Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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

EDITORIAL

A nation deceived

In a world where accountability is being treated with a significance that underscores its importance to democracy and stability, it has become painfully obvious that we in Guyana have, in the last decade and a half, lost the plot. Apathy has pervaded our society. There's an interesting quote which could possibly explain this. “The power to lead is the power to mislead, and the power to mislead is the power to destroy.” And destruction it has been. In the simplest of terms, we have been “beaten to a pulp” by those leading us. We all are by now aware that we are continually being taken for a ride. The staggering numbers are now a blur. It would be impossible to truly assess - in monetary terms at least - the effect of all the glaring dishonesty. Absolutely nothing is above board anymore. Deception reigns. There isn't even any incentive for those willing to tread the right path. When legitimate questions are asked about dubious transactions, characters and dealings, the answers clearly display the utter contempt for those who need to know - the taxpayers and ordinary citizens of this nation. In simple cases where there appears to have been oversight, there is no humility and acceptance that such mistakes can be made. The responses from the powers that be seem to suggest that those beneath them are presumptuous to query that which appears to be misplaced. The blatant disrespect has reached alarming proportions. Many of the individuals chosen to guide our nation have lost all sense of reason. Some government ministers and other high-ranking officials have decided that is unnecessary for anyone outside their inner sanctum to have any understanding of what is taking place around them. Putting it simply, this existing situation is essentially like having a personal bank account, depending on the experts to wisely invest your money, but then being told that what they do with your hard-earned money is none of your business. Such a scenario is unacceptable, so why is that as a collective we are not seeing this? How can it be that our citizens have lost the will to challenge that which we perceive, and in some cases clearly know, will to be detrimental to us, now and in the future? The answer is simple. We are a nation deceived. It has all been an illusion. There have been square pegs in round holes all along, but they somehow appear to be fitting perfectly. They are being blindly accepted. Even by those in position to make changes. The facts are being hidden. The very clever ones at the top of the food chain have mastered the art of deception. They confuse even the independent financial professionals. And when they can't bamboozle us, they use intimidation to solidify their position. A shady deal is struck. A hotel is built primarily with taxpayers' millions, and the people are saddled with the heavy debt, but an investor who puts in relatively little will eventually own it. We are told that it's a great deal and good for our country. That's deception. We erect a so-called state-of-the-art sugar factory at Skeldon for billions of dollars. The facility is a disaster from its inception. The then president, at the time of its launching, promises to personally get things firmly on track – to see that it serves it purpose and operates efficiently. He then goes his merry way (in terms of being held accountable) and the nation begins paying through its teeth for the prohibitively expensive waste. More deception. The Amaila Falls hydro debacle, the beleaguered Supenaam stelling, the far-fetched dreams associated with the Airport expansion, the well over budget Aquatic Centre and Relief Channel at Hope/Dochfour, the fibre optic cable…well, you get the message. Public servants need to be held to higher standards of accountability. Those in charge of the coffers must begin to feel the heat for their irresponsible actions. How much longer do we intend to exist as a nation deceived?

Friday June 13, 2014

Letters... Where your views make the news

I am overjoyed that many have seemingly experienced an epiphany DEAR EDITOR, As far back as April 2009, I made public my decision to run for Mayor of the Capital City of Guyana. I did not at anytime then present my decision in accordance with the current Local Government Laws and rules governing how the Mayor of the nation’s municipalities are selected. I deliberately did so in order to send a message to the people of Georgetown that I consider them the primary decision makers on who should be their Mayor. At the time, and up to quite recently many scoffed at my expressed candidacy, often reminding me that the

Mayor was not directly elected by the citizens.And even after severally explaining that I fully understood the legal construction behind the selection of a Mayor currently, and the structuring of my campaign was directly designed to challenge this dysfunctional system, the scoffing and reminders continued. We are kind of hard headed as a people sometimes. I recently wrote a letter that was published in both the Kaieteur News and Stabroek News in which I clearly and unambiguously reiterated my position that I was running for Mayor of Georgetown, and provided an explanation as to why my campaign was thus structured.

As I explained, quoting from my recent letter, “Yes, there is a nuance to my proclamation that I am running for Mayor, as opposed to seeking a seat on the City Council from which body, according to our local Government Rules, the Mayor is selected. I make this affirmation not only to illuminate the end goal of my political campaign, but I also wish to make clear my conviction that it is time for the Local Government Laws to be changed so that Chief Executives of municipalities are directly elected by the citizens of those localities. It is time for democracy to (Continued on page 8)

Friday June 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

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

Some concerns with Senior Counsel’s law school suggestions DEAR EDITOR, Allow me to respond to the learned Senior Counsel B T I Pollard’s letter “If the present law school difficulty is not overcome and the ideal of the law programme founders disintegrates, we shall have failed,” published in your newspapers, June 8, 2014. Senior Counsel Pollard institutional knowledge is rich and his great service to the genesis of UWI/CLE Law Programme is praise worthy. But to turn a quote from a text of English literature, Julius Caesar, the esteemed Counsel’s recollection and recommendations ‘might fire the blood of ordinary men, be not fond to think that I bear such rebel’s blood’ and that my own humble submission for a local law school can be so easily dispatched. Allow me to point out some concerns with what was laid out in the missive under the Senior Counsel’s measured pen. In his letter he notes, “Guyana then began to explore the possibility of easing its contributions by introducing the second year here as well. UWI and the CLE, although sympathetic, were wary of incurring any risk to the hard won accreditation mentioned before, and decided that if Guyana wished to have the second year in Guyana, it should offer a third year as well as a complete UG degree.” I humbly submit the section ‘The Guyanese Situation’ of the Barnett Report of 1996, which is a Council of Legal Education (CLE) official document, and in particular the paragraph 3.G.7. which reads: “In September 1993 the AttorneyGeneral of Guyana informed the Council that the Faculty Board of U.W.I. had granted approval for U.G. to proceed with the Year II LL.B. programmes in Guyana for the academic year 1993/94 but did not advise of the stipulations which had been agreed. Neither the U.W.I. Faculty of Law nor the Council of Legal Education was formally

advised by U.G. that as from the 1994/95 academic year it proposed to proceed with its own LL.B. degree. However, the Chairman advised the Council at its meeting in September 1994 that U.G. intended to proceed with the full LL.B. programme with effect from the 1994/95 academic year.” Secondly, I wish to point out the learned Senior Counsel’s submission that, “Guyana’s quota of 25 students under the original agreement was preserved, the top 25 graduates of the UG degree programme being afforded automatic places at the Hugh Wooding Law School.” The same section (supra) at 3.G.8 reads, “Guyana had under the intergovernmental agreement an annual quota of 15. It is not clear how this quota came to be treated as 25, but in any event there was already a backlog of over 100 Guyanese students. The decision to admit non-Guyanese to their second and third year programmes aggravated the problems, particularly as one of the academic factors to be dealt with was the disproportionate number of students to that of permanent full-time staff to students in the Guyanese programme and as to which concern had been expressed.” Thirdly, Senior Counsel Pollard favors Attorney

General Anil Nandlall position on a local law school but does not offer us why a position in the affirmative is negative. How could a position which enjoyed the CLE’s and Cabinet’s support in 2002 and the support of a task force put in place to examine such a proposal, administered by none other than the likes then Chancellor of the Judiciary, Desiree Bernard; University of Guyana Vice-Chancellor, James Rose; Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr Mark Kirton; a representative of the Bar Association and a member of the AG’s chambers and the late Attorney General Attorney General Doodnauth Singh become “superficially attractive” all but a decade later? How have the pervading circumstances of that era changed substantially, as to negative a local law school when our entire quota has been “effectively abandoned” (words attributed to Chairperson of the Counsel of Legal Education, Ms. Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, Chronicle, May 26, 2014) and the entrance examination route no less in doubt because of “space” (according to AG Anil Nandlall, when he met with law students in March). Fourthly, Senior Counsel submits that the idea of the local law school “would have to be thought through very carefully, however, because if

other Caricom territories are not convinced of the soundness of its programme content, they may withdraw the automatic entry to their national Bars presently enjoyed under the aegis of the CLE’s law school.” And easily following, Senior Counsel submits his real position which is “for Guyana to exercise some financial discipline and return the fold of the UW degree at Cavehill by resuming economic cost for its students.” I humbly submit that if Guyana has the capacity for “financial discipline” it has the capacity to apply the requisite skills with the discipline needed to convince the region of the “soundness of its programme content”. Also consider Senior Counsel’s posture for “Guyana to press the Caricom Heads to expand the law schools of the region, particularly Hugh Wooding that its graduates would attend.” In this case Guyana would also need to press Caricom Heads also for their “financial discipline” since it is common knowledge that most of the “contributing” countries to the CLE are in default.

Senior Counsel sums up his arguments thus, “If the difficulty is not overcome and the fabric is rent completely asunder into little island enclaves, we shall have failed comprehensively.” I beg to differ. Every law student knows that failure can be instructive if its lesson is gleaned in the correct light. I humbly submit that at this juncture what might be called for is reexamination of the CLE’s mandate; to reinvigorate the institution; it is a time for us to be innovative; and reinterpret the dream of the founding fathers. Finally, I submit here Trinidad’s position, documented in the ‘Report on the Development of Legal Education and the Practice of Law in the Caribbean Community: Comments of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’ (199?): “It was anticipated that the number of places available at the Law Schools must be

increased to keep pace with the inevitable growth in demand. The Council was created to ensure that this demand was met.” “In seeking to restrict entry to the profession…the Council perpetuates the belief that the Council was created to control the number of students entering the legal profession. This is not so. The Council of Legal Education was created “to undertake and discharge general responsibility for the practical professional training of persons seeking to become members of the legal profession”. In seeking to restrict entry to the profession, for whatever reason, the Council is exceeding its mandate. Nowhere in the Agreement is such power conferred upon the Council of Legal Education.” “The agreement therefore recognizes the fact that the need for law graduates within (Continued on page 8)

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Kaieteur News

Friday June 13, 2014

Prosecution’s star witness completes fourth day on stand Hogstye murder trial…

The prosecution’s star witness in the Hogstye murder trial, in which a man and his son are facing the capital offence, yesterday completed his fourth day on the witness stand in the Berbice High Court. The matter will continue today. On trial are Krishna called ‘John’, 50, of Alness and Letter Kenny, Corentyne, Berbice, and his son Romel Krishna, 24, also of Alness. They are being tried before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a mixed jury for killing Shawn Fraser, between July 27 and 28th 2011, at Hogstye. The men are being represented by attorneys Kim Kyte-John, who is representing Krishna, and Murseline Bacchus, who appears for Romel Krishna. The state is being represented by Prosecutor Renita Singh. After completing his evidence in chief which took almost two days, prosecution star witness Audwyn Bindah called ‘Audwyn Fraser’ who was also shot during the incident is being grilled by the two defence attorneys.

Audwin Bindah

Dead: Shawn Fraser

Bindah who was led in his evidence by Prosecutor Singh had given a detailed account of the events on that day. He stated how he and his brother left home to go to the backdam to tend to their rice field. They were confronted by the accused and subsequently shot. He saw the men shoot his brother. Although injured and being pursued by the men, Bindah had to flee for his life. He eventually ended up in the company of another brother. Also testifying so far was Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police Gary Mc Allister, who stated that

upon receiving certain information on the day in question he led a party of policemen into the backdam. They journeyed down the Saltan dam into the backlands before crossing over into Saltan Village, before reaching Hogstye dam, where they found the body of Shawn Fraser. Detective Sergeant Gilbert Ross had testified that he and a party of policemen had journeyed to the backdam where they found the body of Fraser. Detective Corporal Andrew Ward also testified to the part he played during the investigation.

Police Corporal Harold Noble, who was in charge of the shift at the Whim Police Station, when the number one accused, Krishna called ‘John’, was taken in by his attorney, also took the stand. Two sisters of the deceased have given evidence too - Raquel Fraser related to the court that she had identified the body of her brother during the post mortem examination. Kim Providence testified to the series of events that took place during the day, including the time the brothers left home to when she learnt of the incident. They were all grilled by Mr. Bacchus and Ms. Kyte-John. In her opening address, State Prosecutor Singh had revealed that on the 27th of July, Shawn Fraser and his brother Audwyn Bindah called ‘Audwyn Fraser’ of 11 Adventure Farm, Corentyne, had left their home to attend to their rice field at the Hogstye back dam. On their way they saw three men - Krishna called ‘John’, his son Romel Krishna, and one ‘Bobo’ - in

the back dam. The brothers had completed their work and were on their way out when they were attacked and shot by the three men. Bindah was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital and then the New Amsterdam Hospital. Shawn Fraser’s body was picked up and taken to the Port Mourant Hospital

where he was pronounced dead. A post Mortem examination was later conducted on the body of Shawn Fraser at the New Amsterdam hospital by Dr. Nehaul Singh. The cause of death was determined to be perforation of the lung due to penetrating wounds to the chest, compounded by a fractured skull.

In commemoration of World Day against Child Labour, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security yesterday hosted a forum where the strides made towards combating the social ill were highlighted. The session which was held at the Ministry’s building in Brickdam, Georgetown, was hosted by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Patrick Findlay, Senior Labour Officer Karen Van Sluytman-Corbin and other labour officers. The group discussed the implementation of systems towards combating child labour and focused on raising countrywide awareness. Findlay, in his address, explained that the lack of

school attendance among youths consequently leads to child labour. He stressed the need for children to attend school, stating that childhood only comes once, and an individual’s deprivation of being a child could have a severe impact on their adult life. Adding to his sentiments, Senior Labour Officer Karen Van Sluytman-Corbin said that the public should be reminded that children of age 15 and below are strictly prohibited from working. She added that all 16 to 18-yearolds should under no condition be subjected to industrial-strength employment. According to Findlay, the

Ministry has coordinated and executed social events such as football and cricket matches at schools across the country. He revealed that brochures focusing on sensitizing the issue are currently in distribution. These mechanisms were administered to advertise and increase the awareness of child labour among Guyanese. The hosting entity also made a call for support from more corporations and influential parties, in order to not only curb, but ultimately eliminate this issue. The Ministry officials also expressed gratitude towards trade unions and the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry Limited (CAGI) for their unrelenting efforts to forward this cause. The general public was encouraged to not lay dormant but rather take steps to intervene by contacting the Ministry’s Child Labour hotline on 225-7302 or 2273133/35 to report victims of this social impurity.

