Kaieteur News

Thursday Edition July 24, 2014 - Vol. 7 No. 29

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Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Govt. picks New GPC for US$25 million drug purchases

HEAD OF NEW GPC: Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop

Bar Association worried about case backlogs

No Land Court Judge...

- says public deserves better

GUILTY: Chandrada “Sandra” Rampersaud

Mother-in-law, four others found guilty in $7M armed robbery

Govt. boycotts media, Parliament workshop

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Thursday July 24, 2014

Thursday July 24, 2014

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MOTHER-IN-LAW, FOUR OTHERS FOUND GUILTY IN $7M ROBBERY

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he mother-in-law of a businessman, Malcolm Panday, acting in concert with four other accomplices to stage a daring armed robbery on Panday’s family was found guilty yesterday.

Her accomplices were also found guilty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Almost three years ago, on July 12, 2011, six persons were arrested in connection to the $7M robbery committed at Malcolm

Panday’s residence in Bel Air. Reports are that on that day armed bandits invaded P a n d a y ’s h o m e a n d terrorised his wife and two sons at gunpoint. The family members including the then two and four year old sons were bound.

The bandits had secured over $7million in cash and articles before leading the police on a hot chase. The ranks eventually cornered the getaway car in the compound of the Ocean

Spray Hotel in Kitty, Georgetown.

Three days after the July 12, 2011, robbery, seven persons were brought before the Chief Magistrate to face a joint charge of robbery under arms.

The accused were Panday’s mother-in-law Chandrada “Sandra” Rampersaud, 52, his wife’s cousin, Hardat Kumar, 26, of Owen Street, Kitty,Jermaine Mitchell, 23, of YY 15 North East La Penitence, Rabindra Seemangal, 23, of Lot 100

Sheriff Street, Aubrey Simon, 24, of 1414 Princes Street and Rayon Jones, 32, of Lot 2 Hardina Street, Wortmanville.

It was alleged that on July 12, 2011, at Bel Air they robbed Anne Ramsood of $7.4M, property of Malcolm Panday.

Another charge stated that Mitchell, Seemangal, Simon and Jones robbed Anne Ramsood of one Blackberry Curve cell phone valued at $47,000 and $380,000 cash.

Miner charged in cocaine-laced tonic deaths

Dead: Alex Blair and Simone Pryce

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he man fingered as being responsible for the cocainelaced SSS tonic which resulted in the death of four persons earlier this year, was yesterday charged for drug trafficking and remanded to prison.

Almost three months after the tragedy, Deon Layne, a miner of Lot 88 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, was t a k e n b e f o r e t h e G e o rg e t o w n Magistrates’ Court to answer to the charge.

The police alleged that on May 2 at Cokerite Street, East La Penitence, Layne had 252 grammes of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

To the charge, the alleged drug trafficker pleaded not guilty but the court presided over by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry ordered him held until his next court hearing on August 4.

Prosecuting the case, Inspector Michael Grant recapped the turn of events which led to Layne’s arrest.

He said that around 21:00 hours that day, the accused went to Candacy McGarrell’s home. She was at that time visiting from the United States of America.

Inspector Grant stated that during

her stay, McGarrell was residing with four other persons: six-year-old Jahaquel Blair, his 12-year-old brother Jamal Waterman, their father Alex Blair, 42, and mother 36-year-old Simone Pryce.

The Prosecution said that Layne approached McGarrell and asked her to transport some SSS Tonic for his brother in the US. The Court heard that the woman left Guyana, leaving the tonic behind and four occupants of the home and Simone Pryce’s friend, Natasha George, ingested the substance.

It was revealed that the five took ill and were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) but four later succumbed. The lone survivor was Waterman.

A post mortem examination (PME) revealed that the persons died from consuming the tonic which contained cocaine.

The tonic was taken to the police laboratory where it tested positive for cocaine. Investigators extracted the illicit substance and it was weighed.

Following probes by detectives, Layne was later apprehended and charged for drug trafficking. Grant disclosed that the State has five witnesses to support its case against the

Alleged Drug Trafficker: Deon Layne

accused. During the proceedings yesterday, the accused who was unrepresented, did not make an application for bail.

The Chief Magistrate remanded Layne to prison. The Prosecution was ordered to summon its witnesses for the trial on August 4.

Two separate charges were instituted against Simon. On July 12, 2011, he had in his possession one unlicenced 9mm pistol and eight rounds of matching ammunition.

It was further alleged that Simon fraudulently used identification mark PKK 3700, on a motorcar.

Mitchell had also faced an unlicenced firearm and ammunition charge.

The accused had denied the claims but Seemangal pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on each charge.

Following the closure of the Prosecution’s case by Special Prosecutor Attorney at Law Glenn Hanoman, the Chief Magistrate ruled that after examining the evidence before her, the court had found the accused guilty of the charges instituted against them.

During mitigation, Mitchell and Jones both denied playing a part in the robbery while the other three asked the court to be lenient.

Mitchell and Kumar both revealed that they had spent six months as remand prisoners whilst Panday’s mother-in-law begged not to

be sent to prison.

The court heard that Jones is currently charged with receiving stolen property before Magistrate Ann McLennan. Kumar revealed too that he had two previous convictions.

Jones’ lawyer George Thomas was absent during yesterday’s proceeding so he asked the Chief Magistrate to allow him a chance to have his attorney mitigate on his behalf. Simon was absent from yesterday’s proceedings.

Addressing the court, the prosecution urged the court to consider that the offence which was committed not only involved a female but “there were also minor children involved, who are still suffering traumatic attacks from that day.”

She said that the act which was committed on the Panday family has affected his health, family life and overall well-being.

The lawyer remarked that the mother-in-law was known to Panday and her actions “has severely a ff e c t e d h i m a n d h i s children.”

The Chief Magistrate remanded the convicts to prison until today.

Thursday July 24, 2014

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Thursday July 24, 2014

Collaborative US$60M fund to benefit Rupununi business owners With the support of government, Conservation International, the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) yesterday signed an agreement making some US$60M available to small and medium business owners in the Rupununi.

The Fund will provide financing and technical support for local and community-based agriculture and tourism enterprises to enable their participation in and support for Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

This speaks to the support of sustainable agriculture, agroprocessing, marketing, sustainable fisheries, sustainable management of forests, savannahs and other ecosystems; agro-forestry, nature-based and agrotourism and arts and craft.

The development of these enterprises is intended to further greater synergies between other low-carbon development initiatives, to contribute to the maintenance of ecosystems and to foster good business practices.

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, who signed on behalf of the government, lauded the benefits the Fund will bring to the Rupununi Region and the larger national economy.

“Region 9 represents a major center of economic growth potential for Guyana, with its capital Lethem already showing indications of rapid growth being positioned as it is the gateway between Guyana and Brazil.” The Minister noted that such

partnerships are seen by the government as critical in pursuing public policy objectives. He said, “we speak of public/private partnerships, but they are not only to be viewed in the narrow traditional sense of mobilising private capital to achieve public policy objectives, but can be also seen in the context of collaboration such as this.”

The Rupununi Innovation Fund represents a unique partnership between the government, through the provision of a waiver of corporate taxes on the income earned from loans granted; GBTI by investing $60M to the Fund as seed capital; CIGuyana byco-financing and executing the US$1.6M InterAmerican Development Bank Multilateral Investment Fund (IDB-MIF) Rupununi Livelihoods Project.

The fund is a critical component of the ‘Leveraging Natural Capital in Guyana’s Rupununi’ Project, currently being implemented

by CI-Guyana, with funding from the IDB-MIF and the Swift Family Foundation. The Project seeks to demonstrate that natural resourcedependent, local and indigenous communities in the Rupununi can enhance and sustain their livelihoods, while maintaining the capacity of the Rupununi to provide environmental services such as carbon sinks and biodiversity habitats. Also at the signing, Mr. John Tracey, Chief Executive Officer of GBTI said, “When in 2006, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited opened a

Finance Minister Ashni Singh (second from right) shakes hands with John Tracey, GBTI CEO, while IDB country Representative, Sophie Makonnen (left) and David Singh, CI looks on Branch in Lethem, Rupununi, it was in recognition of the potential of the Rupununi for tourism, agriculture and commerce and, by its geographical position, our gateway to Brazil and further south.” “GBTI’s banking philosophy of community banking has always been founded upon an understanding of the environment in which we operate and the tailoring of our banking services to suit, as far as possible, the needs and aspirations of the community.” “We seek at all times to make ourselves a partner in development and are fortunate that in the Rupununi we have a partner in Conservation International, whose experience and understanding of this environment far outweigh our own and has allowed us to fashion a unique fund, The Rupununi Investment Fund, to foster economic development of the Region in an environmentally friendly way.” Vice President and Executive Director of

Jamaica condemns Israel’s use of force in Gaza conflict Jamaica Gleaner - The Jamaican Government says it’s dismayed at what it calls Israel’s disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force in the Gaza Strip conflict with Hamas, which is resulting in hundreds of deaths.

The latest data shows that the escalating crisis has claimed more than 600

Palestinian lives and with more than 3,700 persons injured. Israel says 30 of its citizens have been killed in the past 14 days of fighting with the Palestinian organisation Hamas. Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Courtenay Rattray, made known the country’s position on the crisis at a UN

Security Council debate on the situation, Tuesday.

He said while Israel’s legitimate security concerns and right to self-defense are acknowledged, Jamaica condemns the targeting of civilian populations, which constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.

Conservation InternationalGuyana Dr. David Singh in his remarks stated that, “Conservation International– Guyana is particularly pleased with the partnership

with GBTI and the continued support of the government in efforts to build a sustainable future. “Guyana, particularly the Rupununi, is one of few places in the world where

people can demonstrate how to fulfill their interests in improving livelihoods, contributing meaningfully to the national economy, while maintaining ecosystems.”

“The People of the Rupununi have a strong history of conservation, culture, and tradition. There is much that we can learn from the region, especially as the government continues its efforts to transform village economies along a healthy sustainable path. The emphasis of the Project on local and indigenous community based tourism and agriculture enterprises recognize the potential of the region to increase its contribution to both of these sectors.” Singh concluded.

CHIEF JUSTICE SENATE SHOCKER

Uproar over Judiciary’s role in drafting prison law Trinidad Guardian Opposition and Independent Senators have expressed concern over a revelation by Justice Minister Emmanuel George that Chief Justice (CJ) Ivor Archie had an input in the Prison Amendment Bill before it was brought to the Senate for debate Tuesday.

The bill seeks to impose heavier fines and longer jail terms for offences committed under the act, including breaking out of prison.

It also creates a new body corporate, called the Inspectorate of Prisons, to be headed by a Chief Prison Inspector and a Deputy Prison Inspector. Those positions are to be filled on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice. George’s revelation was made while thanking Archie and the Law Association “for their input into this particular bill.”

He said the Government had “sought their input before the bill was finalised.”

George then quoted part of a letter sent to him by Archie in March in response to a letter dated December 23, 2013.

Archie began by apologising

Chief Justice (CJ) Ivor Archie to George for the delay in his response. George said the CJ’s letter said: “I have enclosed for your perusal the comments of the Judiciary on the Miscellaneous Provisions Bill.” The minister said the CJ invited him to contact him if he had any concerns about the Judiciary’s comments and added: “The ministry did consult with the Judiciary and also the Law Association.” He said the association “did respond, via a letter from Ravi Rajcoomar, senior member,” and expressed support for the creation of the Inspectorate of Prisons, saying it was “correct and complies with modern international

requirements.”Independent Senator Helen Drayton then raised concerns about the role of the CJ, describing the minister’s revelation about the CJ as “very peculiar. So if there is a matter pertaining to this bill, how does the Chief Justice get involved and I am asking whether that was appropriate.” George did not respond directly but went on to give more details of the CJ’s role.

He said there was an issue of making HIV testing compulsory, “and on that particular matter I think the Chief Justice/the Judiciary were at pains to point out that we would be stepping way beyond our bounds of the constitutional rights of people to seek (to make) HIV testing compulsory among prisoners.” He said Archie presented a very cogent argument on that point. “So on that particular issue we did value the input of the Chief Justice,” George told legislators.

Independent Senator Elton Prescott, SC, rose in agreement with Drayton and asked if George was prepared to give the full content of the CJ’s advice, saying that “was inappropriate in the first place.” Prescott added: “Either you tell us all that he has said or tell us why we are being exposed to it.”

Thursday July 24, 2014

I am so glad that the FIFA World Cup 2014 is over. My pleasure at the end of this tournament has nothing to do with who won or who lost. It has nothing to do also with the quality of the football.

The reason I am happy is because finally I can get some relief from all those overnight football experts, both men and women. Boy, I did not know that so many women followed football. Not only did they try to convey the impression that they loved the game but they

Kaieteur News

also seemed to have become masters of football strategy, overnight.

During the World Cup, I tried to watch the matches alone. And after every match, I kept very far from anyone that I knew. Both man and woman!

I kept my distance because I really did not wish to endure a lecture on why this team lost and what they should have done and which player cannot play the game.

As far as I am concerned all

the players in the FIFA World Cup tournament are top performers. But the way these overnight analysts were going on you would believe that some of them would do better than the professionals who turned out to represent their countries.

I did not know that so many women knew so much about football. It shocked the daylights out of me! But I really could not stand listening to the pre-game projections and the after-

Dem boys seh...

Ramroop is de man fuh Guyana Jagdeo mek Ramroop he best friend and during de years of his leadership in Guyana he do all kind of thing fuh Ramroop. Jagdeo tun president in 1999, and as soon as he tun president, Ramroop buy GPC cheap.

Couple years after he get de government shares from Brassington fuh next to nutten.

He get all kinds of concessions and deals. He get concession fuh use raw material from India to mek drugs.

If he wasn’t stopped in he tracks by Marilyn Collins who use to head de Food and Drug Analyst, half of Guyana woulda dead.

But dem boys woulda live, because dem young and strong. Dem plan to stay so for a very long time fuh torment dem.

Uncle Adam is 66 and de boss man is only de golden 50.

Dem boys can’t even dream fuh name de sweetheart deals wha Ramroop get under Jagdeo leadership. He get duty-free concession pun even de US$3,000 shoes he buy de other day in Roosevelt Field Mall in New York, according to de cashier.

De man supply drugs to de Health Ministry and de government give him billions of dollars.

Before he lef office, Jagdeo try to give he a better pitch fuh bat on. He put out GRA from de Sanata Complex and put in Ramroop quietly.

When de story buss out, he Jagdeo tell de world that is a good deal, how Ramroop paying $4 million a month and how de money going to Brassington. That was de stage to hand over de complex to Ramroop fuh next to nutten. Before he lef office Jagdeo set de wicket to benefit a few people in Guyana. One of de many stages he set was de telecommunications licence fuh Brian Yong and Vishok. He give Ramroop five radio licence. When it come to de supply of drugs he put de system in such a way that nobody could beat Ramroop.

De whole nation believe when Donald come on board he woulda stop de lawlessness. Instead, he mek Ramroop a King, wha Jagdeo couldn’t do.

So, as of today, people must bow down before de King and say praise be to Donald Ramotar.

