allegedly hijacked by three men. Kaieteur News understands that on Tuesday, just after 13:00hrs, Harris was making his way out of the Paradise Housing Scheme en route to Enmore Village when he stopped to give three men who were heading in the same direction a ‘drop’. According to reports,
upon entering the car one of the men whipped out a gun and ordered Harris to drive to Ann’s Grove. When they arrived at the East Coast Demerara Village, he was then instructed to reverse into the bus-shed street which he did. The men then proceeded to secure their victim with duct tape before placing him into his car trunk. After hours of trying to contact the young man via cellphone calls, his worried family began a search for him since they found it strange for him not to answer calls for so
Venezuela to cancel rice... From page 3 have been responding to Venezuela's “concessionary price” and will have to adjust to suit new times ahead. “The Venezuelan market is one that you wouldn't normally find out there. The country was taking practically 30 to 35 percent of our rice exports. Our rice farmers will have to prepare themselves to operate in a regular market very soon. What they were getting was what is called an artificial market price from Venezuela,
a price that is concessionary, a price that in reality, it would be extremely hard to get on the world market. “And what you find is that a lot of rice farmers may have taken loans and ploughed almost all their resources into the rice sector because of this agreement they were benefitting from. That will now have to change. They will have to change their production to meet the world market quota,” the Finance Minister explained.
long. The man’s father related to a Kaieteur News reporter, “After we calling him and he ain’t answering, I said this thing aint looking nice. So about eleven o’clock we start looking for him”. The older Harris said that he had given the description of his son’s car to a taxi driver who was assisting in the search for his son. After some time, he received a call from the taxi man who then informed him that he had spotted his son’s car in a dark spot in the Enmore Estate road. Immediately he rushed to the spot where he saw the car, but acting with wisdom he decided to pass the vehicle and to seek police help. The father then returned to the scene moments before the police. When they reached the vehicle they heard a noise in the trunk of the car and Treon was found gagged and battered. The men were nowhere in sight. The injured young man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was treated and subsequently sent home. Investigations are continuing.
Former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, yesterday made a mockery of the new government’s approach to addressing the spate in crime. He called for “scientific data” to prove that late night clubbing significantly contributes to a high crime rate. At a press conference at Freedom House, Rohee said that he is not a supporter of the 2:00hrs curfew as he knows that it definitely would not help to curb the crime situation. “That is why I never (implemented) it while I was in office.” “I have never noticed during my tenure as Minister of Home Affairs that bars and clubs remaining open after 2:00am led to any spike,” said Rohee. “There is no scientific data that anyone can provide” to suggest that the late parties contributed to spikes in crime.” As such, he criticized the implementation of the archaic law by Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, noting that A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government does not have any anticrime plan in place to effectively tackle the issue. R e c e n t l y, R a m j a t t a n told the National Assembly the new government would have moved to ensure that all clubs and bars are shut by 2:00hrs—imposing a law that was long in place. This announcement and subsequent implementation was met with mostly disgust from the voting population— dominated by young people. Club and bar owners did not take this nicely either as many
Former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee
Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan
of them lamented the amount of money that they will lose as a result. Yesterday former Minister, Rohee expressed his opinion that implementing such a decree is similar to placing a curfew on the population. He said, “I’ve gone to many functions, whether it’s a wedding or staff party and by the time 11:00hrs people would start walking away. When you ask them where they’re going; they going to Galaxy (Gravity), they’re going to Palm Court, they going to 704; this is sometimes after 12:00hrs…So you’re giving these people two hours to sport? Oh come on, this is not Guyanese. And that is the reason why I didn’t do it… in fact what you’re doing is imposing a curfew on the people.” When pointed to the fact that some Caribbean jurisdictions also have such impositions, Rohee said that each country is to its own but noted that Montego Bay has some parties that go pretty
late—way past 2:00hrs in the morning. He added that in all his years as Minister of Home Affairs, never did any of his counterparts put late night clubbing on the table as a reason for the hike in crime in any jurisdiction. Rohee said that while in the opposition, Ramjattan claimed to have had the solution to crime in Guyana. “Now that he’s in office, it’s a different story.” He continued, “Ramjattan was one of the most vocal men in Parliament who had the solutions. So did Mr. Granger; they all had the solutions. So I anticipated when those guys walked into their offices they all had their blueprint in their hand and they knew what they were going to do.” Rohee said that it seems as if Ramjattan is being sheltered from public bashing unlike what was dealt to him as in the case when he was asked to resign. The former Minister was then asked if he wouldn’t agree that it was too early— less than two months after assuming office—to deem Ramjattan a failure and call for his resignation. But he responded, “It has nothing to do with early; once you take on the responsibility, the moment you are sworn in, that’s it.” Rohee said that the various forms of violent crimes must be addressed by a multi-agency approach to deal with the ongoing spike. (Abena Rockcliffe)
Teen freed of rape charge A 15-year-old Zeelandia Estate, Wakenaam lad, was released into the care of his parents recently after the Jury, who was engaging the sensitive matter, at the Suddie High Court before Justice James Bovell-Drakes returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty. The accused, who is now 15, was committed to stand trial at the Suddie High Court
for the rape of a four-year-old Wakenaam, Essequibo Island resident. Police stated that the teen sexually penetrated a minor on November 13, 2013, at Zeelendia Estate, Wakenaam. However, at the time the accused was 12 years old. The matter began several months ago and was heard before Justice James BovellDrakes. (Yannason Duncan)
Thursday July 09, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Killer driver jailed for BASS operative placed on bail following shooting death a total of 12 years The 18-year-old reckless, ruthless drunken driver who struck down five persons in three hit and run accidents on Wednesday June 11at Phillipi Farm, Corentyne, Berbice, killing three in the process has been jailed for a total of 12 years. The man Nakash Persaud, 18, a market vendor of lot 121 No 51 Village Corentyne, was on 10 charges. Persaud appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Whim Magistrate’s court where he was found guilty on three charges of causing death by dangerous driving. Around 18:30 hrs on June 11, 2014, while driving a silver grey Spacio motor car, PPP 5842, he drove in a manner dangerous to the public killing Tabitha Latoya Bagot , 19, her sister Juanita Malikia Bagot, 16, and their threeyear-old niece Shamaine Cort all of Philippi Farm, Corentyne. He was placed on $500,000 bail each on the three Causing Death by Dangerous Driving charges - a total of $1.5M. in addition to the $70,000 bail he was granted on two other charges. The girls had left to purchase phone cards to call their mother and were on their way back home, when the accident occurred a few yards
away from their home. The other seven charges include three counts of failing to stop after an accident, three counts of failing to render assistance after an accident and one for driving under the influence of alcohol. On the day in question, the drunken man was driving at a terrible rate of speed on the Corentyne when he first collided with Delroy Parks, 28, of Cromorty Village at Kilmornarck, Corentyne. He failed to stop and render assistance, but continued on his merry way hitting the two sisters and their niece at Philippi some miles away, killing them in the process. He again failed to stop but continued ruthlessly where he struck down Matthew Mc Bean, 19, of No. 35 Village along the Public Road. After the accused was found guilty three weeks ago, his Lawyer, Chandra Sohan had asked for a probation report. During the report Persaud stated that he felt bad about the entire incident. He was not aware that he had struck down so many persons. His Lawyer Chandra Sohan had stated that his client had expressed remorse over the offence. He stated that his client had offered to pay
Nakash Persaud $1.5M compensation each, but it was not accepted. Magistrate Singh before passing sentence took into consideration, that the accused had spent six months in jail before being granted bail and a further three weeks since he was found guilty. He then sentenced Persaud to four years in jail on each of the three chargesa total of 12 years. The sentences will run concurrently thus, Persaud will serve a maximum of four years. He will have to return to court on Monday to answer to the other three charges
Man remanded for rape Leroy Smith, of Richmond Housing Scheme was remanded on Tuesday by Magistrate Dellon Best until July 21, after police charged him with rape. The matter was called in camera, at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court. Smith is accused by the police of raping a Richmond Housing Scheme woman. The woman claimed that she was raped on three separate occasions by the said man. According to information, the woman who lives in the same street with Smith told the police that early Tuesday
morning Smith entered her home and raped her. The police, who escorted the woman to the Suddie Public Hospital for a medical certificate, are maintaining that on the first report of rape by the woman, Smith was arrested and placed on $50,000 station bail. To prove their case, police proceeded to pursue advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, compounded with added leads which they claim have led to the arrest and charge of Smith on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Smith’s wife,
Coleen Smith, is maintaining that her husband is innocent. The mother of three and close neighbours, are insisting that Smith was wrongly implicated for the alleged rape of the woman, since he only returned home from the interior, almost a week ago. Smith further claimed that the police failed to take statements from her and close neighbours, and have nothing substantial to work with in pursuing a rape charge against her husband. Smith is said to be a Muslim. (Yannason Duncan)
Barking man saved from jail on drug charge Twenty-five year old, Kwame Durant, who has no fixed place of residence, was given a second chance yesterday after he pleaded guilty to a drug possession charge. As he sat in a corner of the docks Durant started to bark like dog and to shake his body back and forth, causing members of the public who sat in the chilled room to look at each other. The charge stated that on
July 5, last he had in his possession 2.2 grams of cannabis. Police Corporal, Deniro Jones, informed the court that on the day in question, ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) acting on information went to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where the defendant was behaving in a disorderly manner. The search was carried
out and the item was found on him. Durant told the police that the cannabis was his. During the brief court hearing, Magistrate Ann McLennan asked him what he had to say for himself, the young man started to bark like a dog and then told the Magistrate that he is a farmer and he uses the cannabis for his mental problem. He was then fined $15,000 and ordered to do three weeks of community service.
The question of the legality and the operations of the controversial Berbice Anti-Smuggling Squad (BASS) has been brought sharply into focus after operatives of that entity shot and killed a Corentyne resident. After the man was shot he was left to bleed to death on the Number 66 Village foreshore, Corentyne. The alleged shooter, Safraz Khan, 35, of Springlands has been released on bail pending further investigation. Charles Caesar called ‘Naggazar’, 40, a father of two, and a labourer of Springlands and formerly of Fyrish Village, Corentyne, was shot in the right leg by members of BASS. Caesar was among six men who were offloading a boat on the No. 66 foreshore. The vessel allegedly came from neighbouring Suriname with smuggled goods around
20:00 hrs on Saturday evening, when they were intercepted by the members of BASS. It was while they were offloading the items from the boat that members of BASS approached and ordered them not to move and to lie on the ground. According to one of the men, four shots were fired. They were forced to lie on the ground with their hands behind their backs. The motor vessel which would usually transport smuggled goods was captained by a Surinamese, and during the interim, the vessel sped away. The men were taken to the BASS office and booked. The alleged smugglers were then taken to the Springlands Police Station where the BASS operatives told the police that the men were smuggling and should be placed on $10,000 bail each or be locked up.
