Wednesday June 22, 2016
PPP executive wants new governance system DEAR EDITOR; I read with interest the strong advocacy made by a senior US official, Mr. Bryan Hunte, for constitutional reforms in order to create a governance structure that is representative of our ethnic diversity. I cannot agree more with him. This is why I find it difficult to understand the delay in making the report on constitutional reforms submitted to the Prime Minister public. The Constitutional Reform Committee has the responsibility to put in place the framework for a national conversation on the political future of this country which for decades remained race-based and adversarial. It is interesting to recall that over fifty years ago the British Government through the then Colonial Secretary Mr. Duncan Sandys referred to race as the ‘curse’ of Guyana and took the unprecedented step of changing the constitution to allow for a new system of proportional representation instead of the first past the post which was widely practised in Britain and the rest of the Commonwealth. The reason advanced by Mr. Sandys for introducing proportional representation was to bring an end to race based politics and to allow for the formation of coalition governments. Needless to say, the changes imposed by the British Government did result in a change of government but it failed to bring about any significant change in voting behaviour as the recent general and local government elections so unmistakably demonstrated. The PPP in 1964 was engineered out of office and replaced by the PNC-UF coalition government but the issue of race continued to stultify the growth and development of the country. The lesson to be learnt from that failed experiment was that any imposition of a constitutional model is bound to fail unless it takes into account the inputs and concerns of key stakeholders and has as its bedrock the democratic character of the society. Democracy, in other words, must underpin the governance structures of the state if the full and true potential of the society is to be realised. The truth is that after fifty years of independence the society remains fractured and there still exists a high level of alienation by some segments of the population in terms of identification with national goals and aspirations. The time is long overdue for a new governance paradigm in which all Guyanese, regardless of race or political affiliation feel that they are an integral part of the task of nation building. Hydar Ally
Road material that is dangerous to health DEAR EDITOR; The Ministry of Public Infrastructure is currently reconstructing major roads on West Coast of Demerara. Materials (sand, loom and cement) and machines are stored on an empty privately owned, lot at Uitvlugt Front, West Coast Demerara, which is surrounded by resident houses. The materials, particularly, the sand and loom are packed higher than the concrete enclosure on the lot. The machine used to mix the sand, loom and cement is noisy, and produces remnants from the mixture which is very hazardous to the neighbouring residents. Residents include a five week old baby other children ages foul-to fifteen years, a 50 year pregnant woman, two young women and with children We, the residents are grateful to the government for their initiative in the country’s infrastructure. However, the health and wellbeing of the nation’s citizens is a priority. With this in mind, we seek your kind
consideration in finding a different location preferably — a designated government reserve to store and process materials to facilitate the infrastructure. This would protect the health and wellbeing of the neighbouring residents. Thanking you in anticipation of your consideration and prompt action Affected Residents
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The US influence in Guyana DEAR EDITOR; Something is happening between the USA representatives here and the Guyana Government and it does not augur well for the Granger administration. I read with total disbelief the message from Mr. Brian Hunt, as he called for the imprisonment of those found culpable of stealing the Guyanese tax payers’ money. He said that the current administration needs to press ahead with holding accountable those whom the audits have fingered. What, however, is troubling is that the US representative did not have to come out so public with those sentiments. Every layman knows that by the sheer dint of the powers of the USA over a fledgling, broke, backward country like Guyana, any emissary of America has unfettered access to any of our administrators. Why then did Mr. Hunt think that he could come out so publically and seek to tell the government what the USA thinks it should do? Is it that the current administration is not listening to their “king maker”? Is it that they are acting too slowly
for the liking of the super power? Is it that they are showing signs of governing like the last folks governed? Or, is it that they have proffered an explanation for the delay in the prosecutions that did not sit well with Uncle Sam? I remembered when the USA wanted the last government to hold Local Government Elections. The PPP refused and the then USA envoy sought to interject the US wishes on the then administrators, by making his case public. It did not end well. Then Minister of Education, Mrs. Manikchan, acting on behalf of the Jagdeo-led Government (Mr. Ramotar was President), addressed the Ambassador in true PPPian style. Dr. Luncheon would later endorse the said dress down of the Ambassador, even terming it a “Feral Blast”. Again, we have come to another such time. There is something preventing the Granger-led administration from pursuing those who have misappropriated the Guyanese’ people money and America is not pleased. Whatever it is that is
preventing action of this government, it is sufficient to so paralyze them. What some are suggesting is that any significant arrest of the PPP elites will engender such a firestorm from Freedom House that is likely to disrupt the functions at the Office of the Presidency. Names will be called, fingers will be pointed and secrets will be revealed that might implicate big-ups in the current administration. This would threaten the life of the new administration and weaken the government. The revelations might even be sufficient to trigger snap elections. Some of the accusations might not be true but by the time the lies are disproved and the investigations completed, the damage to the government would have already been done. So the thinking is to just allow the audits to show how much billions were lost and stolen under the last administration, and by deduction, how much billions will be saved under this administration, and to let bygones be bygones. Maybe this was told to the USA representatives in
private and they are not willing to accept that reasoning. So the departing envoy, Mr. Brian Hunt, has decided to let the entire Guyanese public know what America wants the Granger administration to do, thereby, putting pressure on this Government, just like they did to the last Government. Editor, every time the USA intervened in the elections of Guyana, it pleased the majority of Guyanese. They intervened in 1992 and again in 2015. However, by now the US should know that while they can assist in the removing and setting up of governments in Guyana, they are not allowed by the said governments to dictate how they should govern. That being said, on behalf of all right-thinking Guyanese, I would like to thank Mr. Brian Hunt for his tour of duty to Guyana. I would also like to offer this little advice. That he packs his little tidy-whites neatly into his diplomatic pouch and leave Guyana quietly with his dignity intact, or become a victim of another “Feral Blast”, this time from someone in this current administration. Pastor Wendell Jeffrey
Charges must follow the audit findings DEAR EDITOR, The audits are damning, aren’t they? They confirm the worst suspicions and embedded fears of those who cared and dared to articulate these under the banner of corruption run amok. What is coming to light with increasing frequency is a culture of cronyism, and a mentality of invincibility that stoked reckless abandon, and the resulting grand free-forall. The numbers do not lie; nor do the cabal of conspirators now exposed by the revealing paper trails. There are no tolerances for any vapid counterclaims of
inaccuracy or witch hunts. Instead, the financial witchcraft of bureaucratic and political sorcerers resonates with the incriminating incantations of those who treated government business and taxpayers dollars like a personal piggy bank. It was a piggy bank to be dispensed with whimsically and arbitrarily to family and friends; and to scorn such mundane responsibilities as billing and collecting, even at a cut rate. The favored circles had a long joyful bacchanal. Now it is time for the pulverizing hangover, a
Guyanese Bush-rum Sunrise for the partygoers. They should have their day in court. They must, also, have their years in orange jumpsuits to reflect on the road traveled, the trust betrayed, and the squandermania in which they participated so willingly and lovingly. Nobody has been jailed before in this country for financial chicanery practiced under governance transformed into sickening repugnance. That must be the past. Let those fingered and named be the precedents. Let them be made into warning
examples. Though there is a preference for the ancient ways of skulls bared on pikes along busy thoroughfares, a decade or more to ponder and absorb the pristine beauty of the hinterlands (Mazaruni) is acceptable. Every single one of the alleged perpetrators ought to be brought forward, bejeweled in steel, to face the music. The once private dancers must now cavort in public, and give Guyanese their best rendition of ‘backballin.’ The government is responsible for orchestrating and delivering. Do not disappoint. GHK Lall
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DESPERATE PLEA TO GPL DEAR EDITOR; After much pain and frustration, I decided to write this letter to address this painful situation. There are houses going up everywhere in Guyana and most people are not able to get a meter, while some may be lucky. Some people’s meters have been taken away for different reasons; charges were made, payments were done, contracts were signed, within 9 days meters will be restored. It is running into several months now and nothing has been done. Every time you ask someone in the office, the reply: They don’t have meters since last year 2015 (when will they get, I don’t know); this
is happening all the time. SOMETHING DOESN’T SOUND RIGHT!! I would like to ask the Relevant Authority to please look into this situation and make sure enough meters are available to all. It is very difficult and frustrating to live without electricity at this time in history (Jubilee of Guyana). There are senior citizens, children and grand children living without electricity for long months. I trust someone will read this letter and it will come to the attention of the Honorable Minister in charge, so something can be done urgently. Thank you. Concerned Senior Citizen
Wednesday June 22, 2016
In support of death penalty abolition DEAR EDITOR; We should warmly welcome President Granger’s statement that he does not have any intention of approving the execution of anyone. This is exactly the kind of principled stand and moral leadership that Guyana needs from our Head of State. There appears to be an emerging cross party realisation that Guyana has to find alternative and better forms of justice. This seems to be the right time to have a Select Committee which could consider a bill to replace the death penalty with more humane and more effective sanctions. The bill should also introduce restorative justice for the victims’ families. The Select Committee could give us, the Guyanese public, the opportunity to say
what we want our Government to do in order to reduce violent crime and protect our families and our friends. Families of the victims of serious crimes must be given the opportunity to have their say. We can seek to become better informed by inviting experts to testify to the Select Committee. Through this process of deliberative democracy, those for and those against can try to understand one another’s views and seek to build a consensus. I feel I should thank the British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn, for his consistent and principled opposition to the death penalty. He has a point. The UK has a murder rate of less than 1:100,000. It seems almost churlish to remember that in 1965 when Britain abolished the death
penalty, colonial subjects like us were regarded as expendable, and so the death penalty remained in the colony of British Guiana. Perhaps in this Golden Jubilee year, we, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, will finally get around to abolishing this last vestige of colonial inequality. The Deputy Chief of Mission of the USA, Brian Hunte supports the death penalty. With all due respect to Mr Hunte’s position, I do not think the USA is any position to advise anybody on matters of justice or security. The American ‘justice’ system is rotten. Innocent people get sentenced to death. The USA is one of the top five executioners on the planet. (The others are China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan).
Yet the murder rate in the USA is nearly six times that of the UK. The State of Florida has executed 92 people in the last 40 years and currently has 400 people on death row. The recent mass killing in Orlando is a lethal reminder that the death penalty is not a deterrent. The death penalty is not a solution to violence. It is the by-product of a violent society. The USA has nothing constructive to add to Guyana’s discussions on the death penalty. I wish Mr Hunt a safe trip home. The death penalty is barbaric, vile and ineffective. Are we now ready, as one people and one nation with one destiny, to get on with the business of building a society that does not take the lives of others – whether on the streets or through the courts? Melinda Janki
A poem for the Capitalism is better than.... Orlando victims DEAR EDITOR; The flower of youth plucked too soon A mother’s world broken, dreams doomed, A beloved son slain at high noon A most despicable act of violence, Drained all joy from the cup of life Cruel and bitter the pain to endure, Most tragic this turn of fate for sure. Heavier than the vast and mighty Himalayas The pain and suffering wrought by violence, Seen in silent grief and flow of tears In the faces of orphans and refugees, The tormented and abused The crippled and maimed, In the tortured minds of soldiers Recalling many a battlefield horrors, In childhood innocence blighted Witness to bloodshed unabated, None can chronicle the true toll of violence Flooring so many to eternal silence, Yet this macabre dance daily stirred to frenzy Goaded by men with no human conscience, Applauding with sadistic delight the evil in violence. All violence most loathsome and evil The epitome of our disgrace and insanity, Whether in wars, conflicts, riots, or communal strife In targeted killings, racial profiling or petty fights, In acts of terror and cruel hatred From the fanatic spirit so deeply rooted, In daily slaughter by warring gangs With the innocents in the cross-fire, In horrific acts by drug - twisted minds Their reason and thinking so steep in decline, In conquests and cruel subjugation Brutal torture that staggers the imagination, In quest for domination and power On the streets or on the world’s arena, In insatiable greed for wealth and prestige Exploiting and oppressing the poor and meek, In asserting our special purity In caste and racial superiority, Violence indeed the cardinal sin Even mere thought of harming another, However righteous and sacred our agenda Is enough to darken our karma. Vain indeed our prayers and rituals Sacrifices and sacred observances, When even an iota of violent thought Resides in the recesses of the heart. CECILRAMKIRATH
From page 4 Therefore, equilibrium in the market is restored. These features are associated with a capitalist economy. The means of production are owned only by the few people (capitalists) who can pay for them. Marx refers to this group as the bourgeois. There is a working class, the people who generate wealth for the owner class by producing goods and services and, in return, are paid wages by the Capitalists. This group has no ownership of the factors of production and Marx refers to this group as the proletarians. Firms rationally aim to maximize profit and this is an incentive for production of these goods and services: The capitalists try to judge the market and adjust production accordingly in order to realize the greatest possible profit. In a pure capitalist economy, there is no state intervention which often means that the economy is free to make all economic decisions and adjust itself when necessary to remain in equilibrium. This is in contrast to the socialist economy of Venezuelan currently. Being efficient is being able to accomplish a task with minimum expenditure on as many levels as possible. This performance criterion looks at how well the economy is able to allocate its resources to best maximize its production on goods and services while taking the welfare of individuals into consideration. A capitalist economy is efficient as it yields high levels of GDP, innovation is encouraged, and one is allowed to exercise freedom of choice. Most or almost all socialist economy are inefficient because of non
incentive encouragement. Unemployment rate, inflation rate and real economic growth are some of the economic indicators used to determine economic stability within a capitalist economy in contrast to a socialist one. Capitalism renders unequal distribution of income in the economy. Income is distributed in accordance to the skills and qualifications an individual possesses. Those possessing the skills, qualifications as well as capital resources valued by the market will receive high incomes, whereas lower incomes will be allocated to persons without such skills and resources. In some socialist, sycophants and non qualified comrades friends are favored for jobs Economic growth can be measured as the increase in real GDP. Productivity is the key component, i.e. producing more at a lesser operational cost.. With a steady rise in real GDP the economy is assuredly growing well. However, where there are fluctuations in the business cycle this may cause economic growth to be unstable suggesting that the economy maybe in or going through a recession. Capitalism, as we are aware, is an economy where resources and firms are privately owned in free markets. (whereas in a socialist economy the state owns all.) Normally, this usually involves some government intervention to regulate certain aspects of the economy and protect private property. Several advantages are included within a capitalist economy.
