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Boy, 15, shot in face during Deputy Mayor kept in the dark about Panama Trip mechanic shop robbery Police were up to last night hunting for three bandits, who shot a 15-yearold boy during a brazen robbery at a South Ruimveldt mechanic shop. Jahmaul Lewis, a trainee mechanic, was shot above the left eye at around 15.00 hrs, when one of the robbers discharged his firearm in the Lot 1 Wren Avenue and Aubrey Barker location. He underwent surgery and his condition was reportedly listed as stable. Police have examined CCTV footage on which the attack was recorded. The mechanic shop is reportedly run by the owners of a taxi service. According to reports, the teen and other workers were in the mechanic shop, when
Shot: Fifteen-year-old Jahmaul Lewis three men entered. One of the robbers, who had a handgun, relieved an employee of an undisclosed sum of cash and a cell phone. Kaieteur News understands that the bandit then discharged a round, which struck Lewis in the face. The robbers then escaped. Lewis, who lives a
corner away from the mechanic shop, was rushed to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where he reportedly is listed as stable. His mother, Denessa Lewis, said that her son left their Lot 76 Wren Avenue, South Ruimveldt home at 7:00hrs yesterday for work. She was at home when someone from the mechanic shop came to her with the news. Upon her arrival at the hospital, Lewis stated that she was informed that her son had been shot and was in the emergency room. She also mentioned that the doctors told her that her son would have to undergo a brain scan.
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ontroversy continues to mount over the presence of Georgetown City Council officials in Central America. Deputy Mayor of Georgetown Sherod Duncan informed Kaieteur News yesterday that he was not told anything about the trip to Panama by the council’s delegation. The group which seems to be making unofficial visits on a whim has reportedly not informed the council of the planned activities before leaving the country. The delegation includes the Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase-Green, Chairman of the Finance Committee Oscar Clarke, Junior Garrett, who is a member of the finance committee and Town Clerk Royston King. The group of four had first received criticism from councillors and members of society regarding their secret and unofficial visit to Mexico earlier this month. They had visited Mexico along with the Chief Executive Officer of
Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan National Parking Systems, Kamau Cush, whom the Mayor and her team had agreed to award the unpopular parking meter project. The visit to Panama therefore comes as another surprise to those at home. It is believed that the visit to Panama, specifically Panama City Beach municipality was to assess the use of parking meters in the Panama City area since NPS had allegedly installed meters in the Panamanian town. NPS credibility still remains uncertain especially
since this publication had recently conducted an investigation which proved that the company does not even occupy an office at the address given on its website. As it relates to finances, the Town Clerk and Mayor had assured Guyanese that the City Treasury will not spend on the project. Despite this, it is still a major concern since two members of the Council’s finance committee are part of the team. It is also unclear where the funding for the Mexico and Panama trips have been sourced, whether NPS has been underwriting the expenses or the team has been sponsoring themselves. No technical personnel was taken on the controversial trips, including the City Engineer Colvern Venture. It is a mystery as to what technological ‘know how’ members of the group possess in order to competently examine and assess the parking meters. The project continues to attract much negative attention due to the protocols followed by those at the helm (Continued on page 6)
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Govt. halts parking meter deal until contract thoroughly inspected - Bulkan M inister of Communities, R o n a l d Bulkan has promised that Central Government will intervene in the ongoing parking meter fiasco at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council,(M&CC) to ensure that Guyanese get the best deal. The Minister said that the Council will essentially have to put a hold on plans to implement parking meters, given the lack of transparency surrounding the transaction. While the central government intervention in the matters of local government is not
something that he would support, in light of the s ignificant moral and financial implication of such a contract, the minister said that the Council is asked to stay their hand until greater clarity can be made on the initiative. Bulkan, the Minister res pons ible for Local Government in Guyana, said after meeting with councilors who expressed their views on the issue, a request for the contract has been sent to Town Clerk, Royston King. But the Minister is yet to receive the document, which was requested about a week ago. Bulkan however
Preliminary Inquiry into money changer’s murder begins
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he preliminary inquiry of murder against Phileman Boodhoo, called Kevin, 19, of No 63 village Corentyne Berbice has commenced in the No 51 Magistrate court before Magistrate Charlene Artiga. Budhoo is accused of murdering money changer Mohamed Fizal Mahmood Baksh, called ‘Sugar Cake’, 56, of No 63 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. The incident is alleged to have occurred between December 21 and December 24, 2015 at the Number 63 Beach, Corentyne, Berbice. Inspector Bernard Brown is presenting the state’s case. The accused is being represented by prominent Attorney at Law Mursalene Bacchus. Boodhoo, after allegedly committing the act had reportedly fled to Trinidad and was arrested one month after when he returned. The prosecution called one witness, the victim’s wife, Jagwantie Muneer, who related what she knew about the matter and what transpired on the day in question. Baksh’s body was discovered in a bushy section of the No. 63 Village, Corentyne foreshore. His body was reported missing three days earlier. When he was found Baksh was fully clothed, and the back of his skull had been fractured in two places. There (Continued on page 24)
Town Clerk Royston King expressed optimism that the Council will cooperate with Central Government. “I don’t believe the Council would want to adopt a confrontational attitude towards the government. Besides, the deal can only be approved with the support of the entire council.” The announcement of the parking meter project was made recently by M&CC’s Town Clerk, Royston King, who said that since November, the city had signed a contract with Smart City Solutions Inc, a company collaborating National Parking Systems” (NPS) to install solarpowered parking meters in
critical areas of Georgetown. The company is said to have invested tens of millions of dollars in preparatory works, including bringing engineers from its headquarters to determine traffic volume and occupancy. However, the issue made headlines after Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan, expressed misgivings about the two companies involved in the deal, saying he was not consulted and that he had little information to work with. Duncan demanded answers, saying that his research could find little details about NPS, owned by Guyana-born Ifa Kamau Cush, and its partner, Smart City Solutions. Additionally NPS, on its website, had claimed a Park
Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan Avenue, Manhattan address as its office but investigations by Kaieteur News found that no such office exists. Duncan had noted, too, that there have been no public consultations on the introduction of parking meters, which are proposed to see drivers pay up to $500 per hour. The city is reportedly getting 20 percent of the fees. It is unclear what criteria
were used by King and his advisors to arrive at the 20 percent and what impact a parking meter system will have on the city. Top city officials have since embarked on a trip to Mexico to learn about on a controversial trip even as members of the council continue to complain that they have not even seen the contract. City Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green and Councillors, Oscar Clarke and Junior Garrett have all thrown their support behind the controversial deal saying that the Council needs the revenue. The Town Clerk has since promised to hold a press conference to iron the issue.
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Monday June 20, 2016
KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
ANARCHY AT CITY HALL
During the reign of the PPP, there were several questionable contracts that were secretly awarded to some dubious contractors. Most of those contractors were not qualified or did not have much experience or expertise to do what the contracts had required. However, they were awarded the contracts despite the mountain of concerns raised by the opposition and by a multitude of persons and civic organizations. Most of the contracts were awarded secretly by the last government, which by-passed the tendering and bidding process. And if due diligence was done and the contracts were still awarded, then it is safe to say that skullduggery had taken place. The contract awarded to Fip Motilall to build the Amaila Falls Road, the building of the Specialty Hospital and the Enmore Packaging Plant by Surendra Engineering were suspicious because they did not have the necessary experience needed to do the work. Surendra Engineering, which was contracted to sell and install fourteen irrigation pumps, did not have experience in the procurement. The contract was not awarded to the Indian pump manufacture, Kirloskar. The biggest disaster in the country was the awarding of the contract to China National Technology Import and Export Corporation to build the Skeldon Sugar Factory at a cost of over US$200 million. Today, the factory still has a series of problems and in the eyes of many, it is a white elephant. Further, the secret deals surrounding the building of the Marriott Hotel and the Berbice Bridge are without conscience and consideration of the interests of the people. In both cases, the taxpayers have invested about 75 percent of the cost, but have not yet received a dime in return for their investments while the private investors who invested about twenty five percent are receiving payments ahead of the taxpayers. The Memorandum of Understanding signed by Fedders Lloyd to undertake the construction of the Specialty Hospital has collapsed, due to the World Bank’s decision to ban Fedders Lloyd from any of its contracts for five years—April 6, 2016 to April 5, 2020. Citing that it would be more economical and less time-consuming than to go through the transparent process of retendering, the Government decided to give Fedders Lloyd the contract despite a public outcry over the lack of transparency and accountability. Weeding out corruption and the promise by the government to be accountable and transparent to the public are easier said than done. Most of the government’s policies are shrouded in secrecy including the “BK” Tiwarie and Baishanlin scandals and a trip to China by the Minister of State and other government officials. The refusal to explain the circumstances to the public through the media clearly shows a lack of transparency and accountability by the government. The outrage at City Hall over the awarding of the parking meter installation contract by the Mayor and the Town Clerk is another major scandal unfolding at City Hall and the government must act swiftly to end it before it is too late. Scandals of this magnitude could damage the image of the government whose administration is running City Hall. Although the City has stated that it is in a financial crisis and is looking for sources to improve its revenue, it has financed the room and board at a luxurious hotel and firstclass tickets for the Town Clerk, Mayor and two Councilors to travel to Mexico to look at parking meters. The trip which cost the city a huge amount is only part of the problem. The awarding of the contract to a company that has barely known to exist and has no experience in the installation of parking metersand without informing the public and the city counselors is very troubling. Also the recent announcement by the Deputy Mayor that the purchase of a tow-truck was not authorized could spell more trouble for the Mayor and Town Clerk. It shows that anarchy exists at City Hall and like the government, it has not done due diligence. It is not the reforms the people voted for.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IS NOT JUST FOR OLDER CARIBBEAN MEN DEAR EDITOR; On January 10, 2014 a CARICOM Science and Technology (S&T) Committee was launched to promote the development of S&T in CARICOM as a tool for economic development by working closely with all Governments and scientific organizations in the region, and serve as an advisory body to the Prime Minister responsible for S&T in CARICOM, Honorable Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada. The members are Mr. James Husbands, Director of Solar Dynamics, Professor Cardinal Warde, diaspora representative who is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, Professor Harold Ramkissoon, President Emeritus of CARISCIENCE (Chair), Dr. Arnoldo Ventura, former Advisor to the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Professor Ishenkumba Kahwa, Deputy Principal of the Mona Campus, UWI, and Mr. Kent Mitchell. On June 15, 2016, this committee remains the same. It is all male, and none are representative of youth. One would have hoped that they would have recognized this imbalance and done something about it after two years. In relation to gender, according to
CARICOM, the ideal Caribbean person “nourishes in him/herself and in others, the fullest development of each person’s potential without gender stereotyping and embraces differences and similarities between females and males as a source of mutual strength.” In fact, CARICOM’s latest strategic plan advocates a “development agenda that develops measures for a peoplecentred approach to poverty reduction; develops measures for protection and inclusion to guarantee opportunities for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged and takes account of the transformative and multiplier effect of gender equality and empowerment of women on development activity and gains.” T h e C A R I C O M Yo u t h Development Action Plan (CYDAP), strives to improve access to the quality and quantity of opportunities available to adolescents and youth between the ages of 10-29, and in and out-of-school. CARICOM also seeks their full participation as architects and enablers of the Region’s development. Women represent 51% of the Caribbean population and 66% of the Region’s population are youth. There are Caribbean-wide agencies that can provide excellent and innovative young
scientists and engineers and female scientists and engineers to serve on the CARICOM Science & Technology Committee that would better reflect who we are – such as CARICOM Youth Ambassadors, the Caribbean Youth Environment Network, and the various Colleges, Technical Institutes, and Universities of the Region. Given the lack of gender equality and youth representation on their committee, we write to ensure steps are taken to secure female and youth representation on the committee by December 31, 2016. It is critical that the committee represents CARICOM’s goals and ideals and reflects its diversity. Arianna Marshall, Engineer, Barbados Ayanna Samuels, Engineer, Jamaica Fatima Patel, Scientist, Barbados Karen Wharton, Engineer, New York, Guyana Kemron Dufont, Engineeer, Grenada M a y a Tr o t z , E n g i n e e r, Tampa/Guyana Tr i n a H a l f h i d e , E n g i n e e r, Trinidad & Tobago Wainella Isaacs, Engineer, Tampa/Guyana
50 YEARS ON (OR OFF)?
DEAR EDITOR; Recently encounters with my bank where I have an unimpressively small account nevertheless required me to be authenticated by reams of proof of identity. It was an edifying experience – so much in contrast to that of 50 years ‘off’ when the Bank Manager greeted me personally and himself processed the minimal documentation for opening an account –all in ten minutes after the oversea Royal Bank of Canada had opened its daily doors. This was by no means a singular experience; rather the manner of doing business at the time –particularly instructive since I had neither family pedigree nor appropriate reference to recommend me. What the procedure accomplished was the recognition of my persona (character if you will) as one to be trusted. It added value to the selfperception of a young (un-registered) administrative assistant, probably just because I was employed by Bookers. 50 years ‘on’ I am a non-entity in a queue: and better not be there without the certification of a range of agencies who, ironically enough, need their own productivity to be verified. My virtual anonymity is matched by that of the newly recruited customer servant (?) whose true relationship is with the technology which speaks silently, but loudly, to him/her. The sound deafens the answer to any questions asked. The actual response is an equally deafening swipe of the right card. Then there is the TIN which is a prerequisite to certain transactions – issued by an institution that virtually sells licences to untrained drivers of every ilk, and who nonchalantly kill people
with one-handed (cell-phone) driving – overlooked by police comparatively u n a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e t r a ff i c regulations – all 50 years ‘on’. 50 years ‘off’ traffic was minimal, roads were engineered based on stone –as distinct from loam. Roads were maintained by qualified engineers then, in contrast to them being allowed to deteriorate in order to justify the award to underqualified (self-made) contractors to carry out repairs with an expiry date, so that the tender can be repeated– 50 years ‘on’. The scenario is not totally unlike the medical services, which 50 years ‘off’ were delivered by internationally qualified doctors and nurses, who did not have to apologise for the incidence of maternal deaths – attended by nursing aides, nursing assistants and practical nurses – 50 years ‘on’. But in all fairness there was hardly any crime as such to extend the wits of judges and magistrates; so on reflection, in the absence of persistent challenges, it might be argued that the latter’s competencies were overrated here – even though eminently acceptable in the Caribbean Region and elsewhere – alas Ramphal, Luckhoo, Shahabudeen, et al. Even the imprisoned respected the justice system, as did their wardens who took them out for daily constitutionals through the streets of Georgetown, without any sense of threat. Now 50 years ‘on’ the two are engaged in encounters so hostile that they are actually consumed by fire. Symbolically perhaps the word ‘garbage’ was not part of the lexicon of citizens 50 years ‘off ’. The accompanying photo gives a sample of how clean was the city. There simply
were no dumps. But then citizens paid their taxes for service from an eminently efficient Town Council (not a City 50 years ‘off’). There is no question that the standard of education at the time was superior to that 50 years ‘on’. So that there was little, if any, need to train public servants to perform adequately. The system of performance appraisal of every employee was meticulously administered, and contrary to acrossthe-board increases 50 years ‘on’ merit increments (including a double) were the order of the day. 50 years ‘off’ public servants were civil servants who could not possibly anticipate being converted into pliant non-professional ‘contracted employees’ 50 years ‘on’. But to return to the education system; it was not limited to cramming, expensive extra lessons as obtains 50 years ‘on’; but the development of the individual through a choice of languages, drama, a range of sports – athletics, cricket, football, hockey, table tennis – in many instances to national standards. Importantly was learnt teamanship and how to take a wrong decision. There were even classes in gardening. Mention of gardening is important, for such learning may have surreptitiously contributed to the quality of vegetables andfruits – all organic – 50 years ‘off’; as compared to the over-fertilised local produce and synthetic imports, 50 years ‘on’. Outstandingly milk was pure and creamy – used to churn for authentic ice-cream – now replaced by advertised ‘tastes’ from overseas laboratories. But even then – 50 years ‘off’ the imported salted fish, corned beef, flour were Continued on page 23
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The importance of good character Litany of violent acts in Guyana DEAR EDITOR; Good character is the leadership quality that distinguishes great leadership. It is the quality that most people admire. Leaders of good character have integrity, courage and compassion. They are careful and prudent. Humble in their awareness of their own limitations, they seek out the knowledge and counsel of others. They constantly learn and others want to learn from them. Their decisions and actions inspire employees to think and act in a way that not only improves the bottom line, but that contributes to the well-being of the organization and society. INTEGRITY What exactly is integrity? According to the dictionary, integrity is “the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards, and the state of being complete, undivided, sound or undamaged.” Integrity, then, is having high principles and keeping those standards consistent throughout all the different parts of the self. One of the first places integrity issues show up is in our language patterns. When we are “in integrity,” we speak from a place of wholeness. Our words match our actions. “We say what we mean and we mean what we say.” When we break from this pattern and say things we don’t really mean, we move “out of integrity.” A lot of people today in our society have no integrity they are all basically the same? People make promises they cannot keep or they can never keep their time and word. I observed most people go late to work or they just lie
to make excuses about being late they are never on time wherever they go. They are never honest with finances of their own and when given finances for someone else to manage they have some real issues. Integrity has been a problem in Guyana and globally because people inculcated some real deceptive habits from their homes. When a person who is highly educated lacks integrity on a job they did not develop those vile traits on their job they learn it from home. Character building is something we are parented into whether good or bad. It’s also something we inherit by keeping bad company. Have you ever wondered why some very rich educated people can cuss and behave very disorderly? They may have money and education but lacks morality and character.I read in the papers and saw on the news about a great number of University of Guyana students who owed the University loan but never repayed it. What bothers me most many of these hard to pay students have prominent jobs and positions in politics yet the were not honest enough to pay back the government the current loans they took to study. I also read the mayor of Georgetown mentioned of many prominent business people who owed the City Council millions of dollars but never paid it. Where is our Integrity? ‘’Those who conduct themselves with morality, integrity and consistency need Not fear the forces of inhumanity and cruelty. The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but in
rising every time you fall.” Nelson Mandela. The wise Greek Philosopher Socrates made this profound prophetic statement below: ‘‘Those who provide much wealth for their children, but neglect to improve them in virtue and character, do like those who feed their horses high, but never train them to be useful.’ If we are very keen and observant in our society we will soon discover the family structure is dissolving gradually from our communities and nation. We hardly see faithful and responsible fathers and mothers. Many of our children grow up without fathers who are the foundation of the family. Some with a grand ma, uncle or aunt or with complete strangers and many on the streets; it’s very sad because we have a real moral breakdown in our homes. It’s no wonder crimes have escalated. The crime is not a political or social issue it’s more of a moral phenomenon it’s an issue where moral and character building was never given or inculcated to those who commit crimes in our society. A keen evaluation of prisoners’ background will give us our answers. Bring back the family structure, get back families into their churches in their respective religions and we will have a clean and free society devoid of crime. Our words contain our life that’s our character and attitude. Life is sowing and reaping. We sow bad seeds by our words most marriages ended up in divorce because of one person destroying the other with deplorable words. We must think before we speak because we speak our thoughts; I see a society of
very angry and bad cultured people from all walks of life. Our ethics, morality and conduct with each other are extremely poor. Very few people can say: ‘Good morning, thank you very much, excuse me sir or madam’ These terms of mannerisms have become obsolete or archaic and is now being replaced with terms like: ‘Lol,dawg, or a cuss word most people used as greetings these days. Why is that so? It’s because of a lack of character and attitude. Our conduct and attributes are the key pillars of our life. It’s not people we hate it’s their attitudes. It’s not too late for us to develop our character into a life of integrity, morality, fortitude and spirituality. “Such as thy words are, such will thy affections be esteemed; and such will thy deeds be as thy affections and such thy life as thy deeds.” (Socrates) Character is the sum total of all the good qualities in a man. It consists in honesty, truthful speech and dealings, dutiful- nests, diligence, and obedience to parents, teachers and elders. Sincerity, love of mankind, inner goodness and desire to do well to others and to be free from hatred, jealousy and malice are also part of character. To live in harmony with the people of all religions, races, castes and nations may be added to the characteristics of high character. Not to cast an evil eye on a member of the opposite sex is the essence of high moral character. Character is a God given principle given by God to man from His Holy Books. Rev. Gideon Cecil