The police were never told by the BASS members that shots were fired and that one of the men was shot. The BASS operatives also impounded the bus BMM 3850 which had cases of Aloe drink and Dates. One of the men eventually called his sister who posted bail for all of them. All the while the injured Caesar was left lying on the foreshore bleeding from the wound to his leg. It was now around midnight and after not seeing Caesar and realizing that he was not around, relatives and friends decided to search for him. They decided to make a check at the No. 66 foreshore, where Caesar was found lying around 00:55 hrs bleeding profusely from the injury to his right leg. The man was shot just above the knee; the bullet ruptured the main vein which (continued on page 24)
Gap in access to healthcare stymieing HIV/AIDS fight - Health Minister As Guyana continues its fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton has said that the gap in access to healthcare is stymieing the fight. During a forum held yesterday, Dr. Norton also said that the disease can be conquered if the gaps are filled. The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been one affecting the entire world. He said that this is also true in Guyana’s case. However, he said, things have reached the stage where the HIV/AIDS disease can actually be conquered. According to Dr. Norton, there is a big gap between those that have exposure to medications and ways to manage the disease and those who do not have the same exposure. He added that there are persons who have no access at all to ways to manage the disease. “We’ve reached a stage where we can actually say we can conquer HIV/AIDS, that we can rid the world of that scourge. We might have done so before if it were not for that gap,” Dr. Norton said. He continued, “Unless we can fill that gap – unless we can ensure that there is no person left behind – it will take quite a long time, or might be almost impossible, for us to conquer the AIDS epidemic.” Dr. Norton said that throughout Guyana there are difficulties in persons having access to adequate health care. He said, too, that interpersonal relationships in
the healthcare sector needed to be strengthened. Though HIV numbers are dropping in Guyana, the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) has noted that the country still has much further to go before it can eradicate HIV/AIDS. According to NAPS, there were 751 new HIV cases and 105 reported cases of AIDS in 2014. Fifty-three of these cases were advanced. However, the proportion of all deaths attributable to AIDS has been steadily declining over the years. Densely populated regions, such as Region Four, continue to have the highest numbers of HIV cases. In 2013, Region Four recorded 75.4 per cent of the nation’s HIV cases. The second most affected region was Region Two at 9.57 per centre. Meanwhile, a number of challenges have arisen over time. These challenges include reaching the key populations, the transitioning
Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton of human resources, and the underperforming of some treatment sites. There are also substantial difficulties in carrying down HIV/AIDS numbers of target groups such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers.
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Kaieteur News
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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. Balloon decorating for birthdays, weddings, anniversary etc, make your event extra special! Tel Maya: 642-6664 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIRCONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES, FREEZERS - CALL:6294946 OR 225-4822 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building, visadocumentsgy@yahoo.comCall: 225-6496, 662-6045 EAGLE’S FRIDGE REGASES - $8,000 & washing machine repairs. Phone: 697-2969, 646-0966 INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves - Contact Nick: 6831312, 627-3206 All types of grill work to be done, also experience in working on boats- Contact Brian: 666-2101 or 233-2847
WANTED Male salesperson for best plant shop in Guyana (G/T)Tel: 648-1821 (8am-5pm)
Summer Special: In cosmetology, nails, wig design & hair cuttingClasses commence -13 July Tel: 619-7603, 666-5241
Experienced pastry maker, cake decorator, curry cook, cleaners, apply @ Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. 2 Experienced welder/ fabricator preferably from Bel-Air to Mon-Repos, E.C.D- Tel: 222-3844 One live in female to care for an elderly man- Tel: 223-9888 One grill work welder must be able to work on boatContact Brian: 666-2101 or 233-2847 (1)One general domestic & (1) one handy boy living on the East Bank- Call: 233-5477 between 8am-12 noon Security guards to work in the interior with mining firm must have military experienced –Contact: 2269768; 642-7963 One arc welder must know to do grill work and work with limited supervision- Call: 6133879 Experienced land dredge workers Tel # 675-9157, 6813801
VEHICLE FOR SALE Sale on new model Allion, TV Reverse camera, low mileage, Honda Fit - PLL Spacio - PTT Tel: 697-0294 One Silver Toyota Premio, 2003 model, PNN series, excellent condition –Tel: 6484259 One Toyota Allion PNN SERIES & 1 new & unregistered Mazda Axela, excellent condition -Tel: 649-0956
One 192 Carina with alarm, AC, deck. In working condition. Owner leaving country- Call: 687-3241
Property for rent at #2 Canal Polder- Tel: 613-1860
Professional & courteous cashiers for supermarket on the East Coast. Point of sale & computer experience a plus- Call: 220-2267, 601-3679 One Supervisor to Work at Xeno n H o t e l , C h a r i t y Essequibo. Contact 2235273/4
Fantasy Auto Sales: 38 Alexander Street Kitty. Get $100,000 discount on perorders- Tel: 611-1833
Receptionist for clinic- Call: 639-5577 1 Cleaner to clean yard & care for dogs. Apply in person @ Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling Receptionist (male & female) shift work at Hilton HotelCall: 225-9211
ACCOMODATION Aracari Resort –Tel: 2642946: Rooms from $45USD, double occupancy, fully air conditioned, hot & cold bath, WiFi, breakfast.
TO LET
Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807
For foreigners fully furnished two bedrooms apartment in South. Hot & cold, cable, washing machine & internet. Tel: 689-5877 FOR SALE/RENT American pools table- Call: 277-0578
Dell desktop & laptop computers from $55,000. Free games & educational software- call FutureTech: 231-2206 Wholesale brand name cologne/ perfume- Tel: 6719716
2 Accounts clerk with Grades 1 & 2 in Maths & English. Apply at Technical Services, Eccles Industrial Site, E.B.D.
Smart Choice Auto: Premio, Allion, Spacio, Fielder, Bluebird, Carina 212, ISTCall: 652-3820, 665-4529 First Class Auto in Stock: 09 Allion, 08 Premio, Carina 212, Spacio, Runx, IST, Mark 2, Axio, 06 Premio –Call: 6098188; 638-3045 D.Persaud Auto Deal- deals on wheel promotion on Toyota Premio & Spacio- Tel: 681-7117 Toyota Allion 17" chrome rims, remote start alarm, DVD (HC owner driver)- Call: 2313709, 233-2538, 667-9013 2008 Fielder -$2.5M, 2004 Spacio -$2M, Carina 212 $1.9M, all vehicles unregistered –Tel: 617-2891 Allion PRR, 42,000KM, alarm, reverse camera, 17" rims, DVD deck, HID, music, hardly used -$1.850M – Contact: 616-3566 1 new model, Toyota Axio for sale – unregistered –Call: 642-6079
Toyota Prado, Price$4.4M Neg. Call: 643-2403
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
Oceanicvillas air conditioned, apartments/ fridge/stove/washer/dryer/ microwave. Contact Shiv: 678-6887 or email: oceanicvillas@yahoo.ca
VACANCY
1 Toyota Raum PTT series in excellent condition $1.2M negotiable- Contact: 642-9755
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 2193900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
Nissan Tiida, Hatch Back, PPP series, air-condition, magrims, excellent condition, price negotiable –Tel: 6002170
Hire car drivers- Call: 2332538, 231-3709, 667-9013
Church to let @ 180 Charlotte St, Bourda $150,000 negotiableTel: 227-6817, 624-7341 Two bedrooms top flat apartment in Campbellville, G/Town. Available 1st August,2015- Tel: 667-7836, 619-5357
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW & MORE- CALL: 6750767, 627-5098
One honest live- in domestic, age 30 to 50yrs- Tel: 650-8632 from 9am to 7pm
Indoor/outdoor salesman highly motivated/ energetic. Secondary education, pleasant personality. 2 porters with reference & IDCall:233-0570
Thursday July 09, 2015
VEHICLE FOR SALE AE100 Toyota Corolla PHH 7796 – Call: 670-1395 Just arrived from UK brand new TM trucks. Good priceTel: 679-7587, 264-1582 Cheapest: Stick gear buses, Rush, Hilux, 4D33 two ton canter. Front view property in Bougainvilla Park- Call: 616-7635 1 Beige Toyota Spacio 2003 model. PMM series. Lady driven. 1st owner, in excellent condition- $1.5MCall: 628-5828
One 318 BMW never register for $ 3.1M down payment $ 800,000- Contact # 650-0402 Fantasy Auto Sales at 38 Alexander St, Kitty. Get $100,000 discount on preorders- Contact: 611-1833 Fantasy Auto SalesAvailable: 2010 Mitsubishi RVR, Nissan X-Trail 2008. New model Premio & AllionCall: 611-1833 Toyota Sequoia PKK series, fully loaded, like new -$M – Tel: 645-4709, 627-4080 1 Toyota Pickup GRR 9565 & 1 ATV motor bike- Call: 6600422
Vreed-En-Hoop Junction: Storage bond, office, lessons place & other- Call: 680-9905 1 Bottom flat at Winsor Forest road. Immediately 2 bedrooms house. One business (new) W.C.D- Call: 276-0818 Three storey 75ft x 30ft building, open floors, 2 offices, 2 washrooms, driveway. 25B Princess St, Charlestown. Tel: 223-0654, 225-0605 Newly constructed business spot located on public roadCall: 613-0448, 672-8625 1 Bedroom bottom flat @ Austin Street, parking space available - Call: 628-7953 1 Bedroom house- Call: 2223554
One Mitsubishi Canter in good condition 2.5 ton, has dumper. $2.1M negotiableTel: 612-1848 One oven and a mixer- Tel: 665-6919 152ft complete cabin cruiser. In excellent condition- Tel: 592-654-2817, 592-622-2958 One Ducati 1098cc motorcycle in excellent condition- Call: 617-6934, 674-0137 British bulldog, Cocker Spaniel and German shepherds. Make your order early for Huskies & Rottweilers- Call or whatsapp: 664-5401 192 Toyota Carina in excellent condition $850,000. Call: 696-3787, 229-6870 1 5L Diesel pick-up $3M. 1 House @ Covent Garden Island. 1 sound system- Call Office: 265-3586 (Mon-Fri) (7am-4pm) New American made 24ft Werner aluminum ladderCall: 609-7257, 225-7946 Best price & quality: 9" tablet, used iPhone & laptop- Call: 610-0652 Mix breed pups, pit-bull and European mastiff –Contact: 601-1371
LAND FOR SALE Land @ Parfaite Harmonie & Tuschen -$1.5M each, house & land @ Belle West. Call: 604-6724 1500 acres transported land 4½ miles from Bartica Rock, Quarry, Forestry, Agriculture. Contact Mark: 603-1266; 625-9788
2 Hydraulic hose crimperCall: 688-2880 Pure breed Rottweiler pups, fully de-wormed & vaccinated –Tel: 220-2277, 220-8904; 629-1471 Household items: refrigerator, stove, bed, washer, computer desk, filing cabinet, etc. Owner migrating- Tel: 654-4116, 6048350 Motivated seller $500,000. Below cost 16" bore tractor driven pump on trailer (new)- Tel: 227-1830
FOR SALE 1 Jailing motorcycle scooter (blue) JC 125T-39A, HP125cc- Call: 691-0592 For sale for chickens: automatic water pans, feed cans, 1 plucking machine & 1 freezer- Contact Diane: 6037290
ENERGY EFFICIENT LED LIGHTS&SOLAR PANELS SOLD @ AFFORDABLE PRICES. WE ALSO DO INSTALLATIONS- CALL: 621-3072 OR 600-1331 1 Lincoln arc welder with Perkins engine on wheels – Call: 609-5672 Continued on page 23
Thursday July 09, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Trinidad media association criticised for hypocrisy and political bias PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Phillip Alexander, a candidate for the Diego Martin West constituency for the new “Third Force Movement”, has taken issue with the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT), accusing it of hypocrisy and political bias. According to Alexander, MATT is calling for tougher laws against those who they say “cyber bully” journalists, but is mute and silent on journalists and media houses taking liberties with people’s reputations, publishing unauthenticated speculation and outright untruths. “Isn’t that hypocrisy?” Alexander wrote on Facebook. “TV6 ran a third hand interview between discredited Jack Warner and an unverified ‘recording of a voice’ that scandalised the prime minister in the worst way, and when challenged by the very person whose voice it is alleged to be, who insists that the entire thing is a fabrication and untrue, the reporter then scandalises HIM and alleges that he was ‘paid off.’ Now how is that a level playing field?” he said. According to Alexander, someone posted on social
