Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
MORE SPEED GUNS AND ROAD BLOCKS NEEDED Citing driving under the influence, the use of cell phones and inattentiveness as the major causes of traffic accidents, the Traffic Chief has revealed that traffic fatalities in the country have increased by 50 percent this year compared to the same period last year. This is alarming and unacceptable. The Ministry of Public Security needs to act swiftly to reduce the carnage on our roads. The current speed limits which were established years ago were intended to reduce accidents and deaths, but most drivers have been ignoring them. Therefore, in order to make the roads safer and reduce accidents and deaths, more traffic police and more speed radars and road blocks are needed. Road blocks and speed radars are useful tools for the police to reduce speed and enforce compliance with the law. Speed determines the outcome of a crash, whether one lives or dies. It is estimated that one out of two drivers have violated the legal speed limit on the highways on a daily basis, but only a few are caught and prosecuted. Drunk driving is a major problem in that, it is responsible for a high percent of all road fatalities. Despite tougher laws and higher fines, many continue to drink and drive recklessly with no regard for the safety of others. Speeding and poor road etiquette are symptomatic of the wider social problem of the value people place on one another. However, it is clear that the government can only do so much. It has imposed stiffer fines and penalties for drunk drivers, provided more speed radars; widen the scope of road safety policing measures and implement stricter standards when determining who gets drivers permits. It has legislated and implemented measures such as the breathalyzer tests, established road blocks, and the law enforcement agencies have also enforced the law in court. But while some continue to drink and drive recklessly, the reality is that the government cannot supervise each and every driver. It cannot legislate attitudes and behaviour and it cannot cater for thrill seekers or the extremely reckless and drunk drivers. No matter what, there will always be persons willing to make dangerous choices and to endanger the lives of others. There is no dispute that the carnage on the roads is a source of untold human suffering. A big part of the problem is the attitude of some drivers, especially the youths who believe that speeding is fun. Data has shown that 48 percent of road fatalities result from speeding, 30 percent from alcohol impairment or drunk driving; 10 percent from the failure to use seatbelt, and five percent for not stopping at red lights or stop signs or jay walking by pedestrians. Since speed has been identified as the biggest single influential factor in road deaths, the government has to use more speed guns and road blocks in order to curtail the risks imposed by speeding drivers, especially youths. Enforcement of the current speed limit will lead to a significant reduction of the carnage on the roads but it will not eliminate traffic accidents or road fatalities altogether. However, when used with other enforcement rules such as improper lane use, breach of traffic signals, illegal use of shoulders and turning lanes and overtaking on solid yellow/white lines could result in safer and a calmer driving experience. These breaches have contributed to unsafe driving and indiscipline on the roadways. Injuries and deaths caused by traffic accidents are so prevalent globally that the United Nations has declared a World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Road fatalities are not inevitable and can be prevented. The government has to implement tougher legislation to enforce all of the traffic laws in the country as well as to develop a national road safety strategy and programmes. In the past, the system vindicated too many reckless and drunk drivers and made a mockery of those advocating for safety and discipline on the nation’s roadways.
Thursday June 23, 2016
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
So the PPP has finally admitted to its corrupt behaviour DEAR EDITOR; Finally, Rohee admits to the corrupt modus operandi of the PPP Government in the widespread use of sole sourcing; the conveyor belt for his party to siphon off state revenues and resources to relatives, friends, party members, loyal constituents, business partners, foreign friends and allies. This admission provides insights on how the state treasury became the PPP slush funds for rewards and patronage. I am still dazed by Clement Rohee’s statement in yesterday’s Kaieteur News (June 21, 2016), and I quote: “Yea, well, that (accusation) may have been leveled against us, but that’s the previous administration. But now they are in the Government and they have to face the music if they do it as well. That’s the nature of politics.” It is my understanding of his statement in the context of sole sourcing, that everyone, regardless of political party affiliation, must face the music or be held accountable. The most glaring example of sole sourcing (a no-bid contract to one person or company) is the sweetheart deal to Bharat’s best friend and business partner Ramroop. First, GPC was practically gifted to him, along with Sanata,
thereafter the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Company (GPC) received most favored status from the previous government to monopolize medical supplies, reaping huge profits which previously was state revenue. The list of similar deals which followed is long, well known and shameless. But shame is not a word the PPP cabal understands, given the moral high ground they now claim. However, the forensic auditors have found that sole sourcing had not only become the main channels of how that government did business with the private sector and individuals, but is the system put in place to circumvent the laws, accounting principles, audits, and in turn provide for kickbacks and enrich executives, relatives, and party supporters in a corrupt network. After reading two (MMA-ADA & NDIA) of the thirty three forensic audit reports posted on the Ministry of Finance website, it boggles the mind as to how this corrupt system could have evaded the scrutiny and elicit corrective action of our Auditor General and our Parliament. The MMA-ADA forensic auditor TDA LAL & Co. found that contracts under one million dollars
were not being awarded based on the three quote system of goods and services where the lower price with fair quality is usually accepted. They also found that when sole sourcing occurred, it is possible that better quality or cheaper price could have been obtained if contracts were advertised by tender. Many purchase requests were made at the discretion of department heads with no invoice or value-for-money principle. Further to that, there is contract splitting to stay below the legal tender board or Cabinet requirement. These auditors also flagged the possibility of collusion between staff and external parties in the procurement of mechanical spares, among many other malpractices. The forensic audit of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is much more appalling when you consider how the state’s resources were managed worse than a private cake-shop. Here, Nigel Hinds Financial Services made the troubling observation that for the short period Jan. – July 2015, a reviewed of the Projects awarded showed that out of G$647,338,367. – 59% were awarded by sole sourcing,
17% by Quotations, and 24% by Public Tendering. All of the sole sourcing contracts were granted to Water Users Association (WUA) which comprise of nine farmers associations for the organization and management of Secondary Drainage and Irrigation(D&I) structures and inputs for agricultural production and rural housing. Every six months, the WUA submit requests for contracts and are paid accordingly. There are many reports of mismanagement but none of these associations have prepared annual financial reports or have financial statements audited for the years 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014. Nigel Hinds Financial Services has also found the NDIA spent in excess of G$12 Billion in both Capital and Revenue Expenditure over the past four years and the Internal Audit Unit or watchdog for NDIA only has one person who is tasked with the responsibility of auditing the entire organization. In addition to that, the internal auditor erroneously reports to the CEO who showed little or no interest in the internal controls, generally. For obvious reasons, Rohee did not advocate discontinuing the system of sole sourcing which lacked controls and accountability (Continued on page 6)
PPP agents are deceiving their supporters with ignorance DEAR EDITOR; The last time I was in Essequibo I was treated to some comic relief by the actions of some PPP agents. It was the day of local government elections and the word on the street was if the PPP won 60% of the districts or more, President Granger would have to step down and Bharrat Jagdeo would be president again. I am a Director on the CH&PA Board and was back in Essequibo again yesterday as part of a team meeting members of the public in Lima Sands and Onderneeming. Most of the persons gathered said they are supporters of the current APNU AFC government and I was a bit taken aback by the overt appeals to “our president” and “our government.” As the outreach progressed I would learn why those gathered openly spoke more about their political affairs than their issues as it relates to CH&PA. An agent provocateur of the PPP
Rosalind Thompson and others in the Essequibo area knew in advance that this team was coming as it was publicly announced. So as to create mischief and spread political propaganda, Thompson and others contacted their “supporters” and told them not to attend the outreach as it was a PNC thing. But the message did not only reach their “supporters” Sir, it’s unfortunate that senior members of the PPP, still reeling from May 11, are using every opportunity to spread mischief and mislead their ‘supporters.’ As was reported in the press, they also had their own Enmore Martyrs commemoration and Flag raising ceremony after the staged walk out. Housing and housing related matters affect all Guyanese and the PPP does not have land to allocate to its supporters. While land was allocated by the party in the past to friends and supporters, it was never the party’s land to give in the first place. The staff from CH&PA is currently unraveling many
puzzles, including cases where a single house lot was sold to multiple persons. Housing matters on the Essequibo Coast are once again being administered by staff of Central Housing and Planning Authority and not PPP officials. Rosaling Thompson other senior PPP members and others in high places on the Essequibo Coast have already allocated to themselves vast tracts of state land. It’s most pathetic that they would lead their “supporters” astray and deny them service and opportunities. The historical record will show that the PPP does not have the best interest of Guyanese at heart. These same party apparatchiks never get weary braying that they are disciples of Cheddi Jagan while preaching hate, spreading mischief and engaging in illegal activities. Does anyone in Guyana still believe the PPP of 2016 are disciples of Cheddi Jagan? Mark Jacobs
Thursday June 23, 2016
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Kaieteur News
GRA admits its services Coalition Govt. needs need improvement to be more inclusive
DEAR EDITOR; The Guyana Revenue Authority has noted the Editorial in the June 22, 2016 Edition of your Newspaper (Titled “The GRA and its continuing woes’) expressing the Editor’s view on mainly the services offered at our Agency and your continuous monitoring of our functions and operations from whence the Agency was established to the present. GRA is thankful that (as the major tax collection agency in the country) the newspaper displays special interest in the well-being of the Agency and its operations as well as its ability to adequately or not adequately serve the tax-paying public. GRA must emphasize that as a tax-collection agency, our major goal will always be to ensure that we achieve our target set out by Government and we will continue to encourage voluntary compliance by the public in this regard. This, we fervently believe, will allow us to not only meet that target but ultimately enable the country’s economy to grow and the provision of social and other services will simultaneously be made pos-
sible. The GRA is cognizant as well that our services to the public need to be improved in order for us to be in synch with our voluntary compliance strategy and we are also grateful that your newspaper recognized our human resource factor. This is why we welcome you monitoring our performance and we assure you that complaints and other concerns expressed, whether on social or other media, have not ‘fallen on deaf ears’ though we have not been able to respond to each and every one of them. We wish to advise each taxpayer that in order to avoid some of the lines and waiting time at the GRA, it is always better if persons can firstly visit our website and/or listen to our programmes where guidelines on all our procedures and processes are highlighted and requirements for various services listed. This, we assure, will save persons much of time they would have otherwise spent at the GRA Headquarters itself. In addition, a number of our Forms are available online for printing. GRA offers to the public License Transaction and
Customs Checker services as well so that taxpayers can check on the status of their transactions. As we write, our Training Division, in collaboration with other professional agencies are conducting customer service/ communication skills training with staff and this has been ongoing over the last few weeks. This, we believe will assist our staff with the training needed to deal with the public in a more professional manner in future. Besides this, our Tax Advisory Services Division has been meeting with various Agencies and conducting workshops to ensure that the tax-paying public is guided on the various tax procedures. Each year as well, GRA has reached out further to the public by conducting tax sites to make it easier for persons to submit their Returns during that busy tax period. Notwithstanding these approaches, GRA is equipped with a taxpayer-friendly Division-the Communication and Tax Advisory Services Division. This Division, due to constraints, is unable to deal with all members of the (Continued on page 6)
DEAR EDITOR; The Jubilee celebration commemorating our 50th anniversary held in New York City (NYC) was marred by a lack of inclusiveness which ought to be highlighted and addressed if we are to move our country forward. Such a problem handicapped the nine day celebratory event. Even a Mashramani style parade dubbed the “unity parade” which marked the conclusion of the celebration two Sundays ago turned out to be schismatic. Indeed a mere lack of inclusiveness at symposiums held as part of the celebration precludes answers to questions raised under the theme Guyana at 50: “Who are we? What has been our journey? And what can we further become?” It is absolutely unrealistic to expect answers to such questions in the absence of our diverse people. Organizers must take responsibility. They have suppressed diversity by being narrow minded and by conflating politics with a historic celebration, spawning only an inhospitable atmosphere. Undoubtedly, this is a throwback to the Burnham
days which is sad and unfortunate for our country. Members of the Diaspora who were not backers of the APNU/PNC/AFC coalition were largely kept in the dark about this event. I became aware of it when I stumbled upon a Face Book post originating from a coalition supporter. To make a long story short, I browsed the internet to learn more and I eventually ran into a website showcasing the event. I immediately discovered a severe lack of inclusiveness among organizers. This was an instant turnoff, particularly since we are multiethnic. One set of Guyanese were overly represented with just a sprinkle of another set of Guyanese. My discovery shed light on the troubling fact that the event was organized by a politically closed group of people. Organizers could have easily informed members of the Diaspora about the celebration if they had wanted. There were plenty of options available, including Face Book as a potent and costless medium. However, organizers were hell-bent on shutting out a significant part of the population. The orga-
nizers could have only traversed one path to achieve near l homogeneity – a path of discrimination. This is inexcusable, destructive and should never be tolerated. Every Guyanese needs to be vociferous on such dysfunction. Even more appalling is the realization that organizers largely reside in the USA and are people who have benefitted from American values which support and encourage diversity. Can the organizers be more hypocritical? Overwhelming discrimination at the Jubilee celebration is not an isolated problem. In fact it mirrors the rampant and widespread discrimination which has picked up steam under the coalition Government. Certain Guyanese are no doubt going through a rough time under the coalition Government. They are largely pushed out of the work force through political discrimination to the point that the workforce is heavily skewed in favor of the coalition supporters. Such levels of discrimination have caused great sufferings among many. Many others acting out of desperation (Continued on page 6)
DEAR EDITOR; I perused with keen interest a letter written in Kaiteur News June 21, 2016 by Roydell Phillips under the caption, A question on the Medal of Service. The missive contained a few factual inaccuracies. Please permit me to respond to some of them. According to the writer he did not find favour with the lone female police officer receiving the Discipline Service Medal, reason being : never before according to his recollection
was this medal awarded to a senior superintendent. This is complete inaccuracy and total distortion of facts. Here are some irrefutable facts: 1998 Superintendent Harlington Samuels was awarded the Discipline Service Medal. I was at the Investiture Ceremony when President Janet Jagan pinned the medal on his chest. Fast forward to 2002. The following officers of various rank structure were bestowed with the Discipline Service Medal: Special Deputy Super-
intendent Edgar Persaud, Senior Superintendents Frederick Caesar, Lynette Charter, Phillip Adams, Malvin Glasgow, Greta Mc Donald and retired Superintendent Eustace John. I can also recall that a former Head of Linmine Security, I cannot now recall his correct name, but we use to call him Yacoob. He was awarded Discipline Service Medal when he held the rank of Superintendent. He rose to fame when (Continued on page 6)
Where is the Council of List of seniors in the police that got the medal Churches?
DEAR EDITOR; “If Jesus was present in Guyana, today he would have voted for the PPP/C”. This comment was made by former Junior Finance Minister, Juan Edghill at a previous political rally, prior to the National and Regional Elections, 2015. Subsequently, former Presidential advisor, and parliamentary colleague, Gail Teixeira, responding to an expression of public concern over Edghill’s comment stated publicly. “It can be likened to Liberation Theology”. Editor, to the best of my knowledge and if I am wrong, I would be subject to correction. Nowhere in Guyana, at any given time was Liberation Theology ever espoused. However, its conceptualization can be equated with former Prime Minister, Haiti, Bertrand Aristide, along with former Minister, Education & Culture, Nicaragua (within this hemisphere). Of interest, please note; both were Catholic priest that were eventually defrocked. Meanwhile my reason for the question in relation to the above caption is: At that crucial juncture, why wasn’t there no denunciation from the Guyana Council of Churches if they do exist! Since over three decades ago, this august body was by far more vibrant promoting the virtues of democracy, free and fair elections, along with good governance. The monthly newspaper publication Caribbean Contact, was the utilized medium at the time of highlighting the afore-mentioned regionally. However, if Edghill’s comment wasn’t deemed as an affront to Christianity then, what of the existing situation now? Would there be an additional silence now, albeit turning a blind eye?
