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KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210
Editorial
The police cadet scheme
It is the height of stupidity to direct that a police force employ 50 persons as cadet officers and not have a plan to deal with their advancement through the ranks from assistant superintendent upwards. Briefly the situation facing the Guyana Police Force over the past four years, is one where having employed fifty young Guyanese aspiring to serve their country as law enforcement officers, the organization is in a quandary as to what to do with them especially in the absence of a Police Service Commission. It would be interesting to know what criteria was established which inform the cadets’ performance after some of them would have returned from the Guyana Defence Force’s Officer Cadet Course. It would therefore be manifestly unfair if it was to be determined at this late stage that any one of those aspirants to a police career is unfit to be promoted to the next level, especially if the current system does not provide for ongoing evaluation of their knowledge, attitude, performance, competence etc. It means therefore that the cadets must be tasked to develop their conceptual and other skills to deliver if they are to justify government’s confidence in their capacity to be future leaders. Notwithstanding the intentions of the government to address this longstanding issue, if there is no monitoring and evaluation of these candidates as the Alex Griffith shooting suggests, then the GPF must be held accountable for a gross dereliction of its duty to ensure that only the best are selected to deliver highest quality service for the safety of the Guyanese people. In light of organizational politics which arguably reflect the practices in the wider polity, there is absolutely no guarantee that the system to select the favoured cadets for the created positions will be free from bias and other considerations unrelated to professional policing; but that remains to be seen. But there is another downside side to this with respect to the many persons within the rank of inspector, and who would have had reasonable expectations of being promoted to the rank of assistant superintendent if not further up the ladder. It is not beyond reason that if the upward mobility of qualified inspectors is affected by the special advancement of cadets this is likely to result in demoralization at the inspectorate level and below. It therefore means that to compensate for loss of opportunities, the administration will have to develop in consultation with the Police Association, a mechanism which seeks to address improved job satisfaction and staff morale aimed at improving the overall health, and work life balance of the workforce. Ultimately, it should be noted, workplace morale rests on each individual since when they believe they are in a job which deals fairly with issues, they are satisfied. In the case of the police this will help them in their interaction in the communities they serve. Thus it is evident that morale should serve as an indicator when identifying roadblocks to a smoothly functioning police force. Without wanting to delve deeply into the current imbroglio between the police administration and the Police Wives Association, would it be asking too much for both parties to exhibit some decency and refrain from flaunting their dirty laundry in our faces? The Commissioner of Police has to exercise some consideration for public opinion which more often than not questions the seriousness and sincerity of public officials’ words when faced with contradictions in actions. Picking fights with all and sundry is never advantageous for a leader in a high profile position like the office of commissioner; it only serves as a distraction from getting
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
The court should have spared son, taken harsh action against father DEAR EDITOR, A father and his son from North Road Georgetown were this week’s latest drug busts at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Timehri. They were caught trying to traffic in cocaine concealed in the handles and false walls of their suitcases. At the time of their arrest they were outgoing passengers about to board Flight BW 528 bound for the lucrative North American drug
market. The USA destination in recent times has become a haven for drug smuggling activity with persons doing practically anything conceivable to sell the white stuff in this case a father utilizing the use of his son to transact “business.” Not even delving further into the matter I would forthrightly recommend a stiff penalty of not less than 20 years for this beast of a father. A public example should be made of this
the job done to the satisfaction of all. On another note the public could be excused for wanting to know where were the patrols which proliferate the Albouystown area when the recent murder took place. Flooding a community with police does not necessarily address residents’ concerns if they are not done in a systematic
man to send a clear message that you cannot as an irresponsible adult live a normal life by destroying that of your son. It will also have the dual effect of putting the perpetrators or masterminds behind these ghastly acts in their rightful places. I guarantee you this was not the first time this father has used his son as a courier to perpetrate his nefarious (Continued on page 66)
manner and monitored and evaluated for effectiveness. The commitment by corporate citizens through their financial contributions to that initiative is to be commended, but care must be taken that we are not seduced by form which lacks not only substance but just even more importantly, sustainability.
Sunday June 22, 2014
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Sunday June 22, 2014
Iraq militants take Syria border European left-wingers back post in drive for caliphate Juncker for EU Commission IRAQ (Reuters) - Sunni fighters have seized a border post on the Iraq-Syria frontier, security sources said, smashing a line drawn by colonial powers a century ago in a campaign to create an Islamic Caliphate from the Mediterranean Sea to Iran. The militants, led by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), first moved into the nearby town of al-Qaim on Friday, pushing out security forces, the sources said yesterday. Once border guards heard that al-Qaim had fallen, they left their posts and militants moved in, the sources said. Sameer al-Shwiali, media adviser to the commander of Iraq’s anti-terrorist squad, told Reuters the Iraqi army was still in control of al-Qaim. Al-Qaim and its neighboring Syrian counterpart Albukamal are on a strategic supply route. A three-year-old civil war in Syria has left most of eastern Syria in the hands of Sunni militants, now including the Albukamal-Qaim crossing. The Albukamal gate is run
Members of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces take positions during a patrol looking for militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and explosives and weapons, in a neighbourhood in Ramadi. REUTERS/Stringer by al Qaeda’s official Syria branch, the Nusra Front, which has clashed with ISIL but has sometimes agreed to localized truces when it suits both sides. The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, Rami Abdulrahman, said ISIL had pushed the Nusra Front out from many
areas of eastern Syria in the past few days and their capture of al-Qaim will allow them to quickly move to the Syrian side. ISIL already controls territory around the Albukamal gate, effectively pinching the Nusra Front between its forces in Syria and those in neighboring Iraq, said Abdulrahman, who tracks the violence.
PARIS (Reuters) - Leftwing European leaders agreed yesterday to back Luxembourg conservative Jean-Claude Juncker for the post of European Commission president, saying they would seek other top EU jobs for their party allies in return. Among those posts was the European Parliament presidency, whose incumbent Martin Schulz, a German Social Democrat, won their backing to seek a new term at the head of the EU assembly. The decision to back Juncker at a meeting in Paris of eight prime ministers, including Italy’s Matteo Renzi and German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, makes Britain’s David Cameron look increasingly isolated before next week’s EU summit. Cameron considers the former Luxembourg premier and veteran EU deal-broker too ardent a proponent of European integration. He had been seeking allies - notably Renzi - to help block his nomination after Juncker’s political grouping, the
European People’s Party, won last month’s European Parliament election. But French President Francois Hollande said those present at the meeting had agreed to respect the principle that the leading candidate of whichever party won the election should have the right to put forward that person for the top Commission job. “And that happens to be Mr Juncker. But we want a discussion at the summit on the whole set of European responsibilities,” Hollande told reporters, adding that some of those roles should be given to Social Democratbacked candidates. Germany’s Gabriel confirmed that Schulz, who led the campaign of Europe’s left-wing parties in the elections, would instead be put forward for a new term as parliament chief. “Martin Schulz would have been the ideal Commission president, but elections are elections ... and that’s why Juncker will become Commission president,” he said. Schulz, standing next to Gabriel, told reporters he would formally present his
Jean-Claude Juncker candidature for the parliament post and was “quite optimistic” that a deal on the EU’s top positions would be agreed at the summit in Brussels. EU diplomats said this week Juncker was the only name on the table to run the EU’s powerful executive arm and looked increasingly likely to be nominated at a June 26-27 leaders’ summit. Present at the meeting were the government leaders of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Malta, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Sunday June 22, 2014
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Sunday June 22, 2014
Egypt upholds death sentence on Brotherhood leader, nearly 200 supporters CAIRO (Reuters) - An Egyptian court confirmed death sentences yesterday against the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and 182 supporters, in a mass trial of Islamists who ruled Egypt for a year but face a fierce crackdown under the new president, Abdel Fattah alSisi. Mohamed Badie and other defendants were charged in connection with violence that erupted in the southern town of Minya following the ousting of the Brotherhood’s President Mohamed Mursi last July, led by then army chief Sisi. One police officer was killed in the violence. The court’s decision came two months after it referred the case against Badie, general guide of the now outlawed Brotherhood, and 682 other defendants to a top religious authority, the first step to imposing death penalties. Those preliminary sentences triggered outrage among Western governments and rights groups, with the United States and European Union both saying they were appalled by the rulings. Since Mursi’s overthrow, which was followed by protests by his supporters, hundreds of Islamist protesters have been killed and thousands jailed in a crackdown by security forces. Five hundred army and police officers have also been killed. Sisi, who won a presidential election last month, said in the run-up to the vote that the Brotherhood - Egypt’s oldest, most organized and successful political group - was finished and would not exist under his rule. Amnesty International described the verdicts as “the latest example of the Egyptian judiciary’s bid to crush dissent”. There was no immediate reaction on the ruling from the Brotherhood, whose members are either in jail or on the run. Outside the Minya court compound, around 200 people, mostly relatives of defendants who were freed, gathered to celebrate the ruling. “Long live justice, long live Sisi,” they chanted. Out of a total 683 defendants, around 100 are in detention and the rest were tried in absentia. Four were jailed for life while 496 were acquitted, according to judiciary sources. All verdicts can be appealed before a higher court. “Those rulings are a continued farce,” prominent
Relatives of a Muslim Brotherhood member who was sentenced to death react to the verdict outside a courtroom in Minya, Egypt, yesterday. (AP Photo/Ravy Shaker, El Shorouk newspaper) Egyptian human rights activist and lawyer Gamal Eid said yesterday. “And the state is still insisting that the judiciary is independent. I don’t know how we can believe that when we see rulings like that. It is against logic and common sense. It is a joke,” he said. The United States has said it would be unconscionable for Egypt to carry out mass death sentences against the Brotherhood and that Cairo’s actions would have consequences for resumption of suspended
U.S. aid. The U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who is due to tour the Middle East this week, is expected to pay a brief visit to Egypt on Sunday, according to local Egyptian media reports. Egypt, the biggest Arab state, which controls the strategic Suez Canal, has been among the largest recipients of U.S. military and economic aid since its 1979 peace treaty with U.S. ally Israel. Some of that support was put on hold after Mursi’s overthrow, the latest round in a decades-old struggle between Egyptian authorities and the Islamist movement.
Putin supports Ukraine’s ceasefire move, calls for sides to negotiate
Vladimir Putin MOSCOW (Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday he supported Ukraine’s ceasefire, but added that without “practical action” to start negotiations the plan would not be viable. “Vladimir Putin supports the decision of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko to cease fire in the southeast of Ukraine, as well his stated intentions to take a number
of concrete steps to achieve a peaceful settlement,” the Kremlin said in a statement. “However, the Russian head of state drew attention to the fact that the proposed plan, without practical action aimed at the beginning of the negotiation process, will not be viable and realistic.” The Ukrainian forces’ seven-day ceasefire began at 10 p.m. on Friday, as part of the president’s plan to end a rebel insurgency in the east of the country. Yesterday, pro-Russian separatists attacked Ukrainian posts on the border with Russia and a military base and tried to storm an airforce base overnight into yesterday, government forces said. The Kremlin said, without referring to any of the sides involved in the conflict, that Putin considers unacceptable that after the ceasefire order there were sounds of explosions and ammunition reaching Russian territory from Ukraine. He also said the peace plan should not be an ultimatum to the militias.
Sunday June 22, 2014
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Porter caught red handed with ‘boss man’ money in crotch A porter who thought that he was working too hard decided to steal some cash from his boss. He was caught and has been charged for the crime. The man, Mahendra Mohan, called “Mickey”, 17, of Guava Bush, Corentyne, Berbice, appeared before
Magistrate Shurdel IsaacsMarcus on Friday in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on the charge of simple larceny. He was not required to plead. The man is accused of stealing $100,000 on June 18, last, from his boss’ lorry and hid the money in his crotch.
Dem boys seh...
All of a sudden climate change dead People does seh one thing and do another. And is things like that does mek people watch dem full in dem face and tell dem how dem lie. Bout five or six years ago, Jagdeo find some documents that Cheddi had and he talk bout climate change and global warming. Now dem boys know that global warming is something that happening in a cycle. One time de world was cool then it get hot and then cool and hot. It behave like a yo-yo. It getting hot again. Bharrat talk bout rising sea levels but he run and build he house right by de same sea that rising. How he expect people fuh believe him? And de same speed wha he build he house wid is de same speed he and Brazzy build de hotel pun de same sea shore. Dem get de property cheap and if people ask dem woulda tell de people that is because de tide coming in and de place gun flood soon, that de land ain’t got value. Now if de tide rising and de place gun flood, dem boys believe that Jagdeo and Brazzy and all dem who got money in de Marriott want a ringside view of when de flooding gun start. But de truth is that de sea ain’t gun rise in a hurry and by de time that happen nuff things gun change. Jagdeo and all de great grand children of he adopted family gun dead and gone. People gun stop thiefing and it gun be just like how de good Book seh it gun be in de last days when de sheep and de tiger gun lie down side by side. Dem boys seh that de only people who ain’t gun lie down side by side gun be de jailbird and de prison warder. Is because of that mek a thief man kill he self. He didn’t learn from all those who thief out de money from de public treasury. And dem didn’t teach him; dem didn’t show love. This man thief and he shame suh he kill heself. De Bees didn’t know bout shame suh dem still alive and dem got de money suh till dem giving way de rest of Guyana because dem craw full. Talk half and watch how de smartness playing out.
The money was the property of businessman, Satrohan Sohan, of Lot 4B Williamsburg, Corentyne. Prosecuting Sergeant Godfrey Playter told the court that Sohan owns a number of lorries and distributes beverages and other items in the area. On the day in question, he along with the accused and two other workmen left with his lorry GLL 5439 to do some distribution along the coast. They returned home around 16:00 hrs. Sohan parked the vehicle and proceeded to count his money from the day’s sales which amounted to $1,300,000. He then parcelled the money into 13 separate packages of $100,000 each. The parcels were numbered 1-13 and placed under the driver’s seat in the cabin. Sohan proceeded to lock the truck and went into his home. He subsequently looked out of one of his windows and saw the accused entering his vehicle. Becoming suspicious the man returned to the vehicle and proceeded to check the money and realized that one parcel was missing. The accused who was nearby was asked about the missing money and denied taking any. His pockets were checked, but the missing
cash was not found. The police were contacted and the accused was arrested and taken to the Rose Hall Town Outpost where a check was made on his person and the
missing money was found concealed in his crotch. He admitted to stealing the money, but told investigators that he found the cash on the steps of the vehicle while he was
cleaning it. He decided to keep the cash because he thought that someone had dropped it. He will have to return to court on July 15, at the Albion Magistrate’s Court.
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Sunday June 22, 2014
Education grants to Guyana has lost faith in NICIL be disbursed in new school term to negotiate state deals - APNU Land giveaways…
A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Shadow Minister of Public Works and Telecommunications, Joseph Harmon, has said that the recent revelation of NICIL gifting two prime pieces of lands to a Chinese firm, underscores exactly why the Opposition has absolutely no faith in the negotiating skills and competence of Winston Brassington. Brassington is head of NICIL. The gifting of the two plots of land was made known by NICIL as it sought to justify giving away one acre of Turkeyen land to China Railway First Group (CRFG) . “The price on the contract with CRFG was executed in September 2012 and expired in June 2013. Given the expected delay of postponing financial closure until the latter part of 2013, it was necessary to have the contract price extended.” Two matters were negotiated due to the delay. The negotiations, according to NICIL, resulted in two pieces of land being committed to CRFG. The two pieces of land were one acre at Liliendaal and over seven acres at Friendship, East Bank
Demerara. The latter is in the process of being transferred. CRFG would use the land at Liliendaal for building its Head Office and the land at Friendship for a materials marshalling yard and also a fixed price contract in preference to a measured works contract. In light of this, Harmon said that NICIL needs to stop sharing away state assets “in their secret arrangements with the Chinese.” “NICIL has essentially robbed the country of certain monies which is due on the transfer of property because when a company transfers or sells from one company to the other or to an individual there are certain fees which have to be paid to the registry as well as other taxes to GRA. But saying that it is a gift it is saying that there was no consideration for that… Mr. Brassington must face the music.” Harmon also said, “NICIL needs to stop sharing away state assets in their secret arrangements with foreign companies. NICIL was not established to facilitate these improper deals.” “Brassington said that the original contract for a section of the road going to the Amaila falls was
Joseph Harmon, APNU’s Shadow Minister of Public Works US$11.2M but due to delays, they have been able to now arrange for the company to accept $8.5 M and then they gave the Chinese company two pieces of land.” The difference between the initial and the negotiated prices is $2.7M so in fact what they did was sell it for that amount and on the face of it, calls it a gift. In effect they are trying to hoodwink the Guyanese people. We have to be careful. We have no confidence in Brassington. Rather than meeting the different costs they are sharing out Guyana’s lands and quarrying properties and
sharing out the assets of this country ostensibly as gifts…” As it relates to the Friendship land, the APNU Member of Parliament challenged Brassington to come out and display the title for the land he is trying to gift to the company. “I dare Mr. Brassington to come out and display that title that he is trying to gift to the company.” His colleague, Carl Greenidge who serves in the APNU as the Shadow Minster of Finance had also described the gifting of the two prime lands as being “highly improper” and “the height of dishonesty.” Considering the fact that the government holding agency seems to have a history of “gifting state assets,” the former Finance Minister made a strong call for the Chinese government and its Embassy to insist that its companies refrain from secret deals. One has to draw the conclusion that Government has embarked on a deliberate policy on handing over state assets to three sets of people; Indian firms, Chinese firms and Caribbean firms with special political interest to them.”
- Ministry still to decide on method of distribution A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is dissatisfied that the Ministry of Education has not finalized a method of disbursement for the $10,000 grant which is to be given to parents and guardians of each school child in the public school system. At the most recent sitting of the National Assembly last Thursday, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand replied to questions appearing on the Order Paper for oral response. The questions were posed by APNU’s shadow Minister of Education Amna Ali and focused on disbursement of the grant. The Minister was asked what mechanism will be employed by the Ministry to disburse the grants provided for in the 2014 Budget and when the money will be distributed. In response, Manickchand said that the money will be handed over at the beginning, or after the beginning, of the new school year. The Minister explained that by using this method, ministry officials will be able to capture all the registered students, including incoming nursery students, and new students who did not attend nursery school but went to grade one. But the Minister could not inform the House about the method that is likely to be used to disburse the funds, since according to her, a final decision is still to be made in that regard. She said that the Ministry
will be informing stakeholders of the mechanism to facilitate the payments. “Guyana is so diverse geographically, and different services are available at different places, we want to make sure however we disburse this, it is the most effective and efficient way to the parents”. The Ministry is consulting with parents to aid in the decision making process. Manickchand told the National Assembly that recently “we” met with Queen’s College Parent Teachers Association, to ascertain the best way for them to receive the education grant. She stated that the parents of that school have agreed to use the Mobile Money Service provided by GT&T, to have their funds disbursed, “So we will be consulting with other parents across the country, we just consulted with five of the nine sub-districts in Region Nine over last week to find how those parents would best like to receive the money”. According to Minister Manickchand, around 188,000 school aged children will benefit from the grant. It is envisaged that the grant can be used to meet costs such as transportation, and will provide added impetus to raising enrolment and attendance rates, in addition to having the effect of increasing the disposable incomes of the parents of school aged children.
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
Tendering opens today for $100M cleanup project Minister of Local Government, Norman Whittaker on Thursday informed the National Assembly that advertisements to attract contractors to work on the 100M cleanup operation at Le Repentir Cemetery will be published from today. He said that there will be a fully transparent tender process. This was after he was asked by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Joseph Harmon to provide details on the project. Harmon’s questions were posed in an oral form and without notice. The Member of Parliament asked too for a detailed breakdown of the cost of the items that will be needed for the exercise, but that was not answered, presumably because of the required specifications which the Minister didn’t have on hand. A total of $1B was set aside in this year’s budget for a countrywide cleanup of which $500M will go towards enhancing the general physical environment of the City and its aesthetics. The remaining $500M will go towards enhancing the other coastal regions. Of the $500M set aside for Georgetown, $100M will be put towards giving Le Repentir Cemetery a gravely needed facelift. The Minister explained to the House that works planned for the area include the cleaning of internal drains, rehabilitation
of the internal roads and removal of heavy vegetation. Whittaker noted that substantial work has already been done on the main drains on the outer periphery by the Ministry of Public Works. The complete rehabilitation works of the burial site is expected to be completed by year-end. The de-bushing in the cemetery will be done by inmates of the Georgetown Prison. A Technical Committee comprising representatives from different Ministries and agencies has been established to spearhead the City’s cleanup exercise. Some of the agencies involved include the Ministries of Tourism, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Public Works and Housing, and the Private Sector, as well as a number of NonGovernmental Organizations and volunteer groups. The Committee will report directly to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government on the progress of the campaign and strategies of implementation But Mark Benschop, who will be running for Mayor during the expected upcoming Local Government elections, is urging that there be a feasibility study before the $100M is given for the exercise. In a letter published in this newspaper’s Friday edition, he opined, “the $100M of the taxpaying public dollars should not be
doled out without a feasibility assessment of the cost to get the job done, and if the amount exceeds that which is fair and reasonable for such a project, the remainder should be applied to similar affected areas like Tiger Bay, Houston, Agricola, Alexander Village, Industry, Queenstown, Alberttown, Kingston, Kitty etc.” The cleaning of these environs, including the cemetery, should not be seen as a one time obligation. There has to be periodic maintenance that ensures that these places, including Le Repentir, are well kept and tidy. After all we are, as a collective citizenry paying for all of this, and at the very least we should receive satisfaction on how our money is being spent Benschop said that “experts” advised him that the entire project should not exceed more than $30M. He noted too that the communities in proximity to Le Repentir should at least reap some economic benefits from their tax dollar investment in a project to clean up a landmark location in their community.
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Guyana has market for around 500,000 tonnes of rice this year The rice industry is not likely to see a huge surplus of rice this year despite fears, officials assured yesterday. As matter of fact, says the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the country is likely to have markets for around 500,000 tonnes this year. While Guyana has been benefitting from Venezuela under the lucrative oil-for-rice deal, it has also been targeting the less profitable Jamaica and Haiti market. Negotiations are now ongoing between a private miller and a buyer in Panama for almost 20,000 tonnes for this year. Markets in South Africa and Ghana are also being explored, this newspaper was told. The reassurance about the surplus from GRBD’s General Manager, Jagnarine Singh, came yesterday following reports last week in which concerns were expressed over a likely large surplus of rice this year that could be in the vicinity of 300,000 tonnes. This year, the industry is targeting 540,793 tonnes; up from 535,429 tonnes produced last year.