media that “Jack Warner aims, but TV6/Express pulls the trigger.” “How far is that from reality?” Alexander queried. “I would like to again call on Francesca Hawkins as head of the Media Association to do everything in her power to rein in errant and rogue journalists and enforce a code of ethics among the fraternity, before this goes too far, if what she and they want is an environment where journalists are respected by the wider community,” he said. Alexander noted that using the “free speech enshrined in the Constitution as a whip against the people is not why that freedom exists, and while shock and scandal brings viewers and sells papers, it exerts a heavy price on the public’s perception of media as a whole and on the reputations of the journalists themselves. “I would also like to remind social media users to refrain from thuggish behaviour, that they can be strong without being disrespectful or threatening, and that the use of violence or threats of violence and racist slurs solves nothing
and in the end only makes things worse.” A journalist, who was turned down for a job in the state sector, is reportedly at the centre of the antigovernment statements from MATT. The journalist prompted a MATT statement recently, claiming that cyberbullying was taking place in government-owned media. However, according to the Voice newspaper, a couple of years ago, that journalist sought to be employed in an important public sector post but did not make the grade. Close associates say the journalist has since been bitter toward the government. MATT last week made an issue of criticisms levelled against certain “investigative journalists” by a presenter on a government-owned radio station. But the association has not spoken out on an assertion by government minister Dr Roodal Moonilal that there is “structural bias” at the Trinidad Express newspaper, with eight antigovernment columnists. The body has not commented on repeated revelations of inadequate research, biased editorials and commentaries, screening
of letters to the editors and the sensationalising of unfounded allegations from opposition politicians. MATT has also not commented on the slanderous nature of several radio talk shows, some of which incite divisiveness and promote racism. MATT is a historically troubled and largely ineffective organisation, with its entire executive resigning en bloc two years ago after flip-flopping over several days on purported press freedom issues. Other unanswered questions relate to the role of the Trinidad Express and its staff in local politics, especially opposition interests, and the nature of Barbados-based Sir Fred Gollop’s interest or agenda in the politics of Trinidad and Tobago that he should allow the media group of which he is the chairman to defame and assault local politicians and media workers with untruths and fabricated stories. Gollop is the chairman of ONE Caribbean Media Limited, the regional media organization under which Caribbean Communications Network (CCN) and the Trinidad Express fall.
PROBE INTO KAMLA’S ‘BABY’ Interim chairman promises audit after alleged theft from Children’s Life Fund...
Trinidad Express - Interim chairman of the Children’s Life Fund Authority (CLFA) Dr Colin Furlonge is promising a thorough audit into all allegations of theft and financial misappropriation as uncovered in a TV6 News and Express investigation over the last few days. The Children’s Life Fund is the brainchild of Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar, and she boasts of the number of less fortunate children it has helped with medical expenses. Furlonge, who is also the Chief Medical Officer, said questions only arose in 13 cases of the 221 children the fund has helped. Speaking on TV6’s Morning Edition Tuesday, Furlonge said the board of directors will determine whether an employee forged parents’ signatures and took money owed to them for travel expenses. “We are engaging in a forensic audit to look at all matters from the beginning to the end. Hopefully, we can expedite that because there is a need to clear the air. I don’t think they will find that money was misappropriated in terms
of hospitals. The other matter, we are taking it seriously but remember, out of 13 cases in which money was handed to the CEO, four were to Miss Genevieve Madoo whereas she claims money went elsewhere,” he said Senior police sources told the Express Madoo was summoned to the Fraud Squad in Port of Spain Tuesday, to give an official statement to police on allegations of the theft of US money she uncovered while she was CEO from March 2014 to May 2105. Approached outside the Fraud Squad building in Port of Spain, Madoo sought to clear the air on statements made earlier by Furlonge that she had collected the money to be disbursed among four sick children. Madoo said she was instructed to do so by the former chairman, Varun Maharaj, and indicated at that time Dr Furlonge was a board member so she reluctantly collected the US cash. She added there is a paper trail to prove there was no wrongdoing on her part. “There is documentation, contrary to what Dr Furlonge
and what Mr (Dennis) Cox have said, to show that the individual did sign on a document called the letter of agreement between the parent and the Children’s Life Fund Authority. The individual in question who allegedly took the funds, her name is on that document, as well as the parents, and it is the same date as the name of the cash receipts for monies for meals and transport as well; you would find that the documentation is lining up,” she said. Madoo said it was while doing background checks in April this year, she discovered some parents didn’t get the money promised, a trend she noticed had taken place even before she became CEO. “I am surprised that they would even say that; I thought that they would know these things,” said Madoo. The former CEO claimed she was being used as a scapegoat to conceal the true extent of the fraud she uncovered under her watch. “I am not surprised, given the type of things that they have also said in reference to
Mr Cox’s statement that this is ‘bacchanalish’ . The thing about the wire transfers and the meal allowance and transport, they happened in isolated events. There was no issue of rushing the board on anything,” she said. Madoo said although these events were brought to the attention of the board in April 2014 and October 2014, the board never acted on it. In fact, Madoo claims she was silenced for what she might have uncovered, making reference to the questionable wire transfers highlighted in TV6 News and Express investigative stories. “The bank did forward an e-mail of wire transfers to me. I brought this to the attention of the board at the December 3 meeting, 2014. After having brought that, Dr Furlonge got very upset with me and said he did not want me forwarding any of the information to him; he only wanted the printed email of the contents of the message the supervisor sent,” said Madoo. Madoo said she complied with this request and Dr Furlonge then asked the bank to forward the relevant information to him.
From page 22 PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 23, Area F Zeeburg, South, old gas station road, West Coast DemeraraContact: 621-8386 (Brodo) Two executive houses in gated compound at Oceanicvillas -$58M eachTel Shiv: 600-6681 Property for sale, Grove $18M neg. Tel: 625-5461. Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 House for sale at Craig- Call: 679-8091 or 718-213-6496 2 Storey 45x35 concrete property, lower flat incomplete. Land 65x120 @ Diamond N/S 5th Avenue, E.B.D- Call: 629-4017
LAND FOR SALE Land situated at Duke Street Hague, W.C.D. opposite masjid- Tel: 269-1385, 6006477 Land for sale at Lot 12 Mon Repos, E.C.D- Tel: 220-7330, 203-850-5235 144x37.4 FT house lot available at Webster Avenue, Buxton. $2.6M negotiable- Call: 696-8391 Luxury gate communitymall, pool, swipe card entry, underground irrigation selling @ $6USD per sq.ftCall: 609-0783 Parfaite Harmonie $1.2M, $1.5M, $2.6M (130ftx48ft). Herstelling $4M (110ftx56ft). Long creek 30 acres $9MCall: 675-7292
EDUCATION Summer Classes: Phonics, Reading, Language, Mathematics, Art & Craft & fun day (4-12yrs) July 13thAugust 13th @ Roxanne Burnham Gardens-Tel:2182076; 619-4355 Institute of Academic Excellence- registration commenced for our Secondary school (forms 15), lessons & adults CXC classes- Tel: 683-5742 Summer classes. Congratulations to my top student Aselah Najah, 518 (Queens College). CXC classes, Phonics, ComputerCall: 690-5008, 619-7911, 657-7398 CSEC Accounts lessons starting: 11th July, 2015 (9am-1pm) @ 336 Cummings street G/Town- Call: 6095186 limited spaces available. 100% grade 1 passes. Summer Kids; computer classes, ages 5-16 @ Micrographics, Vreed-enHoop –Tel: 264-3057 Earn a Diploma in computers, 9 courses @ Micrographics, Vreed-En-Hoop –Tel: 2643057 Private customs broker certificate training course. Importers/ exporters & others. From 4th August, 2015 (3 weeks)- Call: 6948322/ 223-1506 Affordable summer classes for weak children in reading, spelling, phonics, composition etc. for all agescall: 675-4379
LAND FOR SALE 50 Acres titled farm land @ The Belle, Upper Dem, River Front -reasonable offer accepted, serious enquiries only! – Tel: 695-3493 VEHICLE FOR SALE One Alteeza, PNN Series, immaculate condition. Tel: 649-9647 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 09, 2015
Govt. promises laptops/tablets Govt. working to deliver on its 100-day plan for NGSA top performers While not detailing at what cost, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, yesterday unveiled Government’s plan to reward the top performers of the 2015 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). He made the announcement at this week’s post Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency, formerly Office of the Presidency. The plan to reward those who excelled was one that was initiated at the level of Cabinet by Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine. And according to Harmon, “Cabinet approved of the acquisition of 168 of these instruments (laptops/ tablets) to be distributed...” The top performing one per cent of this year’s NGSA amounted to 166 pupils – 72 males and 94 females, according to information from the Ministry of Education. The top performers were a mixture of pupils from both the private and public schools but the outstanding performance of private schools this year was particularly noted. Harmon in making public Government’s plan to reward the top performers yesterday noted that the distribution will see top performers from across the country benefiting. This therefore means, the Minister said, that “pupils who performed well at Kwakwani, at Ituni, at Lethem, at Mahdia, Georgetown, New Amsterdam and all across this country, they will be suitably rewarded for their excellence
2015 National NGSA Top Performer: Solomon Cheria
in these examinations.” Harmon also said yesterday that Cabinet has been assured that the Ministry of Education is doing all that it can to ensure that the young people of this country are provided with the tools to ensure that they have better access to information and that they can perform even better at future examinations. A total of 15,225 pupils participated in the NGSA this year. They were required to participate in a total of four subject areas with the highest possible standardised scores obtainable being 138 in Mathematics; 132 in English;
132 in Social Studies and 133 in Science. This therefore meant that the highest possible total score obtainable was 535 marks. Attaining 530 marks was 11-year-old Solomon Cherai of the privately operated Success Elementary primary school. His score was closely followed by his schoolmate 11-year-old Shania Eastman who scored 529 marks. A score of 526 marks was shared by Celine Farinha of Peter’s Hall Primary, Shreya Persaud and Isabella Hussain. The latter two being pupils of the Academy of Excellence in Region Three.
