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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
The new passport regulation The Guyanese community had different reactions to the news that anyone applying for a new passport is required to produce a birth certificate not less than six months older than the application. Simply put, anyone applying for a new passport must accompany the application with a birth certificate that has been issued no more than six months before the application. There was no notice of this piece of news, at least a notice that the vast majority of people would have seen. The Home Affairs Minister did say that there were notices in one of the government-owned newspapers. It is good to use a newspaper to get the message across but one thing that the advertiser must ensure is that the newspaper enjoys proper circulation. So it was that people travelled from Essequibo Coast and from Crabwood Creek to acquire a passport but had to return home empty-handed. Of course they complained but being people who tend to be afraid or nervous in the face of officialdom, these people merely picked up their bags and walked home. There were those who sought out the media, at the same time seeking anonymity, to complain about the vast sums they were asked to spend merely to come to the city only to be sent away. The officials told them that they should have telephoned ahead to be told what they would have been required to walk with. The Immigration Department must explain how it would handle no fewer than one hundred phone calls, each dealing with the requirements for a passport. The Chief Immigration Officer should have been using the radio which is ubiquitous and the television stations which have the ability to run scrolls for little or no cost. But there is the legal side to all this. An individual’s birth certificate does not carry an expiry date. To insist on one six months before the application date is to suggest that any other birth certificate is null. Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee said by way of explanation that there have been many forgeries in the area of birth certificates and marriage certificates. Citing the demands by the United States Embassy, Rohee said that when a Guyanese goes to the Embassy the consular officer would merely ask the applicant to bring a new birth certificate. The reason is that if the person was using a forgery, then to get a second forgery to match the one already submitted would be extremely difficult. It is said that many people simply do not return to the embassy, cancelling any attempt to secure a visa. The immigration officials were of the same mind. They wanted to ensure that they are provided with a genuine document. This would mean many things. The name of the person, his date of birth and all pertinent information would have to be consistent with the previous birth certificate. We must admit that one day after the news came out that the applicant needed a birth certificate that was no more than six months old, the passport office was almost empty. It is one thing to trap those who have forged documents and another to inconvenience hard working people. That is why some of them are considering going to the courts to challenge this decision. The Home Affairs Ministry says that this request for a recent birth certificate is nothing strange or something new. He said that months ago the decision was taken to have the applicant go to the immigration office with a new birth certificate. The decision, however, was not put into effect for some unknown reason. It was only recently that someone in the hierarchy took the decision out of the woodwork. In so doing, there is going to be additional pressure on the Registrar General’s Office. This department is requested to provide all certificates. Children need their birth certificates to sit the National Grade Six Examinations and all the external examinations. Now there is going to be a steady flow for birth certificates. How does this stop forgery? It does not. What will happen is that the individual would have to seek out the American Embassy at the same time he or she is applying for a passport. Identical forgeries procured at different times are almost impossible.
Thursday June 12, 2014
Letters... Where your views make the news
Caribbean Press and Accountability DEAR EDITOR, I read, with bemused interest and not a small amount of disdain, the article “Culture Ministry hands over Guyana Classics to libraries” (SN, June 6). Dr. Frank Anthony seems to have lost the plot of his own machinations with the Caribbean Press, so let me attempt to put him back on track. A c c o r d i n g t o information on the handover published on his Ministry’s website, “Minister Anthony suggested that the National Library be given two sets of the Classics because of the large number of readers who frequent the facility.” This shows the Minister’s ignorance with regard to how publishing works in Guyana. He is not doing the National Library a favour by now donating the books with a ‘generous’ two copies of each title: local publishers are obligated by law to donate one copy of each produced title to the Library, although I have always made it a practice to donate several copies above the obligatory legal deposit. As Capitol News reported in June of last year, even as the Caribbean Press was boasting 60 titles, the Library only had single copies of 13 of those. The Minister therefore held a press conference to highlight
the fact that he was fulfilling a basic requirement that the Caribbean Press should have fulfilled more than a year late, or years in many cases, since the bulk of the books were published before last year. Of course, nowhere to be seen were the books by local writers he and Dr. David Dabydeen promised over a year and a half ago. In January of 2013, in a letter to Stabroek News, Dabydeen promised: “….a poetry anthology (at the printers) featuring 22 local Guyanese writers, most of them never published before, and at least two who show serious talent and
should be encouraged to produce full volumes. These will be launched publicly when I am next in Guyana, as well as a book by Cedric Costello, entitled Rasta Lyrics, an anthology of Guyanese folksongs, and an anthology of Guyanese short stories. An anthology of Guyanese plays is in the making.” Dabydeen has come and gone, and Costello, a writer with no proven ability either before or after publication, and one who owed his employment to Dabydeen and Anthony, remains the only ‘emerging writer’, outside of Dr. Anthony’s daughter, who has had their
work produced and launched by the Caribbean Press, five years after the Press was established expressly to publish local writers. We were informed since March of this year, by the Ministry’s PRO, Tekia Hanover, that “Twenty-Five Poems by Guyanese C h i l d r e n Vo l . 1 a n d Anthology of Contemporary Guyanese Verse – were recently delivered to the Ministry. Further, the Ministry will be announcing the launch of the new books soon.” (“Two new books from Caribbean Press delivered to the Ministry of (Continued on page 23)
The Bartica Police are dragging their feet DEAR EDITOR, No charge has been laid and after months now I am left with a slingshot broken window, and an irate father who refuses or does not have the money to replace the window although he gives his son full permission to slingshot the residential neighbourhood because he prefers his son to do this rather than be at the street corner doing drugs. In the presence of parents this was the regular after school activity of this loveable child. Why are parents not responsible for the act of their child, even when they give their permission and as a result damage is caused? It seems that I, a retired pensioner, have to pay for their son’s damage to my property.
A whole window was there before it was broken. Now half of that window exists. With high winds and heavy rainfall, pasted panes of glass may deteriorate and eventually fall out. It is almost four months now and the Bartica Police cannot put a case together and send it to the DPP for advice. Presently, since the Officer in Charge has been transferred, no one knows where my file is. Justice delayed is justice denied. Is this the reason why people take justice in their own hands? Nelga Azonwanna Fifth Avenue, Bartica, Essequibo River
Thursday June 12, 2014
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
To be fair, we must compare the Rodney was an obstacle to PPP to PNC part 2 and not part 1 PPP/PNC one-party dictatorship
DEAR EDITOR, In light of the Rodney Commission of Inquiry (COI) and recent talks in the blogs and letter columns of the need for the PNC to apologise, please allow us – two relatively young people – to share our experiences growing up under the PNC of Mr Desmond Hoyte. We do not intend to discount the experiences of the older folks who have suffered under the paramountcy of the party and have strongly called for an apology. While we do not seek to diminish the experiences of the older folks, we would like to share our personal experiences as youths growing up under the Hoyte PNC; let’s say PNC part 2. A brief digression is in order. It is unfortunate that the name of the great Guyanese politician and historian, Dr Walter Rodney, who is most associated with multi-ethnic mobilisation, is now used in his death to divide the country. The Rodney COI should have been done since 1995. Today the PPP is using the name of Rodney to help in its race-baiting agenda of ‘don’t split the votes.’ The first point we would like to impart is we cannot find a single incident of being harassed or victimised by
PNC part 2. As young PYO activists we were free to organise and post fliers in South Georgetown during the run-up to the 1992 general election. We cannot think of a single incident of discrimination we faced when applying to UG or seeking a job. Yes, the Guyana dollar was devalued. That affected everyone regardless of political persuasion. The government of PNC part 2 paid the CXC and GCE ‘O’ Level fees for one of us, as they did for thousands of other students at the time, whose parents found it impossible to raise the Guyana dollar funds after the devaluations. The father of one writer (Boyo Ramsaroop) was at the time a fierce public critic of the PNC and was widely known to be a diehard Jagan loyalist. Yet President Hoyte invited him to be part of several local and international trade fairs (Miami, Vancouver, etc). The PNC never stopped buying flowers from the Ramsaroop business. In fact, because the flowers were local exotics, the PNC eagerly sought them in order to enhance Guyana’s tourism product. In contrast, government support declined under the PPP (with most of Ramsaroop’s work done gratis), and after the
Ramsaroop family joined the AFC, it virtually ceased. Those who support the PPP today with a racist or opportunistic agenda, try to pretend that the seven years under Hoyte did not exist; that there was no PNC part 2. Gokarran Sukhdeo, in his recent meeting with Brig. Granger in New York said, “To me, an apology without restitution serves no useful purpose, just as an apology for slavery is meaningless without reparation.” (Sukhdeo’s presentation can be read in SN, Monday June 9, under the caption, ‘We are fooling no one with patchwork apologies and bogus reformation’.) Sukhdeo hits the nail on the head here. The Hoyte years precisely constituted the PNC apology. President Desmond Hoyte virtually reversed everything that occurred under PNC part 1, culminating with free and fair elections! One of his first acts was the removal of the ban on food items that was perceived as having affected IndoGuyanese mainly. Isn’t that an apology? Hoyte reached out to Indian businesspeople regardless of their political affiliation, as illustrated by the case of Boyo Ramsaroop we mentioned. In fact, this caused (Continued on page 23)
CCJ judgments not honoured DEAR EDITOR It seems as if judgments of the highest court of the land, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) are not readily honoured by governments. The Barbados government was ordered to pay a total of $77,240 to a young Jamaican woman Shanique Myrie, after she was harassed at the Grantley Adams Airport in Barbados. The Order was made after the CCJ sitting in its original jurisdiction found that the authorities had breached Article 45 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) when they harassed a Caricom national. Shortly after the judgment was given, one of the CCJ judges told broadcasters that the judgment cannot be enforced because the CCJ lacks mechanism to do so. Is this for real? This is unbelievable, and one would have thought that the drafters of the Treaty would have included enforcement of Court Orders. Moreover, one would have expected that Barbados, which is an independent state since
1966, would have honoured an Order of the Court, especially since it is an Order from the highest court of the land and especially since the Bajan administration accepted the CCJ as the final court in its appellate jurisdiction. A few days ago Myrie complained that she has not yet been paid. This is not only unfortunate, but a slap in the face of the Barbados government and to a lesser extent the entire CARICOM. Last month, the CCJ ruled that a Suriname company, Rudisa Beverages, be repaid US$6,047,244.47 which had been collected by the Guyana Government as environmental tax that contravenes the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. So far the Donald Ramotar administration has not honoured the Court Order. One would expect that the Co-operative Republic which is the first of the three countries to join the region appellate court would comply with the CCJ Order which was made while the court sat in its original jurisdiction Oscar Ramjeet
DEAR EDITOR, I refer to PPP apologist Sultan Mohamed’s letter “Dr Roopnaraine will become the WPA fall guy,” in which his main theme was that Dr Roopnaraine will testify to the COI that the WPA was acquiring arms with which to oppose Burnham’s socialist dictatorship. Mohamed and the PPP would like Dr Roopnaraine to say that the WPA was not doing so, so that the COI cannot find any shred of justification for the murder of Walter Rodney, as the Burnhamites would like. Never mind that the lawful response from the State was to charge and prosecute Walter for arms possession or treason. However there is another reason why the PPP would not like the WPA to say it was resorting to armed struggle, and that is to obfuscate the PPP’s complicity with the PNC during its socialist experiment. While the Africanled multi-racial WPA was trying to remove Burnham’s African-led PNC from power, the Indian-led Communist PPP was supporting the PNC as shown below: 1. In mid 1970’s the Cuban Communist Party ordered the PPP to merge with PNC. Cheddi Jagan, cognizant of Indians’ cry of betrayal, instead adopted “critical support” for Burnham’s PNC. Almost all the Marxist cadres of the PPP, led by Ranji Chandisingh, defected to the PNC in 1975. 2. In 1977, when Burnham was under pressure from the WPA, the PPP proposed a National Front Government with the PNC. 3. In 1979, the PPP proposed a National Patriotic Front Government with the PNC. 4. In 1980, the PPP betrayed a group of men on the West Demerara causing the PNC to arrest and charge them. 5. In 1979, the PPP ordered its members and supporters not to cooperate with the
WPA, not to attend WPA meetings, and not to march with the WPA. Soon after Walter Rodney was assassinated on Friday 13th June 1980, the Jaganites and the Burnhamites commenced secret power-sharing talks. PPP supporters must ask themselves why the PPP did nothing to remove Burnham’s socialist dictatorship but was, rather, bent on joining with Burnham. PPP supporters who were always puzzled at the ease with which Burnhamites joined the PPP after 1992 should now see that the Jaganites and the Burnhamites were all feathers of the same bird, some brown, some black. PPP supporters should also know that when Mr Desmond Hoyte took over in late 1985 he said enough of the Socialist nonsense. He did the following: 1. Scrapped the powersharing talks between the Jaganites and the Burnhamites aimed at creating a one-party socialist state patterned after Cuba and the Soviet Union. 2. Removed the ban on flour and dhal. Removed all import restrictions. Set the economy on the free enterprise path. 3. Removed restrictions on the media. 4. Charged, prosecuted, and jailed former Burnham’s PNC henchmen including House of Israel leader Rabbi Washington. 5. Hanged the kick-downthe-door bandits who were organized and controlled by some PNC strongmen. 6. Held free and fair elections in 1992. 7. Expelled senior functionaries in his party who opposed free and fair elections. 8. Ended party
paramountcy. Since taking power in 1992 the PPP did the following: 1. Resumed party paramountcy. 2. Freed House of Israel leader Rabbi Washington. 3. Inducted Burnhamites into the cabinet. 4. Took in self-confessed House of Israel thug Joe Hamilton and made him a Parliamentary Secretary. 5. Replaced House of Israel thugs with private drug militias. 6. Made the Police Force subservient to organized crime and drug traffickers. 7. Condoned widespread police torture of poor and powerless people. Just as Dr Walter Rodney had zero tolerance for Burnham’s PNC he would never have allowed a PPP/ PNC one-party socialist dictatorship. Walter was also quickly eroding the ethnic bases of the PPP and the PNC and he was uniting the Guyanese people. United African and Indian masses would have meant the end of Jagan and Burnham’s PPP and PNC. He had to be not merely removed but be made an example of for any who dared to challenge the authors of racial polarization and dictatorship politics in Guyana. Hence the plan to blow his head off, as well as that of Dr Roopnaraine. Sultan Mohamed may well remember the PPP’s antics in front of a well-known ROAR member’s home during the 2001 elections, a PPP organizer pointing a gun at him at Prospect, EBD, and hurling bottles and rotten eggs at him, and the killing of the father of a PPP organizer who had defected to ROAR. I am sure the Sultan remembers all this. Malcolm Harripaul
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Those unused accounting modules … Travelspan Auditor General has an executives to meet in Guyana obligation to probe harder
... seek to add more planes to route Returning airline, Travelspan, is seeking to add more planes to the Guyana/ New York route. The company in a public missive said that it is seeking to make Guyana a hub for international travel and executives of three partnering companies are scheduled to meet in Guyana next week to discuss plans to expand services. The missive said that Executives from Travelspan’s US headquarters and executives from Vision Airlines and Jetran International will be meeting in Guyana to discuss expansion plans for its Guyana Operations. Vision Airlines and Jetran International officials will be in Guyana for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Both Vision Airlines and Jetran, who serve as the financier to the airlines’ operations, are US registered companies that own and lease aircrafts worldwide for charters, cargo and private use.
“The executives’ plans are to expand the current operation in Guyana by adding additional aircrafts and to develop Guyana as a hub for international travel.” Rob Binns, a member on the Carter Center Board, and member of Travelspan’s Board of Directors, will also be in Guyana. TravelSpan in collaboration with Vision Airlines currently offers a wide body 767/200 and 767/ 300 aircraft for its nonstop service between Georgetown and New York. The company only recently introduced a promotional fare for summer of $399 one way and $586 round trip from Georgetown to New York. Despite the volatility of the airline industry, TravelSpan said that it remains committed to Guyana and the Guyanese people. The executives have assured that TravelSpan is here for the long haul, and they are certain that they will receive the support of the people.