BARTICA NEEDS PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL WELFARE OFFICERS DEAR EDITOR; Today I take special time to voice my concern in relation to the level of professionalism the schools welfare officers’ display in fulfilling their duties in relation to issue with students in Bartica. Firstly, students who are attending our secondary schools. Oftentimes, some of these students misbehave and the case is just swept under a rug. Here I am talking about criminal cases. Our welfare officers would do a few sessions counseling. Our delinquent students return to school and their behaviors
are still the same and in some cases worst. Secondly, it takes a village to raise a child. Instead of working along with other teachers, these welfare officers blame teachers for these young delinquents. Even if this may not be the case, this is a picture that is painted. Instead of cooperating with our Teachers, that does not happen. Questions such as, ‘where were the Teachers when the students were smoking Marijuana?’ or Teachers do not know the students are hiding in wash room during classes? And in some cases our
welfare officers conclude that our students are scared of teachers, so they hide themselves in the washrooms during classes. How professional? Other students, who are caught smoking marijuana often get pardoned by the police. Drug addicts do not need to be in school, they should be in an institution that could correct their b e h a v i o r. W h a t a r e w e doing to these young Barticians? Thirdly, our schools are managed by these welfare officers. Who remain in the offices most of the times and call the shots at these
schools. The profession of welfare officers has a great part of doing field work. These welfare officers need to get down into the fields. Even follow up these students and sentence students who need to be at a correctional institution. We will all be affected if we continue to cover up for these youths. In concluding, we need to improve our standard since we are a town of this beautiful land Guyana. Our welfare officers need to get serious with the juvenile delinquents in Bartica R. Gaime
DEAR EDITOR; Oh dear what can the matter be. This is our 50th independence anniversary and we are being consumed by a monster; the pervasive crime that stalk the land and rule the waves. In the midst of putting together this letter I read the thoughts of one Loria-mae Heywood and fully endorsed her sentiments: “we have lost all sense of humanity as a Nation” S.N April 26th. I have to agree that our humanity has indeed sunk abysmally low, a pervasive and callous madness stalking our land as a result of unfettered violent crime that defies reason. It’s the season of crime galore and blood-letting, its every day, not a single day papers come without it, all the dailies can well go by a single label: “Crime News”. Has the devil’s army been set loose upon us, not a day goes by without some sort of heinous, gruesome occurrence committed by the young the old and the not so old, a carnival of violence spreading like a plague aided and abetted by the road carnage that continues to laugh at us. * 75 year old woman battered to death – son confesses to crime * Elderly couple beaten burned in house * Mother of three stabbed to death 17 times * Body of new born found ravaged by dogs * Pregnant teen body found in shallow grave * Body of missing woman found in septic tank * Man chopped to death in front of children * Three dead in drive-by shooting * Woman disfigured in acid attack by jealous woman. The list is horrendous and bottomless but it has got to be crazy sick madness when female octogenarians are raped and killed in their homes. From whence cometh such barbarity, are we at war with ourselves, people are being killed like flies for any and everything, without rhyme or reason it matters not! Is this what 50 years has to offer, making “Eldorado” into a killing field? God I’m lost in a spin just what are we becoming, who are we? Killing in broad daylight, killing on credit, dismembering and disemboweling one another as if there is no tomorrow. Incidentally as I write I can hear the song by Blazing Fire “Lord help my Guyana to love again”. It’s crazy sick indeed. How could you in cold blood sit and plan the death of someone you have never seen face to face, have his grave dug and on the very first encounter have him killed and buried for a few dollars. “Stepfather claws out teen’s eye with hammer”. A mother and her lover battered her own teenage daughter to death, put the body in a suitcase and disposed of it in a creek. An 18 year old have her boyfriend bludgeoned her father’s head with an axe. “Child tied up left in house to die”. Two teenagers strangled their 17 years old friend and neighbour after making a deal to sell his car. While the wanton outrageous killing of women have reached epidemic proportion. “Born in the land of the mighty Roriama…… till at length each of us will see what Guyana sons and daughters can be”. These beastly attributes which we are exhibiting to our fellow men and the world, are they our treasure find after 50 years? This violent trend has forced me to say that compared with the beast of the jungle we aren’t doing so well, makes these lesser primates stand tall above, their killing instincts and ferocious nature are beginning to look like child’s play, paling into insignificance considering that’s the way they were designed. But still like the song says: “no matter what we say or do Guyana we love you” and that’s reality at the end of the day it’s our home. But like I’m won’t of saying and as empirical evidence would show, these behaviour have their origin they didn’t just pop up over night. “Even when we don’t see the root of a tree it is there for the tree couldn’t stand without it”. Frank Fyffe
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Past Govt. officials filed libel Public Health Ministry stages World Sickle Cell Awareness Day walk suits to muzzle the press …review of slander laws needed - US Diplomat By: Kiana Wilburg To suppress criticism of maladministration and corruption, Government officials have often abused the use of libel suits against the media. This practice however does not sit well with outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission, Bryan Hunt who strongly believes in the freedom of the press. Hunt said that if the Government wants to demonstrate that it is committed to protecting freedom of the press, then it needs to do a few crucial things, one of which includes the review of Guyana’s libel laws. In an interview with this newspaper, the US diplomat said that he has seen instances where officials filed libel suits with the apparent intention of muzzling
Outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission, Bryan Hunt reporters or the entities they work for. Hunt remarked that libel laws globally are problematic. “However, I think that the way in which some of them have been applied in Guyana, not by this government, but in the past, have really had a chilling effect. It’s not something that is good for
freedom of the press when journalists can be charged for doing their job or for expression of their opinion. Libel laws have to be very, very, very, narrow in their application. And there has to be a review of the ones in Guyana and how they are applied,” the US official said. “And we have seen instances where it appears to an outsider like me that previous government officials have filed libel charges not because any actual harm has been done, but because they wanted to shut up whatever reporter or media institution was carrying a story.” The US diplomat said that he is not by any means stating that media houses should be allowed to print or say whatever they want. He stressed that content carried by journalists should be accurate and there must be in the balance. He said that based on the cases he has observed thus far, he does not believe that the libel laws in Guyana have been invoked in an equitable manner. The outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission said that Government officials need to be very vocal in their support of freedom of the press. Hunt said in light of the fact that the Government is involved in the media, it bears a special responsibility to continue to go on the record in welcoming a free press and constructive criticism. “The Government should not see a problem with journalists publishing the facts and advocating for a change,” the US diplomat said.
Participants during the walk The Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with the Guyana Masters Athletics Association (GMAA) and Fight Against Sickle Cell Stigma (FACES) yesterday hosted a walk and run in the National Park in Observance of World Sickle Cell Awareness Day 2016. Some 50 persons, including Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton; Director of Sport, Christopher Jones; Guyanese Gold Medalist, Alicia Fortune and Guyanese Songstress, Michelle ‘Big Red’ King, participated in the event to raise awareness of the disease. Dr. Norton, who is also the President of the GMAA, was adamant that this activity be a part of the observance of World Sickle Cell Awareness Day 2016, which was observed under the theme “Exhibit courage and address ineffective areas of support.” He thanked those who participated in the event, while stressing the importance of adapting a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Norton said that he was pleased to see youths participating as well. President of FACES,
Sabrina Kazim thanked the Ministry of Public Health for its partnership in organising the event. She highlighted that several sicklers participated in the event, which is admirable, since often times sicklers are unable to participate in rigorous activities. Kazim took the opportunity to express gratitude to those persons who are not sicklers but took the time out to raise awareness of the disease by participating. Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, pointed out that while yesterday was Father’s Day, several fathers still took the time to participate in the event, showing how important it is. Jones said that the National Sports Commission (NSC) was proud to be part of the event and is of the firm view that a body in motion stays in motion. He noted that physical exercise can prevent a number of diseases. The Director of Sport gave his assurance that the
NSC is willing to come on board and lend its support to any activities planned to raise awareness of Sickle Cell Anemia. Medals were presented to the first, second and third place winners of both the Run and walk, as well as to the youngest and oldest participants in the event. Coming in at first place in the walk was Eon Mitchell, second – Camille Martin and third – Henry Uwaoma. For the Run, first place went to Jonathan Fagundes, second – Larry Josiah and third- Gary Hartug. The youngest participant was 7 year old Zaara Kazim and the oldest participant was 80 year old Phillip Beckles. The Ministry of Public Health took an active role this year in raising awareness of Sickle Cell Anemia, with the hosting of a workshop, today’s run and walk, and a Continuing Medical Education Lecture is slated for tomorrow for medical practitioners on Primary Care for Adults with Sickle Cell Disease.
Deputy Mayor kept... (From page 2) of council. There was no consultation done with the residents of Georgetown before agreeing to have it implemented. Additionally, the project did not undergo a bidding process. As a result, there is doubt that a fair procedure was employed to select NPS to move ahead with the project.
Monday June 20, 2016
Kaieteur News
Russia says agrees with U.S. to improve military coordination in Syria Reuters - Russia said yesterday it had reached an agreement with the United States to improve coordination between their military operations in Syria, where they are backing opposing sides of a civil war and launching air strikes. Russia’s defence ministry said it was pushing Washington to help produce a shared map of the positions of fighting forces to avoid incidents, a day after Washington accused Moscow of attacking U.S.backed insurgents there. Moscow’s intervention on the side of President Bashar al-Assad, alongside Western backing for rebel groups opposing him, has raised fears of a wider international confrontation in the war. Russia’s defence ministry said military officials from both countries had agreed on the need to improve coordination during a video conference. There was no immediate confirmation from Washington. “The exchange of views about the incident was carried out in a constructive way with
Igor Konashenkov the both sides aiming to improve the coordination on fightin g t h e t e r r o r i s t organisations in Syria and in order to avert any incidents during military operations in this country,” Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. The Pentagon said on Saturday it had questioned Moscow over Russian air strikes conducted against U.S.-backed Syrian opposition forces last week,
accusing Moscow of failing to heed U.S. warnings. Konashenkov dismissed the allegation, saying the Russian strikes hit about 300 km (190 miles) away from territory where the United States had said opposition forces were operating. He said Russia had notified the U.S.-led coalition about the targets it was planning to strike. “The Russian defence ministry for the past few months has been proposing to its American colleagues to draw a unified map, which would containing information about the location of the forces which were active in Syria. However, no material progress has been made on this issue,” the spokesman said. Russia, which has been bombing opposition-held areas, is blamed by the opposition and rights activists for causing hundreds of civilian deaths and targeting hospitals, schools and infrastructure in what they say are indiscriminate attacks. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed the allegations.
Bahamas approved to trade Chinese currency in region NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) – The Bahamas has been earmarked as a hub to trade the Chinese currency in the region. According to Minister of Financial services, Hope Strachan, several new initiatives are in the pipeline for the financial services sector. “In recent times, The Government of The Bahamas has taken advantage of several opportunities for project financing from the Chinese Government and from Chinese corporations,” said Strachan in her contribution to the recent 2016/2017-budget debate. “As a result, the establishment of a hub for trade in Chinese currency is an attractive prospect that the Government of The Bahamas has approved: and my Ministry is diligently pursuing this initiative as a viable project.” Strachan said the success of this project would “translate into an entirely new frontier” of financial services and trade business for the country and would be a “ m o n u m e n t a l achievement” in making The Bahamas the Renminbi (RMB) Trading Hub for the entire region. She said the hub would facilitate financial transactions and
Hope Strachan eliminate reliance on the US Dollar. “The rationale is that the Bahamas Government, Bahamian businesses, financial institutions as well as those throughout the region would have the ability to engage in less costly and less timeconsuming processes related to transactions involving the direct clearing and payment of the Yuan currency in The Bahamas,” she said. “It would eliminate reliance on the US Dollar and the transacting of business through the United States. The creation of a platform for the Yuan to trade freely with the Bahamian Dollar will allow for international trade
finance, and trade and investment to increase significantly.” She added that as foreign businesses set up shop in the country, the potential to increase business activity would be further enhanced. It would also allow for an efficient business framework, underpinned by factors ranging from The Bahamas’ position as a well-respected international financial centre to its strategic geographic location to North American and Latin American markets; and it would facilitate trading without the hurdle of an additional layer of foreign exchange cost and currency risk, and have transactions settled within a favourable time zone. “An increase in international trade finance, trade and investment would create jobs for Bahamians and strengthen the Bahamian economy. Economic slowdown in the United States magnifies the importance of the need to diversify cross-border trading with other markets around the world. Further, new financial institutions would be established in The Bahamas, including the introduction of the first Chinese bank to the country,” she said.
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Monday June 20, 2016
Kaieteur News
Even as Sural subsidiary wrangles with T&T in court…
Govt. agrees to restart Alutech Trinidad Guardian - Three months after Sural officials visited T&T to lobby Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to restart its Alutech aluminium downstream project, a board chaired by Prof Ken Julien has been set up to review options for the project which was originally linked to the Alutrint
Smelter in La Brea. The Energy subcommittee of Cabinet approved the appointment of government’s energy adviser Julien to head the board. Government officials are confirming that while Alutech is on the cards, the originally planned smelter is “definitely
off the table and will not be restarted.” But even as Government is set to launch into the project with Alutech, T&T and Sural (Barbados) Ltd are in a legal battle at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida before Judge K Michael
Prof Ken Julien
Moore. Sural took T&T to court seeking US$56 million in damages in connection with the aluminium smelter project which was scrapped by the PP government in 2010 when it came into power. The last sitting was on Wednesday, when Sural asked the court for access to key evidence it said would help in its attempts to undo an arbitration tribunal’s finding in favour of T&T with respect to the cancelled smelter project. Last June, the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) International Court of Arbitration awarded US$2.4 million in favour of T&T. The ICC arbitration began in July 2012 and focused on T&T’s alleged obligation to buy out Sural. O n F r i d a y, E n e rg y Minister Nicole Olivierre confirmed that the Ken Julien-appointed board had been mandated to “review all aspects of the feasibility of the project” and while she did not elaborate, she confirmed
there will be “no smelter.” Among the issues which the board would have to look at before the project moves forward is that of employment opportunities. Olivierre did not respond to queries on how soon the project would be restarted and the cost to the Government. Sources said part of the deal was the request for a write-off of a US$50 million debt owed by Alutrint to Government. Asked specifically about this, Olivierre said: “I have no knowledge of that.” This latest development followed the April visit to this country by a highpowered team from the Venezuelan-based Sural Company to lobby PM Rowley to restart the Alutech project.
Monday June 20, 2016
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Kaieteur News
The Georgetown City Council must not become like the Jagdeo administration History has a way of repeating itself. The justification for some of the major projects made under the Jagdeo administration were that these projects did not result in any financial exposure for the state, no government funds were being held in equity and the projects would not add to the country’s national debt but would add economic benefits. Strangely, this is exactly the same explanations that we are receiving today from the City Council of Georgetown in relation to the parking meter that the Council is proposing. The justification for the deal is that the council does not stand to lose (no exposure); it is not investing any money into the project (no equity) and that the project will not add to its indebtedness (no debt) but would instead provide a source of revenues for the cash-strapped council (economic benefits).
We have been thrown right back into the Jagdeo era by these explanations which do not address any of the major concerns that have been expressed over this arrangement of the parking meters. There is the issue of due diligence. The City Council needs to state the checks that were done on the prospective companies that are involved in this deal. It needs to state also who conducted these checks on behalf of the Council. The second issue is the issue of transparency. Why has the contract or Memorandum of Understanding not yet been made available to the full Council? Why was this deal not discussed with the full Council so that it could have received the blessings of the city’s fathers and mothers? Why also did this contract not go to public tender to ensure that the best deal
available was on the table? The third issue is the lack of consultation with the people of the City. The present Council is only a couple of months old. It has taken some image- building actions by cleaning- up the city. The sustainability of the works, however, has been called into question because weeds have reappeared in the Le Repentir burial ground and in many of the drains since the last cleaning. The mosquitoes are once again swarming the city, many of the cleaned alleyways have not been maintained and there has been legal action halting some of the demolitions at Stabroek Square. The Council clearly could not have cleaned Georgetown without the assistance of Central Government or the private sector. It has not yet indicated the total amount of money that was spent in the clean-
Dem boys seh...
Soulja Bai mash up de parking meter deal Before de week out nuff people dun either disappear or dem gun holler. Some of dem crying already because when you tek people money and you don’t deliver is nuff trouble. Mr Park King was behaving like if he own de city. And dem boys seh that dem get to understand why Patricia Chase Green. He woulda call a council meeting and discuss de parking meter before he cut any deal. But Park King didn’t do that. He cut de deal and get Patricia to join wid him before she keep de council meeting. De Sherod boy talk till he get blue. He complain how de council didn’t know nutten. Then he see a posse go to Mexico. Somebody had to pay fuh that trip. Well Soulja Bai get de furniture minister to cut up de runnings because there was no consultation. Somebody
got to get back dem money. Dem boys expect people fuh talk and dem waiting to report. Of course, dem boys already set up a space in de paper to tek complain and dem willing to bet that de people who was setting up de meter gun be de first to complain. Dem gun talk about who and who dem give money and who pay fuh de trip to Mexico. Dem boys expect Ann de Yellow to complain too. She did park a lady but de story is something else. She seh that she teaching de lady de wuk because this same lady was not doing any wuk. A judge complain how de lady was not
going to court to represent dem abused children. Another lady seh that she never use to see de lady in she office. She use to deh driving around looking fuh something. And that is only part of de story. But she ain’t de only person wid a story. In fact, nuff people got story. Jagdeo got a story bout he chandelier wha he promise to sell to de Waterfalls boss man fuh US$20,000. But he was only bluffing. Dem boys gun talk more about that. Talk half and wait fuh hear de parking meter scandal.
Recreation does for you what it says literally. It creates you again. It refreshes the mind, renews the spirit, and motivates the body. Constant working towards some objective can do the opposite, unless we control it by rest and relaxation.
up exercise and how much of this was obtained from donation from the private sector. These disclosures are important in the interest of transparency. The lack of transparency is not much different also from what the government is doing in respect to the monies it received from private donors for the works at Durban Park. There has been no accounting to the nation for the monies spent and perhaps it is time that the media ask those companies which are suspected to have given monies to that project just how much was given. The City Council has to indicate how much was received from private individuals for the clean- up exercise. It has to provide the list of the contractors paid to do the work. It has to respond openly to some of the criticisms and allegations that are being made. If there is nothing to hide, there should be no obstacle to disclosure, other than for the purposes of contractual confidentiality. There is the issue of the legality of parking meters. The
Council no doubt feels that it has the authority to charge these fees for parking and for containers in the city. It seems to feel that the law empowers it to institute parking fees and container taxes. Well if it always had the power to do so, why then did it not do so for the past twenty odd years? What was preventing it from doing what it is doing now? If it does not need legislative changes to institute the parking meters and the container tax, then why did it not go ahead in the past with these revenue generating measures? If it does not need the consent of the Minister responsible for local government then why did it not go ahead with these taxes and fees under the PPP regime? The final issue that needs to be addressed is the issue of the readiness of the public for parking meters. The Council did experiment with privatizing the East Street parking square. The area which was developed by the Jagdeo administration as free parking for people who have
to go to the hospital was handed over to a private company to operate by City Hall even though the parking facility was developed with taxpayer’s monies. The public has rebelled against that imposition and the parking lot is now a white elephant. It is not being used as it is supposed to be used because the people cannot afford to pay for parking in Guyana. The Guyanese people are not yet ready for paid parking and for parking meters. The City Council is therefore risking its popularity by going ahead with a measure without adequate consultations with the people of Guyana. This ironically was the main problem that most Guyanese had with the PPPC. The PPPC was moving too fast to do things too big that a country that was not comfortable with the transparency with what was being done. The City Council must not become like the PPPC regime. It must show that it is different because we are in a different time. Are we?
