Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
PAGE 5
Is the Coalition Govt. anti-working class? Condolences on the DEAR EDITOR; Last Sunday, Mr. George Abrams, an overseas-based Guyanese, formally declared open a Sewing Establishment in his village, Buxton. This small business, which already employs eleven workers, mostly from Buxton, is a reflection of Mr. Abrams’ commitment to the regeneration of the Village Economy both in terms of providing much needed services, but critically, in providing employment for villagers. I salute Brother Abrams for taking this giant step and hope that others with resources invest in our villages. As I told the villagers at the opening ceremony, they must see the project as an inspiration to lift
the community through selfactivity and that the success of the venture requires the support and protection of all villagers. I also hope that the government on its own or in partnership with community groups encourages the flowering of Small Businesses in the communities. I had begun work last year with a certain Government Ministry in this regard. I had helped to mobilize several communities, including Dartmouth, Buxton, Melanie, Plaisance, Ann’s Grove, Stanleytown WCD and Sisters Village, to come up with projects to take advantage of an initiative which is housed in that Ministry and that is aimed at
e n c o u r a g i n g entrepreneurship in so-called depressed communities. To my utter amazement not a single one of the communities was awarded any funds. And what is worse, none of these communities was told why they were rejected and nobody from the Ministry sought to contact me with an explanation. When members of some of the groups called the Ministry they were greeted with rude responses. Here are poor people in their villages who organize themselves and came up with initiatives for small community business and are unceremoniously rebuffed by their government. What more must poor people do to get some respect? Mr. George
Abrams invited four government Ministers to the opening of his business in Buxton—not one of them attended. There was an item on the program for remarks by these dignitaries; they were not there. I have seen Ministers socializing with the rich, attending their functions, gracing the opening of businesses. But Buxton and similar villages are off-limits, it seems. If any reminder is needed— Buxton and similar villages voted 99.99% for this government. That does not entitle them to monopoly of government attention but it certainly entitle them to more that the ignoring they have been receiving. David Hinds
POOR SEED PADDY QUALITY AT THE BURMA RICE RESEARCH STATION DEAR EDITOR; The allegation is the standards operating protocol (SOP) that govern the production of basic and certified one (C1) and two (C11) seed paddy at the Burma Rice Research Station was grossly disregarded to leading to paddy that should have been sent to mill as commercial grains are now being processed and sold to farmers as high quality seeds. The facts of the matter is the power drunk and incompetent Head (Dr. Mahendra Persaud) of the Burma Rice Research Station instructed the staff under his guidance to harvest several seed fields that were heavily lodged and rejected by the
field inspection and certification team, bulk harvest whole fields that were only partially inspected with areas that were rejected and also instruct to harvest other seeds field that were classified as commercial grains base on the field inspection and certification standard and forcefully sent these paddy to the processing facility to be processed and sell as seed to farmers. Many farmers who already buy the seed paddy complain of reduced growth and germination. If you look carefully at the seeds you will see molds and discoloration on the grains which suggest that the grains were harvested
from the lodged plants during the rainy period. Any experience farmer will tell you once a field is lodged and rain comes and catch it; it can no longer use as seed. The head know all this. So it now it begs the questionWhy is the Burma head trying to dupe the farmers? Is he trying to make the industry fail to make the APNU-AFC government look bad? Is he looking for fame and recognition to show an increase in the average number of bags seeds produced at Burma at the expense of the end users? This is not the first times seeds field that did not qualify were forcefully harvest by this very same person to be
sell as seeds. Something is fundamentally wrong here. If the management does not change this malpractice at Burma research Station the already challenged farmers and their families will suffer much more. Many senior officers’ with in GRDB objects to this wrong doing, but their call were all ignored by the head who strongly pushing for this bad quality seeds be sold to farmers. In my view if the seed paddy does not pass the field inspection and quality analysis they should not be sold to farmers as seeds. They should be sent to the mill as grains. Terry Ross
The alleged victimization of a police officer DEAR EDITOR; I have noticed that Commissioner Seelal Persaud is out to prove to the political directorate that his work was being stymied by the previous administration since under the previous administration many members of the Guyana Police Force were not given the opportunity to attend courses and training programmes overseas since these were ducked by the former Home Affairs Minister Clement Roee. What is rather interesting though is the revelation that came to light in the Chronicle newspaper of 1 June 2016 whereby the allegation of Seelal punishing a senior officer and also refusing to grant her the requisite leave to pursue her academic pursuits. Deputy Superintendent Denise Griffith is an individual
I have known for a number of years. One who would have served the Guyana Police Force from that of an ordinary rank to the current position she now holds and having done so she would have performed duties in various departments serving and officer in charge of stations, divisions and court prosecutor. She would have demonstrated over the years her knowledge in policing and as qualified herself academically to perform her roles and. She functions professionally. I had the opportunity of studying with Ms. Griffith or Denise as she is known to me and I have seen the qualities in her as she sought to improve herself academically so that she can function effectively in
her professional life. She has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is qualified and knowledgeable and can move up the higher echelon of the Guyana Police Force. If what is being revealed as being accurate then it certainly will justify my thoughts and opinion that there is always some amount of subjectivity by those in high authority within the discipline services when it comes to decisions regarding promotions and equal opportunity for ranks of the various services. Having Ms. Griffith
serving as the head of the Police Outpost at the Supreme Court is very disrespectful and a blatant disregard for her academic qualifications, knowledge and skills she has. I strongly belief this is a clear case of victimization. While I might not have the power or voice to make a difference I strongly believe that the relevant authority should be very mindful of this matter and should ensure that Ms. Griffith be given the opportunity to utilise her skills and expertise in another department where it is much needed. Garfield Boston
death of Dale Andrews DEAR EDITOR; I have been going to KN office time and again to do business and I had the wonderful opportunity to speak Dale while waiting for Mr. Leonard Gildarie and I now realize how fortunate I am to have that opportunity since he is no more. My wife and I extend our sincere condolences to his family, also Mr. Glen Lall and the entire staff of Kaieteur News for this great loss at this time, your loss is our loss. We join with you in prayers for his soul to have everlasting peace with God. Harri P. Beharry
Dale Andrews was extraordinarily perceptive DEAR EDITOR; Permit me a few lines in your newspapers to express my heartfelt condolences to you, the publisher, staff at Kaieteur News and all the relatives of the late Dale Andrews, at this solemn moment of bereavement. My deepest sympathy to all. I have known Dale for over four years now, only by means of phone calls and would have met him only once. During that period of time he was known to me as one that was humble, kind in speech and extraordinarily perceptive. The last word I heard from him was “shout you later bro”. This morning I called his phone only to be given such sad news. I am still in a state of shock and feel much grief in my heart. Once again, deepest sympathy to all. Ashan Bacchus
Dangerous potholes on Agriculture Road DEAR EDITOR; As a concerned resident and tax payer living in Agriculture Road I am concerned about some issues on this road that leads to the Guyana School of Agriculture and NAREI. Not very long ago, I saw a new road built in NAREI compound. In front the gate the length of that road is approximately 200 meters long. What bothers me most is those who came to build this road left three huge holes on the road just in front the bridge. They also left another three bigger pot holes in-front the Guyana School of Agriculture’s bridge just a few blocks away from the NAREI gate. Those who building roads came to build a road in Agriculture road on their way in the road of about two miles long they left over thirty pot holes some huge and some smaller; on their way out they just left all these holes and they are the road builders. They just put a blind eye to this road because of their personal laziness and incompetence. I guess the administrators at NAREI didn’t reminded them of these pot holes because they probably felt that these guys building these substandard roads would have used their common sense and sealed these pot holes with some brick and bitumen but they were shocked to know these pot holes are left and gets bigger daily since the rains. When it rains these holes are filled and drivers dropped into these holes that can lead to accident and serious vehicle damage even injuring the driver’s back and passengers because these pot holes are very deep. Just a about ten days ago another set of road builders came to build a new road through market street that leads to the Mon-Repos and BV NDC. They were no better. They did the same. They left all these pot holes and just built the road through market street. This Agriculture Road is just a few years old and it’s breaking up gradually because no one seems to care at the NDC or NAREI they just drive on the road. Most of our roads are badly damaged because no one is maintaining these roads. What I see in this country is we left things to be destroyed when they could have been rescued and repaired before Concerned resident
PAGE 6
The ugly beast of terror has raised its head again - Dr. David Hinds The ugly beast of terrorism has raised its head once again, said Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance, Dr. David Hinds. The political activist made this remark in wake of a grenade-throwing incident outside of Kaieteur News on Saturday night. The explosive landed at the front wheel of the vehicle belonging to the newspaper’s publisher, Glenn Lall. Hinds said that the news of such an act is very worrying. The University professor said that whenever a newspaper is being targeted in such a violent manner, the society must instantly raise its voice in condemnation. Dr. Hinds noted that this is not the first such attack on Kaieteur News. On an earlier occasion, in August 2008, five press men were gunned down in the printery. He remarked, “Everyone knows that this newspaper has been in the forefront of exposing the myriad wrongdoings in high and low places. So it is not farfetched to make a linkage between that fact and these attacks. “One would have thought that these ugly attacks were behind us but apparently the beast has resurfaced.” The WPA Executive Member said that the Guyana Police Force must also move as swiftly as possible to apprehend the perpetrator. Guyana cannot afford another reign of terror, he added. Dr. Hinds said that the act was also a most cruel one since it comes at a time when
Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
…says police must move swiftly to apprehend perpetrator
KN Publisher, Glenn Lall the Kaieteur News family is mourning the death of one of its dearest colleagues, Assistant Editor, Dale Andrews. The political activist said that the police must also move very quickly to provide the necessary protection for the staff of the newspaper. Lall was disappointed with the way the police handled the matter on Saturday. He said, “The ‘A’ Division Commander, Clifton Hicken, came here and didn’t see it fit to come over to me and offer some support. He stood across the road all the time, ignoring the impact of the grenade on the management and staff. “His behavior did not speak well for the leadership of the Guyana Police Force.” Lall said that in the USA, basic police norms would dictate that when a senior police officer goes to a crime scene, he would go to the aggrieved person or p e r s ons and after
WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds
‘A’ Division Commander, Clifton Hicken introducing himself, inquire into what took place. “Several officers, police and army there, were surprised about Hicken’s action,” asserted Lall. The KN Publisher said that it was only until the end of the entire ordeal that Hicken saw it fit to inform him that he was going to leave a senior rank at the premises. The KN Publisher said, “A change in such a lax culture and behaviour by a senior police officer needs to be criticized for us to have change.”
Forensic audits…
Delay in laying charges will send mixed signals - TIGI President Since being announced last year, forensic audits have been carried out into 50 state agencies and projects. Out of those 50, some 30 have been released to the public with the first one, the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) report, released in February. But Transparency International Guyana Institute (TIGI) President Troy Thomas feels that the delay in instituting charges may cause others who might be engaged in corruption to doubt the seriousness of the authorities in taking action. In a recent interview, he acknowledged that while it could not yet be definitively said that any of the principals named in the forensic audits were guilty, the evidence contained in some should form the basis for suggesting criminal charges. “For me, it was disappointing to hear that there may not be prosecutions based on the evidence,” Thomas said. “I’m not a legal authority, but it seems clear in some instances that there was wrong doing. And I would reiterate that corruption is meant to be hidden. “Therefore the evidence you see will be but a small (portion) of what really transpired. I think they really need to evaluate it closely… Insofar as there are no consequences, people don’t feel deterred in any way.” He made it clear that the administration needs to demonstrate it was serious in going after corruption. Thomas said that this was not a partisan position, because if it is a matter of state resources (as it was in
TIGI President Troy Thomas most of the audit reports) then it should concern every citizen. “Everybody should want something to be done about misuse of the public funds. We can’t continue to have a case where people feel they can do whatever they want with state resources. We are not going to progress that way.” Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan had 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 had pointed to the establishment of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU). SARU head Dr. Clive Thomas, in his turn, 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 head Dr. Clive Thomas
Attorney General Basil Williams SARU is unable to seize assets because of the absence of its legislation. Attorney General Basil Williams had indicated during a press conference last week that the draft SARU legislation is currently at his chambers and would be reviewed, in collaboration with the unit. He had also indicated that legislation such as the draft Protected Disclosures (Whistleblower) 2015 and the witness protection bill would soon be put out for public consultations. At least two audit reportsthe 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.
Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
Commonwealth head may have bought job in ‘utterly corrupt process’ LONDON, England — In a second article in two weeks, a British newspaper has accused the new Commonwealth secretary general, Dominica-born Baroness Patricia Scotland, of unethical conduct. According to the latest article by The Mail on Sunday (yesterday), under the headline Baroness Brazen bought top Commonwealth job in ‘utterly corrupt process’, Scotland is accused of buying her position by giving bogus ‘knighthoods’ to five Caribbean leaders. Last week, accusing Scotland of cronyism, the newspaper reported that she had become entangled in what it described as an extraordinary row over abuse of a knighthood conferred by the governor general of Antigua and Barbuda on her “dear friend” and “crony” Anthony Bailey. Ironically, Scotland has made fighting corruption one of the focuses of her term of office as secretary general. Now, the former British attorney general is accused of trying to win support from Commonwealth heads of government with offers of honours and charitable donations from an obscure Catholic order of which she was a prominent member. Those honoured included the prime minister and president of Dominica, who later officially nominated Scotland as their country’s candidate for the top Commonwealth post, despite the fact she has not lived there since she was two years old. Conservative Party MP James Cleverly led calls for a full investigation into the allegations against Scotland, whose political post is second only to the Queen in the Commonwealth hierarchy. “The Commonwealth is a vitally important and respected institution and we can’t allow it to be dragged into any kind of scandal. There must be the fullest possible inquiry,” Cleverly said. Scotland reportedly had a major disagreement with Secretariat officials when she took up the post of secretary general because they were treating her as domiciled and resident in the UK resident (which she is) for tax purposes and, as such, she would have to pay tax on her £160,000 (US$232,000)-a-year salary that would also take account of the monetary benefit of her £14 million (US$20 million) official residence in Mayfair, London’s most prestigious
Baroness Patricia Scotland address. According to Commonwealth sources, Scotland apparently insisted that her contract with the Secretariat should treat her as an “overseas appointment” to avoid paying UK taxes on her salary and benefits. The leader of the opposition in Dominica, Lennox Linton, described Baroness Scotland as “opportunistic, deceitful and disgraceful”. Linton told The Mail on Sunday, “There is no doubt in my mind that [Baroness] Scotland, Bailey and the Order used the influence of knighthoods to government leaders and heads of state – along with charitable contributions – as part of Scotland’s campaign to become secretary-general.” The whole process, he alleged, was “utterly corrupt”. A school in the village of Vieille Case in Dominica was renamed after the Labour peer weeks after she was elected. According to senior government sources in St John’s, Scotland also solicited an honour from Antigua and Barbuda. This was reportedly rejected. Meanwhile, appearances of cronyism on Scotland’s part have expanded with a report that Scotland’s newly appointed “head of communications”, Matthew Doyle, handled the propaganda for her Commonwealth campaign. As previously reported, another of her cronies, former Barbadian diplomat Lolita Applewhaite, has since been appointed head of Scotland’s private office at the Commonwealth Secretariat. Applewhaite was heavily involved in Scotland’s campaign for the position of Commonwealth secretary general, including accompanying Scotland on
visits to other Caribbean countries. In a Mail on Sunday editorial comment under the heading “Doubt must be dispelled”, the newspaper said, “The Commonwealth remains an important and influential institution, especially beloved by the Queen herself. Its secretarygeneral therefore needs to be an impeccable figure, above suspicion. Baroness Scotland, who holds this post, faces worrying allegations she may have secured her job by improper methods. It is essential, for the good of the Commonwealth itself, that these claims are now swiftly, thoroughly and impartially investigated.” Scotland previously made headlines in 2009, when she was Britain’s attorneygeneral. It was then revealed that she employed an illegal immigrant on a paltry wage of £6 (US$8.77) an hour. She was prosecuted for breaking immigration laws that she had helped draft, and fined £5,000. Despite numerous references in British media to Scotland’s “criminal conviction” in this regard, her London lawyers Carter-Ruck have attempted to characterise it as a “technical breach” of a law and the fine as an “administrative penalty”. However, John Quigley, a partner at another London law firm William Sturges & Co., has said that Scotland’s claim of a “technical breach” of the law is meaningless and has no validity in law. Carter-Ruck failed to respond to a request to explain and clarify the legal process in Britain, where they assert that being found guilty of and being fined for a breach of the law is not a “conviction”. (Caribbean News)
PAGE 7
PAGE 8
Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
CDB FUNDS FOR HAITI’S Saudi reform plan approved by top economic council SMALL BUSINESSES BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) says it will contribute US$500,000 towards a project aimed at giving entrepreneurs in Haiti better access to business loan and savings products. It said that the funding will specifically focus on underserved and unserved micro, very small and small enterprises (MSEs) on the
island. The CDB said that in Haiti, few financial institutions cater to the needs of the country’s MSEs, whose average financing needs range from US$6,000 to US$23,000. “Overall, these businesses face an aggregate financing gap of US$1.9 billion,” the CDB said, adding that its contribution will be made through the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) at the
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The funds will be used to establish a specialised MSE business financing assessment unit, Centre Financier pour Entrepreneurs (CFE) that will be set up within Le Levier, a financial institution which has a network of 43 savings and credit cooperatives across Haiti. “This initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of the financial institutions within Le Levier‘s network to better appraise credit applications from MSE clients. With this process in place, MSE owners are expected to have better access to financing instruments that best suit their needs,” the CDB added. Through the initiative, CDB will also support the development of standardised financial products and services across the network 19;s geographical coverage area; increase access to resources that would not be easily obtained by individual savings and credit cooperatives and facilitate the pooling of financial resources and sharing the risk for larger loans, through syndications.
Reuters - Saudi Arabia’s National Transformation Plan, a pivotal element of the “Vision 2030” reforms announced in April by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will be put before the cabinet for approval today, a senior Saudi source told Reuters. The plan is expected to flesh out sector-by-sector details of the implementation of Prince Mohammed’s programme, which is intended to restructure the kingdom’s entire economy and make it less dependent on oil revenue. “The Council of Economic and Development Affairs has approved the final draft of the National Transformation Plan, which is one of the plans adopted and part of the 2030 vision, which was launched and adopted by the Saudi deputy crown prince, president of CEDA,” the source said. Prince Mohammed was given a central role in decision making after his father, King Salman, became monarch early last year, taking charge of CEDA, a new supercommittee of top ministers charged with overseeing reforms. Saudi Arabia finances now depend on oil revenue and its
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman economic performance closely tracks government spending. But energy prices have plummeted since mid-2014, causing steep declines in income and putting growth at risk. The wider reforms are expected to include subsidy cuts, tax rises, sales of state assets, a government efficiency drive and efforts to spur private sector investment. Last month the International Monetary Fund said the plans were “appropriately bold and far reaching”. Details of the plan, a programme of wide-ranging economic reforms, will be disclosed in daily news conferences with government ministers starting today evening, the senior source said. Other parts of the Vision 2030, including a partial
privatisation of state oil giant Saudi Aramco and transformation of the government’s Public Investment Fund into one of the world’s biggest sovereign wealth funds, have yet to be approved. The emphasis placed on the plan by Prince Mohammed is evident in the high-profile nature of its launch, with senior ministers expected to deliver rare briefings on how their departments will implement the programme. The timing is also significant because today is the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, when business and government activity in the conservative Islamic kingdom have historically slowed down. Launching the plan despite the start of the holiday signals a more energetic approach. Riyadh has been cutting spending and trying to raise fresh revenues as it grapples with its budget deficit, which totalled $98 billion (£67.77 billion) in 2015. The IMF predicted the deficit would stay very large this year, at about 14 percent of gross domestic product compared to 16 percent last year.
Monday June 06, 2016
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
THE BRUTALITY OF POLITICS There have been two instances in recent times in Guyana’s politics that have demonstrated how cruel and unkind an adversarial system of politics can become. The two instances involved actions in the National Assembly. During the previous parliament, the opposition held a one seat majority. During one of the sittings, a member of the opposition took ill and had to be hospitalized. He was quickly replaced not long after just so as to ensure that the then opposition retained their one seat majority. It seemed more than a tad unfair that this had to be done even though he regained his health. An adversarial system of government had caused
this situation and it should never have been. The second incident occurred recently and was sadder. None of the women’s organizations which are so militant have commented on this second incident which saw a female member of parliament having to be wheeled into parliament from her hospital bed. This is what a one-seat majority can cause to happen. A seriously sick person who should be in hospital has to be brought in a wheelchair to the National Assembly just to secure the one seat majority of the government. Cricket was once considered a gentleman’s game. That tag may be open to question given what has happened in recent times in
the game. Politics has never been known as a gentleman’s game. In Guyana, politics can be very brutal and very sad. Guyana inherited an adversarial system of politics. There is a government and there is an opposition. The ruling party or parties want to hold power and the opposition wants to get into power. This more or less shapes their roles. The opposition has to criticize the government and hold themselves up as a better alternative; the government has to demonstrate that the opposition is not better suited to the task of governing than the ruling party or parties. Once you understand the adversarial nature of
Guyana’s political system and the roles that this system ascribes to the ruling parties and the opposition, you will become less emotional about the politics of Guyana. You will come to understand why the government at times defends of deflects the indefensible and why the opposition has to constantly criticize the government. These are their roles in an adversarial political system. Like it or not, this particular model of politics is seen in the free world as best suited to ensuring good government. Unless there is some group to oppose and criticize, the government would be inclined towards absolute and arbitrary rule and this will
lead to dictatorship. The opposition therefore serves a useful purpose in criticizing the government. An adversarial system of politics is necessary to guard against absolute power and authoritarian rule. It is the basis, ironic as it may seem, of democratic rule. The government proposes; the opposition opposes. But surely such a system should not be so rigid as to cause a sick man to have to demit his appointment as a parliamentarian in order to preserve a one-seat majority. And surely there has to be some way in which the two adversarial sides can show greater humanism and prevent a very sick person from having to be wheeled
from a hospital in order to attend a sitting of parliament just to preserve the government’s one seat majority. There has to be a better way to deal with these matters. There has to be gentleman’s or gentlewoman’s agreement that would allow for accommodation for such things. When it comes to illness, the opposition should indicate that they will not take advantage of the illness on the other side. The government should do the same. Surely we can be more humane and civil. Can we not?
ONE YEAR AFTER NEW GOVT.…
Kaieteur News still to get back security firearms seized by Jagdeo Six years ago, former President Bharrat Jagdeo ordered the revocation of three firearm licences allocated to the security detail attached to Kaieteur News. When questioned about the revocation, the then Commissioner Henry Green said that he was instructed to revoke the licences. Kaieteur News reported on the revocation back then. It contended that the decision to revoke the licences stemmed from the criticisms of the Jagdeo administration for the various indiscretions and wrongdoings that the newspaper had uncovered. Members of the legal profession advised that the decision by the Police Commissioner was illegal and that the newspaper should not comply. Even Khemraj Ramjattan, who
was the company lawyer at the time, suggested that the decision by the government was illegal. However, Mr Glenn Lall, to avoid any confrontation, surrendered the weapons. Since then, efforts to have the decision overturned have failed. With the change in government an approach was made to Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan to have the weapons restored. There were several conversations with Ramjattan. There was even an approach to Minister of State Joseph Harmon. Applications were made to the police on the advice of Ramjattan. Today, one year later, there has been no change in the situation despite the numerous documentations that were submitted.
Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan
Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon
Saturday night’s grenade attack exposed the inadequacy of the security situation at Kaieteur News. Publisher Glenn Lall was at pains to say that he is not begging the authorities. Instead, he is
disappointed at the apparent inaction by people who had assured him that the weapons would be returned. Lall said that he is ashamed to face his security officers who know
that he is close to the Minister of Public Security. He said that they were aware that he had approached the Minister. On many occasions they would Continued on page 11
Monday June 06, 2016
PAGE 11
Kaieteur News
Berbice cops get new vehicles for crime fight A pledge by Commander of the Police B Division Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam to rid the Corentyne district of criminal elements appears to be bearing fruit with a number of recent highprofile arrests. The pledge was made at a meeting held at the St Francis Community Developers (SFCD) between residents, the police hierarchy, the business community and other influential persons. Residents in turn pledged to unite and join with the police in their fight against those who are trying to making their lives uncomfortable. Commander Amsterdam had told those gathered that the police had never lost a battle against criminals. He told the gathering that some of the reasons why criminals thrive in certain areas were because the residents never
speak out against wrong doings and criminal elements in the areas. When things got out of hand the criminals turn around and terrorize the said residents of those areas. He had urged the residents to trust the police and if some police officers are not performing up to scratch they should report them. Amsterdam called on the community to form themselves into groups and work with the police. He urged them to form youth groups, community police groups and join in the new initiative called “Team Policing�. Residents mentioned the slow response of the police, lackadaisical attitude of some police officers and a request was made for the removal of all the police at the Rose Hall Town Outpost. A request was made for a list of the needs of the police
Kaieteur News still to... From page 9 ask him about the progress knowing that he had done so much to see justice and to expose the wrongs of the previous administration, he said. After a while, Lall could not face the men because he could not answer their questions. That he had got nowhere, he said, is enough to make a man feel ashamed. One year has passed and the weapons are still to be returned.
Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it
in the area, while pledges were made to assist with flyers, transportation and flash lights. The Police at the Rose Hall Town Outpost have since received a new vehicle while the B Division Commander received over 1000 stickers with numbers of police stations and emergency numbers which are to be placed on vehicles and other strategic locations. The main purpose of the stickers was to allow the phone numbers of the police to be easily accessible.
Commander Ian Amsterdam assists in placing a sticker on one of the new vehicles.
PAGE 12
Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
Culture and Arts…
The Yoruba Band: A legendary pioneer of the true Guyanese sound By: Kiana A. Wilburg
For over 45 years, their music which often features a quintessential creole sound has been become a traditional expression of the Guyanese culture. Power and spirituality weave in and out of their music which utilizes concepts of identity, Guyanese beliefs, creativity and relationships. For this and more, the Yoruba Band has earned its rightful place in Guyana’s history books as a legendary pioneer of the true Guyanese sound. Eze Rockcliffe is the only surviving member since the formation of the Band. He intimated that the Band has changed about 70 members since its inception for various reasons. But Rockcliffe who packs intoxicatingly spiritual chords explained that the Band’s survival is certainly a commendable achievement as it did so in a country that has failed to foster a music industry that encourages artistes to make music that lasts. Candidly, he shared his view that Guyanese music was and still is not on the country’s top agenda. As such, Rockcliffe said that the respect meted out to performers from a national standpoint has degenerated. In this exclusive interview, we delve into the mind of one of Guyana’s musical legends. Kaieteur News (KN): Which of your songs are you most connected to and why? Eze Rockcliffe (ER): Well, that’s a long story. I did a piece called, “Abuasaue” which means Tell it like it is. I’m connected to that piece because it’s one of my earlier songs which I wrote when I was about 20 years old and
recorded some 30 years later. The next song that I am connected to is called “Bleeding with hate”. That too, tells a great story which is on my second album called “Fighting for Survival.” Of course, my popular pieces like “Creketeh” are more connected to me from a different standpoint; from a more indigenous, cultural standpoint. You know, most of the Africans came from Ghana and songs like that, passed on from generation to generation. But getting back to “Abuasaue”, when I released that song, young children would meet me in the streets and say ‘Mr. I love that song’… I believe that there is some spiritual connection with the song’s lyrics. Part of that song says, “Knowing your history is priority to guide us and give us the strength, we made our mark in the universe, yes we contribute to world events…” And you know there are some who think that we never did anything in terms of recorded history but in the song I say, “…We contribute to world events…” then I cite the pyramids of Egypt, the discovery of the alphabet, blood transfusion etc and those are significant contributions our race made to the world. KN: What would you say is the band’s greatest accomplishment to date? ER: In terms of commercial accomplishments, we sold at one time, the most records in this country which was at that time 12, 000 copies. The record that did that for us was Black pepper with the flipside, called “Bassa bongo”. We are also the only Guyanese group to perform at Madison Square
The Mighty Yoruba Band during one of their electrifying performances
Garden and we performed there on two occasions. It is considered the epitome of entertainment centers in the world and we are proud of that. KN: Is there any other accomplishment you wish you had achieved with your music? ER: Yes, I wanted to sell a million records. KN: What would you say is the goal of the Yoruba music? ER: The goal of our music is to spread our Guyanese sound to the worldwide audience so that Guyana could get the recognition it deserves. Over the years, we have had lots and lots of talented artistes and the world is yet to hear from Guyana. But the goal was not achieved because there was never a leveled playing field that accommodated the artistry. There was never emphasis on exploring the possibilities of selling the art form effectively. KN: What do you consider as the essential elements of the Yoruba music? ER: The essential elements would have to be the originality of the music that speaks to the pulse of the grass roots. And that ingredient comes not only from a physical standpoint but from a spiritual standpoint. In other words, the inspiration for the music and even most of the people who wrote songs for the band was spiritually motivated. They include Jojo Felix Terrence better known as “Fat boy”, Wilfred Wellington Lashleigh better known as “Kuckle” or “Baby” and those guys have been prolific writers over the years. Also the Small Bothers: Hodari and
Eddie Small; Keith Prophet and William Bascome. There was also Sampson Robertson, Merleen Jardin and Leeman John. KN: How would you say music in Guyana has evolved since your start with the Yoruba Band? ER: The evolutionary process was never really followed from a Yoruba standpoint. Three bands tried to follow in our footsteps and they are “Shango on the Loose”, “Zulu Combo” and “The Originals” but they did not stand the test of time. I believe that the Yoruba band is a gift not only to me but to this nation and we must cherish that gift. KN: There are two sister countries that are well known for having a strong and undisputed musical identity; Jamaica and Trinidad. Now there is the perception that Guyana’s music industry is struggling to find an identity as well as a placement with its own sound in the regional and international platforms because there are artistes who are too consumed with mimicking the Trinidadian or Jamaican sound. What is your take on this? ER: That I have to agree with wholesale. And there is a reason for that and I would chalk it up to the orientation of our media. In that regard, I’m talking about the radio and television . Everything that is nonGuyanese is very good and everything that is Guyanese is not good and they feed the populace that all the time so what do you expect from the consumers of this message? Did you see the invasion of foreign and Caribbean artistes during our 50th Independence celebrations? And just imagine the Yoruba
Eze Rockcliffe and his loving wife , Joycelyn band got one job when we survived for 45 years nonstop. May 25 last, marked 45 years of dedicated service to this nation and the authorities, whether it’s corporate or government, decided that they will give this 45-year-old most creative band, one job for the entire season. And that hurts. Every Tom, Dick and Harry around the place, even the ordinary flat foot citizen thought that Eze Rockcliffe and the Yoruba band was not going to be able
to keep their eyes open because they would have been too tired from the amount of jobs they would have gotten for that season. Everyone thought that would have been a given except those in authority. KN: With what you explained there, do you believe that our local artistes were somewhat placed in the background given the invasion of the foreign artistes you spoke of ? See answer in next Monday’s edition…
Monday June 06, 2016
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
Take two aspirins and call me in Miami A famous surgeon went on safari in Africa. When he came back, his colleagues asked him how it had been. “Oh, it was very disappointing,” he said. “I didn’t kill a thing. I’d have been better off staying here in the hospital.” During my days as the Media/Communications Advisor for PAHO in the Caribbean, I was asked to help the Government of Grenada to deal with what was, and still is, a major problem with the management of health services in the region. Almost every cent of the national health budget goes to curative instead of preventive care, and the bulk of the money is spent on hospitals. Despite the fact that no government ever has enough money for all the needs of any hospital, the politicians, administrators and doctors who run the system prefer to buy new, improved, fancy, super-duper gizmos that deal with a specific condition affecting only a comparatively small number of people than to spend money on what is called “health promotion”, trying to get people to help themselves to live better and longer lives. As one female doctor told
me, “The bigger the boys the bigger the toys.” While curing people after they are ill and not helping them to prevent illness when they are well is the direction in which health management continues to go, hospitals and health care are no-win solutions, especially in these days of rising pressure on the health systems and decreasing resources to manage them mainly because the major health issues are no longer “communicable” diseases which could be dealt with by injections or tablets, but “non-communicable” ones that are caused and aggravated by lifestyles and personal choices. Even though ninety-nine percent of the people who go to the hospital may come back healthier or less sick than when they went in, that one percent who die or whose conditions worsen while in custodial care are the ones who make the headlines and who cause the Ministers of Health to suffer nightmares that even the most highly paid psychiatrists cannot cure. Even if they try what this doctor advised his nurse to do, it is still a “lose-lose” situation. The nurse ran into the office and said, “Doctor, Doctor the man you’ve just treated collapsed on the front
step. What should I do?” The doctor told the nurse, “Look Harry, do I have to teach you everything? Just turn the man around so it looks like he was just arriving.” In fact, a 2013 study showed that preventable hospital errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. As the research group said, “We are burying a population the size of Miami every year from medical errors that can be prevented.” The Government of Grenada, like many other Caribbean governments, was finding that the cost of health care was becoming unsupportable and decided that a “fee” for all but the most indigent would replace the “free” to all which was the norm. The idea was to make the hospital a “Statutory Authority” so it could charge fees. As part of helping to develop a plan to make this acceptable, I decided to get the views of some of the stakeholders and asked the hotel receptionist what she thought. She replied, “Statutory? But them like statue already. They does just stand around whole day doing nothing.” I believe that some kind of attempt was made but was not surprised when it ran into problems with
Moblissa poultry farmer shot Police are trying to ascertain how a 56-year-old Moblissa farmer ended up with gunshot wounds to the leg, arm and groin at around 09.00 hrs yesterday. Police said that Cicel Todd, a cash crop farmer of Moblissa, had left his home about 08:30hrs for Moblissa
Hilltop to collect wood shavings for his chickens. On his way home, he allegedly heard an explosion and suddenly felt a burning sensation to his left thigh, left arm and penis. He then collapsed. Todd made an alarm, resulting in his daughter Deslyn Cornelius
going to his rescue and rushing him to the Linden Hospital where he was treated and admitted a patient in a stable condition. Investigators have arrested a 36-year old farmer of Moblissa in connection with the incident. The weapon has not yet been found.
Cops yet to hand over DNA result... (From page 15) Thakoor said that the man was informed that she was having an affair with someone from the village. Kaieteur News was told that the mother of three and her partner had a lot of problems as a result of the alleged affair and she eventually moved out from her home and went to stay with a friend for a few days but her partner went and carried her home back.
Neighbours confirmed seeing Basmattie entering her home with her partner on June 08, 2011—that was the last time she was seen or heard from. “The neighbours say when they see her going into the yard, they never see her back. They said the next morning, they see he (her partner) on the verandah and two days later, he left with his suitcases to go back to New York,” Thakoor claimed. Basmattie was not seen or
heard from since then. A report was made to the police, who questioned the acquaintance. He later returned to the US and never called Anantram’s relatives to find out whether she was ever found. While the woman’s family members seem convinced that her partner may be able to assist in the police investigation, their main concern at present is confirming if the remains are hers.
the Union representing the hospital employees and they took industrial action which the media reported. It seems (to make no bones about it) the majority of staff stayed home or was outside the hospital singing “We Shall Overcome” while the hospital was run by a “skeleton” staff. I had not seen that particular group when I interviewed the employees so I suspect they were kept in the many closets that were in every ward. I was glad when my part of the exercise ended. Despite the many times in my life I have been in hospitals as a patient or to visit others, they are not my cup of tea but are more like a carafe of hemlock. The smell hits me first like a blow from Mike Tyson. It is a compound of many different pheromones and causes, like stress, wounds, pain, fear, antiseptics and drugs. Then the inevitable groaning or bleeding patients and the harried nurses and staff, the security guards throwing their weight around and, more than anything else, the doctors playing God the father, son, Holy Ghost and Hail Mary. Many years ago, I fell off a motorbike and with a fractured collar-bone and other injuries, was taken to the emergency department of the San Fernando Hospital in Trinidad. While I was lying on a gurney waiting to be attended to, one of the doctors, a former schoolmate, passed by and when he heard what had happened to me said, “At your age you riding bike? Man you old people should know better. You are a bright person but you behaving stupid!” The news of my
behavior soon spread to other doctors who knew me and they all came from wherever they were in the hospital to lecture and upbraid me. One of them was an anesthetist and, when I was taken to the operating theatre, there he was with a huge hypodermic in his hand and with a smile he waved it menacingly and said, “Just a little prick.” I replied, “I know. Every one of you.” Over the past few days, in addition to a number of little and large pricks, life has been dealing me more slings and arrows of outrageous fortune than the ones experienced by Goliath or King Harold. My mother got very ill last Sunday night. Unfortunately, Sunday fell in the middle of a five-day period book-ended by public holidays on the Thursday before and Monday after. By the time my son woke us up to tell us that his grandma could not get off her bed, it was after one in the morning. Doctors here don’t do house calls anymore unless you’re very rich or family. Given my past experience with doctors and hospitals here and
elsewhere, and seeing that my mother, though unable to sit up in bed or walk, was conscious, I realized it would be better to see what we could do at home until about seven in the morning before calling an ambulance to take her to a nearby hospital. Our experiences later in the day confirmed that I had made the right, though painful, decision. It was not just the many hours waiting for her to be admitted to a ward in the public hospital (after taking her to a private hospital but then advised to take her to the public hospital for treatment not available there), but the prevailing mood, tone and behavior of some of the people, especially the doctor in charge, and security personnel. From what I heard, most of the specialists were out of town and had I tried to contact any I would have been told, “Give her two aspirins and call me in Miami.” *Tony Deyal was last seen saying that for a headache nothing acts faster than aspirin so he takes nothing.
