Wednesday June 05, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Donald Ramotar’sintegrity is unquestionable DEAR EDITOR, I am a Guyanese of early adulthood, equally enthusiastic as every other progressive youth including yourself and your establishment who desire the rule of Law, equality and justice at all levels of society, regardless of race, religion, political persuasion or economic position. I favoured your newspapers because it highlights and educates the Guyanese public on matters and developments which usually are not published in the other news publications. Some of these are the appeal for a Public Procurement Commission, police excesses,
domestic violence and violent criminal activities. On the contrary, while you may not have a personal relationship with President Donald Ramotar; history has shown and you will attest that he is a person of high integrity, modesty and a servant of the people, similar to that of Hon. Cheddi Jagan. I share with your two instances which highlight President Donald Ramotar’s integrity and selflessness: During Donald Ramotar’s tenure duties as General Secretary of the People Progressive Party (P.P.P) he attended a fund raising event in New York, U.S.A for the P.P.P’s
From page 4 the planters since Indian children could continue to labour in the fields with their parents and grandchildren. The British Guiana East Indian Association was the primary vehicle through which Indians were educated, not the colonial authority (let Freddie get that in his head). A s H a r r y H e rg a s h penned in the May 2013
edition of the Guyana Journal, Indians were keen on education for their children but could not afford it. “It was a matter of struggle for survival, and education for children was not a priority. Instead of attending school, children had to be engaged in tasks to help supplement the family’s meagre income obtained from almost 12 hrs of hour daily. Vishnu Bisram
Freddie...
campaign at which time one generous P.P.P supporter proposed a substantial gift for him personally. I witnessed President Donald Ramotar’s immediate refusal and requested for that gift to be submitted to the accounts of the P.P.P of which an official receipt was issued. In the early past, Donald Ramotar attended the commissioning of an enterprise in Guyana which is owned by a very successful goldminer. At that event the enterprise owner also proposed a sparkling gift of gold to President Donald
Ramotar. Being a person of integrity, modesty, selfless and a servant of the people, he politely refused the said gift. Mr. Editor, no human being is perfect. But a man’s integrity and dignity must always be upheld, especially the integrity, dignity and honour of Hon. Present Donald Ramotar. I appeal to you to withdraw the AFC “Paid for by the Alliance For Change” advertisements which seeks to discredit and defame Hon. President Donald Ramotar by stating, “Is it that he
wants to continue the trend of giving special preference to friends, family and party supports?” Everyone knows that Hon. President Donald Ramotar’s immediate and extended family members are among the lower income earners in Guyana. They are simple, easygoing, decent persons. I assure you that he could have changed these economic conditions years ago, but this is not his nature. Please exercise caution, care and consideration in your
practice of a “Professional Journalism”. Desist from defamation of character and personal vendettas. I wish you and your publication to prosper and grow from strength to strength for I remain a loyal supporter of you cause. Hannah Mohammed
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
It is time for a NEW CONSTITUTION DEAR EDITOR, The people of Guyana have suffered under the tyranny of the PNC who ruled with despotism between 1968 and 1991. Oppressed and broken in spirit, the people lived their days in poverty, fear and agony. Then in 1992, after a long battle between the PNC and an old political warrior Dr. Jagan, the PNC was defeated at the polls. All Guyanese, regardless of race, cheered for the old political warrior upon his victory, and all were willing to work with him as he made the commitment to serve and protect them. The belief was that the old political warrior was going to bring prosperity to all the people, especially the poor and the working class whom he fought for all his life by practicing a philosophy of lean and clean governance—a government accountable to the people. So Dr. Jagan, the old political warrior cloaked himself in the Burnham’s armour (a PNC Constitution) and started to serve the people. Time and hard work eventually took its toll on the tireless old political warrior and in 1997, he was no more. In 2001 a young boy with very little or no experience in leadership took over the reins of power in a country that was
starved of youthful leadership. Cloaked in the PNC’s armour (now a bastardized version of the PNC Constitution), this inexperienced young boy started out well as peace fell over the land and the economic well-being of the people began to improve due in large part to the debt write offs by the developed countries. In less than five years, the young boy became accustomed to the reverence of the people, but ego and greed stepped in after he discovered the vast riches in the Treasury. Today, the young boy and his inheritors of power, who were schooled in the ways of Dr. Jagan, now govern in the same dictatorial manner as Burnham and the PNC did twenty-two years earlier. One of the earlier philosophers said “Dragons come in many forms, and the warriors who take their place have many faces.” For many years the people of Guyana continued their second era of poverty, agony and hopelessness as they lived in fear under the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal, their new dictator. But as time passes, the people could not stand it anymore, so in 2011 they have decided to empower a new
warrior, (the AFC) to crush the PPP oppressors. With the pedigree of righteous and courageous leaders, the AFC was ready for the battle, but with only seven seats in Parliament its leaders realized that they alone cannot vanquish the new oppressors in the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal; others must join the effort. The truth remains; no one political or social force can defeat the Ramotar/Jagdeo cabal, for the Treasury holds a magic that engulfs the will of the strongest warrior. To this end we encourage all Guyanese to join with Nigel Hughes on his mission to write a new Constitution for the country that truly empowers our institutions, empowers our judiciary, and empowers our people to conduct themselves in a manner that best serves and protects them and not only the President and his PPP untouchables. It is our humble conclusion that even if you appoint the head of the Church as the President of Guyana; he will operate in a manner very similar to Jagdeo because his armour (the bastardized Burnham/Jagdeo Constitution) will not allow him to be his true self. Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh
Will Freddie Honor the Bet? DEAR EDITOR, I notice Mr. Freddie Kissoon continues to pen a column in your newspaper. Freddie made a bet with Mr. Terrence Campbell of Mario’s and lost (May 24). So why is he still writing? It was a week ago that Freddie made the bet with Mr. Terrence Campbell to discontinue all of his writings in the media if Campbell can prove that he (Freddie) ever wrote “government politicians were present at Mario’s opening”.
Freddie conceded that no government officials were present for Mario’s opening but challenged Campbell to prove that he penned otherwise (KN May 24). Campbell provided the details of KN Mar 16, 2010 when Freddie made his claim thereby proving Freddie is lying again. In light of the fact that Freddie lost the bet, will he honor his side of the deal? No one challenged Freddie to a bet. He made the deal on his own free accord.
He promised to walk away from the media, no questions asked and no reconsideration. Freddie made similar bets with Annan Boodram, Ravi Dev, Joey Jagan, Vishnu Bisram, etc and lost them all when the commentators proved him wrong. But he continued to write. He has been proven wrong again by Terrence Campbell. Will he honor the best this time? I think not given his history of broken deals. Vishnu
STOP THE MAYHEM ON OUR ROADS! DEAR EDITOR, For the past two months driving everyday in Guyana, I have had the opportunity to witness the reckless, irresponsible way most drivers here abuse the privilege of having a driver’s license. On a weekly basis, photographs of vehicular accidents dominate the pages of the print media, and much too often, innocent passengers on minibuses and pedestrians are the victims. How many more road fatalities must this country endure? How many more grieving families must suffer the loss of a loved one? How many more children must grow up without a mother or father? Enough is enough. It is time to stop the mayhem on our roads. My sincere condolences to the family of the latest tragedy: Xue Fang Feng, who was killed last Friday afternoon by a speeding taxi, as she attempted to cross Mandela Avenue. I am appalled at the reckless way some motorists drive with total disregard for the safety of pedestrians. Many of whom are forced to walk on the street because the
sidewalks are taken over by the vendors. Over the years, I have followed the plight of commuters who depend on minibuses for transportation. And now, I have seen the intimidation and abuse of passengers by drivers and conductors as they aggressively pack their buses, and race recklessly through traffic. Although the Police Traffic Department is well aware of this violation that risks the lives and safety of passengers, more traffic cops are needed on the roads to deter drivers from speeding and operating overcrowded vehicles. How many more road fatalities and injuries involving reckless driving;
speeding; and driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) must we endure before the Police Traffic Department declare a “No Tolerance” for such behavior, and deal severely with those who seem determined to violate these laws? Driving a vehicle in a reckless way is as dangerous as a firearm in the hands of a lunatic. And the same diligence must be given to those applying for driver’s licences to ensure they are competent enough to drive a vehicle responsibly. There are still those unqualified persons who can easily obtain a licence for the right price. This practice must stop. Harry Gill
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Wednesday June 05, 2013
Raid in Non Pareil…
Meters seized were tampered with - GPL By Tiffanne Ramphal Following a loss reduction campaign by the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) which saw some 34 meters being seized from residents in Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara, the entity yesterday insisted that its actions are legitimate. It was reported that on Sunday and Monday last, GPL technicians swooped down on the aforementioned community and removed the meters from homes of residents, on charges that the meters were being tampered with. The electrical wires were severed from the utility poles and the residents were also taken to the Vigilance Police Station where they were each required to pay $10,000 bail. GPL’s Operations Manager Wayne Watson told Kaieteur News that the situation is not one where
GPL removed the meters and accused the residents of tampering with the instruments “just like that”. He explained that in keeping with the company’s role to test and investigate all company’s meters, the instruments had to be visually inspected and tested to pronounce them as being tampered with. He said that the loss reduction technicians found meters that revealed distinct signs of either tampering or being bypassed. Watson explained that once the meter is found to have been tampered with when visually inspected, it is then tested by an instrument to determine accuracy. Tampered meters are identified if the seal, the only mechanism that prevents access into the meter, is broken or if the screws appear worn or battered. Watson made it clear that
imported meters contain screws that are specially coated in addition to seals that are installed by the manufacturers. He said that upon being imported, samples of the meters are sent to the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) where they would undergo inspection. GNBS would remove the seals that are installed by manufacturers and upon concluding inspection; they would install a GNBS seal which carries a code. The meters that were taken away on Monday were displayed and some were found to have bogus seals made from ‘cast net’ lead and bicycle brakes cables while screws within the instrument, which are made from soft material, were battered or showed signs of having tools used on them. In addition to tampered meters, some were found to
Bandits hold magistrate’s teenage son at gunpoint after invading home In a brazen daylight robbery yesterday, two young bandits held the 16year-old son of Magistrate Clive Nurse at gunpoint, after invading the magistrate’s Lot 47 Freeman Street, East La Penitence home. The robbers, who bound the teen with duct-tape, escaped with $380,000, two mobile phones and an Xbox, after thoroughly ransacking the two-storey property. Sources said that the lad was the only person at home when the robbers struck. It is believed that the men gained entry to the property via a
front door that was left open in the bottom flat. A back gate was also found ajar. According to reports, the teen was in his parents’ bedroom at around 11:00 hrs yesterday when the robbers entered and held him at gunpoint. They then bound his hands and feet with ducttape and proceeded to ransack the house. They eventually fled the scene after locating some $380,000 in cash and other valuables. A source said that after the robbers had left, the stillbound teen managed to contact a friend of his mother’s after pressing the redial button on a cordless phone.
The woman reportedly hurried home and freed her son. Kaieteur News understands that police are still questioning residents to ascertain who might have witnessed the bandits’ arrival and departure. Magistrate Clive Nurse is seconded to the East Demerara Magistrate District and presides at the Mahaica and Mahaicony courts. Magistrate Nurse told Kaieteur News that he has lived in the East La Penitence area for most of his life. He said that his home had been previously burglarized and his son was once robbed in the area.
A bypass
have a ‘bypass’ hidden behind the meter. The meters having a bypass were those where the seals were intact; but a low resistance path (wire) was put into place to create a diversion of power. In that case, the meter will record some power, but most of it will be detoured through the bypass. Speaking about the meters with the bypass, Watson said that, “rather than some paying 100%, they pay for 20% and the 80% goes across the bypass”. Responding to claims made by the residents that it was GPL staffers who “went into the meters”; Watson said that as far as he knows, no GPL staff is authorized to go into any meter to make any adjustments. However, he is not ruling out that persons within the company could have been part of the illegal
Bogus seal process. Unfortunately, there is no way to trace this likelihood since the code that is attached to the seal to track the recipient of that seal is often broken off. He added consumers may not have
been the ones to tamper with the meters, but based on GPL’s knowledge of the situation, they would have benefited from it. He said that he cannot fathom someone (continued on page 12)
New Guyana University launches new programmes The New Guyana University (NGU), the tertiary arm of the New Guyana School (NGS), has launched a series of new programmes that would be internationally recognized. These include Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Associates of
Business Executives (ABE), and Pearson VUE. The University’s curriculum includes subjects such as public speaking mastery, management, marketing, human resources management, leadership, financial management, planning, human relations skills for success, economics,
accounting, modern sales techniques, customer service, seminars, a wide variety of computer programmes, and on or off-site corporate training. Interested persons can make contact with the institution’s administrators at telephone number 225-2135. In a press release, the University promises a high quality educational experience at competitive prices. Alfonso De ArmasArchbold, Deputy Managing Director, described the institution as having “the finest, largest, and most comfortable campus in Guyana”. “Our team is looking forward to educating students, enhancing their professional development, and connecting them with the many fine business and professional organizations in Guyana, the greater Caribbean, the USA, and Canada.