Talk half and look out, Guyana becoming a kingdom.

game analyses by some of my friends. A lot of what they were telling me sounded very familiar with the comments on Mike and Mike before the games and on the after- game wrap-up. But perhaps it was mere coincidence that the views on these sports shows were the same as those of my friends. I am glad the football is over because all this analyses was too much for me. At times, I was tempted to ask all those who were talking about football if they could explain to me the offside rule. I heard a lot of people complaining about a few offside decisions that went against the team they were supporting. And every time they complained, I wanted to ask them to explain this rule. But then I said to myself if they can understand football tactics so well, they have to know the rules of the game.

I did not know that so many persons in Guyana loved football. I hope to see them when next there is a local football match involving Western Tigers and Alpha United. Some of the coaches in Guyana could do with the advice. And the sport in

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Guyana does need a heavy injection of public support. If Guyanese spent one tenth of what they spent watching the FIFA World Cup 2014, football in Guyana would be in a sound financial state.

In all of the hype over FIFA World Cup many people in Guyana missed the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament. The tournament, which was held during the time when the World Cup was being staged, suffered as a result of all the attention of the games in Brazil. Perhaps we have seen the last of Roger Federer at a Grand Slam final.

What I found truly amazing though was Argentina, who has won the FIFA World Cup on two occasions. They were in this year ’s finals but lost to Germany. When the defeated team returned home, the President of the country greeted them at the airport and confessed that she is not a soccer fan and in fact did not watch a single game in the tournament, not even the final. If that statement was made by the President of Brazil

she would have had to resign immediately.

The same local fanaticism with the big games event that I saw in Guyana during the FIA World Cup 2014 is the same thing I am seeing in terms of the Caribbean Premier League. The National Stadium was sold out during the three matches that were hosted here.

The response of Guyanese was overwhelming. But did all of those who went to those matches really love cricket as much as you would think? Or it is the big event or the need to be part of it that led to the massive spectator attendance.

I trust that now that the dust has settled that local cricket fans will turn out in their numbers to support the national Under 19 cricket team just as how they turned out to support the Amazon Warriors in the CPL. Something tells me however that they will not!

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Kaieteur News

Thursday July 24, 2014

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Ramotar: Is he a faded, jaded mandarin?

Whatever you may think about Donald Ramotar, he has gone down in the history books on cricket. I doubt whether the Prime Minister or President of any nation has presented the prize money to a winning team in any kind of sports outside of the grand prize to the winner in the climaxing game.

And I am not too sure if any Prime Minister of all the cricketing nations ever graced the podium to present the final prize.

I could be wrong. (Portia Simpson-Miller did present medals at the end of the track and field meet in her native Jamaica).

Ramotar turned up at one of the second round matches in the Caribbean Premier

League to present the cheque to the winning captain.

Ramotar was also able to secure an interview with one of the commentators, no doubt arranged by Ramotar’s PR people.

The talk among observers of American politics all over the globe is that President Obama has grown grey prematurely. And the process started very early in his second term.

Looking at Ramotar at that cricket match, one can see the identical transformation. Mr. Ramotar looked tired, jaded with a conspicuous touch of slow, vocabulary presentation.

With a Local Government poll in 2015 followed by General Elections in 2016, for

those Young Turks in the PPP who believe they stand a better chance of securing a victory for the PPP than Ramotar, the schadenfreude grins must be larger than the combined length of the three great Guyana rivers.

Running the United States against a defiant, powerful Congress is bound to cause any American President to show signs of fatigue. One may say the same for Guyana since 2011.

Guyana is a complex society far more labyrinthine, mysterious and inexplicable than many countries in the entire world.

Mr. Ramotar inherited the presidency with burdensome factors at work. First, he lives with the guilt that he is the

only PPP president not to win a parliamentary majority.

Secondly, he has to endure the mental torture that his personal and political attributes may have been the reason. He has to contend with the psychological pressure that this makes him vulnerable in any election environment.

Thirdly, Mr. Ramotar is also saddled with the hysteria that with each passing day, there is no Ramotar moment that can catapult him in front of the admiring eye of the nation and time is not on his side. Ramotar may be looking for that accolade but it keeps evading him. It is nearing three years into his presidency and he has not initiated any grand scheme, great, national project or superb idea.

Fourthly, Ramotar ’s presidency is living in a vortex. He has to contend with a defiant Parliament and guerrilla warfare inside the PPP. These are no ordinary oppressive circumstances.

These are very depressing moments for any Guyanese president. Therefore it is understandable that Mr. Ramotar would bear the signs of fatigue.

Which of these factors are sapping the energy of Mr. Ramotar? If I were to isolate and comment on one of them, it would be his fear of losing the election candidacy in 2016. We need to get one suggestion out of the way before we continue. There will be no snap poll. The increase of UG tuition fees is the biggest indicator to date on that.

There is no way the PPP would increase UG fees and a general election is around the corner. There are more Indian than African students at UG. And UG’s student population consists of predominantly working class people; not even lower middle class but children of the labouring masses.

By November 2016 when the election comes around, the PPP is hoping that the fee increase would be a dead issue.

Mr. Ramotar is preoccupied with the road to 2016 and whether he will be in the frame. He knows that the obsession with all PPP beneficiaries is that for the PPP to survive, it has to win a majority in 2016. And he feels that there is a growing trend to look to a younger, more

Frederick Kissoon dynamic candidate (see my July 16 column – “Guerilla Warfare inside the House of Gerontocracy.”)

The presence at the cricket ground during the CPL may have given the Young Turks prodigious encouragement because truly when you look at Mr. Ramotar’s appearance and speech at that event, you feel that he lacks the endowments that would put him ahead of any of the Young Turks.

I want to make it quite clear that I am not referring to Mr. Ramotar’s age or body structure or anything like that. Those things do not matter and should not. I am referring to the overall appearance of a leader who gives off signs that he may be psychologically burdened and disoriented.

Thursday July 24, 2014

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Bartica braces for more blackouts as Caterpillar engine fails

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esidents of Bartica, Region Seven, have to brace for more load-shedding during peak hours as the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) scramble to rectify the cause of the power supply shortages.

In a statement yesterday, the power company said that efforts to put into operation the No. 9 Caterpillar set at Bartica did not materialize as envisioned. GPL had been banking on repairs to the engine to bring stability and had earlier yesterday signaled this.

The statement followed protests by residents there yesterday over continuous outages there for several days.

“Tripping of the main switch at less than maximum rated load was experienced even after a replacement switch was installed earlier today (yesterday). Further investigation to determine the cause of the trips, is required, but cannot be pursued until the No. 8 comes online.”

GPL said that it had to retain the services of the local Caterpillar

Bartica residents protesting over prolonged power outages in that Region Seven community.

representative, MACORP, to help identify and correct defects on the No. 8 as quickly as possible.

“Establishment of a reliable supply from this unit will allow for taking the No. 9 offline to address the problem causing restriction to its available output. Given the restriction to full utilization of the capacity of the unit in operation, we are constrained to institute loadshedding during both day

and night.”

The company said that a comprehensive loadshedding guide, “designed to minimize inconvenience to residents in all areas, will be issued” today.

“We appeal for patience and understanding from the residents of Bartica as every effort is being made to restore a reliable uninterrupted power supply.

Residents are also advised to check TARZIE television

station for advisory notices.”

Constant power outages and load shedding within the past four to three weeks have infuriated residents, forcing them to picket the power company’s branch office in Bartica.

Simona Broomes, a resident of Bartica and President of the Guyana Wo m e n M i n e r s ’ Organization, do not believe that any amount of repairs to the engines could rectify the

problem.

Broomes said she is anxiously awaiting the installation of the New 3 x 2 MW HFO fired power station at Bartica since it has been experiencing regular power outages for numerous years and nothing substantial had been done.

She believes the power outages and load shedding are as a result of the old engines used by GPL to generate electricity for Bartica, which has been expanding with new housing establishments. Moreover, the town, which is a gateway to many of the interior locations, has been welcoming many new businesses, thanks to the thriving gold and diamond mining industries.

Broomes dismissed comments made by Gordon Bradford, Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council that she and other residents had objected to GPL placing generators in

the area.

Broomes clarified that she had objected to the specific placement of the generators. Apparently, GPL had placed the generator sets on the roadway designated for the Westminster Housing Scheme without any environmental impact assessment.

According to a resident, the constant power outages have been devastating residents and business entities. Lengthy power outages have caused her perishables to spoil. And, costly electrical appliances have been destroyed owing to load shedding.

“The entire Bartica is suffering…This is not one and two avenues, is the entire place…We need better services…We pay our taxes and electricity bills on time,” the resident said.

She lamented that residents are forced to retire to bed early or endure high gasoline bill.

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Thursday July 24, 2014

Subvention to GINA is immoral, criminal- NAGAMOOTOO - PAC Chairman expresses concern over this latest revelation Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Carl Greenidge, has said that the Committee examined three sectors during its last meeting on Monday. The sectors included the Office of the President and the Ministry of Education.

The Committee has finally completed its perusal of the Auditor General’s

2010 and 2011 reports and is now examining his 2012 report.

With reference to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Greenidge said yesterday, “We found that this entity has still been receiving money but its audits are not up-to-date.

There is a backlog of audited financial statements that are

not before the National Assembly.

“They were unable to say why this was the case. And that has to be worrying. This is a rather controversial agency not only because of i t s l e v e l o f unprofessionalism but because it acts as the propaganda arm of the government.”

He continued, “GINA has missing audited financial reports for the years 2001-2007 and for 2010 and 2011. The last time it laid a report was in 2009 and that is worrying.

“Its Permanent Secretary, Omar Shariff, was unable to explain why this was the case.”

Greenidge said that he

Moses Nagamootoo, AFC Vice Chairman Carl Greenidge, PAC Chairman was alarmed that while the political opposition would have withheld its support for the approval of funds via the national budget, it was revealed that (GINA) was still receiving monies and even in that capacity the entity was still far behind in the audited financial statements.

He argued that this should have caused the Ministry of Finance to be hesitant in its further disbursement of funds. He is concerned that considering “its track record” it was still funded.

Alliance For Change Vice Chairman, Moses Nagamootoo said, “We are totally against subventions for this agency and any other agency that operates as though it is the propaganda arm of the government. It’s immoral and criminal to fund a propaganda machine whose statements aren’t in order.

“In any decent democracy, such action

would be met with jail.”

As it relates to other matters under the Office of the President, the PAC Chairman noted that it has not moved the Police Guard Service to being under the Ministry of Home Affairs or under the Office of the President.

He said, “It is not a local organization and it should be placed under one of the umbrellas. Because it is receiving monies as ‘contribution to local organization’ and that is money given as a lump sum which they don’t have to account for.

“It is tantamount to giving money to an orphanage. They don’t have to account for that money but that is not the situation with the Police Guard Service. It is not that kind of organization. It should fall under the ambit of the Ministry of Home Affairs and that action has not been taken as yet.”

“I asked the Auditor General and the Finance Secretary to explain and both (Continued on page 19)

Thursday July 24, 2014

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NO LAND COURT JUDGE T

he Guyana Bar Association has expressed alarm over the absence of a Judge at the Demerara Land Court as this is reportedly causing a backlog in cases.

According to the

Association, there has been no public information about the status of the Land Court at Demerara.

Since the beginning of 2014, the former Commissioner of Title, Rabindra Rooplall, demitted office. “We are informed that

Essequibians gear for Emancipation

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t e a m o f overseas-based Essequibians is expected in the country soon to participate in the much anticipated Libation ceremony, to be observed at mid-night before E m a n c i p a t i o n D a y, a t Damon Square, Anna Regina on July31, 2014.

Areas identified for the o b s e r v a t i o n o f Emancipation activities to be held in the Region are, Dartmouth, Queenstown, Danielstown, Henrietta and Supenaam.

According to a release by the Essequibo African Association Group, it was noted that on July 31, members of the EAA Group will feature a march commencing from La Belle Alliance, Essequibo Coast, before converging at Damon Square. Participants are

expected to sing to the sounds of drumming during that march.

Other activities include reflection speeches, highlighting the occasion of Emancipation by outstanding Essequibians.

There would also be dances, singing, skits and drama.

On August 1, a Church service would be observed at the African Association building from 8:00 hours, after which senior citizens would be treated to lunch at the Queenstown Centre. The Association will also host an Emancipation Fair at Damon Square, Anna Regina and an African Day Symposium.

Mr. Rooplall had reached the age of 55 and under the Public Service Rules which applied to him, he retired.”

The Association said that while the Commissioner functioned effectively as a j u d i c i a l o ff i c e r, i t i s unfortunate that arrangements could not be made to possibly have him remain in office until a replacement could be found.

“Even one case is too many. We are informed that his replacement was not identified or appointed prior to this sudden circumstance Mr. Rooplall’s 55 birthdayth

Bar Association worried about case backlogs

because the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) was not constituted.”

The Bar Association explained that the term of the JSC appointed under Article 198 of the Guyana Constitution is for three years. “(With) the last appointments having been made in 2010, one would have thought that the National Assembly would have conducted its consultations and made appointments with alacrity

so that its work would continue with minimum disruption.”

As a matter of fact, the outgoing JSC should have alerted the National Assembly to this eventuality.

“Perhaps they too were taken by surprise.”

The Association said it had agitated for the National Assembly to consult with stakeholders.

“We are informed that the Appointments Committee of the National

Assembly met in May 2014 and approved nominations made by the Guyana Bar Association for former Justice Lennox Perry to be appointed to the JSC. The JSC will be properly constituted when the appointees take their respective oaths.”

However, in the meantime, the already large backlog of work in the Land Court will be compounded “in our view, unnecessarily.

We think the public deserves better.”

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 24, 2014

Thursday July 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 17

Blue CAPS’ accusation that Opposition disrespects Parliamentary procedures “baseless” - Greenidge

C

arl Greenidge, A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Shadow Minister of Finance has debunked claims by the nongovernmental organization, Blue CAPS, that the political opposition is as guilty as the government in disrespecting the procedures and rulings of the National Assembly.

The politician has challenged the leader of the organization, Clinton Urling, to bring forth clear examples to support his position. “His comments with regard to the political opposition are just baseless,” Greenidge expressed.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) initially started the “ten point list of demands” when it called on government to do several things which included the holding of Local Government Elections, establish the Public Procurement Commission and appoint the members to the Integrity Commission.

T h e P e o p l e ’s Progressive Party had also

made its list of 10 demands.

T h e P a r t y ’s G e n e r a l Secretary, Clement Rohee, called on the opposition to give its support for a number of projects which included the controversial Marriott Hotel, the Specialty Hospital and the Amaila Falls Hydro project.

B l u e C A P S subsequently issued its own list of demands for the country’s political leaders.

The organization noted that while both the opposition and government have laid out their 10-point demands of each other, it has its own ten demands it would like from its political policy makers on both sides of the aisle which are in the interest of the people.

The group called for the holding of Local Government Elections, for policy makers to put Guyana’s interest above party interest, end racial politics, engage and incorporate civil society’s views in national decision making, compromise and negotiate on important issues, respect

Parliamentary procedures and decisions, show equality and respect for young leaders, respect human rights of all citizens, end the ‘cuss out’ culture, and establish institutions to increase transparency and accountability.

