Kaieteur News
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Friday June 10, 2016
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Struggling in a “donkey-cart” economy No one is born popular. Popularity is earned based on one’s actions or positions. In a recent survey of citizens in several countries, Pope Francis, the 79-year-old Argentinean, has been considered more popular than US President Barack Obama, and the rest of the world’s leaders. The spiritual leader of the more than one billion Catholics worldwide, is popular because of his spiritual leadership, refreshing messages and inspiration to humanity. Even some atheists are impressed by his good deeds, especially toward the poor and the downtrodden. Pope Francis’ leadership transcends the Catholic religion. He is admired by a majority of people from different religious affiliations from across various regions. The choice of the people sends a clear message to leaders about current perceptions and expectations of them. It addresses a deep public yearning for good and visionary leaders against a prevailing backdrop of diminishing trust and confidence in authoritative figures, political or otherwise. Pope Francis always seems to be honest and sincere. The opposite is true for most politicians. In Guyana, the desire of the people is to have visionary leaders with strength of character, decency, honesty and a deep conviction and commitment to a particular set of values. In the past fifteen years, Guyana was saddled with dishonest, corrupt, greedy, vindictive and uncaring officials, and by extension, governments. The new government promised to dissociate itself from such practices. But that has been a hard promise to keep. Many in the government see themselves not as servants but the bosses of the people. And there have already been missteps, abuse of power, arrogance, scandals and alleged corrupt practices by some. Living a Cadillac lifestyle in a “donkey-cart” economy shows that very little has changed from the past. The poor continued to be marginalized, which suggests that those in authority do not intend to practice what they preach. There has been no fundamentally different approach in leadership today than in the past, because some in the government have not rejected the trappings of absolute power and the princely opulence associated with previous administrations. We essentially have leaders who are prepared to just talk the talk but not walk the walk. The end result is the neglect of the poor and the lower working class who continue to be marginalized economically. The PPP was defeated after being in power for twenty-three years because it often said one thing and then did the exact opposite; mistakenly believing somehow that it would continue to get away with it. Living in a globalized and technological world has opened up unprecedented access to information to Guyanese who are now demanding much higher expectations from those in authority. They are carefully scrutinizing almost every action of the government and are making their opinions known. They are no longer as passive as they were in the past. It is true that leaders are always judged by the extent to which they match words with actions, which explains why actions speak louder than words. In truth, promises are basically comforts to fools. There is a wide disparity between the promises and actions of the government, which has resulted in a loss of public trust and confidence. Unfortunately, as we opined, honesty is a quality that is rarely associated with politicians, yet the ruling elite seem bewildered why many among us have a generally negative view of their stewardship. Many of these public officials have to begin the process of reshaping their unflattering images. But some have waged a war against the people for criticizing or disagreeing with their style of governance by labeling them the “chattering class.” It will be difficult for the government to win over those people and others who are desperately struggling to make ends meet in a donkey-cart economy.
Golden Jubilee Symposia Series came to Queens, New York DEAR EDITOR; June 5th was a day of perfect spring weather in New York, a day to go out in shirt sleeves. It was also the day when the Jubilee Independence Committee (50 award-winning members) brought the Jubilee Symposia Series to York College located in the heart of a Guyanese village. But please note this Guyanese village is not located in Guyana; it is in Queens, New York. Walking through this village, you could easily identify Indo-Guyanese homes – bundles of Jhandi flags are firmly planted at the front of the house. And, they are prevalent throughout the area. There are also several prominent Christian churches and Muslim mosques whose memberships are predominantly Guyanese. Desmond Roberts of the 1966 Independence flagraising fame who studied Guyanese immigration puts the number of Guyanese in the New York area at 140,000. (Another 100,000 are scattered around USA, with large numbers in Florida). It was one of the largest assemblies of Guyanese ever gathered for a one-day symposium in the New York area, probably numbering 250. It was also probably the largest gathering of Guyanese academics from various universities around the United States. Another characteristic was that AfricanGuyanese accounted for at least 80percent of the participants, Indians only 16%, others 4%. This statistical breakdown speaks to a larger problem in the Guyanese nation – it is fractured by race – and all aspects of national life are
affected by it. President Granger may be more than a little bit cognizant of this fact, hence the reason he created a Ministry of Social Cohesion. The symposium comprised of five workshops with loaded titles: (1) Who Are We? (Who is a Guyanese? What is a Guyanese Identity?); (2) What has been our journey – these past 50-years? (3) What can we become in the next 50years – Economic? (4) What can we become in the next 50-years – social, cultural, art? (5) How can we get there? Some of the distinguished academics who addressed these workshops were: Kimani Nehusi (Temple U), Nicole Burrowes (Brown U), Joy Carew (Kentucky U), Aliyah Khan (U of Michigan), Godfrey Brandt (Okeye U), Lear Matthews ( SUNY), Regina Bernard- Carreno (CUNY), Lorraine Emeghebo (Molloy College), Leyland Lucas (Morgan State). There were some thirty others who hold doctorates listed on the agenda handouts. Mr. Sase Singh (Columnist for Guyanese newspapers) gave a 10minute presentation on Transforming the Sugar Industry. He identified five challenges facing GuySuco (manpower – manual labor instead of mechanized; marketing - exporting raw vs. valueadded packaged sugar), poor quality cane due to bad husbandry, factory efficiency, financial leadership. Sase says: “Any turnaround plan has to focus on improving productivity and securing better value for money by using out-of-the-box ideas driven by turnaround professionals”. Sase clearly
believes sugar estates should not be closed or sugar phased-out at this time. He calls on GuySuco to stop “exporting the wrong product (raw sugar)”, and start exporting packaged sugar. His presentation was aided with power-point package and hand-outs. His presentation seemed to have roused the packed room. One lady said, the previous presenter had put her to sleep – and she was suddenly brought alive by Sase’s ringing voice in the classroom; another asked, why isn’t he on GuySuco board? There were two sessions – so several of the workshops were held simultaneously. I was able to attend two sessions. One chaired by colorful Plaisance-born Guyanese radio broadcaster, Hugh Hamilton (“me ask me momma . . .”), at which Damion Trent spoke on “Guyana: A farce of Independence”. He gave an excellent analysis of Guyana’s turbulent struggle leading up to Independence and why it was handed over to Burnham as head of govt. and not Jagan – “because America wanted PNC-UF in power”. He did an excellent job in a 12-minute time slot. Why did he think our Independence was a farce? Was it because it was negotiated and had to be given – and not won in a revolutionary war? I did not get a clear explanation. The Q and A segment was canceled due to time constraints. Dr. Aliyah Khan who looked too young to hold a doctorate gave a presentation titled: “Sugar Estate and Exile”. She traced the roots of colonization (slavery) and Indian (Continued on page 31)
In defence of Donald Ramotar
DEAR EDITOR; Guyana Sugar Corporation’s Senior Communications Officer, Audreyanna Thomas’ letter, published on June 4, 2016 captioned ”Ramotar confused business with politics on GuySuCo” seeks to vilify former President, Donald Ramotar. My response to Thomas’ letter is not to lecture Thomas on journalistic ethic but to make reference to two points in the letter. The letter states, in part, “in order to come to any intelligent conclusion about the prospects of GuySuCo, one has to examine how the corporation got to this stage, and how it was governed and managed in the past as against how it is currently governed and managed” and further ”it went through a gradual process of deterioration of systems and structures, which included poor leadership and management”, and “an industry that has undergone a systematic process of decay”. Editor, the foregoing statements would give the impression to the ordinary man-in-the-street that the current cadre of management are completely new to the sugar company and so it’s an absolute necessity to investigate, probe and research on what went wrong with the company to make it become what it is today. But this is just
a hoodwink strategy. The fact of the matter is that the 2 members of the Interim Management, Errol Hanoman and Paul Bhim are 2 previous Chief Executive Officers of the same company not too long ago. Hanoman was a senior representative of the management consultants, Booker Tate, responsible for the affairs of GuySuCo, and after Booker Tate was removed in 2008, was appointed the CEO in 2009. He demitted this position in mid2010 and Paul Bhim was appointed CEO until he was removed in 2014. Under Bhim’s leadership, GuySuCo recorded its lowest production in 23 years, when 186,000 tonnes sugar was produced in 2013. These gentlemen cannot so easily absolve themselves from the current financial travesty facing the industry. It was Bhim, as the CEO, who reported to the Economic Services Commission in 2014 that GuySuCo has incurred a debt of a whopping G$58 billion. If the company is now asserting that i t ” w e n t t h ro u g h a g r a d u a l deterioration of systems and structures, which included poor leadership and management”and ”systematic process of decay”, then they must take ownership as being part of the said
deterioration process. It was only through poor leadership and management that the company recorded it worst production and financial performances from 2009 – 2014. The average production between 2009 and 2014 (the era of Paul Bhim and Errol Hanoman as CEO’s) was 218,000 tonnes when compared with the previous six years (2003 – 2008) of 272,000 tonnes. The letter further states ”these pensioners of whom Mr. Ramotar speaks are highly qualified and experienced Guyanese” and ”muster a cadre of the best minds in the sugar industry”. I would wish for the corporation to show one iota of any successful intervention of any one of the ”highly qualified and experienced best minds in the sugar industry”, who are now consultants, for the time they previously spent in GuySuCo before becoming consultants. Editor, I am not in the ”company of naysayers” as Thomas is implying Mr. Ramotar to join. I am in the company of those who would wish for a turnaround of the sugar industry, so that the lives of all sugar workers could be improved, and not to see them joining the breadline. Fredrick Yuvraj
Friday June 10, 2016
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Kaieteur News
The Housing Minister may Anil Nandlall says he is be out of control obligated to reply
DEAR EDITOR; I am an employee of CH&PA and we are in a crisis situation. The new minister Valerie Patterson is doing her own thing and running the agency out of the Ministerial Secretariat. Like Irfaan Ali before her. Minister Patterson is doing her own thing. Is this the change Guyanese voted for? This new minister is allocating land from her office and doing all types of transactions which bypass the land allocation department. When the transactions get arranged upstairs, the persons are sent downstairs with instructions from the Minister. The CEO Myrna Pitt and Director of Operations Denise King-Tudor encouraging the minister in doing her own thing. This is not how CHPA is supposed to run. A couple months ago the minister and management decided to give fifty Guyanese $300,000 to fix up their homes for jubilee. Nobody looked at
the cost or whether this thing even made sense. The Board rejected it and made some modifications but before the program was explained to staff, the Minister went on TV and announced the program. She also gave other interviews, even though she knows that these things have to be approved by the board. Minister Valerie Patterson reminds me of Irfaan Ali because this is exactly how he used to operate. Not too long after the minister announced a 50/50 discount plan on house lots. Minister Patterson, the CEO Myrna Pitt, Director of Operations Denise King-Tudor and the minister’s assistant Mr. Nelson might be the only persons who understand this plan. I know for sure that no one on the Board was notified of this plan and the staff is left to deal with members of the public who keep coming all the time. No one explain this program properly to us.
The Board was notified after the public announcement and many members disagreed with this program. We are using a different receipt book for the money we are told to collect. This will cause this agency huge embarrassment when the truth is revealed. Another thing Minister Patterson is doing now is talking about launching a building expo. This is one of Irfaan Ali’s pet projects and a waste of money. The Board and Minister Bulkan need to rein in Minister Patterson as she is running CHPA without consulting with staff. The CEO and Director of Operations are encouraging the Minister because like when Keith Scott was here they sweet talk him and he used to protect them. Myrna Pitt and Denise King-Tudor should have been fired a long time ago for the billions they cannot account for at CHPA. They are both threatening and intimidating staff not to talk to Board members but we will tell what we know when we are asked. CH&PA Staff.
The pastor describes Guyana as a soulless country DEAR EDITOR; To say that Guyana is losing its soul would be to suggest that it had one. Maybe it did. I might seem cynical, however, really do not remember when it did possess one. Of course I have zero credibility from which to judge Guyana. I left Guyana when I was just a teen and came back in the heart of all the claims of political and corporate corruptions and killings. When I was leaving in 1985, LFS Burnham had just died, the country was grossly impoverished and it was beginning to be catapulted into a desperate power struggle among the PNC heavy hitters – Hamilton Green, and his crew and Desmond Hoyte, and his crew. (I am yet to be properly schooled as to why Mr. Burnham chose Mr. Hoyte over Mr. Green.) I am 48 years old now and I have lived outside of Guyana collectively for about half that time. The Guyana I knew under Burnham, for 16 years, then Jagdeo for 4 years, then Ramotar for 3 years and now Granger for 1 year, has failed to impress me that it has soul. The closest we came to having a soul was in the few months leading up to the last national elections and in the days immediately following. There seem to have been an unparalleled amount of expectation and hopefulness. Change was in the air. But now the honeymoon is over and country seems to have reverted to its search of its soul, again. Over the last few months I have travelled to Essequibo and Berbice. I have met with folks from Linden and Georgetown and for the most part the thinking is unanimous; the search for the country’s soul continues. Notwithstanding the bugbear of unemployment and financial stagnation, our political leaders continue their unrelenting, unreasonable and unpatriotic onslaught against each other. On the one hand, the PPP continues to fret about the audits. How could a political party not fell one iota of responsibil-
ity for the billions of dollars that have been misspent, stolen and other wise misappropriated, under its watch? Then, on the other hand, the Coalition conducting the audits with all those damning evidences, continues to let bygones be bygones. We were told that the consequences for those deviant and crookish habits are that those responsible will never be able to steal billions from the tax payers again. Of course, that is while this government is in power because the PPP says clearly that those audits are vindictive, witch-hunting and fake. In other words, no one did anything wrong. So when the PPP returns to power, there will be no need to change anything and the skulduggery will be allowed to continue unabated for another 23 years. The soullessness of Guyana was again seen when some Guyanese tied up some fellow Guyanese, strapped them to anchors and dropped them into the Atlantic Ocean. These dead men were fathers, and sons, and brothers, and friends. They had people who loved and depended on them. But there are those who are so heartless, those facts do not matter. The soullessness continued with some Guyanese throwing a grenade at some fellow Guyanese while they gathered to reflect on the life of their dear friend. And as the story was breaking, rather than the opposition stick to condemn the terrorist act, they said that the act was perpetrated by the very people who were there gathered. In other words, the people threw the grenade on themselves. I was not the least surprised by the opposition’s response. The general acceptable behaviour of those in this soulless country is that no one should ever be held accountable for any act of terror. The notion is that Walter Rodney killed himself. Waddle killed himself. Satya Shaw killed himself. Crum(Continued on page 31)
DEAR EDITOR; The issue of the admission of LLB graduates of the University of Guyana to the Hugh Wooding Law School has once again raised its head in the public domain. The matter has been obfuscated by a plethora of statements emanating from the Attorney- General, Mr. Basil Williams, who has not only misrepresented the facts but refuses to accept any responsibility and shifts blame from himself to me, the previous administration and to the Council of Legal education. As a result, I feel compelled to respond in order to set the record straight. In 2013-2014, I along with the then Head of the Department of Law, University of Guyana, Mr. Sheldon McDonald, successfully negotiated, on behalf of the Government of Guyana, the terms of a new agreement with officials of the University of the West Indies and the Council of Legal Education of the West Indies, for the continued automatic admissions of graduates of the UG Law Program into the Hugh Wooding Law School. This became necessary because the previous agreement entered into by my predecessor had come to an end through effluxion of time. For the record, this entire initiative was a PPP/C Government one which was started in 1996. Two previous such agreements had expired. The responsibility became mine to negotiate and conclude the third. At the commencement of the negotiations, several members of CLE /UWI team had argued against non- renewal of the agreement. We defeated this argument. They next argued for a reduction of the quota of 25. We again defeated this argument. In the end not only did we succeed in retaining the quota
of 25 for Guyanese nationals graduates but were able to secure an additional 10 places for non- Guyanese Nationals graduates of the said Law program. This agreement was to be signed before September 2015 to regulate the admission of students for the year 2015-2016 to the Law School. I left office in May 2015. Upon my departure, I briefed Basil Williams. I explained to him that the hard work is finished and that all he needs to do is to ensure that the agreement which was being drafted by UG And UWI be signed and taken to the CLE for their signature because it is a tripartite agreement. One year after, I am reading in the press that Mr. Williams has disclosed that this agreement has not yet been signed. What is worse, rather than remain silent or accept his responsibility to get it signed, he blames the previous Gov’t and the Council of Legal Education for this predicament. To further befuddle this simple issue, he throws a red herring into the equation about building a local School. Even if that’s a feasible option, it will take years to materialize. What will happen to students in the meantime; why after one year, the negotiated agreement has not been signed? Mr. Williams blames a decision of the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) Administration to discontinue contributions to the HWLS as the reason for the dilemma facing Guyanese law students: “I could tell you that they all (HWLS) feel that because we don’t pay and contribute, it is unfair for us to have our students taking up places at the school… It is a question of the discontinuance of paying any contribution whatsoever, and we inherited that
situation and are trying to address it…” Mr. Williams said (see Guyana Times:8/6/ 2016@p.9) These statements constitute another demonstration of the shocking lack of understanding of, or the gross misunderstanding by the Attorney- General of matters for which he holds responsibility. It is clear that he does not understand the nature and purpose of the contributions to which he refers. Had he done so, he ought to appreciate that it has no causal connection whatsoever to the admission of our UG LLB graduates into the Hugh Wooding Law School. Historically, each member territory of the Council of Legal Education of the West Indies made an annual financial contribution to the Council, depending upon the number of seats allocated to each territory, for their students to be admitted to the Regional Law Schools. In this regard, Guyana’s quota has always been 25. The financial contribution which each territory makes is in turn used to subsidize the tuition fees which these students are required to pay at the Law School. Guyana stopped this contribution nearly 15 years ago. It never affected the admission of our students into the Law School all these years. All that it meant was that the Guyanese students no longer benefitted from a subsidized tuition fee and therefore, have been paying the full tuition fee since. In fact, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago are the only two countries in the Caribbean that are not indebted to the Council of Legal Education in relation to this contribution. Millions of US dollars are owed by the other territories. This is reflected in the Annual Financial Statements of the Council of Legal Education, a copy of which is sent to every Attorney- General of the (Continued on page 31)
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Friday June 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
Those damning Forensic Audit reports...
Any Govt. inaction would amount to political suicide By Kiana Wilburg Over twenty forensic audit reports have been released by the Government and there has not been a single charge leveled against those who have been implicated in the said reports. While some critics opine that the Government is dragging its feet in this regard, Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Dr. David Hinds believes that the citizenry should exercise a little patience with the “Better Life For All” Administration. In an interview with Kaieteur News, Dr. Hinds opined, “I cannot believe the government would do nothing about the audits.” He said that Government’s inaction would be a politically suicidal move. “I think they are erring on the side of caution,” he added. Dr. Hinds said that this is understandable given the PPP’s drumbeat about witchhunting and the fact that the Coalition would need votes from the PPP’s traditional constituency if it’s going to prevail at the next elections. But over-caution, the activist said, could eventually lead to inaction and this could cost the Coalition support in its core base. He said that in such an instance, the Government finds itself between a rock and a hard place.
The University professor said that in politics, the first question is always—”How is this going to affect our chances at the poll?” To this question, Dr. Hinds said that realistically, the government has to weigh this very carefully. He noted, “Unfortunately, political morality is always very low on the pecking order for governments and political parties. But if little or nothing is done, that will amount to a political victory for the PPP.” He added, “They could argue that they are vindicated because the government could not pin anything on them. Note, the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo keeps repeating the mantra—if you find corruption charge the people. And former President Donald Ramotar on the other hand keeps saying that the government is going after PPP people.” Hinds said that whether these two positions are coordinated or not, they amount to a kind of circling of the issue by the PPP, which then pushes the government into a corner. The WPA Executive Member explained that the other consequence of inaction is the continued institutionalization of corruption. He opined that those involved from top to bottom, in and out of
- WPA Executive Member government, would read that as weakness on the part of government. Dr. Hinds said that he would propose the establishment of an independent Anti-Corruption body to study these audits and recommend the needed action to the President and the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU). He stressed that the Cabinet should not be deciding on the action that should be taken. Dr. Hinds further asserted that such a body should be broad-based and not overstaffed with lawyers. He said that it should include people of moral standing in the society who are concerned about stamping out public corruption. Simultaneously, he said that the process of empowering SARU should be high priority. He emphasised that it should be speeded up. Dr. Hinds opined that if that route is taken, it partially frees up the process from overt partisan considerations While the WPA Executive Member holds this view, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan said that the Board members of various entities will have the opportunity to decide the course of action that will be taken on the damning findings of the forensic audits launched by the APNU/AFC administration. Ramjattan recalled that there was a sub-committee which was established to examine the various forensic audit reports. He said that the sub-committee consisted of himself, Attorney General and
Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams and Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma. The Minister noted that the subcommittee was initially tasked with the responsibility of going through the reports with an aim of determining which deal mainly with administrative irregularities and which enter the realm of criminality. The Parliamentarian said that the matters of an administrative nature would require disciplinary action against those at fault, while those of a criminal nature will be forwarded to the police for further investigations. Ramjattan maintained that it would be too burdensome to just hand the reports over to the police only to find that some reports speak only to administrative improprieties. The Minister said, however, that the Boards of the audited entities will now have a chance to examine the said reports to decide on what will be the outcome. He believes that it is important for the Boards not to be left out of the equation and for
WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds them to have a say in what is the way forward on prosecution and administrative decisions that need to be taken. The Public Security Minister asserted, “I have recommended that all forensic audits reports go to the Board so that they can have a say regarding the forensic audits and determine whether they see prosecution as necessary. We should not exclude the Board even though a sub-committee was given the responsibility to make certain determinations.” He added, “I have been
asked by some of the Boards to look at some of the reports in light of my previous association with criminal law. About four or five I have agreed should go to the police for further investigations.” Asked to say what those reports are, Ramjattan said he could not reveal that at this point. It was in May that the Granger-led administration began expending some $133M of taxpayers’ dollars on 45 of the 50 forensic audits to ascertain how the assets of the state were sold, disposed of or transferred under the previous administration. The remaining five audits were sponsored by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB). Several audits were also launched in July while others started in later weeks. While the report on NICIL has been completed for months now, criminal proceedings are still to take shape. Those on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) have been completed for a longer period.
Food for the Poor is twenty-five Food for the Poor (FFTP) Guyana celebrated its twentyfifth anniversary on June 3, 2016. The non-profit ecumenical Christian organization came to Guyana on June 3, 1991. FFTP has a number of activities slated for the month of June, a day of reflection was observed on June 3, last, while on the following day,
June 4, there was a public distribution of foodstuff, medical supplies, clothing and household articles. There is a dinner scheduled for June 25 at the Pegasus Hotel and the month of events will conclude with a Fitness Walk on July 3. The FFTP team hosted an exhibition of their various initiatives in the Officers’ Mess compound at Eve Leary on Wednesday and yesterday, the exhibition showcased samples of foodstuff, household articles,
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
books, stationery, medical supplies and picture collages of events hosted by the FFTP. Mrs. Andrea Benjamin, the Senior Projects Manager of FFTP, who is in charge of the fitness walk, stated that the theme for the walk is “The walk of champions: Be a champion for the poor.” She noted that the walk will begin from the Bank of Guyana and will end in the National Park, where there will be a fund raising event on the tarmac. She indicated that tickets for the walk cost $3000 and come with a package which includes a t-shirt, water and access to the fund raising event which is a heal t h fair.
Friday June 10 2016
Kaieteur News
With all votes in, Kuczynski celebrates win in Peru election
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Former World Bank economist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski won the majority of votes in Peru’s closest presidential contest in five decades, election officials announced yesterday, even as his rival Keiko Fujimori had yet to concede defeat. Four days after voting, electoral officials said that all ballots had been processed and Kuczynski had won 50.1 percent compared to 49.9 percent for the daughter of imprisoned ex-President Alberto Fujimori. Supporters immediately celebrated outside Kuczynski’s campaign headquarters while the apparent president-elect made a plea for dialogue with his opponent and other rival political forces. “We receive this virtual verdict with great humility because Peru has huge challenges ahead of it,” he told supporters. “We shouldn’t confuse dialogue with weakness. We’re going to be decisive but we’re going to work on behalf of all Peru because many Peruvians feel the train has left them behind and we want everyone to get on board.” Despite the celebratory atmosphere, Fujimori’s campaign seemed in no rush to recognise defeat. Pedro Spadaro, a congressman and aide to Fujimori, said that his campaign is waiting for the National Electoral Board, the nation’s top electoral authority which sits above the election officials who made yesterday’s announcement, to proclaim a winner before conceding. Fujimori’s last hope is some 173 handwritten tallies — representing as many as 50,000 votes — that were sent for review. Among the
irregularities detected were counting more ballots than actual voters at certain polling stations, and allegations that volunteers from Kuczynski’s campaign worked at multiple polling stations in violation of electoral law. Still, experts say it’s almost impossible for Fujimori to make up the roughly 40,000 vote difference to overtake Kuczynski. Fujimori was the favorite to win the runoff but lost ground in the final stretch as fellow conservative Kuczynski warned voters that the corruption and criminality associated with her father’s authoritarian rule could return. Alberto Fujimori is serving a 25-year jail sentence for corruption, organized crime and sanctioning death squads. While he is loathed by many in Peru, he is revered by others for taming Maoist Shining Path guerrillas and hyperinflation, and Sunday’s election was seen partly as a referendum on his iron-fisted rule in the 1990s. Dozens of supporters of Fujimori have held demonstrations outside the electoral board to denounce what they said were fraud. But Fujimori’s aides have refused
to talk in such stark terms and say that the interests of Peru override whatever political differences exist between the two campaigns. While the campaign ended bitterly, with Kuczynski abandoning his preferred technocrat’s discourse and accusing Fujimori of being the harbinger of a “narco state,” most observers expect him to try and work with his former rival. That’s part a reflection of shared ideology — both candidates embrace a pro-business agenda and Kuczynski supported Fujimori in the 2011 presidential runoff — and the political reality facing Kuczynski, whose fledgling movement has 18 of 130 seats in congress compared with a solid majority of 73 seats for Fujimori’s Popular Force party. Kucyznski would be Peru’s oldest president, at age 77. The son of a Jewish-Polish immigrant father, Kuczynski’s first stint in government in the 1960s was cut short by a military coup. He ended up moving to the U.S. where he worked at the World Bank and then embarked on a successful career in business. He also served as finance minister twice and Peru’s prime minister under President Alejandro Toledo.
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The City Council is making a mistake The Georgetown City Council should have gone to tender for the supply of parking meters. The Council has acted contrary to expectations by moving ahead, without tenders, for two companies to provide parking meters in Georgetown The decision not to go to tender for such an important service is at odds with what the ruling coalition was preaching - the need for transparency in the procurement process. There is no guarantee under such an arrangement that the public will receive the best deal possible. Procurement laws were intended to ensure not only that the public gets the best deal possible. The public gets the best deal when there is a competitive process. The competitive process ensures fairness in the award of contracts for the supply of goods and services. Competition is seen as the best way to ensure that the most competitive bid wins, and that there is no bias in the award of contracts. The best-suited person gets the job under a fair and competitive process. The competitive process also ensures that the public
gets the best deal possible. Without competition, prices for the supply of goods and services would increase. Competition acts as an incentive for quality, even though there needs to be other safeguards to assure this outcome. A successful bidder under a competitive process knows that if he or she does substandard work or does not provide a proper service, then a competitor may eventually displace him or her. This is one of the reasons why a competitive process is needed for the provision of services to the public. The procurement laws of Guyana provide that all goods and services procured by government must be done through tender. This is the law of the land, and if it not complied with, then it is unlawful. A criminal offence need not be created, but it is still unlawful, and there can be other remedies under the law for persons affected by the failure of government to go to tender. The problem with Guyana’s procurement laws is that they do not apply to municipalities. The laws ought to, but the municipality is not bound to go to tender for the
services it requires. The government should immediately move to correct this defect and ensure that there is greater transparency in local government. The City Council should have gone to tender. The same two service suppliers may still have won, but the process would have been more transparent and fair, and the public would have felt that the best deal was achieved. The public cannot be sure at this stage that the best deal has been reached. We are told that the City Council is likely to get 20% of the revenues earned by the parking meters. Without a competitive process there is no way of knowing for sure whether some other company would have offered 30%. We are told that the public may have to pay $125. We do not know whether some
other company would have offered to charge $40. The municipality is making another mistake. It should not be entering into any contract for parking meters at this stage, because the municipal laws do not allow for the charging of parking fees by the municipality for its agents. The Municipal and District Councils Act authorizes the City Council to charge rates. It has no authority to charge parking fees. It also has no authority under the Municipal and District Councils Act to charge any taxes on containers.
The law does not give it such powers. The City Council, if it feels differently, should provide to the public the legal basis on which it proposes to charge motorists for parking in the city, and for the passage of containers. The proposed container tax is also in contravention of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and the World Trade Organization rules. Guyana is a signatory to both treaties. The container tax is directed against imports only, since it is only imports that come in containers. This means that the tax will be
deemed discriminatory against imports, since it is not applicable to local goods. Guyana already faces billion-dollar judgments in relation to breaches of the Treaty of Chaguaramas. Guyana should not risk another adverse ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice because of the introduction of a tax which is not even legislated.
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Friday June 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Moral hypocrisy breeds physical barbarism Why was the world overrun by the counter-culture of the sixties, commonly referred to as the Age of the Hippies? The rebellion of the young in the sixties came about just fifteen years after the end of the Second World War. The young generation of the post-war period was weaned on a world of pacifism, peace, equality and unrestrained freedom. For them, what happened from 1939 to 1945 was the biggest threat to civilization, and they wanted to fashion a world that would never see such immorality again. It was no accident that the slogan of the sixties was “Peace and Love.” The Vietnam War, the rise of big corporations in Europe that was devastated by war, the French brutalities in its North African colonies,
Western governments’ support for apartheid and the cruelties of the Cold War, drove the young to rebel. This is a sociological law. Once a society practices extreme class prejudice and the elites are known for their moral turpitude, the deprived classes will seek revenge on the society because they are driven by extreme anger, out of feelings of helplessness. Their outlets inevitably take the form of bestial and nihilistic violence. In the same context, but with different dimensions, we are witnessing a rebellion among the lower classes against the ruling elites, the super-rich bourgeoisie, and their exasperation with widening gaps between rich and poor in every European country and more so in the US. Without exception, Eu-
rope is witnessing a deluge in the electoral popularity of the extreme right. And its climax in America is the irony of Donald Trump. The lower and middle classes are rejecting moneyed domination in the US, and its control of the US Government by the paradoxical embrace of a member of the rich class itself. These Trump supporters are looking at him to shake up the system that they feel was encouraged in the first place by status quo politicians. How do we apply this sociological law to Guyana? There is no deterministic direction a society goes into when its economic and political elites degenerate into moral hypocrisy and ethical lawlessness. In countries with strong traditions of democracy, it can take the form of
elected dictatorship as what nearly happened in Austria and could have happened in France, and the US in the presidential election in November. In weak states that have no experience with democracy like Guyana, bestial violence can be the outcome. I am convinced that the extreme sadism that is present in many homicidal robberies stem from people from depressed communities seeking revenge on the society that they feel treats them as lesser human beings. They feel that their acts of illegality are mild compared to what the elites do and the elites can commit the worst type of legal violations and get away with it. They feel they are hounded and hunted down for petty crimes while the powerful classes are un-
touchable. The Stabroek News in a recent editorial captioned, “Civilization and barbarism,” lugubriously lamented the willingness to use violence and the total breakdown of discipline. In many of the examples the newspaper offered, it referred to the crude behaviour of certain strata of society. Unfortunately, the editorial did not offer theoretical arguments for the genesis and continuation of this social and societal descent into sadistic vortex. The resort to animalistic violence is a frightening emergence in Guyana and criminals from lower economic classes seem bent on forms of bestiality that are scaring every resident. But the infamy has to be studied. Its causes have to be adumbrated. My contestation is that this country’s Georgetown population is too small for the moral and illegal depravities of the elites to be hidden from the people who live in poor districts. The announcement that some financially comfortable lawyers got an education through state loans which they have not paid back, is certain to fuel the anger of many in the labouring masses. Imagine a magistrate that re-
Frederick Kissoon fused to pay his/her loan, jailing people for stealing ten thousand dollars from their employers. If it wasn’t so serious it could have been hilarious, the huge quarrel between a number of companies and the Correia family at the Eugene Correia Airport. These companies have no moral right to condemn any human in Guyana for unfair treatment. The complaints against them by workers are horrendous. One of these companies has employees who seem to like to trade in cocaine. In small Georgetown, judges, magistrates, business people, politicians, gold miners, police officers, highpriced lawyers, exploitative doctors and other professionals, high state officials etc., have frightening skeletons which you can easily see even in the darkest of night.
Dem boys seh... Auditor can’t recommend charges fuh ghost pensioners These audit reports bringing out de unthinkable, de indefensible, de unimaginable, unacceptable and most times de ting is unbelievable. If dem boys was part of de previous administration or dem had relatives who was part of de people who do de unbelievable, dem boys woulda disown dem or poison dem. Dem boys ain’t telling you-all to poison nobody; dem just talking wha dem woulda do. These people so unbelievable that dem buy pumps fuh dem MP to use and record in de books how dem buy fertilizer. Shake Bax collect taxi money fuh travel in Trinidad and he never go pun de plane. Rob de Earth claim how he build 27 bridges in Parika and Den Amstel back dams and Guyanese people can’t find one to date. Well dem boys seh 27 got to be de PPP lucky number, because Minister Jenny Webster use to pay 27 jumbies. It had to be in de night, because de entire Staff at de Ministry never see dem and de people at de post office never find dem. According to dem boys dem had to get pay at de Ghost Office. Dem use to go in dress in all over white to collect dem pension money. Dem believe that dem ghost pensioners had to go to collect de money by numbers. “Ghost Number One” and so on. Dem boys want to believe that Jenny run to Canada last month because she is Ghost Number 28. Then you got de other one. He daady, Donald Dumb seh he is a bright boy, brighter than a bulb. Dem boys ain’t certain if he was talking bout a five, 50 or 100-watt bulb. Wha dem auditors talk about prove that he no brighter than a five-watt bulb. According to de auditor he run de egovernance project, and there is no record to show how he spend, wha he buy, wha he do, who he buy from. In short he had a ghost recording system. Jagdeo create de ghost system and everybody follow him. Now you can’t find Rob de Earth or de bridge he build. Soon you mightn’t Jagdeo, de Rat. Dem boys know Dale, de reporter who dead last week, will check pun dem top side, and report back. He already checking pun Jagdeo. Talk half and mek sure you don’t holler out in yuh sleep when yuh dream dem.
Friday June 10, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Food and Drug chief asked to resume duties while under probe - PS says move not unprecedented Although an investigation continues into alleged infractions by Director of the Food and Drug Department, Mr. Marlan Cole, he was yesterday asked to resume duties. This publication was privy to details of the resumption letter dated June 9, 2016, which states: “Please be advised that approval has been granted for you to resume duties as Director, Food and Drug Department; pending the outcome of investigation with regards to allegations made against you.” The letter was signed by Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Public Health, Mr. Trevor Thomas. The resumption letter comes one day after this publication carried a report that Cole was sent on administration leave pending the ongoing investigation. Thomas in an invited comment yesterday defended
the move to have Cole resume duties pointing out that “it is not unprecedented to ask somebody to resume duties pending investigation into any matter. So I guess one can take into consideration a number of factors. You can take into consideration whether you want the person to be on leave pending the outcome of the investigation or allegation or have that person work.” Thomas, however, made it clear that the investigation into the allegations levelled against Cole is still ongoing. Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton had informed this publication that Cole’s matter was being dealt with by the Public Service Commission. When contacted yesterday, the Minister who is currently attending a United Nations High Level meeting in New York was oblivious to the fact that Cole
was asked to resume his duties as Director. The Public Health Minister had shared that since assuming his ministerial post, a number of complaints about the Food and Drug Director had been brought to his office. Among the concerns was an allegation of sexual assault, which the Minister said he had brought to the attention of the Social Protection Ministry. But according to the Minister, Cole’s accuser had decided not to follow through with the matter. The Minister however noted that “the records will show that he (Cole) was called upon many times to
explain some of his actions, including by the past Permanent Secretary and the current Permanent Secretary...he has openly violated instructions he was given, and seems not to want to improve on what he was called up for.” Minister Norton related that Cole had even left the jurisdiction without being granted permission. This occurred, the Minister said, even when a request was made for Cole to remain in-country. Cole’s indiscretions, the Minister added, included him writing to a number of agencies outside of Guyana, on his own behalf. While the Minister did not specify the reason why Cole wrote to the vari-
ous agencies, he did name a few of the agencies that the Food and Drug Director contacted. Among the agencies revealed by the Minister are: the World Health Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland and the University of the West Indies. He also reportedly wrote on his own behalf to Caricom which is headquartered at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown. “He wrote to these places without first letting us know about it and he even went so far as to write the President (David Granger) claiming that
he was not given a hearing (when his indiscretions were found out),” said Minister Norton. According to the Minister, a meeting was organised for Cole to be given the hearing he requested, but he (Cole) failed to turn up. “We gave him an opportunity to defend himself and he refused to come. He texted in to say that he had a prior travel arrangement and he wouldn’t come to the meeting...he was claiming he wasn’t given a hearing and we gave him an opportunity to do so and he refused to come,” Minister Norton stressed.
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Friday June 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
President meets with Guyana’s MMA-ADA purchased 14 new envoy to South Africa vehicles without approval
President David Granger and Guyana’s Ambassador designate to South Africa, Dr. Cecil Kenrick Hunte at the Ministry of the Presidency. President David Granger on Tuesday received paid a courtesy call by Ambassador Designate to South Africa, Dr. Cecil Kenrick Hunte, at the Ministry of the Presidency. Dr. Hunte, a Howard University professor, whose appointment was first announced in April this year, will be based in Pretoria, South Africa, but will also serve as Guyana’s envoy to several other countries on the African continent. During their meeting, the President
spoke of his administration’s plan to pursue economic diplomacy with a focus on ensuring that its overseas missions become more engaged in trying to market Guyana and Guyanese products. Guyana established its High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa in 2014. It is the first full diplomatic mission on the African continent since the closure of the country’s diplomatic office in Zambia in August 1991.
A recent audit and review into the Mahaica-MahaiconyAbary/Agriculture Development Authority (MMA-ADA) during the period – January 1, 2012 to May 31, 2015 has revealed that some 14 vehicles were purchased without any authorisation. The report indicated that these vehicles were purchased but no approval was seen in the budget or minutes of the meetings of Board members. It was reported that four vehicles were purchased in 2012 and another 10 vehicles in 2013. The auditors stated that the MMA-ADA’s asset management needed improvement, while adding that the registers were not kept up to date and assets were disposed of with no documented evidence. Vehicles were crashed and no “proper” investigation was done, neither was staff penalized, the report stated. The report referred to an incident involving the authority’s Mechanical Engineer, Shilendra Singh, and the assignee to motor vehicle, PSS 2052, which had
- audit crashed. The vehicle was deemed as “extensively damaged” however, no report was forwarded to the Board of Directors nor was any disciplinary action taken. The auditor recommended that all assets be properly safeguarded so that in the event of an accident, a full investigation and follow-up action would be undertaken without delay. Meanwhile, it was revealed also, that a payment of $3 million was incurred by the authority to one Adesh Rampratap for repairs to motor vehicle PRR 7716, a vehicle designated to former Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, and which was not part of the MMA-ADA’s fixed assets register. Therefore, the report stated, the Authority incurred expenses not belonging to it. The auditors recommended that only goods or services procured for the benefit of the authority should be paid for. Meanwhile, it was also observed that the assets register was not up to date
and instances were found where serial numbers, location of assets, assets numbers or labels were missing. Additionally, assets were being transferred between MMA-ADA and the Agriculture Ministry and other Ministries without proper documents or correspondence being sent. Instances were found where motor vehicles were given to staff and not assigned to departments. This, according to the auditing firm, may cause abuse of the authority’s vehicles. The auditors pointed out also that this benefit was not provided for in employee’s employment contracts. The recommendation that followed was: “Employees should only be given a vehicle to use if it is provided for in their employment contract. It was further revealed in the report that the Hydrometeorological Office had purchased and stored fuel valued at $19,865,486 at MMA’s locations. MMA utilized the fuel with no documented authorisation and had reimbursed the Hydrometeorological Office with a vehicle (PRR 2131) costing $8,060,580 in full settlement of this expense. There was no approval of this transaction. The auditing firm recommended that Inter Authority transactions should have proper approval from the relevant authority. The MMA/ADA is a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, governed by a Board of Directors.
Friday June 10, 2016
Over 100 police ranks get house lots during Berbice outreach
Residents of Region Six at the “Meet the Public Day” outreach at the Albion Sports Complex. The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), yesterday announced that it conducted another successful “Meet the Public Day,” in Region Six- at the Albion Sports Complex. Over 100 ranks of the Guyana Police Force were allocated house lots in Kildonan/Chesney and Number 76 and 77 Villages, at prices ranging from $92,000 to $300,000. According to a release from the Government Information Agency, Commander of ‘B’ Division, Ian Amsterdam, applauded the CH&PA and Minister with responsibility for this sector, Valerie SharpePatterson, for working with the Guyana Police Association to organize the activity. “I am indeed very happy that our Police Association has been able to broker this
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Kaieteur News
deal with the Ministry allowing our ranks this easy access to receive a house lot,” Amsterdam said. Amsterdam pointed out that the issue of house lot acquisition has been a burning one for the ranks of the force. He explained that this is because the application process was tedious. “The process was so long and then our rank could not get the time to leave work and go spend a whole day in Georgetown, so I just thank the Minister for coming to us,” he said. The ‘B’ Division Commander said the allocation will also help improve security in new housing areas. “If we have ranks living in all the new housing schemes, that is also going to be a security benefit to the area, because they would be able
to provide some amount of security to the neighbourhood, that they are going to be living in,” he said. The day’s activities also saw several other citizens being allocated houselots. The activity is expected to continue today as CH&PA will be at the Region Five, Regional Office (Fort Wellington), for another outreach. This one will target serving ranks of the Guyana Police Force and residents of Burma. “These latest outreaches are aimed at intensifying the CH&PA’s drive to ensure that affordable housing solutions are within the reach of all Guyanese,” the statement said. Already for the year, similar exercises have been conducted in Regions Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine and Ten, to the benefit of residents of these areas.
Ministry pays pension to 27 ‘ghosts’ A rather bizarre situation was discovered by forensic auditors attached to Nizam Ali and Company when they launched an investigation into the Old Age Pension Fund. The Scheme was riddled with strange discrepancies. The auditors noted that in one instance, the formerly named Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security was paying pension to 27 ‘ghosts’. The auditors first noted this weird occurrence when they found that pension books were uplifted by 27 persons who were not even eligible pensioners. When the auditors attempted to confirm the existence of these persons by contacting them, attempts were unsuccessful. The auditors said that no evidence exists to support the existence of these persons. As such, the auditors were unable to say who the individuals that collected the pension were. The auditors made it clear that the application and approval process for this system involves a few clear
cut steps. The forensic auditors said that the laws stipulate that applicants must attain the age of 65 years. It was also noted that a completed application form is supposed to be signed by the pensioner in the presence of Chief Welfare Officer with a copy of his identification card/passport attached. The auditors said that applicants are then interviewed by the social worker and the application is then forwarded for approval by the Chief Probation Officer which is done within six weeks. For applicants beyond the age of 67, the auditors said that the respective Ministry
assesses whether the applicant has fulfilled the requirement of being domiciled in Guyana two years preceding the application. They said that this is done through an examination of the applicant’s travel documents to determine any period of absence; local knowledge of residence and information from Immigration Office. Subsequent to the approval of the application, the auditors said that the pensioner would commence receiving pension the following month. The auditors made it clear that steps should be taken to strengthen protocols in this regard.
PAGE 14
Poorly constructed wells will cost country almost US$1M Some 15 wells across the coastland region of Guyana have run into issues. These wells were all commissioned and drilled within the last five years under the previous Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) administration headed by Shaik Baksh. Baksh’s successor at GWI, Dr. Richard Van WestCharles during an interview with this publication stated that the technical team of GWI recently found that the casings of the 15 wells throughout the coastland were “corroding”. “Apparently the decision was made some time ago in the previous administration to use carbon steel casings. It seems as if it is inferior and probably not enough due diligence was done on the engineering side. There probably were other imperatives that we’re not clear about, but what we do know is that these casings are corroding, so we have to resleeve all of those wells before we have a major disaster on our hands. That is our priority.” Among those 15 wells, he noted that Tuschen, Vergenoegen and Hope wells
Friday June 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
Police assessing implementation of safe city programme
- GWI boss
Chief Executive of GWI Dr. Richard Van West-Charles were included. The well at Hope is one of the three wells that popular businessman Brian Tiwarie was contracted to drill. Dr. Van West-Charles was pellucid in stating that the deterioration of the well casing was no fault of Tiwarie’s, as he was instructed by the former GWI administration to use the carbon steel casing. He stated that the Hope well is functioning and repairs will be made shortly. The Chief Executive indicated that the cost for repairs to the 15 wells is close to US$1 million - a little over
190 million Guyana dollars. He emphasized that the main causes for the faulty wells were wrong engineering decisions, poor direction from the administration and the use of inferior materials. Touching on the issue of the three wells t h a t B K International was contracted to drill that were delayed for years, he noted that the Hope well is functioning and due to undergo repairs shortly, while the Eccles well is slated to be completed as soon as a pump that fell into the well is removed. BK International, he intimated, has committed to doing the work needed at that specific location, he noted that the well at Eccles only needs further development as advised by engineers. Commenting on the Mon Repos location, he stated that GWI and BK are coming to an agreement with regards to that location. Dr. Van West-Charles concluded that “with regard to the BK issues, I think we are moving forward”.
Director of GFSL Delon France receives forensic video analysis equipment and software packages from the Justice Education Society in the presence of Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, is in Mexico City to get a first-hand look at its safe city programme. The intention is to have a similar programme implemented here. The Crime Chief, along and an official from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, were invited by Mexican officials to observe the operations of the programme. Mexico City launched the “Ciudad Segura” (Safe City) programme in 2009. The large scale project aims to increase crisis preparedness, bring down crime rates and enhance multi-agency coordination and efficiency. Using surveillance camera and a unified command and
control centre, the programme has resulted in a 48.9 per cent reduction in crime over a three-year period. Vehicle theft was also significantly reduced. This is according to Thales, the security provider which is a partner of the Ciudad Segura programme. Locally, the Ministry of Public Security has relied heavily on surveillance cameras to help in the fight against crime and traffic violations. Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, announced that the government is seeking to source an additional 300 closed circuit television cameras to aid in crime fighting.
“We’ve already started sending out officials of government and the police to take a look and so that is started. I suppose it will take some time for us to do what is called the final plan as to what we want and then what are the specifications and so on so that there’s going to be durable products that we are procuring,” Ramjattan briefed members of the Canadian Justice Education Society. The Canadian Justice Education Society has already made a donation of forensic video analysis equipment and software packages to the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) which the Minister (Continue on page 16)
Friday June 10, 2016
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Kaieteur News
E-Governance project run without necessary accounting systems - Audit
Christopher Ram of Ram and McRae
Former E-Governance Manager, Alexei Ramotar The recently released forensic audit into the $7.9B E-Governance project has found the venture was being run without the necessary systems of internal control. Auditors attached to Ram and McRae reported that the project which was being managed by former first son, Alexei Ramotar has no documented Standard Operating Procedures. Also, there were no formal accounting policies and procedures in place. This caused major problems in auditors being able to verify items purchased and other financial transactions. Auditors listed at least four weaknesses in internal controls. Major problems were found with regards to inventories. The listing given to auditors by Ramotar did not include cost, which is the most significant element of an inventory listing. Additionally, there was no documentation of movements in inventories. Auditors were therefore unable to determine the total quantity of inventories received and the items issued for maintenance or other
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
purposes at the various sites. Professionals attached to Ram and McRae reported said that there was no method that could be used to match the inventories purchased and utilised with the limited records maintained. Further, Auditors found that no periodic exercise was being conducted by the project staff to verify the physical existence of fixed assets. There was also an absence of records or listings of all fixed assets owned and controlled by the project.
- Ramotar said it was “an oversight” Auditors also noted that there are no controls governing property, plant and equipment. This increases the risk of assets purchased for administrative or operational use being misappropriated without their loss being detected in a timely manner. Auditors even found problems with banking procedures.
Ram and McRae reported that Ramotar advised that he was never in possession of any bank statements and no bank reconciliations were performed. This was the case despite the fact that the bank account was used on a regular basis to pay contractors. Auditors stated, “This appears to indicate that the control of funds was not
considered a priority. It is therefore recommended that the Project employ the use of appropriate accounting software, such as QuickBooks to maintain records in relation to expenses, inventories, assets and banking.” Auditors also found that there was a lacking with regard to the recording of Project Expenditure.
Ram and McRae reported that “Microsoft Excel was used by E Gov to maintain the records of payments made to contractors and suppliers. Based on our review, it was established that there was no control over input of information into the accounting records since a number of transactions were not recorded in the Excel documents provided”. Auditors consulted with Ramotar who advised that the omissions were “an oversight.”
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Friday June 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
Multi-million dollar fraud at GPL…
Carvil Duncan to face trial alone Former Director of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Carvil Duncan will now face trial alone for a fraud at the power company in which over $27M was allegedly stolen. Duncan along with the company’s Former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO Aeshwar Deonarine was jointly charged with conspiring with each other to steal the monies from GPL on three separate occasions. However, Deonarine’s name was amended from the charges yesterday by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. The amendment comes one month after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) withdrew the charges against him in order to proceed with the trial of Duncan. Deonarine fled Guyana since last year causing a warrant to be issued for his arrest. It was disclosed in court that the man had fled to Canada. Duncan who is 73 years old and resides in Festival City, Georgetown, is accused of conspiring with another to commit a felony that is to say simple larceny. It is alleged that between May 7 and 8, Duncan conspired with another to steal the sum of $27,757,500 property of GPL. It was also alleged that on March 31, Duncan conspired with another to steal $984, 900 belonging to GPL.
- after DPP withdraws charges against Ash Deonarine
Aeshwar Deonarine
Carvil Duncan
Duncan, who is the President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and General Secretary of the Guyana Labour Union (GTU), pleaded not guilty to the allegations. He is currently out on $1M bail. Police Prosecutor, Neville Jeffers requested a short adjournment date for fixture of trial. Magistrate McLennan set July 5, for reports. The two former senior officials are accused of being part of a multi-million-dollar fraud at GPL. The men are alleged to have illegally transferred close to $30M to their personal bank accounts from
Petro Caribe Funds. The Government had asked the police to investigate the two senior officials last July. It was reported that the men paid themselves almost $29M without authorization. In light of investigations, Deonarine was sent on administrative leave. The discoveries of the suspicious transfers were made by independent auditors who were probing the PetroCaribe Fund, which holds proceeds of oil shipments taken from neighbouring Venezuela. It was while tracking payments to GPL that auditors unearthed the unusual transactions.
Police assessing implementation... (From page 14) received on the laboratory’s behalf. According to Acting Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine, the training received from the Justice Education Society has had a positive impact on the ability of the force to investigate serious crimes. Meanwhile, Director of the GFSL, Delon France, updated the minister on the work of the laboratory. France noted that the lab is looking at ways of expanding its scope of testing even as it
has validated 50 per cent of the methods outlined in its scope of work. Also, the laboratory is in discussion with the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Guyana Police Force on requirements of evidence submission forms so that the GFSL can better carry out its mandate. The laboratory has also been able to assist the police with limited gun residue testing even as it builds the capacity of staff. “We are going places with these kinds of technologies,
training,” Ramjattan said. He however noted that there is still much to be done to arrest criminal activity. The United Kingdom has proposed to submit documentation on the reform of Guyana’s security sector. America has also pledged assistance to Guyana as this country seeks to reform and enhance national security. Ramjattan said China and Russia have also indicated their willingness to provide resources to G u y a n a a s well.
Kaieteur News
HOTTT “Miriamy” Play
this weekend!!! Elevate your Friday Networking Friday at the at Gravity Lounge Aura Rooftop Bar & Lounge The Gravity Lounge presents its newest weekly concept party, “Elevate Fridays!” The sophisticated entertainment spot promises to lift the party vibes to unseen levels today and every Friday with weekly DJ rotations and drink specials. Everyone is FREE all night! And ladies drink FREE cocktails from 10pm to11pm. Also partyholics can enjoy $300 elevate shots all night. The DJs for this week are Blaxbee, DJ Shizzle, Selector Carl and Gully Ras. See you there!
Escape the after work traffic today at Palm Court As the Great Caribbean Singer, Father Fox says, "Who does go to work on a Thursday or even a Friday?" Well, unfortunately, most of us do! But that shouldn't stop you from "ducking" every once in a while when the pressure seems too much and you desire to have a little fun. Every Friday, one of Guyana's number one entertainment spots, Palm Court will be offering a light celebration called "Escape the after work traffic". There will be beer specials and five percent off all cocktails and delicious appetizers. The event gets started from 4:00pm to 7:00pm so see you there.
Mojito Fridays at Altitude If you're down for a classy atmosphere with great drinks and even greater people then come out this and every Friday for Mojito Fridays at the Altitude Cocktail Bar & Lou an evening of BOGO (buy one, get one) while enjoying a conversation. Meanwhile, DJ Mark will keep the nice vibes going in the background. But the fun isn't only reserved for Fridays. You can also come out and enjoy DAILY Happy Hour specials – from Wednesday to Saturday – on local bar, sushi and signature cocktails from 6:00 pm. Bucket specnge. It'll beials will also be available on all beers: buy 6 beers and get complimentary Buffalo wings! If you're interested in more specials and promos, you can follow Altitude on Instagram at We_are_JR592.
DAILYS
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takes centre stage tomorrow at Theatre Guild
Cast members of the "Miriamy" Play
The management of the Aura Rooftop Bar and Lounge is providing the ideal platform for members of the business community to interact with their associates in a stylish ambiance. It is going to be the ultimate opportunity to exchange ideas, mix and mingle among the corporate executives of Guyana. Establish business relationships or friendships; enjoy cold drinks and a breathtaking 360o afternoon view of the city skyline.
Hawaiian Night at Palm Court tomorrow Guyana's leading entertainment spot, Palm Court, is yet again hoping to take the bar a notch higher by offering you tomorrow, an escape to Paradise with its “Hawaiian Night” event that is being hosted by Pulse Entertainment and kicks off at 8pm. Be sure to indulge in awesome Hawaiian food, authentic Hawaiian cocktails from the Tiki bar and the awesome Hawaiian games!! You will also be able to experience Music by the best DJs. Admission is set at $2000 Before 11PM.
“Vibes Overload” Party at Gravity Lounge tomorrow No Saturday night party gets better than any that is celebrated at the Gravity Lounge and tomorrow night, management is taking the party experience “Wayyyy Up” as its going to be all about “Vibes Overload.” Only the best line-up of music will be played by two of the musical doctors in local entertainment: DJs Blax Bee, Diamond, Shizzle and Energy. There will also be Drink Specials ALL Night! In fact, every Hour, will be offering something new. Here is what the list for the Drinks Special looks like. 8-9pm - Daily's Cocktail Special 9-10pm - Tequila Special 10-11pm - Heineken Special 11-12pm - Corona Special 12-1am - Eldorado Special 1-2am - Water Special lol (Sober Up Time) See you there …
Cocktail of the week!! Maui Wowie
Say Aloha to your new favorite cocktail—The Maui Wowie. This delectable selection from the Daily's Cocktail Edition is the perfect blend of juicy pineapple, orange, melon and coconut flavors. Sip into Hawaiian happiness with Daily's Maui Wowie pouches which can be purchased at your nearby supermarkets. We do hope that this selection finds favour with you. For recommendations or your reviews on other sensationally tasting cocktails in and around Georgetown, be sure to make contact with us by sending a note to this emailKianawilburg@gmail.com.
A
compelling yet hysterically binding play—Miriamy—is set to take centre stage tomorrow night at 8: 00pm at the Theatre Guild. Miriamy is a full length comedy written by Frank Pilgrim. It was first staged in Guyana in 1962 and is a hilarious look at the hunt for the father of quintuplets in a time when illegitimate birth was taboo. Many would-be fathers come forward but Dr. Edward Singer played by Mark-Luke Edwards must find a way to determine who the real father is through some trickery of
his own His wife, Mrs. Stella Singer played by Lloyda Nicholas-Garrett, a journalist played by Nickosie Layne and Mrs. Maude Bygham, the doctor's cousin, played by Mariatha Causway, are all intent on being the first to find the real father. The gripping play which is directed by veteran broadcaster, actor and media personality, Ron Robinson, is being staged as part of the Jubilee Theatre Festival Tickets are set at $1500 and $1000 and can be had at the Theatre Guild. See you there.
Sensual Fridays at The 704 club One of Guyana's most sophisticated party spots, The 704 Club will be hosting the most scintillating parties tonight. It is expected to be the night of pure sensuality. So ladies, ensure everything is on “fleek”
and let's get in formation tonight at an event that promises ecstasy with the best music all night long. The latest tracks will be made possible by the best DJs in town. Admission is free until 12 pm.
Entertainment POLICE THE
WHATZ
Friday June 10, 2016
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Banks-Beer Jubilee Fest Review By: Michelangelo Jacobus
T
he Banks Beer Fest- Jubilee concert which was recently held as part of Guyana's grand Jubilee celebrations ended prematurely and in chaos. This was due to the fact that a number of patrons ended up leaving the event with injuries rather than happy memories as a result of insensible acts by some seemingly dimwitted individuals. The concert was not all bad though, with the majority of artistes delivering electric performances. One Guyanese artiste who has been consistently, a good performer is “Kwasi Ace”. He set the tone for the night, serving up solid renditions of his hit songs which ally paved the way for the International artistes such as Cecile, Vanessa Bling and Konshens. Many would consider Cecile a veteran performer past her prime but she reminded us why she was one of the hottest performers of her day with a performance
that some will not easily forget, especially the ladies. She performed some of her older hits and closed with more recent ones. She left the stage and a buzzing crowd behind. The next act to follow was Konshens. The “bruk off yuh back” artiste gave a memorable performance. He had everyone paired off with his hit “Couple up” and by the time he closed with the popular “Bruk off yuh back” the crowd was wide awake and energetic. The penultimate act was Vanessa Bling. This dancehall diva was midway through a noteworthy performance when the ruckus in the crowd erupted. She was in the middle of her hit “one man” when glass bottles started flying everywhere and persons were trampled upon during a stampede. Several patrons even sustained cuts from broken glass. But chaos and injuries aside, the Banks Jubilee concert was one to remember. (Continue to follow us on Instagram via our handle—Entertainment _Police)
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Friday June 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
Deadly Konawaruk mining pit cave-in blamed on negligence, recklessness
The collapsed mining pit in Konawaruk backdam, Mahdia. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman receiving the CoI report from Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh yesterday. An inquiry into the deadly May 29th mining pit cave-in at Konawaruk, Region Eight, has found that the operator was negligent. The findings were contained in the final report handed over yesterday to Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report was
prepared by Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh. Killed in the tragic accident at the Konawaruk backdam, Mahdia, Potaro, was 18-year-old miner, Reynold Williams. “The report was handed over to Minister Trotman after a discussion of the main findings and concerns that
emerged from the CoI, which found that negligence was the principle cause of the collapse leading to the young miner’s death,” the ministry said in a statement yesterday. According to the Ministry, the report’s findings highlight a worrying trend of negligence and recklessness that is being replicated among
other medium and small scale mining operations and the grave risks these present to the lives of miners working on properties where safe mining practices are not being adhered to. “Some of these include lack of contingency plans for safety and rescue, poorly trained personnel and lack of basic supplies to respond to injuries. It noted that these unsafe practices, which have a ripple effect on families, communities, the sector and the country as a whole can no longer be condoned at any level, and recommends that measures be put in place immediately to curb these actions.” Trotman, expressed his gratitude for the efforts of Major General Singh and his team (which included members from the environmental unit of the GGMC) in completing the CoI, but noted that he receives the report with a heavy heart since its findings glaringly expose the magnitude and depth of work
to be done to bring the mining sector back into good repute, starting with the awareness among current miners about the basics of mining. “He noted that stricter enforcement of existing laws, the use of drone technology along with training and stricter conditions for the issuance of permits need to be incorporated.” Considering the findings of committees of inquiries conducted over the past year, the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, has adopted a zero tolerance approach to unsafe mining practices and will shortly be putting measures in place to hold property owners accountable for actions perpetrated on their properties. Unsafe acts that lead to injury and/or the loss of lives will not be condoned at any level within the mining sector. Consultations with stakeholders will commence soon. Minister Trotman has
Killed: Reynold Williams spoken to the mother of the dead teen and expressed condolences on behalf of the Government of Guyana whilst assuring her that the death o f h e r s o n w i l l not be forgotten. Since taking office last year, the coalition government had warned of little tolerance for negligence in mining. Several inquiries have be e n ordered, with recommendations for more training and monitoring.
Friday June 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
GAIL Foundation makes donation to Mahaica Children’s Home With its motto being “Giving Abundantly in Life”, the GAIL Foundation yesterday made a kind donation of playground equipment to the children of the Mahaica Children’s Home, East Coast Demerara. The GAIL Foundation is a non-profit charitable organisation dedicated to helping children in need and giving the “gift of play” through building and donating playground equipment. The donations were in form of swings and seesaws for the children. Head of the Child Care and Protection Agency Ann Greene addressed the simple ceremony, on the responsibility of her agency regarding child welfare. Greene commented that “the Child Care and Protection agency and the Ministry of Social Protection are responsible for the gate keeping in this home and all the other homes, meaning that no child enters an institution without doing an assessment, to know that that is the right thing for the child.” She further stated that “…institutional care is a life saver for some children, but it is not the best care; a child would be better served in a family. According to her, this can be achieved “…by building our foster care programme and the building of families to take care of children.” She intimated that “the institutions can stay, but the time spent should be short.” Executive Director of the
organisation, U.S.-based Attorney Gail Seeram gave the audience some background information on how the organisation began. She recalled that the idea was born in 2010 after one of her visits to Guyana. She recognized the need for a playground at the Smithfield’s Orphanage in New Amsterdam. On her return to the United States she founded the organisation and later built a playground for the Smithfield children. That represented the organisation’s first contribution. The organisation then made further significant donations to the Children of Purpose Orphanage in New Amsterdam, the Guyana Relief Council, New Amsterdam Special Needs School and the Bless the Children Home at Industry, East Coast Demerara. Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence in her keynote address expressed gratitude for the donation of the recreational facilities. She stated that “…many times we miss the
Executive Director of GAIL Foundation, Gail Seeram, cuts the ceremonial ribbon with Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence little things that are soothing to the mind and emotions, the therapeutic remedy for the trauma some of these children would have endured.” Lawrence directed the gathering to think of the soothing effect which “play” would offer the young children. She said “Let us value it for what it will do for the children who pass through this home; how it will begin that healing process for them, how it can put them in that place where they can begin to think and be alive again.”
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Friday June 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
Health Minister touts delayed pregnancies The continued caution over the Zika Virus has certainly not lessened. In fact Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton said that “persons should take into consideration whether it is the best time to make (conceive) their children now.” Since the spread of the Zika virus was reported, a number of territories including Jamaica, El Salvador, Colombia and Ecuador have called on women to delay pregnancies. This is not only because the virus has been linked to microcephaly (abnormal smallness of the head in newborn babies), but because of the fact that it has been proven that the virus can be transmitted sexually. It is believed that an infected pregnant woman can transmit the virus to her newborn, who could be born with microcephaly. Several such cases have been reported in Brazil – Guyana’s neighbour to the south. “When a baby is born with microcephaly and lives for another 70 years it can be a burden on society...so we have got make some very conscientious decisions now when we talk about family planning. We have to think about whether we should get
...as fears associated with Zika Virus persist
Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton a baby now or not,” the Minister considered. “We can’t hide from it (Zika)...it is out there and it has even occurred in the United States, at least one case we have heard of,” he added. The Public Health Ministry has thus far divulged information about nine confirmed cases of the Zika Virus. Guyana has been depending heavily on the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad to diagnose for the virus which is manifested with muscle and joint pains, rashes, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and headaches. Symptoms could last between two and seven days. Two personnel attached
to the National Public Health Reference Laboratory have completed training to test for the ZIka Virus. The training, according to Minister Norton, was done at CARPHA. But although the training has been completed, the Minister confided that “while we would have sent the two persons to be trained at CARPHA...they came back, but I am not so certain that all mechanisms are in place to start doing the test regularly.” “We have the equipment and so on, but we need certain reagents,” said Minister Norton who noted that the Ministry has been assured support from the Pan American Health Organisation. But according to him, “procurement of reagents and so on is a lengthy process, in the sense that you have to go to tender and you have got to get the letters of authorisation from the manufacturers for those who are actually tendering.” The Minister pointed out that the procurement of such
items would have to be done either through restrictive tendering or single sourcing rather than through open tender. This therefore would require approval of tendering. Dr Norton said that the Ministry continues to be very concerned about the prevalence of the virus, which can be easily transmitted by the bites of the Aedes Aegypti-type mosquito. And according to him, “we know its particular manifestation, but what we are concerned more about is the neurological complications.” The Zika virus has been linked to microcephaly and the Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Based on medical reports, the Guillian-Barré syndrome is a disorder in
which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. According to the Minister, while there have been no reported cases of microcephaly, cases of the Guillian-Barré syndrome have been reported since 2011. In fact he disclosed that although there was an average of about five cases per year, in the last two or three months the cases reported have doubled. The cases to which the Minster referred were those of patients admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, and most of them had to be cared for in the Intensive Care Unit. About two of the cases ended in death and the others are recovering, the Minister related. “It is bad in the sense that it requires extensive treatment and persons take a long time before they recover completely. That is the bad
thing about Zika...those neurological complications,” the Minister emphasised. He noted that while the Ministry will continue its fight against the transmitting vector in terms of fumigation activities, efforts at sensitising the public about measures that should be in place to prevent transmission of the virus will remain a constant feature as well. Persons who believe they have been exposed to the virus should seek attention from the nearest health facilities. There is no cure for the virus, but treatment is made available for the symptoms manifested. In addition to sleeping under netting and removing mosquito breeding sites, persons can also protect themselves by using insect repellent and wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible.
No Cabinet approval yet for proposed Harbour Bridge toll increases
There has been no increase on the tolls for the Demerara Harbour Bridge The Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) yesterday insisted that despite media reports, there has been no increase on the tolls for the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB). In the June 8, 2016 edition of the Guyana Chronicle, under the headline “Cabinet clears new tolls for DHB”, it was indicated that a decision was taken by Cabinet to increase tolls from $20 to $40 for motorcyclists and from $100 for $200 for motorcars.
The tolls for buses and SUVs remain unchanged, the article said. “However, MPI would like to clarify that while the proposal to increase the tolls is indeed up for Cabinet consideration, approval has not been granted. Rather, the memorandum, submitted by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, was deferred,” the ministry assured yesterday in a statement. Patterson is currently out of the country
but is being represented by Minister within the Ministry, Annette Ferguson, who has confirmed the deferral of the memorandum and has indicated that the proposal is still being ironed out. “Furthermore, the management of the DHB is unaware of any new implemented tolls. MPI wishes to emphasise that the Ministry and the DHB Company will relay any official increase in tolls for the bridge.” The tolls for the bridge have been subsidized for years now. The structure provides a critical link to between the city and West Demerara and Essequibo. The structure, over 30 years old, has been a major maintenance challenge.
Friday June 10, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Man beats partner with Prohibited stimulant, cocaine paddle, chokes mother-in-law land four in court …threatens to shoot woman’s brother
The marks on Genene Solomon’s body With the number of women murdered by their partners standing at 11 for the year thus far, at least one mother is holding out that she will not be the twelfth person, and has decided to do all it takes to protect herself from her lover. Genene Solomon of Morawhanna, Region One, alleges that last Sunday she was brutally beaten by her baby son’s father - a Venezuelan working here. The man, she claims, also threatened to shoot her and “wipe out” her entire family. She said when her mother intervened, the man slapped the elderly woman and choked her. The 26-year-old woman says that all this happened because she went out with some friends to have a few drinks on her birthday. The woman and the man, said to be in his forties, have been together for the past three years but are living separately in the same village. They have a child together. In an interview yesterday, the woman said that the man beat her, dragged her down his
steps, banged her head into a wall and then beat her with a paddle. ”It was my birthday on Sunday and I took my son by him (partner) to spend some time and I saw a friend, and we end up going at the shop to hang out. When we finish there, I went to get my son by him but he didn’t want to give me the lil boy. I told him that if the child wake up and don’t see me he will cry,” the woman explained. She said that they argued and then he started hitting her on her head. “He started hitting me and slapping me, and then he hold my hair and banged my head against the wall. He dragged me down the steps and beat me with the paddle.” She said that when her mother intervened, the man slapped and choked the woman. “When my brother saw he was choking our mother, he run and the two of them started to fight.”According to Solomon, when she reported the matter to the police, her brother was locked up instead of her partner. “The police and this man are friends, and because he has money, he gets to do what he wants. He beat me a lot of times but the police don’t do anything about it,” she alleged. Calls to the divisional commander, Ravindradat Budhram yesterday went unanswered.
Three persons who were reportedly caught by undercover police officer selling an illegal stimulant were on Wednesday charged with possession of the prohibited items after they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that on June 6, at Charlotte Street, Georgetown, Omalo Garraway, 24, of Norton Street, Lodge; Shivano Ubitana, 22, of Princes Street, Lodge and Olivia Grimes, 23, also of Norton Street, Lodge, had 40 amphetamine tablets amounting to 10.5 grams in their possession. They pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and were each ordered to post $75,000 bail. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers told the court that the defendants were caught selling the items by an undercover cop. He said that police received information and conducted a sting operation. As a result, a police rank went undercover and purchased the tablets from the defendants. They were subsequently
told of the offence, arrested and charged. The prosecutor indicated that the defendants had no antecedents and that an analyst report is still outstanding from the case file. Magistrate McLennan ordered the trio to return to court on July 5 for reports and fixtures. Meanwhile, in another case, a 17-year-old minibus conductor was released on $50,000 bail for allegedly having one gram cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. It is alleged that on June 6, at Fourth Street, Alberttown, Robert Ingram had the prohibited substance in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. The teen who resides at 53 Fourth Street, Alberttown, pleaded not guilty to the allegation. He was represented by attorney Charlene Fung-a-Fat who made a petition for bail. However, Ingram told the court that he lives alone and is supported by a friend since his mother died and he did not know his father. Prosecutor Jeffers stated that
Robert Ingram an analyst report is still outstanding. Ingram was instructed to report to the Alberttown Police Station every Friday until the completion of the trial.
Duo accused of $900 robbery granted bail
18 months for car-stealing ‘investigator’ An 18-month prison sentence was imposed on a 21-year-old man after he confessed to stealing a Toyota Raum motor car on Tuesday. Romario Henry of 12C Herstelling, East Bank Demerara admitted that he stole the vehicle valued $1.6M belonging to Mahendra Dhanpaul. However, after pleading guilty to the charge, the former security guard explained that the complainant had lent him the vehicle. He explained that he had borrowed the vehicle to help with his military training. Henry claimed that he was in the process of carrying out investigations at police stations across the country. According to Henry, Dhanpaul began running and shouting behind the car when he drove off. He claimed that he knew the owner of the car from a taxi service base in the area. But Police Prosecutor, Neville Jeffers told the court that the complainant had parked his car on Middle Road, La Penitence and forgot the keys inside. Jeffers pointed out that Henry entered the vehicle and subsequently drove off with it. The prosecutor said that a report was made to the Ruimveldt Police Station and a police patrol intercepted the car, which was being driven by Henry, at Hunter Street, Albouystown. He added that Henry was arrested and investigations carried out which
Romario Henry Davon Jackson
Anthony Hendricks
led to him being charged. Jeffers said that in a statement to police, the complainant made it clear that he never gave the man permission to take his car.
Two men appeared in court yesterday, for allegedly robbing a man of $900 cash and a BLU cell phone with a knife on Wednesday at Duncan Street, Campbellville. Anthony Hendricks, 18, of 153 Campbellville Housing Scheme, Georgetown, and Davon Jackson, 34, of 152 Tucville Terrace appeared before City Magistrate Faith McGusty and pleaded not guilty to a robbery
under-arms charge. They are accused of stealing the items from Cabrera Batista. The duo was unrepresented by an attorney and each was ordered to post $40,000 bail. The two men will make their next court appearance on July 1, for statements. Police Prosecutor, Corporal Seon Blackman had no objections to the men being granted bail. However, he requested that bail be granted in a substantial amount to ensure their return for trial. No facts of the matter were related to the court. Jackson had sought to defend himself, but he was advised by the Magistrate to save his defence for trial.
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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
WANTED Female domestic to work in Trinidad, must be educated and know to cook. Between 25-55 years. Call 1868- 683-1528 Dispatcher & contract carsCall: 622-6413; 655-5338 Live in waitress –Call: 6454543 Delivery clerk between ages 25-30 years must have driver’s license & police clearance. Call: 223-0090 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 1 Driver for East Bank area, 1 female cleaner for office. Call: 233-2745 Experienced professional cook/pastry maker, cashiers with computers skills @ Annabel Bistro, 36 Public Road La Grange W.B.D –Call: 678-3400 One male & female general worker to work Shift Systems. Call: 218-1400 WATCHMAN WANTED FOR COMPANY IN RUIMVELDT. POLICE CLEARANCE & FLEXIBLE WORKING HOURS, WEEKENDS & NIGHTS. CALL: 231-8529; 231-8344 20,000 BM Purple Heart, 20,000 BM Green heart, 20,000 BM Kabukalli, Large quantities of Nibbi furniture. Call: 651-1969; 681-8897
EDUCATIONAL
We pay cash for land in La Parfaite Harmonie, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, Eccles, Providence, Herstelling. Call:651-1969; 681-8897
I.A.E Classes for CSEC January/June 2017: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subject for Students, Adults & repeaters. Call: 683-5742
3 Wash bay attendants – Contact: 615- 6944; 227-5169
Computerize Diploma in IT: 9 courses -$20,000 – discount for CXC students @ Micrographics, Vreed-enHoop, Parika Highway. Call: 264-3057
Sales Assistant with computer knowledge, spreadsheet, Mathematics, etc, able to multi-task. Apply @ Key Food Trading, McDoom Village Decent experienced taxi drivers, dispatchers & contract cars to work base. Call: 660-6102
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman, Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 6895997
Friday June 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
Male sales assistant/porter must be able to multi-task. Apply within @ Sparkle Trading, Meten-Meer-Zorg. (No Calls) Handy Boy, dishwasherapply @ Shanta’s, 225 Camp & New Market.
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 Property @ La Parfaite Harmonie -$20M, $25M,$ 6M, New Road -$17M, $20M, Pouderoyen -$45M, CI $6.5M, La Grange Public Road-$18M. Call: 604-6724
FOR SALE 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
Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020
1 Complete cabin cruiser, excellent condition also top catch seines. Call: 654-2817; 622-2958
We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154
1 Experienced baker, 2 experienced pastry makers and 2 security personnel, apply at Humphrey’s Bakery. Tel: 225-7864; 227-8607
Husky Pup. Tel: 699-7077/ 619-6086 1-45 Leyland DAF (blue) $2.2M. Contact 260-4018/6619096
1 Leyland DAF LF HIAB truck 5 ton HIAB new, hardly used GTT 2960 -$4M. Call: 622-6746
RA Soda Factory Rosignol, Berbice: bond & billing clerks, experienced accountants, machine operator with mechanical ideas. Call: 3302399/623-5920
Muscovy Ducklings-Call: 602-7203 German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix pups for sale. Call: 6411771 or 654-0388 518C CAT Skidder tyres 95% winch working, CF Hauler triple axel trailer, Bedford TL dump truck, JCB 4X4 Forklift. Call: 626-0352 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
Republic Park Ph1: 2 flats 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, well maintained, including yard $51M-Call: 609-6516; 6170758; 645-2580
1- Cat 320 BL excavator, 1 Cat 428 Back Hoe, 1-930 Cat loader, 1-Cat D44 bulldozer. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225
Enmore: Hope West, 1-two storey 3 bedrooms wooden building, overlooking FoulisCall: 602-2818; 649-1434 One 4 bedroom house @ 80 Daisy Street, South Ruimveldt Park-$15M. Call: 652-1234; 668-3056 House & land for sale by owner at Plantation Peter’s Hall E.B.D –Call: 617-6015 2 Storey 5 bedrooms residential property @ Republic Park asking -$35M for serious inquiries Contact: 675-2325 or 6497558 (Anna) 50X100 Land with structure at South Ruimveldt asking $6.5M for serious inquiries – Contact: 675-2325 or 649-7558 (Anna) 7000 Sq transported residential land @ LBI East Coast Demerara, asking $14.5M, for serious inquiriesContact: 675-2325 or 649-7558 (Anna)
2009 ALLION -$2.8M, 2009 RAUM -$2.2M, 2010 IST$2.6M, 2009 FIELDER $2.5M, 2011 AXELA $2.6M. CALL: 617-2891
VACANCY Female housekeeping staff, male security guard. Call: 225-0198 or visit 233 South Road, Lacytown.
Gold Runx Car, HC series, price negotiable. Call: 692-0335
Newly built property for sale, Block 8 MonRepos, E.C.D $14.8M.Call:654-4312;657-5530
2 Storey house, 5 bedrooms semi-furnished, 65 Palmyra Village, East Canje Berbice, price negotiable. Call: 6706688; 621-2066
VEHICLE FOR SALE
1-Pneumatic Roller 9 wheels, 1-55 Leyland Daf Truck. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 1-spring filled mattress, queen bed, double door wardrobe rugs, fridge LG music set, water dispenser, etc. Call: 690-7859 1-light tower-$850,000, 1-928 F loader-$7.3M, Cat 3406 engine-$1.3M, Cat 3116 engine-$1.1M-Contact #6500402, 661-9096 Cat 3208 engine-$850,000, Diesel welder with deutz engine-$1.2M- Contact #650-0402/661-9096 Pluck Chicken -$300 lb, Pork -$340lb, Liver & Giblets $180lb chicken foot -$180lb, neck $140lb. Call: 227-4551; 641-3059 Cat 928F Loader, Cat 3116, 3406 and Cummins L10 Engine, Miller Welder, Light Tower.Contact # 661-9096 2-Daf 45 10-Ton Flatbed Truck, 1-Kobelco Sk160 Excavator-4D34 Engine. Contact #661-9096
WANTED
Prime Residential Lots, in Gated Communities, Schoonord, W.B.D, Blankenburg, W.C.D, Contact #661-9096; 269-4018
Security, Cleaner, Waitress, ages 18-25, bartenders. Call: 668-8332; 638-5303
German Shepherd pups 6 weeks old, vaccinated with clinic card. Call: 699-6006
AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pitbull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 1 FUSO Crane GTT 20 $4M; 1 HINO ranger wrecker GVV1890 -$4M, 1 HIAB Canter GTT 7140 -$3.5M. (negotiable) Call: 622-6746 Toyota AT212, AT192, LTouring Wagon, Solid Def pickup 4X4, RZ, Runx, Canter, Honda CAPA. Call: 644-5096; 697-1453 1 Toyota Runx, 16" mag flair kit, excellent condition $1.250M, PMM series. Call: 626-1423; 220-8350 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 1 Long base Canter -$2M, 1 Short Base Canter -$1.4M, 1 RZ bus -$1M, 1-212 car $1.1M, 1 Galant -$900,000. Call: 604-6724 1-Spacio -$2M, reconditioned. Call: 661-9096 2RZ Minibus EFI, 1 Long base, 1 Short, BLL series. Call: 668-5792 Toyota Vios –Call: 216-3661; 662-3186
Hopetown Gas Station (Guyoil): Pump attendants for night and day shifts. Call: 330-2399 Carnegie trained chef/cook. Call: 600-7388; 225-7933 or visit us at 173 Sherriff Street. 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 Cashier 6am-3pm & 3pm12pm. Submit application to Shell Station Providence EBD, shellramsburg@gmail. com Experienced female accounts clerk 20yrs & older, preparing ledger, payroll, NIS, VAT etc. Preferably from W.C.D- Call: 260-4239; 665-1064 Marketing Representative between ages 25-35years old, must have driver’s License. Call: 223-0090 One experienced driver to work with baker shop. Call: 681-3983
Toyota AT212 Silver Grey, PSS series. Call: 699-7559 2007 Nissan Dualis (Retractable Roof) -$4.5M, 2006 Suzuki Escudo-$4.5M. Call: 609-3650; 226-8953 2010 RAV4 24000CC -$9.8M, 2007 RAV4 – Leather seating/ steering controls -$6M. Call: 609-3650; 226-8953 2008 Premio (TV/Reverse Camera) -$3.1M, Verossa$3.2M, Allion -$3.8M . Call: 609-3650; 226-8953
VEHICLE FOR SALE 2009 Axela -$2.975M, 2010 Toyota Auris -$2.9M, 2008 IST -$2.650M, 2007 Auris $2.450M . Call:226-1973 2006 Allion-$2.4M, 2005 Premio (TV/Reverse Camera) - $2.5M, 2008 Toyota Rush $3.0M – Call: 226-1973; 2268953
PEN PAL 2007 Blue Bird -$2.350M, 2001 212 -$1.9M, 2004 Nissan Overseas (US) based Wingroad -$1.7M, Pit-bull - Guyanese male seeks female $1.5M. Call: 609-3650; 226-8953 friend for serious friendship 25-40yrs & possible LTR2007 Raum -$2.3M, 2008 Belta Text: 668-9180; 618-9035 -$2.3M, 2013 Vitz -$2.5M, 2008 (Continued on page 31) Allion -$2.8M. Call:609-3650
Friday June 10, 2016
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The pastor describes Guyana as a... From page 5 Ewing killed himself and if that grenade had exploded and some had died, it would have been concluded that they would have definitely killed themselves. The acceptable, political, norm in Guyana is that if you oppose anyone in power, you are literally killing yourself. In a country without a soul, any wrong doing is justifiable. No one has a right to oppose anyone or anything. Politicians, especially, want to be left alone, no matter how rotten and autocratic their policies. The masses are asked to tolerate all their misgivings, with never an occasional apology for their mistakes. Not one of our leaders will apologize to their subjects. Not one of them! We elect gods. The most ridiculous behaviour is explained away, as our collective intelligences are insulted. And if you dare speak out against their wrong doings, you become marked for death. And anyone has the license to hurt
you. The name of the game is absolute power and any act engaged in deriving and maintaining that power is permissible. And the henchmen who carry out those dastardly deeds find refuge in the bosom of like-minded thinkers and the intellectual authors. It is obvious that the killers and supporters of the killers of Rodney, Waddle, Shaw, Crum-Ewing and the myriad of others, are still out there. What is also very obvious is that those who wanted to kill the folks at Kaieteur news and the killers’ supporters are
still out there. But in a soulless country, lip service will forever be given to any detail search for the intellectual authors of our murdered citizens. After all, we all want power, so we all want each other dead. If I investigate you, you might investigate me and then the game will be over. What fun is there in that? We have never been a county with a real soul, why pretend now? So we arrest the underlings and pretend we have the culprits, while the real culprits are left to kill more of us.
The first day a real culprit, an intellectual author, of any of the high profile killings in Guyana is arrested, charged and sentenced, the country will breathe a collective sigh and we will start to live. But until then, the average man in the street will continue to pattern his life from those at the top. He will take his lead from the bigger culprits and the murders and assassinations will continue in this soulless nation. Mark my words. Pastor W. P. Jeffrey Practical Christianity Ministries
Anil Nandlall says he is... From page 5 region, who are all ex- officio Executive Members of the Council. It is obvious that Mr. Williams never read his. Ironically, during all of the negotiations which I have had with the Council for the admission of UG Law graduates, my most potent argument has been
that apart from Trinidad and Tobago, the largest influx of revenue into Hugh Wo o d i n g L a w S c h o o l comes from the Guyanese students who pay their full tuition fees and it is this revenue that carries the bulk of the other students whose Governments fail to pay the subsidies for their students.
Therefore, I used Guyana’s non- contribution as an asset. It is my sincere hope that the grandstanding ceases and that this Government finds a speedy solution to this matter which will inure to the best interest of the students. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP, Attorney-at- Law
Golden Jubilee Symposia Series came... From page 4 indenture-ship and referenced several themes of alienation – women’s liberation, coolie wife murder, unrequited love - as reasons for Guyana’s high suicide rate. She cited Gaiutra Bahadur’s Coolie Woman – one of the themes of this book was that ‘women of loose morals’ were recruited for kalapani passage alright, but that gave them the opportunity for empowerment and liberation. She began her presentation by citing the blockbuster story of Maharani who was raped and died as a result of complications on the Allimshah vessel transporting indentured recruits to British Guiana colony in 1885. Despite several trials no one was found guilty. Aliyah traced this troubled history of alienation and seemed to suggest that’s why “so many young people drink malathion in Guyana and weed-killer gramoxone in Trinidad” to put an end to their confused lives. It is amazing how much detail she was able to pack into her 12-minute presentation. One presenter, Dr. Lorraine Emeghebo wants to partner with the govt. to enhance Nursing education. She told her workshop participants, “Some groups helicopter in, conduct nurse training for a few days, then helicopter out with no follow-ups”. She emphasizes continual training. She told a story of 255 nurse trainees registering for one program, but only 19
had the stamina to stay on long enough to graduate. She has a fully-planned program. This lady definitely has something to offer Guyana. One of the presentations that I missed and that got rave reviews was by Dr. Terrence Blackman: How can we use science and technology to develop our economy? His paper should be made available for publication. I have a few comments: It was a celebration of sorts – it certainly feels like a special event – in spite of the fact that Indians did not attend this event in their proportional numbers (Indians are 45-percent of the population but less than 20-percent showed up). I am told the Indian participation was worse inside Guyana. At the flag raising event, you would think Indians did not exist in Guyana. The Ministry of Social Cohesion has its work cutout. They are duty-bound to explore the reasons for national alienation and to institute some social engineering to address this problem. The themes of the five workshops seem to lack coherence and purpose. It looks more to me like a talk shop – and there will be no profit from it. Guyana lacks economic development. It’s a shame that we are such a resource-rich country but our per capita income is standing still at $US 3,400. So several of the workshops should be on how Science and technology can be harnessed to provide skills to develop the
country. (Only one person, Dr. Terrence Blackman spoke on this subject – 10 minutes). We need a policy at the National University to produce more Science and technology graduates. Singapore with no natural resources announced to the entrepreneurs and investors of the world in 1965: ‘Come, come, set-up manufacturing plants here, we will provide the besttrained engineering graduates, make your product and export to the world’. Soon Singapore was exporting high-tech goods: computer chips, hard drives and mother boards by the millions. Thirty years later, the country became known as one of the four tigers – super developed, per capita income today is $56,000. We need to conduct workshops to teach Guyanese how to cooperate to raise finance capital. I firmly believe 50,000 Guyanese abroad would gladly invest $10,000 each to purchase ten 20-year bonds, each guaranteeing 6% annual interest, raising a total of $500 million to build a hydropower plant. And, they would be doing it not because of love of country but because it is a sound investment opportunity. Currently – and for the last 10-years - Savings in U.S. banks have been earning less than 3 percent annual interest. We need to recruit good investment banking specialists, economic planners and management professionals. The concept of raising fi-
nance capital from three or four merchants to build the Berbice Bridge was not in itself a bad one – but the govt. should know there are alternatives. Also the financial architecture (mix of financial instruments) and amortization scheme in the BB was designed to make a select few rich investors fabulously rich. Also investors in bonds and stocks can sell their investments at the trading market any time they want without losing their original capital. These concepts and ideas should be the subject of workshops. My Jubilee symposium day ended at Atlantic diner with 15-old time pals. It was a wrap session that went on for almost 3-hours and it covered the entire spectrum of 50years of Independence – what went wrong, hardly anything was right, obsessions with crazy ideologies, the flaws of the various actors that screwed up the modern history of this country. As always Guyanese love to argue, slamming their tables with the palm of their hands and raising their voices with every additional drink they imbibe. I suddenly realize there was no alcohol – only cappuchino and espresso and light sandwiches and munchy stuff. But it was a lot of intellectual passion and energy – if only all this energy could be channeled to help develop Guyanese industry and make the nation developed and rich. Mike Persaud
From page 30
CAR RENTAL FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 1 Bedroom apartment in Charlestown for couple $30,000 monthly –Call: 2233958; 660-9463; 681-0951 Rent Regent Street: Avishkar Store, Lot 127, Avinash Store A B Water Street. Call: 2237500; 219-5354 2-2 Bedrooms apartment for rent @ Eccles. Call: 628-0016; 667-2536
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YAHOO.COM/WWW. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 6435122, 656-0087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL @YAHOO. COM 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
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 Lease or for sale: 5 acres organic fruit bearing land on Demerara River Timehri (coconut). Call: 261-2988/ GZPLAYTER@AOL.COM Land at Plantation Tuschen Scheme, East Bank Essequibo. Call: 261-2988/ GZPLAYTER@AOL.COM Zeelugt -$1.6M, Uitvlugt $2.2M, Eccles -$5.5M, Herstelling -$3.2M, Farm $2.2M, Bartica -$2.8M. Call: 651-1969; 681-8897 Stewartville Public Road $8M, New Road V/Hoop Road -$30M, Leonora $3M, $3.5M, Care Tuschen $1.4M, Crane -$5M. Call: 604-6724 Land situated at 33 area L Zeeburg South W.C.D, size: 150X55’. Call: 615-1594; 6683293
TO LET New self-contained 3 bedroom house, upper flat, security cameras; security lights, window screens @ Diamond, E.B.D. Call: 2260880; 603-0067 Spacious 3 bedrooms upstairs @ MonRepos $50,000 monthly, lower flat $45,000. Call: 220-0538; 6452395; 629-5300
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Friday June 10, 2016
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Obama is ‘fired up’ for Clinton as Blair and Major warn Brexit Democrats seek to unify party would threaten UK unity
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton Reuters - U.S. President Barack Obama formally endorsed Hillary Clinton’s White House bid yesterday and called for Democrats to unite behind her after a protracted battle with Bernie Sanders for the party nomination. Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, said it “means the world” to her that Obama has her back in a bruising campaign for the Nov. 8 election. The endorsement increases pressure on Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, to bow out of the race and lend his support to Clinton so that the party can focus on defeating Donald Trump, the Republican candidate. “It is absolutely a joy and an honour that President Obama and I over the years have gone from fierce competitors to true friends,” Clinton told Reuters in an interview. After an unexpectedly tough battle against Sanders’ challenge from the left, former first lady Clinton made history when she reached the number of delegates needed to win the party nomination this week. That made her the first woman to lead a major U.S. party as its White House candidate.
Obama, who enjoys strong approval ratings after nearly eight years in office, will appear with Clinton on the campaign trail next week in Wisconsin. The two were opponents in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary race, which Obama won, but they buried their rivalry and she served as his secretary of state for four years. Clinton is the 2016 candidate who the White House believes will best safeguard Obama’s legacy. “I don’t think there’s ever been someone so qualified to hold this office,” Obama said of Clinton in a video. “I’m with her. I am fired up, and I cannot wait to get out there and campaign for Hillary.” Trump assailed the endorsement on Twitter: “He wants four more years of Obama—but nobody else does!” Clinton’s campaign tweeted a brash response: “Delete your account.” Sanders, who galvanized young voters with his calls for more social equality and measures to rein in Wall Street, has been reluctant to concede the race, despite concerns among leading Democrats that continuing party divisions could hamper Clinton’s efforts to beat Trump.
Obama and other senior Democrats are seeking a delicate balance of rallying the party behind Clinton, while not alienating Sanders and his supporters. In what appeared to be an attempt to gently ease Sanders toward giving up his campaign, Obama met the Democratic socialist for about an hour in the White House, laughing warmly as they walked into the Oval Office. Though Sanders told reporters afterward that he still plans to compete in the final nominating contest in Washington, D.C. on June 14, he said he would work with Clinton to defeat Trump. Sanders was then welcomed on Capitol Hill by Senator Harry Reid, the top Democrat in the Senate. Reid said the lawmaker from Vermont was in a “good place” with his Democratic colleagues. He suggested that Sanders was close to acknowledging defeat by Clinton.
John Major (L) and Tony Blair share a platform for the Remain campaign event at the University of Ulster in Londonderry, Northern Ireland yesterdsay.REUTERS/BRIAN LAWLESS/POOL Reuters - Tony Blair and John Major warned yesterday a vote to leave the European Union on June 23 would jeopardise the unity of the United Kingdom by undermining peace in Northern Ireland and bolstering the Scottish independence movement. Speaking together in Northern Ireland, the two former British prime ministers, who both played important roles in the province’s peace process in the 1990s, warned that unity was effectively on the ballot paper. “Throw away the membership of Europe and don’t be surprised if in the end, as a consequence, we accidentally throw away our union as well,” Major, Conservative prime minister from 1990 to 1997, told students at the Ulster University in Londonderry. “The most successful union in world history could be broken apart for good,” he said. Major warned that if Scotland votes to stay and the rest of the United Kingdom votes
to leave, the pressure for a new referendum on Scottish independence “could prove to be uncontrollable and politically irresistible.” Scots rejected independence by 55-45 percent in a vote in 2014 but since then the Scottish National Party has gained further strength, taking 56 of the 59 seats representing Scotland in the national parliament in London in last May’s national election. “If the UK was outside the European Union I could well envisage a different result” he added. Blair said the referendum could also undermine the 1998 Northern Ireland peace deal that ended three decades of killings between Catholic Irish nationalists who wanted the province to unite with Ire-
land and their Protestant rivals who wanted to keep it in the United Kingdom. Over 3,600 died in the conflict. “If we were to leave on June 23, it would put ... Northern Ireland’s future at risk, it would put our union at risk, it would be deeply damaging, a reckless course,” said Blair, who oversaw the peace deal as Labour prime minister from 1997 to 2007. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who also played a pivotal role in the Northern Ireland peace process, wrote in a guest column in the New Statesman magazine that the process had benefited from Britain’s EU membership. “I worry that the future prosperity and peace of Northern Ireland could be jeopardized if Britain withdraws,” Clinton wrote.
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T&T moving to stem influx of illegal migrants from Venezuela PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Trinidad and Tobago, facing an influx of Venezuelans arriving here from their economic and politically troubled country, says it wants co-ordinated patrols between the Guardia Nacional and its Coast Guard to stem illegal migrants arriving here from the South American country. “We have seen an increase in the amount of people coming here,” National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said, indicating that he had discussed the matter in Caracas two weeks ago. “We even went as far as to discuss Coast Guard officers on a Venezuelan vessel and Venezuelan officers on a Trinidad vessel, so we have that cooperation in patrolling.” Dillon said, adding this would facilitate coordination on both side of the dividing maritime line. Speaking to reporters after touring the Cedros port in the southwestern peninsula on Wednesday, Dillon said that the Commanding officer of the Coast Guard of Venezuela is in Trinidad right and “is having conversations right now with the Commanding
Edmund Dillon officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard. “He will be here until Friday and part of the discussion is how do we co-operate with one another in patrolling the Gulf of Paria,” Dillon said. Several Venezuelans have arrived here on shopping expeditions as well as seeking employment opportunities as a result of the unrest in their country as opposition forces move to oust President Nicolas Maduro, blaming him for the socio-economic problems facing the oil –rich country. During an official visit to Port of Spain last month, Maduro signed an agreement
to purchase US$50 million worth of goods and services. Dillion said in August, there will be a exercise codenamed “‘VenTri’ (Venezuela/ Trinidad ) involving both Venezuelan and the local Coast Guard working together in actual patrols to foster a closer relationship between both entities. He said once the joint patrols are established “T&T Coast Guard will patrol from north to south and they (Venezuela) will patrol south to north”. Dillon acknowledged that much more has to be done to deal with the possible influx of illegal immigrants adding “I am not satisfied that the Coast Guard has enough assets to deal with the influx of Venezuelan nationals. “I think the Coast Guard needs additional resources,” Dillon said, noting “in terms of the illegal movement of people, guns, ammunition, this is where the maritime security environment comes in. “It is extremely important and the Coast Guard has been increasing our land based patrols, so there is a coordinated joint patrol on the land and to some extent at sea,” Dillon said.
Holness exploring increased bilateral co-operation with C’bean neighbours Jamaica Observer - Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he expects a number of high-level visits to Jamaica and increased bilateral cooperation, emerging from discussions he started at the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) summit in Havana, Cuba, on the weekend. Holness, in a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, said that among the invitees were Cuban President Raul Castro, and Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley. He said that he was pleased to have discussions with Castro on a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. “I was pleased to extend an invitation to the (Cuban) president to pay an official visit to Jamaica at a time to be determined through diplomatic channels. President Castro graciously accepted,” he stated. “Prime Minister (Keith) Rowley has also agreed to pay an official visit to Jamaica in the near future, to continue discussions with me at the political level,” he added. He said that, at the sum-
mit, he had reviewed CubaJamaica relations at various levels, and pledged to identify ways to deepen the prospects for greater collaboration and exchanges in the areas of trade, tourism, climate change and disaster mitigation, culture and education, in the short term. “I reiterated Jamaica’s unwavering commitment for an end to the economic embargo against Cuba, and to ensure that this call is maintained until it is lifted and Cuba can operate without the strictures of the unilateral action taken by the United States,” Holness stated. He said that, among the possible areas of co-operation identified with Castro, was culture, through their creative industries, including a commitment to explore initiatives for the provision of increased language training on both sides. He said that issues such as climate change and sealevel rise in the region, and potential consequences for human life and economic development were also discussed with Castro. He said that, following the
signing of a multi-destination tourism memorandum of understanding (MOU) by Jamaica’s Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte, and Cuba’s Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz on Saturday, the two countries committed to have their “respective competent ministries” define the appropriate mechanisms to implement the MOU in a manner that will bring tangible benefits to both. Holness said that he expects improved relations will be facilitated with Costa Rica through the existing Caribbean Community-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement of 2004, and the Jamaica-Costa Rica General Agreement on Economic, Technical and Commercial Cooperation signed in 1992. “Within this context, the president of Costa Rica has encouraged Jamaica to participate in a trade exhibition to be held there in September, to identify possible increases in trade in goods and a variety of manufactured products in order to address Jamaica’s negative trade balance with Costa Rica,” he said.
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Federer beats Fritz on return from injury Roger Federer survived a stern examination by American teenager Taylor Fritz in Stuttgart yesterday to win his first match since withdrawing from the French Open with a back injury. The Swiss 17-times grand slam champion resumed leading 4-3 in the opening set after rain curtailed play at the Mercedes Cup the previous day and he eventually prevailed 6-4 5-7 6-4. Fritz, 18, levelled the match when he converted his fourth set point but Federer edged home in the decider to set up a quarter-final against Florian Mayer. His victory
was his 1,071st on the ATP Tour, taking him joint-second on the all-time match wins list with Ivan Lendl. Jimmy Connors is the overall leader with 1,256 wins. ”It wasn’t easy,” Federer told the ATP’s website. “(Fritz) served well and I was a little bit cautious, unsure of how to move and questioning my defence. “These are the things I will need to iron out.” Top seed Federer has been struggling with injuries this season, requiring knee surgery in February and then nursing a back problem throughout the clay court
season. He was encouraged that he was able to get past Fritz with no injury concerns. ”I can take a lot of confidence out of this match. I need to improve a few things, but I served big and I was able to handle three sets over two days, and find some energy at the end of the match. I know I have an extra gear,” he said. There was also a win yesterday for Austrian third seed Dominic Thiem who made the semi-finals of the French Open last week, losing to Novak Djokovic; he beat Australia’s Sam Groth 7-6(3) 7-6(2). (Reuters)
Minister Cummings and DoS Jones... (From page 36) and faints if exposed to load noise. ”If you think it best to do the surgery overseas write me a letter and Government will make a decision on how we can best assist” Dr Cummings promised. The Minister said Government is just over a year old and was left with many things that had to be fixed. She as-
Friday June 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
sured the nation that it is working hard to put things in place to provide a better life for everyone but stressed that everything takes time. ”I feel if the story was not done we would not be here today and most likely not heard from anyone anytime soon” Atwell’s wife said after the press conference. Atwell informed that he sent the request letter to Dr Cummings
yesterday. Those who want to make financial donations can send same to Republic Bank #242970.2 or call Atwell on 624-9961
Club Rivals... (From page 39) defeated O. Dainty/A. Almeida 6-7(8-6), 6-2, 7-6(74); N. Glasgow/D.Lopes got past Asif Subhan/ Benjettan Osborne 6-2, 64. Men’s Over 35 Singles Quarterfinals: Godfrey Lowden beat Surendra Khayyam 6-1, 6-2, Leyland Leacock blanked Stephen David-Longe 6-3, 6-2. Men’s Over 45 Singles Quarterfinals: Rudy Grant eased past Lineu Pupo De Paula 6-2, 6-1; Albert Razick trounced Stephen DavidLonge 6-3, 6-1.
Nadal out of Wimbledon with wrist injury Twice former champion Rafael Nadal will not play at this year’s Wimbledon due to the wrist injury that forced the Spaniard out of the French Open, he said yesterday. “I’m sad to announce that after talking to my doctors, and receiving the results of my last medical revision, I won’t be able to play at Wi m b l e d o n t h i s y e a r, ” Nadal said on his Facebook page. ”As you can all imagine, it’s a very tough decision, but the injury I suffered at Roland Garros needs time to heal.” Nadal’s withdrawal is a blow for the championships at which the Spaniard has been such an attraction for more than a decade, especially with his victories in 2008 and 2010. He also had to pull out
before the 2009 edition of Wimbledon with a knee injury when he was defending champion, citing that as “one of the toughest decisions of my career.” Nadal was also badly missed at the last fortnight’s French Open after pain in his left wrist flared up and he was forced to withdraw following a landmark 200th grand slam win over Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis in the second round. The Spaniard had needed an injection before that match and broke the news the following day to reporters that he would be forced to abandon his assault on a 10th Roland Garros title. Wearing an arm brace and appearing close to tears, the 14-times grand slam winner had said in Paris that
the press conference was the hardest he had ever given. He explained that he risked further serious injury and a likely tear of his wrist tendons - if he continued to play. The 30-year-old’s career has been littered with injuries, particularly to his knees. He also missed the U.S. Open in 2014 with a problem with his right wrist and has suffered from back and hamstring problems as well as appendicitis. Nadal, who had already pulled out of next week’s grass-court warm-up at Queen’s Club, added on Facebook that he would also miss two more of his usual pre-Wimbledon events. “Thank you all for your support, especially my fans. Yo u r k i n d m e s s a g e s mean so much to me,” he added. (Reuters)
Friday June 10, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) If you work in a helping profession such as psychotherapy, you're probably breaking quite a few rules and protocols right now, Aries. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You don't have to be a genius or do something extraordinary in order for people to notice you, Taurus. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You aren't free enough, Gemini. This is especially true in your relationships. With the current astral energy, you can expect to break free of your chains. CANCER (June 21–July 22) If you were in charge of a company's human resources department, Cancer, today you would begin to completely overhaul the recruitment procedure. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Leo, the romantic side of your life may be rocked by a storm of emotion. You may go from intense rage to ecstasy in an instant. The day may instruct you to get hold of your emotions. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) The day may be somewhat oppressive, Virgo. It's possible you will receive some unpleasant news related to your domestic life. Perhaps in the past few years you haven't been especially careful about your home budget.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You seem frustrated today, Libra! There's only one person who could possibly arouse your anger to such a degree, and that's you. Today's aspect is favorable for crises of conscience that result in a change of attitude. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This is a contemplative day, Scorpio. You seem to be developing new techniques, means, therapies, and methods to use in your main occupation. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You will have to expect the day to be somewhat frustrating, Sagittarius. Your friends may insist that you be more cooperative and less individualistic. They could resent your refusal to be part of the team. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You mustn't expect to do whatever you like today. Quite the contrary!Youmayberestrained bytechnicallimitations.Perhapsyour financial resources will be insufficient. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Science, space exploration, and certain other fields require the participation of all with a very strong team spirit. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) What good does it do you to resist change, Pisces? Everyone knows that you have trouble adapting to change in the world around you.
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Brewley leads Eagles United Rossouw out of tri-series to UDFA U-17 Championship with shoulder injury The talented Omar Brewley struck the lone goal of the game in the 75th minute to lead Eagles United to a 1-0 win over Amelia’s Ward Panthers which secured the Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) Under-17 League Championship on Wednesday last at the Mecca of the sport in the Bauxite Mining Town, Mackenzie Sports Club ground. Brewley’s championship goal came as a result of a through ball from one of his teammates which he collected in the 18 yards box and
made no mistake in hammering a well directed shot past Panther’s goalkeeper Cleveland Junas. Up to that point it was a doing dong battle between the sides in a fiercely fought match befitting a final. Brewley received valuable support from his Captain Javair Smith who controlled the play from midfield as the defenders were firmly led by Nicholas Gentle. A m e l i a ’s Wa r d P a n thers did have some good moments but were unable to convert their opportunities.
Breweley copped the Most Valuable Player award as Netrockers’ Joel Isaacs ended as the Highest Goal Scorer of the tournament with 12 goals. Brewley had 7. Trophies were donated by the Petra Organisation while tickets for the final day were bought by Bosai and Dave and Celena Furniture Store to allow 500 to witness the final. UDFA President Sharma Solomon presented the trophies to the winners which included replicas. Milerock took the third place prize.
Usain Bolt Could Lose Olympic Gold After Teammate Tests Positive: Report Kingston (Reuters) - Jamaican Olympic relay gold medalist Nesta Carter‘s “B” sample for the use of a banned stimulant at the 2008 Beijing Games has returned positive, two sources familiar with the case told Reuters on Wednesday. The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) said last Friday in a statement it had received notification from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that one of its competitors had returned an adverse analytical result but did not name the athlete. Neither Carter nor his agent has responded to repeated queries for a comment on the positive test. Carter, who has helped Jamaican 4x100 meter relay teams to Olympic and world championship titles, returned a doping violation for the banned stimulant methylhexanamin in a re-test of 454 samples from the 2008 Beijing Games ordered by the IOC. The same two sources told Reuters that the B-sample also came back positive. Methylhexanamine has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code prohibited list since 2004 although it was reclassified on the 2011 list as a “specified substance”. ”It’s now a matter of the next steps relating to the hearing,” said one of the sources who spoke on condition of not being named. President of the Jamaica Olympic Association Mike Fennell declined comment when contacted Wednesday afternoon. Firstleg relay specialist Carter has been a vital member of Jamaica’s dominant squad, helping the Caribbean island
Rilee Rossouw is set to return to South Africa from the Caribbean, to have surgery on the shoulder he injured during the tri-series match against Australia on June 7. Dean Elgar has been named Rossouw’s replacement. Elgar was picked ahead of David Miller, who was dropped for this series. Rossouw had injured his right shoulder while fielding in South Africa’s bonus-point win against Australia. The incident occurred when he crashed shoulder-first into the ground as he hauled the ball in after a chase from backward point. He was helped off the field by the medical staff and taken for scans with what seemed to be a dislocated shoulder. Rossouw had scored 68 runs in the two matches he played in the series, including an innings of 61 in the opening match of the tri-series against West Indies, which South Africa lost by
Rilee Rossouw had injured his right shoulder while fielding in South Africa’s bonus-point win against Australia © AFP four wickets. Elgar comes in to the squad having last played an ODI in October last year on South Africa’s tour to India. The lefthanded batsman scored 608 runs in six matches in South Africa’s first-class competition, the Sunfoil Series, in 2015-16 and was the secondhighest run-getter for South Africa in the four-Test series against England earlier this year. Against England, Elgar
scored 284 runs in four matches, including a knock of 118 in the Boxing Day Test in Durban. South Africa are leading the table after the first leg of tri-series matches. After losing their opening match, they claimed a bonuspoint victory over Australia, defending 189 for a 47-run win. Their next match in the series is tomorrow against Australia in Basseterre, St Kitts. (ESPNcricinfo)
Two of the game’s greats come together for Match of Friendship on eve of Euro 2016 Nesta Carter, pictured left when the Jamaican team . Julian Finney via Getty Images win gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and the 2011, 2013 and 2015 world championships. Historically, the sanction for the use of Methylhexanamine has been a suspension of six months to a year and the loss of results from the period concerned. Although his relay team mates Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Michael Frater are not accused of doping, it is possible the IOC could strip them of their gold medals due to Carter‘s B-sample testing positive. For instance, all members of the victorious American 4x400 relay squad at the 2000 Sydney Olympics were subsequently stripped of their medals after Antonio Pettigrew admitted a doping offence and had all his results from January 1997 onwards disqualified. However, in other instances team members have been allowed to keep their medals. When American Marion Jones was stripped of her two relay medals from the Sydney Games for doping offences, her team mates kept theirs after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams said discussions over what to do with the medals won by any dope cheats exposed by the re-testing were ongoing. ”It is still being worked out,” he said. “What we want to do, and are trying to do, is target athletes who have positive results and stop them from competing in Rio.” If Bolt, Powell and Frater lose their relay medals - they could appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), according to an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rule. Bolt and Powell could not be reached for comment. When contacted by phone on Wednesday, Frater who ran the second leg in Beijing told Reuters. “Can’t comment until everything is official.” That rule, IAAF Rule 41, was passed in 2003 and implemented in March 2004. The rule states, “the relay team shall be automatically disqualified from the event in question, with all resulting consequences for the relay team, including the forfeiture of all titles, awards, medals, points and prize and appearance money” if there is a positive.
On the eve of the European Championship two of the greatest players in the history of the game came together to take part in a one-off five-a-side match in Paris. So often at loggerheads, Brazil legend Pele and Argentina icon Maradona put their differences to one side for Hublot’s Match of Friendship at the Palais Royale in Paris to mark Euro 2016. The 75-year-old Brazil great and 55-year-old Argentine legend even embraced during the fivea-side exhibition game in a sign that they have drawn a line under their long-running feud. Pele and Maradona played to roles of coach as two teams of former stars went head to head in the palace garden the day before France play Romania at the Stade de France in the opening game of the Euros. ormer England captain Rio Ferdinand, ex-Holland midfielder Clarence Seedorf, former Spain and Real Madrid defender Fernando Hierro and Italy’s World Cup-winning defender Fabio Cannavaro were among the names to take part. ’I want to thank Pele, we know who he is and who he will always be. We need icons like him,’ said Maradona, who starred in Argentina’s 1986 World Cup triumph. Pele, a three-time world champion, also struck a conciliatory tone in response. ’The most important is the
Argentina legend Maradona (left) and Brazil icon Pele join hands as they take part in the Match of Friendship. message of peace. Many thanks to my friend Maradona for this opportunity and a big round of applause to the players who have been here today,’ said Pele. ’This is a moment of peace.’ It was a far cry from the acrimony between them when FIFA was trying to decide the player of the 20th Century in 2000. The world body organised an online vote which Maradona easily won. But FIFA thought the online users at the time were too young and so the vote was skewed in Maradona’s favour. It then organised a vote by readers of the FIFA magazine and cast by an international jury. This time Pele won by a landslide. FIFA decided to split the award and named Pele and Maradona as the two greatest players of all time. Maradona, 55, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 after knocking
England out in the semi-final with the infamous Hand of God goal and an incredible solo strike, even rolled back the years during a short cameo performance. Former Premier League referee Howard Webb, who took charge of the 2010 World Cup final, officiated the legends match yesterday. Hublot, the offical watch partner of the European Championship, organised the friendly kick-about as part of their Hublot Loves Football series. In a fitting tribute to two of the most exciting attacking talents the game has ever seen, the match ended 8-8 with David Trezeguet netting a hat-trick. The former France striker scored the winning goal in the final of Euro 2000 as France beat Italy 2-1 in extra-time courtesy of the golden goal rule. (MailOnline)
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Friday June 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
Cavs crush Warriors to cut Finals deficit to 2-1 LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers stormed back into the NBA Finals with a dominant 120-90 victory over the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Wednesday that cut the series deficit to 2-1. James, who called the game “do-or-die” for his team, scored a game-high 32 points and Kyrie Irving added 30 as the Cavaliers breathed new life into a series that had looked headed for a quick finish after a lopsided opening two games in Oakland. ”We talked about effort for the last two days, just being aggressive, playing hard, the physicality, and we brought that,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue told reporters. “When we play that way, we’re tough to beat.” Cleveland, well aware that no team in NBA history has ever come back from an 3-0 series deficit to win in seven games, got off to a fast start and led the entire way to keep alive their hopes of avenging last year’s Finals defeat to the Warriors. NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry had a night to forget with 19 points
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) in game three. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports on 6-for-13 shooting for the Warriors. The Cavaliers were a much different team than the one that lost the first two games of the series by a com-
bined 48 points and kept alive their hopes of delivering Cleveland its first professional sports championship in 52 years. James and Irving set the
GFF Stag Elite League FINALE Semis on tonight
Pele, Slingerz, Alpha, Fruta Conquerors battle for final berths Arguably four of the most decorated teams locally Pele, Slingerz, Alpha United and Fruta Conquerors will battle for two available places in the final when the semi finals of the Guyana Football Federa t i o n / S t a g E l i t e League Finale are contested tonight at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora. Pele will take on Slingerz in the first game which starts at 19:00hrs while Alpha United will battle Fruta Conquerors in the second from 21:00hrs. Speaking at a press conference held yesterday at GFF office, Vurlon Mills of Slingerz FC expressed confidence in winning the title. He stated that his fellow players have worked hard to reach this stage and are eager to go, adding that team spirit will be of utmost importance if they are to progress. ”It’s an honour to play in the final four once again, these teams are very strong
so we will not be taking our opponent for granted, we will try our best to give our fans something to cheer about,” he added. Slingerz also won the GENESIS of tehsame competition last year and are aiming for the coveted double which would see them gaining automatic qualification to the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship. Fruta Conquerors is one of the teams that are capable of creating an upset and their Captain Trevon Lythcott pointed out that his players have worked hard to get to this stage. He feels they have what it takes to come out on top stating that it is a privilege to play in the competition. Alpha United Captain Daniel Wilson indicated that his colleagues are well prepared for this stage of the tournament while Konata Manning of Pele FC added that the competition is good
for Guyana’s football whilst crediting the GFF for its establishment. He expects the matches to be competitive and urged the fans to come out and support. President of the GFF Wayne Forde expressed gratitude to Ansa McAl for their input into the league which he said provides a platform for players to play football on a consistent basis. Forde further said the GFF will chase new ideas to improve its level and feels the event will create a brand for the nation internationally which will attract foreign investment and provide an avenue for players to further develop. Stag Beer Brand Manager Linden Henry, congratulated the teams for making it to this stage noting that the standard of the event has improved. He lauded the GFF for a well organised tournament so far. GFF has announced that transportation will be at square of revolution at 16:00hrs at a cost of $600 to and from the venue.
tone early with a dominant first quarter, during which they helped Cleveland establish a 20-point lead at one
stage. The defending champion Warriors showed some signs of life in the second quarter
as they chipped away at the Cavaliers lead, getting to within eight points by halftime despite Curry being held to two points. However, Cleveland quickly squashed any hopes the Warriors had at making a comeback with a blistering start to the third quarter, where they built a 22-point lead after a jump shot by James with about six minutes left in the quarter. The Cavaliers, embarrassed by a 33-point loss in Game Two, cruised the rest of the way and led by as many as 31 with a minute to play to change the narrative of a series that many had started to think would be over in four games. ”We weren’t ready to play,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr lamented. “Obviously, they just punched us right in the mouth right in the beginning. “It’s going to take more than an effort like that to win a Finals game against a great team, obviously.” Game Four is in Cleveland today. (Reuters)
Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup 2016
One more match to determine third round contenders St. John’s, Antigua Curacao, the Dominican Republic, Martinique, Puerto Rico and St. Kitts and Nevis are already looking forward to Round 3 of the Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup 2016 after coming out on top of their respective groups. They will be joined by Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago which all
received byes to the third round. A called-off Round 2 Group 4 match between Bermuda and French Guiana on June 1 due to inclement weather, which will now be played on June 19, will keep the runners-up in suspense a while longer. With the Bermuda-French Guiana match pending, the runners-up are Guyana +4; Antigua and Barbuda +3;
Suriname 0; and Guadeloupe -1. Only four will advance. Round 2 concluded on June 7, with action across the five groups. Four groups of three teams will contest the next round. Matches will be played on October 3, 6 and 9. Only Group 4, comprising Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis and the Dominican Republic, is already set.
MoH Soft Shoe Football Competition
Defending champ Sparta Boss in action tonight The Ministry of Health Soft Shoe Football Competition continues this evening with six more matches, at the Parade ground on Middle and Carmichael Streets, starting from 19:00hrs. The opening fixture will see Campbellville and Channel-9 Warriors square off, before Back Circle and West Back Road engage each other in the game to follow. Leopold Street and North Ruimveldt then take to the field in the next encounter, before defending champs Sparta Boss tackles Holmes Street of Tiger Bay. Queen
Street of Tiger Bay spring into action against Ministry of Health and this gam e precedes the clash between Kitty and Globe Yard in the final fixture of the evening. Winner of the event will receive $300,000 and the Championship trophy, while second, third and fourth placed teams take home $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. Other sponsors of the event include GTT, Lucky Dollar, Nigel Supermarket, Junior’s Jewellery, Star Party Rentals and 2-J’s General
Store. Meanwhile, play in the competition continues on Sunday at the Ministry of Health ground on Brickdam and Vlissingen Road. At 19:00hrs Sophia will oppose California Square; 19:45hrs West Front Road play Broad Street; 20:30hrs Tucville match skills with Albouystown; 21:00hrs Festival City face off with Alexander Village; 21:45hrs North East La Penetance engage Young Ballers; 22:30hrs Bent Street and Cross Street Werk-en-Rust contest the main event.
Kaieteur News
Friday June 10, 2016
Guyana Amazon Warriors to be encamped from June 20 The Guyana Amazon Warriors will commence preparations for the 2016 Caribbean Premier League on June 20. The team which will be led by New Zealand’s Martin Guptill will be encamped for one week and will engage a Guyana XI in several practices matches at the National Stadium. In addressing the media yesterday at the new CPL local office at Camp and Quamina Streets, Warriors Manager Omar Khan indicated the Guyanese U-19 World Cup winners Keemo Paul and Tevin Imlach as well as Akshaya Persaud will be part of the camp and said support from the home fans will be vital for the team campaign. The Warriors lineup includes Australian leg spinner Adam Zampa and b a t s m a n C h r i s Ly n n , Pakistani pacer Sohail
Guyana Amazon Warriors manager Omar Khan Tanvir, Dwayne Smith, Chris Barnwell and victorious West Indies U19 World Cup winning Captain, Shimron Hetmyer. Khan said that the tournament has created much hype in Asia and
England and as such it is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Guyana. “Owners of IPL franchises in India who are also owners of several CPL teams have requested that the games be held at certain times so as to get an audience there. So this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Guyana,” he said. Khan indicated that they are also selling CPL merchandise for the fans at the office. He explained that they will be opening a ticket booth in Berbice and are looking at the possibility of another in Essequibo. Guyana will face Jamaica Tallawahs on July 7 (19:00hrs), St. Kitts Patriots on July 9 (12:00hrs), Trinbago Knight Riders on July 10 (19:00hrs) and St. Lucia Zouks on July 12 (19:00hrs) at Providence.
Mc Neal Enterprise collaborates with GABA to host Tribute to Ali Mc Neal Enterprise has collaborated with the Guyana Armature Boxing Association (GABA) to stage a tribute to Muhammad Ali on Sunday June 12 from 17:00hrs at the Impeccable Banquet Hall at 90 Brickdam and Sandyman Street, Georgetown. At a media briefing held at the office of Mc Neal Enterprise, Head Odinga Lumumba disclosed that the tribute to the fallen hero who died last Friday at age 74 will included clips of Ali’s fights and tributes by several prominent Guyanese to the man that labeled himself the Greatest. Ali won 56 of his 61 professional fights, 37 of them by way of knock-out and lost only five. Lumumba said after hearing of the death of Ali he felt it strange that nobody in Guyana did anything for him. ”Ali was more than just a Boxer, but an activist, teacher and leader for the oppressed and he also came to Guyana (1979) and was loved by all from all religions, nationalities and races, Lumumba, a politician said. Lumumba said this was the main reason he
GABA President Steve Ninvalle (left) & Odinga Lumumba collaborated with the GABA to stage what should be a reflective edifying evening. ”If I promoted a boxing card in tribute to Ali the lessons of his life’s work would have been lost in the boxing matches. This way we can focus on Ali in all facets of his life” Lumumba added. GABA President Steve Ninvalle, said Ali, an American born as Cassius M a r c e l l u s C l a y, w e n t beyond race, religion or country and was loved and respected for what he stood for. ”This is the first time we (GABA) has collaborated with Mc Neal Enterprise and it’s the first of many.
Ninvalle also promised that one of GABA’s bouts will be held in memory of Ali who began training as a boxer when he was 12 years-old. At 18 he won the Light Heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. At 22, he won the WBC and WBA heavyweight championships from Sonny Liston in an upset in 1964. Shortly after, Clay announced his conversion to Islam, changed his “slave” name to Ali, and gave a message of racial pride for African Americans and resistance to white domination during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. (Sean Devers)
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Muslim funeral in Muhammad Ali’s hometown draws thousands
Worshipers and well-wishers take photographs as the casket with the body of the late boxing champion Muhammad Ali is brought for his jenazah. Reuters/Carlos Barria. A Muslim funeral for Muhammad Ali yesterday drew thousands of admirers to the boxer’s hometown, where mourners prayed over the body of a man who battled in the ring and sought peace outside it. The jenazah, or funeral in Arabic, was held at a convention space in Freedom Hall, the complex where the former heavyweight world champion defeated Willi Besmanoff in 1961 in his last fight in Louisville. An estimated 14,000 people, representing many races and creeds, attended the service, where speakers repeatedly referred to Ali as “the people’s champion.” ”The passing of Muhammad Ali has made us all feel a little more alone in the world,” said Sherman Jackson, a Muslim scholar at the University of Southern California. He praised Ali for advancing the cause of black Americans during and after the civil rights movement of the 1960s. ”Something solid, something big beautiful and life-affirming has left this world,” he said of a man who was forced to give up more than three years of his boxing prime for his refusal to serve
in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. Ali, known for his boxing prowess, showmanship, political activism and devotion to humanitarian causes, died on Friday of septic shock in an Arizona hospital. He was 74. Imam Zaid Shakir, a founder of Muslim liberal arts school Zaytuna C o l l e g e i n B e r k e l e y, California, led worshippers in prayers such as “Allahu akbar” (“God is greatest”) over Ali’s body, which lay in a casket covered with a black and gold cloth. Ali and his family planned his funeral for 10 years, making sure it would honor his Muslim faith while also adapting to the demands of Western media-driven culture. A final goodbye for Ali will take place today, when thousands will gather for an interfaith service at the KFC Yum Center. Luminaries including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Turkish President Ta y y i p E r d o g a n a n d comedian Billy Crystal will attend. “Ali will never die,” boxing promoter Don King told Reuters. “His spirit will live on.” Among those at yesterday’s funeral was a
Bangladeshi man named Mohammad Ali who said he flew to the United States to attend the service despite failing health. He showed pictures of his famous namesake visiting his home nearly 40 years ago. ”If I could not attend the funeral of Muhammad Ali, it would be a sad part of my life,” he said. “Today or tomorrow, I have to die. So I took the risk and came down all the way because he visited my home.” Ali rose to the top of the boxing world when black fighters were expected to be quiet and deferential. His braggadocio, even before he changed his name from Cassius Clay, startled white America. He further shocked Americans after he joined the Nation of Islam and adopted an Islamic name in 1964. In the 1970s, Ali converted to Sunni Islam, the largest denomination among Muslims worldwide. Late in life he embraced Sufism, a mystical school of the faith. He was admired worldwide and gave U.S. Muslims a hero they could share with the American mainstream. (Reuters)
Kaieteur News
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Friday June 10, 2016
Minister Cummings and DoS Jones host Press Conference on Atwell’s issue By Sean Devers Following a story in yesterday’s Kaieteur News headlined ‘Clive Atwell in biggest fight of his life’ Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr Karen Cummings and Director of Sports Christopher Jones arranged a press conference yesterday morning at the Ministry of Public Health to clear the air on some of the issues raised by Atwell, a National Boxer. Jones said the story suggests the Government is reluctant to help the 27-yearold Boxer who fainted on October 24 during the ninth round of his WBC FECARBOX Lightweight title fight against fellow
Guyanese Dexter Gonzales and was diagnosed with bleeding in the brain. An emergency surgery was done by Dr Amernauth Dukhi to save Atwell’s life and a second ‘corrective surgery’ to insert a plate was recommended. The cost for travel to Trinidad and the surgery is approximately $5Million. Minister Cummings says the second surgery is not a life threatening operation and could be done in Guyana at a lower cost. She said the Government is in the process of buying the equipment to do this type o f s u r g e r y . Dr Dukhi, GPHC’s first inhouse neurosurgeon confirmed he could execute
Director of Sports Christopher Jones and Minister Karen Cummings yesterday. the type of surgery needed by Atwell. Dr Dukhi gained Bachelor ’s of Science Degree in Biology and Bio Chemistry from the University of Guyana and a Bachelor’s of Medicine through the Cuban Scholarship Programme. But the bad news is that the surgery cannot be done
Stag Beer / WDFA Senior League
Stewartville upset Beavers; Golden Warriors, Pouderoyen and Eagles also win
here at present and even though Dr Dukhi has done this operation before this is the first time it will done in Guyana. Both Minister Cummings and Dr Dukhi could not say how long the equipment will take to get to Guyana. Atwell is uncomfortable being the first patient to undergo this procedure. Atwell who holds the National Featherweight and Lightweight titles and WBC C A B O F E S u p e r Lightweight and Featherweight crowns, said
in yesterday’s story that his wife and a few others are the only ones helping him. He said he wrote Sports Minister Nicolette Henry, Director of Sports Chris Jones and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Sports Alfred King and sent two letters to President David Granger seeking assistance as someone who has represented this county but is yet to get a reply. Ye s t e r d a y, A t w e l l accompanied by his wife, Coach Paulette Nurse and his PRO Herman Harris, said he stood by what he said. His wife said that in one day she made 10 calls to Minister Cummings office without getting her. Dr Cummings promised to get back to Atwell’s by May 24 but never did. Dr Dukhi said he always tells his patients to go where they feel comfortable. He added that it is recommended the second
surgery should not be done in less than sixes weeks after the first due to healing process. It’s been eight months since Atwell did his first surgery. ”I was told I had to get a plate inserted to protect my brain and was advised to go to the USA or England. I went to Trinidad because that was all I could have afforded. I spoke to Dr Steve Mahadeo from the St Clair Medical Centre and he gave me the cost and told me as soon as I come up with the money the surgery would be done because time is important” Atwell disclosed. Minister Cummings noted that there are many who need surgeries and Atwell’s life was no longer threatened, since he could talk and walk. Atwell says he still suffers from seizures, problems with his sight, gets little feelings in his left leg (Continued on page 32)
Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Competition
Vreed-en-Hoop, L’Aventure clash at Leonora today Paul Hector (right) and Orette Stephenson - Stewartville FC. Stewartville recorded the first upset in the Stag Beer sponsored West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Senior League which continued last weekend at the Den Amstel Ground. The West Demerara based side toppled their West Bank counterparts 2-0 thanks to goals from Paul Hector in the 54th minute and Orette Stephenson in the 67th minute of their feature clash on Sunday afternoon last. The opening match saw Golden Warriors edging Vegae Boys 2-1 in a match that produced end to end action with the losers striking first in the 18th minute through an Alvin Benjamin goal. But Golden Warriors struck back in the 24th minute when Shakel Brisport evened the score. The exchanges continued evenly but it was
Stephan Griffith (right) and Olanzo Henry - Eagles FC.
the Warriors that finally broke the deadlock with the winning goal in the 72nd minute off the boot of Orette Stephenson. O n S a t u r d a y, Pouderoyen ran away 5-3 winners over a tough Young Achievers. Both teams played enterprising football and did not ease in their offensive ambitions. Pouderoyen got their goals from Dwayne St. Kitts who netted twice in the 4th, 66th; Kayode King 46th; Morgan Denny 63rd and Marvin Frank in the 77th minute. Young Achievers’ Lloyd Prince scored all the goals for his team in the 6th minute from the penalty spot, 30th and 50th minute but his efforts alone was not enough. Eagles United soared to a big 5-1 triumph against Wales United on account of a double each from Stephan
Griffi t h ( 1 s t , 7 2 n d ) , Olanzo Henry (8th, 60th) and Chris Macey in the 63rd minute. Wales got their lone goal from Kelvin Roberts in the 65th minute. Matches will continue this weekend at the same venue including the NAMILCO/GFF Flour Power National U-17 League. Tomorrow’s first match is an U-17 clash from 12:00hrs between Slingerz and Wales United, this would be followed by two a Stag Senior League matches, first up between Beavers and Wales with the main event featuring Den Amstel and Vegae Boys. On Sunday, the Under-17 match will see Den Amstel opposing Eagles with senior play between Jetty Gunners against Pouderoyen from 13:30hrs with the final match between Uitvlugt and Young Achievers.
Flashback! Part of the action in a match in the Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Competition. After weeks of preparations by participants, the eagerly anticipated Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Competition is set to commence today with a lone game at the Leonora Synthetic facility, West Demerara. In the opening fixture of this year’s competition, Vreed-en-Hoop takes on L’Aventure in what is expected to provide an exciting start to the tournament from 15:30hrs. The early talk about this year’s competition is that it will produce fireworks from the first kick-off and fans are being urged to converge at the venue to get a first hand glimpse of some of the future stars in the sport. The competition which is in
its sixth year has seen Government Technical Institute secure the championship trophy in the inaugural tournament, but since then the school from the Mining Town of Linden, Christianburg / Wismar has dominated the event, winning the next four years to become the most successful team in the competition’s history. This year, however, many observers believe that a new champion will be crowned and among the early favourites is Chase Academic Foundation, a team that has dominated the junior level in Georgetown, while schools such as Mackenzie High, Berbice Educational Institute, Dolphin, Lodge and
Beterverwagting Secondaries are also favoured to do well. What is certain is that due to the increase competitions that are being played now, the level of play will most definitely be much higher than last year. The nationwide event has provided scouts, clubs and the Guyana Football Federation the opportunity to see players from every part of Guyana, a definite positive for the national team’s Head Coach and coaches throughout the country. Matches are slated to be played in every region in the country. In excess of 150 schools have so far registered for this year’s competition.
Kaieteur News
Friday June 10, 2016
St. Cuthbert’s Mission/Pakuri Martial Arts Academy up and running F o u n d e r a n d Grandmaster of the Little Diamond International Martial Arts Academy (LDIMAA) Abdool Nazim Yassim has reported that their latest branch at St. Cuthbert’s Mission, The Pakuri Martial Arts Academy is up and running. A press release from the club has states that the students are advancing in the discipline and martial arts training. Ten (10) of the 17 students are scheduled to undergo their first exam on J u n e 1 9 n e x t . The club said that Shihan Nazim has expressed gratitude to Instructor Ryan for his efforts with the older and senior members of the community with the Taiji class that he has commenced. The members of this class, mostly females, have expressed pleasure with this discipline as they enjoy the training which is fun filled even as they learn the
Some members of the Pakuri Martial Arts Academy Tai-Chi class. importance about being h e a l t h y . This year the LDIMAA 14th annual Martial Arts Training Camp will be held at St. Cuthbert’s Mission, July 17 – 24, 2016 and will attract over 50 students from
Guyana and Suriname. At this Camp students would be preparing to compete at the Shuriken International Karate Championships on August 14th in Suriname. This would be the first time that there would be students
from another country attending the LDIMAA training camp. Shihan Nazim is looking forward to a very successful camp and is encouraging the business community to support in this venture.
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Golden Jubilee President’s Cup Soccer set for New York tomorrow Six teams to battle; U-13 match also slated
Guyanese footballers will roll back the years when they engage each other in a special one-day Golden Jubilee President’s Cup Soccer tournament in New York tomorrow. Te a m s r e p r e s e n t i n g Batrica, West Coast, East Coast, Linden, Berbice and Georgetown will be facing off in the 30 minute match-ups, placed in two groups of three teams each. The two emerging with the most points from each group will clash in the final which will be played for 90 minutes. An Under-13 match will The venue is the South Shore High School in Flatlands Avenue, Brooklyn New York. The activity which is sponsored by Western Union Money Transfer expected to attract hundreds of Guyanese as they will also participate in
Golden Jubilee Kids Fun Day also at South Shore High School. Among the activities listed are face painting, tug-owar, lime and spoon race, 3legged race, don and the bone, sack race, senior and junior relay races as well a s a 50m dash. Action will get underway at 10:00hrs.
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Kaieteur News
Friday June 10, 2016
Local Coaches complete Phase 2 WICB/ECB Level 3 Coaching Course Four Guyanese coaches have successfully completed Phase One and Two of the WICB/ECB Level Three Coaching Course which was held in Barbados from May to June, 2016. Phase One was conducted May 1- 8, and Phase Two May 31 – June4. The Level Three Course is the highest certifying Coaching Programme to be conducted in the Caribbean under the auspices of the WICB and the local Coaches who attended are Guyana Jaguars’ Head Coach Esuan Crandon, Assistant Coach Rayon Griffith, National Under-15 Coach Julian Moore and the Territorial Development Officer, Colin Stuart. Crandon and Griffith have been at the helm of the Guyana Jaguars when they won back to back PCL Regional 4-Day Tournament Titles in 2015-2016 while Moore has been the Coach of the winning Under-15 teams over the same period. Stuart has jurisdiction over the National Coaching Programmes. Both phases of the Coaching Course were conducted by the England Cricket Board (ECB). The first section captured relevant information regarding advanced concepts on batting, spin
Colin Stuart
Rayon Griffith
Esuan Crandon
Julian Moore
bowling and fielding, skill acquisition, coaching philosophy inclusive of an examination of the MyersBriggs Type indicators (MBTI), tactical analysis and decision making. The second section of phase one examined suspect bowling actions, its i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , recommended procedures
and remediation processes. G C B Te r r i t o r i a l Development Officer, Colin Stuart, said he feels that the course is a worthwhile one, since it provided some new concepts which can be used to carefully identify the natural abilities of players upon which additional and suitable information may be filtered to players to ensure
Kaieteur News
Friday June 10, 2016
Club Rivals Meet at GBTI Independence Jubilee Open GBTI Independence Jubilee Open 2016 continues to be marked by high level tennis as one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament took centre court. In the clash between Roraima Tennis Club rivals, it was men’s singles 4th seed Benjettan Osborne who defeated Oswin Coggins 6-2, 3-6, 63. Benjettan lamented that he was under mounting pressure to defend his rank, if not improve his national seeded position. T h o u g h t h e competitors are club mates, friendship bore no bearing where a tournament is concerned. The match started with Oswin making a statement by breaking at 2-0, causing upset to Benjettan. The true test of Osborne’s technique by improving on footwork and consistency blockaded Oswin from winning his service games thereby ensuring Osborne a first set victory. As the match transitioned to the second set, Osborne broke Coggin’s first serve, but Coggins was determined to incorporate a new strategy which was sure to pay off. He noticed Osborne had a defect on his backhand, so the ball was consistently pushed to play on this weakness thereby rewarding Osborne to a quick 4-1 lead in set. The battles of breaking e a c h o t h e r ’s s e r v e progressed in the second set until the Osborne managed to dig deep and bring the set to a reasonable 4-3 lead to Coggins. Nevertheless, as the match intensified with a strenuous game lasting an unprecedented 10 minutes, Oswin yet again held tight and broke Osborne’s service to progress to a 5-3 lead. He eventually held serve to secure the second set. The third set saw both opponents fighting to secure a win with Osborne leading the first game and Coggins following suite to secure his. Both players held serve to 3-4 until mother nature took her reigns and postponed the match to Tuesday. The curtains
Benjettan Osborne eventually came down when Osborne wasted no time to secure the coveted first match in the Men’s Open Singles round of 32 beating Coggins 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Boys Open Singles Round of 16: Ravin Rampersaud beat Nigel Lowe 2-6, 6-0, 6-2; Heimraj Resaul got past Jeevan Dalip by walk over; Khalid Gobin defeated Alex Almeida 6-3, 6-4; Vijay Sharma too care of D. Kalekyezi 6-4, 6-0 and Jordan Beaton topped Viraj Sharma 7-5, 6-2. Girls Open Singles Semi-finals: Shivani Persaud trounced Ciara Pooran 6-0, 6-1, Kalyca Fraser eased past Sarah Klautky 6-4, 6-2. Mixed Open Doubles Round of 16: J. Kalekyezi/S. Klautky defeated K. Rodney/S. Gentle 7-5, 6-4; D. Fraser/K. Fraser blanked A. Khan/Nathalie Ramdyhan 6-0, 6-0. Quarterfinals: Nicola Ramdyhan/N. Glasgow 61, 6-4 beat O. Dainty/F. Bushell. Men’s Open Singles Round of 32: Orande Dainty took care of Dominic Fraser 5-7, 6-4, 75; Benjettan Osborne beat Oswin Coggins 6-2, 3-6, 63; Leyland Leacock hammered Seanden DavidLounge 6-0, 6-1. Men’s Open Doubles / Round of 16: H. Panday/A. Downes blanked J. Goodluck/D. King 6-0, 6-1; Keenan Persaud squeezed past Khalif Gobin 7-5, 6-4; Jamal Goodluck got a walk over from Dimitri Gabriel; Anthony Downes trounced Bobby Adelson 6-0, 6-0; K. Persaud/M. McDonald (Continued on page 32)
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USA’s Razick defeats Grant in GBTI Men’s 35 and Over Singles On Wednesday evening at the GBTI Recreational Centre, Bel Air in the Men’s 35 and Over Singles, Albert Razick – a US Diplomat in Guyana defeated Guyanese International Recording Artist Rudy Grant in a brutal and physical game of smart tennis. Razick took his revenge for the loss he suffered last year in the Assuria 35 and Over Men’s Singles Tennis Classic. In the first set Razick played with composure, moving Grant around the court with a lot of top spin forehand deep to the baseline leaving the middle of the court free for Razick to come in and play short slices with the forehand and backhand off to the left and right side of the court. Razick was now in charge of the game and raced to a 4/1 lead which most people who were sitting around the court thought was enough for Razick to take the first set comfortably. But it was not so as Grant fought back with his
Albert Razick (right) and Rudy Grant lobs and drop shots which Razick tried to stop but the amount of court Razick had to cover most of the time gave Grant a serious chance now to close the gap to 4/3. Grant came off the court after he won the 7th game and asked for a medical break because he felt a slight pull in his groin area when he was running back for the last point he played. Grant called for a bag of ice which he used to stop the pain he was suffering from in the upper part of the
inside of the leg. Grant never recovered from that and lost the set 6/3. Razick was now going in for the kill as he kept on seeing Grant using the ice on the groin but Grant is a battler and he doesn’t give up easily as Razick is well aware; Grant struck in the second set to go 4/1 up and rushed away with the second set 6/3, shocking Razick to the bone. The third set was now up for grabs as Razick served to start the set which Grant was
watching very carefully. Razick kept up the pressure coming in to volley when he could and kept the ball deep to the baseline. With the game at 3 all, Grant started to do move more around the court which didn’t give Razick any chance to drop the ball short over the net which was happening in the last two sets. Razick came to the net very quickly and volleyed straight into the bottom of the net which gave Grant the lead that he needed to take the game at 4/3. Grant should have won the set from that point since he had to serve, which would have given him a 5/3 lead but Razick stuck to his game plan by hitting a few quick forehand top spins cross court which left Grant stranded on the opposite side to gave Razick a well earned win and move on in the GBTI Men’s 35 and Over Singles Jubilee Tennis Tournament 6/3, 3/6, 6/4.
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Brewley leads Eagles United to UDFA U-17 Championship
Eagles FC Captain, Javair Smith being presented with the trophy by UDFA President, Sharma Solomon.
GFF Stag Elite League FINALE Semis on tonight
Pele, Slingerz, Alpha, Fruta Conquerors battle for final berths
Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Competition
Vreed-en-Hoop, L’Aventure clash at Leonora today
From left Daniel Wilson, Trevor Lythcott, GFF head Wayne Forde, Stag Beer brand manager Linden Henry, Konata Manning and Vurlon Mills share a moment at the GFF office yesterday. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210