Sunday June 09, 2013
Kaieteur News
GPL slaps customers with …AFC says management 26.7% rate hike “mismanaging” Guyana Power and Light has announced moves to introduce a massive 26.7 per cent hike in electricity rates increase to recoup significant losses as a result of fuel increase. The announcement yesterday by the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) comes six weeks after the Opposition, during the considerations of the country’s budget, slashed $5.2B from a governmental assistance programme. A large part of the subsidy represents monies from a Chinese loan to run new transmission lines on the coastlands and for the construction of seven new substations designed to reduce GPL’s leaky systems. According to GPL, on May 15, 2013, it submitted its Final Return Certificate (FRC) to the regulatory body, Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for an increase in tariffs of 26.7 per cent effective May, 2013. “The new rates have not taken effect but the GPL Board is actively engaged in planning its implementation,” a statement said yesterday. GPL, in arguing for the increase, said it is allowable according to the 1999 Electricity Sector Reform Act (ESRA) and its licence. “The tariff filing, called the Final Return Certificate (FRC) computes annually how much GPL may increase (or decrease) its tariffs, using an internationally acceptable methodology that is based on a rate of return basis.” The methodology calculates the tariffs looking at GPL’s income and
expenses, assets, debt and equity in the prior year, in this case 2012. “The GPL FRC was accompanied by a Notice of Compliance issued by an independent firm of Accountants and GPL’s 2012 audited accounts that shows GPL losing $7.6 B in 2012,” the company said. GPL last increased tariffs in 2008. The 26.7 per cent increase in tariffs will help GPL to recover from its deficit position, the statement said. GPL also argued that proposed increased can be viewed against the $5.2B cut to its capital budget which came from loans provided by Venezuela, China and the IDB. All these loans are being repaid by GPL over a period of time, the company said. “A recent CARILEC report shows GPL residential tariffs to be one of the lowest in the region (with only Trinidad, Suriname, and the Bahamas having lower rates). GPL’s last increase in tariffs was announced in 2007 and effected in February 2008, more than five years ago; the average increase then was 14 per cent, with residential customers facing only 6 per cent and 9 per cent and Government covering a 20 per cent increase.” GPL, in highlighting the fuel costs problem, said prices have risen from a weighted average of US$64/barrel in 2006, to US$108, in 2012. In 2006, GPL’s fuel bill was $12.4B while in 2012, this doubled to $24.2B. Last year, fuel alone accounted for 83 per cent of GPL’s tariff revenue.
“GPL has delayed implementing full tariff increases implementing increases in only two of the last 10 years, resulting in GPL having foregone revenue of over $21.7 B, after taking account of the $5.2 B to be recovered from the 26.7 % increase.” The power company said that the fuel situation is not likely to change until 2017 when the Amaila Falls hydro project is expected to be completed and generation costs will be reduced to half of what is the situation now. “The Amaila Falls project is therefore critical to GPL reducing its costs of generation and the impact of fuel costs on increasing tariffs. GPL is expected to shortly highlight its current position and the challenges it faces, particularly given the reduction of access to loan financing for GPL from its shareholder (the Government of Guyana) to invest in critical improvements in its infrastructure.” GPL is projecting that at least US$90M will have to be spent in the next five years if it is to make a substantial reduction in technical and commercial losses. GPL made it clear that the cuts affected the company badly. “GPL regrets that as a result of funding denied to them, it has no other option but to move in the direction
to raise revenue to remain financially viable.” In April, GPL had called on the Opposition to rethink the $5.2B cut to the government assistance programme. The utility company said that the amount slashed would seriously affect several large scale enhancement projects currently underway to improve its efficiency. It could also lead to the very real possibilities of tariff increases for customers and impact financing by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) for the US$840M-plus Amaila Falls hydro-project. Calling for the Opposition to reverse its decision to slash that sum from the $10.2B sum allocated, the officials said that it is unthinkable to place a hold on the projects which include new transmission lines, frequency upgrades and a new 26-megawatt Wartsila power plant at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara. In February 2008, GPL raised its rates but government, in the form of a subsidy, was able to offset the hike, without consumers feeling the squeeze. It is likely that government may have to subsidise any foreseeable raise in the tariffs. Yesterday, Leader of the Alliance For Change, Khemraj Ramjattan, said GPL’s management cannot use the (continued on page 52)
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The important things in life A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.” “Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff.” “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
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KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210
Editorial
US-UK Money Laundering The local political tussle over legislation demanded by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) highlighted the huge volumes of funds that are laundered by financial institutions from the ill-gotten gains of corruption, crime, drugs and the funding of terrorism. It is not because of the meeting in Nicaragua, where our compliance was mediated through our local Caribbean affiliate of FATF, the impression was created that non-compliance with the FALF regulations was confined to Third World jurisdictions like ours. This is far from the case, and the entire initiative suggests that as usual in international affairs, there may be “different strokes for different folks”. The sad truth is that most of the money laundering is done through banks in the developed countries, especially the US and UK, and the much publicised “off-shore” centres such as Cyprus and the Caribbean are simply cogs in a very large wheel that has its axle in the former countries. The bulk of the profits to launder an estimated US$.5 trillion end up in those countries. This fact was illustrated very vividly in the report, “Grave Secrecy” which was published in June 2012 by the very credible NGO Global Witness. The report provided irrefutable evidence that “numerous UK companies” had been involved in a major money laundering scandal involving a Kyrgyzstan bank. It recommended that “urgent action is needed to address the current ease with which the UK and other major economies are used to launder the proceeds of corruption, tax evasion and other crimes.” Specifically, it showed that “three UK companies had US$1.2 billion running through their accounts despite not being involved in any real business that Global Witness could ascertain....the suspicious transactions went through many banks around the world, with the largest amounts passing through Citibank in New York, the UK’s Standard Chartered and Austria’s Raiffeisen Zentralbank. These banks continued their relationship, though one bank, UBS, was sufficiently concerned about their relationship with the Kyrgyz bank that it broke off relations.” The laundering in the developed countries is facilitated by so-called “shell companies” which are easily established in the UK and the US. Also called “brass-plate” companies, they simply provide a legal “existence” in a country where it has no real physical presence or trading structure. The registered address is typically that of a lawyer, accountant or professional company formation agent in a developed country. There they are unregulated, unlike banks. But it is the western regulated banks that almost all the illegal money end up in. Last December, British bank HSBC, the largest in the world with assets of $2.693 trillion, worked out a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with US authorities for money laundering for drugs cartels, terrorists and pariah states. It agreed to pay a fine of US $1.9 billion which sounds like a lot but when viewed against the grim statistic that 35,000 people were brutally slain in Mexico at the hands of drug traffickers while the bank took at least $880M of drug money, it is shocking that the current system of penalties does not include senior executives being held personally responsible for the actions of their institutions. The major problem is that the UK and the US do not insist in providing the “beneficial owners” of its registered companies. The beneficial owners are the individuals that receive the actual proceeds of the companies - not the front operators. The beneficial owners play the three-card monte game with illegal funds through the willing banks knowing that they are not personally at risk. Corporations were invented to encourage individuals to invest and not lose their personal funds. But it should not be used now to hide criminal activity and wealth. We are of the firm opinion that the recommendations of FALF are a very positive development and that Guyana must become compliant. However we also believe just as strongly that the larger countries that make most of the profits from illegal transactions must be brought to heel if real progress is to be made in this area.
Sunday June 09, 2013
Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
PPP asking young professionals to pay US$62.5 per sq foot while Floridians pay US$83? DEAR EDITOR, Hydar Ally and Irfaan Ali, wonderful coincidence indeed, have been beating the drum seemingly given to them by the PPP power brokers about the PPP’s accomplishments in housing. I have continuously exposed the PPP housing drive as a major scam that takes the land of the Guyanese people and resells it to the Guyanese people at insane profits. In addition, it has given away the people’s land to a select few at subpar belowmarket values while trying to sell Guyanese at pig in the poke prices. This new housing scheme for young
professionals in Eccles is typical; 1200 square feet for $15 million (US $75,000). That is US $62.50 per square foot. In Florida, property prices are US $83 per square foot. In Florida, the GDP per capita is US $40,000. In Guyana it is US $3148. To amend a Tradewinds classic, who does the PPP think is the ass and who is the jackass in this endeavour? In Florida, you get great roads, playgrounds, water, electricity and all full amenities when you pay US $83 per square foot. In Guyana, they give you a narrow strip with some asphalt and let you live in squalor and want to charge
you US $62.50. Who does the PPP think it is fooling? It can’t be the public who knows the PPP gave Jagdeo the most prime real estate in Guyana at $5 million per acre while remigrants are being asked to pay $7 million for 8000 square feet or 0.18 of an acre on the East Bank, not Pradoville 2. For those remigrants, one acre in that remigrant scheme would cost $38 million. Yet Jagdeo got his acre for $5 million. Kaieteur News published an article on January 23, 2011 titled “NICIL transfers public property to PM, Queens Atlantic, 28 others.”
It documents the PPP pillage that is occurring right under our noses in our land. National Hardware Guyana Limited got 103.88 acres of prime real estate at Liliendaal and Pattensen in the vicinity of the Convention Centre, Caricom and other major developments for $600 million which works out to $5,775,895 per acre. This is one of the most shocking travesties of the PPP government and its NICIL lapdog. 103.88 acres is 4525012.8 square feet of land. If we calculate this based on the size and sale price of the Continued on page 7
Sunday June 09, 2013
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THE TRAVESTY OF THE Correcting Freddie on “Skin Colour” in Bollywood CARIBBEAN PRESS DEAR EDITOR, The actions of the elected officials in response to queries concerning the operations of the public funded Caribbean Press are but a microcosm of the general PPP philosophy in respect to the resources of this nation, whether it be NICIL, the absurdities of Jagdeo’s treatment of the Broadcast allocations or the spite driven crusade to impose their will on the City Council, even if to do so, requires endangering the health of the citizens of Georgetown. Dr. Frank Anthony has demonstrated the most embarrassing mode in response to media and interest groups seeking an audience with him on the question of the Caribbean Press. This Minister has conducted a dismal game of hide and seek, a pantomime of
official Ka-Ka-Delo. But there is need to move on and to demand accountability of this travesty that constitutes the Caribbean Press. This is an item for the reaches of that specific Parliamentary committee that is concerned with the accounts of public entities. A s a matter of fact, did the Auditor General audit the business of the Caribbean Press? I do hope this could be made public. The following questions must be publicly answered. [A] Where is the registered office of the Caribbean Press? [B] What were the starting funds of the Caribbean Press. [C] How many titles have been so far published and re-published. [D] The cost of each publication and the numbers of copies printed? [E] What
was the name of the Printer/s and the address or addresses? [F] Names and contract cost of proof readers and supportive staff. [G] What method was used for distribution of publications if any? [H] The Memorandum of Understanding and Mission Statement of the C-P must be made available to afford a perusal and possibly a reorganizing of this public entity. [I] what are the funds existing today in the C-P? In the public interest, all further operations of the C-P should be made to cease until an audit of this public institution can be executed in the area of its finances and of its relationship with the creative and concerned public. This is a public entity that has been hijacked and has to be made accountable by law. Barrington Braithwaite
DEAREDITOR, Freddie Kissoon penned several pieces recently about “skin pigmentation” in Indian movies claiming that dark actors are rejected. That is not correct as there are many outstanding and popular Indian actors (male and female) who are dark skinned. The iconicAmitabh and Hema, for example, are “dark or brown skinned”. Freddie seems to have an obsession and an inferiority complex on skin colour – perhaps because of his own dark complexion and the lightness of his better half and perhaps because of his rejection by his “in laws” as Mulvi Hamid so informed us in a letter published in Kaieteur News recently. It does not appear Freddie knows much about the Indian film industry, the largest in the world producing over 1500 films annually. I travel to India often and also studied there. I visited several film studios and industries in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, etc. and am very familiar with leading personalities in the film industry interviewing several of them. I went to several performances where dark skin actors were the leading entertainers. Freddie’s comments on Indian film favoring “lightness” industry are misleading and too broad a generalization and needs correction. As it is throughout the world,
and I have also traveled worldwide, people are attracted to lighter shades of color. There is voluminous literature on this topic from sociologists and anthropologists. Freddie should take the time to familiarize himself with some of them instead of making broad, unsubstantiated statements. Even in Guyana, people are attracted to lighter color and seek ways to “lighten” themselves. Even Freddie tried to lighten himself. Much has been written on how lighter skinned people were considered the “privileged” group in colonial Guyanese society just below the colonialists and planter class in the pecking order of status. Thus, being attracted to light color is not unique to any society. Freddie should read D. Lowenthal on color in the Caribbean as well as other articles in “Daedalus” and the works of sociologists and anthropologists (M.G Smith, Jayawardena, etc.) on the color continuum in Guyana and the Caribbean. These researchers revealed that people have sought to lighten their color or choose a mating partner that would result in light skinned children. Even Freddie suffers from that complex as we learn from his Behavior by other writers. Freddie asserted that the leading actors in India are light skinned. That is far from being accurate and the comment exposes Freddie’s limited
knowledge of India’s entertainment industry. One should realize that India has a lot of movie industries; Bollywood is only part of the industry. There are also Tollywood and Kollywood, etc. The deep South produces the most films and almost all of the actors from the South are ‘dark’ in complexion. Among leading dark skin actors are Miss World Priyanka Chopra, Rajnikanth (of Ra One Fame), Mithun, Padmini, Deepika, Mughda, Menakshi, Bipasha, Sunil Shetty, Sameera, Lakshmi, Diana Hayden, Mallika Sherawat and Mallaika Arora Khan, Jian Khan (who died last week), Raima Sen, Konkona Sen, Tanushree Dutta, Koena Mitra, Freida Pinto (of Slum Lord fame), Smita Patil, etc. Also, it should be noted that dark skin models dominate the modeling industry and dark skin singers also dominate the song industry as well. Dravidian or dark skin entertainers are very talented and in demand in the south in the filmi industry. Contray to what Freddie believes, not having “a fair skin” has not prevented many Indians from making a mark in the entertainment industry. People like Freddie seem to suffer from a complex on color. Such a complex as Guyanese Psychotherapist Dr. Lutchman Narain explains unfortunately leads to “depression, low Selfesteem and mental disorder”. Vishnu Bisram
Sunday June 09, 2013
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Gaskin has finally returned to PPP asking young professionals... his natural habitat – the PPP DEAR EDITOR, I refer to Ramon Gaskin’s letter of May 21, 2013 advocating the removal of the Georgetown City Council. This is a self-serving analysis from someone who has reentered the kingdom of the PPP. The letter is notorious for the facts it left out as for the misanalysis it contains. First, this is the same Gaskin that freely condemns elected City Councilors (they were elected and no one from a minority government can replace them; only Parliament can do that) but was the agent employed by Evan Persaud, who was hauled before a UG disciplinary for engaging in the expression of sexual vocabulary in his classroom over a ten year period. Gaskin acted as Evan Persasud’s defence attorney. Maybe UG Registrar should comment on the style of Gaskin’s defence. How I regret I was not on that committee Both Gaskin and Persaud are names on a PPP list to be on an IMC to replace the City Council, with Gaskin being slated to be the Chairman. Gaskin left out that acting Town Clerk, Ms. Sooba, worked closely with him May last year when Gaskin’s friend, Minister Wittaker put him as head of a committee to reform the City Council (who elected Gaskin?) and who gave him a consultancy last year which was not advertised so others could have applied. Ms. Sooba is a PPP supporter and never hid that fact as a student at UG. During the industrial unrest at UG in January last year, she was very vocal in open support of the PPP and was involved in an incident at the Law building that was demonstrative of her political loyalties. Ramon Gaskin knows this very well and his letter is a PPP inspired act to help a discredited Sooba. Gaskin has finally returned to his natural habitat – the PPP. In his missive he likened the
Council’s attitude to Sooba to the AFC/APNU boycott of Rohee, which he used cynical semantics to describe. Maybe we will see a consultancy for Gaskin from Rohee’s Ministry soon. Gaskin claims the City Council is illegal. This is an egregious mischief from Gaskin. On Thursday night, I spent two full hours with Michael Carrington at Demico House in which he produced a plethora of documents and Bills to show me how the PPP has frustrated local government elections. Carrington is the AFC’s point man on local government, having sat for a full term as a Region 4 councilor. Carrington also showed me how year after year Parliament has postponed the elections. I am grateful to Michael Carrington for the knowledge he provided me on the history of local government legislation. I did not know it was the Hoyte Government that removed the authority of the Minister to name the date for local polls and that the PPP government restored that authoritarian mandate. I mean no insult to Gaskin, but his knowledge of the City Council’s legal travails is infinitesimal in comparison to Carrington’s. Finally, on the abominable omissions in Gaskin’s letter. Nowhere has this man mentioned the virtual strangulation of the City Council by a power lustful government since 1992 that is hell bent on destroying local
power and is inflexible on maintaining centralized control over all locally elected bodies. Only a fool does not know that the City Council has absolutely no authority to raise its own revenue. Only a fool does not know that the Georgetown City Council is a victim of Guyana’s traditional dinosaur – power lustfulness and race. Can GHK Lall please send Gaskin a complimentary copy on his new book on the race monster in Guyana? Now for the equally obnoxious contents of his letter. Mr. Gaskin will find Ms. Sooba a natural companion. They are both authoritarian figures. Gaskin, known for his Stalinist deportment when he served the PPP, will get a rude awakening if and when he becomes the IMC chairman. The people of Georgetown will not accept further PPP domination. I hope Mr. Gaskin tells his PPP friends about the anger out there but I doubt he knows about it because Gaskin does not mix with the Continued on page 8
From page 4 remigrant lots, then 103.88 acres should produce 565.63 plots of 8000 square feet each. At $7 million per plot as is asked from remigrants, the land will garner $3.959 billion in revenues and $3.359 billion in profits. This is the wonderful housing drive the PPP has given to the victims of the Guyanese nation. This decrepit tale of the PPP selling out the nation’s land for a pittance is repeated all over this land. And Irfaan Ali and his PPP teammate Hydar Ali have the barefaced gumption to come and tell Guyanese people about young professional scheme and housing achievements. Those ordinary-looking 1200 square feet homes can be built for $10 million or less, which means these young professionals are being asked to buy this land at probably the same price as the remigrants. Who is building these homes for the ministry and where is the public tender for building of these homes? The PPP continues to profit from selling Guyanese people their own land. The PPP is taking our taxes from squeezing the Guyanese
people with VAT and other taxes and then using it to develop land which it sells to developers at bargain basement rates and then turns around and tries to sell Guyanese their own land for a king’s ransom. The land it sells to the public is poorly developed with shameful infrastructure. Now they are going further by building some laughable homes and trying to get people to pay an arm and a leg for it. The PPP has created the runaway housing market that has priced poor and working class families out of the market. Its refusal to tackle money laundering and drug trafficking in any meaningful fashion has allowed massive sums of laundered money from all kinds of illegal activities to enter the housing and real estate market and inflate prices and further distance the poor and working class from home ownership. Its failure to stem corruption has allowed
billions to be stolen every year from the people of Guyana and laundered into the housing and real estate markets. This is a government that has no problem giving 1.82 million acres of Guyana or 2900 square miles to an Indian coffee mogul (Vaitarna) for $330 per acre but wants young professionals to pay $15 million for 1200 square feet on a strip of land so small if you cough your neighbour catches the cold. Vaitarna got four times the entire coastline and 3.5% of Guyana for $330 per acre yet taxpayers must pay millions for a small plot of land. Massa will get their Pradoville mansions by the sea while the poor and the powerless get some dirt on their hands. At this rate, they won’t even have any dirt left. We, who our ancestors were beaten, tortured, dehumanized and killed on this land are being enslaved and indentured on it all over again. M. Maxwell
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Sunday June 09, 2013
Kaieteur M@ilbox I thought this child was a sweet and captivating Simba DEAR EDITOR, I came across an article written by Freddie Kissoon on Thursday 7th June, titled “ From Lion King to Mama Mia. A night at the Theatre Guild.” I firmly believe in freedom of the press, but how can the editor of the Kaieteur News have allowed the publishing of such an article which insults the acting capabilities of an innocent child?
