Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

A country far behind in its practices The recent landmark decision in Trinidad and Tobago by Justice Frank Seepersad would not have escaped the attention of political practitioners here at home. The lessons coming out of that sister CARICOM State are enough to make us weep in frustration at the tepid attempts to get those who govern this country to tread a fraction of the distance that others are unhesitatingly walking. With the anomalies being highlighted each year by the Auditor General Reports, citizens would not be far from the truth if they were to argue that the happenings in the conduct of the people’s business, support the claim that all is not well on the transparency front. The sometimes ambiguous judgment emanating from our courts certainly do not help matters, and in that regard, Justice Seepersad’s ruling is instructive and his approach worthy of emulation. The guiding principles to the Carter Centre Global Access to Information Initiative expressly state that: “information is a fundamental human right and a multidimensional tool serving both governments and citizens. Enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the right of access to information improves governance and lives as it assists public administration to become more transparent and accountable and enables citizens to engage more meaningfully in public life, understand policies, help determine public priorities, and use the information to ensure the exercise of their other human rights, including the rights to clean water, a safe environment, and education. In the Guyana context, citizens are being told that they are being denied access to public information because the political opposition refused to approve unconscionable expenditure from the public purse. These blatant acts of disrespect are some of the things that Guyanese are expected to swallow on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. What the foregoing means to the ordinary tax payer is that the government can go right on purchasing items outside of a properly functioning Public Procurement Commission (PPC), disposing of these without any reference to accountability, and engaging in deals which officials are loath to explain. With no mechanism in place to ensure that state funds are spent and records kept in accordance with established good practices, unscrupulous persons are provided with carte blanche to pervert the genuine aspirations of the people for an improved quality of life. Bland statements from high officials, which are big on form and lack substance, do not offer any comfort to the people whose money is being spent with no apparent consideration of value for money. The proliferation of advisors, some of whom merit the appellation of ‘impostor’ or ‘opportunist’, again does not provide any encouragement that problems are being addressed with the necessary acumen. In other countries, the public quite reasonably expects to see the fruits of astute professional advice as evidenced by the formulation and implementation of appropriate national and sectoral policies. The advisors in Guyana are invisible for the most part, and the few who venture into the light of day offer commentary that has absolutely nothing to do with their professed field of competence, insofar as responding to public criticism to areas within their purview. To now hear that the police are unaware that they could take action in a matter concerning abuse of public finances which the Alliance for Change is intent on pursuing - suggests that in many ways this country is far behind in its practices. Again, the recent comments by the T&T Attorney General with regard to the actions of some elements of the T&T Police Service should be an example to our local politicians. The political realities at this time demand that local government elections be held to correct the inequities and improprieties inherent in the current governance practices. That is the only solution to remedying the

Friday July 25, 2014

Letters... Where your views make the news

A “no confidence” vote must be executed by the opposition DEAR EDITOR, We w e r e r e l i a b l y informed by a senior leader in the PPP that President Ramotar will not call any elections until November 2016 even if it means the diplomatic and economic isolation of Guyana by the ABC countries. Even if a no-confidence motion is passed against the minority PPP regime in Parliament, the president will delay it by taking the matter to the Courts of Guyana. The PPP’s only fear is peaceful street action which Mr. Granger has abandoned and the PPP is fearful of, but even if the people decided to stage protests, the PPP is prepared to fight it, since they believe they have total political control of the Guyana Police Force. After 22 years in power, the bullies would not give up power easily. With such information out in the public domain, what do the people expect from the Leader of the main Opposition? They expect firm and swift political action, but as we said before, this fight requires political spine from the opposition to stand-up and fight the PPP on all

fronts. But some newcomers who suck up to the leader are not interested in putting the country first because they want to advance their own careers. These political grasshoppers have been involved in every party in Guyana before linking up with APNU because they could not achieve their goals in the other parties. If the Leader of the majority Opposition really cares about the people, he should ignore these illusionists and put the country first and demand the following actions from the corrupt and vindictive PPP regime: 1. Constitutional Reform; 2. A 10 percent increase in salaries/wages for the workers; 3. Call Local Government Elections – NOW! 4. Establish the Public Procurement Commission – NOW! 5. Censure the Minister of Finance – NOW! 6. Establish all the Service Commissions including the Police Service Commission so that those officers who are due for promotion can be promoted – NOW! 7. Assent to all the Private Members Bills approved by the National Assembly – NOW!

8. Revoke all Radio Licenses issued by former P re s i d e n t J a g d e o a n d commence a new process that is fair to all; 9. Reform the Police Force and the Judiciary and make them more independent to fight crime and corruption; 10. Reduce VAT by 2 percent We appeal to the opposition MPs to raise their voices to ensure that the Leader of the Opposition act within 30 days on some concrete deliverables for the people. If the PPP does not act then certainly it is a no brainer that in accordance with the Constitution, a vote of no-confidence must be executed against this corrupt and uncaring regime. No individual, group or government should hold a nation at ransom for their own financial benefits. And the opposition cannot allow these Freedom House bandits to continue to rape the treasury. They have to end the Jagdeoites reign of power now. After three years of extremely poor services especially in health care, education, and social services from the PPP, how much more support can the majority opposition continue to give the regime? After

three years of the PPP oppression, how much more can the people take? After three years of poor governance, how long will the opposition allow this continue? After three years of crime and banditry against the people, how long more will the opposition allow the people to suffer? After three years of raping and pauperizing the country, how long before the opposition take to the streets? And after three years of ignoring the wishes of the people, how long will it take the opposition the to react? And after three years of selective use of the Constitution by the PPP regime, how long more will the opposition take before putting an end to it? Asha Balbachan Dr. Terrence Simon, Derrick Arjune, Chandra Deollal, Esq. Rohit Misir, Dr. Reginald Watkins, Donna Mathoo, Noel Moses Vicki Rampersaud Guilianna Jacobs, Dr. Devita Khan, Asquith Rose, Ramesh Sookram, Debbie Lashley Harish Singh. Dr. Vincent Nauth

Jagdeo’s benefits likely cost Guyanese $4.2M per month DEAR EDITOR, The government released f i g u r e s o n J a g d e o ’s electricity, transportation and security expenses from December 2011 to February 2014, a period of 27 months. Total electricity bill for the period was $9,875,680 at a monthly average of $365,766. Total transportation was $15,220,748 at a monthly average of $563,371. Total security bill was $20,321,520 at a monthly average of $752,649. The Minister apparently did not submit all the requested information and the opposition, as usual, was negligent in asking for an

itemized list of all covered benefits under the Former Presidents (Benefits and Facilities) Act. Therefore, we are left with an incomplete picture of the totality of the largesse Jagdeo is enjoying under this law. However, the limited snapshot of expenditure offered on just three items – transportation, electricity and security – is already frighteningly mind-blowing. On only these three items, Jagdeo racked up a stunning $45,417,948 in expenses. That is $1,682,146 per month for just electricity, transportation and security. To u n d e r s t a n d t h e s h a m e l e s s a n d

situation, as in the case where much needed drainage pumps are left lying idle on a major public road – one clear indication of the failure to heed the needs of the people. Another observation is that the requirement for ministries to display their logos on government vehicles seemingly applies only to usage by some, while the favoured few are permitted to have unmarked vehicles at their unlimited disposal. It is not hard to see the possibilities for misappropriation, particularly in the event of regime change.

unconscionable atrocity here, the Bank of Guyana’s reported Guyana’s GDP per capita for 2013 as US $3496.30 or GY $699,260. Ye s , y o u s a w i t absolutely correctly; J a g d e o ’ s M O N T H LY expenses on only electricity, transportation and security is 2.4 times what every citizen of Guyana was valued at for the entire 2013. Guyana is producing an average of GY $699,260 per YEAR and Jagdeo is consuming $1,682,146 per MONTH only for electricity, transportation and security. This is not to mention Jagdeo’s pension, which is roughly $1.2 million per month. But there is even more. The Former Presidents (Benefits and Facilities) Act makes taxpayers liable for the following (1) water (2) telephone (3) personal and household staff including an attendant and a gardener (4) clerical and technical staff, if requested (5) medical expenses for the president

and dependants (6) motor vehicles owned and maintained by the State (7) toll free road transportation in Guyana (8) an annual vacation allowance equivalent to the cost of two first class return airfares provided on the same basis as that granted to serving members of the Judiciary. Water and telephone use for a mansion with a pool and a former president with significant overseas contacts to call abroad is probably in the range of $50,000 per month. Using the assumption that the total household staff (cooks, attendants, gardeners, cleaners) for Jagdeo is generally equivalent in cost to Jagdeo’s monthly security expense, we are looking at approximately $750,000 monthly for these staff. Assuming clerical and technical staff has been retained, we are looking at another $300,000 to $500,000 per month for (Continued on page 5)

Friday July 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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

Jagdeo’s benefits likely cost Guyanese $4.2... From page 4 clerical and technical staff (we will use $300,000 in our calculation). Medical expenses, excluding medical transportation, for Jagdeo is difficult to estimate and is certainly going to be less now than in the future as he gets older. Jagdeo has already demonstrated by that trip the willingness to seek medical treatment abroad as opposed to utilizing treatment at home. It is highly likely given this precedent that Jagdeo will utilize medical treatment abroad as a first option. This is a very expensive route. I will use an estimate of $100,000 per month (US $500 per month) to cover future medical expenses (not medical transportation), which will increase with aging. Motor vehicles provided by the state are probably included in the figures provided for transportation, but that would obviously not include the purchase price of vehicles by the state solely for Jagdeo and their maintenance and depreciation costs. It is unclear if fuel expenses for transportation are included in the figures released by Ashni Singh, so clarification is required by the opposition on this item. Using two new high-end vehicles such as Prados purchased for Jagdeo or make exclusive for Jagdeo’s use at any given time at a purchase price of $5 million each or $10 million total and used for five years before being replaced with new similar vehicles, we are looking at a depreciation loss to taxpayers of approximately $5 million covering 5 years for both vehicles or $83,000 per month. This is based on North American average depreciation values. Maintenance of these vehicles is yet another cost. Estimating maintenance at 10% of purchase price or $1 million over five years, which is equivalent to monthly maintenance cost of $17,000, we have a total depreciation and maintenance cost of $100,000 per month. Again, this estimate is based on only two high-end vehicles and does not include operational costs such as fuel purchases and the cost of hiring drivers. Toll free road transportation is likely a nominal item. The toll on the Berbice Bridge is the significant expense for road tolls in Guyana. The

question is whether Jagdeo himself has to be on the trip or whether the relief is available to his staff doing work on his behalf. A reasonable estimate for tolls is $2000 per month. A first class return airfare on Caribbean Airlines to a major city like New York is approximately US $1500. Two such tickets would cost approximately US $3000 or GY $600,000 per year or $50,000 per month. To estimate Jagdeo’s monthly tax-free expenses paid for by the taxpayers, we add the following: electricity $$365,766; plus transportation $563,371; plus security $752,649; plus pension $1.2 million; plus water & telephone $50,000; plus personal and household staff $750,000; plus technical and professional staff $300,000; plus medical expenses $100,000; plus vehicle costs $100,000; plus $2000 toll free road transportation; plus vacation expense $50,000. The total of these known and estimated expenses is $4,233,786 per month or US $21,169 per month. This is equivalent to GY $50,805,432 per year or US $254,027 per year. The yearly value of these tax-free benefits is equivalent to being in the top 1.5% of US households in terms of income and the value is 72.66 times the GDP per capita of Guyana. Based on this estimate, it is possible that the Guyanese people have paid and funded just over $114 million in tax-free benefits to Jagdeo for the past 27 months. The other issue is how much will this cost taxpayers for the rest of Jagdeo’s life. I do not like to pronounce of issues like life expectancy but for the purposes of estimating how much a certain legislation could cost taxpayers, it is important to

do so to ensure the nation understands the economic cost and burden of these benefits. Clearly, Jagdeo’s life expectancy cannot be based on the average Guyanese life expectancy for the simple fact that Jagdeo has experienced a better standard of living than most Guyanese since his twenties and is expected to live longer than the average Guyanese as a result. His access to these Mercedes-Benz benefits will likely place him at North American life expectancy,

which is 75 years for males. What will this cost taxpayers to age 75 for Jagdeo? Using January 2012 as the baseline when he was 48 years and assuming he lives to age 75, Jagdeo will likely have 27 years of remaining life. At an estimated GY $$51 million per year in benefits, the total cost to taxpayers will be $1.38 billion Guyana dollars or US $6.86 million. This calculation does not consider yearly increases to these amounts and costs, which are highly likely. For example, a simple three

percent yearly increase in the cost of these benefits largely due to the demands of aging will see the total cost of the benefits at skyrocket to around GY $2.06 billion) by age 75 or US $10.3 million. These figures are subject to correction by the Minister of Finance and Mr. Jagdeo himself, with proof, of course. They highlight the travesty this unlimited benefits package really is. Donald Ramotar who has been a failure will reap these benefits. In fact, a minimum of three presidents and up to

seven presidents could be elected by the time Jagdeo turns 75 years. At the cost of $2.06 billion or US $10.3 million per president, this unlimited package to all presidents elected before Jagdeo turns age 75 could cost taxpayers a minimum of $10 billion to a maximum of probably $30 billion. In a country teeming with poor people struggling for survival, this pension benefits package is an abomination. When will the Guyanese people wake up? M. Maxwell

Friday July 25, 2014

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I will restore PNCR’s former glory - Granger - Solomon promises “tough decisions” By Abena Rockcliffe As he admitted that the People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R) has been somewhat weakened by the formation of the Alliance For Change, the party’s incumbent leader, David Granger said that he is convinced that his headship is what the party needs to be nursed back to its full strength. This, Granger emphasised yesterday during an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, centred on the 18th Biennial Congress slated to commence today. Granger, who retained the leadership position of the PNC/R over the last two years, is now in competition with former General Secretary Aubrey Norton and Region 10 Chairman, Sharma Solomon. Solomon’s involvement in the contest to find the best man for the position has been on shaky ground, and there is no known reason why. It is not fully clear whether he has dropped out of the race. But since he has not officially told the party anything, Kaieteur News understands that his name will remain on the ballot. On Tuesday last, the party announced the names of those who were contesting for the leadership position, and Solomon was named. He subsequently sent out a statement informing of his plans should he assume leadership of the party. In that missive, Solomon stated that it would be a “humbling experience to serve the people at a larger scale.” He opined that he had a very good chance of being elected based on feedback. He said that “people are ripe for change, both in the party and outside of the party.” The young politician said that he intends to lead by example if he is elected. He said he would respect the PNC Constitution and the rights of the people as well as

engage in consultative decision-making that respects their involvement. Solomon noted that he would support a noconfidence motion and it should be done “swiftly and decisively”. ”After so many years of poor governance, what more chances do they need? Tough decisions have got to be made.” Solomon said he would like to see a scenario where the relationship between the PNC and the APNU is under constant review as “APNU is a partnership and the continuation of the partnership rests in its ability to achieve the goals and objectives that led to its formation. “The PNC as the leading partner has a responsibility to ensure that its interests are served not to the detriment of the minority but consistent with the needs of the party and the people.” He said he would also want to address “racial polarisation.” Solomon noted that “the people have given the opposition the majority in

parliament and this majority must be used to put pressure on the government to manage the affairs of government in the interest of the nation’s people”. It will be used to galvanise local and international support for respect for the Constitution and the will of the people. Power when gained must be used effectively. We are yet to see this applied consistently with the one-seat majority.” “It is the people who would have recognized my ability and they who have placed me on the nomination list for various positions and I will be discussing the positions advanced with them to confirm the position(s) that will pursued,” Solomon said. Meanwhile, Granger said that he is confident in the support of the majority of members in the party. According to him, over the last two years, he visited all 10 Regions and listened to the concerns of members and has since addressed those concerns in a manner that he views effective.

