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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: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210
Editorial
Stymieing Sales Whatever one may say about the present administration, it cannot be denied that businesses and shopping have exploded across the land in the last two decades. But more so, as always, in Georgetown. The burgeoning crowds and sales have tested the systems put in place by our merchants to rake in those sales. We believe it is to their interest - and the interest of the longsuffering shopper who is forced to deal with milling crowds reminiscent of the Chicago stockyards - that this be done most efficiently. Sadly this is far from being the case today and we are not even considering the pandemonium that routinely reins on the pavements in front of the stores. The secret of merchandising is to “turn over the merchandise”, that is, to generate as much sales in a given time frame as possible so that the fixed overhead expenses are spread over the greatest sales figure. Advertisements and commercials serve to generate the “bodies” that want to part with their money. It is up to the merchants to come up with systems to ensure that the “parting” is accomplished in the shortest possible time with the least “pain”. The “fleeciers” and the “fleeced” would both be happiest. Sadly, the realities of Guyana have not delivered this happy state of affairs and the result is that we have ever-larger milling crowds that become frustrated (because they can’t spend their money fast enough!) and merchants with stagnant stocks tying up scarce cash. One of the major hurdles that prevent the smooth transfer of funds from shoppers’ pockets to merchants’ cash registers is the elaborate systems put into place to prevent “pilferage”. Guyana is not the only place in the world where there is pilferage from businesses. In fact, the practice is so universal that staid accountants have an expression for it – “shrinkage” and make yearly provisions for this factor. We all eventually pay for “shrinkage” but that is another story. However, it appears that in Guyana, the magnitude of the “shrinkage” is so great (or the ingenuity of our merchant class is so lacking) that the systems instituted actually prevent the smooth exchange of money for goods. And our economy suffers – not to mention the national frustration level and the bruising of the shopping spirit. “Shrinkage” can occur at several points and be generated from different sets of actors. Firstly, there is your everyday, garden-variety “shoplifter”. Our merchants employ an ever- increasing number of guards and have them strategically (hopefully) placed to nip these pilferers. While these guards do stop random (we don’t have “profiling” in Guyana, do we?) shoppers and check their bags, this practice does not seem to cause major delays. The major disruptions are generated by the stratagems to stop employee theft or employees connivance with thefts – both from the points of sales and the points of receiving and shipping. Elaborate multiple-employee cross-checks are employed to prevent collusion between shoppers and employees. In some stores a simple purchase may involve the hapless shopper being bounced of a serial stream of four or even five transactions. And these are very frustrating and prevent rapid (and money-making) “turnover”. In even the most up-to-date upscale stores with fancy computerised registers, the internal crosschecks put a brake on smooth traffic flow. At the other ends (literally) of the merchandising cycle – receiving and shipping – there are also huge blockages. And these blockages are colossal. The point being made is that as our merchants attempt to enter the twenty first century of “merchandising”, they have to become more aware of the need to improve the efficiency in moving the customers and goods through his stores. They have to come up with new methodologies for securing their interests – which includes selling their merchandise, in addition to avoiding pilferage. Why haven’t more of them, for instance, installed the less obtrusive closed circuit cameras to monitor transactions all across their stores?
Sunday June 15, 2014
Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
Is there a racist underpinning in the calls for a PNC apology? DEAR EDITOR, I refer to a letter by Dolly Hassan in the Stabroek News of June 11 headlined, “The PNC should concede that certain mistakes were during its tenure.” I find the contents with its assessments offensive. But more egregiously, I detect a racist underpinning in Hassan’s arguments. It is one thing for a Guyanese to ask the PNC for an apology but it is a completely different sphere of thought when in the same breath you deny similar mistakes by the present PPP regime, cast the PPP administration as a democratic government and obnoxiously blame the PNC for the horrible mistakes in Guyana as Ms.
Hassan did with the garbage ubiquity. An analyst can decide that there is a Freudian racist drive in such a position. I believe when an East Indian demands an apology from the PNC for its authoritarian days in power and barefacedly classify the 22 years of PPP rule as democratic and mistake-free, then that Indian can and will open him/her to accusations of racism. I am making that insinuation against Dolly Hassan It is crass and insensitive for an Indian to openly declare that an Africandominated government must say sorry for its mistakes from 1968 -1985 but an Indian dominated regime from 1992 to 2014 is excused from the same
politically decadent, socially depraved and culturally reprehensible pathway Words cannot describe the disgust and abomination I feel when people like Dolly Hassan write the utter miasma that passes for honest opinions. There is nothing honest about such behaviour. Here is a graphic example from Hassan’s pro-PPP stance. “Mayor Hamilton Green exemplifies how we can decay as a nation when we are governed by race-based politics… the stench of Green’s Georgetown is a metaphor for the nation.” There is so much that is morally corrupt about such a perception and it truly sickens one to the core. Why is (Continued on page 6)
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Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox Ms. Sooba does not have the authority to expend Council’s money without permission DEAR EDITOR, Over the past few weeks, there has been much public discussion and debate, in governmental agencies, the media and in many public places about whether Ms. Carol Rayan Sooba had the authority to use five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) without the permission of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown. Indeed, we, at City Hall, have received numerous calls from concerned citizens about this unprecedented occurrence. For brevity, earlier this year, Ms. Carol Sooba collected five hundred thousand dollars (500,000) of Council’s funds in a matter that is not only essentially personal but for which there was no authority. As a result, Deputy Mayor, Mrs. Patricia Chase Green, who was performing duties of Mayor, at that time, wrote the Auditor General and requested an investigation into the issue. Ever since that time, there have been all sorts of stories in the media about the authority of the council. Having regard to our statutory responsibility to stakeholders and the general public, we feel obliged to clarify different aspects of what has become a very troubling trend at the Mayor and City Council- the continuous and continual disrespect for the authority of the duly elected Mayor and City Councillors, the people’s representatives. Further, it did not escape the attention of the council that, this disrespect is being encouraged with evident subtlety, by certain external forces that have special interests in the work of the council. This will be discussed at length in another letter. However, in this letter, our focus is on the matter at handthe use of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000)without the requisite permission or authority of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown. We begin with this clear
and unambiguous statement: Ms. Sooba does not have the authority to expend council’s money without its formal knowledge and permission. This is not personal it is the law. We now qualify this statement by making three points: First, the Georgetown City Council is a Local Government Authority. It is a government with the requisite authority to govern it local area. It governs its affairs, internal and in the wider community, through a network of committees, organizational policies and protocols and a system of laws, by- laws, rules and regulations. These are stipulated in the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01 and other Ordinances such as the Public Health Ordinance, chapter 145. Every local government officer employed by the Mayor and City Council has a duty to, recognize, respect, regard andcomply with those organizational arrangements, and in the case of the constabulary and other regulatory agencies of the council to enforce strict compliance to those laws. There can be no compromise otherwise the organizational structures will fail, the authority of the council will be undermined, and the council will be unable to discharge its responsibility to the citizens of Georgetown. In so far as the financial
management of the council is concerned, there are clear and specific laws, in the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, which guide the city council. Certain amendments were made to the Act up to 1997. At Part V, the Act specifically addresses the area of Finance: Accounts, Receipts and Expenditure. In the area of contracts, which we are particularly concerned about in the case of Ms. Sooba, the Act states the following:Section 149, “ All payments on account of a council shall be made by the treasurer in pursuance of an order signed by two councillors who are members of the Finance Committee and who areauthorised by the Finance Committee in that behalf; and all cheques for payment of moneys shall be signed by the treasurer and countersigned by the clerk or such other local government officer as may be authorized by the council on that behalf or any member of the Finance Committee: Provided that the following payments may be made out of general rate fund without an order, that is to say: (a) payments made in pursuance of section 22 ; (b) payments of allowances to councillors; (c) payments of emoluments and allowances to any local government officer in the service of the
council (other than daily or weekly paid employees); (d) payments not exceeding two thousand dollars in relation to services provided for in the estimates.” It is clear, that the sum that can be paid for services provided to the councilwithout the express permission of the council is two thousand dollars ($2000).All other payments particularly as they relate to contracts for goods and services must follow the tender procedure as stipulated by the Municipal and Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, at Part VII. However, the Act permits Variation of the tender procedure in cases of emergency. At section 232 it states: “In cases of emergency, or where the delay from inviting tenders in the manner provided in this Part would result in loss to the council, the council may authorise the making of contracts or purchases to the value of two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars or more without publication of the notice required by section 229(1), or the invitations to tender mentioned in section230 (6): Provided that in all such cases the council shall specify the method of inviting tenders and the period within which tenders shall be submitted.” It should be noted that in all cases the law refers to the COUNCIL and not the Clerk or any other local government officer; the authority is the Council.Ms. Sooba like every other officer employed by the Mayor and City Council is an employee of the council and could not act by herself. If she does, as she has been doing, then she is clearly operating outside the context of the council and such action isillegal and could
be challenged. The law permits the Council to spend two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000)only in cases of emergencies.An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or environment. Even in such cases, the council must show the loss that the city would have incurred had it not expended that money without following the tender procedure. If the elective council, which is the policy- makers and the people’s representatives with full powers of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, are only allowed to spend two hundred and fifty thousand dollars even in cases of emergencies then by what authority, quo jure, did (Continued on page 6)
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Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
The Robert Gates factor
Pholourie Joe and defending the indefensible
DEAR EDITOR, Robert Gates, a witness at the Commission of Inquiry (COI) of the death of Dr. Walter Rodney was convicted and sentenced to 48 months imprisonment by a Magistrate in August, 2013, for obtaining $6,000,000 by false pretence from twelve persons. Gates is not on bail and did not appeal his said conviction. However, mystery among the public and legal circles, now surrounds the freedom being enjoyed by Gates whose presence at the COI since the COI began its hearing without any prison officer in attendance, leaving and returning in the High Court compound without any accompanying Prison Officer. The Commission’s lawyer Glenn Hanoman when questioned by a Kaieteur News reporter (K.N. 8.6.14) whether the freedom which the convicted felon enjoys is not irregular or unlawful replied that it was part of a plan; it should not be obvious that Gates is a prisoner;
saying further that there are prisoners in jail who might harm him and his security arrangement might change. The statements by Hanoman are factious, not even fit for fools like me. It is clear that Hanoman and the State intend, irregularly, to keep Gates out of prison for the entire proceedings, then after he gives his evidence the State may pardon him resulting in no jail time and no conviction. Time will tell! Does not the Director of Prisons have a duty to justify his action for releasing, without a Prison Officer, a convicted felon serving a sentence of 48 months for such a length of time? Can this newspaper solicit the assistance of one of our eminent Senior Counsel to explain the circumstances and conditions in which a prisoner may be released from prison to give evidence? Paul Jacobs
Not one cent to the GRA DEAR SIR, On today’s date Friday 13th June, I received a letter dated May 7th 2014 captioned “Notification Of Late Filing Penalty Year of Assessment …. 2009…”It then went on to state that the penalty was $2,368. First of all I must state that I have been religiously submitting my tax returns every year since I started working in 1977 and I am saying that I did submit my returns for the year in question. Secondly, why is it that five years after the fact that only now am I being penalized for late filing? If my returns were not received or could not be found, why was I not notified in 2010? I will state quite clearly sir, that I am not paying “one black cent” based on just
those two points and it doesn’t matter what happens henceforth. I pay enough taxes every time I go to the supermarket. I pay taxes and the street I live in is full of potholes. I got sick last year and went to the GPHC but attention there was so slothful, I ended up at a private hospital. Is that what my taxes are for? And why me? What about the private investors in the Berbice Bridge whose profits I understand are not taxed! So why me? It is taking a lot of restraint for me to remain civil in this letter, so I can just say that your letter freaked me out. Get the foregoing addressed then send me letters. Until then I repeat “me nah a pay one black cent”. John London
Ms. Sooba does not have... From page 5 Ms. Sooba took five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00), double the amount that is permitted by the Act, out of the City’s Treasury, without the permission of the council to pay for legal service.Further, it should be noted that Ms. Sooba expended, without the fiat of the council, more than the law permits the entire Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown to spend during periods of emergencies. Second, this kind of liberty facilitates poor financial accountability because the elective council is unable to know, to monitor and to manage the City’s Treasury. As a consequence, the council is unable to properly account to citizens for rates and other revenues at City Hall.
Also, the Mayor and Councillors are unable to respond to the felt needs of citizens because they do not know, they cannot monitor and therefore cannot properly direct spending in areas that would improve the wellbeing and welfare of citizens in local communities in Georgetown. However, Ms. Sooba an employee of the council, whose substantive position on the organizational structure, at City Hall, is not even at the level of a middle manager, is exercising authority that transcends that of the elective council to expend money even in areas where the council has objected- a very sad state of affairs indeed. This leads to a complex and particular challenge of democratic deficit in the local governance of the City of Georgetown. As it now stands, control over the decision- making process, particularly in the area of finance and the provision of vital municipal services and facilities, has been steadily wrenched out of the hands of the duly
elected council of Georgetown. As a result, the elective council is unable to represent citizens; it is failing in its raison d’etre.This deficit is facilitating a dangerous erosion of order in the internal management structure of the council and the city- a situation that will benefit no one. One final point, Ms. Carol Sooba disregarded the laws stipulated in chapter 28:01 and the financial management structure and at the Mayor and City Council. No corporation would tolerate or accept such an anomaly let alone a municipality that has statutory responsibility to deliver services to citizens and to account for its revenue and expenditure. In the circumstances, the council will have to take appropriate action to correct this very terribly frightening situation and to push ahead with the business of managing the city of Georgetown. Royston King Mayor and CouncillorsCity of Georgetown
DEAR SIR, “Some things you must always be unable to bear. Some things you must never stop refusing to bear. Injustice and outrage and dishonor and shame. No matter how young you are or how old you have got. Not for kudos and not for cash: your picture in the paper nor money in the back either. Just refuse to bear them.” William Faulkner, Intruder in the Dust Editor, a more apt quote does not apply to what obtains today under the PPP government since “so-called” democracy has returned to Guyana. While Faulkner’s quote needs no embellishment, I will add “not race or party affiliation should stop each Guyanese from recognizing right from wrong and to give voice to the truth even when it is unpopular to do so.” The PPP’s moral equivalence fallacy has trapped Guyana in a perpetual backward gaze by forever using the PNC’s 28 years in office and of rigged elections to deny citizens of their constitutional right to vote in local government elections for over 20 years. Denial of citizens’ rights by whatever means is denial of rights. To hear the out-ofhis depth and intellectually puny president Ramotar, state on the record, that had the PPP secured the parliamentary majority in the 2011 general election they would have been in the mood to hold local government
elections is downright shameful and yet the likes of letters writers such as Dolly Hasssan ensconced in democratic United States of America will defend the PPP to the end. And then there is Phoulorie Joe’s expected defense of his belated attack of conscience and his affiliation with the PPP reeks of naked opportunism. Without equivocating, can MP Hamilton explain the difference between the wrong doing he’s admitted to while in the PNC and the multitude of corruption, unbridled criminality, and torture by the police and those affiliated with the PPP government of today? Again, the PPP’s embrace of another former member of the PNC and GGG with a checkered past speaks to the symbiotic and some would say parasitic relationship that exists between the two major political parties. How else can one explain APNU’s misguided support of the Cricket Administration Bill? Chronology of events and facts matter and though facts are stubborn things that often get in the way of a particular pre-determined narrative, they withstand scrutiny where opinion and conjecture fails. In a recent letter published in Kaieteur News “the president must rid Guyana of cricket cartel”; I find the use of the word cartel and PPP most interesting but not in the cricketing context
but I digress. While I’m not discounting letter writer Jewan Persaud’s version of ills with Guyana’s cricket administration, his support for the remedy that a government that has no standing in terms of integrity and anti-corruption is misplaced. This is where chronology is important. It was the government that illegally and unjustly raided the homes and offices of Guyana Cricket Board members. The GCB took the government to court and gained an injunction/won. As is the PPP’s won’t, this was followed by the equally illegal imposition of the IMC (incidentally this played a huge role in Clive Lloyd not becoming head of the WICB) that led to the misguided Cricket Administration Bill. In a court of law this is known as the underlying crime and logically, no law no matter how well intentioned, should not be supported. In essence, it’s a phony solution in search of a problem. I will end on a positive note. I was pleased to see the nuanced approach that two young Guyanese leaders whom I’m familiar with and have the potential to transcend race; coined the phrase “PNC part 2” in their recent letter in Kaieteur and Stabroek News. Guyana needs more people such as Gerhard Ramsaroop and Tarron Khemraj. Nigel Jason
Is there a racist underpinning... From page 4 Georgetown Green’s Georgetown and not Jagdeo’s Georgetown? Mayor Green has had less power and control over Georgetown from 1999 to 2011. That was the period when Bharrat Jagdeo was President. Mr. Jagdeo was an executive president. The mayor of Georgetown never had executive power within the City Council Who is Dolly Hassan and where has she been living for all these years. I am told this is a person in her sixties or touching her sixties. Surely from those years (Abraham Lincoln once said it is not the years in your life that mater but the life in your years), Hassan must know that our fundamental problem since the PPP imploded in the fif-
ties is that we have lived with race based politics from Jagan in the fifties as Premier through the long years of PNC rule right up to the present Here is the part of Hassan’s letter that is extremist in its repellence and it compels you to see this woman as a very foolish, nonsensical person, or a paid PPP propagandist. She writes; “If I were to cast my ballot today (thank God Dolly Hassan does not vote in our general elections) It would not be for the PNC or the AFC. They have not yet developed the wisdom and the maturity or wisdom to govern.” Can you believe this is a person asking for the PNC to apologize? Can you imagine what will happen to PNC leaders at town hall meetings across the country when they consult with their supporters about apologizing and someone gets up and reads out aloud
the June 11 letter of Dolly Hassan? Dolly Hassan’s letter has realized our worst fear – Indian racists will not stop at demonizing the PNC and openly deifying the PPP. For this reason, I am boycotting the Rodney Commission, and I think the PNC, WPA and others should do the same. How can anyone say that the PNC and AFC haven’t got leaders with the capacity to govern but the PPP has? Isn’t that the expression of a very nasty mind? I close with the assertion that any research into the abuse of power between the Burnham junta and the Jagdeo cabal would find that Burnham was the lesser of the two evils. I end on a personal note. Mr. Burnham never tried to harm me physically even though I was a harsh critic of his rule. Twice since 1992, there were attempts on my life. I know who sent my assaulters Frederick Kissoon
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Iraq insurgent advance slows, U.S. sends carrier to Gulf BAGHDAD (Reuters) An offensive by insurgents that threatens to dismember Iraq seemed to slow yesterday after days of lightning advances as government forces regained some territory in counterattacks, easing pressure on the Shi’ite-led government in Baghdad. As Iraqi officials spoke of wresting back the initiative against Sunni militants, neighboring Shi’ite Iran held out the prospect of working with its longtime U.S. archenemy to help restore security in Iraq. U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday he was reviewing military options, short of sending troops, to combat the insurgency. The United States ordered an aircraft carrier moved into the Gulf yesterday, readying it in case Washington decides to pursue a military option after insurgents overran areas in the north and advanced on Baghdad. Thousands responded to a call by Iraq’s most influential Shi’ite cleric to take up arms and defend the
country against the insurgency, led by the Sunni militant Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In a visit to the city of Samarra, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki vowed to rout the insurgents, whose onslaught has put the future of Iraq as a unitary state in question and raised the specter of sectarian conflict. The militant gains have alarmed Maliki’s Shi’ite supporters in both Iran and the United States, which helped bring him to power after invading the country and toppling former Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003. Oil prices have jumped over fears of ISIL disrupting exports from OPEC member Iraq. But having encountered little resistance in majority Sunni areas, the militants have now come up against the army, which clawed back some towns and territory around Samarra yesterday with the help of Shi’ite militia. “We have regained the initiative and will not stop at liberating Mosul from ISIL terrorists, but all other parts,”
Volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi Army to fight against the predominantly Sunni militants who have taken over Mosul and other Northern provinces, travel in army trucks in Baghdad yesterday. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani said Major-General Qassim alMoussawi, spokesman for the Iraqi military’s commander-in-chief, pointing out areas the army had retaken on a map with a laser pen. Militants in control of
Tikrit, 45 km (27 miles) north of Samarra, planted landmines and roadside bombs at the city’s entrances, apparently anticipating a counter-attack by government forces. Residents said the militants
deployed across the city and moved anti-aircraft guns and heavy artillery into position. Families began to flee north in the direction of Kirkuk, an oil-rich city which Kurdish forces occupied on Thursday
after the Iraqi army fled. Security sources said Iraqi troops attacked an ISIL formation in the town of alMutasim, 22 km (14 miles) southeast of Samarra, driving militants out into the surrounding desert yesterday. The army also reasserted control over the small town of Ishaqi, southeast of Samarra, to secure a road that links the city to Baghdad and the cities of Tikrit and Mosul further north. Troops backed by the Shi’ite Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia helped retake the town of Muqdadiya northeast of Baghdad, and ISIL was dislodged from Dhuluiya after three hours of fighting with tribesmen, local police and residents, a tribal leader said. In Udhaim, 90 km (60 miles) north of Baghdad, Asaib and police fought militants who earlier occupied the local municipal building, an official there told Reuters, and they directed mortar fire at the government protection force of the Baiji oil refinery, Iraq’s largest.
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Ukraine, Russia agree to hold new gas talks on today (Reuters) - Ukraine and Russia failed to end a gas pricing dispute at talks yesterday but agreed to meet again today, a day before a Russian deadline for Kiev to pay a $1.95 billion debt or have its gas supplies cut off. Halting deliveries to Kiev could disrupt the gas flow to the European Union, which receives gas via Ukraine, but the chances of a breakthrough have been hit by tensions over an uprising by pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine. The two sides did little other than set out their positions at talks with European Energy Commission Guenther Oettinger in a Kiev hotel before deciding to resume discussions in the morning. “Each side explained its position today. No solution was found. Therefore, in line with a proposal by Commissioner Oettinger, the talks will continue tomorrow morning,” Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuri Prodan told reporters. Andrei Miller, the chief executive of Russia’s top natural gas producer, Gazprom,, said nothing to reporters as he went in and left the talks. Resolving the long-running dispute and averting a cut in gas supplies could help ease tension over the separatist rising, which Kiev blames on Moscow despite Russian denials that it is arming the rebellion. Russia had initially rejected the idea of holding another round of talks over the weekend, but agreed in the end to have one more try. “We are ready to seek compromise, but it is useless to put pressure on us,” Sergei Kupriyanov, spokesman for Russian state gas producer Gazprom, said in Moscow. The dispute is part a broader crisis in which Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March following the overthrow of the
country’s Moscow-leaning president, and tensions are high following the shooting down of a Ukrainian military transport plane by the rebels in east Ukraine. Gazprom has said Ukraine should pay at least $1.95 billion - part of its debt for Russian gas supplies - by Monday, or face being switched to a system under which it would receive only gas it pays for in advance, and possible gas supply cuts. After the failure of several rounds of talks, the last of which were in Brussels this week, Ukraine’s government ordered the energy sector, ministers and local authorities to prepare for supply cuts. Russia initially demanded at the talks that Ukraine should pay $485 per 1,000 cubic metres of gas but then offered to remove the export duty, a move that would cut the price to $385 - around the average amount paid by Russia’s European clients. Ukraine had held out for $268.5 until Friday, when it said it was ready to pay $326 for an interim period of 18 months while a long-term price was worked out. Russian energy authorities said last week that the price of $385 was final, but Prodan suggested to reporters Ukraine was not ready to go beyond its offer of $326. Russia has extended its deadline twice in the past few weeks to allow more time to reach a deal but has made clear it will not do so again. Russia meets about a third of the EU’s gas needs, and around half of the gas is delivered via pipelines that go through Ukraine. Supply cuts would not be a big problem now because it is summer and the EU and Ukraine have enough gas in storage, but the EU suffered serious disruptions in supplies when Russia cut off supplies in a gas war with Kiev in 2009.
Obama renews climate change push Washington (AFP) - President Barack Obama renewed his campaign to curb carbon emissions yesterday, saying the debate over climate change is over. Obama, who made the battle against climate change a core promise of his 2008 election campaign, has been stymied at the federal level by opposition from lawmakers. Congress “is full of folks who stubbornly and automatically reject the scientific evidence,” Obama told a crowd of more than 30,641 people, including thousands of graduates at the University of California, Irvine. “They’ll tell you climate change is a hoax, or a fad. One says the world might actually be cooling.” Two weeks ago, Obama unveiled a contentious plan to cut carbon emissions from US power plants by 30 percent by 2030, down from 2005 levels. The plan would let US states choose their own approaches as long as each enforces restrictions on carbon emissions. The president used his speech to the university graduates to present a $1 billion competitive fund to help communities hit by natural disasters linked to climate change. “Climate change is no longer a distant threat,” the president emphasized. “In some parts of the country, weatherrelated disasters like droughts, fires, storms and floods are going to get harsher and
costlier.” He stressed that climate change remains “one of the most significant long-term challenges” to the United States and the world. “The climate change deniers suggest there’s still a debate over the science. There’s not,” Obama said. “I’ve got to admit, though, it’s pretty rare that you’ll encounter someone who says the problem you’re trying to solve doesn’t even exist.” When president John F. Kennedy set the United States on a course for the moon, Obama added, “I don’t remember anyone saying the moon wasn’t real, or that it was made of cheese.” In May, the White House called for urgent action to combat climate change with the release of a four-year study on the impact of global warming across the United States and key sectors of the American economy. Leading scientists warned of the risks of rising sea levels, droughts, fires and pest outbreaks if the world does not tackle the repercussions of greenhouse gas emissions. But Obama also sounded a positive, touting advances that “have created jobs, grown our economy, and helped cut our carbon pollution to levels not seen in about 20 years.” Since 2006, he said, no other country has reduced its carbon pollution as much as the United States.