We have all become accustomed to the articles written by Mr Kissoon, but he has gone too far this time. Insulting a child on her performance? Does he have any idea how long and hard these children worked to perform for not only their peers, but for the public? Is he aware how proud these kids were that they had the confidence and courage to get up on that stage and sing? I sat in that audience and listened as the performers peers cheered them on, equally, with great enthusiasm. It was touching and if I had kids, I would want them to be part of that warm and supportive enviroment. It made me realize that adults can learn a great deal from children. Children grow and gain
confidence through encouragment and support and from those around them. Mr. Kissoon should be ashamed of this article as it is hurtful, unkind and thoughtless. How could he mention the child’s name? I thought she was a sweet and captivating Simba. A job well done. Being a journalist of substance comes with a great sense of dignity and the ability to be circumspect. This article could have been written differently and should have congratulated all of the young people on a job well done. This young lady deserves an apology and in the future, articles of this nature should be treated in the manner they deserve: “ THROWN IN THE GARBAGE.” Sally Smith
Sunday June 09, 2013
Kaieteur News
GNIC demands $79M for unapproved work on MV Kimbia “It’s like a mechanic charging you more money for extra work done on your car which you did not authorise,” Govt. official. A row is brewing between the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) and the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) over repairs to the MV Kimbia. The main bone of contention is an additional $79M being requested by the GNIC for additional repairs which the T&HD is saying were unapproved. In fact the T&HD is sticking to the original contract sum of $118M and is only prepared to approve an additional $10.8M for variations. And while the bickering is continuing, the vessel’s return to operation is delayed, resulting in extended hardship for residents of the North West District. From all indications, the GNIC took the initiative and went ahead and effected critical repairs that were way above the contracted sum, a move that has not gone down well with the T&HD. In November last year, GNIC was awarded the contract to repair the vessel, which has been plying the North West District for the past 20 years. Correspondence seen by this newspaper revealed that the GNIC and the Transport and Harbours Department entered into an agreement on November 5, for the docking of the boat at a contract sum of $118M. The vessel entered the GNIC dockyard on January 13 and the duration of the repairs was for 70 days. In April, the GNIC, through its Shipyard Manager, Ronald Bourne, wrote to the T&HD informing them that repair works to the vessel had been held up, pending T&HD’s approval of variations to the original scope of works detailed in the contract. According to the GNIC, the parties had agreed that the
works were “critical and necessary for ensuring the seaworthiness of this passenger ferry.” GNIC outlined that the urgency of the repair job was evidenced by the March 18 visits to the vessel by President Donald Ramotar and Public Works Minister Robeson Benn to get a firsthand look at its condition. The contractor noted that following that visit, the company in consultation with the T&HD Project Manager and Chief Mechanical Engineer, took the initiative to proceed with the work with the expectation that there could be variations. According to the GNIC, despite its best efforts and to avoid any compromise with regards to the safety of the vessel, approval was sought for the T&HD’s urgent approval to proceed with the additional works needed, over and above the original contract price. This was to facilitate the safe and timely completion of the vessel for re-delivery to the T&HD by May 24. But T&HD noted that to date, the contractor (GNIC) has only executed 79 per cent of the total contracted works which is equivalent to $93.7M of the total contract sum. But the T&HD pointed out that while it is aware that some variation works were necessary, it was only prepared to seek approval for an additional $10.8M. “As far as we are aware no approval was granted for the variation works that were executed by your organization,” the T&HD General Manager Marcelene Merchant wrote to GNIC Chief Executive Officer Clinton Williams. A government official has questioned, how, after inspecting the vessel and
providing an estimate that culminated in a contract amounting to $118M, could the GNIC increase its charges by so much? “It’s like a mechanic charging you more money for extra work done on your car which you did not authorise,” he explained. Up to press time yesterday, this newspaper could not ascertain if a compromise had been reached between the two sides, but the vessel remained in dry dock while the residents of Region One continue to face (Continued on page 13)
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Dem boys seh
Mavis still got a job and Donald revamping All dem cricket broadcast out of Guyana gun promote de man of de moment. If de world didn’t know he, it gun know he now. Ramroop just buy de Guyana franchise suh he big like Shah Rukh Khan. He got de uplink to show de cricket all over de world. Now whenever de match ready to start, de local announcer, Michael Flossy Younge, would announce, ‘Let’s give it up for de man of de moment, de leader of Barbie and all he own, de man who lift Barbie from nutten to something, de Mighty de honorable, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor BhaaaaRaaat Jaaaaaag de Ho.” This is de man who now got Barbie trying to buy de cricket franchise in Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and even de one in Antigua. De man got money like sand and all that come through Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor Jagdeo. He is de one man who build Barbie empire from nutten. Dem boys seh that is de same power mek a
woman name Mavis Paddy Andrews see when some school children pose wid firewood but she never tell she Minister. Well if dem children was posing after that long walk dem deserve fuh do Paddy wuk because she was also posing in de photograph. Dem boys want to know if she still got a job. She had to wait till de story to come out before she talk. Is de same thing Jagdeo doing; he waiting till people talk bout how Barbie now buy de franchise before he seh anything. He ain’t talking how much money he give Barbie to payfuhdefranchiseanddeWestIndiesboard ain’t talking yet. Donald ain’t talking yet, too but dem boys hear that he shaking up de Pee Pee Pee. De word that he using is revamping and he doing it to get rid of all of Bharrat people. De man doing it before de Congress because he want to see who gun step up wid de promise to stop thiefing. Talk half and brace fuh de backlash
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 09, 2013
“Is this the road to progress?”- ask Belle West residents
Belle West Road car passing the area where the pipeline was dug
Residents of Belle West Canal Number Two said that during the 2011 General Election campaign, the political party they supported had followers chanting about joining the ‘road to progress,’. The residents are now asking whether the deplorable roads in their community represent
that progress. Belle West has over 3000 residents, Suresh Sukraj, a taxi driver, told Kaieteur News. About 500 vehicles use the community roads on a daily basis but the roads are extremely poor and no one seems to be responsible for its repair, he said.
Sukraj told Kaieteur News that community members have difficulty getting in and out of the area because vehicles are often reluctant to traverse the pothole filled roadway. He told the newspaper that school children attending both the Belle West Nursery and Primary have a hard time getting to school while the older folks are also faced with hardships reaching the health
centre. Concerned persons are getting the royal run around when inquiring who is responsible for the road’s repair. Sukraj pointed out that when hire car operators met with the area’s Regional Chairman, he told them that the Ministry of Works was responsible for the road. He however alleged that when the ministry was contacted, drivers were directed to the area’s Regional Executive Officer who sent
them back to the Regional Chairman, “and no one seems to want to help,” Sukraj said. “When we campaigned in 2011 they told us “vote to the road of progress. Is this the road to progress?” he asked alluding to a photograph that showed several potholes in a community road. Apart from the potholes, Sukraj continued that the road was dug up to facilitate a pipeline but it was not repaired properly. He alleged that residents
contacted the Guyana Water Inc, but they blamed the Ministry of Works and said that they had to repair the road. Sukraj said the bottoms of vehicles are being destroyed when crossing that particular spot where the pipeline was placed. Sukraj further stated that drivers are constantly making repairs to their vehicles. “We want to know who is responsible for fixing our road” which he said is the concern of road users in Belle West.
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ImmigrationINFO Immigration News For Our Community
Fraud Indicators to Avoid in the Immigration Process There are millions of immigration petitions processed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State. Unfortunately, not all the petitions are g o o d f a i t h filings. In other words, many of these petitions are based on fraudulent representations. Various reports indicate an increase in fraud among immigration filings processed in the United States and at the U.S. Embassies. What types of fraud are we talking about? (1) Marriages that are not based on love but rather a business arrangement to help the beneficiary get legal status in the U.S.; (2) parental and sibling relationships established using fraudulent documents such as birth certificates; (3) applications for nonimmigrant visas (such as tourist visas, work visas, etc.) using fraudulent business documents to establish strong ties to native country; and (4) misrepresentations to an Officer during questioning to gain an immigration benefit. Fraud can be detected in various stages of the immigration process –
submission of petitions, preinterview, post-interview, admission at the U.S. port of entry, deferred inspection, and removal/deportation proceedings. Beware of the following behavioral fraud indicators during the interview process: (1) extreme nervousness; (2) over interaction; (3) lack of knowledge about basic questions; (4) late for interview; (5) answers prompted by attorney or other; (6) lack of interest/ interaction; (7) eye contact; (8) evasive or general answers; (9) answers interrupted by attorney; and (10) attorney attempt to distract/mislead. In processing petitions, Immigration looks for the following general fraud indicators: (1) documents issued immediately before interview; (2) documents issued immediately after interview; (3) oversubmissions; (4) staged photographs; (5) suspect tax filings; (6) multiple applications by petitioner: (7) preparer known or suspected of fraudulent filing (such as service providers/nonattorneys); (8) preparer and notary are the same person: (9) tip letter or phone call; and
Gail Seeram (10) previous filing denied by abandonment or withdrawal. The following are common I-130 family based petition fraud indicators: (1) short time between entry and marriage: (2) unusual marriage history; (3) c h i l d r e n b orn during marriage to other parent; (4) unusual number of children and large discrepancy in age; (5) unusual dates on submitted documents; (6) divorce/new marriage dates close; (7) large age discrepancy between spouses; (8) unusual cultural differences; (9) same employer of petitioner/ beneficiary; and (10) unusual associations between family members.Petitioners and beneficiaries are urged not to engage in fraud or misrepresentations, as they will be subject to jail, fines, and visa denial.
Sunday June 09, 2013
GPHC maternal death...
Inducing labour requires monitoring – Health Minister - dubs recent maternal death “painful” Although there are some controversies surrounding the use of Cytotec —ranging from uterine rupture to amniotic fluid embolism, the labour inducing medication is still very much approved by many health sectors, Guyana being no exception. But according to Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, although the drug is a legitimate one it is imperative that patients, to whom it is administered, are closely monitored. “Cytotec is a good drug to induce labour...it is in protocol now and it is one that is being used more and more for such activities...but once you induce labour by whatever method, patients must be monitored,” asserted the Minister. His comments come in wake of the recent maternal death at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Twenty-eight-year-old Luan Rodney was admitted to the hospital around 15:00 hours on Monday last and by the following morning was pronounced dead. This publication understands that Cytotec was administered to the woman the night of her admission but there was no evident monitoring of the patient. In fact, reports from a patient in the same ward with Rodney revealed that although she was in evident labour pain for quite some time it was not until the now dead woman started bleeding that
Minister of Health, Bheri Ramsaran nurses swung into action. The doctor who attended to the woman informed her husband, Nigel Rodney, during a meeting that he was not aware that the woman was bleeding in the ward as he was not so informed by the ward nurses. The grieving husband said that the doctor also informed him that once a patient is found to be bleeding, be it due to a ruptured uterus or the passing of the placenta before the delivery of the baby, it requires emergency surgery. As such, he said that immediate moves were made to rush the woman to the operating theatre. Nigel Rodney said that he was told that his wife was losing a great deal of blood and therefore required a blood transfusion. The man said, too, that he was told that his wife was unconscious throughout the entire process and never regained consciousness.
According to a statement from the GPHC, Luan Rodney died at 07:50 hours. Her baby was reportedly delivered stillborn as a result of the development. “Disappointing is a mild word for what happened to this patient...it is painful that this has happened especially in our main tertiary hospital,” said the Health Minister. He said that it was such developments that had some time back invoked the concern of the Government which led to the creation of an Expert Committee to review the maternal death reports and make needful recommendations. As it relates to the recent maternal death, the Minister said that he is satisfied that the process of reporting has been efficient. And according to him “it didn’t kick in correctly only for this event but it did also for another (recent) maternal death at the Balwant Singh Hospital within the prescribed time.” Notification within a specific timeframe of maternal deaths as well as for children under the age of five is required by law, according to the Minister. Following notification, he said that the Ministry of Health has a cascade of events which includes the review of reports into the reported deaths. A probe into maternal and mortality deaths is usually streamlined and overseen by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). And since the substantive CMO is currently abroad on work detail, the overseer role is being undertaken by Programme Director of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, Dr Shanti Singh. After all documents are gathered, the Expert Committee is expected to review all reports and make determinations within a specific time. And according to Minister Ramsaran, “so far this last case is on track and previous cases are on track as well,” he added.
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Man slashes wife’s GNIC demands $79M for unapproved ... throat, attempts suicide By Rehana Ashley Ahamad Shameer Ali, a Better Hope, East Coast Demerara man, yesterday attempted suicide by slashing his throat after he murdered his reputed wife, 25-year-old Shaneza Ramdat, called Reshma. Neighbours responded to the woman’s screams around 11:00hrs, yesterday. Her lifeless body was discovered lying face down, a few feet away from her brother’s house in Kuru Kururu Squatting Area on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, where the couple has been residing for about three weeks. Her throat had been slashed. He was later detained by neighbours while he was attempting to escape in the bushes aback of the house. They then rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Police in a press release said that investigations thus far have revealed that Ali allegedly stabbed Ramdat to the neck and other parts of her body during an argument. “The suspect was found in some bushes a short distance away with a wound to his throat that is suspected to have been self-inflicted. He
is under guard at the GPHC,” the police statement read. Inez John, a close family friend told Kaieteur News that she was upstairs preparing a meal around 10:00hrs. The couple was downstairs chatting. She said that they had no argument, and that all seemed well. “They left here good, good. Reshma called out to me and said ‘Mom, we leaving. She does call me mom. Anyway, I said ok, and they left,” John related. The woman said that she realized something was amiss shortly after, when she heard “Reshma” scream. “When I hear she scream, I know something had to be wrong, so I tell me husband to go quick and see is what Reshma hollering so for.” By the time, persons rushed to see why the mother of two was screaming, she was already dead. Ramdat had mothered two young children from her first marriage, while Ali is the father of three. The couple has been together for four years while their children remain in the care of their exes. They have no children together. While some maintained that Ramdat had no one else other than her husband, one (Continued on page 51)
From page 9 the hardships. They have been forced to rely on the much smaller Lady Northcote and other private vessels at great costs to get to and from the district. “The President went to the dockyard and promised to have the vessel repaired for the benefit of the residents of Region One and up to now the people are still waiting,” a resident told this newspaper. Following a visit to the dockyard in March, Minister Benn had said that there are concerns about the age of the cargo vessel which services the North West District. He noted that the docking of the vessel may very well be its last for North West duties. Benn had explained that the severe marine conditions along the North West route coupled with the age of the vessel make it unwise for the vessel to continue plying that route in the long term. Another Region One resident explained that with the vessel out of operation, persons transporting goods to and from the region are suffering significant losses and the prices for some basic commodities are soaring. “Several persons who don’t have big money to pay to use private vessels are left stranded and businesses are suffering,” the resident
The MV Kimbia
explained. But the nonapproval of funds to cover the variation works to the MV Kimbia is not going down well with employees of the T&HD, who believe that the government is being biased with respect to the distribution of subsidy to certain state-owned entities. “The government gave
GuySuCo more than $1 billion and GPL $10 billion in subsidy to run their operation. Transport (and Harbours Department) has been allocated insufficient funds to run an entire fleet of
vessels, which is not fair, to sustain water transportation in this country. This situation is certainly hurting the image of the T&HD,” a senior official declared.
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Sunday June 09, 2013
Women Lawyers’ Association elects new President The Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL) has elected Simone MorrisRamlall as its new President at their Annual General Meeting on May 24, last. The outgoing President was Emily Dodson. The Office bearers for the year 2013-2014 are President: Simone Morris-Ramlall, Vice President: Sadie Amin, Secretary: Ramona Rookhum, Treasurer: Keshia Chase, Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer: Annette Singh and Committee Members: Jaya S i n g h - B a c k r e e d y, Chandrawattie Persaud, Hannifah Jordan and Donna Bailey. The new President was admitted to practise in Guyana in 2000. She served at the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as State Counsel from 2000 to 2004 then at the Attorney General (AG) Chambers from 2004 to 2005. She was thereafter involved in private practice from 2005 to 2009. She is currently the Managing Attorney at Legal Aid where she started her service as Deputy Managing Attorney in 2009. She is also currently serving on the Domestic Violence Oversight Committee and Sexual Offences Task Force. The outgoing President,
New President of GAWL Simone Morris-Ramlall Emily Dodson, during the final year of her two-year tenure was involved in a Prison Visit – this was conducted at the women’s section of the New Amsterdam Prison where legal advice and toiletries were distributed to inmates. The prison visit for this year is scheduled for June 15, 2013 subject to permission from the Director of Prisons. According to the GAWL, it remains committed to the motto of Women supporting Justice and Equality and the new year should see many more outreach activities with the women lawyers reaching out to educate women all over the country on their legal rights and freedoms and access to the Courts.
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Ravi Dev Column
After I left active politics in 2006, I decided to stop writing polemically in general and on sugar in particular. I took to heart my own frequently cited caution of Foucault as to whether anyone “had ever seen a new idea from a polemic”. And I always knew we needed new ideas in sugar. From the moment of my return to Guyana I took the problematic of sugar very seriously. How could I have done otherwise? Even though I had done the “American dream” thing with the house in the suburb and the two cars in the garage since 1979 - it never crossed my mind not to return to the sugar plantation from where I’d come. It was what had shaped my thinking and instilled values that stood the test of time - even in corporate America. In 1989, I was jailed and beaten by the police for the first (and only) time in my life after I’d participated in a sugar-worker march against
The word has gone out; many children will be going out to school and the information is out earlier than ever before. Many of the importers of school uniforms are scrambling to beat any sanction that may come with the absence of the antimoney laundering legislation. At present, some of the importers do the quiet thing. They have friends who have cash that they cannot get into the foreign banks. They then cut a deal; they get the foreign friend to buy the material in cash. There is now a mad scramble to get that
the “ten-to-one” devaluation by Hoyte back in 1989. With the grandparents who raised me having toiled for more than a century between them in the sugar industry - but collecting grand pensions of $6 in total - my sense of social justice did not need much honing. And I knew the industry literally from the inside - while my corporate experience in the textile industry in the States, offered me a view from the outside. The people among whom I grew up, who mostly worked in the sugar industry, were like every other group anywhere - with the same distribution of intelligence etc. But because of the lack of opportunities some of the smartest people I knew laboured in the fields and factories. The point I want to make is that these “ordinary” workers knew more about sugar than most of the managers who lorded it over
them. Even as a “force ripe” stripling on the periphery of the street corner “gaff”, you learnt more about the industry than if you had attended a graduate course on sugar management. So when I began commenting on the problems of sugar after 1989 (“The ‘estate’ is still a plantation” etc...) I was bringing to bear this insider knowledge, along with the challenges traditional industries (textile manufacturing in the US; sugar here) were facing in an emerging new global order. I’ve always found it ironic that my interventions were seen as either “academic” or “political” but never as from an “insider”. If one goes back to my early proposals, they were all based on the premise that sugar would eventually have to be phased out in our country. For one, as the son and grandson of sugar workers, I knew that every member of that
cash out of hands. The problem would be the bill of lading. ** The commercial banks are trying to keep the issue of counterfeit currency under wraps. In the past few months, a large quantity of counterfeit
United States dollars began entering the local market. This is because the United States has clamped down on the movement of its currency and the drug dealers have a lot of it tied up. This pressure is going to lead the police to seize a large quantity from a major importer who wanted to use gold, but found that even more difficult. **This fire is going to defy logic. It will erupt at the most unlikely time and under the most unlikely of conditions. Investigations will prove that jealousy can spark many a flame.
fraternity considered it their personal failure if a child of theirs ended up in the cane fields. Espec i a l l y i n Demerara, I knew that there would be labour problems when the economy improved and there was alternative employment. When this factor was combined with the longer wet season in Demerara and its poorer soils, it did not take a rocket scientist to suggest that these lands be diversified out of sugar. I proposed they be transferred in 15-acre plots to sugar workers for their sweat equity. They could then supply the factories that would process the higher value crops, such as rice etc. that would be substituted. The phenomenally installed drainage and irrigated systems would not have been wasted. We still believe that this is the way to go in Demerara. At the time, I
opposed the construction of a new factory at Skeldon: not because I felt it would not perform (who could know this?) but because I believed that for one quarter of the expenditure, we could expand Albion and Rose Hall (as had also been proposed), and consolidate the operations of the others until the Demerara plantations were phased out. I felt we would have been able to maintain production at 350,000 tonnes until we were in a position to make a decision in Berbice. Working with a US company that had traditional textile mills (from spinning to weaving), I saw early on what pressures from low-cost foreign producers could do to higher cost producers, even as the latter furiously modernised. Even after we had moved plants from the North to “labour-friendly” North and South Carolinas,
Ravi Dev
blue-collar workers gravitated to the new Japanese auto factories that wanted the same workers. There was only so much that textile lobbyists could do. I never expected the EU to honour the Lome Protocol “in perpetuity”. So we are now in a bigger fix than before. This is no time for finger pointing. Those that are in charge of the industry will have to have the fortitude to take a hard look around and make some hard decisions. Take it from one who still lives in the shadow of a sugar factory chimney - “black dust” and all.
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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
The things people do in this country I don’t stay out after 21:00 hours because of my security situation (though I believe if power hungry people want to kill you in Guyana they’ll get you anyway whether in the restaurant at midday or the nightclub at midnight) but I came close to being out late on Wednesday night. Sharon Harding, Leonard Craig and I, all activists from the People’s Parliament, spent hours liming at the five-corner junction at Laing Avenue and Hunter Street in West Ruimveldt. We drank so much Malta that the little shop ran out of the stuff. During the conversation, Sharon made an announcement. She said; “Freddie ah see Acme Photo Studio selling computer monitors for nine hundred dollars and ah want wan fuh meh daughter.” I said, “You mean, nine hundred American?” She responded, “No maan, nine hundred Guyanese; is de old type dey selling.” I emphasized the point that Sharon was talking nonsense and she should
stop. A place like Acme, one of Guyana’s oldest serving establishments, would simply give the stuff to some interior schools that need them.” Sharon continued, “Freddie, no maan, ah see dey selling de things.” Leonard Craig jumped in and supported me, telling Sharon that it cannot be $900 and that Acme would not waste time doing that. Craig said that if it is indeed $900, he will buy ten and give them to some school. The next day, I took up Sharon’s challenge. I drove her to Acme. Yes, she was right. Old desktop monitors were going for $900. I asked the young lady in charge why not give the stuff to an institution that needs them. She said I have to speak to the person that made the decision to sell. I agreed to talk to him, asked to be shown the entrance to the office, but she explained that he is out of the country. What caught my eyes at this sale was a sign that said, “To be purchased as it is, no
goods returnable.” Now quite a lot of small electronic items were in their original wrapping, so the customers could not ascertain if they are in working condition. But why would any human being, any group, any store, any company put up stuff to be purchased and the customer cannot be shown whether it is in working order so if it fails to function at home, you can return it? No matter how cheap is an item on sale, the customer is within her/his legal right to see that it is a functioning product. Here is a horror story I experienced a few years ago. There is a well-known downtown store that used to have a monthly sale up the East Coast. There was the bargain of twenty-five audio musical CDs for $1000. It was an incredible offer. Guess what? Don’t laugh. A car works on gas that you have to find money to buy, plus I paid a $1000 for those CDs. Only two albums were good; one by Johnny Mathis, the other by Barry White. I paid
$1000 for two CDs because the goods were not returnable. I shop at this store often, so I know all the sales attendants. I complained to one of them about twentythree CDs being totally useless. She took me in a corner and intoned, “Mr. Freddie, don’t buy them things again; they take all the bad returned CDs and put them up at the sale; please don’t say I tell yuh.” Could you imagine that? Could you imagine the things people do to the Guyanese people? Take Chinese goods. How in Heaven’s name, people in this country put up with faulty, useless manufactured goods from China? India and our neighbour Brazil are superb
manufacturers of all types of consumer items. I only buy bath towels from India, because Chinese towels do not absorb the water on your skin; it just circulates the water as you pass the towel over your body. I end with an incredible incident at a Regent Street store on Thursday afternoon with Chinese goods. My daughter requested a few pajamas. She wanted size large. You are not going to believe this. The sales girl brought out a wide range of pants and every one of them was the identical size though the labels were different in terms of fit. In other words, “small, “medium,” “large,” and “extra large,” carried the same measurement. The sales girl and I put
Frederick Kissoon each one together and they were all of the same measurement, though they carried varying labels of different sizes. In other words, the manufacturers just slapped on a different measurement label on all of them. Chinese labour is the cheapest in the world next only to slavery and indentureship. It is called communist imperialism.