The politician was asked to address claims of him being relatively “soft” hence not suited for politics especially in a political climate such as Guyana’s. Granger responded that Guyana’s present political climate requires statesmanship hence, his involvement in a partnership that is committed to national unity. “People want to see a leader of national appeal as opposed to one of partisan appeal…so it is not a question of being soft.” WORKING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Granger said that when all is said and done he is willing to work with all members of his party for the greater good of Guyana. The party leader said that he would be equally willing to work with Aubrey Norton as he worked with all those who ran against him during the last Congress. He pointed out that both Carl Greenidge and James Bond were given seats in parliament. Granger refuted claims of him ignoring Norton and

Opposition Leader, David Granger

Sharma Solomon

what he has to offer the party. The politician said he never sidelined his comrade. Asked specifically if there

was any major reason why Norton was not selected to serve as a Member of (Continued on page 32)

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Friday July 25, 2014

Mother-in-law, four accomplices jailed in $7M armed robbery By Sunita Samaroo The mother-in-law of a prominent businessman, who orchestrated an armed home invasion where bandits tormented her daughter and grandchildren, and threatened to kill them, has been jailed along with her nephew and three other accomplices. On July 12, 2011, armed bandits went to the home of businessman Malcolm Panday, and held his wife Anne Ramsood and their two and four-year-old sons at gunpoint before making off with over $7M in cash and valuables. The mastermind behind the robbery was identified as the businessman’s 52-yearold mother-in-law Chandrada ‘Sandra’ Rampersaud. Investigations revealed that Rampersaud, who was once employed at the home as a housekeeper, but was fired, had told a cousin about the money the Pandays kept in the house. On that day, the bandits had forced their way into Panday’s home, placed the family along with their maids to sit on the ground, while they inquired about cash and valuables. After scaring the persons with weapons, the bandits were led to the booty. The men then made off with the family’s belongings. However, the businessman, who owns a chain of clothing stores, managed to slip away to a neighbour ’s home and summoned the police.

Guilty: Aubrey Simon

Guilty: Hardat Kumar

Responding, the police chased the bandits and intercepted them at the Ocean Spray Hotel where they opened fire on seeing police ranks. After a short stand-off the suspects were detained. Investigations led officers to implicate several persons. Aubrey Simon was the registered owner of one of the vehicles that the police towed away from the hotel compound. Persaud had acted in concert with her nephew Hardat Kumar of Owen Street, Kitty; Jermaine Mitchell of YY 15 North East La Penitence; Rabindra Seemangal of Lot 100 Sheriff Street; Aubrey Simon of 1414 Princes Street and Rayon Jones of Lot 2 Hardina Street, Wortmanville and they have been found guilty of the crime. Initially charged along with the five on July 15, 2011 for robbery under arms was ex-policeman Sean Hinds. It was alleged that on July 12, at Bel Air they robbed Anne Ramsood of $7.4M property of Malcolm Panday.

Another charge stated that Mitchell, Seemangal, Simon and Jones robbed Ramsood of one Blackberry curve cell phone valued at $47,000 and $380,000 cash. A separate charge against Aubrey Simon and Jermaine Mitchell stated that on July 12, they had in their 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. The accused had denied the claims but during the course of the trial Seemangal changed his plea and was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on each charge. Meanwhile, charges against ex-policeman Sean Hinds were withdrawn following recommendations coming out of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) which indicated that there was insufficient evidence to prove a case against Hinds. Following the closure of the Prosecution’s case by

Come clean on Ellington, Amnesty Int’l tells Govt. KINGSTON, Jamaica: International watchdog, Amnesty International, says there needs to be full transparency by the Jamaican Government on allegations of human rights violations by the Jamaican Constabulary Force and the reasons for the sudden departure of Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington. According to Amnesty, the refusal of the National Security Minister, Peter Bunting, to answer questions on the matter are a threat to Jamaica’s international obligations on justice, truth, and reparation for human rights violations. “This sends the wrong signal on ending impunity in Jamaica,” Amnesty International said in a statement yesterday. Responding to questions in Parliament recently, Bunting disclosed that some of Jamaica’s international partners have withdrawn support to certain units within the Jamaica Constabulary

Force (JCF) citing concerns about extrajudicial killings by members of the security force and the May 2010 policemilitary operation in West Kingston which left more than 70 persons dead. However, t h e n a t i o n a l security minister did not go into details saying certain discussions with international partners cannot be disclosed. He also deflected certain questions about the sudden retirement of Ellington cited the reasons tendered by the outgoing commissioner. Ellington had cited the ongoing investigations into alleged police death squad in Clarendon and the May 2010 Tivoli incursion as the reasons for his departure. However, Amnesty International says it is concerned about the lack of transparency in the entire affair. READ FULL STATEMENT: Jamaica must act with full transparency on allegations of human rights

violations It says this lack of transparency is particularly worrying in the context of the high rates of police killings recorded every year in Jamaica and the long-story of impunity for human rights violations committed by security forces. Amnesty International stresses that Jamaica is required by international law to respect and ensure human rights, to thoroughly investigate every violation of those rights, and to bring those suspected of criminal responsibility to justice. What Amnesty International wants Jamaica to disclose: *Any information related to allegations of human rights violations *The outcome of international investigations into the actions of the JCF *The nature of the human rights violations reported *The identity of the international partners and the recommendations they have made.

Guilty: Jermaine Mitchell 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. The court had subsequently engaged the quintet in mitigation on Wednesday. Responding to Mitchell’s request for his lawyer to mitigate on his behalf, the Chief Magistrate had remanded the convicts to prison until yesterday. During sentencing, Magistrate SewnarineBeharry stated that in addition to the factors raised during mitigation she had considered aggravating factors as well. The court revealed that it had mulled over the prevalence of armed robbery in Guyana; that a gun was used in the commission of this robbery and that threats were made to “blow-off” Ramsood’s head if she had made any sound. She said too that threats were made to shoot the children who were of tender age. Magistrate SewnarineBeharry stated that she had also considered that a lethal weapon was used and there was clear intention to use the firearm. She mentioned too that it was discharged. The court, she said, had considered that over $7M was stolen and that the lot had acted in concert: carefully planning the robbery. She stressed that it was an armed robbery planned by adults and there was a need for the courts to make it pellucid that acts of armed robberies will not be allowed. For Mitchell, she noted that it was a serious amount of cash, that he was 27-yearsold, had spent five months on remand and had previously been convicted. She gave thought also to the fact that he has one child, a minor. The court noted that Simon, who had no prior convictions, had acted with others and helped them escape. She stated that he had used fake number plates to avoid being caught and that he had spent three months as a remanded prisoner. Addressing Jones, Magistrate Sewnarine-

Guilty: Chandrada Rampersaud (Inset) as she left the courtroom Beharry said that the court had noted his role in the robbery; that he had acted as a lookout when the Panday’s home was invaded. She gave thought too that he has a pending charge before the courts for receiving stolen property but had no prior conviction as well as the fact that he had spent one month as a remanded prisoner. The Magistrate noted that he had a 6-monthold child. For Kumar, the court revealed that consideration was given to the fact that the crime was a premeditated and a “well orchestrated” plan of armed robbery. She said that Kumar was the Ramsood’s first cousin and he had breached her trust by participating in a crime which used a lethal weapon and endangered his relatives’ lives. The court noted that he was unremorseful and he had two prior convictions for perverting the course of justice as well as the fact that he had spent five and a half months as a remanded prisoner. Affixing her eyes on Rampersaud, the Chief Magistrate remarked that she was the mother of the victim and the grandmother of the two children. She said that the accused had planned the crime and placed them all at risk. She considered that Rampersaud was unremorseful and had spent 6 months on remand as well as the fact that she has a 17year-old daughter who is depending on her. The Chief Magistrate then sentenced each of the accused to four

years’ imprisonment on each of the robbery under arms charges. She instructed that those charges will run concurrently. Mitchell, who was found guilty, on firearm and ammunition charges, was sentenced to four years imprisonment; a jail term he will serve consecutively with the other. Simon she addressed as the “abscond gentleman” since he had been absent at many of the court hearings. He will serve the four years on the robbery under arms charge. In his absence, he was fined $1M and imprisonment for the charge of using false licence plates. As soon as she received the Magistrates’ ruling Rampersaud wept loudly all the way from the courtroom. She was not the only one who became emotional over the ruling. The victims were also brought to tears. Speaking with Kaieteur News, Panday and his wife told reporters that his family is still traumatized by the incident and that they are pleased that the justice system “worked this time.” Ramsood stated that she is satisfied with the Magistrate’s ruling and expressed hope that this would not be repeated with any other family. “What my mother did was very bad and that hurt me and my family.” “A mother who gave birth to children would not want to hurt them. We are still traumatized and fearful because of what happened,” she lamented.

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GINA and the right to freedom of expression The combined opposition parties in the National Assembly have over the past two years refused to approve the budgetary allocations for the Government Information Agency (GINA). The reason given for this action was the biased nature of the reporting from GINA which, in the estimation of the opposition parties, amounted to government propaganda. This charge has been repeated once again. GINA has again being accused to peddling government propaganda. But is this not the function of a government news agency? Whether it is GINA today or the Guyana News Agency or the Guyana Public Communications Agency in the past, the purpose of such bodies is to disseminate government propaganda. When the opposition parties deny funds for the operations of GINA, they are denying it resources for the very purpose for which it was created: to disseminate the views of the government. Freedom of the press involves the right to disseminate information on matters of public interest. Every citizen is entitled to receive such information. Freedom of the press also involves the right of government to freely to freely disseminate its views. To prevent or constrain a government from so doing constitutes an assault on freedom of expression, and

this is exactly what has been achieved by the denial of funds to GINA. In 1976, Justice Frank Vieira ruled that freedom of expression was pointless if you had a printer house but were denied the right to import newsprint. He was at the time ruling on the challenge made by the publishers of the Mirror newspaper against the denial of a permit to import newsprint. The logic of Justice Vieira was: what is the use of having a media house if you do not have the means to disseminate the news? That decision was subsequently overturned by the Court of Appeal in a most controversial ruling, to wit, that the denial of newsprint did not directly impact on freedom of expression. But that ruling has not been used as a precedent in other jurisdictions on matters concerning freedom of the press. The logic of Justice Vieira about the pointlessness of having a media house without resources to do its work can be applied to the situation of GINA today. The government is entitled to disseminate its views. All over the world this is an acceptable part of free expression and its derivative, freedom of the press. But if a government news agency is denied funding, how could it be expected to exercise this right. It is by this logic that the denial of resources for GINA constitutes an assault on free expression.

But for those who wish resort to Justice Crane’s decision in the appeal against the decision in the Mirror case, it is instructive to note that in a more recent judgment in Guyana’s Court of Appeal, it was held that the nonconsideration of an application for a broadcast licence constituted a violation of the right to free expression. So if not considering an application for a broadcast licence constitutes a violation of free expression, why should the denial of funding not also be similarly construed as a violation of free expression? If the government does take this matter of the denial of funds for GINA to Court, I am convinced that the opposition parties who are now assuming the right to interpret the Constitution - a right that they claim is not the prerogative of the President but strictly that of the Court will suffer another ignominious defeat. To deny funds to GINA on the basis that it is a propaganda outfit is to deny the government the right to free expression. The supporters of the government are entitled to receive the views of the government. The people of Guyana, regardless of political persuasion, are also entitled to know the views of the government. And the government is entitled to account for its stewardship by propagating its positions on matters of public interest.

To deny funds to GINA because it is peddling government propaganda is to deny the government the right to disseminate its positions. We are now told that the audited accounts for GINA have not been laid before the National Assembly for a few years. But can this lawfully constitute a basis for withholding funding for this agency? Now that the Public

Accounts Committee has found that GINA is in dereliction of its obligation to table audited accounts, should this form the basis of denying future funding for GINA? I think not. The right to freedom of expression is held so sacrosanct, that it is hard to contemplate any Court of Law justifying the withholding of funds on the grounds of lack of financial accountability.

GINA has to be accountable, but its lack of accountability cannot form the basis for denying the government the right to propagate its views.

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Friday July 25, 2014

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

To be a Guyanese East Indian in a certain context Ravi Dev and the usual suspects in the PPP leadership, and in Little Guyana in Richmond Hill, New York, have sprouted on countless occasions that I wrote that I am ashamed to be an East Indian. What was left out deliberately by Dev and Indian racists was the context. Before I go on, I need to advise the younger minds that read this column, that one of the golden rules of life is that context is everything. Without context, human action and motive have no meaning. I did say that I was ashamed to be an East Indian after the way I saw Indians voted in successive general elections. I observed that for a people who wandered all over

the globe crying to the world that the PNC Government, both under Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte, was a dictatorship that was doing horrible things to Guyanese, it was unforgivable the way they chose to either stay silent or support the PPP Government since Jagdeo came to power, right up to the present. As an East Indian I would say I have intimate access to a wide range of African Guyanese communities. I taught African Guyanese students for twenty-six years at UG. I go into African villages with my African friends and I hear what fears they have. The common thread that knits these conversations together is the bitter disappointment among

Africans on the support Indians gave to the PPP Government which, according to African Guyanese, has done worse than Burnham and Hoyte. Africans would say to me; “But Freddie, look how boisterous these people were in condemning Burnham. Where is their voice now?’ The empathy from me is there because I know what African Guyanese are talking about – I lived under both Burnham and Hoyte. I have been living under the PPP since 1992. I see the same moral turpitude of the PNC administration in the Jagdeo/ Ramotar cabals. So it comes down to this – how can an ethnic community that bore the brunt of dictatorship politics forty years ago,

accept the same type of abuse? It is in this context I say that I am ashamed to be an East Indian. I make this statement with unreserved intention. I unapologetically stand by it, particularly given what Tacuma Ogunseye said on the witness stand in the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry. The WPA stalwart recounted how he fought the Burnham regime and was incarcerated in every conceivable police station on the East Coast. These are the African Guyanese who fought against dictatorship that eventually led to free and fair elections that led to Indian acquisition of state power, and now we have reverted back to dictatorship. The missing link is the disappearance of the Indian voice. Every day, power abuse in this country affects Indian people to the core, but it seems that Indian people only wanted the removal of the PNC government from the face of Guyana, but not dictatorship itself. In this context, I repeat; I am ashamed to be an East

Indian. Guyanese Indians have a long tradition of struggle against injustice, eons before Burnham and Jagan came upon the scene. There was the BG East Indian Association. Indians spearheaded the anti-colonial protest against the shooting of the Enmore sugar workers. Indian professionals were extremely active against the Burnham regime. Indians participated in violent acts against Mr. Burnham’s Government that led to the murder of security personnel and arson on the sugar estates. Compare Jagdeo with Burnham. Compare the post1999 PPP Government with the PNC Government and the decay is graphic for any researcher to see. But what is invisible is the Indian protestor. Yes, rice farmers confronted this decay two weeks ago. But wasn’t that an isolated incident? Every dimension of power abuse affects the East Indians of Guyana, but these helpless and hapless people take it, endure it, and refuse to act. Yesterday it was the birth certificate nastiness. They

Frederick Kissoon will take it. A birth certificate is like a transport for property, a national ID card, a marriage certificate, a graduation certificate, meaning it is a life document. Why does a birth certificate have to be two years old or less when applying for a passport? Today, it is the UG fee increase. In a poor country where a majority of Indians are poor and their children are in a majority in the UG student population, why do they have to pay that enormous sum for an education at a university that has virtually collapsed? So what will it be tomorrow? Come tomorrow, there will be a policy that will hurt Indians and they will take it. Are these people, modern slaves?

Dem boys seh...

HAVE FAITH, YOUR CRIES WILL BE ANSWERED You got to have faith to continue to live a normal life in Guyana. You might want to know wha dem boys talking about. Dem mek a road today and it bruck up tomorrow. You build a stelling in de morning and by afternoon it float way; you build a bridge by morning and de next day it collapse. Dem building koker all across Guyana wheh dem don’t have canal or trench. Dem putting down water pump that can’t pump water fuh full a glass. All these projects got dem spending 15 and in some cases 50 times de actual cost to build dem. Dem go suh far fuh expand airport and spending money that can build ten airport in de region. That same airport got 69 toilet bowl and tank that cost $500,000 each. To justify that, Jagdeo and Benn seh that special people coming to Guyana and dem got to use de toilet because dem kaka special. Jagdeo and Benn justify de spending pun de airport telling de nation that dem eyeing black people from Africa. Dem boys seh that dem got some nerve, fuh sure is not balls, to tell this nation such crap, when dem can’t even bring dem own mattee black people, coolie people or buck

from we neighbouring country. Dem building fancy hotel pon taxpayers land wid de taxpayers money that will eventually end up landing in private man hand. Is all dem things force people to have faith. Dem boys know bout faith and strongly believe in it. Dem remember de story wid Abraham, and not Jagdeo close man who he knock off. This is de one from de Bible. He was way too old to have a baby, but de Creatah promise him that he would have a son. Abraham had strong faith.” He get up every morning and said, “Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You that my baby is on its way.” He kept thanking de Creatah and eventually, the promise came to pass. De same way de Creatah promise Abraham to give him a baby is de same way he promise dem boys that he will see all de Bees including de man who look like de devil, Jagdeo, Irfaat and Rob de Earth, end up in pumpkin jumpsuit. De Creatah tell Uncle Glenn and Uncle Adam, “What I started in your life I will finish.” The key is to follow Abraham’s example and praise God while you wait. Talk half and wait. It’s only time.

Friday July 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Parliament to probe Finance Minister’s excess spending - Govt. mulls options Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, has ruled that the spending of $4.5B by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh without the approval of the National Assembly has raised sufficiently serious questions to be inquired into by the Committee of Privileges. The Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, has since responded, saying that it is for the courts to decide on constitutional matters and not a Committee of Parliament. Nandlall who has responded to the Speaker’s ruling on his social media ‘facebook’ page says that the Article of the Constitution that the Finance Minister is relying on regarding the expenditure is an exception to the section that primarily deals with expenditure from the Consolidated Fund. Article 217 of the Constitution provides that no monies shall be expended from the Consolidated Fund except by way of an Appropriation Act, commonly referred to as the Budget, but Article 218 (3) (B) provides for the Minister to make an expenditure and subsequently provide the National Assembly with a Statement of Excess. It has been argued that the Minister illegally spent the money and the Alliance for Change (AFC) has lodged a formal complaint with the Guyana Police Force and the Director of Public Prosecutions over what the party deems illegal expenditure to the tune of $4.5B. Nandlall, in response to the ruling by the Speaker,

says that while he is bound to be guided by Trotman’s decision, “I do not consider myself restrained from expressing a view on the ruling, even a critical and outspoken one.” According to Nandlall, the issue raised in the Motion by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Carl Greenidge, to have the Minister committed to a Committee of Privileges, is purely a legal one. “It concerns the interpretation of several provisions of the Constitution, including Articles 217 and 218…Article 217 essentially provides when, and in what circumstances, monies can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund.” According to Nandlall, Article 218 provides for monies to be drawn from the Consolidated Fund outside of the strictures imposed by Article 217. “In short, Article 218 is but an exception to Article 217…In other words, Article 217 sets out the general rule and Article 218, the exceptions to that rule.” He contends that this is precisely why the wording of Article 218 succeeds the words of Article 217. Nandlall argues that the very two articles were examined by the Chief Justice (ag), Ian Chang in the Budget Cut case and interpreted along the same vein he is suggesting. “The Chief Justice did so in both his interim as well as his final rulings…The Speaker, the Leader of the

Opposition and all the lawyers in the National Assembly for the Opposition participated in this case, either as parties or as attorneys at law…I presume therefore that they have read the two rulings. Indeed they have appealed.” Nandlall has since argued that what has been referred to the Privileges Committee by the Speaker is hardly a matter of “privilege,” rather it is a matter of law and constitutional interpretation. “The simple truth is, that, a Member of the House cannot act in conformity with the Constitution and at the same time violate a privilege…Constitutional supremacy, which is the cornerstone upon which our constitutional democracy rests, mandates that the glories of the common law, statute law, by-laws, standing orders, rules and regulations and indeed administrative policies, must bend and bow to the provisions of the Constitution.” According to Nandlall, under the doctrine of separation of powers, the Court, and not the Privileges Committee of the National Assembly, or any other forum for that matter, is exclusively vested with the constitutional responsibility of interpreting and determining matters of law, whenever there is any controversy. He said (Speaker) Trotman has fallen into error in determining that there was a serious question of privilege and transmitting same to the Privileges Committee. Nandlall, who is the legal advisor to the Government, is

of the opinion that the Privileges Committee is without jurisdiction to deal with the matter for several reasons. He argues that the persons who will constitute the Committee will come from the membership of political parties that have an interest to serve and “have indeed said publicly that the Minister has violated the Constitution and the law; in short they have made up their minds.” Nandlall opined that it will be impossible for the Minister to get a fair hearing at the Committee. He said that the persons who will sit on this Committee are simply unqualified to determine the legal issues which will arise. He said too that,

House Speaker Raphael Trotman

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh

significantly, the very issue is sub judice, and is the subject of an appeal pending before the Guyana Court of Appeal, and therefore ought not to be the subject of any consideration, either in the National Assembly as a

whole, or in any of its Committees. As a result, Nandlall said that over the next few days, Government will be considering its options, and a resort to a legal challenge of this ruling is one of them.

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 25, 2014

Cops storm woman’s home Man gets 25 years looking for imprisoned son for sex with 8-yr-old Police descended on a South Ruimveldt home yesterday looking for a suspected robber. The problem is the individual they were seeking has been in prison for the past two months. According to the man’s mother, Diana Oxford, her son, Paul Rose, has been incarcerated at the Camp Street Prison for the last two months on a wounding charge. The woman claimed that police ranks stormed her Kiskadee Drive home early yesterday morning looking for her son. “It was 6:30am and I heard somebody banging at the gate since it was locked. When I look through the window I see a van load of policemen. They were rocking the padlock on the gate and telling me lock the dogs up and come out and open the gate.” Adding that she did as the police requested, Ms Oxford said “the police said they searching for my son because somebody say that he rob them. I told them my son has been in prison for the past two months and still is. The police started the search; running into the rooms…and even run into a room where my daughter was in her underwear. It was only

me and my three daughters in the home.” She further explained that the police checked under the beds and “all corners of the house”. “Imagine the police even ask me why I have an empty room in the house.” Ms Oxford noted that after the police left her home there was a heavily-tinted silver car (number provided) circling the area. “If a man is in Camp Street Prison, how can he be robbing a man in the night? I carrying self-support for my son in prison and police harassing me at my home; I just want the Commissioner of Police and the relevant authorities to take note of what is going on.” When asked if she made a report, Ms Oxford explained that she does not have faith in the police since a previous report was made about a shooting, where she was almost hit, and the police did not act on any information or contact her on a follow-up on the matter. “I was going out on that day and a man with an unlicenced gun was shooting at a boy, and I went to the station and nothing ever come out of the story…I just don’t want the police harassing me and my family.”

A West Coast Berbice man who took advantage of a child when she was only eight years old back in 2009 has been found guilty on the charge of Carnal Knowledge. He was jailed for 25 years by Justice Navindra Singh after he was found guilty of the crime by a mixed jury sitting in the Berbice High Court. The Hopetown Village resident, Talbert McPherson called Tally, who was 37 at the time, had been accused of committing the act between Wednesday 12th August and Thursday 13th August 2009 at No 30 Village, West Coast Berbice. The case was prosecuted by State Prosecutor Renita Singh while the accused was represented by attorney Raymond Alli. The indictment had read that the man had Carnal Knowledge of a girl under 15 years of age. The child had stated that she lived with her mother, aunt and a cousin (at No. 30 village). She knew the accused because he lived with her grandmother and aunt. On the day in question,

her mother took the two children to her grandmother’s residence to stay for the night, because she was attending a wake. Early in the night they watched a movie with her grandmother after which she and her cousin retired to bed. She was lying on a mattress with others when she saw a shadow. The light from outside was shining in the room and she recognized the person to be Talbert McPherson. He subsequently had sex with the child and left. The next day she informed her mother what took place. The matter was reported to the police and the child was taken to the hospital where it was observed that she had bruises on her vaginal wall and anus. The accused was arrested and charged. During the trial the prosecution called eight witnesses including the virtual complainant, her mother, grandmother, a doctor, and police officers Doris Williams, Detective Constable Randry Hendricks and Dwayne Harvey.

Earlier in the day, the Judge had summed up the evidence after the prosecution and defence had closed their case. The jury after their deliberations returned with a unanimous verdict of guilty. His lawyer in a plea of mitigation had stated that his client was young and was never before the court on any crime. He also begged the court to show mercy. When the accused was asked if he had anything to say by the judge, he said “Sir with all due respect I am not a violent person. I did not take a life of a person and am still in trouble. I did not do it.” Justice Singh in responding told the accused that it found the statement that he made strange. He asked the accused if he is sick and stated that he cannot imagine any person who would want to do something like that to an eight-year-old. When asked by the judge if he had ever been before the court, the accused was noncommitant, while stating “Sir these people are always after me, they always after me”. The judge then sentenced him to 25 years in jail. During the interval for deliberation, the accused was seen reading a bible and singing hymns. He and his wife both burst into tears after the verdict was read.

Friday July 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Woman’s skeletal remains found at Turkeyen The skeletal remains of a woman, with a belt wrapped around one arm, was discovered at around 17.45 hrs yesterday in a desolate, grass-filled area at Pattensen, East Coast Demerara, triggering speculation that the search for missing teacher Nyozi Goodman may have come to a grim end. Police said that the victim was lying on her back with legs spread. A canvas belt was tied around the right hand, while the left hand was missing. A pair of underwear was found near the remains. From its state, police estimate that the victim was slain at least a month ago which coincides with the time of St. Stanislaus College teacher ’s mysterious disappearance. However, police said that because of the state of the remains, investigators may have to rely on DNA evidence to make a positive identification. Undertakers from the Lyken Funeral Parlour arrived at the scene, but were then instructed to leave the corpse overnight to enable pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh to examine the remains at the spot. Police ranks were left to guard the scene overnight. Nyozi Goodman’s brother, Nestor Thompson, told Kaieteur News last night that relatives will be travelling to Georgetown today to ascertain whether they could identify the remains. Nyozi’s mother has said that she is convinced that her daughter

is still alive. Kaieteur News understands that a Rural Constable made the gruesome discovery at around 17.45 hrs when he went into the bushy area to answer a call of nature. He immediately sprinted out of the bushes, mounted his motorcycle and rode to the Sparendaam Police Station. It is unclear how the corpse remained undiscovered for such a long time, since some residents said that persons often graze cattle nearby. They all said that there was no unusual smell in the area. On Sunday, July 6, 2014, St. Stanislaus College teacher Nyozi Goodman, 34, of William Street, Campbellville, disappeared after accompanying some of her students to the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, to participate in the Inter-Secondary School Basketball Championships. After the game, Ms. Goodman reportedly told her students that she would be staying behind, as she expected someone to pick her up and take her home. No one has seen her since. Kaieteur News understands that a taxi driver admitted to taking the teacher to the Gymnasium, but denied that he had picked her up after the game. Police have repeatedly questioned the taxi driver, as well as an army rank with whom Ms. Goodman had a

relationship some time ago. They have also questioned the same taxi driver about the disappearance of Police Lance Corporal Patriena Nicholson, who disappeared in August 2009. Political activist Mark Benschop had organised a search for the missing teacher and a bag and umbrella, which relatives said may have belonged to Ms. Goodman, were discovered last Saturday in the Botanical Gardens. The Benschop Foundation has put up a $250,000 reward for information that on her whereabouts.

- Victim possibly missing teacher

Detectives at the scene last night

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Friday July 25, 2014

Friday July 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Antigua Govt. to take back land if Taxi driver accused of defrauding seamen hotel and resort fail By Caribbean Journal staff A n t i g u a ’s P r i m e Minister Gaston Browne, has signed a memorandum of agreement with Sheikh Tariq bin Faisal Al Qassimi on a $120 million hotel project, the government announced. The agreement with the United Arab Emirates-based investor was signed on Sunday after negotiations following Browne’s trip to Brazil last week. Al Qassimi signed the agreement on behalf of Al Caribi Development, which will develop a five-star branded luxury resort project on Morris Bay near the island’s famous Curtain Bluff hotel. The property will be located on a 36-acre beachfront site, the government said, five acres of which will be developed into a national park facility. The government said in a

statement; that the resort would be carried out by a joint venture company formed with the government, but that, should the project fail to perform within a specified period, the land would automatically revert to the government. “This safeguard is intended to ensure that no long drawnout court procedure is required to settle any complications resulting from non-performance,” Browne said. The government said the project was expected to break ground on its first phase within six months, following the granting of licences and architectural renderings. Al Qassimi is a member of the ruling family of the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. He is a frequent investor in private equity and other ventures. The agreement is the latest high-profile project

Antigua’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne (left) and Sheikh Tariq bin Faisal Al Qassimi s i g n e d b y A n t i g u a ’s government since taking over in the country’s national elections last month. Sharjah is the thirdlargest Emirate in the UAE. The UAE and the wider

Middle East has been ramping up its investment in the Caribbean tourism sector, most notably through Dubai-based Range Developments’ planned Park Hyatt in St Kitts.

A taxi driver accused of defrauding three sailors of over $500,000 in cash by posing as an agent capable of acquiring visas and medical certificates, has been remanded to prison. Omali Kendall of Friendship, East Coast Demerara appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday and was indicted on three counts of fraud. Police alleged Kendall obtained $220,000, $150,000 and $140,000 from Andrew McPherson, Trevor Dazzell and Trevor Paul respectively, claiming that he was in a position to acquire a visa and medical certificate enabling them to work on a cruise ship. Kendall pleaded not guilty to the allegations. The case was prosecuted by Inspector Michael Grant who did not reveal the details of the alleged fraud. He however, disclosed that the accused has a pending matter before the Cove and John Magistrates’ Court. Grant said too, that investigators attached to the Criminal Investigations Division at the Brickdam Police Station are currently probing similar matters involving the accused. The Chief Magistrate then remanded Kendall. She promised that if no further charges are brought on his next court date, she will consider bail. The case is set to be called again on July 30.

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 25, 2014

Speeding driver kills GuySuCo worker

The mangled vehicle

The life of a young factory operator of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo)’s Albion Estate, was snuffed out around 06:40 hrs yesterday on the No. 11 Public Road, East Coast Berbice, minutes after he left his residence on his way to work. Eyewitnesses say Vickram Ramlakhan, 26, of No.11 Village, was standing at the side of the road awaiting transportation when a speeding car swerved off the road and struck him down. He was picked up in an unconscious condition and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The victim sustained major head injuries. A c c o r d i n g t o information, the car, a Toyota Allion, reportedly being driven by a 19-yearold of Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, was travelling at a fast rate of speed. The driver was said to be heading towards Corentyne, on his way to Moleson Creek. It is understood that his car was behind another vehicle which he tried to overtake.

DEAD: Vickram Ramlakhan He realized late that he could not make it because a bus was almost upon him from the opposite direction. He then tried to undertake the vehicle, but a car was parked there and in trying to avoid a collision he swerved and slammed into Ramlakhan who was standing on the parapet. The impact hurled the man into the air. He landed approximately fifteen feet away from the point of impact. The car hit a lamp post and ended up in a trench. The driver reportedly stated that he decided to choose that route so as to

avoid a more serious accident. But residents believe that if the driver had been more careful the accident could have been avoided. Meanwhile, the dead m a n ’s w i f e , K a v i t a Ramlakhan, 23, was inconsolable when the media visited her at her mother’s home. Amidst tears, in a barely audible tone, the woman recalled that her husband had just left home when she heard an impact. She said she heard that there was an accident, but did not know that it was her husband. She later rushed to the scene not too far away, only to be told that it was her husband. He had already been removed and rushed to the hospital. The distraught woman said that she rushed to the hospital where she was informed that her husband had died. The couple had been married for five years and had no children. Vickram Ramlakhan was described as a jovial, friendly and hard working person. He leaves to mourn his wife, parents, two sisters and a brother. Kaieteur News understands one passenger in the vehicle received serious injuries and was hospitalised at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Friday July 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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PAHO helping to build capacity of National Reference Lab While the lack of trained professionals has limited the use of the Health Ministry’s National Reference Laboratory, moves are apace to ensure that an increased number of lab tests will be conducted at the Thomas and New Market Streets, Georgetown facility. And the realisation of this ambitious goal has already seen the local health sector gaining support from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). This disclosure was made by PA H O ’s R e s i d e n t Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow. During a media workshop held at Cara Lodge earlier this week, Dr. Adu-Krow disclosed that PAHO is prepared to lend its support towards the training of the technical laboratory personnel. The limitation of the lab was especially evident when local health authorities recently found signs of mercury poisoning in some pregnant women. Guyana was therefore dependent on the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad since the local laboratory currently does not have the capabilities to do so. “I am telling you so that

Dr. William Adu-Krow you are also aware that some of our rivers have been poisoned by the things that we throw into the rivers and around us, to the extent, that we have women and children actually beginning to show signs of mercury poisoning,” Dr. Adu-Krow asserted. Mercury poisoning is a type of metal poisoning and a medical condition caused by exposure to mercury or its compounds. Among the symptoms of mercury poisoning are sensory impairment (including vision, hearing and speech), disturbed sensation and a lack of coordination. Reports are that the type and degree of symptoms exhibited depend upon the

individual toxin, the dose, and the method and duration of exposure. He however, alluded to his belief that with training on the cards, Guyana will be able to test for mercury and even the Chikungunya virus, which was first detected here in May. Speaking to Guyana’s current inability to test for the virus, Dr. Adu-Krow said that “we have had cases of Chikungunya virus and the tests are always done in Tr i n i d a d . ” H o w e v e r, following consultations with Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, moves have been made to identify two technical workers of the laboratory to be trained to conduct the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). PCR is a biochemical technology that is used to diagnose the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), various viral infections and certain fungi. In fact, according to PAHO HIV Adviser, Dr. Rosalinda Hernandez, already support from PAHO has helped the laboratory to improve its capabilities to perform diagnosis for HIV. And according to her, moves are apace to further advance the laboratory’s testing abilities.

With plans to facilitate additional training for staffers, Dr. Adu-Krow noted that “we should be able to do everything (tests) here...so gradually I think the capacity of the lab is being built.” The doors of the lab were first opened in July 2008 as a Centre of Excellence intended to improve Guyana’s capacity in the area of clinical laboratory testing and specialised reference testing. The laboratory is outfitted with a range of testing machines, some of which are not being utilised due to the lack of skilled personnel. According to Ms. Melanie Thomas, Coordinator of the PAHO/Canadian Funding Project, which is set to come

to an end next week, funding from the project helped to facilitate servicing of the laboratory equipment. Thomas said that experts were brought in from Trinidad and Puerto Rico for the purpose of servicing the local lab’s equipment and provision was also made for the procurement of vials for testing as well. She disclosed too, that training was also catered to under this project, whereby staffers were trained to test for Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI). Moreover, Thomas noted that “in addition to critical training of staff we also looked at the equipment,” all of which are aimed at achieving the goal of improving the capabilities of the local laboratory.

National Reference Laboratory

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 25, 2014

Friday July 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

VACANCY 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 670-8893/684-2838 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 : 2272835; 227-5381 Unregistered Toyota Sienta, 7 seater car – Call: 694-2700; 681-5777 Complete door with lock & hinges, panel door, awning windows framing, car rims – Call: 226-3736 Canadian rebuilt Perkins Duetz engine, Lincoln generator welder, model M with winch, 320 excavator – Call: 691-2921 1-Caterpillar 226B skidsteer loader, 1-Caterpillar mini excavator- Contact # 2604988 or 650-0402 One double stall with overhead storage in Stabroek Market – Call: 6197925 (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

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

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 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 Individual tutoring available for CXC P.O.A in comfort of your own home – Call today for affordable rates: 688-3538

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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

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 Two men to work in poultry farm in the Interior – Contact: 627-6416

Progressive Auto Rental: Cars & SUV for rental- $4,000 & up per day- Call: 643-5122, 219-3900 ,Email:pro_ autorental @yahoo.com Wings Car Rental- Call:6906494/ BBM pin: 24E17558 Aidan’s Car Rental, Canter & Pickup- Call: 698-7807

3 Stalls in La Penitence Market- Can be sold in Single’s, also 1 double door freezer & 2 glass coolers – Contact Ameer: 695-5815 6" complete dredge - Tel: 655-2860 or 604-1075

2006 Blue Nissan Titan. Fully Loaded GSS Series. Contact: 604-6108.

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

Property at La Parfaite Harmonie - Contact: 663-4883 2 Storey wood & concrete, 3 self-contained apartments, concrete garage, yard, fence @ Shell Road E.B.D – Price negotiable – Tel: 658-5452 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

GR TAXI: 225-7878; 2271982 or 219-5000

AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms - Call: 680-3154 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; 6383045

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: 225-9032,6472943 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 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 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, washing machines, A/C units – Call Lindon: 6411086, 694-2202, 227-8907

TAXI SERVICES

Metal Scaffolding with planks – Contact: 332-5426; 603-0000; 628-8008 Baby Chicks available weekly, contact Mr. D. Lallbeharry, Craig Public Road, EBD- Tel:626-9589

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

Brand new 2 storey house in Republic Gardens - $55M, negotiable – Call: 600-6464 CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 225-7126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com

SALON

New Toyota Noah, 2 Televisions, reverse camera, rims, low mileage – Tel: 6292619, 663-2700. Owner leaving country, best offer accepted. 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 Tractor Massey Ferguson (Canada) MF135- $1.3M, MF165-$1.9M, MF265$2.1M, MF285-$2.5M Pickup - $1.7M – Call: 682-5230/ 628-9596 2004 Toyota Spacio- Back & front camera, TV/DVD/ CD, unregistered - $2.2M – Tel: 617-2891 Hummer, H2 SUT, leather, 22" rims DVD, hid, fogs, led lighting, lots / extras “make an offer” Tel: 621-4000, 227-3939

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

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 Shalom Enterprise Driving School @ 2 Croal Street, Fee $16,000- Tel:227-3869/ 6447052. “Like” us on Facebook.

MASSAGE The Gents Spa: Beautiful qualified masseuses, new attendants from Cuba & Trinidad, drinks available – Tel: 657- 5979

At Eccles Housing Scheme price $6.5M - negotiable Call:616-6000 One Transported Lot # 2004 Tuschen Housing Scheme. Tel: 665-8445

Furnished and unfurnished two bedrooms apartment & rooms in Eccles, for short or long term – Tel: 690-6494; 225-3234 1 Bedroom with toilet & bath - $25,000 @ Vreed-En-Hoop, 2 Storey 3 bedroom, toilet & bath, fence grill - $55,000 – Tel: 685-7566 Two bedroom apartment to let on E.C.D – Tel:684-8906

TO LET Bel-Air (Two bedrooms furnished apartment US750), unfurnished two bedrooms apartment @ Campbellville - $70,000 – Contact: 227-2256; 626-9382 (Continued on page 32)

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PNC needs a better economic plan - AUBREY NORTON By Latoya Giles (From page 27)

WANTED Over edge and straight stitch operator to work at Garment Factory – Call: 2222541 Monday – Friday Salesgirl/boys and porters apply in person, to Avinash Water Street 8:30 to 4:30 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

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: 2238479/ 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 Three bedrooms bottom flat for rent at Lot 123 Regent Road Bourda – Call: 226-9582 Prime business flat 100X25 (Boutique/Store/Office) @ Hadfield St. behind Brickdam Station – Contact: Simone: 626-5317; 227-0501

We buy previously used green heart wood from demolished building in Central Georgetown area – Tel: 653-4797 Handy boys to work live in accommodation and meals are free- Tel:228-5655; 6281756 Lorry drivers to work labour lorry at Enmore Estate – Tel:228-5655; 628-1756

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 3 Bedrooms apartment for rent @ Alberttown area $75,000 monthly- No parking! Two month’s Security – Contact:6137555; 225-5606

TOURS El Dorado Bus Service presents weekly summer trips to Suriname, special packages for groups/ children – Tel: 624-0622; 6145639

Former People’s National Congress General Secretary, Aubrey Norton thinks that the most critical issue to deal with if he is to become leader of the party is training. Norton in an interview with Kaieteur News said, that any political party hoping to survive the future has to be able to adapt to the present time. He said that one has to do a lot of democratic training with this generation so that they would be able to replace the existing leadership and “put it in good hands”. Norton stressed that the party needs a “proper” economic investment plan.