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11-year-old mauled by Dobermans Dequan Gordon
What started off as a fishing excursion with a few friends yesterday turned sour for an 11-year-old boy from Linden who was brutally attacked by two dogs. Dequan Gordon, a student of the Christianburg
Primary School, is currently at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) nursing wounds to his throat and buttocks following the Doberman attack. Reports are that the dogs which belonged to someone
Dem boys seh
BRAZZY TUN A CUSS BIRD
De whole of last week was sheer cussing. Brazzy lead de cussing and he pick de Pegasus which is still de best hotel in de country. Now dem boys seh that a man like Brazzy should be praising every business in Guyana because is dem same business does bring in people in de country and money fuh de government. Is private business that really got people talking bout democracy and when Brazzy start cuss dem people got to think about he motive. And dem ain’t got to think hard because de whole world know that he building one fuh he and he friends. And if he did push he hand in he pocket people woulda understand. Is de people money he tekking. Dem boys seh that de same crook that cussing de Pegasus ain’t like when people bad talk he hotel and it got to be he own de way he getting on because dem boys seh that he done mek plans fuh sell it down de road. And is de same man who threaten to sue a man who cuss a dutty bar that he seh is he own. He claim how de man disrespectful but he didn’t think that he was more than disrespectful when he cuss Pegasus. De thing bout he is that whenever he cussing something he does always pick up Kit. De people promise to pick up a piece of wood and dig some lash pun he when get disrespectful again. Kit wouldn’t low Brazzy fuh cuss down he resort which ain’t deh in de same league wid Pegasus and according to dem boys, Kit shoulda stop de fat crook from de time he open he mouth. This is de crook who does go to church every day. Dem boys seh that he probably looking fuh see if he can find anything to cuss de church and de priest. But as people seh, is only time wid people like he. He got to understand that if he continue like that de hotel that he and he kavakamites building might mek dem cry. Further, if he think that by going to church every day he mekking heself right wid de Man above he lie. You can’t be right wid God until you are right wid others. Talk half and cuss Brazzy.
Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it.
known as “Donkey” had escaped from the yard they were in by jumping the fence, and were roaming the streets before they attacked the boy. According to Gordon’s mother, Sabrina, the young boy was out fishing with some friends when the dogs attacked him around 10:00 hours. Two public spirited citizens responded to the screams of the young boy and managed to save him. He was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex where he received treatment. He was later transferred to GPHC. “When I come here and see my son, I start crying. Is only Monday I bury one of my children and now this one get attacked,” the mother of five said. “He can’t talk too properly. You can barely hear what he is trying to say. He has been in and out of consciousness for a while,” Sabrina disclosed. She told Kaieteur News that the dogs’ owner has not
made contact with them at the hospital or offered any regrets over the situation. Sabrina said that it was the boy’s rescuers who reported
the matter to the police. The mother said that the owner has indicated to the police that they want to offer compensation but she will
not be accepting that. “I want justice for my son.” Last evening, Dequan was taken to the theatre for surgery.
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Kaieteur News
Former Appeal Judge set to defend disbarment in London High Court
Sunday June 15, 2014
Pastor holds firm on homosexuality views ...sticks to the principles of the Holy Scriptures
Sukul (centre) flanked by his wife and President Donald Ramotar Former Guyana Court of Appeal Judge, Rabi Sukul will soon put forward his case in the London High Court in defence of action which caused his debarment from the United Kingdom judicial system. Sukul’s appeal of his debarment was last Wednesday adjourned by Lord Justice Laws and Justice Cranston to allow his defence. Sukul was disbarred in his absence by the UK Bar Council Disciplinary Tribunal in mid February of this year. It is alleged that the UK lawyer had drafted two grounds of appeal in another matter although he knew they were false, and intended to mislead the court and his client. The High Court heard arguments that Sukul would have a good defence to both allegations if the two grounds he drafted were arguable. He would have also been able to advance that defence if he was present at the
Disciplinary Tribunal hearing. The Bar Council did not oppose this argument and the High Court ruled that the appeal be adjourned to allow the former Appeal Court Judge to show that the two grounds of appeal he drafted are arguable. The UK Bar Council also did not object to the High Court ruling. The UK bar’s disciplinary tribunal had heard that Sukul, of Balham Chambers, London, drafted a document to the Court of Appeal, setting out initial grounds for an appeal against conviction on behalf of his client, who had been convicted of drugsrelated offences. The tribunal found that he had created the document, knowing it to be false, with the intention of misleading his client into believing he had grounds to appeal his conviction, when Sukul knew there were no grounds of appeal. The five-person tribunal found unanimously
that Sukul had intentionally misled his client and engaged in conduct likely to bring the legal profession into disrepute. He was thus ordered to be disbarred but the decision is open to appeal. Sukul’s disbarment created a stir locally since the UK lawyer was given the prestigious position of a Justice of Appeal. Acting Chancellor of the Guyana Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, had called for the immediate resignation of Justice Sukul who undertook to do so. Sukul took the Oath of Office in the presence Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Chancellor of the Judiciary (Ag) Carl Singh, and Director of Public Prosecution Shalimar Ali-Hack among others. President Donald Ramotar had presented Sukul with his documentation following his swearing in.
As talk on the acceptance of homosexuality gains momentum in Guyana, and as sections of the populace remain spilt over the matter, Pastor Ronald Mc Garrell who has been the latest person to denounce the act says that he remains firm in his statement against the lifestyle. He says that he holds to the principles of the Holy Scriptures. Mc Garrell, who has been a Pastor for some 20 years, tendered his resignation from the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) earlier this week after calls were made for him to step down in light of a statement made by him during a radio talk show recently. The Pastor suggested during the show ‘Hard Talk’ that gay persons should reside on an island by themselves to spare the multitude from God’s wrath. The comment has stirred up another huge debate on homosexuality and its place in Guyanese society. Pastor McGarrell of the Family Federation for World Peace explained to Kaieteur News yesterday that it would be against his teachings not be frank on the issue of homosexuality. He said that the talk show host, who is the founder of the local gay rights movement – SASOD – Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination, was speaking on gay rights from a legal point of view and was advocating for the laws
on buggery and cross dressing to be repealed. The Pastor is of the view that should this happen, “the door would be opened for all kinds of things as is the case in the United States of America”. He said that when these laws were removed (in America for example), the gays eventually went to the Supreme Court to win the right to marry members of the same sex. Pastor McGarrell added that he was trying to let persons understand that “their activities have implications for everyone in society, and is so seen in the case of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, and in the Book of Leviticus.” “I am not against any person,” the Pastor charged, “but if it is one thing to bring down the wrath of God it is that. I was coming from a religious perspective and the host was speaking from a legal perspective. “Why did they call me on the programme if they did not want my honesty and point of view, which was from a religious perspective?” He said as the discussion (talk show) went on, “I said that if the homosexuals are so desirous of living the way they are living, if they really care for the rest of society, spare us the wrath of God, and they can go to another place. In order to put some distance between them and us, I said, they can go to an island; in a light hearted way. “If they didn’t want our perspective on the issue, then why should we have gone there? To say yes? Just knock down all the laws off the books?” The Pastor said that people must understand
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
Pastor Ronald McGarrell the purpose and importance of one’s descendants so when the question of God and children arises there must be answers. “Everything is designed according to the nature of God, and if God did not want our descendants he would not have created us to make any. It must be recognized that we need our descendants; our eternal happiness is tied up in our descendants,” the Pastor opined. For years Pastor McGarrell has hosted family enrichment programmes, and he has been at the forefront with those seeking to improve family life in Guyana. Several hundred persons are recipients of family life certificates from Pastor McGarrell’s organization. He has been accused of being unprofessional and unethical for the statement made. The topic of persons pursuing “alternative lifestyles” repeatedly comes up in Guyana, while the country and its Administrators are yet to take a definite position on the matter. Recently, a ruling was made in the High Court pertaining to cross dressing. However, gay rights activists say the ruling is unclear and they will be seeking to appeal the matter.
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Kaieteur News
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TRIBUTES TO SPECIAL FATHERS Godfrey Laton Andrews:
Walter Ashmore Jordan:
We were so alike, nature had to take one of us
A love for language, a love for life
While growing up I often heard the words, “the two of you cannot live together in this world; nature will have to take one of you.” They were words that were related to the relationship between my father and me. At first I did not understand what they meant but when nature took my father away when I was 14 years old, it dawned on me that we had so much in common and there was not enough space for the two of us, at least not in our small two-bedroom home in North Ruimveldt. I was at that age when most teenage boys begin to challenge authority, and being a Queen’s College student, (my father was an ordinary public servant) I thought I knew it all…and like all young men with growing independent minds who thought that they were too bright for their parents, I was beginning to feel that I was the man for the house. Needless to say my father and I got into many arguments, but they were mostly over cricket…I challenged him on many things that had a lot to do with cricket records and so on. My father made me love cricket….he encouraged me to listen to the radio commentary and would ask endless questions….I had to know the answers to them all if I was to maintain the edge over him that I craved at the time. My father must have recognized my love for cricket for one of my early Christmas gifts was a cricket set, made up of a bat, ball and a complete set of stumps with bails. But just when I was beginning to blossom into a good young cricketer, nature stepped in and took my father away. I was devastated and without his constant encouragement. Together with having to be a tower of strength for my grieving mother and two younger sisters, my desire to continue playing the game diminished and eventually died. I believe that I made my father buy his first and only car. The year was 1980, the
year that I earned a place at Queens College after successfully sitting the common entrance examination. Since my father was in charge of the transportation section of a government ministry, I always had the privilege of being chauffeured to and from school by different drivers who were under his supervision. But my father wanted the privilege of driving his young Queen’s College son to and from school…(so I was told). Although he could hardly afford it at the time, he went ahead and purchased the car for a whopping $7000. It was a Vauxhall Viva and I soon realized that my father could have done better with the money that he spent on the car. I remember the day my father died in my hands. Before I forget, my love for Chinese food was nurtured by my father. I can recall many nights even while I was asleep, my father would wake me up by putting a piece of the chicken on my lips. I could not resist. To this day that part of my life has been passed down to my children…I still use the same strategy to wake them up sometimes. (DALE ANDREWS)
Eustace Williams: A quiet manliness From the time she hit high school my sister, Faye, had a string of admirers. Many of them were stammering, tongue-tied, awkward boys, who often turned up at our home under the pretext of playing table tennis, while taking side-glances at my sister. Unfortunately for my sister, she also had three ‘disgusting’ brothers who liked to tease her about her admirers and even found false names for many of them. Then she went to the Cyril Potter College of Education, and met a tall, handsome, quiet, studious, football-loving, good-on the dance floor young man. His name was Eustace Brindsley Williams, and from the time she introduced him to us, we knew that ‘Eusti’ was ‘serious business’. Faye’s three ‘troublesome’ brothers looked at each other and said, “Gentlemen, a real man has come to town”. In our minds, he was our brother-in-law even before he and my sister were married. I watched them struggle, as most young couples initially do, to raise a family. I had no doubt that they would succeed and succeed they did. I watched ‘Eusti’, with assistance from his very young sons, make cement blocks and almost single-handedly build the
Most people who didn’t know my father well would listen to the way he spoke, and observe the way he acted, and assume that Walter Ashmore Jordan was born into affluence. That couldn’t have been further from the truth. By the time he was 12, his father had died and he had to leave school to take up a job as a postman to help his mother and siblings. But I guess that my dad would have scoffed at the words of the Buju Banton song, “Circumstances made me what I am”. His response to adversity was to educate himself. He took correspondence courses and passed his GCE O’ Level Exams, then enrolled in and graduated from the University of Guyana at a time when some were deriding UG as ‘Jagan’s night school’. He loved the English Language and proper enunciation. You couldn’t say ‘tree’ for ‘three’ and ‘dis’ for ‘this’ in his presence. (I still laugh at the time a burglar entered our home and while everyone was yelling ‘teef,’ in good Guyanese vernacular, Walter Ashmore Jordan put his tongue between his teeth and shouted ‘thief.’ I think even the ‘teef’ got a shock. No one had called him a ‘thief’ before). Dad believed in loyalty but also believed in speaking his mind to the point
of even once telling the ‘Comrade Leader’ ‘you are wrong’. He also had a sense of fun. He loved boxing, and I believe that the entire block in our Tucville area knew when a boxing match was being televised from dad’s yells of encouragement. I remember my dad and me staying up after midnight, ears tuned to the radio, to listen to the first Ali-Frazier fight. He loved to ‘tantalize’ and he loved to dance. When good men pass away, it’s the good memories that stay. (MICHAEL JORDAN)
Eze Rockcliffe: The man in my life who can’t be replaced Usually they say “mommy’s baby and daddy’s maybe” but in my case it’s different. I am daddy’s baby, and that status could never change. There are so many things going on in the world and there are those days when I feel like the walls of the world are caving in on me; but the love and support of my family, headed by my dad, Eze Rockcliffe keeps me going. I dread the moment when thoughts of my dad leaving me ever come to mind as I am not sure I can survive without him. I guess it’s because he was always there for me even when I didn’t deserve it. Dad has taught me so many life lessons but one I can never forget is, “he who humbles himself will be exalted and he who exalts himself will be humbled.” Dad is the most humble person I know. Try as I might, I haven’t been able to perfect the art of humility but I am getting there. I am the last of 13 children, and he cherishes us all just like we all cherish him.
A dad worth the title If there are two things I know for sure, I won’t be getting any taller and my parents love me. (ABENA ROCKCLIFFE)
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beautiful family home. I have never heard him raise his voice. His was a quiet manliness. Brother Eusti left us suddenly and too soon this year. But forever imprinted in my mind is an image of my ‘sugar-foot’ brotherin-law dancing with my youngest sister at her wedding, then later, dancing with his daughter, and taking the floor with my sister at their second son’s wedding. Those are my good memories of a decent and excellent father and husband. (MICHAEL JORDAN)
Guyanese among 36 foreigners held at Trini hotel Trinidad (Trinidad and Tobago Express) - Thirty-six foreign nationals were arrested during a police raid at a popular hotel in Marabella on Thursday night. A team of officers, including Fraud Squad, Counter Trafficking Unit and
immigration officials, visi-ted the hotel where they found scantily dressed women, allegedly soliciting clients. The police raid was carried out between 8.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. Police said 33 Dominican Republic nationals, two Colombians and one
Guyanese were detained. The women were taken to the San Fernando CID, where they were interviewed through interpreters. Police said the women may be charged with immigration offences and with soliciting for the purpose of prostitution.
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Sunday June 15, 2014
Corentyne ‘backtrack’ operator bemoans police harassment By Leon Suseran
Hundreds are utilizing the Guyana-Suriname ‘Backtrack’ crossings available in the Upper Corentyne area. Last week at Number 78 Village, Corriverton, one of the operators said that the backtrack business continues to flourish despite the establishment of the Guyana-Suriname Moleson Creek Ferry Terminal, a few miles further up the Corentyne. Prior to the introduction of the ferry service, persons from both countries used makeshift stellings at Springlands where immigration officials were present and the area was designated the official port of entry/leaving Guyana. Passengers opt for a faster, more expedient and hassle-free way of getting across to Guyana’s Dutch neighbour. They use the speedboats as opposed to the established ferry crossing. Today, there are currently three backtrack crossings on the Corentyne side and four on the Nickerie, Suriname
Mr. Mursaline side. And each crossing on the Guyana side now has a Customs officer from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) who monitors the outflow and inflow of items. There are three officers that work on the landing Kaieteur News visited. Mr. Mohamed Mursaline, proprietor of ‘Golden Gloves Speedboat Service’, goes by the catch-phrase plastered on the walls of his residence, ‘We can take you anywhere on the Corentyne River.’ It has been a family business for
over 40 years, he stated, having taken the reins from his father. He said that he is fully licenced by the Surinamese authorities to operate the backtrack service. The problem, he stated, is with the Guyana side and this country’s unwillingness to formally legalize the operations. He has 26 workers under his employ, including boat captains, sailors, and mechanics. “I seek a lot of employment for people, and they are willing to pay their taxes.” “THE POLICE IS THE PROBLEM” One of the major problems for the backtrack service, he added, is the constant harassment by the police upon incoming passengers. “They coming to pull people out of the boat and wanting to carry them down to the station. They stopping passengers on the road and collecting monies as they come through the backtrack.” “This is the Corentyne River. And Guyanese are legal to use this [river] but if a person goes into the river and
comes back, they still give them a hard time…they demanding monies from the passengers—illegal entry. “The biggest harassment is not with anyone concerning government or so. We put several matters to them [the government] already, but no answer. The police are the problem!” “The customs officer has the power to pass a man with a bottle or two of liquor. Normally people buy liquor through the duty-free; the police take away the people liquor, demanding money from the people,” he stated. He operates several trips on a daily basis at $2,000 per person. However, pensioners can travel for free or at a reduced cost. Mursaline says it’s not all about the money. Safety is guaranteed, he added, in that passengers are required to wear their lifejackets and every boat carries a double engine, in the event that one engine fails during the 15-20 minute journey. “I never had a disaster. Disasters happened one or two times but not here—on the other landings.” LICENCES & LEGALISE Mursaline added that the licences are issued on an annual basis. “You carry your boat, with your number and boat names. I have four boats and captains with sailors.” Mursaline said that he spoke to officials including former President Bharrat Jagdeo to legalize the operations many years ago. “When Jagdeo was in government, he said let them work but for as long as the PPP in government, they won’t legalize it.” He claimed that Minister Robert Persaud also negated any attempt to legalize the operation. “They waiting on the Corentyne-Suriname bridge. I don’t know when that bridge will finish. If the bridge build we will still operate,” he noted. “We don’t have a
Passengers utilizing the backtrack route prepare to enter the speedboat that will take them to Nickerie, Suriname via the Corentyne River
problem with customs or government officials…the police are the main persons— they target passengers as soon as they reach from the road.” Passengers who use the backtrack service, he added, and enter Nickerie, cannot go past Coronie and head into the capital of Paramaribo, due to the fact that Dutch law enforcement officers monitor the inflow of persons into the capital. Persons are asked to produce their passports and are asked to return to Nickerie should they not have an immigrant stamp out of Guyana. This poses no problem, Mursaline added. “They are not locking you up—they just turn you back.” However, a lot of Guyanese who utilize the backtrack route, he added, have immigration documents that can allow them entry into the capital city. “Once you have legal papers, you can utilize this track –there are over 40, 000 Guyanese living
in Nickerie who have papers.” These documents are issued every couple months. Over the years, the backtrack debacle has been an issue that raises its head every now and again. Many persons have been clamouring for Guyana to fully recognize the service and make it a legal port of exit and entry for Guyana, since it provides a faster and more economical means of travel for persons. The Government of Guyana has from time to time stated its unwillingness to regularise the backtrack service, while its Surinamese counterparts have always had the desire to make both sides legal ports of entries. In 2010, the Guyana Government declined a proposal by Suriname’s Justice Minister, Chandrikapersaud Santokhi, to regulate the backtrack service. The Guyana Government declined the invitation and only promised further discussions on the matter. Many persons have utilised the backtrack operation to smuggle drugs and contraband materials in and out of Guyana. It should also be noted that criminals also use the route.
Sunday June 15, 2014
Kaieteur News
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The Dragon in Uncle Sam’s backyard: China in Latin America and the Caribbean By Ryan EustaceResearch Associate at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs The influence of foreign economic interests has been a crucial factor in Latin America’s development. Foreign investment, while mistrusted by many, still plays a central role in the economic development of the region, especially in today’s globalized economy. Many on the left argue that Western investment and exploitation are tools of neocolonialism and can explain many of Latin America’s societal ills. Yet, a different consensus is emerging on Chinese investment in the region. With China’s emergence on the global stage, many Latin American countries have welcomed Chinese investment with open arms, as they see China as a countermeasure to US hegemony in the region.As Chinese investment, commerce, and influence rise in Latin America, the United States’ presence, while still dominant, is slowly eroding. China: The New Hegemony in Latin America?China’s increasing trade and investment in Latin America is impressive. In 2011, the value of all trade between China and Latin America hit $241.5 billion USD, with Chinese exports valued at $121.7 billion USD and imports of Latin American goods valued at $119 billion USD. Overall, the growth in trade between China and Latin America grew a massive 1200% between 2000 and 2009. Furthermore, foreign direct investment flowing into Latin America from China was valued at $87.8 billion in 2012. These figures have never been higher and, paired with the 11% decrease in US-Latin American trade from 2012 to
There is no end to the madness. We have had the promised media event with the senseless killing of a young boy. There has also been the road accident that the nation had been warned about. Sadly, that would not be the last. Another young driver is going to replicate the madness that claimed three lives. With drugs in his system he is going to attempt the near impossible because of his impaired judgement, with fatal consequences. **
2013, alarmists in the United States present this as evidence that US hegemony is being usurped by China. However, these charges are largely overblown, as these figures still only represent a small percentage of the United States’ larger economic relationship with Latin America. For example, in 2011, the United States led trade in the region at $343 billion and led FDI in the region at $173.3 billion in 2012, both significantly higher than China or any other country. What Does Increasing Chinese Investment Mean for Latin America?There are many in Latin America who, when speaking of the region’s growing relationship with China, hail it as the first step in dismantling US hemispheric hegemony. “We are advancing in the building of a civilizing, deeply human strategic alliance, which will end the time of hegemonic powers that subjugated our countries,” commented Nicolas Maduro, president of Venezuela, on his country’s deepening relationship with China. This likely reflects China’s “no strings attached” policy of investment and trade, which does not concern itself with the internal affairs of a partner nation. The Chinese stance contrasts greatly with the “Washington Consensus” liberal economic reforms and democratization pushed by the United States, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund. These interests often consider internal factors, such as level of democracy, human rights, ease of doing business and labor practices as conditions for economic partnership. China’s “no strings attached” policy is often hailed as a welcome improvement to the ideological parameters of US
policy, yet it has its limits. In many cases there are indeed strings attached, such as revoking recognition for Taiwan. In 2007, in exchange for severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Costa Rica was able to benefit from a highly lucrative economic relationship with China in the form of $900 million USD for expanding an oil refinery and a $400 million USD loan for road construction, as well as an increase in bilateral trade up to $6.17 billion in 2012. A 2006 incident in Zambia, where China threatened to cut diplomatic ties with the country if a candidate who was critical of China was elected, further discredits the perception of “no strings attached.” Just like the major European powers and the US before them, China is not afraid to pull the levers of economic power to influence the countries in which it trades and invests .China has stressed repeatedly that its rise in Latin America is peaceful, that it aims to “maintain the status quo,” and that it wishes to avoid threatening the regional hegemony of the United States. The Latin American perception of China simply as a trade partner, without imperialist tendencies (like the United States), reflects naiveté and does not take into account China’s geopolitical calculations and ulterior motives. China is not only seeking out lucrative investments and trade opportunities, but it is also seeking to balance US power.After more than 100 years of speculation by many companies, a Chinese company, HKND Group, plans to invest $40 billion USD to create a trans-oceanic canal in Nicaragua to rival the Panama Canal. In addition to incurring huge costs to indigenous
Increasingly, the criminals are getting younger because they left school with nothing and now as adults they have to provide for themselves. A silly decision to rob a poor
family would see a desperate reaction that would have people wondering whether the society is collapsing into brutality. Communities often protect themselves and this is going to be the case. ** Politically, the nation is in for a surprise. Opposing political parties can sometimes come together for the good of the country. The key issue is a Bill that deals with money laundering. There will be a conclusion of which the nation would be proud and satisfied.