- GRDB assures Last year, rice exports expanded 22 per cent to US$239M with almost 395,000 tonnes exported. The average export price per tonne for export was US$607. This meant that rice performed better than sugar and second only to gold in terms of foreign currency earnings. Venezuela has by far been the best market for rice in recent years, in terms of price. However, Guyana has been wary too of placing all its eggs in one basket, especially in view of the internal unrest in that neighbouring country this year. Under this year’s contract, Guyana has to supply 140,000 tonnes of paddy and 50,000 tonnes of white rice. With delays in Venezuela’s ports with the rice ships, a known problem, the country has so far for the year been able to only ship about half of the quota – 25,000 tonnes of white rice and 70,000 tonnes of paddy. Government has been meeting with stakeholders in recent times to explore the possibilities of the banks
financing the payments to farmers, as it became clear that more markets will have to be found with the increase in production. The next crop, expected to start in August is likely to bring in 250,000 tonnes according to projections. Some 113,000 tonnes were brought over to 2013 from the crops of last year. It is expected that the amount forwarded to next year will be far less, the GRDB official assured yesterday. The fact that Guyana has limited storage capacity has also been a worrying one. It simply would not have capacity to store 250,000 tonnes at any one time. Guyana is said to have storage capacity, inclusive of mills and “bottom house”, of around 220,000 tonnes. Currently, farmers are receiving between $3,000$3,500 per bag of paddy. While Guyana can sell all of its rice overseas at any one point, the question will be whether it will receive a price that is feasible or profitable for the industry.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 22, 2014
Parliamentary’s Committee blocked
No Parliamentary visit to RUSAL, BOSAI, Bai Shan Lin A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) member of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources, Joseph Harmon, recently said that it is two years now since the Chinese firm, Bai Shan Lin, has been avoiding Parliamentary scrutiny. The politician has accused the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment of aiding and abetting the “disrespectful” behavior of the private company for which it has jurisdiction. For the past two years, the Ministry has only provided excuses to the Sectoral Committee when it made written requests to visit the Chinese Company among other firms. In light of the Committee member’s comments, the Ministry of Natural Resources by way of its Permanent Secretary has said that it is not hindering the Committee from visiting the company’s operation. Joslyn McKenzie said that Bai Shan Lin is a “private company” and that the Ministry has no authority to determine who visits their locations. The Committee, McKenzie said, is free to
Minister Persaud responsible - says Opposition pursue its request to visit the worksites of the said company. The Permanent Secretary said that the Ministry was requested to provide vehicular and other logistical support in a letter dated May 30 from the Chairman Mr. Odinga Lumumba. In its June 3 response, the Ministry said that the request could not be accommodated at the time due to ongoing compliance and enforcement activities by various agencies. “At no point did it hinder the proposed visit of the Committee.” He added that the Ministry has always been cooperative with the committee. A comprehensive package detailing the agency’s work programme was submitted on November 5, 2013. It also said that all information asked for on the said company was provided to the Committee. However, Harmon at a recent press conference said that the Ministry is only being, “economical with the truth.” “First of all, the main objective of the visit was to
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud
Joseph Harmon, APNU’s member on the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources
examine the developments in the mining industry, its impact and effects, if any, on the environment and the people who live within the communities. “As such, the Minister with responsibility for mining and natural resources was asked to provide several things for the Committee. These included; the provision of transportation with drivers who are familiar with the terrain, assistance with the arrangements
necessary to facilitate an onsite visit to Bai Shan Lin companies, and also with arrangements to have a meeting with the senior management of the Bai Shan Lin operations.” “We had even requested to visit the operations of BOSAI Mineral Incorporated and RUSAL but that too was met with a similar excuse.” The politician added, “The committee does not write to the private company directly and the Minister
knows that. It is a standard procedure that we write to the Ministry when it comes to private companies and that’s been going on for years. “And when he says he is not aiding and abetting he is just being economical with the truth. I wish to remind him that it is his responsibility to ensure that the company meets with the committee.” Harmon reminded that the Natural Resources Committee has several responsibilities, one of which is ensuring that policies within its ambit are not violated. He said that the Committee wrote to the Minister of Natural Resources informing him that it wanted to visit the work sites and to have a meeting with Bai Shan Lin. That was on June 13, 2013. The Minister replied on June 17, that due to the current work programme of the company coupled with the Minister being scheduled to leave the country on the proposed date, it would not be possible. The Parliamentarian said that once again, the Committee wrote the Natural Resources Minister, on May
30 requesting to visit the Chinese firm in Region Ten. “The Ministry again wrote saying that it would like to acknowledge the letter but due to the agency’s programme, the company is unable to accommodate the request. “So what has happened is that for two years running, this company has avoided the oversight of the natural resources committee. It is in my view, disrespect to the National Assembly that a company as large as this cannot find it necessary to meet with the committee of the Assembly.” Harmon added, “I am putting it on record that any company that is requested to appear before the National Assembly, must see it as a part of its obligations. “I would dare any company in the USA or so to be given a letter by a committee in the congress or senate and then say its work programme is heavy.” “The Chairman of this committee is Mr. Odinga Lumumba. My understanding is that he has taken a sharp stance on the matter. We will not allow Persaud to block us anymore.”
Sunday June 22, 2014
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THE RODNEY COMMISSION OF INQUIRY
I
have not commented before on the Rodney Commission of Inquiry. I will not do so here now in respect to any evidence that had been led before that body. I will refrain from so doing because it is too early in the day to draw conclusions or arrive at opinions about any evidence that has been led. The best rule, even for personal purposes, is to allow all the evidence to be presented and then to arrive at your own opinion based on the totality of evidence and information available. Unfortunately persons are forming opinions and judgments much too early in this process. I have observed that other persons have ill-advisedly opted to comment on specific portions of evidence led as well as on the process itself. As regards to the latter, the work of the Commission, there have been some adverse comments made by A Partnership for National Unity. I find those comments unfortunate and unnecessary. Commissions of Inquiry whatever their findings, whoever may have established them and w h a t e v e r t h e i r shortcomings, do have value. The then political agitators of British Guiana would have had considerable issues with the f i n d i n g s a n d recommendations of the M o y n e a n d Ve n n Commissions which were established under the colonial government. But it would be unreasonable and unfair to argue that nothing good ever came out of the work of those Commissions. Commissions and Commissions of Inquiry are important processes that were handed down to us within the Westminster system. It has been to our loss that greater use was not made of this mechanism, particularly after Independence. They were never intended to be used willynilly. They are both costly and time consuming. But they could have assisted in resolving some of the deep and contentious political, economic and social issues that have affected Guyana
since Independence. I would still hope, for example, that we can have a Commission to make recommendations on ethnic balancing of the security forces, since I believe such insights would be extremely helpful in healing some of the fractured relations, both political and otherwise, in our country. You need not only utilize commissions and commissions of inquiry for tragedies or emergencies such as the deaths of persons, prison breaks or the breach of the conservancy dam. They can be used for a range of issues, such as the future of GuySuCo. I think it has been a very important political development that under three years since he became President, Donald Ramotar has opted to have commissions of inquiry. It shows that he is attuned to their value and is not afraid of risking an adverse independent opinion. T h e R o d n e y Commission of Inquiry is one with a difference. This is something that those who criticized it have failed to appreciate enough. This is a commission that is attempting to investigate the death of an individual which took place almost three and a half decades ago. And because of this peculiar circumstance, the Commission has to adopt a slightly different approach than what one would expect of a commission of inquiry investigating a topical issue. With the passage of time, a great deal of evidence and information would have been lost. Key witnesses would have passed on. The commissioners have an enviable task before them. It is not going to be easy to determine what happened so long ago. This is why unlike the Linden Commission of I n q u i r y, t h e R o d n e y Commission of Inquiry is not likely to base its findings strictly on the evidence given under oath. Some research and going back through the various newspapers and documents of the time will have to take place both for context and for the purposes of clarifying issues. It is therefore a special commission of
inquiry, and something that we should be glad we have had the privilege of launching in Guyana. It will add to our experience as an independent nation. I would have loved to have seen someone like Doodnauth Singh (deceased) Miles Fitzpatrick, Vic Puran (deceased) or Bernard De Santos as part of the team of lawyers for the Commission. They would have had a deeper understanding of the issues of the day and their questions would therefore have been more pointing and
nuanced. Even at this stage, I would still love to see those of the above lawyers who are still alive be part of the process. I was worried about how the two young lawyers from the Commission would have performed given their age and lack of an intimate familiarity with the time when Rodney was killed. But I was pleasantly surprised. They have done a fantastic job. I have been deeply impressed by their performance so far, which shows they have prepared
well for this inquiry. It is good to see such outstanding work by young lawyers. I was also extremely impressed by the performance of Counsel Basil Williams, who is looking after the interests of the PNCR. He has been brilliant. His cross examination has been a thing a beauty. I enjoyed listening to him, for he possesses a special talent in cross examination which is very rarely seen in our local courts today and which reminds me of some of old
legal luminaries of Guyana. And of course, the live coverage being afforded on State radio to the work of the Commission is to be appreciated. I trust that this live coverage will continue when the Commission resumes its hearings tomorrow.
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Guyana pleads for sugar price review at ACP/EU meeting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn RodriguesBirkett, on Friday last, told members of the 39th Joint Council of the ACP-European Union (ACP-EU) that the situation is extremely serious and untenable regarding the drop in the price for raw sugar. The meeting which took place in Nairobi, Kenya saw approximately 100 representatives from member states attending to discuss several issues of importance. She pointed out that an ISO study on “EU sugar market post 2017” released a fortnight ago, reaches similar conclusions and observes that the EU may lose its current status as one of the world’s largest sugar importers and that the LDC/ ACP sugar producers may have to look at regional, as well as world markets to export their sugar. Minister RodriguesBirkett stated that while the EU study made a forecast that sugar prices would fall to around Euro 400 by 2023, it must be noted that prices have already dropped sharply and are now in the region of Euro 500/t, some 30% less than same time last year. “This situation is extremely serious and untenable. Small and medium size growers in ACP countries already have to cease activities with considerable political, social and environmental negative impact. In one major ACP-
The pressure on some members of the society to measure up to others is going to produce another breed, and this is going to be the case only in the city. Already, there is a shift in the way some girls pursue their academic education. They have become careless and are opting to flaunt their bodies. The society is on the downward slide because no one is doing anything to stop it. However, calamity is some distance away.
Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett third from left during the sugar summit producing country, the Government took the decision last week to provide direct support to growers for two years. You will appreciate that such budgetary support cannot be sustained over a long period,” she explained. The Minister observed that in spite of warnings, the EU has completely overlooked the impact of its domestic Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) proposals on trade and developmental interests and the specific commitment in the Lisbon Treaty to ensure EU Policy Coherence. “These principles are enshrined in Cotonou, the Economic Partnership Agreements and everything but Arms Initiatives, which were intended to protect our
small and vulnerable economies,” she observed. The Minister pleaded that, “it would be intolerable and most unfair, under those circumstances, to maintain the specific sugar safeguard clause which features in the respective EPAs and are applicable only to non-LDC ACP sugar-supplying States.” She urged that the EU review the situation in 2017 and adopt appropriate corrective measures to mitigate the impact of quota abolition on countries. The Foreign Minister also focused on the decision to do away with beet and isoglucose quotas in 2017, despite the consistent submissions made by a majority of stakeholders,
Every day there is some moment when some strange things happen. These moments make the roads the most dangerous place to be. It therefore means that at least three road accidents are going
to occur over the weekend. One car is going to crash into a yard and narrowly miss some people who happen to be standing there. The driver would have no reasonable excuse. ** Two robberies are about to occur. One would see a group of gunmen going after a payroll. Although the payroll would be protected, the fact that the men are going to strike with swiftness would catch the security people off guard.
including the EU beetgrowers, the EU processors and the ACP, that such a decision should be stalled until 2020. She pointed to the growing demand for ethanol and the fact that isoglucose production is expected to increase and will replace sugar in selected food consumption uses, following the expiry of
isoglucose production quotas in 2017. “In view of the new challenges which the ACP Sugar Supplying States are likely to face with the end of the EU quotas in 2017, the EU should seriously consider putting in place new accompanying support measures to enable the ACP
sugar producing countries to complete the necessary reform to render their sugar sector competitive,” Minister Rodrigues-Birkett declared. Acknowledging that research and development, at both field and factory levels, will contribute significantly to supporting the ACP sugar sector, she called for ensuring the new Research and Innovation Programme is endowed with adequate resources to make certain that benefits are fully realized from the results obtained so far. She also pointed to plans for a Memorandum of Understanding with CIRAD, the French research centre working with developing countries to tackle international agricultural and development issues. Accompanying Minister Rodrigues-Birkett to the ACP and ACP-EU Council Meetings was Guyana’s Ambassador to Brussels, Dr. Patrick Gomes, who also chairs the Ambassadorial Working Group on the Future Perspectives of the ACP
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 22, 2014
Intensely terrifying feelings at twilight …initially it seemed like a sick, cruel hoax…until the little ones began to disappear! By Michael Jordan “Headless corpse of boy found…sixth missing boy murdered…round-the-clock hunt for child killers….” He’d been dead for more than four decades, yet those headlines, in dusty, bound, old newspapers, made goosebumps break out on my skin. I was mildly surprised that those headlines had the power to evoke this childish dread in me; had the power to pull me back to the time when I was an 11-year-old schoolboy preparing for Common Entrance exams; when this local ‘bogey man’ stalked the three counties. Though I had lived through that era; though I remember the fear we felt, part of me still finds it hard to believe that it really happened. But it did. I have spoken to one man who met this monster face-to-face. I have spoken with another man who finally put an end to the terror. We didn’t know it then, but that time of fear for us started in April 1969, when the body of a young female, with limbs bound behind her back, was found in a canal in Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo. The victim was eventually identified as Basmattie, an eight-year-old schoolgirl from Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara. The child was reported missing from her home on March 20, 1969, and reports at the time had suggested that she was last seen in the company of a “tall, bearded man,” while on her way to school. Five days later, the trussed-up corpse of an Amerindian child, known only as ‘Achikoo’ was found in a canefield at Turkeyen. At the time, no one saw a possible link between the two deaths.
That editorial would return to haunt him.
But then on August 30, David Bacchus, 15, of Tucville, was reported missing after leaving home around 6:45 a.m to purchase bicycle parts. His body was found in a trench in the Liliendaal canefields on September 13. In scanning through the Guyana Graphic, one sees no reports of those early murders. Nevertheless, the public sensed something, and rumours of a child-kidnapper on the loose began to fly thick and fast.
HEADLESS BODY
“NO KIDNAPPER” But the police insisted that there were no kidnappings. In fact, a 19year-old man was arrested after he turned up at a city school and informed parents that children were being abducted. He was eventually jailed for six months after reportedly admitting that someone had paid him to spread the rumour. The then Police Commissioner, Carl Austin, reassured the media that while the police had received several reports of kidnappings, all were investigated and found to be untrue. Commissioner Austin went as far as to reassure parents that they “should harbour no fear, as their children were well protected.” Nevertheless, the hysteria persisted. A man was arrested after he allegedly told a schoolboy that he could get the lad a job on a ship and assist him with his GCE exams. Another man was arrested for allegedly trying to drag a schoolgirl to his car and telling her that he wanted the hairs from 12 “straight-haired” children. The man appeared in court and denied the claim, while alleging that the girl and
Retired Detective James Brown: the man who apprehended the child-killer. her friends had teased him. And the press was also not buying into the ‘rumours’. The editor of the Guyana Graphic, veteran journalist Carl Blackman, lampooned the “child kidnapping” reports. In an editorial, headlined “The big, bad, bungling kidnapper”, Mr. Blackman wrote: “I can assure you that the kidnapping ‘bogey man’ is not waiting to pounce on your straight-haired child. “I am at a loss to understand how the rumours have been paid any heed when the whole monstrous tale is too stupid to be believed.” Carrying his satire further, Mr. Blackman suggested that the ‘kidnapper’ appeared to be a cross between Dracula and slapstick comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. “Instead of waiting until dark and pouncing on a child on some lonely road, he attempts snatches at high noon…when thousands of screaming children are on hand to snatch back the victim from the jaws of an indescribable death…”
On October 20, 1969, the headless and partly decomposed body of a 12year-old boy, Mohamed Faizal, was fished out of a shallow drain in Crabwood Creek, Corentyne. The skull was found eight days later in a drain not far from where the other remains were located. Faizal had vanished on October 3, 1969, after leaving his parents’ home and heading to the Number 79 Village market on a bicycle. The police were forced to concede that the ‘child kidnapper’ rumours were indeed true and that an individual, or a gang, was murdering children. And the reports about the child murders, with all the lurid details, began to appear in the newspapers.
his back and his legs were also tied. The body had been forced downward in the shallow drain. Police Commissioner Austin assembled a special team of detectives to handle the case. He appealed to parents to immediately report missing children, since the killer(s) seemed to be targeting loitering and ‘straying’ boys. But Guyana Graphic editor Carl Blackman was right about one thing. The killer(s) seemed to be invisible. They were striking in broad daylight throughout the three counties and getting away with it. But an even more disturbing feature of the case threatened to shatter the peace between the two major ethnic groups, some of whom still harboured bitter memories of the political
them in shallow trenches. The children had all been bound at the hands and feet and tossed alive in trenches in remote areas around the country.
One news report suggested that the latest killing was an ‘obeah murder’. The Guyana Graphic reported that police had seized a ‘black magic book’ from a Crabwood Creek home. On October 27—a mere seven days after Mohamed Faizal’s body was found—the body of 14-year-old Jagdeo Jagroop, with hands tied behind his back, and feet bound, was found in a trench in Mahaica. On November 3, 1969, a group of students preparing for school sports at Thomas Lands spotted something unusual in a shallow trench located near the Sproston’s Sports Club Ground. They soon realized that they were gazing at the half-nude body of a boy—the child-killer’s sixth victim. He was eventually identified as Mohamed Nizam Ali, who had disappeared after leaving home to view the posters at a Middle Street cinema. Like Jagdeo Jagroop, his hands were bound behind
violence of the early sixties. Because all of the victims, except one, were of East Indian origin, there was speculation that the killings were being committed by someone with a grudge against the Indian community. Top members of the Maha Sabha met with then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham to seek assurance that everything was being done to catch the killer. Under mounting public pressure, the police, under Crime Chief Paul Britton, tried to make sense of the few flimsy clues that they possessed. What they already knew was this: Except for the first victim, Basmattie, all the dead were boys. Except for one child of Amerindian descent, all of the victims were of Indian origin. From the autopsies, they knew that they were dealing with a psychopath, who was sexually assaulting his victims, before tying, torturing, and then dumping
The father of Jagdeo Jagroop, the sixth victim, recalled that a man who said that his name was Anant, had visited his home around July, and had enquired about a job. He returned on October 16, and received permission to sleep in a launch with Jagroop’s two sons. The stranger had left on October 27, the same day that the lad’s body was found. Police announced that they were looking for ‘Anant’, who had last resided in the vicinity of the junction of East and Middle Streets, Georgetown, and had also resided at Sheet Anchor and Canje, Corentyne. They also revealed that they were looking for another man, known as Anand Ramlall, who was said to be a ‘preacher’. They stated that Ramlall had recently escaped from prison. But neither man could be located and while detectives were pursuing these leads, the killer struck two more times. On December 31, 1969, Continued on page 44
POSSIBLE SUSPECTS After the sixth body was found, police began to get their first clues about a possible suspect. Scouring the Thomas Lands murder scene, detectives unearthed a brown ‘yachting’ boot, minus its laces and tongue. Further searches unearthed another boot and a pair of underwear. Acting on a tip-off, detectives questioned a Kitty Railway Line resident, who identified the boot as belonging to one Harry Rambarran. Other breaks followed.
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
I may never see Patrizio Buanne sing, “IL Mondo.” There are things you miss when you lived in a developed country and you settle down living in a poor, Third World country. Both worlds have their advantages and disadvantages. The contrasts are stark and your psyche is the final arbiter. For me the Caribbean was home. I felt it in my heart and in my soul. I couldn’t leave Guyana for Canada or the US or Europe. They say home is where the heart is. As soon as I completed all my course work for the doctorate at the University of Toronto and was left only with the thesis completion, I returned to the Caribbean, worked in Grenada (lovely island with wonderful people) and eventually to the country that gave me birth. I have been in Guyana since. As I grow older in Guyana, the dreams are still there, but Guyana as it grows older with me is haunting those dreams that I have cherished since the sun sat on my head on the seawall as I watched my dad toil in the midday heat at St. Stanislaus cricket ground eons ago. Of course I don’t want to leave and have not
entertained that thought since my return in 1984. But I will confess I miss some intimate moments in the evolution of my emotional self when I lived in a rich land. I love what Guyana has that Canada hasn’t, but I miss what Canada has that Guyana hasn’t. I missed the theatre, art museums, the live show. I was at MacMaster University in Ontario, Canada, when Engelbert Humperdinck rode into town. Humperdinck has special memories for me as a teenager growing up on D’Urban Street, Wortmanville. My sisters were crazy about him and though I was happily saturated with soul, ska and reggae, Humperdinck was enjoyable. My friends accused me of liking “white people music” but I just loved the voice, range and pitch of Humperdinck. Strange that though he wasn’t a soul singer, Humperdinck had soul in his delivery (incidentally Humperdinck is non-white). I went to Hamilton Place to see him sing. I remember the night so well. It was a cold, dreary evening and the snow would not let up. Humperdinck chased the uninviting night away.
If someone should say to me, here is a ticket to a live show; what would you like to see, I would not hesitate. I would want to see the Italian baritone, Patrizio Buanne, with his orchestral accompaniment, perform the Humperdinck classic, “IL MONDO.” Buanne has a phenomenally attractive voice and when that voice is added to that incredible love song in a live performance, then you come face to face with the magic of music, the irresistibility of art and the lure of talent. Never mind how much you love Guyana and you accept that you won’t see lovely parks, a Broadway musical (I would definitely love to see “Jelly’s Last Jam” about the man who gave jazz to the world) or walk through the hallway of a modern university with breath-taking architecture, Guyana is an immensely disappointing Third World country that constantly reminds you that despite the humongous problems inherent in large industrial countries, they are more civilized and modern. It simply breaks your heart living in Guyana
knowing the standards are not millions but billions of miles behind what obtains in even the lesser developed lands in Europe. It is not attitudes and values but just plain primitive conditions that keep getting worse every day. Make no mistake, the antihomosexual denunciations of Minister Juan Edghill can be found in very rich countries like the US. Educated people in Europe and the US publicly say morally reprehensible things. Look at what comes out of the mouths of Republican politicians in the US. Look at Toronto mayor, Rob Ford. In Guyana, it is the sheer level of infrastructural, scientific, technical, technological and engineering backwardness that is simply unimaginable. Friday morning at Regent and Cummings Streets, one of the busiest junctions in the entire country, there was a sad incident. A young woman who was recently certified as a driver literally froze in the middle of the junction. In the absence of the traffic signals, she became confused. We had to come out and tend to her. She told me she just froze
when she saw all the cars coming at her from different directions. How can a nation accept in the 21st century, its government cannot implement working traffic signals? How can any country in the 21st century have such a rundown university? How can sewage flow in the courtyard of a country’s High Court non-stop for forty-five years right up to 2014? I could go on but wouldn’t. Give me a ticket to see Buanne sing IL MONDO so I
Frederick Kissoon can sooth my Third World existence and burdened soul.
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Book Review Review:: Reviewer: Dr. Glenville Ashby In an era when common folks grapple with the weight of “making it,” and are consumed by materialism, while thirsting for social mobility - if only to satisfy society’s expectation - there comes along a comprehensive book that outlines simply and succinct precepts for authentic living. Nuggets of Truth: Golden Principles for Successful Living by Steve Cole offers readers experiential advice. As he says repeatedly, “Nuggets” is not a how-to-do book, but rather one of counsel and softly-spoken injunctions. Cole assumes the oratorical mastery of Joel Osteen, transferring the spoken word unto to a literary canvas. And it works. Cole
Kaieteur News
Sunday June 22, 2014
Book explores keys to success Book: Nuggets of Truth by Steve A. Cole speaks to the reader, readily displaying the gift of communication. For sure, his sincerity rings through. There is neither pretension nor pontification. There is no ivory tower dribble. His language is deliberate, simple, but equally profound. He cajoles while jolting the memory of the reader. “We have all had these experiences, haven’t we? (Emphasis mine) The reader relates to every nugget because it is transcultural and existential. He deftly recalls his childhood, his college years and professional life when he glossed over sound advice on personal development due to ignorance, obduracy or fear of charting new waters. Cole emphasises that the use of time is the sin qua non for success. We are all given 24 hours in the day and we are called upon to use that
period wisely. He trumpets the value of preparation and converting dreams into reality through managing oneself and acquiring necessary skills. He slams fear of stepping outside one’s comfort zone. How else can we realise our potential? He ever so calmly trounces the worker who contemplates quitting because of initial failures. Failure is the stepping stone, the pathway where life’s lessons are learned. It offers invaluable experience needed to succeed. He appeals to reason and logic, while being sharply anecdotal. What better way to cement his argument? We cannot risk selling ourselves short when preparing for a job. We must exude confidence in our abilities and present that aura of self-assurance. We must learn to quickly adapt to ever shifting situations. But Cole’s work transcends success in the workplace. And this is where “Nuggets” takes on a philosophical twist. He posits that true happiness is within, and not in the accumulation of things. “To the core, lies the notion of inner peace,” he writes. “Talk about inner peace and you can visualise yourself being unscathed by any random verbal diarrhea...” He is people centered, asking
us to be perceptive in understanding others. Life is a gestalt where authentic living is experienced only when we become our brothers’ keeper, for no one is an island. We must give back, he admonishes, because it is uplifting, ethical and spiritual. He cautions, though, that we must give without expecting any form of acknowledgement or exaltation. His message is coloured with Christian principles, although its universal appeal is undeniable. And his words are soundly expressed. “Imagine you had within your hand a rock.... and you were to open your hand and give that rock freely to someone. In the same way you might have blessed someone by giving that away, your hand is now free to receive a precious stone someone is prepared to give you.” Will “Nuggets” transform every reader? Is it the consummate antidote to hopelessness and lost potential? Hardly likely. Yes, success demands our attention, patience and talent. It requires foresight and maturity to reinvent the wheel. But our genetic composition and personality may just trump sociological factors and how well we are raised and
tutored through life. But for many of us who are willing to give “Nuggets” a chance, and clinically apply its principles with unswerving determination, we may verily reap some rewards.