PAGE 22
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 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. Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Building Construction: house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362 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
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 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 1 Male to cook in the Backdam. Call: 678-0565 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665
1 Driver for East Bank area, 1 female cleaner for office. Call: 233-2745 PEN PAL CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
Soman, Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 6895997
Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494 Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
Rotweiler pups - 622-6646/ 652-8511
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: 6544312; 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
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM LEARN TO DRIVE
FOR SALE
Toyota Hilux Vigo, ex cab 4WD, gas, 2700cc, 2TR Auto cc, 2006. Call: 616-5595; 674- 0434
WANTED Republic Park family needs an experienced caregiver between ages 45-55, live in, 1 week on 1 week off-$13,000. Call: 667-2535
Need an evening babysitter or caretaker for few hours of part/full time. Call: 601-4250
Overseas (US) based Guyanese male seeks female friend for serious friendship 25-40yrs & possible LTRText: 668-9180; 618-9035
Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
1 Houselot @ Crane Housing Scheme; 1 two storey house @ La Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 626-4841 or 683-6674 Zinc Sheet, Spindle, shutters & grills. Call: 625-9358; 667-7512 1 Complete cabin cruiser, excellent condition also top catch seines. Call: 654-2817; 622-2958 Lovely terrier pups for sale. Call: 696-7467 anytime. 1-45 Leyland DAF (blue) $2.2M.Contact260-4018/661-9096
Vreed-en-Hoop Junction: church, office, lessons place, storage bond, private school, others -$20,000- Call: 6036400 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 2-2 Bedrooms apartment for rent @ Eccles. Call: 628-0016; 667-2536 1-2 Bedrooms apartment in close proximity to University of Guyana & Teacher ’s Training College. Call: 6859127
VACANCY Female housekeeping staff, male security guard. Call: 2250198 or visit 233 South Road, Lacytown. Live in/live out female bartender -$20,000 weekly; 3 waitresses -$16,000 weekly, 1 cook @ E.B.D. Call/ Whatsapp: 661-8802 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 RA Soda Factory Rosignol, Berbice: bond & billing clerks, experienced accountants, machine operator with mechanical ideas. Call: 330-2399/623-5920
Muscovy Ducklings-Call: 602-7203
Hopetown Gas Station (Guyoil): Pump attendants for night and day shifts. Call: 330-2399
German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix pups for sale. Call: 6411771 or 654-0388
One driver Expediter must have a lorry license contact # 223-5273
518C CAT Skidder tyres 95% winch working, CF Hauler triple axel trailer, Bedford TL dump truck, JCB 4X4 Forklift. Call: 626-0352
Accounts Clerk 5 CXC, Maths, English & Accounting. Apply rtilak@ adamantiumholdings.com
Bedford Model M Truck with Winch GRR Series, 1 Complete 6" dredge with extra engine & generator. Call: 655-2385; 600-3518 125 Yamaha Riva Scooter, 1 Fridge, 1 Stereo set. Call or Text: 668-9180; 618-9035 Pure bred German shepherd puppies for sale. Call: 6253918 Golf clubs/ tote bag, like new, also 1 box of 84 balls -$23,000 or nearest. Call: 663-9443 1- Cat 320 BL excavator, 1 Cat 428 Back Hoe, 1-930 Cat loader, 1-Cat D44 bulldozer. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225
LAND FOR SALE 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
Site Engineer- experienced needed; safety engineerexperienced need, age 25-45, very good salary and conditions. Call: 261-2280; 261-2280; 668-7104
One houselot for sale @ Lot 30 First Street Craig, EBD. Call: 645-8862
Operator (bulldozer) experienced needed, age 2545, very good working conditions. Call: 261-2280; 261-2280; 668-7104
1-Pneumatic Roller 9 wheels, 1-55 Leyland Daf Truck. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 Forever Stylish Boutique for sale; turn key business located at Sharon’s Building Mall. Call: 667-7544
Land at Plantation Tuschen Scheme, East Bank Essequibo. Call: 261-2988/ GZPLAYTER@AOL.COM
Cashier 6am-3pm & 3pm12pm. Submit application to Shell Station Providence E B D , shellramsburg@gmail.com Sales Representative (with license), Security Guards (with valid police clearance). Apply to: jkeshwani.alesi@gmail.com
Experienced cleaner bartenders. Call: 225-8572 between 7:00-9:00AM Full time pharmacist for two weeks & part time pharmacist for evenings @ Pharma Choice Pharmacy @ Durban & Lousia Rowe. Call: 661-3124
Lease or for sale: 5 acres organic fruit bearing land on Demerara River Timehri (coconut). Call: 261-2988/ GZPLAYTER@AOL.COM
VACANCY
TO LET 1 Bedroom bottom flat located at 1st Bridge Diamond, Grove H/Scheme E.B.D, Couple or Single $35,000 –Call: 685-8513
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
10 Acres of Agri land @ Long Creek, New Town Soesdyke, Linden H/Way-$350,000 per acre negotiable – Call: 6112537
For the best rates, call us on telephone number: 225-8458
Carnegie trained chef/ cook. Call: 600-7388; 2257933 or visit us at 173 Sherriff Street. Experienced bartender, chef, live in/out waitresses & bouncers needed @ Eden Bar & Lounge @ Garden of Eden, E.B.D. Call: 652-0074 Exist for porters, cashiers, salesgirls; apply @ Lot 16 Vlissengen & Duncan with application & passport size picture. Hair/nail & barber stations for rental, discounts for new comers @ New Market St. Call: 638-1106 Continued on page 23
Monday June 06, 2016
PAGE 23
Kaieteur News
THE REASON FOR THE POOR STATE OF OUR ECONOMY DEAR EDITOR; The recent article which was published in the Friday, June 03 edition of Kaieteur News quoted Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman that the “Forestry ban was just and necessary” It is just another smoke screen to justify the current slump in the economy. It is true the forest sector is not performing as it should, but it’s not due to the ban on
the exportation of logs, it’s mainly due to the lack of uptake of forest produce by the construction and housing sector. While the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Natural Resources and the rest of the government are denying that the economy is sluggish, there is a decline in the construction and housing sector. Hence, the returns reduced in the forest sector.
It would interesting to get from the banking sector how many new loans were approved for the housing and construction sectors of the past year compared to the previous year. For reference I quote:”The Finance Ministry admitted that the low production levels resulted from Government’s temporary ban on timber exports. In a previous interview with this newspaper, Finance Minister
Winston Jordan had said that the forestry sector ’s performance for 2015 was disappointing. “This sector had one of the hardest hits in recent times. We expected it to pick up, but it did not.” On the other hand, Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, insists that the ban was “just and necessary”. He admitted that forestry production fell short of expectations, but he
Incredible evidence of corruption DEAR EDITOR, One of the good things that the Granger Administration has done is to order forensic audits of various state institutions and projects. We are now learning through the press of the horror stories uncovered by the auditors. In all of the audits, the Auditors report on wastage costing billions of dollars, corrupt practices, incompetence, poor execution of projects, self dealing by the so called managers and a clear case of no proper accountability for the people’s monies.
We are left to wonder what the Auditor General of Guyana was doing all this time. It is now becoming clear to everyone, if it wasn’t clear before, that there was a general free for all with taxpayer ’s monies and a general and uncontrollable culture of corruption, stealing, wastage and incompetence which spread like a cancer throughout the state agencies and enveloped the state and suffocated it. Guyana could not have made any progress in this environment and no country in similar circumstances could ever make any progress. The
big challenge now is “what is to be done?” The culprits have been clearly identified in many cases. One of them never took leave for eleven years and collected millions ostensibly for leave pay. The total damage to the economy in dollar terms exceeds easily over $ one hundred billion. Billions at Gold Board, Billions at EGovernance, Billions at GPL, Guysuco, Guyoil, GWI, GGMC, Public Works Projects, Pradoville and more. The cancer spread to every agency, to every nook and cranny of the state. The most recent disclosures of the
Facts about the GGDMA that need to be told DEAR EDITOR; Please permit me a place in your column to express my concerns in regards to the Thursday 2nd June 2016 edition of Miners’ World hosted by Mr. Tony Shields on Channel 11 NCN. Mr. Editor, Mr. Shields claims that Charles Ceres does not know or does not have the facts about GGDMA having members sitting on the boards and making decisions for land distribution. He, Mr. Shields claims it is fiction and not facts. Mr. Editor, it was the GGDMA that asked for a branch of the Gold Board office to be opened in Charity and the previous Government answered their call but subsequent to completion of the gold board, this branch like Bartica Branch was closed. Charity branch was later sold to the Alphonso Company whose son is a member
and vice president of the GGDMA and sits on the board of the Guyana Gold Board as the representative of the GGDMA. Can Mr. Tony Shields say if this is fact or fiction and if this is not a clear case of CONFLICT OF INTEREST? While on his program he boasted of his members of GGDMA producing 80% of the gold produced in Guyana and the caliber of member that are in this organization. I am happy to know that he has acknowledged that the GGDMA only deals with the large miners but try to get benefits under the name of small miners. Mr. Editor mining is our greatest contributor to the GDP of Guyana and I wish all SMALL MINERS a fruitful year for we are about to complete the first half of this year and can achieve greatly in the second half of 2016. Concerned Small Miner
Two Chief Justices presided at... From page 4 document emanating out of any court, or any judgment given by any court, in particular the Court of Appeal, is considered a ‘’notorious fact’’. It is a ‘’notorious fact’’ that one month after I was admitted to practice the law in Guyana, that I was given permission by three (3) judges of the Court of Appeal to appear before them, to present a brief in place of a lawyer who was senior to me, Mr. Frank Fraser. Not only did I find approval for my arguments and won the Appeal, but I also received commendation for my performance from all three of the sitting judges, in a very strong court. The President of the Court was His Honour Justice Cecil Kennard, and the other two Appellate Judges were His Honour Mr. Maurice Churaman and Mr. Aubrey Bishop. The lawyers for the other side were also
very learned and extremely competent, Mr. Robin Stoby S.C and Mr. Raj Poonai. My judicial career was dynamic and full of hard work and dedication to my country. The fact that as a strong judicial officer, the Chief Magistrate of the country, my life was threatened in the discharge of my duties for doing what was right for the citizens, during very dangerous times in this country, is a ‘’notorious fact’’, as well. The threats and all of the attendant circumstances were reported in the World Press, The Associated Press (AP). There is no one in Guyana who should now say that they do not know anything about it. I walked away from my judicial career. However, my concern will always be with properly working systems in the judiciary that could make my country a safer place. Juliet Holder-Allen Attorney-at-Law
billions of losses in the socalled E-Governance Project are particularly disturbing because it not only highlights the failures of the so-called Technical Advisor but raises the question of why the Government wants to keep these so-called experts and to pay them handsomely when the evidence as unearthed by the Auditors is so convincing. In the case of this particular “expert” his name has surfaced in the case of the disaster, at Charity wharf, the bridge at East La Penitence, the overruns at the Venezuelan Hostel and more. It is believed that he was approving these vouchers because the former President’s son’s father-in-law was the contractor. If the Granger Government is serious about stamping out corruption, wastage, incompetence and the cavalier attitude towards taxpayers’ monies, the President should move swiftly to weed out from the system all those found to be liable and culpable for all these disasters. Only then can we say that it was worth the while and the money to conduct these forensic audits. Even the sacred crows have to be removed from the system. The earlier the better! Paul Singh
refrained from expressing that the industry performed “poorly”. How can the Minister of Finance associate low production levels as a result of the ban on timber exports? Mr. Editor, I am confident there are thousands of cubic metres of logs at various log depots, stock yard and sawmills. Production is at a standstill because the economy has slowed and forest produced is not being utilized as usual by the housing and construction sector as compared to the
previous years. I am confident that there is adequate production, the Minister need to consult with the relevant agencies and stakeholders before making irrational statements. I therefore suggest that the Ministers and the Government need to first admit the economy has slowed and is under performing and then go about fixing. Being in denial will not change nor improve our country’s circumstance. Let us all see the change that was promised. Christine Cadogan
From page 22
EDUCATIONAL I.A.E Classes for CSEC January/June 2017: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subject for Students, Adults & repeaters. Call: 683-5742 $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
VEHICLE FOR SALE 2009 ALLION -$2.8M, 2009 RAUM -$2.2M, 2010 IST$2.6M, 2009 FIELDER $2.5M, 2011 AXELA -$2.6M. CALL: 617-2891 Gold Runx Car, HC series, price negotiable. Call: 6920335 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 One 19 Seater pit-bull, high top minibus, immaculate condition. Call: 692-9374; 643-4188 Ford F350 4X4 35’rims + tyres, lift kit 2005, diesel fully loaded auto. Call: 610-5370