Some “fly by night churches” are having self-anointed/appointed titular heads namely: Apostle, Bishop, Arch-Bishop, Prophet and Pope. By the way, how come the term Patriarch, have not being utilized as a titular head locally apart from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, by other so called Christian Religious Leaders? From whence they came and are their churches affiliated to the Guyana Council of Churches? Once again if they do exist as the national body for the various Christian denominations, can there be a publication in the print media, in addition to an email address/ Facebook of the following: i) Executive Structure ii) Address & Contact Numbers iii) Aims & Objectives iv) Active Membership, Titular Heads, background profiles and experience .i.e. years as a preacher/pastor/priest and school of the theology attended with the relevant qualifications; licensing. v) Regional branches within the nation’s ten (10) Administrative Regions. With the “sign of the times’ by way of biblical prophecy being fore told we are in the last days. For many shall come to deceive many, but are wolves in sheep clothing; claiming to be of Christ, but are not. Woe be unto the pastors that lead my sheep astray”. That after recently celebrating 50 years of Independence, with a national day of prayers/ inter-faith service being one of the events, whether it was cosmetic or meaningful, at the end of the rainbow, the Christian Churches must as an obligating factor, rise and take its stance again, being led by a resuscitated Guyana Council of Churches, with a unified voice promoting the virtues of the Almighty and Heavenly Father, through his only (Continued on page 6)
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Thursday June 23, 2016
Kaieteur News
Political interference at UG cannot continue DEAR EDITOR, Perhaps thousands of letters, columns and news reports have been devoted to the University of Guyana (called UG) in the 53 years of its existence. Not to mention think tanks, conferences and other interventions offering advice on the way forward for the institution of learning. Inevitably therefore, this letter runs the risk of repetitiveness where UG is concerned. As the brainstorming session at the Marriot led by the University of Guyana’s energetic new Vice Chancellor Dr Ivelaw Griffith begins its deliberations on the way forward the fraught history of our only university will again be the focus of attention. According to a newspaper report the conference will be attended by approximately 100 persons, 48 of which are overseas-based Guyanese and will include professionals, non-professionals, academics and businessmen. It is conceivably, by far the most independent initiative driven by the University
for itself. There have been many such initiatives in the past to raise funds, but there is a discernible and refreshing openness and diligent preparation on the part of the new VC since he has acquired office. By extension, at least thus far, the Guyana government appears willing to let the VC and his team chart an independent course. Professor Griffith recently told the press that he brought the visitors and stakeholders together to ask one simple question, “how can you help this university to raise funds?” In 1994, one political party, the WPA, had recommended that UG be freed to “generate revenues locally and overseas, to engage in commercial ventures such as consultancies, summer school for overseas students…and, in general to develop and exploit the considerable commercial potential of the research and development aspect of its work.” Unquestionably financial assistance, and lots of it, is of
extreme importance for improved wages and working conditions crucial for academic and non-academic staff, research and the infrastructure of UG. But beyond the acquisition of funds I am sure the VC and his team will address the tenuous social and political fabric of this nation concurrent with the persistent problem of governmental interference into the academic institution. Professor Griffith is definitely alert to the problem has he has already made a shot across the bow call for a non-interference policy from the governing UG council – the accustomed bully pulpit and source of pressure from governments of the past. The University of Guyana, since its foundation in 1963, had historically come under pressure from political forces in the society and its relatively independent academic council was by the early 1970s subject to insistent intervention from the state. This dominion of the state over UG did not occur over-
List of seniors in the... From page 5 wrote the British Army pointing out to them a flaw in their Drill Manual. The Army apologized to him and amended their manual. Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe DSM, a drill expert is quite familiar with that issue. Roydell Phillips lamented the fact that of all the active As-
sistant Commissioners only one such officer was worthy of receiving a medal including the officer currently serving in the capacity of Assistant Commissioner Administration. Here again the writer got things wrong. The current serving Assistant Commissioner Administration is a Discipline Service Medal awardee. He is David Ramnarine
GRA admits its... From page 5 public on a face-to-face basis, daily on the ground floor. This is the area where we must admit the majority of criticism originates, during transactions. In addition, it must be noted that some taxpayers behave in a hostile manner towards staff, including our security officers, and this is not condoned. Nevertheless, we continue to be polite since this must be done when serving the public. Thus, Customer Service and Communication Skills Training will always be necessary. This, as we noted above, is currently being addressed. As to the other concerns expressed by your newspaper regarding political appointees
and discrimination in tax collection, we wish to assure you that the Agency, currently equipped with a new Governing Board, is striving to fulfill our role as a semi-autonomous Agency. We are in the process of appointing a new Commissioner-General and with limited staff, the GRA continues to work hard daily, despite challenges, to ensure that we meet our collection target for the betterment of Guyana. We also continue to strive for excellence, while at the same time, ensure that the taxpayers and other stakeholders are duly respected. Ingrid Griffith CommissionerGeneral (ag)
DSM, presently Acting Commissioner. I believe that very shortly he will receive the Discipline Service Star which is the highest award for the police. The female officer in question is Maxine Graham. She is the police Staff Officer. She richly deserved the National Award. I wish to congratulate her. Let us not distort history but look forward to more police officers at diverse rank levels receiving many more prestigious national awards. Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner Of Police Retired Security Manager
night. In the Chronicle Christmas annual of 1967, an article musing on the University of Guyana’s first four years noted: “there have been bits of unpleasantness – such as the controversy over the nonrenewal of the contract of sociology lecturer Stuart Bowes, frictions with the Headmaster of Queens College over use of the premises, disagreements between Dr. (Lancelot) Hogben and (Richard) Drayton, disputes between the Administration and the government over shortage of funds, and the row between the Student’s society and the Administration over graduate gowns. And in a small society such as Guyana, the disagreements have spilled over into the Press and made headlines”. This assessment was made 49 years ago, a time, presumably, of hope in a country that had just achieved independence. Indeed, the article in question titled “UG: Forward with the Future” actually captured the future (our present) in another amazingly predictive passage: “A major problem facing U.G is one of finance. Library facilities are still very inadequate and essential equipment has had to be done without. At times there seems even danger that enough money will not be there to pay salaries to Staffmen.” In the early period of PNC rule, as the late political scientist Tyrone Ferguson contends, there was a degree of independence at UG citing the case of Shirley Patterson (Field-Ridley) “who was herself strongly linked with the PNC and was to be appointed Minister of Education in 1968, could not get her contract renewed by the university two years earlier.” Interference in UG’s role
Coalition Govt... From page 5 trudge through streets wheeling pushcarts selling anything and everything to barely scrape a livelihood. Yet, they still face discrimination as if they are not suffering enough. Life in Guyana is much too painful to witness! Government needs to correct the disequilibrium in the workforce by phasing in others. This is feasible and can be accomplished without hurting a single human being. Equilibration in the work force will infuse growth into the “pie” and will make it bigger for the benefit of all Guyanese. Government needs to act now. I am highly concerned by the widespread discrimina-
tion particularly among those managing our welfare. We must realize that discrimination induces a wide range of effects but none of them good: it strips human dignity, it creates rancor and it divides people. In short, discrimination is destructive. We need to understand this and move away from such unconstructive practices and vest our energy in diversity. Diversity is our strength. We must take advantage of it to rise above poverty as a nation. This means that we must engage all. And last but not least, we must etch into our brains that “no man is an island”. Dr Annie Baliram
and position in society would nonetheless become the norm. Walter Rodney was denied a position in 1969 and from there the path was downward. Successive VC’s and their staff were subjected to the whims of PNC and PPP officials. The political control of UG took many forms – among them the power to terminate contracts, starving UG of funds to bend the institution to their respective wills and other forms of “engagement” thereby destroying academic independence. Under the PPP regime the domination continued. Frederick Kissoon and others were modern victims of the government dominated UG Council. Will the grouping at the Marriot confab with new leadership find a path for UG out of the maze of economic, social, cultural, infrastructural and other issues that has followed the institution from the inception? Can they set out a path to instill new independent and visionary energy into University of Guyana? Can an institution termed “University of Guyana” finally elude the intruding hands of the state and its vassals as extant up the recent past? A good friend of mind even mused on the implications of the designation “University of Guyana” and what it means in a small society where the ownership rights of
the state is implicitly and explicitly bound up in the very title. I am certain that Guyanese at home and abroad will fully support this current U.G initiative and wish them all success. But we can also warn the academics and businessmen and women that the financial focus of their deliberations should be supplemented by what I would call a “Guyana 101” syllabus, to wit an examination of the profundity of daily perils and consuming nature of Guyanese civilization and its fragile civil, political and social fabric. Guyana and its institutions have over time succeeded in breaking even the most visionary and practical expeditions of remedy in almost all areas of national life. The UG gathering can begin their exercise by flouting tradition and defer to home grown wisdom through careful reading and reflection on the untiring observations and admonitions of local critics and onlookers in the press including Freddy Kissoon, GHK Lall, Pastor Wendell Jeffrey, Allan Fenty, EB John, Frank Fyfe and others on the nature of everyday Guyana, its forms, and the way it consumes, like flesh eating bacteria, any noble endeavour. Please don’t read this as nagging negativism. It is pessimistic optimism. Nigel Westmaas
So the PPP has... From page 4 while the PPP Government was in power. Often, the system was manipulated to accommodate sole sourcing and kick-back to executives. There is dire need to prosecute those who stole state resources and introduce fool-proof systems that would lead to accountability to the Guyanese taxpayers of state revenues as cited by out-going U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission
Bryan Hunt. In the interim, our leadership needs to take action to prosecute wrong doers and start breaking up this corrupt system by way of removals, transfers and re-shuffling of senior public sector functionaries including Permanent Secretaries and senior legal officers who are slow to act in cleaning up this mess. Not to act is lunacy or flagrant neglect. Max Wallerson
Where is the... From page 5 Begotten Son, Jesus the Christ. Lest we awake one morning, to hear one of the religious zealots/false prophets proclaiming himself as, “the manifestation of the Second Coming of the Christ”. With the term “Pope” being associated with Catholicism, many centuries ago, as a matter of fact “His Holiness” is also another attachment. As a consequence can it be construed to be an act of “copyright violation” to utilize the term by another person, from outside
of Catholicism? Interestingly, in the dispensation of “national justice” would an injunction be filed in the High Court, nullifying the use of term “Pope”? Apart from being historical, religiously it would be justifiable, since the centuries old traditions are observed in the Vatican, in choosing a Pope. Nevertheless, salutations are in order to Pastors: Heywood, Massiah, McGowan and Smith towards utilizing continuously the term “Pastor”. Lester Sealey
Thursday June 23, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Cop withdraws charges Strategic training for nurses to help improve EMS - Harmon against Justice Singh The private criminal charges filed against Justice Navindra Singh have been withdrawn. According to information acquired by this newspaper, the matter was set to commence before Magistrate Renita Singh yesterday but the Prosecutor informed the court that the charges were withdrawn. The private criminal action was brought against the judge by policeman, Gavwyn Smith, for the use of threatening language, words which excite racial hostility and for obstructing the free flow of traffic along a main carriageway. Attorney Glenn Hanoman who filed the charges on behalf of the policeman noted that the charges were not withdrawn on the basis that they had merit, but in the interest of not bringing the judiciary into disrepute. He noted that decision not to proceed is in keeping with the spirit of reciprocity and compromise. He said it was the judge’s
Justice Navindra Singh decision to first withdraw the charges hence it was decided that his client will not proceed with the matter. Attorneys Nigel Hughes and Jailall Kissoon provided legal representation for Justice Singh yesterday. The attorneys explained that the judge was presiding over matters at the High Court. The matter was filed after
the policeman was allegedly involved in a heated argument with the judge at a traffic sign in early April. Following the incident the policeman faced charges of using indecent language, having a prohibited amount of tint on his motor vehicle, dangerous driving and failing to observe the traffic signals. At the initial stages of the matter, Attorney-at-law for the policeman, Bernard De Santos (S.C) expressed an intention to take private criminal action Justice Singh based on allegations made by his client. He explained that what should have been a simple scenario in a traffic line evolved into an ugly matter owing to the allegations brought against the judge by his client. The matter reportedly stemmed from an argument over the blowing of a horn in the traffic line. Smith is said to have sounded his horn much to the annoyance of the judge.
As part of government’s effort to improve emergency medical services, the Ministry of Public Health through the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is expected to offer strategic training for emergency medical nurses. The training will arguably be the first of its type in the entire Caribbean. At least this is according to Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon. Harmon at yesterday’s postCabinet press briefing disclosed that while initially the emergency medical response service (EMS) was intended to cater to Region Four and along the coast where 80 per cent of the population reside, the improved emergency service is one intended to be expanded to the outlying areas. The first phase, he disclosed, is slated to be operational by December and going onwards to 2020, the other phases will capture the entire country. According to Harmon, Cabinet was briefed by a team comprising the Ministers of Public Health, Dr. George Norton,
and Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, on improved emergency medical services and response to emergencies. A presentation, according to Harmon, was done by Dr. Zulfikar Bux, Head of Emergency Medicine at the GPHC. Minister Harmon related that based on the plan proposed within the first year of its implementation, there is expected to be a reduction in the response time to medical emergencies. This, he noted, would translate to a person being picked up and taken to an emergency medical facility within 15 minutes of an emergency report. But Harmon said that it is anticipated that over time the response time will be reduced. The proposed improved emergency response service, according to Harmon, will basically build on the current arrangement which exists for the medical evacuation from the hinterland and riverain areas. According to him, “the plan envisages compilation of these assets into one medical response system that will benefit the
Guyanese people by and large.” The move towards improving the emergency medical service is seen as a requirement, since, according to Harmon, the existing service “is not really where it is supposed to be.” As such, he noted that the improved emergency services will essentially “piggy back on what is already there.” Moreover, it is expected that by this year-end there will be an increased number of ambulances to improve the emergency service. “I am not at liberty now to say what the numbers are, because these are still at the proposal stage, but because they have to do with the health of the nation, they will be added on to what is already in progress,” said Harmon. In addition to more ambulances and training of emergency nurses, Harmon spoke of the inclusion of other facilities that will be provided in the ambulances, water taxis or aircraft that are involved in emergency response services.
‘Batty Shine’ pleads guilty to killing ‘Dry Shrimp’
Bartica-Potaro road to be rehabilitated after decades
Omar Bacchus, 23, called ‘Batty Shine’ of Bloomfield, Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was indicted for the 2008 murder of Chandradat Hemraj called ‘Sugar Boy’ or ‘Dry Shrimp or ‘Fry Fish’ or ‘Sunna Boy’. He appeared in the Berbice High Court before Justice Brassington Reynolds and pleaded guilty to the lesser court of manslaughter. The accused through state appointed Attorney- atLaw, Perry Gossai, indicated to the court that he wanted to take a certain course of action which was not objected to by the Prosecution conducted by Attorney- at-Law, Stacey Goodings. He then pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder, but guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. He is to be sentenced later. The case for the prosecution was that sometime between August 30, and September 3, 2008 at Bloomfield Village, Corentyne Berbice, Bacchus murdered Hemraj, 34. of Third Street, Bloomfield Corentyne, Berbice. The victim was found dead days after he went missing with his face down in a ditch at the back of a yard behind an abandoned house. He had left his home at Letter Kenny about three days earlier to attend a religious function a few villages away, but failed to return home. It is
The Bartica/Potaro Road will be rehabilitated after some two decades. Senior Hinterland Engineer of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Naeem Mohamed, said that the road will connect Bartica to Mahdia, “something that wasn't done for the past 20 years.” Mohamed revealed that most of the critical work will be between 80 Miles and 111 Miles, which is about eight miles from the Issano Road junction—some 75 miles south of Bartica. He explained that bush will be cleared; corduroy work will be done and lateritic material will be used to fill in the road. Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, speaking about the project said, “A technical team visited the area and they're now in the process of preparing the engineer's estimate. “When that is completed, they will go out for public tendering. When we receive those tenders, they will be reviewed and forwarded to Cabinet for 'no objection' by route of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).” In 2013, the previous administration had acknowledged the need to repair the roadway but nothing was done. The Denham Suspension
understood that he had returned to his home village, but instead of going home he had stopped at a birthday celebration a few houses from where he lived. While he was there he was asked to purchase some cigarettes and was given a bicycle and $1,000 to run the errand. He never returned. It was reported that during that time he was attacked and beaten to death and was allegedly sexually assaulted. The $1,000 was stolen. When his body was found it was semi-nude with visible mark of violence. There were indications that he was also sodomised. However, no marks could have been seen at the time due to the decomposed state of the body. He had no shirt on and his pants and briefs were around his knees. During the night of the beating a neighbour testified to seeing the accused beating Hemraj. The incident occurred about 23:00 hrs in front of her gap. She had turned on her verandah light after hearing the sound of someone being beaten. Blood was evident at the scene and indications were that Hemraj was dragged and thrown into the ditch. His sister, called “Galsie”, had testified that her brother was mentally challenged; that he lived with her for eight years
Pleaded guilty: Omar Bacchus at Lot 243-244 Bloomfield. She spoke about the last time she saw her brother. It was on August 29 when he left for a Jhandi around 6am at Letter Kenny. She did not see him again. She reported him missing on September 2. She said her brother was called “Fry Fish” and “Sunna Boy”. A post mortem performed on the body by Dr. Viviknand Brijmohan, gave the cause of death as asphyxia due to drowning and multiple injuries. Six persons were initially arrested and after intense investigation Bacchus was charged with the murder. The Preliminary Inquiry was conducted at the Whim Magistrate’s Court by Magistrate Fabio Azore who ruled that a prima facie case had been made out.
Bridge at Garraway Stream; commonly called by gold miners as the Cassandra Crossing Bridge, along the Bartica/ Potaro Road, will also be repaired. Mohamed explained that the bridge is the main link between Bartica and Mahdia. “We are currently doing
an estimate for the Cassandra Crossing Bridge and examining the best alternative for construction, whether the bridge will be a concrete structure, steel structure and whether it will be a one-span or intermediate span,” Mohamed said.
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Thursday June 23, 2016
Kaieteur News
Warrau language project gets $2M boost The sum of $2M was donated to residents of the Warrau community of Kamwatta Hill, in Region One, for the revival of their language. The money was handed over to Toshao Ronald Manano by Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, while on a recent visit to the region. The Minister, according to a Government statement, said the revival of the Warrau
language plays a major role in helping the Indigenous people identify with their culture. Toshao Manano noted: “This here is a good initiative for the younger youths. In a way they can learn the language, they can speak it anywhere… I myself can join the programme and other elders who are interested,” Manano stated. The Indigenous people were encouraged to start documenting their lives as
was done in the past by their ancestors. “I went to Aishalton and I saw the hieroglyph on the rocks nicely carved out… that was done 7000 years ago, according to archeologists. So we have to start documenting our lives which will become our history,” the Minister urged. The money will go towards providing payment for a teacher for the Warrau language. Also, craft, singing and dancing will be part of the classes, to aid in the preservation of the people’s culture. President David Granger at the launch of Indigenous Heritage month in September 1, 2015, noted that while many of the older folks spoke in tribal tongue, the younger generations are not keen on preserving it. President Granger had stated then: “It is, therefore, important that those languages be preserved and practiced, because for many it is the most efficient means
Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe handing over the $2M cheque to Toshao of Kamwatta Hill, Ronald Manano of personal communication… we are all poorer when we are not able to communicate with each other.” At the Heritage launch, it
was also announced by the Head of State that government will re-establish the Amerindian Language Project under the name
“Indigenous Language Project”. The project will soon commence at the University of Guyana as part of cultural preservation.
Effective cross discipline cooperation needed for improved penal system – Prisons COI report The report into the Commission of Inquiry (COI) has noted that other arms of the administration of Justice undermine the efforts of the Guyana Prison Service, (GPS) when they fail to fulfill their own obligations to the penal system. The report said that the Judiciary, Guyana Bar Association, the Guyana Police Force, Probation Service and Visiting Committee are all guilty of this in one way or another. “Reform of the GPS alone will not guarantee creation of a dynamic, efficient and fair penal system. Each institution struggles in isolation to make piecemeal improvements in its own delivery system without systematic consultation or cooperation among the group as a whole.” “Nor do existing statutory bodies such as the Police Service Commission and the Judicial Service Commission, operating in isolation, have a track record of effective cross-discipline cooperation.”