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Monday June 20, 2016
====Freddie Kissoon column=====
Predicting Bryan Hunt’s frustrations The statements of outgoing Chief of Mission, Bryan Hunt, of the US Embassy have made the headlines at every media house in Guyana including internet news sites. Mr. Hunt was generally seen by the population as a diplomat that was concerned with the strengthening of democracy in this country. The analyst and historian will rate his time in Guyana with positive marks. Mr. Hunt has been speaking with intriguing candour the past few days. The forums have been media interviews and his address at his farewell party. He is gone. Like Jimmy Carter he came and went. The question
is, will he look back on this land in the next three years with deep chagrin at G u y a n a ’s c o n t i n u i n g morass as Carter did? Jimmy Carter came here and was enthralled at the breakthrough he made in the democratization of a t r o u b l e d T h i r d Wo r l d country. By the time the 1992 election results had soaked into the consciousness of everyone, J i m m y s a w h i s achievements in Guyana as another success in the efforts of the Carter Centre to make Third World countries freer and democratic By 2000, Jimmy Carter did not have positive things to say about the way post
1992 Guyana had turned out. He made statements to the effect that he was no longer interested in Guyana. From 1992 until 2015 when Carter came for the elections, the Carter Centre had no meaningful contact with the Guyana discourse. By contrast, Mr. Hunt was always lurking in the background with the Guyana discourse when he was head of the US Embassy in the absence of the resident Ambassador. The value of Hunt’s participation in Guyana’s political contours was similar to Carter’s. For a majority of Guyanese, once the US Embassy denounced authoritarian policies and oligarchic government, there could be a weakening of hegemonic control. H u n t ’s p a s s i o n f o r democratic changes was probably heightened by the uncouth and crass antiAmerican gesticulations of Education Minister, Priya Manickchand at the Ambassador’s residence at the 2014 Independence Anniversary of the US. The
rest is history. Hunt has gone to Mozambique but what he said is still being reported on and being analysed all over Guyana. Some of his observations are acute. The list includes constitutional change so that central power will no longer be a hegemon from which all power flows. He wants to see decentralization of power with authority transmitted to local communities who will have the power to make policies for themselves. Hunt believes that real concrete work must be done to realize social cohesion rather than conferences and workshops. But how well did Bryan know Guyana? How well does he know it even though he lived here for three years and a few months? Where did his knowledge of Guyana derive? From extensive studies on his own of the nature of this country? Or from what stakeholders told him when they sought desperately to dine with him? I don’t have the answer to those two questions; only
Mr. Hunt can answer them. But in fairness to the diplomat, I would think as the leading guy at the US Embassy in the absence of the Ambassador, he would have been engaged in constant study of the equations and contours of Guyanese politics. I could a n t i c i p a t e M r. H u n t responding by saying he arrived at his conclusions based not on what he digested from stakeholders but his own assessments. If he had his independent analyses, then Mr. Hunt should prepare himself for the cul-de-sac that Carter found himself in when he walked onto the highway of Guyana. The social and political life of this country is cruel and turns genuine intentions into graveyards. Will Mr. Hunt from his computer in his office in Maputo feel the pangs of satisfaction and mental comfort when he reads about the fundamental changes taking place in Guyana that he so desired for this country? Or will it be the route of
Frederick Kissoon Jimmy Carter? Will be look back at Guyana when his three years are up in Mozambique in 2019 and wonder why Guyana didn’t move forward since June 2016 when he left these shores? My advice to Bryan Hunt is to keep his fingers crossed. Mr. Hunt must be realistic to know that his massive effort in the local government theatre may not pay off. He has left Guyana at a time when local democracy is threatened. Shortly after the local government elections that Mr. Hunt so feverishly worked for, the elected City Council doesn’t look like it has any power. It doesn’t know what its employees are doing and it has no power to discipline them. What do you think of that Mr. Hunt? Goodbye and Good Luck!
Monday June 20, 2016
US University partners with NAREI, UG to bolster sweet potato production Sweet potato production in Guyana will be enhanced thanks to collaboration between the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), Partners of America (Local Chapter), the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the University of Guyana. A two-member team from UAPB comprising Dr. James Garner, Sweet Potato Specialist; and Dr. Edmund Buckner, Dean of School of Agriculture, recently visited Guyana to initiate the project implementation activities. They met with Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, and other key stakeholders including Chief Executive Officer of NAREI, Dr. Oudho Homenauth. Minister Holder expressed his gratitude to the UAPB team for selecting Guyana to be part of this important activity and pledged the Ministry’s full support for the project. The project duration is five years. The project, which is being funded by
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), will focus on improving seed quality in order to boost production and yields. Emphasis will be placed on the development of superior sweet potato lines as measured by horticultural quality, reduced virus infection and increased yield and soil pest resistance. Additionally, two local scientists would be trained in the areas of micro-propagation and biotech procedures needed to establish a virus tested sweet potato foundation seed programme. The successful implementation of this project will add to NAREI’s efforts in advancing sweet potato production. NAREI is currently conducting sweet potato trials at Mon Repos and Parika. The aim of the trials is to determine whether the use of sprinkler irrigation would increase yields. Further, NAREI is also engaged in the multiplication of different varieties of sweet potatoes.
Learning Channel to host programmes for hinterland communities There have been many complaints emanating from the hinterland communities about the lack of public information programmes which are aired on the Learning Channel. To remedy this information deficit, an agreement was recently made between Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnarine and Dr. Sita Roth, The Learning Channel Coordinator. According to a statement, the agreement will provide air time during non-primetime, late night, hours during weekdays and on midday and afternoon hours at weekends. It is expected that Public information and reports regarding work done by the Legislature, Judiciary and Executive will be communicated to hinterland residents. The change to the channel’s programming will
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reportedly not affect the channel’s core educational programming designed for children. “During weekdays, the late night timeslot is after traditional bedtime hours for children. At the weekends, many children are engaged in sports and recreational activities during the day and early evening” the statement said.
The new timeslots represent seven percent of the total weekly programming of the channel. Programmmes of national interest such as His Excellency President David Granger’s weekly Public Interest television programme and the Government Information Agency’s magazine together with other similar programmes will be broadcast over the station’s frequency. The channel currently broadcasts to 16 locations via satellite. The agreed time-slots are
22:30 hours to midnight on weekdays and 12:00 hours to 13:00 hours and 18:30 hours to 19:30 hours on weekends. The move has been dubbed as an effort geared at protecting the right of individuals to the access of information. Since the Office of the Prime Minister has the portfolio for information headed the successful negotiation process.
NICIL still to go after New GPC dividends The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) forensic audit report has highlighted that the company never pressed to collect dividends from the 10 percent shares Government has in New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC). Months, going on to a year after that audit has been completed; the new management of NICIL is still to discuss the matter. Ninety per cent of the shares in the company belong to Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, who happens to be the best friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo. The remaining 10 per cent is owned by Government and is under the management of NICIL. NICIL’s audit was done by Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran. Goolsarran stated that: “In relation to the New GPC Inc., by Cabinet approval of October 1999 and September 2001, the Government had sold 60 percent and 30 percent respectively of its shareholding in the predecessor company, the Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation, to Queens Atlantic Investments Inc. for $658 million. However, there
NICIL’s Chairman, Dr. Maurice Odle was no evidence that the New GPC paid any dividends to the Government for its 10 percent stake in the company.” Chairman of NICIL’s Board of Directors, Dr. Maurice Odle told Kaieteur News that NICIL is yet to discuss the matter moreover look into trying to retrieve dividends. The APNU+AFC government has been complaining that its predecessor—the People’s
Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C)—left the public purse almost empty. New GPC is a profitable company. During the reign of the PPP/C government, approximately 80 percent of government contracts for the procurement of drugs used to be handed to New GPC. Accumulated dividends for government’s 10 percent shares in New GPC may run into the billions. Yet, NICIL has not placed inquires about the absence of returns for government shares. “It just hasn’t come up in our discussions” is what Dr. Odle Kaieteur News. He said, “Firms don’t always pay dividends even when huge profits are being made.” Dr. Odle noted the possibility that New GPC may have decided to keep the money to reinvest. However, that remains a supposition as NICIL is yet to contact New GPC to get an understanding as to why dividends were not being paid. Dr. Odle said that the matter “might come up during the course of our (NICIL Board) discussions.”
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Monday June 20, 2016
Kaieteur News
Mystery fire guts Fatherless Father’s Day! Friendship home By Enid Joaquin
Ranks and a resident at the scene
A fire of unknown origin partially destroyed a Friendship, East Bank Demerara home yesterday. The fire reportedly started sometime around 12:00hrs at the west end of the Lot 13 Friendship building and quickly consumed most of the structure. When this publication arrived at the scene, fire fighters had already
extinguished the inferno and were dousing the smouldering remains. Grove businessman, Linden Gilgeous called ‘Rambo’ is now counting millions of dollars in damage. His wife, Padawattie Gilgeous, said that they were at their Creole Cuisine snackette located at the Times Square Mall, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara when
they were informed that there was a fire at their home. By the time they arrived, most of the building was already engulfed. Padawattie’s daughter, Diane Bharrat, and her husband also resided at the Friendship home. Neighbors on either side of the burnt home commended the fire fighters for their quick response which resulted in other homes being saved. They also commended public spirited citizens who helped in getting their furniture and other valuables out of their homes. One neighbor, Babita Nageer, stated that she had just returned from church and was about to have lunch when she heard shouts of “Fire! Fire!” Another neighbor, Deodat Ragnauth, said that after he saw the fire and raised an alarm he immediately began throwing water on the outer walls of his house. Investigations are ongoing.
Reflecting on my own father, whom I lost when I was just 14 years old, and others, who had no father to wish “Happy Father’s Day”, that famous Keith Lynn song,” Empty Chair”, comes to mind. Though Lynn was certainly not reminiscing about his father, the opening lines are certainly relevant for those of us that have lost our fathers. For some of us from the ‘old school’, these lyrics conjure up memories of our lost fathers, and ignite a burning nostalgia of those times that are gone forever. Oh how we wish that our dads could come back, and fill those empty chairs! No such luck, but the memories live on! Those fathers will never be around again, to be wished a happy Father ’s Day- but their memories live on, as a beacon in the lives of their offspring. Kaieteur News reminisces with some of the children who can no longer say,” Happy Father’s Day dad!” DELILAH PEARSONFORRESTER “I have such good memories of my father (Phillip Pearson), he was so much fun. He was always telling us stories. He told us stories of Kanaima and Massacurraman, and of his life back when he was living in Essequibo. He was a great father and a good friend to a lot of people. I clearly remember that at one time, we had almost twenty people living at usnot in the house, but in a logie that daddy had erected in our yard. All of these men he had brought from Essequibo and other parts of the country to get jobs with the Bauxite
Edgar Gravesande Company. Even your own father he brought from the Pomeroon to get a job here.” Delilah says that her father contributed in a big way in helping to populate the Linden community, especially the areas of Siberien and Old England. In most cases, the men never returned to their villages, but married local girls in the community. “Daddy was a little man in stature, but he was a big man in everything else. He was a school teacher, qualified surveyor, bush medicine man, hunter and fisherman. He was a good provider and caring man.” He was the father of thirteen. Phillip Pearson would have celebrated his hundredth birthday this September. He died last year. EDGAR GRAVESANDE Edgar Gravesande lived to the ripe old age of 93. He was the well-loved father of ten. Dead two years now, Gravesande will forever live on in the memories of his children, Grand children and great grand children. Doting daughter Judy Gravesande Noel had much to say about her dearly beloved Father. “Edgar Gravesande was a stalwart of a man. He was my hero! He imparted so many
Phillip Pearson
Waneright Hodge values in the lives of his children. I owe everything that I am and stand for, to my father. My mother was there and she certainly did her part in teaching us the finer things in life, but it was my father that instilled strong values in us.” Noel reminisced on all the things that her father taught them to do- like playing cricket and appreciating good music. He also taught them to dance. My father was a hard worker and a dedicated family man. He was also a very caring man.” Like Phillip Pearson, Gravesande brought a lot of persons from outside of Linden to get jobs at the Bauxite company. Originally from Berbice, quite a few of his country, (Continued on page 24)
Kaieteur News
Monday June 20, 2016
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91 students graduate from St. John’s Ambulance Brigade At a simple ceremony held last Saturday at the St. John’s Association Guyana, 91 students of the institution graduated from General First Aid, CPR and Home Nursing classes. Both friends and relatives attended the ceremony to celebrate with the now certified individuals. Delivering the Charge to the students was Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton, who said he has great admiration for the emphasis the St. John’s Association places on lifelong learning and the development of leadership skills. He added that these are qualities which will impact positively on the Guyanese society, specifically in the area of health care delivery. Dr. Norton remarked that the students are fortunate to be graduating from an institution which would have trained them very well. The Health Minister told the students that like the song they would have sung prior to his presentation “We are the World”, they are indeed the world; children of the world. Recognizing that the graduates could not have acted alone, Minister Norton congratulated the efforts of the parents and guardians of the students.
The Graduating Class from The St. John’s Ambulance Brigade (Seated Center: From Left, Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton; Chairman of the St. John’s Association Mr. Vibert Parvatan; Mr. Vincent Alexander and Dr. Holly Alexander) Norton in his closing remarks, committed to having the subvention which is allocated to the Association in the national budget, be significantly increased. Speaking with Kaieteur News, Chairman of the St. John’s Association Mr. Vibert Parvatan, said that aside from the 91 graduates a t t h e c e r e m o n y, t h e association also facilitates training for persons at the request of their employers. Parvatan noted that there is a greater awareness of the importance of first aid in Guyana. According to the chairman, employers have to comply with health
regulations. He noted that for the graduates, the programme is their first step along the path to a career in nursing, adding that many former students have become medical specialists and doctors. The chairman stated that the values of the organization are centred on Christian values and it encourages love and peace. He noted that treating the sick also requires qualities of
patience, love, tolerance and sympathy for the suffering. According to Parvatan, the major challenge which the Association faces centres on financing. He said that the fees which the students pay cannot keep the entity afloat. However, this deficit is subsidized by the charges made to commercial entities and donations by companies and private individuals. He specifically thanked Dr. Jose DaSilva who he said
contributes greatly to the well-being of the association. Parvatan added that the Brigade has divisions in Linden and Berbice and it is the focus of the Association to revive all the Brigades in the country. In the coming week, the Association will be hosting a week of activities. June 24, 2016 will be St. John the Baptist Day. Throughout the week, there will be an
outreach programme. Graduates will be visiting homes for the elderly, such as the Palms, Dharm Shala, Archer ’s Home, Uncle Eddie’s Homestead and the Gentle Women’s Relief Association. The group will also visit the City Mall on Camp Street to provide services to customers. Persons will benefit from blood pressure, blood pulse rate and sugar levels tests.
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Monday June 20, 2016
Spate of heinous murders raises calls for death penalty return A
young man is recorded on CCTV camera calmly beating an old woman to death in her home. Another woman is bound with duct-tape and burned to death in her residence, and intruders hack a business couple to death a few villages away. A thief slaughters a mother and two young sons in her bedroom. The skeletal remains a woman are unearthed from behind a fence in a Campbellville backyard. A retired professor is bound, beaten, robbed and strangled in his study. A band of pirates tosses three fishermen overboard after allegedly strapping them to an anchor. Within the past few months, it’s been one heinous murder after the next, with many of the perpetrators seemingly going to extremes to inflict torture on their victims, even when the victims presented no threat. Such was the case on August 1, 2015, when the battered body of 74-year-old Danrasie Ganesh, also known ‘Carmen’, was found in her Montrose, East Coast Demerara home. Security cameras at the premises later showed a young man repeatedly striking the defenceless Ganesh and calmly walking around her flat. Some three weeks later, police arrested and charged 27-year-old Colin Alleyne, of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, with Mrs. Ganesh’s murder. That murder was hardly forgotten when, on Monday January 4, 2016, a gang
Battered to death: Danrasie Ganesh, 74 invaded the Plantation Hope, West Coast Berbice home of 49-year-old Anita Baichan. Binding Mrs. Baichan and her 28-year-old son, Moshim Khan, with duct tape, the intruders then set the property alight. About a week later, grocery store owners Arthur Rajkumar, 81, and his reputed wife, Dianne Chamanlall, were robbed, beaten and chopped to death in their Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice home. Police investigations led to charges being laid against three young men, aged between 18 and 24, in connection with both cases. Rooplall Abrahim, 24, and 18-year-old Gocoul Madanpaul, were charged with Baichan’s murder. Madanpaul was also charged with Nazamadeen Raffick, who is also 18, for the murders of Arthur Rajkumar, 81, and his reputed wife, Dianne Chamanlall. In late September, 2012, the mutilated bodies of popular bar owner Jennifer Persaud, her six-year-oldold son, Afridi, and 15month-old Jadon, were found in their Anna Catherina, West Coast
Butchered: Arthur Rajkumar, 81
Anita Baichan, 49, bound and burnt to death
Murdered and buried in backyard: Babita sarjou
Beaten to death: Pairadeau Mars, 76
Butchered: Rajkumar’s reputed wife, Dianne Chamanlall
Murdered and buried: British citizen, Dominic Bernard, 18
Demerara home. Some four years would pass before police would announce that they had solved the case. Last April, police charged 31-year-old Abishai Caesar was yesterday charged with the murders of Jennifer Persaud and her sons. And on the night of April 19, Mohamed Munir, 75, and his wife, Bibi Jamila Munir, 69, were burned alive in their heavily-grilled two-storey home at Good Hope, West Bank Demerara. Police believe that bandits set the property alight after the victims raised an alarm. Neighbours had recalled hearing the couple screaming that intruders
were in the house and some even recalled seeing at least two individuals on the couple’s verandah. Police are still to track down their killers. The year actually began with the unearthing of a gruesome killing that had happened late in the previous year. On October 14, 2015, Dominic Bernard, an 18year-old British national, came to Guyana…and promptly vanished. On January 8, 2016, Bernard’s decomposed body was found in a shallow grave a t N u r n e y, C o r e n t y n e Berbice. A post mortem showed that he had been clubbed at the back of the head until his
skull fractured. The victim’s 23-year-old god-brother, Aaron Hing, and 24-year-old Staymon George called Sherwin, both o f K i l d o n a n Vi l l a g e , Corentyne, Berbice, have been charged with Bernard’s murder. And it was last May that a heinous murder came to light and a cold case was solved. That happened when police dug up a woman’s skeletal remains from behind a backyard fence in Seaforth Street, Campbellville. The remains are believed to belong to Babita Sarjou, who vanished without trace on November 4, 2010. The remains were found at the back of the house in
which Sarjou’s estranged husband, Shardanand Naraine, called “Anand”, resided. Narine, and Darryl Ponton, called “Yankee”, were subsequently charged with murder. On May 12, 75-year-old Pairadeau Mars, a retired professor and remigrant from the US, was found bound, gagged and beaten to death in the study room of his Lot 395 Bissessar Street, Prashad Nagar home. The following day, police arrested five teens in connection with Professor Mars’ murder. Among them were two girls, aged 15 and 17, and three young men, who have since been charged with murder.
