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Kaieteur News
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Friday July 12, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Gunmen nabbed at restaurant -one shot
Suspect: Ex- Army Corporal Elroy Newton
The restaurant that the men reportedly intended to rob
G
unfire erupted at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara, at around 16:45 hrs yesterday, with police shooting one suspected bandit and capturing two others after cornering the heavily-armed men in a Chinese restaurant that they were reportedly planning to rob. Odinga Allen, 23, of Buxton, East Coast Demerara, was shot in the right knee, allegedly after opening fire on the ranks. He has been placed under police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation
(GPHC). Police identified the two other suspects as Elroy Newton, a 33-year-old former army corporal of Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara, and Leon Howard, 23, of Friendship, East Coast Demerara. Newton was also reportedly treated for abrasions he received during the confrontation. Police also recovered a Keltec 9mm. sub-machine gun with nine rounds and a .38 revolver with two rounds from the suspects. Kaieteur News understands that police had
received information that the men were planning to rob the restaurant owners. The suspects were reportedly brought to the scene in a car but the driver apparently fled after the intended plan was interrupted by the arrival of the police. The restaurant proprietrix, who has been living in Guyana for the past 10 years, told Kaieteur News that she was preparing to serve beers to the suspects when the drama began. “They were buying beers and the police come, and when I hear a gunshot I run inside and lock the door
Licence fee set to put non-govt. broadcasters out of business By Abena Rockcliffe A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) yesterday dubbed the government’s move to drastically hike broadcasting licence fee as one intended to cripple broadcasters who appear not to be progovernment. A few weeks back, the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) announced that radio and television broadcasters would now have to pay an annual licencing fee of $2.5Million or 3% of their gross income,
- APNU providing that the 3% is more than $2.5 Million. The new fee represents a massive increase from the sum of $240,000 annually that was required in previous years. APNU Member of Parliament Joseph Harmon said at a party press conference yesterday that on June 19, GNBA’s chairperson, Bibi Shadick called a conference and declared that the Cabinet had stipulated new rates for Broadcasters.
According to Harmon, when Shadick was questioned about “inconsistencies,” her response was “I don’t know, I’m just calling out what I got.” Harmon said that it is more than ridiculous that the head of the Authority “didn’t know.” He added that the issue of the licencing fee brings into sharp focus APNU’s concern about the Broadcast Act #13 of 2011 on some of its provisions which in their view, offends the freedom of expression guaranteed in Article 136 of the Constitution of Guyana. (Continuued on page 9)
because I frighten…I don’t know nothing else.” Residents were reportedly sent scampering for cover after the gunfire erupted. Kaieteur News confirmed that Newton, an ex-soldier, was charged in June 2010 with robbing Safraz Khan at gunpoint of $2M. He was said to have been a serving corporal in the Guyana Defence Force for 13 years, and was attached to the Joint Services Special Operations group. He was released on $65,000 bail. This newspaper also confirmed that Allen was charged in May 2011 with robbing Anupya Baburam at gunpoint of $80,000, two cell phones worth $27,000 and $7,000 worth of phone cards. He was also charged with possession of an unlicenced .38 revolver and four rounds of ammunition. T h e t h e n 2 1 - y e a r- o l d accused was remanded. The incident at Coldingen comes in the
wake of two other brutal robberies this week in which a security guard and an East Coast Demerara resident were slain and a businessman wounded. On Sunday night, Tyrone Budhu, 31, was gunned down by bandits who had attacked him and his
girlfriend near the Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara seawall. The following day, 72-year-old Victor Da Silva was shot dead and 71-yearold gas station proprietor Cecil Albert wounded after bandits ambushed them in the vicinity of Water and Cowan Streets in Kingston.
The two guns – a Keltec 9mm. sub-machine gun and .38 revolver
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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
Misogynist Violence Violence against women by men in our society continues unabated: molestations, beatings, rapes, maimings and murders of women of all ages, social strata and races are now practically daily staples of our media. That the same pattern exists in other societies does not in any way make the phenomenon any less reprehensible but, as a matter of fact, suggests that its causes may lie deep in the male psyche itself. The commendable efforts by our authorities to deal with the problem of male-against-female violence – either in domestic settings or in more anonymous random and brutal encounters – unfortunately confront the consequences and not the deeper causes of the acts. The result is bound to be frustrating for the powers that be, while deepening the cynicism of women that anything can be done to resolve the situation. There are, of course, several theories as to why men on the whole are more violent than women and these all are essentially variants of the “nature and nurture” arguments. Since it does not appear likely that genetic reengineering of the male human in on the near horizon, we will have to revisit the “nurture” arguments - how the male psyche is formed and why it is so violence-prone and misogynic. In other words we will have to re-examine and hopefully come up with initiatives to alter our conceptions of what “manhood” ought to be. Going back to the hoary theories about the early specialisation of the stronger male in the violent art of hunting other animals for food, we continue to inculcate in men the belief that they need to be tough, to prove their physical strength and never show emotions. This is the “macho man” ideal. In our own Caribbean setting, this ideal was exacerbated in the brutal world of slavery and bonded labour. In the post-emancipation milieu, the best that we accomplished in modifying this image was to define “manhood” as a description of a man who was capable, managed his household, and had a strong sense of respect and respectability. Men were expected to be the providers and protectors and who were self-sufficient. This orientation was most inculcated in the middle classes but of recent, the scions of these classes have made a U-turn and rejoined the underclass outlook that ‘manhood’ means someone who is tough; a player; competitive, acting as a protector and a virile male. Men learn to deny their emotions and focus all their needs regarding physical affection and nurturing into the sex act. It is not surprising that, in the words of one researcher, they become “both emotionally incompetent and emotionally constipated.” “Manhood”, however is still associated with power which, because of our oppressive past, is seen as capacity to dominate, to control, capacity to act in “masterful” ways – especially with women. The bequeathed image of “woman”, unfortunately was that of a concubine, dedicated to serving the whims of the “master” - especially bearing and rearing his children. Any variance by the woman from her perceived role in this scheme of things historically brought down the “rod of correction” by the man. Very sadly, most women also inculcated this perspective and accepted her abuse as proper – some even saw it as an expression of “love”! In Miguel Street, Naipaul recounted the story of the woman who oiled the cricket bat from which she received her weekly Saturday beating. As a society influenced by the patriarchal structure, we still unrealistically hang on to the traditional definition of what it means to be a man, irrespective of the high unemployment rate and weakened traditional values, compounded by the increase of the number of women who are educated. Men turn to violence against women as their sense of “manhood” is threatened by changes in the status quo – and the latter process is occurring at an ever-increasing pace. In addition to redefining what “manhood” means in our society, especially as it relates to women, we will however have to devise ways for men to maintain their masculinity and to sustain their self-esteem.
Friday July 12, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
Thomas Carroll-a poorly written book DEAR EDITOR, if you may permit, our perspective: The Thomas Carroll Affair by David Casavis. The book: A poorly written “book”. With such material Ruel Johnson, among others, would have made a real book. Nevertheless, it put some important information in public place. Firstly: We don’t think that we can ever take a deep breath in the US embassy again. It stinks of corruption. One of the few things The Thomas Carroll Affair achieves is the exposure of a deeply corrupt system that was fostered, ignored and even encouraged by the US Government and its officers. It was only when the Carroll affair started to malign the US Government directly that they decided to act. For that reason, if nothing else, Guyanese should read the book. Guyanese look up to the Americans and to those who work at the embassies of USA, Canada, UK etc. This book shows how the world is as dark and shadowy behind those embassy walls as they are on the outside. Do we dare to call on the
US Ambassador to assure us that there is no corruption ongoing at the embassy? Please assure us, Sir, that the embassy is free from corruption and that the deserving people are allowed visas. Yes, as a country we embarrassingly take the blame for offering to bribe your officers – but, like law enforcement, your system should be as clean and professional as you are trying to tell the world to be. Secondly: Some persons who were involved in the Thomas Carroll Affair are in public office. It is their prerogative to be reformed and to hold any position so long as an employer can accept the risk. However, it is interesting to note the justification of not having been charged of any crime in Guyana. Maybe there is no problem with that. BUT they (and us all) must realize the difference between something that may be legally acceptable but morally wrong, especially if the persons are in leadership positions – or in positions where they influence people’s behaviour OR people’s thinking. President Ramotar must
assure us that he is satisfied with this. President Ramotar must accept the fact that he is the Chief citizen who is ultimately responsible for people in various positions, especially those positions of influence. So too, the subject Minister is responsible. The head of an organization is responsible for those below him. Thirdly: The book gives a stark view of how the USA views Guyana and Guyanese—unflattering to Guyana; brutal to IndoGuyanese. The book achieves another aim, i.e., by drawing together some unrelated things and unsavory characters, it successfully stereotypes Guyanese people. This is the stereotype that we face in Barbados and elsewhere. But even worse, that stereotype is what we face when we visit a police station, a government ministry, a civic office and even the private sector. Police, Government officials, Private sector persons were all involved and continues to be involved. That is the feeling. The book also noted that the US Embassy in Guyana
is the most tarnished in the world. A most tainted embassy in a most corrupt country – that is the feeling that comes over as you turn the last page. And, after turning that last page, you put the book down as if it is compost, a poorly written piece about a desperate people who have no other aim than to get to America; with successive Governments having no other aim than to stay in power while empowering the one per cent of the people with 99per cent of the wealth. That is the feeling. Conclusion: A lot more can be written - and, a lot more will be written. Already there is news of yet another visa scandal. The US ambassador and other officials must be as open and forthright with these matters as we all want our Government to be. In the meantime, in our poor bleeding country there is one scandal after the other – followed by one excuse after the other. In almost every scandal, fingers point to Government, police or civil society; public officers; those who want to hold on to - and abuse - positions of (Continued on page 7)
GECOM a hotbed of unholy alliances DEAR EDITOR, At long last Vincent Alexander has mustered enough courage to speak out about the errors of commission condoned by GECOM Commissioners. Not only are these unethical occurrences but they are a sickening breach of trust by those who are legally bound to make decisions that are above board. It means, therefore, that the Guyanese public has been given a ‘six to nine’ and taken for a joy ride by the Chairman and Commissioners acting in consort with the Chief Elections Officer. This makes it incumbent on the opposition APNU and AFC to find ways to send the whole batch of Commissioners packing and have GECOM reconstituted before there is more skullduggery when local government elections are held. Those who know the internal affairs of GECOM intimately are aware of the wheeling and dealing of the Chairman and former Chief Elections Officer. Perhaps there has been a tremendous falling out between these men that has triggered the Chairman to suggest that the current PRO, one of his cronies, be appointed CEO.
After all, the Chairman and CEO have been the most unholy alliance visited on GECOM. Whenever a staff refuses to carry out their wicked schemes, they use the termination clause of the job contract to terminate his/her employment. If this method fails, then they seek to humiliate the person by placing him/her before the Disciplinary Committee chaired by another of the Chairman’s cronies, the Chief Security Officer.
A case in point is the termination of the employment of Imdaad Sattaur, an Accountant, for probing the fantastic prices for laptop computers and other equipment using UNDP excess funding. With his departure, equipment including a cordless headphone for the PRO was purchased from a bogus company in Charlotte Street. There are other instances where GECOM was used as
a financial milch cow. In this regard, there should be a forensic audit of past procurement activities by GECOM. With the revelation of deception by the former CEO, acting in collusion and connivance with Commissioners, it is time for the Opposition Parties and international stakeholders to act promptly before our democratic norms are further compromised. Edgar Singh
KUDOS FOR THE WOMEN MINERS’ ORGANIZATION THE EDITOR, I write to congratulate the members of the Guyana Women Miners’ Organization (GWMO) on their outstanding work of helping young helpless girls in the interior, although they are placing their own safety at risk. It takes more than courage to do what these wonderful ladies are doing without much support from those in relevant authorities. Imagine persons are calling on these ladies for help instead of the police and ministry of human services.
