Skip to main content

Kaieteur News

Page 1

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Friday July 29, 2016

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

THE CARNAGE ON THE ROADS Carnage on the roads in Guyana has reached crisis proportions and it seems that there is no end in sight. Almost every day, someone is killed or maimed in a traffic accident. If this trend continues, there is no telling what will happen. Road fatalities continue to devastate the country and its people. It has become a major problem and is wreaking havoc on the lives of those who have to cope with the pain and the loss of loved ones. In recent times, mostly youths have been the victims, struck down in some cases by inexperienced drivers and in others, by drunk and speeding drivers. Last weekend was no exception as two persons, including a popular Disc Jockey, lost their lives. Keeping road fatalities below record levels in 2016 might be a pipe dream despite the awareness campaigns about road safety. To be fair, the authorities are doing everything possible to reduce accidents and fatalities on the roads. But sadly, motorists continue to use the thoroughfares improperly. Some have refused to wear seat belts or helmets; others talk on their phones or run red lights and ignore stop signs. Pedestrians, too, have often acted recklessly in using the roads, to their ultimate detriment. These are serious issues that must be addressed urgently because the devastation that road fatalities have visited on the nation is too much for the people to bear Traffic accidents and deaths can logically be reduced if drivers, cyclists and pedestrians focus on the rule of road safety. They should understand that the police do not have the resources to be everywhere to charge every drunk, reckless or even clueless driver. However, stricter traffic safety measures and penalties should be implemented and enforced by the authority to save lives and prevent accidents. Possibly a system such as road blocks being placed intermittently along the highways, not for the purpose of searching or harassing anyone, but to prevent or discourage speeding and driving while intoxicated. It would send a powerful message to errant motorists that they would be arrested and prosecuted if they flout the law. However, the challenge is for the government is to find the resources needed to implement these measures. It seems that the political will is within the current administration to make the tough decisions to end the tragedies on the roads, but enforcement and resources remain the problem. What is needed is less talking and more action, including adequate funding and equipment for the police, to keep fatalities at a minimum. In addition, a continuous publicity campaign is needed to inform all road users, especially youths, of the dangers of recklessness and to remind all road users to observe the five Cs—Care, Commonsense, Consideration, Courtesy, and Caution. Legislation to punish errant drivers and mandating the use of safety devices is already in place, but stiffer penalties are needed to make sure that they are obeyed by all. Also more efforts must be made to enforce the safety rules. If they are not obeyed and implemented, the roads will continue to be the country’s death chamber. What is happening is not acceptable and cannot be allowed to continue? Road fatalities have become an epidemic in the country and no one can sit idly by. Plans must be developed to deal with what is arguably one of the most unsettling problems facing the nation. The carnage on the roads is disconcerting. Meaningful intervention is urgently needed to make the roads safer, end the fatalities and the pain and suffering of the people. It is not beyond us. Our society is a small one and should be manageable.

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

Sherod Duncan makes passionate anti-racial appeal Dear Editor: A f t e r 5 0 y ears of independence ‘race’ seems as much a divisive construct as it ever was. Whatever political currency race held has been lost, evident in the underdevelopment of our nation these many years later. ‘Madness’ would be to continue to use it for supposed success at the ballot box and expect a different result from the one we have had up to this juncture of our history. I identify as “African” whenever a form is to be filled up that requires me to check a box indicating my race. However, I cannot escape that in my lineage through my father I’ve inherited the blood of Amerindians; I cannot escape that in my veins moves the blood of Portuguese and Chinese through the bloodline of my mother. Her grandfather, for instance, was Chinese, surname “Cheong”.

Because of my eclectic ethnic extraction, like the character “Antoinette” in that novel about identity, Wide Sargasso Sea, “I often wonder who I am and where is my country and where do I belong and why was I ever born at all.” I am certain many Guyanese can identify. I have never felt threatened by another person’s race and I hope no one has felt threatened by mine. In my family my aunt is married to a ‘Naraine’, another to a ‘Singh’ and my own sister, a ‘Panday’. As a result there are members in my family who look nothing like me, yet in their beating hearts is the blood of African slaves. I would hazard a guess this is the case for thousands of Guyanese. What then is the relevance of race? We are but Guyanese! My family’s lineage going pass blood and borders, I have relatives who were born with the genes of

Antigua, Botswana in Southern Africa, England and other jurisdictions. Our beloved son, Jon-Pierre, was born in Trinidad & Tobago and our beautiful Ethan-Leigh saw the sunlight for the first time in the United States of America. Yet they are all Guyanese as well. It is this little piece of real estate called Guyana, in a huge world, that gave us a beginning in this life and to which we refer to as HOME. I am certain that this is so for thousands of Guyanese. What then is race? And who is Black and who is Indian? As a person and leader if I think about race then at the level of the City I will always be at odds with fellow Councillors Bishram K u p p e n , Ta m a s h w a r Budhoo and others. But I embrace them as my brothers who from time to time I disagree with. Additionally, national and local government policies are expected to be

discharged ‘without fear or favor, affection or ill will’. To sever that oath in the name of race would be to obliterate the goodwill that endears us to the PEOPLE. We are all Guyanese and that is the only thing that matters or should matter. We must resist distinctions based on race, and resist persons who purport same. Young people especially have a duty to resist race if only for that brighter future we envision and aspire to. If we do not resist the lure of racial labels and entitlements then 50 years after our independence, in the year of our Golden Jubilee, that dream emblematic in our motto of ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’ “will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued but never attained”, to turn a quote Sherod Avery Duncan, LLB, JP. Mayor (ag.) Municipality of Georgetown

Lincoln Lewis opened his eyes too late Dear Editor; I have read a letter in the press of July 28th , 2016 by Mr. Lincon Lewis where he commented on the sending off of Colleen Hicks, Director of Nursing Services/ Matron of the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation, on administrative leave. I support all of what he had to say. However, I think he is a bit late in this regard. He did not comment when many IndoGuyanese workers, were sent off on Administrative leave or dismissed without any reason given. To name a few; Badri Persaud of Guy Oil, Lionel Wordsworth of D&I, Alexei

Ramotar of E Gov. Project or the dozen of the indo – Guyanese managers from Guysuco. He also kept quiet when ordinary Indo – Guyanese workers, including cleaners were fired from all parts of the public services. When we keep quiet when injustices are done anywhere it generally comes back to haunt. Keep it up Mr. Lewis, but you should speak out when injustices are done to any worker regardless of race, religion or creed. Gopaul Singh E d i t o r ’s n o t e : We f e e l constrained to bring to Mr. Singh’s attention that Mr. Lewis accused President Jagdeo of economic

genocide against African Guyanese. He also accused President Jagdeo and his government of abandonment of bauxite workers who were illegally sacked. Mr. Lewis was also a witness for the defence in the libel trial in which President Jagdeo took this newspaper and its columnist, Freddie Kissoon to court for referring to him as an ideological racist. We are also constrained to ask Mr. Singh why at that time he did not write a letter in support of Mr. Lewis’s charges of racism against African Guyanese by the Jagdeo regime.

Govt. must ensure Guysuco is in a better position Dear Editor, It’s alarming to know that Guysuco is in this situation when they could have avoided it. Instead management continues to make the same mistakes over and over again. Let’s look at the estates how staff members are promoted. Once you work long in the estate it’s automatic that you will be promoted even if you can’t manage. It’s alarming that the amount of

staff that is getting promotion and don’t even know how to do a budget. I have seen these individuals making decisions that would not even benefit the estates, but it’s just that they want to make sure someone is being placed on the job. I am calling on the top brackets in Guysuco to look into these matters, and the estates be fully equipped with qualified people for that position. Managers in Guysuco should be

outstanding; they should be leaders who people will look up to and respect. I have seen workers that would announce themselves in front of managers and tell them what to do and who to send on jobs all because these workers will sit, talk and drink with their boss. I am calling on the Minister of Agriculture and the CEO to look into these matters and put Guysuco in a better position. Concerned Observer


Kaieteur News

Friday July 29, 2016

PAGE 05

Alcohol is one of the world’s most consistent killers Dear Editor; First I wish to applaud Mr Anand Boodram for his excellent and timely article on alcohol and some of its major effects on this society, and the issue of alcohol in our culture. Mr Nowrang Persaud thankfully has acknowledged the impact of alcohol on domestic violence road traffic accidents and suicide - but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Along with my colleagues in the medical profession, we are left to deal with the devastating effects of alcohol on a daily basis. Alcohol is among the five most addictive substances of abuse - heroin, crack cocaine, tobacco, diazepam and alcohol. It also shrinks the brain of chronic alcoholics and some experts feel it may be one reason why some don’t understand the implications of drinking on an industrial scale. Alcohol is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality- it is responsible for seven types of cancer and more than 600,000 deaths globally every year -which include head & neck, esophagus, liver, colon, rectal and breast - the problems of alcohol are immense. These include heart disease, heart failure, rhythm disturbance, stroke,

pancreatitis acute and chronic liver disease, liver failure and liver cancer which has a dismal prognosis .No diabetic should drink alcohol , it is neurotoxic and damages the nerves. The full scope of the effects of alcohol cannot be addressed in this letter. Towards this end the Guyana Cancer Prevention Society is pleased to announce that one of its main objectives is to increase public awarenessthat cancer pose one of the greatest public health threats of the 21 century. More than 80-90% of all cancers are PREVENTABLE, yet more than 80% of all cancer patients with advanced stage 3-4 cancer can sometimes live six months to a year if they have the best standard of care. In 2014, some 14 Million people globally were diagnosed with cancer and 8.2 million deaths- by 2030. Some 22 million people will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 14 million deaths-the tragedy is some 65% of all cancers will occur in Low & Mid Income countries like Guyana. This alarming rate of increase in new cancer cases and number of deaths tell a clear story - we are failing to control cancer, and carrying

on business as usual; it is unthinkable. The cost to the global economy by 2020 will exceed $1.2 trillion USD. Quite clearly we cannot spend our way out of this crisis. The GCPS mission is to educate the public and change the arc of literacy on cancer. We recognize that the following are the main causes of Cancer and our mission is to: PREVENT T H E P R E V E N TA B L E C A N C E R S A N D PROVIDE SCREENING FOR EARLY DETECTION TO CURE CANCER. Tobacco is the number one preventable cause of cancer and responsible for more than 70% of all cancer deaths. Every year tens of millions of people start smoking. The GCPS will work with the Ministry of Health and support the introduction of the strongest legislation to curb tobacco use and prevent more tobacco related cancer deaths. Alcohol is the second most preventable cause of cancer and like tobacco is addictive. I am not certain how many people adhere to the mantra “drink responsibly - two drinks only.” Too many people make poor choices and lack discipline -” two drinks only - that is just to get us started” is what we hear too often.

The PPP was always a strong multi-racial party Dear Editor The release of the findings of the population census has been the subject of much analysis particularly as it relates to voting behavior and the implications it can have on the political fortunes of the two major political parties, namely the PPP and the APNU. There appears to be an entrenched body of opinion which is suggestive of an ethnically deterministic approach to political outcomes in the country. The tendency has been among some analysts to overemphasize race as a major determinant in the electoral successes of the PPP ever since its entry into the political landscape some sixty years ago. The facts however, will reveal that the PPP owes both its political longevity and its popular and electoral appeal more as a result of its

working class credentials and its commitment to a free, democratic and prosperous Guyana. This explains why it swept the polls in the elections of 1953 and again in the1957 elections despite the split of the PPP in 1955 which saw the formation of the Burnhamite PPP which managed to obtain a mere three seats as compared to nine seats won by the original PPP led by Dr. Cheddi Jagan. The PPP won a resounding victory despite attempts by the colonial office to restrict the electoral boundaries from eighteen in the 1953 election to fourteen in 1957, all in an effort to marginalize the full extent of the PPP electoral strength. It would be unscholarly of anyone to ignore the negative impact which the split of the PPP inflicted on the body politic of the country, the effects of which are being felt until this day. But it would be equally

wrong to ignore the working class appeal which the PPP enjoyed among ordinary working people and intellectuals from all across the ethnic spectrum. The PPP has consistently attracted, both at the leadership and at the rank and file levels, people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities due mainly to its strong ideological appeal which transcended the narrow boundaries of race, (Continued on page 07)

OBESITY and a LACK OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY is another preventable cause of cancer - too many calories, sugar, salt and fat fuel the obesity epidemic. Sexually transmitted viral infections cause 5 major cancers. All of these cancers are preventable. The most frequent transmitted sexually transmitted viral infection, is the HPV Human Papilloma Virus which cause several cancers of which the most well known is cervical cancer which Is preventable with the HPV vaccine, and screening for early detection and appropriate treatment as required. The others are;

HIV -Aids- 4 cancers, Hepatitis B&C, HPV, and HTLV1 Again we will work with the MOH and all organizations to ensure that no woman needs to die from this preventable and curable cancer. For those who do not understand or appreciate the importance of a candle light vigil - it is simply to raise AWARENESS which is critical to bring as many people as possible to partner with us to address this issue. It is an opportunity to network and share information on the terrible consequences of alcohol. And find novel and durable

solutions to the problem. Candle light vigils are held globally in times of national tragedy, and great loss. For those who are well informed about the consequences of alcohol and NOT in denial - this is a tragedy that will no longer be accepted. The GCPS will be pleased to attend the candle light vigil because we believe that it is better to light a candle than lament the darkness. We as a nation can and must do better - together we can all make a difference. It is Time for Action! Carl Niamatali President: Guyana Cancer Prevention Society

