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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
MISSING PETROCARIBE MONEY EACH day there is some revelation about unexplained happenings in the public treasury, and each day, the public is becoming more and more convinced that financial irregularities were the order of the day. The most shocking appears to be the money that should have formed the PetroCaribe fund initiated by Venezuela. This was money that should have accrued from the purchase of fuel from Venezuela. The neighbouring country, recognizing that it had a lot of oil that could help the economies of countries like ours, opted to make concessionary loans by way of fuel to Guyana and other countries in the region. Indeed this was a boon. Guyana Power and Light, the country’s electricity company was using US$120 million per year in fuel. Then there were the other users of fuel like the petrol stations and the various other entities that retail fuel. Guyana imports fuel from other sources but the chance to save on fuel imports must have been a giant-sized magnet. PetroCaribe is an oil alliance of many Caribbean states with Venezuela to purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment. The alliance was launched on June 29, 2005 in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. The payment system allows for purchase of oil at market value for five per cent to 50 per cent up front with a grace period of one to two years; the remainder can be paid through a 17-year to 25-year financing agreement with one per cent interest if oil prices are above US$40 per barrel. Needless to say, oil prices have been higher than US$40 per barrel for more than a decade. Poor countries already cash strapped were glad for every bit of additional income to pursue their individual development. Indeed, Guyana was not the only beneficiary of the PetroCaribe deal. Other Caribbean countries grasped the opportunity but it was not all plain sailing. Countries that relied almost exclusively on the United States were advised against the deal because the United States and Venezuela were at each other’s throats. Guyana had no such problem so it agreed to the conditions that the money saved from the PetroCaribe deal would be used to help the agriculture sector. It was a lot of money that went into the Central Bank over the ten years that Guyana signed the deal. We now hear that the fund is bankrupt, that somehow, the previous administration ensured that it spent every cent in the fund. We know that some of the money went to construct a home for senior citizens in West Berbice. We then learnt that money from the PetroCaribe agreement went into the Hope Canal. Former President Bharrat Jagdeo was so excited at the available cash that he decided to make even more money. He later told the press that he had invested the PetroCaribe money. So he would have no problem in paying the one per cent per annum interest. Now the new government says that there is no money in the fund, that it is bankrupt. We do not know where the money went or if indeed it has been reinvested. If the money is not there then where has it gone? Certainly the previous government was not playing fast and loose with the public treasury. There is evidence that money was no problem when it had to be dispensed by the government. How else could one explain a $16 million payout to a Canada-based Guyanese for no known reason? We are not at a stage where we would have expected that the PetroCaribe funds would have brought benefits to the nation. It has brought none. In addition, we have to pay Venezuela for what we have no knowledge of. For sure, the government took the people of Guyana for granted and therefore did not deign to tell the nation of the plans for national development. Even the parliamentarians were not told everything about public spending. So money was spent and we must now try to find out on what.
Saturday June 13, 2015
Letters... Where your views make the news
Thoughts about the results of the Grade Six Assessment DEAR EDITOR, I’d like to express my thoughts about the results of the 2015 Grade Six Assessment. Ever since I was at that stage in my life when I undertook these exams, I looked forward to the release of the results. It brings back memories of a time when I thought I could’ve conquered the world and the only thing in my way was me. Yes, I thought that I was going to be the top student in my time. Oh, what wishful thinking. I always wondered what it felt like to be on top of the flock, a feeling that I could only imagine. For Solomon Cherai who took that coveted spot, I applaud you, this is your moment. Yes you’re the champ! I wish you many more successes and I implore you to stay the course by applying yourself diligently in future studies. For all the students that partook I’d also like to take my hats off to them for mustering the courage to overcome the anxiety of having to write their final primary exams. Even though some may be disappointed, I say the
road doesn’t end there. The results, though very encouraging and rewarding for the many teachers that worked feverishly to ensure that the students fulfill their highest potential, leave many unanswered questions. At a slight glance what is very clear is the fact that the private schools have dominated the top 100 which brings about somewhat of a melancholic comprehension of the fact that St. Margaret’s, St. Agnes, Sacred Heart, St. Gabriel’s, North Georgetown, et al…are no more the top performing schools and thus no more the schools we undoubtedly want our children to attend. Instead, we would search every nook and cranny that we have monies stashed away, in order that they too may be a top performer like Solomon Cherai. This creates a dangerous situation, for it further widens the gap between the social elitist and the ordinary man. In past times the wealthy would try all different meandering techniques to get their children enrolled in the top public schools which consequently afforded the
children of the lower echelon the necessary interactions to find a common ground for future cooperation. In the delivery of such an elementary curriculum, I shudder to think that the private schools are recruiting the more capable of teachers; but rather the crop of teachers we’re producing lacks the passionate love for the art that the teachers of the past possessed. One can only draw a comparison to the situation we currently have in the medical field, as was well described by the Hon. Minister of Health Dr George Norton, where he said “nursing is a calling not just an income earning profession”. It has descended into a mere source of income for many rather than a profession that one does out of passion for it. Quite often many out of school youths struggle to find employment, so they resort to a profession such as teaching, nursing and policing as a backdoor to job security. It is the duty of the teacher to ensure that every student’s learning needs are catered for, and, in doing so,
observations ought to be made in order to assess each strength and weakness, so that themselves together with the parents may work collectively to bring these students up to an acceptable standard. Conversely the parents ought to nurture good morals such as being obedient, attentive, ambitious and inquisitive from an infant stage, so that the students may enter the teaching institutions well packaged, making the task of teaching and learning much easier. The shortcomings of the teachers and parents are compounded by the social fabric that the policy makers weave. There’s a great need for many more social programmes that address the issue of broken households, degenerate communities, violence etc. Like many others who have seen the rapid decline in the institutions that moulded us and generations before, I would like to see the restoration of the glory which public teaching institutions once had, for with better education the masses will realize a brighter tomorrow. “It is Time”. Robert A. Bostwick
Securing parliamentary pension for Balram Singh Rai DEAR EDITOR, In the interest of historical accuracy, and as someone who is acquainted with the subject matter, I would like to comment on Ralph Ramkarran’s feature article on Balram Singh Rai (“Balram Singh Rai”, June 6) and the response penned by Frederick Kissoon (“Rai should not get a national award”, 6/9). First, both writers are expressing their opinions as to whether Rai should or should not receive a national award in recognition for his political contributions to G u y a n a ’s h i s t o r i c a l development. I suspect that Mr. Rai would not care less for such an award. When he departed Guyana in November 1970, in self-imposed exile, a few years after a bitter struggle with Cheddi and Janet Jagan, he noted that “my record is in the public domain for all to see”. Rai has not commented on Guyanese politics since then. He has resisted
attempts to contribute to a biography on his life because he wanted to “avoid even a mere suggestion of historical revisionism and embellishment of his political role”. Malcolm Harripaul has addressed the inaccuracies in K i s s o o n ’s r e s p o n s e . K i s s o o n ’s p e r s i s t e n t preoccupation with branding others as “supremacists” will be addressed when time permits. S e c o n d l y, R a l p h Ramkarran provided an unbiased account of Rai’s relationship with the Jagans, except for the statement suggesting that Rai “made an effort at reconciliation with Cheddi Jagan in 1992 but received no response.” I am unclear as to what Ramkarran meant by “reconciliation” but any correspondence Rai had with President Jagan would have been regarding his parliamentary pension. The conflict between Rai and the Jagans is well documented
and is now part of Guyanese historiography. Thirdly, Ramkarran raised the issue of the denial of Rai’s parliamentary pension. For the record, the Parliamentary Pensions (President, Parliamentary and Special Offices) Act,
Chapter 27:03, enacted in January 1970 by the government, provided for pensions to legislators who were sitting members of the National Assembly on or after May 26, 1966. The Act also provided for pensions to legislators who had served in (Continued on page 5)
Port Kaituma struggling for water DEAR EDITOR, We, the residents of Port Kaituma, are appealing to the Minister of Communities for improvement of our water supply. There are some parts of the community without water for the past two years forcing us to depend solely on rain. We are pooling our little monies to get water to our homes. Our pump station located at Citrus Grove Port had two engines. Unfortunately for us, one developed
mechanical problems and was sent to Georgetown for repairs. When inquiries were made for the engine to be returned, GWI said that they cannot find it. The lone engine that is in operation cannot supply the entire community with water. In our humble opinion, that engine has outlived its usefulness and we are begging to have a bigger pump. We look forward for urgent intervention. Frustrated residents
Saturday June 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
The Falling Kingdom is Dear Land of Guyana on an Impossible Mission DEAR EDITOR, It is sad to know that those who claimed to bring democracy to Guyana are destroying it, and now they are on a mission to destroy Guyana at all costs. The PPP/C must or learn to understand that Guyana belongs to the people and the people have the power to choose/elect any government of their choice on their own free will. And the only legal body that can declare a winner of an election in Guyana is GECOM. GECOM is a legal body that manages the elections of this land and we must as Guyanese accept its findings at the end of an election. But it is sad that this same PPP/C that brought Jimmy Carter and his Centre in 1992 to have a free and fair elections, now in 2015 is accusing that great man of joining hands with GECOM to rig the May 11th, 2015 elections. How cruel is the PPP/C to accuse this credible institution of being involved in rigging? The PPP/C has also accused all the international observers of being part of the rigging. There is desperation in the PPP/C camp to hold on to power, knowing that they have done injustice to Guyana, having led his nation into being the most corrupt in the Caribbean under their watch. The PPP/C will have to accept the results and its leaders should stop jumping around the country talking nonsense and inciting problems in Guyana. The people of this land have spoken on May 11th, 2015, and they have chosen a
government of national unity, unlike the PPP/C which is divided since Bharrat took the party in his hands. The PPP/C should be ashamed of destroying democracy in Guyana today. Shame seems to be nothing for the PPP/C. The mission of the PPP/C is to create a crisis in Guyana because the APNU+AFC is in government, by using their party personnel who sit on various government boards and manage some of the highest positions in government. Why do I say this? Let’s look at the recent statement by Guysuco, whereby they are claiming that there are no funds to carry on the industry. How shameful. The management and board of Guysuco had to know since before the month of May that there would be no money to carry on Guysuco. So they lied and deceived the sugar workers by telling them during the campaigning that the industry has a bright future under PPP/C. How can an industry have a bright future when it does not have any money to sustain itself? Come on PPP/ C, you are the ones that created the crisis in Guysuco by hiring friends and families to manage this industry, when those people cannot even manage a cake shop properly. You, the people in the PPP/C, have created a kingdom of wealth by robbing the poor man of his daily bread and yet when people question the wealth of some people, you ask for evidence. Well here is evidence and here is how you can know how corrupted your people were in government - by
asking your ministers and top notch PPP/C loyals that work for the government what they had in their bank accounts and how big their properties were before they took office? Ask them why they didn’t build pool houses and mansions before they took office? Ask them the number of vehicles they had then and how many they have now? The mission of the PPP/C will fail soon and the entire empire of this party will crumble, while the leadership will never be able to bring back the PPP/C. The PPP/C must respect this new administration for the next five years. This new administration must act quickly in investigating the past officials of the then government. They must be held accountable for spending our tax dollars without approval. This new government must and should not allow these matters to be swept under the carpet. This new government needs to reform all the government boards as soon as possible or this PPP/C will use their officials to crumble Guyana at all levels and make it ungovernable, so that the mission of the PPP/C will succeed. The government needs to put its act together now. Let Guyana move forward in unity and peace under APNU+AFC and ensure the PPP/C mission will become impossible. Let’s work together for a better Guyana under this unity train government and make our dear land regain its respect and place in the Caribbean and the world at large. Abel Seetaram
DEAR EDITOR, The people of Guyana have waited 23 years for change. For some of us this day couldn’t be sooner; it’s like life has started all over again, a breath of fresh air. With this new Government and the resumption of parliament, the Guyanese people have so many expectations; especially for the Government’s 100 days plan to be executed as promised. But with all that said, and not forgetting the fact that the Government is relatively new and not all can be done at once, this is a matter of urgency. I was somewhat astounded when a young friend of mine told me he was at the Ministry of Communities and was informed that house lots at Covent Garden are still being sold at preposterous prices… two million dollars to be exact. Like I said in my above mentioned statement, the “Government is relatively new” but we would like for the new Government to
look into these unpardonable, illogical malpractices the previous administration had burdened the Guyanese poorer class with over the years. It is outright absurd for any family, whether middle or higher class, to be paying for a plot of land in this dear land of ours. The poorer class was marginalized for too long, their voices were not heard; they were placed on the back burners and unrepresented for 23 years. I hope that the President looks into this, as the people of Guyana are looking forward to brighter days. Under his administration there is a sense of purpose and belonging, so much so that young families are looking forward to owning their own homes in these communities where the previous administration made it impossible for them to do so. Their screams should not go unheard… Mr. President, help us! Michael Mars
Securing parliamentary... From page 4 1953 or after and had returned to serve in the Assembly on or after May 26, 1966 (Guyana’s independence), thus providing for former legislative service to be counted for the purposes of computing pensions to qualified legislators. Balram Singh Rai served as a legislator from 1957 to 1964. He was not a member of the Assembly on May 26, 1966, when the country gained its independence, nor was he a holder of any of the Special Offices designated in the Act. Rai therefore, did not qualify for a pension under the Act, as it was written. He is the only legislator in this predicament. The laws can be changed to make this accommodation for a citizen who served his country. Rai was first elected to the Legislative Council in 1957 when his main challenger was his Buxtonian friend Sydney King, now elder statesman, Eusi Kwayana, to represent the Central Demerara electoral constituency. Between 1959
and 1961, Rai was the Minister of Community Development and Education and between 1961 and 1962, he was Guyana’s first Minister of Home Affairs. Born on February 8, 1921 in the East Coast Demerara village of Beterverwagting, at the ripe age of 94, Rai is currently in failing health, walks with a cane, and lives in Ealing, London. Rai had written to every President since his departure from Guyana regarding his pension. One would have thought that Cheddi Jagan, whose administration he served, would have been more responsive. However, despite writing to Cheddi Jagan several times after 1992, the first letter being sent on January 4, 1993, no response was forthcoming from President Jagan, who in-
sisted that Rai withdrew his allegations of fraud in the April 1962 PPP General Council election. Finally, since Ralph has revived the issue of Rai’s parliamentary pension, I would issue a personal challenge to him. As a former Speaker of the National Assembly and as a Senior Counsel widely accepted as one blessed with one of the finest legal minds in the country, he is in a unique position to lobby his parliamentary colleagues to pursue legislative action that would make it possible for Rai to receive his long overdue parliamentary pension. By doing so, Ralph would be making a tremendous contribution towards natural and social justice on behalf of an “iconic political figure” in Guyana’s history. Baytoram Ramharack
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More judges to be appointed to Constitutional, Commercial courts By: Kiana Wilburg Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, recently emphasized the need for improving the perception of fairness in the Constitutional Court and for eliminating the backlog of cases in the judicial system. Williams said that Government maintains its position that the Constitutional and Commercial Courts, both manned by one Judge, require additional adjudicators. The AG said, “We believe there should be an additional Judge in the Commercial court and the Constitutional court. We will also make moves to deal with the case of insufficient Judges in the Court of Appeal as well. This is a serious matter for me. “With only one Judge in those important Courts, it would obviously lead to a backlog of more cases in the system and the Judges being overwhelmed. I intend to address that.” Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh,
also weighed in on the matter. He said that the addition of another Judge to the Constitutional Court may be desirable. He noted, however, that constitutional matters are grave and weighty. He said that the CJ is the most senior Judge of the High court and the most experienced one at that. “So we shouldn’t be knocking the court. If there is dissatisfaction, there is the Court of Appeal and then there is the Caribbean Court of Justice,” Justice Singh said. He added, “When we get our full complement of Judges then we can address having two constitutional departments but right now the judicial manpower does not permit it.” Seasoned Attorneys-atLaw and even members of the once political opposition, A Partnership for National Unity plus Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) held the position that the nation is treading dangerous waters in having only one Judge, Chief Justice (CJ) Ian Chang (Ag), presiding in the Constitutional Court.