Murder accused: Krishna called ‘John’ (left) and his son Romel Krishna

World Day against Child Labour observed

Friday June 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Obama warns of U.S. action as jihadists push on Baghdad BAGHDAD/ARBIL (Reuters) - Barack Obama threatened U.S. military strikes in Iraq yesterday against Sunni Islamist militants who have surged out of the north to menace Baghdad and want to establish their own state in Iraq and Syria. Iraqi Kurdish forces took advantage of the chaos to take control of the oil hub of Kirkuk as the troops of the Shi’ite-led government abandoned posts, alarming Baghdad’s allies both in the West and in neighbouring Shi’ite regional power Iran. “I don’t rule out anything because we do have a stake in making sure that these jihadists are not getting a permanent foothold in either Iraq or Syria,” President Obama said when asked whether he was contemplating air strikes. Officials later stressed that ground troops would not be sent in, however. Obama said he was looking at “all options” to help Iraq’s leaders, who took full control when the U.S. occupation ended in 2011. “In our consultations with the Iraqis there will be some short-term immediate things that need to be done militarily,” he said. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden spoke to Maliki by telephone yesterday. The White House signalled on Wednesday that

Areas under the control of the al-Qaida group, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. (AP) it was looking to strengthen Iraqi forces rather than meet what one U.S. official said were past Iraqi requests for air strikes. With voters wary of renewing the costly military entanglements of the past decade, Obama last year stepped back from launching air strikes in Syria, where Sunni militants from the same group - the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are also active. Fears of violence spreading may increase pressure for international action, however. The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said international powers “must

deal with the situation”. In Mosul ISIL staged a parade of American Humvee patrol cars seized from a collapsing Iraqi army in the two days since its fighters drove out of the desert and overran the northern metropolis. At Baiji, near Kirkuk, insurgents surrounded Iraq’s largest refinery, underscoring the potential threat to the oil industry, and residents near the Syrian border saw them bulldozing tracks through frontier sand berms - giving physical form to the dream of reviving a Muslim caliphate straddling both modern states.

NATO Secretary General says sees no role for alliance in Iraq MADRID (Reuters) NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday he saw no role for Western alliance in Iraq after Islamist militants seized swathes of territory in the country and took 80 Turkish citizens hostage. “NATO’s role is the defense of our allies... and we don’t have a mandate or request on Iraq,” said Rasmussen, who also condemned the violence and called for immediate release of the hostages. “We urge the hostage takers to release the hostages immediately. Nothing can justify this criminal act ... I don’t see a role for NATO in

Iraq, but of course we follow the situation closely and urge all parties involved to stop the violence,” he said during a conference in Madrid. NATO ambassadors held an emergency meeting at Turkey’s request on Wednesday at which Turkey briefed the other allies on the situation in the Iraqi city of Mosul and the hostages. Rasmussen also said that Spain had agreed to send four fighter aircraft to reinforce NATO air patrols over the Baltic states this autumn. It was another step by NATO allies to reinforce security in its eastern European member states,

which have been alarmed by Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region. A number of NATO allies, including the United States, Britain, Denmark, France, Canada and Germany, have offered extra fighters to patrol the skies over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania or elsewhere in eastern Europe. The Baltic states have no fighter aircraft of their own and so rely on other NATO members to send fighters to the region for fourmonth stints. Rasmussen also brought a message to Spain that he expected Madrid to stop a slide in defense spending.

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Friday June 13, 2014

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

Laws to remove discrimination should There is a be premised on the Guyana Constitution GWI dress code

DEAR EDITOR, From the outset let it be known that my perception of sexual orientation has been influenced first by religious values and later by universal values. A Christian orientation would expose persons to the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and God’s view of a particular act that led to the city’s destruction. As a trade unionist, my experience teaches me to abhor discrimination against any group or individual, in all forms. The religious groups, including the forerunner Catholic Church, are engaged in their own struggles to address the issue of sexual orientation, having varied views such as, it is a civil rights issue of our time, heterosexuality can be achieved with prayers, or the non-judgmental approach. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights Article 1 and 11 expressly state:- “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. [And] Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such

as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” The view of Pastor McGarrell that persons with alternative sexual orientation should live on an island by themselves, however “lighthearted [a] joke” he claimed it was, has offended. It is this offense that has to be examined and the reason that led to same. There is no guarantee his removal from the Board of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) will silence his or anyone’s voice and perception, or secure sexual equality. In fact, the GRPA itself has to holistically factor in the modern family which also includes parents and would-be-parents from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-gender and Inter-sex (LGBTI) community and help the society in this regard. McGarrell has a megaphone. He has a congregation and removing him from the GRPA will not silence his voice or still his opinion. What this society needs is education consistent with universal principles and laws that would create an understanding and respect for diversity in all its forms. Guyana is not a theocracy, it

is democracy where the Constitution guarantees the rights and equality of all and where efforts should be made to ensure practices and attendant laws follow suit. The religious community, like every community, must play its part in ensuring such laws are not only made but also practiced to the letter. And this brings me back to the civil role of the Christian community in this society and their theological references. There is valid concern whether this community’s theology is grounded in liberation that sees securing justice and fair play in the social, political and economic welfare of humankind during our time on earth as important. The religious community is still regarded as society’s conscience. It was Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. who articulated and fought on a principle that “injustice anywhere poses a threat to justice everywhere.” And while understandably some in the religious community (leaders and followers) will have to confront beliefs on some issues they are socialised to see as unacceptable, the political establishment and civil society will have to recognise that the right to associate/ identify does not translate to

Some concerns with Senior... From page 5 the Region will never be satisfied by the University of the West Indies alone. It was the duty of the Council of Legal Education under the Agreement to provide practical professional training for all qualified persons seeking to become members of the legal profession. Instead the Council has taken upon itself the power to prevent qualified law students from obtaining professional training and thus denying the students their inherent right to pursue the career of their choice. Nowhere in the

Agreement is such a power conferred upon the Council of Legal Education. Their solution to the problem was not planning to create additional places but instead to restrict the numbers of persons to be admitted to practice as lawyers, thereby denying law students their right to further their professional careers.” But more than this, I believe firmly the line that concludes the document, that, “Continuing legal education is a matter for individual territories to implement in association with the law societies of their

countries.” If we agree on anything let us agree with the Legal Affairs Committee, a body of CARICOM, as stated in its ‘Recommendations of the Legal Affairs Committee (LAC) at its Fourth Special Meeting, Grenada, 2-4 June 1999, Regarding the Report of the Committee of Experts on the Development of Legal Education and the Practice of Law in the Caribbean Community and Comments of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago thereon’, in relation to the demand for legal education LAC agreed that “these institution are unable to meet the demands for legal education”. Sherod Avery Duncan

denying others theirs and put systems in place to respect this. By this it means that laws to remove all traces of discrimination should be premised on the Guyana Constitution that guarantees the right to religious diversity, affiliation and nonaffiliation, equally as its protects persons from discrimination for identifying/ associating with the belief(s) of religious group(s). Advocates for orientation equality are using the United States and other developed countries as a model to address eradicating discrimination. This society in using the developed countries as a model should also pay heed to how these societies treat with LGBTI issues and other so-called sensitive issues. For those societies’ frank and open discussions as equals among stakeholders are seen as key to addressing these matters. If Guyana is to move forward, as Guyanese we must be prepared to do likewise, and not make issues selective or driven by special interest. Another sore matter that faces similar treatment is the issue of race and politics, their intertwining relationship and the discrimination against groups/individuals because of their physical identity and exercising their right to freedom of association. When persons are denied the most fundamental right, i.e. to speak to their reality perceived or real, on matters that affect them these matters will never be addressed through the proper channel or appropriate lens and will fester and explode, be it through opened hostility or continued discrimination even though the Constitution forbids such acts/ malpractices. Sections of this society cannot continue to bury their heads in the sand that acts of discrimination and perceptions of inequality do not exist and that they can be wished away by citing frivolous examples to the contrary, choosing to silence those who are affected by them, or protect those who practice them. Admirably the media has played a role in bringing the sexual orientation matter to the fore, and it would be reasonable to say similar frank and open treatment is expected on racist issues and political discriminations that pervade this society and hindering its development. For what affects one invariably affects all. Injustice is injustice regardless of what it is, who practices it, or who is affected by it, and it undermines the desire of many to peacefully co-exist. Lincoln Lewis.

DEAR EDITOR, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is responding to the letter published in the Kaieteur News, on Wednesday and titled ‘Is there a GWI dress code?’ GWI thanks your publication for highlighting the issues which continue to affect our customers. The company appreciates the observations of the letter writer and wishes to advise that the GWI Dress Code Policy is in effect for all employees. In addition, all GWI employees and contracted staff can be identified by an employee badge. The observations of the letter writer have identified breaches of this policy which the company was already in the process of rectifying. A programme of enforcement has been initiated to ensure that all employees, including staff under the purview of private contractors, are attired with a GWI Employee Badge, which can be easily identified by customers. It is recommended that customers request that GWI employees produce identification badges before allowing entry onto their

premises. In addition, as part of GWI’s Community Outreach Programme, all Customer Services Representatives have been attired in branded clothing with the GWI logo prominently displayed. These concerns about adherence to the company’s dress code have been addressed with the utmost priority by the management of GWI. Consistent enforcement of the dress code will continue with the aim of significantly minimizing another occurrence. We apologize to the letter writer and wish to reassure all customers of the company’s commitment to enforcing the GWI Employee Dress Code Policy. Customers with further questions can contact GWI’s Customer Services Call Centre on 227-8701/03/04 or GWI Public Relations via the e-mail address: pro@gwi.gy or ‘like’ GWI’s Facebook fan-page available at www.facebook. com/ everydropcountsgy More information is also available at www.gwiguyana.com Timothy Austin Public Relations Officer Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI)

I am overjoyed... From page 4 reach right down into the grass roots, and confer this kind or power upon the citizens of our Municipalities”. In plain and unadulterated language, as anyone can see, I made clear my objection to the current system in which the Mayor is selected, and my position that it should be changed allowing the citizens of Municipalities to directly elect the person who would be responsible for managing the affairs of the cities in which they resided. The structural message in my candidacy thus alerts the electorate to who they would putting in the executive seat in City Hall, when they place their mark next to a Candidate for the Independent Party. Mr. Editor I am indeed overjoyed to witness today that many have seemingly experienced an epiphany with respect to how the Chief Executive of Municipalities are selected. I am pleased and honored that this is no longer a lonely path in which I am left to hew a passage through the partisan Political bureaucracies who have, over 5 decades or thereabouts, enjoyed the privilege of imposing their own selectorial whims on the citizens of Cities around the nation, in terms who is their Mayor. This is something that is very close to my activist

breast, because it transfers an important aspect of democratic power from the hands of a few politicians, and distributes that power into the hands of citizens. It is when democracy is able to reach right down into the bowels of the grassroots, that the interest of citizens of the Republic will be better served. Finally let me welcome aboard all those who are no longer heavily laden with the burden of being anachronistically acquiescent with the status quo, and are, in a manner of speaking, testing the temperature and depths of the political dialogue with their support of this change. Indeed it is good to see, and who knows, maybe, just maybe it might herald the beginning of something positive, something new. Maybe, just maybe we are approaching that point in our history when we can heed the message I paraphrase from Bob Marley’s Rastaman Vibration that: Say we just can’t continue to live in that negative way, If you know what I mean Make way for the positive day, Cause it’s a new day, Yeah its a new time, and if it’s a new feeling, that is a new sign Oh, what a new day Mark A. Benschop Independent Party

Friday June 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Another reason to support Brazil There are many Guyanese who are supporting Brazil in this year’s FIFA World Cup which kicked off yesterday. Brazil is the host and apart from the obvious advantage of playing at home, they are considered as one of the tournament’s favourites because of their win in last year’s Confederations Cup also held in Brazil. Many Guyanese are rooting for Brazil, if only because they are Brazil. I often wonder if Venezuela made it to the World Cup Finals whether as many Guyanese would root for that country as they do for Brazil. It is not as if so many Guyanese have actually analyzed the teams and decided that Brazil has the best chance. Many of them have not done this sort of analysis. They are simply supporting Brazil because this is the team that they wish to win rather than the team which they have assessed has the best chances of making it to the finals and winning that game to be crowned champions. Any assessment as to

which teams are likely to win the tournament has to examine the various groups in which the teams are pooled. There are at least two highly contested groups in this tournament which could see the doom of some of the more favoured teams. And given the groupings, it is possible that Brazil will have to play its toughest match in the second round after the group stages. And they could well go out that early. The Peeper does not know who will win. His analysis shows that this tournament, given the groupings, could be up for anyone’s grab. The Peeper is not writing off the home team, but believes that at least four teams have a good chance of winning this tournament and being crowned champions of the world. But the Peeper is rooting for Brazil in another respect. You see, ever since Brazil won the rights to host the FIFA World Cup and ever since it won the rights to host the 2016 Olympics Games, there has been a systematic and non-stop campaign to muddy the image of that

Charity Gold Board office “not financially and economically viable” The Guyana Gold Board (GGB), through the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, has refuted that the closure of its Charity, Essequibo office is due to the lack of technical staff. The branch will close by month end. In a statement, the Ministry related that, “the assimilation of the reason proffered for the closure of the Charity Office of the Guyana Gold Board is inaccurate to say the least. The ‘lack of technical staff’ can only be considered as nondescript.” The release mentioned that at a meeting with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and dealers of the precious metal, “it was discussed, that the purchases were averaging less than five hundred ounces per month; as such the cost of running that office compared to the income on that quantity does not make it financially and economically viable to continue.” It was stated that the GGB is willing to consider any dealer or potential dealer to take over operations at the Charity location. As regards the Bartica Office, it was noted that replacing the staff is not the only issue that the entity will have to contend

with as it relates to the future operations. “The Guyana Gold Board will have to be sure that it has the ability and resources to implement the necessary measures in preventing a recurrence; also, there is the option of the dealers playing a bigger role in intermediating gold during this suspension of operations in Bartica.” Kaieteur News had published earlier this week that the Charity office would be closed by month end. The information was related by a staffer when this publication had made telephone contact to inquire about the working hours. The staffer had indicated that the office would be closing because of limited staff. It was also explained that the office was opened only from Tuesdays to Thursdays, but had opened on Monday last to facilitate dealers, since Mondays and Fridays were peak business days in the community. Gold declaration has plunged by 20 percent, with allegations of hoarding and smuggling coming to the fore.

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

country. This onslaught has been carried out by the western media. It began with the highlighting of crime in that country and especially conveying the impression that many areas of the country are crime-infested and not safe. The intention was to discourage tourists. The western media continued to take this line of attack despite the many operations by the military into the ‘favelas’ or areas which are normally considered as slums. Up to yesterday, the western media was highlighting the threat that these areas posed to an exotic experience, which is the experience that the Brazilians have been promoting to attract visitors to the World Cup promotion. Not satisfied with tarnishing the image of Brazil by highlighting crime, last year in the run-up to the Confederations Cup, the western media began a scare tactic by suggesting that there were major structural problems with some of the stadiums. The idea was to indicate that the various venues were not safe. The

agenda here was not just aimed at the World Cup, but also at the facilities which will have to be used two years onwards for the Olympics in Rio. Then, of course, in the midst of the Confederations Cup the western media added fuel to protests which were taking place in Brazil, but which did not affect any of the matches that were played. There are indeed problems in Brazil, and some sections of that country’s society will use the World Cup to extract concessions from the government, since they know for example that the government would be keen to avoid a shutdown of the metro during the World Cup. What is the message that the western media are

sending here? They are reinforcing the need for persons to be cautious about going to Brazil for the World Cup. This, of course, is part of a wider agenda. Brazil has emerged as growing economic power. It is the largest economy in South America and is considered one of the emerging economies in the world along with Russia, India, China and South Africa. Together they form the acronym BRICS. The BRICS have not quite lived up to expectations, but Brazil can become a major threat to western economic interests in Latin America because of the sheer size of the economy, the growth of its industrial sector, and its open defiance of western arrogance. The hosting of the

World Cup and the Olympics will raise Brazil’s standing internationally and bring greater economic opportunities for that country. For these reasons, the Peeper feels that Brazil needs to win the World Cup, just to remind the imperialists that this part of the world is no longer their backyard. But to win the World Cup, the Brazilians will have to surmount a major hurdle after the group stages. If they do, they stand a good chance of taking the title.