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Kaieteur News
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THERE IS A LACUNA IN THE CONSTITUTION The Opposition parties should refrain from trying to bulldoze their Bills through parliament, knowing all too well that no self-respecting Executive President will assent to any legislation which does not have the consent of the government. To proceed to pass Bills without the involvement of the Executive goes against the traditions of the Westminster system and gives the Opposition free reign to encroach on the responsibilities of the Executive. This threatens the most important principle of parliamentary democracy: the separation of powers. By tradition, the Opposition should only introduce Bills that deal with moral issues so as to not be accused of attempting to govern the country from the benches of the legislature. Instead they should meet with the government and agree on a menu of legislative measures and ask to be given the opportunity to introduce these measures as Members’ Bills. In this way, instead of moving towards contentious Bills, they would be engaged in the tabling of Bills that would find the support of government. There are many areas in which the Opposition and the government can achieve a meeting of minds concerning legislation. One such area concerns the constitutional provisions governing the appointment of the Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice. It is frightening to know that in a country whose Constitution still professes the rule of law and an independent judiciary, there is
a situation in which the confirmation of the two most senior posts in the judiciary is subject to an agreement between the President and the Leader of the Opposition. This should never have happened. To effectively subject the appointment of the two most senior positions in the judiciary to a political deal undermines the very notion of an independent judiciary. Guyana has found itself in this situation because when Jimmy Carter came here for the 2001 elections, he urged a more inclusive system of government. In order to promote this objective, he suggested that there be agreement between the government and the Opposition in the appointment of certain public offices. This suggestion was taken up during the constitutional reform process. An amendment was passed in relation to the appointment of certain specified public officers. Those appointments no longer would require mere consultation between the President and the Leader of the Opposition. It would now require agreement. In short, no agreement means no appointments. What the legislators failed to take into account is what happens if there is no agreement. Should Guyana continue to have the untenable situation, as we have had for eight years now, where the persons acting as Chief Justice and Chancellor cannot be confirmed because of the failure of the President and the Leader of the Opposition to reach an agreement?
Some hope was provided years ago when, despite no agreement being reached on whom to appoint, it was agreed that those acting would be allowed to act. After acting for eight years, one would have anticipated that it would be now a mere formality for both the acting Chancellor and Chief Justice to be confirmed. Both have greatly distinguished themselves by the quality of their jurisprudence and both are persons held in high esteem within the legal profession. And they have been doing the jobs now for years. The Constitution of Guyana stipulates how these appointments are to be made. And where the Constitution makes stipulations, these should be followed. It is a dangerous precedent for any proposal to be made which deviates from what the Constitution specifies however seemingly attractive these suggestions may seem. It is an ominous signal for any proposal to be made that is different from what is prescribed by the Constitution. If we begin to go down this road, however wellintentioned the proposals are, it can open the floodgates to decisions being made outside of the province of the Constitution. Guyana should not go down this slippery slope. The proposal for the top posts in the judiciary to be put up for persons to apply for is ridiculous to say the least. This will undermine the hierarchy of authority within the judiciary. No judiciary should ever be exposed to this risk. Can you
Dem boys seh...
Guyana share out to India and China Is funny how things does tun out. Is also funny how family does rally round one another even when things bad. But dem got some of dem who does deh behind family to mek sure that dem get something when everything done. Some people find a woman dead and dem see a man hanging. Of course dem cut down de man and save he life. That is when he family claim how he coulda never kill de woman because she got size and she use to beat him. Now dem hear that de man choke de life out of de woman. Is de same thing a certain clique in Guyana doing to de country. Dem choking de blood out of de country. When dem start sucking Guyana, things flow so much that it look like if de sweetness could never done. That is how Jagdeo bring one company to do construction and de same company gone into gold mining, into logging, into pumping, into sugar packaging and into scampishness. Dem boys seh that things get
suh bad that at one stage Prakash was tekking de company to court. Whom God bless no man curse. Is not that Jagdeo is God but he bless nuff people and all de cussing that de Waterfalls paper cuss ain’t change nutten. Never in de history of this country dem ever see so many Chinee company and Chinee business. Dem never see so much Indian company and Indian business neither. Of course when dem boys talk bout that de very government claim how is racism. One man seh that nobody else want to come to Guyana but is not that. Is just that corruption rampant in certain country more than some others and is dem same country that getting all de land in Guyana. When dem boys seh that Jagdeo and he kavakamites own three-quarters of Guyana, people only think bout de Bees and Irfaat and Rob Earth and Ash Knee and Brazzy. Now dem know bout de foreign companies. Talk half and watch how three-quarters of Guyana gone already
image what can happen if a rank junior judge supersedes a senior judge to one of these posts? And who will undertake the interviews for these positions? And will the same principle be proposed for the appointment of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force? Will the Opposition be willing to go down this road not just for the top posts in the judiciary but also for the security services? The discussions should begin about these appointments. The Leader of the Opposition should, however,
before beginning any substantive discussions on this issue, consult meaningfully with the AFC. If when the discussions commence no agreement can be reached, and recognizing the effect these nonconfirmations can have on the judiciary, the Opposition should address their minds to reaching an agreement with the government on filling a lacuna within the Constitution. The Constitution is silent where no such agreement is possible. As such, the first order of business should be an agreement between all the parliamentary parties to
amend the Constitution, so as to provide for situations where there is no agreement between the President and the Leader of the Opposition. If after a specified number of tries there is still no agreement, then it should be agreed that the matter be handed over to the relevant Service Commissions for them to decide.
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Wednesday June 05, 2013
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
The opposition is on trial Both APNU and the AFC are on trial. If they do not withstand scrutiny from the people of Guyana, then they face political obliteration. Both the AFC and APNU are labouring under the misconception that the increasing hatred of the PPP by this nation will translate into growing embrace for them. There is nothing scientific about that connection. The human mind is not subject to scientific prediction. A nation can turn away from politics if they feel hopeless about the prospects of the opposition checking the excesses of a government. This does not mean that the opposition has power to confront and win all its battles with a sitting regime. But citizens expect the
opposition to effectively use whatever leverage the political configuration gives to it. In the case of Guyana, the electoral victory has bestowed immense latitude on the opposition. This gateway does not lead to Executive power, but what it does is create space for the opposition to pressure the regime.A parliamentary majority does that. No greater example is the regime’s need for the opposition to pass Bills, and the anti-money laundering is now the focus of nation’s attention. In a meeting with the AFC last week, based on the AFC’s report of the meeting with Ramotar, Luncheon and Teixeira, the Government had sought refuge in morbid inflexibilities that should never be tolerated by the
opposition. If the Government cannot concede of any of the demands as adumbrated in the AFC’s press statement, then the opposition should not pass the anti-money laundering Bill First, the Berbice toll. No other adjective best describes Mr. Ramotar’s position on this than nonsensical. If the President is saying that he cannot tamper with the rights of a private company, then point taken. But he is tampering with the rights of the Guyanese people by the State’s refusal to permit private speedboats to cross from Rosignol to New Amsterdam. This is a fundamental right that the opposition should test in the courts. Any minute of the day
from Monday to Sunday before 18.00h you can go behind the Stabroek Market, pay a hundred dollars and step into a speedboat to cross the Demerara River to the west coast of the Atlantic. Why can’t you do the same crossing on the Berbice River? If it is not the State’s business to tell a private company how much it must charge then why for the past ten years has the State stopped the minibus owners from raising their fare? Secondly, NCN. Nonsensical should be replaced with the word depraved to describe President Ramotar’s orientation on the role of NCN. According to the AFC, Mr. Ramotar said that NCN has to act as a counter-balance to the coverage of the private
media. Here is where you see the power mentality of the PPP coming in. Guyanese do not pay taxes to upkeep the private media. Private money does that. NCN is a State entity. Parliament is part of the State. The Opposition Leader’s Office is part of the State. NCN has to give adequate coverage to these institutions. Opposition parties were elected by the people. The resources of the State should be made available to the people and their representatives. The opposition should not let the Government get away with this power lust. If NCN cannot be fair in its coverage of the politicians who speak on behalf of the citizenry then APNU and the AFC should not pass the anti-money laundering legislation. Finally, the NIS. If the Government wants to keep Roger Luncheon as Chairman then the opposition should not object. A chairman is just one member of a council with certain residue of power, but the majority vote is paramount in any board. The Chairman can disagree how much he wants, but majority vote rules. For this reason, the
Frederick Kissoon opposition should let the Government keep Luncheon with all his deficiencies, but insist on a professional board with independent members. The NIS is such a priceless institution in Guyana that no Guyanese can be that stupid to accept it to be a political toy. Look at the disaster that visited the NIS under Jagdeo’s tenure. Realpolitik has caught up with the PPP. At no time in modern history can you find an example where a government needs the support of a national stakeholder for its survival but that stakeholder blindly concedes to the authoritarian instincts of the government without a quid pro quo. Politics has never been like this. If the PPP Government wants its anti-money laundering Bill passed then it must be made to cough-up concessions like a mad wave rushing to the shore
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Three entities bid for Kato Hydropower project Bids for the design and construction of the Kato Hydropower Plant and irrigation infrastructure were opened yesterday through the Office of the Prime Minister by a separate tender opening guided by a European Union (EU) official at the Ministry of Finance, Main Street. Acting as chairperson for the tender process was coordinator of the project, Mahendra Sharma, in addition to Ministry of Public Works officials and committee members. Of the five bidders expressing interest only three tendered. The original bidders were B.K. International Inc., Dynamic Engineering Inc., Farmex
Technologies, Nabi Construction Inc. and Sandspring Resources Ltd, with the latter two not bidding. Work on the Kato project is scheduled to begin in the last quarter of the year. The project is set to last for 20 months. The selected contractor will be allowed a total of six months to prepare designs and get them approved, but this delay is not expected to affect the timeline for the project in any way. The Government of Guyana secured funding for the development of the microhydropower system at Kato, from the European Union (EU) early last year. It is to be constructed at a cost of approximately G$615M with
the EU contributing G$460M under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), while the Guyana Government is contributing G$155M. The system will comprise a 330-kilowatt microhydropower station with its primary energy source being the 36-metre waterfall in the Chiung River, in the vicinity of Kato Village. The hydro project will also involve the erection of a pump station to supply water for irrigation of neighbouring farmlands. The bids were divided into two lots comprising construction of the Kato Hydropower Plant and lot two which is irrigation infrastructure. The bids are as follows:
Meanwhile, at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) under the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs received bids for the procurement of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and motorcycles.
Bids were also submitted under the same Ministry for the procurement of a reconditioned pickup.
Three bids were also opened for the procurement of a solar powered radio transmitter system for the Amerindian Affairs Ministry.
In addition, another three bids were opened for the procurement of sewing machines.
We are life savers, you should be one too! Donate blood today!!!
Within the same sector, bids were opened for the procurement of chainsaws and brush cutters.
Bids were also submitted for the procurement of tractors, trailers, ploughs and harrows.
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Wednesday June 05, 2013
N/A restaurant fire caused by stove that was left on Compton Spartan, Officer-in-Charge of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS)’s, ‘B’ Division, has stated that a stove which was left on, at very low heat, was determined to be the cause of the massive fire that gutted the popular Jokewesan’s Creole Restaurant and Bakery of Charlotte Street, New Amsterdam last Saturday morning. Additionally, the blaze gutted another building and the two occupants were indeed lucky to have escaped unhurt. Courts’ New Amsterdam store which is located not too far away from the Charlotte street inferno was also scorched, but there was no significant damage to the building. Spartan was at the time addressing members of the media during a press conference at the N/A Fire
Station yesterday. “The fire started due to a stove that was left on. The place consisted of a restaurant where the occupants thought it was okay to turn down the flames of the stove to heat up whatever contents were in the pot. That is a very dangerous practice!” Spartan exclaimed. “You should remove the valve from the stove. In that case, this was not done and that caused the fire, because obviously there was heat, oxygen and elements to cause the fire and what happened is that the contents of the pot boiled down and at 3 o’clock no one was around and it started to feed on the oxygen and …because of carelessness…that is something that we were trying to explain when we were doing our checks.” Spartan noted that he has
- ‘B’ Division Fire Chief instructed his team to immediately carry out checks to all eateries and restaurants in the town and other areas to ensure they are complying with safety standards so that a recurrence will not take place. He stated that the GFS received a call at 03:05 hrs from a landline number, which activated the 912 emergency number and “we dispatched two appliances immediately to the scene.” He noted that after the first appliances arrived at the scene, the building of origin was engulfed in flames. “Immediately, we started to work from our tank supply and we realized [that] because of the magnitude of the fire”, more water had to be sourced.
Police recover stolen rifle, three arrested Police have recovered an FN rifle that was stolen from a constable on Monday during a daring heist at the Wismar Post Office. The police have also arrested three persons who they are convinced were linked to the robbery. Police in a statement issued yesterday said that around 07:30 hours yesterday, “the police FN Rifle that was taken away from a Constable during an armed robbery at the Wismar Post Office yesterday was recovered off the roadway in the vicinity of the “Millie’s Hideout” turn leading into Linden.” The magazine and ammunition were not recovered. On Monday, armed men swooped down on the facility and carted off more than $2M. The robbery is the third suffered by the
entity, in as many years. The brazen bandits stormed the Post Office, at Jordan Road, Silvertown, after sticking up the lone police rank, who was standing guard at the door. All this drama unfolded even as several old age and NIS pensioners watched in disbelief, as the money that was to be paid out to them was carted off by the bandits. According to informed sources, one of the bandits broke a glass window at the counter, and jumped over to gain access to the money, which was in a vault. Yesterday, the Guyana Police Force expressed its appreciation to the citizens of the Linden community who assisted with the investigations and led to the quick recovery of the firearm.
He stated that the hydrants at King Street and Theatre Alley were the only hydrants that were working at the time. Water was also sourced from the Republic Road canal. “We had to run around 89 lengths of hose and established another jet to the other side of the building…” He praised the fire fighters in relation to “containment” of the fire. “The water tenders pump at 250 gallons per minute. Any fire that bursts out of a building will be very hard to contain with that amount of water unless we access water from the fire hydrants. I think the firefighters did a good job, taking into consideration the types of buildings in New Amsterdam.”