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Book Review: By Dr Glenville Ashby In the field of psychopathology, “black rage” is a veridical mental disorder, a seething psychic wound that festers, then erupts with savagery at its perceived oppression. The term has also been deftly used by defence lawyers to humanise perpetrators hauled before an unforgiving penal system. G.H.K. Lall is neither therapist nor attorney, but in this shoot-from-the-hip, emotively unrelenting and daring undertaking, he has assumed both these titles….and more. Lall’s signature pen stirs controversy. He will have it no other way. His earlier work, “Cesspool” impugned Guyana’s choking bureaucracy. In his latest offering, “Sitting on a Racial Volcano,” Lall biblically rips into the racial and sectarian demons that stalk, possess and mould the South American nation into a haunting skeleton. The author wears the mantle of prophet, but unlike St . J o h n ’s Revelations, his warnings are hardly shrouded in the cryptic and the esoteric. He’s as literal and daunting as The Book of Mormon’s Nephi and the Torah’s Moses and Ezekiel. And like a saint engulfed in the dark night of the soul, Lall’s writing bears marks of an existential crisis - his angst and disgust at Guyanese society slowly devouring him.
Kaieteur News
Sunday June 09, 2013
“Sitting on a Racial Volcano (Guyana Uncensored)” He presents a unique and terrifying social tableau. Sure, it lacks the academic leaning and historicity of Stephen Spencer ’s “A Dream Deferred,” preferring not to dwell on the seeds of Guyana’s racial crisis, but it proves equally, if not more impactful. Lall is frighteningly unapologetic and strident. His message is singular and pointed. His foot is planted, never slipping. The black man in Guyana, he argues, is marginalised, exploited, dismissed, humiliated, even summarily executed - victims of an inveterate Indian cabal calculatingly political, tribal, racist and self-serving. Unbridled charges of tsunami-like proportions! Lall periodically and derisively injects island argot into this clinical exposé. Seemingly comedic to the outsider, these racist mantras are no laughing matter. Lall then offers his diagnosis in an enviable display of prosaic brilliance. He writes:”These are a snapshot of the blunt verbal hatchet blows delivered in person by party veterans and emissaries, who wrap themselves in seriousness that is intended to induce panic and fear.” In “Volcano” no one is spared from Lall’s searing lens. The People National Congress (PNC) is also in Lall’s cross hairs. Decades removed from the reins of power, it is politically anemic, moribund and incapable of
mounting a robust response to PPP’s excesses. As if whipping a dying horse to perform, Lall counsels, excoriates and implores its disjointed leadership that is also guilty of dabbling in racial politics. The opposition, he posits, must reach out meaningfully to the Indian community despite the “historical patterns” and predictability of the Indian Guyanese at the polling stations. “Real outreach that incorporates determined and focused ground breaking, frank discussions, hard give and take, and the beginnings of understanding,” he writes, could lay the groundwork for some semblance of change. Here, Lall is axiomatic: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. But he is short on optimism. He questions the effectiveness of the Alliance for Change (AFC), a competing political party. “...the AFC’s failure to make a significant impact and its resultant stagnation is traceable to the powerful influence and stranglehold that the PPP and PNC have on their respective ethnic bases.” Further, “it contented itself with being armchair activists and media generals.” But it is race that is the overarching factor that carries near archetypical properties, bending Guyana to its will. For sure, racial accommodation appears illusory. Perceptions are entrenched, immovable. Stereotypes of Black and
Indian Guyanese are embraced and spewed effortlessly, and not only by hard core extremists. This is what makes Lall prognosis for change so daunting. That the majority of Blacks and Indians are bedevilled, exploited and pauperised by a scheming few, yet resort to verbally attacking and distrusting each other, may just be the most insightful observation of “Volcano.” Fortuitously, though, the racial volcano has yet to erupt, because, as Lall puts it: “There is little by the way of mental preparedness to take the first step, that long punishing crawl,” and “there is the huge sucking vacuum of migration and anticipation of relief from everyday woes through remittances and hopes of escape through flight...” Lall also makes mention of the underground economy narcotics and money - and its relative calming effects. Interestingly, Lall gives little credence to interfaith dialogue, a timeless response to healing wounds in chasmic societies, yet he offers substantive and practical solutions to a nation on the brink. He beckons the few to stand ground and r e s p ond to a racist and kleptocratic system. They are the patriotic, the brave - “individuals who seek no favour from anyone, who take no money, especially the dirty kind, who owe no one: who need no prestige jobs, or status symbols such as opulent homes in reserved areas off limits to
regular citizens.” He warns, though, that “there is a price attached to resistance and involvement.” But Guyana is sorely in need of progressive, thinkers “new faces” and new ideas. Lall’s work, brewed in Guyana’s social laboratory has wider regional implications. In countries such as Trinidad and Tobago with shared historical and cultural experiences, political rumblings are oftentimes underpinned with racial invective. Fortunately, no political leader has dared to open that
Pandora’s Box. “Sitting on a Racial Volcano” is a reminder of the evil that lies within…a grave warning to leaders of plural societies who are bent on undermining the will and destiny of nations entrusted in their care. glenvilleashby@gmail.com/ Follow me on Twitter@glenvilleashby Sitting on a Racial Volcano (Guyana Uncensored) by G.H.K. Lall, 2013 ISBN- 13: 9780615787442 Available: Amazon.com/ Digital format on Kindle Rating: Highly Recommended
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My column
Should we be really celebrating? Many a household is in a celebratory mood. The Education Ministry announced the results of the National Grade Six Assessment and sent some children and parents into screaming fits. Of course this has been a tradition for as long as there has been a national examination through which pupils could gain entry into secondary schools. Way back when, the best secondary schools were reserved for the children of the elite. It mattered not whether these children were as dumb as door nails; they had the advantage of colour and social standing. The national leaders however recognized that there were talented children, who, but for the accident of birth, might have been able to make significant contributions to humankind. Of course, there were limits to the aspiration of the child who was allowed to capitalize on the education opportunity on offer. For example, there was a most brilliant Guyanese named E. Mortimer Duke. He was so brilliant that he was a Guyana Scholar at 16. He studied by the flambeau his mother used at her roadside stall. He was unbeatable. When he went to England he wanted to study engineering. It turned out that he was too black to be an engineer. He became a lawyer, but when he returned to Guyana he could do no better
than teach at his alma mater, Queen’s College. There were many others like that over the years. The vast majority flowed with the tide and became colonials. They studied to work, not in Guyana, but in the mother country. Later, many became Americans and Canadians. However, there was always the power of Queen’s College; every parent wanted his or her child to go there and so get a head start in life. And as the years went by, so did the competition for the limited space at Queen’s College. Today, there seems no end to how much money parents are prepared to put out to get their children into the leading schools. I did some basic calculations and for mere lessons, I found that parents were forking out about $16 million per month for their children. Then there are the more affluent who send their children to private schools. This is another substantial outlay. I then concluded that if I had to do the computation I might find that to merely progress from primary to secondary school is a multimillion-dollar business. I had already been told that the Ministry of Education accounts for about fourteen per cent of the national budget. Now if the government is spending billions of dollars to see that young Guyanese are educated and then parents spend millions more, one can
assume that there is no limit to how much Guyanese treasure education. But the skeptic that I am, knows that any expenditure is not for the advancement of Guyana. I remember the days when the public schools dominated the results. Stella Maris, St Margaret’s, Tucville Primary, Leonora Primary and the schools in Berbice and Essequibo were considered the top performers. This time around, the private schools are dominating and there must be a reason. It could be that the better teachers are found in the private schools, but these very teachers are recruited from the public schools. When one looks at the teaching in the private school, one sees that every classroom appears to be professionally managed. In the public schools, the level of managerial skills is lacking, and this may be the reason for the decline in results. I have now found that the academic quality of the teacher trainee is not what it should be. It is as if people are now turning to teaching when they cannot secure a job in the other sectors. The Guyana Police Force is no different. So I watch the celebration of those who have done well and I think about those who have not done well. I think about the disappointment of those who expected to do well, but who will now say that their poverty was a limiting factor. Of course this is not
true. A few years ago there was a girl from the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway who did well, but who was not certain that she could have afforded to go to school. I don’t know how she is making out, but I do know that she is there scrapping with the most affluent of them. This is the message one would like to see the society offer those who do not have money to go chasing after the best teachers. I know that there will be parents who will not give up trying to see that their children get a proper start in secondary school. At the same time there
are teachers who are shopping around for money. They are offering their skills to private schools that have done well. They want to bask in the glory of the school. They do not want to take a public school and bring it up to par. I remember the days when teachers in public schools felt that they were better than any teacher elsewhere. I was one of those and with my colleagues we challenged those in the more established schools. I now want us to think about those who are likely to fall by the wayside. These are going to be with us for all their
Adam Harris lives and they are the ones who will determine whether we sleep at nights. We need to look at them too, even as we celebrate.
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No to child labour in domestic work! On June 12th, Guyana will join sister nations in the UN to observe, world day Against Child Labour. This year, the theme identified by the UN is, “No to child labour in domestic work.” This is especially relevant to Guyana in light of recent
photographs showing boys carrying logs on their young shoulders and another of boys shovelling sand while they ought to be in school. The logs are reportedly to be used as firewood to cook their meals. The UN on its website notes, “Around the world,
large numbers of children are engaged in paid or unpaid domestic work in the home of a third party or employer. These children can be particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Their work is often hidden from the public eye, they may be isolated, and
they may be working far away from their family home.” The ILO Convention C182, on the worst forms of Child Labour, highlights four categories of child labour, including; “Work, which by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children.” In a survey done by the Guyana National Bureau of Statistics looking at child labour in the Parika area and its environs a few years back, the standard used by the researchers included whether the child worked twice during the school term and whether the child worked during school hours. As recent as February of this year, local newspapers reported on efforts of the government and others to address child labour. Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Kishore Gopaul, was quoted in the Kaieteur News as saying, “If we want to eliminate child labour, we have to ensure that every child completes secondary education and capitalizes on educational opportunities available at other levels.
We in the Government have recognized that this is a challenge and we have taken steps to ensure that children attend and complete school, but this has been particularly challenging at the secondary level and in hinterland areas where there are fewer schools and schools are located far away from children’s homes.” The newspaper went on to report that the government had responded with several programmes, including providing free uniforms, transportation and hot meals, and by expanding existing facilities and building new schools and dormitories, including a new secondary school and dormitory at Kato, Region Eight. The minister reported that the efforts had borne successes; there have been lower levels of absenteeism and increased attendance, as well as increased number of children completing secondary school. We do not doubt that there may have been some successes. However, when we see photographs of children carrying firewood and shoveling sand when they
ought to be in school, then logically, we must ask, ‘are we deriving maximum benefits from these programmes? Significant sums are allocated to these programmes. It is important that the intended beneficiaries get the benefits that are due to them. In addition, it is on the 2013 World Day Against Child Labour that the ILO calls for: · Governments to create and enforce legislative and policy reforms to eliminate child labour in domestic work and provide decent work conditions and appropriate protection to young workers who have reached the legal working age. · ILO member states to ratify and implement ILO Convention 189, which provides clear guidance on how to avoid domestic child labour and how to protect domestic workers. · Social partners, civil society organizations, employers’ and workers’ associations, and trade unions to support Convention 189 and to help eliminate child labour in domestic work.
Sunday June 09, 2013
SUNDAY SPECIAL AFC DEMANDS PUBLIC PROCUREMENT COMMISSION, REVOCATION OF RADIO LICENCES —AT MEETINGWITH PRESIDENT ON POLITICAL DEADLOCK One day after meeting with representatives of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to stave off a brewing political crisis, President Donald Ramotar two Thursdays ago met with leaders of the Alliance For Change (AFC) with the latter demanding that the administration take a handsoff approach on government contracts. There are indications now that Government may be willing to make a few concessions to the Opposition. While there was no official word from Government on the talks which would centre on the budget cuts earlier this year and the stalemate over the non-passage of critical legislation in the National Assembly, the AFC last Saturday outlined several demands it made during the meeting with the President, who was accompanied by his Chief Advisor, Dr. Roger Luncheon, and Political Advisor, Gail Teixeira. APNU, in its statement, did not go into details. AFC’s Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan was head of the team from his party that included General Secretary David Patterson and Treasurer Dominic Gaskin. According to the AFC, President Ramotar wanted a “direct communication line with the leaders of political parties so as to express his views on the major political and economic matters of concern, and also to hear very directly the views of the political parties on these issues.” The AFC said it made it
Kaieteur News
clear that the party, which controls seven seats in the National Assembly, did not want this new development to become a talk-shop with an excess of political chatter. FIRE DESTROYS POPULAR N/A RESTAURANT, HOUSE A massive fire at New Amsterdam early last week Saturday morning completely destroyed two buildings,including the popular Jokwesan’s Creole Restaurant and Bakery at Lot 7 Charlotte Street. It is the same building which housed the famous Circle ‘C’ Restaurant which was owned by the de Nobregas in the 1990s. Additionally, the blaze gutted another building and the two occupants were lucky to have escaped unhurt. A branch of Courts was also scorched. All of the buildings were being rented. The owner of the lot, Codette Daniels, could not be reached for comment as to whether the buildings were insured. MONDAYEDITION TRIUMPH BLAZE LEAVES SEVEN HOMELESS Fire struck with devastating consequences last week Saturday night, leaving seven members of a Triumph, East Coast Demerara family homeless. The blaze, which started around 19:15 hours completely destroyed a two-flat building located at 30 Surat Drive, Triumph. A male occupant of the house suffered burns about his body when he tried to salvage some items from the burning building. Fortunately the three children who were in the house with him at the time of the fire made it to safety before the house was quickly engulfed in flames. The occupants are convinced that the fire was electrical in origin because it occurred seconds after power was restored to the
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community. Neighbours, including worshippers at the next door Triumph Assembly of God church, heard a loud sound just after the electricity returned before seeing fire coming from inside the property. LABOURER KILLED IN MYSTERIOUS ROAD ACCIDENT Traffic police are trying to determine the real circumstances that led to the death of 56-year-old Teril Changa, called ‘Mack’, following another road accident on the East Coast of Demerara on Saturday night. Changa, of Kersaint Park (LBI ), who was employed as a labourer by a manufacturing company, was killed on the spot while crossing La Bonne Intention (LBI) Public Road around 22:00 hours. Police detained the driver of a car, after the man admitted running over the lifeless body of the elderly labourer, which was lying in the middle of the roadway. There are suggestions that Changa was struck down by another driver who sped away, leaving him lying on the road. TUESDAYEDITION GOV’T INSISTS ON IAN CHANG, CARL SINGH’S APPOINTMENTS, GRANGER SAYS – NO - PPP WANTS TO CONFIRM SINGH, CHANG Opposition Leader David Granger has refused to support the confirmation of Justice Carl Singh as Chancellor of the Judiciary and Justice Ian Chang as Chief Justice, the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said Monday, expressing alarm. Under the constitution, the President has to consult with the Opposition Leader on the appointments. During a recent meeting with Granger, President Donald Ramotar made known his intentions to
confirm Singh and Chang. Both of whom have been acting for several years. Singh is the country’s substantive Chief Justice, but when he was called to be acting Chancellor, Chang was called to act as Chief Justice. Chang is a substantive Court of Appeal Judge. On Monday, Attorney General Anil Nandlall said that the confirmation of Singh and Chang is long overdue. “These are two persons who have served this country with distinction…these appointments should be confirmed,” Nandlall stated. He said that the ruling PPP is deeply concerned that Granger has withheld his support for the confirmation of Singh and Chang. Nandlall said that Granger has not “advanced” any reason for withholding his support. He said that the move to confirm Singh and Chang is not new. Former President Bharrat Jagdeo was in discussions with then Opposition Leader Robert Corbin on the issue. Despite the objections by Granger, Nandlall said both Singh and Chang have security of tenure, given the positions they hold as Chief Justice and Court of Appeal Judge, respectively. NBS DROPS MORTGAGE RATES FURTHER New homeowners and others wanting a mortgage at the New Building Society (NBS) will pay lower interest rates from July 1, the society announced Monday. The reduction in the rates will come as further good news for prospective homeowners with commercial banks and NBS reporting an increasing number of applications for mortgages. WEDNESDAY EDITION IAN CHANG, CARL SINGH APPOINTMENTS… ATTORNEYGENERAL LIED – DAVID GRANGER
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) leader, David Granger on Tuesday refuted the statements made by Attorney General Anil Nandlall in relation to confirmation of Justice Carl Singh as Chancellor of the Judiciary and Justice Ian Chang as Chief Justice. The Opposition Leader told media operatives that the Attorney General (AG) lied, and that Nandlall was not even part of the meeting during which the subject was discussed. The AG was reported as saying that the government is seeking to confirm Justice Singh and Justice Chang in their respective positions that they are currently acting — Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice — but Granger had said no to this proposal. Nandlall also told the press that even though Granger was opposed to the appointment, he offered no reason to support his stance. HINTERLAND PRIMARY STUDENTS TREK MILES WITH LOGS FOR “HOT MEALS” As regional and international bodies remain committed to stamping out child labour, “bare feet and oft times hungry,” primary school students at Kato, Region Eight, are forced to carry logs on their backs, for the supply of “hot meals daily.” “The logs are then taken to what can be considered as an unhygienic area of the school used for cooking and distribution of meals. Lack of adequate storage is the basis for dried meat and fish being stored in sacks that are then placed on the floors. The solar panels used to generate electricity are non functional.” These were the assertions of an executive member of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Mohamed Nieem Gafoor, who said that the discovery was recently made by a team from the RDC during a visit to the
area. It was pointed out that the logs are used as firewood to prepare meals for the school feeding programme, the initiative launched by the Ministry of Education several years ago. The school, located at Kato village sub-region one of region eight, houses just less than 150 children, with some being subjected to fetching wood for a considerable distance. THURSDAY EDITION CONTRACTOR OUT OF INDIA GETS MINING CONCESSION…ENJOYS PRIVILEGED POSITION WITH GOVT Over 25,000 acres of land in the gold bush has been granted to an Indian contractor and a Parliamentary party is now raising questions. The company, Indian-owned Surendra Mines Guyana Inc., was granted two Prospecting Licences (PLs) in early March, one year after applying for the licences. The company is linked to Surendra Engineering Corporation Limited, the same company that built the US$12.5M sugar packaging plant at Enmore, East Coast Demerara. The two companies share the same directors. The company was later awarded another contract to supply large drainage pumps to the tune of US$4M. Surendra also won a US$19M contract to build a specialty hospital at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara. The Prospecting Licences for the lands which are located in North West District, Region One, led the Alliance For Change (AFC) to believe that the company is a “privileged” one. “There is no doubt in my mind that Surendra Engineering is now part of the PPP’s circle of family, friends and favourites,” AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan (Continued on page 55)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 09, 2013
Verbatim – In the President’s own words
President Donald Ramotar’s own words express perfectly the policies of the People’s Progressive Party Civic administration. They also explain why the government is so often in gridlock, why public policy is in tatters and why ordinary Guyanese are so dissatisfied with their ‘quality of life.’ Ralph Ramkarran, wrote in his column, “The PPP’s enduring fears” (Stabroek News, January 14, 2013) that”…the objective realities of the political history of Guyana since 1953 and its impact on the PPP’s ‘psyche’ have profoundly influenced the direction and orientation of its basic approaches, even within the changing class composition of its leadership, which has impacted on some aspects of its policies…” Ramkarran, also wrote, in a later column, “The Constitution of the People’s Progressive Party” (Stabroek News, June 2, 2013), that the PPP’s Marxist-Leninist Constitution was so designed because “We believed that, in
the conditions we were then facing where open, democratic activity was becoming difficult and we might have to function in ‘conditions of illegality’, the constitution had to be adapted to enable us to survive with a structure.” Ramotar and Ramkarran have dwelt for decades in the belly of the party. The words of President Donald Ramotar – who is also PPP’s General Secretary – provide a glimpse at his mindset. On the
People’s Progressive Party:
“Our party had always been the most democratic party in the country. Every position in our party is an elected position. On this question of the presidential candidate, the three colleagues withdrew. I think fundamentally they withdrew because I think they understood very well that…I had probably a lot of support both on the level of the ground and in the leadership of the party. So, I think what they did was very noble because it
was in the interest of the party and again it was also in the interest of our country because the history of this country shows that we move forward when the PPP and the PPP Civic government is in office.” (Stabroek News, April 23, 2011). “I don’t think you understand how we [the PPP] operate…Jagdeo was not a law unto himself. He has never been a law unto himself. Those were programmes of the PPP. Those were policies of the PPPC…I am not looking for a brand or to say that this is Ramotar’s brand… I have not been so egotistic.” (Kaieteur News, September 23, 2012). “Allow me to express my gratitude, on behalf of the nation to the outgoing President of Guyana Cde Bharrat Jagdeo, our youngest and longest serving President, so far, for his exemplary service to the people of Guyana. Our nation is indebted to his phenomenal work and dedication during his tenure in office. I thank you comrade.”(Inaugural address, December 3, 2011).