Nuggets of Truth: Golden principles for successful living by Steve Cole, 2012 ISBN: 978-976-8230-850 Editor: Stacey Palmer Rating: Recommended
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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MY COLUMN
Never a dull moment in Guyana There is never a dull moment in Guyana, simply because too many people do dull things. How can one explain the spate of road fatalities if people are not doing dull things? It is as if everybody is in a terrible hurry to get where they are going. There is the saying that more haste means less speed, and that is so true. Early Saturday morning there was a collision at the junction of Albert and Church Streets. This is a place where everyone who drives along the road knows that all traffic crossing Church Street must stop. But the drivers are either too busy to stop or simply ignorant to believe that once they are on the road then they have the right of way. That is only one case of stupidity. A friend of mine died on the railway embankment during the week. There he was, riding along the roadway, when a driver opened his door into the traffic. My friend happened to be the unfortunate one who was coming along the way. He crashed into the door and died. There was the case of the man who got killed on the Corentyne highway. Some
reports say that he was lying on the roadway and the vehicle rode over him. Others say that he was on the road waiting for some form of transportation when he was hit. Whatever the truth, he became another fatality. The most horrific of all this was the teenage driver who killed three people and injured two. The strange thing is that all of these were at different places. This driver hit a man on a bicycle then continued along his merry way. He then hit two sisters and their niece, killing them on the spot. If one thought that that was the end of the story, one was sadly mistaken. The driver then continued to hit another man. When he eventually stopped he reportedly told the authorities that he thought that he was hitting animals. He had to be really drunk to be unable to identify people on the roadway. Then again, he had to be delusional to believe that there were so many animals on the roadway for him to hit within the space of a few minutes. These things make one realize that our traffic laws and the ensuing penalties are
very lax. I am certain that we have killed more people on the roads than for the corresponding period last year. The fate of these drivers is still to be determined, but I do know that in some countries they would have been charged with murder. The United States, recognizing the irresponsible behaviour of some drivers, upped the penalty for drunk driving. And this happened because some of the parents of the victims protested. In Guyana we take the situation sitting down, and drivers are allowed to continue their merry way. Some of them go to jail for a few years, no more than three or four, and return to the roads. And they do this because despite the belief that we are a litigious people, we do not pursue the driver. Despite the penalty awarded by the courts, the survivors can take private action. They can sue the errant driver for everything he has. We drive the way we do because the penalty is meaningless. For one, insurance companies do not impose their own penalty. In some countries where the
insurance is already high, the company simply takes it higher. No one likes to be hurt in the pocket, with the result that drivers are ultra-cautious. It is not that there are no accidents, but these are drastically reduced from what would have been the case had there not been what is known as the double whammy. I have a friend who drinks and drives in Guyana because he can get away with it. When he is in the United States, from the moment he takes one beer he parks the car and summons a friend or uses a taxi. He is afraid of the penalty he may attract for any accident for driving in an inebriated condition. I would expect that we would have learnt from the experience of others, but it would seem that some of us are in the mode of believing that whatever happens to others will not happen to us. That is the height of foolishness.
One worrying thing is that there will come a time when people will take the law into their own hands. They are going to assault the errant driver. And the offshoot is that drivers who are not at fault will be assaulted. We recently had the case of a driver in the city who was speeding along a narrow stretch of roadway. It is said that he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a fence. To the horror of the people who saw what happened, a child was caught between the vehicle and the fence. Need I say that the child died? What sickens me is the attempt by the relatives of the errant driver to justify the accident. These are also the people who become angry when the courts refuse to grant bail. They are certain that their relative has a right to be punished leniently. These things worry me, because there are so many
Adam Harris other things that are of concern. We have to worry about the effect of the blacklisting imposed by the Caribbean Financial Action Taskforce (CFATF). And that is another story. The CFATF said that Guyana’s money could have a tainting effect on the global financial situation. That is a joke. With all the money that Guyana may have, the country will hold less than one per cent of all the money. The issue of Guyana corrupting the international financial system must be a joke.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 22, 2014
AFC against unfair allocation of State ads Our view: By Moses Nagamootoo AFC Vice-Chairman The Alliance for Change (AFC) calls on Government to immediately disclose how much was spent on taxpayerfunded advertising during the Jagdeo and present regimes and how the placement of ads was distributed between the state and non-state media. In 1995, David de Caires, (Stabroek News), Fr. Andrew
Morrison (Catholic Standard) and I (Mirror) attended an Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) conference in Santiago de Chile at which governments that withheld advertisements or rationed same to the nonstate media, were condemned. Under provisions of the Declaration of Chapultepec, this was tantamount to economic sanctions and sabotage, and was just as bad as when, under the previous
regime, opposition newspapers were strangled by all types of restrictions on the importation of newsprint and the rationing of foreign currency to import printing machinery and parts. Upon our return, de Caires single-handedly carried the Chapultepec torch, and until his death. He approached the then President Cheddi Jagan to sign on, and I remember how much Earl Bousquet, Vic Insanally and I (as
Information Minister) tried to convince Dr. Jagan to do so. He had reservations as, at that time, Stabroek News had been carrying out an unrelenting ideological attack on him. President Jagan relented eventually but his willingness to sign was defeated by his illness and subsequent death. But, it would be true to say, that he never penalized any newspapers for criticizing his government. The Chapultepec accord captured and contained the Mirror story of fighting State discrimination and economic sabotage. It specifically states: “Tariff and exchange policies, licenses for the importation of paper or news-gathering equipment, the assigning of radio and television frequencies and the granting or withdrawal of government advertising may not be used to reward or punish the media or individual journalists”. For me, it was the Ten Commandments for a free press. It says that “no news medium or journalist may be punished for publishing the truth or criticising or denouncing the government”. Jagdeo was to ink the accord when he was handed the presidency, and he had promised not to victimize, punish or in any way target
media organizations for not toeing the line. That would be “reprehensible”, he said. But, as is characteristic of him, he crudely and clumsily broke his words by rationing ads, then cutting them off all together in some cases, to Stabroek News and Kaieteur News. At least one prominent journalist from Capitol News was banned from his press conferences at his office. In the Mirror newsprint case, Justice Vieira had famously declared that no newsprint was equal to no freedom of expression. Today, we could add, no ads equal economic strangulation of the free press. In my time, a tiny unit was set up, to place state ads and even channel ads from nonstate donor agencies to various sections of the media. Ads were never withheld from any of the mainstream newspapers, though at times I did receive complaints. With the advent of Jagdeo, all of that was to change and lofty principles of Chapultepec were derailed. President Ramotar is now dream-walking in Jagdeo’s slim pants, doing much the same. The non-government newspapers have been blacklisted and starved of State ads. The main Stateowned rag, Chronicle, the
Moses Nagamootoo party paper Mirror, and news outlets owned by their sidekicks in private-friendly hands, hog the trough. We condemn this discrimination as a direct State attack on the media in Guyana and to freedom of the press and of expression. We reiterate the principle that taxpayer-funded ads ought to go to newspapers in proportion to the size of circulation. An independent audit should determine this. Otherwise, we will continue to go down the old dirty road of press censorship and authoritarianism that ought to have been consigned to history.
Sunday June 22, 2014
SUNDAY SPECIAL HIJACKED TAXI DRIVER…SUSPECT’S MOTHER IMPLICATES SON IN MURDER …‘THEY HAVE TO FACE THE PENALTY’– SUSPECTS’RELATIVES Relatives of the two teenage boys who allegedly murdered Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, taxi driver Dhanraj Latchman, said that if the two indeed committed the act, they should face the consequences to the fullest. Around 19:30 hrs on Friday, June 13, the decomposed body of 17-year-old Latchman was discovered by ranks in a cane field at Parika. Mother of one of the suspects, Rafina Alli, told Kaieteur News Saturday that if her son did commit the act he will have to face whatever judgment the law sees fit. “As a mother I cannot and would not support what they did.” According to Alli, the two suspects, Shazim Alli, 18, and Aswraf Alli, 17, are cousins and live about two doors from each other in Lusignan, and just two streets away from the victim. Alli maintained that she was not hiding or covering up anything for her son in the matter. The mother said that she believes her nephew was the mastermind in the killing but that her son played a part and for that he should be punished. NOTORIOUS PRISONER CRITICALAFTER BRUTAL ATTACK IN JAIL Chaos reigned at the New Amsterdam Prisons Saturday when a notorious prisoner was brutally stabbed and chopped by three of his fellow inmates. As Tameshwar Khemraj, called “Rambo, 27, of Nigg Settlement, Corentyne was about to step out of his cell
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around midday, he was attacked by the prisoners who were armed with cutlasses and an ice- pick. Prison officers witnessed the entire incident and rushed to stop what was going on, but Khemraj was already injured. The entire institution was immediately put on lock down and the three suspects restrained and placed in seclusion. Khemraj was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he is in a critical state. There is no known motive for the attack. Khemraj is serving a five-year sentence for several offences. He was also before the court for a number of matters, including the Rose Hall Town $10M robbery. MONDAY EDITION BUSINESSWOMAN’S BODY FOUND WITH HANDS AND FEET BOUND The murder of a peaceful and usually jovial 65-year-old resident of Albouystown has not only left many family members and friends in a state of grief but the suspicious features of the crime scene leaves them puzzled by many questions. At 4:35 am on Father’s Day, the bound body of Sumintra (only name given) was discovered by her 42year-old son, at her Lot 61 Barr and Sussex Streets residence. The mother of four was in her bedroom, clad in her nightgown. She was tied by the feet and hands which were attached to the bedhead. A kitchen cloth was covering her mouth. It was later discovered that whoever was responsible for her death had made off with a plasma television, a DVD player and $150,000. TUESDAY EDITION CAMPBELLVILLE FIRE
LEAVES MORE THANA DOZEN HOMELESS More than a dozen people are now homeless after a fire of so far unknown origin destroyed their Lot 27, Delph Street, Campbellville home around 15:30 hrs Monday. The fire which is believed to have started in one of the rooms in the upper flat of the two-storey building quickly destroyed the top storey and scorched the bottom flat. Fire fighters were able to save some parts of the bottom flat which houses two apartments that are home to more than six persons, and a workshop. According to Adesh Rampratab, his mother, Pamela, owns the building. He said that he, his mother and siblings, Avinash, Sheneeza and Akela live in the upper flat while two families share the bottom flat. WEDNESDAY EDITION NEW GPC FAILS TO PROVE NEWS ITEMS
COST IT OVERSEAS MARKETS - UNABLE TO EXPLAIN “SOLE SOURCING” Days after being ordered by a New York court to answer several questions, the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (New GPC) has responded, but declined to reply to quite a number of them. Significantly, the company was unable to back up claims that it lost customers overseas because of Kaieteur News and its publications about New GPC drug sales to Government by that company. New GPC in August 2012 took the Kaieteur News’ New York edition to court alleging defamation and suing for US$1M, following reports of Government’s drug purchases from New GPC. The reports alleged price gouging. New GPC has been a preferred supplier to both the Ministry of Health and to the Georgetown Public Hospital
Corporation for years now, for contracts worth billions of dollars. The New York court action was followed by a similar one in Guyana against Kaieteur News. Kaieteur News, as part of its defence in the US case, deposed the New GPC. On May 16, Judge Joan Kenney denied a petition by New GPC’s lawyer, Ray Beckerman, to present the answers confidentially. New GPC, owned by Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, a close friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, was also ordered by the Judge to present the documents requested within 20 days. New GPC was asked to, among other things, prove that as a result of the Kaieteur News publications, sales to overseas clients plummeted. ABDUCTED TAXI DRIVER…TEENS CHARGED WITH MURDER Two teenagers were charged Tuesday in connection with the killing of a 17-year-old Lusignan taxi driver whose body was discovered in a cane field aback of Parika, East Bank Essequibo. Following intense investigations, Abdul Razac, 18, and Aswraf Ally, 17 were Tuesday taken before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to be jointly indicted on murder/ robbery charges. Reports are that the teens, who are also cousins, had used one of the seat belts from the victim’s car to strangle him before dumping his body. A post mortem examination which was performed on Latchman’s body Tuesday gave the cause of death as asphyxiation due to compound injury to the
neck, which is consistent with being strangled. Ali and Razac were Tuesrday charged in open court for the taxi driver’s murder. THURSDAY EDITION FINANCE MINISTER SEEKS TO RESTORE MONIES CUT FROM 2014 BUDGET …DR. LUNCHEON CITES CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS, COURT RULINGS Government has initiated moves to restore the money that was axed from the 2014 Budget, including the contentious allocations for the Specialty Hospital, the National Communications Network and GINA. The announcement came Wednesday when Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, held his weekly post Cabinet briefing and informed media operatives of the “restoration of appropriations.” Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, had presented a $208.8B budget on March 25, last, and after a series of amendments, it was reduced to $177.4B following action by the political opposition. Dr. Luncheon told the media Wednesday that the move by the Ministry of Finance is backed by constitutional provisions as well as court rulings. He said that the Finance Minister addressed Cabinet when it met on Tuesday “on his resort to the use of restoration of expenditure beyond that which was voted, that was appropriated and indeed it was the focus of his presentation and the basis for the use of the restoration of the appropriations.” According to Dr. Luncheon, the Finance Minister “relied on constitutional grounds and (Continued on page 45)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 22, 2014
The perils of vector-borne diseases in Guyana today The recent recurrent reports of outbreaks of Chikungunya disease have frightened the nation. The persistence of other vectorborne diseases – such as dengue, filaria and malaria – is a threat to public health. Guyanese are largely uniformed of the dangers these diseases pose to the population both in the hinterland and the coastland. No one is quite sure when the Chikungunya virus arrived as an unwelcome import to these shores. The disease which it causes is transmitted by the Aedes
aegypti or the Aedes albopictus mosquito. The government was slow to respond at first, but was eventually forced to admit that Chikungunya had been detected in the East BerbiceCorentyne. It then reached the Demerara-Mahaica Region. Now that the disease has been discovered, there is a frantic effort by the Vector Control Service of the Ministry of Health to conduct ‘fogging’ operations in vulnerable areas. Dengue fever is not new, but the prevalence is uncertain. There has been an evident upsurge in the prevalence of dengue fever – caused by a virus borne by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The disease is manifested by the sudden onset of fever associated with headaches
and muscle and joint pains. Without proper diagnosis, however, these symptoms can be mistaken for other influenza-like ailments. Lymphatic filariasis, which is sometimes simply referred to as filariasis or elephantiasis, cannot easily mistaken. It is a vector-borne parasite that can severely affect the human body. It is recognizable by Lymphedema (commonly called big foot) and hydrocele (also called ‘goadie’ in Guyanese creolese). There are currently three known vectors – Aedes aegypti, Culex and Anopheles – in Guyana that can transmit the disease. Malaria used to be a major cause of death on the coastland but was brought under control over sixty years ago. It is a mosquito-borne disease transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. The majority of the cases are falciparum, which is the most dangerous type of malaria, followed by vivax. Thousands of persons tested
positive for malaria are from the hinterland – BarimaWaini; Cuyuni-Mazaruni and Potaro-Siparuni – Regions. The irresponsible attitude of the PPPC administration in dealing with solid waste and environmental issues facing municipalities and neighbourhood democratic councils has been a major contributory factor to the present vector-borne disease crisis. The central government’s Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD) has been micromanaging or dismantling elected councils and has failed to conduct local government elections for seventeen years to replace the damaged councils. The MLGRD, further, has been starving councils of funds and thereby triggered, for the first time in history, a country-wide garbage disposal catastrophe. Poor waste disposal has resulted in clogged drains and waterways, mounting garbage piles and stagnant
pools in which mosquitoes breed. The incapacity of the Ministry of Health is another major reason that these four diseases seem to be spreading out of control. The Government of Guyana several years ago constructed the National Public Health Reference Laboratory intended to improve the country’s capacity in clinical laboratory testing and specialised reference testing. All the necessary equipment was in place but, up to the present time, there is not adequate specialized staff to conduct these tests. The sad result has been that, in the midst of several simultaneous outbreaks, the Ministry has been forced to rely exclusively on the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) laboratory in Trinidad to ascertain the status of suspected cases of Chikungunya, for example. Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran himself admitted
that over 200 blood samples taken from persons exhibiting symptoms of the virus had to be sent to CARPHA for testing. This process takes about five days before the Ministry can receive confirmatory results. The People’s Progressive Party Civic – PPPC – administration has the responsibility to protect the population from these diseases. The PPPC must explain why, even in places where mosquitoes were eliminated decades ago, vector-borne diseases are reemerging. The ‘clear and present danger’ to the population is posed by four deadly diseases, but public information about them has been deficient or deliberately misleading. The PPPC administration, simply, has precipitated a grave public health crisis in the country. It must now demonstrate its commitment to protecting the population by preventing the spread of these diseases.
Sunday June 22, 2014
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Guyanese student gets international recognition for academic performance Like most outstanding performers, Lakeisha Alexis Henry has always been known to put her best foot forward in just about everything she does. So it was no surprise that her academic achievements over the past few years have been nothing less than laudable. Although the former President’s College student was not recorded as the country’s top performer, her academic capabilities have been duly recognised by a prestigious organisation through which she may be able to fulfil most, if not all, of her academic endeavours. With successes in 10 subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examination in 2011, Lakeisha went on to undertake the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) in 2012 and 2013, acquiring passes in the Seven Units she wrote. She also earned an Associate Degree in General Studies. According to Lakeisha, studying for her exams was not a walk in the park. “It was very challenging since there was a shortage of teachers in some of subject
areas...But with the help of Almighty God, I overcame all obstacles,” the 19-year-old told this publication. In her quest to further her studies overseas, Lakeisha decided to take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). The SAT is a standardised test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Lakeisha with her eyes set on pursuing law at the Prince George’s Community College in Maryland, United States, was able to pass the exam, which she sat nearly a year ago, with flying colours. But while her goal was to merely get admission to the College, what would happen next surpassed all of her expectations. Lakeisha recalled receiving a mail complete with stickers from the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), in early February, informing her that her performance at the SAT was recognised and had therefore made her eligible to become a member of the esteemed organisation. At the time she had no knowledge of the organisation based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. She would soon learn that
NSHSS is an organisation that provides over one million dollars in college scholarships to facilitate studies abroad and has a repetition for conducting stirring leadership programmes on an annual basis. Moreover, a key part of its mission is to “help you gain access to higher education so that you can take your place as a future leader.” Lakeisha and her parents – Samuel and Ann Henry – were understandably ecstatic. An official correspondence from NSHSS dated March 18, 2014 stated that “the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) today announced President’s College student, Lakeisha Henry, from Georgetown, Guyana, has been selected to become a member of the esteemed organisation.” The announcement was made by NSHSS Founder and Chairman, Claes Nobel, who went on to highlight that the Society recognises top scholars who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community commitment. “On behalf of NSHSS, I am honoured to recognise the hard work, sacrifice and
commitment that Lakeisha has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of academic excellence,” said Mr Nobel as he underscored that “Lakeisha is now a member of a unique community of scholars – a community that represents our very best hope for the future.” Adding to Nobel’s sentiments was NSHSS President James W. Lewis, who pointed out that “our vision is to build a dynamic international organisation that connects members with meaningful content, resources and opportunities.” Moreover, Lewis added, “we aim to help students like Lakeisha build on their academic successes and enhance the skills and desires to have a positive impact on the global community.” Membership in NSHSS entitles qualified students to enjoy a wide variety of benefits including: scholarships opportunities, academic competitions, free events, member-only resources, publications, participation in programmes offered by educational partners, personalised recognition items and publicity honours.
Lakeisha Henry proudly sports an NSHSS T-Shirt
Formed in 2002, NSHSS recognises academic excellences at the high school level and encourages members of the organisation to apply their unique talents, vision and potential for the betterment of themselves and the world. Currently there are more than 830,000 society members in over 160 countries, and according to Lakeisha, “I feel honoured and thankful because I see it as a great opportunity for me to get new
learning experiences...and I will make the best of it.” Speaking of her plans to become a lawyer, Lakeisha said that “a career in law is an extraordinary calling. It impels one to help individuals, groups and even organisations with their legal problems and helps to realise future public good.” Moreover, her keen focus after qualifying herself will be to fight for justice for the less fortunate.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 22, 2014
Jittery gold miners set to meet over crackdown, poor declarations Amidst a disturbing 20% decline in gold declarations for the first five months of this year, Government has called gold miners and dealers to a meeting tomorrow to discuss the implications. This followed a statement earlier this week, in which the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) insisted that poor production is to be blamed for
the low declaration. The issue has been a talking point in recent weeks after allegations came out that one dealer, with close ties to the Government, has been involved in smuggling gold across the borders to neighbouring Suriname. According to the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), in an advertisement Thursday in Kaieteur News, it is currently
engaging GGDMA and licenced gold dealers to ensure that all matters of gold declaration and the legal trading of gold is done within the confines of the Laws of Guyana. Tomorrow’s meeting is to further deliberate on matters of collaboration to ensure that the gold mining sector efficiently serves the national economy, the Gold Board said. GGDMA itself, in a separate advertisement, reported that it is set to host a meeting next Thursday at its North Road offices to discuss the poor declaration and a notice by the Gold Board to enforce laws which could jail miners if they keep gold beyond 28 days, and shopkeepers if they do so
beyond 14 days. The poor declaration has also triggered a number of actions by Government, including an announcement that it will open up new lands for mining. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Minister Robert Persaud has made submissions to the Cabinet of Ministers on the issue. A decision has been taken to reconvene the Closed Area Committee of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. A meeting set for yesterday by the Committee was set to start identifying mining properties for lottery or auction and “as alternatives for miners who
had to relinquish their properties due to the Amerindian titling process. Small miners and new entrants to the mining sector have been calling for mining properties and the lotteries in the various mining districts.� Miners are worried about the tough stance of the Gold Board. According to that entity in its advertisement on Thursday, its officers are empowered to conduct searches on any premises that are suspected to be in breach of the Act. These individuals may include police and officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). An officer has the right to search premises of persons suspected and seize articles
for which there is reasonable cause to believe that there is evidence of the commission of any offence against the Guyana Gold Board Act. In cases where persons are licenced by GGMC to advance money or supply goods on credit to miners for payment in gold, they are required to inform the Guyana Gold Board of the receipt, and record every transaction in a book kept for that purpose, stating the amount of money advanced and full details. The records must be made available to officers. The Gold Board also made it clear that all gold produced must be sold to the Gold Board or any authorized dealer within 28 days.