- “He is behaving like a Sunday school teacher when he makes casual statements on the unused modules,”- Anti Corruption Advocate, Goolsarran The Auditor General has been highlighting for several years in his reports that two modules of the Integrated Financial Management and Accounting System (IFMAS) have not been used. Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran, said that his approach to underlining the importance, as well as the effects, of not using the modules can be likened to that of a “church boy approach”. The anti corruption advocate said, “To me [the Auditor General] is just going through the motions and saying well we have the IFMAS system. There are several modules; five have been activated and two have not. “He just reports the fact that two have not been used and what does the Accountant General say? The Accountant General says well we are taking steps and that has been happening for several years…” The IFMAS system has seven features; the Appropriation, Expenditure, General Ledger, Budget
Preparation & Reporting System (BPRS), Purchasing, Revenue and Asset & Inventory Modules. The Purchasing and Asset and Inventory Modules are the ones that have not been implemented for over ten years. According to Goolsarran, the AG “has not assessed the implications of the failure of the government to have those modules operationalized and what it means to us as taxpayers if we don’t have these two modules activated.” He said that the IFMAS is an automated system pulling together all the financial management activities from budget right down to financial reporting. “So you have budget preparation, budget execution, expenditure which involves payments, bank reconciliation and all those things; the whole package fits neatly into seven modules and it is an integrated package. “For example, if you write a cheque to purchase a vehicle, the Asset Module is
Former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran supposed to be activated. Since it’s a car and it’s an asset, therefore the Asset Module is to be updated. Now if you don’t have an Asset Module, if you write a cheque for the car what will happen?” Goolsarran questioned. He continued that it means the Asset Module has to be done manually and therefore it is not going to make the system more comfortable. “In
US aircraft experiences engine failure on approach to CJIA Pilots on board a United States registered aircraft en route to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) had to shut down one of their engines yesterday afternoon when it experienced problems just before landing at the nation’s largest airport. Kaieteur News understands that the pilot and his co-pilot were on board the Cessna Citation, bearing registration number N501TB, when one of its engines began to overheat. CJIA Public Relations Officer, Aneka Edwards, said
that the aircraft was on its way to CJIA when the pilot realized that one of the engines was overheating. She said to ensure no serious damage to the aircraft, the pilot opted to turn off the engine. It was noted that the aircraft landed safely and engineers were up to last evening examining the engine to rectify the problem. Kaieteur News understands that local safety officers received word that the plane was experiencing problems and safety/ emergency systems were
A Cessna Citation
activated. While it is unclear what the plane is doing in Guyana, Kaieteur News was told it is not the first time they
have been here. The aircraft landed at CJIA sometime around 16:00hours. A Cessna Citation is part
of the Cessna’s line of aircraft. It is the marketing name for the company’s line of business jets. (Zena Henry)
other words, you have a combination of the automated system and manual system, where as if all the modules were fitting nicely then you would have one flow and everything is updated.” Goolsarran stressed that the IFMAS “improves efficiency, improves accountability, improves everything and if within those seven modules two of the most critical ones have not been activated, then what have we really done? “The Auditor General has an obligation to come down very hard and not make a church boy statement. He is behaving like a Sunday school teacher when he makes casual statements like ‘the two modules have not been implemented’.” The former Auditor General said, “I don’t want to be critical of him but he has not probed a finding. It is not just saying this has not happened and the two modules have not been implemented. So what? “An Auditor has to go beyond that and tell the public why it has not happened and if it continues to happen what are the implications. He needs to probe more.” While President Donald Ramotar and Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill, hold firm to the effectiveness of their “manual systems”, the Auditor General reports reveal a different “truth”. It exposes the weaknesses of the manual alternative. A look at the various Ministries reveals the weakness of the manual system. The manual systems cannot adequately keep track of Government assets and expenditure until it’s almost too late.
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Iraq insurgents take Saddam’s home town in lightning advance TIKRIT Iraq (Reuters) Sunni rebels from an al Qaeda splinter group overran the Iraqi city of Tikrit yesterday and closed in on the biggest oil refinery in the country, making further gains in their rapid military advance against the Shi’ite-led government in Baghdad. The threat to the Baiji refinery comes after militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) seized the northern city of Mosul, advancing their aim of creating a Sunni Caliphate straddling the border between Iraq and Syria. The fall of Mosul, Iraq’s second biggest city, is a blow to Prime Minister Nuri alMaliki’s attempts to defeat the militants, who have seized territory in Iraq over the past year following the withdrawal of U.S. forces. About 500,000 Iraqis have fled Mosul, home to 2 million people, and the surrounding province, many seeking safety in the autonomous Kurdistan region. Having also taken two small towns north of Baghdad, Dhiluiya and Yathrib, the insurgents are in control of between 10 and 15
Burnt vehicles belonging to Iraqi security forces are pictured at a checkpoint in east Mosul, one day after radical Sunni Muslim insurgents seized control of the city. REUTERS/Stringer pct of Iraqi territory, excluding Kurdistan, and have led many Iraqis to fear they have the capital, Baghdad, in their sights. Security sources said ISIL militants yesterday drove more than 60 vehicles into Tikrit, the home town of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, which lies about 100
miles (160 km) north of Baghdad. The militants occupied the provincial government headquarters and raised the black flag of ISIL. “Our forces were caught by surprise, they never expected ISIL would use police and army Humvee vehicles, we mistook them for
government forces and it was too late to stop them,” said a police captain who fled from Tikrit to Samarra. “We are fighting devils and not ordinary people”. Around 100 ISIL fighters held mass prayers in central Tikrit after taking control. Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Iraq’s leaders
must unite to face a “mortal” threat. “There has to be a quick response to what has happened,” he said during a trip to Greece. Zebari said Baghdad would work with forces from Kurdistan in the north to drive the fighters out of Mosul after Iraqi security forces there fled on Tuesday. Maliki described the fall of Mosul as a “conspiracy” and said those who had abandoned their posts would be punished. He also said Iraqis were volunteering in several provinces to join army brigades to fight ISIL. In a show of the militants’ reach, a car bombing in a crowded market in the town of Safwan, which sits on Iraq’s southernmost border with Kuwait, killed five people. In a statement on its Twitter account, ISIL said it had taken Mosul as part of a plan “to conquer the entire state and cleanse it from the apostates”, referring to the province of Nineveh of which the city is the capital. Militants executed 10 soldiers and policemen yesterday near the town of Riyadh, 60 km (40 miles) southwest of Kirkuk, after
setting up a checkpoint on the road, police sources said, while in Tikrit six police officers were executed. In Mosul, 80 Turkish citizens were being held hostage by the militants, the foreign ministry in Ankara said. Turkey threatened to retaliate if any of the group, which included special forces soldiers, diplomats and children, were harmed. Ambassadors of the NATO defence alliance held an emergency meeting in Brussels at Turkey’s request and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan held talks with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden about the developments. ISIL, led by Abu Bakr alBaghdadi, broke with al Qaeda’s international leader, Osama bin Laden’s former lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahri, and has clashed with al Qaeda fighters in Syria. ISIL’s advances show that Iraq’s security forces - trained and equipped by Washington at a cost of nearly $25 billion and numbering more than a million - are outmatched against insurgents who once took on the might of the United States.
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U.S. student loan refinancing bill fails Senate hurdle WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - Legislation to allow student loan borrowers to refinance at lower interest rates failed to clear a procedural hurdle in the U.S. Senate yesterday, dooming a measure that was a Democratic priority ahead of November congressional elections. Democrats had said the bill would let holders of both federal and private undergraduate loans - some with rates of 9 percent or higher - to refinance at 3.86 percent. Republicans thought the legislation was too expensive. The bill, championed by l i b e r a l - l e a n i n g Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, was part of Democrats’ plan this year to rally their base supporters ahead of an election that could tip control of the Senate back into Republican hands. Young people made up a huge part of the coalition that helped elected President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. Obama signed an executive order on Monday making it easier for up to 5 million people to pay off college tuition debt and scolded congressional Republicans for opposing the legislative fix to lower studentloan borrowing costs. The Senate voted
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks before he signs a presidential memorandum on reducing the burden of student loan debt in the East Room of the White House in Washington. REUTERS/Larry Downing yesterday 56-38 to end debate on the measure and move to a final vote, short of the 60 votes required for it to move forward. “It’s a real shame Republicans are standing in the way of this very important, timely legislation,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters after the vote. Republican opposition has thwarted other Democratic priorities, including a push to raise the federal minimum wage and renew expired long-term jobless benefits for millions of Americans. Democrats control the
Senate, 55-45, but need 60 votes to clear Republican procedural hurdles. Last year, Congress approved the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013, which set the undergraduate student loan interest rate at 3.86 percent for the current school year. Democrats proposed that the cost of the bill be offset by reducing tax breaks for millionaires and cited data showing that student-loan debt grew by $31 billion from January to March, to total $1.1 trillion, making it the fastestgrowing household debt category.
Indian economic data likely to offer new PM Modi some cheer (Reuters) - Indian economic data today is likely to offer some cheer for new Prime Minister Narendra Modi by showing a pickup in industrial activity and easing inflation. Modi has listed fighting inflation, particularly food inflation, as his topmost priority. He aims to win the battle by improving supplies of food and clamping down on “hoarders”. Output from mines, utilities and factories is expected to have expanded 1.9 percent in April from a year earlier after falling 0.5 percent the previous month, according to a Reuters poll of economists, because of a recovery in the infrastructure sector Modi sees as key to a wider revival. Cooler food prices probably helped ease consumer price inflation to 8.4 percent in May from a three-month high of 8.59 percent April, the poll showed. The statistics ministry is due to release industrial production and consumer inflation data at 1200 GMT. Consumer inflation has been averaging nearly 10 percent for the past two years even though economic growth has been stuck below five percent, marking the longest slowdown in more than a quarter of a century. Promises to break the spell of weak growth and high inflation helped Modi to a victory last month that gave his party the strongest parliamentary majority in 30 years. A slumping industrial performance is at the heart of India’s growth struggle. Output
contracted 0.1 percent in the fiscal year that ended in March. It has eased in four of the past six months. Radhika Rao, economist at DBS Bank, said a revival in manufacturing and investment would have broad multiplier effects across the economy, but cautioned that an expected shortfall in monsoon rains could impact both demand and inflation. “In the short term, the likelihood of a weak southwest monsoon is an important risk for growth this year and likely an initial challenge for the new administration,” Rao said. Modi’s government is looking to revive the economy through higher investment in infrastructure, which it hopes will boost demand in sectors such as cement, steel and power. He is also aiming to simplify approvals for projects to kick-start capital investments. The economic slowdown is taking a toll on public finances. The federal tax-to-GDP ratio has slipped to 10.2 percent from a peak of 12.5 percent in 2007/08, leaving the government having to resort to more rupee bond sales to fund spending commitments. Higher investment spending without adjustments in wasteful public expenditure would make it tougher to trim the fiscal deficit to a targeted 4.1 percent of GDP this fiscal year, resulting in a heavy bond supply and increased cost of credit for corporates.This could worsen India’s struggle with persistently high inflation - on top of the forecasts of below-average monsoon rains.
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STOP THE LYING ON FACEBOOK! Beautiful! Looking good! Sexy! Hot! Pretty! You are so good looking! Lovely couple! You look amazing! He so cute! Sweet! Love it! You look adorable! Princess! You shine like a diamond! These are some of the comments that appear on Facebook next to the pictures that persons put on their timelines or post to other person’s timelines. A great many of the comments are justified but sometimes these comments are made just to make somebody else feel good. They are not always true! There are some images that are put on Facebook that do not match the fantastic comments and praises that they receive. Beauty, they say, lies in the eye of the beholder but there are some persons who go overboard in complimenting some of the pictures posted on Facebook. A great many of the so-called compliments are lies because the images do not conform to the compliments that are paid. I have seen, for example, pictures of women who are
anything but sexy. Yet, they receive hundreds of compliments telling them how hot they are looking. And a great many of them believe this sort of nonsense and continue to post less than attractive images of themselves on Facebook. I would like to urge all those who make comments on Facebook to be honest. Do not tell someone that they are looking pretty or hot when you know that they are not. It is nice to see photographs of friends and relatives on Facebook but lay off the icing. Stop all the lying! When someone looks good tell them. When they are not, keep your comments to yourselves. Do not fool people into believing that they are looking good when you know fully well that they are not. They may take you too seriously and may deceive themselves into believing they are beauty queens and hunks when they are not. Be honest with your Facebook friends! Another problem that I
Dem boys seh ...
Donald jook Peeping Tom in ee eye Donald jook Peeping Tom in ee brain de other night but before that Brazzy, de fat crook had to throw something in ee eye. Peeper put ee finger pun ee computer keyboard and is then dem boys realize that ee got Parkinson’s disease. That disease does got you shaking you head, you waist, you tongue, you hand plus wink you eye. Dem boys see signs of that in some of de Bees, even to Uncle Adam and Uncle Glenn. However Uncle Glenn and Uncle Adam wouldn’t go pass de stage dem deh at but dem boys sure that de rest of dem gun be like Ronald Reagan, especially de Rat, Babita, Boyah and de Brians. Dem boys wish that Peeping Tom own don’t progress too. Peeper wake up de other day and ee had a seizure; ee brain clog up. Ee mix up a four-wheel drive vehicle wid de Jagdeo accounting system. Ee seh that plenty people does buy vehicle wid four-wheel drive and don’t use de four wheel. That was ee argument fuh justify why Jagdeo buy seven modules fuh account fuh de taxpayers money, and only use five. Ee lef out de two most important ones fuh capture de money that going out. And that was ok wid de Peeper. Dem boys want tell de Peeper that not even a mad man or a man wid li’l bit brain in he belly gun spend thousands of US dollars extra pun a four-wheel drive pick-up when he know that he have no need fuh de four-wheel drive. But in this case dem got need fuh de two programmes; dem spend millions to buy it and didn’t install it. That had to tell you something, Peeper. Yuh argument don’t hold water. It like some old man who can’t keep in ee pee. Like de Pee Pee Pee drunk de Peeper de night when he write de column. De same people who drunk Peeping Tom call dem boys fuh tell dem that Brazzy going pun Hen See Hen TV fuh talk bout de Marriott. Dem boys call Hen See Hen fuh confirm and Knee Ass seh is true. Everybody get ready fuh go to Hen See Hen fuh this press conference. Chris Ram, Goolsarran, Harmon, de Waterfalls Paper, de Big Market paper get ready fuh guh. Hard Times and de Chronic wha nobody does read did know was a bluff and laugh. Just before seven when dem boys ready to roll to Hen See Hen, Knee Ass call and tell dem is not a press conference, is a taped conference that will be aired at seven because Brazzy can’t answer any question pun anything. Seven come and dem boys flock de TV and sit down wid tape recorder. Hen See Hen call again and seh that Knee Ass seh that Brazzy run and hide, that he gun talk to de nation later today. Talk half; wait and see how lang Brazzy gun run and hide.
have with Facebook is that some individuals seem to want to post a running commentary of their entire day. Wherever they go, they have to advertize it. They’re going to the gym, they announce it on Facebook. They’re going to the grocery, they announce. They’re going to a wedding, they want the whole world to know. They are lying in bed and they are snapping selfies. Please when you are in bed, do not take out too many pictures. The worst image of all is usually your face when you wake up in the morning. Yet there are some individuals who love to post their ‘wakeup face” on Facebook. Come on guys, have some
consideration for your friends! Why do some persons believe that all of their Facebook friends are interested in where they are every single minute of the day? People have better things to do than to be logging into your itinerary! So give us a break, now and then. We will want to see the important things, but not everywhere you go and everything you see becomes our business. It is not. So lay off of the running commentaries of your activities. Be choosy about what you put on Facebook. Other people have a life too. They are not always interested in
what you eat, how you dress and what you do every minute of the day. Give us a break! The other thing that can be disgusting is the sharing of quotations. Look, there are many wonderful quotes which are worth sharing with friends. But this Facebook thing simply drowns you in quotations. People are sharing quotations like it is going out of style. There has to be some limit on the number of quotations that you should share. One per day is good enough. Keep the other fifteen that you want to post for some other time in the year. Do not litter my timeline with quotation after
quotation, most of which may be inspiring to you but mean very little to me. And please do not put what you cook on my page because while I may like what you cook, most of my Facebook friends are too far away for me to reach them to enjoy some of that food. And those who are nearby are too damn mean to invite me over for a bite. Love you all! Well, not all but most of you!
