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Kaieteur News
KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210
Editorial
It is a question of enforcement After all the noise about Guyana being further blacklisted if it failed to pass the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financial Terrorism Bill, the Bill was not taken to the National Assembly for a vote and passage. There was a Bill that attracted the support of all the parliamentary parties on February 5, 2014 but according to the government, it could not be taken to the National Assembly because the amendments proposed by A Partnership for National Unity were not included. What we find troubling is the pace at which the parties attempted to get the piece of legislation into the National Assembly. The meetings of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee were sporadic at best. It was not until the deadline loomed that there seemed to be some haste to have the piece of legislation ready. And when each supposed deadline passed it was back to the lethargy. Suddenly we hear that the drop dead date would be February 28 and once more there was the usual hustle and bustle. President Donald Ramotar met with the opposition parties with a view to reaching an understanding for the passage of the Bill. There were concessions which we feel could have been granted a long time ago but it would seem that these did not go too far. But what’s the fuss? The government says that the authorities who man the Caribbean Financial Action Taskforce want every Caribbean country to be compliant with the demands of the taskforce. But being compliant by law is one thing. Enforcing the law is another and the entire region has been tardy in enforcing the law. For example, Guyana had an anti-money laundering legislation since 2009. However, the presence of legislation is not enough and it surely was not enough for CFATF. So the entire region came under the spotlight. It was no secret that the region is weak when it comes to enforcement of the law and this is so for a series of reasons. For one, corruption is rampant. Many of the law enforcers are not immune from bribes and would subvert the course of justice once the price is right. It is now common knowledge that our policemen are on the take. The result is that even if there were reports of illegality it is likely that the perpetrator would escape for a series of reasons. As the current law stands, reports to the Financial Intelligence Unit would merely be filed away by some agency. We understand that the more than eight hundred reports of suspicious transactions were forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and remained there without any action. This appeared to be the trend throughout the region. In steps the Caribbean Financial Action Taskforce with a series of recommendations. These recommendations involve the creation of special units to help with the processing of suspicious transactions. But what is a suspicious transaction in a country that is cash-oriented? For one, if a man has not been known to work anywhere, not in business or in any of the establishments, and he suddenly turns up with a few million dollars then the authorities have a right to become suspicious. There was the recent case of the British High Commission refusing to sell a property to a young man barely out of his teens but who was prepared to offer twice as much as the property was worth. The source of the money raised the suspicion of the British. However, this young man could not have kept the money under his bed; he must have had to store it in some financial institution. The deposits would have been enough to raise suspicion, especially being made by someone so young. There were no interventions by the authorities and this is what the Caribbean Financial Action Taskforce has noted. Now CFATF wants to see action against the obvious cases of money laundering. However, without legislation to allow for such interventions Guyana is in dire straits.
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
A clear act by the PPP to control an institution it does not own DEAR EDITOR, As President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) among other things mine is the responsibility to protect and defend the integrity of this federation and its attendant arms, which are the Critchlow Labour College, Women Advisory Committee, and Pollydore Institute. The GTUC has publicly stated its non-acceptance that the restoration of the State’s grant on pre-condition that the college’s board have six members from the government (four from FITUG, with the already two from the ministries of Labour and Education) to GTUC’s four. This is a clear act by the PPP to control an
institution it does not own. A person or institution would not allow another to come into its house and control him or it unless that he or it is prepared to sell him or itself into servitude. This is not what the GTUC desires. The National Assembly is the nation’s highest decision making forum. It is a serious forum where debates should be driven by substance and credibility. Where this does not happen the people have a responsibility to call on their elected representatives to elevate the bar to a level of seriousness and commitment. It is based on this understanding and desire for our National Assembly I propose two things
to Drs. Rupert Roopnarine and Nanda Gopaul who made allegations about accountability in the college and paper unions during their contribution to the debates on the grant. Dr. Roopnarine, past principal of the college, in his debate, according to media report said “accountability at the college was a grave problem.” Dr. Gopaul is Minister of Labour and once elected treasurer of the GTUC, he too according to media reports, had informed the National Assembly the college has an accountability problem. Drs. Roopnarine and Gopaul are called on to provide the evidence to the (Continued on page 5)
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox The President has a golden opportunity to act DEAR EDITOR, Apropos to Mr. Ramjattan’s statement that the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) bill is “easily solvable”, one can conclude that the President has a golden opportunity to act. So please act Mr. President! These times demand leadership, not political “mud-fights”. This gross political insanity coming out of Freedom House has to stop for the people’s sake. Who really is this battle for? The people or the small clique of businessmen who have invaded Freedom House? It was Oliver Williamson in his book “Economic Institutions of Capitalism” who nicely captured a possible solution when he said: “Transactions that are subject to expost opportunism will benefit if appropriate actions can be devised ex-ante. Rather than reply to opportunism in kind, the wise is one who seeks both to give and receive ‘credible’ commitments”. What the PPP did to the proposal from
the AFC some ten-months ago is nothing but anti-national and anti-patriotic, thus destroying whatever little credibility they had left. I am speaking directly to the AFC’s proposal for the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission as a pre-condition for support on the anti-money laundering bill. The PPP cannot continue to subvert a constitutional body as they did for some 11 years and expect anyone to trust one word out of Freedom House. It is time for the PPP as the largest political force to show its strength by giving something real and tangible to the people. I am however being advised that it might be too late now, since after the belated APNU suggested amendments to the AML bills, all is now inter-woven. The AFC cannot achieve its objective unless it gives support to the APNU amendments and Guyana cannot progress unless the PPP cedes the Public Procurement Commission. Until the PPP acts maturely, there is nothing else we can do but sign off from this AML debate. Sasenarine Singh
A clear act by the PPP to... From page 4 public to substantiate their claims. We must strive to return honour to this once Honourable National Assembly. The State’s grant to the college was audited by the Auditor General every quarter. How the college spent this money are highlighted in the Auditor General’s Reports and are available for public consumption. The college was never cited for mismanagement or misappropriation. Therefore is it a disappointing that Drs. Roopnarine and Gopaul have sunk to this level of deception in their debate contributions. On the Members of Parliament’s comments that the fate of the college is linked to disunity in the trade union movement, these honourable members are asked to look within themselves. The PNC was birthed out of the PPP. The AFC was birthed out of the WPA, PNC and PPP. Perhaps this august body should go back to the PPP from whence they originated and form a singular na-
tional party, since this seems to be their understanding of unity. These same honourable members who are calling for “unity” within the trade union movement have themselves come from fractured bodies but now zealously guard their right to independent existence and self-determination but want to impose their illusion on others. Mr. Editor, we have a major problem in this society that is turning away young people from politics. They hate the dishonesty, idle talks, inactions and manufactured divisions that come from the politicians. The young are finding it hard to reconcile looking up to their seniors when their seniors are unconcerned about what say and do and how this can negatively impact on the respect they attract and the demotivation they instill in the young to pursue this highest form of public service. They are failing to set a good example for the young to emulate. Dr. Gopaul said the GTUC has paper unions. Dr. Gopaul
The AFC has a duty to ensure that the Constitution is followed DEAR EDITOR, A critical role of the Constitution is to place restrictions on the State and its institutions, not only to act in favour of the small elite that surrounds the rulers, but also to preserve the future of all the people. This Public Procurement Commission is one such restriction and is critically important for the long-term success of the nation.
The AFC had put forward an extremely solid position that will best serve both the working class and the small elite that surrounds the PPP - fully operationalized the Procurement Commission and the AFC shall vote for the anti-money laundering bill. Everyone wins. There is much work to do, why are we stuck here on a purely elementary problem? Kishan Bacchus
is called upon to make public the names of these papers unions. Also, Dr. Gopaul is reminded as a former trade unionist that one of the strengths of the trade union movement is that when it comes to representation and equality, size only matters with regards to delegates, and not decision-making and the right to equality. If Dr. Gopaul practices this in his job as Minister of Labour, the worker in a business of one to the worker in a business of tens of thousands would be given equal respect and protection under the laws. Dr. Gopaul is reminded of this principle and is called on to address all outstanding labour issues with equal urgency and respect, among them being the re-issuing of letters to start arbitration into the impasse at the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated as he has committed to the High Court in June 2012. To understand how disrespectful is the pre-condition for receiving the grant can be gleaned through these examples. When state advertisement was returned to Stabroek News, a private entity, there was no pre-condition for representatives of Chronicle or any state media to sit on its board. Neither has the opposition set a pre-condition for their representation on the First Lady’s charity which receives state’s funding. The same goes for Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, another beneficiary. None has asked GAWU to put representatives from the GTUC on its college’s board. The College is a private entity and is owed by the GTUC, not the Government of Guyana. Leslie Gonsalves President-GTUC
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Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur M@ilbox Time for a Moral Education programme in schools DEAR EDITOR, A Moral Education programme in schools must now become a Number One priority. One only has to read the daily news and think of the lawless behaviour as witnessed in our recent Mash celebrations to appreciate that we need to do something very urgently to arrest the backsliding of our society towards immorality on a large scale. By all appearances those who have the power to do something about this depressing situation are either incapable or unwilling to effect a reversal in this aspect of our culture. In fact, there are some in the media and other public fora who are actually proposing that immoral patterns of behaviour are a part of our culture. Immorality, like all atrocities, not only breeds more of the same, but it spreads its tentacles to the perpetration of all sorts of evil: violence, domestic and public; rape and incest; robbery and the brutal killings
that usually accompany these; general indiscipline, which includes irresponsible behaviour on our roads; teenage pregnancy and suicide; sloth among our workers; and corruption among police and other public officials. It is just as true that, when we do not make a concerted effort to deal with any negative situation, it not only continues unabated but keeps on increasing. These all point to the crying need for something urgent and comprehensive to be initiated so that we can build a firm and stable foundation on which to maintain the societal, economic and other aspects of our development. I have long advocated the need for a unified effort by all those who are responsible for the upbringing and welfare of our youths to come together and develop a comprehensive programme to effect a renovation of the moral fabric of our society on all fronts within our
Staining the good character of honourable people DEAR EDITOR, It is amazing to see the extent to which some people would go to besmirch the character and integrity of good and honourable men and women in our society in order to score cheap political points. People who descend to such low levels of character assassinations are reminded of a popular saying to the effect that those living in glass houses should refrain from throwing stones. In more biblical terms, we
should all try to remove the beam from our own eyes before trying to do so from others. While there is nothing wrong in being critical especially when such criticisms are of a constructive nature, there is everything wrong in being mean and vindictive and in seeking to bring reputable people down in life simply because our views may not be congruent with those we seek to discredit. Hydar Ally
communities, with of course the emphasis being placed on the young people in our schools. This would contribute to the building of the character of our future generation, and instilling in them proper values which would help them to appreciate their responsibilities – to themselves to make the most out of themselves, to their families to learn to provide for their needs, and to the society at large to become responsible and productive citizens. The Ministry of Education, as well as the individual institutions and persons who are responsible for the development and operation of our school programmes, must appreciate that this process of characterbuilding must take some prominence within their curricula, as without it their efforts towards academic performance would be futile on the long term. In simple terms, children need to make it a habit to ‘know the good, love the good, and do the good’ — not just once in a while when they are in the presence of others, but as a matter of conscience. Otherwise our society will continue to be dominated by people who are self-centred and lacking in basic proper behaviour. In summary, these are my recommendations on the way forward for any moral education programme among our young people: * A greater place for moral education in public school curricula. * A cooperative effort among teachers, parents, media, courts, businesses, and civil, racial, ethnic, and religious organisations towards the creation of a social and cultural setting that supports moral behaviour and education. * The establishment and publicising of clear expectations for teachers and administrators in their roles as moral educators. * Increased attention to moral education at the teachers’ training colleges as well as training programmes at other educational institutions. * The inclusion of criticalthinking and decision-making skills in moral education. * Regular assessments of the moral climate of schools and conduct of students, with the results of those assessments being made public. I hope and pray that my appeal will at last bring some action to save our society from utter chaos. Roy Paul
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Brassington still part of NICIL? Opposition questions current role in controversial state company A controversial figure in the midst of Government’s privatization and investment deals is again the subject of a Parliamentary query. Former Executive Director of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd. (NICIL), Winston Brassington, will come under scrutiny for his role in that organization which time and again has left Government and the Opposition sharply divided. Carl Greenidge, Member of Parliament for the Opposition’s largest faction, A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), has tabled a number of questions to Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. The questions were received by Parliament on February 17, last. According to Greenidge, Brassington in March 2012, shortly after the General and Regional elections, announced his resignation. The MP now wants to know the job description and Terms of Reference for the NICIL official prior to his resignation. Greenidge also wanted Dr. Singh to provide details of Brassington’s current relationship with NICIL. In a separate Notice Paper sent the same day, the APNU official asked the Finance Minister to provide a list of the current Board members of NICIL along with the staffers in its employ. APNU also wanted to know the “names, designations and employment experience immediately, prior to their
A city businesswoman was shot last night when she and her husband were attacked by bandits as they were about to enter their Lama Avenue, Bel Air premises. Details of the incident were sketchy last night but this newspaper was informed that the woman, whose only name was given as Mrs. Sasewantie Bhagwandin was shot in the abdomen and was
in a stable condition at the Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital. The bullet exited the body. She was rushed to the hospital by her husband and her daughter a little after 19:00 hours. The woman’s husband was robbed two weeks ago during which he was beaten about his head. The family believes that the perpetrators were the same from that incident.
Pharmacist died from ingestion of poison ..wife released from hospital Winston Brassington joining the management of the entity, of the three most senior staff members of NICIL.” While Greenidge’s question mistakenly identifies Winston Brassington as Mike Brassington, it is clear that the MP is referring to the NICIL official. The handling of NICIL has been a hugely troubling one for the Opposition which has accused Government of operating the entity like its personal bank account. NICIL initially was supposed to manage state assets and transfer proceeds from privatization transactions to Government accounts. However, NICIL’s role has evolved, with the entity becoming involved in a number of large scale projects like the Berbice River Bridge project, the Marriott Hotel project, the Amaila Falls
APNU’s MP, Carl Greenidge
hydro-electric project and a host of other initiatives. A number of privatization deals including the Sanata Textiles complex and the Duke Lodge buildings in Kingston, have raised more than eyebrows. Brassington’s role in the deals and the seeming lack of information on the transactions have led to the issue coming up time and again in the National Assembly. Among the companies under NICIL are the Guyana Oil Company, Guyana Energy Authority, Guyana National Newspaper Limited, Guyana National Printers Limited and the National Communications Network. Brassington has been a central figure in Government business as well, currently serving as Chairman of the Guyana Power and Light Inc and a point persons in the
cooperation between Brazil and Guyana, which involves a number of large scale projects, including hydroelectric, a deep water port, and the paving of the LindenLethem road. Brassington’s role in pushing for public/private partnerships (PPP) projects has also been heavily criticised since it is said to have allowed for a few investors to rake in millions of dollars while Government, putting in the majority of the investments, is left virtually holding little in terms of returns. An example of this is the Berbice River Bridge and the Marriott Hotel financing structure which allowed several private investors, including ones close to the administration, to rake in dividends ahead of the taxpayers.
Main witness identifies accused in Mahaica murder trial On Thursday the prosecution’s chief witness, Totaram Bishundial, called ‘Ramo’ commenced his evidence in chief, at the Georgetown Supreme Court before Justice Franklyn Holder, and a mixed 12 member Jury of whom, Shawn Thom and Orin David called ‘Plait hair or Malik ‘are facing a trial for murder. David and Thom, his alleged accomplice, are on trial for the murder of Lakhram Bishundial, the witness’s older brother, which occurred on August 20, 2010 at Hope, East Coast Demerara. While giving his sworn evidence, Bishundial pointed to the two persons sitting in the dock, (Thom and David) identifying them several times as the men who participated in the crime which led to his brother‘s death, in response to questions by State Prosecutor Judith Gildarie
Businesswoman shot in Bel Air during robbery
Mursalin. He told the court that on August 20, 2010, he had left his home in De Hoop, Mahaica for Georgetown to do some shopping for his wedding which was scheduled for the upcoming weekend. According to the witness, his cousin ‘Seeta’ also accompanied him to Georgetown, where he went to the bank and withdrew $500, 000 before returning home. On his way to Mahaica, the witness recounted that he saw his brother at Hope Canal. According to Bishundial, he had stopped for a few minutes at “Hope Turn” to chat with his brother, Lakhram, when a Negro man walked up him. The man, he said, pulled a gun from his waist and pointed it to his chest.
“He said gimme de bag wid de money.” At this point, Bishundial said that he placed both hands his in the air and began backing away from the gun, his brother who was seated in the driver’s seat of the truck said something and the gunman turned and fired a shot insid the truck. The witness said he heard his brother “holler” before he ran and jumped in into the Hope canal. He claimed that he came up from the canal and saw another man on a motorcycle, whom he identified to be Thom, and the gunman (David) leaving his pickup truck with a bag. He said that the next time he saw David was at Guyoil Gas Station at Victoria, as he was taking his injured brother to the hospital. He tried to pin the man to a nearby fence but the suspect escaped in a white motorcar with licence
Lakhram Bishundial plate number PJJ 6855. Several hours later his brother was pronounced dead at St Joseph’s Mercy Hospital. The next time Bishundial recalled seeing the accused was during two separate identification parades. He is currently under cross examination by Defense Counsel Trenton Lake and George Thomas. The trial will continue on Monday.
Dr.Illiana Pairol Urrutia-Yearwood and Victor Yearwood,
The Cuban doctor whose husband brutally beat her on her head and about her body has been discharged. Dr.Illiana Pairol UrrutiaYearwood, 43, a Guyanabased Cuban Doctor who came to Guyana on the Cuba/ Guyana exchange programme and later married Victor Yearwood, 37, a Pharmacy Assistant, was admitted to the New Amsterdam hospital on February 19, last. She had been beaten by the man following a family dispute at their Savannah Park Housing Scheme home. The Doctor who was slipping in an out of consciousness when she was rushed to the medical institution by her husband was discharged the following Tuesday. She subsequently went to the Central Police station and gave a statement to investigators. In the meanwhile Victor Yearwood, her husband, who worked at the New Amsterdam hospital as a Pharmacy assistant, succumbed on the evening of February 20 at the said hospital. The man had allegedly ingested a poisonous substance after he was subsequently informed that he was being sought by the police. A post mortem performed by Dr Vivekanan Brijmohan at the Georgetown Public
Hospital showed that he died from suspected ingestion of a phosphate. According to reports, neighbours had to intervene after the man took a hammer and started beating the woman in her head and about her body. Her screams and hasty exit from the house attracted neighbours who hurried to her rescue. The hammer was taken away and the man was told to take the woman to the hospital which he did. At the hospital he told medical personnel that his wife fell in the bathroom and hit her head. The matter was reported to the Central Police station and Yearwood who had fled the scene was subsequently found by police down a dam at Lonsdale, East Bank Berbice. When he was found by the police he had told them that he had ingested poison and was rushed to the hospital. The couple had been having domestic problems for some time now and was previously before a magistrate. Yearwood was before the court where he was charged with using threatening language against his wife. His wife was also placed on a bond after the man had made some allegations. The magistrate had also ordered that they seek counseling.
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Sunday March 02, 2014
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Shortage of foreign currency leads to AH KNEEL DEH higher exchange rates -- Cambios Dem boys seh
PUN A HUSTLE It’s better to keep your mouth shut and let people think yuh stupid than to open yuh mouth and remove all doubt. When de Sanata Complex story buss out Jagdeo seh how he ain’t had nutten fuh do with the decision. He seh that de man is he best friend Bobby Ramroop and he nah want he name call so he get up and walk out of Cabinet and lef he colleagues fuh mek de decision fuh give away de complex. He den tell de nation how Guyana gun benefit from de deal. But people ketch he lying because he seh how thousands of people gun get nuff wuk. You nah got fuh ask how much people wukking deh. Dem boys can count dem pun one hand. De place sell to Ramroop fuh next to nutten. Guyana ain’t know up to now how much Ramroop really pay. What dem boys know fuh sure is dat de place does get all government wuk and that de property worth nuff millions, in Uncle Sam money. Days before he lef de wuk he give Bobby five radio and cable licence, secretly. De man suh brazen dat he mandate dat he best friend Bobby must get telecommunication licence, too, fuh put GT&T out of business. When dem boys use to question why de government selling de 20 per cent shares in GT&T, Jagdeo and de fat crook, Brazzy keep dem mouth shut. Now de picture clear why de government sell out de shares. It was to clear de way fuh Bobby come in and tek over de telecommunication industry. De list of wha Brazzy, Jagdeo and Bobby do together suh lang dat this paper ain’t got enough pages fuh document it. Jagdeo really think dat this nation suh stupid to believe that he ain’t got no business interest wid Bobby. Ah Kneel was he friend, too. He was Jagdeo lawyer. Dem boys know he is a liar. Ah Kneel learn from Jagdeo and now wan try de same thing wid this nation. Dem boys seh Ah kneel make he PS tell lie. He go to Sleep Inn Boardroom fuh do a presentation and when dem boys talk how he enriching heself wid tax dollars he get he PS fuh write an seh dat is she choose de place and how dem get de boardroom fuh free. She try fuh pull a Jagdeo stunt. If she don’t know, dem boys want tell she dat she boss, Ah Kneel, and Cliffy does have lunch together six days a week at dat same Sleep Inn. And is not dem boys seh suh; is all de workers at de hotel tell dem boys that. De day when dem don’t meet dem does call one another and talk pun de phone fuh hours. De workers seh suh too. Dem Boys want ask de PS which two man does sit down and have lunch six days a week and just share a normal friendship. Just to correct she, Cliffy tell de boss man fuh de Waterfalls paper that he nah charge fuh do boardroom; that dem jus gaffa pay fuh de food. Dem boys seh if dat PS got any sense she wud know dat Cliffy include the fee fuh de boardroom in de food and is she gun gat fuh take tax dollars and pay fuh um. Just how government continuing to pump millions of tax dollars in the Hard Times paper wha nobody does read, Ah Kneel now trying he hand fuh get a small piece. Talk half and sorry Cliffy.
With Guyana failing to submit a report by its Friday last deadline to the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), many of the local Cambios have expressed their concerns as to how the implications of that action will further affect their businesses and customers as well. Prior to failing the deadline, Guyana had landed itself on the CFATF’s regional blacklist as a result of missing initial deadlines. Since Guyana’s blacklisted status, Cambios and other financial institutions have being experiencing the effects of the Anti Money Laundering dilemma. Further, cambios such as A&N Sarjoo Cambio, L. Mohabeer & Son, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Sookraj Cambio and Swiss House Cambio have complained about the “sudden shortage of foreign currency.” A representative of L.Mohabeer & Son’s Cambio said, “There is a shortage of foreign currency. As a result of that, we are now selling the US dollar at $210. “The exchange rates fluctuate for different reasons but this is happening because of the Anti-money Laundering situation. Cambios are being made to
Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge feel the squeeze. Our customers with whom we conduct large transactions were cut by 50 percent. “And our biggest clients have eased as they now prefer to do wire transfers which are cheaper.” Another representative of Sookraj Cambio said that the cambio has been affected since its biggest customers are now turning to wire transfers. “With the shortage of foreign currency, we had no choice but to increase the rates. We had the US dollar selling at $205, now we had to increase to $210. If this continues, the rates will go up.”
Nazar Mohamed of Mohamed’s Enterprise while agreeing with his counterparts, said, “There is a lot of uncertainty with regard to the implications that will follow now that we have missed the last deadline and with the shortage of foreign currency and coupled with losing customers to wire transfer system, there will be more effects on our own businesses. Prices will certainly increase.” While some cambio owners may firmly believe that the current shortage of foreign currency is directly linked to the anti money laundering situation, Financial Analyst, Ramon Gaskin, based on his research does not agree. Gaskin does not dispute that there is a shortage of foreign currency but he stressed that it is as a result of the foreign earners being unable to fulfill their role. “The exchange rates have gone up by seven percent since the beginning of the year. In addition, the currency is depreciating versus the US dollar. This means that you have to pay more Guyana dollars to get the foreign currency. “This also means that the cost of imports will go up; in short there will be ripple effects. But the shortage of
currency is because of the poor production of sugar and gold prices dropping.” He added, “It is also because of the failure of BOSAI and RUSAL to honour payment arrangements as it relates to the bauxite they extract. The fact that the bulk of our rice is being bartered with Venezuela is also a contributing factor. “Our foreigners exchange earners are not being able to get this done. The country is not earning as much as it should.” Also supporting Gaskin’s comments was A Partnership for National Unity’s Shadow Minister of Finance, Mr. Carl Greenidge. The former Minister of Finance asserted that while there is a shortage in the foreign currency, it is as a result of the fall in gold prices and not because the report on the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill was not submitted on February 28. “It has nothing to do with the AML Bill not being passed. When the bill is passed the government will be forced to implement it and that is when we will actually see problems. “Whatever hiccups we have now it is not because of anti money laundering.”