An appeal to the President to change course Dear Editor: The most striking thing about David Granger, the man, is how often his politics have been premeditated for self-preservation using quixotic actions like dancing on stage to sway the young voters during the campaign, and making promises to the youths that he knew all along he was not going to keep, once he assumed power. Talk to any of the old timers in the GDF and they will tell you he was a deskman, not a leader who led from the front. Was his only motive power at all cost to bolster his pension just like his predecessors? We must ask Raphael Trotman who seems to have been part of the plan in the Bahamas when it was conceived. If one observes him, he had no ideological foundation and his passion is not to help the poor people of Guyana. This is where he falls deeply short of Hoyte, Burnham and Jagan since they were men on a mission, not for themselves, but for Guyana. Rather, like Bharrat Jagdeo, President Granger is all focused on his image. But he has a special fetish; the military displays

as a tool to present a false sense of security to the people, but that cannot buy milk in the shop. Most of the Treasury is now lost to his band of soldiers. How different is this from Jagdeoism? Who are Laurie London and Joe Harmon and Bobby Viera and all those other GDF officers and their business friends? Some very rich men, who will be so much richer because of the taxpayers by 2020. And who is at the apex of this cabal? So as President Granger gives away big buses and boats, simultaneously he is causing the parents of those same children travelling in the boats and bus to pay more taxes. So he gives with one hand and takes twice as much from the people on the other hand. But he is wrong into believing that more and more people are not peeping into his self-righteous card. At the end of the day, all that matters to the people is what have you done for me lately. Just walk in village after village, they will tell you they cannot see the development, they cannot touch the development and thus in their mind they feel cheated by President Granger. The people wanted an end to Jagdeoism. But today Jagdeoism is alive and well

in Guyana, only this time operators in that cabal are mostly ex-GDF officers with a sprinkling of the political “soupnists” like the Nagamootoos and Ramjattans who are doing exactly what Jagdeo did – plunder the Treasury. So my message to Mr. Granger, your image of a good old grandfather is now shattered. We the people are seeing you for who you truly are and we shall take action come 2020 unless you change your aloof and obstinate ways. Stop the flip-flopping and get on with developing Guyana and stop all these puerile excuses. Please! The people are suffering and you are the President and you have a moral duty to do something about it. This is not about your image; this is about bread and butter for the poor people. Please stop the public abuses under your watch. Be a man and accept that your team is too inexperienced and useless on many fronts to get this job done. It is time you reach out to all forces, the opposition, the private sector, the Diaspora and distribute the work to more people. You need help and do not allow arrogance and aloofness to cloud good judgment. Jai (Harry) Lall


Friday July 29, 2016

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

A call to ignore Jagdeo’s racial rhetoric DEAR EDITOR, I am an eighteen year old multi-ethnic man who has a deep passion for politics and reviving the true spirit of patriotism in Guyana. I am referring to the form of patriotism that encompasses tolerance, respect and appreciation of each other as Guyanese people alongside the love and devotion we must all have for our country and those in it. This letter is not just to express how intensely irritated I am about the comments made by the Leader of the Opposition at a gathering in Queens, It must be noted that over the years I have always admired Mr. Jagdeo for many of his qualities, especially those “people skills” he possesses and his way of motivating many, regardless of the frontiers. I would sometimes compare his rhetoric skills to that of Adolf Hitler. Mr. Jagdeo in his own twisted way probably wants what is best for Guyana and like Hitler, he uses “rhetoric” to control the minds of his many followers and he continues to preach hate towards a certain group of people. At the Queens gathering Mr. Jagdeo, a well-educated and politically experienced gentleman saw it fit to deliver a speech to a majority Indian populated crowd about how they need to take “our coun-

try back from these people.” The “these people” he is referring to is the APNU-AFC government, which its President is an Afro-Guyanese. I was quite appalled that a gentleman I would have once described as a “great young leader” would have stooped so low to say that there has been an “assault on Guyanese of Indian origin in Guyana, and there is also an assault on Guyanese who support the PPP.” I am yet to figure out if the “Granger administration” and its supporters are actually going around assaulting Indian people for their political persuasions. In my little “inexperienced” brain, I am yet to fathom what exactly his intentions were, if not to cause tension between the two races. Let me make one thing clear before I continue, I am not defending the government because I do feel that more needs to be done from their side to address the racial division but they must be commended for the creation of a “Ministry of Social Cohesion” and it is my belief that the issue of race falls under the wings of the aforementioned Ministry. While I do believe it was a good step to acknowledge the need for social cohesion, what exactly has the Ministry been doing to address this issue? The Honourable Opposi-

tion Leader went on to add the following to his colourful speech, he said “it is good to see so many of you out here and that you keep the spirit of our community alive. This spirit is essential here for our people to make progress but it is the same spirit that we need back in Guyana now. A spirit of community to ensure that we defend our people, through these dark times”. I must confess that I chuckled when I heard that part of his speech and while I want to believe that he was referring to “patriotism” as I illustrated before, it would be remiss of me not to notice the “shade” he is throwing. If the “sprit” he is referring to, is indeed patriotism then I agree with him that as Guyanese we need to be more patriotic. But when he added that there is a need to “defend our people through these dark times”, then I can no longer try to defend him in my own little way of interpreting his speech. The sad reality is, many of the persons present at the event are not quite aware of what is going on back home, and because the stories they are being told are coming from a somewhat “credible source” then many of them will run away with all the wrong ideas about what is happening back home. The dejected truth of the matter is, many of them haven’t been in Guyana for

The PPP was always a strong... From page 6 religion and creed. I submit that it is the transcendental and universalistic values that the PPP embraced that was mainly responsible for its electoral victories over the decades and not the result of unthinking and blind ethnic loyalty as some analysts may wish to project. A careful and objective analysis of voting behavior will reveal that since the 1950s the PPP never won fifty or more percent of the votes (barring of course the rigged elections from 19681985) until the elections of October 1992 when it obtained fifty three percent of the votes. Of interest to note is the fact that the percentage of Indo-Guyanese voters were significantly larger in the 1960’s when it approximated to nearly half of the total population. The point in the foregoing paragraph is that the PPP has managed to broaden its popular and electoral appeal during the 1990’s and beyond despite a declining IndoGuyanese segment of the population. This explains why it was able to win a ma-

jority in all elections since 1992 until it lost power in May 2015 due to a six- party alliance and under what the PPP believed to be highly questionable circumstances currently being challenged in the courts. The PPP has always maintained that it is not an “Indian” party despite the fact that an overwhelming number of its supporters are of Indian origin and rural based. It is the largest multi-racial party in the country with significant Afro-Guyanese, Mixed and Amerindian support representing the more advanced contingent of working people, farmers and intellectuals. The late Dr. Jagan had always promulgated the view that race as a factor in our politics should not be overemphasized but at the same time should not be swept under the carpet since it could be manipulated by political elements as in fact happened during the1960’s when race and to a smaller extent religion, was manipulated by foreign vested interests in collaboration with local reactionary to destabilize the elected

PPP government. This is why the PPP has no interest whatsoever in the politics of race and will continue the struggle for national and racial unity. Hydar Ally Editor’s note: we publish Mr. Ally’s letter because ours is a professional newspaper and Mr. Ally is entitled to have his views published short of libel and bad taste. But there is much that is not factual and worrying in this letter. First, any researcher can inform Mr. Ally that election statistics from 1957 to 2015 will show that the PPP received its votes from Indian areas and fared badly in African areas. Surely this cannot be the performance of a historically multi-racial party that Mr. Ally makes out the PPP to be. The recent local government poll confirms this pattern for national elections. Against the background of race-baiting by Mr. Jagdeo during the 2015 elections and his egregious racially inciting statements in New York last week, we find the last line of Mr. Ally’s letter not worthy of being dignified with a response

decades and many of them do not read the “local news” online and even if they did, the media has a way of only zooming in on crime so they will certainly run away with the wrong ideas about this “assault” on PPP supporters. As I close, I want to assure Guyanese people locally and abroad that there is no assault on one set of people, but there is an assault on the Guyanese people and the perpetrators are people like Mr. Jagdeo who want to see us divided. I want us to understand that now more than ever,

we need to stand as one Guyana and as one people because that is what our motto intended. I cannot make Mr. Jagdeo stop what he is doing but I do want Guyanese to understand that being “Guyanese” and being “patriotic” means respecting, tolerating and appreciating our diversity and having 6 ethnic groups does not mean we have to split society against each other, but it means that we have the opportunity to be diverse, even on political frontiers. To my fellow young

people, I urge you all to look beyond what ethnic group we were born into and look towards the Guyana we want to have in thirty years’ time. I think it is about time we move away from making politics synonymous with race and even when we are relating the two; we must also understand that being an Afro-Guyanese doesn’t automatically mean you are a supporter of the APNU-AFC government, and not because someone is Indo-Guyanese means that they are being “Assaulted”. Dennis A. Glasgow. (Jr)

We need a decision on the airport’s janitorial contract DEAR EDITOR I would like to be given an opportunity to bring to light a problem that I think needs urgent attention and intervention by the President. An investigation should be launched immediately into what’s going on at the Cheddie Jagan International Airport and also at the Ministry of Infrastructure. This letter regards the janitorial contract for the Cheddie Jagan International Airport that bids were submitted for in October of 2015. Four companies’ bids were opened at that tendering process. To date, no contractor has been selected to provide this service despite the process has reached to Cabinet. What is the delay? It recently came to light that another company is being used to provide temporary service. Why is this company providing this service when they did not submit a bid and more so, why was the company that

had the contract removed from the airport? As a contractor for one of the companies that submitted a bid for this contract, I am demanding that answers be provided as to why this contract has not been awarded to one of the companies that participated in the bidding process, and I am certain my counterparts that participated in the process demand that a decision be made as to who will be providing this service. No contact has been made to inform the partici-

pants of what’s happening with the contract. I am therefore calling on President David Granger to look into this matter since contractors would have followed all procedures to participate in the bidding process, and its unfair that a company that did not participate in the process to be providing this service. If the right thing isn’t done, legal actions will be sought against the airport as well as against the Ministry of Infrastructure. Concerned contractor


PAGE 8

Friday July 29, 2016

Kaieteur News

Practical changes in the pipeline for financial sector - Finance Minister By Kiana Wilburg Systems and entities that facilitate financial transactions in Guyana are expected to be improved significantly as Government lays out a menu of impacting reforms. According to Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, first to see numerous changes is the Bank of Guyana. He said that this financial institution will licence cambios located outside of Georgetown, in order to facilitate businesses and individuals who reside in rural, hinterland and other re-

mote or isolated areas. The Central Bank will also conduct a study on implementing deposit insurance in Guyana, with the goal of rolling out a deposit guarantee scheme by 2017. This action, Jordan said, takes on heightened importance to protect businesses and individuals from losses in the case of a bank failure. He said that the entity will also examine the feasibility of agency banking, which would allow local non-banks to provide some financial services. It is believed that Agency banking has the potential to dramatically improve access to banking in rural communi-

ties. As such, the Bank of Guyana also plans to support the expansion of mobile money, which would allow more people to save and transfer money using their phones, thereby reducing the transaction costs. In collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the Bank of Guyana will undertake as well, a financial sector assessment. In addition, Jordan said that the Bank of Guyana will be moving towards Basel II implementation, which will strengthen the regulatory framework governing banks and also result in Guyana aligning its capital requirements with internationally recommended best practices. Basel II, which was introduced in 2006 by the Basel Committee on Bank Supervision, was intended to create an international standard for banking regulators to control how much capital banks need to set aside to guard against the types of financial and operational risks banks face. Basel II has three pillars: ensuring that bank capital is more risk sensitive, ensuring that banks have adequate capital to support all the risks in their business, and enhancing disclosure requirements to make the risks banks take

more transparent. Additionally, the Financial Sector Reform and Strengthening (FIRST) Initiative, a project managed by the World Bank, is providing technical assistance to the Bank of Guyana to strengthen supervision of the Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) and insurance companies. The initiative aims to close gaps in the supervisory perimeter, regarding prudential and non-prudential standards, and to build supervisory capacity. The FIRST initiative will also assist with the development of a legal and institutional framework for market conduct and financial consumer protection. As part of the financial consumer protection initiative, the Bank of Guyana will be enhancing its National Financial Literacy Programme. The Finance Minister said it is hoped that the average citizen will be empowered with the ability to make informed financial judgments and take effective decisions regarding the use and management of his/her money. As it relates to the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), the Government of Guyana is currently reviewing the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) between Guyana and the US. The gov-

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan ernment presently has an Agreement in substance; signing this Agreement would solidify government’s commitment to honour the requirements of that Act. Reforms are also expected when it comes to Public Administration and Public Financial Management. Jordan reminded that last December, President David Granger requested that each Ministry table their Annual Performance Report in Cabinet. He said that all Ministries were required to report on their key performance indicators against their set targets for the year 2015. Jordan emphasised that

this is now a mandatory feature that will occur annually and is part of a fresh approach. Jordan said that Budget Agencies and Regions must develop and implement strategic plans that are monitored through performance indicators and adopt Performance Monitoring Frameworks. The Finance Minister said that for too long, plans have been developed without adequate baseline data. He promised that under this administration, such practices will end. He said that the Government is seeking to re-establish a capacity for national planning, and has sought the assistance of the Caribbean Development Bank to facilitate this process. Jordan said, too, that real growth cannot be accomplished if the poor performance of implementing projects, funded within the public sector investment programme (PSIP), is not addressed with alacrity. He said that significant contributors to delayed project execution include national procurement policies and the operations of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). He said, “It is, therefore, time that we rethink the (Contiued on page 12)


Friday July 29, 2016

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

One of the most difficult tasks that you can ever face is breaking sad news to others. There is no prescribed approach, for example, as to how you should inform someone that a loved one has died. Most persons would however advise that this be done with finesse, but just what constitutes finesse in such circumstances is difficult to decide. Should you, for example, simply come straight out and report that so and so has died? Or should you follow conventional winsome and break the news gently? I once got a call from a relative in the middle of the night. I knew even before he began to “break the news gently” what to expect. Any call in the middle of the night from overseas has to be bad news, and invariably it has to be that someone close to me has died. My relative began with the usual greetings, as if I cared to be awakened from sleep to be asked how I was

doing. After what seemed like an eternity answering questions about the well-being of my household, the caller got down to breaking the news gently. He asked me whether I was standing or sitting and suggested that I sit. I did not need confirmation . I knew then that my great aunt had passed away and this was what the call was about. When I assured my relative that I was seated, he said that he had bad news for me. I knew that already. He told me that something bad had happened. He said that I should prepare myself for a shock and that what he was about to tell me would not be easy. I was almost tempted to interrupt to inform him that getting me out of my sleep to answer the phone was not easy. After a few more preliminary steps, he let out the bad news that my great aunt was no more. It took an eternity. I would have preferred that he had simply shocked

the living daylights out of me, coming outright immediately and saying, “Peeper, your aunt is dead.” But the poor fellow must have been worried about such sudden news on my cardiac system. I once heard a story about a sergeant major who received a telegram that the mother of one of his ranks had died. He summoned the rank and bluntly told him, “Your mother has died!” An officer who was passing at the time and heard what has transpired summoned the sergeant major and advised him to be more tactful in breaking death announcements to his ranks. The sergeant major promised to do so in the future. Lo and behold, the very next day, the sergeant major received a report that the mother of one of his ranks, Tom, had died. He decided then that he would be tactful in informing Tom that his mother had passed on. He

Dem boys seh...