people and the environment, the practicality and economic viability of such a project has been called into question by experts . The Panama Canal is being expanded so that it can handle all but the biggest ships. Additionally, global temperature changes will likely lead to the opening of a far shorter shipping route to the Pacific, as Arctic ice melts and the much sought after Northwest Passage is opened.Both the expansion of the Panama Canal and the opening of the Northwest Passage considerably reduce the necessity of the Nicaragua Canal. With these facts in mind, the economic advantages of such a project are dubious at best. It is certain, though, that it would give China a strategic foothold in the Americas to rival US hegemony. This is not to assert that the only calculation here is to undermine the United States, as the expectation of economic gain is certainly an element.However, at the same time, China’s attempt to balance US global power is clearly present in Latin America. Such geopolitical
calculation, using Latin America as a proxy for a wider tension between global powers, is reminiscent of the destructive posturing of the Cold War. Unfortunately, Latin American hope for a refreshing departure from acting as a chess piece in the tension of world powers may be premature. Ultimately, China is just another investor and is equally prone to neocolonial behavior. China’s relationship with Latin America is very similar to its relationship with Africa, the second biggest receiver of Chinese investment, suggesting that there are lessons to be drawn from its actions there.In Africa, Chinese employers frequently pay wages far below the official minimum wage, often at or below $1 a day for up to 13 hours of work. A Zambian union organizer stated, “While Western countries like to export their ideology, Chinese like to export their low labor standards”. These employers also favor employing other Chinese individuals and firms to do more lucrative jobs, much to the consternation of
the local population, who expected to benefit more from the presence of Chinese companies. Jane Goodall, the famed primate researcher (and after spending most of her life in Africa, a reliable authority on social conditions there), decries what she sees as a repetition of the exploitation pioneered by European colonizers. She argues, “In Africa, China is merely doing what the colonialists did. They want raw materials for their economic growth, just as the colonialists were going into Africa and taking the natural resources, leaving people poorer. ”With the majority of exports to China from Latin America coming in the form of raw materials, Africa may provide a lesson on how easy it is for a more developed economy to exploit a less developed and resource intensive economy, no matter the rhetoric it uses in the process. While Chinese investment tends not to concern itself with policy, it does concern itself with implementation. A threat of (Continued on page 43)
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Sunday June 15, 2014
The obsessive mystery man who showed no mercy By Michael Jordan A corpse was the last thing that the residents of the quiet rice-farming community of Harlem, West Coast Demerara expected to see on the long dirt road known as Back Street on Sunday, January 10, 2010. But there it was; the body of a faircomplexioned young woman of East Indian ancestry. Someone had attacked her brutally, leaving some 16 stab wounds on her body. The injuries included two stab wounds to the throat and four to the abdomen. The victim was clad in a pair of blue three-quarter pants, white sleeveless top, blue and white brassiere and a pair of brown slippers. The killer had scratched her during his brutal attack. The villagers who looked at her realised that the victim was not from their community. The suspicion was that someone had transported the victim by car to the area, murdered her and dumped the body there. Police ranks eventually arrived on the scene. They took the victim’s fingerprints and photographed her before mortuary attendants took the corpse to the West Demerara Regional Hospital morgue. Needing to have the victim identified, a police official reportedly ordered a senior rank to release pictures of the slain woman to the media, in the hope that someone would recognise her. However, the senior rank
failed to follow through with the request and the victim remained unidentified for two days. This lapse may have allowed a killer to cover his tracks or even go into hiding. Despite this, it seemed as if police already had a suspect. Shortly after the discovery, a young taxi driver went to a police station on the West Bank of Demerara with a rather bizarre story. According to police sources, his story was that he had stopped to urinate on a roadway in Harlem on the night of Saturday January 9, 2010, when the occupants of another car attacked him and made off with his vehicle. The man’s taxi, which was smeared with mud, was found on the West Bank of Demerara. When the man made the report, the unidentified body had already been found. Investigators suspected that the taxi driver had some knowledge of the incident and took him into custody. They also impounded his car. Meanwhile, I was curious about the victim’s identity, so, on Monday, January 11, 2010, I visited the West Demerara Hospital mortuary, where I took photographs of the slain woman with the intention of publishing one of the less gruesome shots. We had used this method successfully on several previous occasions to assist the police in identifying murder victims. On a hunch, I developed one of the photographs, and
showed it to some of the taxi drivers who ply the West Coast and West Bank Demerara routes. I also showed the picture to the owners and patrons of some of the popular nightspots. No one recognised her. However, the following day, several persons saw the published photograph in the Tuesday edition of the Kaieteur News. They immediately recognised the victim. One of those persons was a man from Pomona, Essequibo Coast. He realised that the victim was his daughter, 22-year-old Luciana Bhagwandin, a firstyear trainee teacher at the Cyril Potter College of Education. Luciana had married in her teens and had resided with her husband at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara. However, around August, 2009, the couple had some domestic troubles and Luciana moved out and went to stay at an aunt at Industry, East Coast Demerara. Luciana’s close associates claim that it was at around this time that she caught the attention of a young man, who her friends portrayed as an obsessive and violent character, and also as someone with a shady past. According to some reports, the man, a darkcomplexioned man of Indian ancestry, claimed that his first name was ‘Jerry’ and that he resided at Eccles, East Bank Demerara. He claimed to be
Luciana Bhagwandin employed at an embassy. He also claimed to be a senior security official with the State. Luciana’s associates also said that the man would sometimes pick up the trainee teacher in a dark-blue car with heavily tinted windows. The driver of the car had reportedly lived in Bel Air but had moved to Ogle, East Coast Demerara. According to her colleagues, the man had repeatedly urged Luciana to leave her husband. It is said that he would sometimes brazenly turn up outside Luciana’s residence and demand that she accompany him. The trainee teacher had reportedly told friends that ‘Jerry’ had often threatened to kill her and her spouse. He had once reportedly placed a gun to her head. Luciana’s colleagues said that they warned her to leave ‘Jerry’. They were certain that he would kill her one day. The aunt that Luciana was staying at told me that she left home at around 17:00 hrs on Friday, January 8, 2010, after saying that she was going to a supermarket. She failed to return that night and
The spot where the victim’s body was found the following day the aunt went to the Sophia Police Outpost to report her missing. The woman said that a rank informed her that she had to wait 48 hours before filing a missing person report. It appears that police never sent out an all-station bulletin when the body was discovered, to ascertain if anyone fitting the victim’s description had been reported missing. But according to some of Luciana’s friends, she had indicated to ‘Jerry’ that she had wanted him to return some of her belongings. On the Friday that she disappeared, she was reportedly in the vicinity of Ogle, when the occupants of a dark-coloured vehicle abducted her. Luciana’s colleagues recalled that she attended classes on Friday, January 8, 2010. She was scheduled to
take an exam on Monday, January 11, 2010, but failed to turn up. The friends tried unsuccessfully to reach her on her mobile phone. After hearing of the alleged abduction, police appeared to be convinced that the taxi driver that they had initially arrested knew nothing of the murder and released him. Meanwhile, ‘Jerry’, the mystery man in Luciana Bhagwandin’s life, remains a mystery. If you have any information about this case, you can contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location, or reach us on telephone numbers 22-58465, 2258491, or 22-58473. You can also contact Michael Jordan on his email address mjdragon @hotmail.com. You need not disclose your identity.
Sunday June 15, 2014
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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
Dolly Hassan, your slip is showing! I don’t know who Dolly Hassan is (hereafter referred to as Dolly). I got to like the name Dolly after my brother took me to Empire Cinema in 1970 to see Dolly Baksh dance to the phenomenal guitar sound of Carlos Santana’s fantastic hit, “Samba Pa Ti.” I really like the name Dolly. I was smitten by Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong’s, “Hello Dolly,” which will remain one of the world’s favourite songs. Dolly is a real person, lives in “Little Berbice” in Richmond Hill in New York, and probably belongs to a die-hard group of Richmond Hill PPP supporters who probably will never face history the way it should be or even care to glimpse into the rivers of Guyanese history for a fleeting moment. My own take on history is that it holds the key to selfliberation. But why glance on the sea of history for freedom when you think you are already liberated? Dolly probably thinks she is. Dolly was quoted as telling David Granger in New York, recently, that the PNC should apologize for the things it did when it was in Government. Dolly didn’t state whether it should be Mr. Burnham or Hoyte, but she couldn’t mean Hoyte, who
remains the best president this country had. Dolly must know Hoyte was from the PNC. I hope she does. Dolly followed up her brazen demand with letters in the Stabroek News last week in which she boldly stated the current PPP Government is a democratic one, because it allows critics to condemn the PPP but the PNC Government did not do that. Now, Dolly is either a very serious person or a very comical Guyanese. If the PNC Government prevented its critics from speaking out, then how did the PPP survive? How did the PPP newspapers, Mirror and Thunder survive on the sprawling real estate in Ruimveldt, and the Mirror outlived Burnham? How did GAWU survive to become the richest union in the Caricom area, with the largest head office for any trade union in the Caricom area? Now I do believe Burnham was an authoritarian president, but it is for Dolly to answer these questions. I don’t think Dolly will reply. My contacts told me that Dolly belongs to a group in “Little Berbice” which counts as its influential leaders Vishnu Bisram, Anand Boodram and Ravi Dev who
are die-hard Indian supporters of the PPP and who think that Freddie Kissoon is a madman. Vishnu Bisram has four letters in the Chronicle over the years that labeled me a madman. Ravi Dev in the Kaieteur News suggested I see a psychiatrist. And Anand Boodram had a letter in the Chronicle four years ago that declared me clinically sick. I never got around to asking Boodram what he thinks of the mental health of his very best friend, Vishnu Bisram. It was Bisram who replied to Mike Persaud in this very newspaper and told Persaud that he, Bisram, has a number of Masters and doctorates. It is this same Bisram who has been writing letters in both KN and SN the past ten years telling Guyanese that he conducts opinion surveys in a wide list of countries around the world throughout the calendar year, yet this same Bisram tells us in the same breath that he is a school teacher in Richmond Hill. Well it is either Bisram is mad like me or he is the greatest acrobat since civilization began, that he can be in two places at the same time.
Bisram’s best friend, Boodram, thinks Freddie Kissoon is mad. But Boodram is yet to comment on his friend’s mental state. So do I think that both Bisram and Boodram are mad? I will stick to what I was trained in – history and philosophy. I know nothing about psychiatry, so I will return to the topic of the woman whose first name is one of my favourite appellations – Dolly. So Dolly wants David Granger to apologize for the wrongs of the PNC government. But Dolly, the PPP regime committed the
identical wrongs. What about twenty years of PPP evil? Don’t tell me Dolly doesn’t know about that. Dolly, what about the death of Ronald Waddell? Dolly, don’t be asinine and deny who killed him. Dolly what about Mark Thomas (‘Kerzorkee’) who was about to confess to the PPP’s role in extra-judicial killings and mysteriously died in police custody? Dolly, the identical circumstances existed with David Leander (‘Biscuit’). But shouldn’t the PPP or you Dolly, apologize to my family? I was attacked twice, saw my UG contract terminated and ended
Frederick Kissoon up three days on remand for an innocuous traffic offence. Dolly, your slip is showing and from the peep I got, it is expensive designer lingerie. Dolly, do you know the devil wears Prada?
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Sunday June 15, 2014
Book Review…A poetic call to Identity and Nationhood Book: Navel String by Adrian Augier Reviewer: Dr Glenville Ashby Adrian Augier’s Navel String is a paradoxical treatise. A fine work that reveals the inexorable pain of displaced souls. Its “Socratic,”didactic and compelling, with a palpable sense of foreboding, a looming spectre of a dissociative identity in need of repair. Augier wobbles, psychologically. No fault of his. It’s the way of the authentic poet - blessed and cursed. His work bears this out. In discursive moments, he tackles the assault on nature, remaining figuratively robust...But it is his psycho-cultural journeys that claw at you, clinging, hauntingly. Where is Augier’s navel string? Where are ours? Is it in this land we have forcibly adopted, or is it elsewhere? There is no easy response. The draw of the drums and the beckoning of the ancestral past cannot be dismissed, although we have
tried. We are part of a cultural gestalt. It is suicidal to disengage. “No, it is not forbidden to go fetch what you have left behind, but hurry. And look well, believer, on the glorious Sankofa’s tail,” he writes in Sankofa, Song of Job. A people, a nation, and a sense of self are keys to actualization. Lo, this hasn’t been our experience. Hence the insomniacal spells, the yearning, the cries to be heard, and the anguish. This is the power of Augier’s work He excels philosophically, and can also rile the burdened from their slumber. A provocateur, he is. His anger boils over. Meanwhile, lyrically, he waves a hypnotic wand. His words are poetically biting, at times loud, and never short on imaginative clout. In Who Cannot Sleep, he writes: “And fear, recently insubstantial becomes suddenly bone, incarnate muscle, violence so irrepressible that it will find a weapon to avenge the deeds that signed away the future.” In that thematic vein is “Listen to the Dark Young
Men.” On this socio-historical canvas, the perennial plight of those beaten down is painted in bold colours. His fiery pen talks to you: “They could leap and leave behind the servitude, the persistent poverty, or, just as easily they could stay, and any day, set aflame the city.” Two worlds co-exist, but the author is imprisoned in his home, his native land, the land that evokes beauty and delivers pain. Its folklore is frightening, embedded in magic, the mystical. It’s awe inspiring and welcomes the enquiry of the artist, but also horrifies him. The Soukouyan and Ladjablesse mystify and defy explanation. It is a bitter-sweet pill to swallow, leading Augier to ask rhetorically “You should run, but where? This is the $64,000 question that bestrides “In Return to Lusca.” Its ambivalence underscores Augier’s undertaking. “Seeking salvation, an early poet eyed her soul and called this island Lusca - an anagram for saint or child, or worse, a blessed abomination, a bolom drunk with laughter caught in the stunning light of early morning-after.”
And in the Psalmic reverberations of “Did I not lift Mine Eyes,” Augier has produced his most evocative piece. It encapsulates the darkness and extinguished hope of so many of his renditions. It is bold, putting God on the spot. Why? Why can I not hate? Why cannot I exact revenge? Augier asks questions we dare not ask, although we have entertained them, silently, with guilt. “Did I not hold firm in the heated breath of their brewing storms and pray to you through all temptations?” he asks....”Did I not kneel? Lord, you know all not I, who can only look upon your hills, but if not from you and son then whence, how, and why not now, cometh our help?” Augier’s world is dark, almost. Devastation awaits our progeny as he warns in “Inheritance.” May be there is but a sliver of hope. But that seems always smothered by the reality of life’s brutality. However, not many poets can lift the spirit with pain. Augier does. There is a light in the abyss flashes of enlightenment. Augier’s pain eventually transcends the physical, till it no longer exists. Curiously, it eventually assumes a transcendental and ineffable emotion that
somehow comforts the reader. Feedback: glenvilleashby @gmail. com Follow me on Twitter@glenvilleashby
Navel String by Adrian Augier, 2012 Peepal Tree Press www.peepaltreepress Available: amazon.com Rating: Good
Sunday June 15, 2014
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My column
The celebrations are in order, but so too is the worry The results of the Common Entrance are out. By now we have come to realise that the private schools have presented themselves as the place for one’s child if one expects his child to become somebody in the adult world. One man who simply keeps making his mark is Wilfred Success, who came to prominence nearly 20 years ago when he had six children from West Ruimveldt Primary School placing in the top ten. Of course the nation did not take those results kindly; parents accused Success of cheating and sparked an investigation that I would never forget. I was the editor for The Evening News when that happened. As a child who came from a poor family that could not afford to pay for extra lessons and one who did not grow in the average middle income community, I understood what had happened to those children from the suburban West Ruimveldt and Albouystown communities. I invited Success to bring the children to the studios and he obliged. People had accused Success of getting copies of the
examination papers and drilling the children. Many of them put forward their case as though they had overwhelming evidence and the officials at the Ministry of Education believed. They mounted an investigation. Meanwhile the children, as all children who do well at those examinations, were proud. I asked them what had happened and they s a i d t h a t ‘ S i r ’ Wi l f r e d taught, and when it was time for the exams, he used old examination papers. Those children were no flash in the pan, because all one has to do is check on what they did. They performed very well at Queen’s College, so one can conclude that what they did at the Common Entrance was no fluke. Many, if not all of them are now parents with children of their own, preparing to write the Common Entrance, which these days is known as the National Grade Six Assessment. The next year Wilfred Success proved that what he had done was no fluke, because once more he produced children in the top ten. Those who like the
Education Ministry had stereotyped the children of West Ruimveldt Primary School began to sit up and to take notice. The Education Ministry also sat up and even attempted to transfer Success to one of those so-called highflying schools. The good man declined and threatened to quit if the Ministry persisted. Success did quit in the end, but now he has his own school. I remember talking to him about his skills as a teacher and he said that he teaches his children to think laterally, something that seems to have been replaced by rote learning. Success now has his own school—the poor boy has become somebody—and those who once criticized him are having their grandchildren go to that school. Those with money are flooding the private schools and the once high-flying public schools are not flying so high. But there is a more serious problem. Each year when we sit back and think, less than twenty-five per cent of children who write the examinations would go on to
become reasonably productive people in the society. The others would simply limp through secondary school, not learning much and growing up to be the people who would torment the society. Just a few days ago one of them, a 19-year-old whose name I was provided with, went to the very West Ruimveldt Primary School and robbed a teacher at gunpoint before her class. The take was nothing outstanding, but it goes to show that these days, with the increasing number of criminals the pickings are slim; people are going to rob their victims of just about anything. This situation is not unique to Guyana, but we could do something to change it. We could really spend money on technical education. But even more, we could release more money to pay teachers. In paying them, the Education Ministry could demand certain results; that is what is being done in the private schools where teachers know that they are on show. But there needs to be something else; there
needs to be parental support. I am heartened with what is happening at St St e p h e n ’s P r i m a r y School. Teachers there are teaching parents, many of whom left school with precious little by way of literacy and numeracy. In so doing they are helping the parents to help their children study. This programme is in its neonatal stage, so the results are not as evident, but we know that it is working. Indeed, the Education Ministry has also tried to help those who do not shine at the Grade Six Assessment. There is a remedial learning programme which is not as news-gripping as it should be. I understand that many of the children who need it do not even worry to attend these classes, content to be what they are. I was once an educator and I saw what could happen with children from schools that are not expected to do well. I taught at the Bartica Government Secondary School and during my tenure, children who were not expected to be much
Adam Harris became doctors, professional nurses, tea c h e r s , agricultural officers and forestry officers. One young man is the kingpin of the Haags Bosch landfill site. I know that many of those children who did not do much were not really given a chance because of the quality of teachers they face. I also know that unless we do something about the bottom fifty per cent of those who write the Grade Six Assessment, then walking the streets would become a nightmare. Even now, ordinary people with no more than a few dollars, perhaps enough to buy two bottles of beer, are robbed, some of them violently.
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Sunday June 15, 2014
Government not serious about passing AML Bill It is now more than a year since the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2013 was tabled in the National Assembly. Since then there has been a lot of political posturing by the government but little evidence to support its claim that it wants to have the Bill passed. The Government has turned the AML/CFT Bill into a talking point but contrary to its expectations, it failed to score the political mileage it had hoped for. This is typical of the general approach of the PPP to addressing corruption and the flow of illicit funds. History shows that antimoney laundering legislation was first introduced as Bill No 10 of 1998. It took two years to be approved by the National Assembly and assented to by the then President in March 2000. After 2000, it was not until 2007, that the Government
introduced the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Finance of Terrorism Bill. It took another two years for that Bill to be passed and one hundred and seven days before it could be assented to and another 87 days before the 2009 Act could be brought into force. It must be noted that during this time, the PPPC had the majority in the House. When AML legislation was finally in place, the implementation left much to be desired. One may recall that back in 2011 then President, Bharrat Jagdeo, publicly criticized the Financial Intelligence Unit that was created under the legislation; albeit as a oneman show, for its inability to meet even basic annual reporting obligations to the National Assembly. One must also recall that for nearly four years the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) has been
working with Guyana and making recommendations for the strengthening of our AntiMoney Laundering mechanisms. Over that period the Government implemented the very minimum to get by and the country was being listed as either non-compliant or partially compliant on most of the measures required by the Regional body. It was not until May 2013 when CFATF’s patience ran out and it threatened Guyana with black-listing that the PPPC Government hastily and awkwardly sought to table the amendments to the original AML/CFT Bill. We say awkwardly because the Government failed to share a very important letter from CFATF with the Opposition as it was specifically asked to do by CFATF. Following the tabling of the amendments, the Alliance For Change immediately made known the conditions under which it would lend its
support. The AFC also shared with the Government and published publicly its ‘Road Map’ for moving the process forward. In a spirit of compromise, the AFC made a proposal to the Government for Cabinet to retain a role in the award of contracts. The role of Cabinet is being used as a sticking point by the government in its refusal to set up the Procurement Commission despite what it agreed to and signed up for in the Procurement Act of 2009. Section 54 of the Act deals with review by Cabinet (no objection) of procurements in excess of fifteen million Guyana dollars, and states explicitly that ”Cabinet’s involvement under this section shall cease upon the constitution of the Public P r o c u r e m e n t Commission”, except in relation to certain pending matters. Let it be known
that the proposal from the
AFC was viewed favorably by Ministers but still the Government refuses to move forward on the operationalization of the Public Procurement Commission. The PPPC Government sees the Public Procurement Commission as the guillotine that would kill its fattened cow and it is fabricating excuses to delay its establishment. The Procurement Commission is a provision in our Constitution (Article 212 W), reinforced by way of the Public Procurement Act, and designed to lend confidence to the procurement process and ensure no government gets fat on bribes and kickbacks from contractors/ suppliers. In this regard, the Procurement Commission buttresses Anti-Money Laundering legislation, in that it effectively addresses the flow of bribes and other forms of illegal money. It is highly suspicious
that Guyana does not have in place mechanisms that meet the requirement of CFATF or even surpass them. In the meantime, we continue to hear of illicit drugs being found in shipments from Guyana; Guyanese with strong linkages to persons in Government being implicated in fraudulent activities; we see millionaires cropping up overnight and unexplainable wealth being flaunted by Government officials whose income does not lend to their demonstrated extravagances. So while the PPPC government continues to make noises about the nonpassage of the AML/CFT Bill, the people of Guyana and the international community continue to monitor the nonimplementation of existing legislation, the profusion of mansions owned by government functionaries and their friends, and the flaunting by Guyana’s nouveau wealthy.
Sunday June 15, 2014
SUNDAY SPECIAL RAMOTAR TO UPBRAID MINISTERS OVER INACCESSIBILITY Head of State, Donald Ramotar, committed to upbraiding his Ministers over their inaccessibility in order to provide the public with answers to the many burning pending questions. The President made the commitment following a press engagement held at State House to address a number of topical matters. During the formal press conference, Ramotar was asked if he would be addressing the fact that several members of his Administration are inaccessible or in some cases refuse to provide answers. SURENDRA PUMPS LYING IDLE WHILE RAIN POUNDS COASTLAND While the rainy season is already creating hardship for some residents along the Coast, the recently imported Surendra Engineering Corporation Limited pumps which have cost Guyanese taxpayers $800M and counting, are lying idle waiting to be installed. Kaieteur News understands that eight of the 14 pumps ordered by the Government arrived in the country a month ago. This is in direct contradiction to statements that all 14 pumps which the Ministry had bought from India had been delivered. MONDAY EDITION BANDIT SHOOTS ACCOMPLICE DURING CORENTYNE ROBBERY An attack on a Number Eleven Village, Corentyne family went badly wrong for a gang of bandits last Sunday night, after one robber accidentally shot another, while attempting to kill a housewife whose home they had invaded around 19.00 hrs. The hapless bandit was shot after one of the gang was ordered to shoot housewife Premwattie Doodnauth. The four-man gang was forced to leave without their wounded partner and most of the loot after residents responded to Mrs. Doodnauth’s screams. Kaieteur News understands that police collected the injured man and took him to the New Amsterdam Hospital. The suspect, who is known to some residents of the area, is believed to have been shot in the shoulder. Mrs. Doodnauth’s wheelchair-bound husband, Rohan Doodnauth, operates a machine shop where he fabricates farm implements and the gang struck shortly
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after the family had closed business for the day. TUESDAY EDITION RUSSIAN ROULETTE SHOOTING OF TEEN…CADET OFFICER REMANDED, CORPORAL ON BAIL Two members of the Guyana Police Force were Monday hauled before the courts and formally charged in relation to the case of a 16year-old boy who was recently shot in his mouth while in police custody. Following a six-week probe, Cadet Officer Franz Paul was taken at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court along with his colleague, Police Corporal Baichan Singh, to face several charges which stemmed from the incident. The case was first called before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry but moments after chastising ranks for filing the case after the allotted time, it was transferred to Magistrate Fabayo Azore. The silent courtroom was filled to capacity with other police ranks, lawyers, court staff, the victim, his mother and other relatives, as well as family members of the accused. Standing along with his colleague in the prisoners’ dock, Cadet Officer Paul, the lawman believed to be behind the gun, faced charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm, discharging a loaded firearm with intent, and common assault. He was also charged, along with Singh, for conspiring to pervert the course of justice. The Cadet Officer was accused of discharging a loaded firearm at Alex Griffith on April 30, last, in Georgetown with intentions to maim, disable, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm to him. It is also alleged that he unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm as well as assaulted the teen. LOTTO COMPANY ON “MONTH TO MONTH” LICENCE …GOV’T MULLS NEW PLAYERS IN INDUSTRY Several years after Canadian Bank Note, holders of the national lottery franchise, was given a “month to month” licence to operate, Government has signaled its intention to go back to tender for another franchise. This announcement was made on Saturday by Head of State, Donald Ramotar at a press conference. According to Ramotar, there should be some
consideration on going out back to tender to see whether Government could get a better deal. The president said that Canadian Bank Note, which works through its subsidiary, the Guyana Lottery Company (GLC), has been in Guyana for quite some time and as such the company has not been given a “long term” commitment. The president said that Government needs to see if it could get a better deal. He added that several countries within the Caribbean have written to the government stating an interest. WEDNESDAY EDITION MOTHER OF THREE FOUND DEAD WITH HEAD IN BUCKET - HUSBAND “CONFESSES” AFTER FIRST CLAIMING SUICIDE A 31-year-old man has reportedly admitted to killing his 25-year-old reputed wife, whose body, with head partly submerged in a bucket of water, was found outside the couple’s Friendship, East Bank Demerara home at around 02.00 hrs Tuesday. Shelly Persaud, a housewife and mother of three, was found at the bottom of the back stairs of the Lot 34 residence. Her head was in a five-gallon bucket that contained just a little water. The victim’s reputed husband had reportedly told her father, whom he had summoned to the scene, that he had found his spouse in that position at around 02.00 hrs. Orin Morris, the dead woman’s father, said that the son-in-law had suggested that his daughter committed suicide after the couple had argued over her husband coming home drunk. But indications were that the ‘suicide’ was staged and the reputed husband has since reportedly admitted to causing Persaud’s demise while under the influence of alcohol. THURSDAY EDITION GOLD SMUGGLING…INDUSTRY
CALLS FOR TIGHTER BORDER CHECKS Stakeholders in the gold mining sector Wednesday called on Government to tighten security at the country’s borders, including those with neighbouring Suriname, amidst shocking reports of a large-scale smuggling operation. At the centre of the allegations is a dealer from the North Georgetown area who is being accused of buying hundreds of millions of dollars in gold from miners and instead of declaring it to authorities, which would attract a mandatory seven per cent tax and royalty charge, reportedly opted to sell it in Suriname. That neighbouring country has a mere one per cent, making it an attractive market for smugglers. The gold is sold in Suriname to buyers in the US. It is estimated that Guyana would have lost as much as $2.7B (US$14M) in taxes from the scheme, just for the first five months of this year. DRUNK DRIVER KILLS THREE Pandemonium broke out in a closely knit, family-oriented Berbice community last night after a “reckless” 18-year-old driver, said to be in an intoxicated state, struck down and killed two sisters and their niece. The accident also left two in a critical state. Those killed were sisters Tabitha Latoya Bagot, 19, and Wanita Bagot, 16 who only completed her CXC on Wednesday and their threeyear-old niece Shemaine Cort. They were going home on their bicycles when they were hit from behind by the speeding Grey Toyota Spacio, PPP 5482, that was heading further up the Corentyne. Delroy Parks, 28, of Cromarty Village, Corentyne, was also in the path of the speeding driver. He, too, was riding his bicycle on the road when he was hit. That was not the end. The driver continued along his merry way, and hit down another person along the
Number 35 Village Public Road, two villages away from Philippi. He was eventually intercepted by police in the vicinity of Number 56 Village after a high speed chase. Irate residents in that area came out and trashed his vehicle. Matthew McBean, 19, of Number 35 Village, a student of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) was another victim. He was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital and then to the New Amsterdam Hospital where up to press time, he was in a critical state. FRIDAY EDITION NEW GUYANASCHOOL STUDENT TOPS NGSA “This is just the
beginning; the sky is the limit,” Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, was heard telling some of the top performers in the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) as she scurried around the city to personally congratulate them Thursday. The Minister, accompanied by some of her senior officers, braved inclement weather to meet the pupils and teachers at their schools and present them with bouquets of appreciation. The Minister had earlier announced the NGSA results at a press conference convened at the National Centre for Educational (Continued on page 45)
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Sunday June 15, 2014
The PPPC administration must act now to stop the road carnage The deaths of three children from one family in multiple road accidents at Phillippi Village on the Corentyne Coast last Wednesday shocked the nation. Two teenage sisters, Tabithia and Wanita Bagot and their four-year-old niece, Shamain Cort, were killed on the spot. Two young men – Delroy Park of Cromarty Village and Matthew Mc Bean of No. 35 Village – suffered serious injuries in the same multiple accident and had to be hospitalised. This tragedy is a grim reminder of the notorious Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown accident in July 2011. Five persons – Erica La Cruz; Coretta Benjamin; Crazel Paul; Peter Mc Clennon; Junior Duncan – were killed on that occasion. All the victims lived in Georgetown’s Sophia ward. These road deaths are all
too frequent. They should be a warning to the People’s Progressive Party Civic administration, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force that the road traffic situation is out of control. They must all act quickly and decisively to prevent more senseless killing. Change is needed and it must start at the top. The National Assembly took the lead. Legislators, in a marathon debate on 30th July 2012, passed a Resolution of “no-confidence’ in Mr Clement Rohee and in his ability to exercise responsibility for human safety as Minister of Home Affairs. The Resolution called on President Donald Ramotar to revoke Mr Rohee’s appointment. The President, typically, never reacted to the Assembly’s Resolution. The Minister is still in place and lawlessness continues.