“The party needs to take its assets and get involved in sound and proper investment that would bring returns to the party, so that it becomes economically independent and viable.” Norton further explained that the party cannot be economically independent right now, since many parties depend on donations. He said this new feature will be an objective, if he is to become leader. “When you are in government it’s easy to get money…but when you’re not, the problem comes”. Another area which he intends to develop is social welfare and the solution of

I will restore PNCR’... From page 7 Parliament during the 10th parliament, Granger responded, “We will always have to make choices.” He pointed out that Norton has served before as an MP as well as the Party’s General Secretary during the time of the late President Desmond Hoyte. Kaieteur News asked the politician for a little insight as to what he would do differently once re-elected, Granger said that he would place a greater amount of attention on strengthening the party’s membership in doing outreaches in areas

that aren’t strongholds. He added that he would also like to expand the role of the PNC in APNU and said he plans to advocate for PNC members to do more to strengthen the threeyear-old coalition. Granger said that his theme for this Congress would be National Unity. He said that he has given up on winner-take-all politics/ exclusionary politics and is now clinging to the inclusionary approach. Granger also said that he has inclinations to support the no-confidence motion but still needs to see the text.

social problems. He emphasised that previously the PNC had focused on politics, but he would try to diversify this to include “Political, Social and Economic”. He opined that the party should be involved in economic activities to create employment for its members and supporters, while at the same time, generating income for the party. At the social level he said that they should train young people and ensure that they could give guidance at the community level to deal with the myriad social problems. “The plan has to be multidimensional, and it has to have education… health outreaches,” Norton posited. “Political parties have doctors and other professionals, the party must mobilize them and organize and give help to the community. This is for the opposition in general. You would show people you care for them and help deliver services.” Norton rubbished claims that he is a “traitor”. He said that he continues to remain confident that he will defeat current Leader David Granger. “The negative doesn’t worry me, I get my motivation from the people who believe in me and who are pushing me, the persons who are claiming that, more fit that ilk

Aubrey Norton than me. I am very confident that I will win, I think I can rely on the people to vote for me,” he said, while making it clear that any criticism coming from him was not directed against Granger’s person, but rather his policies. Norton said he is not worried about the possibility of vote-fixing and electionrigging, but assures that his supporters will be keeping a keen eye on the machinery, because “all the people’s votes must count”. “I’m not threatened at all and I believe my track record will ensure that I do well.” He boasted. Norton, a former party chairman, said that his knowledge and vibrancy in foreign policy, is also an asset for him. He promised to engage more Indo-Guyanese to ensure that the PNC’s support base is broadened. “I believe to win any general elections you need a multi-ethnic approach.” Norton boasted of an overwhelmingly strong support in all regions.

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U.S. House panel votes to authorize lawsuit against Obama Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday took another step toward authorizing a lawsuit against President Barack Obama, claiming he has overstepped his executive powers in carrying out his landmark healthcare reform law. In a partisan vote of 7-4, the House Rules Committee approved the legislation, likely setting it up for consideration by the full House next week. The Republican initiative already has spawned a bitter debate with Democrats less than four months before mid-term elections that will determine the political control of Congress next year. Any lawsuit likely would take years to wind through federal courts. While the lawsuit would focus on Obamacare, Republicans have complained bitterly about the president’s actions on several issues. For example, House Speaker John Boehner wrote in June that Obama’s use of executive orders, including raising the minimum wage for federal contractors and stopping deportations of undocumented youths brought to the United States by their parents, risked giving him a “king-like authority.” But Boehner has tamped down calls from some fellow

Republicans for impeachment proceedings against Obama, which would be a first step toward removing him from office. House Republicans in 1998 spearheaded a successful drive to impeach President Bill Clinton, also a Democrat. Clinton served out his second term, however, after the Senate acquitted him of both articles of impeachment involving perjury and obstruction of justice related to a sexual affair he had with intern Monica Lewinsky. The episode damaged Republicans politically. The lawsuit, if approved by the full House, would focus on Obama’s implementation of his landmark healthcare law, known as “Obamacare,” which Republicans have been trying to repeal for years. Republicans claim Obama went beyond his legal authority and bypassed Congress when he delayed some healthcare coverage mandates and granted various waivers. But Democrats have decried the suit as an election-year political stunt and a waste of time and money. “It’s shameful. It’s embarrassing and even the amount of time we’re spending up here in this office talking about it adds to the fact that the American people

are disgusted and have no faith in us to do anything,” said Representative Louise Slaughter, the senior Democrat on the Rules Committee. In a tense hearing that deteriorated into name-calling and bickering over unrelated matters, from the administration’s response to the attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, to a highway funding bill, Democrats demanded to know how much the suit would cost taxpayers and which congressional accounts would see cuts to pay for it. Committee Chairman Pete Sessions, a Republican from Texas, said funds would come from the House’s Office of General Counsel. He said he anticipated the suit would not require any extra appropriations, but if needed, the Appropriations Committee could transfer money from other House accounts. The committee’s Republican majority struck down amendment after amendment offered by Democrats, including one ensuring lawyers with a conflict of interest could not be involved in the lawsuit and another that would trade some Democratic support for the suit for a House vote on immigration reform.

French warplanes search Mali desert for crashed Air Algerie plane (Reuters) - French warplanes and U.N. helicopters scoured the north of Mali yesreday for the wreckage of an Air Algerie flight after it crashed carrying 110 passengers, nearly half of them French, from Burkina Faso to Algiers. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said authorities believed flight AH5017 may have encountered bad weather after the pilot requested to change direction shortly after takeoff due to a storm. H o w e v e r, h e s a i d n o hypothesis had been excluded. Officials in Mali and Burkina Faso gave conflicting accounts of locating the crash. Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said wreckage of the flight had been spotted in his country’s far north, toward the Algerian border between the towns of Aguelhoc and Kidal. However, General Gilbert

Diendere, a member of the crisis unit in Burkina Faso, said his team had found remains in southern Mali, 50 km (30 miles) from the Burkinabe border. Local authorities in the nearby town of Gossi also told Reuters the wreckage had been located here. In Paris, Fabius said the flight, carrying 51 French nationals, had probably crashed but he said two French Mirage warplanes searching the vast desert area around the northern Malian city of Gao had spotted no wreckage. “Despite intensive search efforts, no trace of the aircraft has yet been found,” Fabius told journalists. An Algerian official, who asked not to be identified, confirmed the flight had crashed but provided no other details. French President Francois Hollande cancelled a planned visit to overseas territories and said France — which has some 1,700 troops

stationed in Mali — would use all military means on the ground to locate the aircraft. “The search will take as long as needed,” Hollande told reporters. “Everything must be done to find this plane. We cannot identify the causes of what happened.” The searchers mission is complicated by the vast scale and daunting terrain of Mali. The area where the flight is suspected to have crashed is a sparsely inhabited region of scrubland and desert dunes stretching to the foothills of the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains. Much of it lies in the hands of Tuareg separatist rebels, who rose up against the government in early 2012, triggering an Islamist revolt that briefly seized control of northern Mali. The Malian government has only a weak presence in the region and relies on French and U.N. peacekeepers for aircraft and logistical support.

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Abu Bakr issues “threat” to Rowley: Govt in grand Trinidad security forces theft of state lands P O RT- O F - S PA I N , Trinidad - CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government says “ all usual systems remain in place to deal with any or all threats to public safety” after the leader of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen group, Yasin Abu Bakr, said he was not prepared to “accept” security forces entering a mosque during the holy month of Ramadan. Bakr, who lead an unsuccessful coup against the then ANR Robinson administration on July 27, 1990, said he was prepared to “respond appropriately” if the security forces continue “this transgression against us…end of talk.” But in a statement issued late on Wednesday night, the Ministry of National Security said that regarding the public statements made by Bakr, it was advising citizens “that while there is no evidence of any threat, all usual systems remain in place to deal with any or all threats to public safety and security. “These measures are part of the nation’s upgraded defence mechanisms which remain in place on an ongoing basis,” the Ministry said in its statement. Bakr’s outburst during a radio programme here on Wednesday night followed .what he claimed was the unlawful detention of people at a mosque in Carapo, south of here earlier this week. Bakr warned acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams, National Security Minister Gary Griffith and Roger Alexander, head of the North Eastern Division Task Force that “the question of coming into the mosque in Ramadan and detaining people unlawfully will not, and I repeat will not be

Yasin Abu Bakr accepted. “Big man Alexander, if you think you can do whatever you want and you are not accountable to God, Mr Commissioner of Police, Mr Griffith, this is Abu Bakr, I am saying if you continue this transgression against us, we will respond appropriately, end of talk.” The police said they had detained 18 people, including Rajaee Ali, the coordinator of the controversial LifeSport programme here that Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has removed from the Ministry of Sport and placed under the Ministry of National Security. She has also asked for an audit into the multi-million dollar programme. Police said that the 18 people were detained for a variety of offences, including an alleged kidnapping of two Latin American tourists four months ago. Earlier this month, two of Ali’s brothers were arrested by members of the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit. Two other men affiliated with the mosque were also detained. They were later released without charge. Ali, a former murder accused, was arrested in May

soon after the murder of prominent senior counsel, Dana Seetahal, who was killed on May 4. He was released without any charges being laid against him. Police said then he was not a suspect in that killing and Ali has said he did not kill Seetahal. Bakr said he intends to meet with senior police and national security officials yesterday, noting that those detained during the police exercise on Tuesday had not yet been charged. Williams had earlier defended the police action, saying that the arrests were lawful. At least 24 people, including one government legislator, Leo Des Vignes, were killed when Bakr led 114 members of his Muslim group in coordinated attacks on the Parliament and the Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT) station in his attempt to overthrow the then government After six days of negotiation, the insurgents surrendered on August 1, and were taken into custody. They were tried for treason, but the Court of Appeal upheld the amnesty offered to secure their surrender, and they were released. The London-based Privy Council, the country’s highest court, later invalidated the amnesty, but the Muslimeen members were not re-arrested. A number of people including former prime minister Basdeo Panday has testified before a Commission of Inquiry probing the events that led to the insurrection. Bakr, 72, has in the past refused to testify before the Commission citing an ongoing case against him in the High Court.

Venezuela says ex-intelligence head arrested in Aruba CARACAS (Reuters) Venezuela’s former military intelligence chief, accused of involvement in drug trafficking by the United States, was arrested on a Caribbean island while on diplomatic business, the South American country said in a sternly worded statement yesterday. “The government rejects the illegal and arbitrary detention of the Ve n e z u e l a n d i p l o m a t i c official,” said the foreign ministry statement announcing the arrest of Hugo Carvajal on the nearby island of Aruba. According to local

media, Venezuela had been trying to accredit Carvajal as consul to its diplomatic mission on Aruba, a former Dutch colony which now has autonomy but remains part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Ve n e z u e l a blamed Dutch authorities for the arrest of Carvajal, who ran military intelligence between 2004 and 2009 during the government of late socialist leader Hugo Chavez. Local media said Carvajal was arrested on Wednesday night and was due to be flown to the United States, where he is

wanted on suspicion of drug crimes and helping Colombia’s Marxist FARC guerrillas. “ Ve n e z u e l a has activated all diplomatic mechanisms to correct this grave violation of i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w, ” t h e statement said, calling on the Netherlands to free Carvajal or face a “deterioration” in relations. Neither U.S. nor Dutch diplomats in Caracas could be immediately contacted for further information or comment on the case. Thursday was a national holiday in Venezuela.

Trinidad Express Government has given away 100 acres of prime land in Tucker Valley to a former Congress of the People (COP) candidate without the approval of Cabinet, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley said on Tuesday night. Speaking at a People’s National Movement (PNM) political meeting on Tuesday night at the Massy Stores car park in St Augustine, Rowley said the same individual had previously received 100 acres of Caroni land. “The biggest theft that is taking place in this country is the mishandling of State land. You all (the population) have no idea how this Government, in four years, has given away billions of dollars of State lands,” Rowley said. He said Government was giving portions of land to its “business friends” and it started at Caroni and the policy had now reached Chaguaramas. Rowley said he was told by the recipient of the largesse he had just received 100 acres of land in Tucker Valley. “And I wanted to know how did this happen. I repre-sent thousands of

people in Diego Martin, Carenage, L’anse Mitan who would love to get a plot of land,” Rowley said. “I filed a question in the Parliament because the recipient had the gall to write me and tell me that he has received this and I must recruit workers for him (in my constituency), the same people who have been denied process and access to opportunity to have a half-acre or a 10,000 square foot, they must now go and work on his 100 acres because some people see us

forever as hewers of wood and drawers of water. “So I asked the Government when did the Cabinet approve that because as a minister of longstanding and with responsibility for the CDA (Chaguaramas Development Authority) in the past, I know that any lease of CDA land requires the approval of the Cabinet,” Rowley said. Rowley said the Government “danced, hid, jumped, ran” but eventually had to answer his question two Fridays ago.

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Thousands of Barbadians march Venezuela mortgaged another $4 in protest against solid waste tax billion of its oil exports to China Some of those marching yesterday morning. (Ricardo Leacock)

Xi Jinping and Nicolás Maduro

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC - Thousands of Barbadians took to the streets yesterday to protest against the imposition of the Municipal Solid Waste Tax. The midday march, led by Mia Mottley – leader of the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) ended outside the office of Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart, where she delivered a letter of protest on behalf of people across the island. “Today is about sending a message to the government about this bad

Solid Waste Tax that they need to repeal and rethink,” Mottley said before proceeding to Prime Minister Stuart’s office. “The people of Barbados have spoken across the length and breadth, that we’ve had 27 other taxes and fees imposed on us in the last six years. We can take no more.” “This march is for the repeal of the Solid Waste Tax. This march is for a new government mechanism that allows us…as Bajans not to be surprised by a tax, not to be unfaired [sic] by a tax.

“But we say we know we are in trouble as a nation. Talk to your people Freundel, and let us work with you. “And if you cannot talk to your people and let us work with you, do the decent thing and step one side.” This new tax was announced last year with a sweeping .03 per cent charge on the site value of real estate property across the island, but there have been widespread complaints about the financial burden it places on residents.

Warner to pay $220,000 in defamation suit Trinidad Express - LEADER of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Jack Warner, was yesterday ordered to pay Councillor in the Chaguanas Borough Corporation Faaiq Mohammed $220,000 in damages, after he accepted liability for accusing the young politician of corruption following last year’s Local Government Elections. In addition to the award of damages, Warner was also ordered to pay Mohammed’s legal cost in the sum of $42,000. The judgement was handed down at the

Hall of Justice in Port of Spain yesterday afternoon by High Court judge Justice Vashiest Kokaram. In the judgement, Kokaram said given that Warner had accepted liability for making the statements, it was clear that Mohammed was falsely accused of being corrupt. The allegations made by Warner came after Mohammed after he voted for the United National Congress’ (UNC) candidate for the post of presiding officer at the first meeting of the Chaguanas Borough Corporation.

Mottley fails to meet PM Barbados Nation OPPOSITION LEADER Mia Mottley has described as “utter folly” that she was greeted by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart’s driver Sergeant Glen Bradshaw when she went to deliver a letter following the protest march through Bridgetown. Mottley made the comments to the media after waiting for ten minutes in her

unsuccessful attempt to hand-deliver her protest letter to Stuart. The Opposition Leader, accompanied by some of her parliamentary colleagues and Barbados Labour Party (BLP) general secretary Dr Jerome Walcott, were met by Sergeant Bradshaw at Government Headquarters. She explained that after waiting and being told that

they would be met by a permanent secretary, the group decided to leave the Bay Street headquarters of Government following the hour-long march and brief rally. According to Mottley, she was there as a representative of the people of Barbados and expressed dissatisfaction with the way the Opposition representatives were treated.

Chinese president Xi Jinping pledged $4 billion in loans to Venezuela while visiting president Nicolás Maduro this week. The agreement will raise Caracas’s existing debts to Beijing by almost 25%, to over $20 billion—money that the country may find it increasingly difficult to repay. China has lent its South American partner more than $40 billion since 2008 to help Caracas shore up its ailing economy, which is expected to slip into a recession this year and has suffered from shortages ranging from medicine to toilet paper. Venezuela has been paying that money back mostly with oil, but that is getting harder to do. Every day, about 500,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil are exported to China, half of which go to pay off the country’s loans from Beijing. As of last month, outstanding debt totaled $17 billion, according to Venezuela’s vice president for the economy. The Maduro administration

plans to pay off the additional loans by producing and exporting more oil—an additional 100,000 barrels (paywall) a day. Venezuela sits on the world’s largest proven oil reserves. But Venezuela has had trouble meeting production targets in the past, and production has been falling over the past decade, in part because of strikes in 2002-03 and the government reinvesting less in the industry. Output of petroleum and other liquids and condensates has fallen to 2.49 million barrels a day last year, from a little under 3 million in 2004, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s estimates. This has meant Venezuela has had to cut back on its shipments and sales to other major markets, namely the United States. Last year, Venezuela’s state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela sent more oil to Asia than North America for the first time, with sales to Asia rising 11% while sales to North America,

mainly to the US, alling 12%. In April, Venezuelan oil exports to the US were at the lowest point in 18 years. “Sales to China may be increasing,” Fernando Sanchez, vice president of the Society of Venezuelan Petroleum Engineers told Bloomberg that same month. “But the company doesn’t earn money from them. The US is where they sell oil for money.” So far, Sino-Venezuelan ties seem as stable as when Hugo Chávez, an ally of Beijing’s, was still leading the country. Aside from an embarrassing rendition of Venezuela’s national anthem, Xi’s state visit to Caracas went on without a hitch. The two state leaders signed about 38 economic agreements, deals to explore mining reserves, expand public transport, and launch another Venezuelan satellite. But with an increasing amount of Venezuelan oil going to repay its debts to China, the relationship may not stay unstrained for long. (Quartz from RSS)

Jump-starting Japan relationship Trinidad Guardian - Next week’s visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Port-of-Spain—on the second leg of a fivenation tour of Latin America and the Caribbean—certainly cements T&T’s place as the diplomatic capital of the region. The Japanese Prime Minister, who is visiting Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Brazil, along with T&T, from today to August 2, is making an historic first trip by a Japanese leader to T&T. Prime Minister Abe’s visit to T&T will obviously be seen in the context of the visits here

last year by Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice President Joe Biden. But the real background to T&T’s leadership role—as the medium through which the world speaks to the 15 members of Caricom—is the hosting here in 2009 of the Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Another signal of T&T’s leadership role was the fact that several Caribbean leaders accepted the T&T Prime Minister’s invitation to accompany her on the CAL aircraft to the funeral last year of South Africa’s Nelson

Mandela. The fact that world leaders come to Portof- Spain when they want to talk to the Caribbean should not be used by Trinidadians as a source of cheap, chestbeating, oneupmanship over our regional brothers and sisters. Instead, in her talks with Prime Minister Abe, Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar ought to embrace the role as the region’s goto leader by leveraging the renewed relationship with Japan to assist in the improvement of the economies of our Caribbean neighbours first.

Friday July 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

NSC reneges on decision to honor GABF’s authority From page 43 Basketball Federation (FIBA), which is recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC); FIBA is represented in Guyana by the GABF. GABF makes the following declaration: All basketball coaches, officials, referees and players are asked not to participate in the 2014 basketball component of the IGG. Any participation by coaches, officials, referees or players will be subject to disci-

plinary action from the GABF. In addition, those who participate will likely not be supported by GABF for scholarships or participation in clinics, workshops and tournaments in Guyana or overseas. Sponsors are respectfully requested not to play any role in undermining the opportunities for our youths through basketball. Parents and Head Teachers of Schools are hereby asked to ensure that extramural basketball

activities obtain the approval of the GABF before having their kids participate in such activities. Under the statues of the GABF and by extension FIBA, the approval of GABF is required for any basketball related activities including clinics, workshop and tournaments in Guyana or the use of any affiliated member/s to participate in basketball activities outside of Guyana. Such approval has not been given to the NSC or any entity appointed by the NSC.”

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Many of your personal goals have either been met or are in the process of manifesting, Taurus. This has you feeling exhilarated. However, others around you might have their hands out. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) More confirmation of career and business success could come your way today, Gemini. You're probably feeling excited and motivated to keep pushing ahead. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Success on all levels is filling your life and making you feel absolutely wonderful, Cancer. The downside of this is that you might be a little too conscientious. Are you putting in a lot of extra hours? LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication are now paying off for you financially, Leo. New opportunities could be opening up for you to profit from your artistic talents VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) People close to you might be a bit worried about you, Virgo. Too much work and socializing might have you feeling a bit less than your usual self, perhaps even a little feverish and headachy. If so, this is a good day to take some time out, stay home, and get some rest.

Demerara Life Golf tournament on tomorrow at Lusignan Much excitement is anticipated when the nation’s golfers converge at the Lusignan Golf Course (LGC) tomorrow for the annual Demerara Mutual Life sponsored tournament. Tee off time set for 12:30hrs. Last year, it was Brian Hackett, Maurice Solomon and William Walker who copped the first three positions in that order with Fazil Haniff taking the Nearest to the Pin and William Walker, the Best Gross. But this year promises to be even keener as more players will be in contention along with the introduction of flights in the play which

means male golfers are grouped in three categories by their handicaps. Handicaps 0 to 9 are in one Flight, handicaps 10 to 18 another Flight, and handicaps 19 to 28 the third Flight. Playing by Flights increases the competitiveness of the game and the demands on the players to perform at a higher standard. While handicaps are an advantage given to players, grouping those advantages in similar categories places more work on the golfers to excel in their categories. National open competitions in the Caribbean and South America are played by

Flights. Depending on the number of ladies in the game the female Flights are arranged slightly differently. While about 10 females practice at the LGC, only four compete regularly. So the ladies have a special group. Club President, David Mohamed has expressed confidence that the growing enthusiasm of players in the game is going to contribute to a refreshing day’s play which can even result in some new records. The public is invited to view the competition which can last between four to five hours.

Cricket for Unity T20 match put off until September

Friday July 25, 2014 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Recent spiritual breakthroughs might have you feeling both exhilarated and downcast. Your sensitive side tells you that this is a definite step forward on your spiritual path, but your logical side might cause you to doubt the reality of it.

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LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) All continues to go well personally and professionally, Libra. You're feeling strong and vigorous, but you might find that you're a bit vague today. Your mind may not have its usual acuity, and you could be easily distracted. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your high from your recent successes could have you wanting to go crazy purchasing luxury items you didn't feel were practical before, Scorpio. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Not only your own success but that of members of your household could have you on a real emotional high today, Sagittarius. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Today may prove to be one of your busiest in a long time, Capricorn. The promise of continuing success could find you spending a lot of time on the phone, sending faxes or emails, or perhaps making a few short trips around the community. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Business and financial successes have you feeling happy and satisfied, Aquarius. You're also looking forward to moving ahead. The downside of this period is that people who aren't particularly trustworthy could decide to grab your coattails for their own purposes. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) As your career dreams continue to unfold, Pisces, you may find that there is a downside. First, there are new responsibilities and you might doubt your ability to fulfill them.

Organisers of the inaugural Cricket for Unity T20 match have advised that the game will be played in the month of September on a date to be decided. Constant rain was responsible for the game being moved from its original date of July 5 at the DCC ground to July 26, today. But

due to the current Regional Under-19 tournament, the organisers have been forced to seek a new date for the game. Chairman of the Organising Committee, Dexter Garnett informed that the players for the two teams, Roraima Strikers and Kaieteur Thunders are eager to get into

the middle to show off their skills but will have to wait a bit longer for the game to come off. He also disclosed that corporate entities who have contributed to the game so far are assured that the game is on and all would be informed in due course of the new date.

GSCL Inc. to honour Ramsarran with T20 game The Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc. will host a T20 softball game tomorrow at Thirst Park in honour of Royston Ramsarran who is one of the founding members of the Guyana Softball Association. The game will commence at 17:00hrs and will be played between Mike’s XI and Don’s XI. The game will be followed by two exhibition ten-over matches with the first between Regal XI and Speed Boat XI while the second features Trophy Stall and Omesh XI.

Meanwhile, Mike’s XI will be led by Rickey Deonarine and includes Mike Singh, Richard Persaud, Ramesh Sunich and Khalid Baldeo while Mahendra Hardyal will captain Don’s XI made up of

Mahendra Arjune, Longsford Klass, Mahase Chunilall, Mohamed Rafeek and Troy Kippins. Trophies for the games have been donated by Trophy Stall, Bourda Market.

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Kaieteur News

Basketball back on Burnham Court - GABA hosts ‘Trifecta’ tournament Basketball will return to the Burnham Basketball Court this weekend when the Georgetown Amateur Basketball As s o c i a t i o n (GABA) hosts its ‘ Tr i f e c t a ’ To u r n a m e n t , beginning at 18:00hrs tomorrow with Colts taking on Republic Bank Nets. Game two will feature Plaisance Guardians

against Buxton Heat while Eagles play Pepsi Sonics in the third encounter of the night. Trinity Grid Holdings Pacesetters will play Melanie Patriots in the feature game of the night at the outdoor venue. “ I t ’s a p r i v i l e g e t o bring back basketball to the Burnham Basketball Court this weekend, which

will be played under new lights or generated light towers,” a release from the GABA indicated yesterday. The weekend will also feature two senior exhibition games, which are scheduled for Sunday at the same venue. Nets will play Colts and Pacesetters will combat Sonics in those first division games.

Friday July 25, 2014

EBFA Stag Beer Senior and CULT U-17 Leagues to resume this weekend Following weeks of inactivity due to rain, football action is set to resume of the East Bank this weekend with play in the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Stag Beer senior league and CULT Under17 competitions. Players have been eagerly awaiting the re-start of action and fans are equally excited to see the teams in competition mode again. Tomorrow, the Under-17 players will take centre stage with

two matches scheduled for the Grove ground. Herstelling, led by National Under-17 Goalkeeper Qauzim Yusuf who is expected to be back from the Dominican Republic today will take on Agricola in the day’s feature match from 15:30hrs. Opening play at 13:30hrs will see Kuru Kururu Warriors coming up against Timehri

Panthers. On Sunday at the same venue, the senior boys will come into focus when two potentially exciting matches will be contested. Opening at 13:00hrs will be Timehri Panthers and Diamond United with the main game at 15:00hrs bringing together Agricola and Grove Hi Tech.

