Kaieteur News

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July 18, 2012 - Vol. 5 No. 29 Price $80

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Electricity tariff hike…

P. 11

Lindeners gear for five-day shutdown Junkie Heaven!

This dilapidated three-storey house at King Street, New Amsterdam, once occupied by the late Land Court Judge, Johnny O. Persaud, has been stripped clean by junkies. It is now an eyesore and presents imminent danger to passersby.

Porter stabbed to Still no buyer for death at Issano Cacique Palace P. 6

P. 2

Four years after Lindo Creek massacre…

Keeping remains is $33M and counting P. 14

- “Eyewitness” still in protective custody

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Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

Porter stabbed to death at Issano Another brutal murder has occurred in the interior, and this time the victim is a 30-year-old porter who was

slain at 14 Miles, Issano.

Delrick Layne, of Caribisi Hill, Bartica, was stabbed to death at around

0 3 : 3 0 h r s y e s t e r d a y, allegedly during a dispute with two men.

According to reports,

Layne, who works on a truck, was in the area to unload fuel when he became involved in an argument

- suspect held with the men, who inflicted several stab wounds on him.

The motive for the argument is unclear.

Kaieteur News understands that one of the suspects has been detained.

Layne's body was transported to the Bartica Hospital mortuary, while police ranks have been dispatched to the area to conduct investigations.

Hazelyn Thomas, the victim's reputed wife, told Kaieteur News that Layne has been working for over a year on a truck that takes fuel to the area where he was slain. She said that he left home at around 15:00 hrs on Monday, and was due back the following day.

Ms. Thomas said she first learned that something had happened to Layne at around 0 7 : 0 0 h r s y e s t e r d a y.

However, she was initially told that he had been stabbed, but was alive. But she was eventually told that her spouse was dead, and this was confirmed after the body was brought to Bartica.

According to Ms. Thomas, she was told that the men who killed Layne were drinking at the time and are known 'troublemakers'.

The distraught woman

Dead: Delrick Layne said that she had been pleading with her reputed husband to find another job, so he could spend more time with her and their two children, aged seven and five. “Up to yesterday (Monday), I begged him to leave the work, because he was not getting enough time for his family.�

Several murders have occurred in the interior within the past two years as young men head there with the hope of striking it rich in the gold fields.

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Health care services in Imbaimadai almost non-existent The Health Centre

By Abena Rockcliffe With a population of just over 500 persons, Imbaimadai only has two health care workers, and those who reside in the community are calling on the Ministry of Health to put better facilities in place.

Kaieteur News understands that recently, a three-month-old boy identified as Shawn Grant, succumbed to Malaria, as not much could have been done to save his life with the limited medication available there.

The Head Community Health Worker (CHW), Rynette Austin, has been advised to send “serious” patients to Kamarang, which is a relatively lengthy journey by boat from Imbaimadai.

However, although this is the advised procedure, there is no boat allocated to transfer patients to Kamarang - it is dependent upon the availability of privatelyowned boats.

Even though the infant died, no better system has been put in place, as the CHWs there have no direct communication with the Ministry of Health.

Further, according to Austin, the health post hadn’t received any drugs for the entire year of 2011, despite constant requisitions sent to Kamarang.

Even so, this year, after drugs were sent, Austin said that some were expired.

Austin revealed that 5-6 persons visit the health care

The two nurses at the Health Centre daily with symptoms of malaria. She said that the health post only has two drugs to treat the ailment Quinine and Coartem.

However, the Quinine usually has adverse effects, so they try to use Coartem which has fewer side effects. “The Coartem is supplied on a very small scale, even less than the Quinine.”

Austin said that sometimes patients show signs of malaria, but it may not be so “we have no way of knowing, we prescribe only by symptoms”.

Further, Austin revealed that over the 27 years she has been working at that location, she witnessed numerous deaths resulting from snake bites. She recalled that there were at least three deaths last year. The woman said that all that is available to treat snake bites at the health facility is antibiotics.

She said that it is heartrending to witness someone’s life leaving their body and there is nothing that could be done to save him or her.

Health Minister Bheri Ramsaran, recently told Kaieteur News that his Ministry has distributed Especifico - a Brazilian drug used in the treatment of snake bites - to most health centres.

However, he also said that the drug is not distributed in the mining areas because “serious” snake bites are referred to Georgetown Hospital. He claimed that snake bites in the interior are rare and minimum deaths are recorded.

Kaieteur News understands that four persons died last year at Imbaimadai alone.

As if the list of health issues was never-ending, Rynette Austin then showed the table she uses to deliver

babies - a narrow, rusty iron table covered with a table cloth.

The other CHW, Merilyn Austin, said that over a year ago, she requisitioned a mattress that would be placed on the table, but to date none has been approved.

“Even the one mattress we have was donated,” Merilyn Austin lamented.

She said that women who have maternal complications also have to be referred to Kamarang. “Pregnant women have to travel 3-4 hours on water to go to Kamarang.

Also, the foot journey to get to a boat is quite steep.”

This situation does not only apply to the miners who reside there, but also for the Amerindians who live on the “reserve”. “We do the best we can with the little we have.

The people in this community are mostly miners and

The table used as a delivery bed

Amerindians…the bottom line is we are people at the end of the day.”

“Not even condoms we don’t get adequately and people come steady to see if we get.”

The CHW said that she is highly concerned about the lack of condoms in the community. According to her, the miners who are from Georgetown can get access to condoms, but there are indigenous persons who never left the community and therefore “they won’t have access to condoms other than from this health post.”

Merilyn Austin said that as recent as a month ago she had indicated via requisition for condoms “up to now we can’t get it.”

Although tasked with 24hrs on-call, and the only health care representatives in the community, the two nurses are not satisfied with

their salaries.

The women said that one pound of chicken varies between $800- $1000 and one pint of rice costs $300 “with those prices we cannot survive on $ 48,000 a month.”

At a meeting with Guyana Women Miners Organization (GWMO) the residents came to a consensus that the Health Post “needs” to be transformed into a health centre which will mean better facilities, adequate drugs and direct communication with the Ministry of Health. The residents indicated that this is the first time the village had been visited by any organization of that sort.

“This is the first time we ever see media too.”

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Kaieteur News

KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

Editorial

Engineering Reloaded Among the three components of growth, namely, human, natural and physical capitals, the greatest contribution is by human capital, to the tune of up to a staggering sixty-four per cent. In comparison, to quote the World Bank, natural and physical capitals contribute 20% and 16%, respectively.

Indeed, the development of human capital is the primary factor for establishing the direction and pace of national progress and prosperity. Though rich in human resources, compared to many other colonies at the time of independence, Guyana remains underdeveloped to a great extent. The efforts made to augment our human resources in the mid-seventies through the introduction of the “free education” initiative were significant, but soon foundered, not necessarily because of weaknesses in the programme itself, but rather in the collapse of the national economy.

With the change of government in 1992, welcome efforts have been made to revive the development of this most valuable resource, and the government’s expenditure on education has risen significantly. But the hard reality is that we still need to strive to generate a vision for developing human resources in the fast globalizing world in which we are enmeshed.

A case in point is the low base of engineers available at national and international level, in quantitative as well as in qualitative terms. Just consider the Supenaam Stelling fiasco.

For many reasons, there appears to be a lack of will and commitment, which has resulted in declining interest in science in general, and engineering studies in particular at the University of Guyana – our sole tertiary institution. It would be interesting to learn what percentage of our student body is enrolled for engineering degrees.

In our times of changing trends, an engineer’s role is not confined anymore to that of an inventor or creator, but has been extended to that of a contractor, consultant, teacher, manager and other technical professionals. Similarly, the erstwhile traditional branches of civil engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, mining and geological engineering, metallurgical engineering, industrial and manufacturing engineering or agricultural engineering have diversified further.

In fact, the quality of our engineers directly affects the quality of our daily lives — from defence to infrastructure to telecommunications to consumer goods. The recent advancements have thus re-defined the branches of engineering, which now cover all spheres of life and every aspect of society.

In short, an engineer skilfully and optimally manages the resources of human, finance, materials, machines and energy into completed processes, and is also responsible for management planning and business development. Likewise, professional work is no more limited to its design, analysis and/or construction or development of a product. The engineer employs knowledge, expertise and experience to evaluating and solving problems of national economic planning, given the opportunity and resources.

Like the past and the present, the future too belongs to the engineers. The country is faced with new and serious challenges of globalisation and competition, water and power deficiencies, fostering industrialisation, and the need for rapid infrastructure development, thus creating a demand for more highly qualified engineers on par with the newly industrialised and developed countries.

There is a need therefore to address the issues of quality engineering education seriously, ideally through joint efforts of the government policymakers, educational institutions and employers, primarily from industry. To cope with the challenges of the new millennium, with a view to taking the nation higher on the path of progress and prosperity, it is imperative to strengthen and supervise the present system of engineering education.

Since UG does appear otherwise occupied, it is proposed the government establish another organisation, exclusively for extending support to the engineers for continuing their engineering education and creating an effective industryuniversity linkage. This will provide a forum to the engineers for expanding knowledge and skills in respective disciplines, assimilation of new technologies and advancement of careers, through exchange of ideas and viewpoints with the government, educational institutions, industry and media.

The proposed organisation can also encourage the promotion and dissemination of scholarly research work and keep abreast with the global advancements in engineering practices, technology and engineering education.

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Letters... Where your views make the news

You embarrassed the Nation, Mr. President DEAR SIR, I listened to President Ramotar ’s address the CARICOM summit of Heads of State and felt embarrassed to be a Guyanese. Unlike Freddie Kissoon and Imran Khan, both of whom responded to the President’s speech, one in his daily column and the latter by way of a letter published in two national newspapers, I do not blame the speech writers. I would immediately place the blame for this international blunder squarely on the shoulders of his Minister of Sports, Dr Frank Anthony, and his handsomely remunerated advisor on Sports Mr. Clive Lloyd.

The Honourable Minister Frank Anthony is cited on as one of the persons who submitted written contributions to the now famous ‘Patterson Report’ while Mr. Lloyd is cited as one of the many persons consulted during the course of the preparation of this “Governance Committee on West Indies Cricket Report”(dubbed the Patterson Report).

One would expect that President Ramotar consulted with these two gentlemen before making pronouncements like those he made at the summit on the topic of Cricket especially since his administration has spent vast political capital in its attempts to disband the Guyana Cricket Board and lambast the WICB at every opportunity both locally and internationally.

The President basically

made two points that needs to be addressed: Cricket being played in Florida; and Implementation of the Recommendations of the Patterson Report.

Those of us who actually read the ‘Patterson Report” would certainly have a right to be dumbfounded with the uninformed utterances of President Ramoutar since on page 125 the report recommended, in bold letters, that the WICB change its “Mission Statement” to read: “To restore West Indies to the pinnacle of world cricket by achieving excellence in performance and commitment on the field of play, by maintaining the highest possible standards in administering and promoting cricket in the region, by helping to spread the development of the game throughout the AMERICAS and by keeping the West Indies at the cutting edge of other international developments”.

The West Indians in Florida, especially those Guyanese who bought out the venue for Two magnificent days of cricket, should remind Mr. Ramotar about his speech when he comes again for those campaign funds.

Also on page 125 under Conclusion paragraph Two (2), relating to implementation, the report stated: “The report contains recommendations which require a number of decisions to be taken, not only by the WICB and its territorial

Keep your enemies close, but your card even closer DEAR EDITOR, The television programme “Windows to Republic Bank” is a very welcomed initiative

by Republic Bank Ltd that must be commended.

However, it came a little too late for a few of us.

Guyanese are generally a very loving and somewhat naïve people. A few evil elements would have noticed this and decided to cash in on our ignorance. It is my guess that the frequency with which the accounts of persons are being targeted may have served as a stimulus to the creation and airing of this programme.

Electronic banking brings ease and speed of banking and transaction of businesses. However, as with all other advances in technology in our society it comes with its share of risks that many times leave us vulnerable and exposed.

I must emphasize the importance of practising the precautionary measures

highlighted in the television programme. Failing to do so can result in real loss of hard earned money.

To make matters worse it appears as though we are not fully capable of investigating these forms of crime. As a result the wait to know if your account will be replenished could be lengthy.

I would like to suggest the addition of one other component to the various levels of security that already exist. That would be, to have the computer system request the PIN (personal identification number) for every online transaction, as is required when you use the ATM or when using your card in person, before giving access to that account.

Once again I applaud the move by Republic Bank Ltd and at the same time implore the Guyana Police Force to improve their investigative capabilities to bring perpetrators of cyber crimes to justice.

Dane Hartley

boards, but also by Caricom and REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS”.

Maybe this is the right time for President Ramotar to tell the Guyanese people if his administration has implemented any of the Report’s 67 recommendations. I am aware that the WICB has implemented, or are in the process of implementing, about 50.

One particular recommendation comes to mind which the GCB has repeatedly lobbied the PPP administration to implement, recommendation 9: 2 on page 117 states: “Territorial Cricket Boards should seek to get their governments to appoint a cricket master at least in each secondary school and strenuous efforts should be

made to get cricket included in the school curriculum”.

This was adjusted, slightly, as the request from the GCB was always for a games master to be reintroduced at all secondary schools, as existed in the past.

I would not repeat the paragraphs quoted in Khan’s letter since this would further substantiate that if the “president’s men” had read the report it would have saved him and this country much embarrassment.

If President Ramotar continues to be guided by the cabal he inherited, we have not seen the end to these international blunders and I will not comment on the St. Lucian prime minister’s address that refers to corruption and discrimination.

Anand Sanasie

Bitterness in the PNC has resurfaced DEAR EDITOR, The bitterness in the People’s National Congress is resurfacing as there once again seems to be a manhunt for power in that party. During that party’s 2011 congress to elect a presidential candidate I watched as the masses rallied around and supported the party for a wonderful and transparent initiative.

I even watched as Mr. Carl Greenidge suddenly resurrected after Winston Murray’s death and decided to run for presidential Candidate of the PNC. And I also watched his defeat at those said elections of that party.

This brings me now to the question, ‘Why on earth has Mr. Greenidge again decided to challenge David Granger for the leadership of that party? Is it that Mr. Greenidge believes in dusting off and trying again if you don’t succeed? Is it that he is hungry for power or is Mr. Greenidge being led by his nose?’

I am also curious as to whether Mr. Greenidge realizes that he is actually challenging the Office of the Opposition Leader by running against Mr. Granger with whom he should be working along to strengthen APNU – an infant party that is still on shaky ground.

I have also seen the attacks unleashed on Opposition Leader Brigadier David Granger on social sites and newspaper columns. And of course PNC veteran Aubrey Norton never disappoints as he too has added his two cents.

It is clear from a recent letter in this very column that Mr. Norton has used what may have been a slip up by Mr. Granger to attack the man

and question his judgment.

But what Mr. Norton has to realize is that behind every problem in the PNC, there’s Aubrey Norton. In my view, Mr. Norton is bitter and angry from occurrences of years ago and not being sent back to parliament has only added salt to his wounds. Mr. Norton has over the years exposed the PNC’s dirty laundry and he is showing no signs of slowing down until he gets power.

I’m told by sources close to the party that if Mr. Greenidge is elected PNC Leader Mr. Norton will no doubt become the General Secretary and several of the staff members at that party will be placed on the breadline as he is on a path of revenge – and Lord help those who are supporting David Granger for party Leader.

I can recall earlier in this year a letter was published in several newspapers where Mr. Norton launched an attack on not only his own party (PNC), but he went as low as attacking the party’s junior PR Officer Malika Ramsey.

I’m only left to wonder if Ms. Ramsey will be one of those on the bread line should Mr. Greenidge elevate to party leadership.

Finally, I was never a fan of David Granger because I believe it is time for young blood to be exposed; however from seeing the former Brigadier in action since after the 2011 general elections I do believe he is capable of bringing back some decency and respectability to the PNC. I wish him well and trust that he will be elected as leader of the PNC. Suzanna Fredericks

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

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

Some questions for the Government on the police boat DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me to add my own contribution to the issue surrounding the purchase of the boat by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in 2009. We learnt that: (a) the said boat was purchased from Cartonics IV for $16.974 million for among three quotations, the others being Car Mart ($20.286 million) and Rama DBK Ltd. ($18.734 million); (b) the transaction was a corrupt one involving kickbacks to key officials in the GPF; (c) the equipment purchased was not appropriate for the work of the GPF; (d) the concerned officials repaid the kickbacked money which was refunded to the Consolidated Fund; and (e) the item was sold off at an auction. I respectfully wish ask the following questions?

1. Who developed the specifications for the boat as well as the “Engineer’s Estimate”? Who inspected the boat, and at what stage was it found to be unsuitable?

Was there any clause in the sale agreement for the return of the boat if it was not in conformity with the specifications?

2. The Procurement Act 2003 does not apply to items purchased for national defence or national security.

Does this boat fall under this category, and if so, what alternative tender rules were followed to ensure

transparency and best value for money?

3. How did the three entities know of the proposed purchase of the boat? Was there a public advertisement or restricted tendering? If the latter is the case, on what basis were the three entities selected to submit quotations.

I ran a Google check, and I found no evidence of the existence of Cartonics IV. A similar check indicated that the names that came close or were identical to those of the other two entities, deal in automobiles and are operating mainly out of Japan. Did anyone check to ascertain whether the other two quotes were genuine by contacting the suppliers and applying other procedures?