Clement Rohee has been Minister of Home Affairs for nearly eight years and the human safety situation in Guyana has deteriorated. Fatal road accidents occur weekly. Other forms of lawlessness – including armed robberies, arson, b a n d i t r y, contraband smuggling, gun-running, money-laundering, narcotics-trafficking, piracy, police brutality and trafficking in persons – have continued on a daily basis during Clement Rohee’s tenure of office. Road accidents, particularly, are a grave human safety problem. One thousand, six hundred and seventy-five persons have been killed in traffic accidents from 2002-2013. There have been 57 deaths for 2014 already. Guyana continues to maintain a rough average of
over two road deaths every week. Thousands more have suffered injuries or lost limbs. Traffic accidents are among the top ten causes of death and account for the greatest numbe r o f d i s a b i l i t i e s . Survivors have suffered disabilities and lifelong injuries. Victims have lost earnings and spent billions on hospitalisation. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, a former Minister of Health, once disclosed that, of the 6000-odd deaths Guyana experiences every year, road accidents are the seventh leading cause. The biggest contributory factors to road fatalities have been the lack of effective ministerial direction, lax law-enforcement and dangerous driving habits. The road safety problem, as the records prove, has been aggravated by the fact
that ‘new’ vehicles are being added to the roads at an increasing rate, estimated at about 1,000 per month. There are now more than 80,000 vehicles on Guyana’s roads. Some drivers, however, simply do not have the skill or experience to be entrusted with responsibility for human lives on public roads. Many drive recklessly or at unsafe speeds and display aggressive behaviour and poor road discipline. Too many persons drive under the influence of alcohol. It is the task of the Guyana Police Force to detect traffic offences and prosecute offenders. The Force, however, prefers to exert its energies by ‘making cases’ around car parks and minibus terminals. There, they gleefully arrest hundreds of petty offenders and touts.
These actions do nothing to stop the spiralling toll of fatalities. Such operations do not address the fundamental causes of fatalities. Enthusiastic traffic policemen are rarely seen at night on the rural speedways when and where some of the worst accidents occur. President Donald Ramotar must try to persuade the public that he is serious about road safety and about saving the lives of road users. He can start by acting on the Resolution of the National Assembly and by revoking the appointment of Clement Rohee as Minister of Home Affairs. The President must place responsibility for human safety in the hands of a Minister who has the interest in curtailing the road carnage and in making our roads safe for our children.
Sunday June 15, 2014
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Home design, layout, appliances and lifestyles greatly impact energy use - GEA
Shameful!
By Rabindra Rooplall Energy is fundamental to our existence and plays a critical role in our daily routines. The rising cost of fossil-based fuels and prevailing global environmental concerns compel society to think of ways to use energy more wisely. The design and layout of a home, appliances, lifestyles and choices can greatly impact the amount of
energy consumption, says Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) Chief Executive Officer, Mahender Sharma. According to Sharma, a truly energy efficient home begins with the orientation and design of the house itself. Energy efficiency is not just limited to the smart use of appliances, but extends to installation of windows, roofing and even landscaping. He explained that buildings should be oriented
in an east to west direction to minimize the effects of the sun and to maximize the wind draft, while placement of rooms, doorways, windows and air vents should be carefully considered when planning the layout of your home. Further, the GEA boss noted that persons should carefully consider their home’s orientation when constructing to avoid the harsh effects of the (Continued on page 32)
Residents of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, have expressed anger over this downed sign which was erected a few weeks ago over the alternative bridge into the
housing scheme. The sign was found on the ground last week, ripped from its support. It is believed that a truck was involved in its displacement.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 15, 2014
Improved performances recorded in all NGSA subjects areas, except Maths While some might be wishing that they could be given a second chance to “put their best foot forward”, there are a few others who are in celebratory mode having performed remarkably at the 2014 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). More than 15,000 pupils from across the country participated in the examinations which saw 12year-old Jorrel De Santos of the New Guyana School being declared the top performer
with his 533 marks out of a possible 540. The much anticipated results were unveiled by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand on Thursday, bringing to rest stirring anxiety among a wide crosssection of the population – mainly the pupils who participated in the assessment, their parents and teachers. The Minister’s disclosure was made at a press conference held at the National Centre for
Educational Resource Development (NCERD) in Kingston, Georgetown. The NGSA was conducted over the period April 16 and 17, last, with candidates participating in the four subject areas of Mathematics, English, Science and Social Studies. Minister Manickchand in her presentation of the results Thursday, which was mostly focused on the top one percent, appeared mostly pleased with the performance,
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, interacts with pupils
even pointing out that Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) was the most improved, reflected by a 15 per cent improvement from last year. While the overall results suggest that the performance in English has considerably improved, there is no denying that the area of Mathematics is still suffering. Based on the Ministry’s statistical analysis disclosed by the Minister, the 2014 results reveal that the performance in English has improved - whereby the percentage of candidates securing 50 per cent and more
has moved from 28.73 in 2013 to 51.92 in 2014. In fact the Minister disclosed that all regions showed an increase of 9.6 per cent, except Region 10 and Georgetown, both of which exhibited performances of more than 25 per cent. Also laudable was the improvement observed in the number of boys securing 50 per cent and more in the subject area. The Minister pointed out that “in 1994, 14 per cent of our children had passed with 50 per cent or more in English; in 2014 it is 51.92 per cent.” But while in 1994 the
Mathematics performance stood at 10.6 per cent and climbed to 31.52 per cent this year, the situation that obtains suggests that there has been a decline from last year’s performance. “There was an overall decline in the number of candidates gaining 50 per cent and more in the subject in 2013; 43.94 per cent secured 50 per cent and more in 2013, in comparison with 31.52 per cent in 2014,” the Education Minister observed. Moreover there is an average decline of 9.6 per cent among boys and an even more daunting decline of 11.7 per cent among girls. The area of Science on the other hand revealed an improvement of 31.77 per cent in 2013 when compared to 43.75 per cent in 2014. This improvement, according to the Minister, translated to a more than 15 per cent increase in the boys who secured 50 per cent and more in Regions Five and 10, while girls of (Continued on page 31)
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Improved performances recorded in... From page 30 Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, 10 and Georgetown, showed an improvement of more than 14 per cent. In her trek along memory lane, the Minister intimated that “20 years ago 30 per cent our children had passed Science with 50 per cent or more and now it is 43 per cent of children passing.” The fourth assessed subject area of Social Studies revealed that the overall performance of candidates securing 50 per cent and more, regionally this year, is on par with the performance of 2013, although this year showed an improved performance among girls, Manickchand said. With 1994 remaining her reflective point, Manickchand recalled that in 1994, 16 per cent passed with 50 per cent or more in Social Studies, with the pass rate mounting to 40
per cent this year. The Education Minister went on to note that “we are particularly pleased to announce that there are a number of schools that increased by 25 per cent or more, the number of pupils who passed with 50 per cent or more.” Among these improving schools the Minister named were: Warapoka Primary in Region One; Bethany, Sparta, Wakapoa and Jacklow Primaries in Region Two; ViveLa-Force, McGillvary, Blake, Zeelandia and Comprehensive Primaries in Region Three; Cane Grove, Enmore, Chateau Margot, Diamond, IPE Academy and Phoenix Academy Primaries in Region Four; Ithaca, Zeeland and De Hoop Primaries in Region Five; Leeds and Johanna Primaries in Region Six; Holy Name Primary in Region Seven; Kato and
Kopinang Primaries in Region Eight; Moca Moca, Konashen and Parikwau Primaries in Region Nine; Kimbia Mission Academy, St Thomas and Aroaima Primaries in Region 10 and J. E. Burnham, Rama Krishna and St. Ann’s Primaries in Georgetown. “That is a significant improvement,” said the Minister of the aforementioned schools, even as she went on to
recognise other schools that had an improvement of 10 per cent and more of its pupils who passed with 50 per cent and more. Meanwhile, the Ministry in a statement issued yesterday stated that it will not be permitting “transfers for students whose parents wish for them to move to a school which requires higher marks than was earned by the student at the NGSA.”
It was pointed out that all placements of students were made based on the performance of the students and the capacity of schools. There may, however, be some circumstances, the Ministry statement said, that lateral transfers will be allowed. This, according to the Ministry, “means that a student may request a transfer to a school within the same mark range and listing as the
school to which they were initially placed.” However, the Ministry noted that a request for such a transfer will only be granted if the requested school has space to accommodate additional students. Moreover, the Ministry has reminded Head Teachers that they are “duty bound to ensure that students entering their respective schools have the appropriate marks.”
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Home design, layout, appliances and lifestyles greatly impact energy... From page 29 sun. “Avoid placing windows on eastern and western walls to prevent the peak hours of sunlight from heating up the house. Consider internal partitions and openings in opposite walls to encourage cross ventilation through rooms in your home. Rooms should be oriented to maximize airflow by taking advantage of the North Easterly Trade winds. When
painting or installing your roof, remember that the colour of a roof can impact on thermal performance,” Sharma emphasised. LIGHTING Underscoring that lighting technology has evolved tremendously over the past two decades, and has resulted in the availability of a host of exciting, high performing and highly efficient new lighting products, Sharma said
Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs are available in different sizes, shapes and colours, so the choice of lighting can be both attractive and efficient. “Besides high costs, inefficient choices of lighting may negatively impact the comfort, convenience and security of a home…” The Energy Agency suggests the following energy-efficient lighting design principles: Use focused lighting instead of
general lighting. Understand your own preferences and those of your family members before investing in unnecessary lighting solutions. Install task lights where needed and reduce ambient light elsewhere. If work is concentrated in one corner of the room, for instance at a desk, consider dimming the lights throughout the room and using specific task lights
while at your desk. Make sure that the amount and quality of light match the performed function. When tasks are performed with a high degree of visual attention, ensure that there is adequate lighting to prevent eyestrain. Maximize the use of natural lighting. Sunny days may help improve mood, and they reduce your electric bill when you open the curtains and let the sun shine in. Sharma underscored that new high efficiency T8 fluorescent lamp and electronic ballast systems can reduce total system wattage by over 45% relative to the use of older, less efficient T12 fluorescent lighting systems driven by magnetic ballasts. In addition, high frequency electronic ballasts or solid-state ballasts provide significant energy-saving over magnetic ballasts. When changing from magnetic to electronic ballasts, the T12 fluorescent tubes (1.5 inches) must be replaced with the narrower T8 (1 inch) tube for optimal performance and light
output. Most notably, the GEA boss explained that security and utility lighting do not need to be bright to be effective. “Make sure outdoor light fixtures have reflectors, deflectors, or covers to make more efficient use of the light source. Use photo sensors to automatically turn off lights during daylight hours. Use motion sensors to activate security or utility lighting where needed. As a security measure, use motion sensor lights in areas where you have walkways or where you wish to have greater security. Photocells are usually incorporated with outdoor lamp fixtures and can help to reduce electricity cost by installing light sensitive switches.” Finally, Sharma said that persons should invest in light sockets that carry switches, so that appliances and lights plugged into the outlets can be turned off with just a flip of a switch.
Sunday June 15, 2014
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Le Repentir Cemetery “running out of space”
The new Crematorium might help in addressing the space issue
“Council doesn’t currently have resources to tackle the issue” - King
M&CC’s Royston King By Dwijendra Rooplall We are all concerned by the current state of Le Repentir Cemetery with its unpleasant aesthetics cluttered with thick overgrowth of bushes and garbage-laden pathways - as the final resting place for the dead, but what we didn’t know is that the facility might soon be filled. That’s right, the cemetery space-wise has approximately 7 or 8 years left before all the land is used up. Speaking to Kaieteur News on the state of the cemetery and its remaining lifespan was Royston King from the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) who said that “the challenge we face
at the cemetery is one of resources; the availability of resources. We really just don’t have the resources to do the things that we are required to do to make the cemetery the place that we really want it to be as the final resting place for our loved ones.” He said this is evident by the current physical condition of the general area. “The cemetery has deteriorated into a state that we certainly could not be proud of, but we are doing our best in the circumstances.” King highlighted further that the lack of resources he speaks of is not limited to financing, but has also to do with manpower.
“This has been our challenge not only in the cemetery, but to all the areas of our responsibility at the level of our city; including of markets, roadways, drainage of the city, municipal and child care services, environmental and public health services.” Speaking to the issue of space, King highlighted that based on the information that he has received, providing that they have the resources to restore the cemetery they could make a significant difference. “What they had said to me is that they have been able to clear a section of the cemetery and that clearance could provide burial for another year, and there are other areas that could be cleared that can prolong the life of the cemetery for another four to five years, but it goes back to the challenge of accessing and obtaining the resources to do the necessary work to have the new space available for us to do the burial.”
A section of the cemetery that was recently opened but looks full already
“Our spending is outpacing our income, because there is a greater demand for vital municipal services in the city. The demand is greater, but our revenue has not been increasing. We have not had valuations for the past 20 years for properties. We have not been able to implement new revenue-earning measures, including meter parking, and some of the other proposals that we have made which require governmental fiat (formal authorization or permission),” said King. “Council has been unable to persuade the government that we need to implement those revenue-earning measures, and if you were not able to implement them, you would not be able to generate new monies as it were.” According to King, compounding the situation is the fact that “in some areas where people once paid domestic rates they are now operating businesses out of
their homes and instead of paying the commercial rate they continue to pay the domestic rate”. “This is just an example as to why our spending outpaces what we are actually getting in, and as a result of that, even though we have the responsibility we are unable to do that, because we don’t have the money to do it. “Our main source of revenue is property taxes of which we don’t collect all. We have fees from building plans and monies coming in from the markets. Some of these services are heavily subsidized. We, in essence, spend twice of what we earn,” King outlined. “Had we been allowed to increase our revenue base, there probably would have been no need for this interview to go in this particular direction. You would have had an interview on a more positive side, because we would have had a state-of-the-art cemetery.” He mentioned that the engineers of the M&CC in 2008 developed a comprehensive plan to develop the cemetery, but that didn’t come off because of the lack of resources plaguing the council. THECOMMUNITY Beyond the council’s responsibility, King highlighted that there is a community aspect with the whole maintenance of the cemetery that needs to be given some attention. He said that the city council charges a one-off fee of $19,500 for casket death and ordinary burial will cost $17,500. “Once you pay that money to the city council and you bury your dead, you don’t have to come and pay anything else. In the meantime the council is saddled with the responsibility of maintaining the cemetery and the aesthetics within the cemetery.” According to King,
citizens need to pay a little bit more attention to the resting place of their loved ones, notwithstanding the fact that it is the responsibility of the council. “They should see it as a personal responsibility to ensure that the resting places of their loved ones are kept in a clean and tidy manner at all times.” King highlighted that they have not even been able to provide a rudimentary level of security, in the form of fencing for the cemetery, let alone the de-bushing and cutting down of the massive tress among other things, and that is why the community has to pitch in and do their part. CREMATORIUM One of the highlights that the council expressed happiness about is that they were able to partner with Dr. Carl Niamatali and construct a crematorium within the cemetery. “That should help when it comes to the challenge of providing space and longevity in the cemetery, particularly for those persons who believe in cremation,” King opined. “Some people have expressed fears that the crematorium might be inappropriately located, because they are of the view that the emissions that it would give off would not be healthy for the community. The point we want to make here is that the cremation will be done electronically, it is not a smoke pot; it is modern and will utilize modern technology in the cremation process” King emphasized that the crematorium caters to all. “I think the council will want to continue with similar projects like that within the cemetery, working with developers to help enhance that facility and ensure that our loved ones have a peaceful and visually pleasing final resting place” said King.
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The Dragon in Uncle Sam’s backyard... From page 21 deindustrialization via investment is a result of Chinese loans, which often stipulate the hiring of Chinese firms and importation of Chinese industrial equipment instead of spreading the wealth to local business. This means that Chinese investment is not growing Latin American industry as much as it could.Because China both heavily invests in and competes with Latin America, the threat of deindustrialization is very real, which in turn threatens any sustainable growth. Latin American industry simply cannot compete with China’s low production costs for manufactured goods, putting pressure on Latin American economies to stay resource-export dependent. Yet Chinese investment is not all bad. It certainly has unique risks, but it is also a very valuable opportunity for Latin America to diversify its sources of investment. Furthermore, this investment allows Latin American countries a little more freedom in pursuing their own development agendas, but they must be careful to channel this finance sustainably. If a focus is put on macroeconomic stability, economic diversification, reducing inequality and protecting the environment, this could be possible. These are no easy things to achieve as such moves could prove to be very unpopular in the short term. Yet, in order to forge more sustainable growth an emphasis needs to be placed on making hard decisions. An Abdication of US Hegemony: Good, Bad or Imminent?The United States has not yet been supplanted as the regional hegemon. However, as growing economies like Brazil flex their muscles and China’s influence in the region grows, the future of US regional hegemony is uncertain. Assuming that US policy toward the region remains unchanged, given enough time, it is highly likely that China could gain more influence and inherit a larger leadership role in the region.China has already started to shape norms in the region simply by virtue of its economic power. As Chinese trade and investment account for an increasing share of Latin American GDPs and trade deficits with China grow, a natural gravitation towards Chinese foreign policy norms is starting to take place. This is particularly evident in Chinese pressure for non-intervention with respect to human rights. A
surprising trend is occurring, where countries such as Costa Rica, who traditionally value human rights, have been voting against or abstaining on resolutions at the UN concerning human rights in other states. This convergence of policy preferences is not necessarily by Chinese design, but is a rational response by states that are far more dependent on China than China is on them. However, this convergence to Chinese policy preferences would be a detriment to the region. Human rights abuses and undemocratic behavior should be treated as internal matters. If respect for democratic institutions is not treated as sacrosanct, coups and instability could become increasingly likely. Strict adherence to the self-determination of states and non-intervention foretell the death of international norms that are for the betterment and protection of the common citizen. To avoid this, the United States needs to re-engage the region, not as a regional hegemon, but as a regional leader and partner. The relationship between Latin America and the United States has been historically characterized by domination rather than leadership. Domination is an imposition of will, a leveraging that exploits power asymmetries. Leadership often requires inspiring based off of example and sacrifice, it requires eschewing the current exploitative relationship and embracing what could be a lasting partnership.A reordering of priorities is in order. The United States needs to apply the principles of democracy and human rights evenly and consistently. These ideals should be
sacred and not manipulated out of convenience or opportunity. Furthermore, Washington needs to stop letting the affairs of small, ideologically divisive countries characterize its larger Latin American policy. The ouster of Manuel Zelaya of Honduras in 2009 is a perfect example. President Obama labeled it a coup, but members of Congress disagreed. Ultimately the positions of Ambassador to Brazil and Assistant Secretary of State for the region were blocked for nine months. This was a particularly troubling episode, as countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina, the three largest economies in Latin America, are deserving of the majority of our attention in the region. The future of Latin America will be blazed by these state-actors, not the dominating influence of an outsider. The United States must recognize the new regional power distribution taking shape in Latin America and seek to encourage it, not control it. To reengage nations like Brazil and Argentina, a renewed push for the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) should be undertaken. Not only would such a move deepen regional integration, but it would also reduce the deindustrialization of Latin America at the hands of
cheaply manufactured Chinese goods. China’s advantage is low production costs that Latin American countries cannot reasonably meet yet because removing the barriers of entry to a wider hemispheric market could drive down Latin American costs. It would not be a magic bullet, but it would do more to sustain industrialization. The United States’ many smaller free trade agreements in the region should be consolidated into a larger free market and serve as the basis for the FTAA. Only by truly committing to the role of regional leader, which
requires making some sacrifices to form a lasting relationship and rebuild trust, would this be possible. While it is unthinkable to imagine now, US subsidies for agriculture and steel would have to be up for negotiation if any free trade agreement were to be effective and prove that the desire for a strong relationship with a growing Latin America commanded importance. An even more meaningful re-ordering of priorities could involve reforming institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and UN Security Council to better reflect the interests of rising nations in Latin
America. The more such nations feel these institutions do not reflect their interests, the more likely they are to abandon them. China as a regional hegemon is not in Latin America’s best interest. The United States should wake up and realize that the new Latin America is here and needs a new place among Washington’s foreign policy priorities. At its worst, the United States is inconsistent, hypocritical, exploitative and domineering. Yet at its best, it is an enforcer and supporter of laudable international norms, and Latin America and the world are better off for it
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Old School Education: Part 1 From page 39 in the van)'and the ridiculousness of “Twirly and Twisty' (the two screws) a pig dancing a jig for a fig, and 'Winkin, Blinkin and Nod' sailing off in a wooden sloop. According to Sparrow, “…Cutteridge was plenty times more advanced dan dem scientist; I ent believe dat no one man could write so much stupidness. Aeroplanes didn't come so soon, scientists used to make the grade in balloon; Cutteridge make a cow jump ova de moon!” (YouTube it if you want to hear it) An internet blogger commenting on the song noted that Sparrow asked, “Was there some hidden agenda to keep all us colonial subjects docile and subservient to the Great Empire by brainwashing our smarter students?” Some may see that as a rhetorical question, but some could ar-
gue, I suspect, that these books were designed in part to suit the simple and colourful tastes of simple and colourful children, and in any case there would probably have been little objection from the majority of cavalier, cricket-loving, calypso-gyrating adults. But there's no space for a comparative analysis here. In the case of the Royal Readers, if they are studied today, it should be evident to discerning readers that those books were to a large extent, culturally-biased against the experiences and expectations of West Indian children. To this was added a romantic sadness and sentimentality that may have sought to engender loyalty to the Empire, and empathy for their often luckless European heroes and heroines, particularly in the genre of British poetry. I
recall that my mother would have tears in her eyes as she read such poems as 'Little Jim', Lucy Gray', 'Bingen on the Rhine', 'Young Lochinvar', and the story of 'The Little Match Girl.' She passed on the habit to me, and to this day I can't read the poem 'Llewellyn and his Dog' without choking up over the disservice done to poor Gelert. Even at Queen's College, which I felt was leaning a bit more liberal and socially-inclusive in the sixties, a platter of English literary fare was dished out, with the likes of Shakespeare, (of course) Trollope, Golding, Dickens and the poets of Epic Verse. Where were Mittelholzer and Naipaul, Lamming and Walcott, Kamau Brathwaite, Martin Carter and Jean Rhys? As far as I can recall not at QC, unless they were studied during my frequent daydreaming episodes. For my part, I certainly would have preferred A.J. Seymour's 'The Legend of Kaieteur' , a narrative of courage and myth, to John Keats's 'The Eve of St. Agnes', a tortuous tale of eroticism and superstition. Likewise in History Class I probably would have gone for the West Indian Slave Trade over The Crusades. So how does old school
Old School British teaching was patterned in colonial British Guiana
teaching and learning of Reading, Literature and History compare with the modern fare? I'm not sure, especially in the case of primary schools. And our recent CXC/ CAPE results (like all examination results) do not really give a clear enough notion as to how adept our children are in these areas. But at the very least they are being exposed to a more Caribbean-flavoured dish of contemporary and historical expression. Of course Shakespeare is still around, but alongside the old bard and his friends are New World
names like Mark McWatt, Trevor Rhone, Hazel Simmons-McDonald, Derek Walcott, Earl Lovelace and Olive Senior. In History, there is now much more focus on the Caribbean, South American, African and Asian regions as they relate to our past, with Slavery and Indigenous Peoples high up on our most-studied list; even recent Cuban history, and the politics of Gandhi and Mandela are given increased prominence. Imagine, 'Apartheid and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission' of South Africa sparking a dis-
cussion on 'The Doctrine of Non-violence and Satyagraha' in India; and how far it may go to help young Guyanese bridge the racial divide in our own country. The possibilities are limitless. And so the dynamics of teaching and learning shift over the years. Are things (social and educational) better now than when my parents sang 'Rule Britannia' or when The Mighty Sparrow sang 'Dan is the Man in the Van' or when children were children, whatever that means? Again, I'm not sure, but we can look at that next week.