Speaker concerned about Govt’s continued abuse of “emergency fund” Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, has said that he is “worried” about the government’s continued abuse of the Contingency Fund, specifically the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. The Contingency Fund is a reserve of money set aside to cover emergencies. The Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA) sets out a criterion for what situations can qualify as an emergency and as such warrant use of funds. If Government deems a situation an emergency, they would use the funds. The Parliament would then examine during a sitting whether the situation for which the funds were used was actually an emergency according to the law. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recently concluded its examination of the 2010 and 2011 Auditor General reports where numerous financial discrepancies were highlighted. Some ministries, according to the PAC Chairman, Carl Greenidge, still have a problem with effectively addressing certain irregularities as cited by the
Auditor General. Particularly, he noted, the Ministry of Finance is still unable to deal adequately with three chronic problems, one of which is the continued abuse of the Contingency Fund. The Auditor General, in his 2012 report, said that advances continued to be issued from the Contingency Fund, which did not meet the required criteria for such advances, resulting in $95.661M being drawn from the Fund and utilized to meet expenditure that did not meet the eligibility criteria as defined in the Act. The PAC Chairman said that Secretary to the Treasury, Nirmal Rekha, seemed unable to clarify why this continues to happen. Trotman said that as a member of the Parliament, it is imperative for politicians to uphold the Constitution. “But I must commend the PAC for discharging its functions. It is doing a lot of work. However, it is really making no sense if the recommendations of the PAC are not going to be adhered to by the government. “This flagrant disregard for their findings is a matter of serious concern and
Government is expected to bring its self in compliance or else the system will be broken and that is not what the people voted for,” the Speaker concluded. The PAC Chairman had also stated that there remains a significant number of applications made for the Contingency Fund that the Auditor General deemed to be outside the criteria. “They are not adhering to the law and what has to happen is to determine what happened with the expenditures not approved by the National Assembly. “Rest assured that this matter will be followed up by the PAC. With what has happened thus far with the funds, the Minister should be charged. The PAC and the National Assembly will make a determination on what will be done in this regard.” Leader of the Alliance for Change, Khemraj Ramjattan, said that the National Assembly is the first device or mechanism for which contingences can be protected from abuse. The politician said, “The (government) has been abusing their understanding of the criteria of an emergency under the Fiscal
Management and Accountability Act. “When we run to the Fund it is only to be used for emergency cases, like if there is a serious flood in Mahaicony and we need to remove citizens, money would be used in that case. But I understand that they are using the Contingency Fund to relieve the National Communications Network. “I would further stress for President Donald Ramotar to assent to the amendment made to the FMA Act. “The amendment seeks to clarify a part of the Act which has to do with officers who can be prosecuted for the abuse of the Fund. But it is the Minister we understand to be giving such directions. “He gives the permission for the money to be used and as such he needs to be held accountable. The President by not assenting to this amendment is also condoning this and allowing criminality to continue. “I am begging the people of this nation to understand that it is their money that is being abused and to realize what kind of government they have,” Ramjattan said.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday June 12, 2014
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
What did the outgoing US Ambassador accomplish? Have you ever seen fear in the eye of a person? I have. And more times than I count and remember. On each occasion, the fear was justified because the frightened person believed that they would either be physically hurt or would be arrested. The times are simply too numerous to recall. I have never seen fear in a person’s eyes over an incident that is inconsequential. Why would any human be intimidated over an action that has absolutely no fear factor? But
I once witnessed such a contradiction a few years ago. I was shopping in this large store in the heart of the city when a development occurred that was distasteful and therefore necessitated a complaint. I went from one attendant to another, seeking the name of the owner and to be directed to his/her office. In every instance, fear greeted me. If you saw the look and the body movement of each attendant, then you knew something was deadly wrong in this store. Every
attendant was afraid to give me the name of the owner with several of them saying they don’t know the identity of the owner. I know that was not true. A supervisor called me aside and side “Mr. Kissoon, please leave it alone.” I was livid. I raised my voice so all of them can hear. I told them if they go to Gafoor’s and demand to see who this man is he would probably come out of his office and speak to them and they would see who the famous man is. I mentioned Bakewell. I told them to go there and demand to see the owner out of a complaint and you will see how quick he will come down from his third floor office. I saw fear in the eyes of that supervisor. The manager
then approached me, told me go to another store and request to see the owner but she cannot give me a name. She too had a frightened look. I came out of store number one, and called my editor Adam Harris for a name. Adam knows everyone in Guyana but he was only half helpful. He said it was a woman whose name he can’t remember but he thinks he knows her brother. I went to store number two and fear greeted me. To make long story short, I knew why they were so afraid. And I knew that I should not know who this woman was. In Georgetown, where there is a small population, people who are in dubious and questionable business
are known. Irritatingly, only the US Embassy doesn’t know this. Mr. Brent Hardt, the American Ambassador leaves in a month’s time and under his watch, the DEA based in Trinidad (which takes in the monitoring role in Guyana) has not hauled in any large drug trafficker in Guyana. But why is that so shocking? Because large sections of Georgetown society know who these people are. In a tiny space like Georgetown, drug traffickers and money launderers are seen dining and driving down the streets like film stars in Hollywood (oops, sorry; and Bollywood too). To be fair to the US Embassy, there have been three huge drug interdictions outside of Guyana but originated here but no arrest on Guyanese soil of Guyanese citizens. In the meantime, the jail is filling up with couriers including a motor-cycle owner who at the time of his arrest at the airport was clerk at a famous tourist and hotel chain. Couriers are going to jail like falling mangoes on the tree in my yard. Does the US Embassy know who these drug people are? Surely they must have heard stories from the people they dine out with all the time. In hardship postings in the Third World as Guyana is, business people, lawyers, doctors, status-seekers,
Frederick Kissoon wannabes, media practitioners, politicians trip over each other to socialize with the American, British, Canadian and EU diplomats. These envoys must have seen Kaieteur Falls more often than the people who live around the water falls, must have seen the interior of Guyana more than the folks who live there, and must have hunted and fished in tourist sites in the lush interior more often than the villagers who hunt and fish there for a living. Don’t tell me the names of the drug people and money launderers are never mentioned at these revelries and at the nightly cocktail circuit. Why the DEA in Trinidad and the US Embassy have not had a plausible record in combating drug trafficking and money laundering in Guyana certainly is an intriguing one. Equally interesting is why Mr. Hardt did not use visa sanction as the Embassy did between 2004 and 2008?
Thursday June 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
Gold smuggling…
Industry calls for tighter border checks - dealer buys the most, declares the least Stakeholders in the gold mining sector yesterday called on Government to tighten security at the country’s borders, including those with neighbouring Suriname, amidst shocking reports of a large-scale smuggling operation. At the centre of the allegations is a dealer from the North Georgetown area who is being accused of buying hundreds of millions of dollars in gold from miners and instead of declaring it to authorities, which would attract a mandatory seven per cent tax and royalty charge, reportedly opted to sell it in Suriname. That neighbouring country has a mere one per cent, making it an attractive market for smugglers. The gold is sold in Suriname to buyers in the US. It is estimated that Guyana would have lost as much as $2.7B (US$14M) in taxes from the scheme, just for the first five months of this year. However, stakeholders say they have been fearful of speaking on the issue because of the dealer’s close connections to the Office of the President. Following the article yesterday, several medium scale miners also confirmed that smuggling is indeed taking place. It is believed that the well-organised smuggling operation goes back over five years. The dealer, according to officials of the Guyana Gold Board, only received his licence about two years ago. Yesterday, following the report of smuggling allegations, several Government inspectors descended on the operations of city dealers. However, stakeholders are emphatic that the inspectors are on a wild goose chase. “What are they looking for? If I buy some gold and do not record it, how will they find it? They should instead be examining ways on how to better patrol the borders to stop the smuggling,” one medium scale miner said yesterday. The issue of gold declaration took the limelight last week after Government expressed alarm over the poor showings. Declarations dropped by 20 per cent to 165,595 ounces, for the first five months of this year, compared to the same period last year. For the first half, ending June 30, Guyana had been projecting a target of 242,281
ounces, an uphill task. Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud, met the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), the Guyana Gold Board and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, among other stakeholders, after it became clear that the targets were way below expectations. While poor declarations have been blamed on some level on hoarding, miners blankly refused to take the fall. Instead, it was made clear that Government would have to start seriously looking at the smuggling angle. Government would be worried because a drop in revenue would seriously dent the country’s projections on revenue for this year. Gold has been the largest foreign currency earner in recent years, raking in US$600M last year. The situation took a turn this week when complaints of the smuggling started pouring in, as police and GGMC readied for an extensive enforcement campaign. According to officials of GGDMA, members complained that the dealer is being protected because of his close links to the Office of the President. It is estimated that at least 150,000 ounces of gold was smuggled to Suriname by the dealer for the year. Using the seven per cent royalty and tax rate charged by Guyana and
an average of US$1,300 per ounce, officials from GGDMA and the Gold Board believed that as much as US$14M in revenues was lost to Guyana. According to figures supplied by the Guyana Gold Board, five of the 14 dealers made declarations last year. Pure Diamonds and Excel Minerals, two Brazilian companies, declared 32,000 ounces and 8,770 ounces respectively. El Dorado Trading records indicated 95,000 ounces, while Mohamed’s Enterprise was the largest buyer with 133,000 ounces. Dinar Gold was the lowest at 267 ounces. The dealer in question has reportedly been aggressively approaching miners and offering as much as $230,000 per ounce, about $8,000 to $10,000 above the other dealers. The US dollars from the Suriname sale had reportedly allowed the company to pay its customers with their gold in US dollars. “Like we said before, this is a small society where everybody knows what is happening in the gold mining industry. We cannot pretend that nothing is happening and allow it to be swept under the carpet. “There is a reason why our declarations fell by 20 per cent and we are saying that smuggling is the reason. “We are hoping that President Donald Ramotar is (continued on page 12)
Guyanese among several Caribbean nationals to receive honorary doctorates KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The University of the West Indies (UWI) says it will confer honorary doctorates on 20 people, among them, President of Trinidad and Tobago, Anthony Carmona and Grenada’s Governor General, Dame Cécile Ellen La Grenade. The region’s premier tertiary institution said that the degrees will be awarded to the 20 people for their “stellar contributions to Caribbean development” and the conferral will take place during the 2014 graduation ceremonies at its three campuses in October. Former acting chief justice of the OECS Supreme Court, Sir Brian Alleyne, and St. Lucian Dr. Earl Long, a parasitologist, will be
honoured by UWI’s Open Campus. UWI Chancellor, Sir George Alleyne, will confer the degrees at the graduation exercises during the months of October and November. Others to be honoured include the Barbados-based women’s rights activist, Dame Maizie Barker-Welch and former Barbados Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Dame Billie Miller. Guyanese born writer, journalist, public servant and politician, Dr. Robert Moore; former diplomat, writer, journalist and international consultant, Sir Ronald Sanders; and the singer Mrs McCartha Linda Sandy-Lewis, better known as “Calypso Rose” will also be awarded honorary doctorates.
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NOC being converted into “Youth Prison” - MP Chris Jones Member of Parliament, Christopher Jones, has lashed out at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, claiming that they are building a “youth prison” at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC). Jones in an interview with this newspaper, yesterday, said that the Ministry had advertised for bids to be submitted for the construction of a “confinement building” at the New Opportunity Corps. However, instead of building a “Confinement Building”, the Ministry has opted to construct eight individual “holding cells”. According to the architect’s plan which was submitted by Innovative Engineering Consultancy Services, the “cells” would each be 9x12 in size and be able to house two persons. This “new facility” would also have two staff and two recreational rooms, one individual and one group counseling room. Jones said the news of the Ministry building actual “holding cells” is very disturbing. According to Jones, the National Assembly had approved a budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Culture, part of which was expected to go to the NOC for the rebuilding of the “dormitory which was destroyed in 2012”. Jones said that one would have thought that the Ministry would have been “rebuilding the dormitory”. He said that if information regarding the “new features” to this “confinement” building was known,
- if opposition had known, money would have never been allocated … Parliament would have never allocated the funds. Jones pointed out that NOC is a facility for juveniles, and placing them in such a room would do nothing for them. He said that this flies in the face of what the Ministry has been touting about rehabilitation. “What we have here is a clear case that the Ministry is building a youth prison at the NOC,” Jones told Kaieteur News. On Tuesday bids were received for phase two of the construction of the “Confinement Building”. Both Minister Frank Anthony and Permanent Secretary Alfred King had denied that there is a detention room at the NOC, with conditions which are even worse than the Brickdam lockups. Late last month the Ministry through King had invited bids for the execution of the construction of a “Confinement Building” at NOC. The advertisement was published in the Guyana Chronicle. It had asked that interested bidders obtain further information, familiarize and purchase a complete set of bidding documents upon having a written request. The bidders were also asked to pay a non refundable
fee in the amount of $5000 to the Ministry of Culture on Main Street. All bidders were asked to submit their bids, together with the bid security for the amount of $375,000 not later than June 10, 2014, at the boardroom of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board at the Ministry of Finance. Within the last two months, several allegations have surfaced from the NOC about caregivers engaging in sexual acts with teenagers. Parents have come forward and told harrowing stories about sexual abuse. The Child Protection Agency (CPA) had stepped in and removed four teenage girls from the NOC to facilitate an investigation. That investigation, according to the CPA, is still ongoing. Opposition Leader, Brig. David Granger, had said that his Party had no confidence in the capability of the Ministry of Culture to administer the New Opportunity Corps. Granger had proposed that the responsibility of the Corps be transferred to another Ministry or agency that possesses the requisite personnel and skills, and which is better prepared to tend to the lives of juveniles sympathetically.
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Kaieteur News
Roadside vendor attacks Works Ministry demolition staff Police on the East Coast Demerara are preparing to charge a roadside vendor who attacked an employee of the Ministry of Public Works, injuring him in the process while he was carrying out demolition work last Friday. The incident occurred when workers from the Ministry attempted to remove the meat vendor from the Government reserves at New Hope, East Coast Demerara. According to the Ministry, four days before the incident, the vendor was given a “Notice of Violation” with respect to the erection of the permanent structure on the reserve, the penalties risked and necessary steps needed for approval to erect any structures. The Ministry said that the vendor refused to comply with the notice, which prompted the Ministry to demolish the permanent shed he had built. But in a show of defiance, the vendor placed a stand and continued to sell at the location.
On Friday, Ministry of Public Works employees informed the vendor that he had to move and as they were in the process of removing the meat knives and cutters, the vendor pulled out a meat saw and attacked the staff. One employee sustained a cut to his right arm. The matter was reported to Cove and John Police Station where an investigation was launched. Police sources have indicated that the vendor claimed that the workers approached him without any form of identification. He said that he was just protecting his property. Meanwhile, the Ministry reiterates that the unauthorised erection of billboards and structures on the road reserves, property line to property line is an offence by the law. These structures are a traffic hazard to both motorists and pedestrians. Anyone desirous of erecting any structure within the road reserves MUST obtain written approval from the Chief Works Officer with the Ministry of Public Works.