Paul’s 89 denies... From back page sharp bouncer from Louis, who bowled with good pace on a last day track that seemed to get faster as the match progressed, just out of the reach of the keeper in the next over and got another boundary. The West Indies Under19 left-hander from Berbice, who played his only FirstClass match this year, impetuously slashed at a wide delivery from Louis and was taken at gully for 14 to leave Guyana on 23-1 in the fourth over. Brian Sattaur who struggled tactically as a Captain, joined Chanderpaul and the pair, peppered by a barrage of short balls from Louis and Joseph, took the score to 51 before the usually sound Chanderpaul (15) played an expansive drive at Joseph and was bowled off the inside edge six minutes before Lunch. At the interval Guyana were 51-2 with Sattaur on 14 and Baldeo yet to score, the South Americans still 20 away from wiping off the deficit. After the interval another spattering of spectators saw Sattaur (18) push tentatively to one that turned from Shaquille Martina and was caught at slip before Baldeo (4) failed to make the most of being dropped at gully and edged Joseph to second slip next ball, to leave the home team on 61-4. Ramcharran was joined by Essequibian Kemo

Paul since Askay Homraj who made 62 in the first innings could not bat due to a leg injury sustained while fielding. Ramcharran and the attacking Paul carried their team to 92 before Ramcharran (8) played a big booming drive at Archibald and was caught at second slip. Paul clipped Bussue for his ninth boundary to post his half-century just before Tea to ensure that Guyana did not join Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados as first round losers. By Tea, the Guyana lead was 66 and their score 138-6 with Paul on 51 and Savory on seven. After the break Paul continued to put away anything loose and along with Savory, added 103 for the seventh wicket. However, Paul was bowled by Bussue after batting for 123 balls, 170 minutes and striking 15 fours at 211-7 while Savory fell without any addition to the score to spark a lower-order collapse which saw four wickets tumble for three runs. Guyana collected 8.1 points while the Leewards got 8.8 points. The young Guyanese will now face the Windwards in their next match at Everest while the Leewards oppose defending champions Jamaica at DCC; both games are tomorrow. Matches commence at 10:00hrs and admission is free.

Scorching affairs... them, while another team from the hinterland Annai also fell victim to them so counting them out could prove to be a risky choice. Marlon Nicholson, who netted a double in the previous game and Adrian Pryce are both solid players capable of turning a game on its head. In the other affair, Waramadong are the clear favourite to make it to the championship stage and this billing must have been heightened after their impressive performance against Leonora who they beat 4-0. Myles Albert is a class above the rest and their chances rest squarely on his

shoulders, while Ashton Ward and Reyon Naughton will have to continue their support in search of goals. BV has made it this far in a rather low keyed fashion, managing to keep under the radar in terms of high expectations, but their win over St. George’s have now catapulted them into focus so Wramadong should be careful not to take them lightly. Paul Kingston was the player who placed the dagger in St. George’s and they will once again be relying on him to get past their opponents. In effect, both semifinals should be scorching affairs as predicted.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 25, 2014

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Guyanese trio off to FIFA FUTURO 111 Instructors Course Refereeing in the Caribbean and CONCACAF continues to be the focus of constant development. It is an area that the world governing body, FIFA invests millions of dollars to ensure that its officials are well trained and up to par as their eyes and ears on the field of

play. In keeping with development, FIFA is hosting a FUTURO 111 Instructors Course that will attract all the CFU and CONCACAF instructors in Montego Bay Jamaica; the course starts today and will end July 30. Fitness Instructor, Trevor

Nibali wins Stage 18, closes in on Tour victory Vincenzo Nibali

Argeles-Gazost, France (AP) - Vincenzo Nibali crushed everyone on the last mountain leg of the Tour de France yesterday, all but ensuring he will be crowned champion when the race ends in Paris in three days. On the last big climb of Stage 18, the Italian broke out of the peloton, chased down breakaway riders, and rode solo in front for the last eight kilometers (five miles) uphill. Nibali, who captured his fourth stage of the Tour, stuck out his tongue, tapped his chest, and raised a fist skyward as he finished the 145.5-kilometer (90-mile) leg more than a minute ahead of Thibaut Pinot of France, who was second. Rafal Majka of Poland, in third, was another two seconds back. The remarkable effort by Nibali, who was on track to become the first Italian to win the Tour since Marco Pantani in 1998, essentially made the real race drama about who will join him on the podium on the Champs-Elysees on

Sunday. While three stages left, today’s is mostly flat and unlikely to allow a breakaway rider to gain time. The last real challenge will be tomorrow’s individual time trial, but Nibali’s lead is so big — 7:10 ahead of Pinot and 7:23 ahead of France’s JeanChristophe Peraud — that it would take a disaster for him to lose the yellow jersey before Sunday. The race for second heated up: Alejandro Valverde of Spain lost crucial seconds on the last climb and fell from second overall to fourth. But he is considered the strongest time-trial rider among the three main aspirants for the podium, including Pinot and Peraud. After setting off from Pau, riders tackled the famed Tourmalet pass — the highest Pyrenean peak on this Tour — before heading up to Hautacam ski station. Both climbs are among the toughest in professional cycling.

Master’s athlete in action this weekend Fifty-five-year-old athlete, Llewellyn Gardner, is set to replicate his recent winning performances in the Telefur 10K meet in neighboring Suriname, where he dominated the 55-60 years category when he competes in a 5K race scheduled for the inner circuit of the National Park on Sunday. The race starts at 16:00hrs and athletes are advised to register early. Mr. Gardner said that all registered clubs are eligible to take part.

Beckles along with Technical Instructors Abdula Hamid and Ingram Johnson are the Guyanese attending the course; this is their second course and they have pledged to continue the development of referees in Guyana.

Guyanese Referee Instructors from right, Trevor Beckles, Abdula Hamid, Ingram Johnson.

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 25, 2014

Regional U-15 50-over tourney

Bookie, Sinclair guide Guyana to 44-run win over Barbados; T&T and Winwards also win

Middle order batsman Alphius Bookie stroked a fine half century and spinner Kevin Sinclair grabbed 4-38 from 10 overs as Guyana defeated Barbados by 44 runs in their second round game of the Regional U-15 50-over tournament yesterday in Jamaica. Bookie slammed seven fours in his top score of 65 off 108 balls to lead his team to a commanding 227-7 off 50 overs after they decided to bat at Melbourne. Openers Bhaskar Yadram and Joshua Persaud set the tone for the Guyanese with sensible batting. Yadram cracked 36 (6x4)

from 70 balls while Persaud reached the boundary five times in a brisk 28. Ashmead Need supported with 24 (5x4), Kurt Lovell 19 (3x4) and Kevin Sinclair 16 and extras contributed 30. Shakee Marshall was the pick of the bowlers with 2-26 from five overs. Barbados threatened somewhat, but were restricted for 181-8 from their allotted overs in reply. Shian Brathwaite and Nico Reifer gave them a bright start with Brathwaite hitting four fours and one six before he retired hurt on 45 after facing 85 balls. Reifer was caught and bowled by Sagar

Hetheramani for 36 (5x4). The Bajans were then pegged back by steady bowling from Kevin Sinclair who trapped Jadan Jones LBW for 2 before he had Joshua Corbin caught and bowled for 15 and Joshua Bishop stumped by Christopher Campbell for 12. Camarie Boyce and Micah Thornhill chipped in with 13 and 10 respectively. Collin Barlow supported Sinclair with 2-41 and Hetheramani 1-32. At Kensington Park, Trinidad and Tobago led by 152 from opener Chrystian Thurton hammered Leeward Islands by 209 runs. Thurton slammed eighteen fours and one six off

141 balls and got valuable support from Brandon Singh 59 and Navin Bedaisse with an even half century. Jerrilious Louis claimed

3-53 and Marcus Duberry had 2-55. Leeward Islands replied with 112-7 in 30.2 overs in response to T&T’s 321-6 from 50 overs; three of

their batsmen were unable to bat due to injuries. Joshua Grant scored 46; Avinash Mahabirsingh picked up 2-6 and Justin Gangoo 2-20.

NECC to hostone week camp The North Essequibo Cricket Committee (NECC) as part of its mandate will be conducting a one week cricket camp under the guidance of Level 11 Coach Elroy Stephney. The camp will cater for youths between the ages of 13-19 and will educate participants on the basic skills of batting, bowling and fielding. They will also be exposed to the laws of the game which will be imparted to them by qualified Umpires. Social and educational sessions will form part of the programme. The target areas will be from Reliance to Devonshire Castle

with the camp scheduled to begin on Monday. The NECC is encouraging youths to attend so that they can become better players. After the camp, matches will be held for the players to ascertain their level of preparedness and grasp of the game. Meanwhile, President of the East Coast Cricket Board and former Vice President of the Guyana Cricket Board Bissoondyal Singh has donated two helmets to the committee. Interested persons can contact Coach Elroy Stephney on 621 8484 or Prince Holder on 627 6990 for further details.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 25, 2014

DSFC Semi Final Stage

Christianburg/Wismar cautiously optimistic of retaining title By Michael Benjamin Approximately six weeks of gripping and entertaining football is coming to an exciting climax as the four top teams battle for a place in the finals when two semi-final encounters of the Digicel Schools’ Football Championship get underway this afternoon at different venues. Defending champions, C h r i s t i a n b u r g / Wi s m a r Secondary will clash with Betterverwagting Secondary School at the latter institution’s Community Centre Ground while over in Berbice, Bushlot Secondary will face off with Waramadong Secondary at the Burnham Park, New Amsterdam. The competition has indeed been stiff as teams from schools countrywide battled ferociously in matches held in almost all of the ten regions. C h r i s t i a n b u r g / Wi s m a r Secondary has had the distinction of winning all of the preceding versions of the tournament and they are just as confident of replicating the feat this year. To date the Linden based team has played four matches in this edition and started their trek to championship honours with a scathing 8-0 drubbing over Linden Foundation. Their second victim, New Silver City Secondary, went down 2-0 before they also disposed of Mackenzie High and Vryman’s Ervin 4-2 and 8-0 respectively. Yesterday afternoon, the players were hard at work on the Guyana Defense Force Ground, honing their skills f o r t h i s a f t e r n o o n ’s encounter under the watchful eyes of their coaching team comprising Anthony Stephens and Delon Peters and both principals are confident of retaining the title once again. “My ultimate goal is to win the championship but I am taking this tournament one game at a time; my primary aim at this moment is to take care of Betterverwagting (Secondary School)” declared Coach Stephens when asked for a prediction. He said that he has prepared his men to the hilt and is confident that they will ‘bring home the bacon.’ “I am eagerly looking forward to this afternoon’s game and

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Back to back losses is what is motivating us - head coach Semifinalists Waramadong Secondary School seen during a practice session yesterday at Camp Ayanganna ground.

Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary coaches Anthony Stephens and Delon Peters just after wrap ping up a training session yesterday afternoon anticipate a keen battle,” he said. Last year when the Linden based institution clashed with Waramadong Secondary in the finals at the Police Sports Club, Eve Leary, they had trailed for the larger part of the game but had staged a remarkable comeback after registering two quick goals, the equalizer and then the decider. Several of the players that had participated in that match are now past the age of eligibility yet Coach Stephens remains confident that his charges are capable of retaining the spoils. “We have lost our captain, Benny Neblett and a potent right back, Romain Adams as well as the dependable Marmalaque Davidson but to my mind the replacements could more than suffice,” a confident coach Stephens pronounced. He said that strikers, Donovan Francis and Shane Luckie are quite capable of doing the job and will receive support from Jahshawn Moore and Ezra Ashby. He further said that Keyshawn Dey, one of last year’s point men, will be shifted from defense into the central midfield position. Coach, Delon Peters, feels that the tournament is a good one and tipped his hat to Digicel for their efforts to promote youth football. He said that the quality of the tournament has improved remarkably and visualizes continued progress over the coming years. “This tournament has

made our school a household name and our victory has had a ripple effect on the entire sports department,” said Coach Peters. He also said that their winnings, which were to be used for an identified project has been channeled into the rehabilitation of the field as well as equipment for other sport disciplines. “We are a sports oriented school and the input of Digicel has served to strengthen that department,” he said. Pressed to predict the outcome of this tournament Coach Peters cagily said, “We are keeping one eye on today’s game and another on the finals.”

Having lost twice in as many final appearances, Waramadong Secondary School head coach Louie Thomas is using those setbacks as motivation to go all the way in this year’s Digicel Schools Football Competition. Thomas made this disclosure to Kaieteur Sport following the completion of the team’s final practice session yesterday, at the Camp Ayanganna ground. The head coach said they were extremely disappointed not to win at least one of the two finals they appeared in, but was using that to

motivate the team which according to him was a very young one with only two players returning from last year’s squad. The two players are Myles Albert and goalkeeper Gerald Isaacs, who have been with the team from the start of the tournament. Quizzed on what the session was about, Thomas disclosed that they worked on stringing together passes and playing as a unit. “The team is a young one and fairly new to the tournament, but the encouraging thing about them is that they are enjoying playing together and are

m o r e c o n f i d e n t n o w, ” Thomas said. Asked what could make the difference this time should they make the final, Thomas pointed to the previous losses as the motivating factor that makes them want to reach the top this time. He mentioned how impressed he was with the team spirit which according to him is the reason they’ve made it this far. Waramadong will face Beterverwagting Secondary School today, at the BV Community Centre ground from 15:30 hrs.

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 25, 2014

Afghanistan thrashed Zimbabwe McCatty, Morris lead Jamaica to win by 100 runs to draw ODI series Afghanistan thrashed Zimbabwe by 100 runs in Bulawayo to draw their oneday international series 2-2. It was only the third win over an International Cricket Council full member by Afghanistan, who were taking part in their first bilateral one-day series against a Test-playing side. Shafiqullah top scored with 56 as the Afghans were bowled out for 259. A huge win was in prospect as Zimbabwe slumped to 29-6 but despite a late rally, they were dismissed for 159. Zimbabwe keeper Richmond Mutumbami hit a valiant 64 on his ODI debut at number eight when the hosts looked in danger of being skittled for well under 100. But he fell to teenage spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf, who took 3-29 as Zimbabwe were bowled out with 12 overs to spare. Earlier, seamer Donald Tiripano took a career-best 5-63 for Zimbabwe but it was Afghanistan who will be celebrating after losing the first two matches but

Afghanistan’s players celebrate a wicket during a one-day match against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. (AFP Photo/Jekesai Njikizana) coming back to square the series. Afghanistan, whose national team was formed in 2001, have now recorded three wins over full members this year, following their historic victory against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in March. They are due to take part in their first World Cup next year, which is being staged in Australia and New Zealand in February and March.