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GPSU’s Credit Union is 50 today The Guyana Public Service Co-operative Credit Union is celebrating its 50th anniversary today. The Credit Union was born after the Trade Union strike in 1963 which lasted for ninety days. The effects of this countrywide strike were severe on the workers and their families. Many incurred debts at the Commercial banks, Insurance Companies, from friends and family. Money lenders made a fortune from this situation because they were lending at high interest rates. The dilemma that most working families found themselves in was getting alarming and a decision was made by the senior members of the Civil Service Association to band themselves together to the benefit of their families. The idea was to improve the present financial situation and to avoid a recurrence of the effects should another strike take place. Hence the decision was made to form a Credit Union whereby its members can have access to funding when the need arises. After several meetings by the group 29 persons signed an application for the
registration of the then Guyana Civil Service Cooperative Credit Union Limited. The inaugural meeting of the Credit Union was held at the Association’s registered office, Regent and New Garden Streets, Georgetown on April 2, 1964. A programme of activities to mark this milestone will commence with a Church Service today at 9:00 hrs at the St Andrews Kirk, Brickdam, Georgetown. Tomorrow there will be an opening ceremony at the National Cultural Centre starting at 17:00 hrs followed by a Reception. A domino competition commenced on February 25, 2014 and several teams are competing for trophies and monetary rewards. On March 6 and March 13 this year two Youth Workers’ workshops would be held in New Amsterdam and Linden respectively. The focus of these activities is to examine the role of youths in succession planning and the development of the credit union, finding ways and means to diversify its products and services to remain viable in a competitive market.
No one held by police in No. 69 shooting - investigators A suspect is still to be held in connection with last Thursday’s shooting incident at Number 69 Village, Corentyne. On Thursday last Oumesh Ballram, 16 was shot in the abdomen at his Number 69 Village, Corentyne, Berbice home following a foiled robbery attempt. The injured youth was first rushed to the Skeldon Hospital, before being transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital and then to the Georgetown Public Hospital. It was later revealed that he was shot just below his heart. The bullet reportedly damaged the spine. He is still hospitalised. Investigators said that the shot youth’s father, Dinesh Ballram, actually reported that someone had been arrested. No one was ever arrested. Medical sources now say that the youth, who is still to undergo surgery, will have to travel to Miami, U.S.A. for treatment. Investigators have stated that most of the statements taken have been conflicting. They have also not been able to question the father, Dinesh Ballram, a Cambio dealer, as he has not made himself available since the incident.
Sunday March 02, 2014
Ramotar woos more Chinese investors
President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Zhang Limin, with the owners of the Zhanghao Shipyard at Coverden, East Bank Demerara President Donald Ramotar has tapped partnerships as critical to Guyana’s economic future. The comments were made Friday while Ramotar was addressing the opening of the Chinese- owned Zhanghao Shipyard in Coverden, East Bank Demerara. The ceremony also included the launch and naming ceremony for a logging vessel christened the ‘Yhan Heng Freighter’. Also present were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy; and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin, a statement from Government said. “I want to extend special greetings to the Chinese investors who have come here and to let them know that they are welcome in Guyana,” President Ramotar said. The President noted that China has tremendous capabilities, evident by the tremendous progress that the country has made in just over three decades. China’s growth is also unmatched,
when compared to equivalent countries in any part of the world, he said. “To see how fast that country has grown in just over three decades, speaks volumes for Chinese investors and their readiness to take risks. It also speaks volumes of their skills, of their traditions and customs, and their dedication to work and labour, and that is something we hope that we can emulate in our country.” He said that Guyana has been seeing the many examples of the effectiveness and efficiency of the Chinese investors and work with regards to the country’s infrastructure development. “We saw their work at the Convention Centre (the Guyana International Conference Centre), we are seeing it now at the Marriott Hotel, they way they have produced, and the quality of work that is being produced, and we see it in the rest of the region, how much they have invested,” he said. “So on behalf of the Government and people of
Guyana I want to express our sincere thanks to the Chinese Government, people and investors, and to say that I look forward to, and I am ready to say openly that we are going to put all the facilities available that we give to investors, to try to attract more investments from China, in our country, to help us build Guyana and help us reach the full potential that this country can achieve.” Infrastructure development is indispensible to Guyana achieving its full potential, and to reach this height, the country’s partnership with Chinese communities is extremely important and vital, he underscored. Construction on the Zhanghao shipyard started in 2012, but it wasn’t until late last year that construction began on the vessel that was meant to facilitate the transport of logs from Kwakwani where the company owns a logging concession. The vessel has the capacity to carry 200,000 tonnes of logs and six crew members. It will take about four days from Kwakwani to the shipyard in Coverden, laden with the logs. The vessel was constructed by the workers of the company
with 95 percent of the work being completed in just over three months. President Ramotar said that the Zhanghao investment has the potential to revitalise local ship and port making that would have declined over time in Guyana. “For me this is a really joyous occasion, because what we are seeing here is the expansion of our production capacity… this investment here will certainly help to stimulate a lot of other activities and allow the use of our rivers to cheapen transportation cost,” he said. Prime Minister Hinds expressed similar sentiments. He expressed hope that the Zhanghao investment would be the first in the journey of many leaps with regard to the opening up of a niche for medium and small ship building enterprises in Guyana. Ambassador Zhang Limin, in addition to lauding the efficiency of the Zhanghao company workers in the construction of the vessel, also expressed gratitude to the Government of Guyana, noting that the shipyard’s success would not have been possible without their cooperation. The Ambassador also said that Chinese have much more to offer Guyana once given the opportunity.
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Kaieteur News
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Feasibility studies to be done in Turkey passes law to shut schools Mazaruni for hydropower development run by Erdogan arch-rival Ankara (AFP) - Turkey’s parliament has passed a bill to close down thousands of private schools, many of which are run by an influential Muslim cleric locked in a bitter feud with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The move will strike a blow to Erdogan’s ally-turnedrival Fethullah Gulen, for whom the schools are a major source of income, as he stands accused of seeking to topple the government with a damaging corruption scandal. The bill, which was approved late on Friday, sets September 1, 2015, as the deadline to close down the network of schools. “Withdraw your kids from their schools,” Erdogan told a boisterous crowd of his party’s supporters at an election rally in Turkey’s southwest city of Denizli on Saturday. “State schools are enough for you,” he said. There are around 4,000 private schools in Turkey, including an unknown number of preparatory schools run by the movement of now US-based Gulen. Tensions have long simmered between Erdogan and Gulen, who once worked hand-in-hand as Turkey’s conservative pro-business middle class rose at the expense of the military and former secular elite. But the friction reached breaking point in November when Erdogan’s Islamicrooted government first floated the idea of shutting down the schools, which aim to help students prepare for
Fethullah Gulen high school and university. Erdogan said at the time he wanted to abolish an unfair education system. “Those who benefit from these courses are the kids of rich families in big cities,” said the premier, who himself hails from humble roots and has tried to cultivate an image as a man of the people during his time in office. Eyup Kilci, deputy principal of the Gulenaffiliated Guvender school network in Ankara, condemned the new legislation, telling AFP it gives Turkey the unenviable distinction of being “the only country which bans education activities”. Erdogan’s feud with Gulen escalated in midDecember, when dozens of the premier’s political and business allies were detained in police raids on allegations of bribery in construction projects, gold smuggling and illicit dealings with Iran. Erdogan accused so-
called Gulenists implanted in Turkey’s police and judiciary of instigating the corruption probe in a bid to undermine his government ahead of local elections on March 30 and presidential elections in August. He retaliated by sacking hundreds of police and prosecutors believed to be linked to Gulen. The scandal, which brought down four ministers and prompted a cabinet reshuffle, has evolved into the most serious challenge yet to Erdogan since his Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in 2002. This week, the graft controversy widened to directly implicate Erdogan himself, after recordings were leaked online in which the premier can allegedly be heard discussing hiding large sums of cash and conspiring to extort a bribe from a business associate. The incriminating tapes have prompted the opposition to call for Erdogan’s resignation, while angry residents have staged protests against government corruption. In a fresh rally on Saturday, some 600 protesters took to the streets in Ankara, shouting “They are thieves” and “Government, resign!”. Some demonstrators were seen handing out fake euros in a mocking reference to the leaked audio tapes, which the government insists were fabricated and have not been independently verified.
Government will be moving towards conducting pre-feasibility and feasibility studies on the development of a hydropower project in the Mazaruni, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has told the National Assembly. The Foreign Affairs Minister was at the time providing an update on the progress of discussions between Guyana and Brazil with regards to the Memorandum of Understanding on Infrastructure Development which was signed between the two countries on December 5, last, to stimulate projects in the area of hydropower, road development and the construction of a deep water port. The MOU established a Guyana-Brazil Joint Technical Group with a mandate to produce proposals for concrete actions, as well as timetables for the implementation of four projects, to be presented to the Presidents of both states. These projects were the construction of hydroelectric plants, construction of transmission lines needed to distribute any energy that will be generated eventually, improvement of the GuyanaBrazil road link and the construction of a deep water port. Minister RodriguesBirkett informed the National Assembly that after four meetings of the Joint Technical Working Group, a
– Foreign Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett report was submitted last July to the Presidents of the two states. The Minister told the House that among the recommendations in the report is that the prefeasibility and feasibility studies be carried out at two sites in the Middle and Upper Mazaruni in order to make a final determination on the way forward with respect to hydropower development. She said that Government will be moving to commence briefing with the parties represented in the National Assembly and other stakeholders, including the communities in Middle and Upper Mazaruni in the next few weeks, on the studies. The Minister added that in terms of the Linden-Lethem road, the Joint Working Group in the report advised
that to complement the work already done, an engineering design of the road must be completed in order to advance the project. She said that with regards to the development of a deep water port , t h e J o i n t Wo r k i n g G r o u p i n t h e report felt that if there was positive movement on the Linden-Lethem road and the hydro-power development, there will be automatic interest in the port by the private sector. According to the Minister, the Group, though recognising the road and the port are separate projects, felt that they are inter-related because the port will be dependent in part on goods coming out of Brazil, mainly the city of Manaus and estimated that the route will reduce time and cost associated with export from Northern Brazil. The Report has been endorsed and approved by the Presidents of both Guyana and Brazil, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said. Both Presidents have approved the establishment of a Joint Commission for the Development of Infrastructure Projects in Guyana, which would monitor the progress of the projects agreed upon, the Minister said. The Commission is being chaired on the Guyana-side by Ambassador Elisabeth Harper. (GINA)
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Sunday March 02, 2014
Govt. mulls parking ban in busy city streets to ease congestion
- live video footage of traffic situation to be aired on website The Ministries of Home Affairs and Public Works on Friday engaged a wide crosssection of stakeholders in an effort to drive home the message of safer road use as they collaborated with the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) in hosting yet another National Road Safety Conference. The theme for this year’s conference, which was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal, was “Road Safety with Your Life on the Line”. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who was the keynote speaker, said that the call for a reduction of road accidents is a call for a change of attitude among the citizenry, challenging them to be better. A Government release disclosed that one of the measures Hinds hinted that must be taken to ease congestion in the city is the removal of parking on roads and streets, particularly those located in the busiest areas. He said that this would require new businesses and buildings that are being constructed to make provisions for parking. With regards to stricter enforcement, the Prime Minister said that every police officer dealing with traffic on the road should be
armed with a breathalyzer, radar gun and a firm commitment to stamp out dangerous/reckless driving. He also suggested that warning lights be installed in strategic locations to inform drivers that they are approaching a pedestrian crossing. He added that as the country’s wealth increases, more money should be dedicated, individually and as a nation, to improve infrastructure so as to alleviate challenges such as congestion. In early January, the Home Affairs Ministry announced the division of Georgetown into four quadrants with effect from March. The four quadrants are: North West, North East, South East and South West. This decision was taken following a comprehensive analysis of traffic congestion by the National Commission on Law and Order (NCLO,) which held discussions with stakeholders. A massive awareness campaign is planned for the rolling out of this project. This will include a traffic chopper over the city to help people navigate the new routes via a broadcast on all of the FM radio stations. There will also be live cameras installed at strategic points in the city that will feed
Ministers Robeson Benn, Clement Rohee and senior joint services ranks at the National Road Safety Conference on Friday.
live footage to a website. Citizens could then log on the website on their computers, mobile phones and other devices to see what the traffic is like in a particular area. Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee said that the overall aim of the conference is to bring together as many stakeholders as possible, to exchange ideas and experiences, make constructive criticisms and recommendations and engage in frank and open discussions on the issue of
road safety. He said that the unnecessary loss of life on the roadways diminishes the country’s human resource capacity. The Minister called on citizens to take a more proactive stance against reckless drivers. He also called on the Guyana Police Force to be more vigilant and stringent in terms of enforcing the laws. “We must learn to fulfill our civic duties under the constitution…you have nothing to lose, but you may save a life,” Minister Rohee said.
At the end of last year, there was an increase of two road fatalities compared to 2012, with 112 fatalities from 103 accidents. Nevertheless, there has been a reduction of damage accidents (wreckage); while serious and minor accidents saw increases of six percent and five percent respectively. Pedestrians have been the main road users affected, with 39 persons having lost their lives at the end of 2013. Additionally, 18 motor cyclists, 13 pedal cyclists, 17 drivers of other motor vehicles, three pillion riders
and 22 passengers of motor vehicles also lost their lives. Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 72 of the 103 fatal accidents recorded for the period under review. Moreover, 21 of these motorists were found to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time. Traffic enforcement by the police during 2013 resulted in a total of 84,470 cases being made against errant motorists; of this total 22, 389 cases were for speeding.
AC Unit arrives for New Vet Lab - another contract to be awarded Three witnesses called in The state of the art air conditioning unit from Texas, United States, has arrived in Guyana, and will soon be installed at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory erected at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. This was according to Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who said that an additional contract has been awarded for the installation of the equipment. The cost of the AC unit is inclusive in the lab’s US $2.5M overall cost. The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory was to have been completed last November, but the Agriculture Minister said that this was because the AC unit had not yet arrived. The late delivery of the equipment caused months of delays for the completion of the lab. Dr. Ramsammy, during a recent interview with Kaieteur News, said that the
Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy AC unit will be installed in a few weeks. He could not say which entity has been contracted to install the equipment. “The building itself is completed. The floors and so are done,” Dr. Ramsammy said. Now that the equipment has finally arrived, the
completion of the project remains dependent on the installation of the air condition unit. Once the air conditioning unit is installed, the final touches to the building will commence, and after being fully equipped with the necessary tools and technologies, the Vet Lab will become operational. This is likely to be done before yearend. Dr. Ramsammy recently expressed pleasure with the construction of the facility. He added that he is confident that the facility will be beneficial to the livestock sector. The laboratory will have the capability to test, detect and diagnose diseases affecting animals, ultimately improving the livestock sector. It is being built on the site where the Animal Health (Continued on page 64)
Corentyne murder trial
The murder trial of the two Corentyne men, Joshua Persaud called ‘Sunny Boy’ and ‘Bun Boy’, and Raphael Rene Morrison called “Red Head”, continued on Wednesday before Justice Diana Insanally and a mixed jury in the Berbice High Court with the state calling three witnesses. The two men are indicted for the murder of Marlon Andrew Ramcharran who was 18 when he was killed on June 3, last year along a street in Block C Tain, New Housing Area. Before the witnesses were called, State Prosecutor, Attorney at Law Renita Singh made opening statements. She told the court that on June 3, last year, Ramcharran who lived with his mother at Tain was at a bar in the village where he
met Nicholas Beharry and Rakesh Jaikarran. During the time, one of Nicholas’ friends borrowed his bicycle to go to ‘Dust Till Dawn’. The men subsequently went in search of the friend to retrieve the bicycle. Around 02:30 hrs on the day in questioned the friends left the bar. Marlon went ahead and his two friends followed behind. The friends subsequently heard Marlon pleading ‘you chopping the wrong person’. Beharry and Rakesh then ran to where Marlon was shouting and there they saw the two accused chopping him. Marlon subsequently fell to the ground. The court was told that after the two accused saw the two witnesses they started to chase after them forcing them to flee for their lives. According to Singh the
deceased was later found to be lying in a pool of blood. The State called three witnesses, including the dead youth’s father, Surendra Ramcharan, who identified the body. Police detective Andel Doris testified to taking photographs of the scene. The third witness Molchan Raghubir testified that on the night in question the number one accused, Persaud, went to his house in company with Morrison and demanded a cutlass from him. A post mortem examination preformed on the body by Dr. Nehal Singh revealed that the cause of death was due to shock and hemorrhage due to multiple incised wounds. The men are being represented by Attorney at Law Mursalene Bacchus. The trial continues.
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GNCPP hosts Atlanta-based Guyanese donor on fact-finding mission By Zena Henry Fifty-six year-old Nabaclis-born Eslene Richmond-Shockley started an Atlanta- based $25M charity, Caring for Others Inc. with $25; now on a factfinding mission here, she is seeking to give back immensely to her homeland. The Guyana National Council on Public Policy (GNCPP), led by Dr. Philip Mozart Thomas, hosted Ms. Richmond-Shockley, founder and Head of the Atlanta, Georgia, USA-based Human Services Organization. Caring for Others Inc. has mobilized prominent individuals and leading American Corporations to assist the needy in many countries — from Nigeria to the Philippines to Antigua and elsewhere. Ms. RichmondShockley explained that the organization seeks to “alleviate poverty around world one family at a time.” Returning to Guyana 13 years later, Ms Richmond Shockley said she is “appalled and disgusted by the level of poverty”. Her mission here is to assess the ways in which she could render assistance. “I am on a fact-finding mission here in Guyana to see what are the needs and level of poverty.” She said it is even more disturbing to her, “…since it is my home. Poverty in Guyana is heartbreaking.” Ms. Richmond-Shockley explained that, “I am not here for politics or for social media. I am just here for the needy and to see how I can help.” On this trip, Ms Richmond-Shockley said she partnered with the United Nations Association of Guyana. With Justice Donald Trotman, she said they were able to distribute products to East Coast communities such as Haslington, Enmore, Golden Grove, Nabaclis, Cove and John and Victoria. But what was brought in was not enough for everyone in need. This Ms Richmond-
From one calamity to another is the case of some in this country. The police are doing a lot of work trying to solve crimes, largely because of a piece of equipment they received. So far they have had an inside track on some cold cases. But that would not stop some people from pursuing a life of crime. There will be another crime of passion in the city because of economic pressure. A man is going to attack his spouse because he perceives that she is
Caring for Others Inc. founder Ms Richmond-Shockley (fourth from left) stands at the National Headquarters in Atlanta with organization associates
Shockley said gave her even more impetus to do more for the people. Caring for Others Inc brought into the East Coast communities what Ms RichmondShockley described as household effects; bed sheets, towels, clothing, shoes, rain boots and underwear. “Everything we have at Caring for Others is brand new. We do not bring in used anything; we don’t give anybody used products. The thing with our organization is that we exist to help those without the basic necessities to live with dignity; and to help those people we must help them with dignity.” The organization has a wide range of donors ranging from clothing and food producers to banks and other corporate institutions. Ms Richmond-Shockley said she came from humble beginnings. “We grew up extremely
playing him for his lack of money. ** The fires are not yet over. Another house is going to go up in flames. The cause of the fire would be undetermined, but that is going to spark rumours. One rumour would
poor in Nabaclis, and after losing my parents at a young age, without much help, I managed to go to the United States to stud y. I w a s luckily able to overcome the obstacles in my way. I worked in the corporate arena. To d a y, I w o r k f o r myself with one of the largest charities in Atlanta, and I am just here to help.” Ms Richmond-Shockley said her calling came from God. She said she could have returned to the corporate world, but her interest went into looking out for others. “I started this organization with twentyfive dollars and grew it into what it is today, with kind donations valuing twentyfive million dollars today.” The organization started 13 years ago and it was really to help persons in her community during the Christmas season. Her task is to travel the United
be rooted in the belief that the people were involved in something clandestine when the operation went wrong. ** Look out for an upsurge in drug smuggling. Pressure to get cocaine through the main airport would cause a shift to the east. But even here the local media would report that the police there have arrested two Guyanese with the prohibited substance. Simultaneously, there would be other arrests here in Guyana.
States soliciting donors who can donate and are also able to see where their donations are going and what they are doing. The former resident of 35 Nabaclis Public Road said she has a full volunteer service. D r. T h o m a s o f t h e GNCPP will coordinate local efforts and charity work to be done since Ms Richmond-Shockley will not always be here in Guyana. Accompanying Ms. Richmond-Shockley during the first three days of her home-coming visit was A t l a n t a ’s City Councilman Kwanza Hall, r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of that c i t y ’s b u s t l i n g D i s t r i c t Two. Mr. Hall while on the road to being the state’s Mayor is Caring for Others I n c . ’s goodwill ambassador. Invited by Ms. Richmond-Shockley,
the Councilman has now pledged to explore the possibility of proposing the twinning of Atlanta and Georgetown, as well as identifying possible partnerships between appropriate Georgia and Guyanese charities. Councilman Hall, whose father was an ally of the late Civil Rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was here in his private capacity to manifest his interest in the G N C P P ’s T h i n k Ta n k programme for 2014 and beyond. GNCPP stated that previous difficulties with administrative procedures here had temporarily influenced Ms. RichmondShockley to discontinue charitable donations to her native Guyana. D r. Thomas, however, had no difficulty in persuading the Guyanese patriot to reconsider her decision,
which she willingly has done. Besides early assistance with the establishment of a network of GNCPP-inspired Church Pantries for the underfed, Caring For Others Inc. has already listened to requests from charities on the East Coast Demerara and from a number of Faithbased organizations which attended an outreach session convened by the GNCPP. Requests from a group working with former prison-inmates were also entertained. Ms. Richmond-Shockley is also to assess needs in Region one. Her first encounter, however, was with the Executive of the Guyana Relief Council, where a significant presentation was made by GRC Chairperson Yvonne Hinds. A partnership is to be established very soon.