Industry calls for tighter ... From page 11 taking note.” Insiders have estimated that in total, as many as 250,000 ounces may have been smuggled to Suriname this year by the dealer and other parties. “There is one other point to note. Small miners, especially because of the drop in gold prices, literally cannot afford to hoard. They have to sell. They live month to month. “Business is not so good
with equipment companies even starting to repossess their excavators. Naturally, the miners would sell to the dealer with the best price,” a senior GGDMA official said in confirming that its body is aware of the complaints. This year, Government is targeting a recording breaking 484,562 ounces. Last year’s gold declaration was the largest ever at 481,087 ounces. Gold export earning was a massive US$648M as at December 31, last.
Thursday June 12, 2014
Unused IFMAS modules will make for easier, efficient audits - AG Sharma By Gary Eleazar Should the two unused modules of the Integrated Financial Management and Accounting System (IFMAS) be operationalised, it will certainly make for an easier and more efficient audit of government books. This is according to Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, who in a brief interview with this publication yesterday said that the use of the two modules would mean centralizing the records as against them being scattered across the various Government Ministries. Sharma explained to this publication that at present the Audit Office inspects the manually prepared fixed asset registers which are kept by each of the Ministries. Sharma said, too, that the purchases made by each Ministry are kept in their individual purchasing registers. When it comes to auditing, the officials from the Audit Office would have to go to the various locations to conduct their assessment. According to Sharma, with the modules being operationalised, all of the information would be in one centralized location. He said that the system was designed to give Government more control over its financial information across the ministries. The IFMAS system was prepared with seven components, namely the Appropriation, Expenditure,
General Ledger, Budget Preparation & Reporting System (BPRS), Purchasing, Revenue and Asset & Inventory Modules. The Purchasing and Asset and Inventory Modules are the ones that have not been implemented. The unimplemented Purchasing Module seeks to provide the ability to create purchase requisitions and orders with self-creating commitments to reserve the necessary funds; provide the ability to record the receipts and return of goods and automatically update the purchase order to reflect the transactions; complete integration with the payment process to reflect payment for goods ordered and received; and provide the ability to create an asset record when goods are received. The unimplemented Inventory/Assets Module seeks to provide the ability to create inventory and asset entries when entering a new record based on the requisitions; provide the ability to have automatic stock ordering when the
Auditor General, Deodat Sharma system hits a user-defined reorder point; provide the ability for tracking issues and receipts; provide the ability to enter receipts for deliveries to stores via the Purchasing Module; provide the ability to make adjustments to reflect inventory average and shortages; and provide the ability to provide queries and reports on current inventory, stock activity and receiving reports. It was former Auditor
General Anand Goolsarran who brought to the limelight some of the potential consequences of not having the modules operationalised. Over the weekend, the contentious issue was raised with none other than Head of State, President Donald Ramotar, who committed to having his Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh meet with the press to provide answers to the numerous questions. To date, Dr. Singh is yet to host a press engagement to clear the air on the outstanding questions. IFMAS was implemented on January 1, 2004 under former President Bharrat Jagdeo. Its intention was to modernize the business of the government. It is responsible for recording all financial data generated by the government. These include the issuing of cheques, recording of warrants and contingencies fund advances, and the generation of the annual financial statements. The accounting system was specially designed to suit Guyana’s financial landscape.
Education Ministry helping to tackle NCDs with Health Fair
At the Ministry of Education’s Health Fair yesterday Emphasising that the Ministry of Health’s efforts to combat chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCD) is not being done in isolation, the Ministry of Education yesterday spearheaded a health fair designed to detect NCDs, primarily among its staffers. Venued at its 26 Brickdam, Georgetown headquarters, the Ministry collaborated with the Health Ministry to offer a variety of health services, including blood pressure testing, blood glucose testing, Body Mass Index testing, and substance abuse and HIV testing. In addition to the dissemination of information on food and
nutrition, and sexual and reproductive health, the event also allowed staffers to donate blood and be vaccinated. All services were offered at no cost and were even accessed by some curious passersby. According to Ms. Dionne Browne, who is attached to the Education Ministry’s School Health, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Unit, yesterday’s event cannot be considered a new feature since it was first initialised in May of 2012 when the Ministry launched its ‘Healthy Work Space’ programme. This programme, Browne pointed out, is one that seeks to ensure that all employees, at all levels, are
aware of their health status. Moreover, moves have been made consistently, she disclosed, to partner closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure that a number of health services are available to employees. “The whole intent is to ensure that these services are available on site so our staffers can just come and get checked out to be aware of their health,” said Browne. She pointed out too that the health fair yesterday was therefore geared towards ensuring that physical education is added to the programme, an aspect that is being undertaken in (continued on page 24)
Thursday June 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
Bandits hit C/ville Post Office The Campbellville Post Office was yesterday robbed of $1.3 Million by an armed bandit around 8:35 hours. Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Guyana Post Office Corporation Telesha Whyte said that the gunman entered the post office like any other person conducting business would. However, soon after his intentions were made clear when he brandished his weapon, kicked open the door leading to the unauthorized are a s t h a t housed monies kept by the office and the path leading to the Postmaster’s office, and proceeded to rob the office. According to the PRO, members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were summoned and investigations were launched into the robbery. She said that whenever the office is in need of money, security personnel would bring it. She said that the post office corporation also has a police escort as well but
didn’t want to elaborate further on the financing of the institution since, according to Whyte, “Apparently persons are monitoring us.” She did not know if the money that was stolen was in the safe which is housed within the office or if it had been outside when the bandit robbed the premises. The PRO could not say how the robber apparently knew that the Post Office was receiving money, if the robbery was premeditated, or if the bandit acted ignorant of that fact. According to Whyte, “We have been putting security measures in place. Definitely we are going to have this office on our radar. We have our security but most obviously that would have to be increased.” Taking what transpired yesterday into context, the Public Relations Officer was asked if security for the other post offices would be increased. She said they are working on that.
The Campbellville Post Office remained closed and it won’t be opened until the police have completed their investigations. Persons are being asked to use the other offices within town such as the Bourda Post Office, the Head Office, and the Kitty Post Office. None of the employees were injured physically but the PRO said that they ensure that their employees receive counseling in cases like this “because this experience has been a traumatic one. Imagine somebody putting a gun to your head.” Meanwhile, the police have sent out a release informing that the suspect was armed with a handgun. He held up the Postmaster and Staff. The release also confirmed that the bandit took $1.3M and escaped on a waiting motor cycle. Investigations are continuing. The Campbellville Post Office was robbed before.
The Campbellville Post Office
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Mother identifies body found at Ogle Access Road
Young Azeez's grandfather, Abdool Kadair, mother Bibi Azeez and sister, Shaivannie Singh The body of 17-year-old Bahker Azeez, of 129 Third Street Montrose, East Coast Demerara, was identified by his mother who really did not know what to expect when she visited the Georgetown Public Hospital yesterday morning in search of her missing child. The woman, Bibi Azeez, was unaware that harm had befallen her son until she received word Tuesday evening that he may have been murdered. The mother told Kaieteur News that her son lives with his grandfather at Montrose. She lives two villages away at Mon Repos. She said the last time she saw her son was on Saturday morning when he visited to ask for some money. Azeez said she did not have the money at the time but promised her son that she would send it over in a taxi later in the day.
Centenarian Ellen Benny misses the ... From page 20 than 28 years ago. The union produced three boys and two girls: Edmond is the only surviving child. She was employed by the sugar estate, and recalls, “me do shovel work and weed grass”. Gwennie, Somal, Daris and Sonya were all her workmates, she related. “Me mudda them set it up,” she said when she was asked about the start of the union with Benny. She saw her husband for the first time on her wedding day, after which they moved to Number Two Village. “Me don't eat beef, pork or unscale fish—I like eat good fish, snapper and thing and greens—baigan, bhajee,” she noted. “When me a walk me does blow,” she said, a reference to
her shortness of breath. She has also lost much of her sight. Her son takes her to Dr. Ramsackal from time to time for health check- ups. “She doesn't visit steady—only when she feels unwell,” her son said. He would also take her from time to time to a Hindu temple in the village. “She does help herself, but in terms of cooking and so on, I does have to cook and bring…She does not complain that she wants this or that. For as long as I know her, she worked hard. She used to work in the back dam, leaving morning and come back in the night. “Since me know my mother, she never sport and drink rum—just a straightforward housewife—dedicated. That's the way I know her. And my father was a quite simple
man—the only thing about daddy, is when he drink rum. He like to drink he rum.” FOND MEMORIES Edmond, 66, stated that he is indeed thankful to see his mother reach 100 years. She celebrated her 101st birth anniversary on New Year's Day. He said that his mother “likes to drink tea bad—about three to four times [per day]. Her (specialty) is the ground coffee—that is what we grew on. She like her tea and we never out of tea and when she get up she drinks tea and she gives us.” During his younger days, he recalled, his mother sent him to school barefeet as they could not have afforded footwear. “When I don't want to go school, she beat me and drag me and lift me up, carry
me in front of the school. She made sure I got my education. She call the big boys and me feel embarrass. “I had one pants and one shirt; she washed it night time and I wear the next day.” His mother, he noted, was also a disciplinarian. Any misbehaviour and there would be no cinema outings for him and his siblings in the weekend. “We use to go see Indian pictures Saturday night,” he noted. He made a special appeal for a hearing aid for his mother so that she can hear clearly what they say to her. He also wants her to enjoy the sounds around her which he believes can enliven her spirits since she is almost tuned out from the world. “This old lady needs a little help,” he appealed.
However, the woman said that she did not hear from him again. She said that on Tuesday evening she received a phone call from her son-in-law who asked whether she was watching the news. Azeez said that her son-in-law informed her that her son had died and that it was showing on the television. The woman said that she travelled to the city early yesterday morning to ascertain the truth of the information. An officer from the Sparendaam Police Station accompanied her to the hospital morgue, and it was there that she said she made the heartbreaking discovery. “I didn't know what to do. It was my son. I started crying and screaming until they put me out of the morgue.” Azeez said that she heard that her son had been stabbed but the post mortem will not be done until Friday. Shaivannie Singh said that she and her younger brother lived with their grandfather, Abdool Kadair. She said she last saw her brother Sunday night; he was not seen on Monday and Tuesday. “I didn't take it for anything, because he would usually hang out.” She explained that on a few occasions her brother was held by the police for “liming” so she thought maybe that was the case. Sixty-one -year-old Kadair said he last saw his grandson on Monday evening, the day he was allegedly killed. The man explained that late Monday afternoon he was “liming” with his grandson at the gate of the property. He said that a young man of Amerindian descent was riding a bicycle and his grandson stopped to talk to him before he rode off. The grandfather said that he left to have a bath, and when he returned, young
Azeez was riding the said bike. The grandfather said he again left his grandson on the street and returned to his house. About 18:00hours that evening he saw his grandson come down the staircase well dressed with a shirt, jeans and sneakers. Kadair said that he had a short conversation with him but he did not ask the teen where he was going, and the teen did not say anything. Young Azeez got on the bicycle which he had parked in the yard and left. Sometime later, the grandfather said, the teen returned wearing just his vest and pants. “But while he going up de stairs I hear he on he phone, 'I can't mek it now man, nah now”. He said the teen went up the stairs, came back down and left the yard. The family is at odds as to who would have wanted to harm their young relative. Kadair said, at home, his grandson was not troublesome, but that he could not speak for the streets. The sister said that her brother has a few friends; most of those they knew are from the area and they usually stay at the gate when they come to her brother. Young Azeez last worked at an auto shop at Sparendaam and may have had friends there, but the family could not say what the teen was doing at Ogle Access Road where his body was found. Young Azeez, who is also known as Andy, was found with what appeared to be stab wounds on Monday evening around 20:30 hours. He had the name of some four persons tattooed on his chest. Two of those names turned out to be his mother and sister. His alias was tattooed on the fingers of his right hand.
Page 22
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
Kaieteur News
FOR SALE/RENT American Pool tables - Call: 277-0578
Dressed and mill cut lumber: Kabukalli, Silverballi, Greenheart, Purpleheart etc – Call: 688-6579 One bush cutter - Call: 6816603 Dell computers with 17" Leds -$59,000, laptops from -$64,000, Blackberry 8310 $9,000 @Futuretech – Call: 231-2206; 644-6760 Prestige Car Alarm remote start - $24,000, USB Pioneer car deck – $22,000 – Tel: 6616793 1 Frigidaire 15 cu ft Gallery Freezer and 1 Ultra Chef 13 cu ft Display Cooler, (both like new) Call 622-2899. 1 Titan fully loaded 4 Wheel Drive, $2.6M Negotiable – Tel:699-2322 or 678-2814. Must go urgently! Executive houses located @ Ogle, Foulis E.C.D, Diamond, Parfaite Harmony etc – Contact: 223-8479/ 6473768, www.spaceseek.gy Established business place, 3 storey building @ Lot 220 South Road – Contact: 2271042, 601-3399, 676-5450 Toyota 4-Runner, great condition - $1.7M negotiable Tel: 223-9719, 227-1028 Tibetan Terrier Puppies for sale – Telephone: 226-4166, Cell: 641-8571 Pluck Chicken – Call: 6273484, 253-3246 PSP games for sale - $800, Alcatel one touch evolve Contact: 675-2239
FOR SALE Ford F150 in excellent condition – Tel: 676-0706 or 660-8260 A fully equipped sawmill operation at prime location: large land space, plenty suppliers & customers – Contact Swamee: 614-1466; 678-1421 4WD Ford 150XLT V8, excellent condition, price negotiable - Tel: 698-0904 One brand new complete 200HP boat and engine Contact: 660-9844 or 649-8743. 1 Double stall with overhead storage in Stabroek Market, central location - Call: 6197925, 225-7759. Can be inspected: Mon-Sat 08:00hrs16:00hrs Mix breed German shepherd pups, 8 weeks old, fully vaccinated & de-wormed – Tel: 649-7271
Large cooler (6ftX4ft) in perfect condition - $275,000 negotiable – Tel: 223-9719/ 227-1028 48 Feet boat for sale – 9000lb seine - can be sold separately Call: 609-0783, 683-3379 Price negotiable One fridge, one radio set with power supply – Tel: 6735882
One house and land for sale at Covent Garden Island – Call: 265-3586 1-2 storey wooden & concrete house with 5 bedrooms, upper flat & lower flat 4 apartments located@ Shell Road, kitty - $38.9M Tel: 642-7898 Three bedroom flat house @ Belle West Canal #2 – Call: 601-1912. Prime location at Ogle - Twostorey house (need work), spacious land – Tel: 691-7049 Commercial property at Corner Spot, Lodge - Tel: 627-4900 Transport house & land @ Tuschen old Scheme newly built & visible from the public road – price negotiable – Tel: 667-5900 Herstelling - $16M, Grove $19M, 4.5M, $9M, Eccles $31M, Diamond - $12.5M, Public Road - $65M – Tel:676-5537, 646-1334, 6123501,667-2422 Prime business and residential 3 storey property in excellent condition, situated 11 Camp and Norton Street G/town, negotiable Call: Pearl Realty: 689-9991
VACANCY
SALON
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Drivers, visiting & security officers. Apply within NM Security Solutions Inc, Lot “O” Ruimveldt Georgetown Tel: 225-5773/76
Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
2006 Blue Nissan Titan. Fully Loaded GSS Series. Contact: 604-6108.
Earn a certificate in cosmetology, wig designs or nails alone, limited spaces Call Abby: 619-7603, 666-5241
2009 Red Nissan Titan. Flex Fuel GRR Series. Contact: 604-6108. Unregistered Toyota Noah with TV, 15" Rim, camera – Tel:663-2700, 629-2619
24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 670-8893/684-2838
Household items: stoves, beds, couch, sewing machine, etc - Tel: 223-9719, 227-1028 One two-storey concrete building at Tuschen New Scheme, E.B.E – Contact No: 627-6305, 668-6858
1 - Civil Engineer (full time), securities, skid steer & excavator operators, mechanic, body works man (spray), office assistant – Call: 603-4098 Real Estate clerks, Road foreman, operations manager, Accounts Clerk, Kitchen Assistant, Hauler Driver & Truck Drivers –Call: 603-4098 RA Soda Factory at Good Hope Branch: vacancies for sales clerk, bond clerk and drivers – Tel: 330-2399, 3302772, 623-5920 RA Soda Factory at Rosignol Branch: Vacancies for Accountant, Bond Clerk, sales clerk, Drivers, male & female workers – Tel: 3302399, 330-2772, 623-5920 Exist for one female cleaner; apply in person @ Alabama Trading, Georgetown, Ferry Stelling.
CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 225-7126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com ProgressiveAuto Rental: Cars & SUV for rental- $4,000 & up per day- Call: 643-5122, 628-2284 ,Email:pro_ autorental @yahoo.com Aidan’s Car Rental, Canter & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807 Wings Car Rental- Call: 6906494/ BBM pin: 24E17558
IAE - Camp Street - Registration has commenced Forms 1-5 (full-time school); day & evening, adult CXC classes Call: 683-5742, 223-0604 Summer Computer Classes: coming to Leguan. Call for bookings at MicroGraphics Technology – Tel: 264-3057
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. COOL TECH : Repairs Services & Installation of all types if homes appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units - Tel: 233-2008; 675-4959 Permanent & Visitors Vi s a Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 2256496, 662-6045 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, washing machines, A/C units – Call Lindon: 6411086, 694-2202, 227-8907 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer. Call Omar: 2310655, 683-8734
TO LET EDUCATIONAL
Honda CRV, Toyota AT192, AT212, Raum, L-Touring Wagon, AE100 Corolla, EP82 Starlet, Fun Cargo, IST – Tel: 644-5096, 697-1453
Office clerk senior/junior, CXC English, Mathematics & computer knowledge an asset- Call: 225-0188/225-6070
Imported pups for sale: Husky, Malamute, German shepherd, golden retriever, Rottweiler – Call: 615-5343 or 680-6426
5000 gas fuel tank - Call: 6013194 Used pedicure chair, hair dryer and salon chair – Tel: 668-9583, 698-5272 Spares for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943
PROPERTY FOR SALE For Sale by Owner: Twostorey property at 91 Third Street, East Meter-MeerZorg – Contact Mr. Basant: 277-3743/ Cell: 626-0150 Apartment building for sale at William Street, Kitty - Call: Shalini on 674-9266 or 6869248
Thursday June 12, 2014
1 – Four bedrooms house with all modern conveniences, semifurnished - $300,000 monthly, Happy Acres – Tel:231-7839 (working hours) 1-3 bedroom flat concrete house @ 1st Bridge Diamond, E.B.D - Tel: 674-2641
Now enrolling for a Diploma in computers (9 courses) special discount for 2014 CXC students at MicroGraphics, Vreed-EnHoop –Tel: 264-3057
Studio apartment semi furnished: light and water included - $40,000 per month. Contact: 227-3196 Furnished and unfurnished two bedrooms apartment in Eccles, for short or long term. Tel: 690-6494
Now enrolling for summer computer classes – Ages: 514yrs, certificate course at MicroGraphics Technology, Vreed-En- Hoop –Tel: 2643057
Three bedrooms apartment situated @ Ketley St, Charlestown, G/Town, Preferably a family of 3. No parking space! $45,000.00 monthly – Call: 226-4120
I.A.S – 94 Alberttown: CXC Adults/ Students classes $1200 per subject. Day/ Evening / Grade 6 classes – Call: 223-7906, 690-5008
Fully furnished two bedroom apartment for rent with TV, Air-condition, hot & cold, cable. In South for foreigners –Tel: 689-5877
Repairs, sales & spares, air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032,647-2943 House plan drafting from$10,000 electrical works and estimates services available. Tel:667-2189,646-6572,629-8750 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312, 627-3206 (Nick) For low cost: Repairs to fridge, freezer, A/C unit, microwaves, TV & washing machine - Call: 629-4946 or 225-4822 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING AND ESTIMATES FOR ONLY $10,000- CALL: 6949843/227-2766 NEED WORK CALL LABOUR READY STAFFING SERVICES AT: 603-6052 OR 227-2766 DaSilva’s Welding & Fabricating specializes in: Grills, Gates, Pontoon, Lavador etc. Best prince in town - Call: 647-6880/ 219-1680 VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 F150 lighting (Black in colour) Call: 642-2135
First Class Auto: Allion, Premio, Spacio, IST, 212, Fielder, Raum, Allex, Runx, Bluebird, Axela - Tel:6098188, 638-3045 One Toyota Land cruiser Prado, PMM Series Call: 225-0188, 223-7500, Mon-Fri 8:15-4:15pm, Sat - 8:15-1:15PM Toyota Avensis 2003, PRR series 18" Rims, leather interior, HID, A/C, Alarm, TV, $3.250M, immaculate condition! Tel: 609-7257, 602-5974 2006 – PREMIO - $2.3M, 2008 – BLUEBIRD - $3M, 2005 – SPACIO - $2.1M. ALL VEHICLES ARE FULLY LOADED & UNREGISTERED – CALL: 642-7295 2 Silver Spacio – registered and unregistered, dark interior, new model with TV – Tel: 697-0294 One Toyota Rav4, PMM Series, fully loaded, good condition - Price$1.9M negotiable. Contact: 669-6499 2002 unregistered Toyota Regius 8 seats, fully loaded Tv/Navi/AC/PW/PS, alloy wheels - $1.8M - Tel: 624-5617 One Leyland DAF container rice truck- Call: 602-0393/ 629-1497 Toyota Rav4 in great condition, woman driven $2,750,000 negotiable – Call: 609-8425 15 Seater Diesel Turbo minibus late ‘NN’ Series, never used for passengers - $1.6M negotiable – Tel: 617-3124 Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered 212, Allex, old & new model Spacio, 05 & 03 Allion, Voxy- Call:6523820/ 665-4529 One AE100 Corolla Wagon with A/C, alarm - $800,000 – Tel: 611-6632, 664-3488 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 (Continued on page 23)
Thursday June 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Letters... Where your views make the news
To be fair, we must compare the... From page 5 Hoyte to be dubbed Desmond Persaud. Doesn’t that constitute an apology also? Hoyte also removed the compulsory aspect of the Guyana National Service that was perceived to be humiliating to Indian women particularly. Isn’t that an apology too? What about Hoyte’s jailing of the head of the infamous House of Israel, Rabbi Washington? Doesn’t that action speak louder than words? Mind you, this is the same House of Israel under scrutiny in the Rodney COI and one of its founders, Joe Hamilton, is now a high-ranking member of the PPP government. Let
us not forget too, it was the PPP who pardoned and released Rabbi Washington. Dr Dolly Hassan, who was also at the NY meeting with Granger in a recent letter to the press mentioned freedom to criticise the government as if it were something only realised under the PPP. That freedom was granted under Desmond Hoyte. Stabroek News came into existence under his presidency as did CN Sharma’s TV station – of note, is that no independent TV or radio station has been granted a licence since the end of the Hoyte administration in 1992. What Guyana has experienced up to 2001, was a continuation of the Hoyte
years – there were no bad policies coming out of the Hoyte administration (PNC part 2) that the PPP had cause to reverse. In fact, what the PPP had promised was to accelerate the changes begun under Hoyte (among other still unfulfilled promises such as broad-based governance, rooting out corruption, and constitution and security reform). However, particularly after 2001, the PPP has reversed much of what was born in the Hoyte years. This is why today there is rampant corruption (under Hoyte public officials were punished, while the PPP has a long, spotless record of not punishing any high official),
out-of-control crime and an ever-widening gap between the rich and poor. Therefore, if we are to be fair, we must compare the PPP to PNC part 2 and not part 1. Finally, we note Dr Jagan entered into an arrangement with the Burnham PNC (PNC part 1) for PPP activists who went to the Soviet Union to study to obtain jobs with any public entity. Indeed, Mr Jagdeo was one of those activists who obtained a job as an economist through this facility at State Planning under the government of PNC part 2. And the rest is history as they say. Gerhard Ramsaroop Tarron Khemraj
Caribbean Press and Accountability From page 4 Culture”, SN – March 2) And in April, during his Parliamentary presentation, the Minister also promised books by local writers Pearl Lewis, Portia Dodson and Andrew Hutson. None of these books have yet seen the light of day, nor was there any transparency in the selection process for the authors. The Editorial Board promised by Anthony, Dabydeen and President Ramotar since last year has yet to emerge. Finally, there is the issue of the dismal accountability of the Caribbean Press when it comes to claimed expenditure, particularly on the printing and shipping of books. This is John Mair, acting as proxy for the Caribbean Press when the Minister and Dabydeen ran from my questions on the number of books produced by the Press and their location: “I have sought some factual guidance from Professor Dabydeen (to declare an interest we are friends of twenty years standing.... Five key facts are as follows… 1) The Caribbean Press was set up in 2008 after noted regional writers like Derek Walcott petitioned then President Jagdeo at Carifesta. Since then it has published 59 titles and 38 more are in preparation 30,000 copies of books in total. All, bar author copies and Austin’s bookshop copies (which I hope I helped to facilitate) have been given to schools and public libraries in Guyana.” (“We should stop carping and give credit to Dabydeen for enriching the intellectual present of Guyana with the riches of the past”, SN – June 12, 2013) However, in July of last year, asked the question, the Minister could not account, in Parliament, for the numbers of books printed, shipped and landed in Guyana and where they were located. Now, we
have, according again to the article on the Ministry’s website, the Ministry’s Director of Culture, Dr. James Rose, noting that “small [sic] packets of the books were being given to a number of agencies as they came off the press [sic] as such today’s donation seeks to fill-out the collection located within those agencies.” In a more responsible and competent parliamentary
and independent press environment, this would raise alarming red flags as to whether or not the Minister has spent public funds on the production of these books as he has claimed: it is either that the books are being produced in small quantities on demand as Rose indicates and the Ministry is now catching up with distribution; or it is that they were pro-
duced in bulk in thousands of copies as Anthony, Dabydeen and Mair have claimed, and which the Minister’s claims on expenditure have indicated although it has not been reflected in the actual verifiable number of books made available to the public. I do not anticipate Dr. Anthony’s response to these issues. Ruel Johnson, Janus Cultural Policy Initiative
(From page 22)
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One nails table - Busy area! Call: 602-5469 or 628-9297 Salon stations for stylist & barbers in comfortable atmosphere, hot & cold water, affordable rent - Tel: 619-5829, 683-3466 Space located at New Market Street, Charlotte Street Contact: 223-8479/ 647-3768, www.spaceseek.gy Executive apartments & houses. Three bedrooms Contact: 223-8479/ 647-3768, www.spaceseek.gy
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Four bedrooms luxury house located @ Bel-Air Park $2500USD - Contact: 2238479/ 647-3768, www. spaceseek.gy
One starlet EP-82 – Contact: 643-5161; 655-8505
Apartment for rent at Uitvlugt, W.C.D - Tel: 666-2442
Cheapest – New model Spacio, Noah Buses, VVTI Manual & Automatic buses, one Vizio 42" High Definition Television – Tel: 616-7635
1- Two bedrooms apartment at 35 Howes St., G/Town$45,000 per month- Contact: Pet Boy’s Shop between 11:00AM – 6:00PM
One black Nissan Bluebird; latest model – Call: 687-1392
GT TOOL RENTALS SPECIALS: CONCRETE SAW; JACK HAMMER WELDING MACHINE & MORE. 2ND TOOL ½ PRICE – CALL: 675-0767; 627-5098
TOURS Suriname Tour Return: July 4th/ Caricom Holiday 4-7 July Tel: 639-2663, 644-0185, 6655171, 227-8290 DRESS-MAKING Jean offers courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral, cake decoration at 153 Barr Street, Kitty - Tel:670-2653, 618-1706
WANTED Part time domestic between 20-35yrs, West Bank Demerara – Call: 626-2629 Experienced bus driver & hire car driver at Princess Hotel - Tel: 265-7075/ 265-7076 One cook for home in interior – Contact: 681-6044 Farm worker, gardener – Call: 265-3586 Pacific Development Construction: foreman and office assistant must have driver’s licence – Contact: 227-8274/ 223-6035 Live-in domestic must know to cook 25-35yrs, live-in waitress 18-25yrs: salary $50,000 monthly, boarding & lodging free- Tel: 610-5043 Experienced taxi drivers for Gem’s Taxi Service - Call: 2313709, 667-9013 Two experienced straight stitch sewing machine operator – Tel: 220-9154 One hire car driver from W.C.D – age 35-40yrs. Contact: 616-0111 Hire Cars at Atlas Taxi Service VHF Network – Call: 661-3043 One experienced taxi driver to work day only – Tel: 2276567/ 663-9352 One experienced driver, Apply in person with written application @ Hack’s Halaal, Lot 5 Commerce Street. We buy all low income land in La Parfait Harmonie, Herstelling, Eccles, NonPareil – Call: 218-5591 or 6757292
LAND FOR SALE Farm: East Bank Demerara , New Scheme: land (58X110) (front corner lot) - Tel: 603-9700 La Parafaite Harmonie $1.4M, Cummings Lodge $2.5M, Herstelling - $3.2M, Grove- $2.6M – Call: 2185591, 675-7292
MASSSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heaven in its many forms by our masseuses: Abby, Lisa & others –Contact: 697-2011
Mining Blocks at Mazaruni & Kwakwani- Tel: 627-4900 VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 AE110 Sprinter, Corporate Yellow, $600,000 negotiable Tel: 611-1018
Page 24
Kaieteur News
PM’s son to make submissions in wounding case The court yesterday granted an application to allow the defence and Prosecution involved in the case of the embattled Prime Minister’s son to make closing submissions next week. Samuel Hinds Jnr. is currently facing the courts on three charges which stemmed from an altercation with his teenaged sister-in-law late February. Reports are that Hinds, who had accused the teen of stealing one of his cellular phones, flew in a fit and, brandishing a gun, thrashed and threatened to kill his sister-in-law. He subsequently faced the court for unlawfully and maliciously wounding his sister-in-law, Tenza Layne, on February 27 at his Lot 83 Duke Street, Kingston residence. He is accused, too, of threatening behaviour towards Layne. Following the incident, they were both charged but the case against the teenager was dismissed. The trial is being conducted before Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond. Hinds is being prosecuted by Lance Corporal Jomo
Accused: Samuel Hinds Jnr.
Nichols. He is represented by Attorney-atLaw Peter Hugh and is on $200,000 conditional bail. Both the defence and Prosecution have since called several witnesses in this case, and are expected to make submissions next Tuesday.
Woman’s head was forcibly held down in bucket A post mortem exa m i n a t i o n p e r f o r m e d yesterday on the body of Shelly Persaud of Friendship, East Bank Demerara, has confirmed what many had suspected-murder. The post mortem examination, which was performed by Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, gave the cause of death as drowning due to compression injury to the neck. The body of Persaud, a mother of three, was found at her home with her head submerged in a bucket with water on Tuesday. The findings of the post mortem confirmed that P e r s a u d ’s h e a d w a s forcibly held down in the bucket of water, putting an end to claims by her reputed husband that she committed suicide. The man remains in custody and is expected to face the court soon. He had reportedly told Persaud’s father, whom he had summoned to the scene, that he had found his spouse in that position
Dead: Shelly Persaud at around 02.00 hrs. Orin Morris, the dead woman’s father, said that the son-in-law had suggested that his daughter committed suicide after the couple had argued over her husband coming home drunk. But relatives of the dead woman were always suspicious that the ‘suicide’ was staged. “I know she did not commit suicide”, Morris told this newspaper yesterday, following the post mortem examination.