De oil coming and people causing trouble Nutten don’t happen before its time. But then again things does happen and people does spoil it. Guyana is a nice country; it don’t get earthquake or hurricane. If it get any flood is not the kind that does kill people. Fuh years people use to seh how Guyana got oil because everybody in de area got. Venezuela got, Suriname got, Brazil got, Trinidad got, and Barbados got some. Since goat ain’t bite Guyana it had to have oil. People come and search and dem seh dem ain’t find none. One day dem find some oil in de interior, but de people who find it seh it didn’t got value. De Creatah see a change coming, so he show Exxon Mobil wheh de oil deh. Now all of a sudden people talking like if de oil come out de ground already. Brassington was one who was counting de profit from de Marriott even before dem Chinee lay de first block. He know that once oil flow de Marriott gun mek plenty money, because de oil people got to find somewhere to stay. Dem have people who suddenly realize that dem got to plant nuff food, because de

people wukking pun de oil rig got to eat. But dem boys want to know if Guyana gun end up like Trinidad. Once that country had oil, people stop planting. Some of dem stop wukking. De politicians now mekking sure that Guyana don’t end up in that position. But one thing certain everybody gun look fuh a pay rise every month. If that ain’t enough, de countries gun tell Guyana to adjust its currency. It can’t got a dollar that look like it playing cricket—210 fuh one. Yesterday when de man who controlling de rig talk, he mek it sound like if Guyana got oil to last till thy kingdom come. And that is a good thing. But dem have confusion. Guyana talking bout global warming and it putting faith in de very thing that cause global warming. Dem boys seh that Guyana gun start dancing between de raindrops—climate change on one hand and global warming on de next. Dem got people who gun tell lie to get dem hand pun de oil money too. Talk half and watch how some people gun be scrambling fuh it.

thought about it and decided on a course of action. He summoned all his soldiers and lined them up in formation. He then announced, “All those with mothers step forward.” When Tom obeyed and stepped forward, he turned to him and said, “Not you Tom.” A similar thing happened to a man who was on vacation. Before proceeding on his holiday, he left his dog with a friend. The friend forgot to feed the dog, who died of starvation. Feeling sad about the whole thing he called the man

on vacation and broke the sad news to him. The man reprimanded his friend for being inconsiderate and breaking such sad news to him when he was trying to have a good time on vacation. He told his friend that instead of simply coming out and informing him that his dog had died, he could have broken the news in sequence, as for example, one day calling to say that the dog was on the roof, the next day that the dog had fallen off the roof and the third day by coming to the point and saying that the dog had not survived.

The friend agreed that he was not considerate enough and decided that the next time something sad happened, he would break the news gently. A few days later the man on vacation got a call from his friend. The friend calmly told him, “Your grandmother is on the roof!”


PAGE 10

Friday July 29, 2016

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

The people who believe Jagdeo are more dangerous than him There are presidential candidates contesting the November election in the US who are way above Donald Trump in decency and morality. But the world does not know them. The Green Party in the US will be fielding a presidential candidate, but if you take a poll around the world, almost one hundred percent would say they don’t know the person or ever heard about the candidate. The reason for that is simple; politicians become household names when they excite people, the press reports on them and the numbers grow. One should never discount the possibility of a Trump victory. His poll ratings are on par with Hillary Clinton. If Trump wins, how could Trump be blamed only? There are foolish people out

there in large numbers who believe the incredible, elephantine fictions of Donald Trump. There are humans that listen to Trump and accept Trump’s description of President Obama’s religion as Islam. Make no mistake, Bharrat Jagdeo played to the gallery when he was in New York. He is a politician in charge of the opposition party in Guyana, and he will observe no ethical and civilized boundary in keeping his career alive. Mr. Jagdeo knows only one route of survival. It is to get Indian people to accept that the PNC leaders who form part of the government do not like Indian people and are discriminating against them. That mantra kept the PPP alive from 1964 to 1985. Once the PNC Government remained in office,

the PPP under Dr and Mrs Jagan fed Indians a diet of persecution of Indian people by the PNC Government. After 23 years in power, the PPP is back in the opposition, and the symphony has been brought out of the attic to perform again. It will not stop. It will not stop because the PPP needs it to survive. In creating racist incitement as he did in New York last week, Jagdeo is not strategizing to win the 2020 election only. A victory is not assured. In-depth analysis of Guyana’s demography does not support a 2020 victory for the PPP. The racist demagoguery that Jagdeo and the PPP troglodytes are disseminating among Indians is to preserve the existence of the PPP. Make no mistake; if Jagdeo,

Rohee, Luncheon, Teixeira are to survive, not win, but just to survive in 2020, they need big votes from the Indian population. Those votes will only come if you keep alive the song of demonizing African Guyanese leaders. Success will come if the listeners believe Jagdeo and his outdated cabal. You may hate Trump, you may hate Jagdeo. But they are no fools. Trump knows Americans are moody, because complete American domination of the world is waning and they want that back. So he plays on that sentiment. Jagdeo plays on the race card, because it is the only game in town. If Trump is going to lose, Americans have to reject the fictions he peddles. If Guyana is to avoid the chasm of race hate, decent Indians

have to get Jagdeo’s gallery to see that Jagdeo is a wicked, evil man manufacturing race hate to remain relevant. How the Guyanese population deals with the coming crescendo of PPP’s race music will need careful and deep thought, but the rejection movement has to begin as early as yesterday. Do not underestimate Jagdeo. He knows there is a band of race advocates that he can count on. The list includes swamis, novelists, university lecturers, columnists etc. Jagdeo knows that he can appeal to these people. It is these people that we need to assess. Do they believe Jagdeo? Do they believe this is a man who ought to remain un-prosecuted while he poisons the psychology of the East Indi-

Frederick Kissoon ans who are foolish to listen to him? Do they believe this man should be a spokesperson for the Guyanese Indians when this man, after twelve years, did absolutely nothing for the poor East Indians of Guyana? Do they believe this man when they see the financial losses of the sugar industry? Do they believe this man, when under his twelve-yearold reign, rural Indians were at the mercy of bandits? Aren’t some of them educated people that have access to the internet? They can Google the crime situation in Berbice when Jagdeo was president. They will see what Indians had to endure. Do they believe this man whose twelve-year domination saw rural schools in Indian areas without washroom facilities, windows and steps and he ignored them and built a Marriott Hotel with taxpayers’ money? As an Indian, I will have more to say about Indian Guyanese and the Jagdeo race wagon.


Friday July 29, 2016

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

Bullet-riddled bodies at Berbice…

Cops find shotgun used to kill trio, seize boat used by suspects - Acting Top Cop lauds men for solving ‘heinous crime’ Police have recovered the licenced shotgun with which a 17-year-old, on his father’s orders, blasted 15-year-old Jaikarran Chandradeo and two men in the Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder area last Thursday. Detectives have also impounded a boat that the killers used to flee the scene. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum disclosed yesterday that police will be seeking legal advice today on whether charges can be laid against the suspects, who include the 17-year-old, known as ‘Lima,’ his 38-year-old father, who is a farmer, and a 27-year-old employee of the farmer. Another worker is still at large. Detectives took the alleged killers back to the scene of the murders shortly after midnight yesterday. They were later taken to the Mibicuri Police Station. The bodies of 37-year-old Pawan Chandradeo, called ‘Suresh’ of 163 Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder; 33-yearold Naresh Rooplall called ‘Ticka Bai’ of No. 77 Village, Corentyne and 15-year-old Jaikarran Chandradeo, called ‘Kevin’ of Mibicuri North, were found around 09.00 hrs last week Friday in a backdam at Mibicuri. They had gone to the area to fish. Kaieteur News was told on Wednesday that the trio was slain after seeing the gang of men attempting to make off with supplies of diesel from a rice farm. According to reports, the suspects, led by a farmer, journeyed by boat to a fuel depot that is owned by rice farmer Sudaman Jagmohan called “King.” On reaching the area, the thieves tried to smash off a lock from a storeroom. But it was while they were doing so that Pawan Chandradeo, Naresh Rooplall and Jaikarran Chandradeo arrived on the scene. Fearing that the trio would expose their crime, the men fired two rounds in the

air and chased after the victims who stopped when they recognized the boat the thieves were using. When the suspects finally caught up with the trio, they instructed the victims to lie on the ground. On his father’s instructions, the farmer’s teenage son then shot them. Afterwards, the farmer reportedly told the gang to ‘wash their hands to remove evidence’. The killers then escaped in their boat. But police, who had detained several suspects, finally got a breakthrough late on Wednesday night after ranks from the Major Crimes Unit questioned the prime suspects at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary. Yesterday, Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine, lauded his men for solving the case. But he also

voiced concern at what he described as a ‘heinous crime.’ “We recognised that this was a heinous crime, but the initial information did not point us in any significant direction. “The fact that recent information seemed to point in a direction that a father (the detained farmer) could allow his child to commit a crime of one type, and then later advise the very child and accomplices to do all within their means to cover their tracks and commit a much bigger crime, tells a very disturbing narrative, and in my opinion, is a reflection of the scant regard that certain sections of the society, who are committing illegal and unlawful acts, have for human life. “However, law abiding citizens can feel assured that the Guyana Police Force is striving to deliver the quality

Jairam Chaitram of service that is so much expected. “In the recent past, we had challenges over our prevention efforts. But there is now improvement. Within recent times, we have seen significant and welcomed improvement in our investigative capabilities, and for this, all must take credit. The fact that more and more citizens are increasingly confident in the work of the Force is very important to us.”

Carlton Chaitram and Tameshwar Jagmohan And Indrawattie Chandradeo, whose husband, son and brother were slain, also praised the team of detectives.

But she also expressed shock at learning why her family members were slain. “That is the reason you (Continued on page 13)


PAGE 12

Law allowing small contractors to get 20% of Govt. contracts to be enforced – Harmon For years, small contractors have been complaining about not being incorporated into the Public Procurement Process and many have also claimed that they have been unfairly treated. These contractors are likely to see a change in the process, since the Government will be looking to ensure that 20 percent of all Government contracts be awarded to small contractors yearly, as is stated in the Laws of Guyana. This was disclosed by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during his Post-Cabinet Press Briefing last Wednesday. Harmon also added that Government will

Friday July 29, 2016

Kaieteur News

be looking not only to ensure but also, enforce this law. The Minister stated that several concerns were raised by small contractors at a seminar that was recently held by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. He continued that the Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, had submitted a report to Cabinet which in turn, mandated a committee that will be spearheaded by the Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo to examine and focus on ways in which small miners can be incorporated into the public procurement process. Other Committee Members named include: Minister Patterson; Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams; the Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin;

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan; and the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan. Minister Harmon assured that every effort will be made to give legitimate support to small contractors and small companies for their involvement in the process, and he added that the Administration does not intentionally omit anyone in the selection of contractors for state projects, as the Procurement Act describes the manner in which contracts are awarded. He expounded that when a contract comes to Cabinet, it is for Cabinet to say whether it objects or not. “Cabinet would not exercise that power to say who should get a contract or who should not get. We either say we object or we do not object,” Harmon asserted.

TIP action plan to be released “within the next month” The Ministerial Task Force on trafficking in persons (TIP) will release its 2016-2017 Action Plan within the next month. The Action Plan is currently being reviewed by Interpol before it is finalised, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan told the Government Information Agency (GINA). “Interpol has a section that deals with trafficking in persons worldwide and we had given them our action plan, and also told them they can make some inputs, and we were awaiting that,” Ramjattan said. Yesterday evening the minister led a team from his Ministry on a TIP public awareness walk through the Bourda Market, Georgetown. The Public Security Minister said the action plan is “a pretty comprehensive document” that will seek to address the mechanisms that will need to be in place to effectively tackle TIP. “We have to get some more resources, prosecutors,

investigators. We also have to have half-way houses for the victims to go and feel comfortable,” Ramjatttan said. The action plan has had input from ministries, inter agencies and NGOs, the minister told GINA. The Ministerial Task Force on TIP meets every month and is headed by Minister Ramjattan. The Task Force is mandated by the Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Act No. 2 of 2005 to ensure there is public awareness on TIP training for law enforcement and other officials among other things. Minister Ramjattan pointed out that his ministry will reach out to the United States and Canada for assistance in training. Already, the Guyana Police Force has begun training of senior ranks on how to identify TIP perpetrators. “Quite frankly however, it’s a matter of resources in some areas, personnel in others, but public awareness is the easiest aspect of it and that is why we are here,” said

Ramjattan of the walkthrough at Bourda. During the exercise, the Minister and team distributed fliers and other items aimed at raising awareness of TIP. He noted that last evening’s public awareness activity is the first of several intensified efforts by his ministry to raise awareness on the matter. “A lot of people in Guyana they see the wrongdoing, but they don’t want to talk about it. I feel with public awareness we’re going to get more information from citizens to bring this thing to a halt,” Ramjattan said. The TIP awareness programme is also part of government’s effort to heed recommendations from the United States State Department Report on TIP. Earlier this month the report revealed Guyana had moved from the Tier Two Watch list to Tier Two. “The State Department report also indicated that we still have lots of work to (Continued on page 13)

Practical changes in the... From page 8 structure and mechanism employed in implementing development projects. In this regard, plans are underway for the enhancement of procurement processes and procedures… Cabinet agreed to increases in the ministerial and regional tender board limits, so as to empower Ministries and regions to undertake more in-house evaluations. In order to reduce the volume of paperwork received by the NPTAB, Section 4(2) of the Regulations to the Procurement Act will be amended to require that all contracts exceeding $1.5 million in value are to be posted on NPTAB’s website.” Jordan said that other improvements include: ensuring contractor compliance to tender/bid requirements; strengthening contractor capacity and capabilities through training and capacity building initiatives and ensuring that contracts are awarded within contractors’ technical, financial, equip-

ment and managerial capabilities. The Finance Minister asserted that Government has recognized the need to improve the quality of human resources within the public sector and, to this end, will operationalize the Public Service Staff College this year. Further, capacity building in project management and public policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation, and procurement planning, will become a standard feature within the public service. To ensure that this all happens in an environment of accountability, Jordan said that moves will be made to strengthen internal audit capacity and mechanisms, to ensure that the delivery of public goods and services occurs in a transparent manner. Together, it is expected that these initiatives will build the absorptive capacity of public and private sectors to respond promptly and effectively to the development challenges before the nation.