On the Opposition: “…you put a hog in a place it still remains a pig, and that is what we have, that is what we have with the opposition. But they are showing their claws. They are showing their intentions. What they are trying to do to Comrade Rohee is very, very clear that these people have not lost their dictatorial ambition.” (Stabroek News, November 27, 2012). “…today, they say Jamaica is in crisis but Jamaica’s debt is only 140 per cent of its GDP—we had 658 per cent—and the jackass Nagamootoo would be asking [Dr.] Ashni Singh a question about debt in our country— well let me answer him to say that the debt now is only 48 per cent of our GDP!”(Kaieteur News, March 5, 2013). On the sugar
industry:
“…we are moving to correct those mistakes and I have every confidence that it will realise its full potential in the not too distant future…The industry has to
move to do things differently, and in any type of transition in this nature with such a huge industry, it creates some levels of difficulty.”(Kaieteur News, April 15, 2013). “A large part of the problem with sugar has to do with the reorganization that has to take place in the sugar industry. It is very, very clear that we have to reorganize sugar. We have to… depend much, much more on mechanization at this point in time and some of that has caused some disruption, which is worrying, about the level of production. I’m told the next crop should be a better one but I have been told that before.” (Stabroek News, April 27, 2013). On the National Assembly: “I say very clearly that we have no confidence in the Speaker because he took a political decision and not a legal position.” (Stabroek News, November 27, 2012). “That is not the function of the opposition. They must respect what is their role …I am making it very
clear that I will not assent to any bill that they carry unless it is with the full agreement of the executive and the full involvement of the executive.”(Stabroek News, January 12, 2013). On international relations: “I don’t feel we should be lectured upon [by the USA]; I don’t think that anybody has the moral right to lecture upon us.” (Kaieteur News, April 27, 2013). On public security: “Recent incidents have not helped to enhance the image of the [Guyana Police] Force. Corruption [in the Force] must be dealt with condignly. You cannot deny that a few members of the Force have tarnished the good image of the organization by their involvement in corrupt activities.”(Kaieteur News, March 2, 2012). On the labour movement: “In my view, part of the reason for the division of the labour movement is that the movement is out of step with some of the realities of today.”(Stabroek News, May 2, 2013).
Sunday June 09, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Sexual problems may linger after rape Rape victims treated with psychotherapy are still more than twice as likely to have sexual difficulties and pelvic pain than unvictimized women, according to a new study. But it’s unclear from this study whether the pelvic and sexual difficulties are a direct result of physical rape trauma or are a physical manifestation of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a severe anxiety disorder that up to half of rape victims will experience. The “findings are consistent with a growing body of research,” said Steven Bruce, director of the Center for Trauma Recovery
at the University of MissouriSt. Louis, who was not involved in the study. Researchers already knew that victims of chronic sexual abuse in childhood were at risk for sexual problems, according to coauthor Iva Biancic of the National Psychotrauma Center for Children and Youth at University Medical Center in Utrecht, the Netherlands. “We found evidence that victims of single rape during adolescence have an equal risk to develop such problems,” she told Reuters Health. The researchers asked 18 women in their late teens and early twenties who had been
raped during adolescence and treated for PTSD about their sexual functioning, and compared the answers to those of 114 college-aged women who had never been victimized. About 30 percent of the rape victims had pelvic floor hypertonicity, or “too-tight vagina,” compared to 12 percent of the nonvictimized group, according to results published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Both groups had the same level of sexual activity. The study had a number of weaknesses, according to Mary Koss of the University of Arizona in Tucson, who has served on the National Academy of Sciences Panel on Violence Against Women. The rape victims had a lower average education level than the comparison group, which indicates that the groups may not have been similar in many other ways, Koss said. She also noted that “pelvic floor problems” could be a direct physical consequence of rape, especially since most of the
women were underage and could have been as young as 12 or 13 when the rape happened, but those details aren’t included in the results.Many rape victims are asymptomatic and never seek psychotherapy, so she warns that women in that category may be disturbed by these results. “The bad news is there are people out there who might not have thought of this and end up feeling dejected,” Koss said. arly, all PTSD interventions are not alike and there is considerable variability in the amount of success following any intervention,” said Tara Galovski, who studies PTSD for victims of assault at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Galovski agreed that the study would need to include more details about the state of each woman’s mental health at the time of the study and the physical trauma suffered during the rape for the results to be useful for practitioners, she told Reuters Health.(Reuters Health)
Sunday June 09, 2013
Man with kidney disease receives first bioengineered vein A man suffering from endstage kidney disease became the first U.S. patient to receive a bioengineered blood vessel, Nature World News reported. The 62-year-old from Danville, Va., underwent a two-hour procedure on June 5 during which surgeons at Duke University Hospital implanted the lab-grown vein into his arm. Researchers from Duke University created the vein using human blood cells that were grown in a tubular, scaffold-like device. In clinical tests, the vein performed better than animalbased or synthetic implants, and could be an effective treatment for thousands of dialysis patients, Nature World News reported. “This is a pioneering event in medicine. It’s exciting to see something you’ve worked on for so long become a reality. We talk about translational technology - developing ideas from the laboratory to clinical practice - and this only
happens where there is the multi-disciplinary support and collaboration to cultivate it ,” said Dr. Jeffrey H. Lawson, a vascular surgeon and vascular biologist at Duke Medicine. “We hope this sets the groundwork for how these things can be grown, how they can incorporate into the host, and how they can avoid being rejected immunologically,” Lawson said in a news release. “A blood vessel is really an organ - it’s complex tissue. We start with this, and one day we may be able to engineer a liver or a kidney or an eye.”
Sunday June 09, 2013
Kaieteur News
Judge may unseal part of Michael Jackson abuse claim by choreographer
A judge said Thursday he was inclined to unseal portions of a choreographer’s court filings alleging he was abused by Michael Jackson. However, personal details and psychiatrist reports would likely not be released. Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said he needed to address which records should remain sealed before he can deal with whether Wade Robson, a choreographer and television personality, can pursue his claim. Robson requested on May 1 that Beckloff allow him to file a late creditor’s claim against Jackson’s estate nearly eight years to the day after he testified in Jackson’s defense at the singer’s molestation trial. Jackson was acquitted after Robson told jurors the entertainer never touched him inappropriately. Henry Gradstein, an attorney for Robson, said a breakdown last year prompted Robson to address the abuse. Howard Weitzman, an attorney for Jackson’s estate and Thomas Messereau, the
lawyer who successfully defended Jackson, have attacked Robson’s credibility and noted his repeated defense of the singer. Weitzman has called the accusations “outrageous and pathetic.” “We are confident that the court will see this for what it is” he said at the time the allegations were first made. On Thursday, Beckloff presented attorneys with possible redactions of Robson’s sworn declaration and said it should serve as a roadmap for what information can be made public. The judge believes some of the material could be made public, even though attorneys on both sides would like the case sealed in its entirety. Some of Robson’s private and personal information, including a paragraph that detailed his allegations of abuse by Jackson, should be sealed, Beckloff said. He also said portions of the records that deal with mental health issues also should not be released. “There aren’t a lot of
redactions,” Beckloff said of his suggestions. Attorneys for Robson and Jackson’s estate will review the suggestions by the judge and report back at a hearing on June 25, the fourth anniversary of Jackson’s death. Beckoff, who is overseeing the probate case involving Jackson’s massive estate, said he will also handle a separate lawsuit filed by Robson against Jackson and two other defendants listed as “Doe 2” and “Doe 3” that includes allegations of abuse by the entertainer. That lawsuit also remains sealed. Robson, 30, has worked with Britney Spears and numerous other stars. He was 22 at the time he testified, telling jurors in Jackson’s criminal case that he met the pop star when he was 5 and spent the night at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch more than 20 times, sleeping in the singer’s bedroom on most visits. During the trial, Robson bristled at testimony by other witnesses that they had seen Jackson molest him. “I’m telling you nothing happened,” Robson testified when a prosecutor challenged his account in 2005. Gradstein previously issued a statement saying, “Last year, on a career trajectory that was off the charts, (Robson) collapsed under the stress and sexual trauma of what had happened to him for seven years as a child.”
‘Archie’ Movie Planned: Beloved Comics Headed To Theaters
Archie’s old Riverdale gang is headed to the big screen. Warner Bros. will produce a live-action film based on the comic’s characters, including Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead, Archie Comics announced Thursday. It will be the first feature film for the 72-year-old comic. Directing will be Jason Moore, who helmed the 2012 high school musical comedy “Pitch Perfect.” “Glee” writer Roberto AguirreSacasa is penning the script. In an interview Thursday, Aguirre-Sacasa said the presentday film will be “a quintessential teen movie.” “The idea for this is to capture a very truthful, authentic coming-of-age story with these kids that includes heartache, that includes pain, that will obviously temper the fun and the hijinks,” said Aguirre-Sacasa. “It’s going to be a fun – hopefully – summer movie, but we’re not shying away from the truth and the awkwardness and the growing pains of being a teenager.” The Archie Comics, founded by John L. Goldwater, were always a quaint, sunny picture of small town teen life. So updating the characters for today’s young moviegoers could pose challenges for the filmmakers.
The Archie comics have previously spawned several animated TV series since the 1960s. In 1990, NBC aired the TV film “Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again.” “There are parts of the story that I think people will be surprised how dark and real it gets,” says Aguirre-Sacasa. Aguirre-Sacasa, who’s also a playwright and Marvel Comics writer, has an interesting history with Archie Comics. One of his first plays, originally titled “Archie’s Weird Fantasy,” was about Archie coming out of the closet. After legal action was threatened, the Atlanta production was changed to “Weird Comic Book Fantasy” with the characters’ names changed. Aguirre-Sacasa is now obviously on much friendlier terms with Archie Comics. He’s also writing a zombie series titled, “Afterlife With Archie.” Conjecture has thus followed that the film will include a supernatural element, but Aguirre-Sacasa dispels that notion: “It won’t be `Archie and the Walking Dead,’” he says. He’s currently in the midst of writing the script. No start date has yet been scheduled for production.
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Sarah Jessica Parker to Launch SJP Shoe Collection Ever want to walk a mile in Carrie Bradshaw’s fab designer shoes? Well now you can—kind of. Fifteen years after Sarah Jessica Parkerhelped make Manolo Blahnik a household name by playing the shoeobsessed character, the actress is teaming up with the company’s CEO George Malkemus to launch her very own shoe line, SJP. “In a silly way, I think it’s what people have expected of me most because of Carrie Bradshaw,” the former Sex and the City star told Vogue. And the actress admits that it’s somewhat of a natural progression, following her years playing the fashion icon. “Because I got to play that role, I wore a lot of shoes and by default I learned an enormous amount,” she admitted. “It’s hard to walk away from that.” Especially when you’re wearing sky-high stilettos! Of course, this isn’t Parker’s first time dabbling in design. She launched walletfriendly clothing, Bitten, for the now the now defunct retailer Steve & Barry’s, and acted as creative director for Halston until leaving the brand in 2011. So, what can we expect from her latest line, which will include shoes—obviously—as well as handbags and trenches? “We’re putting new colors together that people don’t typically do, just beautiful combinations that you wish existed in your
closet,” Parker revealed. “And in terms of bags, thinking about that period of the seventies into the eighties, what those women were carrying, taking away the bells and the whistles and hardware and really making it about the bag.” We’re pretty sure Ms. Bradshaw would approve. SJP will launch exclusively at Nordstrom in 2014.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 09, 2013
Anti-money laundering fight...
Central Bank not privy to ‘suspicious’ transactions at commercial banks
Amidst debate over Guyana’s capacity to deal with money laundering, Central Bank has made it clear that commercial banks are not mandated by law to provide information on suspicious
accounts. The assertion was made earlier this week by Governor of Bank of Guyana, Lawrence Williams, in a statement on the role of that financial institution. Williams was responding
to an editorial in Kaieteur News on May 30 on the role of the Central Bank to ensure that dirty money is not wiped in the local banks. The issue is a burning one now with new
legislations being studied by Parliamentarians. Guyana, as part of an international agreement to ensure its local systems are protected against illegal proceeds being deposited in the local banks,
was supposed to have met a May deadline to ensure critical changes in the laws. These include strengthening of penalties, reporting mechanisms and even the closing of loopholes that will allow for the seizure of properties believed to be acquired by illegal means. According to the banker, the Anti- Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act No. 13 of 2009 (The Act), provides that reports of suspected money laundering and terrorist financing should be made to the Financial Intelligence Unit(FIU), a body established under the same Act. Under the Act, reporting entities, including banks and other financial institutions, are the ones obligated to report all suspicious transactions to the FIU. The FIU, upon receipt of such reports, has the responsibility of analyzing and forwarding these reports to the competent authority, including the Director of Public Prosecutions, if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a transaction involves money laundering or terrorist financing. The role of the Central Bank is quite different, Williams said. The Act appointed the Central Bank as a supervisory authority with the mandate of compliance oversight over some of the reporting entities, including commercial banks. The bank, as supervisor, must ensure the financial entities are conducting their businesses in compliance with the provisions of The Act and that they have implemented adequate controls aimed at preventing criminals from using the financial system to launder funds and facilitate terrorist financing. “Further, commercial banks are not required by the
Bank of Guyana Governor, Lawrence Williams Act or by any other piece of legislation to provide, to the Central Bank, information on its transactions and as such the Central Bank is not privy to “all transactions that occur in the commercial banking system…” The statement would take even more significance in light of the growing criticisms that Government has failed to tackle money laundering in a significant way. There has been no major prosecution or seizures of assets. Government has blamed this on the absence of legislations. However, the Opposition has accused Government of foot-dragging on the issue, despite knowing that a deadline was approaching to have the legislations amended to meet international requirements. Guyana was forced to ask the regional oversight body for an extension of time recently. Guyana now has until November to get its house in order. Failure to put adequate systems in place could see Guyana facing financial sanctions, with the regional body already issuing warnings to government.
Man slashes wife’s... From page 13 neighbour recalled hearing the couple quarrel about “a phone call, and another man”. The man’s sister-in-law “Tasha” (his brother’s wife), said that Ali, accompanied by Ramdat’s brother, had ventured into the interior for work. She said that the woman wasted no time taking up residence at her brother’s house. Upon his return, “Tasha” said that Ali followed his wife to Kuru Kururu where they had been staying for a while. Ramdat’s brother ‘Gewan’ told this publication that while he is not au fait with what happens outside of the interior locations where he works, he does know that Ramdat shares a good relationship with her ex-husband, and would visit her children on the West Side, from time to time. The man said that he was at a shop about a mile away when he got a call that his sister was screaming. ‘Gewan’ said that he immediately rushed home only to find persons surrounding his sister’s dead body. The man said that he is at a loss why his only sister was killed. He never suspected that the couple had problems, even though they lived with him for a few weeks. He said also, that he does not believe that his sister was unfaithful to her husband. The woman’s body was removed about five to six hours after she was killed and the matter was reported to the police. As of last evening, Ali was still recovering from surgery.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 09, 2013
How big a challenge is the Modernisation of the Guyana Police Force? Senior reporter Dale Andrews’s exclusive interview with Patrick Mentore, Head, Strategic Management Department The Head of the Strategic Management Department that is overlooking the Guyana Police Force’s strategic development plan, Patrick Mentore, believes that changing an ingrained organisational culture that has been in place for decades will not happen overnight. He is convinced that if given the time, the unit could achieve its task of transforming the force into a modern police entity. Last week he sat down with Senior Reporter Dale Andrews for an exclusive interview on how the unit plans to achieve its goals. KN: Mr. Mentore we at Kaieteur News welcome you to what is unarguably one of the toughest jobs in the Guyana Police Force at this juncture of that organisation’s history. No doubt you have been following the events of the last few weeks and the comments from various quarters with respect to the expectations the public has of this newly established Strategic Management Department.
Maybe you can shed some light on the reason for forming a Strategic Management Department, and why it was deemed necessary to staff the SMD with civilians. PM: The Guyana Police Force in consultation with international consultants developed a five-year Strategic Plan, which is now in Year One of its implementation phase. The SMD came into being with the employment of 10 civilians on May 2, 2013; if you are looking at an implementation year as a calendar year then you can see immediately that we are behind schedule. Let me point to an observation made by Julian Laite consultancy which was that the Force did not have the capacity or processes to drive through the desired changes. This was given as partial reason to the GPF’s failure to do much in the way of strategy implementation. With regard to civilian involvement in the implementation process – these are all persons from varied academic disciplines which will be complementary at this critical
phase. We have been together just over one month and already I have seen signs of a cohesive team focused on delivering. And therefore I am on solid ground when I say that with a high level of commitment and dedication, and a coming together of all parties, including sworn and unsworn members of the GPFand don’t let’s fool ourselves; we are members of the Force- and our external stakeholders we can achieve the objectives of the strategic plan. KN: The general public has been hearing a lot of the strategic plan but there seems little that is out there which informs on what citizens can expect of the document; in other words what can I expect in terms of behavioural change on the part of the police in their dealings with members of the public? PM: I am inclined to agree with you because in our interactions to derive a baseline of attitudes, knowledge, and performance we came across participants at the probationer level at the police college who said that they only knew of the strategic plan during a course. It means, therefore, that we have a lot of work to do to ensure that not only the public but that all ranks are aware of what the GPF intends to achieve and the ensuing benefits that will likely accrue to the satisfaction of all. What can members of the public expect from the plan? We all can expect a body of men and women who are properly trained, resourced and equipped to provide services in keeping with universal standards; a body
whose members’ appearance, conduct and attitude are irreproachable. These are operational priorities; developing our people; developing partnerships; performance; and infrastructure. KN: So how does modernization of the GPF relate to the concept of police reform; do you see any disconnect between the Force’s vision and public expectations? PM: No! The strategic plan vision for the Force can best be summarized as the recruitment and development of suitably qualified people who will perform to the public’s expectations insofar as they relate to professionalism and accountability. With regard to reform and modernization, the interventions envisaged will reflect considerations of professional knowledge and skills development; effective, efficient and ethical performance; and attitude when dealing with the public. So there really is no disconnect between the two concepts; if anything they complement each other in the general scheme of things. KN: On a personal note, some concerns have been raised regarding your objectivity in successfully implementing the strategic plan; these arise from your past association with the Force. Are these fears justified, and what reassurances would you give to alleviate those concerns? PM: I am not sure that anyone can alleviate concerns of the type you mention, particularly when minds seem to have been made up. But let me say this, anyone remotely familiar with me knows that although I am an avid team player, I remain an independent thinker. I have also undeservedly been described as controversial and radical with all their negative
Patrick Mentore connotations, and I think that you would agree that in monolithic organisations steeped in groupthink this characteristic is taboo and likely to get one ostracised. Suffice it to say that the availability of institutional knowledge at the outset of our engagement saved a lot of time in terms of the familiarization process. However, not to make too fine a point, I invite anyone who has not yet rushed to judgment to do an online perusal of my contributions before determining my subjectivity or otherwise. KN: Recently the Minister of HomeAffairs was publicly critical of the performance of the GPF; he is even on record as saying that he will be monitoring the work of the SMD. Does this level of supervision create any undue pressure on the department? PM: I don’t think that the Minister’s concerns can be treated casually; after all, he has a boss to whom he is accountable from a policy perspective and is therefore expected to give due consideration to public security issues. What seems to merit serious consideration though is the question of whether we have allowed things to get so far out
Senior Reporter Dale Andrews of hand that radical action seems to be the only acceptable option. KN: What has the SMD achieved since commencing its operations? As a matter of fact no one seemed to know where the SMD was located when we were trying to make contact to have this interview. PM: The department was housed temporarily at the Officers’ Mess; we have been in occupancy in the Commissioner’s Office Complex for the past two weeks. That, notwithstanding, we were able to do considerable work in the intervening period including systems and processes audits of several departments and sections to derive knowledge, skill and performance baselines. These involved interviewing senior functionaries, and administering questionnaires and analyses. An important element in implementation is the utilization of a results-oriented model which emphasises monitoring and measuring performance with reference to key performance indicators. What this means is that our focus will be on effective planning and introduction of new approaches, and ongoing monitoring and modification of approach to the strategic priorities. TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW….
GPL slaps... From page 3 cuts or fuel as justification for any increases. “We have made it clear that we believe that GPL should be better managed in terms of procurement and its loss reduction efforts. We hear reports of prepaid meters being brought in bulk and a significant portion defective. We asked for documents. GPL is still to come clean.” Ramjattan said that blame for GPL’s plight cannot be laid at the door of the Opposition. “I am willing to appear before PUC and argue these and other issues we have with GPL. As a matter of fact, fuel prices have come down. We can’t just release billions from the Consolidated Fund because GPL says so. This is the people’s money.”
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GUYANESE POET K.O.HARROP, GRAND PRIZE WINNER By Ralph Seeram He mentioned it casually that he will publish a book of poems some day. This was after one of his poems on Guyana was used in a Kaieteur News letter section a long while back. Then about a month ago I received an email telling me that his book of poetry has been published. Thinking it was just a book of a few pages of poems I ordered two copies. Was I shocked when I received the copies; it was 120 pages consisting of over 80 poems, on topics ranging from, “Reflections of life” “History” “Injustice”, “Resistance” “Civil rights” and of course, a chapter on Guyana. At a time when the letter columns are filled with comments on the standard of local writers and poets, Kingsley, or to use his formal title, Dr. Kingsley Ormonde Harrop-Williams, has demonstrated that Guyana can produce the best poets in the world. He won the National Library of Poetry, North American open Poetry
Contest a few years ago. Dr. Harrop-Williams who migrated from Guyana a few decades ago to the U.S. is a Civil Engineer. One normally does not associate a civil engineer with being a poet. Kingsley proves to be an accomplished poet, and I suggest you should get your hands on a copy. His poems run the gamut of subjects. Lessons from History, deals with American history including his grand prize winning poem. “Unrest Sure Abode” speaks about America’s founding fathers George Washington, Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson who sought freedom from England by cutting the chains, but used the same chains to enslave the Native Indians and Africans. Quoting the book’s editor” Unrest Sure Abode” is a shining example of accomplished elegance that meticulously carves out a disturbing image of the United States as seen my all minorities”. Chapters two and three deal with American politics, the Iraqi war, fraudulent elections that put George Bush
in power, illegal detention at “Guantorturemo Bay”, the election of Barack Obama. The book’s blurb sums it up like this, ‘the Poetry of K O Harrop shows the beauty and significance of poetry in telling life stories”. “The poem teaches you new lessons and creates new emotions. It causes you to examine your comforts and discomforts with the subject. No Guyanese, I think, will write poems or novels without referring back to their roots and Dr. Harrop-Williams is no exception. He has dedicated an entire chapter, “The Magnificent Province” comprising of some twenty-five poems on Guyana and Smythfield, NewAmsterdam, Berbice, Guyana where he grew up. This section is my favorite, because many Guyanese like me can relate to, especially since I grew up in Smythfield and Kingsley lived only two doors from me. The cover of the book displays a roaring Kaieteur Falls to which he dedicated a poem. At first a deafening roar breaks the air Then man and beast stop dead with open-mouthed stare A towering wall of water, still
Missing cook's relatives still seeking ... From page 48 never be one of them. He even get certificate for a programme that he did on safety on a boat. He was too careful. I don't believe that he run back into that boat. That is nonsense. But, a dead man tells no tale,” Thompson reflected. The other crew members were saved by water taxi operators. Suggestions that Fraser could have been rescued had divers been brought to the scene promptly were dismissed by administrative officials.