BASS operative placed on ... From page 21 caused him to bleed heavily. The place was wet and with the cold winds, Caesar was left exposed to the elements and was trembling. The man was picked up and placed in the trunk of a car and rushed to the Skeldon Hospital where he succumbed. The man’s death was reported to the Springlands Police Station and it was then the police learnt that someone was shot. After investigations were launched, two members of
BASS were taken into custody. However, one was subsequently released. The BASS operatives are saying that they fired one shot in the air. However investigators recovered three spent shells from the scene. The BASS operatives would usually carry 9mm pistols with 14 rounds. In the meanwhile relatives have vowed to take the matter to the highest level since they are saying that their relative was treated worse than a dog.
The men arrested also told relatives that racial slurs were used. Relatives plan to leave no stone unturned in seeking justice. They are calling for the shooter to be charged with murder. A Post mortem examination conducted on the body of Caesar showed that he died from shock and haemorrhage due to gunshot injuries. Investigations are continuing and charges are likely soon
With just under onemonth to go, A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Administration is pushing to ensure it delivers on the promises in its 100- day plan. President David Granger told reporters yesterday that despite encountering such findings as a bankrupt PetroCaribe Fund and a Consolidated Fund in heavy overdraft, the new Administration is “working to ensure the things we promised (within the 100 days) are delivered”. He stated, “When we went into the office, there were some unexpected discoveries; example, the state of the buildings, the state of vehicles, the state of finance, but we are still working to ensure that the promises which we made in our legislative agenda, the promises which we made to the people of Guyana are delivered,” the President said. The new Administration has until August 16 to deliver on the promises set out by its 100day manifesto plan: reduce the Berbice Bridge toll, increase the salaries of
- President Granger Government workers, implement a phased reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT), and completely remove VAT from food and other essential items, increase old age pension and waive duties on fuel, tools and small mining equipment bought by identifiable holders of small concessions. Already in process is the promise made to return a television station to Lindeners, establish passport and birth certificate licencing offices in Berbice, Essequibo and Linden, hold a National Cane Workers and Cane Farmers Conference, a National Rice Farmers and Rice Millers Conference, establish an Investigative Commission on Corruption, a Task Force on Crime and Security and on Road Safety, convene a National Conference on Women, a bi-partisan Women’s Working Group, an Indigenous People’s Rights and Resource Conference and re-assess and depoliticised the National Toshaos Council.
The National Conference of Women which aims at arriving at a Gender Policy collectively drafted by the women from across Guyana, and the Indigenous People’s Rights and Resource Conference is set for early August. Plans to reduce the President’s Pension and other benefits and liberalise the telecommunication sector are also in process. The government has since fulfilled such promises as setting the date for the early holding of Local Government Elections (November), establishing and signing on to Code of Conduct for Parliamentarians and Ministers, convening a National Youth Conference to discuss the programme of action for a National Youth Policy and a National Youth Action Plan, and passing in the National Assembly the amended Anti-Money Laundeering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill. The goal of establishing the Public Procurement Commission will require a two-thirds majority vote in Parliament.
More police ranks and animal patrols highlighted in new crime ... From page 18 policemen on patrol and to remove them out of the offices where they are engaged in what are known as non-core functions of the Guyana Police Force,” Harmon explained. The response time by the police to complaints by citizens and the operation of the 911 system are all part of the strategies, which are going to be subjected to serious review over the next couple of weeks. The fourth aspect of the strategy has to do with police assets and equipment. The Minister of State said that the government has given a clear undertaken to the Guyana Police Force that it will provide the assets to go after criminal activity wherever it exists. According to Harmon, it means that the police ability
to be able to go up in the air, using aircraft and helicopters to actually overlook certain terrain, which is not only confined to the land but sea as well, where piracy has been increasingly rampant. The resuscitation of the Police Marine Wing to give them greater flexibility and greater access to inland waterways is an important feature of the new government's strategy. Perhaps the most innovative measure to deal with rising crime is the use of animals. “The use of horses, of dogs to go after criminals is also going to be part of that strategy,” Harmon stated. Police communication will be improved significantly by the use of the internet, and access to close-circuit cameras that are deployed across
the country. “We've given the police the undertaking that we are prepared to increase the allocation to the force so that we will have the cameras not just concentrated in one area but all across the country to aid in the fight against criminal activity,” Harmon assured, adding that the networking of police station all across the country will also be a feature. “We are sending a very clear signal to all and sundry that wherever the intelligence leads us we are going to follow it and there will be no sacred cows where this matter is concerned,” Harmon declared. Incidentally no mention was made of the police SWAT unit, a group of highly trained ranks who are not being put to use.
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Kaieteur News
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Thursday July 09, 2015
PM outlines plans to address drought situation KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said yesterday that Jamaicans are adversely suffering from the effects of a prolonged drought. She was speaking at the signing of the National Water Commission’s (NWC) Nonrevenue Water Contract with Miya - an Israelibased company. The prime minister also noted that the drought and the many bush fires recently have translated into major crop losses for scores of farmers. She added that many Jamaicans, especially in the Corporate Area, are dealing with the inconvenience of reduced water supply as the NWC is forced to regulate the supply of the limited amount of the precious commodity that remains in the water storage facilities. “The minister with responsibility for water has indicated in previous statements, some of the measures being pursued by the Government to address the situation,” Simpson-Miller said. In outlining the measures, she said the
Portia Simpson Miller
Government has invested billions of Jamaican dollars ($J1 Billion) in various projects across the island including Trelawny, St Catherine, St James, Hanover, the Kingston Metropolitan Area, St Mary and St Ann. “For the long term, we are reviewing the country’s water supply plans. Some options include the possibility of damming of the Rio Cobre to provide an additional 50 million gallons per day to the Kingston Metropolitan Area and St Catherine,” Simpson-Miller explained. She also told of the Government’s plan to fully embrace rainwater harvesting as a major part of our water security efforts, now and for the future. The contract signed yesterday between the NWC and Miya is for the provision of services that will reduce the amount on NonRevenue Water. “This will in turn, increase the operational efficiencies of the NWC and ensure that more of the water produced by the NWC will be available to be supplied to customers,” Simpson-Miller added.
Sanitation workers on strike in Barbados as union enters Phase 2 of industrial action
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - A day after calling out public servants to protest, the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) has instructed employees its represents at the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) to stop working. The action – Phase 2 of the industrial action sparked by the forced retirement of workers at the Barbados
Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) – will mean no garbage collection or provision of grave digging services by the SSA. And action will escalate to a national shutdown by tomorrow if there is no intervention to resolve the dispute, the union’s acting general secretary Roslyn Smith warned Tuesday. The NUPW wants the
BIDC to reinstate the 10 employees over the age of 60 who were sent on retirement, or pay them until they reach the age of 67. A total of 13 people over the age of 60 went home but the BIDC said two of the other three had indicated prior to the BIDC’s decision that they wanted to retire by August while the other was not appointed in a post.
Thursday July 09, 2015
Kaieteur News
Technical glitch forces NYSE to suspend trading for over three hours A technical glitch forced the New York Stock Exchange to suspend trading for more than three hours yesterday in the biggest outage to strike a U.S. financial market in nearly two years, unnerving investors already rattled by the meltdown in Chinese stocks and the Greek debt crisis. The exchange, a unit of Intercontinental Exchange Inc, said the halt, which occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. EDT and lasted until 3:10 p.m., was not the result of a cyberattack. Other exchanges were trading normally. “It’s not a good day, and I don’t feel good for our customers who are having to deal with the fallout,” NYSE President Thomas Farley told CNBC during the halt. Traders awaited the reopening anxiously because much of the business on the NYSE happens when portfolio managers put in orders designed to occur at the exact market close to ensure end-of-day pricing. The NYSE accounts for more than 60 percent of S&P 500 volume at the close of the market, according to Credit Suisse analyst Ana Avramovic. Most of this is at the “market-onclose,” when those orders are processed for funds and institutions. “If you don’t have all the orders on that marketplace on the close, the pricing on the close would be definitely not accurate,” said Empire Executions Inc President Peter Costa, who trades on the NYSE floor. The U.S. market was down more than 1 percent yesterday, as investors continue to focus on turmoil in China and Greece. FRAGMENTED MARKET There are 11 U.S. stock exchanges, and NYSE-listed stocks continued to trade on other venues, such as those run by Nasdaq
OMX Group and BATS Global Markets. “This is one of the rare cases where the fragmented markets we live in actually serve a purpose,” said Dave Nadig, director of exchange-traded funds at FactSet Research Systems. “If this happened at (the London Stock Exchange), you would just be sitting staring at a blank screen.” The issues at NYSE came on the same day that computer problems led United Airlines to ground all its flights for about two hours and the home page of the Wall Street Journal’s website temporarily went down. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said there were no signs that the problems at NYSE and United Airlines stemmed from “malicious activity.” Nearly all U.S. trading is done electronically, and the NYSE outage again raised questions about the technology at exchanges after major glitches in recent years. A technical problem at NYSE’s Arca exchange in March caused some of the most popular exchange-traded funds to be temporarily unavailable for trading. And in August 2013, trading of all Nasdaq-listed stocks was frozen for three hours, leading U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo White to call for a meeting of Wall Street executives to insure “continuous and orderly” functioning of the markets. The SEC said yesterday that it was closely monitoring the situation at NYSE. The White House said President Barack Obama had been briefed on the matter. The New York Stock Exchange accounted for about 13.4 percent of all equities volume last month and 12.5 percent Tuesday according to BATS Global Markets data.