Ms Richmond-Shockley and Dr. Thomas in discussion over Guyana’s charity prospects
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Sunday March 02, 2014
A bullet to the back of the head By Michael Jordan It was at around 06:00 hrs on December 12, 2005, that the female security guard noticed a red Mitsubishi Lancer, licence number HB 1188, parked off the roadway in Woolford Avenue. The driver, a young man of East Indian ancestry, appeared to be sleeping inside. The door on the driver’s side was slightly ajar. The guard went to the car, pushed her hand through the open door and tapped the driver on the shoulder. “Wha’ happen chap, is six o’clock… get up,” she said. But the driver remained motionless, and it was then that the guard saw the blood at the back of the young man’s head and realised that he would never wake up. Detectives who arrived at the scene observed that the victim had been shot to the back of the head. Investigators ruled out robbery, since a quantity of money was found in the vehicle. However, they later learned that the driver ’s mobile phone was missing. Two live rounds and a bullet casing were found at the scene. The victim was later identified as Ricardo Ramsarran of La Grange, West Bank Demerara. They also learnt that a woman who was in Ramsarran’s car had reportedly witnessed his murder and had also narrowly escaped being killed. The woman, a resident of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, said Ramsarran had picked her up at around 19:30 hrs on December 11, 2005, at a Vlissengen Road fast food outlet. This was done after the woman contacted him by phone. She said she had known Ramsarran for about four months and would usually use his taxi when she was in Georgetown. According to the
passenger, Ramsarran had a cooking gas cylinder in his car and said that he had to drop it off. The woman alleged that it was raining at the time and she was unaware where they were heading. She claimed that shortly after they had commenced their journey, a white car pulled up alongside Ramsarran’s vehicle. A man in the front seat reportedly pointed a handgun at Ramsarran and ordered him to ‘pull over’. According to her story, the gunman and another man, who was armed with a stick, emerged from the car. She alleged that the gunman then dragged Ramsarran from the taxi and after slapping him, ordered Ramsarran to hand over his valuables. She said that the gunman then pushed Ramsarran back into his taxi and shot him. The woman claimed that after shooting Ramsarran, the gunman and his accomplice turned their attention to her. She said the bandits relieved her of her bag, which contained cash and other documents. One of the men allegedly said “leh we kill she too.” She claimed the gunman then pressed the weapon to her head and squeezed the trigger. She said that luckily, she managed to shift her head and the bullet merely grazed her. Apparently believing that she was dead, the men reentered their car and drove off. The woman claimed that she lost consciousness for about ten minutes. She said that when she regained her senses, she walked a short distance up Woolford Avenue and sought help from a passing cyclist. However, she said that the man rode off without helping her and she received a similar response from a male security guard. The woman said she eventually received help from a female security guard who flagged down a car which took her to the Georgetown
Ricardo Ramsarran Public Hospital. She claimed to have related the story to the nurses and security staff. She alleged that at the time, she had assumed that Ramsarran was still alive and only learnt that he had succumbed after being questioned by the police. Detectives checked the slain man’s background, but reportedly found nothing unsavory about him. They learned that ‘Ricky’, as he was called, was an ex-student of St. Joseph High School. He was also planning to become engaged to his childhood girlfriend, who had attended the same institution. The investigators attempted to trace his last movements. According to reports, on the night of December 11, 2005, Ramsarran had travelled to Mon Repos to see a close friend, who is a mechanic. The mechanic recalled that
Ramsarran had received two calls from a mobile phone. One of the calls was from a woman who wanted him to pick her up at a Vlissengen Road fast food outlet, to take her home “over the river.” According to this report, ‘Ricky’ was initially reluctant to take the job, but eventually consented. At around 21:00 hrs, he received an overseas call from his mother, Jasoda Ramasarran, who indicated that she was coming from the US over the weekend. Mrs. Ramsarran recalled that ‘Ricky’ had warned her to be careful when she returned home, since several brutal crimes, including the beheading of an overseasbased Guyanese, had recently occurred. After returning to Guyana, Ricky’s grief-stricken mother, and his father, began to conduct their own
investigations into their son’s murder. For one thing, while Ricky’s body and his vehicle were found in Woolford Avenue, the couple believed that he was slain elsewhere. And as strange as it may seem, Mrs. Ramsarran believed that her son had tried to contact her from beyond the grave. She recalled that on one occasion, ‘Ricky’ appeared to her in a dream and said that he was murdered “over the river.” And on the day that he was cremated, she also dreamed of a “tallish, dougla man” who had stared at her intently. She was convinced that the man she saw was real and that this individual had killed her son. Convinced that the dreams held important clues to their son’s death, Mr. Eric Ramsarran decided to make inquiries at the Demerara Harbour Bridge. According to the Ramsarrans, security personnel at the Harbour Bridge gave them records which showed that Ricky Ramsarran had crossed the bridge from Georgetown at around 22:00 hrs on the same night he was slain. They were adamant that this showed that their son had travelled either to the West Coast or West Bank of Demerara after picking up his female passenger. They also believed that this proved that he was not murdered in Woolford Avenue. According to Mrs. Ramsarran, when she voiced her suspicions, one of the investigators also confided that they too believed that her son was slain elsewhere. Investigators turned their attention to Ricky’s female
passenger. She was detained for three days at the East La Penitence Police Station while detectives tried to ascertain whether she could assist in solving the case. Detectives detained her again on December 30, 2005, and again on July 11, 2006. The investigators opined that she had given conflicting statements about the events leading up to Ramsarran’s death. “She claims that she was in the car and records show that the car was over the river at the time she claimed that the murder occurred, so we had to question her again,” a police official stated. However, the woman was eventually released. Her relatives insist that she cooperated fully with the police. In 2007, Mrs. Ramsarran said that they were informed that the report on the case is at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. That year, the family held a memorial service for their slain son. “We don’t want this case to be forgotten,” Mrs. Ramsarran had told me at the time. “This is a mother’s heart that is breaking and I want answers to who killed my son and why.” If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown offices. Our numbers are 22-58465, 2258473 and 22-58458. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address: mjdragon@hotmail.com.
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Kaieteur News
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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
Every young Guyanese has an obligation to him/herself to leave this country behind Imagine waking up in the morning to find your neighbour brutalized to death. You run to the phone and for the rest of the day the police still haven’t showed. Imagine you closed up your jewellery store and the bandits trailed you and in the robbery they shoot your wife to death in front of you; six weeks pass and the police are yet to interview you. Imagine your child goes to university in the 21st century and the college has no bookstore, and there are no photocopying facilities in the library, a service almost every university in the world has. Imagine, you are shopping in the heart of the city, and as you look in front and behind you and over your shoulders, you think the world has come to an end because civilization in that country has been replaced by garbage. Imagine you accompanied your dad when you were eighteen to the registry of the High Court of your country and you see sewage floating in front of the office your dad had to pass through. You add
eighteen more years onto your life, you are a dad now and you take your child to that very registry and the sewage still flows like the rivers of Babylon. There are only two differences – your dad is very old now and the group that sang Rivers of Babylon disbanded a long time ago. Imagine your parents say to you that it is time you leave Berbice now that you have grown up and start exploring your country. Your parents buy a car for you, you take your Berbician friends for a ride in Georgetown but tragedy strikes because ninety percent of the one-way roads are unmarked and you went the wrong way on one of these roads. Poor you! If only the signs were there, your friends’ lives could have been spared. Imagine your aunt cried to you over her GPL bill which is $100,000 and her shop was closed for more than five years and when you sought an explanation you were told that since the meter stopped working for over five years
then electricity theft was the answer. Imagine you woke up a morning to find out that the police tortured a fifteen-yearold and severely burnt his reproductive areas and no one lost his job, absolutely no one. Imagine you wake up a morning and find out that a police pushed a baton up the rectum of an accused youth rupturing his intestines and life in your country goes on as normal. Imagine you wake up a morning to find out that the police shot dead three unarmed protestors and injured twenty more and life goes on as normal. Imagine your uncle is closing down his business because just after two hours, (not twenty-two) hours of rain, his shop is flooded and that happens once a week. Your uncle had enough. Imagine your friend got shot and you rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital and the internal bleeding threatens his life because when you look at the clock he is sitting on a stink bench in an awful smelling
emergency unit for five hours unattended. Imagine the revenue authorities found out that one of the most important civil servants signed more than fifty bogus duty free letters and he was promoted. Imagine you woke up a morning and read in the newspaper that per capita, your country must have the highest vehicular accident rate globally but the police only have three breathalyzers. Imagine you wake up a morning and read that one of the richest men in the Caribbean physically intimidated NIS inspectors who were trying to ascertain if he pays national insurance for his workers and this man is a close friend of your country’s president.
Imagine your government is so silly, barefaced and downright asinine to inform you through the media that it has finally acquired in January 2014 an automated fingerprinting system that was invented over fifty years ago and has been used in the world fifty years ago and that you saw in the movies made fifty years ago. Then like Archimedes, these moronic, Faustian caricatures ran out onto the streets shouting, “eureka, eureka.” What did they find? The automated fingerprinting system detected persons accused of murders that took place years ago. These Archimedean clowns, acting like the naked emperor, cannot see their
Frederick Kissoon primitive civilization has caused many murders to go undetected because their forensic resources were more backward than in the days of ‘Jack the Ripper’. Imagine you are twenty years of age and you see this is what your country is like. Imagine saying to yourself, “Why should I stay in this hell hole where the basic things in life are missing, the fundamental things a country should have are missing; no I am leaving, never to come back.”
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 02, 2014
Opposition urged to mobilize to support development initiatives The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), since its establishment, continues to work assiduously to promote and develop a deep sense of patriotism and nationalism. The Party believes that the demonstration and practice of such patriotic values are not only a national imperative for development but also for the unity and cohesion for the nation as a whole. As our nation continues on its development trajectory, not only has economic growth been achieved but all of our peoples from the various social strata have been positively impacted by the benefits which have
accrued through the overwhelming social and infrastructural developments. This is demonstrative of the commitment of the PPP/C administration to provide a better life for all Guyanese. The achievements over the many years were not realized only by the strong commitment of our Party and Government but also through the diligent efforts and dedication of the sons and daughters of our dear land who responded enthusiastically to the call in October 1992 by the PPP/C Government for “Time for Change, Time to Rebuild” and who have put their shoulders to the wheel and made tremendous sacrifices to make Guyana what it is today. Having advanced our country from a poor to a developing one, and while many successes have been achieved, we believe that there is still much more to be
done to realize the country’s true potential. It is in this context that our Party remains convinced that the opposition can endeavour to be more supportive not only by their actions but through the responsibilities they have to their constituencies. The Party therefore calls on the Opposition to commit itself to all aspects of our nation’s development and to put our country first so that the wellbeing of all Guyanese can continue to be safeguarded. We urge the Opposition to mobilize its members and supporters to support the various initiatives the Government is undertaking to continuously carve a better and brighter Guyana. Some of these initiatives include the anti-littering “Pick It Up” campaign and the Stray Catchers program which not only have a
positive impact on the aesthetic of our surroundings, but also for a healthier environment and safer roadways respectively. Similarly, support for the campaign to protect our mangroves which help to mitigate the harsh consequences of climate change must be encouraged. Support for the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) by the Opposition, provides an opportunity for them to demonstrate their nationalism for an initiative that has immense benefits for all. The LCDS has encompassed a number of projects for sustainable development which will lead to a positive transformation of our country, among them being the Amaila Falls Hydroelectricity project whose economic benefits have been thoroughly articulated in the public domain. The potential it holds for the transformation of our country is indeed overwhelming. In addition to these, we also urge the Opposition to support the government’s security initiatives which
include fighting crime and drug trafficking; the efforts to prevent smuggling and contraband across our borders; the efforts to combat human trafficking; the fight against lawlessness in an effort to maintain peace and good order; the prevention of squatting and the destruction of government reserves and public property. The Firearms Amendment Bill, the SWAT Unit and the Anti-money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, are some of the more recent measures government moved to implement to combat crime and to aid in national security. All Guyanese would be better served if these efforts are supported and not be used for divisive purposes. Given the current challenges faced, the need for all to give support, including the Opposition and its supporters, is crucial. We would like to reiterate that the welfare and wellbeing of our people remain the PPP/ C administration’s developmental thrust. It is therefore of utmost importance that the Opposition ensures
that its members and supporters support the government’s violence prevention action plan. A lack of support in this regard has the potential to create a negative influence for investors. Over the years the government has worked tirelessly to create an enabling environment so that investors can continue to enjoy stability which is critical to their investments. Our Party is rooted in the firm belief that for our rapid development to be sustained the support of all is needed. We therefore encourage the opposition to mobilize its support behind Government’s programs and policies. We believe that the interest of Guyanese would be better served if the opposition were to re-direct their energies towards the national goals and continued prosperity of our people instead of the negative stance they have taken on budget cuts, key development projects and security. The PPP calls on the opposition to give genuine and tangible support to the developmental goals of the Government.
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
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MY COLUMN
The construction boom exposes engineering failings There is a boom in the construction industry. Everyone recognizes that the offshoot of the price of gold was responsible. Many people enjoyed the trickledown effect because the people who actually mined the yellow stuff were the ordinary man. He might have been working for someone, but with the high price the pay was good. However, many a small man worked the claim and when he got his earnings he opted to make his life better than it has ever been. Some bought homes, some built and others bought minibuses which they used to further boost their income. The business community also enjoyed the boom and most sought to expand with the hope of attracting even more and this is where the problem began. In Georgetown, many of the already rich businessmen put up high-rise buildings. Indeed, these buildings would change the face of Georgetown forever. From the “quaint wooden city�
Georgetown is fast becoming a concrete jungle with tall buildings, many of which would put pressure on the already beleaguered electricity company. That may be the most serious of the problems, because many of the contractors working on these buildings are not as qualified as they should be. Putting up tall buildings is something that demands that many factors be taken into consideration. For one, there must be a solid foundation based on certain technical capabilities. It has not escaped notice that the Chinese contractors working on the Marriott Hotel actually said that they adopted a technique that negated the use of piles. I saw when they were constructing the Pegasus Hotel they drove huge piles into the ground. There was a pond on the location and Taylor Woodrow, the foreign contractors, were at pains to ensure that when they put up the hotel they had done everything to ensure that the structure did not sink.
The Marriott is a different kettle, but with the development of technology, one must appreciate what the Chinese say they have done. I did see images of a tall building in China that fell on its side. I am not sure about the extent of fatalities, but I must say that the images were dramatic. But back home I do not know that our contractors working on our mudflats are as adept as the Chinese. A few weeks ago, on North Road, I saw workmen feverishly demolishing a tall building. It was far from complete but it has started to sink and threatened to collapse. Who passed the plan is not known. I do know that when I first asked City Hall about the demolition programme, the officials there could not provide an answer. This meant that the City Council did not have a clue about the construction and even less about the reason for the demolition. In Lodge, I am seeing another building that has
begun to lean precariously eastward and threatening to come down on the homes nearby. The contractor is working feverishly to avoid further tilting of this building that is sinking into the ground and threatening to collapse. In each case, a lot of money has gone to waste and this has come at a time when the price of gold has slumped. There is no cash cow to refinance what has been lost in the construction of the buildings. The engineers supervising these projects must take blame. On Lamaha Street at the junction with Albert Street, there are tall concrete buildings. The engineer, I am told, is Walter Willis. He was properly trained so he knows what he is talking about when he advises a contractor. But one is at a loss to appreciate who is working with the other contractors. In other countries, such people would face harsh sanctions, even jail, if the buildings collapse and kill people. And collapse is not farfetched. I saw a
construction in Eccles where the face of a home being constructed for a middle income Guyanese came crashing down. I never found out who had to cut losses, but I do know that there are similarly substandard constructions all over the place as the building boom continues. I would have expected that given the boom, places like the University of Guyana would have been bursting at the seams to produce engineers who would have been in demand. There are so many things happening in the country. Roads are being built; there is to be a new Demerara Harbour Bridge. These are major constructions. And talking about constructions, it has not escaped notice that talks with the Brazilians about hydroelectricity do not include the Amaila Falls. I would have thought that with the road almost completed that would have been an area of focus. It would seem that the Brazilians know what time of the day it is when it comes
Adam Harris to the Amaila Falls. So perhaps those who opposed it did the country a favour. Word out of North Korea is that the country is in darkness. When I was there in 1983 the country was building the Nampo Lock Gate, a massive project that saw them damming a river to establish a hydroelectric facility. That project was completed and for a long time it did supply gigawatts of power, so something must have gone wrong.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 02, 2014
PPP wants to save its gravy train By Rajendra Bissessar On the morning of the 22nd of February, approaching 8 a.m., I tuned in to NCN. What I saw immediately reminded me of what Minister Rohee complained about. He complained about the unbalanced coverage the Government was receiving from Stabroek News. And I experienced the exact reverse, only it was 100% biased in favour of the government. The programme was dealing with the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act. It featured Minister Anil Nandlall and Minister Ashni Singh. Nandlall spoke of the Amendment sought by APNU to have searches and accountability for monies in the possession of citizens amounting to 2 million or more. I hasten to say that I am not in favour of this amendment nor, as far as I am aware, is the leadership of the Alliance For Change. Nandlall criticized APNU for not being able to, since 2009, come up with amendments to support its contention that the Bill needs to be strengthened. I am not here to defend APNU. Ashni Singh also raised the matter and considered that it was contempt for the people that from 2009 to the present, only until recently APNU could not come up with its amendments. Singh emphasized that the Opposition since 2011 had
- AFC says no to ‘no objection clause’ the majority in Parliament and could have done so. He said the Opposition was contemptuous of the people. Well this is indeed laughable, for the government had the majority from before 2009 to nearly the end of 2011 and the big question is: why did it not pass the amendments. Singh went on to frighten the nation by saying that remittance companies may very well withdraw their services, and even those who maintain their services would have to raise fees, and the remittance would flow erratically and this would affect people who need the money to provide food, and to take care of other necessary expenditure. There is no indication that indeed this would be so. What was indeed glaring here is the omission by NCN to bring on camera anyone from the Opposition, and so these two PPP leaders had a field day pedaling their distortions. I will digress a bit to state that Ashni Singh recognizes that despite the growth levels they seem so proud about, after 21 years of PPP rule our people would suffer tremendously if Guyanese overseas do not offer welfare handouts to our people. But having said that, I will point out that the PPP had the majority in parliament from the
same 2009 that Ashni spoke about, so would we not consider, in light of the recognition of the hardships our people would face, that the PPP and Ashni Singh and Nandlall were contemptuous of the people as they did not utilize their majority to pass the amendments. It seems that their very understanding of the hardships mentioned would have forced them to prioritise the passing of the said amendments. The major question here is why did the PPP, with its built-in majority, not table and pass the amendments between 2009 and 2011. Recently, out of the magical hat, Rohee pulled out a statement that the AFC does not want the AML Bill passed because it is tight with the drug lords and wants to protect them. Well this may very well be the biggest joke of the year, as everyone knows of the development and expansion of the drug trade under the PPP/C government. What is very noticeable is that although the Money Laundering (Prevention) Act was passed in 2000 by the PPP administration and assented to 14 years ago, it was never enforced. We must be reminded that under international pressures the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the
Financing of Terrorism Act of 2009 was enacted and assented to in August 2009. This also was never fully enforced. As there was not a single report, no investigations and no one was ever charged. I am wondering that since Rohee, who is the Minister of Home Affairs, pronounced that there is a connection between the AFC and the drug lords, why he has not moved to investigate that connection. I recall that the GRA sent its officers to seize the files from the offices of Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo for investigation, so why were there no investigations of the so-recognizable overnight rags to riches persons? Some of them travel with diplomatic immunity and so their suitcases are never searched. The Financial Intelligence Unit was set up, but it has not been given the required resources, so it was never given the capacity to carry on its work. Clearly the PPP/C Administration was in no hurry to consider legislative changes, even though it had a clear majority from 2001 to 2011. Clearly it postponed the tabling of the Amendment required by CFATF until the last moment and now that the non-passing of the
Amendments would cause Guyana to be blacklisted and financial transactions would be subjected to stringent scrutiny its (PPP/C’s) money laundering friends are worried. The AFC is of the position that money laundering is facilitated through the issue of contracts and so has demanded that the Procurement Commission, a constitutional requirement, be put in place. This is another issue that betrays the PPP/C’s lack of interest in dealing with money laundering and corruption in general, it being part and parcel of the major corruption. In 2003 the corruption was not so deep-rooted, and so the PPP took a position that was lauded. It promoted the relinquishment of Cabinet’s authority over procurement matters. Now when the corruption has become deeprooted, an admission by no other than his Excellency the President Donald Ramotar, it is backsliding and wants the opposition to agree to amend the act to put back the no objection clause that the party itself argued strongly should be removed. The then Finance Minister, Sasenarine Kowlessar, uttered these words: “Mr. Chairman, I move the following amendment. Insert the following subsection (6) to Clause 54 to read as follows: “Cabinet’s involvement under this section shall cease upon the constitution of the Public Procurement Commission”. The PPP government
promised that the Procurement Commission would be put in place immediately upon the assenting of the Act. A few days ago the President is trying to get the vote of the AFC by saying he has two days before the deadline to do so. Why did he not commence after the last deadline? And in any event, he knows the AFC will not give in to the ‘no objection’ by cabinet. Today with the deeprooted corruption, in the words of the leader of the AFC Khemraj Ramjattan, “this Government now realises that its most sumptuous gravy train will be halted; and, secondly, so too will its shameless and blatant exercise of favouritism in the grant of contracts over $15M for materials, services and supplies come to an abrupt end”. The AFC is willing to compromise and would amend the Act to allow Cabinet and others to bring their objections to the Procurement Commission to be considered. If the PPP is serious about stopping money laundering and the deep-rooted corruption, it would agree to set up the constitutionallyrequired Procurement Commission, but recognizes that the way forward would require APNU to give the necessary two-thirds vote so all are involved. The Private Sector, The Caribbean Secretariat and other international agencies and governments calling for the passing of the Amendments to the AML must also insist on the setting up of the Public Procurement Commission.
Sunday March 02, 2014
GRA’s Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur SUNDAY SPECIAL MAJOR PROBE LAUNCHED INTO REMIGRANT VEHICLE RACKET A major police investigation has been launched into a multi-million dollar fraud scheme involving duty-free concessions for vehicles, with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Saturday saying that former staffers may be involved. With millions of dollars at stake, Commissioner-General of the GRA, Khurshid Sattaur disclosed that “recently, it was reported to management that persons allegedly posing as remigrants are benefiting others who are supposedly financing highly illegal schemes to grant themselves with the concessions for various classes of luxury vehicles.” It has not been the first time that reports have surfaced over fraudulent duty-free concessions for vehicles. Under the tax concession, remigrants are allowed to bring in their vehicles and belongings once they show evidence of ownership for a while. The taxes, normally charged, are waived. Among other evidence, copies of registrations and even insurance are required. In the past, a racket involving what appeared to be forged duty-free letters was discovered, but there have been recurring reports that somehow, the systems have continuously been bypassed. Sattaur, in a GRA statement last week Saturday, said that it would appear from recent revelations that attempts are being made by disgraced elements “officers who would have been disciplined and taxpayers who would have been placed before the courts” to resort to undermining the efforts made by management to address various areas of weakness in administrative controls and to exploit such weaknesses.
Kaieteur News
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Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo POLICE NAB FIVE AFTER GAS STATION ROBBERY - BANDITS THREATENED TO TORCH PUMP ATTENDANTS Prompt and strategic action by officers attached to ‘D’ Division of the Guyana Police Force was instrumental in the apprehension of five bandits mere hours after they carried out a daring heist at ‘On the Go’ Gas Station at Nismes, West Bank Demerara, last week Friday night. The bandits, all of whom are said to be in their 20s, were able to amass an undisclosed sum of cash, cellular phones and interestingly enough, several containers of ice-cream and a bread from the Gas Station’s mini-mart. According to Pump attendant, Ameer Khan, he and another pump attendant, Seon Trotman, and a few other guys and one female were in the mini-mart of the gas station watching wrestling on television when the bandits struck. Khan said that three of the men had earlier visited the gas station in a black car to purchase $500 of gasoline for the vehicle. He recalled that the driver of the vehicle was slow in opening the gas tank and was even slower in paying for the sale. “He pay me with a $1,000 bill and I pull out the money I had in me pocket to give he change and I see that he look at the money I tek out, but me ain’t really tek it for nothing.” He said that the men headed south along the West Bank Demerara road but appeared to pull over soon after leaving. Khan said that since neither he nor any of the others, in the mini-mart was suspicious of the men they all continued to watch wrestling. MONDAY EDITION JAGDEO AIRDASHED TO FLORIDA HOSPITAL Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo was in a Florida Hospital last weekend, having been airdashed to the United States of America.
