Kaieteur News by GxMedia

Wednesday June 26, 2013

Kaieteur News

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

Thieving at the GPO DEAR SIR, I am writing this letter as a public service to everyone who uses our postal service. I recently mailed two birthday cards to family members in the United States and to different addresses. In both instances, the cards were neatly slit open at one side then retaped, again very neatly. It is obvious that whoever opened the envelopes was looking for money, for US dollars I suppose. Before our postal administration attempts to say that the cards could have been opened in the US, I

would point out that the common place that both pieces of mail shared was the main post office on Robb Street. I am not asking for an inquiry, an investigation or anything of the sort. I actually understand the postal workers’ point of view that there’s a whole lot of thieving going on in our public service and at every level so they see no reason why they should not get in on the act. And who can blame them? I am writing this letter so that the public is aware that unless you are doing it as a

donation to your postal worker, do not put any cash into any mail. However, do expect your mail to be grossly and illegally violated in that it will be opened, searched, read, handled then neatly re-taped before it is sent on to its destination. In both instances the cards took a month to get to their respective US destination. I suppose our postal workers are taking their own sweet time with their searches? I would urge them to, at least, hurry it up a bit. Ryhaan Shah

The unprofessional few in the police force DEAR EDITOR, I am writing to bring to your attention the behaviour of a police officer on the Essequibo Coast. On the 21st of June 2013 at approximately 11:23am on the Essequibo Coast Public Road, I was pulled over by a female traffic rank who came to me and did her routine checks. I was given a ticket for failing to exhibit my certificate of fitness. I then made a phone call home to find out if the above mentioned document was mistakenly left at home. During my conversation on the phone another male traffic rank by the name of D’Andrade approached me and started shouting at me in the most blatant manner saying that I must drive up because there is another vehicle behind me. As I was just going to pull a little more into the corner he started shouting at me again saying that if I keep the phone to my ear he

would charge me again, so I decided not to pull in the corner. I stayed where I was pulled over and then told him that I cannot drive while conversing on my phone, but he still kept on shouting at me. I asked him the reason for his continued shouting at me and if that’s the way he talks to people because I am not an animal. But that still didn’t change his tone. Is it because of my humble and innocent behaviour to him that I was being handled in this manner by this rank? If that is the way police officers will behave towards ordinary civilians then it means they don’t have any training. It’s embarrassing and glaring in the eyes of the public to see how very unprofessional and unethical some police officers are in the way they perform their duties. Raoul Nauth

Freddie Kissoon is wrong about Gail Teixeira DEAR EDITOR, I refer to Frederick Kissoon’s column of 19th June, 2013 under the heading “Does dictatorship madden those attracted to it?” He quoted several members or close supporters of the PPP/ C to prove his case. One of these, based on his context of the person’s status within the PPP, where she lived and her accent, has to be Gail Teixeira. Now, I have no sympathy for those PPP leaders who have dictatorial tendencies, but to use the so-called “false” Canadian accent of Gail Teixeira as one of those examples is itself madness. Many people have accused Freddie Kissoon of not doing enough research for his columns and they may be right. Let’s look at some facts: Gail did not spend a couple of years in Canada as he said. She lived there for more than ten years, from 1966 to 1977, during which period she never returned to Guyana. She returned to Guyana in 1977 and not 1970 as Freddie said. Gail does not have a Canadian accent, neither “false” nor “true”. In fact, I’ve not known her to

change her speech towards a Canadian accent in the more than twenty years I have known her. So what accent does Gail have? I accept it’s unique which is a result of her environment. You see, she grew up at home not only with a Portuguese father but also an English mother who was born in England and came to Guyana (or British Guiana) with her parents when she was very young. Her maternal grandparents also lived in Guyana and Gail visited them for extended periods

frequently. Her mother never left Guyana until the family emigrated to Canada in 1966. So her home environment, along with living in Canada for over 10 years led to her accent. I guess the 12 years or so in which she lived in central Georgetown (not far from the Kissoons) before emigration was not enough to make her sound like a true Guyanese like Freddie. What is important is that all Guyanese understand Teixeira when she speaks. E. Rodrigues

One year and no survivors’ benefits DEAR EDITOR, A beneficiary, NIS number B 17627662, of the survivors’ benefits scheme has not received payments since July 2012, despite the submission of life certificates. All that is being told is that it is not yet ready. Mr Editor this beneficiary is an infant who needs milk, school supplies and other amenities to survive. A tin of milk for this infant is approximate $6,000. Even though the policy of the school does not support parents to buy any school materials, the system necessitates the purchasing of these things. What is really happening , with this cherished legacy that Mr Burnham left for poor people? Is it dying? Please Sir, kindly investigate and let us know. At this moment the child needs milk. S.T.F

Uitvlugt/Tuschen NDC selective in granting permission DEAR SIR, Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper I would like to bring to the notice of the relevant authorities of the favoured treatment of individuals by the Uitvlugt/Tuschen Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) of Meten Meer Zorg, West Coast Demerara about a situation that’s needs to be addressed. As a concerned citizen, I visited the local Muslim cemetery recently where upon noticing the pervasive dumping of garbage, a few individual from M.M.Z and Zeeburg mosque decided to place two wooden posts at the entrance of the cemetery to assist with an eventual gate to close off the area from

residents who dump garbage within these confines. However, the overseer from the NDC inquired and asked to see if a permit was granted to do such. He wanted to put a halt to the project. Recently a next resident was building a concrete drain. It was three inches less than the specification. He was ordered by the NDC to break off one wall. Another resident, also from Zeeburg, tried to put on an extra three sheets of zinc on their roadside shop, but was ordered by NDC to take it off. However, painting the issues with a different brush, a businessman at Lot 143

Zeeburg Public Road recently disregarded the bylaws and constructed his building and caused it to overlap his eastern and western fence. There is no as stipulated by building codes which suggest approximately six to eight feet between the house and the fence. If some urgent steps are not taken to stop this disregard, many will follow suit and disregard the NDC on a whole. Concerned resident

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 26, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

The insurance ceiling should be hiked

DEAR SIR, I refer to a letter written by Mr. Roshan Khan in the Stabroek News of Wednesday, 5th June, 2013 (Full Third Party vehicle insurance ridiculously low). Mr. Khan is quite right in highlighting this major problem for persons who use the roads and are injured or have their vehicles damaged. The Limits, which I believe have been on the books for over 40 years, are as follows. Bodily Injury $ 25,000: Any one Person $125,000: Any one Accident Many persons opt to carry higher limits and almost all the insurance companies offer higher limits. However, the fact remains that a person can be compliant with the law, with little or no protection. My recollection is about ten years ago a document was sent by the Government to the Insurance Association of Guyana proposing new third party limits. However, the Insurance industry was not in agreement with the new limits being proposed and felt that the increases were too drastic and would have resulted in very high premiums. I understand the industry proposed a more moderate increase but nothing was done. I think the time is more than opportune for the government to amend the law, raising the third party limits. My view is that it should start somewhere in the vicinity of $500,000 any one person and $1,000,000 any one accident,

Property Damage $ 20,000: $100,000:

gradually increasing over a three to four-year period to $1,500,000 any one person, $2,500,000 any one accident. Some Companies offer limits as high as $3,000,000/ $5,000,000 any one person/ accident, so getting the cover should not be a problem. The owners of mini buses may find the new limits challenging but I believe overcoming those challenges will be worthwhile in the long run.. We also have a lot of missselling of Motor Insurance especially by the auto dealers on behalf of Insurance companies. It is not unusual for persons to have â€˜Full Comprehensiveâ€™, with a vehicle being covered for $4M, $5M or $6M with Third Party Act limits. I recently came across a case where a businessman who bought insurance through an auto dealer had his vehicle insured for $7M with Third Party limit of $80,000: When he found out, he was

Any one Claim Any one Accident

flabbergasted. I suspect that the majority of persons carrying Comprehensive Insurances sourced through auto dealers have very limited Third Party coverage. They find this out to their disappointment at the time of an accident. As I indicated earlier in this letter, many insurance companies routinely offer higher limits. I have no doubt that we are going to hear the old worn out reasons why the limits should not be increased â€” persons cannot afford it, it will carry up the cost of living etc. But these same vehicle owners can afford the latest gadgets in their vehicles. It is time for the limits to be increased and I respectfully call on the Attorney General to introduce legislation to up the limits. Bishwa Panday P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants Limited

Wednesday June 26, 2013

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INCREASING CLASSROOM TIME

While technical and strategic issues must invariably be part of the plan to revamp education in Guyana, what will make the difference in terms of improvements of grades and passes within our schools will not be these issues, but rather simple adjustments to the way we teach and administer and motivate our kids. President Barack Obama has already caught on to the importance of these small changes. He has indicated that he would like to see children spend more time in schools. He is also keen on longer school days, as well as educators making school buildings more accessible to children during weekends so that they can have a safe place to go and study and interact with their school peers. In Guyana, most schools are inaccessible to children on weekends. The Churches have greater access to use of the buildings than children who may wish to go there to study or participate in some recreational or sporting activity. One of the problems that is to be found in many poor homes in Guyana is the lack of a comfortable space for many children to study at nights. Not many homes have a separate study room where the children can go at nights and spend some quality time. The environment in which kids study is important. If you have a quiet, comfortable room, that locks out the distractions, then your kids will be able to do more in one hour than the average kids

without this environment will do in six or seven hours. Thus, it is important that children have somewhere suitable to study, not just in the run up to examinations, but throughout their school life. In poor communities, particularly in rural areas, the organisation of nightly supervised study groups within schools can make a huge difference in the performance of kids. Another problem that our children are facing is insufficient classroom hours. There are just too many distractions within the school environment: school sports, examinations, graduations, non-academic events, attending public rallies etc. The school year is already abbreviated because of a twomonth August holiday, a twoweek Easter and a three-week Christmas vacation. When coupled with the large number of public holidays in Guyana, it means that our children are being seriously short-changed within the system when it comes to teaching hours. While there is likely to be mass protest and disruptions, if serious thought is given to reducing the school holidays, at least the education authorities can insist that students write their examinations only during the last two weeks of the school year and that teachers use the vacation period, for which they are paid in any event, to mark and grade these examinations. Since examinations usually last two weeks in most schools, and since

Dem boys seh...