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Kaieteur News

Friday June 13, 2014

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Phoulori Joe got a problem The easiest way to expose a person’s double standard and hypocrisy is to engage them in the intricacies of moral philosophy. You are bound to find someone to be ethically bankrupt when you ask them to explain how is it morally right to support a man who is corrupt, but it is morally wrong for the handyman to enter your yard and show no manners by saying, “Good morning.” You are on safe polemical ground if you condemn both types of bad conduct. But surely, you must be an offensive human being to barefacedly support your corrupt politician but condemn the guy who shows no etiquette. This is called moral double standards.

I have no conceptual problem with the apology/ confession Joe Hamilton made in the witness box in the Walter Rodney Commission. It is when you examine the context of his exposure of the Burnham Government that Joe Hamilton has an enormous moral problem which he is compelled to solve if he is going to save his soul. Context is everything in life. Knowledge only makes sense when it is contextualized. Life only makes sense when it is contextualized. Examine the context of something and you understand fully its essence. One of the finest examples of the importance of context I ever read was a British cricket writer in the Guardian (British

newspaper) contextualizing the achievements of Sachin Tendulkar. He concluded that Tendulkar was not greater than two dozen other batsmen. He put him at number 29. He gave the context of Tendulkar’s achievements, looking at the number of runs made in the number of Tests played, and in what circumstances the runs were made. I was stunned when I read a cricket analyst from India contextualizing the Test achievements of Chris Gayle. You would be bewildered to know that Gayle must be one of the greatest Test cricketers ever. The analyst looked at the number of runs he accumulated in the small number of Tests he played, then the type of centuries (double and triple) he made and contrasted these superlatives with the other greats. These two articles are fantastic manifestations of

the power of context (see Ben Carter, “Sachin Tendulkar: The world’s 29th Greatest Batsman?” And S. Rajesh on Chris Gayle, “Much more than a short-format batsman,” ESPN Cricinfo) Let’s apply context to the apology of Joe Hamilton. I found it interesting to know that when Hamilton was a small boy in Beterverwagting he was nicknamed Phoulori Joe. The call-name is appropriate at this time because phoulori is made from split peas which have to be fully soaked overnight. Joe Hamilton is fully soaked in recent Guyanese drama as his testimony brought out. But there is something missing. When the soaked split peas are ready to be cooked you have to add the final touch - the seasoning. It is the seasoning that is missing from Phoulori Joe’s menu. Hamilton told the court that he is confessing to doing bad things when he was associated with the PNC Government. For this, he said, he offers an apology. But Hamilton is now associated

with another government that is doing the same thing the PNC government did. This puts Hamilton in a real, nasty, moral bind. If he wants to wipe the slate clean, then the slate is still dirty. The PNC government that Hamilton is ashamed to have served has been outdone by the present government that Hamilton represents in parliament today. Hamilton, I am sure, must know who is behind the assassination of Ronald Waddell. Hamilton must know his present government jailed Mark Benschop for three years. Hamilton must know that his PPP Government incarcerated a mother of three young children on trumpedup treason charges. I will leave out descriptions of my own oppression by Hamilton’s colleagues in the PPP. But what about the period of extrajudicial killings when over 400 youths lost their lives and Roger Khan and the “Champion of Garbage” were on a rampage? Hamilton’s confession

Frederick Kissoon and apology are not morally impressive. They can only be if the person breaks free from all associations, circumstances and environments which he was once tied to. But this is not the case with Phoulori Joe. I first met Phoulori Joe last year June when Dr. David Hinds and I went to meet someone at a certain hotel. Phoulori Joe was drinking by himself and we talked to him; David mostly, not me, because I was not impressed with his analysis of Guyanese politics. It was awfully poor. The bartender told us that Phoulori Joe comes there each weekend to drink with his political colleagues. Well! Well! Such colleagues, Joe, hardly put you in a position to criticize the PNC Government.

Dem boys seh...

Brazzy got a barrel of sh… waiting fuh he Sometimes people does jump fuh cuss one thing till dem realize that is dem own people who do de nonsense in de first place. Ash Knee had he press conference fuh talk bout de IFMAS and some of dem deal that de government get into. De reporters decide to talk bout de IFMAS because it had some parts that de government lef out. People want to know if you got de thing why you don’t use it. Dem didn’t understand that some of de things that de modules does do dem other modules doing suh was not like if nutten was happening. Anyhow, he de Ash Knee decide to hold up de newspaper and read wha he think de reporters write. When dem boys tell he that was he own junior Minister, de Bishop, write de thing he holler “Oh lord’, then he choke. He drink bout four glass water. Is de same thing nearly happen to Brazzy when he use Kit as a prop fuh cuss out de

Pegasus and promote de Marriott. At de start of the conversation nobody was listening. Then a man hear de word Pegasus and he start fuh listen. When he hear Brazzy telling people how de water from de Pegasus ain’t even good fuh bathe and how de rooms stink, people start fuh wonder what next. Brazzy must be hear de story through de TV because he then talk how de roof fall pun Jagdeo one day. Dem boys what to know how Jagdeo still alive if something like that happen. Old people know that when you dig a hole fuh you mattie you does fall in. Brazzy smart. He know that he can’t fit in de hole suh he busy digging, or since he does blow short he got Kit digging fuh he. One thing dem boys want tell he that since he can’t fit in de hole he mustn’t believe that he get away scot free. Dem boys done got some people who prepare a barrel of Shh… sorry. Is surely not a barrel of shaving cream. Talk half and who vex drink Marvex

Friday June 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Berbice fatal accident…

Teenage driver to be charged today The 18-year-old driver involved in the accident that claimed the lives of three persons on Wednesday evening will appear at the Whim Magistrate’s Court today where he is expected to be slapped with multiple charges. Driving a grey Toyota Spacio, PPP 5482, the suspect reportedly sped through the Corentyne Highway and in the process three girls were killed, and two other persons were injured. Dead are Latoya Bagot, 18, her sister Wanita Bagot, 15, both of Lot 16 Phillipi, Corentyne, and their niece, 3-year-old Shemaine Cort. Injured were Delroy Parks, 28, of Cromarty Village, and Matthew Mc Bean, 19, of Number 35 Village, a student of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC). The incident occurred around 18:30 hrs. The young driver was caught just after he hit his third victim. He was given a sound thrashing by residents, who also pulled the vehicle out of the trench and destroyed the windscreen while destroying other portions of the vehicle.

The car involved in the accident The suspect related to police that he thought he had hit animals on the road. Post mortem examinations are expected to be performed today. Meanwhile, Matthew Mc Bean’s condition has reportedly stabilized. He is a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital. Latoya Bagot was employed with Blue Sky Communications at Tain,

Corentyne, while Wanita Bagot was a Fifth Form student of Lower Corentyne Secondary School. She was in the process of completing her CXC Exams. They leave to mourn their parents Angela Bagot and Warren Methford, as well as their brother Nigel Cort; while Shemaine Cort leaves to mourn her parents Lindon Cort and Chandrawattie Sundar.

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IFMAS unused modules incorporated in others Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, yesterday, said that his Ministry is considering the implementation of the other two Integrated Financial Management and Accounting System (IFMAS) modules. He said that these two will be operationalized when his technicians recommend that is necessary. At a press conference to address all queries on the IFMAS and why two of the seven modules belonging to the system were not incorporated, Singh explained that the systems currently in place are robust, and as such, the Ministry of Finance is able to generate comprehensive financial statements. The Minister also stated that the implementation of the systems is not done all at once but in a “phased manner.” The press conference was held at the National Communications Network. Kaieteur News had published articles where financial analysts had said that if the two modules responsible for Purchasing, and Inventory/Asset, were in

operation, then it would be easy to trace assets. The Purchasing Module seeks to provide the ability to create purchase requisitions and purchase order with selfcreating commitments to reserve the necessary funds (fully integrated with the Appropriations Module currently installed), provide the ability to record the receipts and return of goods and automatically update the purchase order to reflect the transactions among other functions. The 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 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 the ability to provide queries and reports on current inventory, stock activity and receiving reports.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh The analysts had said that the Auditor General’s reports highlighted several cases where Ministries were unable to provide evidence to account for assets and millions expended. But Dr. Singh refuted these claims. He explained that as is the case of smartphones, or a computer, one would not utilize all the features. It was the same with the IFMAS system, provided by FreeBalance. The Finance Minister said that because of the existing (Continued on page 16)

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Kaieteur News

Friday June 13, 2014

Education Ministry not worried about private schools outperforming public schools With a significant number of pupils from privatelyoperated schools coveting places among the top 10 performers, the results of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) were officially unveiled yesterday. At a press conference held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, revealed the identities of the top performers of the respective education districts, which was a precursor for her disclosure of the overall top performer - Jorrel De Santos of the New Guyana School, who secured a total of 533 marks out of a possible 540, Aliah Mohamed of School of the Nations placed second in the country with 531 marks, while her colleague Analise Samaroo claimed fifth place with her 525 marks. Of note was the fact that there was only one pupil from a public school named among the top 10 performers, with all, save three, being from schools in Georgetown. Jeremiah Bentham of Winfer Gardens Primary secured 524

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand (centre) responds to questions from the media after announcing the 2014 NGSA results yesterday. She is flanked by Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam (left) and Superintendent of Examinations, Sauda Khadir marks thereby allowing him to share sixth position with two others – Jeron Boucher of Genesis Early Childhood in Region Three and Krystal Singh of the Success Elementary in Region Four. Ravi Singh of Westfield Prep in Georgetown placed third in the country with his 530 marks while Isaac Mallampaati’s 527 score saw him securing third place in the country, adding to the outstanding performance of the New Guyana School.

Also securing places in the top 10 were Shania De Groot of Success Elementary who secured 523 along with Rueben Stanley of Mae’s Under-12. Even as he applauded the performances of all of the 2014 NGSA candidates, Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, asserted that the general position of the Ministry over the years has been to support the education of all children, both of public and private schools.

“We are not troubled by what emerges now with regards to the Grade Six Assessment results, largely because it is almost to be expected,” Sam noted. He further vocalised his conviction that “private schools have the wherewithal to do things that our public schools don’t...at the end of the day I think that all of the nation’s children get an opportunity for a sound education, so it is not a public/private kind of conflictual issue for us.” According to Sam, the

desire of the Ministry is to see schools across the board improve with a view to ensuring that all children can benefit. Expressing her conviction on the matter too, Minister Manickchand said that there are a number of factors that are linked to the performances exhibited by private schools, including the fact that they are able to screen the quality of children they accept. “Let me say right up front, I congratulate every single school that produced these children who did well...because you heard some names here that topped but you didn’t hear the names of the children who were at a level and then moved to another level; these schools did well and so the private schools ought to be congratulated...their management and their ability to put out results!” stressed Minister Manickchand. Nevertheless she noted that “there are a couple of things we have to look at as a nation” including the screening principle embraced by some private schools, whereby a child may be denied acceptance based on efforts to measure his/her academic ability. The public

school on the other hand accepts every child with their varying abilities, Manickchand noted, adding that “some private schools if you don’t perform over the years they ask you to leave; we don’t do that...we persevere with every single child in the public school system.” Added to this, the Minister disclosed that the administrations of private schools have the free-will to terminate their staffers if they are believed to be ineffective, in terms of helping to realise laudable results, something that is unlikely in the public schools system. Further, Minister Manickchand observed that the children who are doing well “are often the children whose parents are with them ‘foot to foot’.” She pointed out that from all indications, private schools have a better partnership with parents in the quest to ensuring their children perform well. “We have to look at how we can make sure that our public schools do better...” the Minister said, as she insisted that there are schools across the public system that are also doing well too. She is however confident that improvement in the public school system can be realised if accountability issues are more closely addressed. Minister Manickchand noted that while she is not worried about the existing state of affairs “I want to see all schools do better, including the private schools; I want see every school get 100 per cent.”

Friday June 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 13

Hijacked car found, driver missing Up to press time, investigators were trying to locate 17-year-old Dhanraj Latchman, a part-time taxi driver who disappeared Wednesday night, and is believed to have been kidnapped. Latchman, of Lot 115 Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, had left his home Wednesday afternoon with his father’s white Toyota AT 212, bearing registration number PMM 9823 to transport two male passengers known to him to Parika, East Bank Essequibo, but never returned. His abandoned car was subsequently found on a lonely street in Parika around 17:50 hrs yesterday by his relatives. “The police at the Vigilance Station didn’t help us. We went and search all over Parika and when we find it we call the police and they tell us not to touch it because they have to take fingerprint and my son can even be in the truck, but when they come and check he wasn’t in there,” Ramnarace Latchman, the teen’s father said. He further explained that he had asked around and was told by the residents that the car was parked there around 20:30 hrs Wednesday, but they saw no one. Kaieteur News understands that the two passengers have since been taken into police custody and are reportedly providing investigators with conflicting reports regarding their last

- Two passengers in custody

The teen’s house Missing: 17-year-old Dhanraj Latchman

The missing youth’s mother

encounter with the teenager. According to information received, early yesterday, the men claimed that the teen dropped them at a supermarket in Lusignan around 22:00 hrs (Wednesday) and then left to go drop off two other passengers at Enmore. However, when ranks informed them that they (police) will check the surveillance camera at the supermarket to ensure that they were telling the truth, the men instantly changed their story and claimed that they were dropped off at a school not far from the supermarket. The discovery of Dhanraj’s vehicle has created even more questions. Meanwhile, the teen’s parents, Ramnarace Latchman and Lynette Daby are convinced that the two persons in custody have something to do with their son’s disappearance. “They (men in custody)

did something to my son and they have to find him. My son called their names and say he leaving Parika with them and after that call I never hear back from him,” the devastated mother lamented. She explained that her son, who works with his father as a mechanic, uses his father’s car to work taxi parttime. According to the mother, on Wednesday afternoon her son was at home and informed her that he was going to Parika to transport passengers. “About 17:00 hrs (Wednesday) I called my son and asked him where he was and he said that he in Parika. I called him again around 20:00 hrs and he said that he was still at Parika and he leaving just now, so I asked him who he with, and he called their names,” a devastated Daby said while standing in front of the Vigilance Police Station yesterday. The mother of two said

NOC sex allegations scandal… “Enough evidence” for criminal charges By Latoya Giles There is enough evidence for the police to institute several charges against caregivers at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) for sexual misconduct. An investigation by the Child Care and Protection Agency along with the Guyana Police Force has been ongoing for several weeks. This newspaper understands that the investigation was completed yesterday and there are recommendations for charges. A senior Ministry official said yesterday said that it’s now up to the police to act and institute charges. Several calls to Crime Chief Leslie James were unanswered yesterday. Member of Parliament for APNU, Christopher Jones, signaled his satisfaction of the investigation. Jones says he will now call on the police force to act swiftly to have the persons charged.

