Kaieteur News

Monday June 13, 2016

The Prime Minister’s attitude to the bridge toll increase DEAR EDITOR; I would like to be a fly on the wall in the Office of the Presidency. The Prime Minister’s office is at the same address, so I would just fly between the two offices. I would like to know who advises the leaders of our country. Do they ever remember that people vote for them? Are they really concerned about the plight of those voters? If so, how do they muster the gumption to speak they way they do and say the things they say? Without batting as eyelid the President said that Lazy man work will attract lazy man pay. President Granger has a great sense of humor and at first I thought he was joking. It cannot be that he was joking because it is over a month now that the made those remarks and he nor his folks have seen it fit to walk those comments back. So I am left to believe that the President was serious in his remarks. The reason I asked about who advises our leaders (and all

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Kaieteur News

great leaders have advisers whom they listen to), is because by now, someone should have said to Mr. Granger that he has bought into a long held racist belief that Black people are generally lazy and that he should seek to reword those comments. The President made those remarks as he was receiving the commissioned report on wages for the workers in Guyana’s public sector. The public sector in Guyana is dominated by Black workers; police, nurses, the army, the Government offices workers, etc. And for as long as they have been a public sector in Guyana, for just as long, those workers have been grossly underpaid. Now the time has come to double their wages, or at least, significantly increase it, their President says to them, some of you are lazy, and I will reflect your quality of work in what I pay you. I could hear the loud giggles from some of our Indian brothers and sisters.

This man is a paid propagandist DEAR EDITOR; It seems that my advocacy in the ‘Voice of the Liberal Democrats’ column in KN on June 8, on behalf of the poor and the working class especially the unemployed youths seemed to have rattled one of the new paid propagandist writing as Leon Hunte (fake or real, be my guest). Well good for him because my work survived Kwame and it will survive Leon and all the other paid propagandists. I, however, will leave aside the personal ranting from this Leon (real or fake, be my guest). But I must address three issues. One, you will never stifle the voice of the independent thinkers or for that matter the voice of the liberal democrats. We are a solid middle that has kept Guyana from becoming a Zimbabwe over the last 50 years. Our message is not to pull down, but to protect Guyana from politicians who seems to think that the Treasury was left behind by their “momma and papa” for their personal use; it was not. Secondly, why does a Guyanese have to be pro-PPP or pro-PNC? Why can’t you accept that we must be pro-Guyana first? Did this paid propagandist actually read the article and observe how I called out the period of waste under the PPP? No, his blinkered view did not see that, he only have one purpose; follow the instructions from his narrow-minded bosses. Thirdly why over the last 50 years our people are continual forced into a situation of “Panem et Circenses” (Latin for Bread and Circus). Remember how the PPP used the “Hits and Jam” set up to keep the people in drunken stupor, now we using “parade, party and palance” to keep the people in drunken stupor. Why can’t the powerful elite not understand our nation has bled too much over the last 50 years and the wound has to be tended to now, not next year or the year after? So this message is for the newly minted Kwame now parading as Leon and all his cohorts, I will do whatever it take to advocate for the consistent position that that taxpayers’ money is spent for the people, especially the young who are stuck on the breadline for years. We must stop spending taxpayers’ money trying to construct false legacies in the cloud. Thus for me, the choice is easy - empower 5,000 youths with new skills in a capacity building programs by spending G$600 million or spending the same G$600 million of taxpayer money on jump up, jubilee and j’overt? So the agenda has nothing to do with who is pro-PPP and who is pro-PNC and ever thing to do with who is proGuyana. Sase Singh

Because that is what they have long been saying about Black people; they are lazy thieves. Couldn’t the President have said, “Ladies and gentlemen, now that we have agreed to give you a significant raise of pay, we hope that your quality of work will also be significantly improved? Or, “Servants of the people, the government has decided to stretch our financial limits to accommodate an increase in your wages, we hope that you appreciate what we are doing, and that you will also stretch the standards of your work.” Or something like that. Why did he not use the occasion to speak as a champion of the working class? Then days later we heard the comments of our dear Prime Minister. He said that the doubling of the fees to cross the Demerara Harbor Bridge (DHB) is a “slight” increase. And he did not stop there. It was as if he did not hear what he said. He went on to justify his remarks by comparing the Demerara Harbor Bridge’s toll with that of the Berbice Bridge toll. Now I would think that the Prime Minister would have still been furious with those who continue to poke out the financial eyes of those who are paying those exorbitant fees to cross the Berbice Bridge. After all, he did convince me that he was very angry with those tolls, when he was on the campaign trail. Instead, our dear Prime Minister is arguing that the Demerara Harbor Bridge’s toll needs to be increased so as to create some semblance of “fairness” for those who commute across the Berbice Bridge. Oh what a difference a year makes! Editor, let’s go back to his “slight” remark. Mr. Nagamootoo said that to him, there is nothing wrong with the doubling of the fees to cross the DHB. He said that those fees will help with the maintenance of the bridge. Please do the math with me. If I pay $100 a day to cross the bridge for five days that is $1,000 a month, extra, that I have to pay. If I live in a double Continued on page 23

The Rodney hope lives DEAR EDITOR; Today, June 13, marks 36 years since Walter Rodney was killed. For us who knew him, and who were part of his struggles, Walter’s untimely death was a loss of an opportunity to share a fresh vision of what Guyana ought to have been – a truly free, prosperous and united state. After 36 years, that vision remains a hope that lives and must, in his name and memory, be kept alive. There have been attempts to explain the circumstances that led to and resulted in Walter’s death. This would continue to be a matter for contentious debates, as no definitive answer has been provided, so far. An earlier Inquest concluded that his death was due to mis-adventure, which was saying that he had committed suicide. Of course, that conclusion was a coverup of a more complex, but tragic narrative. The recent Inquiry attempted to situate his death within that narrative, and much of the circumstantial evidence, spoke to an abuse of state power. The outcome could hardly be considered conclusive. There could have been a different outcome had Gregory Smith, the person who had planted on Walter Rodney the rigged electronic equipment that ignited by remote control, been extradited by the French authorities from Cayenne to answer charges in Guyana. The French had demanded assurance that should Smith be sent back to Guyana, he would not face a charge that carried the death penalty, upon conviction. The then Director of Public Prosecutions Ian Chang had advised that a charge of manslaughter be brought against Smith. I was a member of Cabinet then and, like several others,

we wanted Smith to face charges in Guyana. But the officials assigned responsibility for negotiating the extradition dragged their feet, resulting in Smith not only escaping trial in Guyana, but taking with him, when he died, that definitive narrative about what really transpired on that fateful night of June 16, 1980. I blame the government of which I was a part then, for that inaction. I also deem the invocation of powers of inquiry in 2014 to find out how that death occurred and who was responsible, highly suspect. It was motivated by sheer political opportunism to use the revelations from the inquiry principally against opponents, not to establish any truth or to bring closure. The “evidence” was to be massaged in the period leading up to the 2015 elections as a Public Relations, propaganda stunt which was executed crudely and in unimaginative ways. But the Inquiry did offer a platform for several of the witnesses who situated Walter’s death within the context of a period that was characterized by authoritarian excesses, in which para-state groups of goons wielded deadly powers, It was a period of oppression of which I was among the victims. I have previously commented that, much more than I could ever say, Walter’s death was personal to me. We had embraced as comradesin-struggle, He influenced and motivated me, not in a casual way but in a sense that clothed me with an impenetrable, multi-ethnic, international, conviction. He was the steel in my political armor. His vision was well defined. As a revolutionary intellectual he articulated a historic mission, not of his own, but of the working classes. For that, he had believed

that martydom, as he was to say, was not in his will. In his proletarian commitment Walter Rodney had become highly partisan. Rodney’s class approach to issues was always distinct. Even when he turned to an analysis of the race issue, there was always a class side to it. That was how he saw the Arnold Rampersaud trials: one section of the poor and dispossessed fighting a racist battle against another section of the poor and dispossessed. The division of the working class was what Rodney agonised about most. Walter is telling us today that we have much work to do in Guyana. He is telling us: “Don’t mourn; organize!” Organise for a free, multiethnic, diverse and united Guyana. I hope that the Walter Rodney Chair at the University would continue to spread his words, his vision, his hope. On January 7, 1993, when I made my maiden speech as a Member of Parliament, I described Walter Rodney as an irresistible character who “in a very personal way has touched me as he would have touched many Guyanese in this era in Guyana”. I want on this death anniversary to repeat what I said then: “When we weep for our dead, when we can honour our heroes, when we can make castles of memories of things great and exceptional, we are doing this not for Walter Rodney but we are ourselves putting a healing touch to the nation’s wounded soul. His death was a blemish to us all, that tiny Guyana was capable of such gigantic barbarity. Walter’s was a soul of greatness, and I believe his Chair would be an intellectual lodestar for Guyana for now and for a very long time to come.” Again, hail up, Brother, Moses Nagamootoo

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Monday June 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

We will never trade our core principles for political expediency – WPA vows on 36th death anniversary of Walter Rodney

The late Dr. Walter Rodney On the 36th death anniversary of the late Guyanese scholar, Dr. Walter Rodney, members of the Working People’s Alliance not only saluted his work, legacy and life but recommitted to advancing some of his core teachings such as “never trading core principles for political expediency.” The party recalled that Rodney was an activist and a prophet of self-emancipation. And while much has changed since he was assassinated, the party said that the core questions he raised and the solutions he proposed are still relevant. The WPA said that in this age of neoliberal domination at the global level and passive acceptance at the domestic level, Rodney’s thesis of the nexus between development of the powerful and underdevelopment of the powerless still rings loud across the globe. The party said that as the countries of the

Global South fight for their survival in a world in which their voices and aspirations are smothered by harsh socio-economic prescriptions from the Global North, Walter Rodney’s insights about the destructiveness of global capitalism for the poorest peoples must be embraced and acted upon. It opined, “Thirty-six years after Rodney, insular instincts and egos stand as barriers to an integration praxis that fulfills our historical mandate for a unified Caribbean.” “The colonial faces are gone, but the legacies of colonialism still keep the Caribbean as producers of goods and services primarily for the benefit of others. The “New World”, which Rodney’s generation imagined, has vanished from our Caribbean imagination.” The WPA said that the Caribbean has been de-radicalized in ways that have rendered the people hopeless and cynical about individual and collective futures. He said that this is something that must be corrected forthwith. “Here in Guyana, the State, which Walter Rodney and his comrades fought so hard to democratize, is still a menace to the citizenry. The criminalization of the State has been a major step backwards for Guyana and the elimination of corruption and autocracy would require all the energies and willpower of the current political directorate,” the Party expressed. The WPA noted that Rodney has left a large body of ideas about governance and

democratization that could aid in this process. Towards this end, the WPA said that it is still not satisfied that enough effort is being put into ensuring that Rodney’s work is made available to the general public, in particular the education system. “We use this opportunity to publicly call on the policy makers in the education sector to correct this grave error. We cannot, as a nation, be satisfied that the work of one of our leading intellectuals is better known in places other than his native country,” the WPA said. The Party said that Rodney’s biggest impact on Guyana during the last six years of his life was his success in breaking down the political walls which separated the two major ethnic groups. Members of the WPA said that this is an accomplishment of which they are especially proud. They said that it is one of those things that cannot be measured in votes, yet it gave hope for the survival of a multi-ethnic community. Today, WPA said it reiterates the cry of the Rodney era that Guyana cannot move forward as a viable nation, if ethnic groups do not move together in solidarity and mutual respect. The Party said that the recent warning of one of its esteemed brothers and elders, Esui Kwayana, that Guyana must reconcile or recede, must be heeded by all. The WPA also recommitted itself to do everything in its power to help return Guyana to the “Rodneyite multiracial culture.” “The WPA, also on this Rodney anniversary, recommits itself to the defence of the poor and the powerless and reminds Guyana that our Independence means precious little if we still treat the poor as

undignified and worthless citizens.” Additionally, the WPA remembered other fallen comrades—Ohene Koama and Edward Dublin—whose extreme sacrifices they said, will always be cherished. “We are indebted to the families of these comrades who have had to nurse the hurt of being left fatherless and husbandless. We also remember Father Bernard Darke and all the other martyrs of our struggle to give meaning to our Independence,” the Party expressed The Members of the WPA said that Guyana cannot have one standard for the powerful elites and a different one for the powerless. They said that socio-economic inequality is incompatible with true democracy and independence. They opined, too that Guyanese will come into their own when they can be afforded opportunities to find meaningful employment and earn a living wage. They said that these two outcomes must engage the full attention of those who guide the government. Moreover, the WPA said that Rodney’s anniversary this year comes on the first anniversary of Guyana’s first genuine Partnership Government, of which it is a part. The WPA said it sees the Coalition’s ascendency to power as a positive development for the country, which has long been weighed down by one-party government. As a partner, the WPA said it is committed to playing its part in ensuring the success of the government, while protecting its own integrity. The WPA, despite being in the government, said that it will never trade its core principles for political expediency. The WPA categorically stated that it will not seek to impose its will on the collective. It opined that such an act represents the antithesis of partnership.

Dying too young? (From page 3) seeking individuals; the Ministry of Public Health understands that creative ways and means have to

and need to be put in place to encourage and foster good health-seeking behaviours in the male population.”

Men’s Health coordinator, Dr. Dennis Bassier, told t h e g a t h e r i n g t ha t t h e event is the first of its kind in Guyana and will be followed by other activities during the remainder of the week which culminates on Father’s Day. He made known that similar activities were first observed in the United States of America in 1994 and have since been adopted by countries across the globe.

Monday June 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

Britain’s authority within EU will rise after ‘In’ vote – Cameron Reuters - Britain’s influence in the European Union will be stronger if it votes to remain in the bloc in a June 23 referendum, Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday with the latest polls showing Britons almost evenly split over whether to stay or go. One poll published late on Saturday gave a two-point lead to supporters of “Remain” and the other showed those in favour of Brexit were one point ahead. In an interview on BBC television, Cameron - whose “In” campaign has been branded as scaremongering by pro-Brexit supporters for warning of the risks of quitting the 28-nation EU highlighted the advantages of staying. “If we wake up on June 24 and we are in, Britain’s authority within the EU will be stronger,” he said. “No other country has done what we have done, hold a renegotiation (for improved EU membership terms), hold a referendum and then people will know that the British agenda ... is going straight to the top.” The referendum will be a decision with far-reaching implications for politics, the economy and trade in Britain and well beyond. Cameron reiterated a warning made in a newspaper interview published on Sunday that pensions and the publicly funded National Heath Service could face cuts after a vote for Brexit. Rejecting accusations of scaremongering, he said it was his job to talk about the potential dangers of pulling out of the EU but that there was a “strong, bold, patriotic, positive case” for staying in. “If we vote In, I think there will be actually a wall of investment,” he said. “Companies that are

David Cameron responsible for employing people in this country and making things in this country will want to do more, employ more, make more ... if we vote out, it is a decade of uncertainty.” Britain’s pound weakened by as much as 1.2 percent against the U.S. dollar immediately after an ORB poll for the Independent newspaper published on Friday showed a sharp swing toward Brexit. JP Morgan said its analysis of four polls from the last week gave the “In” campaign a 5.1 percentage point lead, which it expected to widen in the final two weeks of the campaign. “Based on historical experience, we think status

quo bias should begin to push the polls in favour of ‘Remain’,” the bank said in a note to clients on Sunday. Nigel Farage, the leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party, described the “In” camp’s warnings over Britain’s economy - Europe’s second biggest - as a “daily prophet of doom”. “These are ludicrous scare stories that are being put up. Even if sterling were to fall a few percentage points after Brexit, so what? The point is we have a floating currency and it will be good for exports,” he told the BBC. Farage, who has previously said the issue of Britain’s EU membership would not be resolved if the result is a close vote for “In”, said the referendum was likely to be the only chance to leave. “If the Leave side was to narrowly lose, the chances of parliame n t g i v i n g u s another referendum in the short term is probably pretty slim, so I do view this as the one great opportunity,” he said. The spiritual leader of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, said on Sunday he would vote in favour of Britain remaining in the EU, hailing the bloc as a force for peace and reconciliation.

Italy’s coastguard says 1,230 migrants rescued yesterday Reuters - Italy’s coastguard said yesterday a total of 1,230 migrants had been picked up in nine rescue operations in the waters between Sicily and North Africa, with one dead body being recovered. That brings the number of people saved at sea over the past four days to more than 4,000. On Saturday, the coastguard said it had picked up 1,348 migrants in 11 rescue operations. Italy is on the front line of Europe’s immigration crisis, which is now in its third year.

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Monday June 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

Haitians may vote for new Portia, Former Ministers for head of state in October court tomorrow in ongoing Trafigura Corruption Case PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti - (CMC) –The nine-members of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) Saturday held talks with officials of the major political parties here amid widespread speculation that presidential elections could take place on October 9. According to informed sources, the CEP has indicated a willingness to publish an electoral calendar next week, as early as Monday outlining the dates for the presidential elections. The sources said that the first round will be held on October 9 and if a candidate does not receive the necessary amount of votes to prevent a second round, then that will take place on January 8, 2017 and the final election results will be published January 30, next year. Media reports here said that Interim President Jocelerme Privert, who was in Cuba attending the summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) told his Dominican Republic counterpart, Danilo Medina that the poll will be held in October. He said it “should take place on October 9 and that based on the information he has, “from the date of

publication of the electoral calendar, CEP needs 90 to 120 days to organise elections”. The October elections would also include voting for one-third of the Senate. During the meeting on Saturday, party officials were informed that the presidential race, which fielded 54 candidates, will not be re-opened to accommodate any new candidates and the current 54 will have until June 27 to confirm their participation in the election. Gerald Germain, spokesman for Jude Celestin, who placed second in the October 25 presidential election, said his candidate agrees with the timetable and the CEP’s proposal. “We’ve always contended that the October. 25 elections were not elections,” he said. The winner of the October poll, Jovenel Moise, has already the verification report regarding the election, , calling it unconstitutional and illegal. Haiti has been without an elected head of state ever since President Michel Martelly left office in February.

Jocelerme Privert

The Gleaner - Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller and three of her former ministers are to appear in court today in relation to the ongoing corruption case against Dutch oil firm, Trafigura Beheer. Simpson Miller, along with former cabinet ministers Phillip Paulwell, Robert Pickersgill, and Colin Campbell, as well as PNP member and businessman, Norton Hinds were subpoenaed by high court judge Lennox Campbell last week to answer questions in the matter.

Finance Minister to address Jamaicans in the UK The Gleaner - Finance Minister Audley Shaw is to address Jamaicans in the United Kingdom on Wednesday to update them on critical policy and economic issues in Jamaica. The meeting will take place at 1 Great George Street, Westminster, London, as part of the JN Outlook for the Future series organised by the Jamaica National Building Society and the Jamaican High Commission in the UK. The event, which gets underway at 6:30 in the evening in the UK, is to be streamed live via www.livestream.com. Earl Jarrett, general manager of Jamaica National, says the annual forum, which commenced in 2003, provides an opportunity for frank dialogue between government officials and Jamaicans in the Diaspora, who maintain investments and family relations in Jamaica.

However, the case is to be stayed when they appear today pending the hearing of the appeal filed by lawyers representing Simpson Miller and the other members of the PNP. On Friday, the Appeal Court had dismissed an application by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to strike out the appeal filed by lawyers for the PNP members. President of the Appeal Court, Justice Dennis Morrison, who delivered the decision, had also ordered that all proceedings in the Trafigura case be stayed until the appeal is heard. PNP lawyers say their clients had given verbal notice in 2014 that they planned to appeal a court ruling that upheld a decision by Justice Lennox Campbell for the Trafigura case to be heard in open court. Morrison says the court registrar has been directed to fix a date, in consultation with all parties, for the hearing of the appeal. Dutch authorities want to question officials of the PNP about a J$31 million donation by Dutch company Trafigura Beheer to the party in 2006.

Portia Simpson Miller It is illegal for Dutch companies to donate to political parties. At the time of the donation, Trafigura had an oil-lifting contract with a Jamaican state agency under the then PNP administration. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which is the designated central authority under Jamaica’s mutual legal assistance treaty with The Netherlands, wants to pose the questions to the PNP officials on behalf of the Dutch authorities.

Monday June 13, 2016

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Kaieteur News

ONE-TERM GOVERNMENTS One-term governments seem to be becoming highly popular in the Caribbean. Recent elections in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and St Lucia have signaled the region’s electorate impatience with the change and their willingness to remove incumbents. The question that is uppermost in everyone’s mind is whether the ‘bug’ of one-term governments will catch on in Guyana which has never had a one –term government. The PPP ruled from 1953 to 1964, then again from 1992 to 2015. The PNC joined with the United Force to win the 1964 elections and the stayed in power through fraud from 1968 until 1992. Guyana’s last elections was extremely close and therefore it is quite possible for there to be a change come the next election should that election be free and fair. The ruling party narrowly scraped into power and the margin of victory was so small that the opposition felt that they were

cheated. The narrowness of the margin of victory also means that free and fair elections could result in a change four years from now. It is not outside of the possible for this to happen. In Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and St Lucia, the defeated parties have accepted their loss. There have been no upheavals over those losses, no riots, no arson, no looting and no assaults on innocent people. The electorate in each country has accepted the results of the elections and has moved on. The big question is whether the same can happen in Guyana. Will the APNU+AFC accept any electoral loss? Will they demit office peacefully should the need arise. Will there be a smooth democratic transition if the coalition should lose power? In 1992, Guyana needed free and fair elections so that it could return to the democratic fold of nations.

Guyana had become a pariah nation in the world. It was an embarrassment to the Caribbean. 1992 allowed all of that to happen but democracy was not smooth because of the PNCR’s unwillingness to accept subsequent defeats in 1997 and 2001 and 2011. It did accept its loss in 2006 but it went back to its old ways in 2011. The PPP made a feeble protest over the 2015 results but has not provided any incontrovertible evidence that the results of the elections were manipulated. Those results mirrored the results of the 2011elections just as the elections of 1992, 1997 and 2001 had mirrored each other. The results of those early post 1992 elections may have weakened the prospects for change once voting was along ethnic lines. But demographic change and frustration with the PPPC may have now created a new situation in which electoral change is possible even with

Dem boys seh...

De King got GT picking fare Jagdeo was an excellent teacher. He was de best de country ever produce. Today de whole of Guyana seeing his students and poor people suffering. Remember Digital Technology, de company that was issued two govt contract to supply computers to de Ministry of Education? Shake Bax was de Minister then. De address fuh this company tun out to be a barber shop in Brooklyn. It didn’t have a computer fuh record de customers. That was fake. Jagdeo was president and dem boys want to know if he tongue did fall out because he never seh nutten. Royston de King of de City was reading, seeing and learning all de tricks and scampishness that was going on under Jagdeo.

Dem boys see de Deputy Mayor seh de city council give out parking meter contract to a company similar to de barber shop company. This company don’t have no record of even installing a thermometer to check somebody temperature. De King of City give dem de key to city fuh do wha dem want wid we. He allow dem to put down parking meter and no rate ain’t fix yet. Is like a man go in bed wid a prostitute without knowing she fare. De King of de City put Georgetown in that position. Now is everybody fearing or picking fare. Dem boys seh when dem read wha de Deputy Mayor seh bout de deal is two thing dem boys conclude. Is either he selling out de city to another barber shop company or he turning de city

into a whorehouse. De things that some of dem doing mek dem boys conclude that some of dem in power go in hungry. Dem was only waiting fuh dem turn. Dem boys betting dem last dollar that this project wha never been through a tender process would never get a comment from Jagdeo, that scamp because he created these conditions. He taught everybody in his party and dem out of his party learn from he students. All of dem is now friends. Dem boys watching to see wha move Soulja Bai gun mek. Carol although she was power drunk and get Soobah, never tek de council to this level. Talk half and hope Soulja Bai knock off de King.

ethnic voting. Even with a polarized nation, it is now possible because of shifts in the ethnic arithmetic for there to be a change in government. The litmus test of that will come when and if ever the APNU+AFC government loses an election. The PPP licked its wounds and walked away from its electoral loss. The PNCR, the main party in the APNU has never demonstrated a willingness to readily accept its electoral defeat. This is where democracy is seriously

threatened. A democratic system of government only works to the extent that there is a smooth transition from one government to the next. Without this smooth transition, democracy is threatened because the basis of democratic government is the willingness of the losers to accept the will of the people. The Caribbean people have shown that they are willing to experiment with onterm governments. In Guyana, there is need for change, constant change in

governments so as to remove the insecurities that each of the major ethnic constituencies feel at election time. Regular changes in government are just as important as ensuring free and fair elections. A one-term government is not a bad thing so long as it is not followed by a four or five term government. Regular one and two-term governments may be just the tonic that Guyana needs.

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Kaieteur News

Leading public figures divided on return of death penalty By Kiana A. Wilburg There are many things in this society which should be abolished. But is the death penalty one of them? This crucial question is one that has challenged from the court systems to various sections of the political divide. Yet, there is a lack of unanimity on the way forward. The United Nations has made it clear that the death penalty has no place in the 21st century and even after making a promise to this body that it would be abolished, the death penalty still remains in Guyana’s law books. This form of punishment however has not been used for some years. With the increase of horrific acts of crime, some opine that perhaps, abolishing the death penalty should be reconsidered. For Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, he is “completely against” the death sentence. Ramjattan even professed that he has the statistics to show that the use of such an extreme form of punishment does nothing to stop crime. The Public Security Minister was reminded however, of his Government’s stance in the National Assembly when it piloted the amended Anti-Money

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

Attorney-at-Law, Chris Ram

WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds

Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill which included the death penalty. The politician said that while he admits that was the case, he believes that such a form of punishment would “stop a certain set of people who seek to bring terror on a group of persons or a nation.” He insists that in such circumstances he believes that it would work. Ramjattan noted in the same breath that he is personally against the death penalty being used in the criminal justice system. Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo sought to stay on the fence with regard to this matter. He opined that

while he is against the death penalty, he believes that there are some cases where the death penalty is applicable. Jagdeo said that when it comes to certain heinous acts of violence against women and children, the death penalty is warranted. Jagdeo emphasized however that the coalition administration seems to be speaking from two sides of its mouth when it comes to its stance on the death penalty. “One time they are saying we are against it, yet, unashamedly, they rush the AML bill through the National Assembly without even giving it a second thought that they might look

hypocritical since it has the death penalty included in it as a form of punishment,” the Opposition Leader added. It must be noted, however, that now a single soul was executed during Jagdeo’s tenure as President, although some of the most heinous crimes were committed during this period, which included the ‘crime wave’ period of wanton killings, including executions and kidnappings. As for WPA Executive Member, Dr. Hinds, he opined that the death penalty should be abolished for three reasons. First, the University Professor said that most studies have shown that it

does not deter crime. With this in mind, he said, “We cannot use studies to inform other polices but ignore them when it comes to crime. That is hypocritical at best.” Secondly, Dr. Hinds said that the death penalty and its use, has disproportionately affected poor people who often lack the resources to fight legal battles in the courts. He said that the death penalty has its origins in an ideology that does not value the lives of those at the bottom of the social ladder. He opined that Guyana cannot continue to perpetuate ideologies that once oppressed it. On his third reason, Dr. Hinds

Former House Speaker, Ralph Ramkarran commented that the death penalty is a primitive form of justice which has no place in a modern civilized society. The University Professor said that the very prevalence of crime points to the development of barbarism as normative. He said that one does not check barbarism with barbarism. He asserted that the society has to find ways of dispensing justice that do not increase injustice. And on that note, he added that the death penalty is a tool of injustice and a manifestation of barbarism. Dr. Hinds said, “I am aware that the rise in crime and Continued on page 12

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Monday June 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

Leading public figures divided... From page 11 the barbaric nature of those crimes would lead many people to call for more frequent use of the death penalty. But I think that its use only expands the web of barbarism; it reflects a society that is too ready to find easy solutions to complex problems.” The political activist expressed that stemming the tide of crimes require deep thought and deliberate social policies aimed at changing the environment from which crime emanates, improving policing, reintroducing human values into social institutions and promoting respect for life. Attorney –at –Law, Christopher Ram is also against the use of the death penalty and believes that it should be abolished. Ram opined that such a form of punishment is cruel, barbaric, degrading and inhuman. The Chartered Accountant said, too, that he does not believe that there is any evidence in any country where the death penalty has been effective in reducing murders. In his column, the Conversation Tree, Former House Speaker, Ralph Ramkarran noted that the death penalty has not been carried out in Guyana since 1997. He said that while it is true that there has been a large increase in murders since then, murders have equally soared in countries which have abolished the death penalty like South Africa as well as in countries which have not, like Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. He said that the latter two and Belize are among the top ten countries for intentional homicide that have the death penalty. Ramkarran said the fact that the death penalty is not a deterrent to intentional homicide has long been

established. The columnist said that for this reason, in recent decades, the argument in relation to the death penalty has never been about the statistics, although supporters have disregarded them. At the core, he said that the argument has always been about revenge, “the eye for an eye” philosophy. Ramkarran expressed that the negative impact of this philosophy on the mentality of succeeding generations of young people ought not to be underestimated. “But justice must also make sense. Punishment by execution is no punishment at all. It ends when the State exacts the penalty. Punishment of the perpetrator is of limited duration ending with the act of execution. After that, it’s over. The only satisfaction for the relatives of the victim is that the perpetrator no longer has a life to enjoy…,” expressed the lawyer. He added, “Unless the victim’s relatives believe in a mythical hell where the perpetrator will burn for eternity, the act of execution can provide no relief from the pain of loss. Deprivation of freedom for extended periods is a much more effective penalty. It is among the severest known to humankind.” Ramkarran recalled that in the Jamaican case of Pratt v Morgan, decided in 1993, the Privy Council ruled that a sentence of death cannot be carried out more than five years after it was imposed. He said that it held that this would be cruel and usual punishment, contrary to the Jamaican Constitution. He said that the Privy Council later held in 2006 in appeals from the Bahamas by appellants, Forrester Bowe and Trono Davis, that the death penalty was not mandatory.

“The region burned with rage. But in 2010 Guyana nodded at the decision by removing the death penalty for some intentional homicides and retaining it for only the most egregious. However, Guyana has given no recognition to Pratt v Morgan and has not commuted the death sentences of prisoners who have spent more than five years on death row. Many prisoners have been languishing there for decades, next to the gallows, with or without cases pending in court” The lawyer said that Guyana did not decide to suspend death penalties because of any views leaders may have one way or the other. He said that the nation stumbled upon suspension because as soon as the procedure for execution was set in motion, the prisoner would institute a court case to quash the warrant. In this regard, he said that the nation’s slow dispensation of justice resulted in these prisoners having had stays of execution for many years now. He emphasized that the Government may well have decided that there is no way around the strategy being employed by prisoners and has accepted defeat. Ramkarran contended that this situation ought to encourage campaigners to call for, at least ad interim, an official moratorium on the death penalty, which might be more achievable in the short term. He opined that the jury system has virtually collapsed and a conviction and a death sentence are rarities anyway. The former House Speaker said nonetheless that the case for formal abolition of the death penalty in Guyana must continue to be advocated with vigour.

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COCOA PUFFS AND CEREAL KILLERS “Like religion, politics, and family planning, cereal is not a topic to be brought up in public. It’s too controversial.” Erma Bombeck. My daughter loved cereal, especially the chocolateflavoured ones. In those days, together with her television staple, Sesame Street, she enjoyed the Flintstones both to watch and to eat. Fred, Wilma and, their daughter, Pebbles were good but Cocoa Pebbles were better. When crunch time came there were also Kellogg’s Cocoa Krispies and Count Chocula. In addition, our cupboard invariably had cereals like basic corn flakes, Cookie Crisp, Cocoa Puffs, Boo Berry, Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies and, of course, the Breakfast of Champions, Wheaties, which was the first cereal to have its own jingle and television spot. Athletes including Muhammad Ali, Mary Lou Retton and Michael Jordan helped to popularize (and sell) the brand. Like Wheaties, Rice Krispies first appeared in the 1930’s and its three “amigos”, Snap, Crackle and Pop, based on the sound that the cereal supposedly made when milk was poured on it, was also an extremely popular brand. I remember once teasing my daughter by calling her a

“cereal killer”. She got upset, threw a tantrum or two, raged and cried, looked at me accusingly and when she cooled down, reached for her cereal which was both comfort zone and standby snack. Given the way all children are difficult to feed, we were glad that if all else failed, we could resort to cereal which, with the milk added, at least gave her some protein. Now, kids and even adults, are turning away from cereal in any form, fashion or quantity by the droves. At first I thought the decline in cereal consumption had to do with nutritional issues. After all, many of the chocolate cereals had “artificial chocolate flavouring”. This was on the “Chocolate Honeycomb” packages and I never noticed or I would never have bought it. I still can’t figure out what artificial chocolate is, how it is made and what it is derived from. Nutritionists preach that most breakfast cereals are high in sugar and refined grains and that the high sugar consumption can have harmful effects and may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The website “AuthorityNutrition” which claims to use an “evidencebased” approach to diet, states, “Breakfast cereals are heavily marketed as being

healthy. These cereals have all sorts of health claims printed on the front of the box. This includes misleading claims like ‘low-fat’ and ‘whole grain’. But when you look at the ingredients list, the first few are often refined grains and sugar. Examples of misleading claims are ‘whole grain’ Cocoa Puffs and ‘whole grain’ Froot Loops. These products are NOT healthy just because they have small amounts of whole grains in them. These are highly processed foods that are loaded with added sugars. Small amounts of whole grains do not negate the harmful effects of the other ingredients.” A list of unhealthy truths about cereals include that they are loaded with GMOs (Genetically Modified ingredients) which can mess with your immune system, are full of preservatives, have artificial dyes and flavours but, worst of all, many contain pesticides and these are linked directly to ADHD (Attention

Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). So is this why many people are no longer eating cereal? One answer comes from a Washington Post article by Roberto A. Ferdman entitled, “The baffling reason many millennials don’t eat cereal.” The Post referred to a New York Times (NYT) piece, “Cereal, a Taste of Nostalgia looks for Its Next Chapter.” The NYT article says that “cereal as a cultural marker and profit centre is at a crossroads.” A survey showed that 40% of millennials (people reaching adulthood around the year 2000) said that cereal was an inconvenient breakfast choice because they had to clean up after eating it. The Post added, “A large contingent of millennials are uninterested in breakfast cereal because eating it means using a bowl, and bowls don’t clean themselves (or get tossed in the garbage). Bowls, kids these days groan, have to be

cleaned.” The Post also says that coffee is suffering the same fate. “Despite talk of a third wave of coffee, which values quality above all else, and basks in artisanal rather than effortless methods of preparation, Americans still covet convenience above all else. “Convenience is the one thing that’s really changing trends these days,” Howard Telford, an industry analyst at market research firm Euromonitor, said last year. “Less than 10 percent of the coffee beans Americans buy are fresh whole beans. And ground coffee isn’t just outpacing whole bean coffee — it’s increasing its lead, each and every year.” The article also points out that increasingly people want their restaurant meals to come to them and that twenty percent of millennials, compared with the national

average of fifteen percent, want home delivery of their meals. So is this the result of laziness? Another survey showed that while 82 percent of parents said they had to do chores when they were kids, only 28 percent of them revealed that they demand the same from their kids. What about Caribbean people? Well, when I see someone double-park to save a twenty-yard walk to the supermarket, or park in a zone reserved for the physically disabled, or even circle the parking lot several times to grab a spot when someone at the entrance moves out, I realise that we have a whole bunch of Cocoa puffs or victims of other cereal killers around. *Tony Deyal was last seen quoting Ronald Reagan, “They say that hard work never killed anyone but why take the chance?”

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Full secondary education for all students — Holness KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Prime Minister Andrew Holness, says the Government is committed to ensuring that all students receive a full secondary education. Speaking on the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) television news programme, Issues and Answers, Holness said his administration believes that every secondary student should remain in school up to age 18. He said youngsters would be so enabled, in this regard, under the Government’s new tuition fee policy that was announced earlier this year. T h e p o l i c y, w h i c h comes into effect at the start of the 2016/17 academic year in September, will see the Ministry of Education’s subvention to institutions increasing from $11,500 to $19,000 per student. This is consequent on the impending removal of auxiliary fees which many schools currently require parents to pay for their children’s enrolment. “This (access to secondary education) is not just an entitlement, but almost a right. To argue against that would be saying that some persons should only be able to access secondary education by virtue of their ability to pay,” the Prime Minister emphasised. Responding to questions on whether the auxiliary fees’ removal was viable and sustainable, Holness said this will not adversely affect the

Monday June 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

Andrew Holness institutions’ cash flow. “If the Government is giving all students at the high school level an additional amount for the school that they go to, there should be no complaints,” he said, while also encouraging voluntary contributions by parents in a position to do so. The Education Ministry’s 2016/17 capital budget has been doubled to $1 billion, with funds also earmarked to support building and maintenance projects carried out at schools. Prime Minister Holness noted that these undertakings are indicative of his administration’s decision to prioritise education. “Government is always faced with making choices. So it’s not what the Government can or cannot do, it is what the Government chooses to do; and our Government is choosing to spend more on education to remove any barriers to entry (particularly to secondary schools),” he underscored.

Venezuelans taking T&T jobs Trinidad Guardian Desperately hungry but with their dignity well intact, boatloads of Venezuelans are continuing to show up along the shores of the southwestern peninsula, with the hope of building a better life in Trinidad. Fleeing the terror of socialism, the foreigners come in search of basic goods such as baby diapers, toothpaste, toilet paper and milk. Data obtained from the Cedros Coast Guard base show more than 38 foreigners come to Trinidad every day and 98 per cent of these return to their homeland. However, Cedros residents say many more come to Trinidad through illegal channels despite frequent patrols by the T&T Coast Guard, the Air Guard, Customs and the Immigration department. Since Venezuela’s inflation rate jumped to tripledigit figures and crime levels escalated because of widespread starvation, legal arrivals from Venezuela to Trinidad have also increased. Between 2013 and 2014, arrivals grew from 15,008 to 21,052. When the Guardian visited the Cedros port on Wednesday, more than 150 Venezuelans were seen waiting to board a ferry which works from Tucupita to Cedros twice per week. Alberto, from Boca de Guerra, said he hoped to find a better life in Trinidad. “I am going home after spending two months in Trinidad. I did some construction work while I was here but now my time is up so I have to go back home,” Alberto said. Showing a photograph of his six-year-old daughter, Alberto said he did not even know whether his family had food. “Here in Trinidad you have everything, but in Venezuela we have nothing. Even if you have money you

Venezuelan nationals wait to board a boat at Cedros before checking in with Immigration officials last Wednesday. PHOTO: KRISTIAN DE SILVA cannot buy food. You have to wait in long lines and when you reach up they say it finish and you have to wait for another week to get,” Alberto said. Shirley Ramnarine, who was born in Guyana and moved to Venezuela more than 32 years ago, said she too hoped to find a better life in Trinidad. “I can take care of old people. I am not lazy, I can work,” she said, smiling. She added, “We cannot live in Venezuela anymore. We want to be in a place where we do not have to worry about food.” She explained that she and her family took a trip to Panama hoping that they could start a new life there but the cost of obtaining legal documents was too high. “It would cost us US$4,000 to get everything. Panama is a nice place but where we getting money to pay for the documents. We want to stay in

Trinidad but we want to do so legally so we don’t have to hide,” she said with a thick Guyanese accent. Carl Ramdhanie, who recruits Venezuelans to work in Trinidad, said it was not true that Venezuelans were taking away jobs from locals. “We have to help one another. We are hiring both locals and Venezuelans. They are really suffering because things are not good in Venezuela and as humans we have to help them,” Ramdhanie said. A fisherman, who requested anonymity, said some Venezuelan women are being sexually exploited. “It is sad to see Trini men using these women as prostitutes. They giving themselves cheap, as low as $100. Some are doing bad things just for a plateful of food,” the man said. He added that Venezuelans are coming illegally through Granville, Fullarton and Icacos. He said uthorities was giving permission to the foreigners to stay two and three months in T&T. “They should be given a maximum stay of two weeks. Why should they get three months? They are coming here and working for the three months, making connections and then going back. They change all their money into US and take it back to Ve n e z u e l a , ” t h e s o u r c e added. He also said the foreigners were bringing stuff to sell including hammocks, clothes and

jewelry. “During Carnival they set up stalls right on the shore and some of them are now getting work in To b a g o , ” t h e s o u r c e added. Many residents from Cedros said they too have been extending assistance to the foreigners. Shop owner Bert Beharry said on any given night, Venezuelans could be seen sitting on the benches at the coastline. “They occupy every public place you can think of. They do not beg but if you give them something to eat, they are very grateful,” Beharry said. He added that many of the Venezuelans who come to Cedros “do not stick around.” “They come here with connections and agents from outside of Cedros pick them up. Some of them do not have money to pay for lodging so we open our homes to them until they could find their way around,” Beharry said. “You can see the desperation in their faces but they don’t milk you. They don’t misbehave and we have never had any report of any one of us being robbed by a Venezuelan.” However, another resident Sherry Ali said she was concerned that the foreigners may bring diseases to locals. “We know that Venezuela has Zika, malaria and ChikV. Who is screening them when they come here? We already have a lot of people who do not have jobs here,” Ali said.

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Kaieteur News

THE CULTURE OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE DEAR EDITOR; There is news that the Ministry of Social Protection has lamented the recent murders by men of women (Guyana Chronicle “http:// guyanachronicle.com/ government-condemnsmurder-of-women-alarmingnumber-of-deaths-this-year/) .The report of the statement is unfortunately familiar to similar reports made by Government officials in the previous administration. These statements deliberately offered rhetoric and promises but never committed to any of the serious action. In 1996, Guyana passed the Domestic Violence Act.

This Act was progressive in its time. In the years since, NGOs and other organisations have been working with scarce public funds to educate the public about domestic violence and to encourage gender equality in some cases. These efforts are difficult to sustain as donor agencies pursue different agendas. In the Guyana Chronicle report, the Minister calls for ‘more trained counsellors’. Counsellors, like Ministers, need to be paid for their work. The University of Guyana Social Work programme does not aim to provide counselling training. There is a post graduate diploma

which is being developed at the moment. The culture though, fueled by the private sector seems to reinforce the culture of gender based violence. There are more bill boards encouraging men and boys to drink alcohol to be a man (small print notwithstanding), or to be consumers of products as part of the degradation of women, While many pretend the discussion around beauty pageants is supposed to be about ‘empowering women’, the actual discussion which takes place is usually about humiliating those who ‘are not fit to be Queen’. The media reports of the

murders hint at ‘causes’ alleged infidelity in one recent report, promiscuity in another.. so women are blamed always. A recent Stabroek News report, and a Kaieteur News Report in March 09 2015 (Survey shows Guyanese generally accept Domestic Violence) reflects on the responses in the Latin American Public Opinion Poll. There is a high tolerance for abuse - reflected in the voting of men in to parliament who are called Honourable despite their contempt and dreams of violence towards women who they disagree with or who question them. There is inconsistent police response. There is one

QUARREL OVER FCPF MONEY DEAR EDITOR, I refer to a letter written by Lenox Shuman, vice-chair of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) titled “NTC concerned about accusations of malpractice”. It must be noted that while Shuman’s letter did not state to whom he is referring to, I guess it was me. Firstly I wish to point out some glaring inconsistencies in Shuman’s letter. Shuman give a very eloquent overview of the forest carbon partnership facility (FCPF) project and also highlighted that the IDB has clarified many inconsistencies and that the NTC is fully satisfied with the approach of the IDB and how the FCPF project is positioned to move forward. I do believe Shuman is inconsistent in his response and his previous utterances on this matter. It would appear that his latest response may have been heavily influenced by the IDB since Shuman’s letter is very contradictory. The letter aims to convey a couple of points; that the NTC is pleased with the pace of the FCPF project implementation ,that the NTC is totally believing of the reasons for the stalling up of the disbursement of the NTC’s support from the FCPF , that they see progress and movement regarding the disbursement of the FCPF funds relating to the NTC activities in the near future and that this is somehow the consensus position of the NTCafter all, the article was titled’’ NTC (Not Shuman) concerned about accusations of malpractice”. For a moment, let’s pause to see these assertions for what they really are, given facts surrounding the situation. Is the NTC pleased with the FCPF project implementation? They certainly did not convey this at two separate meetings one in the last quarter of 2015 and a recent meeting on May 2, 2016 when they met with the Norwegian team at which I was in attendance and at which serious concerns were expressed by none other than Shuman himself on the pace of the FCPF project implementation in Guyana. Is the NTC accepting the explanation of the IDB that the stalling up of the flow of support to NTC from the FCPF is explainable and not because of the IDB’s derailing actions? Two members of the NTC related to me that Shuman himself asked the IDB if they can transfer budgeted funds to the NTC directly and the response by

the IDB was that this can be done. Then the big question is, why has it not been done and why has Shuman put on convenient blinders to this promise by the IDB? How and why has this position changed now? Another Toshao indicated to me that Shuman himself was querying why the FCPF funds were taking so long to disburse to commence the implementation of NTC activities. On May 2, at the civil society forum hosted by the visiting Norwegian delegation to Guyana held at the Herdmanston Lodge, Shuman gave a totally different position than the one he is expressing in his letter. Shuman very emphatically stated that last year the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) was engaging the NTC on the FCPF project and since then they have not back anything on the project. He further said he cannot understand why the FCPF funds cannot be disbursed directly to the NTC. Shuman is on record making these comments at the meeting. This meeting was attended by many reputable civil society representatives and they can attest to this. So how, at the meeting, Shuman seems very displeased about the project questioning the IDB’s approach to implementation and now two weeks later he gave a glowing overview about the project? His outbursts and statement at the May 2 meeting and his latest letter in the media are therefore at odds with each other. It is clear, that it seem likely that Shuman has been influenced by the IDB’s local office in his response to the media. This needs to be fully investigated as it breaches indigenous rights principles particularly FPIC and a mockery to Guyana’s Indigenous peoples. The IDB has a lot to answer since they are the delivery partner, a role they are being paid millions of Guyana dollars to perform and it seems just showing up in the hiring of staff, paying themselves and holding back funds from the NTC and other indigenous NGOs named in the project document including TAAMOG. Don’t compromise yourself for anyone Mr. Shuman and don’t do it at the advantage of the IDB whilst saying you are representing the NTC. The point is, that the NTC does not have the funds or support measures as yet and no clear indication from the IDB that this will take place soon and through a mechanism that will allow for the

independent management of these funds by the NTC .Shuman do not betray your indigenous brothers and sisters who are depending on you. Is the NTC in receipt of any affirmative information by the IDB that the funds or support from the FCPF will be disbursed soon to the NTC and by what date will ‘’soon’’ be? Will there be clear independence and undue influence by any entity or the IDB on the implementation of the NTC activities? Will these funds be expended in a way keeping true to the FCPF expectation or IDB’s local office preferences? Shuman in his letter purporting to be speaking on behalf of the NTC says nothing of these things but just kept emphasizing that IDB is in charge and they will take of things and no one needs to worry. How can such blind trust continue when so much is at stake and being delayed because the IDB is not doing as they should in expeditiously transferring the funds to commence implementation of NTC’s much needed institutional strengthening process? I suggest that Shuman spends his time being concerned about this rather than defending the IDB. Further, being defensive of the IDB Shuman view or the NTC? This is unclear as it is most unorthodox that the vice-chair, not the chair or secretary issues a national response in the public media purporting to be speaking on behalf of the NTC. Several member of the NTC have indicated that they know nothing of this position that Shuman expressed in the media on their behalf regarding FCPF funds that should have already delivered to the NTC by the IDB. Can Shuman point out in the NTC’s executive minutes where this matter was discussed and a resolution taken signed and endorsed by the NTC? It seems non-existent since members of the NTC I spoke to have affirmed that the matter was never discussed and this is Shuman’s own letter which the IDB asked him to write. There is much to be concerned about Shuman much more than who I represent .i can assure you that I represent my indigenous peoples whom I serve patriotically and unceasingly to ensure that their interests are put first and the interests of multilateral with inherent selfinterests and questionable motivations. Peter Persaud

report of a womn who have obtained the protection order but still had to go into hiding because the police were not responding to the violation of the order. There is police training - but the training has not transferred into accountability mechanisms at each police station. Some police are helpful others are not. It is luck and chance. While the Government has changed, it seems that the attitude to domestic violence remains the same. The Ministry of Social Protection might not be aware that Section 44 of the Domestic Violence Act speaks to the actions. There is a role identified of a Director of Human Services. 1) The Director of Human Services in the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security shall be responsible for— (a) promoting and developing educational programmes for the prevention of domestic violence; (b) studying, investigating and publishing reports on the domestic violence problem in Guyana, its manifestations and scope; the consequences and the options for confronting and eradicating it in conjunction with the Police Force and other agencies and organisations; (c) identifying groups and sectors in society in which domestic abuse is manifested and educating these groups and sectors making them aware of the skills required to combat domestic violence; (d) creating an awareness among society with regard to

the needs of victims of domestic violence and their families; (e) developing strategies to encourage changes in the policies and procedures in government agencies in order to improve their response to the needs of the victims of domestic violence; (f) establishing and encouraging the establishment of programmes on information, support and counselling services for victims of domestic violence; (g) encouraging programmes of services for boys and girls who come from homes where there is abuse and violence; (h) providing training and orientation services for police officers and persons who assist in the treatment and counselling of victims of domestic violence and abuse; and (i) analysing and carrying out studies on the need for education and retraining for persons who engage in conduct that constitutes domestic violence and abuse and for their rehabilitation. (2) In carrying out his responsibilities the Director of Human Services may collaborate with such governmental, nongovernmental and intergovernmental organisations as he thinks fit. Citizens should expect that the person who is performing the role of Director of Human Service will be accountable for the mechanisms given under the Domestic Violence Act. Lamentation alone makes no sense. Vidyaratha Kissoon

The Prime Minister’s... From page 5 household and we travel separately, that is $2,000 per month. By any stretch of the imagination, that translates to a significant amount of money. That is gas, lunch, uniform, utilities, etc. Yet the man I voted for, hoping that he would lower my cost of living (a better life for all, wink. wink.), is promising to saddle me with another cost and he thinks so flippantly of me that he promises to take another $1,000 a month of my money and calls it ‘slight’. Additionally, what about those who inadvertently have to cross both bridges? Do they qualify from some wavier? Finally, guess how much the Prime Minister spends in gas or tolls to cross any bridge. Should he not also contribute to the bridge’s maintenance? Pastor Wendell Jeffrey

Angela David was... From page 4 Let us on this June 13, whatever our politics, say thanks to Walter Rodney for making us whole while he worked this space and for the legacy of hope he has left us. And if we must dare to ask questions of our powers and push them to see our collective liberation as paramount, we must reach for Rodney’s spirit and praxis. David Hinds

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Gunman massacres 50 at Florida gay ‘Blade Runner’ Pistorius to be sentenced club in worst U.S. mass shooting for murdering girlfriend

Police forensics investigators work at the crime scene of a mass shooting at the Pulse gay night club in Orlando, Florida, U.S. June 12, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri Reuters - A man armed with an assault rifle killed 50 people during a gay pride celebration at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, early yesterday morning in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, a rampage President Barack Obama denounced as an act of terror and hate. Police killed the gunman, who was identified as Omar Mateen, 29, a New York-born Florida resident and U.S. citizen who was the son of immigrants from Afghanistan and had twice been questioned by FBI agents in recent years. Law enforcement officials were probing evidence suggesting the attack may have been inspired by Islamic State militants, although they said there was no proof that Mateen had worked directly with the group. “It has been reported that Mateen made calls to 911 yester morning in which he stated his allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State,” said Ronald Hopper, the FBI’s assistant special agent in charge on the case. Shots rang out at the crowded Pulse nightclub in the heart of a city that is one of the most popular U.S. tourist destinations as some 350 patrons were attending a Latin music event in conjunction with gay pride

week celebrations. Clubgoers described scenes of terror and pandemonium, with one man who escaped saying he hid under a car and bandaged a wounded stranger with his shirt. “Words cannot and will not describe the feeling of that,” Joshua McGill said in a posting on Facebook. “Being covered in blood. Trying to save a guy’s life.” Fifty-three people were wounded in the rampage. It ranked as the deadliest single U.S. mass shooting incident, eclipsing the massacre of 32 people at Virginia Tech University in 2007. “We know enough to say this was an act of terror, an act of hate,” Obama said in a speech from the White House. “As Americans, we are united in grief, in outrage and in resolve to defend our people.” U.S. officials cautioned, however, they had no conclusive evidence of any direct connection with any foreign extremist group. “So far as we know at this time, his first direct contact was a pledge of bayat (loyalty) he made during the

Omar Mateen massacre,” said a U.S. counter terrorism official. “This guy appears to have been pretty screwed up without any help from anybody.” Still, the shooting was nearly certain to reignite emotional debates over American gun laws and homeland security in the midst of a U.S. presidential race shaping up to be a vitriolic campaign between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. The attack came six months after a married couple

in California - a U.S.-born son of Pakistani immigrants and a Pakistani-born woman he married in Saudi Arabia, fatally shot 14 people in San Bernardino in an attack inspired by Islamic State. That couple died in a shootout with police hours after their attack on a holiday party attended by the husband’s co-workers. The Florida shooting evolved into a hostage situation, which a team of SWAT officers ended around dawn when they used armoured cars to storm the club before killing the gunman. It was unclear when the victims were killed. The number of dead shocked officials in Orlando, a city of 270,000 people and home to tourist attractions including the Disney World resort. They had initially put the death toll at 20. “We’re dealing with something that we never imagined and is unimaginable,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said. He said 39 people died inside the club, two outside, and nine others died after being rushed to hospital.

Reuters - South African Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius will be sentenced this week for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, ending years of legal twists and turns. Pistorius, 29, known as “Blade Runner” for the carbon-fibre prosthetic blades he used to race, faces a minimum 15-year jail sentence and cannot appeal after the country’s top court ruled in March that he had exhausted all his legal options. The track star, whose lower legs were amputated when he was a baby, initially received a five-year sentence for culpable homicide, South Africa’s equivalent of manslaughter. The conviction was later upgraded to murder after an appeal heard by the Supreme Court. Original trial judge Thokozile Masipa will begin hearing presentencing arguments at Pretoria High Court today, with Pistorius expected to discover his fate by the end of the week. The athlete’s legal team is expected to call witnesses who will argue that Masipa should be lenient because of the athlete’s mental fragility, physical disability and good behaviour during almost a year behind bars for the original manslaughter conviction. State prosecutor Gerrie Nel will cross-examine and call his own witnesses as he seeks to convince Masipa that Pistorius is not remorseful — a key consideration in sentencing — and that it is in the interest of South African justice that the athlete receives a lengthy jail term. Pistorius could take the stand himself, as could Reeva’s father Barry Steenkamp, who has given a number of emotional interviews calling for justice that he says would not be served if Pistorius is treated leniently. The athlete’s legal team

Oscar Pistorius did not respond to phone calls for comment. State prosecutors said they would not disclose who their witnesses would be. Pistorius’s final days in court will mark the end of a dramatic fall from grace for an athlete who was once considered a heroic example of triumph over adversity. The sprinter became the first double amputee to compete against able-bodied athletes when he raced at the London 2012 Olympics after a five-year fight for the right to run on equal terms. He was released from prison last October after almost a year behind bars and allowed to serve out his term under house arrest on his uncle’s property in a suburb of Pretoria. But in December, the Supreme Court upgraded the conviction on appeal and Pistorius was allowed to stay at his uncle’s mansion pending the final decisions on appeals and sentencing. Pistorius denies deliberately killing model and law graduate Steenkamp, saying he mistook her for an intruder when he fired four shots through a locked toilet door in his Pretoria home.

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Monday June 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

Commonwealth head may have bought job in ‘utterly corrupt process’

Baroness Patricia Scotland LONDON, England — In a second article in two weeks, a British newspaper has accused the new Commonwealth secretary general, Dominica-born Baroness Patricia Scotland, of unethical conduct. According to the latest article by The Mail on Sunday (yesterday), under the headline Baroness Brazen bought top Commonwealth job in ‘utterly corrupt process’, Scotland is accused of buying her position by giving bogus ‘knighthoods’ to five Caribbean leaders. Last week, accusing Scotland of cronyism, the newspaper reported that she had become entangled in what it described as an extraordinary row over abuse of a knighthood conferred by the governor general of Antigua and Barbuda on her “dear

friend” and “crony” Anthony Bailey. Ironically, Scotland has made fighting corruption one of the focuses of her term of office as secretary general. Now, the former British attorney general is accused of trying to win support from Commonwealth heads of government with offers of honours and charitable donations from an obscure Catholic order of which she was a prominent member. Those honoured included the prime minister and president of Dominica, who later officially nominated Scotland as their country’s candidate for the top Commonwealth post, despite the fact she has not lived there since she was two years old. Conservative Party MP James Cleverly led calls for a full investigation into the allegations against Scotland, whose political post is second only to the Queen in the Commonwealth hierarchy. “The Commonwealth is a vitally important and respected institution and we can’t allow it to be dragged into any kind of scandal. There must be the fullest possible inquiry,” Cleverly said. Scotland reportedly had a major disagreement with Secretariat officials when she took up the post

of secretary general because they were treating her as domiciled and resident in the UK resident (which she is) for tax purposes and, as such, she would have to pay tax on her £160,000 (US$232,000)-a-year salary that would also take account of the monetary benefit of her £14 million (US$20 million) official residence in Mayfair, London’s most prestigious address. According to Commonwealth sources, Scotland apparently insisted that her contract with the Secretariat should treat her as an “overseas appointment” to avoid paying UK taxes on her salary and benefits. The leader of the opposition in Dominica, Lennox Linton, described Baroness Scotland as “opportunistic, deceitful and disgraceful”. Linton told The Mail on Sunday, “There is no doubt in my mind that [Baroness] Scotland, Bailey and the Order used the influence of knighthoods to government leaders and heads of state – along with charitable contributions – as part of Scotland’s campaign to become secretary-general.” The whole process, he alleged, was “utterly corrupt”. A school in the village of Vieille Case in Dominica was renamed after the Labour peer weeks after she was

elected. According to senior government sources in St John’s, Scotland also solicited an honour from Antigua and Barbuda. This was reportedly rejected. Meanwhile, appearances of cronyism on Scotland’s part have expanded with a report that Scotland’s newly appointed “head of communications”, Matthew Doyle, handled the propaganda for her Commonwealth campaign. As previously reported, another of her cronies, former Barbadian diplomat Lolita Applewhaite, has since been appointed head of Scotland’s private office at the Commonwealth Secretariat. Applewhaite was heavily involved in Scotland’s campaign for the position of Commonwealth secretary general, including accompanying Scotland on visits to other Caribbean countries. In a Mail on Sunday editorial comment under the heading “Doubt must be dispelled”, the newspaper said, “The Commonwealth remains an important and influential institution, especially beloved by the Queen herself. Its secretarygeneral therefore needs to be an impeccable figure, above suspicion. Baroness Scotland, who holds this post, faces worrying allegations she

may have secured her job by improper methods. It is essential, for the good of the Commonwealth itself, that these claims are now swiftly, thoroughly and impartially investigated.” Scotland previously made headlines in 2009, when she was Britain’s attorney-general. It was then revealed that she employed an illegal immigrant on a paltry wage of £6 (US$8.77) an hour. She was prosecuted for breaking immigration laws that she had helped draft, and fined £5,000. Despite numerous references in British media to Scotland’s “criminal conviction” in this regard, her London lawyers Carter-Ruck have attempted to characterise it as a “technical breach” of a law and the fine as an “administrative penalty”. However, John Quigley, a partner at another London law firm William Sturges & Co., has said that Scotland’s claim of a “technical breach” of the law is meaningless and has no validity in law. Carter-Ruck failed to respond to a request to explain and clarify the legal process in Britain, where they assert that being found guilty of and being fined for a breach of the law is not a “conviction”. (Caribbean News)

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India’s Modi notches upper-house gains, eyes Uttar Pradesh battle Reuters - Prime Minister Narendra Modi has notched up gains in elections to India’s upper house of parliament, and is seeking to drive home the advantage when his nationalist ruling party meets to devise a strategy to win India’s biggest state. Modi drew standing ovations from U.S. lawmakers this week on a visit to Washington D.C. but, like President Barack Obama, has faced a struggle in his two years in power to get legislation through a hostile second chamber. That job may have become slightly less difficult after his nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies added five seats in Saturday’s upper house polls, but with 74 seats in the 245-chamber they remain in a minority. BJP leaders were due to meet day to finalise their strategy to win the 2017 election in Uttar Pradesh,

Narendra Modi India’s most populous state, knowing that defeat would handicap Modi and sap his chances of winning a second term. “We have to win Uttar Pradesh to change the destiny of India,” BJP national secretary Sidharth Nath

Singh said to Reuters ahead of the two-day meeting in Allahabad, eastern Uttar Pradesh. The opposition Congress alliance lost three seats to 71, with regional parties holding the balance of power, according to media tallies. With Congress down but not yet out, Modi will still have to cut deals to pass tax, labour and land reforms. Modi swept Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 general election, helping him to claim the biggest lower-house majority in three decades. But he is unlikely to repeat that result against tough opposition from regional parties. A senior BJP official said Modi’s closed-door brainstorming session would mobilise grassroots activists to consolidate the majority Hindu vote base and devise a formula to play up HinduMuslim polarisation and caste politics.

CDB FUNDS FOR HAITI’S SMALL BUSINESSES BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) says it will contribute US$500,000 towards a project aimed at giving entrepreneurs in Haiti better access to business loan and savings products. It said that the funding will specifically focus on underserved and unserved micro, very small and small enterprises (MSEs) on the island.

The CDB said that in Haiti, few financial institutions cater to the needs of the country’s MSEs, whose average financing needs range from US$6,000 to US$23,000. “Overall, these businesses face an aggregate financing gap of US$1.9 billion,” the CDB said, adding that its contribution will be made through the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The funds will be used to establish a specialised MSE business financing assessment unit, Centre Financier pour Entrepreneurs (CFE) that will be set up within Le Levier, a financial institution which has a network of 43 savings and credit cooperatives across Haiti. “This initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of the financial institutions within Le Levier‘s network to better appraise credit applications from MSE clients. With this process in place, MSE owners are expected to have better access to financing instruments that best suit their needs,” the CDB added. Through the initiative, CDB will also support the development of standardised financial products and services across the network 19;s geographical coverage area; increase access to resources that would not be easily obtained by individual savings and credit cooperatives and facilitate the pooling of financial resources and sharing the risk for larger loans, through syndications.

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Full secondary education for all students — Holness KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Prime Minister Andrew Holness, says the Government is committed to ensuring that all students receive a full secondary education. Speaking on the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) television news programme, Issues and Answers, Holness said his administration believes that every secondary student should remain in school up to age 18. He said youngsters would be so enabled, in this regard, under the Government’s new tuition fee policy that was announced earlier this year. T h e p o l i c y, w h i c h comes into effect at the start of the 2016/17 academic year in September, will see the Ministry of Education’s subvention to institutions increasing from $11,500 to $19,000 per student. This is consequent on the impending removal of auxiliary fees which many schools currently require parents to pay for their children’s enrolment. “This (access to secondary education) is not just an entitlement, but almost a right. To argue against that would be saying that some persons should only be able to access secondary education by virtue of their ability to pay,” the Prime Minister emphasised. Responding to questions on whether the auxiliary fees’ removal was viable and sustainable, Holness said this will not adversely affect the

Monday June 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

Andrew Holness institutions’ cash flow. “If the Government is giving all students at the high school level an additional amount for the school that they go to, there should be no complaints,” he said, while also encouraging voluntary contributions by parents in a position to do so. The Education Ministry’s 2016/17 capital budget has been doubled to $1 billion, with funds also earmarked to support building and maintenance projects carried out at schools. Prime Minister Holness noted that these undertakings are indicative of his administration’s decision to prioritise education. “Government is always faced with making choices. So it’s not what the Government can or cannot do, it is what the Government chooses to do; and our Government is choosing to spend more on education to remove any barriers to entry (particularly to secondary schools),” he underscored.

Venezuelans taking T&T jobs Trinidad Guardian Desperately hungry but with their dignity well intact, boatloads of Venezuelans are continuing to show up along the shores of the southwestern peninsula, with the hope of building a better life in Trinidad. Fleeing the terror of socialism, the foreigners come in search of basic goods such as baby diapers, toothpaste, toilet paper and milk. Data obtained from the Cedros Coast Guard base show more than 38 foreigners come to Trinidad every day and 98 per cent of these return to their homeland. However, Cedros residents say many more come to Trinidad through illegal channels despite frequent patrols by the T&T Coast Guard, the Air Guard, Customs and the Immigration department. Since Venezuela’s inflation rate jumped to tripledigit figures and crime levels escalated because of widespread starvation, legal arrivals from Venezuela to Trinidad have also increased. Between 2013 and 2014, arrivals grew from 15,008 to 21,052. When the Guardian visited the Cedros port on Wednesday, more than 150 Venezuelans were seen waiting to board a ferry which works from Tucupita to Cedros twice per week. Alberto, from Boca de Guerra, said he hoped to find a better life in Trinidad. “I am going home after spending two months in Trinidad. I did some construction work while I was here but now my time is up so I have to go back home,” Alberto said. Showing a photograph of his six-year-old daughter, Alberto said he did not even know whether his family had food. “Here in Trinidad you have everything, but in Venezuela we have nothing. Even if you have money you

Venezuelan nationals wait to board a boat at Cedros before checking in with Immigration officials last Wednesday. PHOTO: KRISTIAN DE SILVA cannot buy food. You have to wait in long lines and when you reach up they say it finish and you have to wait for another week to get,” Alberto said. Shirley Ramnarine, who was born in Guyana and moved to Venezuela more than 32 years ago, said she too hoped to find a better life in Trinidad. “I can take care of old people. I am not lazy, I can work,” she said, smiling. She added, “We cannot live in Venezuela anymore. We want to be in a place where we do not have to worry about food.” She explained that she and her family took a trip to Panama hoping that they could start a new life there but the cost of obtaining legal documents was too high. “It would cost us US$4,000 to get everything. Panama is a nice place but where we getting money to pay for the documents. We want to stay in

Trinidad but we want to do so legally so we don’t have to hide,” she said with a thick Guyanese accent. Carl Ramdhanie, who recruits Venezuelans to work in Trinidad, said it was not true that Venezuelans were taking away jobs from locals. “We have to help one another. We are hiring both locals and Venezuelans. They are really suffering because things are not good in Venezuela and as humans we have to help them,” Ramdhanie said. A fisherman, who requested anonymity, said some Venezuelan women are being sexually exploited. “It is sad to see Trini men using these women as prostitutes. They giving themselves cheap, as low as $100. Some are doing bad things just for a plateful of food,” the man said. He added that Venezuelans are coming illegally through Granville, Fullarton and Icacos. He said uthorities was giving permission to the foreigners to stay two and three months in T&T. “They should be given a maximum stay of two weeks. Why should they get three months? They are coming here and working for the three months, making connections and then going back. They change all their money into US and take it back to Ve n e z u e l a , ” t h e s o u r c e added. He also said the foreigners were bringing stuff to sell including hammocks, clothes and

jewelry. “During Carnival they set up stalls right on the shore and some of them are now getting work in To b a g o , ” t h e s o u r c e added. Many residents from Cedros said they too have been extending assistance to the foreigners. Shop owner Bert Beharry said on any given night, Venezuelans could be seen sitting on the benches at the coastline. “They occupy every public place you can think of. They do not beg but if you give them something to eat, they are very grateful,” Beharry said. He added that many of the Venezuelans who come to Cedros “do not stick around.” “They come here with connections and agents from outside of Cedros pick them up. Some of them do not have money to pay for lodging so we open our homes to them until they could find their way around,” Beharry said. “You can see the desperation in their faces but they don’t milk you. They don’t misbehave and we have never had any report of any one of us being robbed by a Venezuelan.” However, another resident Sherry Ali said she was concerned that the foreigners may bring diseases to locals. “We know that Venezuela has Zika, malaria and ChikV. Who is screening them when they come here? We already have a lot of people who do not have jobs here,” Ali said.

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From Cuffy to Mandela to Ali: Gwendolyn O’Neil speaks The fabric of freedom is stained with the blood of the many revolutionary fighters who have unselfishly sacrificed so much for the upliftment of the oppressed. The best way to honor them is to love them so much that their deeds stay alive in our memories forever. “God makes me strong to overcome everything in this life and I know without faith and love, adversity would have kept me from climbing to the mountaintop.” Her favorite movie is “Rocky”, the role that actor Sylvester Stallone played of a boxer that has inspired so many to achieve. “Ali was God’s gift to this world and so was Mandela,” says the FiveTime World Boxing Champion Gwendolyn O’Neil from her headquarters in New York. There is a story of Ali

talking to a young boy stricken with cancer and dying in the hospital and he’s telling the boy that he’s going to beat George Foreman and that the boy would also beat cancer. The boy said, “No, you’re going to beat Foreman and I’m going to meet God and tell him I knew MuhammadAli”. Guyanese pride has to be wrapped up in the achievements of Guyanese who have accomplished on a world stage….something our leaders must recognize and use to inspire the youths who are facing tremendous challenges and have no idea of the true strength that lies within them because they scorn themselves. One powerful human being can do much more for the minds of the youths than any infrastructure or material possessions can.

Muhammad Ali is more famous than the Great Pyramids of Egypt, Africa. They must see their own reflection in our heroes so that they will strive to do something positive. In Region 1 which encompasses Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and Matthews Ridge and where Gwendolyn O’Neil is from, the stories of her strength are legendary. Folks say she tossed around two hundred pound bags of ground provisions like pieces of paper while farming. They speak of her with pride as if she is their Muhammad Ali. The attached photo image speaks volumes of how the kids flocked to her on her last visit. Martin Carter’s poetry “I Come From The Nigger Yard, the powerful protest poem from the 1960’s”; Dr. Walter

Rodney’s historical writings “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa”; Aliann Pompey’s track and field accomplishments “4 Olympics and 5 world Championships”; Eddy Grant’s music “Gimme hope Jo’Anna, his anti-apartheid song”; Mortimer Softley aka Natural Black music “Far From Reality”; Ram John Holder and Norman Beaton, actor/ musician “Hit TV Show Desmond’s and several Hollywood movie appearances”; The Luckhoo family, Sir Edward and Sir Lionel, “Dubbed by Guinness Book of World records as the World’s Most Successful Lawyer”; Gwendolyn O’Neil, professional boxer “First Female World Champion and Five-Time World Champion”; Dr. Ivan Van Sertima, Author “They Came

Before Columbus”; Dr. Cargill Alleyne MD “Listed as one of the best Doctors and Surgeons in America” and our only official National Hero Kofi (Cuffy) slave revolutionary fighter “Led slave revolt of 1763 which eventually led to Guyana Independence”. We are not short on contributors only short on vision and without vision the

people perish. Long live Muhammad Ali and long live all those who tirelessly represent all of mankind with such passion that they touch so many lives long after the physical presence leaves this earth. The fighting spirit continues to inspire. (Submitted by Golden Bow & Arrow Promotions, LLC who manages Gwendolyn O’Neil)

From page 22

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Gwendolyn O’Neil poses with children from one of the schools in Region 1 where she hails from during her last visit home.

Panday breaks 26-year losing streak against... From page 36 Consequently, Persaud served and lost service game, resulting with a repeat of break for Pooran/Beaton mirroring the first set. Hope for the trailing doubles pair came as Beaton failed to hold his service game, signaling Bostwick/ Persaud emergence on the score board. Bostwick lost his service game after being under immense pressure, resulting in a sizeable lead of Pooran/Beaton to 3-1. The game of tennis is described as a gentleman’s sport but there was no stopping the Pooran/Beaton train as they launched vicious attacks delivering a ball to Bostwick’s chest. It was no denying that Pooran/Beaton were determined as a new pair

on the GBTI scene taking the set comfortably at 6-1 and game (6-3, 6-1). Afruica Gentle and Cristy Campbell joined forces this tournament as ladies doubles partners. The partnership developed for the first time after they squared off in the finals of the Rebel Tennis Club Championship earlier in the year. The team was strong and well balanced as the mature Campbell was able to complement the fierce Gentle. They defeated Nathalie Ramdhyan and Margaret Subryan in the ladies quarter finals 6-1, 6-0. The match between junior player, Heimraj Resaul, and seasoned senior player, Kester Abrams, took many unsuspected twists and

turns. The Roriama senior found it difficult to string consecutive points to gain a game over Resaul as the accurate spin serves proved to be his demise. Resaul crafted his points by taking his opponent off the court with deep angles, exposing the weak points and an open court. This was coupled by the taunts of motivation by his fellow club mates. It seemed the match would be a one sided affair as the experienced Resaul bombarded Abrams to take a 6-1 win in the first set. No one anticipated the course of the second set as the two traded breaks and went back on serve. Resaul took a 2-1 lead and it appeared Abrams got a better rhythm of his competitor’s serve. The

heavy top spin continued to draw errors on the unorthodox double fisted fore and back hand of Abrams, but there was a shift in his game plan as he displayed more aggression and stepped into the court taking the ball earlier. The pair progressed evenly to 5 games a piece on serve. At the critical junction of the game, Resaul service game was put to the test when Abrams took a 30 love lead but failed to capitalize as Resaul consolidated his service and pressured Abrams’ whose energy dwindled and forced errors which cost him the game at 75. Matches continue throughout the week at the GBTI Recreational Centre, Bel Air.

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NAMILCO/GFF Flour Power Nat. U17 League – Georgetown

Conquerors, Eastville, Alpha and Santos notch opening wins Nazeem Algerman Santos FC.

The race to become the inaugural NAMILCO/GFF Flour Power National Under17 league champions in the capital city of Georgetown began in earnest yesterday with four clubs recording victories at the Tucville ground. Two of the clubs are Elite League clubs, Fruta Conquerors playing the final of four matches eased to a 3-1 win over fellow elite side Georgetown Football Club (GFC); Eastville ran away 2-0 winners over Order of Discipline; Alpha United downed fellow elite league club Pele by a similar 2-0 margin, while Santos FC trounced Camptown FC 5-0 in the day’s opening encounter. Fruta Conquerors FC boasting a proud history at the youth level in the city will be aiming to rekindle that form and crossed the first hurdle in their path when they got past GFC. Enjoying home turf, Conquerors took the lead on 12 minutes through a Jeremy Garrett goal but that advantage was cancelled out in the 19th minute by GFC’s Tamiel Hudson. Before the end of the first half though, Conquerors would restore their one goal cushion through a Malachi Adonis strike in the 25th minute. Both sides played well but it was the home team which would have scored again, this time on 50 minutes through a Raushawn Rich goal that sealed the match Conquerors way, 3-1. Eastville netted two unanswered goals to turn back the challenge of Order of Discipline. Teon Vankenrick in the 30th minute and Shamar Carrington in the 40th were the goal scorers for Eastville. In the day’s second match, it was a showdown between two sides that would

always produce fierce encounters at the senior level. Alpha United dominated their Pele rivals to wrap up an opening win by a 2-0 margin. Shaquon Favourite opened Alpha’s account in the 33rd minute latching on to a loose ball in the area while his teammate Tevin McDonald was on target seven minutes later virtually sealing the win in the 40th minute. Santos opened their account for championship glory in flawless fashion with a 5-0 whipping of Camptown. Leading their charge was Nazeem Algeman who scored a brace, one either side of play. He {Algeman} hit the back of the nets in the 19th minute and completed his brace in the 47th minute. Eon Adams was on target in the 24th minute, Captain Cosmos De Santos Jr. got into the act in the 28th minute with the final goal coming off the boot of Ryan Dowding in the 59th minute. Four more matches will be played on Saturday at the same venue. (Franklin Wilson)

RHTYSC/ MS invites youths to attend Annual Cricket Academy and Republic Bank Camp The Cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS during the upcoming school holiday season would be hosting their annual cricket academy and the Republic Bank Camp for Grade Six Students. These two programmes are being organised by the Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes Under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19 and Intermediate, Metro Female and Gizmos and Gadgets Under 21 and First Division teams. The Cricket Academy would be hosted at the Area ‘H’ Ground from the 11th of July to the 23rd from 9AM to 1PM daily. The academy would be conducted by experienced cricket coach Winston Smith with assistance from former national players and Berbice Under 19 Coach Delbert Hicks and Berbice Senior Player Eon Hooper. Secretary/CEO of the RHTYSC, MS Hilbert Foster stated that the main objectives of the academy are to produce future cricketers for the Club, to teach youths how to play the game of cricket, to get youths to understand their role as a sports ambassador and to develop them into role models. The coaches would concentrate on the basics – batting, bowling, physical fitness, wicketkeeping,

Hilbert Foster fielding, field placement and captaincy, while the young cricketers would be involved in a total of fifteen classroom lectures on topics of interest to them. The topics would include History of Cricket, Laws of Cricket, Structure of the Game, Personal Discipline, Personal Hygiene, HIV/Aids, Suicide, Drug Abuse, Importance of Education, Career Choices and the role of a Sports Ambassador. The Club would provide snacks for the cricketers on a daily basis, while it would also provide all necessary equipment and cricket gears. The academy would cater for 120 youths and with the large RHTYSC youth membership, few places are available for non-Club members. Interested youths between the ages of 8 to 18 are

encouraged to call the Club Office on 337-4562 or email foster_hilbert@yahoo.com to register. The Republic Bank Camp would be hosted in the upper flat of the RHTYSC Office at the Area ‘H’ Ground. The Camp would start on Monday 11th of July and would last for a total of five weeks. The camp would be supervised by an experienced Educator and according to the Club Secretary/CEO, its main aim is to assist Grade six students to make a successful transition from Primary to Secondary School. The class would cater for 60 students and they would be taught Maths, English A, English B, Social-Studies and Integrated-Science. Students would also be involved in lectures on a wide range of topics including peer pressure, choosing friends, classroom manners, career choices and serving the God they believe in. Students would also be involved in learning the basics in playing cricket. The top ten students from the Summer Camp would receive special gifts from the cricket teams. Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster is urging parents of Grade 6 students to register them as soon as possible. The RHTYSC and Republic Bank would be providing all of the necessary materials for the classes. Entrance fee for both the Cricket Academy and Camp is free.

Hales misses out on England ton as fascinating finish looms Shaquon Favourite Alpha United FC.

(Reuters) Sri Lanka’s openers confidently negotiated an awkward session at the end of a raininterrupted fourth day at Lord’s on Sunday, setting up the prospect of a fascinating finish to the third and final test against England. Set 362 to win after Alex Hales had narrowly missed out on his maiden test hundred for England, who are 2-0 up in the series, Kaushal Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne took the visitors to 32 without loss by the close. It leaves Monday’s extended final day nicely poised with Sri Lanka facing the tallest of orders to score the runs that would secure a consolation victory. After the morning session and part of the afternoon’s play were lost to rain, England

Alex Hales resumed on 109 for four and opener Hales was the picture of disappointment when he ended up falling six runs short of his first test ton. With Alastair Cook, back in action after missing the start of the second innings with a bruised knee, also

looking to push on towards a declaration at the other end, Hales was trapped lbw for 94 when trying to turn Angelo Mathews into the leg side. He reviewed umpire Rod Tucker’s decision but was left dismayed when the video replay showed the ball would have clipped the top of leg stump. Cook, in the unusual position of batting at number seven, enjoyed himself, following up his first-innings 85 by helping himself to a six in an unbeaten 49. Declaring on 233 for seven, Cook then gave his attack 12 overs to make a breakthrough but Silva and Karunaratne, who shared a hundred stand in the first innings, had few alarms against two of the world’s top three pacemen, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson.

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Kaieteur News

Australia have to push for NATI and NAMS set for battle in final of final spot without Warner Patrick “Patto” April football competition ESPNcricinfo - Australia moved to the top of the tri-series table with their win over South Africa at Warner Park on Saturday, and could go a long way in securing a place in the final if they follow up with another victory over West Indies today. When the two teams met in Guyana, West Indies capitulated to Australia’s spinners and were bowled out for 116, but in St Kitts, the conditions are quite different, and high-scoring contests the norm. So it was a blow that their most in-form batsman David Warner was ruled out as a result of a fracture to his left index finger. Australia showed on Saturday that reverse swing can also play an important role at the venue, where Mitchell Starc’s form was ominous for his opponents for the rest of the series. He moved the ball just enough to trouble the South Africans and finished with 3 for 43, while Josh Hazlewood also got the ball to tail in. But the short boundaries will encourage the West Indian batsmen to play their shots - as if they need any encouragement - and if they can make a strong start, they will fancy their chances of joining Australia on two wins for the series. They just need to eliminate the “horrible shots” in the words of their captain Jason Holder, that plagued them in the previous game. IN THE SPOTLIGHT Sunil Narine certainly enjoyed the conditions in Guyana, where he finished with 8 for 63 in two matches. The move to St Kitts might theoretically be in favour of the fast bowlers, but Narine has enjoyed bowling there in the past and has 10 wickets at 10.60 from four ODIs. Australia’s batsmen will need to be on their game to prevent Narine from turning it around. Second to Narine on the bowling charts in this series is Adam Zampa, who has seven wickets at 16.28. Zampa was preferred to Nathan Lyon and Glenn Maxwell as Australia’s only spinner for Saturday’s match. He has shown tremendous poise in his first few months as an international cricketer and did so again while bowling late in South Africa’s unsuccessful chase. “I put him under a bit of pressure at the end there,” Steven Smith said. “I bowled him a few overs where they could have hit a few to these small straight boundaries, but he held his nerve nicely. He changed his pace, mixed it up, bowled some googlies, and he’s come a long way.” TEAM NEWS The three West Indies players who have not played the first two games are Shannon Gabriel, Ashely Nurse - neither of whom has played an ODI before - and Jonathan Carter. It remains to be seen if the selectors make any changes for their first match in St Kitts. Australia made three changes for the previous game, in part due to the change in conditions. They may prefer to keep most of the XI and replace the injured Warner with either Travis Head or Maxwell. Usman Khawaja could move up to open. PITCH AND CONDITIONS On Saturday, the pitch was hard and offered something for the fast bowlers early, before slowing up a little later in the first innings. There was reverse swing available for Australia’s bowlers as well. The short boundaries at Warner Park always give batsmen the chance to post big totals.

Play in the Patrick Patto April football competition recently. New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) playing for the first time and surprise package New Amsterdam Multilateral booked their places in the final of the 2016 edition of the Patrick “Patto” April Inter Schools U18 Memorial knockout football competition. The tournament, which is organized by the Hearts of Oak Masters Football Club (HOOMFC) and sponsored by the Guyana Police Force B Division, saw the two teams scoring contrasting victories in their matches which was played at The All Saints Scott Church ground. In the first encounter NATI had to dig deep in edging past Tutorial Academy Secondary (TASS) 3-1 on penalty kicks after their closely fought encounter ended 1-1 at the completion of the 70 minutes full time. Scoring for NATI was Kellon Codogan, while Orin Glenn responded for TASS who was playing their first game after being granted a bye to the semifinal. In the next encounter the highly fancied Berbice High School, put on a lackluster performance as they squandered a number of goal

scoring chances in an upset 3-2 loss to NAMS. The BHS lads dominated most of the play, but allowed NAMS to score on spot kicks or counterattacks. The goal scorers for NAMS were Rashad David, Shaquan Spencer and Junior Seepersaud. The BHS got their goals from Tozu Aron and Shamar Arrindell. Seven schools participated in the 11 a side affair. The schools are: New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMS), Berbice High School (BHS), Berbice Educational Institute (BEI), Vryman’s Erven Secondary School (VESS), Tutorial Academy Secondary School (CSS), Canje Secondary School (CSS) and New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI). The presentation ceremony will take place immediately after the completion of the final. The top teams will be presented with trophies and

other accolades, while there will also be prizes for the top individual performers including the most valuable player, best goalkeeper, best defender, the best midfielder and best striker. Patrick April or “Patto” as he was known, was a member of the Guyana Police Force and a popular football player and butcher in Berbice and Guyana. He went on to represent Berbice on a number of occasions at

various levels of the game. Commander of Police B Division Ian Amsterdam, who formed a strong defensive line up alongside April in the police team, is expected to be on hand to participate in the presentation ceremony. April, who was a fearless defensive player, once formed a potent combination with the Humphrey, Alphonso, Ford, Inniss, Samuels and Bowry siblings among others. (Samuel Whyte)

Wins for Floodlight... From page 34 Sankar 22 and Suresh Ramdeen 20; Michael Ifill bagged 413 and Ricky Persaud 2-6. HS Masters responded with 110-8 in 17.3 overs. Navin Roopnarine scored 25 and Danny Mohanram 22; Ramdeen had 3-9 and Tuknauth 2-14. Fishermen XI got the better of Enterprise Legends by two wickets. Enterprise Legends managed 116 all out in 20 overs, taking first knock. Rohan Mangal led with 49 while Stanley Mohabir made 16; Jagdesh Persaud captured 2-13, Satro Seeraj 2-18 and Wallack Joseph 2-23. Fishermen XI scored 117-8 in 19 overs in reply. Persaud slammed 31 and S. Dindyal 21. Vishwanauth Gobin had three and Narine Roopdeo two wickets. (Zaheer Mohamed)

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Monday June 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

Bolt, Shelly lead glorious night of the stars Shelly whips ‘em

Usain Bolt (centre) powers to victory, despite a slip at the start, ahead of Yohan Blake (left) and Osafa Powell. (Photo: Bryan Cummings) Jamaica Observer - The incomparable Usain Bolt brought the house down at the inaugural JN Racers Grand Prix at the National Stadium Saturday night with a scintillating 9.88-second clocking to win the 100m, while Shelly-Ann FraserPryce proved that she is back, winning in a season’s best 11.09 seconds. Bolt, drawn between Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake, walked out of the blocks, caught the field after 50 metres and eased home to his season-best 9.88 seconds with a wind of (+1.0 m/s). It was an awesome and ominous display by the legendary Bolt as he chases immortality at the upcoming Rio Olympics in Brazil. The effortless manner in which he dismissed the world-class field suggested that he is ready to defend his Olympic title.

But the superstar was wary of his shaky start. “The start was horrible, because I stumbled out the blocks, but I like how I finished strong,” said Bolt. Nickel Ashmeade was second in 9.94, the same as third-placed Yohan Blake, while Asafa Powell was fourth in 9.98 seconds. Kemar Bailey-Cole finished fifth in 10.00 seconds ahead of South African Akani Sim Bine with 10.01. Ramon Guttenberg of Barbados was seventh in 10.03 and veteran Michael Frater eighth in a decent 10.04 seconds. Fraser-Pryce, who was bothered by a toe injury, didn’t get her usual bullet start, but had enough to hold off American World Indoor 60m champion Barbara Pierre, who was second in 11.11 (+0.6) with Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad and Tobago third in 11.15

seconds. Jamaica’s Gayon Evans and Remona Burchell were fourth and fifth with the identical 11.24 seconds clocking. American Carmelita Jeter was sixth with 11.26 seconds. Earlier, Calabar’s 16-yearold schoolboy Christopher Taylor left it too late and was second in the men’s 400m ‘A’ race in 45.66 seconds. Despite the urging from the crowd, Taylor failed to peg back Delano Williams of Great Britain, who won in 45.50 seconds. Jonia McDonald was third in 46.01 seconds ahead of Chumaine Fitten in fourth with 46.45. It was a most encouraging display from Taylor, who showed that he can mix it up with the big boys and will be a force at Jamaica’s Senior Championship later this month. Things weren’t so good for another of Jamaica’s

Wins for Floodlight, Regal, HS Masters, Fishermen XI Floodlight, Regal, HS Masters and Fishermen XI recorded victories when the Wolf’s Softball Cup 20-over tournament continued yesterday at Malteenoes Sports Club. Floodlight, led by a fine century from Ramesh Narine defeated Mike’s Wellman by 135 runs. Narine struck 102 and shared in a third wicket stand of 107 with Ravi Lutchman to guide Floodlight to 231-4, batting first. Lutchman made 18 while Ricky Deonarine scored 34. Greg De Franca and Hardat Heranadan claimed two wickets each. Wellman were sent packing for 96 in reply with Lloyd Rooplall and Ron

Ramesh Narine Ramnauth scoring 15 and 13 respectively. Ramchand Ragbeer snared 3-12, Anil Beharry 2-8 and Imtiaz

Mohamed 2-10. Regal overcame Superior Woods by 45 runs. Regal scored 143-9, taking first strike. Fazleem Mohamed got 48 while Mahendra Hardyal scored 36; the pair added 48 for the opening stand. Roy Persaud grabbed 5-18 and Mark Fung 4-25. Superior Woods were bowled out for 98 in 17.5 overs in reply. Peter Persaud got 29 as Mohamed picked up 2-4 and Raymond Harper 2-27. H S Masters beat Tropical Spring Water by two wickets. Batting first, Tropical Spring Water mustered 109-9. Kumar Tuknauth cracked 28, Leon Continued on page 33

prodigies, Jaheel Hyde, as he finished seventh in the men’s 400m hurdles in 50.56 seconds and was never in the hunt. The race was won in emphatic style by American Johnny Dutch, who lowered his world-leading 48.36 to 48.10 seconds. Jamaica’s Robert Cato turned in a decent performance and was second in a season-best 48.98 seconds, which makes him the 10th fastest in the world. The promising Natoya Goule continued her good form capturing the 800m in convincing fashion in 2:00.23 minutes ahead of the returning veteran Kenia Sinclair with 2:01.32 and American Charlene Lipsey in 2:01.43 minutes. Simoya Campbell was fourth in 2:02.32 minutes. Jamaica’s World Championships 400m bronze medallist Shericka Jackson, who was a late replacement for Natasha Hastings, won the event in a season-best 50.72 seconds ahead of Christine Day, who led into the straight in 51.22 seconds. Ebony Eutsoy of the USA was third in 51.39 seconds, while fourth went to Anastasia LeRoy with 52.00. It was a good win for Jackson, who seemed to be peaking at the right time, registering the sixth fastest time in the world behind Shaunae Miller ’s 49.69 seconds. Trinidad and Tobago’s Machel Cedino once again had the better of Jamaica’s Javon Francis and Bralon Taplin in a growing Caribbean rivalry. Cedino showed tremendous strength and eased away for an impressive victory in 44.37 seconds, which is the fifth-fastest in the world behind Grenada’s Kirani James’ 44.08 seconds. Taplin was second in 44.76 and Francis third in 44.81 seconds. National record holder Rusheen McDonald turned in another dismal display and was sixth with 46.21 seconds. In one of the marquee match-ups of the night, South Africa’s Wayne Van Niekerk won the 300m in 31.03, which was just .18 seconds outside Michael Johnson’s world record of 30.85 seconds established in 2000. American Lashawn Merritt was second in 31.23 seconds with Tony McQuay third in 31.64. The manner in which 400m world champion Van Niekirk moved away from Merritt

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser- Pryce (right) wins the women’s 100m race in a season-best 11.09 seconds ahead of American Barbara Pierre. (Photo: Bryan Cummings) suggested that he will be extremely difficult to beat in Rio. Then before they crowd settled down, the far-striding Shaunae Miller of The Bahamas cruised to an impressive personal best of 22.05 seconds (0.8 m/s) and won the 200m in style. It was the third best time of the year behind Dafne Schippers’ 21.93 and Tori Bowie’s 21.99. American Jenna Prandini was second in 22.39 ahead of Jamaica’s Audra Segree with 22.89 seconds. Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby was fourth in 22.91 seconds. Antigua’s Miguel Francis of Racers Track Club stunned the stadium with a magnificent 19.88 seconds to win the 200m running out of lane seven with a wind of 1.2 m/s. It was by far his personal best and made him the thirdfastest in the world this year behind Merritt with 19.78 and Ameer Webb with 19.85.

Jamaica’s Julian Forte, who ran a brilliant curve and led into the straight from lane three, was second in 20.18 ahead of Warren Weir in 20.32 seconds. Jamaica’s 100m hurdles world champion Danielle WillIams had to settle for second behind American Sharika Nelvis in 12.61 (0.3 m/ s) seconds. Williams, who finished late, clocked 12.77 ahead of Megan Simmonds with 12.86 seconds. American Ginnie Crawford was fourth with 12.89 seconds. Another late replacement, David Oliver of the USA. captured the men’s 110m hurdles in a season’s best of 13.09 (0.2 m/s), which makes him the second fastest in the world behind Jamaica’s Omar McLeod with 12.98 seconds. Jamaica’s Duece Carter was second in 13.20 seconds, the third fastest by a Jamaican this season and the fifth fastest in the world.

South Africa’s Wayne Van Niekerk (right) wins the novel 300m in 31.03 seconds ahead of the American Lashawn Merritt, at the inaugural JN Racers Grand Prix at the National Stadium. (Bryan Cummings)