It is very disturbing to see that little or nothing is done on the Ministry of Human service’s behalf to stop TIP. It seems as though these ladies are the only hope for girls who are kept against their will in the interior, since no other group or person has done what the GWMO is doing. It is sad that the majority of miners that are men are pretending this heinous situation does not exist and do nothing to help the girls involved. Apparently these disgusting men are not related to any female and
have no compassion for women, some of whom are just children. Don’t these men have wives, mothers, sisters and most importantly daughters? Don’t they see the reluctance of the ones held against their wills when they pay to have a nice time with them? These men are worse than animals because even animals protect and nurture their own! Ms Simona Broomes and organization, keep fighting this nasty yet worthy fight, for your reward will be great! Anthea Spencer
Friday July 12, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Pension contributions in limbo DEAR EDITOR I am writing on behalf of myself and some retired employees of the Guyana Revenue Authority. On January 1, 2001, we were asked to join the Clico Pension and Medical Scheme (we are aware that this company has since collapsed). His Excellency the President Bharrat Jagdeo promised that all contributions and benefits would be repaid to it contributors. About a year ago, the Governing Board of the Guyana Revenue Authority gave a directive that all non-contractual officers should retire at the age of 60. Based on this directive myself and some other GRA employees who have attained the age of 60 were asked to retire. It should be noted that some of us have been employed with this organization for over 20 years. Having retired we are anxious to obtain our pension contributed to the scheme as promised by His Excellency the President. However, to date we are still awaiting the
return of our contributions. When enquiries are made to Mr. Sattaur, Commissioner General, persons are asked to direct such enquiries to the Human Resources Division, GRA. The staff in this Division would then inform persons that nothing is ready since GRA is awaiting a reply from the Commissioner of Insurance. This has been ongoing since February, 2010. Some of us retirees would like to have this money to begin construction or complete same on our homes. It should be noted that we have also approached the Clico Office in Camp Street, Georgetown, where we were informed that since GRA is being dealt with as a group, Clico cannot entertain inquiries from individuals. It should also be noted that other groups have already been paid e.g. Banks DIH and Police. Sir it is my desire that you highlight this (our plight) on your program or your newspapers. GRA retirees
Discrimination by Region 4 Education Committee DEAR EDITOR, I write to record my deep disappointment with the discrimination meted out to my son, Lukas Walcott, by the Head of the Education Committee of Region Four, Ms. Genevieve Allen. Lukas who attended Success Elementary School earned 535 marks at the 2013 National Grade Six Assessment
examination and has been awarded a place at Queen’s College. According to the Ministry of Education, this score makes Lukas the fifth highest performer in Region Four. However, the Region Four Education Committee in its wisdom saw it fit to ignore this performance on the spurious grounds that Success Elementary school located at
EcclesontheEastBankofDemerara, is not Government-owned. My question is this: aren’t the pupils, teachers, parents, support staff Guyanese? Private schools in Guyana have to get permission from the Ministry of Education in order to operate; so what is the problem? Leon Walcott Father
Are cricket hijackers immune from the Laws of Guyana? DEAR EDITOR, I note with keen interest that the editor of Kaieteur News, Mr. Adam Harris, was recently charged and fined for contempt of court. However, I recall that a few months ago the entire committee of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) including Anand Sanasie, Raj Singh and Drubahadur was charged for contempt of court. Attorney General Mohabir Anil Nandlall has confirmed that they were all charged for contempt and that he was awaiting a date for their court appearance. No date has been fixed so far and these persons charged for contempt are yet to face the court and they
remain in charge of Guyana Cricket while Mr. Harris had his matter dealt with expeditiously. Letter writers and columnists frequently complain about the strange dispensation of justice in Guyana. The above, in my opinion, is a good example of the vagaries of the court. George Orwell’s Animal Farm suggested that all men are not really equal. Apart from the contempt charge, Anand Sanasie was also charged for perjury, another serious charge. Some years ago he was charged for treason, an extremely serious charge, and further he escaped from lawful custody. This is now the very Sanasie who is representing our dear Guyana at the West Indies
Cricket Board. How do the Government, the Opposition and indeed all Guyanese feel about this dubious representation of someone who has not even played cricket at any level and knows nothing of the game. Meanwhile, Raj Singh who audaciously submitted forged and misleading documents to Parliament has not been charged to date. This is very alarming as Raj Singh’s action strikes at the very core integrity of Parliament. I am advised that Raj Singh has not reported to the police as requested nor has he given a statement. He resides in Apopka, Florida, USA where he has apparently found sanctuary. Winston Boston
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Letters... Where your views make the news
Home Turnkey project a Guyanese dream DEAR EDITOR, It is the view that the new initiative of the Housing Ministry’s 1000 Homes Turn-Key project is what Guyanese have been waiting for. I must say that with everything that sounds sweet there are some fine prints behind them. The cost of the Buttercup Cottage is $4.9 million which is the low income category, while the cost of the land is $500,000. This needs to be paid in cash to the Ministry, and the Bank associated with the Ministry will lend the applicant a total of $4.4 million, bringing the cost of the home to $4.9 million. I see this as a controlled environment whereby only a certain class or race of people can afford to purchase these homes. What happened to the families in those areas that are undeveloped, families that are striving hard to get out of the slums? My grandmother always used to say you are not a citizen of a country until you own a piece of land. This is every Guyanese dream. This does not reach the needs of a single parent or families that have both parents and still can’t afford to pay rent which is at all times high. There are parents that have children going to school and have to make the decision to hear
their landlord curse and swear for the rent when they took that money to purchase text books for their children just to ensure that their children get a better education. There are some families that are still working for a minimum wage or just over the minimum wage. Tell me how many families you can ask to produce a bank statement showing that they have $500,000 in their bank account? Hon Mr. Irfaan Ali, I urge you to seriously consider reducing the price for the land or work out a plan with the inks that we the citizens of this great land can afford to buy a home so we can live a comfortable and peaceful life, whereby we will be able to call ourselves citizens of Guyana. We simply can’t afford $500,000 when we have landlords breathing down our backs, electricity and water bills, foodstuff, clothing and text books to acquire. We understand that not everyone can afford to build a mansion or a pool house at a cost of $100 million. We would just like to kiss our Iandlords goodbye with the title of our land and home. Where is the opposition when we need them? How can such a process pass in parliament? Who is looking out for the poorer class of people? Concerned
Practice makes perfect DEAR MR. EDITOR It seems as if Mayor and City Council has not learnt from the recent experience when it decided to purchased Waste Compactors Trucks for the collection of trash. It is now noted that the council is taking it further by
now going to more sophisticated territory of Market Waste Compactors. The council again would be warned that it should not jump heads and hands into this venture without the necessary know-how and back-up arrangements in place such as when there are mechanical or electrical failures. Should the council
run into equipment failure without the necessary backup arrangements then markets, especially Bourda, that produces over 40 tons of compacted waste daily would be disaster in waiting. The recommendation is that since the Council already has the equipment, it should install it initially at the West Ruimveldt Market which currently is being overwhelmed by garbage. The garbage produced at this market is not as great as Bourda and Stabroek and hence the Council Technical staff would be working under a less pressured situation whilst developing their skills and technical know-how regarding the compactors. The second one should be used as standby. As council gains the technical ability then it could move on and do the Bourda and Stabroek Market waste processing. Berthram George
Friday July 12, 2013
Kaieteur News
Letters... Where your views make the news
What’s with Eusi Kwayana? DEAR EDITOR, Can someone say what is happening with Mr. Eusi Kwayana these days? In Kaieteur News of 10th July he correctly quoted Mr. M. Maxwell and returned on 11th July and apologised for misquoting Mr. Maxwell then blamed the press for mischief. Mr. Maxwell on 1st July wrote, “Between November 1979 to (sic) Rodney’s death on June 13, 1980, four WPA activists were killed by the Burnhamite-controlled security forces (Ohene Koama on November 18, 1979, Claude Bovell on November
18, 1979 and Edward Dublin on February 29, 1980).” Mr. Kwayana was correct in saying “four”. Mr. Maxwell wrote four but only named three. I observed too, that Mr. Kwayana said Dr. Walter Rodney referred to the late Rev. Bernard Darke as “the first martyr of the Guyana revolution.” I am a Catholic and never heard the Catholic Church or Father Darke supporting Dr. Walter Rodney’s armed revolution. My parents advised me that they are unaware of this. Isn’t martyrdom given to someone who died in the struggle for
Thomas Carroll... From page 4 influence and leadership. As a people, we must ask ourselves - will we continue to allow our country to be the laughing stock of the world? Will we continue to run to every country in the world while we leave the richness of Guyana to the hands of a few unscrupulous people? President Ramotar must come face to face with reality and make his mark in Guyana. He should make his legacy in the cleaning up of Guyana. Let the chips fall where they may; those who are corrupt
must go. Time to set up such independent systems and review systems – like the procurement commission, like the integrity commission, like the independent judiciary, etc. As a people, ultimately we look up to the President to do the right thing and make the right decisions. We will continue to do so. The cleanup campaign must start. Can we do it in our lifetime? Yog Mahadeo
something they believed in? I thank Mr. Kwayana for explaining the two deaths of 18th November. I was a little confused and if there is another side to the story I’d be happy to hear it. I am now hearing from Mr. Kwayana that the authority pretended not to know Dr. Rodney. I picked up the telephone and called a retired senior police officer who told me that procedurally bodies are officially identified after the authority is sure and to the best of his memory there were reports that two persons were in the car at the time and Dr. Walter Rodney’s brother, Mr. Donald Rodney could not be found the night of the incident. As an aside, I enjoy reading the letters on Dr. Walter Rodney and Mr. Forbes Burnham. One thing I can say about the O.R. Tambo award dispute is that it has opened up vistas into Dr. Walter Rodney and the WPA’s politics I never knew before. Continue to keep up the good work. You are the number one newspaper for enlightenment. Mark Anthony
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CALCULATION MISTAKES CAN BE MADE WITH EVEN THE SIMPLEST OF FORMULAS There are 65 seats in the National Assembly. Twentyfive of these seats are allotted to the ten geographic constituencies; and the remaining forty are in respect to the national top- up lists. As such, two sets of calculations are required in order to determine the overall results of general elections. The first is the allocation of the 25 seats for the geographic constituencies. This is done using the largest remainder Hare quota formula. That is a long name for a simple formula. The total number of votes cast in a geographic constituency is divided by the number of seats to be allotted for that constituency. Different geographic constituencies are allotted different numbers of seats. For example, Region One is allotted two seats; Region 9 is allotted one; Region 4 is allotted 7 seats and Region 6 is allotted three seats. When the total number of votes cast is divided by the number of seats, this gives the total number of votes required to win a seat. If, for example, there are 35,000 votes cast and the total number of seats is 10, it means that for a party to win a seat it needs at least 3,500 votes.
Using this example, let us assume that three parties contest an election. Party A gets 13,000 votes; party B gets 12,000 and party C gets 10,000 votes. The votes that each party obtains will be divided by the electoral quota of 3,500 votes. This gives 3.71 to party A; 3.43 for party B, and 2.86 for party C. What this means is that automatically party A gets three seats, party B gets three seats, and party C gets two seats. This gives a total of eight seats. But there are ten seats to be allotted. So how are the final two seats to be determined? Under the largest remainder Hare quota method, the allocation of the two other seats is based on the largest remainder. As can be seen, the remainders are 0.71, 0.43 and 0.86 for parties A, B and C respectively. Under the largest remainder formula, party C has the largest remainder, 0.86. It is followed by party A 0.71 and then party C, 0.43. Despite the fact that party B gained more votes that party C, under the largest remainder formula, party C gets the first remaining seat and party A the second. As such, the final allocation of seats is as follows: party A four seats; party B three seats;
and party C three seats. I have used this example to illustrate the formula in action. It is a simple formula that only requires knowing the total votes cast, how these votes are broken down according to parties, and the total number of seats being competed for. In effect, only two factors are used - votes cast and number of seats. It is therefore astonishing for it to be alleged that in calculating the number of seats for each party in the 2011 elections, a different factor was used in the formula. How can a different factor be used when the only factors required are votes cast and seats? I put it to those concerned that if one party was to gain a seat which it was not supposed to have, this could only be because of a mistake in computing the total votes cast or computing the remainder. And for either to happen there has to be a calculation mistake. What other wrong factor could have been used that would have given one party an unearned seat without affecting the other parties? What other factors apart from votes and seats are we dealing with in this formula? If the cause of the initial mistake was because of the
Licence fee set to put non-govt... From page 3 He said that the clear direction of Cabinet in the affairs of the Authority makes the body less independent and autonomous than it was intended to be. Harmon said that television stations that are perceived to be “sympathetic” to the views of the opposition will be targeted. He opined that the new technique of fee manipulation will make it less profitable to operate and eventually put “these” television stations out of business. According to Harmon, it is an environment where the advertising dollar is a scarce commodity, one where the state-owned media competes for the same advertising dollar as the private media and one where advertisers have expressed fears and concerns of victimization when they advertise on certain television stations. He said that in light of such, the time when the TV stations can be faced with closure cannot be far off. Harmon said that in the meantime, APNU is calling on the authority to meet with the television station owners to review and agree on a rational
fee. Veteran Broadcaster Anthony Vieira said at the press conference that the imposition by the government of a $2.5M fee on the station owners must be rejected, simply because at the time of application they had no idea of having to pay that sum. He dubbed that the cart before the horse syndrome. Vieira said some broadcasters have already indicated that they intend to move to the courts over the new fee if the Broadcasting Authority does not take a second look at the fee structure. He explained that by asking broadcasters to pay $2.5 Million or 3% of their gross earnings if it is more than that figure, the GNBA is assuming that television stations and radio stations earn over $80 Million per year. He opined that the fee structure should look at the areas where the various television stations and radio stations operate. He said earning power in the specific communities of broadcast must be examined. According to Vieira, the GNBA cannot expect a television or radio station which is only allowed to
operate in a small community or a specific region to have the same earning power as those in the city or those allowed to broadcast nationally. He said the way the GNBA is currently operating, gives the impression that the authority is treating the broadcast sector as a “pappy show”.
remainder, this could only be a calculation mistake. Now if that mistake was deliberate, it is to be expected that swift and condign action should have been taken immediately by the Guyana Elections Commission, not belatedly as is now being done because someone’s contract is up for renewal. If on the other hand the calculation mistake was accidental, then a stern warning should have been instituted, not dismissal. There was also a mistake in the allocation of seats in 2006 election. A seat which should have been for the AFC was given to the PPP instead. But that had nothing to do with the formula. It was because the results for certain polling stations were left out. It is therefore not correct to say the same mistake has repeated itself. In 2006, the total votes cast would have been affected; in this instance
it is assumed that either the electoral quota or the remainder was miscalculated. The mistake made in 2011 was corrected before it became fatal, because the final results have to be certified by the commissioners before release. The issue of whether this safeguard was intended to be preventative or curative does not arise. That system was put in place because of what happened in 1997 when the then Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission declared the official results without convening a meeting with the other commissioners, one of whom broke down in tears upon learning that the results had been declared without that person’s knowledge. The system that was put in place subsequently was to ensure that the commissioners were not
sidelined in the announcement of the results, and had nothing to do with preventing mistakes or curing a mistake. The ultimate responsibility for the conduct of the results and the declaration rests with the Commission and they detected a mistake and fixed it before it became official. The question to be asked is why is there, now, a belated attempt to lynch the Chief Elections Officer. Why was this matter not investigated and pronounced upon earlier? P.S. If in the above examples any calculation mistakes were made, they are by no means intentional and should be corrected by the reader.