About a week after the mishap, owner of the vessel, Vijai Sankar, had said that a team would be arriving from Trinidad and Tobago to at least try and salvage the toppled boat. According to Thompson, she was told by the owner that the cost of righting the vessel would amount to several million dollars, and that he would need assistance, possibly from the government. The woman said that it had reported in the news about a year ago that the team was contemplating the man-
ner in which they could pull up the boat. However, nothing was done. She is still asking that efforts are made to give the man's two children, his grandchildren, and great grandchild, the closure that they need as a family to move on. To date, Miss Ellisa remains a sunken wreck on the western side of the Demerara channel within the Port Georgetown Harbour. Also in the vessel at the time of the mishap were trader goods valued in the millions.
a single drop Of the russet Potaro, on the sanctum’s top… Other topics local in nature include Guyana, Roraima, Birth of Guyana (“you know the folks in London, were ready to let Jagan roll etc), the Emigrant and Re Migrant, Destruction of the Amerindian Life. “The Last Import” deals with the demise of the late President Forbes Burnham, (‘The Kabaka lay with an ailing throat, in bed in Stabroek Town….) how his ban on certain imports may have cost him his life. My favorite “Smythfield” talks of the poet growing up in New Amsterdam and Smythfield. Smythfield was a wonderful place to grow up free and wild Now Smythfield is not the place to be a carefree child No better place for children no matter where you seek…… Still the innocence is one to be told As it was born at emancipation in the days of old He talks about his mischievous boyhood days “Khadar House”, race
prejudice against “Putagee” and his brother Dacta employing fighting skills to survive. Then there are some Berbice proverbs eloquently put in verse and translation Susu Susu ah mek bakra batty bite Those in charge fear secret gatherings…. I think the most heartwarming part was that the book was reserved for his mother whose sacrifices made him a success today. Selfless, angelic, determined, And not a beggar be Each penny pinch from food
and clothes Covered a high school fee… The book’s editor reminds us that we should not take the poems at their literal meaning but…study every syllable, nuance, connotation to understand the living, breathing mystery of the poems. Dr Harrop-Williams’ book of poems should be used as a textbook in the English/Literature curriculum in Guyana, at both high school and University levels. Ralph Seeram can be reached at email: Ralph 365@hotmail.com
Woman uses tragic ... From page 49 very common problem in Guyana), Chlamydia, and HIV; treatment and counseling are also provided for patients that are affected by STDs. He even expressed that he would be happy to have his establishment work with the woman that shares her story. Boyle explained that her case may not be as severe as it sounds but “she wouldn't have to worry about coming to the laboratory for treatment and counseling. Eureka provides a service for those who wish to be very
private. In this case, a doctor would be sent to their homes to look after them and get required the testing done. The necessary medical personnel will be sent either using the clients' transportation or that provided by the organization. This “house call” system has been working quite efficiently for Eureka for over 18 years. With this in mind one can only hope that many are moved to get tested today or as early as possible and use this story to remind you of the importance of safe sexual practices.
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AFC wants more “teeth” to law on financial crimes The Alliance for Change (AFC) says that it wants the new law on financial crimes to have more “teeth” and that could come from expert advice given to Guyana. However, AFC leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, is now claiming that the government might have left out key recommendations made by a British expert. He said he is now in possession of a document containing the recommendations of the expert that intended to add weight to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing for Terrorism (AML/CFT). Ramjattan’s concern with regards to the Bill is that it lacked strong provisions that would force the seizure of money which is laundered. “The expert helped to draft a lot of the provisions for the Bill but these were not included in the Bill presented to the National Assembly,” Ramjattan told Kaieteur News. Attorney General Anil Nandlall would be pressed for the reasons why the government deleted the recommended provisions. Ramjattan said that these provisions are included in the Grenada law. When the Special Parliament Select Committee on the Bill meets on Wednesday, Ramjattan would
…claims gov’t rejected expert recommendations be demanding answers of the Attorney General. It is unlikely that the Committee will finish its work anytime soon. Guyana now has until November to pass amendments to various pieces of legislation that have been bundled together and called the AML/CFT Bill. The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) is demand i n g the amendments so that Guyana would be compliant with international standards and controls on money laundering and financing for terrorism. The Task Force is an arm of the International Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an independent intergovernmental body that develops and promotes policies to protect the global financial system against money laundering and terrorist financing, among other financial crimes. The CFATF Review Panel late last month agreed to give Guyana an extra six months to get the new legislation passed. In any case, Ramjattan said that he does not believe that Guyana would be blacklisted even at the new deadline if the legislation is
not passed. “I think CFATF would be looking at the route Guyana is going to perfect the law; and once they see we need moiré time to get it right, I don’t think we will be blacklisted,” Ramjattan told Kaieteur News. The government is insisting that if Guyana fails to pass the amendments, there would be severe sanctions that would have a range of implications for the financial sector especially, including
humbugs in the flow of international funds, such as remittances and wire transfers. But while the AFC is participating fully in the work of the Special Parliamentary Committee, Ramjattan maintained that voting in favour of the Bill when it goes to the full House will be determined on the government’s response to its demands. The party is maintaining that it would exchange its support for the amendments only i f t h e g o v e r n m e n t provides a definitive deadline for the setting up of the Public Procurement Commission and if the
AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan President re-considers assenting to two Bills
which were brought to the House by the Opposition. The government has argued that amending laws against financial crimes is so important that the Opposition should not back down from supporting the move or setting conditions under which it would offer its support. “This Bill is so important that it cannot be hinged or contingent upon the happening of any other event,” Attorney General Anil Nandlall said this past week. “Nandlall can say what he wants,” Ramjattan responded. “Let him speak when the time comes for him to answer the real questions.”
Kaneville residents told to repair - NDC distributing materials their own roads
Residents of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara are being urged by the Grove/ Diamond Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to visit the Diamond Secondary School today to collect material to repair their roads. Persons who can provide transportation and self-help will be given crusher run, stones and tar to repair their streets. The focus will be on Kaneville, Diamond New Scheme and Cinema Street. Recently, residents in Kaneville were complaining about the deplorable condition of their roads. They claimed that they have been neglected by the relevant authorities and were being forced into using the roads which vehicles struggle to transverse. Yesterday, a source from the council told Kaieteur News that they don’t have the necessary equipment to repair the roads hence they are providing residents with the materials necessary to repair
Kaneville the little potholes. “We have money but we are using it to buy a mini excavator, once we get it we will start repairing the potholes. The excavator is in the bidding process right now,” the source said. He explained if they use
the money the NDC managed to collect in taxes for this year, to repair the potholes, the money will finish and because the roads in Kaneville are in such a bad state, it wouldn’t make a difference. “The money will quickly finish and it won’t make a
difference on the road so we will instead use the money to buy the excavator which we can continuously use to manage the roads,” the source revealed. The first set of materials will be distributed today at the Diamond Secondary School.
Sunday June 09, 2013
From page 27 said Wednesday evening. MATERNALDEATHAT GPHC… PATIENT ‘NEARBY’SAYS NEGLIGENCE LED TO WOMAN AND BABY’S DEATHS Unless officials of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) are able to prove otherwise, Nigel Rodney, is intent on holding medical personnel accountable for the demise of his wife, Luan and their baby daughter. While reports suggest that the baby was delivered stillborn, information emanating from the hospital revealed that the 28-year-old mother who was admitted on Monday was pronounced dead at 07:50 hours the following day. In expressing condolences, the hospital in a statement Tuesday disclosed that an investigation has already been launched into the circumstances surrounding the incident. But according to Rodney, on Wednesday, a doctor informed him that his wife’s death was caused by a ruptured uterus which resulted in excessive bleeding. It was explained, too, that due to the heavy bleeding there was no way efforts could have saved the baby. The grieving husband and father, has since learnt from a patient who was ‘nearby’ that nurses on duty in the wee hours of the morning when his wife went into labour, were negligent. FRIDAYEDITION NOTHING STOPS ANY LOCAL, FOREIGN COMPANIES FROM GETTINGMINING CONCESSIONS – GGMC The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has defended its decision to grant two Prospecting Licences (PLs) to explore for gold in North West District, Region One, to an Indianbased company with alleged close ties with the government. GGMC said that Surendra Mines Guyana Inc., a local subsidiary of Surendra
Kaieteur News
Engineering Corporation Limited, met all the mandatory requirements with no public objections made during the processing stage. On Wednesday, the Alliance For Change (AFC) questioned the PLs which were approved in March, and said that the relationship between government and Surendra seemed suspicious. The company has been granted a number of critical contracts from government. MAN ON THE RUNAFTER SEVERELYCHOPPING REPUTEDWIFE - NOT FIRST ATTACK A Perry Street, Tucville woman is living in fear of a Sophia resident who remains at large, after inflicting a vicious cutlass attack on her sister, 43-year-old Carlotta Stephens. The 45-year-old suspect, who is the woman’s estranged reputed husband, reportedly chopped Stephens on the legs and right arm after sneaking into the family’s yard in broad daylight last Monday. The attempt on Stephens’ life is reportedly just the latest incident of physical abuse that the woman has suffered at the hands of her reputed husband, who continues to stalk her although she severed the relationship years ago. Stephens told Kaieteur News that she was washing near the back steps when her reputed husband came up behind her and began to chop her on the legs. She said that she was also chopped on the right hand while warding off a chop that was aimed at her neck. Her assailant fled after a few young men in the area saw the attack and raised an alarm.
close to 17,000, the pupils were entered into the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) which was conducted on March 25 and March 26, 2013. With 548 marks, 11 yearold Salma Majeed of the ISA Islamic Academy was on Friday declared the top candidate. The resident of Queenstown, Georgetown, said that she hopes to attend Queen’s College. She firmly disclosed too that even after furthering her studies in medicine she intends to offer her skills towards the further development of the land of birth. Others in the top 12 positions in the top one percent Christian Pyle – 2nd; Navindra Persaud – 3rd; Ashtmi Natasha Deo – 4th; Bradon Chanderban – 5th; Zane Ramotar – 6th; Leshanna Bindah – 6th; Abdur-Rahman Sattaur – 6th; Divya Jagroo – 9th; Daniel Baldeo-Thorne – 9th; Renee Bisnauth –9th and Maitri Vathada – 12th. ONE LAPTOP EACH FOR TOP NGSA PERFORMERS – EDUCATION MINISTER
SATURDAY EDITION ISAISLAMICACADEMY, MAE’S UNDER-12 TOP NGSA
Each child that falls within the top performing one per cent of the 2013 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will be given a laptop, compliments of the Guyana Government. This announcement was made by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, who officially released the results at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) Friday. The decision, the Minister said, was made by President Donald Ramotar himself, who according to her, is extremely pleased with the performance and the fact that the results have been released early this year. EXPIRED DRUGS AREAN ONGOING CHALLENGE FOR HEALTH SECTOR - HEALTH MINISTER
With varying career aspirations, pupils from primary schools across the country are now preparing to engage their secondary education. Amounting to
The Ministry of Health is on a continuous quest to address the prevailing factor of wastage and dumping of expired drugs within the Health Sector.
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“We want to reduce the occurrences of wastage of medicine within the health sector to zero….we see it as a challenge and therefore training at all levels is important and continuous. We are working to tackle this issue wherever we go,” Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran said. He was responding to questions posed by media
operatives, during a handing over ceremony, held at Ministry of Health storage bond facility, Diamond East Bank Demerara Complex. According to the Minister, the problem is persistent, but systems will be implemented to reduce it. He explained that 80 per cent of all medicines and drugs are made available for distribution at five hospitals within the
public health sector. Last year the Auditor General’s report revealed that an alarming figure of $49.498M worth of expired drugs was dumped by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) alone. Most recently, at the Leonora Cottage Hospital, boxes of expired drugs were discovered stored in the facility, waiting to be dumped.
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FOR SALE
WANTED Waitresses and bartenders to work in Kitty area- Call: 226-7054/ 623-9645 1 Handy-boy to work: Living accommodation freecall:228-5655/628-1756
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Experienced Nanny/ Caregiver require a job: For serious inquiry contact Ms. Carol on 677-1370
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1-225 Miller Welding Generator; 1- Miller Big 40 Diesel Welding GeneratorCall: 616-5424 or 220-4818 Purpleheart panel doors $28,000: Sizes (30", 32", 34", 36") × 80- call: 688-9712/ 6390501 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 Clearance Sale: Greenheart Lumber, Slabs, Strips & Firewood: Toolsie Persaud Ltd. Lombard St. G/TownTel: 226-4920/226-4071-5 Electric Snow cone machines- call:266-2711/6094594 Male Enhancement Viagra: 4 in a Pack For $3000- Call: 6426664/ 638-1627 Parts for 3066 MitsubishiCall: 669-2552 Fuffy pups: 642-6664 Clark Forklifts 2,000; 3,000; 4,000 lbs lifting capacity: Needs minor repairs, sold as is $375,000- call:621-4000/6906000 IPhone 4s-$110,000; Blackberry Bold4 -$69,995; PSP-$59,995; PS2 -$54,995, Wii Systems, Video Cameracall:225-4631 SDMO Generators, diesel, silent with tank 28 KVA: Not working $500,000- call:6214000/690-6000
Sunday June 09, 2013
FOR SALE
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1 Flock sheep and goats and flock Rams- Call:696-8103
Cheapest- Premio, Spacio, Hilux, Stick Gear Buses- Call: 616-7635 HILUX SOLID DIFF Pickups, AC, 33×12.50 MT tyres, Unregistered, Excellent Condition- Call: 691-2077 1-55-210 DAF Lorry GPP 2673: In excellent condition: 1 yr old: Owner leaving country. Call: 680-2095/261-5401
Live Ducks in large quantities. Call: 691-5851 or 671-2008 Tibet Terriers Pups (Fluffy)Call:222-7891/609-9202 Complete 4 Inch Land Dredge: Any Reasonable Offer- Call:643-7214/ 683-2890 1 -19ft Key West Fiber Glass Boat With Trailer, Equipped Yamaha Gauges, Steering System & Remote $900,000 Neg- Call: 699-1711 1- 16" Bore Trailer Pump: New: Make offer- Call:613-3091 1 Timber Harvester 36HTE Band Sawmill Can Cut 40ft Logs:1 Multi Rip Heavy Duty: 1 Edger- Call: 652-5601 1 Weinig 9" moulder complete with extractor fan and dust pipe- call: 652-5601 Sale! Sale! Blow Out Sale At Aaliyah’s Cheap Shop: Lot 4 Cove & John, E.C.D- Call:6642209 PLAYSTATION 2 & 3 Systems, Games, Memory Cards etc- Call: 611-8698 NINTENDO Wii with 4 games (including Call-of- Duty) rifle, fit-pad, extra controller- Call: 611-8698 1- 10 RB Dragline, 1- F150 Bar Code Scanner $30,000: Pressure Washer 2000 Psi $45,000- Call: 680-3863 5×750×15 Pickup tyres, 1 & 3 PH entrance switch, 1, 2 & 3 HP electric motors, HVLP spray guns $10,000- Tele:2224158 ½ Cordless Impact Wrench, Cordless Drill Driver, Dewalt Miter Saw Cordless Jig Saw, OBDII Scan Tool- Call: 2224158 Racing Carburetor, 12V Top VP Battery Charger $5000, Air Chisel, Dual Action 6" Air Sander- Call: 222-4158 Air Cut Off Tool, Air Die Grinder- Call: 222-4158 1 Complete 2 Base Music Set: Price Neg- Tele: 669-9055/ 6741291 Lister pitter generator from UK 10KVA, with tank and exhaust system $950,000-call 621-4000, 690-6000 Chicken hatchery robbins 26,000 eggs capacity with trays, racks, complete system, sold as a package, call:6214000,690-6000
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 Toyota Corona 170- Call: 6658995 UNREGISTERED SOLID DEF2005 RAUM $2.150,000; 2 TON ISUZU DUMP TRUCK $2.3MCALL: 227-1737/641-1800 Toyota Premio & Allion: Excellent Condition: PPP Series- Contact Donna 2275404/ 666-5195 Toyota extra cab pick-up (22 R engine) manual, (EFI) 4×4, (GPP series) price $2.5MContact Rocky 621-5902/2251400 1-Suzuki (RI) Jeep, automatic, fully powered, A/C, Immaculate condition price $1.1- contact Rocky 225-1400 or 621-5902 1 Toyota RZ long base (EFI bus) manual, mag rims, BLL series $1.350M: Excellent condition- Call Rocky 6215902/225-1400 Mercedes Benz S300 armored, powered, leather seats, Auto, 19" rims, CD player, sound system $3.5M cash call:6214000, 690-6000 Mitsubishi 3000GT, 3000cc sports car, CD player,18" rims, very fast, must see, price neg. call:621-4000, 690-6000 Mercedes Benz 190E fully powered, flair kit, mag wheel, needs repairs sold as is $500,000 call:621-4000
22" Chrome rims (6 holes) with tyres, set of 4 $400,000call:621-4000/690-6000 New Automatic Spice/ Powder Packing Machine, Adjustable Filling, Date Coding. Taiwan Made Price GY$2.5M #690-7593
MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call:609-4036
VEHICLE FOR SALE 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 1 Toyota Carina 192 (White), Excellent Condition- Call: 666-8088 Massey Ferguson 6140: 4×4 Turbo: $3.2M negotiableCall: 688-6274 or 691-3851 Honda ATV 500 4×4: New $2.6M- Call: 624-5000 1 Diesel 3L Toyota Canter GKK series $1.2M neg- call: 684-8231 1992 Toyota Camry- Call: 657-4114 RZ mini-buses BMM & BNN series, AT192, 212, AT170, Tacoma, Canters, NZE & cheap cars- call:680-3154 Nissan Canter Gas $2.1M: Owner leaving country- Call: 592-667-8896 Toyota IST PLL 7683Call:639-9553 One Toyota Vios: In Immaculate condition, PLL series- Call: 609-7175 One Honda Civic: One Ice Cream Machine, price $400,000 neg- call: 687-5656 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 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 Toyota RZ, Cars $2.1M- Call: 626-2771 Mitsubishi Pajero (Immaculate condition); automatic, fully loaded, 4×4, price $2.8M- Contact Rocky:225-1400 or 621-5902 AT170 Toyota Carina (private), automatic, fully powered, mags, CD player, price $675,000- contact Rocky:225-1400 or 621-5902 AT212 Carina (private), automatic, fully powered, A/ C, CD player, price $1.375Mcontact Rocky:225-1400 or 621-5902 (Continued on page 60)
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LAND FOR SALE FOR RENT Business Space: Suitable for Sewing- Call: 233-0888/ 2239235
PROPERTY FOR SALE At Clifton Port Mourant: Prime location on public road- Contact:905-970-0210/ 613-6795 or /624-8799 Property for sale. Contact: 699-9926 Tuschen Housing SchemeCall: 692-3454/616-7632 Mc Doom $17.5M, Mon Repos $8M, Prospect $13M, Earl’s Court $38M- Contact Diana: 227-2256/ 626-9382 Prime Real Estate 5 Bedroom House, 7 Office Space A Diagnostic Center: Main St New Amsterdam- Call: 6132994/ 692-8004 Location Parika: Land35’×218’: House- 19’×29’: Located In Prime Business Location- Call: 260-4236 Lot 35: Area ‘G’ OgleCall:663-1074 1 Two Storey Business Property (Transported): Brickery Public Road, East Bank Demerara- Call: 6608128 Mahaicony creek 3 Bedrooms, 7 acres land: access by creek or branch road- call: 621-4000/ 690-6000 2 Storey- 2 Family on Guyhoc main road $29M, house and land- Tele:264-2154 South Ruimveldt Gardens 5 bedrooms concrete 2 storey $35M- 225-0853, 225-0854, 672-7390 Diamond/Grove newly built 3 bedrooms, First Bridge Big Yard- 6727390, 2250843, 2250854 Newly built 5 bedrooms, house in Eccles and land $35M and $17M- 6727390, 2250843, 225-0854 Newly built concrete 3 bedrooms house in Parfaite Harmonie $19M, $17M, $8M672-7390, 225-0854, 225-0843 Diamond main road property 5 bedrooms flat house $37M225-0853, 225-0854, 672-7390 Diamond/Grove 2 Storey Concrete Newly Built Automatic Gate/Garage : Spacious Kitchen& 4 Bedrooms $36M- 6727390, 2250854, 225-0843 Huge house/huge land facing seawall Subryanville, super location: concrete downstairs, wood upstairs $US750,000: 6727390, 2250854, 225-0843
Parfaite Harmonie $1.5M, $2M, $2.5M: Tuschen $1.5M, $1.8M, $2M, $2.5M-6727390, 2250854, 2250843
Salon stations for rent $5000 per week- call: 624-3996/ 6020333
Eccles New Scheme 50 x 100 $5.5M- 6727390, 2250854, 2250843
Rooms - Call: 225-3234
Grove/Diamond $5M, $5.5M, $4M, $6.5M, $3.5M- 672-7390, 225-0854, 225-0843
Furnished 2 Bedrooms & Large Kitchen- Call: 233-3430 Toolsie One Business Place for RentCall Rushell @ 614-0599 2 Self- Contained Apartments in Industry: Furnished/ Unfurnished- call: 222-6001 Prime office space in New Market Street- Call: 226-2145 1 Bottom Flat (2) Bedrooms to rent at Blankenburg W.C.D Public Road $30,000 per month- call: 684-5117
Land for Rice, Sugar, Cattle etc: More than 600 acres on East Coast Demerara- Call: 678-1454 7 Acres cultivated with house, 2 Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated. Contact: 226-7968 House lots 50’×118’ New Hope E.B.D: Negotiable prices- - call: 266-2711/ 6094594
PROPERTY FOR SALE
13 Acres land; Behind Emerald Tower Madewini call: 622-0860
Diamond flat house newly built $17.5M- 6727390, 2250854, 225-08433
Schoon’Ord $2.8M, Parfaite Harmonie $1M-$1.2MCall:675-7292
Newly Built 5 Bedroom Selfcontained: Double Garage, Super Condition W/C/D $69M: Extra Land 600 sq ft6727390, 2250854, 225-0843 Lodge H/S 2 Stories Concrete (needs repairs) $14M neg: 6727390, 225-0854, 225-0843 Parfaite Harmonie ,W/B/D 2 Stories 3-Apt. Concrete House, Fenced, Concrete Yard $19M (Neg)- 686-9888/ 672-8569/ 609- 8132 Parfaite Harmonie ,W/B/D: Unfinished 2 Storey Structure Foundation, Post Walls Roof $7M- 686-9888/ 672-8569/ 6098132 Roraima Housing Development, W/B/D: Exclusive, Large 2-Storey House: All Modern Amenities $69M- 686-9888/ 672-8569/ 609- 8132 nd