The GFS, he added, operates under Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) and appliances are quickly dispatched immediately after fires are reported. He noted that any emergency telephone call to the N/A Fire Station (or any other for that matter) from a landline, will be routed immediately to the N/A Fire Station. However, cell phone calls will go directly to the Georgetown Operations Room, after which they will reroute the call to New Amsterdam. All SOPs, he added, during that fateful night, were followed. He said that it is the responsibility of the GFS to check the hydrants to ensure they are working and to report to the relevant authorities if they are not. “Sometimes people who
do construction work and so on—garbage and so, on, pile up all these stuff on the hydrants and cover these hydrants causing problems for us when a fire breaks out. So yes, we face some of those challenges.” Hydrants are checked every 3 months, he said. The officer said that the majority of the ground hydrants in the town are functioning. However, most of those hydrants above ground level are non-functional. Spartan said that the Courts Furniture Store, which is a wooden building, was saved, due to the hard work of his firefighters. Police from the Central Police Station were first on the scene in large numbers and cordoned off the area for fear that a burning Courts building would result in widespread looting.
Meters seized were ... From page 8 tampering with a consumer’s meter without them receiving some reward. Commenting on the arrest of some consumers, Watson said that GPL does not have any jurisdiction over that part of the matter. It was confirmed that on Sunday, 19 consumers were arrested while 15 were arrested on Monday. The Operations Manager said that the company cannot specify what process the police station will take with regards to the charges meted out to the residents. He explained that the technicians were accompanied by police in accordance with the reform that was sent into law in 2010. They were in a position to
observe the findings of the technicians and judge whether they were valid before taking action. In answer to some claims by residents that not everyone was arrested, the Operations Manager said that cases in which there were no arrests was due to the unavailability of police officers. Residents whose meters were taken away are advised to go to GPL’s Commercial Office, along with the document that was given to them by technicians, where they will be briefed on the penalties that they would have to pay. A number of residents of the area went to the Main Street office yesterday afternoon to have their matters addressed. Those whose meters were found to have been tampered with, may be required to pay an investigation fee, a fee to replace the meter and a reconnection fee. Those whose meters were found to have a bypass would not be required to replace the meter but would have to pay an investigation fee along with the reconnection fee. In addition, a back bill may be imposed, depending on the level of accuracy recorded by the meter when compared with the electrical appliances that the consumers have. If the reading does not coincide with the amount of appliances that the consumer has, then
GPL will retroactively bill those accounts for 24 months. The payment of the back bill can be made immediately or on a contractual basis. Upon securing an agreement with the office, their transactions will be forwarded to the metering department which will reinstall the meter and repower the customer. Watson added that in addition to the fees, GPL also has the option of enforcing criminal charges. He said that the law gives the company the option of prosecution, which they believe will make an impact in addressing loss reduction. He said that the present situation is not new. Similar cases were stumbled upon when GPL visited communities in the Georgetown district and on the West Demerara region. He said that over 300 similar cases were reported in the first quarter of this year. Watson believes that the residents in Non Pareil were caught by surprise, since he cannot recall GPL ever visiting that area. He said that the company has been encountering very sophisticated methods of tampering, but despite this, GPL will continue to do what it has been doing. Reports are that the disconnection campaign is ongoing.
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 17
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Kaieteur News
Senior citizens unimpressed with pension increase, long wait for payment By Zena Henry and Javone Vickerie Senior citizens around the country collected their first increase in old age pension yesterday and public assistance when the state fund was handed out at various post offices. At midday yesterday, tellers were still working feverishly to do away with large crowds of pensioners seeking to acquire what they said is the recently delayed pension packages. The elderly stood, sat and
squatted in their numbers as long lines were seen at the many payment locations around the city. Even pensioners in Linden were able to access the new increases, despite an armed robbery which took place at the Wismar Post Office on Monday. Many however expressed dissatisfaction at the long hours they had to wait and the poor facilities which they said do not cater for the elderly. Some persons who were interviewed in the city said that they had been waiting since early in the
Charlestown Post Office at midday yesterday
morning but as noon approached, they were yet to get their money. “Well to tell you the honest truth this is li’l bit money, $12,500 could only buy a bag a rice and milk and sugar nothing else. They need to review this thing over and see what they could do for poor people,” said Desiree London who was waiting at the Bourda Post Office. Seventy-two year-old Constantine Andrews who was standing at the back of a line at the same location said that she had walked from (Continued on page 23)
Page 21
Police reform cannot be achieved overnight - Strategic Management Head Head of the Department that is overlooking the Guyana Police Force’s strategic development plan believes that if given the time, the unit could achieve its task of transforming the Force into a modern police entity. “Citizens must be patient and give the strategic management team time and space to do its work. We have a herculean task ahead of us. Changing an ingrained organisational culture that has been in place for decades will not happen overnight. But we stand ready and committed to be the drivers of change this Force needs,” Patrick Mentore said. Mentore heads a team on 10 civilian professionals, who are working alongside members of the Guyana Police Force in addressing the key priorities laid out in the Force’s strategic plan. The Ministry of Home Affairs in an effort at instituting sweeping reforms of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), had employed the high-level team of civilians who are from a variety of academic disciplines, and were carefully selected by an esteemed panel of individuals
from within the private and public sectors. The team is expected to help optimize the collective performance of the GPF, guiding it towards significant organizational renewal and change. Apart from Mentore, other members of the team are Rosanne Purnwasie – Team Leader; Mona Bynoe – Strategic Planning Officer; Kenneth Bentinck – Project Coordinator; Hermanetta Andrews - Monitoring & Evaluation Coordinator; Enid Thom-Alleyne – Risk Management Officer; Richard Francois – Change Communication Officer; Trovana Azeez – Change Facilitation Officer; Shameza David – Research Officer and
Ian James - Analyst. Mentore in expressing his confidence in the team’s ability at achieving all performance targets set out in the strategic plan said, “The Guyana Police Force is positioning itself to become a modern police institution in Guyana. With its strategic plan in place and the establishment of this new Strategic Management department, along with the resolute commitment of the senior management of the Force, I am very confident that together we can transform the Force into a modern police entity. This strategic management team is especially convinced that all strategic objectives and goals will be achieved with efficiency and effectiveness.”
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday June 05, 2013
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WANTED 2 Wash bay attendants : Age 19-25 to work in Georgetown- Call: 227-5169 1 Handy-boy to work: Living accommodation freecall:228-5655/628-1756 Experienced Nanny/ Caregiver require a job: For serious inquiry contact Ms. Carol on 677-1370 1 Gas asselitine welder: No Equipment needed: Living accommodation free call:628-1756/228-5655 Contract Cars wanted: City Taxi Service- call: 660-1100 Live In Live Out Babysitter Domestic - Call: 225-6070 Wanted! Experienced salesgirls: Visit 140 Regent Street with written application One Handy Boy between the ages of 16-19- Call:2256337 1 Experienced Hair Dresser and 1 Nail Technician to rent station at Alicia Hair Expose Beauty Salon - Call: 6811685/614-6869 One Bus Driver: Route 44 zone: Contact number: Home 220-5916/ Cell 698-4102 Experienced taxi driver & dispatcher to work at Gem’s Taxi- Tele:627-9424/227-0638 Sales girls apply in person with written application @ Best Buy Food Supplies: Middleton & Dennis St. Campbellville Barber to work at Grove E.B.D- Call: 609-6952 Office Clerk: CXC English/ Mathematics- Call:2250188/225-6070 One experience Driver, gear & automatic: Apply @ Hack’s Halaal 5 Commerce Street. Salesgirls and Cashier at Fabric World: Visit 140 Regent and Light Street with written application One Male Shop Assistant to work in Interior- Call: 6976747 Attractive live in waitress. Call: 327-0252/ 674-4665 Wanted: Night GuardCall:611-2706 1 Live- in maid to do general house chores- Call: 6267040 experienced general One domestic, must be honest & know to cook tasty Indian & Creole dishes- Call:656-6388 ONE DOMESTIC PREEFERABLY FROM EAST COAST ONLYCALL: 220-9477/6136314
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Original games for sale call:265-3232 Fuffy pups: 642-6664 Riding Mower, 6500 watts Honda generator, large refrigerator & tools- call: 2612988 1 Flock sheep and goats and flock Rams- Call:696-8103 Live Ducks in large quantities. Call: 691-5851 or 671-2008
Games for PS 2, $900,PSP $900, Xbox360 $2600, PS 3 $2600, call:672-2566
Terrier Puppies for sale- Call: 649-4247
1- 500 Ton Cargo Ship with contract- call:687-6174
Pitbull pups for sale (7 weeks)- Call:650-3327
Pig feed, Duck feed & Shrimp meal- call:266-2711/ 609-4594
1 Lincoln 225 amps welder generator set- Call: 641-0600 Large land @ Bagotville W.B.D great for green house farming/ residence $6.5M call:223-1719, 600-0036 Dell laptops & desktops complete computers from $55,000 Futuretech. Call: 231-2206 1- 4 inch Chine Land Dredge and all of its components: Price $900,000- Contact: 2653586 Purpleheart panel doors $28,000: Sizes (30", 32", 34", 36") × 80- call: 688-9712/ 6390501 Karaoke Home Theatre System, brand new- call: 2231273 Pure Rottweiler pupscall:220-6879 Rottweiler, Brazilian, German Shepherd puppies: Hunting dogs (Pointers) fully vaccinated- Call: 682-2148/ 655-8674 Tibetan Terrier puppies for sale- call: 225-5486 or 6890486 Live/pluck chicken call:6504421,220-9203
Electric Snow cone machines- call:266-2711/6094594 Male Enhancement Viagra: 4 in a Pack For $3000- Call: 6426664/ 638-1627 1- 4 Burner Gas stove $24,000; 1- Gas bottle & Hose $12,000; 1- DVD Player $5000; 1- Chop Saw $25,000call:661-0143
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1-55-210 DAF Lorry GPP 2673: In excellent condition: 1 yr old: Owner leaving country. Call: 680-2095/261-5401 New RX8 (red) Rotary 7 speed engine, new rims, tyres, music-kickers, lambo doors $5.2M- call: 627-8786 1 Ford Ranger 2000 ModelCall: 225-0709/641-2905 1 Toyota Fun Cargo, AT192, AT212, Ceres, Solid DEF pickup, EP 71 & 82 Starlet, 1 E24 Nissan Van- Call: 6445096/697-1453 Toyota Runx 2002 for sale $1.8M PMM series (White)Call: 697-0171/225-5486 93 L.H.D Honda AccordCall: 623-8909/672-2002
Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943
1- Used M.F 285 Tractor, 1Used JCB Back Hoe, 1Concrete Ransom ½ cubic yards- Contact: 670-7235/ 697-7967
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 6471773
FOR SALE
Toyota Corona 170- Call: 665-8995
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UNREGISTERED SOLID DEF2005 RAUM $2.150,000; 2 TON ISUZU DUMP TRUCK $2.3MCALL: 227-1737/6411800 HILUX SOLID DIFF Pickups, AC, 33×12.50 MT tyres, Unregistered, Excellent Condition- Call: 691-2077
Vacancy exists for 1 Driver for Tristar motorcycle- Call: 662-3415/626-2360/231-4832 Receptionist: Must be computer literate with minimum of 1 year experience. Call: 672-1239 Immediate Vacancies: Security Officers/ Drivers: Apply Monday- Friday: Security Alliance: Barrack street, Kingston (upstairs FedEx) 24 hour East Coast Guyoil needs day & night pump attendants, sales girl, Experienced Fuel Tanker Driver- Tele: 688-9611/ 684-2838 One experienced Hair Dresser: Magic Touch Beauty Salon- Call: 225-6492 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964
2002 FORD E350 VAN, FULLYLOADEDWITHA/C &OFFROADSUSPENSION: UNREGISTERED- CALL SAMMY 604-0020 Cruiser Auto Sales: Unregistered: Toyota Fielder, New Raum, Noah, Mazda, Axela- call:603-9700 1 Toyota Land-cruiser Prado PMM series- call:225-0188/ 225-6070 First Class Auto (03 & 06) Allion, (03 & 04) Spacio, (01) Carina, (07) Axio, VerossaCall:609-8188/226-2689 Axio, Blue Bird, Pitbull: Going cheap- Call:697-0294 Leading AutoUnregistered: Allex, Runx, Spacio, IST, Allion, Premio, Tacoma (06), F150 (06)- Tele: 677-7666/ 610-7666 LEYLAND DAF single axle, new gear box and new engine. Call: 613-6615/ 2161315 Toyota Vitz 1300cc, 4 Disc Brakes, Mags, Fogs, Black Interior- Call: 269-0432/6860323 Unregistered Toyota Sienta 1500cc: 7 Seats- Call:6175536 1-2005 Nissan Titan $3.5M negotiable- Call: 622-1957 Anthony
Pump Attendant @ Shell Service Station Providence E.B.D: Must be able to work shift: Email: shellramsburg@ gmail.com, Tele:265-7305 Vacancy exists for carpenters and porters: Apply at Alabama Trading G e o r g e t o w n ferry stelling Stabroek
VEHICLE FOR SALE
1992 Toyota Camry- Call: 657-4114 RZ mini-buses BMM & BNN series, AT192, 212, AT170, Tacoma, Canters, NZE & cheap cars- call:680-3154 PROPERTY FOR SALE At Clifton Port Mourant: Prime location on public road- Contact:905-970-0210/ 613-6795 or /624-8799 Norton Street, Wortmanville2 flat 5 bedrooms front bldg $19.5M neg: B & G’s Realty227-4125/ 617-9717/682-4094 Two business properties @ Whim public road; 1 House & Land 4th street Whim, Corentyne: Price negotiablecontact: 231-5171/ 619-7134 Property for sale. Contact: 699-9926 B & G’s Realty- 227-4125/ 617-9717/682-4094 Corner lot House and Land: 54 Stanley Town New Amsterdam, Berbice: Seven Million, Non-negotiable- Call: 223-5641 SINGLE- STOREY HOUSE 50’×60’, 14000 SQ.FT LAND: 3 Bedrooms, electronic garage: Versailles, W.B.D- Call: 672-8569/6098132 (Max) Tuschen Housing SchemeCall: 692-3454/616-7632
1 Honda CRV 2004: PMM series- Call: 681-8378/6238174 Unregistered Tundra 4×4 fully loaded $2.750- Call: 615-9314 F-150 $900,000; Raum $2.2M; Spacio $2.3M; Premio $ 2.7M: Unregistered- call: 641-6516 or 264-2644 1-55 Leyland DAF excellent working condition, price $4 Million negotiable- call:6568346 Toyota Alex & Fielder: Never registered- Call: 2690432/686-0323 We buy & sell vehicles for cash & we also do tradingin of vehicles- call:680-3154 1 Toyota 110 Vintage Sprinter: Price Negotiable: PJJ series- call:613-0028/ 676-4000 1 Toyota Hilux Surf: 20" Rims, Crystal lights, Sunroof ect. Contact: 220-7922 and 625-6303 (Continued on page 23)