According to reports, Jagdeo had a persistent fever and diarrhea. A privately-owned Lear jet out of Florida landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) shortly after 21:00 hours Friday night. Jagdeo’s entourage comprising Dr. Ranjisinghi Ramroop and his (Jagdeo’s) security detail arrived at the airport at 22:00 hours. The aircraft took off for Florida at 22:30 hours. This publication understands that the chartering of a Lear Jet, from Florida to Guyana and back for a medivac, would cost between US$35,000 (G$7M) and US$40,000 (G$8M). On May 28, 2009, then President Jagdeo assented to the controversial Former Presidents (Benefits and Facilities) Bill bringing it into to law. Under that Act, he would receive free medical attention and medical treatment, paid for by the state, or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by him for the medical attention or treatment of himself and the dependant members of his family. Jagdeo became Guyana’s youngest ever President when his predecessor Janet Jagan demitted office in 1999. He served until the elections in 2011 when he was succeeded by President Donald Ramotar. NATIONALLEADERS COME TOGETHER FOR 44TH REPUBLIC ANNIVERSARY FLAG RAISING CEREMONY In spite of Guyana’s turbulent political past and the recent struggles for agreement on nationalistic issues between the country’s political leaders, last Sunday’s Republic
Anniversary Flag Raising Ceremony, served as a most sobering reminder of just how important it is for all citizens to channel their energies toward the development of the nation. The momentous occasion which heralded Guyana’s 44th year of having attaining Republican status, was the first event to officially start off the Mash Day celebrations and it was done in exceptionally fine style. The activity commenced at precisely 6:15am, with a parade of male and female officers from the Joint Services who marched the almost 400 metres from the Ministry of Home Affairs on Brickdam to Parliament Buildings. Onlookers who stood outside continued to watch from a distance as they too were not only impressed by the officers but most importantly proud of them. The Parliament building itself was appropriately decorated with the bright colours of the National Flag, The Golden Arrow Head, which could be seen on its frontal exterior. The event was well attended by members of the Government and Opposition as well as the Diplomatic Corps. It also saw the attendance of several heads of local agencies. President Donald Ramotar and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds were given special salutes by the officers of the Guyana Defence Force. TUESDAY EDITION JAGDEO BENEFITS FROM PENSION PACKAGE …STATE TO FOOT MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR MEDICAL COST
Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, is a private citizen and can choose to seek medical help wherever he wants, said Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran. Dr. Ramsaran was not at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) when Jagdeo was medivaced to a Florida Hospital, reportedly suffering from persistent fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Dr. Ramsaran said Monday that he was unaware of Jagdeo’s ailment. He added that while he is close to the former President, he does not have to answer to Jagdeo anymore. According to Dr. Ramsaran, he was only made aware of the President’s ailment through media reports. He described the former President’s ailment as a private matter. Asked repeatedly about the fact that it is the state that would have to foot the bill for Jagdeo’s treatment, the Minister maintained that it is a ‘private matter’. Asked whether the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), could have dealt with Jagdeo’s fever, vomiting and diarrhea, the Minister said that this is possible, but was adamant that he was unaware of what was afflicting the former President and as such could not offer a comment. He said that like any private citizen, Jagdeo is entitled to choose wherever he wants to seek medical attention. Jagdeo was flown to a Florida Hospital, two Fridays ago and accompanying him was Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, who was described as his best friend. How long he has had the existing condition is still to be
ascertained. PETRO-CARIBE OIL DEAL…START PREPARING TO PAY MORE FOR IMPORTED OIL – SIR RONALD SANDERS As unrest continues in Venezuela, the pressure may be on Guyana and 16 other Petro Caribe nations to start thinking about buying oil at market prices. As of Monday last, at least 13 persons have died, over 500 charged and almost 50 thrown in jail following the almost twoweek-old protests in the neighbouring country. About 150 people have been injured, authorities say. Former Caribbean diplomat and business analyst, Sir Ronald Sanders, has urged Caribbean governments that are members of the Petro Caribe Agreement with Venezuela, to start preparing for the worst case scenario, by adjusting their budgets to take account of the loss of benefits now derived from the oil ar angement. “This is especially important for the countries of the Eastern Caribbean that appear to have made little provision for the possibility that the arrangements with Venezuela could end abruptly.” The 10-month-old Nicolas Maduro government is facing one of its worst unrests over food shortages and foreign currencies, with calls for steps to be taken to reverse the current decline of that neighbouring country’s economic decline. Already, Guyana and the Caribbean (Continued on page 45)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 02, 2014
Let’s save our capital city The City of Georgetown – Guyana’s more than 200year-old national capital – is in a state of crisis. It is a well-known fact that Greater Georgetown’s commercial, demographic and geographical expansion over the past four decades has been the major contributory factor to the present situation. The population has grown to about 250,000. The area swelled to 40 km² and boundaries now include the former ‘rural’ plantations of Pattensen, Sophia and Turkeyen on the East Coast and the villages of Houston, McDoom and Agricola on the East Bank Demerara. The city is home to the main commercial port and is now served by its own municipal aerodrome at Ogle. It is the seat of the National Assembly; Supreme Court; Central Bank; Police and Defence Force Headquarters; government ministries and many more
institutions. The Mayor and City Council – M&CC – must be transformed if it is to be expected to respond to the challenge of managing a modern capital city. This has not happened. Few citizens, if any, think that the city is well-administered. More of them, however, are becoming aware of the causes of the current crisis in the municipality and its consequences for the everyday lives of ordinary citizens. The political crisis, certainly, is the single most serious problem. There is little doubt that the People’s Progressive Party Civic administration has adopted an antagonistic attitude to the M&CC which it perceives to be controlled by affiliates or supporters of A Partnership for National Unity. This mindset has led to the PPPC’s refusal to solve the problems at hand, since it perceives every situation as an opportunity for political
confrontation rather than municipal improvement. The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development – MLGRD – micro-manages the M&CC on a daily basis in order to maintain control of the city and trample on any traces of independence or initiative. The MLGRD’s contentious imposition of an unpopular Town Clerk against the wishes of the M&CC has aggravated the already adversarial relationship between the two. The second crisis is that of financial management. It is a well-known fact that the M&CC’s revenue base is inadequate to sustain the management of the expanding population and an enlarged city. The central government has successfully blocked every single M&CC initiative to raise its own revenue by re-evaluating properties, introducing parking meters, launching a lottery and imposing a tax on containerized
vehicles traversing the city, for example. The biggest property owner in Georgetown is the central government, but it has been the biggest delinquent in the payment of its rates and taxes. The M&CC has had to resort to taking legal action to collect outstanding taxes from several taxpayers, but the wheels of justice turn very slowly in present-day Georgetown. There simply is not enough money to run the city efficiently, and it shows. The most visible crisis is that of solid waste management. The introduction of plastic beverage bottles, polystyrene food containers and other non-biodegradable, commercial packaging materials has measurably increased the volume of waste. It is public knowledge that the M&CC spends about G$1 million dollars a day to collect garbage from all areas of the city yet this is not enough. This crisis worsened as a result of the procrastination by the PPPC and the MLGRD over the development of new landfills. When a site was chosen at Haag’s Bosch, little thought was given to the fact that it lay off the East Bank Demerara corridor, probably
the busiest roadway in the country, lengthening turnaround times for vehicles. The exploration of new technologies such as waste recycling is moving at snail’s pace. Flooding is a frequent and recurrent catastrophe. The city is built on a collection of old sugar plantations. It contains hundreds of kilometres of canals and drains designed to store excess water, remove it from the land and discharge it into the Demerara River and Atlantic Ocean. That does not happen efficiently. Most waterways are clogged with aquatic weeds, builders’ waste, commercial and household refuse, garbage and other debris. Outfalls into the rivers quickly become silted. Aging, manually-operated kokers occasionally collapse. Mechanical pumps malfunction and cannot be kept in good repair. With every shower longer than a couple of hours, parts of the city are inundated. Infrastructure maintenance is a perennial problem. Georgetown - embellished with the pretty Victorian wooden architecture of City Hall, the Supreme Court, the
Cathedral of St George and other edifices – used to boast of being the ‘Garden City’ of the Caribbean. No longer. It is expensive to maintain wooden buildings in this weather, however elegant and eminent. The M&CC does not have the capability nor does it possess the materials, money, manpower and machines to maintain the buildings, canals, gardens, kokers, markets, roadways and other infrastructure and property for which it is responsible. Much more is wrong in the national capital. It should be understood, however, that the city is a national responsibility not a partisan political trophy. There needs to be a national plan of action instead of the PPPC’s vengeful attitude towards the M&CC that has been so evident since the municipal elections of 1994. The PPPC must demonstrate leadership in this crisis. It must re-engage the M&CC in a responsible manner and bring together the Opposition, trade unions, civil society and other stakeholders to save our capital city.
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Duo team up to offer “Essential Home Care” In keeping with research that suggests that people live longer, healthier lives in familiar surroundings, the Essential Care Agency was conceptualised and eventually brought into being during the latter part of last year. With two young women, Elwyn Boyle and Anastacia Loncke, at its helm, the Agency situated at 87 Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown, is arguably the lone outfit of its kind in these parts, offering shortterm to full-time service ranging from nursing and domestic to companionship and live-in. And the clients, according to Boyle, are rather diverse including the elderly, persons with various ailments who require home care, and even persons with disabilities. There are plans in train to soon incorporate a babysitting aspect as well, she disclosed during a press briefing at the Agency’s office on Friday. With a mission to “provide quality care at home” the Essential Care Agency was first introduced in October 2013 since there was an evident need for such a facility, Boyle noted. In fact the need was first observed at a personal level as both Boyle and Loncke had grandparents who required home care. The two with a start-up capital of about $2.5 million were able to put measures in place to introduce the Agency Boyle, who currently resides in the United Kingdom, recalled it being a difficult task to find someone to care for her 93year-old grandmother who had limited mobility. According to her there was need to find someone to do just about everything for the elderly woman. Loncke’s grandfather on the other hand, a diabetic, had suffered a debilitating injury and required roundthe-clock assistance too, even someone to care for his wound.
Elwyn Boyle (at extreme left) in the company of some staff members of the Agency In recognition of the fact that they were not the only ones faced with such needs, the two decided to establish the Agency. The field of caregiving is certainly not an area the two are unfamiliar with, as they both have extensive
backgrounds in this regard. Boyle for instances had for a number of years been gainfully involved in this regard in the UK, and according to her, the experience of caring for elderly and disabled persons was rather
rewarding. She noted that although in Guyana the need may not be as great as what obtains in foreign countries - since many families here take care of their elderly, sick or disabled themselves - the need does exists in some
A nurse, in inviting mode, stands at the entrance of the Agency. communities. “Sometimes persons may be busy and not able to be involved in the care of their family members with that need for care...so the Care Agency comes in to fill that need,” Boyle said. The Agency, which
attracted its first client around mid-January, currently caters to the specific needs of six clients. And, according to Boyle, clients are certainly not centred in the capital city alone. The services offered (Continued on page 41)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 02, 2014
Book review… A tongue-in-cheek
look at Caribbean life in Britain BOOK: Pardner Money Stories by Deanne Heron CRITIC: Dr Glenville Ashby Deanne Heron has produced a blaring narrative - a compilation of short stories, replete with witty jabs, atmospheric levity and colour. Pardner Money Stories captures a quintessential Caribbean family - free- spirited, blasé and poignantly opinionated. It portrays life in Britain, clothed and fashioned in West Indian trimmings. Heron tells an interesting tale - vivacious and vivid brewed with Jamaican colloquialism - that distinctive brand of Patois. Each rendition is marked, convincing, and meaningful hardly smothered by its wry and jocular appeal. In De Ting, Heron’s reflection of life in Jamaica through the prism of a six-year-old proves a literary gem. Its nostalgic
appeal is almost hypnotic, and highlights the innocence and quaint splendour of the islands. It showcases a time when folklore held sway, and nature delivered our every need. It’s a rare glimpse of Jamaica, if not life, stripped of its complexities, moral bankruptcy, and unfettered greed. It yearns for recall, if only we knew how. ‘DE TING’ OR ‘DE SOMET’ING’ Throughout, Jamaican argot - rich, irresistible and ever evolving, flows with reckless abandon. Discussing the code name for money, Heron recalls: “When I was growing up in Jamaica, people rarely referred to money. It was always ‘de ting’ or ‘de somet’ing’.” She reflects on her grandmother’s counsel before sending her on an errand, “When yu pass Breda
Joseph, call to him and ask him to give yu de t’ing. Nuh go ina di yard, far him ha’ two fool fool daag de wi’ bite yu. Then pass by Sister Gwen and ask har fi give yu fi har t’ing to.” But life in the adopted country is where the intriguing plot unfolds. When Ferdie Dragon Stopped Walking the Trail, Heron uses satire to italicise the importance of preventative care ‹ a shortcoming that continues to bedevil black families. Loss of virility could well be a diabetic symptom deadly serious - and not fodder for amusement. Clearly, this is the overriding message amidst all its humour. Family squabbles and verbal sparring are ubiquitous, but the close-knit unit is never torn asunder. And there is always that healthy dose of political commentary. An avowed pride in the political accomplishments of women is
evident so much so, that cousin Babsie refuses to holiday in Jamaica upon learning that the country’s first female prime minister is no longer at the helm. While this may appear trite, it highlights the sometimes paradoxical but inextricable socio-political bond that the diaspora shares with the islands. There is that yearning for female empowerment on the national stage, long described and respected as the “centre pole” of the family. This matrilineal strain permeates Heron’s work. It is refreshing and instructive, especially for readers unfamiliar with the Caribbean society. Pardner Money Stories rivets with topical issues such as ageing, mortality, religion. And snapshots of the first Jamaicans in Britain are delivered with pawky humour. A salvaged backyard barbecue with culinary delights and island sounds becomes the stage for a discourse on ethnicity, race, and nationality. “If you are born here, you are Black British, if you weren’t born here, then you are Jamaican. Yu caan be both,” one family member argues. The exchange heats
up: “Why nobody nuh seem to notice how Britain and America a use up poor black people, especially Jamaicans, fi win medal fi dem.” And in the same breath, we are treated with: “Dem wan’ give dem white athlete deh some callaloo an’ fresh fish. Yu t’ink Usain Bolt could an’ run like dat if him maddah did bring him up on pot noodle and fish an’ chips?” Even the usually doleful funerary climate is replaced
by celebratory family quibbles and reflections. And no work of this kind is complete without tackling racism (perceived or real), and police-minority relations. From Aunty Dar ’s Funeral to Valentine, Pardner Money Stories triumphs on multiple levels. Its characters burst on the scene with daring and effervescence. They are unique, endearing, and memorable - a kaleidoscope of complimentary personalities and idiosyncrasies. Sure, they are very British, but at the same time, overwhelmingly Jamaican. Heron has undoubtedly scored with this deftly written work of art. Feedback: glenvilleashby @gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby Pardner Money Stories by Deanne Heron Publisher: Hansib Books (UK), 2102 Available: amazon.com Rating: Recommended
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
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The National Library: maintaining tradition while embracing modernity
These two lads are completing a project in the facility
The National Library was established in 1909 By Keeran Denny The National Library was established in 1909 as a public facility to serve the citizens of Georgetown. Forty-one years later Guyana’s main library has extended its services to rural communities. Today, standing as a heritage site, the National Library is forced to find new and innovative ways to compete with modern technology and an evergrowing “culture of laziness” to encourage persons, especially young adults, to use its facilities. “Within the last 21 years there has been a decline in the number of persons who utilize the library,” says Emily James, Chief Librarian (Ag) who has been a part of the library’s family since 1992. Without having to review the quarterly reports to conclusively identify the reduced library usage, James said that there is no longer a rush, especially by school children, to research or read for fun. James believes this is primarily because of the accessibility of technology in and around Georgetown. Libraries are also changing to incorporate the traditional with technology such as the worldwide web. Several years ago, the National Library included a section for persons to research using the internet. Many persons using the library prefer to browse the web for information rather than utilizing the library’s wide collection of books. “This new generation seems not to have an appreciation for a good book. And they don’t read as they ought to. They do not read for pleasure. They just do what they have to do and that is my observation,” she said. According to James, students usually flock the library whenever there is a quickly approaching deadline for assignments hanging over their heads. Though students visit the library on Saturdays and some weekdays in large numbers, their stay is not extended as
Emily James, Chief Librarian (ag) it used to be. “They just come, get what they want, and it is this “culture of laziness” that exists. In my days I used to write, but many library users are opting to photocopy material. I often wonder if students question the authority they are using when they source information from
the internet. Because, you know, anybody can put anything up online,” she said. To bring the library closer to being “modern”, later this year it will have an online public access catalogue. This is being done in collaboration with the University of Guyana, which is providing experience and the skill of a software engineer. Currently, the library is inputting data of its collections. Inputting of the special collection has been completed and staff is now working on the general collection. This will enable patrons to know the library’s collections and make reservation on books. The website will update patrons of the library activities. And, probably by year-end, persons could join the library online. All is not lost, since some parents have been encouraging their younger children to utilize the services that the library offers. Currently, the library has (Continued on page 42)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 02, 2014
‘Slingshot’ laments cultural erosion during recent Mash celebrations ‘Slingshot’ insists he has always been on his horse-drawn cart and that will not change
By Sunita Samaroo The enticing costumes are now off, the music systems have stopped and the Mashramani dust has definitely settled, but a talented son of the soil
resident in United States of America, John Drepaul, popularly known as ‘Slingshot’ has expressed displeasure with the direction the recent Mashramani celebrations took.
In a recent interview with Kaieteur News, Drepaul made it pellucid that if there is no intervention by the authorities, ‘Mash’ will soon be a far cry from its original representations.
The popular artiste now questions the direction the national celebration has been taking over the years. “So far Mash is becoming something that is not celebration after hard work. What is ‘hard work’ for you to gyrate on the road whilst wearing very skimpy clothes?” Maintaining that he is a Guyanese “through and through”, Drepaul stated that he loves that Guyana is an independent nation and that it has achieved Republican status but according to him “Mash is a way of showing what our culture is all about but we are deviating from this culture. Gyrating on the road is not Guyanese culture! It’s an imitation of what’s going on in Trinidad and Brazil.” He said Mashramani is an activity of togetherness shared by Guyanese across class, colour and creed but he worries about the takeover. “If the powers that be don’t step on that and try their best, Mash will no longer be Mash.” Adding to that, Drepaul disclosed to this publication that he fears Mashramani will become what he describes as a “big truck event where everybody piles into a truck and they have their own privacy. It’s all barricading; you don’t know what’s going on.” The popular artiste stated that he has always been on his horse-drawn cart and that will not change. “I’ve always been on my cart and that’s who I am. We (his band) try to be as positive and family-oriented, but we are just being squished in, and the big bands with all their fancy whatever, it is they who are the ones taking over.” Drepaul said too that he believes that Republic Day and Mashramani celebrations should be separated. “Republic Day should be just patriotic with just a patriotic fervour and activities
John ‘Slingshot’ Drepaul and his wife Ingrid that would be deemed appropriate for the Republic Day. Don’t mix it with the bacchanalians that Mash has now accepted as a form of patriotism.” “If you want a carnival or Mardi Gras, it is quite feasible to put it on some other day. It is only proper. You cannot expect patriotism and honour your Republican status by having people in butt floss and all kind of gyrations and wild behaviour on the road.” He opines too that the Mashramani routes should be changed because as the years
market both their talents and the country. “Stop playing foreign music during Mashramani. Guyanese act as though they are ashamed of their culture, but they should be proud of who they are. Why would a Guyanese DJ try to talk like a Jamaican? They should be playing Guyanese music there.” To add to his position, Drepaul questions whether “a Jamaican, Bajan or Trinidadian tries to talk like a Guyanese? We try to talk like them.”
“This is my country. I love that we are an independent nation and that we have republic status. Mash is a way of showing what our culture is all about but we are deviating from this culture. Gyrating on the road is not Guyanese culture. It’s an imitation of what’s going on in Trinidad and Brazil.” – ‘Slingshot’ progress it is becoming even more congested. Ever philosophical, Drepaul also believes that local entertainers should concentrate on originality and avoid the foreign accents many often adopt. “To better promote and market their productions, Guyanese musicians should focus entirely on originality and avoid the imitation of foreign artistes. It’s quite a turnoff to see otherwise talented musicians putting on strange airs, adopting the stage styles and gesticulations of artistes from abroad, right down to the accents.” Drepaul believes that Mashramani is a time that local artistes should use to promote their music and
Drepaul stated that he observed that during the Children’s Mashramani activities foreign music was also dominating the airwaves. In light of this, when asked how he sees his music in a few years, Drepaul stated that he will under no circumstance change who he is and what his music represents. “I am not going to change and follow the trend. My music is my music and so if it’s a hundred yards away and they don’t see anybody they will know it is ‘Slingshot’ coming down the road. I am proud of that. It is distinctive.” “We would not deviate; we will not make a detour to fit the moment. What lasts is (Continued on page 41)
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
Duo team up to offer... From page 29 have been requested from Essequibo to Berbice and there have also been calls for the Agency to establish offices in these out-of-town areas. According to Boyle, the Agency has on staff qualified nurses and nurse aids to deal with various health concerns including wound care, and there is also the capability to offer specialist care for persons with HIV, diabetes and dementia. Also, the Agency has persons on board
employed to specially perform domestic chores and other needs that clients may have. “When people are cared for in their home they are known to live longer lives as opposed to a nursing home,” explained Boyle, who added that “when a carer comes into your home they respect that as your home, and what we try to do is match clients with carers.” And the cost for the care offered is not a matter of major concern, since in order to meet the needs of all clients, Boyle
said that every effort is made to meet the budget of clients. “We will try to work with whatever is the financial condition of our respective clients; even if we are providing the minimum service...We don’t want to exclude anybody because they don’t have a lot of money...If a client has a budget we will work with it,” Boyle added. And it is expected that the Agency’s care offerings will continue to evolve to include other services in the near future.
From page 32 a formula and you stick to that formula.” Speaking about this year’s performance, Drepaul claimed that he always prepare a year ahead for the Mashramani activities. He noted that this year the ‘Guyana Get Fit’ Mash Band theme was chosen as his strategy to tackle an important health issue and raise awareness of the need for Guyanese to adopt healthy lifestyles. Drepaul said through their costumes which depicted the dangers of obesity and its related illnesses, they hoped to highlight the need for individuals to get fit in 2014 to ensure they live longer and healthier. The artiste claims that “it’s about time we start cutting down on the processed food and all the
fancy take out and Chinese food. It’s time to get fit!” An enthusiastic Drepaul recorded that this year’s Mashramani crowd was very receptive and he lauded Guyanese for the support shown. “The warmth that exudes from the bys t a n d e r s towards this persona that is known as ‘Slingshot’, I thank Guyana. I thank them from the bottom of my heart.” “I thank all those who donated towards the ‘ S l i n g s h o t M ash Camp’ because they see a rose amidst cactus, an oasis in the middle of the desert.” Drepaul was particularly peeved about one glaring issue related to the Mash Day activities, and which he described as unbecoming the way people have been littering the streets. He said
that persons must take pride in their surroundings and desist from leaving behind so much litter after this annual activity. Revealing his plans for next year, the renowned artiste stated that he will be sweeping the Guyanese crowd with his “Ah feeling nice, all ah we ah Guyanese” theme. Staying true to the art form to the very end of the interview, ‘Slingshot’ revealed some of his song’s lyrics as “Republic day sporting for everybody. All ah we ah Guyanese come Mashramani.” ‘Slingshot’ is a household name, because his music and videos, particularly the latter, are radio and TV favourites. He is today turning many heads in the Caribbean with his allembracing pieces.
‘Slingshot’ laments cultural erosion...
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 02, 2014
The National Library: maintaining tradition while embracing... From page 31 several programmes geared at encouraging young readers such as storytelling on Saturdays. It will be resuscitating the toy library for day care centres and nursery schools to stimulate children’s minds. “If you catch them young then they would be able to continue in habit of reading. We want to catch them young, and retain them as young readers,” James added. The library allows younger readers to borrow new classics such as Goosebumps books written by R.L Stein and the Harry Potter series written by J.K.Rowling. It is hoped children would develop a love for reading and expand their imagination to become great writers and thinkers. James said that with the National Library’s doors open to everyone, the economy of the country should not be a deterrent to reading. The library receives a subvention from Government and patrons should make use of the services offered. According to James, more needs to be done to market libraries and bookstores to stimulate persons’ interests in books. Some may argue that e-books are accessible on
‘Kindles’ and computers, but Guyana’s economy has not advanced to the extent where persons could easily purchase these gadgets, she said. James said that the National Library and by extension Guyana cannot ignore that technology is impacting. In North America, libraries have been loaning ‘kindles’ to patrons but Guyana has not reached there, because of limited resources. Feeling responsible to help increase the country’s literacy rate, the National Library through its mobile book service visits underserved communities. The service is currently extended to about 20 communities in different parts of the country. In addition, through the library’s rural services citizens could easily access books at the National Library’s five branches in the other Towns. James enlightened that Linden and New Amsterdam are the two branches with the most patrons. She said that there are 21 library centres scattered across Guyana. Setting up library centres are initiated by community leaders. The communities are tasked with providing a secure building,
A section of the library’s collections
a subvention of $10,000 annually, and selecting the staff. The Library is responsible for paying the overheads, determining if the selected staff is qualified, and paying the staff. Newspaper reading is a very common feature of the National Library. On a daily basis many persons walk through the doors of the National Library just to read the newspapers. “We can’t keep up with
the persons who come and read newspapers. If the newspaper is late for any reason they quarrel. They believe this is their privilege and expect to have the newspaper,” she said. Taking this is into consideration, the library has placed chairs in the lobby for newspaper readers, who represent various age groups. Because the National Library is a heritage site, changes to the physical structure cannot be done. Rearranging the furniture is permitted and so the ambiance of the library is changed from time to time to attract young adult readers who want a more modern touch. For instance, games such as chess are encouraged since it is known that they stimulate the mind. The library is looking for other means to attract and retain members and readers, but that is dependent on the available resources. Surveys have been conducted to find out what students expect in a library. The responses were interesting and some things requested such as access to water are possible. However, the library could not have
satisfied all the requests, such as placing all CXC texts. James believes that the school libraries should provide CXC texts for students. But the National Library is a national/public library and therefore its budget cannot cater for CXC texts. However, some of those texts are on their library shelves to facilitate this specific category of library users. While the National Library receives donations from private individuals and companies not all are accepted. The library accepts donations on the relevance of the books and physical conditions. “We get a lot of donations. There is this concept when I am cleaning house I can send what I don’t want to the library. You might think it will be useful, but this is not the case,” she said. James said the library has a responsibility to guard against books that are infested. Books infested with worms could destroy the library’s current collection. Moreover, the copyright date of books is important especially in the Sciences, since that is an area that is always evolving. Library users browsing the web
“What we have to tell members of the public there are good books, but we have to examine the books first. We are not going to collect books when we would not be able to use them. It may be too old. It may be 1977 and we are in 2014. So we cannot accept all the books,” she explained. The manner in which persons store the books is also considered. For instance, some books may have mould, which is a hard fungus to get rid of, and this process requires a lot of money. James said that though this could be done at the library, binding it would not be feasible. Restoration of books is also another function of the National Library. It does work for the library and some Government Ministries. However, the work is not extensive because the materials are sourced from overseas and this is also expensive. Though the library does not offer this as a general service, it would restore certain categories of books such as the Holy Bible. James said currently the bindery is restoring a 104-year-old Bible belonging to St. Andrew’s Kirk.
