Kaieteur News

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July 13, 2012 - Vol. 4 No. 28

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$17M police luxury boat purchase …

Senior officers ordered to repay

kickbacks

Food security must become a Regional imperative P. 9

- President Ramotar

P. 3

Unmarried partners Fuel boat to now enjoy explodes in more legal rights Port Kaituma, - “A 20-year-old omission no one hurt corrected” - AG Nandlall P. 9

P. 23

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 13, 2012

Friday July 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

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$17M luxury boat purchase…

Senior police officers ordered to repay kickbacks

On the auction block - The police $17M luxury boat

What was supposed to be a transparent, standard purchase of a 30-ft oceanworthy boat has ended up as a scam involving a small group of high level members of the Guyana Police Force.

This is according to the Ministry of Home Affairs, with reference to the purchase of a $17M luxury vessel for regular patrols and crimefighting purposes.

In a belated statement on the status of the much-touted addition to the police maritime fleet, the Ministry confirmed that it had cause to take action against those responsible for the purchase.

While the Ministry did not identify the high-level members of the force who were responsible, reliable sources in the organization have indicated that the acquisition of the vessel centered on three persons, the Commissioner of Police at the time, the Force Finance Officer and the Officer-inCharge of the crime lab.

The Ministry’s statement spoke of kickbacks received by the senior police officials and also informed that they were ordered to repay all illegally obtained proceeds from the purchase.

Controversy surrounded the vessel from the time it arrived here in September 2009. This newspaper has extensively reported on the various problems encountered since its acquisition, and has relentlessly sought answers as to the wisdom, or lack thereof, of the high-priced investment.

Several explanations were proffered, with both the then Commissioner of Police Henry Greene and Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee denying responsibility.

Kaieteur News learnt that in the first place the boat, which runs on gasoline, is more of a pleasure craft, and is no way suited for the type of operation for which it was intended.

According to a source, the first signs that the

Former Top Cop Henry Greene purchase was bad, occurred when the boat was out on trial up the Demerara River.

On its return trip to the maritime base, one of the engines developed mechanical problems, as did the second engine moments later.

“It is to be regretted that from the day the boat arrived in Guyana, the problems with it were never-ending and the continuous purchasing of spares and payments for maintenance was placing a heavy toll on the budget of the Guyana Police Force. The cost for maintenance and purchase of spare parts for the boat amounted to millions of dollars,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said.

According to the Ministry, the identification and procurement of the boat was left solely to the Guyana Police Force, since they insisted that they knew the type of boat they wanted.

Quotations were obtained from the following agencies: Car Mart - $20,286,000; Rama D.B.K. Ltd - $18,733,500 and Cartronics IV-$16,974,000.

On the basis of a recommendation from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, Cabinet issued its noobjection for the purchase of the boat from Cartronics IV. The Police Force was responsible for the processing of payment to the supplier, which was done through Citizens Bank Guyana Inc. They were also responsible for the receipt, inspection and storage of the boat.

The small group of highlevel officers was in contact with the head of Cartronics IV and conducted the financial transaction.

But according to the Ministry, based on sound information received, an investigation was launched into the circumstances surrounding the purchase of the vessel.

“The scam was busted

and the culprits at home and abroad were identified. The Government demanded repayment of all the money from the local culprits who had collected kickbacks.

Some paid, while others paid for those who refused to return their share. The money recovered was paid into the Consolidated Fund. The overseas-based vendor was threatened with prosecution.

He fixed the boat which sailed for a few weeks and then broke down never to sail again,” the Ministry indicated in its statement.

Reliable sources have informed this newspaper that a former senior official from the Force’s Finance Office

had repaid $1M and was subsequently removed from his position.

In light of this, and after careful consideration, the Government has decided to place the boat up for auction.

A few weeks ago, this newspaper had enquired from Minister Rohee what the status of the multi-million dollar vessel was, especially since it was not seen in

operation when an oceangoing freighter flipped at the mouth of the Demerara River, resulting in the demise of the vessel’s cook.

The Minister had informed that he was assured by the then Acting Commissioner of Police that the boat was in order and was moored at the police’s Maritime Department wharf at Ruimveldt.

Friday July 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

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

Nagamootoo’s delusions DEAR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, Moses Nagamootoo is either being mischievous or deceptive in his excursion into yet another of his fanciful pieces of folly.

In a newspaper interview on June 20, 2012 he accuses the PPP/C government of; “Seeking to create an atmosphere of instability”.

The PPP/C must be darn stupid to shoot itself in the foot by bringing instability onto itself when it wants to see its programmes successfully implemented, notwithstanding the vicious and unrepenting cuts in the 2012 Budget by the APNU/ AFC unholy alliance.

Why would the PPP/C want to create this delusional atmosphere of instability in the country when it wants to be re-elected for a fifth consecutive term? The PPP/ C does not act foolhardily nor does it live in a fools’ paradise as Nagamootoo would want people to believe.

Moreover, the PPP/C is not perfect either, if the AFC is, then good for it. However, a close examination of the facts would show a completely different picture.

A mass Party with a mass membership is likely to face all kinds of challenges from time to time, note the current challenges facing the PPP/C and the PNC albeit for different reasons and on different issues.

Such is the way of politics — very complex in theory and practice. Burnham once said: “Politics is the art of making deals”.

On the other hand we in the PPP/C adhere to the approach i.e.; that “Politics is a concentrated form of economics. Of course Burnham was no socialist, yet

he believed he was “all things to all people” and would declare on one occasion while discussing the prospect of unity between the PPP and PNC that “If the Bolsheviks were to join with the Mensheviks then the history of the Soviet Union would have been different”; A deceptive yet, mischievous statement of the same genre and most likely much to Nagamootoo’s liking.

The hapless, opportunist AFC MP should stop pretending to be selfrighteous and recall certain episodes in our country’s history which he knows quite well yet he chose to stash them in his cupboard where he has other skeletons hidden away.

Nagamootoo knows very well that provoking instability in a country like Guyana, is tantamount to throwing a lighted match at a leaking gas bottle.

In this regard it is apposite to recall the infamous threat which was issued by the then President Burnham himself when he threatened the Opposition openly by declaring; “our steel is sharper!”

Talk about instability!

That is talk for instability Mr. Nagamootoo!

Nagamootoo should also reminisce on the seizure of ballot boxes by the Army in 1973 and the shooting to death of two young PYO activists on the Corentyne.

The anniversary of which would soon come. Further, he should go back to his notebook and reflect on the Arnold Rampersaud treason frame-up trial, the knifing to death of Father Darke and the assassination of Walter Rodney.

Challenging David Granger’s contention From page 4 vision impacts the nation’s psyche.

It is apposite to state here that Mr. Granger ’s presentation is intellectually flawed in that it avers a thesis that, it is the originators of the struggle that should be considered the founding fathers.

Founding fathers are those individuals that contributed significantly to the formation of the nation.

At least Burnham and Jagan should qualify.

Mr. Granger’s analysis also misses the basics in levels of analysis by seeking to find the answer in the wider national struggle rather than focusing on the significant role of the individual to the wider societal struggle.

It must be acknowledged that the struggles of the

working people are critical to the struggle for nationhood.

However, to use the struggles of the working people to displace the founding father is to miss the notion of the founding father and to ignore the important role individuals play in the formation of nations.

The approach taken here does not ignore the role of the working class, it merely places the issue of the founding fathers at the individual level where it belongs while recognizing the role of the working class at the wider societal level in the formation of the nation.

It is inconceivable that Mr. Granger could believe that Mr. Burnham is not a founding father and yet he wants to become the Leader of the party Mr. Burnham formed.

Aubrey C. Norton

These acts by their very nature contributed in no small way to the creation of political instability in our country under the PNC at the time.

Nagamootoo was with the PPP in those days. These occurrences are implanted permanently in his psyche.

Try as he would to blot them out in order to achieve some level of psychological comfort won’t change history.

Honesty, nowadays, is hard to come by in the political hustings, but it still remains the best policy. And if, perchance Nagamootoo can find a way to be honest with himself, he should come clean and say publicly when and where, since the PPP/C came to power in 1992 were such similar acts committed that contributed to the “instability” he is talking about.

Instead of trying to make the PPP/C feel guilty for initiating the VAT; building the bridge across the Berbice River in partnership with the Private Sector, building a brand new Specialty Hospital, and a new International Marriott Hotel, a new International airport at Timehri and adjusting the GPL tariff rate at Linden, Nagamootoo should stop creating weird, alarmist images by engaging in scarce mongering and by stating that; “the Administration is preparing for some kind of offensive against the people” and that; “the Administration is tilting in the direction of authoritarianism and the creation of a Police State” when he has no evidence whatsoever to validate his spurious and outlandish claims about instability.

Nagamootoo’s scurrilous attacks against the PPP/C are reminiscent of exactly what he would have said during the heyday of the PNC. On a personal note, if indeed I am experiencing “political nightmares” then, the status seeker Nagamootoo, is suffering from political hallucinations and delusions of grandeur having been afflicted by red carpet or what the Americans call Potomac fever.

Clement J. Rohee Member of the Central and Executive Committee of the PPP

Inaccuracies dot Sanasie’s statements

DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the article captioned “Sanasie says he is being harassed” published in Stabroek News on Tuesday July 10, 2012. This article has quoted Mr. Sanasie as saying: “I am aware that this matter was sent by the police to the DPP before and the DPP sent back the file and said there was no perjury.

They wait until the substantive DPP come out sent back the file again and now apparently she said ‘yes you could charge’.

This statement is totally inaccurate. It states that the file was sent twice by the Police to the DPP for advice. This is not so. It was sent once as reflected by our records, and on

that one occasion advice was given based on the evidence in the file. The Police in the said file recommended that Sanasie be charged.

Secondly it states that there are two DPPs, and it was first sent to one who said there was no Perjury and then to a substantive DPP who apparently said ‘yes you could charge’. There is only one DPP at the Chambers of the DPP and therefore this too is inaccurate.

I am the DPP and I never spoke to any Police and said ‘yes you could charge’ as Sanasie is reported to have said in the Article.

Shalimar Ali-Hack Director of Public Prosecutions.

Poultry producers are frustrated

by Guyana Stockfeeds DEAR EDITOR, It is through great frustration which has forced me to compile this letter hoping to use your readership to enlighten the public of the actions of an entity which enjoys a virtual monopoly in the local poultry sector.

I am a medium scale poultry producer and as if business was not difficult enough, I received a call from a representative of the Guyana Stockfeeds on the East Bank of Demerara to inform me that henceforth, prices for my supplies have increased by approximately four per cent.

No warning, no explanation just a demand that if I was to uplift my usual quota of supplies I will have to now fork out an additional $100,000 henceforth when I approached the bank teller to make my payment.

It is no secret as to who ultimately will be forced to pay for that increase and my greatest distress is when my wife has to explain to shoppers, particularly those on a small budget at the market why they have to pay.

No doubt our customers will now think that I am attempting to exploit them because who will believe our explanation that we were just told to pay an increase and we did. The result is that you the customer will have to make up for it now.

I am really thought a while whether to get into the area of politics as that has never been my cup of tea but when the owner of Stockfeeds,

Robert Badal, got up on the political platform of the Alliance For Change a few months ago and said he cared about poor people of this country he obviously should have taken into consideration that he will be held to those words.

This is the very individual and his colleagues which was accusing the Government of high handed approach to the nation’s business, so what should we term the approach

by Mr. Badal to poultry producers who have been loyal customers of his for many years and who have been forced to pay each and every increased demanded of us over the years.

Interestingly in previous increases we were subsequently told that certain raw materials essential for the production of the variety of feeds were scarce hence the increases. But it appears that in Mr. Badal’s world these raw materials are forever scarce

and the cost of acquiring them never reduces which is contrary to what we are seeing and reading is the case on the world market.

Guyanese deserve better than this shabby treatment and while I was initially against the decision by Government to import Chicken, I now beginning to see the reason why.

I conclude by appealing to like-minded investors to seriously think about working towards overcoming the monopolistic tendencies of Guyana Stockfeeds and by extension Mr. Badal by providing competition in this sector which will ultimately benefit the small man out there.

I also make an open appeal to the Ministry of Agriculture to intervene in this situation and also to assist in alleviating these challenges.

Name and Address Withheld

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Kaieteur News

China Harbour, Jamaica to seal new deal (Reprinted from the Jamaica Gleaner) The Chairman of China Communications Construction Company - the parent company of China Harbour Engineering Company - is due in Jamaica next week to sign what Transport, Works and Housing Minister Dr Omar Davies has called a significant agreement.

“This is a major company in the world ... When the chairman is here, there will be some agreement signed which will have significant importance to the future of Jamaica’s economy,” Davies said Wednesday.

The minister, who was guarded about the nature of the agreement that will be signed, was speaking during a Jamaica-China Friendship Association forum at the Wyndham Kingston hotel in New Kingston.

China Harbour is the company implementing the US$400-million Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme. The company has also expressed an interest in taking over the Mount Rosser leg of Highway 2000 and completing the north-south link for the highway.

Davies said the Government would be seeking to further improve the country’s infrastructure, resulting in tremendous economic benefit.

“The first example of this will be the investment to complete the Mount Rosser bypass and then the construction of the other two sections, which will be the

north-to-south link of Highway 2000,” Davies said.

“We expect that in a year’s time, the Mount Rosser bypass, which presently leads to the Bird Bush, will be able to lead you to Claremont, St Ann. Within two years, we will be speaking about a link from Kingston to Ocho Rios in under an hour.”

CASE IN COURT The Government and the Office of the Contractor General have been at daggers drawn over a Cabinet decision to appoint an independent oversight panel to advise the Cabinet on the feasibility of three projects, including the north-to-south link of Highway 2000.

Davies has taken the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking to bar Contractor General Greg Christie from compelling members of the oversight panel to report to him.

In relation to the northsouth highway project, Davies stressed that it should be seen as an investment by the Chinese.

“There is some great misunderstanding about this ...We are not hiring China Harbour to construct the road.

This is an investment whereby China Harbour is taking on the full debt obligations for this,” Davies said.

He added: “Unlike the present legs of Highway 2000 in which the Government of Jamaica has significant debt obligation, there will be no such obligation for this northto-south link of Highway

Transport, Works and Housing Minister Dr. Omar Davies 2000.

“I want people both inside this room and wherever else they may be to appreciate this distinction. This is not a contract being awarded to China Harbour, this is China Harbour, an investor and (they) must be treated like any investor.”

The Mount Rosser bypass is a 25-kilometre, fourlane dual carriageway which stretches from Linstead, St Catherine, to just outside Moneague, St Ann. It had an initial price tag of US$94 million which was expected to cover land acquisition, road construction, the building of a toll plaza and the installation of utilities over a 30-month period.

The original cost for the bypass was estimated to be US$99.5 million in 2007.

However, in 2008, Cabinet approved a variation of approximately 25 per cent, increasing the amount to US$124 million. To date, US$110 million has been spent on the project.

Friday July 13, 2012

Police vehicles auction racket …

Fingered Ministry official barred from proceeding on leave The Ministry of Home Affairs has barred one of its officers from proceeding on annual vacation leave as investigators continue to probe his role in a racket that involves the auction of unserviceable police vehicles.

The official is believed to be one of the main players in the scheme, which has cost the government millions of dollars in revenue.

Apart from the Ministry official, the probe is also looking into the involvement, the auctioneer, a Police staffer and an Auditor from the Audit Office.