Sunday June 22, 2014
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GPL announces 10MW shortfall as Berbicians face rolling blackouts By Leon Suseran The Guyana Power & Light Inc (GPL) has announced a ten megawatt shortfall in generation capacity at its Canefield Power Station, Berbice’s main power-generating facility. Hence, daily and nightly rolling blackouts are once again the order of the day, bringing frustration and anger to countless Berbicians. On Friday, much of East Berbice was plunged into blackout for several hours, affecting businesses, commercial activities and of course, thousands of lives across the area. Manager of GPL Berbice Operations, Mr. Ayube Bacchus, speaking to Kaieteur News about the issue, regretted the shortfall in generation capacity, but appeased Berbicians by saying that the company hopes to acquire additional Caterpillar sets from the
capital city this weekend, bringing some sort of relief. Bacchus revealed that one of the 5-Megawatt Mirrlees #1 Blackstone Generators is currently undergoing unscheduled maintenance, after “we got an indication that we have ‘first stage condition of bearing temperatures’, so we want to investigate that.” Additionally, that aging unit is “due for major overhaul as well.” Work on the unit is not expected to finish for several months. Compounding the loss of capacity is the fact that the other 5- Megawatt Mirrlees #2 Blackstone Generator is under routine planned maintenance, “and that is what really compounded the problem, because we have already stripped the second Mirrlees engine down and we have now commenced rebuilding, and that would take quite a while-maybe two
months to bring back.” “We have supporting generation from Onverwagt and from Skeldon, which we have benefitted from,” he asserted. Additionally, there are five 1.5 MW Caterpillar units, “currently taking up the shortfall.” An additional two 1.5MW sets will be sourced from the capital this weekend, “so with that 5MW that came off, we will replace that, so that shortfall will be back up by this weekend.” Bacchus also revealed that recently, another 2.5MW of electricity has been injected into the Berbice Interconnected System from the Onverwagt Power Station on the West Coast of Berbice, “so there is an improvement…but with these other two Caterpillars coming in, it will bring us back into an even position where we will have a little bit of excess generation. But it’s mainly smaller units-maybe 8MW of a smaller capacity and that
will suffice for the shortfall.” The Manager, when asked if these smaller units can carry the base load burden for electricity demands in the Ancient County, said that, “they have been doing it…they are under severe pressure at this time, but we have to be careful with our maintenance.” He could not reassure Berbicians that the long hours of daily and nightly blackouts will end, “but what we have lost in the unscheduled maintenance, we have replaced it.” The official also revealed that the power supply in East and West Berbice, for the first time ever, is being boosted with electricity outside of the Berbice area. The Columbia SubStation in Demerara, he stated, has been powering Bygeval to Belladrum, West Coast Berbice with 3MW of power. He revealed that about 7MW of power are
being received from the Skeldon Sugar Factory. “The power demand for Berbice has come down and that makes it a bit more manageable for us at this time. The daytime demand from Belladrum to Moleson Creek, is 11.5 MW, so what we are getting from Onverwagt, Canefield and Skeldon, gives us a sub-total of about 16.5MW for a 15.5MW demand during the peak periods, but that is why we want to bring in an additional two units to give us that margin of operational capacity, so when we take out units for maintenance, we have something to replace it.” ”I want to express our regrets to our consumers and we ask them to bear with us. We will come back with our normal generation supply sometime this weekend,” he stated. The official made an appeal for conservation of electricity, by “not using power-sucking devices and
GPL Berbice Manager, Ayube Bacchus equipment, especially during these critical periods.” Bacchus urged consumers, especially during the peak hour of 18:00 hrs21:00 hrs, “to take those equipment, appliances that they don’t need….to turn them off…washing machines, irons, microwaves-if they can avoid-I am not saying not to use them, but if they can plan it in such a way-they can do ironing earlier-the washing, perhaps, can be done away from the peak hours.”
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 22, 2014
GCCI releases fifth edition of ‘Business Guyana’ magazine The Guyana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Friday hosted a cocktail and dinner reception for the release of the fifth edition of its ‘Business Guyana’ magazine. Among the special invitees speaking at the unveiling of the new magazine was Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and IDB (InterAmerican Development Bank) Country
Representative Sophie Makonnen. The magazine’s theme is “to capture global opportunity.” The PM in his remarks spoke to the stable GDP growth of 5 percent which Guyana has been enjoying, while in other parts of the world such growth has been fluctuating. He then issued a challenge for the young generation of private
business entrepreneurs to increase the GDP to 10 percent so that the country can grow at a faster pace. According to the PM, the IDB has recently put out a small book asking if the Caribbean is stuck. “The fact is we may be doing well enough, but there are other small economies that are doing much better than we have over a longer period of time, so there are challenges out there. I think the emphasis should be on an even playing field and expediting the process so that things happen much more quickly, and that is where we should be putting our focus,” Hinds asserted. IDB country rep Makonnen addressed the issue of fostering a sustainable environment for the promotion of private sector development. She outlined the need for investments, job creation, adding value to the basic commodities produced, diversifying the economy, product of service and
From left: Chairperson Dr. Dawn Stewart, IDB representative Sophie Makonnen, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, VP Vishnu Doerga and GCCI secretary Nicholas Boyer with their copies of the 2014 ‘Business Guyana’magazine. delivery innovation, adaptation of more clean and efficient technologies (green economy LCDs).
“This will allow the economy to expand with a broader base of activities and more resilience to shocks that decrease the economy. That is where the next step is.” She lauded the Guyanese private sector for achieving eight consecutive years of economic growth and explained that the IDB has long been partnering for Guyana’s development and will continue to do so. One of the ways the private sector can contribute so that the economy can do better, according to Makonnen, is by way of Public-Private Partnerships. “We all know that many investments are needed such as roads, bridges, among many, but these works tend to be costly, and that cost is
also beyond the reach of the government, which has to worry about debt and stability. Guyana went through this crisis a very long time ago and debt and stability is something that has been very well managed by the government of Guyana.” She said further that while the government is looking at debt, individual entrepreneur companies don’t have sufficient capital to leverage these deals on their own, but when the two forces are joined, infrastructure projects can be surmounted. The IDB rep mentioned that access to business credit and improved payment services are also important, citing that employment at the hands of entrepreneurs is one of the key factors for business expansion, job creation and income growth. Makonnen then spoke to the issue of Guyana’s noncompliance with the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) laws. She said that the absence of AML laws will not only affect the time of money transfers, but will also prevent the country from doing mobile banking. “Imagine being in a remote part of Guyana and having the ability to transfer money without having to come to Georgetown…these things will not happen in the present situation.” She also spoke to the need for diversification of goods being exported from Guyana. “Guyana’s economy is based on the extractive industries and agriculture, which are closely linked, with gold accounting for 35 percent of exports, with rice following…To continue to grow and develop resilience of price shock, the economy (Continued on page 42)
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Sunday June 22, 2014
Rotary Club of Georgetown Central installs new Board
FROM RIGHT: Marcel Gaskin, Gillian Rockcliffe, Ron Robinson, Ivor O’Brien, Judy Semple-Joseph and Mark Bender At a special ceremony at the Georgetown Club last Thursday, the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central installed its new Board for the Rotary Year 2014-15. Outgoing President, Judy Semple-Joseph highlighted the achievements of the past year, with particular emphasis being placed on the Club’s Literacy project in the Sophia Community which saw an improvement in passes at the National Grade Six Assessment. The reins of the Club were handed over to the new President Gillian Rockcliffe who was installed by Assistant Governor Marcel Gaskin. The new President thanked the outgoing President and Board members who agreed to be part of the team which includes
President Elect Ron Robinson, Vice President Ivor O’Brien, Secretary Dr. Sase Singh, Treasurer Joseph Eastman, Director Ramesh Persaud and Sergeant-At-Arms Mark Bender. It was highlighted that Rotary’s theme for the year 2014-15, ‘Light up Rotary’ has been inspired by the teachings of Confucius who said ‘it is better to light a single candle than to sit and curse the darkness’. In keeping with the spirit of the Rotary theme, the new President expressed that throughout the upcoming year, several candles will be lit during the execution of projects while building on the successes of the previous year and improving in other areas.
GCCI releases fifth edition of... From page 32 has to diversify and add more value to its primary commodities.” Makonnen stressed that there is a need for more Foreign Direct Investment and a push in different areas, while further promulgating the existing areas such as tourism, as well as financing for cleaner energy among other initiatives. Senior Vice President (VP) of GCCI Vishnu Doerga stated that the entity represents the voice of the business community and strives to advocate policies, stimulate strength and investment,
connect businesses, sustain economic growth and expand member opportunities with the aim of contributing to a stable and sustainable, economic and social environment in Guyana. He explained that they will be actively seeking the development of alternative investment mechanisms geared at financing start-ups and SME’s (small and medium-sized enterprises). According to Doerga, “we have experienced encouraging economic ventures in the recent years and continued improvement in trade negotiations,
transportation and technology coupled with both national and international investment drivers, providing a myriad of opportunities for even greater economic growth.” Doerga outlined that the onus is on the investors to identify, investigate and invest in these opportunities. “We must be cognizant that to play on the global stage we need to play by the global rules. We therefore expect an enabling environment for the private sector and the nation to capitalize on these global opportunities.” Speaking on the magazine, he said that it was first published in 2010 and every year since, and “still is one of the best ways we can promote Guyana as an attractive investment destination. 5000 copies of the magazine are published annually and distributed globally through our embassies and high commissions.” He articulated that the magazine continues to be the highest income earner for the chamber, providing much needed resources, which are applied towards fulfilling the chamber’s mandate of overall private sector development.
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
ACIC LAUNCHES $$M EXPANSION PROJECT
The ceremonial ribbon-cutting exercise for ACIC’s new Ladies annex, by Bibi Anisha Amin (C) and other special invitees. The Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) officially launched Phases 1 and 2 of a four-phased multi-million dollar upgrading / expansion. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds at the recent occasion stated his admiration for the work done at the institution and the role that ACIC has taken in the development of its facilities for the greater benefits of its membership and also those who use it. He offered the support of the government to institutions such as these and wished ACIC much success in the future. Leader of the Opposition, Mr. David Granger also joined in expressing his pleasure at the recent additions to the centre. Granger and the Prime Minister, were made Honorary Members of the institution many years ago, and the Opposition Leader lauded all those who were involved in the successful completion of the projects. President General of the ACIC, Hakeem Khan, gave a detailed presentation of the projects designed to better serve the needs
of its membership and the hundreds of persons who use the facilities each year. The Complex, which is also the centre of Sunni Islam in Guyana, is the venue for a number of national Muslim programmes in Guyana and headquarters of several organizations and institutions both local and overseas. He dedicated it to the past leadership of the complex on whose hard work, dedication and sacrifices the current administration continues to build on. “The facility is fully air-conditioned and carries a television monitor to allow the sisters to see the Imam/Khateeb at Juma Prayers and other activities held in the Masjid itself. The 80% glass facility will also allow the annex to be used as part of the Lecture Hall for programmes and sisters can be in the annex and able to view any programme in the lecture hall, through the one-way glass or on the TV monitor.” Work commenced in February of this year and is estimated to have a final cost factor to ACIC of about $4.3M.
Old School Education (Part 2)... From page 39 malleable young minds. Add to this the increasingly permissive classroom environment I mentioned earlier, the students' shift from book reading to internetgleaned information and you enter into a 'brave new world' of modern day literacy, functional or otherwise, that allows 12th graders to graduate in ceremonial extravagance with a GPA of under 2.00. Not having taught in Guyana since 1996, I'm not in a position to comment with any sort of depth on what now obtains here literacy-wise, except to say that many of the shortcomings I observed in The Bahamas seem to have crept into our government schools. In terms of school discipline, student behaviour, and teacher-student interaction generally, both Guyana (from what I remember) and The Bahamas appear to have turned an unpredictable corner since the dawn of the 21st century, with what appears to be a dramatic increase in school and classroom violence involving alcohol, drugs, knives and occasionally, guns. Some students ad-
mit as much. Once a Grade 8 student confided in me when I enquired about his obvious lethargy, “Is rum sir, is de rum”. Much of this behaviour it is believed stems from dysfunctional, often single-parent, homes, poverty, and low self-esteem, the last two being problems not easily recognized in The Bahamas with its outward appearance of prosperity. For better or worse Guyana, like The Bahamas, has embraced modern education methods framed around child-centred teaching that rightly provides for the psychological well-being of our children, maybe less so than that of our teachers. One of the consequences appears to be that children are increasingly becoming lessrestrained in the expression of their egos and individualism, while teachers suffer increasingly from the effects of decreased authority and increased stress levels, compounded by inadequate remuneration. So, do we need to revert to old school education in this new age techno world? Will going back to imperialist literature and colonial-style dis-
cipline do the trick? Probably not. For starters you'd have to do away with the internet and the array of electronic gadgets that are so much a part of our children's everyday lives. And what about putting corporal punishment back in the hands of the teachers? The truth, as I see it, is that we are caught in an inexorable grind of change and human evolution. Towards what, God only knows, but it will obviously influence our children's education, and their future. Finally, regardless of how out-of-control today's schoolchildren appear, it may well be a matter of perception coloured by the nature of our own reality as adults. (Look at the paradox of politics in our so-called civil society) My teaching/learning experiences with children over time, and the friendships I forged with them regardless of their temperament, have made me wary of educational dogma, and overly-structured teaching. In the final analysis, children are indeed children. I know. In addition to the hundreds I taught over the years, I helped raise and educate seven of my own.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 22, 2014
Intensely terrifying feelings at twilight …initially it seemed like a sick, cruel hoax…until the little ones began to disappear! From page 22 ten-year-old Harrinarine, also called Paulton, was found in a canal at Mahaica. The boy lived at Hogg Island, Essequibo, but had disappeared while staying at an aunt at La Bagatelle, Leguan. He was reported missing shortly after a man informed the aunt that he was instructed by the boy’s father to take Harrinarine back to Leguan. Six months later, sevenyear-old Orlando Guthrie, of Grove Village, East Bank Demerara, disappeared. But by then, police had a better profile of ‘Anant.’ He was Harrynauth Beharry, 30, a weeder and fisherman, alias Harry Rambarran, alias Charles Bissoon, alias Charles Pereira, alias Anant Persaud and Maka Anant. Beharry had several convictions, mainly for simple larceny. His last conviction was for “an act of gross indecency”, for which he served a twelve-month sentence. His release on March 10, 1969, coincided with the murder of Basmattie, the first child, and the only female victim.
his yachting boots were always worn down at the heels.” But somehow the suspect managed to elude the dragnet, until a suspicious villager and an alert detective constable became his nemeses… CAPTURE
Police now had an idea of how Beharry selected his victims. The perverted individual would roam villages, pretending to be looking for work. The houses he targeted were those with children.
“He was five feet seven inches tall,” veteran Guyanese journalist Steve Narine recalled. “He had a squint in one eye, liked to keep his hat pulled down, and never looked anyone in the face. He walked with a slight limp, and
It was June 1970, and a resident of Grove, East Bank Demerara was at home when a diminutive man with a cutlass visited his premises looking for work. The villager agreed to hire the labourer to weed his yard. But the man saw something that made him suspicious. This man who apparently earned his livelihood by weeding had apparently not sharpened his cutlass in ages. The stranger later sharpened the cutlass, weeded a portion of the yard, and left. And the resident might have gotten over his suspicions if something else hadn’t happened. That very night, the resident learned that a child from the village was missing. The missing child was seven-year-old Orlando Guthrie. A few days later, the villager was heading to Georgetown when he spotted a familiar figure. The ‘weeder’ was coming out of a dam at Houston, East Bank Demerara. As the resident watched, the ‘labourer’ caught a taxi. The villager decided to follow. He caught another vehicle and trailed the ‘labourer’ until the man disembarked near the Charlestown Post Office. Spotting a police sergeant whom he knew, the villager immediately told the sergeant of his suspicions. The sergeant ignored him.
Shortly after, the resident spotted James Brown, a young detective constable, driving a police jeep near Broad Street, Charlestown. The man flagged the young detective down and again related his suspicions. Detective Brown took the man into his jeep. Their perseverance paid off a few minutes later, when they spotted the ‘labourer’ walking in Charlestown. Brown exited the vehicle and began to trail the suspect. But then the man spotted Detective Brown. He ran. But Brown was a champion athlete in the Police Force. Sprinting after his quarry, he quickly cornered the fleeing man in a Charlestown yard. After a brief struggle, Brown overpowered the ‘weeder’ and took his cutlass. As he carried the man to his vehicle, the young detective became even more certain that the ‘labourer’ might indeed be the killer who had eluded them for 14 months. The ‘labourer’ literally began to tremble when he spotted the Grove resident, whose premises he had weeded. His agitation increased when Detective Brown suggested that he was the child-killer. At the police station, the suspect soon broke down under intense questioning. “About six of us were grilling him. We were firing questions at him. Suddenly, he began to make requests. First he asked for a smoke, and I bought him a pack of cigarettes. Then he asked for a fried chicken, and we bought that and a soft drink. “After he had eaten, he
was questioned again, and this time he confessed that he had killed the children. “He told us that he would take us to the area where the last victim (Orlando Guthrie), who was still missing, was slain.” All speculation that Beharry was indeed the killer ended when he took Brown and other detectives to a trench at the back of Diamond Estate, East Bank Demerara. “Suddenly he said: ‘look he deh’, and we found the body in the trench,” recalled Brown, who would later be promoted on the spot for his role in the dramatic capture. “He was further cautioned, and he took us to the areas where the other children had been killed.” Beharry would later insist that he was under the influence of a mysterious figure called ‘David’ who had made him commit the murders. But no ‘David’ has ever surfaced, and Beharry was charged. But the incensed public was to be cheated of a sensational trial. Several months later, Beharry was found hanging from a bar in a cell in the Georgetown Prison. The nondescript-looking labourer who had terrorized the nation had chosen to die by his own hand, keeping forever to himself the mystery as to what demons pushed him to go on such a terrifying killing spree. If you have any information on any unusual case, please contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street Charlestown office or by telephone. We can be reached on telephone numbers 2258458, 22-58465, 22-58473, or 22-58491. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address mjdragon@hotmail.com.
Sunday June 22, 2014
From page 27 on rulings of the constitutional court to initiate his exercise of restoration of appropriation in the 2014 fiscal year.” He said that the restoration of the money extends beyond the Office of the President to the eight other cuts that were made.
Kaieteur News
MPS INSPECT HOLDING CENTRES, RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS A Parliamentary oversight body last week carried out inspection visits to several of the city’s holding facilities and found that several areas need improvement. Among the places visited last Friday by the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services were the East La Penitence Female Lockups, Sophia Children’s Centre and the Juvenile Holding Centre. According to the Parliament Office, the Committee has responsibility under the law to scrutinise and examine policies and administrations under its purview and to determine whether they are in consonance with the principles of good governance. In exercising this function, the Committee must also visit government organisations, activities or projects and report to the National Assembly. Also visited was the Amerindian Hostel. There have been complaints of poor conditions at especially the women’s lockups. Among the Parliamentarians were Chairperson, Volda Lawrence; Vice-Chairperson, Indranie Chandarpal; MPs Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Mabel Baveghems, John Adams and Valerie Garrido-Lowe. There were also other support staffers from the Parliament Office.
…DURING NEGOTIATIONS OVER AMAILA FALLS HYDRO PROJECT – NICIL SAYS The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), has come out in defence of gifting not one, but two prime pieces of land to China Railway First Group (Guyana) Inc. NICIL, headed by Winston Brassington, said that in early 2013, with the expectation of the Amaila Falls construction project starting later that year, “negotiations were held with China Railway First Group on key matters related to the start of the project.” This, NICIL said, resulted in two pieces of land being committed to CRFG. The government holding agency made this declaration via a missive Thursday in response to an article published in Kaieteur News on May 4, last. The article noted that Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, after checking the Official Gazette, discovered that NICIL had gifted a plot of Turkeyen land to the Chinese firm. Ramjattan said that there was a double transfer of lands at Turkeyen from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to NICIL. He also explained that NICIL then transferred to CRFG, a piece of land. There was no cost attached to the land transfer. The AFC Leader demanded that Government be transparent about the questionable transaction and explain why Lands and Surveys transferred the land to NICIL, and the said land was not sold to the Chinese group. NICIL explained firstly, the key matters “negotiated” with CRFG, the first one being the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract Price Validity.
FRIDAY EDITION GUYANA BARTERS PRIME LAND IN DEAL WITH CHINESE COMPANY
GOVT. SPENDS US$22.5M THAT WAS NOT APPROVED BY PARLIAMENT “NO CONSTITUTIONAL
MEANS PERMIT EXPENDITURE NOT APPROVED” – GREENIDGE Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh submitted a Statement of Excess Thursday in the National Assembly, outlining that Government has spent more than $4.5B of the $31B that the opposition had disapproved. The move was a departure from an announcement made the previous day by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, who said Government would initiate an exercise to restore the money that was axed from the 2014 Budget. Dr. Singh on Thursday requested that the Financial Paper, the first for 2014, be debated and voted on when the House meets again. While several of the allocations distributed by the Finance Ministry for the period ending June 16, 2014, dealt with salaries and other recurring expenditure for Office of the President, several of the allocations fall
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within the ambit of what the Opposition deemed contentious. The National Communications Network (NCN) was the recipient of a subsidy from Office of the President of $32.6M while the Government Information Agency (GINA) received $66.4M. The political opposition had also voted down monies allocated under the Low Carbon Development Strategy, but the Ministry of Finance expended in excess of $424M under this heading. There was much hue and cry about the voted down Student Loan for the University of Guyana, but a sum of $225M was supplied. The opposition argued a lack of transparency when it voted down the Amerindian Development Fund, but this has not stopped government from spending more than $306M. The controversial expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport which was also denied money under the 2014 Budget received just over $359M.
SATURDAY EDITION CHINA RAILWAY GROUPAWARDED CONTRACT FOR $8.7B ROAD PROJECT Of the four Chinese construction companies vying for a major Ministry of Public Works project to widen the East Coast Demerara (ECD) public road, the contract was awarded to the company with the lowest bid: China Railway First Group Company Limited. This company is also the contractor for the Amaila Falls Hydro-Electric Project. Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon announced recently that Cabinet gave its no objection to the award of US$42.7M contract for the road widening and upgrading of the ECD road from Better Hope to Belfield in Region Four. China Railway actually put in a bid for US$46.9M. China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd, the contractor in the US$150M expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, submitted a bid for
US$60.4M ($12B). Meanwhile, China National Machinery Import/ Export Company Limited, the company that was involved in the construction of the problematic US$200M Skeldon expansion project, submitted a proposal for US$55.6M ($11B). The highest bid came from China State Construction Engineering Corporation for US$71.4M. The Engineer’s estimate for the project was US$57.6M. Apparently there is a disparity between China Railway First Group Company Limited’s bid of US $46.9M and the US$42.7M which was awarded. Chief Works Officer (CWO) of the Ministry of Public Works, Jeffrey Vaughn pronouncing on the issue said that the reason for this difference could possibly be because “there was a change in the cost because they have to do cross checks and they realized that there were errors in the bill.” He said it is obvious that the price was reduced from US$46.9M to US$42.7M (8.7B)”.