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
Pepsi flies four persons to Trinidad Carnival 2014 The two winners
Two lucky consumers and two guests are on their way to Carnival 2014 compliments of Demerara Distillers Limited under its brand Pepsi. These two consumers have won themselves an all inclusive trip (airfare, accommodation, airport tax and spending money) through the Pepsi Mashramani Upsize promotion. The promotion was launched on January 17 and concluded on February 22, 2014 at accounts such as Royal Castle, Chicken &Burger Delight, Dixee Lee, Papa Petes, JR Burgers, Popeyes and Shakers Mexican Bar & Grille. To enter the Pepsi Mashramani Upsize promotion, consumers were asked to upsize their Pepsi, 7Up or Slice drink from 16oz to 32oz, write their contact information behind their receipt and drop into entry boxes located at the stores. Over the five weeks
period, DDL would have seen thousands of entries coming in from the different accounts that carried the promotion. Each week, 30 persons won exciting consolation prizes such as Free Meals, Pepsi Umbrellas, Pepsi Cool Prizes and Free Products leading up to the grand drawing for one of two trips for two persons to Trinidad Carnival 2014. “Across Guyana and the world, Pepsi is known for being a fun and exciting brand and as such, we aim to host fun and exciting promotions to reward our loyal consumers. Last year, two lucky persons were giving a chance to see Beyonce perform live in New York City and now we are sending four persons (Ariane Chung, Krystle Chung, Akeem Mustafer and Bhavatarini Dukhia) to experience the excitement of Trinidad Carnival 2014.� Larry Wills, Brand Executive of Demerara Distillers Limited.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 02, 2014
IMMIGRATION INFO: Immigration News For Our Community Attorney Gail S. Seeram, Gail@GailLaw.com E-VERIFY – COMING TO YOUR EMPLOYER SOON! The word “E-Verify” will soon be an everyday term or process used when applying for a job in the United States. E-Verify is free and voluntary and is the best means available for determining employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their social security numbers. The E-Verify program was implemented under former President George W. Bush as an initiative to prevent employers from hiring undocumented immigrants in the United States. The voluntary program has become a popular requirement in awarding federal and state contracts. Additionally, if immigration reform occurs in 2013, E-Verify will be made mandatory for ALL employers in the United States. WHAT IS E-VERIFY? E-Verify is an Internetbased system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly-hired employees. The information inputted in the electronic system is taken from the completed Form I-9, which all employees are required to complete to verify eligibility to work in the United States. In the past, employees would complete Form I-9 and employers would simply keep the form on file. E-Verify requires the employer to take an additional step and input the information from Form I-9 into the internet based system and obtain electronic verification that the employee is authorized to work in the United States. With the E-Verify system in place, unauthorized immigrants cannot work without a social security number, employment authorization card, permanent resident card, valid work visa, or proof of U.S. citizenship. Further, when the documents authorizing employment are about to expire, the employer will receive an email notification alerting them that these documents are about to expire. E-Verify’s most impressive features are its speed and accuracy. E-Verify is the only service that verifies employees’ data against millions of government records and provides results within seconds. There’s no other program that provides the same peace of mind in
Gail S. Seeram such little time. E-Verify compares the information an employee provides on Form I-9 against millions of government records and generally provides results in three to five seconds. If the information matches, that employee is eligible to work in the United States. If there’s a mismatch, E-Verify will alert the employer and the employee will be allowed to work while he or she resolves the problem. E-Verify works by comparing information entered from an employee’s Form I-9 to: 455 million Social Security Administration (SSA) records and 80 million U.S. Department of Homeland Security records. E-VERIFY SELF CHECK SYSTEM There have been many reports of errors in the E-Verify system. Permanent residents and U.S. citizens have reported that the E-Verify system showed a “no match” when their information was entered. This may occur if your name on your social security card is different than the name on your immigration documents or if someone is using your identity. There is a free internet-based “Self Check” service available for U.S. worker over the age of 16 to confirm his or her employment eligibility. The service is currently available in a limited area while it is evaluated and improved. After the user enters a small amount of information, the Self-Check service will check that information against various government databases to determine the user’s work eligibility in the United States. WHAT TYPES OF EMPLOYERS USE EVERIFY? Federal contractors and subcontractors are required to use the E-Verify system to verify their employees’ eligibility to legally work in the United States. More than 288,000 employers, large and small, across the United States use E-Verify to check the employment eligibility of their employees, with about 1,200 new businesses signing up each week.
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
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From page 27 Community (CARICOM) have called for peace, in support of Maduro, who took over from former army strongman, President Hugo Chavez, following his death in March last year. WEDNESDAY EDITION GOVT. MUST JUSTIFY JAGDEO’S MEDIVAC AS COST EFFECTIVE … THIS MUST BE OF CONCERN TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTRY – GREENIDGE “One would expect that the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Shamdeo Persaud and/or the Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, or whoever’s medical advice was sought, would be able to justify as cost effective, the decision to charter a jet from Florida to Guyana and back, to medivac former President Bharrat Jagdeo for treatment. The Government needs to justify this.” This was the assertion of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s, Financial Spokesperson, Carl Greenidge, who has been one of the fiercest critics of the open-ended nature of the Former President’s Benefits (and other Amenities) Act. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Jagdeo contracted dengue and it is for this reason he was flown overseas for medical treatment. When he was flown out of Guyana on Friday evening last, Jagdeo was reportedly suffering from persistent fever, vomiting and diarrhea. “Surely the cost of the overseas trip for the former President must be of concern to the taxpayers of the country, as it is they who would be footing the Bill!” Greenidge exclaimed. He declined however to comment on where a private person would want to seek treatment for whatever ailment they may have, but reiterated that since it is tax dollars being used, the resort to overseas treatment must be defensible. Greenidge again drew reference to the fact that it is not the individual that the opposition has a problem with, but rather the open-ended nature of the law. 33 YEARS LATER…COMMISSION APPOINTED TO PROBE WALTER RODNEY’S DEATH - OVER 100 WITNESSES TO BE CALLED - ARMY STANDS READY TO COOPERATE Almost 34 years after his death, a team of international jurists has been selected to
APNU’s Carl Greenidge probe the killing of politician/ historian, Dr. Walter Rodney. On Tuesday, the members of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) were sworn in by President Donald Ramotar, with the army shortly after announcing its intention to fully cooperate. Chairing the CoI will be Barbadian Queen’s Counsel, Sir Richard Cheltenham, with the other members being Guyana-born, Trinidad-based Senior Counsel, Seenauth Jairam and Jamaican Queen’s Counsel, Jacqueline Samuels-Brown. Jairam has been practicing in Trinidad and Tobago since 1979 and is now head of the Bar Association in that country while SamuelsBrown is the Chairperson of the Council of Legal Education (CLE). Shortly after by Opposition Head of State, Donald Ramotar, on Wednesday in a last-minute effort to secure support for the passage of the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill, met with the political Opposition at Office of the President, but did not achieve the desired results. He accused the Opposition of engaging in blackmail politics. Ramotar, along with Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill, subsequently briefed the media on the meeting and said that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) maintained its hard-line stance that their amendments be included in the Bill that would finally be taken to the Parliament for a vote. The President reported that the Alliance for Change (AFC), while it was all along tying its support for the Bill to the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission, had now joined with APNU in demanding the inclusion of the additional amendments. According to the President, the Bill as it stands is compliant with the recommendations of the Caribbean Financial Action
Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran Task Force (CFATF). MISSING BACHELOR’S ADVENTURE WOMAN’S BODY DUMPED IN CEMETERY The semi-nude body of a 19-year-old woman was Wednesday found in the cemetery at Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara. Patricia Young, a former employee of KFC, who last worked at Clear Connect call centre, appeared to have been killed since Sunday night, when she was last seen. Her reputed husband had led police to her body around 17:30 hours, after finding her slippers outside the cemetery. The discovery followed days of frantic searching. The dead woman’s miniskirt was pulled up and her top was rolled up all the way around her neck. She appeared to have been strangled, since there were no other visible marks of violence on the body. The discovery saw residents in the area leaving their homes to flock to the cemetery to get a glimpse of the already bloated body, which was lying at the base of a huge tree. FRIDAY EDITION ANTI MONEY LAUNDERING LEGISLATION…GUYANA FAILS TO MEET ANOTHER CFATF DEADLINE … CHIEF PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL STILL TO COMPLETE DRAFT BILL Guyana will undoubtedly this time around be submitted to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), having missed Thursday’s deadline to pass the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill. In fact, the Special Select Committee is yet to wrap up its work and present a Bill to the House for a vote. When the Committee met Thursday at 11:00hrs in a lastditch attempt to have a Bill ready before the 14:00hrs
sitting of the National Assembly, the Chief Parliamentary Counsel (CPC) Cecil Dhurjon, did not show up. Instead, a missive was presented to the Committee indicating that he had not completed drafting the amendments submitted by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). The trading of barbs continued Thursday with politicians from both sides of the divide blaming each other. Leader of the Opposition Brigadier (ret’d), David Granger, told media operatives that the amended Bill, is crucial to Guyana’s security. He said that at no time did APNU disengage and at all material times they were concerned with having an amended Bill, “and we are working for that.” According to the Opposition Leader, “I think it could be said we worked more diligently to have an amended Bill than any of the other participants in the Select Committee.” HIT-AND-RUN VICTIM SUCCUMBS – GWI DRIVER PARKS VEHICLE, DISAPPEARS Police are hunting for a Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) driver who they suspect was involved in a hitand-run accident Wednesday night on Mandela Avenue, resulting in the death of a 46year-old man. According to eyewitnesses, Claude ‘Chippy’ McPherson, a popular food vendor, was struck by an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) and dragged at least 100 yards from the point of impact. He was found in front of a shop with his bicycle badly mangled. His leg was severely crushed. The badly wounded man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation,
where he later succumbed. Kaieteur News was told that the father of six was just about to cross the road to get to his food stall which is located not far from the John Fernandes Limited container terminal when the accident occurred. Eyewitnesses were able to describe the vehicle and they managed to take a note of its registration number, PRR 2923. On Thursday, Shaka Chase, a relative of the dead man, said that someone informed him that a vehicle with the aforementioned registration number was parked at the GWI’s Vlissengen Road and Church Street branch with the front badly damaged. The driver could not be located. SATURDAY EDITION GRA $300M FRAUD STAFFER NABBED BY US POLICE A former employee of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) who fled after an investigation was launched back in 2009 following the discovery of a massive fraud, has been arrested by US police. Gregory Alistair Ewan Barnes, 32, was on Interpol’s wanted list for embezzlement. A Buffalo News online report Friday said that Cheektowaga police pulled over a four-door sedan on Genesee Street Monday evening for an expired inspection and illegal tinted windows. Cheektowaga is part of the State of New York. It turned out that the driver, Barnes, of George Urban Blvd. in Cheektowaga was wanted by Interpol, police said. A computer check revealed there was an active warrant through Interpol for Barnes who was suspected of embezzling somewhere
between $6M and $300M (US$29,000-US$1.4M) from GRA. Barnes was stopped about 18:30hrs while driving a goldcolored Infiniti. The warrant was confirmed through U.S. National Central Bureau, a division of Interpol U.S. Department of Justice in Washington D.C., Cheektowaga police said. Barnes was turned over to the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for a visa violation and may be deported to Guyana. Kaieteur News had reported that in 2009, Barnes fled Guyana after he was reportedly being investigated for allegedly defrauding GRA of over $300M. Local investigators, who badly wanted to get their hands on him, turned to Interpol for help and posted a wanted bulletin. Investigators believed back then that Barnes conspired with other staffers, including an IT official of GRA, to delete evidence of taxes and duties paid by businesses to the agency from the main database. However, the fraud unraveled after the IT employee failed to delete a payment made. The cashier was reportedly questioned for two days by GRA before he fled the country. Another staffer, Garfield Pearson of South Ruimveldt Park, was charged with four counts of embezzlement. It was alleged that in October 2009, at the GRA Head Office, located then on Main Street, he stole over $6M from his employer, the GRA. Pearson was Systems Engineer at the time and was posted in the Information Technology department, the Prosecution said. Barnes had reportedly fled Guyana in the midst of the investigations.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 02, 2014
Hollywood’s Mila Kunis, Pearl Jam’s former manager Ashton Kutcher engaged: sentenced to prison for theft Pearl Jam’s former financial manager, who used his position with the rock band to steal $380,000, was sentenced on Friday to 14 months in prison at a court hearing in Washington state, an official said. Rickey Charles Goodrich, 55, had initially faced 33 theft charges but in December he pleaded guilty to six counts of first-degree theft, King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesman Dan Donohoe said. “(Goodrich) will remain out of custody for the next two weeks to get his business affairs in order so he can continue to pay restitution,” Donohoe said. “He begins serving the sentence on March 14.” The quintet rose to prominence in the early 1990s grunge-rock movement and has sold millions of records worldwide.
reports
Mila Kunis (L), and Ashton Kutcher, seen at an LA Lakers game in Los Angeles May 1, 2012. Hollywood stars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are engaged to be married, according to U.S. Weekly and the E! entertainment news website. The two, who have been dating for about two years, appeared together on the popular television sitcom “That ’70s Show.” Photographs on the US Weekly and E! websites taken of Kunis on Thursday in Los Angeles show her sporting a large diamond ring on her left hand. Kutcher, 36, is divorced from actress Demi
Moore. He appears in the TV sitcom “Two and a Half Men” and starred last year in the movie “Jobs.” Kunis, 30, appeared in the movies “Ted” in 2012, “Black Swan” in 2010 and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” in 2008. She was the longtime girlfriend of actor Macauley Culkin. Representatives for Kunis and Kutcher did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Hollywood film production in ‘bad spiral’ as competition bites
Three days before the Oscars, the Los Angeles film czar and a think tank delivered some damning news to Tinseltown: Hollywood’s status as the home of American film and television production is threatened because places like New York are offering better financial incentives to studios. The study of employment and production data released on Thursday by the Milken Institute, an economic think tank, says California has lost tens of thousands
of entertainment jobs to New York and other U.S. states in the past decade, and film and television productions with them. While it may be one of the best years for high-quality film in recent memory, with nine strong films nominated for the best picture Oscar, just one of the nine was filmed in California. Ken Ziffren, a veteran California attorney recently appointed as Hollywood’s film czar by the mayor of Los Angeles, said the report showed Hollywood was in a
“bad spiral,” both in terms of jobs and productions leaving California. Ziffren repeated a call for an expanded California film and tax credit, as did the Milken report - an issue that is politically controversial. Proponents say it is vital to keep middle-class jobs and film production in the state. Opponents say wealthy Hollywood studios don’t need another tax break and question whether further financial incentives will produce a net gain in jobs and revenue.
Goodrich was chief financial officer at its Seattle-based management company, Curtis Management, before he was fired in September 2010. Goodrich, who had oversight over finances related to Pearl Jam’s tours, was found to have made wire transfers from the firm to pay his personal debts and used the company credit card for unwarranted expenses. He was caught after the band’s manager reviewed suspicious transactions from 2009 at the band’s touring company and their fan group Ten Club. Goodrich was sentenced on Friday by King County Superior Court Judge Roger Rogoff. William Morris Endeavor, which represents the band, and Curtis Management did not immediately return emails.
Philip Seymour Hoffman died of accidental overdose: official Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who was found in his New York apartment on February 2 with a needle in his arm, died of an accidental overdose of drugs, the New York City Chief Medical Examiner said on Friday. The cause of death was acute drug intoxication, including heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine, according to Julie Bolcer, spokeswoman for the Medical Examiner’s Office. She added that it is the final determination in Hoffman’s death. Only the cause and manner of death will be released to the public. A drug overdose had been suspected when Hoffman, 46, was discovered in his apartment along with dozens of small plastic bags containing a substance believed to be heroin. The confirmation puts the actor, regarded as one of the best of his generation, on a growing list of entertainers
who succumbed to drugs. “Glee” actor Cory Monteith, 31, died in Vancouver of an accidental overdose of heroin and alcohol in October. Drugs were also the cause of death of Australian actor Heath Ledger in 2008 and singer Whitney Houston in 2012. Overdoses from legal or illegal drugs also have claimed the lives of entertainers including Marilyn Monroe, John Belushi, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Hoffman is survived by his long-time partner, Mimi O’Donnell, and their three young children, Cooper, Tallulah and Willa. The actor’s tragic death coincides with an increase in U.S. heroin use, which government officials say has reached epidemic proportions in the past five years. Fatal heroin overdoses have risen 45 percent from 2006 to 2010, according to the Office of National Drug
The casket is carried following the funeral for actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the Manhattan borough of New York, February 7, 2014.
Control Policy. Hoffman, a best actor Oscar winner for his role in the 2005 biographical film “Capote,” won accolades for his versatility and mesmerizing performances on the stage and screen. From his Tony-nominated role as Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Death of a Salesman” to complex characters in such films as “Happiness,” in which he played an obscene phone caller, and “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead,” Hoffman transfixed audiences with his talent. He also earned Tony award nominations for “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” and “True West.” His screen roles included “The Master,” “Doubt” and “Charlie Wilson’s War,” for which he won best supporting actor Oscar nominations, and appearances in blockbusters such as “The Hunger Games” series.
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
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What are some common foot problems with Diabetes? By Dr. Kumar Sukhraj, BSC, MBBS Dear readers, I am pleased to present via this media, some common foot lesions that a diabetic can experience. Your feet are at risk because diabetes can cause damage to the nerves and the blood supply. This damage is more likely if: · You have had diabetes for a long time · Your blood glucose levels have been too high for an extended period · You smoke · You are inactive. Below is a list of foot problems that anyone can get. However for people with diabetes these common foot problems can possibly lead to infection and serious complications, such as amputation (surgical removal of a limb). 1. Smelly feet (Athlete’s foot).Many people may experience itching, redness, and cracking of the feet due to a fungal infection. Germs can enter through the cracks in your skin and cause an infection. Uncontrolled infections can lead to ulcers, abscesses etc. Ask your doctor to recommend a medication for athlete’s foot. 2. Fungal infection of nails. Nails may become discoloured (yellowishbrown or opaque), thick and brittle, and may separate from the rest of the nail bed. In some cases, the nail may crumble. The dark, moist,
and warm environment while wearing shoes can promote fungal growth. Also any injury to the nail can put you at risk for a fungal infection. Fungal nail infections are difficult to treat. Medications applied directly to the nail are available, but they might only help a small number of fungal nail problems. Oral medications (pills) may need to be prescribed by your doctor. Treatment also may include periodic removal of the damaged nail tissue. 3. Calluses. Building up of hard skin, usually on the underside of the foot. This is cause by uneven distribution of weight on the bottom of the forefoot or heel. Calluses also can be caused by improperly fitting shoes or by a skin abnormality. Keep in mind that some degree of callus formation on the sole of the foot is normal. Proper care is necessary if you have a callus. For excessive callus, debridement (removal) is necessary. Use cushioned pads and insoles in your shoes. Medications also may be prescribed to soften calluses. DO NOT try to cut the callus or remove it with a sharp object. 4. Corns. Build-up of hard skin near a bony area of a toe or between toes. Corns may be the result of pressure from shoes that rub against the toes or cause friction between the toes. Proper care is necessary
Dr. Kumar Sukhraj, BSC, MBBS if you have a corn. Do not use over-the-counter remedies to dissolve corns. DO NOT try to cut the corn or remove it with a sharp object. 5. Blisters. Blisters can form when your shoes constantly rub against the same spot on your foot. Wearing shoes that do not fit properly or wearing shoes without socks can cause blisters, which can become infected. When treating blisters, it’s important not to “pop” (break) them. The skin covering the blister helps protect it from infection. 6. Bunions. A bunion forms when your big toe angles in toward the second toe. Often, the spot where your big toe joins the rest of the foot becomes red. This area also may begin to stick out and become hard. Bunions can form on one or both feet. They may run in the
family, but most often are caused by wearing highheeled shoes with narrow toes. These shoes put pressure on the big toe, pushing it toward the second toe. The use of felt or foam padding on the foot may help protect the bunion from irritation. A device also may be used to separate the big and second toes. If the bunion causes severe pain and/or deformity, surgery to realign the toes may be necessary. 7. Dry skin. Dry skin can crack, which can allow germs to enter. Use moisturizing soaps and lotions to help keep your skin moist and soft. 8. Foot ulcers. Break in the skin or a deep sore, which can become infected. Foot ulcers can result from minor scrapes, cuts that heal slowly or from the rubbing of shoes that do not fit well. Early intervention is important in treatment. Ask your doctor for advice on how to best care for your wound 9. Hammertoes. A hammertoe is a toe that is bent because of a weakened muscle. The weakened muscle makes the tendons (tissues that connect muscles to bone) shorter, causing the toes to curl under the feet. Hammertoes can run in families. They can also be cause by shoes that are too short. Hammertoes can cause problems with walking and can lead to other foot problems, such as blisters, calluses, and sores. Splinting
and corrective footwear can help in treating them. In severe cases, surgery to straighten the toe may be necessary. 10. Ingrown toenails. Ingrown toenails occur when the edges of the nail grow into the skin. They cause pressure and pain along the nail edges. The edge of the nail may cut into the skin, causing redness, swelling, pain, drainage, and infection. The most common cause of ingrown toenails is pressure from shoes. Other causes include improperly trimmed nails, crowding of the toes and repeated trauma to the feet from activities such as running, walking, or doing aerobics. Keeping your toenails properly trimmed is the best way to prevent ingrown toenails. If you have a persistent problem or if you have a nail infection, you may need a doctor’s care. 11. Plantar warts. Plantar warts look like calluses on the ball of the foot or on the heel. They may appear to have small pinholes or tiny black spots in the centre. The warts are usually painful and may develop singly or in clusters. Plantar warts are caused by a virus that infects the outer layer of skin on the soles of the feet. DO NOT use over-the-counter medications to dissolve the wart. If you are not sure if you have a plantar wart or a callus, let your doctor decide. 12. Fixed joints. Some patients may experience no
movement in the ankle joint or the joints of the large toe. 13. Burning, stinging and biting, sensation to feet. This is referred to as neuropathic pains. Patient sometimes experience sleepless nights as a result of this problem. Consult your doctor when experiencing this. 14. Changes in skin colour. Dark discoloration, leather-like appearance of the skin, and loss of hair in the lower extremities is possible due to peripheral vascular disease. Many may also experience cold and clammy feet with swelling (edema). For all diabetic patients it is important to do a 60-second screening test that will help to screen the foot for any of the abovementioned foot problems. There are two types of risk to feet, high risk and low risk. Knowing the risk and taking care of your feet can prevent serious problems, even amputation. If you have diabetes, contact your doctor if you are experiencing any of the abovementioned problems: Please feel free to send an email to kumarsukhraj@yahoo.com or call 6228032 for further enquiry and discussion on the topic. Patient education plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of diabetes and any other illness. Please look forward for a continuation of the discussion on diabetes in the next publication.