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 23
One third of global food production wasted annually - GNBS Under the theme “Think. Eat. Save. Reduce your foodprint” World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated each year globally on June 05 to create awareness of environmental issues and encourage action from all levels of stakeholders and interested parties, and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) will be joining with all stakeholders in commemorating the event. According to a statement from the entity, this year’s theme for WED seems so relevant because it “gives focus to the ways we produce and utilize food around the world. Whether persons eat to live or live to eat, in many areas along the chain, food is being wasted”. “For many of us, the wastage of food occurs daily as we fail to buy only the amount we can consume in a particular time. Disposal as waste often seems like a better option rather than to give surplus food to the needy. Where possible, buying locally produced fresh foods and even growing our own vegetables and fruits at home can have a positive impact on the environment. It reduces the need for energy required to process, package, store and transport food and it
prevents wastage since it gives us the privilege of harvesting just what we are able to consume in a particular time,” the Bureau underscored. “We can all improvise to reduce food wastage which ultimately reduces our foodprint. Good food does not have to find a place in garbage or compost pits.” Adding that the time has come for persons to change their attitudes, the GNBS stated that persons should think of better food conservation methods, and make informed decisions that would purposefully cause society to select foods that have reduced environmental impact, such as organic foods that do not use chemicals in the production process. It was further noted that choosing to buy locally can also mean that foods are not flown halfway across the world and therefore, limit emissions. GNBS explained that a survey conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) indicated that 1.3 billion tonnes of food, which represents about one third of the global food production, is either wasted or lost annually,
which is equivalent to the same amount produced in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. “Imagine we live in a world of plenty where food outstrips demand, yet one in every seven persons in the world goes to bed without food and over 20,000 children under the age of five die daily from starvation because of the huge imbalance in lifestyles.” “The Guyana National Bureau of Standards like many standards institutions, worldwide, believes that the solution to many global crises, such as those we face in relation to food is the implementation of international standards. International standards are powerful tools that lead to positive change by detailing specifications that can open up global markets, create enabling business environments, spur economic growth and help mitigate and adapt to changes in this competitive environment. International standards represent the consensus view of the world’s leading experts in industry sectors ranging from energy utilities and energy efficiency to transportation, management systems, climate change, healthcare, safety,
information and communication technology (ICT), food safety and security. Standards are also applied as tools to help reduce climate change by improving energy efficiency and decreasing food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.” GNBS further stated that standards share best practices in renewable energy generation, provide cuttingedge requirements and processes for waste disposal and recycling, and tools to enhance efficiency and environmental sustainability across all industrial sectors. “These benefits are ultimately passed on to the consumer in the form of greater choice, increased quality and lower prices. As the saying goes ‘better late than never’ - the time to make a positive change is now, it is time that mankind desperately starts performing the task to reduce the disaster risk and save the environment, otherwise, the outcome would be dire. “We all need to think and be mindful of our food consumption pattern, we all need to eat and we all need to save food, so think before you eat and help save our environment.”
TO LET Four Bedrooms, fully furnished: Situated in Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden- Call: 649-6837 Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles. Call: 6896668 Office space/business excellent location: Durban/ Haley St. Call: 223-1719 Diamond $45,000-$75,000: Have Properties to rent or sell? Contact Diana 227-2256/ 626-9382
The scene at Bourda Post Office
Farm community playfield still... From page 20 he received the contract after he was asked to submit a quotation. Of the $1 million contract sum, Nauth said he received only $600, 000. The Regional Executive Officer of Region Four Mr Deolall Rooplall said he could not speak with Kaieteur News
without the permission of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government regarding the matter. However, he asked this newspaper to email him any questions for clarification and he would seek clearance from the Permanent Secretary and respond. Up to press time, there was no response from
Mr Rooplall. With all the confusion, the youths of the area are unable to use the ground. It's overrun with bush and resembles a ploughed up rice field. As such, the youths decided to level off an area in the compound of the NDC which they now use to play games.
standing in the line it made him realise that the pensioners who are considered to be the “past builders of our nation” were being ill treated. “Well I am here for my father because he was ‘craking’ whole morning that $12,500 can’t do nothing much for him. I think this is a slap in the face for old people who helped to build this nation in the promise that they gon be repaid when they get old. It got me wondering now if the situation this bad what gon happen when I get old. We wonder why the insurance companies dem making money off of life insurance. But you see, if we don’t make the sacrifices when we young what gon happen when we get old?”
FOR RENT Salon stations for rent $5000 per week- call: 6243996/ 602-0333 Rooms - Call: 225-3234 House to rent in FriendshipCall: 266-0163 One Business Place for Rent- Call Rushell @ 6140599
CAR RENTAL Progressive Auto Rental cars from $4000 per day. Call 643-5122, 225-8711; email www.progressiveauto rental. com
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First Choice Car Rental: Cars from $5,000 per day- Call: 6947817/668-0306 Adian’s car Rental/PickupTele:698-7807 Premio, Vitz call: 689-6668
Senior citizens unimpressed with pension... Light Street and had been waiting in the sun since 7 am. “I am 72 years old and I been waiting in a line for a measly pension which might done today. I don’t think this Government has anybody at their interest. We as old people worked hard and tried to save as much as we could. If it wasn’t for me children dem outside, I don’t know what woulda happen,” the woman lamented. She added that no representative from the post office had come out to provide an explanation for the long wait as persons began to leave the line and seek refuge from the blazing sun at nearby stalls and places of business. A young man, Clinton Jarvis, who explained that he collects his father’s monthly pension said that while
(From page 22)
LAND FOR SALE 7 Acres cultivated with house, 2 Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated. Contact: 226-7968 EDUCATIONAL Diploma in computers for 2013 CSEC students: 9 courses $35,000: MicroGraphics Vreed-en-Hoop 264-3057: Register now. Imperial College- Register Now: CXC 2014 fulltime/ lessons/adults classes: Excellent results-call: 6835742/227-7627 Computerized Accounting Packages For 2013 CSEC Students: Quickbooks, PTree, etc. Micro-Graphics Vreed-en-Hoop 264-3057 Summer Computer Classes: Ages 5-13 starting from $6,500: Micro-Graphics Vreed-en-Hoop 264-3057: Register now Learn to bake and decorate cakes- call: 231-1360/6819461 VACANCY Porters, lumber clerk, wood mizer operator, moulder operator @ Eccles Industrial Site: Call Richard 609-7675/ 233-2614 Driver needed, must have 3 years experience in lorry & car- Call: 225-8229/ 227-2969/ 660-1131
House lots 50’×118’ New Hope E.B.D: Negotiable prices- - call: 266-2711/ 6094594 Soesdyke- Land 166.00’X 131.98’ $4M neg: B & G’s Realty- 227-4125/ 617-9717 13 Acres land; Behind Emerald Tower Madewini call:622-0860
MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call:609-4036 The Gent’s spa: Come be pampered by beautiful sophisticated masseuses four hands special - call: 657-5979 Get help: Muscle Pain, Stiffness, Circulation, Swelling, Diabetes, Numbness & Cramps. Call: Sally, Qualified Therapist @649-4227
Page 24
Kaieteur News
Muslims observe significant date on Islamic calendar Renowned Surinamese Islamic Scholar, Al Hajj Michel Soebhan emphasized the importance of defining moments within a person’s life during an Al-Isra wal-Mi’raj observance, last Saturday evening. Head of the largest Islamic organisation in Suriname, Soebhan was the guest speaker of the traditional celebration hosted by the Muslim Youth league of Guyana, who opted to usher in the auspicious event with Quranic recitations, quaseedas (songs), chants and prayers. Muslims believe that AlIsra wal-Mi’raj is the two part journey that the holy Prophet Muhammad took during a
single night on the 27th night in the month of Rajah, according to the Islamic calendar. In the journey, Muhammad travels on the steed Buraq to “the farthest mosque” where he leads other prophets in prayer. He then ascends to heaven where he speaks to God, w h o g i v e s M uhammad instructions to take back to the faithful regarding the details of prayer. The event paves the way for the period of strict fasting (the month of Ramadan) by approximately 32 days. Noting that the message etched within the event, is one which transcends the laws of
nature and science, Director of Education at Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), Sheik Moen ul-Hack reminded those assembled at the Good Hope Sunnatul Jamaat of the importance of prayer, of which the Proph e t M o h a m m a d received instructions, when he made, what is believed to be one of the most important journeys in Islamic history. “What would have been two months’ journey depending upon the mode of transportation at that time, took the Prophet Muhammad just one night, his journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and to heaven in one night, goes beyond the
boundaries of time and space, and all natural laws which cannot explain the reasoning of God Almighty. It is a demonstration that points all humanity to acknowledge the presence and existence of an eternal creator,” he said. Among those present were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, representatives of the Islamic bodies (both locally and internationally) and other distinguished guests. In brief remarks, the Prime Minister commended the Muslim Youth League for their efforts and noted that the opportunity can be used to further develop the relationship between Guyana and Suriname.
12 matters disposed of during April.. From page 19 prosequi” one (1) matter for the offence of Rape which was in pursuant of the 2013 Amendment of the Sexual Offences Act 2010. The DPP however discontinued the charge so that the matter can have the benefit of the Amendment. On May 21st the Essequibo Criminal Assizes
was opened and is still in progress. One murder trial is being heard presently. At the same time Madam Justice Dawn Gregory sat in the Berbice February Assizes which opened on Tuesday February 5, 2013. Forty-five (45) cases were listed for trial during this session. During the months of April and May three matters received atten-
tion while five matters were “nolle prosequi” by the DPP for different reasons. This session will continue until June 17, 2013. In the three matters, one of the accused was found guilty by the jury for the lesser offence of Manslaughter and was sentenced to ten years imprisonment while the accused in the second matter for the offence of carnal knowledge of a girl under 15 years was ordered to face a re-trial after a hung jury was returned. In the third matter for the offence of Murder, the accused was freed after the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of Murder and of the lesser offence of Manslaughter. The five matters “nolle prosequi” by the DPP were for the offences of Murder, Sexual Activity with a Child Family Member, Rape,
Attempt to Commit Murder and Carnal Knowledge. In two separate cases for the offences of Murder and Attempted Murder, the matters were nolle prosequi because the accused persons died while awaiting trial. The other three matters were nolle prosequi because the virtual complainants indicated that they no longer wished to proceed with these matters. The Demerara June 2013 Criminal Assizes are scheduled to commence today and some 219 cases are listed to be heard during the session before Justice Navindra Singh and Justice Brassington Reynolds. The Essequibo Assizes continue before Justice Franklin Holder and the next Berbice Assizes will start on Tuesday June 18, 2013 before Justice Dawn Gregory.
Wednesday June 05, 2013
President ‘death threat’…
Case dismissed against Irishman By Zena Henry Cilian James Crossan, who was charged in early April for allegedly threatening to shoot Guyana’s President in his head, was yesterday freed when the matter was dismissed by Magistrate Allan Wilson at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court. Crossan, an Irish national reportedly imbibed a number of alcoholic beverages while at Tabatinga, North Rupununi and allegedly made the incriminating statement to assassinate the President during a public event. According to court information the matter was dismissed on a nolle prosequi basis after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended that the matter be discontinued. The DPP had written to the Magistrate in her capacity and made the declaration which led to the dismissal. Crossan was represented by Attorney-at law Glenn Hanoman, who had said that his client who has been in Guyana since August of last year is attached to the British charity, Project Trust, as a volunteer teacher at Shulinab, South Central Rupununi. He had claimed that Crossan “fell prey to Guyanese rum”, specifically piwari which he had been consuming on the day in question. Police Prosecutor Sergeant Vishnu Hunte had said when the matter was first
Cilian James Crossan called at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court that while the President was at Lethem, it was Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Nigel Dharamlall who heard the defendant’s public remarks and cautioned him to stop but the man had refused. This he said led to Crossan’s arrest. Hunte further mentioned that the accused admitted to making the threats while under caution by police ranks. “I will shoot the President; I will shoot the President in his head,” Police claimed Crossan said, while in the vicinity of the City Boy Club Bar at Tabatinga. Crossan had been released on $60,000 bail at the time.