It is believed that the racket, which involves the misrepresentation of amounts paid for the vehicles, with some of them being sold for far less than the minimum bidding price, has been going on for a long time.

There are reports that the Ministry of Home Affairs official who is fingered in the racket has four cars which were allegedly bought from the proceeds of the shady sales practices.

Two days ago, this newspaper reported on the massive racket, for which an investigation was ordered by the Home Affairs Minister.

However, in a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that it “views with deep concern the story published in the Kaieteur News on July 11, 2012 headlined: ‘Massive racket uncovered at Police Vehicles Auction’.”

The main concern is the belief on the part of the ministry, that the information about the racket and subsequent investigation was leaked to the newspaper by persons involved in the probe.

“The Ministry said that it is appalled at the extent to which some ranks within the Guyana Police Force would go to sell information about the Force in exchange for money or to sell information about the said Organization

- Rohee again accuses investigators of leaking info to Kaieteur News as a way of grinding an axe with their colleagues within the Force. By divulging this matter to the Kaieteur News only, those disloyal ranks within the Force make it appear as if the Kaieteur News is an anti-corruption tribune and a paragon of virtue in Guyana,” the Ministry said.

Two months ago this newspaper had received word on the racket from a source outside of the official investigation, but delayed the publication until it was in possession of information that substantiated the earlier reports received.

According to the Ministry, since April 2012, the Minister of Home Affairs had instructed the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry to initiate an investigation into the matter, based on reliable information which had come to the attention of the Minister’s Secretariat.

The Ministry said that since the instruction was issued, the Minister has, from time to time, requested to be updated on the status of the investigation. “Regrettably, nothing has been forthcoming.”

In the meantime, the

Minister had warned those persons who were carrying out the investigation that there appeared to be footdragging on the issue which implicitly reeked of an attempt at a cover-up and to protect the Police ranks involved, as well as a staff member at the Ministry who was identified as being involved in the matter.

“As was predicted, the results of the investigation never reached the Minister’s desk but instead reached the desk of the Editor of the Kaieteur News without any reference whatsoever to the investigation launched by the Ministry.”

For the record, this newspaper had referred to the Minister ordering an investigation into the matter.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs expresses its deep disappointment with the manner in which this investigation was dealt with by the Office for Professional Responsibility (OPR) at the Guyana Police Force. The Ministry is disgusted with those within the Force who have no respect for their uniform, and prefer to exchange it for a second pay packet from the Kaieteur News.”

‘Desperate’ Guyanese ends up in Irish prisons for coke (Irish Examiner) Ireland A Guyanese father in desperate financial straits has been jailed for three and a half years for smuggling 55 pellets of cocaine into Ireland in his stomach.

Gordon Plass (aged 41) pleaded guilty to possessing nearly 39,000 Euros worth of the drug after he was stopped at Dublin Airport last

February and was found to have a suspiciously distended stomach.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard he had liquidated all his assets to buy the cocaine with the aim of making 5,000 Euros profit here.

His lawyers said he was in financial disaster and took a chance but ended up losing everything.

Friday July 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

Jobless claims fall as plants put off retooling WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - The number of Americans signing up for new jobless benefits fell to a four-year low last week but an unusual pattern for summer factory shutdowns suggested layoffs might pick up again in coming weeks.

A separate report yesterday showed falling import prices, fresh evidence of a cooling global economy but also a reminder that a drop in gasoline prices could help U.S. consumers.

The Labor Department said new claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 26,000 last week to 350,000. That was the lowest since March 2008, the early

days of the last recession.

A Labor Department official said the data, which is adjusted to account for normal seasonal swings, may have been skewed because some automakers postponed annual closures for retooling.

That means the temporary layoffs for retooling may have simply been postponed to allow manufacturers to keep up with sturdy demand, which in itself is a good sign for the economy.

“While today’s report does not signal a meaningful recovery in the labor market, it may point to continued strength in the auto sector,” said Jeffrey Greenberg, an economist at Nomura in New York.

The four-week moving average for new claims, a better measure of labor market trends, fell 9,750 to 376,500.

That is a significant drop, although the average is only at its lowest point since May. “It seems like the Labor Department is pretty adamant that this is more of a wonky seasonals adjustment than something we need to put too much stock in,” said Michael Hanson, U.S. economist at Bank of America-Merill Lynch. “The underlying trend in claims is probably still in the 370,000 range.”

U.S. stocks fell, hurt by concerns about the impact of a faltering global economy.

U.S. bond prices rose, while the dollar fell against the yen.

US slaps more sanctions on Iran The United States unleashed a fresh wave of sanctions against Iran yesterday, ratcheting up pressure to convince Tehran to take seriously concerns about its suspected nuclear weapons program.

The actions impose additional sanctions on Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile proliferation networks and identify Iranian “front” companies and banks to assist in compliance, the Treasury Department said.

“The Treasury and State Department actions target more than 50 entities tied to Iran’s procurement, petroleum, and shipping networks,” the Treasury said.

David Cohen, the Treasury’s under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said the moves take “direct aim at disrupting Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs as well as its deceptive efforts to use front companies to sell and move its oil.”

“We will continue to ratchet up the pressure,” he said. Iran has been subject to severe international economic sanctions over its controversial nuclear program, which Western powers believe masks an atomic weapons drive despite repeated denials by Tehran.

The increasing pressure from President Barack

Riot breaks out in Belfast after Protestant march BELFAST (Reuters) - Police fired water cannon at Catholic youths in Belfast yesterday after rioting erupted when a small Protestant parade, celebrating a 17th century military victory over Catholic forces, passed their estate.

The violence came at the culmination of a series of parades that pro-British Protestants stage annually in the Britishruled province, a tradition seen as provocative by Irish nationalists who want to be part of a united Ireland.

Three decades of violence between the province’s Catholics and Protestants have largely ended since a peace agreement was signed in 1998, but much of Belfast remains divided along religious lines. Dozens of youths threw bricks and snooker balls at hundreds of riot police at the point where Catholic and Protestant areas of the city meet.

Obama’s administration is designed “to convince Iran to engage seriously and address the international community’s concerns about its nuclear program,” the Treasury said.

The sanctions freeze Iranian assets under US jurisdiction and prohibit Americans from doing business with the targeted individual or entity. (AFP)

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Syrian government forces kill over 200 in village attack - activists AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - More than 200 people, mostly civilians, were massacred in a Syrian army and militia onslaught on a village in the rebellious province of Hama yesterday, opposition activists said.

If confirmed, it would be the worst single incident of violence in 16 months of conflict in which rebels are fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad and diplomacy to halt the bloodshed has been stymied by deadlock between world powers.

The Revolution Leadership Council of Hama told Reuters the Sunni Muslim village of Taramseh was assaulted by helicopter gunships and tanks and that pro-government Alawite militiamen then stormed in and carried out executionstyle killings.

“More than 220 people fell today in Taramseh. They died from bombardment by tanks and helicopters, artillery shelling and summary executions,” the regional opposition group said in a statement.

Syrian state television said three security personnel had been killed in fighting in Taramseh and it accused “armed terrorist groups” of

committing a massacre there.

Fadi Sameh, an opposition activist from Taramseh, said he had left the town before the reported killing spree but was in touch with residents.

“It appears that Alawite militiamen from surrounding villages descended on Taramseh after its rebel defenders pulled out, and started killing the people.

Whole houses have been destroyed and burned from the shelling.

“Every family in the town seems to have members killed.

We have names of men, women and children from

countless families,” he said, adding many of the bodies were taken to a local mosque.

Ahmed, another local activist, told Reuters: “So far, we have 20 victims recorded with names and 60 bodies at a mosque. There are more bodies in the fields, bodies in the rivers and in houses ... people were trying to flee from the time the shelling started and whole families were killed trying to escape.”

The reports could not be independently confirmed.

Syrian authorities severely restrict the activities of independent journalists.

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 13, 2012

Cholera cases jump from Cuba’s Govt. says 85 to 110 outbreak remains

The Miami Herald Cuban public health officials say the number of confirmed cholera cases has risen from 85 to 100 and advised residents of the worst-hit area, the southeastern province of Granma, to avoid traveling.

Meanwhile, a dissident journalist in Santiago de Cuba, the island’s second largest city, reported that hospital workers there told him eight people had died from cholera in Santiago hospitals.

Cuba’s government has officially confirmed only three cholera deaths and claimed the water-borne disease has turned up in only a few cases outside its focus in Granma province.

Granma epidemiologist Ana Maria Batista reported on provincial television Tuesday that the number of confirmed cases of cholera stood at 110, an increase of 25 from the 85 that she reported on Monday.

She added that general

under control

cases of diarrhea and vomiting, the symptoms of cholera, rose by 308 to 4,415 and those hospitalized with similar symptoms dropped from 112 to 81, according to doctor and dissident Santiago Marquez.

Batista’s reports on CNC Granma television every night since Saturday have been the lone official comments on the outbreak since a brief government statement July 3 confirmed the three cholera deaths. Dissidents have reported five to 15 dead.

Independent journalist Walter Clavel reported that five adults and three children had died from the disease in Santiago, but that authorities had told doctors they could “put anything except cholera on their death certificates.”

There was no way to independently confirm the information that Clavel said

he obtained from hospital employees who looked at admittance and morgue ledgers, although his report seemed unusually detailed.

Doctors and nurses at the hospital have asked for a meeting with Lazaro Exposito, the Communist Party chief for Santiago province, to complain that the transfer risked spreading cholera to other children, according to Clavel.

Venezuela’s Ministry of Health, meanwhile, joined Mexico, Germany and the British-run Cayman Islands in expressing concern over the epidemic in Cuba, saying officials there are “on alert.”

Neither the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor the Pan American Health Organization, the hemispheric arm of the World Health Organization, have issued travel advisories on the Cuba outbreak.

China Harbour, Jamaica to seal new deal Jamaica Gleaner - The Chairman of China Communications Construction Company - the parent company of China Harbour Engineering Company - is due in Jamaica next week to sign what Transport, Works and Housing Minister Dr Omar Davies has called a significant agreement.

“This is a major company in the world ... . When the chairman is here, there will be some agreement signed which will have significant importance to the future of Jamaica’s economy,” Davies said Wednesday.

The minister, who was guarded about the nature of

the agreement that will be signed, was speaking yesterday during a JamaicaChina Friendship Association forum at the Wyndham Kingston hotel in New Kingston.

China Harbour is the company implementing the US$400-million Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme. The company has also expressed an interest in taking over the Mount Rosser leg of Highway 2000 and completing the north-south link for the highway.

Davies said the Government would be seeking to further improve the country’s infrastructure, resulting in tremendous economic benefit.

“The first example of this will be the investment to complete the Mount Rosser bypass and then the construction of the other two

sections, which will be the north-to-south link of Highway 2000,” Davies said.

“We expect that in a year’s time, the Mount Rosser bypass, which presently leads to the Bird Bush, will be able to lead you to Claremont, St Ann. Within two years, we will be speaking about a link from Kingston to Ocho Rios in under an hour.”

The Government and the Office of the Contractor General have been at daggers drawn over a Cabinet decision to appoint an independent oversight panel to advise the Cabinet on the feasibility of three projects, including the north-to-south link of Highway 2000.

Davies has taken the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking to bar Contractor General Greg Christie from compelling members of the oversight panel to report to him.

Friday July 13, 2012

The ongoing debate about the qualifications for the position of Auditor General can but only aid in undermining public confidence in that more important office, at a time when there is a great movement forward towards ensuring increased public accountability.

The opposition parties have committed themselves towards securing increased transparency and accountability. It is therefore unfortunate that this very awkward debate about whether the Auditor General is qualified or not is taking place.

Nonetheless, those who are making the argument that the present Auditor General does not qualify for confirmation are entitled to their opinion and should be free to express it. But it would be much better if this is done from an informed position and in a manner that would not hold the Audit Office up to ridicule.

There is no appointed Auditor General. The head of the Office of the Auditor

Kaieteur News

General has been appointed to act as the Auditor General.

He has been doing so for many years now. He has consistently provided reports on the public accounts of Guyana. These reports, laid before the parliament, have been hailed as providing the ammunition for the opposition parties, the media, and other watchdog groupings to be critical of certain aspects of the government’s work.

Judging from the quality of those reports, no adverse suggestions can be made about the independence, impartiality and professionalism of the work of the Audit Office. The present acting head has done a very good job and he should not be facing these criticisms that are now emerging.

It was because of the committed work of the Audit Office that certain revelations were made known about the waiver of Tender Board procedures for certain contracts. It was the reports of the Auditor General which exposed many areas in which

improvements were needed.

As such, instead of the Office of the Auditor General being assailed, it should be commended. The quality of the reports is second to none that were ever produced in Guyana, and it must be acknowledged that the financial work of government has multiplied.

The latest attack seems misplaced. It concerns the issue of how qualified the present acting Auditor General is to be substantively appointed.

Under the Constitution of Guyana it is for the President to be guided by the Public Service Commission to appoint an Auditor General or someone to act in that capacity. The issue of qualifications for the job is therefore within the remit of the Public Service Commission, and it is for that Commission to satisfy itself about the competency of anyone that they will recommend for appointment as Auditor General or to act in that capacity.

The constitution itself authorizes the Auditor

Page 9

General as the auditor of the public accounts of Guyana.

The constitution is the supreme law of the land and no other law can be used to override what the constitution prescribes.

There is what is known as the Companies Act, and that Act makes qualifications for individuals to be appointed as auditors for companies.

The said Companies Act prescribes that the person must be a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana and hold a practicing certificate.

The Companies Act is concerned solely with companies, and the relevant section being bandied about relates to the qualifications for individuals to be appointed as auditors for companies. The intent of that legislation is to regulate the appointment of auditors specific to companies. It insists on some level of qualifications.

On the other hand, the office of the Auditor General is a public office, and therefore the provisions of the Companies Act that relate

Corbin seeks executive post in PNCR Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Robert Corbin will shortly be looking to secure a position on the party’s Central Executive Committee.

Corbin has already indicated that come July 29, when the party hosts its elections for the post of leader he will not contest, but this week he reminded that he is not “abandoning ship.”

Corbin made the revelation this past week as A Partnership for National Unity marked its one year anniversary.

The PNCR forms the largest bloc of APNU, and is slated to hold its Biennial Congress from July 26 to July 29, where internal elections will be held for the position of leader and the executive posts.

Corbin explained to a section of the media corps that “The roles of Leader and Member of Central Executive Committee are different.”

He was adamant that he did not want to convey the i m p r e s s i o n t hat “I was abandoning my commitment to the PNCR.” Corbin said that he also wanted it to be known that he is not abandoning “the struggle for the liberation of the struggling masses of this country.”

He sought to explain that his departure from the leadership of the PNCR, “or not running for high electoral office does not mean that one does not have a role to play

…says will not “abandon ship”

PNCR Leader Robert Corbin in the struggle for change in Guyana or that would be a tragedy…I don’t want it to be felt that I am abandoning ship.”

Corbin assumed

leadership of the party following the death of Hugh Desmond Hoyte.

Corbin was born in Linden, and worked for the Youth Ministry of the Presbyterian Church before being educated in social work and law at the University of Guyana and the Hugh Wooding Law School.

He worked as a social worker from 1966 to 1977 and during this time joined the PNC youth arm, the Young Socialist Movement before taking up a seat on the party’s Central Executive Committee.