Urling told this publication, that its 10-point demands are intended to serve as “a proclamation to our political policy makers as to what we consider positive steps towards a more mature, inclusive, productive and effective political culture.” ”In some instances, the individual demands are applicable to one political party more than it is to the other. In other instances, both sides can be found wanting. We would leave it up to the public and the media to discern where applicable. What is more important is for all our political policy makers, both government and opposition benches, to embrace a culture that coincides and aligns with our 10-point demands as we move

Clinton Urling, President of Blue CAPS forward with Guyana’s development.”

Citing an example that the political opposition is as guilty as the government in disrespecting the procedures and rulings of the National Assembly, Urling said, “One example that comes to memory is the Speaker’s ruling that Minister Clement Rohee has the authority to make presentations in the National Assembly despite a no confidence motion against the said Minister.

This did not find favor by the

APNU and a public ridicule of the Speakers decision was expressed. It is still not clear if the APNU respects the Speaker’s ruling on this matter.”

“We (Blue CAPS) are a non-partisan civic NGO which develops and advocates public policy prescriptions for a better Guyana. Further, we need a better political culture and though our organization is still in an informal stage before it gets registered under the Companies Act, we are still pressing for policies we believe are in the interest of the people and that is part of what we basically do.”

“We have seen since the last elections, disrespect for parliamentary protocols from both sides. We have Parliamentarians refusing to apologize when instructed to by the Speaker of the House, and some failing to show up at Committee meetings. Also the lack of respect for Motions passed and certain rulings of the National Assembly are also matters of concern, and it all shows a

level of immaturity from our leaders. We are concerned about Parliament’s power being undermined because of lack of respect from both sides. “ The businessman continued, “They also need to end this cuss out culture. It is not healthy for our people.

And it is an obvious pattern that is developing. When one makes comments against those doctrines held by some, we see attempts from both sides to tarnish that person and it is becoming part of the political culture.

Let me reiterate that we are an NGO and I am basically speaking to the issues affecting civil society and it is not strange for a non partisan group to make demands that are political in nature because at the end of the day it has an effect on the lives of the people.”

Urling said, “The NGO will continue to advocate for the rights of the people. We will work along with the politicians and try to influence the discourse but at the end of it all that this country needs is mature politics.”

Page 18

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 24, 2014

State continues to wage 220 year-old war against Free Press

By Gary Eleazar T h e G u y a n a Government is continuing its fight against the free press by the State, according to Leader of the Opposition Brigadier (rtd) David Granger.

Yesterday, he delivered remarks at the opening of a parliamentary workshop for the media, funded by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and held at the Georgetown Club.

Those in attendance included Guyana Press Association (GPA), Secretary, Neil Marks; several Members of Parliament as well as members of the diplomatic corps among other guests

…as Opposition Leader blasts ‘quacks’ at media workshop and participants.

According to Granger, the State has historically been waging war against the free press because it has always wanted to control the free flow of information to the public.

Speaking to the assertion that the battle between the State and Free Press continues, the Opposition Leader pointed out that the portfolio of Minister of Information falls with the President.

Granger questioned why President Donald Ramotar, who has to deal with a struggling sugar industry and high levels of crime

among other worries, would want to concern himself with holding onto that portfolio.

He posits that this is the case since the State would want to influence behavior in society. The opposition leader is of the opinion that it was not just about a matter of control but also an abuse.

He drew reference to the fact that the State uses media outfits under its control to abuse enemies of the political party in power.

Granger said that it is unprofessional vilification of the opposition media.

He said too that the state

of affairs is an affront to Article 146 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana, which states: “Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, that is to say, freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference and freedom from interference with his correspondence.”

According to the

opposition leader, freedom points to responsible and professional administration of media house both private and state owned.

Granger urged journalists at the workshop that reporting must be done in a professional and responsible manner.

Granger was adamant that regardless of which media house a journalist is working for that journalist has a right to report the truth in a fair and balanced manner.

Explaining acting professionally, he used as example a doctor operating on a patient.

Granger said that if he, or

the General Secretary of the ruling party, is placed on his operating table, that doctor must not be guided by personal feelings but must use his or her extensive training to treat both patients with the best of their ability to ensure that the patients are taken care of.

In stressing training for journalists, Granger said that one would not want to be operated on by a quack doctor, or one would not want to be flown in a plane by a quack pilot.

As a result, Granger declared that if a media house or its journalists do not uphold the noble tenets of journalism, then they are ‘quacks.’

Granger noted that in 2012, the state-run Government Information Agency (GINA) had published over 100 hostile articles against the opposition and questioned how such a medium could be supported by taxpayers to be used to ‘deliver feral blasts’ against the opposition which constitute a majority.

According to Granger, if the voices of the majority of people cannot be heard from state outfits how can such an entity claim to be practicing professionally?

Granger was adamant that for the state, it is not a matter of an option but rather an obligation to provide balanced information to the public so that its citizens can make informed decisions.

Thursday July 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Luncheon not aware that Jagdeo lobbied for Indian hotel

By Latoya Giles Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, said yesterday that he wasn’t aware that former President Bharrat Jagdeo has been lobbying Government on behalf of the “Sun and Sand Group of Companies”.

Earlier this month the group out of India turned the sod for the construction of a US$54M five-star luxury hotel and casino at Liliendaal East Coast Demerara. Present at the event was the former president.

According to Luncheon, he knows that “all Guyanese” who are interested in the development of the country have an interest in bringing business into the country. He said that all of the people who have been associated with the government have seized these opportunities while travelling.

“They would say come to Guyana and invest, that’s what we have established throughout the years” Luncheon told the media yesterday.

“I cannot put my finger and say that the former President has been lobbying f o r a n y c o m p a n y, ” Luncheon said.

Construction on the163room hotel began immediately and will be completed in approximately 18 months.

The group also has an interest in investing in Guyana’s mining, housing and shipping sectors too. In India the group is involved in several areas, including hotel properties, service apartments, real estate and townships.

The construction of the

Sun and Sand Hotel will include many modern conveniences and amenities including a casino and restaurants. When completed, the 290,000 square-foot hotel will also house a commercial block and club house of approximately 45,000 sq. ft. which is being touted to provide direct benefits to Guyanese through the provision of several hundred jobs.

Director of Sun and Sand Group of Companies, Bhushan Chandna, had explained that employees will benefit from training to provide high level services in the hospitality industry.

The anticipated knowledge and information transfer will be of substantial value to the Guyanese human resource pool.

He said that the hotel will also provide indirect benefits as it serves as a significant c a t a l y s t t o G u y a n a ’s growing tourism sector and the economy in general.

The Director said the company has decided to invest locally, “because Guyana is an upcoming country that has a stable economy.” He noted that as Guyana continues to grow economically, the demand for additional services especially in the hospitality sector will increase.

Chandna also noted that the company wants to expand its operations here and contribute to the growth of the country. “Our motto is to bring luxury and pleasure so as to enhance Guyana’s tourism,” the Director stated.

The hotel and casino is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016 and Chandna expressed gratitude to the Guyana

Labourer drowns in Pomeroon

A

4 2 - y e a r- o l d l a b o u r e r formerly of Siriki, in the Upper Pomeroon River, reportedly died by drowning after an outing over the weekend.

Reports are that Sugit Persaud, the father of one child, and formerly of Siriki, Pomeroon River, left his home on Sunday last and went to a shop in the Community where he was said to be viewing the Limacol Caribbean Premier League games played between the “Amazon Warriors and the Jamaican Tallawahs”.

The report added that

Persaud didn’t make it back home since he apparently fell into the river and drowned.

On Monday, however, residents in the area d i s c o v e r e d P e r s a u d ’s bloated and disfigured body floating several yards away from his home at Siriki. They proceeded to inform ranks at the Charity police outpost, who later recovered P e r s a u d ’s b o d y a n d transported it to the Oscar Joseph Hospital, at Charity.

Piranhas had already eaten sections of Persaud’s face. A post mortem report is expected to be performed on the remains.

Government for being investor friendly.

President Donald Ramotar said that Guyana can become a tourism destination and the

construction of another hotel adds to the development and expansion of attracting airlines and businesses to Guyana.

The President said that

the landscape and skylines are changing in the country.

This will have a spin off effect to stimulate tourism and benefit communities.

“The government will

facilitate and encourage these kinds of investments in our society and a good business environment in which works can be carried out.”

Page 22

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 24, 2014

Duo jailed for mugging elderly man Lawyer challenges

T

wo city youngsters were yesterday jailed for mugging an elderly man earlier this month. Raheem Benn, 20, of William Street, Kitty and Hakim Morgan, 17, of Albouystown, Georgetown attacked Julian Whyte, as he was heading home on July 3, last.

As the elderly man rode his bicycle, the duo approached and threatened him with a pair of scissors, demanding that he hand over his cash and bicycle.

One of them reportedly placed a “half-scissors” to the man’s neck and took away his bicycle, whilst the other relieved him of the cash from his pocket.

As they rode away on the bicycle, the elderly victim saw a police rank and informed him of the incident. The rank then sent out a transmission via a police network and another set of police ranks saw the boys with the bicycle and arrested them.

When searched, the weapon was found in the pocket of one of the accused. They were later placed on an identification parade and were positively identified by the elderly victim.

The Prosecution, which was spearheaded by Inspector Joel Ricknauth, revealed that further investigations led to the two being arrested and charged with robbery under arms.

When the accused made their first court appearance before Magistrate Judy Latchman on July 8, they pleaded not guilty and were remanded to prison.

The police had sought to prove that the duo on July 3, in Albouystown while armed with a pair of scissors, robbed Julian Whyte of his Mountain Climber bicycle which cost $18,000 as well as $2000 in cash.

Following the closure of the Prosecution’s case, Magistrate Latchman ruled that a prima facie case was established against the two men and they were called upon to lead their defence.

While Morgan opted to remain silent, Benn stood in the prisoners’ docks and offered unsworn evidence.

He said, “When this incident occurred your worship, I myself was walking along Hunter Street, Albouystown when I saw my friend riding on a bicycle. I ask him for a drop.”

“While he did towing me, they had three male police who come and said they got a report that the bike was stolen. That’s my story,” Benn concluded.

Both defendants refused to call witnesses to support their defence.

As she ruled, Magistrate Latchman stated that the Prosecution had proven beyond a doubt that the duo had robbed the elderly man, that they placed him in fear and that they used a weapon to take away his valuables.

The Magistrate noted their caution statements whereby Morgan claimed “the big man leff he bicycle on the ground and I pick it up” while Benn said “I see ma friend and I tek a drop”.

She accepted the statements as

given freely and voluntarily but she had not believed either of them.

Magistrate Latchman stated that she will refer to the Prosecution’s case since the conviction was determined on the strength of it.

She referred to a 1979 case of the State against Michael Allen and stated that, while mistakes during the identification parade process were possible, she believed that the elderly man had positively identified the two accused.

The court, she said, believed they took the man’s valuables and by inducing fear. The Magistrate deemed that the defendants intended to deprive the man of his bicycle and cash.

They were found guilty as charged.

The court heard that Morgan was previously convicted by another court while Benn had been charged for simple larceny and robbery under arms.

Attorney at Law Adrian Thompson who later entered an appearance asked the court to consider preparing a probation report for Morgan whose father came forth claiming that his son “does stay jusso and trip.”

Notwithstanding their application, Magistrate Latchman stated that she had considered all the mitigating factors in their favour and their previous crimes as well as the prevalence of the offence.

She noted that Morgan had appeared quite “astute” when he addressed the ranks and the court.

Benn was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment while Morgan was sentenced to 56 months.

committal of client to High Court for rape

A

ttorney at Law Murseline Bacchus is challenging a Magistrate’s decision to commit his client to stand trial in the High Court on the amended Sexual Offences Act. M r . B a c c h u s representing Ray Bacchus, has moved to the court for an order directed to the Director of Public Prosecution, the Commissioner of Police and Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus, to show cause why the mMagistrate’s decision handed down on June 2, last, committing Ray Bacchus to stand trial for rape should not be quashed.

Ray Bacchus, a father of three, was charged on August 28, last, at St. John Street, New Amsterdam Berbice, for sexual penetration of a child aged 14.

Attorney- at- law Bacchus in his application stated that his client was charged indictably with rape of a child under 16 years of age. Ray Bacchus, in his

affidavit is stating that his Attorney, Mr. Murseline Bacchus, was not permitted to cross-examine the witness whose statement was filed by the prosecution. Nor was he permitted to give evidence or call any witness before he was committed.

He is contending and believes that his committal on June 2, last, is null, void and of no legal effect. He is also contending that the said committal cannot be used for the purpose of a lawful indictment by the Director of Public Prosecution against him.

After hearing the affidavit submitted by A t t o r n e y a t L a w M r.

Murseline Bacchus, Chief Justice Chang ordered that an Order be issued directing the Director of Public prosecution, the Commissioner of Police and Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus to show cause why the decision of the said Magistrate should not be quashed.

Thursday July 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

VACANCY

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

Spares for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 PVC Ceiling Panels (USA Standards), all-purpose joint compound, T h o m p s o n ’s c o n c r e t e water proofer – Tel: 6148564; 639-3675; 680-0862 New American made Wener, aluminum ladder: 17 feet$28,000; 24 feet- $38,000, 32 feet- $55,000 – Tel: 609-7257, 602-5794 View Sonic Projectors & computer monitor - Sizes: 17inches – 27inches (new) – Contact: 623-4919; 646-7768 Need body parts and accessories for Tacoma, Tundra, & Titan? – Contact: Eddie’s Auto Parts : 227-2835; 227-5381 Used pedicure chair, hair dryer and salon chair – Tel: 668-9583, 698-5272 Unregistered Toyota Sienta, 7 seater car – Call: 694-2700; 681-5777 52ft fishing boat (cruiser) – Call: 642-8200; 671-1533; 6455592, 602-1679 1-Caterpillar 226B skidsteer loader, 1-Caterpillar mini excavator- Contact # 260-4988 or 650-0402 One double stall with overhead storage in Stabroek Market – Call: 619-7925 (can be inspected) 1-14" Missile (water dredge) at Upper Mazaruni River – Tel: 698-0674 1 Power PRO Audio System, 2- 1500 Amplifier, 1- 600 Amplifier, Double CD, Mixer, 18" Speakers etc, selling Cheap – Tel:698-7304 Metal Scaffolding with planks – Contact: 332-5426; 6030000; 628-8008 150CC Dirt Bike, need minor repairs going at - $85,000Tel: 668-7562 Baby Chicks available weekly, contact Mr. D. Lallbeharry, Craig Public Road, EBDTel:626-9589 One stall @ Stabroek Market, “Two storey concrete house @ La Grade Public Road – Tel:679-1151.

One stall @ Stabroek BazarTel:699-6437 6" complete dredge – Tel:6552860 or 604-1075

FOR SALE Tools, Snapon air compressor, Dewalt & Jack Hammer, Stanley air, computer electrical, Michael Kors bags (original) – Contact: 646-2133; 220-6722 American Bully purely bred pups for sale, razor edge bloodline – Contact Harry: 667-4845 or 220-7933

CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 2257126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com Progressive Auto Rental: Cars & SUV for rental- $4,000 & up per day- Call: 643-5122, 2193900 ,Email:pro_ autorental @yahoo.com

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 689-5997 Shalom Enterprise Driving School @ 2 Croal Street, Fee $16,000- Tel:227-3869/ 6447052. “Like” us on Facebook.