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By Dr. Kumar Sukhraj WHAT IS SICKLE CELLANEMIA? Sickle cell disease is a disorder that affects red blood cells. Sickle cell anemia is one of the most commonly inherited blood anemias. It is cause by an inherited abnormal haemoglobin, which is an oxygen-carrying protein within the red blood
Kaieteur News
cells. The abnormal hemoglobin causes distorted (sickled) red blood cells. These abnormal sickled cells are prone to rupture because they are fragile. When the abnormal red blood cells are ruptured (hemolysis), there will be a decrease in their numbers and this will lead to anaemia (low blood count) thus the condition is called sickle cell
Shorter time between pregnancies linked to earlier delivery
Women who become pregnant again within 18 months after having a baby are more likely to deliver early, according to a new study. Past reports have also linked having a short interpregnancy interval with a greater risk of premature birth. The new study “brings up the importance of adequate birth spacing as a potential modifiable way that women, especially high-risk women, can decrease their chance of having a preterm baby,” Emily DeFranco told Reuters Health. She worked on the study at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio. “Women who are at the highest risk for preterm birth are those who have had a previous premature birth so (for those women it is) especially important to try to optimize their pregnancy timing,” DeFranco said. The findings suggest a short interpregnancy interval is also linked to the risk of a baby being born a week or two early, though not technically premature. These early term births at 37 and 38 weeks of gestation (full term is 39 to 40 weeks) can have a negative impact on a newborn’s health, say the authors. For their study, DeFranco and her colleagues analyzed information from Ohio birth
records from 2006 to 2011. They were able to find the interpregnancy interval for about 450,000 babies born to mothers who had given birth previously. About 11% of the births occurred after an interpregnancy interval of 12 to 18 months and about 2% followed an interpregnancy interval of less than 12 months. The researchers found that 53% of women with interpregnancy intervals of less than 12 months gave birth before the 39th week of pregnancy, compared with about 38% of women who had normal interpregnancy intervals of at least 18 months. Twenty percent of women with the shortest interpregnancy intervals delivered prematurely before 37 weeks - compared to 10% of women who waited 12 to 18 months between pregnancies and about 8%of women with a normal interpregnancy interval. African American mothers were more likely to have short interpregnancy intervals. They were also more likely to have premature births, even when their pregnancies were at least 18 months apart, according to findings published June 4 online in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
anemia. The irregular sickled cells can also block blood vessels causing tissue and organ damage and severe pain. In patients with sickle cell anemia, conditions which are associated with low oxygen levels, increase acidity, or dehydration of the blood, promote sickling of the red blood cells. Certain organs are predisposed to lower oxygen levels or acidity, such as when blood moves slowly through the spleen, liver, or kidney. Also, organs with particularly high metabolism rates (such as the brain, muscles, and the placenta in a pregnant woman with sickle cell anemia) promote sickling by extracting more oxygen from the blood. These conditions make these organs susceptible to injury from sickle cell anemia. Virtually all of the major symptoms of sickle cell anemia are the direct result of the abnormally shaped, sickled red blood cells blocking the flow of blood that circulates through the tissues of the body. The tissues with impaired circulation suffer damage from lack of oxygen. Damage to tissues and organs of the body can cause severe disability in patients with sickle cell anemia. The patients endure episodes of intermittent “crises” of variable frequency and severity, depending on the degree of organ involvement. The major features of sickle cell anemia include: · Fatigue and Anemia · Pain Crises · Dactylitis (swelling and inflammation of the hands and/or feet) and Arthritis · Bacterial Infections · Splenic Sequestration (sudden pooling of blood in the spleen) and Liver Congestion · Lung and Heart Injury · Leg Ulcers · Aseptic Necrosis and Bone Infarcts (death of portions of bone) · Eye Damage Affected infants do not develop symptoms in the first few months of life because the hemoglobin produced by the developing fetus (fetal hemoglobin) protects the red blood cells from sickling. This fetal hemoglobin is absent in the red blood cells that are produced after birth so that by 5 months of age, the sickling of the red blood cells is prominent and symptoms begin. Sickle cell anemia can lead
to a host of complications, including: · Stroke. A stroke can occur if sickle cells block blood flow to an area of your brain. Signs of stroke include seizures, weakness or numbness of your arms and legs, sudden speech difficulties, and loss of consciousness. If your baby or child has any of these signs and symptoms, seek medical treatment immediately. A stroke can be fatal. · Acute chest syndrome. This life-threatening complication of sickle cell anemia causes chest pain, fever and difficulty breathing. Acute chest syndrome can be caused by a lung infection or by sickle cells blocking blood vessels in your lungs. It may require emergency medical treatment with antibiotics and other treatments. · Pulmonary hypertension. People with sickle cell anemia can also develop high blood pressure in their lungs (pulmonary hypertension). This complication usually affects adults rather than children. Shortness of breath and fatigue are common symptoms of this condition, which can be fatal. · Organ damage. Sickle cells can block blood flow through blood vessels, immediately depriving an organ of blood and oxygen. In sickle cell anemia, blood is also chronically low on oxygen. Chronic deprivation of oxygen-rich blood can damage nerves and organs in your body, including your kidneys, liver and spleen. Organ damage can be fatal. · Blindness. Tiny blood vessels that supply your eyes can get blocked by sickle cells. Over time, this can damage the portion of the eye
Sunday June 22, 2014
that processes visual images (retina) and lead to blindness. · Skin ulcers. Sickle cell anemia can cause open sores, called ulcers, on your legs. · Gallstones. The breakdown of red blood cells produces a substance called bilirubin. A high level of bilirubin in your body can lead to gallstones. · Priapism. Men with sickle cell anemia may experience painful, longlasting erections, a condition called priapism. As occurs in other parts of the body, sickle cells can block the blood vessels in the penis. This can damage the penis and eventually lead to impotence. Sickle cell anemia is suspected when the abnormal sickle-shaped cells in the blood are identified under a microscope. Testing is typically performed on a smear of blood using a special low-oxygen preparation. This is referred to as sickle prep. Other prep tests can also be used to detect the abnormal hemoglobin S, including solubility tests performed on tubes of blood solutions. The disease can be confirmed by specifically quantifying the types of hemoglobin present using a hemoglobin electrophoresis. Prenatal diagnosis (before birth) of sickle cell anemia is possible using amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. The sample obtained is then tested for DNA analysis of the fetal cells. The hemoglobin electrophoresis test precisely identifies the hemoglobins in the blood by separating them. The separation of the different hemoglobins is possible because of the unique electrical charges they each have on their protein surfaces, causing them each to move characteristically in
Dr. Kumar Sukhraj an electrical field as tested in the laboratory. The treatment of sickle cell anemia is directed to the individual features of the illness present. In general treatment it is directed at the management and prevention of the acute manifestations as well as therapies directed toward blocking the red blood cells from stacking together. There is no single remedy to reverse the anemia. It is, therefore, important that affected individuals and their family members have an optimal understanding of the illness and that communication with the doctors and medical personnel be maintained. Please feel free to send an email to kumarsukhraj@ yahoo.com or call 6228032 for further enquiry and discussion on the topic. Patient education plays an important in the diagnosis and management of diabetes and any other illness. Please look forward for a continuation of the discussion on health issues in the next publication REFERENCE: Bunn, HF. Pathogenesis and treatment of sickle cell disease. N Engl J Med 1997; 337:762. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, McGrawHill, edited by Eugene Braunwald, et. al., 2001.
FDA asks for wider warning on testosterone products The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said all testosterone products on the market should include in their labels a general warning about the risk of blood clots in veins. The regulator cited post-market reports of such clots for the warning. The FDA said that while testosterone products already carry a warning about the risk of clots related to a condition that sometimes occurs with testosterone treatment, the latest reports of clots were unrelated to that condition, called polycythemia. Polycythemia refers to an abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells that sometimes occurs with testosterone treatment. Testosterone products are also at
the center of an FDA investigation, which is looking at the risk of stroke, heart attack and death in men taking these drugs. The FDA said the new warning was not related to the ongoing investigation. Testosterone treatments are approved for use by men who lack or have low testosterone in conjunction with an associated medical condition, such as a genetic failure of the testicles to produce testosterone. Symptoms can include loss of libido, depression, decreased muscle mass and fatigue. Products on the market or about to be launched include AbbVie Inc’s AndroGel, Endo International Plc’s Aveed and Trimel Pharmaceuticals Corp’s Natesto. (Reuters Health)
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Chinese sponsor demands Who’s hiding in Picasso’s ‘Blue Room’? changes to ‘Transformers 4’ film Art experts will be combing the archives, analyzing correspondence and scrutinizing sketches and photographs to try to identity a mystery man whose portrait was discovered hidden under “The Blue Room,” a 1901 painting by Pablo Picasso. Infrared scans revealed the image of a welldressed gentleman under “The Blue Room,” painted during the artist’s early days in Paris. Art experts are eager to learn who the man was, how he was connected to Picasso, and why his portrait was painted over. “We will try to identify, if at all possible, who the sitter might be,” said Susan Behrends Frank, associate curator for research at The Phillips Collection in Washington D.C. “We’re trying to gather information about individuals Picasso had any opportunity to have contact with, or whose paths he may have crossed during his crucial early weeks in Paris,” she said. Researchers are hoping that material from the Museu Picasso in Barcelona, and another museum in Paris, will offer clues to solving the puzzle. Knowing more about the man shown seated with his right hand touching his cheek could help researchers understand the process and changing style of the celebrated artist who died in France in 1973 at age 91. A conservator at The Phillips Collection, a private institution, suspected something was underneath the “The Blue Room” as early as the 1950s when he noticed inconsistencies in the brush strokes. In 1997, X-ray images revealing a murky image confirmed his suspicions.
But it wasn’t until infra-red scans were performed in 2008 that a clearer portrait of the bearded man in a bow-tie was revealed. Earlier this year, art experts from The Phillips Collection, The National Gallery of Art in Washington, Cornell University and the Winterthur Museum in Delaware, all of whom collaborated on the research, discussed their findings. They determined, judging by the brush strokes and pigment, that both paintings had been done in haste by Picasso in 1901. “We can see where it fits in with his works in an important transition time for him,” said Frank, adding that the style of the painting suggests the summer of 1901 in Paris. “One of the things we will try to do is understand more about the timeline between these two paintings,” she added. The portrait of the mystery man is not the first found under a Picasso painting. It was not uncommon for struggling artists to re-use a canvas. Frank said that discovering other aspects of Picasso’s early career adds to the larger understanding of the moment he was becoming the artist he is known as today. “It’s like being a detective trying to decipher these enticing morsels of information to try to knit them together into a more comprehensive picture,” Frank added. “The Blue Room,” which has been part of The Phillips Collection since 1927, will be displayed in South Korea from next month until early next year. It will also be the focus of an exhibition at The Phillips Collection planned for 2017. (Reuters)
A Chinese investment firm has demanded that Paramount Pictures remove scenes from the upcoming action film “Transformers: Age of Extinction” because it believes the movie studio did not meet the obligations of a sponsorship deal between the two companies. Beijing Pangushi Investment Co. Ltd., in a statement dated June 18, said it terminated its contract with Paramount, a unit of Viacom Inc, and that any images featuring the company’s building should be deleted from the film or its marketing materials.
U.S. comedian Leno tapped for Mark Twain Prize for American Humor U.S. comedian Jay Leno will receive this year’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the center announced on Wednesday. Leno, who ended a 22-year run as the host of NBC’s “Tonight Show” in February, will receive the award during a gala performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 19. The Kennedy Center created the award in 1998 to recognize comedians who have had “an impact on American society” similar to that of Mark Twain, the 19th-century satirist and author of novels including “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”.
China to spend $163M a year to support movie industry The Chinese government will spend 1 billion yuan ($163 million) a year to support the domestic movie industry, including producing films and funding the construction of digital cinemas, state media said on Thursday. The money will go to help produce five to 10 films a year and build the cinemas mostly in the poorer center and west of the country, the official Xinhua news agency said. “The cultural development fund will specifically
promote movie-making technology, help exports of Chinese films, invest in commercial productions and build film websites,” it said. Xinhua did not say over how many years the government would provide such funding. Banks would also be encouraged to lend to the sector, production companies would be encouraged to list on the stock market and issue bonds, and insurance companies would be encouraged to buy stakes in film companies, it added. (Reuters)
The movie, the fourth installment in the blockbuster “Transformers” series, is set for worldwide release on June 27. A Paramount spokesman said on Friday that Pangu Plaza, owned by the Beijing investment firm, has a “prominent placement in Transformers 4 and it looks beautiful on screen.” “We regret that Pangu is not currently satisfied with certain aspects of our collaboration and are working to resolve its concerns,” the spokesman said. (Reuters)
“What an honor!” Leno, 64, said in a statement in which he jokingly pretended to confuse Twain with the British novelist Charles Dickens. “I’m a big fan of Mark Twain’s. In fact, ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ is one of my favorite books!” Previous winners of the award include entertainers Billy Crystal, Tina Fey, Whoopi Goldberg and Lily Tomlin. Leno, who lives in Los Angeles, began his career touring clubs as a stand-up comedian, and continued to hit the road even after he helped make the “Tonight Show” the highestrated late-night show on television for nearly two decades. The show is now hosted by Jimmy Fallon. (Reuters)
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Love thy neighbour as thyself, even if the neighbour is from hell By Ralph Seeram “You left your garage door open again” the voice on the other end of the phone said laughingly. Yes I had done it again, I left my garage door open, which means anyone could have taken things not only from my garage, but could have walked into my house and taken anything they wished. But I had no fear of that, not with my immediate neighbor Rose. In Guyanese terms we would say “she fast” or nosey, but for Rose that is in a good way. She is the neighbourhood gossiper and “watchman”. She can tell you who sleeping with whom, who is going or coming, who’s sick any every bit of the latest gossip in the neighbourhood.
I live in a very quiet dead end street. It’s safe, but I feel safer with Rose. She can tell me when I left home, when I returned, and when I am not home for a few days I will have to explain why I was away. FENCES She must be the type of neighbour Christ was talking about, unlike the one I had at the place I moved from a year ago. They say good fences make good neighbors, but some say even no fence makes a bad neighbour. My former neighbor and I were not on speaking terms for about eight years because I surveyed the property. As the surveyor was working he came out with a camera taking pictures of the guy, for God knows what reason. Well he knew why.
Turns out he did not own the land he thinks he had; he was encroaching on my property. So when the survey stick dropped he had no space at the side of his house to even run his lawn mower. I deliberately marked the dividing line to remind him where the demarcation was. When I was a youngster in New Amsterdam I recalled that our yard drain separated our neighbour. We were not living on the property, but over the years that drain kept moving towards my house while a car could have driven on the side of the neighbour. Some years later when I moved on the property I decided to fence the yard, so I had it surveyed to make sure I did not encroach on anybody’s property. My
Scientists find new, endangered... From page 59 ministry's commitment in terms of ensuring that we achieve that balance in terms of sustainable management both on the environmental side, as well as utilisation of natural resources,” Minister Persaud explained. The Environment Ministry is also working with the WWF and Guyana Tourism Authority to develop and implement a tourism development strategy. Currently work is being done on the guest house to
accommodate visitors overnight and wardens' quarters are also being constructed. Last year, the KNP saw approximately 7,000 visitors and there has been an increase in the number of overland visits. WWF Guianas Regional Representative, Dominiek Plouvier referred to Guyana's Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) as a fantastic model for a green economy and as the biggest environmental organisation
in the world, the WWF is committed to promoting this strategy globally. “This is a region which is still very unknown unfortunately, but this country has done major things and it's our duty as an organisation to promote it,” he said. WWF has been working in Guyana since 1998; it has a special Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the country. Its main objective is to support sustainable development.
Immigration INFO: Immigration News... From page 56 battery or extreme cruelty. Those Eligible to File: · Spouse: You may file for yourself if you are, or were, the abused spouse of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. You may also include on your petition your unmarried children who are under 21 if they have not filed for themselves. · Parent: You may file for yourself if you are the parent of a child who has been abused by your U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse. You may include on your petition your children, including those who have not been abused, if they have not filed for themselves. You may also file if you are the parent of a U.S. citizen, and you have been abused by your U.S. citizen son or daughter. · Child: You may file for yourself if you are an abused child under 21, unmarried and have been abused by your U.S. citizen or permanent resident parent. Your children may also be included on your petition. You may file for yourself as a child after age 21 but before age 25 if you can demonstrate that the abuse was the main reason for the delay in filing. Once your self-petition as
a battered spouse, child or parent is approved, then you can apply for work authorization and a green card. There are no filing fees for the battered spouse petition and waivers for filing fees are available for the work authorization and green card applications. VAWA allows certain spouses, children and parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents (green card holders) to file a petition for themselves without the abuser's knowledge. This will allow you to seek both safety and independence from the abuser. The provisions of VAWA apply equally to women and men. Your abuser will not be notified that you have filed for immigration benefits under VAWA or that your application was approved. The National Visa Center (NVC) will request visa fees be paid for all the beneficiaries and will ask for certain documents. Once the NVC completes processing, then the file is sent to the U.S. Embassy. The U.S. Embassy is the third and last agency to review the petition. Upon approval from the U.S. Embassy, then an immigrant visa will be issued in the beneficiary's passport.
Filing for Spouse or Child under age 21 of U.S. Citizen: In the situation where the person filing is a U.S. citizen and the beneficiary is a spouse or child under age 21 living outside the U.S., the visa processing time can be 9-12 months. Where the spouse or child under age 21 resides in the U.S., the visa processing time can be 3-6 months. A visa is available immediately because a spouse or child under age 21 are considered immediate relatives of a U.S. citizen and have the highest preference in visa processing. Preference Category Beneficiaries: The following beneficiaries are considered preference category and a visa is NOT available immediately and there is a backlog on processing and visa issuance: (1) child over age 21 of a U.S. citizen; (2A) spouse and child under age 21 of a permanent resident; (2B) unmarried child over age 21 of a permanent resident; (3) married child of a U.S. citizen; (4) brother/sister of a U.S. citizen. To view the most current visa bulletin or visa priority dates every month, visit www.GailLaw.com.
friendship ceased that day as I was putting up my fence; I was on the receiving end of a real Guyanese “cuss out” as I was “tekking away” dem land. Some time ago I visited a friend in the Queenstown area of New Amsterdam, and could not help noticing a lovely row of coconut trees bordering the fence between her and her neighbor. As I pointed this out to her she informed me that the trees are on her property and they are in court. The greedy neighbor in spite of a survey showing the demarcation of the property went ahead and planted the coconut trees hoping that she would lay claim to about two feet of land. The court eventually gave him ten days to remove his fence; my friend got the coconut trees. NOISE If you live in an apartment building or on the bottom flat of a house you will probably know what I am about to say. The upstairs neighbour’s music would be booming at three in the morning when you want to sleep, or the constant running of kids, fighting screaming all at the time you want to take a rest, not to mention the sounds of a noisy bed when they are making love. Speaking of making love, I had a neighbor who was very loud in her lovemaking; the neighbours would know the precise moments she was at the height of ecstasy. Houses in Guyana have thin
walls, and loving making sometimes has no privacy. Back in bachelor days in Guyana, I had one on the best neighbours. Since my house was the “bachee” all the drinking took place at my place after the bars closed in the wee hours of the morning. My neighbour downstairs Egan Morgan, was a known fish vendor in New Amsterdam market. Anyway if we were making too much noise as we usually do, he would come upstairs and join us saying” if I can’t sleep I might as well drink
By Ralph Seeram alyou rum”. Egan always had pepperpot going year round and always had fish curry on his stove I had an open Continued on page 63
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VACANCY 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 670-8893/684-2838 FOR SALE
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, Crab Wood etc Call: 688-6579
One Steel-Hull Trawler: Length-65ft, Width-20ft. Price negotiable – Call: 6724836/ 231-9833 Dachshund pups mix with Pekingese for sale- $15,000 – Call: 677-2476/ BBM: 2AC192FD
One Grocery stall & Snackette at Stabroek Market - Tel: 679-1151
1997 Suzuki 650 GSR: asking price - $700,000 or best offer, with vest, jacket & helmets Tel: 698-9368, 275-0081
PlayStation2, PlayStation3 & PSP games – Tel: 644-6012
5000 gas fuel tank – Call: 6013194
Pluck Chicken - Call: 6273484, 253-3246
One 85-DAF Lorry Cab in excellent condition, One 65210 DAF engine, foreignused, in good working condition – Tel: 628-1756, 228- 5655
PlayStation2 gaming system and PlayStation3 Controller Tel:644-6012 Spares for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 One Honda Pressure Washer -$120,000, - Kubota 4CYL engine - $420,000, 1- 4 and 6CYL engine Perkins together -$900,000 – Call: 666-4000, 613-5878 Pluck Chicken for Sale: Tel: 656-3479 Canadian rebuilt Perkins Duetz engine, Lincoln generator welder, model M with winch, 320 excavator – Call: 691-2921 300lbs 3 inch green nylon seine – Call: 649-0045; 2593155 A fully equipped sawmill operation at prime location: large land space, plenty suppliers & customers Contact Swamee: 614-1466; 678-1421 Yamaha outboard engines, various sizes, tundra wheels, boat trailer - Tel: 2201981, 690-1945 One 48V 3000W inverter, 1 snow cone cart/machine – Tel: 621-1549 Three caterpillar engines: Model 3406-$1,6M, 3116 $1,1M, 3208- $1,1M. Contact 650-0402; Serious Inquiries Only Brand new cordless phones on sales, a pair for $6,000 – Contact Dave: 680-6194 for more information One 6 Cylinder Perkins Diesel Engine – 324, one John Deere Diesel Engine 4239-Call: 687-6800,6849150,624-5273, 652-5877 Second-Hand Louvre windows with tracks - Tel: 233-2182
Dell computers with 17" Led -$59,000, laptops from $64,000, Blackberry 8310 $9,000 at Future Tech – Call: 231-2206; 644-6760 One big Salon sink for sale – Call: 665-2281 or 266-0520 1- Fishing Boat – 50ft long complete with 400lbs Bangamary net, 2-48 Yamaha Engines & all accessories – Price $3M - Call: 220-2259, 669-7864
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 Experienced person for new Premier Supermarket: 3 Subjects (Mathematics & English), police clearance, two references Contact: 231-2307
BGG RZ Minibus - $450,000 – Tel: 646-7979 CAKES & PASTRIES Courses for Floral Arrangement, cake decoration, cake & pastry, bridal accessories Contact: Sharon: 672-8768, 612-4193, 223-3303
Two-storey concrete house (26X45ft), 4 bedrooms, 3 washrooms, grilled with electronic security at Grandville Park, Beterverwagting - Tel: 672-6169
Exist for one Accounts Clerk. Please bring written application to Mike’s Pharmacy, 56 Sheriff Street.