Corbin, who was first elected to the National Assembly of Guyana in 1973, became one of the leading lights in the PNC, serving the party as Senior Vice Chairman

and General Secretary, as well as holding a number of government ministries, including the office of Deputy Prime Minister from 1985 to 1992.

He was elected PNC chairman in 2000 and retained the role in 2002.

Corbin was chosen to lead the party in 2003 following the death of Desmond Hoyte.

A defeat for the PNC in the 2006 legislative e l e c t i o n s s a w Corbin’s leadership come under scrutiny and he has survived at least two serious challenges to his post of leader.

Corbin, who is married and a father of five, continues to practice as an Attorney-atLaw.

to the appointment of individuals as auditors for companies cannot be applied to the Auditor General.

Those who are advancing this particular provision of the Companies Act as the basis for disqualifying the present acting Auditor General need to be also reminded that even though the Auditor General is required to audit the books of government corporations, this is not his exclusive or even substantive function, and thus the provisions of the Companies Act cannot be used as the basis of determining the qualifications for the holding of a post of Auditor General when the constitution does not delegate such a role to any other law.

It is therefore respectfully argued that the decision as to whether the acting Auditor General is qualified to be substantively appointed

remains in the remit of the Public Service Commission.

The acting Auditor General has been doing the work for many years now and his reports have not attracted any serious criticisms.

It is difficult for anyone to argue that given this record that the Public Service Commission would simply bypass the present acting Auditor General simply because there are persons out there who are confusing the qualifications for the appointment of individuals as auditors of companies with the more substantive position of the Auditor General.

Fuel boat explodes in Port Kaituma, no one hurt A fuel boat exploded in Canal Bank, Port Kaituma, Region One, yesterday afternoon, but no one was reportedly hurt. The vessel’s captain and five crew members were forced to abandon the blazing vessel.

According to reports, the fire started around 16:00 hrs and there was little that could be done to salvage the boat. It went down after 18:00hrs.

It is believed that the 40ft. vessel was loaded with several drums of fuel destined for a well-known businessman involved in the fuel business.

Kaieteur News was told that one of the boat’s two engines took in water and the

attempts were made to blow it out. This action, however, caused a spark and the resulting conflagration. The captain and crew managed to plunge overboard just before the explosions.

Several persons gathered on the scene but there was little that could be done.

This publication was told that Police were yesterday questioning officials of a Port Kaituma business.

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

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Friday July 13, 2012

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Is something wrong with the mind, soul and psyche of an ethnic group found in Guyana – the East Indians?

Are they different from other ethnic communities elsewhere?

If there is anything I hated in life was an ignorant, stupid but psychologically sick attitude that was displayed and demonstrated by Guyanese East Indians to my Indian friends during the election campaign last November.

My friends told me that Indians said to them, “I don’t want to see the PNC back in power so I will have to vote for the PPP.” Were they being honest? No, they were not.

When Guyanese Indians tell you they don’t want to vote for the PNC, they mean they don’t want to see African politicians in power. They substitute “PNC” for “African.”

But can this aversion to rule by African Guyanese be explained using sociological concepts? My answer is no.

To understand the Guyanese East Indian is a trip into Freudian psychology. It takes the use of psychology to fathom the contents of the psyche of the Indians in this land.

Take an example of where I live. I reside in Turkeyen in a place that is a so-called gated community. There is

one road in, one road out. It is right next to the Caricom Secretariat.

In fact only one house separates mine from the Secretariat. Close by are the Convention Centre and the National Aquatic Centre. It was land donated by Guysuco to its Indian managers as individual plots.

They already had resplendent homes so they sold them off on the market.

The road in this compound is not one of the worst in Guyana, but the worst. When the residents of Glasgow village in Berbice protested the conditions of their main road, I was there to lend solidarity. But when I

reached the place I was laughing. The people of Glasgow should come and see where I live.

Some of the residents of my community have literally humiliated themselves the past six years begging President Jagdeo and his Ministers to fix the road.

Then came the 2011 election. Indian people had no more fear of the PNC (the African) winning and ruling them.

There was the historic figure of Moses Nagamootoo in a party that certainly had top class East Indians in it.

My neighbours now had a choice. Plus I campaigned for the AFC and therefore an AFC

Guysuco factory fails to start due - Estate management destroys to lack of wood trees in mad scramble The beleaguered Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) continues to be under stress, with the situation in the rundown entity getting from bad to worse, and in recent times, more comical.

Just a few days into the second crop, workers at the Rose Hall Estate are upset that they were told that they are not required to work.

The reason is that the factory is not functioning properly. In fact it is understood that the factory manager did not acquire wood to start the boiler to run the factory.

Usually at the start of the crop, or the start of a new week after maintenance day, a significant amount of wood and bagasse is required to restart the boiler and energise the factory, as a lot of heat is required to build up steam to power the facility.

However, after the long out-of-crop period, not enough bagasse was left back and the little that was available got water-soaked. In addition to that, strangely enough, no wood was purchased.

When the canecutters

turned out after the out of crop period, after a few days they were told that they were not required.

It was soon discovered that the factory was not “firing up” because the little bagasse available was wet and there was no wood to power up the factory. The factory eventually started but went down again.

After that embarrassment, the management in their wisdom or lack thereof, decided to cut down a number of age-old trees that adorn the compound in their mad scramble to get firewood to heat up the boiler.

That angered a number of residents in the Canje area, who say that the move is a backward step by the corporation.

Some elderly residents and former employees said that they are ashamed at the state that Guysuco has descended to.

“Those trees were there long before anyone working in the corporation now were born and look what they have done. They have literally destroyed the environment.”

The workers are peeved and say that management’s action reeks of incompetence or is just blatant cheapness.

“They try to save two dollars and now have to spend hundreds.” Workers say that instead of bringing in cash, Guysuco is wasting money. “This place is being run like a cake shop.”

Estate employees were seen busily cutting down more trees in the compound.

victory would naturally have meant that the road would be fixed.

A majority in my community voted for the PPP. I would like to think that using any theory to explain this, one will have to end up with the masochist paradigm.

My Indian neighours voted for a pa r t y t h a t refused to repair their streets. Are Indians a selfdestructive lot?

This is the psyche of the Indians in this country. Enter the Chronicle editorial. Do we need to reprint its horror content for emphasis? In a nutshell, this is what the Chronicle published.

African youths are out to use violence on Guyanese Indians, even murdering them, because Black youths have been socialized to hate Indians.

The Chronicle went further than this by stating that it is not sociological hatred but psychic hate, meaning that at the level of mental thinking, African youths detest Guyanese Indians and are destined to commit violence against them and take their property.

After two weeks of such anti-civilized ranting, at the time of writing, there are no voices of denunciation from East Indian stakeholders. And I am not talking about Ravi Dev. I have no respect for this

Frederick Kissoon man and I don’t expect him to say anything philosophically uplifting about race relations in Guyana. Where is the educated Indian mind to speak up against this evil?

Where are the voices of the Hindu and Muslim priests? The Indian lawyers who have African clients?

The Indian doctors who have African patients? Where are the Indian businessmen whose African patrons they have come to know and respect?

These very people were in plentiful supply and their voices reverberating when Dr. Kean Gibson posited that there is a Hindu conspiracy in the corridors of power that want to physically eliminate African Guyanese because Hindu culture sees Africans as being inferior humans.

I spoke out as an academic against Gibson because her theory was flawed.

As an East Indian I am denouncing the racist pathology of the Chronicle.

In the rising silence of East Indians in Guyana and abroad over this anti-African nightmare, I am embarrassed to be an East Indian at this moment.

Dem boys seh ...

Kickback got kick up De Waterfalls paper use to talk bout kickback a lang time now but nobody ever tek notice. De paper even call names, identify people including all de Bees, especially de King Bee. De police sit down and watch till dem learn. Dem see how de King Bee operate and dem know that once he involve then nobody gun get in trouble. Was all hell break loose.

Dem tek kickback from de poor innocent people dem use to kick up. Dem tek kickback from Tom, Dick and Harry.

Dem move to bigger things because dem realize that that was small change when dem boys start exposing dem hundreds of millions of koker and dem other contracts.

Dem couldn’t get in that type of action suh dem start dem own auction.

Dem start selling out people animals from dem pound; dem start sell bicycle, jewellery and things sitting as exhibits; dem sell out de cocaine and marijuana then switch de exhibits wid grass and flour.

Then dem start fuh sell police property. Dem sell building that nobody didn’t know about. Same way Bharrat Ramroop, through Brazzy, sell out three-quarter of Guyana to Eddie, Babbie, Gerry, Mannie and de rest of dem.

But dem police get ketch and dem always gun get ketch because dem like beat people. Bharrat Ramroop and de clique does rob people blind and watch dem in dem face next day like if cow buss rope. Dem was brazen but is only time wid dem. That is wha dem boys seh.

Dem boys want tell de King Rat and he Bees and all dem police wha like thief that you can run from man, but God don’t tek lef.

Talk half and worry ‘bout de other half.

Friday July 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Finance Minister’s wife in Audit Office …

Attorney General says no conflict of interest Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, has defended the recent confirmation of Geetangali Singh, wife of the Finance Minister, as the Audit Director, yesterday deeming criticism as being politically motivated.

Pointing out that Singh is merely one of three Audit Directors, Nandlall made it clear that the official is not the Auditor General.

“She is not answerable to the Minister of Finance or any member of the Executive, but to the Auditor General, who is in turn answerable to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The Auditor General has stated publicly that the audit of the Ministry of Finance and the various agencies and organs which fall under it is not part

Citrus farmer’s murder…

Detectives are trying to locate a former tenant in connection with the murder of 61-year-old citrus farmer Bhim Narine Ramanand, who was found bound and stabbed to death at his Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara yard last Sunday.

A senior official disclosed yesterday that investigators want to question the former tenant after learning that the man and Ramanand had a dispute over money.

Ramanand’s body was found at the southern side of his yard. The victim’s hands were bound with his own shirt and he had been stabbed thrice in the chest.

Ramanand’s licensed shotgun and a grass-cutting machine were missing.

Sources who spoke to Kaieteur News spoke of an individual that might have wanted to harm Ramanand.

of the functions of Mrs. Singh,” Nandlall said.

When these realities are taken into account, and in the absence of any evidence whatsoever of any actual impropriety, the conclusion is imminent that the attack on Singh’s confirmation has more politics and vitriol than merits.

“The hypocrisy is nakedly revealed by the fact that the very Auditor General, audits the accounts of the same Parliament to which he is answerable. Yet, not a single utterance is made of this apparent conflict. The squabble is much ado about nothing.”

In his statement, the Attorney General who is also the Minister of Legal Affairs, argued that the PAC is a legal

body to exercise general supervision and functioning of the office of the Auditor General.

“It is clear that the Auditor General and his officers are not accountable to the Executive but to Parliament.

Secondly, the Auditor General and by extension, his officers, are not subject to the control or directions, and I dare say, interference, of any person or authority, including the Executive and Parliament,” the AG stated.

Singh, wife of Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, commenced her career at the Auditor General’s office in 1992 as an audit clerk.

“Today she ranks among the most qualified. In 2005, Mrs. Singh was appointed to the position of Audit Director

Cops seek former tenant for questioning

Bhim Narine Ramanand The individual reportedly owes Ramanand a substantial sum of money.

A maintenance man reportedly made the gruesome discovery after entering Ramanand’s yard to clean the surroundings for new tenants that the

farmer was expecting.

Noticing that Ramanand had not come out to greet them, the labourer began calling for him.

After getting no reply, he decided to search the compound and there he made the gruesome find.

A neighbour related that on Saturday night, between 22:00 hrs and 23:00 hrs, she heard four gunshots near the slain man’s residence.

However, she did not think that anything was amiss because the farmer’s dogs did not bark.

She opined that the animals were familiar with whoever murdered Ramanand.

According to a police source, Ramanand was last seen drinking at his residence with three acquaintances.

Investigators have not yet located the individuals.

(acting). Therefore, Mrs. Singh commenced functioning as Audit Director (acting) before her husband assumed the position of Minister of Finance in 2006.

Significantly, Mrs. Singh is but only one of three Audit Directors functioning in that office.”

The Minister pointed out that on June 25th, the Auditor General brought to the PAC, for their approval, a number of appointments which he made, including the confirmation of Mrs. Singh as

an Audit Director.

“The PAC, in the exercise of its statutory function, and by votes of the members of that Committee present and qualified to vote, granted their approval in compliance with the Audit Act. It is therefore manifestly plain that Mrs. Singh’s appointment was in compliance with the statutory procedures and therefore valid and proper.

The contention that a member of the Committee was absent and that the Government took advantage of that

absence is both infantile and irrelevant.”

The gravamen of the main objection to Singh’s confirmation is the fact that she is married to the Minister of Finance, Nandlall said.

“Since no scintilla of evidence has, thus far, been produced which establishes or would tend to establish that there is a single verifiable instance of an actuality of conflict of interest, one is forced to presume that the allegation of conflict of (continued on page 12)

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Unmarried partners to now enjoy more legal rights

By Gary Eleazar The National Assembly has, according to Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, corrected a 20-year-old omission which has seen thousands of Guyanese being discredited as a result of their legal standing.

He was speaking to the amendments which seek to give more legal rights to spouses and children of common law unions.

Nandlall, in successfully piloting the piece of legislation, reminded that common law unions have been in existence from since the dawn of time, “and for

- “A 20-year-old omission corrected” - AG Nandlall those that believe, reaches as far back as the Garden of Eden”.

The Attorney General (AG) impressed on the House the fact that Guyana has inherited its legal system from England which was heavily influenced by the Church.

As a result of the Church’s clout over the British legal system, recognition to common law unions was never given. Nandall was adamant that the amended law will for the first time in the country’s history accord to a spouse in a common law union, the right

to access benefits afforded those that are legally married, under the Marriage Act. The AG says that while there have been some attempts to recognize, in law, Common Law unions, there was much still left to be desired.

“There was a clear intention not to recognize such a union, the spouses or the product of such unions,” said Nandlall, speaking to the history of the matter and pointing to pieces of legislation such as the Bastardy Act.

That legislation had defined children outside of wedlock as illegitimate, and as such the same benefits did not apply.

The status quo in relation to the legal status of spouses or children in a common law union denied benefits such as access to assets of a father or mother that had died during the course of a union.

Nandlall said that it was left up to the innovation of judges to use principles to pacify the harshness of the law that was meted out to spouses and children of a

common-law union. He called this a “silent revolution” on their part.

The Attorney General, as did his colleague Parliamentarian, Education Minister Priya Manickchand, in supporting the legal amendments, spoke of religious arrangements in the Guyana context.

This, Manickchand said, has caused very many Guyanese to go though the religious rituals and live their lives believing themselves to be married, only to find out that as a result of failing to abide with the marriage, they don’t have any legal standing as a wife or husband.

A prominent example of this on display would be that of Former President Bharrat Jagdeo and his “wife”, Varshnie Singh.

It was a public spectacle locally when upon their separation it was a found that they were never legally married and as such she was not entitled to the benefits of a legally married woman.

Nandlall was adamant that “this Bill seeks to correct an omission which should have been corrected 20 years ago.”

He said that the piece of legislation has been lauded by women’s groups as a “great victory,” but was adamant that while this is true “confining it to just a victory for women is myopic, because men will equally benefit and so too will the children.”

The Alliance for Change (AFC), while being represented in the House yesterday, did not speak to the amendment and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s James Bond praised the move by the administration.