- AG Specifically, Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, had expressed this view which was supported by his colleagues. Greenidge had said that it is inconceivable that such a pivotal institution charged with critical decisions can be presided over by just one person. He had said that the work of the court affects the fundamental rights of the populace as a whole. Even in the best of circumstances, there is going to be virtue in having more than one Judge looking at the Constitution so as to ensure minimization of errors. The situation reduces the scope for overlooking details, eliminates bias and allows for alternative views. He had said, too, that while it is true that the CJ’s decisions can be appealed, it has to be understood that in Guyana, the courts are characterized by extensive setbacks. The politician said that one can view these setbacks as a delay in Justice being served. Greenidge reminded that one must bear in mind, the Parkinson’s Law – that delay is the deadliest form of denial. Though there is the
opinion that the Constitutional Court should have the presence of another Judge who can help in the adjudication of difficult cases, veteran lawyers however, believe that the Chief Justice is quite an accomplished Judge. They agreed that measured by his output, “he is amazing” but they are also of the opinion that in trying to produce a lot, one can err. While some of the Attorneys who spoke with Kaieteur News said that there have been instances where they felt the interpretations by the CJ were flawed, they said to truly determine if he has erred, one would have to rely on the appeals which may be collecting two to three years of dust as they await a date for hearing. There have also been increasing complaints in the legal fraternity against the Court of Appeal for having some unresolved cases of national importance, languishing for years. One of them is the appeal to the Budget cut case which is yet to start. As for the Commercial Court which is also housed in the High Court, the opinion in the business community is that it is overwhelmed. The court is presided over by Justice Rishi Persaud. The Court handles claims for money, the purchase and sale of commodities and contracts relating to the sale and purchase of land and
other matters. According to a 2013 report by the United States Bureau on Economics and Business Affairs, (http:// www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ ics/2013/204653.htm), Guyana’s judicial system is generally perceived to be slow and ineffective in enforcing contracts or resolving disputes. It opines too that perceptions of corruption and long delays make the courts an unattractive option for settling investment or contractual disputes, particularly for foreign investors unfamiliar with Guyana. It highlighted, however, that to redress this obstacle to investment, the Government of Guyana, with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), established a Commercial Court in June 2006. It said that while the Commercial Court started off with some promise, it has failed to make any appreciable impact on the timely settlement of business disputes. Attorney at Law and Leader of the Alliance For Change, Khemraj Ramjattan, who appeared before the court had said that it has done a wonderful job in settling certain matters but considering the influx of certain cases, in order to make it effective, it would require another Judge. Persaud, Ramjattan opined, is overburdened and
Attorney General, Basil Williams as a result, other cases will be delayed. Ramesh Dookoo, a member of the Private Sector Commission had expressed however, “The Commercial Court is not working up to the speed that we would like it to work. I don’t think it is overwhelmed but it needs to be more efficient. The reason we supported the establishment of the court in the first place is because of the backlog that was occurring in the regular court system. “The Commercial Court initially started out with some amount of promise but it is not working as efficiently as it should be. We need to get this court in order. Its efficiency would benefit the investment community once this is done. A solution, I believe, is that the court needs another Judge. There is too much too be done and one Judge cannot do it alone.”
Saturday June 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
PPP/C blames new Govt. for empty PetroCaribe Fund -Freedom House behaving like bank robbers who accuse police of robbing the bank - Ramjattan The People’s Progressive Party has charged that after less than a month in office, the new government has managed to empty the PetroCaribe Fund. It is responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars owed to rice farmers and millers, the PPP said. The former ruling party made the startling counter claims against the coalition Government yesterday in defence of revelations that a bank account used to collect monies from oil sales supplied by neighbouring Venezuela has been “bankrupt”. On Thursday, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, disclosed that A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration discovered that there was no money in the account. Under arrangements with Venezuela, Government has to deposit proceeds from oil sales. Some of the monies were to pay off the farmers and millers in the rice industry. With the permission of the Venezuelan Government some of the money was used to build a senior citizens’ home in West Berbice. It was widely believed that millions of dollars were supposed to be in the account. Responding to Harmon’s statements, the PPP/C said that he has brought the Office of the Presidency into “great disrepute by his lack of competence and his rapid descent into misrepresenting information. His press conferences are littered with inaccuracies and innuendoes and tendency to distort and misrepresent.” The statement insisted that the PetroCaribe fund was managed in a transparent manner. “The plain and simple truth is that for years the inflows and outflows of the Fund were managed optimally and transparently by the PPP/ C government and within one month the APNU/AFC government has displayed its incompetence in being unable to manage the Fund’s operations properly, resulting in hardship to the rice farmers and millers.” PPP/C said that contrary to Harmon’s “misrepresentation” absolutely no money whatsoever is missing from the PetroCaribe Fund, and
Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan even if the fund has limited balances in it that does not mean in any way that any money is missing. There exists detailed records that would reflect every single inflow and outflow from the fund. It will withstand scrutiny, the PPP said. “Put simply, monies are deposited into the fund when Guyana imports oil from Venezuela under the PetroCaribe arrangem e n t . Those monies are managed by the Bank of Guyana. The monies are utilised to fund projects that are included in the national budget and submitted to Parliament for approval.” The Opposition party said that over the years, the projects have included the new GPL power plants at Kingston and Vreed-enHoop and the Hope Canal. “Secondly, and more substantially, the funds are utilised to purchase rice and paddy for export to Venezuela under the PetroCaribe arrangement. At any time, the balance available in the fund is the total of all inflows deposited into the fund from oil imports, minus sums disbursed on projects, minus sums disbursed to GRDB (Guyana Rice Development Board) for rice and paddy purchases.” PPP/C explained that periodically, Guyana and Venezuela would conclude a debt reduction agreement under which the latter cancels an amount of PetroCaribe debt previously owed by this country and equivalent to the value of rice and paddy shipped in the immediately preceding period. “This is clear enough for everyone to understand. Yet, Harmon deliberately sets about creating a misleading impression that somehow something untoward may have occurred in the manage-
PPP’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee ment of the fund.” PPP/C warned that there is more to come because the APNU/AFC has already displayed its “lack of capability” to grapple with the challenging realities of managing the economy of Guyana. The party claimed that the economy is already grinding to a halt as a result of mismanagement.” “After nine years of uninterrupted growth, one month of APNU/AFC misrule has already resulted in the economy starting to contract, and the entire business sector is already lamenting how bad business conditions are.” The Opposition party, which had been in Government for 23 years before losing the May 11 General Elections in a close race, said that one simply has to wait for another few weeks more, before the electorate feels the brunt of the “great betrayal” when all of the 100 day promises made cannot be delivered. “Just a few more weeks to go, and the greater electoral fraud committed by the APNU/AFC will be disclosed, the false promises on which they convinced people to vote for them and which they promptly betrayed once they secured those votes.” PPP/C has refused to recognize the Government calling it a “de facto” administration and saying that the elections were rigged. Yesterday, commenting of the PPP/C statement, Minister of National Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, said the spin on the situation is most disgusting and revolting. “It is like robbers of a bank blaming the police for the heist. We will be issuing a detailed statement. Expect them to make more preposterous statements to defend all these shocking findings that are being unearthed.”
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TEACHER PERCY SAY… There are many parents who are not sending their children to school. There are many primary and secondary school children who are not attending school because they know that no action will be taken against them by their schools or by their parents. If you pass by many of the markets around the country, you are bound to see children who are supposed to be in school but who are hanging around the various vendors. There was even a case recently, where a mother has a baby in a cardboard box while she sold at a road corner. Not many people who saw this were protesting, even though many of them would have been disgusted
that the baby had to have been in a cardboard box. If you ask some people they will say that the reason why the mother had the child with her is because she has no other option. That is pure nonsense. She has the child with her because she can get away with it, not because she cannot do better. There are many children who are not going to school because they know they can skulk from school and not worry about their parents’ reaction. Their parents obviously do not put a value to education and prefer to be doing their own thing rather than ensuring that their child is in school. There may be cases where a parent cannot afford to send
the child to school because the child may lack clothing or books. But these are usually isolated cases and should not be entertained too often. If you are serious about educating your child, you will make the effort to ensure that the child attends school regularly. If children do not go to school what is going to become of them? They will not have an education, and therefore, they will end up having to do physical work. But the very fact that they are not interested in going to school, suggests that they may equally not be interested in working. It is not hard to imagine the sort of professions that they will likely gravitate towards.
Many children are also not even registered for school. Therefore, even if the school to which they attend has a system of tracking t h o s e children who are absent, the school is not likely to have the resources to contact the parents or find the absentee child. This is where collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Protection can make a difference. The two ministries should combine and work out a system whereby, if a child who is registered is not attending school and the best efforts of the schools’ administrators fail to find out why this child is not attending school, then the matter
should be handed over to the Ministry of Social Protection who should go after the absentee child, in the same way as they believe, that they are going after victims of human trafficking. But what is going to happen with those children who are not even registered? In those cases, the schools have no way of knowing that a child is being kept away from the classroom. This clearly is not a problem that can be addressed by the schools. It has to be addressed by the Ministry of Social Protection or some agency within the Ministry of Education devoted to ensuring that children are not kept away from school.