A local saviour coming Irfaat fly to Canada wid Donald and Gerry and Clive and Kit and Kit wife and everybody who coulda walk and who got anything to do wid tourism. De message was that Guyana serious about tourism but de country ain’t even got a plane. Dem boys seh that when Irfaat and he tourism team was going to Canada dem had to wait till Donald sit down in he seat. Then it was “on you marks, get set, go” fuh get a seat pun de plane. Guyana in a bad way and it promoting tourism. Is now dem boys understand why Kit and he colleagues trying wid boat.A man wanted to come home fuh a funeral and he couldn’t get a plane. Another man looking fuh a fare that gun suit he pocket. He find one fuh US$750 and he smile till he realize that he gun tek 30 hours fuh travel between New York and Georgetown. That is de tourism that Guyana offering. And dem boys seh that de people who organizing can’t even organize dem own life. A Guyana man who dem run out of de country planning to save dem. He had to go to Jamaica fuh start up he plane and even then dem tek a year and a day to approve him to fly to Guyana. In fact, if Delta didn’t pull out this man woulda never get permission to transport Guyanese. After Delta lef and de man apply, Donald and he whole Cabinet put dem knee pun de ground and dem give thanks. Some of dem cry because dem see a light at de end of de tunnel. Is hell to pay if this Guyanese charge de same thing wha de Trinidad airplane charging right now. Then that would be a sandwich. But Irfaat seh that lightning don’t strike twice in de same place. He mean that two airline can’t charge dear. Talk half and pray fuh a break.

report cards have to be ready for the end of term, it means that no work is usually done during the last week of school. Hardly any work is also done in many schools during the first week. This means that in a 36week school year, some six weeks of teaching is lost. Multiply this over a period of 13 years, and it amounts over the course of a child’s school life to more than two school years being lost due to the

limited teaching taking place in the opening and final week of school each term . Consider if a child had two more years in school what a difference that would make to that child’s performance, and this is why Obama’s suggestion about more time being spent in school needs to be looked at. In our case, we do not necessarily need to extend the school day, but simply to ensure that full use is made

during the first and final week of school. If on top of these two years lost, we can reduce the Easter and Christmas holidays by a week each, it means we are adding another half of a year to our children’s education; and if instead of commencing most classes at 9 a.m. each day we add one more hour of classes in the mornings, it means that every week we will be adding one day more of classes to the time spent in

school, which translates to 36 more days per school year, multiplied by thirteen years and we are effectively adding close to another two years to classroom time.

‘Guarantee’ for GPL payments to hydro plant heads to Parliament The Guyana Government will tomorrow formally move to petition the National Assembly to resolve to increase the aggregate amount of the liability of the Government under the Guarantee of Loans (Public Corporations and Companies) Act. Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, by way of Motion tabled in the National Assembly, scheduled for debate tomorrow, has indicated that it has become necessary to specify a greater sum for the purpose of enabling the aggregate amount of the liability of the Government “in respect of guarantees to be increased due to the extended activities of those incorporated bodies to which the Act applies in

accordance with the country’s development programme.” Dr Singh is also expected to argue that under the Guarantee of Loans (Public Corporations and Companies) Act, the Government may guarantee the discharge by a Corporation of its obligations under any agreement which may be entered into by the Corporation with a lending agency in respect of any borrowing by that Corporation that is authorised by the Government; Assume such other obligation as may be agreed between the Government and a lending agency in relation to or pursuant to any such agreement; Undertake the repayment to a lending

agency of such sums as the lending agency may have advanced to or for the benefit of the Government. Earlier this month, Dr Singh, by way of a public missive from his Ministry, had indicated that the Government is looking to increase the limit on total guarantees that can be issued under the Guarantee of Loans (Public Corporations and Companies) Act. The new proposed limit is $150B (US$750M) and according to the Ministry of Finance, the proposed increase in the guarantee limit follows on the commitment to the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project. The increase seeks to guarantee that the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) honours its financial

commi t m e n t s u n d e r t h e Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to be entered into between the power company and Amaila Falls Hydro Inc (AFHI). Under the PPA, GPL commits to purchase the power from Amaila for an average annual capacity payment. Government’s obligation is in the form of a Performance Guarantee. The Ministry of Finance says that “the Performance Guarantee is not a guarantee of d e b t b u t r a t h e r a g u a r a n t e e o f G P L’s obligations under its Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to pay for power delivered from the hydro facility.” The guarantee limit was last raised in 1980 from (Continued on page 12)

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 26, 2013

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Bunga-bunga and zenga-zenga in Guyana The former Prime Minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, has been sentenced to seven years in jail for having sex with an underage girl, just days after a book has been published on the Thomas Carroll visa affair in Guyana. Berlusconi’s name tells the strange story of life. In Jamaica, the US badly wanted to arrest a cocaine trafficker by the name of ‘Dudus’ Coke. In Italy, one of the world’s most libidinous leaders has the word “lus” in his name. There can be no doubt about it; the amorous Italian politician was (or is) a lustful man.

Berlusconi became famous for his bunga-bunga parties, where nude bodies and pretty young girls swirl and intertwine in a kaleidoscope of psychedelic abandonment. Berlusconi received the art of bunga-bunga from across the Mediterranean Sea, in Libya. Bunga-bunga nights were known to be held in Tripoli, referred to in that country as zenga-zenga. In fairness to the old, eccentric patriarch, Muammar, zenga-zenga affairs were patronized by his sons and not the old man. Chief financier of zenga-zenga

in Tropoli was Muammar’s heir-apparent, Saif Al-Islam. For those who may not know, Saif paid Lionel Richie a million American dollars to sing three songs. The next year, he paid Beyoncé two million for the same amount of tunes. Saif is now in a prison fighting for his life. The timing of the sentence of the bunga-bunga man in Italy coincided with the publication of a book on the Thomas Carroll affair in Guyana. How Carroll’s wife remained with him is a mystery. Thomas Carroll carried on bunga-bunga parties in Georgetown where young girls allowed themselves to be devoured on the altar of extravagant sex for a visa. By the time he was caught, Carroll had earned a reputation for accumulating money and young Guyanese girls. There seems to be some uncanny connection between bunga-bunga revelry and visa selling in Guyana. In the eighties, a man and wife from Montreal, based in the consular section of the

Canadian High Commission in Guyana, were jailed in Canada for selling visas. At the trial it was revealed that a local arranged group-sex parties at his home for the couple. Their activities contributed to the decision of the Canadians to move the consular section to Trinidad. The US Embassy some years ago had a high-ranking visa officer who was a homosexual. He never sold visas, but his bunga-bunga parties got him into trouble and he was sent home before his tenure was up. Lots of homosexuals got visas from him, no doubt arranged at bunga-bunga sessions. Please note that these lines here do not imply any criticism of homosexuality. The bunga-bunga bacchanalia of the French Canadian couple, Thomas Carroll, and the American visa officer, were school children parties compared to what happened after the rise of the narco-trade in Guyana and its friendship with the corridor of

power. Bunga-bunga and zenga-zenga reached incredible levels of debauchery after the 2001 elections. They have continued since. At these bunga-bunga, zenga-zenga escapades, drug kings, money launderers, powerful politicians and the nouveau riche, are seen in delectable enjoyment of each other’s company. In large Libya and Italy, the bungabunga, zenga-zenga nights did not go unnoticed. How could they have remained hidden in a small place like Guyana? Security details, police ranks and traffic cops hardly keep to themselves what they see at bunga-bunga parties. If the American visa officer introduced a homosexual dimension to bunga-bunga in Guyana, then it became more pronounced after 2006. From Pradoville One to Pradoville Two, bunga-bunga things are going on. There are times when zenga-zenga enjoyment move from Ogle to Leonora and Happy Acres. There are large mansions at these sites with swimming pool pyrotechnics. Some faces are always at the nocturnal games. It was Italy that gave us the phrase, “La

Frederick Kissoon Dolce Vita,” It was Italy again that gave us bunga-bunga. Italy seems to have a fascination with nude bodies and young girls who bear it all. In the Caribbean, it may be no exaggeration to say that Guyana may be the capital for La Dolce Vita and bungabunga. Enjoyed of course by the drug boys, the corrupt politicians and their fat class business patrons, mind you, not the traditional petty bourgeoisie that you and I grew up seeing them earn their money the oldfashioned way. Rather, they are the perverted nouveau riche that have taken over Cheddi Jagan’s party and who will probably tell you that Shakespeare is the name of a city in Latin America, that Adolf Hitler was a famous American president, and that Mother Teresa was the lead singer of a rock band. Ignorance and money go hand in hand.

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Health sector supplies dominate latest bidding at NPTA Under the Ministry of Health bids were opened yesterday by the National Procurement and Tender Administration (NPTA), Ministry of Finance, Main Street, for the procurement of radiology supplies. Radiology is the branch or specialty of medicine that deals with the study and application of imaging technology like x-ray and radiation to diagnose and treat diseases.

Bids were also submitted for the installation of traffic signs on declared roads in Georgetown under the Ministry of Public Works.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) received bids for the maintenance of Genset and Water Pumps for 2013. The Health Ministry also received bids for the supply and delivery of anti malaria drugs.

Bids were submitted for the supply and delivery of medical supplies, again for the Ministry of Health.

Bids were also submitted for the installation of perimeter lights at Camp Groomes ammo bunkers.

Still in the health sector, bids were opened for the supply and delivery of microscopes.

For the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, bids were opened for the procurement of school uniforms and material for schools in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine. The bid was divided into two lots; Lot (1) Uniform Materials and Lot (2) Sewing-related materials.

Further, bids were opened for the supply and delivery of motorcycles.

The Ministry of Tourism’s National Exhibition Centre received bids for the construction of its main office at Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works received bids for the rehabilitation of sections of main access road, Regions Two and Three. The bids were divided into four lots: Lot (1) Rehabilitation of sections of canal #1; Lot (2) Rehabilitation of sections of canal #2; Lot (3) Rehabilitation of sections of Hubu Access road; Lot (4) Rehabilitation of sections of Essequibo Coast road.

And the Tourism Ministry also received bids for the construction of the National Exhibition Centre’s main office entrance walkway.

Overheated ceiling fan caused Princes St. fire The early morning fire, that completely destroyed the interior of a two-storey Princes Street, Lodge house last week, was reported by Fire Chief Marlon Gentle as having been of an electrical nature, where appliances were left on by the tenant in the bottom flat of the building. According to reports, the woman occupying the bottom flat of the building left her apartment a week before the fire broke out to work in the interior; leaving a ceiling fan, lights and other electrical appliances still plugged into their outlets. The ceiling fan reportedly overheated resulting in the blaze. According to a source, on the morning of the fire, thick smoke was seen billowing from the building before occupants evacuated the premises. The source added that it took a while for fire tenders to respond but they were able to save the wooden and concrete structure from total

destruction. Pamela Singh, who resided in the top flat of the home, said that she was awakened by a loud ‘clank’, which she believes was caused by a “blade pitching out of the fan”; and the scent of something burning that was coming from a hole in her floor. The woman added that when further inspections were made, she realized that her entire apartment was in smoke and decided to awaken her husband, son and daughter.

During a conversation with Kaieteur News yesterday, the distraught woman related that she has desperately been searching for a place of abode but has been unsuccessful. She added that her career has also been affected since, being a seamstress by profession, she was unable to save her materials. As for the tenant who occupied the bottom flat of the building, reports are that the woman is aware of the tragedy but denies having played any part in it.

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Disability Commission looks to strengthen capacity of differently-able persons Strengthening the capacity of both adults and children with disabilities has been listed as one of the key factors in the National Commission on Disability’s strategic plan. This is, according to Chairperson of the Commission, Ms Evelyn Hamilton, who at a recent forum at the National Park disclosed that the Disability Commission is in fact looking forward to a society where persons with disabilities enjoy their rights and are therefore able to live full and productive lives as well. As such, Hamilton said that she has been heartened by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 2013 State of the World’s

Children Report which entails recommendations that value the efforts of the National Commission on Disability and its partnership organisations of the Ministry of Education and other supportive organisations. According to Hamilton, who doubles as the Ministry of Education’s Planning Officer, one of the key recommendations of the Report speaks to fighting discrimination and enhancing the awareness of disability among the general public. It was also pointed out that awareness is also crucial among decision makers and those who provide essential services for children and adolescents in such areas of

‘Guarantee’ for ... From page 9 $500M to $1B. Based on the US Dollar exchange rate in 1980, the guarantee at that time was equivalent to US$400M. Adjusted for US inflation from 1980 to 2013, the equivalent figure in US dollar terms, today, would be US$1.1B. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds is also expected

to pilot debate for an amendment to the Hydro-Electric Power Act, in the National Assembly. TheBillconfersonthePresident, the power to create hydro-electric offset reserve areas and rules for the establishment of the said areas, and for the conservation and preservation of the environment and ecosystem surrounding the hydroelectric resources in Guyana.

health, education and protection. “I believe this is one of the key responsibilities of the National Commission on Disability...it is certainly stated as a key strategy in our strategic plan where we state strengthening the capacity of men, women and children with disability and disability people’s organisations to advocate for their rights.” This, Hamilton said, is also essential to allow for the effective and efficient management of such organisations with the help of UNICEF and other agencies. Hamilton noted that the National Commission has embraced this path in accordance with the Report’s recommendation which advises that “we should involve children and adolescents and I suppose, by extension, all persons with disabilities in making decisions that affect them not just as beneficiaries but as agents for change.” Moreover, the Disability Commission has been involved in advocacy, training and networking with other key and like-minded agencies like the Ministries of

Education, Labour, Human Services and Social Security and Culture, Youth and Sport, according to Hamilton. And even as these efforts are being made, Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ms Beverly Pile, disclosed that although challenged by limited financial and human resources, the Disability Commission is aiming to have in place by this year end, a comprehensive report on the state of disability in Guyana. During a recent interview with this publication, she disclosed that the report will be based on the findings of an in-depth survey which is already in the initial stages. According to Pile, attempts are being made to ascertain not only how many persons are living with disabilities, but the specific types as well as the respective needs of such persons. “The vision or intent is to make sure that when we are speaking about persons with disabilities or when we have any sort of activity we don’t just talk off of our heads, but we have actual facts and figures.” Based on the country

Evelyn Hamilton census of 2002 there are 50,000 persons living with disabilities, but Pile noted that “I am quite sure that has significantly increased. Right now the Commission has to capture what we have in reality.” Once completed, the report, which is expected to guide the way forward for the Commission, will be officially launched.

But even as the Commission ambitiously eyes the completion of the report, its work is tremendously hampered not only by the lack of financial, but also human resources, Pile disclosed. Although the Disability entity is the recipient of an annual subvention from the Ministry of Health, the finances she said, are not nearly sufficient to undertake all of the Commission’s outlined plans. She revealed that this includes sensitisation efforts across the country. The sensitisation undertaking is mainly to raise awareness about the Disability Act of 2010. However, currently such moves have been confined to Georgetown, something that cannot be allowed as according to Pile, “we are a National Commission so we need to get out there and sensitise persons in the Regions as well.” Nevertheless, the Executive Secretary assured that “we are trying all that is absolutely possible to make sure that the nation understands the issue of disability in Guyana.”

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Rohee urges more sensitivity Barbados spotlight on the economy for persons with disabilities Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has urged all members of the Guyana Police Force, Traffic Ranks in particular, to be more responsive to persons with disabilities whom they may encounter in the execution of their duties. The Minister made the call while addressing a Sensitization Seminar on the Disability Act 2010, which was held yesterday at the Police Officers’ Mess Hall. The seminar was convened to discuss and bring attention to the salient matter – the Persons with Disabilities Act with an emphasis on the obligations of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force. According to Rohee, from the outset the Ministry of Home Affairs considers persons with disabilities as being just as deserving as all others in receiving the various Government services, including those provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and its constituent agencies. “This is why I promptly responded to a request by representatives of the Guyana Association of the Visually Impaired, and convened a meeting on

August 29, 2012, to discuss matters of concern to the Association,” the Minister said, adding that yesterday’s seminar was a product of those discussions. He assured the Commission, as well as all persons with disabilities, that his Ministry will not shirk its responsibility to them, as provided for by law, noting that the Ministry of Home Affairs is eager to work with them in bringing the provisions of the Act to fruition, in the shortest possible time. Rohee noted that while yesterday’s activity targeted members of the Guyana Police Force, the National Road Safety Council, volunteers and road safety stakeholders, it is important for the wider society to be sensitized on matters pertinent to persons with disabilities, recognizing that they are also our fellow citizens. “I am aware that the National Commission on Disabilities does some amount of work in this respect. This is good and should continue,” he said. Rohee took the opportunity to also urge all Guyanese, particularly

motorists, to recognize the special circumstances of persons with disabilities, and to demonstrate greater care and consideration for them. He reminded that it is important that citizens develop an appreciation for the circumstances of persons with disabilities, as too often, there are complaints from persons with disabilities, including visually impaired persons being aided by the ‘white cane’, about mistreatment meted out to them and even refusal of entry on public transportation, by operators. “We also hear about the dangers experienced by visually impaired persons as a result of vehicles parked on pavements, which are intended for the safety of pedestrians. The Ministry has had cause to intervene in specific reports about this occurrence on Durban Street, in the city,” Rohee stated. He said he is looking forward to receiving the final report and recommendations from yesterday’s engagement, so that the Ministry may benefit from the input, as it seeks to fulfill its obligations under the Persons with Disabilities Act 2010.

Barbados Nation Barbados’ economy will take the spotlig h t t o d a y when a Public/Private Sector Consultation is held at Hilton Barbados. P r i me Minister Freundel Stuart and representatives of the Barbados Private Sector Association, the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados and the Barbados Wo r k e r s ’ U n i o n a r e expected to address the opening session. During the one-day meeting, there will be a presentation by the Central Bank of Barbados on the island’s economic situation and participants from major organizations will be given an opportunity to share their views on the

way forward. Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Christopher Sinckler, has emphasized the importance of the deliberations, saying the isl a n d ’s m a j o r f o r e i g n exchange earning sectors were not p e r f o r m i n g a t peak capacity. He added that Government was uncomfortable with the fiscal deficit and, therefore, was looking to address it. Sinckler pointed out that the global recession was affecting many countries across the world and Barbados, therefore, would be negatively impacted. “So, we have to take an almost fresh look at what is going to be

required to sustain Barbados in the next couple of years, to keep the economy stable, to p r o t ect our foreign reserves, and, of course, to grow our economy going forward,” he suggested. He said it was necessary to have the widest possible consultation so there could be buy-in of Government’s poli cy from key stakeholders. “When you have such challenges in your economy and you are proposing to make comprehensive interventions, most of which will affect the interests of people’s lives, either positively or in some instances negatively, you have to be able to ensure that you go through this properly and with an appropriate structure.

Expansion of Sheriff Street, Mandela ... From page 18 rep a i r s o f t h e r o a d w a y that was starting to show signs of deterioration. H o w e v e r, f r o m t h a t consultancy it was discovered that the road corridor needed more substantial works. “The road was just pure chaos.

This plan is a much more i m p r o v e d p r o j e c t and takes the form of urban transformation instead of being a road project, he said. The first plan was valued at US$300,000 and the Ministry is now paying about US$440,000 for this new plan/design.

According to Chanderpal, “This is not the only c o n s u l t a t i o n . We h a d targeted meetings. We m e t w i t h l a r g e businesses on Sheriff Street, large businesses on Mandela Avenue, and civil society groups.”

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Kaieteur News

FOR SALE

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WANTED Cashier/ sales girls at Nirva’s: 49 Sheriff street: Apply in person- Call:2275771 Cashier/ sales girls at Sachi’s: 136 Regent street: Apply in person- Call:2272472 Urgently Needed: 1 Captain for Vessel, must have Captain License & 2 years experience in Guyana & Venezuela waters- Contact: 699-1220/ 658-6548 One domestic between 25-35 years, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 4pm- call:615-2483 MASSAGE The Gent’s spa: Come be pampered by beautiful sophisticated masseuses four hands special call:6575979 American Style massage services- Call:609-4036

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Pure Bred Rottweiler puppies; Romel: 653-6281

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LEARN TO DRIVE B & C Driving School: Lot 5 Hadfield Lodge- call:2250150,229-7258,680-6826 Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 644-5166,622-2872,6150964 FOR RENT Rooms - Call: 225-3234 Office (spacious compound) business premises with living quarters, barber chairs/ shop- Call:672-3662/ 694-1440

One blue female pitbull puppy; Vaccinated and ears cropped- call: 692-3329 Beds, Dining Table, Cabinets, Wall Divider, Wardrobe, Clothes Dryer, Sofas. Call:219-3732 (After 5pm) Used Massey Tractors- MF 165, 175, 275, 1100, 1130, Ford 5000, Yanmar Vegetable Tractors: Affordable PricesCall: 675-9314

CAR RENTAL Premio, Vitz call: 689-6668

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Sheep for sale- call:695-6139

Fluffy pups call: (Home) 2225671, cell: 641-6162

Natural beauty salon & spa: Grove Market Street EBD tele:265-4138,652-5800 specialized in everything for women & children

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Asphalt Roofing Shinglescall:266-2711/609-4594

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FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY M E R C U R Y (QUICK SILVER) 9 9 . 9 9 9 9 5 % PURITY - $20,000 PER POUND CALL:604-6108

1x1 galvanized angle, galvanized gutter, filing cabinet, 10" cast iron wheel call: 627-7835

SALON

Wednesday June 26, 2013

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2000 Tundra 4×4 3.4L V6 excellent condition: black with off-road package- call: 651-6050 2- 2008 Toyota Premio TV/ DVD & push button start, 2006 BMW 320i- Tele:6154114 Lexus, Pitbull never registered- Call:655-0800/ 263-5300 1997 Ford F350 Canter truck: 14 feet enclosed box with glass case & food warmersCall:641-4708/ 612-9999 Ivico Truck with Hyab $3.5M, Toyota Hilux $2.2M: Prices negotiable- Call:6097803 One Toyota Raum with automatic doors $2.1M and Ivico long base van $3M: Prices negotiable- Call:6097803

House lots 50’×118’ New Hope E.B.D: Negotiable prices. Call: 266-2711/ 609-4594 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at Parika- Call:226-7968 Twelve House Lots in one block along Corriverton public road- Call:626-6245 Land for sale at Golden Grove, fully fenced with concrete: Please call 6105761 or 613-5873 Yarrowkabra- Call:6723662/ 694-1440 Parafaite Harmonie – $1M; Schoon’ord -$2.4M; call :675-7292

Unregistered Solid Def Hilux2005 Raum $2.150,000; Dump Truck $2.3m- Call: 227-1737/6411800: Annadale Public road Toyota Fielder (2004): PMM series: Excellent condition: Silver blue exterior/ dark cloth interior: $2.5M negotiable- Call:266-5283 1 Toyota Tacoma 4x2 – 1997; $1.6 million; not registered Phone:265-2103, 611-0674 U n r e g i s t e r e d To y o t a Sienta 7 seats: 1500cc- Call: 617-5536 2 Premio, silver & dark grey & 1-2004 silver spacio: Alloy wheels, TV optional: Excellent condition- call:6247684/ 617-2378 RZ minibus: High BKK series $760,000- Call:6131810/ 697-2550

Toyota 4 Runner Jeep: 3000cc: Black & Grey, left hand drive $1.2M- Call:6742586 1 Toyota Land-cruiser Prado PMM series- call:225-0188/ 225-6070 2 Ford F150: Price $4.5M & $3.5M- Call: 643-5249 / 2654979 1 F150 (Ford) XLT fully loaded: In Excellent condition - Call: 690-6520/ 642-0110 First Class Auto: Allion, Premio, Spacio, 212- Please Call: 609-8188 / 226-2689 Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered Allion, IST, Premio, one registered ISTCall: 652-3820/ 665-4529 Toyota IST PLL 7683- Call: 639-9553

LAND FOR SALE

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PROPERTY FOR SALE Tuschen Housing SchemeCall: 692-3454/616-7632 1 Business Property at Bloomfield public rd, BerbiceCall: 690-6520/ 642-0110 2 Bedrooms Concrete Flat: 12th Street Diamond Housing Scheme: $11M. Call:613-9085 1 Two Storey Business Property (Transported): Brickery Public Road, East Bank Demerara- Call: 6608128 (1) One House & Land: Samantha Point Grove: $27 million- Call:679-6952/ 6437125 1- 2 Storied Business property (transported): Robb street Lacytown, between Camp street & Alexander Street- Call:683-6153/ 2615464 (after 6pm) East Coast $5.5M, Kitty (50×123) $51M, Bel-Air $39.5M, AA Eccles $65MCall Diana @ 227-2256/ 6269382 1- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, semi-furnished house & land: Located @ D’Edward village W.C.B: Price $13MCall: 613-9438/ 679-9162 Three Bedrooms House @ Guysuco Gardens $45MCall:617-4261 (Continued on page 23)

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 26, 2013

Senate Democrats push to suspend U.S. trade benefits for Bangladesh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nine U.S. senators yesterday urged President Barack Obama to suspend trade benefits for Bangladesh until the country where 1,129 people died in an April garment factory collapse improved its working conditions. “We urge that the administration suspend Bangladesh’s eligibility for GSP (Generalized System of Preferences), and establish a roadmap and timeline for reinstatement based upon tangible improvements in worker safety and related labor law reforms,” the group of Democratic senators said. Obama is expected to decide by the end of June whether to suspend Bangladesh from the GSP program, which waives U.S. import duties on thousands of goods from poor countries to spur economic development. Suspending Bangladesh from the program would be

mostly symbolic since the Asian nation’s main export, clothing, is not eligible for GSP tariff cuts, in deference to the U.S. textile and apparel industry. But it would be another blow to the country’s reputation in the wake of the collapse in April of the Rana Plaza commercial building, which housed a number of garment factories, and the Tazreen factory fire in November that killed 112 people. Last year, the GSP program spared Bangladesh about $2 million in duties on $35 million worth of tents, golf equipment, plates and other items it exported to the United States, said Ed Gresser, a trade analyst w i t h t h e G l o b a l Works Foundation. Bangladesh paid $732 million in duties on $4.9 billion worth of clothing exports to the United States, he said. The AFL-CIO, the largest U.S. labor organization, first

filed a petition to suspend Bangladesh from the GSP in 2007. The U.S. government has put off that decision for six years, hoping the threat would be enough to encourage Bangladesh to make labor reforms. U.S. trade officials emphasized that suspending trade benefits was seen as “the last resort” while expressing frustration that Bangladesh had made little progress addressing longstanding U.S. concerns over its labor conditions. “President Obama must do everything in his power to prevent tragedies like the Bangladesh factory collapse from happening again,” Senator Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat said in a statement with the other senators. Earlier this month, an AFL-CIO official said she expected Obama would decide to suspend the benefits.

Russia rules out Snowden expulsion, rejects U.S. ‘ravings’ MOSCOW/NAANTALI, Finland (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin confirmed yesterday a former U.S. spy agency contractor sought by the United States was in the transit area of a Moscow airport but ruled out handing him over to Washington, dismissing U.S. criticisms as “ravings and rubbish”. In his first public comments since the fugitive flew Sunday, he appeared to make light of the affair around Edward Snowden, whose flight from U.S. authorities is becoming an increasing embarrassment for President Barack Obama. Asked by a journalist about the affair, he smiled fleetingly. “I myself would prefer not to deal with these issues. It’s like giving a baby pig a haircut: there’s a lot of squealing, but there’s little wool,” he told a news conference in Finland. His refusal to hand back Snowden risked deepening a rift with the United States that has also sucked in China and threatens relations between countries that may be essential in settling global conflicts including the Syrian war. Putin said the 30-year-old American was in the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport and, not having gone through passport control, was free to leave. “The sooner he chooses

his final destination, the better it would be for us and for himself,” Putin said. Snowden has applied for asylum in Ecuador but Quito has said it is still considering the application and the United States is trying to persuade the governments of countries where he might head to hand him over. His plans remain unclear. “He has not crossed the state’s border, and therefore does not need a visa. And any accusations against Russia (of aiding him) are ravings and rubbish,” Putin said in response to a question at a news conference during a visit to Finland. Washington has gone to great lengths to try to ensure Snowden has nowhere to go to seek refuge. But Putin said Russia had no extradition treaty with the United States and suggested Moscow would expel Snowden only if he were a criminal. “Thank God, Mr. Snowden committed no crimes on the territory of the Russian Federation,” Putin said in the garden of a presidential residence, with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto beside him. Putin said he hoped relations with the United States would not be affected by the affair but his words seemed to rebuff U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking only hours earlier. “It is accurate there is not

an extradition treaty between Russia and the United states, but there are standards of behavior between sovereign nations,” Kerry said, in Jeddah. There has been speculation in the Russian media that Snowden may be talking to the FSB and could be involved in a prisoner swap. Putin said Russian security agencies “never worked with... Snowden and are not working with him today”. The U.S. State Department said diplomats and Justice Department officials were talking to Russia, suggesting they sought a deal to secure his return to face espionage charges. Snowden, charged with disclosing secret U.S. surveillance programs, left Hong Kong for Moscow on Sunday and the WikiLeaks anti-secrecy group said he was headed for Ecuador. Journalists camped out at the airport have not spotted him inside, or leaving, the transit area. He has not registered at a hotel in the transit zone, hotel sources say. A receptionist at the Capsule Hotel “Air Express”, a complex of 47 basic rooms furnished predominantly with grey carpets and grey walls, said Snowden had turned up on Sunday, looked at the price list and then left.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 26, 2013

Germany helps Guyana with SUVs to monitor protected areas The Guyana Protected Areas System Project (GPAS) yesterday received two fourwheel vehicles, valued $16.5M, as part of an ongoing cooperation with the German Development Bank, KfW. A team from KFW is currently in Guyana to discuss progress under the current GPAS, and to finalize arrangements for the upcoming third phase of financial assistance under the programme. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the vehicles were procured under the 5.15M Euro committed for the ongoing GPAS Phase Two project. Of this total amount, 4M

Euro is for use as an endowment to the Protected Areas Trust Fund under the Protected Areas Act 2011, while the remaining funds are earmarked for the establishment of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment’s Protected Areas Commission (PAC) offices and the development of infrastructure management plans in key Protected Areas. During the handing over yesterday at the National Parks Commission, Thomas Lands, Minister Robert Persaud said that his Ministry is working with KfW to finalize arrangements, which would allow for the construction of the PAC offices, almost $30M, to commence within the next two

A member of the German team presents keys of the two SUVs to Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud. months. Discussions have also commenced with the KfW

mission on finalizing the implementation framework for the upcoming Phase Three, which will see 4.3M Euro going towards additional support to protected areas

m a n a g e m e n t , infrastructure, and community initiatives, as well as strengthening environmental management capacity in key areas. “This phase is expected

to be implemented over a five-year period, commencing in 2014. It will add to the gains made under the previous initiatives supported by KfW,” a statement from the Ministry said. “This is the latest initiative in a long history of cooperation between Guyana and Germany which began in 1996. GPAS Phase One supported sustainable livelihood projects in over thirty Amerindian communities associated with Shell Beach, Kanuku Mountains, Kaieteur National Park and the Upper Mazaruni.” The initiative has also led to the drafting of the National Protected Areas Act, delineation plans for both the Kanuku Mountains and Shell Beach Protected Areas, and a draft Kanuku Mountains Management Plan.

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 26, 2013

Kaieteur News

Obama takes on power plants, Keystone as part of climate plan (Reuters) - President Barack Obama launched a new plan to tackle climate change yesterday with a call to limit carbon pollution from all U.S. power plants and a signal that he would block a proposed pipeline from Canada if it boosted greenhouse gas emissions. Obama’s long-awaited plan, detailed in a speech at Georgetown University, drew sharp criticism from the coal industry, which would be hit hard by carbon limits, and Republicans, who accused the Democratic president of advancing policies that harm the economy. Obama’s first-term attempt to reduce climatewarming carbon emissions in a “cap and trade” system was thwarted by Congress, and his administration’s long process of studying w h e t her to approve the Keystone XL pipeline has

raised hackles from business groups and Republican opponents. His comments on the TransCanada Corp pipeline, which would carry oil from Canada to refineries in Texas, were his strongest signal yet that its environmental costs could o u t w e i g h t h e p r oject’s economic benefits. The administration will decide whether to approve the pipeline later this year or in early 2014. “Our national interest will be served only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution,” Obama said. “The net effects of the pipeline’s impact on our climate will be absolutely critical to determining whether this project is allowed to go forward,” he said.

Using his executive powers, Obama said he was directing the Environmental Protection Agency to craft new emissions rules for thousands of power plants, the bulk of which burn coal and which account for roughly one-third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. “We don’t have time for a meeting of the flat earth society,” Obama said, referencing critics who do not believe climate change is happening. Share prices for major U.S. coal mining companies slipped again yesterday after falling sharply on Monday in anticipation of the Obama plan. The EPA is routinely challenged in court, both by industry groups seeking to quash rules, and by green groups trying to push the agency to set tougher standards.

Mandela still ‘critical’, South African government says (Reuters) - Former South African president Nelson Mandela remained in a critical condition in hospital yesterday after being admitted more than two weeks ago with a lung infection, the government said. President Jacob Zuma’s office said doctors were doing their best to ensure the “recovery, well-being and comfort” of the 94-year-old

anti-apartheid leader, who became South Africa’s first black leader in historic all-race elections in 1994. Madiba, as he is affectionately known, is revered among most of South Africa’s 53 million people as the architect of the transition to multi-racial democracy after three centuries of white domination. However, his latest hospitalisation - his fourth in

six months - has reinforced a realisation that the father of the post-apartheid “Rainbow Nation” will not be around forever. A deterioration in Mandela’s health this weekend to ‘critical’ from ‘serious but stable’ has caused a perceptible switch in the national mood, from prayers for his recovery to preparations for a fond farewell.

Page 27

His refusal to hand back Snowden risked deepening a rift with the United States that has also sucked in China and threatens relations between countries that may be essential in settling global conflicts including the Syrian war. Putin said the 30-year-old American was in the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport and, not having gone through passport control, was free to leave. “The sooner he chooses his final destination, the better it would be for us and for himself,” Putin said. Snowden has applied for asylum in Ecuador but Quito has said it is still considering the application and the United States is trying to persuade the governments of countries where he might head to hand him over. His plans remain unclear. “He has not crossed the state’s border, and therefore

does not need a visa. And any accusations against Russia (of aiding him) are ravings and rubbish,” Putin said in response to a question at a news conference during a visit to Finland. Washington has gone to great lengths to try to ensure Snowden has nowhere to go to seek refuge. But Putin said Russia had no extradition treaty with the United States and suggested Moscow would expel Snowden only if he were a criminal. “Thank God, Mr. Snowden committed no crimes on the territory of the Russian Federation,” Putin said in the garden of a presidential residence, with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto beside him. Putin said he hoped relations with the United States would not be affected by the affair but his words seemed to rebuff U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking only hours earlier.

Page 28

Kaieteur News

Dilma Rousseff street demonstrations of the past several days are those who live in these kind of suburbs,” said Guilherme Boulos, one of the leaders of Tuesday’s protests. So far, Brazilian protesters don’t appear appeased by Rousseff’s proposals, which shifted some of the burden for progress onto Brazil’s widely

loathed Congress by calling for a plebiscite on political reform lawmakers will have to approve. The divided Congress would likely struggle to take any quick action on such a plebiscite. Protesters have filled cities to air a wide spectrum of grievances including poor public services and the high cost of hosting next year’s World Cup soccer tournament and the 2016 Olympics. About 100,000 people are expected to march in the city of Belo Horizonte today before Brazil plays Uruguay in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup. City officials have declared a holiday in Belo Horizonte, and authorities say they are expecting confrontations with demonstrators. Sepp Blatter, president of soccer organizing body FIFA, is scheduled to attend the game. FIFA officials have said security has been boosted

because of the protests, but it wasn’t immediately known if any changes were expected in Belo Horizonte because of Blatter’s presence. In the city of Porto Alegre, Ronaldo Sielichow, president of the Association of Store Owners there, asked law enforcement to beef up security after looting has hit the southern city over the past few days during demonstrations. Rousseff told governors and mayors Monday that her administration would allocate $23 billion for new spending on urban public transport, but she didn’t provide details on what the new projects would be. Four leaders from the freetransit activist group that launched the demonstrations more than a week ago said she also gave them no concrete plans while meeting with them Monday. She said her government would focus on five priorities: fiscal responsibility and controlling inflation; political reform; health care; public transport, and education. Mayara Longo Vivian, one of the leaders of the Free Fare Movement, said their “fight would continue” despite Rousseff’s promises. The movement has been working since 2006 to eliminate public transport fares. In her weekly column posted yesterday on the presidency’s website, Rousseff said: “The money spent to build or renovate stadiums for the World Cup is not part of the federal budget and does not affect funds earmarked for health and education.”

Wednesday June 26, 2013

Jamaica taking upgrade of Petrojam refinery to PetroCaribe summit KINGSTON, Jamaica– The Jamaica government says it will establish a “firm” schedule to implement the upgrading and expansion of the Petrojam refinery, as it seeks to make the operations more modern and efficient. Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister Phillip Paulwell, said the issue will be discussed at the 8th PetroCaribe Summit, scheduled for June 29, in Nicaragua. “We have been talking too long about the upgrade of this refinery…it has been producing for us for close to 40 years. We are now on a firmer path, especially since the new President of Venezuela has assumed office, to pursue some of the things that were not done, over the last five years, including the expansion and upgrade of the Petrojam refinery,” he said. Paulwell said the government is hoping to move this process a step closer to fruition, with the Venezuelan government having already committed, as part of the economic zone of PetroCaribe, a relationship which will see value added, along with efficiency. In May, during the PetroCaribe ministerial meeting in Venezuela member states agreed on an economic zone to boost regional development and Paulwell said that Jamaica will eventually produce its own Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD), as this will be

synchronized with upgrading of the refinery. “We are importing this fuel, and it’s not our intention that this will be a long lasting activity. The day will soon come when we will be producing this fuel in Jamaica.” He said that in 2006 Jamaica signed an agreement with Venezuela, for a 49 per cent stake in Petrojam and as part of the agreement, production should have moved from an average of 30,000 to 50,000 barrels of petroleum products daily starting in 2007, but this output has not yet been realised. “We are now back on track…we have to update some of the financials, and the first thing the Board has agreed to do, with the support of Venezuela, is to get that front end engineering design project updated, so that we have figures that are more realistic than the 2007/2008 figures,” he said. Paulwell said that many of the features of the expansion project are now more positive than they were in 2007, to justify the expansion and upgrading of the refinery. “It will enable us to produce those things that we use in Jamaica – LPG, gasoline, and low sulphur diesel – so that we will be almost self-sufficient, and be able to export some of it,” he said, pointing out that the byproduct, petcoke, will enable the generation of 100 megawatts of cheap electricity.

Wednesday June 26, 2013

Kaieteur News

Brazil protests back despite proposed reforms SAO PAULO (AP) — Protesters yesterday returned to the streets in low-income suburbs of Brazil’s biggest city to demand better education, transport and health services, one day after President Dilma Rousseff proposed a wide range of actions to reform Brazil’s political system. Police said at least 500 people blocked streets for several hours in a peaceful protest in the districts of Capao Redondo and Campo Limpo on the outskirts of Sao Paulo. At the same time, police in Rio de Janeiro were looking for a looter who killed a police officer after a protest on Monday. Police said eight people, including the police officer, were killed in the Nova Holanda slum in a clash with demonstrators who had looted stores and robbed bystanders. “We think the people who are most interested in the demands being made in the street demonstrations of the past several days are those who live in these kind of suburbs,” said Guilherme Boulos, one of the leaders of Tuesday’s protests. So far, Brazilian protesters don’t appear appeased by Rousseff’s proposals, which shifted some of the burden for progress onto Brazil’s widely loathed Congress by calling for a plebiscite on political reform lawmakers will have to approve. The divided Congress would likely struggle to take any quick action on such a plebiscite. Protesters have filled cities to air a wide spectrum of grievances including poor public services and the high cost of hosting next year’s World Cup soccer tournament and the 2016 Olympics. About 100,000 people are expected to march in the city of Belo Horizonte Wednesday before Brazil plays Uruguay

in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup. City officials have declared a holiday in Belo Horizonte, and authorities say they are expecting confrontations with demonstrators. Sepp Blatter, president of soccer organizing body FIFA, is scheduled to attend the game. FIFA officials have said security has been boosted because of the protests, but it wasn’t immediately known if any changes were expected in Belo Horizonte because of Blatter’s presence. In the city of Porto Alegre, Ronaldo Sielichow, president of the Association of Store Owners there, asked law enforcement to beef up security after looting has hit the southern city over the past few days during demonstrations. Rousseff told governors and mayors Monday that her administration would allocate $23 billion for new spending on urban public transport, but she didn’t provide details on what the new projects would be. Four leaders from the freetransit activist group that launched the demonstrations more than a week ago said she also gave them no concrete plans while meeting with them Monday. She said her government would focus on five priorities: fiscal responsibility and controlling inflation; political reform; health care; public transport, and education. Mayara Longo Vivian, one of the leaders of the Free Fare Movement, said their “fight would continue” despite Rousseff’s promises. The movement has been working since 2006 to eliminate public transport fares. Vivian referred to the billions of dollars Brazil is spending on the World Cup, saying, “If they have money to build stadiums, they have money for zero tariffs” on public transportation.

In her weekly column posted Tuesday on the presidency’s website, Rousseff said: “The money spent to build or renovate stadiums for the World Cup is not part of the federal budget and does not affect funds earmarked for health and education.” Rousseff added that the World Cup cost “was financed and will be paid back by the companies and state governments that use these stadiums.” At a Monday demonstration in Rio de Janeiro, 68-year-old sociologist Irene Loewenstein said she wasn’t impressed with Rousseff’s plans. “It’s a necessary first step, but not a particularly meaningful nor surprising one,” she said. “Neither Dilma nor any other politician here is capable of even understanding, much less putting into practice, the kind of systematic change the people are demanding. It’s just not within their world views.” Many of the actions proposed by Rousseff, including using all oil royalties to fund education and attracting f o r e i g n doctors to work in underserved areas, weren’t new and had already met with stiff resistance in Congress. Opposition politicians, including a senator viewed as Rousseff’s biggest rival in next year ’s presidential election, blasted her call for a plebiscite. “It’s the specific jurisdiction of Congress to call a plebiscite,” said Sen. Aecio Neves, from the central state of Minas Gerais. “To divert attention, she’s transferring to Congress a privilege that is already ours and isn’t responding to the expectations of the population.”

Suriname to receive multi-million dollar loan to help with financial sector reform WASHINGTON, US– Suriname will get a US$100 million loan from the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) to improve the effectiveness of financial institutions and markets and provide greater access to credit and financial services to firms and individuals.The IDB said that the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country is improving its financial sector by strengthening the effectiveness of financial

institutions and markets efficiency, with a US$50 million loan approved by the bank and US$50 million from the China Co-financing Fund for LAC (CHC). This is the second in a series of three programmatic policy-based loans supporting the Suriname government reform agenda for the financial sector. The first was approved in 2011. The programme aims to facilitate better access to credit and financial services to the public and private firms and mitigate vulnerability to

macroeconomic and microeconomic shocks by strengthening the capabilities of Suriname’s Central Bank to supervise financial institutions and enforce regulations meeting international standards. The ongoing programme of policy measures continues strengthening Suriname’s macroeconomic policy, legal and regulatory frameworks, supervision of the financial sector and public bank reforms, promotion of the inter-bank and securities market development.

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Kaieteur News

The Thomas Carroll Affair’ revisited New York-based writer David Casavis on Tuesday last, released, “The Thomas Carroll Affair... A journey through the cottage industry of illegal immigration.” The book deals specifically, with events that occurred during 1998 to 2000; when Thomas Patrick Carroll, a United States citizen, serving as a Foreign Service officer with the United States State Department and appointed vice-counsel in the United States Embassy here in Guyana, developed and carried out an immigration visa fraud operation, which facilitated scores of people, especially those of the underworld, getting into the U.S. illegally. Carroll’s cover was blown in 2000 when the American government got their hands on him, subsequently imprisoning him and his associates. He is due out of prison within hours. The author cited the book as a historical record that speaks prior to the Guyana Elections of 2006. In putting it together, he said he was consistent in refusing information about what transpired after 2001, subsequent to Carroll’s detention, because he wanted to preserve the book’s

- American author launches book highlighting greed and crime in Guyana authenticity. He said too that, the story is of a lost community and lost hope. “It is the story of a small, corrupt country (Guyana) and how an American Embassy official looted it.” Casavis passionately writes about how lives were changed, the consequences of those events, and the victims of a scheme in a country, ‘made poorer.’ He charged in the book’s introduction that America is an opportunity for the poor. Poor co u n t r i e s n e e d a skilled workforce. Better wages, upward mobility and humane working hours are the rewards of a burgeoning economy, but those rewards, he forwarded, disappear when s u pply and demand is altered. “If a world without opportunity sees thieves and rapists slipping across the borders through bribery, skilled and educated professionals will follow. Poor countries lose ground too. This is the Thomas Carroll legacy.” With the ‘twist of fate’

meeting of two unlikely people, the book describes the actions of ‘a bandit and a US diplomat, along with their gangs,’ as combining to ‘shake a little country to its roots… channeling a sense of injustice and rage into violence, ’ while the other ‘threw a spotlight on official corruption.’ In his book, Casavis listed principal characters who actually played a significant part in the events of the late ‘90s early 2000s; Thomas Carroll, the foreign officer who served in that capacity not only in Guyana, but in China and Taiwan; Lance Corporal Linden London, also known as ‘Blackie’ (now deceased), was a soldier in the Special Forces S quadron of the Guyana Defence Force, while Deputy Superintendent of Police Leon Fraser (now deceased) was a member of the Target Special Squad or ‘Black Clothes Police.’ CN Sharma is the owner and operator of Channel six television, also a self made millionaire once active in politics. Vince Principe was the head of the Visa section at the Embassy. He reported to James Mack, the Ambassador at the time. Eton Cordis and Jason Azaria are two Guyanese who worked at the Embassy at the time, while Paul James ,who

ran a hardware store in Georgetown, Haleem Khan, Rajesh Persaud, ‘Jerry’, Donna Dos Santos and Roy Singh were visa brokers. Laurie Lewis (now deceased) was the Police Commissioner at the time, Joe DeAgrella, was a diamond merchant in the city and Rhonda Forde, (now deceased) was ‘Blackie’s’ girlfriend. The revelations that informed the publication, rocked Guyana and the subsequent details that emerged during Carroll’s trial in Chicago confirmed what many had been speculating. The involvement of local cops as enforcers for his schemes came as no surprise. The fact that no one was held culpable by the Guyanese authorities was however a hard pill to swallow, especially in light of the theory that many unexplained deaths and disappearances were linked to the scheme. Carroll reportedly sold over 800 US visas at a price of between US$10,000 and $15,000 each. Thomas Carroll was found guilty and sentenced to a total of 21 years imprisonment in 2002. He was 38 years old at the time. During the investigations, federal agents raided his house and found large amounts of cash and gold bars; they also found out that Carroll operated about seven bank accounts. The sentence was later slashed by half to 11 years.

Wednesday June 26, 2013

UK-funded $400M agri progamme launched The diversification and expansion of Guyana’s agricultural exports has been prompted through a £1.3M (approx. G$401M) United Kingdom-funded programme which is part of the Department for International Development (DFID)’s bilateral assistance to the Caribbean. The programme, called the Guyana Agricultural Diversification Programme (GADP), aims at supporting new investment in nontraditional agriculture and aquaculture. During his address at the launching of the programme, at the Satyadeow Sawh Aquatic Centre at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Andrew Ayre, stated that Caribbean culture has been facing substantial challenges because of the removal of European Union preferences for major agricultural exports. He added that the region experienced declines in its major agricultural exports; primarily sugar, rice and bananas. By means of its operations, the GADP is expected to create over 1000 new jobs, while increasing Tilapia exports from 1000kg to 12000kg per week and nontraditional agricultural exports, such as hot peppers, bell peppers and butternut squash from 1000kg to 16000kg per week. The approach by the

DFID is based on its “Making Markets work for the Poor” (M4P) methodology which includes ensuring sustainability through building functioning market systems that do not rely on external support. “The M4P approach links good development practice with real world market knowhow and ensures sustainability through building functioning market systems that do not rely on external support. GADP focuses on building strong local partners, technology transfer, market linkages, policy reform, access to finance and scaling up agriculture and aquaculture for a minimum market order,” a release from the project indicated. In was also stated that the project will work at three levels: directly with farmers to introduce new technologies and raise productivity; streamlining the paperwork and red tape for investors and exporters; and helping build relationships with new markets and buyers for the sector. It was also noted that GADP will work with airline and shipping companies to lower the cost of export out of Guyana through increase in volume of products and cost effective packaging solutions. Farmers who are interested in getting on board can contact CARANA Corporation at 223-0632.

Wednesday June 26, 2013

Kaieteur News

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New minimum wage arrangement threatens inflation rate hike - Urling The Private Sector Commission was not sufficiently consulted on details surrounding the implementation of the new minimum wage slated for July 1. And restricting the 40-hour work-week to five days is not going down well with Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). This is according to Clinton Urling, President of GCCI, who, during a press conference yesterday, said that the Commission has no problem with $35,000 as the new minimum wage, but wants Government to rethink the five-day per week scenario. Urling, who personally believes that the minimum wage should be more than $35,000, said that businesses would have preferred to pay

employees a higher minimum wage with the 40-hour workweek stretched over a period of six days. This scenario allows two days to be non-productive and employers have to request employees to work an additional day. It allows employees to refuse to work on the “days off” and they would have to be time-and-ahalf for that period. According to Urling, such a scenario does not take into consideration certain sectors like hospitality and interior operations. In addition, the situation increases the cost on employers, who would possibly pass that cost on to consumers, sending the inflation rate up. Urling mentioned that during a meeting between the Commission and Minister of Labour Dr. Nanda Gopaul on Monday, the Minister was asked to conduct an economic evaluation to assess the impact the five-day would have on the economy.

He noted that the Ministry would have to send trainers at various companies to inform on what needs to be done for the “new order”. And, in the interim, the GCCI would push for the five-day requirement to change. In May, Government announced that full-time workers outside the Public Sector would be paid no less than $35,000 monthly from July 1. This derived from discussions with the private sector and the trade union. The Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry Ltd (CAGI) believes that sufficient consultation was conducted to arrive at the new minimum wage and the maintenance of the 40hour work-week that was in place since the 1980s. According to Samuel Goolsarran, Consultant Adviser, CAGI, discussions on the new minimum wage started over 18 months ago and Urling was part of it. The tripartite discussions involved Government, trade

unions, and the Private Sector Commission, with CAGI as the representative. He believes that the agreement is fair and reasonable and puts an end to exploitation and the long hours workers have to endure. According to Goolsarran, if any enterprise feels that their operation is at disadvantage a case should be made up. He explained the company could present profit and loss figures to Government for incentives. He said that no one will lose their jobs, since the private sector would pass the cost on to customers which would be the easy thing to do. However, he said that companies could recover their additional costs from Government. “If your cost goes up by ‘X’ amount, your operating cost will go up. It will be offset by the taxation you pay to government by whatever percent,” he said.

MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 Sign on 05:30hrs Dharma Kai Awaz: The Voice of Dharma 06:00hrs Islamic Perspective 06:30hrs News Update 07:00hrs DAYBREAK 08:00hrs Dabi’s musical 08:30hrs Avon DVD Musical 09:00hrs Barney Show 09:15hrs Top Notch Music Break 09:30hrs Caribbean Temptation Music Mix 10:00hrs Amanda’s Costume jewellery musical 10:30hrs Comfort Sleep musical 11:00hrs The View 12:00hrs Village Talk: Leguan 12:30hrs The Young and the Restless 13:00hrs Days of Our Lives 14:00hrs General Hospital 15:00hrs The Katie Couric Show 16:00hrs The Bold and the Beautiful 16:30hrs Barney Show

17:00hrs Birthday and other greetings 17:15hrs Death Announcements/ In Memoriam 17:30hrs Sitcom 18:00hrs Aracari Resort Hour 19:00hrs CNN News 19:30hrs News Update 20:30hrs Indian Movie: Zila Ghaziabad 23:00hrs News update 23:30hrs English Movie: Dead Man Down Sign Off

and Michael 10:00 hrs. Roseanne 11:00 hrs. The View 12:00 hrs. Prime News 12:30 hrs. The Young and the Restless 13:30 hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 14:00 hrs. The Talk 15:00 hrs. Chain Reaction 16:00 hrs. Family Feud 17:00 hrs. Charmed 18:00 hrs. Paid Programme 19:00 hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00 hrs. Channel 8 News 21:00 hrs. DTV's Summer Movie Fest 23:00 hrs. Sign Off

Wednesday June 26, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Abundance is in the air! Tap into and use a prosperous attitude to create wealth. A coworker or customer may be just a little too sensitive today. There may be some difficulty in controlling a situation. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) You are a real charmer-able to enchant others and bring them under your spell. All sorts of social interactions are possible. A co-worker friend is about ready to have her baby and a shower is in order. GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Everything seems to put you in the limelight today. You come off well in group matters. The areas in which you enjoy doing the best work are with the written and spoken word and with ideas in all their flavors. CANCER (June 22-July 22) This tuesday, you will find it easier to work with others than most days. You tend to pour a lot of energy into those around you. Your home and surroundings reflect your tender loving care as well. Your loved ones and perhaps your birds or other animals keep you company. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Not a great starter today, you may have trouble initiating things and getting them moving. You may need help from friends or others to motivate you into becoming more aggressive and outgoing when necessary. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) There will be a chance to understand those around you and to have a special time with someone you love. There are good feelings among friends and family today as well as a chance to deepen a weak relationship.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You may be sought after for your advice and counsel. You seem to magically cut through the red tape and get at what is hidden. This is a great time to be with others-in play or work. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You may be very forceful in what you say and think. With all of this emotional energy, you could speak or communicate very well. You have a lot of mental drive now. You enjoy time with your partner tonight. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 Dec. 21) You are understanding to the needs of others and are in a good position to communicate concerning groups and society. You are very imaginative when it comes to your health, the food you eat and how you take care of yourself. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.Jan. 20) There are challenges this morning, but you know the details--now is the time to just forge ahead. Your organizational abilities and sense of accountability will be what guides you and proves successful. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) You could have difficulty getting outer recognition for your efforts or accomplishments. This does not mean they are not recognized--it does mean, however, that you should throw your efforts into work or ventures you really love doing. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You could be an excellent teacher in areas requiring discipline. You value order and place a high premium on hard work and effort. You like to get down to the bare bones, to what is essential.

DTV CHANNEL 8 08:25 hrs. Sign On 08:30 hrs. This Morning 09:00 hrs. Live! With Kelly

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Wednesday June 26, 2013

INBF/WNBF Mr. & Ms. Universe Gardner leaves today for Figure Contest – B’dos Musclemania Universe C/ships B’building &Guyanese Rawle Green cops 3rd; will Professional bodybuilder Sylvan Gardner will leave Guyana today ahead of this weekend’s Musclemania Universe Championships to be held at the Miami Beach Resort, June 28-29. The Five time Central American & Caribbean Bantamweight Gold medalist disclosed that he is well prepared for the competition and seeking to conquer the opposition in winning his category. He has been preparing since October last and says that he is in pristine shape for his fourth appearance at this competition. The Buddy’s Gym Instructor who won his Pro Card in 2008 in New York disclosed that he will be competing a bit heavier this time and this is due to the intensity of the competition at this level. He is aiming to weigh in at around 156 six more pounds than his 2011 weight at the said competition. Some 500 athletes are expected to be competing at this Musclemania Universe Championships which began

Sylvan Gardner back in 1991 as bodybuilding’s first and only

tour of world class level staged competitions. Gardner who will be returning on July 1, is expressing gratitude to the following sponsors for their efforts in making his attendance a reality: IPA, Buddy’s Gym, Wartsila, Giftland Officemax, Farfan & Mendes, Ansa McAl, Julius Variety, Ray’s Auto Spares, Sanjay’s Jewelry, Cultronics, Da Silva’s Optical, Courts, Akbar Auto Sales, Gym mates and other friends. The following categories will be contested: Open Men - Lightweight – Up to 155 lbs. Middleweight – Up to 175 lbs. Lightheavyweight – Up to 195 lbs. Heavyweight – Over 195 lbs. Junior Men (22 years of age & younger) – Lightweight – Heavyweight. Women will compete in one division as will the Masters (Over 40 Years of Age). The Professional Division will be Prequalified Only. The respective weight classes will be determined at the show following registration.

Williams in devastating form as favourite destroys hapless Minella in straight sets Wham, bam, thank you mam. Serena Williams, the defending champion, gave us a flavour of the power and precision that makes her an enduring phenomenon by pulverising Mandy Minella of Luxemburg 61, 6-3. This demolition lasted just 57 minutes. It was sometimes so one-sided that even the most flinty of hearts must have gone out to the blonde ranked 92nd in the world. Certainly, the Centre Court crowd knew it was a mismatch of epic proportions and cheered Minella’s every winning shot, first out of sympathy as much as encouragement and finally in recognition as she made it something vaguely akin to a contest in the second set. While Maria Sharapova, bitter rival and verbal

AT FULL STRETCH: Williams is the short-priced favourite to win yet another Wimbledon title

jouster of Williams, laboured in the first set of her match the day before, Serena did not drop a single point on serve in going 6-1 up. Williams may have wished she could have spent a little longer on Centre Court, if only to delay a post-match press conference which it would be hard to avoid talk around her public spat with Sharapova. The feud dominated the build-up to the Championships and stems from an interview the American did with Rolling Stone magazine. Having felt Williams’ negative comments about a fellow high-ranked player were about her, Sharapova returned fire by taking a swipe at the top seed’s love life. Williams, in turn, said she believed clearthe-air talks between the pair at a party in London on Thursday had seen Sharapova accept her apology. Back on court, it was in the second game of the second set that Minella belatedly broke her duck against Williams’ cannon shot. Williams hit back instantly with an ace but then surrendered the game with a double fault. Shock, horror. Minella led 2-0. But Williams broke back, and the moment - if it ever really existed - was gone. The rest was fairly predictable, even if Minella at least induced a sweat on the other side of the net. The match started at 1.11 and as Minella hit the ball out for the last time the clock had clicked to 2.09. Last year’s runner-up, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, won 6-1, 61 over Yvonne Meusburger of Austria while No. 6 Li Na of China and No. 7 Angelique Kerber of Germany also advanced in straight sets. Home favorite Laura Robson delivered the biggest upset, beating No. 10 Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-4 to become the first British woman to beat a top-10 ranked opponent at Wimbledon in 15 years. (Mail Online)

Former National Sprinter turn Bodybuilder Rawle Green who now resides in the United States of America and is also a WNBF Pro, on Sunday last in the Land of the Flying Fish, Barbados, placed third in the PRO Men category of the WNBF/INBF 2013 Pro/Amateur Universe Show held at the Queens Park Steel Shed. Urged on by a large group of Guyanese supporters from the Fitness Paradise Gym, numbering close to 30 persons, Green flexed his way to his best ever placing in the two years he has been competing as a PRO. Green was able to gain the nod of the judges for the bronze medal in a category that saw the US athletes dominating, 1st (Gerry Ruck), 2nd (Joseph Farese), 4th (Kevin Lofy) and 5th (Johnny Jones). In an invited comment, Green said that he was happy with his performance in

not compete at GABBFF Seniors Barbados which saw his doing better than his 4th place last year. Having won his PRO card in 2011, Green is debarred from competing at the GABBFF’s Senior competition which is set for next month at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. While acknowledging that being Mr. Guyana would be a great achievement, the dedicated natural athlete believes that Guyana has a number of young promising bodybuilders and with the right training regime, focus and diet; they can achieve their dream of becoming Mr. Guyana. Green had won his PRO Card at the Mr. America show in 2011 and did four (4) PRO shows last year where he placed 4th in three (3) of those shows and 7th at the World Championships.

On the distaff side, winning the WNBF Figure competition was Shalom Singer with Christy Abrams 2nd and Ashley Drews, 3rd. Green is extending best wishes to all the athletes that will be competing at the GABBFF’s Senior’s, next month. Green informed that the next competition he is targeting will be the INBF Natural Summer Explosion Championships set for October 19 where he placed 4th last year. The World championships on November 8-9 is also on his radar while the athlete who is now competing heavier than before might be heading to his home land in December for the Flex Night International Show on December 8th.

Spain and Italy, Brazil and Uruguay... From page 34 Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez, and Edinson Cavani were all polished international stars, but the trio was split into separate duos when the national team called. Forlan, the man on the bench for the tournament opener, scored the match winner against Nigeria, and the buildup involved Suarez finding Cavani and Cavani finding Forlan. With all three forwards out of the starting lineup against Tahiti, Uruguay should have a fresh set of goal scorers ready to go against Brazil. In the other semifinal, Spain takes on Italy in a rematch of the Euro 2012 final. Italy booked its entry into the Confederations Cup via that 4-0 loss to Spain last summer. Truthfully, that score line was a bit generous to the Spaniards. Jordi Alba’s individual pace gave Spain a 2-0 lead moments before halftime. With Italy trailing 2-0, Cesare Prandelli employed all three of his substitutions before the hour mark. Unfortunately, Thiago Motta was one of them, and less than five minutes after coming on, he was stretched off with a hamstring issue. Italy played a man down against Spain for the final half hour of the final. Italy conceded two late goals to Spanish substitutes, but the match was not as onesided as the score line indicated. Italy actually managed more possession than Spain in the first half, when both teams were even

on numbers. Before Motta was stretchered off, Italy was competitive. Balotelli secured the spotlight on the pitch last summer, and he has done the same this summer. In Brazil, Balotelli scored important goals in Italy’s two group stage victories, and his assist against Brazil was sumptuous. Unfortunately, Italy’s No. 9 is an injury concern with a muscle problem in his left leg, and he is not the only hobbled Italian. Midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo was rested against Brazil due to a calf injury. Italy needs the Juventus playmaker to orchestrate the midfield and neutralize Spain’s possession tactics. Also, Daniele De Rossi was suspended against Brazil, so having both Italians back managing the middle of the park is vital to Italy’s success. Riccardo Montolivo, who was recently named captain of AC Milan, is feared to have suffered a concussion. With Milan teammate Ignazio

Abate already lost to a dislocated shoulder, the Italians have a thin squad at the moment. For Spain, a sloppy performance against Nigeria— by Spanish standard—still resulted in a 3-0 victory for the world champs. Spain’s quality was undeniable. Barring muscle injuries to Cesc Fabregas and Roberto Soldado, Spain should field the same starting eleven that started the tournament. Fernando Torres may assume Soldado’s place in attack, but Soldado’s movement was praiseworthy against Nigeria, even if his finishing was lacking. David Silva would likely take over should Fabregas be unavailable. The Confederations Cup has been an entertaining delight to this point, and with Spain, Brazil, Italy, and Uruguay reaching the final four, this tournament should not relent on the fireworks and excitement.

Pepsi Sonics to host Open Five-A-Side competition One of the most vibrant basketball clubs in Georgetown, Pepsi Sonics Basketball Club, will host its 2013 Open Five-ASide Basketball Competition and a three-point shootout on Saturday at the National Gymnasium beginning at 10:00hrs. According to a press release issued to the media, teams from Pacesetters, Ravens, Nets, Panthers, Colts, Guardians, Pepsi Sonics, Eagles, The Guyana Defence Force, Buxton United, Patriots, the Knights and West Side Jammers were invited to participate. The winning team of the one-day competition will pocket $100,000 while second and third place will take home $75,000 and $50,000 respectively; all the participating teams are allowed to enter more than one team in the competition on Saturday.

Wednesday June 26, 2013

Kaieteur News

Bobby Ramroop takes control of CPL …sponsors Overall Tournament

Dr. Ranjisingh ’Bobby’ Ramroop Georgetown, Guyana – Just days after signing on as the first Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise owner, Dr. Ranjisingh ’Bobby’ Ramroop’s New GPC Inc, specifically its Limacol brand, has assumed the title sponsorship of the CPL. This means that Ramroop’s CPL is the overall sponsor of the competition. Ramroop, who has long been known as former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s best friend, will now pay all the match fees, all the Man of the Match awards and more than anything he will control the broadcast rights throughout the region and further afield. CPL will now be known as the Limacol CPL, said the announcers of the expanded role Ramroop is playing in the competition. New GPC’s sponsorship is a multi-year agreement

which will affect all aspects of the tournament, from branding and uniforms to advertising, marketing and promotions. New GPC is also the franchise owner for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. “We are pleased that Dr Ramroop and his group of companies have seen it fit to increase their level of support for the Caribbean Premier League,” said Damien O’Donohoe, CPL’s Chief Executive Officer. “The coolest sporting league in the Caribbean just got cooler. A brand that has kept Caribbean people around the world fresh for decades has joined CPL as Title Sponsor. Ramroop has made a significant long term commitment to ensure the sustainable future of the largest and most exciting event ever to hit the Caribbean; the product is recognised and used by

thousands of consumers, both regionally and internationally and has become a popular household name. New GPC Executive Chairman, Dr Ranjisingh “Bobby” Ramroop, just as optimistic about the relationship between New GPC and the CPL, remarked, “Guyana Amazon Warriors represents an investment we have in the CPL, in the sport, in the players, in our Caribbean; cricket is part of our culture. In this context, we are expanding our investment in the CPL by acquiring the title sponsorship.” explained Dr Ramroop. “We believe in the transformative potential of CPL for the Caribbean region. Not only does it promise to completely rejuvenate and revitalize cricket in the Caribbean, it has the potential to provide a tremendous economic and social boost as well. We feel it is important for the major corporate houses of the region to support this landmark initiative and intend to set an example by taking the title sponsorship of the event. With just a few weeks left to go before the inaugural tournament, we are counting on the energy and excitement surrounding the CPL in expanding our brand. Combined with CPL’s media reach that will span the cricket world, we aim to take the Limacol brand and its family of products owned by New GPC Inc. into the homes of all cricket fans around the world. We thank CPL for giving us this opportunity.” The inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League starts on 30 July in Barbados and concludes on 24 August in Trinidad.