“It is commendable and the Legal Affairs Ministry should be congratulated on this effort,” said Bond who is himself a practicing lawyer.

Manickhand, who was the only other Government Speaker to the Bill, sought to

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall add to Nandlall’s sentiments, asserting that it must be recognized that the Bill demonstrates the fact that the Government “is friendly to women.”

She quickly expanded saying that the Law “is gender-neutral but we would be burying our heads in the sand if we don’t recognize that women will be the biggest beneficiaries.”

She said that the Constitution of Guyana speaks to Government’s responsibility in ensuring equity is guaranteed to all.

“We have this guarantee in our Supreme Law and yet we had these grave inconsistencies which prove difficult for persons every single day.”

She said that during her time as a practicing lawyer she had gotten firsthand knowledge of the fact that most of the persons who are discredited are those who go to Legal Aid. Manickchand sought to emphasize that it is not only women that were finding it difficult, but it was “poor women that were suffering.”

The Bill was approved unanimously by the House without amendments and will become Law once assented to by Head of State Donald Ramotar and published in the Official Gazette.

Attorney General ...

From page 11 interest is predicated merely upon the fact of this marital relations and nothing else.”

In short, it is conflict of interest based upon perception and not actuality.

“Indeed, it is a fact of public notoriety that it is the very Auditor General’s office, where the same Mrs. Singh has worked over the last 20 years, seven of which she acted in the very position in which she is now confirmed, which has unearthed a number of financial irregularities and has posed several audit queries as it discharged its functions.

The very opposition has

made tremendous use of these irregularities and queries in their political pursuits.”

Additionally, the Attorney General said, having not objected to Mrs. Singh acting in that very position for the last seven years, one can forcefully argue that it amounts to an acquiescence and creates in favour of the Auditor General and Mrs. Singh, the benefit of a legitimate expectation that they will continue their noobjection.

The opposition has been criticizing the confirmation of Singh, saying that could raise the very likely scenario of a conflict of interest scenario.

Friday July 13, 2012

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Work permits for Brazilian miners…

Govt. pulls in GGDMA to help reduce delays, backlog

By Leonard Gildarie Amidst mounting concerns over delays in the processing of work permits for Brazilians miners, the Guyana government says that it will allow the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) to assist in

sponsorships.

GGDMA, which says it represents small, medium and large scale miners, is planning to meet with representatives of Brazilian nationals operating within the mining industry next Tuesday over the delays.

Currently, the Brazil/ Guyana Development Institute, a non-profit organization located in Kingston, has been designated the only body other the Ministry of Home Affairs to accept and assist in processing of work permits.

File Photo: Police and GGMC Mines Officers during recent raids in the hinterland mining camps.

Baby’s death at day care centre…

Both parties negligent In wake of the recent death at a Day Care Centre at Thomas Street, Kitty, a senior official associated with Children’s Rights has stated that there was some amount of negligence on the part of the day care.

But the fact that the child was apparently overweight may also have been a contributing factor.

The official said it was rather strange that the caregiver at the centre did not check on the baby who was ‘sleeping’ for several hours.

“It is not normal for a child to sleep so long. I would think that even if a child sleeps that long an adult should at least make

- Children’s Rights official checks on the child.”

It was also pointed out that there is some amount of negligence on the part of the parents given the fact that they themselves stated that the two month-old weighed 18 pounds.

“That is obesity and unhealthy for that age and it will cause respiratory problems. Guyanese have this mentality that once a baby is fat or chubby he is healthy and that is wrong,” the official pointed out.

Also, in wake of this incident, the question has been raised about regulations and requirements for persons operating a day care.

This publication was told that this responsibility has been handed over to the Child Care and Protection Agency.

A source said that currently, while the Mayor and City Council has handed over the responsibility, the new regulations are being drafted up for Parliament.

In the interim, the City Council is still responsible for issuing licences for day care centres.

On Monday, last, Baquan Shepherd was discovered dead at around 16:30 hrs when his parents went to collect him and his 22-month-old brother.

According to GGDMA it has been receiving complaints of delays.

“This meeting is to sort out issues affecting the application for work permits and sponsorship of Brazilian nationals.

Association members who employ Brazilian nationals have been experiencing some delays in the processing of these applications since a directive was received from the Ministry of Home Affairs that only the Brazil-Guyana Development Institute

(BRDI) is allowed to facilitate sponsorships.”

GGDMA also released a letter sent from the Ministry of Home Affairs that informed one Noel Charles Campus, of Regent Road, Bourda, that he will not be accepted as a sponsor or employer for Brazilians, and that the institute is the only third party allowed to do so.

GGDMA asked: “What if a miner wishes to recruit an Indonesian or Philippino who are known to be excellent heavy equipment operators in the industry?”

Yesterday, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, said that the matter had been engaging his ministry and that representations are being made to allow GGDMA to join the Brazilian Institute as being the bona fide third parties in accepting applications on behalf of the Brazilian miners.

Guyana in recent years have been battling a huge influx of Brazilians as gold prices rise to record levels on (continued on page 30)

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Ramotar not getting the best advice - Granger - APNU pickets at OP over Linden electricity tariff hike

Opposition Leader, Brigadier (ret.)

David Granger during the picketing exercise

By Gary Eleazar Brigadier (ret.) David Granger, Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, would like President Donald Ramotar to urgently meet with, and engage the people of Linden on the issue of the electricity tariff hike.

The Oppo s i t i o n h a s been arguing that any increase to the tariff in Linden has to be accompanied by a menu of measures to address the economic plight of the Region 10 community.

Granger has upped the ante, in what he calls A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s solidarity with the plight of Lindeners and yesterday staged a picketing exercise at the Office of the President (OP).

Scores of APNU supporters lined the Vlissengen Road entrance of OP bearing placards, as well as an effigy meant to represent Lindener, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, in a coffin.

Granger in a brief interview with this publication said that he does not want the matter to become a political one, given that the people of Linden “can

articulate for themselves.”

He said that “We are here to show solidarity with the people of Linden….We are here to call on the Central Government to not proceed with the hike…We are here to call on the President, personally, to sit down and speak with the Regional Chairman and other officials of Region 10, so that a consensual solution can be found to this crisis.”

According to Granger “there is a crisis,” and he reminded that the people of Region 10 are all against the increase.

“We are here to demand that there should be urgent attention to the economic development of the entire region.”

In seeking to express his optimism on a way forward, Granger says that he does not believe that all avenues have been exhausted.

“Ramotar should be flexible enough to sit down and speak with the Lindeners and people of Region 10, and listen to what they are saying.”

The Opposition Leader says that he does not believe that President Ramotar “is getting the best advice.”

Granger says that he does

not believe that the Head of State is aware of the seriousness of the crisis or “the resistance of the people of Linden and Region 10.”

“There is an economic crisis in the Region….I am convinced that there is too much unemployment there…..There is too little industrial or manufacturing development. If Central Government changes its attitude, the money can be provided.”

“My advice to him (Ramotar) is to sit down with the people of Linden… this can be done within an hour….by Saturday morning we could be reading good news,” said Granger “but he (Ramotar) needs to hear what the people of Linden are saying.”

Granger was adamant that the problem facing Region 10 and Linden is “not something superficial…it is fundamental to the welfare and wellbeing of the people of Linden and Region 10.”

The APNU Leader suggested that should the President be flexible enough to “just sit and speak with the representatives in the region he would get a different impression…There is more to the crisis than the President is being told.”

He was clear to point out that in taking the course of action they are in solidarity with the region, “we don’t want to pretend to be brokers…it’s a Central Government and Regional Government matter…we don’t want to politicize it.”

Granger was adamant that between the Central and Regional Government it can be addressed.

“I don’t want political parties to make this a political issue and jump on the bandwagon shouting political slogans.”

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Food security must become a Regional imperative – President Ramotar - Head of State urges CARICOM countries to forge ties, share experiences to combat hunger, poverty, malnutrition “Food security must become a Regional imperative and there are more than 50 million of our people in Latin America and the Caribbean who go hungry. This is tragic because we have the capacity within Latin America and the Caribbean, to produce more food than it requires, to feed our people. We must ensure that we translate this potential in a manner that assures equity and equality and assures that none of our citizens go hungry in this Region by 2025.”

Guyana’s President, Donald Ramotar, made this assertion at the opening of the 6th Hunger-free Latin America and Caribbean Initiative yesterday, where he also emphatically stated that it is necessary for CARICOM countries to forge stronger ties in order to dedicate more resources towards feeding people in the Region.

It was noted that this will also allow the member states to safeguard themselves against ‘shocks’ such as economic and financial crises that are seriously affecting North America and Europe.

President Ramotar emphasized that this Region is one of the most “unequal” in the world and it is this inequality that spawns poverty, hunger and malnutrition.

“There are structures, most of which are the products of historical circumstances that constrain economic democracy. These structures exclude and marginalize millions…Unless we as a Region address structural constraints to economic democracy, the problems with poverty and inequality will continue to consign millions of our people to destitution and we would not be able to eradicate hunger in the Region.”

He underscored the need to internally craft structures of development that facilitate greater economic participation by people, without which, the countries would not be able to reduce the effects of poverty and inequality.

Representatives from the various CARICOM countries were urged to pursue trade arrangements that favour the

movement of food commodities across their countries since the potential for greater trade and food commodities between the countries remain enormous.

“Guyana today exports food products today to Latin America and Caribbean countries where up to four years ago all of Guyana’s rice went to Europe, North America and CARICOM countries.

Today we export significant quantities of rice to Venezuela-this is an encouraging direction, I urge you to continue … as we combat obstacles especially the non-tariff barriers to the trade in agricultural produce so that we can import more of our resources towards feeding our people and in the process reducing our exposure to external shock in food prices,” President Ramotar posited.

The Guyanese Head of State acknowledged that all of the countries in the Region can and must learn from each other’s experiences so as to determine what “works” and what does not in striving towards eradicating hunger,

Witness in causing death case remanded for changing statement A witness who decided to switch his evidence in court yesterday in a causing death matter will spend the next five days in prison having been deemed a refractory witness.

Twenty-four year-old Roshan Butters was remanded to prison until next Monday (July 16) by Magistrate Leslie Sobers.

While Butters was being led in his evidence by Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels, he began diverting from his original statement. This was indicated to the court at which point the Magistrate enquired from Butters if he was briefed. To this he replied in the positive and was cautioned to stick to his original statement. Even after this warning, Butters continued to divert from his original statement and was twice cautioned.

At this point the Prosecutor interjected and asked that the court deem Butters a refractory witness in accordance with Section 21 of the Summary Jurisdiction Procedure Act Chapter 1002.

The Magistrate granted the Prosecution’s request.

The act states that if a person comes to court and refuses to give evidence or that person says something different from his or her original statement, the court can remand that person to prison for a period of eight

days maximum.

However if the person changes his or her mind before the court is adjourned for the day that matter can be called again.

Butters was giving evidence in a causing death matter involving the defendant, Cliff Johnson.

Johnson has been charged with causing the death of Jack Singh who was killed on June 10th 2010.

Butters on the other hand was charged with dangerous driving in the same incident.

poverty and malnutrition.

He assured that Guyana is prepared to share its own success stories in this area, just as much as it is receptive to learning how other countries have dealt with these issues.

It was also noted that Guyana has successfully been able to half the proportion of persons who suffered from hunger during last year.

He stated that as the years have gone by this country continues to make strong in roads in the reduction of poverty.

“Between 1993 and 2006 extreme poverty was reduced from 28.7 per cent to 18.6 per cent. This achievement must be seen against the background in the 1990s when Guyana was ranked as one of the two poorest countries in Latin America with one of the highest per capita debt per annum in the world and high rate of migration, we have made impressive strides in reducing poverty whilst having to restructure our foreign debt,” added the President.

According to Ramotar, Guyana aims at reducing extreme poverty significantly

within the next three years, while placing greater sensitization on malnutrition and hunger as well as engaging these problems on a global level.

While highlighting successes such as the fight against HIV, and being on the verge of eliminating transmission from mother to child, it was also mentioned that Guyana has begun its school feeding programme that targets areas indentified in the country’s mandate, where there is a high need.

In this way, he said, the Government hopes to ensure that all children benefit from better nourishment thus facilitating better learning in schools.

Interventions such as supporting families with monetary vouchers to provide school clothing for children, laptops to poor families so that their children will not be disadvantaged from the learning process, and removal of taxes from most of the basic food items including the Value Added Tax (VAT), were also mentioned.

While acknowledging that agriculture remains an important pivot to the efforts at reducing poverty, the President explained that it is not only focused on feeding people, but also to establish Guyana as a valued producer

President Donald Ramotar of safe and quality food.

“In this regard the food imports bill for the Caribbean must be looked at again, our ability of agriculture is working to ensure that Guyana’s food import bill be reduced through global production. We must target the food import bill of the Caribbean, of CARICOM countries, to ensure that we reduce the region’s dependence of sourcing outside of the region to meet our needs.

Indeed, the region has the potential to play a leading role in the world to end poverty globally, the money that leaves our shores, more than three billion dollars every year, could be very important in correcting some of the macro-economic inequality that we still feel,” the President concluded.

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Guyanese students at minimal risk of contracting cholera in Cuba - Health Ministry Guyanese students in Cuba are said to be at minimal risk of contracting cholera while on the island. Guyana’s Ministry of Health is monitoring the situation of the outbreak of cholera in Cuba where that nation’s Health Ministry has reportedly confirmed dozens of cases.

This is according to the local Health Ministry in a press statement yesterday.

The release stated that on July 11, Cuba reported that from July 3, a total of 110 cholera cases were confirmed, including three deaths, which have been recorded in the Granma province. The national authorities confirmed that the Vibrio cholerae strain of the outbreak has been characterized as toxigenic V. cholerae, serogroup O1; serotype Ogawa, biotype El Tor. It was noted that Cuban Health authorities have implemented an active

management and prevention plan for cholera and has implemented necessary sanitary control measures to avoid further spread of the disease in the country and beyond its borders.

It assured that measures for prevention and control continue to be implemented and the investigation is ongoing.

Meanwhile, local Health Ministry had developed a plan to “Stop Cholera” in Guyana when the outbreak was detected in Haiti in 2012.

It has since embarked on a number of measures within the health system.

The plan includes strengthened port vigilance and border area surveillance for all inbound travelers; upgrade to the national syndromic surveillance system to enhance daily reports from sentinel sites around the capital and in strategic areas such as

Region One, Region Two, Region Six and Region Nine; and enhance the capacity of the national laboratory system to test for and confirm cholera from stool samples.

Other measures include developing and implementing an awareness campaign to educate the public on the risk of diarrhea, management of cases and control measures; stock all the essential medicines and supplies needed to manage cholera at all health facilities; and develop and implement plan along with several stakeholders (PAHO/WHO, UNICWF and GWI) to improve sanitation and hygiene nationwide.

The release assured that the Surveillance and Pandemic Committee of the Ministry will continue to monitor the situation in the Region and will provide regular feedback on the situation to the media.

Friday July 13, 2012

APNU laments limitations in decision-making processes

By Gary Eleazar As intimated earlier by second in command of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, the continued rejection of the opposition’s demands will force the masses back into the streets.

This was expanded on yesterday by Dr Roopnarine’s party colleague, Dr. David Hinds.

Dr. Hinds was speaking at a press engagement where the coalition leader was weighing in on the achievements of the Partnership, as it marks its one year anniversary.

Dr. Hinds told the media yesterday that “there are obvious limitations to a majority in Parliament if you don’t control the executive.”