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=== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ===
Talking about talks David Hinds (de facto leader of the Working People’s Alliance) said on Walter Rodney Groundings on Channel 9 last Sunday that the WPA is opposed to APNU accepting invitations from President Ramotar to talk, when all that happens is that you end up talking about talks, that is, you go to Ramotar to talk about the need to talk. In a column a few weeks ago, I urged the AFC not to talk to the Government on selected items that the PPP
leaders want to discuss. This was in relation to Amaila Falls. At an AFC public meeting last Friday at Stabroek Market Square, I repeated my theory to a few AFC leaders when the topic came around to an invitation by Prime Minister Hinds to dialogue about GPL. One person in the conversation said to me that if you are invited, you should go and demand to see documents. Another AFC stalwart made the point that the Guyanese people may not approve of the party’s behaviour, because if the government wants to talk it is expected that the opposition go and seek answers On the surface, the AFC and APNU’s positions seem plausible. The opposition criticizes the government for lack of transparency, yet when the Government opens up in crucial areas, the opposition
boycotts. The weakness in such an approach by the opposition is that the mood of the people is that though they accept that the AFC and APNU must engage the PPP, they want to see concrete gains in a holistic framework. I believe that while the AFC might get support for talking to PM Hinds on GPL, the Guyanese people also want to see the AFC acquire concessions on other fronts. The danger the AFC faces is the time factor. If you keep talking to the PPP and time moves on without great expectations being fulfilled, then there can be a backlash. The AFC and APNU must always bear this in mind. The opposition is dealing with a bestial creature that is not going to come to the table and give you what you want. The beast will come to the table and talk to you about the need to talk.
But never will there be give and take from the presidential bench. This is what David Hinds means when he said you are going to the Office of the President to talk about talks. Let us say that the AFC got some important documents on Amaila Falls that the Government was reluctant to part with. Let us say that the AFC got some informative files on GPL that the Government wanted to keep to themselves. How do these things gel with the people’s expectations? And what are these expectations. It is holistically frameworked in good governance. I was a guest speaker at that Stabroek Market Square meeting and it was quite easy to ascertain what issues the attendees were angry about. Whenever you mention corruption and instances of undemocratic behaviour, the
crowds were energized. The Guyanese people want the AFC and APNU to exert continuous pressure on the Government to democratize, and they will not accept the sharing of documents as a mending of ways by the PPP. They want to see fundamental changes in the way power is used. They believe that the opposition’s control of Parliament must bring democratization. In relation to APNU, the WPA annoyance was expected. Hinds, in particular, reserved some passionate words earlier this year in television interviews and letters to the press for APNU’s failure to maintain a nononsense attitude to the Government. Hinds is essentially saying that once you talk, you must get something for talking. The brutal reality is that the PPP will have you talking until the next century comes and it will not concede any territory. Hinds has offered a realpolitik approach that, though more pronounced in the AFC, is totally lacking in APNU. Hinds’s strategy is that you must go to the talk
Frederick Kissoon not to talk about future talks, but to make demands. The AFC says no agreement to the anti-money laundering Bill unless you implement the Procurement Commission. APNU must do the same. APNU is hardpressed to show its supporters what it has achieved after the historic 2011 elections. Hinds is right. Don’t talk to the PPP unless you say to them, we want this and this and this. In plain language, you are going into the talks with pre-conditions and you must not depart even for a minute from those preconditions, because the preconditions are what the Guyanese people want. They want good governance, inclusive governance and democracy, from a government that has to understand that it lost the 2011 general elections.
Dem boys seh...
Dem contract price drop When dem boys think that is only de government refusing to accept certain things dem got to think again. Roshan Khan telling de government that he company can’t accept anymore government contract unless de government give dem a top-up. Some security guards use to complain how dem boss hardly paying dem and keeping de money fuh demself. Well de government decide to raise de pay. In short, it set a new minimum wage and compel everybody to pay no less than that. Fuh two months de government been meeting wid all dem security guard service and talking bout de new pay. Nobody ain’t complain till dem had to pay de first fortnight wages. Is then dem see that dem profit cut. But dem have some who mekking dem guard come to wuk and then tell dem that dem ain’t got wuk fuh dem. Now de problem is that once someone report fuh duty you got to pay de people, but that ain’t happening. Dem boys seh that it look like if Guyana gun see de end of security guard. Most of dem is women who got children and who dem does got to lef home alone. De guard company threatening to send home all of dem. That is because dem want to pressure de government. That ain’t gun happen because de government got it own problems. And talking bout problems, dem boys seh that things get tight wid dem contract. Gone are the days when dem boys use to see big money to do small things. Now is small money to do small things. Guyana getting value for money. All de complaining that dem boys do when dem see de rampant thiefing; all de criticism of those who been thiefing; all de exposure because dem boys did find some of de thiefing money; actually pay off. And talking bout pay off, dem had a big story in de Elections commission. One commissioner open he mouth and now a man who serve Bharrat faithfully going home. If Bharrat was in power he woulda kick up and object. Even now he vex and he asking Donald to do something. Dem boys seh that Donald gun fire de Chairman and bruck up de whole commission. Talk half and keep watching dem contract.
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Anti-money laundering amendment Act…
R.K. Security Services scenario…
Report unlikely for July 18 parliamentary sitting – Dr. Luncheon
Government prepares to retender contracts
By Zena Henry Several considerations before Special Parliamentary Select Committees are likely to be reported on at the next July 18 sitting of the National Assembly, but this might not be the case with the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering of Financing Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act. Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon told media operatives that the time may just be too soon - especially when word is, that the Special Select Committee tasked with tackling the Amendment Bill has not yet started considerations. The disclosure was made yesterday at the postCabinet weekly press briefing at Office of the President. He said that Bills for the next parliamentary sitting would be those at stages where reports could be produced based on the culmination of deliberations by the Special Select Committees. “I think under no stretch of the imagination, would a date as early as July 18, allow for a consideration by the select committee of that Bill.” “Cabinet has been informed that the Select Committee has not even gotten around as yet for the consideration of the Bill,” Luncheon said. He continued that the Select Committee is addressing submissions that have been invited from the public and entities concerned. “So there is no way that July
18 can see anything close to a report on the Anti -Money Laundering Amendment Act.” Additionally, Luncheon pointed out that in relation to the happenings of parliament, “Expectations are not high that there would be any difference in the proceedings from that which has been going on in the immediate past.” Nonetheless, he said there has been significant consideration of reports on the four Local Government Bills and the Deeds Registry Amendment Bill among others. On the floor for discussion, he added, are legislative instruments dealing with the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project and the Hydro Power Act and its Amendment and the Debt Ceiling Amendment Order. In the meantime, as it relates to opposition requests of Amendments to the Public Procurement Bill against the support for the Anti-Money Laundering Amendment Bill, it is believed that that too may be unlikely. Luncheon said the government has spent a lot of time trying to explain to the opposition collectively, individually, orally and in writing, why Cabinet’s role should be persevered in the contract award process. He said that the approach to parliament with amendments to the Procurement Act in the absence of a commitment
by the opposition, not to oppose to even support the amendments, would be a disaster. Luncheon said once the opposition continues as entrenched as they seem on the issue, they would vote against the amendments, while the convention is that the amendment could not be brought back to the tenth parliament. For the government, an understanding and an agreement with the opposition is necessary. “Why go to parliament, have the amendment not supported, rejected, and close the door for the life of the whole tenth parliament to have this matter resolved in concept with the administration’s advice.” “The appeal is on all possible levels, for a proper consideration of what the administration is advancing, so indeed, the role of cabinet with procurement - specifically it’s no objections - would be preserved, the amendment approved, and move seriously in concluding the entire series of interventions that have been carrying over time.” The opposition, specifically the Alliance for Change (AFC), has demanded that immediate consideration be put into a date for establishing the Public Procurement Commission, before any support goes into amendments of laws on financial crimes.
Government will not be making monetary adjustments to contracts awarded to R.K. Security Services to match the new minimum wage, even as the company issued termination of service notices to several state entities with effect from July 15. This disclosure was made by Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, during his post-Cabinet press briefing yesterday at the Office of the President. In fact, there is absolutely nothing preventing security companies from resorting to provisions in their contracts that allow termination of services, he said. Termination notices by the company would be accepted and Government is prepared to retender the security contracts. And, R.K Security Services and other companies could bid for the contracts, Dr. Luncheon added. “Where employers holding or currently executing contracts feel so moved on whatever grounds… but those specifically relating to consequences of the implementation of the minimum wage order they can withdraw and squash the contract and then allow us to go back to tender and allow them to retender if they so intend,” Dr. Luncheon asserted. On May 9, last, Dr. Luncheon announced that full-time workers outside the Public Sector would be paid no less than $35,000 monthly, $8,000 weekly, or $200 per hour, from July 1. Moreover, the employees have a 40-hour
Roshan Khan work week and additional hours would be considered overtime and they would be appropriately compensated. Less than two weeks after the new minimum wage has been implemented, Roshan Khan, Chief Executive Officer of R.K. Security Services announced that his company, which provides security to some Ministries, Ministers’ residences and other Government entities, would be terminating services on July 15. In addition, the employment status of 80 or more security personnel and possible financial and management staff would be directly affected. According to Khan, the company has no objection to the new minimum wage and believes that it should have been implemented awhile ago. However, the company has a problem with the manner in which Cabinet decided to increase and the quickness to implement the minimum wage. Khan said that his company has written to Government requesting
increased rates under his contracts, but only received acknowledgement of receipts. “This is a very important, vexing and disturbing issue…We have not had enough time to approach our clients for an increase. And, within the short time that we did, we are losing the contracts from those clients, because the economy is not as robust as we would like it to be, the economy is not doing well, and the business people are taken by shock,” he added. He said that some clients are trying to work out a system to meet the additional $62 per hour with the new minimum wage, but, their proposals of part payments would result in the company suffering a loss, even to the point of bankruptcy. According to Dr. Luncheon, “Cabinet has been briefed earlier on its minimum wage initiative and indeed has dealt with more recently some of these consequences, particularly those raised by employers in the security sector and the manufacturing sector.” “Cabinet remains convinced about the morality of its position…a view that is shared reasonably, not unexpectedly by employees. I can’t imagine otherwise setting the minimum wage. The 40-hour per week for employers has over this same period of time thrown up objections on their part and I think efforts have been made by the Minister of Labour and the Ministry and at the level of the Tripartite Committee.”
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Ministry gears to take stronger role in private schools’ operations There are plans in the pipelines for the Ministry of Education to take a stronger role in the operation of private schools. This development is expected to become possible with the passage of the Education Bill which is currently being crafted. And according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, she is hopeful that the proposed piece of legislation will be completed and brought to the National Assembly before Parliament goes into recess in August. However she noted that “it is a lot of work between now and then but we are doing it...we are really trying to bring it so that we can have it looked at the National Assembly.” Also for this Bill, regulations are being drafted and “we are reviewing those, so hopefully this is one of those Bills we will take to the National Assembly with regulations already done so we can have both the Act and the Regulations looked at, reviewed and passed at the same time,” the Education Minister said. She noted that such a piece of legislation will however not seek to address issues such as teachers’ salaries and the fees paid at private schools, but rather, it will examine factors regarding the interest of children. “We know there are private schools that are not doing what is in the best interest of children and as a
Education Minister Priya Manickchand member and agency of the State. We have an obligation to make sure that all of our children are treated in a way that their best interest is taken care of.” Manickchand said that presently the Education Ministry does not have any control over private schools as according to her, “we are a free market country. We can’t dictate what private schools pay or what benefits they should give their teachers...you’d be surprised at what some of the private schools get,” she disclosed during a recent press conference. And even as the Minister noted that it would not be “business friendly” to disaggregate the performance of the public against private schools, she did disclose that factors such as the salaries paid to some private schools teachers
are “much worse than we do in the public school.” “As teachers you are entitled to pensions and gratuity and Whitley Council and Duty Free allowance, housing allowance, and all kinds of things that the private school teachers do not have,” the Minister asserted. However, the Ministry has not sought to determine whether the performance of children at public schools is better than those of private schools. In presenting an analysis of the countries’ schools performance at the 2013 National Grade Six Assessment, Chief Education Officer Olato Sam said that the Ministry did not seek to disaggregate the performance of public and private schools. According to him “I am more concerned about how all children are doing and I am convinced that the schools are using the same curriculum.”