Kaieteur News understands that the couple’s eight-year-old daughter has told relatives that she heard her parents arguing some time Saturday night. The child reportedly also claimed to have seen her father beating her mother and pulling her hair while saying, “Tonight is the last night you will see your mother.” According to the slain woman’s father, his son-inlaw claimed that he came home drunk at around 23.00 hrs on Saturday. Persaud refused to sleep in the same room with him. The son-in-law reportedly said that he awoke at around 02.00 hrs yesterday and it was then that he found Persaud’s body. “He tell me she commit suicide, but from the way I see she, I know that no big woman can’t kill sheself in a bucket of water like that,” Mr. Morris said. From his observations, his daughter had suffered severe injuries to her neck.
Thursday June 12, 2014
Region Two councilors target shortcomings Regional councillors representing the various political parties got the opportunity to interface with heads of departments in Region Two, at a specially convened meeting, organized by the Region Two Administration, on Wednesday. The venue was the Region Two boardroom. Councillors representing the opposition parties, The Alliance For Change and A Partnership For National Unity, raised issues about the lack of drugs at the Suddie Public Hospital, drainage problems in the Region, and Sub-standard road works. AFC councillor, Naith Ram questioned the lack of supply of drugs at the Suddie Public Hospital fueling another question in the attempt of finding out whether the Hospital was equipped with a bone specialist. In response to his questions, Dr. Rama, a senior doctor assigned at the Suddie Public Hospital, explained that the hospital doesn’t have a short supply of drugs. However, drugs that are being supplied to the hospital
sometimes would be sent to the Coast in an untimely manner. Shanta Springer, a senior officer attached to the Suddie Public Hospital, said that the short supply of drugs to the Hospital has nothing to do with the Suddie Public Hospital. However, the fault lies with the Media Monitoring Unit. The officer explained that in some cases all the drugs requested by the Hospital are not readily sent to the Hospital. Rama, the bone specialist at Suddie, said that the Hospital was equipped with a bone specialist, but that specialist usually leaves about 16:00 hours. People’s Progressive Party Regional Councillor, Mrs. Juliet Coonjah made reference to the alarming number of pupils who have not been attending school, especially at Maria’s Lodge, Essequibo Coast. Coonjah said that children as young as 10 years old were not attending school; instead they were seen in the company of older boys smoking drugs.
The Regional councillor suggested to members of the Education Department that measures be implemented in order for Education officers to be gazetted. This would provide an opportunity to take to court parents whom she has described as neglectful and unconcerned.”We cannot be at rest; officers must be gazetted.” APNU Regional Councillor, Linda Duncan spoke of young men loitering at a farmers’ wharf at Supenaam, gambling and engaging in smoking drugs. In light of the continuous drainage problem experienced in the Region, Regional Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo said that an accretion cycle is being experienced at Somerset and Berks. This is causing heavy siltation. Samaroo has said that the Region has a pontoon and an excavator to help clear the clogged up channels. AFC Councillor, Naith Ram wants the region to install groynes along the sea shores but he was told that the government cannot afford this programme.
Teen girl swipes $$$ from beauty salon proprietor …remanded pending probation report A city Magistrate is set to rule in the case of a 17-yearold girl who, during her first court hearing, confessed to stealing a sum of cash from the proprietor of the beauty salon she would frequent. Magistrate Faith McGusty, who presided over the matter, indicated that she will hand down her decision later this week after she receives a probation report for the accused teen. She appeared yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with stealing a $140,000 from Talecia Vincent, on May 14,
at Shondel’s Professional Hair Salon, Freeman Street, Georgetown. To the charge, she pleaded guilty. Prosecuting, Corporal Seon Blackman explained that the two are acquainted since the teen would normally style her hair and have her nails done at the beauty salon. He said that about 11:30 hours on May 15, while at the salon, the teen noticed the victim placing portions of the cash in her handbag and in a drawer. “Your Worship, this defendant asked the virtual complainant for a glass of
water and she was left alone in the salon. When (the victim) returned, the defendant had left the premises.” Blackman explained that Vincent made checks for the cash and discovered that it was missing. The matter was reported. Subsequent investigations led to the teenager being arrested and charged. The Magistrate stated that she will be placing the accused on remand pending a probation report. The case will be called again on June 16 for decision.
Education Ministry helping to tackle NCDs ... From page 12 collaboration with the Education Ministry’s Allied Arts Unit. “We have now boosted this programme to ensure that employees not only have their health status checked, but we are also working towards their physical activity status as well,” Browne said. As such, Browne disclosed that the Education Ministry is currently on a mission to put in place “a comprehensive wellness programme”, even as she pointed out that, while there are some related services
being offered at the level of the schools, “we are trying to bring this over to the employees...It is a lead by example situation so that everybody will be aware of their health status.” Already the Ministry has in place a vision and hearing screening programme, as well as regular dental examination services that are offered to schools across the country. Such undertakings are well supported by the Ministry of Health in the quest to ensure the institution of School Health Clubs in all secondary schools, Browne noted.
But in order to reach all employees throughout the various departments that comprise the Education Ministry, Browne disclosed that similar events, as was held yesterday, will be venued at various locations during the course of the year. “Today we are at 26 Brickdam but perhaps six months down the line we will be at NCERD...so that all of our employees will be able to benefit directly,” Browne noted. The Health Fair kicked off yesterday morning with the launch of a physical education programme which
was coordinated by the Allied Arts Unit. According to Inga Henry of the Unit, for some time now the issue of physical education has been gaining attention. As such, she said that it was seen as important to engage staffers in physical activities as part of the efforts to promote health. This was being done in light of the fact that “one of the ways to prevent non-communicable diseases and help manage it well is physical activities.” However, Henry emphasised that there is also a crucial need to encourage healthy eating among staffers.
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Man dies of suspected Drunk driver kills three Chikungunya complications While the local Ministry of Health has not confirmed any deaths resulting from complications associated with the Chikungunya virus, suspicions have arisen that suggest that there has been at least one related death here. According to reports reaching this publication, the passing of 39-year-old Cordel Carvil Duncan at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital on Sunday last could be associated with the virus. The dead man is son of long standing trade unionist, Carvil Duncan, who in an invited comment yesterday was in no position to shed light on his son’s cause of death. According to Duncan, his son had spent a brief period in St Lucia and upon his return had complained of feeling unwell. It is believed that the young man could have contracted the virus during his stay in the Caribbean territory. St. Lucian health officials have expressed concern about the spread of the virus there.
Dead: Cordel Carvil Duncan The virus is one that has symptoms similar to dengue fever, complete with fever, headache and long-lasting joint and muscle pains. While unable to relate the symptoms his son exhibited, Duncan told this publication that “all he (my son) said to me is that he wasn’t feeling well. Any concerned father if his child says he is not feeling well would want to take him
to the hospital and that is what I did. “I took him to the hospital and they ran a series of tests; I don’t know what tests they did on him and I don’t want to speculate, but the one thing I know for certain is that he is dead and he will be buried on Tuesday,” said Duncan. According to Duncan, he is not yet in receipt of a death certificate and has not been afforded the results of the tests conducted on his son. “I don’t get involved in medical language because I am a trade unionist by profession and therefore I will wait until I have a thorough discussion with the doctor before I can make a pronouncement,” Duncan related. Guyana has thus far reported 14 cases of the virus that were all detected in sections of Berbice. The cases were confirmed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency in Trinidad, which has been working closely with Caribbean territories that have detected the virus.
Democratic Gains under... From page 3 blacklisting of Guyana by the Financial Action Task Force may reverse many of the hard-won gains. He said that it could be avoidable, and might yet still be avoided. “But to do so needs immediate action to adopt and implement the numerous recommendations that FATF requires of us all, including carrying out inves-
tigations into complex financial crime,” Ayre noted. He said that the High Commission, along with its United States and Canadian partners, has worked hard over the past 18 months to assist, including through offers of training and mentoring. “I do not know why this work, which requires no new legislation, has not been done….the UK also calls upon the political parties to adopt, without further delay, the revised AML/CFT bill,” Ayre said. He urged that political parties must know that the time for playing politics has
been over months ago. Despite the challenges, Ayre said that he remains optimistic about Guyana's long term future and the UK's role in it. This is a country of enormous potential with a talented, in some cases brilliant, population. He said that the key to Guyana's development is to provide the conditions required to retain this talent, rather than have it develop and enrich other people's countries, including my own. “Guyana's people are your greatest asset and the reason why I remain so fond of your country,” Ayre posited.
Injured: Matthew McBean Pandemonium broke out in a closely knit, family-oriented Berbice community last night after a “reckless” 18-year-old driver, Nakash Persaud, said to be in an intoxicated state, struck down and killed two sisters and their niece. The accident also left two in a critical state. Those killed were sisters Tabithia Latoya Bagot, 19, and Wanita Bagot, 16 who only completed her CXC on Wednesday and their threeyear-old niece Shemaine Cort. They were going home on their bicycles when they were hit from behind by the speeding Grey Toyota Spacio, PPP 5482, that was heading further up the Corentyne. Delroy Parks, 28, of Cromarty Village, Corentyne, was also in the path of the speeding driver. He, too, was riding his bicycle on the road when he was hit. That was not the end. The driver continued along his merry way, and hit down another person along the Number 35 Village Public Road, two villages away from Philippi. He was eventually intercepted by police in the vicinity of Number 56 Village after a high speed chase. Irate residents in that area came out and trashed his vehicle. Matthew McBean, 19, of Number 35 Village, a student of the University of Guyana
Berbice Campus (UGBC) was another victim. He was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital and then to the New Amsterdam Hospital where up to press time, he was in a critical state. The incident occurred around 18:30 hrs. The vehicle is registered in the name of Lakehram Persaud, of Lot 121, Number 51 Village, Corentyne. Eye witnesses said that the driver was swerving erratically when he hit his first victim, 26-year-old Elroy Park at Kilmarnach. Up to press time he was in the Port Mourant Hospital and in a critical state. The “drunk” driver did not stop. He continued for another three and a half miles to a peaceful and quiet community, Phillipi Farm, Corentyne. There he killed the two sisters and their niece. The trio was reportedly leaving a nearby shop where they had purchased some cellular phone cards and were just metres from their home. Even then Persaud did not stop. He continued in his dangerous driving and also injured another Berbician four villages east of Phillipi Farm. That was when Matthew McBean was hit. McBean is also said to have sustained injuries to the head and has lost a few of his teeth. “I was the first person who saw the silver vehicle
Injured: Delroy Parks coming into me and when the vehicle come and knocked me, I lost away,” Parks said. He was on the way to a wake on his bicycle. He received head injuries. At Philippi Farm a resident said, “He hit this child first, then he tried to run away and then he hit those girls…and then the boy.” The girls’ uncle, Ewart Bagot, said that he heard the loud impact and came outside to see his nieces lying on the road. “I walked across and saw the car coming…and it just hit the three girls.” They were pronounced dead-on-arrival at the New Amsterdam Hospital. Residents of the area were outraged at the driver’s actions and urged the police to make sure justice is served in this case. Latoya was employed with Blue Sky Communications at Tain, Corentyne, while Wonita was a Fifth Form student of the Lower Corentyne Secondary School. They leave to mourn their parents Angela Bagot and Warren Methford, as well as their brother Nigel Cort; while Shemaine leaves to mourn her parents, Lindon Cort and Chandrawattie Sundar.
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Sophia murder trial nears conclusion After calling two witnesses to the stand, Defense Attorney Huckumchand Parag made his closing address to court, yesterday, in the murder trial of Sophia resident, Roger Pilgrim. Pilgrim is on trial at the High Court for the murder of his neighbour, Shane Rowley. Pilgrim, of 68 ‘A’ Field, Sophia, called “Charlie Pants,” allegedly stabbed Rowley in the vicinity of his home on January 22, 2011. The killing reportedly took place during a fight that stemmed from years of suspicions about a damaged fence, which separated the home of the victim from that of the accused. The victim was stabbed in the neck and shoulder. He later succumbed to his injuries. However, the accused denied the allegation of murder on Tuesday, after a mixed 12-member jury was empanelled before Justice Dawn Gregory. Pilgrim’s attorney had summoned his mother, Joyann Rowley, to the stand. The woman told the court that her son intervened after her neighbour had physically attacked her. “Me son seh how yuh gun lash me mother, and
- Defence makes closing arguments Shane lash he with de chain. He run he round de yard and Roger pick up a knife and fire two juk pun he.” Yesterday, Pilgrim’s brother, Sherwin Roberts, also testified. He told the court that Rowley started to abuse him over a stolen tyre. Roberts claimed that during the period, Rowley attacked him. The witness said that his older brother (Pilgrim) intervened and a fight ensued. “He lash me in me head cause he say that we thief a tyre that been in he yard,” the witness said yesterday. Earlier in the trial, Police witness Inspector Chabunaught Singh was summoned to the stand by State Prosecutor Mercedes Thompson. Thompson is working in association with Attorney-at-Law, Natasha Backer. Singh told the court that he arrested the accused and later procured a caution statement from him at Sparendaam Police Station. He said that in that statement, the accused detailed the incidents leading up to the alleged murder. “Officer he (Rowley) beat
me brother and me mother and me bore he because he lash me with a chain,” the policeman said that the statement read. The witness said that the accused told him that he was asleep that day and was awakened by his younger brother. “When I wake up I see me brother, Sherwin, head buss and I see Rasta man (Rowley) had a big chain in he hand and he saying that nobody can’t pass through the fence. “I run outside and tell he he can do that. He push ma mother and I look around for a piece a wood fuh lash he but I see a knife by he step and I pick it up. He lash me with the chain across meh back and I tek the knife and bore pun he neck for defend meself and he fall down,” the policeman read. Singh explained that statement was freely and voluntarily given by the accused. “We used no force or inducement of any kind during the procurement of the caution statement.” Singh was the third police witness to take the stand. His testimony followed the
Roger Pilgrim evidence of two other police officers, Corporal Lincoln Fraser and Detective Corporal Rawlin Beharry. Fraser testified to witnessing a post mortem examination conducted on the victim’s body, while Beharry told the court that he visited the crime scene sometime after the incident occurred. The Prosecution should make closing arguments today.
Suspected GT&T cable thief shot A 19-year-old man is in a stable condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Co. (GPHC) after he was shot in the chest during the alleged theft of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) cables at Coverden, East Bank Demerara. Alton Straker is nursing a gunshot wound to the left side of his chest. According to police information, Straker, of Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara, “was shot by personnel from a Private Security Service responding to a report of persons stealing GT&T cable at Coverden, East Bank Demerara.” The police said that two men were confronted and during efforts to arrest them, one of the men was shot and injured to his chest, while his accomplice managed to escape. They said investigations are in progress. Straker stated, however, that he was targeted by his shooter. The lad believes that he was shot by a member of a community policing group and not by security personnel. He alleged that the men followed him and his friends before opening fire on him. Straker, at the hospital yesterday, said that he was
...victim says he was targeted
Alton Straker receiving treatment at GPHC returning from the city with two other friends. He claimed that around 21:00hours on Wednesday he got together with three friends and hung out at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) until midnight. He said that one friend left and the others decided to get their bicycles and “make a day break”. He explained that they rode their bikes to Georgetown from Soesdyke and spent some time on the seawall before starting back for home. By this time, the day was dawning, Straker said. He said that when he
and his friends arrived in Coverden, they saw a white van which started to follow them. He said they took it for nothing and continued on their course. Straker said that he stopped to urinate while his friends continued to ride on. That is when the van started speeding toward him and when it pulled up two men jumped out and one shouted “freeze”. On seeing the gun, Straker said he started to run but the man shouted again and threatened to shoot, so he decided to stop and he turned around to face the men.
