Tuesday July 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Now is the time for Guyanese to unite DEAR EDITOR, The overt and continuous aggression by Venezuela requires all Guyanese to be united against President Maduro, who appears to be seeking the title of the continental neighbourhood bully intruding in the internal affairs of Guyana. The time is now for every Guyanese to do his bit for this land. Politics, political ambition or bruised political ego must not hinder the call to do what we have to do for country. When faced with external aggression, all Guyanese are expected to demonstrate the highest level of patriotism and rally against the forces of greed and evil which threaten our geographical and global displacement as well as our peace and progress as a nation. There should be no PPP Guyana or coalition Guyana; no divisions, only common purpose to foil the shock of rude invaders who seek to violate our sovereignty. The history of the Venezuelan aggression is one that has seen this nation united on previous occasions. It is the only right and imaginable thing to do. The PNCR, as the other major political force now merged with the AFC and other partners, has traditionally given unquestionable support of the PPP
government when it comes to safeguarding Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Hence it is with astonishment that this postCheddi Jagan PPP now in opposition and best represented politically by the misguided anti-national leadership of Bharrat Jagdeo finds it worthy to use Maduro’s attack on the Guyana government as fuel for political mileage, as posted on the PPP’s facebook with pride. Maduro’s recent statement that, “President Granger is not ruling Guyana. Right now there are major floods in Guyana and he walks the world against Venezuela. I feel sorry for the people of Guyana who is our brother” at the Mercosur Summit, is an effort to insult Guyanese, fuel discontent and pander to opposition politics. His statement and the PPP’s support to same, convey the impression that there is a forged alliance of evil between the current Venezuelan regime and the Jagdeo-led PPP. This is unfortunate. Individually and collectively these forces are out to destroy Guyana and have found common ground upon which to unleash their forces of destruction and greed. The hypocrisy of
From STEM to STEAM with a focus on attitudes DEAR EDITOR, In a recent letter in the media, the suggestion was made that our Minister of Education should consider following the recommendation of American educationists who are advocating the replacement of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) i.e. adding the Arts to the acronym. The Arts indeed cover a wide-ranging group of subjects which may not sufficiently allow for what I consider to be a more urgent and necessary emphasis on attitudinal changes among students and young people generally. I believe any manager, business leader or others involved in developing and managing human resources will subscribe to the view that while it is by no means easy to access the hard skills relevant to science, technology, engineering etc.
It is much more difficult and even more urgent and crucial to develop and sustain positive attitudes at work and in society at large. Therefore, I strongly suggest that we insist on and provide for the development of better attitudes among our young people, and of course adults as the case might be. Nowrang Persaud
President Maduro’s politics feigning brotherhood concern for Guyanese - must remind all Guyanese of the vicious mean hungry wolf who sought to devour Red Riding Hood in the famous fairy tale. The fabled wolf is cunning in his attempt to assume the identity of an innocent child’s grandmother while seeking to do her harm. President Maduro is no brother of Guyana. Brothers do not seek to covet, rob and steal their siblings’ property, threaten them harm and deny them opportunities for development. Such is the characteristic of a vicious mean wolf in disguise and it is timely to be reminded of the happily ever after ending for Red Riding Hood. Similarly, Guyanese brothers acting as internal enemies who cannot recognise that there is a time and place for everything under this sun, and that the time is now for national unity, are demonstrating the highest level of betrayal and lack of patriotism that must be condemned by all and exorcised from Guyanese brotherhood as unworthy, as well as a threat to peace and stability. Continued on page 23
Detangling racism
DEAR EDITOR, Every now and then you come across an article that citizens need not only to read but thoroughly ingest, and on completion, decide which way forward. One such is the recent article by Freddie Kissoon entitled, “I lived in the white man’s country. The non-white record is awful” which carefully articulates some facts and observations on what ails us as Black people and as a nation. Plainly put, the facts and observations are not shocking to me. They are quite well known, but the manner in which the writer so eloquently presented them is quite commendable. Like Freddie I am also non-white, proudly claiming a Third World Country as my place of birth, and have resided for significant periods in three countries spanning two continents. However, the crux of the matter is not that we have to stop blaming the white man but instead respond to the yet–to-be answered question: When will we stop blaming the white man? We are accountable for our own actions now. The colonial epoch is now behind us and Guyanese have had ample opportunities since the white man’s departure to rectify all the atrocities committed, and to build a
nation in a manner of their liking. Pray tell me what has been done thus far? Where is the evidence of not only progress but sustained progress? We have to stop blaming the white man for our problems, and stand up inside of ourselves and develop some intestinal fortitude (drive & will power) so that we can plow through the dust that hinders our vision. I am fully cognizant of the fact that in writing this column, I run the inevitable risk of being accused of Uncle Tom-ing, or being Sold Out, a feeling that is remotely distant from the truth. There is a well-known adage: A house divided against itself cannot stand. We as a people are divided and caught up in a struggle: Women trying to be men, men trying to be women, children against parents, light-skinned individuals thinking that they are better than the darkskinned ones. Another striking example of failure for which the white man is in no way responsible is the railway which in most advanced countries, is symbolic of continued progress. In Guyana the railway not only helped in quick and easy movement of the travelling public, but it also transported large
quantities of goods very efficiently. Bulk sugar from the estates was moved with relative ease to Georgetown for export. Yet, the Demerara-Berbice Railway, the first railway system on the South American continent operated by the Demerara Railway Company, and later sold to the Colonial Transport Department of the Government, came to a precipitous end when oil became a cheap commodity. The folly of such an action is still being felt to this day, and again the white man had no hand in the matter. So rather than blaming the white man, the black man should learn how to outfox the hunter. Was it the white man who taught us the crab mentality, meaning when one of us reaches the top someone will pull us down? Records show us how poorly non-whites have done after the white man has left them to run things for themselves. It’s plain to see that we have only ourselves to blame. History tells the truth so we cannot be mute. So let us stop the blame and get in the game under a new name. It is imperative that we penetrate the exterior and examine the interior. Detangle the racism. An entire country awaits. Yvonne Sam
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Three charged with robbery on Land Court Judge They entered the court compound as notorious criminals – hands tightly secured behind their backs with handcuffs and noisy shackles secured their feet. Under heavy police escort, the three men accused of robbing Land Court Judge, Nicola Pierre, were greeted with flashing lights from cameras of reporters, as if they were celebrities. Two Agricola men were among the three that were charged with the vicious robbery. Appearing before Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan were Damien Millington,22, of 118 Caesar Street, Agricola; Nicholas Narine, 18, also of Caesar Street, Agricola and Anthony David, 28, of 63 Hadfield Street, Stabroek. The first charge alleged that on July 9, at Montrose, East Coast Demerara (ECD), the men being in the company of others and armed with a handgun, robbed Mohamed Chand of five wrist watches, a Samsung Galaxy S5 phone, US$8,000, a wedding ring, four Oakley sunglasses and one brown leather wallet The second charge alleged that the trio, at Montrose ECD robbed Nicola Pierre at gunpoint. They allegedly relieved her of a quantity of gold and diamond jewellery, a clump of gold, a quantity of gem stones among other items, all totaling $1M. In addition, they were charged with discharging a loaded firearm at Roy Peters, with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm. Heavily-armed bandits inflicted a brutal beating on Land Court Judge Nicola Pierre and her
husband Mohamed Chand after overpowering an on-duty Special Constable and storming the couple’s home located in a gated community at Felicity, East Coast Demerara. Pierre, 43, and Chan, 50, were attacked while they were asleep. They were gun-butted into unconsciousness after the men, numbering about four, gained entry to their home via a window. The robbers carted off a small safe containing US$7,000 and jewellery, and a suitcase containing other valuables. But they were forced to drop their loot after coming under gunfire from a security guard who was stationed at a businessman’s home nearby. Pierre sustained a broken jaw and other injuries, while her husband received severe injuries to an eye. He has lost the eye and is currently overseas receiving medical attention. Chand also suffered injuries requiring him to receive some 35 stitches. Yesterday, the men were not required to plead to the indictable charges after they were read to them at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. They were subsequently remanded to prison and will make their next court appearance on July 30, at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. Police Prosecutor, Deniro Jones informed the court that the men were positively identified by their victims. He said that the police acting on information raided a home. He said, too, that several men were inside of the house that came under heavy gunfire with the police. Jones said that the gang leader was killed. He explained that during the raid lawmen found a gun in the house that matches the weapon used to commit the
crime. The prosecutor noted that a ballistic test was done in the investigation. During the court hearing, David pleaded with the Magistrate to address the court. When given the chance, he explained that the police picked him up last Tuesday from his place of employment on Sheriff Street. He said that police took him to the station and demanded that he identify 12 men they already had in
custody. David told the court that he could not have recognized the men. He claimed that the police beat and shocked him to his genitals further demanding that he identify the detainees. He further stressed that he was kept in custody for 144 hours. During that time, he said the police informed him about information they had received from someone about him being involved in a robbery. “I thought I was going home
today. I can’t even feel my feet right now. I am going to lose my job if this gets in the media,” he added. Millington and Narine only provided the court with their basic information. They also claimed that they were tortured at the hands of the police. The three men who were unrepresented by an attorney are alleging that two policemen by the name of Melville and Caesar assaulted them. When the brief court hearing ended, the
men calmly requested to speak with reporters, who were gathered on the court’s stairways. Millington and Narine held their heads high and declared that they were innocent of the charges against them. They behaved in a very disorderly manner as they were making their way out of the court compound. Loud noise emerged from the prison van as they were heard continuously banging on the metal walls of the van.
Guyana one of four CARICOM countries heading into debt trap Four Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations have been named among countries at risk of government external debt crises – one of them specially highlighted among those “rapidly heading” in that direction. Guyana, Haiti and St. Lucia are in a list of 29 countries identified by Jubilee Debt Campaign – a coalition of national organizations and local groups around the UK calling for the unjust and unpayable debts of the poorest countries to be cancelled – as facing a risk of finding themselves in debt crisis, while Dominica is
said to be at “high risk” based on large external debt, a large and persistent current account deficit, and high projected future government debt payments. The information is contained in the Jubilee’s 40page document entitled, The new debt trap: How the response to the last global financial crisis has laid the ground for the next, which analyses public and private debts owed by countries across the world. J u b i l e e ’s analysis defines countries as at risk of a government debt crisis if they have net debt higher than 30 per cent of
GDP, or current account deficit more than five per cent of GDP); and future government debt payments exceeding 10 per cent of government revenue o r, where projections are not available, current government external debt already over 40 per cent of GDP. The 14 countries at high risk have net debt of more than 30 per cent of GDP; future government debt payments exceeding 15 per cent of government revenue or, where projections are not available, current government external debt already over 50 per cent of GDP; and a current account deficit that is more than five per cent of GDP. “Of these, some are already likely to be back in debt crisis, but the figures are not yet available to show that they are. These are expected to have high government
debt payments over the next few years; they include nations such as Dominica, Ghana and Mauritania,” the report stated. It also pointed out that Belize, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are among 22 countries already in a government external debt crisis, with “high government debt payments leading to large amounts of money leaving their country each year, along with an overall net debt with the rest of the world”. Net debt for that group stands at over 30 per cent of GDP and external debt payments exceed 15 per cent of government revenue. No Caribbean nation was named in the list of 28 countries at risk of facing a private-sector debt crisis. (Caribbean360)
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
Greece reopens banks, starts repaying some debts
People wait to enter a Piraeus Bank branch at the city of Iraklio in the island of Crete, Greece, yesterday. (REUTERS/STEFANOS RAPANIS) Greece reopened its banks and ordered billions of euros owed to international creditors to be repaid yesterday in the first signs of a return to normal after last week’s deal to agree a tough new package of bailout reforms. Customers queued up as bank branches opened for the first time in three weeks on Monday after they were closed to save the system from collapsing under a flood of withdrawals. Increases in value added tax agreed under the bailout terms also took effect, with VAT on processed food and public transport jumping to 23 percent from 13 percent. The stock market remained closed until further notice. The bank closures were the most visible sign of the crisis that took Greece to the brink of leaving the euro earlier this month, potentially undermining the foundations of the single European currency. Their reopening followed Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ reluctant acceptance of a tough package of bailout demands from European partners, but a revolt in the ruling Syriza party now threatens the stability of his government and officials say new elections may be held as early as September or October. “It is positive that the banks are open, though the effect is psychological for people more than anything else,” said 65-year-old pensioner Nikos Koulopoulos. “Because to be honest nothing much changes given the capital controls are still in place,” he said. Limits on withdrawals will remain, however — at 420 euros ($455)per week instead of 60 euros per day previously — and payments and wire transfers abroad will still not be possible, a situation
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday was “not a normal life” and warranted swift negotiations on a new bailout, expected to be worth up to 86 billion euros. “Capital controls and restrictions on withdrawals will remain in place but we are entering a new stage which we all hope will be one of normality,” said Louka Katseli, head of the Greek bank association. Greeks will be able to deposit cheques but not cash, pay bills as well as have access to safety deposit boxes and withdraw money without an ATM card. Bankers said there may be minor disruptions after the extended interruption to services but said they expected services to resume largely as normal. “I don’t expect major problems, our network and the network of our competitors are ready to serve our clients,” said a senior official at Piraeus Bank, one of the big four lenders. “There might be lines because many people will want to withdraw money from their deposit boxes,” the official said. Athens initiated payment 4.2 billion euros in principal and interest to the European Central Bank due on Monday after European authorities agreed last week to provide emergency funding assistance, It is also paid 2.05 billion euros to the International Monetary Fund in arrears since June 30, when Greece became the first advanced economy to default on a loan to the IMF, along with 500 million euros owed to the Bank of Greece. Acceptance of the bailout terms and reopening of the banks have marked a new stage for Tsipras after months of difficult talks and he is now eyeing a fresh start and swift
talks on the bailout aimed at keeping Greece afloat with up to 86 billion euros of new loans. However he faces difficulties with hardline factions in his leftwing Syriza party, which came to power in January pledging to reject bailout-driven austerity. Although the Greek parliament approved the bailout package on Thursday, the 40-year-old prime minister was forced to rely on votes from the opposition after 39 rebels from Syriza refused to back the government by voting against or abstaining. A second vote will be held on Wednesday (tomorrow) on measures including justice and banking reforms and a similar outcome is expected. The voting arithmetic is finely poised, however. Together with his coalition partners from the right-wing Independent Greeks party Tsipras has 162 seats in the 300-seat parliament. But Thursday’s rebellion cut his support to just 123 votes, meaning he is likely to need opposition votes again. Some officials in the government have suggested that if support from lawmakers from within the coalition dropped below 120 votes, early elections would have to be called while the bailout was still being negotiated. That is because under Greek law, the lowest number of votes a government can have to win a confidence motion is 120 out of 240, the minimum quorum in parliament for a vote to be valid. Dropping below 120 would be a heavy symbolic blow but whether it would actually force Tsipras to step down is unclear given that he would have the support of the pro-European opposition parties if a confidence vote were called.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Cuban flag raised over Washington embassy as ties restored The Cuban flag was raised over Havana’s embassy in Washington yesterday for the first time in 54 years as the United States and Cuba formally restored relations, opening a new chapter of engagement between the former Cold War foes. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez presided over the reinauguration of the embassy, a milestone in the diplomatic thaw that began with an announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro on Dec. 17. Serious differences remain between the United States and Communist-ruled Cuba, and efforts toward full normalization of ties are expected to proceed slowly. But the ceremonies carried enormous symbolism after more than two years of negotiations between governments that had long shunned each other. “The historic events we are living today will only make sense with the removal of the economic, commercial and financial blockade, which causes so much deprivation
The Cuban national flag is seen raised over their new embassy in Washington, yesterday. (REUTERS/ANDREW HARNIK/POOL) and damage to our people, the return of occupied territory in Guantanamo, and respect for the sovereignty of Cuba,” Rodriguez said. The foreign minister spoke at a reception inside the stately building, which was visited by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro just months after he seized power in Cuba in 1959. He said the Cuban flag that hung outside the Washington embassy when it closed in 1961 will now be displayed inside.