4.

It is standard procurement practice for requisitioners to be prohibited from making contact with any bidder for the supply of the related goods and services.

Why were senior officials of the GPF allowed to make contact with one of the bidders?

5. We are told that the National Procurement and Tender Board (NPTB) recommended to Cabinet that the award be made to Cartonics IV. Why did the NPTB not insist that the procurement be made from reputable supplies? What did it allow the purchase to be made from an intermediate

supplier? Did the NPTB run a check on the background of the three entities? Who were the members of the NPTB that made the recommendation?

I note that the members of the NPTB are to serve for two years. Is there a system of reappointment, and if so, could the Ministry of Finance provide a list of these members and the length of time they have served so far in the NPTB? Is there a system whereby the members of the NPTB become ineligible for re-appointment after serving for, say two terms, as per established practice?

6.

Should not the Minister of Finance, who appoints the members of the NPTB and to whom they report, accept some measure of blame for this corrupt transaction? And what about Cabinet? Is its role merely to rubber stamp the recommendation from NPTB? Should it not have asked the

above questions before offering a “no objection” to the purchase?

7. Finally, what was the role of the Audit Office in all of this? I checked the 2009 Auditor General’s report, and the only comment under the GPF’s capital expenditure was in relation to the rehabilitation of a Police station in Region 1. Before I demitted office, I had left in place a system whereby there is 100 per cent coverage of all of the Government’s capital expenditure programmes.

Previously, the results, whether they reflect negative findings or not, were reported to the National Assembly.

When I returned from the United Nations, I opted for “exception reporting” in the 2003 report on the grounds that “full reporting” would result in a bulky and unwieldy document.

The then Chairman of the PAC, the late Winston Murray, was not happy with this new form of reporting and requested that

the Audit Office revert to its original format.

Judging from the latest reports of the Auditor General, it seems that we are back to “exception reporting”. If that is the case, could the Audit Office indicate what checks were carried out in relation to the purchase of the boat and on what basis was it satisfied that the transaction was in

order?

I do not expect an answer to the effect that the transaction was not checked because it did not fall within the framework of the sample selected. The policy has been to give 100 per coverage of all capital expenditure, and engineers are employed to assist in the effort.

Anand Goolsarran

Unfair competition DEAR EDITOR, I am the Licence owner of a Liquor Restaurant and Bar at Lot 7 Maria’s Lodge, Essequibo Coast. At my place of business I provide employment for myself and two persons on a daily basis. In addition, I also subscribe to all the regulations and laws in relation to operating a liquor restaurant and bar.

But my biggest problem is the constant unfair competition that I have to endure from the so-called bottom house rum shops that operate with impunity in my village.

While I am not afraid of competition I strongly believe that the playing field must be level at all times. I am totally surprised and grossly dissatisfied that despite several reports to the Suddie Police Station and to the Customs Department, no effort, to the best of my knowledge, has been made to ensure these unlicensed places of business cease to operate.

Whitman George

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Still no buyer for Cacique Palace …monies owed to the Consolidated Fund still outstanding - Keith Burrowes

By Gary Eleazar Even as Government is forging ahead to construct a US$50M Georgetown Marriott Hotel, it is still looking for a buyer willing to pay the US$4M to US$5M being sought for the Cacique Palace and Banquet Hall.

This was confirmed yesterday by the Government Official closely associated with the sale, Keith Burrowes. That edifice is located aback of the Princess International Hotel at Providence on the East Bank Demerara, and was supposed to have been completed in time for Cricket World Cup 2007.

Burrowes told this publication that there have been some offers, but nothing close to what the Government is looking to secure.

According to the official, while there are still persons expressing an interest in the incomplete structure, the offers that have been forthcoming are way below par.

He said that the proposals that the Guyana Government have been receiving range between US$1M and US$2M. Burrowes did confirm that the proposals have been coming from both local and overseas investors.

Asked about any special incentive for local buyers, given the amount of time the hotel has been on the market, Burrowes said that the Government had initially been looking for about US$7M. He was also asked about the sale process, to which he

The incomplete Cacique Palace and Banquet Hall is still on the market, with no buyers was adamant that there is no selective tendering involved, and assured that the sale of the hotel is being undertaken through a public tendering process.

Government had taken over the property from its original investors, Bobby Smith and Beverly Arthur, after they had failed to secure the finances to complete the hotel.

At the time, the government through its then President, Bharrat Jagdeo, had facilitated a $30M loan from the Consolidated Fund.

That money was turned over on the agreement that it was an advance payment for rooms, but the hotel is still to be completed, and as such has never been opened for business.

Burrowes confirmed yesterday that the money will be repaid when the hotel has been sold.

The Cacique Palace was supposed to have offered - in

addition to the scores of rooms - a banquet hall that could cater for about 700 persons, three catering restaurants, a storage room, a second-floor pool, 21 suites (including two with

presidential facilities) and tuck shops.

The property boasts land measuring approximately 226,512 square feet with two buildings comprising 45 apartments, conference

facilities, a catering centre, restaurant, swimming pool and recreational facilities.

Work on the hotel, originally slated as a US$3.5 million project, began at the end of January 2006, and was

to have been completed by the end of the same year.

In addition to the suites, plans were also in train for recreational facilities, shops, a gym, massage parlour and spa, and a business centre.

Guyana’s Parliament seeks assistance from T&T

By Gary Eleazar It has been called the new political dispensation; the Finance Minister calls it uncharted waters, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) calls it deadlocked, the Speaker of the National Assembly says let’s wait and see, and the Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) says there is no blueprint for Guyana’s current political climate.

…Clerk “unclear” on how to deal with House’s resolutions One thing that is clear is the fact that Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs is currently “unclear” on the way forward on the Parliamentary demands made of the Government.

Isaacs in an exclusive interview with this publication yesterday said that the House had always operated under the premise that Parliamentary resolutions are “binding.” Isaacs told Kaieteur News that these resolutions may very well not be binding and he is currently soliciting external assistance.

The matter has been brought to the fore as a result of the refusal of the Guyana Government to abide with the resolutions in an Opposition motion on State Assets, in

particular those controlled by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

In that motion, the House has already approved a resolution that monies be provided for an independent probe of NICIL as well as the full disclosure of information related to privatisation deals among a host of other measures.

The government’s legal advisor, in the form of Attorney General Anil Nandlall, says that there is “nothing in law” to compel the Government to abide with any of the resolutions/ demands.

Isaacs, as Clerk of the National Assembly, is custodian of the Standing Orders, and he told this publication that he is informed by the Attorney

Sherlock Isaacs General that the resolutions are not binding on the Government in any way.

As such, Isaacs says that he is currently seeking external support in determining what protocol obtains as it relates to the binding nature of the motions of Parliament. He admitted to soliciting help from the Clerk of Trinidad and Tobago’s Parliament, Jackie Sampson.

The T&T Parliament falls within the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, of which Guyana is also a member.

Asked recently about the next step, in light of the Government’s open refusal to abide with the Parliamentary resolutions, leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Brigadier (ret.) David Granger says that the coalition will have to consult with the Alliance for Change (AFC).

AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan had indicated in the past that a failure on the part of the Government to abide with the resolutions of the House would force action with a view to having the subject ministers committed to the Committee of Privileges.

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

300-ft restraining order for accused wife-beater ...PI awaits victim’s full recovery

Aubrey Rodney being escorted back to the holding area.

Forty-year-old Aubrey Rodney, the man who reportedly stabbed and beat his reputed wife in the head with a hammer, was yesterday ordered to stay 300 feet away from his partner 38-year-old Sharon Howell.

Rodney and Howell appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the continuation of the attempted murder case which was held in-camera,

allegedly at the victim’s request.

The charge against Rodney states that on May 27, last, at Freeman Street, East La Penitence, he attempted to murder Howell.

He first made an appearance before Magistrate Hazel Octive–Hamilton. That was however done after Rodney had received medical attention since the man had allegedly ingested a poisonous substance following the alleged attack on his wife. After facing Magistrate Octive–Hamilton, the accused was remanded.

Rodney later made another court appearance where he was granted bail.

The bail however stipulated that the accused surrender his passport, where his pre-trial liberty depended on the document being lodged with authorities.

Rodney was still unable to produce the travel document yesterday. It was however revealed that the document may have been in his reputed wife’s possession. But the victim, in ventilating the issue, said that during her time at the hospital, the children gathered and packed all of Rodney’s belongings and placed them outside for his family to uplift.

She said no one came for the stuff and the passport along with the rest of his belongings may have been taken away by the garbage truck.

In light of the information, the court lifted the passport stipulation, and Rodney was then ordered to report to the

Court brawls put spotlight on Egypt political chaos CAIRO (Reuters) - Supporters of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood brawled with their opponents in court yesterday, delaying rulings that might help define the powers of new Islamist President Mohamed Mursi as he seeks more autonomy from the military. Mursi’s Brotherhood allies hailed a “decisive” day in a chaotic transition to democracy and hundreds of supporters turned up at the courthouse to accuse the generals of using the judiciary to undermine his authority.

Overwhelmed by the shouting and jostling, the presiding judge suspended the hearing and moved to another courtroom to try to restore order. But many lawyers left as the disruption dragged on and the day ended with little progress.

“This court has always taken pride that its chambers are open to the public,” Judge Abdel Salam el-Naggar told the court. “What happened in that chamber - is such terrorism appropriate?” The anger on display in the courtroom underscores widespread frustration at a chaotic and faltering democratic transition made possible by last year’s overthrow of autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak.

Despite his election victory in June, which ended more than 16 months of army rule, Mursi has yet to form a cabinet and there is no fully functioning parliament or constitution for Egypt, deepening the sense of turmoil that has pushed the economy to the brink of a balance of payments and budget crisis.

Judges have dismissed accusations that they are influenced by the military and opinion is split on whether the Cairo administrative court will strike down the constituent assembly, a body rewriting the constitution that was formed by an Islamist-dominated parliament the generals have since dissolved. The divisions were on full view at the courthouse.

Golden Grove Police Station twice a week. In addition to those requirements, the accused was ordered to stay away from all witnesses taking part in the attempted murder case. The man was ordered not to contact or harass the persons involved.

He was further ordered to keep a 300-ft. distance away from the victim.

Sergeant Neville Jeffers is prosecuting the matter and he informed the court that the prosecution is ready to proceed with the Preliminary Inquiry.

He however said that due to the victim’s condition, the matter could not get underway. Jeffers said that the victim was not fully recovered as her speech was still affected. Rodney will need to post bail to the tune of $400,000 if he is to secure his pre-trial liberty.

It is alleged that Rodney stabbed his lover twice in the abdomen, once in the chest and mouth before he ingested poison in an attempt to take his own life. Howell, of 81 East La Penitence, Georgetown, spent quite some time in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where doctors said she had a 50/50 chance of survival. It was said that the mother of 10 sustained a fractured skull and significant damage to her brain, while Rodney at the time was being held under police guard in the GPHC’s Male Medical Ward.

The matter will be called again on July 31.

Page 7

Syrian battles rage in capital, Russia pressed

Demonstrators protest against Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad in Sermada near Idlib. (REUTERS/Shaam News Network/Handout) BEIRUT (Reuters) Syrian rebels said they shot down an army helicopter yesterday as they battled government forces backed by air power and artillery in the fiercest fighting to hit Damascus since the revolt against President Bashar alAssad erupted last year.

Rebel officers said thousands of fighters had converged on the capital, a government stronghold during 16 months of turmoil, to bring the battle from Syria’s turbulent provinces into Assad’s power centre.

Colonel Qassem Saadeddine, spokesman of the joint command of the Free Syrian Army inside Syria, told Reuters via Skype the rebels

would intensify attacks inside Damascus and target sensitive security installations in what is called now an operation to “liberate Damascus”.

But it was not clear whether either side could deliver a decisive blow. Free Syrian Army fighters said they had killed 70 members of the security forces and proAssad militiamen known as shabbiha over the past 24 hours.

The encroachment of

violence into the capital came as United Nations envoy Kofi Annan said he hoped the U.N. Security Council would be able to reach agreement on a Syria resolution.

The council is due to vote on Wednesday on a Western-backed resolution that threatens Syrian authorities with sanctions if they do not stop using heavy weapons in towns, but Russia has said it will block the move.

Page 8

Kaieteur News

Impassioned plea for OECS to join CCJ ROSEAU, Dominica CMC - President Nicholas Liverpool yesterday made an impassioned plea for the subregional Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to join the Trinidadbased Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as their final court of appeal.

Delivering the traditional Throne Speech at the start of the new parliamentary term here, Liverpool outlined the various stages of development of the CCJ, which was established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council and which also serves as an international Tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of

Chaguaramas that governs the regional integration movement.

While most of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have joined the CCJ in its original jurisdiction, only Barbados, Guyana and Belize are signatories to the appellate jurisdiction.

“It is my hope that this Honourable House will see its way clearly to complete the legislative work required and take the proper steps to ensure that the court functions...with respect to matters from Dominica” He said that the subregion would be presented with a “very untimely state of

Nicholas Liverpool affairs if all the independent countries of the OECS do not accede to the appellate jurisdiction of the court as a group.

“We may hardly remind

ourselves that this country is a part of one court system, a Supreme Court consisting of a Court of Appeal headquartered in St. Lucia, and High Court situated in all of the territories.

“It would be most undesirable therefore to have some states in this unified court system taking their appeals to the Privy Council while others accede to the jurisdiction of the CCJ.” Liverpool, a prominent Caribbean jurist, said that every attempt should be made to “entrench the position of the court in our constitutions at the same level hat our current Supreme Court system is entrenched.

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Calder Hart found…

Former Udecott boss served with lawsuit Trinidad Guardian Calder Hart has been found.

Attorney General Ramlogan has tracked down the former Urban Development Corporation (Udecott) executive chairman and he is due to appear in court at a date to be fixed.

Ramlogan said Monday Hart had been served with civil proceedings in a lawsuit filed against him by the State.

The legal documents were served on Hart about three weeks ago, he said. The civil proceedings came after the Uff Commission of Enquiry report, which called for the police to probe Hart for allegedly mis-spending billions of dollars in Udecott projects across the country.

The report also called for a full-scale investigation into the award of an $85 million contract by Udecott to a Malaysian firm with alleged links to Hart’s wife, and questioned Udecott’s award of a $368 million contract for the Ministry of Legal Affairs Tower.

Hart, who could not be found after the AG initiated civil proceedings against him last June, was tracked down by a “particular agency.”

Ramlogan said. He added: “Mr Hart has been located. I tracked him down. I solicited the assistance of a particular agency that was able to assist in confirming his address and whereabouts. “That led to us serving him with the documents. “He has been properly served with the legal proceeding and has filed an appearance in response to the claim.” Ramlogan said additional pre-action protocol letters have since been sent to Udecott’s former deputy chairman (of Udecott), Krishna Bahadoorsingh and former employees Leeandra

Calder Hart Rampaul and Richard O’Brien.

The T&T Guardian learned Hart had approached Lloyd Barnet, QC, of Jamaica, to represent him. But even with this civil proceedings hanging over his head, Hart continues to advertise himself on a Web site as an independent global management consultant and boasts of his achievements in T&T. He even invites people to follow him on Twitter, Linked In and Facebook.

After Hart left the country, his whereabouts could not be traced, Civil proceedings were sent to him at an address at East Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he was reportedly living.

An affidavit, filed in the Port-ofSpain High Court on June 1, stated that Hart’s whereabouts were unknown. Hart afterward said he had not disappeared but continued to live at the Fort Lauderdale address.

He said he intended to fight the State’s claims and prove his innocence.

He currently serves as a consultant to foreign governments, high network individuals and private corporations in the Caribbean and Canada, the Web site claims. The T&T Guardian messaged Hart on Facebook but up to late Monday he had not responded.

Cuba confirms cholera cases reach 170 The Miami Herald - The numbers on Cuba’s cholera outbreak continued to grow, with officials reporting 12 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 170, and eight new suspected cases in the southeastern province of Granma.

Cuba’s Public Health Ministry, in a statement published in the official news media on Saturday morning, declared that the outbreak was “decreasing” with 158 confirmed cases and three deaths confirmed.

But the numbers provided by lead Granma province epidemiologist Ana Maria Batista during her appearance Friday, Saturday and Sunday

evenings on provincial television showed increases in all the categories.

“The numbers show it is growing,” said Santiago Marquez, a physician in the Granma city of Manzanillo who has watched Batista’s nightly reports for more than a week and provided the details to independent journalists in Cuba and El Nuevo Herald.

Batista reported 158 confirmed cholera cases in the province on Friday, 163 on Saturday — though her town-by-town breakdown added up to 164 — and six additional cases on Sunday for a total of 170, Marquez said.

Wednesday July 18, 2012

In light of the tabling of a Bill in the National Assembly to amend the Deeds Registry Act, we reproduce below a column on this subject which was first published in December 2009.

I have held firmly over the years to the singular view that what is mine is mine, and mine alone to determine how it should be disposed of lawfully.

If I own a property, then it is for me to decide to whom I should sell, even if having entered into an agreement of sale, I later change my mind or am forced to retreat from my original decision.

I do not also believe in changing something that has worked well for so long. The admixture of Roman Dutch and English land laws have served us well in resolving property disputes (it may not have pleased everyone, but it has provided certainty when it comes to the sale of properties) and need not now be abandoned.