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Root century boosts England in first Ashes test CARDIFF (Reuters) Joe Root plundered a superb century to defy Australia as England recovered from a poor start to post 343 for seven on the first day of the first Ashes test on Wednesday. A fluent and counterattacking Root, dropped before he had scored, hit 134 with Gary Ballance (61) and Ben Stokes (52) making solid contributions. Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc took three wickets apiece for Australia with the late dismissal of Jos Buttler leaving the game evenly poised. England were wobbling at 43-3 when Root came to the
crease on an overcast and chilly morning in the Welsh capital but he made the most of a second-ball reprieve after he was spilled by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. England did not lose a wicket in the afternoon session as Root prospered and Ballance scratched around to share a fourth wicket stand of 153 at Sophia Gardens, where England dug in for a memorable draw in 2009 - the first Ashes test at the ground. Ballance was trapped in front by Hazlewood and Starc ended Root’s 166-ball stay when he induced an edge to first slip. Ben Stokes continued the
Stoby overpowers... From page 33 Donovan, 58:23. 13. Gabriel Obregon, 58:57. 14. Ishwar Persad, 59:11. 15. Gareth Watkins, 1:02.35. 16. Sjoerd Koster, 1:06.33. 17. Claudius Rhymer, 1:08.00. 18. Jonathan McCarthy, 1:08.58. 19. Howard Moore, 1:11.56. 20. Ruairi Bourke, 1:12.43. 21. Danger, 1:19.11. 22. Richard Parchment, 1:45.03. Women: 1. Rosmond Johnson, 53:41. 2. Melissa
Brunner, 54:36. 3. NiMade Oniasih, 56:37. 4. Kay Reddy, 1:00.10. 5. Claudia Ferrari, 1:00.18. 6. Lauren Julien, 1:00.45. 7. Rhiannon Jones, 1:03.46. 8. Debbie Bell, 1:04.26. 9. Clair Burke, 1:12.43. 10. Natasha Gunney, 1:18.45. 5K: Adenike Sicard, 33:49. Boys One Mile: Under 6: 1. Xavier Morgan. Under 8: 1. Sebbie Morgan. Power Walkers: 1.= Sophie Bennett and Linda Li 1:56.00. (MIleSplit)
assault before Starc bowled him, the paceman celebrating with a finger-to-lips send off for the departing batsman. Moeen Ali (26) and Stuart Broad (0) will resume today. Root was full of aggressive intent, scoring quickly - mixing imperious cover drives and stylish cuts - seizing on anything short, wide or overpitched to compile his seventh test century and second against Australia. “It’s nice to make a big score so early in the series but the most important thing is we get wins. We want to win back the Ashes,” Root told reporters. “It’s alright having one good day, but we have to back that up now, not just in the rest of this game but throughout the series as well. It’s going to be a really interesting series.” Having lost the toss on a pitch, Australia made the most of a swinging ball as Adam Lyth (six) fell in the second over, caught low down by David Warner at gully off Hazlewood. Off spinner Nathan Lyon, introduced in the 10th over, sent back captain Alastair Cook (20) who tried to cut him away and edged behind to
Thursday July 09, 2015 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) The home environment will be unpredictable today. You'll be dropping friends for no apparent reason.
LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Your intellectual charm will entice new love interests. This is a great day to beautify your living quarters or to entertain at home.
TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) Don't avoid your true feelings. You may be sensitive to a point of absurdity. Your high energy will enable you to enlist the help of those in a position to back you.
SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) Opportunities for new friendships are apparent. You can come up with future trends in creative fields.
GEMINI (MAY 22-JUNE 21) You will have no problem getting along with clients. Your mind may not be on the job. CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) You can make headway in the workforce if you put your mind to it. LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Clear up domestic chores that have remained undone for some time. VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23) Personal alterations will be in your best interest. You may have been too agreeable to someone who just wanted to use you.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Your charisma will no doubt attract a lot of attention. Don't be shy to promote your own interests. CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) Enlist the aid of family members and consider the feelings of your mate. Don't let your health suffer because of worry. AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) Your energetic nature and ability to initiate projects will add to your popularity. PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) Have some fun, but draw the line if someone tries to fast talk their way into your heart.
Haddin. When Ian Bell’s poor form continued as he was trapped leg before for one by a Starc inswinger, England were reeling. Starc and the accurate Hazlewood caused England the most problems but there was no success for Mitchell Johnson, England’s nemesis from the last Ashes when he took 37 wickets with express pace. He got no help on Wednesday on a sluggish pitch with his 20 wicketless overs costing 87. Scores: England 343 for 7 (Root 134, Ballance 61, Hazelwood 370, Starc 3-84) v Australia
England’s Joe Root celebrates reaching his century. (Reuters/Philip BrownLivepic)
Venue Shopping Center and Beauty... From page 31 who end up in the hands of criminal gangs, drug and alcoholic abuse. She said that the business wholesale and retails all Avon products, sells brand name colognes, hair and skin care products, while the saloon does hair and nails. She called on the residents to visit and support the business so that they can in return, give back to community development. In response, treasurer of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association and executive of the Berbice Cricket Board, Vicky Bharosay thanked the business establishment for their kind gesture and promised that they will get good mileage for their contribution. Bharosay added that gate prizes give the fans another incentive to come to the game adding to the cricket entertainment and games for the young and old. He is pleading with other businesses and private individuals to come on board and support this initiative. Contact can be made as follows: telephone numbers 3332375, 655-4140 and 623-6875. Emails can also be sent to abeharry1970 @yahoo.com and ros_haniff2001@yahoo.com. The Caricom Championship will be played at the historic Albion Sports Complex and will see eight top first division teams in Berbice taking part in a ten over knockout competition with the final of 20 overs to be played under lights for a top prize of $80,000 and trophy. The runner up will receive $40,000 and trophy, with the losing finalists $15,000 each. Man of the match in every game will be rewarded. Young Warriors/Rose Hall CC/Edinburgh Combined will tackle Upper Corentyne/ Skeldon Combined in the opening game. Game two will see Albion CC taking on Bermine/Police Combined. Game 3 is Port Mourant vs
Bush Lot/D’Edward Combined. Game 4 is Blairmont/West Berbice Combined vs Rose Hall Town. The preliminary games will play in a festival format to create nonstop action. The winner of game 1 and 2 play in the first seminal and the winner of game 3 and 4 plays in the other. The BCB would like to thank the following sponsors so far: ANSA MCAL under the Carib Brand, Sentinel Security, East Coast Cricket Board/Georgetown Cricket Association, Republic Bank Berbice Branches, P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited, Massy Industries, The New Building
Society Ltd, Balram Shane of Rose Hall Town, Ronald Williams of Apex Insurance Brokers Inc, Sandeep Ramdass of Ishmail Poultry, popularly known as Pampey, Asheik and Sons Motor Spares and Auto Sale, Safraz Photo Studio, Rocky of Palace Taxi Service, Restaurant and Bar, D Harricharran of Beauty and Home Design, Sheik Mohamed of Tiger Sports Club, Office Express, Trophy Stall, Bourda Market and Price is Right Supermarket of No 79 Corriverton. Entrance fee is $300 for adults, children under 12 free and the action starts at 10:000am.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 09, 2015
Gatlin, Gay and Powell Greipel wins fifth stage, battle on in Bolt’s absence Martin still leads Tour
Tyson Gay, from the USA, left, and Asafa Powell, from Jamaica, right, pose during a news conference on the eve of the Athletissima international athletics meeting, in Lausanne, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 8, 2015.(AP) LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP) – Lovers of clean track and field will be cringing at today’s Diamond League meet in Lausanne when doping cheats Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay come face to face in what is sure to be an explosive 100m. Usain Bolt has pulled out of a 200m in the Swiss city with a pelvis problem, although he insists he will compete in next month’s world championships in Beijing. In his absence, a stellar field of the world’s fastest men will meet, with Asafa Powell also featuring. With an ever-creeping shadow of doubt over the towering Jamaican Bolt’s form and fitness, Gatlin and Gay both have the chance to notch up a significant psychological blow by
putting in a solid evening of sprinting in the city that is home to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Ironically, Gay’s doping infringement was touched upon at last weekend’s Diamond League meet in Paris, where the French men’s 4x100m relay quartet were handed bronze medals from the 2012 London Olympics as a result of the US being stripped of their silver medals by the IOC. Mike Rodgers, another US doping offender, will also line up on Thursday. “It’s just another race, the fourth since the season started,” said Gay, who finished second to Gatlin in his first race back from his ban in Lausanne last season. “I have to run as much as I can before the world
VCB clocks first... From page 32 7.89m (0.4m/s). World leader Jason Morgan was ninth in the discus with 60.32m in his third meet in Europe in a week after competing in Nancy, France, last Tuesday, and Paris on Saturday. Shevon Stoddart was
sixth in the women’s 400m hurdles in 56.06 seconds as Georganne Moline of the USA won in 54.60 seconds, beating her compatriot Cassandra Tate in 55.06 seconds, with Ukraine’s Hanna Titimets third in 55.61 seconds.
championships in Beijing. I’m back from suspension, I’ve worked a lot on my mind, to learn how to control my body.” The 2004 Olympic champion Gatlin, who came back to win Olympic bronze in London in 2012 and world silver in Moscow a year later, currently has the world’s best time this season, having run 9.74sec in the opening Diamond League meet in Doha. Former world record holder Powell, a four-time winner in Lausanne (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011) and victor in Paris last weekend ahead of France’s Jimmy Vicaut and Rodgers, has run the second fastest (9.81) this season and double 2007 world sprint champion Gay the third quickest (9.87). One notable absentee from the Stade de la Pontaise apart from Bolt will be Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlasic, who has withdrawn with pain in her achilles tendon. The former two-time world champion (2007, 2009) and 2008 Olympic silver medallist said: “I have to be very careful. I must avoid serious injuries before the Beijing world champs.” The men’s 400m hurdles also boast a top-notch field, pitching American duo Bershawn Jackson and Michael Tinsley against Puerto Rican Javier Culson. Allyson Felix, whose 21.98sec clocked in Doha is the fastest in the world this year, is next of a strong US contingent, racing in the 200m and likely under most threat from Dutch European champion Dafne Schippers.
AMIENS, France (Reuters) German Andre Greipel was again far too strong for the opposition as he claimed his second win in this year’s Tour de France with an impressive sprint in the fifth stage yesterday. German Tony Martin (Etixx-Quick Step) retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey. Lotto Soudal rider Greipel, who holds the green jersey for the points classification, started his effort late in the final straight but easily went past Britain’s Mark Cavendish (Etixx-Quick Step). Cavendish, looking far from his past best as he sought to add to his 25 Tour stage wins, again came up short and finished third after taking fourth in Sunday’s second stage won by Greipel. Slovakian Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) finished a strong second at the end of a 189.5-km ride marred by
seven crashes on the slippery roads of northern France.”Two victories, it’s great,” said Greipel. “The whole team worked well for this sprint. It was the first bunch sprint, it’s interesting... with 300 metres I thought I was boxed in but I saw an opening and went for it.” France’s Nacer Bouhanni was an early casualty of the pile-ups, abandoning the race when he was caught up in a crash that involved four of his team mates. The sprint ace, who was looking to win a stage and possibly aiming for the green jersey, was taken to a hospital for checks. His Cofidis team manager said the 24-year-old had not suffered any fracture. WIth 77 km left, the BMC and Sky teams at the front accelerated and split the peloton as crosswinds made for yet another nervous day
on the Tour. No big guns were trapped behind and the favourites avoided trouble. Martin still leads Briton Chris Froome (Sky) by 12 seconds overall and American Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) by 25. Spain’s Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) remains eighth, 48 seconds behind, while defending champion Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) is 13th and 1:50 adrift. Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar) lies 17th, 2:08 off the pace. Greipel leads the points classification with 151 points, 32 ahead of Sagan. The ride took the peloton through several World War I battlefields on a day of remembrance on the Tour. Early in the morning, a metal blue cornflower was inaugurated at Mont St Eloi, where 1909 Tour winner Francois Faber died 100 years ago.