Earlier, a three-man honor guard marched onto the front lawn where the Cuban flag was mounted on a newly installed pole while a band played the Cuban national anthem. As the flag was slowly raised, there were competing chants from the crowd outside the gates. “Cuba si, embargo no!” Shouted one group. “Cuba si, Fidel no,” yelled a much smaller group. In Havana, the U.S. Embassy was also reopened for business with no outward
sign of change. Embassy staff flashed new badges and business cards, and the website, Twitter feed and Facebook page of the mission changed. The Stars and Stripes, however, will not be hoisted there until a visit by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry expected on Aug. 14. More than 500 people, including Obama administration officials, U.S. lawmakers and a large visiting Cuban delegation, attended the ceremony at the nearly
century-old mansion that was being converted back into the Cuban Embassy. The U.S. delegation was headed by Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson. Earlier and without fanfare, maintenance workers hung the Cuban flag in the lobby of the U.S. State Department, where it joined the banners of other countries with which the United States has diplomatic relations. In a further sign of a desire to move past decades of enmity, Kerry and Rodriguez, the first Cuban foreign minister on an official visit to Washington since the Cuban Revolution, were due to meet at the State Department and then hold a news conference later on Monday. The crowd at the embassy reopening included members of Congress who have supported rapprochement. “We’ve waited a long time for this day,” Senator Patrick Leahy said as he entered the grounds. Asked if it was the end of a process, he said “it’s just the beginning.” No invitations went to
hard-line anti-Castro lawmakers, such as Senators Marco Rubio and Bob Menendez, who have opposed Obama’s outreach and modest easing of restrictions on business and travel. “You don’t invite into your home those who want to do you harm,” Gustavo Machin, deputy director for U.S. affairs in the Cuban Foreign Ministry, said in Havana last week. Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush underscored his opposition to the diplomacy on Twitter on Monday: “Obama’s rush to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba is wrong. This embassy will only serve to further legitimize repressive regime.” The opening to Cuba marked a major application of Obama’s presidential doctrine of negotiating with enemies, a concept that now faces an even tougher test with a nuclear deal reached with Iran last week. The embargo will remain in place, and only Congress can lift it, something majority Republicans are unlikely to do anytime soon.
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
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BAN THE BIG BIKES The streets at midnight are now quieter ever since the government implemented the 2 o’clock closing of bars and pubs. Last Sunday night, the streets were mainly deserted around midnight. This is a good sign and an indication that the measures implemented by the Minister of Public Security are working. Most Guyanese support these measures but a handful of Guyanese are opposed and they will continue to oppose the measure until such time as
they become accustomed to the new regulations. The streets are now safer after midnight. But accidents are still occurring and this fact will continue to be used to question the effectiveness of the law. The streets are now safer. There is however a lurking danger, a tragedy waiting to happen. Those involved are flirting with danger. There is now gang of riders of big bikes who are performing stunts on our roadways. This practice
should be discontinued and discouraged. Last Sunday night they were performing their stunts on Sheriff Street, outside of Club Monaco. They all seemed to be very young people and oblivious to the fact that some of their stunts was in breach of road safety laws. Most of the riders did not have on any helmet. One of the motorbikes had a pillion rider showing far too much skin as she straddled the small seat on the big bike. She too
Dem boys seh...
Customs people got to go and lef de sweet De other day dem boys had to seh that nobody who drawing de sweet gun run away and left it. Nuff people who know that dem does collect dem blessings once dem go to wok always fight to stay pun de wuk. Is now dem boys see how Customs officer use to refuse to tek leave. Dem didn’t know bout being tired. Suddenly all of dem get tired yesterday. All of dem gone pun leave. More than 20 of dem lef one time. Some had 300 days leave and one man had 600 days. Dem boys seh that when dem wake up today dem gun actually put on dem clothes fuh got to wuk before that dem realize that dem ain’t got nowhere to go. But then again, is like all of dem get a vacation to Hawaii—a special vacation. De new kids pon de block did actually plan fuh put dem pun Suriname Airways to fly to Uncle Sam wheh dem woulda join Air Force One. Dem did actually arrange wid Obama fuh lend dem de plane to fly to Hawaii. Is not that dem did want to go but some of dem was collecting so much that next
month alone Customs will record a big jump in revenue. When some of dem lef de office yesterday dem boys see so much tears. Was like when people going away and all dem family gather at the airport fuh seh goodbye. That is only part of de story. Dem boys also see that dem got a shakeup in de police force. One of de man who use to like put fire to dem li’l boy crotch gone to de dogs. Dem boys see him in Nigel’s Supermarket buying dog food. Right away dem ask him if he breeding dogs and he shake he head. Dem boys thought that he did get knock out de job when dem see him wid all de dog food. When dem hide and peep dem see him minding de police dog. All these things wouldn’t have happen if de flood didn’t affect Soulja Bai. Now he planning a programme fuh all dem politicians in Guyana. He seh that he gun pass de law that all politicians gun limit to two terms— one in office and one in jail. Talk half and wonder how long Jagdeo got to spend in jail. He spend two terms in office.
did not have on any helmet. There are also big bikes on the Corentyne. They can be seen racing along the public road. They however wear helmets so they are a bit safer. But the ones on Sheriff Street last Sunday night had no helmets and were performing stunts on the roadway. The number plates on the majority of these big bikes are not clearly visible. There is little that the police can do to arrest these riders. These bikes are faster than the vehicles the police have. The police have no chance of catching them. Therefore even if the police notice that a bike has broken the law, the police cannot get near to make an arrest or to even see the number plate. These big bikes should not be on our roads. They are suited for the racing circuits not our public roads. They should be banned.
A law should be passed outlawing the riding of a motor cycle above 250 cc on our roadways. No new big bikes should be registered by the Guyana Revenue Authority. Those who have registered their big bikes should be given a ten-year period to use their bikes after which they will not be allowed to use this bike on the road. This is a fair solution. But immediately, there should be a ban on big bikes. The only big bikes that should be imported are those for use on the racing circuits. This measure will save lives. It will make our roads safer. The measure will be controversial but it is measure that is needed to save these big bike riders from themselves. They do not understand the danger to which they are exposing themselves. They can easily fall of these bikes. They can easily
lose control, as many have before, and end up crashing into something, resulting in death. They can easily hit pedestrians given the speed with which they move. If you are crossing the road and end up in the path of one of these big bikes, then you are in danger of being killed. These bikes do not belong on our roads, ever. Even if our roads improve, they should be banned. It is time for the Minister of Public Security to take action and ban these big bikes from our roadways. Let us not wait until tragedy strikes before we act. Prevention is better than cure.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 21, 2015
== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
A one-man constitutional court is extreme madness I don’t know what legislation or changes in judicial regulations have to be made in order to widen the Constitutional Court to include more than one Judge, but whatever it takes it should be done as early as yesterday. To have one Judge who presides over the most complex, sensitive and farreaching cases in the realm of constitutional law is extreme madness. Guyana’s Constitutional Court consists of the acting Chief Justice only. Over the past four years, he has
presided over some of the most important cases that have deep implications legal, social and political. And a majority of those decisions have been questioned by some of the most profound legal minds in Guyana. We can list a few. He ruled against the DPP bringing a charge of rape against the then Commissioner of Police, Henry Green. He ordered that Carol Sooba cannot be removed as Town Clerk, because even though the then Minister of
Local Government had no legal authority to appoint her, Mr. Royston King has to file a writ against Sooba’s possession of the office itself rather than how she was appointed. I have always maintained that you don’t have to be a lawyer to read a judgement, study the law, and arrive at your own decision. The master layman who understood law as any Attorney was Eusi Kwayana. The Chief Justice’s decision is that although the Minister of Local Government’s appointment of Sooba was illegal, she can continue as de facto Town Clerk. W hat I found repellant about the Sooba situation was that one of the most important offices in Georgetown was controlled by someone who didn’t have de jure standing. If there wasn’t a change of government after the May General Elections, this country would have had to live with a Town Clerk that no one knew who appointed her. This should not have surprised the Guyanese people because the nation knows that Guyana is a huge social caricature. From the time President
Ramotar led a minority government after the 2011 elections, all writs pertaining to the budget cuts were heard by the one-man constitutional Court. Apart from the budget cuts, the then opposition asked the Constitutional Court to rule as illegal, the spending of monies by Minister of Finance for items in the budget that the opposition had curtailed. The one-man Constitutional Court has given judgement in favour of a plaintiff who asked that the term limit for Presidents be struck down. The one-man Constitutional Court has ruled in a matter in which the opposition asked that the GGMC’s loan to the central government of three billion dollars for the housing sector be deemed as illegal. The Constitutional Court made two intriguing rulings earlier this month – that Minister Simona Broomes acted unconstitutionally in requesting the Public Service Commission to stay appointments to the Public Service that were already made and that the Ministry of Education could not appoint Trevor Williams as Director of
Sports as it is unconstitutional for the position to be filled by someone outside of the Public Service. As we all know, the PPP has an election writ that asks the Constitutional Court to strike down the 2015 election results. These are just a few examples where some of the most disturbing grey areas in constitutional law have been decided by one judge manning the Constitutional Court. To date only one public figure has openly criticized the shape of the constitutional Court and that is Mr. Anand Goolsarran. This columnist has now joined Mr. Goolsarran. The debate does not, and should not focus on the Chief Justice but on the sensitive, theoretical question – how proper and wise is it for a country to have just one judge who must decide all dimensions of constitutional law when litigations are before the court. The people that need to zero in on this danger (and there is no question in my mind that this is a clear and present danger) are the lawyers. We have a Bar
Frederick Kissoon Association and a Women Lawyers’ Association. They are yet to offer their opinion on the shape of the Constitutional Court. Are they afraid? My opinion is that lawyers are inflexible when it comes to the attitude of reticence. They will not criticize Judges’ decisions and judicial indiscretions. The reason is fear. They may mask this weakness by a bravado response but fear is the key. Lawyers have to appear in front of the Chief Justice. They will reason that it is not in the best interest of their clients for them to be calling for a three-man constitutional court. T his country may well see a declaration that the 2015 election was null and void.