1 Two-storey roadside, concrete and wooden house (45’X20"). Located at 57 New Road, V/Hoop - Tel: 624-0779
Hard working, educated, easy to train & fill supervision job @ plant shop, able work along with staff 6481821
Republic Gardens, Brand new – 80X30, 3 selfcontained bedrooms, 2 builtin closets – $40M negotiable Tel: 639-8182 One 2 storey wood & concrete house, 3 bedrooms with one self contained with A/C @ Parika E.B.E – Call: 660-3118 Two storey with two three bedrooms apartment with kitchen, bathroom and toilet at Tuschen EBE – Contact:650-2982 Property with 3 houses on lot @ 35 Plantation Walk, VreedEn-Hoop, 3 buildings next to G.T.M – Contact: 667-9978
EDUCATIONAL I.A.S – 94 Alberttown: CXC Adults/ Students classes $1200 per subject. Day/ Evening / Grade 6 classes – Call: 223-7906, 690-5008
Two houses and land for sale at Agriculture Road – Tel: 678-8526
Canadian School of Arts & Science: Now enrolling students for summer classes in remedial Mathematics & English – Call: 216-6921 Canadian School of Arts & Science, Third Avenue, Diamond: CAT Accounting Classes begin on July 1, – Call: 216-6921/22 to register Certificate in home nursing and child care programmes – Tel:692-2063; 685-9095; 6130803 Transitional/Foundation summer classes Form 1, 2&3 July21-August22: Mathematics, English, Music, Spanish/Portuguese, IT, Etc – Call Mr. Lee: 2277850 Writing CXC Mathematics / English, January/ June 2015, placement in July; Additional Maths etc: Call Mr. Lee: 2312076
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773 Earn a certificate in cosmetology, wig designs or nails alone, limited spaces Call Abby: 619-7603, 666-5241 Signature Sensation Wedding Special: Do any service over $5000 & get 20% off - Call: 622-2643/ 225-8701
Nandy Park - $24M, Kitty (Public Road) -$35M, ‘AA’ Eccles - $55M, West Bank $22M - Contact Diana: 2272256, 626-9382
North Ruimveldt - $14M and $25M, Annandale Scheme$6.5M - Tel: 603-9593
One Gym exercise bicycle $30,000 – Tel: 225-4658
Cheap earth delivered to spot E.C.D, E.B.D, W.B.D Call:627-9977, 698-0182 MERCURY 99.99% PURE ELEMENTAL LAB GRADE.USA QUALITY, NOT CHINESE! BEST PRICE! – CALL: 592-6485281 Garden Earth & builders waste our service also includes Bobcat rental, excavating, clearing & leveling - Call: 616-0617, 6633285 Two months old Tibetan terrier, fully vaccinated and de-wormed – Call: 225-4780, 601-5927
Diamond: Avenue A - Three bedrooms, two-storey concrete house & 1st Bridge - Flat concrete & high house. Have property for sale? Contact: 643-7633
Maid: 40yrs & older. Must be able to read & write, living on E.C.D & to work Mon Sat 7AM - 2PM. Call 2202319 between 9AM – 3PM Exists for a Store Attendant; apply to Reliance Imports Tel: 231 - 6854
Exotic Floral arrangements $4,000 – Tel: 233-2182
One four Cylinder Deutz Diesel Engine – F4L912 – Contact: 687-6800, 684-9150, 624-5273, 652-5877
PROPERTY FOR SALE 1-2 storey wooden & concrete house with 5 bedrooms, upper flat & lower flat 4 apartments located@ Shell Road, kitty - $38.9M Tel: 642-7898
Sunday June 22, 2014
LAND FOR SALE Diamond - $8M, Atlantic Gardens - $15M- Tel: 6039593 La Parfait Harmonie - $1.2M, $1.4M, $2.5M, (100ftX50ft) High Income, Grove - $2.6M (with foundation) – Tel: 2185591, 675-7292 Land for sale at Better Hope South – Price $6,350,000, negotiable – Tel: 642-7898 River front land. 3 acres at Coverden EBD US$500,000 negotiable. Phone: 6216888 One ½ Lot land transported property in Triumph – Call: 618-2840
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, sales & spares, air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032,647-2943 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, washing machines, A/C units – Call Lindon: 6411086, 694-2202, 227-8907 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 Services and repairs to gas stoves, washing machines, electric stoves, etc - Call: 6880183 Drafting of plans - Tel: 6472942 Brian Moe @ 642-3543; computer technician; FB: Brian.Moe165; home and office visits at your comfort.!!! CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 225-7126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com ProgressiveAuto Rental: Cars & SUV for rental- $4,000 & up per day- Call: 643-5122, 628-2284 ,Email:pro_ autorental @yahoo.com
VEHICLE FOR SALE 2006 Blue Nissan Titan. Fully Loaded GSS Series. Contact: 604-6108. 2009 Red Nissan Titan. Flex Fuel GRR Series. Contact: 604-6108. 1 Honda CRV, Toyota AT192, AT212, AE110 Corolla, Raum, Funcargo, Ep-71 Starlet, Nissan Pathfinder – Tel: 644-5096, 697-1453 One 8000 Forde Tractor, one 450 Forde tow truck, one Toyota Tacoma – Contact Floyd: 694-5599 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 Carina AT212, PMM Series, good working condition, leather seats, flash drive deck, rims – Call: 663-1576 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 One Leyland Daf dump truck $2,5M, One S130 Bobcat $2,1M -Contact 6500402; Serious Inquiries Only Noah/ Voxy, unregistered, (private or bus), Toyota Regius/ Super custom, unregistered (goods) – Tel: 603-9700 One Toyota Land cruiser Prado, PMM Series Call: 225-0188, 223-7500, MonFri 8:15-4:15pm, Sat – 8:151:15PM Toyota IST $1M – Call Ron’s Real Estate for homes & Land from $1M to $25M – Tel:218-5591, 675-7292 One Ford Driven Tractor, 60HP, almost new, 600 hours $2.2M – Contact Junior: 6654611, 261-5304 One Lancer Motorcar: PJJ375, fully loaded rims & music – Price Negotiable $750,000. Cell: 644-6999 One NZE, female driven - $1.5M negotiable - Tel: 644-9356 One Nissan Titan 2008 manufactured 2010 register, excellent condition - $3.2M Contact Junior: 665-4611, 261-5304 One Toyota RZ Super custom Mini bus BPP series, excellent condition - $2.4M Contact Junior: 665-4611, 261-5304 One 2006 Suzuki Escudo, newly registered - Tel: 6426079 (Continued on page 63)
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 63
Love thy neighbour as... From page 61 invitation to help myself anytime. It came in handy when I came home with some “drinks” in the late hours of the night. Now how often will you find a neighbour that gave you full permission to go take or eat anything you want? Because of that invitation I ended up eating food I never ate before, like turtle, gilbaka curry and iguana. When you are a little tipsy and hungry you rally don’t care what you eat; everything taste delicious. Guyanese are unpredictable sometimes; two neighbours would have a great “cuss down” most of you know what a Guyanese cuss down is like— who minding another man child, who sleeping with who, who get “blows” who giving “blows” and the list goes on. Then the next day you see these two people together laughing and talking as if nothing had happened the previous day. This prompted neighbours to say, “Don’t put yuh mouth in dem two story”. Should you intervene the two will turn around and cuss you. One time two of my neighbours had a cuss out. One of the neighbours was asking the other how come she got a “Chinee child with coolie man”. Her explanation was great, the child, she explained, “draw the Chinee by staying by her Chinee uncle (the real father). Yes, neighbours can be amusing also. By the way she did try to get child support from her then husband (who was very dark); the Magistrate took one look at the father and child and told her to go find the real father. I am sure you my readers have a story to tell about neighbors, feel free to email me at ralph365@hotmail.com
VEHICLE FOR SALE One Toyota Rav4, PMM Series, fully loaded, good condition – Price$1.9M negotiable. Contact: 669-6499 One EP-82 Starlet for sale Tel: 643-6517 New model Toyota RAV4 $2.5M Negotiable – Tel: 2255034, 639-5577 One Marino Ceres in excellent condition. Price negotiable - Tel: 678-5008 2 Silver Spacio – registered and unregistered, dark interior, new model with TV – Tel: 697-0294 We Order: Tacoma/Tundra/ Titan Body parts & Accessories – Contact Eddie’s Auto Spares – Tel:2272835, 227-5381 1 Suzuki R1 wagon (Jeep) Automatic, Fully Powered with A/C, hardly used – Price: $1.1M Contact Rocky: 6215902/ 225-1400 1- AT 192 Carina (Private) automatic, fully powered, mags, A/C - price$1.1M Contact Rocky:225-1400
TO LET Executive Rentals US$1000 US$3000. Phone: 6216888 Apartment for rent at Uitvlugt, W.C.D. Contact: 666-2442 One 2 bedrooms house at Unity East Coast Demerara Call: 259-3170 Kitty - $100,000, Queenstown - $120,000, Subryanville $110,000, ‘AA’ Eccles US$1200, Ogle - $150,000 – Contact Diana: 227-2256; 626-9382 Apartments to rent near Grove Public Road - $40,000 - $50,000 – Tel: 644-5151 Newly Built 4 bedroom house at Eccles New Scheme US$800 negotiable Phone: 6216888 Large three bedroom with master room, AC at Republic Park US$600. Phone: 6216888 Office space Charlotte Street (no food business) $50,000. Phone: 6216888 One – Two bedroom bottom flat @ 5th Avenue Diamond - $50,000 monthly – Tel: 6222765, 695-5834
1 - Toyota RZ mini-bus, gear, mags, hardly used, (EFI) Price:$1.4M - Contact Rocky:621-5902 or 225-1400 Toyota extra cab pick-up (22 R engine) manual, (EFI) 4×4, (Solid Def) price $2.4MContact Rocky 621-5902/2251400 1 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab – Pick up manual, Diesel, excellent condition – price $1.8M. - Contact Rocky 6215902/225-1400
1- Toyota L-Touring Wagon, automatic, fully powered, A/ C, magrims –Price: $1.3M Contact Rocky 621-5902/2251400
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
MASSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heaven’s touch, visit us today! - 668-4554 The Gent’s Spa: Come be pampered by beautiful attendants. Check our monthly specials - Tel: 6575979
1-Toyota Dyna (2 Ton) open back canter, 5 speed manual (short base- 3Y) excellent condition – price$1.4M Contact Rocky 621-5902/2251400 1- Toyota Tundra extra cab (4x4) automatic, fully powered, A/C, alarm – Price $2.1M - Contact Rocky 6215902/225-1400 1- Mitsubishi (3 Ton) Enclosed canter, 5 speed manual, Diesel, short base freezer, (GRR Series) – Price $2.5M - Contact Rocky 6215902/225-1400
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One 3 bedroom house to rent at Lot 43 Blyzeight Gardens Tel: 652-6565 One nail station available $5,000 weekly – Tel: 223-4238, 602-7960 GT TOOL RENTALS SPECIALS CONCRETE SAW; JACK HAMMER WELDING MACHINE, PRESSURE WASHER & RANSOM – CALL: 6750767; 627-5098 One two-storey 3-bedrooms house: Veranda, grill, concrete fence & prepaid meter, rent include water $65,000 monthly at Vreed-enHoop – Tel:685-7566 Furnished new apartments USD$600-$1000 located in Ogle: Pool, parking, hot water, AC, Wi-Fi. Contact Richard: 622-7236
1 Isuzu Canter (open back) short base manual, excellent condition, price - $1.3M Contact Rocky 621-5902/2251400 1 – Mitsubishi Pajero 5 door, automatic, fully powered, AC, mags, price $1.5M - Contact Rocky 621-5902/225-1400
(From page 62)
VACANCY Porters, Moulder, Rip Saw, band saw & woodmizer mil operator, Mill Wright, Grant Manager – Call Richard: 6097675, 233-2614 Cut Style Nah barber Shop hiring barbers to fill complete barber stations – Contact: 643-517
Three executive properties in highly residential area, all modern conveniences – Call: 663-8231 One new two bedroom home with inside toilet & bath at Triumph. Price $50,000 negotiable – Call: 618-2840
WANTED Pacific Development Construction: foreman and office assistant must have driver’s licence – Contact: 227-8274/ 223-6035 One cook for home in the interior – Contact: 681-6044 Experienced roti/puri Cook, curry cook, handy boys Apply at Hacks Halaal, 5 Commerce Street, Georgetown Female worker needed, 3 CXC subjects or sound secondary school education - Call: 612-1595 Property to purchase between $8M and $10M – Tel: 603-9593 Wanted to buy: 18 months coconut plants; any quantity – Tel: 223-5273/4. One Carnegie trained cook; 4 days per week – Call: 6144358 Couple to work at resort in Essequibo River - Tel: 624 8694 We buy all low income lands in La Parafaite Harmonie, Herstelling, Eccles, and Non-Pareil – Call: 218-5591 or 675-7292 One live in maid or domestic $60,000 per month - Contact: 664-5199 Over edge, straight stitch, button & button tack operator to work at garment factory – Call:222-2541 Live out domestic babysitter and live in babysitter – Call:225-0188, 225-6070 (Monday to Saturday ) (8:15am-4:15pm)
WANTED One experienced general domestic. Must know to cook a variety of dishes; pleasant & trustworthy- Tel: 656-6388 Farm Workers – Tel: 6611585, 617-2032 One Handy boy to work, live-in accommodation provided and fee meals – Tel: 628-1756, 228-5655 Experienced: 1 PAYE/NIS Payroll Clerk with office assistant duties – Tel:2310363 One male/ female sales representative. Motor cycle will be an asset, plus commission – Tel:223-0595 VEHICLE FOR SALE AT192 HB Series, yellow $650,000 – Tel:677-8329
Silverballi and Kabakalli logs - Tel: 653-9752 Mature couple to live and work on resort – Tel: 2310363. Office hours - 8:30AM - 4:30PM Children feeding program continues. Celebrating any occasion or just want to partake? – Call: 696-7467 One part time cook/ domestic, for Diamond EBD must know to cook local meals well – Tel: 216-2502 One canter driver/salesman Call: 222-3927, 649-9876 Live-in waitress to work in a bar – Call: 603-6301 Attractive live-in waitress Tel: 228-5129, 602-8277 Two persons to work on Poultry Farm in the Interior. Contact: 627-6416
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Shot money-changer in ICU as attackers remain at large With gunshot wounds to the back, buttocks and shoulder, money-changer Wendell Liverpool remained in a critical condition yesterday even as police seek to ascertain the identity of his attackers. Kaieteur News understands that the 44-yearold West Ruimveldt resident has been transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit following surgery. Liverpool was shot on Friday night by three gunmen on bicycles while drinking outside a popular night spot a short distance from his home. According to reports, Liverpool was sitting with one of his brothers at around 22.00 hrs when three men rode up to the siblings and shot Liverpool. After he collapsed, the gunmen reportedly relieved the money-changer of a large gold chain, two gold rings encrusted with small
Wendell Liverpool diamonds and a gold band. Relatives believe that the bandits took cash from their
victim. The shot man’s mother, Bernice Liverpool, believes that her son resisted his attackers. “He always said that nobody ain’t taking his things,” she said. However, she said that the robbers left her son with two gold rings, a band and a small sum of cash. Some police sources suggest that Liverpool knew his attackers, since they have received reports that the men had a brief exchange of words before the money-changer was shot. Up to late yesterday, investigators had no information about the identities of the suspects. Kaieteur News understands that police arrived on the scene some 15 minutes later and took Liverpool to the GPHC where he underwent surgery. Liverpool’s mother said that gunmen had made an unsuccessful attempt to invade her son’s house some years ago.
Sunday June 22, 2014
Woman pleads guilty to beating man for courting daughter The East Bank Berbice woman who was accused of brutalizing a young man who was in love with her daughter has been charged for her action. The woman, Shurlin DeCunha, 44, of Brothers Village, East Bank Berbice, appeared in court on Friday, before Magistrate Shurdel Isaacs-Marcus in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s on the charge of unlawful wounding. The mother of three allegedly beat Deraj Singh, called ‘Vong’, 18, of Lonsdale Village, East Bank Berbice on Sunday June 15, 2014. DeCunha, who lives with her three children and her niece and her four children pleaded guilty. She asked to explain and was put on $30,000 bail. She will have to return to the Sisters Magistrate’s Court on July 15, next. Prosecutor Sergeant
Deraj Singh Godfrey Playter informed the court that on the day in question the woman found Persaud in her yard and dealt him several lashes. The victim sustained injuries to various parts of his body. The woman told investigators that on the day in question she returned from the Berbice River about 22:00 hours and found the
defendant at her residence. She said that despite her many warnings to stay away the defendant still frequented her home. She said that he was in her house and when he realized she had returned he tried to flee. He was captured and dealt several lashes about his body. The man, who lived a few months in Trinidad, said he is familiar with the family. He stated that he would usually pass by the home where a 16 year old girl lived and she would call out to him. They soon struck up a relationship and they would text and call each other frequently. She would invite him by her home to ‘gaff’ and watch movies and he would accept the invitation. The girl’s mother and her family were against the relationship. DeCunha wanted her daughter to marry someone else.
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur M@ilbox
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur M@ilbox
The Bible pronounces against the The Dolly Hassans are the problem homosexual and lesbian lifestyle not the solution for this country
DEAR EDITOR, The issue of homosexuality and lesbianism has risen again in Guyana with arguments centering on human rights and religion. This time, pastor McGarrell is on record as saying that gays should go to live on an island to prevent others from being consumed when the wrath of God descends. Bishop Edgehill, in a subsequent radio programme, sought to take the sting out of MGarrell’s utterance but agreed that the gay lifestyle is neither supported by the Bible or by some Bible-believing people. The US Ambassador and other writers have taken up the issue as a human rights one, castigating the pastors for their stance on the issue. But the content and context of what the pastor and the bishop said do not seem to impinge on people’s rights. They seem to have simply taken a stand in keeping with the teachings of the Bible. I should say from the outset that no one should be denied their human rights. Every one, whether gay or straight, has the right to life, liberty and security of person. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, without distinction of any kind, such as race, c o l o u r, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. In fact, God himself has given humans one of the most fundamental rights - the right to choose. He told the Children of Israel, ‘I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live’ (Deut. 30:19). While God allows freedom of
choice, He points the way of the choice and leaves us to exercise our right. In this regard, I would liken God’s approach to discourses on freedom of the press. Most schools of thought on journalism suggest that the press should be unfettered, but its freedom must be exercised with responsibility. While individuals exercise their right of lifestyle choice, some of their choices run counter to the teachings of the Bible. For example, while a person can exercise his right to drink and get drunk, the Bible debars drunkards from the Kingdom of Heaven ‘Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God’ (1Co. 6:10). Similarly a person can exercise the right to become a sex worker, but the Bible warns against prostitution: ‘Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness’. (Lev. 19:29). Similarly, an individual can choose the gay or lesbian lifestyle, but God is bitterly against that lifestyle. In fact, the Bible is so strong against the homosexual lifestyle that it says that those who engage in homosexual activities ‘are worthy of death’ (Romans 1: 32). The scripture is clear – men who burn in lust for other men and women who change the natural use of their body invite God’s judgment. I would humbly invite all interested readers to read Romans Chapter 1. Two verses read: ‘For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the
natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet…. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death’ (Romans 1: 26-32). However, commentators keep interjecting human rights as a red herring in the argument. In this debate on homosexuality and lesbianism, there should be honesty, integrity and desire to arrive at what is best and good for society and not for the lust of some individuals. It is dishonest to look at unequivocal scriptures, ignore them and instead speak of discrimination and denial of human rights. Given the guarantee of human rights in both the letter and substance for homosexuals and lesbians, the Bible still pronounces against the gay lifestyle. If the Ambassador and others believe the words of the Bible, then what we all should be doing is ensuring that the human rights of those who change the natural use of their bodies into that which is not natural are protected and at the same time telling them of the consequences, and it’s certain not banishment on Robben Island. Of course, one can exercise his or her God-given right to ignore the warning of the Bible, argue with it, condemn it, trash it, or just shrug it off. The Jews in Jesus’ time exercised their right of choice and choose Barabas as they rejected Jesus. Today, thousands of years after, Israel lives in the bitter consequences of her people’s choice. Let that not be said of Guyana. Lennox Cornette
DEAR EDITOR, I refer to a letter by Mr. Gokarran Sukdeo in SN of June 14, 14 headlined, “Green and the PPP are the problem not the solution.” He wrote the following of Dolly Hassan; “I always admire her writings –always refreshingly interjected with creative metaphors and images…Dolly admitted she was not conversant with the day to day politicking in Guyana…she still cherishes the memories of the indomitable Cheddi Jagan and what was then the PPP.” (end of quote) First, I confess before the letters in the press came out on the Opposition Leader’s visit to Richmond Hill, I didn’t know who Dolly Hassan was. Forgive me if I sound chauvinist but I have spent my entire life reading people’s writing on Guyana and I am familiar with a majority of those productions having spent my adult life in academia. But I have never read an analytical piece on Guyana by Dolly Hassan. It could be that Mr. Sukhdeo meant writings by Hassan on subjects not related to Guyana. Secondly, it would be impertinent for any human to deny another person that person’s object of admiration. If you are African-American and you admire Chinese music and don’t listen to Beyonce that is your right. So I would not comment on Mr. Sukhdeo’s admiration for Dolly Hassan but as an educated man (he wrote that he went to UG) one would expect an educated mind to be capable of detecting analytical weaknesses and fictions in the polemical exchanges of people I will list the most glaring example. I first became suspicious of Vishnu Bisram being a professional pollster
because as I read the dozens and dozens of letters he would publish each year, there was a conspicuous fault. So I began to cut out each letter and file them. After a time a pattern emerged that exposed Bisram. He would tell readers the countries around the world he visited where he did polling and the lands he traveled to do political analysis in each year. Yet at the same time, he was a fulltime school teacher in New York. It couldn’t be because as a teacher myself I know that would be impossible. I have seen teachers at UG get into boiling water for two week absence muchless a month. Former Minister of Education, Desiree Fox was actually dismissed for staying away from teaching for six weeks. As I kept on reading Bisram, it was clear to even a school boy something was not right about what this gentleman was telling readers about himself. It is the same with to Dolly Hassan If Mr. Sukhdeo read what Hassan wrote then he would know that she could not be telling the truth to him when she told him that he was not familiar with the “day to day politicking in Guyana.” Or maybe she was but chose to write silly things about the two opposition parties and the Mayor. For a person not familiar with Guyana’s politics, Hassan is bold to make the following statements in her June 11 letter in SN; (1)-the PNC destroys its credibility by criticizing “every single act of the PPP” and blaming the PPP for every problem. (2) Both the PNC and AFC as parties that do not have the maturity and wisdom to govern. (3) Guyana has a garbage problem and Mayor Green is to be blamed for it. (4) The
parliamentary situation is one in which the politicians are running around like bullying school boys. How does Hassan know all these things if she does not take an interest in what happen in Guyana? If that is true then how can she write these things? She must know that she opens herself to the charge of penning nonsense. Surely, Mr. Sukhdeo cannot be that naïve. It is either she lied to him or it is true she doesn’t know what is taking place and the contents of her letter were dictated by someone else. I don’t care to know. My motive for writing this letter is to point out to Mr. Sukhdeo that Hassan has a credibility problem that he must face up to it. Ms. Hassan scandalizes the PNC and AFC by saying they don’t have the wisdom or maturity to govern Guyana as if the PPP does. Look at UG after twenty years of PPP rule. Ms. Hassan did say that she knew Dr. Jagan from the seventies and eighties. This is the problem with the Indian folks in Richmond Hill. These people left in the seventies and eighties and took with them the memories of a brave Dr. Cheddi Jagan fighting an unpopular PNC Government. And they have been stuck in that world for the past forty years. They see Guyana in 2014 with the identical lenses that they viewed it forty years ago. And it doesn’t matter if you are as educated as Dolly Hassan or just a semi-literate labour. I end with Shakespeare in Measure for Measure, Man, poor man Dressed in brief authority Most assured of In what he is most ignorant of Frederick Kissoon
The court should have spared son, taken harsh... From page 4 activities. Of course the youngster was kind of uncomfortable with the idea of going it alone on other occasions but this time must have impressed upon the father to accompany him. He would
have been tired of the risks taken before knowing fully well that his entire life can be shattered at any time if only a keen drug enforcement official had laid hold on him. Now that the mastermind is in custody, we should let him spend the maximum time in prison. Ironically at a time when we are celebrating the gift of fathers, is this the “best” gift this father has for his son? If I were the presiding magistrate I would double the father’s time of incarceration, ten years for himself and another ten for his son. For destroying his future, that is, poisoning the young impres-
sionable mind of the youth, this father should face the full brunt of the law. A youthful mind can be easily influenced, forcefully so by his own father so, I rest my case. Now let me relate to you a similar situation that occurred some years ago at a Miami Airport. A Jamaican teenager was intercepted at the American airport trying to smuggle a large quantity of cocaine into that country. She was a mere schoolgirl of sixteen years caught in the act when she should have been in school. You see, the drug barons of the day were taking advantage of the closeness
of Jamaica to the USA; one can make a trip to the USA and return to Jamaica within hours. At the same time he was utilizing the services of some gullible schoolgirls who wanted to live the “high life” of drugs smuggling. She was not so lucky this time because the anti-narcotics agents in Miami caught her red handed. Fancy the thought of the parents receiving a call from immigration officials that your daughter had been charged of trafficking in drugs in another country. The parents of the youngster could not believe what immigration officials were telling them of a daugh-
ter being in Miami when they knew for a fact that their daughter was supposed to have been at school in Montego Bay. However, they had to admit the fact as the truth gradually settled in. The most distressing part of this story is the fact that the schoolgirl could not reveal the name of the guy she was working for, reasons being those parents would have been dealt with swiftly as they say in Jamaican parlance “awe dust the gaal family” “dust” meaning kill as in “dust to dust” used at funerals. In this regard she had to suffer the consequences
alone. The Guyana situation is different, we have the father who is the mastermind and he should face the full weight of the law. On the other hand I would have his son on a community service and a rigorous counselling programme. A sterner punishment would have been classified as wasting the years of an otherwise productive youth at the behest of a hardened criminal father. This is the time for the court to exercise its better judgement by exploring the possibilities of leniency and compassion Neil Adams
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Multiple protocol breaches behind Barbados insists Shanique anthrax exposure at U.S. federal labs Myrie was paid
(Reuters) - The safety breach at a government lab that may have exposed 84 workers to live anthrax centred on a pivotal lapse in procedure: researchers working with the bacteria waited 24 hours to be sure they had killed the pathogens, half the time required by a new scientific protocol. The lab designed to handle extremely dangerous pathogens at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta unknowingly sent live samples of anthrax to labs with fewer safeguards, where the exposure occurred. No one has died or fallen ill but dozens are being treated with a vaccine and powerful antibiotics to keep them from becoming sick. The exposure incident is unprecedented in the history of American research on bioweapons and other deadly pathogens, prompting alarm among researchers who have already warned about the consequences of lax laboratory oversight globally. Scientists in and out of the CDC say the process of handling such bacteria and viruses must be improved. Investigation of the safety lapses are under way, but an initial review of events at the first lab, called a biosafety level 3 facility, or BSL-3, suggests that multiple procedures were violated, Reuters has learned. Scientists at the CDC bioterror lab were preparing anthrax for two laboratories developing quicker methods to detect spores, such as
those sent through the U.S. postal service in 2001 that killed five people. The researchers were supposed to kill the anthrax, since the two other labs were not equipped to work with live bacteria. The protocol for killing anthrax using a new chemical process required that they put the sample in an incubator, and wait at least 48 hours to check for signs of life. Instead, the wait ended after 24 hours. They “didn’t see any new growth,” said Dr Paul Meechan, director of the CDC’s environmental health and safety compliance office, said in an interview. “At that point, they assumed the material was safe.” “We know that was a mistake,” said agency spokesman Tom Skinner. “What else, I don’t know.” A week later, scientists in the same lab that prepared the original samples discovered live anthrax growing in lab dishes left in an incubator, kicking off a scramble to contain the exposure. “If the protocol was already there, then there is really no excuse for it,” said Dr Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). “The question goes down to personnel and why wasn’t protocol followed.” The lapse was also noteworthy because the new method of using chemicals instead of radiation to kill the
anthrax may not have been validated by rigorous testing to make sure it works. “That’s also a problem,” Skinner said. “But the investigation we’re going through will tell us that.” Because the chemical method is less studied, “it would have been prudent to handle the samples as if they were live organisms,” said Stephen Morse of the Columbia University Institutional Biosafety Committee and former program manager for biodefence at the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The breach likely involved more than one person: when one researcher is working with a microbe such as anthrax, a second person is required to observe. That is to both insure against any unintentional divergence from proper lab procedure and to detect intentional breaches, such as a worker trying to smuggle out a deadly agent. Meechan repeatedly used a plural pronoun, “they”, describing more than one person’s involvement. The CDC has not identified the researcher or researchers involved. The anthrax breach is already the subject of two investigations, one led internally by CDC and a second by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. At least two Congressional committees are monitoring developments to see if public hearings are warranted.