Doctors could do a better job of breaking bad news: study Less than half of German people who are told they have cancer through a set and accepted protocol for breaking bad news are satisfied with the conversation, according to a new study. Researchers found that may be due to gaps in what patients considered important during that process and what they report actually happened when they got the news. The study’s lead author told Reuters Health that traditionally doctors thought they were aware of their patients’ preferences and breaking bad news hadn’t been a focus during their training. “The idea was somehow that physicians will ‘naturally’ have the ability to communicate,” Dr. Carola Seifart wrote in an email. She is from PhilippsUniversity of Marburg in Marburg, Germany. Doctors of all kinds break
bad news to their patients, but it’s especially common among oncologists, who diagnose and treat cancer, Seifart and her colleagues write in Annals of Oncology. For example, the diagnosis of a new cancer or a negative development with an existing cancer can significantly change a person’s view of the future. In many countries, the socalled SPIKES protocol is widely accepted as the standard for breaking bad news. The protocol is based on six steps that involve finding an appropriate setting, determining what the patient already knows or suspects, understanding what the patient wants to know, knowing how to deliver information the patient understands, being sympathetic and summarizing the information at the end of the meeting. While SPIKES has been tested in the U.S., the
researchers write that it has not been tested in Germany and there is little information on how bad news is broken there. They surveyed 350 people who were patients at two medical centers in Germany and had cancer. The surveys focused on how patients felt the news of
their cancer was first broken to them based on the SPIKES protocol and which parts of the protocol were most important to them, out of 37 items. Overall, only about 46 percent of the participants were completely satisfied with the way the bad news was
broken to them. Of the 10 parts of SPIKES that the patients rated most important, five addressed how doctors provide information or knowledge, three pertained to how doctors conclude the meeting and two were about the setting where the news is delivered. The researchers compared those preferences to what the participants actually experienced when they received bad news. The greatest difference was between the information participants wanted on their prognosis and what the doctors actually told them. Based on their findings, the researchers suggest doctors ask about what information patients want and focus on the disease’s prognosis and how it will impact daily life. Doctors should also routinely ask whether patients understand the information and offer
them the opportunity to ask questions. The researchers also suggest that the process of breaking bad news be split over two visits, because many of the participants felt unable to make decisions during the first visit. Seifart cautioned that the new findings can’t be generalized to all countries. Dr. Walter Baile also cautioned that the study’s findings are limited, because what the participants reported happening during their visit may be different from what actually happened. Baile, from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, is an expert on the SPIKES protocol but was not involved with the new study. “Patients don’t often remember at the time of diagnosis what they’ve been told,” he said, adding that the request for a second visit is important. (Reuters Health)
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Tradewinds and culture in the diaspora By Ralph Seeram Dave Martins and the Tradewinds were coming to town; it was a “big thing” for New Amsterdam “back in the days”. We had to go, but we needed a babysitter for our two little kids, so we sent an urgent message for their young aunt to come to our rescue. She did. That flashback came to me as I was sitting listening to Dave Martins and his Tradewinds two Saturday nights ago in Orlando. The occasion was Guyanese celebrating Guyana’s Republic Anniversary. And why did I have that flashback? Because now some 34 years later that “baby” is sitting with me enjoying the music so many of us enjoyed in our youth. The music of Dave Martins is timeless. I was compelled to ask Dave why his music can appeal to my daughter as it did to me since the late sixties. He explained that people can relate to the music because they feel the music is about them; that it’s what they experience in their daily lives. Later, during his performance he took time to explain the power and beauty of the Guyanese dialect and Creole language. He urged Guyanese not to lose their accent, their broken
English; “It’s a powerful language,” he tells the largely Guyanese audience in the Diaspora. He referred to his famous song with which we are all familiar, about West Indians becoming “overnight Yankee” as soon as they land at airports in the US. This has been a struggle for Guyanese leaving the shores of their homeland for the North America and other countries. I have met Guyanese who were born in the rural areas of Guyana, but speaking to them you think they were born in Mid West America. Some seemed to be even ashamed of their names, especially the Indians ones. They changed the pronunciation so it sounded “englishfied”. Yes Dave, I am holding on to some of our slang. I can understand speaking to American friends in American accent, but please don’t talk to me like that when I am speaking to you. For me the only thing that can immediately identify me as a Guyanese is my speech. When people ask me, “You Guyanese?” I reply proudly, “Yes Berbician”. I don’t forget the Berbice part. I met Guyanese who are even ashamed of the village they came from. I can tell they are from rural Guyana but they always claim they are from
Georgetown. I have lived in the US for over 30 years and I have made deliberate efforts no to lose my Guyanese accent. I always have Dave Martin song in mind, and happily I have not become an “overnight Yankee”. Yes Dave Martins was right we live and experience his songs everyday in our lives. Speaking about Guyana, whenever I visit Guyana I always make a point to take out travel insurance, mainly for medical coverage such as Medivac services. It is worth the extra US$50 or so for peace of mind. One of my greater fears visiting Guyana is getting involved in a road accident. We all know how dangerous the roads in Guyana are. It’s bad enough as it is, now you have to deal with drunken Government Ministers. The last thing I want to do is die in a hospital in Guyana for lack of drugs, medical care or careless medical personnel. We are all familiar with horror stories at medical institutions in Guyana. God help you if you get a heart attack in Guyana. Obviously, this has not been lost on the politicians in Guyana, especially those in Government who boast of the “best medical services” and the billions of dollars spent
on health care in Guyana. As soon they get a fever, or dengue fever to be exact, they seek medical attention in the US. The poor have to deal with the substandard medical services at public institutions, but the elite can be Medivacced out the country; they don’t have the faith in their own medical services as Burnham did. At least Burnham believed in his institution. I had dengue fever when it first appeared in Guyana in the late 70s. At that time it was mistakenly identified as flu by the then government. It was Guyanese Rhodes Scholar, Dr. Niamatalli Ameerally, who identified it as Dengue fever, and was criticized by the then PNC government for calling it Dengue fever. I know the story well; I was the first to report that Guyana was hit by Dengue fever. No one even knew what it was the time. At the time my editor, the late great Cecil Griffith took “flack” from the government for “alarming” the nation. In the end the brilliant Dr.Niamatalli was proven right. As I stated, I contracted Dengue fever but I did not need medical evacuation abroad for treatment. So if it is true that former President Bharrat Jagdeo suffered from
NOC teen bites the hand that fed her Quick response by police officers attached to the Suddie and Aurora police stations, on the Essequibo Coast came in for high praises after they helped prevent a former New Opportunity Corps student from escaping to Georgetown with a number of items she had stolen from an Onderneeming resident, with whom she was staying. The teen was subsequently pardoned by the Onderneeming resident after her arrest. The former NOC student was released three months ago after being incarcerated at the juvenile facility and was rescued by the Onderneeming resident
after she expressed a concern of not having anywhere to go. Reports have indicated that on the day of the incident, the teen carted away a suitcase filled with items belonging to the Onderneeming resident. The haul included a digital camera, jewellry, a cellular phone, a laptop computer and clothing belonging to the kind resident and her children. According to the Onderneeming resident, another sister from her church had asked her to accommodate a teenaged boy and girl subsequent to their release from the NOC. She took in the teenage girl and
had found a job for the boy who ended up staying with another family. The disturbed resident said on the day of the incident she travelled to Anna Regina to conduct business. Upon her return to the Suddie car park, she noticed the NOC teen dressed in her clothing and armed with her suitcase attempting to board a car. After questioning the teen about her intentions, the Onderneeming resident said that she wasn’t given a proper response. She said that she was still unsure what the teen was carrying in her suitcase and decided to inform the police at Suddie, who later
informed their colleagues at Aurora. She said the police acted swiftly and managed to apprehend the teen who had already boarded a speedboat at Supenaam. The teen was subsequently taken to the Suddie Police station where she was questioned. The resident was however more concerned with having her stuff returned to her. She also stated that she did not wish to have the teen prosecuted. The young lady was subsequently pardoned by the Onderneeming resident, who vowed never to take her back in her home.
Dengue fever, it would seem a colossal waste of taxpayers’ funds to seek medical treatment abroad. Two things come to mind, either he doesn’t trust local medical personnel that he as President helped shape, or he does not trust the overpriced drugs his friend Bobby supplies. However, if as reported he only spent three or so days in the hospital I wonder how seriously ill he was. I can tell you this, even if
the Specialty Hospital is built in Guyana, politicians will still seek medical attention abroad, especially if the Guyanese taxpayers are footing the bill. I don’t blame them, I don’t even blame Jagdeo. After all, the doctors in Florida saved my life 12 years ago. Had I been in Guyana you folks would not be reading this column today. Seriously. Ralph Seeram can be reached at email: ralph365@hotmail.com
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 02, 2014
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Dell Computers with 20" LCDs - $65,000, Laptops $49,000 – Futuretech – 2312206 4 Cylinder Perkins 4108, just from the UK – complete with radiator. Contact Stpehen:666-3080; 639-4633 One hardly used cradle $20,000 with accessories & one brand new play pen $33,000 - Call: 670-2343 Digital Canon camera 8.0 MP A720 power shot, asking $21,500 – Tel:663-2079; 2256046; 226-0011 Aluminum engine soap – Tel: 671-7482 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 Extra Cab 2002, Nissan Frontier 4X4 Extra Cab 2002, DJ System - Tel:695-9807 Quebra Pedra kidney stone tablets – Tel:671-7482 1 Brand-new Brazilian beef saw – Tel:671-7482 Imported Rottweiler female with full pedigree - Call: 685-2584 New Tacoma / Tundra lights & parts, Pathfinder A/C Compressor Audi A4&A6 Visor/ mud flap – Tel:680-6374. Now Arrived @ Fabric World 140 Regent & Light St Bourda. New & Used Story fixture e.g Four arms (Clothes Rack) Rottweiler pups for sale Contact: 639-1431 or 665-9140 Food cart with storage compartments, deep fryers & gas bottles - Tel: 673-5882 2 red nose pure breed pit-bull dogs – 1-yr-old - Tel: 660-3118 Clean Garden Earth and builders waste also Bobcat rental, excavating, clearing and leveling down- Call:6160617 or 663-3285 Kinston Memory card and flash drive – Tel:675-2239; BBM 25C58FEO 2 Fishing Boat 5" Seine 36ft 48HP Yamaha, 33ft HP Yamaha – Phone:626-1856 Household items: Stoves, chairs & tables, furniture, kitchen utensils, bed, large beverage cooler & more – Tel:227-1028 1 Inboard boat 215 HP Perkins engine, 52 Feet length , 50-50 gear box, working condition, price negotiable – Phone:647-0699; 220-5271 400lbs 3" nylon seine & 100lbs 2½” colour greenTel:649-0045;259-3170 1 – 36ft Flat bottom boat – Tel:604-0038
Near Regent Street - $40M, Republic Garden -$35M, Mc Doom - $19M – Contact Diana: 227-2256; 626-9382 2 Income properties at bargain p r i c e - $ 4 0 M negotiable - Tel: 686-4899; 684-3718 Property for sale - Call:6275416 House For sale @ Peters Hall EBD – Price-$5M – Call:6543389 3 Storey wooden concrete building situated @ Broad & Charles Sts, Charlestown – Tel:677-3406 2 Storey business premises: 94 Campbell Avenue, C/VilleCall:680-8857/647-300-4294 2 Stroey Transported property with 2 kitchens, 6 bedrooms, 2 toilet & bath @ Tuschen East Bank Essequibo – Tel:650-2982 2 Storey wood and concrete building on EBD – 5 minutes from Georgetown – Tel:6585452 2 Storey wood and concrete building. Droom St, Annadale, ECD - Tel:6219099 One house lot & one 3 bedrooms house in La Parafaite Harmonie & 1 three bedroom house in Bella Dam – Contact:6221782; 658-5803
One New Model LF/DAF dumping truck in very good working condition price negotiable – Tel:681-5988; 675-5448 1 -212 - $1.3M negotiable, 1 grand Cherokee - $1.5M, Two 250 night hawk & one 750 night hawk – Call:265-3024; 265-4454; 663-8639 1 Toyota Rav4 old model , good condition (Selling cheap) – Tel:687-1392 Driven Auto Blowout Sale!!! – Unregistered Mazda Axela - $2,295,000 – Pioneer CD, crystal lights, remote start alarm -Tel:643-6565; 226-9931 Long based 32, 15 seat minibus for sale – Call: 639-1053; 669-3341 One Mazda Axela, PPP series. Excellent Condition – Price:$2.1M negotiable – Call:623-3726 1 Nissan laurel Car - $350,000, 1 American made Saturn Jeep L-hand drive, stick gear – $2.5M – Call:677-3406 1 -1RZ, 15 seater, automatic mini-bus, BNN 3760 - $1.7M Negotiable. Good condition, never used for public transportation – Tel:6280310 ; 672-5429 CHEAPEST: - Pitbull, manual buses, CRV, Allion – Tel:6167635 1 – F150, 1 – New Model 212 – Call:621-8129 Chevy Cargo Van, Ford 150 & Toyota Tundra – Tel:2278519
CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www. dolly sautorental.com Aidan’s Car Rental & Pickup Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807 Untouchable Car Rental: Low Rate , Low Deposit call:231-8653,621-6827
FOR SALE Car Alternators / Starters & Amplifiers – Tel:227-8519 Compressor, Generators winch, Fridge & many more – Tel:227-8519
Premio, vitz call:6797139,639-4452 Affordable car rental Call:673-2424; 695-8127 Wings Car Rental - Call: 643-1131
VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Allion ( Black), Excellent condition, fully powered, automatic, A/C, 16" rims - Tel: 622-0112 Toyota 212 - $800,000 negotiable, good working condition - Tel: 613-1810; 697-2550 One Foden 20 ton double axel dump truck – Telephone:648-6871 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 One Toyota Spacio immaculate condition $1.950M - PMM series - Tel: 641-1151 Mazda Verisa 2004 PPP 2230 Hatch Back, motor vehicle for sale: Call:660-6774; 627-7287 Unregistered Toyota Premio $2.450, Toyota Spacio $2.250 - Tel: 616-3001; 6284284 Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered: Premio, Runx, IST, Spacio, Fielder - Call: 652-3820; 665-4529 Toyota Tundra 4X4 $2.650M - Tel:233-6337 or 662-6024 Toyota Fun Cargo, RZ minibus, IST, 4X4 Hilux pickup – Tel:644-5096; 6971453 2 Ton Canter with power gate, unregistered - Tel:6172891 2004 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 2700 CC – 4 Cylinder @ 31 Grove Housing Scheme EBD Call: 665-8933; 416-836-1466 Tundra GPP, fully powered, Ac, 4 wheel drive – Price: $1.6M – Call:654-3389 Toyota extra cab pick-up (22 R engine) manual, (EFI) 4×4, (GPP series) price $2.5MContact Rocky 621-5902/2251400 1 Toyota RZ bus - $1.5M. Immaculate condition [Hardly Use] – Contact Rocky: 621-5902/ 225-1400 1 Toyota extra cab pick-up automatic (3RZ) 4x4 $3.7M – Contact Rocky: 621-5902/ 225-1400 1 Suzuki R1 wagon (Jeep) Automatic, Fully Powered with A/C, hardly used – Price:$1.3M Contact Rocky: 621-5902/ 225-1400 One Toyota Super Custom – 1K2 BLL – Telephone #6091138
VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Verossa Excellent condition – PLL Series $2.6M - Contact: 666-8492 Mitsubishi Lancer PHH Series fully loaded. Driven by Lady. Owner leaving country. Price negotiable. Telephone:622-4570 or 2206368 Toyota Raum, Spacio, AT212, AT192, AT170, NZE and L- Touring wagon, Nissan E24 Caravan – Tel:644-5096; 697-1453 800 Ford Tractor & 1 - 450 Ford Towing Truck, 1 Rear Size 38 tractor back wheel – Contact Floyd:694-5599 or Gurro: 689-1864 Mitsubishi Canter with HYAB, Super custom Bus, Toyota IST – Tel:260-2856; 622-3468 1 Mitsubishi Galant Car; 1 Toyota Corolla AE100 Car, 1 Honda CBR motorcycle – Call: 227-7544; 612-2542; 614-6011 Toyota Premio- Dark interior with TV, mags, spacio. Tel: 697-0294 1 Toyota Hilux LN170 in excellent condition - Tel: 641-2763 One Verossa, with chrome rims PMM 5454, excellent condition – Call:682-3396; 665-7206; 687-3866 1 Leyland DAF 4x4 Bush Truck. 1 Toyota Hilux 4x4 bush ready – Contact Kim: 658-5193 2008 Fielder & Axio, fully loaded with bodykit, rims, TV/DVD unregistered - Tel: 617-2891 First Class Auto: Avensis, Allion, IST, 212, Premio, Spacio, Raum, Passo, Fielder, Verossa -Call:6098188; 602-6307 Unregistered Toyota Sienta (2004), Raum - 2004 & Spacio -2003 – Tel:617-5536 One Toyota Premio unregistered – Price $2.550M – Call:225-5082 2004 A4 Audi, sunroof, Turbo, 4WD 1800cc, DVD, Bluetooth, $4.2M negotiable – Tel: 669-7298 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms - Call: 680-3154 (Continued on page 63)
Sunday March 02, 2014
TO LET Furnished apartments for rental @ Bent Street, Wortmanville - $US30 per day – Contact Numbers: 226-3309; 693-2190; 2181033; 678-4267 Furnished Apartments for Overseas Visitors – Contact: 668-5198 Decent working couple – One bedroom apartment: lights, telephone & water $25,000. Tel#623-8759; 2186463 Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call:6193660,639-4452 One bedroom apartment Call: 664-2861 Queenstown - $US750 $US800, Atlantic Gardens $US600-$US900, Bel-Air $US1800 - Contact Diana: 227-2256; 626-9382 Fully furnished 2 bedroom house @ South Ruimveldt Park - $600USD per month – Contact:691-1521 Semi furnished 2 bedroom apartment @ South Ruimveldt Park - $400USD per month – Contact:691-1521 Fully Furnished apartments in Ogle USD$650 - $1,400 – Call:622-7236 Vacant – To rent:1- 3 bedrooms bottom flat in Diamond - Contact:6866379; 223-6038 2 Bedrooms self contained apartment located @ 2nd Avenue Diamond, East bank Demerara - Parking Available - $55,000 - Contact: 612-8115 Furnished Apartments @ Eccles; A/C, Cables, etc – Call:233-2770 Republic Park house – Tel:231-2199, 618-7483
Kaieteur News
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) COOL TECH: Repairs Services & Installation of all types of home appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units - Tel: 2332008; 675-4959 For Free Gospel packages – Text 675-7292 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,662-6045, 223-8115 Design Team Neher, The most dependable, professional, trustworthy landscapers in Guyana - Tel: 648-1821 or 2190468 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar Technicians available for appliance repairs – washers, dryers, microwaves, stoves, deep fryers, etc – Tel:6190793; 218-0050 Masons seeking job work – Tel:678-9043
2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at ParikaCall:226-7968
VACANCY
FOR RENT
Graphic Artist – Must be able to work in Corel Draw or Adobe CS5 – PO BOX 10501
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
For Skilled Carpenters: Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. Security Guards: Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. For Able bodied janitor: Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. For Porters: Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. Cosmetologist required Call: 227-4799 Two Joiners to work in Workshop - Tel:610-7005; 219-1342 Pump Attendant @ Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) Tel: 265-7305 Cashiers @ Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) Tel: 265-7305 Accounts Clerk / Marketing – 5 CXC subjects, knowledge of QuickBooks, valid driver license – Call:592-681-3619
Farm on Highway - 20M. Call: 602-7440 Land (100X50) @ Paradise, East Coast Demerara, Last Street – Tel:619-5357; 6500716
GT TOOLS RENTAL: TEL: 675-0767; 627-5098 Business place located @ Ruimveldt Public Road EBD Highway, 2 minutes away from Town, Restaurant/Bar & Night Club – Tel:660-5309 One semi – furnished 2 storey 2 bedroom house at Plantation Walk Vreed-EnHoop WBD G$40,000 – No Parking – Tel:616-0111 1,2,3 bedroom @ Lot 2 Anna Catherina W.C.D-Tel:276-0818
USA, Canada & UK Visa application forms filled electronically @ Mohamed’s Internet Café – Enmore Call:256-4001 or 2563464 Upholstery – Cornelia Ida W.C.D, recovering of sofas, couches – Tel:648-9485.
A man wants to meet adventurous people to socialize with – Call:648-8268
FOR HIRE Bush Truck for hire - Tel: 6603400
Herstelling (110ftX60ft) $3.2M, Parafaite Harmonie $1.4M & (100ftX50ft) $2.2M, Schoon’ord (100ftX50ft) – Tel:675-7292
MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call: 678-7499 The Gents Spa: Deep tissue, Swedish massages, sport massage, aromatherapy, body scrubs Call:657-5979
Upholsterer, joiners, spray painter & handyman – Contact:225-6810; 660-5190 Sawmill workers – Tel:6539752. Skilled mason and carpenter Tel: 668-9863; 625-0930
Attractive live in waitressCall:327-0252/674-4665
Natural Beauty Salon & Spa: Grove Market Street, EBD tele:265-4138, 652-5800 specialized in everything for women & children
One Cook (must be able to prepare a variety of Indian Dishes & assist in cleaning) – Tel No:688-3686 Male and female models and show girls needed urgently Contact: 695-8127 Contract Cars to work & keep – Call Car’s R us - Tel: 592-676-7592 One welder or Apprentice for arc & gas welding – age 1825yrs @ 21 Broad Street, CharlestownCall Fatman:225-2835; 643-9125 1 Ice-Cream van driver – Ages 40yrs to 55yrs – Call:218-3021
LEARN TO DRIVE Shalom Driving School @ 2 Croal street. Fee $16,000Call:227-3869 Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 689-5997, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964
Courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral, cake decoration - Tel:670-2653; 6181706 We Design and sew ladies wear within 3 days – Call Sharmela : 626-2629; 676-6312. Sewing classes at Schoon’ ord W.B.D. Monthly Fees. Call:676-2629, 676-6312
General Domestic, cleaner – Contact:609-1535; 227-8529
Van Driven, Arc/ Acetylene welder, live in couple , domestic/caretaking duties 227-1830
SALON
DRESS-MAKING
Herstelling Residential - $4M Negotiable – Tel:654-3389
Drivers with lorry licence. Apply @ Wieting & Richter Ltd.
Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
Male seeking friendship for marriage – Tel:442-3224; 6899883
LAND FOR SALE
Professional hairdresser needed urgently at Miskkio Salon & Spa @ 68 Sandy Babb St Kitty – Contact Tricia: 647-5908
Lot 109 Block AA Eccles – 4 bedrooms: AC, fully furnished – Good Price – Contact:689-0610 2 Bedroom apartment @ Diamond - $ 25,000 – Tel:6218471
Do you want to live & work in Canada? Train as a live in caregiver, Canadian Standards – Tel:592-2274881; 416-674-7973
Contract Cars and drivers, attractive base fee - Call:6131847 Land or house to buy in Parafaite Harmonie & Herstelling – Tel:675-7292
Help Wanted Urgently! – (MATURE FEMALES) – CONTACT:231-8344 OR 231-8529
Caribbean First Class, new location, First 10 & 12 Nursery to Grade 6, also lessons – Tel:684-7403
WANTED
Carpenter/Mason with small family to work on livestock farm on EBD all accommodations provided – Tel:266-2711; 609-4594
One and two bedrooms furnished apartments situated at South Ruimveldt Price $500USD and $800USD Call: 601-9323; 649-2251
HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000CALL: 694-9843 /227-2766
Indian Male is seeking female for friendship, age 2630 years - Call: 695-8528 (Mike)
WANTED 1 Female sales person to work in meat outlet in Georgetown – Tel:266-2711; 609-4594
Rooms - Call: 225-9223
EDUCATIONAL
PEN PAL
(From page 62)
Driver with minibus licence for contract. Living in Georgetown – Call:675-3093
Live in housekeeper to care for one infant –30-45 years – Call:697-8797
House lots for sale on the West Bank of Demerara Harbour Bridge in Harbourville SchoonordContact:650-0402 Blankenburg Public Road WCD 38X150, 39X150 -$16M Each. Call:658-0132
Business Space - Tel: 6490956
Florida to New York Road Trip. Tel: 675-7292
Brian Moe @ 642-3543: Computer Technician: FB/ Brian.Moe.165/ Home and Office visits at your comfort!!