Friday July 29, 2016

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

Charges against woman accused 3 years for remorseful ganja seller Chief Magistrate Ann prosecutor, a quantity of of threatening President dismissed McLennan yesterday jailed a leaves, seeds and stems marijuana seller for three suspected to be cannabis was

The case against a woman accused of posting death threats related to President David Granger, via Facebook, was yesterday thrown out by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. The Magistrate ruled that the particulars of the allegations against 52-yearold Bibi Safoora Salim, of Vergenogen, East Bank Essequibo, did not create an offence, thus she dismissed the charges. One of the charges alleged that during the period of March 1 and 31, last, the woman attempted to incite hostility or ill-will against the President by posting on Facebook “Granger want a bullet in he head” among others. She was also accused of sending derogatory remarks about the President from her cell phone to her son’s cell phone via WhatsApp.

Bibi Safoora Salim Salim, a mother of three, was charged under the Racial Hostility Act for attempting to incite excitement, hostility or ill-will on the ground of race. An attorney for the woman had argued that the

charges were void, because the particulars did not state how her posting on Facebook violated the Racial Hostility Act. At Salim’s first court hearing, her lawyer had contended that his client was “technologically challenged” and said that it was highly unlikely that she made the posts. However, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers had objected to her being released on bail, on the grounds that Salim had admitted to police that she was the one who posted the comments and remarks. Jeffers had also pointed out the serious nature of the charges and the fact that the threats to the president and racial remarks attracted comments from others. But his objections were overruled by the Magistrate and Salim was released on $200,000 bail.

Cops find shotgun used to kill trio... had to shoot dem man? Me innocent son. Meh husband and meh brother tuh! Why you didn’t just leff dem? Dem nah trouble nobody and now all of dem gone just because of dah.” Kaieteur News also spoke to rice farmer Sudaman Jagmohan called “King”, who discovered the bodies. Jagmohan also owns the fuel depot that the killers had tried to break into, A shocked Jagmohan said that the suspects are his neighbours and one of the alleged perpetrators, called ‘Guana man,’ is his nephew. “Me shock fah hear dah news, cause dem man deh ah me family, and we trying fa mek a living and dah is wha dem gon do? Same man wah ah eat wid yuh is de same one trying fuh break you down.

Meh sorry fah da family, bai, cause look dem man nah do nothing and dem lost dem life suh stupid.” The victims were found by Jagmohan and his workmen. According to Jagmohan, he was on his way to his rice field at Kokrite Savannah area, where he also has hassars. Jaghoman said that on their way to his farm, the group found the bodies lying on a dam in his rice-land. He immediately called a neighbour who informed the police. The police, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Marlon Taylor, and residents, secured boats and journeyed to the area where they eventually came upon the graphic scene.

years and fined him $72,000 for trafficking 48 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana). The man, Ivor Greene, 46, of 27 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, admitted that on July 26, at Lot 69 Robb Street, Bourda, he had the p r o h i b i t ed drug in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. Police P r o s e c utor, Deniro Jones told the court that ranks from the Police Narcotic Branch went to the address mentioned in the charge and cordoned off the place. He said that the ranks observed Greene sitting on a

Ivor Greene pink and black travelling bag, approached him, and told him the reason for their visit. According to the

found in the travelling bag. Under caution, Jones said that Greene remained silent and was escorted to the Narcotics Branch where the items were tested and weighed in his presence. In a plea of mitigation, Greene begged for leniency and told the Magistrate that he resorted to selling the illicit drug because he was not finding a job. He said that he was released from prison two months ago, but did not state the nature of the offence for which he had been incarcerated.

TIP action plan to be released... From page 12 do and we agree with that. One aspect of the work is public awareness…to let them understand that this administration has no tolerance for human trafficking,” said Ramjattan. In tandem with the public awareness campaign, Ramjattan said police will begin clamping down on night clubs,

especially those that sexually exploit women. “We have to do targeting of certain clubs night clubs and so on that would bring in these girls from overseas,” Ramjattan pointed out. Public awareness campaigns will soon be taken along the coast and in the hinterland areas, the Minister added.


PAGE 14

Friday July 29, 2016

Kaieteur News

Apparent economic slowdown...

Businesses should focus on expanding, creating new industries - GCCI Chairman There has been much talk about a slowdown in the economic performance of private businesses within the last 14 months. In an interview with Kaieteur News, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Vishnu Doerga, has confirmed that there has been a slowdown in the performance of businesses. He suggested that the private sector focus on branching out into new economic activities and

expanding existing industries. He said that three of the areas which are currently being looked at are agro-processing, Arts and Craft and Music . He said that currently there is work being done in the area of agro-processing to help businesses exploit the benefits of that industry. According to Doerga, what is happening is that persons are tapping into these industries but are not producing commodities in compliance with international standards. He said at the moment, there is a team looking into

the processing and marketing of sauces, for example pepper sauce and tomato sauce. He opined that manufacturers need to improve the value added products which they sell on the local and international market so as to gain greater revenue. He admitted that undoubtedly this adaptation to the international requirements will not happen overnight. Additionally, Doerga believes that greater investment needs to be made in the area of Information Technology. He said this area suffers from many weaknesses; one of

which is the unattractive manner in which the industry is presented to the young population. The GCCI Head said further that the access to the opportunities by youths to the IT sector is essentially hindered. He mentioned that Telemarketing has become quite popular in Guyana and employs a large number of people. Despite this, he said that the salary packages offered for these jobs may not be to the liking of Guyanese. He added that more needs to be done in the area of professional services. Doerga believes that with the oil find and the impend-

Head of GCCI, Vishnu Doerga ing operations which are to begin, there will be need for local professionals to take up

employment in that sector. Doerga urged for current and prospective business entrepreneurs to strongly consider the possibilities which the petroleum industry can bring to Guyana. He said that preparations need to start from now if benefits are to be reaped. The Chairman also mentioned that companies have reported on instances whereby their fellow entrepreneurs have been involved in unfair practices against them. Doerga stressed that any company which believes it is being unfairly treated should make a report soonest to the relevant authorities for an investigation to be conducted.

Prison officer remanded for illegal gun, ammo Prison Officer Christopher Elias was yesterday remanded to prison by Magistrate L e r o n D a l y, f o r a n illegal firearm and ammunition. Elias, 24, of 43 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, is accused of being in possession of a .38 revolver on July 24, at Princes Street, Georgetown, when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. It was further alleged that on the same day, he had five rounds of .38 ammunition in his possession when he was not a licenced firearm holder. Elias was also accused of behaving in a

Remanded: Christopher Elias

manner intended to provoke Orlando Harris on July 24, at Mandela

Avenue, Georgetown. P o l i c e P r o s e c u t o r, Kevin London told the court that the d e f e n d a n t was among three men in a vehicle that was stopped and searched by police. London said that the illegal gun and ammo were found in the vehicle. Attorney Melvin Duke asked for his client to be released on reasonable bail. He said that Elias is not the owner of the motorcar and that the gun was not found in his possession. Duke told the court that his client has been a serving officer for the past six years and never had any problems with the law. The lawyer assured the court that the defendant will attend court as instructed since he poses no risk of fl i g h t . H o w e v e r , Magistrate Daly refused bail and remanded Elias to prison. His next court appearance will be on August 15.


Friday July 29, 2016

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Councillors vote no confidence against Linden Town Clerk Councillors of the Linden Mayor and Town Council on Wednesday night voted in favour of a no confidence motion against Linden Town Clerk Jonella Bowen. The motion which was proposed by councilor Deron John and seconded by Councilor Neola Rogers, garnered the support of 10 councillors. Only two of the councillors present voted against the motion, at the Council’s statutory meeting which lasted some four hours. One of the arguments put forward in supporting the motion was that recently one of the councillors lost her job after the Town Clerk allegedly failed to send a letter to the councillor’s supervisor requesting the said councillor’s presence at a meeting. The press was subsequently briefed on the motion by acting Mayor Waneka Arrindell after reports surfaced that the Town Clerk was locked out of the building. A press release was also dispatched to various media houses. According to the release, Bowen’s performance and management of the Council’s affairs have become of great concern to the Council. The decision to have the no confidence motion arose out of varying issues that have been occurring over a period of time, the release indicated. It added that some of these issues had been noted and discussed by the Mayor and councilors, and that a similar correspondence was

previously sent by former IMC Chairman, Orrin Gordon, highlighting those very issues. The correspondence, the release stated, “recognised and elucidated areas in which the Town Clerk was in effect by various actions and inactions stymied the progress of this council.” Councillor Deron John, who served on the previous council, stated that this was the same attitude (by the Town Clerk) that caused a previous motion of no confidence to be sent before, the release said. “At the conclusion of this preliminary process at the statutory meeting,

the incumbent Town Clerk was briefed and informed of the motion, relative to her functions as of (yesterday).” “The council did not bar or lock out Ms. Bowen from the office or from performing the duties of Town Clerk. The attempt to disseminate false information to the public by the Town Clerk, even in this matter, is synonymous with the continued attitude and behaviour of the Town Clerk,” the release stated. Councillor Rawle Friday who was also present at the press brief noted that a letter will be sent to the Ministry of Communities in relation to the

motion and the council will be awaiting the minister’s response. Until such time the town clerk is allowed to perform her duties. He added that the situation is a pending one, as this is the beginning of a process. Friday was supported by Arrindell,

who added that the administration’s affairs will not be affected, since the motion is just a recommendation to the Minister and the town clerk is expected to perform her duties as per normal until a decision is made.

In an invited comment, the acting Mayor stated that the motion of no confidence was passed due to performance and not political affiliation. Efforts to obtain a comment from the Town Clerk proved futile.


PAGE 28

Friday July 29, 2016

Kaieteur News

City Council’s reckless Nothing should stop competent behaviour must be dealt with …Secrecy surrounding finances unacceptable – Chris Ram By Abena RockcliffeCampbell It seems as if revelations about how the Mayor, Town Clerk and head of the Finance Committee dealt with the parking meter project represent just the tip of the iceberg. Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan has made some more damning revelations about the state of affairs at City Hall during his appearance on the televised programme, Plain Talk. This show is hosted by anti-corruption advocate Christopher Ram. Among other issues, Duncan gave an insight into the level of secrecy on the council. Duncan said that councilors are left in the dark on too many issues. He noted that the Mayor and City Council has five accounts. However, councillors are only given reports about one account. Kaieteur News understands that a financial report is given to the Council once a month, and that report only contains information about one of the accounts. A People’s Progressive Party/Civic councillor has even gone as far as to move a motion to have the information given to the councillors. But, Town Clerk Royston King found a problem with the motion and told the councillor that it cannot stand. The councillor has vowed to return with another motion. On Plain Talk, Duncan expressed dissatisfaction with how the council is being run. He said that it seems as if some who sit on the council

Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan do not have the best interest of the city at heart. He added, “It is as if they feel no obligation to the people and that is saddening”. Duncan said that the city could have already started to make significant progress, if only the key players were interested in making a difference. Also, Duncan told Ram that before Local Government Elections he spoke about the need for an audit at City Hall, he did same during the leadup to elections and continues to echo that call. Duncan said that now that he has become a member of the Council, he sees the need for an audit more than ever. Yesterday Kaieteur News contacted Ram to get his view on the first hand update he has been given on the state of affairs down at City Hall. Ram said that he could not have been more dissatisfied. The attorney at law said that it is clear that the councillors are not taking their obligation to the city seriously.

Anti-corruption advocate, Christopher Ram He said that there are clear breaches of their statutory duties as councillors. Ram opined that some are acting quite irresponsibly and the behavior of the council is bordering on recklessness. “It is indeed troubling.” The anti-corruption advocate said that something must be done, and questioned, “Are we going to tolerate this for almost another three years? Ram, the immediate former president of the Guyana Bar Association, an auditor, a talk show host, a member of Transparency Guyana and a strong independent voice against corruption, is often in touch with the people on the ground. He said that an overwhelming number of people he spoke with only see the current state of affairs at City Hall as a continuation of what was happening before Local Government Election. He said that those who made an effort to change things by voting are very disappointed.