Last month, a High Court Judge had granted the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) a court order to have four teenage girls who were at the centre of the scandal removed from the NOC. Head of the CCPA, Ann Greene, had told Kaieteur News that this was necessary for the process. She had noted that the Agency was obligated to investigate every single report of abuse against a child. Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster, said that she had asked the Child Care and Protection Agency to investigate the alleged sexual molestation of female inmates of the New Opportunity Corps. Within the last two months, several allegations have been emanating from the NOC about caregivers being engaged in sexual acts with teenagers. Parents of the teenagers have come forward and told harrowing stories about sexual abuse.

Meanwhile the 2012 Commission of Inquiry report into the disturbances at the New Opportunity Corps is yet to be handed over, even though Commission Chairman Justice Winston Moore told Kaieteur News last week that he would have handed the report over to the Ministry. During the “disturbances” one dormitory went up in flames, while several inmates had absconded. APNU and the AFC have publicly stated their dissatisfaction at how the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport handles the NOC. Child Psychologist and Former Presidential Candidate, Faith Harding, had also stepped up to lend her expertise after the allegations at the NOC surfaced. Harding had offered to go the NOC and have sessions with the students and caregivers. However the Ministry is yet to take up Mrs. Harding on her offer.

that her son had called out the names of his two passengers. She never heard from him again. “He recently get his licence, so I does call him steady to make sure everything is okay with him,” the mother said. According to the woman,

after her son did not return home around 22:00hrs, she and her husband went to the homes of the men who were in her son’s car. “When we went to one of them house, he didn’t want to come out, his mother had to force him to come out and when he did, he say that he

don’t know where my son is, and then he say that my son left to go Enmore,” the mother said. Anyone with information related to the whereabouts of 17-year-old Dhanraj Latchman is asked to contact family members on 6457261 or the nearest police station.

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Kaieteur News

Friday June 13, 2014

Boy, 7, battles for life after struck by speeding car - Driver tells mother brake wasn’t working Up to press time, doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospital were battling to save the life of a sevenyear-old boy who was struck down by a speeding car at Middle Road, La Penitence, around 16:00hrs yesterday. Joseph Quallis, a St. Pius Primary School student who resides at Lot 205 Middle Road, La Penitence, sustained injuries to his head, feet and abdomen. According to information received, the boy was heading towards a shop near to his home when the driver reportedly lost control of his vehicle, and crashed into a fence, with the lad pinned inbetween. “He picked up my child first and then crashed into the fence. My son was mashed up,” the child’s mother, ShellyAnn Hutson recalled. According to the mother

Joseph Quallis of four, her son came home from school around 15:00hrs yesterday and changed his uniform after which he joined her in front of their yard. “He does normally getaway and go by his cousin who lives not far from me, so I tell him not to go anywhere

and I was holding his hand while standing on the bridge and I had my baby in my other hand,” the devastated mother said. The woman further related that she cannot recall when and how her son disappeared from her. “I see a car coming up the road in a speed and then he crash into my neighbour fence and I see when he pick up (struck) a child from the road…the child was pinned between the car and the fence, so I scream and tell he that he kill the people child, and then when the person in the yard pull out the child, I see it was my son,” the mother lamented. The woman said that when she looked at her son, he was covered in blood. “His foot mash up and his head damage even his side damage. I couldn’t believe it was my son.”

According to the woman, the driver who is now in police custody, told her that the brake on his car wasn’t working at the time of the accident‘. “Why drive if your brake is not working properly?” Hutson said that she along with other relatives rushed her badly injured son to the hospital. “The doctor said if he doesn’t die within couple hours then he will definitely die tonight (last night) because his heart rate is very slow but I will pray for my son. He cannot die,” the mother posited. Kaieteur News understands that the lad’s condition is listed as critical. He was on a life support machine up to late last night.

The boy was pinned between the car and the fence

New Guyana School student... From page 3 night, gave up television…and a lot of things,” which he believed propelled him in the right direction. “It's like I can run, skip, jump all at the same time, but I'm generally grateful to God, my mother, and my teachers for my success,” he noted. JERON BOUCHER Happy was the single word uttered by 11-year-old Jeron Boucher to describe how he felt about his performance. The pupil of Genesis Early Childhood School was able to outdo his counterparts, with his 524 score allowing him to place sixth in the country. He said that he studied hard and refrained from indulging in reading story books in the run-up to the exam. The Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara resident recalled how he would routinely wake-up in the wee hours to study, a practice he said has paid off. “I was simply elated when I heard about my performance...I can't fully explain it, but I'm jubilant.” He credits God, his parents and teachers for his outstanding achievement. SHANIA DE GROOT Twelve-year-old Shania De Groot said that she was pleasantly surprised that her name was called as one of the top students in the NGSA. She told Kaieteur News that she became aware that she had placed in the top 10 while watching a television broadcast. She scored 523 marks and thereby placed ninth at the NGSA. “After I heard my name I began jumping and screaming”. The pupil of Success El-

ementary School said that she had sacrificed many things as she was preparing for the examinations. “I had to give up the TV, and as for the computer I was only allowed when I had assignments” she recalled, adding that many nights she would go to bed after midnight as she would be engaged in studies for hours. She has plans to become a lawyer or doctor. REUBEN STANLEY Reuben Stanley of Kuru Kururu Linden Soesdyke Highway and a pupil of Mae's Under 12 placed ninth in the country with his 523 score. Stanley is an ardent lover of cricket. When Kaieteur news caught up with the young achiever yesterday understandably he was busy playing cricket. “I had to give up my cricket for a while, but it was all for the best,” said Stanley, who intends to eventually become “a lawyer and a dentist when I grow up, or any one of the two will do.” OTHER TOP PERFORMING PLACES Also securing top performing places at the NGSA are Aimee Ali of the Success Elementary School; Thomas Singh of Marian Academy; Emily De Agrella of Mae's Under 12; Arielle Lewis of St Margaret's Primary; Manoj Lachman of the Academy of Excellency and Amrita Ghandatt of Enmore Hope Primary School. All six secured 11th position at the NGSA, as each scored 522 marks. The NGSA was written on April 15 and 17, 2014 and saw a total of 15,227 candidates participating, according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand. She disclosed

yesterday that the candidates had previously participated in the National Grade Two Assessment in 2010 and the National Grade Four Assessment in 2012. Moreover, the results that were released yesterday were designed to give a report of the candidates' overall performances at three assessments since a percentage of the marks of the Grades Two and Three Assessments were combined with the marks gained at the NGSA. Candidates were assessed in the subject areas of Mathematics, English, Science and Social Studies. According to Minister Manickchand five per cent of each candidate's Grade Two score in Mathematics and English and 10 per cent of the Grade Four Score in the same subjects were added to 85 per cent of each candidate's score in those subjects. The combined scores in Mathematics and English were added to the scores gained in Science and Social Studies. Moreover, the highest possible standardised scores obtainable were: Mathematics – 136, English – 132, Science – 135 and Social Studies – 137, thereby allowing for the highest possible attainable total score to be 540. And based on the analysis of the results, the cohort comprising the top one per cent reflects outstanding performances among 89 females and 79 males thereby accounting for 168 candidates. The cut off score for those eligible to attend sixth form schools are: 514 – Queen's College, 510 - The Bishop High School, 506 – St Stanislaus College, 503 – St Rose's High, and 500 – St Joseph's High.

Friday June 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 15

Health workers aim at stronger ties with regional officers compared to what is provided in the capital and its surrounding areas. Some attendees had originated from far-reaching areas of upper Berbice, Potaro-Siparuni, upper Demerara and Essequibo among others. Cadogan warned workers not to be timid in bringing issues that affect their specific areas. “It is very important that challenges are reviewed and achievements highlighted in

Minister Ramsaran makes a point at the forum. Members of the head table are seated in the background

By Zena Henry Senior health officers from around the country received a stern talk on the delivery of health services yesterday, as they sat with heads of the health sector to partake in the first ever semiannual Regional Health Officers and Programme Heads meeting. Permanent Secretary (PS) Leslie Cadogan sought to remind the workers that as they go ahead to discuss matters affecting the health sector and seek recommendations, they should remember that it is their job to wait on citizens and to provide them with efficient and courteous

service. The PS was adamant about the need to seriously address the manner in which health services are delivered; and specifically, the treatment of patients and the professionalism displayed by healthworkers. Cadogan went on to blast blatant and deliberate acts by officers, which is against their established operating procedures and charged that it is the government they shame when they behave in a manner not consistent with their functions. Coming out of the opening session of the two-day event was the health administration’s notice of inconsistencies which

A section of the gathering at yesterday’s meeting

include the delay of drug acquisition, lack/poor infrastructure, poor response to emergencies and the need for more collaboration amongst regional directors and regional health officers. Yesterday’s opening ceremony which was held at the Grand Coastal Inn at Le Ressouvenir on the East Coast of Demerara saw speakers such as Health Minister Bheri Ramsaran, Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker and PAHO/WHO Guyana representative, Dr. William Ado. Focus was placed mainly on hinterland regions where it was insinuated that health services are below par

identifying lessons learnt. It is important for us to understand issues.” Among these issues, he said, is to understand the relationship between local and Central Government, the regions and the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Local Government Ministry and the MOH. Cadogan repeated that workers are the servants of the people and in highlighting issues, they (workers) are

fulfilling their service to the people. He said, “There are issues pertaining to finance and human resources; we must understand these issues if we are going to be efficient, effective and deploy and assign our human resources where they are most needed.” Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker agreed that integration between health officials and regional officials is imperative (Continued on page 16)

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Kaieteur News

Friday June 13, 2014

Dynamic Airways touches down at CJIA With two weeks to go before the inaugural flight for Dynamic Airways in Guyana, one of the aircraft along with pilots and flight attendants arrived yesterday. The Boeing 767/200 landed

shortly after 13:00hrs at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. According to the Captain, David Withers, their commitment is with the Guyanese people. Withers

said that although this is not his first trip to Guyana, he is extremely happy to be here to serve the country. He said that travellers can expect nothing but the best when using the airline. Withers said that Dynamic Airways is a year-round, safe, affordable, and extraordinary service that rivals and supersedes any major airline. He added that the New YorkGeorgetown market has historically been served by other carriers in high season only. Tom Johnson, Senior Vice President, Business Development of Dynamic, said “our focus is expanding service to many destinations out of Georgetown, hiring a local Guyanese workforce, and to contribute to the growth of the Guyanese economy. Dynamic has

Dynamic Airways crewmembers shortly after landing at CJIA entered an agreement with Roraima Airways, with Captain Gerald Gouveia as its General Sales Agent as well

as multiple Travel Agents in NY area whose info we will post as well”. On June 26, Dynamic Airways will have its

inaugural flight from Georgetown to New York. The aircraft will remain in Guyana until that date.

Health workers aim at stronger... (From page 15) to the efficient provision of health services. Whittaker highlighted that the Regional Democratic Offices all have a health committee which deals with health issues within the region. He urged health workers to familiarize themselves with the Regional Executive Officers (REOs) and to make themselves available for their meetings. The Minister further urged health workers to highlight their problems to the REOs, and if the necessary action is not taken, then there are avenues to address that, he said. Minister Whittaker reminded that the REOs are responsible for the areas where they are set up and they would have resources designated for the region. He mentioned specifically, the issue of transportation, when addressing a relatively new form of health provision which speaks patient outreaches. “No longer can we wait for the sick to come visit us,” the Minister said. “We have to also be able to go to our patients.” He said that regional health workers could

collaborate with the regional executive body for the use of vehicles, boats and other equipment. The Minister also made it clear that responsible communication must prevail in this cohesion, but while it is agreed that there are persons that make the job difficult, the Ministry is ready to deal with those forces. The Health Minister was also vocal on the need for collaboration, but he charged that all sides need to play their part. Before turning his attention to the crux of his speech, Minister Ramsaran highlighted the importance of the bi-annual meeting. He said in similar events to yesterday’s meetings, many Ministry representatives

failed to turn up and regional officials were appearing with long statutory reports. What resulted were returning issues that were not being addressed efficiently. The Regional Department MOH, which organized the two-day event, took a new approach to get the regions together so that the inefficiencies could be addressed in an atmosphere where the officers are supposed to feel safe to be brutally honest and as frank as possible. Minister Ramsaran dealt primarily with service provision, illnesses, managerial and administrative inefficiencies. This dealt with regions ordering drugs and not

uplifting; in some cases they (drugs) expire or disappear, while orders are being made for drugs that are not needed. He spoke about professionalism in the delivery of service and other administrative glitches, such as payments etc. which in some cases is the fault of the Ministry itself, he highlighted. PAHO/WHO representative to Guyana William Ado was also on hand to give a brief background and update on Guyana’s relationship with the international organization. He elaborated on Guyana’s moves to accomplish the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on health provision.

IFMAS unused modules... (From page 11) system and the information technology network, the Auditor General has been able to make his pronouncements. The case of 20 missing vouchers from the Ministry of Education merely represented a case of 20 pieces of paper being missing from thousands. He said that

he was not condoning the loss of the vouchers but that it goes to show how efficient the modular system was. He said that IFMAS was introduced in phases. There were the first four modules and later, the others. Likewise, with the system and its seven modules, the two which are not being used at this time or have not been used for the past ten years, are incorporated in the already existing systems. It was also stated that the modules currently in use have been customized and upgraded over a period of time. The modules which are currently in place include Controls, Appropriations, General Ledger, Expenditure, Revenue and Treasury Management. IFMAS was implemented in 2004. It has allowed Government to “remarkably improve its Public Financial Management System and these improvements include tight security controls,

improved accountability and enhanced efficient decision making.” Since the introduction of IFMAS, the Ministry of Finance has provided support in terms of training and advice/guidance to government officers/users of the system. In addition, the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Public Service Ministry continues to facilitate training sessions biannually, in an effort to ensure that all users are properly equipped with the knowledge and understanding of IFMAS functionality and the processing of transaction in the software. IFMAS is now a feature of every Government Ministry and department. To appreciate its impact, one only has to recall the days of voluminous ledgers and the laborious method of preparing reports and analyses, he said.