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 FUSO Crane GTT 20 -$4M; 1 HINO ranger wrecker GVV1890 -$4M, 1 HIAB Canter GTT 7140 -$3.5M. (negotiable) Call: 622-6746
Unregistered new model Toyota Spacio -$1.9M- Call: 227-5950; 681-7117 Toyota Cami – excellent condition, metallic silver, very clean -$1.3M or best offer. Call: 663-9443
Toyota AT212, AT192, LTouring Wagon, Solid Def pickup 4X4, RZ, Runx, Canter, Honda CAPA. Call: 644-5096; 697-1453
Sale: CAT 324, Doosan 175 Excavator Dump trucks TM & Scammell 8X6, Crusher, jackhammer, wash plant, conveyors- Call: 626-7478
1 Toyota Runx, 16" mag flair kit, excellent condition $1.250M, PMM series. Call: 626-1423; 220-8350
We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154
2 Unregistered new Model Tacoma, Mag rims, crash bars, step, etc, Tacoma Parts for sale. Call: 695-6461; 639-7758 Reduce Prices- unregistered 2005-2007 Allion $2.3M$2.7M, 2003 Sports Model Mazda -$2.3M, 2006 Bluebird -$2.250M. Call: 626-7478
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 & Pitbull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: Cash / terms- Call:680-3154
Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
PAGE 25
Nigeria says it has recovered $9.1 Islamic State kills dozens billion in stolen money and assets of its own in hunt for spies
Reuters - Nigeria’s government has recovered $9.1 billion (6 billion pounds) in stolen money and assets, its information and culture minister said on Saturday, as its corruption crackdown continues against the backdrop of the country’s worst economic crisis in years. President Muhammadu Buhari, elected last year largely on his vow to fight corruption, has vowed to recover “mind-boggling” sums of money stolen from the oil sector and said public coffers were “virtually empty” when he took office last May. Since then the country has endured an economic crisis caused by the sharp fall in global oil prices, making the need to recoup lost money more acute. Crude sales account for around 70 percent of national income. In a statement, Information Minister Lai Mohammed said cash and
Muhammadu Buhari assets recovered between May 29 last year, when Buhari took office, and May 25 this year totalled $9.1 billion. The government has said it plans to generate 3.38 trillion naira ($17 billion) this year from non-oil sources to help fund the $30.6 billion budget signed into law by Buhari last month. It was not immediately
clear how much outstanding money in total is still being sought by the government. “All these are monies recovered from individuals and entities who had either hidden, stolen, diverted or were in possession of monies belonging to the nation,” the minister’s special adviser, Segun Adeyemi, told Reuters. “These recovered funds include monies withheld by past government officials, monies kept in private accounts, monies diverted to private pockets and monies in possession of government officials not disclosed after leaving government.” The information minister told Reuters he could not name any individuals from whom money had been recovered for legal reasons. He said some of the money came after companies that had failed to pay taxes were forced to do so retrospectively.
TRUMP: A MUSLIM JUDGE COULD ALSO BE BIASED At the rate he’s going, Donald Trump’s controversial campaign proposals seem to be making it increasingly impossible for him get a fair trial in this country. On CBS’s “Face the Nation” Sunday, presumptive Republican presidential nominee suggested that “it’s possible” a Muslim judge could be biased against him. The comment came in response to a question from host John Dickerson amid Trump’s latest defense of the controversial claim that he’s received unfair treatment in the ongoing civil lawsuits against Trump University because of the presiding judge’s Mexican heritage. On “Fox News Sunday,” former House Speaker and Trump supporter Newt Gingrich joined critics from both sides of the aisle in calling the candidate’s comments “inexcusable” and “one of the worst mistakes Trump has made.” U.S. District Court Judge
Gonzalo Curiel is a U.S. citizen who was born in Indiana. But according to Trump, the fact that Curiel is the son of Mexican immigrants makes it impossible for the judge to act impartially in the Trump University case. “I’m building a wall,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal last week, following an order by Curiel that internal Trump University documents be released. “It’s an inherent conflict of interest.” By that logic, Dickerson asked, might Trump’s
proposed ban on Muslim travel to the U.S. also cause a Muslim American judge to treat him unfairly? “It’s possible, yes,” Trump replied. “Yeah. That would be possible, absolutely.” The White House hopeful has remained obstinate in his attack against Curiel despite widespread backlash from Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, fellow Republicans like House Speaker Paul Ryan and Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, as well as a number of legal experts. (Yahoo News)
This undated file, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, shows fighters from the al-Qaida linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), now called the Islamic State group, marching in Raqqa, Syria. (Militant Website via AP, File) BAGHDAD (AP) — In March, a senior commander with the Islamic State group was driving through northern Syria on orders to lead militants in the fighting there when a drone blasted his vehicle to oblivion. The killing of Abu Hayjaa al-Tunsi, a Tunisian jihadi, sparked a panicked hunt within the group’s ranks for spies who could have tipped off the U.S-led coalition about his closely guarded movements. By the time it was over, the group would kill 38 of its own members on suspicion of acting as informants. They were among dozens of IS members killed by their own leadership in recent months in a vicious purge after a string of airstrikes killed prominent figures. Others have disappeared into prisons and still more have fled, fearing they could be next as the jihadi group turns on itself in the hunt for moles, according to Syrian opposition activists, Kurdish militia commanders, several Iraqi intelligence officials and an informant for the Iraqi government who worked within IS ranks. The fear of informants has fueled paranoia among the militants’ ranks. A mobile phone or internet connection can raise suspicions. As a warning to others, IS has displayed the bodies of some suspected spies in public — or used particularly gruesome methods, including reportedly dropping some into a vat of acid.
IS “commanders don’t dare come from Iraq to Syria because they are being liquidated” by airstrikes, said Bebars al-Talawy, an opposition activist in Syria who monitors the jihadi group. Over the past months, American officials have said that the U.S. has killed a string of top commanders from the group, including its “minister of war” Omar al-Shishani, feared Iraqi militant Shaker Wuhayeb, also known as Abu Wahib, as well as a top finance official known by several names, including Haji Iman, Abu Alaa al-Afari or Abu Ali Al-Anbari. In the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the biggest city held by IS across its “caliphate” stretching across Syria and Iraq, a succession of militants who held the post of “wali,” or governor, in the province have died in airstrikes. As a result, those appointed to governor posts have asked not to be identified and they limit their movements, the Iraqi informant told The Associated Press. Iraqi intelligence officials allowed the AP to speak by phone with the informant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing for his life. The purge comes at a time when IS has lost ground in both Syria and Iraq. An Iraqi government offensive recaptured the western city of Ramadi from IS earlier this year, and another mission is underway to retake the nearby city of Fallujah.
PAGE 26
Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
Finance Minister to Modi hails ‘new era’ between India and Qatar address Jamaicans in the UK The Gleaner - Finance Minister Audley Shaw is to address Jamaicans in the United Kingdom on Wednesday to update them on critical policy and economic issues in Jamaica. The meeting will take place at 1 Great George Street, Westminster, London, as part of the JN Outlook for the Future series organised by the Jamaica National Building Society and the Jamaican High Commission in the UK. The event, which gets underway at 6:30 in the evening in the UK, is to be streamed live via www.livestream.com. Earl Jarrett, general manager of Jamaica National, says the annual forum, which
Audley Shaw commenced in 2003, provides an opportunity for frank dialogue between government officials and Jamaicans in the Diaspora, who maintain investments and family relations in Jamaica.
Reuters - India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday claimed a “new era of friendship” between his country and Qatar on a twoday trip to the emirate. He was writing on Twitter after officials from gas-rich Qatar and India signed seven agreements covering areas such as investment, financial intelligence and education. “My visit to Qatar has witnessed comprehensive and fruitful discussions that will usher in a new era of friendship between India and Qatar,” Modi said. Included was a memorandum of understanding to open up the Indian market to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, the estimated $300 billion Qatar Investment Authority. The memorandum said it aimed to facilitate the “participation of Qatari institutional investors in infrastructure projects in India”. The Indian community is the largest ethnic group in Qatar, numbering some 700,000 in a total population of just over 2.5 million. Qatar is already India’s largest supplier of liquified
In yesterday’s release by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’s Twitter Page, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, talks with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha, Qatar. (Indian Ministry of External Affairs via AP) natural gas, and bilateral trade is thought to stand at around $10 billion. Yesterday, Modi met the
Qatari emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, on his visit, part of a five-nation tour that has already taken him to
Afghanistan. He will also visit Switzerland, Mexico and the United States.
Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
PAGE 27
PAGE 28
Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
Portia, Former Ministers for court tomorrow in ongoing Trafigura corruption case The Gleaner - Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller and three of her former ministers are to appear in court today in relation to the ongoing corruption case against Dutch oil firm, Trafigura Beheer. Simpson Miller, along with former cabinet ministers Phillip Paulwell, Robert Pickersgill, and Colin Campbell, as well as PNP member and businessman, Norton Hinds were subpoenaed by high court judge Lennox Campbell last week to answer questions in the matter. However, the case is to be stayed when they appear today pending the hearing of the appeal filed by lawyers representing Simpson Miller and the other members of the PNP. On Friday, the Appeal
Portia Simpson Miller Court had dismissed an application by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to strike out the appeal filed by lawyers for the PNP members. President of the Appeal Court, Justice
Quick count shows Peru’s Kuczynski slightly ahead of Fujimori LIMA (Reuters) - Polling firm Ipsos said a quick count of 84.5 percent of sample ballots in Peru’s presidential election showed Pedro Pablo Kuczynski won 50.9 percent of votes compared to Keiko Fujimori’s 49.1 percent in Peru’s presidential election yesterday. Polling company GfK said Kuczynski likely won 51.5 percent of votes and Fujimori 48.5 percent with 77 percent of sample ballots counted.
Dennis Morrison, who delivered the decision, had also ordered that all proceedings in the Trafigura case be stayed until the appeal is heard. PNP lawyers say their clients had given verbal notice in 2014 that they planned to appeal a court ruling that upheld a decision by Justice Lennox Campbell for the Trafigura case to be heard in open court. Morrison says the court registrar has been directed to fix a date, in consultation with all parties, for the hearing of the appeal. Dutch authorities want to question officials of the PNP about a J$31 million donation by Dutch company Trafigura Beheer to the party in 2006. It is illegal for Dutch companies to donate to political parties. At the time of the donation, Trafigura had an oil-lifting contract with a Jamaican state agency under the then PNP administration. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which is the designated central authority under Jamaica’s mutual legal assistance treaty with The Netherlands, wants to pose the questions to the PNP officials on behalf of the Dutch authorities.
Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
PAGE 29
PAGE 30
Full secondary education for all students — Holness KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Prime Minister Andrew Holness, says the Government is committed to ensuring that all students receive a full secondary education. Speaking on the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) television news programme, Issues and Answers, Holness said his administration believes that every secondary student should remain in school up to age 18. He said youngsters would be so enabled, in this regard, under the Government’s new tuition fee policy that was announced earlier this year. The policy, which comes into effect at the start of the 2016/17 academic year in September, will see the Ministry of Education’s subvention to institutions increasing from $11,500 to $19,000 per student. This is consequent on the impending removal of auxiliary fees which many schools currently require parents to pay for their children’s enrolment. “This (access to secondary education) is not just an entitlement, but almost a right. To argue against that would be saying that some persons should only be able to access secondary education by virtue of their ability to pay,” the Prime Minister emphasised. Responding to questions on whether the auxiliary fees’ removal was viable and sustainable, Holness said this will not adversely affect the institutions’ cash flow.