CONCACAF Exco Selects Sonia BienAime for Voting Position on FIFA Exco The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced yesterday that Sonia Bien-Aime, President of the Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) and a member of the CONCACAF Executive Committee, has been selected to serve in a voting position on FIFA’s Executive Committee. Bien-Aime joins Lydia Nsekera, President of the Burundi Football Association, to become the second woman ever to serve in a voting position on FIFA’s Executive Committee, and the first to be elected to a nonfemale designated seat. CONCACAF’s Executive Committee voted to appoint BienAime on July 4, 2015 in Vancouver, Canada. “Sonia has the full confidence of the CONCACAF Executive Committee and we are delighted for her to represent our Confederation on FIFA’s Executive Committee,” said Alfredo Hawit, Acting President of CONCACAF. “Sonia has demonstrated her significant leadership as a member of the CONCACAF Executive Committee, and will bring a diverse and fresh perspective to FIFA on how to promote and advance the game around the world.” Bien-Aime will represent CONCACAF’s Caribbean Zone as a FIFA Executive Committee member with a full voting rights position. She joins CONCACAF Acting President, Alfredo Hawit, and U.S. Soccer Federation President, Sunil Gulati at the global executive body. “My selection to the FIFA Executive Committee with full voting rights is a groundbreaking decision by CONCACAF that demonstrates our Confederation’s commitment to be forward-thinking and our ability to make bold, yet reasoned, decisions,” said Bien-Aime. “My goal is to represent the best interest of the Confederation, while contributing to the objectives of FIFA as we all take collective strides to develop and grow the game that we love.” Bien-Aime is one of three women on FIFA’s Executive Committee, having been co-
Sonia BienAime
opted to the top table of world football at the 63rd FIFA Congress in Mauritius in 2013. Since then, her mandate has been extended on two occasions. Her work on the FIFA Executive Committee has focused primarily on developing women’s football internationally. She currently serves as Deputy Chairwomen of the Organizing Committee for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Additionally, Bien-Aime is a member of the Organizing Committee for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, and the Committee for Women’s Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup. As a member of CONCACAF’s Executive Committee, Bien-Aime has served on the Gold Cup Committee and Women’s Football Committee. She has been a keen supporter of advancing the Confederation’s initiatives in the grassroots development of women’s football, including the CONCACAF Under-15 Girls’ Championship, the successful Let’s Develop Women’s Football Seminar, and the first-ever Women’s Football Day held on May 23, 2015. A former athlete, Bien-Aime was the captain of the Turks & Caicos Islands Women’s National Football Team. In 2006, she was appointed to the position of General Secretary of TCIFA, and became the first woman elected to an executive post in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) in 2012. (CONCACAF)
Thursday July 09, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Mackenzie High eyes NSBF BCB congratulates female U-14 title with Bishop’s blowout Inter-County team - St. Roses, MHS, LTI, Kwakwani reach U-19 Final Four By Edison Jefford Linden’s Mackenzie High School (MHS) remained unbeaten yesterday in the Under-14 category of the National Schools’ Basketball Festival (NSBF) following a 49-7 rout of Bishop’s High in a clash of Senior Secondary Schools at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Mackenzie High’s forward, Stephon Duncan and pint-sized guard Kobe Tappin ensured that they were ahead early in the game. Tappin scored 14 points with Duncan contributing 10 points along with seven rebounds in the win. Roydon Glasgow had five of Bishop’s seven points. Tappin scored seven points, which included a huge threepointer and his offensive counterpart, Duncan six points to lead their school to a 19-5 lead at the end of the first half of the game. The duo combined again in the second half to put pressure on Bishop’s on both ends of the court as they also employed a full-court man-toman defensive strategy to strangle Bishop’s, which only managed two points as a result in the entire 15-minute period. On Tuesday night, St. Roses High beat Kwakwani Secondary 26-12 in the U-14 competition, as Anthony Yansen scored 10 points with 11 rebounds. Kadeem Dover
Kobe Tappin had 10 of the 12 Kwakwani points in the game. Mackenzie High had also defeated Marian Academy 34-11 in the same category the night before with forward, Yonnick Tappin scoring 13 points. Marian’s forward, Corey Graham finished with five points and six rebounds for his school. In the U-16 group, Bishop’s High won 55-44 against Plaisance Secondary as Timothy Thompson recorded another doubledouble with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Michael Lewis scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while Webster McRae added 12 points. For Plaisance, Nigel Bowen top scored with 14 points, completed with 11
rebounds while Jared Sears scored nine points and grabbed 15 ‘boards’. Lorenzo Bunbury and Andrew Johnson scored nine points each. In the Under-19 competition, Bishop’s High School walloped St. Joseph High 78-26; Thompson poured in19 points and 12 rebounds, while Daniel Haynes also had a double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Marvin Durant scored 18 points. For St. Joseph, Lemuel Grant and Jacques Vincente had 10 points apiece. New Amsterdam Multilateral School beat Government Technical Institute (GTI) 48-32 with Neil Wills contributing 12 points and 12 rebounds. Kevon Wiggins and Tafaway Dey had 13 and 11 points respectively. Kelwyn Griffith and Sebastian Luke had seven points apiece for GTI. Mackenzie High edged Marian Academy 45-37 with Tyrese Mitchell putting in 18 points and Alister Lewis eight points. For Marian, Dwayne Obermuller had nine and Damani Thomas eight points and 10 rebounds. Mackenzie High joined St. Roses High, Linden Technical Institute and Kwakwani Secondary in the Final Four of the Under-19 competition of the 2015 NSBF, which will be played on Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Regional 50-over U-17 cricket in Tobago...
GUYANA SUFFER 2ND DEFEATS IN TWO DAYS
Guyana followed up their six-wicket loss to Jamaica on the opening day of the fourth annual WICB 50-over Regional under-17 cricket tournament in Tobago with a second defeat yesterday when they suffered a 103-run loss to the Windward Islands at Louis D’Or. The Windwards rattled up 237-8 off 50 overs with Kimani Melius blazing a confident 76, Tahj Tavarnier (29), Allick Athanaze (27) and Johann Jeremiah (25) all got starts for the Islanders. Demerara off-spinners Bhaskar Yadram (3-40) and Richie Looknauth (2-31) did the bulk of the damage with the ball for the South American team, who were bowled out for 134 from 38.1 overs. Joshua Persaud stroked a fluent 32 before he
departed but only Rolando Ali Mohamed with 20 offered any support to Lee Louisy (4-26), Narun Singh (3-21). In the other matches Barbados, who lost to the Windwards on Tuesday, beat the Leeward Islands by 9 wickets at Canaan, while host Trinidad and Tobago registered their second straight victory when they got the better of the Jamaicans by one wicket after beating the Leewards in the opening round. At Canaan, the Leewards fell for 93 off 31.4 overs (Dimari Prince 22, Jerrilous Louis 20; Donte Niles 4-24, Jarion Hoyte 3-10). Barbados replied with 961 off 14.5 overs (Thaddaeus Chase 52 not out, Shian Brathwaite 39 not out). At Shaw Park, T&T &
reached 147 off 48.4 overs (Cephas Cooper 65, Kirstan Kallicharran 31; Shalom Parnell 2-14, Sanjay Williams 2-22, Javeur Royal 2-29). Jamaica responded with 148-9 off 31.4 overs (Raewin Senior 38, Javeur Royal 21; Kirstan Kallicharran 4-49, Siba Batoosingh 2-29). T&T lead the points table with wins in their first two games while Guyana maintained their bottom of the table place with their second defeat in as many matches. After a break today the action continues tomorrow with Jamaica facing the Leeward Islands at Louis D’Or, Barbados opposing Guyana at Shaw Park and the Windward Islands coming up against Trinidad & Tobago at Canaan. The tournament will run from July 7-14.
The winning Berbice Female team in all smiles with their trophies. Coach Andre Percival is at 2ndleft and Manager Abena Schultz 3rd right. The Berbice Cricket Board congratulates its female senior team for convincingly defending their title by winning the 2015 Inter County Championship after defeating a poor Essequibo team in the first match and then marching past old rival Demerara in the final game. In a release from the board, the members said that the team has done the county proud and continues to demonstrate that the Berbice Cricket Board is the most organized one in the country. The board was impressed with the captaincy of West Indies all rounder Shemaine Campbell, the team work and the level of professionalism by the Manager Abena Schultz and Coach Andre Percival and is expecting that the national team will be dominated by Berbicians. Percival was also
the coach of the Berbice Under-15 which won the inter county championship earlier in the year. The BCB promised to make sure that cricket is played at all levels and will soon launch a three day competition for first division teams. 2015 saw the return of School Cricket at the under-17 and under-15 levels after many years. The female winners will be honored by the BCB shortly. The board also stated that arrangements are in place to get the senior cricketers in camp shortly. They will be joined by the Berbice Under-19 team. This early preparation is to keep the players fit and ready for the inter-county tournaments. Players who are called and fail to turn up will not be considered for selection for the county. Players will also be added based on performances in club cricket.
Venue Shopping Center and Beauty Salon lends support to BCB fundraiser Another popular and established business in the Upper Corentyne area, Venue Shopping Center and Beauty Salon of Public Road No 78 Village, has shown faith in the work of the BCB by providing sponsorship in the form of gate prizes for the Berbice Cricket Board Fundraiser “Caricom Championship 2015”. The tournament will now be played on Sunday July 19, 2015 at the Albion Community Centre ground. Proceeds from this event will be used mainly to organise a three day first division cricket competition for teams in Berbice. At the presentation ceremony, Sanita Roopnarine, an employee of the business establishment, expressed confidence in the work of the Berbice Cricket Board, hence the support. She said that her company recognizes the importance of sports in the betterment of lives of many young people. She added that cricket provides an opportunity for young people to be positively occupied, noting that there are too many idle youngsters (Continued on page 29)
Sanita Roopnarine, employee of Venue Shopping Center and Beauty Saloon presents the gate prize to Vicky Bharosay, treasurer of the UCCA and executive of the BCB.