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Aiding vulnerable groups in crises stymied by inadequate funding, says Social Protection Minister As she noted that women, girls and seniors suffer the most when crises hit, Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence yesterday underscored the need for more funding as imperative if the needs of these vulnerable groups are to be adequately addressed. The Social Protection Minister stated, too, that an aggressive approach was needed if girls and women are to be safe since they face the greater risk of abuse, violence and sexual exploitation in times of disaster. She has committed to seek funding from government to adequately address the issues affecting these vulnerable groups. The Minister’s comments came as she delivered the feature address during a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) forum held yesterday at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Georgetown in commemoration of World Population Day. In attendance were First Lady, Sandra Granger; UNFPA Assistant Representative, Patrice La Fleur and Programme Officer, Bhagwandai PersaudGiddings; representatives from Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and other dignitaries. World Populations Day was celebrated, this year, on July 11 under the theme “Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies,” with specific focus being given to the need of vulnerable groups, including women and girls within disaster management programmes. As she delivered the keynote address, Minister Lawrence said that this year’s theme was a brilliant reminder that focus must be given to gender issues. Stringent efforts must be made to tackle the problems that beset women, girls and seniors, she added. Lawrence emphasized the need for efforts to be redoubled for the safety and well-being of the women, girls and seniors. “During emergencies and natural disasters, they (women and girls) face the greater risk of abuse, violence and sexual exploitation in most parts of the world. In the aftermath, too, they are the ones who have to struggle to overcome obstacles, who have to cater for the needs of their children, their elderly parents and relatives, the injured.” The Minister said that women are saddled with the burden of reconstructing their lives and in most instances,
UNFPA Assistant Representative, Patrice La Fleur, First Lady, Sandra Granger; Social Protection Minister, Volda Lawrence and UNFPA Programme Officer, Bhagwandai Persaud-Giddings (From L to R) are without the mechanisms to deal with it or to provide relevant assistance. Further, Lawrence drew a parallel with the flash floods that overwhelmed the coastal region last week stating “It was our women folk who bore the brunt in the aftermath.” “The bailing of water from their homes and subsequent sanitization, their traipsing through the waters to acquire food for their children and extended families, their exposure to possible infection as some washed or moved around in sewage waters clearly underscores the need for readiness packages such as water, food, medication and access to shelter,” said Lawrence. The Minister said these are the special needs that cannot be overlooked if adequate relief will be brought in times of disaster. This, she said, has implications for the amount of money earmarked for such a response. “It is obvious that our budget allocations in this area are inadequate and if we wish to satisfy the demands of those misplaced, then more funds have to be set aside and more groups have to intervene to remedy the
situation,” Lawrence remarked. “The scenario appears overwhelming but these are the humanitarian emergencies that we must address and we must address as a nation,” continued Lawrence. The Social Protection Minister said that the response needs to be aggressive even as the Ministry is confronted with “chilling stories” daily. According to her, however, the response is hampered by the inadequacy of funds. The Ministry’s resources need to be upped substantially and the Minister said she will be “keeping very close” to the Finance Minister as she continues to advocate for adequate funding. Meanwhile, UNFPA Assistant Representative, Patrice La Fleur noted that the observance took place at a time when Guyana faced a disaster in form of the flood in certain regions including the capital city, Georgetown. La Fleur remarked that disasters, like flooding, storms, earthquakes and hurricanes, occur around the world yet “it is expected that nations and the population need to be prepared to
respond and take care of its people, including the vulnerable.” Citing a recent United Nations (UN) report, the Assistant Representative disclosed that globally the number of forcibly displaced people has risen to record number, almost 60 million at the end of 2014 but among them “Most women and adolescent girls face particular threats as a result of the absence of health and other essential services.” La Fleur intimated that UNFPA, the agency charged with the responsibility for the reproductive health of people, recognizes that during emergencies women and girls’ vulnerabilities are often exacerbated. “They face a much greater risk of abuse, sexual exploitation and violence, and reproductive health related illnesses which could lead to death if social protection systems and basic services are not provided to address their needs.” Besides, she noted, during protracted emergencies lack of access to voluntary family planning could lead to high risks of unintended pregnancy and greater health risks for
pregnant women. “We need to ensure that pregnancy happens by choice and not by chance and that all women who are expecting a baby are able to give birth safely.” The UNFPA Assistant Representative told the gathering that during emergencies pregnant woman, nursing mothers and menstruating women and girls require nourishing foods and hygiene supplies but these needs are often overlooked. For the UNFPA, however, these are essentials that must be taken into consideration in disaster mitigation plans, the Assistant Representative insisted. “We need to preserve the dignity, safety and reproductive health of all women and girls at all times. Adolescent and youth are
also particularly vulnerable during disasters,” said La Fleur. The UNFPA Assistant Representative said global estimates indicated that in humanitarian situations, one in five women and adolescent girls are likely to become pregnant. “During natural and manmade humanitarian emergencies family and social structures may be disrupted as we have seen here over the recent days.” La Fleur said some may be taken to shelters and formal and informal programmes and social networks may be disrupted. She said adolescents may feel “fearful, stressed, bored or idle” and may find themselves in risky situations that they are not prepared to deal with and may Continued on page 24
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Private citizen triumphs over GT&T at CCJ Within weeks of hearing an appeal made by Mr. James Samuels, the Caribbean Court of Justice (“CCJ”) unanimously overturned the Guyana Court of Appeal’s decision that Samuels’ use of VoIP breached his contract with GT&T. The CCJ ruled that “neither the Court of Appeal proprio motu [on his own impulse] nor GT&T, before this Court properly applied the principles on implied terms set out in Attorney-General of Belize v. Belize Telecom” which “represents the law of Guyana”, and found that the Court of Appeal’s decision as “unsustainable”. They added that “the Court of Appeal came to the conclusion that an implied term was necessary in the interests of business efficacy, even in the absence of any evidence led by GT&T as to how Mr. Samuels’ actions would jeopardise their business interests….falling into error”. The dispute arose when GT&T blocked Samuels’ DSL service claiming that Mr. Samuels was illegally using VoIP in breach of the parties’ contract and GT&T’s exclusive licence. Samuels moved to the
Mr. Rex McKay, S.C courts claiming GT&T breached its contract with him, arguing that the company did not own the internet and was interfering with his freedom to communicate. Counsel for GT&T, Mr. Miles Fitzpatrick, S.C. and Mr. Rex McKay, S.C., argued that Mr. Samuels’ use of VOIP breached his contract with GT&T, and that since Mr. Samuels did not have a telecommunications licence for the use of VoIP, he was conducting an illegal activity. The trial court ruled in Mr. Samuels’ favour. GT&T then promptly appealed to the Court of Appeal. In a dramatic turn of events, the Court of Appeal, in decisions rendered by Chief Justice Chang and Justice of Appeal Cummings (and Justice Drakes concurring), overturned the trial Court’s decision, siding with GT&T’s
Counsel Mr. Miles Fitzpatrick, S.C. and Mr. Rex McKay, S.C., that stated Mr. Samuels was in breach of an implied term in the parties’ contract. This was when Samuels appealed the Court of Appeal’s decision to the CCJ. GT&T also cross-appealed to the CCJ stating that the Court of Appeal should have found that Mr. Samuels admitted to the contract in his pleadings and that the trial court erred in finding Mr. Samuels’ evidence credible. On June 2, last, Samuels’ Counsel in presenting his client’s claims to the CCJ, explained that the Appeal Court’s decision was incorrect as a matter of law, since not only did its decision constitute an impermissible interference with the trial Judge’s findings of fact, but it also implied a term which was never contained in GT&T’s pleadings or evidence in the Court below, and did so by impermissibly considering Mr. Samuels’ post contractual conduct as an aid to imply a term in the parties contract and misinterpreting the law of contract generally. His counsel also argued that there was no evidence of an implied term and no evidence that GT&T would be harmed by his use of VoIP, arguing that the Court of Appeal in any event incorrectly analyzed GT&T’s position only without an analysis of the consequence of such an implied term to
both parties. Mr. Samuels’ Counsel stated that not only was his client’s evidence credible, but that the Court of Appeal did not properly apply the law of implied terms. GT&T argued in rebuttal that Mr. Samuels has admitted to the existence of a contractual term restricting his use of VoIP in his pleadings, that Mr. Samuels’ evidence at trial was not credible and that the Court of Appeal’s decision was correct. The CCJ sided with Mr. Samuels, holding that GT&T was in breach of contract when it disconnected Samuels’ DSL internet service owing to his use of Vonage. The CCJ struck down GT&T’s argument that Mr. Samuels admitted that there was a contract between him and GT&T, stating that “GT&T did not do all that was reasonably sufficient to give Mr. Samuels notice of the conditions it relied upon” and also summarily dismissed GT&T’s cross appeal attempting to undermine Mr. Samuels’ credibility, agreeing with Mr. Samuels’ Counsel that an appellate court should be slow to reverse a trial Judge’s finding of fact. Turning to the core issue of implied terms, the CCJ also sided with Mr. Samuels’ Counsel, in so doing firmly establishing the common law in Guyana concerning implied terms, stating that “neither the Court of Appeal proprio motu nor GT&T before this
Court properly applied the principles on implied terms.” The CCJ was particularly critical of the Court of Appeal’s decision in considering Samuels’ subsequent conduct stating, “the decision of the Court of Appeal is also unsustainable given that the court was driven to imply a term on the basis of Mr. Samuels’ conduct subsequent to the formation and execution of the contract, namely his letter of April 13, 2007. By this letter, Mr. Samuels informed GT&T of his intention to use Vonage via his DSL internet connection. Chang CJ (Ag.) considered that that fact “spoke loudly” in favour of an implied term that GT&T’s permission was required before Vonage VoIP facilities could be used on its DSL lines. However, it is well established that conduct related to acts subsequent to the formation of the contract is of limited value in assessing the contemporaneous terms of the contract in the event of a dispute.” The CCJ also overruled Justice Cummings’ interpretation of the business efficacy test stating, “The Court of Appeal...fell into error” by assuming “that GT&T’s business would be so adversely affected by the actions of only one of their customers that a term must be implied in their contract with Mr. Samuels.” The CCJ therefore
dismissed GT&T’s cross appeal and granted Mr. Samuels’ appeal in its entirety, setting aside the decision of the Court of Appeal and reinstating the trial court’s decision, holding that “in disconnecting Mr. Samuels’ DSL internet service, GT&T acted in breach of contract”. The CCJ ordered GT&T to pay Mr. Samuels’ legal costs. The matter was decided by Justices Wit, Hayton, Anderson, Rajnauth-Lee and Nelson. This case is not only the first of its kind in dealing with issues of complex contract at the CCJ level arising out of Guyanese courts, but is also significant since it took just over four years to be finally decided from the filing of the Statement of Claim in April, 2011 to final CCJ ruling, this being a testament that the justice can be swift if matters are pushed by Counsel. When asked for comment, Mr. Samuels stated, “I hope those following this case get the courage to stand up for their rights especially against large corporations with high powered Attorneys. I would also like to thank my lawyer who was confident at this outcome at every stage of the proceeding.” Mr. Samuels was represented at the CCJ by Mr. Devindra Kissoon, of London House Chambers and GT&T was represented by Mr. Miles Fitzpatrick S.C. and Mr. Timothy Jonas of De Caires, Fitzpatrick and Karran.
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
Shootout ‘bandits’ charged with NA supermarket robbery
Three of the bandits who were recently captured following the robbery that was committed at the M. Ali and Son Supermarket at Main and Pope Streets, New Amsterdam, on Thursday last were charged with the offence, yesterday. The men Jason Aubrey, 26, of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara; Lennox Patterson, 23, of Wales, West Bank Demerara, and Leroy Hopkinson, 29, of 37 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice appeared before Magistrate Mauricia Mittelholzer, in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s court. They are charged with robbing Nazmoon Ali called “Data” of $380,000 cash; $150,000 worth of cell phone cards; and one gold chain valued at $100,000. On Thursday July 16 last, they were armed with guns when they committed the act. They are also charged with robbing Feroze Sammy Ali of one 9 mm. semiautomatic pistols valued at $200,000; and 17 live rounds. Patterson is also charged with having one .38 revolver while he was not the holder of a firearm licence. Another charge states, that on the same day and place he had in his possession ten live .38
rounds of ammunition while he was not the holder of a firearm license. He is alleged to have had four rounds in the barrel of the gun which was in his left pocket, while he had six live rounds in his right pocket. P o l i c e P r o s e c u t o r, C o r p o r a l Desiree Pilgrim objected to bail being granted to all the men on the basis of the nature and gravity of the offences, and that firearm offences are prevalent. She also stated that both Aubrey and Patterson live out of the jurisdiction and if granted bail they would not return for trial. While Magistrate Mittelholzer refused bail for Aubrey and Patterson, bail was granted to Hopkinson in the sum of $100,000 After the robbery the men split up and using bicycles and other means, headed to a house at Stanleytown, Berbice, where they quickly changed, boarded a taxi and headed to the New Amsterdam car park. The cops also got word that the men had headed to Stanleytown and immediately raced to the dilapidated house where they encountered a man and a woman who both denied that anybody was there. The police were
subsequently informed that four men were seeking transportation at the car park near the New Amsterdam Stelling. On arriving there, police saw a man with a gun emerge from a vehicle. A police rank opened fire causing the men to flee. The driver of the car was subsequently arrested. . The police continued their manhunt and around 01:30 hrs on the following day they encountered two men near Republic Road and Philadelphia. There was an exchange of gunfire before the men escaped. One was said to be the injured man, Stayfree Alexander, known as ‘Gun Youth’ of 37 Stanleytown, who is alleged to have shot at the police with the stolen 9mm. pistol which belonged to Feroze Ally. The other is said to be career criminal, Anthony Primo, called ‘Dangerous’. Primo is said to be the ring leader while Alexander was the contact man from Berbice. Around 03.00 hrs the police arrested Patterson. He was found with a .38 snub nose revolver. It had six rounds in the magazine while he had four rounds in his pocket. They are to return to court on August 4.