2 flat 2 bedroom house: Pouderoyen, W/B/D $5m (neg)- 686-9888/ 672-8569/ 609- 8132 Parfaite Harmonie, 2 storey concrete 3-Apt House, 5 rooms; Nice design $19M (negotiable)- 686-9888/ 6728569/ 609- 8132 Parfaite Harmonie, land with prepared, foundation, posts, walls, roof (neg)- 686-9888/ 672-8569/ 609- 8132 Parfaite Harmonie 2 storey concrete 4 room house $17M (neg)- 686-9888/ 672-8569/ 609- 8132 2 Storey concrete house: Alexander St Kitty 60x80 Land $47M: 6727390, 2250854, 225-0843
TO LET Four Bedrooms, fully furnished: Situated in Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden- Call: 649-6837 Furnished Apartments For Overseas Visitors- Contact: 699-7559 Diamond $70,000, Ogle $80,000, Kitty $100,000, South $130,000- Contact Diana: 227-2256/ 626-9382 Furnished classrooms available: Suitable for day classes, lessons & lectures: 71 Croal Street, Stabroek: Tel: 624-5741
Sunday June 09, 2013
SERVICES WE FILL OUT VISA FORMS:USA, UK & CANADA & CREDIT CARD SERVICES CALL:231-5789 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool. Call:225-9032,647-2943 SERVICES DONE TO ANY KIND STATELLITE DISH: 2 DISH BRAVISSINO BOXCALL:683-7167/227-8873 (FREE INFORMATION) We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699 (BODY WORK) & Spray paint your vehicle at an affordable cost: Fast, efficient & reliable- call Kenneth 2220811/619-4550 Brian Moe @642-3543: Computer Technician: FB/ Brian.Moe.165: Home and Office visits at your comfort!! ONLINE SHOPPING ZERO COMMISSION, WEEKLY SHIPMENTS,AFFORDABLE RATES, FREE PRIVATE MAILBOX.CALL:2315789, 225-9030 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call: 225-6496, 662-6045, 223-8115 Double ‘S’ Electrical Plumbing: Special In Plumbing, Electrical, Security Camera Installation, Grease Trapping Construction- Call: 643-7214/ 683-2890 Quick Mix: Cement Mixer Rental Service, Best Daily Rates- Call:681-5988 Computer & Camera Service in Homes- Call: 675-7292 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000CALL:694-9843/227-2766
B & C Driving School: Lot 5 Hadfield Lodge- call:2250150,229-7258,680-6826
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
Diploma in Computers for 2013 CSEC students: 9 courses $35,000: Micro-Graphics Vreed-en-Hoop 264-3057: Register now! Computerized Accounting Packages For 2013 CSEC Students: Quickbooks, PTree, etc. Micro-Graphics Vreed-enHoop 264-3057
155ft×40ft two stories building to rent for long term usage: Ideal spot for business- Contact: 658-4785 FOR SALE Cheap Earth delivery to spot ECD & EBD call:627-9977, 698-0182 Clean Garden Earth builders waste, also Bobcat rental, excavating, clearing & leveling- call:616-0617 or 6633285 On Saturdays & Sundays items as low as $100: Sale starts from 6am to 6pmCall:664-2209 Ladies size 12 elegant classy silver high-heeled shoes (brides, special occasions etc.)- Call: 611-8698 (Claudette)
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964
Beauty Box Salon: Facial, Manicure, Pedicure, Waxing, Hair Styling/ Cutting, Makeup, Acrylic Etc- Tele: 227-6262: Email: beautybox44@yahoo.com FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table - Call: 277-0578
EDUCATIONAL Imperial College- Register Now: CXC 2014 fulltime/ lessons/adults classes: Excellent results-call: 6835742/227-7627
Summer Computer Classes: Ages 5-13 starting from $6,500: Micro-Graphics Vreeden-Hoop 264-3057: Register now! Learn to bake and decorate cakes- call: 231-1360/681-9461
CAR RENTAL Progressive Auto Rental cars from $4000 per day. Call 643-5122, 225-8711; email www.progressiveauto rental. com First Choice Car Rental: Cars from $5,000 per day- Call: 6947817/668-0306 Adian’s car Rental/PickupTele:698-7807 Untouchable Car Rental: Low Rate , Low Deposit call:231-8653,621-6827
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CAL top brass getting over $.1M a month Trinidad Express Despite money troubles at cash-strapped Caribbean Airlines (CAL), salaries of top executive managers over the past two years range between $36,000 and $128,000, documents obtained by the Express have revealed. The monthly total for the 13 executives amounts to $837,765.74. And now that Finance Minister Larry Howai has fired the CAL board, including its chairman, Rabindra Moonan, the salaries are raising questions about the Stateowned airline’s management team and their financial drain on the airline. Newly-appointed chairman Philip Marshall refused to comment when contacted yesterday on whether these high salaries could be a cause for concern for the new board in light of the airline’s financial troubles. But an informed source told the Express the new board, which met on Thursday, would be seeking to “apply good governance guidelines in CAL’s operations, since the airline is important to the people of Trinidad and Tobago”. It was only in mid-May that Howai told the Senate the airline’s losses for 2012 were $704 million, while an exclusive Sunday Express story revealed that struggling CAL
has also been forced to write off $200 million in lost cargo revenue and alleged credit card fraud. Robert Corbie, chief operating officer and acting chief executive officer (CEO) of Caribbean Airlines, receives a $100,000 a month salary, with a further $20,000 a month acting CEO allowance and an $8,000 car allowance. A well-placed aviation source said this figure was actually low in comparison to previous foreign CEOs at Caribbean Airlines and its predecessor BWIA and their compensation packages. Those foreign CEOs enjoyed much better compensation packages, the source said. Among those receiving
hefty pay packages are Colville Carrington, who took up the position of vicepresident Maintenance and Engineering, on July 1, 2010, with a salary of $72,500 and car allowance of $5,000, and Jagmohan Singh, who is currently acting as vicepresident Operations, receiving $79,571.63, with an acting allowance of $11,935.74 and a $7,000 a month car allowance. Singh’s substantive position is executive manager/ chief pilot which he assumed from July 1, 2010. His acting position took effect from March 20, 2012. Another heavy-roller is Charmaine Heslop-DaCosta, vice-president Human Resources whose total package is $84,667 a month. DaCosta, who frequently travels between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, is paid in US dollars while her car allowance is paid in Jamaican currency, the documents revealed. She assumed her post on July 1, 2010. The others include: (BOX) Deputy chief financial officer Keith Andre Mills— $45,000 salary and $10,500 responsibility allowance. Mills assumed his post on October 18, 2010, and assumed responsibility for finance in the absence of the CFO from December 2010.
The Royal Gazette - Fitch Ratings yesterday downgraded Bermuda’s credit rating, citing the Island’s continuing recession, sustained high fiscal deficits and increased Government debt burden. Downgrading Bermuda’s Government bond rating to ‘AA-’ and changing the rating outlook from stable to negative, Fitch said the Island’s prospects for 2013 and beyond were “weak”. The ratings agency also warned that public debt could approach 40 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2014-15. That would equate to a $2.2 billion debt when measured against 2011 GDP, the most recent number available. Government had more than $1.5 billion of debt outstanding at the end of March this year. The negative outlook is a signal that Fitch may downgrade Bermuda’s ratings again if it sees a worsening of the fiscal situation. The outlook reflects “continued uncertainty as to Bermuda’s
fiscal and economic trajectory and the lack of a credible fiscal consolidation strategy”. The downgrade means that Bermuda is likely to have to pay more to borrow money, as investors in future Government bond issuances would seek a higher rate of interest. The ‘AA-’ rating is in line with countries including Saudi Arabia and South Korea. Public debt had soared from six percent of GDP in 2007 to 28.5 percent in 2012, Fitch noted, adding that “multiple changes in the debt ceiling have undermined the credibility of this fiscal policy anchor”. The agency said the 2013-14 Budget had effectively postponed fiscal adjustment for a year. But it added that Government’s business-friendly policies and efforts to cut wasteful public spending, spearheaded by the SAGE Commission, could result in higher economic growth, “but only in the medium term”. Finance Minister Bob Richards said yesterday: “The
Ministry of Finance anticipated that the tough conditions at home could put Bermuda’s sovereign rating at risk of a downgrade.” While the ratings adjustment is “disappointing news”, Mr Richards noted that the adjusted rating remains in the top tier of the ratings matrix. “At AA-, our sovereign bond rating is only three notches below the highest rating of AAA,” he said. “This rating action now brings Fitch’s Ratings on Bermuda in line with the other major ratings agencies. “Fitch continues to endorse our competitive advantage as a domicile for reinsurance and financial services companies due to our sophisticated legal system, strong regulatory framework, simple tax regime, proximity to the US and highly-skilled human capital. The report also noted that “Bermuda’s ‘AA-’ ratings are supported by Bermuda’s wealth (the fourth-highest GDP per capita among Fitchrated sovereigns) and its high savings rate relative to its peers in the ‘AA’ category.
Larry Howai
Finance Minister says Fitch downgrade ‘disappointing news’
Sunday June 09, 2013
Kaieteur News
Turkey rules out early polls, thousands defy call to end protest ISTANBUL (Reuters) Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party yesterday ruled out early elections as thousands of anti-government demonstrators defied his call for an immediate end to protests. Huseyin Celik, deputy chairman of the Justice and Development (AK) Party founded by Erdogan just over a decade ago, said local and presidential elections would be held next year as planned, and a general election in 2015. “The government is running like clockwork. There is nothing that necessitates early elections,” he told reporters after a meeting of the party’s executive committee in Istanbul. “The world is dealing with an economic crisis and things are going well in Turkey.
Elections are not held because people are marching on the streets.” A few kilometers away, tens of thousands of Turks defied Erdogan’s call on Friday for an immediate end to anti-government demonstrations, massing again in the central Taksim Square, where riot police backed by helicopters and armored vehicles first clashed with protesters a week ago. Tourists and curious locals swelled their numbers around a makeshift protest camp in Gezi Park, a leafy corner of the square where activists have been sleeping in tents and vandalized buses, or wrapped in blankets under plane trees. What began as a campaign against government plans to build over the park spiraled into an unprecedented display
of public anger over the perceived authoritarianism of Erdogan and his Islamistrooted AK Party, leading to the worst riots in decades. In a rare show of unity, thousands of fans from I s t a n b u l ’s t h r e e m a i n football clubs Besiktas, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, who have helped organize some of the protests, marched on Taksim roaring “Tayyip resign!” and “Arm in arm against fascism!”. Police fired teargas and water cannon on protesters overnight in the workingclass Gazi neighborhood of Istanbul, which saw heavy clashes with police in the 1990s. There was similar unrest night after night earlier in the week in several cities, leaving three dead and close to 5,000 injured.
Floods in central Europe continue to create havoc BERLIN (AP) — More than 80,000 emergency personnel including firefighters and soldiers were on duty yesterday, working aggressively to contain the most dramatic floods in Germany in a decade. Thousands of residents were still unable to return to their homes, and bridges and streets were impassable in many regions of eastern and southern Germany. Twenty people reportedly have already died in the floods across central Europe after several days of heavy rains. Thousands have been put up in emergency shelters waiting for the waters to recede so they can get back to their homes. German news agency dpa said people in Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt were anxiously waiting downstream as the crest of the
Elbe river approached Saturday. Authorities evacuated a nursing home and turned off electricity in several parts of the city. Where the Saale river meets the Elbe, about 3,000 people had to leave their homes. “The coming days will be extreme and difficult,” Magdeburg’s mayor, Lutz Truemper, told news agency dpa. High water levels were also reported in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, while thousands of people in Austria were busy shoveling away mud left by the receding floodwaters of the Danube. In Hungary, around 2,000 residents of the town of Gyorujfalu northwest of the capital of Budapest were evacuated because authorities were afraid the levees wouldn’t withstand the pressure of the Danube’s
waters. Another 980 residents had to leave their homes along the river out of precaution. Hundreds of volunteers and military personnel were helping shore up the defenses along the Danube in Szentendre, a town 14 miles (22 kilometers) north of Budapest, while military reservists from other Hungarian counties filled sandbags and packed them on top of walls along the river, which was expected to peak here today at about 16 inches (40 centimeters) above its current record of 25 feet (7.60 meters). A 330 yards (meters) long and about 2.5 yards (meters) tall mobile flood wall was assembled in eight hours alongside the river promenade in the town earlier this week and is protecting its picturesque center.
Mandela in ‘serious’ condition in hospital JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Former South African president and antiapartheid hero Nelson Mandela was in a “serious but stable” condition yesterday after being taken to hospital with a recurrence of a lung infection, the government said. The 94-year-old, who became the first black leader of Africa’s biggest economy in 1994 after historic all-race elections, has been in hospital three times since December. He has been battling the infection for a few days, the government said in a statement.
“This morning at about 1:30 a.m. (2330 GMT) his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to a Pretoria hospital. He remains in a serious but stable condition,” it said. The government’s choice of words, in particular the use of “serious”, was clear cause for concern to South Africa’s 53 million people, for whom Mandela remains a potent symbol of the struggle against decades of whiteminority rule. “It’s such painful news but I pray for him that he can get better and better and better as he is the best man in this country,” said Pretoria
resident Khodani Mulwena. Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said he was optimistic about the health of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. “What I am told by doctors is that he is breathing on his own and I think that is a positive sign,” he said. “Madiba is a fighter and at his age, as long as he is fighting he will be fine,” Maharaj said, referring to Mandela by his clan name. Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel, accompanied him to the hospital, the South African Press Association reported.
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The Abigail Column Hit the brakes on speedy relationship DEAR ABBY: I have been with my boyfriend, “Ned,” for almost two years. I’m 19 and we have lived together since we started dating. I love Ned, but I feel like we moved too fast into our relationship, and now he’s trying to keep it moving as quickly as possible. I’m afraid he’s
going to propose soon. He brings the subject up a lot, and I never have much to say because I’m afraid of hurting his feelings. What should I say if he pops the question? I’m not ready for that kind of commitment, but I don’t want him to be angry with me if I say no. — Torn in Ohio DEAR TORN: Honesty is the best policy. Not wanting to upset
someone would be a very poor reason for getting married. If Ned pops the question, it is perfectly all right to tell him exactly what you have shared with me — that you are not ready for that kind of commitment because you are only 19. It’s the truth. If Ned becomes angry, do not allow him to stampede you into saying yes. That kind of reaction could be a warning sign of someone who is a potential abuser.
Sunday December 30, 2012 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): It’s smart to withhold your anger now, rather than expressing everything that you feel. Remaining tightlipped may seem safer because of your concern that you’ll share too much once you get on a roll. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20): Your dreams may pull you far off the beaten path today, making it difficult to find your way home. Your emotions seem overwhelming at first, but they gra GEMINI (May 21–June 20): Your fast wit saves you from a very tricky situation today. However, you still must be cautious and watch every step you take so you don’t make a social blunder. Your lighthearted sense of humor relieves some of the stress in the immediate moment, but it doesn’t fix the underlying cause. CANCER (June 21–July 22): You don’t want to own up to your feelings now, but friends may be pressuring you to tell them what’s on your mind, anyhow. Although you have the good sense to resist, you don’t like being placed in such an awkward position. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22): A close friend’s intense emotional outburst might be exactly what you need to awaken you from your current complacency. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22): Dealing with the fallout from other people’s reactions can be unsettling today, especially if someone who is usually your ally is now resisting you at every step you take.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): You might not be very certain about a few of your recent choices. Asking tough questions of yourself is helpful t o d a y, but harboring self-doubt is not. The next few days could be frustrating, especially if you can’t see very far into the future, making it nearly impossible to finalize your plans. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): You may feel as if you must give up personal control today and go along with external circumstances that seem to be outside of your authority. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): You’re often quick to share what’s on your mind, but your impulsive tendencies might have you backtracking today. Ironically, your analysis of the current situation is probably correct; it’s just that everything is in flux now and you may jump to a conclusion prematurely. CAPRICORN(Dec.22–Jan.19): A close friend or partner might appear overly emotional today, prompting you to withdraw into your rational world. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18): You’re pulled between delving into your feelings today and overruling them by initiating action. The illusion is that each approach appears to exclude the other. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): You may be challenged to stand up for your beliefs now, especially if someone in your immediate environment thinks they know how you should live your life.
Sunday June 09, 2013
#63 Beach in dire need... From page 15 engagement. Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh on Saturday, stated that he is aware of the dilapidated structures along the beach and that he recently received estimates from a Corentyne carpenter to repair the structures. “The [beach] Committee will put that (the estimates) out to the private sector so we will have sponsorship on each structure.” Co- Chairman of the Beach Committee, Mr. Adrian Anamayah, said on Saturday that the Committee was recently resuscitated and is trying its best. We have plans to do both entrances. We had commitments from businessmen to assist with the Number 60 entrance and we're looking for assistance from the Regional Administration and Central
Government for the Number 63 entrance. Because of the rainfall, the entrance is in a bad state. We have to wait until the weather changes to mobilize equipment to improve the entrance.” “We have plans to rehabilitate the existing facilities, but that would depend on how much finance we were able to garner. The beach has to be selfsustaining, so we're proposing to generate revenues and set up a fare structure for vehicles going to the beach. We have plans to correct the situation but some propels are being put forward to the ministry and government and we are in the consultation process.” While all the nice plans and ideas remain just that, the Number 63 Beach continues to be a disgrace in its current state, which is falling apart at the moment.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
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‘TOTAL CRICKET FROM INDIA AND WEST INDIES! SO SWEET!’ Colin E. H. Croft We have all heard of “total football”, as played by Holland and Germany in World Cups. West Indies and India have demonstrated that they too have adopted that concept and strategy to cricket. Watching both teams last week reminded of ultraefficient bees making honey – so sweet! West Indies v Pakistan normally produces sublime palpitations. Last Friday’s stanza at Kia Oval did too! When West Indies chased that relatively meagre 171 required, they wobbled very badly, Pakistan’s “big boy”, 7’ 1’ tall Mohammed Irfan shaking our representatives to the very core. Maturity shown by Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, putting on 41 runs for that vital 6th wicket, ensured that West Indian hearts could beat again. Ramnaresh Sarwan looked out of place; Darren Bravo not ready. Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels got starts without converting, but Denesh Ramdin, Sunil Narine and Kemar Roach, as batsmen, steeled nerves. Earlier, Pakistan were blown away with a combination of superb speed from Roach, maintaining an immaculate length, coupled with tantalizing tease, drift and flight from spinner Narine. All other teams in this
DCB inter Association U17 tourney By Zaheer Mohamed East Coast and West Demerara recorded victories when play in the Demerara Cricket Board Inter Association U-17 50-over tournament continued yesterday with two matches. At Police Sports Club ground Eve Leary, East Coast earned a hard fought victory over East Bank, winning the game by 5 wickets. East Bank won the toss and elected to bat on a flat track and posted 177-9 off their allocation of 50 overs. Vanyus Kissoon 29 (4x4) and Dextroy Williams 28 (4x4) steadied their batting somewhat at the top of the order as they looked set for a huge total.
competition will now sit up nightly, to view this video, with severe headaches! Roach was erudite, bowling with effort, style and efficiency that belied his 25 years. He operated at that length which confuses batsmen; not sure if they should come forward or track back; not sure if to defend, to save wickets, or simply to attack! It mattered not. Speed, accuracy and effervescent energy from West Indies beat Pakistan! Misbah ul Haq, Pakistan’s wily veteran captain, played his best ODI innings ever for that 96 not out. He demonstrated his temerity, patience, tenacity and ability needed to counter. When fellow veteran, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, was flummoxed by Narine, Misbah knew he was on his own. Roach has learned that he does not always need to bowl quickly, but to bowl intelligently, allowing even slower deliveries to work their magic. Narine, new ODI world’s No. 1 bowler, probably causes more stomach wobbles in opposition dressing rooms than Epsom salts. No batsman has managed to conquer his presence at the bowling crease! Captain Bravo, like Brian Lara in the past, used his bowlers well, with few overs in one spell, not allowing batsmen to become settled,
Kemar Roach
Umesh Yadav
while setting attacking fields. They must keep that formula! Now, though, defending World Cup Champions India must be favorites to win Champions Trophy 2013, if they keep form, fitness and finesse. Their game against West Indies next Tuesday will tell tales! Former Sri Lankan batsman, now commentator, Russell Arnold was correct; “India were marvelous!” India were engulfing, outplaying even out-fielding the excellently-fielding Proteas!