He said, however, that the WPA rejects the view that there are only two avenues available.

The APNU official was speaking to the fact of heading back to the polls or to continue to be confined.

“Key to the forward movement would be for APNU to make good on its campaign theme, which was a government of national reform.”

This, he said, would require constitutional reform, and he suggested that going back to the polls with the same rules, “will get the same results…either the PPP controls everything and splits it, or the APNU controls everything and splits it.”

He suggested that with constitutional reform in place, regardless of the result of the next election there will be a government of national unity.

Confronted with the fact that APNU will have to get the support of the PPP/C for Constitutional Reform, which is unlikely, Dr Hinds responded “we don’t know that’s not going to happen…all things are possible in politics.”

He reminded that the life of the 10th Parliament is only a few months old and the

partnership had focused heavily on the Budget.

Dr. Hinds insisted that APNU is carrying out its mandate, “we are working and stretching the limits of Parliament and the Government is responding in a particular way.”

The WPA co-leader told members of the media that the actions of the opposition will ultimately be decided by the Government.

“We are doing what we are constitutionally mandated to do and we are doing that to the best of our ability…the government keeps reacting,” he said.

He was adamant that the extra-parliamentary activities that Dr. Roopnarine had alluded to “will be determined not by us sitting around a table, but by the government’s continued rejection of our reasonable engagement with them.”

Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Robert Corbin, who was on hand at the press engagement, and in seeking to point out the limitations of the Opposition, said that “people wanted a change… they expected the APNU to win, APNU did not win and the government of the PPP controls the Executive and the decision making.”

He pointed to the Court move by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, with respect to the budget cuts, and said that it illustrates that the Government “can still defy in some respects as they are doing at the moment, some of the decisions of the Legislature.”

He explained that in Guyana’s case where there are three arms of Government there will be the conflicting situations as is the current case.

“Government is not just the Parliament; there is the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.”

Corbin added also that

“the real answer to the problem lies in controlling the Executive, and we have failed to do so.”

He said that while the Combined Opposition may control the Legislature, “you still have the President doing all that he wants to do, and the only answer to that is to control the Executive.”

Speaking to the issue of a ‘No Confidence Motion’ in the Government, Corbin told the media that that “does not immediately solve the problem of Guyana.”

He said that what has to be done is to ensure that there is in place the necessary kind of alliance required for an election.

A successful motion of no confidence in the Government can essentially force Head of State, Donald Ramotar to call fresh elections.

“Once you talk of no confidence, you expect to succeed, and it is not just a political gimmick you are trying….if you are dealing with real politics, then you have to think of political organization for the next elections to ensure that you capture those arms of government, both the Executive and the Legislature.”

Confronted again with the notion of a No Confidence Motion in the Government by the Opposition, the Coalition Leader Brigadier (ret.) David Granger said “we are not the Executive and there are certain limitations on what we can do in the National Assembly.”

Granger says that the party has been using the resources available to it through the Parliamentary Committees and collaborations with the Alliance for Change (AFC) in order to bring about results “favourable to the partnership.”

He says that while there are limitations, “we are working in the tri-partite process…we haven’t abandoned that process although we feel that we have not progressed as far as we should have.”

Govt. pulls in GGDMA to ...

From page 13 the gold market.

The country’s open borders and rough terrain coupled with an undermanned Guyana Geology and Mines Commission have not been helping to improve policing.

It is estimated that over 15,000 Brazilians are in Guyana. It is also estimated that more than 80% of them are not legally registered to live and work in Guyana.

Earlier this year, government had met with the Brazilians and made it clear that they had to get registered or face expulsion.

Complaints were made

that Brazilians were paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to third parties to get work permits. There were also complaints of delays in processing of work permits and of shakedowns by police.

There were also accusations that some mining companies were taking thousands of dollars to apply for work permits for Brazilians, some of whom they never even saw.

Both the Home Affairs and Natural Resources Ministries had made it clear that third parties sponsors will no longer be accepted.

It was then, during a meeting at Celina Restaurant, that it was announced that the

Brazilian/Guyana Development Institute will be the only third party, other than the Home Affairs Ministry, to process work permits.

But the response from the Brazilians has been slow. The institute last week reported that so far only 60 applications have been received since the measures by government were introduced.

GGMC and police are currently carrying out raids to mining camps in the interior to ensure they are in compliance. Several Brazilians have been held. Kaieteur News has received reports that many Brazilians have gone underground.

Friday July 13, 2012

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UG bodies insist Bourne must go The University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers’ Union (UGWU) are adamant that Professor Compton Bourne must be relieved of his duties as Chancellor of the University.

The Unions, yesterday, in a press release denounced moves by some members of the University’s academic board for refusing to accept Bourne’s resignation. “We… stand by our position that Prof. Bourne has failed to be an effective Chancellor notwithstanding his many credentials.”

It was pointed out that the immediate cause of the recent industrial crisis were several unconstitutional decisions made by the Council over which Bourne presided.

“Moreover, he (Bourne) has admitted to not having the temperament to redress the very situation which the

APNU visits Mabaruma, Region 1…

Council under his administration precipitated,” the bodies stated.

It was stressed that members of the Academic Board did not vote on the matter, but the decision was made when many members had left the meetings. The release stated that the matter was raised by a member and the UGSSA President responded. But it was raised again under ‘Any Other Business’ by another member when many members had left the meeting.

It was noted, “The statement signed by Dr. Marlene Cox, Acting Vice Chancellor, which conveyed the presumed sentiments of Academic Board members, makes an extraordinary admission which when examined, clearly highlights the bankrupt nature of the governance at the University of Guyana.”

“The University’s administration touts as a part

of its catalogue of Prof.

Bourne’s contribution, his attendance at meetings and functions. Incredibly, this routine function, which has clearly become the raison d’etre for some of these campus officials, is interpreted as indicative of effective leadership,” the release stated.

However, the bodies do not find the position of the senior administrative group surprising. It was stressed that admission of Bourne’s failure may indict many of them as well.

“Several in this senior administrative group have been at the helm of the University overseeing its decline while rotating positions among themselves during the past 10-15 years.

Moreover, if any group is out of touch with the academic staff, it is this senior administrative group at the University. This is a group that has traditionally

handsomely rewarded itself, notwithstanding the fact that many among them come equipped with less academic credentials than that demanded of faculty while ignoring the needs of academics and other staff.”

It was noted that successive reports into the University indicate that there is a significant problematic gap between the salaries paid to the administrative staff as against the academic staff.

The Unions stated that they now publicly articulate in an equally forceful manner on “the immediate signature of the World Bank loan by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, in light of the October deadline so that the science

and technology faculties could receive the upgrade they so urgently need.”

During a telephone interview several days ago, Dr. Singh said that the programme was “still on” but he could not recall how much money has been released as yet.

“The new Council, yet to be appointed, reviews and corrects the decisions and actions that have infringed on the academic liberties within the University including the firing of academic staff without a hearing or recourse; the immediate enhancement in the deplorable conditions on the campus and the provision of adequate teaching materials for effective instruction; and an

Professor Compton Bourne urgent inquiry into the financing of the university to move it from the current precarious condition to ensure among other things that staff are paid on time and their tax and NIS contributions remitted faithfully and finally.”

2012 Business Guyana magazine launched

Faulty infrastructure works highlighted

Members of the leading opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), made an official visit to Mabaruma, Kumaka and Wauna, in the North West District, Region One, to inspect public infrastructure works being conducted in the area.

The team included senior executive Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and Shadow Public Works Minister, Mr. Joseph Harmon.

During the visit to the Kumaka Waterfront where work is being done by the Ministry of Public Works to the bank of the Aruka River, the APNU officials said that the residents in the area and business persons have complained bitterly about the quality of work done by the contractor, with regards to the revetment works to the waterfront.

The residents are angry about the waste of money on the project and the absence of involvement by the Regional Democratic Council.

Of contention also, is the expertise, or lack thereof, of the appointed Engineer who is supervising the works at the waterfront. Truck loads of red loam are being deposited at the location, but the residents insist this exercise only succeeds in feeding the loam to the river and eating away at the taxpayers’ dollars. Of concern, also, is the cost per truck load of loam.

The residents have also expressed their frustration at the poorly constructed Kumaka Bridge, which prevents an easy flow of water from one side to the other, which has resulted in the area constantly being flooded. Residents say they have made several complaints

about this to the RDC and Ministry of Local Government officials, but to no avail. One of the suggestions put forward by the opposition party to rectify this is to reconstruct the bridge with a larger tunnel for the water to flow beneath it.

Barabina, an Amerindian Village, was also one of the other communities visited.

During the visit it was discovered that the main road in Barabina is under three feet of water.

It was outlined that the village is inhabited by lots of poor Amerindians who cannot afford to pay high transportation costs, however, night and day they have to slush through the water, due to the state of the road and they have to pay $100 to get on a boat to move from one end of the road to the other.

APNU’s officials visit Barabina Road

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds joins GCCI President Clinton Urling in unveiling the 2012 Business Guyana magazine.

Chinese direct investments in Guyana reached US$183 in recent years, while bilateral trade was US$147M for last year, according to Ambassador Yu Wenzhe. The envoy was at the time speaking at the launching of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI)’s third edition of the magazine ‘Business Guyana’ on Wednesday night.

The venue was the Pegasus Hotel.

Among those in attendance were GCCI President Clinton Urling, the magazine’s publisher Lokesh Singh, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, business sponsors and special invitees.

The theme of the magazine, “energise with opportunity” was announced at the chamber’s business dinner where the cover was unveiled by the Prime Minister and GCCI President.

Ambassador Yu reflected that Guyana is the first Englishspeaking Caribbean country to set up diplomatic relations with China, and over the past 40 years the countries had treated each other with respect, in spite of the challenges related to international politics and trade.

He said that bilateral relations and a sound political relationship

further serve as a solid foundation for trade and economic associations.

Noting that economic relations have been expanding, the envoy revealed that bilateral trade was US$147M for last year, an increase of 46.3 per cent.

The Ambassador further noted that China has become one of Guyana’s main non-traditional export markets, along with Brazil and India.

He added that over 3000 Guyanese entrepreneurs attended the last Guyana/China trade fair earlier in the year, and over the years, the scale of Guyana/China trade as well as investment cooperation has been deepening and expanding, with increasing sectors and varied approaches in cooperation.

Noting that the world economic recovery is slow and fragile, he said against this background, China has relatively stable economic growth, which provides a good opportunity for China/Guyana trade and economic affairs.

He recommended that there should be better use of the existing mechanisms and platforms of economic cooperation, and asserted that there also needs to be more exchanges between

entrepreneurs.

The GCCI President Clinton Urling said over the past year the group has strengthened its capacity, while noting that private and public sector corruption is a major concern among corporate entities.

Publisher Lokesh Singh detailed aspects of the cover of the publication which has depictions of Kaieteur Falls, wind turbines, solar panels, crude oil and corn plants.

He pointed out that the crude oil represents the impact relating to present explorations; the agricultural element is being projected by the corn plant which can be grown given Guyana’s land mass to produce bio-fuels; and solar and wind power are being represented as two areas of alternative energy which are avenues for exploration, and the Kaieteur Falls which he said represents the potential for hydropower.

Singh also explained that the colour chosen for the magazine burgundy branded with silver – with burgundy representing “the bold initiatives available to Guyana”, while silver is “reflective of all the precious metals that create the shining opportunity for all Guyanese”.

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Kaieteur News

DTV CHANNEL 8 008:55 hrs. Sign On 09:00 hrs. Live! With Kelly 10:00 hrs. Law & Order: Criminal Intent 11:00 hrs. The View 12:00 hrs. Prime News 12:30 hrs. The Young and the Restless 13:30 hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 14:00 hrs. The Talk 15:00 hrs. Boy Meets World 16:00 hrs. Beverly Hills, 90210 17:00 hrs. MacGyver 18:00 hrs. World News 18:30 hrs. Nightly News 19:00 hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00 hrs. Channel 8 News

21:00 hrs. DTV’s Summer Movie Fest 23:00 hrs. Sign Off NCN CHANNEL 11 02:00 – NCN Late Edition (R/ B) 02:30 – Late Nite with GINA 03:00 – Movie 05:00 – Inspiration 05:30 – Newtown Gospel 06:00 – NCN Late Edition News(r/b) 06:30 – Feature 07:00 – Guyana Today 08:00 – Bollywood Hits (R/ B) 09:00 – Stop the Suffering 10:00 – CCTV 11:00 – History

12:00 – CNN 12:30 – NCN Newsbreak 12:35 – Oral Tradition(R/B) 13:00 – Movie 15:00 – Feature 16:00 – Cartoons 17:00 – Anderson 18:00 – NCN News Magazine – Live 18:30 – Pulse Beat 19:00 – Close Up 19:30 – Grow With IPED 20:00 – 3d/daily millions/ play de dream/lotto draw 20:05 – Discussion Guyana Model Search (LIVE) 21:05 – Between the Sticks with the GCA 22:05 – NCN News Late Edition

Friday July 13, 2012 ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Your partner may be erratic today if you haven't paid enough attention to him or her. Difficulties will result if you have to deal with controversial groups today. Go over their important documents and suggest alternatives.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You will be best suited to doing things around the house or inviting friends over for a visit. You have a real need to be vocal. Be aware of any deception on the part of those you deal with.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) Don't count on others to cover up for your shortcomings. Relationships will form if you get out and do things that you enjoy. Visit friends you don't get to see that often.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 Nov. 22) Your charisma will no doubt attract a lot of attention.

Make plans that will take you to exotic destinations. Don't let situations get out of control.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Spending too much time talking to friends or relatives could easily turn into a debate that could lead to estrangement. You are best to deal with those outside your family. Your bankbook will suffer and your restrictions will put a damper on your relationship.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You may find that your anger stems from lending or borrowing money.

You may be able to get some good advice about your personal problems.

Do whatever your mate wants; it really doesn't matter as long as you're together.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Finish those changes you've been talking about making to your residence.

You will meet exciting new people through interest groups or functions that you attend with your children.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) You will do well if you mingle with the brass today.

You have bent over backward trying to help them and now it's time to let them stand on their own two feet. It's a good time for long awaited relationships to begin.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept.

23) Remember that no one can walk through your door if there's someone standing in the doorway. Romantic encounters are evident through travel or educational pursuits.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) The talk you have may be eye-opening with regard to your present situation.

Changes involving your domestic scene may be unpleasant. You are going through a period of questioning.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 Feb. 19) Channel your energy into projects that will enhance your home. Try to slow down, and take another look. You need to put some trust in others.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Take time to relax.

Stress and pressure at home may have worn you ragged. You should be able to get a lot done. Tell it like it is.