It is high time that greater attention is paid to all those children who are hanging around the markets and road corners when they should be in school I saw one recently and asked him why he was not in school. He said he had exams. I asked him what type of exams and he said end of term exams. I reminded him that those exams have not started as yet. He has learnt to tell lies early. Who knows what next he will learn to do by staying away from school?
Dead: Leyland Jones
Dead: Raymond Trotman
Dead: Esmond Martin
10 dead miners...File
submitted to DPP for further advice
The police, on Thursday, forwarded a report containing details of the May 17 collapse of the Mowasi, Potaro, mining pit that killed 10 miners, to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The police are seeking advice on how to proceed in the matter. This is in keeping with the police endeavouring to determine whether Imran Khan, owner of the collapsed mining camp, should face criminal charges, in light of an investigation launched by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) that identified several breaches in regulations. The move to seek advice from the DPP comes on the heels of the police wrapping up their collection of statements from the miners
who escaped death on that fateful day. Several family members of the deceased also provided statements. Dead are Leyland Jones, 38, called ‘Foots’ of Grove, East Bank Demerara, who was the gold operations General Manager; his nephew Jason Trotman, 21; of Samatta Point, Grove Housing Scheme; Raymond August of 229 Bent Street, Dartmouth, Essequibo; Bobby Brittlebank of 98 Wislock Housing Scheme, Linden; Michael Gardner of Better Hope, ECD; Sheldon and Orlando Clario; Desmond Martins; Trevon Phillips and Nanmore Kurt. The injured were identified as Alex Green, 28, of Lima Essequibo Coast; Regan Green, 21, of Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast;
Collymore Lewis, 34, of Moraikobai Mission, Mahaicony; Sheldon Adams, 32, of Beehive, East Coast Demerara; Lazarus Andrews, 49, of Nappi, Central Rupununi and Henry Xavier, 37, of Paramakatoi, North Pakaraima. In the ensuing investigation, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) had ruled that Khan was in breach of safety procedures governing mining beyond depths of 50 feet. Khan however, has been adamant that his operation had not reached deeper than 40 feet, especially given the difficulties that would have been encountered digging through the clay. In fact, Khan has disputed that his operation was ever unsafe.
PM Nagamootoo acts for Pres. Granger
Dem boys seh...
Donald should shut he mouth to avoid de prisoners’ dock Respect is something money can’t buy. Respect is something you can’t demand. It is something that you got to earn and you don’t earn it like money. Dem boys use to have respect fuh Donald and dem believe that he woulda come and mek a difference. Instead he join de bunch of criminals. De only thing dem boys ain’t 100 per cent CERTAIN about is if he thief like dem scamps that was around him. De same Donald who nobody ain’t got respect for, get Labba Lip Kwame fuh issue a statement saying, that Donald ain’t gun respect fo Soulja Bai as President. He shoulda realise that from de time he tell de country that he would be following de footsteps of Jagdeo, de Rat, in all dem corrupt transactions, he coulda never see back Ohh Pee front door much less de office. He did believe in Jagdeo that scamp, so much that he tek a chance and put Rohee,
de goat food, fuh run de party. Jagdeo, de scamp, mek he cuss up de Americans, Canadians, British and even Soulja Bai. He follow Jagdeo and do a lot of things, dem boys hear about. Dem boys even see he transfer several millions from he personal account to Irfaat name and that was after de elections. When dem boys see de document dem believe that Irfaat did give him a big kickback and he send back de money. Later down dem boys realize was more than a kickback. Dem boys hope and pray that he don’t fall, not follow in Jagdeo footsteps into de prisoners’ dock. Jagdeo had to wait on a clerk to sign up he bail form. That is how ee go home. Dem boys ain’t sure if Donald got to call de Waterfalls boss fuh sign he out. Talk half and look at dem idiots and lowlife talking bout respect.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo taking the Oath in the presence of Chancellor of the Judiciary (Ag.) Justice Carl Singh. Also in photo is Chief Protocol Officer Vic Persaud First Vice President and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, was sworn in to perform the duties of President by Chancellor of the Judiciary (Ag), Justice Carl Singh, yesterday.
President David Granger has departed for the United States and Mr. Nagamootoo will be performing the duties that fall under the purview of the President until President Granger returns to Guyana.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday June 13, 2015
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Small things in the 2015 election that have big meanings The 2015 elections have come and gone. Scholars will do their research on its fantastic consequences for the reshaping of Guyanese history. I will always remember it, because it is the only election to date that I have vigorously participated in. I came away with silicone memories. We help the researchers when we write about all the dimensions of the election – campaign issues, campaign rhetoric, strategies, personnel, results etc. But we must strive to include even the peripheral moments of the 2015 general poll because researchers see
large meanings in small details. The 2015 National Elections were not without their lighter side. That side should be written about so when the historians write their books they can ponder on the nature of the society at the time. I thought about this column when I saw Mark Benschop in his Tundra playing loud music with a flag as large as the country of Canada flying as high as when “the stallion meets the sun” (as Barry Manilow sung in his fantastic song, “Could It Be Magic”) The Mark Benschop entry into the 2015 poll with its
disastrous results for him tells us about the nature of people and society in this country. Benschop’s ignominious failure to even get four hundred votes has immense implications for the future of the younger generation of Guyana. Every scholar should look at the meaning of Benschop’s failure and try to understand why Guyana’s politics has been so historically disastrous. The issue is not Benschop. This analysis is not about Benschop; it is about a certain characteristic of the Guyanese psyche a study of which can help make this society better. We can start with TUF led by the daughter of Manzoor Nadir. TUF got a thousand national votes. This remains a deadly mystery. After Manzoor Nadir joined the PPP in 2001 and became one of its chief propagandists, TUF was virtually dead. By what logic would a Guyanese citizen vote for TUF with a leader that was completely unknown. For an
obscure party, a thousand votes is a lot in a small electorate. After I check the GECOM station by station report, only then would I be able to determine how and why TUF got those votes. The party led by a complete unknown, Vishnu Bandoo, scored more votes than Mark Benschop. This is a huge mystery. To compare the name Mark Benschop with Vishnu Bandoo, in Guyana is to compare a night club singer in Timbuktu with Beyonce. Bandoo does not live in Guyana and before the election, did not spend any lengthy time here. How did his party pick up more votes (actually one more than Benschop’s 315 but 316 is more than 315) than Benschop’s? Benschop lost big time because he belongs to a long line of well-known political activists whose national notoriety made their egos bigger than the combined oceans, and it destroyed their sense and direction of reality. My thinking was that Benschop figured that he had
a national standing that was larger than both Moses Nagamootoo and David Granger. Based on that phantasmagoria of illusory grandeur, Benschop felt that he could carve out an electoral name for himself. It didn’t happen. Benschop’s aim was to take votes from the APNU constituencies. He knew it was virtually impossible to get Indian votes in any of the ten Regions in Guyana, so he opted to become a national election player at the expense of APNU. He figured he didn’t need a campaign bandwagon, press advertisements, meetthe-people tours. With his national standing, Facebook page, help from Oasis Café’s mosquito web site, he could become an overnight electoral success. Just another politician who thinks African Guyanese are fools. I would say that not even in a three-way race (PPP, APNU, AFC), would Benschop have picked up more than the votes he got.
Frederick Kissoon Benschop’s ego got in the way. He made a tragic mistake. A moment of stupendous popularity does not last forever. To keep it going you have to be among the people. But even when you are among the people, it doesn’t mean they want you to be their leader in government. Benschop needs to learn that context is everything in life. His partner in the game of misplaced context was Saphier Hussein, the lawyer. Hussein felt that his perambulations in the High Court over the years could cause him to become a successful national politician. Like Benschop, he got a rude awakening. The 2015 election produced some crazies. Why should a crazy person like me call these people crazy? But at least I know my limitations.
Saturday June 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 11
East Bank four-lane highway project...
Govt moves to cancel Dipcon contract A section of the East Bank Demerara four-lane highway is facing major delays with the contractor in trouble. Several staffers have since been sent home with a number of them complaining to the Ministry of Labour that they want their benefits and severance pay. Yesterday, an official of Dipcon Engineering Services, of Coldingen, East Coast Demerara, confirmed that there are delays in the road works. Limited activities are ongoing. He said that the company is engaging the Ministry of Public Infrastructure for a possible resolution. The official who said scaling down the workforce is normal with any construction company as the work winds down, said that talks are ongoing with the Ministry of Labour and the workers’ union, the Guyana Labour Union. The problems with Dipcon were mainly from the rising costs of materials and delays in the removals of utilities from the area, leaving the company in a cash situation. The company has
…after contractor faces cash crunch
Staffers of Dipcon say they have been terminated admitted to owing the National Insurance Scheme and the Guyana Revenue Authority. Discussions are underway to resolve the indebtedness. Dipcon had been awarded Phase One of the four-lane extension from Providence to Covent Garden. While the other sections are virtually completed, Dipcon’s part is the one worrying the Ministry. The company is stuck at a bridge-widening part in an area linking
Providence and Herstelling. It is unclear what happens now as Dipcon also has a contract on a section of the East Coast Demerara for the four-lane continuation up to Mon Repos. A section of the works, in
the vicinity of Herstelling, has been handed to another contractor, Gaico Construction, to help speed up works. A number of workers turned up at Kaieteur News yesterday claiming that they have filed complaints with the
Ministry of Labour asking for intervention. According to Russel Daniel, he has been working for three years as a checker. On Tuesday, after a few days’ leave, he returned to work and was told his services would be terminated and that he would be getting his two weeks’ pay on July 17. Daniel said that there was no mention of severance pay so he refused the letter terminating his services. He said that about 30 employees are being sent home.
The story was the same for Eon Sancho and Lorana Hicks, Shiv Narine and Jermaine Narine. The workers said that they all have families and expenses. The US$20M East Bank four-lane extension has been dragging on for a number of years. It faced several delays, failing to meet one deadline after the next. The roadway is the main link to Essequibo, the Timehri Airport and Linden, a main gateway to the hinterland communities.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday June 13, 2015
Education Ministry to collaborate with CXC to improve NGSA results - Public schools in Regions One, Seven and Eight for close attention Consultations between the Ministry of Education and the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) are in the making to help improve the results of the secondary school entrance assessment – the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). This strategic move is coming at a time when not only Georgetown schools are dominating the top one per cent at the NGSA, but private schools are producing a significant number of these exceptional performers. Moreover, Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, on Thursday disclosed plans to consult with the Regional Examination body in order to improve the National Grade Two Assessment (NGTA), the National Grade Four Assessment (NGFA) and NGSA. Currently the ascension to secondary schools require that five per cent of each candidate’s NGTA score in
Mathematics and English and 10 per cent of the NGFA score in the same subjects be added to 85 per cent of each candidate’s NGSA score in the same subject areas. The combined scores in Mathematics and English are added to the scores gained in Science and Social Studies. And it is the expectation of the Minister that the move to consult with CXC will help build capacity with a view of improving pupils’ performances not only nationally but at a Regional level. The Minister made reference to the plan to consult following disclosures by Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, that while there have been improved performances in Mathematics, Science and Social Studies there is evidence to suggest that the performance in English Language has declined. Candidates are assessed in the four subject areas in order to be appropriately placed at the secondary level.