LAND FOR SALE
Page 63
Ultravoilet Driving School – Contact:231-2372;6022583;658-4015 FOR SALE / RENT Claim at Kaburi 36 N/West, 1200 Acres, strictly serious enquires – Contact:628-7233 CAKES & PASTRIES Courses for cake decoration, cakes and pastry, floral arrangements, bridal accessories - Contact Sharon: 612-4193;672-8768; 223-3303
Urgently needed properties in Georgetown - From $10M - $25M Call:675-7292 One Salesgirl – Drop application to The Old Navy Store @ First Floor City Mall. House Wanted @ East, West, North, South Ruimveldt - Tel:675-7292 1 Experienced Secretary, must be computer literate, 5 subject CXC, 25yrs and over Call: 265-3586 Live in , live out babysitter – Tel:225-6070 Shop assistant to work in the interior age 25-40 salary $75,000 monthly – Callers must Call:664-5199; 675-7043 (9am-6Pm) 2 Experienced salesgirl $15,000 per week – Call:2239677
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Sunday March 02, 2014
Obama national security aides AC Unit arrives for New... discuss policy options for Ukraine WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - President Barack Obama’s national security team met yesterday for an update on the situation in Ukraine and to discuss potential policy options, a senior Obama administration official said. The meeting came as Ukraine asked the United States and other key members of the U.N. Security Council to help safeguard its territorial integrity after Russia announced plans to send armed forces into the c o u n t r y ’s a u t o n o m o u s Crimea region. Seen leaving the White House after the meeting were
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, CIA Director John Brennan, General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and James Clapper, director of national intelligence. “The president’s national security team met today to receive an update on the situation in Ukraine and discuss potential policy options,” said a senior administration official. Obama did not attend the meeting, but he has been briefed about it by his national security adviser, Susan Rice, and his national security team, an official said. At the same time, Secretary of State John Kerry
President Barack Obama spoke by phone with acting Ukrainian President Oleksander Turchynov yesterday, a State Department official said.
(From page 12) Laboratory once stood. That building was demolished and redesigned, since the facility was hardly ever used, and had not been functioning as a full-fledged laboratory. Dr. Ramsammy explained that the Animal Health Lab was operating as a sample holding facility, and that tests had to be done overseas. However, with the new diagnostic lab, the resources will be made available to allow for testing to be done locally. When the laboratory is commissioned, it will be equipped to test for brucellosis which affects mainly sheep, goats, pigs, cattle and dogs, bovine (cattle) diseases,
leptospirosis, and tuberculosis, among others. The Minister noted, also, that his Ministry is working to have the laboratory accredited, so that the tests done here can be recognized abroad. Earlier, Dr. Ramsammy had said that the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab is critical as Guyana moves towards consolidating its food security and lowering its high importation cost. It was further noted that soon, there will be a database on the Veterinary Practitioners’ Act and a Veterinary Council will be set up to register all veterinarians and veterinary technicians
across the country. He also made mention of the Animals (Movement and Disease Prevention) Act, which is intended to address the wellbeing of animals. The Agriculture Minister said that wanting to improve the quality of meat produced locally, especially for export, would call for healthy animals, thus, a credible animal health lab is necessary. Once fully completed and functional, the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab will be handed over but will remain under the supervision of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), which is headed by Dr. Dindyal Permaul.
APNU’s stop and search amendment... From page 14 amendments, even if let us say the APNU were to drop those amendments, it is still there in the books all we were saying is look, rather than using the countering the financing of terrorism as the benchmark for you to actually do seizures of currency we are applying it now to money laundering and that’s all we were saying. “We carry the fight to the money launderers here in the city, here in the country and don’t just leave it for a man coming with a little over US$10,000 in the importing and exporting.”
According to Harmon, “You don’t always agree on something the first time it comes up”. He said that the amendments that are there right now in this Bill were being discussed for two years back and forth. “The AG amended several things because CFATF had certain limits for persons who were found to be in breach of the law in particular the bankers.” He said that the bankers association made that presentation to APNU and said that if you were in breach either by negligence or by inadvertence or by some
direct act of commission that you can be fined $5M and be sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, that is there. “Now in the select committee the AG was saying well look CFATF wanted more about $100M or something like that, but what I’m saying is that during the course of negotiating back and forth they came to an understanding that based on the realities of Guyana that $5M was a good figure so that is where it stood. “It didn’t start off there so when they are talking about $2M this is the starting point.”
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
Pakistani Taliban announces ceasefire to revive peace talks ISLAMABAD (Reuters) The Pakistani Taliban yesterday announced a onemonth ceasefire aimed at reviving peace talks after receiving what it said were government assurances it would not be attacked. A government negotiator could not confirm that there were such guarantees, but said talks could be restarted if the ceasefire was honored. Speculation has mounted in recent weeks that the Pakistani military is planning an offensive against the insurgents after talks between the militants and government broke down. “The senior leadership of the Taliban advises all subgroups to respect the Taliban’s call for a ceasefire and abide by it and completely refrain from all jihadi activities in this time
period,” spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said in a statement. Peace talks between the Pakistani government and Taliban insurgents began on February 6 but broke down after insurgents said they executed 23 men from a government paramilitary force in revenge for the killing of their fighters by army forces. The Pakistani Taliban is fighting to topple Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s democratically elected government and impose Sharia law in the nucleararmed nation. Attacks have been on the rise since Sharif came to power in May, promising a negotiated end to violence. His stance unnerved global powers already worried that withdrawal of most U.S.-led
troops from Afghanistan in 2014 would leave a security vacuum. Senior Taliban officials told Reuters that they announced the ceasefire after receiving assurances from the civilian government that they would not be attacked. “Senior officials of the federal government promised us the government and its law-enforcement agencies would not take any action against our people in the country,” a senior Taliban commander said. “You can say the government first announced ceasefire and we did it later.” He declined to say who in the government made the guarantee. Spokesman Shahid confirmed that the Taliban shura agreed unanimously on the ceasefire after receiving government promises.
At least 28 die in ‘terrorist’ attack at Chinese train station BEIJING (Reuters) - At least 28 people were killed by knife-wielding attackers in a “violent terrorist attack” at a train station in the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming, and police shot dead five of the assailants, state media said today. Another 113 people were wounded, the official Xinhua news agency said, revising down an earlier higher figure. It said the attack had taken place late yesterday evening. “It was an organized, premeditated violent terrorist attack,” Xinhua said. Police shot dead five of
the unidentified attackers and were searching for around five others, it said. Kunming resident Yang Haifei told Xinhua that he was buying a ticket when he saw a group of people, mostly wearing black, rush into the station and start attacking bystanders. “I saw a person come straight at me with a long knife and I ran away with everyone,” he said, adding that the attackers caught those who were slower. “They just fell on the ground.” Graphic pictures on the Twitter-like microblogging service Sina
Weibo showed bodies covered in blood lying on the ground at the station. Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered no effort be spared to track down those behind the attack. “Severely punish in accordance with the law the violent terrorists and resolutely crack down on those who have been swollen with arrogance,” Xinhua quoted him as saying. “Understand the serious and complex nation of combating terrorism,” Xi said. “Go all out to maintain social stability.”
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Sunday March 02, 2014
LYING COPS - Nearly 100 Fresh Venezuela protests after violent clashes officers fail lie-detector tests Jamaica Gleaner - As the Police High Command continues its drive to root out double-dealing ahead of next month’s visit by the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption, half the number of police officers who voluntarily took lie-detector tests in the first eight months of 2013 have failed. As global human-rights watchdog Amnesty International highlights the conundrum faced by the Police High Command in the absence of specific legislation to deal with corruption and other issues, the National Integrity Action (NIA) is frowning at the Government’s failure to push anticorruption laws through Parliament. Amnesty International referred to The Jamaica 2013 Human Rights Report, in which that data supplied by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) revealed that up to August last year, 95 of the 190 police officers who opted to take lie-detector tests, did not pass or complete the test. Amnesty said it was unable to determine whether Police Commissioner Owen Ellington would discipline those officers who failed the test. NIA Executive Director Professor Trevor Munroe and his team are scheduled to meet with the representatives of the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption next month. Munroe noted that member states are reviewed by a group constituted of other member states. “The peer-review group is going to be visiting Jamaica, and the NIA will be meeting with them on April 1,” he disclosed.
Added Munroe: “The purpose of the meeting is for them to get our perspective, and the extent to which the entities designated to carry out the convention’s obligations are actually functioning.” The anti-corruption mechanisms under the glare are the Corruption Prevention Commission, the Integrity Commission, and the Office of the Contractor General. Monroe said the NIA’s views on where Jamaica stands in relation to the implementation of the Inter-American Convention will be sought. He said while the NIA’s official position has not been fashioned into a report, he was dissatisfied with the pace of the corruptionfighting mechanisms. “From my perspective, Jamaican authorities have promised a lot, with successive prime ministers - Bruce Golding in 2007, Portia Simpson Miller in 2012 - in their inaugural addresses committing to prioritise transparency, accountability and the combat of corruption.” He said subsequent to these commitments, there has been insufficient follow-up with required legislation. There are three promised laws that are yet to be put on the table of Parliament - Campaign Finance Reform, Political Party Registration, and the single Anti-Corruption Commission, now called the Integrity Commission. Jamaica was reviewed in 2005, 2008, and 2011. The periodic review is an obligation under the convention.
Regional leaders to meet US Secretary of Defence BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – United States Secretary of Defence Robert Gates arrives here on Thursday to hold a series of meetings with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders and defence ministers.
Prime Ministers Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica and Tillman Thomas from Grenada are expected to join their Barbados counterpart, David Thompson for the talks. “The primary discussion topic will be the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), for which a total of 51.4 million USD has been requested in President Obama’s fiscal year 2011 budget,” the US Embassy in Bridgetown said in a statement. “If approved, the CBSI will be dedicated to the following objectives: Peace
and Security (3.9 million), Investing in People (28.9 million), and Economic Growth (18.75 million),” it added. Washington has described the CBSI as a “multiyear, multifaceted effort by the US government and Caribbean partners to develop a joint regional citizen safety strategy to tackle the full range of security and criminal threats to the Caribbean Basin”. The plan was announced by Obama at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago last April.
Demonstrators confront riot police during an anti-government protest in Caracas. (AFP Photo/Leo Ramirez) Caracas (AFP) - Antigovernment protesters took to the streets of Venezuela’s capital yesterday, calling for the release of dozens of activists who have been arrested during three weeks of violent demonstrations. Protesters from a radical opposition group formed a convoy of cars and bikes in eastern Caracas after fresh violence on Friday saw pitched battles between security forces and demonstrators. A total of 18 people have died in the demonstrations against President Nicolas Maduro’s government, according to official figures. Protesters yesterday vowed to boycott Venezuela’s annual carnival celebrations as a mark of respect to the dead. “We honor the dead. No carnival, there is nothing to celebrate,” engineering student Argenis Arteaga told AFP at the protest. Yesterday’s demonstration came after at least 41 people, including several foreign journalists, were arrested during Friday’s clashes. National Guard security forces used water cannons and tear gas to break up student-led demonstrations in the city’s wealthy Chacao district.
Hooded protesters set up barricades and responded with a steady barrage of Molotov cocktails. Maduro has labeled the protests that began on February 4 as a Washingtonbacked attempted “coup.” He claims that radical opposition leaders have joined students angered by high inflation and goods shortage in plotting to topple his nearly year-old government. Friday’s arrests included eight foreigners who were being “held for international terrorism,” state VTV television said in a brief statement. Venezuela’s journalist association SNTP said one of the foreigners was US freelance reporter Andrew Rosati, who writes for the Miami Herald. Rosati was detained for half an hour and released after being “struck in the face and his abdomen” by security forces, the SNTP said on Twitter. Also detained and released was a team of journalists from the Associated Press, it said. The SNTP also said Italian photographer Francesca Commissari, who works for the local daily El Nacional, was being held.
Protest organizer Alfredo Romero said Saturday he had been in contact with Commissari . “I spoke personally with Francesca Commissari. She’s okay,” Romero, president of the Venezuelan Penal Forum, wrote on Twitter. Government officials released no details on the arrest of foreigners. Friday’s clashes added fuel to protests that had begun to flag after the government decreed several days of holidays to mark the start of carnival season. In a separate incident, Maduro said National Guard members were “ambushed” and shot at while removing debris from the streets of Valencia, Venezuela’s economic hub. One died from a shot in the eye and another was shot twice in the leg. “All these things are aimed at triggering a backlash from security forces,” Maduro said. “Justice must prevail against implacable murderers and those preparing paramilitary groups... to hide behind alleged protests and seek civil war.” The Venezuelan Penal Forum, meanwhile, said 33 cases of “cruel and inhuman treatment or torture” have been reported to the public ombudsman.
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Russia executes de facto takeover of Crimea region KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia executed a de facto military takeover of a strategic region in Ukraine as the parliament in Moscow gave President Vladimir Putin a green light yesterday to proceed to protect Russian interests. The newly installed government in Kiev was powerless to react to the swift takeover of Crimea by Russian troops already in Ukraine and more flown in, aided by pro-Russian Ukrainian groups. Putin’s move follows President Barack Obama’s warning Friday “there will be costs” if Russia intervenes militarily, sharply raising the stakes in the conflict over Ukraine’s future and evoking memories of Cold War brinkmanship. The explicit reference to the use of troops escalated days of conflict between the two countries, which started when Ukraine’s pro-Russian president was pushed out by a protest movement of people who wanted closer ties to the European Union. “I’m submitting a request for using the armed forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine pending the normalization of the socio-political situation in that country,” Putin said in his request sent to parliament. Putin’s call came as proRussian demonstrations broke out in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking east, where protesters raised Russian flags and clashed with supporters of the new Ukrainian government. Russia’s upper house also recommended that Moscow recall its ambassador from Washington over Obama’s comments. Ukraine had already accused Russia on Friday of a “military invasion and occupation” of the Crimea peninsula, where Russia’s Black Sea fleet is based. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk called on Moscow “to recall their forces, and to return them to their stations,” according to the Interfax news agency. “Russian partners, stop provoking civil and military resistance in Ukraine.” The crisis was sparked when Ukraine’s deposed president, Victor Yanukovych, ditched a deal for closer ties to the EU and instead turned toward Moscow. Months of protests followed, culminating in security forces killing dozens of protesters and Yanukovych fleeing to Russia. Ignoring Obama’s warning, Putin said the
Troops in unmarked uniforms stand guard in Balaklava on the outskirts of Sevastopol, Ukraine, yesterday. An emblem on one of the vehicles and their number plates identify them as belonging to the Russian military. (AP Photo/Andrew Lubimov) “extraordinary situation in Ukraine” was putting at risk the lives of Russian citizens and military personnel stationed at a naval base that Moscow has maintained in the Black Sea peninsula since the Soviet collapse. Reflecting a degree of caution, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, who presented Putin’s request to the upper house, told reporters that the motion doesn’t mean that the president would immediately send additional troops to Ukraine. “There is no talk about it yet,” he said. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said in remarks on Rossiya 24 television that while the president “got the entire arsenal of means necessary for settling this situation,” he hadn’t yet decided whether to use the Russian military in Ukraine or recall the
ambassador from Washington. “He will make these decisions depending on how the situation will develop,” Peskov said. “We would like to hope that the situation will not develop along the scenario it’s developing now — that is inciting tensions and making a threat for the Russians on the Crimean Peninsula.” The U.N. Security Council called an urgent meeting on Ukraine yesterday, and the European Union foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow to discuss the crisis. Putin’s motion loosely refers to the “territory of Ukraine” rather than specifically to Crimea, raising the possibility that Moscow could use military force in other Russian-speaking areas in eastern and southern Ukraine, where many oppose the new authorities in Kiev.
Pro-Russian protests were reported in the eastern cities of Kharkiv, Donetsk and Luhansk and the southern
port of Odessa. In Kharkiv, 97 people were injured in clashes between pro-Russia demonstrators
and supporters of the new Ukrainian government, according to the Interfax news agency. Ukraine’s population is divided in loyalties between Russia and Europe, with much of western Ukraine advocating closer ties with the European Union while eastern and southern regions look to Russia for support. Crimea, a semi-autonomous region of Ukraine, is mainly Russian-speaking. In yesterday’s parliamentary session in Moscow, a deputy house speaker said Obama had insulted Russia and crossed a “red line,” and the upper house recommended the Russian ambassador in Washington be recalled. It will be up to Putin to decide whether that happens. In Crimea, the pro-Russian prime minister who took office after gunmen seized the regional Parliament claimed control of the military and police there and asked Putin for help in keeping peace, sharpening the discord between the two neighboring Slavic countries.
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“Knights of the West Indies cricket table!” Three West Indies cricketing heroes - Anderson Montgomery Everton Roberts, Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose and Richard Benjamin Richardson - have had their status upgraded forever! On Friday February 28, 2014, they became Sir Andy”, “Sir Curtly”, maybe “Sir Amby”, and “Sir Richie”. They will join West Indies’ four other living cricketing knights - Sir Everton de Courcy Weekes, one of the best batsmen cricket ever had, Sir Garfield St. Aubrun Sobers, the best all-around cricketer that ever lived, Dr. Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, another of the world’s best batsmen, and Reverend Sir Wesley Winfield Hall, the main
forerunner of WI fast bowling dominance. Sir Everton and Sir Gary are still batting brilliantly. Sir Everton celebrated his 89th birthday last Wednesday, emphasizing his excellence: 48 Tests, 4455 runs, average 58.61. Sir Gary; 8032 Test runs, 93 Tests, at 57.78, and also 235 wickets at 35.03, will be 78 come July 28 next. Dr. Sir Viv, who will become 62 on March 07, is pure legend: 121 Tests, 8540 runs, avg. 50.53, 32 Test wickets too, plus, 187 ODI’s, 6721 runs, avg. 47.00, 118 ODI wickets too. Wow! Reverend Sir Wes, former team manager and WICB President, 77 on September 12 next, has been world’s pin-up fast bowling icon for decades;
48 Tests, 192 wickets at 26.38; partnered mostly by another leader to fast bowling prevalence from the 1960’s, Charlie Griffith. Like Dr. Sir Viv, these three new cricketing knights hail from Antigua & Barbuda, so there is nowhere on earth with an area of 170 square miles, population of 85,000, which contains four living cricketing knights. King Arthur, eat your heart out! I am fortunate to share a name with Sir Everton and Sir Andy, while Dr. Sir Viv is also, like me, Piscean! Sir Andy, Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft had been dubbed, cricket-wise, “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” so destructive had we been to batsmen.
Sunday March 02, 2014 ARIES (March 21 April 19): Today you'll likely awake, look around your home environment, and realize that there is much room for improvement. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 May 20): You are a hard and conscientious worker, Taurus, and certainly have been applying your skills and doing your best for some time now. efforts. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 June 20): You may find yourself thinking of looking for a new job in order to increase your income, Gemini. ******************** CANCER (June 21 July 22): You have a lot of charm and tremendous social skills, Cancer. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): This is a day when you could greatly benefit from spending some time outdoors in quiet reflection, Leo. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 Sept. 22): You're a hard and conscientious worker, Virgo, and sometimes you work so hard that
LIBRA (Sept. 23 Oct. 22) : Today may find you longing for some spots of color in your life, Libra. ********************* S C O RP I O ( O c t . 23 - Nov. 21): Today you may discover that you have more in common with your neighbors than you thought, Scorpio. ******************** S A G I T TA R I U S (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): You may receive some kind of windfall today, Sagittarius. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): Romance is very much highlighted today, Capricorn. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 2 0 - F e b . 1 8 ) : Anything you attempt to do today is likely to turn out really well, Aquarius. ********************* PISCES (Feb. 19 M a r c h 2 0 ) : To d a y you'll likely find that you begin to make real progress on a project that may have been stagnating for a while, Pisces.
We played only 12 official Tests together for West Indies, but took 230 of the 240 wickets available, so dynamic that bowling attack was, thanks, mainly, to guidance from Sir Andy! He taught us how to bowl well and use every natural and gained ability; physical, mental, psychological; and absolutely proper preparation, to destroy opposing teams. Sir Andy was called “the quiet assassin.” Some of his bouncers caused as many injuries as bullets! Silent, unsmiling, cunningly friendly, always planning, Sir Andy probably put physical fear into more batsmen world-wide than any other bowler ever. 47 Tests, 202 wickets, meagre average of 25.61, do not tell the full story of how much we, as a four-some, or West Indies, as a cricket team, benefited from his presence in that team! Former West Indies coach, manager, selector and ground curator, this knighthood is richly deserved by Sir Andy, who became 63 last January 29. My only disappointment has been that he was not also knighted when Dr. Sir Viv was, in 2000, as it could be argued that Sir Andy started a world re-invigoration of fast bowling with his Test debut in 1974! Better late than never!
Having been away from the Caribbean when Sir Richie started his international career, I had to wait until West Indies played a special, solitary Test, against South Africa, Barbados 1991, the latter’s first game back into ICC fold, to see Sir Richie at his best, as both batsman and captain, which he had become by then. He batted flawlessly for 44 in WI 1st innings, while manipulating his faster bowlers, including Sir Curtly; match figures of 8-81 from an incredible 60.4 overs; to great effect eke out an unlikely 52 run win. While Dr. Sir Viv could have been termed volatile, batting-wise and as captain, so too can, conversely, Sir Richie be termed the opposite of his predecessor as captain, maybe even genteel. Sir Richie has been a great West Indies gentlemen, on and off the field. An ardent musician, Sir Richie even formed a band; “Dread & the Baldheads”; which included Sir Curtly. But it was for his batsmanship that Sir Richie will be remembered: 86 Tests, 5949 runs, avg. 44.39 and 224 ODI’s, 6248 runs, avg. 33.41. Now West Indies team manager, Sir Richie finally has the respect and accolades that he richly deserves! Sir Curtly’s international bowling figures are almost
Colin E. H. Croft says: unbelievable, they are so good: 98 Tests, 405 wickets, incredibly frugal average 20.99, plus 176 ODI’s, 225 wickets, impressive average 24.12 The most unassuming cricketer ever, Sir Curtly never took himself seriously at all, but boy, did he take his cricket and representing West Indies with the energy, determination and seriousness that they deserved. He once told me: “Crofty, I cannot be bothered about what people think about me. I have a job to do, and I will do it to the best of my ability. When I feel that I could not do that anymore, then I will quit.” He did exactly that, and is now coaching and encouraging youth in the Caribbean in the game. Gentlemen, thank you for your services. Arise, Sir Andy, Sir Richie and Sir Curtly! Enjoy!
Andy Roberts leads Richie Richardson and Curtly Ambrose in a parade after they were knighted. (Getty Images)
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Systems in place as Vizion GCB moves to block Sports, Entertainment stages passage of legislation Caribbean Inter Club Football After weeks of intense planning, the organizing committee of Vizion Sports and Entertainment Group is set to lift the curtains on a potentially action packed and entertaining affair when they unveil the Caribbean Inter Club Football Competition on March 5th, 7th and 9th and football buffs are advised to come prepared for the unfolding action. Activities will take on a melodramatic platform when several top singers out of Jamaica take to the stage to add some s pice to the programme. Indeed, the promoters are intent on delivering a highly qualitative package and evidence of such commitment is apparent when two of the musical stars, Dwayne Stephenson and Ginjah arrive in Guyana tomorrow evening. These two are well known for their scintillating renditions and Guyanese would do well to throng the venue for a memorable night of top entertainment. Those who love the music of local band, First Born, will appreciate that the man behind this venture is Wally Fraser, the very individual that has spearheaded the group to the top of the charts in Jamaica.