Burnt to death in home: Mohamed Munir, 75, and his wife Bibi Jamila Munir, 69
Kaieteur News
Monday June 20, 2016
PAGE 15
Pres. Granger opposes death penalty “Some feel that the death penalty is a deterrent and some feel that it is not…but David Granger does not have any intention of approving the execution of anyone…” - Pres. Granger By: Kiana Wilburg
W
hat really d e t e r s potential criminals; the certainty of punishment or the severity of it? For those who believe i n t h e l a t t e r, c a p i t a l punishment ranks as an appropriately extreme sanction for the worst of the worst in societies. But the death penalty proves to be a sensitive topic and there are many elements that are at play when leading public figures try to take a stance on whether it should be abolished. Commenting on the “eye for an eye” form of punishment, President David Granger agrees that his Government has not made public its unified position on the subject. In an interview with Kaieteur News on the show, The Public Interest, the Head of State acknowledged Government has allowed the death penalty to remain in the statute books, but made it clear that no one has been executed in a couple of decades. In fact, the last execution in Guyana was conducted on August 25, 1997. Two men were hanged that day. Michael Archer and Peter Adams were executed for the 1986 murder of Rasheeda Khan of Corentyne, Berbice during a robbery. Prior to that, Ayube Khan, a drug addict, was hanged on February 12, 1996, for murdering a s c h o o l b o y. K h a n h a d stabbed the child to death in the Sacred Heart School yard while stealing the boy’s bicycle. F o u r m o n t h s l a t e r,
President, David Granger Rockcliffe Ross, also a drug addict, was executed on February 12, 1996, for the murder of Vibert Mohan, who was robbed and knifed to death on his first day at work. The President said, “…Some feel that the death penalty is a deterrent and some feel that it is not…some feel that the death penalty is perhaps best kept on the books as a last resort…but David Granger does not have any intention of approving the execution of anyone.” While there is no single statement out of the Government on whether it will abolish the death penalty, the President said that in due course, his administration will arrive at a position. For the time being, there are opposing views. But outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission, Bryan Hunt made it clear during a recent interview that he believes the death penalty is an appropriate punishment for certain heinous crimes. He said that he would not encourage Guyana to make swift moves to remove it from its books.
“I don’t think our views are hidden on this matter. The USA does not believe that the death penalty is in and of itself cruel and unusual punishment. We do not believe that it needs to be necessarily abolished. We believe that at the federal level and in the vast majority of our states that there are certain heinous crimes for which the death penalty is appropriate. “We believe that there are some people who cannot be rehabilitated through the prison system or pose such a grave risk to the society and that the state has the authority to decide that the death penalty should be applied through a fair judicial process. And I think that if we are going to talk about the death penalty from the USA point of view then that’s what matters to us.” The US diplomat said that if someone is going to be executed, then USA would consider such to be perfectly acceptable, but it should be limited in its application. Hunt stressed that the death penalty should be applied through due process of law and after a free and fair trial where the accused is afforded all of the rights that are appropriate to a criminally accused individual. “We believe that only after that, where a person’s g u i l t h a s b e e n overwhelmingly established and it has been shown that the crime or the person is beyond rehabilitation, then the death penalty should be applied. We also believe that there should be an open appellate process to ensure that that person has the right to prove that he or she has
- US, UK, differ “We believe that there are certain heinous crimes for which the death penalty is appropriate. We believe that there are some people who cannot be rehabilitated, or pose such a grave risk to the society and that the state has the authority to decide that the death penalty should be applied through a fair judicial process…” - Deputy Chief of Mission, Bryan Hunt been wrongfully convicted. The US diplomat said that if Guyana is to continue with the death penalty then it must ensure that due process of law is applied and it is used in a limited manner. While Hunt holds this view, the United Kingdom which has been supportive of the abolition of this form of punishment globally, encourages Guyana to follow the same route. This is according to UK High Commissioner, James Quinn. Quinn said he would not only add that Guyana should remove the death penalty from its law books but the UK would also encourage the nation to do so swiftly. Kaieteur News had interviewed Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan on the matter and he made it clear that he is “completely against” the death penalty. Ramjattan professed that he has the statistics to show that the use of such an extreme form of punishment is not a deterrent. The Public Security Minister was reminded, however, of his Government’s stance in the National Assembly when it piloted the amended AntiMoney Laundering and
Outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission, Bryan Hunt 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, it would work. Ramjattan noted in the same breath nonetheless, 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 asserted that while he is against the death penalty, he believes that there are some cases
where it 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 they 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 not a single individual 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, executions and kidnappings. While Jagdeo holds the aforementioned view, the UK High Commissioner noted that there are no circumstances under which (Continued on page 18)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 18
Monday June 20, 2016
Bullet now lodged near shot teen waitress’ spine Onika Luke, the 16 yearold school girl who was shot in the face by a gunman during a robbery at an East Coast Demerara restaurant is in a stable condition although doctors have still been unable to remove a bullet lodged near her spine. This is according to her brother, Wendell Ranjee, who spoke briefly on his sister’s condition with this newspaper on Saturday. Ranjee said her condition has improved, but the operation has been delayed because doctors said that the bullet has moved from
Luke’s neck to an area near her spine. Because of this, Ranjee said that doctors told him that it would be dangerous to perform the surgery, because it would put her life at risk. “The bullet has moved from her neck and gone by her spine. Doctors say it is a very dangerous area. Any operation on her would be risky they said,” Ranjee disclosed. The sibling said that the injured teen is still unable to eat and breathe on her own. However, he said that she is now talking and doctors are
waiting for her to recover in full before they operate. Two weeks ago, one of the teenager’s relatives had told this newspaper that the bullet passed through Luke’s windpipe and esophagus, causing damages to both organs. The relative related that this was the reason for doctors postponing surgery. Luke, of Lot 1 Vryheid Lusts, East Coast Demerara was shot on May 28, by a man who had visited the Lucky Start located at Better Hope, East Coast Demerara restaurant to order a meal. While paying for the
meal, the man grabbed Luke, who was behind some grill work and pointed a firearm at her while demanding cash. When she resisted, he shot her in the face and escaped. The bullet passed through her chin and was lodged in her throat at the time she was admitted to the hospital. Her left thumb was also shot off. The teen attends the St. John’s College and had been working part time at the restaurant after school hours. Police are still to find the gunman as investigations continue.
Onika Luke sitting on her bed with her aunt fixing her hair, while her mother stands to the right
Robbery suspect with toy gun shot A man who police said was wanted for several offences was shot in the thigh during a confrontation with lawmen at Scotsburg, Corentyne, Berbice. Police identified the suspect as Kevin Padmore, 22, called “Bully”, of Scotsburg , Corentyne. Kaieteur News understands that he was wanted for armed robbery and other serious offences. Police in a release stated that about 10:20hrs, ranks at Springlands Police Station received information via telephone that a person who was wanted for questioning in relation to several offences, was in a house at Scottsburg. A party of policemen searched the house but found no one. However, while searching through the high bushes in the surrounding area, a constable who was armed with a shotgun, came in contact with the suspect. Police said that the fugitive was shot in the right thigh “during the process of arrest.” The suspect, on whose person, a toy gun was found, was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital and was later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital and admitted, under police guard. His condition is regarded as stable.
Hopetown woman missing The McCallum/ Reddock family of Hopetown Village, West Coast Berbice is pleading for the safe return of their mother and aunt who went missing on Tuesday, June 7. Sixty-two-year-old Desriee Anita McCallum, who is five-feet in height and brown in complexion, was last seen wearing blue denim jeans, a black top, and a pair of black slippers. She was also carrying a black hand bag. She was last seen near the Passport Office, Camp Street, Georgetown. Anyone knowing of her whereabouts is asked to
Missing: Desriee Anita McCallum contact her nieces Nakasia Logan on 601-0782, Melissa ‘’Vanilla’’ Roberts on 663 2121, 2261304, 689-6325, 232-0375, 232-9016 or the nearest police station.
Pres. Granger opposes... (From page 15) the UK believes that the use of the death penalty is legitimate. He noted too that even though it is the Government’s prerogative to pass the laws it wants, the UK’s view remains that there are no circumstances in which the death penalty is an appropriate sentence.
Kaieteur News
Monday June 20, 2016
PAGE 19
At Men’s Health week event…
More women than men seek medical attention
T
he belief that G u y a n e s e women are more health-conscious than their men-folk was borne out last Saturday, when more females than males turned out for medical check-ups at a Men’s Health Week event at Berbice. Doctors from the New Amsterdam Hospital held the outreach on the Banks DIH tarmac at Main and New Streets, New Amsterdam. The activity was held during Men’s Health Week, which ended on Father’s Day. Men’s Health Week is held to give health care providers, public policy makers, the media and individuals an opportunity to encourage men to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease, injury and any signs of illness. Speaking to the media, spokesman- Dr. Dedon Johashen stated that men do not usually visit hospitals or health institutions to have medical checkups. A decision was taken to hold an outreach and take the medical service to them; thus the busy Main Street area was selected. He also stated that with the ministry being renamed Ministry of Public Health, part of the aim is to take health activities to the public. According to Dr Johashen, about six doctors, along with lab technicians, pharmacy representatives and nurses were on hand to treat the patients. The turnout was encouraging and patients were treated for various ailments, while
some were referred to the New Amsterdam hospital. Patients were also tested for diabetes and had their blood pressure tested among other medical checkups. According to Dr Johashen, although it was an activity to observe Men’s Health Week, the event was open to all and quite surprisingly, more females turned out for medical attention than males. Activities of similar nature were held at other locations throughout the country and according to Dr. Johashen, there are plans to have an activity of such nature on a regular basis. It was during a Men’s Health Week Walk in Georgetown that Chief M e d i c a l O f f i c e r D r. Shamdeo Persaud stated that Guyanese women tend to outnumber men by seven to one, primarily because men usually die earlier than women. Dr. Persaud had attributed this factor to ‘toxic’ habits, such as lack of exercise, abuse of alcohol
and tobacco smoking. At the same event, Dr. Adu-Krow, PAHO/WHO Representative in Guyana, said that “men are generally not health-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 healthseeking behaviour in the male population.”
Irony? A doctor tends to one of the women who turned up at the Men’s Health event
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Kaieteur News
Monday June 20, 2016
President envisions Iwokrama as ‘biodiversity, botany, zoology’ centre President David Granger became the first sitting Head of State to cross the Canopy Walkway at Iwokrama
President David Granger and First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger with the children of Surama Village who came out to greet them
P
resident David Granger and First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger got a first-hand look at operations at the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, during a two-day visit to the area, which is located in Potaro-Siparuni Region (Region Eight), some 300 kilometres South of Georgetown. The President and First Lady were greeted at the Surama Airstrip by Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and residents of Surama Village before embarking on their journey by road to the Iwokrama Centre. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Speaking to the gathering at the Surama Village Office, the President reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to sustaining Iwokrama and ensuring that it becomes a workable model for development and environmental protection. “We cannot develop this country unless we learn the lesson of Iwokrama; the lesson of biodiversity, sustainable development, renewable energy, climate change and living together, not in conflict, but in concert with nature… Unless we solve these problems, Guyana will continue to be poor,” President Granger said. Surama Village has set the bar for community-based tourism and environmental protection and the President expressed his Government’s appreciation to the residents for being in the forefront in this regard and urged them to continue working together to preserve the country’s natural patrimony for generations to come. INFRASTRUCTURE President Granger also spoke of the importance of proper infrastructure in the hinterland, the lack of which is a major impediment to development. He said that this is major priority for his Government and assured that these outlying areas will no longer be cut off from the coast. Work in this regard is on-going through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. In fact, the residents of Surama will be commissioning their rehabilitated airstrip. Additionally, works are in progress at the Fairview Airstrip. The President made an on-
site spot check on his way to the Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Centre. This airstrip, which be become a hub for flights to and from Iwokrama, is likely to be extended to about 4200 feet to facilitate larger aircrafts and cater for increased air traffic. This improved infrastructure will also allow for faster and easier access to the Centre, particularly to Guyanese and Caribbean students, as well as tourists and researchers from around the world. FIRST PRESIDENT TO CROSS THE CANOPY WALKWAY No trip to Iwokrama will be complete without having a glimpse of the birds-eye view of the forest from Canopy Walkway. The President and First Lady did not shy away from the steep trail to the walkway, which is suspended at some 33 metres (100 feet) from the forest floor, secured by steel cables. This was the first time in Guyana’s history that a sitting Head of State has crossed the canopy walkway. Standing on one of the platforms along the walkway, the President said, “I would like to see more Guyanese children get an opportunity to walk almost at tree-top level and to look out and see what a beautiful country we have. It fills me with a great sense of national pride and deepens my commitment to the environment and to this green agenda that we have adopted.” The Head of State explained that his vision for Iwokrama is for it to become, largely, a centre for education in biodiversity and conservation for Guyanese and the Caribbean Region. “It is a huge area of 371 square kilometres and there is room for a variety of activities and my emphasis will be on biodiversity, botany, zoology and focusing on protecting our flora and fauna and preserving our wildlife… We want to see this as part of the education system,” the President said. For many years, the Iwokrama Centre has been depending on donor funding. However, the President said that it is time for Guyanese to become more involved in the protection of the nation’s patrimony. He explained that while the Government has a significant role to play, corporate Guyana
President David Granger and First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger being given a guided tour of the Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Centre by Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Dane Gobin and civil society, too, must recognise the importance of Iwokrama not only to the green agenda but to livelihood in Guyana as a whole. “It is not going to be a Government project. It is going to be a national project and I expect that in the fullness of time, not only the Commonwealth would adopt it more fully, but the Caribbean Community will understand its importance to their future as well,” the President said. First Lady Mrs. Granger, who is happy to spend a few days away from the hustle and bustle of the City, said that Iwokrama will be a good laboratory for testing the country’s transition to clean energy and biodiversity and can play a major role for creating a new database of different species of flora and fauna. NEW FINANCIAL MODEL Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Iwokrama Centre, Dr. Dane Gobin said that Iwokrama is working to change its financial model as it cannot rely solely on donors anymore. In this regard, the Centre is embarking on a sustainable forestry project, which will be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). “This started last year, we have a joint venture with Farfan and Mendez and we are continuing to build capacity… We are actually looking for high value niche markets
and ultimately what we would like to do is to have an Iwokrama brand on this wood, which would stand for best practice, community integration and best environmental practice,” Dr. Gobin said. The Centre is also actively marketing itself through tourism. The CEO disclosed that Iwokrama gets an average of 1100-1300 tourists annually. He said that while this is not a large amount, it is a consistent figure. He said that with the advent of the rehabilitated Fairview Airstrip, the Centre will be looking to attract more visitors and thereby increasing its earnings. Additionally, the Centre is offering training services. Every year, it hosts Operation Wallacea, where a network of academics from European and North American universities conduct biodiversity and conservation expeditions. Dr. Gobin said that while the Centre does not make a lot of money from this venture, the research value is immense. The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation was established in 1996 through an agreement by the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat with the aim of managing and preserving 371,000 hectares of pristine rainforest. Former President, Desmond Hoyte Committed to the Iwokrama Rainforest Project in1989. (A Ministry of the Presidency feature)
Monday June 20, 2016
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Kaieteur News
FISHING AROUND The first banks I knew were in the family’s “rice land” where my father and other members of our extended family first built small clay or dirt walls, basically banks, to create little dams or water catchment areas. Later, in the rainy season, we slithered and slid through the mud, reaped the rice, beat the hell out of it, dried it on the road where I stood guard from the front step armed with some stones to throw at the birds and chickens which came for their share and finally, when they said “It ready”, watched as Saddoo ground it in his mill. The banks also kept in fish and I watched as, with little bamboo poles, small hooks, “fish” pots made with chicken wire and wood, and even with flour as well as worms as bait, they caught fish with names like cascadoo (cascadura), wahbeen or guabine, some of which jumped out of the water, coscorub, catfish, mama-teta and cutlass fish. What scared all of us were eels (jangie or zangie) which, I was warned, could “suck out youh toe”. Since we all went barefoot in the muddy water this was enough reason
for me to stay on the bank “helping”. Then I learned a different kind of “banking”. Technically this is really “bank fishing” and you stand or sit on a solid surface or bank next to a river, pond, lake or sea, and try to catch fish. This is different from “boat fishing” but in Trinidad, if you sit in a boat trying to catch the fish that live close to the bottom (demersal) you are also “banking”. My first experience with “banking” or putting my money into a financial institution for the said organisation to use my pittance for its own unspecified purposes known broadly as “investing”, essentially to make money for itself, build big offices and pay its staff more money than I got, was when on the urging of my Aunt Doris, my father gave me money to open an account in what was then a national institution which, like all other national institutions in Trinidad, was based in Port-of-Spain. This one was the “Penny Bank”. The theory was that you could deposit “small” as opposed to “big” money and build up your savings over a lifetime.
The fact that the Penny and other Government-run Banks failed during my lifetime, and in fact the penny itself was devalued many times, did not help me to build any confidence in banking. Actually, my banking for fish was safer since I was never sold down the river, thrown in at the deep end or found myself drowning in the murky depths of high finance. My second experience was in what was called a “Post Office” bank and my father again gave me some money to put into a savings “scheme” run by the Government through the postal system. In Trinidad, “confidence” tricksters or “con-men” are also called “schemers” and almost every Government venture is a scheme. There is a National Insurance Scheme, endless Housing schemes, and even more waiting in the political wings while the schematics are being prepared. Needless to say, the one thing you can be sure about is that like the Post Office bank, the schemes eventually collapse and many people are left high and dry mainly because they can use their few remaining assets to buy over-proof or “puncheon
No honour in stealing another... (From page 16) support our artistes at these events and how we create opportunities for their development. For instance, in Barbados, you can get a loan from a bank to do music and the Government supports that loan and you can take that to record a song and do tours and half of the profits go back to the loan. If you fall short then the Government supports that loan. That does not happen in Guyana and it also goes to show that you never put a politician in charge of culture. I know it’s a tough job but I don’t think they have a
clue of where they are and where they want to go. KN: How do you think the Government can play its part in supporting and building a strong music industry in Guyana? DP: Well first let me make it clear that building a strong industry would require not only effort on the part of the Government but also the musicians and all those involved in the sector in some shape or form. But to answer your question, the Government can play a part in trying to ensure that Copyright legislation is in full force. They can also do their
part by creating opportunities for musicians and artistes to be groomed locally and assist them in accessing training programmes regionally and internationally. By doing this, we would help to improve the standards for the sector and even the caliber of persons we have leading it. Also, we need to have more platforms locally for our artistes to have a chance to grow and make an actual living off of what they are doing. We can’t only remember our musicians when we have national events. That is just not acceptable.
rum” and in many parts of Trinidad there is, and has never been, a continuity of supply of running water. My most recent banking experience also left me high and dry but in the sense of being stranded. I’ve had a “debit” card from Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) (or Royal Bank of Trinidad and TobagoRBTT) for the past eighteen years. More than a week ago, it was “declined” by a supermarket. I went home, checked my online internet banking account, and found that my money was still there. It was not fished or “phished”, a term well-known to all forms of banking. Satisfied, I tried another store. Declined again. I then called the “card” center of the bank to be told that my card was stopped because someone had “skimmed” (another universal banking and fishing term) an ATM at which I had used my card and the bank then declared my card null, void and useless and would issue me another card whenever I could go to
my home branch and get it. I had received no notice from the Bank about this and there was none posted anywhere. As far as I know there was no announcement. Because I have a “secure” internet banking account, it should have been easy for RBC to send me a message but I got none. In fact, I had more luck with fishing online (using nylon) than banking. Fortunately, I called the Manager of my “parent” or “home” branch, an extremely helpful lady, to send the new card to the branch closest to where I am now based, and after another mix-up eventually got it and “pinned” it. I was hooked once more on RBC’s concept of customer service banking. . RBC is the largest bank in Canada with a record profit in 2015 of $10billion. Because of its attempt to increase all its rates, fees and charges, it faces a widespread customer
rebellion and even “withdrawal” (which as Onan found has a relatively huge cost as well) in Canada and elsewhere (including the Caribbean). I saw a post on www.consumeraffairs.com listing the top 165 complaints about RBC. There are many complaints about its lack of customer relations and the nickel-and-diming which characterizes its operations. It is a pity because most of the lower-level workers and managers are very friendly but seem to lack any input into the decision-making. In fishing terms, they are in the same boat as the rest of us and all we can do is carp until the liquidity goes and the money flow dries up like one of the little ponds my family built. *Tony Deyal was last seen saying that the eels which suck off your toe also disappear when the dry season comes.