FROM LEFT: Director of NCERD, Ms Jennifer Cumberbatch; Superintendent of Exams, Sauda Kadir; Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, who presented the 2015 NGSA results. And Sam on Thursday revealed that the performances of all Regions, with the exception of Regions One, Seven and Eight, have been reflected in the top one per cent of the 2015 NGSA. He in so disclosing admitted that the Ministry has noted and will continue to focus on a clear difference in relation to the performances derived at hinterland and coastal schools. “At all levels there is work to be done to improve our output in the hinterland regions,” said Sam, as he pointed out that “regions One, Seven and
Eight certainly requires attention and focus and certainly from our initial discussions with Minister (Roopnaraine) it is something he has a strong opinion on. Certainly we will devise a clear strategy how we will move (forward) our agenda that we have already initiated...” Sam has however assured that quite a bit has already been done by the Ministry to improve the educational output in the named Regions and “I am certain that we will increase our strategies and output in relations to that because it is a critical part of our national strategic plan.” DIFFERENT PRACTICES And in light of the perceived better performances yielded by the private primary schools, this publication queried of Sam whether the Ministry would consider collaborating with private schools with a view of adopting their successdriven approaches. The CEO in his response admitted that the public education system does not have the latitude to practice some of the things the private schools employ. “We have said this time and time again that we have recognised that there are differences with
regards to the approaches but I think when one looks at what happens at the secondary level we can see a direct reverse of the realities that we noted at the primary level.” His comments, which were forthcoming during the presentation of the 2015 NGSA results on Thursday at the National Centre for Education Resource Development, were mirrored by that of the Education Minister. Sam intimated that “I don’t think that there is value in us debating which is better - private or public. I think...we need to look at schools specifically to see what things they are doing and what works.” According to the CEO too, the Education Ministry has in the past engaged private institutions in having discussions on many approaches and strategies, and attempts have been made to compile the best practices so that all schools have the opportunity to excel. In the meantime, Sam said that the Ministry is giving kudos to institutions that have been able to dominate the top one per cent for the past few years and might continue to do so. He nevertheless noted
that support will be continually directed to the public institutions in their drive to improve performance. The 2015 NGSA results saw the privately operated Success Elementary Primary school claiming the two top spots (Solomon Cherai – 530 marks and Shania Eastman – 529 marks) and 23 more places in the top one per cent. Among the other outstanding private schools in the top one per cent are: the New Guyana School, ISA Islamic, Al Ghazali Islamic Academy, Marian Academy, School of the Nations, Mae’s Under 12, Camille’s Institute and the Academy of Excellence. Last year it was Jorrel DeSantos of the privately operated New Guyana School who was named the top performer with a score of 533. The previous year it was Salma Majeed, a pupil of yet another private school, the ISA Islamic Academy, who copped the top spot with a score of 548. A year earlier it was a private school (Mae’s) pupil, Sachin Ghir, who took the lead with a score of 547. Sharing the coveted top spot that year was Michael Bhopaul of Graham’s Hall primary.
Saturday June 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 21
Local aeronautical school eyeing Duo gets 3 years each for cocaine possession Associate Degree programme
Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, (left) meeting with Captain Malcolm G. Chan-a-Sue and Mrs. Nalini Chanderban. The duo at the Magistrates’ courts yesterday The national status of the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School is poised for elevation. At a meeting with representatives of the School on Wednesday Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, made a commitment to help in the process. A statement out of the Ministry yesterday said that Minister Roopnaraine met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Aeronautical
Engineering School, Captain Malcolm G. Chan-a-Sue and Executive Manager, Mrs. Nalini Chanderban, to discuss the accreditation status of the school’s AbInitio programme. At that forum the Education Minister indicated his willingness to assist in the facilitation of the institution’s accreditation process and as such, has committed to having the National Accreditation Council of Guyana work with the
Aeronautical Engineering School to have its Completion Certificate made equivalent to an Associate Degree. This School, under the leadership of Captain Chana-Sue and the management of Mrs Chanderban is certified and approved by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority, the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Suriname,and the CARICOM
arm of Aviation, Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Systems. It is also certificated under the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems of the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards. The School will in the mean time continue to work with the University of Guyana and the National Accreditation Council to have its programme used as a prerequisite for a Degree in Aviation Maintenance.
Another suspect remanded for Grove robbery, attempted murder Bagostown mechanic, Orrwyn Peters, was yesterday remanded on four charges, two of which were related to the robbery and attempted murder at Grove, East Bank Demerara. The Grove shooting which left one dead and one injured is an ongoing investigation (there is an ongoing investigation into the Grove shooting which left one man injured.) The mechanic was positively identified by Neezam Khan, who was shot during the attack. He was apprehended by police on separate charges. Peters appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry-Sewnarine to answer to the charges of possession of ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence, possession of narcotics, robbery under arms and attempted murder. On June 10, last, the police, acting on information, intercepted and searched the defendant who was riding CG 6045. During the search, some
ammunition was found in his right side pocket. They also found seven grams of cannabis in his crotch. It was also alleged that the 21-year-old, on June 6, 2015 in the company of others armed with a gun robbed Neezam Khan of one gold chain valued $200,000 and a finger ring worth $500,000. Also on the day in question he discharged a loaded fire arm at Khan, hitting him in the arm. In the statement, the offender stated that he found the ammunition on a playfield and he bought the drug on Leopold Street for the purpose of smoking. The defendant was not required to plead to the robbery and attempted murder charges. He pleaded not guilty to the ammunition and narcotics charges. The Prosecutor contended that the ammunition that was found on the defendant was for the weapon that was used in the robbery and attempted murder. Because of the seriousness of the offence he
asked for bail to be refused. Bail was subsequently refused. Peters’s next appearance would be on June 30. Just two days ago an alleged accomplice of the defendant, Curtis Vasconcellos was arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, in relation to the said robbery and attempted murder charge, at Grove, which left one of his accomplices dead. Vasconcellos, 21, of 52 Remus Street, Agricola, stood calmly in the dock, clad in an orange shirt. He appeared wounded since several bandages were seen around his neck. His right arm was in a cast and was held in place by a white sling that was placed around his neck. He was also remanded to prison until June 30. According to reports, businessman, Neezam Khan,
and some colleagues were reportedly outside the snackette of which Khan is the proprietor, when four young men on two motorcycles rode up. One of the men, armed with a handgun, held up the businessman, relieved him of his jewellery and shot him in his left arm. However, this newspaper understands that before the bandits could have escaped with the loot, Khan opened fire on them. Khan discharged several rounds hitting the suspected bandits on the neck and arm. However, one of his accomplices was fatally shot. Vasconcellos tried to escape but was later found lying not too far from the crime scene. He was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was treated.
A duo was yesterday sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, each, after they were found with 12.5 grams of cocaine in their possession on March 11, last, at Cross Street, Georgetown. They were charged with having the drug for the purpose of trafficking. Marcie Andrews, 27, of La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara and Richard Prescod, 27, of East Ruimveldt, were both charged last March, and made several appearances at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts over the last few months. Yesterday, the two appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Fabayo Azore charged with trafficking cocaine. Police Prosecutor Simone Payne told the court that on the day in question; the police were on patrol in the area when they observed Prescod
throwing a bag into a yard. The police went in search of the bag and retrieved it. Upon inspection, they found a substance suspected to be narcotic, and later confirmed it to be cocaine. Payne added that the defendants were arrested and told of the offence. She objected to bail citing the prevalence and seriousness of the offence. The Magistrate upheld the Prosecutor’s requests and remanded both Prescod and Andrews to prison. Both were sentenced yesterday. Andrews who was a vendor prior to this offence once served a one month sentence for damage to property. Prescod have no prior offences. The Magistrate considering the quantity of the drug fined them both $10,000 each and sentenced them to three years’ imprisonment.
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Kaieteur News
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Honda Accord 2003: 31,000KM, 2L, leather interior, touch screen TV, DVD, 6 CD changer & radioCall: 689-1194 Don’t Miss! Venus Auto Sale: pre-order, specials on Toyota IST, Vitz, Ractis, Passo, Raum- $1.9M, $1.8M Call: 624-5617 One Toyota Allion 2004 Model & 1 new & unregistered Mazda Axela, excellent condition -Tel: 649-0956 2004 Spacio -$2M 2008 Fielder (new shape) -$2.5M unregistered –Tel: 617-2891
Luxury gated communitypool, mall, swipe card entry, underground irrigation. Selling @ $6USD per sq.ftCall: 609-0783
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Land as low as $2M between Eccles & Diamond (100ftX50ft) & (110ftX56ft) Tel: 675-7292; 223-1443
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1500 acres transported land 4½ miles from Bartica Rock, Quarry, Forestry, Agriculture. Contact Mark: 603-1266; 6259788 DRESSMAKING Morning and evening classes also dressmaking service. Call Sharmie (Canadian trained): 6262629, 676-6312
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Saturday June 13, 2015
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PS3 with games $35,000, 32 inch flat-screen TV $48,000Call: 664-7014 3 plastic injection mould machines in excellent condition. Sale price $8 million for all 3- Contact: Ms.Rooplall 233-3512 Continued on page 23
Saturday June 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Venezuela’s Expanding Claims to Guyana’s Territory By Dr. Odeen Ishmael Venezuela’s decree of May 26, 2015, projects yet another extension of that country’s claim to Guyana’s territory. Previously, the Spanish-speaking Republic had generally restricted its spurious territorial assertion to the actual land area— except in the declaration of a previous decree in 1968—but now that is extended into Guyana’s maritime waters as far as the 200-mile limit in a north-easterly direction to abut the maritime GuyanaSuriname boundary. This enlargement of the Venezuelan claim is obviously a blatant contravention of International Law and will not be condoned in any way by the international community. In the course of history, Venezuela has presented varying declarations of rights to Guyanese territory. As far back as 1840, Venezuela made its first claim to all territory west of the Essequibo River, thus asserting “ownership” of a sizeable chunk of the then colony of British Guiana. This contention was naturally rebuffed by the British government, but it led to a steady interchange of diplomatic correspondence between Caracas and London in which claims and counterclaims were expressed. Eventually, on February 21, 1881, in a note to the British Foreign Minister Lord Grenville, the Venezuelan government proposed a frontier line starting from a point one mile to the north of the Moruka River, and drawn from there westward to the 60th meridian and then running south along that meridian. This would have granted the Barima District and an extensive part of the Upper Cuyuni basin to Venezuela; as a result, the proposal was quickly rejected by the British government. As diplomatic actions continued, Venezuela contended during the early 1890s that the British GuianaVenezuela boundary must be drawn along the west bank of the mouth of the Essequibo River to the junction of the Cuyuni with the Mazaruni, then along the east bank of the Essequibo to its confluence with the Rupununi; and then following the watershed between the Essequibo and the Berbice and Corentyne Rivers to the frontier of Brazil. This position was adjusted in 1898 when Venezuela, in its case presented to the arbitral tribunal, made modifications regarding the District immediately west of the
Dr. Odeen Ishmael Essequibo River; it posited that the boundary should run from the mouth of the Moruka River southwards to the Cuyuni, near its junction with Mazaruni, and then along the east bank of the Essequibo to the Brazilian frontier. In other words, Venezuela was no longer claiming a strip of land in Essequibo east of a line stretching from the mouth of the Moruka River to the Mazaruni-Cuyuni junction, as well as an area east of the Essequibo-Rupununi junction, stretching to the
south along the watershed between the Essequibo and the Berbice and Corentyne Rivers. Of course, the Arbitration Tribunal in 1899 rejected most of what Venezuela demanded. However, it did grant to Venezuela part of the Barima District on the right bank of the Orinoco River and about 5,000 square miles of territory in the upper Cuyuni-areas the British government insisted were parts of British Guiana. RENEWED CLAIMS POST-1962 When in 1962, Venezuela unilaterally rejected the arbitral award of 1899, it again resuscitated its assertion to the territory it had demanded before the arbitration tribunali.e., all lands west of the Essequibo River with the exception of the strip east of a line stretching from the mouth of the Moruka River to the Mazaruni-Cuyuni junction. However, by 1966, this claim was further extended to include the previously unwanted strip and the islands in the northern part of the Essequibo River. In its note of recognition of the Independence of (Continued on page 24)
Yarrowkabra Murder…
‘Killer’ remanded to prison after “putting wife to rest” Wallace Stuart, commonly called ‘Killer’ of Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, made a court appearance at the Providence Magistrate’s Court, before Magistrate Leron Daly on Wednesday. Stuart was charged for the murder of his reputed wife, Carol Miriam Shako. The unrepresented ‘killer’ was remanded to prison until his next court appearance on August 10, 2015. According to reports Stuart killed his wife with an axe following days of arguments. The killing occurred on Monday June, 8, last. Shako, neighbours said, lived a life of misery at the hands of her alleged killer, with whom she shared a common-law relationship for quite a number of years. Following the hacking to death of Shako on Monday, neighbours have revealed that the woman had been a victim of constant beatings by her killer who was ironically nicknamed “Killer” because of his constant bragging of being a killer in the past. According to
neighbours the man constantly threatened to kill the woman and her elderly mother who resides with them at the home. It was just Sunday night that the two were spotted having one of their many encounters but neighbours took it for granted as it had became a customary behaviour for the two. There are reports that the woman’s mother had to sleep under a structure of tarpaulin not too far from the home because of the man’s vicious behaviour. A known alcoholic had alerted the neighbours that the woman was being killed but he was ignored because of him being a ‘drug addict’. It was not until the man covered in bloodstains went over to a neighbour’s home and told them “I just put her to rest”. He also said that he had doused to home with kerosene and was going to set it ablaze. Kaieteur News understands that the woman’s family is yet to come forward to claim her body so that an autopsy can be done.