According to the report countering the institutional weaknesses of Guyana’s penal system, requires a mechanism to mobilize the political and technical cooperation in a collaborative manner, to provide Guyana with a modern, fair and efficient correctional programme. For this reason the COI made a special recommendation for creation of a mechanism charged with the sole responsibility of creating a plan to reduce prison over-crowding and to maintain a sustainable intake in the future. “The Prison directorate in Guyana does not enjoy the powers of their counterparts in some parts of the United States where overcrowding is addressed by empowering the Prison Director to commence a process of release of prisoners starting with those closest to their release dates.” “These powers are linked to budgetary allocations for food and maintenance
of decent standards as required by the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. These are the most authoritative international standards governing the quality of life in prison.” The COI also recommended creation of a High Level Committee comprising the Guyana Prison Service and representatives of the agencies referred to above, under the chairperson of a dynamic individual capable of generating the institutional momentum, support and resources required to resolve overcrowding in prisons. As a mechanism geared to encourage institutional cooperation with a clear focused mandate, the proposed High Level Committee would be a contribution to evolving governance in Guyana. Underlying all of the current ills of the penal system is a sense of no one exercising ownership of the process. Success in this limited mandate would lay the foundation for determining the shape and mandate of a more permanent Prisons Inspectorate Unit as a component of a modern principled approach to penal policy. “In this respect the Trinidad & Tobago Prison Inspectorate merits careful examination with a view to emulating its major feature,” the report outlined.
Thursday June 23, 2016
Discussions underway for South American passport - Harmon By Jarryl Bryan The government will be sending a two-member delegation to attend meetings with the working group of South American citizenship in Ecuador. The two officials are Darius Frank, Foreign Service Officer for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Carol Primo, head of the immigration support services department of Citizenship. On the agenda will be how to remove visa restrictions on travel within the South American continent. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said, “(The meetings) will be held in Ecuador over two days from June 28.” “The meeting will continue work started towards the development of a plan for South American citizenship, mobility, identity and rights.” “Discussions will also commence on a common South American passport and council of legal assistance mechanism. There are discussions on these issues. We have a Caricom passport and therefore these are discussions.” He noted that Guyana is a member of the Union of South America Nations (UNASUR), along with several other South American international organisations. Harmon also pointed out that Guyana is a signatory to several treaties. He pointed out that these discussions will not
necessarily include Guyanese receiving a new passport, but would allow for the CARICOM passport holders (including Guyanese) to travel to these other countries without the necessity of visas. However, he hastened to add that this was his thinking on the matter. “What I can say is that these are discussions taking place on citizenship. You know that Guyana borders other South American countries. We border Brazil, Venezuela, and Suriname and therefore issues which affect those countries, particularly citizenship, immigration and so on are issues which we have to pay attention to.” “So any treaties which involve South American countries, we will have to be aware of. So this conference will deal with some of those issues. But I don’t anticipate, from the terms and conditions that I have seen, that they will come out with a blue print to say by 2017 that you will have these passports.” Specifically, the delegation will be going to the CARIFORUM/CARICOM meeting on the implementation of the 10th EU Development Fund Single Market and Economic Integration program. Back in 2012, three financing agreements had been signed that were valued at some US$110M The South American Citizenship Programme has its
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon genesis at the Sixth Summit of UNASUR, held in Lima, Peru, in 2012. The Summit had concluded with a firm proposal to create a single South American citizenship. In February, SecretaryGeneral of UNASUR, Ernesto Samper, had invited President David Granger to join the South American Defence Council to have an input on issues of Security and Defence in relation to small States and the Caribbean and its implications on the whole region. Currently, Guyanese enjoy visa free travel to South American countries like Brazil, Suriname, Ecuador, and Peru (for tourism purposes). Other countries, such as Venezuela and Chile do not require visas once the traveler is the holder of diplomatic passports.
Dem boys seh ...
Minibus does mek young gyal get hot Dem minibus drivers eyes pass people and de police eyes don’t see wha dem suppose to see. Yesterday a Kitty minibus full of young schoolgirls end up in a gas station. De driver and de girls drinking Guinness and having fun. Dem boys see when de bus pull in de gas station. De number was BTT 7944 and was a Kitty minibus. De girls had to use de bathroom and de driver couldn’t stop dem by de side of de road. De police been pun de road and how dem ain’t see this dem boys don’t know. That is not de only time de police had problems seeing wha happening. Dem didn’t see when some people park dem car at de stadium and other people break in dem vehicle and carry away wha ain’t belong to dem. Dem Trinis was enjoying what didn’t belong to dem, too. Dem use to mek Guyanese buy things in de duty free shop in Guyana an when dem meet to Trinidad, de Trinis use to tek away de things. Dem boys use to see nuff of dem drunk at de airport, sporting pun de likker that de Guyanese buy. All good things must come to an end. Soulja Bai seh that he done wid de Trinidad
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Kaieteur News
plane. Of course de same airline mek most of its money from Guyana. De company does charge Guyanese to travel to Trinidad de same money dem does charge Trinis to travel to de States. Dem boys was prepared to done de dance. De Trini plane see de money going away and all of a sudden it can mek people pack dem likker and whatever dem buy in de duty free store in dem luggage. De happy living done fuh now but dem boys suspect something else. When de bag pack so tight how de airline gun disarrange de operation fuh get out one bag? Somebody talking to a fool but de fool ain’t listening. Talk half and look out fuh dem hot young gyal and dem minibus operator.
The heat has shifted The government really has no authority to stop any decision of an elected municipality unless it can prove that the action is unlawful. The chief executive of the city is the Town Clerk and once the Town Clerk approves of something, then it cannot be overturned without his consent. The government in indicating th a t i t i s reviewing the contract signed by officials of City Hall may be attempting to take the ‘heat’ off of those city officials who were part of the inking of an agreement with a foreign firm for the provision of parking meters in the city. The ruling coalition dominates the Georgetown City Council, holding twenty six of the thirty seats. The PPP has two seats and two other groupings, one seat each. They are powerless to do anything against a council stacked with APNU+AFC representatives. The government may also be responding to the perceptions that it is not doing anything to address the criticisms of the controversial deal made by on behalf of the Council but without the blessing of the full Council. During the reign of the last council many of the very persons who are now at the center of the parking meter deal had indicated that the Town Clerk was a servant of the Council and has to comply with the decision of the Council. They pressed for her to seek approval of the Council and not act independent of it. They
even passed a no-confidence motion against her. Yet, we have a situation in which decisions are being made without the blessings of the present council. The government therefore has to do more than simply review the contract. It has to also examine the relationship between the officials and the council and between the council and the government. This column has expressed the view that there needs to be a change in the law to allow for the charging of parking fees but obviously this view does not find traction with City Hall who feel that they have the authority to enter into an agreement for not just parking meters but also to charge parking fees. The government will have to review that aspect of the law to determine whether a general provision can now, under the common law, impute a specific right. In making such a determination, the government will have to take account of the fact that the council is a subsidiary body and therefore only derives its commission because of its relationship with central government. That relationship will force the government to question whether City Hall can impose fees which may be implicit to a specific right but which cannot in inferred from a general provision of the law dealing with traffic management. In considering these two aspects, the government will have to examine the paradox
of a council claiming a right to develop parking fees when for its own estimate and its right to rating it requires the consent of the subject minister. Thus, latter permission is required because of the subsidiary nature of the council under common law. If the government satisfies itself that City Hall has the authority to implement parking fees it will still have to be guided by case law about the reasonableness of such fees. Even if the Municipal and District Councils Act is deemed to allow for the charging of parking fees, common law would instruct that the fees be reasonable so as to interfere with the citizens’ right of passage on streets and thoroughfare. There are abundant precedents on this latter issue. But there still remains the fundamental issue to be resolved. Can an officer of a council make agreements which bind the council without the agreement of the council? And what exactly is the relationship between the council and its officers? Are they accountable to the council or can they trot off wherever they please and make agreements behind the back of the other members of the Council? Is the position of Mayor not a ceremonial position? What executive authority does the Mayor have? The ball is now in the government’s court. The heat has shifted. The nation is watching.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday June 23, 2016
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Disappearing passport in a disappearing country No other country in peacetime in the world is as Dostoyevskian as Guyana. It is a sad country with cascading tears that portray the traumas in 18th Century Russian novels. A departing woman goes up to the immigration counter and her passport is requested. What follows is a Dostoyevskian train of events. In trying to come to grips with these events, one must bear in mind that this lady was in one of the most security sensitive areas in the entire country. No one can be seen loitering around the departing area at the airport. It is sealed off for officials and passengers who are leaving. The lady gives her passport to an official. He/ she can do one of two things with it; checks it with the data in his/her computer and if there is no problem, the passport is returned immediately. Or the passport can be taken into a private room where its legal validity can be ascertained if there was doubt in the first place. It is not possible in that private room for the passport to be lost; because the immigration official will have it in front of him/ her checking the computer or a print out that
he/she has in front of him/her. How can the passport be lost in those circumstances? It is virtually impossible. The only scenario that is possible is that the officer went somewhere else with the passport, and it got lost. But that sounds crazy. Why would the officer take the passport out of the room and go wandering about in another section of the airport? Immigration officials do not behave like that. Most definitely, he/she would not leave their station to go to the washroom because the immigration check out point has its own washrooms. We come now to the lady herself. Suppose she is lying and she never handed in a passport? Right there and then wouldn’t she be interviewed by the police. Crazy people do crazy things but sane people do not accept the crazy things mad people do. When you go to the immigration counter, there and then you have to produce your passport. There and then, a non-passport holder would be under question. Suppose this insane, non-passport holder made a fuss about submitting the passport for scrutiny but
never did so. There are security cameras in that section. Once the police are called in and they look at the tape and see no passport was tendered that person would be under arrest Let’s assume that this out-going passenger did hand in her passport, wouldn’t the cameras pick up the act? The answer is yes. Wouldn’t the cameras also pick up the action of the officer when he/she took the passport and left the area? There is something deadly, sinister and horrifying about this incident. I honestly feel that such macabre happenings can only occur in Guyana. It may occur in a country that is in the throes of civil war or victim of a terrible earthquake. But in peacetime in Guyana, a lady hands a security official her passport as she is about to board the Frederick plane as required and in minutes it disappears. Can any politician that is part of the government that administers this country not be ashamed at the bizarre things that go on? Isn’t this disappearing passport something you see in a comedic spy movie? Does it
happen in real life? It does but only in Guyana. If the passport is an American document, the US Embassy should press the police force for an investigation. Now the sensitive question – was the passport stolen? I don’t know but this I know; – the passport could not have been lost in the manner in which it was taken from the lady. Tracing the movement of that passport should be extremely simple. Where did the official take it? The answer has to be in a room to check it. What is inside that room to cause it to be lost? Let us say the room was filled with tons and tons of papers and thousands of bogus passports and lots of carton boxes. But where would the passport be placed for it to get lost among the other passports? It had to be at the top of the pile since the officer Kissoon would have taken it to the computer to be checked. This is a frightening incident that should scare every person that has to pass through immigration as they leave. But this is Guyana. People will shrug their shoulders and carry on with their individual lives.
Thursday June 23, 2016
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
Ex-cop says, ‘I was going to lodge Original Venezuela oil for rice contract should be made gun when arrested’ public - RPA/AC - says farmers, millers were duped for years about quality of rice required There have been mounting calls for the government to release several contracts signed by the previous administration but were shrouded in secrecy. President David Granger recently made it clear that all contracts and concession agreements should be made public. Co-Chairman of the Rice Producers AssociationAction Committee (RPA-AC) Dr. Turhane Doerga, said that the original ‘oil for rice’ contract inked between the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration and the Venezuelan authorities is one such agreement that needs to be brought to light. In an interview Tuesday, Doerga stated that releasing the contract will either confirm or put to bed accusations that the previous Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) stipulated that millers supply only A- grade quality rice, when the particulars of the contract required a lower grade. The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alesie Group of Companies intimated that millers have been duped for years and that the situation was a recipe for corruption. He noted that he received many complaints from millers, needlessly afraid of their rice being rejected when GRDB inspected the rice, about who paid bribes to get a passing grade. He said that it was his view that millers were charged more than double the actual freight charges for the distance to Venezuela when shipping the rice. Doerga stated that the contract would also shed some light on whether there was any mention of establishing a social fund (PetroCaribe fund).
Former GRDB General Manager, Jagnarine Singh
RPA-AC Co-Chairman Dr. Turhane Doerga He noted that requests had been made to the previous administration for the release of the contract, but to no avail. The ‘oil for rice’ contract originated in 2009. While Venezuela has its own rice industry, it began experiencing problems of its own. Under the agreement, Guyana got oil from Venezuela at concessionary prices. Half the cost was paid up front, but to mitigate any debts Guyana exported its rice to the Spanish speaking country. Not only did this provide a stable market for rice farmers and millers, with Venezuela accounting for approximately 30 percent of all rice exports, but the agreement saw above average prices being paid for rice. The PetroCaribe fund was established to hold the extra money. The previous administration had, however, admitted to dipping into the account to fund projects like the Hope Canal. Under the arrangement, Guyana would also deduct monies from the fund to pay farmers and millers supplying Venezuela with rice. Millions of dollars was supposed to be in the account
Eagle Mountain operations promises ... From page 2 1,800 tonnes per day. The company currently employs 37 staff and contractors at Eagle Mountain. During the commissioning phase, which commenced on January 28, 2016, the company performed approximately 55,000 man-hours, with one minor lost-time accident. The Eagle Mountain gold project is located approximately 200 km southwest of Guyana’s capital, Georgetown, and 45 km from the historic Omai Gold Mine, which profitably produced an estimated four million ounces of gold from 1993 to 2005. Two other foreign-owned gold mine started operations last year- Guyana Goldfields Inc. and Troy Resources.
but when the new Government came into power they said that the fund, which was held at Central Bank, was empty. GRDB General Manager Jagnarine Singh also resigned under a storm a mere month after the coalition came into office. The agreement came to an end last year, with hundreds of containers of rice left stranded on the local wharves. The ‘oil for rice’ contract is one of several contracts and concessionary agreements that remain undisclosed. Granger, during the weekly televised show ‘The Public Interest’ made it clear that he believes in full disclosure and has no intention of changing his mind. He stated that this is what the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and the other branches of government should do – make agreements public. Granger said that there are exceptions. In this regard, he said that the procurement of defence equipment should be kept under wraps.
Ex-cop Tito Benons who is facing gun related charges told the court that at the time of his arrest, he was taking a gun he had found on Cemetery Road, Georgetown to the Brickdam Police Station to have it lodged. Benons told this to Magistrate Fabayo Azore, yesterday, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts’ when he was called on to lead a defence. The Magistrate had ruled that the prosecution had made out a prima facie case against him. The former Police Constable who said that he was attached to the Berbice Anti-Crime Unit, is accused of being in possession of an unlicensed Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol, along with 15 rounds of live ammunition on March 26, last, at Norton Street and Louisa Row, Georgetown. He was among four men on CG motorcycles that patrol ranks had stopped and searched. He has since denied the allegations and is currently on remand. During his sworn testimony, the defendant told the court that on the day in question; he and his cousins and friend were riding their motorcycles along Cemetery Road. The defendant explained that at the time the traffic was congested so they were proceeding at a slow rate of speed. According to Benons, he was the pillion rider on his friend’s bicycle and whilst riding he noticed a black object lying on the side of
Tito Benons the road. “I told my friend to stop. I came off of the motorcycle and walked about five meters backwards. I noticed that the black object appeared to be a firearm. I picked up the said firearm and showed it to my friend and told him that it is a real gun,” he said. Benons added that he told his friend that they were going to take the weapon to the Brickdam Police Station to have it lodged but were intercepted by police while making their way there along Louisa Row, Georgetown. The defendant related that none of them was wearing helmets at the time so he speculated that was the reason why they were stopped by police. Benons said that he came off the motorcycle and went to a policeman who later identified himself to him as (continued on page 17)
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Thursday June 23, 2016
Kaieteur News
Taxpayers should not pay for Govt. propaganda - US Diplomat By Kiana Wilburg If the government continues to keep its tentacles in the media, then it must ensure that it is dispensing objective news and not propaganda, said outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission Bryan Hunt. Hunt said that a long time ago, the USA Government decided that it would not own any media franchise. He accepted that the circumstances in Guyana are quite different and that the government here has various forms of state media machinery. In such a situation, the USA diplomat said that the government would have to take on the special responsibility of ensuring that those media bodies are not only publishing news in favour of themselves. He stressed that those bodies should be managed by objective boards which are allowed to be independent. The US official said, “(Government) also bears a special responsibility to guarantee that all parties, regardless of whether they are
leaders in the government or not, have access to those outlets.” The American envoy contended that the coalition administration has in the main, indicated its strong support for doing those things. He said, “Also, I think you have seen some amount of independence in the editorial contributions of the state media, as well as greater access given to those in the Opposition compared to what took place previously.” “But it is going to be upon the government to ensure that if it wants to continue owning media outlets then these bodies are independent and not propaganda mouth pieces because taxpayers should not be paying for political or party propaganda.” The outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission said that if there is a reason why the Government cannot bring its news to the private sector, then he will allow them to be the judge of that. President David Granger has however, made his views on this matter known. The
Head of State has said that a free, pluralistic and independent media community, on all platforms, is important for facilitating good governance and transparency. He has also stated that he has every intention of achieving this. On the televised show, The Public Interest, the Head of State noted that the state has a responsibility, particularly in a country like Guyana, to provide current information. Granger said that most media houses are located in Georgetown or on the coastland. This, he said, has resulted in a large part of the country not being covered by the private media. He said that the private media, to some degree, is driven by profit and there is no profit in setting up a station at Lethem or Aishalton. Granger said that most of these areas do not get the full benefit of information and as such, the state has a responsibility to provide information to those communities whether it is on health issues, natural hazards, epidemic diseases or threats
to the communities in those areas. But beyond the role of providing information, the President said that he feels that media must be free. He said that is where the private media has a role. The Head of State said that he does not believe that the state should attempt to control the private media. He hopes that the state withdraws from competing with the private media and just pay attention to its primary role of providing public information. Granger said that under the Constitution, it is quite clear that all citizens have certain rights to transmit and receive information. He noted that the state cannot contradict or contravene the Constitution by preventing citizens from receiving information. He said that in this regard, it is considered carte blanche for the private media to operate, but within certain limits of course. “But as I see it, eventually the state must withdraw from competing with the private media in terms of publishing newspapers or television
Outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission, Bryan Hunt
President, David Granger
services. The state’s role is to provide public information and I see that organizations like GINA (Government Information Agency) and NCN (National Communications Network) could continue but the commercial arms like Chronicle newspaper, in due course, should eventually revert to private ownership,” expressed the President. He continued, “It is a period of transition but I don’t believe that we need to get involved in that type of activity anymore.” Granger said that the state media had its origins in the Second World War when there was a need to provide certain controls and certain messages because of the security situations during the war.