Jagdeo is a dangerous impediment... From page 3 me that if you want to assault a community, you attack its source of sustenance. That is not what the government has done. To the contrary, the government has sought to strengthen the Indian Guyanese economic base.” The WPA Executive Member said that what makes Jagdeo's statements dangerous is that they are coming from a top leader, and are likely to be believed by the target audience. Dr. Hinds asserted that if the Opposition Leader were making a case on behalf of the Indian Guyanese community and representing their concerns, he would have been in order. The political activist said that this is not the case. Dr. Hinds asserted that Jagdeo is exploiting the community's fears, using untruths and half-truths to exacerbate those fears, and painting the government as dangerous to the Indian Guyanese well-being. He said that this is unaccept-

able. The WPA Executive Member emphasised that it is the intent of the statements and the possible outcome that are ethnically dangerous. As such, Dr. Hinds said that Jagdeo is making it difficult to bring about any semblance of national reconciliation and consensus. With regard to Government's response to the utterances, Dr. Hinds stated that it is “doing the best it can to combat this campaign by Jagdeo”. “It has issued a strong statement. But given the intensity and relentlessness of the PPP's strategy, the governing parties have to be more politically nimble on the matter,” Dr. Hinds opined. He stressed that the administration has to speak directly to the Indian communities. He suggested that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan have to “get into the trenches” in the Indian

Community, as well as in the media, and speak politically to that community. Dr. Hinds said that the government has to show that community what it has done for them in policy terms and tangible ways. He said, too, that President David Granger needs to be part of that discussion. He opined that Granger is perhaps the only African in the government, who by virtue of his office and his reputation for fairness, that can command an audience among Indian Guyanese. Also important to addressing the situation, Dr. Hinds said, is the need for the Ministry of Social Cohesion to get busy. “That ministry has to do the hard work of public education, day in day out. It has to have field officers on the ground educating people so as to soften the blow of Jagdeo and the PPP campaign of fear.”

former army officers from getting state jobs - Granger

By Abena RockcliffeCampbell “We want good cats,” said President David Granger as he explained his position on public appointments. The President has been accused on several occasions, and from several critics, of favouring former military officers. However, on the Public Interest, Granger clarified that he appoints those who he sees as fit for the job. Further, Granger noted that he is not making history in appointing former GDF officers to do state work. He said that his predecessors, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar appointed former military officers. Granger basically said that the real problem is not the appointment of former military officers, but the appointment of former military officers by a former military officer. The President told reporters, “You can ask (former) President Jagdeo and President Ramotar why they appointed Major General (Joseph) Singh to his present position; why they appointed Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup to the CDC (Civil Defence Commission); why they appointed, Colonel

Brassington Reynolds as a Judge; why they appointed Colonel (Jawahar) Persaud as Accountant General; and you can go through an entire list of people.” He said that when he assumed Presidential Office in May 2015 there were about 10 Officers who were appointed by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration. “These are human beings, people with skills; they are not a separate breed of citizens. We cannot deprive them of their rights. If they have the talent, the experience, the qualifications why not (give them positions)?” President Granger asked. He went further to note that he does not and will not discriminate against former military officers “and obviously Jagdeo and Ramotar did not discriminate against them, because I inherited a large number of former military officers who have been appointed by the PPP administration.” The President said that he does not see anything wrong with “asking a Colonel here or Brigadier there to do a Commission of Inquiry. The question is, are they competent to

President David Granger do it?” Granger then quoted an old saying that goes “it doesn’t matter if it is a black cat or a white cat, if it catches the rat, it is a good cat.” He then said, “We want good cats.” Granger reiterated that appointments are made based on competence. “No one criticized when the PPP appointed them, why criticize when I do.” The President said that he was due to make some criticism when an army officer was taken out of the force to become a Minister within the PPP/C government.

Environment portfolio to be placed under Ministry of Presidency The Environment portfolio of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment will soon be stripped from that ministry and placed under the Ministry of the Presidency, in an effort to remove potential conflicts. Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman made this disclosure on Wednesday before the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources. Trotman told Committee members that the decision was made after a series of consultations between himself, President David Granger and the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. The Department of Environment will come at a time when the Ministry seeks to focus more on oil, gas, bauxite, gold and forestry. “Out of the 24 hours in a day, oil and gas is taking up about 18 hours, so it requires intense attention, and so a Department of the Environment is being put together in the Ministry of the Presidency,” Trotman told the Committee. He explained that the Environmental Protection

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman Agency; the Wildlife Management and the Protected Areas Commission will come under the Department of the Environment. Earlier this week, Minister Harmon said that the Office of Climate Change and several other environment-related areas are already under the management of the Ministry of the Presidency and it is the

President’s intention to ensure that all of these entities are in the same place. “And so if you are responsible for extraction then the entity that is responsible for supervising you must be able to do so without having to report to the same minister that is responsible for the same people who are doing the extraction,” he said.


Friday July 29, 2016

13,330 purged from system: Food Card audit roots out ‘ghost’ holders Trinidad Guardian - From Monday, some 13,330 Food Card (Targeted Conditional Cash Transfer Programme) recipients will be removed from the system following an audit and update of the system. The deactivation of the cards will save the Government $100 million annually, Minister of the People and Family Services, Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn, said Wednesday in an exclusive interview with the T&T Guardian. On March 15, CrichlowCockburn, through her ministry, had appealed to some 14,960 food card recipients to go into the ministry to ensure their information was updated. The cardholders were initially given three months to do so but due to a slow response the deadline was extended to July 15. “And as of July 15, only 1,630 recipients came in to have their card activated. It means that we are going to deactivate 13,330 people from the system from August 1. You can draw your own conclusions,” CrichlowCockburn said during an interview at her Port-of-Spain

Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn office. Crichlow-Cockburn said Government would now save $100 million from the process which could now be utilised “purposely” in her ministry. Earlier this year, the ministry had also removed approximately 4,000 from the programme, which saved the Government $25 million annually. Thereafter, on May 1, the Government put a temporary

hold on 11,800 of 13,000 food card recipients. Of the ministry’s 27,000 food card recipients, Crichlow-Cockburn said 24,000 were paid via a debit card system, while 3,158 cardholders were on a biometric system. The minister said the 27,000 cardholders did not include the 13,000 recipients whose cards were put on a temporary hold two months ago. Crichlow-Cockburn said ample warning was given to the cardholders via the print, electronic media, phone calls, home visits and on the ministry’s website to update their status. Those whose cards would be deactivated in the coming days, she said, could re-apply and would be re-assessed for qualification. Had her ministry not removed the 4,000 cardholders from the system, CrichlowCockburn said every year $25 million would have gone down the drain. The cards carry values of $410 to $700. “Having carried this exercise further, we realised over 15,000-plus cardholders were not registered and were asked to come in.

Brazil’s Lula petitions UN over corruption probe ‘abuses’ London (AFP) - Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva yesterday filed a petition with the UN Human Rights Committee outlining alleged abuses of power in the corruption case he is embroiled in. At a press conference in London, his Brazilian and British lawyers said they had just returned from the United Nations in Geneva where they had lodged the petition. The dossier outlined alleged violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and alleged abuses of power by judge Sergio Moro. Moro heads the investigation into a vast scam centred on state oil company Petrobras in which contractors paid bribes to receive inflated contracts, and stolen money was funnelled to politicians and political parties. Lula faces a corruption case related to the Petrobras scandal and is being investigated for an allegedly much wider role in the scheme. “Lula is bringing his case at the UN because he cannot get justice in Brazil under its inquisitorial system,” said high-profile British human rights lawyer Geoffrey

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Robertson. “The same judge who is invading his privacy in this case can have him arrested at any moment and will then become his trial judge, deciding on his guilt or innocence without a jury. “This is a serious fault in the inquisitorial system as it operates in Brazil.” The petition invites the committee to find that the Brazilian justice system should be changed so that a judge investigating a case should not also be the trial judge. The petition alleges that Lula’s right to privacy, free-

dom from arbitrary arrest and right to be presumed innocent until found guily has been violated. Lawyers for the 70-yearold Workers’ Party founder said the leftist icon’s phone and those of his family and lawyers had been tapped, with transcripts and audio then leaked to Brazilian media — some of which, they claimed, was illegally obtained outside the remit of a warrant. Robertson claimed the probe amounted to a “gross violation of the most fundamental right to a fair trial”. “There’s no evidence that he took backhanders or kickbacks in the period when he was president,” he added. Dozens of top executives and politicians at both the Workers’ Party and its rivals have been charged or probed with involvement in the scheme, which flourished for much of Lula’s 2003-2010 presidency. The scandal has unfolded in parallel with the fall from power of president Dilma Rousseff, who took over from Lula. She was suspended from office for an impeachment trial, potentially ending 13 years of Workers’ Party rule.

As US election nears...

Pres. Obama passes torch to Hilary Clinton (BBC) US President Barack Obama has delivered a stirring speech at the Democratic convention, hailing Hillary Clinton as his political heir and rounding on “homegrown demagogue” Donald Trump. “There has never been a man or woman, not me, not Bill, nobody more qualified than Hillary” to be president, he said. When boos rang out at the name of the Republican candidate, Mr Obama simply said: “Don’t boo. Vote.” Mr Trump responded by rejecting the president’s portrayal of optimism. “Our country does not feel ‘great already’ to the millions of wonderful people living in poverty, violence and despair,” he said on Twitter. President Obama is good at this. He’s really, really good at this. For all his flaws - and conservatives will be quick to point them out - he’s always been able to deliver a pitchperfect speech on the biggest stages, and this was no exception. It was the kind of speech that had some conservatives shaking their heads, wondering how their party ceded the optimistic high ground to their opponents. Mr Obama even quoted Ronald Reagan’s

“shining city on a hill” line, if only to make the political shift all the more clear. But he also reserved fierce words for Mr Trump, challenging the Republican’s view of the US as “a divided crime scene”. Mr Obama said the US he knew was not a “country where we turn against each other, and turn away from the rest of the world”. Writing in the Washington Post, EJ Dionne Jr says that Mr Obama’s mission in his speech was to try “to safeguard his legacy by ensuring his time in the White House would not be seen by history as having culminated in the election of Donald Trump.

And so he went to work, combining rational argument with evangelical exhortation in the classic Obama fashion”. Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Michael Shear in the New York Times recall Mr Obama’s speech at the 2004 convention that thrust him into the national spotlight, in which he rejected the “politics of cynicism”. His challenge now, they say, is “to find a way to acknowledge that the political divides he promised to bridge have only grown deeper and more acrimonious while arguing persuasively that the way to rise above them is to elect Mrs Clinton”.

in the July 15-16 putsch, including around 40 percent of Turkey’s admirals and generals. Around a third of Turkey’s roughly 360 generals were detained, and more than 100 of them have already been charged pending trial. Turkey hosts American troops and warplanes at Incirlik Air Base, from which the United States flies sorties against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. Those air operations were temporarily

halted following the coup attempt. Clapper, asked about the impact of events in Turkey on the fight against Islamic State, replied: “It’s having an effect, because it’s affected all segments of the national security apparatus in Turkey.” “Many of our interlocutors have been purged or arrested,” he added. “There’s no question this is going to set back and make more difficult cooperation with the Turks.”

Turkey military purges spare ISIS

(Reuters) Turkey’s purge of its military after a failed coup attempt is hindering cooperation in the U.S.-led fight against Islamic State, James Clapper, the U.S. director of national intelligence, said yesterday. The purge has swept aside many Turkish officers who dealt with the United States and landed some of them in jail, Clapper and head of U.S. Central Command General Joseph Votel said while both were speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in Aspen, Colorado. Turkey launched a major overhaul of NATO’s secondbiggest military after the abortive coup, in which Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan narrowly escaped capture and possible death. Nearly 1,700 military personnel received dishonorable discharges over their alleged role


PAGE 30

Vacancies exist for workers @ Ice Factory and Meadow Bank Wharf. Call: 231-1408; 642-9191 8am-2pm

PROPERTY FOR SALE Corner property in Grove, 1 block from Main Road- Flat House, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572

Cashier 6am-3pm & 3pm12pm. Submit application to Shell Station Providence East Bank Demerara, shellramsburg@gmail.com

High value transported land and 2 bedrooms newly built house, Greater Diamond E.B.D -$16M negotiable. Call: 265-4338

VACANCY

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING& PUBLISHINGINC–TEL:6004212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822 RAMDASS VISA APPLICATION & immigration services, room A-4, Maraj Building, Georgetown. Call Samantha: 227-0295; 615-9295 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Guytec Repairs Services & Spares to washing machines, pressure washer, dryer, stoves, refrigerator, treadmill, vacuum, etc –Call: 680-2377 Hello the doctor is back! Have your gas stove service and repairs. Call: 601-0595; 220-4073; 220-5785 After Care Services: Time: 8:00-4:30/ 12:00-6:30 Mon-Fri. Cost: $10,000 per month. Location: Prashad Nagar. Call: 611- 1981 MASSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heavens touch, visit us today! –Call: 690-6079

Friday July 29, 2016

Kaieteur News

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Register now for summer courses in cosmetology and nails between 2nd -25th August – Cost $15,000 Call Abby:619-7603

Janitorial Staff with experience, able to work flexible hours. Applications must be sent to PO.BOX 12329 1 Nanny to read, tutor & care for 1 year old baby boy. Apply in person @ Alabama Trading, Ferry Stelling Stabroek. 1 Driver for East Bank AreaCall: 233-2745 1 Male cleaner apply at Technical Services Inc 18-23 Industrial Site Eccles.

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Taxi driver wanted – Call A1 Taxi Services: 220-1000 Female room attendant. Tel: 225-0198 or visit 233 South Road, Lacytown. Assistant cook. Apply within call: 611-5615; 225-7933 or visit us at 173 Sheriff Street

Teepee Suites Apartments: Lot 7 Princes Street, Charlestown, Guyana. Call: 592-223-7903/email: teepeesuites@yahoo.com One 2 bedroom apartment located at Section ‘A’ Block ‘X’ Great Diamond, E.B.D. For more information, please call: 643-9286; 603-0067 Bobcats & Excavator Rentals. Call: 679-0374; 683-2122 2 Bedrooms bottom flat to rent lot 5 Wallers Delight, W.C.D -$45,000 monthly. Call: 6744929; 662-0187 1 Complete 3 storey building for rent at 68 Pike St. Kitty Call: 615-8176 Two bedrooms apartment located at Stanleytown, W.C.D. Call: 696-8714 Two bedrooms upstairs apartment for rent in Diamond/Grove Housing Scheme -$45,000 monthly – Call: 602-7135

EDUCATIONAL Electronic Course. Starting 9th August. Hands-on training repairing all types of TVs, etc. Call: 226-6551; 225-0391 IAE: Register for full time school (Grades 7-11) CSEC lessons; adults and school leavers CXC classes. Call Mr. Roberts: 683-5742 Summer classes in Maths, English, Phonics, composition writing and much more for slow leaners. Call: 675-4379 TO LET One bedroom apartment, self contained, unfurnished @ Land of Canaan E.B.D. Call Navo: 692-3617; Bob:6420867

Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Newly built @ Craig E.B.D (land size: 91X50 feet), (House 40X28), 3 rooms, 1 self contained. Call:718-213-6496; 679-8091 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities -Price Reduced – Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 1 Church building in front and 2 story building at the back 30X120, vacant possession, 180 Charolotte Street Bourda. Call:624-7341/227-6817/226-5183 House Lot For Sale @ Parika, Old Road. Contact#650-0402 Property for sale @ lot 32 Princess Street, Werk-enRust. Call: 621-8767 House & land 2 storey concrete building (4 bedrooms; 2 self-contained), semi-furnished in Grove & Diamond New Scheme. Call: 216-1861 2 Storey wooden & concrete 5 bedrooms, (2 selfcontained), concrete fence & garage. 1 Roadside, 2 storey building @ V/Hoop (ideally business/residence). Call: 614-0107