Andrew Holness “If the Government is giving all students at the high school level an additional amount for the school that they go to, there should be no complaints,” he said, while also encouraging voluntary contributions by parents in a position to do so. The Education Ministry’s 2016/17 capital budget has been doubled to $1 billion, with funds also earmarked to support building and maintenance projects carried out at schools. Prime Minister Holness noted that these undertakings are indicative of his administration’s decision to prioritise education. “Government is always faced with making choices. So it’s not what the Government can or cannot do, it is what the Government chooses to do; and our Government is choosing to spend more on education to remove any barriers to entry (particularly to secondary schools),” he underscored.
Venezuelans taking T&T jobs Trinidad Guardian Desperately hungry but with their dignity well intact, boatloads of Venezuelans are continuing to show up along the shores of the southwestern peninsula, with the hope of building a better life in Trinidad. Fleeing the terror of socialism, the foreigners come in search of basic goods such as baby diapers, toothpaste, toilet paper and milk. Data obtained from the Cedros Coast Guard base show more than 38 foreigners come to Trinidad every day and 98 per cent of these return to their homeland. However, Cedros residents say many more come to Trinidad through illegal channels despite frequent patrols by the T&T Coast Guard, the Air Guard, Customs and the Immigration department. Since Venezuela’s inflation rate jumped to tripledigit figures and crime levels escalated because of widespread starvation, legal arrivals from Venezuela to Trinidad have also increased. Between 2013 and 2014, arrivals grew from 15,008 to 21,052. When the Guardian visited the Cedros port on Wednesday, more than 150 Venezuelans were seen waiting to board a ferry which works from Tucupita to Cedros twice per week. Alberto, from Boca de Guerra, said he hoped to find a better life in Trinidad. “I am going home after spending two months in Trinidad. I did some construction work while I was here but now my time is up so
Venezuelan nationals wait to board a boat at Cedros before checking in with Immigration officials last Wednesday. PHOTO: KRISTIAN DE SILVA I have to go back home,” Alberto said. Showing a photograph of his six-year-old daughter, Alberto said he did not even know whether his family had food. “Here in Trinidad you have everything, but in Venezuela we have nothing. Even if you have money you cannot buy food. You have to wait in long lines and when you reach up they say it finish and you have to wait for another week to get,” Alberto said. Shirley Ramnarine, who was born in Guyana and moved to Venezuela more than 32 years ago, said she too hoped to find a better life in Trinidad. “I can take care of old people. I am not lazy, I can work,” she said, smiling. She added, “We cannot live in Venezuela anymore. We want
HAITIANS MAY VOTE FOR NEW HEAD OF STATE IN OCTOBER PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti - (CMC) –The nine-members of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) Saturday held talks with officials of the major political parties here amid widespread speculation that presidential elections could take place on October 9. According to informed sources, the CEP has indicated a willingness to publish an electoral calendar next week, as early as Monday outlining the dates for the presidential elections. The sources said that the first round will be held on October 9 and if a candidate does not receive the necessary amount of votes to prevent a second round, then that will take place on January 8, 2017 and the final election
Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
results will be published January 30, next year. Media reports here said that Interim President Jocelerme Privert, who was in Cuba attending the summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) told his Dominican Republic counterpart, Danilo Medina that the poll will be held in October. He said it “should take place on October 9 and that based on the information he has, “from the date of publication of the electoral calendar, CEP needs 90 to 120 days to organise elections”. The October elections would also include voting for one-third of the Senate. During the meeting on Saturday, party officials were
Jocelerme Privert informed that the presidential race, which fielded 54 candidates, will not be reopened to accommodate any new candidates and the
current 54 will have until June 27 to confirm their participation in the election. Gerald Germain, spokesman for Jude Celestin, who placed second in the October 25 presidential election, said his candidate agrees with the timetable and the CEP’s proposal. “We’ve always contended that the October. 25 elections were not elections,” he said. The winner of the October poll, Jovenel Moise, has already the verification report regarding the election, , calling it unconstitutional and illegal. Haiti has been without an elected head of state ever since President Michel Martelly left office in February.
to be in a place where we do not have to worry about food.” She explained that she and her family took a trip to Panama hoping that they could start a new life there but the cost of obtaining legal documents was too high. “It would cost us US$4,000 to get everything. Panama is a nice place but where we getting money to pay for the documents. We want to stay in Trinidad but we want to do so legally so we don’t have to hide,” she said with a thick Guyanese accent. Carl Ramdhanie, who recruits Venezuelans to work in Trinidad, said it was not true that Venezuelans were taking away jobs from locals. “We have to help one another. We are hiring both locals and Venezuelans. They are really suffering because things are not good in Venezuela and as humans we have to help them,” Ramdhanie said. A fisherman, who requested anonymity, said some Venezuelan women are being sexually exploited. “It is sad to see Trini men using these women as prostitutes. They giving themselves cheap, as low as $100. Some are doing bad things just for a plateful of food,” the man said. He added that Venezuelans are coming illegally through Granville, Fullarton and Icacos. He said uthorities was giving permission to the foreigners to stay two and three months in T&T. “They should be given a maximum stay of two weeks. Why should they get three months? They are coming here and working for the three months, making connections and then going back. They
change all their money into US and take it back to Venezuela,” the source added. He also said the foreigners were bringing stuff to sell including hammocks, clothes and jewelry. “During Carnival they set up stalls right on the shore and some of them are now getting work in Tobago,” the source added. Many residents from Cedros said they too have been extending assistance to the foreigners. Shop owner Bert Beharry said on any given night, Venezuelans could be seen sitting on the benches at the coastline. “They occupy every public place you can think of. They do not beg but if you give them something to eat, they are very grateful,” Beharry said. He added that many of the Venezuelans who come to Cedros “do not stick around.” “They come here with connections and agents from outside of Cedros pick them up. Some of them do not have money to pay for lodging so we open our homes to them until they could find their way around,” Beharry said. “You can see the desperation in their faces but they don’t milk you. They don’t misbehave and we have never had any report of any one of us being robbed by a Venezuelan.” However, another resident Sherry Ali said she was concerned that the foreigners may bring diseases to locals. “We know that Venezuela has Zika, malaria and ChikV. Who is screening them when they come here? We already have a lot of people who do not have jobs here,” Ali said.
Monday June 06, 2016
PAGE 31
Kaieteur News
ICC planning two Test divisions amid major overhaul Promotion and relegation could be introduced into Test cricket as early as 2019, if ICC chief executive David Richardson has his way. Richardson admitted that Test cricket required added “meaning and context” if it is to survive and revealed that the ICC hopes to unveil plans for the introduction of two divisions and, potentially, a number of new Test nations within the next few weeks. Speaking to promote the 2017 Champions Trophy, Richardson also confirmed an intention to stage an extra World T20 tournament in 2018. The event would, he said, involve “a minimum of 16 teams” and be staged in either South Africa, Sri Lanka or the UAE. The final decision over the event’s go-ahead will be made by the ICC’s broadcasting partner, Star. But it was the plans to reinvigorate Test cricket that were the most eye-catching and radical. Accepting the diminishing returns of current bilateral series, Richardson offered the prospect of Test status to the likes of Nepal, Ireland and Afghanistan, but warned more established nations - notably West Indies - that they could find themselves playing Division Two cricket if they are unable to improve their red-ball form.
“There’s a general realisation now that, if we’re going to keep Test cricket going well into the future, we can’t just say it’s going to survive on its own,” Richardson said. “Unless we can give some meaning to these series beyond the rankings and a trophy, then interest in Test cricket will continue to waver. The same applies if we allow uncompetitive Test cricket to take place too often. “If we really want Test cricket to survive, we can’t have the number of Test teams diminishing. We have to create a proper competition structure which provides promotion and relegation and opportunities to get to the top. “A number of member countries are finding that they’re not getting as much from their TV rights for bilateral cricket and they see the need to change and introduce some meaningful context. “The beauty of leagues is that, in theory, you will have a more competitive competition and teams playing each other that are of a more equal standard. “They will all be striving for something. There’s something at stake. They will be thinking ‘We could end up in the Intercontinental Cup if we’re not careful here.’
Hopefully that will inspire performance and make the matches more competitive.” While the details of the plan remain open to debate Richardson hopes they will be agreed by the end of this month - there is a favoured option, involving the introduction of a top division of seven teams and a second division of five teams. It is likely that the plan would see one team promoted and relegated in each two-year cycle, though it remains possible that a second team could be promoted if the ICC embraced a play-off model with the sixth team in Division One playing the second team in Division Two. Richardson hopes that each qualifying Test series would consist of a minimum of three Tests, though he acknowledged that the growth of domestic T20 leagues might render that impractical. The Ashes series would still consist of five games, with every Test carrying ranking points but the overall number of points in the series not exceeding those available in a three-Test series. “The feeling is that if you want to sustain interest in a competition, you probably can’t go longer than two years with it,” Richardson said. “If
Ireland and Afghanistan have ambitions to play Test cricket. (ICC/Saleem Sanghati) you had a top division of seven teams, you’d have six tours - three home, three away - over a two-year period. It works well mathematically. “We could probably make it work in 2019 because hopefully whatever we implement will be better than the current arrangement. It’s the sooner the better as far as we’re concerned. We might need to have some negotiations with broadcasters who have deals in place, but they might be willing to change. This is a marvellous opportunity for the game.” There are two catalysts to the changing mood of an ICC
Contador stuns Froome to win Dauphine prologue Contador has won seven Grand Tour races - two Tours de France, two Giros d’Italia and three Vueltas a Espana.
Les Gets (France) (AFP) Alberto Contador laid down a Tour de France marker by storming to victory in yesterday’s opening prologue of the Criterium du Dauphine. Two-time Tour winner Contador set a stunning time of 11min 36sec in the 3.9km uphill time-trial to win by six seconds from Australian Richie Porte. But perhaps more importantly, the 33-year-old Spaniard beat reigning Tour champion Chris Froome into third by 13sec. Contador, who has never won this race
before, suggested on the eve of the Dauphine that he was unsure of his form and was more interested in improving his physical condition than eyeing overall victory. “It’s a bit of a surprise to beat Froome and Porte but I knew that I could do well. I didn’t think that I could win,” said Contador. Yet he mastered the tough prologue course which, although short, at a 9.7 percent average gradient was as tough as any climb the riders will face on the race this year and a useful gauge to
who has the best climbing legs a month out from the start of the Tour. Froome, who won the Dauphine in both 2013 and last year — the same years he won the Tour — set the early pace with a time of 11:49 having decided to go out early over concerns it might rain later in the afternoon. “It was tough. I was running out of legs,” he said before Contador and Porte had finished. “I’m happy with that. Just the feeling makes me happy. I feel like I’m in good shape now. “I still have some work to do and I hope to keep the momentum till the Tour de France.” Starting in the final five riders, Tinkoff’s Contador set an incredible pace and took the lead before Froome was also beaten by his former Sky team-mate Porte, now with BMC. It was, by contrast, a miserable day for several potential Dauphine winners and Tour challengers with Italy’s Vuelta a Espana champion Fabio Aru finishing 36th at 1:08 and Frenchman Thibaut Pinot 17th at 52sec, both well off the pace. Contador has not won the Tour since 2009 — he was stripped of his 2010 victory after failing a doping test — and last year finished a
disappointing fifth. His best result in the Dauphine was second in 2010 and 2014 but while last year he arrived at the Tour following a victory in the Giro d’Italia, this year he has been 100 percent focussed on the Grand Boucle. He had not raced since winning the Tour of the Basque Country two months ago. Before that he had been in fine form, finishing second at the the Tour of Catalonia and Paris-Nice, as well as third at the Tour of the Algarve — the latter two won by Froome’s Sky team-mate Geraint Thomas while Nairo Quintana triumphed in Catalonia. Froome has not raced since a disastrous Tour de Romandie in April where a puncture on the second stage left him well out of contention, although he did fight back to win the penultimate stage. Quintana has been in good form, winning the tours of Catalonia and Romandie while finishing third in the Basque Country and Tour de San Luis. He is skipping the two traditional Tour de France warm-up events — the Dauphine and Tour of Switzerland — to concentrate on altitude training.