22:35 – Caribbean Newsline 23:00 – Movie MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 Sign on 06:00 Islamic perspective (Quran) 06:30 News Update 07:00 DAYBREAK – (live) 08:00 Dabi’s Variety 08:30 Avon Video & DVD Musical Melodies 09:00 BBC World News 09:15 Top Notch music Break 09:30 Caribbean temptation Music Mix 10:00 Amanda’s Music mix 10:30 Double Day Int. Music Break 11:00 H Persaud (Crown Chowmein) music break 11:30 The View 12:00 Village Talk: 12:30 The Young and the Restless 13:30 Days of our lives 14:00 The Revolution 15:00 General Hospital 16:00 The Bold and the Beautiful 16:30 Cartoons 17:00 Birthdays and other greetings 17:15 Death Announcement/ In Memoriam 17:30 Al Ja zeerqa News 18:00 Charran’s Radiator Video Hits 18:30 Kingdom Voice 19:00 Soul Melodies 19:30 News Update 20:30 Clear Water Music Hour 21:30 Music Request Hour 22:30 Sitcom 23:00 News Update 23:30 Movie Transporter 1 Sign off

Friday July 13, 2012

NTN CHANNEL 18/ CABLE 69 0500h - Sign on with the Mahamrtunjaya Mantra 0510h - Meditation 0530h - Queenstown Masjid Presents Q u r a n T h i s Morning 0545h - CRICKET - 1ST ODI ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA 1315h - Indian Soap - Yahaan Mein Ghar Ghar Kheli 1345h - Indian Soap - Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke 1415h - Indian Soap - Pavitra Rishta 1445h - Indian Soap - Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuyien 1515h - Indian Soap - Punar Vivaah 1545h - SITCOM - FRINGE 1630h - Devotional Time

1700h - Drying Tears Live with Pastor Edson 1800h - Ganesh Parts Presents - BHAGAVAD GITA ( Discourses in English) Serial 1815h - Birthday Greetings / Deaths Announcement & In Memoriam 1830h - Living The Abundant Life (Live) 1900h - Headline News 1930h -Timeless Melodies Live with Frederick Rampersaud 2030h - New Life World Outreach 2045h - 15 Minutes for Allah 2100h - The Family Album Live with Frederick Rampersaud 2200h - Forgotten Melodies Live with Frederick Rampersaud 2330h - Sign Off with the Gayatri Mantra

Friday July 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Workers for landscaping Call: 656-1326,626-1044

Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery, tel: 670-0798. Wedding dresses for sale & rental.

Caretaker for sawmill at Yarrowkabra,wood mize experience will be an asset Call:261-2553 Action Tyre 17 Croal Street & Sendall Place,Georgetown.Drive/ Salesman,Mechanic,Sales Clerk.Please Apply Within 1 Domestic worker must know to cook Mon-Sat 7:00am-3:00pm $15,000 30-45 yrs 628-6160 or 227-8998 (Richie) 1 Handy boy to work in the interior Call: 688-0197 Survival Shopping Complex,Sheriff Street needs cashiers,salesgirl,bag packers Call:227-5287-90 One male shop attendant,Age 18-25 years Call:227-7794,679-1151

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One Optometrist to work in Trinidad Call Mr.Khan 6626420 Urgently need caretaker to cultivate 5 acres land, Demerara River opposite Timehri Dock Serious inquires Call:613-7704 Cleaner & Part time counter attendant wanted Call:2319804 between 3pm to 5pm.

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Private Summer Tutoring for children preparing for Grade 1 & 2 Contact Miss Gittens 641-6484,673-7186

Al’s car pick up & canter rental Call:698-7807

SUMMER CLASSES:Come learn to do tips,hand design,make up and poised $10,000 Call:226-9448,6287880

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6 weeks course in designing and sewing Call Sharmie 225-2598, 641-0784 American pool table 2770578 LAND FOR SALE 1 ½ acre, 48ftx1300ft V/Hoop Call: 627-9351

WANTED Domestic worker Call: 2239725

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1 Cook Call:225-7259 Live in/live out babysitter/ domestic. Call: 225-0188, 225-6070 Weeder to clear 3 acres in Demerara River opposite Timehri Dock $25,000 monthly,benefits long term Call:613-7704

FOR SALE One Hilux Vigo (2011) New Call:231-5171,619-7134 Anchorseal Call:BR&T Paint Store 265-3541,695-4785

TOUR Suriname Summer Vacation Return Trip 19-22 July Call:639-2663,644-0185,6655171,227-8290

FOR SALE Going cheap…used clutch & pressure plates, compressors and hydraulic pumps. Call: 661-3043

MINELAB & GARETTE GOLD DETECTORS. 6097625, 675-7292 NARS lipgloss, eyeshadow & Clinique Chubby Stick. Tel: 669-8374.

One ice-cream dispenser, price $200,000 negotiable Call: 673-1232

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Tibitean Pups Call:225-4780, 663-3407

Headrest L.C.D, Musical Instruments Bass, Acoustic Guitars, Amplifiers, Speakers, Honda Pressure Washer, Mini DV Camkorder.

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Page 33

One PC 300 Komatsu bigger than 320 Caterpillar.Price $ 2 4 Million Call:2258334,640-4627 Complete car washing equipment. Power washer, vacuum, water tank, almost new. Tel: 653-7806 or 6250428.

Dell computers complete with 17 & 19 inch LCD from $50,000 Future Tech 231-2206 PLL Series Runx motor car Call:667-0338 Doberman and Rottweiler puppies, 6 weeks old, fully vaccinated and dewormed.

Please call: 649-4743 Ask for Denis 1 Bobcat & trailor Call:6460101

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Toyota Starlet EP71 Call: 6247155 Used Sthil 51 chainsaw Call:662-7034

SERVICES Permanent &Visitors Visa Applications Professional Immigration Consultant Sabita - Room E-4 Maraj Building 225-6496/ 223-8115/662-6045.

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

Brandnew American made Crosely 10.5 cu ft Refridgerator for sale $75,000.697-5677 American Dog Food,Sell Off Price,33 lbs-3,000 Call:6289119

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Call: 218-5120 1 Handyman, Apply: Guyana Fisheries Limited, Houston,East Bank Vacancy exist for porters, drivers, office clerks. Apply Lot 10 Vlissengen Road.

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Be part of our world class customer care team.Call:2200401-3 or Email: recruitment Guyana @qualfon.com One driver salesman, must have lorry on licence Call: 220-1500,614-4626 CUSTOMER SERVICE R E P R E S E N TAT I V E CALL:225-9030 FOR MORE INFORMATION Vacancy exists for 1 heavy duty mechanic to work in the interior.Attractive Salary Call:226-3799,687-8677,6847516 FOR RENT Rental of roller, bobcat & excavator. Contact numbers: 621-4786 or 220-5580

VEHICLES FOR SALE Just arrived: Allion and Premio, tel: 624-2000, 6221610

Agriculture/Poultry land to lease or rent, Soesdyke Linden Highway Call:2162362, 683-4700 (Continued on page 34)

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Friday July 13, 2012

===Letters to the Sport Editor=== (From page 33)

VEHICLES FOR SALE 2007 Toyota Ractis $2.7M,2004 Mazda RX8 $2.8M,Never Registered Call:617-2891 3 Ton enclosed,3 ton freezer & 3 ton open back canter,never registered Call: 617-2891

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Terrible precedent in Coach Selection DEAR SPORTS EDITOR, I am writing this letter to you as I was made aware of a decision made by the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) that baffles me on many fronts. The Guyana Amateur Swimming Association Council made a decision that would make a terrible precedent in Olympic Coach Selection in Guyana.

One male swimmer and one female swimmer were selected to represent Guyana at the Olympic Games in London this year; both of those swimmers were taught how to swim and are currently being coached by the same coach. This coach has won a national award for her dedication to the development of swimming and numerous other awards from the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association and the National Sports Commission over the years. This year strange movements were made to ensure that she was not given an opportunity to continue coaching the swimmers, and as of yesterday another coach has taken over the coaching for the next three weeks and travel to the Olympic Games.

Firstly, such a decision should not be decided upon emotion or personality especially since the coach being side-stepped is of high regard and has very high moral standards; it should be decided based on preestablished criteria. To put such technical decisions to the hands of an Executive Committee (Council) with less than fifty percent of persons with no technical knowledge of swimming as a sport and even less in coaching issues (which includes the President) is a dreadful mistake.

Politics as you know is highly entrenched in sport in Guyana and it is partly for that reason that I am no longer a part of the administration of swimming; long gone are the days when the Swimming association would win awards at the prestigious annual National Sports Awards.

As immediate past Vice President (Technical) I warned the President of GASA that putting such a biased system of Coach Selection in place would create a terrible precedent in Coach Selection. I went on to advise him that while I was Vice President (Technical) I impressed on the importance of the national team’s Head Coach being from the club from which the most swimmers were selected to the national team. If there is need for an Assistant Coach then that should come from the club producing the second highest number of swimmers. This is the most unbiased means of making the selection of a National Coach.

Furthermore, the Technical Committee should be able to make a recommendation of just one person be the Coach. But in this situation the person who wants to travel is also in charge of the Technical Committee.

Ultimately, GASA has allowed a Coach to travel with swimmers who he has never trained for a prolonged period. This will cause certain decisions regarding the planning, training, meals, medication and therapy, massage, activity and rest during the competition to be the taken without properly knowing the individual swimmers.

Sports Administration and Coaching are much more than getting your turn to take a trip; it is hard work which takes much time and dedication especially at the international level. Parents, coaches and sportspersons need to make those in charge of their sport know that they really serve the sport and not themselves.

“Words can sting like anything, but silence breaks the heart” – Phyllis McGinley.

Thank you for your time and support in the promotion of sport.

Yours in Sport, Nicholas Fraser, BSc Physical Education and Sport Specialist

School Coaches, Managers should be sanctioned heavily in Digicel C/ships DEAR SPORT EDITOR, Over a two week period hardly a day went by without a school on the losing end, lodging a protest about its opponent fielding / playing an over age player, with the end result after an investigation a loss by default. How dishonest by some coaches and management!

Editor, when youngsters at such a tender age (Under-17) can be taught how to cheat, instead of the intricacies of the game.

May I, enquire where is the sport and its development heading? Isn’t it a burning shame that the Corporate sponsor Digicel’s image for its good deed is being rewarded with a host of negative attributes publicly?

More so, at school level, and most shockingly the most senior Secondary School in the country, Queens College! But what of the competition’s coordinator? Did the individual specify that with each registration form a photocopy of the player’s birth certificate is attached?

Which can be eventually verified with the school records, via the principal, at least (2) two weeks prior to kick-off?

Any other mechanism outside the ambits of the afore-mentioned is conducive to improper administrative capabilities, of which an immediate review is necessary. In 1990 Regional powerhouse of CONCACAF, Mexico, received a ban from FIFA, for fielding over-age players in a Youth World Cup. Such was the severity of the ban that the country couldn’t have participated in any

competition, under the auspicies of the sport’s governing body! Mexico was disqualified from the 1990 FIFA World Cup (and any other international competition).

The punishment originally was only going to be applied to the FIFA World Youth team and not the World Cup or Olympic Games team, but the penalty was applied to all Mexican national representative teams of all FIFA sanctioned tournaments.

Finally, the method utilized for verification of the player’s correct age wasn’t written documentation, but rather scientific, testing of the teeth/bone structure! While I doubt that in my lifetime our football would be so developed.

Sir, I, must remonstrate that of all places a school would have within its records more than one source of verifying the true and correct age of its students, i.e. birth certificate and immunization card, in comparison to a club.

And knowing some youngsters, even before a game starts they would say” Sir I know him he’s not an Under-17, we play in the same club”!

So my serious point of contention is that officials who promote and condone the malpractice of cheating should be debarred from further involvement in the sport for a significant period of time.

“Fair Play Always, for the Good of the Game and Love of the World” Lester Sealey

Friday July 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 35

Sri Lanka end series Wiggins and Froome fill top Rolland leads drought with drawn Test two places the- Pierre way in the mountains

British riders Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome occupy the top two places in the Tour de France after an excellent day for Team Sky on stage 11. Wiggins leads by just over two minutes from team-mate Froome after defending champion Cadel Evans cracked on the final climb to slip to fourth.

Vincenzo Nibali, who attacked on the climb to La Toussuire but was hauled in

by Sky, climbed to third overall. The stage was won

by Pierre Rolland, the last survivor of an early attack.

Wiggins admitted to a feeling of relief after keeping hold of the yellow jersey on a punishing day in the mountains that saw the riders negotiate two hors categorie climbs and an 18km climb to the summit finish.

Sky were happy to let a large group of more than 20 riders, that included Rolland, go clear early on in the race as it did not contain any contenders for the overall lead. Behind the escapees however, the British-based team fought off several attacks by contenders for the yellow jersey on a gripping day’s racing over 148km between Albertville and La Toussuire in the Alps.

Several of the riders lying behind Wiggins in the general classification had promised to attack, and defending champion Evans knew he had to take time out of the Sky man, who is a superior time trailer, in the high mountains if he is to defend his title.

And the Australian was first to try his luck, launching his attack with just over 62km remaining on the second of

Pierre Rolland celebrates winning the 11th stage.

Peter Dejong, AP Photo the hors categorie climbs, the Col de la Croix de Fer. He linked up with BMC team-mate Tejay van Garderen but, with Sky’s Michael Rogers maintaining a good tempo on the front, the pair were never able to gain more than 20 seconds and were reeled in after only a few kilometres.

It was the last danger posed by Evans and it was Vincenzo Nibali who ended up being the biggest threat on the day. The Liquigas rider attacked early on the final climb, joining a breakaway that also included the highlyplaced van den Broeck.

Sky workhorses Rogers and then Richie Porte fell by the wayside as they tried to lead Wiggins back to his rivals, and it was left to Froome to protect his leader.

The Kenyan-born Briton duly dragged Wiggins back to Nibali and Jurgen Van den Broeck, dropping Evans in the process.

Froome even attacked and dropped the others, but when Wiggins immediately

floundered he was instructed over the team radio to slow his pace and the group reformed.

Rolland, who crashed on a descent earlier in the race, held on to win, with Froome edged out by Thibaut Pinot for second, 55 seconds back, while Wiggins crossed the line with Nibali, a further two seconds behind in sixth.

Evans, paced by his young team-mate Van Garderen, came in almost 90 seconds later to seriously dent his chances of repeating last year’s victory.

Wiggins is two minutes and five seconds ahead of Froome, with Italian Nibali a further 18 seconds back in third.

Australia’s Evans is now three minutes and 19 seconds behind the leader, while Belgium’s van den Broeck has climbed into the top five but is nearly five minutes off the pace. The race stays in the Alps on Friday (today) with a 226km ride from Saint-JeanDe-Maurienne to Annonay Davezieux. (BBC Sport)

Sri Lanka won their first Test series in three years after the third and final match against Pakistan ended in a thrilling draw in Pallekele on Thursday. The hosts made a brave bid to chase down a target of 270, reaching 132-2 by tea on the fifth day, before they were pegged back by a three-wicket burst from offspinner Saeed Ajmal.

Dinesh Chandimal scored 65 and the prolific Kumar Sangakkara returned unbeaten on 74 as Sri Lanka made 195-4 before the game was called off with nine overs remaining at the Pallekele International Stadium.

The 1-0 scoreline following a 209-run victory in the first Test in Galle - was Sri Lanka’s first Test series win since beating New Zealand 20 at home in 2009. The rainhit second Test in Colombo was drawn, while the entire second day’s play in Pallekele had been washed out.

Jayawardene defended his decision to give up the chase after the fall of the fourth wicket, saying it was not worth risking the 1-0 lead they had in the series.

“The mindset was to win, but it was only in the last hour-and-a-half that we decided to close shop,” he said. “We did not want to take too many risks since we were 1-0 up in the series.”

Pakistan Captain Misbahul Haq said he was surprised when Sri Lanka abandoned the chase, but conceded that getting 270 runs in 71 overs would not have been easy.

“I thought we were safe when we gave them a big target, but they started really well and it got us worried a bit,” he said. “But I was

Sri Lanka ends drought surprised when they gave up in the end.”