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Miner on $13M fraud charge Minibus conductor jailed for four years Telford Layne, a miner of 3264 Lamaha Place, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown burst into tears after being remanded to prison yesterday by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine Beharry. The defendant appeared at court one of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. He has been accused of obtaining money by false pretense. The court heard that between December 4, 2012 and February 18, 2013, Layne obtained in excess of $13 million from Wayne Hubbard, under the pretext that he was the owner of 12 plots of land at Curricurri Point in the interior, knowing same to be false. The defendant was not required to enter a plea to the charge. His Attorney Lyndon Amsterdam in an application for bail told the court that his client is married with two minor children and his wife is
expecting their third child soon. The lawyer explained that the lands which his client sold were allocated to him by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, (GGMC). The matter was prosecuted by Inspector Stephen Telford. Telford contended that even under that circumstance, the defendant is not authorized to sell the lands; the lawful sale of such lands is only via GGMC. The virtual complainant subsequently informed the court that he had the responsibility of capturing the defendant who had been avoiding the police. Hubbard reportedly picked up Layne, after he was seen standing in the compound of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. The case was stood down for a while, as police personnel verified whether the claims of the complainant
Telford Layne were truthful. As a result, it was confirmed that Layne was placed on station bail but later failed to report to the police station. He was on the run since December last. Layne was remanded to prison until June 12.
Wednesday June 05, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) With a great interest in the business and practical world, your brilliant mind excels in making career and management decisions. You like your career straight and conventional and you defy anyone who would suggest otherwise. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21)Deadlines and projects may be running close to completion today. Things are working with rather than against you; do not hold back. However, do not overdo and try to go too far too fast. GEMINI (May 22-June 21) There will be less of an impulse now for the need for recognition. There is a growing sense of appreciating your life. This coming time may call for a change of approach and perhaps, life style. CANCER (June 22-July 22) Someone important or in authority may oppose your values and put a damper on your desires. You may be unable to appreciate their attitude--understanding will come. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Your positive attitude lets you get right to the point today, and people listen. There is plenty of enthusiasm for whatever project is ongoing. You warm up to ideas and people quickly. Your inner self-confidence is admirable and burns with its own light. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) You may become torn between an environment that is very comfortable and supportive versus a real need to grow, progress and push out on your own. You may put yourself in a position to choose your surroundings.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) This is an excellent day to be involved in teamwork. You may be sought after as just the person for a special job. You exhibit your patient attitude and are quite able to respond and build upon what is already in process. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You are inclined to do things from outer necessity rather than for emotional or idealistic reasons, at least for the next few days. Your theories and mental activities are good. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 Dec. 21) The public loves you and it may be hard for you to avoid working with and for others. For now, you will work closely with others in some special project. Everyone sees you as genuine, giving and trusting. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.Jan. 20) You say what you mean this tuesday. You are right when it comes to questions of feelings--you may be most interested in matters of psychology, different cultures and history. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) You are, no doubt, a touch too sober today, but when it comes to taking care of business, you really shine. Others may think you are older than you are, for you sometimes assume an authoritarian stance as well as a deep understanding of whatever you undertake to accomplish. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You are a born doer, with an incredible drive to accomplish and achieve. Your ambitions are backed up by the will to get things done. You would be great at research or any work that requires digging and searching.
“Is me alone meh mother got, she is 85 years old and she de sick right now she can’t walk, and Saturday she dead so I come to town fuh buy wood fuh build she coffin. Me aint got no money and I de frustrated so I did de offence.” This was the claim of Wayne Parker, a minibus conductor from Linden, as he sought to explain the reasons for his unlawful actions after pleading guilty to charges of robbery with violence and escape from lawful custody. He faced Magistrate Priya Sewnarine Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ court yesterday.
Court documents revealed that on Saturday June 2, Parker robbed Ashley Marques of her purse, cell phone and other personal belongings. At the time of the robbery, the defendant reportedly used violence against the plaintiff. The incident occurred on the southern side of Regent Street, near King Street. The virtual complainant reported that the defendant dragged her by the neck around the corner, into King Street. “He told me that I disrespectful and pulled away my purse, cell phone and ran off.” Parker was arrested some time later by police ranks on
mobile patrol. The officers later discovered while booking the man for robbery that he had been a fugitive of the law since April. The court learnt that on April 2, last, while being an inmate of the Camp Street Prison, Parker escaped f r o m the custody of law enforcement ranks. The defendant escaped after he was taken back to the Camp Street facility following an appearance in court. The court further learnt that Parker had served a three year prison sentence on a charge of unlawful wounding. After hearing the case, Magistrate Beharry sentenced Parker to four years imprisonment.
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U.N. believes chemical weapons used in Syria GENEVA (Reuters) United Nations investigators said yesterday they had “reasonable grounds” to believe that limited amounts of chemical weapons had been used in Syria in a conflict where brutality was now a tactic of war. In their latest report, human rights investigators said they had received allegations that Syrian government forces and rebels had used the banned weapons, but most testimony related to their use by forces loyal to President Bashar alAssad. Increasing reports from the battlefield of the use of chemical weapons have sounded alarm bells in the West, lending urgency to a new diplomatic push to end the war. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said last week that the use of chemical weapons was unacceptable. In Syria, Qusair came under renewed missile attack as fighting there dragged into its third week, prompting calls for humanitarian access to offer some relief to the thousands trapped in the city under siege by government
In this Tuesday, March 19, 2013 file photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, a Syrian victim who suffered an alleged chemical attack at Khan al-Assal village. (AP Photo/SANA, File) forces. Those hoping to save themselves were faced with the agonising choice of digging holes in the ground to escape the bombing or embarking on a perilous cross-country trek to
neighbouring Lebanon. The U.N. commission said it examined four reported toxic attacks in Syria in March and April but could not determine which side was behind them. “There are reasonable grounds to believe that
limited quantities of toxic chemicals were used. It has not been possible, on the evidence available, to determine the precise chemical agents used, their delivery systems or the perpetrator,” Paulo Pinheiro, who chairs the U.N. commission of inquiry, told a news conference in Geneva. “The witnesses that we have interviewed include victims, refugees who fled some areas, and medical staff,” Pinheiro said, declining to be more specific for reasons of confidentiality. Assad’s government and its opponents have accused each other of using chemical weapons. Syria’s ambassador, Faysal Khabbaz Hamoui, in a debate at the U.N. Human Rights Council on Tuesday, questioned the “neutrality and professionalism” of the panel.
Russian Ambassador Alexey Borodavkin called for U.N. experts to be sent to Khan al-Assal in the northern Aleppo province, where an alleged chemical weapons strike took place on March 19, one of the four cited by the inquiry. A team of U.N. inspectors has so far been denied access to Syria and has been unable to establish whether chemical weapons have been used. The U.N. rights team of more than 20 investigators conducted 430 interviews from January 15 to May 15 among refugees in neighbouring countries and by Skype with people still in Syria. But findings remained inconclusive and it was vital that U.N. experts be allowed to collect samples from victims and the sites of alleged attacks, the rights investigators said. “The war in Syria is a major catastrophe of our time,” Pinheiro told the Geneva forum. “Syria is in free-fall. Brutality has become a tactic of war,” he said. At least 17 massacres were committed in the period under review, making a total of 30 since September, the report said. Syrian leaders must be held accountable for directing a policy that includes besieging and bombing cities and executing civilians, the independent investigators said. “The documented violations are consistent and widespread, evidence of a concerted policy implemented by the leaders of Syria’s military and government,” they said in their fifth report on the 26month-old war that has killed more than 80,000. Government forces and
allied militia have committed war crimes including murder, torture and rape, the report said. For the past two weeks, Syrian government forces have laid siege to the border town of Qusair, where aid agencies say hundreds of wounded and other civilians are trapped in dire conditions. Syria’s envoy Khabbaz Hamoui said the report was selective. “The commission referred only casually to examples of the crimes perpetrated by the ‘takfiri’ (extremist) groups including extrajudicial executions, slaying of captives, tearing open the bodies of victims and eating out their guts. Some horrendous scenes that shocked the whole world,” he told the talks. As Syrian government forces try to grind down the rebels in Qusair, trapped civilians have had to choose between sheltering from the bombs or risking a 100 km (60 mile) hike to safety. “Qusair itself is described as a ghost town, heavily damaged and filled with the sound of bombs. People are hiding in bunkers or, even worse, in holes that they’ve dug,” U.N. refugee agency spokeswoman Melissa Fleming told a briefing in Geneva. “One woman told us that she spent, with her children, one week inside a hole that was dug into the ground.” Qusair, near the Lebanese border, was home to about 30,000 people before the war. It is now the latest flashpoint, a strategic prize that both sides need to secure supply routes. With the fighting there dragging into its third week, Syrian forces fired ground missiles and launched a series of air raids on the town yesterday, activists said. Earlier quick advances made by forces loyal to Assad and the allied Hezbollah militia have slowed as they tried to seize the northern quarter of the town. Opposition leaders called for the creation of a humanitarian corridor to allow people from Qusair to flee to Lebanon. “We have in Qusair more than 1,000 wounded, and 400 of them are in critical condition. Some of them have been bleeding for days,” said George Sabra, acting head of the opposition National Coalition. The International Committee of the Red Cross said the Syrian government had said it was willing to grant the agency access to Qusair once military operations there were ended.
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Thousands remember Tiananmen U.S. blacklists global network of Iranian ‘front’ companies as China tightens security
A boy, accompanied by his parent, participates in a candlelight vigil at Hong Kong’s Victoria Park yesterday, to mourn those who died in a military crackdown on pro-democracy movement at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989. REUTERS/Bobby Yip HONG KONG/BEIJING (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people held a candlelit vigil in a rain-soaked Hong Kong park yesterday to urge China to respect human rights on the 24th anniversary of the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. In China, most mention of the anniversary was censored from the Internet. Security was tight in Beijing, where on June 3 and June 4 1989, China’s leaders ordered troops to open fire on demonstrators and sent in tanks to crush a student-led campaign movement, killing hundreds. In Hong Kong, members of the crowd wore black and held candles under umbrellas. Protesters demanded Beijing overturn its denunciation of the pro-democracy movement as a “counter-revolutionary event”. “Vindicate June 4th!” many shouted. “Never give up!” Hong Kong, a former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997, is the only place on Chinese soil where large, open commemorations of the Tiananmen massacre take place. The vigil is held up as a symbol of Hong Kong’s relative freedoms and civil liberties compared with mainland China. “I feel very sad. It’s been 24 years and nothing has changed. The changes that the students of 1989 demanded have not come yet. Instead, things are getting worse and worse. You can see the officials are still very corrupt,” said Doris Poon, a clerk in her late 40s. Organizers estimated 150,000 people showed up to send a “united message” to China’s new president, Xi Jinping, whose government has clamped down on Internet
freedoms and detained anticorruption activists. Police put the figure at 54,000 at the peak of the assembly. A record 180,000 people attended last year’s vigil. Xi became Communist Party chief in November and president in March at a time of mounting public pressure for long-stalled political reforms, though there has been no sign of that so far. While China grapples with thousands of protests a year, over everything from pollution to corruption and illegal land grabs, none of these demonstrations has even come close to becoming a national movement that could threaten the party’s rule. “Everybody can see that China today continues to tighten and this suppression of human rights will cause more Hong Kong people to come out,” said pro-democracy lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan. In Beijing, Tiananmen Square was packed with tourists on a cool, smoggy day. Plain clothes security and police were out in force, checking identity cards of Chinese tourists. “It’s June 4, a day the Communist Party and the Chinese government don’t like,” said a young woman from the southern city of Shenzhen, who declined to give her name. “Older people who remember told us about it. We know June 4. It’s called the day students shed blood.” The government last week began detaining some dissidents and cutting off telephone and Internet access for others. “If the government is sensible, next year is the 25th anniversary and they could designate a spot where we could march,” said Zhang Xianling, 76.
Zhang is one of a group of “Tiananmen Mothers” who seek justice for children killed in the crackdown and were closely watched by police as they paid respects to victims in Beijing’s Wan’an cemetery. Last week, the group denounced Xi for failing to launch political reforms and accused him of taking china “backwards to Maoist orthodoxy”. “If you want to commemorate it, you should be able to commemorate it,” Zhang said. “That would be an enlightened government.” Authorities boosted censorship of social media sites, blocking searches not only for terms like “Tiananmen” but even the words “today” and “tonight”, and removing the candle symbol from the list of emoticons on the Twitter-like service Sina Weibo.
WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - A global network of private companies were blacklisted by the United States yesterday for providing revenue to the Iranian government’s leadership and helping it evade the pinch from international sanctions on Tehran’s nuclear program, the U.S. Treasury Department said. The move targets 37 companies spread across the world, from Iran to Croatia, Germany and South Africa, and is the fourth action the United States has taken in the past week to sanction Iran’s government and industries over its atomic program. The sanctions prohibit U.S. citizens and companies from dealing with the firms. Any foreign financial institutions dealing with them risk getting cut off from the U.S. financial system. The Treasury Department said the companies are governed by the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order, or EIKO - a program set up by Iran’s leadership to manage its commercial holdings - and earn tens of billions of dollars in profits. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was a leader of the 1979 revolution that established the Islamic Republic of Iran. The companies take advantage of preferential loan rates from Iranian banks and sell and manage real estate holdings, including properties confiscated from Iranians who do not live in the country full-time, the Treasury Department said. It said the firms have
business links to Iran’s government but usually have non-Iranian or Iranian expatriate owners to get around restrictions on the government’s ability to do business in Europe and other parts of the world. “While the Iranian government’s leadership works to hide billions of dollars in corporate profits earned at the expense of the Iranian people, Treasury will continue exposing and acting against the regime’s attempts to evade our sanctions and escape international isolation,” Under Secretary of the Treasury David Cohen said in a statement announcing the sanctions. The United States and other Western powers believe Iran’s nuclear program is aimed at developing atomic weapons. Tehran denies the charge, saying it is strictly for power generation and medical purposes. Sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union halved Iran’s oil exports last year, depriving the government of billions of dollars in revenue, increasing already high inflation and hitting the value of the rial currency. But there is little evidence they have slowed the nuclear program. “Each passing month shows important results obtained through sanctions. Yet, the Iranian regime is still able to fund nuclear enrichment in ways that bear no relationship to a peaceful program,” Senator Mike Crapo, the top Republican on the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, s a i d y esterday during a hearing examining the sanctions.