Sunday June 15, 2014
From page 27 Resource Development (NCERD). The announcement saw the Ministry adopting an inclusive twist which embraced technological advances, thereby allowing the nation to share in the moment as it was streamed live via the Ministry’s website (www.education.gov.gy) and simultaneously broadcast via the National Communications Network (NCN)’s radio and television. 12-year-old Jorrel De Santos of the New Guyana School was announced by the Minister as the country’s top performer when she proudly announced the results. De Santos scored a total of 533 marks. The resident of Prashad Nagar was Thursday surrounded by his relatives and teachers when education officials and media operatives visited his school. His father, Levan De Santos, said he was elated that his son did well, but went on to note that he had expected the outstanding performance. Aliah Mohamed of School of the Nations placed second in the country with 531 marks, while her colleague Analise Samaroo claimed fifth place with her 525 marks. Jeremiah Bentham of Winfer Gardens Primary secured 524 marks thereby allowing him to share sixth position with two others – Jeron Boucher of Genesis Early Childhood in Region Three and Krystal Singh of the Success Elementary in Region Four. Ravi Singh of Westfield
Kaieteur News
Prep in Georgetown placed third in the country with his 530 marks while Isaac Mallampati’s 527 score saw him securing third place in the country, adding to the outstanding performance of the New Guyana School. Also securing places in the top 10 were Shania De Groot of Success Elementary who secured 523 along with Rueben Stanley of Mae’s Under-12. IFMAS UNUSED MODULES INCORPORATED IN OTHERS – FINANCE MINISTER Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, on Thursday, said that his Ministry is considering the implementation of the other two Integrated Financial Management and Accounting System (IFMAS) modules. He said that these two will be operationalized when his technicians recommend that is necessary. At a press conference to address all queries on the IFMAS and why two of the seven modules belonging to the system were not incorporated, Singh explained that the systems currently in place are robust, and as such, the Ministry of Finance is able to generate comprehensive financial statements. The Minister also stated that the implementation of the systems is not done all at once but in a “phased manner.” The press conference was held at the National Communications Network. Kaieteur News had published articles where financial analysts had said that if the two modules
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responsible for Purchasing, and Inventory/Asset, were in operation, then it would be easy to trace assets. The Purchasing Module seeks to provide the ability to create purchase requisitions and purchase order with selfcreating commitments to reserve the necessary funds (fully integrated with the Appropriations Module currently installed), provide the ability to record the receipts and return of goods and automatically update the purchase order to reflect the transactions among other functions. SATURDAY EDITION HIJACKED TAXI DRIVER…SUSPECTS LEAD COPS TO BODY IN PARIKA CANEFIELD The search for abducted taxi driver Dhanraj Latchman ended at around 19.30 hrs Friday, after two teens suspected of killing him led police to a Parika, East Bank Essequibo canefield where they had dumped his body two days earlier. Police said that the suspects, aged 18 and 17, confessed under intense interrogation to strangling 17year-old Latchman with the seatbelt of his car, after hiring him last Wednesday to take them from Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, to Parika. The alleged killers also revealed that they had planned to sell the slain driver’s car. Accompanied by ranks from A and B Divisions, the teenage suspects led the detectives to a desolate area some four miles off the East Bank Essequibo public road.
Within minutes, detectives found Latchman’s decomposed and apparently battered remains in a nearby canefield. Some of the slain man’s relatives were present but were not allowed to see the body. Police detained the teens on Thursday morning after Latchman’s mother, Lynette Daby, informed ranks that her son had called the names of his two passengers, who reside a short distance
away from their home. Initially, the suspects had given investigators conflicting reports regarding their last encounter with Latchman. They eventually admitted that they strangled the teen and had planned to sell his white Toyota AT 212, bearing registration number, PMM 9823. “It seems that they had their eyes on this man’s car for some time now, and after they found a buyer,
they hired him (Latchman) and told him they were going to collect money at Parika,” a source close to the investigation told Kaieteur News. But the deal between the suspects and their buyer reportedly fell through after police found the missing vehicle at Parika. Kaieteur News understands that one of the alleged killers had once lived in the area where the suspects had stashed the car.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 15, 2014
Why smoking is dangerous if you have diabetes By Dr. Kumar Sukhraj Many may wonder why their illnesses are out of control and sometimes they get frustrated and ignore the recommended care plan. However it is important to note that to manage any illness the first step is to treat the cause of the illness. Researchers have long known that diabetes patients who smoke have higher blood sugar levels, making their disease more difficult to control and putting them at greater danger of developing complications. A common known complication of smoking is cancer, however smoking can
also aggravate many of the problems that people with diabetes already face, such as heart and blood vessel disease. Smoking-related problems include: · Cutting the amount of oxygen reaching tissues. The decrease in oxygen can lead to a heart attack or stroke · Increasing your cholesterol levels and the levels of some other fats in your blood, raising your risk of a heart attack · If you are pregnant, smoking can result in an abnormally small baby and a higher risk of having a miscarriage or stillborn baby · Damage and constriction of the blood vessels. This
damage can worsen foot ulcers and lead to blood vessel disease and leg and foot infections · Greater likelihood of nerve damage and kidney disease · More prone to get colds and respiratory infections · Increasing risk of developing limited joint movement · Cancer of the mouth, throat, lung, and bladder · Being three times as likely to die of cardiovascular disease as are other people with diabetes · Increasing your blood pressure · Raising your blood glucose level
More states report cases of mosquito-borne chikungunya virus
A painful, mosquito-borne viral illness has surfaced across the United States, carried by recent travelers to the Caribbean where the virus is raging. Health officials in North Carolina, Nebraska and Indiana this week reported the first confirmed chikungunya cases in those states, along with Tennessee, which has suspected cases. Chikungunya has rapidly spread in the Caribbean in recent months, sending thousands of patients to hospitals with painful joints, pounding headaches and spiking fevers. Florida’s 25 cases account for the majority reported in the United States, according to state health officials and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cases in the continental United States have not been transmitted by local mosquitoes, which would raise the threat. “It will be more difficult for the virus to establish itself here,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in
Nashville, Tennessee. Along with new reports, the CDC is monitoring chikungunya in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Virginia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Symptoms surface within three to seven days after a bite from an infected mosquito and typically dissipate within a week. There is no vaccine, and the virus is not deadly. Medications can help treat high fevers. The Caribbean Public Health Agency said this week the number of confirmed and suspected cases had risen to 135,651, up from just over 100,000 on June 2. The virus has been detected in 20 countries and territories, with the largest outbreak of suspected cases in the Dominican Republic. Health officials in the Dominican Republic said they detected more than 77,000 suspected cases since the virus reached the country five and half months ago, including 20,000 new suspected cases in the last week alone, according to the Public Health Ministry.
· Increasing your chance of becoming impotent If you have diabetes, here are a few tips to help you quit, based on guidelines from the American Cancer Society. · Don’t carry a lighter or matches; hide all ashtrays. · When the urge to smoke hits, take a deep breath. Hold it for 10 seconds and then release it slowly. Taking deep, rhythmic breaths is similar to smoking; only you’ll inhale clean air, not poisonous gas. · Spend free time in places where smoking is prohibited, such as a library, theatre, or museum. Go to lunch with friends who are also trying to quit smoking and go to a nonsmoking restaurant. · Eat low-calorie, high-
nutritional foods instead of smoking. Choose fresh fruit and crisp, crunchy vegetables. Or substitute sugarless gum for a cigarette. Other substitutes to try: lemon drops, cloves, beef jerky, or popcorn (not buttered). · Exercise to help relieve tension. Climb stairs rather than take the elevator, or get off the bus before your destination and walk the rest of the way. For diabetics, smoking can make their condition worse and quitting smoking is the best choice. Please feel free to send an email to kumarsukhraj @yahoo.com or call 6228032 for further enquiry
Dr. Kumar Sukhraj and discussion on the topic. Patient education plays an important in the diagnosis and management of illness. Please look forward for a continuation of the discussion on health issues in the next publication.
Brazil takes advantage of World Cup crowds to test for HIV Brazilian health officials handed out condoms to World Cup fans in Sao Paulo on Friday and took advantage of festivities in the city to test people for HIV. “We can’t miss an opportunity like this,” said Ivone De Paula, Sao Paulo state’s coordinator for sexually transmitted disease prevention. “The fact that it’s the Cup lightens the mood a bit. People say ‘Hey I’m going to watch the game, I’m having fun, why not get tested too?’” The program, part of the UNAIDS “Protect the Goal” HIV/AIDS prevention program, provides rapid HIV testing and counseling, as well as free condoms and emergency retroviral drugs. It is also being offered in 11 other cities across Sao Paulo state where visiting World Cup teams are based.
De Paula expected the program to conduct about 300 rapid HIV tests outside Friday’s Fan Fest, where a giant screen displayed the Cameroon vs Mexico match. Many were getting tested for the first time ever, she said. “I had no idea this was going to be here, I just came across it,” said a middle-aged man who asked not to be identified. “I wouldn’t know where to get tested otherwise, so this helps quite a lot.” Brazil usually conducts HIV and AIDS prevention campaigns during the Carnival holiday, including widespread advertising and condom distribution. Aggressive HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention efforts in the South American country have been held up as a model for the developing world for more than a decade.
Sunday June 15, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 47
Britain makes Hollywood actress A Minute With: Actors Butler and Angelina Jolie an honorary dame Ferguson on Scotland and dragons
Britain has made the Oscar-winning Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie an honorary dame for services to UK foreign policy and her campaigning to end sexual violence in war zones. Jolie, who is special envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), was among 1,149 people to receive an award for their contribution to British society in the annual Queen’s Birthday Honours list published on Saturday. The list includes a posthumous MBE for teenage cancer sufferer and fundraiser Stephen Sutton and a knighthood for actor Daniel Day-Lewis. Jolie, 39, co-founded the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative with Foreign Secretary William Hague in 2012 and was among the speakers at a major conference on the subject in London this week. Since she is not a British citizen she cannot be addressed as Dame, but receives the award on an honorary basis. “To receive an honor related to foreign policy means a great deal to me, as it is what I wish to dedicate my working life
Actress and campaigner Angelina Jolie arrives at a summit to end sexual violence in conflict, at the Excel centre in London June 13, 2014. to,” she said in a statement. Cancer campaigner Sutton accepted the Member of the Order of the British Empire award before his death last month, the Cabinet Office, which announces the awards, said in a statement. “It is clear that Stephen touched and inspired a huge number of people and that his ambassadorial work for the Teenage Cancer Trust was greatly appreciated by all those he helped,” it added. Sutton’s fundraising campaign went viral on social
media and raised 4.2 million pounds ($7 million) before his death in May at the age of 19. Day-Lewis, 57, the first ever winner of three Best Actor Oscars and the star of “Lincoln” and “There Will Be Blood,” was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama. Actress Dame Maggie Smith becomes a Companion of Honor while “Wolf Hall” author Hilary Mantel, golfer Laura Davies and fashion designer Zandra Rhodes become Dames.
Newly Single Jennifer Lopez: ‘I’m Stronger and, I Think, Better’ Jennifer Lopez is moving forward. Fresh from her split from her boyfriend of more than two years, Casper Smart, the singer has emerged with a new-found sense of confidence. “Things have changed so much for me,” Lopez told Billboard magazine. “I had to really do some soulsearching and just realize a lot of things about love, and now I feel like I come from a place where I’m stronger and, I think, better.” Lopez, 44, began dating the back-up dancer, 27, shortly after from her split from ex-hu s b a n d M a r c Anthony. Now that their relationship has come to an end, she has thrown herself into work, promoting her new album, “AKA,” which will be released Tuesday. “I never put myself out there to show the world what I could do in the best way I could. And touring, you gain a lot when you go out there every night and sing when you feel good, or even when your voice is scratchy and you feel a little off,” she said. “It made me want to get back into the
As two of Hollywood’s prominent Scotsmen, actor Gerard Butler and comedian Craig Ferguson relished the chance to embrace their inner Vikings and ride dragons. Butler and Ferguson reunite as Stoick and Gobber, two burly best friends in Dreamworks’ animated fantasy sequel “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” where they help young dragon rider Hiccup (played by Jay Baruchel) save dragons from intimidating Viking villain Drago Bloodyfist (Djimon Hounsou). Ahead of the film’s release in U.S. theaters on Friday, the duo spoke to Reuters to discuss Scotland and dragons. Q: Growing up in Scotland, did you ever think you’d be in a film riding dragons? Butler: Umm, yes. I’m surprised it took so long. Ferguson: Yep. It was something that they taught us at school, that “one day, you two will be in a film riding dragons.” Butler: “And if you’re not, you’ll be failures” ... I think everybody has dreams of being in these fantasy worlds. But I think in Scotland especially - because of our history and the fact that our history is kind of “Braveheart,” and it is dragons and Vikings and that kind of thing - that maybe it’s even more important for us. Q: Craig, your character Gobber spills quite a big secret: he reveals that he is gay. How important was that revelation? Ferguson: The reason it came about is because we were in the voice session. I was watching Gerry’s
Craig Ferguson character fight with Cate Blanchett’s character, and the line I had in the script was - I say to Hiccup, “See, this is why I never married.” Then I ad-libbed the line, “And one more reason,” and I said after that, “That’s right, Gobber’s coming out,” and Dean (DeBlois, the director) said, “Oh, that’s it, maybe he should,” and so it was Dean’s decision, not mine. I just threw the ad-lib in. But Gerry, when he saw the film, thought that it wasn’t that I was gay, that the reason I hadn’t got married is because I had lost my junk - it got cut off in a dragon fight. Which tells you more about his mind than it does about anything else going on. Q: What was your most challenging scene in the film? Ferguson: For me the biggest challenge was dealing with the speech that comes after his (Butler’s) rather big moment. It was a very emotional speech that took a while to get through, because you know, you care about
these people. I’ve been living with these characters for five or six years now, you care about them. You have an affection for them and as fanciful as that may sound, it’s real. So when something tragic happens to a character, it’s sore. It’s people you care about experiencing emotional pain, whether they’re fictional or not, and they’re not really fictional to me, they’re just different. Q: As both of you are part of Hollywood’s Scottish contingent, was it nice to do the parts with your native accent? Ferguson: Gerry does accents all the time and plays Americans and plays different nationalities. I pretty much am myself. Butler: It’s funny though, he’s actually better at accents than I am. Ferguson: Yes, but only for comedy accents in sketches. Butler: But it is always nice to get back into your own accent - not just your own accent, but an exaggerated form of your own accent, and use that muscularity and strength and power that you have as Scotsmen, but for us to play Vikings, and then you play with it and you can make it soft and whispery and then big and burly, and that’s really great fun - not just to have the accent but to be able to go crazy with it. Q: What are your thoughts on Scotland’s proposed independence from the United Kingdom ahead of September’s referendum? Butler: That’s a tough one. We have our views, but you know - (looking at Ferguson) he’s just shutting off at this. We’ll be casting our vote.
Stage, screen actress Ruby Dee dies at 91: family
studio without that cage I had put on myself. Once I let that beast loose, I was doing things I didn’t know I could do.” That sense of unpredictability is more appealing to Lopez now than ever.
“I don’t know what I’m going to be doing in the next six months. I really don’t. And that’s OK for me,” she said. “Because what I like is, whatever happens is supposed to happen. And I’m good. I can roll with that.”
Legendary stage and screen actress Ruby Dee, who won acclaim in theater, film and television and became a notable figure in the U.S. civil rights movement, died peacefully at home, a friend of the family said on Thursday. The actress, who was 91 years old, died on Wednesday night in New Rochelle, New York, surrounded by her family. “She died of natural causes,” said Arminda Thomas, who works for Dee’s family. “She was blessed with old age.” The petite actress won an Oscar nomination in 2008 for her role in “American Gangster.” After being nominated for six Emmys, she nabbed the award in 1991 for
her role in the TV movie “Decoration Day.” Dee was married to actor Ossie Davis for 56 years until his death in 2005. The couple, who had three children, formed a productive and enduring artistic and activist partnership. They performed together in plays and films and appeared together at some of the seminal events of the turbulent civil rights era. The actress broke free from the racially stereotypical roles often given to black actresses when she began her career in the 1940s and continued to act into her 90s. “Ruby Dee inspired so many people both on stage and off. At the Tony Awards last Sunday, both Audra McDonald and Kenny
Leon paid tribute to Ruby Dee during their acceptance speeches,” said Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the Broadway League, which represents producers and theater owners. Broadway theaters will dim their marquees on Friday in Dee’s memory. President Barack Obama recalled Dee’s performance in the 1989 Spike Lee film, “Do the Right Thing” - which the president and his wife, Michelle, saw on their first date. “Through her remarkable performances, Ruby paved the way for generations of black actors and actresses, and inspired African-American women across our country,” Obama said in a statement.
Sunday June 15, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 61
Guyanese will have to curb their appetite for all things “foreign” By Ralph Seeram Dominating the news this week is the Guyana Government’s concern over the decline in gold production, or to be more exact the decline in gold declarations. The government has discovered that large scale smuggling is responsible for the drop in declarations. Why is this a surprise? I am sure that the government knew gold smuggling has been going on. The problem is being brought to light now because it’s now hitting the government where it hurts: “in the pocket”. Low declarations together with declining world prices for gold is robbing the country of valuable foreign currency and increasing the deficit in balance of trade. I spoke about this dependence on gold to drive the economy some time ago, so here’s a repeat of that article. I picked up the bottle of pepper sauce that said Guyanese Pepper Sauce and bought my brown sugar, (I do not use processed white sugar). I try to buy Guyanese made products, not only out of Guyanese pride but I know buying Guyanese made products creates jobs for Guyanese while earning export dollars for the country. I would later discover to my surprise the “fine print” said made in Trinidad. I will discover that Guyanese STYLE pepper sauce and Guyanese MADE pepper sauce are two different things. So now you go to the Caribbean groceries, you see a variety of products labeled Guyanese style, but really not made in Guyana. You have to be careful about the brown sugar which a deceptive Guyanese owned
Canadian company passes off as their Demerara sugar, and label it as such, but really it is made in Mauritius. Don’t let me even get in to those Cassareep labeled Pomeroon cassareep made by people who probably don’t even know where Pomeroon is. However, what it tells me is that there is a demand for Guyanese-made products in the Diaspora, not only by Guyanese but the wider Caribbean populace living abroad. What is disappointing is the lack of Guyanese made products on the shelves of supermarkets abroad. Part of this has to do with Guyanese manufacturers. While they were “sleeping”, their counterparts in Jamaica and Trinidad were penetrating the markets in the Diaspora, selling from simple things like fried channa and plantain chips to sugar and rice. Guyana, considered an agricultural country, is being “outgunned” by its Caribbean counterparts. And I can tell you why. The producers simply are not ready for “prime time”. I will give you two examples. A few years ago there was an expo for Guyanese manufacturers to showcase their products, and quite few manufactures were there. I was then the President of the Guyanese Association here in the Orlando area, so I tried to introduce local businessmen to the Guyanese manufactures. Believe it or not, some of them could not give price quotes for bulk quantities, could not say what the FOB prices were, or what kind of shipping costs would be involved to get the product to the US. One guy selling lumber was confused with square
feet and linear feet, did not know treated wood from kiln dried wood. The only impressive companies were the Beharry Group of Companies and DDL. Today I see their products on the shelves here. So while there is a demand for value added Guyanese products in the Diaspora, we find in Guyana the total opposite. I read on social media this week where one overseas based Guyanese who went back home said she was shocked when she saw a local person buying a can of “bhagee” and a can of coconut milk. That is minimal to what I saw. Back in the days, Burnham, to his credit (regardless of the motives), pushed using local products. In some cases there was no choice. Today in the US with the proliferation of Chinese goods and inferior products at that, you are seeing labels that say “Proudly made in the US”. Guyanese go back to Guyana and want to drink Banks beer, the locals want foreign; the visitor wants good old Guyanese Rum, considered the best in the world, and Guyanese are craving foreign “liquor”. I go and want to drink things made in Guyana and I see Guyanese proudly drinking soda made in Barbados and Trinidad. I find that the Guyanese at home feel all things “foreign” are better; it seems as if they gain status by eating, wearing and using things “foreign”. I saw some time ago on YouTube two local women “busing” each other for the affection of their male lover. At one point one of the women displayed a handful of panties to her rival, holding the handful of panties in the
air for all to see, saying “this is from Victoria Secret”. I don’t know if wearing Victoria Secret panties gave her an advantage over her rival, but I doubt if any man looks to see the label of a woman’s panties. He is mainly concerned with getting it off. But back to the serious side, the Guyanese economy is showing signs of cracking; Guyana is experiencing Balance of Trade Deficits. I don’t care how you put it, if you spend more than you earn it catches up with you. The proliferation of foreign goods in Guyana, including cars, is hurting the Guyanese economy already. The exchange rates are going up and will continue to go up. The Guyanese economy depended largely on gold
exports. Forget about the traditional three pillars: sugar, rice and bauxite. It was gold that kept the economy alive, along with remittances from the Diaspora. Some will also argue that the white powder that is NOT cassava flour, or regular flour, but baked into pastries, placed in fruits, vegetables, lumber and other ingenious methods to export is also helping to drive the economy. Guyana has already seen how the dependence on gold exports is risky business. Gold prices decreased to onethird of its peak value in recent years. Besides being a depleting source, it is subject to speculation of the world market.