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SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING& PUBLISHINGINC–TEL:6004212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Building Construction: house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362 Ramdass Visa application & immigration services, room A-4, Maraj Building, Georgetown. Call Samantha: 227-0295; 615-9295 Hello the doctor is back! Have your gas stove repaired and serviced. Call: 601-0595; 220-4073 Guy Tech Repairs Service & Spares: Solar system, deep fryer, pizza oven, etc. Call: 684-2119; 680-2377 Guy Tech Repairs Service & Spares: treadmill, washing machine, refrigerator, pressure pump, air condition, etc. Call: 684-2119; 680-2377
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Lower 2 bedrooms apartment @ Paradise Public Road, E.C.D. Security Deposit required -$40,000 monthly. Call: 625-9939 1 Bedroom bottom flat apartment at 174 Triumph E.C.D- Call: 220-7987
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 1- Cat 320 BL excavator, 1 Cat 428 Back Hoe, 1-930 Cat loader, 1-Cat D44 bulldozer. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 1-Pneumatic Roller 9 wheels, 1-55 Leyland Daf Truck. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225
VEHICLE FOR SALE Honda Civic M/Car PSS $1.4M, Kawaski Ninja 250cc M/Cycle -$375,000 –Call: 6962815 Mazda RX8 – Call: 602-6024 One silver colour RAV 4 J PNN 6469, excellent condition – Call: 625-2323; 254-0530 1 Long base canter -$2M, 1 short base Canter -$1.2M, 1212 car -$1M, 1 RZ bus $1M, 1 Galant - $800,000 – Call: 604-6724 One 4 wheel drive, automatic, extra cab, Toyota Hilux, GSS series. Call: 6140107; 692-8923 Toyota Voxy/ Noah unregistered, 2008 model $2.5M. Call: 603-9700 2001 Tacoma, 4 Cylinder, 3RZ engine, AC, very good condition- $1.6M negotiable –Call: 617-7113
CAR RENTAL CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494 FOR SALE/RENT American pool table – Call: 277-0578
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Corner property in Grove, 1 block from Main Road- Flat House, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572 Lot 133 Diamond New Scheme Housing Scheme, EBD Call: 678-7186 or fhamid121@gmail.com
Cat 928F Loader, Cat 3116, 3406 and Cummins L10 Engine, Miller Welder, Light Tower. Contact # 661-9096 2-Daf 45 10-Ton Flatbed Truck, 1-Kobelco Sk160 Excavator-4D34 Engine. Contact #661-9096 New Arrivals! Handbag set, wholesale quantities available fragrances paradise: (inside triple ‘N’ Supermarket, Pouderoyen, W.B.D - Call: 600-1559 1 Complete high volume, 3stage water purification systems, UV light, water tanks, freezer, reasonable , owner migrating – Call: 6498430 Lot 32 Princess St. Wortmanville, GeorgetownCall: 621-8767 1- 1999 Suzuki sidekick, 4 doors, good condition. Call: 655-1965 1-DX 225 Doosan Excavator, very good condition. Call: 610-0001 Forever Stylish boutique: turn key business, located at Sharon’s - Call:592-6677544
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 6435122, 656-0087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL @YAHOO. COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 TO LET Rooms in Albertown –Call: 225-3234
Monday June 20, 2016
Kaieteur News
Property for sale in prime commercial location in Rose Hall Town, 2 lots for $6M (50X120)- Call: 683-5629 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities–Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 House & land 150X100 @ 6 Good Hope EBE, Double Lot @ 41&44 Vergenogen E.B.E, Double lot (business spot) @ Zeelugt. Call: 642-6642 One flat house 2 bedrooms at Grove New Scheme 2nd Bridge, large land space -$11M. Call: 626-1263/ 680-9593 La Parfaite Harmonie -$20M, $25M, $6M, New Road -$17M, $2.5M, La Grange Public Road $18M. Call: 604-6724 Zeelugt-(2)storey concrete building, Good Hope-(2)storey concrete building, Tel:2319690,231-9693 call between 8:00hrs-16:00hrs (Mon-Fri). Parfaite Harmony-(2) storey wooden & concrete building. Prices negotiable. Tel:2319690,231-9693 call between 8:00hrs-16:00hrs (Mon-Fri). 2 Storey 5 bedroom (2 selfcontained) wooden & concrete, with concrete fence, garage (space for 6 vehicles). Call: 6140107; 692-8923 1 Front building & 1 -2 storey back building @ 180 Charlotte Street Bourda (30X120), price negotiable- Call: 226-5183; 227-6817; 624-7341 Enmore: Hope West, 1-two storey 3 bedrooms wooden building, overlooking FoulisCall: 602-2818; 649-1434 NOTICE Splashmin’s Resort has moved. We are now located at 52 Hadfield Street behind GT&T- Call: 223-7301-3
VACANCY Welder / Fabricator must have experience-Contact 223-5273/4 Autocad Technician to draw parts and components contact 2235273/4 Hair/nail & barber stations for rental, discounts for new comers @ New Market St. Call: 638-1106 Truck Porter to travel in and out of Interior. Call: 618-2020 Exist for cashiers and salesclerks @ Nirva Supermarket, apply in person with written application. Call: 227-5771 One male janitor/cleaner, apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling. GME Realty is seeking agents -$50,000 + commission with experienced & $20,000 inexperienced until qualify. Text:648-2345/ email: gmereal estateagency@outlook.com One Spa specialist with knowledge of acrylic nails, pedicure & massage. Call: 696-7337 for details. One Experienced Hauler driver, apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling. Porters apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling. Sales Representative (valid driver licence), Marketing Executive, Industrial Mechanic & Electrician. Apply to: jkeshwani.alesie@gmail.com Call: 269-0058 Experienced sewing machine operators.Apply in person @ R Sookraj & Sons 108 Regent Street (OPP. GBTI) Marketing Representative between ages 25-35years old, must have driver’s License. Call: 223-0090 EDUCATIONAL I.A.E Classes for CSEC January/June 2017: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subject for Students, Adults & repeaters. Call: 683-5742
Two -20ft Container chassis for sale- price $1,260,000 each for information call: 623-1615
Summer classes for children age 5-17yrs, Form 1-5, CXC classes. Call: 690-5008; 6602152
Any original Nissan Parts @ affordable prices, X-Trail, pick up, patrol Blue Bird, 2WD & 4WD belt & tensioner). Call: 676-3982; 625-4372
ACCOMMODATION
Register Now! Computerize Accounting -$30,000, Graphics Program -$30,000; PC repairs @ Micrographics, Vreed-en-Hoop. Call: 2643057
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman, Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 689-5997
Harmony Inn: clean, comfortable & affordable apartments/rooms, long & short term – Call: 668-0306; 218-1400; 694-7817
Computer Diploma 9 Courses -$35,000, summer computer classes for kids, register now @ Micrographics, Vreed-enHoop. Call: 264-3057
WANTED Live in waitress –Call: 645-4543 Experienced professional cook/pastry maker, cashiers with computers skills @ Annabel Bistro, 36 Public Road La Grange W.B.D –Call: 678-3400 Hallow Blocks maker- Call: 233-2767 Live in waitress to work in a bar @ Berbice- Call: 6046606; 692-4649 Live-in experienced waitress 1825yrs, boarding & lodging free, salary $70,000-$80,000 monthly – Call: 610- 5043 One experienced sales clerk between ages 18-28 – apply within- Call: 225-8831 Driver & Porter to sell water on East Coast. Apply at Nimbus Water Tel # 231-7002 1 Driver for East Bank area – Call: 233-2745 Bus Driver- 40 years & older –Call: 665-2619 Waitress must be living in the vicinity of Leonora to Parika – Call: 642-6664 Experienced Driver apply in person with handwritten application @ Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 Waiters for new restaurant opening @ Giftland Mall; shift -6:30-15:00hrs & 15:0023:30hrs, training will be given. Call: 688-3617 WATCHMAN FOR COMPANY IN RUIMVELD WITH POLICE CLEARANCE & FLEXIBLE HOURS, (WEEKENDSAND NIGHTS). CALL: 231-8529; 231-8344 FOOD WHOLESALE COMPANY LOOKING FOR SALESPERSONS WITH EXPERINCED & VEHICLEPOLICE CLEARANCE A+. CALL: 231-8529; 231-8344 Girls to work in bar @ E.C.D location- Call: 612-2522 Needed one female cleaner to work in bond, apply in person to Alabama Trading, Georgetown, Ferry Stelling. Land @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Eccles & also vehicles. Call:604-6724 TO LET New self-contained 3 bedroom house, upper flat, security cameras; security lights, window screens @ Diamond, E.B.D. Call: 2260880; 603-0067 One two bedroom house, fully furnished in gated community to rent-Call: 6230156; 695-3150 Continued on page 23
Monday June 20, 2016
Misinformation about numbers in childcare protection DEAR EDITOR; This is being written to clear the misinformation that has been in the news this past week, which is purported to come from the Childcare & Protection Agency (CPA); the statement that “children in institutional care dropped by 25 percent.” This is a misrepresentation and not from CPA. What was presented is that the number of children in state residential care institutions - the Dropin-Center, Mahaica Children’s Home and the Sophia Care Center is now approximately 165 children which signify a reduction since towards the end of 2015 there were over 200 children in these three (3) institutions. At the beginning of 2016, with the presentation of the CPA statistical information, the figure of the total number of children in residential care was given as approximately 700. This figure is the sum total of the children in all the residential care institutions in the country. The number of child residential care institutions in the country is twenty-three (23) of which twenty (20) are privately owned and managed and the three (3) being state care centers as mentioned above. There was a mix-up in the presentation of the news
information relayed and the CPA had asked the news agency to correct after the first airing of the news. However, this was not done and the misinformation continues to be published. It is imperative that journalists seek to ensure that all information published is factual and clear. Further, I wish to state that the reduction of the children in the state care centers is due to the renewed effort of reunification of children to biological families and the development of the foster care programme. The policy of the agency is the promotion of family based care and institutional care as a last resort. If there is an alternative other than admission to an institution that option will be taken since children are better served in a family and the agency has a programme of the deinstitutionalization of children. The agency is appealing to persons to come and register to be foster parents. There is a screening process and initial training followed by ongoing training and support to ensure the children continued wellbeing. Ann Greene Director of Children Services & Head of Childcare & Protection Agency
THE UNION VERSUS GTT DEAR EDITOR; The boast by GTT “Do More” as being one of Guyana’s largest employers and decisions taken cater to staff welfare, customer service and long term sustainability of the Company must be dissected in order to get a clear picture of what obtains. As was stated in my pervious letter dated May 13th, 2016 and published on May 16, GTT continues to pay scant regards to its employees’ Health and Safety concerns. This fact cannot be disputed by GTT “Do More.” The Industrial Relations best practice being used by GTT is one where the Union is invited to meetings after the Company met with itself, consulted with itself, made decisions by itself and implement changes, regardless of the impact on the labour force and by extension the Labour laws, principles and practices. Never was the Union engaged on the withdrawal of transportation from the employees. The extant Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) between the parties speaks to meaningful engagement by Company with Union. The Company continues to further fracture the tenets of good Industrial Relations by having adhoc communication with employees in an environment that is full of fear. Thereafter, when the company finds its
back against the wall, then with haste they rush to inform the Union. The CLA is expressly clear and must be honoured by the parties. The historical transportation policy referred to outlines that the Company shall provide transportation to its employees. To say that transportation is a company discretion is far from the truth. The custom and practice over a number of years become law. Basic jurisprudence outlines that fact. Therefore any change to the condition of service must be renegotiated. The provision of transportation was always a prerequisite given the nature of the work of the Company. GTT conveniently and selectively compares itself to others within the Private Sector. Time and time again, the Union had cause to enlighten GTT that comparing GTT with the Public Sector is comparing cheese to chalk. The uncaring act of giving approximately two (2) weeks’ notice and henceforth stating that it was enough time for personal arrangement to be made is tantamount to brutality and clearly demonstrates the heartless nature of a company which prides itself as a caring entity. The commitment to Health and Safety of all employees should by no means be measured through the employment of a Health and
50 YEARS ON (OR OFF)?
From page 22 LAND FOR SALE 25 Acres land for sale @ Linden Highway –Call: 683-1521 Tuschen -$2.2M, $1.4M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.1M, $1.6M, $2.5M, $1.2M, Eccles -$5.5M, New Road V/Hoop $17M, $30M. Call: 604-6724
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Kaieteur News
From page 4 ‘real’. Fifty years ‘on’ they have all become ‘virtual’. Bread, pastry were then solid authentic edibles, whether made at home or in bakeries. 50 years ‘on’ the flour is admixed. Where has cassava flour gone? Mauby and lemonade were the reinvigorating drinks after physical exercise 50 years ‘off’; now the drinkers ‘lime’, consuming synthetic compounds promoted by cartoon-style advertisements –50 years ‘on’. 50 years ‘off’ we were entertained by European classics, local folk music; by piano, violin, cello; orchestras, choirs male and female –the artistes all local. 50 years ‘on’ the latter have been overlooked in preference to the foreign vocals of overseas performers. Even the local calypsonian is not remembered – particularly the one who was a politician. Most tragically perhaps 50 years ‘on’ no one pays respect to the classical ’Legend of Kaieteur’. Gone these 50 years are artisans: tinsmith, guttersmith, carpenter, cabinet-maker, plumber. Their products are now imported hardware, for saucepans, buckets have been replaced by plastic bags. 50 years ‘on’ there is hardly a tailor, dressmaker; just off-the-shelf, apart from occasional fashion shows (for women). 50 years ‘off’ Bourda was recognised as one of the preeminent cricket grounds in the world. It was also the mecca of international athletic and cyclesports. 50 years ‘on’ its appearance is perhaps less aesthetic than Bourda market. That its address is Shiv Chanderpaul Drive carries little meaning.
Admittedly there were the persistent explosions of communal violence preceding the first independence, and there was embedded a sense of collective insecurity. But none could have envisaged the proliferation of personal insecurity and domestic violence that obtain 50 years ‘on’; along with the spate of premature termination of individual lives. The political antipathies did not at the time impact substantively on the behaviour of the private sector who, however, 50 years ‘on’ boldly colluded with the ruling dispensation. 50 years ‘on’ the audit investigations have revalued the breadth and depth of corruption. 50 years ‘off’ the Morris ‘moto’car was built to last. Now there is the bountiful assurance of ‘auto’ spares to upkeep vehicles bought after the expiry date. That time doctors prescribed drugs which were legally imported. This time ‘lords’ export drugs –in rice, lumber, vegetables and transport them by mules. Nearly forgot, we only knew of ‘hard copies’ in those days. 50 years ‘on’, both the originals and the copies which pervade correspondence anywhere tend to be disconcertingly ‘soft’. How time tells! 50 years ‘off’ Stabroek Market clock was a reliable marker of time. Vending was conducted compliantly within its fences. 50 years ‘on’ the clock remains stock still –witnessing the hurried movement of displaced vendors. What a symbol. Time has stopped –50 years ‘off’. 50 years ‘off’ there was no NIS. 50 years ‘on’ (June 09, 2016 at 9:00 hrs. there was no NIS money at the neighbourhood post office.) E. B. John
Safety Officer. What about the physical, welfare and wellbeing of the employees? GTT “Do More” cannot pride itself as one of Guyana’s largest employers and continue to implement draconian measures that continues to demotivate and demoralise its long service employees. The Union calls on GTT Do More -one of Guyana’s largest employers to state with confidence:1. That the provision of transportation was not a negotiated agreement. 2. How many employees were ably assisted by the Company to acquire their own vehicles? 3. Why are Technicians made to work as a, ‘One Man Team,’ in addition to having to complete ten (10) jobs/work orders per day, despite the terrain and without any assistance? 4. Why is the Company ‘foot-dragging’ as it relates to the provisions of durable safety gears for its
employees? 5. Why is the Company misinterpreting the 40 hour Work Week Law by refusing to pay overtime to its employees although there is an order governing Regular Working Hours for All Workers in Guyana? GTT came into being to improve telecommunication in Guyana with conditions no less favourable. Its human resource therefore must always be treated with dignity and respect. With what has now become the norm, the Union has since referred the unilateral withdrawal of transportation from the employees by the company to the Chief Labour Officer for Conciliation. As was outlined before, all the transgressions by the company will be made know to the public. Violations of workers’ rights by the Company must stop and it must stop now. Mr. Harold Shepherd President, GPTWU
Do not agree with GTT picketers
DEAR EDITOR; Reading about the workers of GT&T striking was interesting. They are surely doing more, but wait! That is not for the public interest. That’s for their interest. Amongst them one might be responsible for answering the directory assistance’s number that you call when you need someone’s number and they are not answering. My aunt returns to Guyana and asks them to reconnect her phone because she had disconnect it before leaving. Over two weeks of waiting just for them to punch the instruction through the computer but alas, that person might be picketing outside. I’ll have to ask her to wait some more. You call to report your phone not working properly, screeching, grumblings etc., but weeks after they not investigating your complaints. Just look how fast they reach on the road to look after their interest. Some of them outside might be responsible for handling one of the various complaints daily but are too lazy to follow through, but he/she finds it fitting to brave the sun for their cause. The dailies are always being bombarded with complaints against GT&T and many of them outside are directly responsible but, do they act? What a minute! Amongst the various demands I didn’t see any request for a lower of the rates GT&T is charging the public the call to improve the service GTT providing to the public. Like the great artiste sings, ‘he who feels it, knows it’. Sure wish them luck in getting their interest look after, meanwhile the public will have to suffer a litter longer for a better service from GT&T especially from some of them. Sahadeo Bates
Do the City Councillors have any power? DEAR EDITOR; Kindly permit me to state my view on this matter that is necessary to the public. I find it very silly that a council which is a body of people cannot sanction the Town Clerk who is a paid staff of the council and only the Minister of Communities can so do. Then what really is the purpose of the members of that council? Why do they not have the responsibility to move a motion against the town clerk? Why would the town clerk or the mayor want to make a decision regarding a very important project of this nature without the full knowledge of the council members? That is something to ponder upon, and only time will tell. Ivan Bentham AFC Activist
Monday June 20, 2016
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DONALD TRUMP SUGGESTS It is disheartening, says ‘PROFILING’ OF MUSLIMS Ellington on enquiry findings Reuters - Republican Donald Trump said yesterday the United States should consider more racial profiling, in response to a question about whether he supported greater law enforcement scrutiny of Muslim Americans after the Orlando mass shooting. “I think profiling is something that we’re going to have to start thinking about as a country,” Trump told CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “You look at Israel and you look at others, and they do it and they do it successfully. And you know, I hate the concept of profiling, but we have to start using common sense,” he said when asked if he supported increased profiling of Muslims in America. Trump made similar comments last December about profiling the targeting of specific demographic groups for extra scrutiny, after a Muslim American and his wife killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California. Last week, Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for the Nov. 8 election, sparked criticism from many in his party for his comments on American Muslims after the Orlando attack last week Sunday, in which a U.S.born Muslim man killed 49 people at a gay nightclub. In a speech on national security the day after, Trump stood by his call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and proposed a suspension of immigration from countries with “a proven history of terrorism.” He also said the Muslim community had to “cooperate with law enforcement and turn in the people who they know are bad.” Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has said the comments show Trump is unfit to be president. The Florida gunman, Omar Mateen, was born in the United States to Afghan parents. During a three-hour siege at the club, he expressed support for Islamic State, but officials believe he was “self-
Donald Trump radicalized.” In his interview, Trump said there were “red flags” around Mateen, who had been investigated twice by the FBI but ultimately cleared. Trump also reiterated his support for more scrutiny of mosques, saying that could resemble a controversial New York City surveillance program that has been shut down.