China and Russia are expected this week to join four Western powers in voicing deep concerns about Iran’s atomic activities, and pressing it to cooperate with a stalled inquiry by the U.N. nuclear agency. Cohen said the sanctions have had an impact on Iran’s leadership, as Iranian officials sought relief from sanctions during recent negotiations with officials from the six world powers in Almaty, Kazakhstan. “They would not have done so had the impact of sanctions not affected their calculus,” Cohen said during the hearing. But Wendy Sherman, the State Department’s under secretary for political affairs, said it was ultimately Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who decided whether to stop Iran’s nuclear program. “He is the sole decisionmaker when it comes to the strategic calculation about whether to really deal in these negotiations,” Sherman said during the hearing. “We don’t think he has made that calculation yet; we think we’re getting closer to the potential for him doing so.” The United States has said it supports further sanctions on Iran’s government and industries but not sanctions on Iran’s natural gas exports. Sherman told lawmakers a classified briefing report from last December showed natural gas sanctions would cause disruptions to the gas supplies of U.S. partners in the region, including Turkey, but would not significantly impact Iran’s revenue.
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Death toll hits 10 in European flooding BERLIN (AP) — Germany dispatched thousands of soldiers yesterday to help cities and towns cope with flooding from the rain-soaked Danube and other southern rivers — reinforcements that came a day after the Bavarian city of Passau saw its worst flooding since 1501. The death toll rose to at least 10, including seven in the neighboring Czech Republic, where a man was found dead in the water in eastern Bohemia. Another nine people have been reported missing in the floods that have also swept through Austria and Switzerland. Chancellor Angela Merkel toured flooded German regions, pledging 100 million euros ($130 million) in immediate federal help and holding out the possibility for more. She told reporters in Passau, a city of 50,000 on the Austrian border, that the damage looked even worse than during the massive flooding that hit central Europe in 2002. Some 5,000 German soldiers were called in as well as more than 2,000 federal disaster workers and 700 federal police to sandbag
areas in danger of flooding and provide other assistance. Water levels were still rising in major rivers such as the Danube and Elbe as well as tributaries. In the Czech Republic, authorities evacuated animals from the Prague zoo and closed a major bridge in the capital yesterday. The rain in Prague has halted but the Vltava river that runs through the city and flows into the Elbe was still raging, with currents and water levels far exceeding the norm. The famous Charles Bridge was closed as a precaution. On the outskirts of Prague, a major Staropramen beer brewery on the river bank was closed as a protective measure — as were several major chemical factories. One of them — Spolana — released dangerous toxic chemicals into the Elbe during the devastating floods of 2002. Authorities said the level of the Vltava in Prague has now begun to drop but excess water was expected to soon hit the Elba river, into which it flows downstream. This year’s spike in water
levels has been far less than in 2002 so far, but still forced the Prague Zoo to evacuate animals after the lower side of the park was submerged and will once again need major reconstruction. Passau, a city built around the intersection of the Danube, the Inn and the Ilz rivers, has been one of the worst hit by the flooding in central Europe. After hitting the highest level in more than 500 years in Passau on Monday, the floodwaters there had dropped by an estimated 2.5 meters (nearly 8 feet) yesterday but cities downstream like Regensburg were bracing for the water’s arrival. Peak floodwaters coursing out of the Czech Republic were expected to hit Dresden, capital of the German province of Saxony, along the Elbe in three to four days. Already, the German cities of Pirna and Meissen were reporting flooding in their historic centers. Cities and towns in the German states of Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia and Brandenburg were also hit with flooding.
Wednesday June 05, 2013
IMF tells F rance to step up France reforms, rein in spending
Francois Hollande (Reuters) - France must lower labour costs, open up regulated professions, deepen its labour and business reforms and cease tax hikes to get back to growth and bolster competitiveness, the IMF said yesterday. A day after slashing its growth forecast for Germany, the International Monetary Fund said that France was set to contract slightly more than its current forecast and that unemployment would keep rising in spite of the government’s promise to reverse the jobless trend by year-end. “The number of reforms initiated in the last six months speak well of the government’s understanding that France needs to be reformed,” the IMF’s Mission Chief for France, Edward Gardner, said, adding: “It’s a first step in a long process.”
The Fund urged France to remove constraints on housing construction and push for more negotiations at enterprise level. It also suggested giving the competition authority more power to review all sectors of the economy and push to remove regulatory obstacles. With rising youth unemployment a growing concern throughout Europe, the Fund said more instruments should be found to lower the effective cost of hiring young workers. Gardner said that could include a lower minimum wage or more flexible contracts, an idea that has been fiercely opposed by young people and unions in the past. Regarding structural reforms, the IMF stressed that France’s focus should be on reining in public spending. “Following three years of substantial fiscal adjustment, there is scope to moderate the pace of consolidation going forward, provided the effort is concentrated on expenditure and backed by continued structural reforms,” it said in a regular review of France. The IMF’s report said the French economy would start turning around in the second half of 2013. On Monday, the Fund halved its 2013 forecast for Germany based on uncertainty in other euro zone economies, including neighbouring France. It trimmed its forecast for
France to a contraction of 0.2 percent this year from a previous forecast of -0.1 percent and predicted growth of 0.8 percent next year, down from a previous estimate of 0.9 percent. But Gardner warned that one of the main downside risks for France was the lack of household and business confidence, adding that uncertainty over taxes was weighing on that. “There is no more scope for increasing the tax burden, not only because it has reached very high levels which are distorting incentives and in the end undermining growth,” he said. “But also the perception that taxes are the instrument of adjustment ... is creating a lot of uncertainty ... undermining consumer confidence and enterprise investment capacity.” The Fund said risks to financial stability had abated considerably as banks had repaired their balance sheets, but it noted banks still had some way to go in increasing their liquidity buffers and improving net stable funding ratios. “This requires a move toward more marketintermediated credit and higher deposit collection,” it said. France entered a shallow recession in the first quarter as weak exports, investment and household spending caused a 0.2 percent contraction.
$750 million missing in Angola-Russia deal
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Some $750 million is missing from Angola’s treasury from a deal with Russia facilitated by a Swiss bank and a shell company registered in Britain’s Isle of Man, a report by a corruption watchdog group said. Russian and French arms dealers got away with $263 million, Angola’s president reportedly stashed away more than $36 million, and three Angolan officials and a former Russian legislator got away with smaller amount. Another $400 million is unaccounted for, according to Corruption Watch UK and Angola’s Clean Hands, or Maos Livres association of human rights lawyers. The Angolan expose is the latest of a slew of reports on corruption, its cost to development, and how it is aided by bankers and shell companies that keep secret
Eduardo dos Santos the identities of owners. Angola has long been accused of siphoning off payments from its massive oil production, worth some $40 billion in 2011 according to Revenue Watch. They enrich a small coterie surrounding President Eduardo dos Santos while nearly half the
population lives below the poverty line. Dos Santos has ruled Angola for 33 years. The report on Angola comes as the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom are working on stricter legislation to try to halt the flow of dirty and tax-dodging dollars. “The thing that really shocked me is the complicity of the financial system, of what became Switzerland’s biggest bank,” said former South African legislator and whistleblower Andrew Feinstein, lead author of the Angolan report, “Deception in High Places.” Angolan presidential spokesman Jose Mena Abrantes could not be reached for comment despite several calls to his office. The Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa called dos Santos’ lack of response “a deafening silence.”
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Venezuelan state considers CAL issues ‘of great system to limit food purchases concern’ – Jamaica PM Trinidad Express Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Miller, has said the relationship between Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) and the carrier it acquired in 2011, Air Jamaica, is a “great cause of concern for the Jamaican people”. Simpson-Miller made the comment while speaking to reporters on Sunday at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, St Ann’s, in response to questions on the issue. Finance Minister Larry Howai said in the Senate last month that CAL’s estimated losses for 2012 were US$70
Portia Simpson-Miller million, of which US$32 million was identified as
State-owned water company to spend billions upgrading rural water supply systems KINGSTON, Jamaica - CMC – The state-owned Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL) is to spend an estimated J$4.1 billion (One Jamaica dollar = US$0.01 cents) over the next three years restoring and upgrading water supply systems in rural communities across Jamaica. RWSL managing director Audley Thompson said that the 26 projects will be undertaken in keeping with the government’s policy of ensuring that all households have access to potable water and adequate sanitation by 2015.
losses on Air Jamaica’s routes. He also said the fuel subsidy for CAL and Air Jamaica for 2012 was US$40 million. “It is of grave, great, great concern for the Jamaican people, I can say that,” Simpson-Miller said. She said she did not have the opportunity while she was in Trinidad and Tobago to discuss the matter with Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar because Trinidad and Tobago was hosting the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, who left for Costa Rica on Sunday after a three-day State visit. Guyana’s President, Donald Ramotar, told reporters the ongoing issues with CAL are a cause of concern since the airline is “very important” where transportation to and from Guyana is concerned. “So we’re obviously concerned and we’re looking at it very carefully, and we hope everything will turn out okay for them,” he said.
CARACAS (Reuters) - A Venezuelan state is testing a system to limit purchases of food and other staples, local media reported yesterday, in a move that officials defended as necessary to stop contraband trade but opposition critics slammed as Cuban-style rationing. The OPEC nation’s consumers have for months had to endure long lines or visit several stores to find basic products that run the gamut from toilet paper to butter, driven in part by a lack of hard currency to ensure imports. The state of Zulia in western Venezuela said it will launch a pilot program next week that uses a digital system to block shoppers from buying the same staple products at different stores on the same day. “Considering the average size of a family, one person should only buy 20 staple
products during the period that we establish, which we think will be one week,” Blagdimir Labrador, an official with the Zulia state government, told the newspaper Panorama in an interview published yesterday. Venezuela’s price control system leaves the cost of basic products such as rice and flour considerably below their market value, creating a temptation for consumers to buy them in large quantities and resell them during shortages. The business is even more lucrative in border states such as Zulia, which neighbors Colombia, because shoppers can buy goods and resell them across the frontier where they trade for several times the subsidized Venezuelan price. Products to be covered by the system include rice, milk, toothpaste and diapers. The pilot program is to be carried
out in 65 supermarkets in Zulia’s capital Maracaibo and the neighboring municipality of San Francisco. Supporters of the system credit the late leader Hugo Chavez for creating welfare programs that keep groceries cheap for the poor as part of his self-styled socialist revolution that his protégé and designated successor Nicolas Maduro has vowed to continue. Opposition leaders say the nagging shortages are a sign that the Chavez-era stateled model of price controls and frequent nationalizations is running out of steam. They sometimes compare the system to that “We cannot allow the government to use our state to create a Cuba-style rationing system,” said opposition legislator Elias Matta of Zulia. “This shows the failure of 21st century socialism.”
Regional leaders urged to back loan for LIAT GEORGETOWN, Guyana – CMC - Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders are being urged to support a loan application by the regional airline, LIAT, for funds to undertake a refleeting exercise so as to sustain its operations and improve services. A CARICOM Secretariat statement said that regional transport ministers who met in St. Vincent and the Grenadines last week, have agreed to put forward to the regional leaders a proposal that they support the LIAT loan application to the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The statement gave no details regarding the costs of the re-fleeting exercise, but LIAT which flies to 21 destinations in the region and has 1,000 flights weekly, said it was seeking to acquire French-made 48 and 63-seater aircraft. The statement said that the transport ministers had also recommended that air transport services be included among the group of essential services and the necessary legislation be enacted to give effect to this
Ian Brunton reality. Last month, LIAT’s chief executive officer, Ian Brunton, said that the aviation industry should also be classified as an essential service, with legislated restricted rights to strike”. Brunton said that tourism is the mainstay of the majority of the region’s economies and air services connect the countries of the Caribbean, feeding that primary revenue stream. “Further, all the institutions which help to forge the integration of the peoples of this region: OECS, CARICOM, CSME, West
Indies cricket, and many others, are dependent on aviation services for their proper functioning. Aviation in the Caribbean is the bridge that connects the islands. “I therefore submit that aviation services should be treated in a different way to other industries and it is important that governments throughout the region act now to list aviation services as essential,” he said. The CARICCOM statement said that the regional transport ministers agreed to the establishment of a team chaired by St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to review elements of a draft policy or air and maritime transport and asked Member States to submit their comments by the end of June. The ministers agreed that they would keep under review on-going initiatives such as the proposal for a fast ferry service in the Southern Caribbean,” the statement said, adding that on the fuel subsidy granted by Trinidad and Tobago to Caribbean Airlines (CAL) which has occasioned complaints of it being anti-competitive, consultations in an effort to resolve the matter amicably will be conducted between the shareholder governments of LIAT and Port of Spain “prior to and during the Conference of Heads of Government Meeting which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago in July”.