Their progress bodes well for the future after the ICC introduced a play-off system earlier this year which will, eventually, give the top-ranked associate member such as Ireland, Afghanistan or Scotland the chance to play Test cricket against the lowest-ranked Test side - likely to be Zimbabwe or Bangladesh. (BBCsport) Afghanistan 259 (49.1 overs) beat Zimbabwe 159 (38 overs) by 100 runs.

Georgetown, Guyana – Purposeful half-centuries from opener Odaine M c C a t t y a n d wicketkeeper/batsman Romaine Morris propelled double-crown defending champions Jamaica to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Barbados in the Regional Under-19 Tournament yesterday. McCatty was undefeated on 81 and Morris made 70, as Jamaica successfully chased 202 to clinch victory about 15 minutes after the tea break on the final day of their first round match at the Everest ground, Camp Road. McCatty stroked eight fours and two sixes from 195 balls in 277 minutes of resolute batting and Morris struck half-dozen boundaries and one six from 110 balls in 140 minutes of enterprising batting to pave the way for the Jamaican victory. The pair added 120 for the fourth wicket before lefthander Morris was dismissed in the final half-hour before tea, when he was bowled by a delivery that kept low from part-time medium-fast bowler Jafari Toppin. But McCatty, playing in the tournament for a third year, kept going and returned after the break to swing offspinner Neil Persaud over mid-wicket for the last of his boundaries to formalise the victory.

Romaine Morris Odaine McCatty The result earned Jamaica 16.5 points (12 for a win, three bowling points, one batting point and 0.5 from wickets taken by pacers) and Barbados collected just 4.2 (one batting point, three bowling points and 0.2 from pacers’ wickets). The Jamaicans face Leeward Islands at the Demerara Cricket Club about a mile from this venue in the heart of the Guyana capital and the Barbadians meet long-standing sporting rivals Trinidad & Tobago at the Guyana National Stadium on the outskirts of the city. Jamaica, starting the day on 10 for one, were set back when Ramone Francis was

lbw for 11 playing back and across to Persaud inside the first hour and they were 64 for three when Barbados captain and left-arm spinner Chad Williams had Mark Parchment caught behind for 13. Morris came to crease and batted freely, taking some of the pressure off McCatty, as they took advantage of the easy nature of the pitch. They carried Jamaica to 87 for three at lunch and continued merrily after the interval to reach their 50s. When Morris departed about 10 minutes before tea, the Jamaicans were firmly on course for victory, needing just 18, and Abijai Mansingh joined McCatty to see them to the finish line without further incident. (WICB/CMC)

Windwards beat T&T by innings and 21 runs The Windward Islands made a great start towards claiming their second title and first since 2000 in Guyana with a clinical innings and 21-run win a g a i n s t Tr i n i d a d a n d Tobago yesterday at the Enmore ground in the opening round of the 2014 Regional Under-19 threeday cricket tournament. After bundling out T&T for a paltry 74 and responding with 249-9 declared in their first innings, the Windwards dismissed T&T, set 175 to make the Islanders bat again, for 154, to win in emphatic fashion with over a session to spare. Leg-spinner Doran Edwards made full use of a turning track; finishing with figures of 18.2–6–35-5. He got good support from Deron Hypolite who had 2-27. A small crowd watched as T&T, who

began the final day on 49-1 after losing opener Amir Jangoo for a duck at 15-1 on We d n e s d a y a f t e r n o o n , seemed well on course to drawing the match while their second wicket pair was at the crease. In bright sunny conditions and a low and slow track which made ‘playing through the line’ a difficult task, Skipper Jeremy Solozano, the s t y l i s h We s t I n d i e s Under-19 left-hander and Brian Christmas took the score 73 with the best partnership of the innings before Hypolite removed the potentially dangerous Solozano for a well crafted 43. Edwards then trapped Christmas in front for 43 to orchestrate another Tr i n i d a d & To b a g o batting collapse on a pitch which should have favored them more than the Windward’s. From

100-2, the teenagers from Carnival Country catapulted to 122-8, losing six wickets for just 22 runs with Edwards striking out three middle order batsmen before returning to polish off the tail by taking the last two wickets. From 122-8, Anderson Phillip, who fell to Hypolite for 20, took the score 145 with a 23-run stand with Tevin Jadoo who finished unbeaten on eight. But once Phillip w a s o u t o f t h e w a y, Edwards finished the contest by having Akil Seetal caught behind, 40 minutes before Tea. The Windwards collected 17.2 points while T&T managed just 1.2. The second round is scheduled for tomorrow with T&T facing Barbados at Providence a n d t h e W i n d w a r d ’s facing off with hosts Guyana at Everest.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 25, 2014

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NSC reneges on decision to honor GABF’s authority The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has indicated in a press release that the National Sports Commission (NSC) has reneged on its earlier decision to honor the federation’s role in the selection of national teams. S p e c i f i c a l l y, t h e federation highlighted the flouting of its role as it relates to the Inter-Guiana Games team. Below is the full statement from the federation as it relates to this new development as regards the NSC: “During my recent telephone conversation with Mr. Gervy Harry, Chief Assistant to the Director of Youth & Sport (Neil Kumar) on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, I was informed that the agreement reached at the July 3, 2014 meeting between the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) relating to the basketball component of the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) was no longer in effect based on a decision by the NSC. Present at the (July 3, 2014) meeting were Gervy Harry; Karen Pilgrim, General Manager IGG; Nigel Hinds, GABF President; Michael Singh, GABF Vice-President; Kenrick Thomas, GABF Vice-President and Chris Bowman, IGG Committee Member. An extract from the email sent (on July 7, 2014) by the General Manager (Karen Pilgrim) of IGG confirming the agreement is below: The Federation will select the IGG 2014 Basketball team. 1. The Federation will appoint the Coaches. (Lugard Mohan and Ann Gordon will be asked.) 2. The Federation will appoint the Referees and all Game officials and shall be responsible for running the competition. 3. P i l g r i m i s t o forward the “Long list” of athletes, IGG Protocol and IGG Basketball Rules 4. Chris Bowman is to advise the Federation on the areas to be covered. After I informed Dr. Pilgrim via email of the (new) decision by the NSC, I received (from Dr. Pilgrim) the email (on July 18, 2014) below:

- federation moves to impose FIBA sanctions I am not aware of any changes made since our July 3rd meeting, but please note again that I only assist with management of the Games and have no reason to expect that all NSC decisions will be reported to me. The GABF subsequently asked Dr. Pilgrim for a meeting that would bring clarity to the situation; to date we have not received the response. Harry could not say whether there was a full meeting of the NSC Board that made the decision to circumvent the GABF; the NSC Board comprises of: Conrad Plummer, Vidushi Persaud, Peter Green, Alicia Fortune, Sean Richmond, Frank De Abreu, Steve Ninvalle, Hector Edwards, Pradeep Balram and Cheryl Thompson or if the decision was made by the Chief Executive Officer of the NSC, Mr. Neil Kumar. Considering that our presence at the meeting and a key reason for the meeting on July 3rd referenced above was to have IGG Basketball played with GABF approval and authorization, it is sad that some professional administrators have reduced themselves to “rubber stamping” to seemingly maintain insider status. One is reminded of the role played by Samuel Jackson in the movie Django Unchained as Stephen where Jackson plays the loyal house slave to a plantation owner. One is also reminded of a statement made by Ato Boldon at the Sports Management Workshop in June 2014 when he emphasised the need for a “culture of sport” if Guyana is to develop and reap success. At the meeting on July 3rd the GABF pointed out that using the National Gymnasium facility on M a n d e l a Av e n u e a s accommodation for the basketball players was improper as the Gymnasium was not equipped to be used as a hotel. When it is also considered that basketball players from Suriname and French Guiana are to be hosted at Ocean View Hotel; the current presence of some members of the Guyana Under-19 teams at the Gymnasium speaks to the

lack of respect shown to athletes in Guyana. Based on the decision by NSC as conveyed, Gervy Harry and the non-response from IGG “General Manager” Dr. Karen Pilgrim on the request for a meeting, the GABF in carrying out the statutes of the International (Continued on page 37)

Chris Bowman

Neil Kumar

Nigel Hinds

t r o Sp

Scorching affairs anticipated in today’s semi-finals

Paul’s 89 denies Leewards victory; Martina again among the wickets

By Sean Devers Sixteen year-old allrounder Kemo Paul missed his maiden century by 11 runs, batting Guyana to safety against the Leeward Islands on the final day of their opening round match of the West Indies Under-19 three-day cricket tournament at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence yesterday. The Leewards resumed on 300-8 and led by a fine 73 from Captain Jeremiah Louis were all out for 342 to give them a lead of 71. Offspinner Sharaz Ramcharran was the best Guyanese bowler on show, taking 3-57 from 29 overs while legspinner Steven Sankar who bowled too many bad balls, took 2-83. Off-Spinner Balchand Baldeo, operating with a suspect action, collected 250. Guyana, in their second

innings slipped from 51-1 to 108-6 at which stage the Leewards must have been harboring thoughts of an outright win. However, Paul ensured the game finished in a draw with a wonderfully constructed 89 as the hosts ended on 214 although the Guyanese lost their last four wickets for three runs; offspinner Shaquille Martina taking three of the last four to finish the match on a hat trick. Paul shared in a match saving century seventh wicket partnership with wicket-keeper Kemol Savory (36) to deny the Leewards a possible victory as the wily Martina captured 4-49 to finish with match figures of 9-135. Colin Archibald and Alzarri Joseph supported with two wickets each for the Leewards. Scores: Guyana 270 and 214; Leewards 342. On another day blessed with glorious sunshine, the islander ’s quickly lost overnight batsman Archibald (1), trapped LBW to Ramcharran at 306-9. Last man Therone Bussue made a useful unbeaten 18 from 41 balls and along with his Captain Louis, who batted for 116 minutes, faced 112 balls

Shaquile Martina hitting 7 fours and 3 sixes in his aggressive innings, added 36 runs in similar time for the last wicket, the Leewards being dismissed 46 minutes into the day’s play. When Guyana began their second innings, Taignarine Chanderpaul drove Joseph down the ground for four before rocking back and slapping the West Indies Under-19 pacer through covers for consecutive boundaries in the first over after Shemron Hetymer had flicked the Antiguan to the ropes to get off the mark. Hetymer then gloved a (Continued on page 38)

By now the four combatants left standing in the 4th Annual Digicel Schools Football Competition have completed preparations and just rearing to get on the field of play to battle for the right to claim the ultimate prize. The four schools left standing in this year’s competition are defending champions Christianburg / Wismar (CWSS) who will face Bush Lot on their home

turf at the Burnham Park in New Amsterdam and last y e a r ’s b e a t e n f i n a l i s t Waramadong who goes up against Beterverwagting Secondary, at the BV Community Centre ground. The CWSS versus Bush Lot should be a riveting contest, but the champs must start as favourites to make it to the final. Apart from a being given a stern examination from stable mate Mackenzie High School, CWSS has looked in control ever since, easing to some very lopsided victories against their opponents and many experts are of the

opinion that they will complete the three-peat this year. Strikers Shane Luckie and Donovan Francis have been in scintillating form, while the silky skills of Ezra Ashby have been a thorn in the flesh of opposing defenders. Bush Lot on the other hand should not be underestimated and so far teams that were touted to beat them have had to learn their lessons the hard way. Port Kaituma, who beat the highly rated Santa Rosa team exited the competition compliments of a loss to (Continued on page 37)

CPL T20 cricket

Darren Bravo’s last ball six give Red Steel sensational win over Amazon Warriors It came down to final ball with Trinidad &Tobago Red Steel needing to clear the boundary to give the home team victory against the Guyana Amazon Warriors last night at the Queens Park Oval in the Limacol CPL T20 which touched down in the Twin Island Republic. Ronsford Beaton, an inexperienced 21 year-old fast bowler from Essequibo in Guyana was tasked with the responsibility of bowling the final over with a capacity crowd of 25,000 fans all on their feet. This was the biggest stage Beaton had played on and the pressure was nerve wrecking. As Beaton began to run in to bowl to Darren Bravo, the raucous crowd roared in anticipation of something special; Bravo responded by depositing a length ball on off stump high over deep midwicket for a colossal hit. It was a gigantic hit out of the ground and maybe landed in the Caribbean Sea. But cared? The shot give the Red Steel an exhilarating four-wicket victory to send the Trini fans into uncontrollable ecstasy and send the 11 Warriors on the field, their few thousand supporters in the stands and the thousands watching the match live on Television, hopes crashing. After the horrifying start

Darren Bravo to the innings, Skipper Denish Ramdin and Jimmy Neesham provided the impetus needed to propel the Warriors from a pedestrian start to a challenging score of 179-5. Ramdin played a knock of his life, clearing the boundary six sixes whilst hitting the boundary boards a similar amount of times in a stunning 45 ball 84. Ramdin shared in a century partnership with Neesham (33*). Lindl Simmons (24) and a quick-fire 23 from eight balls from Christopher Barnwell pushed the Warriors to what at that point seemed a good enough total on a relatively small ground. Needing 180 for an improbable win, or so it

seemed, Red Steel started pretty poorly before the Bravo brothers set the ‘Oval’ on fire with a brutal onslaught of clinical hitting in their match winning record 131-run fourth wicket partnership. The elder Bravo led from the front with a scintillating 67 from 42 balls (3x6 6x4) before he was taken by Barnwell, who had dropped him earlier to give Neesham the crucial break through. But his younger sibling remained to the ended with an unbeaten 69 from 49 balls (5x6 5x4) including the last one that caused total pandemonium at the Oval. The last over began with nine needed after Krishmar Santokie had conceded 11 in the 19th over and removed the dangerous Nicholas Pooran for a nine ball 16. After conceding just three runs for five balls Beaton and the entire Guyana must have felt that the Warriors would have prevailed after the thrilling Tie in Guyana which resulted in victory in the Super Over by the home team. But on a ground on which Shiv Chanderpaul hit six off the last ball against Chimida Vass to give the West Indies a pulsating win, Bravo gathered his nerves and swung hard and high to finish a fantastic match in sensational style.

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