Foremost as Government intervention is kept at a limited level several issues that generally arise with government intervention including corruption, lack of a self-interest push force and poor circulation of information within the market is prevented allowing individual incentives to work as hard as possible to achieve as much as possible. As the capitalist economy is dependent on the push factor of individuals, there is no limit to the level of wealth an individual can accumulate through progression within the economy. Capitalism allows individuals choice both in commodity purchase and employment opportunities. It allows resources to be distributed according to consumer choice rearing the market in a more productive consumer friendly range. Through capitalism firms are inclined to produce with greater efficiency, by cutting cost and improving efficiency becomes an aim to prevent losses in an industry where competition is high bettering the economy as a whole. In such industries company effectively respond to changes in consumer desires better the economy and improving efficiency. In attempts to ensure the highest possible level of productivity, financial incentives are provided to employees by companies so as to better improve self interest in company proficiency. This is beneficial on a global level as these countries generally become exemplary innovative fronts for improvement in technology and implications of productive changes.
As company proficiency improves so does the ability for people to move through social class as an increase in wealth is available. This pushes individuals to work harder in the interest of selfpreservation to achieve more. Profit increase within the economy and personal industry, allows an expansion in wealth and company resources, resources that will be used so as to best benefit the company and in turn the economy by promoting foreign investment. Individuals possess a freedom of choice to purchase and engage in virtually any and all economic activities with little restraint. Promoting trade among nations and individuals that will mutually profit and the economy itself. Profit maximization is a main priority within the capitalist’s state; . This causes large suppliers of goods and services that are similar diversification in brands allow for customer distinction and individuality, catering for the necessary changes in desire for certain goods among the lower and higher income classes. As Margaret Thatcher the erstwhile British Prime Minister said, ‘The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.’ Guyana would fair far better with a benign capitalist economy than our western Spanish neighbor who is relentlessly perusing an economic system that worth relegating to the footnotes of history and start with words and end with no tangible reality: the only result is riots and street demonstration plus more poverty for its citizen. Rooplall Dudhnath
Wednesday June 22, 2016
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Procurement Commission must be in place before next budget cycle - President Granger By Kiana Wilburg It has been more than a year under the APNU+AFC coalition’s leadership and the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) is yet to be realized. And while he has expressed some disappointment with regard to the slothfulness plaguing the process, President David Granger is optimistic that this “100-day” promise will be fulfilled. In fact, the Head of State said while on the programme, “The Public Interest”, that the Commission must be in place before the next budget cycle. Granger stated, “It (the establishment of the PPC and the process in the National Assembly) could have been quicker. We would have wanted this to be completed during the last calendar year. We are now approaching a new budget cycle starting on July 1, and I would not like to see the Commission not in place during the next budget cycle. We hope to have the budget by December 2016, and I feel that the Commission
President David Granger must be in place before we enter that new budget cycle.” In the meantime, Government has approved the implementation of a Bid Protest Committee which will receive complaints of breaches in the state’s tendering process. The body had been one of the requirements laid out in the public procurement regulations. Cabinet has received recommendations from Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, for the appointment
of a Bid Protest Committee. A nominee of the Attorney General’s Chambers is expected to be the Chairperson. The other members are Archibald Clifton, a former senior manager of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) and Ewart Adams, an insurance official. As for the work of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), there appears to be some amount of movement on the establishment of the Procurement Commission. This is according to PAC Chairman, Irfaan Ali. Ali expressed that the committee has received a number of nominations and the applications of those individuals are currently being reviewed by a subcommittee. The twomember sub-committee includes Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence and the PAC Chairman. Ali is hopeful that a shortlist of persons who best qualify to hold the post of Commissioners can be produced by this month-end. The PAC Chairman was
unable to say just how many applications they have received and are perusing. The Public Accounts Committee, which according to procedure, is chaired by a member of the opposition, has to nominate the five members of the Procurement Commission. The National Assembly, by two-thirds majority, has to ratify their appointments. It was Ali who had set a March month-end date for the establishment of the crucial commission, only to backtrack and blame inadequate nominations from the public as a cause for further delays. The award of contracts in Guyana by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has always been a matter of contention in several quarters. There have been accusations of favouritism along with other complaints of anticompetitive practices. Former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran, who had spoken extensively on the matter, said that the weak
systems of the NPTAB need to be addressed by the new administration, as they cost the country approximately $28B annually. He then pointed to credible allegations of corrupt behaviour in public procurement. These included sole sourcing of drug contracts, contract splitting, inflated engineer’s estimates, evaluation bias on behalf of favoured contractors, the use of inexperienced contractors, the absence of competitive bidding in some cases and overpayment to contractors. Goolsarran had said that at least US$140M, is lost annually by looking at those areas. His estimation was garnered from an overview of the Auditor General’s reports on the country’s accounts over the past few years. He had also highlighted some of the glaring shortcomings of the NPTAB, among them the absence of District Tender Boards for Neighbourhood Democratic
Councils; the failure to publish in NPTAB’s website; the award of all contracts between $200,000 and $15 million; the failure of members of the various tender boards to file financial returns with the Integrity Commission; the non-establishment of a formal Bid Protest Committee and the failure to exercise due diligence in ensuring that evaluators had the requisite expertise. Goolsarran had said, too, that there are certain parts of the Procurement Act which have not been adhered to since the Act came into effect on 1 January 2004. These include ensuring the criteria used for selection are such that they do not discriminate against particular contractors and suppliers, and the award of contracts based on the lowest evaluated bid as opposed to the lowest bid. Failure to look at these, he opined, has also proven to be very costly to the country.
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Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
Mayor, Oscar Clarke, Royston King spit in the face of the citizenry – Deputy Mayor BY KIANA WILBURG Instead of the principles of transparency and accountability being allowed to guide the work of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC), “a sickening stench of corruption is leading the way,” says Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan. Duncan made this remark in an interview with Kaieteur News last night as he reflected on the actions relating to the parking meter scandal. It was on Monday that top officials of M&CC told the media that regardless of the outrage by some sections of the society, the council will forge ahead with its parking meter contract with the National Parking Systems/ Smart City Solutions (NPS/ SCS). In fact, the Council stated that it will create, from September, 1,500 parking spaces in the area between South Road and Church Street, and Water Street and Camp Street. Present at that press conference were Mayor Patricia Chase-Green; Town Clerk, Royston King; Head of
…they have put us back to “the dangerous days of thug politics”
Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan
Head of the Finance Committee, Oscar Clarke
Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green
Town Clerk, Royston King
the Finance Committee, Oscar Clarke, and other administrative officers of the municipality. These officials also came under fire for a trip to Mexico and Panama to check on how the consortium was managing the parking meters there. The issue has been dominating headlines, with Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan, saying that he could find little evidence of the two
companies and their work. NPS is owned by USbased Guyanese, Ifa Kamau Cush, who had submitted a proposal since 1996. Kaieteur News had found that NPS does not have an office at the Park Avenue, Manhattan address that it listed on its website. And there is little information on Smart City Solutions Inc., the company with which Cush teamed up. Chase-Green told the
media that it is a shame that some people had to resort to the likes of Google and Wikipedia to search for the address of the company. She said she was satisfied that she visited the company’s locations in Panama and Mexico and that their work is up to date. The Mayor brazenly declared that she is not going to disclose the controversial parking meter contract. Her excuse was that the M&CC
has had painful experiences in the past where documents were leaked, including a proposal by Canadian Bank Note, causing the city to lose. Rather, councilors have the possibility of perusing the contract at the office of the Town Clerk. Meanwhile, Oscar Clarke on the matter said, “I have no apologies to make to anyone; I getting like Mr. Harmon.” He insisted that the Council’s decision to sign the
agreement before going to see the actual product showed the investors that the City was indeed serious about implementing the parking meters around Georgetown. The Finance Committee Chairman told the gathering that the only way they could have gone to do the physical verification, was by signing the contract back in November 2015. He informed that the sponsorship of the trips by National Parking Systems and Smart City Solutions was part of the contract they entered into. According to Clarke, it would have been “unethical” for the contingent to use the finances of NPS to go on the verification trips having not signed the contract. However, City Hall’s Deputy Mayor, Duncan, said that “such levels of arrogance are not only nauseating and sickening, but place Guyana right back to the days of executive thuggery.” He said, “In this period in our history, people expect us to be more responsive to their concerns, because they elected us to office. They Continued on page 14
Wednesday June 22, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Chaos will accompany parking meters in the city If you are a businessperson on Regent Street, you will no longer be able to afford to park your vehicle on that street once parking meters are installed. The cost of parking all day would wipe out your profits and ending cost you more than the rentals for the building. The workers who drive their vehicles to businesses on this street will not be able to do the same. They cannot afford to pay for parking. Those who park on Regent Street will therefore try to park in side-streets where the parking meters are not installed. The problem here is that other persons usually park in these side streets. There will therefore be a jostle for parking spaces. Tempers were flare, fights will break out, and we all know where that could lead. The residents of some of these side streets will want to ‘reserve’ parking spots. So they will do like what many store owners are doing today along Robb Street and along
Regent Street. They will put up their own barriers to stop people from parking in certain spaces, so that when they come home they can have their parking spots. It is going to be chaos, and simply because no one is listening to the people. What is going to happen to workers who park their cars on the streets of the city and who now already are finding it difficult to get parking places? Where are they going to park when the parking meters are installed and competition for these parking places intensifies? You cannot implement parking meters unless you consider what will happen to the small man and to the businessman. Both are going to be seriously inconvenienced and burdened by the installation of parking meters. All of this is going to happen simply because the City Council hopes to raise the sum of $200 million per year from these parking meters. Two hundred million dollars can be raised easily by
the City Council without having to impose parking meters. The City Council should explain just how much money they got in donations - cash and kind - for the clean- up of the City. That sum had to have exceeded two hundred million dollars. More than that was spent on D’Urban Park. But that was not a city project. It was run by another group of persons who are yet to indicate how much was raised and how much was spent. The parking meters are going to be a burden on the small man, and on the big man. Yet to date, only the PPPC seems to have come out and pointed out that apart from the secrecy and suspicion over the contract for parking meters, there is disregard for the burden that the parking meters will place on the already overtaxed citizens. The city can raise more than two hundred million dollars by asking the government to pass legislation allowing them to place a surcharge on each
Dem boys seh...
De brightest ooman smarter than Google When a woman can pull down Google and Wikipedia she got to be de brightest satarass de world produce. This woman who everybody believe was trustworthy and genuine during de time when Jagdeo and Donald Dumb was in power turn out to be a devil just like dem. She tell Guyana that she had to sign a contract to buy something she never see. This is like a woman who sign a marriage certificate then travel to de country to see if is a man, a woman or a Kwame she married to. On top of that she walk wid three man who don’t know dem head from dem ass to advise she if she getting a pig in a bag, or an ass in a cart. Dem boys hear when she neighbor ask she bout de marriage she sign, she tell dem is a secret because she don’t want nobody help she wid de ass she get. Of course de ass will clean de environment except that somebody got to clean up after de ass. That gun be Park King wuk. He too, when people ask him why he didn’t advertise to see what other they could get, he King seh de council couldn’t see itself getting a better deal. This is de first jackass who
know he can’t get something better without asking or trying. He is de man who see mad woman walking on de road, pick she up, married she and carry she home. When he mother and father ask him, “Wait Park King. Is wha you bring here?” Park King tell ee mudda and fadda he couldn’t get a better deal that she. Not even de mayor can come close.
Dem boys believe that de deal bigger than wha dem announce. Dem seh that de city gun get 20 percent but dem ain’t tell de nation how much dem getting. Scamps don’t play 20-20 only cricketers. Dem boys got an idea, though, because Jagdeo dem use to tek fifty-fifty. Talk half and watch how Soulja Bai gun handle de Almighty Trio.
home in the sum of $70 per week for the collection of garbage. They will raise more than $200M from this measure, which will not be resisted by citizens. They can increase their collection of rates and taxes by simply sending notices out to homeowners indicating the sums owed to City Hall. The City Council does not send out notices to property owners indicating that they need to pay their rates and taxes when these are due. Those in arrears are believed to constitute more than 40% of property owners. City Hall can raise more
than $200M by asking the government to revise the valuation of properties so that realistic rates and taxes can be paid. City Hall can raise more than $200M by increasing the rates for stallholders in their markets. They cannot do this at the moment, because they know the stallholders will complain about the unfair competition that is being experienced from the vendors outside of the markets who have been encouraged over the years to vend. City Hall during last Christmas imposed fees on the overtaxed businesses
who were forced to sell outside of their stores for fear that the area in front of the stores would be invaded by vendors. Storeowners who did this were charged $3,500 per day while the illegal vendors were asked to pay $1,000 per week as cleaning fees. The mess that the City Hall is however now making with the management of the city will take more than $200M to clean–up.
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Wednesday June 22, 2016
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN...