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Kaieteur News
Colombia Minister rules out NATO membership BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia’s defense minister yesterday backed away from a suggestion by President Juan Manuel Santos that the country might be looking at membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a comment that had alarmed some other South American leaders. The minister, Juan Carlos Pinzon, told W Radio that the country merely plans to sign a deal with NATO for cooperation in human rights, military justice and the education of troops. “Colombia cannot be a member, does not want to be a member of NATO,” he said. The ministry later reinforced that message with a news release. In separate remarks to the Bogota daily El Tiempo, Pinzon said the deal “does not imply military bases, nor troops or anything that would put security and peace in the region at risk.” Santos, himself a former defense minister, announced over the weekend that “NATO is going to sign an agreement with the Colombian government, with the Ministry of Defense, to start a whole process of reaching out, of cooperation, also with a look at entering that organization.” That puzzled NATO officials because Colombia, as
a country close to the equator, does not meet a NATO rule restricting membership to North Atlantic nations. It also prompted reproaches from the leftist governments of Venezuela and Bolivia, which have had good relations with Santos despite his administration’s close ties to Washington. A NATO official, who requested anonymity because he was not allowed to address the issue on the record, said, “There is no immediate plan for establishing a formal partnership between the alliance and Colombia, but we are exploring the possibility of carrying out specific activities together.” The official noted that Colombia participated in a NATO program to promote transparency and accountability in military forces, “and we are currently developing a security of information agreement which would allow the exchange of classified information between the alliance and Colombia.” In Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro said Santos’ original announcement about possibly joining NATO was worse than Colombia’s agreement to allow U.S. troops to work in the country, where they closely assist in the government’s war with
Juan Carlos Pinzon leftist rebels, and he called on regional political alliances to respond. “They want to bring military power, what is decided in Washington, for the continent,” he said. “That is a threat to the continent.” John Marulanda, an international consultant on defense and security issues, suggested that Santos’ announcement resulted from “an excess of enthusiasm.” Colombia and the United States signed a military cooperation agreement in 2009 that would have granted U.S. armed forces greater use of Colombian bases. But after vociferous objections from neighbors led by Brazil, Santos decided to abandon it and not seek congressional approval.
Hotelier against increases in VAT ASTRIES, St Lucia CMC – A leading tourism official is warning that an increase in the value added tax (VAT) on the tourism sector, especially on small operators, will make St Lucia uncompetitive as a cruise destination and further aggravate a sharp decline in cruise ship arrivals. Independent Senator and former president of the Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association (CHTA), Berthia Parle, is also cautioning against what she termed the government’s “threat” of increasing VAT from eight to 9.5 per cent on hotel accommodation and to 15 per cent on attractions and tours from April 1 next year. Parle said the VAT announcement had caused “much alarm” among the smaller, private sector companies within the tourism industry, as well as all the other smaller players who depended on the tourist dollar to stay afloat. Noting that St. Lucia was now the most taxed country in the sub-regional Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS),
“contrary to popular belief,” Parle told legislators that it seemed like the government’s only solution to grow the economy was “to threaten increases in taxation, increases in utility, increases in interest rates on capital financing” and yet still expect the private sector to generate jobs and enrich livelihoods. “The solution to St. Lucia’s problem is to stimulate greater foreign exchange, direct investment,” said the hotelier, adding that tourism was indeed the best avenue to achieve that investment. “The industry continues
to stress the debilitating effect this will have on businesses, especially the small ones, as they struggle to absorb the increased tax, diverting capital from investment, upgrades, electrical retrofitting and capital from investment and growth to pay taxes. This diversion will stagnate potential employment creation and also economic activity.” Parle questioned whether or not the government was seriously thinking of raising the tourism VAT rate on the “poor” people whose livelihood depended on services to the visitor.
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Canadian bank commits to complying with IRS Caribbean request TORONTO, Canada - CMC - A leading Canadian-based bank says it is committed to complying with the United States Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) request for information about US taxpayers who may hold offshore accounts at a Caribbean bank. Last month, the IRS filed a “John Doe” summons requesting information on an unknown number of unnamed people against US taxpayers with offshore accounts at the Barbados-based FirstCaribbean International Bank (FCIB), who it suspects of having used accounts with the bank as parts of efforts to illegally evade US tax. FCIB has branches in 18 Caribbean countries. The Toronto-headquartered Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) has a majority stake in FCIB. “We are committed to complying with all laws and regulatory requirements,” CIBC said in a statement. “We are working with Wells Fargo, our correspondent bank, to understand the nature of the order. It is our intention to co-operate with authorities in accordance with the respective laws of all jurisdictions involved,” the statement added. FCIB was formed in 2002 from the merger of Barclays’ banking operations in the Caribbean and those of CIBC. Barclays said it maintained a large shareholding in the resultant company of more than 40 per cent until December 2006, when it sold the stake. The IRS request for information extends back to 2004, during the period of Barclays’ co-ownership of FCIB, and also details some activity directly involving Barclays branches in the Caribbean before the formation of FCIB.
A witness statement filed in support of the summons by IRS agent Cheryl Kiger details how, during her investigation into a leak of offshore data, she came across information suggesting FCIB and Barclays accounts may have been used by tax evaders. “I discovered information about a US taxpayer (Taxpayer 1) who had opened numerous bank accounts at FCIB and its predecessor Barclays bank in a Caribbean jurisdiction in his own name and in the names of various shell companies he controlled,” Kiger wrote.The summons uses the fact that the US bank, Wells Fargo, maintained “correspondent” accounts to access its offshore accounts from within the United States as part of the basis for its claim. The summons is seeking information on customers of FCIB or its predecessors who may have avoided US tax. It makes no application for information on the activities of the banks themselves, and nor does it suggest the banks had any intention of supporting, or direct knowledge of, such activities by their customers. However, the summons detail how such private banking arrangements, and the use of “correspondent” accounts to allow easy access to such funds, help facilitate such potential tax evasion. Steven T. Miller, the IRS Acting Commissioner, said the summons “mark another milestone in international tax enforcement. “Our work here shows our resolve to pursue these cases in all parts of the world, regardless of whether the person hiding money overseas chooses a bank with no offices on US soil,” he said.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Visit of Chinese President to T&T badly handled – Former diplomat Trinidad Express Embarrassing! This was the reaction Monday of former diplomat and head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas to what he described as “particularly glaring protocol lapses” which occurred during the three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan.
“We have been making a lot of protocol lapses and I am confident that a lot of them are totally avoidable,” Dumas said. He added that he was embarrassed as a citizen and as someone who has served Trinidad and Tobago at home and abroad for decades. “I don’t like to see these kinds of things because it
damages the image of the country.” Dumas said he had noticed a number of protocol lapses within recent times which are rather worrying. But with the Chinese President, he said, even persons who are not normally familiar with all the details of protocol noticed that things were so glaringly wrong.
He said he got e-mails on the matter. “You had the Chinese President arriving in rain. I would have thought there would have been some kind of canopy over the red carpet…there was none. I was also surprised to see the President (Xi) himself holding an umbrella over his head and that of his wife’s head. I have
never seen this before. Where were our (protocol) people?” Dumas asked. He said two protocol persons should have gone on board the aircraft with umbrellas, one for the Chinese head of state and another for the first lady. Dumas said people also noticed the Chinese President walking not with our President, but with the Prime Minister slightly behind him and the President of Trinidad and Tobago Anthony Carmona “somewhere in the back”. “What’s going on? What is this?” he asked. Noting that the contract of Lenore Dorset (a former chief of protocol who had been employed by the President’s Office) was not renewed, he wondered aloud who was the protocol person now advising the President. “Is there one (such person)?” He said that protocol person, in liaison with the embassy or high commission of the country from which the visiting dignitary is coming, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would normally plan the protocol aspects of the visit. “And those persons sit down and plan that (the protocol aspect) down to the very last detail—at what time the arrival is, at which time the President and First Lady come down the steps of the aircraft and so on.” Dumas said his understanding is that there is no protocol officer currently attached to the Office of the President. He also pointed to the fact that at the media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on Saturday, President Xi was called upon to speak first before the Prime Minister (who gave her address after him). “Who advised Andy Johnson (of Government Information Services)? Andy is not a protocol expert. Was there the meeting of minds with the President’s office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy of China? I don’t know. Because all of this should have been worked out in great detail…and written down. “Clearly Johnson was not so advised because he
promptly calls on the President of China (to speak before the Prime Minister), much to the President’s consternation. “How can the guest speak before the host?” Dumas asked. Johnson apologised for the protocol breach, taking full personal ownership for the error and saying that to err was human and to forgive was divine. Said Dumas: “My general reaction to all these lapses I have been seeing domestically, and now internationally, is one of dismay and wonderment that more than 50 years after independence, we should be making these elementary errors. “And therefore it is absolutely essential for the President (of Trinidad and Tobago) to have a protocol expert. That person should be in constant touch for domestic events with the protocol officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and where the visit of a foreigner is concerned, (that person needs) to be also in touch with the embassy or high commission or the representative (of the country of the visiting VIP) so that we can avoid these mistakes. “One would always make mistakes…but these are avoidable mistakes. And as someone who has spent so long in the foreign service at home and abroad, I am embarrassed. “This is not rocket science. And this is not the first Head of State that we have received in this country over the last 50 years.” Dumas said up to yesterday morning he was talking to a number of people and wondering how he could go about getting people to understand what is the correct thing to do. Attempts to contact Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran, who is out of the country, were futile. The Express had no success in reaching Roodal Moonilal, who often acts as Foreign Affairs Minister, former foreign affairs minister Suruj Rambachan and Communications Minister Jamal Mohammed.
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Narine moves to top Heat to face Spurs in Finals after seeing off Pacers challenge with dominant victory of ODI rankings West Indies offspinner Sunil Narine eclipsed Pakistani Saeed Ajmal to move to number one for the first time of his short career in the latest ICC ODI Bowling Rankings. Ajmal lost his place after conceding figures of 100-71-0 against minnows Ireland recently, dropping from 784 points to 757, which allowed Narine (764) to claim the top spot. It took the Trinidadian just 28 games to achieve the feat, having snatched 47 wickets at an average of 21.68 and economy of 3.87 since his debut in December 2011. He became the first West Indian to top the list in ODIs since Curtley Ambrose in 1997, though medium pacer Ian Bradshaw came close when he rose to second in 2006. Narine (778) is also the number one bowler in the T20Is, ahead of Ajmal (742) and Sri Lankan Mendis (716). Further down the ODI bowling list for West Indies are Kemar Roach (20th), Ravi Rampaul (26th) and Darren Sammy (28th) while the top ranked regional batsman are Kieron Pollard (32nd) and Chris Gayle (36th). (Trinidad Guardian) ODI BOWLERS 1 SP Narine (WI) 764 2 Saeed Ajmal (Pak) 757
AB de Villiers 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 10 10 20 26 28 52
ST Finn (Eng) 747 Moh. Hafeez (Pak) 708 LL Tsotsobe (SA) 689 CJ McKay (Aus) 665 JM Anderson (Eng) 664 Abdur Razzak (Ban) 663 RA Jadeja (Ind) 663 M Morkel (SA) 655 DW Steyn (SA) 655 KAJ Roach (WI) 608 R Rampaul (WI) 558 DJG Sammy (WI) 555 AD Russell (WI) 477
ODI BATTING 1 AB de Villiers (SA) 882 2 HM Amla (SA) 874 3 V Kohli (Ind) 812 4 MS Dhoni (Ind) 784 5 IJL Trott (Eng) 777 6 KC Sangakkara (SL) 735 7 TM Dilshan (SL) 731 8 AN Cook (Eng) 703 9 SR Watson (Aus) 691 10 BB McCullum (NZ) 681 32 K Pollard (WI) 591 36 CH Gayle (WI) 569 41 DM Bravo (WI) 561
The Miami Heat booked their place in their third consecutive NBA Finals with a dominant 99-76 win over the Indiana Pacers. The win sets up a meeting against the San Antonio Spurs with Miami set to host Game one on Thursday night. LeBron James, who shook hands with David Beckham, top-scored with 32 points, while Dywane Wade awoke from his slumber to score his first 20-point game since Game two against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Ray Allen added 10 points and Chris Bosh had nine points, eight rebounds and three blocks, as the Heat when into half-time with a 5237 lead meaning the contest was all but over. For Indiana the two players who have done most to get the team to this stage, Paul George and Roy Hibbert, had terrible games by their standards with both finding themselves in foul trouble. After scoring 28 points and 27 points in his last two games (and more than 20 points two more times in the series) George had just seven points in Game seven and fouled out with almost eight minutes left. Hibbert fared slightly better with 18 points and eight rebounds but he had been averaging more than 20
points and 10 rebounds per game, and missed key parts of the game that allowed Miami to extend an insurmountable lead. Indiana also committed 21 turnovers, 15 by half-time, and lost the rebounding battle – a key area where they had previously been dominant – 43-36. ‘They taught us a lesson,’ said Indiana coach Frank Vogel. ‘This team has been there before. They have been to the championship. They’ve won it all. And they know how to ratchet up their defence at a level that just imposes their will on a basketball game.’ James, who added eight rebounds and four assists to his 32 points, said: ‘By any means necessary… we took care of business. ‘We just focused on every possession, trying to get stops, play Miami Heat defence, create havoc. I thought we did that tonight.’ Wade, whose struggles in this year’s play-offs have been well documented, added: ‘I’m going to play through pain because this is my job. My team depends on me. Like I said a couple of series ago, I would love to be one of the players who never has to deal with these injuries. But that’s not my path.’ George, despite his
David Beckham shakes hands with Miami Heat small forward LeBron James. struggles in this game, has firmly established himself as one of the NBA’s best players and is already looking forward to next season. ‘The great thing is we’re
a young team and we are past the building stage. This is really our first year tasting success. ‘The rate we are going, we see championships soon.’