He noted that a period of constitutional crisis followed; the British Government continued to maintain control of information through the Government Information Service (GIS). The President said he does not believe that the state should maintain those controls any longer. He said, “I believe in free media and as Head of State; I need criticisms, I need to be told where the government is going wrong. I need an alert media community, one that will look at projects, how people are being treated, the dangers of diseases, environmental hazards and alert the government to the people’s concerns. I can’t do without criticisms. No government can do without (continued on page 23)
Thursday June 23, 2016
Kaieteur News
U.S. envoy talks with Venezuela President Maduro amid crisis
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro shakes hands with U.S. diplomat Thomas Shannon during their meeting at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela June 22, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins CARACAS (Reuters) Veteran U.S. diplomat Tom Shannon met with Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro yesterday to re-start talks between the ideologically opposed governments amid a punishing economic crisis in the South American OPEC nation. Shannon, 57, who led a similar rapprochement last year that stalled over the jailing of protest leader Leopoldo Lopez, also met with opposition figures and civil society activists on his visit to Caracas. During 17 years of socialist rule under Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez, Venezuela has replaced Cuba as Washington’s principle irritant in the Americas. The United States is backing an opposition push to hold a “fair and timely” referendum this year that could see Maduro ousted. However, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry agreed in talks with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez last week to re-start dialogue. Shannon and Maduro, 53,
met after lunch in the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, but there was no immediate word on the content of their talks. Their meeting came the day before the Organization of American States was to discuss a proposal by its head, Luis Almagro, to invoke the regional body’s Democratic Charter, which could eventually lead to a vote on suspending Venezuela. Shannon also met in Caracas with opposition leaders including Henrique Capriles, the two-time presidential candidate who lost to both Chavez and Maduro and is now spearheading the push for a referendum. Maduro may be hoping the meeting eases international pressure on him, analysts and diplomats said, while Washington likely calculates a rapprochement undermines Venezuela’s constant blame on “imperialist” foes for the nation’s problems. “Kerry indicated last week that the U.S. wants to see a recall referendum this year, and bilateral talks will
help to offset what would otherwise be fodder for Maduro to declare that the U.S. is trying to overthrow his regime,” the Eurasia consultancy group said. Shannon, a former U.S. ambassador to Brazil and current Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs who speaks Spanish and Portuguese, was likely to press for the release of jailed opponents including Lopez. He is also expected to push for internationally mediated talks between Maduro’s government and the opposition to try and ease political strains behind the crisis. The Venezuelan opposition leader was sentenced to nearly 14 years for instigating 2014 antiMaduro protests that led to violence killing 43 people across both sides.
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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
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 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 1-4 Storey building @ Charlotte Street Georgetown. Call: 668-8332; 638-5303
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
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 1- Cat 320 BL excavator, 1 Cat 428 Back Hoe, 1-930 Cat loader, 1-Cat D44 bulldozer. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 1-Pneumatic Roller 9 wheels, 1-55 Leyland Daf Truck. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 Pure German Shepherd pups, 7 weeks old, vaccinated & have clinic cards – Call: 6535702 1 Complete high volume, 3stage water purification systems, UV light, water tanks, freezer, reasonable , owner migrating – Call: 649-8430
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
Two -20ft Container chassis for sale- price $1,260,000 each for information call: 623-1615 ACCOMMODATION Harmony Inn: clean, comfortable & affordable apartments/rooms, long & short term – Call: 668-0306; 218-1400; 694-7817 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman, Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 NOTICE Splashmin’s Resort has moved. We are now located at 52 Hadfield Street behind GT&T- Call: 223-7301-3
MIX BREED PUPS –CALL: 615-0146 Bedford TM 6X6 parts for sale – Call: 697-5437 1 Lincoln MIG welder 140c 110v (brand new), 1 Lincoln 225 Engine driven welder 225amps, 1 Nissan Vanette Call: 627-9825; 686-4218 5 Chinese Seine, 1-50HP outboard engine, 1-31 FT flat bottom boat, 1000 lbs nylon seine –Call: 691-3633; 2234552
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
VACANCY Welder / Fabricator must have experience-Contact 2235273/4
Corner property in Grove, 1 block from Main Road- Flat House, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572 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
Autocad Technician to draw parts and components contact 2235273/4
House & land 150X100 @ 6 Good Hope EBE, Double Lot @ 41&44 Vergenogen E.B.E, Double lot (business spot) @ Zeelugt. Call: 642-6642 One flat house 2 bedrooms at Grove New Scheme 2nd Bridge, large land space -$11M. Call: 626-1263/ 680-9593 La Parfaite Harmonie -$20M, $25M, $6M, New Road -$17M, $2.5M, La Grange Public Road $18M. Call: 604-6724 Zeelugt-(2)storey concrete building, Good Hope-(2)storey concrete building, Tel:2319690,231-9693 call between 8:00hrs-16:00hrs (Mon-Fri). Parfaite Harmony-(2) storey wooden & concrete building. Prices negotiable. Tel:2319690,231-9693 call between 8:00hrs-16:00hrs (Mon-Fri). 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 Property located @ Waller’s Delight W.C.D- Call: 6620187; 674-4929 EDUCATIONAL Summer classes for children age 5-17yrs, Form 1-5, CXC classes. Call: 690-5008; 6602152
TO LET
CAR RENTAL
Thursday June 23, 2016
Kaieteur News
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 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494 FOR SALE/RENT American pool table – Call: 277-0578
One two bedroom house, fully furnished in gated community to rent-Call: 6230156; 695-3150
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; 225-0391
WANTED Hallow Blocks maker- Call: 233-2767 Driver & Porter to sell water on East Coast. Apply at Nimbus Water Tel # 231-7002
Hair/nail & barber stations for rental, discounts for new comers @ New Market St. Call: 638-1106
1 Driver for East Bank area – Call: 233-2745 Experienced Driver apply in person with handwritten application @ Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St.
Truck Porter to travel in and out of Interior. Call: 618-2020
Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665
Lorry DRIVER/Salesman, Part time Welder/ Fabricator 676 6700
Cleaner, Security, DJ, waitress, bartenders,1 experinced secretary between ages 18-25, must have CXC–Call: 668-8332; 638-5303
One fitter machinist & one welder –Call: 613-1588; 2340780 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
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. One cook to work in snackette, must be able to clean- Call: 647-7432 Experienced female Accounts clerk passes with English & Mathematics. Apply at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling. One experienced Hauler driver, apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling Stabroek. Salesgirl contact 1883 Festival City, North Ruimveldt –Call: 682-4159 from 4pm to 10pm Girls to work in bar @ E.C.D location- Call: 612-2522
Mazda RX8 – Call: 602-6024
Needed one female cleaner to work in bond, apply in person to Alabama Trading, Georgetown, Ferry Stelling.
One silver colour RAV 4 J PNN 6469, excellent condition – Call: 625-2323; 254-0530
Land @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Eccles & also vehicles. Call:604-6724
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
We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, La Parfaite Harmonie, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, Bartica –Call: 651-1969; 6818897
Toyota Voxy/ Noah unregistered, 2008 model $2.5M. Call: 603-9700
1 Male to cook in the Backdam-Call: 678-0565
Mitsubishi GLX Sports $400,000, MR2 Sports Toyota -$500,000, 200 Mercedes Benz -$300,000. Call: 226-8013
One administrative assistantemail CV to nwscompanygy@gmail.com VEHICLE FOR SALE
One Hilux Tiger 4X4 for sale, 5L engine, stick gear, diesel, 15 inch mag, roof rack & back covering. Call: 692-9577; 2292379
We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154
AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pitbull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: Cash / terms- Call:680-3154
1 Mazda Axela, in excellent condition -$1.2M negotiableCall: 681-8543
VEHICLE FOR SALE
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Thursday June 23, 2016
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Kaieteur News
GM, 23, charged with Coverden bike deaths Two months after a fatal accident at Coverden, East Coast Demerara claimed the lives of two persons, the General Manager of the Guyana Quartz Sand Inc. was yesterday released on a total of $400,000 bail after denying two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Jason Bhaskaran, 23, of Track ‘B’ Timehri, East Coast Demerara is accused of driving motor vehicle PHH 8034 in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Rudolph Bess. It was further alleged that he also caused the death of 16-year-old Hansranie Persaud by driving in a dangerous manner. The accident occurred on April 17. According to reports, Bess, 23, of Lot 620 Kaneville, East Bank Demerara and Persaud, 16, of
DEAD: Hansranie Persaud Lot 478 Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara were killed after the motorcycle in which they were riding crashed into a pickup vehicle. The accident
reportedly occurred after they were returning home from a party at a wash bay in Soesdyke. It was reported that Bess’ skull was crushed while one of Persaud’s legs
DEAD: Rudolph Bess was severed. The teenager is said to have sneaked out her parent’s house to attend the party with Bess whom her mother later learnt was her boyfriend. Bhaskaran pleaded not
guilty to both allegations after they were read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The defendant was granted bail in the sum of $200,000 on each charge and was ordered to return to court on July 13, when he will appear before Magistrate Judy Latchman. Police Prosecutor, Deniro Jones, did not oppose to bail for Bhaskaran and told the court that post mortem reports in favour of the deceased are still outstanding from the police file. An attorney for the defendant informed the court that his client was released on $100,000 station bail, and had been cooperating with police throughout their investigations.
Cops track down, arrest notorious bandits after failed robbery Three notorious bandits, who all have numerous matters pending before the court and are all out on bail have been remanded to jail. The men Raymond La Fleur, 39, of Vryheid and Mount Sinai, West Canje, Berbice; Timothy Sampson, 29, of Adelphi Village, East Canje Berbice; and Troyden Trellis, 20, called ‘Old Boy’, of Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, appeared on Wednesday before Magistrate Rhondell Weaver at the Fort Wellington Magistrates
Court on a charge of attempt to commit a felony. The men are accused of attempting to rob businessman Feroze Haffese of Lot 9 Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice. According to Prosecutor Corporal, Rocquel Mars, the men had travelled to the area in a motor car and around 02:50 hours on the day in question they attempted to break into the premises. However the premises had CCTV cameras and alarms which went off as the bandits were in the process of breaking into
the building. The alarm forced them to abort their mission and flee the area. The getaway vehicle was also captured on the CCTV camera. The vehicle was tracked down and the driver nabbed. He subsequently informed police about the notorious gang members and some others who are still at large. The men were subsequently arrested. La Fleur who is before the court on a number of charges was sentenced in his absence to five years in jail. He was subsequently nabbed
Govt. orders review of parking... From page 13 had found that NPS did not have an office at the Park Avenue, Manhattan address that it listed on its website. There was also little information on Smart City Solutions Inc., the company with which Cush teamed up. The consortium is promising to invest US$10M. US$10M investment The officials made it clear that all contracts for M&CC are signed by the Town Clerk with the one with the consortium handled under the previous council. New councillors were brief this year. Chase-Green warned that she is not prepared to release the contract to the public as there have been painful experiences in the past where documents were leaked, including a proposal with the Canadian Bank Note, causing the city to lose. Rather, councillors have the possibilities of perusing the contract at the office of the Town Clerk. It was disclosed that the parking meter project, which will bring in 20 percent of the
gross of the revenues to the city, with zero investment by the council, will also see the hiring of more than 100 workers. The 20 percent was arrived at after intense negotiations with the players, the city officials said. Chase-Green was critical of media coverage which claimed she was in Mexico to purchase parking meters. She said that she is not a procurement officer. Rather her trip to Mexico and Panama was to have a first-hand view on how the system works. She was also critical of concerns raised, saying that it was unfortunate that persons had taken to social media. She stressed that minutes of the May 23 meeting would tell a story of the how the City Council was fully aware of the Mexico trip. According to the minutes, the council, including the Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan, was told that Smart City Solution Inc. had invited M&CC to view its operations and that the invitation was accepted. Questioned about
the lack of internet information on the consortium, an upset Mayor declared that it would not be enough to use Google and Wikipedia and the consortium is very real and the facts of what was on the ground in Panama and Mexico would speak for itself. According to the city officials, the final costs for using the meters are still being negotiated with the drivers definitely not having to pay $500 per hour as is being reported. Already, the consortium has shipped a parking meter which will be used for demonstrations. The city officials said that under the system, the city would be able to view when a car is parked, whether the ticket has been paid and when the vehicle would have moved. There will be communications with monitors on the road and daily online information about what the parking meters are raking in. Eventually, smart phones will be used to determine where the available parking spaces are in the city.
From page 22
LAND FOR SALE 25 Acres land for sale @ Linden Highway –Call: 683-1521 Tuschen -$2.2M, $1.4M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.1M, $1.6M, $2.5M, $1.2M, Eccles -$5.5M, New Road V/Hoop $17M, $30M. Call: 604-6724 50 Acres @ Plantation Elizabeth Ann, Right Bank Demerara River. Call: 6723886; 600-5266 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
CAPTURED: Troyden Trellis
CAPTURED: Raymond La Fleur
and jailed, but appealed his conviction in the High Court and was granted bail. Sampson has been charged with a number of misdemeanors including murder, possession of two AK47s and an UZI submachine gun. He was also charged with being a gang of eight that attacked and robbed a No.48 village family, and subsequently engaged a police patrol in a shootout. Trellis was among a gang of three that invaded a business man’s premises in New
Amsterdam last November while armed with a gun and cutlass. One of the bandits was severely chopped by the businessman, while Trellis and the other fled leaving the gun behind. They were subsequently nabbed in a New Amsterdam hotel a few days later with some teen girls. The prosecution objected to bail due to the men all having serious matters engaging the court. They have been remanded to jail until July 11.
Taxpayers should not pay for... From page 12 criticisms.” The Head of State continued, “I don’t want someone to always be telling me ‘Oh yea, yea everything is fine, everything is going good.’ And I don’t want state media personnel to feel that their roles are to simply tell the government good things and not report what is being said by the other side.” Granger said that the Government consists of three branches; the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary and the state media must
report on all three branches. He said that in the Legislative branch for example, there are the usual debates. The state media must report on Government’s side as well as the arguments being put forward by the political opposition. “I have to hear the Opposition’s side to know what half the population is taking, thinking and saying and so the state media must report on both sides. So in due course, the actual functions, the commercial functions I hope would
disappear.” The President asserted that in the meantime, the state will continue to provide credible information to the entire population.
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Thursday June 23, 2016
Kaieteur News
Kwakwani “seeing changes” GPSU has preliminary as restoration works continue critique of 'Lutchman Report'
The rehabilitated Regional Democratic Council (RDC) building at Kwakwani Kwakwani, in Upper Demerara-Berbice, Region 10 has seen massive transformation since the coalition government took office, according to residents of the riverain community. This has been corroborated by the Assistant Regional Executive Officer (AREO), Leola Narine. The official told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that, “Kwakwani was left abandoned and now we’re seeing changes and we’re happy for that.” Narine explained that the community has long been plagued by unemployment, poor roads and lack of government assistance; however with the change of government the community has seen rehabilitated roads, employment creation and government assistance. Further, Kwakwani’s fortunes have improved with lots of government contracts, internal road projects carried out, government buildings rehabilitated, including the Regional Democratic Council building, the Kwakwani Students’ Hostel, schools, and the hospital among others. “There are other projects allocated in the 2016 budget that will be carried out soon,” Narine explained. The Assistant REO pointed out that there were many Ministerial visits to the Kwakwani community, “which I’m very thankful for and works will be conducted to see Kwakwani more developed.” The two main economic activities in the community, bauxite mining and logging have also seen significant improvement and are contributing financially to the community.
In the logging industry, the Upper Berbice Forest Producers’ Association and the Kwakwani National Resource Organisation (KNRO) are providing jobs for residents. Mavis Davis, a resident of the community for over 20 years commended the work of the government. She said “they’re (the government) doing well because I went to Georgetown and I see them cleaning up, Linden cleaning up everything is going good. In my community Kwakwani, they are also doing well, they helped to develop the community and I see Kwakwani clean and even the road done.” Dianne D’Andrade, another resident of the Kwakwani community, spoke of a change in attitude in the education sector. D’Andrade explained that students’ grades have improved. “With the students and teachers you get a better reaction now you could be able to talk to them and the PTA is good. They had a Parent Teacher conference and you saw so many things coming out,” she said. Despite the strides the community has made, there
are some areas to be addressed to develop the community completely. These include social issues, Narine stated. “I really hope that we get assistance from the Ministries to help address these issues,” Narine stressed. Meanwhile, the official noted that the Kwakwani/ Linden trail is a major issue for the community. “If we can get this addressed it will certainly benefit the residents of Ituni, Aroaima and Kwakwani greatly. It will also bring businesses and investments to Kwakwani which will contribute to economic growth, more rehabilitated roads, and a bank for residents to conduct financial business.” Nevertheless, “the government thus far has done an excellent job in revamping the community and there are great things in store for the community which will see the community completely developed.” Kwakwani is a mining and logging community which is located approximately 100 kilometres south of Linden. It is home to more than 4,000 people.