“If you go to France right now, they’re doing it in France. In fact, in some instances they’re closing down mosques,” he said. Police in France closed some mosques shortly after gunmen aligned with Islamic State militants killed 130 people in Paris in a series of attacks on Nov. 13. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan endorsed Trump but has said a Muslim ban is not in U.S. interests. In excerpts of an NBC interview released on Friday, Ryan, the top elected U.S. Republican, said Republicans weighing whether to vote for Trump should follow their “conscience.” Trump brushed off the criticism yesterday and said he would put up his own money for his campaign if needed. “It would be nice if the Republicans stuck together,” Trump said in an ABC interview. “I can win, one way or another.”
Investigators examine damaged EgyptAir black boxes Reuters - Investigators have begun analysing the two severely damaged black boxes from EgyptAir flight MS804 as they seek to explain why the plane plunged into the sea, killing all 66 people on board. It would require “lots of time and effort” to fix the two badly damaged black box recorders, sources on Egypt’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee told Reuters yesterday. The committee said it started the analysis of the devices, with representatives from France and the United States, which are crucial to explaining why the Airbus A320 crashed on May 19 en route from Paris to Cairo. The memory units from both the Cockpit Voice Recorder and the Flight Data Recorder were extracted from the devices and dried in a military facility for eight hours, the committee said in a statement. Investigators are now conducting electrical tests on the memory units, the final step before trying to extract data.
The Gleaner - Retired Police Commissioner Owen Ellington says it is disheartening that a commission of enquiry is attempting to tarnish the good image and professional reputation of career police officers. Ellington made the observation in his response to the adverse findings made against him and other members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) by the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry. In its report that was made public last week, the threemember commission listed Assistant Commissioners Donovan Graham and Winchroy Budhoo among several high-ranking police officers who it said should never be allowed to lead or participate in future internal security operations.
Owen Ellington The commission, which investigated the conduct of
the May 2010 police-military operations in west Kingston, said Ellington was not included on that list because he was no longer a serving member of the JCF. However, in his response, which was also included in the report, the former top cop rejected criticism by the commission that his leadership of the JCF during the operations was weak. He noted that members of the JCF bravely placed their lives in grave danger to confront armed criminals and said it was disheartening that a commission of enquiry is attempting to tarnish their professional reputation.
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Iraqi camps overwhelmed as residents flee Falluja fighting Reuters Iraqi government-run camps struggled yesterday to shelter people fleeing Falluja, as the military battled Islamic State militants in the city’s northern districts. Prime Minister Haider alAbadi declared victory over the jihadists on Friday after troops reached the city centre, following a four-week U.S.-backed assault. But shooting, suicide bombs and mortar attacks continue. More than 82,000 civilians have evacuated Falluja, an hour’s drive west of Baghdad, since the campaign began and up to 25,000 more are likely on the move, the United Nations said. Yet camps are already overflowing with escapees who trekked several kilometers (miles) past Islamic State snipers and minefields in sweltering heat to find there was not even shade. “People have run and walked for days. They left
Iraqi soldiers help civilians, who fled from Falluja because of Islamic State violence, during a dust storm on the outskirts of Falluja, Iraq. REUTERS/Stringer Falluja with nothing,” said Lise Grande, U.N.
Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq. “They have nothing and they need everything.” The exodus, which is likely to be many times larger if an assault on the northern Islamic State stronghold of Mosul goes ahead as planned later this year, has taken the government and humanitarian
groups off guard. With attention focused for months on Mosul, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in May that the army would prioritize Falluja, the first Iraqi city seized by the militants in early 2014. He ordered measures on Saturday to help escapees
and 10 new camps will soon go up, but the government does not even have a handle on the number of displaced people, many of whom are stranded out in the open or packed several families to a tent. One site hosting around 1,800 people has only one latrine, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. “We implore the Iraqi government to take charge of this humanitarian disaster unfolding on our watch,” the aid group’s country director Nasr Muflahi said. Iraq’s cash-strapped government has struggled to meet basic needs for more than 3.4 million people across Iraq displaced by conflict, appealing for international funding and relying on local religious networks for support. Yet unlike other battles, where many civilians sought refuge in nearby cities or the capital, people fleeing Falluja have been barred from entering Baghdad, just 60 km (40 miles) away, and aid officials note a lack of community mobilization. Many Iraqis consider Falluja an irredeemable bulwark of Sunni Muslim militancy and regard anyone
still there when the assault began as an Islamic State supporter. A bastion of the Sunni insurgency against U.S. forces following the 2003 invasion, it was seen as a launchpad for bombings in Baghdad. The participation of Shi’ite militias in the battle alongside the army raised fears of sectarian killings, and the authorities have made arrests related to allegations that militiamen executed dozens of fleeing Sunni men. Formal government forces are screening men to prevent Islamic State militants from disguising themselves as civilians to slip out of Falluja. Thousands have been freed and scores referred to the courts, but many others remain unaccounted for, security sources told Reuters. At a camp in Amiriyat Falluja on Thursday, Fatima Khalifa said she had not heard from her husband and their 19-year-old son since they were taken from a nearby town two weeks earlier. “We don’t know where they are or where they were taken,” she said. “We don’t want rice or cooking oil, we just want our men.”
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Kaieteur News
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Monday June 20, 2016
Monday June 20, 2016
Kaieteur News
Reparations issue important to Barbados, says PM
Prime Minister Freundel Stuart chairing the meeting of reparation stakeholders recently. (B.Hinds/BGIS) BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) — Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has reiterated that “the reparations issue is not based on a diplomacy of protest, but on a diplomacy of engagement”. Stuart made the comments recently, while chairing a meeting of reparation stakeholders. Those present at the near three-hour meeting included minister of culture, Stephen Lashley; acting minister of foreign affairs, Steve Blackett; Barbados’ ambassador to CARICOM, Robert Morris; permanent secretaries Sonja Welch, Cecile Humphrey and Ruth Blackman; chairman of Barbados’ Task Force on Reparations, Professor Dr Pedro Welch; and director of the Commission of Pan African Affairs, Dr Deryck Murray. The prime minister said there had been deficits in the society as a result of the horrible experience of slavery and the transatlantic
slave trade and stressed that there was definitely a need for reparatory justice. “We can’t live our lives in the past, but there are legacy issues coming out of that slave experience … Reparations is therefore an important issue,” he said. Stuart noted that it would take some time to get to the destination that Barbados and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was seeking on the matter of reparations. “This will be a long process because even after we engage Europe, any programmes we agree on will take some time before they are implemented,” he stated. The prime minister also expressed the view that people in the community must be sensitised to the issue of slavery and its impact on both slaves and slave owners, so that the reparations flame could be kept burning. (Caribbean News)
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Kaieteur News
Britain’s rival EU camps resume campaign as polls show momentum for ‘In’ LONDON (Reuters) Campaigning for Britain’s vote on EU membership resumed yesterday after a three-day hiatus prompted by the killing of a pro-EU lawmaker, but pledges of a more respectful tone were quickly tested by a fresh row over immigration. Three opinion polls ahead of Thursday’s vote showed the ‘Remain’ camp recovering some momentum, although the overall picture remained one of an evenly split electorate. The killing of Jo Cox, a 41year-old mother of two young children, shocked Britain, raised questions about the tone of campaigning and could yet prove a defining moment in what is Britain’s biggest political decision for decades. Both sides sought to adopt a more measured style yesterday, paying their respects to Cox but sticking closely to the immigrationversus-economy debate that has defined the campaign. “I hope, because of the tragic death of Jo, we can have a less divisive political debate in our country,” Finance Minister George Osborne, a leading conservative ‘Remain’ campaigner, told ITV’s “Peston on Sunday” show. “Particularly in the last few days of this referendum we’re going to have less
FILE - In this June 16, 2016 file photo, Leader of the UK Independence Party Nigel Farage poses for the media in front of an EU referendum campaign poster in London. (Philip Toscano/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM O baseless assertion and inflammatory rhetoric and more reasoned argument and facts,” he said. Cox, a Labour Party lawmaker and ardent supporter of EU membership, was shot and stabbed in the street in her electoral district in northern England on Thursday. A 52-year-old man appeared in a London magistrate’s court on Saturday, charged with her murder. Both ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’
halted their campaigns until Sunday morning. But the heated nature of the debate, which has so far seen ‘In’ campaigners accused of scaremongering on the economy and the ‘Out’ campaign’s immigration focus criticized as divisive, soon resurfaced after the temporary truce. Osborne criticized as “disgusting and vile” a poster unveiled by ‘Leave’ campaigners last week showing a line of refugees
under the slogan “Breaking Point”, saying it was reminiscent of literature used in the 1930s. Prime Minister David Cameron said the poster was an attempt to scare voters and a senior member of his party, Sayeeda Warsi, said it had put her off voting for ‘Out’. She will now vote for ‘In’. “Are we prepared to tell lies, to spread hate and xenophobia just to win a campaign? For me that’s a step too far,” she told the
Times newspaper. UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage, who was pictured in front of the poster, said the EU had failed to control immigration properly and had compromised safety in Europe by allowing in religious extremists who wanted to attack Western states.”Something that is true can’t be a scare, can it?” Farage told BBC radio when asked about the poster. “It was a comment about us
being part of a European Union that is failing.” The official ‘Vote Leave’ campaign sought to distance itself from the poster but defended its focus on immigration - an issue that has resonated with many voters. “The debate in this referendum is about our lack of control over economic migration from parts of Europe whose economies are being destroyed by the euro,” said Vote Leave chairwoman Gisela Stuart. “This is now affecting families in Britain.” Anger at Cameron’s strategy of warning about the economic impact of a vote to leave the bloc also bubbled to the surface during a live debate on BBC television in which he was repeatedly quizzed over the claims by members of the public. “Why Prime Minister did you then say a short time ago that Britain outside the EU would prosper and be OK? Now you’re threatening a massive budget (cut),” asked one audience member on the “Question Time” show. Cameron responded by saying that he believed Britain could find a way to survive outside the EU, “but it’s my very, very clear view that it would be less good. ... We would suffer economically.” Earlier in the day, Farage appeared to indicate he thought Cox’s killing had had an adverse effect on the ‘Out’ campaign. “It has an impact on the campaign for everybody,” he told “Peston on Sunday” when asked whether it would affect the referendum outcome. “We did have momentum until this terrible tragedy.” The only opinion poll fully carried out since the killing showed support for “In” at 45 percent, ahead of “Out” on 42 percent - a reversal of the 3-point lead the pollster, Survation, showed for ‘Out’ in a poll conducted on Wednesday. Sterling rose more than a cent against the dollar as markets opened in Asia, according to Reuters data. Two other polls published on Saturday showed the ‘Remain’ campaign had regained its lead over ‘Leave’, while another showed the two camps running neck and neck. But pollsters said most of these surveys were carried out before Thursday’s attack and thus did not reflect the full impact of the event. “We are now in the final week of the referendum campaign and the swing back towards the status quo appears to be in full force,” Anthony Wells, a director with polling firm YouGov, said.
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Monday June 20, 2016
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Jamaica to amend Constitution to hire retired judges KINGSTON, Jamaica – In a move aimed at reducing the backlog of cases in the law courts, the Jamaica government says it is proposing changes to the Constitution that would allow judges to sit on the bench past the retirement age of 70. Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck said if the proposed Constitutional amendment is made, at least 20 judges will be able to “continue offering their yeoman’s service and expertise to the judiciary and assist significantly to reducing the backlog over the medium term”. “I will be calling on Cabinet and the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service to provide the necessary funding to support this initiative,” he told Parliament last week. Chuck acknowledged that there are delays in administration of justice and that opens the door for malpractice, corruption, and misconduct. “While this is not an assessment of the quality of the judiciary in Jamaica, it is important to maintain a high standard of judicial efficiency so that there is no reason for delays in our courts. By early
Delroy Chuck
2017, I would like to be able to say that no case older than five years exists in either the civil or criminal jurisdiction of the Supreme Court,” the minister. He added that once that is accomplished, the focus would be on trying all cases over four years and that by 2020 all cases in the Supreme Court will be tried within three years. Chuck said a similar goal would be put in place for Parish Courts. “The target is that by early 2017, there should be no case
untried in the Parish Court for more than three years and by the end of 2017, no case should be on the list in these Courts for over two years,” he said. To achieve that, the Justice Minister said, especially in criminal cases, the Crown will be required to produce the witness statements, the ballistic, forensic and other medical reports necessary to complete the file within three months of an accused being charged and brought before the court. (Caribbean360)
A recent IDB report cites reasons for high electricity costs Daily Observer - A recent Inter-American Development Bank report has pointed to reasons why Antigua and Barbuda’s electricity costs are so high. The Energy Dossier on Antigua and Barbuda says the nation’s electricity prices not only rank among the highest in the world but are the highest among the Eastern Caribbean states. The report also notes the country is the wealthiest of the Eastern Caribbean states and also has the highest per capita consumption of electricity Meanwhile the report notes almost half of energy consumption comes from
transport mainly from the more than 30.5 thousand private vehicles. The report says consumption is made higher because large SUV-type vehicles are proportionately over-represented due to specific tax duty waivers and customs incentives The more than five thousand barrels of oil the country imports daily account for over 15 percent of GDP, well above the OECS average of 8 point 6 per cent. The report says APUA remains in financial difficulty because, despite charging some of the highest electricity retail rates in the OECS, it also has some of the highest
production costs. It adds the utility’s financial difficulties have affected the quality of the electricity services provided, and outages are common IDB says the cost of production varies widely based on the operating efficiency of the plants and ranges from EC$0.43/kWh to EC$1.24/kWh Because APC’s newer plants generate electricity much cheaper APUA buys the vast majority of the electricity it distributes. But significantly 17 per cent of that is lost in transmission – according to latest figures – that is however a major improvement from the 30 per cent that was being lost in 2008. The government also spends around 5.2 million EC annually subsidizing electricity and water to more than 700 civil servants, public officials, and senior citizens. The report notes the absence of blanket subsidies such as the elimination of the value-added tax below a certain limit to encourage conservation.
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Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean... From page 34 Imzamam-ul-haq 53 Aamir Sohail 33 Wasim Akram 39 not out Rameez Raja 26 Bowling for the West Indies Courtney Walsh 2 for 46 from 10 overs Curtly Ambrose 1 for 44 from 10 overs Carl Hooper 1 for 28 from 10 overs Anderson Cummings 1 for 37 from 8 overs West Indies 244 for 5 in 50 overs Desmond Haynes 82 Carl Hooper 69 not out Richie Richardson 41 Bowling for Pakistan Aamir Sohail 1 for 43 from 10 overs Imran Nazir 1 for 25 from 6 overs Wasim Akram 1 for 50 from 10 overs Waqar Younis 1 for 54 from 10 overs 12th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs Australia March 18th 1995 GCC Bourda West Indies won by 5 wickets. Australia 286 for 9 in 50 overs Mark Waugh 70 Mark Taylor 60 Michael Slater 41 Ian Healy 36 Bowling for the West Indies Carl Hooper 3 for 36 from 10 overs West Indies 287 for 5 in 47.2 overs Phillip Simmons 70 James Adams 60 not out Carl Hooper 50 Stuart Williams 45 Roland Holder 34 not out Bowling for Australia Paul Reiffel 2 for 48 from 10 overs 13th I.D.O played in Guyana West Indies vs New Zealand 4th April 1996 GCC Bourda New Zealand won by 4 runs. New Zealand 158 all out 35.5 overs Craig Spearman 41 Chris Cairns 29 Nathan Astle 20 Lee Germon 20 Bowling for West Indies Laurie Williams 3 for 16 from 4.5 overs Curtley Ambrose 2 for 33 from 7 overs Phillip Simmons 2 for 42 from 10 overs West Indies 154 all out Roland Holder 49 not out James Abams 23 Bowling for New Zealand Chris Cairns 2 for 17 from 5.1 overs Gavin Larsen 3 for 38 from 10 overs Justin Vaughn 2 for 26 from 7 14th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs Australia 21st April 1999 GCC Bourda Matched Tied, Math referee made decision after crowd invaded the field on the delivery of the final ball. The match was reduced to 30 overs per side after rain delayed start of play. West Indies 173 for 5 in 30 overs Sherwin Campbell 41 Ridley Jacobs 33 Stuart Williams 30 not out Shivnarine Chanderpaul 27 Bowling for Australia Shane Lee 3 for 39 from 6 overs Shane Warne 2 for 35 from 6 overs Australia 173 for 7 in 30 overs Steve Waugh 72 not out Adam Gilchrist 44 Bowling for West Indies Mervin Dillon 3 for 25 from 6.1 overs
Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge follow the action, Caribbean Premier League, Port-of-Spain, August 11, 2013. (Getty Images) Phillip Simmons 2 for 25 from 4 overs 15th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies v England April 19th 2004 GCC Bourda England won by 2 wickets. West Indies made 156 for 5 in 30 overs Shivnarine Chanderpaul 84 Sylvester Joseph 23 not out Bowling for England Andrew Flintoff 2 for 22 Darren Gough 2 for 22 England 157 for 8 in 29.3 overs Andrew Strauss 29 Marcus Trescothick 25 Ian Blackwell 27 Chris Read 27 Bowling for West Indies Chris Gayle 3 for 20 from 5 overs 16th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies v Zimbabwe May 8th 2006 GCC Bourda West Indies won by 83 runs. West Indies 333 for 6 in 50 overs Shivnarine Chanderpaul 93 Runako Moriton 79 Brian Lara 56 Ramnaresh Sarwan 40 Bowling for Zimbabwe Utseya 1 for 48 from 10 overs Zimbabwe 251 for 7 in 50 overs Elton Chigumbura 60 Vusi Sibanda 52 Justin Chibhabha 40 Bowling for West Indies Fidel Edwards 3 for 42 in 10 overs 17th O.D.I played in Guyana South Africa vs Sri Lanka March 29th 2007 Providence National Stadium This match was the first One Day International played at Providence National Stadium (World Cup 2007). South Africa won by 1 wicket. Sri Lanka 209 all out in 49.3 overs Tillekeratni Dilshan 58 Russell Ronald 50 Sanath Jayasurya 26 Bowling for South Africa Charl Langeveldt 5 for 39 from 10 overs South Africa 212 for 9 in 48.2 overs Jacques Kallis 86 Graham Smith 59 Herscelle Gibbs 31 Bowling for Sri Lanka Lasith Malinga 4 for 44 including the first helmet trick in a O.D.I Muttiah Muralitharam 3 for 34 from 10 overs
18th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs Sri Lanka April 1st 2007 Providence National Stadium Sri Lanka won by 113 runs (World Cup 2007) Sri Lanka 303 for 5 in 50 overs Sanath Jayasurya 115 ( first century scored at Providence National Stadium) Mahela Jayawardene 82 Tillekeratne Dilshan 39 not out Bowling for West Indies Darren Powell 2 for 38 from 10 overs West Indies 190 all out Shivnarine Chanderpaul 76 Ramnaresh Sarwan 44 Bowling for Sri Lanka Sanath Jayasurya 3 for 38 from 6 overs 19th O.D.I played in Guyana South Africa vs Bangladesh Providence National Stadium Bangladesh won by 67 runs ( World Cup 2007) Bangladesh 251 for 8 Mohammed Ashruful 87 Aftab Ahmed 35 Bowling for South Africa Andre Nel 5 for 45 from 10 overs South Africa 184 all out in 48.4 overs Uerschelle Gibbs 56 not out Jacques Kallis 32 Bowling for Bangladesh Abdul Razzak 3 for 35 from 9.4 overs 20th O.D.I played in Guyana New Zealand vs Ireland 10th April 2007 Providence National Stadium New Zealand won by 129 runs. ( World Cup 2007) New Zealand 263 for 8 in 50 overs. Peter Fulton 83 Brendon Mccullum 47 James Franklin 34 not out Bowling for Ireland A White 2 for 44 from 10 overs Langford Smith 2 for 41 from 10 overs Ireland 134 all out in 37.4 overs Kevin O’Brien 47 Bowling for New Zealand Daniel Vetori 4 for 24 from 8.4 overs Shane Bond 2 for 18 Depak Patel 2 for 32 21st O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs England March 20th 2008 Providence National Stadium England won by Duckworth/Lewis System England 270 in 50 overs Paul Collingwood 67
Owais Shaw 62 Ravi Bopara 43 Bowling for West Indies Kieran Pollard 2 for 46 West Indies 244 for 7 in 46.2 overs Lendl Simmons 62 Ramnaresh Sarwan 57 Shivnarine Chanderpaul 46 Kieran Pollard 42 Bowling for England Stuart Board 3 for 41 James Anderson 2 for 39 21st O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs England March 21st 2009 Providence National Stadium West Indies won by 21 runs. West Indies 264 for 8 in 50 overs Shivnarine Chanderpaul 112 not out Ramnaresh Sarwan 74 Bowling for England James Anderson 3 for 37 England 243 all out in 48.2 overs Andrew Strauss 105 Bowling for West Indies Kieran Pollard 2 for 46 Dwayne Bravo 2 for 40 22nd O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs Zimbabwe March 6th 2010 Providence National Stadium West Indies won by 2 wickets. Zimbabwe made 206 all out in 50 overs Elton Chigumbura 50 Brandon Taylor 47 Bowling for West Indies Kemar Roach 3 for 37 from 9.5 overs West Indies 211 for 8 Chris Gayle 88 Narsingh Deonarine 65 not out Bowling for Zimbabwe Ray Price and Creamer took 2 wickets each. 23rd O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs Pakistan May 5th
2011 Providence National Stadium West Indies won by 10 wickets. Pakistan 139 all out Mohamed Hafeez 55 Umar Akmal 24 Bowling for West Indies Ravi Rampaul 2 for 45 from 10 overs Darren Sammy 3 for 30 from 10 overs West Indies 140 without lost Lendl Simmons 77 not out Kirt Edwards 40 not out 24th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs Pakistan July 15th 2013 Providence National Stadium Pakistan won by 126 runs. Pakistan 224 for 9 in 50 overs Shahid Afridi 76 Misbal Ul-Haq 52 Bowling for West Indies Kemar Roach 2 for 37 Dwayne Bravo 2 for 52 West Indies 98 all out in 41 overs Marlon Samuels 25 Darren Sammy 21 not out Bowling for Pakistan Shahid Afridi 7 for 12 from 9 overs 25th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies v Pakistan July 16th 2013 Providence National Stadium West Indies won by 37 runs. West Indies made 232 for 8 in 50 overs Darren Bravo 54 Dwayne Bravo 43 not out Johnson Charles 31 Kieran Pollard 30 Bowling for Pakistan Shahid Afridi 3 for 25 from 10 overs Saeed Ajmal 2 for 45 from 10 overs Pakistan 195 all out in 47 .5 overs N. Jamshed 54 Umal Akmal 50 Bowling for the West Indies Sunil Narine 4 for 25
Desmond Haynes clips a boundary to leg, West Indies v Australia, Barbados, March 1, 1991. (Getty Images)
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One Day International Played in Guyana 1977 -2013
Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean Albion, GCC Bourda and that hosted ODIs at three venues Providence Stadium Statistician Charwayne Walker notes that, The records will show that Antigua and Barbuda hosted One Day International Matches at the Antigua Recreational Ground (ARG) and the Vivian Richards Stadium. Grenada hosted ODIs at the Queens Park in St. George’s and the National Stadium but Guyana’s three venues stands alone: Albion Sports Complex, GCC Bourda and the Providence Stadium. Strange enough Guyana’s Albion Sports Complex was the venue where the inaugural One Day International was hosted in the West Indies 39 years ago March 6th 1977. West Indies won by 4 wickets. Barbadian Desmond Leo Haynes featured three unbeaten centuries, 133 not out verses Australia 1984 at Albion, 145 not out verses New Zealand at Albion 1985 and 152 not out verses India 1989 at GCC Bourda is still never matched in an ODI in Guyana. So is Pakistani Shahid Afridi 7 wickets for 12 runs against the West Indies at Providence in 2013. Not forgetting Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga’s helmet-trick against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup at Providence National Stadium.