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Guyana has highest travel voucher tax in the region - APNU’s Harmon APNU’s Joseph Harmon yesterday said that the statement by Minister Robeson Benn, about the 15 percent travel tax not being slashed because it is crucial to “upkeep” the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri, is mindboggling. According to Harmon, the travel voucher is a “tax” and therefore for the minister to connect it to the operation of the airport is “an ingenious way of looking at things”. Harmon said that a tax goes to the government. He said that the major tax on security is a $4000 which is paid at the airport. According to Harmon, if one is to look at the statement from the airport authority, they have declared a profit two years in a row and it is expected that 2013 will be profitable. “To me it has nothing to do with the tax government claims on the tickets, but it’s the tax which
is on the base fare, and all across the region Guyana’s base fare is the highest, which is 15 percent,” Harmon told Kaieteur News. He said that the only other Caribbean country that has come “a little high” is Antigua, which has a base fare of 10 percent. Harmon further stated that those taxes include the security fees which are additional to Guyana’s 15 percent. He said that for Minister Benn to say they can’t reduce it is “crazy”. “When the minibus operators or miners cry out they would go to the government and they would reduce whatever taxes,” Harmon stressed. He said that the question of why Government can’t do the same for the travelling public is inconceivable. In a letter to the Transport Minister, Harmon, asked the Government to seriously
consider dropping the travel voucher tax. “Having regard to the recent steep increase in the cost of airline tickets for travel to and from Guyana and the claim by Airlines that the increased fares are unavoidable; I wish to strongly recommend that the government travel voucher tax of 15% which is a component of the ticket cost, be reduced by 10 % to help cushion the impact on the Guyanese travelling public.” The Parliamentarian asked the Government to move “swiftly” on the issue. The letter was copied to Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali. With only Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) operating the busy Georgetown/New York route, there have been increasing complaints by passengers of unusually high prices being paid for tickets, in recent times.
Wanted man nabbed with girl, 13, in Grove A man who was wanted by the police for a number of offences, including armed robbery, was yesterday caught with an underage school girl during a police raid of his home. The 30 year-old was captured at his Fourth Avenue, Back Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara home. According to reports reaching this publication, at about 14:00hrs (2:00 pm) a
male rank from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) along with two other female officers arrived at the home and called out for the man. A source told Kaieteur News that after the police continued to call out the man’s name they then decided to push open the door. “After they get in I hear a lil girl scream and they bring out the man.”
He added that the man was then brought out of the house and placed in a “red bus” while the young woman who was in her school clothes followed after with the two female officers. The man, the teen and two other young women were then taken to the Golden Grove Police Station. It is however unconfirmed if the two other girls (not dressed in school attire) were also in the house.
At the Golden Grove Station, the girls were then taken in to give statements before they were then moved to the Diamond Station. After spending 15 minutes at the Golden Grove Station the officers transported the individuals to the East Ruimveldt police station where they remained up to press time. Investigations are ongoing.
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TIP Report authenticity prompts candid exchanges “The Embassy here is the source of these inaccurate reports” – Dr. Luncheon “The Department of State has credible sources to support every statement” – US Ambassador Hardt
Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon Government believes that the United States Embassy in Georgetown is the source of inaccurate reports of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in Guyana that are reflected in the US State Department’s
2013 TIP Report. This is according to Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, while replying to a query about Government’s decision to not respond to yearly questionnaires on TIP as requested by the US Embassy in Georgetown. On Wednesday, in a press release, the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons (MTFTIP) expressed deep concern that the 2013 State Department’s Report on TIP in Guyana has not reviewed the country fairly. “The Government of Guyana regrets that the US Embassy, though it requests every year responses of the
Government of Guyana to a questionnaire on TIP, does not accurately reflect these responses in its Annual Report…Consequently, the Government of Guyana wishes to make it clear that in the future it will not be completing and returning questionnaires on Trafficking in Persons to the US authorities,” the MTFTIP said According to Dr. Luncheon, “…the Embassy here, we feel, is the source of these inaccurate reports and in their headquarters State Department TIP…whatever you call it… organization…they have established how we move
Cause of farm labourer’s death undetermined A post mortem has failed to clear up suspicions about the death of farm-hand Sasenarine Persaud, whose body was found in the Essequibo River last Saturday, some ten days after he disappeared from Hog Island, Essequibo.
A police official told Kaieteur News yesterday that the cause of death was undetermined, while relatives said that they were informed that there were no marks of violence on the body. Reports indicate that a proper post mortem could not be conducted due to the advanced state of decomposition. The remains were cremated on Tuesday with relatives of the 35-year-old still expressing suspicion about the circumstances of his death. A sister who spoke to Kaieteur News yesterday said that she did not believe reports that her brother jumped into the Essequibo River after running away from
the farm where he was working. Seepersaud, called ‘Boyo’, had traveled to Hog Island on Tuesday, June 22, in the company of a resident who wanted the man to work on his farm. Relatives said that they were told by Seepersaud’s employer that the farm-hand worked on Sunday and Monday (June 23 and June 24), but then fled from the farm the next day. Kaieteur News understands that the employer told relatives that Seepersaud had drowned. The relatives said that they were also told that ‘Boyo’ “trip out and run away because the place got nuff jumbie.”
forward in dealing with our righteous indignation about the way we have been improperly treated.” However, the US Embassy in Georgetown stands by the Department of State’s 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report on Guyana. And, even without Government filling out the questionnaires the US will still include Guyana in its reports. According to the Embassy, the report draws heavily on information provided by the Government of Guyana, which has been comprehensively incorporated into the report. “We also draw on other sources including government officials, local and international NGO representatives, representatives of international organizations, journalists, academics, and trafficking survivors. The Department of State has credible sources to support every statement in the Report,” the Embassy said. Guyana will continue to be featured in the Report, because the Department of State is mandated by U.S. law to assess Governments’ efforts worldwide to fight human trafficking according to minimum standards that are in line with the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Palermo Protocol).
“The U.S. Government solicits information from the Government of Guyana to help ensure the accuracy of the report. If the Government elects not to provide information, we will prepare the report based on all other available sources,” the Embassy declared. According to the Embassy, there were a total of 188 countries and territories included in the 2013 Report. Countries all around the world are evaluated on an annual basis as part of this assessment, including Guyana. According to the Embassy, the report provided Guyana with a suggested Action Plan, which can help to inform Government of specific actions that, if implemented, may positively affect its subsequent narrative and/or tier ranking in the 2014 TIP Report. “The tier ranking reflects the effectiveness of a country’s efforts to meet obligations consistent with the UN’s Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,” the Embassy said. The Embassy said the US encouraged Guyana to boost its efforts to hold trafficking offenders accountable by vigorously and appropriately investigating and prosecuting forced
US Ambassador to Guyana, D. Brent Hardt prostitution and forced labour; develop partnership with NGOs’ standard operating procedures to guide and encourage frontline officials to identify and protect victims of forced labour and forced prostitution; offer protection and assistance for victims near mining communities; and foster a climate of open dialogue on trafficking that encourages people to come forward to authorities with potential cases. According to the Embassy, it is hoped that Guyana and the TIP Task Force would focus efforts and resources on preventing future cases of TIP, protecting TIP victims, and strengthening the ability of Guyana’s law enforcement to conduct effective investigations that can stand up in court, so that perpetrators are held accountable.
Cabinet approves $$M to modify prisons, lock-ups Cabinet has given its noobjection for the construction of an additional storey atop the Brickdam Police Station lock-ups. According to Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon, $40.9M will be spent to construct an upper flat of the Station’s lock-ups, since there is a space constraint expanding the
existing flat horizontally. Meanwhile, Cabinet has also approved a $39.7M contract for phase two of construction works being executed on the Brick Prison, a block of the Georgetown facility at Lot 12 Camp Street. Last October, Cabinet had approved $50.93M to reconstruct a section of the Brick Prison. Director of
Prisons, Dale Erskine had told this publication that the reconstruction project is part of the Guyana Prison Service’s strategic plan to modernize facilities. A c c o r d i n g t o D r. Luncheon, $51.8M would be expended to construct the courtyard of Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara.
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UG to offer Medical Imaging programme in Sept.
T
he University of Guyana’s Faculty of Health Sciences is set to offer its newest programmes at the start of the Semester in September. According to Dean of the Health Sciences Faculty, Dr Emanuel Cummings, the programme, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Medical Imaging, is in fact an upgrade of the Associate in Science Degree in Radiography. The programme, Dr Cummings said, is being done in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and most of the curriculum work has been done and approved by the University. Intended to be wider than just Radiography, the Dean explained that the programme will not be characterised merely by xrays, ultrasounds and CT Scanning, but rather is designed to further develop such skills of health care providers. In essence, Dr Cummings said that it will be a much wider programme. It is expected that about 10 or 15 individuals will apply for the inaugural programme. “Initially we are attempting to upgrade those persons already in Radiography to take advantage of this degree in Imaging and also to have new students as well. It is another health career option and now we have so many options in the Health Sciences.” Meanwhile, Dr Cummings said that moves have been made to rename and reintroduce its Rehabilitation Services programme which will be introduced in time for the new semester as well. The programme, which
- as Rehabilitation Programme is reintroduced
Health Sciences Dean, Dr Emanuel Cummings was formerly called the BSc in Rehabilitation Sciences, was not attracting too many applications and therefore has been renamed the BSc in Medical Rehabilitation. According to Dr Cummings, “we have done some work on this lately and we need some very good Public Relations work for it because we are not getting the students.” The programme is identical to what was offered through the Rehabilitation Services Degree Programme complete with three specialties – Speech Therapy, Occupational
Therapy and PhysioTherapy. “We are hoping that we can attract lots of young people...these are exciting careers in the United States...Rehabilitation Science is a big area; it is related to all areas of medicine and it supplements health care delivery and the work of the physician,” said Dr Cummings. According to him, training for Occupational Therapy is also required for the Education Sector thus the importance of the programme being offered. After being introduced in 2010, the need to review the programme was essential since it did not attract a great deal of applicants. In fact Dr Cummings had confided that from all indications the offering of the programme was plagued with a number of challenges ranging from the unavailability of Government loans, the way it was promoted to the fact that several persons were unable to secure time to attend lecture sessions.
The latter problem, he said, was rooted in the fact that the programme was mainly intended to attract persons already working in the area of Rehabilitation Services within the health sector. “Only about 10 persons applied. Many potential students had issues with getting time off from their jobs. The way it was promoted too needs to be seriously reviewed,” Dr Cummings revealed then. M o r e o v e r, h e h a d speculated that the programme be advertised as Physiotherapy rather than Rehabilitation Sciences since Physiotherapy is in fact the aspect of Rehabilitation Sciences that should be placed in the forefront. “I think that the public would be better able to relate to Physiotherapy rather than Rehab Sciences.” “I have already indicated this to the University,
because I think we will have to do some career guidance as it relates to this programme.” Dr Cummings is optimistic that with the availability of such a programme, the Ministry of Health, and by extension the various Rehabilitation Centres and Community
Based Rehabilitation Programmes, would be able to benefit from the skills of local experts. The Faculty of Health Sciences has since 2005 been able to establish over nine programmes in medicine thereby securing for itself the flagship status at the University.
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PSC slams Govt., Opposition participation in investment seminar
US Ambassador D. Brent Hardt (left) and Canadian High Commissioner, David Devine, during the closing press conference of the investment seminar last month.