People are victims of time and culture
All of the persons from City Hall administration that went to Mexico are from the era of City Hall politics of the mid-nineties. The Mexico trip is not only a financial scandal, but politically disgraceful. It is naïve to think that the four persons that went to Mexico were not aware of the vexations it would generate among people. They knew there would be fallout, but it is an attitude shaped by the period when they were in control of City Hall and the political culture they were born into. This paper quotes Mr. Oscar Clarke as saying he will not apologize. It quotes Mr. Clarke as being defiant. None of the four persons that went to Mexico, at the psychological level, believe and accept that they were wrong in the procedures they adopted. The reason being; that is the culture which they were inducted into a long time ago. New eras call for new thinking, but new thinking cannot emerge from persons who are victims
of an age long gone. Contrast the attitude of the Mexico trippers and young Sherod Duncan. Very young in politics, Duncan didn’t understand what was going on. That was not the way he saw bureaucracy, power, and accountability. So he cried wolf. He was confused. How can he be the Deputy Mayor, and he and his elected colleagues did not know that the Mayor, two councilors and the Town Clerk were in Mexico? So he went public with his feelings of frustration The Duncan outrage is a vivid manifestation of what lies ahead for Guyana. If this troubled land is going to surmount the social morass that it has lived with for decades, then, transformation will not come from people who are victims of their epochs that were shaped by ancient political culture. The people that went to Mexico were not nurtured in a political culture of accountability
and democracy. These are concepts they have not seen in operation throughout their political careers. It was for this reason that it would have been good for Guyana if dominant parties did not seek to control the City Councils and townships and NDCs during the local government elections. When one speaks of Guyana needing new faces for it to fashion a better country, age is not the factor. New is not the opposite of age. By new is meant people who were not victims of a certain epoch, where a certain type of understanding, narrative, conversation, way of doing things, administrative styles etc., were the prevailing values and are no longer valid thirty years after. When people say that Guyana needs new faces, they Frederick really mean people who were never part of a political culture that was oligarchic and unaccountable. This is where the PPP failed after Mrs. Jagan resigned. Mr. Jagdeo was facilitated by the strong Stalinists in the PPP’s hierarchy. He was their prisoner. Then he became one of them. Jagdeo went wrong because as a new face in the PPP, he was virtually a footnote in the scheme of things. Mrs. Jagan and the Stalinists made him their Pavlovian creature. He accepted that role and became a willing prisoner of the culture of the PPP. As he grew in power, he only
understood one thing – PPP’s culture. Jagdeo became what he saw in others in the PPP when he, Jagdeo, was a young member That is what the zeitgeist to which you belong does to you. I can rattle off my head, dozens of Guyanese who are over 55 years of age but are new faces that can facilitate the transformational needs of Guyana. The simple fact is that they were never part of an organizational culture that had as its core the unaccountable use of power. If the APNU-AFC Government is going to succeed, it has to nurture minds that are different from the people that went to Mexico. If the PPP has any chance of regaining power, it has to exorcize the ghosts of the past that currently control the PPP. Kissoon What are the signs that both the PPP and the Coalition are heading in the direction of transformation? Surely, the PPP has to be discounted. Endowed with a hardline, Stalinist culture, the ghosts of the past do not, and will not, give any recognition to democratic instincts. There is no one in its hierarchy that accepts that the PPP must democratize and accept leadership challenges. To be honest, the APNU-AFC Coalition hierarchy does not embody that kind of Stalinist mind-set, but a transformational vision doesn’t seem to be on the horizon. I hope I am wrong.
Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Entities vie to construct student dorm at Liliendaal During yesterday’s session at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) a contract was tendered for the construction of a student’s dormitory at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. This project is under the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs.
And finally, there was a contract under the Ministry of Communities for the supply of bins.
Meanwhile at the Ministry of the Presidency, there was a contract out to tender for a company to construct a walkway, fence and a guard hut.
Under the Ministry of Social Protection, there was also a contract for provision of consultancy services.
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Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
Mother pleads with Govt., GPSU begin ‘run away’ daughter talks on wages today to return home
MISSING: Eleanthia DeYounge
A distraught mother is pleading with her 15-year old daughter who went missing on Saturday, to return home. Eleanthia DeYounge, a Fourth Form student of Houston Secondary School, was last seen by her mother, Denisha Sutton-Mohan, on Saturday around noon at their Cinema Street, Diamond, East Bank Demerara home. Sutton-Mohan explained that she had received a phone call from an unknown number and an individual told her that the girl was in Alberttown. She said that she visited the Alberttown Police Station to relay the information, but finding her daughter has been unsuccessful. The teenager is the eldest child for her mother. The matter has since been reported to the police. However, anyone with information on the whereabouts of DeYounge is being asked to contact her mother on telephone numbers (592) 665-2713 or 665-5813.
The Government of Guyana and the Guyana Public Service Union will today begin negotiations concerning wages and salaries for 2016. This was disclosed yesterday at a press conference hosted by the GPSU President Patrick Yarde and members of the union’s executive. In February 2015, President David Granger had informed the public that negotiations with trade unions would begin after the completion of the Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service. The Commissioners of that Inquiry were Professor Harold Lutchman, Sandra Jones and Samuel Goolsarran. The COI had begun in September 2015 and was finally presented in May 2016, and as such, the Government has indicated its readiness to commence negotiations. Yarde noted that the executive of the union has serious concerns regarding the omission of allowances in the letter of invitation sent to them by Minister of State Joseph Harmon. A response was sent querying the issue, but no explanation had been provided. In light of this omission, the GPSU President has informed the Government that the Union wants immediate action taken regarding the negotiation of allowances.
GPSU President, Patrick Yarde Yarde said that the Union is aware of an allocation within the 2016 budget under the heading “Other Employment Costs” to the tune of six billion dollars. He noted “…that is the head from which it has been up to last year that the funds were accessed to deal with increases in wages and salaries.” According to Yarde, the union had initially sought a 40% increase in salaries when they met with the Minister of Finance Winston Jordan before his budget presentation last year. Additionally the union in its recommendations had asked for the introduction of increments. He noted that within the public service, increments were not being received for
quite some time. Yarde stated “...for years people were employed with the same salary, 10 years ago and one year ago, the same salary.” This was the situation despite there being a minimum and maximum value for wages and salaries. Yarde stated that public servants were entitled to increments within the bands based on their performance. He described it as being a contentious issue since 1999 when there was a strike. The Armstrong Tribunal which came out of that industrial action had also suggested salary increments. Despite the suggestions made by the tribunal, Yarde commented that the PPP/C government at the time did not implement increments in light of the Armstrong decision which was intended to be binding. This matter will feature in the negotiations which begin today at the Ministry of the Presidency. The Government has informed the union that its negotiation team will be led by Reginald Brotherson, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Public Service within the Ministry of the Presidency. The GPSU’s negotiation team will be led by its President and will include first Vice President Mortimer Livan and General Secretary Kemton Alexander and other members of the union.
Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
Guyana is just too divided and we must change that
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Constitutional reform must ensure all are represented in corridors of power – Outgoing US envoy, Bryan Hunt BY KIANA WILBURG For too long, many Guyanese have felt that their interests are not always represented in the halls of power and US envoy, Bryan Hunt, who shares this view, insists that it much change. In an interview with this newspaper, the outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission asserted that development cannot take place if one half of the population feels as though they are not being fairly represented by the government. “And it is time for Guyanese to ask, ‘how do we get a system where all are represented in the corridors of power? ‘A large portion of this country has felt excluded from the corridors of power and regardless of the party in office, whether it is the PPP or the AFC, the feeling is still there, and it shifts depending who is sitting in the chair. But the fact of the matter is that, I feel there are some structural failings which should be addressed,” Hunt expressed. The US diplomat said that this can occur through meaningful Constitutional reform. Hunt noted that while there has been much dialogue at the Government level about the need to redefine executive powers, the conversation he said must now stretch to the citizenry. The outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission believes that the public must have a say where this subject is concerned, and believes that it is a national discussion which needs to occur. He said, “It needs to be a broad-based discussion by Guyanese about what they think needs changing when it comes to powers of the executive. We strongly believe that they need to have a discussion on what they don’t like; what are other models out there that they may be interested in looking at, and how the Constitution can be improved.” More importantly, Hunt said it is imperative that any discussion on Constitutional reform be grounded in taking the nation beyond its political and ethnic divides. The US official said that he is struck continuously by how divided such a small country is. He said that whether one wants to call those lines ethnic or political, they are there, and they are very “stark”. He emphasized that this is not a suitable situation where you have such stark lines in
such a small country. Hunt said that this circumstance is further polluted by a system where one side controls all the levels of powers and the other side is excluded. The outgoing envoy said that this needs to be changed in the interest of the country’s development. The prorogation of the Tenth Parliament by former President Donald Ramotar was what initially resurrected heated discussions on the need to tame the powers of the Executive. And leading this conversation at the national level was the hierarchy of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). Members from both sides agreed that during Ramotar’s reign, Guyana experienced an unprecedented abuse of Executive power. They agreed, too, that there is a need to alter the boundless authority afforded to the Head of State. But even under the “Better life for All” leadership, the AFC maintains that the powers of the Executive need to be reexamined and amended. AFC Executive Member, Nigel Hughes, had outlined that one of the important things the Constitution speaks to is the distribution of power and how it should be exercised. Referring to Article 51, the Attorney-atLaw said that supreme democratic power should be vested in three organs; the Presidency, Parliament and Cabinet. Hughes had said, “What you have is the President being a part of the parliament and then when you go to Cabinet, you have him there, where he has supreme executive power. So in effect, he has power over all three organs of the state. “He dominates them, and this is long before we come to discuss his immunities from suit, which means that in the exercise of his executive power, he is not answerable to the court or anyone; he can only be removed by grave misconduct, ill-health or loss of confidence in him by the House.” Hughes, a practicing Attorney, said that the current structure of the Constitution gives the President absolute power to govern. He has advocated for this to be addressed with urgency, while opining that power must be distributed
evenly. The other difficulty with the Constitution and the powers vested in the President, Hughes said, is how one becomes President due to the party list system. “Let’s say you have three political parties in a race. One gets 33 percent of the votes, the other 32 and the last 31
for argument sake. The party with the 33 percent gets to be President with full executive power. In essence you are giving this person or party, which doesn’t represent a plurality, the presidency, and it puts the nation particularly at a disadvantage, because you have people from Continued on page 29
Deputy Chief of Mission, Bryan Hunt
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Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
Mother, male friend held for alleged rape of three-yr-old A mother and her male friend are among three people in custody in connection with the rape of the woman’s three-year-old daughter at an area on the Corentyne. The incident allegedly occurred last Sunday and the child, who reportedly underwent surgery, remains hospitalized. Police said that the mother and a male friend who had visited the home during the day were still in custody yesterday. Two of the woman’s sons were also held, but one has since been released. Officials from the Childcare & Protection Agency are also said to be investigating.
It was reported that the child’s two brothers, aged eight and 14, along with a male friend of the mother’s, were at home at the time of the incident. However, the child was reportedly left unattended, since the mother and the friend were allegedly imbibing. The children’s father is reportedly at sea. According to reports, the mother, who was intoxicated, became aware that something was amiss after she heard the three-year-old crying. Upon investigating, she allegedly saw the child bleeding from her privates. The toddler was taken to the Springlands Police Station.
She was advised to take the child to hospital, where a medical examination confirmed sexual assault. The victim was then rushed to the New Amsterdam hospital when she underwent
emergency surgery. It is suspected that the incident happened outside of the house since the child reportedly had mud on her head and back. Charges are likely to be instituted soon.
Mayor, Oscar Clarke... From page 8 want to see a change. We are supposed to be more inclusive in what we are doing. “But at no time was the issue of the parking meters put to the council for a vote. I believe that these actions only represent a clear circumvention of the process for ensuring that we secure a package that is free from corruption.” Duncan continued, “The council is the supreme decision-making body and has an oversight function for all projects being undertaken by the City Hall. So to jump and say that you took a deliberate decision to not share the contract with the
very council that was put in place, represents a dangerous and dark demon of the past.” The Deputy Mayor emphasized that the Council does not consist of the “almighty” Clarke, Chase-Green and King but rather, the 30 members who sit at the “horseshoe table”. He stressed that it is the Council that makes the policies and the decisions, a n d t h e To w n C l e r k i s expected to carry them out. He said that sentiments expressed by Chase-Green that the previous Council approved the contract are neither here nor there. He insisted that the new Council must have an opportunity to pronounce on all contracts or projects in t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h e nation. “I am shocked that this is the new dispensation. And I share the sentiments
of Guyanese who are outraged by the tone and content of statements by the almighty trio, especially since they made it clear that they are not going to pause and listen to the concerns of the nation,” Duncan stated. Additionally, Duncan lashed out at the Mayor’s arrogance for belittling those who were concerned that NPS has no credible address that can be located online. “In this technologically advanced age, companies would normally have a proper website and their basic information can be found online, but we can’t do this in the case of NPS. Yet, you are rebuking those who can’t find them via such basic due diligence mechanisms? That is insanity.” “This amount of highhandedness is frightening and is tantamount to spitting in the face of the citizenry.” The Deputy Mayor insisted that he is going to stand up for transparency and accountability, and nothing shall stand in his way of doing so.
Wednesday June 22, 2016
SOPHIA MAN REMANDED FOR YOUNGER BROTHER’S MURDER
Orin Jules (with handcuffs) being escorted out of the courtroom by a detective. Twenty-seven-year-old Orin Jules who allegedly stabbed his brother to death last Saturday at their Sophia
home was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged with the capital offence of murder.
Orin Jules of 634 ‘D’ Field Sophia is accused of murdering 23-year-old Dexter Jules. He was remanded to prison until August 4, by Magistrate Zamilla AllySeepaul when he appeared in the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. Orin Jules had no legal representation and told the Magistrate that he was previously charged with offences varying from break and enter and simple larceny. Court facts revealed that the accused and his brother were involved in a heated argument on the day in question at their home. The accused retaliated by picking up a knife and stabbing his brother several times in the chest. Dexter Jules was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Mechanic shop robbery…
Cops take statement from shot teen, grill suspect Police yesterday continued to question a man that they suspect drove three bandits away from a South Ruimveldt mechanic shop on Sunday, after one of them had shot a 15year-old boy. ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken said that detectives are also studying fresh CCTV footage of the robbery. Some of the footage was obtained from a premises that is in proximity to the building where the robbery occurred. Commander Hicken said that some of the recordings that they viewed showed a car that is similar to one that police have impounded. Meanwhile, police have also taken a
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Kaieteur News
statement from 15-year-old, Jahmaul Lewis, who underwent surgery shortly after being shot above the left eye. According to reports, the teen and other workers were in the mechanic shop, when three men entered. One of the men, who had a handgun, relieved an employee of an undisclosed sum of cash and a cell phone. Kaieteur News understands that one of the bandits discharged a round after an individual in the shop attempted to resist. The bullet struck Lewis, who was later admitted to the Georgetown Hospital. The robbers arrived on foot but escaped in a car.
After stabbing his brother, Orin Jules went and hid in a clump of bushes. However, public spirited citizens apprehended him and handed him over to police. Police Prosecutor, David Goodridge told the court that the accused is in the habit of threatening to kill family members. As a matter a fact,
Goodridge pointed out that Orin Jules was convicted by the aforementioned court on a charge in relation to threatening to murder his mother and siblings. Kaieteur News had previously reported that Orin Jules is a drug addict and was in the habit of terrorizing his family on a daily basis.