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Thursday July 09, 2015
VCB clocks first sub-11 O’Neil dedicates title number in Hungary 100m win six to Andrew “Six head” Lewis
Gold medallist Veronica Campbell Brown (centre) of Jamaica competes with second-placed Tianna Bartoletta (left) of the USA, and Kaylin Whitney also of the USA during the women’s 100 metres final of the Gyulai Istvan Memorial – Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix at the athletic centre of Szekesfehervar, Hungary. (PHOTO: AFP) Jamaica Observer WORLD and Olympic champion Veronica Campbell Brown ran her first sub-11second 100m for the season as she won the women’s event at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, clocking 10.99 seconds running into a head wind of -1.2 metres per second. She was the only Jamaican winner at the event named in honour of the former IAAF general secretary as Omar McLeod failed to complete the men’s 110m hurdles in his first professional outing, after picking up a cramp. Campbell Brown, who was
third in both sprints at the recent JAAA National Senior Championships at the National Stadium, got out of the blocks fast and ran away from the field for a comfortable win as American Tianna Bartoletta was second in 11.18 seconds, just edging South Africa’s Carina Horn in 11.19 seconds. The 110m hurdles was supposed to be a match-up between the two fastest men in the event so far this year with Cuba’s Orlando Ortega, who ran 12.94 seconds in Paris on Saturday up against McLeod, who ran 12.97 seconds at the Jamaican Senior Trials a week earlier. McLeod, however, pulled
up mid-way the race after he felt a cramp, the Jamaica Observer has learnt, while Ortega hit a hurdle and finished sixth in 16.04 seconds, walking across the line. Russia’s Sergey Shubenkov, who set a new national record 13.06 seconds in Paris on Saturday, won in 13.27 (-1.9m/s) ahead of Americans Jason Richardson in 13.35 seconds and world record holder Aries Merritt in 13.40 seconds. Damar Forbes was third in the long jump with a best of 7.73m (0.3m/s) as USA’s Michael Hartfield with 7.91m (0.0m/s) won with Australia’s Fabrice Lapierre second with (Continued on page 30)
NCN Radio to broadcast CPL matches from Providence The National Communications Network (NCN) has assembled a Radio commentary team to broadcast the four matches in the 2015 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) that will be played in Guyana at the Guyana National Stadium from July 15-21. The Guyana Amazon Warriors will play in all four games here as the local Franchise and the games will be important ones for the Warriors if they hope to advance the two eliminators and grand final in Trinidad and Tobago from July 23-26. NCN Radio has selected Lead commentator Inderjeet Persaud, Sean Devers and Niam Chan, all with International experience along with Matthew Kissoon and Anthony Khemraj who will
But no live radio, TV in Guyana make their commentary debuts at this level. Former Guyana and West Indies Test players Clyde Butts and Travis Dowlin will be among the annalists for the CPL radio team. Although the games will be heard throughout the Caribbean and further afield, cricket lovers in Guyana will only be able to enjoy t20 matches at the ground since, in keeping with CPL policy throughout the region, where games in host countries are only allowed delayed broadcasts, radio and television stations in Guyana will not broadcast the games live. Fans are being encouraged to buy tickets
early in order to see the games live, or wait until the delayed broadcasts will be aired at times to be announced by the respective stations. Each franchise has four home games this year and the Warriors will play 2013 champions Jamaica Tallawahs at on July 15 at 18:00hrs, St Lucia Zouks on July 17 at 20:00hrs, defending champions Barbados Tridents on July 18 at 16:00hrs before facing Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel from 18:00hrs on July 21. Unlike previous years when Guyana hosted matches earlier in the tournament, it will now stage the final round before the semis and final is contested in Port-of-Spain.
Five World titles later and one Guyana national title has not slowed down the Amazon Warrior aka “Stealth Bomber” aka “Big Red” who is still gunning for ten titles before she retires from professional boxing. Gwendolyn O’Neil openly wept when she heard her good friend Andrew “Six Head” Lewis had died tragically in a car accident while riding his bike. “I know “Six” enjoyed this victory because he was the first one who told me that I would win a world title after I met him at the airport in 2001 when he returned home to Guyana after becoming Guyana’s first male boxing world champion.” Three years later in 2004, true to his prediction, O’Neil went on to become Guyana’s first female boxing world champion and has surpassed all her male counterparts in terms of endurance and number of championship belts. Gwendolyn O’Neil continues to make history after winning the UBF Heavyweight Boxing World Championship Belt in St. Maarten on Saturday July 4th, 2015 against IBO World Champion Sonya Lamonakis in a 10 round split decision. It was a hard fought victory but the 258 pound Lamonakis faded in the later rounds as ‘Big Red’ kept the jab busy and put together combinations to finish strong after a slow start. It was an incredible performance because O’Neil was inactive for over three and a half years but was still able to outpoint the #1 ranked heavyweight in the world. O’Neil plans to return to Guyana towards the end of July 2015 so that the whole of Guyana can celebrate the victory and to also pay respect to Andrew “Six heads” Lewis. She could not make the funeral as she was in heavy training for the bout which had already been
postponed twice. “‘Six Head’ gave Guyanese a reason to be happy and celebrate and when people are happy they forget about their own problems and focus on helping and loving each other,” she said. All hats off to Sonya Lamonakis who proved to be a tough competitor and worthy opponent but a warrior heart like “Big Red” never says die and nothing could stop her return to the ring from being successful. She credits her new manager, Basil Boyce, from Golden Bow & Arrow Promotions, and her entire new management team, who believed in her when so many had written her off as old and incapable of fighting anymore at a high level. She expects to fight twice more for the year and will be looking to add to her collection of belts and further elevate her legacy in the boxing world. When asked what keeps her hungry she replied, “I have a lot of love and a lot of passion inside of me and I always want to come first and not second. I love my people and my family and I always want to help in any way I can. I hope that we can all pull together as Guyanese and make our country a better place for us all to live.” O’Neil plans on starting a rain forest preservation fund upon her return to Guyana at the end of July 2015 to protect and preserve the natural rain forest that she grew up in. She also plans to visit her birthplace in Port Kaituma because the last time she visited she only had one world title and now she has a handful, so let the celebrations begin. The warrior will return home clothed in glory and accomplishments so much that plans are in the making to document her story via a movie.
Dempsey strikes twice as U.S. open Gold Cup defence with win (Reuters) Clint Dempsey’s strength in the air helped him to two goals as the reigning champion United States opened their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over Honduras on Tuesday. Two days after the women’s team celebrated a third World Cup win, Dempsey scored a header in each half and the U.S. held off a late rally at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, to keep the American party going. “It wasn’t our best performance but we’re happy to get three points,” the 32year-old Dempsey, who lost the captaincy to Michael Bradley last week, told reporters. “It was tough. They came out really aggressive and caused us some problems.” Honduras created the better chances early but it was Dempsey who stole the momentum with his goal in the 25th minute, heading home from a rebound off Donis Escober after the goalkeeper blocked a Jozy Altidore shot. The U.S. went ahead 2-0 in the 64th minute when Michael Bradley found Dempsey in the box.
United States forward Clint Dempsey (8) controls the ball during the 2015 Gold Cup soccer match against Honduras at Toyota Stadium. Dempsey scores two goals. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Honduras responded six minutes later through Carlos Discua, who netted his first goal for Honduras with a shot that split U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan and sliding defender Brad Evans. A chance for an equalizer went begging in the 82nd minute, however, when
Ventura Alvarado missed an open goal. The win gives the U.S. control of Group A after Haiti and Panama tied 1-1 earlier in the day. The Gold Cup determines the regional champions for North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
Thursday July 09, 2015
Kaieteur News
GYM EXPO 2015 on stage at Pegasus Hotel Sunday
Stoby overpowers Williamson, Farley in last mile of 10K The leading trio, Reuben Stoby (right) Julius Farley (leading) and Guy Williamson during one of the steep climbs. PHOTO: BVIAA
D
uring training his runs, Reuben Stoby ran the Ceres Juices 10K Series course from Carrot Bay to Smugglers Cove and return, faster than the 42 minutes and 20 seconds he covered it on Saturday. But then, he ran alone. There was no cat and mouse game and he didn’t have pressure from Guy Williamson nor Julius Farley over the scenic hilly course on Tortola’s northwest coast that also offered a bit of off road running. “The plan was just to stay with the guys because the pace was really good so I had to be careful not to fall behind,” noted Stoby, joking that it was revenge from two years ago when he was beaten by Williamson. “It was a really good run. I was thankful that the guys pushed the pace this morning and we were able to have a competitive race throughout.” Stoby said his strategy was to survive the steep climb out of Long Bay, then ease into the pace over the final two miles and on the last incline before the Carrot Bay decent, it was just him and Williamson as Farley fell off the pace. “I got the confidence to push a little bit more and noticed that he fell back,” Stoby said. Williamson said the pace was fast and with the hills it mixed the terrain and a lot of hamstring and quad muscles were employed up and down the hills. “It’s really tiring on y o u r b o d y, ” n o t e d Williamson who played rugby on Friday night in n e a r b y C a p o o n s B a y. “Reuben showed some class again at the end. I didn’t have enough stamina to keep up in the end.” Farley who pressed the
pace up the hills said he developed some nasty stitches in the last mile. “I tried to press on but I just couldn’t keep up,” he said. “But it was a good race.” In a similar fashion, women’s winner Rosmond Johnson walked on the steepest parts of the course but was able to keep Melissa Brunner who loves running hills at bay. “It was a bit challenging, the road was rocky and the hill was steep but I survived,” Johnson stated. “At one point, I thought Melissa was going to pass me, because I’m not really good at hills but I managed. I walked up and ran down fast. So I made it
Page 33
and I’m happy.” Brunner said she faster on the incline then struggles on the decent. “I tried really hard to pass her on the up and tired to keep close to her on the down but not today,” she pointed out. Final Results: 1. Reuben Stoby, 42 minutes and 20 seconds. 2. Guy Williamson, 42:41. 3. Julius F a r l e y, 4 2 : 5 5 . 4 . I a n Montgomery, 47:36. 5. Mark Stephenson, 50:40. 6. Simon Cook, 52:42. 7. Dan Mitchell, 52:53. 8. Adrian Dale, 54:24. 9. Adam D’Monte, 55:34. 10. Aaron Gardner, 55:38. 11. Guyp Dubois, 57:39. 12. Shane (Continued on page 29)
Bodybuilding, fitness and fashion aficionados are in for a special treat at the annual Fitness Paradise Gym Expo which will be held on Sunday in the Savannah Suite of the Pegasus hotel. This year’s event will be one with a difference for the Gym Expo 2015 celebrates the recently established link between Fitness Paradise Gym of Guyana and Studio Body Shape of Paramaribo, Suriname. According to the terms of the agreement members of either gym automatically become members of the partner gym and can train on complimentary basis at the partner gym. Gym Expo 2015 will feature participants from both Fitness Paradise Gym and Studio Body Shape of Suriname. The events include the Mr. Expo Bodybuilding in 2 classes and the Mr. Expo Hot Body. Ladies will be seen in the Miss Expo Bikini and Miss Expo Best Legs. Jermaine Karg and Daes Burgzorg of Studio Body Shape will be competing in the Mr. Gym Expo Bodybuilding and the Mr. Expo Hot Body contest respectively, while Ms. Shirley Parta and Ms. Margaretha Vrede will be taking part in the special fashion sequences that feature clothing by front line fashion designer Olympia Small. The Gym Expo has so far attracted some key sponsors. These include GT&T, Southland, Fitness Express, China Trading, Trophy Stall and John Lewis Styles. The event starts at 7.00 pm sharp in the Savannah Suite and will be declared open by Dr. Karen Pilgrim Vice President of the Guyana Olympic Association. Part of the proceeds of the event will go towards the Guyana Paralympic Association to support the activities of that body.