24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 670-8893/684-2838 Accountants & Checkers at RA Soda Factory, also #7 Bakery for rental – Contact: 330-2399; 330-2772 Front Desk attendant, Hotel attendant & Bell Person – Contact Hick’s Ville Hotel – Tel: 227-7714 Drivers/salesman and porters. Contact Vegetarian Gardens – 227-7714 Exist for 2 barbers and two hairdressers, must have their own clients- Contact: 6278277 or 669-6110 Plant Shop: Needs young, healthy & hardworking experienced salesperson.

Must have secondary Education, between 20-30yrs – Tel:646-2108 Experienced cleaners & bartenders – Call: 225-8572, between 7am to 9am Experienced Male/Female Bar attendant, experienced Chef/Cook & one domestic @ Cotton Club, lot 44 Public Road Kitty – Tel: 231-1908; 231-1912 Courtney’s Boutique Bourda Market, Hiring experienced sales person – Contact: 2273407 Two men to work in poultry farm in the Interior – Contact: 627-6416 ACCOMMODATION Tourist Villa: Furnished Rooms & apartments- 1, 2 &3 bedroom apartments at affordable rates – Lot 95 Fifth Avenue, Subryanville – Tel: 227-2199; 227-2189; 227-2186

LAND FOR SALE

TO LET Two bedroom apartment in Sophia, corner after the Police Station - $35,000 –Tel: 613-1847 Bel-Air (Two bedrooms furnished apartment US750), unfurnished two bedrooms apartment @ Campbellville $70,000 – Contact: 227-2256; 626-9382 TOURS El Dorado Bus Service presents weekly summer trips to Suriname, special packages for groups/children – Tel: 624-0622; 614-5639 TAXI SERVICES GR TAXI: 225-7878; 2271982 or 219-5000

Duke Street – 130 x 21 - $80M, Oceanic Ville – 55 x 95 - $35M -Tel: 223-8479/ 647-3768.

At Eccles Housing Scheme – price $6.5M – negotiable – Call:616-6000 EDUCATION Kids summer computer classes, ages 4-16 - $6,500 @ Micrographics, Vreed-EnHoop: 264-3057, Parika Location: 626-4833 9 Courses Diploma In computers, Free job training/placement.

Register Now @ Micrographics, Vreed-En-Hoop -264-3057, Parika: 626-4833 Personal Tutors available for Nursery, Primary and Secondary- Contact: 6263017; 678-2210; 266-1288

LEARN TO DANCE Learn Latin/Oldies Dancing in 1 Day! @ National Park Tarmac, August 3rd, 1:305:30, $2,000 per person – Call: 612-6475; 629-8842

Page 23

SALON

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad.

Call: 660-5257, 647-1773 Summer Special: Earn a certificate in cosmetology, wig designs or nails alone, limited spaces - Call Abby: 619-7603, 666-5241

2006 Blue Nissan Titan.

Fully Loaded GSS Series.

Contact: 604-6108.

One Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, PMM Series Call: 225-0188, 223-7500, MonFri 8:15-4:15pm, Sat – 8:151:15PM

Natural beauty salon & spa: Grove Market Street EBD Tele:265-4138,652-5800 specialized in everything for women.

AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms - Call: 680-3154

PROPERTY FOR SALE Two storey concrete house on a corner lot, land 4079.6 Sq.ft @ Christiani Street, North Ruimveldt, G/Town$40M Neg. Contact: 600-0831 Property for sale, Double lot at Ruimzeight, W.C.D – Call: 629-1532; 664-7326 1 – 2storey wooden & Concrete house with 5 bedrooms upper flat & lower flat 4 apartments located@ Shell Road, kitty - $34M – Tel:642-7898 House located @ Republic Gardens - $45M, Atlantic Gardens - $80M, Enterprise - $75M. Tel: 223-8479/ 6473768. www.spaceseek.gy House located @ Foulis $75M, Oceanic Ville - $75MTel: 223-8479/ 647-3768. www.spaceseek.gy Houses located @ Nandy Park - $45M, Diamond- $31M & La Parfaite Harmonie $20M. Tel: 223-8479/ 6473768. www.spaceseek.gy Brand new 2 storey house in Republic Gardens - $55M, negotiable – Call: 600-6464 Property at La Parfaite Harmonie - Contact: 663-4883

EDUCATION: Transitional foundation summer classes July 21st – Aug 21st: Forms 1 &2 Maths, English/Lit, Spanish, Music, Home EC, Social EtiquetteCall: 227-7850 Mr. Lee Writing CXC January/June 2015 Mathematics, English.

Additional Mathematics, Business Subjects Students, workers, Form 3, 4&5 – Call: 231-2076 Mr. Lee I.A.S Second Street Alberttown, summer classes – 4-17yrs ($5,000 for six weeks), CXC classes for adults, $1200 per subject – Tel: 223-7906; 690-5008 I.A.E is registering students for its secondary school, Forms1-5; CXC classes for adults – Repeaters and beginners – Call: 223-0604; 683-5742

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Permanent & Visitors Vi s a Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 2256496, 662-6045 Repairs, sales & spares, air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032,647-2943 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312, 627-3206 (Nick) For low cost: Repairs to fridge, freezer, A/C unit, microwaves, TV & washing machine - Call: 629-4946 or 225-4822 COOL TECH: Repairs, Services & Installation of all types of homes appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units – Tel: 233-2008; 675-4959 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655,683-8734 Computerise your business or get support for Peachtree, ETC. including payroll, Semitron Business Services semitrongy@outlook.com 227-7950 Shipping just got cheaper $3US Lbs flat rate, Cybertron, Vreed-En-Hoop: 664-5153www.cybertrongy.com EDUCATION Individual tutoring available for CXC P.O.A in comfort of your own home – Call today for affordable rates: 688-3538 FOR RENT 3 Bedrooms apartment for rent @ Alberttown area - $75,000 monthly- No parking! Two month’s Security – Contact:613-7555; 225-5606 Three bedrooms bottom flat for rent at Lot 123 Regent Road Bourda – Call: 226-9582

We buy & sell vehicles for cash. Also parts available & 30 seater buses; extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 1 Ford F150, Colour: Silver, Mint Condition, price - $3.5 M- Call: 610-0808 First Class Auto: 2006 Premio, 2006 Allion, 2004 Spacio, IST, Axela, Fielder, Rush – Call: 609-8188; 638-3045 New Toyota Noah, 2 Televisions, reverse camera, rims, low mileage – Tel: 6292619, 663-2700. Owner leaving country, best offer accepted.

Honda CRV, PJJ Series, good condition, price negotiable – Tel: 231-5080; 641-4704 2006 Toyota Tacoma, GNN 5726, excellent condition, first owner- price negotiable – Tel: 686-7273 Toyota AT212, AT192, AT170, L-Touring Wagon, AE110 Corolla, Raum, IST, FunCargo, Yamaha R1 1000cc – Tel: 644-5096; 6971453 Smart Choice Auto Sales: unregistered old & new model Spacio, 212, Voxy, BlueBird – Call: 652-3820/ 665-4529 NZE Fielder Wagon PNN Series - $1.6M negotiable – Tel: 646-8748 Toyota Carina 192, lately installed transmission $690,000 – Tel: 662-5140 1 AE91 PGG Series, good working condition, $325,000 negotiable – Tel:638-1345; 267-1514 Cheapest – New model, fully loaded Spacio, Allion, VVTI Manual & Automatic buses, one Vizio 42" High Definition Television – Tel: 616-7635

MASSAGE The Gents Spa: Beautiful qualified masseuses, new attendants from Cuba & Trinidad, drinks available – Tel: 657- 5979 (Continued on page 24)

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 24, 2014

Letters... Where your views make the news

Why should I pay tax by way of VAT again?

(From page 23)

WANTED Live out domestic babysitter and live in babysitter –Call: 225-0188, 225-6070 (Monday to Saturday ) (8:15am4:15pm) Over edge and straight stitch operator to work at Garment Factory – Call: 222-2541 Monday – Friday Salesgirl/boys and porters apply in person, to Avinash Water Street 8:30 to 4:30 Female worker needed, 3 CXC subjects or sound secondary school education - Call: 612-1607 One live-in maid; must know to cook & clean properly – Call: 681-6044 One part time or full time gardener/handyman- to work in Bel-Air Gardens – Tel: 225-6070 Office clerk senior/junior CXC: English, Mathematics & computer knowledge an assetCall: 225-0188/225-6070 Looking for two or three bedroom apartment anywhere in Georgetown – Call: 698-5103 Gasoline Mechanic needed on E.C.D - $75,000 to $100,000 depending on experienced – Call: 623-0318 One live in maid must know to cook – Tel: 669-6030 Skilled carpenters to work in Coverden E.B.D – Call: 6231615 Experienced minibus and hire car drivers also dispatchers, for transportation service – Call: 645-0025 Minibus driver to work relief on Sundays, must be living in Georgetown – Tel: 6761286 Husband & Wife to take care of farm land – Tel:623-2728 Any amount of scrap metal to buy – Tel:618-1967; 6232728; 698-4321 or 629-2912 We buy all house lots in La Parafaite Harmonie, Schoonard, Eccles & anywhere else – Tel: 6 75-7292 Will buy previously used green heart wood from demolished building in Central Georgetown area – Tel: 653-4797 FOR RENT 1-2 Storey house with workshop space ( mechanic welding) in Bartica, also 1 land for sale - $11.5M neg.

Contact:685-2707 One nails table @ a Prime Location – Tel: 602-5469

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Recently Renovated 2 bedroom apartment with modern facilities @ Herstelling, must see! – Tel:265-2171; 665-9077 Executive houses & apartments, Queenstown US$1,800, Bel-Air Springs US$2,500, Shamrock Gardens - US$1,800- Tel: 223-8479/ 647-3768. www.spaceseek.gy Houses & apartments: One bedroom @ Kitty - $40,000, Bel-Air Park - US$2,500-Tel: 223-8479/ 647-3768. www.spaceseek.gy Houses & Apartments: Durban Backlands US$4,000, Ogle- US$1,200— Tel: 223-8479/ 647-3768. www.spaceseek.gy Apartment to rent at Eccles, Interested person kindly Call: 233-2424 Prime business flat 100X25 (Boutique/Store/Office) @ Hadfield St. behind Brickdam Station – Contact: Simone: 626-5317; 227-0501

DEAR EDITOR, As a Senior Citizen in Guyana, I am requesting that someone in a responsible position within the Governmental System explain the reasoning behind the additional cost of VAT whenever one goes to the shop to purchase.

I have two examples that have left me puzzled. Yesterday I went to purchase envelopes for my office, the total cost for the envelopes came up to $1,100.00 (one thousand one hundred dollars) but I ended up paying $1,276.00 (one thousand two hundred and seventy-six dollars) because of the inclusion of VAT $176.00 (one hundred and seventy-six dollars).

On the 16th day of July, 2014 I stopped at a City Café and purchased: 1 pc Chicken Breast $387.00 1 Wedges 241.00 1 16 oz. Orange Juice 190.00

Sitting 054 Sub Total 819.00 VAT 130.00 Total 950.00 What puzzles me in the first case of the envelopes, if they were imported tax was paid for clearance at Customs. Why should I pay tax by way of VAT again?

In the second case, let us assume that the chicken, potato and orange juice were also imported, tax would have been paid for clearance at Customs.

Why should I pay VAT? In both cases I have the receipts which can be provided to substitute my claim if necessary.

I would appreciate if someone could help me with some kind of explanation.

Jonas M.P. Coddett Attorney-at-law

Using Article 218 (3) as permission to illegally...

From page 4 Consolidated Fund has been breached, Article 218 spells out the process to be followed in order to bring all withdrawals back under the authority of the National Assembly.

This in no way exonerates the unlawful spending.

An appropriate analogy can be found in Section 63(1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act which states: If in any case owing to the presence of a motor vehicle on the road an accident occurs resulting in injury or death... the driver of any such vehicle shalla) immediately stop his vehicle at the scene of the accident b) give his name, address and the registration number of his vehicle and exhibit his driver’s licence to.........

The existence of this legal provision does not authorize a driver to go and crash his or her vehicle into someone else’s. It simply sets out a legal obligation to be followed in the event that such an incident occurs. In no way does it legitimize the act of causing the accident.

The President also writes: I resolutely maintain that the actions taken by my government about which you complain are expressly authorised and permitted by both the letter and spirit of the constitution. Indeed, you yourself participated in this identical process in the years 2012 and 2013 by supporting Financial Papers 1 of 2012 and 1 of 2013.

When it comes to public spending, the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act of 2003 contains the relevant laws, and Article 16 of that Act states: “There shall be no expenditure of public moneys except in accordance with Article 217 of the Constitution”.

The margin note to this Article reads: “No expenditure without appropriation” and captures the spirit of the Constitution in a way that clearly eludes the President.

He also seems to believe that having retroactively appropriated some of the unauthorized spending in 2012 and 2013, the National Assembly forfeits the right to put its foot down now that it has become clear that his Government will no longer recognize its authority to authorize all public spending.

The unprecedented grey area created by the Chief Justice’s fuzzy provisional ruling and the long-delayed final decision may have contributed to an uncertainty over how the National Assembly should deal with the unauthorized spending. The President should not misinterpret this to mean that the opposition did not have a serious problem with what was done by his Minister of Finance in the previous years.

Further, the President posits: The Honourable Chief Justice, Mr. Ian Chang in his 18 July, 2012 ruling on the budget cuts case is equally unambiguous. He states thus: “The application of article

218(3) is premised on a finding of insufficiency of an appropriated amount for a stated purpose or of no amount for a purpose for which a need has arisen and which has received no appropriation it is not this court to substitute itself for the Minister of Finance. It is he who must make the perquisite “finding” under Article 218(3) of the constitution…”

The President must be blessed with an incredibly high IQ if he finds the above to be an unambiguous permission for his Minister of Finance to spend without parliamentary approval. Once again I draw, not on any legal training, but on basic common sense when I suggest that the part of Article 218(3) quoted to by the President in his excerpt from the Chief Justice’s ruling is perhaps not the same part of Article 218 (3) which he quoted earlier in his letter. Article 218 (3) describes two separate circumstances, designated (a) and (b) respectively, under which the Minister of Finance is required to lay before the National Assembly, either a supplementary estimate or a statement of excess.

The Article first quoted by the President in defence of the unauthorized spending is 218(3)(b) which is premised on a “finding” that “moneys have been expended for any purpose in excess of the amount appropriated...”. His quote from the Chief Justice’s ruling clearly refers to Article 218(3)(a) which describes a situation where it is found that the amount appropriated by the Appropriation Act for any purpose is insufficient or that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose for which no amount has been appropriated by that Act It is this part of Article 218(3) that is premised on a “finding of insufficiency of an appropriated amount for a stated purpose ....” as quoted from the CJ’s ruling. Unfortunately this is not applicable to what has occurred in this case and has no bearing on the unauthorized spending of his Minister.

It should also be pointed out that the Contingencies Fund for this year would be capped at G$4.16B and any advances from this fund requires the Minister to lay before the National Assembly at its next sitting a supplementary estimate for the purposes of authorizing the replenishing of the fund.

Financial Paper # 1 of 2014 introduced in the National Assembly last month is a statement of excess and therefore not applicable to withdrawals from the Contingencies Fund, which some are suggesting might have been misused by the Minister in his attempt to bypass the National Assembly. It would be good for the public to know the current status of the Contingencies Fund. This is everyone’s business.

As a layperson I can find no constitutional basis for the Minister’s withdrawals of G$4.5B outside of this year’s Appropriation Act. The use of Article 218 (3) as permission to do so is farcical. Anyone looking at Article 218 in its entirety will quickly see that it sets out how authorization should be obtained for withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund and offers no guidance on making those withdrawals.

The AFC has made public the fact that it has lodged a formal complaint with the Guyana Police Force over these illegal withdrawals from the nation’s consolidated fund.

It falls entirely within the purview of the Police to investigate such a complaint and to document the results of their investigation so that it can be determined if criminal charges are appropriate.

We expect that the Police Force will give this matter the attention it deserves and not be guided by the attitudes of our Minister of Finance and our Attorney General whose referrals to this matter as frivolous and vexatious are in line with previously demonstrated attitudes to breaches of the laws of this country.

Dominic Gaskin

Thursday July 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

Ukraine rebel commander acknowledges fighters had BUK missile (Reuters) - A powerful Ukrainian rebel leader has confirmed that pro-Russian separatists had an antiaircraft missile of the type Washington says was used to shoot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 and it could have originated in Russia.

In an interview with Reuters, Alexander Khodakovsky, commander of the Vostok Battalion, acknowledged for the first time since the airliner was brought down in eastern Ukraine on Thursday that the rebels did possess the BUK missile system and said it could have been sent back subsequently to remove proof of its presence.

Before the Malaysian plane was shot down, rebels had boasted of obtaining the BUK missiles, which can shoot down airliners at cruising height. But since the disaster the separatists’ main group, the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk, has repeatedly denied ever having possessed such weapons.

Since the airliner crashed with the loss of all 298 on board, the most contentious issue has been who fired the missile that brought the jet down in an area where government forces are fighting pro-Russian rebels.

Khodakovsky accused the Kiev authorities for provoking what may have been the missile strike that destroyed the doomed airliner, saying Kiev had deliberately launched air strikes in the area, knowing the missiles were in place.

“I knew that a BUK came from Luhansk. At the time I was told that a BUK from Luhansk was coming under the flag of the LNR,” he said, referring to the Luhansk People’s Republic, the main rebel group operating in Luhansk, one of two rebel provinces along with Donetsk, the province where the crash took place.

“That BUK I know about.

I heard about it. I think they sent it back. Because I found out about it at exactly the moment that I found out that this tragedy had taken place.

They probably sent it back in order to remove proof of its presence,” Khodakovsky told Reuters on Tuesday.

“The question is this: Ukraine received timely evidence that the volunteers have this technology, through the fault of Russia. It not only did nothing to protect security, but provoked the use of this type of weapon against a plane that was flying with peaceful civilians,” he said.

“They knew that this BUK existed; that the BUK was heading for Snezhnoye,” he said, referring to a village 10 km (six miles) west of the crash site. “They knew that it would be deployed there, and provoked the use of this BUK by starting an air strike on a target they didn’t need, that their planes hadn’t touched for a week.”

“And that day, they were intensively flying, and exactly at the moment of the shooting, at the moment the civilian plane flew overhead,

they launched air strikes. Even if there was a BUK, and even if the BUK was used, Ukraine did everything to ensure that a civilian aircraft was shot down.”

Eileen Lainez, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said Khodakovsky’s remarks confirmed what U.S. officials had long been saying, that “Russian-backed separatists have received arms, training and support from Russia.”

But she dismissed the rebel leader’s efforts to blame the Kiev government for the downing of the airliner, calling it “another attempt to try to muddy the water and move the focus from facts.”

Washington believes that pro-Russian separatists most likely shot down the airliner “by mistake,” not realising it was a civilian passenger flight, U.S. intelligence officials said.

The officials said the “most plausible explanation” for the destruction of the plane was that the separatists fired a Russian-made SA-11 also known as a BUK - missile at it after mistaking it for another kind of aircraft.

“While we may not yet know who actually fired the missile, we have assessed that it was an SA-11 and that it came from a Russianbacked separatist-controlled area,” Lainez said. U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration has said it is convinced the airliner was brought down by an SA-11 ground-to-air missile fired from territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by proRussian separatists.

Trans Asia Airways plane crashes in typhoon-hit Taiwan, killing 47 (Reuters) - A TransAsia Airways turboprop plane crashed on its second attempt at la n d i n g d u r i n g a thunderstorm on an island o ff Ta i w a n y e s t e r d a y, killing 47 people and setting buildings on fire, officials said.

The plane, a 70-seat ATR 72, crashed near the runway on the island of Penghu, west of the mainland, with 54 passengers and four crew on board, they said. No one was killed or hurt in the buildings.

Eleven injured people on the plane were taken to hospital, the government said.

The aircraft took off from Taiwan’s southern city of Kaohsiung, headed for the island of Makong, but crashlanded in Huxi township of Penghu County, the main island of the chain also

known as the Pescadores.

“It was thunderstorm conditions during the crash,” said Hsi Wen-guang, a spokesman for the Penghu County Government Fire Bureau.

“From the crash site we sent 11 people to hospital with injuries. A few empty apartment buildings adjacent to the runway caught fire, but no one was inside at the time and the fire was extinguished.” About 100 firefighters were sent to the scene, as well as 152 military personnel and 255 police, he added.

According to an official at the Civil Aeronautics Administration, air traffic control reported that the inclement weather at the time of the crash did not exceed international regulations for landing.

Visibility was 1,600 meters

and the cloud cover was as low as 600 meters, added the official, who declined to be identified.

Television networks aired footage of TransAsia’s president, Chooi Yee-choong, bowing in apology.

“We express our deepest apologies to everyone for this unfortunate event.”

Typhoon Matmo hit Taiwan yesterday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds, shutting financial markets and schools. It passed the island and headed into China, downgraded from typhoon to tropical storm.

TransAsia Airways is a Taiwan-based airline with a fleet of around 23 Airbus and ATR aircraft, operating chiefly short-haul flights on domestic routes as well as to mainland China, Japan, Thailand and Cambodia, among its Asian destinations.

Page 25

Gaza bloodshed deepens as airlines shun Israel (Reuters) - Gaza fighting raged on yesterday, displacing thousands more Palestinians in the battered territory as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said efforts to secure a truce between Israel and Hamas had made some progress.

In a blow to Israel’s economy and image, American aviation authorities extended a ban on U.S. flights to Tel Aviv for a second day, spooked by rocket salvoes out of the Gaza Strip, with many other global airlines also avoiding the Jewish state.

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, speaking in Qatar, praised the group’s fighters, whom he said had made gains against Israel and said he supported a humanitarian truce but a ceasefire would only be acceptable in exchange for easing Gazans’ plight.

“Let’s agree first on the demands and on implementing them and then we can agree on the zero hour for a ceasefire... We will not accept any proposal that does

not lift the blockade... We do not desire war and we do not want it to continue but we will not be broken by it,” he said.

Adding to the pressure on Israel, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said there was “a strong possibility” that it was committing war crimes in Gaza, where 692 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting.

She also condemned indiscriminate Islamist rocket fire out of Gaza and the United Nations Human Rights Council said it would launch an international inquiry into alleged violations.

Israel denied any wrongdoing. “Get lost,” Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said on her Facebook page in response to the investigation.

Kerry met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and a grim-faced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday. He later returned to Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza and has

mediated with Islamist Hamas.

“We have certainly made some steps forward. There is still work to be done,” said Kerry, on one of his most intensive regional visits since the peace negotiations he had brokered between Netanyahu and Abbas broke down in April.

An Egyptian official said he expected a humanitarian truce to go into effect by the weekend, in time for the Eid al-Fitr festival, Islam’s biggest annual celebration that follows the fasting month of Ramadan.

However, a senior U.S. official played down the Egyptian official’s confidence that there would be a truce during Eid, saying this was a U.S. hope but it was by no means locked in.

“It would not be accurate to say that we expect a ceasefire by the weekend,” said the U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“We are continuing to work on it, but it is not set at this point.”

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 24, 2014

Suicide bombs in Nigeria’s Kaduna kill 82, ex-leader Buhari targeted Reuters) - At least 82 people were killed yesterday in two suicide bombings in the north Nigerian city of Kaduna, one aimed at opposition leader and expresident Muhammadu Buhari and another at a moderate Muslim cleric about to lead a crowd in prayer.

The attacks bore the hallmarks of Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which considers all those who do not share its views to be enemies. But it may also have been linked to politics before the 2015 elections.

In the deadliest attack, a bomber in a car full of explosives hurtled towards Buhari’s convoy at the crowded Kawo market, his son told Reuters on the scene and police said later. A Red Cross official said at least 50 people were killed there.

Buhari was the main opposition party contender against President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 election and remains a key figure in the opposition alliance. He was riding in an armor-plated sport utility vehicle and was not wounded.

A crowd gathered at the scene of the explosion until the military dispersed them by firing shots in the air. Smoke rose from another vehicle destroyed in the blast.

“When I came out of my car I saw many dead bodies littered around,” Buhari said in a statement, calling the attack “mass murder” and “clearly an assassination attempt”.

Earlier, a suicide bomber on foot, targeting a moderate cleric, killed at least 32 of his congregation on a busy commercial road.

Thousands were gathered for prayers with Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi in Murtala Muhammed square.

When his convoy pulled up, the bomber lunged at him before being stopped by his private security, witnesses and police commissioner Shehu Umar Ambursa said.

Kaduna’s governor, Mukhtar Yero, declared a 24hour curfew in the city until further notice and condemned the bombs as “the height of cowardice”.

“The enemies of peace have visited us with their ungodly

venom of wanton destruction,” he said in a statement. “Those behind the act have no notion of God, as they have none for the sanctity of human life.”

President Jonathan in a statement called it “an odious attempt to inflame passions and exacerbate disquiet, fear, insecurity and sectional divisions in the country.”

The bomber did not injure Bauchi, several witnesses told Reuters. Mustafa Sani, a volunteer for Bauchi’s mosque evacuating bodies, said 32 were confirmed dead so far.

“Somebody with a bomb vest ... was blocked. He detonated the bomb along with the person that tried to block him,” the police commissioner said, adding police had been able to confirm 25 dead, with 14 wounded. Police later said just 14 died in the second blast, but they often give lower casualty tolls than workers on the scene.

The military used pick-up trucks to cordon off the area.

Sirens wailed as fire engines raced to the scene.

An angry crowd started

throwing stones at police, who responded with teargas.

Some followers had come from Senegal, Chad and Niger to see the popular sheikh.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for either blast, but Boko Haram has been staging attacks, especially with explosives,outside its northeastern heartland for the past three months. The main Islamic association, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, called the bombings “acts of terror” and said Nigeria was becoming “a theatre of loss of blood for no just cause”.

The United States condemned the bombings and expressed concern that the blasts had targeted Bauchi and Buhari.

“We call on Nigerian authorities to fully investigate these attacks,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement.

“We urge all Nigerians to avoid reprisals and continue to practice the interfaith

cooperation that violent extremists seek to undermine.”

Since launching an insurgency in 2009, the militants have often attacked clerics, such as Bauchi, who take issue with their Salafist ideology. If Boko Haram is responsible for yesterday’s attacks, it underscores the risks moderate clerics take speaking out against it.

The insurgents, who are fighting to carve out an Islamic state in Nigeria, have repeatedly targeted civilians, mostly in remote northeastern Borno state.

They killed more than 2,000 civilians during the first half of this year, Human Rights Watch estimated a week ago.

The Islamists attacked the northeastern town of Damboa and surrounding villages over the weekend, killing at least 50 people. The rebellion has been in the international spotlight since Boko Haram fighters kidnapped more than

200 girls from a school in the northeastern village of Chibok on April 14. Jonathan met parents of the abducted girls, and some other girls who had escaped, for the first time on Tuesday.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau last week claimed responsibility for two explosions on June 25 at a fuel depot in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, that killed at least two people.

A military offensive since May last year that was meant to dismantle their hold on the northeast has caused the militants to react in two ways: brutal attacks on civilians in the region have surged dramatically, and efforts to strike out in areas far from the rebel strongholds have resumed. A blast in the central city of Jos, 170 km (105 miles) east of Kaduna, killed 118 people in May. PIX in photos as Nigeria Caption: Workers pick items at the scene of a bombing in Kaduna

Jamaica confirms food shortages on several items due to severe drought KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The protracted crippling dry spell across Jamaica has led to a shortage of several food items based on an assessment completed by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Donovan Stanberry, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry said the vegetables that are hard to come by include carrots, lettuce, tomatoes and onions.

According to Stanberry this was “somewhat inevitable, due to the length and severity of the drought” and has suggested that in light of the current shortage of some produce, consumers might have to consider food substitutes as a short-term measure.

He however disclosed that no application has been received for permits to import agricultural produce and has

attributed this to the high cost of some imported items, and the fact that the tourism sector, which is the largest consumer of vegetables in Jamaica, is currently in its offpeak season.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry is pursuing strategies to ease the impact of the dry spell on agricultural production.

This drought mitigation strategy is aimed, not only at “preserving and recovering the crops in drought stricken areas,” but also to expand production in areas across the country “which are getting adequate supply of rainfall,” said Stanberry.

On Monday, Jamaica’s Water Minister Robert Pickersgill, warned Jamaicans to brace for the worst as the dry spell continues.

Last week, the National Water Commission (NWC) reported that levels at the two main catchment facilities in the Corporate Area have dwindled to about one month’s supply and the situation is deteriorating daily.

(Reuters) - The head doctor fighting the deadly tropical virus Ebola in Sierra Leone has himself caught the disease, the government said.

The 39-year-old Sheik Umar Khan, hailed as a “national hero” by the health ministry, was leading the fight to control an outbreak that has killed 206 people in the West African country. Ebola kills up to 90 percent of those infected and there is no cure or vaccine.

Across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, more than 600 people have died from the illness, according to the World Health Organisation, placing great strain on the health systems of some of Africa’s poorest countries.

Khan, a Sierra Leonean virologist credited with treating more than 100 Ebola victims, has been transferred to a treatment ward run by medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, according to

the statement released late on Tuesday by the president’s office. Health Minister Miatta Kargbo called Khan a national hero and said she would “do anything and everything in my power to ensure he survives”. Khan told Reuters in late June that he was worried about contracting Ebola. “I am afraid for my life, I must say, because I cherish my life,” he said in an interview, showing no signs of ill health at the time.

Robert Pickersgill

Sierra Leone’s chief Ebola doctor contracts the virus

Thursday July 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 27

Chinese president ends regional tour in cradle of Cuban Revolution (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping ended an eight-day trip through Latin America yesterday with a visit to eastern Cuba, where both the island’s independence struggle against Spain and Fidel Castro’s revolution began.

Xi arrived in Havana on Monday and presided over the signing of 29 trade, debt, credit and other agreements on Tuesday ensuring his country will remain C u b a ’s s e c o n d l a r g e s t trading partner after Venezuela, at $1.4 billion (820 million pounds) last year.

The Chinese president also met with his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, who travelled with him to the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, and former Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

China will continue to restructure debt, estimated

at $6 billion, import Cuban nickel, sugar and cigars, digitalize the television system, upgrade communications and cyber security and cooperate in health, education and science, according to some of the agreements which were made public without any details on Wednesday.

New credits included funding to build a multipurpose shipping terminal in Santiago and a donation to help Cuba’s second largest city recover f r o m H u r r i c a n e S a n d y, which struck the area almost two years ago.

“China and Cuba being socialist countries, we are closely united by the same missions, ideals and struggles,” Xi said on Tuesday upon receiving the Jose Marti Medal, Cuba’s highest honour.

Other deals included cooperation in pharmaceutical research

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro at the Revolution Palace in Havana, Tuesday. (AFP Photo) and development and an agreement between stateowned Cubapetroleo and state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation to increase

Further erosion of foreign reserves puts Barbados dollar in danger – Moody’s BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC - With Barbados’ foreign reserves standing below the 2013 level, International credit rating agency, Moody’s has warned that strain could be put on the dollar.

“Any further erosion in reserves would likely put further pressure on Barbados’ currency, which is pegged to the US dollar,” Moody’s stated in a July 21 report.

The agency issued its analysis based on the Central Bank of Barbados’ fiscal first quarter report issued on July 15.

The analysis is titled, ‘Barbados’ Mounting Fiscal Challenges and Persistent Economic We a k n e s s A r e C r e d i t Negative’.

“After recovering slightly during the previous three quarters, foreign exchange reserves have resumed their decline, and as of 30 June remained around 25 per cent below early-2013 levels,” M o o d y ’s n o t e d . “ T h i s decline occurred despite a slight recovery in longterm private financial inflows that traditionally help support the central b a n k ’s international reserves.”

In its July report the Central Bank set Government’s financing needs for the remaining three quarters of the current fiscal year at BDS$300 million, to be

financed by commercial banks, NIS, and other nonbank organisations.

But stating that the fiscal first quarter, ended in June, was an important test f o r t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s ability to deliver its deficit reduction program introduced in August 2013, Moody’s raised the level of Government’s estimated financial needs.

“Given the larger budget gap in the last fiscal year, we now estimate that the authorities need a total adjustment of at least BD$450 million (5.2 per cent of projected 2014 GDP) to reach their deficit objective in the current

f i s c a l y e a r, ” M o o d y ’s stated.

M o o d y ’s s t a t e d t h a t although it expects Barbados’ fiscal consolidation to accelerate over the next three quarters, “it will remain constrained by revenue underperformance, difficulty reining in transfers and subsidies and rising interest costs.

“Consequently, we are adjusting our 2014 budget deficit projection to 8.5 per cent of GDP from 8.0 per cent, about two percentage points above the government’s target, with risks firmly tilted to the downside.”

flows from existing wells and dril l a t an onshore block just east of Havana.

Raul Castro began instituting market-oriented reforms after taking over from ailing brother Fidel Castro in 2006, much as China did in the 1980s.

But growth has nevertheless slowed and is

expected to come in at around 1 percent this year, compared with 3 percent in 2013.

This y e a r, Cuba established its first Chinese-style special devel o p m e n t z o n e a n d passed a more attractive foreign investment law with a particular eye to

friendly nations such as Russia, China and Brazil. It includes a clause aimed at China that for the first time would allow investors to bring in their nationals for construction.

Little of the $80 billion China has invested in Latin America and the Caribbean in recent years has been in Cuba, where just two joint ventures operate.

No new ventures were a n n o u n c e d d u r i n g X i ’s trip. However, a letter of intent was signed between Beijing Enterprise Group Real Estate Co Ltd and state-owned CUBAGOLF S.A. to build a golf course and condominiums on a plot between the Cuban capital and the famed Varadero tourism resort.

Xi was in Brazil last week for a summit of the BRICS nations, which also includes Russia, India and South Africa.

He then travelled to Argentina and Venezuela, signing a raft of multi-billion dollar credit and investment agreements.

Page 28

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 24, 2014

Thursday July 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

Haiti, Aruba clinch spots in Caribbean U-20 finals

Kingston, Jamaica – Haiti and Aruba posted one-goal wins on Tuesday to top their respective Caribbean under20 qualifying, first-round groups and seal berths to the final round in Trinidad & Tobago.

The host Haitians rallied to defeat Suriname 2-1 in front of 10,000 fans at the Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-auPrince. After Giovanni

Asoman (3’) gave the Surinamese an early lead, Haiti answered back through Junior Joseph (10’) and Alessandro Campoy (58’) to capture the Group 3 title with a perfect 3-0-0 record.

In Oranjestad, Duncan Homoet netted three minutes before the break – his second goal in as many games – to propel Aruba past Dominica, 1-0. The narrow victory

allowed the Group 4 host to finish in first with six points, three ahead of runner-up Grenada.

Cuba (Group 1 winner) and the Dominican Republic (Group 2 winner) had previously clinched places in September ’s final round, which will decide the region’s representatives in the next CONCACAF Under-20 Championship.

ThursdayJuly 24, 2014 ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 19): This is an important day for you to make valuable connections with others, Aries. You'll find yourself engaged in fast-paced, witty conversations and debates from which you can learn a great deal. *************************** TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20): It could be hard for you to get a handle on things today, Taurus, as your focus seems to jump from one subject to the next without finding resolution for any. *************************** GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20): You might come across strong opposition today from someone who seems to want to cut straight through to your heart, Gemini. In reality, this is a message reminding you to think about things in terms of the collective - the oneness of us all. *************************** CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22): Act on your instincts today, Cancer, and you won't go wrong. You may need to give up a bit of control and put logical thinking aside for the day.

Let the wind take you where it wants you to go. *************************** LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22): Today you'll find that you're the missing puzzle piece that people need in every situation, Leo. Engage in light conversation in social arenas and feel free to turn your charm up full blast. You have the ability to make favorable impressions on just about everyone, so get the day off on the right foot. ************************ VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22): You may find that people want to do a great deal of talking but not a great deal of feeling today, Virgo. Go ahead and put your emotions on the back burner and let your mind take over. Deal with facts and make sure your emotions don't interfere with the information you receive.

LIBRA (SEP 23 - OCT 22): IYou should be able to evaluate your emotions from a very neutral, detached perspective today, Libra. Use this opportunity to take action based on what you feel. *************************** SCORPIO (OCT 23 - NOV 21): If you're talking about another person today, Scorpio, make sure you aren't saying anything that would be upsetting if they were standing right there. Gossip may be running rampant, but that's no excuse for you to contribute to it. *************************** SAGITTARIUS(NOV22-DEC 21): It's important for you to take action on a day like today, Sagittarius. Trust yourself and your instincts. Oftentimes you'll have the perfect advice for every situation and every other person except yourself. *************************** CAPRICORN (DEC 22 JAN 19) : Yo u m i g h t f i n d yourself a bit unfocused and confused about which way to go, Capricorn. The baffled look on your face isn't helping anyone else figure out how to help you.

Don't feel obliged to remain in an unhealthy situation.

*************************** AQUARIUS (JAN 20 FEB 18): It's important for you to get outside and feel the wind blowing, Aquarius. Reconnect with nature and be aware of the four elements. Take deep breaths and fill your lungs with this energizing life force. *************************** PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20): Make practical use of the thoughts you have synthesized over the last few days, Pisces. Stretch your bounda r i e s a n d e x t e n d your wisdom to the people around you.

This is a day to take action. Connect with your h e a r t a n d m ove forward with your plans.

Page 29

Police Inter-Division Athletics Championships

Headquarters hold 29-point lead

By Edison Jefford Police Headquarters completed Day II of the Guyana Police Force InterDivision Championships with a 29-point lead over i t s n e a r e s t r i v a l , ‘ A’ Division, following the completion of 23 Finals, at the Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary yesterday.

Headquarters closed the day on 200 points with ‘A’ Division on 171 points; ‘C’ Division is third with 77 points with ‘B’ Division in the cellar position on 63 points. The teams will rest today and continue the competition on the final day tomorrow.

Distance r u n n e r, Nathaniel Giddings got ‘A’ Division off to a hot start in the Men’s 5000m race when he won in 17:06.9 with Police Headquarters’, Grivon Grant second in 18:01.6; Antigua and Barbuda’s, Nevil Nicholas (18:24.1) finished third.

Jonella Jonas then stormed to victory in the Wo m e n ’s 8 0 0 m f o r ‘ C ’ Division in a time of 2:27.3, beating Headquarters’, Dellie Williams (2:35.2) and ‘A’ Division’s, Shion Boyer into second and third respectively.

Kadeem Peters won the male 800m Youth Club race in 2:08 while Tamica

Bush Lot ...

From page 32 Bush Lot’s defence and goalie. Heartened, the Annai team was set to go for broke when the dreaded whistle sounded and sealed their fate.

Bush Lot Secondary will rest today but returns tomorrow afternoon for a tougher encounter against defending champions, Christianburg Secondary at the very Berbice venue that determines the first of two semi-final places to contest for championship honours.

Powell’s maiden...

From page 31 254-6.Vice Captain Alzarri Joseph and his Captain ensured the visitors took first innings lead when Joseph (11) clobbered Ramcharran for a huge six before he was removed by Ramcharran at 274-7.

Kenrick Scott (1) was run out at 290-8 just before the close leaving Louis unbeaten on 49.

Today is the third and final day and play is scheduled to start at 10:00hrs.

Crawford (2:34) won the female race.

Te v i n Garraway outclassed Compton Caesar (23.1) and Dwight Smith (23.4) in the male Youth Club 200m race with his 22.4 seconds performance.

Headquarters won both the female and male medley relays to maintain a tight grip on the overall c h a m p i o n s hi p s . I n t h e 2 4 0 0 m f e m a l e m e d l e y, t h e y w o n f r o m ‘ A’ Division and ‘C’ Division and in the 200m male medley they beat ‘ A’ D i v i s i o n a n d t h e overseas team.

In the male Javelin ‘B’ Class, Clarence Greene won with a throw of 44.06m for Headquar t e r s a s ‘ B ’ Division’s, Colwin Leacock (42.81m) and H e a d q u a r t e r s ’ , Wa r r e n Duncan 39.63 took second and third respectively.

After holding on to the lead through three rounds of elimination in the Women’s Javelin, and in the first two rounds after elimination, even skipping a throw, Natasha Alder was stunned from a 35.23m throw from Trinidadian, Nathalie Dixon.

Alder lost for Headquarters on Dixon’s last throw after leading with 34.46m. Headquarters had Stacy Wilson (32.13m) third.

In the Female Triple Jump, Tracy Moses had leaped to 10.15m to win the event for ‘A’ Division with Cindy Fraser second for the same Division with 9.45m; Headquarters’, Lashuana Benjamin (8.90m) was third. In the male event, Troy Williams sprung to 13.12m for Headquarters as Yoel Benjamin finished second with 12.94m for ‘A’ Division and Headquarters’, Clarence Greene in third with 12.84m.

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Letter to the Sports Editor

Phillip Lahm a deserved golden ball winner DEAR EDITOR, The resume of Germany’s captain Phillip Lahm, who led from in front in marshalling his forces, enroute to capturing the 20th edition of the FIFA 2014 World Cup and in the process enabling the Germans to achieve a significant amount of records, has indeed left Lahm exposed to the spontaneous “flashing red-card” without any dangerous challenge on an opponent.

Nevertheless, Lahm’s defensive exploits as a holding midfielder; in the initial stages, aided by his needle threading passes offensively; which was still evident at his accustomed role at right-back; definitely made him the most accom p l i s h e d technically correct player at the 2014 World Cup! Now in his third appearance, rationally, I, ask!

What more must the individual do to deserve the accolade? Blocked shot (s) when it mattered most; compounded by overlapping attributes; places him in the league of German legends!

Franz Beckenhauer, Lothar Matthäus, Jurgen Klinsmann, Oliver Bierhoff, Oliver Kahn, Mic h a e l Ballack and the recently retired Miroslav Klose readily come to mind.

Overlapping attributes cannot be over-ruled, which aided the eventual winners’ offence, in the finals as a joy to behold.

“As graceful as a swan swirling to the orchestrated harmony of Mozart and Beethoven” gliding as a ballet dancer on ice, was his precise

movements.

With 2014 being his third World Cup, no other player in the modern era, has displayed such dynamism and finesse as a d e f e n d e r ! F i r s t l y, l e f t black; right-back, then holding mid-fielder; before resorting to right-back completes the perfect script. Once again, what more can the World ask for, to become a Golden Ball Winner?

Who were the selectors, which game/ tournament were they watching; when did they wake up? Is it downright t o m f o o l e r y, w i t h a n overdose of dishonesty?

Finally, of the four (4) semifinalists; s a d l y, Brazil’s deviation from the beautiful samba style, replaced with rough house tactics offers no candidate.

While the Netherlands’ Arjen Robben, with his b r i l l i a n t s o lo efforts; constant attacks of the penalty-area, goal bound; with 4 goals to his credit remains a standout! Zabaleta and Macherano of Argentina; for their defensive and midfield exploits respectively are virtual standouts ahead of Messi.

As such it comes as no s u r p r i s e t h a t F I FA’s President, Sepp Blatter has questioned the Award. And Maradona, an Argentina legend, “publicly advocating Messi didn’t deserve it”!

Editor, despite the fact that two previous letters pertaining to the 2014 Wo r l d C u p w e r e n o t published, I do hope that hearts and souls are touched with this specific

l e t t e r, r e c e i v i n g t h e relevant space, and in the final analysis express my public attachment as supporter for Germany on the World stage for the last 24 years. The Golden Glove; the leading all time World Cup goal scorer; the first substitute to score a winning goal, in a World Cup finals; the first European team to win a finals, in South America.

The largest semifinal victory all of which were achieved under the astute leadership of captain, Phillip Lahm, who featured in every match unsubstituted, will remain my Golden Ball Winner!

As for the last standing poster boy Lionel Messi, in your own words “don’t cry for me Argentina” porf a v o r s e n o r, g i v e t h e underserved trophy to one of your more accomplished team-mates.

Why did you hide in the finals, despite not being manmarked?

And last but not least, unbelievingly after 120 minutes of football in the dying seconds of the match.

With aching legs, absentmindedness and tiresome, from a distance of 30 metres; did the individual honestly believe he had it all in his arsenal to beat the World’s Best Goalkeeper? Rather than to curl it in the 6 metre for a t t a c k ing options and a possible go a l s c o r i n g opportunity, Messi’s freekick can be equated with a goal-kick that went skyward much to the dismay of his well-wishers and supporters.

Respectfully yours, Lester Sealey.

Jamaica set to host CONCACAF Under-20 Championships...

From page 34 World Cup bids. Additionally, development is emphasized by assuring all twelve competing teams multiple highlevel, competitive matches.

During the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship Jamaica 2015, all eleven match days will feature triple-header action, with a record 33 total games set to be contested among the finalists.

Information on the draw for the tournament will be announced in coming weeks.

CONCACAF Under-20 Championship Jamaica 2015

Dates: January 9 – January 24, 2015 Location: Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica Stadiums: National Stadium (Kingston) and Montego Bay Sports Complex Participating Teams: 12 Caribbean Football Union: 5 Teams North America: 3 Teams Central American Football Union: 4 Teams Number of teams qualifying to the FIFA World Cup: 4 Format: The twelve (12) teams shall be divided into a group stage consisting of two

(2) groups (A, B) of six (6) teams each. The group winners qualify automatically for the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015.