Umesh Yadav is India’s most improved bowler. That scything “snorter” – bouncer – that dismissed AB de Villers was well delivered. Yadav’s range, skills, attitude and aptitude make him a stunning find! 1.87 meters (6’ 2") tall, Yadav is almost a replica of slightly taller (6’ 3") Munaf Patel, but puts much more effort into his similarly high, straight armed deliveries, than Patel. Fast bowlers should almost always be built exactly this way; strong, rangy,
aggressive, about that correct height too, with definite, evil intentions to batsmen! Roach and the late great Malcolm Denzil Marshall are the obvious exception; relatively small, but wiry! Australian Dennis Lillee, in my opinion, joint best – with Marshall and Pakistan’s Wasim Akram – fast bowlers of all time, has unearthed amazing Indian fast bowling talent at his academy there. Another tall, spindly fast bowler, Ishant Sharma, now Yadav, and others too, including ill-fated Sreesanth, presently caught up in other situations, are testimony to Lillee’s diligence, persistence, ingenuity, and unbelievable knowledge of the art of teaching fast bowling. It is one thing to be a great fast bowler; it is quite another altogether to be able to transcend that divide from player and teacher; to come down from that “perch”; to impart fast bowling skills well! Impressive too has been the latitude that Lillee has been given by India to ensure that they produced good fast bowlers, since history always suggested that the subcontinent could only produce class spinners. It also shows what can be produced when given clear directives and opportunities, and not be encumbered or disbarred by politics, idiotic power-hungry personnel, nepotism and cronyism. “DK” has been outstanding for India with his
Colin E. H. Croft productions of fast bowlers. Yet, there is much more that these young Indian fast bowlers will still have to learn. 25 years old Yadav has played only nine Tests and eighteen ODI’s and has much potential. Sharma, only 24, is the most accomplished; 51 Tests and 56 ODI’s; with more than 200 wickets altogether. South Africa’s bowling attack was powder-puff soft, with no Dale Steyn, but India’s batsmen were “smoking”, talented Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan playing classically to set India’s 331. Imagine if Sharma, Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Denesh Karthik, Dhoni and Suresh Raina all come off together! So, Roach and Narine against Yadav and Ishant Sharma; then India’s absolutely dream batting lineup against Gayle, Samuels, both Bravos and Pollard; all sweet, mouth-watering stuff! Boom! When West Indies meets India on Tuesday, hold on tight for “total cricket”! Enjoy!
Seeraj, Yadram, Renee slam half centuries as East Coast, West Demerara record wins However, Steven Mangal and Daniel Walcott with 2 wickets each brought East Coast back into the game with consistent bowling. But, Navindra Seeraj rallied his team to a respectable total with courageous batting down the order. He was left unbeaten on 51 which included five fours and two sixes. Bhaskar Yadram and Andy Dowlatram got East Coast off to a solid start before the latter was run out for 12. Yadram batted sensibly hitting three fours and one six in a top score of 66, and along with Vishwanauth Ramlakhan 29 with two fours and Steven Mangal 28 (2x4) saw their team home in 45.4 overs despite a late burst by leg
spinner Irshad Ali who claimed 3 wickets, but could have proved more dangerous if he was used wisely by his skipper; East Coast ended on 179-5. At Everest, West Demerara defeated Georgetown by 22 runs. West Demerara took first strike and were off to a fine start with Ronaldo Renee and Navindra Persaud adding 36 for the opening stand before Persaud was bowled by Shamar Graham for 09. West Demerara then lost Travis Persaud who had his furniture disturbed by Tevin Imlach for 06 at 57 before Renee and Chetnarine Pooran (21) took the score to 120 with composed batting. But when Pooran was
caught and bowled by Graham, the rest of the middle order struggled to build on the foundation laid as the host bowling led by Graham with 4-17, restricted West Coast to 149-6 in 50 overs. Georgetown started badly losing the wickets of Joshua Ram without scoring at 4. Tevin Imlach and Hardat Singh carried to score to 28 before Singh departed in similar fashion for 19. Imlach and skipper Sherfene Rutherford added 34 for the third wicket to steady the chase somewhat before Imlach was caught off Keshram Seehadan for 11. Apart from Rutherford who made 42 (4x4) and Shemar De Souza 18 (1x6) the rest of the batting found the
B Yadram going tough and Georgetown were skittled for 127 in 47 overs. Daniel Basdeo was the pick of the bowlers with 2-23, while Seehadan took 2-26. Travis Persaud, Ricardo
Navindra Seeraj Chrisanand and Narendra Persaud had 1 each. The competition continues today with West Demerara facing East Coast at Everest.
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Sunday June 09, 2013
CHELSEA HAS POTENTIAL FOR INTERNATIONAL STARDOM -World C/ships in France, a big eye opener By Edison Jefford Guyana and Caribbean Table Tennis Champion, Chelsea Edghill recently competed at the World Championships in France where she battled Latin American standout, Columbia’s, Joana Araque and two-time European Champion, France’s, Marie Migot in the first round, losing to both of the exceptional players. Chelsea and her Coach, a former Caribbean Senior Men’s bronze medallist, Idi Lewis, sat down with this writer for an Interview where they discussed the experience against the local level and her future among other issues. Below is the full text of the interview. Edison: What do you
believe the experience did for you more than anything else? Chelsea: It showed me different techniques and it was a whole new level for me. In Guyana, the level is not there, so we need to train harder and figure out ways in which we can get to that level. Edison: She is making the point that we have a far way to go in Guyana. You are her Coach; I think you need to comment on that aspect in particular... Idi: As far as it relates to other countries, we at Malteenoes (Sports Club) are only limited to three days training per week, and Chelsea is preparing for her CXC Exams next year, so she has serious commitments. In Guyana, its education first and sports after; in
Guyana performance at Regional Under-19 tournament St. Kitts (1977) cont’d Statistician Charwayne Walker continues his look at Guyana’s performances in Regional Under-19 cricket matches played in St Kitts where the event will be staged this year. He had noted prior that Guyana had an excellent record playing at that venue. The big question is whether they can continue that good run in St Kitts. But back in the 1977 event; Guyana vs Jamaica Warner Park saw Guyana win by 8 wickets. SCORES: Jamaica 213 all out Donovan Malcolm 40 Marlon Tucker 27 Bowling for Guyana: Deryck Kallicharran took 3 for 48 Guyana first innings 230 all out Ramrattan Jagnarine 38 Gregory Edwards 36 Orrin Gordon 35 Deryck Kallicharran 22 Bowling for Jamaica R. Leslie took 6 for 53 from 16 overs Jamaica second innings 110 all out Earl Whitley top scored with 53 Bowling for Guyana Shubert Cappell took 4 for 20 Jerry Angus supported with 3 for 34 Guyana set a target of 94 for Victory lost only two wickets in the process. Gregory Edwards top scored with 43, Skipper Mark Harper finished off things with 27. Guyana vs Leeward Islands, lost by 99 runs: Scores
Leeward Islands all out 205 Shirland Williams 45 Skipper Austin Whyte 38 Mike Joseph 25 Bowling for Guyana Shubert Cappell took 3 for 43 Jerry Angus took 3 for 66 Guyana first innings 171 all out Deryck Kallicharran 67 Mark Harper 37 Bowling for Leeward Islands Austin Whyte 3 for 46 Conrad Bart Lett 3 for 35 Leeward Islands Second Innings 199 all out Shirland Williams 83 Mike Joseph 26 Bowling for Guyana Deryck Kallicharran took 4 for 59 and Godfrey Edwards 3 for 22 Guyana set 234 for Victory were dismissed for 134 Andrew Lyght 39 Mark Harper 32 Deryck Mangal 22 were the Principal scorers, John Archibald and Earl Thompson took three wickets each. The 1977 National Under-19 team that represented Guyana in St. Kitts Mark Harper - Captain Andrew Lyght – deceased Roger Box Hill Shubert Cappell – deceased Deryck Kallicharran Jerry Angus Tyrone Etwaroo Gregory Edwards WKT Godfrey Edwards Deryck Mangal Abdool Gafur WKT Ramrattan Jagnarine Orrin Gordon Glendon Gibbs - Manager
developed countries like France there is a way you could put sports first with education. It is very hard competing with that. Yes, we had some difficulties, but there is a lot more I guess we could personally do. Edison: What you saw over there that you could perhaps import into her training regimen? Idi: Nothing new really; I mean I know Chelsea, I know her strengths; the main reason for her going to France was to get her exposed to that level; for her to see what her international counter-parts are doing in terms of new serves and techniques. Everything we do from here is preparation for the Olympic Games. It is good to start getting her exposed to these players from now. Edison: Chelsea, you felt that you could have done better, perhaps won more games against your opponents. For instance, I noticed some of the games finished at 12-10 and most of them went deep eg. (Araque defeated Edghill 11-6, 11-8, 12-10 and 11-7). Would you call it a mental lapse in concentration? Chelsea: Against the Columbian girl (Araque) I tried everything. I played my heart out. I kept playing harder and trying harder, but there was nothing I could do. I did my best. Edison: When I read about Migot, they were giving her all kinds of nicknames like ‘The French Heroine’; so there was this hype surrounding her; coming into a contest against
Chelsea Edghill and Coach, Idi Lewis pose for a photo opportunity at the Malteenoes Sports Club following their return from France. her with an entire nation backing her was challenging I imagine. How did that work out? Chelsea: Well before the match I did not know who she was and it did not matter who she was. I did not care about that; I just saw her as another player I needed to play some good tennis against. Edison: Two young players from two different parts of the world, it must have been a heck of a contest, how did you approach it? Chelsea: I couldn’t really tell her age. But honestly I saw her as an adult that I need to bring my best game against her. Edison: What is the most important thing you took away from the World Championships? Chelsea: The experience of playing at the World Championships and playing against a French player that I learnt afterward is a two-time European champion and playing on table one against a full house definitely helped my mental game. It was a great
experience. Edison: Where does Chelsea go from here, your projections? Chelsea: To do my best at the other competitions that are coming up and keep improving my performance and grow from strength to strength. Edison: Idi, give me your assessment of where you see Chelsea going from here after seeing her compete at the World Championships. Idi: I think she has the potential to be a world-class player; she got to work harder and we have to have an international schedule to keep her exposed; she needs to be on the international circuit playing these players on a regular basis. When she goes out to play she is like ‘wow’ when these players just go straight into their game because they are used to being there. You can’t really coach that; that is experience; she needs that so that her game at that level can be natural. Our biggest challenge right now is making
her comfortable at the highest level. Edison: Chelsea, I know it is probably not your decision completely because you are still very young (15 years old). But on the subject of a choice to go pro (professional table tennis player) or academics, which are you more inclined to at the moment? Chelsea: (After a long thoughtful moment) both. Edison: But let’s say you go on the table tennis circuit, I know that would limit some academic work, do you see yourself making table tennis a career? Chelsea: I am aspiring to do something academically in the field of sports; so it would be me just bringing the two together. Following the interview, Chelsea and Idi thanked all the sponsors and those who contributed in any way to the tour. They thanked GTTA President, Godfrey Munroe, General Secretary, Linden Johnson and Arron Fraser especially for their varying support.
Preparation commence for Ryan Crawford Turf Club CARICOM race meet Preparations are underway the second half of the horseracing season, which is set to start on Monday July 1st (Caricom day) with the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club & Sports Facilities (RCMTC&SF) one day mega horserace meet. With the animals out of action for close to two months and with a number of postponements hitting the sport due to the inclement weather, most of the animals have been fully rested and will be rearing to go. About three weeks remain before the start of the second half of the horseracing season which will see the introduction of the Two year old animals for the first time this year. Despite the weather the principals of the RCMTC &SF
has begun and are pushing ahead with preparations for their Mega race meet set for the club’s facility at Alness, Corentyne, Berbice and which incidentally will be the first for the club for the year. So far a number of sponsors have indicated their willingness to be on board including Trophy Stall of Bourda Market and Banks DIH Limited, Omai Transportation and Delmur Shipping Company. Nine events will be contested with over $6M up for grabs in cash, trophies and other incentives. The lists of events are the B and lower 1400M event with a first prize of $700,000 and trophy up for grabs. There will be a race for 3yrs old Guyana and West
Indies Bred horses, for a winning take of $350,000 over 1200M. The D and lower 1100M sprint will have a first prize of $500,000. The race for Two Year old Guyana and West Indies Bred Horse will have a winners’ purse of $300,000 over 800M. The horses running in the F class race will have an opportunity to race away with a first prize of $320,000 over 1400M. Two-year old Guyana Bred horses will be competing for a $300,000 first prize over 800M. The G3 and lower event will see the animals racing for a $280,000 winners money over 1400M. The ‘I’ and lower race will be a 1200M affair with a first prize of $180,000. The J2 and
K class event will fetch a winning prize of $125,000 over 1200M. Outstanding individual performers including top Jockey, trainer and stable will be presented with accolades compliments of the Trophy Stall, Bourda Market and the RCMTC. The race will be run under the Guyana Horse racing rules. Interested persons can contact the club’s office at Number 13 Hermitage East Coast Berbice (19 Road). Bobby Vaughn can be contacted on telephone number 624-6788 or Loresa Mohabir on numbers 3330290 or 333-0301. Francis Chichester on Telephone numbers 233-2984 or 6901943. (Samuel Whyte)
Sunday June 09, 2013
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PALACE MALICE CAPTURES Century for Johnson in tame draw THE BELMONT STAKES With no Triple Crown on the line, Palace Malice went on to win the 145th running of the Belmont Stakes Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. Palace Malice, ridden by Mike Smith, defeated the other 13 horses in the field for the mile-and-a-half third leg of the Triple Crown, the longest of the three races. The victory gave Todd Pletcher, who had a record five horses entered, his second Belmont victory. Oxbow the Preakness winner, and Orb, the Kentucky Derby winner, finished second and third respectively. Palace Malice was the seventh horse to run in the Derby, then skip the Preakness, and win the Belmont Stakes. Frac Daddy set the pace
early with a fast: 23 seconds for the first quarter mile, but the final quarter was very slow. Heavy rains on Friday turned the track into a soggy mess, but by race time the track had dried out and was considered fast for the race. Most of the pre-race talk focused on the rubber-match between Kentucky Derby winner Orb and Preakness winner Oxbow, along with the record five horses sent out by trainer Todd Pletcher, including the filly Unlimited Budget. But the Belmont has proven a tough deal to seal for Derby and Preakness winners in recent years. For instance, Orb, who is ridden by Joel Rosario, would be first Derby winner since 1995 to
win the Triple Crown closer. Adding betting value is the nearly-capacity field, with the 14 horses the most since the same number ran in 1996. Of those, a whopping 10 raced in the Derby, including runner-up Golden Soul and third-place Revolutionary, both of whom skipped the Preakness. The field included substantial speed with frontrunning Peter Pan winner Freedom Child, Oxbow and Derby pacesetter Palace Malice, along with trainer Kenny McPeek vowing to send longshot Frac Daddy to the lead from his No. 1 post. But there also appeared to be a lot of speed in the Preakness, and it didn’t materialize.
Florida-based Sensei receives 4th Dan Sensei Sean Ramnarine head instructor for Ram Martial Arts Academy in Pinellas Park, Florida was promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt in Shotokan karate by the Trinidad and Tobago Karate Federation (TTKFwww.ttkf.org ) Examination Council. His grade is also listed in the Black Belt records of the World United Karate Organization (WUKO - www.wukokarate.org ) and the Trinidad and Tobago National Black belt Registrar. Sensei Ramnarine received is 1st Degree from Shotokan Karatedo of Japan Federation (Kanazawa) in 1999 and also holds a 5th Dan in Taekwondo from the World Taekwondo Federation - (WTF Kukkiwon -Oct 2011). He is pursuing his referee training with WUKO-USA and his coaching license with the American Sport Education Program (ASEP).
Sean Ramnarine
don the club colours, but refused. On the last three occasions he rode, he refused to wear the club uniform during the last three stage race, once in a race around the seawall band stand and another in the national park. The GCF sanction was for the same offence and for lying to the officials. When confronted by the GFC official about his club colours, he told them he had none. A follow up investigation proved he was lying. He was fined $1,000. Cycling coach Randolph Roberts told the media that Millington was warned on a number of occasions about his actions, but he continued to flout the rules although he is well aware that what he was doing was against the rules. Roberts stated that at an
276 balls, stroking 26 boundaries and a six while Fudadin’s innings contained 16 fours and a six, and spanned 409 minutes and 297 balls. The pair added 256 for the second wicket. Resuming the final day on 494 for five, West Indies pushed on despite losing wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton for six, bowled by Kaushal with just nine runs added for the morning. However, Johnson combined with Miller to put on 95 for the sixth wicket and further frustrate Sri Lanka’s bowlers. Johnson faced 205 balls in 309 minutes at the crease and struck 19 fours and four sixes while Miller hit three fours in his 85-ball knock. The partnership was broken when Johnson played back to one from Perera that straightened and was trapped lbw on the back foot. With a lead of 164, Windies A made two early breakthroughs when fast bowler Shannon Gabriel removed Udara Jayasundara (3) and Kithruwan Vithanage (19) cheaply, to leave Sri
Lanka on 50 for two. Jayasundara edged a short lifting delivery behind while Vithanage was taken at second slip by Jonathan Carter as he flashed outside the off-stump. Any hopes of a surprise win were s q u a s h e d , h o w e v e r, a s Karunaratne kept the Windies bowlers at bay with an innings containing nine fours and two sixes in 162 minutes at the crease. The second “Test” bowls off next Wednesday at Arnos Vale in St Vincent. SUMMARY SCORES: SRI LANKA A 472 Chathuranga de Silva 109, Udara Jayasundara 101, Ashan Priyanjana 65, Kithruwan Vithanage 62, Dimuth Kuranaratne 57; Nikita Miller 6-141) and 165 for four (Dimuth Kuranaratne 100 not out; Shannon Gabriel 2-23, Veersammy Permaul 249) WEST INDIES A 636 for eight declared (Kirk Edwards 190, Assad Fudadin 145, Leon Johnson 144, Nikita Miller 50 not out; Tharindu Kaushal 5238, Angelo Perera 2-69).
Letter to the Sports Editor
Points Standings in GFF Super League is an indication for restructuring
Flying Ace cyclist suspended The Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) of Berbice has taken the tough decision to ban one of its season cyclists for acts of indiscipline. The cyclist being punished is Ray Millington who has been suspended for three months. Millington’s punishment was slapped on him for indiscipline behaviour and disobeying the club rules and refusing to ride in the club uniform on a number of occasions. He was also sanctioned by the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) for the same offence and for lying to the officials. Millington, who has been riding for sometime knows that cyclists must participate in club colours whenever they are riding competitively. He was told and reminded on a number of occasions to
CMC - BASSETERRE, St Kitts – Leon Johnson and captain Dimuth Karunaratne struck centuries to add to the run feast at Warner Park, as the opening four-day “Test” finished in a tame draw on the final day here Saturday. The left-handed Johnson carried his overnight 80 to 144, a knock that helped West Indies A to a huge 636 for eight declared in their first innings. Tail-ender Nikita Miller was unbeaten on 50 at the end. Off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal was the best bowler with five for 238 while left-arm spinner Angelo Perera claimed two for 69. Karunaratne then stroked an enterprising unbeaten 100 from 109 balls as Sri Lanka A finished on 165 for four. His knock brought to six the number of centuries in the game. On Friday’s third day, captain Kirk Edwards stroked a magnificent 190 while Assad Fudadin hit 145, as West Indies A dominated the Sri Lankan attack. Edwards batted 404 minutes and faced
event in Georgetown after Millington told officials that he hadn’t any uniform, he personally gave him one in the presence of another cyclist. However, before the race started he disposed of it and rode in his own outfit. Roberts stated that it is not the first time that the cyclist has been involved in acts of indiscipline and try to besmirch the reputation of the club. The three months ban commenced from June 1st. and will run until August 31st 2013. He will not be allowed to participate in Banks DIH Aqua water 60 miles event today or any event sanction by the GFC in Guyana for the next three months. According to Roberts the GCF has been informed of the sanction.
DEAR SIR, The publication of an article in your newspaper (29.05.13) captioned “GFF Super League Action continues Sunday”, Editor, has left me dumbfounded in relation to the Latest Points Standings. But before I attempt to assess the harsh but sad realities pertaining to local club football, at the highest level, I must indicate that the GFF Super League is no longer funded by FIFA, which was recently outlined to me but rather out of the local Federation’s coffers. As it is often said “statistics don’t lie” but rather a reflection of what has transpired over a given period of time. Well, if so, then the GFF Super League definitely needs restructuring. Restructuring in the sense that each participating team must have a sound nursery programme, whereby from the under –11, -13, – 15, – 17, – 19, – 21 and – 23 must have compulsory participation in domestic association competitions. While at the senior domestic level, senior national players should be debarred from participating, unless they are within the age-limit category! Reigning national club champions Alpha United, whose 41 points with 2
matches left to play have already secured the 2012-13 Super League title, since the 2nd place Pele on 30 points cannot overtake Alpha, but can secure the runner-up spot providing they win their final match. BK Int. Western Tigers currently third with 26 points, can also maintain their position with 2 victories in its final 2 matches. This now brings me to an essential point. Is there a dearth of goal scores or clinical finishers, in 70% of the 10 teams; Or are the goalkeepers that poor that Alpha United could have scored 70 goals conceded 7 for a goal difference of + 63, which is reflective of 6 more goals scored than the combined bottom 4 placed teams, and 7 less than the additional 4 top placed teams! Mildly put Alpha have accounted for almost 31% of the goals scored to date, and the other 9 teams 69%, reflective of 158 goals scored. While in the final analysis it have been proven that statistics don’t lie! Does the GFF honestly feel that 7 teams placed from 4th – 10th with goal differences in the negatives, ranging from – 2 to – 27 and not – 25 as was incorrectly stated for Uitvlugt Warriors, can attract mega
bucks for sponsorship? By the way how many of the 10 teams have a proper reserve goalkeeper? And what is the level of certification in the coaching department, moreover assistant coaches? Also, it must be noted that I, have not commented upon physical trainers and physiotherapists, much less nutritionists! All of which are obtained among most of our Caribbean contemporaries. Can local club football transcend to that level? Needless to say the administration and management of teams may also have a shortfall. Meanwhile, Alpha United with the relevant finances at its disposal would always be able to attract most of the best players locally. But in the absence of churning out adequate replacements through a sound nursery programme, the sport would always continue to suffer, Since despite its success, a significant amount of players in Alpha at the end of the season, don’t get the desired playing time, which can be construed as a waste of talent and future potential. Would this factor be taken into consideration and would loan spells at weaker clubs be examined? Lester Sealey.