It was reported that Orin Jules stabbed his brother after he prevented him from entering the family shop. Dexter Jules reportedly managed to run a few metres after he was stabbed but later collapsed. The dead man leaves to mourn his wife and six other siblings.
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Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
Former OLPF Manager denies involvement in any wrongdoing
To say that the review undertaken by Chartered Accountants of Ram and McRae into the operations of the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project was blown out of proportion would be an understatement. This is the assertion of former OLPF Project Manager, Ms. Margot Boyce, who is convinced that she is among a selected few who were targeted to be scapegoats for a number of shortcomings uncovered by the auditors. In fact, Boyce during an interview with this publication yesterday said that she sat quietly for weeks when she saw numerous
inaccuracies reported in the press about the OLPF project and her involvement. Ram and McRae based on its findings said that it found that the project was administered and contracted by the then Office of the President. It added that “the scope of our engagement was limited by the fact that management was unable to provide a number of significant documents for our review. We also encountered the circumstance where the Project Manager, Ms. Margot Boyce, and the Deputy Project Manager, Mr. Azariah Asim, resigned during the course of our engagement. In both cases, their last day for
work was August 14, 2015.” Boyce said that she was particularly perturbed after attempting to clarify with Head of Ram and McRae, Christopher Ram that she had not resigned as Project Manager during the course of the audit as the report states, but rather, her contract was terminated. This publication was privy to an email Boyce sent to Ram indicating this development as well as a letter from the Ministry of the Presidency signed by Permanent Secretary, Omar Shariff, terminating Boyce’s contract. According to the letter, “further to our conversation
in July and August, please be formally advised that your contract which ends on August 14, 2015 will not be renewed...” Boyce said that she was hopeful that the eventual report would have been rectified. “I thought he would’ve said ‘oh we made a mistake’ or ‘Ms. Boyce did not resign...’ it was the report that says that I did so, and all he had to do was to own it and he didn’t own it, and I don’t know why; I don’t understand,” said Boyce who went on to point out that instead of blaming certain individuals for deficiencies within the project, the auditors could have instead pointed out that “these were the deficiencies we found with the system.” The report is one that highlights issues ranging from financial systems and internal control being generally weak. “It talks about so many issues in one aspect, and in another it contradicts what it is saying, and when I went on in 2012 my responsibility was distribution and training; acquisition was done by EGovernment, and all the financing from the beginning was done by NFMU and they employed someone who had complete oversight over accounting...a chartered accountant,” Boyce related. As such she highlighted that when questioned by auditors during the review, she made it clear that she would not take responsibility
Margot Boyce for the OLPF’s asset register, but she could provide them with the assets she came and met in 2012. Instead the report, Boyce noted, claimed that she said she did not know what an asset register was. “The asset register continued.... there were purchases in 2011, purchases in 2012, whatever purchases were made is added to it, but for some strange reasons when in 2013 they decided that they want us at the Queenstown office to be responsible for the asset register. I said no, because I cannot take on something I did not have in the beginning, but what we will do is keep a record of all of the assets I went there and met...” “It may not have been satisfactory and in accordance with accounting principles...but it is what it is and it is there and they have it,” Boyce asserted. Based on the report, among the deficiencies of the
OPLF project was the fact that a number of laptops had also gone missing. But Boyce is not accepting culpability. In defending her honour, Boyce pointed out too that the office of the Auditor General was well aware of all of the laptops received by the OLPF project. “I look at this report and I am saying it is all well and good to make these statements, but facts cannot change...” “I don’t care what words are used and terms are thrown around, at the end of the day this is the reality. We live in a Guyana where we know that mediocrity is the order of the day, and we would be fooling ourselves if we say it isn’t. But even within the mediocrity, which is the order of the day, people are doing what they know to do best, and they try to achieve and do the right thing,” Boyce stressed. According to her, while she is unaware when the report was actually written, the timing of its release was rather amusing. “I am convinced that they were looking for a scapegoat...you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure this one out. Every time I turn around it’s this one laptop, and I’m reading about seeing all of these billions of dollars.” “The first thing I told that man is that we didn’t have bank accounts, we didn’t even get a budget variance report...it has always been (Continued on page 29)
Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
St Cuthbert’s teen ‘mysteriously’ vanishes from GPHC Psychiatric ward
From left: Mr. Kattow and two other relatives of the missing teen Uncertainty is the order of the day for one family currently searching for their missing relative, who is believed to be dead. Travaun Kattow, 18, of St. Cuthbert ‘s Mission, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, is feared dead after he reportedly vanished on Thursday, from the Psychiatric Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, (GPHC). According to Kattow‘s relatives, the teen who has a history of mental illness, was admitted to the GPHC unit for some time. The family said that after much consideration the teen was brought to Georgetown for treatment. The boy‘s father, Hesley Kattow, explained that his son had “trouble with his nerves” for a number of years but the situation became “out of hand.” “We bring the boy to Georgetown because we think he would get proper treatment but now we hearing that he dead and we can’t find him,” said Kattow. Mr. Kattow said that
Missing: Travaun Kattow before leaving the hospital, the contact information of his son‘s next of kin was documented on the form and handed to attendees. Kattow said that he believes his son was under observation at GPHC, when he received a telephone call. “The person said he name Alleyne and that my son dead and that he body at Sandy’s Funeral Parlour.” The man said that he left his home on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway and travelled to Georgetown on Sunday in search of his son.
Upon his arrival at GPHC, the man said that he was informed that his son escaped from the Psychiatric Ward. “The hospital staff tell we that he run away. He fight with the orderly and get away…We check the mortuary and so before we went to the funeral parlour.” At the parlour, however, Kattow said that his son’s body could not be located. “The parlour people say that they ain’t got no body. The man cuss up and go on bad, but we want to know how the man from the parlour get the number fuh call and say that my son dead if he ain’t got a body. We look plenty place already so we ain’t know what to do next.” The family is at a loss as it relates to finding the missing teenager. They are seeking assistance from the members of the public. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Travaun Kattow is asked to contact his relatives on telephone numbers 685-0029; 681-2197; 685-3581 0r 6823389 or call the nearest police station.
West Berbice residents block roadway... (From page 21) project area to cultivate crops throughout the year without depending on rainfall, and at the same time without interfering with activities of adjacent or neighbouring farmers, through a well laid out drainage and irrigation network containing a number of structures designed to allow maximum control of the water at all times by the MMA/ADA. The Abary River has been diverted to provide irrigation water for the farmlands via gravity flow, and the excess water is released into the Atlantic Ocean, under normal circumstances via three sluices: one at Plantation Profit, one at Number Twentyeight Village and the other at Cotton Tree. The system was designed for the sluices to be complemented by four giant pumps installed at Trafalgar or Num-
ber Twenty-Eight Village, whenever there is too much water in the system. However, the present situation is that while there has been no reported problem at the sluices/kokers on the flanks, situated Plantation Profit and Cotton Tree, the central sluice at Number Twenty-eight, Trafalgar, has been silted up, and efforts to desilt the outfall could be described as futile.
Of the four giant pumps installed at Trafalgar when the scheme was commissioned, two were relocated by the previous government, and the other two are out of commission. It is quite pellucid that current attempts to bring relief to residents have been failing, and so more resources need to be deployed in whatever form necessary to adequately drain the area.
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Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
EU agrees extending Russia economic sanctions, formal decision pending: sources
Vladimir Putin Reuters - The European Union’s Brussels envoys agreed yesterday to extend until the end of January the energy, financial and defense sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, but formal approval is still pending, diplomatic sources said. After more than two years of sanctions imposed over Moscow’s annexation of Crimea from Kiev and a proRussian insurrection in eastern Ukraine, more EU politicians are now urging a softer stance toward Russia, a key trade partner and energy pro-
vider. The initial decision yesterday must still be formally approved by the bloc’s ministers after France and Britain asked for time to receive comments from their parliaments, although these have no power to block it. That could come as early as Friday or be delayed. Italy has asked to defer formal approval until after EU leaders meet in Brussels on June 28-29, calling for the summit conclusions to say they would “debate” their stance
on Russia in October. Sooner or later, diplomats in Brussels said, the rollover of the sanctions would eventually win formal approval. The German foreign minister and the Italian prime minister have been leading a growing chorus of politicians pushing for sanctions relief. More senior EU politicians also travel to Russia now after a period of relative isolation over Ukraine. The EU’s foreign policy chief signaled a review of the bloc’s strategy on Russia and the conflict in Ukraine in the second half of the year and Donald Tusk - who chairs meetings of EU leaders - plans to dedicate a session to that in October. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow on Tuesday that Sigmar Gabriel, the head of the junior partner in German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition, could visit next week. “He has already been to Moscow, he’s already had meetings with President (Vladimir) Putin that focused precisely on trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Germany... There are things to talk about,” Peskov told reporters.
Brassington puts proceeds from state properties into various accounts - PHI Audit
Former Head of PHI, Winston Brassington
Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo
Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh
Auditor Charles Sugrim has warned Property Holdings Inc (PHI) against the practice of putting proceeds from state properties sold by PHI into various accounts. PHI used to be headed by one of the most controversial public figures—Winston Brassington. During the reign of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government, Brassington had responsibility for PHI and about 13 other companies. In a recently released forensic audit report, Sugrim reported about “unsatisfactory” management of PIU’s finances under Brassington. He highlighted a practice of awarding state properties to the second and third highest bidders. As prominently as he highlighted those issues, Sugrim noted the fact that PHI had a practice of depositing proceeds of final sales into various accounts. These include the accounts of the National Indus-
trial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) and the Privatization Unit, both of these were also being run by Brassington. Sugrim reported, “Proceeds of sales were deposited into the Privatization account at the Bank of Guyana, NICIL account at Republic bank, and PHI accounts at Republic bank. All of the proceeds of sale were deposited into these accounts.” The auditor pointed to instances where this was the case. This happened with the sale of Water Street property sold to JP Santos and Co Ltd. For this sale, the amount of $215M was deposited into NICIL’s account # 487-748-6. Of this amount $139.7M was due to PHI and $75,250,000 was due to Guyana National Shipping Co. The money was to be shared between Guyana National Shipping and PHI as the building belonged to PHI while the land belonged to the shipping company.
Sugrim recommended that “all proceeds from sale of properties be deposited only into PHI accounts.” However, PHI’s management responded saying that while it is “desirable,” to put all proceeds into one account, the practice of depositing sums into various accounts “is not necessarily wrong.” PHI said that “various reasons can be advanced as to why the Privatisation Unit would hold funds, pending conclusion of a transaction.” “In earlier years the account monies were deposited was often determined by the availability of a Board of Directors and/or signatories to accounts and since PHI is managed using NICIL resources if a PHI signatory was not available it may have been expedient to deposit into NICIL/PU accounts. However, all funds are audited and accounted for. In some cases, the Privatisation Unit is the agent and is authorized to hold the funds,” said PHI.
Clinton’s lead over Trump narrows to nine points - Reuters/Ipsos Reuters - Democrat Hillary Clinton’s lead over Republican rival Donald Trump has slipped by about five percentage points since mid-June, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released yesterday, bringing the race for the White House to within nine points. The poll showed that 44.5 percent of likely voters supported former secretary of state Clinton while 35.5 per-
cent backed businessman Trump. That compares with 46.6 percent support for Clinton and 32.3 percent for Trump on June 12, a date that marked her widest lead for the month. Trump has focused much of his energy in recent days on the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida by a U.S.-born gunman pledging allegiance to Islamic State militant group. Trump vowed to ban people
from entering the United States from countries with links to terrorism against America or its allies. Hardline national security proposals have help Trump win increased support from voters in the past, including after the shootings in San Bernardino, California and Paris late last year. Clinton responded to the Orlando attack by calling for increased intelligence gathering and air strikes on Islamic State forces, while warning against demonising American Muslims. She has also criticised Trump’s positions on foreign policy and the economy, saying a Trump presidency would be a “disaster”. The June 17-21 poll of 1,100 likely voters has a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 3.4 percentage points.
Wednesday June 22, 2016
Top US diplomat to meet with Venezuelan officials Tom Shannon
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Senior U.S. diplomat Tom Shannon is meeting with top Venezuelan officials in Caracas this week as a political and social crisis sweeps the South American country. Shannon arrived in Venezuela yesterday and stay through today. The State Department is hoping he will meet with President Nicolas Maduro, though no meeting has yet been scheduled. “We’d like to see that hap-
pen,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said. Secretary of State John Kerry has said he hopes the visit would improve strained relations between the two countries. Venezuela has seen dozens of food riots and spontaneous protests in recent weeks as shortages have become more severe and people vent their anger with the socialist administration. Last week, Kerry called on
Venezuela to respect freedom of expression and release political prisoners. The U.S. has also called on Maduro to allow a recall referendum to move forward. Critics accuse the administration of dragging its feet. If the process takes more than seven months, the opposition would lose the chance to challenge for the presidency in a new national election. If a recall vote occurs after mid-January, Maduro would be replaced by his vice president. This week, people who support the effort began validating their signatures in support of the recall. The government on Sunday arrested two opposition activists who had been traveling outside of Caracas to participate in the validation process. Yesterday, Human Rights Watch denounced the arrests, and called on the government to show legal basis for keeping the two men jailed or immediately release them.
Grenada Parliament Approves Legislation To Replace Privy Council With CCJ ST GEORGE’S, Grenada - (CMC) - The Grenada Parliament yesterday approved legislation for the island to replace the London-based privy Council with the Trinidad-based Caribbean
Court of Justice (CCJ) as its final court. However, before Grenada could join Barbados, Dominica, Belize and Guyana that have already made the CCJ their final court, the is-
sue will have to go before its citizens in a referendum, the date for which has not yet been announced. However it is most likely to be held by December this year.