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Taxi driver before court after alleged break-in enter A taxi driver who allegedly went on a stealing spree made his first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer to a charge of break and enter and simple larceny. It is alleged that between July 2 and July 4, last, at Relief East Bank Demerara, Nabadaningi Gobin, of 1049 Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, broke into James Samuels’ dwelling home and carted off a quantity of firearm and ammunitions. The court heard that Gobin stole one Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun, a Glock pistol, 14 9mm rounds, 58 shotgun cartridges and other items, all totaling $17.2 M. The defendant denied the allegations after they were read to him by Magistrate Ann McLennan. Gobin’s Attorney, George Thomas, during his bail
application, asked for his client to be released on a reasonable bail. He asserted that the accused has an unblemished criminal record and at the time of his arrest he was driving. Thomas explained that during his client’s incarceration the police searched his client’s home and found nothing. George asserted that he found it surprising that the police were unaware of his address, since they searched the premises. Police Prosecutor, Deniro Jones, objected to bail citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. He also said that while in custody the defendant refused to give the police his address. Jones also said that the defendant has a pending matter of a similar nature and that the said firearm found on
Nabadaningi Gobin the accused (9mm Glock pistol) matches the firearm mentioned in the charge, based on ballistic testing. The defendant would be making his next court appearance on August 30.
Ex-soldier jailed for fondling 12-year-old Leonard Bristol, 22, of Lot 37 Bristol Street, Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice who worked as a hire car driver, has been jailed on a charge of sexual assault. The man, a former soldier, was found guilty of fondling the vagina of a 12-year-old first form schoolgirl whilst she was being transported in his vehicle. He appeared before Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus in both the Reliance and New Amsterdam Magistrate’s courts. He was found guilty in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court and jailed for six months. Information revealed that the man, who is known to the authorities, would usually operate a private car for hire. On the day in question, the schoolgirl boarded the vehicle with the intention of being taken to her school. However, the defendant
dropped off the other passengers before driving away with the girl to a lonely area at Palmyra Village, where he allegedly committed the act. The girl was taken to school later the morning and was questioned by a teacher who noticed the time she arrived. The girl subsequently told her class teacher what occurred and the teacher contacted the girl’s mother, who after finding out what occurred reported the matter to the police.
Bristol was subsequently arrested and charged. He was placed on $100,000 bail and asked to lodge his Guyana passport. In the meanwhile, it is understood other matters of similar nature are being investigated by the police including one, where it is alleged that the accused had impregnated a teen. He was also recently charged along with two others with stealing a goat which was found in the car they were travelling in.
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Kaieteur News
WANTED Accounts clerk @ Aracari Resort 16 Plantation Versailles, W.B.DPhone:264-2946/8. Email: info@aracariresort.com. Apply in person. Waitress/ bartenders @ Aracari Resort 16 Plantation Versailles, W.B.D- Phone:2642946/8. Email: info@aracariresort.com. Apply in person. One experienced domestic, must know to cook Indian dishes, must have pleasant personality & be trustworthy –Call: 656-6388 Hairdresser, nail technician, tattoo artist, pedicure/manicure –Tel: 613-8710/ 680-7813 One diesel mechanic; to work in Georgetown –Tel: 218-1455
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One Female to cook for family in the interior –Tel: 679-8765
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Girls to work in Bar –Tel: 2564096 Driver for taxi in base –Tel: 687-8728 Land to rent for washbay – Tel: 646-8748 Driver for canter – from WCD -$25,000 weekly –Call: 6848231 Domestic maid @ Diamond with experienced –Tel: 6268003; 227-8529 One driver & salesgirl –Call: 225-7417
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CAR RENTAL FOR SALE/RENT
SALON
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1-Toyota 4WD extra cab, pickup LH drive –price $1.5M negotiable –Tel: 668-8431 Pitbull unregistered (roof rack) $3M- Call: 668-0000 1 Mini Cooper PTT 2675. 1 cold storage canter-Call: 6190846 One Toyota Raum; old model PPP series, excellent condition –Price -$1.150M negotiable- Call: 653-0120 Unregistered Toyota IST (2002) –Tel: 657-1796 2 Ton Canter, excellent condition - $800,000, price negotiable. Contact Michelle Harrinaraine. Tel: 646-5838, 686-3794, 261-6119, 261-5547
Tuesday July 21, 2015
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Dr. Evelyne Hanoman Eye Clinic @ 120 Parade Street Kingston- Sale! 20% off all spectacle frames –Tel: 2262829 Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, phone games & applications. Delivery also – Call: 672-2566; 265-3232 1 Fishing boat 52ft, 2300lb 7½ inch, 1200lb new seine, 8000lb ice box, 1 outboard, 40 Yamaha -$3M- Tel:6906327; 695-1508 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 152ft complete cabin cruiser. In excellent condition- Tel: 592-654-2817, 592-622-2958 One Ducati 1098cc motorcycle in excellent condition- Call: 617-6934, 674-0137 IMPORTED AMERICAN BULLY PUPS –CONTACT HARRY: 220-7933, 6674845, 610-0068 ( W H A T S A P P AVAILABLE) BBM PIN 52E62193 Instock subject to being unsold; 1,000 - 10,000 watts; Complete Solar Units- Mr. Beepat – 600 - 5253 1 Ford Econoline Van (left hand drive), excellent condition, sale price -$1.8M. Contact Ms Rooplall: 2333512 Dell desktop & laptop computers from $55,000. Free games & educational software- call FutureTech: 231-2206. Yamaha Outboard Engine 60HP, 25HP, 200Yamaha FootContact Steve: 325-3077; 6507407 1-43ft boat with ice box $700,000 - Tel:690-6327; 6951508 One Mitsubishi Canter; Good condition; 2.5 ton, has dumper- $2.1M negotiable. Tel: 612-1848
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PROPERTY FOR SALE Two executive houses in gated compound at Oceanicvillas -$58M eachTel Shiv: 600-6681 Property for sale, Grove $18M neg. Tel: 625-5461. House for sale at Craig- Call: 679-8091 or 718-213-6496 2 Storey 45x35 concrete property, lower flat incomplete. Land 65x120 @ Diamond N/S 5th Avenue, E.B.D- Call: 629-4017 2 Storey concrete property for sale at 2nd Avenue, Diamond H/Scheme, E.B.DTel: 674-9266 or 686-9248 Property @ Leonora New Housing Scheme-Tel: 6799851 Agriculture Road, ECD, two story four bedrooms -$14M – Call: 612-2522 2 Bedroom house section “B” Non Pariel, E.C.D -$8.5M –Tel: 615-1319 2 Storied 22ftX45ft transported concrete property upstairs 2 bedroom & downstairs – bedrooms, fully grilled, Block ‘8’ MonRepos, E.C.D - $20M – Tel:625-1514, 231-7255 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 Large 4 bedroom concrete house for sale at Rumzeight Garden W.C.D Residential Area –Tel: 269-0189; 2683214
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LEARN TO DRIVE
One 3 ton box canter truck, GPP Series- $3M negotiable –Call: 694-5441
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TOURS Trip to Suriname for 5 days (21st -25th August) $34,000 per person, transportation & accommodation inclusive; food exclusive –Contact: 660-0312 Continued on page 23
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Letters... Where your views make the news
Fr. Peter Britt SJ: A quiet and a poor pastor DEAR EDITOR, It is inspiring to read about philanthropists who tirelessly work for the others believing in Jesus’ words, “Love your God and love your neighbour as your love yourself.” One such person is Rev. Fr. Peter Britt Compton, a Jesuit priest who spent half of his life for the people of Guyana. He came to Guyana in the early 1950s from England as a Catholic Priest. He passed away Sunday at the age of 96. He lived a long life, but he lived that long life with one purpose in mind: that God has anointed him to bring good news to the people of Guyana. I had the privilege to work
with him in Aishalton, Rupununi for a year. I would consider him as a good and authentic pastor, a pastor who made himself available to the people of Guyana. He spent most of his time in Rupununi, about 25 years. He is much loved by Amerindians. As Fr. Malcolm Rodrigues SJ expressed, “he is the real pastor for the Amerindians.” His dedication for the Catholic Church has been commendable. He cared for everyone, irrespective of their religious faith. Most Amerindians in the Rupununi will have fond memories to recall. He has left a legacy among them. One of his remarkable contributions is that he
touched many people who were in need, especially the poor. He lived a poor and a happy life, this way he showed to the people that being poor is not being unhappy. He welcomed the poor people to his house and made them happy by sharing his joy with them. Many people in the Rupununi would agree with me on this. I have great regard and trust in the pastors who work for the poor because they live among the people as Pope Francis says, “Shepherds living with the smell of the sheep.” It is important to be with poor people rather than just show up once a year and allure the poor with goodies.
Despite his old age and illness he was able to meet people on a daily basis and listen to them. Many who came to him were inspired to hear his wisdom and consolation. I used to sit with him just to listen to his beautiful English phrases and idioms. He was nearly a walking dictionary. His typewriter was always close to him. He insisted that he would type the letters, even at the age of 87, because he believed in precision and clarity. He was the inspiration to our young to believe in precision and clarity in their deliberations. Rev. Jerry Melwin Dias SJ Diocese of Georgetown
Is this the kind of change our country...
From page 5 clarify issues on corruption. For example, the South African president, Mr. Jacob Zuma has come under fire and was called upon to clarify his appointment of his daughter to a senior cabinet post. In weak democracies like ours, however, citizens are afraid to stand up against corruption, fearing retaliation. We all know our country is in a pitiful condition, but yet our government continues to mistreat it. In no way should it whip
and ride our nation to fuel its self-interest. It is wrong for any of our governments, be it the PPP/C, APNU (PNC) or the APNU/AFC coalition, to use our country’s funds to hire favourites, including friends and family. Political corruption has taken a toll on our country including: stifling development, breeding inefficiencies, causing the number of suicides to skyrocket, increasing alcoholism, diving educational standards, frustrating potential, tearing lives apart, yanking
From page 5 Internal disputes by political rivals do not justify siding with and soliciting the support of external enemies. These are the beginning signs of setting the environment for domestic terrorism and fostering of treasonous activities against the state of Guyana that all Guyanese must confront and
condemn without hesitation. President Maduro, instead of focusing on floods in Guyana, should try settling the internal hunger of his people for good governance and economic progress that would see an end to food lines and the current chaos in his country where he is not too loved by the people. Sharma Solomon
Now is the time for ...
opportunities away, creating joblessness and ushering in early deaths. These are the moral tragedies of our country. Corruption streamlines our lives on one of three trajectories: to either commit suicide, to migrate or to live a blighted life in the country. Undoubtedly, we have been downtrodden by all this. We are asking for mercy from government. We need to return home to Guyana, especially from countries in which we are unwelcome. We need jobs here for our survival. We need leaders like Mr. Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore who are doers and not talkers. The current flawed system, which allows government the liberty to unilaterally hire
whomever it wants without the approval of an independent body, needs to be immediately changed. It is one of the prime reasons for our country’s failure. Guyana is too bloated with corruption for a system like this. It brings to mind the popular adage that you cannot leave a fox to watch chickens. Government needs an independent watchdog monitoring its actions, including when it makes critical appointments. The current system has clearly reduced us to naught. For the betterment of our country, I urge all Guyanese, to speak with one voice against any kind of corruption, irrespective of political ties. Annie Baliram
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LAND FOR SALE 1 Land in Diamond Scheme $2.8M & 1 Land in Parfaite Harmonie -$1.5M (on main Road). Tel: 690-6327; 695-1508 1500 acres transported land 4½ miles from Bartica Rock, Quarry, Forestry, Agriculture. Contact Mark: 603-1266; 6259788 50 Acres titled farm land @ The Belle, Upper Dem, River Front -reasonable offer accepted, serious enquiries only! – Tel: 695-3493 Friendship house lot for saleCall: 692-8513, 223-0733 Land @ Parfaite Harmonie & Tuschen -$1.5M each, house & land @ Belle West, 1-2 storey property @ Crane – Call: 604-6724 30.5 Acres residential & agricultural land @ Long Creek. Creek passing through land -$7,000,000 M negotiable–Tel: 686-3794, 646-5838, 261-5547, 261-6119 144x37.4 FT house lot available at Webster Avenue, Buxton. $2.2M- Call: 696-8391
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For foreigners fully furnished two bedrooms apartment in South. Hot & cold, cable, washing machine & internet. Tel: 6895877 Golden Grove Diamond house to rent- Call: 692-8513, 223-0733 Bagotstown Public Road -2 Storied commercial Property (next to Ray’s Auto) -3,500 sq.ft –Tel: 233-2546, 233-5859 Newly built 2 bedroom apartment and house @ Vreed-en-Hoop- Call: 6986496 Rooms in Alberttown, apartments in Eccles available from August 1st–Tel: 2253234 Robb Street, BourdaBusiness/ professional office spaces availablePhone: 226-2409, 682-1602
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East Canje man charged with shooting businesswoman in head One man has been charged with shooting the East Canje businesswoman in her head. Aubrey Brandt, 25, of Lot 51 Archer Street No Two Village, East Canje Berbice, and of Bristol Street, Cumberland East Canje, appeared on Monday before Magistrate Mauricia Mittelholzer in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s court on a charge of robbery under arms. Brandt, who is well known to the authorities and has been described as a career criminal, is charged with robbing Rafeena Angela Hussain of two gold finger rings valued at $50,000, $400,000 and $100 US cash while armed with a gun. During the court proceedings the man started to behave in a disorderly manner and was ordered back in the holding cell. He is expected to be back in court on August 21. Hussain, 41, of “Neezam”
Grocery and Haberdashery store of Lot 62 Second Street Palmyra, East Canje, Berbice who was shot in the head during a robbery at her home and business premises. She was rushed to the New Amsterdam hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). She was
From page 11 have to take on adulthood without preparation. UNFPA works closely with Governments, United Nations (UN) system, local partners and others on disaster preparedness and
according to La Fleur in Guyana they have been working closely with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). The UNFPA Assistant Representative called on the international community and stakeholders to redouble
From page 17 percent of people over age 15). Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in the Americas, representing 55.3 percent of total alcohol consumption. In 2010, the World Health Assembly approved a global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, which seeks to reduce the devastating effects of alcohol consumption on individuals, families, and countries' development. A year later, during the 51st PAHO Directing Council,
the Ministers of Health of the Americas committed themselves to implementing that strategy by approving a plan of action that seeks to reduce per capita levels of consumption and associated harms. The plan of action calls for measures ranging from increased taxes on alcohol sales and restrictions on marketing to training primary healthcare workers on the detection and treatment of drinkers who are at risk.