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Sunday June 09, 2013
ENGLAND SEAL EASY WIN OVER AUSTRALIA
BBC Sport -James Anderson led an exceptional bowling display as England opened their Champions Trophy campaign with a 48run victory over Australia at Edgbaston. Ian Bell’s measured 91 was the cornerstone of England’s 269-6, while Jonathan Trott made 47 and Ravi Bopara supplied late impetus with 46 not out off 37 balls. Despite 55 from stand-in skipper George Bailey and James Faulkner’s lusty unbeaten 54, Australia laboured to 221-9 on a largely blameless surface. Anderson claimed 3-30 to become England’s leading wicket-taker in one-day internationals, Tim Bresnan took 2-45 and James Tredwell, playing in place of the injured
Graeme Swann, had tidy figures dented by some late hitting. Victory not only gave England the early advantage in Group A after the first of their three round-robin games, but served as an early psychological blow against Australia before the Ashes start next month. However, one suspects Sri Lanka, at The Oval on Thursday, and New Zealand will pose a stiffer test than an Australia team that were bowled out for 65 in their final warm-up game and were missing injured captain and best batsman Michael Clarke here. There remains room for improvement for England - a middle-order collapse threatened to undermine a promising start with the bat
Serena defeats Sharapova to win French Open crown PARIS — Serena Williams spent the French Open fortnight showing off her French. Now she can can parler francais while holding the French Open trophy. Top-seeded Williams beat No. 2 Maria Sharapova 6-4, 64 to secure her second French Open title, 11 years to the day after she beat her older sister Venus to win her first in 2002. A year after crashing out of the French Open’s opening round for the first time in her career, Williams returned to play one of her best wire-towire tournaments. She dropped just 29 games, matching her best Grand Slam effort (she also dropped 29 games on her way to the 2002 U.S. Open title). With 16 Grand Slam titles, the 31-year-old American trails Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova by two majors for sixth place all time. Fist pumping and screaming “C’mon!” almost from the get-go, Sharapova survived a 0-40 deficit in the opening game and then broke Williams for 2-0. But the 26-year-old failed to convert two game points on her serve the next game, and Williams — invoking some vocal histrionics and
menacing fist pumps of her own — broke back. Sharapova didn’t fade, breaking Williams again for 44, but the American had too much firepower. Her baseline drives were deeper. Her serves were more accurate. Her defense was better. Since her first-round exit here a year ago, Williams has captured three of the last four majors and a gold medal at the London Olympics. Williams, who charmed crowds with her on-court interviews in the native tongue — something she said she had prepared for 12 months ago — eclipsed seven-time champion Evert as oldest Roland Garros winner in the Open era (31 years, 256 days). Sharapova, the defending French Open champion, dropped to 2-14 vs. Williams, including 13 in a row and four defeats this season. Williams is 16-4 in Grand Slam finals. Sharapova, the only other active player to complete a career Grand Slam, fell to 4-4. Williams improved to 432 this year, including 23-0 on clay. Now comes the switch to grass, and she’ll be a heavy favorite to win Wimbledon for the sixth time.
and two catches and a stumping, albeit tough, went begging - but coach Ashley Giles can be pleased with their performance in front of an exuberant crowd basking in the Birmingham sunshine. The skills exhibited by Anderson and company, who found reverse swing that eluded the Australia seamers on a dry yet flat surface, rendered the debate over England’s total redundant after they wasted a start that saw them reach 168-1 after they won the toss. Stuart Broad located David Warner’s edge early on and Bresnan had Shane Watson taken at gully via inside edge and pad for 24 in one of four maidens bowled in the first 15 overs of Australia’s reply. Phil Hughes had twice been reprieved by the time he was lbw for 30 attempting to pull Joe Root’s part-time offspin, and Bailey’s resourceful contribution became increasingly futile as four wickets tumbled for 24 runs in 27 balls. The exceptional Anderson was central to that collapse, accounting for Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Wade in an over that saw him surpass Darren Gough, on 234 wickets, as England’s most prolific bowler in one-day cricket. Adam Voges was bowled by Bresnan and Bailey hoisted Tredwell to long-on either side either side of that;
Mitchell Johnson - jeered all day - skied a Bopara full toss to point; and Anderson capped another recordbreaking day by cleaning up the third Mitchell in the Australia side. Faulkner’s 38ball half-century was all but irrelevant. Man-of-the-match Bell and Cook batted with as much fluency as anyone in the game in adding 57 for the first wicket before the skipper was caught chasing Watson. Steady accumulation was the principle feature of Bell and Trott’s 111-run alliance for the second wicket, although the fact they managed a combined five fours in 22 overs suggested scoring was not as easy as many observers initially expected on a pale, dry
surface. The most notable feature of Trott’s innings was a verbal exchange with Wade after he inadvertently impeded the Australia wicketkeeper, but any sense that England’s momentum would improve with his departure proved premature as five wickets fell for the addition of 45 runs. After Trott wafted at a Starc delivery which would have been called wide had he missed it, left-armer Faulkner arced one back to bowl Bell, then Root clipped the impressive Clint McKay tamely to midwicket in the next over. Eoin Morgan was bowled round his legs as he stepped across his stumps to McKay, and a leaden-footed Jos Buttler played on driving at
Faulkner two balls later. With England’s ambitions of reaching 300 long since revised, it was left to Bopara mixing the occasional drive over the top with sprightly running - and the muscular Bresnan to carry them to a total that proved more than adequate. Australia were fined for a slow over-rate after it was ruled they were one over short of their target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration. Skipper Bailey was fined 20% of his match fee while his players received 10% fines. Scores: England 269 for 6 (Bell 91, Bopara 46*, Trott 43) beat Australia 221 for 9 (Bailey 55, Faulker 54*, Anderson 3-30) by 48 runs.
Media XI face GKRS at Banks DIH today Having recorded back to back victories over the past two years, the Media XI will be looking to record a hattrick of wins today, when they take on Grace Kennedy Remittance Services (GKRS) in a special arranged T20 tapeball contest at the Banks DIH, Thirst Park ground. Players in the caliber of John Ramsingh, Avenash Ramzan, Edison Jefford, Esuan Griffith, Clifton Ross, Treiston Joseph, Marlon Munroe, Calvin Roberts,
Kizan Brummell, Jermaine Carter and Keon Blades amongst others, will be lining up for the Media XI in this all important fixture. While the composition of their opponents, who will be celebrating their 20th Anniversary as a Corporate Entity in Guyana is unknown, their batting and bowling will be led by Ishaka ‘Bravo’ Jackman, who will be looking to stem the run of defeats for his team. A female Media XI lineup, comprising Althea GrantCharles, Iva Wharton and
others, will engage their female counterparts from GKRS in a softball fixture prior to the male matchup. Meanwhile, Managing Director of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre Anil Hardyal yesterday donated the track pants which will be used by the Media XI for today’s contest. The members of the Media team are asked to be at the venue for 11:30hrs today. They have expresses heartfelt gratitude to Hardyal for his donation.
Ramdin charged for claiming Misbah catch ESPNcricinfo - West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin has been charged with breaching the ICC Code of Conduct for claiming a catch off Misbah-ul-Haq during the Champions Trophy match against Pakistan at The Oval. Ramdin has pleaded not guilty and will attend a hearing on Monday. Ramdin was charged with breaching article 2.2.11 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game”. The range of penalties for all first Level 2 breaches are fines of
between 50-100% of a player’s match fees and/or suspension for up to two ODIs. The incident took place in the ninth over of the Pakistan innings, when Misbah bottom-edged a Kemar Roach delivery to Ramdin. The wicketkeeper initially appeared to have caught the ball but lost control of it as he fell forward, and it slipped out of his gloves on to the grass. Instead of bringing his mistake to the notice of the umpires or his team-mates, Ramdin returned the ball to the square-leg umpire and joined his team-mates in the celebratory huddle. Square-leg umpire Nigel Llong, however, alerted the third umpire and the replay revealed the chance had been dropped. Misbah, who was on 0, was called back and went on to hit an unbeaten 96. Misbah later said Ramdin’s actions were not in the spirit of the game. “What can I say about that?” he said when asked about the catch. “I think he should have told
Denesh Ramdin them what happened, but I don’t know what he was thinking at that time. I would not be very happy if my wicketkeeper did that.
“If we don’t know anything, then it’s fine, but if you know clearly that it’s not a catch, you should not claim that because it’s not in the spirit of the game.” West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo, however, defended Ramdin, saying the wicketkeeper did not act deliberately. “Unfortunately, he did not catch it,” Bravo said. “He’s a very honest player, and as I said, history shows if you check the records that we don’t have any stigma or negatives around us as a team. We have been true in our cricket careers and history has shown that we play the game in true spirit of the way it should be played. I don’t think we did something like this deliberately.” In June 2012, Ramdin was fined 20% of his match fee for a protest directed at Viv Richards during the third Test against England at Edgbaston. Ramdin was charged with conduct contrary to the spirit of the game and pleaded guilty to the offence.
Sunday June 09, 2013
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NBA Finals 2013: Biggest Questions Entering Game 2
LeBron James (left) and Dwayne Wade will have to pull out the stops for the Heat Bleacher Report.com Even if you thought that the San Antonio Spurs were the better team heading into the NBA Finals, you always have to be surprised when LeBron James and the Miami Heat lose. Game 1 raised some interesting questions for the rest of the series. With the Spurs up 1-0 in the series, the Heat will need to refocus in a hurry in order to avoid going down 2-0 and then being in a serious hole with a second straight championship ring
directly in front of them. With Game 2 set for today, let’s talk about some of the biggest questions people are asking heading into the action. Can LeBron and Dwyane Wade pick it up in the fourth quarter? The Heat led during Game 1 through the first three quarters, but then they struggled in the final period as the Spurs were able to pull out the win. A tweet from SportsCenter brought up an interesting fact.
LeBron still had a good game, putting up a tripledouble with 18 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists, but the defense of Kawhi Leonard was too much late in the game and he failed to get the offence going. After struggling in the series against the Indiana Pacers, Wade looked better through the first three quarters of Game 1, but then was completely frustrated in the fourth, finishing the game with 17 points. The shutdown of Wade and LeBron reminds some of the NBA Finals just two years ago when they were unable to get it going late in games against the Dallas Mavericks. While it might not be the same scenario for long, these two are going to need to step up in Game 2 to ensure that they seal the deal. Is the Game 1 win actually bad news for the Spurs? The Spurs may have taken the first game of this series, but recent history has shown that that isn’t exactly a good thing when playing the Heat. Since the formation of the “Big Three” in Miami, the
Heat have lost the first game in a playoff series only three other times. These losses came this season against the Chicago Bulls, last year in the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and in 2011 against the Bulls in the conference finals. In all three of those series, the Heat won the next four games. While that very well could be coincidence, it isn’t a stretch to believe that an early loss in a playoff series helps this team refocus and get even more motivated on its way to a potential NBA title. Despite how strong the Spurs are as a team, the Heat are just as good and will look to repeat history in this series. Can Tony Parker bring the spurs to glory once again? Despite being 31 years old, Parker continues to prove time and time again that he is one of the best players in the NBA, and Game 1 showed just that. There was plenty to like about Parker’s game. He finished with 21 points on 9for-18 shooting. He had six assists to go along with two
Drogba strikes gold, buys stake in Ivory Coast mine worth almost £1BILLION Daily Mail - Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba has taken a stake in an Ivory Coast gold mine, the latest sign of his increasing engagement in his homeland which is recovering from a decade of crisis that ended in a brief 2011 war. Drogba, who currently plays for Turkish side Galatasaray after his eightyear stint at Chelsea came to an end last summer, will take a 5 per cent stake in the mine, the west African country’s communications minister Bruno Kone said on Friday. No financial details were given of the deal, which is part of a transaction involving a Canadian company increasing its stake in the Ity gold mine, while state mining group Sodemi gives up part of its holding. Drogba is a national hero at home, having led Ivory Coast to its first World Cup appearance in Germany in 2006. His career at Chelsea culminated in a victory over Bayern Munich in last year’s Champions League final, in which he scored the winning penalty. He has also won popular support for his humanitarian work, including efforts to foster reconciliation after nearly a decade of turmoil that left the country divided between northern
Didier Drogba (AP)
The mine has produced more than 800,000 ounces of gold since production started in 1991 (www.lamancha.ca)
rebels and southern government loyalists. Kone said the Ity mine deal was intended to boost investment in the mine, ‘which had begun to decline due to a lack of resources.’ Sodemi is giving up 14 per cent of its 44 per cent stake, allowing Canadian mining company La Mancha to raise its stake to 55 per cent from 46 per cent in the mine, which is in the west near the border with Liberia and is the country’s oldest gold mine.
La Mancha Chairman Naguib Sawiris - an Egyptian tycoon better known for his involvement in the telecom sector - had said in March the Canadian group had taken full control of the mine. But the company later said negotiations to increase its stake had not yet been completed. The Ivorian state’s stake is unchanged at 10 per cent of the mine, which has produced more than 800,000 ounces of gold since it
opened in 1991. Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa grower, is trying to expand its mining industry, left underdeveloped for decades as the government concentrated its efforts on its agricultural commodities sector. Total gold production stood at around 12 tonnes last year and the government has forecast annual output reaching around 25 tonnes by 2015 as new mines come on stream.
steals. He played 40 minutes and only had one personal foul. He had zero turnovers. That’s right, ZERO. To add the cherry on top, Parker made this ridiculously clutch shot at the end of the game to help the Spurs pull out a win. With how well Parker has
played this entire postseason, there are high expectations for him to finish out the series. Can Parker lead the Spurs to victory? If so, will this be the last season for the Spurs’ own “Big Three”? These answers are quickly approaching, as the teams face off tonight.
Muscle flexing at its best tonight at 4th Fitness Paradise Gym C/ships Trophy Stall takes care of Mr. Fitness Paradise trophy
Mrs. Devi Sunich hands over the Mr. Fitness Paradise winner’s trophy to Donald Sinclair. All roads lead to the Theatre Guild, Playhouse, Kingston this evening for what will be an evening to remember when the 4th Annual Fitness Paradise Gym Championships and Awards Ceremony comes off. This event is making a grand return after some 10 years and those supporters and fans who have already purchased their tickets for the sold out event will be taken back to the years of Mixed Pairs competition among the other categories that will be served up for their entertainment, tonight. Maintaining his partnership when it comes to the continued development and rewards for Guyana’s sportsmen and women is Managing Director of the Trophy Stall located at Bourda Market. Sunich’ business has agreed to sponsor the Mr. Fitness Paradise winning trophy, this eagerly anticipated showdown will feature five (5) of the Gym’s best; Orlando Dublin, Paul Meusa also known in the Table Tennis fraternity, Christopher Seaford, Casey Vickerie and Ainsley Watts. Owner of Fitness Paradise Gym, Donald Sinclair was on hand to receive the trophy from Mrs. Devi Sunich, wife of Mr. Sunich. Mrs. Sunich
expressed delight at being able to contribute to the event while Mr. Sinclair articulated his entities gratitude to the sponsor. The other categories that will be contested this evening are: Mr. Hot Body which has four (4) contenders, Joel Cole, Omar Hope, Corvyn Sealey and Gariel Yhan. On the distaff side, competition will be in the Miss Fitness Paradise Best Legs and in contention for the top place are Celestine Bentham, Denzlyn Clarke, Stacey Small and Chelan Yhap. The Miss Fitness Paradise Bikini contest features Celestine Bentham, Denzlyn Clarke and Chelan Yhap who will all also face off in the Miss Fitness Paradise Mixed Pairs contest as will Shawnell Warner. Established more than 30 years ago at its Almond Street location, Fitness Paradise Gym which is presently located on the roof of Brandsville Hotel, Pike Street, Campbellville, has attracted a wide and varied clientele. The Gym now utilises trainers who are on duty from 05:00hrs to 21:00hrs in order to give to members the level of guidance and attention needed to enable them to achieve their exercise and fitness objectives.
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Sunday June 09, 2013
New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Champions Trophy, Group A, Cardiff
FERRER VS MURRAY, IN CRICKET ESPNcricinfo - New Zealand are the David Ferrer(s) of cricket. They are the good, friendly triers. They try to make up for lesser talent compared to the big boys with honest effort. Of course, plain honest effort does not get you the big titles. But more often than not, it gets you towards the closing stages of the big tournaments: the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, the extremely occasional final. Once there, they are widely expected to make way for the Nadals or the Australias. Both have no qualms about that; they know reaching where they do using what they posses, in relation to what the big boys have, is no mean achievement. Today, Ferrer, at age 31, will play his maiden Grand Slam final in Paris in a career that has seen about ten Slam campaigns fail at the quarterfinal and semi-final hurdles. Across the Channel, New Zealand - admittedly with slightly more experience of making big-tournament finals, courtesy the Champions Trophy - will begin their campaign in the tournament that has given them their lone ICC trophy till date.
Very rarely do you not count a New Zealand side as one of the underdogs, but a team that has beaten South Africa and England on their home soils in one-day series recently has to be treated with some respect. The Champions Trophy might just be to New Zealand’s liking. The crunched format means they don’t have to sustain their run of form for too long. And unlike in Ferrer’s case, their opponent today will not be that impenetrable returning wall that goes by the name of Rafael Nadal. It is a side whose lot might be compared with that of Andy Murray before he finally, to Britain’s relief, won a Grand Slam. All the quality of Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lasith Malinga has not been able to deliver a world title for Sri Lanka in over a decade. More than being told by the outside world that they have it in them, they know they are too good a side to have finished on the wrong end of four successive final appearances in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012. In the last one, at the World Twenty20
final at home, they had West Indies 32 for 2 after ten overs and still blew it. Age was on Murray’s side; it is not on the side of these four Sri Lankan greats. Today, they will begin one of their last attempts to not go down in history as one of the best collections of men to not have won a world title. WATCH OUT FOR... Two new balls? Helpful conditions for the fast bowlers? MS Dhoni defeated South Africa primarily through the stranglehold of his spinners in the opening match of the tournament in Cardiff. New Zealand could possibly face the combination of Sachithra Senanayake, Jeevan Mendis and Dilshan at the same ground. Tackling the lone English spinner in the one-dayers was one thing; even Suresh Raina bowled as many as six overs in Cardiff a couple of days ago. How the New Zealand batsmen go against the Sri Lanka spinners will be crucial to the outcome. There may not have been too much swing in Cardiff when India played South Africa, but there was lots of bounce, and a couple of India
batsmen copped blows to their helmets. While New Zealand may not have someone with extreme pace, they would have had a look at how South Africa overdid the short ball against India, and will come with a better strategy against another side from the subcontinent. How well will the Sri Lanka batsmen deal with the bounce? TEAM NEWS New Zealand are still sweating on the fitness of Daniel Vettori and to add to
that, Grant Elliott has a calf injury. Brendon McCullum said he was waiting on both before finalising the team on the morning of the game. Sri Lanka have not spent much time together as a squad after the IPL, compared to New Zealand who have been in England for over a month. But they do not seem to have as many injury worries, last-minute flare-ups notwithstanding. PITCH AND CONDITIONS When AB de Villiers won the toss against India, the
skies were heavy enough to make it a straightforward decision to bowl on a cold morning. Soon after India started their innings, the sun came out and Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma prospered. There was little swing, some seam, and bounce was the only testing thing to handle for the batsmen. Cardiff had terrific, clear weather on the eve of the match, and more of it is expected on Sunday, with a high of 21 degrees.
Nadal wary as Ferrer finally enjoys the spotlight
Rafael Nadal
David Ferrer
PARIS (Reuters) - David Ferrer is used to wearing the “best of the rest” label when it comes to Spanish claycourters, but today against Rafa Nadal the 31year-old has the chance to add his name to the pantheon of greats.
Time is running out for Sri Lanka’s greats to script a happy ending at a world tournament (Getty Images)
The Valencia-based player has reached the French Open final without dropping a set, and on Friday produced a ruthless display of power and accuracy to torment French hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. It was a magnificent performance to end a
sequence of five defeats in his five previous grand slam semifinals, yet once again Ferrer was left in the shade by Nadal’s extraordinary five-set semi-final thriller over Novak Djokovic. For many that match was “le final” in all but name, but Nadal has too much respect for Ferrer - a player who shares his work ethic - to relax as he aims to become the first man to win the same grand slam tournament eight times. “He didn’t lose a set during the whole tournament, so he’s a player that brings you to the limit,” 11-times major winner Nadal - who was an unknown 15-year-old
when Ferrer began his professional career in 2000 told reporters on Saturday. “He’s a player that if you are not playing perfect, you will be in big, big trouble.” The statistics do not look good for Ferrer, although he will take some heart from the fact that the last time two Spaniards met in the French Open final, in 2002, Albert Costa was the underdog but defeated Carlos Moya in four sets. Ferrer won his first claycourt clash with Nadal in 2004. Since then he has lost 16 in a row on the surface. Add the facts that Nadal has suffered one defeat in 59 matches at Roland Garros, has never lost any of his 13 finals against Spaniards, and is just five behind Argentine Guillermo Vilas’s record of 46 career claycourt titles, and the odds are stacked against fourth-seed Ferrer. Ferrer has arguably been unlucky in that his career has spanned an era containing some of the greatest players in the sport’s history. More often than not in recent years the only players he loses to at grand slams are
the top four of Djokovic, Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer. INTO SUBMISSION He is not one to complain, though. Instead he rolls up his sleeves and gets down to the business of winning tennis matches with the minimum of fuss, hustling and bustling behind the baseline and grinding most foes into submission. Ferrer is one of the quickest players on the tour but he has other weapons, too. He is accurate from the baseline with his economical groundstrokes off both flanks and can surprise opponents with well-disguised drop shots and an effective net game. Ferrer’s serve does not have the beef to win many cheap points, though his variety of placement allows him to set up points and dominate from the middle of the court with angled forehand and backhands. “Any person who doesn’t respect David as one of the greatest players of the world
and not for one year, for a long time is a person that doesn’t know anything about tennis,” Nadal said when asked if Ferrer gets the respect he is due. “When I read a few things about the semi-finals, Tsonga against David, people were saying was a good semi-final for Tsonga. I never felt that way. You play best of five on clay against David, it’s very, very tough.” Ferrer, the third-oldest debut grand slam finalist, often talks reverentially about Nadal, and is happy to be mentioned in the same conversation. Camaraderie will be interrupted today, though, as Ferrer attempts to capitalise on what might be his one and only chance of joining the grand slam winners’ club. “It’s the opportunity of my life to be in the final,” Ferrer, who has managed it in his 42nd grand slam tournament, said. “Defeating Rafa is very difficult on any surface; it’s even worse on clay. But once again, I’m going to try to play a beautiful match.”