Miss Expo Bikini contestant in preparation mode.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday July 09, 2015
GWENDOLYN O’NEIL WINS UBF women’s heavyweight world title
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t. Maarten played host once again to Guyana’s Queen of Boxing, Gwendolyn “Stealth Bomber” O’Neil, and she rose to the occasion on Saturday once more, despite the tremendous odds she was going up against after taking a three and a half year layoff from professional boxing. Her opponent was Sonya Lamonakis, the IBO heavyweight world champion from Greece and the #1 ranked heavyweight in the world. The ring rust and the weight difference were just some of the obstacles that O’Neil aka “Big Red” had to deal with at the LB Scott Sports Auditorium in Philipsburg St Maarten. Lamonakis weighed in at 258 pounds, a whopping 45 pound advantage over ‘Big
Red’ who weighed in at 213 pounds. Despite a slow start, which saw O’Neil trying to shake off the rust, she came on strong in the championship rounds to secure the victory by split decision and win her fifth boxing world title. The ‘Stealth Bomber’ showed signs of the layoff in the early rounds as Sonya Lamonakis used her weight advantage to lean on O’Neil and slow up the quicker Guyanese fighter. But from round six the tide started changing and O’Neil started to use her reach advantage to pepper Lamonakis face every time she tried to close the gap followed by left right combinations. The tenth and final round was O’Neil’s best round as the fighter seemed to find new life and rained punches from all angles on Lamonakis who
had no answer for the warrior spirit that uplifted ‘Big Red’ to victory. O’Neil, who is now a five-time boxing world champion while at the same time a mother of five children, thanked the fans, her management team and God for the heart stirring win which put her back on top of the world heavyweight boxing scene. A huge crowd favorite, ‘Big Red’ fought to chants of “Gwendolyn, beat and beat out” in reference to her pre-fight TV-Carib interview when the quickwitted O’Neil said “I have respect for Sonya but I come here to beat her and then beat out”. In a statement from Gwendolyn’s management team, Basil Boyce, CEO of Golden Bow & Arrow Promotions, LLC said; “We are grateful, humbled and
Gwendolyn O’Neil (right) punches Sonya Lamonakis during their UBF title fight in St Maarten.
honored to represent Big Red at this pivotal time in Guyana’s history as the country seeks to reconcile and unite to elevate Guyana. It’s a real reason to celebrate a true hero and bring home another boxing world championship belt to Guyana. The late Andrew “Six Head” Lewis must be dancing also because Big Red dedicated this fight to his passing and also to the late great Patrick Forde, her former trainer, and another Guyanese boxer who fought for the world title in 1981.” Gwendolyn’s boxing record now stands at 19-7-1 and she is expected to fight in October and December 2015 again. Her goal is to have ten world championship belts before she retires from professional boxing, a feat unheard of in women’s professional boxing.
Floodlights, Mike’s Wellwoman triumph
Captain of Floodlights XI Dharam Persaud (left) accepts the trophy from Coach Lyndon Wilson in the presence of team mates and organizer Trevor Wharton (second from right).
Members of the victorious Mike’s Wellwoman display their accolade. Floodlights and Mike’s Wellwoman won the male and female categories respectively when the Trevor Wharton softball cricket competition was contested on Sunday last at the Everest Cricket Club. Floodlights overcame Park Rangers by 15 runs in the final encounter. Batting first, Floodlights posted 1608 in 20 overs. Man of the match Fizul Ally struck 59, Wayne Jones 42, Nandram Samlall 24 and Greg De Franca 23. Amo Singh and Richard Latiff claimed two wickets each. Park Rangers were bowled out for 145 in 19 overs in reply. Paul Parsram made 32, Dennis Persaud 26,
Latiff 19, Colin Greaves 16 and Ramesh Sunich 15. Rahaman Khan snared three wickets, while Dharam Persaud and Ramchand Ragbeer had two apiece. The female final between Mike’s Wellwoman and Trophy Stall Angels was called off due to bad light, b u t We l l w o m a n w e r e
crowned champions after finishing with more wins. In the preliminary round, Mike’s Wellwoman beat Trophy Stall Angels by 59 runs. Mike’s Wellwoman rattled up a challenging 1303 off their allocation of 10 overs, taking first knock. Zola Telford led with an attacking 78. In reply,
Trophy Stall Angels were 71-8 when their 10 overs expired. Monique Benn and Verne Henry picked up two wickets each. Wellwoman overcame 4R Lioness by 28 runs. Wellwoman managed 94-7 in 10 overs, batting first with Latoya Smith and Renika Isaacs scoring 31 and 20
respectively; Ruth George took 2-16. 4R Lioness responded with 66-8 in 10 overs. Akaze Thompson struck 20 while Smith had 39 and Amanda Bob Semple 2-20. In other matches, Wellwoman beat Blue Divas while Trophy Stall Angels overcame Blue Divas and 4R Lioness. Telford was given
the most valuable player award while Floodlights and We l l w o m a n r e c e i v e d trophies compliments of Trophy Stall Bourda Market. In a brief remark organizer Trevor Wharton congratulated the winners and thanked Trophy Stall for their input. (Zaheer Mohamed)
Guyana Amazon Warriors beat St Kitts & Nevis... From page 35 Warriors weren’t going to lose from there and their victory was eventually confirmed. Earlier on it was Marlon Samuels who was yet again the star man with the bat for the Patriots, his 61 off 40 balls was the only score of
more than 19. There were however six other double figure scores and the Patriots may look back and rue the fact that not one of those starts was converted into a more significant score. Given the relatively tight nature of the chase it could’ve been the difference between victory and
defeat. Marchant de Lange and Ronsford Beaton both took two wickets for the Amazon Warriors, and although Sunil Narine was frugal he picked up none. This was a hugely important win for the Amazon Warriors who were languishing at the bottom of the table
- this win elevates them to fifth. The Patriots remain in third place. The tournament continues today in Jamaica with the home side, Tallawahs facing the T&T Red Steel. The Warriors next game is on Sunday when they travel to face the Tallawahs at Sabina Park.
Thursday July 09, 2015
Kaieteur News
Guyana Amazon Warriors beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots by 23 runs D/L method CPL - A mature fifty from Brad Hodge was instrumental in taking the Guyana Amazon Warriors to a crucial victory in a rainaffected match against St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots. Rain interrupted the Amazon Warriors run-chase of 158-6 three times, but Hodge, the most experienced T20 player in the world, didn’t let the disruptions influence his mindset and he stayed cool and calm to guide his team to an 8-wicket DuckworthLewis victory. While Hodge played the anchor role it was up to Assad Fudadin and Denesh Ramdin to play starkly different but equally important cameos in assisting the Amazon Warriors towards victory. After losing Trevon Griffiths in the second over, Ramdin launched a brutal assault, taking 22 from the fourth over of the innings bowled by Sheldon Cottrell. Ramdin fell immediately after the end of the Powerplay to bring Hodge to the crease in partnership with Fudadin who in fact took some time to get going and for much of his innings was striking at below a run-aball. The Patriots were dealt a blow when their star bowler from the last two matches Tabraiz Shamsi pulled up injured early into his spell. Although he returned to bowl he was clearly not comfortable bowling and after Fudadin struck him for consecutive sixes he removed himself from the attack. Back-to-back sixes from Hodge off the first two balls of the thirteenth over bowled by Shahid Afridi reduced a still difficult equation to almost a run-a-ball, and despite two further rain intervals the Amazon (Continued on page 34 )
Marlon Samuels leading the way for the Patriots, after Evin Lewis’ wicket early in the innings at Warner Park, St Kitts. (CPL)
Brad Hodge was named man of the match for his unbeaten 61 for the Warriors. (CPL)
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Sharapova manning barricades to halt Serena march LONDON (Reuters) Maria Sharapova would have done well not to have watched Serena Williams out-slug Victoria Azarenka in a Wimbledon quarter-final of extraordinary quality on Tuesday. The Russian fourth seed is blocking Williams’ path to an eighth Wimbledon final and judging by the way the American bludgeoned her way past Azarenka after losing the first set, she will need to reinforce the barricades with everything at her disposal, then hope the 33-year-old has an off day. For all her pre-programmed o n - c o u r t p o s i t i v i t y, Sharapova has become a punchbag for Williams since 2004, the year she stunned the tennis world by beating the American to the Wimbledon title. She beat her again that year but since then her 0-16 record is a depressing tale of woe. No wonder Williams is looking forward to today’s Center Court date against a player with whom her relationship is, at best, professionally respectful. “I love playing Maria. I think she brings out the best in me,” the 33-year-old said, without a hint of irony, after a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 defeat of former world number one Azarenka - a match in which a supreme Williams produced 47 winners, including 17 aces, and only 12 unforced errors. Williams avoids talking about the possibility of a calendar-year grand slam but with the Australian and
Serena Williams
Maria Sharapova French Opens already secured and just two more wins required to clinch the third leg of the sport’s ultimate feat, she knows she will never have another opportunity like this. And the last person she would want to deny her the chance, one imagines, is Sharapova. She has only conceded one set to the Russian in five years. The last time they met on the Center Court grass, in the final of the London 2012 Olympics, Sharapova managed only one game, and while subsequent meetings have been closer, whatever she throws at the American, however much she ratchets up the volume, it gets returned with interest, and a often a glare. At least
Sharapova has that 2004 triumph in the memory bank. “I haven’t seen my name on the trophy in a while,” she told reporters after struggling past unseeded Coco Vandeweghe on Tuesday. “I know it’s there but I would love to check it out again to make sure it’s still there. That would be nice.” With Williams on a 26match winning streak in grand slam play and her game in rude health it is unlikely she will be getting a close look at it this year. Waiting in the final for the victor will be either P o l a n d ’s A g n i e s z k a Radwanska, who Williams beat to win her fifth and last Wimbledon title in 2012, or Spain’s 20th-ranked Garbine Muguruza.
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O’Neil dedicates title number six to Andrew “Six head” Lewis
Mackenzie High eyes NSBF U-14 title with Bishop’s blowout Mackenzie High School’s forward, Stephon Duncan finishes an uncontested right-handed layup from the paint against Bishop’s High yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
- St. Roses, MHS, LTI, Kwakwani reach U-19 Final Four
Greipel wins fifth stage, Martin still leads Tour
Gwendolyn O’Neil displays her freshly won UBF belt at the Miami Airport on her return from the fight.
Lotto-Soudal rider Andre Greipel of Germany (2ndL) sprints to win the 189.5-km (117.7 miles) 5th stage of the 102nd Tour de France cycling race from Arras to Amiens, France, July 8, 2015. (Reuters/Eric Gaillard)
Guyana Amazon Warriors beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots by23 runs D/L method
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