Forget about all this talk of the economy growing every year. The problem is that exports are not keeping up with imports, and while Guyanese are wasting valuable foreign exchange importing fresh flowers, the time is rapidly coming when they may have to choose between flower and flour. This may sound farfetched for some, but if they continue this trend they will find that they will have to pay more for their appetite as the Guyana dollar continues to devalue. Remember also that all those borrowing on those ‘big’ projects have to be repaid with interest. Guyanese need to be (Continued on page 63)
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Kaieteur News
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Dressed and mill cut lumber: Kabukalli, Silverballi, Greenheart, Purpleheart etc – Call: 688-6579 Dell computers with 17" Leds -$59,000, laptops from -$64,000, Blackberry 8310 $9,000 @Futuretech – Call: 231-2206; 644-6760 1 Titan fully loaded 4 Wheel Drive, $2.6M Negotiable – Tel:699-2322 or 678-2814. Must go urgently! 1 Double stall with overhead storage in Stabroek Market, central location - Call: 6197925, 225-7759. Can be inspected: Mon-Sat 08:00hrs-16:00hrs Mix breed German shepherd pups, 8 weeks old, fully vaccinated & de-wormed – Tel: 649-7271 Established business place, 3 storey building @ Lot 220 South Road – Contact: 2271042, 601-3399, 676-5450 Tibetan Terrier Puppies for sale – Telephone: 226-4166, Cell: 641-8571 Pluck Chicken – Call: 6273484, 253-3246 Used pedicure chair, hair dryer and salon chair – Tel: 668-9583, 698-5272 Spares for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 48 Feet boat for sale – 9000lb seine - can be sold separately Call: 609-0783, 683-3379 Price negotiable 1.20 cu ft Frigidaire freezer, 2. Nissan pick-up, price$1M negotiable – Tel:624-4076 Craig Street - $32M, David Street - $40M, Thomas Street - $65M, Sheriff Street $150M, Etc. Contact Sonja: 225-7197/ 623-2537 Cobra 800W inverters $18,000 & Sun force 12V 30Amp charge controllers $17K purchased from USA – Call JD: 693-1752/ 226-7742 G- Touring Wagon in excellent condition – Flair kit, mag rims, air condition, etc – Call Pablo: 641-1303. Price $1.1M negotiable 1 RZ Toyota Minibus, PKK series, price: $1.2M neg. 1 Datson 4x4 pickup GEE, price: $650,000-Tel:641-0804;216-2723
FOR SALE/RENT American Pool tables - Call: 277-0578
FOR SALE A fully equipped sawmill operation at prime location: large land space, plenty suppliers & customers – Contact Swamee: 614-1466; 678-1421 4WD Ford 150XLT V8, excellent condition, price negotiable - Tel: 698-0904 One bush cutter - Call: 6816603 One two-storey concrete building at Tuschen New Scheme, E.B.E – Contact No: 627-6305, 668-6858 Canadian rebuilt Perkins Duetz engine, Lincoln generator welder, model M with winch, 320 excavator – Call: 691-2921 Pure Rottweiler pups, parents are imported pedigree dogs Call: 264-2870 or 6726402 after 6pm 665-9140 or 639-1431 One Perkins engine, 3 cylinder 75 horsepower with bed, never used - $300,000 negotiable - Tel: 604-9855, 677-1968 One slate pool table 8’X4’ $400,000 – Tel: 601-8083, 6892658 One Bedford truck for sale by owner- Contact: 5926242420, 266-3239 1 32" Cruiser 325 lb 5" Cat guts, 100 lb 5" Nylon, 15 Yamaha – Call: 220-7420 Garden Earth & builders waste our service also includes Bobcat rental, excavating, clearing & leveling - Call: 616-0617, 6633285 Cheap earth delivered to spot E.C.D, E.B.D, W.B.D - Call: 627-9977, 698-0182 Chicken Hatchery (Robbins), 28,000 eggs capacity fully ready, 3 Incubators, 4 Hatchers all $ 5.Million or Credit available Tel: 227-3939 621-4000. One brand new complete 200HP boat and engine. Contact: 660-9844 or 649-8743. Landcruiser, needs wind shield, runs + drives great, some minor bodywork $500,000 , “as is, where is” – Tel:609-8727, 683-5759
VACANCY 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 670-8893/684-2838 Office clerk senior/junior, CXC English, Mathematics & computer knowledge an asset- Call: 225-0188/225-6070 1 - Civil Engineer (full time), securities, skid steer & excavator operators, mechanic, body works man (spray), office assistant – Call: 603-4098 Real Estate clerks, Road foreman, operations manager, Accounts Clerk, Kitchen Assistant, Hauler Driver & Truck Drivers –Call: 603-4098 RA Soda Factory at Good Hope Branch: vacancies for sales clerk, bond clerk and drivers – Tel: 330-2399, 3302772, 623-5920 RA Soda Factory at Rosignol Branch: Vacancies for Accountant, Bond Clerk, sales clerk, Drivers, male & female workers – Tel: 3302399, 330-2772, 623-5920 Exist for one female cleaner; apply in person @ Alabama Trading, Georgetown, Ferry Stelling. Exist for one Accounts Clerk. Please bring written application to Mike’s Pharmacy, 56 Sheriff Street. Pump Attendant @ Shell Service Station, Providence, EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) – Tel: 265-7305 Cashiers @ Shell Service Station, Providence, EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) – Tel: 265-7305 FOR SALE 330 Bedford engines, one with automatic air governor both $440,000– Tel:609-8727, 683-5759 Cummins L10 engine, used on backup generator. Top half recently rebuilt by Swiss, runs great -$650,000 – Tel: 609-8727, 683-5759 Fluffy Dachshund pups, one pure white available – Tel: 226-9548, 670-2653,618-1706 1 New galaxy Tablet 48.0" 16GB black with portable keyboard case $95,000.00 – Call: 664-8704 Dachshund pups mix with Pekingese for sale- $15,000 – Call:677-2476
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
Sunday June 15, 2014
PROPERTY FOR SALE
SALON
VEHICLE FOR SALE
One house and land for sale at Covent Garden Island – Call: 265-3586
Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
2006 Blue Nissan Titan. Fully Loaded GSS Series. Contact: 604-6108.
1-2 storey wooden & concrete house with 5 bedrooms, upper flat & lower flat 4 apartments located@ Shell Road, kitty - $38.9M Tel: 642-7898 Commercial property at Corner Spot, Lodge - Tel: 627-4900 Herstelling - $16M, Grove $19M, 4.5M, $9M, Eccles $31M, Diamond - $12.5M, Public Road - $65M – Tel:676-5537, 646-1334, 6123501,667-2422
Earn a certificate in cosmetology, wig designs or nails alone, limited spaces Call Abby: 619-7603, 666-5241
2009 Red Nissan Titan. Flex Fuel GRR Series. Contact: 604-6108. Honda CRV, Toyota AT192, AT212, Raum, L-Touring Wagon, AE100 Corolla, EP82 Starlet, Fun Cargo, IST – Tel: 644-5096, 697-1453 One Toyota Land cruiser Prado, PMM Series Call: 225-0188, 223-7500, Mon-Fri 8:15-4:15pm, Sat - 8:15-1:15PM
Prime business and residential 3 storey property in excellent condition, situated 11 Camp and Norton Street G/town, negotiable Call: Pearl Realty: 689-9991 1-2 Storey roadside concrete and wooden house (45’X20") located at 57 New Road, V/ Hoop – Tel: 624-0779 Nandy Park - $24M, Robb Street - $25M, Kitty $32M35M, AA Eccles - $55M – Contact Diana: 227-2256, 6269382 One 2-storey wood & concrete house, 3 bedrooms with one self contained with A/C @ Parika E.B.E – Call: 660-3118 Two storey concrete house (26X45 ft), 4 bedrooms, 3 washrooms, grilled with electronic security @ Grandville Park, Beterverwagting - Tel: 6726169 One house & land for sale at good hope E.C.D – Tel: 621-1722 Property with 3 houses on lot @ 35 Plantation Walk, VreedEn-Hoop, 3 buildings next to G.T.M – Contact: 667-9978. Prime Commercial Property @ Albertown, GT, 3 Lots with business, sold furnished, (Guyana Variety store & Nut Centre). Tel-6214000, 2273939 You can sell, mortgage or gift your land in Parafaite Harmonie – Tel: 675-7292
Signature Sensation Wedding Special: Do any service over $5000 & get 20% off- Call: 622-2643/ 225-8701
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. COOL TECH : Repairs Services & Installation of all types if homes appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units - Tel: 233-2008; 675-4959 Permanent & Visitors Vi s a Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 2256496, 662-6045 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, washing machines, A/C units – Call Lindon: 6411086, 694-2202, 227-8907 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer. Call Omar: 2310655, 683-8734 Repairs, sales & spares, air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032,647-2943 House plan drafting from$10,000 electrical works and estimates services available. Tel:667-2189,646-6572,629-8750
Planning on buying a house or land? Call Ron – Tel:6757292 or 218-5591 Location 106 Samatha Point Grove, EBD – One flat 3 bedroom concrete house – Tel:266-0580, 670-1452. Price Neg. Queenstown, second building, 3 bedroom cottage in good condition - $16M – Contact B&G’s Realty – 6179717, 682-4094 Norton Street Lodge, 2 properties in the yard 42X120 $30M negotiable - Contact B&G’s Realty – 617-9717, 6824094
Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312, 627-3206 (Nick) For low cost: Repairs to fridge, freezer, A/C unit, microwaves, TV & washing machine - Call: 629-4946 or 225-4822 DaSilva’s Welding & Fabricating specializes in: Grills, Gates, Pontoon, Lavador etc. Best prince in town - Call: 647-6880/ 219-1680 Brian Moe @ 642-3543; computer technician; FB: Brian.Moe165; home and office visits at your comfort.!!!
House & land for sale at Buxton, E.C.D – Tel:686-0888, 699-7559
CAR RENTAL Wings Car Rental- Call: 6906494/ BBM pin: 24E17558
Toyota Avensis 2003, PRR series 18" Rims, leather interior, HID, A/C, Alarm, TV, $3.250M, immaculate condition! Tel: 609-7257, 602-5974 2006 – PREMIO - $2.3M, 2008 – BLUEBIRD - $3M, 2005 – SPACIO - $2.1M. ALL VEHICLES ARE FULLY LOADED & UNREGISTERED – CALL: 642-7295 2 Silver Spacio – registered and unregistered, dark interior, new model with TV Tel: 697-0294 One Toyota Rav4, PMM Series, fully loaded, good condition - Price$1.9M negotiable. Contact: 669-6499 One 8000 Forde Tractor, one 450 Forde tow truck, one Toyota Tacoma – Contact Floyd: 694-5599 RAV 4, PLL 9729 in excellent condition – Contact: 6269582 One Leyland DAF container rice truck- Call: 602-0393/ 629-1497 1 AE110 Sprinter, Corporate Yellow, $600,000 negotiable Tel: 611-1018 Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered 212, Allex, old & new model Spacio, 05 & 03 Allion, Voxy- Call:6523820/ 665-4529 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 One RZ minibus BJJ series – Call: 225-8272 (after 5pm) & 619-9072 Mitsubishi Canter 2-Tons enclosed, excellent condition – Call:220-5281 Toyota Raum, Silver, year 2002, PMM series with alarm – Call: 621-5244 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 Toyota Raum PMM, excellent condition. Documents ready for Bank Purchase – Call: 689-4330 (Continued on page 63)
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East La Penitence teen shot during argument A heated argument between two men has left a 19-year- old East La Penitence teen nursing a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Injured is Kellon Hinds of Lot 465 East La Penitence, Georgetown. According to reports, Hinds and another man were seen arguing shortly after 22:00hrs on Friday at “War Lock”, East Ruimveldt. Kaieteur News was told that several persons in the area tried to quell the argument, but the two men persisted. This publication understands that the suspect whipped out a handgun and fired two shots in the
direction of Hinds, hitting him. He was immediately rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. However, Hinds has reportedly told investigators that he was robbed. One police source said that Hinds is claiming that he was robbed of a gold chain, among other items. The source explained that Hinds, who was recently deported from French Guiana, may not be telling the whole truth about the incident. The police source said that they would continue to pursue the matter in an effort to identify the shooter.
Notorious prisoner... From page 59 the Albion Magistrate’s Court for the matter that has landed him in jail. At the time of his recent arrest he had six grams of cannabis in his pocket. The 27-year-old was considered one of the most notorious bandits in Berbice. Yesterday, the man’s common law wife, Shameeza Alli, 19, said, “One of he friends called me and tell me he get stab up and he at hospital. “He head, chest and one of the lungs collapse and he get chopped on he foot. That’s what the nurses tell me,” she stated. “Three of them were waiting for him and as soon as he stepped out of the cell attacked him in the presence of the prison officers,” she
added. His relatives, including his parents, were furious at the security levels at the prison and are calling for a thorough investigation. This is the second such attack at the correctional facility within the past month. On May 23 last, Davendra Harricharran, called ‘Bara’, 27, of Nigg Squatting Area, Corentyne, Berbice; Quammy Bhagwandin, 32, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam; Clarence Williams, called ‘Wild Hog’, 41, of Angoy’s Avenue; and Adbussulum Azimullah, called ‘Sato’, 31, of Hampshire Corentyne, Berbice were all involved in another brutal attack involving cutlasses and acid. Investigations into that incident are still ongoing. (Leon Suseran)
Guyanese will have... (From page 61) educated on the value of using local products; they need to understand that it is money coming back into their pockets by way of more employment opportunities. Local manufactures need to step up to get their products to foreign markets. There are foreign investors willing to invest in Guyana, but the “push around” they get by the uncoordinated efforts of the various manufacturers discourages them. I was told by a source that was responsible for promoting trade in Guyana that when investors go to places like Trinidad and Jamaica, the process is smooth and encouraging. In Guyana it’s a NIGHTMARE running around various Ministries to get required paperwork, permits. The concept of one clearing house is broken. Then we have the cases where those in power use personal vindictiveness to stifle local investors. Yes, whether its foreign
made panties, flowers or liquor, Guyanese will have to curb their foreign appetite, or pay the price. They are already paying it to buy scarce US dollars. Ralph Seeram can be reached at ralph365@hotmail,com
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 RZ minibus, BKK series, good condition for more info – Call: 216-0992 Stretch limousine, Lincoln, fully powered, leather interior, CD player, 18" chrome rims $5.M or credit available Tel 227-3939, 621-4000 Trike Can- Am style three wheel, Motorcycle, digital dash, led lights, 200cc new, unregistered $275,000 neg , Tel 227-3939, 621-4000 Mitsubishi 3000GT sports car, 18" rims, leather, CD player, $2 million or best offer -Tel 621-4000, 227-3939 Pre negotiations sale Hummer H2, 22" rims, leather, sound system, roof lights, PNN series - Tel 621-4000. Toyota Premio; PRR 909, PRR982, low mileage in excellent condition, $2M negotiable – Call: 231-8694 or 670-1638 Mazda RX8 Sports package, full aero kit, 18" staggered wheels, racing exhaust system & more - $2.6M negotiable – Tel:231-8694, 670-1638 Toyota Rav 4 PKK series, aero kit, TV, spoiler, roof rail & more - $2.7M negotiable, excellent condition- Tel:2318694, 670-1638 2001 Mercedes Benz C200, 2000 CC engines, backup camera, sunroof, back & front sensors, leather interior - $3.7M- Tel:670-1638 2004 Lexus GX470, fully loaded, 20" chrome wheels, tow hitch, excellent condition – Price: $8.8M negotiable – Tel:231-8694, 670-1638 Toyota Allion PPP 6146, low mileage, excellent condition $1.9M negotiable – Tel: 2318694, 670-1638 One starlet EP-82 – Contact: 643-5161; 655-8505 One enclosed canter for sale 3½ Ton, GJJ 8286 – Contact: 613-0830, 666-2549
CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 225-7126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com
Noah/ Voxy, unregistered, (private or bus), Toyota Regius/ Super custom, unregistered (goods) – Tel: 603-9700
ProgressiveAuto Rental: Cars & SUV for rental- $4,000 & up per day- Call: 643-5122, 628-2284 ,Email:pro_ autorental @yahoo.com Aidan’s Car Rental, Canter & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 6987807 Harmony Inn Car rental: Cars from $5,000, Allion, Premio, Allex, Suzuki, Runx – Tel:6947817, 668-0306
EDUCATIONAL Canadian School of Arts & Science, now enrolling students for summer classes in remedial Mathematics & English – Call: 216-6921
TO LET 1 – Four bedrooms house with all modern conveniences, semifurnished - $300,000 monthly, Happy Acres – Tel:231-7839 (working hours) Fully furnished two bedroom apartment for rent with TV, Air-condition, hot & cold, cable. In South for foreigners –Tel: 689-5877 Furnished 2 bedroom apartment, in Linden for short term local & overseas guest Tel: 444-4704, 614-4415 Campbellville - $55,000, Subryanville - $120,000, BelAir -$US1200, AA Eccles $US1200 – Contact Diana: 227-2256, 626-9382 Furnished and unfurnished two bedrooms apartment in Eccles, for short or long term – Tel: 6 90-6494 Beautiful 2 bedroom apartment located at Timerhi – Tel: 615-2584 Rooms – Tel:225-3234 One – Two bedroom bottom flat @ 5th Avenue Diamond - $50,000 monthly – Tel:6222765, 695-5834 One bottom flat at 95 Hadfield Street, Werk- EnRust, Georgetown, Suitable for business/firm/company – Contact: 223-0929; 682-1055 1-3 bedroom flat concrete house @ 1st Bridge Diamond, E.B.D – Tel:6742641 Harmony Inn: Furnished, air condition apartment, W.B.D & Georgetown - $5,000 & $6,000 per night – Tel:6680306, 694-7817, 602-8769, 612-1351
(From page 62)
WANTED One cook for home in interior – Contact: 681-6044 FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One nails table - Busy area! Call: 602-5469 or 628-9297 Salon stations for stylist & barbers in comfortable atmosphere, hot & cold water, affordable rent - Tel: 619-5829, 683-3466 1- Two bedrooms apartment at 35 Howes St., G/Town$45,000 per month- Contact: Pet Boy’s Shop between 11:00AM – 6:00PM GT TOOL RENTALS SPECIALS: CONCRETE SAW; JACK HAMMER WELDING MACHINE & MORE. 2ND TOOL ½ PRICE – CALL: 675-0767; 627-5098 1 Two bedroom apartment to rent in Diamond Housing Scheme – Price $40,000 - Tel: 604-2431, preferably a couple One restaurant, located around Princess Hotel Area – Preferably Chinese – Tel: 617-1481 One new two-bedroom home with inside toilet & bath at Triumph. Price $50,000 negotiable – Call: 618-2840
Farm worker, gardener – Call: 265-3586 Pacific Development Construction: foreman and office assistant must have driver’s licence – Contact: 227-8274/ 223-6035 One cook needed to work in canteen – Tel: 687-3629 One experienced canter driver - $28,000, 1 porter $21,000, to work in Tushen Scheme, E.B.E – Tel:684-8231 One experienced diesel mechanic to work part time – Call: 684-8231 Hire Cars at Atlas Taxi Service VHF Network – Call: 661-3043 We buy all low income land in La Parfait Harmonie, Herstelling, Eccles, NonPareil – Call: 218-5591 or 6757292 One Car/ Van Driver, apply in person at Avinash Complex, Water Street. Housekeeper to work at hotel. Call:602-0945 Land to buy in Cummings Lodge, La Parfaite Harmonie, Parika & Tuschen – Tel:2185591, 675-7292 Two purchase clerks from out of town area, age 3040yrs, send email to singh_inc@hotmail.com Attractive live in waitressTel:228-5129, 602-8277.
EDUCATIONAL
LAND FOR SALE
Now enrolling for a Diploma in computers (9 courses) special discount for 2014 CXC students at MicroGraphics, Vreed-EnHoop –Tel: 264-3057 Now enrolling for summer computer classes – Ages: 514yrs, certificate course at MicroGraphics Technology, Vreed-En- Hoop –Tel: 264-3057 I.A.S – 94 Alberttown: CXC Adults/ Students classes $1200 per subject. Day/ Evening / Grade 6 classes – Call: 223-7906, 690-5008 Canadian School of Arts & Science, Third Avenue, Diamond: CAT Accounting Classes begin on July 1, – Call: 216-6921/22 to register IAE - Camp Street - Registration has commenced Forms 1-5 (full-time school); day & evening, adult CXC classes Call: 683-5742, 223-0604
Mining Blocks at Mazaruni & Kwakwani- Tel: 627-4900 La Parafaite Harmonie $1.4M, Cummings Lodge $2.5M, Herstelling - $3.2M, Grove- $2.6M – Call: 2185591, 675-7292 Campbellville, vacant land 60’X120’ – price negotiable Contact B&G’s Realty – 6179717, 682-4094 One ½ Lot land transported property in Triumph – Call: 618-2840
Experienced driver to drive private cars must be living in Georgetown area. Phone: 623-7609, 226-1399(during working hours) Male & female to work in factory between the age of 18 & above – Call: 223-0090 for more information Family to live in; wife – domestic duties, husbanddriving will be an asset – Tel: 227-1830 DRESS-MAKING Jean offers courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral, cake decoration at 153 Barr Street, Kitty - Tel:670-2653, 618-1706 PROPERTY FOR SALE
TOURS
Rob Street, 3 flat property, price negotiable - Contact B&G’s Realty – 617-9717, 682-4094
Suriname Tour Return: July 4th/ Caricom Holiday 4-7 July Tel: 639-2663, 644-0185, 6655171, 227-8290
287 Samatha Point Grove, EBD – One Flat 2 bedroom concrete house – Contact: 266-0545, 675-6074, price neg.
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TRIBUTES TO SPECIAL FATHERS >>> From page 11 <<<
Dennis Mc Intosh: The Walking library Have you ever walked into a library? You would witness that there is a wide array of books on every possible topic under the sun, an almost inexhaustible expanse of knowledge. This is literally my father, Dennis Mc Intosh, the quintessential living, walking library. It would appear as though he had walked into a library and drank all of its contents. With the drop of a hat he can rattle off the entire history of the British people, from the Great Queen Victoria to the incomparable Elizabeth II. And how about a little bit of Literature - Shakespeare is in the palm of his hands; some engineering perhaps - he can tell you the intricacies of any motor engine and is quite handy too, does his own plumbing, electrical work and carpentry…you get the picture. Of his six children I’m the youngest
and without a doubt the most troublesome (mildly speaking). Quite the disciplinarian, he is set in his ways, but like any great judge he always tempers justice with mercy. We don’t always see eye to eye on
many issues and sometimes I get the feeling that we don’t agree on anything at all (there is indeed something like a generational gap). Nevertheless, there is one area of consensus: my drive to succeed and his desire and willingness to see me through, albeit using different methodologies (naturally). A father is a guide to a boy. He announces to a boy what he will become, how to chart your course through the chaos of masculinity to arrive at the destination that you have in you and without a father you might not get there. I’m proud of my father. Just as he has not allowed glaucoma to slow him down, age has not dampened his spirit; and it is here that I will proudly proclaim that I have the most wonderful father, and today I say, Happy Father’s Day Pops. (CHRISTOPHER THOMPSON)
Edgar Burchell Jordan:A disciplinarian and a sweet soul My dad was Edgar Burchell Jordan (Snr.), aka ‘Gabby’, ‘Sir’ and ‘Edgar B’, just to name a few of his call names. He was born on the 12th October, 1915, and left the land of the living on the 7th November, 2012. He was the sweetest dad, very gentle, kind, and never wished ill of anyone, but at the same time was a disciplinarian, even though he refused doctor’s orders while he was ill (I guess it was a case of do what you we’re told and not as I do), and he nicknamed me (Nelly Victoria) since in his mind at that point in time I was acting as his mother. At breakfast he would ask “if Guysuco had closed down, since his
intake of sugar was reduced by the doctor and “soup, soup every day, that’s for sick people, what happen to the greens…”
However, growing up, I never heard him use any indecent language. Instead he would say ‘Kadaskit Maan’, meaning he was unhappy with you at that point in time. Another very important thing to dad was “time”. He would usually say if you are not five minutes ahead of the time set, you are late. However, being the last child (last in the jar, his words), my older siblings would say I got away with murder, so to speak, but that did not prevent me from obtaining good family morals and an education that I accredit to my dad. May his sweet soul rest in peace. (SYLVIA JORDAN)
Alcoa to pull out of Jamaica Jamaica Gleaner - AFTER 55 years of operating in Jamaica, Alcoa has signalled its intent to discontinue its operations in the country by selling its 55 per cent stake in the Jamalco alumina refinery. In a release Friday, the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining confirmed that it had received correspondence from Alcoa confirming its intended pull out of Jamaica in an effort to streamline its operations internationally. “In pursuing this strategy, and in consultation with the Government, Alcoa has signed on June 12, 2014, a Letter of Intent with Noble Resources UK Limited (Noble) to sell its ownership interest in the Jamalco operations in Jamaica,” the statement read. Clarendon Alumina Production Ltd (CAP) owns the next 45 per cent of Jamalco. Alcoa, however, will continue to manage the operations of Jamalco with 11 per cent interest in the joint venture for the next two years. The ministry noted also that the sale arrangements would be subjected to the Government’s approval and added that, “the proposal is seen to be a very positive one that will promote the growth, modernisation and improved competitiveness of the Jamaican bauxite and alumina sector.” The release said Noble Group (NGL) is a Fortune 500 company that made its entry into the Jamaican bauxite sector last year, “when it agreed to provide a line of financing to CAP between 2013 and 2016, and buy alumina at improved prices.” The release said since the new financing arrangement with NGL, CAP has not required financing from the Consolidated Fund since last year May.