In a letter to the media, Attorney at Law Mohabir Anil Nandlall, who is also a Member of Parliament, recently argued that the system confers upon the

Kaieteur News

purchaser no interest in land which forms the subject of the agreement.

He correctly observes that the purchaser is limited to suing the vendor for specific performance and breach of contract if there is a failure to pass transport within the prescribed time or file an opposition to the passing of transport if the vendor attempts to sell to another person.

He proposes an addition of another limitation to absolute title by allowing for agreements of sale to be deemed as registered encumbrances, thus allowing the purchasers under such agreements, an interest in the property concerned.

I respect the learned view of Mr. Anil Nandlall, but I disagree with the changes that he is proposing to the Deeds Registry Act. I would caution the ruling administration to tread carefully lest it disturb the well-laid legal matting which has been developed through our historic adherence of the admixture of Roman Dutch and English property laws in Guyana.

The argument may be that

a person who has entered into an agreement of sale is left defenseless if the owner changes his or her mind and decides to sell to another or even to many others.

But what about the legal knots that will develop should Mr. Nandlall’s amendment be passed into law and all those persons with an interest in a property have to challenge a sale made by the person holding the transport?

Such a proposition is going to open the floodgates to problems, because there will be a lot of snake oil peddlers going around to grannies urging them to sell their properties, and when the grannies finally realize that they have made a mistake, they will be unable to rescind their agreements, since the persons with whom they have entered into the agreements have acquired an interest under the law.

Imagine what will happen when Peeping Tom dies and his executor goes to pass transport, only to discover that somebody produces some bogus agreement of sale which they claim they had

entered into before my passing.

There is no need in my humble opinion to amend the Deeds Registry Act. No need at all. There is also the other side. The same Deeds Registry Act also protects innocent transportees.

The Caribbean Court of Justice in a recent decision observed that the policy of that Act is two-fold, firstly to produce a measure of certainty in real property transactions and secondly to assure innocent transportees who have purchased for value, who have obtained that for which they have bargained, and who have otherwise complied with the procedural legal requirements, that their transports, if challenged, will be held to be good.

Just recently there were rumours circulating that the Ministry of Housing was threatening to repossess transported house lots where the owners did not fulfill the requirements of the agreement of sale to build their homes by a specified period. I hope the Ministry of Housing and Water clarifies these reports that are

Counselling ordered for man accused of striking wife with rolling pin

The man who reportedly clobbered his wife on the head with a rolling pin when she could not give account for his missing pigeon was yesterday ordered to seek professional counselling after his wife refused to give evidence against him, citing that he is the sole breadwinner of the home.

Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry emphasised that issues of domestic violence will not easily elude the court system, despite the request by spouses to not offer evidence against their abusive partners, when she refused to accept the woman’s request.

Dinanauth Maikoo of West Ruimveldt and his wife Shamwattie Arjune were scheduled to return to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday for

- Spouse declines to give evidence continuation of the matter that reportedly took place on June 20.

The charge stated that Maikoo, on the day in question, while at West Ruimveldt, inflicted grievous bodily harm against his wife and mother of his children.

Maikoo had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The court prosecutor had informed that on the day of the alleged incident, the wife noticed that the pigeon belonging to her husband was missing.

They said the wife had her son search for the bird, but it was never recovered. It is alleged that the husband came home and asked about the bird and when the response was not

satisfactory, he grabbed a rolling pin and dealt the woman a single lash with the object across the head. The incident was reported and the man was later charged for the offence.

The wife, after the court asked, in a low and timid voice admitted that she was fearful of her husband. This had promoted the court to remand the husband.

Arjune told the court that she has five children and her husband is the sole breadwinner for the home. For that reason, she said she was not pursuing the matter against the accused.

But the Chief Magistrate, who along with other presiding Magistrates, just concluded a two-day seminar

on handling domestic violence, informed the victim that she would not be taking that course of action.

She instead ordered that the defendant undergo professional help while his response to the counselling would be monitored. The court said that the result of the counselling would determine what steps should next be taken by the court.

The parties were later ordered to return to court on Friday where a probation officer would be available to intervene in the alleged domestic issue.

Page 9

circulating, because it is difficult to imagine how the Ministry can repossess transported property. Would this not be in violation of the indefeasible title that is conferred on the transportee?

We have to be careful in Guyana that we do not rush to disturb that which has worked for so many years. It would be better if greater attention is concentrated in ensuring the more efficient workings of the justice

system so as to speed up land sales and quickly resolve the many outstanding property disputes.

These are real impediments to investment in Guyana. It is holding back this country and is an area where greater urgency is needed.

Dem boys seh

De government people ain’t mekking mistake Rohee is wuss that Mother Hen. He offering de police more protection than a hen offering she chicken. Dem boys didn’t know that things suh bad and dem decide to criticize de police. Rohee launch an attack that mek people duck. De man get vex.

Then he tun and tell de same police that dem is cutthroat because dem carrying tales out of school. He even tell some of dem that dey does fetch news to de Waterfalls paper because de paper does pay dem.

He argue that all of dem who people blaming actually mek a mistake and is a serious mistake. He even go to Cabinet and tell all of dem that de mistake wha dem mek is that dem get ketch. When dem boys ask why getting ketch is a mistake de man tell dem that nuff people in de Cabinet building some big house. Wheh dem get de money from? And dem ain’t get ketch.

De Waterfalls boss man always does seh that when you make a mistake, learn from it, resolve not to repeat it and then forget about it. You will feel better again.

Dem boys seh that wha Rohee and nuff of he colleagues in de Cabinet doing is not mistake; is deliberate suh dem ain’t got nutten to learn. And dem gun do de same thing all over again and again. Dem like de late Randy Morris. He didn’t learn because all he use to do was deliberate.

Do the same with others, instead of making their mistakes bigger, dissolve them in your mind, and help them also to forget about them. That is wha de Waterfalls boss man does tell he staff. Dem boys seh that if he had to talk to the government he would be throwing water pun duck back.

Talk half and hope that somebody listen.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 18, 2012

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Apaan Jaat: Then and now The PPP has been in power since 1992. And with each passing day, the mirror reveals its hidden tales. As the years come and go, the sixties have been made simple, ironically by the PPP, for those who didn’t know about that period.

But more importantly for those who were brought up to think that the sixties was a period of violence and racial hate instigated by a bad organization named the PNC against a school of good humans named the PPP.

This historical caricature was virtually preserved as the precious national truth by the autobiography of Dr. Cheddi Jagan, “The West on Trial.”

This preserved “truth” lasted from the middle sixties until the middle nineties.

For almost three decades, “The West on Trial” was the only bible available to Guyanese on what happened in the first half of the 1960s. It was like a village that had several lawyers, doctors, teachers, accountants, engineers, business people

who built it and made it into a modern economy.

Then one day, one of the businessmen who were there from the beginning decided to write the history of the village.

And the pages from start to end are filled with grand patriotism of the businessman and his family and no one else.

Even though the canvas painted by “The West on Trial” has been seriously dented by recent books of formidable scholarship, the real facts and the essential

truths about the sixties come from the type of rule we have seen from the PPP itself since 1992.

It has become a revelation to the post-1970 generation in this land, of the devious and selfish role the PPP played in the cause of the conflicts of the first half of the 1960s, now that we see what it is made of in the 21st century.

We were brought up to think that racial hostility was the exclusive preserve of Mr. Burnham and his party, the PNC. The story of who

invented the slogan “Apaan Jaat” was that it was done to harm the PPP. The story of how crazy about power the opposition was, rested in the attitudes of the PNC. The story of who made their party more powerful than Guyana itself was that it was the Machiavellian dream of the PNC. The story of how the media could be used to incite ethnic conflagration was the example of the oppositioncontrolled Argosy. And there were lots more tales and sagas and dramas of the bad guy (PNC) inventing evil things to harm the good guy (PPP).

More than forty years after “The West on Trial” was written, the nature of the exercise of power by the PPP has revealed to this nation who really was the culprit of the sixties. The signs are graphic and compelling. The PPP and “The West on Trial” didn’t tell us the whole truth.

Was Apaan Jaat (to each his own) the work of the PPP’s enemies from 1957 until 1964?

The answer is no.

At every election since 1992, the bottom-house meetings of the PPP are filed with the smoke and fire of Apaan Jaat. It was the PPP that openly said that race intimidation by the opposition was present in the 2011 election. No other party accused any other of racial violence during the voting.

A nasty, racist editorial in the Chronicle has been met with total silence in Freedom House. Maybe silence means approval. Is this the party that

Frederick Kissoon told us people used Apaan Jaat against them in the sixties?

Young Guyanese were serenaded with large volumes of PNC’s use of violence against the PPP during the sixties. But from 2001 onwards, State violence included marauding drug barons facilitated by ruling politicians that were used to kill a large amount of citizens, suggesting that the PPP was no innocent victim of the sixties, but may in fact have been the instigators.

Cheddi Jagan cried tears that reached every ocean in the world of how dangerous the media was in the sixties and that under Peter Taylor, the Argosy incited violence against his government and party. But the Chronicle under the same PPP in 2012 has made Peter Taylor look like a schoolboy journalist.

And finally, what about power? Who was more obsessed with having power in the sixties? The same PPP that put the blame on the PNC is the party that has been in office since 1992. For this columnist, the terminologies of dictatorship and fascism are useful tools in understanding just how crazy the PPP is about power. And one would like to think it was like that in the sixties.

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 11

EZjet launches direct service to Canada ….US$675 for round trip, flights offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays

The Boeing 767-200 before its inaugural flight to Toronto

EZjet Air Services Inc. will now be offering direct flights to Toronto, Canada, with a Boeing 767-200, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This was reiterated yesterday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) where a press conference was held for the

inaugural flight.

In attendance were Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn, acting Minister of Tourism Irfaan Ali,

Canadian High Commissioner, David Devine, amongst other special invitees and EZjet staff.

EZjet started to provide

Electricity tariff hike…

Lindeners gear for five-day shutdown Scores of Lindeners yesterday gathered at the Old Palm Tree Cinema at Wismar, Linden, for a public meeting aimed at setting the stage for a protest which will take place today from the Christianburg Community Center to the Toucan Call Center at Kara Kara.

The community has vowed to essentially shut down for five days with today’s protest being the commencement of that period. This is yet another demonstration by the Lindeners that they are in no way prepared to pay this increase in electricity tariff.

Organisers have indicated that the shutdown will involve all businesses, including the privately-owned boats, minibuses and taxis.

Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon was among those addressing the gathering yesterday.

Speaking with Kaieteur News last evening Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon said that the meeting yesterday saw scores of community members who expressed their utter frustration with the current hike in the electricity tariffs.

“We expect that the entire Linden will come out to this protest to further demonstrate their dissatisfaction towards this issue,” Kissoon stated emphatically. She added that Lindeners are of the view that the government did not take into account the hundreds of poor families that the town has before they decided to put the hike on the electricity tariff.

“This is a spiteful move by Government, and we’re going to resist. This is not a PPP, PNC, or APNU issue, this is an economic issue, and any increase the people can’t afford.”

The hike took effect from July 1.

Since the closure of the bauxite plants in Linden back in the ‘80s, Government had introduced the electricity subsidies to the area as a means to alleviate the hardships of many who had been laid off. Decades later, not much has changed as it relates to the availability of jobs in Linden, according to residents.

The majority of persons in Linden are adamant that any increase in electricity tariffs would only serve to further ‘strangle’ the already hard-pressed community.

Recently, the government decided to move for an electricity hike in the mining town and since then Lindeners have signaled that they are not prepared financially for a raise in electricity rates in the region.

The new tariff was

A section of the gathering at yesterday’s meeting.

announced by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh during the Budget presentation.

On March 30, the Finance Minister noted that electricity tariffs were last adjusted in 2007, when light and heavy fuel oils were procured at US$71 and US$109 per barrel respectively. The prices have since increased by 61 percent and 38 percent to US$114 and US150 per barrel respectively.

GPL funded the escalated costs without any tariff adjustments.

Dr. Luncheon during one of his weekly press briefings in April explained that the increase is justified since the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) reported a shortfall of $11B and despite the request by the Finance Minister in his budget presentation for a $6 Billion transfer from Government, the company still has a $5B shortfall.

its service on December 16, 2011 with flights from Guyana to New York. It has flown approximately 300 hundred flights to date, and is now introducing another route and aircraft to its services.

The craft for the Toronto route has 218 seats.

EZjet’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sonny Ramdeo said a feasibility study was done between August 2011 to July 2012 which shows that 57,000 passengers flew between Guyana and Toronto. This, he pointed out, represents approximately $24M in revenue.

“Based on that feasibility study, added with stimulating the market with a lower fare, we expect that to go to 65,000 passengers on an annual basis.”

Adding that there will be two flights weekly, Ramdeo said if air traffic necessitates, there will be three flights per week, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays He explained that EZ Jet has set a standard for other airlines to be more competitive. However, while it was his intention to supplement the service, there was also a promise to deliver a high quality service.

“Our traffic number speaks confidently about this…now from Toronto to Guyana return, our average fare is US$675 round trip. We are looking forward for the public support. When we launched this airline, it was based on consumer needs.

We are offering additional baggage at a lower cost, this would be beneficial also to traders,” Ramdeo explained.

Master of Ceremonies Kit Nascimento commenced proceedings by saying that despite the naysayers coming from “one particular section of the media, whom I notice are absent today (yesterday)” development was obvious.

“I always find it difficult to understand why anyone of our media would immediately begin to be negative about a new initiative that is intended to benefit the growth and wellbeing of the country,” Nascimento said.

Minister Ali, meanwhile, congratulated Canadian High Commissioner, David Devine, on supporting the flight services offered. He explained that in August, Miss Canada 2012, along with a supporting group, will be visiting Guyana to “place their faces on destination Guyana,” to enhance and market the country’s tourism.

EZjet CEO, Sonny Ramdeo “They will create more than 39 episodes of reality television to be broadcast through the social media network touching more than 800 million potential customers,” Ali disclosed.

“This would offer more opportunities of airlines coming from Canada.”

However, Ali explained that there has been an analysis from a special organisation called “Roots” which disclosed that Guyana has potential in becoming a tourist destination and a refueling hub for in-transit flights to the African continent and other countries.

Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn said the idea is to develop Guyana as a whole and to provide quality aircraft services.

Government has agreed to invest US$150M to enhance CJIA. “Our airport has been under scrutiny with respect to its plans and development. I want to say that Government remains committed to develop CJIA. Suriname is planning to invest US$70M in making their facility larger and which would be in competition with our own arrangement to develop our airport.” Benn disclosed.

“We want to add a 1000metre extension to the runway, and persons would like to have more room, comfort and space.”

He declared that squatters in the vicinity of the airport where the runway will be extended will be removed, since several notices were sent to them, and he noted that multiple discussions were held with residents in this regard. Benn said these persons will be removed to facilitate the expansion of CJIA, and to allow proper order of national development.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 18, 2012

MP calls on residents to petition for disbandment of N/A Town Council

By Leon Suseran People’s Progressive Party/Civic Member of Parliament (MP), Faizal Jaffarally, is urging residents of New Amsterdam as well as the business community to have a petition sent to the government to disband the present Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) and install an Interim Management Committee (IMC).

“Let us put people who will have the town at heart, and people who will provide

... Mayor insists “IMC will not happen” services… service-oriented people; people who are committed to seeing N/A as they would normally say, ‘return to its glory days’ when we had a town.”

An IMC, the MP stated, can be established to manage affairs, but not before a procedure.

“There has to be a petition by the residents of New Amsterdam saying that they

are not satisfied with the council’s services, after which an investigation will take place. A Commissioner will come and advertise a place and time where he will meet residents of the town and he will take all of the submissions by the residents, including the present administration, and decide.

Based on his (commisssioner’s) advice, the

Ministry has the authority to appoint an IMC.” “The Region 6 Administration has been repairing kokers, digging drains, cleaning canals, building streets in the town, but people need to understand – and sometimes people make unfounded and unnecessary criticisms of the Region 6 Administration – that the New Amsterdam Municipality is an autonomous body and is governed by the Mayor and Town Council, and in this case, the council is controlled by the political opposition, the People’s National Congress (PNC)”.

Jaffarally recalled a call sometime last year by the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and its then President, Gyandat Marray “for the disbanding of the present town council, but then some other members of the said council said he was not authorised to speak”.

“The residents of N/A have had enough of the M&TC and too often, they (council) try to shift the blame...they have to understand they are responsible for what is happening in the town because we pay our taxes to them so they need to provide the services,” Jaffarally stressed.

He said that while the government has been pitching in to assist the town in many ways, the township and its leaders are not maintaining the works.

“Whilst that canal is the responsibility of the M&TC, from time to time, the government will de-silt the canal, but what has happened, is that after it has been de-silted, the council is not maintaining it, so the region cleans it at a particular time of the year but the council does nothing, to sustain or maintain it in a proper manner so it can take water off the land… and in case of a fire, that is a reservoir which the fire service uses.”

However, Mayor of New Amsterdam, Claude Henry emphatically dismissed the MP’s assertions.

“Jaffarally always talks a lot of nonsense; it’s not anything new. An IMC will not happen in New Amsterdam. It is not the first time he has been talking stupidness, and only he has been seeing an IMC for N/A. If you can tell me one other person who wants to have an IMC in N/A, I will step down.”