L
ocal businesses have ripped Government and the Opposition over the lack of continuous presence at a recent investment seminar which was spearheaded by the diplomatic community. According to the Private Sector Commission (PSC), a powerful advocacy body whose membership includes commercial banks, soft drinks companies and manufacturing entities, the seminar was discussed at its
Council meeting held on Tuesday. PSC congratulated the Canadian High Commission and the other organizers of the conference for the high standard of the presentations and overall organization of the conference. However, a statement issued yesterday had this to say on the participation by Government and the Opposition: “The Commission is, however, disappointed at the lack of a continuous
presence of senior Government officials and leaders of the Parliamentary Opposition, since these are the persons charged with the responsibility for ensuring a stable and attractive investment climate for Guyana.” Yesterday, the Alliance For Change said while representatives were present at the forum, it was difficult, because of prior commitments, for a continuous presence. During
the closing press conference, there were no government and local officials, with only C a n a d i a n H i g h Commission, David Devine, and US Ambassador, D. Brent Hardt, being present. The ruling party and administration and largest Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity, have been largely silent. The Guyana Investment Seminar was held on June 27 and 28 at the International Convention Centre. “The conference brought together experts on the promotion of investment and highlighted the steps that Guyana has to take to increase both local and foreign direct investment in the country. Of particular importance was the highlighting of the institutions that need to be in place to counter any perceptions that a transparent investment climate may be lacking, since foreign investors are answerable to the laws of their own countries for any questionable dealings in the countries in which they invest,” PSC said in its statement. The seminar had seen sparks flying, with the Guyana government accusing the US of hindering more foreign investment because of what a number of perception reports had unfairly said. H o w e v e r , U S Ambassador Hardt opined that President Donald Ramotar had been unfair in his assessment. A c c o r d i n g t o participants of the seminar,
there were strong opinions expressed over the content of the forum. Government went on the defensive, maintaining that the local investment climate remains healthy, but that a few things need fixing. This was minutes after a regional expert hired to implement a crime and security strategy for CARICOM said that there is a perception that corruption is prevalent or endemic in Guyana. Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, made it clear that his government was unhappy over the agenda for the seminar which, while it dwelled in no small way with crime and security of Guyana, failed to address burning issues of cost of power and bandwidth. The government was one of the organizers with the High Commission of Canada as the lead organiser. Also collaborating for the forum were the European Union, the United States Embassy, the British High Commission, the United Nations Development Programme, the InterAmerican Development Bank, REPSOL, Pacific Rubiales, the Private Sector Commission, the Beharry Group of Companies (specifically, GBTI and NAFICO) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry. President Donald Ramotar at the opening of the seminar, used his speech to take a swipe at the U.S government on revelations by former spy agency contractor Edward Snowden
of its secret surveillance operations. “We have a free and open society. We do not interfere in people’s privacy. We do not read their mail or anything like that. That is an era I hope that is past forever in our country,” Ramotar stated. During the forum, Francis Forbes, a former Top Cop of Jamaica, now the Executive Director of CARICOM Implementation Agency For Crime and Security (IMPACS), said that Guyana, the region’s financial success story of the millennium, is threatened by the scourge of corruption. He made reference to Singapore, a first world country with a solid economy and a “strong, ethical government with an efficient police force. There is also evidence that Government and politicians are even involved in trafficking and there are security officials who intentionally compromise law enforcement efforts. In his recommendations, Forbes said that for Guyana to improve on its crime and security it will need new legislation to support antimoney laundering efforts and to ensure forfeiture of assets suspected to be acquired by illegal means. There is also need for an ombudsman, an adoption of zero tolerance policy, and closer scrutiny of workers who issue permits and l i c e n c e s . T h e professionalizing of the police force, whistleblower legislation and witness protection legislations are necessary, he said. H o w e v e r, F i n a n c e Minister Dr Singh, said that the local situation is different from what is being portrayed. “The ultimate test of the investor environment is the investor. While crime and security are important aspects, they are no means the only aspects.” He urged the organizers to speak to investors who may have a different view as to what the challenges are in Guyana. These include cost of energy and bandwidth. These were not included in the agenda of the seminar. Of course, he admitted, there are still many things to fix, including crime and s e c u r i t y, t h e c o s t o f bandwidth and energy, regulatory framework and the reduction of red tape.
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Frontier healthcare to take centre stage at Bi-National meeting I n the quest to forge cross-borders relation in order to strengthen the exchange of health collaborations, the Ministry of Health yesterday commenced a three-day meeting with a delegation from Suriname. According to Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, the move comes as part of the local Health Ministry’s efforts to embrace the notion of Frontier healthcare which was first established in April during the launch of ‘ Va c c i n a t i o n o f t h e Americas’ week. “The Ministry of Health is pushing frontier health and we are going to be pushing it with Suriname this time and shortly with Cayenne and Brazil too,” he disclosed during a press conference on Wednesday. The delegation from Suriname includes Health Minister, Michel Bolkland, along with a technical team and according to Minister Ramsaran, “this is part and parcel of what came out of our recent border activity.” Moreover, the meeting is designed to forge unity between the two countries as according to the Minister, “diseases don’t respect borders…so we are strengthening the exchange of health information, health education and the exchange of health care workers.” The multiple-day gathering at the International Conference Centre will also see the attendance of Head of Suriname’s Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation ( PA H O / W H O ) , D r Guillermo Troya, and PAHO Representative, Dr. Gustavo Bretas, along with a team from the local Health Ministry headed by Dr Ramsaran. The meeting, which is being dubbed a Bi-National
Commission for collaboration on Health, represents a collaborative move between the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), the German International Cooperation (GIZ), EPOS Health Management, which is headquartered in Germany, and the Ministries of Health of Guyana and Suriname. This Bi-National Commission meeting
originated from a bid by the Ministry of Health, Suriname and the recommendations of two consultancies completed u n d e r t h e PA N C A P / G I Z / E P O S Migrant Project. The c o n s u l t a n t s ’ recommendations were influenced by their findings which highlighted the similarities in geographic location, the experiences of high cross-border movement
and the matching profile of the migrant and mobile populations within both countries In addition to discussing issues related to HIV/AIDS, participants will also deliberate on health and wellness matters related to migrant and mobile populations in Guyana and Suriname. These would include neglected Tropical Diseases, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other communicable diseases. The outcome of the meeting will be a framework for Binational collaboration on
health service policies related to migration and mobility and the priority health issues of both countries The Migrant Project supports all priority areas of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework (CRSF 2008-2012) but is mainly centered on Priority Area 3, Prevention of HIV
transmission with specific emphasis on migrant and mobile populations. The project has four components: improving legal and policy framework, implementing innovative health financing mechanisms, empowering communities and making HIV services more migrant friendly.
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AFC demands immediate restructuring of GECOM hails whistle-blowing Commissioner Shocking claims by a Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner that there may have been a deliberate attempt to alter the final results of the 2011 General and Regional Elections have triggered political anger, with calls for an immediate restructuring of the entity. The situation is likely to raise tensions and cast doubts as to whether GECOM could host the long overdue Local Government Elections this year. In a letter carried by the country’s major newspapers yesterday, Commissioner Vincent Alexander, an Opposition-nominated member, “broke” his silence, asserting that former Chief Elections Officer, Gocool Boodoo, did not make a mistake when an incorrect formula was used to calculate the number of seats to be allocated to political parties in the 2011 elections. In the letter, Alexander, a senior official also at the University of Guyana, said that there is one formula for converting the votes into seats. “How could it be a mistake if a factor in the formula is changed? There was no error of calculation. Sixty-five (65) replaced forty (40) in the formula.” Making it clear that he can no longer remain silent, Alexander said he is prepared to face the music. The announcement of the results on December 1, 2011, was delayed for several hours as GECOM and its Commissioners scrambled to correct the results while political parties waited with bated breath at the Pegasus Hotel and their respective camps. The ruling PPP/C lost its majority in the National Assembly by one seat. The argument by the Opposition parties is that Boodoo’s “miscalculation” would have handed the administration a clear majority. Alexander’s letter was prompted by the fallout in recent days of the battle between GECOM and Boodoo over the nonrenewal of his contract as Chief Elections Officer. Boodoo took the matter to court but the matter was thrown out at mid-week. But the issue has been heavily debated in the media, with
numerous letters and accusations that he was being racially targeted. END OF BOODOO According to A Partnership for National U n i t y ( A P N U ) parliamentarian, Joseph Harmon, as far as that Opposition faction is c o n c e r n e d , B o o d o o ’s contract is at an end “that is the end of Mr Boodoo. That is basically our position.” During APNU’s press briefing, Harmon said that the issue of the 2011 election results has been raised time and again with a flurry of correspondence in the media a n d w i t h G E C O M ’s Boodoo. “Records will show we have raised the issue over and over…We have documents we sent to Mr. Boodoo… It’s not fair to say we were silent.” The AFC was even harsher in their press conference yesterday. The party’s Chairman, Nigel Hughes, said there was grave concern over the r e v e l a t i o n s o f Commissioner Alexander. The AFC made it clear that it is convinced that attempts were made to manipulate both the 2006 elections. The party lost a seat in Linden as a result of GECOM’s calculation and while initially told that it would be corrected, AFC was subsequently forced to take the matter to court. According to Hughes, Alexander’s letter has made it clear that an attempt was made to also manipulate the 2011 results. Hailing Alexander as a “true patriot”, Hughes, a prominent lawyer, said his party will be endorsing immediate moves to restructure GECOM. Regarding the position of Chairman, Hughes pointed out that the selection process was a temporary one established years ago by the Jimmy Carter delegation, in which the President would vet one of six names put forward by the Opposition. This system has outlived its usefulness and there is need for a professional body with representations from civil society also, the party urged. “Any suggestion Mr. Boodoo be remotely considered as a potential candidate on a short list for the post of Chief Elections Officer is clearly beyond the pale,” the AFC Chairman
Executives at AFC’s Press Conference: From left: General Secretary David Patterson; Chairman Nigel Hughes; Leader Khemraj Ramjattan; Harry Narine Deokinanan and Michael Carrington. emphasized. According to AFC executive member, Michael Carrington, “GECOM is responsible for the state of local government elections which is supposed to be held every three years. No minister can hold up elections.” COMPLICIT COMMISSIONERS? AFC leader Khemraj
Ramjattan said that the e m e rg i n g e v i d e n c e i s suggesting that in the past, Commissioners merely accepted the final results as announced by the Chief Elections Officer. This, he said, indicated either ignorance of the procedures in tallying seats or complicity between Commissioners at GECOM. Ramjattan said that with
regard to the 2006 elections, GECOM had admitted that it got the Linden’s results wrong yet refused to correct it - a clear injustice to voters and the AFC - and it is against this background that Boodoo should never be returned to his post at GECOM. The AFC believes that despite the current GECOM “crisis”, local government
elections can still be held this year, with the party prepared to back four Bills through the National Assembly. They are to be tabled again next week after being considered by a Parliamentary Special Select Committee. The party also said it wants GECOM Chairman’s position to be staggered and not for life.
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GPHC clears the air on infant’s hospitalization Although 16-month-old Nicholas Cox’s more than month-long hospitalization at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was marred with controversial reports from some sections of the media, the hospital yesterday sought to clear the air. In a detailed statement, the hospital pointed out that although the infant was injected with Gravol at the onset of treatment, there is no way that the medication could have caused him to stop breathing. It was explained that on May 30, last, the child was brought to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of the hospital by his mother who disclosed that he was suffering from worrisome bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. According to the hospital’s statement, the concerned mother also related that her son had two days earlier developed a mild fever and was very irritable. He was previously treated at the Woodlands Hospital and was being administered suspension Kaolin, liquid Gravol and daily injections of the antibiotic Rocephin, the GPHC statement said. During triage at the public hospital, medical personnel observed that the child was also dehydrated and at 11:15 hours he was seen by the A&E doctor on duty who ordered three boluses of normal saline (180 mls each), flagyl injection (250 mg) and gravol injection (3 mg iv). These were all administered, the statement outlined. However, less than two hours later, the doctor was alerted by the child’s mother
to the fact that he had “suddenly just stiffened out and stopped breathing.” Moreover, the attending doctor activated an emergency response after confirming unresponsiveness and full resuscitation commenced. The patient, according to the statement, was in cardiopulmonary arrest with pulseless electrical activity. As such Advanced CPR, six rounds of epinephrine and one dose of sodium bicarbonate were administered before a perfusing rhythm was achieved within half an hour. By this time, the statement said, “The patient was intubated, with blood-tinged secretions evident, a nasal gastric tube was passed with blood-tinged returns and foleys were passed with blood-tinged urine returned. He subsequently developed a generalised tonic clonic seizure during return of systemic circulation.” According to the hospital, the child was reviewed by Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Paediatric staffers who recommended he be admitted to ICU. He was subsequently transferred to ICU in a critical state with a working diagnosis of post arrest from severe dehydration secondary to gastroenteritis to rule out hemolytic uremic syndrome and neurosepsis. “Investigations were taken off and management appropriate to the differential initiated. He was on ventilator support for six days during which time his condition remained critical but with slow guarded improvement,” added the statement. Although feeds were
slowly initiated and stools were initially diarrheal in nature, it was noted that on day four, post admission, the child had signs of digested blood (melena) and a further complication of upper gastrointestinal bleeding was added to the list of his complications. However, by this time initial laboratory tests were all returned in fairly normal ranges including negative blood, urine and stool cultures. The statement also stated that Dengue and Typhoid serologies were negative and coagulation studies were found to be normal. Further, the child’s condition was reviewed by Paediatric Surgery to assess the upper Gastrointestinal bleeding and imaging studies including x-rays, ultrasounds and CT-Scans were done, none of which definitively identified the cause of the bleeding. “On day seven he was extubated and on day 10 (9th June 2013) transferred to the Paediatric ward, still very ill with ongoing internal bleeding of varying amounts each day,” outlined the statement, which noted that the child was found to be poorly responsive and spastic. Physiotherapy was introduced to address the child’s spasticity and the long term bed stay. Though aided by antibiotics and other supportive care, the child’s recovery and rehabilitation was noticeably slow. There were also concerns about visual perception which led to a review by an ophthalmologist, who concluded that follow-up was
needed to yield conclusive diagnosis. For almost two weeks, the child continued to have ongoing upper gastrointestinal bleeding of unknown etiology and an endoscopic examination yielded no conclusive source of the bleed, the hospital statement indicated. “However with ongoing medical supportive care, the bleeding finally subsided and Nicholas has been free of any bleeding for two weeks now. He is tolerating oral liquid to soft diet and is having normal stools. He is off all antibiotics for one week now and is also fever free,” it was noted. The child, according to the statement, continues to have deficits and regressions in motor, speech and social interaction and a head CT-
Scan confirmed diffuse hypoxic ischemic injury. However, the child was on Tuesday last discharged into the care of his mother, who the statement said, was kept abreast with all developments and possible eventualities throughout her child’s hospital stay. “No effort was spared in
accommodating her queries and concerns at all times. She fully understands Nicholas’ evolution in hospital and has committed to his ongoing rehabilitation and care,” the statement added. The child is slated to be followed up by Paediatric Medicine, Physiotherapy and Ophthalmology.