VEHICLE FOR SALE

FOR SALE

2010 IST -$2.6M, 2011 BLUEBIRD -$2.7M, 2011 RACTIS -$2.6M, 2009 AXIO -$2.4M, 2009 BELTA -2.4M. CALL: 617-2891

Perkins V8 Turbo Charge 170KVa Generator in working condition, Call 223-7380

SALE! SALE! 2010 IST $2.4M, 2009 NOAH -$2.5M, ARUIS -$2.5M- CALL: 6172891 3 TON CANTER ENCLOSE AND OPEN BACK WITH 4D ENGINE, PRICE -$3.6M, NEVER REGISTERED – CALL: 617-2891 1 L-Touring Wagon (yellow) for sale $750,000 negotiable. Call: 616-0111 1 Model ‘M’ Truck, winch complete –price $800,000 negotiable. Call: 629-1892 2009 RX8, Allion, Music Bus, Small bus, Motor cycle, Benz. Call: 265-4979 1 Nissan Blue Bird 2006 Model- Call: 674-2170 owner leaving country 2005 Tacoma -$2.4M, Massey Tractor from Canada: MF 165 -$1.7M, MF 135 $1.2M –MF 265 $2.2M, 165 Loader -$2.3M – Call: 682-5230; 628-9596 One 4 wheel drive, automatic, extra cab, Toyota Hilux, GSS series. Call: 614-0107; 6928923 Toyota AT212, in good condition -$900,000- Call: 6903352; 267-1308; 626-2841 Honda Civic M/Car “SS” series -$1.3M- Call: 696-2815 1 Toyota Noah Wagon – Call: 227-4339/ 227- 8772

40X32 House @ Anna Catherina, W.C.D –price $13.5M negotiable- Call: 6462341; 225-7164 Property @ Lot 318A Yarrowkabra, Linden Highway (200ftX350ft). Call: 646-5063 Two properties @ Timehri Welcome sign, including one ChineseRestaurant.Call:646-5063 TO LET Newly renovated three bedrooms house in safe and healthy environment. Call: 677-6638; 622-6512

One 2 bedrooms apartment, one 1 bedrooms apartment at Timehri –Call: 658-4754

LAND FOR SALE We have interest in buying lands at Farm & Herstelling. Call: 266-0693

1 -580C Hymac), 1-130 KVA Gen Set 4-Cly, 1-55 dump truck with Hiab, 1-600 RR CBR 2010, 1-3 Ton Road Roller. Call: 6411421; 684-4804 1 Craftsman generator 42,000 watts-$50,000. Call: 628-7337 LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. MIX BREED PUPS –CALL: 615-0146 One 6 base music set with QSC amps, RCF speakers. Call: 622-0503; 689-9932 1-Leyland 45 Truck $1.5 MContact# 650-0402 Sheep & duck for sale. Call: 695-6139 1 Hilux 5L pickup, 1 complete music set & transported property @ Govent Garden, E.B.D. Call: 265-3586 Toyota IST-$1,895,000, Toyota Fielder-$1,895,000, Toyota Spacio-$1,895,000, BMW 318i-$2.3M, Audi A4$3.7M. Contact#650-0402 1 Nissan B13 Car any good deal accepted. Call: 687-2835; 684-3195 1 -2700 PSI pressure washer, 1 5Gal hand & Bissell wet vacuum, 1 steam cleaner, 1 tank & hose for pressure washer -$180,000. Call: 2275169

Land for sale at Eccles and Diamond. Call: 609-7766 Transported land with fruit trees, fenced, fill high -$4.3M @ Richmond Essequibo Coast, next to School–Call: 682-5230; 628-9696

Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, phone games, applications & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 2653231 Dachshund pups (mixed) 7 weeks old -$20,000 –Call: 614-0562

CAR RENTAL

CAR RENTAL

FOR SALE/RENT

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL. COM

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM

American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578

Aidan’s Car Rental: 4WD pickup. Call: 698-7807

Wings 4WD pickup rental: 679-3525

TAXI SERVICE

1 Transported property, 1 5L Hilux Pickup, 1 complete music system- Call: 265-3586

1 Toyota Super GL minibus, (Pitbull), 2008 model, power window & fully A/C. Only 1 month old. Call: 652-4640; 664-2088

Self-contained rooms in Prashad Nagar. Tel: 227-2993

GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)

Used XBOX 360 and play station 3- $35,000, plastic barrels -$4,000. Call: 6217497; 603-8643

LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call:225-9032;647-2943;6045198 One 8" by 6 ft jouter price $170,000 & drill press $40,000. Call: 618-3359; 6626326 Continue page 22


Friday July 29, 2016

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

School dropouts in Guyana…

UNICEF initiative aims at root causes

The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is currently conducting a study to determine the reasons why large numbers of children are out of school. Statistics provided show that some 16 percent of Guyanese children do not receive a nursery education, while 15 percent of the country’s adolescents are school dropouts. Paolo Marchi, Deputy Representative of UNICEF, told a workshop recently held at the Regency Suites on Hadfield Street, Georgetown, that it is important for the country to determine the causes of these children being out of school. ”Where are they? What do they do all day? Are they safe?” Marchi questioned. He said that the Global Out-Of-School Children Initiative offers an opportunity for Guyana to respond to these questions. It has been viewed as unfair that children have to remain out of school due to circumstances that they may have no control over. ”Like simply because they might have been born in a remote area, or have a disability, or victims of poor families.” Marchi said that Guyana has committed to the sustainable development goals, and one of those goals spoke about the quality education for all and the promotion of lifelong learning. He added that UNICEF was committed to ensuring that the goal was realized hence the purpose of the workshop to find the root causes. The deputy representative said it was hoped that the workshop would provide the understanding to eradicate the scourge in the near future. Meanwhile, Acting Chief Education Officer Ms. Donna Chapman said that it is unacceptable that existing statistics are not being used. ”There are several assessments; National Grade Two, National Grade Four, which I must remind, was always meant to be diagnostic...then we have Grade Six and Nine Assessments, but although we have all those assessments, where are we at this time?”Chapman queried. ”Are we using the data coming out of those assessments? Are we really using the data to inform us so we can make better decisions? Are we using the data to help those children who have not been performing that well?” Chapman warned persons against thinking that only societal ills are responsible for children being out of school. ”We need to look at the education system. Do we use

the data to carry out remedial classes?” Chapman said that if educators would examine the data, it would show the need for students to take remedial classes. ”But are we training our teachers to do that?” Chapman asked. She said that while the SEN (Special Education Needs) Unit has been established, it is grossly understaffed. ”We need to adequately staff that unit to ensure that more attention is paid to slow learners...because what is happening now is that they are looking more at disabilities,” she added. Admitting that social ills do affect many children, she said that the country has made significant strides in helping them. ”As you know, for decades we have been distributing exercise books. We’ve reached a stage where we have been distributing text books for core subjects and technical vocational subjects.” There is also the distribution of school uniforms and the school

Paolo Marchi, Deputy Representative of UNICEF

Acting Chief Education Officer Ms. Donna Chapman

feeding programme that has been resulting in many success stories. ”There is still a lot more to be done, but we have seen increased attendance in some areas.” Meanwhile, there has been much debate on the issue of having guidance counselors in school, especially considering that Guyana’s suicide figures are among the highest in the world, and large

numbers of the country’s children do not attend school, or have dropped out before completing their secondary education. ”There are many children who are coming to our schools with a lot of emotional conflicts. Are our teachers trained to spot the child who has the potential to drop out...we have many of them sitting there, but they are not relating to what is

happening?” Chapman pointed out. She said that while teaching the curriculum is key, it is important that schools produce mentally stable children. ”Do we have adequate guidance and counselors? And that’s always a big no.” The question of whether the Ministry of Education can afford counselors has always been asked. ”I believe we know of that famous quote which says, “‘If you think education is expensive, try ignorance,’ so we have to afford it. We have to find the money.” She also cited the importance of having officers equipped enough to provide career guidance for secondary school students. ”Many children are leaving our schools...secondary schools at that, and they don’t know what they want to be - their career ambition.” There are also many cases where children, when they finally figure out what career they want to pursue, realize that they did not study the required subjects.

From page 21

WANTED Buying non working appliances: washing machine, treadmill, refrigerator, pressure washer, etc. whatsapp picture: 6618802 Wanted urgently, general domestic workers, good pay. Call: 641-3687 Salesgirl & porters. Apply with written application at 1E Dennis & Middleton Street, Campbellville. Fly wheel 3S gear box. Call: 609-1490; 261-3645 Wanted to buy fresh cuts Wamara & Tonka bean logs. Call: 664-5150, 648-1619 Salesgirls- apply at Dian’s Deli, Bar Street, opposite Kitty Market. Call: 225-3700 Handy boys to work live in; free accommodation and meals are provided. Call: 6498449; 616-3282 2 Experienced handyman & bar/shop workers for Interior, 1 handyman for G/Town, age 18-35yrs. Call: 231-0363 MonFri 9:00-11:30 & 1:30-4:30pm Radar Security Services: security officers with at least 3yrs experience & valid police clearance. Call: (592) 2314844; 646-0336; 679-5872 Labourers. Contact Friendship Slipway & Co. Ltd, 7 Friendship, E.B.D. Call: 266-2217; 266-0311 between 7:30am-4:30pm Fiber glass worker on E.C.D. Call: 622-3250; 665-9747 Responsible hire car drivers. Call: 231-7475 Experienced sand truck driver – Call: 227-8529; 2237356 Drivers/Dispatchers to work @ Gem’s Taxi Service- Call: 225-5075; 231-3709 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 ONE HANDYMAN contact 223-5273/4 VACANCY Part-time Babysitter with valid US visa. Experience with children. Hiring on excellent recommendations ONLY. Tel# 655-1560.


PAGE 32

Kaieteur News

Friday July 29, 2016


Friday July 29, 2016

Kaieteur News

Chinese Firm To Establish US$2 Billion Industrial Zone The Gleaner - Chinese company, Jiuguan Iron and Steel Company (JISCO) are to invest US$2 billion to establish an industrial zone in Nain, St Elizabeth over a four-year period creating over 3,000 new jobs. This includes the acquisition of the ALPART plant in St Elizabeth. Transport and Mining Minister Mike Henry says the government is excited about the prospects of the industrial zone. Just last week JISCO inked an interest purchase agreement with Russian a l u m i n a c o m p a n y, U C Rusal to buy the ALPART plant in St Elizabeth South East. Henry says JISCO is expected to complete the take-

Mike Henry

over of ALPART by November this year creating an initial 700 jobs. He also said the company will retain the current ALPART staff and recruit most of the workers who were

previously laid off. Looking ahead, the mining minister said the Chinese company will formulate an integrated planning scheme for the next three to five years.

Govt. promises tighter policing of public funds amid disturbing audits Jamaica Observer - Information Minister Senator Ruel Reid Wednesday sought to assure the public that the Government plans to act in the face of mounting reports of blatant breaches of Government regulations and guidelines on the use of public funds and resources. “The matter is under review… we are committed to making sure that the requisite regulations and legislative provisions to better hold all persons accountable. The Government is seized of the issue and we are very serious in stamping out any form of corruption,” Reid said. His comments were solicited at a post-Cabinet press briefing in the wake of yet another scandalous report of various breaches of the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act by the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ). The report of the special audit, carried out by the Auditor General’s Department, was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday and showed multimillion-dollar payments to senior officers for which they were not entitled. The PAJ audit was preceded by other disturbing reports over recent months, including the apparent splurge at the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ); irregularities at the Sugar Industry Authority of Jamaica in the disbursement of multimillion-dollar loans to senior managers of the agricul-

Ruel Reid ture ministry; and the misuse of members’ funds at the National Peoples’ Cooperative Bank. At a recent sitting of the Public Accounts Committee of the House, committee chairman Dr Peter Phillips argued that the oversight capabilities of parent ministries “may” need to be strengthened in order to stem these breaches. “This question, which has occurred previously, where boards say we don’t report to the accountable officer (permanent secretary) and that we only report to the minister, creates an area of uncertainty. It often leads to the ability of the accountable officer only getting involved after the damage to the public interest has occurred,” the former finance minister pointed out.

He made the observation during a stormy sitting, where the management of the FCJ came under fire for what appeared to be its loose use of public funds. Permanent secretary with oversight for the FCJ, Audrey Sewell, explained that the ministry cannot “po l i c e ” s o m e b o a r d s , because some agencies do not consult with the ministry as much as others in making their decisions. “There are some boards that consult with the ministry a lot for guidance; there are others that do not consult as much and, unfortunately, some of the things that happen, we don’t know until after an audit is conducted, or some of the CEOs may consult us to say, ‘this is happening and we are uncomfortable with this’,” she explained.

PAGE 33


PAGE 34

Kaieteur News

Friday July 29, 2016


Friday July 29, 2016

Kaieteur News

Govt. to increase protection of territorial waters KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government intends to do more to safeguard the country’s territorial waters against poaching. Noting that Jamaica loses approximately US$10 million annually due to illegal fishing. He said the fishing jurisdiction is an important zone that, if properly protected and tapped into, can contribute significantly to the country’s growth and development. “The economic space that is under Jamaican jurisdiction is 25 times the size of our landmass. There is significant economic value within that zone which we have not tapped fully,” said Holness who was speaking to reporters following a tour of the company – Rainforest Seafoods here Wednesday. According to Holness, securing the country’s natural resources will enable companies like Rainforest Seafoods to thrive. He charged Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rainforest Seafoods, Brian

Andrew Holness

Jardim, to develop new products and to increase the number of persons employed. He further commended the company’s outreach programmes and its contributions to the local economy. Jardim, in his remarks, said plans are in place to expand the company’s operations in the western city of Montego Bay, which will result in over 100 persons being employed, and development of a port docking facility. “We are [also] building a plant in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is

significant to us as a supply source and as a market,” Jardim said. President of the Jamaica Manufacturing Association (JMA) Metry Seaga congratulated Rainforest Seafoods on the expansion of its facility and the company’s commitment to the Jamaican economy. He also lauded the entity for supporting smaller manufacturers and members of the fishing community. Rainforest Seafoods is the Caribbean’s largest supplier of premium quality fish and seafood to domestic and foreign markets.