The Guyana Public Service Union has begun its assessment of the Report on the Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service. This was expressed by the President of the GPSU, Patrick Yarde, at a press conference on Tuesday at the union headquarters, Regent Street. The Commission which was headed by Professor Harold Lutchman began its work in September 2015. The final report was presented to the Ministry of the Presidency on May 13, last. The other commissioners were Sandra Jones and Samuel Goolsarran. The union head stated that thus far the union has very mixed views about the Lutchman Report. He noted too, that there are more negative views than positive views. The President cited that there are good recommendations and they will continue to examine the report in its entirety. Two contentions which the union has thus far included in the insensitive approach to certain International Labour Organization conventions deal with stakeholders' participation. According to Yarde, “The report only seems to recognize the GPSU role in collective bargaining.” The GPSU President said that the report is critical of the
GPSU nominees on the Public Service Commission. Yarde stated that the union has rejected this position. He noted that the union's participation on the commission has been for four decades now. He noted that the union's representatives only occupied 33% of the commission and by virtue of that, did not have a controlling influence on the decisions made by the board. Notwithstanding this, Yarde noted that the GPSU had recognized that the arrangement needed to be enhanced. He made representation to the government led by then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham for the creation of a Public Service Appellate Tribunal. The government at the time had supported the recommendation, according to Yarde, and had procured its establishment. The Tribunal is a creature of the constitution with the power to review any decision of the commission. It is to be headed by a retired Appellate Judge. Yarde intimated that “there are also views (of the report) which we endorse, and we wish they were more forceful in dealing with those views.” He noted that there are other issues which the report ought
Guyana welcomes 12th Chinese Medical Brigade Thousands of Guyanese have benefitted from visiting the Chinese medical brigade, which ended their two year stint here, last Thursday. Between July 1, 2014 and June 2015, some 16 Chinese medical experts offered their services to Guyana in the areas of orthopaedics, ophthalmology, obstetrics, gynaecology, internal medicine, anaesthesiology, radiology, acupuncture, nephrology, oncology, pathology, urology, paediatrics, general surgery, plastic surgery and osteopathy. The work of the visiting team is part of efforts to preserve the bilateral relations between the Government of
Guyana and the Republic of China. The Guyana /China relations have since aided the establishment of an Eye Centre at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the commissioning of a centre for laparoscopic surgery at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) in September, 2014. At the recently held farewell ceremony, head of the 11th Chinese Medical Brigade Dr. Wang Yongxiang reported that during this period more than 7,000 surgical procedures were done, diagnosis and treatment were offered to more than 20,000 patients and efforts were directed to setting up three medical centres – an
Starr Computer launches Business Centre From page 19 your records, your reports, ordering goods...and these are the things that we are actually showcasing in the new business centre,” Majeed emphasised. According to the General Manager, not only are many companies looking for reliability with their hardware purchases and are therefore seeking reputable brands from Starr, but he claimed that he
has also seen a heightened demand by local companies for advice to enhance their current POS systems so as to be more productive and to respond better to their customers' needs. The aim of the Business Centre, he stressed, is to ultimately improve productivity and by extension, customer service. Currently displayed in the Business Centre are the prod-
to have addressed but failed to do so. Further Yarde stated, “Another critical part of the report which we see as a conflict; the commission said nothing about the chancellor being the head of the Judicial Service Commission.” He acknowledged the wisdom behind having the chief justice and chancellor being on the commission; it ought not to be headed by the chancellor who is simultaneously the head of the judiciary. Yarde intimated that the commission may defend its omission to address that issue by saying it was not part of their mandate. However, Yarde believes it was relevant since it is being attempted to have public servants who currently work within the judiciary to be transferred under the judicial service commission. According to the GPSU President, the union is in the process of preparing a complete analysis of the report. This analysis, he says, will be shared with all the commissioners in fairness. The union also intends to share their views with the public, since he recognizes that the union has such a policy to share its views and invite responses.
ucts and solutions of Starr Computer's international partners such as Lenovo, Star Micronics, Zebra, Bematech, Qsee, HP, FirstAlert, Linksys, Logitech, Kingston and DataCard. The General Manager yesterday made it clear, “we live in a very competitive world and if we do business the way we did it 20 years ago we would be out of business very shortly.”
While traditionally Starr Computer focused mainly on hardware solutions, Majeed yesterday revealed that the company is also looking to offer 'in a big way' software solutions. In fact the company is expected to launch software solutions in a matter of weeks. “Cloud is the next big thing...we will be doing cloud and some local software solutions for our clients,” Majeed added.
eye centre allowing for 1,500 eye surgeries; an endoscopy centre catering to 600 cases and a trauma centre catering to spinal issues Dr. Wang expressed optimism that the new batch of Chinese doctors would do more for the Guyanese populace. The new team is set to be deployed to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, (GPHC) and other local medical centres across the country. President David Granger who was also present at the farewell ceremony lauded the team for the efforts. Granger said the presence of the Chinese medical team in Guyana has contributed significantly to the development of a healthy population and, thereby, has contributed to the wealth of the nation. He noted that cooperation in the health sector has been a distinguishing feature of human relations, which emphasizes the formal engagement between our two republics and, most particularly, the personal and everyday friendship between our two peoples. The first batch of Chinese medical professionals came to Guyana as a result of the Protocol on Medical Cooperation, which was signed between the two countries on May 26, 1993.
Thursday June 23, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Thursday June 23, 2016
Kaieteur News
Colombia and FARC rebels reach historic ceasefire deal
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) negotiator Marcos Carratala reads a document next to Colombian government spokeswoman Marcela Duran in Havana, Cuba yesterday. REUTERS/ENRIQUE DE LA OSA Reuters - Colombia’s government and leftist FARC rebels said yesterday they had agreed to end hostilities with a definitive ceasefire that leaves the two sides just a step away from resolving the longest-running conflict in the Western Hemisphere. After more than three years of fraught talks in Havana, the agreement brings into sight an end to a conflict that began as a 1960s peas-
ant revolt before exploding into a cocaine-fuelled war that has killed at least 220,000 people and displaced millions. The accord will be signed today in Havana by President Juan Manuel Santos and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, rebel leader Rodrigo Londono, better known by his nom de guerre Timochenko. “Tomorrow will be a great day! We will work for a Co-
lombia that is at peace, a dream starts to be reality,” Santos said on his Twitter feed. Cuban President Raul Castro, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet will attend, the two sides said. The ceremony is expected to be held at 1200 EDT (1600 GMT). Santos said this week the government and the rebels will complete negotiations for a final deal by July 20. The ceasefire, which includes terms for the FARC’s demobilization, laying down of arms, and security for former fighters, does not begin until the final deal is signed. Half-way through his second term and staking his legacy on peace, the 64-yearold president has said a deal would add as much as two percentage points annually to economic growth. “The significance of the agreement that will be signed tomorrow cannot be underestimated,” said Jason Marczak, director of the Latin America Economic Growth Initiative at the Atlantic Council. “The peace deal will only further add to the sense that this is a completely new Colombia than the Colombia of 20 years ago.” Some analysts say security improvements over the last dozen years mean Colombia has already reaped the benefits of the so-called “peace dividend.” Commercial bank Bancolombia said in a report a formal deal would add 0.3 percent growth annually.
Thursday June 23, 2016
Kaieteur News
Seeking to regain ground, Trump calls Clinton corrupt and a liar
Donald Trump
Reuters - Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump staged a harsh attack on his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton yesterday, accusing her of corruption and dangerous incompetence as he tried to put his campaign back on track after recent setbacks. In a speech in New York that Clinton’s campaign called “nutty” and that was criticised by some Republicans, Trump argued that the former secretary of state is part of a political establishment that has cheated American workers through bad trade deals and endangered U.S. national security. Both candidates are seeking to overcome their high unfavourable ratings among voters at the Nov. 8 election by painting the other as a villain who puts personal gain over the interests of less powerful Americans. Even by the standards of modern presidential races, the
sparring between Clinton, a former secretary of state and U.S. senator, and brash businessman Trump has made for unusually acidic rhetoric. “Hillary Clinton may be the most corrupt person ever to seek the presidency of the United States,” Trump told a small crowd of supporters at a hotel he owns in Manhattan, accusing her of having run the State Department “like her own personal hedge fund.” Clinton’s staff quickly dismissed that attack and others as “lies.” Trump read his speech from a teleprompter to curb his off-the-cuff comments but he pulled no punches. He said Clinton “has perfected the politics of personal profit and theft” and described her as “a world-class liar.” Republican Lindsey Graham, a U.S. senator from South Carolina who has so far declined to support Trump, said
he disagreed that Clinton may be the most corrupt person to have run for the White House, and challenged Trump to become more presidential. “My advice to Mr. Trump would be to make the case that you have the temperament, knowledge and judgement to be president,” he said on CNN. “That’s the mountain you’ve got to climb.” Trump’s campaign has been distracted in recent weeks by racially-charged comments he made about a Mexican-American judge and the Republican’s firing of campaign manager Corey Lewandowski this week. The New York real estate mogul is trailing Clinton in most opinion polls, and campaign finance figures released on Monday show he has raised only a fraction of the amount Clinton has brought in, although Trump has said he is willing to loan his campaign more money.
North Korea leader says missile gives ability to attack U.S. in Pacific Reuters - North Korea leader Kim Jong Un said after supervising the test launch of a “medium long-range strategic ballistic missile” that the country came to possess “the sure capability to attack” U.S. interests in the Pacific, official media reported today.South Korean and U.S. military officials have said the North launched what appeared to be two intermediate-range missiles dubbed
Musudan yesterday. The first of the two was considered a failure. The second reached a high altitude in the direction of Japan before plunging into the sea about 400 km (250 miles) away, they said. The test-fire was successful without any impact to the security of neighbouring countries, the North’s KCNA news agency said, referring to the missile as a “Hwasong-
10.” Hwasong is Korean for Mars. “We have the sure capability to attack in an overall and practical way the Americans in the Pacific operation theatre,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.
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Thursday June 23, 2016
In Turkey’s tussle with the EU, Erdogan thinks he holds the cards Reuters - Britain’s Brexit campaign and the rise of Europe’s populist right have further dented Turkish hopes of ever joining the EU, leaving President Tayyip Erdogan largely indifferent to its criticism and weakening an anchor of Turkish reform. While neither side has any interest in ending Turkey’s decade-long accession process, their relations are increasingly transactional, driven by mutual need in areas such as migration, trade and security, rather than by convergence towards European Union norms on democracy and basic rights. Warnings from populist leaders around Europe of creeping Islamisation and from campaigners for a British exit from the EU of dire consequences if Turkey, a Muslim nation of 78 million, ever joins, have led Turkish leaders to complain increasingly openly about what they see as European Islamophobia. “Europe, you don’t want us because the majority of our population are Muslim ... We knew it but we tried to show our sincerity,” Erdogan said at a graduation ceremony in Istanbul today, the eve of Britain’s “Brexit” vote, quipping that Turkey too could hold such a referendum. “We will go and ask the public whether we should continue negotiations with the EU,” he said. Turkey has so far lived up to its side of a landmark deal with Brussels to stop illegal migration to Europe via its shores, in return for financial aid, the promise of visa-free travel to much of the bloc and accelerated talks on membership. But it has alarmed EU leaders by pressing ahead with a crackdown on
Erdogan’s opponents, including moves to prosecute pro-Kurdish opposition politicians on terrorism charges, the detention of journalists and academics, and changes in the judiciary seen by critics as a purge of dissident judges. “The EU-Turkey deal (on migration) is holding and there’s no reason to fear it won’t hold, despite the public bluster,” a senior EU source told Reuters, pointing out that the numbers of illegal migrants crossing from Turkey had dropped sharply. “But there are grounds to be quite worried about Turkey’s overall direction of travel,” the source said, pointing to the plans to remove hundreds of judges and to the recent lifting of immunity for members of parliament, a step towards the prosecution of opposition deputies. Turkey has so far refused to back down on a key sticking point in the bid to secure visa-free travel to Europe’s 26-nation Schengen area, namely EU demands that it change sweeping anti-terrorism laws used against intellectuals, Kurdish sympathisers and Erdogan’s critics. That risks further antagonizing a sceptical European Parliament, the EU’s most vocal institution on human rights and freedom, which has to approve visa liberalisation. Turkey says the anti-terror laws are crucial when an insurgency by militants in its largely Kurdish southeast is at its most violent since the 1990s, and when it faces a growing threat from Islamic State fighters from neighbouring Syria.
Thursday June 23, 2016
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Nurses upset over delay in payment of arrears Trinidad Guardian - Following a promise by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley last week that members of the protective services will receive their arrears by the end of this month, nurses say they are feeling slighted, given that they were assured the same thing but that promise seemed to have been reneged on. Following a meeting with the T&T Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) on May 19, Finance Minister Colm Imbert agreed to deviate from his original plan of paying outstanding arrears in half cash and half bonds to the nurses and assured them that they will be paid by the end of this month. TTRNA were also given the option to accept the bonds, land and housing in place of half their cash value. The TTRNA was asked to compile a list of members who would prefer land and housing in place of the second and third payments. The offer of bonds remained on the table with a promise of a three to four per cent annual interest rate maturing in five years that
can be sold from as early as six months following receipt. Speaking with the T&T Guardian Tuesday, head of the TTRNA, Kerne Ramnath, said his members were feeling disrespected and were now in some sort of limbo as to when they would receive part of their monies. He added that since February he was informed that the accounts at payroll for the various Regional Health Authorities (RHA) were ready but the Ministry of Health’s auditing team only began work in May. “We will feel very disrespected if it is that payroll at the RHAs is at fault because they were telling us all the time they were ready. “At this time I can’t say that the nurses will be not be agitated anymore but at this time I am asking them to give us some time to get more information. We were given clear assurances but I don’t know what happened. “The protective services have their issues and I understand but we too need our money. We will not make threats but our nurses are
ready and willing to do what is necessary because we have been waiting since November,” Ramnath said. He added that the TTRNA had been given “a set of runaround” with just vague timing as to when they will re-
ceive their monies. He added that when it came to dealing with the protective services, the authorities were straight forward with them but as for nurses, there was some sleight of hand. “We will not be taking this
gross disrespect anymore because nursing and health care are essential in this country,” Ramnath said. During the mid-year review of the 2016 Budget in Parliament in April, Imbert promised to pay outstanding
arrears in tranches. It was promised to be paid in three tranches, the first, which will be half the cash value on June 30, and two subsequent equal payments at the end of December and at the end of March 2017.
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Thursday June 23, 2016
Thursday June 23, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Digicel Schools Football Championship...
Stanton double hands
Reigning champs hammer XENON 4-3 VICTORY Linden Foundation 7-0 Reigning title holders Christianburg / Wismar sent an ominous warning to pretenders to their throne that they are just as strong as in previous years when they inflicted a 7-0 drubbing on Linden Foundation in the Digicel Schools Football Championship yesterday, at the Wisburg Secondary School ground. The defending champion was always in control from the start and was led to victory by a hat-trick from Brian Johnson, who fired in a treble in the 15th, 16th and 25th minutes, while support came from Keshawn Dey (2nd), Hubert Adams (47th), Omar Brewley (58th) and Shaquille Campbell (70th). Dey started the rut as early as the second minute when he was left unmarked in the penalty area following a scrimmage from a corner and he lashed his effort past the goalkeeper. Johnson became the next player to trouble the scoresheet after leaping high in the air to deliver a rapier-like header past the keeper from a cross from the left side. One minute later he was back in action this time unleashing a fierce right-footer from center-field that scurried past a host of defenders
and the goalkeeper to make it 3-0. Things went from bad to worse for Linden Foundation as they conceded another goal and guess who it was, the effervescent Johnson, who raced on to a fumbled saved from the goalkeeper to punch into an empty net to make it 4-0 in the opening period. The champs continued to attack with fervour, but Linden Foundation defence held firm, not allowing any more goals before the half time whistle sounded. In the second period, Christianburg / Wismar continued where they left off and stretched their lead two minutes after the resumption when Adams netted a penalty after an infringement in the box to make it 5-0. Mid-field maestro Brewley, who had squandered a few chances, came into the act and fired in the sixth goal as Christianburg / Wismar seemed intent on sending a stern warning to any team with the ambition to dethrone them. Campbell then put the seal on the deal with a thunderous strike following a cross from the left flank that he raced on to which finished at the back of the net.
Jaheem Small (left) controls the ball as he goes after Friendship goal. By Zaheer Mohamed
Thursday June 23, 2016 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) Abrupt action will cause difficulties with relatives. Concentrate on spending quality time with children. You like to stay busy and now is your chance to do just that.
LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Uncertainties regarding your love life will surface if you have neglected your mate. Your emotional life may be up in the air if your mate has been going through a change of heart.
TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) You must look into your options. Your partner may blame you for everything. Be prepared to take care of the issues at hand.
SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) Be on your best behavior. Get thinking about prolonging longevity. Don't expect romantic encounters to be lasting.
GEMINI (MAY22-JUNE 21) Get involved in the activities of children. Take a short business trip if possible. Be aggressive and colorful, and you will get your way.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) You can make a big difference to children if you are understanding of the difficulties they are experiencing.
CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) Be up front if you don't want to be embarrassed. Jealousy may be a contributing factor to your emotional ups and downs.
CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) Jealousy may be a contributing factor to your emotional ups and downs. You may be illtreated if you have to deal with institutional environments.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Avoid functions that will bring you in contact with those you find difficult to get along with. You have been going through a period of change that no doubt caused problems with your loved ones. VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23) It's hard to stay mad if the object of the anger refuses to react. You will have additional discipline that will aid you in your objectives.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) Come to your own conclusions rather than taking the word of someone else. Don't let your emotions get out of hand. Travel and communication will be lucrative for you. PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) Taking on too much won't help the situation. You will both have to bend if you want this union to work.
Antone Stanton netted a double to give Xenon Academy of East Bank Demerara hard fought 4-3 victory over Friendship Secondary when the 6th Annual Digicel Schools nationwide football championship continued yesterday at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora. Xenon showed decent ball skills and had the better of the opening exchanges and went ahead in the 10th minute when Stanton scored from inside the area. Friendship almost found an equalizer moments later but Jomal Scott saw his shot from the right side of the box well saved by goalkeeper Usher Jones. Xenon continued to dominate the proceedings and Stanton extended the lead in the 34th minute as Stanton’s header found the back of the net following a cross from the left side of the box; Xenon enjoyed a 2-0 lead at the break. Friendship played with vigor in the second half and created several chances but Xenon’s defence stood firm. However, Lawrence McKenzie made it 2-1 with a 52nd minute strike from outside the 18-yard box. Friendship almost drew level but Trevon Davidson’s shot from the right side of the area hit the cross bar. Xenon stretched their lead in the 57th minute when Sean Williams beat Friendship goalkeeper Michael Williams after being one on one with the goalie. Three minutes later Jaheem Small scored Xenon fourth, neatly heading home a corner. Despite trailing by three
goals, Friendship continued to show determination, but their opponents back four stood well. Davidson reduced the deficit in the 68th with a
strike from inside the area before converting a penalty in the 85th minute, but Xexon managed to maintain the advantage until the final whistle.
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Sad end for Ibrahimovic Top teams collect prize monies; as Belgium advance EBFA/Stag Senior League...