PROPERTY FOR SALE Residential lots ad houses for sale at Eccles, E.B.D $7.5M. Tel:592-227-2913 or 689-3033 Transported concrete property for sale at Lot 458 Block “8” Mon Repos, E.C.D, Top flat 2 bedrooms, bottom flat 2 bedrooms $20M. Tel: 625-1514 Property for sale, Grove $18M neg. Tel: 625-5461. FOR SALE IN CENTRAL GEORGETOWN: SPACIOUS HOUSE IN DESIRABLE BEL-AIR, NEWHAVENRESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. CALL: 647-8851 169 Thomas St. Kitty, double lot, vacant possession ideal for business or commercial purposes – Call Zeena: 2203348; 611-8222 Property at Agriculture road $15 million negotiable- Tel: 612-2522 Property for sale at Covent Garden, E.B.D- Call: 265-3586 Property at Kersaint Park LBI, price $13M negotiable Contact: 664-1865; 698-5713 Concrete house for sale in Eccles new scheme $35 million neg- Call: 611-1018, 622-0722 Property @ Lot 63 West Ruimveldt, Estate Housing Scheme Georgetown – Contact Mark: 618-9744 2 STOREY 2 BEDROOMS HOUSE ON LARGE LAND 300’X40’ CLOSE TO MAIN ROAD, CANJE BRIDGE, BERBICE. $11M- CALL: 609-8132, 672-8569 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D –Tel: 6629335; 612-3244 2 Storey building , 8 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, hot & cold water, Lot 11 Coghlan Dam, W.B.D, Just off main Road- Tel:264-1582, 679-7587 Two storey wood and concrete business building located at 35 Ketley and Howes Street Charlestown – Tel: 623-9679
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Two bedrooms furnished house at Crane, Housing scheme, W.C.D $30,000- Tel: 671-6855 Office, storage bond, lessons place, other businesses at Vreed-EnHoop- Call: 680-9905 Church at 180 Charlotte Street- $150,000 negotiable – Tel: 227-6817; 624-7341 2 Bedrooms house at A43 East La Penitence (behind East La Penitence Police Station) - $65,000 monthly – Tel: 693-9179 12 Offices $60,000 at 220 South road- Call: 601-3369 One bedroom fully furnished apartment at Diamond, Housing Scheme. Price $40,000 negotiable- Contact: 661-4842 3 Bedrooms top flat apartment at Broad St. Charlestown, Georgetown. 10 minutes walk to Stabroek market- Call: 692-0828 1-8000 sq ft modern warehouse/ manufacturing facility centrally located @ Eccles industrial site. $5,000US per monthContact: 233-3512 Colonial Style: 3 bedrooms house, extremely spacious, fully detached @ Upper Robb Street Bourda –Call: 661-5110 (suitable for residence/office)
From page 22
VACANCY Cutter/straight stitch/ button tack/hole operators. Call: 222-2541 (8:00am4:00pm Mon-Fri) Experienced female accounts clerk, must have four years experienced. Apply @ Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling Stabroek. Work from home, earn $5,000-$20,000 daily Call Monday-Friday 9am-5pm #233-6517, 638-0595 www.jobfairworldwide.com I N T E R N AT I O N A L EMPLOYMENT: NURSE, TEACHERS,CARPENTERS, ELECTRICIANS, COOK, WAITERS, BELL BOYS, HOUSEKEEPERS, STOREKEEPERS, SECURITIES. CONTACT: 231-6296; 650-9880/ www.plzrecruitme.com Male security guards, male desk staff & male supervisorcall: 225-0198 or 233 South road, Lacytown Accounts clerk/ office assistant: Maths, English, Proficiency in Excel & Microsoft Word. Technician (basic networking skills- Tel: 6014697, 219-2226 Security guard @ Coverden E.B.D, Apply in person to Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling Stabroek Sales representative for Pureguard oils and heavy duty equipment, excavator, etc- Contact: 223-5273/4
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
Dental Laboratory trainee technicians- Tel: 639-5577 (between 5:00pm-8:00pm) Porters, moulder & re-saw operators, Eccles Industrial site, E.B.D- Call: 609-7675, 233-2614, 674-1705 One welder/ fabricator- Tel: 642-7898
MASSAGE American Style Massage Service: Heaven on Earth Massage, relaxation awaits you. Call: 678-7499 FOR SALE/RENT For Sale: Rush, household items: TV, etc. For Rent: house. Tel: 628-7884 3 Storey established business at 220 south roadCall: 601-3369
Vacancy exists for (1) one DJ/ Entertainer/ Promoter to work at a club in EssequiboContact: 226-9768, 615-6172 Male driver, 3 years experience. Age 21-35 from Timehri/Turkyen. Valid driver’s license- Call Alice: 668-7104, 261-2280 CAKES & PASTRIES Enroll Now! Classes start 13 July: floral arrangement, cake decoration, cakes & pastries, bridal accessories Contact: 223-3303; 6124193; 672-8768
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Kaieteur News
Saturday June 13, 2015
‘Lover’ charged with Venezuela’s Expanding Claims to... taxi driver murder A 20-year-old fisherman was yesterday remanded for the murder of his alleged rival, taxi driver Dennis Narine, who was shot dead at his La Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara home on May 31, last. Ravindra Ramdat, 20, of Grove, East Bank Demerara, appeared at the Wales Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where he was remanded to prison until July 31, 2015. Police were initially told that Narine, his wife and three children were asleep when the taxi driver was aroused by a noise at a window. Narine is said to have gone to investigate when he was shot in the chest by someone who fired through the window. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. Police, who had ruled out robbery, subsequently apprehended Ramdat at La Grange, West Bank Demerara on Wednesday.
From page 23 Guyana on May 26, 1966, Venezuela stated that it recognized as territory of Guyana “the one which is located on the east of the right bank of the Essequibo River, and . . . expressly reserves its rights of territorial sovereignty over all the zone located on the west bank of the above-mentioned river. Therefore, the GuyanaEssequibo territory over which Venezuela expressly reserves its sovereign rights, limits on the east by the new state of Guyana, through the middle line of the Essequibo River, beginning from its source and on to its mouth in
the Atlantic Ocean.” By this note, Venezuela was no longer insisting that its “boundary” ran along the east bank of the middle and upper parts of the Essequibo. It was around this same period Venezuela occupied the Guyana half of the sixsquare-miles Ankoko Island on the border Wenamu River. Two years later, on July 10, 1968, the escalation continued when President Raul Leoni issued a decree which purported to extend Venezuelan sovereignty over a twelve-mile strip of Guyana’s maritime space on the continental shelf adjacent to the Essequibo Coast. Venezuelan maps, produced from 1970, began to show yet another adjustment by including the entire area from the eastern bank of the Essequibo, including the islands in the river, as Venezuelan territory. The “middle line” of the Essequibo, as stated in 1966, no longer mattered. On these maps, the western Essequibo region is labelled the “Zone in Reclamation.” VENEZUELA’S IDEA FOR “PRACTICAL SOLUTION” Despite all these claims to Guyana’s territory, it became apparent that the Venezuelan government knew that it had no solid grounds to stand on. This was exemplified for the first time of June 23, 1982, when Dr. Sadio Garavini, the Venezuelan Ambassador to
Guyana, stated at a press conference at his Embassy that the only solution to the issue would involve ceding of some land by Guyana. He insisted that his government no longer intended to demand all the land it was originally claiming. This idea of not pursuing the territorial demand to its entirety, thus, added a new dimension to the situation. Actually, a similar Venezuelan view was expressed eighteen years later. On August 7, 2000, Oliver Jackman, the UN Secretary General’s personal representative, at a meeting with Guyana’s Foreign Minister in Georgetown, stated that during a visit to Caracas a few days before he asked President Chavez what Venezuela meant by a “practical settlement of the controversy”-whether Guyana would have to cede territory to Venezuela. According to Jackman, the Venezuelan President said that Guyana did not have to cede “the whole thing” and that a solution of the contention would involve Guyana’s cession of “part of the Essequibo Region.” Significantly, from 2004 until his death in March 2013, President Chavez studiously downplayed the border issue and emphasized economic and political cooperation activities with Guyana. Initially, President Nicolas
Govt. to review concessions... From page 16 government as to how the agency can be developed instead of merely casting stones? These statements uttered by the so-called PSC come from a few recycled persons or all their members?” said Burrowes. Burrowes also held a position as a Board Member of the cash-strapped Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). But due to years
of poor management, he, among others, was forced to tender his resignation. While he sat at the helm of the investment company, he was also accused of failing to keep proper documents on the number of concessions the entity was able to facilitate. There have also been several cases where major investments were steered away from the agency due to political interference.
Maduro continued Chavez’s policy on the controversy but this began to change by mid2014 as his popularity plummeted as a result of the serious economic downturn in the country. As his political fortunes began to totter precariously, he apparently became influenced by politically strong sections of the military whose philosophy embraces Venezuelan expansionism. This influence, no doubt, may be responsible for his current action on the territorial issue with Guyana. VIOLATION OF THE GENEVAAGREEMENT Maduro’s recent decree of May 2015 is thus another of Venezuela’s pretence of purported “sovereignty” over Guyana’s territory. In this instance, the smell of oil under Guyana’s continental shelf may have caused Venezuela to breach the principle expressed in the tenth Mosaic commandment, but in terms of international law it is an outright violation of the Article V(2) of the tripartite 1966 Geneva Agreement which states explicitly: “No new claim, or enlargement of an existing claim, to territorial sovereignty . . . shall be asserted while this Agreement is in force, nor shall any claim whatsoever be asserted otherwise than in the Mixed Commission.” The Geneva Agreement remains in force, but the Mixed Commission, established by the same treaty, expired in 1970. But as has been seen in various occasions since 1966, the Venezuelan authorities have demonstrated no qualms in defying the Agreement and may continue with more violations as new situations arise in the future. (Dr. Odeen Ishmael, served as Guyana’s Ambassador to the USA, Venezuela and Kuwait. He is the author of The Trail of Diplomacy – the GuyanaVenezuela Border Issue (in three volumes.)
UG students to benefit from training... From page 20 the organizers of the trip, Boston is known as the engineering capital of the world. There are a lot of companies that Boston industrialists work along with. She said that students would be exposed to the extensive business atmosphere in Boston. It was also pointed out, that due to the Global Entrepreneurship Program incorporating students from different
societies and cultures around the world, it made for a diverse, multi-cultural mix up. The programme has been conducted four times previously and normally runs biannually. Though the summer sessions are run in Massachusetts, the January (winter) sessions are run in Hublai, India. It offers three credits for Inter-discipline, multi-cultural global entrepreneurship
and innovation. The programme is made up of lectures, class discussions, group projects (such as Ideation and Technology commercialization), and visits to area Technology Companies, as well as guest speakers. Local corporate and private sponsors who came on board and facilitated the trip were Fly Jamaica, which has provided the airfare while Pas CARGO Guyana, Vishnu Panday and Associates, Habitat for Humanity (GUYANA), Maggie's Catering, Version 75 Solutions, the University of Guyana and other private sponsors provided generous donations as full or partial sponsorships.
Saturday June 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
Strauss-Kahn acquitted in French vice trial Dominique StraussKahn was acquitted of sex crime accusations by a French court yesterday, the final chapter in a transatlantic scandal that destroyed the political ambitions of a man once tipped to become his country’s president. A court in the northern city of Lille dismissed charges that the former International Monetary Fund chief ’s sexual escapades with prostitutes amounted to “aggravated pimping” — the charge on which French magistrates sent him to trial. The verdict came four years after sex assault accusations by a New York hotel maid ended his political ambitions and forced him to step down as head of the Washington-based IMF and ends Strauss-Kahn’s legal battle on both sides of the Atlantic. But local media said the damage to his reputation after four years of occasionally salacious revelations about his sexual practices almost certainly ruled out a political comeback. Having settled financially with Sofitel maid Nafissatou Diallo after New York prosecutors abandoned criminal charges in 2011, the 66-year-old stood accused in France of instigating the organisation of orgies with prostitutes. “He cannot be attributed the role of instigator,” judge Bernard Lemaire said when reading out a verdict in the presence of Strauss-Kahn and 13 others. “He just availed of the sexual services of a group.” Strauss-Kahn and his lawyers had argued that he was a “libertine” with an appetite for rough sex but was
unaware that women he frolicked with at parties and hotels in Paris, Lille and Washington, mostly while in the IMF post, were prostitutes. Since returning to Paris after his IMF stint in Washington abruptly ended, StraussKahn has sought to start a new life with a now-troubled venture in investment banking and a new female partner, after celebrity journalist wife Anne Sinclair left him. SEX PARTIES In the so-called Carlton affair, named after a luxury hotel in Lille, the acclaimed economist and French finance minister of the late 1990s was tried with 13 others on charges that he instigated sex parties with prostitutes. He flatly denied any wrongdoing. While frequenting prostitutes is not a crime in France, procuring them is. A conviction on charges of “aggravated pimping” can carry a sentence of up to a decade in prison and a fine of up to 1.5 million euros ($1.7 million). The Lille ruling closed a saga that began live on TV when Strauss-Kahn was shown walking handcuffed through New York streets after police escorted him off a plane about to leave for Europe. The affair felled one of the world’s most powerful financial policymakers days before he planned to announce his candidacy in France’s 2012 presidential election. “DSK”, as he is known to many French, was runaway favourite in opinion polls at the time. Instead, Francois Hollande ran as the Socialist candidate and beat conservative incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy. Strauss-Kahn has since set up his own business
Former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn (REUTERS/GONZALO FUENTES) consultancy firm. Media talk of a political comeback fizzled out long ago. He has made appearances at banking conferences as a paid guest speaker and took part in a troubled investment venture with a partner who committed suicide. Anne Sinclair, the ultrawealthy heiress to an art dealer family’s assets, split from Strauss-Kahn after their return to Paris and has since returned to work in the French media. Ivan Levai, Sinclair’s partner before she met StraussKahn, told BFM TV on Friday acquittal would allow the former French finance minister open a new chapter in his life but that he was politically ruined. BFM TV said StraussKahn’s only reaction before vanishing from the courtroom was a whisper to his daughter and new partner: “All that for what? Such destruction.”