Henry noted that Rose

Mayor of New Amsterdam, Claude Henry

PPP MP Faizal Jaffarally

Hall Town had similar issues a few years ago and an IMC was installed, but that did not solve matters. “That IMC was even disbanded a few times (3 times), and it’s not better off, so whatever persons want to say, they have a conscience and we are not mismanaging this council.”

The Mayor said that every community and town has its issues and N/A is no different.

“This town has been making a lot of contributions to this economy and whatever the government or region has to do, we’ve got no problem”. A government is a government of all the people and we don’t have to sit and beg the government to help, the government ought to help willingly, because this town is paying taxes to the government, which in turn must help N/ A…It’s not an ‘if’ or ‘but’.”

The official stated that the town has a small budget and does not garner much money in terms of rates and taxes.

“The recommended taxes for the town have not been assented to by the President

for a number of years, so our tax base is very low.”

Mayor Henry added: “People have been contributing by way of income tax, by their work, 16 per cent VAT, and it is my view that the authorities must help this community. Government does roads and streets all over the world, and the few streets being done by the government is not much to talk about, and if you walk in some of those areas right now, with the overtopping you had a few days ago, you will see the tops of those streets are off— all the chip- seal are off.”

“We have no axe to grind with Mr. Jaffarally. If I had wanted to grind an axe with him, it would have been done many years ago. We don’t play politics at this town council, because we have members of the PPP/C on this council, and we all sit here and make decisions, not in isolation, as he [Jaffarally] said, ‘it’s a PNC-run council’— we don’t do that up here. He is mischievous and he is wicked...and further I say not.”

Suriname move to increase gold tax may take shine off Guyana Suriname has announced plans to raise its royalty payments from gold sales within weeks, a move likely to make it less profitable for especially gold from Guyana to be smuggled there.

Suriname’s newspaper, De Ware Tijd, yesterday reported that the government is aiming to raise the one per cent royalty to three per cent.

While the country’s Parliament will still have to approve the new Gold Law, in effect it will still allow Suriname’s prices to be higher than Guyana.

Gerold Dompig, of the

Presidential Gold Commission, hopes that the new rates will be in place within two months’ time.

Both French Guiana and Guyana have frequently complained about the uncontrolled smuggling of gold from their territory to Suriname.

Miners from the neighboring countries consider it more attractive to sell their gold in Suriname, since the one percent royalty being levied there is far less than the four to six percent charged in their own (continued on page 20)

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 13

APNU’s post-election ‘trophies’ still in limbo …as coalition marks one-year milestone

By Gary Eleazar This past week A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), marked its one year milestone which is but a ‘drop in the bucket’ for a political movement, but this group’s leaders believe that much has been achieved.

Brigadier (ret.) David Granger sits at the helm of this coalition, and this past week was asked by Kaieteur News during a media engagement to point to the two greatest triumphs for APNU since the launch of the 10th Parliament.

He pointed to the much talked about budget cuts along with the restructuring of the make-up of the Parliamentary Standing Committees.

Granger told media operatives at his Hadfield Street office, “First the establishment of a new regime for the Parliamentary Committees.”

He did concede that this ‘achievement’ by APNU has been challenged in the High Court by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall.

This restructuring, according to Granger, “is a very important step towards the establishment of the Supremacy of the Legislative Branch (of Government).”

Granger said that, “the second one of course is the concerted effort by APNU and the Alliance for Change (AFC) in dealing with the Budget.”

He reminded that a few days after the election, APNU along with the AFC had taken a position that the 2012 Budget should be more ‘people centred’ in order to achieve real development.

“We did not see in the National Budget, measures that would significantly improve the well-being of the people and we took action to prevent the budget, in the form that it was presented, from being approved… and we insisted on certain changes.”

Granger said that there were several meetings held with a view to demanding those changes, and when those demands were not adhered to, “we took action which we are empowered to do within the National Assembly”.

The APNU leader reiterated, “I feel that those are two major achievements in governance, and those decisions have both been challenged in the High Court because both go to the heart of governance in Guyana”.

Granger was however challenged, by Prime News, on why he considered the budget cuts a triumph, when none of the reforms or

restructuring that had been demanded has been instituted.

The Opposition Leader responded by telling the media corps that on the issue of the budget cuts, “we regard it as a triumph because for the first time in 20 years the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has been made to explain in much greater detail, the budgetary measures that it hopes to introduce”.

“Although you may not have seen the effects, we are confident that the meltdown that you are seeing at NCN (National Communications Network Inc.) has been in part, a result of the scrutiny… and scrutiny is an important Parliamentary function,” Granger asserted.

He added: “The meltdown in NCN itself is part of the scrutiny which is being exerted by APNU and AFC in the budgetary process.”

Up until the dissolution of the Board of Directors of NCN, its then Chairman Dr. Prem Misir, had conceded that it was the budget cuts that had triggered, in part, a probe of the financial affairs of the State-owned company.

“The cuts were not meant to be punitive,” Granger noted, “the cuts were meant to be curative.”

“The PPP now knows better that it has to prepare its Financial Papers with much more detailed planning before it comes to the National Assembly.”

Granger said that as early as December last, “I invited President (Donald) Ramotar to establish a tripartite budget committee. It has not been done, and we will do it ourselves from the floor of the National Assembly.”

He was adamant that the 2013 budget will be scrutinized by a Parliamentary Budget Committee.

Asked about how APNU will proceed despite the reform measures not being in place, Granger said, “Time will tell….We will continue to do what we are empowered to do in the National Assembly…We want a consensual solution to these financial problems, but the government must sit down and talk with us”.

Granger was unwavering that “APNU is not yet satisfied with the progress made but we will continue”.

The APNU Leaders, inclusive of Robert Corbin of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR); Keith Scott of the National Front Alliance (NFA) and Dr .David Hinds of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), this past week re-committed their pledge to the political

movement.

Corbin, who delivered an update to the media, said that, “As any new partnership which involves representatives from various organizations, there has to be consensus, and there will be challenges.”

He expressed optimism that the challenges can be overcome because the PNCR remains committed not just to APNU but also “to work for the achievement of shared governance in this country”.

“APNU is but a single

Keith Scott

Dr. David Hinds

David Granger

step in the direction of transforming Guyana…We urge Guyanese to understand

the challenges which such a new partnership faces,” Corbin said. Scott, who was

also on hand at the Opposition Leader’s Office, (continued on page 14)

Page 14

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Four years after Lindo Creek massacre…

Keeping remains is $33M and counting - “Eyewitness” still in protective custody On June 21, 2008, dredge owner Leonard Arokium discovered the charred remains of eight of his employees in a burnt-out camp at Lindo Creek, Berbice River.

Among the dead were his son Dax Arokium, brother, Cedric Arokium, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry and Nigel Torres.

It’s now four years and a month and the controversy still remains over who actually killed the miners.

For one, the eyewitness who the police had claimed was in their custody for safekeeping remains a mysterious character.

Many had doubted that such a person existed, with one source claiming that “it was a convenient boasting, since I don’t believe that that

person existed.”

However, yesterday Crime Chief Seelall Persaud confirmed that the person who was deemed an eyewitness is still in protective custody. This is in addition to the miners’ remains still being kept in a refrigerator at a city morgue awaiting their final resting place. Authorities are awaiting the results of DNA testing from Jamaica before handing over the remains to the various families.

But just what do the authorities hope to achieve by keeping the “eyewitness” in custody so long?

According to the Crime Chief, there is a way forward in the case, since investigators have been building capacity over the years.

“He’s in protective custody. We’re still awaiting

Victims of the Lindo Creek massacre. the analysis of the DNA. When we get that then the DPP will advise,” the crime

chief explained.

Of course there is still controversy over who actually killed the miners, with the owner of the camp and the security forces coming up with different theories.

Leonard Arokium claimed that he had received a phone call from a woman who told him that some “soldiers” had shot and killed his men and burnt their bodies.

The Joint Services denied the claims made by the dredge owner that soldiers committed the brutal crime.

Police had blamed the attack on Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins and his gang, whom they said they had encountered during a confrontation at Christmas Falls a few weeks prior to the gruesome discovery.

Rawlins and members of his gang were subsequently hunted down and killed, and the security forces had suggested that the Lindo Creek case had died with them.

But if, according to the police, the perpetrators of the crime are “Fineman” and his gang, who have all been killed, why is it necessary to keep the “eyewitness” in protective custody? In the meantime, the state has incurred a whopping expense of in excess of $33M and counting to keep the remains.

The DNA results should have been handed over by January 2012, but Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee had said that notwithstanding the commitment given by the Jamaica Forensic team, they have not delivered.

“They had promised us to deliver the remainder of the analysis, but they have not delivered. We are in touch with them and we are assured that their results will soon be available,” Rohee said.

He had also justified the amount being spent by the

administration to store the remains of the Lindo Creek victims.

The Minister pointed out that the remains are very important to the families as well as the integrity of the investigation.

“The integrity of these remains is important for any further analysis and if it costs a million dollars a day to ensure proper storage we have to do it,” the Minister had declared.

Rohee added that his Government and the police would have come under more scrutiny if they had failed to properly store the remains.

“If we were not doing that (storing the remains at a parlour) and these remains were left stored in a box where rats and cockroaches were interfering with it, we would have been worse off and we would have been accused of being delinquent,” Rohee added.

“This is the price we have to pay if we want serious

results.”

But the actions of the state may not be pleasing the relatives of the victims who definitely want closure to the now four-year-old saga.

“You are denying them that on the grounds that as the law enforcement agency you want to conduct a proper investigation. You are actually prolonging their sorrow,” a senior police official who worked on the case told this newspaper.

He questioned whether Guyana could afford to incur such an expense when there might be nothing tangible to achieve in terms of actually solving the case.

But the stalling of the case is certainly fuelling the controversy.

“It only lends to the mystery and suspicions that occurred from the beginning when the bones were discovered and fingers were pointed,” the official told this newspaper.

APNU’s post-election ...

From page 13 told media representatives, “We are faced with an implacable and frightened enemy, who having wallowed in the cesspool of corruption for two decades, who indulged in the excesses of greed and unaccountability, triumphalism and marginalization, and who have now inevitably begun to consume their own supporters, will stop at nothing to maintain their despoliation of our dear land and resources.”

“The age of the dictator is gone. Let us join in multiracial solidarity, both here and in the Diaspora, as together we will carry the anti-corruption message to our compatriots, wherever they may be.”

Dr. Hinds told those in

attendance that APNU has in one year managed to excite a new political awakening among the Guyanese people, “particularly the young people who have been the core of the partnership’s energy”.

“The WPA salutes those young people and urges them to remain engaged in the process despite the many obstacles in their way.”

According to Dr Hinds, “the WPA also recognized the sterling work done by the APNU Parliamentary Caucus, particularly around the Budget.”

“The WPA has not agreed with all of the tactics and decisions of APNU this past year, but we recognize that as part of the dynamics of coalition and partnershipbuilding.”

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

Religious community will fight changes to homosexuality laws …but Govt. to table motion for consultation

H

uman Services and Social S e c u r i t y Minister, Jennifer Webster, recently asserted that Parliamentary consultations can in fact be done by way of a Motion. Should this route be taken, it will not be an unprecedented move by the ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

Over the course of the years, a few motions were directed to the Special Select Committees to undertake matters related to the impact of Climate Change on Food Prices, the Disciplined Services and Geographic Constituencies as well as Fiduciary-related matters.

One such course of action was also taken by an Opposition Member in the Ninth Parliament, Everall Franklin, representing the then Guyana Action Party (GAP). Webster, in response to a publication, said that Government is in no way bowing to the pressures of the United Nations. She said that it has committed to a consultation process at the level of a Special Parliamentary Select Committee.

The matters slated for consultations relate to Corporal Punishment, the abolishment of the Death Penalty, as well as the decriminalization of Homosexuality.

“The Cabinet has decided to take these three issues to the National Assembly before it goes into recess, and to send them to a Parliamentary Special Select Committee, which will invite and hear the views of the public.”

Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs yesterday sought to clear the air on the Parliamentary Protocols. He explained that a motion can be tabled for debate in the Full House of

Parliament which, in its Resolution/Demand clause, would direct that a Special Select Committee be established to address the matters at hand.

Isaacs said that at the level of the Special Select Committee established as a result of a motion, only recommendations will be reported back to the Full House.

According to the Parliamentary Standing Orders, “A Select Committee other than a Sessional Select Committee shall be known as a Special Select Committee…It shall be nominated by resolution of the Assembly and shall consist of such Members as may be nominated by the Committee of Selection.”

That report from the Special Select Committee, established purely by the resolution of a motion, will submit a list of recommendations stemming from the consultations.

This report with recommendations from the Special Select Committee will require another motion on the floor of the House to adopt the report and recommendations.

A report from the Special Select Committee from a resolution of the House dealing with a draft Bill however, will return any amendments made to the proposed law before it is finally voted on.

“All questions for debate can be sent to Special Select Committees. Questions for debates are Bills, Motions and Petitions,” Isaacs stated.

Minister Webster had indicated that at the stage of the Special Select Committee, the Government will be looking for the highest possible level of consultations.

A large section of the religious community has already weighed in on a

particular matter, voicing its resistance to any moves to amend the legislation dealing with homosexuality.

Page 15

Page 18

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

Teen victim in Vigilance accident clings to life The 14-year-old Vigilance, East Coast Demerara girl, who was struck down by a car on Saturday last, is still in a critical state in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The driver of the vehicle that struck her was granted bail to the tune of $100,000 yesterday.

According to reports, Leota Eastman was heading to a bakery in Buxton to run an errand for her sickly father when the mishap occurred.

H e r s i s t e r, O l e t a Eastman, said that she was told that her sister was heading to the bakery on her bicycle when a car, heading east along the embankment collided with another one, exiting from another street, Company Road. “I wasn't there, but I heard that the car that hit her was heading east on the embankment when another one leave the cross street, so as to avoid a collision, the one that hit her swerved from that car and go into the other lane and hit her,� the teen's sister stated.

Kaieteur News

Leota Eastman now battles for life understands that the driver was returning home from work when the incident occurred.

Leota Eastman sustained a fractured skull, broken left leg and head injuries.

At the hospital, her weeping mother could not have gathered the courage to watch her daughter lying motionless on a bed, surrounded with wires, but she sat patiently in front of the ICU and questioned each and every person that visited her.

Govt. to invest $60M for Lethem airstrip expansion Government is planning to invest $60M to expand the Lethem airstrip this year, according to Minister of Public Works and Transport Robeson Benn. He said the designs will be done this year and hopefully there would be a public/private partnership established to build a terminal at the airstrip.

N o t i n g t h e

public/private partnership at Ogle Airport, Benn cited that as a good example of a collective effort which develops travel and regional tourism activities.

He said Government has spent close to $1B in air traffic control systems which include radios and specialised tracking equipment amongst other items.

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 19

No-confidence against REO of Region 8…

Showdown likely as Local Govt. asks for evidence The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Eight may have taken a vote of no confidence against its executive officer last week, but it is far from a done deal.

The region may now have to produce evidence that Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ronald Harsawack, committed breaches in the course of his duties and therefore cannot hold the confidence of the other councillors.

“While the RDC in itself can express their dissatisfaction with the performance of any employee, they need to support those dissatisfaction with evidence based on documentation, so that the administration in itself and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development can seek to intervene, investigate and make a determination,” Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Ganga Persaud, is reported as saying in a press conference Monday.

Local Govt. Minister, Ganga Persaud

Ronald Harsawack

On Sunday, Kaieteur News broke the story of the no-confidence motion against Harsawack, a former REO of Region Nine.

The other independent daily, Stabroek News, picked up on the story for its Monday edition.

Kaieteur News was not invited to a press conference that the Ministry called Monday at which the Minister and Permanent Secretary, Colin Croal, were

both present.

Both could not be reached yesterday although an official close to the Minister’s office said that he will ascertain the cause why the independent media were not invited. No report of the press conference was in yesterday’s edition of the Stabroek News.

On July 10th, the RDC met, passing a no-confidence motion tabled by Oswald Junor, Councillor for A Partnership For National Unity.

Kaieteur News was told of “several instances” in which Harsawack allegedly delayed the mobilization of excavators to conduct critical works.

“This was almost like sabotage. Mr. Harsawack is actually the Chief Executive Officer of the Region and by not releasing resources on time, people suffered. This is not an issue about AFC or APNU. People will want to lay blame. Well, the blame is on the doorstep of the REO. Further, there is a lack of trust,” an AFC councillor said Saturday.

The REO, when contacted over the weekend, admitted that a no-confidence vote was passed against him but referred all questions to the Local Government Ministry.

Residents of Mahdia, which is the heart of Region Eight, had blocked roads and protested road conditions and the garbage situation in recent months.

Roads leading to the local airfield were also not done in time.

“We have several instances where the REO was asked to assist with a number of projects and he failed to carry them out.”

In one case, there were discrepancies over the price quoted for the rental of a bulldozer, with the REO reportedly saying it was $120,000.

“We could not believe when the operator insisted that the price was actually $50,000 for the rental. So there are several instances of noncooperation, and the RDC is not prepared at this time to work with Mr. Harsawack,” the opposition parties’ officials stated over the weekend.

During the press conference with a few chosen media houses, Minister Ganga Persaud said that the RDCs have no authority over elected appointed officials.