Misbah said the 1-0 loss was not a fair result since his team could have won both the last two Tests, but preferred to dwell on the positives.

“A loss is a loss, but we were unlucky not to win a game,” he said. “I am happy with the way the team bounced back after the loss in Galle.

“We have real good talent in the side like (Asad) Shafiq, Azhar (Ali) and Junaid Khan.

But if there is an area we need to improve, it is our fielding and catching.” Shafiq remained unbeaten on 100 as Pakistan declared their second innings at 380-8 halfan-hour before lunch to

WADA President issues pre-Olympic warning to doping athletes Montreal – World AntiDoping President John Fahey has called on athletes who are doping to withdraw from their national teams and stay away from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

With less than three weeks to the opening ceremony of London 2012, Mr. Fahey has taken the opportunity to highlight the rights of all clean athletes to compete on a level playing field and to gain due reward for their hard work and natural talent.

“I say this in the clearest way possible: if you are a doping athlete and you are planning to compete in London then you must withdraw from your Olympic team,” said Mr. Fahey.

“Doping is cheating, plain

and simple. And if you compete in London as a doped athlete then not only will you be cheating your fellow athletes, you will be cheating sports fans across the world, doing a disservice to your national flag and flouting the ideals of the Olympic Movement.

“A doping athlete cannot achieve success, it is a complete contradiction.

Even if a doping athlete were to win a medal he or she would never be able to look at themselves in the mirror and say ‘well done, I deserved this’.

“The Olympic Games is the absolute pinnacle for many athletes and for them to train endlessly over a fouryear period and then have their efforts belittled by a doping athlete, to me that is

complete and utter betrayal of what sport stands for.”

Mr. Fahey also applauded the efforts of the world’s antidoping community in trying to identify doping athletes ahead of the Games, as well as the International Olympic Committee and Games organisers LOCOG for preparing a comprehensive anti-doping program.

“These will be the most tested Games in Olympic history and doping athletes must know that they will be under the severe scrutiny of antidoping officials from the moment they set foot in the Olympic Village,” added Mr. Fahey.

“The IOC and LOCOG have prepared an extensive anti-doping programme that will analyse up to 6,250

samples while the anti-doping authorities are already sharing intelligence to assist with target testing of athletes under suspicion.

“I should also add that UK Anti-Doping is mandated to test athletes in training camps ahead of the Games and has also compiled much intelligence with the cooperation of anti-doping organizations worldwide.

“There has been a coherent effort to make London 2012 as ‘clean’ as possible and doping athletes should know that their chances of avoiding detection are the smallest they have ever been.”

Despite the work of the world’s anti-doping community, Mr. Fahey stressed that ultimate responsibility lay with

athletes as to how free of doping London 2012 will be.

“Athletes are responsible for what they put into their bodies and athletes are responsible for whether or not they choose to dope,” added Mr. Fahey.

“The world’s anti-doping community can only do so much. If every athlete decides not to dope then we will have a completely dope-free Games, that’s the simple reality.

“It is up to the athletes and I urge them to collectively take more responsibility for the sake of clean competition.”

Mr. Fahey will be available for further comment at WADA’s pre-Olympic press conference in the Olympic Park at 14:00 on July 25.

attempt a series-levelling win.

But the tourists were thwarted by a pitch that eased out under the hot sun and a determined effort by the home team’s batsmen in front of some 1,000 spectators.

Openers Tharanga Paranavitana and Chandimal gave Sri Lanka a bright start with a 44-run partnership by the 10th over.

Chandimal, a last-minute inclusion for the match after Tillakaratne Dilshan opted out due to health worries in his family, anchored the innings at the start. The 22year-old’s third half-century in four Tests contained fluent strokes on both sides of the wicket, including eight boundaries.

Sangakkara, who made an unbeaten 199 in the first Test and 192 in the second, was named the player of the series.

Shafiq was adjudged the man of the match for his topscore of 75 in the first innings and an unbeaten century in the second. (AFP)

CFU U-20...

From page 36 Grenadines vs. Suriname, 7:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)

Friday, August 10 Suriname vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 5:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)

St. Vincent & the Grenadines vs. Guyana, 7:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)

Sunday, August 12 Guyana vs. Suriname, 5:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)

St. Vincent & the Grenadines vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 7:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)

Page 36

Kaieteur News

Friday July 13, 2012

‘Serious off Roaders’ offers support as GASP CFU U-20 qualifying continues preparation for Caribbean tourney schedules set As the Caribbean Scrabble Championship looms, local word formers have intensified training activities with an aim of capturing the team title that has eluded them for so long.

This tournament is scheduled to get underway at the Bank of Guyana Sports Club on August 23 - 26 next and apart from engaging in rigid training sessions, local players are working to accrue the required funds of $1.2M dollars to host the tournament.

Yesterday morning the players hit pay dirt when

Serious off Roaders, authorised distributors of ARB 4x4 accessories, 83 Tremniranjan Place Prashad Nagar, acquiesced to a sponsorship package of one hundred thousand dollars.

Financial Consultant of that company, Gavin Ramsoondar, handed over the cheque to Executive of the GASP, Colin Chichester in the presence of National Scrabble champion, Abigail McDonald and top seed, Moen Gafoor, at his company’s office.

Mr. Ramsoondar said that officials of his organisation are cognizant of the benefits

that could be derived from participation in the sport and pledged continued support to the word formers.

Mr. Chichester spoke on behalf of GASP and relayed his gratitude to his benefactor.

He also beseeched the support of other members of the corporate community in assisting towards the acquisition of funding for the competition.

Meanwhile, senior players are urged to attend practice sessions at the Malteenoes Sports Club on Thursdays at 18:00hrs to enhance the local

team’s chances of winning the tournament.

Eight players will be selected to comprise the local team in its bid to upset reigning team champions, Trinidad and Tobago which is expected to field a strong contingent.

The Bajans are also a tough bunch and are expected to add to the competitiveness of the tournament. Former national champion, Fred Collins is currently the Caribbean individual champion and he is keen on retaining that accolade.

Registration set to commence Registration forms are expected to pour in from every corner of Guyana as players put together their best combos to have the best chance of bouncing away with the largest cash prize basketball has ever offered in any format of the game in Guyana.

Don’t guess! I am talking about the Mackeson Smooth Moves 3-on-3 Basketball Championships that has returned with a cash prize of $1M winner-take-all. The craze has begun as registration is expected to officially open at specific locations across the country.

With six Mackeson caps and the registration form being the entry criteria, teams comprising four players will have a chance to cash in on the ‘milli’. The games will be played for 15 minutes–7½ minutes per half–with a 30second timeout in each half.

A team must consist of four players, with none being under 18 years. Ansa McAl made it clear at the tournament’s launch two weeks ago that the rules will

be reinforced. If any of the competing teams are found guilty of breaching the rules penalties will follow.

The basketball fraternity converged on several communities across Guyana

last year to witness a phenomenon that gripped the sport. It will be no different this year as the Coordinators have been visiting

communities to ensure that facilities are firmly in place.

As was done last year, the tournament committed again to community development with venues that will host games benefiting from upgrades. The tournament goes deeper into the ‘streets’ this time with Ansa McAl extending the event to virgin basketball communities.

The 3-on-3 format is an established International Basketball Federation (FIBA) format. The rules for the format include the fact that each basket from beyond the arc (three-point line) will usually count as two points while other buckets count as one point.

The first team to reach 21 points before the 15-minutes expire will be declared the winner. Those rules will strictly apply to the tournament. Pacesetters ‘A’ cashed in on the whopping prize at the inaugural event last year and will be looking to defend their title.

(Edison Jefford)

- Guyana drawn in Gr. 4 with host SVG, T&T & Suriname Kingston, Jamaica – Guyana has been drawn in Group 4 of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) / CONCACAF Under-20 Championship which will open when Puerto Rico host Barbados and Bermuda faces Haiti on July 25.

Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname will be hotsed by St. Vincent & The Grenadines in Kingstown from August 8–12.

Individual match schedules announced for three of the four groups has Group 3 in Mayaguez concluding on July 29 with Puerto Rico facing Haiti.

Group 2 in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, with Cuba, Aruba and St. Kitts & Nevis will be played July 2630, and Group 1 in Antigua with Grenada, Curacao and Dominica will be played simultaneously with Group 4 August 8-12.

The CFU originally announced that all four groups would be played July 23-31. The four group winners along with the best runner-up will advance to a final round of qualifying with host Jamaica November 3-11.

Five of the six teams from the final round of Caribbean qualifying will advance to the CONCACAF championship in Puebla, Mexico, February 18March 2.

The Guyana Football Federation through its Technical Department had run off an Inter Association tournament and subsequently selected a training squad. The squad held a fitness evaluation session last weekend.

CONCACAF Under-20 Championship Caribbean Qualifying All Time U.S. Eastern (local times in parentheses) FIRST ROUND Group 1 At Jamaica Schedule TBA Group 2 At San Cristobal, Dominican Republic Thursday, July 26 Cuba vs. Aruba, 2 p.m. (2 p.m.)

Dominican Republic vs. St. Kitts and Nevis, 4 p.m. (4 p.m.)

Saturday, July 28 St. Kitts and Nevis vs.

Cuba, 2 p.m. (2 p.m.)

Dominican Republic vs.

Aruba, 4 p.m. (4 p.m.)

Monday, July 30 Aruba vs. St. Kitts and Nevis, 2 p.m. (2 p.m.)

Dominican Republic vs.

Cuba, 4 p.m. (4 p.m.)

Group 3 At Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Wednesday, July 25 Bermuda vs. Haiti, 6 p.m. (6 p.m.)

Puerto Rico vs. Barbados, 9 p.m. (9 p.m.)

Friday, July 27 Haiti vs. Barbados, 6 p.m. (6 p.m.)

Puerto Rico vs. Bermuda, 9 p.m. (9 p.m.)

Sunday, July 29 Barbados vs. Bermuda, 6 p.m. (6 p.m.)

Puerto Rico vs. Haiti, 9 p.m.

(9 p.m.)

Group 4 At Kingstown, St. Vincent Wednesday, August 8 Trinidad & Tobago vs.

Guyana, 5:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)

St. Vincent & the (Continued on page 35)

Saudi Arabian women to compete “Teach them Young” TT Camp begins Monday

The National Sports Commission (NSC) in collaboration with Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) will host a “Teach Them Young” Table Tennis Training Camp for children 18 years and under at the Cliff Anderson Sport Hall starting on Monday.

The Camp will run for five weeks and is expected to develop and improve the level of table tennis; to help children with the basic skills; to help children to be better prepared for future tournaments; to increase the number of participants

involved in table tennis; create an integrated coaching programme that incorporates the coach’s education and generally develop players.

During the past years the camp has brought to the fore some of the top cadet, junior and finally, senior players in the country.

Participants are asked to be at the venue fifteen 15 minutes before starting time.

Interested participants are asked to call Linden Johnson on 621 7630; the Coaching Staff will include ITTF Level I Coaches among others.

Saudi Arabia is to send two female athletes to complete in the London 2012 Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said. Sarah Attar will compete in the 800m and Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani in the judo competition.

The Saudi authorities lifted a ban on women from the Gulf kingdom competing in the Games last month. The public participation of women in sport is still fiercely opposed by many Saudi religious conservatives.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said it was “very positive news” and “an encouraging evolution”. “I

am pleased to see that our continued dialogue has come to fruition,” he said in a statement.

The IOC, keen to ensure “gender balance” at the Games, had been speaking to the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee about the issue.

Speaking from her training base in the US, Sarah Attar said: “It’s such a huge honour and I hope that it can really make some big strides for women over there to get more involved in sport.”

‘DIGNITY’ The inclusion of the Saudi women means that, for the first time in the history of the Games, there will be a female entrant from every

competing nation. Female athletes from Qatar and Brunei are also due to attend for the first time.

Brunei’s Maziah Mahusin will complete in the athletics, while Qatar has entered athletes into the swimming (Nada Arkaji), athletics (Noor al-Malki), table tennis (Aya Magdy) and shooting (Bahiya al-Hamad).

Bahiya al-Hamad is also set to carry the Qatari flag at the opening ceremony, in what she said was a “truly historic moment”. New Yorkbased Human Rights Watch said the inclusion of Saudi women was a step forward.

“It’s an important precedent that will create

space for women to get rights, and it will be hard for Saudi hardliners to roll back”, the organisation’s Minky Worden said.

There is almost no public tradition of women participating in sport in Saudi Arabia, and officials have found it difficult to find athletes who could meet the minimum criteria for competing. Officials have also said that female competitors will need to dress in such a way as “to preserve their dignity”.

This is likely to mean loose-fitting garments and a scarf covering the hair but not the face.

(BBC News Middle East)

Friday July 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Ade-Thomas still short of $$$ for Dolphin Secondary win C&R Smyth Street football title 10th NAPF Regionals - GAPF The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) while trying its utmost to raise the required funds to have its premier athletes bring more glory to Guyana, is still short of funds to in the first instance enable Commonwealth deadlift record holder Anis AdeThomas attend the 10th Annual International Powerlifting Federation/ NAPF NorthAmerican Regional Powerlifting Championships set for Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, July 24 – 28, 2012.

The GAPF on Sunday last held a fund raising bar-b-que that was successful.

Previous articles highlighting the plight of another premier lifter, Vijai Rahim who has been encountering difficulty in getting time off with pay from his employer Guysuco bore fruit when the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club took up the challenge to assist Rahim to ensure he can train for the South American Championships in Columbia, August 15 -20, 2012.

Rahim, who will be in Columbia along with ‘Big’ John Edwards was the first choice pick for the NAPF Regionals but the lack of support from Guysuco prevented him from representing Guyana; the GAPF then picked AdeThomas top replace him {Rahim}.

Ade-Thomas, like Rahim, hails from the Ancient County of Berbice and is a member of the Total Fitness Gym located at Corriverton. The 23-yearold lifter is the current Commonwealth deadlift (292.5 kg) record holder in the 83kg class.

While he has replaced Rahim, Ade-Thomas he is still

- needs $190,000 to cover airfare Anis Ade-Thomas

in need of assistance to attend and according to the GAPF, he is short of G$190,000 which is the cost for his airfare.

A d e - T h o m a s actually pipped Rahim for best lifter (junior) overall award tallying 455 points to Rahim’s 451. He is coached by Egbert Jackson, a tireless and dedicated trainer who has produced a number of outstanding lifters.

FOLLOWINGARE SOME STATS ON ANIS ADE-THOMAS International Record 83kg weight class 2010 - Gold Medalist Men Juniors (<23) Caribbean Championships - Guyana 2012 - Gold Medalist Men Juniors (<23) Caribbean Championships - USVI 2012 - Best lifter (Men Juniors) Overall Title Caribbean C/Ships - USVI (edged Rahim 455.55 Wilkes points to 451.11).

Caribbean Record Holder (Men Juniors) - Squat 252.5kgs / Deadlift 292.5kgs /

Total 672.5kgs Commonwealth Record Holder - Dead lift 292.5kgs in the 83kg weight class - Junior category.

Ade-Thomas is expected to place in the top three among the best lifters in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

What is interesting to note is the fact that the current Caribbean and Commonwealth deadlift record of 292.5kg (held by Ade-Thomas) exceeds the Current North American and Central American record of 265kgs.

This will be Ade-Thomas’ final year at the as a junior and he is aiming to go out with a bang by destroying all and sundry in the Cayman Islands.