Iran says concerned over cybersecurity of nuclear talks: Fars Iran expressed concern yesterday over cyber-security of nuclear talks with six world powers after reported cyber-attacks on venues linked to the negotiations on its disputed nuclear program, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. Russian computer security company Kaspersky Lab said on Wednesday that a computer virus was used to hack into sites including three luxury hotels that have hosted the nuclear negotiations in Austria and Switzerland. Fars said the Iranian Foreign Ministry had written to the Austrian and Swiss governments expressing “serious concern”. “Tehran has also asked
to be informed about the results of investigations over the issue,” it said. Switzerland and Austria are investigating the allegations. “Iran wants all necessary measures ... taken to secure the talks, including cyber security, as soon as possible,” Fars cited the ministry’s letter to Austria as saying. Iran and the six world powers - the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany - are trying to clinch a deal by June 30 under which Tehran would curb its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of Western sanctions. Iran denies any ambition to develop nuclear weapons and says its program is for gener-
ating electricity and other peaceful purposes. Both Kaspersky and U.S. security company Symantec said the virus shared some programming with previously discovered espionage software called Duqu, which security experts believe to have been developed by Israelis. Israel, widely believed to be the Middle East’s only nuclear power, has rejected as baseless reports on its possible link to the computer virus. On Friday, Russian news agency TASS quoted a diplomatic source as saying the nuclear talks had virtually stalled and the deadline for a final deal may have to be postponed.
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Defiant Warner to challenge T&T Election Day is extradition from Trinidad to US Monday 7 September P O R T- O F - S PA I N , Trinidad (AP) — A defiant Jack Warner is predicting a lengthy legal battle to extradite him from Trinidad and Tobago to the U.S. to charges in the FIFA corruption case. Warner, a former FIFA vice and member of Parliament in his homeland, said Wednesday that he intends to resist extradition at a hearing scheduled for July 9. He faces charges that include racketeering and money-laundering. Authorities earlier confiscated his passport, fearing he might flee. “After presenting my case in court, let the judge decide,” he told supporters from his political party at a gathering late Wednesday. “If he says I should go I will go. If he says I should stay, I will stay. But it is going to be a long hot summer.” He is accused of taking payments totaling $10 million sent by a high-ranking FIFA
Jack Warner official to give South Africa the right to host the 2010 World Cup over Morocco. Warner left FIFA in 2011 and has denied wrongdoing. “I left FIFA four years ago,” he told supporters. “I am in no way concerned about the FIFA scandal. I am in no way concerned about the U.S. application for my ex-
tradition. That doesn’t bother me.” Warner also shot back at British comedian John Oliver, who had bought time on Trinidadian television urging him to follow through on his vow to reveal secrets about FIFA. “I don’t need any advice from any comedian fool who doesn’t know anything about this country ... to tell me what files to release or not to release,” Warner said in a video released by his party. “That is none of his business. I take no instructions from him.” At one point in the nearly three-minute video it is hard to hear Warner because of somber background music that reaches a crescendo toward the end. Warner can appeal any extradition order and legal experts in the Caribbean nation have said he could draw out the process for more than three years.
GOVT. CUTS SOCIAL BENEFITS Daily Observer - President of the Association of Persons with Disabilities, Bernard Warner is describing government’s treatment of the country’s elderly and disabled as “a disgrace.” The head of a local organisation alleges that government is now forcing some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens to choose between the benefits of two social programmes. The Board of Guardians and PDV Caribe provide assistance to the elderly, mentally challenged, visually impaired, and the economically disadvantaged. But on Thursday morning, Warner told OBSERVER media at least 30 of his members complained they have been told they can no longer benefit from both subsidies. To make matters worse, Warner said members of his
association were only informed of the benefit when they turned up to receive their cheques Thursday. Warner said there should have been a warning before pulling the plug on the benefits. “If you’re going to make changes to something that affects my life, shouldn’t you have come out months ahead and let me know that in six months’ time there’s going to be some changes? You don’t just come and drop it on me “bradam” today and tell me I won’t be getting any bread tomorrow, because you’ve stopped providing bread,” an upset Warner said. “It’s a tragedy. It’s a disgrace and we really need to air the voices of those who will be affected by this, because give us a year and it’s going to be an uproar because these people who justly de-
serve the benefits are not going to receive them.” Warner is further calling on the public to stand up for those who will be affected. “There are a lot of young children with cerebral palsy that I know receive both grants and they will be cut. Parents will have to buy adult pampers, feed them on milk because they can’t eat solid food. Single mothers who are unemployed will be unable now to provide proper sustenance for this child. This is the real face of the crisis we’re facing in Antigua.” “I’m very disturbed about the news, as the majority of the people I’m representing don’t have any other means of income and that’s their only means of surviving,” he said. “They’re unsure and they don’t know what is going to become of them if they don’t receive the benefits.”
Bunting calls for collaboration in the security industry KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – National Security Minister Peter Bunting, is calling on all stakeholders in the security industry to work collaboratively, to tackle the challenges facing national security. “As minister of national security, I have been
emphasising the importance of taking a collaborative approach to addressing the security issues that face us as a nation. This approach is necessary, because the security environment and the causal factors of crime are complex,” he noted. Bunting was speaking at the Private Security Regulation Authority (PSRA) consultation on: ‘The Private Security Industry’s Role in Supporting National Security and the Growth of the National Economy’, held on Thursday at the headquarters of the In-
stitute of Jamaica (IOJ), in downtown Kingston. The minister argued that the security issues of the country require the inputs of many sectors of society, if these challenges are to be successfully addressed. “The industry does not operate in a vacuum. It impacts and is impacted by factors in the local environment and in our increasingly globalised world, will be impacted by factors external to Jamaica,” he said.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, centre, greet supporters after the last sitting of parliament prior to announcing the general election date at Tower D at the International Waterfront Centre, Port-of-Spain. At right is Jack Warner, Political Leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) -Photo: CURTIS CHASE Trinidad Express - Election Day is Monday 7 September. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the Parliament yesterday afternoon. The Peoples National Movement has already chosen all but one of its candidates to contest the 39 electoral seats in Trinidad and two in Tobago.
The parties comprising the Peoples Partnership are in the process of handing out nomination forms to members interested in being screened to be candidates. Persad-Bissessar said her government was the first since 1976 that a government had served its full term. She thanked House Speaker Wade Mark for his sterling service.
Persad-Bissessar also said that the constitutional reforms contained in the Constitutional Amendment Bill would be brought back in the Peoples Partnership’s second term, along with proposals for self-governance in Tobago, and the return of the death penalty, which were denied by the PNM. She said the PNM could not deny her government serving out its full term.
TAJ to provide services at Jamaica Diaspora Conference KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) says it will be providing a number of fasttrack services to overseas nationals at the upcoming 6th Biennial Diaspora Conference. The event, scheduled for today to 18 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James, is expected to attract close to 2,000 participants. Communications officer at the TAJ, Leighton Beckles, in an interview with JIS News on Thursday said this will be the third occasion that the TAJ Leighton Beckles will be participating in the Diaspora Conference as a Jamaicans. He informed that property means of strengthening the services provided to overseas tax services will be available
at the conference. “Participants …will be able to come in and get a printout of their seven-year status on their property taxes. They’ll also be given special assistance to pay their property taxes online as well as to query their property taxes,” he said. He noted that persons will also be able to apply for their Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) as well as access stamp duty and transfer tax services. Beckles informed that application for a TRN must be submitted along with a notarised copy of the identification, inclu ding full name, date of birth, photograph, signature and expiry date.
Shanique Myrie looks to contest local government elections in Jamaica KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaican woman who won a case against Barbados after being refused entry to the country is stepping into the political arena. Shanique Myrie has submitted an application to represent the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) in the Olympic Gardens Division in St. Andrew, in the upcoming local government polls, the Jamaica Gleaner reported.
RJR News added that PNP insiders had confirmed that Myrie had already been given the nod after a recommendation was presented at the monthly consecutive executive meeting on Wednesday night. Myrie told the Gleaner that she has been interested in politics for a long time and is now ready to throw her hat into the ring. “I’ve always loved politics. I’m always up and down
campaigning. Politics was always something I’ve wanted to do and I’m going for it,” she said. Myrie, 27, wants to take representation away from the Jamaica Labour Party’s Christopher Townsend. She told the Jamaica Gleaner she believes the popularity she gained in her lawsuit against the Barbados government will help her in her quest.
Saturday June 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Interpol ditches FIFA deal as... Bold England lose rain... (From page 28) destroyed by the media in his native France and defending his decision to sign off on a $10 million payment at the center of the U.S. bribery investigation. Brandishing his pen, a clearly irritated Valcke demanded of journalists: “You want me to take this pen and to hit my head and say ‘Hey! I have been stupid, I should have asked many more questions?’” “You have decided that after Blatter I have to be next head to be cut?” Valcke said at a news conference in the Russian city of Samara on Wednesday. Despite announcing his resignation Blatter has remained at his desk, saying he wants to usher in reforms at FIFA before his successor is
chosen. FIFA announced that would happen at an election sometime between December and February. The German Football Association meanwhile came up with a radical reform plan under which FIFA’s voting structure should be based on the “size and sporting relevance” of its member federations. At present, each of FIFA’s 209 members has a vote, giving soccer power-houses Germany and Brazil the same influence as tiny Pacific islands. Soccer chiefs in developing countries, who have enjoyed generous funding to promote the game from FIFA during Blatter’s 17 years in power, denounced the plan as unfair and racist.
The South American confederation CONMEBOL meanwhile came under pressure of its own when Congress in Paraguay, where the soccer body is based, approved a measure withdrawing immunity from its Asuncion headquarters. A draft bill to remove the immunity was put to Congress last month after U.S. authorities announced indictments of 14 past and present senior soccer officials and sports media executives connected to FIFA. “There is an urgent need to repeal this law and get on with the investigation,” Senator Juan Carlos Galaverna said during debate over the measure, which is expected to be signed into law by President Horacio Cartes.
(From page 230) Williamson and Taylor got to grips with the England bowling in pursuit of a huge total. Taylor and Williamson were the star performers again for the tourists, but they had able assistance from the rest of the top order in setting an imposing total of their own. Captain Brendon McCullum was typically ag-
gressive, scoring 39 from 22 balls, Martin Guptill was more considered as he scored exactly 50, while Grant Elliott (32) and Luke Ronchi (33) provided some big late-order hitting to take the Black Caps to their second-highest ever - and ultimately match-winning - ODI total. However, it was not all positive news for New
Zealand with the news that all-rounder Corey Anderson will miss the remainder of the series to fly home for treatment on a back injury. Scores: New Zealand 398-5: Taylor 119 not out, Williamson 93, Guptill 50; England 365-9: Morgan 88, Hales 54, McCullum 3-86 Result: New Zealand win by 13 runs.
Smith and Lyon strengthen... (From page 28) boundary. Having scored only 40 of Australia’s 92 runs in the morning session, Smith blasted the first ball of the second session - a full and wide one from Roach - fiercely over extra cover and steered
the next to the third-man boundary. He was acceleratin g t o w a r d s t h e d o u b l e and moved into the 190s via six runs, made up of a two and four overthrows. It was then that Ramdin brought back Taylor, and
Smith was denied. He had begun his innings to the fourth ball of the match and ended it after 126 overs. Scores: West Indies 143 for 8 (Hazlewood 3-15, Lyon 3-35) trail Australia 399 (Smith 199, Taylor 6-47) by 256 runs.