Crawford, Matthews, Jones are lead individual players Ansa McAl’s Trading Stag Beer Marketing Assistant Mr. Richard Singh yesterday presented over $600,000 worth of prize monies and trophies to the top four teams and outstanding individuals of the recently concluded East Bank Football Association (EBFA) sponsored Stag Senior League. In handing over the cheques, Singh congratulated the teams for their individual and collective performances that made the league a success whilst noting that Stag was pleased to once again be associated with building the sport on the East Bank. ”We are proud to have
continued our commitment of community building in the form of this league which has provided exposure for dozens of players who have worked hard at their trade. Fans have enjoyed the matches and we want to also compliment them for their continued support.” Singh stated that they will continue this commitment of building communities through sports pointing out that they have been partnering with other football stakeholders including the Guyana Football Federation through the Stag Elite League as well as the West Demerara Football Association for their senior league
Heroic Iceland... From page 33 hitting the post from the spot, allowing Iceland to hold on to their lead until the break. Austria, who went into their final group game after a defeat by Hungary and a draw with Portugal, were hoping to survive the opening stage of a major tournament for the first time since the 1982 World Cup but it was not to be. They again lacked firepower and their key player,
Alaba, who is used to a more defensive role, looked lost in the play maker position, which he occupied throughout the tournament. “In the first half, we didn’t play well and like in the two games before, we committed too many errors,” said Austria coach Marcel Koller. “It got better in the second half, when we played like in the qualifiers, but it wasn’t enough to play just one half”.
among others. ”This is real commitment to holistic development and we at Ansa McAl will continue in this vein in the coming years.” EBFA President Franklin Wilson expressed gratitude to God for allowing all stakeholders to work towards the success of another league. He said that Ansa McAl’s partnership over the years has fuelled and sustained the sport to the extent that players can look forward to an annual league. Wilson also complimented Grove Hi Tech for retaining the title, while he congratulated Herstelling Raiders for their second place finish in only about three years of existence. Gove collected $300,000 for their efforts, Herstelling Raiders $150,000, Kuru Kururu Warriors $100,000 for placing third and Agricola Red Triangle $50,000 for their fourth place finish. Kuru Kururu Warriors were voted the Most Disciplined team and received the Fair Play trophy, while Grove Hi Tech won all the individual prizes. Denzil Crawford was the Highest Goal Scorer netting 7 goals; Trevor Jones was named the Most Valuable Player and Michael Matthews, the Best Goalkeeper.
Sweden Emil Forsberg in action with Belgium Romelu Lukaku in EURO 2016 - Group E action at the Stade de Nice. (REUTERS/YVES HERMAN) NICE, FRANCE (Reuters) Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s international career ended in a damp squib when Sweden lost 1-0 to Belgium in their final Euro 2016 Group E match on Wednesday and failed to reach the last 16. Radja Nainggolan’s fine shot after 84 minutes sent Belgium into the knockout stages and a game against Hungary as they finished second in the standings, level on six points with group winners Italy. The Swedes ended bottom on one point and Ibrahimovic’s bold promise
that he would never finish with a disappointment proved to be mistaken. He tried in vain to inspire his team and had a secondhalf effort ruled out for offside but Belgium, without ever producing their most fluent football, had enough quality to deal with Sweden’s sporadic attacks and create opportunities of their own. “Zlatan has done a lot of important things in his career and would have wanted to go further here,” Belgium captain and man-of-the-match Eden Hazard told reporters. “It was a difficult match,
Portugal and Hungary through after 3-3 thriller LYON, FRANCE (Reuters) Hungary and Portugal reached the Euro 2016 knockout stages after a riproaring 3-3 draw in which Cristiano Ronaldo netted twice and became the first player to score in four European Championships on Wednesday. Portugal came from behind three times as Ronaldo, who also set a tournament record of 17 appearances, finally rediscovered his touch to help them secure a third straight draw that left them third in Group F and set up a last-16 meeting with Croatia. Hungary, appearing in a major tournament for the first time in 30 years, topped the group with seven points thanks in large part to their captain Balazs Dzsudzsak, who scored two deflected goals. Iceland also qualified in second after a last-gasp goal in their 2-1 win over Austria dramatically changed the outcome of the group. Until then, Portugal had been heading for a last-16 tie
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo scores their third goal against Hungary in EURO 2016 - Group F action at the Stade de Lyon, Lyon, France. (REUTERS/KAI PFAFFENBACH) against England. Hungary will now play the Group E runners-up, which will be decided later on Wednesday between Belgium, Sweden and Ireland, while Iceland will face En-
gland. After Zoltan Gera’s early strike was cancelled out by Nani just before the break, Dzsudzsak had twice put his side ahead soon after the break only for Ronaldo to respond each time with touches
of his true mastery. “The most important thing was to make it through to the next stage but we wanted to do it as the group winners,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos.
“That’s why we pressed on for a fourth goal although we knew we were taking risks. Three times we were out of the tournament and three times we came back; it shows character akin to only a few teams.” While Portugal regularly reach the knockout stages of big tournaments, this is Hungary’s first since they made the last four of the European Championship in 1972 and the first time they have got through a group stage since the 1966 World Cup. “I am not surprised by the performance or the result,” said Hungary coach Bernd Storck. “We had a very good history in the 1950s and 60s but this is a bygone era and I want to talk about this team. “We know Ronaldo is a world-class player and he cannot be stopped every time. But I am very happy how we played, we improved with each game in this tournament and are delighted to be in the last 16.”
complicated for our defenders. In the first half we had some possession and created chances. Nainggolan scored an important goal and from then on we had to manage the game.” Sweden started brightly and Marcus Berg’s fierce snap shot was parried away by Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Belgium responded with a surging run by mid fielder Kevin de Bruyne that set up Romelu Lukaku for a shot just wide and a mazy dribble across the edge of the area by Hazard ended with a De Bruyne strike on goal. Ibrahimovic sprung into life with a shot just past the post but it was a rare attacking foray by Sweden who were pushed back deep by the strong-running Belgian midfield. De Bruyne whipped in two dangerous crosses from the left and from one of them Thomas Meunier flashed a header narrowly wide just before halftime. Sweden enjoyed a good spell of possession after the interval and Ibrahimovic hooked the ball into the net from close range but the effort was ruled out for offside. De Bruyne tested goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson with a fierce long-range strike and after Sweden cleared another dangerous cross the ball fell to mid fielder Nainggolan whose rasping 20-metre shot flew into the top corner of the net. Ibrahimovic threw the ball away in frustration as the Belgian players celebrated and Sweden’s talismanic captain cut a forlorn figure after the final whistle as he slowly walked over to applaud his team’s yellow-clad fans. “I’m very disappointed,” Sweden coach Erik Hamren said.
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Goal machine Messi leads Brady’s late Argentina to Copa final goal fires Ireland into last 16 Argentina midfielder Lionel Messi (10) kicks the ball as United States defender Fabian Johnson (23) defends during the first half in the semi finals of the 2016 Copa America Centenario soccer tournament at NRG Stadium. (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
(Reuters) Lionel Messi scored his 55th international goal to become his country’s all-time leading scorer as Argentina thrashed hosts the United States 4-0 to ease into the final of the Centenary Copa America on Tuesday. Many of those in the 70,858 crowd in Houston had come to witness the Barcelona star etch his name in the history books and he did not disappoint, curling a sensational free kick past Brad Guzan after 32 minutes to put Argentina 2-0 ahead. Messi had been chopped down by Chris Wondolowski 25 yards from goal as he burst forward and the ensuing strike moved him clear of previous record holder Gabriel Batistuta’s 54 goal tally. “I am happy to have surpassed Batistuta’s record and I want to thank my team mates, it’s theirs as well,” Messi, who turns 29 on Friday, told reporters. The win, meanwhile, advanced Argentina into Sunday’s final against either Colombia or reigning champions Chile, who met in Chicago yesterday. “We needed to get back in a final but we can never get ahead of ourselves,” Argentine coach Gerardo Martino assed. “We’ve always taken it one game at a time.” “We are pleased with our general production (so far).” Martino started Ezequiel Lavezzi up front in place of the injured Angel Di Maria and it took the China-based winger just three minutes to make his mark when he got on the end of a Messi chip to head over a stranded Guzan. GULF IN CLASS Argentina dominated the first half and Messi’s goal was just reward for their superiority but if the home side thought they could stage a
second-half fightback, they were sadly mistaken. U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann made two changes at the break but Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain scored a third goal four minutes into the second period when he beat Guzan at the second time of asking after the keeper had saved his initial shot. The U.S. enjoyed more possession as the match progressed but never managed a shot on goal for the entire game as Argentina exposed the gulf in class between the very best South American and North American sides. Messi, who captained the side in his 112th international, almost grabbed a second eight minutes from time but Guzan turned his shot around the post for a corner. However, the mercurial forward was on hand to have a say in the fourth goal, when his pinpoint pass set up Higuain to complete the rout with a simple tap in after 85
minutes. The result means Argentina have scored 18 goals in five games and conceded just two as they power toward what they hope will be their 15th Copa America title, and first since 1993, to take them level with all-time leader Uruguay. The win would also cap Messi’s international career after years of disappointment. Argentina reached the finals of their last two tournaments, the Copa America in 2015, and the World Cup in 2014, but were narrowly beaten in both. “When you concede a goal after three minutes against such a team... that’s when you’ve already lost your mental battle,” Klinsmann lamented. “Once they have a lead they’re not giving that lead away. “It’s a special team Argentina,” he added. “You saw tonight why they are the number one team in the world. I told the guys there’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
LILLE, FRANCE (Reuters) Robbie Brady scored a glorious late winner for Ireland to put them through to the knockout stages of the European Championship for the first time with a 1-0 win over Group E winners Italy. Brady scored his 85th minute headed goal from a pinpoint cross by his Norwich City club mate Wes Hoolahan, who had just spurned a golden opportunity to seal the well-deserved victory himself. It delivered Irish football one of its most famous nights against a second-string Italy side, with the three points securing third place in the group and setting up a last16 tie against hosts France in Lyon on Sunday. “It’s what dreams are made of. I grew up dreaming about this stage and to go and do it in front of my family is the best feeling in the world,” said Brady, who reckoned that scoring the goal felt like “an out of body” experience. “All applause is for Wes Hoolahan. He put the ball right on my head. I would have done well to miss it. We rode our luck a couple of times, but we got the result in the end. “If we stick together like we did tonight, we can take on anyone.” With his team already guaranteed to top the group, Antonio Conte made eight changes, with only Leonardo
Republic of Ireland’s Wes Hoolahan reacts after Italy’s Salvatore Sirigu saves his shot. (REUTERS/PASCAL ROSSIGNOLLIVEPIC) Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Alessandro Florenzi surviving fron the side that started against Sweden. The Irish began like a team on a mission, full back Seamus Coleman thundering into a tackle in the opening seconds to lay down a marker, and plenty of tough challenges from both sides followed. Ireland almost took an early lead when Jeff Hendrick jinked to create some space at the edge of the box and hit a left-footed piledriver that flew just wide of the top corner. In the 21st minute, Daryl Murphy met Brady’s outswinging corner with a powerful header, forcing Salvatore Sirigu to make a flying save and tip the ball over the bar for another corner. Italy had to wait until just before halftime for their first decent chance, Ciro Immobile dragging his shot just wide after a well-worked short free kick. Moments later the Irish were denied what looked a
Heroic Iceland set up last-16 clash with England PARIS (Reuters) Iceland wrote the most glorious page in their sporting history when a stoppage-time winner gave them a deserved 2-1 victory against Austria for a place in the knockout stages of Euro 2016 on Wednesday. The tiny country, making its first appearance at a major tournament, will go to face England in the round of 16 and the team’s spirited performance at the Stade de France on a stormy evening suggested they could give them a hard time. “Our national holiday is on June 17,” said Iceland coach
Helmir Hallgrimsson. “I guess we need to change it now. That’s what this means to us”. Substitute Arnor Ingvi Traustason scored from close range deep into added time after collecting a through ball from Elmar Bjarnasson following a swift counter-attack. The last-gasp goal secured Iceland second place in Group F, level on five points with Hungary, who drew 3-3 with Portugal in an actionpacked encounter in Lyon. The Hungarians clinched top spot on goal difference while Portugal finished on three points and went
through as one of the best third-placed teams. Austria, who had come to France as dark horses after a qualifying campaign featuring nine wins from 10 games, finished last and will go home with just one point after a 2-0 defeat by Hungary and a 0-0 draw with Portugal. The smallest country to qualify for a European Championship, Iceland had started the tournament by holding Portugal and Hungary to 1-1 draws through resilient displays. They started well against Austria with forward Jon Dadi Bodvarsson putting
them ahead with an angled shot from inside the box following a long throw-in from the right on 18 minutes. Austria, needing a win to survive the group, levelled the tie on the hour mark when substitute Alessandro Schoepf raced into the box and surprised Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson with a low shot. MISSED PENALTY The Austrians had missed a great chance to equalise in the first half when they were awarded a penalty after David Alaba appeared to be held back in the box by left back Ari Skulason. Aleksandar Dragovic sank to his knees in despair after (Continued on page 32)
clear penalty when James McClean was pushed in the back by Federico Bernardeschi, but referee Ovidiu Hategan turned down their appeals, leaving coach Martin O’Neill incandescent with rage. DREAMALIVE Simone Zaza almost broke the deadlock on a rare Italian foray forward with a fizzing shot after the break, but then Ireland dominated almost the entire second half. With Italy content to soak up the considerable pressure, the Irish mixed up their play, alternating between long balls and short passes, and set pieces continued to be a potent weapon. The Italians were not content to simply concede, and Lorenzo Insigne came on in the 75th minute to make his first appearance at the Euros. Within two minutes, he had curled an exquisite shot past Darren Randolph only to see it come back off the post. With 13 minutes left and the Irish tiring, O’Neill threw on playmaker Hoolahan, who netted the goal in Ireland’s 11 draw with Sweden, in a lastgasp effort to finally unlock the Italian defense. He missed a glorious chance to put his side ahead minutes later, shooting straight at Sirigu when he got through one-on-one and it looked as if Ireland were heading for elimination. Yet he made amends soon after, crossing for Brady to head Ireland into the lead and send the Irish fans into raptures. When Hategan sounded the final whistle, there were wild celebrations from players, coaching staff and fans alike with Ireland’s Euro dream still very much alive. “We stuck at it and put in a great performance,” Brady said. “In the end we got the result we deserved. Roll on France!”
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Kaieteur News
Many new initiatives on stream for GUYANA CUP 2016 with over $20M on offer Although the mega activity is over a month away a number of sponsors have already come on board for the Annual Guyana Cup Horserace meet organized by the Jumbo jet Business Establishment. This is a decade for the staging of the event, and in recognition of Guyana celebrating its 50th Independence Anniversary, a number of new initiatives and incentives have been placed on the table. The event, which is staged in collaboration with the Port Mourant Turf Club, is arguably one of the biggest sporting events in Guyana and is slated for Sunday 14th August at the Port Mourant Turf Club, beginning at 12:00hrs. Among the new ini-
tiatives will be incentives for each winning jockeys. The Guyana Cup by far attracts the largest prize monies on offer for any sport in the country to date. Over $20M in cash trophies and other goodies up for grabs in the eight-race meet. On Wednesday the principals of the Muneshwar Store on The East Coast of Demerara made good on their early promise to be a part of the activity by presenting a cheque of a hefty sum to the organisers. Already on board is the Hyper Malt beverage community. Once again the feature event is for animals classified “A” and lower with a mouthwatering winning prize of $4M and the Guyana Cup Trophy from a total package
of $8M over 1600M. The other placers in that event will also be handsomely rewarded. In the Co-feature 1600M event for 3yrs old horses, bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies, the organizers have put up another delectable prize, $2M and trophy will go to the winner. The Two year old event for West Indies Bred horses, which has its first prize tagged at $1M and trophy, will be run over 1000M. The E class and lower 1300M event will see the winner racing away with the $1M top prize and trophy on offer. The G3 and lower race is also a 1300M event where the winning horse will run away with $700,000 and trophy. Horses classified H and lower
Guyana Police Force rewards outstanding young Berbice cyclist
will have an opportunity to race for a winning pocket of $500,000 and trophy over 1400M. There is an event for animals classified J and K and lower with a pole position taking of $350,000 over 1100M. The final event on the day’s card is for L class horses over 1000M with the winning horse guaranteed a top prize of $250,000 and trophy. According to organizer Nazrudeen ‘Jumbo Jet” Mohammed Jnr a number of new features and initiatives will be added to the event this year as race day draws closer. The top Jockey along with the runner up, the top stable and champion trainer will all be presented with trophies and other incentives compliments of the organizers and Trophy Stall. The event will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. Race time is 12:00hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
A representative of the Muneshwar General Store presents the cheque to Representative Rovin De Souza (left) of the Guyana Cup Organising committee.
Wellman, H.S Masters among latest Wolf’s Challenge Cup Softball winners
Assistant Commissioner and Commander Ian Amsterdam presents the monetary reward to Young cyclist Zaman Khan. A young Berbice cyclist who performed outstandingly at the National Cycling Championship held last weekend around the Mahaicony circuit in Demerara has been rewarded by the Police in B Division. Zaman Khan, 15 years old of Fyrish Village, Corentyne, Berbice, has been riding for less than a year and since his entry into the sport he has been making waves with his performances. Khan, a member of the Flying Ace Cycling Club (FACC) was presented with a bicycle by businessman Steve Edwards and has not looked back since. A student of the Corentyne Secondary School, Khan destroyed the field to win the 21 miles road race in the Juvenile Category. The event which was part of a series of races held by
the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) saw the cyclist riding four times around the Mahaicony circuit. On Tuesday he was presented with a monetary reward by Commander of The Police B Division, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam. The presentation was made in the Commander Officer Strand and Cobourg Street, New Amsterdam office. Amsterdam stated that he was pleased with the progress being made by Khan and readily decided to assist when approached. He said that the gesture is all part of the police force’s effort in assisting youths in sport and education which eventually would lead to then becoming better individuals. They in turn could act as role
models to help influence others to become good citizens. The Commander said that with the many social ills and illicit activities being perpetrated by youths the police are taking a proactive approach in dealing with some of the situations which he says leads to the concept of team policing. Khan for his part gave praise and thanks to God for guidance and strength. He also had words of thanks and appreciation to Commander Amsterdam for his kind words of advice and assistance so far. He also had word of thanks for his parents, Coach Randolph Roberts, businessman Steve Edwards who gave him his racing cycle and the management and staff of Water Chris Hotel.