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Iran says envisages Iraq role with U.S. if Washington tackles regional militants ANKARA (Reuters) - Iran could contemplate cooperating with its old adversary the United States on restoring security to Iraq if it saw Washington confronting “terrorist groups in Iraq and elsewhere”, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday. Rouhani, a pragmatist who has presided over a thaw in Iran’s relations with the West, also said Tehran was unlikely to send forces to Iraq but stood ready to provide help within the framework of international law. Baghdad has not requested such assistance, he added. Shi’ite Muslim Iran has been alarmed by the seizure last week of several major northern Iraqi towns by Sunni Islamist insurgent forces and their sweep southward to within an hour’s drive of Baghdad, and not far from the Iranian border. “We all should practically and verbally confront terrorist groups,” Rouhani told a news conference broadcast live on state television. Asked if Tehran would work with Washington in tackling the advances by Sunni insurgents in Iraq, he replied: “We can think about it if we see America starts confronting the terrorist groups in Iraq or elsewhere.” Fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are bent on recreating a mediaeval caliphate spanning territory they have carved out in fragmenting Iraq and Syria, where it has exploited a power vacuum in the midst of civil war. A senior Iranian official told Reuters earlier this week that Tehran, which has strong
leverage in Shi’ite-majority Iraq, may be ready to cooperate with Washington in helping Baghdad fight back against the jihadist ISIL rebels. The official said the idea of cooperating with the Americans was being discussed within the Tehran leadership. For now, according to Iranian media, Iran will send advisers and weaponry, although probably not troops, to boost Baghdad. “Iran has never dispatched any forces to Iraq and it is very unlikely it will ever happen,” Rouhani told yesterday’s news conference. Western diplomats suspect Iran has in the past sent some of its Revolutionary Guards, a hardline force that works in parallel with the army, to train and advise the Iraqi army or its militia allies. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, quoted by Fars news agency, said: “Supporting the Iraqi government and nation does not mean sending troops to Iraq. It means condemning terrorist acts and closing and safeguarding our joint borders.” In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama said he was reviewing military options, short of sending combat troops, to help Iraq repel the insurgency but warned any U.S. action must be accompanied by an Iraqi government effort to bridge divisions between Shi’ite and Sunni communities. U.S. officials said there were no contacts going on with Iran over the crisis in Iraq. Rouhani said he was not aware of any American plans for Iraq or whether Washington wanted to help Baghdad.
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Finance Minister refutes claims Case dismissed against of abuse of ‘Emergency Fund’ Belle Vue shooting-death…
accused CPG member
…amidst cries for justice from aggrieved mother Six months after being accused of gunning down a 19-year-old Belle Vue mason, the embattled West Bank Demerara policing group (CPG) member has walked out of the courts a free man after the presiding Magistrate discharged the murder charge instituted against him. Two days after the December 18 shooting of Godfrey Jhaggroo at Belle Vue, Harry ‘Sudesh’ Rajpat, 20, a member of a West Bank Demerara policing group, was charged with his murder. Jhaggroo was shot at the back of the head shortly after a neighbour, who owns a rum shop, intervened in an argument between him and his mother. It is alleged that the neighbour went into the mother’s yard and struck Jhaggroo with a piece of wood. The injured man reportedly hurled back the same piece of wood which struck the neighbour’s daughter. Kaieteur News previously reported that the rum shop owner had complained to members of the Community Policing Group (CPG) about the incident and a vehicle with two members of the CPG caught up with Jhaggroo on the public road and he was shot. The mason reportedly died from injuries received from a shotgun blast, the post mortem examination had revealed. After the post mortem, Rajpat, a mechanic, appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Wales Magistrate’s Court for the start of his preliminary inquiry which commenced on March 20. The accused, who was being prosecuted by Police Prosecutor, Corporal Lukhai, was represented by Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos and Pamela De Santos. Several witnesses were called to take the stand on
Freed: Harry Rajpat behalf of the Prosecution. Following the constant noshows of some of the Prosecution’s key witnesses, the defence moved to close its case against Rajpat. De Santos made a no-case submission on behalf of the accused which were upheld by the presiding Magistrate on Thursday, last. Magistrate Nurse said that in light of the evidence before him, the court was of the opinion that the Prosecution had not established a prima facie case against Rajpat. The Magistrate indicated that the court would uphold the no case submission made by the defence and discharge the murder charge. Meanwhile, the family of the deceased has recorded disdain with the judicial system, stating that the manner in which the case was handled was disappointing. Churamanie Jhaggroo, the mother of the deceased, said “I just want justice. My son just die like that and nothing ain’t happen.” In tears, the mother of nine said “He murder my son and get off free like this. I don’t know what else to do. In six months he done get release. “I really feel these people
Dead: Godfrey Jhaggroo get pay. I am a poor woman. I don’t have money to spend. I don’t know what else will become of this story. “Everybody in the community just shocked. Nobody can believe what happened. That’s the son that used to help me out with the family. “No one understands how a man could just murder my son and just get off,” the grieving mother lamented. Jhaggroo has since lodged a report with the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“How do you explain the fact that an Opposition controlled Parliament approved 92.6 percent of the contingency transactions? Where is this abuse?” Those were questions posed by the Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh in his response to allegations by members of the Opposition that he was found to be abusing the Contingency Fund. The Opposition had contended that this was highlighted by the Auditor General in several of his reports. This was also supported by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman. The Contingency Fund is a reserve of money set aside to cover emergencies. The Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA) sets out a criterion for what situations can qualify as ‘emergency’ and as such warrant use of funds. If Government deems a situation an emergency, they would use the funds. The Parliament would then examine during a sitting whether the situation for which the funds were used was actually an emergency according to the law. Dr. Singh said, “I am aware that over time, the Auditor General has said that the fund has been abused. The only problem with that is
Finance Minister, Ashni Singh that the very Parliament that established the Fund has an opportunity to vote on whether it considered each use of the Fund appropriate or not.” The Member of Parliament said that on every occasion prior to the tenth Parliament that he has served as Minister of Finance, the National Assembly approved the use of the Fund. “You may wish to say that during that time Government had a majority and so you may wish to deduce that it comes as no surprise that Parliament approved every use. “In the tenth Parliament, the government is in the minority. During the tenth Parliament, six financial papers were submitted to the
National Assembly in relation to the Fund. Those six financial papers were financial paper number seven of 2011, number nine of 2011, number four of 2012, number six of 2012, number two of 2013, and number four of 2013. The total value of Contingency Fund transactions spread over those six financial papers is roughly $9.4B. “A total $8.7B of that sum was approved, representing 92.6 percent of the total value of the transactions.” The Finance Minister added, “The National Assembly of the tenth Parliament where the opposition is in the majority approved 92.6 percent of those transactions. Let us say that you want to call the 100 percent (approval) an aberration in the ninth Parliament. How do you explain the fact that an opposition controlled Parliament approved 92.6 percent? Where is this abuse?” Dr. Singh added that he is proud of the fact that Government was able to convince the National Assembly that more than 90 percent of their Contingency transactions were worthy of approval. “What this says is that they endorse the responsible use of it. That’s what the (Continued on page 68)
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Rotary Club of Georgetown reviews 30 years of community service By Rehanna Ramsay Celebrating more than three decades of service to communities across Guyana, the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central (RCGC) is poised to improve the lives of Guyanese, “one community at a time”. Rotary is an organisation of business and professional persons united in the idea of service. The first Rotary was formed in Chicago Illinois, USA on February 23, 1905. Today, the organisation has blossomed into an international body with 1.3 million volunteers and 32,000 clubs in 166 countries, all with a primary goal of eradicating poverty. In Guyana, the first club-the Rotary Club of Georgetown-was initiated in 1959. To date, there are six
Rotary Clubs in Guyana-the Rotary Club of Demerara, the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam, the Rotary Club of Corriverton, the Rotary Club of Stabroek, the Rotary Club of Georgetown, and the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central. The Rotary Club of Georgetown Central was inaugurated on November 30, 1983, with the aim of reaching communities within the boundaries of Greater Georgetown and beyond. Club President, Judy Semple-Joseph, stated that for more than quarter of a century, Rotarians have been committed to “service above self” in their various community efforts. She said that within the past year, the organisation has based its work on providing
Finance Minister... From page 67 statistics say. So never mind the political drama. It is nice to say the abuse of the funds but what do the facts say? Even the ones not approved, they were by no means questionable transactions,” the Minister concluded. The Auditor General, in his 2012 report, said that advances continued to be issued from the Contingency Fund, which did not meet the required criteria for such advances, resulting in $95.661M being drawn from the Fund and utilized to meet expenditure that did not meet the eligibility criteria as defined in the Act. The PAC Chairman said that Secretary to the Treasury, Nirmal Rekha, seemed unable to clarify why this continues to happen. Trotman had said that as
a member of the Parliament, it is imperative for politicians to uphold the Constitution. “But I must commend the PAC for discharging its functions. It is doing a lot of work. However, it is really making no sense if the recommendations of the PAC are not going to be adhered to by the government. “This flagrant disregard for their findings is a matter of serious concern and Government is expected to bring its self in compliance or else the system will be broken and that is not what the people voted for,” the Speaker concluded. The PAC Chairman had also stated that there remains a significant number of applications made for the Contingency Fund that the Auditor General deemed to be outside the criteria.
service through worthy enterprise, thus affording members of RCGC the opportunity of contributing immeasurably to the growth of developing communities. In recent years, the organisation has focused on “individual community development”. Residents of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown; Enterprise, East Coast Demerara; Kuru Kururu on the Linden /Soesdyke Highway, and other areas, which include Lethem, Region Nine and Pomeroon in Region Two, have significantly benefitted from several outreach projects initiated by the club. The projects included the provision of improved health care services, literacy programmes and the beautification of public areas. At present, the RCGC is placing special emphasis on realising its “Sophia Promise”, which is a two-year project aimed at tackling educational, environmental, health and recreational issues. Semple-Joseph says that the basic components of the project include prevention of non-communicable diseases, environmental work which deals with issues of water and sanitation, heath and literacy programmes, and sensitizing the Greater Georgetown populace on methods of conflict resolution. The club is also actively involved in the rehabilitation of recreational facilities in the community, which will be the focus for the remainder of the year. “We look, evaluate and provide intervention to communities, where the need is greatest. We are currently conducting our outreach in Sophia via the dental bus initiative, which is a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Health. Courts
RCGC sponsors Easter Monday Treat/Kite Flying Classic for Orphans
Guyana is also a major partner in the project.” Ms Semple-Joseph added that, for the past two years, the club has been assisting the pupils of the Sophia Primary School with a literacy programme aimed at preparing them for the National Grade Six Assessment. “Approximately 30 students attend classes every week. We are currently enrolling a new batch of students. It is refreshing to see the response of the children from the area. To see that their minds are alert and open to be engaged in a positive way is evidence of promise. “Last year the top performers of the Sophia Primary School passed through the programme.” The club currently has a membership of some 40 business and professional persons, who finance the projects via subscription fees and fundraising ventures. “The idea is to provide services to the communities, which promote peace and goodwill. Through the support of our members, we are able to finance these projects, hence we can sponsor tutors for Grade Five students in Sophia, free of cost the parents,” Semple-
Joseph said of the project, which is also facilitated by local Pastor Narine Khublall. Last November, the group observed its 30th anniversary under the theme “Restoration and Reformation”.
During the celebration, Rotarians were urged to reflect and recommit to the service of contributing to the rejuvenation of the kindred spirit for which the Club has been noted.
Regent Street businessman shot during suspected robbery
Injured businessman, Inshaan Ally being transported from X-ray Unit of the GPHC yesterday. Regent Street businessman, Inshaan Ally, 65, of Lot 20 Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara, is nursing gunshot injuries to his left hand after he was reportedly shot yesterday during a suspected robbery outside his place of business yesterday. The injured man was identified as the proprietor of Styles Palace, located at Regent and King Streets, Georgetown. He was said to be standing outside his place of
business around 17:00 hours when he was shot. Eyewitnesses recalled that the man was walking towards his car, when a lone gunman emerged in a white Toyota Raum motorcar and opened fire. Ally was assisted by persons standing nearby. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries. Police are continuing their investigations to determine the circumstances of the shooting.
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“Hype does not win Test matches -Taking twenty wickets does!” Reality is a bitch, but as New Zealand’s captain Brendon McCallum confirmed, NZ played almost perfectly in Test No. 1 v West Indies, outplaying WI in every department at Sabina Park. Whatever happens in Tests No. 2 & 3, WI cannot do much worst. Much improvement is necessary to be even near par with NZ! To win any Test, twenty wickets must be taken by a team, regardless of how many runs that team makes. That win could only come from bowlers being
purposeful and focused, while also having batsmen laying foundations with good scores, so that bowlers can have room to maneuver! WI’s much-hyped bowlers took only fifteen wickets, while NZ’s concentrated attack showed exactly how bowlers should operate on such an adverse bowling pitch, to win by an overwhelming 186 runs! In Test No 1, WI’s 1st innings bowling effort was way below average; baffling, really; when they should have been straining at the leash, fired-up, waiting to pounce on
the rumored under-prepared Kiwis. Now that Sunil Narine has apparently been included only for Test No. 3 – why not Test No 2 – the bowling attack should improve. By then, though, it may be too late; the series already lost! Whatever WI does for the rest of this important, pivotal Test series, its bowlers, especially quickies, must be much better, even if they redeemed themselves slightly in NZ’s 2nd innings! They must think more on their bowling feet and not just depend on what they had
Sunday June 08, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): If situations get too hot and heavy, Aries, your first instinct is to run away or jump to the next subject before anyone notices you're avoiding the serious ones. That's one way to deal with today's intensity, but deep down you know it isn't the best. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Your actions today could take an investigative approach, Taurus. You're able to probe much more deeply than usual as you search people's eyes for the answers you seek. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Your courageous strength and desire to take a leadership role may be threatening to others today, Gemini. Be careful of automatically assuming the dominant position before learning what other people feel about the situation. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): You can cut through to the truth quite easily today, Cancer, so don't hesitate to do so. If you come to an intersection and no one seems to know who should go next, take the initiative and go. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): IYou may want to keep your ship on an even keel today, Leo, but remember that no matter how hard as you try, this simply might not be possible. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): This is your day to shine in many respects, Virgo. The action you take is right on target, so draw back your arrow as far as you can before letting it fly.
LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): You could be wondering why everyone has to be so serious and emotional all of a sudden. You're likely to be feeling this way, too. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): Don't put up with anyone's shenanigans, Scorpio. Your time is too precious and your energy too powerful to waste on those who see you as a fair-weather friend or emotional crutch. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): You may have the intellectual side of the equation completely set in your head, Sagittarius. You've collected all the facts and have all the data worked out in such a way that it's impossible for anyone to fault your calculations. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Come out of your shell today and try not to be so aloof, Capricorn. You will never find the exact path you want to be on until you explore the different options. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18):Secure your bunker and make sure it's fully stocked with heavy artillery, because there is bound to be a battle, Aquarius. ********************* PISCES (Feb. 19 March 20): You tend to get quite emotional about things even though you don't always show it prominently to the outside world, Pisces. The difference today is that more people are likely to be openly acting out their emotions, so you, in turn, could feel safer about exposing your true feelings to the people around you.
been coached into being. Especially fast bowling is all about being able to quickly adjust to conditions underfoot! That pitch at Sabina Park was quite poor, for Test cricket, especially considering the make-up of WI bowling attack, as there was no early pace, only ‘tennis-ball’ bounce and not much for spinners either. Orthodox left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn’s intelligent, timely, honest overview was spot on! Sabina’s pitches used to be magnificent – glass-like, ultrahard, consistent in bounce, extrafast, slick. Since my very first visit to that historic Test venue in 1971, representing Guyana in Under 19’s, this was one of the worst pitches ever seen at Sabina to start a Test. Queen’s Park Oval must offer much more to everyone; bowlers and batsmen; hopefully at least like those pitches used last January for Caribbean 50-overs tournament - bouncy, pacy and turning too - as Test pitches should behave! But WI’s quickies were also very culpable for NZ’s highly professional 1st innings batting effort in Jamaica. Recent WI fast bowlers have been so overcoached these last several years at not pitching the ball up to proper, much fuller length, that they could not re-adjust themselves to “driving” length, as was required. WI’s faster bowlers think that they are quicker than they really are, so too many deliveries were way too short and of no consequence in NZ’s 1st innings! NZ’s bowling was exactly the opposite; what was called for on that same benign pitch; bowling at fuller lengths, with resounding results, even getting LBW’s! 1st Innings, WI’s quickies were operating at bowling length of their bowling consultant, Sir Curtly Ambrose, while none of them had any of his unusual lift,
wrist-zip, or even pace, overall. Roach looked badly out of kilter and needs much work to return to what we still hope that he could become. WI Head Coach Ottis Gibson, a former WI opening bowler and England bowling coach, must also agree that the overall WI 1st innings bowling performance was fully mediocre. NZ should never have made over 500! WI were in a camp for two weeks, so if the quickies were not heavily pressed there, as they should have been, then how could anyone know if they could cope under real heavy pressure. Camps are not for pampering, but for significantly hard physical work to bring players to a steamy boil, ready for immediate all-out action. Players should be pressed to almost breaking point in camps. Gibson also lamented his team’s batting failure. That should not have been a surprise! 508-7 was already run-heavy, so if 100-Tests Chris Gayle or 154-Tests Shiv Chanderpaul, under pressure from the get-go, did not score heavily, then the rest of WI’s batsmen, based on recent form, were due to crumble. Except for Gayle and indomitable “Chanders”, WI’s
Colin E. H. Croft says: batting in Test No. 1 was diabolically shambolic. In 2nd innings, WI did not even muster enough time for an ODI-type existence, falling in just 47.4 overs! If anyone was paying attention to Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels earlier this year in WI regional 1st class games, they would have known that neither of these had had any scores to talk about! They were all playing Test No. 1 more on reputations, from memory even, than from recent scores and form. Why do WI’s selectors sacrifice our players this way on so many occasions? NZ’s Test debutant, offspinner Mark Craig, bowled brilliantly, varying pace and flight well for 8-188, easily “Man-of-the-Match”. One down, two Tests to go, so mammoth and immediate changes are necessary for West Indies. If they would be made is another story! Enjoy!
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Guyana Men Caricom Championship Performance 1996 Trinidad With Guyana preparing to do Caricom Basketball Championship duty in this year’s tournament, Statistician Charwayne Walker has been looking at the previous showing by Guyana in the tournament. Today he looks at the Guyana men’s team performance in the 1996 tournament staged in Trinidad. Guyana playing under the Captaincy of Ravens maestro Lugard Mohan reached the Semi-finals of the 13th Caricom Championship in Trinidad in 1996. Guyana contested eight matches losing four and winning four. The land of Many Waters campaign started with an emphatic victory against Barbados at the Jean Pierre Complex. Guyana won 84 to 78, Skipper Lugard Mohan led from the front with a game high 22 pts, (Centre) Lorenzo Withrite supported Mohan with 18 pts, while the flambouyant Remington Ram finished with 17 pts. For Barbados Andrew Alleyne scored 16 pts, Ryan Holford 15 pts and Nigel Lloyd 10 pts. Game No.2, Guyana blew out Regional Powerhouse Bahamas 104 to 76, Lugard Mohan 17 pts, Wayne Bristol 17 pts, Lorenzo Withrite 16 pts, Remington Ram 12 pts and Lancelot Loncke 12 pts led the Guyanese. For Bahamas Scott Forbes scored a game high 26 pts, Vincent Knowles 18 pts and Michael Wilson 10 pts. Game No. 3 Guyana lost to host Trinidad and Tobago at the St. Paul’s Gymnasium 111 to 88. Wayne Bristol scored 14 pts, Lugard Mohan 13 pts, Remington Ram 13 pts, 8 Rebounds Robert Cadogan 11 pts and Lancelot Loncke 12 pts. For Trinidad Barry Sandy hit seven threes in a game high 28 pts, Portugal
Lugard Mohan base Pro Bertrand Brisbane scored 24 pts and Beville Taitt 22 pts. Game No. Four, Guyana lost to Jamaica 105 to 98, Skipper Lugard Mohan had 19 pts, Lorenzo Withrite 14 pts and Steven Nurse 14 pts. For Jamaica former N.B.A star Andrew Kennedy 35 pts and Rumeal Robinson 15 pts. Game No. 5, Guyana destroyed St. Lucia 102 to 93 at the St. Paul’s Gymnasium, Rawlwin Loncke 15 pts, Lorenzo Withrite 14 pts, Orin Mohan 12 pts, Dane Kendall 12 pts, Remington Ram 10 pts and Lancelot Loncke 10 pts 8 Rebound. For St. Lucia, I. Browne scored a game high 19 pts. Game No. 6, Guyana humbled Dominica, who playing with 7ft 2 inch Centre, Garth Joseph, lost 86 to 71 at the St. Paul’s Gymnasium. Guyana were led by Wayne Bristol 23 pts, Lorenzo Withrite 22 pts 8 Rebounds and Lancelot Loncke 16 pts 6 Rebounds. Game No. 7 Semi-Finals at St. Paul’s Gymnasium, Guyana lost to Jamaica 100 to 97. Centre Lorenzo Withrite 27 pts 7 Rebounds, Wayne Bristol 23 pts, Lugard Mohan 20 pts and Lancelot Loncke 9 Rebounds. For Jamaica former N.B.A guard Rumeal Robinson scored 27 pts,
Andrew Kennedy 19 pts 6 rebounds. Game No. 8, Guyana lost Third place game to Bahamas 133 to 120 at the Jean Pierre Complex. Lugard Mohan 22 pts, Rawlwin Loncke 22 pts, Remington Ram 18 pts and Lorenzo Withrite 16 pts were the top shots. For Bahamas Scott Forbes 29 pts, L. Collie 25 pts, R. Pierre 23pts, Michael Wilson 22 pts and R. Pinder 18 pts led their cause. Both Skipper Lugard Mohan and Centre Lorenzo Withrite aggregated over 100 pts. Guyana were also the only team with two set of brothers on display. The Lonckes, Rawlwin and Lancelot and the Mohans, Lugard and Orin. 1996 Caricom Team: Lugard Mohan – Captain ravens Orin Mohan – Ravens Rawlwin Loncke – Pacesetters Lancelot Loncke – Globe Trotters Robert Codagan – Pacesetters Dane Kendall – Clots United Lorenzo Withrite – Clots United Don Fletcher – Eagles Steven Nurse – D.C. Jammers Wayne Bristol – D.C. Jammers Pierre Goddette – D.C. Jammers Remington Ram – Globe Trotters Tieran Ceasar –Coach Jamaica won the 1996 Caricom Championship defeating host Trinidad and Tobago in finals 86 to 78. Former N.B.A Guard Rumeal Robinson 40 pts and Ricky Parkes 17 pts for the winners, while for Trinidad, Bertrund Brisbane scored 22 pts, Beville Taitt 16 pts and Derek James 12 pts.
Semi-final action set in Scotiabank/Pepsi School Football Academy tournament East Ruimveldt Secondary will clash with Berbice High School in a female encounter at 11:30hrs today when the semi-finals of the Scotiabank/Pepsi School Football Academy tournament get underway at the Esplanade Ground, New Amsterdam, Berbice. The second match of the double header will see Berbice Educational Institute opposing Charlestown Secondary in a male encounter.
Meanwhile, though Queens College have defeated Christ Church 2-0 in the Group B play off, they have still been eliminated from the tournament due to an earlier violation of the rules. Christ Church also suffered a similar fate which means that Charlestown Secondary, the school next in line, have been gifted the slot. Also, East Ruimveldt had defeated Campbellville Secondary in the female play off.
GCB congratulates Johnson The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) extends congratulations to Leon Johnson who has be selected to represent the West Indies in the second Test match against New Zealand on Monday in Trinidad and Tobago. The Board is urging the left-handed middle order batsman to make maximum use of the opportunity. The GCB wishes Johnson well and hopes he will make Guyana proud and help the West Indies get back to winning ways.
Sunday June 15, 2014
Annual GBTI OPEN set to serve off Thursday There is much excitement in the tennis fraternity as the Guyana Tennis Association prepares to serve off the 2014 Annual Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Open Tennis Tournament at 5:00pm on Thursday afternoon at the GBTI Recreational Club, Kaieteur Street, Bel Air Park. The competition, which continues to evolve over recent years, is now considered the premiere competitive event on the GTA calendar of activities. The categories featured are Men’s Open Singles and Doubles, Ladies Open Singles and Doubles, Men’s Over 35 Singles and Doubles, Mixed doubles, Junior Boys and Girls Open Singles and the Novice Singles and Medley Doubles categories which was established three years ago to accommodate the growing number of beginner and intermediate players as the association promotes active living through tennis as a valuable health and wellness alternative. The format for the Open categories is best of 3 sets, while the Men’s Over 35 will play a super tie-breaker for the third set and the novice categories will play one set. The action gets underway from 16:30hrs every weekday of the competition and from 8:00hrs on weekends. Tournament Coordinators, Shelly Daly from Park Players Club and Tandy Primo from Non-Pariel Club have distributed application forms.
GBTI CEO John Tracey (centre) with defending Men’s Champion Anthony Downes and Ladies Champion Nicola Ramdyhan. They can be reached at 6425672 and 641-2727 respectively for entry and other details pertaining to the tournament. As the tournament grows with increasing quantity of players, the GLTA laments the loss of many advanced players to migration. However, in the near future, GLTA hopes to be able to import players to participate in the tournament to provide sustained competition of good quality for the new wave
of top junior players that are emerging. GBTI’s CEO, Mr. John Tracey, a veteran tennis player, continues to provide significant support to tennis as he desires to see the sport regain its prominence in Guyana. His annual sponsorship of this tournament and the provision of tennis facilities in and out of Georgetown both demonstrate his unwavering support for the development of the game.