Safraz Photo Studio on... Saturday June 13, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) This could be a highly productive day for you if you approach it in the right way. You will find that you have an added burst of energy that could help you conquer just about any task you set your mind to, Aries. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You may feel a bit anxious today, Taurus, and it may be hard to settle down. You probably have many irons in the fire right now, and they're all starting to heat up at once.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your self-esteem is apt to be quite high today, Libra, and you may feel an extra bit of fire helping you throughout the day. Take the lead on projects that seem to be going nowhere. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) There may be a bit of tension and conflict in your world today, Scorpio. Be prepared for mild contention that could turn into an all-out war if you aren't careful.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your heart should feel quite generous today, Gemini. You're most likely feeling the need to keep everyone smiling.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) There may be tension in your heart today that could be difficult to shake, Sagittarius. You might find it hard to relate to people or that others aren't hearing you very well.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may feel the urge to get up and go today, Cancer. Follow this instinct and get to work. You're anxious to get the ball rolling on certain projects.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Try not to be impatient today, Capricorn. This could be one day in which you feel restless, and everything seems to take much longer than you'd like.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may find that there is some opposition from other people today, especially concerning emotions. You may feel threatened in some way.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) To fight or not to fight may be the question of the day, Aquarius. Your sensitive, feminine side is likely to say one thing while your masculine, combative side says another.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You're terrific at following through with projects, Virgo, but perhaps not so great at starting them. Today is the perfect time for you to prove this theory wrong. There's a great deal of force out there to help you boost your rocket off the launching pad.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A false start is likely to get you disqualified. Orient yourself to your surroundings before you make any major upheaval. It's important to have a good, solid footing on the day before you proceed.
(From page 31) combined Young Warriors/ Rose Hall CC squad was announced and it includes: Shimron and Seon Hetmyer, Kevin Ramdeen, Kassim Khan, Amir Khan, Wahid Edwards, Alex Algoo, Suresh Dhanai, Linden Austin, Andre Grant, Christoff Bahadur, Ameer Rahaman and Junior Williams. The manager is Michael Ramdeen with the Coach Kwesi Maltay. Many gate prizes will be up for grabs for the fans with a well stocked bar and musical entertainment. Games for the young and old will be there. To promote the game, fifteen passes each will be given to eight schools in the Lower Corentyne area.
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Smith and Lyon Students of LDIMAA continue to excel strengthen Australia’s grip ESPNcricinfo - Steven Smith was batting on 199 on the second afternoon in Jamaica. He had never made a Test doublehundred and this innings comprised 50% of Australia’s total. Running at him was Jerome Taylor, a pillar amid the rubble of the West Indian attack. Smith had already achieved a careerbest performance; Taylor was striving for his. The fast yorker swung late into the right-hander and for once Smith, so fleet of foot usually, was caught in his crease as the ball dipped under his bat and crashed into his boot, nearly toppling him. Taylor roared an appeal for lbw, and as Smith regained his balance to scamper around the bowler, his 200th run was cut short by the umpire’s raised finger. He reviewed but there was no reprieve. Smith became the third Australian to fall on 199 in Tests after Steve Waugh and Matthew Elliott. The visitors were dismissed for 399 soon after, and as Taylor left the field he posed for photographs with three metal plates from the Sabina Park scoreboard: they read 6-47, his new career-best figures. While West Indies had only one threatening bowler, Australia had three. The home team crumbled to 143 for 8 under relentless pressure from Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. The debutant from Guyana, Rajindra Chandrika, chased a wide one from Starc and was caught behind in the third over for a duck. Whether Starc had any bit of his boot behind the crease, however, was debatable but the third umpire Aleem Dar seemed to think so. Having opened the attack with Starc and Hazlewood, Michael Clarke brought on the offspinner Lyon in the sixth over, ahead of Johnson. Lyon got some balls to spin and bounce sharply but his three wickets were to deliveries that did not deviate as much. Kraigg Brathwaite played inside the line of an offbreak - perhaps thinking it would turn more - and was bowled, while Darren Bravo was trapped plumb by a straighter one. West Indies were 35 for 3 at tea and the slide continued in the final session. There was no period when their batsmen seemed in control and run-making involved high risks. Shane Dowrich perished edging a wide one from Hazlewood, while Shai Hope also played inside the line to Lyon and Brad Haddin brought his thighs together in time to catch the outside edge awkwardly. The lid to the West Indian tail was prised open by Hazlewood, when he thudded a full and fast delivery into the captain Denesh Ramdin’s pads. Jermaine Blackwood staged a one-man counterattack, but his half-century was far from assuring. There were plenty of slashes, carves and edges. He too did not last the day, holing out to mid-off soon after passing 50, giving Hazlewood his third scalp. Australia ended the second day ahead by 256, their bowlers consolidating the advantage created by Smith’s 513-minute vigil. Like he had done on the first day, Smith once again repaired damage in the morning. West Indies took the second new ball at the start of play and Taylor struck in his second over when Shane Watson shouldered arms to a delivery that held its line and hit the top of off stump. He had been set up by outswingers that curved away before Taylor tricked him with a cross-seam delivery. Brad Haddin came out swinging. He enjoyed the width from Kemar Roach, who was once again unable to back up Taylor. On 8, he slashed hard at Roach and watched Blackwood fail to take a tough chance over his head at point. Haddin had made a run-a-ball 22 when he attempted another flamboyant drive but was bowled through the gate. Taylor was in a different league to his colleagues and his fifth wicket reduced Australia to 296 for 6. Smith had been quiet through all this. Though he did not have the majority of strike on the second morning, there was no sign of frustration. He made only one run off 13 deliveries in the first half hour, before steering Taylor towards third man and pulling him to deep midwicket, his first forceful shots of the day. He passed 150 by threading the cordon with an outside edge off Roach. Only after Roach and Holder removed Johnson and Starc cheaply did Smith shift to a higher gear. His preferred target was once again the left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, whom he charged to hit to the straight and midwicket (Continued on page 27)
The Little Diamond International Martial Arts Academy (LDIMAA) continues to enjoy an outstanding start to the year with a number of their students excelling in various tournaments and examinations. According to a release from the Academy, twelve students performed outstandingly at the recently concluded Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association Championships returning with fourteen medals (4 golds, 9 silvers and 1 bronze). Additionally twenty-one students passed their examinations moving from one level to another, while twentyfive were successful in the first workshop held for the year. As part of the 9th anniversary celebrations of the Enmore Branch, twenty-three students from three (3) branches of the LDIMAA competed in a National Full Contact Karate Championship, at the Wales Community Centre on the West Bank Demerara. In the absence of four schools that had pulled out at the last moment, students competed in five (5) Divisions 6-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16-19 and 2025Categories and in three (3) events; Traditional Kata, Weapons forms and Kumite (Sparring) of the twenty-three students.
Students and Instructors pose with hardware won in a recent tournament. In full results: Enmore, with 6 students won 11 medals and 3 Awards; 7 Gold’s, 4 Silvers, 1 Grand championand 2 Outstanding Performances Parfaite Harmony with 7 students won 7 medals and 3 Awards. 3 Gold, 2 Silvers, 1 Bronzes, 1 Grand champion and 2 Outstanding Performances Wales with 10 students won 14 medals and 6 Awards. 9 golds, 2 Silvers, 3 bronzes, 3 Grand Champions and 3 Outstanding Performances Grand Champions of the tournament were: VikashSamwaru of Enmore 13 – 15 Division; Deoraj Bramdeo (7) Christian Freeman (9) and Maranda
Bennett (20) of Wales and Arianna Etwaroo (6) of Parfait Harmony. Special Outstanding Performance Awardsof the tournament went to Suraj Chaitram and Chateram Ramnarian of Enmore; Shannia Richardson and Omesh Lallchand of Parfait Harmony and Samuel Frazer, Rajeena Satnarine and Muneshwar Ganga of Wales. Shihan Nazim expressed his appreciation for the work that the Instructors are doing and lauded the outstanding efforts of the students, who according to him has made him and the Academy proud. Students are now preparing for the Annual Trainings
Camp which runs from July 19th to 26th. At the conclusion of the Camp, a team will be selected to compete during August in Suriname, before returning to participate in the Academy’s 3rd International Martial Arts/ Karate Championships in September. Special thanks were extended to the Judges, Referees and Parents, while Red Cherry Fast Food of Vreeden-Hoop received special mention for its full sponsorship of this tournament. For more information on upcoming events contact Shihan NazimYassim on 592662-7211.
Interpol ditches FIFA deal as corruption scandal deepens PARIS (Reuters) Interpol suspended a 20-million-euro sports “integrity” agreement with FIFA on Friday, at the end of testing week for soccer’s scandal-hit ruling body that saw its chief spokesman quit, bidding for the 2026 World Cup shelved, and records seized from its Zurich headquarters. FIFA also faced growing calls — this time from the European parliament — for its outgoing president, Sepp Blatter, to step aside at once, while plans by Germany to reform the way the organization is run were roundly rejected by soccer chiefs in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Interpol’s decision to freeze funding from FIFA to fight match fixing and illegal gambling was perhaps inevitable, coming only days after the international police organization put two former FIFA officials on its most-wanted list and the corruption crisis in world soccer deepened. The increasing damage to FIFA’s reputation raised questions about how long other associated bodies and even sponsors would continue to
Sepp Blatter addresses a news conference at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland June 2, 2015. (Reuters/Ruben Sprich) work with it. “The real damage of this decision by Interpol is the wider perception that conflicted organizations are now deserting FIFA. It further exacerbates FIFA’s ‘unclean’ image and its escalating isolation,” said Chris Eaton, an ex-Interpol officer and former FIFA adviser on anti-corruption, now with the International Center for Sport Security. Interpol’s decision was a disappointment, FIFA said, since the 2011 “integrity in
sport” program was not connected to the “current issues” it faced. Latest among those issues was the announcement on Thursday by communications director Walter de Gregorio, the public face of FIFA, that he was resigning after telling a joke at the expense of his employers. He had to face the media when the scandal erupted two weeks ago after a raid on a Zurich hotel where seven soccer officials, wanted by U.S. prosecutors on bribery and
corruption charges, were rounded up by Swiss police. De Gregorio’s departure came after he appeared on Swiss TV and was asked to tell his favorite joke. It was this: “The FIFA president, secretary general and media director are sitting in a car. Who’s driving. Answer? The police.” In its most recent dealings with the Swiss police, who are conducting a criminal investigation into the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, FIFA this week handed over computer data including records from Blatter’s office. SCANDAL WORSENS And as the scandal worsened, FIFA postponed the bidding for the right to host the 2026 World Cup, with secretary general Jerome Valcke saying during a visit to one of Russia’s World Cup venues that it would be “nonsense” to start the process under present circumstances. Then, perhaps reflecting the growing crisis, the usually composed Valcke unburdened himself of an emotional tirade, saying he was being (Continued on page 27)
Saturday June 13, 2015
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Vijay and Rahane punish hosts, rain frustrates India ESPNcricinfo - Rain continued to frustrate India as only 47.3 overs were bowled in a stop-start day, slowing down India’s push for a declaration. A whole day’s play and 36 overs had already been lost by the time Shikhar Dhawan and M Vijay came out to resume their giant partnership on day three. That India got into one-day mode gave Bangladesh chances for wickets, and Shakib Al Hasan took four of them. Not before M Vijay had brought up his third Test 150, and Ajinkya Rahane had struck a punishing 98 off just 103 balls. The wickets fell in two clusters: Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the first, and Vijay, Wriddhiman Saha and Rahane in the second. Except for Saha, every batsman fell playing an attacking shot, and between the two clusters Vijay and Rahane added 114 for the fourth wicket in 22.4 overs. The Bangladesh bowlers were more at home with batsmen looking for quick runs, as if in limited-overs cricket, in the process giving them opportunities. On day one,
Shakib Al Hasan celebrates a wicket with his team-mates, Bangladesh v India, only Test, 3rd day, Fatullah, June 12, 2015 ©AFP
Ajinkya Rahane hits through cover, June 12, 2015 ©AFP
One fell short of deep midwicket, another in the gap around the same area, but the third one - a leading edge from way outside leg, an indication of India’s desperation for quick runs - settled with Shakib. Rohit might draw some criticism for his dismissal soon after, but he was trying to do right by the team, looking for quick runs through a drive through cover, and missing its line to
be bowled. Kohli looked for big drives similarly until he didn’t watch a Jubair Hossain wrong’un and had a thick inside edge trickle onto the stumps. Bangladesh would have
Judge orders Blazer’s plea agreement unsealed
NEW YORK (Reuters) Usain Bolt says he is not yet ready for a duel with Justin Gatlin but is looking forward to silencing the confident American in a Beijing sprint “explosion” at the world championships in August. While the Jamaican has eased into the season after an injury-disrupted 2014, Gatlin has set the fastest times of the year in both sprints and declared himself the “man to beat”. “Gatlin has been doing a lot of talking, saying a lot of things,” Bolt told Reuters with a chuckle in an interview on Thursday ahead of the adidas Grand Prix at Randall’s Island. “He’s proved he’s running fast times and he’s ready. So it should be exciting going into the world championship. “I look forward to competing when people talk ... because if you don’t back it up you look really stupid.” Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, last month ran the fastest 100 metres of 2015 (9.74 seconds) in Doha and a season-leading 19.68 in the 200 in Eugene 15 days later. Bolt, who retains the world record in both events (9.58 and 19.19), is running only the 200 on Saturday as he continues to frustrate track fans eager to see how he would measure up on the track against Gatlin. The Jamaican, looking slender in a black suit and dark blue shirt outside a re-
(Reuters) The U.S. judge presiding over the corruption cases of indicted soccer officials has ordered the unsealing of the plea agreement between former FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer and the U.S. government. Media outlets last week called for the plea agreement to be unsealed in the wake of the indictments of 14 soccer and media executives for corruption but U.S. authorities have opposed the move. “Because the court concludes that the government has not met its high burden of establishing that continued sealing is necessary to prevent a substantial probability of prejudice to a compelling government interest, the applications to unseal the agreement are granted,” U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie in Brooklyn, New York, wrote on Thursday. Dearie stayed his order until Monday, giving prosecutors time to consider whether to appeal his decision. The judge also gave the government until Friday to apply to redact any portion of the agreement. Blazer, the former general secretary of CONCACAF, soccer’s governing body in
Dhawan and Vijay played more orthodox Test cricket, asking the bowlers to get them out, which Bangladesh failed miserably at. On the third day, too, it took another delayed introduction of Shakib for Bangladesh to be effective. Opening exchanges had been friendly, and you couldn’t rule out broken opening-partnership records. Shakib immediately brought about mis-hits from Dhawan.