According to a government release of the press conference, Persaud said that there were concerns with regards to the manner in

Financial irregularities continue at City Hall - Finance Chairman Even as ranks of the Guyana Police Force are investigating fraud allegations at City Hall, financial irregularities continue to overshadow the body’s operations, says Finance Committee Chairman, Junior Garrett.

The investigations began at the behest of the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Ganga Persaud, following revelations of massive irregularities at City Hall compiled in a report prepared

by Ramon Gaskin.

Three senior officers— Town Clerk Yonette Pluck, Treasurer Andrew Meredith and City Engineer Gregory

Erskine— were mired in fraud allegations. The report also pointed to misuse of resources

by Mayor Hamilton Green.

According to Garrett, the police commenced their investigations last Monday, but blatant breaches of the laws governing City Hall’s operations persist. For instance, the law provides that vouchers must be signed by two members of the Finance Committee before cheques are prepared, but this procedure is being ignored.

These cheques and vouchers are prepared and verified by the City Treasurer’s Department, headed by

Meredith and Pluck.

Garrett said that the presence of these officers at City Hall and the continuity of malpractices have decreased staff morale. He pointed out that it would have been appropriate if the officers were sent on their vacation leave and the laws governing financial procedures are obeyed.

“The mere fact that the Minister chose to call in the police to investigate the matter shows that the report reveals criminal element. But, he (Persaud) did not send the officers on leave to facilitate the investigations,” Garrett

said.

Though Councillors have the authority to send the officers on vacation leave, they were hoping that Persaud would have taken that decision. Councillors made a public outcry of the Minister’s decision but were grateful that the police are investigating the matter.

According to the Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, he is unable to say whether the officers should be sent on leave to facilitate the investigations, since he is not in receipt of the report.

It is not unusual in some cases for officers under investigation to remain on

Finance Committee Chairman, Junior Garrett duty while the inquiry is ongoing because they are answerable. He opined that they should be removed from their desks for an impartial investigation.

which the Regional administration lead by the REO was approaching the resolution to some issues affecting residents within the region, and as such, the lack of knowledge by the Regional Chairman regarding the procurement procedures in that Region, coupled with the seeming lack of knowledge of Regional Administration functions and the guidelines under which they operate, would have contributed to the current state of affairs.

“On quite a few occasions I took time off to explain to the Regional Chairman the procurement procedures with regards to how we procure services and award contracts,” the Local Government Minister said.

H e claimed that the Regional Chairman sought to mislead his council on a number of issues: the contracts for the roads, the procurement procedure which obtains, and the conscious, willful destruction/vandalism of the water networks in the Region, particularly the Mahdia subregion.

“Here again the Regional Chairman would have lead the Council to believe that the REO would have misrepresented the situation…there were also small subsidiary administrative issues in which there seems to have been a difference in opinion in representing the situation as it is…those were the basic grounds on which the RDC took the decision,” Persaud said.

While RDC councillors are elected, the REO is a public servant appointed to the position.

Both AFC and APNU have signaled intentions to speak on the Region 8 noconfidence vote during their respective press conferences this week.

Page 20

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 18, 2012

“Shocking” theatre walls at $140M Suddie Diagnostic Centre - Electrical fault causes precautionary evacuation of pregnant patients Some patients seeking medical assistance at the Suddie Diagnostic and Treatment Centre theatre got some electric shocks when they came into contact with some of the walls of the institution.

The walls of the hospital’s theatres have been sending electrical shocks for the past two months and

numerous letters seeking assistance have been sent to the Health Ministry seeking an intervention to rectify the situation.

It has been four years now, to the month, that operations commenced in the new building.

Hospital officials, in confirming the electrical problem, revealed that last

The Suddie Diagnostic Centre Friday night, seven maternal patients had to be transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to safeguard them in the event that any of them would have needed to undergo surgery…all because of the current state of the theatre.

The seven patients boarded the ferry last Friday evening and arrived at the GPHC on Saturday morning.

Yesterday, Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran said that for about a week now technical people from the Works Ministry have been at the hospital trying to rectify the problem. He said that a leaking roof may have been the root of the problem.

The water that may have seeped into the concrete walls may have come into contact with exposed electric wires and caused the damp walls to become conductors.

Kaieteur News understands that the hospital has since placed alternative measures for surgeries in the event of an emergency situation.

Dr. Ramsaran said that the Cubans who were integral in the construction of the hospital were also working to correct the situation. They were supported by the Chief Electrician attached to the Works Ministry.

He said that the decision to move the pregnant patients was precautionary. “It was the thing to do, given the condition.”

Late yesterday, Dr Ramsaran said that one of the theatres was back in operation and the other was expected to be up and running shortly.

The construction of the Suddie Centre was finalised during a visit by former Head of State, President Bharrat

Jagdeo to Cuba in February 2006.

The agreement allowed for the construction of four other such facilities… at Leonora, Region Three; Mahaicony, Region Five, the East Demerara Regional Hospital which was commissioned last year and the Ophthalmology Centre at Port Mourant, Berbice.

The Suddie centre was constructed at a cost of $140M. Some of the services being offered include Audiology, Endoscopy, Phlebotomy, Ophthalmology, Laboratory, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Maternity services, Dental care, Theatre services, Accident and Emergency, X-ray and Electrocardiography (ECG).

There is also a general medical out-patient department.

Suriname move to increase gold tax may take shine off Guyana From page 12 countries.

Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources Robert Persaud, in particular, never fails to mention this thorny issue in the local media.

In 2011, Guyana registered less than 6,000 kilos of gold from their mines, considerably less than the nearly 19,000 kilos registered in Suriname over the same period.

The Guyanese authorities believe that they see only

one-third of their actual gold production due to smuggling.

“It is just a two percent hike,” says Dompig, emphasizing that the state is increasing the royalties, but intentionally in such a way that Suriname’s remain lower than its neighbours’.

In the 1990s, the roles were actually reversed, when Suriname lost most of its gold to neighbouring countries because of its higher royalties.

Dompig states the new gold law will emphasize the obligation to pay taxes in all stages in the gold sector, from the miner to service providers and suppliers.

With the risks from robberies and seizures from authorities likely, the increase in the royalty may very well reduce the gold smuggling from Guyana.

There have been reports of seizure of smuggled Guyana gold in Suriname.

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Commission on disability to continue sensitisation programmes The National Commission on Disability (NCD) plans on having more sensitization programmes based on the contents of the 2010 legislation - discussions with government agencies are being scheduled to put the plans in motion. This is according to a source attached to the NCD. It was revealed that based on the discussion with these agencies, an agreement would be made to embark on methods to sensitise the public on the contents of the Disability Act. “These sensitisation

programmes are more likely to take the form of workshops through which the public will be equipped with the necessary information to help them to better understand their role in ensuring that persons with disabilities are treated as equal citizens.”

“It is our responsibility to ensure that such persons are treated with respect and given the necessary opportunities to assist in the development of our society,” the source added.

This newspaper was told that a number of government agencies including the

Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Human Services will work in partnership in relation to the programme.

In addition, Private Sector organisations will be approached to join the effort.

This publication was told that even though the Disability Commission has been in existence for a number of years, it was not empowered by the law to act on behalf of physically challenged persons.

However this changed after the Disability Act was instituted in 2010.

“It is under this statute

“Dangerous and unhealthy” day care centre under probe

A frontal view – the day care is located in the lower flat The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has mounted an investigation into conditions at the J.O.S Play Land and Day Care Centre, located at Lot 455 Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown.

The facility, located in a bottom flat, is presently without electricity. It has two doors but no windows.

Kaieteur News understands that 25 to 30 children attend the centre.

M&CC Health Inspector, Kenneth Stevens told Kaieteur News that an inspection was done about a week ago and the findings revealed that the environment is not suitable for the running of such a facility. He further added that they are in the process of addressing the issue.

“We did an inspection at the day care centre and the findings show that it is not conducive…we are in the process of addressing the issue,” Stevens stated.

When Kaieteur News visited the facility, it was poorly ventilated and musty.

This publication has also confirmed that officials from the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) are investigating the reports about conditions at the facility.

The centre has reportedly

The landlord points to the area at which the electricity was disconnected been without electricity for more than a month.

The landlord, Neville Wray, described the environment as “dangerous and unhealthy for children.”

“In there is hot, hot and it is very dark, because there is no window. It got one door at the back and one at the front, that’s all,” he said.

Wray explained that when he rented the apartment to a female tenant, it was designed for an internet café, but he eventually rented it to her with a concession of 14 months.

“I told her that I will rent her the place, and that I will give her a 14-month concession so that she could make the relevant adjustments to make the children comfortable, but it’s almost three years and all she did was to knock out a piece of wall and make a door and she is charging between $5,000 to $7,000" Wray claimed.

He said that his concern is for the welfare of the children and he is pleading with parents to check the (continued on page 24)

that the commission can act as mediator on behalf of persons with disabilities.”

Persons and organizations that register with the commission aid in the documentation process for future plans and decisionmaking.

According to the source, the last known statistic on the amount of disabled persons was 48,000 persons, recorded in 2002, but that quantity has since grown and the commission is currently reevaluating.

Recently the Guyana Association for the Visually Impaired (GAVI) criticised the work being done by those in prominent positions and governmental organizations to enforce the law on disability. GAVI called for more to be done to enforce the disability legislation, The body claimed that the disabled are at a disadvantage, because the public is not aware or sensitized on the related issues.

One of GAVI’s committee members, Andrew Greene, had stated that disabled persons have difficulties accessing jobs even though they have the necessary skills to function like any other person. He had opined that if the law is imposed it will provide an equitable and level playing field in the social order for persons with disabilities.

In a recent telephone interview, Minister of Human

Services Jennifer Webster said her Ministry has been assisting the Disability Commission with the registration process.

Webster said that probation officers would from time to time take note of the disabled persons while working in the fields and that they would “write down the information” that would then be forwarded to the commission.

According to Webster, the information that is provided would assist in the application and payment of public assistance, with regards to persons with disabilities.

The Minister told Kaieteur News that she is unaware of any specific plans by the commission since it falls directly under the Ministry of Health. However, she asserted that her Ministry will continue to partner with the commission on their various ventures.

Shortly after its introduction in 2010, the NCD was tasked with the responsibility of sensitising the public on the new legislation. In recent times it had embarked on a number of activities.

The commission has been actively involved in making the environment accessible to disabled persons by, for instance, encouraging organisations to install ramps for persons with wheelchairs.

According to the Act, within five years of its

implementation, the Central Housing and Planning Authority shall publish and enforce building codes and guidelines for the construction and renovation of buildings, institutions, establishments, or public utilities in order to allow barrier-free access to persons with disabilities.

There are also stipulations which state that within 10 years of the implementation of this Act or a later date, the Minister may prescribe that the persons in charge of every national television station shall provide a sign language inset or subtitles in at least one newscast programme and special programmes covering events of national significance.

It was also noted that the Commission may take appropriate legal action where it believes that a person, entity or establishment is engaged in a practice which is discriminatory under this Act. “An employer shall not deny a person with a disability, on the basis of the disability, access to opportunities for employment including open employment.”

However, statistics revealed that 40 per cent of unemployed persons with disabilities have lost their job after becoming incapacitated, and nine per cent of unemployed persons with disabilities are qualified, skilled and able to work.

(Rehanna Ramsay)

Page 22

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Kaieteur News

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Cosmetology Classes & Small Classes from as low as $4,000.Learn in our peaceful & happy environment Call: 226-9448

Dr. Ramayya the only Ayurvedic doctor in Guyana offers treatment for all disease. Call 231-5171

PROPERTY FOR SALE 1-3 bedroom house,going business spot (newly renovate), Bloomfield Public Road,Berbice Call: 690-6520, 642-0110 Charlestown $ 12M,East Bank $12M, Albertown $30M, Section K $28M call Diana 227-2256, 626-9382 Property for sale at South Ruimveldt, Lamaha Spring Call:695-6090

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Wednesday July 18, 2012

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Fully loaded 624-7684,6172378 FOR SALE/RENT American pool table 2770578 (Continued on page 23)

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Letters... Where your views make the news

Why is the PPP/C panicking over David Granger?

DEAR EDITOR, Important to note is that successive leaders of the PNC and PNCR have served as both party leader and President or Opposition Leader. This situation obtains whether there was a coalition of parties or not, as in the case of Burnham and the coalition with the United Force and Robert Corbin in the case of the PNCR-1G. Desmond Hoyte served as party leader and president and later, as opposition leader and party leader. So the notion that a PNCR leader will have too much on his plate should he serve as leader of APNU and party leader is, just what it is a notion.

The PNCR has always had strong and capable

leaders who have demonstrated that they are capable of performing these functions with the assistance of their team members.

Further, to adopt the position that the two positions would be burdensome for any one person would be to advocate a position which says that the Leader of the PNCR should not strive to become president of Guyana, as this might be too much work for the leader, this is a position that every party member and supporter of the PNCR would reject forcefully.

The obvious question would be why have a party leader who has no desire to become president of the country? The last time I

checked, Donald Ramotar is leader of the Peoples’ Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C), civic being the group the PPP coalesced with, and he is also president of Guyana. I hear none in the leadership of the PPP asking for Donald Ramotar to relinquish one of these positions but yet I see key PPP/C operatives pontificating what should happen at PNCR upcoming congress.

I watched NCN and hear them ranting that David Granger must not be leader of the PNCR because he is already Opposition Leader.

Let me state here that the intelligent people of the PNCR are capable of crafting their own destiny, I am aware that the PPP/C is like a wounded

lion hoping to fashion a political conversation to push its propaganda in order to divert the focus of the people from the national conversation.

The conversation which surrounds hinges on bad governance to the corruption that pervades state entities.

Their hope is to distract and fuel division and infighting among our ranks, particularly during this period of our upcoming congress.

For them the conversation on NICIL must be lost; the travesty of the PPP/C PAC vote to have Dr Ashni Singh’s wife audit the state assets her husband manages they hope disappear; their plan is that the outrageous Linden

electricity hike becomes a non issue; that the fact that Ralph Ramkarran abandoned the PPP is forgotten; that the fact that budget cuts were necessary is hidden; that NCN is a hot spot for corruption must escape the minds of the people.

These are the things they hope to get lost in the national conversation. I therefore, wish to remind every PNCR member and supporter to stay focused and not be distracted. Let us not help the PPP/C fuel its agenda.

Let us ask ourselves if the real issue is not one of the PPP/ C being fearful of David Granger becoming leader of the PNCR. Lurlene Nestor

Resignation or suspension is not enough... JAIL THEM DEAR EDITOR, The number of reports on high level corruption that are being made public today, was unthinkable a year ago.

During the last election campaign, Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar, pledged to root out this cancer wherever it raises its ugly head. Today, President Ramotar is not being given the credit he deserves.

We have seen corruption exposed at GT&T; the National Communications Network; and more recent, the Guyana Police Force. But in all these, I am yet to see hard evidence that any high ranking official gets the punishment he/she deserves.

Resignation or suspension is simply not good enough, and should not be an option.

These culprits must be fired and prosecuted for violating the public trust. And if found guilty, jail them and confiscate all assets bought with monies from corrupted practices.

There could be no half measures for discouraging the scourge of corruption in our society, it must be dealt with decisively and fairly regardless of one’s position, association or affiliation. You do the crime, you pay the time... It’s as simple as that.

In a recent article, “Hotel, furniture business busted for electricity theft” (Kaieteur News, July 17), I was pleased to read the names of businesses that were caught by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) stealing electricity, and the disclosure that GPL has “arrested 122 persons for the year as its campaign against electricity theft, countrywide, intensifies.” Publishing the names of persons and businesses caught stealing electricity should be considered on a weekly basis to embarrass and discourage the culprits.

But this continuing campaign by GPL, although needs applauding, is the equivalent to putting a BandAid on a bullet wound while the bullet remains embedded in the victim.

Earlier this year I wrote an article, “Corruption runs deep within the GPL, and Dindyal seems to be totally oblivious” (Kaieteur News, Feb. 10). In it, I disclosed a phone conversation I had with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPL, Bharat Dindyal, who appeared very defensive, very naive and sometimes totally oblivious of what actually goes on in a company he’s responsible for.

During a visit to Guyana last January, I discovered rampant corruption by a senior manager in the Lost Reduction Unit at GPL, one who ‘cut deals’ with persons caught stealing electricity, and allows them to pay significantly less than the ‘calculated rate’ without prosecution.

This corrupt GPL official gets a sizable part of that money, and a smaller amount is paid in to GPL. As part of the deal, the thief is cleared to receive a new metered account, and upon installation, the new meter is “tampered” to read low consumption, which records less than the amount of electricity actually consumed.

To date, I have not heard of any ‘shake-up’ in the Loss Reduction Unit or anywhere else at GPL to convince me that this rogue official and others like him, are not carrying on business as usual. And the more disconnections GPL makes, the more prosperous these corrupted officials become. It is a thriving business for them, as their salaries alone cannot support the cars they drive and homes they live in.

GPL commercial losses are estimated at $2 billion

annually, with approximately 30 per cent of the population illegally connected.

In his address on June 28 at the 2012 Annual General Meeting of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), His Excellency Donald Ramotar urged the private sector to play its part in stopping the scourge of corruption. “It is not the responsibility of the government alone, but that of the private sector...I look

forward to the private sector taking a proactive stance in isolating the corrupt within our midst.... I am committed to addressing these issues.”