Japan first to seal qualification for Brazil World Cup
Japan show their delight in becoming the first team to reach the World Cup Finals. Japan have become the first team to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, with an injury-time penalty sealing 1-1 draw they needed on home soil. CSKA Moscow star Keisuke Honda netted from the spot in the 91st minute to seal Japan’s qualification after Tommy Oar had put Australia ahead nine minutes earlier. The match saw Japan - who counted Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa among their ranks - reach the World Cup first for the third qualifying competition in a row. The side, currently managed by Italian boss Alberto Zaccheroni, also sealed their place for the 2010 and 2006 tournaments before any other
qualifying team. The result did little for Austrailia’s chances of qualification, but the performance will give Holger Osieck’s men reason to believe they can make the second qualifying spot their own. Australia, who handed call-ups to Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill and Tim Cahill, are currently in a four-way tussle with Jordan, Oman and Iraq, but results in their remaining fixtures against Jordan and Iraq should see them through. The third-placed team in the group will play their equivalent from Group A, who will then face an intercontinental play-off against a team from South America. (Mailonline)
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Kaieteur News
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THE ROAD TO BRAZIL 2016
Do we have a dream or are we dreaming? Asks Michael Benjamin Two incidents over just as many months left me spellbound and wondering at the future of this nation in the international sporting world. The first occurred after a team of beach footballers, all young men that had spent months of ardent work and phenomenal sacrifices in preparation for national representation at the CONCACAF Beach Football World Cup Qualifiers in Nassau Bahamas, on May 812 last, were denied the opportunity after blatant administrative bungling and ineptitude. Those players, Michael Wilson, Darrel George, Travis Bess, Jermaine Grandison, Claude Dennis, Keon Sears, Ron Fiedtkou, Marmarlaque Davidson, Odil Allicock, Omeion Wills, Gerald Blair and Colric Beckles along with the team management, comprising Manager/Team Administrator Mark Xavier and Coach and Assistant Coach, Abdulla Hamid and Rollin Tappin respectively, were denied the opportunity to represent this nation, not necessarily because of the lack of funds but merely through the poor insight and inflexible stance of football administrators. Guyana’s absence from the tournament raised the ire of the Head of Competition of the Beach Soccer Worldwide, Josep Ponset, and he immediately contacted local football executives to instruct that all efforts should be made to have Guyana in the Bahamas for their engagement. We were reliably informed that the directive triggered off a flurry of activities among the hierarchy of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and Mr. Xavier revealed that he received a call from the General Secretary, Mr. Adonis, late into the night,
when the players had returned to their respective homes in Region 10, instructing him to have them ready for travel. Needless to say, the time was insufficient and the footballers’ hopes of participating in the tournament dwindled to naught. Country pride and the development of those lads were sacrificed on the altar of mediocrity and in any other country an investigation would have been launched to ascertain the reasons for such an atrocity with possible sanctions to those found guilty. Not in Guyana though; it was business as usual with not even a peep coming out of the GFF, government or any of our social groups. The other incident occurred on Sunday last when the President of the Guyana Boxing Association informed the media that after several weeks of begging corporate entities and holding fund raisers, he failed to accrue the required 3M dollars to facilitate the participation of a national team of boxers to Cuba to participate in the Giraldo Cordova Cardin International Boxing Tournament starting today. Had it not been for the timely donation of Police Commissioner, Leroy Brummell, who paid for the airline ticket for Police representatives, Middleweight, Dennis Thomas and Bantamweight, Imran Khan and CEO of Sterling Products, Ramsay Ali, who donated a similar gift to Eon Bancroft, Guyana would have missed another important tournament. One remembers the benefits derived by pugilists of yesteryear who attended this tournament. One also reminisces on the successes enjoyed by those pugilists during that time; the Michael
Parris’ bronze medal achievement at the 1980 Moscow Olympics readily comes to mind. President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, was a journalist and would have chronicled those successes; his desire to have such activity resuscitated must have been inspired by memories of those glory days. It is indeed strange, and somewhat of a disappointment, that only three of the selected boxers were able to make the trip with the lame excuse of inadequate funding being proffered. Then we have the gumption and audacity to express astonishment when our boxers fail to ‘bring home the bacon’ at major tournaments. When Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Frank Anthony beseeched the respective heads of sports Associations/Federations to submit a four-years projection of their itinerary leading up to the Brazil Olympics, one was of the impression that he wanted to ascertain which of those entities were deserving of the requisite support by dint of those projections. While the executive of the GBA complied, not many of the other sports bodies followed suit. Minister Anthony was not too pleased
Michael Benjamin and clearly stated that those defaulting groups ought not to be annoyed if they were overlooked for assistance. It seems as though those that chose to ignore Mr. Anthony’s request knew something that Mr. Ninvalle didn’t since more that 8 months after complying the GBA President is still to hear from the Minister. The Cuban tour was also outlined in the document so Mr. Anthony would have been informed of the financial requirement in ample time yet not a cent was donated to offset these expenses. We were told that the team benefitted from tax waivers which could hardly be
construed as tangible input from any government that hungers for world sports acclaims. Cuban Coach, Francisco Hernandez Roldan is adamant that local boxers should compete at tournaments like the one under discussion if they are to impact at the Olympics level. He had mapped out an itinerary that included several tournaments around the Latin Americas and the Caribbean with heavy emphasis on the Latin America territory where the tough competition existed. Señor Roldan took pains to emphasize the importance of international activity even as he pointed out that it would be an expensive exercise. The Cuban coach also felt that local pugilists would have garnered much needed exposure and experience to stand them in good stead for the Brazil tournament. When the final contingent was finally announced, the Spanish native refused to comment but one could have sensed his disappointment. So after more than 8 weeks of hard work and sacrifices, Ron Smith, Bert Braithwaite, Clairmont Gibson, Delon Charles and Stephon Gouviea have had their hopes
shattered because their native country failed to find 3 million dollars to fund such an important tour. One only had to listen to their comments and note their drooped shoulders to understand their frustration and disappointment. In the meantime, our administrators are labeling the journey, ‘The Road to Brazil.’ The irony is that this is only the beginning; there are many more sojourns leading up to Brazil that will require millions of dollars. Are we to believe that money would continue to be an issue? Sacrifices are expensive and one could measure Government’s input to buying oats; that which has not been consumed by the horse will be expensive. On the contrary, the oats consumed and processed by the animal could be retrieved for free, from his rear end. Someone once told me that Guyana is making sport with sports and while I see evidence of this, I am forced to remember the famous words of Martin Luther King when he said “I have a dream…….” Our administrators say they also have a dream; on the contrary they appear to still be dreaming.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday June 05, 2013
Mackeson commits to The changing face of Bolt as sprint king prepares for track return ‘Keeping Five Alive’ - present prizes to futsal football winners By Edison Jefford Ansa McAl, under its Mackeson Stout brand, yesterday hosted a Presentation Ceremony where it officially handed over the prize monies and trophies to the top two teams of the Mackeson ‘Keep Your Five Alive’ football competition, which concluded Saturday night. Mackeson Brand Manager, Jamaal Douglas, who handed over the prizes to the teams, committed to expanding the competition next year to include more individual awards among more venues as the winning Sparta Boss captain, Devon Millington, cited the need for such incentives. “We love the responses we got from the tournament and next year we’ll be hoping for a nation-wide competition at more venues across Guyana. We are very satisfied with the response we got and we need to maintain such momentum,” Douglas told the media. “Next year we will definitely be going bigger a n d b e t t e r, a n d w i l l certainly look at the individual prizes as Devon said,” Douglas noted, adding that the 2013 tournament that Mackeson sponsored was a tremendous success on all levels. The Mackeson ‘Keep Your Five Alive tournament that was held at venues such as the School St. and Punt Trench, Albouystown, California Square, Eas t Ruimveldt, The National Cultural Centre tarmac with Finals at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall tarmac Saturday night, was well-received within those communities with a capacity crowd thronging the Finals.
Coordinator of the tournament, Kevin Adonis, thanked Mackeson for their support, adding that the event exceeded expectations in terms of the response from patrons. Adonis believes that the response was a direct consequence of the partnership with Mackeson. “This year was the biggest year of the threeyear history of the tournament. This is the first year Mackeson has sponsored the event, so I had to sort of prove myself that this thing could be a big thing and it was big. I think it could only get bigger,” Adonis said. Sparta Boss, with its star-studded line-up that included the goal scoring duo of Millington and Dennis Edwards, carted off $300,000 and a Championship trophy for winning the competition while the underdogs, Festival City got $150,000 and trophy for placing second in a three-way playoffs that also included West Front Road. “On behalf of my team, I would like to thank Mackeson for hosting this tournament. We worked hard for this; we had some critics, but we blanked them out. We want to see individual awards in the tournament like MVP, Most Goal Scorer etc.,” Millington said. Both Douglas and Adonis committed to improving in that regard and thanked the players and the teams for their full participation and cooperation throughout the event that ran for three weeks in Georgetown. They congratulated all the prize winners from the tournament.
Usain Bolt is looking forward to performing at his best again after being slowed by a hamstring injury a month ago. The 100m world recordholder makes his European debut this season at Thursday’s Golden Gala meeting. The six-time Olympic champion ran the 100m only once this year, narrowly edging one of his training partners in a photo finish in the Cayman Islands on May 8 with a relatively slow time of 10.09 seconds. ‘I did have a bad performance but we went back to the drawing board and worked out everything. We figured out what went wrong. I’m confident now,’ Bolt said. ‘It’s a long season. Last season started badly also, so I’m just going to keep working. ‘My hamstring is much, much better now,’ he added. ‘I’m training hard and hopefully everything this season will continue to be
Usain Bolt good.’ It’s the third consecutive year Bolt is running at the Stadio Olimpico. He won in 9.91 in 2011 and in 9.76 last year. Bolt’s 100m world record of 9.58 was set at the 2009 world championships in Berlin. ‘I’m feeling great. I’ve
GASP National Scrabble qualifiers set for next Saturday Final composition to be decided Twenty-five players will vie for honours when the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) convene at the Bank of Guyana Sports Club to compete for the crown in the National Scrabble Championships, slated for June 29-July 1 next. Fifteen of the top seeds have already earned automatic qualification while 10 more will qualify when the GASP host a tournament among the lower rated seeds at the Malteenoes Sports Complex, Sunday June 9 next. Those that have already qualified are defending champion, Abigail McDonald, Leon Belony, James Krakowsky, Moen Gafoor, Frederick Collins,
Colin Chichester, Orlando Michael, Yvonne Murray, Ruby Cummings, Wayne Cave, Devraj Deonarine, Maurice Munro, Julian Skeete, Anand Mohabir and Robert Williams. Players are not required to post an entrance fee for Sunday’s qualifiers. The winner of this year’s Nationals 2013 will represent Guyana at the World Scrabble Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, December 3 – 8, next. Courts (Guyana) Ltd is the exclusive sponsors of this year’s tournament and has already handed over a cheque for more than $250,000 to the President of GASP, Leon Belony.
been doing lot of work on my speed endurance the last couple of weeks,’ Bolt said. ‘Everything is coming together. I’m happy where I’m at and my coach is happy where I’m at. I’m looking forward to going out there and doing my best.’ The 100m field in Rome includes London Olympic bronze medalist Justin Gatlin and American team-mate Michael Rodgers, both of whom have run under 10 seconds already this year. Kim Collins, the 2003 world champion from St Kitts and Nevis, is also running. Gatlin should be Bolt’s biggest challenger. ‘I never worry about one athlete,’ Bolt said. ‘The big championship is always the big thing or me. He’s done a lot this season already but for me it’s when you show up and show that you’re the best at the big championships and that’s
what I do, so I’m not really worried.’ Preparing for the world championships in Moscow in August, Bolt will also run the 200m in Oslo next week; the 4x100m relay in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on June 27; the 200m in Paris on July 6; and the 100m and 4x100m relay in London on July 2627. Also later this month, Bolt will return home for the J a m a i c a n championships. Meanwhile, Bolt also paid tribute retiring Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson. Known as a big United fan, Bolt has often said - half-jokingly - that he would like to try playing football when his track career ends. ‘Me and Alex were friends so now that there’s a new manager I’m worried it’s going to be a little hard for me to make the team,’ Bolt said. (Mailonline)
Under-15 footballers in preparation for CFU c/ships The unpredictable weather pattern has impacted negatively on several outdoor sports activities and administrators are eying the weather before organizing events. Amidst it all, local football organizers are working assiduously to have young footballers ready for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-15 championships scheduled for the Cayman Islands in August. Kaieteur Sport spoke with Technical Development Officer (GFF), Lyndon France and he revealed that administrators had earlier instructed all associations to
run off their club tournaments so as to allow the selection of a squad/team to represent Guyana. He said that those fixtures would be available soon. The association teams will then compete against each other and from this tournament GFF officials would select the national team to compete in the Cayman Islands. Consequently, Mr. France said that administrators are currently soliciting funding to offset the expenses related to the tournament and are beseeching the input of the corporate community.
GBBC stages Guyana Fight Night Boxing Card - Jnr/Lightweight title on the line Revlon Lake has endured mixed fortunes on the Guyana Fight Night Boxing Card organized by the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC). Few could forget that crunching left hook that sent Mark Austin to the canvass for the full count. Lake was not that fortunate when he opposed Clive Atwell for the local Lightweight title in December last year and was knocked out in the 3rd round. Now, six months later, Lake returns and will oppose Dexter Gonsalves for the local Jnr/Lightweight title when the GBBC presents its June edition of Guyana Fight Night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), June 28 next. This is the main attraction of a 4 bouts card that will feature Derick Richmond against veteran, Troy Lewis, in a 4 rounds Middleweight encounter, while Welterweight, Lared Stewart will make his professional debut against Anson Green, also over 4 rounds. Middleweight, Eversley Browne will then oppose Romeo Norville over 4 rounds. The boxers will convene this afternoon at Abdools and Abdools Insurance Brokers, Avenue of the Republic for the contract signing ceremony.