Jamaican Asylum Seekers Top 800 In 2015 - UN Report The Gleaner - A new report released by the UN Refugee Agency has shown that Jamaicans made 836 applications for asylum overseas during 2015. The report, Global Trends, was released Monday to coincide with World Refugee Day. The report shows that at the start of 2015, Jamaicans had 616 asylum cases pending, and that another 836 applications were made during that year. During 2015, 235 Jamaicans were granted asylum while 368 were rejected. One-hundred-and-seven of the cases were otherwise closed. The UN Refugee Agency report shows that Jamaicans were seeking asylum in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. The United States was the preferred country, receiving 267 applications in 2015, Canada follows with 181 applications in 2015, then the
United Kingdom with 155. In the meantime, the report says there are currently 12 refugees in Jamaica, while there are five pending applications from asylum seekers. Monday, the UN Refugee Agency noted that the Caribbean is not immune from the impact of war, violence, persecution and discrimi-
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Kaieteur News
nation. It said consistent with global trends, the Caribbean region has experienced rising numbers of asylum applications in recent years. The number of refugees and asylum seekers in the region, rose to 2,544 in 2015, which is an increase of 140 per cent from 2014.
Barbados PM stresses importance of stable households BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - (CMC) – Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has warned that the socio-economic gains the island has achieved over the past few years will mean nothing if households are not stable and instead provide a breeding ground for criminals. “We will only be spinning top in mud,” he said, adding “if we do not have households that are stable, where men respect women and children understand their relationship with their parents. “If we don’t have those households all of the economic gains which we registered are going to be reversed and undone,” he argued. Addressing a Father’s Day ceremony on Sunday, Stuart also warned about the proliferation of guns in the country and criticised people who he said were engaged in the illegal trade. He said the situation was promoting violence and social dysfunction in the country.
Freundel Stuart Last week, law enforcement authorities arrested a young man as he attempted to enter a Magistrate Court armed with a pistol. “Guns do not fly and they do not swim. They are transported by human agency and their entry into this society is facilitated by human agency and these are some of the challenges …that make our job as fathers, make our job as mothers, make our jobs as a government, make our jobs as communities more difficult
because in spite of all the other successes of which we can boast… there’s these social dysfunctions that continue to bedevil us.” Prime Minister Stuart said that his administration is making it a priority to address a number of social problems facing the island. He told the ceremony that the issues, if not dealt with speedily, will have the potential to erode the social and economic gains Barbados had achieved over the years.
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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 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
CAR RENTAL
Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
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 Lot 1031 ‘B’ Field Sophia, concrete building, 2 bedrooms apartment. Call: 621-5781 (Colin) or 650-8827 (Moureen) Three storey 75ftx30ft concrete building for bond or offices. 25B Princess Street, Charlestown. Tel: 2230654, 225-0605 Restaurant with liquor license, great location off Soesdyke Linden Highway $60,000 monthly. Call:6000036; 223-1273 Apartment: 3 bedrooms, downstairs @ La Parfaite Harmonie-Call: 629-8253; 615-3728; 691-6688
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
Harmony Inn: clean, comfortable & affordable apartments/rooms, long & short term – Call: 668-0306; 218-1400; 694-7817 NOTICE
Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807
FOR SALE/RENT American pool table – Call: 277-0578
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
La Parfaite Harmonie -$20M, $25M, $6M, New Road -$17M, $2.5M, La Grange Public Road $18M. Call: 604-6724
Complete bush high frequency radio system, pick up signal in any remote area. Call: 600-0036; 223-1273 1 Complete high volume, 3stage water purification systems, UV light, water tanks, freezer, reasonable , owner migrating – Call: 649-8430
Zeelugt-(2)storey concrete building, Good Hope-(2)storey concrete building, Tel:2319690,231-9693 call between 8:00hrs-16:00hrs (Mon-Fri).
MIX BREED PUPS –CALL: 615-0146 Bedford TM 6X6 parts for sale – Call: 697-5437
Parfaite Harmony-(2) storey wooden & concrete building. Prices negotiable. Tel:2319690,231-9693 call between 8:00hrs-16:00hrs (Mon-Fri). 1 Front building & 1 -2 storey back building @ 180 Charlotte Street Bourda (30X120), price negotiable- Call: 226-5183; 2276817; 624-7341 Enmore: Hope West, 1-two storey 3 bedrooms wooden building, overlooking FoulisCall: 602-2818; 649-1434 Business property @ 21-24 Main & Magdalen Street New Amsterdam Berbice. Call: 233-0091; 683-9031 3 Bedrooms house in Tucville, asking price -$15M, needs repairs. Call: 645-6498
1 Bedroom apartment in Diamond E.B.D-$18,000 monthly. Call: 663-7677 or 668-0306
Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494
Autocad Technician to draw parts and components contact 2235273/4
Pure German Shepherd pups, 7 weeks old, vaccinated & have clinic cards – Call: 6535702
TO LET
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
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
One flat house 2 bedrooms at Grove New Scheme 2nd Bridge, large land space -$11M. Call: 626-1263/ 680-9593
Splashmin’s Resort has moved. We are now located at 52 Hadfield Street behind GT&T- Call: 223-7301-3
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 656-0087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL @YAHOO. COM
VACANCY Welder / Fabricator must have experience-Contact 2235273/4
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
Two -20ft Container chassis for sale- price $1,260,000 each for information call: 623-1615 ACCOMMODATION
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
Two bedrooms apartment @ B Field Sophia -$50,000 monthly – 3 months advance. Call: 600-0036 Newly built 6 bedrooms, fully furnished rooms @ $35US nightly/ $2700US monthly, Georgetown, great for overseas visitors. Call: 6000036; 223-1273 One two bedroom house, fully furnished in gated community to rent-Call: 6230156; 695-3150
House & land BB Eccles, 3 bedrooms upstairs, 2 bedrooms downstairs, concrete & grill fence -$45M negotiable. Call: 629-8253; 615-3728; 691-6688 Property located @ Waller’s Delight W.C.D- Call: 6620187; 674-4929 Huge 4 bedrooms wooden house, land 75ftX300ft $15.5M negotiable. Call: 6298253; 615-3728; 691-6688 La Parfaite Harmonie, 6 bedrooms concrete house$20M negotiable, Lamaha Garden, modern house -$45 M negotiable, gated community. Call: 629-8253; 615-3728; 691-6688
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 Lorry DRIVER/Salesman, Part time Welder/ Fabricator 676 6700 Teachers needed for students ages 4-7years/810years/11-14yrs for summer & all round. Call: 690-9378 2 Live -in/ live out waitresses to work at Caribbean Heat in Good Hope, East Coast Demerara. Call: 613-2650 or 627-5607 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
WANTED Live-in experienced waitress 18-25yrs, boarding & lodging free, salary $70,000$80,000 monthly – Call: 6105043 Hallow Blocks maker- Call: 233-2767 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 Experienced Driver apply in person with handwritten application @ Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 Cleaner, Security, DJ, waitress, bartenders,1 experinced secretary between ages 18-25, must have CXC–Call: 668-8332; 638-5303 Experienced driver/salesman and porter to drive & sell beverages. Experienced is an asset. Call: 226-9800 M&S Taxi and Transportation Service wanted Hire Car Drivers. Call: 638-0704. 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
EDUCATIONAL I.A.E Classes for CSEC January/June 2017: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subject for Students, Adults & repeaters. Call: 683-5742 Summer classes for children age 5-17yrs, Form 1-5, CXC classes. Call: 690-5008; 6602152 Register Now! Computerize Accounting -$30,000, Graphics Program -$30,000; PC repairs @ Micrographics, Vreed-en-Hoop. Call: 2643057 Computer Diploma 9 Courses -$35,000, summer computer classes for kids, register now @ Micrographics, Vreed-enHoop. Call: 264-3057 Electronic Course. Starting 9th August. Hands-on training repairing all types of TVs, etc. Call: 226-6551; 2250391
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 We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, La Parfaite Harmonie, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, Bartica –Call: 651-1969; 6818897 1 Male to cook in the Backdam-Call: 678-0565 One administrative assistantemail CV to nwscompanygy@gmail.com LEARN TO DRIVE Soman, Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (Continued on page 29)
Wednesday June 22, 2016
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Kaieteur News
D’Urban Park stadium bleachers completed for $210M
Over $210M was spent by Government to complete the bleachers of the D’Urban Park stadium.
From page 28
The completion of the bleachers for D’Urban Park in time for the Jubilee celebrations last month saw 10 contractors being hired, with over $210M spent for the stands. According to details of the tender awards published on the Ministry of Finance website, 10 bids were awarded on May 17th, 2016 for the construction/
completion of the timberframed bleachers with roof. The park, once covered with bushes, had been languishing for years before the David Granger administration which took office last year announced that it was developing the area. The plans included construction of a stadium, recreational walkways and tennis court.
However, the first phase of the stadium ran into trouble with delays and it became clear in April that works would not be completed in time for the big week of May 26th last. The project, up to that time, was being handled by the Ministry of the Presidency. The project had received negative publicity which spoke of poor quality work
The following are the contractors that participated in the construction of the bleachers:
Guyana is just... From page 13 different cultural backgrounds not being represented when the 32 and 31 percentages are combined. “If you continue this, then you perpetuate a system where others are excluded and they will have no representation in the executive and the executive is where the decisions are really made, that is where policies are made and carried out.” “My position on that issue has not changed… My position does not depend on who is the President; my position depends on the powers, not who is occupying the position of the President. You don’t wait till you have a good candidate to decide whether or not you are going to change the powers of the President. You try to protect yourself in the event that you have a bad candidate. So the fact that you may have a good candidate now is not a basis that you should change your position at all.” Hughes did not want to state whether this was noted during the discussions of the Committee on Constitutional Reform. He said that he was the convener on the Steering Committee on Constitutional Reform and the report on its finding and recommendations was submitted on April 30, last to Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo. Hughes said that he would leave it to the Prime Minister to reveal any content in that regard. The AFC Executive Member noted that Guyana needs a Constitution that protects the people from the possibility of abuse. He maintained that he saw it as a priority issue during the campaign trail and maintains the same stance now. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, the First Vice President said, “…I would want to believe that it (amending the powers of the Executive) is not an issue that stands alone. “We have to see how is it that the Constitution could be reworked and amended or reformed to bring about greater comity between the powers of the Executive and the Legislature, and particularly how you could be able to diffuse some of the powers of the Executive to bring some of those powers within the purview of the Prime Minster. “That was (one of) the intention(s) of the Cummingsburg Accord. It might not have been a manifesto promise, but I am not the one to decide whether these things are to be done now.”
and questions of transparency. That negative publicity apparently caught the attention of President Granger. The President in a statement assured that safety and quality work will be among the hallmarks of the completed facility. On April 19th, it was announced that President David Granger has handed the project to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure with clear orders for it to be completed on time. Thousands of Guyanese thronged the facility for the flag-raising ceremony on May 26th. Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance records also disclosed that the Ministry of Public Telecommunications spent US$26,250 for the accommodation of artistes for the event. The contract went to Georgetown Investments and Management Services Inc. The same ministry also paid a total of $1,533,000, to
Sonia Noel, Storm Talent Agency and Renee ChesterThompson for the provision of models, makeup and cultural items for the Guyana Golden Jubilee Festival Fashion Show. Another amount of $4.27M went to Kross Kolor Records for the provision of entertainment services. The Ministry of Education also incurred expenses, paying over US$94,945 to Bonel Enterprise (USA) for hosting of activities. The Ministry of Education- Dept of Culture, Youth & Sport- paid $3.5M to Windjammer International Cuisine and Comfort Inn for providing meals. That ministry also paid Star Party Rentals $1.8M for the rental of chairs, tables, tower lights, and stage for the celebrations.
VEHICLE FOR SALE 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 Toyota Voxy/ Noah unregistered, 2008 model $2.5M. Call: 603-9700 Mitsubishi GLX Sports $400,000, MR2 Sports Toyota -$500,000, 200 Mercedes Benz -$300,000. Call: 226-8013 1 Mazda Axela, in excellent condition -$1.2M negotiableCall: 681-8543 One Hilux Tiger 4X4 for sale, 5L engine, stick gear, diesel, 15 inch mag, roof rack & back covering. Call: 692-9577; 2292379
Former OLPF Manager... (From page 16) hands off, then all of a sudden it’s management and how I stopped the training, and then you’re talking about value for money. We had over 400 trainers throughout the length and breadth of Guyana,” said Boyce, even as she defended the staff size, which was also questioned by the auditors. The OLPF project started in 2011 under the previous administration. However, because of some issues with the previous project manager, Boyce was asked to take up the position with particular focus on Distribution and Training in 2012. She has insisted that she was at no time involved in any wrongdoing associated with the project, and moreover, resents any attempt to implicate her in such.
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 Gold & diamond land for sale or partnership (joined) @ Ekereku, Paris Hill in Berbice River-Call: 600-0036; 223-1273 Herstelling (corner lot) 100ftX50ft -$3.5M, (pay 2$M & rest later), La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.3M. Call: 6042207; 611-7223 High value transported land and 2 bedrooms newly built house, Greater Diamond E.B.D -$16M negotiable. Call: 684-7234 Land size: 54X92 Bank’s Park, asking price -$21M- Call: 6456498 Land located at Nouvelle Flanders West Coast Demerara. Call: 662-0187; 674-4929
For the best rates, call us on telephone number: 225-8458
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday June 22, 2016
THE VOICE OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS...
The prophetic fire of the teacher will never die By Sase Singh INTRODUCTION Children are the foundation of our future. Well-educated children build a robust workforce to meet the needs of the 21st century job market. But what do children need the most in school? Nourishment comes to mind immediately. So you will find me being one of the greatest supporters of President Granger’s free breakfast programme. But after free breakfast what do students need the most? Mental nourishment from great teachers. It is said in the Coalition Manifesto of 2015 that they “will unveil a programme which considers the special needs of our most valuable resources – our teachers…” Was it all words? Where is the supporting action? It is a crime against humanity to keep our teachers in such abject poverty in a nation that prides itself as the breadbasket of the Caribbean. OUR TEACHERS Highly motivated and qualified teachers are the lifeblood of an education system. In order to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers we need to compensate them accordingly. However, the wages of the teacher today is nothing but starvation wages. What a great contradiction we have where many Ministers are taking home more than a million dollars per month (after tax and including all their perks) and many of our teachers cannot even take home $55,000 (after tax)? You do not play with hard working folks. By hard working folks, I am talking about people of good conscious who have put their time towards ensuring that this nation does not become a basket case. This is what teachers do every day; they keep a system from crumbling against all odds. I am what I am because of great teachers like Ms. Shirley Greene, who took me into her home
on Sundays, and many others. After observing how successive SHAME ONALLGOVERNMENTS administration mistreated teachers, I cannot OF GUYANA but be a strong advocate for trained teachers The coalition government sits in high making that hard decision to pack up and ship office today and the PPP sat in office in the off. And why not? When a nation and its past because of the service and sacrifice of politicians can be so callous and ungrateful the teaching fraternity. These people went to the lifeblood of the education system, such out in their numbers to work for GECOM on evil must be combatted with wisdom. Elections Day over the Wisdom dictates that you years. Their service assured must go forth and mould those free and fair elections since nations that value your 1992. Without free and fair service. This is not antielections we would not have national or anti-patriotic, but had a Granger administration elementary common sense. For today and without the teachers, 50 years your successive we would not have had free and governments have treated you fair elections. You do not play like foot-rags, while the with these people who are education system in the fundamentally committed to Bahamas and Belize valued truth and justice. They deserve your talent and rewarded you a fair deal. accordingly, so why stay? All the scholars of Guyana Today under the coalition both at home and abroad are government, it is most products of the teaching disgusting to observe that after fraternity. So why are these almost a year of empty people continuing to received promises to the teachers, they Sase Singh starvation wages on the 50th still have not been sorted out. anniversary of this nation’s But Ministers have been “wellindependence? sorted out” only three weeks after marking Whoever is advising President Granger their name present, without proving that there is no money in the treasury in 2016 themselves. After 13 months in office, there is to pay teachers is a blatant storyteller. I have not even five cents on the table for the perused the latest Budget, and even the data teachers. So why are we expecting great on real tax collection so far in 2016, and it grades from our students in 2016 and does paint a clear picture. There is enough 2017? Dream on! money to pay the teachers a nine percent Great grades require human intervention increase. at all levels. The most impactful interaction is THE PROPHETIC FIRE between the students and the teachers on the OF THE TEACHER frontline. So to hell with anyone who is asking When those teachers invested in the the teachers to follow the motto “ask not what children of Guyana, they did not conduct this your country can do for you, but what you deed because they wanted high office or fat can do for your country”. Those people bank accounts. All they wanted was a living should first ask their politicians that question. wage or at minimum, some financial adjustment A recent analysis of the teachers’ situation to their personal circumstance, to take them clearly illustrates that the teachers’ real wages closer to the good life. You should not use are not increasing. Today in June 2016, under their prophetic fire for cheap politicking. While the Granger administration, teachers’ pay can on the campaign trail you say one thing and buy less in the market than they could 12 then when the time comes to deliver, you months ago. The pay scales of our teachers engage in presidential pageantry. Teachers do are the worst in the CARICOM family. In not need “march pasts” by soldiers, they need Jamaica, the average starting salary for a money in their pockets; plain and simple. teacher is US$13,000 per annum, Bahamas –
US$30,000 per annum, Trinidad – US$19,000. Guyana – about US$4,000 per year. Shame! THE GUYANATEACHERS’UNION (GTU) The GTU has just given its leadership a new mandate. The nation, and the teachers expected a new level of activism and public agitation for better pay from the GTU. As I said before, the state cannot afford more than nine percent this year, but there are out-ofthe box options to consider. Why not offer each graduate teacher with five years of service a $1,000 house lot and a $20,000 grant that can only be used to meet their closing costs to construct their new home? Those who qualify should be asked to sign a contract to stay in the system for a minimum of five more years in exchange for these benefits. If 1,000 teachers qualify in year one, that is $20 million. So what? A luxury vehicle bought by a Minister in one transaction depletes the Treasury by more than $20 million. With their own home in Guyana, teachers are more likely to want to stay rather than migrate to the Caribbean. But right now they have little incentive to stay. How can a nation find $600 million for an independence fête but cannot find $20 million to help some of our teachers own their own houses? All these questions expose the fundamental issue – what are our priorities; moulding families or more fêtes? Therefore, no one has the moral authority to condemn teachers if they choose to lift their limbs and ship out to the Bahamas. CONCLUSION As the cost of living remains a primary concern for our teachers and other classes of workers, many dedicated teachers are forced to take second jobs to make ends meet, while others are forced to pursue careers in foreign lands. Both of these options take away from our capacity to generate a more functionally literate nation. To whose disadvantage? Only a naked fool cannot see the damage that is being done as we continue to play games with our teachers by not doing the right thing. It is time for the Education Minister to wake up and demand a fair deal for the teachers. Please share your comments at sasesin1@yahoo.com.
Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday June 22, 2016
Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
Rioting hits South African capital after ANC names mayoral candidate Reuters - Protesters burned buses and barricaded roads in South Africa’s capital yesterday in an escalating dispute over the ruling party’s mayoral candidate for local elections in August. The vote is expected to be closely fought and will pose a major test for the African National Congress (ANC) as it looks ahead to a 2019 presidential election in the face of a strong challenge from the opposition and an economic slowdown. Disturbances erupted on Monday night as residents of Pretoria’s impoverished townships set vehicles and tyres on fire to block roads after the ANC’s national leadership named a mayoral candidate not nominated by its regional branches. Rioters looted shops, torched vehicles and placed rocks and other debris
across roads Wednesday, snarling traffic and business in the capital of Africa’s most industrialised country. The dispute flared at the weekend after an ANC member was shot dead on Sunday as party factions met to decide on a candidate for mayor of Pretoria’s Tshwane municipality. The ANC leadership then named senior party member and former cabinet minister Thoko Didiza as its candidate for Tshwane, overriding regional branch members. Tshwane residents want the incumbent mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, to be allowed to run on the ANC ticket, TV station eNCA reported, but at a town hall meeting with some residents, Ramokgopa backed Didiza’s selection and called for calm. ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said its
members were not behind the violence, which he condemned as “thuggery”. Speaking to reporters, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa urged Tshwane residents to shun tribalism and accept Didiza even though she does not originally hail from the area. Didiza comes from KwaZulu Natal province. Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told a media gathering that the military would not be deployed yet but warned a crackdown might be needed to restore peace in Pretoria’s streets. “We are not going to allow anarchy to take over.” The ANC has been in power since the end of whiteminority rule in 1994 but critics say it is losing its touch in areas - including Pretoria where it was once unassailable.
Iraqi forces retake two Falluja districts from Islamic State, push west
An Iraqi security forces vehicle is seen on a street in the centre of Falluja, Iraq. REUTERS/THAIER AL-SUDANI Reuters - Iraq’s armed forces pressed on with their offensive to retake the city of Falluja from Islamic State yesterday, dislodging the militants from two eastern districts and pushing them back into a handful of northern and western neighbourhoods. A military statement said the elite counter-terrorism forces took the northeastern Shurta police district while units from Baghdad operations command recaptured the Askari military neighbourhood.
Islamic State still held the northern districts of Jughaifi and Golan as well as the western banks of the Tigris River. Fighting to recapture the Iraqi city longest held by Islamic State, now in its fifth week, has forced more than 85,000 residents to flee to overwhelmed governmentrun camps. Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said last week that the recapture of Falluja would pave the way for the military to march on Mosul, Islamic State’s de facto capi-
tal. The operation’s commander Lieutenant General Abdul Wahab al-Saidi told Reuters on Monday that U.S.backed Iraqi forces expected the final push would take place in the west. The Iraqi army is also pressing on with an offensive to dislodge the militants from farmlands located on the western bank of the Euphrates, opposite the built-up area of Falluja, that the militants use as a base for snipers and mortar attacks.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday June 22, 2016
Wednesday June 22, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Five doubles recorded as... Smith, Marsh lead Australia... (From page 39) minute. Den Amstel, like they always do, came out all guns blazing in the second half as they outplayed Jetty Gunners. Paul Miggins increased the home side’s hold on the match in the 57th minute before two more goals were converted, this time from Gavin Graham in the 59th and 61st minutes to increase the lead 5-1 up to that point. Jetty Gunners still continued to show some heart and pulled another back with three minutes to full time as Wilson completed his double; final score Den Amstel 5 Jetty Gunners 2. In matches on Satur-
d a y, Yo u n g A c h i e v e r s were led to their 2-1 triumph over Golden Warriors on account of goals from Tifel Adams in the 10th minute and Tiffon We l c o m e , t w o m i n u t e s later. Golden Wa r r i o r s , which were reduced to 10 players after Dellon Layne picked up his second yellow card of the match in the 53rd minute following one in the 35th minute, got their consolation strike off the boot of Jermain Isaiah in the 62nd minute. Vegae Boys also won a close encounter 3-2 over Wales United. Shemar Hetmyer (10th), Cordel Walcott (31st) and Carlos
Caesar in the 75th minute were the goal scorers for winners. Wales United got their goals from L a w r e n c e Phillips in the 46th and 51st minute. Four more matches are carded for this weekend as rivalry continues. On Saturday, Eagles will aim to fly further when they engage Vegae Boys in opening play with Uitvlugt taking on Stewartville in the main game. On S u n d a y, Pouderoyen match skills with Golden Warriors in the main event preceded by a clash between Jetty Gunners and Beavers. (Franklin Wilson)
Wednesday June 22, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Unpredictable events will disrupt your routine. They didn't fully understand what was expected. You can prosper if you invest in property or mutual funds. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Take a close look at any contracts you've signed in order to be sure exactly where you stand. You can't win and they won't listen. Include friends and family members in your redecorating plans.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Mingle with those who have similar interests, and you should be able to start something. You really can't do anything to change matters today. Take the time to sort out your personal papers and double-check your financial investments. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You're in the mood to party. Rely on the one you love for support and affection. Don't overspend on luxury items.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You need to get out and have some fun to reduce tension. Don't be taken advantage of by any fast talking salesperson trying to part you from your cash. Older relatives may be a burden.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Make changes around your house and plan to do some entertaining. You may have problems with those you live with. You will easily charm members of the opposite sex.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Changes in your home will be positive. Property investments should payoff. Listen to the advice given by those with experience. Promote your ideas now.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You may find a rare antique today. Visitors may drop by unexpectedly, resulting in tension with your lover. Be discreet about any information you uncover.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Chances to express your ideas and beliefs can bring popularity as long as you're not arrogant. Someone you least expect may not have your best interests at heart. You are best to concentrate on work.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Work on legitimate financial deals that may enable you to bring in some extra cash. This may not be the day to get involved in risky joint financial ventures. Don't get involved in other people's private doings.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Exhaustion will lead to minor injury if you don't know when to quit. You may want to plan physical activities that will help burn off some of their excess energy.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It's time you let your true feelings out. You can find solutions if you are willing to communicate. If you can get away for a vacation, do so.
(From page 35) previous encounter with the West Indies, and he immediately found pace and bounce to his liking. It was too much for Johnson Charles, who edged a fast, full delivery in the very first over, and Andre Fletcher fared little better as he groped at a succession of balls whirring across him. Hazlewood also generated plenty of lift, and it was with one such delivery that ended a promising Darren Bravo innings as Smith held a one-handed as he dived from a wide first slip. Fletcher was being battered verbally as well as technically by Starc, and it wasn’t long before he was taken off the shoulder of the bat at backward point. Three wickets down with the ball still new, West Indies
Germany beat... (From page 36) the foot of the post. “Will Grigg’s on fire,” the Northern Ireland fans sang, even though their celebrated number nine was left on the bench again. On the half hour, Germany finally broke the deadlock when Mueller burst into the area, after being played through by Ozil, and played the ball back for Gomez, who coolly slotted the ball home albeit via a deflection off defender Gareth McAuley. Mueller also missed a golden opportunity in the 36th minute when his effort rattled the crossbar. Goetze then wasted two clear chances soon after the break before being replaced by Andre Schuerrle in the 55th minute.
were in a most precarious position when Ramdin joined Samuels. Initially their response was obstinate defence, absorbing the bounce and speed of Starc and Hazlewood, then the early forays of James Faulkner, Scott Boland and Mitchell Marsh. Nearly seven overs passed without a boundary, and it was 64 for 3 in the 20th over when Samuels decided Boland and Marsh had to go. In the space of two overs he clattered 27 runs from the support seamers, tilting momentum back towards the west Indies for the first time all innings. Batting conditions had eased considerably, and Smith had no quality spinbowling option to change things up. He resorted to the part-timers of Aaron Finch before trying Maxwell, and neither man could procure a wicket. Samuels and Ramdin carried on with increasing authority, setting up the ideal platform for West Indies’ brute force further down the order.
Ultimately Ramdin would fall short of a century, bowled having a swing at Starc, but critically Smith had been forced to use up his striker bowler’s overs well before the end of the innings. Pollard arrived in ideal circumstances, but after a Maxwell attempt to catch him off Hazlewood became six when the fielder’s foot slipped onto the midwicket rope, he was unable to repeat the trick against Boland. Australian frustration at the match situation was borne out in numerous verbal stoushes with Pollard and Samuels in particular - on the fringe of elimination, it was the most animated they had been all tournament. The niggle was evidence of a team trying to assert themselves, but also of the heightened stakes in the match. Smith, Marsh and Maxwell would rise suitably to the occasion. West Indies are left needing to beat South Africa to qualify for the decider.
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Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
Croatia win group by beating holders Spain BORDEAUX, FRANCE (Reuters) Holders Spain lost for the first time in 15 matches at the European Championship finals on Tuesday when Croatia beat them 2-1 to win Group D at Euro 2016. Ivan Perisic scored the winner with three minutes left af-
ter Croatia keeper Danijel Subasic had saved a penalty from Spain captain Sergio Ramos with 20 minutes remaining. Croatia’s Nikola Kalinic had cancelled out an early goal from Spain striker Alvaro Morata in the first half.
Spain meet Group E winners Italy in the last 16 on Monday in Paris, while Croatia will play one of the thirdplaced teams in Lens on Saturday. Kalinic’s goal just before the break was the first goal conceded by Spain in 948 min-
Turkey beat Czechs to stay in last-16 contention utes of European Championship matches since October 2014. Meanwhile, Turkey snatched a Euro 2016 lifeline with a 2-0 victory over Czech Republic on Tuesday that secured third place in Group D and left them waiting to see if they had done enough to reach the last 16. After defeats to Croatia and Spain in their first two games, goals by Burak Yilmaz and Ozan Tufan gave the rejuvenated Turks hope, although they need results to go their way when the group stage concludes on Wednesday. Should they go through, Turkey will face either Wales in Paris or hosts France in Lyon. The Czechs, however, will definitely go home, having finished bottom of the group with one point from three matches. The Turks opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Arda Turan sent Emre Mor scampering away down the right before he crossed for
Burak Yilmaz, who ghosted in to send a simple first-time shot from close range flying past Petr Cech. The Czechs almost levelled soon afterwards when Borek Dockal headed against the foot of the post and Tomas Necid could not reach the rebound, before the latter awkwardly volleyed another good chance over 10 minutes later. Although Turkey looked a lot more resilient than they had in their opening two games, they were on the back foot for much of the first half and the Czechs had plenty of chances to score. Full back Pavel Kaderabek missed two great opportunities, firing a shot that Turkey keeper Volkan Babacan saved with his foot before the defender blazed wide following a slick attack down the right. Babacan also pushed a stinging shot from Jaroslav Plasil wide as the Czechs started to find some space on the flanks.
Turkey came out all guns blazing in the second half and Emre Mor could have put them two up as he picked up a long ball and drifted in from the right before clipping a shot just over. Yet seconds later Babacan had to make another smart save at the other end from Vladimir Darida. Moments after Turkey were raging at an offside call that went against them, Ozan Tufan sent thousands of Turkish fans into ecstasy as Mehmet Topal teed him up to smash an unstoppable shot into the top corner from a tight angle. The goal was greeted by a half-dozen flares lighting up the Turkish end of the ground, with some being thrown onto the pitch during the ear-splitting celebrations. Their spirits lifted by the goal, the Turks battled for every ball in a superb defensive effort, never letting the Czechs settle as they weathered the storm to hold on for a precious victory.
Spain conceded their first goal after 735 minutes at the Euros when Kalinic scored. (Getty Images)
Olympics: ‘Serious’ doubts over Russian, Kenyan athletes – IOC chief LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP) — Deficiencies in the antidoping systems in Russia and Kenya have created doubts about the presumption of innocence for athletes from both countries, the Olympics chief said Tuesday. “Because of the (World AntiDoping Agency) non-compliance declaration of Kenya and Russia and the related substantial allegations, the Olympic Summit considers the ‘presumption of innocence’ of athletes from these countries being put seriously into question,” International Olympics Committee chief Thomas Bach said in a statement. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Friday voted to uphold Russia’s suspension, first imposed in November after a WADA report unveiled state-sponsored doping and widespread corruption in Russian athletics.
Similarly, Kenya has come under the IAAF and WADA spotlight over its flagging anti-doping control system, necessitating changes to legislation to avoid exclusion of its world-beating distance runners from August’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics. “As a result, every IF (international federation) should take a decision on the eligibility of such athletes on an individual basis to ensure a level playing field in their sport,” Bach continued in a stark warning. “In this decision-making process, the absence of a positive national anti-doping test should not be considered sufficient by the IFs. This means that the respective IF should take into account other reliable adequate testing systems in addition to national anti-doping testing. “This decision about the
‘level playing field’ in each of their very different Olympic sports, and eligibility, including of their member National Federations, should be taken by each IF taking into account all the specific circumstances in the relevant National Federations, any available evidence, the World Anti-Doping Code and the specific rules of their sport.” Bach added that Russian athletes who pass an individual test by the IAAF would compete under their nation’s flag at the Rio Games. “If there are athletes qualified then they will compete as members of the team of the Russian Olympic Committee,” Bach told reporters. Bach dismissed suggestions that Russian track and field stars could compete under a neutral or Olympic flag, as had been suggested when the IAAF extended its ban on Friday.
Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Carlton Murray captures Goodwill trophy as scrabble players continue rivalry Yvonne Murray’s reign came to an end when several scrabble players convened at her Nandy Park EBD residence to contest their monthly tournament among several players last Sunday evening. H o w e v e r, t h e championship trophy remained at her residence as it was her husband, Carlton, who turned in a magnificent display to capture the trophy after amassing 4 points with a positive spread of 359. Indeed, Carlton dug deep after surrendering his inaugural game to Maurice Munru by a slim spread of 7. He made amend in the second game after defeating veteran player, Ulric Harris (25) before avenging several previous losses to Yvonne with a crunching win by a comfortable spread of 65. Ruby Cummings fared
no better and surrendered by a spread of 96 before Murray capped off his performance with a crunching victory over Michael Benjamin by a spread of 180. The players will continue the rivalry when they convene at the same venue next month end. Meanwhile, those players will join with other top seeds in another tournament when the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) stages the Insurance Brokers Guyana Ltd open scrabble tournament at the Herdmanston Lodge, Queenstown, Sunday June 26. Abigail McDonald had won the national championships when the GASP last held that tournament a few years ago. However, Kaieteur Sport has been reliably informed that she has since migrated to the United States of America.
Notwithstanding, keen rivalry is anticipated from former National Champion, Fred Collins, Moen Gafoor and James Krakowsky among others. The females will also vie for championship honours and names such as Yvonne Murray (who won the just concluded GASP I n t e r m e d i a t e Champions hip), G race Carter and Ruby Cummings among others will enter the tournament with high ambitions. The registration period commences at 09:30hrs and clocks will be started at 10:15hrs. Those members with boards and clocks are asked to bring them along to facilitate an anticipated large turnout. An admission fee of $500 will be collected during the registration period and
D’Andrade, Johnson on podium in Trinidad
Lionel D’Andrade (centre) poses for a photo opportunity with countryman, Kelvin Johnson (right) and Trinidadian Curtis Cox. G u y a n a ’s d i s t a n c e running duo, Lionel DAndrade and Kelvin Johnson were on podium again last Sunday in the 2016 Edition of the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) annual Labour Day
Butler 20km Classic Road Race in Fyzabad, Trinidad. Johnson was second behind Trinidad’s Curtis Cox, who ran 1:11.37 to win the game. Johnson ran 1:12.56, while D’Andrade (1:14.240 was third. The
Guyanese told Kaieteur Sport yesterday that the race was a good one for them. A c c o r d i n g t o D’Andrade, he is recovering from a hamstring injury. He said the race was his 26th of the year.
participants are urged to arrive at the venue early enough to conform to this prerequisite. There will be six games played with a break for lunch after the first three games and players will vie for trophies donated by Insurance Brokers Guyana Ltd. The first three finishers will win prizes as well as the player forming the most bingos. The organizers are also inviting young, interested players to come and experience the feel of competitive scrabble.
From one Murray to the next: Carlton happily collects the winning trophy from his predecessor, Yvonne.
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday June 22, 2016
Australia demands extra Rio security after armed robbery SYDNEY (Reuters) The Australian Olympic Committee have demanded Rio de Janeiro immediately ramps up security in the city after a Paralympic sailor and team official were robbed at gunpoint while training for the Games at the weekend. Australia’s Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller said the incident was a “light warning” and that she had written to the Rio organising committee and mayor demanding action. “We’re demanding that
the level of security forces, which number about 100,000, is reviewed and also we are also asking that they are deployed earlier prior to Games time, especially around training and competition venues,” she told reporters in Sydney. “It’s not an isolated incident,” she added. “It’s got to a point now that steps and measures are taken to ensure that all our team members who go to Rio for the Olympic Games next month are safe.”
Paralympic sailor Liesl Tesch and physiotherapist Sarah Ross said they were taking a bike ride in a park near their hotel at Flamengo Beach early on Sunday when they were confronted by two men, one of whom was carrying a pistol. Tesch, who won a sailing gold at the London Paralympic Games and has also competed in wheelchair basketball, told Australian television that the armed man pointed the gun at her and then shoved her to the
ground. “It was absolutely horrific, I can see it clear as day in my own head. We are both shaken, but physically we’re both okay,” said Tesch, who trained on her boat later that day. Chiller said the “extremely concerning and disturbing” incident was all the more worrying because it took place in broad daylight close to the training venue. ‘RIO IS NOT LONDON’ The AOC, Chiller said, had decided to engage a private security firm in Rio and were considering extending their existing ban on athletes entering favelas to other areas of the city. Olympic organisers plan to deploy in excess of 85,000 security personnel for the Games, double the number used in London in 2012. “It doesn’t seem that 100,000 is enough,” said Chiller. “It’s a lot more than we had in London, but Rio is not London and in my opinion we need to make sure all the competition and training venues are safe. “If we take 750 people
Australia’s Olympic team Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller speaks to the press in Sydney, Australia, June 21, 2016 after Australian Paralympic sailor Liesl Tesch and team official were robbed at gunpoint while training in Rio de Janeiro at the weekend. (REUTERS/JASON REED) over in that team, we want 750 people to come back safe and secure.” Security issues are just one of the concerns facing Rio, which on Friday declared a state of financial emergency to help fulfil obligations for public services during the Olympics. Emergency measures are needed to avoid “a total collapse in public security, health, education, transport
and environmental management,” a decree in the state’s Official Gazette said. The financial pinch resulted in a 30 percent cut in the state’s security budget just as Rio has seen a jump in homicides and assaults in recent months, raising concerns about safety ahead of the Olympics. The Sept. 7-18 Paralympics follow the Aug. 5-21 Olympic Games.
Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ National Playoffs
Reigning champion Sparta Boss placed in Group of death Defending national champion of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition Sparta Boss have been placed in a very strong Group ‘B’ and will have to be at their best to repeat as champion. They’ve been grouped with Team 25, North Ruimveldt and Melanie ‘B’, all very good teams capable of going all the way. On the other hand, Georgetown finalist Channel 9 Warriors have been grouped with Linden’s Wisroc Good Fellas, and West Demerara’s Show Stoppers and Stewartville Gunners.
Wednesday June 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
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West Indies v Australia, ODI tri-series, Barbados
Smith, Marsh lead Australia into final ESPNcricinfo - Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell provided overdue contributions in the middle order to help Steven Smith guide Australia into the triangular series final with a six-wicket win over the West Indies at Bridgetown in Barbados. Interim coach Justin Langer had been eager to see how his team responded under the pressure of possible tournament elimination, and Marlon Samuels’ fine hundred in partnership with Denesh Ramdin ensured Australia’s batsmen had little margin for error at Kensington Oval. However, Smith produced the workmanlike innings of a leader and was able to coax Marsh into one of his best and most complete international innings, albeit on a surface that bore closer resemblance to Australian climes than any other in this series. Maxwell then came in with the game still in the balance - Australia needed 62 off 50 balls - and responded with a starburst of shots that will help his own sense of esteem enormously after a series in which he was dropped for two matches. Even so, the Australians will still want to improve their fielding and bowling, two areas that were found wanting in the afternoon. On the fastest pitch of the tournament so far, three early wickets to the new ball gave Australia a fine start after Smith sent West Indies in. However Samuels found a willing ally in Ramdin and the pair put on 192 together, the best fourth wicket stand in all ODIs between the two teams. After Samuels went on to his first ODI hundred against Australia, late-innings hitting left the visitors to question their choice of bowling first. The selectors again ignored spin, and another indifferent fielding display was emphasised by Matthew Wade dropping Samuels on 65. Early on it appeared that the pace in the pitch would be ideal for Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja to set up Australia’s chase, but both were to be hurried up by deliveries skidding through and out in the teens. Shannon Gabriel, the debutant, generated significant pace from his muscular action, though his impact was offset
by the withdrawal of Jason Holder due to injury after two overs. Smith and George Bailey sought to stabilise the innings, conscious there was little in-form batting beneath them. They did well for a time, but Bailey was uncomfortable against the turn and lift gained by Sulieman Benn - amid a selection of loose balls - and skied a catch with 184 still required. The Australians elected to send Marsh in ahead of Maxwell, and the gambit paid off richly. Marsh enjoyed the extra pace in the pitch and grew nicely into his innings in Smith’s company, using some of the cross bat shots he had learned at his home ground at the WACA i n P e r t h . Wi t h S m i t h working the ball around sensibly they kept the target in sight, and were able to generate the odd piece of
s l i p s h o d We s t I n d i a n fielding. In the end, the efforts to stretch the fielders cost Smith his wicket as he was comfortably run out when the target was looming within sight. His exit though served a useful purpose by allowing Maxwell to enter the fray. Earlier in the tournament he had looked completely at sea on slow Guyana surfaces, but now got past a nervy first few deliveries to accelerate in thrilling style. Though these closing passages served mainly to change the margin of victory rather than preventing defeat, Maxwell’s fireworks - including one audacious switch-punch six off the spin of Sunil Narine - will make a major difference to his confidence heading into the final and beyond. Marsh, too, will benefit from a fine innings that showed the kind
Steven Smith whips to the leg side, West Indies v Australia, 8th match, ODI tri-series, Barbados ©AFP of maturity the selectors have been hoping to see from him for quite some time. On a fine day in Bridgetown, West Indies replaced Jerome Taylor with
Denesh Ramdin played a steady hand, West Indies v Australia, 8th match, ODI tri-series, Barbados ©AFP
Gabriel, while Australia named the same XI chosen for the washed-out encounter with South Africa. This meant that the visitors again ignored the spin of
Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon, while the hosts went in with the dual spin of Narine and Sulieman Benn. Starc had missed the (Continued on page 31)
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday June 22, 2016
Germany beat Northern Ireland to advance as group winners PA R I S ( R e u t e r s ) Germany showed more of their usual class when Mario Gomez’s first-half strike secured a 1-0 win over a stubborn Northern Ireland side and a place in the last 16 of Euro 2016 as Group C winners on Tuesday. Although the world champions wasted countless chances at the Parc des Princes, with Thomas Mueller notably hitting the woodwork twice, they were never threatened by the Irish, who finished third and still have a chance to qualify. Germany came top with seven points, ahead on goal difference of Poland, who progressed with a 1-0 win over already-eliminated Ukraine. Northern Ireland have three points. The result
meant that Croatia, Slovakia and Hungary progressed without kicking a ball. J o a c h i m L o e w ’s Germany side will take on a third-placed team in Lille on Sunday while Northern Ireland will have to wait for the other groups’ results to see if they make the cut. “We have had a lot of chances and the next step will be to take them and then this might be a good tournament,” said Gomez, who is now one short of J u e r g e n K l i n s m a n n ’s Germany record of five goals at European Championship tournaments. “If it is not meant to be for us to go through, we will be very disappointed,” said Northern Ireland keeper
Germany’s Mario Gomez celebrates after scoring their first goal against Northern Ireland in EURO 2016 - Group C at the Parc des Princes, Paris, France (REUTERS/JOHN SIBLEY) Michael McGovern, who had made a series of fine saves. “It was busy today and mentally very hard. We knew every goal was crucial so wanted to keep it at one and maybe nick a goal of our
own.” Backed by their noisy and devoted fans, the Irish, in their maiden appearance
a t a E u r o p e a n Championship, showed great resilience against a Germany team who appeared more inventive than in their first two group games. Germany, helped by their opponents being forced to defend deep in their own half, played the sort of freeflowing football that, if matched by finishing, could be lethal in the knockout phase. In the seventh minute, Thomas Mueller was played through by a clever Mesut Ozil knock on but shot straight at McGovern, who made several fine saves.