Friday June 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Court hears labourer tried Mother jailed for to abduct ex-girlfriend burning daughter, 9, A 31-year-old mother, who faced the court for heating a knife sharpener and burning her nine-year-old daughter on her face and body, was yesterday sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. Patricia Pashur, a hairdresser of East La Penitence, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond, charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm to her daughter (nine at the time). The incident took place on January 5, 2013 at Norton and Camp Streets. Pashur, the Prosecutor said, claimed that the little girl had stolen $1000. Despite the child’s denial, the mother of three heated a knife sharpener on the stove and used it to inflict burn wounds on the child’s face and other parts of her body. Lance Corporal Jomo Nichols noted that the burns had left permanent marks on the child. According to court documents, the matter was reported by probation services and charges were

Patricia Pashur subsequently laid against the mother. Pashur was at first brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on January 22, 2013, to answer the charge. She had pleaded not guilty and a trial was subsequently conducted. During the trial, the Prosecutor had brought forth several witnesses to support its case against the accused

Brazilian miner fined for fraud A 31-year-old Brazilian miner made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday to answer to fraud and conspiracy charges. Raimundo Burrowes of Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and was fined a total of $150,000 for the fake Guyana Immigration stamps reportedly found in his passport a few days ago at the Ogle International Airport. The first charge stated that on June 10 at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, Burrowes, with intent to defraud, uttered to Police Constable Natasha Haley his Brazilian Passport #B001202 with material insertion of one false immigration entry and departure stamp in order that it be used as genuine, despite knowing same to be false. The other charge read that between May 1 and May 13, last, he conspired with person (s) unknown to forge two Guyana Immigration stamps in his passport purporting to show same was issued at Moleson Creek, despite knowing same to be false. Speaking through Interpreter Tahais Nazar from the Brazilian Embassy, Burrowes said that he was guilty because he did something he should not have. Prosecuting, Corporal Bharat Mangru stated that

Raimundo Burrowes the facts in the matter are as charged. The accused was being represented by Attorney at Law Peter Hugh. The lawyer described Burrowes as a hard working father of three who has been legally engaged in the mining industry for the past five years in Guyana. Hugh urged the court to consider that his client was a first-time offender who did not waste the court’s time. He asked that the Magistrate exercise discretion and impose a non-custodial sentence. The attorney said too that his client has cooperated fully with the police. Responding, the Chief Magistrate fined Burrowes $75,000 with an alternate three months’ imprisonment on each charge.

mother. Nichols, in closing the Prosecution’s case, implored the court to consider that as a mother, Pashur had other ways and means to discipline her child, but she had resorted to cruelty. He asked that consideration be given to the fact that the injuries the child had sustained were severe. Meanwhile, whilst leading her defence, the mother claimed that she was frustrated at the time. In delivering her ruling, the Magistrate stated that she had considered several factors; one of which included that the mother at no point (neither while leading her defence nor during mitigation) displayed any remorse for the act. Magistrate ChandanEdmond noted too that based on a probation report previously prepared on the mother, if Pashur was incarcerated, the family was not at risk of disintegrating since the State had previously intervened and placed two of the children at the Sophia Drop In Centre and the other with Child Care and Protection Agency. “A mother is supposed to love and protect her children. A mother is obligated to provide a safe environment for them. Children look to their parents to be embraced and receive love,” the Magistrate said. “A mother should not harm her own flesh.” Magistrate ChandanEdmond had showed the mother pictures of the injured child too and asked that she remembered the act. Pashur was then sentenced.

- taxi driver carts “couple” off to CID HQ

An East Coast Demerara labourer was yesterday arraigned before a senior city Magistrate for allegedly abducting his ex-girlfriend in an attempt to force her to a popular city hotel. The attempt, the court heard, was only cut short because the taxi driver carted the couple off to the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and made a report of the matter. The accused Mark Bhikhari, 28, of Front West, Enmore, East Coast Demerara, was taken before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to face the abduction charge. The charge stated that Bhikhari, by force, on June 6, last in Georgetown, compelled his ex-girlfriend Vashti Sukhdeo to go with him into motor car HC1851 from Water Street, Kingston to a popular South Road Hotel. When the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty and submitted a bail application through his lawyer, George Thomas. Representing the Prosecution, Corporal Bharat Mangru stated that the two had shared a relationship for the past three years. On the day in question, the victim was on her way to work while Bhikhari was a passenger in a car. Mangru stated that the accused held onto her and forced her into the taxi insisting that she go with him to the hotel. The Prosecution

Accused: Mark Bhikhari said that the woman made an attempt to escape but her efforts were met with force from Bhikhari. The driver, who noticed

the commotion, drove the car into the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Eve Leary, and made a formal report of the incident, the Prosecutor said. Bhikhari was subsequently charged for the offence. The Defence Attorney, in making his bail application, stated that his client was willing to subject himself to any condition deemed necessary by the court. He said that his client, if granted bail, would make no contact with the woman and will report to the police. His application was met with no objections from the Prosecution, thus bail was allowed in the sum of $350,000. The Chief Magistrate ordered the Prosecution to file statements and the case will be called again on July 4.

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Kaieteur News

PROPERTY FOR SALE For Sale by Owner: Twostorey property at 91 Third Street, East Meter-MeerZorg – Contact Mr. Basant: 277-3743/ Cell: 626-0150 FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

FOR SALE/RENT American Pool tables - Call: 277-0578

Dressed and mill cut lumber: Kabukalli, Silverballi, Greenheart, Purpleheart etc – Call: 688-6579 Household items: stoves, beds, couch, sewing machine, etc - Tel: 223-9719, 227-1028 Dell computers with 17" Leds -$59,000, laptops from -$64,000, Blackberry 8310 $9,000 @Futuretech – Call: 231-2206; 644-6760 1 Titan fully loaded 4 Wheel Drive, $2.6M Negotiable – Tel:699-2322 or 678-2814. Must go urgently! 1 Double stall with overhead storage in Stabroek Market, central location - Call: 6197925, 225-7759. Can be inspected: Mon-Sat 08:00hrs-16:00hrs Mix breed German shepherd pups, 8 weeks old, fully vaccinated & de-wormed – Tel: 649-7271 Imported pups for sale: Husky, Malamute, German shepherd, golden retriever, Rottweiler – Call: 615-5343 or 680-6426

FOR SALE

Apartment building for sale at William Street, Kitty - Call: Shalini on 674-9266 or 6869248 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.

A fully equipped sawmill operation at prime location: large land space, plenty suppliers & customers – Contact Swamee: 614-1466; 678-1421

Prime location at Ogle - Twostorey house (need work), spacious land – Tel: 691-7049

4WD Ford 150XLT V8, excellent condition, price negotiable - Tel: 698-0904

Commercial property at Corner Spot, Lodge - Tel: 627-4900

One bush cutter - Call: 6816603

Transport house & land @ Tuschen old Scheme newly built & visible from the public road – price negotiable – Tel: 667-5900

One two-storey concrete building at Tuschen New Scheme, E.B.E – Contact No: 627-6305, 668-6858 Canadian rebuilt Perkins Duetz engine, Lincoln generator welder, model M with winch, 320 excavator – Call: 691-2921 Pure Rottweiler pups, parents are imported pedigree dogs Call: 264-2870 or 6726402 after 6pm 665-9140 or 639-1431

Established business place, 3 storey building @ Lot 220 South Road – Contact: 2271042, 601-3399, 676-5450

One Perkins engine, 3 cylinder 75 horsepower with bed, never used - $300,000 negotiable - Tel: 604-9855, 677-1968

Toyota 4-Runner, great condition - $1.7M negotiable Tel: 223-9719, 227-1028 Tibetan Terrier Puppies for sale – Telephone: 226-4166, Cell: 641-8571

One slate pool table 8’X4’ $400,000 – Tel: 601-8083, 6892658 One Bedford truck for sale by owner- Contact: 5926242420, 266-3239

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 1-2 Storey roadside concrete and wooden house (45’X20") located at 57 New Road, V/Hoop – Tel: 624-0779 LAND FOR SALE Mining Blocks at Mazaruni & Kwakwani- Tel: 627-4900

Friday June 13, 2014

VACANCY Drivers, visiting & security officers. Apply within NM Security Solutions Inc, Lot “O” Ruimveldt Georgetown Tel: 225-5773/76 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 670-8893/684-2838 Office clerk senior/junior, CXC English, Mathematics & computer knowledge an asset- Call: 225-0188/225-6070 1 - Civil Engineer (full time), securities, skid steer & excavator operators, mechanic, body works man (spray), office assistant – Call: 603-4098

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 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

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 DRESS-MAKING Jean offers courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral, cake decoration at 153 Barr Street, Kitty - Tel:670-2653, 618-1706

TO LET 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 Fully furnished two bedroom apartment for rent with TV, Air-condition, hot & cold, cable. In South for foreigners –Tel: 689-5877 Furnished 2 bedroom apartment, in Linden for short term local & overseas guest Tel: 444-4704, 614-4415

VEHICLE FOR SALE

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

Signature Sensation Wedding Special: Do any service over $5000 & get 20% off- Call: 622-2643/ 225-8701

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620

RA Soda Factory at Good Hope Branch: vacancies for sales clerk, bond clerk and drivers – Tel: 330-2399, 3302772, 623-5920

Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

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.

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

MASSSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heaven in its many forms by our masseuses: Abby, Lisa & others –Contact: 697-2011

LAND FOR SALE La Parafaite Harmonie $1.4M, Cummings Lodge $2.5M, Herstelling - $3.2M, Grove- $2.6M – Call: 2185591, 675-7292

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer. Call Omar: 2310655, 683-8734 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

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

Honda CRV, Toyota AT192, AT212, Raum, L-Touring Wagon, AE100 Corolla, EP82 Starlet, Fun Cargo, IST – Tel: 644-5096, 697-1453 First Class Auto: Allion, Premio, Spacio, IST, 212, Fielder, Raum, Allex, Runx, Bluebird, Axela - Tel:6098188, 638-3045

Real Estate clerks, Road foreman, operations manager, Accounts Clerk, Kitchen Assistant, Hauler Driver & Truck Drivers –Call: 603-4098

Pluck Chicken – Call: 6273484, 253-3246 PSP games for sale - $800, Alcatel one touch evolve Contact: 675-2239

SALON

DaSilva’s Welding & Fabricating specializes in: Grills, Gates, Pontoon, Lavador etc. Best prince in town - Call: 647-6880/ 219-1680

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 One 8000 Forde Tractor, one 450 Forde tow truck, one Toyota Tacoma – Contact Floyd: 694-5599 RAV 4, PLL 9729 in excellent condition – Contact: 6269582 One Leyland DAF container rice truck- Call: 602-0393/ 629-1497 1 F150 lighting (Black in colour) Call: 642-2135 1 AE110 Sprinter, Corporate Yellow, $600,000 negotiable Tel: 611-1018 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 Toyota Raum PMM, excellent condition. Documents ready for Bank Purchase – Call: 689-4330 (Continued on page 31)

Friday June 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 31

GOPIO honours Sattaur Gafoor, Yesu Persaud and Chancellor Carl Singh (From page 30)

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

In front row Dr. Yesu Persaud (2nd left), Chancellor Carl Singh (3rd left) and Mr. Sattaur Gafoor (2nd right) among the Awardees Trinidad- (Trinidad Newsday) - Delegates from various countries spent two weeks in Trinidad and Tobago for the grand jubilee celebration of GOPIO (Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin) International. Representatives came in from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Malaysia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, India, Mauritius, South Africa, Netherlands and other countries of the European Union (EU), United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, Guyana, Suriname, Belize, St Vincent, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Grenada and St Lucia. These celebrations marked the 25th anniversary of GOPIO and included educational seminars and an award ceremony held at the Radisson Hotel, Port-ofSpain. This occasion, which ran from May 27 to 30, coincided with the commemoration of the 169th anniversary of Indian Arrival Day in Trinidad and Tobago. GOPIO recognised several persons from the countries represented at the conference. Posthumous awards were received by relatives on behalf of the following persons: Henri Sidambaron (Guadeloupe); Dr.

Najma Sultana (USA); Baleshwar Agrawal (India); Lall Paladee (Trinidad and Tobago). GOPIO also awarded the St Vincent and Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. Those awarded from TT include: John Barath, Brenda Gopeesingh, Dr. Hans Hanoomansingh, Israel Khan, Deo Gosine and the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC). Awards also went to Sattaur Gafoor (Guyana); Dr. Yesu Persaud (Guyana); Chancellor Carl Singh (Guyana); Dr. Lakshmi Persaud (United Kingdom); Ishwar Ramlutchman (South Africa); Nicole Vaitylingon (Guadeloupe); Dr. Vivian Rambihar (Canada); Dr. Parmatma Saran (USA); Dr. Sudhir Parikh (USA); TV Asia’s H R Shah (USA); India Abroad (USA) and Kedar N Gupta (India). In addition to recognition of those who contributed to GOPIO’s formation in 1989 as well as all previous life members, GOPIO recognised the newest life members Yamonee Barbaro (USA); Balkrishna Naipaul (Canada); Sasenarine Sankar (Guyana); Claude Sheikboudhou (Guadeloupe); Elie Shitalou (Guadeloupe); Shaji SM Alex (India); Shaji Baby John

(India). Indian High Commissioner Gawri Gupta, Minister Vasant Bharath and Minister in the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources Ramona Ramdial were present at the observances. Radio and television host Zelisa Boodoosingh was master-ofceremony. According to president of the International Chapter, Ashook Ramsaran (US-based Guyanese) the convention was an historic event in the Indian Diaspora attended by delegates from several countries where GOPIO is prominent and where persons of Indian origin reside.

Ramsaran outlined some GOPIO’s notable events for the jubilee including the welcome reception at the Prime Minister’s Residence and Diplomatic Centre; GOPIO’s election of new officers, an all-day academic conference; cultural performances held at the NCIC, and the unveiling of an Arrival monument celebrating the first indentured Indian labourers who arrived in Trinidad. Elections of officers were held by GOPIO International Council for several positions in GOPIO at the international level.

WANTED 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

Salon stations for stylist & barbers in comfortable atmosphere, hot & cold water, affordable rent - Tel: 619-5829, 683-3466

Two experienced straight stitch sewing machine operator – Tel: 220-9154

Apartment for rent at Uitvlugt, W.C.D - Tel: 6662442

One hire car driver from W.C.D – age 35-40yrs. Contact: 616-0111

1- Two bedrooms apartment at 35 Howes St., G/Town$45,000 per month- Contact: Pet Boy’s Shop between 11:00AM – 6:00PM GT TOOL RENTALS SPECIALS: CONCRETE SAW; JACK HAMMER WELDING MACHINE & MORE. 2ND TOOL ½ PRICE – CALL: 675-0767; 627-5098 1 Two bedroom apartment to rent in Diamond Housing Scheme – Price $40,000 - Tel: 604-2431, preferably a couple

Hire Cars at Atlas Taxi Service VHF Network – Call: 661-3043 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 One Car/ Van Driver, apply in person at Avinash Complex, Water Street.