The President asked the PSC not to be lured into bribing public officials as, “We will try to get to both the corrupted and the corrupter.

Both are criminally culpable.”

President Ramotar has made it very clear where he stands on corruption. But he

has to make an example of those who blatantly and selfishly disrespect his authority, undermining his ability to fulfill his campaign commitment to the nation.

As he said recently, “There should be no sacred cows. If by chance there is corruption, then the law should take its course.”

Mr. President, are they hearing you?

Harry Gill

A false impression of Linden DEAR EDITOR, I have never been a reader of that partisan and divisive rag called the Mirror. It is the greatest publisher of revisionist history and inaccurate facts on Guyana. I was however interested in reading the article on corruption in Guyana penned

by Ralph Ramkarran, so I did a Google search and found the article.

While looking for the article I came across a headline that said something to the effect that Government proves that Linden is not depressed. The evidence of

this was a newly built or renovated building and a newly paved road. This is the appalling evidence of economic vibrancy from the genius room of the ruling party.

It is insulting to the hardworking people of Linden and the entire Guyanese community to say that we have thrown up a road and a building that look good, so be satisfied.

To say that Linden is not a depressed community, the government is truly showing that they will not lift a finger to bring any improvement to the mining town.

To prove that Linden is not depressed, I would like the Mirror to publish the following statistics on Linden: The unemployment rate; the average income of all households; the poverty level in the community; recent substantial investments.

Any half-baked economist would know that the economic wellbeing of a community does not rely on the beauty of a few buildings but the goods and services produced and how those benefit the community directly.

Jerrick Rutherford

(From page 22) FOR RENT Rental of roller, bobcat & excavator. Contact numbers: 621-4786 or 220-5580 Complete salon to rent dryers, chairs, workstation, sink, Hadfield Street, Simone 227-0501

LAND FOR SALE 1 ½ acre, 48ftx1300ft V/Hoop Call: 627-9351 Transported land at Soesdyke access to both river & public road Call:2615146,261-5020,675-1671 2 house lots at Blakenburg Public road W.C .D, 38 x 150 ,39 x 150 ,$18M each call:6580132 Large land Bagotville W.B.D 37’X732’, Great poultry/ greenhouse farming $6.5M Call:223-1719 Looking for land to set up gold and diamond mining operations? Then call:2231719.

MASSAGE American style massage service Call: 609-4036 Massage Therapy..!! You come to us or we come to you Call:622-6256

VACANCY Cashiers, cooks, waitress, kitchen assistant, handyman and security. Call: 218-5120 Vacancy exist for porters, drivers, office clerks. Apply Lot 10 Vlissengen Road.

Long term live in maid/ nanny, 30-45 years.

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Lot 605 Diamond New Scheme 4th Street, general maid to live in age 35- 40 call:665-8737 Aracari Resort, maintenance staff able body, security, experience cook, Apply in person or call:264-3312,2642946 Receptionist, maid, handy boy Call:223-6284

Page 24

NTN CHANNEL 18/ CABLE 69 0500h -Sign on with the Mahamrtunjaya Mantra 0510h - Meditation 0530h - Queenstown Masjid Presents Quran This Morning 0600h - R. Gossai General Store Presents Ram Bhajans 0615h - Jettoo’s Lumber Yard Presents Ram Bhajans 0630h - Muneshwar Limited Presents Ram Bhajans 0645h - Double Standard Taxi Presents Ram Bhajans 0700h - RRT Enterprise Presents Ram Bhajans 0715h - M & M Snackette Presents Raja Yoga Discourses 0730h - Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital Inc Presents 0745h - The Family of the Late Leila & David Persaud Presents Ram Bhajans 0800h - Timehri Maha Kali Shakti Devi Mandir Presents Ram Bhajans 0815h - NTN This Morning Live with Reyaz Husein 0930h - Indian Soap - Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke 1000h - Indian Soap - Rab Se Sohna Isshq 1030h - Indian Soap - Pavitra Rishta 1100h - Indian Soap - Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch

Kaieteur News

Bahuyien 1130h - Indian Soap - Punar Vivaah 1200h - DVD Movie: LOVE AT TIMES SQUARE (Eng: Sub:) *ing Dev Anand, Heenee Kaushik, Shoeb Khan & Chaitanya, 1430h - Cartoons 1500h - Sitcom FRINGE 1600h - Devotional Times 1700h - Drying Tears Live with Pastor Edson 1730h - Kingdom Agenda Hosted by Bishop Dr. J. Edgehill 1800h - Ganesh Parts Presents - BHAGAVAD GITA ( Discourses in English) Serial 1815h - Birthday Greetings / Deaths Announcement & In Memoriam 1830h - Hare Krishna Today 1900h - Music Fantasia with Asif Nawaz 2000h - Ashmins Presents DANCE WITH ME with Joel 2100h - Indian Soap - Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke 2130h - Indian Soap - Rab Se Sohna Isshq 2200h - Indian Soap Pavitra Rishta 2230h - Indian Soap - Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuyien 2300h - Sign Off with the

Gayatri Mantra DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55 hrs. Sign On 09:00 hrs. Live! With Kelly 10:00 hrs. JAG 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 19:30 hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00 hrs. Channel 8 News 20:30 hrs. The Cosby Show 21:00 hrs. DTV’s Summer Movie Fest 23:00 hrs. Sign Off MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 Sign on 06:00 Islamic Perspective 06:30 News Update 07:00 DAYBREAK – Live 08:00 Dabi’s musical 08:30 Avon DVD Music break 09:00 Current Affairs 09:15 Top Notch Music Break 09:30 Caribbean Temptation Music Mix 10:00 Amanda’s musical 10:30 Double Day Int. Music Hour

“Dangerous and unhealthy” ...

From page 21 condition of the facility before they enrol their children there.

“I am requesting parents to see the registration letter before they leave their child at a day care and they should make sure they check the condition of the place.”

But a City Council official told the Kaieteur News that the M&CC does not issue any registration letters to Day Care operators. “The way this country is going right now, a person can just gather couple children and start a day care.”

Meanwhile, the day care operator declined to give this newspaper a comment.

(Romila Boodram)

Wednesday July 18, 2012

11:00 H. Persaud (Crown Chowmein) Music Break 11:30 The View 12:00 GINA programme 12:30 The Young and The Restless 13:30 Days of Our lives 14:00 Good Afternoon America 15:00 General Hospital 16:00 The Bold and The Beautiful 16:30 Cartoons 17:00 Birthday and other greetings 17:15 Death Announcements/ In Memoriam 17:30 Sitcom 17:50 Slim Jet Infomercial 18:00 Aracari Resort Hour 19:00 Fire Fest Update 19:30 News Update 20:30 DJ Stress Update 21:30 Musical Waves: Universal soldier

23:00 News Update 23:30 English Movie: Universal soldier continues 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 – Guysuco Roundup (R/B) 08:30 – Feature 09:00 – Stop the Suffering 10:00 – CCTV 11:00 – History 12:00 – CNN

12:30 – NCN Newsbreak 12:35 – GRA IN FOCUS 13:05 – Your Health the Nations Wealth (R/B) 14:00 – Movie 16:00 – Round Table (R/B) 17:00 – Anderson 18:00 – NCN News Magazine – Live 18:30 – Feature 19:00 – Al Jazeera 19:30 – Inside the Government(R/B) 20:00 – 3d/daily millions/play de dream/lotto draw 20:05 – GWI Alert 20:35 – Oral Tradition 21:05 – NCN Sports Magazine 22:05 – NCN News Late Edition 22:35 – Caribbean Newsline 23:00 – Movie

Guides are subjected to change without notice

Wednesday July 18, 2012 ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Focus your efforts on details, and keep to yourself in order to finish your work. Do not blow situations out of proportion. You will find it easy finalizing personal papers if you make an effort.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) You'll only hurt your lover if you don't. Your changing philosophies may lead you into new circles and open doors that will give you a unique outlook on life. Your emotional partner will push the right buttons today.

GEMINI (May 22-June

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You should get out and enjoy social events where you are likely to meet new potential mates; however, don't over spend. You should be setting up interviews or sending out your resume today. Someone you live with is ready to play emotional games.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Discord could be unnerving. You can make the most headway if you put in some overtime. Resist the temptation to gamble. Risks will not be profitable.

21) Escapist tendencies may lead to overindulgence. You should regain some of your self esteem if you get involved in organizational functions.

Children will keep you busy.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 Dec. 21) Moneymaking ventures may just turn your life around.

Realize that you don't have to do everything yourself. Make plans to meet again in the near future.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) This will not be the day to have minor surgery. Travel for business or pleasure. Put your energy into learning new skills or picking up valuable information.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Your best efforts will come through investments concerning your home. There's lots to be done and if you meet your deadline you'll be in your boss's good books. Opportunities to travel will develop through peers.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.Jan. 20) Do your own thing without drawing attention to it. You will be in the mood for entertainment. Any intimate relationships with colleagues will lead to gossip that could easily affect your position.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) You will tend to overeat today. Your mate will appreciate your honesty.

Don't let your emotional partner upset you today.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept.

23) You may find yourself in a predicament with family members. Focus your efforts on your work. You don't want to give anyone fuel for the fire.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Romantic encounters will be full of excitement.

Relationships have not been the best for you lately and it's left you somewhat gun shy.

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

Letter to the Sports Editor Fifa’s new ethics committee to examine bribes payments Kadecia Baird’s success was under the watch of the USA The payment of millions of pounds in bribes to two Fifa officials is to be examined by the organisation’s new ethics committee.

Joao Havelange and Ricardo Teixeira were named as having received huge sums by Fifa’s former marketing partner ISL. Blatter was aware senior officials were paid millions of pounds, according to a court investigation. “On my request, ISL file will be given to the new ethics committee,” Blatter tweeted on Tuesday.

“ISL is settled legally - now it will be settled also morally.”

Last week Blatter stated on Fifa’s website that he knew about the payments but that they were legal at the time.

He said: “Back then, such payments could even be deducted from tax as a business expense. Today, that would be punishable under law.” Havelange was Fifa president for 24 years before

Sepp Blatter being succeeded by Blatter in 1998 while Teixeira, Havelange’s former son-inlaw, this year resigned as head of Brazil’s football federation and the 2014 World Cup organising committee.

Former United States attorney Michael J Garcia has been appointed by football’s world governing body as head of the new ethics committee.

DEAR EDITOR, A silver medal by USA based, Kadecia Baird at the just concluded 2012 IAAF World Junior Championship (Spain) for Guyana is indeed an achievement which should be treasured for the sports sector. Her compatriot, Stephan James should also be applauded for his performance and let’s hope that he will grow much healthier with his track career from the exposure and experience he was exposed to.

On the other hand, a great lot of credit has got to be given to Baird’s coach and camp personnel of the USA because her success came under the watchful eyes of the USA where she is currently based and training.

Her continued and future success can also propelled her to super stardom and joining the elite squad in years to come, but that will

depend if she is wise enough and intelligently smart to take up citizenship of the USA and run for that flag. I am almost certain that she will come by corporate America long term endorsement/sponsorship which is vital for her track career.

It is my opinion that Guyana is not currently prepared to undertake such a task of matching what she can get from American endorsement/ s by corporate America.

The Sports Sector of Guyana on the other hand should place a lot of focus/ emphasis on transformation, transparency and creating a much greater image in rebuilding and growing much healthier for the benefit of all.

Having said that, we should all be in for some nail biting competition at the 2012 London Olympics which starts in a few days; GPL, make us proud.

T. Pemberton

Young Boyz whip Antigua to progress in CFU play-offs Jamaica Observer JAMAICA Under-17s advanced to the Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) World Cup qualification final round with a resounding 4-0 win over Antigua and Barbuda Sunday night at the Waterhouse Stadium.

Jamaica topped the threeteam Group One with maximum six points from two games ahead of Bermuda on three and Antigua pointless.

Jamaica join Cuba and Haiti into the final six-team group set for August 19-30.

Cuba won Group Two ahead of Puerto Rico, Aruba and the Bahamas, while Haiti topped Group Three ahead of Dominican Republic, Curacao and St Lucia.

Jamaica captain Junior Flemmings led from in front grabbing a brace in the 17th and 20th minutes for his third goal in two games. The Jamaica College student outpaced a defender and

slipped the ball past the goalkeeper. Three minutes later he was fouled in the box, but picked himself up and calmly converted from the spot.

Iishmale Currie of Garvey Maceo opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a speculative 25-metre shot that slipped through the grasp of Antigua goalkeeper Akoye Oscar. US-based Michael Seaton of DC United Academy notched Jamaica’s fourth goal after being teed up by Flemmings in the 44th minute.

The young Reggae Boyz dominated the entire match and Antigua rarely ventured into Jamaica’s 18-yard box and didn’t even register a shot on target.

Jamaican head coach Wendell Downswell was pleased with the team’s performance as they now look forward to the next phase.

“We looked much more

Jamaica Under-17 captain Junior Flemmings (right) gets away from Antigua and Barbuda’s Lyndon Thwaites better and composed in terms of our ball possession.

Overall it was a good exercise for us,” said Downswell.

have run faster this season.

“This is where I am supposed to be,” said Blake.

“Not many guys run 9.85.”

Blake shocked Bolt in the 100m final at the Jamaican Olympic trials last month when winning in 9.75 secs, the fastest time in the world this year and a new personal best.

Bolt finished second in 9.86 secs, with former world record holder Asafa Powell third in 9.88 secs.

Blake also beat Bolt in the 200m final at the trials in 19.80 secs.

After winning in Lucerne, in what is expected to be his final outing before the Olympics, Blake added: “Definitely I am on the right path for the Olympics.

“I want to remain unbeaten and that’s what I am doing. I didn’t come here to run a quick time but it’s still a fast time.”

Yohan Blake warms up for Olympics with easy victory

Yohan Blake

Yohan Blake said he is “on the right path for the Olympics” after winning the 100m in 9.85 seconds at a lowkey meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The reigning world champion, 22, showed why he is considered the main threat to defending 100m and 200m Olympic champion Usain Bolt.

Only Bolt - at 9.76 secs and 2004 Olympic winner Justin Gatlin - at 9.80 secs -

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Kaieteur News

Sugar Ray Leonard’s greatest win as a boxer came in the 1976 Olympics Yahoo! Sports – Heading into the light welterweight gold-medal bout in the 1976 Olympics, Cuba’s Andres Aldama and his vicious lefthanded hook had been a savage wrecking ball knocking down everything in his path.

Four fights, four stoppages before a second round ever came to an end.

That included a first-round, one-punch knockout in the semifinals of Bulgaria’s Vladimir Kolev, who had to be carried off on a stretcher.

So it was no wonder Howard Cossell expressed so much trepidation as Sugar Ray Leonard walked to the ring to face the theretofore impenetrable Aldama.

“If Leonard can escape [the left hand] … Leonard can win a gold medal,” Cossell told his ABC audience. “I don’t know if he can.”

Not only did Leonard escape the left hand by incorporating a brilliant tactical strategy that called for almost constant clockwise movement, but he unleashed a relentless punishment of his own that by the end of the third and final round left Aldama on wobbly legs.

Leonard won the fight 50, just as he had his previous five bouts, and the world was introduced to its next great fighter. For anyone who could handle Aldama with the ease that Leonard did was destined for greatness.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Athletes’ Village opens its doors LONDON, England (AFP) — The Olympic Athletes’ Village opened its doors Monday to the first competitors as the logistical operation to handle the arrival of thousands of athletes and officials shifted into a higher gear.

London’s Heathrow Airport was expecting to handle a record number of passengers, with the Olympics arrivals swelling numbers to almost 237,000 at the west London hub, compared to 190,000 on an ordinary day.

The first priority “Games Lane” went into operation on the M4 motorway leading from Heathrow, to allow athletes and officials to be whisked to their destinations without being delayed by London traffic.

It emerged that nine police forces have had to deploy extra officers to help with security for the Games, a week after the government was forced to draft in 3,500 troops to meet a shortfall in private security guards.

At Heathrow, where passengers have complained of being stuck in passport queues for several hours in recent weeks, the addition of extra border officials appeared to have eased the process.

There were few complaints from spectators or athletes, who were greeted by more than 500 volunteers as they landed.

The Netherlands women’s beach volleyball team flew in from Amsterdam

Sammy, Gayle pay tribute to ‘super...

From back page people came out, showed their appreciation and showed us love.”

Gayle continued his successful return to the international stage and was the leading batsman in the five-match series. He ended with 220 runs at an average of 55. His 125 in the second Digicel ODI was the highest individual score.

“I’m really happy...there is great happiness and joy in the dressing room and every man deserves credit for a very good job throughout the entire series. What is also good is to see the happiness throughout the Caribbean and among our fans all over the world who support us,” said the 32-year-old.

“When we won on Saturday we had young children and old people come up to us and congratulate us and you could see how much it meant to them. We came back and finished off the job in style. It was a great series.

New Zealand kept fighting,

they didn’t give up, so for us to push them back and come away with a 4-1 win showed that we are growing in strength.”

Both Sammy and Gayle were full of praise for spinner Sunil Narine who posed problems for the visitors throughout the series. The 24year-old, who is in his first year on the international stage, was the highest wickettaker with 13 wickets at an average of 11.23 and an economy rate of 2.92 runs per over. He collected the Digicel Man-of-the-Series award.