Please find below ODIs played in Guyana from 1977 -2013. Pakistan vs West Indies March 16th 1977, Albion Sports Complex West Indies won by 4 wickets. Pakistan 176 Skipper Asif Iqbal 59 Imran Khan 39 Majid Khan 29 Bowling for West Indies Joel Garner 3 for 27 from 9 overs Colin Croft 3 for 50 9 overs West Indies 182 for 6 Skipper Clive Lloyd 45 not out Roy Federicks 44 Alvin Kallicharran 24 Bernard Julien 20 Bowling for Pakistan Sarfraz Nawaz 2 for 42 from 9 overs Man of the Match Asfi Iqbal 2nd O.D.I played in Guyana Albion Sports Complex February 26h 1981 West Indies defeated England by 6 wickets. England 137 All out Mike Gatting 29 Skipper Ian Botham 27 Peter Willey 21 Bowling for West Indies Larry Gomes 3 for 30, 10 overs
Colin Croft 3 for 9, 6.2 overs Andy Roberts 3 for 17, 7 overs. West Indies 138 for 4 Desmond Haynes 48 Skipper Clive Lloyd 25 not out Everton Mattis 24 Larry Gomes 22 not out Bowling for England John Emburey 2 for 23 from 10 overs 3rd O.D.D played in Guyana West Indies vs India March 29th 1983, Albion Sports Complex. India won by 25 runs. India 281 for 5 in 47 overs. Sunil Gavaskar 90 Kapil Dav 72 Mahinder Amarnath 30 Ravi Shastri 30 Bowling for the West Indies Winston Davis 1 for 40 from 8 overs Andy Roberts 1 for 44 Malcom Marshal 1 for 23 Vivian Richards 1 for 44 West Indies 255 for 9, 47 overs Vivian Richards 64 Jeffrey Dujon 53 not out Faoud Bacchus 52 Larry Gomes 26 Bowling for India Ravi Shastri 3for 48 from 8 overs Kapil Dev 2 for 23 from 10 overs Sandhu 2 for 38
Madan Lall 2 for 65 4th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs Australia March 4th 1984 Albion Sports Complex West Indies won by 8 wickets. Australia 231 for 5 in 50 overs Steve Smith 60 Greg Ritchie 46 Kepler Wessels 44 Dean Jones 43 not out Bowling for the West Indies Larry Gomes 3 for 34 from 10 overs Vivian Richards 1 for 38 from 10 overs West Indies 232 for 2 Desmond Haynes 133 not out Richie Richardson 61 Gordon Greenidge 23 Bowling for Australia Terry Alderman 1 for 62 from 10 overs Carl Rackeman 1 for 64 from 10 overs 5th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs New Zealand, April 14th 1985 at Albion Sports Complex West Indies won by 120 runs. West Indies 259 for 5 Desmond Haynes 145 not out Vivian Richards 51 Augustine Logie 26 Bowling for New Zealand Gary Troupe, Lance Cairns and Richard Hardlee took one wicket each. New Zealand 129 all out, 48.1 over Lance Cairns 28 Bowling for West Indies Larry Gomes 2 for 6 Roger Harper 2 for 35 6th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs Pakistan, March 30th 1988 GCC Bourda West Indies won by 7 wickets. Pakistan 221 for 7 in 43 overs Javed Maindad 100 not out Rameez Raja 67 Imran Khan 17 Bowling for West Indies Anthony Gray 3 for 44 from 10 overs Malcom Marshall 1 for 42 from 10 overs Courtney Walsh 1 for 50 from 10 overs West Indies 225 for 3 in 37 overs Phillip Simmons 79 Richie Richardson 68 Gordon Greenidge 26 not out Bowling for Pakistan Imran Khan 2 for 59 from 6 overs Wasim Akram 1 for 62 from 10 overs 7th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs India Marcch 31st 1989 GCC Bourda West Indies won by 101 runs. West Indies 289 for 2 Desmond Haynes 152 not out Gordon Greenidge 80 Richie Richardson 42 Bowling for India Chetan Sharma 1 for 38 from 7.5 overs Ajay Sharma 1 for 42 from 7 overs India 188 for 8 in 44 overs Kapil Dav 38 Ajay Sharma 30 Dilip Vensarkar 22 Kiran More 20 not out Bowling for the West Indies Vivian Richards 3 for 43 from 10 overs Courtney Walsh 2 for 27 from 9 overs
Ian Bishop 1 for 15 from 5 overs Curtly Ambrose I for 18 from 5 overs 8th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies v England 7th March 1990, GCC Bourda West Indies won by 6 wickets England 188 for 8 in 48 overs Wayne Larkins 34 Grayham Gooch 33 Jack Russell 28 Allen Lamb 21 Bowling for West Indies Courtney Walsh 2 for 33 from 10 overs Ian Bishop 2 for 41 from 10 overs Ezra Moseley 2 for 44 from 9 overs West Indies 191 for 4 in 45.2 overs Carlisle Best 100 Desmond Haynes 50 Richie Richardson 19 Carl Hooper 16 not out Bowling for England David Capel 1 for 39 for 9 overs Eddie Hemmings 1 for 22 from 10 overs Angus Fraser 1 for 42 from 10 overs 9th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs England 15th March 1990 GCC Bourda West Indies won by 7 wickets England 166 for 9 in 49 overs Skipper Graham Gooch 42 Robert Bailey 42 Jack Russell 19 Bowling for West Indies Curtley Ambrose 4 for 18 from 9.1 overs Ian Bishop 2 for 22 from 7 overs Carl Hooper 2 for 25 from 10 overs West Indies 167 for 3 in 40.2 overs Gordon Greenidge 77 Clayton Lambert 48 Carl Hooper 19 not out Bowling for England Gladstone Small 1 for 32 from 7 overs Angus Fraser 1 for 33 from 9.2 overs Eddie Hemmings 1 for 37 from 10 overs 10th O.D.I played in Guyana West Indies vs Australia March 20th 1991 GCC Bourda Australia won by 6 wickets West Indies 251 all out in 49.5 overs Richie Richardson 94 Desmond Haynes 58 Philip Simmons 34 Bowling for Australia Craig Mcdermott 3 for 29 from 10 overs Mervin Hughes 3 for 33 from 9.5 overs Peter Taylor 2 for 45 from 10 overs Australia 254 for 4 Jeoff Marsh 106 not out Skipper Allan Border 60 Steve Waugh 26 not out Bowling for West Indies Patrick Patterson 1 for 34 from 6.5 overs Carl Hooper 1 for 45 from 10 overs Courtney Walsh 1 for 54 from 10 overs 11th O.D.I played in Guyana Pakistan v West Indies April 2nd 1993 GCC Bourda Matched tied, ICC match referee decision after crowd invaded field. Pakistan 244 for 6 in 50 overs. Basit Ali 57 Continued on page 33
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17th Castrol Father’s Day Cycle Road Race UNSTOPPABLE! Orville raises his hands in triumph as to signal victory in the 17th annual Castrol Father’s Day road race yesterday. (Franklin Wilson photo)
Hinds and Niles repeat as Overall and Veteran champs; Fraser-Green takes female race By Franklin Wilson Team Evolution’s Orville Hinds successfully defended the Castrol Father’s Day Road Race senior title when the 17th edition of the race was held yesterday on the West Demerara. Hinds’ opposition could not deter him from back to back wins even though the race route was shortened. The Linden born rider completed the 34mile race in One Hour 20 Minutes 53.01 Seconds comfortably winning the sprint home ahead of Junior Niles, Paul DeNobrega, Michael Anthony, Raynauth Jeffrey and Stephen Fernandes in that order. The sprint prizes went to Anthony and Silvio Inniss with 2 apiece, while there was one each for Hinds, Jeffrey, Niles and Alanzo Ambrose. Pedaling off at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara, the 35-cyclists apart from traversing the West Demerara Roadway also made their way into the new stretch of Road leading into Parfait Harmonie before going all the way to Uitvlugt and returning to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish. National Road Race and Time Trials queen, Claire Fraser-Green chalked up victory in the female category comfortably in a time of One
Hour 44 Minutes 37 Seconds. Christine Matheson took the second place. Another Road Race champion, Junior Niles who retained the Under-45 category on Saturday at the Guyana Cycling Federation 2016 National Championships, also made it two in a row in the Castrol event he won convincingly as he placed second overall to Hinds. A new junior winner was crowned, Jornel Yearwood of Linden won from Andrew Hicks and Brighton John. Stephen Fernandes and Paul Chho-Wee-Nam placed 2nd and 3rd in the veteran’s category to Niles. Ruling the roost among the mountain bike riders was Richard Charles from Stephan Gobin. Castrol Brand Manager Seon Daniels was on hand to distribute the cash and trophies to all outstanding performers of the event which was organised by National Cycling Coach, Hassan Mohamed. Attention will now be focused on the GCF Time Trials for seniors, juniors, juveniles and veterans on Saturday on the East Coast. The road race for seniors is set for Sunday around the outer circuit of the National Park and is expected to attract all the big guns locally and overseas based.
Murray downs Raonic to win record fifth Queen’s title (Reuters) Andy Murray became the first player to hold aloft the super-sized Queen’s Club trophy for a fifth time after he beat big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3 in the final of the Aegon Championships on Sunday. The British top seed’s title hopes appeared to be faltering when he trailed by a set and 3-0 down in the second set but the 2013 Wimbledon champion drew on his greater grasscourt pedigree to turn the match around. Murray, who also hoisted the trophy in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015, had shared the previous record of four Queen’s titles with seven other men, including Boris Becker, Roy Emerson and Raonic’s new grasscourt coach John McEnroe. However, a backhand volley into the net from Raonic allowed Murray to climb to the top of the pile and celebrate a winning start to his renewed coaching relationship with Ivan Lendl. “This tournament has loads of history... it’s a pleasure to play in front of someone like John (McEnroe)... and any time you can do something a bit better than someone like him, it’s an amazing feeling,” Murray said during the presentation ceremony. “To win here for a fifth time means a lot to me.” While McEnroe was among those applauding the champion, Lendl performed a
Andy Murray celebrates with the trophy. (Action Images via Reuters / Tony O’BrienLivepic)
swift disappearing act from Centre Court even before Murray had a chance to celebrate his victory. “It was nice of Ivan to stick around for the presentation!, joked Murray, who successfully defended the title at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament for the first time in his career. Raonic’s gamble to hire seven-times grand slam champion McEnroe appeared to be paying off as he looked set to win his first title on the lush green surface midway through the second set. The Canadian had reached the final without dropping serve all week and
when he led 3 - 0 i n t h e second set, it seemed that Murray would also fall under his spell. But a blistering crosscourt service return in the fifth game allowed the Scot to finally break Raonic’s momentum and from then on the Canadian third seed, who hurled down 14 aces, was powerless to stop Murray’s victory charge. “Congratulations to Andy for winning this tournament for a fifth time but I’m sure it’s not nearly as special as having your first fathers’ day as well,” Raonic said after contesting his first grasscourt final.
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GFA/Stag Premier League
Crandon says it’s a privilege to work with Harper Selected as
Santos arrest Police; Northern Rangers maul Beacon
Warriors Asst Coach Santos drew level with points leaders Western Tigers on account of a composed 4-1win over Police when play in the Georgetown Football Association / Stag Premier League continued at the GFC ground on Thursday night last. Also taking full points in their encounter were Northern Rangers who swamped Beacon 16-0. Santos virtually sealed full points before the half way point of their clash with Police which has been one of the hot teams in the league so far but Santos c o o l e d d o w n the law enforcement officers. Kevon McPherson in the 27th minute, Travis Jones in the 37th minute, Jermaine Castello – two minutes later and Anthio Wallace in the 58th minute were the players to score for Santos while Police’s consolation goal
Coach Crandon (centre) with spin twins Bishoo & Permaul who are both members of the Warriors set up this year. By Sean Devers For 34-year-old Esuan Crandon being named as Assistant Coach to Head Coach Roger Harper for the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2016 Hero’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) t20 tournament came as a surprise “Yes it came as a surprise to me, for the fact that I wasn’t involved with the Franchise before. I was driving my family in Georgetown in March and I received a call from Mr. Omar Khan (Manager of the Warriors) asking me if I was interested in being a part of the Amazon Warriors Franchise. A meeting was set up and it all materialized after,” the former Guyana pacer disclosed. Initially Crandon thought the Khan just needed him to work with the coaching staff during the camp and home games but was excited to just be a part of the Warriors set up. “First let me say it’s a great honour and privilege to be working with Mr. Harper for the first time as coach. His vast amount of knowledge and experience as a cricketer and coach over the years speaks volume. He worked with lots of regional and International players over the years. I am eager to learn new things and also share my knowledge and experience as well,” said Crandon, who has 90 wickets from 38 First-Class games. In 2010 Harper assisted with the preparation of the Guyana Amazon Conquerors
Monday June 20, 2016
Kaieteur News
for Champions League which toured South Africa and Crandon who played the last of 18 t20 games in 2011, was part of that squad as a player. “I have an idea of how he operates and I’m willing to compliment his coaching style,” Crandon disclosed. “I would say that my biggest challenge would be working with the International players for the first time. Obviously they are from different backgrounds and cultures. For me it all comes down to managing players by knowing your sport and players and understanding individual preferences, differences, strengths and weaknesses and plan your sessions to suit and ensure you support them appropriately,” said Guyana most successful First-Class Coach. Crandon said it would a little different from working with the Guyana team. “It’s a little different because the Guyana team consists of mainly Guyanese and one Barbadian plus I have been working with these players for a while now. On the other hand CPL is a huge tournament and the Warriors squad consists of players from Guyana, the different Caribbean Islands and International players. It is also different because I will be working under Mr. Harper as his assistant coach,” Crandon said. Crandon who made his First-Class debut in 2000 said
he was looking forward to working with the Head Coach and support staff along with the players and also get the opportunity to meet and converse with other coaches and International players as well. “I strongly believe as a coach when you engage with different coaches and players most of the time learning takes place and that in itself helps to develop your coaching skills,” said Coach Crandon. Crandon recently attended a Level 3 coaching course in Barbados and says that experience was certainly one to remember adding that that it will definitely contribute towards his development as coach. “I personally think that the course will better equip all the coaches to help develop West Indies cricket. Emphasis was placed on technical, tactical, mental and physical aspects of the game etc. We were also introduced to effectively assessing suspect bowling action and possible remediation drills to improve action,” Crandon said. His work will begin today when the Guyana based Franchise begin a one week camp with a morning fitness assessment session from 10:00hrs and ‘nets’ from noon at the Providence Stadium. The Warriors play their first game in St Kitts on June 30 before traveling to Trinidad for a game there on July 2. They have four home matches on July 7, 9, 10 & 12.
came off the boot of Wayne McLennon in the 60th minute. Northern Rangers ran riot on Beacons defence to rack up a phenomenal 16-0 win, the largest margin of victory in the league so far. This win was achieved through a helmet-trick from Shamar Semple and three hattricks from Sunil Logan, Stephon Reynolds and Nigel Denny, not a normal sight to see three treble’s in a single match. Semple rocked the nets in the 10th,19th, 48th and 52nd minute. Logan got his goals
in the 6th, 36th and 65th; Reynolds hit the network in the 8th, 12th and 22nd; Denny inked his name on the score sheets in the 60th, 74th and 77th minute, while there was one goal each for Devon Caesar (28th), Trevon Lewis (35th) and Gavin Bobb on the stroke of half time. Matches will continue tomorrow at the same venue when Santos will oppose Beacon from 18:00hrs with the main attraction between Western Tigers and Northern Rangers from 20:30hrs. (Franklin Wilson)
Latest Points Standings Teams Played Western Tigers 12 Santos 12 Police 12 Riddim Squad 12 Camptown 12 Flamingo 12 Northern Rangers 12 Beacon 12
Points 24 24 20 20 18 10 11 4
Regal sink Speed Boat, Parika Defenders triumph Regal and Parika Defenders recorded victories when the Wolf’s Challenge 20-over softball tournament continued yesterday at Malteenoes Sports Club. Regal defeated Speed Boat by seven wickets in the open category. Batting first Speed Boat managed 136-9 with Wasim Hossein scoring 21; extras contributed 15. Delroy Pereira grabbed 4-22 and Troy Kippins 2-7. Regal responded with 141-3 in 14.5 overs. Samuel Kingston struck four sixes in a top score of 39 while Chien Gittens got 31 (3x4,1x6). Parika Defenders beat Fishermen XI by 42 runs. Defenders took first strike and posted 196-7. Aftar Khan slammed 46, Beesham Singh made 45 while Ucil Armstrong and Ramesh Rambharose 18
Ucil Armstrong
Altaf Khan
each. Satro Seeraj claimed four wickets while Puran Singh two. Fishermen XI were limited
to 154-9 in reply. Sunil Dyal scored 33 and Robert Persaud 15; Armstrong bagged 6-12 and Devanand Kannan 3-22.