He said the man with the gun told him to put his hands in the air and he did. He said the man told him to put his hands higher, while the other person kept shouting, “Shoot he, shoot he”. Straker said the man with the gun then shot him and he fell to the ground. “He started saying ah ketch he, he get knock,” Straker related. The two men then threw him in their van and took him to the Timehri Police Station where he was kept for more than an hour. Straker said that despite pleas, they refused to take him to the hospital. He said the men finally placed him in their vehicle and the next thing he recalled was waking up at GPHC. Doctors said that Straker would be kept at the hospital. It appeared as if the teen was not under police watch.
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Ukraine rejects Putin’s offer of gas discounts MOSCOW (AP) — Russia yesterday offered to restore the discounted gas price it granted Ukraine under the ousted pro-Russian president, but Ukraine demanded an even better deal and called for arbitration to settle the dispute. Speaking in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia was offering the discount as a “partnership deal.” Russia’s energy minister, Alexander Novak, specified the price offered as $385 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas. “We believe that our offer is more than in a partnership spirit, aimed to support the Ukrainian economy at a rather difficult time,” Putin said in televised remarks. “But if our offers are rejected it means we will enter another stage. This is not our choice. We do not want it.” Russia and Ukraine have been locked for months in a dispute over the price of Russian gas supplies and Ukraine’s debt for previous deliveries. Moscow has threatened to turn off the tap if Ukraine fails to settle the multibillion-dollar debt, but has repeatedly pushed back the deadline after Ukraine paid off part of the sum. European Union-brokered talks between the two countries in Brussels yesterday failed to reach a compromise over the price. The bruising gas dispute comes amid continuing fighting in eastern Ukraine, where government forces have battled pro-Russian rebels for two months. The insurgents have pushed for joining Russia following Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in March, but Putin has ignored their appeal in an apparent bid to avoid another round of crippling Western sanctions. Putin also seemed eager to
avoid cutting off gas to Ukraine, a move that would likely disrupt shipments to European customers via pipelines crossing Ukrainian territory. He emphasized yesterday that the latest offer would restore the price Ukraine had under pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. In December, Russia offered Ukraine an even lower price of $268 as it sought to give a financial lifeline to Yanukovych, who was facing massive protests triggered by his decision to ditch a pact with the European Union and opt for closer ties with Moscow.After Yanukovych was chased from power in February, Russia denounced his ouster as a “coup” and annulled all gas discounts, bringing the price back to $485 per 1,000 cubic meters, in line with a 2009 contract. Ukraine has refused to pay for Russian gas, calling the price politically motivated and demanding that Moscow lower it. Ukraine’s Energy Minister Yuri Prodan told reporters after the talks in Brussels that the price discount offered by Russia isn’t enough and demanded an even lower price. He said the Ukrainian government now believes that arbitration is the best option to solve the dispute. Prodan, however, added that Ukraine is open to talks to hammer out a temporary price while arbitration is proceeding. Despite the sharp disagreements, EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger, who is involved in the talks, said he hopes the parties will make progress in the next 48 hours. “I can see movement on both sides, and both sides will need to continue to move,” he told reporters. “There are
Vladimir Putin differences of opinion ... and we’re talking about billions.” Oettinger said that he has drawn up a draft agreement on the EU’s behalf that he hopes both Russia and Ukraine can ultimately agree to, including a temporary “$385 minus” price tag. He said the final price will depend on two factors: the volume of Russian gas purchased by Ukraine, and the length of the agreement, which he has suggested should be 15 months. That would be enough for Ukraine to see through the winter of 2014-2015 and allow it to build up its reserves for another winter. Oettinger said that Putin and Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko are to discuss the issue, but the Kremlin said there is no immediate plan for such talks. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk early yesterday said that Kiev initially rejected the Russian offer because there was no guarantee that it would last. Putin and Novak responded by saying that Russia was ready to guarantee the discounts would remain in place for one year. Gazprom, Russia’s gas giant, gave Ukraine a few more days to settle its gas debt before it would start demanding prepayment for gas, without which it has threatened to cut off supplies.
Russia tells U.S. that Kiev must stop operation in east Ukraine MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday that the Ukrainian government must stop its military operation and agree a ceasefire with separatists, the Foreign Ministry said. In a phone conversation with Kerry, Lavrov also emphasised “the importance of direct talks” between the government and proRussian rebels and the need to alleviate humanitarian problems in southeastern Ukraine, the ministry said. Lavrov “underscored the need for the swiftest halt by Kiev of its military operation in the southeast, agreement on terms of a ceasefire, a solution to acute humanitarian issues and ... real national dialogue on
Ukraine’s future structure.” The statement said Lavrov and Kerry both voiced support for efforts by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to defuse the Ukraine crisis, which has led to dozens of deaths and driven Russian-U.S. ties to a postCold War low. Russia has repeatedly called on the pro-Western government in Ukraine to halt its campaign to quash the rebels, while the United States and European nations have accused Moscow of supporting the separatists. Russia angered Kiev and the West by annexing Ukraine’s Crimea region in March, after protesters ousted a Ukrainian president who had sought to orient the country of 46 million toward its Soviet-era master Moscow rather than Europe.
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Roger Harper/Anandjit GOA observes ‘Int’l Olympic Day’ with Jog/Walk & 10km Team Run court action stayed Judge laments cause of action duplicated Another court action is cricket has been stayed. In this matter, Mr. Roger Harper and Daterrth Anandjit filed an action against all the officers of the Demerara and Guyana Cricket Boards. Justice William Ramlall ruled in this matter: “UPON HEARING Attorney-at-Law for the Plaintiffs and for the Defendants IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND DIRECTED that the hearing of whether or not the Interim Injunction should be made interlocutory herein be and is hereby stayed until the hearing and determination of an Appeal in Civil Action No. 59-W of 2011 Demerara in the Full Court of the Supreme Court of the Judicature which includes a similar cause of Action as in this Action.” In this action Harper and Anandjit sought to stop the DCB from holding their AGM in 2013 but from arguments presented by lawyer for the defendants Roysdale Forde, the cause of action was already sought in another matter in which both of the Plaintiffs, Harper and Anandjit, were injuncted. The defendants in this matter are all past
or present officers of the Guyana and Demerara Cricket Boards, namely: RAJENDRA SINGH, LALTA DIGAMBER, ANAND SANASIE, ALFRED MENTORE, ANAND KALLADEEN, RAVINDRANAUTH PERSAUD, RONALD SARJOO, NAZIMUL DREPAUL, COLIN EUROPE, RAY PERSAUD, KRISHNCHAND MANGAL, CHETRAM SINGH ,LIONEL JAIKARAN, RAMSEY ALI, FIZUL BACCHUS,DRU BAHADUR, TROY MENDONCA,TERRENCE HOLDER, RAYON GRIFFITH. Recently the Full Court stayed another matter against the Officers of the GCB. Vice President of the Guyana Cricket Board Mr. Fizul Bacchus, who was present in court, in an invited comment, stated that the officers of the GCB and the DCB continue to meet their obligations and respond to all these challenges but some persons are filing court matters against the boards and are not even attending the hearings. He opined that it was only a matter of time that the Judges start to realise that these individuals are wasting the court’s time.
Thursday June 12, 2014 ARIES (MAR. 21-APRIL 20) Enjoy taking courses or lecturing others. Your pursuits may end up being fruitless. You may find that your quick wit and charm will help you in obtaining allies.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Don't make a move; your confusion has caused this dilemma and you are best to back away and reassess the situation. Self-deception is likely.
TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) Get ready to do some fancy footwork when it comes to taking care of your financial situation. You can expect changes at your work place.
SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) Avoid friction with your mate. Do what you can to help them but don't neglect your own family. Help children complete projects they're having difficulty with.
GEMINI (MAY 22-JUNE 21) Spend time with youngsters today. Do not sign your life away. Check into art objects or precious stones. You can do well in group endeavors.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) You can't do everything on your own. Having your own business is a good idea. Promote your ideas now.
CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) Your accomplishments could exceed your expectations if you mix a little business with pleasure. Plans to make physical improvements may lead to psychological changes, too. Don't overindulge in anyway.
CAPRICORN (DEC 22.JAN. 20) Your home environment may be hectic, which could result in emotional upset if you aren't well organized. Use your inventiveness to find solutions. Don't draw too much attention to yourself at work.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Observations will be far more productive. You can ask for favors but don't take them for granted. Your emotional partner may make you angry today.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) You will be full of energy and you need to find something constructive to do. Abrupt changes concerning your professional position are evident.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23) Opportunities for love will develop while traveling or while attending religious functions. Be ready to explain your actions.
PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) Secret affairs can only lead to devastating circumstances. You may find it difficult to communicate. Avoid friction with your mate.
In a release, the Guyana Olympic Association (G.O.A) in observance of “International Olympic Day” has organised its annual Jog/ Walk & 10km Team Run scheduled to be staged on Sunday, June 22, starting at 06:00hrs (6:00 am) outside the Thomas Lands YMCA, Camp Road. According to the release, the Jog/Walk is not a race and is open to all persons ten (10) years and older and entry is free. It further added that the 10km Team Run comprises of two (2) females and four (4) males and they must complete the course in order
to obtain the points for the team. Each association/club/ school can enter the maximum of two (2) teams. The prizes for the Team run are as follows: 1st Prize $60,000 2nd Prize $40,000 3rd Prize $30,000 Persons participating in
this event will receive a T-Shirt and an IOC Certificate. Completed Entry Forms should be returned to “Olympic House” 76 High Street, Kingston, no later than 16:00 hours on Wednesday June 18, 2014. No entry would be accepted for the team run after the closing date.
NDA holds Draughts tourney on Saturday
The Guyana Draughts Association (NDA) will be holding a National Draughts competition on Saturday June 14 at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue. The game will be played on the Hundred-Square-Board. Registration starts at 09:00 hrs while the game begins at 10:00hrs.
Guyana Men’s B/Ball team hunts... From page 35 for the BVI on June 29, will have a player who played in the NBA among their overseas recruits in 32-year-old Rawle Marshall. Marshall is the first Guyanese born NBA player. He currently plays professional basketball in Europe and is scheduled to arrive next Monday. Marshall played in the NBA in 2005 and 2007. The 38-year-old Jason Misfire, who played in the NBA in 1999, is the only other Guyanese-born player to have played in the NBA. Darren Collision, who helped the Los Angeles Clippers to the Quarterfinals in this season’s NBA, was born in California to Guyanese parents. Both of his parents are from Guyana where his mother, former World Ranked 400meters runner June Griffith, dominated on the track in the 1970s. National Head Coach Mark Agard explained that by coming in almost three weeks before the Guyanese depart for the BVI on June 29, it will also mean both the overseas and the locals will be on the same page unlike in their last tournament in the Bahamas when some of the overseas players only joined the rest of the Guyana team when they were already in the Bahamas. Coach Agard told Kaieteur Sport, the availability of overseas players, who play a higher level of Basketball in their various colleges, increases the chances of Guyana winning by 80%. The Persaud brothers (Tyler & Damian), Richard Hall, who toured Croatia with a United States team, are already in the country and are of Guyanese parents. However, overseas players 6ft 9 inch Japanese-based Forward 31-year-old Gordan Klaiber, Delroy James, Steffan Farley, Ray Victor and
Trinidad based 35-year-old Andrew Ifill, who is the oldest player invited to the ‘try outs’ and Marshall, were all born in Guyana. According to the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) the entity has to raise $12 million for the trip to Tortola and has so far accumulated about 35% of that amount even with the $2 million contribution by the Government. The GABF is appealing to Government, the
private sector and other sponsors to support their fund raising drive. Meanwhile, the National Men’s and Women’s teams along with the Guyana Under19 Squad presently training for the Inter-Guiana Games scheduled for August in Guyana, will continue training sessions on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) from 18:00hrs each day.
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Brazil ready to finally Shewjattan is back and looking to affirm his class at CMRA get World Cup underway Group 4 racer Rupie Shewjattan poses with his Mitsubishi Evolution 5 outside of Auto Fashion.
By Rawle Welch Rupie Shewjattan is back. He made this known to Kaieteur Sport yesterday during an interview via telephone to confirm his participation at the upcoming opening leg of the newly-formed Caribbean Motor Racing Association (CMRA) which is scheduled to be staged on July 6, at the recently reconstructed Bushy Park facility in Barbados. Shewjattan, who started racing in 1996 in a Toyota Starlet in the Group 2 category, has been added to a strong Guyana contingent that will take on the best racers in the Caribbean on the newly-re-laid Circuit which recently hosted the Top Gear Festival that had in attendance former Formula 1 champion Britain’s Lewis Hamilton among others. The outstanding local racer, who has competed in all parts of the Caribbean including Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, told this newspaper that his vast experience combined with his Mitsubishi Evolution 5, which was previously owned by Jamaican Doug ‘Hollywood’ Gore, are two crucial ingredients for success and he believes that he has them and should be able to hold his own against the opposition. The local racer said he was relishing the prospect of racing against Gore since it would be the first time that he will be doing so after purchasing the car from him. Quizzed on the car ’s preparations, Shewjattan revealed that they’ve done a lot of work on it and credits the recent work such as refreshing the turbo among other related
upgrades as responsible for its reliability and his renewed confidence. The Guyanese driver disclosed that the team has already contracted a group of mechanics and tuners from Jamaica and they will be flying over to Barbados to apply the finishing touches ahead of race day. “We’ve done preparatory work here, but we did not get to do testing so I’m hoping to get in early and ensure that all the work on the machine is completed long before the time trials are held,” Shewjattan informed. The usually confident Shewjattan expressed confidence of doing well at the opening leg, adding that he has no fear for any one of the drivers in the championship. Shewjattan made a return to action at last November’s Caribbean Meet and performed creditably and according to him, he is hoping to take the same momentum into the Barbados leg of the Series. “I’m going to give it my best shot; I’m representing my country so my focus will be to secure valuable points for the team.” He said he is hoping that his usual sponsors Buddy’s Housing, Agri Parts, Palm Court, Prem’s Electrical and Auto Fashion, all come on board and offer their support to make his participation possible. Meanwhile, the other members of the strong Guyana contingent are: Group 4- Kevin and Kristian Jeffrey, Andrew King and Vishok Persaud, Group 2- Shairaz Roshandin, Chet Singh, John Joseph, Danny Persaud and Andre Dhanraj, while the Superbikers are Nikhil Seereeram, Matthew Vieira, Carlos Mendonca and Nicholas Boodram.