Any company or individual wishing to assist Anis Ade-Thomas and Vijay Rahim can do so by contacting the Secretary of President of the GAPF or call 619 5725.

Cuba, Haiti advance in U-17 qualifying Host nations Cuba and Haiti became the first teams to advance in Caribbean qualifying for the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship, both posting wins Monday to clinch firstround group titles and berths in the CFU finals.

Yorjandy Samonte scored two goals, giving him four in three games, and goalkeeper Yurisbel Ramirez posted his third shutout in five days to lead Cuba past Puerto Rico 20 in Havana’s Estadio Pedro Marrero. It was Cuba’s third win in as many matches and finished it with nine points atop Group 2.

Puerto Rico, which ended Monday’s match with 10 players after Gustavo

Chamorro was ejected with his second yellow card in the 76th minute, was five points back in second, two ahead of Aruba and three better than Bahamas.

Likewise in Port-auPrince, Haiti, Jean Derival also scored twice - his third and fourth goals in three games to lift Haiti past the Dominican Republic 3-1. Derival also scored in Haiti’s 3-0 win over St. Lucia on Thursday and in its 4-1 victory over Curacao on Saturday.

Jonel Desire was Haiti’s other scoring hero through the first round, tallying two against St. Lucia and three more against Curacao. Haiti also finished with nine points, atop Group 3, five better than

both the Dominican Republic and Curacao. St. Lucia lost all three games.

Cuba and Haiti will await the winners of the other three groups, along with the best second-place team from all five groups, in a final round August 19-30 at a venue yet to be selected to determine the Caribbean’s five berths in April’s CONCACAF championship.

Group 1 with Antigua, Jamaica and Bermuda begins play on Wednesday, with Group 4 involving the British Virgin Islands, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago set for July 24-26, and Group 5 pitting Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis and the U.S. Virgin Islands to play July 29 - August 2.

Co-Director of C&R Promotions, Rodrick Gordon (left) pose with the winning DreamWorks Photo Studio-sponsored Dolphin Secondary School following their win in the Smyth Street Football Championships.

DreamWorks Photo Studio-sponsored Dolphin Secondary School won the inaugural C&R Promotions Smyth Street Football competition last weekend when they defeated Cellpoint Tsunami (St Mary’s High) on penalty kicks following a 0-0 deadlock.

Dolphin Secondary defeated Mark Interior Communications-sponsored Central High School 2-0 to advance to the finals. Randolph Wagner scored both goals for Dolphin Secondary. Cellpoint Tsunami got a free pass

to the finals after Wayne’s Beverages Warriors did not show up for the competition. The M.V.P of the tournament was Randolph Wagner, who received a cell phone, compliments of Cellpoint.

Dave Singh, Manager of the Cellpoint, commended the organisers for hosting such a tournament and committed to greater sponsorship next year. Organisers, Roderick Gordon and Colin Haynes thanked Cellpoint and other sponsors for their support.

Maybe a gold or silver for Baird - Daphness disqualified from 200m heats Guyana will taste glory on the global stage again today once overseas-based quarter mile athlete Kadeacia Baird is able to execute a brilliant 400 meter race in the finals at the 14th IAAF World Junior Championship in Barcelona, Spain which is set for 20:30 hrs (Barcelona time).

The competition which is being conducted at the Montjuic Olympic Stadium saw Baird finishing second in her heat after blasting around the 400 meter track in 52.40 seconds in the semis.

Winning the heat was Erika Rucker of the USA in 52.05 seconds, the fastest qualifying time for the 400 meters in the championship.

Analyzing Baird’s performance from the various rounds especially the semi finals, it is more than likely that the athlete can clinch one of the three podium spots for Guyana.

Entering the Championship with personal best time of 52.14 seconds, Baird will be in for the run for her life when the race commences against the other athletes that will be gunning to grab the gold medal.

Kadeacia Baird

Baird who is assigned to lane four for the finals, main competitors for the race will be Ruker who will be running out of lane three and USA’s Ashley Spencer (lane five) who clocked 52.24 in her semi final heat.

Other athletes that qualified for the race are Justine Palframan (52.65 seconds), Chrisann Gordon (52.70 seconds), Shaunae Miller (52.75 seconds), Bianca Razor (52.87 seconds) and Olivia James (52.71 seconds).

Another overseas based athlete, Sheniece Daphness was disqualified from the Women’s 200 meters heat (four) from lane six; Olivia Erpone won the heat with 23.49 seconds.

Daphness has a personal best time of 24.49 seconds in the event which was achieved in Auburn, Alabama, United States.

Stephan James who failed to qualify for the 400m final was won by Luquelin Santos in 44.85 seconds, Arman Hall was second in 45.39 seconds as Steven Solomon secured the final podium position with 45.52 seconds.

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 13, 2012

Coach Estwick confident Windies can RCB players in the win ICC Under-19 World Cup 2012 lurch over payments St. John’s, Antigua - The West Indies Under-19s are mentally and physically prepared for what will be a “tough tour of duty” at the International Cricket Council’s Under-19 World Cup in Australia next month.

Head Coach Roddy Estwick knows his players well and backed them to win the tournament for the first time in West Indies history.

“We have a very good group of young men and I’m very confident that they will do well for the West Indies in this tournament. The team has been together for more than a year now and they work well together,” Estwick said.

“We did well in the tour of Dubai last year [against Australia], battled hard in India and were dominant when we played in the United States. We had a very good camp in Barbados over Easter at the Sagicor HPC and everyone has come back refreshed and ready for the big assignment in Australia.”

Estwick added: “So far our preparations have been spot on and I’m happy with the level of development among the players. We will be flying out (to Australia) early to have another camp where we will get the opportunity to get into the nets again and have some games against local opposition.

“This is a very good move as we will make maximum use of the time we have in Brisbane before the World Cup starts. As a team we have never played in Australia before, so it’s crucial that we make the most use of the time in the camp. A crucial part of

Roddy Estwick

Amir Khan

winning is preparation and we are going to Australia to win, so we must be well prepared.

“In the bowling, we will be focusing on cutting down the ‘big’ overs. We will also have to work on scoring against the spinners — we realised our ‘dot’ ball count is quite high against the slow bowlers and we need to decrease that. We hit a lot of boundaries but we need to look at accumulating the ones and twos.”

Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite has been named Captain of the team with his left-handed opening partner John Campbell as Vice Captain. The other opener in the squad is Keiron Joseph, a small right-hander.

The middle-order is strong with left-handers Anthony Alleyne and Akeal Hosein; stylish right-hander Kavem Hodge; as well as reserve wicket-keeper Sunil Ambris and first-choice keeper Seven Katwaroo.

The team includes two fast bowling all-rounders — the hard-hitting Kyle Mayers and the hardworking Justin

Greaves. There are also three specialist quick bowlers — Marquino Mindley, left-armer Jerome Jones, and Ronsford Beaton, the loose-limbed sixfooter.

The squad is rounded off with two specialist spinners – Amir Khan, who bowls legbreaks and googlies; and the ambidextrous Derone Davis, who bowls left-arm orthodox.

Estwick has worked at the developmental level in West Indies cricket for over a decade, and was Assistant Coach when the Windies placed third in the last World Cup in New Zealand two years ago. He expressed confidence that the batting will deliver and added that he is “excited” about the young fast-bowling prospects.

“We have an experienced batting line-up, a number of players who have done well at the Regional Under-19 level. Kraigg has played Test cricket with some success and John is also a good player.

They opened together in the last World Cup two years ago, so they will be able to share their knowledge with the others in the team,” said Estwick.

“I’m really excited by our

pace bowling department, we have a good crop. Beaton had a good Regional Four-day Tournament for Guyana and Jones bowled really well for Barbados in the recent Under17 Tournament. Mindley swings the ball both ways and forced his way into the squad with his brilliant bowling in the camp.

We also have Greaves and Mayers, who bowl well and can also provide valuable runs in the middle-order.”

The West Indies team departs from Barbados on Tuesday, July 17. The ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup will be played in Townsville, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast in Queensland from August 12 to 26. West Indies have been drawn in Group C alongside India, Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea in the 16-team biennial event.

FULL SQUAD: Kraigg Brathwaite - Captain (Barbados), John Campbell Vice Captain, Jamaica), Anthony Alleyne (Barbados), Justin Greaves (Barbados), Jerome Jones (Barbados), Kyle Mayers (Barbados), Kavem Hodge (Dominica/ Windwards), Ronsford Beaton (Guyana), Amir Khan (Guyana), Marquino Mindley (Jamaica), Sunil Ambris Wicket-keeper (St. Vincent/ Windwards), Derone Davis (Trinidad & Tobago), Steven Katwaroo - Wicket-keeper (Trinidad & Tobago), Akeal Hosein (Trinidad & Tobago), Keiron Joseph (Trinidad & Tobago).

Team Management: Courtney Walsh (Team Manager), Roddy Estwick (Head Coach), Stuart Williams (Assistant Coach), Janel Springer (Physiotherapist), Ronald Rogers (Trainer).

Executives of the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) remain resolute that emphasis must be placed on the nursery if the sport is to develop appreciably. It was with this belief in mind that they have planned a tournament for beginners at the Maltenoes Sports Club, Sunday July 15 next.

This competition is sponsored by Auto Tech Car Rentals and persons that have played in no more than 5 rated competitions are eligible to participate. The tournament forms a part of the developmental and awareness programme of GASP officials as they attempt

to introduce the sport to the schools and communities.

Officials of the GASP Executive committee are encouraging students from Primary and Secondary Schools to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance their vocabulary while participating in the tournament which is also enjoyable and fun filled.

A special registration fee of $300 will be collected during registration period starting at 12:45hrs while the first tile will be moved at 13:00hrs sharp. The top three finishers will win trophies donated by the corporate community.

Stag Beer/WDFA Senior League...

Goed Fortuin clip Eagles Simon Pures on show as 3-0; Young Achievers upset Uitvlugt Warriors GASP stages Novice c/ships Four potentially exciting matches are expected to be played over the weekend when action in the West Demerara Football Association / Stag Beer Senior League continues at the Den Amstel Community Center Ground.

In the first encounter slated for 14:00hrs tomorrow, Den Amstel will oppose Wales while Uitvlugt tackles Eagles starting at 16:00hrs.

Activities continue on Sunday when Young Achievers and Nimes/ Bagotsville throw down the gauntlet at 14:00hrs while Seawalls and Beavers clash in the feature attraction two

hours later.

Meanwhile, two matches were contested over the past weekend and Beavers of Goed Fortuin prevailed over Eagles of Stewartville 3-0.

This was just before Dexroy Adams and Sherwin McIntyre breached the defense of Uitvulgt Warriors goalie in the 34th and 79th minute respectively, to lead Young Achievers to a 2-0 victory.

The tournament commenced on June 3 last and fans have been entertained with several action packed matches that have served as the indicator of the impending thrilling encounters.

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori © AFP

Several leading India and overseas players contracted to Royal Challengers Bangalore, including team captain Daniel Vettori, are awaiting the first instalment of their fees for the 2012 season. Australia allrounder Andrew McDonald is believed to be another player who has not been paid, along with some members of the support staff.

Though this is the first season that Royal Challengers have delayed on payments on this scale, the players affected are concerned by the lack of response from franchise officials to their queries. The news comes at a time when the Bangladesh Premier League is in the headlines for non-payment of salaries to its overseas players.

Franchise officials, including team director Siddhartha Mallya, did not respond to repeated requests over several days by ESPNcricinfo for comments on the issue.

The development coincides with the welldocumented financial difficulties being faced by the UB group, the franchise owners. Royal Challengers Bangalore is owned by businessman Vijay Mallya through UB Sports Pvt Ltd, a group subsidiary.

In recent months, Mallya’s airline, Kingfisher Airlines, has been found to be in debt of $1.3b. Recent rumours of the sale of the team’s stake have been denied by the UB Group, with a spokesman saying: “There is no question of a stake sale in the Royal Challengers Bangalore team.”

The players affected include those from India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. It is believed that Chris Gayle, though, has been paid his contracted amount. “Gayle is looked after separately,” a Royal Challengers player said.

Under every identical tripartite IPL contract, signed between the player, the franchise and the IPL, clause

1.a.i (which covers the schedule of payments) spells out the payment break-up: the player receives 15% of his fee for the season by April 1 (before the IPL or early into it), 50% by May 1 (during the IPL or towards its end), 20% after the Champions League T20 and the remaining 15%

by December 1. As of today, Royal Challengers has not met this schedule, with several players still owed 65% of the fee owed to them, nor has it provided any explanation for the delay. It is understood the players emailed the management after the season finished in May, but did not receive a straightforward response.

Heath Mills, the chief of the New Zealand Players Cricket Association (NZPCA), said he’d heard about the delay from Vettori on Monday.

“It’s disappointing that some of the players have not been paid to date. We hope they are paid before this issue becomes more serious. It really isn’t right that people are not paid for work they have already completed, and I can’t imagine anyone in any workplace environment being overly happy about that.”

“Nobody has come back to us, to let us know what is going on,” a player said, under the condition of anonymity. “The people, at the moment, are in the dark.

Normally there are one or two cases of delayed payments that we have seen in the previous seasons.”

Some players are known to have written even to the Royal Challengers’ head coach Ray Jennings, who was unavailable for comment.

The players just want to know what the problem is; a clear response will leave them much more comfortable.

“There must be a problem.

But I need to have awareness of the problem,” another player said. “We are adult enough to understand if there is a problem, that is fine, but we have to see how we resolve the issue from here.”

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Friday July 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 39

Region 2 RDC rewards Beaton for WI U-19 call up Guyana and Essequibo cricketer Ronsford Beaton has been recognised by the Region Two RDC for his recent selection to the West Indies team that will contest the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Australia.

The 19 year-old Beaton, an exciting fast bowler from the Cinderella County was complimented for his

progressive and outstanding contributions to the sport and for standing out as a son of the Cinderella County.

He was presented with a token and trophy by the Region Two Administration on Wednesday last at the Regional Statutory meeting.

Whilst acknowledging the gesture by the Regional Administration in

having represented Guyana at the First Class level before. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being the lone Essequibian on the team I am

GCA call off weekend matches

Ronsford Beaton

The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) wishes to advise that all of its matches in the Carib Beer/Friends Of Cricket Heroes Cup First Division and NBS 40 overs Second Division tournaments scheduled this Saturday and Sunday have been postponed due to the heavy rainfall being experienced presently.

recognising his contributions, Beaton stated that the upcoming tour to Australia next month should not be too hard a task since he is an experienced player

going to do my best to make both Essequibo and Guyana proud.â&#x20AC;?

Beaton started playing

cricket at the age of 16 moving on to represent Guyana at the Under-17, 19 and senior levels.

t r o Sp ‘Serious off Roaders’ offers support as GASP continues preparation for Caribbean tourney P. 36

Ade-Thomas still short of $$$ for 10th NAPF Regionals - GAPF - needs $190,000 to cover airfare P. 37

Anis Ade Thomas

Financial Consultant of Serious off Roaders, Gavin Ramsoondar (2nd L) hands over the gift to Mr. Chichester while Gafoor (L) and McDonald smile in appreciation.

Maybe a gold or silver for Baird P. 37

- Daphness disqualified from 200m heats

Coach Estwick 38P. confident Windies can win ICC Under-19 World Cup 2012 Dolphin Secondary win C&R Smyth 37P. Street football title

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