“He’s just world class and to have him in the team gives you more confidence, especially when you’re defending a total. You know what he’s capable of.

Throughout this series he’s been a champion for us,” Sammy said.

Gayle added: “Narine was exceptional. He kept the pressure on them every time and his bowling made a lot of difference. Whenever we needed a wicket we could turn

Wednesday July 18, 2012

to him and he delivered for us in pressure situations.”

DIGICEL 2012 SERIES New Zealand to West Indies Digicel One-Day International Series July 5: 1st Digicel ODI – West Indies won by 9 wickets at Sabina Park, Jamaica July 7: 2nd Digicel ODI – West Indies won by 55 runs at Sabina Park July 11: 3rd Digicel ODI – New Zealand won by 88 runs at Warner Park, St. Kitts July 14: 4th Digicel ODI – West Indies won by 24 runs at Warner Park July 16: 5th Digicel ODI – West Indies won by 20 runs at Warner Park Upcoming matches July 20-22: West Indies A vs New Zealand – Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua – 10 a.m.

Digicel Test Series July 25-29: 1st Digicel Test – Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground – 10 a.m.

August 2-6: 2nd Digicel Test – Sabina Park, Jamaica – 10 a.m.

in a blaze of orange tops and said they were impressed by the setup. One of the players, Marleen van Iersel, 24, told AFP: “From the moment we walked off the plane there were people helping us straight away. It is very wellorganised.”

A large US contingent also arrived at Heathrow, including members of the sailing teams.

But experiences of the early arrivals were mixed, with two-time world 400 metres hurdles champion Kerron Clement claiming the bus ferrying him and his US teammates from Heathrow to the Athletes’ Village had taken four hours.

Clement tweeted: “Um, so we’ve been lost on the road for 4hrs. Not a good first impression London.

“Athletes are sleepy, hungry and need to pee. Could we get to the Olympic Village please.”

However, the hurdler later tweeted to praise facilities at the athlete’s village, located in the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London.

“Eating at the Olympic village,” he wrote. “Love the variety of food choices., african, caribbean, Halal cuisine, india and asian and of course McDonalds.”

London Mayor Boris Johnson shrugged off the incident, joking that it had given the athletes “even more of an opportunity to see even more of the city than they might otherwise have done.”

Competitors and officials will be accommodated in 2,818 apartments across 11 residential blocks, each built around a courtyard offering athletes space to relax.

Organisers could do nothing though about the grey skies and persistent

drizzle in London as athletes got a first taste of their home for the next three weeks.

The Australian team have already taken over several balconies of one block, with a banner reading “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie; Oi, Oi, Oi” draped across them. The furore over the giant private security firm G4S showed no signs of abating, despite ministers’ insistence that the Games would be secure.

G4S has insisted that the extra police drafted in should be able to withdraw in the next few days.

“This situation is being rectified over the coming

days, which should lead to the withdrawal of police officers from those roles assigned to private security,” a G4S spokesman said.

In a heated parliamentary debate on the security issue, Home Secretary Theresa May said it was “untrue” that ministers knew last year that there would be a shortfall in the numbers of security personnel they had been promised.

“G4S repeatedly assured us that they would overshoot their targets,” she said.

Shares in the company, which says it is likely to lose £50 million (US$78 million, 63.5 million euros) over the debacle, dived 10 per cent in early trading in London before recovering slightly to close down 6.66 percent.

What is billed as the biggest anti-doping operation in Olympic history also got under way on Monday.

Half of all competitors will be tested, with a team of 150 scientists taking more than 6,000 samples between now and the end of the Paralympic Games on September 9.

Sri Lanka players agree...

From page 30 (approx US$5.07 million) to the board, following discussions with sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. However, the players have not been paid since the previous contracts expired, as the new contracts are yet to be signed.

The SLPL starts on August 11, with the final to be played on August 31. SLC had released a list of 112 local players and 56 overseas players who will take part in the event. The tournament, which features seven franchises this year, will have two more the next year, covering all nine provinces.

Jayawardene, who is the icon player for the Wayamba franchise, said the focus of the tournament should be on developing the game in Sri Lanka. “While we say all good things about the tournament, let me caution everyone … While we are making financial gains, the commitment of the people involved should be to harness the talent, develop the game in the outstations, get every possible youngster involved and let them realise their dream of playing for Sri Lanka one day.”

Defending champs Jamaica to clash...

From back page WICB Regional Under 15 Tournament 2012 - St Kitts fixtures Date Time Matches Venue ROUND -1 Wed July 18 - Thu July 19 - 9:30am-5:00pm - Barbados v Jamaica - Warner Park Wed July 18 - Thu July 19 Guyana v Windward Islands - Conaree Wed July 18 - Thu July 19 Leeward Islands v Trinidad & Tobago - Molineaux Round-2 Sat July 21- Sun July 22 - 9:30am-5:00pm - Barbados v Guyana - Molineaux Sat July 21- Sun July 22 Jamaica v Leeward Islands - Conaree Sat July 21- Sun July 22 Trinidad & Tobago v Windward Islands - Warner Park Monday July 23 - Development Seminar: 9:30am -12:00pm Round -3 Tue July 24- Wed July 25 - 9:30am-5:00pm - Barbados v Windward Islands - Conaree Tue July 24- Wed July 25 Jamaica v Trinidad & Tobago - Molineaux Tue July 24- Wed July 25 Guyana v Leeward Islands - Warner Park Round -4 Fri July 27-Sat July 28 - 9:30am-5:00pm - Barbados v Leeward Islands - Warner Park Fri July 27-Sat July 28 Guyana v Trinidad & Tobago - Conaree Fri July 27-Sat July 28 Jamaica v Windward Islands - Molineaux Round -5 Mon July 30 -Tue July 31 - 9:30am-5:00pm - Barbados v Trinidad & Tobago - Conaree Mon July 30 -Tue July 31 Guyana v Jamaica - Warner Park Mon July 30 -Tue July 31 Windward v Leeward Islands - Molineaux

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 27

James helps US basketball team win after bad start

Lebron James of Team USA (left) looks past Tiago Splitter of Brazil during their Olympic men's exhibition basketball game in Washington.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The problem was Brazil, not the president’s presence.

The U.S. Olympic basketball players said they weren’t nervous about playing in front of President Barack Obama, nor were they thrown off by the lengthy delay while the first fan took his seat just before tipoff.

“No, we just came out trying to pressure as much as we could, see how they would handle it, which we’ll probably do nightly, and they did a pretty good job of handling the pressure,” U.S. guard Chris Paul said. “And we settled down in the second quarter, held them to five points and got going.”

LeBron James scored 30 points and the U.S. rallied from an early 10point deficit to beat Brazil 80-69 on Monday night in its final exhibition game on home soil.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden watched the Americans get off to a dismal start, then turn it around by holding the Brazilians to two baskets in the second quarter.

“They came out really counterpunching and taking

advantage of our aggressiveness on defense, and they’re wellcoached. They came in with a great plan and executed their plan very well start of the game,” U.S. guard Kobe Bryant said. “We made our adjustments second quarter, kept them to five points, which after the 20-something point first quarter is pretty impressive.”

James helped the U.S. pull away in the final four minutes after they led by only seven with 4 ½ minutes left, getting his final point on a free throw with 31 seconds left as Obama departed to chants of “Four more years!”

James, who scored 14 points in the final period, said it was “humbling” and “overwhelming” to play in front of the president.

“You have dreams about being in the NBA. You have dreams about making the game-winning shot at the buzzer. You never have dreams about having the president actually watching you play, because you don’t think it’s possible,” he said.

“It’s definitely humbling, to see him here, the first lady and their kids here to watch us play. Really, it’s

President Barack Obama, left, and first lady Michelle Obama, look up at themselves on the large in-house video screen as they appear on Kiss Cam

amazing.”

Kevin Durant, a D.C .native, added 11, and Paul scored 10 for the Americans, who will leave Tuesday for Europe to complete their Olympic preparations. They face Britain in Manchester, England, on Thursday before traveling to Barcelona to play Argentina and Spain.

It’s a solid exhibition schedule, and this game showed the Americans have some work to do before they get to London. They were just 1 of 12 from 3-point range in the first half and struggled offensively when forced to play in the halfcourt.

“It felt good, though, to compete and stuff like that,” Paul said. “Like we said, our defense is what’s going to win games for us, and obviously we imposed that after the first quarter.”

The president met with the men’s and women’s teams, who swept the doubleheader from Brazil. He received a loud cheer when he arrived, but like the U.S. players got off to a slow start. He needed a second chance in the fourth quarter before first lady Michelle Obama would grant him a kiss on the “Kiss Cam” segment, the crowd booing when she wouldn’t allow him a smooch in the second quarter.

“You know, PDA is not for everybody, you know what I mean?”

Bryant said. “But he makes the important decisions, so it’s all good.”

Players were just walking onto the floor for the jump ball when Obama and Biden emerged from the tunnel to take their seats. The start was delayed while they greeted fans, and perhaps the break had the U.S. players out of rhythm at the beginning of the game.

James hit two free throws to open the scoring, but the Americans didn’t make their first basket until more than 2 ½ minutes in after falling behind 7-2. Alex Garcia had two 3pointers and two other baskets in the early going as Brazil pushed the lead to 17-7 barely five minutes in.

Indicative of the way things were going for the Americans, Russell Westbrook came up with a steal near midcourt and was all alone for a layup that he somehow botched. The Brazilians scored the final four points of the period, taking a 27-17 lead on Anderson Varejao’s jumper with 15.5 seconds left.

Brazil coach Ruben Magnano said through an interpreter the goal was “not to focus on the names on the jersey and play the game,” and they did it for almost 40 minutes ... head to head against the USA. “It was a very important challenge to make the team ready for the Olympics,” he added.

But the Americans got the tempo they wanted in the second, simply wrestling the ball out of Brazilian hands to create turnovers and fast breaks. A 12-0 run fueled by steals and layups turned an eight-point deficit into a 33-29 lead, and James powered to the basket for the last two baskets of the half as the Americans went into the break with a 37-32 lead.

The Americans expected and got a much tougher game than their exhibition opener, a 113-59 rout of the Dominican Republic last Thursday in Las Vegas. Brazil has loads of NBA size to exploit the Americans’ biggest weakness, with Nene of the Washington Wizards, Varejao of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Tiago Splitter of San Antonio, plus experienced guard play.

Garcia scored 14 points for Brazil and Varejao finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Marcelo Huertas had 11 points and 13 assists.

Brazil gave the U.S. its toughest game at the world basketball championship two years ago, the Americans pulling out a 70-68 victory when Leandro Barbosa’s shot from the lane bounced off the rim as time expired.

Of course, that U.S. team didn’t have James or anyone else from the

team that won the 2008 Olympic gold medal and are the favorites to repeat.

The Americans believe they have a better squad than four years ago and maybe even could have beaten the Dream Team, but perhaps it’s time to end that debate.

The Dream Team never found itself in a six-point game with six minutes to go, as the Americans did after Varejao tipped in a miss. The U.S. finally pulled away in the final 4 minutes, started by consecutive baskets by James, a 3-pointer and a bucket in the lane.

“I think we just had a slow start, missing shots, some shots that we make every single day in practice,” center Tyson Chandler said. “But the good thing about tonight is they showed us some looks that we haven’t seen so far and we’re learning defensively from it, and we’ll make shots.”

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Ramrattan/Leacock Wiggins unconcerned by upcoming mountain tests advance in Mixed Doubles PAU, France (AP) — Tour de France leader Bradley Wiggins has dismissed the two upcoming Pyrenees mountain stages as nothing special.

But the ‘’Circle of Death,’’ as today’s linkage of four brutal climbs is known, plus the race’s last summit finish atop the 5,300-foot Peyraguedes on Thursday will test the nonchalance Wiggins showed when asked if he fears riding up such famed mountains as the nearly 7,000-foot Tourmalet in the next two days. ‘’It goes uphill like all the others doesn’t it?’’ Wiggins said Tuesday at a news conference, adding that Wednesday’s stage ‘’isn’t any more difficult than any other stage we’ve done up to this stage, really.’’

Wiggins sought to play down the importance of the coming rough ride through the mountains forming France’s border with Spain. ‘’It’s just another day on the Tour really,’’ he said. ‘’We try not to get carried away with emotion, it’s all about performance and we’re very businesslike at this stage.’’

Wiggins’ Team Sky is stacked with strong climbers like Norwegian champion Edvald Boasson Hagen, Australian pair Richie Porte and Michael Rogers, and above all Kenyan-born Christopher Froome of Britain to give him reason to be confident, but other questions remain.

Will the ‘’King of the Alps’’ Pierre Rolland dominate the Pyrenees, or will the man from Down Under, defending champ Cadel Evans, go over the top in a last-ditch move to save his Tour dream?

Rolland received his nickname in the French press after his win at the La Toussuire ski resort last week followed up victory in the

l’Alpe d’Huez in 2011. He must continue his efforts in the Pyrenees if he wants to catch Swedish rider Frederik Kessiakoff in the battle for the polka-dot jersey that goes to the Tour ’s King of the Mountains.

Evans, meanwhile, must find a slope somewhere on the four category-1 and three beyond-category climbs which riders tackle on Wednesday and Thursday that is steep enough to launch an attack on Wiggins to begin eating into his 3:19 deficit to the Briton in the yellow jersey hunt.

Evans, Rolland and the 154 other riders left in the 99th Tour will have plenty of time to ponder the upcoming one-two punch that is the 16th and 17th stages of the Tour - as the Pyrenees mountains are visible on the horizon from Pau, the medieval city where the race pauses for its last rest day.

Team Sky, the squad aiming to make Wiggins Britain’s first Tour champion, spent its day off in Pau on Tuesday recuperating from more than two weeks of nearly non-stop racing, the team’s manager said. ‘’A little bit of a lie-in, a couple miles out on the bike to keep the momentum going, a bite to eat, massage, media, a meal, sleep. That’s pretty much it really,’’ Dave Brailsford said.

Rest and recuperation will be the order of the day for other teams as well, in a Tour that has become somewhat of a war of attrition. Crashes and illnesses have already caused more than 20 percent of the original 198 starters in Liege, Belgium, to abandon the competition.

Among the Pyrenean peaks that will haunt riders’ dreams on their day off are a chain of mountains so difficult they have been known as the ‘’Circle of

Death’’ since they first became part of the Tour course in 1910. ‘’Generally, the Pyrenees are a bit harder than the Alps,’’ said American rider Tejay van Garderen, currently holding the white jersey for best cyclist 25 and under. ‘’The roads are a bit rougher, they’re just a bit more taxing.’’

The four legendary Pyrenean passes riders will climb Wednesday include Peyresourde, Aubisque, Aspin and Tourmalet, the highest point on this year’s Tour.

The climbing doesn’t let up on Thursday, when riders face the category-1 Col de Mente and the beyondcategory Port de Bales, before scaling Peyragudes for the final summit finish of this year’s Tour.

Pierrick Fedrigo of France won Monday’s 15th stage by leading a two-man final breakaway, and Bradley Wiggins kept the overall lead as he stayed with his rivals in the main pack far behind.

The 99-mile route from Samatan to Pau had a mostly flat layout, but teams with strong sprinters didn’t try to chase down the breakaway riders as fatigue kicked in following a fast start.

Fedrigo, of the FDJBigMat team, earned his fourth Tour stage victory by leaving a group of six riders with about 4 miles left, with only Garmin-Sharp cyclist Christian Vande Velde of the United States able to stay close.

The 32-year-old Wiggins, the Team Sky leader, finished 11 minutes, 50 seconds behind Fedrigo in the main pack.

Overall, Wiggins leads second-place teammate Christopher Froome by 2:05.

Vincenzo Nibali of Italy is third, 2:23 behind, and defending champion Evans remains fourth.

From left Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen, Great Britain's Mark Cavendish and 0verall leader's yellow jersey, British Bradley Wiggins

Downes, Miller in action today

Gavin Lewis and Shawna Gentle (left) and Leyend Leycoack and Aruna Ramrattan after the match.

In the highly competitive Mixed Doubles category, the pairing of Leyland Leacock/ Aruna Ramrattan had to battle for 3 sets to overcome Gavin Lewis/Shawna Gentle on Sunday evening. In the first set Leacock/Ramrattan played the better tennis with some excellent teamwork to take the set 6-3. Lewis/Gentle then took the lead 5-3 in the second set which they nearly squandered when Lewis was broken at love. The game was evened up at 5-5 as Leacock then held serve and in the eventual tie-break, Lewis/ Gentle regrouped to force a deciding set. Leacock’s serve and effective groundstrokes and volleying by Ramrattan was able to turn back some spirited play by Gentle who volleyed well throughout the game and they took the final set 6-3 to advance.

Junior pair Khalif Gobin/ Benedict Sukra put in an impressive showing in their Men’s Double match where they put away Ronald Murray/Rawle Sue-Ho in straight sets to book a place in the semi-finals. They will await the winner of today’s match where Godfrey Lowden/Sandeep Chand will play second seed Leyland Leacock/Gilbert Barckoy, while Anthony Downes/ Andre Lopes are heading for an early showdown with top seeds Jeremy Miller/Jason Andrews in the top half of the draw.

Top seed in the Men’s category, Jeremy Miller, will start his campaign against the winner of Seanden David Longe/Grantley Crandon, whilst Downes will face promising junior Khalif Gobin in his first match.