PAGE 35


PAGE 36

Friday July 29, 2016

Kaieteur News

Ten-wicket haul for Royal as Jamaica beat Guyana KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – Jeavor Royal finished with a ten-wicket match haul as Jamaica defeated Guyana by 39 runs inside two days, in their opening round threeday game of the Regional Under-19 Championship here Thursday. Playing at Park Hill, Guyana were set 152 for victory but were dismissed for 112 in their second innings, as Jamaica leapt to the top of the standings. Keemo Paul top-scored with 35 but Javelle Glenn ripped apart the innings with five for 27 while Royal picked up for four 23. Royal, who had earlier taken six for 29 in Guyana’s first innings of 121, finished with match figures of ten for 52.

In their run chase, Guyana lost Raymond Perez cheaply for four with the score on 13 but Joshua Persaud (28) and Ronaldo Renee (24) combined in a second wicket stand of 34 to steady the innings. Persaud faced 52 balls and struck three fours and a six while Renee faced 61 deliveries and counted three fours. Both were dismissed by Glenn in a side that saw three wickets fall for 25 runs, to leave Guyana on 72 for four. However, West Indies Under-19 star Paul produced a cameo knock, banging two fours and three sixes off just 21 balls, as he put on 32 for the fifth

Keemo Paul … played a cameo in the second innings for Guyana. wicket with Trevor Persaud (12). Once Paul became Glenn’s third wicket at 104 for five, six wickets fell for eight

runs in a swift collapse. Jama i c a , w h o l e d b y 22 runs on first innings, had been earlier dismissed cheaply for 129 in

their second innings with Royal top-scoring with 44. The innings was slumping at 50 for six when Royal arrived to add 39 for the seventh wicket with Rashjni Roye (12), and 40 for the eighth with Andre Bailey (18), to prop up the innings. Royal struck four fours and two sixes off 46 deliveries. Other scores at the close on the second day of the opening round of threeday matches in the Regional Under-19 Championship here Thursday: Scores: At Sion Hill: Windwards lead by 158 runs. W I N D WA R D ISLANDS 109 all out (Alick Athanaze 39, Anil Matthew

23; Kofi James 3-20, Daniel Doram 3-21, Kian Pemberton 3-23) & 153 for seven (Emmanuel Stewart 58, Alick Athanaze 47; Kian Pemberton 2-11, Javy Benjamin 2-16) LEEWARD ISLANDS 104 all out (Ross Powell 33; Rasheed Fredericks 4-25, Othneil Lewis 3-23) At Arnos Vale: Barbados trail by 200 runs. TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 371 (Kirstan Kallicharan 110, Bryan Boodram 88, Cephas Cooper 59, Dejourn Charles 51; Leniko Boucher 5-66, Chemar Holder 2-85, Dominic Drakes 2-79) BARBADOS 171 for six (Shian Brathwaite 72, Yvan Grant 22, Leniko Boucher 20; Jonathan Bootan 3-43, Bryan Boodram 2-38)

Warriors qualifies for Play-offs... (Continued on page 32) the last ball of the first over. Ahmed Shehzad (15) took two boundaries off Tanvir in the second over before he hit the left-arm pacer to Smith, to leave the Tridents on 19-1. Veerasammy Permaul was introduced in the third over and was punched for four by Hope and pulled for another boundary by David Wiese

and the experiment to use him at number three was working well. Wiese was dropped by Maddison at mid-off to the dismay of his Captain Rayad Emrit and added insult to injury with a spanking shot next ball, which raced to the boundary in a flash. Malik joined Weise and took the score to 48-2 after the six

power-play overs. Malik stroked Chris Barnwell, bowling his first over in the tournament, with surgical precision behind point for four. Weise then stroked Permaul behind point for four before Malik clobbered Barnwell over long-off for six and when the partnership was building, a 170 total looked likely, especially since big hitters Kieron Pollard and Nichols Pooran was still to bat. But Barnwell broke the stand in the 13th over when Weise lofted him to long-off at 97-3 before the 100 came up in the 14th over. Pooran (3) tried to attack too soon and was taken at deep mid wicket off Steven Jacobs and Pollard lifted Emrit to Mohamed before he had scored and two wickets had fallen in the space of three runs to leave the score on 1045 much to the delight of large Guyanese contingent in a crowd of just over 4,000. Although Malik continued to bat well he got little support and Akeil Hosein (5) was removed at 121. Adam Zampa held a magnificent one-handed catch off his own bowling to send Raymon Reifer (1) packing at 123-7. But Malik who hit the final ball of the innings for six to reach his fifty and Ravi Rampaul (8) who was dropped by Mohamed, who has taken 10 catches so far but dropped two last night, took the Tridents to what was eventually an inadequate score. Scores: TRIDENTS 142 for seven off 20 overs (Shoaib Malik 45, David Wiese 40; Rayad Emrit 2-24, Sohail Tanvir 2-35) lots to AMAZON WARRIORS 143 for four off 18.2 overs (Nic Maddinson 50, Dwayne Smith 50; Raymon Reifer 2-22).

Friday July 29 , 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Proceed with caution if operating equipment or vehicles. Investments concerning your residence will be profitable. You will have the discipline and fortitude to accomplish what you want today. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You can learn from those who have had similar experiences. You will enjoy events that lean toward theater, art, or music today. Your ability to put things together will be appreciated by your comrades. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Be sure to find out all you can before you commit to anything. You will easily blow situations out of proportion. Home improvement projects will go well if you delegate work to all your family members. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Love could develop at social events that are work related. You can make money if you put your mind to it. Make sure that you get legal matters checked out thoroughly. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You will get along well in social situations. Loans will be attainable and legal matters easily taken care of. Intellectual stimulation is what you are looking for. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Social get-together will bring you in contact with intelligent new friends. You need to take a good look at all sides of an

issue before making a decision. Outings with relatives or good friends will provide you with stimulating conversation. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Try not to be too harsh with your mate. You may want to pull out some of those unfinished project you've got tucked away. Don't make any rash decisions that may affect friendships. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Look into events that you might find interesting, and compromise by doing a few things that you both like to do. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Do not get involved in joint financial ventures. Your compassion will be appreciated more than you can imagine. Intellectual stimulation is what you are looking for. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Look into ways to make your home more comfortable. You need to make your lover feel wanted, not like a piece of the furniture. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Don't hesitate to enlist the aid of friends or family if you have a big project to finish in your domestic environment. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your pilgrimage may end up being fruitless. Don't take advantage of your expense account. Try not to be too harsh with loved ones; there will always be two sides to an Issue.


Kaieteur News

Friday July 29, 2016

PAGE 37

F1 cockpit protection system delayed until 2018 HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY (Reuters) Formula One has decided to delay the introduction of a proposed cockpit-protection device by one year, deciding to develop it further before adopting some form of the concept for 2018. The key players in the sport’s strategy group met in Geneva on Thursday to vote on the adoption for 2017 of the ‘halo’ head protection device, which is fixed to the cockpit at three points, including a central pillar right in front of the driver. The strategy body, made

up of representatives of the top teams, the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) and commercial rights holder Formula One Management, unanimously agreed to push back the introduction of such a device. “It was decided that owing to the relatively short timeframe until the commencement of the 2017 Formula One season it would be prudent to use the remainder of this year and early next year to further evaluate the full potential of all options before final

Matthew Vieira flawless at Wallerfield in T&T Caribbean Motor Racing Championship F o l l o w i n g a disappointing performance in the opening leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) in Jamaica, Guyana’s Matthew Vieira stormed back into contention in the points standing with a flawless display at Wallerfield in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) over the weekend. Vieira, who was trailing his cousin Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira in the points standing, blitzed to victory in all three races to be crowned champion in the S u p e r b i k e c a t e g o r y, relegating his more illustrious compatriot Stephen to second place on every occasion, while T & T ’s K i e l A b r a h a m captured two third places and another Trinidadian Dominic DeLeon finished third in the final race in the category. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport yesterday, the young Vieira, who many believe is the heir apparent to Stephen, he expressed confidence of doing well for the remainder of the championship, adding that his goal was to get as many points as possible heading into the third leg at Bushy Park in Barbados. Quizzed about how good is his chance of winning the overall title, Vieira said it will be difficult as long as Stephen competes, but he is willing to go out on the track and utilise all his skills to

capture the coveted crown. “As you know Stephen is one of the best in the Caribbean and someone who is very hard to beat, but I will do my best to upstage him in the next two legs,” young Vieira said. Another cousin Elliott, who suffered mechanical problems and was unable to compete, though not a threat mathematically at this point, is also capable of causing anxiety among the top contenders. Commenting on his performance, Vieira, who qualified behind Stephen and Elliott on his Triumph Daytona 675R, said that all three races were very competitive and he believes that the equaliser was the fact that the track was a new one so no rider had a distinct advantage. “It was a fantastic experience I got the results I wanted and hopefully I can build on that during the remaining two legs of the championship,” Vieira told this newspaper. He, however, praised the other riders for their performances and making the races thrilling for the fans. Vieira extended heartfelt thanks to his father Mark, whose support made it possible for him to compete, while also acknowledging the assistance of Andy Phang of Pure Racing, Rio Inn and Cyril’s Garage.

confirmation,” the FIA said in a statement. It added that this would include testing the halo, which remained the preferred concept, on track in practice sessions. However, the FIA said that if a different system offering better protection was developed then that would be adopted. The strategy group’s decision to delay introducing a head protection device is unlikely to go down well with the drivers. MAJORITY IN FAVOUR They were given a briefing at the last race in Hungary that showed the halo, which aims to protect the driver’s head and deflect large debris and objects such as bouncing wheels, would increase their chances of survival by 17 percent. A majority of them were in favour of adopting the concept, which looks like a wishbone with a central pillar supporting a protective loop above the driver’s head, for next year. “We don’t like the looks

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s British driver Lewis Hamilton crosses the finish line to win the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary, on July 24, 2016. (REUTERS/ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/POOL)

of it but I don’t think there’s anything that justifies death,” said Ferrari’s fourtimes world champion S e b a s t i a n Ve t t e l o n Thursday before the strategy g r o u p ’s d e c i s i o n w a s announced. “I think it’s up to us to make sure it does happen,

otherwise I think we’d be quite stupid.” The push for cockpit protection has gathered urgency after the deaths last year of Briton Justin Wilson, hit by debris in an IndyCar crash, and Frenchman Jules Bianchi, who suffered ultimately fatal injuries at

the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. The strategy group also agreed to lift restrictions on radio c o m m u n i c a t i o n s between teams and drivers during a race after the rule curbing it came in for severe criticism over recent races.

Police Inter-Division Championships continue today

Police Sports Officials, Mark Scott (right) and Lyndon Wilson (left) putting the final touches to the ground preparations at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary. The Guyana Police Force Inter-Division Track and Field Championships continue today at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary with Headquarters in a healthy lead.

Headquarters have not lost the title since 1998 and look set to repeat except ‘A’ Division dominates completely today where most of the finals will be held.

Headquarters won the swimming title and led the first and second day of the athletics competition on Tuesday and Wednesday, looking to secure yet another title except a drastic collapse

today. The events today start at 2pm and go into the night. The other units competing are Country Division and ‘B’ Division who are both trailing in distant positions.


Kaieteur News

PAGE 38

Friday July 29, 2016

Which Hot Body will prevail at the Fitness Paradise Gym Expo?

Carlos Ovedo

Onai Vasconcellos Jaryl Moore

With just a few more days of preparation left before the Sunday July 31 Fitness Paradise Gym Expo, speculation is mounting as to who will run away with the Mr. Expo Hot Body title.

The Hot Body event (equivalent to the Mr. Physique contest) has clearly grown to be the most popular male bodybuilding event, based upon the large number of competitors who opt to train for and participate in

this event. Evidence of this popularity has been clear from the 2015 Flex Night event and the 2 GABBFF bodybuilding events of 2016. The Fitness Paradise Gym Expo will be no different on Sunday July

31st. Six lean, well trained male bodies will be judged in the Mr. Expo Hot Body contest. All but one (OnaiVasconcellos) will be first-timers on the Hot Body stage. All, without

exception, have their eyes sharply focused on the Mr. Hot Body top spot. They are Carlos Ovedo, Vickram Jhailu, Darrin Noble, Jaleel Weekes and Jaryl Moore. They have been training rigorously,

dieting intensely and are ready to ‘put out the works’ on Sunday. As is the usual practice, part of the proceeds of the Gym Expo will go towards a disadvantaged group in society.