Charged: Aubrey Brandt
subsequently removed from the ICU and placed in the open ward. The woman, her husband Fizul “Neezam” Hussain and three of their children were at home in the two-storey wood and concrete building which houses a grocery shop below. The family was about to close the business around 19:30 when the five masked armed bandits barged in. Three of the bandits were armed with guns while two had cutlasses. The men ransacked the shop and took all of the day’s sales. One of the bandits held the woman by her collar and pointed the gun to her head before firing a shot, while the other bandits kept an eye on the rest of the family. The bandits brutalized every family member. They subsequently escaped by foot before boarding a darkcoloured car that was parked in a side street and had no number plate. All of the men wore toque masks with the holes cut out for the eyes and mouth.
Aiding vulnerable groups in...
Harmful alcohol use increasing...
efforts to protect the health and right of girls and women. “We must enable women, adolescent girls and young people to play their full role in all aspects of disaster mitigation and response and ensure that governments comply with international law and bring perpetrators of sexual violence to justice. By prioritizing health, rights and with full participation of women, adolescent girls and young people in public life will increase our prospects for a more just, stable and peaceful world,” said La Fleur. First Lady, Sandra Granger, called for seniors to be included when discussions focus on the vulnerable and on emergencies. She stressed the importance of them being a focus of any plan to address society’s most vulnerable.
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Gov’t seeks to establish juvenile holding ‘home’ in Linden The A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government is seeking to establish a juvenile holding facility in Guyana’s second largest town, Linden. Speaking at a United Nations Population Fund forum yesterday, Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, said that a juvenile holding ‘home’ was of immense importance to the juvenile justice system and the Linden community. At present, juveniles who are caught on the wrong side of the law in Region Ten find themselves being kept at police stations. The same situation applies to children being taken in by welfare since they are often kept in the hospitals or other homes. The Ministry wants this practice to be stopped and, as such, is seeking space in a government building in Linden to establish the facility. She promised to work along with the Ministry of Public Security to further this effort. As she addressed the forum at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Georgetown,
Minister Lawrence said that it was on her first visit as Minister to Linden, where she met with nongovernmental organisations, probation officers and social workers who pounded her ears with concerns over the existing system for juveniles. “Many times it’s not only the physical abuse that they suffer from, but sometimes verbal and other abuse,” the Minister remarked as she spoke of the manner in which youth caught in the system are being handled. Lawrence told yesterday’s gathering that as such she tasked the stakeholders to identify one of the government buildings for the facility in the mining town. This, she said, would be followed by her making representations to partner with the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, to establish the detention centre. “You have children that are taken from homes, from a welfare point, and you have no place to put them. Many times you are asking the hospitals or other persons to keep them, and in many instances they suffer another form of abuse because they are not where they are
supposed to be,” the Minister said. Lawrence explained that the building would be used as a holding home for juvenile delinquents as well as children taken into state care. “Our children shouldn’t be in any centre. They should be in a home.” The establishment of this, Lawrence emphasised, was currently in the pipelines. Last April, a police constable stationed at the Amelia’s Ward Outpost was placed under close arrest, following allegations that he had sex with a 15-year-old girl who had been detained for wandering. The teen, and another juvenile, were detained about a month ago for wandering and a magistrate reportedly subsequently ordered that the girls be sent to the New Opportunity Corps. They were, however, kept for several weeks in the lockups at the Amelia’s Ward Outpost. It was reportedly during this period that the constable allegedly had sex with one of the minors. The matter was brought to the attention of the authorities by a female sergeant at the location.
From page 19 question being asked, said Rohee, by the opposition is why this hasn't been done to assist Ramjattan with his sweeps to rid the hinterland of “criminal enterprise”? Rohee further said, “Strangely enough, it was neither Ramjattan nor Harmon that was on the road visiting police stations and interviewing Police Divisional Commanders to address the high incidence of crime. “On the contrary, it was former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Edward Collins, who had got into the act.” People are now asking, according to Rohee, “Where
is Ramjattan in all this? Has he been swept aside by the military-dominated Granger administration since according to their training' civilians just can't do it.” Rohee added, “The PPP finds these contradictions and inconsistencies more intriguing when Mr. Joe Harmon proudly announced that the Granger-led Administration will be "scrapping the Specialty Hospital Project." “In the same breath he hoped that the remaining US$14m of the Indian Line of Credit could be used for something else of the Coalition's liking.” According to Rohee, the PPP also finds interesting, a
statement by Rupert Roopnaraine that the government will scrap the $10,000 'Because we care' school grant on the premise that "the APNU/AFC had been against the initiative ever since they were in the opposition. “Later, Roopnaraine shifted his position stating that his government was not scrapping the grant but rather, was "simply reviewing it because it wants to ensure that the poor and vulnerable are the main beneficiaries.” “The baby was thrown out with the bath water when Trotman stepped in and declared that 'the grant is indefinitely shelved because it is fiscally unsustainable.'”
New administration inconsistent
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
Abu Bakr detained for questioning in relation to Dana Seetahal’s murder (Trinidad Guardian) Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr was detained by police yesterday morning in connection with the murder of former independent senator Dana Seetahal, SC. Bakr, 81, also known as Lennox Phillip, remains detained at the Central Police Station at St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain after he was arrested at his Long Circular Road, St James home around 4.30 am. His son, Fuad Abu Bakr complained that police were withholding information about the reason for his detention and planned to protest outside the police station. Police officers from several branches of the T&T Police Service including the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB) and Western Division Task Force (WDTF) went to Bakr’s home to execute a search warrant for guns and ammunition. While nothing illegal was recovered at the property Bakr was reportedly detained in relation to several outstanding investigations being conducted by the TTPS
Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr including Seetahal’s murder on May 4, last year. The T&T Guardian understands that hours before Bakr’s arrest, two members of his organisation were arrested at their home in Carapo, Arima. The father and son, who are reportedly senior figures in the organisation’s outpost in East Trinidad, are being detained at the Tunapuna Police Station. All three men were visited
by the attorney and their families and are expected to be interrogated by homicide detectives after noon. Seetahal, was shot dead while returning home from a night at the Ma Pau casino in Woodbrook on May 4. She was ambushed by gunmen who riddled her SUV with bullets as she drove along Hamilton Holder Street to get to her apartment at One Woodbrook Place. The TTPS has been repeatedly criticised for its lengthy investigation in the case and its failure to bring closure to her family over a year after her death. Seetahal served as special prosecutor in Bakr’s trial for sedition in 2012. The trial ended in a hung jury and Seetahal was due to again led the State’s case in his eventual retrial. In 2010, Seetahal was appointed to supervise the sale of ten of Bakr’s properties to recoup almost $32 million in damages owed to the State for the failed 1990 coup, for which Bakr was the architect. Bakr eventually repurchased most of the properties in the auction.
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Tuesday July 21, 2015
Owen Arthur slams CARICOM States which have not fully signed on to the CCJ
Former Barbados PM Owen Arthur (Jamaica Gleaner) “I would be offended if somebody wanted to get justice for me (or) against me by taking me before a court in Britain. I would be offended. Let my Caribbean people try me,” declared an impassioned Owen Arthur, former prime minister of Barbados, as he addressed a Gleaner Editors’ Forum on Friday. Arthur, who led the Barbados Labour Party to election victory in 1994 and served as prime minister until 2008, heaped scorn on CARICOM countries which have so far failed to endorse the Caribbean Court of Appeal (CCJ) in its entirety. He argued that it is ironic that Barbados, which is considered one of the most conservative and Anglophile countries in the region, was the first to fully embrace the CCJ and dump the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as its final court of appeal. “We have gone out of our way to create a court that is as good as, or better than, any court in the world and it’s a sad thing on the Caribbean personality that (it has not been fully endorsed). The veteran politician was particularly critical of Trinidad and Tobago, which he said had fought hard to get the regional court headquartered there but is yet to sign on to its appellate jurisdiction. “The court could have been placed in Barbados, because the law school is in Barbados, but Trinidad said we need to have this court in Trinidad, and then they question its jurisdiction...That is ridiculous!” charged Arthur. REGIONAL INFERIORITY COMPLEX With his passion for the CCJ coming through, Arthur argued that a fundamental obligation of any society is to provide justice for its own people and any continued dependence on outside forces is tantamount to a
regional inferiority complex. “If a society cannot provide justice for its own, what are we as a people and how can I look to somebody else to provide justice for me? I have to look to my peers to provide justice, for the notion of justice is judgment by your peers - that is why you have juries. “The notion of the Caribbean looking to the Britain to provide justice for us is, I believe, elevating the people who serve on the British courts to a level of superiority in their jurisprudence that is not worthwhile,” declared Arthur, as he argued that the CCJ was a natural outgrowth of the Caribbean’s tradition of excellence in jurisprudence. He pointed to the rules under which the CCJ was established as a testament to its integrity, as he described fears of bias and political interference as non-issues. “All across the region, we have had a history of persons who have been in the judiciary having that sense of jurisprudence and probity that they never get caught up in politics. “I was there, and we decided that we were going to vest that court with a financial independence so that it was not ever subject to any rash decisions by politicians.
So we created a trust fund, borrowed the money and fully capitalised it, and every year that court doesn’t have to look to any government budget.” Pressed on the unwillingness of Caribbean people of different nationalities to recognise each other as peers as an inherent setback for the CCJ, the veteran politician was dismissive. “But they don’t also regard the British as their peers either, so why are you before the British Privy Council?” He rejected the notion that the Privy Council was easily the lesser of two evils. “No, no. One of the areas in which there has been excellence, historically, has been in the Caribbean people’s provision of ju r i s p r u d e n c e f o r t h e i r own. The basis of a society, the fundamental reason why the society exists, is to provide for their own, and t h r o u g h o u t history the strength of society has been that people can look to their own for judgment, rather than to look to somebody else.” Based in Trinidad, the CCJ has two jurisdictions: an original and an appellate jurisdiction, and while most Caribbean countries are signatories to its original jurisdiction, only Barbados, Guyana, Dominica and Belize have, to date, signed on to its appellate jurisdiction replacing the Privy Council as their final court of appeal. Locally, the governing People’s National Party used its parliamentary majority in the House of Representatives to get the relevant bills passed to replace the Privy Council with the CCJ. However, the Government will need at least one opposition member in the Senate to vote in its favour because of a two-thirds majority threshold.
Experts knock building standards in B’dos in wake of quakes Inadequate building standards here could lead to thousands being killed or seriously injured if a major earthquake or hurricane struck the island. This assessment has come from chartered structural engineer Grenville Phillips II in the wake of last Thursday’s earthquakes. “The United Nations assessed Barbados’ infrastructure in its Global Assessment Report (2013) and placed Barbados in its worst possible damage assessment category for earthquakes and hurricanes, with no upper limit on the amount of damage predicted,” said Phillips, who has worked on a wide range of engineering projects throughout the Caribbean. “Recent seismic studies of Barbados (Salazar et al, 2013) have shown that Barbados is significantly more at risk to major earthquakes than predicted by the UN,” he said.
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Tuesday July 21, 2015
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Clarke retains title and bragging rights as top muscleman in... From page 33 Stephen (Buddy’s), Henry and Hamilton. Yet another comparison was requested by Judge #5 and that was between Lonke, Henry and Andrews. No doubt being exhausted by this point, the athletes were reminded that that is what they would have been training for. Eventually, Andrews emerged as the winner with Lonke taking 2nd place followed by Henry and Abraham. The three way battle in the Welterweight (155-165lbs)
category saw Buddy’s Gym member Mahendra Singh getting the better of his more seasoned campaigners, Caerus Cipriani (Fitness Paradise) and Sherlock Rigby (Total Fitness) in that order. Ruling the roost in the Lightweight (144-154lbs) division was seasoned campaigner Marlon Bennett who was a clear winner from the time the athletes came on stage. The X-Treme Fitness member easily won from Jermaine Bacchus (Cyrex Fitness), Jamal Tinnie (Fitness
Four of six confederations... From page 30 continental confederations representing South America (Conmebol), North and Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF), and Asia (AFC) have all reportedly told Platini they would back his candidacy for FIFA president. The other two confederations are Africa’s CAF and Oceania’s OFC. Platini was once considered Blatter’s protege and a natural successor to the 79-year-old Swiss. The two have become rivals in the last
year, however, and Platini urged Blatter not to stand for a fifth term in May. United States prosecutors threw FIFA into turmoil in May by indicting 14 sports marketing executives and soccer officials, including a number from soccer’s governing body. Seven were arrested in a dawn raid on a luxury Zurich hotel just two days before the Congress at which Blatter was re-elected. Each of FIFA’s 209 member associations holds one vote in the presidential election.
Paradise) and Demetri Chan (Interline Fitness). Rashleigh Bentick of Fitness Paradise continued his winning form from Gym Expo with victory in the Bantamweight (Under-143lbs) and Junior (Under 21 years) categories to cap off a memorable night. Kevin Bobb-Semple representing Total Fitness Gym had to settle for the second place in the bantamweight category while Bentick’s gym mate Tyrone Eusibio took the third place trophy. Second place junior was Zalim Bacchus (Tej Mahall Gym) who came back to win the Flyweight (Under-132lbs) class. Third was Jamal Tinnie. For the first time on the GABBFF senior championships stage, the Men’s Physique category was contested and this was won by Emmerson Campbell of Body Max Gym from a field of 9 contestants. Campbell’s gym mate Yannick Grimes placed second in a challenging contest; Coel Marks (Buddy’s Gym) had to settle for third with his gym buddy Shawn Henry fourth. On the distaff side, dominant female athlete Alisha For-
Tuesday July 21, 2015 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) Don't make excuses. You should check out prestigious clubs or groups that have a cause you believe in. TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) You can make money if you put your savings into conservative investments. Ferret out information that will hold them responsible. GEMINI (MAY 22-JUNE 21) Keep your ears open, especially to those who care about you. Try to be honest when dealing with your mate. CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) Be creative in your pursuits. You should make sure that your personal papers are in order. Try to slow down, and take another look.
LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Your trendy style and unique way of doing things will entice new acquaintances. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) Opportunities to travel will develop through peers. Be careful not to get involved in other people's personal affairs. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Make a point of working on yourself. Your interest in helping others may take you back to school. CAPRICORN (DEC 22.JAN. 20) You may meet that special person if you attend fundraising functions. Physical work or exercise should be part of your schedule.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Offers of joint ventures are likely. Consider a trial separation if you and your mate just can't come to terms.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) Travel should be on your mind. Organize social events or family gatherings. You may have the opportunity to get involved in some interesting conversations.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23) You will get drawn into groups that are not favorable to you. Get proper medical attention and confront your situation decisively. Your ability to work with detail will bring recognition.
PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) Look into any educational activities involving the whole family. Don't let individuals with wild schemes talk you into a financial deal that is not likely to be successful.
tune of the Guyana Defence Force Gym had to settle for the runner-up position in the Miss Bikini contest to Buddy’s Gym member, Junica Pluck with Olivia Bess of Total Fitness taking third. However, the multi talented Fortune, who is set to represent Guyana at the World Masters Athletic Outdoor Championship next month in France, turned the tables on Pluck in the Miss
Body Fitness contest, Bess again earned the third place. Guest Poser Huskin ‘Biscuits’ Worrell of Barbados, a 16-time CAC gold medalist in the Under-176lb category entertained the fans during his routine. He was also presented with gifts from both Supligen and Fitness Express. Brand Manager of Nestle, Treion D’Anjou in remarks prior to the competition congratulated the athletes for
making the show possible whilst he also thanked the fans for coming out in their numbers to support the athletes. GABBFF President Bess also placed both Supligen and Fitness Express on the spot by challenging them to support the GABBFF in sending a large contingent of athletes to the CAC Championships set for the Bahamas later this year.
Reggae Boyz want to go... From page 30 Barnes, who rifled low off the legs of goalkeeper Johny Placide. Coley, the Jamaica College coach in reflecting on the game, thought the character and mental toughness of the Boyz won the day. Still, he wants the players to be more clinical at the business end. “I think the guys were mentally tough, but we still need to be more clinical,” he observed. Coley, who is in charge of the Under-23 Olympic team, told Jamaican reporters that as the game progressed, the tactics were adjusted to suit the merging situations. “Haiti dictated the game in the first half and we tried to get them on the counter, and we had our opportunities as that (counterattack) drives fear into opponents as we attacked in numbers,” he
Raffik and... From page 33 Industries, B Debydeen, Caterer of Albion Estate Road, Corentyne, New Building Society Ltd, Balram Shane of Rose Hall Town, Sunshine Supermarket, Ronald Williams of Apex Insurance Brokers Inc, Sandeep Ramdass of Ishmail Poultry, popularly known as Pampey, Asheik and Sons Motor Spares and Auto Sale, Safraz Photo Studio, Rocky of Palace Taxi Service, Restaurant and Bar, D Harricharran of Beauty and Home Design, Sheik Mohamed of Tiger Sports Club, Office Express, Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, Price is Right Supermarket of No 79 Corriverton, Venue Shopping Center and Beauty Saloon. In the meantime, clubs affiliated to the Berbice Cricket Board are asked to get their grounds ready for the resumption of the cricket season. Gate prizes will be up for grabs for the fans with a well stock ANSA MCAL bar and musical entertainment, including games for the young and old will be present. Entrance is $300 for adults, children under 12 free.
noted. “I think we were able to press them, so they couldn’t turn and start playing passes forward. In the second half, we pressed them some more and forced them to go back,” Coley said. Meanwhile, head coach Winfried Schaefer says his Reggae Boyz want more than what they have achieved so far in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. “Everybody wants more — the players want more, the coach wants more and Jamaica wants more,” Schaefer said at a postmatch press conference. Although he hailed a great team
performance, the German singled out the elder statesman of the team, Jobi McAnuff, for special praise. “We lost Watson, who is an important player, and Jobi came in that position and had a fantastic game… he’s 33 years old and so good. He can play there (forward midfielder), on the right, he can play anywhere,” Schaefer said. Sunday, the reserve players had a training session, while those who played in the game had a recovery session. The group was due to depart Baltimore for Atlanta last evening.
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= = = Letter to the Sports Editor = = =
AAG must stop mistreating officials DEAR SPORTS DESK, I am seeking your intervention in a matter that is of great importance to me and my colleagues. I am an official of the Athletics Association of Guyana. Sadly to say the manner in which our officials are treated leaves much to be desired. Firstly one must remember that these officials volunteer their services to ensure the smooth running of track and field in this country and as such respect is due to them. So one asks the question, what is the President of the Athletics Association of Guyana doing to bring respect to this group of people, who we must remember, are mostly adults who sacrifice their time and in some cases commit themselves to this organization. It is sad to say that as an official we are not even given proper food, adequate drinking water, and the money we use for traveling we are not reimbursed on time. Because of the manner in which the President threats us the athletes now feel free to do the same. In 2012 at a well attended three days track meet an official got sick shortly after eating the lunch provided (that official was subsequently treated for food poisoning). Officials travel from as far as Linden and Berbice to ensure the smooth running of games and should be properly compensated and provided for. I can’t pay $4,000 to travel from Linden to GT for a two days meet and be given $2,000,
because I am volunteering my services but a member of the Executive Body traveling from the same location gets back the full amount. We are tired of this seemingly lazy, selfish, disrespectful attitude of the President of the AAG who do not even have the decency to find out how we manage at these meets. We don’t have jerseys. We look worn from the over used jerseys that we have been wearing thanks to the Guyana Teachers Union. We are tired of the being told to get to point of meet for a 10am start only to get there and the President of the AAG is still to get there to issue officials with materials needed for the meet. Show us the respect that is required of us, we are human, we sacrifice our time, families and in some cases even put our jobs on the burner for the AAG but all we get is disrespectful treatment. Late and cold tasteless food, hot water to drink on a very hot day and then to add insult to injury we have to beg officials with their own transportation to give us a drop as was the case last Friday night (2 Fridays ago) after a certain track meet held at the New track when officials after waiting over 1 hour for their reimbursement were told they have to wait until next week. Imagine our embarrassment, but thanks to officials with transportation we were able to get back to Georgetown. Enough is enough Mr AAG President this is not your club, this nonsense MUST STOP. Concerned Official.
Why the secrecy with the WICB Town Hall Meeting in Guyana DEAR SPORTS EDITOR, There has been no official press release in the local media by either the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Or the WICB in relation to the WICB Town Hall Meeting to be held at the Georgetown Cricket Club on Wednesday 22nd July, 2015. This meeting for which there is no agenda, appears to be a closely-guarded secret to be attended by only a few carefully chosen persons although the intent of a Town Hall Meeting is to have the participation of all stakeholders and members of the public. Also we note that the date of this meeting had misleading information, that is, Tuesday 22nd July, 2015. We the constituent members of Guyana Cricket view this development as yet another deliberate ploy by the executive members of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to maintain its stranglehold of our national game despite the effort of the constituent members to bring order, decency and accountability at all levels of cricket in Guyana. We wish to query whether the Government of Guyana, Caricom Secretariat, the Private Sector Commission, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the National
Sports Commission, the Political Opposition and the many other major stakeholders of Guyana Cricket have been invited to this meeting. This meeting should be held appropriately at a spacious public venue rather than at a private member’s club (GCC). Of equal importance, we wish to be advised whether the press has been invited to this meeting in order to provide a detailed report to the public. We have many times before recorded our extreme disquiet regarding the continuous refusal of the WICB to meet with all constituent members of Guyana Cricket instead of, in a self-serving manner, deal only with a few persons in the executive membership of the GCB. In this regard, the WICB has been complicit in the shenanigans of the GCB. With the prolonged crisis in Guyana’s Cricket, it is incumbent on the WICB to ensure that there is legality and accountability of its Member Boards in accordance with the rules of the ICC. We expect that any purposeful cricket meeting the WICB proposes to hold in Guyana should be open to all stakeholders, should be comprehensive, objective and analytical, and should have an all-inclusive approach and commitment to resolve the staggering problems in Guyana Cricket. Malcolm Peters for and on behalf of Stakeholders Guyana Cricket Association. Berbice Cricket Board East Coast Cricket Board Upper Demerara Cricket Association
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Soccer-Campaigners call for Kofi Annan to take charge of FIFA reform
Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan waves after meeting with delegations of Colombian government and FARC guerrillas during a Colombian peace talk in Havana February 27, 2015. (Reuters/Stringer) ZURICH (Reuters) A group campaigning for reform of world soccer’s governing body FIFA have called for former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to be put in charge of an independent reform commission. “We are calling for Kofi Annan to come into this mess and take control of the reform process,” Jaimie Fuller, a cofounder of “New FIFA Now”, told a Zurich news conference. A spokesman for Kofi, however, suggested it was unlikely the Nobel Peace Prize winner would take on the task. FIFA’s executive committee was meeting on
Monday to discuss reform plans and set a date for a vote to replace outgoing president Sepp Blatter amid charges against FIFA officials of corruption by the U.S. Department of Justice and Swiss authorities. Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term but announced on June 2 that he would quit. He has not been accused personally of any wrongdoing. Tim Noonan, of ITUC, the international trade union body, said his organisation had been in touch with Annan. “We have spoken to Kofi Annan...he has indicated that he (would be) open to
receiving a proposal, the initial contact has been made,” said Noonan. A formal offer would have to come from the “world of football,” Noonan said. A spokesman for the Kofi Annan Foundation , however, suggested soccer may need to look elsewhere for a figurehead to help reform. “We are aware of some discussions and speculations but in actual fact Mr Annan has not been formally approached by any side on this matter, nor does he plan to widen the scope of his already busy schedule,” Bijan Farnoudi said.
Two Spanish riders die after crash in World Superbike support event
World Superbike support event in California. (bongarts) BBC Sport - Two Spanish riders have died after a multibike crash at a World Superbike support event in California on Sunday. The crash happened on lap one of the MotoAmerica
Superbike/Superstock 1000 race at Mazda Raceway in Laguna Seca. Bernat Martinez, 35, went by ambulance to hospital in Monterey while Daniel Rivas Fernandez, 27, was flown to
Salinas. Both died from their injuries. MotoAmerica president Wayne Rainey sent his “sincere condolences” to their families and the “MotoAmerica family”.
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Over 45 entered for Bush Lot Guyana to open Regional U15 campaign against T&T United Turf Club Meet this Sunday Guyana will begin the defence of the Regional U15 50-over title against Trinidad and Tobago at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda on July 23. The team is currently encamped at the Chetram Singh Centre of Excellence, La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara under Coach Julian Moore. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport yesterday, Moore said that he is pleased with the progress of the players. “The players have shown the commitment that is necessary for success, their fitness has improved tremendously since we commenced out training,” he added. He pointed out that their preparation has been somewhat affected by the inclement weather, but that will not deter his charges. “We have had sessions at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and also did fitness training at the National Park, so the players are eager and confident,” he
Julian Moore
Alphius Bookie
said. Moore informed that he also did some work on the technical and mental aspects of the players. A lot is expected from DCC trio Ashmead Nedd, Alphius Bookie and Sachin Singh, Essequibo’s Kevin Christian and Orlando Jailall as well as Berbician Junior Sinclair.