In results from last Sunday’s matches in the Wolf’s Challenge Cup Softball competition, played at several venues, Wellman, HS Masters and Floodlights were among the latest winners. In results from the matches played: Wellman def: Albion Masters by 9 wickets. Albion 147 All Out in 20 overs. H. Hassin 37, J. Bojh 31, Lakeram Singh 3-25, L. Kallicharran 2-20. Wellman 150-2 off 13 overs. Lloyd Ruplall 65 and Ramnauth 53. H.S Masters def: Floodlights by 6 wickets. Floodlights 143 All Out. Clive Canterbury 34, Ricky Deonarain 31, R. Persaud 29 & Ricky Persaud 2-12. H.S Masters 148-4 in 16 overs. R. Samaroo 38, Danny Samaroo 38, D. Mohanram 33, C. Hoyte 24 and Heralall 23 N.O.; Richard Persaud took 2-7 for the losers. Floodlights def: Tropical Springs by 1
run. Floodlights 215-3-20 overs. Wayne Jones 76, Ramesh Narine 42 N.O., Imtiaz Mohamed 39 N.O., R. Persaud 30. Tropical Springs 214-9 in 20 overs. Lalta Gainda 45 and Vijay 35, while Clive Canterbery took 3-28. Wellwoman def: 4R Lioness by 6 wkts. 4R 104-3 off 15 overs. Tameka Wilson 44. Wellwoman 105-4 off 11.4 overs. Latoya Smith 47 and Z. Telford 30. Blue Divas def: Enterprise Divas by 111 runs. Blue Divas 146-9 in 15 overs. Sangetta Sawh 39. Enterprise Divas 33 All Out with S. Sawh claiming 4-2 runs. Regal def: Speedboat by 7 wkts. Speedboat 136-9 off 15 overs. Delroy Perrera took 322. Regal 141-3 off 14.5 overs in reply. Samuel Kinston 39 and Chien Gittens 31, led the fightback. Parika Defenders def: Fisherman Masters by 42 runs. Parika 196. Aftab Khan 46 and Belam Singh 45. Fisherman 154. S. Dyal 33.
Downes/Panday cop GBTI... From page 31 Quarterfinals against his coach, Heimraj Resaul was destined to make a name for himself in the Boy’s Open Singles Finals as he competed against Keenan Persaud. Resaul’s powerful serves and topspin ground strokes awarded him a break in at 2-0, after breaking and holding serve. Serving down two games, Persaud repeated his rival’s trend by holding and breaking serve to even at games at 2-2. Resaul sought to hinder Persaud’s resurgence by securing his service game to
lead at 3-2. Unfortunately, there was no stopping the Persaud train, as his rallies forced Resaul to make unforced errors, enabling him to secure four consecutive games to capture the set at 63. Eager to cause a rift in the match after witnessing Persaud’s remarkable rise to a first set victory, Resaul altered his technique to take on his opponent. At advantage of 3-1, Resaul denied Persaud the opportunity to gain traction in the set by breaking service to rise to a 4-1 lead. Persaud’s visibly frustrated demeanor was the per-
fect storm for Resaul to use to his advantage, whisking away the two games needed to hold the set at 6-1. Resaul was fueled to perform at his utmost best after losing in the Boy’s Open Finals of the GBTI sponsored tournament just a year ago to Mark McDonald in a close three set match of 3-6, 7-6, 7-5. His family’s support and motivation from peers empowered him to pull a third set at 6-1. At game set match, Heimraj Resaul was crowned Boy’s Open Singles champion at 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 against Keenan Persaud.
Kaieteur News
Thursday June 23, 2016
PAGE 35
Guyana names teams for CBC U-16 Championships
Annalesa Barker
T
he Guyana A m a t e u r Basketball Federation (GABF) and Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) have named their final teams, which will battle in the upcoming Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Under-16 Championships, July 2-16,
Onika Rogers
Jada Mohan
in Guyana. The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall will host 10 male and seven female teams from the Caribbean at the 2016 Championships. Guyana last hosted the CBC Championships in 1999; it has been doing a lot of work to have a memorable regional event next month. “After several weeks of
training and evaluation of the nation’s top Under-16 prospects, a final 12 Men and 13 Women were named to respective national teams,” a release from the YBG Director, Chris Bowman, who is organising both teams, said yesterday. According to the release, the final 12 Women will be
Kevon Wiggins
Andrew Johnson
Jordan Alphonso
announced before a ‘Congress of Delegate’ prior to the Men’s Championships tip-off on July 3, 2016. “The men team suffered a major setback with the omission of Yonnick Tappin, the talented sharp shooter from the Mining Town of Linden, who sustained a leg injury, and would be out for three weeks,” the document continued. Guyana’s National Male Youth Basketball Team include: Kevon Wiggins and Kelmar Carmichael, (New Amsterdam Multilateral); Shamar France and Jermaine King
(Berbice High); Andrew Johnson and Nigel Bowen (Plaisance Secondary); Roydon Glasgow (Bishops’ High); Akeem Crandon and Kareem Boyle ( P r e s i d e n t ’s C o l l e g e ) ; Jordan Alphonso and Jahleel Young (Marian Academy) and Zion Gray (Tutorial High). G u y a n a ’s N a t i o n a l Female Youth Basketball Team include: Annalesa Barker (New Amsterdam Multilateral); Saffiya Greene (Berbice High); Daniella King (Plaisance Secondary); Kesann Charles and Jayla Jones
(Bishops’ High); Onika Rogers (Kwakwani Secondary); Demelza Nicholas and Annalisa B a r c l a y ( P r e s i d e n t ’s College); Jada Mohan, G e o r g i a n n a Vy p h u i s , Kellian Sauers and Jahrier Young (Marian Academy); Rashida Hinds (United States). The release said that both teams will be encamped for the remainder of the time leading up to their respective tournaments. Several competitive exhibition games are planned for this period. These games will be open to the public.
‘Warriors’ squad coming together ahead of CPL opener - Coach Harper Steven Jacobs, Steven Katwaroo, Mohamed Ali Khan, Shimron Hetmyer. Tickets for all CPL fixtures in the Caribbean and Fort Lauderdale are on sale
Roger Harper The squad is coming together ahead of the opening away game against St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots in St Kitts on June 30 said Guyana Amazon Warriors Coach Roger Harper ahead of the start of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign. The former West Indies Vice-Captain, who claimed 46 wickets, scored three fifties from 25 Tests and has 100 wickets from 105 ODI’s for the Regional team. The 6ft, 5 inch off-spinning all-round returns ‘Warriors’ Coach for a second time,
replacing fellow Guyanese and West Indies batsman Carl Hooper who did the job last year. The training camp got underway on Monday at Providence and with skipper Martin Guptill and Adam Zampa due to join the team in St Kitts, Harper said the squad is building towards their CPL opener. “We’re building on teamwork this week so the guys can get to know each other better and come together as a team and working with and for each other,” the former Guyana Captain said. Harper disclosed that Sohail Tanvir arrived on Tuesday evening and Dwayne Smith yesterday morning. “I think we have a pretty good all round squad. It’s a Twenty20 format and these guys have got the skills for the Twenty20 format, so it’s all about how well we can play collectively as a team and on each match day. After the camp we go straight off to St. Kitts for the competition,” disclosed the 53-yearold Harper who scored 10 tons and captured 567 wickets from 200 First-Class games. Guyana Amazon Warriors play four home matches on 7 July – Jamaica Tallawahs (7pm), 9 July – St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots (12 Midday), 10 July – Trinbago Knight Riders (7pm) and 12 July – St. Lucia Zouks (7pm). Guyana Amazon Warriors Squad: Martin Guptill (Capt), Sohail Tanvir, Dwayne Smith, Chris Lynn, Rayad Emrit, Adam Zampa, Devendra Bishoo, Jason Mohammed, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Orlando Peters, Assad Fudadin, Anthony Bramble, Paul Wintz,
now from www.cplt20.com. The Guyana games cost $2,000 (Mound), 3,000 (Orange) and $4,000 (Red & Green). Children have to pay the same price. (Sean Devers)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 36
Thursday June 23, 2016
GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U-17...
Corriverton Links remain unbeaten; Cougars, Rosignol & Paradise notch opening wins Matches in the GFF/ NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U-17 football tournament in the Ancient County continued last weekend on the West Coast Berbice and in New Amsterdam which saw Corriverton Links recording their second win in as many matches, while there were opening wins for Cougars, Rosignol United and Paradise Invaders. Paradise Invaders clipped the wings of Mahaicony Thunder Hawks 4-0 on Saturday and on Sunday; 10-man Rosignol United edged Hopetown United Rangers 2-1. Over at the Burnham Park in New Amsterdam, Cougars FC defeated Canefield Diamond Strikers Latest Points Table Teams Corriverton Links NA United Paradise Invaders Cougars Rosignol United Hopetown United Mahaicony Thunder Canefield Strikers Leitchfield Nuggets Monedderlust
P 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 0
7-4 on Saturday, while on Sunday, Corriverton Links whipped Litchfield Nuggets 8-2 and Monedderlust failed to show up for the second consecutive week for their encounter with New Amsterdam United. The Berbice Football Association says it will be investigating why Monedderlust has not showed up to date. Playing at the Mahaicony Sports Ground, Paradise Invaders’ opening goal against Mahaicony Thunder Hawks was scored by the latter themselves in the 4th minute which gave the winners the required momentum to launch their victory bid. Nial Reynolds followed up with a double of his own in the 12th and 47th W 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
L 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 0
Paradise Invaders (red & white) controlling play in their match with Mahaicony Thunder Hawks.
minute, while the other goal came off the boot of Gladwin
GF 10 8 4 7 2 1 0 5 2 0
GA 3 0 0 4 1 2 4 11 16 0
GD Points +7 6 +8 3 +4 3 +3 3 +1 3 -1 0 -4 0 -6 0 -14 0 0 0
Humphrey in the 64th minute to seal Paradise’s 4-0 triumph; their quickness was too much for the Mahaicony lads to contain. On Sunday at the same venue, 10-man Rosignol United found enough energy to get past Hopetown United Rangers in an exciting clash. Isaiah James netted both goals for Rosignol in the 22nd and 45th minute; Hopetown’s consolation strike came off the boot of Telston Miller in
the 40th minute. At Burnham Park on Saturday, Cougars roared to a comfortable 7-4 come from behind win over Canefield Diamond Strikers FC despite the latter putting up a spirited fight. Canefield Diamond Strikers had taken the lead after just two minutes when Alade Grant rocked the nets but in the next 20 minutes of p l a y, C a n e f i e l d w e r e subjected to the Shane Hamilton show as he blasted
in three of his five goal to effectively set the platform for Cougars’ win. Hamilton was on target in the 9th, 12th and 22nd, 60th and 80th minute. His teammate, Wayne Joseph was the perfect foil as he netted a brace in the 57th and 83rd minute. Canefield got their other goals from Akeem Bovell (27th & 72nd) and Nkurmah Smith in the 76th minute. On Sunday, Corriverton Links proved too strong an opponent for Litchfield Nuggets whom they trounced, 8-2 after leading 52 at the half way mark. Corriverton were led to their win on account of Shemron Stewart helmettrick (24, 31, 63, 67) and an Alex Partab hat-trick (7, 17, 53). Neil Jacobs converted the other goal in the 44th minute. Litchfield’s goals were scored by Kahdon Archibald (35) and Tyrone Pompey (41). Matches will continue this weekend weather permitting. On Saturday at the Mahaicony Sports ground, from 14:00hrs, Paradise Invaders will come up against Hopetown United Rangers and on Sunday at the same venue and time, Rosignol United will come up against Mahaicony Thunder Hawks. At the Canje ground on Sunday, from 16:00hrs, Canefield Diamond Strikers will oppose Litchfield Nuggets. Over at Burnham Park from the same time, Cougars are down to play Monedderlust, while at the Scottsburg ground; Corriverton Links will engage NewAmsterdam United.
Kaieteur News
Thursday June 23, 2016
PAGE 37
Downes/Panday cop GBTI Men’s Open Doubles title Resaul captures Boy’s Open Singles crown T h e M e n ’s O p e n Doubles category of the GBTI Independence Jubilee Open witnessed an interesting shake up this year when Anthony Downes formed a new partnership with Harry Panday, instead of Jason Andrews, for a shot at the Men’s Open Doubles crown. The duo fought their way through to compete with Leyland Leacock/Nicholas Fenty in the final on Monday evening. Downes/Panday won the toss and opted to serve. At 40-30, they held service by Downes acing Leacock to gain a 1-0 lead. It was Leacock’s turn to serve at 01 and he and Fenty managed to attain a 40-0 lead, but Downes/Panday shocked the pair by bringing the game to deuce and broke their serve to secure the break in set at 20. Downes/Panday again frustrated the Leacock/Fenty pair by holding service after being at a 0-40 deficit, dominating the set at 3-0. T h e m a t c h s a w Leacock/Fenty rose to secure their first game of the set after facing two grueling deuce points. Serving at 3-1, Downes/Panday again held serve as their rivals pushed them to a triple deuce game to lead at 4-1. Fighting for a chance to recover in the set, Leacock/Fenty serving at 14, lost service after committing a double fault at 30-40, propelling Downes/Panday to lead at 51. Panday stepped to the baseline to serve at 5-1. He and Downes experienced a surprising surge in points to win the game after being down 30-40. Leacock/Fenty squandered their opportunity to break their opponent’s service by making three consecutive on-force errors. After smashing a ball out of court, netting another point and lobbing a ball out of court, the duo lost the set at 1-6 as Panday held serve. Leacock/Fenty improved in the second set, by making a defining statement after leading at 4015 and smashing an unreturnable ball to Anthony/Panday to lead at 10. Downes/Panday held
Heimraj Resaul (left), Umpire Jamal Goodluck (centre), Keenan Persaud
serve to even games at 1-1 due to two back to back aces on their rivals. The break in set was earned by Leacock/Fenty as they held
serve at 2-1. Afterwards, Downes/Panday fought to once again even the score at 2-2 by holding serve. As the match intensified, Fenty
served for his team and came awfully close to losing his service at 15-40, but the pair’s tactics worked in their favour by bringing the game to deuce and ultimately holding serve. Downes/Panday relentlessly held on serve to be neck and neck at 3-3, but Leacock/Fenty reclaimed the lead at 4-3 after treading dangerously close to a deuce point at 30-40. Serving at 43, Downes/Panday’s service was broken, increasing Leacock/Fenty’s lead to 5-3. They narrowed the gap to 45 by imitating their rival’s previous game of breaking serve, and grappled to a 5-5 in games as to even the score for the fourth time in the set. Noticing the set was slipping out of their hands, Leacock’s outbursts of frustration increased as Downes/ Panday were too close for comfort. They lost their service game, forcing Downes/Panday to make the move needed to secure the set. Serving at 6-5, Downes/ Panday faced a lengthy triple
Harry Panday and Anthony Downes
deuce ordeal as Leacock/ Fenty tried their best to push the ball wide of Panday with hopes of forcing the set to tie break. Downes supported his partner with the difficult short and wide balls and drew unforced errors from Leacock/Fenty to win the set at 7-5. Downes/Panday’s new partnership was proven successful as they were
c r o w n e d M e n ’s O p e n Doubles champions at a match of 6-1, 7-5. On their way to the finals L. Leacock/N. Fenty def H. Resaul/J. Kalekyezi 6-3, 6-1 and A. Downes/H. Panday def K.Abrams/B. Dalip 6-0, 6-0 . Meanwhile, After witnessing defeat in the Men’s Open Singles (Continued on page 34)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 04
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
MORE SPEED GUNS AND ROAD BLOCKS NEEDED Citing driving under the influence, the use of cell phones and inattentiveness as the major causes of traffic accidents, the Traffic Chief has revealed that traffic fatalities in the country have increased by 50 percent this year compared to the same period last year. This is alarming and unacceptable. The Ministry of Public Security needs to act swiftly to reduce the carnage on our roads. The current speed limits which were established years ago were intended to reduce accidents and deaths, but most drivers have been ignoring them. Therefore, in order to make the roads safer and reduce accidents and deaths, more traffic police and more speed radars and road blocks are needed. Road blocks and speed radars are useful tools for the police to reduce speed and enforce compliance with the law. Speed determines the outcome of a crash, whether one lives or dies. It is estimated that one out of two drivers have violated the legal speed limit on the highways on a daily basis, but only a few are caught and prosecuted. Drunk driving is a major problem in that, it is responsible for a high percent of all road fatalities. Despite tougher laws and higher fines, many continue to drink and drive recklessly with no regard for the safety of others. Speeding and poor road etiquette are symptomatic of the wider social problem of the value people place on one another. However, it is clear that the government can only do so much. It has imposed stiffer fines and penalties for drunk drivers, provided more speed radars; widen the scope of road safety policing measures and implement stricter standards when determining who gets drivers permits. It has legislated and implemented measures such as the breathalyzer tests, established road blocks, and the law enforcement agencies have also enforced the law in court. But while some continue to drink and drive recklessly, the reality is that the government cannot supervise each and every driver. It cannot legislate attitudes and behaviour and it cannot cater for thrill seekers or the extremely reckless and drunk drivers. No matter what, there will always be persons willing to make dangerous choices and to endanger the lives of others. There is no dispute that the carnage on the roads is a source of untold human suffering. A big part of the problem is the attitude of some drivers, especially the youths who believe that speeding is fun. Data has shown that 48 percent of road fatalities result from speeding, 30 percent from alcohol impairment or drunk driving; 10 percent from the failure to use seatbelt, and five percent for not stopping at red lights or stop signs or jay walking by pedestrians. Since speed has been identified as the biggest single influential factor in road deaths, the government has to use more speed guns and road blocks in order to curtail the risks imposed by speeding drivers, especially youths. Enforcement of the current speed limit will lead to a significant reduction of the carnage on the roads but it will not eliminate traffic accidents or road fatalities altogether. However, when used with other enforcement rules such as improper lane use, breach of traffic signals, illegal use of shoulders and turning lanes and overtaking on solid yellow/white lines could result in safer and a calmer driving experience. These breaches have contributed to unsafe driving and indiscipline on the roadways. Injuries and deaths caused by traffic accidents are so prevalent globally that the United Nations has declared a World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Road fatalities are not inevitable and can be prevented. The government has to implement tougher legislation to enforce all of the traffic laws in the country as well as to develop a national road safety strategy and programmes. In the past, the system vindicated too many reckless and drunk drivers and made a mockery of those advocating for safety and discipline on the nation’s roadways.
Thursday June 23, 2016
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
So the PPP has finally admitted to its corrupt behaviour DEAR EDITOR; Finally, Rohee admits to the corrupt modus operandi of the PPP Government in the widespread use of sole sourcing; the conveyor belt for his party to siphon off state revenues and resources to relatives, friends, party members, loyal constituents, business partners, foreign friends and allies. This admission provides insights on how the state treasury became the PPP slush funds for rewards and patronage. I am still dazed by Clement Rohee’s statement in yesterday’s Kaieteur News (June 21, 2016), and I quote: “Yea, well, that (accusation) may have been leveled against us, but that’s the previous administration. But now they are in the Government and they have to face the music if they do it as well. That’s the nature of politics.” It is my understanding of his statement in the context of sole sourcing, that everyone, regardless of political party affiliation, must face the music or be held accountable. The most glaring example of sole sourcing (a no-bid contract to one person or company) is the sweetheart deal to Bharat’s best friend and business partner Ramroop. First, GPC was practically gifted to him, along with Sanata,
thereafter the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Company (GPC) received most favored status from the previous government to monopolize medical supplies, reaping huge profits which previously was state revenue. The list of similar deals which followed is long, well known and shameless. But shame is not a word the PPP cabal understands, given the moral high ground they now claim. However, the forensic auditors have found that sole sourcing had not only become the main channels of how that government did business with the private sector and individuals, but is the system put in place to circumvent the laws, accounting principles, audits, and in turn provide for kickbacks and enrich executives, relatives, and party supporters in a corrupt network. After reading two (MMA-ADA & NDIA) of the thirty three forensic audit reports posted on the Ministry of Finance website, it boggles the mind as to how this corrupt system could have evaded the scrutiny and elicit corrective action of our Auditor General and our Parliament. The MMA-ADA forensic auditor TDA LAL & Co. found that contracts under one million dollars
were not being awarded based on the three quote system of goods and services where the lower price with fair quality is usually accepted. They also found that when sole sourcing occurred, it is possible that better quality or cheaper price could have been obtained if contracts were advertised by tender. Many purchase requests were made at the discretion of department heads with no invoice or value-for-money principle. Further to that, there is contract splitting to stay below the legal tender board or Cabinet requirement. These auditors also flagged the possibility of collusion between staff and external parties in the procurement of mechanical spares, among many other malpractices. The forensic audit of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is much more appalling when you consider how the state’s resources were managed worse than a private cake-shop. Here, Nigel Hinds Financial Services made the troubling observation that for the short period Jan. – July 2015, a reviewed of the Projects awarded showed that out of G$647,338,367. – 59% were awarded by sole sourcing,
17% by Quotations, and 24% by Public Tendering. All of the sole sourcing contracts were granted to Water Users Association (WUA) which comprise of nine farmers associations for the organization and management of Secondary Drainage and Irrigation(D&I) structures and inputs for agricultural production and rural housing. Every six months, the WUA submit requests for contracts and are paid accordingly. There are many reports of mismanagement but none of these associations have prepared annual financial reports or have financial statements audited for the years 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014. Nigel Hinds Financial Services has also found the NDIA spent in excess of G$12 Billion in both Capital and Revenue Expenditure over the past four years and the Internal Audit Unit or watchdog for NDIA only has one person who is tasked with the responsibility of auditing the entire organization. In addition to that, the internal auditor erroneously reports to the CEO who showed little or no interest in the internal controls, generally. For obvious reasons, Rohee did not advocate discontinuing the system of sole sourcing which lacked controls and accountability (Continued on page 6)
PPP agents are deceiving their supporters with ignorance DEAR EDITOR; The last time I was in Essequibo I was treated to some comic relief by the actions of some PPP agents. It was the day of local government elections and the word on the street was if the PPP won 60% of the districts or more, President Granger would have to step down and Bharrat Jagdeo would be president again. I am a Director on the CH&PA Board and was back in Essequibo again yesterday as part of a team meeting members of the public in Lima Sands and Onderneeming. Most of the persons gathered said they are supporters of the current APNU AFC government and I was a bit taken aback by the overt appeals to “our president” and “our government.” As the outreach progressed I would learn why those gathered openly spoke more about their political affairs than their issues as it relates to CH&PA. An agent provocateur of the PPP
Rosalind Thompson and others in the Essequibo area knew in advance that this team was coming as it was publicly announced. So as to create mischief and spread political propaganda, Thompson and others contacted their “supporters” and told them not to attend the outreach as it was a PNC thing. But the message did not only reach their “supporters” Sir, it’s unfortunate that senior members of the PPP, still reeling from May 11, are using every opportunity to spread mischief and mislead their ‘supporters.’ As was reported in the press, they also had their own Enmore Martyrs commemoration and Flag raising ceremony after the staged walk out. Housing and housing related matters affect all Guyanese and the PPP does not have land to allocate to its supporters. While land was allocated by the party in the past to friends and supporters, it was never the party’s land to give in the first place. The staff from CH&PA is currently unraveling many
puzzles, including cases where a single house lot was sold to multiple persons. Housing matters on the Essequibo Coast are once again being administered by staff of Central Housing and Planning Authority and not PPP officials. Rosaling Thompson other senior PPP members and others in high places on the Essequibo Coast have already allocated to themselves vast tracts of state land. It’s most pathetic that they would lead their “supporters” astray and deny them service and opportunities. The historical record will show that the PPP does not have the best interest of Guyanese at heart. These same party apparatchiks never get weary braying that they are disciples of Cheddi Jagan while preaching hate, spreading mischief and engaging in illegal activities. Does anyone in Guyana still believe the PPP of 2016 are disciples of Cheddi Jagan? Mark Jacobs
Kaieteur News
Thursday June 23, 2016
PAGE 29
Guyana names teams for CBC U-16 Championships
Annalesa Barker
T
he Guyana A m a t e u r Basketball Federation (GABF) and Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) have named their final teams, which will battle in the upcoming Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Under-16 Championships, July 2-16,
Onika Rogers
Jada Mohan
in Guyana. The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall will host 10 male and seven female teams from the Caribbean at the 2016 Championships. Guyana last hosted the CBC Championships in 1999; it has been doing a lot of work to have a memorable regional event next month. “After several weeks of
training and evaluation of the nation’s top Under-16 prospects, a final 12 Men and 13 Women were named to respective national teams,” a release from the YBG Director, Chris Bowman, who is organising both teams, said yesterday. According to the release, the final 12 Women will be
Kevon Wiggins
Andrew Johnson
Jordan Alphonso
announced before a ‘Congress of Delegate’ prior to the Men’s Championships tip-off on July 3, 2016. “The men team suffered a major setback with the omission of Yonnick Tappin, the talented sharp shooter from the Mining Town of Linden, who sustained a leg injury, and would be out for three weeks,” the document continued. Guyana’s National Male Youth Basketball Team include: Kevon Wiggins and Kelmar Carmichael, (New Amsterdam Multilateral); Shamar France and Jermaine King
(Berbice High); Andrew Johnson and Nigel Bowen (Plaisance Secondary); Roydon Glasgow (Bishops’ High); Akeem Crandon and Kareem Boyle ( P r e s i d e n t ’s C o l l e g e ) ; Jordan Alphonso and Jahleel Young (Marian Academy) and Zion Gray (Tutorial High). G u y a n a ’s N a t i o n a l Female Youth Basketball Team include: Annalesa Barker (New Amsterdam Multilateral); Saffiya Greene (Berbice High); Daniella King (Plaisance Secondary); Kesann Charles and Jayla Jones
(Bishops’ High); Onika Rogers (Kwakwani Secondary); Demelza Nicholas and Annalisa B a r c l a y ( P r e s i d e n t ’s College); Jada Mohan, G e o r g i a n n a Vy p h u i s , Kellian Sauers and Jahrier Young (Marian Academy); Rashida Hinds (United States). The release said that both teams will be encamped for the remainder of the time leading up to their respective tournaments. Several competitive exhibition games are planned for this period. These games will be open to the public.
‘Warriors’ squad coming together ahead of CPL opener - Coach Harper Steven Jacobs, Steven Katwaroo, Mohamed Ali Khan, Shimron Hetmyer. Tickets for all CPL fixtures in the Caribbean and Fort Lauderdale are on sale
Roger Harper The squad is coming together ahead of the opening away game against St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots in St Kitts on June 30 said Guyana Amazon Warriors Coach Roger Harper ahead of the start of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign. The former West Indies Vice-Captain, who claimed 46 wickets, scored three fifties from 25 Tests and has 100 wickets from 105 ODI’s for the Regional team. The 6ft, 5 inch off-spinning all-round returns ‘Warriors’ Coach for a second time,
replacing fellow Guyanese and West Indies batsman Carl Hooper who did the job last year. The training camp got underway on Monday at Providence and with skipper Martin Guptill and Adam Zampa due to join the team in St Kitts, Harper said the squad is building towards their CPL opener. “We’re building on teamwork this week so the guys can get to know each other better and come together as a team and working with and for each other,” the former Guyana Captain said. Harper disclosed that Sohail Tanvir arrived on Tuesday evening and Dwayne Smith yesterday morning. “I think we have a pretty good all round squad. It’s a Twenty20 format and these guys have got the skills for the Twenty20 format, so it’s all about how well we can play collectively as a team and on each match day. After the camp we go straight off to St. Kitts for the competition,” disclosed the 53-yearold Harper who scored 10 tons and captured 567 wickets from 200 First-Class games. Guyana Amazon Warriors play four home matches on 7 July – Jamaica Tallawahs (7pm), 9 July – St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots (12 Midday), 10 July – Trinbago Knight Riders (7pm) and 12 July – St. Lucia Zouks (7pm). Guyana Amazon Warriors Squad: Martin Guptill (Capt), Sohail Tanvir, Dwayne Smith, Chris Lynn, Rayad Emrit, Adam Zampa, Devendra Bishoo, Jason Mohammed, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Orlando Peters, Assad Fudadin, Anthony Bramble, Paul Wintz,
now from www.cplt20.com. The Guyana games cost $2,000 (Mound), 3,000 (Orange) and $4,000 (Red & Green). Children have to pay the same price. (Sean Devers)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 30
Thursday June 23, 2016
GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U-17...
Corriverton Links remain unbeaten; Cougars, Rosignol & Paradise notch opening wins Matches in the GFF/ NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U-17 football tournament in the Ancient County continued last weekend on the West Coast Berbice and in New Amsterdam which saw Corriverton Links recording their second win in as many matches, while there were opening wins for Cougars, Rosignol United and Paradise Invaders. Paradise Invaders clipped the wings of Mahaicony Thunder Hawks 4-0 on Saturday and on Sunday; 10-man Rosignol United edged Hopetown United Rangers 2-1. Over at the Burnham Park in New Amsterdam, Cougars FC defeated Canefield Diamond Strikers Latest Points Table Teams Corriverton Links NA United Paradise Invaders Cougars Rosignol United Hopetown United Mahaicony Thunder Canefield Strikers Leitchfield Nuggets Monedderlust
P 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 0
7-4 on Saturday, while on Sunday, Corriverton Links whipped Litchfield Nuggets 8-2 and Monedderlust failed to show up for the second consecutive week for their encounter with New Amsterdam United. The Berbice Football Association says it will be investigating why Monedderlust has not showed up to date. Playing at the Mahaicony Sports Ground, Paradise Invaders’ opening goal against Mahaicony Thunder Hawks was scored by the latter themselves in the 4th minute which gave the winners the required momentum to launch their victory bid. Nial Reynolds followed up with a double of his own in the 12th and 47th W 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
L 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 0
Paradise Invaders (red & white) controlling play in their match with Mahaicony Thunder Hawks.
minute, while the other goal came off the boot of Gladwin
GF 10 8 4 7 2 1 0 5 2 0
GA 3 0 0 4 1 2 4 11 16 0
GD Points +7 6 +8 3 +4 3 +3 3 +1 3 -1 0 -4 0 -6 0 -14 0 0 0
Humphrey in the 64th minute to seal Paradise’s 4-0 triumph; their quickness was too much for the Mahaicony lads to contain. On Sunday at the same venue, 10-man Rosignol United found enough energy to get past Hopetown United Rangers in an exciting clash. Isaiah James netted both goals for Rosignol in the 22nd and 45th minute; Hopetown’s consolation strike came off the boot of Telston Miller in
the 40th minute. At Burnham Park on Saturday, Cougars roared to a comfortable 7-4 come from behind win over Canefield Diamond Strikers FC despite the latter putting up a spirited fight. Canefield Diamond Strikers had taken the lead after just two minutes when Alade Grant rocked the nets but in the next 20 minutes of p l a y, C a n e f i e l d w e r e subjected to the Shane Hamilton show as he blasted
in three of his five goal to effectively set the platform for Cougars’ win. Hamilton was on target in the 9th, 12th and 22nd, 60th and 80th minute. His teammate, Wayne Joseph was the perfect foil as he netted a brace in the 57th and 83rd minute. Canefield got their other goals from Akeem Bovell (27th & 72nd) and Nkurmah Smith in the 76th minute. On Sunday, Corriverton Links proved too strong an opponent for Litchfield Nuggets whom they trounced, 8-2 after leading 52 at the half way mark. Corriverton were led to their win on account of Shemron Stewart helmettrick (24, 31, 63, 67) and an Alex Partab hat-trick (7, 17, 53). Neil Jacobs converted the other goal in the 44th minute. Litchfield’s goals were scored by Kahdon Archibald (35) and Tyrone Pompey (41). Matches will continue this weekend weather permitting. On Saturday at the Mahaicony Sports ground, from 14:00hrs, Paradise Invaders will come up against Hopetown United Rangers and on Sunday at the same venue and time, Rosignol United will come up against Mahaicony Thunder Hawks. At the Canje ground on Sunday, from 16:00hrs, Canefield Diamond Strikers will oppose Litchfield Nuggets. Over at Burnham Park from the same time, Cougars are down to play Monedderlust, while at the Scottsburg ground; Corriverton Links will engage NewAmsterdam United.
Kaieteur News
Thursday June 23, 2016
PAGE 31
Downes/Panday cop GBTI Men’s Open Doubles title Resaul captures Boy’s Open Singles crown T h e M e n ’s O p e n Doubles category of the GBTI Independence Jubilee Open witnessed an interesting shake up this year when Anthony Downes formed a new partnership with Harry Panday, instead of Jason Andrews, for a shot at the Men’s Open Doubles crown. The duo fought their way through to compete with Leyland Leacock/Nicholas Fenty in the final on Monday evening. Downes/Panday won the toss and opted to serve. At 40-30, they held service by Downes acing Leacock to gain a 1-0 lead. It was Leacock’s turn to serve at 01 and he and Fenty managed to attain a 40-0 lead, but Downes/Panday shocked the pair by bringing the game to deuce and broke their serve to secure the break in set at 20. Downes/Panday again frustrated the Leacock/Fenty pair by holding service after being at a 0-40 deficit, dominating the set at 3-0. T h e m a t c h s a w Leacock/Fenty rose to secure their first game of the set after facing two grueling deuce points. Serving at 3-1, Downes/Panday again held serve as their rivals pushed them to a triple deuce game to lead at 4-1. Fighting for a chance to recover in the set, Leacock/Fenty serving at 14, lost service after committing a double fault at 30-40, propelling Downes/Panday to lead at 51. Panday stepped to the baseline to serve at 5-1. He and Downes experienced a surprising surge in points to win the game after being down 30-40. Leacock/Fenty squandered their opportunity to break their opponent’s service by making three consecutive on-force errors. After smashing a ball out of court, netting another point and lobbing a ball out of court, the duo lost the set at 1-6 as Panday held serve. Leacock/Fenty improved in the second set, by making a defining statement after leading at 4015 and smashing an unreturnable ball to Anthony/Panday to lead at 10. Downes/Panday held
Heimraj Resaul (left), Umpire Jamal Goodluck (centre), Keenan Persaud
serve to even games at 1-1 due to two back to back aces on their rivals. The break in set was earned by Leacock/Fenty as they held
serve at 2-1. Afterwards, Downes/Panday fought to once again even the score at 2-2 by holding serve. As the match intensified, Fenty
served for his team and came awfully close to losing his service at 15-40, but the pair’s tactics worked in their favour by bringing the game to deuce and ultimately holding serve. Downes/Panday relentlessly held on serve to be neck and neck at 3-3, but Leacock/Fenty reclaimed the lead at 4-3 after treading dangerously close to a deuce point at 30-40. Serving at 43, Downes/Panday’s service was broken, increasing Leacock/Fenty’s lead to 5-3. They narrowed the gap to 45 by imitating their rival’s previous game of breaking serve, and grappled to a 5-5 in games as to even the score for the fourth time in the set. Noticing the set was slipping out of their hands, Leacock’s outbursts of frustration increased as Downes/ Panday were too close for comfort. They lost their service game, forcing Downes/Panday to make the move needed to secure the set. Serving at 6-5, Downes/ Panday faced a lengthy triple
Harry Panday and Anthony Downes
deuce ordeal as Leacock/ Fenty tried their best to push the ball wide of Panday with hopes of forcing the set to tie break. Downes supported his partner with the difficult short and wide balls and drew unforced errors from Leacock/Fenty to win the set at 7-5. Downes/Panday’s new partnership was proven successful as they were
c r o w n e d M e n ’s O p e n Doubles champions at a match of 6-1, 7-5. On their way to the finals L. Leacock/N. Fenty def H. Resaul/J. Kalekyezi 6-3, 6-1 and A. Downes/H. Panday def K.Abrams/B. Dalip 6-0, 6-0 . Meanwhile, After witnessing defeat in the Men’s Open Singles (Continued on page 28)
t r o Sp
Digicel Schools Football Championship...
Reigning champs hammer Linden Foundation 7-0
Part of the action between defending champions Christianburg / Wismar and Linden Foundation at the Wisburg Secondary School ground yesterday.
Top teams collect prize monies; EBFA/Stag Senior League Crawford, Matthews, Jones are lead individual players Grove Hi Tech President Kevin Anthony receives the winner’s cheque from Stag Marketing Assistant Richard Singh in the presence of other Club officials.
Guyana names teams for CBC U-16 Championships 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