Warriors qualifies for Play-offs with 6-wkt win over Barbados Tridents By Sean Devers in Florida In association with Noble House Seafoods, Stag Beer, Bounty Supermarket, Payless Varity Store & Trophy Stall The crowd at the Broward Central Park in Fort Lauderdale Florida last night was as disappointing as the Barbados Tridents’ batting as Guyana Amazon Warriors won by six wickets in the Hero CPL opening game of the USA leg to qualify for the play off next week in St Kitts. A defiant unbeaten 55 from 41 balls with three fours and two sixes from 34-

year-old Pakistani Shoaib Malik, who shared in a 48run third wicket stand with South African David Weise who made 40 from 31 balls with three fours and a six, led the Tridents to 142-7 off 20 overs. Rayed Emrit (2-24) and Sohail Tavir (2-35) bowled well for the Warriors who replied with 143-4 from 18.2 overs as a shot-filled 92-run opening partnership between Man-of-the-Match Dwayne Smith and Nick Maddison, in only his second CPL game, powered the Warriors to victory with 10 balls to spare. Smith hammered five fours and three sixes in the even 50 from 34 balls, while the 24-year-old Australian Maddison reached the boundary six times and cleared it once in his 39-ball 50 before the Warriors suffered a little stutter before

getting home. Smith was removed by Reifer in the 11th over, while Maddison was removed by Khan at 122-3 and the tournament’s leading run scorer Chris Lynn (9) provided Reifer with his second wicket. But Barnwell, under pressure to produce, joined Mohamed and batted in positive fashion as his confidence increased. The out of form DCC all-rounder

guided his team to an important win although he lost Mohamed (8) who was removed by Pollard with victory eight runs away. Barnwell (15) and Tanvir (7) formalized the win. The sun was up until 20:00hrs and hotter than anywhere in the West Indies. The Warriors elected to bowl on a slow track and sluggish outfield and Kyle Hope cut Dwayne Smith for four off (From page 34)

Dwayne Smith was brutal as he reached a half century as he earned the man-of-the-match award. ©CPL/Sportsfile


Kaieteur News

Friday July 29, 2016

PAGE 39

Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships 2016

Confident Team Guyana will represent well – Manager Sonoram By Franklin Wilson in St. Lucia compliments of Fazias Collection, Fitness Express and G e r m a n ’s R e s t a u r a n t Manager of the Guyana team to the 2016 Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships, July 30-31, Marc Sonoram says he is confident that the team which features three first timers will represent Guyana well, this weekend. ”Based on the level of competition back home and the criteria that was used to select this team I am satisfied that we have pulled together a team that is hungry and ready to show this nation and by extension the Caribbean, what we are capable of.” Sonoram also posited that the riders have shown a high level of discipline and commitment consistently and this is just reward for their efforts over that past months. The team arrived in St Luci last evening after being in transit in Trinidad and Tobago for five hours. The two experienced riders on the team are Andrew Hicks and Raphael Leung who represented Guyana the last time this country was represented at this level, Suriname, 2015. Both Hicks and Leung

competed in the Juvenile category and placed 6th and 4th, respectively. That same year, Alanzo Ambrose won Guyana’s lone medal, bronze in the Road Race following a spirited and strategic ride. This time around, one of the three debutants, reigning National Junior Time Trials and Road Race champion Christopher Cornelius headlines the team and, based on recent form is expected to lead Guyana’s bid for medals though the competition will not be easy especially from the Trinidad and Tobago riders. The other debutants, Zaman Khan and Jornel Ye a r w o o d a l o n g w i t h Cornelius will bank on the experience of Hicks and Leung. Hicks, has been competing in Trinidad and Tobago for over one year now and has been matching pedals with some of the best youths in the Caribbean. As the most experienced rider on the Guyana team and the eldest, Hicks has promised to make his knowledge work towards the benefit of the team. Manager Sonoram said he is satisfied that his charges, once they stick to the team plan will be able to match the rest of their peers

Three Russians withdrawn, three probed, 11 eligible for Rio (Reuters) Three Russian cyclists have been withdrawn from the Rio Games by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), three riders are under investigation by the s p o r t ’ s w o r l d governing body and 11 are eligible to compete, the UCI said on Thursday. “The UCI, through the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF), is in the process of identifying relevant rider samples and is in close dialogue with

WA D A ( Wo r l d A n t i Doping Agency) to move forward with these cases im m e d i a t e l y, ” t h e governing body said in a statement, referring to the riders under investigation. “Three other riders who have p r e v i o u s l y b e e n sanctio n e d f o r A n t i Doping Rule Violations have been withdrawn by the ROC,” the UCI s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t 11 other Russian riders were eligible to compete at the next month’s Games.

and come out victorious. He informed that the team will be aiming to get familiar with the race route today whilst there are also a n u m b e r o f Te c h n i c a l

Meetings scheduled. Coach Randolph Roberts who last performed such duties at this level in 2011 in Aruba says that the team is an experienced one and they

are here to win. ”The team is very positive of taking back medals to Guyana. They are not over confident. I would like to also note that

selection of this team was not based on friends and families but based on performance so we have the best possible team here to represent our nation.”


Kaieteur News

PAGE 40

Rio headlines Bolt’s arrival ‘The main man has landed’

Jamaican Olympic runner Usain Bolt, center, arrives at Rio de Janeiro International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday. (Photo: AP) LONDON, United Kingdom (AP) — The official website of the Rio Games noted Usain Bolt’s arrival on a flight from London with the headline: “The main man has landed”. Bolt Wednesday night touched down in Rio de Janeiro, ready to fine-tune his preparations for another bid at an Olympic double in the 100- and 200-meter sprints. The 29-year-old

Jamaican has won six Olympic gold medals — the 100, 200 and sprint relays at Beijing in 2008 and at London in 2012 — and is the undisputed star of track and field. The Olympics formally begin with the opening ceremony on August 5, and the track programme starts August 12. Bolt is set to open his program in preliminaries of the 100m on August 13.

Friday July 29, 2016

Singh guides Guyana to victory as Regional U15 commences Skipper Sachin Singh struck a fine half century as defending champions Guyana defeated Windward Islands by seven wickets when the Regional U15 50over tournament commenced in Grenada on Wednesday. Singh slammed four fours and one six off 66 balls before he was dismissed for 50 as Guyana scored 109-3 in 37.4 overs, chasing 108 at Progress Park. Ye u d i s t i r P e r s a u d supported with 29 as Joslev Valmond took 2-10. Earlier, Garvin Serieux made 31 and Jimmy Buddy 21 for Windwards who were bowled out in 41 overs. Leon Swamy had 2-14, Daniel Paul 2-18 Suresh Deodat 219 and Gevon Schultz 2-23. At Tanteen, Leewards beat Jamaica by two wickets. Batting first, Jamaica scored 141 all out in 42.4 overs.

Sachin Singh

Yeudistir Persaud Razzaq Williams got 28 and Romario Bames 27; K’von Esdaille took 2-13 and Taiem Tonge 2-22. Leewards responded with 142-8 in 45.4 overs. Kenny Sutton made 33 and Tariq Newman 22; Romaine Jacob grabbed 4-36.

At La Sagesse, Trinidad and Tobago overcame Barbados by 23 runs. Trinidad and Tobago took first knock and managed 174-8. Jayden Seales stroked 41; Leon Basanoo made 24 as Renacko Belgrave took 2-8 and

Jediah Blades 2-26. Barbados were bowled out for 151 in 46.1 overs in reply. Seth Agard made 35 while Reshawn Worrell made 32 not out; Tariq Mohammed snared 3-21. (CMC)


Kaieteur News

Friday July 29, 2016

PAGE 41

Meet Team Guyana to Caribbean Junior Cycling Championships 2016 – St Lucia

Name: Raphael Leung Club: WS United Age: 17 Category: Junior (Road Race) Experience: Caribbean Junior Championships th 2014 – Suriname (4 Juvenile)

Name: Zaman Khan Club: Flying Ace – Berbice Age: 15 Category: Juvenile Experience: Debut

Name: Andrew Hicks Club: WS United Age: 18 Category: Junior (Road Race & Time Trials) Experience: Caribbean Junior Championships 2014 th – Suriname (6 Juvenile)

Name: Randolph Roberts Club: Flying Ace – Berbice Age: 56 Category: Coach Experience: Junior Caribbean Championships 2011 –Aruba

Name: Christopher Cornelius – Junior National Road Race & Time Trials Champion Club: Evolution Age: 17 Category: Junior (Road Race & Time Trials) Experience: Debut

Name: Jornel Yearwood Club: Linden Bauxite Flyers Cycle Club Age: 17 Category: Junior Experience: Debut

Name: Marc Sonoram Club: Flying Star Age: 38 Category: Manager Experience: Caribbean Junior Championships 2014


Kaieteur News

PAGE 42

Friday July 29, 2016

Hearts of Oak Master football camp underway in Berbice

Participants involved in both classroom and onfield sessions during the Hearts of Oak camp in Berbice. Despite inclement weather, the 19th edition of the Annual Hearts of Oak Masters Football Club “teach them Young” football camp is underway. The camp kicked off on Monday 18th July and is expected to last until Friday 19th August 2015. Sessions are being held at the Scot Church ground, Princess Elizabeth Road,

New Amsterdam and the nearby Prison Officers Sports Club and the All Saints Primary School. Despite the unseasonal rains the youths are turning out to the sessions in their numbers. The programme is being held five days weekly from Monday to Friday except holidays from 09:00hrs 13:00 hrs.

The youths are being taught the basics of the game about the theoretical and practical sessions. The programme also caters for the development of their interpersonal skills and relationship. The practical sessions entail showing the youngsters the various ways in receiving, passing, shooting, taking, dribbling,

goalkeeping and throwing the football among other points. The youths are also expected to be schooled in discipline, etiquette, good table manners and general education which will also include session on HIV and AIDS. Physical fitness is also an integral part of the sessions. The main aim of the programme is to have the

youths better able to appreciate the rules and regulations of the game, improve their knowledge, skills and have a better human relationship along with other attributes. Some of the personnel and coaches involved in the sessions are former national players, Kendrick Bowry, Neil Humphrey and others including Randy Sears.

Other resource personnel are being incorporated to impart their knowledge on various topics during the programme. Interested persons can still make contact with Humphrey on 333-5525 or 687-8764, Secretary Kenrick Bowry on 3334451, any member of the club or turn up at the All Saints Scott Church ground.

Andrew Lewis Novices Boxing C/Ships Keen encounters start today at National Gymnasium anticipated in GASP Open Scrabble Championship

Don Cumberbatch of the GDF is one looking to make his mark Action in the second annual Andrew ‘Six-Heads’ Lewis Novices Boxing Championships punches off this evening and will run until Sunday at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue. The action starts at 19:00hrs nightly and the competition will feature fights in both Male and

Female categories. The young boxers have been preparing at their respective gyms and are eager to get into action. They were involved in the weigh-in and doing medical exercises yesterday at the SixH e a d s G y m i n Albouystown.

Akea Lamizon of the Pocket Rocket Gym at yesterday’s weigh-in. The championships involve 11 gyms from all three counties and keen competition is anticipated among the young fighters over the three nights. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will be keen to mount a successful defence of their title in a tournament which has attracted over 60

young pugilists. Tw o G y m s f r o m Essequibo, Rose Hall Town from Berbice, two Gyms from the Mining Town of Linden and six from the other parts of Demerara will participate. Admission is $500, while children will be admitted free.

Following a scintillating performance in the just concluded tournament where he amassed an impeccable 6 points with a positive spread of 589, top seed, James Krakowsky will attempt to replicate that feat when the nation’s top word formers convene at the Herdmanston Lodge, Queenstown for another Open Championship Sunday, July 31. Despite spelling his way to the top spot Krakowsky will be well aware of the competence of his competitors since several of them had registered 5 points each and had to be separated by dint of their respective spreads. Those players were Kevin Williams (318), Moen Gafoor (312), Curtis Liverpool (295), Leon Belony (60) and Colin Chichester (minus 314). Obviously, these players

will come out with a vengeance and aspiring to clinch the top honour this time around. A fiercely contested tournament is, therefore, on the cards. The organizers are very particular about an early start and advise that registration begins at 09:30hrs while clocks will be started at 10:15hrs sharp. The registration fee is $500 but latecomers would be penalized an additional $200. Further, after the start of the first round, players have an additional 15 minutes to get to his table before being debarred from participation. Prizes will be awarded to the first three finishers as well as the player with the most bingos. This tournament is sponsored by the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP).


Kaieteur News

Friday July 29, 2016

PAGE 43

Digicel Schools Football Championship

Respective management express confidence, Captains envisage tough game By Rawle Welch After almost seven weeks of competition among 160 plus schools, Sunday will mark the end of the road when the final of this year’s Digicel Schools Football Championship is played, at the National Stadium, Providence. It will be a repeat of last year’s championship game when four-time champions Christianburg / Wismar took on Chase Academic Foundation in the final which was won by the former in what was described as a pulsating encounter that went right down to the wire. Yesterday, during a press briefing at the Company’s Head Office in Kingston representatives of the two finalists, Delon Peters of Christianburg / Wismar Secondary and Henry Chase of Chase Academic Foundation expressed confidence of their respective institutions winning the title. Peters in his remarks said in terms of expectations, he expects nothing but the best and this is to win the championship for a fifth consecutive time. “The players are all enthused and excited to be in the final, we’ve seen how emotional they are and this is because they’ve had to withstand all that has been thrown at them and here they are in the championship game,” Peters said. Chase in his reply, exuded extreme confidence, pointing to earlier performances as evidence to

-Digicel excited by the prospect of a rivetting finale

Head of Customer Care Sherwin Osborne (right), Tournament Co-ordinator Lavern Fraser (left), Sponsorship & Events Manager Luanna Abrams (2nd left) pose with teams reps and captains at yesterday’s briefing. support that position. “We are very confident, we’ve looked at every game we’ve played this year and we’re satisfied with our performances,” Chase stated. He said their toughest opponent to date was Annai Secondary and they prevailed, adding that they’ve watched Christianburg / Wismar dominate the competition for years, but felt that the other schools are catching up due to their willingness to invest in their preparations. Also present at the occasion were Captains Kishawn Dey of Christianburg / Wismar and Jeremy Garrett of Chase

Academic Foundation, who both offered their opinions on the game. Dey said he is hoping that both teams come out on Sunday and play strong and give the fans a good game, while Garrett in his response admitted that the game will not be an easy one and pointed to the opposition’s dominance over the past five years as ample testimony to his contention.

Head of Customer care Sherwyn Osborne said as a representative of the Company they are satisfied with the manner in which the championship has been run this year, which according to him, has produced some exciting matches and unearthed a wealth of talent among the young footballers. He was quick to point out that as a Company they’ve acted on the promise to

ensure that all ten regions across Guyana host games, adding that they are also heartened by the response of the various communities. He closed by saying that they are excited to see the two teams’ battle once again this year and expects a rivetting finale. Lavern Fraser, who is the Co-ordinator of the tournament, first extended thanks to all the schools and co-ordinators for their

support once again this y e a r, i n f o r m i n g t h a t without their hard work the success of the event m i g h t n o t h a v e been possible. She added that this year there has been significant improvement in the level of play and lauded the respective schools for the tremendous effort they put forward in getting their players ready to compete. “We are now seeing most schools retain coaches to assist in their preparations and this to me is a very encouraging development,” Fraser mentioned. She said that this year has also seen a reduction in breaches of the rules, but cautioned that even though this is a good sign, for the next edition even more attention will be paid to detect and possibly penalise those in contravention of the rules that govern the championship. Events & Sponsorship manager Luanna Abrams introduced the teams representatives at the start of the briefing and wished both teams well for the final. The winning team will receive $1million, 2nd place $700,000, 3rd place $450,000 and 4th place $300,000 and trophies. All the prizes will go towards a project (s) to benefit the respective institutions.


t r o Sp Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships 2016

Confident Team Guyana will represent well – Manager Sonoram

The Guyana Cycling Federation team to the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships in St Lucia at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport before departing yesterday morning.

Caribbean Motor Racing Championship

Matthew Vieira flawless at Wallerfield in T&T T&T Guyana’s Matthew Vieira seen with chequered flag after winning one of three races at Wallerfield in Trinidad and Tobago over the weekend.

Warriors qualifies for Play-offs with 6-wkt win over Barbados Tridents Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook