Kaieteur News

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Homemade wine, NEWS tattoo machines, phones confiscated during NA Prison search AIETEUR

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Saturday Edition June 01, 2016 - Vol. 10 No. 20

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Online readership yesterday 130,090

Emails expose fraud at NCN Berbice branch … Former employee diverted company funds to personal bank account - Forensic Audit report

NCN Finance Manager gave husband $3M in free advertising

FIVE PIRATES CHARGED WITH HIGH SEAS MURDER Nandlall's use of public funds to buy personal books...

Draft SARU legislation being reviewed - AG

Parliament will examine witness protection, whistleblower Auditor's report but matter -legislations for public consultations should be handled by the Guyana Chronicle did little to - “It is a criminal matter so it police should go before the court” - AG collect $M owed by advertisers

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Saturday June 04, 2016

Kaieteur News

Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

THINGS ARE NOT ADDING UP! After one year since the government came to office, many things in the country, it seems, are not adding up.

Only some of the promises made by the government were kept. One not kept was the lowering of VAT by two percent.

The Minister of State fiasco has affected the good image of the government particularly since the President and some Ministers have supported him. The Minister’s refusal to meet with the media and provide a plausible explanation to the public on the alleged allegations involving his relationship with the “BK” Tiwarie and BaiShanLin has left the nation second guessing that things are not adding up.

By refusing to explain the controversy, especially the interference with a central state agency, the Guyana Revenue Authority, shows that the government is not serious about being accountable to the public.

The President should lead the way in clearing up the very serious misgivings about the Minister, and the government’s failure to develop the economy, create jobs and reduce crime and corruption. It matters not to the people who is responsible for the current malaise that has beset the country. The people simply want to know how the government intends to solve the problems and take the country forward.

Not in the too distant past, Guyana has been known to be the bread basket of the Caribbean, where corruption and crimes were outside the norm of its daily existence; so too were smelly piles of garbage in the city and the run down infrastructures.

Similarly, Guyana’s education and health care systems were held up as models for the countries in the Caribbean.

Today, this is no longer the case as most of the institutions are not functioning properly; one in three people have to pay a bribe before service is rendered to them.

Most of the Social Programmes are hardly working; and on the odd occasion that some do, they are ineffective.

With a slowdown in national productivity, the government has precious little to show for being in office for a year other than the cleaning-up of Georgetown, the restoration of Merriman Mall, a ballooning deficit, murders and armed robberies. Not to mention that Ministers hardly speak to the people; and when they do, it is in such pretentious terms that the average person does not believe anything they say.

The recent statement by the Minister of Finance that the economy will grow at three percent in 2016 may not materialize. If the people are to take the Minister at his word, and there is no reason not to, it would seem that the economy is slowing. The Government needs to implement a comprehensive monetary programme that includes strong fiscal adjustment and structural reforms to foster growth and reduce the external debt.

It is true that the country’s overall deficit fell by about two percent at the end of last year and its foreign reserves have stabilized somewhat; but there’s still a big problem in terms of the Government’s overall debt which is hovering at 65 percent of its GDP. Therefore, it is important for the government to reduce its current excessive spending because things are not adding up.

The people would like to know the game plan going forward, now that the jubilee celebrations are over and the country has returned to normalcy. They would welcome any new ideas from either the President or the Minister of Finance that can improve their well-being and put them at ease.

After all, the people who elected the government know that after a year in office, its current policies are not alleviating some of the major problems that beset the country.

Things are not adding up.

Dem boys seh de other man gun tek over MR. EDITOR, I wanted to respond to an article, ‘Another man want extension pun he wok’ which appeared in your publication dated June 01, 2016.

The article from ‘dem boys seh,’ attacked the character and the integrity of the Commissioner of Police, which, I think. was most disrespectful, and very offensive. The Commissioner of Police, by virtue of his long and most distinguished service, has truly earned his position as the head of the Guyana Police Force. His record over the past three decades is most impeccable.

When rapes, murders,

robberies and other criminal cases remain unsolved, the Police Commissioner is usually attacked, and, rightly so, condemned. When criminals, on the other hand, are apprehended and brought before the courts, it is only fair that the Police Commissioner be applauded and be credited.

The Crime Chief, by himself, cannot bring criminals to justice. Solving crimes is about team work, and it begins with the forensic team, the local police and detectives and of course members of the public.

The Commissioner pointed out that the police

now have more vehicles, more advanced crime solving equipment and better trained police officers. The Crime Chief, undoubtedly, is doing a wonderful job, but, so also are the police officers and detectives that support the Crime Chief.

It should be noted that the hard working Crime Chief has never sought to gain any kind of personal credit for the recent apprehension of several criminals.

With regards to ‘want extension pun he wok,’ there is absolutely nothing wrong with that ‘want’ and, it is nothing new. The precedent was created many decades

ago. The Police Commissioner is able and, unlike many of his colleagues, is in good shape.

If there is any truth about his request it shows that the Police Commissioner love his country and that he is loyal and dedicated to the government and to the people of Guyana. Many Indians have been sent on leave and kicked out of office by this new coalition government and the Police Commissioner knows this fully well.

I have no doubt that he will soon suffer the same fate.

The Soulja Bai and Rum Jattan, surely, have their man ready to take over.

Mohamed Majeed.

Govt. must implement the Code of Ethics DEAR EDITOR; The United Republic Party (URP) notes with grave concern that the Coalition Government is continuing in the same vein as the old and vaunted PPP. The Coalition’s ethics, or lack thereof, are competing equally (if not greater) for notoriety with the Jagdeo cabal. The URP notes with dismay that after one year in office, the Granger administration has refused to implement a Code of Ethics for the Coalition.

All the while, several of its Ministers have been involved in questionable behaviour for which they should have been excommunicated from the Government.

Had the Coalition implemented a meaningful ethical code, there is no way the Ministers fingered for such rogue actions would have survived in the Government.

How is it that the new Government could have found the time to discuss several non-manifesto issues, such as, a raise of salary for themselves, the allocation of $300 million for the Jubilee and counting, the removal of the vendors from the streets of Georgetown, the bid to spend an additional $300 million to bring the CPL to

Guyana, 60 million for celebration in New York, millions more for celebrations in Canada, England and other parts of the diaspora, the hundreds of millions of dollars in audits, etc.? But they cannot find the time to discuss ways of fulfilling their campaign promises, like, the raising of salaries for public servants and sugar workers, the reducing the VAT and the implementing a Code of Conduct for the administration?

How is it that they could find government jobs for their friends, families and election campaign staff but fired thousands of Amerindians and Indians?

The citizens of Guyana felt they could no longer be fooled by the PPP. So in May, 2015, they woke up and joined forces to bring an end to the JagdeoRamotar led indiscretions.

They had concluded then that they had had enough of that regime’s arrogance.

After one year of the Granger-led Coalition, this regime turns out to be more arrogant than Jagdeo-Ramotar and team. But the people are as vigilant as they were just before the 2015 elections.

If this PNC-AFC administration thinks that it will bam-

boozle the Guyanese people, they are very mistaken. The notion that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, is well known and appreciated by the local populace. The country is watching its leaders and will punish then, electorally, when they deserve it.

The word on the street is that one year is far too long to come up with a code of conduct. Did the respective parties not have codes of conducts? What governed their internal operations?

Is it that those who operated without guidelines in their own parties are now tossed onto the unsuspecting Guyanese?

If all the collating parties had had guidelines and codes of conducts within their own purview, they could have lent those guidelines to the government and thus come up with some acceptable, universal, ethical document, which could have been immediately implemented.

This delay and pussyfooting on such major issues is not sitting well with the ever vigilant Guyanese.

Dela Britton, Darlene Christian, Simone Ramlall, Tamara Khan, Sasha Rajkumar and Carlyle Goring,

those who worked on the Coalition’s Code of Conduct, need to be reassigned to that “draft” code and they need to stay with it until it is transitioned from its draft stage, into an acceptable and actionable document. If the government can find monies to audit others, they sure could scrape a few more dollars to audit themselves.

The URP believes that a well-constructed and formally implemented Code of Conduct will serve as a constant audit for the Government.

The URP is very wary that the Prime Minister and 1st Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo publicly stated that there is no time-frame as to when the Code would be incorporated into the existing law. After all the accusations of corruption, nepotism and charges of unethical behaviour that have being leveled at his embryonic administration, why would he be so noncommittal and evasive concerning enactment of such a required and elementary document?

The Prime Minister went on to state that expediency in the adoption of the code of ethics is not his concern.

Well, it might not be his (Continued on page 5)

Don’t rush to judge Minister Harmon DEAR EDITOR; Please allow me to express a few concerns in the Minister Harmon issue as a first time writer and a frequent reader of the Kaieteur News.

I have been reading with interest many writers ‘views on this issue.

People whom I have a lot of respect for both politically and professionally however, to date and to my knowledge President Granger or Minister Harmon have not held a press conference to discuss the specifics of this case but amazingly a lot of people are

assuming and expressing their individual opinion without any evidence other than what was reported in the Press.

Mr Editor I find it difficult to understand how any logical minded individual can conclude on a matter without any firm evidence and seems clearly acting on hear say.

I have even recognized persons have gone to the extent of even calling for this gentleman’s resignation without a single thread of evidence. To my knowledge Mr. Editor, Minister Harmon’s

travel would have several explanations whether we choose to accept them or not he is entitled to Natural Justice just like every other citizen of this country also I have personally seen this son of the soil contribute overwhelming to the nation both in the opposition and in Government.

The least we can do is allow this gentleman the right to discuss this matter before one can conclude of any wrong doing.

I have not seen Minister Joseph Harmon compromising this nation by virtue of his

actions, in fact I cannot conclude that he has or anyone can because the information has still yet not been revealed to the public by way of press Conference or a personal interview.

Finally as a young Government, our Ministers are likely to err or fall short at times not that Mr. Harmon has but let us concentrate on how we can build rather than how we can divide. May god continue to bless President David Granger and his administration on the job ahead!

Jermain Hermanstyne

Saturday June 04, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Extreme corruptibility exists in the gold industry Cruel exploitation at No. 2 Village, East Canje

DEAR EDITOR; The President is indeed correct when he states that “corruption in Guyana is more prevalent in the private sector, The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is one of these private organizations.

They are complaining about being kicked off the “Closed Area Committee” at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), this is the committee that makes decisions about the distribution of lands.

However, the GGDMA manipulates the land distribution process through various “runnings”.

One such process is the “alternative block runnings.”

“Alternative block,” introduced under the PPP Administration gives miners the option to choose an alternative block. A miner qualifies for this if he has been paying for a block for several years and this block now falls within the extended boundaries that Government was granting the Amerindian communities.

The miner is then given the option to choose where he wants an “Alternative

Block”. The GGDMA members have fully exploited this process. They subsequently bought up lands and claims that were previously mined.

Two weeks later they would apply and receive an alternative block transfer. This resulted in them choosing and receiving new virgin lands in some of the best mining prospects across Guyana.

Of course they were aided and abetted by some corrupt officials at the GGMC. There is evidence that some GGMC officials collected millions for one such transaction. There are also reports of several incidents where officials at GGMC have confessed to accepting bribes for various “runnings”.

Allegations indicate that several junior officials at the GGMC have implicated some senior officials in various improprieties. The land management unit and several members of the GGDMA are said to be involved. It is rumored that the police have several reports and criminal proceedings are expected to begin soon. There is also the “Prospecting License” (PL) process. A PL consists of thou-

sands of acres (e.g. 10,000 acres) of land reserved for large-scale mining, with strict stipulations to encourage big foreign investors while protecting the small miners.

The type of mining is also stipulated but suffice to say that companies holding a PL are barred from operating a regular “dredge”. To facilitate this investment the Government grants many tax and duty concessions to entities that receive those licenses.

The GGDMA’s bigwigs applies for these PL, which they receive. They then exploit all the concessions, receiving many tax waivers and importing many vehicles duty free, including luxury vehicles. They then convert these PL lands into regular mining lands called blocks and operate regular small and medium scale mining operations; they even grant mining permissions to small miners collecting in excess of $3M per miner. This allows them to circumvent the regulations and guidelines stipulating the operations of a PL. They operate a regular dredge, while receiving all the benefits of a large-scale min-

ing operation.

The GGMC should publish the list of GGDMA members who have received a PL and have subsequently converted it to a medium scalemining permit.

They should also send copies to the GRA so the government can reclaim the lost revenue on all the concessions the GGDMA’s bigwigs received by manipulating the system.

It would be very interesting to see the benefits and concessions they have received before converting those Prospecting Licenses (PL). GGDMA is also complaining about the denial of tax concessions or duty free concessions on vehicles, while they have abused the process and imported several luxury vehicles such as Benz and Bimmerz.

The Government recently confiscated BaiShanLin vehicles for this same offence.

The GRA should similarly investigate the GGDMA and its members and seize all those luxury vehicles for which they have not paid the required duties.

GGMC employee

An appeal for better treatment for our older folks DEAR EDITOR; Every single month at each post office in this country, from early dawn, one could witness long queues of old folks (senior persons / pensioners) queuing in an undignified manner waiting

sometimes from six o clock, or half pass five in the morning for their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and old age pensions: desperate ones in some cases.

During the rainy seasons this is an undignified act and

Govt. must implement...

From page 4 concern but a populace burdened by constant corruption inflicted on them by the State, is very concerned. Additionally, this was one of his party’s 100-days promise; it is now almost 200 days past that deadline.

So the Prime Minister should be thrice as concerned. The URP is calling for the immediate and irreversible implementation of the Code of Ethics, as reviewed by all the mentioned stakeholders.

We are also asking for justifiable reasons to be shared with the public for any delay in its implementation.

Further, the United Republican Party is asking that behaviour of current members of the Government be retroactively scrutinized using the implemented Code of Conduct to determine if they stand

in violation of any of the established Codes.

And if they are found in violation of any of the Codes of Conduct, the URP is asking President Granger to prove to the Guyanese electorate that he is really the ethical standard bearer he is perceived to be and fire all those who need to be fired.

Dr. Vishnu Bandhu URP Political Leader

insult to the older folks of this country as matter of this nature are dealt with, as in other countries in a more secure and dignified manner.

Perhaps better shelter conditions or payment into a bank account could be considered. Editor, in these times we are living I think that older folks are vulnerable first to the inclement rainy weather and even to unscrupulous persons who may rob them on their way returning home with their tiny pension tucked in their pocket or under their skirt.

We respectfully request of the authorities that they consider other method of paying old age pension and National Insurance pension at the end of each month in a more secured way. Maybe in

a personal bank account. If it rains one must stand in the rain. If the sun is too warm one must stay standing in a queue hungry belly. I saw someone faint waiting. This must be an undignified way to treat our senior folks after they have finished their summer days and now living in their winter days.

Why can’t we end this undignified process and paid pensioners pensions into a bank account in the year 2016?

The powers that be should give their best consideration to this vexed matter.

Rooplall Dudhnath

DEAR EDITOR; With utter disgust and shame, I have never decided to pen my observation. In my experience, I have observed how Guyanese are treated by other Caribbean countries.

We were treated as outcast.

And blatant rejection for us that when something would go wrong in the community, they would point their finger at Guyana and Guyanese. When they would overstay, they were hunted down like animals and deported, even through our position in Caricom was high.

Today we have foreigners coming into our country and establishing businesses.

They employ our Guyanese brothers and sisters who after election, continue to live together as one.

How can we stand by and see the treatment handed out by these foreigners who could not make a decent living in their own country, make slaves out of our own people, because of want of a job? One example is a business called at No. 2 Village East Canje, Region 6.

This is a very big retailer selling all manner of products.

They have never employed more than two females at a time. At present one child is 15 yrs old and other of a bigger built is about 30yrs old.

These girls work 7 days a week for 9 hrs per day- no off duty, no time to eat they have to be standing all the time doing something.

Drinking water is an annoyance to the 3 foreign bosses-father mother & daughter. They do not employ males yet these girls have to be fetching heavy weight e.g. salt bags, rice bags etc. and deal with customers at the same time and weighing out items. The little girl gets $1000

per day and the other $1500 per day. This business does not have a license to drink alcohol on the premises but low and behold this is an everyday affair.

Not only the drinking but smoking, vulgarity, whether its Sunday morning when the Mandir has service or the Jehovah church has services you can hear the music distance away.

During the madness that sometimes take place, the females are told to go clean the 10-12 ft table which is never full. You know the comments and dirty statements that are made out to these girls.

This is done to keep these customers alive. No taxes or NIS is paid. Most nights they work pass 21:00 hrs.

I cannot continue writing this horror story. My point is the President and PM to kindly shift your gaze from the top floor and look at the basement. Let the fresh wind of new administration blow over our beautiful Guyana.

I am appealing to you to stop these abuses of foreigners to our own people.

I remember it’s a 40hr working week. Above that is time and half. I remember workers are entitled to 1 hr off duty and lunch. I don’t know which administration would grant permission to open so late at night.

These exploiting foreign employers seem to be taking over our country, disrespect our laws and people. Please put an end to this slavery.

The Observer

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Saturday June 04, 2016

Kaieteur News

Emails expose fraud at NCN Berbice branch …Former employee diverted company funds to personal bank account - Forensic Audit report A former employee of the National Communications Network (NCN) has landed herself in hot water as forensic auditors have discovered that she took more than $500,000 belonging to the company and transferred it to her personal bank account.

Based on a request by NCN’s Board of Directors, Harry Parmesar, Chartered Accountants, conducted a special investigation into this matter which took place at NCN’s Berbice Branch.

The forensic auditors noted in their report that the money was taken from an account called the “Assembly of Prayer”. It was set up for a customer based in Canada who made substantial periodic pre-payments for airing of Christian based programs during the period September 2012 to August 2013.

However, these payments were deposited to the Berbice

Branch’s Administrative/Accounts Clerk, Ms. Tishti Gajraj’s personal bank account rather than in the bank account of NCN. The auditors said that the customer was issued with unofficial invoices at higher rates than those normally charged by NCN. They said that official invoices at the lower authorised rate were prepared and recorded in NCN accounting records. The excess amounts were not paid to NCN While the auditors conducted several discussions with various members of NCN, they were unable to do so with Gajraj.

She was not available during the investigation. In spite of this limitation, the auditors went ahead with their perusal of statements dated September 26, 2013 and documents submitted by Gajraj.

The documents on the

matter show that broadcasting of the programmes should have commenced on September 10, 2012.

By email dated September 18, 2012, Mr. William Subryan, Treasurer of the Assembly of Prayer, requested from Gajraj, the Berbice Branch’s Administrative/Accounts Clerk and the complete name and address of NCN in Berbice to enable him to transfer payments for the airtime.

By way of email on the same day, Gajraj requested of Mr. Williams that the payments be transferred to her personal account and indicated that she will “do the necessary transaction”.

The Treasurer replied the following day indicating that he cannot authorise Scotia Bank in Berbice to transfer payments to a personal account due to the money laundering laws in Canada and Guyana.

This did not matter to the NCN employee. She still insisted that Subryan make the payments to her personal account. He succumbed to her request and subsequently requested an invoice to make the transfer to Gajraj’s personal account.

The Forensic auditors noted that on September 24, 2012 an amount of $197,200 was transferred by Assembly of Prayer to Gajraj’s personal bank account at the Republic Bank Guyana Limited in New Amsterdam.

The following day, she withdrew all of the money from the account and subsequently prepared an invoice for the said amount and signed it for 17 “30 minute religious programmes” covering the period September 10, 2012 to December 31, 2012. It was noted that the unit rate calculated was $10,000 plus 16 percent VAT.

Former NCN Employee, Tishti Gajraj However, the cash invoice represented in the Assembly of Prayer books only had $127,920 as paid for 14 “30 minutes religious programme” to be aired during the period October 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. The unit rate used in this regard was $8,000 per programme plus VAT at 16 percent.

This simply meant that the Assembly of Prayer officials paid for three extra programmes that were not aired by NCN in September 2012.

This act was repeated once again by Gajraj covering the period January 7, 2013 to April 29, 2013. This time, the invoice sent to the Assembly of Prayer officials was authorised with the signature of Faizal Jaffarally.

Gajraj did not stop there.

She overpriced the Canadian officials again for 17 “30 minutes religious programmes” to be aired during the period May 6, 2013 to August 26, 2013. It was noted that three transfers totalling $591,600 were made to her personal

account.The former NCN employee in a report to NCN in 2013 said that she was instructed by the branch’s coordinator, Faizal Jaffarally to inform Assembly of Prayer to make all payments to her personal bank account.

She said, too, that she was instructed by Jaffarally to quote Assembly of Prayer a unit cost of G$11,600 instead of NCN’s official rate of $ 9,280. Gajraj said that the amounts were withdrawn and handed over to Jaffarally.

She was unable to substantiate that the excess money was ever repaid to Assembly of Prayer.

Jaffarally on the other hand claims that he only signed documents given to him by Gajraj because he thought it was a quotation and not an invoice. He indicated that the quotation was sent as a basis to negotiate the actual rate to be charged to Assembly of Prayer.

Further he claimed he only instructed Gajraj to charge Assembly of Prayer the stan-

NCN Finance Manager gave husband $3M in free advertising Forensic auditors have uncovered damning evidence which shows that even though the National Communications Network (NCN) was neck-deep in debts, the Finance Manager, Shabana Singh, still managed to make a way for her husband to receive $3M in free advertising.

According to documents perused, the auditors found that free services totaling $3,083,396 were provided to Eddies Bobcat Excavator and Construction Services which is a business owned by the Finance Manager’s husband. These advertisements were aired during the period September 9, 2011 and May 31, 2012.

The auditors believe that action should be taken to recover the amount of $3,083,396 for services provided to the company.

NCN’s Finance Manager, Shabana Singh

NCN Berbice Branch Coordinator, Faizal Jaffarally dard rate of $8,000 plus Value Added Tax. Forensic auditors noted however that while it is normal to send a quotation at the initial stage of negotiation, is not sent to customers who are already providing the service.

The auditors made it clear that the Assembly of Prayer commenced business with NCN since September 2012 and said it is therefore unusual that a quotation will be sent in January 2013.

The forensic auditing team nevertheless made a note of his claim that he was aware of the fraudulent transaction being carried out by Gajraj.

Based on the evidence gathered, the auditors are of the firm view that from the inception, arrangements with the Assembly of Prayer clearly reeked of intentions to commit fraud.

The auditors also believe that there is sufficient evidence to prove that Jafarally was aware of the fraudulent transactions.

The auditors recommend that the Board of Directors at NCN considers legal actions against Jaffarally and Gajraj to recover the amounts overcharged to Assembly of Prayer. They said, too, that the internal control over invoices and cash collection should be strengthened while the duties of raising invoices and cash collection should be segregated.

The auditors said that the Internal Audit Department should carry out a detailed review of the Branch’s operations to confirm this was an isolated event and not a wide spread practice.

As Assembly of Prayer is aware of this matter, the auditors said that NCN’s management should meet with their representatives to provide assurances that this issue is being addressed.

Saturday June 04, 2016

Kaieteur News

Iran’s Khamenei says U.S., ‘evil’ Britain can’t be trusted - state TV

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Reuters) - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said yesterday Tehran had no intention of cooperating on regional issues with its main enemies, the United States and “evil” Britain.

Khamenei also accused Washington of not being committed to a nuclear deal reached between Tehran and six major powers, including the United States, in 2015 that aims to curb the country’s disputed nuclear programme.

Under the agreement, economic sanctions were lifted in January after Iran suspended sensitive nuclear work that the West suspects was aimed at creating a nuclear bomb. Iran denies seeking a nuclear bomb.

Inflation, unemployment and other economic hardships persuaded Khamenei to support President Hassan Rouhani on the nuclear question aimed at improving the parlous state of Iran’s economy.

“America has continued its enmity towards Iran since (the 1979 Islamic) revolution ... It is a huge mistake to trust evil Britain and the Great Satan (the United States),” Khamenei said in a speech broadcast live on state TV. “We will not cooperate with America over the regional crisis,” he said, adding that: “Their aims in the region are 180 degrees opposed to Iran’s.”

Asked about Khamenei’s remarks, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said he did not really have a response.

“His rhetoric is always somewhat hyperbolic and so we take it with a grain of salt and don’t necessarily rise to

the bait,” Toner told reporters.

Relations with Washington were severed after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution and enmity to the United States has always been a rallying point for hardliner supporters of Khamenei in Iran.

Tehran and Washington have common interests and threats across the Middle East. They have cooperated tactically in the past, including when Tehran helped Washington counter al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Islamic State militants (IS) in Iraq.

The United States and its allies in the Middle East accuse Iran of supporting terrorism and interfering in the affairs of regional states, including Syria, Yemen and Iraq.

Tehran is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s main regional ally and has provided military and economic support to his fight against rebel groups and IS. Following the end of the sanctions on Iran, the country has started to increase

(REUTERS/File Photo) trade with the West. But some U.S. sanctions remain and U.S. banks remain prohibited from doing business with Iran directly or indirectly because Washington still accuses Tehran of supporting terrorism and human rights abuses.

“They use human rights, terrorism ... as pretexts to avoid fulfilling their commitments,” Khamenei said.

“If we remain strong and united and revolutionary, those who are trying to bully Iran and are against us will not succeed,” he told a gathering to commemorate the anniversary of the death of the revolution’s founder, Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini, in 1989.

Iran has repeatedly urged Washington to do more to remove obstacles to the banking sector.

Khamenei, whose hostility towards Washington holds together Iran’s factionridden leadership, said Iran should “remain cautious in its economic interaction with the West”.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday June 04, 2016

Saturday June 04, 2016

Kaieteur News

THE GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT TO BECOME HIGHLY UNPOPULAR The experience with the creation of parking lots in the city has demonstrated that the Guyanese people are not yet ready for that innovation.

Guyanese motorists have shown that they are not prepared as yet to pay for public parking.

The City Council has controversially created a parking lot on the median that separates the eastern carriageway of East Street from the western carriageway.

Apparently, the said parking lot is being administered by a private company under terms and agreement which are not fully known to the public but surely this has not been the basis on which the parking lot has been rejected by motorists.

The revenue sharing formula between the private operator and the Council is not fully known to the public. But that is not the reason why the parking lot has been rejected by the driving public.

Persons have been parking outside the perimeter of the lot and this is an indication that motorists are not prepared to pay for parking.

The parking lot is being underutilized and this should

have suggested to the Council that there is need to reexamine this issue.

Guyanese motorists have grown accustomed to free parking. It will take some time for them to become accustomed to having to pay for something which they have assumed should be free.

This comes at a time when changes in parking are taking place in the city. For one, there are far more cars now than ever before and the city is congested. There needs to be a total halt to the opening of new businesses in the city since there is very little parking space left.

The increase in the number of vehicles is compounded by the fact that diagonal parking has now been deemed as unlawful in the city. This has further reduced the number of parking spaces available.

The City Council is now about to introduce metered parking in the city. This will cause bedlam in Georgetown because those who for a very long time were accustomed to free parking will now find that they have to pay for the service. The majority of motorists will not be able to afford

Dem boys seh...

Plenty man tun woman in Guyana A story doing de rounds in Mabaruma bout a senior man who believe he is a Mammy. Now de whole village calling him ‘Come to Mammy.”

De story start when a woman lef she baby in de hospital.

This man go in de place and see de baby and tek it. He carry it home. He feed, bathe and powder de baby and do everything a woman does do fuh a child.

De villagers felt nice about him tekking de child but wha cause de story is when he insist that de child call him Mammy.

Neighbours seh every day he come home he hollering from de dam, “Baby come to Mammy.”

Dem boys seh that is Jagdeo appoint him because he does operate just like Jagdeo who feed, bathe and powder de entire party. But dem boys hear he had problem wid one person and that is de one who use to bruck up nice things all over de country.

He feed this man and powder him but he didn’t bathe him. This is de man dem boys hear who frighten water. Now everywhere he go he smellin and smelling terrible. And is not dem boys seh suh.

Another man seh when dem deh at a meeting he colleagues have Schilling Oil to dem nose just to keep away de smell. One day he visit a man office and when he lef de man vomit. This is a man who smell throughout El Nino. Now El Nino come and gone and de man still smelling like bunch of dead dogs.

When people seh that a man rotten to de core, is a man like this dem talking about.

Talk half and hope that water never run out in Guyana.

to pay for parking. The many persons who work in firms and companies usually have to park alongside the streets of the city for eight hours or more each day. If parking has to be paid for then all of those persons who work and park in areas where metered parking is going to be introduced will be unable to do so.

A rate of $125 has been mentioned but it is not clear whether this is per day or her hour. It surely cannot be per day because this would make it unprofitable for those installing and responsible for the metering machines, so it is most likely $125 per hour

which will work out to $1000 per day or $20,000 per month for the average worker.

Which employee in Guyana can afford to pay $20,000 parking per month?

This will put a serious dent in the pockets of all those who are required to pay for parking in the city. City Council and the Government is about to become highly unpopular.

Some persons can hardly afford to pay for gasoline for the vehicles they drive.

Petrol attendants will tell you that there are some persons driving fancy cars that are still “topping” up with a $1000 of gas. They do not

have the money to pay for a full tank and therefore they are buying small quantities of gasoline as they receive money. Where are these persons going to find the money for paid parking? Paid parking has to be a phased process in Guyana. It cannot be implemented how City Hall is proposing that it be implemented.

There is a need for the creation of parking lots in the city. There is a need for public spaces to be turned into free public parking so that there can be some way for persons to park before metered parking is introduced.

PAGE 9

There is a need also for private persons with open lots to be allowed to charge a small fee for parking.

Metered parking cannot simply be introduced without any study as to its impact on motorists and business in the city. This will cause confusion and chaos in Georgetown.

However, just like the decision to remove the Stabroek Square vendors, it seems as if very little thought is being given to the consequences of metered parking in the city.

Nandlall’s use of public funds to buy personal books...

Parliament will examine Auditor’s report but matter should be handled by the police The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly will soon begin examinations of the Auditor General’s report on Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall’s use of public funds for private purposes.

Nandlall took just about $3M from the Ministry of Legal Affairs to buy law books for himself. He told Kaieteur News that this was agreed upon with the then President Donald Ramotar as a prerequisite for him to take up the position of Attorney General.

The new Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, had initially forwarded the matter to the Auditor General for investigation. The Auditor General subsequently wrote Williams informing him that Ramotar indicated that he and Nandlall had a “private agreement” for the State to stand the expense of his books.

The Auditor was willing to put the matter to rest based on that explanation offered by Ramotar.

At a press conference held at Williams’ Carmichael Street office yesterday, he told the media that the government was not willing to put the matter to rest that easily.

That’s something that has to be addressed,” said Williams.

- “It is a criminal matter so it should go before the court” - AG

Attorney General, Basil Williams He added, “Under the Audit Act, we rejected that position offered to us as we are allowed to do within a month of his (the Auditor General’s) report to us. We understand now that the matter is supposed to go to the Public Accounts Committee.”

Williams maintained his original view that Nandlall’s actions are illegal.

Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall

He expressed his view that all criminal offences should attract the attention of the Guyana Police Force. “My position is that whether it (a matter) is with the Auditor (General) or a Forensic Auditor, once there is a criminal offence disclosed on the records or in the audits that matter could go straight to the police,” said Williams.

Asked whether he would look at a compromise with Nandlall, where a financial settlement for the value of the books could be reached, Williams said that that is not in his power to accept or decline.

He said, “It is out of my hands,” and indicated that any decision of that sort will have to be made by Cabinet.

PAGE 10

Saturday June 04, 2016

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Trump, Jagdeo and Guyanese East Indians Let me say from the outset of this analysis, that I find Donald Trump a repellant politician. I have no problems with him as a human; he is a father, a husband and a citizen of the world. But as a politician, he is offensive in his ideological outlay.

There are countless millions who are like Trump whose politics is as obnoxious as Trump’s but the world will never ever know about them. Trump worries the world because he could be the next President of the US. I doubt that though.

I doubt that, because people are speaking out against Trump and the voices are increasing daily by leaps and bounds; the latest is his questionable university.

The attitude of the American people to Trump will, in

the end, defeat his ambitions.

We do not see a similar attitude to Bharrat Jagdeo in this country.

The publisher of this paper, Mr. Glenn Lall, said last month that he would like to see the reaction of many prominent East Indians to the findings of the forensic audits. I understand that not even four from that stratum of the society chose to go public with their comments.

In this county, serving on the journalistic menu is a quotidian lunch of horrible corruption exposure from the forensic audits. The latest is the GWI audit. A caveat is important. Corruption is not only theft of money. Surely, a PPP supporter and the big administrator at Guyana Times, Ravi Dev is familiar enough with French philosophy to know

what deconstruction means.

If you deconstruct the word “corruption,” it doesn’t mean stealing or misappropriating money only Corruption is involved when I put up my car in my home garage, still collect my monthly gas stipend from the Ministry and have been using the Ministry’s vehicle that was specially placed in the hand of the Ministry’s outreach officials for them to do their interior work.

But they cannot get it because I have it in my possession day and night all the time.

That is corruption.

What the forensic audits have revealed is the manipulation and personal possession of funds to the tune of hundreds of millions of American dollars by the governmental leaders under the

presidencies of Presidents Jagdeo and Ramotar I do not read the asininities, banalities, acidities of certain so-called Indian writers; their mental nastiness sickens the mind. You may think this is an exaggeration and a deception but I swear on my parents’ grave that I so deeply love that this is the truth. The list includes Ravi Dev. I was having lunch with Dr. David Hinds last Wednesday at Excellence Restaurant on Charlotte Street and I told him I was deeply disappointed that Eusi Kwayana could have written Hindu priest Aksharananda to complain to him about an accusation made against him by the newspaper that Ravi Dev is in charge of.

I want Eusi to know that I am personally chagrined by his poor display of judgement and naivety.

I interpret the political writings of Aksharananda to be analysis that comes within the tradition of bigotry, supremacist denunciations of

the other side and tribalist defence of the PPP Government. I don’t read this gentleman any longer.

Like the rest of that category, there is a total evasion of any discussion on the gigantic financial conspiracy that characterized the Jagdeo regime. Amidst colossal revelations of the giveaway of t h i s p o o r c o u n t r y ’s r e sources to a tiny, super-rich cabal, this mind-set is obsessed with the past and not the present mess that the Jagdeo oligarchy left us in.

At my age, I do not want to get up in the morning and at the breakfast table read about people telling this nation about rigged elections, Burnham’s power drunkenness and violence in the seventies, riots in the sixties, American overthrow of Jagan, banned food items etc.

It is like modern Germans writing about what Hitler did more than seventy years ago.

More than half of the population of Guyana wasn’t born in the sixties and seven-

Frederick Kissoon ties. They have their complete lives ahead of them. They need to know what happened to their country’s resources ten years ago that have contributed to the impoverishment of the University of Guyana which is the university they have to attend.

Uunlike the children in Jagdeo’s cabal, they cannot afford foreign universities.

This country was saved either by God, luck or some miracle. Think of what is coming out of those forensic audits and reflect on what the future would have been like if Jagdeo, Ramotar, Luncheon, Rohee and Teixeira were victorious in the 2015 General Elections. The thought is too horrible to contemplate.

Saturday June 04, 2016

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

Mechanic stabbed to Cocaine Mule recruiters death during argument remanded to prison Dead: Orrett West

Investigators are probing the circumstances which led to the death of a 28-yearold man at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Orrett West, a father of one of Tucville Terrace, was killed around 00:30 hr yesterday at popular liming spot in Vigilance.

He was stabbed to his chest in full view of his girlfriend, who provided police with a detailed description of the killer and what transpired early yesterday.

The suspect is on the run.

According to information received, the mechanic and his killer had an argument during which he was stabbed to death.

Police in a release said that investigation so far revealed that the father of one was in company of his girlfriend, when an argument ensued between him and a man, who he had an ongoing dispute with.

During the argument, the assailant pulled out a knife and fatally stabbed West in the region of his left side chest and escaped.

At his home yesterday, his mother asked for her son’s death be kept on the down-low.

The woman, who refused to give her name, said that her son left home last night to go to Guinness Bar weekly lime when he was killed.

“He and somebody had an argument and like he get in a fight and he get stabbed,” the woman said while doing her chores. She did not want to divulge any more information.

Dutch Risk Reduction Team to produce drainage model The Netherlands’ Dutch Risk Reduction Team (DRRTeam) will return to Guyana in July to collaborate with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to produce a hydraulic model that will address flooding in Guyana.

Lennox Lee, Head of National Task Force Secretariat (ag.), told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that when the DRR team visited Guyana last year, several recommendations were made.

He said five DRR engineers from the University of Delft are scheduled to visit Guyana in July as a result of the recommendations.

Lee explained that the team will be producing a computer based hydraulic model for drainage in parts of Georgetown. “That will help

us to predict the vulnerability of certain areas when rainfall occurs,” he explained.

The team will be working along with local engineers to measure parts of the drainage system. “This is to assess what we have. They are going to put a computer hydraulic model together from which we’ll be able to say which areas in Georgetown are vulnerable for flooding at any time during rainfall,” Lee said.

To begin the test and complete the hydraulic model, the local engineers headed by the NDIA and the DRR team, will be working every day in the Liliendaal and South Ruimveldt communities.

When the model is prepared, a team from the University of Guyana (UG) will add to it and test it continually. The team will also use

the information from the model to train young engineers. “So what we will have, (is) the transfer of information and technology as we can develop further, systems throughout Guyana on our own,” Lee said.

“It’s not easy to solve drainage (problems) in Georgetown just like that.

There are many aspects of it and there will always be a problem with drainage in Georgetown but, this part of the process is to come up with the most efficient way to address drainage,” Lee said.

The project, which is headed by the NDIA, is critical since Guyana’s low-lying coast, which is below sea level at high tide, faces the threat of flooding especially from frequent and intense rainfall. (GINA)

Mark Sauers Rolston Bacchus (front) and Mark Sauers (behind) leaving after being remanded.

Rolston Bacchus Two suspected recruiters of cocaine mules were on Friday slapped with charges of procuring at least three persons for the purpose of trafficking in narcotics.

Rolston Bacchus aka Randy, Muslim, Biggs or Troy of 8 Half Mile Wismar, Linden; and Mark Sauers, aliases “Redman” and “Marco” of 11th Street Dazzell Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to the charges.

Bacchus and Sauers, who has previous narcotics trafficking offences pending in the courts, were refused bail and remanded to prison until their next court appearance June 23, next. They are to appear before the court together

to answer to separate charges.

The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor alleged that Bacchus “procured” Kathleen DeFlorimonte, a former security officer at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and Odessa Pollard for the purpose of trafficking 12.348 kilograms of cocaine between July and November 2015.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison until June 23.

Sauers is also accused of committing a similar offence.

It is said that he recruited Safraz Jallalodeen to traffic of 6.048 kilograms of cocaine between April 1 and May 19, 2016.

On May 20, Jallalodeen was sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined $16.3 million for being in possession of 6.048 kilograms of cocaine in milk for the purpose of trafficking.

He was caught at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport with the drug concealed in Kerrigold Milk Pack-

ets. He reportedly told CANU officials that he was paid US$7000 to traffic the drug.

CANU agents said they had been monitoring Sauers and Bacchus for at least three years now.

CANU’s prosecutor said the charging of the duo indicated that the law enforcement agencies are not only going after the small cocaine traffickers. She noted that they are going after the “big fish” as well.

The Chief Magistrate upheld objections by the CANU Prosecutor to bail being granted. The Prosecutor stated that Sauers was already before the Providence Magistrate’s Court for a trafficking in narcotics charge dating back to March 4, last, and for which he was on $1.5 million bail. He is also on over $1 million bail for two other narco-related matters. Chief Magistrate McLennan subsequently remanded Sauers to prison. He is set to appear in court on June 23.

PAGE 12

Saturday June 04, 2016

Kaieteur News

Draft SARU legislation being reviewed - AG -witness protection, whistleblower legislations for public consultations

Soon to be empowered?

Head of SARU Dr. Clive Thomas

By Jarryl Bryan The administration is finalizing several key legislative components that will ensure that action can be taken on the myriad of forensic audits into state agencies and departments, which have been ongoing since last year.

This is according to Attorney General Basil Williams, during a press conference at the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Carmichael Street, yesterday.

Williams announced that he has only seen the draft State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) legislation as of Thursday.

“Well I am now in receipt of it. I only saw it yesterday (Thursday),” Williams said. “It was sent to the Ministry. I haven’t had a chance to go through it; it’s quite thick.”

When asked about a time frame for when the legislation would be ready for tabling, Williams said that

he did not have custody of the matter and would moreover have to operate alongside the SARU consultant, who is British expert Brian Horne.

“That’s for the unit, I’m just dealing with the legislation,” the Minister of Legal Affairs stressed. “And I’ll have to deal with the legislation in conjunction with the drafted consultant with the SARU unit.”

“But as soon as these chambers are satisfied with the provisions and that they convey exactly what is intended by the government, then by all means we will move forward with the legislation for passage through the National Assembly.”

He also addressed concerns about the draft witness protection and whistle blower Bills, which have been in the pipelines for years but had been consistently slowed down.

“Did Nandlall explain why he did not pass a witness protection Bill for the 23 years his Government was in power?” he queried. “There are two Bills--the whistleblower and the witness protection (Bills). They will be taken out for consultations shortly, as is the practice.”

In the wake of several damning disclosures, including those from the forensic audits, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had stated that Government was working to provide protection to ‘whistleblowers’-- those who disclose sensitive information exposing wrongdoing, including corruption.

Last year, the draft Protected

Attorney General, Basil Williams

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

Disclosures (Whistleblower) 2015 had been gazetted. In it had been included provisions for regulating how reports of improper conduct are received or investigated. Clause 15 of the draft Bill provides for immunity from civil and criminal proceedings of a person making a protected disclosure.

Last year Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman had also announced that Government was poised to introduce the witness protection legislation as a Bill in the National Assembly.

He had revealed that among the measures to be enacted would be the establishment of state houses, the granting of assistance to participants and the provision of new identities where necessary.

Minister of Public Security,

Khemraj Ramjattan recently stated that efforts to bring those responsible for financial transgressions to justice were being delayed by fearful witnesses. He had lamented the absence of a witness protection programme.

“A lot of the witnesses that gave their evidence to the auditors are scared like hell to give their evidence to the police now, knowing that those fellows that they might bring to court know that they can suffer at their hands,” he said.

Ramjattan had gone on to state, however, that the administration would never allow stolen monies to remain with those who had stolen.

Reiterating that they will be recovered, he pointed to the establishment of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU).

Incidentally, SARU head, Dr. Clive Thomas, has had cause to lament that SARU is in a “look but don’t touch” scenario. He had stated that while breakthrough discoveries had been made, SARU is unable to seize assets because of the absence of its legislation.

While Thomas had stated that the draft legislation was sent to Attorney General Basil Williams’ office, Williams had subsequently been reported as saying that he was not in possession of the legislation.

At least two audit reports- the NICIL report, compiled by Anand Goolsarran and the Guyana Marketing Corporation compiled by Saykar Boodhoo- have been clear in recommending criminal charges against those who had dealings with the agencies.

Two contractors clash over award of parking meters project There is gross uncertainty concerning the award of the contract to erect parking meters in and around Georgetown. Two contractors currently lay claim to being the sole awardee of the anticipated project. The warring entities are Astrolobe Technology and National Parking Systems (NPS).

On Thursday NPS had been awarded the contract by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (MCC).

Astrolobe has now come forward contending that it has exclusive rights to the project since it had signed the agreement with the Council in

Saratu Phillips Chief Executive Officer of Astrolobe Technology

2007. Meanwhile NPS is going ahead with preliminary

works on the said project which it claims was signed

recently in May 2016 with the Mayor and City Council. It is

unclear why the MCC are ignoring their earlier contract in favour of the most recent.

Recently in the press, head of Astrolobe Technology, Saratu Phillips, condemned the actions of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council for awarding the contract to NPS arguing that the Council had already awarded it to him since October 1, 2007. Phillips showed a copy of the agreement that confirmed that the deal was indeed signed on the aforementioned date between the two parties, with the Council being represented by the then Town Clerk, Beulah Williams.

Phillips said that the present Town Clerk Royston King has promised that both parties will discuss the issue in order to arrive at a compromise. When asked whether he has considered any alternative actions, providing negotiations fail, the Astrolobe head commented that there is always the avenue of taking legal action. The estimated cost for the project, if done

by Phillips' company should be in the region of

US$350,000 to US$400,000.

A source close to the Council, stated that the problem arose due to the newly appointed Council, not having a clue about the agreement entered into with Phillips and has tried to water down the issue hoping that both contractors can embark on the project with each entity focusing on specific areas in the city.

When asked about this possibility, Phillips intimated that he has not accepted such an offer as yet and will only do so if the proposal is feasible to his company.

In a letter written by Royston King addressed to Phillips, dated October 6, 2015, King stated, “I am aware that you have a signed contract with the Council to do paid parking. The area that was identified for you to install the appropriate system is East Street/John Ford Car Park – that is available for that activity. I am suggesting that you visit and observe that section with a view to begin paid parking as (continued on page 14)

Saturday June 04, 2016

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Continued on page 23

PAGE 22

VACANCY Female housekeeping staff, male security guard. Call: 2250198 or visit 233 South Road, Lacytown.

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

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc.

- Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000.

Call: 647-1773/660-5257

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

INNOVATIVEMARKETING& PUBLISHINGINC–TEL:6004212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

WANTED Experienced barman, 1 general domestic $2500 @ Hilton Crest , 12 Henry Street Werk-en-Rust. Call: 2259211; 223-6284

Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045

Republic Park family needs an experienced caregiver between ages 45-55, live in, 1 week on 1 week off-$13,000.

Call: 667-2535

Specialised in A/C installation, service, repair fridges, freezer & re-gas systems.Call:656-6708,648-3955 Ramdass Visa application & immigration services, room A-4, Maraj Building, Georgetown. Call Samantha: 227-0295; 615-9295 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Visa! Visa! Visa! Need help filling your visa application forms? Contact: 231-9484; 602-8569 – Mon-Fri 08:0004:00

1 Cook, 1 Waitress, 1 Cleaner, 1 Receptionist, living around Leonora to Parika. Apply in person @ Double Day Hotel /Call: 642-6664 Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 I.T Network Technician, Email CV to jobs@awngy.com 1 Experienced baker, 2 experienced pastry makers and 2 security personnel, apply at Humphrey’s Bakery.

Tel: 225-7864; 227-8607

Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822

Building Construction: house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362

Saturday June 04, 2016

Kaieteur News

Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic – Call: 223-7500 Monday –Saturday between 8:15am-4:15pm FOOD WHOLESALE COMPANY LOOKING FOR SALESPERSON WITH EXPERIENCED AND VEHICLE, POLICE CLEARANCE A+. CALL: 231-8529/ 231-8344 Persons to sew. Call: 2254673; 666-3208 Female domestic to work in Trinidad, must be educated and know to cook. Between 25-55 years. Call 1868- 683-1528 General sales assistant/ porter, must be able to handle multi-tasking working. Apply @ Sparkle Trading, MetenMeer-Zorg.

Delivery clerk between ages 25-30 years must have driver’s license & police clearance. Call: 223-0090 Kitchen assistant, male/ female between ages 20-35 @ Courbane Park, Annandale, ECD next to Modern Grafix.

Call Abdul: 687-3640 1 Cook, 1 Assistant Cook, 2 Girls to work in Bar, 1 girl to work in internet @ Interior Location. Call: 665-5812; 2332186; 661-0532

CAKES & PASTRIES Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery; also edible images and Wedding dresses for sale. 1 Male to cook in the Backdam. Call: 678-0565 Call: 670-0798 LEARN TO DRIVE Attractive live in waitressSoman, Son & Outar Driving Call: 327-0252/674-4665 School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615- One male cook for the Interior.

Call: 681-3801 0964; 689-5997

RA Soda Factory Rosignol, Berbice: bond & billing clerks, experienced accountants, machine operator with mechanical ideas. Call: 330-2399/623-5920 Hopetown Gas Station (Guyoil): Pump attendants for night and day shifts. Call: 330-2399 Nail technician, Must know to do airbrush @ Nalline’s Beauty Salon @ Vreed-enHoop Junction. Call: 2640034; 625-3899 One driver Expediter must have a lorry license contact # 223-5273 Accounts Clerk 5 CXC, Maths, English & Accounting. Apply rtilak@ adamantiumholdings.com Experienced cleaner bartenders. Call: 225-8572 between 7:00-9:00AM

FOR SALE

VEHICLE FOR SALE

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

2009 ALLION -$2.8M, 2009 RAUM -$2.2M, 2010 IST$2.6M, 2009 FIELDER $2.5M, 2011 AXELA -$2.6M. CALL: 617-2891

Toyota Hilux Vigo, ex cab 4WD, gas, 2700cc, 2TR Auto cc, 2006.

Call: 616-5595; 674- 0434 Rotweiler pups - 622-6646/ 652-8511 One dump truck GMM series, reasonably price. Call: 220-3044 1 Houselot @ Crane Housing Scheme; 1 two storey house @ La Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 626-4841 or 683-6674 Six hole- 20” mag rims for Tundra/Tacoma, steering rock for tundra-Call: 6381829; 220-1630

1 Mitsubishi Galant -$900,000, 1 Short based canter -$1.5M, 1 Long base canter -$2.3M, 1 Leyland dump -$500,000.

Call: 604-6724 Honda Civic M/Car -$1.5M PSS, Kawasaki Ninja M/Cycle – 250cc -$375,000. Call: 696-2815 One 19 Seater pit-bull, high top minibus, immaculate condition. Call: 692-9374; 6434188

Zinc Sheet, Spindle, shutters & grills. Call: 625-9358; 667-7512

New RX8 (red) rotary 7 engine, new rims, music kickers, lambo doors. Owner migrating. Call: 261-5401; 6802095

One arch-welding set for sale. Call: 618-9010

Ford F350 4X4 35’rims + tyres, lift kit 2005, diesel fully loaded auto. Call: 610-5370

1 Complete cabin cruiser, excellent condition also top catch seines. Call: 654-2817; 622-2958

Pit-bull BRR, owner leaving country -$2.2M. Call: 2258365; 695-4308

Lovely terrier pups for sale.

Call: 696-7467 anytime.

Unregistered new model Toyota Spacio -$1.9M- Call: 227-5950; 681-7117

Dachshund Puppies $15,000, de-wormed. Call: 216-0521; 694-3567 1-45 Leyland DAF (blue) $2.2M.Contact260-4018/661-9096 Forever Stylish Boutique for sale; turn key business located at Sharon’s Building Mall. Call: 667-7544 Husky Pup. Tel: 699-7077/ 619-6086

Two experienced pastries maker, apply at Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products Ltd, 38 Ketley & Sussex Streets Charlestown. Call: 225-7864; 227-8607

Muscovy Ducklings-Call: 602-7203

Full time pharmacist for two weeks & part time pharmacist for evenings @ Pharma Choice Pharmacy @ Durban & Lousia Rowe. Call: 661-3124

518C CAT Skidder tyres 95% winch working, CF Hauler triple axel trailer, Bedford TL dump truck, JCB 4X4 Forklift.

Call: 626-0352 VACANCY

Site Engineer- experienced needed; safety engineerexperienced need, age 25-45, very good salary and conditions. Call: 261-2280; 261-2280; 668-7104

1 Toyota Caldina Wagon, good condition. Call Benji: 612-3706

German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix pups for sale. Call: 6411771 or 654-0388

Sales Representative (with license), Security Guards (with valid police clearance).

Apply to: jkeshwani.alesi@gmail.com

Reduce Prices- unregistered 2005-2007 Allion $2.3M$2.7M, 2003 Sports Model Mazda -$2.3M, 2006 Bluebird -$2.250M. Call: 626-7478 Sale: CAT 324, Doosan 175 Excavator Dump trucks TM & Scammell 8X6, Crusher, jackhammer, wash plant, conveyors- Call: 626-7478 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 1 Leyland DAF LF HIAB truck 5 ton HIAB new, hardly used GTT 2960 -$4M. Call: 622-6746 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pit-bull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 1 FUSO Crane GTT 20 -$4M; 1 HINO ranger wrecker GVV1890 -$4M, 1 HIAB Canter GTT 7140 -$3.5M. (negotiable) Call: 622-6746

Operator (bulldozer) experienced needed, age 2545, very good working conditions. Call: 261-2280; 261-2280; 668-7104

CCTV Technician with knowledge of fire & burglar alarm systems will work along with senior technician.

Call: 261-5401; 680-2095

Toyota AT212, AT192, LTouring Wagon, Solid Def pickup 4X4, RZ, Runx, Canter, Honda CAPA. Call: 644-5096; 697-1453

Carnegie trained chef/ cook. Call: 600-7388; 2257933 or visit us at 173 Sherriff Street.

Live in/live out female bartender -$20,000 weekly; 3 waitresses -$16,000 weekly, 1 cook @ E.B.D. Call/ Whatsapp: 661-8802 TO LET

1 Toyota Runx, 16" mag flair kit, excellent condition $1.250M, PMM series. Call: 626-1423; 220-8350

Experienced bartender, chef, live in/out waitresses & bouncers needed @ Eden Bar & Lounge @ Garden of Eden, E.B.D. Call: 652-0074

Fast food spot for rent at Ashmin’s Building, first month rent free. Call: 683-7954

2 Unregistered new Model Tacoma, Mag rims, crash bars, step, etc, Tacoma Parts for sale. Call: 695-6461; 6397758

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Vreed-en-Hoop Junction: church, office, lessons place, storage bond, private school, others -$20,000- Call: 603-6400 Apartments for rent @ ‘B’ Field Sophia, Denise Street Entrance, the street after King of King store. Call: 6020261 Fully furnished 2 storey house with 3 AC bedrooms, security & sensor lights, etc at Gated Community. Call: 685-5845; 668-8714; 612-3400 2 Bedroom apartments to rent in Diamond for couple or single -$35,000 – Call: 6417369 (on Sunday call after 1pm) 2-2 Bedrooms apartment for rent @ Eccles. Call: 628-0016; 667-2536

LAND FOR SALE Houselots, gated community, West Bank of Harbour Bridge, concrete road, concrete pave & drain, light & water. Tel: 650-0402/ 260-4988 House lots, Blankenburg, Concrete road, concrete drain, light & water, also 3bedroom houses -$16M. Tel: 650-0402/260-4988 Houselots @ De Grout Scheme, Uitvlugt -$2.5M, Tuschen -$1.2M, Zeelugt$1.2M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.3M &1.2M. Call: 642-1252 20 Acres of lease land at Laluni with Egg Farm ($20M) . Call: 670-1293; 675-8264 La Parfaite Harmonie $1M, $1.4M, $2.5M, $1.6M, Leonora -$3M, Stewartville Public Road$8M, P r o v i d e n c e $ 5 M , Eccles -$5.5M. Call: 6046724 One houselot for sale @ Lot 30 First Street Craig, EBD. Call: 645-8862 Eccles -$6M, Herstelling (corner lot) 100ftX50ft)-$3M , La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.3M & $2M, Bartica -$2.8M, Also Caribbean Land. Call: 6042207; 611-7223 (Continued on page 24)

Saturday June 04, 2016

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Food For The Poor Food For The Poor (Guy) Incorporated will be celebrating its 25th anniversary of quality service to Guyana today. The anniversary celebrations will officially be launched with a Day of Reflection at the Police Training Centre, Camp Street, Georgetown from 9:00hrs.

This will be followed by the ‘’Anniver-

From page 21

sary Thanksgiving Church Service” tomorrow, at St. Theresa’s R.C. Church, Stone Avenue, Campbellville starting at 16:00hrs. There will be an exhibition of some of the various items Food For The Poor distributes to the poor on June 8 and June 9, 2016 This exhibition will commence at 09:00hrs.each day and will be

held at the Police Officers Mess, Eve Leary.

The organization’s 25th Anniversary Dinner is scheduled to be held on Saturday June 25, 2016 at the Guyana Pegasus Hotel. The gathering will be addressed by President and Chief Executive Officer of Food For The Poor Inc, Florida, Mr. Robin Mahfood. That programme

begins at 19:30hrs. FFTP’s month of activities concludes with a Fitness Walk and Health Fair on July 3, 2016 beginning at approximately 7:00 hours in front of the Bank of Guyana building, Main and Church Streets. It concludes in the National Park. Theme: “Walk of Champions – Be a Champion for the Poor.”

PAGE 24

Saturday June 04, 2016

Kaieteur News

Murder accused opting for lesser count...

From page 3 with the evidence and caused the trial Judge, Justice Beharry, to direct the Jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

In one of the two murder cases, the Jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty for the accused. In the one other case, the Jury failed to reach a verdict and the accused was remanded back to prison to await a new trial.

The accused in the trial for the offence of rape of a child under 16 was acquitted after the Jury returned a not guilty verdict.

The accused in the two separate matters for the offence of manslaughter were both acquitted.

Justice Jo-Ann Barlow completed eight matters; five for the offence of murder, one for wounding with intent, one for the offence of rape of a child under 16 and one for the offence of rape.

In one of the five murder cases, Justice Barlow sentenced the accused to life imprisonment after the Jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty. This prisoner becomes eligible for parole after he would have served 25 years in jail.

In two other murder trials, the accused both pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter and were respectively sentenced to 13 years imprisonment and 14 years 9 months imprisonment.

In another murder trial, the accused will have to await a new trial because the Jury failed to reach a verdict. In one other murder trial in which two accused were indicted, the number one accused was acquitted by the jury.

The number two accused was unanimously found guilty by the Jury and sentenced at the Court's pleasure.

Trial Judge Jo-Ann Barlow ordered that he undergoes counselling and to participate in academic classes in prison.

This prisoner will be evaluated in April 2018.

The case for the offence of wounding with intent was withdrawn from the Jury by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow after the caution statement which was admitted into evidence revealed the accused acted in self-defence. The Jury was then directed by the trial Judge to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

In the one matter for the offence of rape of a child under 16, the victim informed the Court that she did not wish to proceed with the matter and the trial Judge directed the Jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

The accused in the one matter for the offence of rape was acquitted by the Jury.

Twenty-seven matters were nolle prosequi by the DPP. Of these 27 matters, five were for the offence of rape, three matters for the offence of murder, six for manslaughter, two rape of a child under 16, two for the offence of buggery, one for carnal knowledge of a girl under 15 and one matter each for the offences of sexual activity with a child family member, fraudulent misappropriation, obtaining by false pretence, causing death by dangerous driving, break and enter and larceny, wounding with intent to commit murder, throwing noxious substance and carnal knowledge of girl between 15 and 16 years.

In 18 cases for the offences of rape, murder, manslaughter, buggery, fraudulent misappropriation, obtaining by false pretence, causing death by dangerous driving, break and enter and larceny

and wounding with intent to commit murder the main witnesses could not be located.

These were all old cases which were committed more than ten years ago.

Another nine cases were nolle prosequi for the offences of sexual activity with

a child family member, wounding with intent to commit murder, rape of a child under 16 years, throwing noxious substance, rape and carnal knowledge of a girl under 15 years because the VC's indicated in writing that they did not wish to proceed with their matters.

(From page 22)

EDUCATIONAL $20,000 Discount For CXC 2016 Student, 9 Course Diploma in Computers @ MicroGraphics; Vreed-EnHoop/Parika. Call: 264-3057 Computerized Accounting 4 Courses $35,000.00, PCRepairs $35,000, Graphics Courses $35,000@ MicroGraphics, Vreed-EnHoop/Parika. Call: 264-3057 I.A.E Classes for CSEC January/June 2017: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subject for Students, Adults & repeaters. Call: 683-5742

PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Corner property in Grove, 1 block from Main Road- Flat House, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572 House & Land @ Uitvlugt $4.5M. Call: 642-1252 La Parfaite Harmonie -$6.5M, $20M, Tuschen -$10M, V/ Hoop -$16M. Call: 604-6724 Newly built property for sale, Block 8 MonRepos, E.C.D $14.8M. Call: 654-4312; 657-5530 House & land for sale @ Kuru Kururu. Call: 664-2576 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities -$41M –Call: 6629335; 612-3244 Well built 2 family houses at Lot 32 Ann’s Grove H/ Scheme. Call: 623-5423 2 Storey house, 5 bedrooms semi-furnished, 65 Palmyra Village, East Canje Berbice, price negotiable. Call: 6706688; 621-2066 Enmore: Hope West, 1-two storey 3 bedrooms wooden building, overlooking FoulisCall: 602-2818; 649-1434 1-3 rooms flat concrete house, fully grilled, large shed 20X15 @ Belle West, Canal #2, price -$10M negotiable. Call: 643-0202 (Vet) One roadside, 2 storey building @ V/Hoop, ground excellent for restaurant or other business –Call: 6540779

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM

Saturday June 04, 2016

Syrian army opens new front as Islamic State’s many foes attack (Reuters) - The Syrian army backed by Russian air strikes has opened a major new front against Islamic State, the third big assault on the self-proclaimed caliphate this week after Iraqi forces attempted to storm a city and a Syrian militia advanced with U.S. support.

The week’s three big offensives are some of the most aggressive campaigns against Islamic State since it declared its aim to rule over all Muslims from parts of Iraq and Syria two years ago.

They signal apparent new resolve by the group’s disparate foes on a range of fronts.

Heavy Russian air strikes hit Islamic State-held territory in eastern areas of Syria’s Hama province, near the boundary of Raqqa province yesterday. Raqqa city, further east, is Islamic State’s de facto capital in Syria and, along with Mosul in Iraq, the ultimate goal of those seeking to destroy the group’s rule.

The Syrian army had advanced some 20 km (13 miles) and was now near the edge of the provincial boundary, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group that monitors the war.

Separately, U.S.-backed militias, including a Syrian Kurdish force called the YPG and new Arab allies recruited to fight alongside it, have been pressing a multipronged attack against Islamic State in other parts of Raqqa province and neighbouring Aleppo province.

This week, they began a push towards the city of Manbij near the Turkish border, aiming to seize the last 80-km (50-mile) stretch of Turkish-Syrian frontier under Islamic State control and cut the group’s main external link for manpower and supplies.

The U.S. military said on Friday its allies were advancing against heavy resistance from Islamic State. If successful, the Manbij campaign would free 40,000 civilians from Islamic State control.

The YPG and its Arab allies, who formed the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) last year, have proven to be the first force in Syria allied to the United States that has been effective in fighting against Islamic State.

The SDF has taken 28 villages from Islamic State in its push towards Manbij, the Syrian Observatory said, and had freed more than a dozen

women from the Yazidi minority who were taken by Islamic State fighters from Sinjar in Iraq.

U.S. President Barack Obama has authorised several hundred special forces troops to operate in Syria, some of whom are deployed as advisers in the latest advance.

The Kurdish fighters’ progress has been limited in the past by Turkey, which considers them enemies. But Ankara has signalled its tacit support for the latest advance, saying it understands most fighters involved will be Arabs, not Kurds.

“RACE FOR RAQQA” The Syrian army’s new offensive was described in a pro-Damascus Lebanese newspaper as part of “the race for Raqqa” - with the government and its Russian allies trying to advance on Islamic State’s de facto Syrian capital before it falls to the fighters allied to the Americans.

A Syrian military source played this down. Reports the offensive targeted Raqqa were only “expectations”, he said, and both Raqqa and Deir al-Zor, another Islamic Stateheld city in eastern Syria, were possible targets.

Syrian government warplanes killed at least 15 people in air raids on the town of alBoulil in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor on Friday, the Syrian Observatory said, saying four women and a child were among those killed.

Whatever its ultimate target, the offensive appears to be the biggest Damascus has mounted against Islamic State since it recaptured the city of Palmyra with Russian support earlier this year. In the past, the United States has accused Assad and his Russian backers of ignoring Islamic State to take on other foes.

Islamic State’s brutal rule, featuring mass killings, forced conversions and rape, has made it the enemy of all global powers and regional countries. But five years of civil war in Syria, a feeble Iraqi state and global and sectarian rivalries among outside powers have made it impossible to coordinate a single campaign against it.

In Iraq, government troops supported both by U.S.-led coalition air strikes and Iranian-backed Shi’ite militia, poured into the southern outskirts of the Islamic State bastion Falluja on Monday. They have since held their positions for four straight days without advancing into the main built-up areas of the city.

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Guyana Chronicle did little to collect $$M owed by advertisers

Former GNNL Chairperson, Marcia Nadir-Sharma A special audit report on the Guyana National Newspaper Limited (GNNL), publisher of the Guyana Chronicle, has found that the entity did little to collect millions of dollars owed by advertisers.

As far back as December 2011, the state-owned newspaper was owed as much as $60M. This crept up to $102M at the end of last year.

The newspaper ’s circulations and finances were in deep trouble last year when the new administration took over.

It was known that political interference and clear biasness helped worsen the fortunes.

The audit, conducted by accounting firm, Harry Parmesar, explained that its scope included a determination of the entity’s adherence to and fulfilment of principles of corporate governance in all aspects, including its interpretation of its mission, adherence to legal or statutory and policy instruments and good practices.

The audit was also to assess and test systems and detect any instances of corporate malfeasance and inefficiency for remedial and/ or judicial interventions and systems realignment.

The firm was also to determine the authenticity and validity of significant commercial and financial transactions entered into by the entity with related parties, suppliers and customers and measure the extent of potential prejudice the entity may have suffered through such dealing, if any.

In its opinion, Parmesar concluded that the Board of Directors did not execute its duties with due diligence, skill, care and prudence.

That Board up to May last

year was chaired by Marcia Nadir-Sharma with the Directors being Jason Abdulla; Vidyawattie Looknauth; Jawahar Persaud; Hydar Ally, Tota Mangar and Kwame McCoy. The entity appeared not interested in ensuring that its financial statements were upto-date with the last audit completed for 2013.

“There was poor oversight over trade receivables with a balance of $102,489,156 outstanding as at 31 May 2015.”

The top 10 customers owed $88.98M as at May 31, 2015.

Former Director, Kwame McCoy “There is no Internal Audit Department. Statutory records were not maintained by the company.”

According to the audit report, based on review, it was found that a few advertisements were not invoiced to Video Mega Production – an agent for the coalition government of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)/Alliance for Change (AFC). That company owed over $263,000.

With regard to the large amount of money owed by advertisers, the Government Information Agency (GINA),

which places ads on behalf of ministries and other government entities, was the biggest culprit, owing over $74M at the end of last year.

Video Mega, a company associated with Minister of Tourism, owed $3M. The National Communications Network had $1.5M. Among other notable findings was the fact that nine vehicles, not being owned by GNNL, were allowed to collect over $2.5M in gas last year.

Management of the company later explained that six of the nine vehicles were rentals.

PAGE 26

PM orders help for Venezuela

Prime Minister Andrew Holness looks at a substation at Wigton III, a 24-megawatt expansion of the wind farm in Rose Hill, Manchester, following the official opening of the facility Thursday. The wind farm is expected to generate 63,072 megawatt hours of energy annually and will reduce oil consumption by 37,000 barrels per year. This will save Jamaica over $230 million. Photo: JIS MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Arguing that Jamaica should never consider itself too poor to help others, Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he has issued instructions for ways to be found to help economically and socially distressed Venezuela.

“We will do what we can within our means to play our part…,” Holness told his audience at the commissioning of Wi g t o n windfarm phase III at Rose Hill in windswept south Manchester Thursday.

Venezuelan help was instrumental in the third phase of the wind energy project launched a year ago with the bulk of the US$45-million financing coming from the preferential Venezuela/Caribbean oil alliance, PetroCaribe.

Wigton III, which follows other major wind projects at Rose Hill, Wigton I and Wigton II, is tipped to reduce Jamaica’s national oil consumption by 37,100 barrels per year and save the country more than $230 million annually.

Holness said PetroCaribe

Saturday June 04, 2016

Kaieteur News

“has been critically helpful to Jamaica” with built-in concessionary and developmental arrangements “given to us from the people of Venezuela”.

In such circumstances, he suggested, Jamaica had “a duty and responsibility” to assist Venezuelans in their “time of need”.

“I have given directions to our Government to look into ways in which kindness and facilitation that h a v e been given by the people of Venezuela to Jamaica, that Jamaica also has a duty and obligation to ensure that in their (Venezuela’s) time of need that we, too, can provide some assistance…”

Holness said.

Partly as a result of rapidly falling oil prices since last year, oil-rich Venezuela has been hit hard by food, fuel and other material shortages in recent months. The shortages have fuelled severe social unrest and triggered intense pressure for Venezuela’s Socialist President Nicolas Maduro to resign. The Venezuelan Government has accused the political opposition and hostile

outside forces of encouraging the unrest.

Holness argued Thursday that “Jamaica must never consider itself too poor a country to help. We are a country that is rich in kindness, rich in consideration and we always stand up for democracy, peace, tranquility and prosperity …”

Maduro visited Jamaica recently and held talks with Holness as part of a push to bolster regional support.

A fast-moving Holness declined to take questions from journalists at the end of yesterday’s commissioning. However, Energy Minister Andrew Wheatley told the Jamaica Observer that the Government was exploring possibilities, including providing Jamaican goods to Venezuela using PetroCaribe money.

“We are looking at a contribution to the people of Venezuela through, say, the PetroCaribe Fund where we can assist them by giving them goods using funds from PetroCaribe to purchase Jamaican goods … a win-win situation,” he said.

Wheatley said another way would be “straight contribution without the cost being borne by the PetroCaribe Fund”.

Economic analysts say Jamaica and other non-oil producing economies in the Latin American and Caribbean benefited immensely from Venezuela’s concessionary PetroCaribe arrangement at a time when global oil prices were soaring.

(Jamaica Observer)

Thousands protest against Suriname govt.

PA R A M A R I B O , Suriname - CMC – For the second time in three weeks thousands, on Thursday, took to the streets of Paramaribo protesting against austerity measures from the Desi Bouterse led administration.

Some protestors called for Bouterse to “go home” while others denounced price hikes for electricity and water.

The protest was organised by several worker’s unions and private sector organisations who have stated that harsher times are coming with another hike in the price of electricity coming in September this year and January 2017.

In a petition presented to speaker of the house, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, the protestors claim that inflation has risen to 46 per cent, while the national currency is los-

ing its value everyday due to an “incompetent monetary policy by the government”.

“Numerous public servants, pensioners, disabled persons and others who have become victims of the ongoing financial and economic crisis are serious financial problems and should be immediately compensated for the inflation”, protesters said in the petition.

Last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a Stand-by Agreement of US$ 478 million to boost the government’s economic restructuring program amid a drop in commodity prices.

The IMF also announced that it will immediately disburse US$81 million as part of a two-year agreement.

However, Members of Parliament from the opposition voiced their anger in par-

liament on Tuesday, accusing the government of by-passing the legislative in its engagement with IMF to strike the loan agreement.

The restructuring program aims to strengthen Suriname’s public finances following a drop in prices for its principal commodities namely gold and oil.

According to the IMF the sustained drop in the prices of gold and oil has caused substantial external and fiscal deficits, and international reserves have declined significantly.

These negative external developments, combined with the closure of Suriname’s alumina refinery in late 2015, have pushed the economy into a recession. “Implementing the structural reform agenda is essential to ensure a prosperous future for Suriname,” the IMF said in a statement.

OAS secretary general invokes Democratic Charter on Venezuela WASHINGTON, USA — In a letter dated May 31, 2016, to the chairman of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Permanent Council, Secretary General Luis Almagro requested the convening of an urgent session of the Permanent Council of member states between June 10 and 20, 2016, in accordance with Article 20 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, to address the situation in Venezuela.

Almagro cited part of Article 20, which states, “…the Secretary General may request the immediate convocation of the Permanent Council to undertake a collective assessment of the situation and to take such decisions as it deems appropriate.”

The Permanent Council, depending on the situation, may decide to undertake the necessary diplomatic efforts to promote the normalization of the situation and restore democratic institutions.

If diplomatic efforts prove unsuccessful or if the urgency of the situation warrants, the Permanent Council shall immediately convene a special session of the General Assembly so that it may take whatever decisions it considers appropriate, including diplomatic efforts, in accordance with the OAS Charter, international law, and the provisions outlined in

Luis Almagro

the Democratic Charter.

During this process, the necessary diplomatic efforts to promote the normalization of the situation and restore democratic institutions will be undertaken.

According to Almagro, this process should address the “alteration of the Constitutional order” and how this gravely affects “the democratic order” of Venezuela, based on the complaints submitted to the secretary general by the National Assembly of Venezuela, as well as considerations of fact and law.

However, in quoting from Article 20 in his letter, Almagro failed to specify the qualifying event that triggers the Article, namely, an “unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously impairs the democratic order in a member state”, a provision intended primarily

to cover coups d’état.

It is arguable, and no doubt will be argued that the situation in Venezuela does not amount to an unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously impairs the democratic order, since efforts are underway in the country by the opposition parties to work within the provisions of the constitution.

Further, in the interim, “The necessary diplomatic initiatives, including good offices, to foster the restoration of democracy, will continue during the process”, which may in turn be hampered by the requirement in Article 18 that any visits or other actions in order to analyze the situation requires the prior consent of the government concerned, consent that is unlikely to be given.

(Caribbean News)

Saturday June 04, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Saturday June 04, 2016

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U.S. falters in campaign to revive Iraqi army, officials say (Reuters Exclusive) - A 17-month U.S. effort to retrain and reunify Iraq’s regular army has failed to create a large number of effective Iraqi combat units or limit the power of sectarian militias, according to current and former U.S. military and civilian officials.

Concern about the shortcomings of the American attempt to strengthen the Iraqi military comes as Iraqi government forces and Shi’ite militias have launched an offensive to retake the city of Falluja from Islamic State. Aid groups fear the campaign could spark a humanitarian catastrophe, as an estimated 50,000 Sunni civilians remain trapped in the besieged town.

The continued weakness of regular Iraqi army units and reliance on Shi’ite militias, current and former U.S. military officials said, could impede Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s broader effort to defeat Islamic State and win the long-term support of Iraqi Sunnis. The sectarian divide between the majority Shi’ite and minority Sunni communities threatens to split the country for good.

Critics agree that there have been some military successes, citing the continued victories of American-trained Iraqi Special Forces, who have been fighting Islamic State for two years. But the presence of 4,000 American troops has failed to change the underlying Iraqi political dynamics that fuel the rise and growing power of sectarian militias.

Retired U.S. Lieutenant General Mick Bednarek, who commanded the U.S. military training effort in Iraq from 2013 to 2015, said the Iraqi army has not improved dramatically in the past eight months. He blamed a variety of problems, from a lack of Iraqis wanting to join the military to the resistance of some lower-level Iraqi officers to sending units to American training.

“The Iraqi military’s capacity hasn’t improved that much - part of that is the continuing challenge of recruitment and retention,” said Bednarek. “Our (officers) train who shows up, and the issue is we are not sure who is going to show up.”

Two senior U.S. military officers and Bednarek said that with few exceptions, the most effective and only truly non-sectarian Iraqi government fighting force is the Iraqi Special Forces, sometimes called the Counter-Terrorism Service. American officials expressed worry that the Special Forces units may

burn out after nearly two years of continuous combat.

MILITIAINFLUENCE Across Iraq, regular Iraqi army units have largely watched from the sidelines as Iraqi Special Forces and Shi’ite militias have reclaimed land from Islamic State, current and former U.S. military officials said. Militias have repeatedly taken advantage of the power vacuums that have emerged after Islamic State defeats.

The Iraqi military operations command of Salahuddin province, north of Baghdad, is dominated by a Shi’ite militia leader, Abu Mehdi Mohandis, according to a current U.S. military officer, an Iraqi security official and three Iraqi officials who monitor the province.

Mohandis serves as the chief state administrator for Shi’ite paramilitary forces.

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned him in 2009 for allegedly attacking U.S. forces in Iraq. He was also convicted in absentia by Kuwaiti courts for the 1983 bombings of the U.S. and French embassies in Kuwait.

The Fifth Iraqi Army Division in eastern Diyala province is considered to be under the command of the Badr group, a powerful Shi’ite militia and political party with strong ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, according to four current and former U.S. military officers.

In Baghdad, U.S. military officers estimate that 10 percent to 20 percent of the 300 officers who run the Iraqi military’s Operations Command have an affinity or association with either the Badr militia or the Shi’ite religious leader Muqtada al Sadr.

And after Iraqi Special Forces, aided by U.S. air strikes, captured a strategic oil refinery in the town of Baiji in October, Shi’ite militias looted all of its salvageable equipment, according to a senior U.S. military official and three Iraqi government officials.

Over the past year, U.S. military officers have struggled to ensure that militias do not seize American weaponry delivered to the main Iraqi army supply depot in Taji and to a brigade in the Saqlawiya region.

“We would transfer arms to units in those areas - and either because of corrupt commanders or outright robbery - they would end up in the hands of the militia groups,” said one U.S. officer.

The officer noted, however, that controls have been tightened and the number of cases

was small. “You can’t eliminate it entirely. It’s just not realistic.”

“AN OFFICIAL BODY” Iraqi government and senior paramilitary leaders said the reports of poor training and Shi’ite militia dominance in the military are false. They said the militias follow the orders of the prime minister and his military commanders.

Iraqi defense ministry spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Rasool called the militias “an official body connected with the office of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.” He said they take their orders only from government officials and “have a great role in supporting the army forces and the federal police.”

Mohammed Bayati, a former human rights minister and senior Badr group leader, now commands forces in northern Salahuddin Province. He said the Shi’ite paramilitaries fall under the army, police and regular military chain-of-command.

Bayati told Reuters that any reports of militias operating on their own were false.

“Yesterday, I was in the Salahuddin Operations Command,” he said. “All orders are coming from the police and army leadership.” The Shi’ite militias “are supporting the army and police.”

The spokesman for the government umbrella body that oversees the militias, Ahmed Al-Asadi, said the Shi’ite forces did not loot the Baiji refinery. “I deny totally such allegations,” he said.

Islamic State, he said, stole and destroyed equipment.

The office of Prime Minister Abadi and the Iraqi Embassy in Washington didn’t respond to requests for comment.

AMERICAN CONCERNS But current and former U.S. military officials and local Sunni leaders say the militias continue to take advantage of the vacuums that emerge in predominantly Sunni areas after Islamic State forces are defeated. A lack of strong regular army units allows the militias to remain the dominant players.

Norman Ricklefs, a former U.S. government adviser to the Iraqi interior and defense ministries, said the state has still not filled the void in most areas retaken from ISIS. He said militias are the most powerful they have been since Iraqi government forces defeated them in a series of battles across Iraq in 2008.

Ricklefs regularly visits Iraq and maintains ties with the Iraqi security apparatus and Shi’ite and Sunni politicians.

Saturday June 04, 2016

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

2J’s on board Soft Shoes Football Competition 2J’s General Store joined the growing list of corporate entities to add its support to the Petra Organization / Ministry of Health under the ‘Stop Gender-based Violence’ theme Soft Shoes Football Competition, after pledging an undisclosed sum to the event’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) prize yesterday, during a simple ceremony, at the Company’s location on Regent Street yesterday.

Petra Organization CoDirector Troy Mendonca speaking at the occasion thanked the entity for its support, informing that it will go a long way in contributing to the success of the event.

2J’s Representative Melissa Torab in her response said the entity is

extremely pleased to be on board once again and urged the Organisers to ensure that the competition is run to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

The event kicked on Monday May 31 at the Ministry of Health ground on Brickdam and Vlissengen Road and is expected to conclude on June 18. The tournament features 24 community based teams competing in an initial group stage format with matches set to be hosted at the Tu c v i l l e , We s t Ruimveldt and Ministry of Health grounds.

The competing teams are defending champ Sparta Boss, Back Circle, Campbellville, West Back Road, Charlestown, Bent

Street, Old School Ballers, Cross Street Werk-En-Rust, Stevedore Housing Scheme, Sophia, Holmes Street- Tiger Bay, California Square, West Front Road, Queen Street Tiger Bay, Broad Street, Upsetters, East Front Road, North Ruimveldt, Alexander Village, Leopold Street, Channel 9, North East La Penitence, Albouystown and Globe Yard.

The winning team will take home $300,000 and the Championship trophy while the second, third and fourth placed teams will collect $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. Other sponsors are GTT, Lucky Dollar, Nigel Supermarket, Junior’s Jewellery, Star Party Rentals and 2J’s General Store.

Saturday June 04, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You can enhance your cash flow if you pick up additional skills. Be cautious while traveling; minor accidents are evident. You will find the perfect outfit if you shop today.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Try and avoid getting involved in idle chatter or gossip that might get you in trouble. You will have to face each issue separately and in person.

You will find it easy finalizing personal papers if you make an effort.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) New romantic relationships will develop through group activity related to sports events. Educational courses will be stimulating and successful. Communication will be the source of your knowledge and you must be sure to spend time with those who have more experience.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your need to put great detail into everything you do may cause you to miss the overall picture.

To avoid any minor health problems, don't get too stressed. Catch up on overdue phone calls and correspondence.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Reevaluate your position and make decisions about your future goals. You can learn a great deal if you listen to those who are older or more experienced. Socializing will be more than just entertaining.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Avoid any erratic behavior or it could cause isolation at home. Use your added dis-

cipline to get what you want.

Be sure not to reveal private information to the wrong individuals.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may have ignored or neglected your mate lately. Concern yourself with legal matters and formulating contracts rather than finalizing your objectives.

If you take on too much of a financial burden you may make yourself ill.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You're best to channel your energy into work. Channel your energy into decorating or household chores. You will be highly sensitive to comments made by your lover.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may be angry if someone tries to take credit for something you did. Partnerships may be plentiful. You may get upset with peers or relatives.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Try not to lend or borrow money t o d a y. Yo u n e e d more space for the whole family. Investments that deal with property will pay off but could cause conflict with some family members.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Do something special for them. This will not be the best day for communication or travel. Keep on your toes when dealing with others.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Deception will play an important factor in relationships.

Do not confront situations unless you are sure you have a good understanding of the dilemma.

Your social activity should be conducive to finding love.

2J’s Representative Melissa Torab hands over the cheque for the Most Valuable Player to Petra Organization representative Mark Alleyne in the presence of Co-Director Troy Mendonca (left) and fellow staffers yesterday.

Defending champion Downes hungry for...

(From page 29) interested. ”Tennis is a very expensive sport, as a matter of fact all sports are expensive as effective training is a critical factor in achieving the expected outcome. However how can one train properly if they cannot afford the basic equipment and resources needed to enhance their ability to compete effectively? This is not just jumping unto a tennis court and hitting a ball, it is more than just that. The balls to train, the rackets to train, the right foods to eat while training and so much more are critically important in the overall success of this” he said.

He admitted that had it not been for the generous support and assistance of a number of persons and companies his growth and development in the sport would have been impossible.

Meanwhile, Competition Coordinator Robert Bostwick disclosed that this year’s competition has seen the largest number of participations with some 60+ persons slated to compete in the various categories.

He said that he expects a very high level of competition noting that despite the challenges in terms of preparations, everything is in place for the eagerly anticipated competition. He boasted that the GBTI competition is one

of the most sought after competitions owing to the level and standard; prizes are equally attractive also. ”This is a competition that is considered to be the best within Guyana and this year we will see some competitors representing Uganda and Brazil,” he added.

While Downes is the Male Open defending champion, Nicola Ramdyan is the Female defending champion.

The mixed doubles was won last year by Daniel Lowe and Aretta Dey, while the male doubles defending champions are Jason Andrews and Anthony Downes; Afruica Gentle and Carol Humphrey won the female doubles title.

Guyana face USVI in crucial match...

(From page 31) chances and this caused us to score twice.”

Scoring for Guyana were Sheldon Holder in the 18th minute and Brandon Beresford in the 78th minute.

For Curacao which used professional players were Felitciano Zschusschen in the 7th, 61st and 89th minute and Gina Van Kessel hammered in the 42nd and 63rd minute.

The Guyanese were without a number of key players including regular Captain

Final preliminary...

(From page 31) was decided that the provisional suspension of the club will be lifted and the three points deducted from the Club will be restored; however, the club will still be required to pay the fine imposed.

Additionally, the three players in question, Gregory Richardson, Omallo Williams and Travis Grant, have remained suspended and have been written to and advised to submit statements of their version of events to the Disciplinary Committee; the deadline for submission was yesterday. The hearing with the Disciplinary Committee is scheduled for Friday next. As a result, the club will play today’s match without the players in question.

Christopher Nurse and standin Captain Samuel Cox will be hoping to lead his nation to a resounding win this evening.

Dover continued, “We agreed upon pressing USVI and trying to be more penetrative down the flanks.”

PAGE 30

Usain Bolt could lose Olympic gold medal over Nesta Carter doping reports

Nesta Carter (second from left) and Usain Bolt (second from right) won gold for Jamaica in Beijing.

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt could lose one of the three gold medals he won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Reuters report that the ‘A’ sample of one of his teammates in the 4x100m, Nesta Carter, was found to contain the banned substance Methylhexanamine.

The news comes after the retesting of 454 samples from the 2008 Games. Carter, who along with his agent has not replied to requests for comment, will face sanctions if his ‘B’ sample also tests positive for the substance.

The 30-year-old ran the first leg for Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team in Beijing, which also included Michael Frater, Asafa Powell and Bolt. The team took gold in what was then a new world record of

Saturday June 04, 2016

Kaieteur News

37.10 seconds, ahead of Trinidad and Tobago and Japan.

Carter was also a member of Jamaica’s gold medalwinning relay teams at the 2011, 2013 and 2015 World Championships as well as the 2012 Olympic Games. He has not run this season, because of a foot injury, but is expected to return to the track ahead of Jamaica’s Olympic trials from 30 June to 3 July.

Methylhexanamine has been on the World AntiDoping Agency (Wada) Code prohibited list since 2004, although it was reclassified on the 2011 list as a “specified substance”, meaning one that is more susceptible to a “credible, non-doping explanation”.

Sold as a nasal

decongestant in the United States until 1983, Methylhexanamine has been used more recently as an ingredient in dietary supplements.

The IOC programme of revisiting samples is aimed at using developments in testing techniques to expose traces of drugs that were undetectable in 2008 or 2012.

In previous doping cases where individual members of a medal-winning relay squads have tested positive for a banned substance, the whole team is stripped of their medal. The United States men’s 4x100m team were stripped of their silver medals from the 2012 Olympics after Tyson Gay’s doping case.

(BBCsport)

Gatlin digs deep, Ayana misses world record Rome (AFP) - Controversial American sprinter Justin Gatlin dug deep to edge to victory in the men’s 100m at Thursday’s Diamond League meeting, but Ethiopian Almaz Ayana just missed out on a new world record in the 5000m.

Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic 100m gold medallist who has served two doping bans, produced a savage dip at the line for victory by one-hundredth of a second in 9.93 seconds.

That dip was enough to deprive American teammate Ameer Webb, who had earlier won the 200m (20.04), a sprint double on a balmy night in the Italian capital. Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut also dipped under the 10sec mark with 9.99.

But it was not an American sweep of the blue riband event, Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson, in a season’s best 10.87sec, outstripping English Gardner in the women’s race. In a topquality meet, Ayana fell just short of toppling compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba’s world record of 14:11.15 in the women’s 5000m, clocking a second-ever fastest time of 14:12.59.

There was also talk of a record attempt in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, but that petered out, Kenyan Conseslus Kipruto winning in 8:01.47, almost 8sec off Saif Said Shahin’s best.

“I tried to push it too hard, but it did not work,” lamented Kipruto.

Two Olympic champions who have dominated their events, New Zealand’s Valerie Adams and Colombia’s Caterine Ibarguen, recorded victories in the women’s shot put and triple jump respectively.

Following up on her win in Rabat last week, Adams threw a season’s best of 19.69m as she continued to put last year’s injury woes

Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia competes in the Women’s 5.000m event. AFP Photo/ANDREAS SOLARO that necessitated knee surgery behind her.

Ibarguen extended her amazing winning streak to 34 races over the last four years with a final effort of 14.78m for victory.

South African track hopes for Rio look promising. In-form Caster Semenya made it three from three, equalling her own world leading time of 1:56.64 to win the women’s 800m.

And her teammate Wayde Van Niekerk, the world 400m champion who this year became the only male athlete to have run the 100m sub-10sec, the 200m sub-20sec and the 400m sub-44sec, clocked 44.19sec to win the onelap race.

Sunette Viljoen wrapped up a nice evening’s work for South African athletes by winning the women’s javelin (61.95m).

Rio Games refugee team will have 10 athletes: IOC The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday unveiled its first ever team of refugees which will have 10 members and 12 officials and will compete at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games under the Olympic flag.

On what IOC President Thomas Bach called a “historic day”, the team includes five athletes from South Sudan, two from Syria, two from Democratic Republic of Congo and one from Ethiopia. ”These refugee athletes have no home, no team, no flag, no national anthem,” Bach said. “The invention of this refugee team is to give them a home in the Olympic village together with all the athletes around the world.”

The athletes, six men and four women, will compete in the sports of swimming, judo and athletics. They include swimmer Yusra Mardini from Syria who trains in Germany, South Sudanese middle distance runner Rose Nathike Lokonyen, living in a refugee camp in Kenya, and democratic Republic of Congo judoka Yolande Bukasa Mabika, training in Brazil.

Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini.

Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch ”The Olympic anthem will be played in their honor, the Olympic flag will lead them into the stadium,” Bach said.

“It can send a symbol of hope for all refugees in the world and can send a signal to the international community that refugees are our fellow human beings and are an enrichment to society.”

The team will be housed in the athletes’ village along with all other national teams and will enter the stadium as the penultimate team at the opening ceremony, ahead of the host nation.

”They will show to the world that despite the unimaginable tragedies they have faced, anyone can contribute to society through talent, skills and the strength of human spirit,” said Bach.

The plight of those fleeing conflict, as well as economic migrants escaping poverty, has polarized opinion in Europe, with the amount of new arrivals stretching the European Union’s asylum system.

The IOC had said it wanted to draw the world’s attention to the plight of refugees.

(Reuters)

WHO emergency panel to meet in June on Zika and Olympics: spokeswoman The World Health Organisation’s Emergency Committee on Zika will meet in the coming weeks to evaluate the risks tied to holding the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August, a WHO spokeswoman said yesterday. ”The Emergency Committee meeting will consider the situation in Brazil, including the question of the Olympics,” WHO spokeswoman Nyka Alexander told Reuters in response to a query.

WHO makes risk assessments of a public health issue and it would be up to the International Olympics Committee (IOC) to decide on holding the event, due to start on Aug. 5, she said. ”It is not within our mandate” to make decisions on holding the Olympic Games, Alexander said.

Dr. David Heymann, chairman of the WHO committee of independent experts, told Reuters on Monday that postponing the Rio Olympics because of fears it could speed the spread of the Zika virus would give a “false” sense of security because travelers are constantly going in and out of Brazil.

It will be winter in Brazil when the Olympics begin, so the

The larvae of Aedes aegypti mosquito are seen inside a laboratory in the Ministry of Health in San Jose, Costa Rica January 27, 2016.

Reuters/Juan Carlos Ulate mosquitoes that carry the virus will be less abundant.

A public letter was issued last week signed by 150 public health experts and scientists calling for the Olympics to be delayed or moved over fears that the Games could speed up the spread of Zika virus around the world.

Alexander said the date for the next meeting of the WHO Emergency Committee on Zika was still being decided, but that it would be held this month. Heymann told Reuters on Monday that it was tentatively set for June 21. The panel of independent experts meets every three months and its last meeting was on March 8.

Heymann also said national health authorities should advise their respective athletes and citizens of child-bearing age to protect themselves against mosquito bites with repellents while in Brazil and to practice safe sex on return for at least three weeks.

This is a precaution to prevent women from contracting the mosquito-borne virus, which can cause microcephaly and other serious abnormalities in babies.

The connection first came to light last year in Brazil, which has confirmed more than 1,400 cases of microcephaly.

(Reuters)

Saturday June 04, 2016

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Cavaliers regrouping after opening loss to Warriors LeBron James kept rolling the numbers over in his mind, dumbfounded over how he and the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers squandered a shot at stealing Game One of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. ”When you get outscored 45-10 on the bench and give up 25 points off 17 turnovers, no matter what someone does or doesn’t do, it’s going to be hard to win, especially on the road,” James said after Thursday’s 104-89 loss.

Other numbers indicated Cleveland had a golden opportunity to seize a quick lead in the best-of-seven championship series.

Golden State’s vaunted long-range sharpshooters Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson mostly misfired as Curry made 4-of-15 from the floor and Thompson shot 4of-12 to combine for 20 points, 32 below their

season’s scoring average. ”Don’t matter what you do with Steph and Klay, don’t matter what you do with Draymond (Green),” said James, who scored 23 points.

Give up 45 points off the bench and 25 points off turnovers on the road, it’s not a good ingredient to win.”

James and Kevin Love were each charged with four turnovers and point guard Kyrie Irving committed three as the Warriors registered nine steals in the game. ”I feel like our backs are against the wall but we’ve thrive in situations like this all season long,” Love told NBA TV yesterday. “You have to have an us against the world mentality.”

The free-flowing Warriors got a huge boost from their reserves and unselfish sharing of the ball as the team shot nearly 50 percent from the floor and logged assists on

29 of their 43 baskets. Cleveland, by contrast, had only 17 assists in the game.

It marked Golden State’s sixth win in a row over Cleveland, dating back to last year’s Final when they won the last three games after trailing 2-1 in the series to lift the trophy.

James said the Cavaliers would have to come up with a different recipe for success in Game Two tomorrow. ”We will have a better game plan going into Game Two for sure offensively,” James said.

Coach Tyronn Lue thought the plan was fine and that sharper execution was the remedy for the Cavs, who shot a poor 21-of-49 from inside the paint. ”We didn’t finish around the basket, so we’ve just got to keep playing the same way we were playing,” Lue said.

“I thought we were fine. I feel good about how we played.”

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first half in game one of the NBA Finals. Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports Yesterday, Warriors coach Steve Kerr credited his team’s defense. “I thought we did a good job of challenging a lot of shots,” he said. “I thought

they missed a couple that they would normally make, but all in all it was a good defensive effort. ”But it’s probably going

to have to be better in Game Two, because we know the force that they’re going to come with.”

(Reuters)

Djokovic and Murray eye milestones in blockbuster Paris final Serena Williams play Garbine Muguruza today for women’s title An 18-year rivalry will play out its next gripping chapter at Roland Garros as Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic eye up a French Open final in which milestones galore will be on the line.

Will Murray become the first British man to lift the French Open trophy in more than eight decades? Or will Djokovic have enough energy left in the tank after playing four days in succession at the rain-ravaged claycourt grand slam to become the first man in almost 50 years to hold all four majors at once?

What is certain though, is that the Musketeers’ Cup will have a new name engraved on it come Sunday (tomorrow) — weather permitting — after Djokovic pulled rank on a player he described as “a leader of a new generation” to reach his fourth Paris final in five years.

The world number one’s 6-2 6-1 6-4 win over Austrian tyro Dominic Thiem yesterday had to be staged on the secondary Court Suzanne Lenglen after a week of rain derailed the tournament’s usual schedule.

That left Murray and defending champion Wawrinka to grab Centre Court billing and while the Swiss conjured some blazing backhands to whip the noisy crowd into a frenzy, the winners were rare as he surrendered his Roland Garros crown with a 6-4 6-2

Novak Djokovic celebrates.

Reuters/Jacky Naegelen 4-6 6-2 defeat by the British second seed. ”I knew today if I wanted to win I was going to have to play one of my best claycourt matches. Stan was playing better every match,” an emotional Murray, who became the first British man to reach the Paris showpiece since Bunny Austin in 1937, told the crowd with a quivering voice. ”I am extremely proud. I never expected to reach the final here, I always struggled on the clay. I played one of my best claycourt matches today... I hope I can put on a good match on Sunday.”

GUNNING FOR HISTORIC WIN Before that final takes place, Serena Williams will be gunning for her fourth French Open title today when she takes on the last woman who beat her at Roland Garros — Spanish fourth seed Garbine Muguruza.

Day 13 of the championships is traditionally men’s semi-final day but after one of the wettest weeks on record in Paris, the women were forced to contest their last-four clashes a day later than expected.

Williams seemed listless, bored and completely out of sorts as she finally clipped the wings of flying Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens 7-6(7) 6-4 to reach her 27th grand slam final. No doubt feeling rather fed up at having to play a third match in as many days, the American appeared to move in superslow motion between the points, surrendered her opening service games in both sets and sprayed 31 unforced errors long and wide.

None of that stopped the champion from winning though.

“I feel like you have to be

still mentally alive, and obviously you need to be physically alive and ready for everything,” said the world number one, who will be looking to draw level with Steffi Graf’s professional era record of 22 majors.

Muguruza, who like Djokovic was demoted to Suzanne Lenglen Court for her semi, ended the run of 2010 runner-up Samantha Stosur with a no-nonsense 62 6-4 win in front of thousands of empty green chairs in the 10,000-seater arena.

The fans, including one dressed as a bizarre green-

horned dragon, could not be kept away once Murray and Wawrinka came out for their highly anticipated semi-final.

With Murray having failed to win a set off Wawrinka in any of their previous three battles dating back to 2013, many expected the Swiss third seed to knife Murray’s French Open dreams with his wondrous backhands — just as he had done to Djokovic in the final 12 months ago.

But in front of an audience that included Rod Laver, the last man to hold all four titles at once when he

completed the Grand Slam in 1969, Murray heeded his own war cries of “Let’s go” to give himself a chance to become the first British man to win the Paris title since Fred Perry in 1935.

Djokovic and Murray, born a week apart in May 1987, are not the only ones in pursuit of records in Paris.

Martina Hingis and Leander Paes both completed the full set of grand slam doubles titles when they beat Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig 4-6 6-4 10-8 (champions tiebreak) in the mixed final.

(Reuters)

Fifa: Sepp Blatter, Jerome Valcke & Markus Kattner ‘awarded themselves £55m’ Former high-ranking Fifa officials Sepp Blatter, Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner awarded themselves pay rises and bonuses worth $80m (£55m) over five years, say Fifa lawyers.

Football’s governing body revealed the contracts of ex-president Blatter, fired ex-secretary general Valcke and sacked former finance director Kattner one day after a Swiss police raid Fifa’s lawyers said there was evidence that the trio made “a coordinated effort” to “enrich themselves” between 2011 and 2015. Documents and electronic data were seized from Kattner’s old office during Thursday’s operation, which relates to inves-

tigations into Blatter and Valcke, according to sources close to Fifa’s internal investigation.

Suspected of criminal mismanagement of Fifa money, Blatter and Valcke were banned for six and 12 years respectively by the governing body’s ethics committee in February. Both deny wrongdoing.

A statement for the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG), which carried out the investigations, read: “Documents and electronic data were seized and will now be examined to determine their relevance to the ongoing proceedings.”

Fifa said the evidence uncovered by its own internal investigation would be

shared with the Swiss Attorney General’s office and the US Department of Justice. Richard Cullen, Blatter’s lawyer, said: “We look forward to showing Fifa that Mr Blatter’s compensation payments were proper, fair and in line with the heads of major professional sports leagues around the world.”

Meanwhile, Blatter’s longtime public relations advisor Klaus Stoehlker told BBC Sport he would be ending their professional relationship, adding: “The Fifa volcano is exploding now.”

Fifa has been in turmoil since May 2015, when a US investigation exposed widespread corruption at the top of the organisation.

(BBCsport)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 32

Saturday June 04, 2016

Narine’s magic, Pollard’s unbeaten 67 powers Windies to victory

By Sean Devers In a low scoring encounter on a Providence track which made free scoring a tedious task, West Indies, led by a career best 627 by Sunil Narine and an unbeaten 67 from Kieron Pollard, beat South Africa by four wickets last evening in the opening Day/Night game of the Tri-nation ODI series which also involves Australia.

International Cricket made an auspicious return to Guyana for the first time in over three years for the less than half full ground, the crowd increasing slightly in the second innings. The fans watched as South Africa, which won the toss, were bowled for 188 in 46.5 overs in bright sunshine despite a dogged 61 from 26-year-old left-hander Rilee Rossouw.

Man-of-the-match Narine, playing his first ODI since last year against Sri Lanka, bagged only his second five-wicket haul in

56 ODIs. His mesmerizing performance was the second best at Providence behind Shahid Afridi’s 7-12 and sixth best all time by a West Indian.

Narine, who bowled 9.5 overs, Carlos Braithwaite (235), Skipper Jason Holder (1-37) and Jerome Taylor (136) all operated with immaculate control as seven South African wickets tumbled from 28 runs.

The home team reached 191-6 to register consecutive wins at Providence following their 37-run victory against Pakistan in 2013. Pollard clobbered six sixes and two fours from 67 balls in a magnificently compiled and highly responsible unbeaten 67 from 67 balls. He and Daren Bravo, who made 30 from 69 balls, added 74 for the fifth wicket to help their team to an upset win with 11 balls to spare.

Ironically, it was the two

Rilee Rossouw sets off for a run after turning the ball on the onside. Zaheer Mohamed. players who returned to team after not playing in both the 50-over and T20 World Cups, who spearheaded the West Indies to their first win ODI win since they beat the UAE in the 2015 World Cup. In hazy sunshine South Africa, in their fourth ODI at Providence opted to bat on a sluggish track and Quinton DeCock and Hashim Amla strolled to the middle for the 50th time. DeCock was dropped off the third ball of the day by Taylor off his own bowling and ball went for four.

Amla stroked Holder sweetly for four while Taylor bowled short and quickly found out that it’s criminal to bowl that length at Providence as de Cock swiveled and disdainfully pulled him to the mid-wicket boundary.

Amla drove Holder to the cover boundary while the left-handed deCock stroked him for a cover boundary when the West Indies Captain over-pitched. The 50 was posted when Narine, introduced in the ninth over at 47-0, was cut for four by Amla on the lush outfield caused by the recent rain as the sun returned in all its glory.

The sun smiled on the home team as Braithwaite and Narine struck in successive overs. DeCock (30) was bowled by Braithwaite after stroking six fours as the half-century opening stand was broken.

Narine, in his first International game with his remodeled action, trapped the dangerous Amla LBW as

he played back to one that did not turn and the tourists had lost two wickets on 52.

A m l a ’s r u n - a - b a l l 2 6 included just one boundary.

Rossouw, who scored both of his centuries against the West Indies in last year’s series in South Africa, joined his Captain AB deVilliers and the pair posted their 50 partnership from 89 balls; they brought up the 100 in 24 overs as the pair struggled to score freely.

AB did not look like the batsman who dominated in the IPL and struggled to find boundaries, he did not reach the ropes a single time in his 49-ball 31 before he was caught and bowled by Taylor at 130-4.

Rossouw who crawled to his fifth 50 from 74 balls with one four, pushed at Narine, whose first four overs cost 11 runs, for Braithwaite at slip to hold a sharp catch at 160-4.

Farhaan Behardien was trapped LBW to Narine in the same over without addition to score and after Duminy (23) bowled by Holder at 172-6, none of the last six batsmen reached double figures as Narine controlled proceedings.

When West Indies began their chase, Johnson Charles who started in reckless fashion played a couple of injudicious and was dropped by the Keeper before he had scored. Both of his edged shots brought him fortuitous boundaries against the unlucky Kyle Abbott.

He {Charles} got another

four from an edge off Kagiso Radaba while Andrew Fletcher who also looked uncertain, was tested by Rabada, who looked lively even on the docile track.

Colin Morris was greeted with an awkward pull which went for four as the St Lucian continued to live dangerously.

At the end of 10 overs the West Indies were 34-0.

Fletcher (9) who never suggested stability was soon bamboozled by a big turning googlie from 37-year-old leg-spinner Imran Tahir and was bowled at 37-1 to bring Bravo to the crease. Despite his lack of technique Charles has two hundreds from 35 ODIs and along with the stylish Bravo took their team to 52 before the former was dismissed in identical fashion to Fletcher by Tahir.

His 31 lasted 52 balls and included four fours and his demise left West Indies 52-2 in 18 overs. One run and one over later West Indies’ most experienced player Marlon Samuels (1) was LBW to left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso and the visitors were in the ascendency.

Bravo clobbered a Tahir full toss for four before being dropped by the Keeper on 16

off Phangiso but Ramdin (10) was soon removed by Duminy two runs later.

Pollard got going with three sixes, two off successive balls off Phangiso and the fans in the stands were dancing. A misfield brought up the 100 in the 28th over and heightened the intensity of their enthusiasm.

Pollard played a baseballlike shot off Radaba which sailed into the sky for six and the fans began to get vocal in anticipation of the ‘Pollard show’ under lights. Bravo played the supporting role; pushing the balls into gaps and rotating the strike but broke free with an exquisitely timed on-drive off Tahir which reached the boundary like a bullet.

Pollard, with three ODI tons, was the aggressor and hit successive boundaries off Tahir, the second one clearing the ropes at long-on but once Bravo (30) and Braithwaite (8) were both removed by Phangiso at 1766 Pollard and Holder saw their team to victory.

Tomorrow, West Indies will face Australia in the second game in another Day/Night encounter which commences at 13:00hrs.

Kaieteur News

Saturday June 04, 2016

PAGE 33

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Nat. U17 League Matches kick off this weekend in EBFA and BFA Competitive rivalry in the inaugural Guyana Football Federation (GFF) / National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 League which would be played in the nine (9) affiliated associations to the GFF is expected to kick off in two associations this weekend.

The East Bank Football Association (EBFA) and Berbice Football Associations (BFA) will get action cracking today and tomorrow.

A total of 10 clubs will contest in the EBFA while a similar amount will be locking horns in the BFA. T h e E B FA c l u b s a r e Herstelling Raiders, Soesdyke Falcons, Grove Hi Tech, Agricola Red Triangle, Kuru Kururu Warriors, Ya r r o w k a b r a J a g u a r s , Friendship All Stars, Mocha Champs, Diamond United and Craig.

Competing in the BFA are Canefield Diamond

Bert Sukhai Strikers, Mahaicony Thunder Hawks, Corriverton Links, Monedderlust, Cougars, New Amsterdam United, East Bank, Paradise Invaders, Hopetown United Rangers and Rosignol United.

While the BFA will kick off tomorrow with a march past of all competing clubs, the EBFA will commence toady with a double header at the Grove Playfield from

13:00hrs.

Herstelling Raiders will open against Soesdyke Falcons with the feature match between Grove Hi Tech and Agricola Red Triangle.

Tomorrow’s matches will see Kuru Kururu Warriors matching skills with Yarrowkabra Jaguars making their debut at this level while the main event brings together Friendship All Stars, another debutant and Mocha Champs.

Up in the Ancient county of Berbice, the march past is set for 13:30hrs following the conclusion of the first match between Corriverton Links and Mahaicony Thunder Hawks at the Esplanade Park from 12:30hrs.

Match two pits Paradise Invaders against Canefield Diamond Strikers while the main event of the afternoon will brings together Monedderlust and New Amsterdam United.

Title sponsor,

NAMILCO is investing in the vicinity of 35 million dollars over the next 5-years in this national tournament and recently presented balls, goal nets and jersey’s to each association as well as cheque’s valued at $150,000 the first half of a promised contribution that will go towards the administration of the tournaments.

Managing Director of NAMILCO Mr. Bert Sukhai had underscored the need for such an investment when he handed over the equipment and cash to the associations.

“The objective of having a league is worth the investment that we are

making and I’m sure the company will also benefit from the sort of publicity that you guys would be giving us over time.

We thought it was a good investment that we have gone into and we’re hoping that the various teams are playing not only for themselves but they are

playing for the football federation, for the country and for NAMILCO.” The Managing Director also noted that he is expecting well run tournaments in the various associations that will in due course, redound to moving the game to another level.

Defending champion Downes hungry for another title GBTI Independence Jubilee / GLTA Open Championships Five-time and defending GBTI / Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) Open champion, Anthony Downes is confident that he will make it six in a row when this year ’s competition which has been dubbed the GBTI Independence Jubilee Open tournament is contested.

Downes is sending a warning to his opponents that he will be playing aggressive tennis. In an exclusive interview the Kopinang Region 8 player pointed out that he has his eyes set on returning to the big scene thus he will be competing internationally from the New Year.

“I have been training for several months now so this title is critically important in being ready for the big circuit,” he said.

He disclosed that the GBTI Open competition is the biggest competition that players look forward to every year and his intentions is to make light work of all the players.

I am very confident as I have been training mornings and evenings for several months. When a competition is finished, I begin immediately to prepare for the defense of that title as this is one of the most competitive sports,” he said.

Since the re-emergence of the competition in 2010, Downes has won the title every year and is aiming for a successful defense of his title. It was disclosed that he currently holds the most titles in any sponsored competition run by the association.

President Jamal Goodluck said that he expects a very competitive competition noting that it affords the country’s best players the chance to match skills against each other.

“This is an eagerly anticipated competition that everyone looks forward to and I can tell you that every player is coming out very confident to win their respective category,” he said.

Downes pointed out that he will be moving shortly to some of the South American countries with the aim of gaining exposure and stiffer competition.

This, he noted will enhance his ability in being a better player. He also expressed the view that he is confident of doing well on the international scene.

The champion expressed the view that he hopes other youths from his native village of Kopinang will follow in his footsteps of making tennis a competitive sport.

Anthony Downes He confessed that while his longtime coach and father Rafel Downes who is currently the REO for Region 8 is exceptionally busy with managing the region, he will still be able to do well. ”My dad cannot attend several of my matches and more so my training sessions as he is the REO and has been very busy, but whenever he can he tries to be there. He is confident that I am ready to defend successfully and once I execute the game plan properly then this year’s title is already in the bag,” he declared.

The young hinterland tennis star expressed the view that the GLTA should aggressively endeavor to take the sport to the various communities stressing that he remains confident that a number of youths would be (Continued on page 25)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 34

Saturday June 04, 2016

International panel facilitates GCUSA interactive session

Sitting from left Nigel Duguid, Joel Wilson, ICC Umpire Coach David Levens, Gregory Braithwaite and ICC Elite Umpire Richard Illingworth with several local umpires after the session.

With the aim of improving the standard of umpiring, the Georgetown Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (GCUSA) on We d n e s d a y h o s t e d a n interactive session which included several

international umpires at the GTU Building, Woolford Avenue.

The session which saw the attendance of Nandkumar Shivsankar and Shannon Crawford (first class umpires) attending

was facilitated by International Cricket Council Umpire Coach David Levens who is responsible for the West Indies, Australia and New Zealand, ICC Elite Umpire Richard Illingworth, West

Indies International panel umpires Guyanese Nigel Duguid, Joel Wilson of Trinidad and Tobago and Gregory Braithwaite of Barbados.

The local umpires benefitted from the

knowledge and experience shared by their international counterparts as questions were asked in relation to competition regulations and the laws of cricket.

In an invited comment, Duguid said the GCUSA has

embarked on this exercise so that it will help to improve young local umpires.

He added that this venture will continue when international umpires visit Guyana while thanking his colleagues.

WICB announces Ballr as sponsor of the Tri-Nations ODI Series St. John’s, Antigua - The West Indies Cricket Board and ITW-Techfront, the commercial rights holder for the series, announced yesterday that Ballr is the title sponsor of the TriNations One-day International Series that has started between West Indies, Australia and South Africa.

The series will be known as the Ballr Cup Tri-Nations Series powered by Cycle Pure Agarbathies – and will be played in Guyana, St. Kitts and Barbados from June 3 to 26. ”The WICB is delighted to announce Ballr as the title sponsor of the 2016 TriNation ODI Series,” said WICB chief executive officer Michael Muirhead. ”With the presence of current 50-overs World Cup champions Australia and the e v e r- c o n s i s t e n t S o u t h Africa, along with our own World Twenty20 champions West Indies, the Ballr Cup Series is a high-profile affair and promises to be very exciting.

“We are always excited at the opportunity to host the best teams in the World and we are happy to have Ballr on board with us for this series.”

WICB President Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron (left), South Africa captain AB de Villiers, West Indies captain Jason Holder, Australia captain Steve Smith, and Ballr Founder and CEO Sam Jones (right) with the Ballr Cup. Sam Jones, founder and CEO of Ballr, a mobile fan engagement and gaming company, said it brought the company enormous pride in becoming the official title sponsor of the Tri-Nations S e r i e s ”The Tri-Nation Series is a

prestigious event, broadcasted to millions of fans around the World,” he said.

“We are excited to partner with the WICB, and this initiative will provide substantial global exposure for our brand and support

our growth in new markets.”

Krishna Satya, cofounder of ITW- Techfront, a Global Sport Commerce affiliateý, said: “WICB and ITW are delighted to have Ballr ýassociate with the TriNations ODI Series as the

title sponsor. ”ITW has always held the belief that quality cricket generates great audience regardless of where it is played and we have advocated for brands to support such events. ”The Ballr Cup features

arguably the three of the most exciting limited-overs teams in the World right now, and we are confident that the association will earn Ballr immense e x p o s u r e i n o ff - s h o r e markets and a significant return on investment.”

Kaieteur News

Saturday June 04, 2016

Female Leaders coming to Zurich for 2nd edition of FLDP Participants in the second edition of FIFA’s Female Leadership Development Programme (FLDP) will attend workshops in Zurich from 69 June. Launched in 2015 to ensure that there are female role models and women at decision-making levels in football, the FLDP aims to identify, support and develop strong female leaders in the sport, while advocating for women to access senior decision-making positions globally.

The programme runs over nine months in total and takes participants through workshops and extensive fieldwork, with a mentor and a leadership coach supporting them along the way.

The female participants, from a variety of countries, will take part in practical sessions on topics such as leadership styles and influencing others while in Zurich, as well as having an opportunity to meet with their mentors and leadership coaches in person.

Karina Leblanc, former Canadian women’s national team goalkeeper and participant in the FDLP said: “It’s exciting to be able to learn from some of the best leaders in the world and to be

GFF GS Diedre Davis among 35 selected from 80 applicants

Diedre Davis – GFF GS surrounded by women who want to grow… dare to dream, because you can do it!”

The FLDP participants were selected from over 80 applicants put forward by member associations around the globe for the 35 available places.

The selection of participants was conducted by a working group comprised of FIFA and the THNK School of Creative Leadership Innovation.

One of FIFA’s main priorities is providing opportunities for girls and women in football which has been reflected in the announcement at the recent

FIFA Congress in Mexico of the creation of a dedicated Women’s Football Division.

Additionally, a crucial element of the reforms approved at the E x t r a o r d i n a r y F I FA Congress in February is the inclusion of women in leadership positions in football.

Speaking about the upcoming event, Mayrilian Cruz Blanco, FIFA’s Senior Wo m e n ’s F o o t b a l l Development Manager said: “ T h e F I FA F e m a l e Leadership Development Programme is a key initiative to ensure that more women are involved in football governance across all regions. This new edition brings together high-calibre participants from different backgrounds, cultures and roles within their organisations.

It is crucial to nurture female talent in football both on and off the pitch and we are committed to supporting the participants in further developing their potential as leaders and along their pathway in our sport.”

(FIFA)

STAG Elite League – FINALE

Final preliminary round matches today at Leonora as Pele’s suspension is lifted The final preliminary games of the Stag Elite League Finale are set for today at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora kicking off at 18:00hrs.

Taking centre stage will be the Georgetown Football Club against the Guyana Defence Force in the opening match while Fruta Conquerors will oppose Pele in main play.

According to the Guyana Football Federation, this double-header is being played following a meeting

with the Executive of the Pele Football Club and that of the GFF on the 1st June, 2016 to discuss the ongoing

provisional suspension of the team and the corresponding penalty.

It (Continued on page 25)

PAGE 35

Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup 2016

Guyana face USVI in crucial match today; Players will be positive – Dover

Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz (centre) listens attentively to Assistant Wayne Dover in the presence of Physical Trainer, Anson Ambrose.

C o m i n g o ff a disappointing 2-5 loss to home team Curacao in their opening Round 2 match of the Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup competition on Wednesday night last, Guyana’s Golden Jaguars have put that result behind them and are now focused on

today’s all important clash against hosts, United States Virgin Islands.

After traveling all day on Thursday to get to the USVI, the Golden Jaguars will come out with a positive today with the aim of defeating the home team according to Assistant

C o a c h , Wa y n e D o v e r. ”It is important we take the positives from the last game which were, whenever we pressed the opponents we disrupted their ball circulation and whenever we took them on, especially on the flanks we created (Continued on page 25)

t r o Sp

Narine’s magic, Pollard’s unbeaten 67 powers Windies to victory

Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard returned to West Indies’ side after a lengthy layoff © AFP.

Sunil Narine delivers during his 6-wkt haul. Zaheer Mohamed photo.

WICB announces Ballr as sponsor of the Tri-Nations ODI Series Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210