EDUCATIONAL VEHICLE FOR SALE One starlet EP-82 – Contact: 643-5161; 655-8505 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 One RZ minibus BJJ series – Call: 225-8272 (after 5pm) & 619-9072

EDUCATIONAL IAE - Camp Street - Registration has commenced Forms 1-5 (full-time school); day & evening, adult CXC classes Call: 683-5742, 223-0604 TOURS Suriname Tour Return: July 4th/ Caricom Holiday 4-7 July Tel: 639-2663, 644-0185, 6655171, 227-8290

Canadian School of Arts & Science, now enrolling students for summer classes in remedial Mathematics & English – Call: 216-6921 Summer Computer Classes: coming to Leguan. Call for bookings at MicroGraphics Technology – Tel: 264-3057 Now enrolling for a Diploma in computers (9 courses) special discount for 2014 CXC students at MicroGraphics, Vreed-EnHoop –Tel: 264-3057 Now enrolling for summer computer classes – Ages: 514yrs, certificate course at MicroGraphics Technology, Vreed-En- Hoop –Tel: 264-3057 I.A.S – 94 Alberttown: CXC Adults/ Students classes $1200 per subject. Day/ Evening / Grade 6 classes – Call: 223-7906, 690-5008 Canadian School of Arts & Science, Third Avenue, Diamond: CAT Accounting Classes begin on July 1, – Call: 216-6921/22 to register

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Kaieteur News

Friday June 13, 2014

Pro-Russian rebels add tanks to arsenal in east Ukraine (Reuters) - Pro-Russian rebels in the eastern Ukrainian town of Snizhnye raised their fists in solidarity as tanks, fitted with camouflaged protective armour, rolled past, tearing up the pavement and scaring passers-by. The tanks drove off in a cloud of smoke to cheers from the rebels, circled one of the border town’s central roundabouts and drove off to an unknown destination. Where the tanks came from is also unknown. Whether they rolled across the border from Russia, as Ukrainian Interior Minister Arseny Avakov said, or are from a Ukrainian military stockpile, as the rebels say, is up for debate. Regardless of the answer, the two tanks seen by Reuters correspondents represent the heaviest weaponry yet seen in the hands of the rebels fighting to push their self-proclaimed territories in eastern Ukraine out of Kiev’s orbit. “We got them from a

Arseny Avakov military warehouse,” said one of the rebels wearing a loosefitting camouflage balaclava, as the tanks rolled out of the rebels’ makeshift headquarters on the grounds of a coal mine. “Don’t take any pictures,” the rebels warned Reuters journalists. “Cameras down!” Any indication they came from Russia would be likely to deepen strains between Moscow and the West over the Ukraine crisis which has caused the biggest confrontation between the

Cold War-era foes since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Kiev accuses Russia of supporting the armed insurgency that broke out in Ukraine’s predominantly Russian-speaking east after the ousting of Moscowleaning Viktor Yanukovich as president and the installation of a pro-European government in Kiev. As the tanks roared off into the distance chugging smoke along the small town’s potholed roads, pensioners walking past pretended not to notice. But a teenage girl dressed in a pink sweatshirt and blue jeans working in a nearby grocery store started crying after the roar of the engines shook the ground. “It’ll be okay sweetheart,” a store customer Tatiana Suleimanov, 40, tried to comfort her. Avakov suggested the tanks came into Ukraine from Russia and were T-72s, one of the most commonly used tanks east of the former Iron Curtain from 1972 until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

U.N. chief urges Libya to hold June 25 elections as planned UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon yesterday urged Libya to stick to its plan to hold parliamentary elections on June 25 and defended the United Nations’ goal of organizing a meeting to promote reconciliation among the North African country’s competing factions. “The secretary-general continues to follow closely the situation in Libya and

stresses the importance of the peaceful and timely holding of elections on 25 June,” U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters. “He also commends UNSMIL’s (U.N. Support Mission in Libya) work in the areas of good offices and facilitation of dialogue, which it carries out with impartiality and openness to all national parties concerned,” he added. Libya has been in a state of near constant turmoil for three years with successive prime ministers struggling for legitimacy, various armed groups paralyzing governance and a loss of vital oil export revenue due to a

port blockade by armed rebels. The U.N. announcement to convene a “dialogue” meeting in Libya was met with criticism from the Tripoli government, which complained that the world body failed to consult with Libyan partners before announcing it. The dialogue refers to an UNSMIL announcement on Wednesday that it would hold a “dialogue meeting among representatives of Libyan political forces and stakeholders to reach a national agreement, irrespective of their differences and divisions.” In response to Libyan demonstrations against the United Nations, Libyan government spokesman Ahmed Lamin urged Libyans not to resort to violence against UNSMIL and U.N. special envoy Tarek Mitri.

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Cops not taking PCA seriously Trinidad Guardian - Police Complaints Authority director Gillian Lucky is upset over the refusal of police to comply with PCA directives to help in unravelling suspected cases of fatal police shootings, saying this has led to a breakdown in law and order within the rank and file of the Police Service. She made the statement during a press briefing yesterday at the Waterfront Complex, Port-ofSpain, as she noted there had been a 100 per cent increase in police killings from the year 2011 to 2014. “Clearly, there is flagrant violation by certain police officers to ensure compliance with timelines and to ensure thoroughness and fairness in investigations,” Lucky said. She also expressed concern that the detection rate for murders was nine per cent, saying this was the situation some ten years ago. There have been 26 police killings for the year but the PCA is only monitoring 19 as those fell under the remit of the organisation, she said. Of the 19 killings, eight were in the North Eastern Division and six in Central Division. She said co-operation from the police was critical to the PCA’s ability to function properly. She added: “It is only in finding truth that we can ensure justice. Within recent times there have been several entities and individuals who suggest that police officers who shoot civilians are doing no wrong. “But before reaching such an investigation there must be an independent and thorough investigation. The PCA does not prejudge any issue. “It insists on timely, thorough and transparent investigations by the Police Service. Unfortunately these have not been met by the Police Service in several instances.” Lucky said there was too big a delay between the time of the shootings and when the PCA was informed, adding there was also a “great timeline” before critical investigations could be completed. She said Williams also announced that body cameras for police would be introduced in September. Issues raised with Williams Among the issues Lucky discussed with acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams was whether a body had been formed to deal with fatal shootings of civilians and police. Lucky said Williams said while there were initiatives to have such a body formally implemented, the move must

be approved by National Security Minister Gary Griffith, who has to take the matter to Cabinet. She said in the interim there was the Professional Standards Bureau of the Police Service, headed by ACP Peter Reyes. On providing the PCA with greater details, Lucky said the PCA was given the assurance that would be done. Regarding legal advice, Lucky said the PCA had hired a lawyer who would be dealing with all the information and intelligence with respect to police killings. She said the PCA also recommended that the body be informed when a police killing occurred so it could also visit the scene in a timely manner. Glaring examples of disrespect In making reference to several matters, some dating back to before the PCA was established in December 2010, Lucky said that was important to show the lag in the submission of investigative files by the police to the PCA. Lucky made reference to four specific cases: • Christopher Greaves was killed in a shooting involving the police on September 1, 2013. One version was that Greaves had a soda or bottle in his hand and was shot dead by police on patrol. Police claimed Greaves had a gun and shot at them. Lucky said they made a request for the report since January 27, 2014. She said the PCA visited the scene shortly after Greaves’s killing and when the initial file was requested critical documents were missing, including a UK report which tested the recovered gun. “As there was no forensic evidence to support one version to the other, this particular piece of information was deemed critical by the PCA. To date the PCA is not in possession of that scientific finding with respect to the firearm. “Further, the statements of three of the police officers are dated September 6, 2013 and while some might consider that acceptable, with respect to the fourth officer involved in the matter, that statement was dated October 1, 2013,” Lucky said. Describing this as unacceptable, Lucky said Standing Order 4016 mandates immediate reports be made when police were involved in shootings. • The shooting death of Police Constable Anil Persad was also brought to the fore. He was killed while on duty on May 12, 2011. Lucky said

almost two years after Persad’s death the PCA had requested “yet again” the name of the investigating officer and a copy of the file. “We had written in November of 2012 and in January of 2013 and we received no response. “On January 13 , this year, we sent a letter to the police commissioner in which we had heightened this particular matter and several other matters which the PCA

Lucky angry at lack of help on killings... remained waiting to get responses,” Lucky said. • Naim Dean, 21, was shot dead by a Special Reserve Police officer (SRP) on April 11, 2014, in Glencoe. Lucky said from the day of the killing to June 4, 2014, no statement was provided by the police involved in the incident. She said on Tuesday she was told

that the investigator in charge of the probe did “eventually” receive a statement from the SRP. “When I spoke to the police officer in charge of the investigation, he informed me he was in possession of the statement and it is dated June 4, 2014 and the police

investigator received it only last Friday. “This is only after some two months without any explanation given to the PCA that this particular officer gave his version of what occurred. Only minutes before I came into the room to address the media did I receive a copy of that statement,” Lucky said.

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Dominicans deny Chikungunya is caused by mosquitoes ROSEAU, Dominica CMC – Health officials are faced with what has been described as a major battle in the fight against Chikungunya owing to what they say is a reluctance of Dominicans to accept that the disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. “One of the major barriers is that people are reluctant to believe that the mosquito is involved,” District Medical Officer, Dr Candia Jacob, told a panel discussion on the disease in Cottage Wednesday night. “If they are not convinced, they are

not going to do much.” She said that the matter has got so bad that environmental health officers have taken to threatening people with the law if they don’t get rid of containers that breed mosquitoes. “We have the environmental health officers actually having to go to homes and overturn the drums,” she said. “They literally take up on themselves to empty drums, turn them over … and threaten people that they are going to put them in jail.” Meanwhile Senior Environmental Health

Officer, Clement Marcellin, believes there are some legal loopholes when it comes to mosquito control and punishing those who disobey the law. He said under the Mosquito Control Regulations when a notice is served and ignored, the matter is referred to court. “Most instances, once you serve that notice the offender takes urgent strides to comply, so that they don’t have to go to court but the damage has already been done and that is where we have been failing,” he said.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The Barbados government has moved to assure that there is no import ban on Jamaican patties following concerns expressed by Jamaican authorities. Barbados media yesterday indicated that Jamaica’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Osbil Watson, had called his Barbadian counterpart, Dr Mark Trotman, seeking clarification

in the wake of media reports surfacing in Jamaica that the eastern Caribbean island had targeted Jamaican patty imports. Trotman said that he assured Watson that the pastries from Jamaica would be allowed to enter Barbados as long as the importer possessed the necessary import permit. The Barbados government had Tuesday issued a notice on cooked

meats imports, advising, “Persons interested in importing patties of any variety from Jamaica, or fully- cooked poultry products from any CARICOM country, must also obtain a permit”. It further advised, “individuals may import up to 25 pounds of commercially canned meat products in the original packaging without a permit from any country for personal use”.

Friday June 13, 2014

Positive tourism signs Barbados Nation DESPITE FACING TWO of the most challenging years in local tourism history, the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) is encouraged by the investments involving Sandals, Four Seasons and several other entities. Outgoing BHTA president Patricia AffonsoDass Wednesday described as “encouraging” Sandals’ decision to purchase the Almond Beach Village property and pay for its renovation to the tune of $250 million. Stating that this would now give Government leeway to direct its loan funds

elsewhere, Affonso-Dass also noted that Sandals Casuarina was undergoing massive infrastructural changes and would be an amazing property by the time

it opened at the end of January 2015. In a measured and balanced address at the BHTA’s annual general meeting at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, AffonsoDass said other investments were also encouraging, including Amaryllis, which has been targeted for renovation under new owner Gordon Seale; Sandy Beach which is being converted into a new condo hotel property; the development planned for Settlers Beach, as part of the group that includes Sandpiper and Coral Reef Club; and the long-awaited sale of Four Seasons.

Trinidad Express - A 16year-old boy said to be a LifeSport programme participant has been detained by police following the seizure of a gun and ammunition. In the last three days, officers of the Northern Division Task Force (NDTF) have recovered two highpowered firearms during police exer-cises in Carapo

and Arima. The latest incident took place around 9.30 a.m. Wednesday in Arima. According to police reports, members of the NDTF led by Sergeant Matthew Haywood, with assistance from Cpl Teddeus Caraballo, Cpl Harper, PC Scipio and WPC Caruth, acting on information received, executed a search

warrant at a home in Arima in the presence of a woman and her 16-year-old son. At the home, the officers found a chrome .38 revolver loaded with four rounds of .38 ammunition.As a result of the find, the two relatives were detained and were said to be assisting police with their enquiries up to late yesterday. Cpl Caraballo is expected to lay charges.

Patricia Affonso-Dass

No ban on Jamaican patties, Barbados govt. says Police seize gun, ammo: teen ‘LifeSport member’ held

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Tickets for Guyana leg go on sale July 1 From page 40 anticipated to be pulsating T20 action. According to the CPL CEO, a galaxy of former cricket stars including Glen McGrath, Shane Warne, Sir Ian Botham and Brian Lara will be involved in the 30match tournament while superstar rapper Rick Ross is among the high-profile entertainers set to perform on the final night. The Guyana Amazon Warriors, who play the opening match of the

tournament on July 11 in Grenada, plays three matches in Guyana at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence from July 17. Tickets will go on sale for the Guyana leg on July 1 w i t h t h e ‘ Wa r r i o r s ’ facing the Red Steel of Trinidad from 19:30 hrs in their opening clash on home soil. The South Am erican based team then face-off with the St Lucia Zouks on July 19 from 16:00hrs before playing their final

Friday June 13, 2014

Farm overcome Speed Boat to take Trophy Stall softball...

match at Providence on July 20 when they oppose the Jamaica Tallawahs. The final game for the home team in Guyana is anticipated to be an epic battle since the Jamaicans cruised to a seven-wicket victory against the ‘Amazon Warriors, in the inaugural final last year at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad. Matches this year will be played in Grenada, Antigua, Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica, St Lucia and St Kitts.

Members of the victorious Farm team display their prizes.

Friday June 13, 2014 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You're a very active person, Aries, but today you'll probably be disappointed. If you ask those around you to help with your activities, they most likely won't understand your needs. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Nothing much is happening today, yet you seem worried and tense. You'll have to use this day to your advantage. Think about your life. You'll also think about the needs of your relatives in the years to come and how to attain those goals. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You often need to thrive on personal emotions. Today will be no exception to the rule. For instance, you could try to captivate the attention of people you admire. The only problem is that they might not be receptive at first. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You might pick up some rather disturbing thoughts from a friend, neighbor, or relative, Cancer. This person could be upset over something and not communicating his or her feelings. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You'll be lost in your thoughts today, analyzing your life and relationships. You'll be asking yourself if your existence is meeting your standards. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today you will have all the energy you need to deal with long-term family problems. Indeed, you'll probably clash with some of your relatives.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You enjoy caring for others and you intervene regularly in their lives to guide them. Ironically, today you're the one who needs advice. You'll probably need to get away from it all in order to get a clear view of your own life, Libra. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) We all have to make compromises in order to live in contemporary society. You may have strong beliefs, but it's difficult to combine your ideals and a social life. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You've always felt the need to free yourself from society. You need to feel independent at any cost. You may need to face certain relationship problems at this time. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You may feel annoyed about the attitude of some of your group of friends. Unlike these people, you're very open-minded and you can deal with situations as they arise. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today, Aquarius, you'll be submerged under a lot of emotions. In a way, you'll be revisiting your childhood. You may be very edgy. This is a good disposition in which to analyze your life. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You really know how to seduce, Pisces. There is a spark inside of you that spreads naturally to those around you. You have a big reservoir of sensitivity and emotion that could grow today.