board who, only a few months ago, appeared to have little concern for any interests beyond their own. The first is the election of the new chairman, Shashank Manohar, who seems genuinely committed to growing cricket as a global game and running the ICC as a governing body for the good of all 105 members rather than a favoured few. The second is the diminishing financial value of bilateral series to the Full Member boards, which has allowed Manohar fertile ground on which to plant his ideas. The combination has offered the prospect of unprecedented opportunities for Associate nations in the next few years. “The new chairman has gone out of his way to reverse the sense that the ‘Big Three’ are in control,” Richardson said. “There is a bigger desire to regard the ICC as an organisation with 105 members, not just 10 Full Members who are a select, secluded club with no one else allowed in. We want to be more encompassing and allow opportunities for Associate Members to graduate. “We have 105 members at the moment and we want 105 members to be able to play T20 internationals. Obviously not all against each other at the same time but everybody should want to play the T20 format and it will appeal to all of our members. Then the better ones, the top 30 to 35, would graduate to the 50over game and be involved in global competitions catering to approximately that number of teams. “And then Test cricket is towards the other end of the spectrum, where the top 18 teams perhaps are playing a multi-day format of the game, be it the Intercontinental Cup or part of a Test league. “Countries that you never thought would have ambitions to play multi-day cricket actually have got the potential. Countries like Nepal, Afghanistan and
Ireland are keen. But Ireland and Nepal aren’t getting any opportunities. Zimbabwe hardly play. West Indies are focusing more on T20 cricket. Creating a competition and a financial model that underpins it, it will allow them the resources to fund a team and provide incentives for their players to be available to play Test cricket for them.” Richardson also suggested that membership rules could be changed, to decouple Test status and Full Membership. “We’re reviewing the criteria for Full Membership, which will enable countries like Ireland and Afghanistan to become Full Members. But we don’t want to link it to Test cricket. The competition structure is set separate to membership status. It’s about voting or funding opportunities.” As the ICC’s original broadcast deal did not include plans for a global tournament in 2018, it will have to gain permission from its broadcast partner, Star, before confirming the World T20 for 2018. “We’re having discussions now with broadcasters about having a second World T20 in a fouryear cycle,” Richardson said. “If they agree - and the board agrees - it would be in 2018 and the venue needs to be decided. The broadcasting agreement says we can’t hold another event without them agreeing to it. So they will have a say in where the event will be held. It also emerged that England, the hosts of the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2019 World Cup, retain hopes of hosting a possible World T20 in 2022, and the World Cup qualifiers in 2018. Those qualifiers are currently scheduled to be played in Bangladesh but if Bangladesh qualify automatically - they are currently ranked seventh and on target to do so - it is likely the qualifiers would be moved to the country where the main tournament will be played the following year. (ESPNcricinfo)
PAGE 32
Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
ICC Cricket Committee Meeting outcomes The ICC Cricket Committee concluded its two-day meeting at Lord’s on Wednesday. The ICC Cricket Committee makes recommendations on cricket playing issues to the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee and, if it is a policy matter, the ICC Board for approval and comprises representatives of many stakeholder groups involved in the modern game, including players, umpires, and the media. The Committee is chaired by the former India captain Anil Kumble. The following were among the major issues considered by the committee: International Cricket Structure The committee received a presentation on ICC’s plans to bring greater structure and context to international cricket by creating dedicated competitions in each of the game’s three formats, and there was unanimous agreement from committee members that the current structure of international cricket needed to change. The committee was very supportive of the efforts to widen the audience for Test cricket across all member countries, and acknowledged the success of the inaugural day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide. It stressed, however, that day-night Test cricket needs to be delivered to a consistently high standard across all member countries if the concept is to be successful, noting that the combination of ball, pitch, lighting levels and environmental conditions needed to allow for an even contest between bat and ball at all proposed day-night Test venues. The committee also discussed a number of other
Members of the ICC Cricket Committee issues relating to Test cricket, believing a coordinated approach to the marketing of Test cricket was needed, and also expressing concern about the quality of Test pitches, and in particular the common practice of home countries overtly preparing surfaces to suit their own teams. Use of Technology The ICC Cricket Committee had a long discussion about the future use of technology in international cricket, and particularly umpiring, after receiving a presentation from the MIT engineers on their testing of the current technologies used as part of the Decision Review System (DRS). The presentation covered the performance of edgedetection systems (both heatbased and sound-based systems), and ball-tracking with predictive path, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each type of technology, and how each could contribute to increasing the number of correct decisions made across international matches. The presentation was positively received, and the
committee believed that the ICC needs to take a more prominent role in the management of the DRS technologies used in international cricket, by firstly establishing a structure and tighter processes to approve new technologies, and then to ensure a more consistent application of the technologies used from match to match. A detailed report, along with a list of recommended changes to DRS protocols will be finalised over coming weeks and presented to the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee and Board meetings at the end of June. MCC research into the balance between bat and ball MCC sought the committee’s guidance on the desirability of making changes in order to redress the balance between bat and ball. The Committee received a research paper from MCC citing a wealth of scientific and statistical evidence showing bats have become more powerful in recent years, primarily due to having larger ‘sweet-spots’. The committee’s view was that MCC should strongly consider limiting the
dimensions of cricket bats to help achieve a better balance between bat and ball. Concussion substitute The committee considered a proposal from Cricket Australia for a “concussion substitute” to be trialled for two years in domestic first-class cricket. The committee acknowledged the seriousness of the issue of concussion in cricket, and stressed the need for consistent concussion policy to be implemented in all countries, but its view was that the current Laws and playing conditions allow players to receive the best possible medical treatment, and further change to the regulations in this area is not required at present. Helmet safety The committee considered the matter of helmet safety following a presentation on injury surveillance trends by ICC medical consultant Dr Craig Ranson. The committee expressed concerns that there were still too many instances of international cricketers wearing helmets which did not meet the latest British Safety Standard (BSS). It recommended that the
POOR PITCHES HURTING AUSTRALIA’S WORLD CUP HOPES: POSTECOGLOU Substandard Australian soccer pitches are “cheating” local fans and could derail the country’s World Cup ambitions, according to Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou. Postecoglou and his players lamented the playing surface at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday night after Australia defeated Greece 1-0 in a friendly courtesy of a late Mathew Leckie strike. The pitch, which had hosted a rugby league match on Wednesday, was cleared for play by the match referee despite the deluge of rain that fell on Sydney throughout Saturday. Greece-born Postecoglou said he felt “embarrassed” about the conditions.
Ange Postecoglou. Reuters/Ed SykesLivepic “We’ve got an international team here that we’re hosting and we’re
supposed to be the sporting nation of the world,” he told reporters. “The crowd were fantastic (but) I felt sorry for them ... it’s just not good enough. “I can tell you what the Greek players were saying when they were coming off the pitch, and they’re too polite to say anything publicly. “We have worldclass venues, world-class atmospheres, our supporters are second to none — we love our sport. “But in our game and our game alone, the pitch is actually an essential part of the spectacle. “If that’s not good then we’re cheating people.” Australia kick off the next round of Asian qualifying for
the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a home game against Group B rivals Iraq on Sept. 1 and host regional heavyweights Japan the following month. Postecoglou said scratchy home pitches were hindering his team’s ability to play good football, which could have consequences for their hopes of reaching Russia. “Our whole World Cup qualification could hinge on it,” said the 50-year-old. “Do we not want the conditions to suit us? To present a pitch that suits our style of game to get that advantage? “I’m sure when we play in Japan they will, so we shouldn’t have to prove we’re some sort of pedigree before we get what I think our nation deserves.” (Reuters)
ICC should enforce the wearing of the latest BSS compliant helmets in all international cricket. Suspect illegal bowling actions The committee noted considerable progress in policing suspect actions in international cricket and encouraged all countries to continue their efforts to screen bowlers in domestic competitions before they reached international level. Women’s cricket update The committee received a report from Clare Connor, the Chair of the ICC Women’s Committee, on the impact of the recent ICC Women’s World Twenry20 in India, which showed the women’s event received greater exposure than ever before and attracted 24.5 million TV viewers in India alone, as well as generating an average audience of 100,000 in the USA on Willow TV. The Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee Anil Kumble said: “We have had positive and constructive discussions across a wide range of different issues and I would like to thank all the members for their valuable contributions and input. “The main thing that came out of the meeting was regarding Test cricket. The new structure was discussed and everybody was positive and
forthcoming in supporting that. The committee acknowledged the importance of efforts being made to promote and grow Test cricket, be it through the introduction of meaningful competition structures, better pitches and marketing. “Our recommendations will now be taken forward to the next ICC Chief Executives’ Committee and the ICC Board meeting in Edinburgh in July.” The ICC Cricket Committee is: Chairman – Anil Kumble (former India captain) Ex-Officio – Shashank Manohar (ICC Chairman) and David Richardson (ICC Chief Executive) Past Player representatives –Andrew Strauss (former England captain); Mahela Jayawardena (former Sri Lanka captain) Current Player representatives - Rahul Dravid (former India captain); Tim May (former Australia offspinner and ex-CEO of FICA) Full Member team coach representative – Darren Lehmann (Australia coach) Associate representative – Kevin O’Brien (Ireland allrounder) Women’s Cricket representative – Clare Connor (former England women’s team captain) Full Member representative – David White (NZC chief executive) Media representative – Ravi Shastri (former India captain and a respected commentator) Umpires’ representative – Richard Kettleborough (member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires) Referees’ representative – Ranjan Madugalle (ICC chief match referee and former Sri Lanka captain) MCC representative – John Stephenson (MCC’s Head of Cricket) Apologies – Shashank Manohar and Ravi Shastri. (ICC)
Rossi beats Marquez in... From page 34 Spaniard, whose handshake with Rossi in the finish area ended months of glacial relations. Both riders acknowledged it was the right thing to do on a weekend overshadowed by the death of Spanish Moto2 rider Luis Salom on Friday. The Lorenzo incident drew a furious response from Yamaha team boss Lin Jarvis, who slammed Iannone for dangerous riding. “I am appalled by Iannone’s move,” he said. “He hasn’t learned his lesson from what he did earlier this season where he took out his own team mate. This do-or-die suicide move on Lorenzo is impossible.” The stewards agreed, sending Iannone to the back of the grid for the next race, the Dutch TT at Assen on June 26, and imposing two penalty points. Lorenzo was the early leader on a scorching afternoon but was fighting in fifth place when the collision happened. Rossi, Marquez and third placed Spaniard Dani Pedrosa dedicated their races to Salom and wore T-shirts on the podium declaring ‘Always in our hearts”. No champagne was sprayed. (Reuters)
Monday June 06, 2016
PAGE 33
Kaieteur News
Mo Farah breaks 34-year Fraser upset Perry in 200m showdown for national title British 3,000m record Rudisha is the reigning 800m Olympic champion and world record holder.