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Attempted manipulations in 2011 elections?
GECOM Commissioner makes stunning claims about Chief Elections Officer
By Abena Rockcliffe In an explosive letter published yesterday in this n e w s p a p e r, Vi n c e n t Alexander, a Commissioner of the Guyana Election Commission, has suggested that there was a deliberate attempt to manipulate the results of the 2011 General and Regional elections. The 2011 elections was a crucial one at which the ruling party, for the first time in 20 years, lost its voting majority in the National Assembly—by one seat. Stressing repeatedly that the truth must be told, Alexander stated in his letter that former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Gocool Boodoo’s action, in his preparation and near flawed declaration of the results of the 2011 elections, giving the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) a parliamentary majority, was no mistake. Immediately after the 2011 elections, Alexander had highlighted a discrepancy in Boodoo’s calculation that had excluded the 25 constituency seats and only taken 40 seats into consideration. Boodoo’s original calculation had g i v e n t h e P e o p l e ’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) 33 seats with 48.57 percent of votes, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) 26 and Alliance For Change (AFC) six. However, the “accurate” calculation resulted in the PPP/C being given 32 seats, APNU 26 and AFC seven, giving the opposition the majority in parliament. Had that not been corrected, PPP/C would have come out of that elections winning it all, including the majority in the National Assembly. Alexander, who sits as a
Friday July 12, 2013
Vincent Alexander Commissioner in representation of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) said that Boodoo was singularly responsible for converting the vote count into seats. In addition, he stated that “This was not his (Boodoo’s) first exposure to the task. It was his third. There is only one formula for converting the votes into seats. How could it be a mistake if a factor in the formula is changed?” Further on in the letter, Alexander reiterated that there was no error of calculation. He pointed out that Sixty-five (65) replaced forty (40) in the formula and emphasized that “no calculations were presented to the Commission for scrutiny.” According to Alexander, signed declarations were presented. He said, “There was nothing for the naked eye to discern. It was my academic knowledge of the system and my constant explanation of the system to students that equipped me to discern the fraudulent declaration (result).”
Alexander also claimed in the letter that when challenged, Boodoo responded that “he (Boodoo) was right and was presenting the correct results”. “It required a sustained exchange; reference to the legal provisions that provide for the formula; and my insistence that he had used an incorrect formula that caused Mr Boodoo to resort to the correct and only available formula to recalculate the allocation of seats.” Alexander noted that Boodoo had already used the same formulation to correctly calculate the allocation of seats for the ten constituencies (regions). Alexander also said that it had been a pattern of Boodoo’s to treat the Commissioners with contempt with regard to the truth. WELCOMES ANY REFUTE
Gocool Boodoo After stating “fact” after “fact”, Alexander said he challenges anyone to refute the details he finally revealed. According to him,
his decency and professional cloak are the factors that influenced his silence to the public about the issues. “Enough is enough. I am now cloaked in Good Governance and guided by Openness and Transparency. Let the TRUTH be told. There was no MISTAKE. There was no ERROR. Did the system work? NO! “Boodoo’s ill had to be cured since it was about to inflict DEATH on the results. It had previously inflicted death in the 2006 elections. In 2006, the mistake was brought to Boodoo‘s and the Commissioners’ attention at a time when it could have been corrected, ask the AFC. In fact, correction was promised, but alas the knell tolled and GECOM piously said let them seek redress in Court. A court which
dismissed the just case on contrived technical grounds. 2011 was an attempt to once again deprive the AFC of a seat, an attempt to beat up on the small party in deference to the PPP/C.” In concluding, Alexander stated again, “Let the truth be told. The facts are irrefutable. I now await all of the bile, venom and the like as I stand by the truth which must prevail. I can no longer be silent nor be silenced, cost it what it may.” This instance marks the first that a serving Commissioner has made such revelations. The Commission comprises one AFC representative, two from APNU and three from the government. GECOM’s Chairman is Dr. Steve Surujbally.
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South Africa’s Mandela remains Iran asks India to settle all oil critical, responds to treatment payment in rupees - sources JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Former South African president Nelson Mandela remained in a critical but stable condition and was responding to treatment, President Jacob Zuma said yesterday after visiting the anti-apartheid hero in a Pretoria hospital. Mandela, whose 95th birthday is on July 18, has been receiving treatment for a recurring lung infection that has led to four hospital stays in the past six months. Several of Mandela’s comrades in the antiapartheid struggle gathered at Liliesleaf Farm outside of Johannesburg yesterday to mark the 50th anniversary of a police raid that led to their arrests, which dealt a heavy blow in the battle to end white-minority rule. Mandela had been in jail for a separate conviction at the time of the farm raid but was named as “accused number one” in a conspiracy plot when those arrested at Liliesleaf were brought to court in what is known as the
Nelson Mandela
Rivonia Trial. Mandela had previously evaded apartheid police by posing as a caretaker and hiding out at Liliesleaf. Many of Mandela’s comrades lamented the precarious state of the man who was a giant in the struggle. “It’s a sad coincidence that he can’t be with us and
that he is in hospital today,” said Bob Hepple, who was initially charged of plotting with Mandela to overthrow the apartheid regime. Mandela and several others were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. They later won their release and struck a deal that brought about all-race elections in 1994 that ended apartheid
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Iran has asked India to settle all oil trade including $1.53 billion owed to Tehran in the partly convertible rupee as the sanctions-hit nation cannot find an alternative payment channel, industry and government sources in Delhi said. India has been paying for 45 percent of its Iranian oil imports in rupees, which has limited international acceptability, and was settling the remainder in euros through Turkey’s Halkbank (HALKB.IS), but this was halted in February under pressure from tighter western sanctions. The U.S. and European Union slapped sanctions on Iran to block oil revenues over its disputed nuclear programme, which they suspect aims to build weapons. Iran denies this claim. Since April 1, Indian refiners have held on to 55 percent of payments as Iran has been exploring avenues, including settling in roubles through Russia, the sources said. The non-payment was seen as a hidden incentive
or a temporary relief on top of attractive credit terms offered by Iran to Indian clients. “The Russian route didn’t work out so they have asked us to make the entire payment, including dues, in rupees and we have no problems in that. Soon we will start clearing the dues in rupees,” said an official at an Indian refiner. The two countries had been trying to reduce New Delhi’s debts by promoting exports and India recently said it would allow goods to be imported for re-export to Iran as long as they added value of at least 15 percent, to encourage trade. India imported 262,800 barrels per day (bpd) from Iran in 2012/13, a reduction of 27.4 percent from the previous year, according to preliminary government data. New Delhi, along with other Asian clients of Iran, won another 180-day waiver from the U.S. sanctions last month on the back of its cuts in imports from Tehran.
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Thousands of workers on strike in Brazil
SAO PAULO (AP) — Tens of thousands of workers across Brazil walked off their jobs yesterday in a peaceful nationwide strike demanding better working conditions and improved public services in Latin America’s biggest nation. Metalworkers, transportation and construction workers as well as teachers and civil servants adhered to the “Day of Struggle” organized by Brazil’s biggest trade union federations. Strikers either partially or completely blocked 40 interstate and intercity highways in 14 states. In the city of Santos, dock workers prevented trucks from entering Latin America’s biggest port. Striking stevedores also blocked access to ports in another six states. Some banks located in areas where protesters were expected to stage large rallies closed down but allowed access to ATMs Teachers at public and
President Dilma Rousseff private schools also went on strike and closed schools in several cities, while some hospitals were operating with skeleton crews. However, subway, bus and train workers in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other state capitals did not join the strike, and transportation services were functioning normally. The strikers are demanding better public transit, health and education
services as well as agriculture reform and a reduced work week. The strike follows mass nationwide protests that swept Brazil last month when demonstrators angered with corruption, poor public services and a heavy tax burden took to the streets. The protests also denounced the billions of dollars spent to host the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics in Rio, money they say should be going toward better hospitals, schools and transportation. President Dilma Rousseff has responded by floating several proposals including spending $23 billion on urban transportation, using oil royalties to fund education and importing thousands of foreign doctors to work in impoverished, underserved areas. She also ordered her Cabinet to focus on solutions for five priority areas: fiscal responsibility and controlling inflation, political reform, health care, public transport and education.
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Prime Minister denies political interference in situation at Trinidad Guardian PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – CMC - Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar says she was not aware of any kind of political interference by her that could have led to the resignation of employees from the Trinidad Guardian newspaper. “I have not spoken to anyone at the Guardian, either board members or reporters at the Guardian. I speak to the reporters from time to time when you (interview me), when you ask me questions. I’ve had no conversations with anyone and therefore there’s no interference from the Partnership and certainly from the UNC as far as I’m aware,” the Prime Minister told the Trinidad Express newspaper. Concerning the government’s position on freedom of the press, she said: “I’ve spoken repeatedly and you will realise I’ve never ever attacked the media even when you attack me sometimes and I don’t mean it in a bad way. I’ve never, ever in my 28 years in public life, you could check my history and my record, I have never interfered with freedom of the press and indeed we
went so far, my government recently moved a part of the criminal libel law against journalists and reporters. I remain committed to freedom of the press and with respect to what happened at the Guardian, I really don’t know, I can’t say, but I do know I spoke to no one at the Guardian.” She said while some believe that the media
scrutinises her government more than previous administrations that is not her opinion. “I am not of that view. We are in a new world in a new time, new technology and so on and that’s the job, that’s your job, the media has their job, I have mine and we continue to work harmoniously,” she said. The Managing Director of Guardian Media Limited, Gabriel Faria has also reiterated t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r ’s stance stating that he company has not bowed to pressure for the political directorate of the day following the walk out by journalists amid reported government pressure on the board of directors to have Editor-in-Chief, Judy Raymond “re-assigned”. Faria stressed that the media entity was in full support of “fair, balanced and accurate reporting by its reporters.” He said he has been fully supportive of the media team, and that the group has been providing the necessary training and equipment to compete at the highest level.
espionage charges for divulging details of extensive, secret U.S. surveillance programs. Snowden has been stuck in the transit area of Moscow’s international airport since June 23 amid mounting speculation that he might board a flight at any moment to travel to Latin America. Foreign ministers from the Mercosur bloc of South American nations are preparing for a summit on Friday when leaders are expected to respond to allegations Washington spied
extensively in the region and to last week’s diversion of Bolivian President Evo Morales’ plane over European airspace on suspicions Snowden was on board. “We’ve discussed the issue of spying on the continent, issues related to ... the right of asylum,” said Uruguay Foreign Minister Luis Almagro. Mercosur is comprised of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Venezuela. The presidents of Ecuador and Bolivia will also attend the meeting on Friday.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Venezuela says Snowden has still not formally responded to asylum offer
MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) - Venezuela has still not received a formal response to its offer of asylum to former U.S. spy contractor Edward Snowden, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua told Reuters yesterday. “We communicated last week, we made an offer and so far we haven’t received a reply,” Jaua said on the sidelines of a regional foreign ministers’ meeting in Montevideo, Uruguay. Venezuela along with leftist allies Bolivia and Nicaragua have offered asylum to Snowden, who is wanted by Washington on
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BALLOT BOX MARTYR’S CYCLING SET FOR SUNDAY Malta Supreme 11-Race Meet on Saturday This year marks the 40th anniversary of the infamous Ballot Box Martyr’s, and as part of activities planned to mark the occasion is the annual cycle road race set to pedal off on Sunday morning. The 55-mile race will roll off from the Freedom House, New Amsterdam, at 09:00 hours, proceed to the Corriverton Police Station and return to Number 63 for the finish. While cyclists in the Open division will ride that course, the veteran, upright and female riders will start at Freedom House, New
Amsterdam, at the same time with the seniors, but finish on the upward journey at Number 63. The first six finishers in the Open category, as well as the leading three in the junior, veteran, mountain bike and female divisions and the top veteran over-60 participant will all receive prizes. Eight prime prizes will be up for grabs during the course of the race with the inform Alonzo Greaves set to defend his title in the Open race. He won last year’s event in a time of two hours, 12 minutes, 59 seconds (02h:
12m: 59s). The other winners from last year are Raul Leal (junior), Raymond Newton (veteran), Niall Kingston (mountain bike) and Jamal Yearwood (Under-14 open). The event, which is being sponsored exclusively by Corentyne businessman Chris Jagdeo, will see members of the People Progressive Party/Civic giving the cyclists the ceremonial send off at New Amsterdam and assisting in the presentation of prizes at Number 63. The race is being
Friday July 12, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): Responsibilities pile up at work these days but you’re not ready to get too serious yet. You’re not very excited about doing your chores now or even considering strategies to get a job done. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20): Cool logic is your ally now as you fight your way back from confusion. Your elaborate fantasies may come unraveled today, but they soon will be replaced by a less complicated version of reality.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): If you accidentally overstepped someone’s boundaries recently, it may be time for a bit of emotional cleanup today. There’s no reason to be hesitant or shy if you made an error in judgment; just admit to it and move on. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): You may be overly protective of your feelings today and might attempt to make it through the day without ever admitting what’s actually bothering you.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20): Everyone seems to be relying on you for your stability these days, but this is not one of your typical strengths. Fortunately, you probably can anchor a loved one now and prevent him or her from drifting away in an emotional storm.
SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): If you have set your sights too high today, you may become discouraged when you don’t reach your goals. It’s helpful to cut yourself a bit of slack and allow time for your plans to develop.
CANCER (June 21–July 22): You have strong opinions today, but expressing them might lead you into more trouble than it’s worth. Paradoxically, it may be easier for you to work with the facts and figures now than to handle an emotional issue.
CAPRICORN(Dec.22–Jan.19): It’s difficult to avoid creating an awkward situation where someone becomes angry with you today. It might seem as if you don’t have as many options as you want or that others are attempting to get in your way.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22): You bring an excess of energy to the table if you share your opinions, even when they aren’t as clear as you wish. It can be quite difficult to separate what’s good from what’s not when it comes to relationships.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18): You’re searching for a significant piece of information today and might even conclude that someone is hiding something from you. Unfortunately, your attempts to bring out the truth won’t likely lead to success now.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22): Your self-confidence may be slipping now as you recollect a time in your life when your best shot fell short of someone’s expectations.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): You may be feeling somewhat let down today, just as you might on a morning after an exciting event.
organised by national cycling coach, Hassan Mohamed, and transportation for cyclists and officials will leave the Sport Ministry’s office at 91 Middle Street at 05:00 hours on Sunday for Berbice. Meanwhile, the riders will be in action on Saturday at the inner circuit of the National Park for the staging of the second annual Banks Malta Supreme 11-race programme. The race was originally billed for last Saturday, but had to be postponed due to heavy rainfall in the city. Among the events slated for the this Saturday are the 12-14 Boys and Girls (three laps), Veterans Under-50 (five laps), Over-50 (five laps) and
Over-60 (five laps), Juveniles (10 laps), Mountain Bikes (five laps), BMX 6-9 (two laps), 9-12 (three laps), 12-14 (three laps) and Open (three laps) and the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational. The experienced Robin Persaud is the defending champion of the feature race. He won last year’s event in a time of one hour, 20 minutes, 05.97 seconds (01h: 20m: 05.97s). Alonzo Ambrose (Juveniles) and Virgil Jones (Veterans Under-50) also won their respective categories. At the conclusion of the races, Malta Supreme Brand Manager, Clayton McKenzie, and Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager, Mortimer
Stewart, will assist in the presentation of prizes to the top performers.
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1- 215 BLC Excavator, 1 German double steel wheel roller, 1 low bed (hauler & trailer)- call:681-2995/6471615
Experienced drivers with minibus and hire cars license- Call:645-0025
Male & Female English Mastiff dogs: $300,000 for both- Call:678-2814/699-2322
German Shepherd PupsCall:619-6086/699-7077
Minibus driver for contract living in GeorgetownCall:675-3093
Nail Plates & Anchor Seal: 4×6, 3×6, 4×8- Call: 265-3541/ 695-4785 2 Bedford MJ trucks, price negotiable. Call Kim:658-5193
Skilled Carpenter and Mason, must be able to work with limited supervisionCall:602-9469/625-0930
EXPERIENCED (FOOD) SALESPERSON WITH VEHICLE: EXPERIENCED SECURITY GUARD, MUST KNOW HOW TO HANDLE WEAPONS- Call:231-8529
City Taxi Service: Contract Cars Needed- Call:6601100
Reliable receptionist & room attendants (shift work)Call:223-6284/225-9211
6" & 8" Flood control pump with engine, tool sets, ploughs, chippers, slasher, massey ferguson loaderCall:675-9314
Working female to share house- Call:694-0689
Lorry driver for Albion: Bus driver, Male & Female workers for number 7 BakeryCall:330-2399/623-5920
Pure bred German Shepherd puppy, 2 months oldCall:231-9419/617-7577
One experienced female cook to cook for family in Interior- call:697-6747 One experienced Female domestic and sales clerk Call: 227-0557. Night & day Jet men and cook needed- Call:684-6356 (11:00am to 1:00pm and 4:00pm to 6:00pm) One experienced driver for the Interior - Call:681-8384/ 660-7756 Driver: Car/Van, mechanical repairs an asset- Call:2271830 One attractive waitressCall:678-1481
Machine Operator to work in Garment Factory- Call:2222541
Live in domestic & waitress (ages 18-30 years): Salary $50,000 monthly- Tele no.610-3974
Used Massey TractorsMF175, 275, 1100, 1130, Ford 5000, Yanmar Vegetable Tractors square axle & wheel- Call: 675-9314
1 Qualified cook (East Bank area)- Call:614-4358 1 Driver/Salesman needed: Clean drivers record & police clearance needed: Reference required- Call: 642-1141 2 Experienced Cashiers needed to work shift in supermarket on the East Coast- Call:220-2128
CAKES & PASTRIES Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery, Call: 670-0798. Also Wedding dresses for sale
Needed Urgently Trained A/ C Technician with or without certificate: Jobs availableCall:618-0330 One experienced Shop Assistant to work in InteriorCall:697-6747 1 Whole day domesticCall:667-5717 or 650-4761 Workers for Land DredgeCall:667-5717/623-2728 1 Weekends Dispatcher, full time cars: De General Taxi Service, 120 Regent StreetCall:231-8888/ 231-2900 One live-in or live out maidcall:668-3985/264-3355/6837936
Terrier Pups for saleCall:649-4247
Promix starting at $ 7 , 5 0 0 , green formula (growing mix)- Call: 6152346/263-5300 3 Fiber Glass Boats And Trailer $1.4M (Negotiable) Can Be Sold Separately, Best Offer Accepted- Call: 699-1711
Hotel for sale, located in Georgetown- Call:223-8479: www.spaceseek.gy RABBITS -$2000 each- Call: 650-0814 3 Piece sofa set & fridgeCall: 650-0814 CRV PMM series call:6925460 2007 R1 MotorcycleCall:623-4045/689-4864 House lots and land for sale on the East Coast- Call:2238479: www.spaceseek.gy 1 Hiab Truck- Call:618-1967 or 698-4321 NEW 250GB PLAY STATION3 with 1 Game (your choice): Also PS2, XBox360 games-Call:609-8132/ 672-8569 (Max)
TO LET Fully furnished short term apartments @ Eccles call: 689-6668
Hot & Weri Weri Pepper: Export quality- Call:225-5153
One bedroom house @ Lusignaan, E.C.D- Call:6629043 (7:00am-5:00pm)
1 Pontoon, dimension 200×50×12, 1-500 Ton cargo vessel haul both as is where is- Call:623-4045/689-4864
Diamond $35,000; Kitty $65,000; Ogle $80,000; Nandy Park US$1200- Call Diana:626-9382/227-2256
Household furniture, bedroom set, sofa set, dining set, 55" Toshiba TV- Call:6486444
RZ mini-buses BMM & BNN series, AT192, 212, AT170, Tacoma, Canters, NZE & cheap cars- call:680-3154 1 Toyota Premio, old model, A/C, fully powered: Excellent condition $1.2M- Call:6135308 2- 07 Toyota Avensis- Call: 698-0674 Unregistered 2008 Toyota Premio: 2006 BMW 320iCall:615-4114 Toyota Altezza, PNN, triptronic- Call: 622-0108
Fluffy Daschund pups for sale- Call:677-2476
LAND FOR SALE House lot for sale: Friendship EBD & drafting of house plans. Call: 223-0733, 2230730 2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at ParikaCall:226-7968 1,500 acres with four stories concrete building. Rice & Sugar cane cultivation active on land- Call:223-8479: www.spaceseek.gy 30 house lots for sale at Lot 2 Vryheid New Amsterdam, Berbice: Price $10M – Call: 692-4319
Suriname Carifesta Summer Tour: August 15th-20th & August 22nd-27th: Casino & Site seeing: Book earlyCall:639-2663/644-0185/6655171/227-8290
Glanza EP 91 Starlet Turbo charged, stick shift- Contact No.648-3248 Nissan pick-up in excellent condition, suitable for small business or farmers: Price negotiable- Call: 616-0504/ 223-2068 Leading Auto: Unregistered Runx, Premio, 212, Allion, Spacio, IST- Call:677-7666/ 610-7666 1 Toyota Verossa, 1 Mitsubishi Colt: Excellent condition- Call:648-6444
1 Toyota G-Touring wagon PHH series $900,000, 1 Toyota AE 192 PHH series $800,000 (negotiable) owner migrating- Call:673-9138/ 641-6239 1 Leyland DAF 60 single axle & dump- Call:613-6615/ 216-1315 Just arrived: New RX8 cars & Spacios- Call:684-3374Clean! Clean! 2 Ford F150: Price $4.5M & $3.5M- Call: 643-5249 / 2654979 1 AE100 Corolla $650,000: 1212 Carina with alarm, A/C, CD deck & mag rims $950,000- Call:611-6632 Toyota Alex (2004): Mags, black interior, CD, rear spoiler, never registeredCall:269-0432/686-0323 Toyota Fielder $2.1M, Premio $2.6M, Axio $2.9M: Vehicles fully loaded & unregistered- call: 617-2891
MASSAGE The Gent’s spa: Come be pampered by beautiful sophisticated masseuses four hands special call:657-5979
Lexus, Pitbull never registered- Call:655-0800/ 263-5300 First Class Auto: Spacio, IST, Verossa, 212- Call:609-8188/ 226-2689 1 Toyota Land-cruiser Prado PMM series- call:225-0188/ 225-6070
TOURS Suriname Tours: August 1st4th, Shopping Dolphins Butterfly Gardens: Book early- Call:639-2663/6440185/665-5171/227-8290
1 Ford F150 4×4 (3) doors: Working condition $700,000: Spacio, Raum, Premio: We finance @ low ratesCall:641-6516/264-2232
One black Titan (2005) 4 wheel drive, fully loaded: $4.2M negotiable- Call:6782814/699-2322
NINTENDO Wii with 5 games, rifle, fit-pad, extra controllers- Call:609-8132/ 672-8569 (Max)
One (1) 8 months old female German Shepherd dogCall:656-6407 1 Hand Sanding Machine, 1 De Walt Saw 7 inch, 1 Extension Pressure Washer Pole & 1 Set Hanging Ceiling Lights- Call:223-5641
We buy & sell vehicles for cash & we do trading-in of vehicles: 30 Seater Buses. Call: 680-3154
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773 Cosmetology, Nail Technology and Wig making courses @ BeautopiaCall:604-3002/629-3497
1- 8340 (4) Wheel drive Ford and 135 MF tractor: In excellent condition: Please call:601-7535 HILUX SOLID DIFF: 2L Diesel Engine, Excellent condition: UK Auto 60 Brickdam- Call:227-0424/ 676-6429 (Continued on page 37)
Friday July 12, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 37
2013 Digicel Schools Football Championship
NA Multi through to Region 6 final after beating Orealla 4-0
New Amsterdam Multilateral School goalscorers (from left) Shakeel Grant, Jamal Butts and Travette Grimmond pose for Kaieteur Sport following the completion of the game yesterday New Amsterdam Multilateral (NAMS) sounded an ominous warning to rivals after playing their best brand of football so far to upstage giant killers Orealla Secondary 4-0 and advance to the final of the Region 6 leg of the 2013 Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Championship which continued yesterday with semi-final action, at the All Saints ground. Playing against opponents who have proven to be upset minded, NAMS made sure that there were no more surprises as they poured in four goals against a team that had created waves in the competition. The game began on an even kneel as both teams started cautiously in front of a fair-sized crowd that had quite a few supporters from the visitors camp. However, NAMS looked more purposeful and utilised their speed and skill, managing to string together
some passes against the more stocky and robust Orealla lads. It was one such run down that Travette Grimmond in the 45th minute managed to latch on to a pass to send the ball into the back of the net to break the nil-all deadlock. It was soon 2-0 in the 4th minute of extra time (49th minute) as Shakeel Grant collected a pass from the right side to hammer home a onetime shot to send his team to the half time break enjoying a handy 2-0 lead. After the interval, both teams came out fighting and the game took a see saw pattern for some time, but it was NAMS who stretched their after Grant headed home a beauty from a right cross in the 54th minute for his second goal. The speedy and persistent Jamal Butts, who was a thorn in the Orealla defence, then crowned things off as he weaved his way through a host of defenders
to slam home from close range in the 90th minute. However, before that goal Orealla had an excellent opportunity to reduce the deficit, but they failed to convert a penalty. The visiting Orealla team, which played all of their previous games at Skeldon, some 60 miles from home, travelled more than 100, miles to participate in the game. They owed much to their keeper Cleon Henry who did a splendid job between the uprights. NAM S keeper Leon Loo was also outstanding in goal. Both teams missed a penalty each in the second half. The competition continues today with two top teams set to square off. Favourites Berbice High School (BHS) goes up against New Amsterdam Technical Institute in what is expected to be a ding dong affair, at the Skeldon ground.