Guyana second round encounter will be against the Leeward Islands at the National Stadium on July 24. They will then take on Barbados on July 27 at Everest, Jamaica on July 28 at Enmore and Windward Islands on July 30 at the National Stadium.
There is less than a week to go before the restart of the Horseracing season in Guyana which will herald in the second half of what is expected to be an action packed period of racing. The Bush Lot United Turf Club (BLUTC) at Sea View Park, Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice will be the venue with preparations at an advance stage with the venue being abuzz with activities. So far over 45 horses have entered. Eight races are carded for the day with a prize package of over $5.5M up for the taking which includes cash, trophies and other incentives. A number of top class animals have been entered for the meet which will make it even more spectacular. The Feature ‘C’ and lower compliments of Banks DIH Limited for a winning pocket of $1M and trophy over 1600M for a total package of $2M that will see the likes of
Spit Fire, Jack in My Style and the much vaunted Diplomatic Cat renewing their rivalry as they compete against the likes of Plum Plum, Guyana Time, Unsettled, Bridal Stone Corner among others. Animals such as Strom Bird, Country Girl, Keep On Swinging, Its My Choice, Gold D Cova and Settling Star has been entered in the event for the three year old West Indies Bred animals for a take home of $350,000 and trophy over 1200M. The E1 and lower over 1500M for a first prize of $350,000 and trophy will see among others Captain Crook, Mansoon and Fresh Again. Rosetta, Dream Come through, Precise Gold Shantal are among the animals entered for the G2 and lower race for the winners money of $300,000 and trophy over 1300M. The 1000M race for two year old Guyana and West Indies bred and born animals
has a winning money of $300,000 and trophy. The organizers have added the event for horses classified I and lower and three year old Guyana Bred horses over 1300M for a winning take of $200,000 and trophy which will see the likes of Amazon Warrior competing. The animals classified J and lower will be competing for a first prize of $180,000 over 1300M. The final event will be K and lower horses over 1300M for winning a winning pocket of $140,000 and trophy respectively. Interested persons can make enquiries with Coordinator and Treasurer Lakeram B. Sukhdeo on Number 232-0558 or 672-0810. The event will be conducted under the rules of the Guyana Horse racing Authority. Race time is 12:30 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
Reggae Boyz want to go Uitvlugt #2 Scheme CDC hosts all the way at Gold Cup EMANCIPATION Day activities
As the members of the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) gear up for their Emancipation celebrations slated for August 1, the Uitvlugt #2 Scheme Community Development Committee is currently putting the modalities in place for similar celebrations in their community. Activities get underway on Friday July 31 with a Candle Light Parade starting at the Liberty Square (Four Corners) followed by a Libation Ceremony before culminating with the flag raising ceremony. Activities continue on Emancipation Day with a marathon run that commences at 04:00hrs. Athletes will convene at Sophia, Georgetown, and proceed to Liberty Square, Uitvlugt for the finish. Veteran marathon runner, Carlton Stephenson, a former resident of Uitvlugt now
residing in Sophia, will spearhead this activity. Shortly after the culmination of this event residents will convene for a fun day from 10:00hrs at the Community Centre Ground. There will be several novelty events like tugo-war, dominoes and needle and thread race. Organizers have also planned several sports events including football, dominoes and fishing competitions. In keeping with the spirit of the occasion there will be traditional African dishes on sale. Activities will conclude with a cultural programme and art and craft exhibition at 15:00hrs. At this event villagers will showcase their talent and cultural skills, while African dishes will be on sale. Further, six of the village’s oldest residents (3 males and a similar number of females) will receive special gifts.
Four of six confederations say would back Platini for FIFA president ZURICH (Reuters) Four out of six continental soccer confederations would back Michel Platini, head of European soccer’s governing body UEFA, to lead the sport’s world governing body FIFA should he stand, a source close to UEFA said on Monday. Frenchman Platini, who was re-elected for a third term as UEFA president earlier this year, is likely to decide within the next 10 days or so whether to run, the source added. Platini was repeatedly promised support at meetings with confederation
representatives held late into Sunday night at a luxury lakeside hotel in Zurich, the source said. FIFA’s executive committee was meeting on Monday to discuss reform plans and set a date between December and February for a vote to replace outgoing president Sepp Blatter. Blatter was elected for a fifth term at the congress in May but announced on June 2 that he would step down as a corruption scandal engulfed FIFA. He himself has not been accused of any wrongdoing. As well as UEFA, the (Continued on page 29)
UEFA president Michel Platini. (Action Images via Reuters / Carl RecineLivepic)
Jean-Eudes Maurice (left) of Haiti tangles with Rodolph Austin (grounded) of Jamaica during the second half of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final match at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday in Baltimore, Maryland. (PHOTO: AFP) Jamaica Observer BALTIMORE, Maryland — Assistant head coach Miguel Coley says if the Reggae Boyz fall short in their bid to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup, it would be deemed a disappointment. If not for the players, certainly for him, as the confidence level of this Jamaica unit is high. “We would be disappointed because these guys are dreaming big and the opportunity is there to win and I guess if they don’t take
it, they would be disappointed and I would be disappointed too,” said Coley. In keeping with their goal of going all the way, the Boyz have taken a step closer by defeating Haiti 1-0 here at the M&T Bank Stadium to schedule a semi-final meeting with long-time nemesis USA in Atlanta tomorrow. “We just have to be mentally focused and plan very well against the USA,” Coley said. “We are happy as this is the third time we are making it
to the semifinals, but now we need to rest and recuperate as best as possible and get ready for the USA,” he added. Giles Barnes, the Houston Dynamo favourite, scored the all-important goal in the seventh minute. The move started with Captain Rodolph Austin, whose visionary pass picked out Crystal Palace’s Adrian Mariappa breaking free down the right side. The latter quickly controlled the ball, then crossed low inside for (Continued on page 29)
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Tuesday July 21, 2015
Geraint Thomas crashes, Plaza wins stage BBC Sport - Britain’s Geraint Thomas suffered a spectacular crash on the 16th stage of the Tour de France as he collided with Warren Barguil on the final descent. The Team Sky rider hit his head on a telegraph pole and fell off the side of the road but was soon back on his bike. Spain’s Ruben Plaza held off green jersey leader Peter Sagan to win the stage in Gap as Britain’s Chris Froome retained his overall lead. Sagan finished second for the fifth time in this year’s Tour. After today’s rest day, the Tour continues tomorrow with a 161km stage starting in Digne-les-Bains. HAIRY TIMES FOR THOMAS There had been relatively few alarms during the 201km stage from Bourg-de-Peage to Gap until Thomas’s dramatic crash. Thomas was in a dwindling group of riders making their way down the descent from the category two Col de Manse when French rider Barguil got his line wrong on a corner and ran into the Welshman. Barguil managed to stay on the road but Thomas was propelled towards some spectators standing on the
outside of the bend. The Welshman struck a telegraph pole heavily and was thrown over the edge of the road. After initial uncertainty over what had happened to him, it soon emerged that he had been able to rejoin the race and he eventually finished just 40 seconds behind the remnants of the yellow jersey group. Thomas, who retained sixth place in the general classification, said: “Everyone knows it’s a dodgy descent, I just got taken out - 100% it was a mistake. “I feel all right for now - I guess the doctor will ask me my name and date of birth soon. “A nice Frenchman pulled me out - but I lost my glasses as well. They don’t even make them anymore.” Team Sky had gone into the stage with all nine of their riders but lost workhorse Peter Kennaugh earlier in the stage when he abandoned. The British road race champion had been suffering from stomach problems. FROOME MAINTAINS HIS LEAD It was a very sedate stage for the general classification contenders for most of the day but it exploded into life in
the final half hour as they climbed up the Col de Manse before the fast descent into Gap. Defending champion Vincenzo Nibali had already launched an attack and pulled clear of the yellow jersey group before Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde also attacked Froome. Froome lost his able lieutenant when Thomas crashed but he still had teammate Wouter Poels with him and was able to reach the finish without losing any time to any of his major rivals except Nibali, who is seven minutes 49 seconds behind. Nairo Quintana remains second, three minutes 10 seconds behind Froome, with American Tejay van Garderen in third. A DAYTO REMEMBER FOR RUBEN After a flurry of attacks early in the stage, a group of 23 riders eventually pulled clear and built a substantial lead over the peloton that at one point was more than 20 minutes. Green jersey holder Sagan was in that group and seemed determined to claim his first stage win at the Tour since 2013 as he repeatedly chased down attacks off the front of
Lampre-Merida rider Ruben Plaza Molina of Spain celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 201-km (124 miles) 16th stage of the 102nd Tour de France cycling race from Bourg-de-Peage to Gap, France, July 20, 2015. (Reuters/Stefano Rellandini) the breakaway as they neared the finish in Gap. Sagan is an excellent descender and obviously fancied his chances if he could reach the top of the category two Col de Manse close to the finish with the breakaway all together. The Tinkoff-Saxo rider led the chase to reel back an attempt to pull clear by Adam Hansen and Marco Heller but Lampre-Merida rider Plaza got clear up the slopes of the day’s final climb and held on
during the descent to finish 30 seconds clear of the unfortunate Sagan. It wasn’t all bad for Sagan, though, as he won the day’s intermediate sprint and picked up more green jersey points for finishing second and now has an 89-point lead over Andre Greipel. General classification after stage 16 1. Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky 64hrs 47mins 16secs 2. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar +3mins 10secs
3. Tejay van Garderen (US) BMC Racing +3mins 32secs 4. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar +4mins 2secs 5. Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo +4mins 23secs 6. Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky +5mins 32secs 7. Robert Gesink (Ned) Lotto +6mins 23secs 8. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana +7mins 49secs 9. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek +8mins 53secs 10. Warren Barguil (Fra) Giant +11mins 3secs
National U-19 team departs for Jamaica Ministry of Education/ .....GCB President urges players to play as a unit
Members of the Guyana U19 team just before their departure at the Windjammer hotel. Defending Regional Under-19 Champions, Guyana, departed for Jamaica yesterday morning for the Regional U19 50-over tournament which bowls off on Wednesday July 22. Speaking with the players just before their departure at the Wind Jammer hotel in Kitty, President of Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Drubahadur urged them to play as a unit, noting that it would be a phenomenal
achievement if they repeat their success since they would not be playing at home. The President also told the players to guard against complacency. Territorial Development Officer (TDO), Colin Stuart, congratulated the boys for being selected on the team. He noted that the weather was not favourable during the preparation period but said he is happy with their commitment. “As players you
should know your limitations, work towards your strengths and always put the team goals ahead of personal goals.” Guyana will be competing against Jamaica on July 22, against Trinidad and Tobago on July 23, against Leeward Islands on July 25, against Barbados on July 27, against Windward Islands on July 30, and against ICC Americas on July 31. The final will be contested on August 2, 2015.
The squad reads: Travis Persaud (Captain ), Shimron Hetmyer, Tevin Imlack, Parmesh Parsotam, Balchan Baldeo , Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Ronaldo Alimohamed (ViceCaptain), Parmanand Ramdhan, Kassim Khan, Nathan Persaud, Akshaya Persaud, Akenie Adams, Grisean Grant. The Manager is David Black and the Coach is Adrian Amsterdam.
Guyana Tennis Association summer programme underway The August holiday season is here once again and as is customary, the Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education will host its regular holiday camp at the Guyana Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown. The two weeks programme got underway yesterday morning when President of the GTA, Grace McCalman joined with coach, Shelly Ramdyhan, Ministry of Education official, Nicholas Fraser and Senior Physical Education Officer, Ceon Erskine at the venue and briefed the participants on the particulars of the programme. Ms McCalman welcomed the children and urged them to have fun even as they are tutored in the introductory aspects of the sport. She expressed gratitude to the officials of the Ministry of Education and said that the current programme is supportive of the yearly P&P Insurance initiative. “We always felt that despite its
value there was a need to support the P&P Insurance initiative and the input of the Ministry of Education is certainly timely and valued,” said Ms McCalman. She also said that the current camp would provide additional opportunities for young people who wish to learn the sport. Ms Daly was also grateful to the sponsors and said that their input would enable her executives to continue facilitating youngsters’ involvement in the sport. She urged those parents in attendance to support their children and further enroll them in clubs after the (holiday) programme has concluded in continuance of their development. The sessions will entail fun drills even as they serve to introduce the lads and lasses to the fundamentals of the sport. Sessions will culminate with a competition and the winners and runners up will receive medals and trophies.
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
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=GABBFF / Supligen Mr. Guyana 2015=
Clarke retains title and bragging rights as top muscleman in the land
Junica Pluck, Miss Bikini being presented with her hamper by Nestle Brand Manager, Treion D’Anjou.