Kumar Sangakkara century stalls hosts BBC Sport - Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara struck his first Test century at Lord’s before three late wickets raised England’s spirits on the third day of the first Test. The masterful left-hander filled a rare gap on his CV with 147 as Sri Lanka comfortably avoided the follow-on target of 376, with Mahela Jayawardene scoring 55 and captain Angelo Mathews an unbeaten 79. But after Sangakarra had gifted Moeen Ali his first Test wicket with a tired cut into Matt Prior’s gloves, Liam Plunkett and Chris Jordan each claimed a scalp to leave the tourists on 415-7 in reply to England’s 575-9 declared on a flat pitch. It was just reward for England’s bowlers, who strained every sinew but had to wait until the final hour of the day to really impose themselves on their opponents on a wicket
offering precious little bounce or sideways movement. Blocking England’s path for most of the day was Sangakkara, who was calmness personified as he drove, pulled, pushed and clipped his way to a 36th Test century. Having come into the series with an average of just 30 in England, compared with a career mark of 58, he answered any lingering questions about his ability to thrive in northernhemisphere conditions. And in earning a place on the Lord’s honours’ board, two weeks to the day after his first one-day century at the ‘home of cricket’, he achieved a feat that proved beyond fellow modern greats Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis. “A hundred at Lord’s is something I always wanted,” Sangakkara told Sky Sports. “Coming on this tour,
probably my last in England, I just wanted to enjoy it. If it happened, it happened. “Lord’s is a very special place to play. It feels very special to get on the honours board.” After Sri Lanka resumed on 140-1 under leaden skies, England struck when James Anderson surprised Kaushal Silva with a short ball that the batsman deflected to Prior. Far from a breakthrough, however, the wicket merely brought together Sangakkara and Jayawardene, whose 126-run stand moved them ahead of former Australia opening pair Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden as the third most prolific Test partnership of all time. Midway through the afternoon session, Sangakkara brought a packed Lord’s to its feet when he caressed Joe Root through the covers for four to bring
Sunday June 15, 2014
Kaieteur News
Costa Rica fight back to stun Uruguay 3-1 FORTALEZA Brazil (Reuters) - Two goals in four dramatic second-half minutes set lowly Costa Rica on their way to a deserved 3-1 victory over Uruguay on Saturday in the biggest upset of the World Cup so far. The Uruguayans took the lead in the Group D clash thanks to a disputed Edinson Cavani penalty midway through the first half before the Central Americans turned the match on its head after the break. Young striker Joel Campbell chested down a cross from the right and slammed a low shot past keeper Fernando Muslera
after 54 minutes. Then center back Oscar Duarte gave Costa Rica the lead in the 57th minute with a brave diving header at the back post from a Christian Bolanos free kick. Marco Urena completed the remarkable victory with a third in the 84th minute, silencing an army of sky blueclad Uruguayan fans in Fortaleza’s Castelao arena. Uruguay’s misery was compounded in stoppage time when their defender Maxi Pereira became the first man to be sent off at this World Cup. It had all looked so different in the first half when
Diego Lugano went down in the box under pressure from Costa Rica defender Junior Diaz as he tried to get on the end of a Diego Forlan free kick. Diaz clearly had his arms around the waist of his opponent but even so the Uruguayan captain made a meal of the challenge. Nevertheless, German referee Felix Brych pointed to the spot and Cavani slammed home the penalty. Uruguay face England in their next group match while the jubilant Costa Ricans, who have only once made it out of the group stages at a World Cup, will take on Italy.
Former West Indies Cricketer Mendonca passes on Former West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Guyanese Ivor Leon Mendonca died yesterday. He suffered cancer of the Larynx and Prostrate. Mendonca was born on July 13, 1934 in Bartica, Essequibo and also represented British Guiana. The right handed batsman was a talented cricketer and appeared in two test matches and had the misfortune to be at his peak at a time when the was no vacancy in the regional squad. He got his chance after Jackie Hendricks got injured against India in the 1961-62 series. In his debut at Kingston, he scored 78 adding 127 for the seventh wicket with Gary Sobers and 74 for the eighth wicket with Charlie Stayers, and took four catches and a stumping. He averaged 40.50. He lost his place to David Allan in the third test; won it back in the fourth in which he effected five dismissals and was replaced by Allan for the fifth.
Ivor Mendonca Mendonca played 10 first class games and amassed 407 runs including three half centuries with a highest score of 78 at an average of 31.30. His first class career spanned from 1958 -1962. He was born to Ineas Mendonca and Osmond Mendonca and was the oldest of 10 brothers and
sisters. He was the uncle of English Footballer Clive Mendonca. Meanwhile, the President, Members and Executive Committee of the Guyana Cricket Board have expressed condolences to his family. A release from the board stated that Ivor was a quiet and unassuming individual and served the game of cricket ardently. He was always willing to share his knowledge and experience of his cricketing career and exploits with any eager listener and spent most of his final years with the Georgetown Cricket Club until his ailments. Just a few years prior to his death, Ivor could be seen coaching the youngsters at the Club. Secretary of the GCB Anand Sanasie in an invited comment said that even though they were all aware that Ivor was ill for some time, his death still creates that vacuum we experience when someone beloved departs.
Stephano Husbands outsprint... From page 72 Panday, Account Executive of P&P Insurance noted that they were again happy to be a part of the activity which would have seen many of the young riders from the initial days moving on to
succeed at the higher level. “As a responsible business entity, we are co n s c i o u s of our obligations to the community and we seek to discharge that responsibility by s u p p o r t i n g m a n y
projects and events including this one today. I wish to congratulate all the winners and urge those who did not do too well not to lose heart but to work harder and success will come your way.”
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Charwayne Walker Sports Statistician wins 2013 Pierre De Coubertin Award 150 Years Sports, a school of Life Award, the Award is named after the founder of the International Olympic Committee, Pierre De Coubertin. Charwayne Walker was recommended by the Guyana Olympic Association for the award for his contributions to sport via research and publishing stats and facts of teams and individuals over the years. Starting out writing several letters to the Kaieteur News sports section, Walker eventually started doing several articles retracing various performances of the regional and Guyanese teams in Cricket, football and basketball. His pieces have been looked forward to by sport aficionados and have been the cause for many debates and even settling arguments and a learning experience for many. Walker was presented with the award by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds on May 9th, 2014 at the Guyana Olympic Association Awards Ceremony at Georgetown Club. Walker would like to extent heartfelt thanks to Mr
Charwayne Walker with the award.
Ivor O’Brian and Members of the Guyana Olympic Association for his contribution to Sports in Guyana and the Region. The Kaieteur Sports also came in
for mention for affording him to enlighten fans and bring back memories of the outstanding performances of our regional and Guyana sports heroes.
Wolf’s softball tourney goes top gear Preparations are moving ahead smoothly for the Wolf ’s Furniture Store softball tournament scheduled to bowl off on Friday June 20 at Thirst Park ground. Some of the country’s top softball teams are expected to battle for honours. Teams that have already indicated their interest in participating are; Amrol’s X1, Speedboat, Farm, Trophy Stall, Regal, Challengers and Wolf’s Warriors in the open category, while Bel Air Rubis, Parika Defenders
and Regal are sure starters in the over-40 division. Among the sponsors on board so far are Banks D.I.H, Trophy Stall, Saphie’s Lumber, Mampie’s Furniture, Nadesh’s Welding and Royco’s Furniture. The final is slated for Sunday June 22nd 2014. Entrance fee is $20,000. Sizeale trophies and cash incentives will be up for grabs. Teams can contact Imran Hussain (Wolf) on 268-3914/ 647-2884 or Samuel Kingston on 614-9536 for more information.
GVF donates equipment to Amerindian Ministry & MCYS The Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) through its President, Commander John Flores handed over 50 balls and 10 nets to Mr. Anil Roberts from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to jump start the Hinterland Volleyball Programme for 2014. This being one of the many plans the President would have outlined when appointed last December 2013. According to Mr. Anil Singh, the Principal Regional Development Officer, the gears will be distributed to hinterland communities with a high population and those
who show a high level of interest and potential. He also stated that there is always demand coming from hinterland communities for sports gears and equipment. To complement this programme the GVF also donated the same quantity of balls and nets to the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports to fast track the Community Programme. The first community that will benefit from this programme will be St. Cuthbert Mission and they were scheduled to receive their equipment yesterday.
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Sunday June 15, 2014
DCB congratulates Hive of activities planned as Eletra Johnson on his selection Sports Club hosts sports expo
The Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) has congratulated Leon Johnson on his selection for the second test against New Zealand which commences on Monday in Trinidad and Tobago. A release from the board stated that his selection came as no surprise since he has been scoring heavily for Guyana in all formats
of the game. He also preformed creditably for the West Indies High Performance Center against Bangladesh A notching a few half centuries recently. The DCB has recognised and appreciated Johnson’s commitment to cricket and wish him well in his future endeavours.
Dominant Colombia ease past Greece
A late James Rodriguez goal secured Colombia’s biggest win at a World Cup finals. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - Colombia made an impressive start to their Group C campaign as an early Pablo Armero strike set them on the way to a comfortable win over Greece. The Napoli defender rolled in Juan Cuadrado’s fifth-minute cut-back. Te o f i l o Gutierrez, leading Colombia’s attack in the absence of the injured Radamel Falcao, then touched in from a James Rodriguez corner after the break. Theofanis Gekas headed Greece’s best chance against the b a r, b e f o r e R o d r i g u e z steered in a late third. It was a very solid showing from Colombia, who are looking to progress beyond the last 16 of a World Cup for the first time after finishing runnersup to Argentina in South American qualifying. But the pressure is on attacking talents such as Gutierrez and Rodriguez to produce goals after Monaco forward Falcao, their nine-goal top scorer in the qualification campaign, was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury. He did his bit to help his compatriots by offering hugs and moral support to his team-mates in the tunnel before the match. And cheered on by the majority of the crowd at Estadio Mineirao in Belo
Horizonte, Jose Pekerman’s side responded with a goal inside the first five minutes. The creative Juan Cuadrado rolled the ball across the penalty area from the right, and Armero - who spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham - scored only his second goal in 54 international appearances with a shot that trundled in off Greece centre-back Kostas Manolas. It was a far from spectacular goal - and television replays showed three Colombia players were standing in offside positions - but the leftback and his team-mates celebrated with an eyecatching dance in front of their bench. The craft of £37.6m Monaco midfielder Rodriguez and pace of Cagliari forward Victor Ibarbo threatened repeatedly to cause further damage to the Greece backline, although they had to be patient before the rewards came. And P e k e r m a n ’s defence had to survive some difficult moments themselves, with Panagiotis Kone unable to take either of two chances that came his way. Kone should have equalised within seconds of Armero’s opener, but scuffed wide from 15 yards after former Celtic striker
Georgios Samaras had cut the ball back to him from the left. The Bologna midfielder went close again just before half-time when his 20-yard steered shot was pushed away athletically by keeper David Ospina after Gekas’s charge into the penalty area was held up and Samaras worked the ball loose. But it was a frustrating afternoon for Greece, who lacked enough adventure to find a way back into the match. After the impressive Rodriguez had ended a run with a shot from outside the area that keeper Orestis Karnezis beat away, he then delivered the corner t h a t l e d t o C o l o m b i a ’s second goal, with Abel Aguilar flicking on at the near post for an unattended Gutierrez to touch in from inside the sixyard box. Gekas, preferred to Fulham striker Kostas Mitroglou in attack, capped a day to forget when he headed Vasilis Torosidis’s nod back against the bar from six yards. Colombia sealed victory with a stylish late goal, as the exciting Fiorentina midfielder Cuadrado burst to the edge of the penalty area before setting up Rodriguez to guide a shot into the corner of the net.
The administrators of the Eletra Sports are pushing ahead with their mandate of broadening the local sport spectrum when they launch the Eletra Sports Expo 2014 at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eveleary, June 27-29 next. Consequently, organizers have also planned similar activities for Blairmont (West Berbice), 63 Village (Corentyne Berbice), Bartica, Anna Regina (Essequibo) and Mackenzie (Linden), during the month of July. Under the theme, ‘Evolution of Sports-Building the Future of Sports in Guyana,” activities are scheduled to get underway Friday June 27 with a launching programme followed by a day of interaction with students where several games will be played. Also on that day, in the afternoon, the organizers will host a fundraising dinner after which sports personalities will speak on the development of sports in
Guyana. On Saturday June 28, the organizers will be hosting a forum whereby club members and officials will get a chance to interact with sports personalities. These sessions will be conducted between 10:0012:00hrs and are open to the general public. Consequently, there will be a question and answer period to clarify pressing issues. Activities will culminate on Sunday with a presentation ceremony where sports personalities will receive plaques coupled with give-aways by several corporate entities. Meanwhile, the forum will further showcase a number of businesses that provide services and sports gears and equipment. These business entities will also engage in inter-personal interaction among their publics. The organizers also hope to foster a better relationship between business entities and other stakeholders in both direct and indirect marketing of their
products and services. Other activities include outdoor and indoor games the likes of cricket, football, basketball, table tennis, chess, martial arts and athletics. There will also be fitness and nutrition displays, sport broadcasting media companies and journals/ magazines/newsletters showcasing and publicity and motor vehicle sports display among others. The objectives of the exercise are to activate, develop, maintain and in some cases resuscitate play grounds across Guyana and to network with other sport groups, while opening avenues for sports opportunities to a wide cross section of Guyana. The forum will also serve as the annual fund-raiser for Eletra Sports Club. Entrance fee for adults is $500, while students in uniform pay $200. There will be food bars, beverages and games for children along with other side attractions.
14th P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants 11-Race NPM
Stephano Husbands outsprints veteran Robin Persaud for maiden win Team Coco’s Stephano Husbands recorded the biggest win of his still young career yesterday in the National Park, outsprinting veteran Robin Persaud to win the feature 35-lap schools boys and invitation race. The activity was the 14th P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants 11-race National Park Cycle Programme. Thirty-four riders faced starter’s orders; many of the seasoned campaigners including Raynauth Jeffrey, Marlon Williams and Junior Niles among others were in contention. The race got off to a blazing start with Husbands’ teammate Jeffrey bursting away from the whistle and in the process led for the first eight laps. Jeffrey’ early steam was watered down when he suffered a puncture on lap 11. But excellent teamwork saw two of his club members waiting for him and together they worked their way back to the main pack by lap 17. Clearly, Team Coco’s have a mission to transform the sport locally. That level of teamwork has been missing in the local sport for a long time, fans and supporters are looking forward to seeing much more of that in the future which adds more excitement and intrigue to the sport.
Biggest win yet! Stephano Husbands edges Robin Persaud on the line With four of the top six riders being Team Coco’s members, it was always going to be a tough one for the other two riders, Persaud and Williams to win. As it turned out, Husbands, appreciating that he is not an out and out sprinter made his move at the right time with about 500m to the line which made it difficult for Persaud to catch him. In the end, Husbands won
was able to keep Persaud at bay to win in One Hour 16 Minutes 25.86 Seconds. Williams had to settle for third place followed by Eastman, Jeffrey and Junior Niles. Williams won four of the eight sprint prizes with Jeffrey taking two and one apiece for Eastman and Persaud. At the presentation ceremony, Ms. Varsha (Continued on page 71)
Sunday June 15, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Trophy Stall on board with GAPF for upcoming competitions Responsible corporate citizen, Trophy Stall has once again showed its commitment to the development of sports across the board by partnering with the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation for the Claude Charles Memorial Intermediate and Masters Powerlifting Championships set for June 22 at the YMCA, Thomas Lands. Senior Employee, Mr. Ryan ‘Breezy’ Sealey
handed over the Best Lifter trophy to GAPF Executive Member Erwyn Smith, informing that they have always been supportive of the sport over the past years. Smith thanked Sealey and Manager Ramesh Sunich for their continued commitment to powerlifting in Guyana. Trophy Stall has joined main sponsor Fitness Express as the two corporate entities on board with the GAPF for these
Talim Inshan’s 10-wicket match haul puts Blairmont into Tenelec quarterfinals – Rose Hall Town also through Blairmont Community Centre have made it through to the quarterfinals of the 2014 Tenelec Inc. Under-15 Club Cricket Competition in Berbice after gaining full points from Achievers in their final Zone A (West Berbice) preliminary match to end with the maximum 36 points, topping the zone in the process. Spearheading the victory was pacer Talim Inshan, who firstly took 6 for 12 from 7 overs to bowl out Achievers for an embarrassing 26 in their first innings. Blairmont replied with 108 for 5 declared. Inshan then returned to take 4 for 11 from 7 overs in the second innings to see Achievers demolished for 29 to end with a match haul of 10 wickets for 23 runs. In zone C (Lower Corentyne), Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes registered an outright victory against Port Mourant to end the preliminary rounds with 30 points to top their zone and at the same time qualify for the quarterfinals. After they scored 127 for 3 declared in their first innings, their left arm spinner Keith Simpson, who represented Berbice at the Under-15 level this year, took 6 for 13 from 8 overs. He was supported by off spinner Brandon Corlette with 4 for 34 to bowl out Port Mourant for 70 in their first innings. Following on they feared worst in their second innings making only 30. Corlette took 3 for 5 to end with match figures of 7 for 39.
Talim Inshan Summarized scores: At Blairmont, Blairmont Community Center beat Achievers by an innings and 53 runs. In Achievers 1st innings they made 26 with Talim Inshan 6 for 12, Azad Ishahak 2 for 14 and second innings, they fell for 29 with Inshan 4 for 11 and Seon Glasgow 3 for 15. In Blairmont only innings, they made 108 for 5 declared with Sachin Veerasammy 31 and Adin Shoetyah 28. At Area H, Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes beat Port Mourant by an innings and 27 runs. They batted first and made 127 for 3 declared with Junior Sinclair 45, Surendra Budhoo 39 and Keith Simpson 32. In reply Port Mourant made 70 in their first innings with Keith Simpson taking 6 for 13 and Brandon Corlette 4 for 34. They did worst in their second innings making only 30 with Corlette taking 3 for 5, Samuel Lewis 3 for 8 and Mahendra Charran 3 for 12.
competitions. The federation will also be holding a fundraising barb-que on June 22 at the same venue of the competition. Lifting time will commence at 10:00hsr with bar-b-que being served from 12:00hrs at the YMCA Grill.
Tickets are available at Basic Beauty or any member of GAPF. Meanwhile, registration for the competition closed on Friday June 13; a total of 15 athletes will be competing in the male and female divisions.
Trophy Stall’s Ryan ‘Breezy’ Sealey (left) hands over the Best Lifter trophy to GAPF’s Erwyn Smith
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 15, 2014
Police B Division forms Youth and Sports club
Senior superintendent Stephen Mansel presents sport equipment to Ms. Monalissa Dukhie in the presence of other police ranks and community stakeholders
The Police in B Division (East Berbice Corentyne) Regions Five and Six Led by Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph and second in c h a r g e S e n i o r Superintendent Stephen Mansel continue to do an exceptional job in the community Outreach programme in the region. On Wednesday Mansel and a team of officers, i n c l u d i n g Assistant Superintendent Guy Nurse and Inspector Seseupaul Jhagroo, met travelled over 20 miles on the East Bank Berbice Public Road and met with residents from a number of villages including Julianasburgh, Macaw and Plegt Anker. During the interactive session a number of topics were discussed including youth development and the promotion of sports. After the discussions the eager residents along with the visiting team of police officers decided immediately to form a youth and sports group in the area. The main aim is to have the
youths and other residents adequately occupied with recreational activities. Mansel, who was the main speaker, pointed out that youths have an important role to play in the development of Guyana and they are making use of every opportunity to have them meaningfully utilized. The senior police officer stated that he is heartened by the response of residents of the villages. He told them that- “I would like to see our efforts ‘bear fruits’, so that you can achieve great heights and be role model for the youths of tomorrow.” After the formation of the youth and sports group, Mr. Mansel presented sport equipment to the acting headmistress of the Plegt Anker School, Ms. Monalissa Dukhie .The group will be assembling at the Plegt Anker School for formal meetings, while they will be utilising the ball-field to participate in sporting activities. The communities have no access to potable water, electricity and land line telephone service.
Names of players revealed for Cricket for Unity match - Roraima Strikers and Kaieteur Thunders to contest The organisers of the Unity for Cricket match set for July 5th at the DCC ground, Queenstown have informed that the two teams to contest this match which will be played using the T20 format have been named Roraima Strikers and Kaieteur Thunders. A number of Prominent Businessmen, Politicians, former West Indies and National players, Administrators, Disciplined Service members, Singers and Radio Personalities have confirmed their desire to play in this match that would be played under the spanking new lights installed at DCC. Roraima Strikers will come from His Excellency President Donald Ramotar, Neil Barry, Lloyd Harper, Travis Dowlin, Jomo Primo, Gordon Moseley, Clifton Hickens, Orin Forde, Anthony Rigby, Aaron Fraser, Jermaine Neblette, Kirk ‘Chow Pow’ Jardine, James Bond, Lennox Cush, Colin Stuart, Alfred King, Anand Sanasie. Coaches are Reon Griffith and Andre
Percival. Kaieteur Thunders will come from Raphael Tr o t m a n , A s i f K h a n , Khemraj Ramjattan, Carey Griffith, Rabindranauth Seeram, Sheik Mohamed, Clyde Butts, Tony Najab, Reon King, Esan Crandon, D a v i d H a r p e r, A l f r e d Mentore, Steve Ninvalle, Lakeram Mike Singh, Ramesh Sunich. Coaches are Andre Percival and Roderick Lovell. According to the organisers, there would be a day of practice for each team under lights which would be confirmed shortly. In the meantime, players and coaches wishing further information are asked to make contact with Garvin Nedd on 617 9381.
Sunday June 15, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Ramcharran is one for the future
Sharaz Ramcharran Eighteen Year-old Albion all rounder Sharaz Ramcharran is one of the most talented young cricketers in the Ancient County of Berbice. Born on October 29, 1995, Ramcharran who hails from Chesney started to play cricket as an eleven year old after he was encouraged by friends. He first represented Berbice in the U-15 inter county tournament before gaining selection on the national team in 2011. He got selected on the national U-17 team after performing creditably in the 2012 inter county tournament. In the Regional U-15 competition, Ramcharran
picked up 14 wickets with his best being eight wickets in the match against Barbados and made a highest score of 43 versus the Windward Islands. The right hander who represented his county for the past three years at the U-19 level and captained the Berbice in 2014 and helped his club to victory over Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club in a recent Berbice Cricket Board one day final with an unbeaten 45; his best bowling to date at the first division level is 4-18 against Port Mourant. Ramcharran’s captaincy was admired by many in the 2014 tournament. He motivated his team well and was able to get the best out his players. He also did well with both bat and ball as Berbice won two of their three matches in the three day format. One of his most outstanding performances was 4-10 and 60 not out versus the President’s XI. Ramcharran said that he enjoyed being at the helm of his county team. “The support I got from the players took away the pressure from the captaincy, this actually helped us to win a lot of games,” he added.
West Indies axe Samuels and Powell ESPNcricinfo - West Indies have dropped allrounder Marlon Samuels and opener Kieran Powell from their squad for the second Test against New Zealand in Trinidad, and replaced them with uncapped batsman Jermaine Blackwood and Leon Johnson. Blackwood, a 22-year old from Jamaica, has played 16 first-class matches and averages 40.38, with three hundreds and six half-centuries. He scored two centuries for the High Performance Team in recent matches aga i n s t Bangladesh A. Blackwood also scored 94 and 118 in the final of the 2014 regional four-day competition against Windward Islands. Johnson, 26, played three ODIs for West Indies in 2008, against Bermuda and Canada, but hasn’t appeared in an international since then. The Guyana batsman scored three halfcenturies in the two matches
against Bangladesh A. Johnson averages 33 after playing 50 first-class games. Samuels was dropped after he made a pair in West Indies’ 186-run defeat in the first Test at Sabina Park. He was dismissed second ball both times, and has only three scores above 20 in his last 12 innings. Powell made 28 and 0 in Jamaica, and has consistently failed to convert his starts for a while now. He passed 20 in eight of his last 15 innings but has a high score of 48 in that period. The second Test against New Zealand begins at Queen’s Park Oval on June 16. Squad: Denesh Ramdin (capt), Chris Gayle, Kraigg Brathwaite, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Jermaine Blackwood, Leon Johnson, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn, Shane Shillingford, Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel.
Ramcharran hopes he has done enough to get into the Guyana U-19 team for this year’s Regional tournament. “My goal is to first represent my country at the junior levels then I will focus on the senior team. I hope to get into the national youth team this year and help my country win the tournament,” he stated. Ramcharran also has his sights on representing the West Indies at the highest and
knows achieving that feat is not an easy task by any means. “Success at any level does not come easily; I practice six times a week and do gym training as well. I have got a lot of support from my family and I want to make my community proud,” he said. Ramcharran attended the Port Mourant Secondary School and apart from being a cricketer he wants to study
Mechanical Engineering. He admitted that he didn’t live up to expectations in school, but feels he has the capacity to excel in academics. “Education is very important and I have to balance that with my cricket. There are some slow learners while there are others who learn quickly, but I always adopt a positive attitude where my Education is concerned and I will further my studies at the Mort
Mourant Training Centre shortly”, he informed. He believes Education plays an important role in helping youths to achieve their goals in sports. “Education should always be taken seriously because it helps to develop rounded individuals,” he added. Ramcharran indicated that he wants to be a positive role model for younger players.
t r o Sp Costa Rica fight back to stun Uruguay 3-1
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Joel Campbell lashed in a left-foot leveler for the rampant Costa Ricans. (AP)
14th P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants 11-Race NPM
Stephano Husbands outsprints P.72 veteran Robin Persaud for maiden win
P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants Account Executive Varsha Panday (7th left) poses with the winners and other participants following yesterday’s presentation.
Former West Indies cricketer Mendonca passes on
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