CASUAL CHIP While Germany’s larger contingent of fans were out sung in the stands, their team were all over the Irish on the pitch. In the space of two minutes, Ozil missed a decent chance, McGovern denied Mario Goetze from close range and Joshua Kimmich’s all too casual chip went over the bar. In the 23rd, Gomez chested Kimmich’s cross into the path of Mueller, whose half-volley went just wide of the far post. Four minutes later, Mueller’s diving header hit (Continued on page 31)
Amazon jaguar shot dead at Olympic torch ceremony
Brazilian physiotherapist Igor Simoes Andrade poses for picture next to jaguar Juma as he takes part in the Olympic Flame torch relay in Manaus, Brazil, June 20, 2016. Picture taken June 20, 2016. (REUTERS/MARCIO MELO) (Reuters) A jaguar featured at an Olympic torch ceremony was shot dead by a soldier shortly after the event in the Brazilian Amazon city of Manaus as the animal escaped from its handlers, an army statement said. The jaguar was killed Monday at a zoo attached to a military training center, when a soldier fired a single pistol shot after the animal, despite being tranquilized, approached the soldier, the army said. “We made a mistake in permitting the Olympic torch, a symbol of peace and unity, to be exhibited alongside a chained wild animal. This image goes against our beliefs and our
values,” the local organizing committee Rio 2016 said in a statement, adding “We guarantee that there will be no more such incidents at Rio 2016.” A smiling yellow jaguar known as Ginga is the mascot of the Brazilian Olympic team. The shooting caused uproar among animal rights groups, which questioned why the animal was involved in the Olympic event. “When will people (and institutions) stop with this sick need to show power and control by confining, taming and showcasing wild animals?” the Rio de Janeiro-based animal rights group Animal Freedom
Union said on its Facebook page. The jaguar is a nearly threatened species that has already been wiped out in Uruguay and El Salvador, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The use of Juma, as the jaguar was known, at the event was illegal, according to Ipaam, the Amazonas state government environmental authority that oversees the use of wild animals. “No request was made to authorize the participation of the jaguar “Juma” in the event of the Olympic torch,” Ipaam said in a statement. Ipaam said it is investigating the incident.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday June 22, 2016
Digicel Schools Football C/ship Mackenzie High School (MHS) striker Okocha Peters 61st minute strike was all it took to sink the hearts of host Wisburg Secondary fans yesterday in the community of Linden. Playing in the first fixture in the Region 10 Zone of this year’s Digicel
MHS sting Wisburg to advance
Schools Football Championship, Peters took full advantage of a lapse in concentration by Wisburg goalkeeper, who was having a solid afternoon before his mistake, to hit a fumbled save into the back of an empty goal. It was clearly heartbreak
for the Wisburg side that looked good in the sodden conditions that was mixed together with heavy rain for a brief period in the second half. The game lacked clear cut opportunities in the first period due to the conditions underfoot even though both
GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Nat. U-17
Den Amstel get past Slingerz in lone match on weekend
Anthony Benn (centre) flanked by Keswin Fraser (left) and Malcolm Miggns – Den Amstel. Den Amstel recorded their second win of the G F F / N A M I L C O Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 League with a 3-1 win over Slingerz in the lone match that was contested on the West Demerara last weekend. Enjoying their home turf, Den Amstel sealed the game in the first 45 minutes when they scored all three goals. Malcolm Miggins was the first to get on the score
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sheet in the 19th minute. Anthony Benn tucked in the second in the 28th minute; the third and final goal was converted by Keswin Fraser one minute later. The second half was a tight affair as both teams tried to outdo each other. However, the lone goal of the half came from Slingerz on 60 minutes by Akeem Hussein. Den Amstel were not bothered by Slingerz’
goal as they continued to present a tight defence that denied any further strikes. Slingerz will hunt their first win in this competition following a draw in their first match when they come up against Beavers on Saturday at the same venue from 12:00hrs. On Sunday from the same time, Den Amstel will go after their third win in as many matches when they welcome Wales United.
teams tried desperately to entertain the sprinkling of fans that waited until the final period for excitement. Wisburg were the first to come close to scoring with the opposing goalkeeper needing a brilliant save to keeep the game scoreless. Mackenzie High also had a chance to take the lead, but excellent work by the Wisburg goalkeeper kept it even until a shot from long range had him in two minds whether to come of wait on the uncertain bounce and he chose the former, but his attempt to catch it on the full caught him just short and the balll hit the turf and while he made a valiant effort to regather the fumble it happened to fall into the path of a lurking Peters and he fired into an empty goal. Wisburg were visibly
disappointed and despite some attacking forays the MHS backline kept their nerve and held firm until the final whistle sounded to hand them victory. Today, the championship continues with defending champion Christianburg / Wismar taking on Linden Foundation at the same venue. In other fixtures: Anna Regina take on Abram Zuil at Multi ground; New Opportunity Corp tackle Cotton Field at NOC; Bygeval square off against La Bonne Intention at BV; Friendship Sec versus Xenon at Leonora; Tagore vs. St. Winefred at Skeldon; Belladrum vs. Novar Sec at No.5; St. Mary’s vs. St. Stanislaus at GFC and Marian Academy vs. St. Rose’s at GDF.
Okocha Peters In yesterday’s other results: Leonora Ve r g e n o e g e n - 0 v s Leonora Secondary-0 Vergenoegen won 4-3 on sudden death kicks Tucville Houston downed North Ruimveldt via walkover Ministry of Education GITC won via walkover Skeldon JC Chandisingh defeated Central Corentyne 4-1
Kaieteur News
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Dover elated with SEL FINALE triumph Long time Head Coach of A l p h a U n i t e d , Wa y n e ‘Wiggy’ Dover has expressed delight at his teams Stag Elite League FINALE triumph over rivals Slingerz FC via penalty kicks on Monday morning last at the Leonora Track and Field Football Facility. The match went down to the wire as neither team was able to score in the 90 minutes of regulation time as well as the 30 minutes of extra time and 4 minutes of added on time, two minutes each half. ”I’m elated; the fact that we won the game but I would say it wasn’t an easy game because we see the game went down to the wire. Slingerz had their moments we had our moments, the game played out to a draw and it was
Slingerz to be more clinical in finishing in game to decide overall SEL winners By Franklin Wilson
Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover Alpha United Head Coach.
decided by penalties but nevertheless, we are very happy and elated about the victory.” Dover pointed out that the lack of discipline and organization from his players in spite of the plans that they put together during practice caused many of the problems
Wednesday June 22, 2016
that they faced on the pitch. ”It was Fortunate for us that during the period of Slingerz dominance they did not capitalize in those moments. The game has moments, one time it went with them another time it was with us but unfortunately for the longer period they had the momentum but did not capitalize on it and that worked in our favour.” The Technical staff Dover stated would look at the fact that the players did not stick to the game plan and lacked discipline and will work on those areas for the next match-up. Dover also shared his thoughts on what this duel means for local football: “I think generally it has done a great deal for football in the sense that we’ve seen two heavyweights squared off and it was a toe to toe battle. We’ve seen one team dominate for long periods and the crowd I think was satisfied to see a result that wasn’t lopsided and it augurs well that if others pool their resources and invest we can get balanced games throughout the league.” ( F r a n k l i n Wi l s o n )
Head Coach of Slingerz FC Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson in summing up his side’s loss to Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United in the final of the Stag Elite League FINALE Final, noted that it was a tough game. Wilson was speaking with the media after their loss on kicks from the penalty mark 3-0 to Alpha after regulation and extra time failed to separate the two giants of local football. ”Tough game, it is unfortunate that we lost on penalty kicks. I thought we were the better team. But we all know that in penalty shoot out it never determines who the better team is on the night. It determines who the winner is but never determines the winner on the night.” Wilson has promised that his charges will come better in the final of all finals that will, once and for all, determine the overall SEL champions since Slingerz won the GENESIS and Alpha took the FINALE. ”Hopefully at the next game we’re going to convert our chances, we’re going to be more clinical in front of goal. Hopefully we correct it and we come out successful the next game.” Slingerz were without the services of the instrumental Vurlon Mills but Wilson noted emphatically that his absence did not affect the team. ”Never, never; Slingerz Football Club,
Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson - Slingerz FC Coach Slingerz football team is a group of individuals and not individuals playing the game.” Commenting on if the team would have been struggling physiologically, Wilson said that it was too early to make such an analysis but he would have to gauge their attitude when they return to training for what he described as, “The real game.” The Guyana Football Federation has not given a definite date for the match but many are hoping that the match will be held by this weekend.
IOC discusses more crackdowns on drugs cheats before Olympics L A U S A N N E , SWITZERLAND (Reuters) Leading sports powerbrokers gathered at the International Olympic Committee’s headquarters on Tuesday morning to discuss further crackdowns on drug cheats before the Rio Games. International athletics boss Sebastian Coe and Russia’s Olympic committee chief Alexander Zhukov were present at the meeting, just four days after the IAAF maintained its suspension of Russia’s track
and field team, effectively ruling out their participation in Rio. The gathering of IOC members and federation heads is set to discuss the situation in Russia as well as several other countries, noncompliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The IOC said it would discuss “the difficult decision between collective responsibility and individual justice”. On Saturday the IOC backed the IAAF’s decision
to extend its ban on Russia for systematic doping, denting hopes the nation might have had of competing at the Rio Games in August with a full team. The IAAF suspended Russia last year over concerns its athletes were guilty of systematic doping. Several countries, including Russia, Mexico, Ethiopia and Kenya among other, are non-compliant with WADA less than two months before the start of the Rio Games.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday June 22, 2016
PAGE 43
Preparations for CBC U16 Championships bouncing ahead -LOC
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) U16 Championships is continuing to push its preparation ahead for Guyana to host what will certainly be a memorable occasion, July 2-16 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. This is according to Chairman of the LOC, Alex Graham of Tagman Media Inc., who along with some members of the Committee including Security C o o r d i n a t o r, G e o rg e Vyphuis, met with the representatives from the various security agencies. Those agencies included
the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service a n d P r i v a t e S e c u r i t y, which will be providing security at the venues and for the 10 male teams and seven female teams from the Caribbean which will be in Guyana for the Championships. “Our aim is to leave a lasting impression and a blueprint of how events should be held here at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall; nothing like this has ever been done before,” Graham noted, before a walkabout the main playing facility yesterday afternoon. The idea is to have a safe venue with clear information on ticketing, parking,
Chairman of the CBC U16 LOC, Alex Graham (centre) makes a point during yesterday’s meeting with the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service and Private Security at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. entrance and exit protocols that befit an international event. “This is an event for the entire family and a competition that will be televised from Guyana to various countries across the Caribbean and further afield,” an official release later said. “The LOC is working tirelessly with local and international partners to
ensure that all the necessities are in place to make this event not only a success but one to be heralded as a jewel in Guyana’s crown,” the release continued. “We recognise that the youths are the future and their experiences guide their development, this we believe is a great opportunity to craft a memorable experience for participants
and spectators alike,” it added. According to the press release, every game day will be filled not just with fantastic basketball, but spectators can look forward to prize winning competitions, giveaways and various forms of entertainment. “The LOC wants everyone to be apart of this
momentous occasion and this is being reflected in our approach,” the document further noted. Guyana will host a total of 17 teams from the CBC region for the first time in 17 years. Guyana last held the CBC Championships in 1999 and will be aiming to put on a show in its Jubilee year of Independence.
WDFA/Stage Senior League
Five doubles recorded as Eagles, Den Amstel, Young Achievers & Vegae Boys win
Gavin Graham (left) and Akimbo Henry - Den Amstel FC. Eagles FC’s Orlanzo Henry, Den Amstel’s Akimo Henry and Gavin Graham, Leonard Wilson of Jetty Gunners and Lawrence Phillips (Wales) all netted a brace of goals each in leading their respective teams to victory except in the
case of Wilson and Phillips when the Stag Senior League on the West Demerara continued last weekend at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground. Also in winner’s row were Young Achievers and Vegae Boys. In the clash of
Orlanzo Henry - Eagles FC. the Stewartville teams, Eagles fought back from a goal down to soar past Stewartville in a tight battle 2-1 on account of Henry’s second half double. Stewartville, the older of the two clubs, had taken the lead in the 31st minute
through a Horace Caines goal; they enjoyed that advantage until Henry came into the picture, first with the equalizer in the 57th minute then the game winner in the 75th minute. Den Amstel made light work of Jetty Gunners after
Shemar Hetmyer, Cordel Walcott and Carlos Caesar, L to R - Vegae Boys FC. also having to erase a one goal deficit to win 5-2. Jetty Gunners’ Leonard Wilson who netted both their goals drew first blood in the match when it was 14 minutes old. Wilson’s effort woke up the sleeping giants even
though it took quite a few minutes. Henry was first on target for the home side with the first of his two in the 38th minute doubling that and giving his side the lead on the stroke of half time, 45th (Continued on page 31)
t r o Sp West Indies v Australia, ODI tri-series, Barbados
Smith, Marsh lead Australia into final Mitchell Marsh scored his first fifty of the series, West Indies v Australia, 8th match, ODI tri-series, Barbados ŠAFP
Marlon Samuels celebrates his 10th ODI century, West Indies v Australia, 8th match, ODI tri-series, Barbados ŠAFP / Getty Images
Digicel Schools Football Championship
MHS sting Wisburg to advance
Part of the action in the clash between eventual winners Mackenzie High School (red jerseys) and Wisburg Secondary School at Wisburg ground yesterday. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210