From page 41 sixes. Farm openers Amir Azeez and Patrick Khan found the going tough and wasted early opportunities to rotate the strike; they had struggled to 35 in the fourth over, but managed to step up the asking rate and by the time they were both dismissed in the seventh over they had put their team on course with 26 needed off 18 deliveries. Azeez slammed 39 (2x4 1x6) while Khan made 36 (2x4 1x6). Farm lost a few more wickets but Anand Rooplall (16*) and Amir Khan (07*) saw their team home with two deliveries to spare as they ended on 124-6. Earlier Farm thumped Omesh XI by two wickets in the lone semi final. Omesh XI took first strike and scored 130-3 in 10 overs with Aftab Bacchus hitting 35. Farm replied with 131-2 in 6.4 overs, Khan stroked 73 (7x4 6x4) and Amir Azeez 37 (2x4 3x6). Khan was given the man

of the match in the final and best bowler awards while Amrit Rai who scored a century in the preliminary round

received the most outstanding batsman prize. Farm and Speed Boat were given trophies for their efforts.

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Letters to the Editor

MARRIOTT WAS BUILT FOR CRICKET!! DEAR EDITOR, President Ramotar recently stated that the Providence Stadium and the Marriott hotel were built for cricket. I can understand the National Stadium being built for cricket, even though there seems to be other activities and shows than cricket, but the Marriott now being associated with cricket primarily, suddenly seems strange. Maybe APNU and AFC can now shut up, they have an answer. As an outsider looking in, it now appears that since the government owns the stadium and the hotel to house the cricketers all they now need is the cricket. No wonder the constant pressure and harassment on the Guyana Cricket Board. I also observed that the owner of the Pegasus

Hotel has been speaking out about the business he and others may have lost. M r. B a d a l , f r o m a l l indication, you will eventually have to give up that client as the Marriott may eventually put you out of business as they may very well offer better rates to the Cricket Board or even offer concessions that you as an ordinary citizen cannot afford. I am not seeing any comments or reactions from other sporting disciplines, why? Is it that it does not concern you? You should rethink, it is now cricket and no one knows when their turn will come along. Cricket, if we have any, alone cannot fill up the Marriott. Comrades, we have already lost the New Zealand Test match and from all indications the WICB will remove the

Under 19 Tournament from Guyana thereby cancelling about One Hundred and Twenty (120) rooms per day for the duration of one month. Further, next year the England tour begins sometime in April and we may very well not have any games in that series. It is becoming more and more difficult for me to fathom the reason for such stupid actions by the government. The West Indies and Guyana Cricket Boards can be assured of one thing, if the present Government of Guyana wants something they will relentlessly go after it even if it is destroyed in the process. Most importantly, they do not care who they destroy. Cricket and those cricketers and officials affected in this fiasco will be considered collateral damage. Observer

Michel Platini withdraws Sepp Blatter FIFA Presidency support UEFA President Michel Platini say he will not support his F I FA counterpart Sepp Blatter at next year’s election. Blatter, 78, who has been under pressure over the 2022 Qatar World Cup, recently indicated he was to seek re-election for a fifth term. “I do not support him, I am not in favour of him having a new term,” said Platini, 58. “I told him. I think FIFA needs a new breath of fresh air.” Platini is yet to decide whether to contest the FIFA Presidency himself. The Frenchman said he agreed with his fellow UEFA members that it was time for Blatter, who has been in power since 1998, to call it a day when his mandate ends next year. “I have known him for a long time and I like him but I am not in favour of him having a new term,” added Platini. “I supported him in 1998 but I do not support him in 2014. And in the future I will not support Mr. Blatter.” Platini, who won great praise in 1998 for his organisation of the World Cup hosted by France, indicated that he and his members had not been h a p p y w i t h t h e F I FA Congress in Sao Paulo on

UEFA President Michel Platini (right) will no longer support his FIFA counterpart Sepp Blatter (left) Wednesday. S e v e r a l o f P l a t i n i ’s colleagues confronted Blatter following his claims the British m e d i a ’s motivation in investigating the Qatar bid were “racist”. UEFA members said the claims were without foundation. Football Association Chairman Greg Dyke called those claims “totally unacceptable” and has also urged the Swiss to step down next year. The FIFA leader was helped in his bid for re-election by a congress vote not to consider age and termlimits for officials.

Platini still would not commit himself to a run for the FIFA Presidency and at present there is just one candidate - former FIFA deputy secretary-general Jerome Champagne. “It is an option to run,” said Platini. “But it is not because Sepp Blatter is running that Michel Platini will not run and it is not because Blatter is not running that Platini will run. “My only concern is knowing what I want to do. I am 60 soon and I need to know what I want. I will take my time.”

GCB attempting to distort Justice Ramlall’s order DEAR EDITOR, We wish to respond to an article published in the Kaieteur News of June 12, 2014 and captioned “Roger Harper/Anandjit court action stayed”. This article stated: “Another court action in cricket has been stayed. In this matter, Mr. Roger Harper and Davteerth Anandjit filed an action against all the officers of the Demerara and Guyana Cricket Boards”. However, the fact is that, in this matter the Hon. Justice William Ramlall simply ordered: “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.” This article was intentionally crafted to mislead the public and apparently the Courts. The Injunction granted by Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious clearly barred the purported Executive Committee of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) from acting but was put on hold by the Hon. Full Court of the Supreme Court until the matter is heard on the 17th June, 2014.

The Hon. Justice William Ramlall had, on June 6, 2014 regarding the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) matter ruled: “ 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 the Civil Action in the Full Court of the Supreme Court”. The Orders / Injunctions blocking RAJENDRA SINGH, LALTA DIGAMBER, ANAND SANASIE, ALFRED MENTORE, ANAND K A L L A D E E N , R AV I N D R A N A U T H PERSAUD, RONALD SARJOO, NAZIMUL DREPAUL, COLIN EUROPE, RAY PERSAUD, KRISHNCHAND MANGAL, CHETRAM SINGH, LIONEL JAIKARAN, RAMSEY ALI, FIZUL BACCHUS, DRU BAHADUR, TROY MENDONCA, RAYON GRIFFITH from holding elections of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) and from acting or performing any function or duty as executives of the DCB are still in effect. No Injunction or Court Order concerning the DEMERARA CRICKET BOARD (DCB) was either put on Stay of Execution or discharged by the Hon. Justice William Ramlall. The article went on to say that the Vice-President of the GCB Mr. Fizul Bacchus, who was present in Court, in an invited comment, had stated

that the officers of the GCB and the DCB continue to meet their obligations. These statements clearly illustrate a profound disrespect for Justice Ramlall and a blatant disregard for the rulings of the Court. We believe that Mr. Fizul Bacchus’s well-rehearsed statement was made to deliberately mislead the public into believing that there is a legally-constituted Executive Committee of the DCB. His public statement: “Another court action in cricket has been stayed” was used cunningly in a pathetic attempt to give credibility to the illegal Guyana Cricket Board elections. Bacchus further attempts to deceive by stating that Civil Action No. 59W of 2011 (Krishnchand Mangal vs Bissoondyal Singh et al) is in the Full Court. It is not. That matter is also currently before Hon. Justice William Ramlall. Mr. Editor, we feel some amount of disquiet with the way these individuals continue, with impunity, to misrepresent the facts in their efforts to mislead and deceive the public and yet secure the attention of the newspapers. Court cases are not subjective matters and editors must ensure absolute accuracy to ensure that there is factual reporting. In the meanwhile, we remain steadfast in our crusade to bring back decency, legality and accountability to our cricket. Majority Constituent Members of Demerara Cricket Board ,Georgetown Cricket Association, East Coast Cricket Board

Nadal’s grasscourt return ends prematurely Reuters - The switch from clay to grass did not go according to plan for Rafa Nadal yesterday and the Spaniard was jettisoned from the Gerry Webber Open with a 6-4 6-1 second-round defeat by maveri ck German Dustin Brown. A player who is almost unbeatable on clay, having won the French Open in nine of the past 10 years, proved to be more vulnerable on grass. He has now lost his last three matches on the slicker surface dating back to 2012.

Instead of chalking up his 700th tour win with victory over Brown, Nadal suffered a setback in his hopes of getting some much needed

grasscourt practice before he heads to Wimbledon. Roger Federer was not immune to grasscourt jitters either. The Swiss began his first match on the lush green surface this year with a 6-7(8) 6-4 6-2 win over Portugal’s Joao Sousa. The seven-times Wimbledon champion owns more grasscourt titles (13) than any other player since tennis turned professional in 1968 but that expertise could not prevent him from dropping the first set against an opponent who has no proven track record on the surface. The second seed, chasing a seventh title in Halle, squandered five break points in the first set against the 47th-

ranked Sousa. But Federer, who was beaten in the fourth round of the French Open by Ernests Gulbis, ran out a comfortable victor after easily winning the next two sets. “It was slightly frustrating at times clearly, but nevertheless I served well and kept on doing my thing,” Federer told reporters. “It was important to stay calm and actually I think it gives me more confidence winning this way. I had to stay calm, fight through the match and find a way and then the last set and a half were much better. So, I’m actually pretty happy now.” Federer will face Lu Yenhsun of Taiwan for a place in the semi-finals.

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Neymar scores twice (and escapes a sending off) as Oscar stunner rounds off opening win for hosts Oscar scored the goal of the night, so in the end it did not matter. A lovely little prod, knowing Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa was dreadfully slow down, put sufficient distance between these teams to restore credibility. Until that moment, however, this was one for the conspiracy theorists. After the penalty that gave Brazil the lead, and Croatia’s disallowed goal, if this is the way the World Cup is to be won, it appears the scandals will not be limited to events off the field. One of the softest penalty decisions of recent memory was all that divided the teams until Oscar intervened in the last minute, giving the more extreme cynics a head start on their speculation about the lengths the governing body will go to in order to keep the hosts in the tournament. Brazil had the best of the game, but were struggling to find a way through when Fred – not as exciting a forward as his name suggests – backed in to Dejan Lovren and then fell beneath the merest contact from the Croatian defender. Yuichi Nishimura, the Japanese referee, needed no second invitation to do the bidding of the Arena Corinthians and pointed to the spot. Brazil’s No 10 did the rest. Neymar is the first Brazilian wearing that famous shirt to score a goal in the World Cup since Rivaldo in 2002. In fact, he got two. Yet while Brazil’s first-half equaliser showed the hosts at their best – despite the assistance of some poor goalkeeping – the second saw FIFA’s match officials at their worst. Croatia deserved a point here, for their determination to play Brazil as equals – and can even count themselves unlucky not to have kept out Neymar’s attempt from the spot. The man of the hour jockeyed to the left, stuttered and half-stopped before shooting, but goalkeeper Pletikosa still got both hands to the ball, only to divert it into the side of the net, rather than around the post. By the time Ivan Perisic had put the ball into an unguarded net, with seven minutes remaining, only for Nishimura to blow for a very soft foul on goalkeeper Julio Cesar, it was only too apparent the way this match was going. The way it needed to go. This is undoubtedly a coincidence; but a rather handy one, nonetheless, as some will be quick to point

An emotional Oscar celebrates scoring Brazil's clincher

Neymar equalised

out. When he assesses the replays nobody owes Oscar a greater vote of thanks than Nishimura. Croatia’s game plan from the start was sheer common sense. Not coach Niko Kovac’s decision to set out a tight 4-3-3 as such, but his decision to play, not Brazil, but the 11 players in front of him. To play the team that included the ineffectual Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho, and Oscar who couldn’t get in Chelsea’s team by the end, and David Luiz who was always regarded, in the Premier League at least, as a bit of a flake. Given the spine-tingling atmosphere before the game – Brazil’s national anthem carried on accapella after the band had finished performing with the players joining the fans in an extra chorus, some of the close to tears with the intensity of it – it would have been easy for Croatia to capitulate. So many do, faced with those famous canary yellow shirts – but Croatia have a history and proud colours of their own, and it showed in the way they began the game. They were not intimidated, and certainly not along for the ride. They hadn’t written this game off better to concentrate on Mexico and Cameroon, the other Group A opponents. They played Brazil as if they were vulnerable, as if their players would be burdened by the pressure of the tournament and, at first, it worked. Croatia had the initial chance of the game, ordinary

and wide from Mateo Kovacic, but the fact it came within the opening minute showed an ambition few had expected. Croatia went for it, with surprising success, considering many had talked up Brazil’s back-line ahead of its forwards at this World Cup. In the seventh minute, Ivica Olic should have put them ahead when he met Perisic’s cross at the far post, but buried a header into the pitch and wide. Just four minutes later, the dynamic of the evening turning on its head as Croatia took the lead. Brazil had still not mustered a chance of worth – David Luiz had a soft header saved after six minutes – when Croatia went deservedly ahead. It was Olic again down the left flank, skinning Dani Alves and hitting a low cross which should have been finished by Nikica Jelavic at the near post. The Hull City striker scuffed his shot though and the ball skidded through to Marcelo who, surprised, could only run it into his own net. No Brazilian has ever scored an own goal at the World Cup and to do it on such a stage – in front of his own crowd, no less – must have felt calamitous for the Real Madrid man. It is incredible the way sport throws up these extremes. Last month Marcelo’s appearance as a substitute was credited with turning the Champions League final in Real Madrid’s favour. Now here he was trundling the ball past his own goalkeeper Julio Cesar to the astonishment of the

Brazilian nation. Within five minutes the floodlights had gone out in a quarter of the stadium – it was off the host nation was shutting down in horror. Yet Croatia’s goal acted as a catalyst – and the true Brazil emerged. They bounced back, bravely, energetically, to level the scores by half-time through Neymar. That this World Cup’s poster boy should score the first Brazilian goal was fitting: whether he should have been

on the field by then is another matter. In the 27th minute, he jumped for a ball with Luka Modric. Before he leapt, however, glanced across to check the position of his opponent and, when he went up, poked a forearm in his face. The look was the key. Referees will sometimes let such incidents slide if it looks inadvertent, but Neymar knew precisely what he was doing. So did Croatia, who reacted instantly. Referee Nishimura brandished a yellow card,

instantly, but could just as easily have reached for red. It would have been a brave man who sent off Brazil’s hero in waiting in front of his home crowd less than 30 minutes into his first World Cup game, though. Few referees are that brave. The price of Nishimura’s leniency was high for Croatia, though, for two minutes later Neymar equalised. Oscar did the hard yards, mopping up in midfield and riding two challenges to slip the ball to his team-mate, and there was undoubtedly contributory negligence from goalkeeper Pletikosa who fell with all the grace of the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk, but it was a priceless moment, nonetheless. Neymar’s shot did not have great power and it wasn’t struck cleanly, either, but he somehow squirrelled it away, low, into a corner and with Pletikosa going down in instalments, as the professionals say, it was enough to level the scores via the inside of a post. Sadly, Pletikosa’s clumsiness erased the memory of a fine save made from an Oscar shot earlier, but that is the nature of World Cups. Moments, moments.