The second- and thirdplace teams from each group are re-seeded by group stage results, with the top team of the four facing the fourth-best team, and the second-best finisher facing the thirdbest. The winner of each of those two matches also advances to the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015.

Thursday July 24, 2014

Sponsors on board for Port Mourant Champion of Champions Horserace meet

By Samuel Whyte Several sponsors and horses have inked their names for the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) grand one day horserace meet set for this Sunday, 27th July. The event is being held in collaboration with Horse Owners in Guyana and will be held at the club’s track at Port Mourant, Corentyne Berbice.

Over $7M is up for grabs with entries swelling to over 70 so far for the seven race meet.

Meanwhile, a number of sponsors led by Banks DIH Limited, Inshan Bacchus Business Enterprise and Trucking Service, Digicel, Jumbo Jet, Romell Jagroop, Toolsie Persaud, Buffalo Energy Drink, Chris Jagdeo Construction, Mohamed Rahim and Taljit Depot are among those on board.

Most of the events are almost full with the list of the races reading -The feature D and lower event, for a first prize of $1M and trophy over one mile. It has such entries as Red and Lovely, Got to Go, Milwaukee Bliss, Do Nut Prince, Jack Is My Style,

Young Elite and Africanist.

The event for 3yrs old Guyana and West Indies Bred horses maiden horses for a winning take of $500,000 over 1500M already has Unsettled, Release The Beast, Today Is My Day, Royal Empire, Quiet Dancer, Time to Dance and Settling Jet. The E3 and lower event with a first prize of $500,000 and trophy over 1200M will see the likes of Princess Alisha, The Message, Home Bush Baby, It’s My Turn, Mission King, Captain Crook, Fresh Again and Right To Rule. A full box has already being entered for the G1 and lower event Including Traditional man, Rosetta, Battle Hymn, Bridal Stone Corner, Another Jet, Joyful Victory, Feels Like Gold, Quiet Storm, She So special, Isabella, War Craft, and Marathon Man. The winner will take away $400,000 and trophy over 1200M. The Two year old Guyana and West Indies Bred horses event has It’s My Choice, Strom Bird, Keep on Singing, Danger in the Park Midnight

Blue competing for a $300,000 first prize over 1000M in the running.

Famous Pride, Affinity, I want Revenge, De Gump, Mary Ann and I Got Another, I are among those entered in the ‘I’ and lower 1200M race for the winning pocket of $250,000 and trophy.

The J1 and lower event has the likes of Prince Bayaya, Royal Intention, Little McGyver, Quincy, Silver Kid, Prixie Fire among others racing for a winning prize of $200,000 and trophy over 1200M. Outstanding individual performers including top Jockey, trainer and stable will be presented with trophies compliments of the organisers.

The races will be run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA).

Additional information can be accessed by contacting Mohammed Shariff on 611-0684, Chanu Ramkissoon- 6249063, or Kris Jagdeo (624-6123; 322-0369), Rajendra Jagdeo 618-7278, Ramnauth 337-5311.

Dwayne Smith’s ton leads Barbados Tridents to commanding win Dwayne Smith hammered a belligerent unbeaten 110 as the Barbados Tridents strolled to a comfortable 29 runs victory over the St Lucia Zouks at the Kensington Oval in Barbados yesterday.

Smith’s knock off 69 balls included eight sixes and seven fours as he attacked from the onset. A brief rain break did not do much to stem the tide of r u n s , o n l y delaying S m i t h ’s onslaught for a brief spell as the Tridents, batting first, amassed a challenging 186 for 2 off their 20 overs. Shoaib Malik supported with 49, while Kieron Pollard was not out on 18 at the end.

Shane Dowrich went caught off Sohail Tanvir for a duck, while Malik was bowled by Tino Best as the two had a mid-pitch altercation that saw the umpires and players having to intervene.

Keddy Lesporis with an unbeaten 50 off 38 balls and Tanvir 30 not out off 18 tried valiantly at the end for the Zouks but could not get to the required run rate.

Johnson Charles (12), Henry Davids (22), Andre Fletcher (27) tried to set the Zouks on the desired path but were held by the Tridents team effort. The

Warriors battle Red Steel tonight

Dwayne Smith (Latin Content, Getty Images)

moment though, belonged to man-of-the-match Dwayne Smith for his e x p l o s i v e c e n t u r y, t h e second ever in the tournament.

Meanwhile, the action continues today with a night game in the Twin Island Republic. In today’s match, Guyana’s Amazon Warriors will challenge the Red Steel of Trinidad and Tobago from 8:00pm tonight at the Queen’s Park Oval in

Trinidad.

The Warriors will be mindful that the home team will be out to avenge their defeat last week in Guyana when Sunil Narine’s brilliance saw them home in the super over. The Guyanese side will however look for the win to keep their second place on the points standing intact and a foot in the door for a semifinal berth on track. An exciting and explosive match is anticipated.

Thursday July 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

Day 2 Regional U-19 Cricket

By Sean Devers A well constructed maiden century (130) from 16-year old Nevisian opener Ross Powell led the Leeward Islands to a 30-run first innings lead against Guyana when the penultimate day of their regional three-day under-19 cricket encounter ended at the Guyana National Stadium yesterday.

By the close, the Leewards, replying to Guyana’s 270 reached 300-8 by the close as Kasey Carty made 64 and Skipper Jeremiah Louis finished unbeaten on 49. Off-spinner Sharaz Ramcharran had 2-46 and leg-spinner Steven Sankar 2-71 but they were not aided by a ragged display of catching by the Guyanese who put down at least five catches including Powell thrice.

The Leewards enjoyed a good opening session yesterday in which they scored 83 runs and only lost Shaquille Martina (6), who was trapped LBW to legspinner Sankar with the total on 49-2.

Powell, who scored a classy 75 in the last regional under-17 competition in Tobago and a ton at under-17 level the previous year, played several delightful shots and brought up his 50 with a swept boundary off Daimon Waldron on a low track which offered slow turn for the spinners after a wayward spell from the pacers.

Powell, in his second year at this level, made full use of his chances in the morning session. The cousin of Test left-hander Kieran

Powell was dropped on 42 by off-spinner Sharaz Ramcharran of his own bowling and twice off Wa l d r o n o n 5 2 o f f successive balls. He was put down by Sankar at slip and Niall Smith at silly mid-off and by Lunch, which was taken at 104-2, the lefthanded Powell was undefeated on 52. Carty was with him on 35, the third wicket stand with Powell was worth 53 runs.

After the interval the Guyanese bowlers toiled in sweltering heat and Carty pounced on fast bowler Keno Morris and reached his half-century with a boundary before Powell latched onto the Transport Sports Club pacer and whipped him through mid-wicket for another boundary in the same over much to the delight of the proverbial ‘two men and a dog’ in the stands.

Carty’s confidence grew as his innings progressed but when the partnership was three runs away from a century stand the seemingly set Carty threw his wicket away with an inexplicable swipe and had his stumps uprooted by pacer Kemo Paul to leave the score on 146-3. He batted 118 minutes, faced 132 balls and struck nine fours.

Asharn Hodge joined Powell and the pair took the score to 183 before Hodge, the nephew of Leeward’s Coach Chaka Hodge who was a member of team when they won their last title in Guyana in 2001, was needlessly run out for 13 and

by Tea the Islanders were

Regional U-15

Jamaica, T&T record wins Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago recorded victories in the Regional U-15 50-over tournament currently being played in Jamaica.

At Up Park Camp, Jamaica thumped Barbados by three wickets. Barbados batted first and scored 219-8 in 50 overs. Joshua Corbin made 43, Jadan Jones 33, Kilano Brathwaite 26 not out, Joshua Bishop 23 and Shain Brathwaite 20. Raewin Senior snared 3-38 and Duke Reid 2-37. Jamaica replied with 220-7 in 47.2 overs.

Senior led with 67, Dominic Samuels scored 54, Andre Mc Carthy 34 and Bryan Brown 26. Nico Reifer took

2-20 and Nyeem Young 2-45 for Barbados.

At Kensington Oval, Windward Islands lost to Trinidad and Tobago by three wickets. Windward Islands took first strike and managed 130-9 in 50 overs. Johnel Eugene slammed 57 as TeShawn Alleyne, Avinash Mabirighsingh, Nathaniel David and Kirstan Kallicharran claimed two wickets each. Trinidad and Tobago responded with 1347 in 45.5 overs. Cephas Cooper stroked 44 not out, Navin Badaisee 27 and Kallicharran 22. Jahseon Alexander took 2-24 for the Windwards.

Page 31

Powell’s maiden ton gives Leewards first innings lead 190-4. Powell who spent a lot of time in the ‘nervous 90s’ was two short of his first Regional ton at any level at the break and Mohit Hingorani, who hails from St Martin but was born to Indian Nationals, was with him on nought.

Powell, whose father is former Leewards first-class

player Ronald Powell, finally got to three-figures when he disdainfully clipped Ramcharran for his 13th boundary.

Hingorani, who spent 38 minutes and 31 balls for a single run was then taken at mid-off to give Sankar his second scalp and leave the score on 201-5.

Skipper Jeremiah Louis joined Powell as Guyana’s poor catching continued and when Morris took the second new ball, Powell unleashed a vicious assault on him with three stunning fours off consecutive balls and by the final water break Guyana’s lead had been reduced to 21.

Powell finally departed

for a magnificent century, the first of this year’s tournament, when Morris at cover, held the catch off Ramcharran. Powell faced 293 balls, batted for 346 minutes, reached the boundary 19 times and cleared it once to leave the score at (Continued on page 29)

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Female volleyball competition set for Berbice The Berbice Volleyball Association in its continuing efforts to attract more females to the sport will be holding a one day competition for females in the Ancient County on Sunday August 10th at the Port Mourant Training Centre (PMTC) Court, Corentyne.

The competition is being sponsored by volleyball enthusiast, Arianna Bacchus who is a grade 8 student of the ISA Islamic School of East Street Georgetown.

Arianna who is the daughter of National Cycle Coach, Hassan Mohamed , says she is impressed with the work being done by the BVA but would like to see more females playing in competitions, hence her decision to sponsor a competition.

The competition is open to all females attending schools in the Berbice area and teams are expected from Lower Corentyne Secondary, J.C Chandisingh Secondary, Port Mourant S e c o n d a r y, C o r e n t y n e Comprehensive Secondary School, Canje Secondary

Thursday July 24, 2014

Digicel Secondary School Football Championships

Bush Secondary defeat Annai DigicelLot Secondary School Football Championships Secondary to clinch semi-finals spot

Hassan Mohammed (right) presents the trophies to BVA President Gregory Rambarran. a n d Wi n i f r e d G a s k i n Secondary.

At stake in the competition are trophies for the first, second and third placed teams. Outstanding individuals including best Setter, Spiker, Server and MVP will also be presented with accolades.

The action is scheduled to commence at 10:00hrs and all teams are urged to be punctual.

Meanwhile, the BVA is continuing to hold coaching sessions for females (especially under-16) at PMTC & PM Secondary with the aim of identifying talent to form an Under-16 female squad.

Persons interested in joining the sessions can contact Godwyn Allicock on tel 337-4774 or Levi Nedd on tel. 641-9592.

(Samuel Whyte)

Two of the opposing players battle for ball possession in the Bush Lot/Annai clash

By Michael Benjamin They have registered convincing victories over Charity and Sand Creek Secondary Schools in games played in the Rupununi last week and seemed set to advance to the semi-final stage but Annai Secondary School’s dream run to championship honours was cruelly disrupted when that team succumbed 3-2 to Bush Lot Secondary in a quarter finals encounter in the Digicel Schools’ Football Championship at the Burnham Park, New A m s t e r d a m , Tu e s d a y afternoon last.

Marlon Nicholson registered a brace for the winners in the 12th and 21st minutes with support from Adrian Pryce (66), while Annai staged a valiant comeback, albeit unsuccessfully, with goals off the boots of Shivraj Lall (80) and David Daniels (92).

Annai Secondary started out as the firm favourites but clever ball distribution skills demonstrated by Bush Lot Secondary School saw them surging ahead, compliments of a stiff jab from Nicholson, after he had performed a solo down the left flank. B u s h L o t aggressively defended the small lead, passing the ball around and kept the Annai

strike duo of Lall and Garville Daniels working hard to equalize the situation. The latter player eventually broke through but his left foot shot lacked zip and was easily scooped up by the Bush Lot custodian.

Nicholson then came to life and after receiving a pass in his unmarked mid field position, sprinted to the goal even as the Annai custodian, Burthland Scipio, attempted to intercept. The astute Nicholson kept his cool and tucked the ball around the right side of the advancing Annai goalie sending his team up 2 nil, a lead his unit managed to retain up to the intermission despite several enterprising raids from Annai’s strike force.

Annai started the second session in an attacking mode but the Bush Lot lads maintained a tight defence and thwarted their efforts. David Daniels then shrewdly worked his way from among several of the opposition’s players and sprinted to the Bush Lot’s goal. He was met by an a d v a ncing goalie and forced into a premature kick that went down the right side of the goal.

With two goals in arrears, the Annai team seemed to be in despair with their key striker,

Garville Daniels, failing to produce the magic that had seen him scoring a hat-trick and a helmet-trick in previous games.

While Garville Daniels was experiencing a lean period, his namesake, David, worked in tandem with Lotan Bartholomew and attacked Bush Lot’s goal but their goalie, Shane James, remained astute between the uprights with some marvellous saves that kept his team in front. Eulon Fraser almost extended that lead after singlehandedly taking on Annai’s defence team, but the latter group staunchly blocked his advances and forced him into an early kick that slid down the side of the goal. Adrian Price quickly corrected this anomaly when he trapped a corner kick and placed it around the Annai goalie to stretch the advantage to 3-0.

Lall continued to press on and his efforts eventually paid dividends after he successfully evaded the opposition’s defence and gently tucked in his team’s first success.

Thereafter Bush Lot tightened their defence but failed to stop Daniel’s zipper, twelve minutes a f t e r h i s t e a m ’s f i r s t success, which flew past (Continued on page 29)

Thursday July 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

Bien-Aime elected as TCIFA President

CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb congratulates Sonia Bien-Aime after her election as the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association’s new president on July 21, 2014.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Sonia BienAime, a CONCACAF Executive Committee member, was elected as President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) at its Annual General meeting on Monday. She replaces the outgoing Christopher Bryan after being nominated as the sole candidate to stand for election. The magnitude of the occasion was not lost on BienAime, who first thanked family members for their unwavering support of her work in world football administration.

“Without my family and their willingness to share me with the world, I will not be here.” BienAime said. “My family

sacrifices each day to allow me to fulfill my dreams and ambitions.” Speaking to an audience that included CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb and Caribbean Football Union President Gordon Derrick, as well as other regional and local football officials, Bien-Aime urged local football administrators to remain focused on infrastructure and player development. “Let’s stay the course that has been laid out by improving on our facilities to enable us to host more highprofile events and in doing so we will provide sustainable opportunities for all local players,” she expressed. In his brief remarks, President Webb

thanked Bryan for his visionary leadership, while voicing support of the new TCIFA head and her plans for the future.

“Not many associations are handed over with such a good history of best practices on and off the field,” President Webb said.