U-20 Soca Princesses blank Dom Republic Trinidad Guardian -T&T “Soca Princesses” blanked host Dominican Republic 3-0 in their Caribbean Football Union Under20 qualifier at the Estadion Panamericano in San Cristobal on Tuesday evening. Goals by Shanisa Camejo in the 38th, Shenelle Henry in the 45th and Patrice Campbell seven minutes in to the second-half sealed the victory for the visitors to get their campaign off and running ahead of today’s final group match against Aruba. The match was played under muddy field conditions caused by heavy showers. Dominican Republic is currently under a tropical storm watch but team officials indicated that the T&T contingent was in a secure location and not in a state of panic. Coach Izler Browne speaking after the match said she was satisfied with the team’s win. “This was a tremendous win for a team with one month preparation. We didn’t play the best game but they gave a decent
performance and we got the victory. “Scoring twice in the first-half after a passive start was a great cushion going into the secondhalf and the third goal came in the 50th minute of play which put us comfortably in the drivers seat,” Browne added. On Sunday, Aruba and Dominican Republic will meet in the final match of the round-robin group series after Bermuda, failed to show. At the end of the series, the top two will advance to the CFU Finals carded for October from which teams will qualify to the Concacaf Under-20 Championships for next year’s Fifa 2014 Women’s World Cup in Canada The local Soca Princesses are hoping to go one round better than the previous Under20 women’s team which failed to get to the Concacaf Under-20 Women’s Championship after drawing with Cuba 1-1, losing to Puerto Rico 1-0 and edging Guyana by a similar 1-0 margin during their CFU group 2012 qualifiers for Japan.
EDUCATIONAL SUMMER CLASSES: July 15th – August 15th: Phonics, Mathematics, Language, Spanish, Craft, Tours & Fun day: Garnett St. KittyCall:654-8650
SERVICES Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,6626045,223-8115
Princeton College: CXC classes for day and evening students: Register for summer classes 5-18 yearscall:690-5008
Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool. Call: 225-9032, 647-2943
Advance Diploma in Computer Technology for students completed CSEC 2013: Register now @ MicroGraphics Technology, Vreed-En-Hoop- Call:2643057
House Plans, estimates and construction- Contact T.Boodhoo 625-9883 / 6759296
Get trained as a live-in Caregiver to live and work in Canada, under Canadian curriculum- Call:227-4881/ 416-674-7973 CXC Maths, English, Business and Science, January/ June 2014- Call Imperial College at 227-7627/ 683-5742 Summer Computer Classes: Ages 5-13: Starting at $6,500 and up @ MicroGraphics Technology, Vreed-En-HoopCall:264-3057 SUMMER CLASSES: Phonics, Language, Mathematics, Art & Craft & Fun day: (4-12 years)- July 15th- August 15th: Roxanne Burnham: Call 619-4355/ 2182076 Caribbean First Class Elementary: Strong on literacy, Nursery-Grade 6, Micro-Teaching: Evening Classes, register now! Call:684-7403 Caribbean First Class Read Guyana through literacy & phonics: July 15th – August 23rd, 2013: Limited seatsCall:684-7403 Learn how to read with hooked on phonics for children and adults private sessions- Call:694-0689
We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer. Call:2310655, 683-8734 Omar Computer repairs in homesCall:675-7292 Tr a n s p o n d e r T V: No Monthly Fees, No Hidden Fees, No Additional Charges: 250 Channels + 50 HD Channels- Call: 6753201 TV repairs, DVD, Microwaves, Amplifiers, Stereos, Washing machines etc. Call:693-2683 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves, TV: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699
(From page 36)
VACANCY Personnel needed, requirements: UG Diploma in Agricultural Science or a GSA certificate- Call:2230595/231-8053 Vacancy for 1 general domestic must able to prepare Vegetarian mealCall:225-5800 Operators, general workers (female/male), securityApply to: B.M. Enterprise Inc. GPL Wharf Houston, E.B.D- Call:227-8176/7 Guards, Males, Land of Canaan location. Accommodation Available for Males. Salary $15,000+ per 6 day week. Call:266-4427 Fish cleaners @ Lot 80 Eccles Industry- Call:2332546 One Upholster & two Joiners- Call:219-1342/6107005 HEALTH Enhance your health with genuine herbal supplementsContact: Hazel’s Herbal Store @ 244 D’Andrade Street, Newtown- Call:226-9136
CAR RENTAL Progressive Auto Rental cars from $4000 per day. Call 643-5122, 225-8711; email www. progressive autorental. com Premio, Vitz call: 689-6668 A i d a n ’s C a r R e n t a l & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807
FOR RENT Tw o (2) bedrooms furnished apartment in Georgetown for short term local and overseas guests. Contact: 699-7559 2 Bedrooms bottom flat in Alexander Village- 689-7708 Executive houses for rent from $500USD upwardsCall:223-8479: www. spaceseek.gy
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School, First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166, 622-2872, 615-0964
PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for Contact:699-9926
sale-
Versailles 5 Bedroom House with modern facilities and beautiful landscape- Call: 592-684-9203 / 592-624-8704 House and Land @ D’Edward, W.C.B.- Call: 6892973/698-3703
LAND FOR SALE Parfaite Harmonie $1.2MCall:675-7292
Prospect $13M, West Bank $18.5M, Diamond $40M, AAEccles $70M- Call Diana:6269382/227-2256
Business place located @ 94 Tushen New Scheme main road- Call:655-6945 One- (2) Bedrooms apartment for rent. Call: 617-3001 Apartment to rent in Prashad Nagar. Contact: 227-2993. Two bedrooms bottom flat: Location 148cc Eccles H/SCall:662-3837/670-0878 Two bedrooms house @ Haslington, E.C.D-Tel: 6639816
Page 38
Kaieteur News
Friday July 12, 2013
Feisty Guyana romp with Pakistan BERBICE HIGH SINK TAGORE MEMORIAL 7-0 in exciting 7-run defeat at Bourda By Sean Devers
The winning BHS team pose with their teachers and coach
Berbice High School (BHS) continued their prolific form as they swamped surprise package Tagore Memorial 7-0 to advance to the semifinals in the Digicel Nationwide Inter School football competition in a game played on Wednesday at the Skeldon ground. The prolific BHS line up had to battle the heavy breeze and surprisingly had to wait until the 38th when national cricketer Shimron Hetmeyer, just back from representing Guyana in U-17 cricket in Jamaica, latched on to one to send his team up and running for a 1-0 lead at half time. Hetmeyer started things rolling in the second half when he scored in the 57th minute for his second goal. Stephan Hinds in the 64th minute, Shamar
Ariendiel with a double in the 70th and 75th minutes, Derrick Taylor in the 80th minute and Mark Wrong in the 92nd minute rounded things off for the BHS unit, which looked ominous, as they prepare to take on New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) today in a much anticipated clash at the Skeldon ground. BHS had earlier routed Vryman’s s Erven Secondary 6-0 in a quarterfinal game played at the Scott Church ground with Mark Wrong in the 7th minute and Kerron McKenzie with a 13th minute strike, Sheldon Arrindel with goals in the 46th and 62 minutes and substitute Steffon Hinds, who sealed things off with goals in the 72 and 76 minutes, for their 6-0 route.
An International team returned to Bourda for the first time since 2006 and a large, raucous and colourful working day crowd threw their passionate support behind the Guyana team as they hunted down the 246-9 in 50 overs made by Pakistan before falling seven runs short with two balls remaining in the final over in an exciting finish. It was ideal preparation for the visitors after play began at 09:00hrs and was stopped briefly due to rain as Keon Joseph bowled with lively pace on a flat track and lush green outfield. Left-arm spinner, Skipper Veerasammy Permaul and legspinner Devendra Bishoo then tested the Pakistan batsmen with on-target bowling in mostly sweltering heat before a confident half century from left-hander Narsingh Deonarine led the spirited Guyana fight back. Fast bowler Mohammad Irfan quickly trapped Anthony Bramble leg before for a duck with the score on one and the South Americans were off to a horrendous start. Trevon Griffith (15) was then bowled by Irfan to leave the home team on 18-2 before former West Indies Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan (27) and Leon Johnson (31) put Guyana back on course with
Saraswati Vidya Niketan Students excel in Karate grading exam
The students take time out for a photo after the grading session. Senior male students excelled at a recent karate examination held on 21st June at Saraswati Vidya Niketan. Twenty- eight students participated in the examination. Twenty-four of these students gained yellow belt rank and four gained
orange belt rank. The grading was conducted by Sensei Amir Khouri and Sensei Mortley. Saraswati Vidya Niketan is proud of its students and their efforts. They are encouraging the all-round development of the
students. The school feels that karate is important because it serves as a balance between academic and physical activity. Karate helps with the students’ concentration and selfdiscipline. It is also a way of life because it encourages
development of the mind and body. The school collaborated with International Karate College/University under the guidance of Sensei Mortley. This was the first grading examination to be held at Saraswati Vidya Niketan.
a 54-run third wicket partnership before Sarwan edged a catch to the Keeper off Abdur Rehman at 72-3. Johnson, whose confident innings included four fours and a disdainfully hooked six over square-leg, was next to go when he was LBW to off-spinner Saeed Ajmal for the first of his five wickets. From 109-4 the locals slipped to 153-6 with both Assad Fudadin (11) and Chris Barnwell (5) falling cheaply. When Deonarine played over a delivery from Ajmal at 170-7 after hitting five fours and two sixes from 42 balls and Permaul fell for a duck without addition to the score, it appeared the noisy fans were in for a disappointing day at the world famous venue which has seen some epic battles in its 32 Tests and 13 ODIs. But the dreadlocked Steven Jacobs again proved he is a value asset to Guyana in limited overs cricket with a cameo 27 which included three sixes. Jacobs hit the biggest six of the contest when he dumped an out of sorts Afridi high over where the Clive Lloyd stand once stood and into the street beyond the deep mid wicket boundary. The Malteenoes right-hander then celebrated with a thumping straight six in the next over off Rehman to keep Guyana in the chase.
Lower order batsman Bishoo, who will play for the Barbados Franchise in the upcoming CPL and whose batting has improved tremendously, joined forces with Jacobs to inspire real hope among the close to 2000 fans with a 41-run partnership. After Jacobs was leg before to the wily Ajmal at 211-9 Bishoo and Paul Wintz (9*) kept the crowd happy with an entertaining 28-run last wicket partnership before Bishoo was bowled by Ajmal with victory eight runs away. Ajmal finished 5-39 and Irfan 3-27 for P akistan who had earlier been given a solid 62 run opening start by Ahmed Shehzad (68) and Nasir Jamshed (19). Jamshed was bowled by Permaul and when Shehzad was brilliantly stumped by Bramble off a perfectly flighted leg break from Bishoo at 116-3 after stroking nine fours in his innings, nobody except Afridi (31) reached 25 for the visitors. Wahab Riaz (23), Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (22) and Asad Shafiq (22) all wasted good starts before Umar Amin (17*) and Rehman (1*) added 15 for the last wicket to ensure Pakistan batted out the 50 overs. Permaul 3-27, Bishoo 3-39 and Joseph 2-52, did the bulk of the damage with the ball for Guyana.
Two Belize players offered bribe CONCACAF Statement CONCACAF was notified of an attempt to bribe Belize national team players Woodrow West and Ian Gaynair on July 7th, two days ahead of their Group A, Gold Cup match against the United States that took place in Portland, OR. Both players directly approached confederation officials immediately after the incident took place to report the attempted offence. Following the report by the players, CONCACAF launched a full investigation alongside FIFA. Initial findings of this investigation have resulted in a positive identification of the individual attempting the bribery. “We want to thank Woodrow West and Ian Gaynair and recognize them for their bravery and commitment to preserving
the integrity of our game,” the organisation said. “The fight against matchmanipulation is a top priority for CONCACAF. In alignment with FIFA guidelines and with the help of outside entities such as INTERPOL, we have taken all necessary measures to ensure the legitimacy of each game played throughout the 2013 Gold Cup. In the past months, CONCACAF, FIFA and INTERPOL have conducted three separate seminars with all Member Associations in the region that have focused on educating, identifying and preventing match manipulation.” “We are precluded from commenting any further on this matter, due to the ongoing status of the investigation,” the statement said.