World Cup 2014 kicks off with colourful ceremony The 2014 FIFA World Cup officially got under way yesterday with a colourful opening ceremony before hosts Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 in the first match. A cast of 660 dancers paid tribute to the country’s nature, people and football with a show around a “living” ball on the Arena de Sao Paulo pitch. The final act saw a performance of official World Cup song “We Are One” by Jennifer Lopez and rapper Pitbull. The month-long tournament sees 32 nations compete in 64 games. Many fans took to the streets to sing and chant their support for Brazil as excitement built in the hours before the tournament began. But there were also demonstrations from those unhappy with the expense of hosting the tournament. Police in Sao Paulo used tear gas to break up one protest, which involved about 50 people, while striking airport workers in Rio de Janeiro blocked a road outside the airport, demanding a wage increase and a World Cup bonus. The strike was to have lasted for 24 hours but union

leaders called it off early for legal reasons. While there was no trouble within the 65,000-seater Arena de Sao Paulo during the opening ceremony, there were complaints about the sound quality. Performers dressed as trees, flowers and various musical instruments all performed in three acts before the central ball opened to reveal singers Claudia Leitte, Jennifer Lopez and rapper Pitbull as they sang the official World Cup song as the finale. The opening game of the tournament between Brazil and Croatia kicked off at 21:00 BST, with the hosts coming from behind to win 3-1. Neymar scored twice, with his crucial second coming from a controversial penalty after team-mate Fred fell to the ground under minimal contact. England open their World Cup campaign against Italy on Saturday, 14 June - a game you can see live on the BBC in the UK. Roy Hodgson’s team will also play Uruguay and Costa Rica in their Group D fixtures. Hosts Brazil start as

favourites to win the World Cup for a sixth time, while holders Spain are aiming to win a fourth major tournament in a row after winning the European Championship two years ago. The other seeded teams are Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Argentina, Germany and Belgium. Governing body FIFA said it had sold more than 2.9 million tickets, but they were still available for several matches on Wednesday, including some involving Germany, Italy and France. There will be 31 matches shown live on BBC television and online, starting with Spain v Netherlands today, June 13, and live text commentary on all 64 matches, available on the BBC Sport website and app for mobile, tablet and connected TV. BBC Radio 5 live will also be providing 24 days of live coverage and 61 live match commentaries from f o o t b a l l ’s showpiece tournament. The BBC will also broadcast the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals in Russia and Qatar after signing a new rights deal with FIFA.

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Brazilians erupt into joyous ecstasy as Neymar’s double amends indiscretion

Fans went crazy after Brazil found the equaliser in their opening game against Croatia at Rockies bar The fantasy of winning the first game in the FIFA World Cup in Brazil sent those Brazilians residing in Guyana into a fit of ecstasy and their shouts of ‘victoria’ upon the conclusion of their encounter against Croatia reverberated around the main shopping area in Georgetown where most of them had convened to witness the game. Rockies Bar, situated in Light Street, North Cummingsburg, is a favourite waterhole where the Brazilians convene to have a refreshing beer or simply to sit and chat. That venue was converted to a hive of activity as a large crowd gathered under a canopy set up by the Brazilians, with two large flat screen televisions, positioned at convenient points and

allowed for unobstructed viewing. Guyanese, not those to pass up on an economic activity, were patrolling the periphery of the joint with large Brazilian flags and other memorabilia ‘hustling’ a few extra dollars in an atmosphere that was electrifying. When the Croatians took the early in the game, you could have heard the proverbial ‘pin drop’ but the die-hard Brazilian fans prophesied that their countrymen would have made amends. True to form, star forward Neymar with a pin-point left foot strike shortly before the end of the first session flew past the outstretched hands of the Croatian custodian and brought the situation back to

equilibrium. Neymar struck again, this time from the penalty spot, after the Croatian #6 Dejan Lovren blatantly fouled the Brazilian #9 Fred with Neymar chosen to strike the penalty; he did it with flair and fantasy to send his team ahead. Oscar’s strike shortly before the final whistle sent the Brazilians ahead to a comfortable 3-1 win and as someone jocularly said, the final score should have been 4-0 in favour of Brazil as they had scored all of the goals. Ronald ‘Ronaldo’ Chung is a Guyanese that works with the Brazilians at Rockies Bar. He admits that B r a z i l plays a brand of football that could pose problems for a lot of teams.

YBG Schools basketball continues tomorrow The Youth Basketball Guyana (YGB) Schools tournament continues tomorrow with six matches at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH). Jump-ball in the first match is scheduled for 15:00hrs.

World Cup fever hits Guyana Nevertheless, he said that he is backing Argentina to cart off the spoils since they are a more formidable unit. Even as he spoke, Brazil managed to net the equalizer but he remained unimpressed; “if Argentina was playing those Croatians the score would have been 3 nil in the Argentine’s favour,” he opined. Mervyn ‘Pug’ Wilson is a

local football coach and he viewed the game at Sweet Point Snackette. \He feels that Brazil will win the ‘Holy Grail’ since that team is enjoying home advantage. “They also have the most skilled players and to my mind are more technically sound than the European players,” said Wilson. The tournament has only now begun and it is early

days yet. That did not stop the Brazilians from erupting into unbridled ecstasy when the final whistle sounded. One fan was heard saying, “Well if that is the response of those Brazilians after only the end of the first match, imagine what the response will be if they should win the trophy; the earth will truly shake. (M. Benjamin)

Pres. Cameron - WICB profited in 2013-14 Jamaica Gleaner Kingston, Jamaica - President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron, is expecting a financial surplus for the 2013-2014 financial year. This, he highlighted, after initially projecting a loss based on the achievements of last year. “Last year, this time, we had a deficit of approximately US$6 million and projected another year of losses,” said Cameron, while addressing the 12th WICB/West Indies Players Association ( W I PA ) awards ceremony in Kingston last Thursday. “I am happy to report that we are seeing a surplus for the year 2013/2014. “This has come because we have been creative in the relationships we have,” he added. The Jamaican, who last

year replaced St Lucia’s Dr Julian Hunte as president, also outlined that given the change of their financial status he was looking forward to an “increase in earnings” over an extended period. Cameron’s utterances come after years of reported losses by the WICB. CHANGE IN FINANCIALS The change in financials is believed to have come as a result of Cameron’s new administration being able to successfully negotiate agreements over the past year. Top among these is a r e c i p r o c a l Te s t s e r i e s featuring India, the latter of which was in the lucrative cricket market of India. The opportunity, he said, came as a result of Indian great Sachin Tendulkar playing his final Test. It is also believed that

the Caribbean’s hosting of a tri-nation series, involving India and Sri Lanka, also brought benefits to the board, along with the first staging of the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 tournament last year. Cameron, in the meantime, also used the awards ceremony to highlight the board’s recent launch of a West Indies Retired Players Association. He said the governing body has had “a successful launch of the Retired Players (Association)”, and “these retired players would have contributed significantly to the development of the game. “We celebrate the rich legacy they have, as a key role of the foundation is to make the connection to the current and upcoming players in the most efficient and appropriate ways,” Cameron outlined.

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Ruggers could suffer more indignity By Rawle Welch Displaying the typical tenacity that has distinguished us from the rest of the Caribbean, the new NACRA Southern Zone Men’s 15’s champions Guyana will now set their sight on the winner of the USA South and Cayman Islands battle to determine the overall champion of the NACRA region. In last Saturday’s Southern Zone final against long time rivals Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana gained sweet revenge through a dogged performance that earned them a 15-8 triumph and a chance to win the overall title. With the win, the local ruggers have once again served notice to the rest of the Caribbean that they have every intention of regaining lost ground after surrendering to the Trinidadians last year. Rugby, like so many other sports that are played locally, has struggled for unconditional support, but still remains one of the disciplines that continue to perform exceedingly well despite the absence of tangible assistance from the Government and corporate community. T h e t e a m ’s performance, when drawn a l o n g s i d e those that are receiving far more support from their Governments and corporate sector, is even more alarming since even in the absence of substantial investment it continues to beat sides that are benefitting from more international exposure and higher level of coaching. Rugby is a sport that has been performing way beyond expectations, but yet the reward has been for the most part meager and on occasions nonexistent. Guyana ruggers will now have to travel to the USA or Cayman Islands to face one of these teams for the overall title and right away we know that unless real financial backing is secured the chances of the team getting to the next stage look slim. This group of outstanding

athletes deserves the opportunity to compete against teams that are rated higher than them; it is the only way to really determine where we are in terms of our ability to beat the more established nations in the sport. However, the task already seems to be an arduous one, especially when you consider the absence of a public acknowledgement by the Ministry of Sport or the National Sports Commission, the two offices that represent Government. The match was played right here in Guyana and six days after no release has been made public commending the team on its performance, while of note also was the nonappearance of officials representing those two entities. We’ve seen numerous examples of how passionate Government officials are in other countries; they know that their presence and complete representation are vital elements to inspire athletes to strive for higher achievements as well as foster nationalistic attitudes. A fitting example of the importance of high level representation happened recently with an issue involving the West Indies Cricket Board versus Sunil Narine after the former decided to omit him from playing in the Test Series against New Zealand following his non-arrival for the mandatory training camp ahead of the commencement of the First Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica. Almost immediately Trinidad and Tobago Sports Minister Anil Roberts wrote the WICB protesting the exclusion of Narine despite the clear violation of the agreement that the player had made with the Board regarding his return to the Region. Notwithstanding that agreement, Roberts sprang to the defence of Narine and while this missive is not centred on the eventual outcome, his action must have instilled a sense of

Flashback! NACRA and CAC champions. patriotism and security within the psyche of his fellow countryman. Here it was a high ranking official within the Government coming to the assistance of one of his country’s most beloved and outstanding cricketers. What more could Narine have asked for? The same cannot be said for our rugby players and quite frankly our outstanding sportsmen and women who’ve not enjoyed the same treatment even after performing outstandingly in competitions. There are quite a few examples of ignore and lack of support that must bring into question the Administration’s seriousness about Sports Development, while perceptions of partisanship are rampant among discussions between various stakeholders. The national rugby team just won a Regional Title and their achievement warrants unconditional support with the Government leading the way in such an exercise. No excuses should be made for not offering public commendation to a team that has consistently had the Golden Arrowhead flying high over a number of years. The upcoming weeks will be the litmus test for the sport’s administration; they are the ones who will have to cajole the relevant stakeholders of the importance of supporting the team’s travel to compete overseas and if they are unable to do so then our ruggers could suffer more indignity. This country has recorded positive economic growth for quite a few years now and this is according to pronouncements made by the relevant Minister during the

National Budget presentations so we know that money is there, while the Lotto Funds could also be tapped into to supply

substantial shore up to the Union. The time for our athletes to be adequately compensated has long passed, the procurement of

facilities is of utmost importance, but so too is the financial support for our athletes. They must go hand in hand.

Cricket Bill will not affect CPL matches in Guyana

Tickets for Guyana leg go on sale July 1 Digicel’s Communications Manager, Vidya Sanichara with media workers at the CPL teleconference yesterday

By Sean Devers Damien O’Donohoe, CEO of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) yesterday assured Guyanese that the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill, which was recently passed in Parliament, will in no way affect the Guyana leg of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 cricket tournament which is scheduled to commence on July 17. O’Donohoe was speaking from Trinidad during a teleconference at Digicel’s Kingston Headquarters yesterday morning and informed that preparations for this year’s tournament began almost a year ago to ensure a

bigger and better competition in 2014. The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has almost nothing to do with the CPL after selling them the rights to host the tournament. However, a source close to the WICB informed that in the event that the ‘Bill’ is made Law, the Regional Board will revisit the availability of the Guyanese players on the West Indies team who play for the Guyana Amazon Warriors since the licensing mandates that CPL adheres to all regulations set out by the ICC and WICB. “We spent a lot of time getting feedback from the players and the fans to ensure

a vastly improved event this year” O’Donohoe disclosed. Dubbed ‘the Biggest Party in Sport’, the second edition of the CPL will be played in St Kitts for the first time. The Leeward Islandnation is set to host the penultimate and the final week which include the semi-finals and final. A mixture of morning, afternoon and evening fixtures will cater for all audiences across the Caribbean, and ensure that an ever increasing fan base around the globe will be able to catch all of the action from what is set to be an exhilarating six weeks (Continued on page 36)

Kaieteur News

Friday June 13, 2014

Farm overcome Speed Boat to take Trophy Stall softball title Farm defeated Speed Boat by four wickets to win the final of the Trophy Stall 10/10 softball competition played on Friday night last at Thirst Park. Batting first, Speed Boat who drew the bye to the final managed 123-2 off 10 overs.

Amit Kublall and Wazir Hussain laid the foundation for a challenging total with a second wicket stand of 70 after they lost an early wicket with the score on 10. Hussain slammed one four and three sixes before he departed for 34. Amit and

Navindra Kublall put together an unbroken 43 for the third wicket to see them to their eventual score. Both batsmen scored 37 apiece with the former hitting two fours and three sixes and the latter one four and four (Continued on page 36)

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Six U-19 players to join Guyana Amazon Warriors team As an initiative geared towards the development of young Guyanese cricketers, the Management of the Guyana Amazon Warriors Team has decided to include six Under-19 players in the team for the Preparation Camp and to a be part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors Team for their home games. The preparation camp is scheduled for July 1 - 8, 2014 and Guyana’s home games

are 17th, 19th and 20th of July, respectively. The Under-19 players will be involved in all training sessions and other team activities during the Guyana Amazon Warriors team camp and match practice schedule when the team is in Guyana for their home games. The players selected are Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kemo Paul, Daniel Basdeo, Kevin Paul, Shimron

Hetmeyer and Akshay Persaud. It is also important to highlight the fact that the Guyana Amazon Warriors Team Management would make every effort to ensure that the Under -19 players interact with the International players, Mohamed Hafeez, Corey Anderson, Martin Guptill and Sunil Narine as well as Team Mentor Sir Curtly Ambrose and Head Coach Roger Harper.

Kaieteur News

Friday Jun 13, 2014

Trophy Stall softball tourney to start July 2 Trophy Stall minor league softball tournament is set to commence on July 2 under lights at a venue to be named. The competition, which is open to companies and associations, will be contested in two categories;

Open and Over 35. Entrance fee is $12,000. Teams are asked to register as early as possible since only the first 16 will be accepted and interested persons can contact Samuel Kingston on 614-9536 for more information.

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Neymar scores twice (and escapes a sending off) as Oscar stunner rounds off opening win for hosts Neymar puts his penalty past Stipe Pletikosa despite the Croatia keeper getting a hand to it

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World Cup 2014 kicks off with colourful ceremony

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The World Cup stage, The Brazuca ball split into segments to allow Pitbull, J-LO and Leitte to perform during the opening ceremony

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