“Mr. Bryan has done an admirable job which I know Mrs. Bien-Aime will build on in the years to come. “Sonia will use her drive, passion and commitment to the game to motivate all involved to strive for greatness.” Bien-Aime also sits on the FIFA Executive Committee and joins Lydia Nsekera of Burundi as only the world’s second female member association president.

Alpha play warm up game today as CCL preparations continue

Alpha players go through training drills yesterday at the GDF ground.

Top Guyana club side, Alpha ‘The Hammer ’ United will take their preparations to another level today ahead of the 2014/15 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League, the region’s premier competition for clubs.

They will be involved in a warm-up game against a select side at the Guyana Defence Force ground, Camp Ayangana where they

have been undergoing intense preparations recently.

The players, under the astute guidance of Head C o a c h Wa y n e D o v e r, Assistant Coach Sampson Gilbert and Goalkeeper Coach Andrew Hazel will be given the opportunity to showcase what they have been learning in the past two weeks.

Alpha have been drawn

in Group 5 of the CCL and will open their campaign against Club Deportivo Olimpia of Honduras on August 5 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence while they will also entertain Portland Timbers of the USA at the same venue on August 19 in their two home games.

Their away games would be played later this year.

Page 33

First playing contracts for NZ women cricketers ESPNcricinfo - Ten New Zealand women cricketers have been awarded annual playing contracts by New Zealand Cricket. It is the first time a select group has been retained on annual contracts, having previously only been paid assembly fees when training and playing for the national team.

Holly Huddleston, Hayley Jensen and Felicity LeydonDavis are some of the newcomers that have made it to the list, which also includes experienced players like captain Suzie Bates, Sara McGlashan and Rachel Priest.

However, allrounder Nicola Brown had opted out, owing to her job commitments with the Hamilton City Council which restricts her availability for every tour.

“This group of players are expected to form the core of our team over the next 12 months and likely play a key role in how successful we are during this time,” women’s coach Hamish Barton said.

“Young players like Felicity Leydon-Davis and Hayley Jensen really took their opportunities during the summer and we’re excited about their ongoing development. That’s balanced out by more experienced players like Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine, so there’s a good mix in there. “It’s a busy upcoming summer for us and I know that both myself and the team are incredibly excited about the opportunities in front of us, beginning with our tour of the West Indies in September.” The contracts,

which run from August 1 2014 to July 31 2015, come under the terms of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NZC and the New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA). The contracts have been structured in a manner similar to the men’s senior team, with the top 10 players receiving an annual retainer based on a ranking process involving T20 and ODI cricket. The contract retainers are tiered between $10,000 to $12,000 per annum and also provide for daily assembly fees for all players selected for training camps and international tours. Players outside the top-ten bracket will receive a casual playing contract when they are selected in the team.

Commonwealth Games begin at Celtic...

From page 35 paraded into Celtic Park last, according to Games tradition, accompanied by The Shamen’s hit Move Any Mountain.

Towards the end of the ceremony a message was delivered live from the International Space Station to the Commonwealth nations, and Scots musician Nicola Benedetti performed a violin solo as the Games Federation flag was raised.

Glasgow band Primal

Scream closed proceedings as fireworks went off all across the city.

Te m p e r a t u r e s i n Glasgow earlier reached 25 degrees C, officially the hottest day in Scotland this year. The Games will feature 17 sports across 11 days of competition, beginning today.

Guyana will be involved in Table Tennis and Squash today.

Nicolette Fernandes, Alexander Arjoon and Sunil Seth representing Squash and

while for Table Tennis Chelsea Edghill, Natalie Cummings, Trenace Lowe, Idi Lewis, Paul David, Christopher Franklin and Shamar Britton will do battle for the Guyanese.Geron Williams carried the Golden Arrowhead at the opening ceremony yesterday.

The closing ceremony will take place at Hampden Park on the south side of the c i t y, w h i c h h a s b e e n transformed into an athletics venue, on 3 August.

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Regional U-19 cricket

Windwards on top but Solozano threatens for T&T Watched by another small working day crowd in sultry conditions yesterday, Trinidad and Tobago go into today’s final day of their Regional under-19 threeday cricket match at Enmore against the Windward Islands trailing by 126 runs with nine second innings wickets standing.

After being shot out for an embarrassing 74 in their first innings, the lads from the home base of the Trinidad and Tobago’s Red Steel who will play the Guyana Amazon Warriors tonight in Port-of-Spain, reached 49-1 in their second innings.

This was after the Windwards, whose only title at this level was achieved in Guyana in 2000, declared at 249-9, half of an hour after Tea. On a typical Enmore track where the odd ball kept low, the fielding by both teams left a lot to be desired on the heavy outfield and when play began on day two with the Windwards on 91-2.

The Islanders lost Tonis Simon at 92-3 when he was bowled by Samuel

Jeremy Solozano Roopnarine without him adding to his overnight 30.

Vi c e C a p t a i n Kershaskie Jno Lewis was next to go off Anderson Phillip at 118-4 for 17 before Skipper Roland Cato and Anson Latchman orchestrated ‘operation rebuild’ by carrying the score 184 with an attractive 62 run partnership before Latchman was caught and bowled by Phillip for a fighting 38.

Cato, who batted well for a top-score of 43, was trapped LBW to Tevin Jadoo but Doran Edwards

who finished unbeaten on 26 and Sherman Lewis (13) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.

Bowling for T&T Phillip had 15-3-29-2, Roopnarine 26-9-53-3, Jadoo 23-8-392, Justin Joseph 18-5-39-2 and Jesse Bootan 10-2-423.

When the team from Carnival Country began their second innings needing to make 175 to avoid an innings defeat they batted much better than they did in their first innings despite losing opener Jadoo to Lewis for a duck at 15-1.

Left-handed West Indies under-19 player Jeremy Solozano is arguable the tournament’s most fluent batsman and yesterday the T&T Skipper showed glimpses of his class during his unbeaten 34 and suggests that he could go all the way to a three-figure score to join Nevisian Ross Powell as the early centurions in the six-team competition as the Trinidadians hunt their first title in four years and their first in Guyana since they emerged champions in the 2003. (Sean Devers)

Thursday July 24, 2014

Jamaica set to host CONCACAF Under-20 Championships in January M i a m i – T h e Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) yesterday announced Jamaica as host of the upcoming CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, scheduled for January 2015.

The cities of Kingston and Montego Bay will be the venues for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship Jamaica 2015, which kicks off on January 9. The National Stadium in Kingston and the Montego Bay Sports Complex will each play host to group phase matches, with the final round to be played in Montego Bay on January 24.

“Jamaica has a strong sporting culture, and I am sure Jamaicans will once again create a passionate atmosphere for the championship,” said CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb.

The 2015 CONCACAF

Under-20 Championship will include a field of twelve teams: five from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), four from the Central American Football Union (UNCAF), and three from North America. Qualifying in Central America and the Caribbean is currently underway.

The tournament will crown the Confederation champion at this age level, and qualify four teams to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015. Mexico is the two-time defending C O N C A C A F u n d e r- 2 0 champion, having claimed the title in Puebla, Mexico in 2013 and in Guatemala City in 2011.

This year, a new format favoring development and competition will be introduced to the Under-20 Championship. The twelve qualifying teams will be divided into two groups of six, to play a round-robin format on the first five match

days.

The resulting top team from each group will earn a direct berth to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, and a place in the championship match on the final day.

However, more than the winner’s trophy will be on the line on the final competition day — January 24 in Montego Bay. The second- and third-place teams from each group will be re-seeded into a four-team table, based on points obtained during group play.

The top team from that table will play the fourth-ranked team, and the second-ranked team will face off against the third-ranked nation, with the winners of each of those two final-day matches securing one of the two remaining tickets on offer to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. This new tournament structure backs enhanced competition in determining the Confederation’s prized (Continued on page 26)

Jamaica grab first innings from Barbados but the contest remains evenly poised Williams grabs 7, Lewis takes 5

Jafari Toppin gather runs on the offside Jamaica managed to gain first innings points from Barbados, but the contest remains evenly poised with the Jamaicans needing a further 192 for victory with nine second innings wickets standing as the Regional U19 3-Day tournament continued yesterday.

In reply to Barbados first innings score of 120, Jamaica resumed the day on 106-5 and were bowled out for 130 in 60 overs at Everest Cricket Club. Ramaal Lewis (23) and Abijai Mansingh (11), who resumed on 19 and 10 respectively, added five to their overnight sixth wicket stand of 30 before they were

both dismissed in quick succession as Jamaica slipped to 111-7. The battle for first innings points continued and it was Jamaica who prevailed.

Chad Williams sent back George Walker (04) with the scores level, but Nicholas Walters with an unbeaten 13 towards the end handed Jamaica a 10-run lead.

Williams finished with 7-31 off 21 overs while Neil Persaud had 2-32.

Batting a second time Barbados slipped to 13-3 before Akil Greenidge and Jafari Toppin steadied them with a fourth wicket stand of 52 before they were

separated. Toppin top scored with 46 and Greenidge made 39. Subsequently several batsmen failed to carry on after getting starts with Matthew Jones scoring 34, Keon Harding 26, Shamar Springer 23 and Nicholas Kirton 20 as Barbados were bowled out for 211 in 67.1 overs. Lewis was the pick of the bowlers with 5-75 from 29.1 overs, while Odean Smith snared 4-44.

In pursuit of 202 for victory Jamaica closed on 10-1 with Odaine Mc Catty on one and Ramone Francis yet to score. Leroy Lugg was the wicket to fall, bowled by Jones for three at 7-1.

Thursday July 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 35

Digicel football having positive impact Commonwealth Games begin at Celtic Park in Hinterland Communities-Toshaos The 2014 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

By Rawle Welch Now into its fourth year, the Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Tournament has been getting rave reviews by many influential members of the Hinterland communities.

According to many, the competition has created quite a buzz among the residents both young and old as evidenced by the large turnout at all the games in the various regions which has forced the Organisers to schedule more matches in those areas unlike the three previous years.

Kaieteur Sport was afforded the opportunity to visit some of those communities and engage persons such as Toshaos to solicit their views on the impact the tournament is having within their communities and among the residents.

Toshao Floyd Edwards of Orealla in his remarks welcomed the move by the Company to stage two rounds of matches in the community and expressed his appreciation on behalf of the residents to Digicel and its Management and Staff.

Edwards said they were holding internal Meetings to devise plans to get the youths in meaningful activities and one of the initiatives that they’ve come up with was to get more sports based activities organised within the community. “What we’ve found is that a lot of the

was held at Celtic Park in Glasgow. (Getty Images)

Floyd Edwards youths because of the absence of sports programmes have no way to expend their energies and they are getting involved in illicit drug use, teenage pregnancy and criminal activities so we’ve formed a Committee to formulate plans for them to be more meaningfully engaged in programmes that will help their personal development as well as that of the community,” Edwards told this newspaper.

He applauded Digicel for coming into the community and offering them an opportunity to get involved in sports. Toshao Richard Cornelius of Moruca was also in high praise of the work Digicel has been doing in bringing football to communities at a time when they are struggling for meaningful sporting activities.

Cornelius said the tournament will help to improve the level of the

Richard Cornelius game in the communities, adding that it is also serving to expose more of the talent that reside within the various communities, while the players are gaining experience all the time.

“The tournament is serving as good exposure for the young players and even those to come and all this is happening through the goodwill of Digicel,” Cornelius stated.

He added that through Sport the society can become better and posited that it isnother way to mould the youths to maintain good social order through their involvement is sports.

“I’m seeing a bright future for the players in this Region and by extension an even brighter future for the country at large,” he said.

The tournament which lasts just over one month is now in its latter stages with semi-finals action slated to commence tomorrow in Georgetown and Berbice.

BBC Sport - The 2014 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony has taken place at Celtic Park in Glasgow.

Thousands of athletes from 71 nations and territories took part before a 40,000-strong crowd and a global TV audience up to one billion people. Their traditional parade around the stadium followed a live show featuring about 2,000 cast members.

The Queen declared the Games open by reading her own message from inside the Commonwealth baton.

Adventurer Mark Beaumont landed on the city’s river Clyde in a seaplane carrying the baton to Celtic Park, having tracked its progress across the Commonwealth on a 288-day journey spanning almost 120,000 miles.

Inside the stadium, the baton was transferred between a group of volunteers who have helped

children around Scotland find their potential through sport. Sir Chris Hoy carried it on its final stage to Prince Imran of Malaysia, who struggled briefly to open the container and remove the message to hand to the Queen.

Her Majesty then spoke of the “shared ideals and ambitions” of the Commonwealth and highlighted the “bonds that unite” the 71 nations and territories. “The baton relay represents a calling together of people from every part of the Commonwealth and serves as a reminder of our shared ideals and ambitions as a diverse, resourceful and cohesive family.

“And now, that baton has arrived here in Glasgow, a city renowned for its dynamic cultural and sporting achievements and for the warmth of its people, for this opening ceremony of the Friendly Games.”

The Queen, in her role as head of the Commonwealth, then sent her best wishes to the competing athletes.

Events inside the stadium are being shown to the assembled guests and crowd on Europe’s largest LED screen.

The giant display, which stands across the whole of the stadium’s South Stand, is almost 100 metres long, 11 metres high and weighs 38 tonnes.

Other adaptations to the venue include a speciallycreated stage floor covering the entire pitch and a multicoloured walkway specifically designed for the athlete’s parade.

Star Wars actor Ewan McGregor opened proceedings with a prerecorded video message, before Glaswegian comedian Karen Dunbar struck up an elaborate song and dance number celebrating Scotland, accompanied by

To r c h w o o d s t a r J o h n Barrowman.

The routine welcomed visitors from across the Commonwealth to Glasgow and included larger-than-life representations of famous Scots inventions, landmarks, cultural heroes and Scottish history. Rod Stewart was joined on stage by Bishopbriggs singersongwriter Amy Macdonald alongside hundreds of ordinary Glasgow citizens to perform a version of his classic song Rhythm of My Heart.

Later in the ceremony, dancers from Scottish Ballet performed a routine to an acoustic version of The Proclaimers hit I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).

Pipe band The Scottish Regiment Pipe Band arrived in the stadium to accompany Susan Boyle performing the Paul McCartney and Wings song Mull of Kintyre, as the Red Arrows performed a flypast over the city to signal the arrival of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

India, the hosts of the previous Games in Delhi in 2010, were the first team to enter the arena and received a warm welcome.

The remainder of the competing nations arrived according to geographical region, led by a Scots representative wearing tweeds and walking a Scottie terrier bedecked in a jacket bearing the name of each country.

The England team were met by loud cheers from the crowd as the European nations entered the stadium, Northern Ireland were led by cyclist Martyn Irvine and the Wales team sported black Harrington-style jackets with tartan lining.

The loudest reception of the night was reserved for the host nation Scotland, who (Continued on page 33)

Powell’s maiden ton gives Leewards first innings lead

Day 2 Regional U-19 Cricket

P.31

Ross Powell rode his luck to score 130 despite being beaten by Sharaz Ramcharran on this occasion.

Police Inter-Division Athletics Championships

Headquarters hold 29-point lead

Tevin Garraway (left) looks over his shoulder as he comfortably asserts himself in the Boys 200 metres Youth Club race yesterday at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary

Commonwealth Games begin at Celtic Park

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