SAO PAULO (AP) — It’s time. The day Brazilians have been anxiously waiting for has finally arrived. Brazil plays Croatia today to get the home World Cup underway, beginning its quest for a sixth world title almost seven years after the nation was picked as host. After so much talk about delays, protests and problems, fans at last are getting a chance to cheer for the national team on home soil in football’s showcase tournament. If Brazil wins the opening game, the fact that the stadium in Sao Paulo isn’t even fully finished yet will quickly be forgotten. A loss, quite simply, is unthinkable for a nation whose identity is so closely linked to its football team. Brazil hasn’t hosted the World Cup since 1950, when it endured a heartbreaking loss to Uruguay in the last title-deciding game. This time, everybody knows that only the title will be enough to please the home crowd. “We are all eager to get started, we are just counting the days,” Brazil midfielder Ramires said Tuesday. “We know that the fans have confidence in our team and they are behind us. We have to do everything possible to try to win this World Cup. We know everybody is expecting us to do it.” Boosted by the home crowd, Brazil is one of the main favorites to recapture the trophy won by Spain four years ago in South Africa. But the other usual World Cup contenders will be trying to spoil the party in the land of football, including Germany, Italy, Argentina and the Netherlands, runner-up in 2010. Brazil is trying to become the first nation to win the World Cup at home since France did it in 1998. The Brazilians were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the last two tournaments, to France in 2006 and the Netherlands in 2010. A festive World Cup
atmosphere has taken over Brazil in the run-up to the tournament despite the country’s preparation problems and the threats of protests. Brazilians had been slow to get into the World Cup mood, but now streets are being painted with the green and yellow colours and local flags are being displayed on windows of homes across the country. The crowd support is one of the biggest reasons coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been saying loud and clear that Brazil is obligated to win the World Cup at home. Players also don’t hide that they believe Brazil is the main title favorite. “We know that we will have the fans behind us, and together I think we have a great chance of reaching our final goal, which is to win the World Cup,” Brazil starting midfielder Luiz Gustavo said. Brazilian fans had been questioning the national team before last year’s Confederations Cup, but the title in the warm-up tournament was enough to bring the fans back on board. That tournament also helped show that Brazil has a team capable of competing against the top football nations today. The victory came in a final against world champion Spain. “The Confederations Cup allowed us to regain our confidence,” said Scolari, the coach when Brazil won its last world title in 2002. “Now we have to repeat that during the World Cup.” Brazil begins the tournament having won 15 of its last 16 matches, the only loss a 1-0 result at Switzerland in the first match after the Confederations Cup. Brazil will start the World Cup with the same lineup that won the Confederations Cup, with 22year-old Barcelona striker Neymar leading the team. Croatia, led by Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric, will hope to pull off a monumental upset, but the team won’t be at full strength against the hosts. Coach Niko
Kovac won’t have forward Mario Mandzukic, who was red-carded in the team’s final qualifier, and experienced midfielder Niko Kranjcar, who had to be dropped from the squad because of a late hamstring injury. Novac was already without defender Josip Simunic, who was banned for 10 games by FIFA for leading fans in a pro-Nazi chant after a qualifying match. The high-profile opening match will be played at the troubled Itaquerao, the construction of which was delayed so badly that the roof won’t even be fully finished until after the tournament. A crowd of more than 61,000 people is expected at the Itaquerao, including many heads of states. The other Group A match will be played between Mexico and Cameroon on Friday in the northeastern city of Natal. Brazil and the other teams will be not only looking to get their hands on the World Cup trophy but the Prize money. The reward offered in this tournament is really attractive. The total prize money on offer for the tournament was confirmed by FIFA as US$576 million (including payments of US$70 million to domestic clubs), a 37 percent increase from the amount allocated in the 2010 tournament. Before the tournament, each of the 32 entrants will receive US$1.5 million for preparation costs. Once at the tournament, the prize money will be distributed as follows: US$8 million - To each team eliminated at the group stage (16 teams) US$9 million - To each team eliminated in the round of 16 (8 teams) US$14 million - To each team eliminated in the quarterfinals (4 teams) US$20 million - Fourth placed team US$22 million - Third placed team US$25 million – Runner up US$35 million – Winner
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Three overseas players arrive for B/Ball try-outs “I am very excited and a bit nervous to be here for the first time.” These were the words of Canada-born, USA based Guyanese ‘Small Forward’ Tyler Persaud who arrived in the Guyana on Sunday to vie for selection on the National Basketball team which will compete in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation 2014 Championships scheduled for Tortola, BVI from July 1-5. Tyler, his younger brother Damien and 22-year-old Point Guard Richard Hall, who plays in New Jersey, are already in Guyana and had their first full practice session with the local players on Tuesday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. “I came in on Saturday and met the guys on Sunday but this is my first full session. I had no expectations since I came here with an open mind and did not know what to expect. I will wait and see how well we gel as team after a few sessions but from the little I have seen I think we could get into the top three and advance from there,” Tyler said in an exclusive interview with Kaieteur Sport. “This is the first time I am coming here and I am already impressed with how things are being handled with the team. It’s too early for me to make an assessment on the
players” the 21 year-old Tyler, who has been playing basketball for 13 years, disclosed. Tyler, who is reading for a Sociology Major at the University in the US he attends through a Basketball Scholarship, revealed that he played soccer when he was younger but fell in love with basketball when he was nine after his Uncle told him he was tall for his age and encouraged him to play basketball. When not at school Tyler and his brother reside in Toronto Canada where Tyler says basketball is very big. He said his most memorable game was during his final year in High School and he played against a few NBA players. “There were a lot of Scouts and the Media was also there so we got plenty of attention. I did quite well in that that game,” Tyler recounted. “Toronto has the second largest number of NBA players after the US and my dream is to get an NBA draft someday. I also want to play in Europe,” said Tyler, who loves music and who is described as more ‘sociable’ than his 19-year-old brother by his mom Lynette, who hails from Bush Lot in Berbice. Both of his parents are from Guyana; his dad Raj who lived in Kitty before he migrated to North America, said that since school was out and his sons always wanted
At a recent meeting of the Executive Committee of the Guyana Cricket Board, it was unanimously agreed to postpone their National T20 Franchise League that was scheduled to commence this month prior to the New Zealand Test match. The GCB also regrets the fact that Guyana has again lost out on hosting International cricket at the Providence Stadium with the shifting of the third Test match between West Indies and New Zealand to Barbados. According to the GCB, this decision was totally outside its control. “However, we do understand, respect and appreciate the position taken by our parent Board, the WICB and trust that we would be able to make full use of our Stadium in the near future for the hosting of International and Regional cricket. The National T20 League would have seen at least 90 of our top local cricketers from around the country and
about 20 Regional cricketers participate in an eight-team tournament over a 10-day period and discussions had already commenced with sponsors and very competitive teams identified. Everything has now been put on hold due to the very uncertain climate surrounding our cricket administration vis a vis the new Cricket Administration Bill recently passed in Parliament,” the GCB’s release continued. “We thank those entities and individuals who submitted expressions of interest and promise that your correspondences would be placed on record and given priority when we are in a position to launch our league. We do apologize to the entire cricketing public at large but these are issues totally outside of our control. The GCB would advise the public via the media or its website on the future plans for this T20 League and our future plans for cricket administration in general,” the release concluded.
By Sean Devers
GCB postpones T20 League
Tyler Persaud ‘very excited & a bit nervous’ to see where their grandparents lived, this was an ideal opportunity for them to visit Guyana. “When we heard about four weeks ago that Guyana was looking to attract overseas players, we jumped at the opportunity,” Raj informed. “Basketball in North America is like cricket in Guyana and it was natural for the boys to gravitate to the sport. Baseball and American Football are also big over
there,” continued Raj, who has not been to Guyana in 13 years. Lynette, who helps with the training and conditioning of female Basketball players in Canada, informed that because he was afforded the opportunity of a Basketball scholarship at a younger age than Tyler, Damian, who plays as a Guard, is a better player fundamentally than Tyler but Tyler is more experienced and his track record speaks for itself. The Persaud family
visited Berbice on Sunday and on the completion of the CBC Championships they plan to return to Guyana for a month in order to give the brothers a chance to hang out with the new Guyanese friends they would have made from the tour and get to better learn about Guyana’s various cultures. “I can leave Tyler here on his own and he will quickly fit in because of his disposition while Damian, who is also a
confident boy but not as outgoing, could find it harder in a strange environment,” Lynette said. But for now the focus of the siblings will be getting selected on the Guyana team and assisting the South Americans to win their first ever male Caribbean Championship title. From what was seen during their first practice session, getting picked should be the easy part, playing as a well oiled unit and winning the tournament should be a bit harder.
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Debutant Craig stars in huge NZ win ESPNcricinfo - Tim Southee and offspinner Mark Craig demolished West Indies for the second time in successive days at Sabina Park to record New Zealand’s second Test win in the Caribbean. Craig took four wickets in the final innings to finish with 8 for 188 in the Test, the best match haul by a New Zealand debutant. West Indies were left to reflect on another abject batting performance. Their second-innings total of 216 was inflated by an 82-run stand for the last wicket between Sulieman Benn and Shane Shillingford, who swung merrily to score the second fastest Test fifty in terms of balls recorded. It only delayed the inevitable defeat. After West Indies had been set 403 to win, Chris Gayle began the chase with two boundaries in the first over, from Trent Boult, becoming the eighth West Indian to pass 7000 Test runs. He then watched Tom Latham move lithely at short midwicket, diving forward to catch a low flick from Kieran Powell, giving Southee a
wicket in his first over. In his second, Southee pitched a delivery on a good length around off and angled the ball away from Gayle. It was a delivery he had beaten Gayle with umpteen times in the first innings before finally hitting the edge. He did not have to wait at all this time. Gayle prodded from his crease with poor footwork and edged a low catch to the wicketkeeper BJ Watling, leaving West Indies on 11 for 2. West Indies’ slump took a break for tea and then resumed unabated. Brendon McCullum brought on Craig in the 12th over and the offspinner struck with his second ball, dismissing Kirk Edwards for the second time in the Test, caught at leg gully after the batsman pushed forward too early. New Zealand’s fielding and catching had made West Indies’ efforts in the field look lethargic all through the Test, and two outstanding catches gave Craig two more wickets in the space of three balls. The wicketkeeper BJ Watling adjusted to the high
bounce of an offbreak and caught the outside edge from Darren Bravo near his shoulder, and Latham dived quickly to his left at short leg to hold an inside edge from Marlon Samuels, who bagged his second two-ball duck of the Test. West Indies were 55 for 4. Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Denesh Ramdin began to form a partnership but there was a sense of futility to their efforts, given the magnitude of the task ahead. Unlike in the first innings, when Chanderpaul was solid all through his unbeaten 84, he played shots and edged a couple of his early deliveries. And when he padded up to the legspinner Ish Sodhi, and the New Zealanders went up in prolonged appeal, umpire Rod Tucker gave him lbw. It was a marginal decision, because Chanderpaul had taken a long stride forward and the ball was turning big, but replays predicted it would have clipped the top of leg stump. A broken innings now lay shattered. It was left to the new West Indian captain, Ramdin, to avert a four-day defeat, but when he missed a slog sweep and was bowled by Sodhi not long before stumps, New Zealand took the 30-minute extension to knock over the tail. What seemed a certain four-day finish, however, began to seem unlikely as Shillingford and Benn frustrated the bowlers with free-spirited, no-pressure hitting. One over remained in the day, and McCullum gave it to Kane Williamson. He needed four balls to have Benn caught behind; Watling capping a phenomenal match behind the stumps. Before their batsmen failed for the second time in the Test, West Indies’ bowlers had produced a much-improved performance to slow New Zealand’s attempt to build on an overnight lead of 260. In the second over of the day, Jerome Taylor hit the back pads of nightwatchman Sodhi and Ross Taylor with
consecutive deliveries. Both were dead lbw. Ramdin brought on his spinners from the 10th over of the day, and while Benn was economical, Shillingford took a while to find a good length. Once he began to toss it up fuller, he became more effective, and eventually spun one through McCullum’s defences. New Zealand were 55 for 5 at that point. Jimmy Neesham came out and played with the fluency that had brought him his firstinnings century, and even charged Shillingford to hit him over the straight boundary. West Indies could have had Latham’s wicket had they reviewed an lbw appeal from Benn that was turned down. He was on 25 at the time, and gave West Indies no more chances. New Zealand were slow in the first half hour after lunch, scoring only five runs. The partnership for the sixth wicket had grown slowly to 63 when Neesham miscued a
loft against Shillingford and holed out to long-on. The tempo picked up after Watling joined Latham. The batsmen rotated strike almost every other ball and Watling went on the offensive straightaway, sweeping and cutting Samuels for boundaries. In the first over after drinks, Latham played an uncharacteristically flamboyant drive and was caught at slip for 73, the first sign that the declaration was near. Craig clobbered his first ball in Test cricket over the long-on boundary, and moments later McCullum called his troops in. He had given his team a little over four sessions to bowl West Indies out, a little over three if they wanted to watch the first match of the football World Cup, and a little over two if they wanted to catch the opening ceremony as well. Southee, Craig and Sodhi needed less time than that.
TNT, Rage, F and H, Mix Up confirm participation in Golyn and Sons dominoes Local power house TNT, Rage, F and H and Mix Up have confirmed their participation for the upcoming Golyn and Sons Dominoes festival which is set to kick start on June 14 at Little Mark Boutique, North Ruimveldt. Other teams that have signaled their participation are Dream Team, Transport SC, Specialist, Scramblers, West Side, B 4, Police A and B, C 7, Spartans, R and R, Gangster,
Turning Point, Brothers and Double Duce. The winning team will collect a trophy and $100,000, the runner up $40,000, third place $20,000 while the most outstanding player of the final will pocket $3,000. One re-entry will be allowed and action gets under way at 14:30 hrs. The finals will be played on June 15 at the said venue. Contact Ryan Boodhoo on 656-5000 or Mark Wiltshire on 665-5855 for more details.
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Fitness Express powers up Adams and Mars for Caribbean Powerlifting C/ships
G
iving back to society and in this instance G u y a n a ’s sportsmen are a major pillar in the makeup of Fitness Express, according to Manager/Owner, Jamie Mc Donald. The entity, located at 47 John and Sheriff Streets, Campbellville on Tuesday last committed to athletes, Fitness Express Manager Jamie Mc Donald Paul Adams and Karel Mars (right) hands over the cheque to Paul Adams. who will be representing the
Golden Arrowhead at the 2014 Caribbean Powerlifting Championships slated for St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, July 7 – 14. Mc Donald handed over his company’s contribution to Paul Adams who would be competing in the 74kg Men Open category and would be seeking to capitalize on the absence of former 2012 World Masters as well as 2013 Caribbean Open 74kg
Champion Winston Stoby by staking a claim for the gold medal ahead of teammate Osmond Mack, Edwin Alma (Puerto Rico) and Michael Jack (T&T). The other athlete benefitting from Fitness Express’ largesse, Karel Mars will seek glory in the 105kg class but will have to overcome old rivals Adrian Browne of Trinidad and Tobago and Ramon Burgos of Puerto Rico. Ever since its return to competitive powerlifting at the Caribbean level, Guyana has established itself as one of the top countries at this level as well as the Pan American, Commonwealth and World levels. The likes of Winston Stoby, ‘Big’ John Edwards, and Dawn Barker have all been standouts and respected competitors at these levels; the new generation of lifters is seeking to maintain this reputation. The Guyana team: Paul Adams (74kg), Osmond Mack (74kg), Germain Snagg (83kg), Erwyn Smith (83kg), Marino Jeffrey (93kg) and Karel Mars (105kg). The females are Kimberley Mars-Loncke (84kg) and Chittra Ramlochan (72kg).
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Guyana Men’s B/Ball team hunts first ever Caribbean title
The National U-19 team practicing at CASH on Tuesday night. By Sean Devers The National Male Basketball team hunts their first ever Caribbean title in this year’s Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships scheduled for Tortola, BVI from July 1-5 and their hopes should hinge on how well their overseas players gel with the locals. The overseas players should all be in Guyana by June 24. The only time this country won any senior Caribbean Basketball was in 1996
when the Women’s team took the Championship title in Trinidad & Tobago. Back then the Women’s team was aided by the inclusion of seven overseas players and the 2014 Men’s side could take some inspiration from that fact. While this year’s National Women’s team will have only a single overseas player in Philomena George, who plays in Trinidad, for their leg of the tournament which runs from July 8-12, the Men’s team, set to depart (Continued on page 29)
t r o Sp
Brazil ready to get World Cup underway
Google Street View captured incredible photos on the ground in Brazil ahead of World Cup including this.
Tyler Persaud executes a ‘Dunk’ during
Three overseas players arrive for B/Ball try-outs
The Persaud brothers (Damian 2nd from left & Tyler 2nd from right) with their parents and overseas player Richard Hall.
Debutant Craig stars in huge NZ win Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210