Russian Sports Minister says IAAF should be disbanded: R-Sport (Reuters) Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Sunday the world athletics governing body, the IAAF, has unfairly shifted blame for the doping scandal onto Russia’s athletics federation and should be disbanded, R-Sport news agency reported. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Saturday backed the IAAF’s decision to extend its ban on Russia for systematic doping, ending any slim hopes that Russian athletes might have had of competing at the Rio Games in August.
The decision is being contested by the Russian athletes: race-walkers Denis Nizhegorodov and Svetlana Vasilyeva launched an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the decision to uphold the doping ban, which would bar them from competing in Rio, All Sport news agency reported. The agency quoted Andrey Mitkov, a sports agent, as saying that the “class action” appeal will de delivered to the court in Lausanne on Tuesday.
Monday June 20, 2016
Kaieteur News
Mohabir spins T&T Lawyers to 4-wkt win against GT Lawyers
Sachi Seecharran smashes Ricardo Devers through cover during his important 63-run stand with Amir Mohamed on Sunday at Bourda.
Former T&T leg-spinner Ganesh Mohabir followed up his 2-14 on Saturday with 4-14 to spin the visiting Lawyers team to a four-wicket win against a Guyana Lawyers team at Bourda in a feature t20 game on Sunday. The 58-year-Mohabir with 100 FirstClass wickets in Shell Shield cricket, bowled four frugal overs to restrict a team which included players from both Guyana and T&T to 85 all out. Left-arm spinner Charles Ramson (2-7) and Amir Mohamed (2-8) supported Mohabir. Led by West Indies Lawyers players Sanjeev Datadin, one of three Guyanese in the Regional side, the Guyanese side slumped from 34-0 to lose 10 wickets for 51 runs after Low West (16) and Ganesh Hira (18) give their team a solid start before both were deceived and stumped of Mohabir. Dennis Paul, who hit Mohabir on top of the ‘old’ Kenny Whishart Stand in his 10, was the only other batsman to reach double figures. But the T&T team recovered from a terrible start to reach 85-6 with Mohamed (28*) and Sachi Seecharran (27) adding 63 for the sixth wicket to see their team to victory.
When the T&T team in reply collapsed to 19-5 with pacer Lyndon Amsterdam (3-7) ripping out a couple of batsmen. When former Guyana U-17 off-spinner Ricardo Devers removed West Indies Lawyers player Ramson for two with his second ball, the Trinis were in dire straits and seemingly heading a crushing defeat. But that was not to be as Mohamed and Seecharran embarked in ‘operation rebuild’ with an array of attacking shots. Mohamed dumped Devers for six and Seecharran deposited West for another maximum before elegantly cover-driving Ganesh Hira for a glorious boundary to bring up the 50 in the 10th over. Seecharran was bowled by Amsterdam with two required for victory but by then it was too little too late. Meanwhile, on Saturday, under a full Moon over Bourda and a few lights in the Rohan Kanhai stand the Guyana Lawyers team defeated their counterparts from T&T by 13 runs in their t20 encounter. The Guyanese Lawyers batted first and were restricted to 102-7 off 20 overs. The visitors began their reply on a traditional slow track and reached 89-7 when their overs expired. (Sean Devers)
Former T&T leg-spinner Ganesh Mohabir spun web around the batmen to capture 4-14 at Bourda on Sunday.
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Hockey Festival excites fans The exciting Igloo Hockey Festival being staged by the GCC Hockey Team at its home ground at Bourda produced some remarkable moments for kids and adults. The festival, the first of its kind being played on a miniature artificial hockey surface drew a sizable crowd of supporters to watch players from as young as 6 years old right up to those in their forties. The Under-8 mixed category started the morning off with the enthusiastic GCC Speed Racers outdueling the GCC Gummy
performance by Saints with both their teams entered making the semi-finals. Justin Dookie of Saints B is the competition’s top scorer of the day with 5 goals to his credit. Newcomers Phoenix HC however looks the team to beat and can prove worthy opponents for Saints on the second day of competition. The GCC Spartans created a minor upset over the Old Fort Shooting Stars when they secured an unexpected 5 – 2 victory in the girls under-17 competition. Newcomer Sarah Klauty showed good speed and skills for the Spartans in attack while Mickelly Rahaman was solid in defence. These two sides were to meet again yesterday where the Carolyn Deane led Stars were to be challenged
Branford and Omar Hopkinson. The open division of both male and female competitions saw two amazing battles both end on even scores between archrivals GCC and Hikers. Perennial favourites the Pizza Hut GCC girls were stunned in the opening minutes of the female matchup when the Hikers hammered home three unanswered goals in the opening minutes of the game. Led by an inspirational performance by striker Gabriella Xavier, who finished with a matchleading 4 goals, the Pizza Hut ladies clawed their way back into the match in the second half. Hikers national midfielders Maria Munroe and Marisha Fernandes
Hickers’ Teikeisha DeLeon displays excellent ball control as she goes for another goal at Bourda on Saturday evening. (Sean Devers photo)
Bears by 5 – 2 in their final match. Seven year old Grant Fernandes was the top scorer of the day with a haul of 6 goals in two matches. The under-10 mixed category saw the Hikers turn the tables on the GCC Thunderbolts after losing to them in the early rounds. With a second crack to topple the unbeaten Thunderbolts, the Hikers held on for a 0-0 draw at full time setting up the jubilant Federico Cush to score the winning goal in a penalty shootout for the Hikers victory. Saints and the GCC Warriors put in the most impressive scores on day one in the girls under 14 competition with both making the semi-finals yesterday against the Titans and the Flash respectively. The under-14 boys division saw another dominant
to find a solution for the audacious young Spartans. The GCC Rebels, Old Fort a n d P h o e n i x e m e rg e d unbeaten after the first day of the boys under-17 competition. They were be joined by Saints in the semifinals yesterday. The Old Fort Shooting Stars had their best showing in the girls under-21 division by defeating the powerful Hikers by 2-1. Carolyn Deane was in form again in this division as she claimed both of the goals for the victorious side. In the boys under-21, the GCC Rebels seem to be favourites going into the second day with a 10–3 caning of Saints. The Hikers and Old Fort however both made the semi-finals with an exciting 6-6 draw featuring amazing displays of skill by junior nationals Aroydy
would stretch GCC to their limit to deny the Hikers a win as their stellar performances took the game to the wire ending in a final score of 5-5. In almost the exact reverse to the females match, it was the GCC men who scored first against prematch favourites the Hikers. After closing the gap in short time, Hikers national striker Shane Samuels kept nudging his side ahead with some fine individual finishes but the surprising hero for GCC came in the form of junior Daniel Hooper who managed to neutralize the Hikers in defence and net a hatrick of his own. The men’s final score mimicked that of the ladies at 5-5 setting up an exciting final day when Old Fort, Saints and Vintage join the stage. The tournament was due to be concluded last evening.
Kaieteur News
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Monday June 20, 2016
Rosberg cruises to victory in Azerbaijan BAKU (Reuters) Nico Rosberg won the first Formula One grand prix held in Azerbaijan on Sunday to turn the championship tide and stretch his lead over frustrated Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton to 24 points. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was runner-up, 16.6 seconds behind, with Force India’s Mexican Sergio Perez on the podium for the second time in three races after overtaking Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari on the last lap. Rosberg started on pole position, led all the way and also set the fastest lap as he chalked up a fifth win in eight races this season. With 13 rounds remaining, the German has 141 points and Hamilton 117. “It was a special feeling out there in the car because it felt like I could do whatever I
Mercedes Formula One driver Nico Rosberg (L) of Germany celebrates winning the race with second placed Ferrari Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel (R) of Germany and third placed Force India Formula One driver Mexican Sergio Perez . (REUTERS/MAXIM SHEMETOV) wanted. The thing would just stick to the line, stick to the ground, there was no risk of making mistakes or
anything,” said Rosberg. While his cruise in the late afternoon sunshine turned out to be something of
a snooze for the global television audience, triple world champion Hamilton p r o v i d e d m o r e
entertainment. The Briton, who had been chasing his third win in a row but finished fifth, sounded increasingly frustrated over the radio as he wrestled with his car’s settings without the team being able to help because of a clampdown on ‘driver aids’. The problem eventually resolved itself. “This is ridiculous guys, I don’t know. I’m looking at my dash every five seconds trying to find a switch in the wrong position,” Hamilton said over the team radio. “I might not finish this race as I’m going to try and change everything,” he continued. “We don’t advise that, Lewis,” came the reply from the pitwall. “Can I make suggestions and you say if it’s OK or not?,” replied Hamilton. “No, that’s not allowed. Let’s just get our heads down and focus on the job,” he was told. SWITCH ERROR The Mercedes team’s non-executive chairman Niki Lauda told reporters it
was a question of engine modes and Rosberg had been able to fix his quicker than his team mate. However Mercedes later clarified that, saying the situation was more complicated. Rosberg had made a change that he could reverse whereas Hamilton’s had been pre-set before the race and he had no information about where to look. “All they can tell me is there is a switch error, so I am looking at every single switch thinking, ‘Am I being an idiot here? Have I done something wrong?’ I hadn’t,” said the Briton, who said the distraction had been dangerous. Raikkonen, who had allowed Vettel to pass him after collecting a time penalty for crossing the white lines at the pit lane entry, expressed similar exasperation to Ferrari. The outbursts were highlights on a day with none of the mayhem predicted after a series of accidents in the GP2 support series, in F1 practice and qualifying. Nobody crashed, the tight turns around the ancient city walls were safely negotiated by all and the 350km blast down the long main straight produced no drama. All but four cars finished. “I think people lost a lot of money because they were betting on a safety car. I was expecting a couple too,” said Vettel. Finland’s Valtteri Bottas finished sixth for Williams, with Australian Daniel Ricciardo seventh for Red Bull after starting on the front row. Dutch team mate Max Verstappen was eighth, Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg secured a double points finish for Force India in ninth and Brazilian Felipe Massa was 10th for Williams.
Director of Sport congratulates National Men’s 15’s Rugby Team The Director of Sport Mr. Christopher Jones and Commissioners of the National Sports Commission extend congratulations to the Guyana National Men’s 15’s Rugby Team (The Green Machine) on their recent win at the Rugby Americas North (RAN) South Zone championship where they defeated Trinidad 22-18, a release from the NSC stated. This win continues the dominance of the National Rugby Team and is testament to the hard work and dedication the players and coaches have put into the sport. The Guyana Rugby Football Union must be recognised at this time for its continued success as they maintain the standard of play to secure victory, the release concluded. The Guyanese team, trailing in the closing stages, fought back to score and win the contest in the dying stages and secure more regional glory in the sport for Guyana.
Kaieteur News
Monday June 20, 2016
PAGE 39
New Doubles Queens of the Court
Heimraj Resaul (left), Leyland Leacock, Umpire Jordan Beaton (right).
T
wo new doubles queens of the court have been crowned as Afruica Gentle and Cristy Campbell copped the GBTI Independence Jubilee Ladies Open Doubles championship title. The new partnership took on the top seeded ladies Aretta Dey and Nicola Ramdyhan in a contest of consistency and power. Gentle, who won the category last year with Carol Humphrey, created a flawless transition with Campbell. Gentle/Campbell played as if they had been partners for years. They started strong with a 5-1 lead. A little complacency crept in the game of Gentle/Campbell which was pounced on by Dey/Ramdyhan to close the lead to 5-3. However, the two resolved not to allow them back in the match and were seen whispering strategies to close out the set. Campbell stabilized the combo and converted to win the set easily at 6-3. The play of the second set mirrored the first but it was no wasting of time. Gentle/Campbell clenched a 6-1 advantage to engrave their names in the history as one of the outstanding lot that played at the GBTI Recreational Centre, winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-1. In a post-match interview, Cristy Campbell stated that, “It is a good feeling to win because my partner and I complimented each other very well and we communicated throughout the match. I believe communication was the key.” As the GBTI Independence Jubilee draws to a close, the quality of games has improved. Last Friday Men’s Open Singles fourth seed
Benjettan Osborne fell at the hands of assistant coach Nicholas Glasgow who has been working hard on his fitness in the last few months to make his mark. From the onset, the match was declared to be one of high drama and fierce groundstrokes as Osborne is not one to shy away from a challenge. A simple player analysis anticipated that Glasgow’s heavy serves and big ground strokes would play into the wheelhouse of Osborne who absorbs pace well and return with equal amount of power. However, Osbourne was caught off-guard by the low forehand and backhand slices of Glasgow, which was the biggest weapon against Osborne. This crippled the aggressive nature of his game and forced errors giving Glasgow a 5-3 lead. Past results shows that Osborne has the ability to dig deep and he proved that to be true as he
built his way back to 5-5 in the first set as Glasgow changed his game back to heavy forehands. Glasgow regrouped and reverted to his initial strategy and held serve and broke to close the set at 7-5. The second set had similar game style and prolonged rallies but an apparent injury hampered the movement of Osborne. A focused Glasgow wasted no time to secure the set at 6-2 and marched unto face #1 seed Anthony Downes in the semifinals which is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, June 21. After witnessing Afruica Gentle defeat her coach Shelly Daly in the Ladies Open Singles semifinals, spectators craved a similar outcome in Friday night’s match. The 14 yr old Heimraj Resaul fiercely challenged the Men’s Singles number two seed, Coach Leyland Leacock in the Men’s Open Singles quarterfinals. Leacock’s usual strategy is to prolong the game as long as possible to tire his opponent, this time being Resaul. From the strike of the first ball, Resaul showed a high level of composure and maturity against his coach. He was able to break with ease and consolidate to hold. He kept pressure on Leacock by extending a 3-0 lead and fueled by an unrelentingly energized crowd that showed a clear bias of cheers. Leacock sought to take control of the course of events by breaking and holding serve to 3-2. There was a change in atmosphere as Leacock edged to a 4-5 lead. It seemed the first set would be over in an anticlimax as Leyland furthered his closure of the set by serving at 40-0. But inspiration came from Shawna Gentle when she started a frenzied clapping and willing him on. Resaul played freely to erase the deficit and equal at 5 games each. Unfortunately the loss of his service game which left the door opened for Leacock to close the set at 7-5. Destined to cause a rift in the course of the match, Resaul’s fast
LADIES DOUBLES CHAMPIONS Cristy Campbell (left), Afruica Gentle pace serves brought him to 1-0 in the second set. Leacock responded by keeping a hold on serve, bringing games to 1-1. Resaul experienced a break in set at 2-1, after which Leacock held serve at 2-2. With most points resulting in lengthy rallies and deuce points, Resaul’s speedy groundstrokes and forceful forehand awarded him winners. His gutsy play and fearless tennis awarded him a four game streak to win the second set at 6-2. The third set of the approximately two and a half hours match was unpredictable after viewing both players drive to reach the semifinals to play Daniel Lopes. Experienced Leacock opened by holding his service game and Resaul followed suit. Leacock broke to take a 2-1 lead and eventually raced to a 4-1. Struggling to avoid falling behind,
Resaul held and broke serve to trail Leacock at a one game difference of 3-4. The game came to a critical juncture as youth and experience clashed. It was imperative or Resaul to hold to put some semblance of pressure. Failing to convert his game points Leacock inched to a 5-3 lead. He then resorted to playing the ball safe to not jeopardize his lead. This tactic awarded Leacock the following game to advance to the semifinals at 7-5, 2-6, 6-3. Complete results for the day: Men’s Open Singles Quarterfinals: Nicholas Glasgow def Benjettan Osborne 7-5, 6-2, Leyland Leacock def Heimraj Resaul 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 Ladies Open Doubles Finals: A. Gentle/C. Campbell def A. Dey/N. Ramdyhan
RHTYSC, MS congratulates eight female National Under-20 Cricketers The Paton, Management and Members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS would like to congratulate the eight Club members who were selected in the Guyana Under-20 Cricket Team to play in a Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board tournament for Caribbean female teams. As a Club, we are very proud of the fact that over half of the team are official members of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation and plays for the Rose Hall Town Metro Female team, a release from the club stated. The players selected are Captain of the team Plaffina Millington, Shenneta Grimmond, Marian Samaroo, Diana Devi Prahald, Aleema Arokuim, Shabika Gajnabi, Shauna Vanderstoop and Rushanna Lynch. The Club views their selection on the Guyana team as just rewards for our massive investment in female
cricket over the last eight years. Despite numerous problems especially in the lack of any other female cricket teams in Guyana, our female Cricketers have dedicated themselves to training everyday under the astute leadership and mentorship of West Indies players Shemaine Campbelle, Tremayne Smartt and Erva Giddings. We would like to wish the Guyana Under 20 Female Cricket team under the inspirational guidance of Coach Julian Moore, the best of luck in Trinidad. We are confident that while most of them are inexperienced at this level, they would represent our national colours with pride, dedication and passion. We would like to recommit ourselves to continuing our investments at all levels of the game especially at the youth and female levels. The Club would also like to offer congrats to our members Kevin
Sinclair, Slyus Tyndall and Kevlon Anderson on their selection on the Guyana Junior teams for upcoming West Indies Cricket Board Tournaments at the Under 17 and Under 19 levels. The trio is among our finest talent and would represent us well. The Club would like to express gratitude to each of our official sponsors at the cricket level – Farfan and Mendes Ltd, Bakewell, Pepsi, Metro Office Supplies and Gizmos & Gadgets for their investments into the development of our cricketers over the years. Special mention must also be made of Western Union and Trinidad Cement Ltd (Guy) for providing gears and sponsorship of our Cricket Academy respectively. The Club would also like to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of coach Winston Smith for the role he played in assisting our female cricketers to fulfill their potentials.
rt o p S 17TH CASTROL FATHER’S DAY CYCLE ROAD RACE
Hinds and Niles repeat as Overall and Veteran champs; Fraser-Green takes female race
Castrol Brand Manager Seon Daniels (4th right) poses with the respective category winners and other recipients of prizes following yesterday’s presentation.
Part of the action between Saints and Old Forte U17s. (Zaheer Mohamed photo) Players battle for possession in the game between GCC and Old Forte females. (Zaheer Mohamed photo)
Hockey Festival excites fans Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.