Baltic states to back further Russia sanctions if Ukraine crisis does not ease TALLINN (Reuters) - Baltic leaders said yesterday they would back further sanctions against Russia at a European Union summit next week unless there was a de-escalation in eastern Ukraine where Kiev is trying to quell a pro-Russian insurgency. Hours after the start of a ceasefire on Friday, separatists attacked Ukrainian posts on the border with Russia and a military base, and tried to storm an airforce base, Ukrainain security forces said. On Friday, the leaders of the United States, France and Germany agreed Russia risks new sanctions if it fails to take immediate steps to defuse tensions on the Ukraine border. Leaders of EU’s member states may discuss the issue at a summit in Brussels next week. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - which all broke away from the Soviet Union in 19901991 - had already called for tougher EU sanctions against Moscow after its annexation of Crimea. “If there will be no de-escalation of the situation then Latvia will support a third bloc of sanctions,” Latvian Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma told a news conference after
meeting with her Baltic counterparts and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in the Estonian capital. Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius said his position was the same, while their Estonian counterpart, Taavi Roivas, said that if there was no de-escalation in Ukraine, further sanctions would be the EU’s only choice. So far, the EU has imposed limited measures - asset freezes and travel bans on people and companies in Russia and Ukraine - and has mulled steps against Russia including restrictions ranging from luxury goods imports to an oil and gas ban. There has been no consensus on how to proceed. States with close trade and energy ties with Russia, such as Italy, Greece and Germany, worry about the potential impact on their economies of stricter sanctions while others, such as Cyprus and Austria, have close financial links. Concerns over Europe’s gas supplies are a major consideration in the decision around sanctions as EU consumers get about a third of their gas needs from Russia, around half of it through pipelines that cross Ukraine.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC - Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite, says the money owed to Jamaican, Shanique Myrie, stemming from a ruling by the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling has been paid, but the woman says she has not yet received the money. Brathwaite said that the BDS$75,000 in non-pecuniary damage and BDS$2, 240 (One Barbados dollar =US$0.50 cents) in pecuniary damages were paid through the Barbados Central Bank Thursday and should have been credited to the account of Myrie’s lawyer a day later. “We gave our word. We kept our word. Barbados remained committed to the CCJ. We always had every intention of complying with its judgment,” Brathwaite said Friday. The CCJ had in October last year ruled that Myrie be awarded the damages after
she had alleged that when she travelled to Barbados on March 14, 2011 she was discriminated against because of her nationality, subjected to a body cavity search, detained overnight in a cell and deported to Jamaica the following day. Myrie also claimed that she was subjected to derogatory remarks by a Barbadian Immigration officer and asked the CCJ to determine the minimum standard of treatment applicable to CARICOM citizens moving around the region. Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs Minister AJ Nicholson last week told the Senate that the ball was in Myrie’s court to lodge a complaint to the CCJ about Barbados’ lack of compliance despite a promise by the country’s Prime Minister Freundel Stuart three months ago that payment would be made. But Brathwaite had
Shanique Myrie promised earlier this week that the money would be paid as soon as it is released by the Treasury. “I’ve committed that I will speak to the Central Bank and have the money remitted to her attorney’s account, and my word is my bond. It will be done this week.” But one newspaper in Barbados yesterday quoted Myrie and her lawyer saying they haven’t seen the money yet. “I don’t know about that. I don’t know about that as yet. My lawyer has not confirmed with me as yet,” Myrie was quoted as telling the Saturday Sun newspaper.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 22, 2014
Embattled Constabulary rank allegedly commits suicide A City rank accused of stealing a quantity of cash from the Constabulary Department of City Hall was yesterday morning found dead in the bathroom of his home. His demise is suspected to be another suicide. Forty-six-year-old Compton Joseph was found slumped over in his bathroom around 05:30 hours by his wife, Roxanne Beresford. The Lance Corporal who was attached to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) ended up in hot water last week when he could not account for money for which he was responsible. Kaieteur News understands that during last week, Joseph had attempted to take his life by drinking a poisonous substance, but
Lance Corporal Compton Joseph was unsuccessful since persons had taken him to the hospital on time and he was treated. City Hall’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Royston King told the newspaper that the Council is yet to receive a report on the
alleged missing money, but it is understood that Joseph was responsible for bail money being kept in the City Constabulary’s Department. He said that Joseph was asked by his superior to get the accounts books in order so that it could be looked at but the gentleman was unable to do. King said it is understood further that Joseph had failed to turn up for work the next day and could not be located. He said that police were also called in and a search commenced for the city rank. The Council subsequently learnt that Joseph had ingested a harmful substance and was hospitalized at the Georgetown Public Hospital. King said it was alleged however that Joseph had escaped from the hospital and went into hiding, until
word reached the Council that he had allegedly taken his life. When Kaieteur News visited Joseph’s wife at their Lot 457 10 Field Section D Turkeyen home yesterday she said that she had not seen her husband until yesterday morning. She said that her husband came home around 03:15 hours since neighbours said that he was calling out for her. She said it was not until later in the morning that her older daughter woke her up to say that Joseph was at the back of their house moaning. Beresford explained that she went to her husband’s assistance and found him
lying on the ground crying out for chest pains. She said the man had messed himself so she along with a neighbour went to his aid. She said that the man requested to use the washroom and he was taken. The woman said she had gone to her mother-in-law’s home located a few houses away and reported what was taking place. She said she returned home and went to check on her husband, and found him slumped over on the toilet bowl. Beresford said her husband appeared dead so she made the necessary calls and his body was later
removed. The woman said she is unaware that her husband had killed himself. When asked, she said that her husband had not talked about any problem he was experiencing. Joseph’s sister, Felicia Joseph, said that she had not seen her brother in a while due to her hours of work. She said, however, that his wife had come to the family’s home early yesterday morning to relate that something was wrong with her brother. She said the family was later informed that Joseph had passed away. The man leaves to mourn his wife and three children.
Thirty-three days later…
Prison escapee recaptured in Omai Keiron Cummings, the last of the four prisoners, who had escaped from the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court more than a month ago, had his freedom cut short by members of the joint services after 33 days. Cummings, who was in court on 12 different charges, including carjackings and armed robberies, was recaptured yesterday in the Omai area, Essequibo. The Sophia resident along with twenty-eight-year-old Vickram Persaud, Steve Richard Bacchus and Randolph Marques, escaped from the Magistrates’ Court by ripping the grill work and the mesh that covered the window at the back of the building to provide ventilation to prisoners in the holding cell. They then proceeded to climb down the back wall and scale the fence, cutting a strand of razor wire at the top of the fence. Kaieteur News understands that their escape was facilitated by the fact that
there were no police patrols at the back of the building. The breakout occurred around 12:45 hrs on May 19, last, during a heavy downpour, while the men were awaiting their scheduled court appearances. While Cummings managed to maintain a low profile for more than a month, the other prisoners were not so lucky. Bacchus had his freedom cut short when he was dragged out of a minibus at Hadfield Street, Georgetown less than two hours after the breakout while Persaud was shot dead at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice. Randolph Marks was found under his mother’s bed in a house at Freeman Street,
East La Penitence less than a day after the breakout. Bacchus, 21, was charged with the murder of Police Special Constable Quincy Wright at Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, on January 24, last. He was also held in connection with the stealing of a gun from a security guard on January 22, last in Sophia. The guard’s colleague was shot and injured. Persaud was indicted for killing Police Constable Michael Cumberbatch at North Sophia during an altercation. Marques was facing the court for the murder of Patsan security guard, Bharat Ramcharran, who was shot and killed during a robbery on April 24, last.
Stabbed Sophia teen’s assailant still at large Police were yesterday still trying to locate the 28-yearold labourer who stabbed his 17-year-old cousin Matthew Jack in A Field, Sophia on Friday night. Jack, who is also a labourer, was stabbed in the chest, face and shoulder during a confrontation with his cousin, who was accused of stealing a number of items belonging to one of Jack’s sisters. Kaieteur News was told that the wounded teen
was transferred to the Georgetown Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit yesterday evening, after spending several hours in the operating theatre. A source said that he was able to respond to relatives who visited him. According to reports, Jack’s sister had left the cousin in her A Field, Sophia home at around 10.00 hrs on Friday. When she returned, she found that a music set, a new pair of sneakers and her cosmetics were missing. An argument ensued after the sister accused the cousin of stealing her valuables. The sister alleged that her brother intervened and scolded the cousin, who retaliated by stabbing Jack with a knife. A source said that the attacker remained at the scene for several minutes while relatives rushed Jack to the GPHC. The suspect’s whereabouts are now unknown.
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
Trafficking jam - US pressures Gov’t on forced labour, sex trade concerns; financial, other aid under threat Jamaica Gleaner Jamaica is in danger of being cut off from financial and other assistance from the United States (US), and could even find itself being denied assistance from international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, if it fails to do more in the fight against human trafficking. The US Government has criticised Jamaica for a zero conviction rate in human trafficking cases over a five year period in the 2014 US Human Trafficking Report. In its latest report, the US State Department yesterday labelled Jamaica a Tier 2 country in the report, downgrading it from its previous ranking. A Tier Two ranking is applied to countries whose governments do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards. Jamaica was placed on the Tier Two Watch List in the previous report, which represented an upgrade from its previous position. At the time, National Security Minister Peter Bunting had said further downgrade would have implications “for our assistance from the US and our international reputation.” Once a country is on the Watch List for two successive years, it automatically goes to Tier Three the following year. Tier Three countries represent those whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so. The Jamaican authorities have taken issue with the report saying it has been selective in its assessment of the information that has been presented by the government and that a skewed picture of the situation that exists in Jamaica has been created. “While Jamaica is encouraged by the efforts of the government of the United States in combating this global concern, the Government of Jamaica is concerned that the report on Jamaica demonstrates a lack of thoroughness and undue attention to unsubstantiated allegations from dubious sources,” the ministry of justice said in a media release yesterday. Jamaica is contending that the methodology used by the US in arriving at the
Peter Bunting
conclusions made in the report is questionable, and has invited the US government to provide substantiated and corroborated information by which it arrived at the stated conclusions. In the meantime, the report recognised the Government’s effort to address the issue. “It is making significant efforts to do so. In 2013, the Government implemented amendments to strengthen Jamaica’s anti-trafficking law. Despite these efforts, the Government did not demonstrate evidence of overall increasing efforts to address human trafficking over the previous reporting period,” the report continued. But it lamented that “for a fifth consecutive year, the Government did not convict trafficking offenders or officials complicit in human trafficking, and took insufficient action to address reports of official complicity”. The report emphasised there were no convictions despite reports of police officers and government officials being involved. “No government officials were prosecuted or convicted for alleged complicity in trafficking-related offences, though allegations persisted from previous reporting periods that some Jamaican police officers were complicit in prostitution rings, some of which were suspected of
recruiting children under 18 and coercing adults into the sex trade”. But in its response yesterday, the justice ministry said Jamaica is “deeply disturbed at the contents of the 2014 US Report on Trafficking”. “This Report has egregiously undervalued and essentially spurned the valiant efforts of the hardworking and dedicated members of the National Task Force against Trafficking in Persons, including a crosssection of government ministries, departments and agencies, the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the NGO community, all of whom are committed to fighting this scourge.” “The downgrade from Tier Two to Tier Two Watch List is considered by the GOJ to be predominantly attributable to wholly unsubstantiated claims which undermine the conclusions of the report,” Jamaica charged. Jamaica, for example, has pointed to an association which has been drawn in the report between sex trafficking and the incidences of street vending and begging, especially by children. “While the GOJ admits that there are occurrences of street vending and begging by children, there is no factual basis to assume that these activities fall within the definition of trafficking,” Jamaica said.
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Scotiabank congratulates Kiddy NINVALLE BROTHERS, table... Cricket Alumnus Kraigg Brathwaite Scotiabank has congratulating Kiddy Cricket alumnus and West Indies batsman Kraigg Brathwaite on making his first test century. The Barbadian opener scored a patient 129 on the second day of the second test between the West Indies and New Zealand at Queen’s Park Oval and his innings was key to West Indies’ strong first innings total of 460. Brathwaite, who is the second Kiddy Cricket graduate to go on to represent the West Indies, also wrote his name in history, partnering with hometown batsman Darren Bravo for a record fourth wicket partnership against New Zealand of 182. Scotiabank’s Regional Marketing Director, Heather Goldson, expressed her delight at Brathwaite’s accomplishment, saying it underscored the importance of the Kiddy Cricket programme, which is run in over 700 schools around the West Indies. “This really gets to the heart of why we
have sponsored the Kiddy Cricket programme for the last 15 years. We applaud Kraigg and we trust his success will inspire even more Kiddy Cricketers to go on to create the next great cricket moment,” said Goldson. Brathwaite has previously hailed the influence of the programme, recalling his days of going to Kensington Oval as a Kiddy Cricketer to put on the skills displays at international matches. Speaking at the Kiddy Cricket Festival champions celebration in Barbados, Brathwaite said those opportunities motivated him to look forward to the day when he too would get to represent the West Indies. “That was a joy for me. It inspired me even more,” declared the young opening batsman. Scotiabank has been part of the Caribbean for 125 years and has a presence in more than 55 countries around the world including Guyana.
Sunday June 22, 2014 ARIES (MAR. 21- APRIL 20) You may have a rather hectic day due to events that children are involved in. Don't make mountains out of molehills if you want to avoid conflict. Try not to take everything so seriously. TAURUS (APR. 21- MAY 21) You might be overly emotional when dealing with your partner. Travel for business will be advantageous. Help those incapable of taking care of their personal affairs. GEMINI (MAY 22-JUNE 21) Your ability to stand out in a crowd will bring you the recognition you desire. Set a limit on the amount you're willing to spend, and be sure to stick to it. Do not blow situations out of proportion. CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22) You will easily capture the interest of those you talk to. Check your personal papers and make sure everything is in order. Passion is about the best way for you to relieve tension. LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Make changes regarding your status in society. This is a great day for a trip. Concentrate on work or make changes to yourself. VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23) Don't go hog wild when it comes to entertainment or you could find yourself short of funds at the end of the month. Friends and relatives may not understand your needs. Your suggestions for fund raising events will be well received. LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT.
23) Opportunities for financial gains through investments and games of chance are likely. It's time to get yourself back on track. Channel your energy wisely and you can score points with the boss. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) You're in the mood to get out and visit friends. Do a little investigating if there is someone at work you don't trust. Get involved in groups that will help you meet established individuals. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) You can get ready to celebrate your new direction. Don't let coworkers get wind of your ideas or they might try to take credit for your hard work. Avoid disputes with family; their complaints can't change anything anyway. CAPRICORN (DEC 22.JAN. 20) Move forward if you want to turn your life around. Emotional relationships will be plentiful if you attend group activities. Relationships may be hard to handle. AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) You will be a real chatterbox today. Pleasure trips will be favorable and bring about romance. People you live with will not be terribly happy with you regardless of what you do today. PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) Your intuition will be right on. Follow your feelings in matters pertaining to financial investments. Emotional deception is evident. Don't make promises you can't keep.
From page 71 exams is coming up. It’s a challenge but I am up to it,” the elder Ninvalle disclosed. “I think that my parents understand there is a need for both academic and sport to create roundness in the lives of young people and that’s why I have been allowed to keep on playing tennis.” Kaysan, the current U-9 champion who also wants to be a medical doctor is yet to receive a serious challenge to his throne. In the 2014 Independence Cup he easily won the U-9 singles and missed
out of a repeat in the U-11 where he placed second to nemesis Niron Bissu. Moving up another division, he secured a bronze medal in the U-13. One year earlier, he turned in a sterling performance in the 2013 GTTA tournaments winning three golds and two silvers. “I look at a lot of videos. I study the styles of the international players. I want to represent Guyana at the Olympics one day,” Kaysan said. He is also very cognizant of the fact that there can be no sport without academics.
“We are always reminded that our school work is very important and what would happen if we slip up. I don’t plan to slip up in school work or in tennis,” Kaysan, a Grade Four pupil of Mae’s School, declared. The Ninvalles expressed gratitude to coaches Muniram and Linden Johnson who have piloted their early years in the sport and to their ‘globe-trotting’ uncles Andy and Cassius who have been extremely supportive and Grandmother Claire, who is behind them all the way.
Messi wonder goal saves Argentina... From page 67 a second half penalty claim was denied when Ashkan Dejagah was challenged by Pablo Zabaleta though the Argentina defender appeared to touch the ball. Sensing an upset might be
possible at 0-0, Iran were bolder after the break. Lone striker Reza Ghoochannejhad broke free in the 53rd minute but shot at Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero before winger Ashkan Dejagah saw a strong header tipped over. Then Ghoochannejhad got behind the Argentine defense in the 86th minute but saw his shot again well saved by Romero.
With the misfiring Aguero and Higuain pulled off in the second half, replacements Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodrigo Palacio were unable to provide the missing spark until Messi did. “That’s what Leo has,” said Javier Mascherano, grateful for a win on his 100th cap. “On days when he doesn’t have that aura of brilliance, then with one move he wins you the game!”
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 22, 2014
“WI win Test No. 2! That’s more like it from West Indies!” By Colin E. H. Croft West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin celebrated his first “home” Test, at Queen’s Park Oval, by leading his much-revamped team, from Test No. 1, to an appreciated 10 wicket win in Test No. 2 v New Zealand. What a big fillip this 1st win is for Ramdin and present WI cricket. He, and we, needed that! Ramdin, though, must note that his primary purpose is as wicket-keeper, whose skills have recently been lauded for excellence. In both Tests No. 1 and 2, he was very much less so, allowing nineteen byes in No. 1, and thirteen in No. 2, while also dropping a few difficult chances. Also, captaincy is not only about winning. All teams want to win, but if properly
led, players will react and perform to expected standards, allowing that team to win regularly. Leadership is more about inspiration and instilling excellence, bringing out the very best from personnel who are led, improving every facets of each player’s inputs, regardless of results, but not with the standard Caribbean bickering, insularity and asinine micro-management. Positive results do matter, but overall team improvement is more pertinent. Happily, new WI captain Denesh Ramdin found that out very quickly in Test No. 2! That is why Clive Lloyd and Sir Frank Worrell are still always revered so highly as former WI captains! Sir Viv Richards and Sir Gary Sobers captaincy ratings are high too, but, in my mind, less so than those other two
Denesh Ramdin (left) talks to Jerome Taylor. (WICB Randy Brooks) superlative leaders. Especially Sir Viv was given an already “ripe” team; players, including me, already fully matured, at the very top of their game, having been nurtured, massaged and
4th Annual Digicel Schools Football Competition...
Peters slams in five for Cotton Field - Charity also advance By Rawle Welch Diminutive Cotton Field striker Hosea Peters slammed in five goals to lead his team into the next round on the 4th Annual Digicel Schools Football Competition which was played last Friday, at the Charity ground on the Essequibo Coast. Playing against Eight of May, Peters, who seemed error prone at the start of the game, suddenly changed gear after netting his first in the 33rd minute after which he proceeded to score four more goals in the 55th, 63rd, 70th and 75 th minutes of play to complete a 6-2 rout of their opponents. Earlier, Eight of May had taken the lead through D’Angelo Pitman, who silenced the partisan crowd poking the ball into an empty goal following a scrimmage off a corner that saw goalkeeper and defensive line scrambling to clear the ball, but failing to do so. That goal came as early as the 2nd minute. Urged on by their vociferous band of supporters, Cotton Field made a few threatening expeditions into the Eight of May half, but the opposition held firm, denying them repeatedly to maintain their advantage. However, Cotton Field gained the equalizer in dramatic fashion when a
Hosea Peters powerfully struck clearance from central defender Joshua Jones crashed into the chest of a clearly surprised Eight of May goalkeeper, before landing at the feet of a lurking Rafael Cook, who nonchalantly fired in from close range in the 10th minute. After that both teams made several searching incursions, but time and again the backline was equal to the task, shutting down the danger every time. However, the deadlock was broke in the 33rd minute and it came through a magical piece of play. Operating on the right wing, Peters broke down the side line, weaving past a host of defenders in the process exhibiting exceptional skill,
before cutting inside and squeezing his shot past the goalkeeper stationed on the near post. Eight of May was not done and leveled the proceedings two minutes later through the pint-sized Ronsville O’Neal who had looked lively all afternoon. He collected a pass on the left flank and eased past one tackle, before unleashing a powerful right-footer that sailed over the jumping Cotton Field goalkeeper, before landing into the far corner. However, that signaled the start of the Peters show as he wormed and weaved his way past the opposing defence with consummate ease en route to four more goals to seal the win for his team and set up a mouthwatering clash against Aurora today after they beat Abrams Zuil 4-1 on Thursday. In the opening game, hosts Charity romped to a 3-0 win over Wakapoa with an own goal (29th) and a brace from Richard Correia (31st and 34th) accounting for their tally. They moved on to face NOC in the other game of today’s double header, at the NOC ground. Meanwhile, all the schools were presented with bag packs compliments of sponsor Digicel and Company Representative Darrell Yearwood acted on its behalf.
forged from cricketing infancy, by Lloyd. All of us were ultra-ready, superbly honed and totally confident by the time he became full-time captain. Hence performances were like mercury, filling all spaces without gaps, always 100% efficient! Anyway, in this 2nd game of his tenure, Ramdin used his bowlers very well, while his batsmen gave wiggle room. His fledgling leadership might be just shaping up, but his young stars, especially batsmen, are also coming nicely to the fore. These are great signs for Ramdin! Joy to see young pups of our next decade, Darren Bravo and Kraigg Brathwaite, playing at opposite ends of the stroke-making spectrum, taking charge after old fox Chris Gayle had been flummoxed by Trent Boult’s devastating out-swinging “yorker”, 1st innings. Gayle’s 80 no, 2nd innings, was good revenge! Sabina’s pitch was such a disappointment that anything
produced at Queen’s Park Oval would have been a vast improvement. So too, happily, it turned out to be! QPO was sufficiently, consistently, bouncy, especially if faster bowlers put in big efforts, the pitch becoming quicker as the game progressed - Days 2 and 3 - when initial moisture had dissipated. By Day 4, that bounce was also aided and abetted by improving grip and turn; help for slower bowlers! Lone specialist spinner, left-arm orthodox Sullieman Benn, used his lanky frame well, delivering from great height, getting extra bounce, while his albatross-like wingspan helped for excellent catching. Match figures of 5151 from 86.4 overs were steady rewards for hard work. Away for over four years, Jerome Taylor is just about getting his rhythm back. He bowled relatively quickly, even if not yet fully extended. Especially encouraging for stamina and overall fitness was Jerome’s tremendous efforts in 2nd innings, Days 4 and 5; 30-873-2, after a very good 1st innings return: 17-5-34-4. Kemar Roach is now bowling almost always from just his shoulders, his run-up no more than a mirage. If he continues this way, he will be, not may be, re-injured in the not too distant future. He needs to extend his run much more and use that rhythm provided thusly to be more comfortable and productive. While better than Test No. 1; 2-97 overall; Roach’s returns in Test No. 2; 5-135, were not spectacular. His ineffectiveness put too much pressure on Taylor and Benn. Similarly so was Shannon Gabriel, who always seems as
Colin E. H. Croft stiff as a wrestler trying to bowl fast. There is no looseness about Gabriel, and WI team coaches should get him running, gazillions of miles, if he is to get that looseness and elasticity that is required to be a good fast bowler. 4-109 was very average for this pitch! But pitch consistency also allowed for very good batsmanship, if required patience and sense could prevail! As hoped for after Sabina, personnel changed for the better. Brathwaite replaced Kieran Powell, while Jermaine Blackwood made his Test debut, replacing fellow Jamaican Marlon Samuels. Unless he can mount a severe runs challenge in next year’s 1st Class season, that, possibly, was Samuels’ last stand! To a point, Kirk Edwards, with an un-fluent 55, started the batting recovery, after Sabina, and Blackwood showed signs of confidence, even if raw and airy, for a first Test half-century. But it was two centuries; Bravo’s 6th - 109; and an excellent, maiden, well-puttogether 129 from Brathwaite, that must whet appetites and hopes for WI batting future! Now it is on to Kensington Oval, Barbados, to try to seal a long-awaited Test series win! Enjoy!