On Thursday, there will be

the eagerly anticipated Mixed Doubles match which will see the return of former top female player Rebecca Mitchell to competition as she will teams up with Downes to take on top seeds Jeremy Miller/ Shelly Ramdyhan in a matchup fitting a final.

In results: Men’s 35 Singles Andre Lopes def Harry Panday 61 6-2 Men’s 35 Singles Mohamed Rafeek def Alfred Mentore 6-3 5-7 7-6 Men’s Doubles Khalif Gobin/Benedict Sukra def Ronald Murray/Rawle SueHo 6-1 6-4 Mixed Doubles Leyland Leacock/Aruna

Ramrattan def Gavin Lewis/ Shawna Gentle 6-3 6-7 (86) 6-3 Men’s 45 Singles Harry Panday def Rawle Sue-Ho 60 6-0 Men’s 45 Singles Victor Dechanko def Albert Madramootoo 6-2 6-1 Men’s 45 Doubles Carlos Adams/Wayne Alphonso def Steve David Longe/Albert Madramootoo 6-3 6-0 Men’s Doubles Kester Abrams/Bishan Dalip def S. McGarrell/Grantley Crandon 6-1 6-0 Novices Victor Demchenko def Anthony Sookram 6-2 David Dewar def Irzad Zamal 6-2

Blake and Bolt still ‘friends’ despite rivalry AFP – Yohan Blake has insisted his rivalry with fellow Jamaican sprinter and training partner Usain Bolt will remain a friendly one regardless of what happens at the Olympics.

Blake, 22, is likely to be Bolt’s chief rival when the track great defends his 100 metres and 200 metres gold medals at London 2012.

Bolt was in majestic form in Beijing four years ago but won just the 200m title at the World Championships in South Korea last year, with Blake capitalising on his compatriot’s disqualification to win the 100m.

Blake also beat Bolt over both distance at the Jamaica Olympic trials earlier this month.

“Win, lose or draw we are friends, even though it is business and he wants to win and I want to win.” Blake told the BBC. Blake trains alongside Bolt under the same coach at the Racers Track Club in Kingston and said the arrangement had been a big boost to his career. “Every time in training I want to win but he’s always there. So I say, ‘Okay, how am I going to win on the big day?’. “That’s why some of the time I tend to be at the front so when I get on the track I can say, ‘Okay, I beat him in training’.”

Blake added: “He will say to me, ‘Yohan, look, you’re not doing this for the people, you’re not doing this for the fans, you’re not doing this for your family, you’re doing this for yourself.’ He can motivate me.”

Wednesday July 18, 2012

Kaieteur News

Confident players off to Caribbean Junior Squash Championships A confident bunch of squash players, including seven former Caribbean Junior Champions, recently left for Jamaica where they will attempt to retain that championship when the 30th Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Caribbean Junior Squash Championships get underway from July 20-26 next.

The players were forced to leave in tranches in keeping with the availability of flights and the first batch departed on Monday morning last. The remaining players will leave Guyana on different flights but the entire team will reunite in the Land of Wood and Water by tomorrow afternoon.

Some of the players convened at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street, Georgetown yesterday afternoon and interacted with the press.

They all spouted confidence and Manager of the squad, Garfield Wiltshire

feels that the locals stand a very good chance of retaining the title which they had won seven times in a row.

The former squash king said that while he feels that all of the players are in top form and are expected to do well, he would be surprised if Ashley DeGroot and Female Team Captain, Mary Fung-aFat fail to reach the finals.

Mr. Wiltshire also singled out Male Team Captain, Jason Ray Khalil, Jean Claude Jeffrey and Nyron Joseph for special mention.

He feels that these three players are on top of their game and should turn in c o m m e n d a b l e p e r f o r m a n c e s .

Notwithstanding that, Mr. Wiltshire is backing the local players to retain the title.

His views were shared by President of the Squash association, Roger Arjoon who is also confident that the local racquet wielders would come out successful. Mr. Arjoon praised the efforts of

physical trainer, Kezqweyah Yisrael in molding the team to a high level of fitness.

The girls’ team comprises Rebecca Low, Taylor Fernandes, Larissa Wiltshire, Victoria Arjoon, Akeila Wiltshire, Ashley DeGroot and Mary Fung-A-Fat. The boys’ team read Shomari Wiltshire, Ben Mekdeci, Patrick Fraser, Nyron Joseph, Jean Claude Jeffrey, Steven Xavier and Jason Ray Khalil.

The team is coached by Carl Ince with assistance from Tiffany Solomon. Garfield Wiltshire is the Manager while Deje Dias is the assistant Manager.

Meanwhile, several junior players that were overlooked for the team championships will comprise the team battling for individual honours.

Those players are Daniel and Anthony Islam, Sarah Lewis, Andrew Peroune, Alec Melville and Gabrielle Fraser.

This group is also confident of keeping the Golden Arrowhead aloft.

16th ACDA Emancipation Dominoes tourney set for Sunday The 16th African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) Dominoes tournament organized by Jonny ‘Overseas’ Barnwell for teams in the Mahaica/ Mahaicony and West Berbice areas is set for Sunday at the Guinness Bar Hide Out in Mahaicony.

The top two teams from this competition will advance to the finals of the overall competition at the National Park on Emancipation Day, August 1.

Other Area competitions will be held on Friday July 20, Monday July 30 and Wednesday August 1 at the Guyana Legion, the Guyana

Prisons Service Canteen and the National Park.

Under the Tree, Guyana Legion, Guyana Prisons, Giftland Office Max, Guy Oil, Beharry, Black Stallion Warriors, GDF, Ministry of Education and Sophia Warriors are among the teams expected to vie for Trophies, Medals and cash prizes.

Meanwhile, the ACDA Sports Committee will host an Emancipation Day of Sports from 11:00hrs on Emancipation Day at the National Park.

Among the events planned are a 75-ball Circle Tennis competition for Area mixed teams, 8-over softball cricket for Male and Female

teams, 5-a-side and penalty shoot-out small goal Football competition for Area teams, 5a-side Football for under-13 teams, 5-a-side football for Females, Dominoes competition for Area teams, Boxing display for club teams, 60 meters boys and girls race, 40 and 60 meters race for the blind, 6-overs cricket for the blind and Ice Cream competitions for the blind and children.

A 5-mile Freedom race from Cuffy Square to the National Park and an Upright Cycle race from Leitchfield to Mahaicony will also be held on August 1 as a part of the ACDA’s activities.

Frank Schleck fails drugs tests at Tour de France

Luxembourg rider Frank Schleck has failed a drugs test and will not continue in this year’s Tour de France.

The 32-year-old, who finished third in last year’s race, tested positive for the diuretic Xipamide on 14 July.

Schleck, the older brother of 2010 winner Andy, was 12th in the Tour ’s overall standings, nine minutes and 45 seconds behind leader Bradley Wiggins.

He has the right to request a test of his B sample but his RadioShack team said he will leave the Tour.

“Earlier today, the UCI advised Frank Schleck of an adverse analytical finding

Frank Schleck

(presence of the diuretic Xipamide) in the urine sample collected from him at an incompetition test at the Tour de France on 14 July 2012,” the International Cycling

Union (UCI) said in a statement.

The diuretic is classified as a specified substance and does not require a provisional suspension.

Page 29

National U-15 batsman receives cricket equipment

National Under-15 batsman Bhaskar Yadram receives the gear from one of the donors, Ashmeed Baksh. Sharing the moment are, from left, coach Clive Grimmond and other members of GYO. At extreme right is the young player’s father, Seemangal Yadram.

National Under-15 batsman, Bhaskar Yadram, was recently presented with a quantity of cricket equipment, as he prepares to represent Guyana in the West Indies Cricket Board Regional Under-15 competition in competition.

Guyana will take on the Windward Islands at Conaree with action set to bowl off at 10:00 hours today.

Yadram, who is a righthanded batsman, right-arm off-spinner and capable wicketkeeper, has benefited from the benevolence of Patrick Hardyal and Ashmeed

Baksh, both ex-members of the Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO). Yadram, who turns 13 in September, is a member of GYO. Hardyal presented the teenager with a bat, while Baksh donated a gear bag and a pair of batting gloves.

Yadram thanked the donors for the equipment, noting that he will make maximum use of them on his first trip with the national team.

He also promised to put in a good performance and help Guyana win the title this year. Yadram also took the opportunity to express

gratitude to Chatterpaul Singh of the Enterprise Busta Sports Club for assisting him in his preparations for the competition.

Yadram gained his selection to the national team following a brilliant all-round performance in the Georgetown Cricket Association Under-15 competition earlier this year.

He chalked up 326 runs and captured 16 wickets.

The competition will consist of 15 two-day matches at three venues and under rules tailor made for junior cricket.

West Demerara Sub Association Stag Beer Senior Football League

Young Achievers FC lead points standing as tourney continues Uitvlugt FC and Young Achievers FC have amassed 15 points apiece but the latter team was adjudged the leader in the West Demerara Sub Association Stag Beer Senior Football League by dint of a higher goal aggregate as action in the tournament heats up.

Den Amstel FC, Seawall FC and Beavers FC are all bundled at 9 points apiece but Den Amstel has earned the nod for the third place, also by goal aggregate.

Activities continue with two exciting matches on Saturday and a similar number on Sunday.

On Saturday Seawall come up against Young Warriors

and Den Amstel tackle Eagles while on Sunday Nimes will play Beavers while Wales will throw down the gauntlet on Stewartville in the feature attraction. All matches will be played on the Den Amstel Community Center Ground.

Meanwhile, in matches played over the past weekend, Uitvlugt embarrassed Eagles 7-1 and

were emulated by Den Amstel who dished out a 7-0 drubbing over Wales.

Scoring for Den Amstel were Andre Hector (16th 23rd), Omari Haynes (18th 25th) and Jeffrey Pereira (41st, 54th, 70th). Young Achievers were also in winners’ row, defeating Bagotsville 3-0. On target for the winners was Dexroy Adams in the 34th, 52nd and 60th minutes.

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. Admission price is $300.

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Kaieteur News

Maxwell gets the call as Australia wield the knife

Glenn Maxwell at a Victoria nets session in this file picture SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia have rested all rounder Shane Watson and quick bowler Ben Hilfenhaus and dropped batsman Peter Forrest from their squad to play a three-match one-day series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates starting next month.

Watson was injured while Forrest and Hilfenhaus struggled in the recent 4-0 series loss to England and none was included in the 15-strong party, although Watson and Hilfenhaus were named in the Twenty20 squad that will play three matches in Dubai.

The most surprising inclusion in both squads was little known 23-year-old all rounder Glenn Maxwell, who has played just 11 first class matches for Victoria since his debut last year.

Mitchell Johnson was included in the squad after proving his fitness on the tour of England but his young fellow fast bowler Pat Cummins, who returned home injured from Britain, was included in the Twenty20 squad

but not the one-day group.

“The ODI squad has a strong development aspect to it,” chief selector John Inverarity said in a media release.

“Shane Watson and Ben Hilfenhaus have not been included and Brett Lee has retired.

“This will provide development opportunities for others and allow Shane and Ben to complete a more thorough strength and conditioning programme before embarking on a very demanding schedule.”

The Twenty20 side will use the three-match series against Pakistan, which starts on September 5, as part of their preparations for the World Cup and the squad was a “strong indicator” of the party likely to go on to Sri Lanka, Inverarity said.

With Maxwell joining Brad Hogg and Xavier Doherty in the Twenty20 group, Australia will be able to play three spin bowlers in conditions that are likely to suit slow bowling.

“Glenn Maxwell is a relatively inexperienced player,” conceded Inverarity.

“He’s a versatile and lively off-spinning allrounder and brilliant fieldsman that has caught the eye of the (selection panel). “Glenn will provide another spin bowler option on the slow, low, turning wickets in the UAE.” The one-day series opens in Sharjah on August 28, before a match in Abu Dhabi (August 31) and the final encounter back in Sharjah (September 3).

Squads: One day - Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, George Bailey, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, Callum Ferguson, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade.

Twenty20 - George Bailey (captain), Shane Watson, Dan Christian, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Cameron White

Hollioake estimates debts at $22M ESPNcricinfo - Adam Hollioake, the former England captain, has appeared in an Australian court over debts estimated at A$23m ($22m) after the property development company that he ran in Perth with his father, John, after retiring from cricket went bankrupt.

Hollioake, whose company has been declared bankrupt, has appeared in court to answer questions about his financial affairs and to confirm how much money he owes to about 40 creditors, including another England captain, his Surrey and England team-mate Alec Stewart.

Hollioake, 40, told the Daily Mail that he was a victim of the financial crisis, saying: “Alec understands the position I got myself into, as do the other creditors, apart from one who is determined

Adam Hollioake

to stamp me into the ground.

“What happened was mostly out of my hands, although I accept that I did not apply the same professionalism in my business affairs as I did in my cricket.

“There have been claims

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

that I’ve ripped people off, run away with their money, got it all tucked away, secretly loaded myself up. The truth is, I’ve been left with nothing.

Nothing, that is, except the devotion of my wife, Sherryn, and the love of my kids.

“When we married I was captain of England, good looking, plenty of money, not a care in the world. Now she is married to a fat old guy, not good looking any more, and no money.”

Wednesday July 18, 2012

David Williams and Vasbert Drakes sons in WICB Under-15 Tourney St John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board Regional Under-15 Tournament which bowls off today in St Kitts will include the off-springs of two former West Indies players along with the sons and relations of a number of regional players.

Former West Indies wicketkeeper and Assistant Coach David Williams leads the list. Both his son (David Williams Jr) and his nephew (Daniel Williams) will compete for their native Trinidad and Tobago. Like the older Williams, Daniel is a wicketkeeper batsman while David Jr is a right arm fast bowler and right hand batsman.

Former West Indies all rounder and current Barbados Under 15 Head Coach Vasbert Drakes’ son, Dominic, is part of the Barbados line up. Dominic Drakes bats left handed and bowls left arm medium pace.

Alex Adams, the former Anguillan and Leeward Islands player, like Williams will have a son and a nephew in the tournament. Dimitri Adams is Alex’s son while his nephew is Jaidel Richardson.

The Leewards squad’s pedigree is also enhanced with the inclusion of Useph

- several other former regional players off-springs in tournament Hodge who is the brother of current Anguillan and out-offavour Leewards opening batsman Montcin Hodge, while Ross Powell of Nevis is the son of former Leewards player Ronald Powell.

The Leewards also includes middle order batsman and off spinner Philo Wallace, but he is unrelated to the former Barbados and West Indies opener of the same name.

Johnnel Eugene features in the Windward Islands squad. He is the son of former Windwards batsman John Eugene of St Lucia and who also represented St Marteen.

Taijnarine Chanderpaul, son of current West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, played for Guyana in the last edition of the tournament which was played in Trinidad and which was won by Jamaica.

Taijnarine has now graduated to the Guyana Under 17 team and participated in the recently concluded WICB Under 17 Tournament. Also featuring in that tournament

was Saeed Williams, former West Indies opener Stuart Williams’ son.

The two week Under 15 Tournament will consist of 15 two day matches played under tailor made rules for junior cricket.

The first round bowls off on Wednesday July 18th and the tournament concludes on July 31st.

The tournament will see the continuation of the use of the Pace Wickets Bonus Points system which was implemented by the WICB to encourage teams to use their fast bowlers. The system will award teams 0.5 points for each wicket taken by a fast bowler on that team. All bonus points will be added to the match points.

As has become customary, the WICB will also host a Player Development Seminar during the tournament. WICB Player Relations Officer Ayana Cooper in conjunction with a former international player will make presentations to the region’s Under 15 cricketers.

Sri Lanka players agree on central contracts ESPNCricinfo - Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and its players have agreed in principle to the terms of the central contracts for the next year, bringing to an end almost five months of negotiations and avoiding a potential stand-off over Sri Lanka’s top players participating in the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL).

The new contracts, which will run from March 1, 2012 to February 28, 2013, will bear the existing retainer and match fees, ESPNcricinfo understands.

On Monday, Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lanka captain, had said the country’s cricketers might decide against taking part in the SLPL if the Sri Lankan board didn’t “settle” the players’ central contracts.

The agreement between the two sides means the players no longer have any objections to taking part in the Twenty20 tournament.

“Player contracts will be signed tomorrow or the day after,” Nishanta Ranatunga, the SLC secretary, told ESPNcricinfo on Tuesday. “It has been agreed upon by the players and the board.” Sri

Mahela Jayawardene Lanka host India for five ODIs and one Twenty20 game from July 21, and Ranatunga was confident the contracts would be in place for the series.

There was a discussion about requiring the players to seek prior permission from SLC before speaking to the

media, but that clause did not make it in to the final version of the contract. However, if a player does make comments considered detrimental to SLC, he could face a disciplinary committee hearing.

The contract issue follows a year in which SLC ran into financial problems after running up debts of close to $70 million to finance the building of two international stadiums in Hambantota and Pallekele, and to renovate the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, for the 2011 World Cup. As a result the players were not initially paid their salaries for eight months. In December 2011, 42.36% of the fees due to the players from the World Cup to September 30, 2011 were paid. The payment of US$2 million was made directly into the players’ bank accounts, instead of routing it through Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on December 16.

SLC claimed to have paid the remaining dues in March 2012 after the state-owned Bank of Ceylon agreed to release 600 million rupees Continued on page 26