Story and photos by Franklin Wilson In what turned out to be an entertaining evening despite a few minor glitches including power failure t w i c e , B u d d y ’s G y m member Kerwyn Clarke staved off spirited competition from five other category winners to retain his Mr. Guyana crown when the Supligen Mr. Guyana Body Building and Fitness Championships were held on Sunday evening last at the Park View Hotel, Farm, East Bank, Demerara. Clarke, in his third consecutive year as champion, first took care of the his lone challenger in the Light Middleweight (166176lbs) category, Alfred Jordan who went on to win the Masters division as the lone athlete, to out pose and out flex his rivals in the clash of champions - the overall showdown. Apart from rearranging the six overall category winners, there was one comparison requested by judge # 1 of the seven judges on the night and that was between Clarke, Under-154 lbs winner Marlon Bennett (X-Treme Fitness Gym) and Over-176lbs champion, Sylvester Andrews who
Alisha Fortune, Miss Body Fitness receives her hamper from Nestle Brand Manager, Treion D’Anjou.
represented Body Max Gym. When the dust was settled sometime after 23:00hrs, it was clear in the minds of the judges, their preferred choice for the Supligen Mr. Guyana 2015 crown. The announcement which was made by Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) President, Keavon Bess, the MC for the night was well met by the very supportive crowd on hand. For his hard work in preparing his body towards retaining status as the best in the land, Clarke received $100,000 compliments of Supligen, a supplement hamper from Fitness Express, one 42" LG TV donated by Digital Technology and a huge trophy as well as a case of Supligen and haversack from the competitions title sponsor. Cash prizes being awarded to the top performers in each category was a first for the GABBFF. The first to third placed athletes in each category received $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000 along with trophies. Category winners were also presented with hampers compliments of Fitness Express. Andrews had to pull out all the stops to win the
Heavyweight class which attracted 7 competitors who all did a fine job in preparing their bodies for the ultimate championship in the Land of Many Waters. By the time the judges were through following three different comparisons,
Emerson Campbell Men’s Physique winner.
it was indeed a watery stage with the athletes sweating profusely, a few even requesting towels to wipe away the perspiration but that was not allowed. Judge #1 first requested a comparison between Rhon Lonke (Buddy’s Gym),
Andrews, Alex Hamilton (Fitness Zone), Eustace Abraham (Canada based) and Shawn Henry of Buddy’s Gym. Going through the seven compulsory poses (front lat spread, front double biceps, side chest, rear lat spread, rear
Alfred Jordan Masters Champion.
double biceps, side triceps, abdominal and thigh) again still wasn’t enough to satisfy the judges in terms of arriving at the top four. Judge #4 requested a further comparison between Lonke, Andrews, Raymond (Continued on page 29)
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Tuesday July 21, 2015
6th Dr. Chase/Massey Distributors Guyana Inc. 50 Mile Road Race
Shaquille Agard tops field; Andrew Hicks is leading junior
Pharmaceutical Representatives of Massey Distribution Guyana Inc. pose with the respective category winners and others.
L
inden Bauxite Flyers Cycle Club’s Shaquille Agard captured the 6th a n n u a l D r. C h a s e i n collaboration with Massey Distributors Guyana Inc. sponsored 50-mile cycle road race which was held on the West Demerara Sunday. In stopping the click at One Hour 53 Minutes 57.02 Seconds, Agard, who also won one of the sprint prizes, left in his wake Orville Hinds (4 primes), Robin Persaud, Christopher Holder, Alanzo Ambrose and Raul Leal who took the
second to sixth places, respectively. Forty-four cyclists including the lone female Marica Dick faced starter’s orders just outside the Wales Police Station before proceeding to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo and returning to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish. Veterans, the lone female and mountain bike competitors turned back at Uitvlugt. Berbician rider, Andrew Hicks, a member of the Trojan Cycle Club won the junior category from Raphael Leung and
Christopher Griffith in that order. Hicks also pocketed one sprint prize. Junior Niles, who took the other two sprint prizes, was unbeatable in the veteran category, clocking a winning time of One Hour 18 Minutes 39 Seconds. Second was Ian ‘Deaf Boy’ Jackson followed by Jude Bentley. Ruling the roost in the mountain bike division was Seon Budhan of Mahaica who was trailed to the line by Michael Holder and Nicholas Alphonso in that order. Receiving a prize as
the oldest competitor was Walter Isaacs. The winners and other top performers were presented with products from the Dr. Chase line of tonics and medicines. At the presentation ceremony was attended by Pharmaceutical Representatives of the sponsors including Ms. Karen Connell (Pharmaceutical Manager / Massey Distribution Guyana Inc.) and Mr. Claude Dhanraj (Product Rep. Dr. Chase) who both complimented the cyclists for making this
Raffik and Sons Construction Services supports BCB fundraiser More sponsorship has come in for the highly anticipated Berbice Cricket Board Fundraiser “Caricom Championship 2015”. After two postponements due to the inclement weather, the tournament will now be played on Saturday August 1, 2015, a national holiday at the Albion Sports Complex. Raffik and Sons Construction Services of Williamsburg, Corentyne is the latest entity to provide support for this mega event. Proceeds from this event will be used mainly to organise a three day first division cricket competition for teams in Berbice. At the presentation ceremony held recently, Naresh Sookhoo, an employee of the business enterprise said that his company is delighted
to be part of this important fundraiser. Receiving the cheque on behalf of the Berbice Cricket Board was Alvin Alladin. He thanked the business enterprise for their contribution and promised that the tournament will be well run. He called on other businesses and private individuals to come on board to help the return of three day first division cricket in the county. Contact can be made on: telephone numbers 3332375, 655-4140 and 6236875. Emails can also be sent to abeharry1970@yahoo. com and ros_haniff2001 @yahoo.com. T h e C a r i c o m Championship will see eight top first division teams in Berbice taking part in a ten
over knockout competition with the final of 20 overs to be played under lights for a top prize of $80,000 and trophy. The runner up will receive $40,000 and trophy with the losing finalists $15,000 each. Man of the match in every game will be rewarded. The teams will don coloured clothing and white balls will be used. Action begins at 10:00am sharp. Young Warriors/Rose Hall CC/Edinburgh Combined will tackle Upper Corentyne/Skeldon Combined, Albion CC take on Bermine/Police Combined, Port Mourant vs Bush Lot/D’Edward Combined and Blairmont/ West Berbice Combined vs Rose Hall Town. The preliminary games will play in a festival format to create
year’s edition possible and successful. Connell noted that she was appreciative of the hard work that is put in by the riders in preparing themselves for the rigors of such an event and they were pleased to present them {cyclists}with products that would aid in boosting their recovery in the form of Dr. Chase Nerve and Blood Tonic as well as Dr. Chase Nerve Food. Dhanraj also stated that he fully understands what it takes to be a competitive rider, informing those present that he lost a young
relative who was a competitor due to a hit and run accident on the East Coast whilst he was training early one morning. Race Organiser, Hassan Mohamed M.S expressed thanks to the sponsors for partnering with him to bring off yet another successful race which was accident free as the traffic was professionally handled by male and female ranks of the Guyana Police Force from the Wales, Vreed-en-Hoop, Den Amstel, Leonora and Parika Stations. (Franklin Wilson)
Alvin Alladin (left), representative of BCB collects sponsorship cheque from Naresh Sookhoo, employee of Raffik and Sons Construction Services.
nonstop action. The BCB would like to thank the following sponsors so far: ANSA MCAL under
the Carib Brand, Sentinel Security, East Coast Cricket Board/Georgetown Cricket Association, Republic Bank
Berbice Branches, P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited, Massy (Continued on page 29)
Tuesday July 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Warriors out to deny Red Steel direct route to Final By Sean Devers With St Lucia Zouks and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots out of the Hero CPL title race, it means that defending Champions Barbados Tridents, Jamaica Tallawahs, T&T Red Steel and last year’s runner-up Guyana Amazons Warriors have all qualified for the semi-finals set for Trinidad from Thursday. The Tridents sit at the top of the points table with 12 from 10 matches, while the Tallawahs finished fourth with 9 points from 10 games but all of that could change tonight at Providence Stadium when the Red Steel and the Warriors go head to head in the final preliminary round game from 18:00hrs. The Warriors are on 9 points from 9 games and although they cannot take the top place they are out to deny the Red Steel a victory which would take them to 13 points and a direct route the
2015 final. A win for the Warriors tonight will take them to second place due to superior net run rate and the Tridents will advance to their second consecutive final in the three year history of the CPL. Rain is forecast for today but a washed out game will not hurt the Warriors since a point will take them to 10 points and third in the standings. The Guyana Franchise will be keen to avenge the heart breaking loss against the Red Steel in St Kitts when, with two to win from two balls, Devendra Bishoo over stepped by centimeters off the penultimate delivery as Denish Ramdin appealed for a stumping against Jevon Searles (on hindsight unwisely since this allowed the 3 Umpire to notice the no ball) and a six was struck off the free hit that followed. Apart from the win against the Tallawahs, none of their four wins have been convincing and on a slow and low track with prodigious turn for the spinners the Warriors will want to head to Trinidad with an emphatic win tonight. rd
But this will only happen if the local side, which should get the overwhelming support of another capacity crowd, changes their approach and possibly their team. If Assad Fudadin does not open the batting then he should not play since putting Brad Hodge, the team’s leading scorer, to open when he was doing a wonderful job at number four was baffling. Chris Barnwell has had little chance to get a big score because he is batting too low in the order but when he got his chances he wasted them with poor shot selections, while Mechant DeLange seems a one dimensional bowler, who bowls fast but without any variety and struggles to get his yorker ‘right’ at the death costing his team plenty of runs, especially in Guyana’s conditions. With a semi final spot already assured DeLange and Barnwell could be rested giving all-rounder Paul Wintz a chance to play before their home fans. Fudadin’s job is to rotate the strike and bat through the innings without facing too many dot balls which has been the Warriors’ biggest
Sunil Narine will be one to cause problems for the T&T batsmen. Brad Hodge has been the leading batsman for the Warriors.
problem, especially in the ‘power-play’ overs, while Lendl Simmons needs to bat with a positive mindset. Skipper Ramdin has done well at ‘three’ while Hodge should return to number four with Umar Akmal, David Weise, Wintz and the three spinners
coming in that order. Weise bowled the perfect length and pace for the Providence pitch and Wintz is a similar bowler. Narine, although not as penetrative as before he had his action remodeled, is still the best and most confusing bowler to face in t20 cricket, while
FIFA presidential election to be held on February 26
British comedian known as Lee Nelson (unseen) throws banknotes at FIFA President Sepp Blatter as he arrives for a news conference after the Extraordinary FIFA Executive Committee Meeting at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland July 20, 2015. (Reuters/Arnd Wiegmann) ZURICH (Reuters) World soccer’s troubled governing body FIFA will vote for a new president, to replace Sepp Blatter, at a special congress to be held on Feb. 26 in Zurich, the organization said on Monday. An “extraordinary elective congress” with all 209 member associations invited will decide on the
successor to Blatter, who has been at the helm of FIFA since 1998. The timing of the congress is later than many expected, with Europe’s governing body UEFA widely reported to have pushed for a December vote. FIFA statutes stipulate candidates need to have the written support of five
member associations to stand and must announce their intention to run four months ahead of a vote, meaning the deadline for nominations is Oct. 26. Blatter announced on June 2 that he was standing down, just four days after winning a fifth term with an election victory at a congress overshadowed by the arrest
of seven soccer officials. The 79-year-old had been re-elected after his only rival, Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, withdrew after gaining 73 votes to Blatter’s 133 in the first round of voting. UEFA president Michel Platini has emerged as the early frontrunner, with a source close to European football’s governing body saying the Frenchman enjoys support from four of the six regional confederations that make up FIFA. Platini, a former France international who played for Italian club Juventus, has yet to state whether he intends to run, with the source saying he would decide within the next 10 days or so. Blatter’s election at the congress in May was
overshadowed by the raids on a five-star hotel in Zurich which saw seven FIFAofficials, including Vice President Jeffrey Webb, arrested. Webb faces U.S. charges of racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. He pleaded not guilty at a U.S. court on Saturday and was released on bail. The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted 14 soccer officials and sports marketing executives on various charges. Blatter has repeatedly said that he will not stand again and while he has reneged on that promise before, saying his election in 2011 was his last before changing his mind, it would be a major surprise if he made another U-turn.
the Berbice pair of Bishoo and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who has opened the bowling, have gotten better as the tournament progressed. The Red Steel could pick all four of their spinners tonight in off-spinning allrounder Johan Botha, leftarm spinners Sulieman Benn and Deron Davis along with Samuel Badree, who could share the new ball with South African Jacques Kallis. Skipper Dwayne Bravo is one of the t20 all-rounders in this format and is the tournament’s leading wicket taker, while Kevon Cooper is also fast bowling allrounder. Darren is a class act when in full flow but too often in the recent past he has flattered to deceive, while Kamran Akmal is competent behind and in front of the stumps and the experienced 39-year-old Kallis is one of t h e w o r l d ’s b e s t a l l rounders. The Trinidad unit has the done well against Guyana in this format, winning four of the seven games they have played. Both teams started badly but improved as the tournament went by but their last match produced contrasting results for them. While the Red Steel beat the Tallawahs in Port-ofSpain the Warriors lost their third successive game to the Tridents, beginning with the 2014 final.
t r o Sp
=GABBFF / Supligen Mr. Guyana 2015=
Clarke retains title and bragging rights as top muscleman in the land
Supligen Mr.Guyana Kerwyn Clarke (2nd left) with category winners from right, Rashleigh Bentick, Zalim Bacchus, Marlon Bennett, Mahendra Singh and Sylvester Andrews.
Ministry of Education/Guyana Tennis Association summer programme underway P. 28
Shelly Ramdyhan observes as the children enjoy the interactive session moments before the commencement of formal activities.
Warriors out to deny Red Steel direct route to Final
FIFA presidential election to be held on Feb 26
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