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England narrowly beaten by New Zealand in first T20 England fell six runs short of a remarkable win as New Zealand took the lead in the two-match Twenty20 series. New Zealand were sent on their way to a record T20 score over their opponents by duo Hamish Rutherford (62) and Captain Brendon McCullum (68). The pair put on 114 from 67 balls for the second wicket, while Ross Taylor caused more damage with a swift unbeaten 32 as New Zealand made 201-4. Despite great batting from Luke Wright (52) the chase proved too great. The Sussex man, who was also by far the best England bowler, made what seemed at first insurmountable into very probable as both he and Nottinghamshire youngster Alex Hales took England’s score from 50-1 to 105 after just 10 overs. Despite losing the wicket of Hales, England still had clubbers Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara and Jos Buttler to come, and had also been matching New Zealand’s run rate. Winning when needing to score more than 200 had only been managed three times in this format of the game and never in England, but the home support were hopeful of seeing one of the great innings. However, as the finishing line came into view England suffered two big setbacks courtesy of brilliant pieces of fielding. The first was an excellent high one-handed catch by Taylor at slip to dismiss captain Morgan (seven) and the second was a run out from the glovedhand of keeper Tom Latham. The 21-year-old kept his composure to strike the wicket at the bowler’s end and send Buttler back to the pavilion with eight balls remaining. Corey Anderson had the unenviable task of bowling the final over, but

Hamish Rutherford

despite being slogged for six by Ben Stokes first ball, he steadied himself to restrict the Durham player and Bopara to just four more runs as New Zealand clinched a worthy win. Earlier, England won the toss and elected to field. They got off to the perfect start when 6ft 7in debutant Rankin, who had previously played for Ireland, had opener James Franklin caught behind in the first over with just one run on the board. However, the next 19 overs of bowling were tainted by wides, poorly-pitched deliveries and wayward spin, with New Zealand’s batsmen, in particular, Rutherford and McCullum, taking advantage of the weak attack. That pair put on a hugely entertaining 114 for the second wicket. Left-hander Rutherford’s 62 came off 35 balls, decorated by six fours and four sixes. Both Rutherford and McCullum fell to Wright (2-31 off four overs). The medium-pacer’s delivery to dismiss McCullum was arguably the ball of the match - a slower-ball yorker which turned into a daisycutter en route to the stumps. Taylor came in and produced another useful

cameo knock from 19 deliveries and was well supported by Latham who was caught, penultimate ball, by Bopara off the bowling of Jade Dernbach. New Zealand’s final total of 201 is the highest ever in T20 cricket against their opponents. Their previous best was 192-6 set in Hamilton this year.

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Kaieteur News

Sammy signs new deal with Digicel CMC - CASTRIES, St. Lucia - West Indies cricket captain in test and T20, Darren Sammy, has signed a new two year deal with regional telecommunications provider Digicel. Part of the new contract, covering 2013 to 2015, includes the continued use of the top St. Lucian cricketer in promotional and marketing activities. Digicel will also provide monetary assistance to Sammy and will supply him with a number of gifts including the latest handsets and call credit. “I remain proud to be the face and sporting ambassador for this truly extraordinary company,” exclaimed Sammy. “I know well of Digicel’s involvement with the youth, and sports resonates with them. I look forward to engaging in more youth clinics where I can offer cricketing tips, but also serve to motivate the youth to reach their true potential.” Sammy made history by becoming the first St. Lucian to be selected on the West Indies team. He was later promoted to captain the team at a critical period and his leadership is widely believed to have contributed to a resurgence of West Indies

Sammy with this Digicel Rep. after the signing ceremony. cricket. Earlier this month Digicel announced that it was extending its sponsorship of the West Indies cricket team for another three years until September 2016. “Digicel remains a proud custodian of sports and to its developmental role in society, not only on St. Lucia but indeed throughout the Caribbean,” said Country Manager Holly HughesMcNamara. “Today’s signing of Darren Sammy for another

two-year stint is testament to how we feel, not only about Darren’s ability to inspire and lead the team, but how we feel about the game of cricket”. Digicel has been announced as a sponsor for the upcoming Caribbean Premiere League Twenty/20 Cricket competition which bowls off on July 30 – August 24. Six franchise teams will battle for bragging rights as matches play in Barbados, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

World No 1 Djokovic shows his class in straight sets over Mayer to reach Rd 2 Novak Djokovic got the job done with the minimum of fuss on Centre Court yesterday as he kicked off his Wimbledon championship with a straight-sets win over Florian Mayer. Despite a smattering of good moments, German Mayer was unable to lay a hand on the 2011 winner and current Australian Open champion as he went down 6-3 7-5 6-4. It was the ideal start for Djokovic, with the top-seeded Serbian steeling himself for bigger challenges ahead. One of those could perhaps come against Juan Martin del Potro. The Argentinian is again trying to put a good run of form together as he bids to add to the US Open he won in 2009, and he looked fit and healthy - a rarity for him since that 2009 success - as he got past Albert Ramos. There was success too for 35-year-old Tommy Haas who beat Dmitry Tursunov 6-3 7-5 7-5, while Australian Bernard Tomic survived heat exhaustion to see off Sam Querrey. Tomic took the first two sets on tiebreaks but wilted in the third and fourth as a lack of breakfast plus a sun-drenched Court Three took its toll on him. He broke the big-serving American in the eighth game of the decider, though, and went through to the next round. American James Blake, considered a challenger by some in the past, saw off Thiemo De Bakker for the loss of just six games, while Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff had a similarly easy time of it against Blaz Kavcic. Philipp Kohlschreiber had to deny he had quit his clash with Ivan Dodig on Court 18 in disgust after walking off when 2-1 down in

Wednesday June 26, 2013

Digicel/Powerade Nationwide U-18 Schools Football C/ship

Craig, Annandale, Vryman’s Erven, Patentia in winners’ row Craig Secondary led by a first half brace from Joel Dick defeated St. Cuthbert Secondary 3-1 as action in the Digicel/Powerade Nationwide Under-18 Schools Football championship continued, at the Grove Community ground yesterday. Played in soggy conditions, Dick opened Craig’s account in a fortuitous manner through a 20th minute effort after seizing an intended back pass for the St. Cuthbert center back, the stocky forward easily tapped home to the lower left hand corner to give his side the lead. Building on his earlier goal scoring success, Dick completed his brace through a 29th minute strike. Receiving a perfect through pass from the right flank, Dick clinically finished with a stinging right footed strike into the lower left hand corner. Tevin Millington further consolidated Craig’s ascendancy with a 46th minute strike to the bottom right hand corner. Julio Ferreira, however, reduced the deficit for St. Cuthbert, compliments of a 68th minute conversion. Picking up the ball in the centre of the final third, Ferreira evaded two defenders with his slick footwork, before unleashing a ferocious strike that struck the left upright and nestled into the back of the net. Annandale Secondary School (ASS) steamrolled Institute of Business Education (IBE) 5-0 to advance to the next round when the two met at the Betterverwagting Community Centre Ground in that East

Coast village yesterday afternoon. Stedman Martin was on fire and netted a hat-trick in the 29th, 40th and 84th minute while Shavez Glasgow and Samal December rounded off the onslaught with successes in the 31st and 78th minute respectively. ASS was by far the more tactical unit while their opponents made up for lapses in that department with a brave display of grit and determination. Martin proved to be the thorn in IBE’s side and though he was heavily marked, managed to dexterously wend his way to the opposition’s goal, converting with precision. By the end of the first session he had sent an ominous message to his foes twice with Glasgow enforcing the point. The disparity in skills became even more apparent in the second session and shortly after resumption, Sven Anthony was fouled in the box. His captain, Jason Cromwell opted to kick the penalty and blundered badly with a mistimed strike that slid to the left of the goal. IBE players intensified their efforts and strikers, Gordon Williams and Seon Singh teamed up to steer the ball all the way to ASS goal but the latter players were up to the task and Cromwell, who was placed in the goal after his penalty miss, performed a far better job between the uprights, and managed to avert any catastrophe for his team. One especially fierce shot off the boot of Annandale’s striker, Kristol Scott, had goal written all over it but Cromwell, determined to

make amends for his earlier botched chance, somehow managed to hold on to the ball. Eastman pushed the game further away from the IBE with a thunderous kick just to the left of the opposition’s goal that left their ‘keeper’ stranded to the right. As the time ticked away, the margin of victory stood at 4 and appeared to be the established result; Martins then entered and proved the pundits wrong with the hat trick minutes before the final whistle sounded. Annandale will now wait for the match between Plaisance Secondary and Apex Secondary on July 1 and will play the winners, also at the Betterverwagting Community Centre Ground. Collated results Region 4 Annandale beat Institute Business Education 5-0. Scorers were Stedman Martin 29, 40, 84, Travis Glasgow 31 min, Jamal December 78min. St. Cuthbert’s Mission went down to Craig 1-3. Craig - Joel Dick 20, 29mins, Tevin Millington 46. St. Cuthbert’s - Julio Ferreira 68. Region 6 Vryman’s Erven hammered Manchester Sec 13-1. Vryman’s Erven Akeen Haynes 5, 37; Ojay Green 26; Kevin Little 30, 39; Bourris Griffith 48; Stephen Boucher 60, 70, 74, 81, 83, 85; Ray Hinds 88. Manchester Sec. Garfield Browne 69. La Grange lost to Patentia 2-5. Patentia Steffon Carroll 5, 69; Osman Parris 42, Linden Morgan 63, Asworth Somersett 68. La Grange - Rishawn Simpson 38, Kevin Harris 50.

Spain and Italy, Brazil and Uruguay: Confederations Cup Semi-finals

World No. 1 Djokovic plays a backhand. the fifth. Last year’s quarter-finalist took the first two sets but lost the next pair, before shaking hands after three games of the fifth. The German had reacted angrily to a number of calls during the match but said his struggles with flu had left him “angry and sad” rather than anything more sinister. Australian James Duckworth worked hard to recover from two sets down against Denis Kudla before collapsing to a 6-4 6-2 3-6 4-6 61 loss, while there were also victories for Leonardo Mayer, Jesse Levine, Kevin Anderson, Michael Llodra and the impressive 12th seed Kei Nishikori. (Mail Online)

The Confederations Cup semifinals are set. On Wednesday, Brazil takes on Uruguay in the first semifinal, a rematch of the 1950 World Cup final. On Thursday, Italy meets Spain in the second semifinal, a rematch of the 2012 European Championships. The final group stage matches were a bit anticlimactic, as all four semifinalists had already secured advancement. Well, technically, Uruguay’s place was up for grabs, but a final match against Tahiti did not figure to provide any surprises. Brazil versus Uruguay

promises to be a passionate affair, as all of Brazil’s matches have generated festive atmospheres. All of Brazil’s matches have also been marred by protests, and Belo Horizonte will likely have tear gas in the air by the time the match kicks off. Thankfully, the on-field play has not suffered due to the off-field incidents occurring for the duration of the tournament. On the pitch, Brazil enters the match riding high on Neymar’s special skills and fabulous flair. The newest Barcelona signing has three goals in three matches entering Wednesday’s semifinal. Neymar was the

headlining act entering the 2013 Confederations Cup, and he has performed better than anyone anticipated. For all those who wondered what the fuss was about, Neymar delivered three gorgeous goals to warm up for Wednesday’s semifinal. Now, only Uruguay stands in the way of a final at the famed Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. After a harsh loss to Spain in the tournament opener, Uruguay Manager Oscar Tabaraz attacked Nigeria with all three of Uruguay’s famed forwards playing in concert. Continued on page 32