Buddy’s Pool Hall on Cue competition fixed for today Buddy’s Pool Hall will stage their on Cue Pools competition today at their Sheriff Street location. Some $500,000 in prizes are on offer for the top performers including a Jailing motorcycle for the first prize, a Plum tablet and $60,000 for second, third is a Plum x260 phone and $40,000 and fourth prize $25,000. Trophies sponsored by the Trophy Stall will also be presented to the top four winners. Registration is $2,000 per player and each player entering will be given a T-shirt. Stag beer, Cell phone Shack, Jailing and John Lewis are among some of the sponsors. The Trophy Stall recently handed over the trophies to Administrative Assistant of Buddy, Melisa Dharry for today’s event.
Melisa Dharry (left) of Buddy’s, collects one of the trophies from Stephen Persaud of Trophy Stall.
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 73
Messi wonder goal saves 95% of the stakeholders committed perjury Argentina against Iran >>> Letter to the Sports Editor <<<
and face contempt of court charges also Dear Sports Editor, Recent regular publications in the state owned Guyana Chronicle and the Guyana Times championing the cause of a group calling themselves “stakeholders of Guyana’s cricket”, caused me to do some research on this Group. The name itself had an important ring to it, but upon a closer review and examination of the facts surrounding the actual persons that make up this bunch of former administrators, it proved to be quite revealing and depressing at the same time. I was eager to learn exactly who these rather influential persons could have been since they are now claiming to have caused the Government and APNU to pass the controversial “Cricket Administration Bill”. What I found during my investigations was a plethora of lies and misrepresentations, some of which can be definitely classified as perjuries for making false declarations to Parliament. Hereunder, is a brief summary table of my investigations for the public to learn about these individuals: (see below) Ladies and gentlemen, the above synopsis clearly indicates a group of displeased former administrators.
It is important to note that these records were extracted directly from the Parliamentary Minutes of the Select Committee, so we now know who really are the “stakeholders” that are supposed to make Guyana’s Cricket succeed. What amazed me while conducting this research is that everyone; the GCB, the Parliamentary Select Committee, Government, the opposition parties, and all of us failed to identify, early enough, that this group of administrators have caused problems for our cricket and have since ventured into the highest law-making body of the land and misled the lawmakers by making the above blatant misrepresentations. It is now incumbent upon the Government, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Clerk of Assembly to now carefully review the Parliamentary records referred to herein and refer these individuals to the appropriate authority for the blatant misrepresentations of themselves and in the process committing the major criminal offence of perjury in the National Assembly. I am aware that a similar investigation was ordered against the DCB when it was alleged by this same group of Stakeholders that the DCB had submitted a fake
document to the Committee. That investigation has died a natural death when it was learnt that the DCB document was indeed prepared by one of the above stakeholders’ colleague. In conducting this research, there is something significant that I discovered and it would be remiss of me not to mention: The GCB, DCB and ECB all made comprehensive submissions to the Parliamentary Select Committee, all of which were totally ignored by the Select Committee. However, the “stakeholders group” made two presentations, both orally and in writing, and even had a Parliamentary representative from Linden making similar representations. The Cricket Administration Bill was crafted solely upon the submissions by this group of Stakeholders. It is also significant to note that the Berbice Cricket Board was the only Guyana Cricket Board member not to make an independent submission to the Parliamentary Select Committee. Most surprising is that the BCB Constitution, appended to the Bill, does not require all of their clubs to play cricket to be eligible to vote at their AGM. The Select Committee thought it wise not to interfere nor amend this most deficient constitution
but proceeded to truncate the GCB & DCB constitutions to suit the agenda of the Stakeholders. In summation, I am contending that the entire process of the Select Committee, having hearings and submissions, was an absolute circus and a complete waste of time and taxpayers’ money since the “stakeholders” are just a bunch of sour former administrators trying to hijack power through the back door and using their friends in the political hierarchy. But it may very well have been designed to be a charade since the state media continues to advance the cause of this Group who are claiming that they approached the Government to pass a Cricket Bill. I am suggesting that both the Government and opposition parties stop the Bill and relook at the flawed process that resulted in its passage. At the same time, jail those who committed perjury through misrepresentations to Parliament. We are left to wonder- Did the government really act because of misrepresentations from the “stakeholders”? If so, the Government needs to correct this situation immediately. Melinda Bishundyal Cricket Administrator
BELO HORIZONTE Brazil (Reuters) - Lionel Messi spared Argentina’s blushes with a wonderful last-gasp winner against unheralded Iran at the World Cup on Saturday to give the South Americans a 1-0 victory and passage to the last 16. Argentina’s fabled “Fab Four” strike force had appeared heading for a blank despite dominating possession to the frustration of their massed hordes of fans who came expecting a goalfest at Belo Horizonte’s Mineirao stadium. But four-times world player of the year Messi, who has struggled to reproduce his Barcelona form at past World Cups, curled the ball in during stoppage time to send them wild with his second goal of two games in Brazil. “With Messi, everything is possible,” said relieved Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella, praising Iran for playing a “great” game and making it difficult for his side. Watched by past Argentine great Diego Maradona in a 57,698 crowd, Messi had appeared in an unthreatening position when he received the ball on the right in the 91st minute. Then dropping his shoulder and cutting quickly inside, he curled a simply brilliant 25-yard left-foot shot over Iran’s massed defense and into the far corner past outstanding goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi’s outstretched hand. “Not even two goalkeepers could have stopped that Lionel shot,” Sabella added. The result was probably fair given Argentina’s 71 percent possession and superior ballplay in the middle but felt cruel after Iran had grown in confidence and begun counter-attacking neatly to complement their solid defense. The result leaves
Argentina on top of Group F with six points from two games and takes them into the knockout stage. ARGENTINA WILL NEED MORE GUILE Sabella’s men will need more guile and precision, however, than they have shown against both Bosnia and Iran, if they want to take home a third World Cup. Iran, on just one point after a draw with Nigeria and widely viewed as one of the weakest teams in Brazil, were shattered by the game’s denouement but will take heart from a fantastic performance against one of the favorites to lift the trophy. Their final game is against Bosnia, who faced Nigeria later yesterday. Constantly crowded out by two and sometimes three Iranians, Messi had until the end been unable to pull the strings and again vomited on the pitch in the first half. The Argentine captain put two free kicks wide in either half, and saw a shot go wide after a trademark run early in the second. In a succession of wasted Argentine first half chances, Gonzalo Higuain was quickly shut down by goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi in a one-onone in the 13th minute, Angel Di Maria shot over the bar and Sergio Aguero had a curling shot well saved. With their increasingly hopeful supporters heavily outnumbered but cheering “Ole, ole, Iran!”, Asia’s highest-ranked team defended en masse but also enjoyed some second half forays that could have caused a sensational result. “At the end, two personalities in the game made the difference. The number one was the referee. The second was Lionel Messi,” said disappointed coach Carlos Queiroz. The Iran boss was furious (Continued on page 65)
Ghana and Germany draw 2-2 in another cracker FORTALEZA Brazil (Reuters) - Miroslav Klose scored a landmark goal as Germany and Ghana drew 2-2 with all the goals coming in a terrific second half of another rip-roaring World Cup clash on Saturday. Mario Goetze nodded Germany ahead in the 51st minute, but Ghana instantly roared into attack. Andre Ayew headed an excellent equalizer three minutes later, and the Ghanaians went ahead when a great interception and pass by
Sulley Muntari set up Asamoah Gyan to lash home in the 63rd. Germany leveled in the 71st minute with a sharp finish by Klose as the substitute claimed his 15th World Cup goal to move level with former Brazil striker Ronaldo as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. Germany, who crushed Portugal 4-0 in their opening game, have four points. The United States have three, Ghana one and Portual zero ahead of their Group G game against the U.S. today.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 22, 2014
GABF shortlists National Medals and Promotion for JKA/WF Guyana Karatekas in Panama Men’s Basketball team - Burnett omitted, GT&T commits $500,000 By Edison Jefford The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) shortlisted the National Men’s Basketball team that will compete at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships in the British Virgin Islands yesterday with the surprise omission of guard, Travis Burnett. The GABF shortlisted 18 players to continue training for selection on the national touring roster, which, according to Coach, Mark Agard will include 12 players and three standbys for a total of 15 players. No date was identified for the final selection of the team. The shortlist include former NBA player, Rawle Marshall as Captain, Akeem Kanhai, Andrew Ifill, Andre De Florimonte, Chris Williams, Royston Siland, Dwayne Roberts, Ray Victor, Richard Hall, Ryan Gullen, Ryan Stephney, Shane Webster, Shelroy Thomas, Dave Causway, Tyler Persaud, Keron McKenzie, Kevan Creppy and Gordon Klaiber. Of the 18 players selected, eight are overseas-based. McKenzie and Creppy will be joining the squad today, while Klaiber, who plays professional basketball in Japan, is scheduled to arrive in Guyana later this week owed to family commitments. Burnett, who Kaieteur Sport saw among the squad at Friday night’s practice session, has been an intense play-maker and defensive guard for the Trinity Grid Holding Pacesetters team. Burnett is the leader of Pacesetters’ offence and is skilful in the paint. His omission is one of the big surprises in the team, more so given that Victory Valley Royals’ shooting guard, Chris Williams and Colts’ Dave Causway made the latest cut. Burnett’s statistics over the last few years ranks him among the top guards in Guyana. He was the last player to single-handedly win the male Inter-Guiana Games title for Guyana. His non-selection is definitely one of the big surprises so far; speaking to this newspaper Friday night Burnett seemed very anxious about his national senior debut.
Rawle Marshall
However, based on this most recent development, the wait continues for the top local point guard. Meanwhile, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) has stepped up with support for the team in the form of a $500,000 contribution. The CBC Championship will be held from July 1-12 with Guyana’s male team expected to depart on June 29, and the female team on July 6; the federation indicated that it would like to recognise GT&T as an official sponsor. The uniform of the Guyana teams will bear the logos of GT&T and John Fernandes Limited. E-Networks is expected to carry the games live. Other sponsors of the national teams for CBC are Office of the President, Guyana Olympic Association, Windjammer Hotel and Ansa McAl. The door is still open to other sponsors as the federation remains in need of US$35,000 to offset the expenditure of their mammoth budget to participate in the 2014 competition.
- 4 Gold, 1 Sliver and 3 bronze achieved A seven member team from the Japan Karate A s s o c i a t i o n / Wo r l d Federation Guyana has returned to these shores a successful unit after representation at the JKA/ WF America Karate Camp and Goodwill Tournament held in Panama City, Panama on June 3 - 7, last. The training camp was held between June 5 – 7 with the team required to train three times daily; it was conducted by Master Shojiro Koyama – 8th Dan, assisted by Sensei Yasuaki Nagatomo – 6th Dan, both of the USA and Sensei Arturo Worrell – 6th Dan of Panama. The sessions sparked interest among the attendees which allowed for growth, deep insight and technical applications to several aspects of JKA karate. Representing Guyana at the Regional Heads Meeting was Chief Instructor of Guyana Sensei Christopher Chaves who took the opportunity to weigh in on the discussions which would contribute to the future development and direction of JKA karate. On tournament day, the participating countries included USA, Costa Rica, Mexico, Guyana and host Panama and was held at the Panama Canal Authority Sport Center. The Guyanese didn’t fail to deliver and collectively secured - 4 Gold, 1 sliver and 3 bronze medals. Young adult
The successful athletes display their trophies and medals. From left, Kissandra Pitt, Camiel Melville, Maxene Joseph and Loren Black. female Kissandra Pitt from Craig EBD Dojo won gold in Kata and Kumite open Purple to Brown belt division. Maxene Joseph of GGMC secured silver in Kumite and Bronze in Kata. Teenage female Loren Black earned her place at the top securing gold medals in Kata and Kumite (girls 12-14 years-old). Camiel Melville (boys 1011 years-old) Brown belt category won bronze medals for Kata and Kumite in this division. This surely wasn’t the end of the Guyanese accomplishment; Sensei Christopher Chaves underwent his Dan Rank test conducted by Master Koyama and was successful thereby being promoted to
Godan Rank (5th Dan) becoming one of the youngest JKA members to achieve such a high ranking. Overall, the team did well and made a lasting impression representing Guyana with pride. The respective Manager and Assistant Manager of the Guyana team were Mrs. Lyndell DanzieBlack and Mrs. Resel Melville. Supporters, members and family were all thanked for their unflinching support and encouragement to the Guyana team. Meanwhile, JKA/WF Guyana is now in preparation for their July 12 Grading examination to be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
GNA seeks to Devers latest casualty from ‘Cricket Bill’ resuscitate the sport
Guyanese International Radio Cricket Commentator Sean Devers is the latest casualty from the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill which was recently passed in Parliament and is awaiting the signature of President Donald Ramotar to come into Law. Devers, who made his International debut as a Radio broadcaster in the Test involving West Indies and South Africa at Bourda in 2001, has been replaced on the Radio team for the third Test, originally scheduled for Guyana, by a Barbadian Commentator. The WICB moved the game to Barbados because of the passing of the ‘Bill’ which among other things gives the Guyana Sports Minister the right to appoint a Cricket Ombudsman. The WICB and the ICC does not tolerate Government’s interference in
Cricket. Devers is a former Guyana Cricketer and a Cancer survivor. He expressed disappointment in not being able to commentate on home soil as he makes his Radio come back after undergoing Brain surgery. Devers, who covered the second Test in Trinidad last week, explained that because the match was moved to Barbados, the cost for his airticket, Hotel accommodation and meals for the duration of the Test match went from zero to almost G$300,000 (US$1,500). “I was informed that the Barbados Radio Station requested another local voice resulting in me being replaced. I am really disappointed, since in addition to losing payment for the match in US dollars, I was looking forward to working on radio at home. I am a proud
Sean Devers Guyanese and I always promote my country whenever I am on Radio,” Devers added. ”I am down to do commentary in the Bangladesh Test in St Vincent in September. But doing a game in Guyana after being out for over two and a half years due to my illness would
have been a big moment for me,” said Devers. The Kaieteur News Sports Journalist, who has been banned from commentary on the State owned NCN Radio since 2006 for writing an article lamenting NCN’s inability to acquire sponsorship to broadcast the inaugural T20 World Cup, feels the problem could have been solved in a better way without Government getting involved. ”Guyana is a Sovereign Country with its own laws but the GCB is the only entity with the authority to control cricket in Guyana, not the Government. Those who make a living from cricket will be the ones to suffer if this problem is not solved quickly. I have faith in God who saved my life and I Know he will open other doors for me,” Devers concluded.
- meeting in Berbice planned for today The Guyana Netball Association (GNA) in an effort to bolster the prominence of one of the world’s most prolific female oriented sports will be meeting with their affiliated clubs to help in the process of building and rebuilding their club structures. Clubs under the GNA’s umbrella are Emanie, All-Stars, Eagles of Georgetown, Doves of Berbice and Fearlese Flyers of Essequibo. According to GNA Secretary, Warren Wilson, the first of such meetings is set for today from 13:00hrs at the Smythfield Drop-in-Centre, New Amsterdam, Berbice. The meeting will be chaired by Wilson who was one of 42 participants in the just concluded National
Warren Wilson Sports Management Workshop organised by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport. Wilson has further disclosed that meetings with the other clubs affiliated to the GNA would be held in the near future.
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 75
Diamond International Martial Arts Academy successfully conducts grading exercise 30 students of the Little Diamond International Martial Arts Academy (LDIMAA) were elevated to higher levels when that institution held a workshop and grading examination over the past week. Twenty five of those students between 6-15 yrs from three branches of the LDIMAA also competed in a National Junior Karate Championship at the Parfaite Harmony Dojo WBD and were successful. They competed in three divisions; 6-9, 10-12 and 13-15, and were tested in three events, traditional kata, weapon forms and Kumite (sparring). Enmore topped the medal haul winning 6 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals. That club also had 1 grand champion. Wales fielded 6 students and won 12 medals after producing 2 grand champions with 7 gold, one silver and 2 bronze medals. Four students represented Parfaite Harmony and procured a gold medal along with 5 silvers. Six years old
p r a c t i t i o n e r, A r i a n n a Etwaroo excelled in Kumite. Michael Prescott of Enmore was crowned grand champion after winning 3 gold medals in the 13–15 division, while Christian Freeman (8) and Joshua Bascombe (12) of Wales were crowded grand champions in the 6 – 9 and 10-12 division respectively. Vickash Somwaru also received a special award for his outstanding performance in the tournament. Shihan Nazim lauded the efforts of those instructors that worked with the students even as he noted the improved performances of the students. Those practitioners would now commence preparations for the annual training camp from July 20-27 next followed by the 2 edition of the International Martial Arts/Karate Championship in August. Subsequently, a team would leave for Suriname for a tournament scheduled for September 7. Meanwhile, the nd
Cricket for Unity Match; Wärtsilä adds liquid power
W
ith operations in nearly 200 locations in 70 countries, Wärtsilä Operations in Guyana Inc. (WOGI) has joined forces with the organisers of the Cricket For Unity T20 match that is slated for July 5 next at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, Queenstown. Gary Hall, Environment and Safety Manager confirmed that commitment when he handed over a cheque for an undisclosed amount to Chairman of the Cricket For Unity Committee, Dexter Garnett. Hall commended Garnett for the initiative while stating that his company is very pleased to be a part of the activity which will showcase many prominent members of society including politicians, businessmen among others competing against each other. “We at Wärtsilä are very happy to be a part of this
event and we are looking forward to witnessing an exciting game, come July 5th. We would like to wish the players all the best.” Garnett in response thanked Hall and Wärtsilä for their timely support and promised that all arrangements would be put in place for a memorable game under lights. The company is celebrating 20 years since setting up operations in Guyana, this year.
management of the Vreeden-Hoop branch of Red Cherry Fast Food had acquiesced to exclusive sponsorship of the tournament and the organizers have expressed their gratitude for such chivalry.
The outstanding participants and officials at the recently concluded Little Diamond International Martial Arts Academy event.
Little Light Domino team prevails in Turkeyen Sports Committee tournament
L
ittle Light Domino team won 82 games to take top honours when the South Turkeyen Sports Committee and Guyana Veteran’s Legion recently staged a 6 teams dominoes competition at t h e Ve t e r a n ’ s L e g i o n H a l l , Carifesta Avenue.
The Guyana Veteran Legions team finished second after scoring 78 games while Delta Force finished in the cellar with 69 games. The respective winners received trophies donated by several corporate institutions and individuals, including Tent City and True Value and Gift
Centre of Charity Essequibo. Cash prizes were donated by Attorney-at-law, Roysdale Forde, Henry Chase and Environment Minister, Robert Persaud, while medals were donated by Attorney-at-Law, Joseph Harmon. The tournament was organized by Johnny ‘Overseas’ Barnwell.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday June 22, 2014
GOA and GCF host successful Int. Olympic Day BMX Meet Following are the full results of yesterday’s BMX Meet, first to third: Race Laps Placing Boys Open 3 Keon Rutherford (8m 45s), Adrian Sharma, Brighton John Boys 6-9 years 2 Sherwin Sampson (6m 27s), Alexander Leung, Jessica Mohabir Boys 9-12 3 Sherwin Sampson (6m 44s), Khistoff Austin, Taran Garbarran Boys 12-14 3 Brighton John (10m 10s), Rashidi Ceres, Aumunite Gomes Open 5 Keon Rutherford (14m 37s), Daniel Vossey, Adrian Sharma
All the participants display their trophies in the presence of GOA and GCF officials yesterday.
For the fifth successive year, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the Guyana Cycling Federation
(GCF) has hosted a successful BMX Meet at the National Park in observance of International Olympic Day which would be c e l e b r a t e d t o m o r r o w, worldwide. GOA Assistant Secretary General Deion Nurse in brief remarks after the event congratulated the participants while urging them to continue doing their best. He noted that the GOA and the IOC were very happy to partner with the GCF to bring off another event of this nature which showcased young talent. The youngest participant yesterday was 4-year-old Jessica Mohabir. GCF President Ms. Cheryl
Thompson in her remarks also thanked the participants for coming out to make the event another success. Gratitude was also extended to the GOA. Also in attendance were GOA Vice President Dr. Karen Pilgrim and Secretary General, Hector Edwards, a former National cyclist. International Olympic Day is celebrated all around the world: hundreds of thousands of people – young and old – participate in sports activities, such as runs, exhibitions, music and educational seminars. Over the last two decades, the event has helped to spread the Olympic ideals to every corner of the world.
Keon Rutherford powers to victory in the Open race
Brighton John wins his event
Sunday June 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 77
NINVALLE BROTHERS,
table tennis marksmen considered for the prestigious World Hope Selection, a one year scholarship programme offered by world governing body of table tennis. To date their most outstanding achievement of both brothers was securing silver and bronze medals at the Caribbean Pre Cadet
Khalil (left) and Kaysan Ninvalle display their accolades By Zaheer Mohamed Guyana has seen its fair share of siblings who have represented this country in sports disciplines. Brothers Khalil Jaffar Ninvalle and Kaysan Jamil Ninvalle are the latest to join that distinguished list. The two have been making waves on the local table tennis scene and have impressed even the staunchest critics with their style, dedication and discipline. In fact national coach Linden Johnson is adamant that the siblings have special talent and will be a force to reckon with. “Both Khalil and Kaysan are two very talented and special athletes. They are also very disciplined and have dominated their respective categories. The sky is the limit once they remain focused,” Coach Johnson said. In the last two years Khalil and Kaysan have placed vice-like grips on the Under-13 and Under-9 division respectively and had their first taste of International competition last year when they represented Guyana in the Caribbean Pre Cadet tournament. In a recent interview with Kaieteur Sports 13-year-old Khalil, the elder of the two reasoned that while his professional ambition is to become a medical doctor, he also dreams of one day representing Guyana at the
Olympics. Unlike many of the current tennis players the brothers are not in a club. They however, practice against each other on a daily basis at home. “I think that that has allowed us to get better at what we do. We both love the game and can play whenever there is the need to, as we have the facilities right at home,” Khalil declared. Born on January 30, 2001, Khalil explained that he had his first taste of table tennis some seven years ago when a good friend of his f a t h e r M a r k Yo u n g presented him with a table. “Uncle Mark gave us the table and from time to time would come to play with us. He would beat me soundly then, but now I am able to repay him on the table,” Khalil joked. A year after starting, Khalil was winning novices titles and was urged by his parents Steve and Noela to seriously consider taking up table tennis. With Khalil’s exploits Kaysan gravitation to the sport was a natural progression. Younger by four years, Kaysan was a quick learner and took less time than his brother to stamp his authority on the national scene. An aggressive player, Kaysan is known to play from Under-9 to Under-21 unperturbed. This has not escaped the eyes of the national coach. According to Johnson the younger Ninvalle is being
Tournaments last year and most recently Khalil won Gold in the U-13 singles and bronze in the U-15 division in the national Independence competition. He was also the U-13 gold medalist in the 2014 Mashramani tournament after overcoming another talented player Terence
Rausch in the final. In 2013 he copped three gold medals in the U-13 division in a local competition and was the top player in the U-11 segment in 2010 where he won two golds. Khalil, a second form student of Mae’s School, said his aim is to do better in
2014 and is looking forward to being selected for the Pre Cadet Championship that is scheduled for Puerto Rico. “It will be a lot of hard work as it is not sports alone. I still have to balance it with my school work. Right now I have been taken off tennis because my end of term (Continued page 71)
t r o Sp
PETERS SLAMS IN FIVE FOR COTTON FIELD 4th Annual Digicel Schools Football Competition...
- Charity also advance
Digicel representative Darrell Yearwood presents Captain of the New Opportunity Corps team David Belgrave with one of the bag packs shortly before the start of their encounter against Johanna Cecilia on Thursday.
GABF shortlists National Men’s B/ball team
-Burnett omitted, GT&T commits $500,000
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