FIFA executive member Chuck Blazer attends the 61st FIFA congress at the Hallenstadion in Zurich June 1, 2011. (Reuters/Arnd Wiegmann) North and Central America and the Caribbean, secretly pleaded guilty to 10 criminal counts in New York in 2013 as part of an agreement with U.S. prosecutors, according to a transcript of the hearing released last week. Blazer told Dearie in 2013 that he and other FIFA officials took bribes in connection with the 1998 and 2010 World Cups among other tournaments. According to U.S. officials, Blazer’s cooperation has helped build the sprawling
corruption case that has engulfed FIFA and led the governing body’s president Sepp Blatter to announce his resignation only days after winning re-election for a fifth term. Blazer, 70, is one of four individuals in the case who pleaded guilty in secret and agreed to assist U.S. investigators. A Justice Department spokeswoman declined comment. Blazer’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
hoped to see India rebuild a little, but the spinners provided Rahane with loose deliveries. The way Rahane got off the mark reiterated what was wrong with Bangladesh. Jubair first beat him with a wrong’un, which produced a close but unsuccessful lbw appeal. The one immediately after was a legbreak that beat Rahane, who was still driving hard, betraying the team instructions. When the fielding side would have loved to capitalise on those accumulating errors, the next ball was a long hop, and Rahane was away. Vijay at the other end batted as serenely as he usually does, inconspicuously bringing up his sixth Test hundred and then refusing to play a complacent stroke. Not that that meant a drop in his strikerate. He was 89 off 178 at the resumption of play, and by lunch he had reached 144 off 264. That was when rain first
arrived, and India came out with more intent after the forced break. Soon after reaching 150 and having waited through another rain break, Vijay went for an uncharacteristic big sweep, missed the ball and was given out lbw even though he was struck outside the line. Then came the only wicket where the batsman was well and truly outdone. Jubair, the legspinner, is quite an inaccurate bowler, but has a highly deceptive googly in his armoury. The same ball that got Kohli in a circuitous manner. This one, though, was more emphatic, dipping, pitching just outside off, and beating Saha’s inside edge by quite a distance to hit the stumps. Scores: India 462 for 6 (Dhawan 173, Vijay 150, Rahane 98, Shakib 4-105) v Bangladesh.
Fearless Bolt says will silence Gatlin in Beijing ception at Nasdaq headquarters, said his race selection was nothing to do with fear of any other athlete. “Afraid? When people say that, I laugh. I’ve been in the sport for years and I’ve never dodged anybody. When it matters, I’ve always showed up and shown that I’m the best,” Bolt said. “Fact is, I’m not in the best of shape and I’m not going to put myself out there if I know I’m just coming back and I need time to get back to where I need to be. “When I get to Beijing I’ll be ready to go and that’s when the showdown will be.” Bolt said the suspense of how the sprinters shaped up against one another could help build interest in the world championships. “People can look forward to the championship. What’s going to happen?” he said. “Justin is running good, Tyson (Gay) is running good, Asafa (Powell) is running good, Usain is running good. “So when we come to the championship, it’s going to be like an explosion.” Bolt is returning to race in New York for the first time since setting his first jawdropping 100 metres world record at the meet in 2008, presaging his spectacular sprint double at the Beijing Olympics later that year. “That night was exciting. It was a big showdown between me and Tyson at the time,” he recounted. “There was a thunder-
Usain Bolt poses for a portrait in New York June 11, 2015. REUTERS/ Lucas Jackson storm. There were stops and starts ... a false start. “Just a weird night overall. But in the end it worked out. It was amazing. “For me, that was when it really started. That’s when I really blew up. People really took note. Everybody around the world started to watch. For me, it was a game changer.” Bolt said his return to New York seven years later as the established king of sprinting provided a different script. “I’m just trying to get to the world championships, defend my titles, stay injury free and then go on to the Olympics and just continue writing my name in stone of greatness,” he said.
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Warriors top Cavaliers, take command of NBA Finals CLEVELAND (Reuters) The top-seeded Golden State Warriors rediscovered their scoring touch and tied the NBA Finals at 2-2 with a momentum-stealing 103-83 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday in Game Four. NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala each had 22 points for Golden State as the Warriors breathed new life into their title hopes by avoiding their first three-game skid of the season. “We controlled the tempo and rhythm of the game,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “It’s not just about playing hard. It’s about playing every single possession like it’s your last. “And I thought tonight our effort took a step up and that’s why we were able to win.” Cleveland’s Timofey Mozgov had a game-high 28 points while LeBron James, who went down hard in the second quarter after slamming his head on a camera, finished with 20 points on 7-of-22 shooting. Game Five is scheduled for tomorrow in Oakland.
Like the last two games, the Warriors stumbled out of the gate, falling behind 7-0 in the first three minutes before taking an early timeout to regroup. From there, the Warriors found their rhythm. Curry helped cut the deficit with a pair of three pointers and Golden State closed the quarter with an impressive 14-4 run to build a 31-24 lead that set the tone the rest of the way. The Warriors, showing glimpses of the run-and-gun offense that was absent for much of the last two games, kept their foot on the gas during the second quarter where they built a 15-point lead with about four minutes to go before the break. Cleveland then got a scare when James, the best player of his generation, hit his head on a camera along the baseline after a foul by Andrew Bogut caused him to lose his balance. James, who suffered a cut to his head on the play, stayed down for a while as the home crowd went silent but remained in the game. “I was just trying to regain my composure, and I was holding my head. It was hurt-
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the fourth quarter of game four of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. (Ken BlazeUSA TODAY Sports) ing,” said James, who missed three of his next four free throws after the incident. “I was just hoping I wasn’t bleeding. But obviously the camera cut me pretty bad.” Iguodala made the most out of his first start of the campaign with his best offensive performance of the season along with eight rebounds and a solid job defending James. Trailing by 12 to start the half, Cleveland got to within
three points when James emphatically threw down an impressive alley-oop dunk on a pass from Matthew Dellavedova to cap a 12-2 Cavs run with five minutes to play in the third. But the Warriors, playing with a sense of desperation, were never tested the rest of the way as they cruised through the fourth quarter and had many fans heading to the exits with five minutes left in the game.
Bold England lose rain-affected ODI thriller to New Zealand BBC Sport - England suffered a 13-run DuckworthLewis loss in the second one dayer against New Zealand in a game that produced the highest number of runs ever seen in an ODI on English soil. Chasing a record 399, England attacked from the off with Alex Hales scoring 54 and Eoin Morgan hitting 88 in 47 balls. Rain halted play with England needing 54 from 37 balls and the revised target of 34 from 13 proved too great. Ross Taylor top-scored for New Zealand with an unbeaten 119 off 96 balls. Kane Williamson scored 93 for the tourists in a game that produced an aggregate of 763 runs, beating the previous best in England by 112. The circumstances of the defeat will be hard for England to take, particularly after a 70-run eighth-wicket stand between Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett prior to the rain had given them hope of another remarkable victory to follow their record-breaking one at Edgbaston earlier in the week. The 50-minute delay halted the momentum of the Yorkshire pair, who fell in the closing overs - Plunkett for 44 off 30 and Rashid for 34 off 26
Eoin Morgan ditched the headgear for a short while, England v New Ross Taylor scored his 13th ODI hunZealand, 2nd ODI, Kia Oval, June dred, England v New Zealand, 2nd ODI, Kia Oval, June 12, 2015 ©AFP 12, 2015 ©AFP - leaving Steven Finn and Chris Jordan with an impossible task. However, that England even got near to chasing down such a huge total - the biggest they have ever conceded in this format - is a testimony to the positivity of this new side and the progress they have made in such a short space of time. Morgan epitomised this during the chase, coming to the wicket after the second of three quick wickets had fallen to bring to a halt to the early
innings momentum given to the home side by Alex Hales and Jason Roy (who made amends for his golden duck at Edgbaston with a composed 39) in a quick-fire opening stand of 85. The skipper - firstly with Ben Stokes (28 from 17 balls) - and then first-match centurion Buttler (41 off 38) built on this platform during a superb period of play in the middle overs that took the hosts from 100-3 to 259 at a pace previously alien to England one-day sides.
That England’s assault continued after Morgan had been dismissed by Mitchell McClenaghan through Plunkett and Rashid is a testimony to the way this new mentality has been embraced by this set of England players. Earlier, New Zealand’s batting had been just as spectacular and far more in keeping with what they showed at the recent World Cup than the display they produced three days ago, when only (Continued on page 25)
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and guard Klay Thompson (11) during the third quarter of game four of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. (Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports) The performance could not have come at a better time for the Warriors as none of the 32 teams who have fallen behind 3-1 in the NBA Finals have come back to win the series.
“Tonight we came in with the mentality that, obviously, like we were saying, we had to win this game,” Curry told reporters. “It was about effort and consistent effort every possession.”
Letter to the Sports Editor
The Normalization/ Management Committee have failed Local Football Dear Sir, Reference is hereby made to the above caption as it relates to the English based quartet of Matthew Briggs, Marcel Barrington, Sam Cox and Neil Danns non-representation of the Golden Jaguars, in Guyana’s opening match of the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers vs St. Vincent (hosts) on 10-06-2015. Editor, it would be remiss of me not to mention that representation of our national football team by overseas born player (s) in earnest began almost fifteen (15) years ago. And at that juncture, though it may be longer (I stand corrected), Naturalization/ Citizenship weren’t an issue then, so how is it an issue now, given the fact that computerization, internet and email were not as popular as it is today. So, in actuality, the process in seeking the aforementioned in my estimation normally begins in the respective country of the player’s birth. This factor would entail a visit to the Consulate, Embassy, or High Commission. While the GFF, from this
end prior to the player (s) visit, submits the relevant application. Where did the breakdown occur? Moreover, when it’s taken into serious consideration that visitation by the player (s) during an international friendly was evident. So, once again why was the process so slothful? Is it a case that all the relevant agencies locally were not appraised i.e. (then) Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports, Chief Immigration Officer and possibly the Guyana Olympic Association? Finally, with an extended administrative arm of management of the Golden Jaguars, involuntarily and a Normalization committee, this essential component of collective minds has failed our nation. Since the issue is in the public domain, let “John Public” judge them accordingly and submit relevant pronouncements. Let the “chips fall” in the rightful place, as the blame game for the election period is totally unacceptable. Respectfully yours, Lester Sealey.