Mo Farah broke Dave Moorcroft’s 34-year-old British 3,000m record to underline his form with the Rio Olympics exactly two months away. A year ago Farah pulled out on the eve of this meet as the controversy around his coach Alberto Salazar reached a crescendo. But roared on by a home support untroubled by that storm, he followed the pacemakers through the first 2,000m before hanging on over the last 600m to take a tenth of a second off that long-standing mark. His seven minutes 32.62 seconds means he now holds the British track records at 1500m, two miles, 3,000m, 5,000m and 10,000m, as well as half-marathon on the road. The Briton dedicated his victory to his hero Muhammad Ali, the boxing great who died on Saturday aged 74. “I just want to wish his family well,” the double Olympic champion told BBC Sport. “He was someone I looked up to and someone we’ve missed. That’s for him for sure.” Yet his fellow 2012 gold medallist Greg Rutherford was well down on the form which saw him win in Rome last week as part of an unbeaten run going back to last July. The reigning world, Olympic and European champion led briefly with a first round 8.17m, but with USA’s Marquise Goodwin going out to 8.42m in the second round, Rutherford found himself first under pressure and then out of jumps after three other men pushed him into fifth. Eilidh Doyle continued her fine start to the season with a second place in the 400m hurdles, finishing with the same time as USA’s Cassandra Tate but missing out on the photo finish. Doyle had won the Diamond League opener in Doha and then
taken third in Rome, and she led to the line here before Tate’s late surge and dip. But there was disappointment for former world and Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu, down in seventh in the 400m with 52.40secs, with her compatriots Seren BundyDavies and Anyika Onuora fourth and fifth in a race won in style by France’s Floria Guei. Goldie Sayers, who looks likely to be upgraded to javelin bronze at the 2008 Olympics after a retrospective doping positive for Russia’s Maria Abakumova, could manage only 57.08m, to finish her competition down in ninth. And Jo Pavey’s hopes of making her fifth Olympics at the age of 42 still hang in the balance after she was well outside the GB qualifying time in a 5,000m won by Vivian Cheruiyot in a sprint finish from her fellow Kenyan Mercy Cherono. Ibarguen’s record goes Colombia’s Caterine Ibarguen came to Birmingham on a four-year, 38-event winning streak, her last defeat coming with triple jump silver at the London Olympics. But
a season’s best of 14.61m from Kazakhstan’s Olga Rypakova in the final round pushed the day’s biggest favourite into second, her third round 14.56 almost half a metre down on her season’s best. The brilliant David Rudisha won the rarely run 600m, holding off the fastfinishing Frenchman PierreAmbroise Bosse in 1:13.10 the second fastest time in history for the event - as he looks towards Rio and retaining the Olympic 800m title he won in such wonderful fashion four summers ago. Another reigning world champion, Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop, ran a world-leading time of 3:29.33 to dominate the men’s 1500m, while Kendra Harrison brought home a USA one-two-three in the 100m hurdles. Olympic champion Kirani James underlined his class with a meeting record 44.23secs win in the 400m, Britain’s Matthew HudsonSmith running a season’s best 45.13secs in fourth, while Mutaz Barshim jumped a world lead of 2.37m to hold off Erik Kynard by two centimetres in a tense high jump competition. (BBCsport)
Great Britain’s Mo Farah celebrates winning the men’s 3000m. Reuters / Matthew ChildsLivepic
By Edison Jefford The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) dominated another premier sprint event yesterday when Davin Fraser edged Rupert Perry to clinch the Men’s 200m title in the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) National Senior Championships, which continued from Saturday at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora. Perry, who won the 100m on day one, was beaten in an event he is more renowned in. Fraser ran 21.29 seconds to edge Perry (21.34s), while Police’s Arinze Chance was third in 21.84 seconds. Fraser also anchored the GDF Men’s 4x100m relay team to victory. Guyana Police Force’s, Julio Sinclair won the Men’s Shot Put (14.30m) and Discus Throw (39.04m). GDF’s Natrena Hooper cleared 1.83m to win the Women’s High Jump ahead of Police’s Cindy Fraser (1.50m) and Clarissa McBean (1.45m). Hooper has a 1.78m performance that she completed two weeks ago at the Hamptons International Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
She is trying to reach the 1.93m mark needed to qualify for August 5 – 21 Olympic Games in Brazil. She also won the Women’s 200m and Triple Jump events. In the 200m, Hooper turned the tables on 100m champ, Aniquah Powley. Hooper clocked 24.79 seconds ahead of De Challenger’s, Toyan Raymond (25.61s) while Powley was third in 25.99 seconds. Hooper leaped to 12.54m in the triple jump ahead of sister, Natricia, who posted a best mark of 12.10m. Linden’s double CARIFTA Games silver medallist, Chantoba Bright was third with 11.79m. Double CARIFTA Games bronze medalist Andrea Foster, followed up her 1500m win on Saturday, with the 800m win yesterday. She took the race in a time of 2:19.25s. Claudrice Mc Koy won the Women’s 3000m, with a time of 10:50.00s with GDF’s Ashanti Scott second in 10:51.44s. Winston Missengher won the Men’s 5000m in a time of 15:53.62s, while Quacy Morian took the Men’s 800m in 1:53.79s.
Muhammad Ali to be buried in Louisville after local hero’s sendoff
Boxing fans tour the Ali Center as they pay their respect to Muhammad Ali. Reuters/John Sommers II Muhammad Ali’s hometown of Louisville will honor the former boxing champion on Friday with a procession through the Kentucky city and public funeral at a sports arena, a tribute befitting a local hero who achieved global stature as a humanitarian. The public service for Ali, one of the most celebrated figures of the 20th century whose death brought accolades from around the world, will feature eulogies by former President Bill Clinton, broadcaster Bryant Gumbel and comedian Billy Crystal, family spokesman Bob Gunnell said on Saturday. The body of the former prize fighter, who died in Arizona after suffering for decades from Parkinson’s syndrome, was expected to be returned within the next two days to Louisville, where flags were lowered at city hall in his honor. Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr in Louisville on Jan. 17, 1942, and was known as the “Louisville Lip” early in his boxing career because of his playfully boastful nature. Fans gathered on Saturday at his modest childhood home on Grand Avenue, which has been converted to a museum, and at the Muhammad Ali Center, a cultural and educational venue, to pay their respects. “Our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences are with the Ali family and friends
at this time. He will forever be remembered as The Greatest,” the center said on its website. Friday’s events are expected to begin with a private prayer service for family members at a Louisville funeral home. The procession will then proceed along the city’s main streets, including Muhammad Ali Boulevard, to Cave Hill Cemetery, passing locations that were significant to the former champion. The funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the KFC Yum Center, which seats more than 20,000 people, and will be live-streamed at the center’s website. Ali was admitted on Monday to a Phoenix-area hospital and died Friday night of septic shock due to unspecified natural causes, Gunnell said. In his prime Ali spoke out against racism, war and religious intolerance, while projecting a brash confidence and sense of pride that became a model for African-Americans during 1960’s and 1970’s. Stripped of his world boxing crown for refusing to join the U.S. Army and fight in Vietnam, Ali returned in triumph by recapturing the title and starring in some of the sport’s most unforgettable bouts. In later years, Ali was admired for his grace in coping with a disease and as an ambassador for humanitarian causes. (Reuters)
PAGE 34
DJOKOVIC JOINS GREATS WITH MAIDEN FRENCH OPEN TITLE Novak Djokovic joined the tennis greats yesterday when he downed British second seed Andy Murray 36 6-1 6-2 6-4 to claim his maiden French Open title and hold all four grand slams at the same time. The world number one recovered from a nervous start to impose his pace on Court Philippe Chatrier and clinch his 12th grand slam crown after three previous failures in a Roland Garros final. Djokovic is only the third man after Don Budge and Rod Laver to hold the four majors at the same time, and the eighth man to triumph at Wimbledon and the French, U.S. and Australian Opens. “It’s a very special moment, possibly the biggest moment in my career,” the 29year-old, who now has a 5-2 win-loss rec o r d a g a i n s t Murray in grand slam finals, said courtside. Murray said: “This is something that is so rare in tennis. It has not happened for an extremely long time and it is going to take a long time for it to happen again. “So everyone here who came to watch is obviously extremely lucky to see it. Me personally being on the opposite side it sucks to lose the match.” It looked like Djokovic got off to a dream
Monday June 06, 2016
Kaieteur News
Novak Djokovic celebrates with ball girls. Reuters/Nicolas Gouhier/FFT/Pool start, taking Murray’s serve to love in the first game. But the Briton, who was playing his 10th final at a major, hit the ball early to set up three break points in the following game, converting the third with a fine lob. He held to love and then broke again, winning 16 of 20 points to lead 4-1. Tension threatened to boil over when Murray shouted “get him out”, pointing to a French TV interviewer who was in the players’ box, before Djokovic had an altercation with the chair umpire. As Murray was serving for the set, he was awarded a point to lead 30-0, Djokovic
having hit his return before an ‘out’ call on the serve was made. “The call was after you hit the ball. I’m 100 per cent sure,” Damien Dumusois told a frustrated Djokovic. Murray, who beat Djokovic in the Rome Masters finals on clay last month, went on to win the set when his opponent netted a backhand. He had a break point in the first game of the second set but that was as good as it got for the Scot. Djokovic, his aggression now channeled and matched by his accuracy, won the remaining games. He raced to
a 4-1 lead in the third set, breaking in the fifth game with a delicate angled drop shot that triggered chants of ‘Nole, Nole, Nole, Nole’ in the stands. There was no comeback in that set for the 29-year-old Murray, who then dropped serve in the opening game of the fourth set. Djokovic, who is now on a 28-match winning streak in grand slams, broke to love to lead 5-2. Murray pulled a break back but Djokovic shook off late jitters to win the title on his third match point when the Scot netted a backhand at the end of a nail-biting rally. (Reuters)
MoH Soft Shoe football resumes tonight The Ministry of Health/Petra Organization Soft Shoe Football Competition which is being run under the ‘Stop Gender-based Violence’ theme is set to resume today with six more matches, at the Ministry of Health ground, on Brickdam and Vlissingen Road, starting from 19:00hrs. In the first fixture, Campbelville will collide with West Back Road while East Front Road square off against Leopold Street. The third game of the night, West Front Road engages debutant Ministry of Health and this encounter precedes the clash between North Ruimveldt and Alexander Village. In the fifth game, North East La Penitence go up against Albouystown, while the Back Circle versus Channel-9 Warriors showdown brings the curtains down for the night. The event is slated to conclude on June 18 and features twenty-four community-based teams competing initially in a group phase, before the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout rounds along with the four best third placed finishers. Matches are also planned to be played at theTucville and West Ruimveldt grounds and the entrance fee is free. 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 receive $300,000 and the Championship trophy, while second, third and fourth placed finishers collect $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. On the individual side, prizes will be awarded to the event’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Highest Goal Scorer. Among the other sponsors on board are: GTT, Lucky Dollar, Nigel’s Supermarket, Junior’s Jewellery, Star Party Rentals and 2-J’s General Store.
Rossi beats Marquez in Catalunya GP duel
PHELPS FALLS AGAIN AT TEXAS MEET, TAKING 4TH IN 200 FREE Michael Phelps fell again at the Longhorn Elite Invitational. The 18-time Olympic gold medalist finished fourth in the 200meter freestyle Saturday in Austin, Texas. University of Texas sophomore Townley Haas won in 1 minute, 47.86 seconds, while Phelps, the American record holder, finished in 1:48.73. On Friday night, Phelps won the 100 freestyle, then lost to Singapore’s Joseph Schooling — another Texas swimmer — in the 100 butterfly. Weekend meets in Austin, Indianapolis and Santa Clara, California, are the final tuneup before the U.S. Olympic Trials starting June 26 in Omaha, Nebraska. Allison Schmitt beat Missy Franklin for the second straight night in Austin in a showdown of swimmers who won a combined seven gold medals in 2012. Schmitt won the 200 freestyle in 1:56.87; Franklin was second in 1:57.78. Franklin rebounded to win
Valentino Rossi. Reuters/Heino Kalis
Michael Phelps leaps to touch a diving board as he jokes with other swimmers before the finals of the men’s 200-meter freestyle on Saturday. Eric Gay AP Photo the 200 backstroke in 2:09.45. At Santa Clara, Olympic gold medalist Connor Dwyer turned in the world’s eighthfastest time this year, 3:46.09, in the 400 freestyle. Josh Prenot swept the breaststroke events and set a new meet record in the 200, at 2:09.44. Nathan Adrian, who also
has won Olympic gold, won the 50 free with his fastest time of the year, 21.68. Anthony Ervin was second in 21.98. Natalie Coughlin finished fourth in the 50 freestyle, won by Emma McKeon in 24.85. Coughlin’s time was 25.19. In an Indianapolis Arena Pro Swim Series event, David
Plummer turned in the fastest time of the year in the 100 backstroke, a personal-best 52.40. Olivia Smoliga’s personal best 59.41 in the women’s 100 backstroke is No. 6 in the world in 2016 and tops among Americans. Kelsi Worrell, Melanie Margalis and Nic Fink all have won multiple events. (AP)
Italian Valentino Rossi won the Grand Prix of Catalunya yesterday after a thrilling duel with Spaniard Marc Marquez that ended with a handshake between MotoGP’s bitter rivals. Rossi’s Yamaha team mate and reigning champion Jorge Lorenzo lost the overall lead to Honda’s Marquez after being knocked off his bike by Ducati’s Andrea Iannone, the man he will replace next year, on lap 17. “It’s a great victory, one of the best of my career,” declared 37-year-old Rossi, who started fifth at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya and dropped to seventh before fighting back to take the lead on lap seven. It was his second victory of the season, 88th in MotoGP and 114th of his
grand prix career. Marquez, who traded the lead with Rossi over the closing laps, has 125 points to Lorenzo’s 115 and Rossi’s 103 after seven rounds. “I was struggling a lot with the front (tire),” said Marquez, who ended last season as Rossi’s archenemy after the pair clashed on track and the Italian accused him of helping compatriot Lorenzo win the title to keep it in Spanish hands. “I had a few moments, in the end I was on the limit. I tried but when I saw also Lorenzo out the mentality changed a little bit. “The important thing is that we had a great battle with Valentino and I think the people enjoyed it,” added the Continued on page 32