Undoubtedly, he knows a thing or two about music and that alone should convince music lovers of the treat in store. But the aim and objective of this initiative is not only about the musical renditions, Mr. Fraser is adamant that the football talent nestling in the Caribbean region could be nurtured and eventually developed into a marketable product. He said that he has spoken to several businessmen in London, England, who have shown an interest in developing the sport in the region and their input will hinge on the success of this tournament. He said that the pivotal objective is to promote the sport at a higher level and he hopes to initiate a pilot project that includes Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica and that this initiative would soon bear fruit. The businessman will merge sports with music to create the right a t m o s p h e r e f o r f a n ’s enjoyment. Four teams, Alpha FC, Buxton United, Slingerz FC and Boystown (a team out of Jamaica), will compete for honours at three venues. When activities get u n d e r w a y We d n e s d a y
March 5 next, Boystown FC of Jamaica will go head to head with Slingerz, while Buxton FC will take on Alpha United in the supporting match. Two days later, Slingerz FC will match skills with Alpha United moments before Boystown FC tackle Buxton FC. Matches will be played up to Sunday March 9. Apart from the matches and the songs of the international artists, local singer, Michelle ‘Big Red’ King and her son, Little Red, will belt out some of their top tunes; the other entertainers out of Jamaica will also add to the occasion. These include the popular group, Voice Mail, Christopher Martin, Tappa Zukie while local musical group, First Born, will also add to the entertainment with some of their top tunes. The price of admission ranges from $1,500 for general seating, while a VIP seat costs $3,000. These tickets are available and patrons would soon be informed of the venues to purchase their tickets. All matches commence at 18:00hrs and the sponsors are Caribbean Airlines and Banks DIH Ltd.
Grove Hi Tech and Soesdyke... From page 72 even though play was focused on the Diamond half of the field for the most part. Once they {Grove} were able to score they raced to a 3-0 advantage in the space of 7 minutes. Breaching the Diamond defence and goalkeeper Brian Chung was Threvon Pluck in the 14th minute, the first of his double. Two minutes later it was Alwyn Haynes who converted the first of his two. Despite conceding two quick goals the young Diamond team, featuring one female player, Diana Angoy, kept on persevering. Twenty-one minutes on, Grove increased the advantage; Akel Forde hitting the back of the nets, the half time whistle sounded with no further goals, Grove 3 Diamond 0. Coach of the Diamond team, Orin Angoy tried his best to keep his charges focused and his pep talk at the break brought some results as they were able to
reduce the lead, five minutes into the second half. It was a well executed goal from a free kick just outside the area on the left side of the home team’s goal. Ixios Da Silva, who took care of duties between the uprights in the first half, took on the roll of forward in the final half. Initially he lined up for the kick but decided to give that responsibility to Godfrey Williams whose pass to Da Silva was clinically slotted past Shaun Demonick in goal for Grove; Diamond 1 Grove 3. Da Silva tried to take on the Grove defence but found out that it was too much to handle. Grove kept on the offensive and were rewarded with two more goals, Pluck hitting the network again in the 63rd minute, while Haynes completed his double on the stroke of full time, 70th minute. Proceedings got underway for the day with the
Soesdyke Falcons opposing new kids on the block, Herstelling. Like Diamond United FC, Herstelling featured a female player, Indira Amardeo who took care of duties between the uprights. The fact that the players {Herstelling} are now in their learning curve, they looked very enthused to be part of their team and represented to the best of their ability. Soesdyke, no strangers to competition at this level, made their advantage count for them and were led to a big win on the back of hat-tricks off the boot of Kevin Sobers (15, 33, 43) and Tyrone Khan (31, 53, 67). Netting twice was Shane Meusa (40, 46). Raymond Khan opened the scoring in the 9th minute with the other goal coming from Shannon Samnauth in the 61st minute. Herstelling’s consolation goal was converted in the 62nd minute by Devon Winter. Matches will continue on Saturday at the same venue.
Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman on Thursday last declared that the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has moved to the High Court to block the House from passing the legislation that will govern the management of the game locally. Trotman stated that while the dispute on the Cricket Administration Bill has been adjourned, he
does not believe that the Court could dictate that the House could not consider the draft law. The GCB and 10 others have filed the writ against the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall; Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony and the Speaker seeking declarations and orders regarding the House’s ability to pass the Bill.
The Government hopes that the Cricket Administration Bill will establish the GCB and county boards as corporate institutions with separate constitutions. However, the West Indies Cricket Board has already condemned the Bill, saying that the International Cricket Council is opposed to government involvement in the game.
Permaul leads Guyana fight... From page 73 debut. The host resumed on 89-1 and by lunch had progressed to 151-2 off 60 overs after losing overnight batsman Campbell on a flat track on another day blessed with glorious sunshine. The 21-year-old lefthanded Campbell added 18 to his overnight 32 to post an exact debut 50 from 219 minutes and 158 balls decorated with eight boundaries before he tried to punch a back-of-alength delivery from Keon Joseph and edged a catch to the keeper. Campbell’s demise came 24 minutes before lunch as he failed to make the most of his chance on 40 when Permaul put him down off his own bowling. After lunch, Bonner who began the session on 42, pounced on leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and smashed him for four to reach his half-century. Burly Jamaican Captain Tamar Lambert hit 21-year-old rookie leg-spinner Amir Khan, who operated in tandem with the more senior Bishoo, for a thumping four through extra cover before dumping him for a six back over his head in the same over much to the delight of the handful of spectators. When Lambert was caught behind off Barnwell for 22, his team was still well placed on 180-4 but the spinners brought Guyana back into the game by taking three wickets for two runs after Lunch and the home team slipped to 200-6. Bonner pulled a short ball from Bishoo high to short mid-wicket at 198 just when the Jamaican One-Day Skipper was beginning to look ominous. He batted for 200 minutes and faced 166 balls while reaching the boundary nine times on a fast outfield which looked surprisingly lush green in the middle of a dry season here in Jamaica. Jermaine Blackwood stroked Barnwell for consecu-
Permaul warms down after taking his 9th 5wicket haul.
tive boundaries before Fudadin at silly point put down a sharp reflex catch on the second attempt off Bishoo with him on 13. David Bernard then fell to Bishoo for a duck at 199-6 and Blackwood did not add to his score when he had his reprieve, being caught by Ronsford Beaton at mid-on as he tried to go over the top to Permaul two runs later. Andre Russell came out in a no-nonsense mood and clobbered eight fours in a pugnacious 42-ball innings of 44, which lasted 42 minutes before Permaul trapped him LBW on the stroke of Tea at 250-8 as the visitors captured six wickets in the second session which yielded 99 runs. Russell hammered Permaul for three consecutive fours and the last one flew past his head like a bullet before hitting the sightscreen with a resounding thud. After Tea, Jerome Taylor, who has a Test ton to his name, joined Jamie Merchant, who swept Bishoo for a ferocious boundary, while Taylor
climbed into Permaul and dumped him for successive sixes. And when Beaton, who went wicket-less despite an impressive opening spell yesterday morning, was brought back Taylor greeted him with an exquisite drive down the ground for four when he pitched up and followed it up an exhilarating hook for another boundary when Beaton tested him with a quick bouncer next. However Beaton was too fast for last man Sheldon Cotterell (3) and scattered his stumps to end the innings 33 minutes after Tea, leaving Taylor unbeaten on 18 with three fours and a sixe. When Guyana began their second innings, Sewnarine Chattergoon (13) was taken at cover off a lively Taylor to leave Guyana on 19-1 as Taylor and Russell bent their backs and tested the openers with some vicious bouncers. The diminutive Singh and fellow left-hander Fudadin saw Guyana safely to the close without further loss.
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
Milo/Petra Organisation Schools Football Competition
North Ruimveldt, St. Mary’s show little mercy on opponents
St. Mary’s scorers (from right) Raphael Charles, Lennox Cort, Curtez Kellman and Colin Denny pose for Kaieteur Sport yesterday. St. Mary’s and North Ruimveldt showed little mercy on their respective opponents en route to similar 7-0 wins as play in this year’s Milo/Petra Organisation Schools Football Competition continued yesterday, at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue. In the first fixture of the day, St. Mary’s led by a treble from Raphael Charles (45th, 48th and 56th) hammered School of Nations. Charles’ effort was supported by a brace from Colin Denny (55th and 64th) and solitary strikes off the boots of Curt e z Kellman (4th) and Lennox Cort (32nd). The victory means that St. Mary’s have now won one
and drawn one game. In the game that followed, North Ruimveldt fresh off a 6-0 thrashing of North Georgetown continued their high scoring pattern with a 7-0 demolition of Freeburg with Jamal Europe firing in a hat-trick in the 13th, 40th and 56th minutes of play, while Jeremy Garnett added a double in the 41st and 53rd minutes. Tyrese Rowley in the 33rd and Carl Griffith in the 36th completed their tally. In the third encounter, South Ruimveldt squeezed past Cummings Lodge 2-1 with Kevin McPherson and Keith Caines netting in the 16th and 21st minutes respective l y. D e f e n d i n g champions St. George’s
coasted to a comfortable 2-0 win over Charlestown in the final clash of the day. On target for the champions were Jermaine Scott in the 12th and Ozeal Small in the 69th. The com p e t i t i o n resumes today with four more matches at the same venue. The fixtures are as follows: 11:00 hrs Chase Academy versus St Winifred Secondary 12:30 hrs Christ Church Secondary vs. Dolphin Secondary School 14:00 hrs Bishop’s High vs. Lodge Secondary School 15:30 hrs New Campbellville Secondary vs. St Joseph’s High School
The brilliance of Britton From page 74 double-bronze medal feats at the Caribbean Junior Championships in Trinidad and Tobago and selection for last year’s South American Games in Peru was enough to earn Britton ‘Runner-Up Junior Sportsman of the Year’ to the athlete, Jason Yaw. But where did the journey start for Britton? The member of the Malteenoes Sports Club admitted that he did not take the sport seriously until he returned from the Dominican Republic in 2011 as part of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Cadets team. “I started playing at the age of nine at Mae’s School in my Physical Education
class, but I did not take the game seriously until 2011 after returning from Dominican Republic,” he said, adding his Coach, Idi Lewis and family are keys to his continued success. “The coaching methods of my Coach, Idi Lewis, support of my family and the advice from senior players such as Christopher Franklin along with the hard work Idi and I have put in over the last 18 months have led to my success,” he continued. Britton, who was born on July 13, 1998, said that his motto is simply ‘work hard and win easy’ and despite the challenges of balancing school and practice, his work ethic is very good and he is
getting the results from the long hours of table-time he has been investing. “School limits my training days a lot but when I do get to train I put in as much work as possible. I train at the club on Mondays, Thursday and Saturdays and I play with Franklin and some other seniors on some Sunday mornings,” Britton informed during our interview. Asked how he projects his future in the sport and academically, Britton said that his table tennis goals include him winning the Caribbean Championships, and representing Guyana at the 2016 Olympic Games; academically, he intends to become an Attorney-at-Law.
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Entries close on Sunday March 16th for Kennard’s Memorial Phagwah horserace meet The Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice will stage their Phagwah race meet on Sunday March 23rd at their racetrack. The provisional programme features seven races and the competition is expected to be keen as owners look to have their horses make early marks on the 2014 programme. The main event is for racehorses classified A & Lower W/A, covering 6 Furlongs with a $1,000,000 purse on offer for the winner. The other top places will collect $500,000, $250,000 and $125,000. Other races on the programme are for: E & Lower W/A over 6 Furlongs for $400,000, $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 for the respective
top placers. J 3 & Lower W/A 5 FURS - $150,000, $75,000, $38,000, $19,000; I & Lower W/A 6 FURS $250,000, $125,000, $63, 000, $32,000; G & Lower W/A 7 FURS $300,000, $150,000, $75,000, $38000; 3YRS Guyana bred & Al bred (Open) 7 FURS $400,000, $200,000, $100,000, $50,000; J1 & Lower W/A 6 FURS $200,000, $100,000, $50,000, $25,000. According to some of the rules governing the meet: The races are being run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority; In the event that there are less than five (5) horses entered for any event the club reserves the right to cancel or reframe the said event or reduce the prize money after consulting with the horse owners.
Owners of horses must pay at least $5,000 for each horse at the time of entry. If not paid the horses’ names would not appear on the official Programme and the horse will not be permitted to run; Five horses to start before a 3rd prize will be paid and Seven horses to start before a 4th Prize will be paid. Entries close on Sunday, 16th of March, 2014. No late entry will be accepted Contact can be made with the following persons for entry to the meet and any other details: Niketa Ross Secretary Tele; 662-4668, Roopnarine Matadial (Shine) 325-3192 or Ivan Dipnarine 331-0316 or Justice Kennard 623-7609, 225-4818 or 226-1399 or Isabella Beaton 693-7812 or Dennis DeRoop 609-9143.
Simeon Hardy starts American ... From page 75 me.” , , It is not yet clear when Hardy will re-enter the ring but he has indicated an intention to resume training sessions at the famed Gleason’s Gym, Front Street Brooklyn, as early as possible. He is under the tutelage of former professional boxer, now trainer, Colin Morgan who had been in his corner for the just concluded bout. Hardy commenced his career at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) with a 20 seconds knockout over Patrick Boston in 2010 and within a 6 months period had notched up victories over
Patrick Boston (KO 1), Troy Hill (UN 4), Cassius Matthews (RTD 3) and Eversley Brown (KO 1). He continued the rampage with 4 more knockouts over Winston Pompey (KO 2), Julian Tannis (TKO 2) for the WBCCABOFE Welterweight title, Iwan Azore (KO 9) and Mark Austin (TKO 8). His high knockout ratio had earned him the infamous sobriquet ‘Chin Checker’ but suffered a dent after ‘The Battersea Bomber’ pushed him to the limit in two non-title catchweight bouts. Hardy was then set to participate in the World Box-
ing Council 50th anniversary championship but opted out after leaving for the United States of America and accepting a managerial contract with top promoter, Cameron Dunkin. He spent a few months holed up in Las Vegas, California but it appeared fights were hard to come by and the lanky Guyanese cut ties with Dunkin even before a solid union could have fructified. The Greenleaf bout is his first since arriving in the USA and following such a sterling performance might just open the gates to more lucrative matchups.
Under-19 World Cup: South Africa beat Pakistan in final BBC Sport - South Africa beat Pakistan by six wickets to win the Under-19 World Cup. Opener and captain Aiden Markram hit an unbeaten 66 and Greg Oldfield 40 as they reached their modest target of 132 with 7.5 overs to spare in Dubai. Pakistan were all out for 131 from 44.3 overs, Amad Butt topscoring with an unbeaten 37 at number nine while South Africa seamer Corbin Bosch took 4-15. It is the first time since the Under-19s World Cup began in 1988 that South Africa have lifted the trophy. Markram hit six fours in his match-winning innings and shared a 71-run thirdwicket partnership with Oldfield that effectively secured the victory. England, beaten by Pakistan in a dramatic semi-final, finished third in the tournament by
beating Australia by one wicket with two balls remaining. Australia and India have won the competition three times and Pakistan twice, with England’s sole victory coming in 1998 from a side containing future Test players Graeme Swann, Rob Key, Owais Shah and Chris Schofield. Under-19 World Cup winners 1988: Australia
1998: England 2000: India 2002: Australia 2004: Pakistan 2006: Pakistan 2008: India 2010: Australia 2012: India 2014: South Africa South Africa Under-19s 134 for 4 (Markram 66*, Oldfield 40) beat Pakistan Under-19s 131 (Butt 37*, Bosch 4-15, Valli 2-19) by six wickets.
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Kaieteur News
Hearts of Oak Master FC begins 2014 season with Inter Primary School tournament After having a very successful year of activities in 2013, Guyana’s leading football organization, the Hearts of Oak Master Football Club (HOMFC) has commenced their 2014 season in earnest by successfully staging an Inter Primary Schools tournament in the New Amsterdam area, which marked the start of what is expect to be a busy year for the club. Four of the six schools invited took part in the one day tournament which was held on Friday last at the All Saints Scot Church Ground, Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam. The tournament, which was played on a round robin basis, was won by St Aloysius Primary, while the other three schools that participated were All Saints, New Amsterdam and St Therese Primaries. The day’s activity opened with All Saints and St Therese playing to a 0-0 draw.
The next game saw St Aloysius whipping New Amsterdam Primary 3-0 with Kelly Amsterdam leading the way with a double and Anthony Williams netting one. All Saints Primary was in winner’s row in their game against New Amsterdam Priming which they won 2-0 with Como Adams and Tyrese Williams being on target. Game four saw St Aloysius continuing their unbeaten run with goals from Jaden Nedd and Anthony Williams as they edged past St Therese 2-1 with Shemar Welcome scoring for the losers. The next game between All Saints and St Aloysius ended in a 0-0 draw. The final game saw St Therese needling New Amsterdam Primary 1-0 with Richford Blair being on target. At the presentation ceremony which followed immediately after the competition, the winning
trophy was presented to the St Aloysius Primary Team which was coached by Randy “Blade” Sears of the HOMFC. Second place trophy was won by All Saints Primary. The Most valuable Player award was presented to Kelly Amsterdam of St Aloysius, who also shared the most goals award with teammate Anthony Williams with two goals each. Best Goalkeeper on show was Sherwin Duff of All Saints Primary. They all received trophies for their outstanding performance. Shamar Myers of St Aloysius was adjudged as the best defender on show. He was presented with one pair of football hose and trunks. The most promising player award went to Rickford Blair of St Therese Primary; he also received one pair of Football hose and trunks. The day’s activity was coordinated by Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey and members of the HOMFC. (Samuel Whyte)
New Era Mackeson/Cell Smart Futsal Tournament officially launched The inaugural New Era Entertainment Mackeson/Cell Smart Futsal tournament was officially launched Friday following a simply presentation ceremony at the Ansa McAl head office Board Room. The tournament, though not the first of its kind to be held in Linden, will be played on a knockout format for teams only from Region 10. March 8 is the opening date, while matches are also set to be played on March 9, 13, 15, 17, 19 and the finals on March 22. $200,000, is up for grabs for the winners, while second through fourth places are set to pocket $100,000, $75,000 and $25,000 respectively. Mackeson Brand Manager Jamal Douglas said that he is confident the community of Linden will support the tournament and since his company receives great returns from the Mining Town, he felt compelled to sponsor the event. “We know how the people of Linden love sports and we know how much they support Ansa McAl. We are always looking to give back to the people who support and so this tournament is very important to us. I know that it would be very competitive because that’s the nature of the people in Linden when it comes to sports,” Douglas said. Upon receiving the sponsorship for the
Sunday March 02, 2014
Bush Lot United Sports Club defeat Enmore CC in feature cricket match
Bush Lot United Sports Club defeat Enmore CC in feature cricket match Bush Lot United Sports Club of Bush Lot Village, West Coast, Berbice, whipped Enmore Cricket Club by 30 runs in a feature 35 overs cricket match played last Sunday at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice. The game was played in honour of Abdul Azeez aka Buddy Boy of Bush Lot. Bush Lot United batted first and galloped to 202-7 from their 35 overs. Their assault was led by Brentnol Woolford with 86 from 89 deliveries, Kurt Griffith 59 from 59 deliveries and Javed Saywack
with a quick fire 22. Bowling for Enmore, S. Jainarine led the way with 4 wickets, while G. Moriah picked up 2 wickets. Enmore in their reply made a spirited effort to reach the target, but eventually fell short as they we r e dismissed for 172 from 35 overs with B. Ramlakhan top scoring with 43 and former national player Sheik Mohammed making 18. Bowling for Bush Lot United, Dellon Joseph picked up 3 wickets, while Bramdat Singh supported with 2, and
there was one each for Saywack and Keyron Fraser. The President of the Bush Lot United Sports Club, Mr. Robby Saywack in his presentation thanked the Enmore Cricket Team for visiting and indulging a good contest. He exhorted the players to stay focused and to train hard to achieve success in the game. The Enmore Cricket Club also thanked the Bush Lot United Cricket Club for hosting them. Both teams agreed to make this an annual affair. (Samuel Whyte)
Trophy Stall/EBFA U-15 League
Grove Hi Tech and Soesdyke Falcons off to winning starts
Mackeson Brand Manager Jamal Douglas makes a presentation to New Era Entertainment’s Aubrey Major Jr (right), while Winston Fraser (left) looks on. tournament’s second place cash prize and trophy, the organisers said that they are more than happy that Ansa McAl could support their effort in giving Futsal players and teams in Linden an opportunity to enjoy a game that they love. “This is a new venture for us,” said Aubrey Major Jr, codirector of New Era Entertainment, who also added, “It’s a major challenge for us in ensuring that everything goes well for this tournament and we’re extremely happy that Ansa
McAl, who normally supports us in our other initiative , is behind us on this one as well.” He further added, “Presently, we have everything in place to start the tournament, teams have already registered and are preparing. The thing is, it has never been played in knockout before, everyone is accustomed to round-robin first, but we want it to be exciting from the first game so I know with it being K.O, we can expect nothing but excitement at every game.”
Hitting the network for Grove Hi Tech from left, Threvon Pluck, Alwyn Haynes, Akel Forde Competition in the Trophy Stall sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-15 tournament kicked off at the Grove Community Centre Ground yesterday on a day blessed with excellent weather. Notching up a win was
home team Grove Hi Tech by a 5-1 margin over Diamond United Football Club led by a brace each from Threvon Pluck and Alwyn Haynes, while the opening encounter produced a huge win for Soesdyke Falcons, 10-1 over Herstelling.
Grove, an experienced side despite their age, controlled the game from the start but were kept at bay by the young Diamond outfit which improved as the game progressed. Grove took some time to break the deadlock (Continued on page 70)
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Guyana’s best on test in Wartsila 20k - lucrative road race on this morning
Alika Morgan
Cleveland Forde
Kelvin Johnson
Lionel D’Andrade
Guyana’s best distance athletes face their biggest challenge in road racing this morning when the muchanticipated Wartsila 20km Road Race Classic gets underway from 6:00am from Paradise East Coast Demerara to finish at Wartsila Headquarters, upper Water Street Kingston. Guyana’s most
recognised names in distance-running in the Caribbean, Trinidad and To b a g o - b a s e d , L i o n e l D’Andrade and Kelvin Johnson competed in the race this morning along with the country’s distance King, Cleveland Forde. Also among the men were Dennis Horatio, Cleveland Thomas and
Nathaniel Giddings among an interesting line-up of other athletes looking to secure the $300,000 first place purse that is up for grabs in the first major 20km race in Guyana in the New Millennium. The Women’s race is set to be a humdinger as well with the Caribbean’s leading distance runner, Trinidad and Tobago’s
Tonya Nero arriving in Guyana yesterday morning to take on the United Statesbased, Euleen Josiah-Tanner and local, Alika Morgan. The female race also fetched the prize tag of $300,000. The total monetary prizes amounts to the sum of $3.3M, which is a historic amount for local road races. Prizes will also
Tonya Nero be awarded in five other competitive categories including Juniors, Youth and Masters. The overall winner in the Open Male category will pocket $300,000 while second through sixth takes home $240,000, $200,000, $140,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. The same prizes will be awarded in the Open Female category
Euleen Josiah-Tanner of the race. Race Route: the race will start in Paradise; proceed west along the East Coast Public Road and continue onto Kitty Public Road, into CARIFESTA Avenue, north onto Upper Camp road, west into Battery Road, south onto upper Water Street to finish in front of Wartsila Headquarters.
Regional Four-Day tournament
Permaul leads Guyana fight back against Jamaica By Sean Devers in Jamaica In Association with Sterling Products Ltd, Auto Fashion & Payless Varity Store Jamaica, replying to Guyana’s paltry 117, were dismissed for 294 just after Tea on the second day of their Regional Four-Day First-Class cricket encounter at Sabina Park yesterday to take a 176-run first innings lead and two bonus points so far. When stumps were drawn Guyana were 32-1 in their second innings with Assad Fudadin on eight and Vishaul Singh also on eight as their team reduced to deficit to 144. Twenty-four-year-old left-arm spinner Ve e r a s a m m y P e r m a u l picked up his ninth fivewicket haul, finishing with 5-76. He got support from leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo who bagged 2-82 after Nkrumah Bonner had topped scored with 62 and Horace Miller made an even 50 on (Continued on page 70)
Jermaine Blackwood’s drive caused bowler Barnwell and Umpire Mills from England to take evasive action.
Bonner pulls Bishoo and is about to be caught at short mid wicket.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 02, 2014
Guyana vs Jamaica at Sabina Park Starting today, Kaieteur Sport, with the aid of Statistician Charwayne Walker, looks back at Guyana Regional first class performance vs Jamaica at Sabina Park and other venues in Reggae Country. We start with 1966, the year sponsored Regional First Class Cricket began when British Guiana and Jamaica playing at Sabina Park resulted in a match drawn. Jamaica at Sabina Park result match drawn: Jamaica first innings 222 all out - Ron Harvey 69, Ron Headley, son of the legendary George Headley and father of Dean Headley who played for England, supported Harvey with 40, Maurice Foster 36. Bowling for British Guiana, Rex Collymore took 3 for 38 from 24 overs, Rex Ramnarace 3 for 42 off 16 overs, Edwin Mohamed, father of Timur Mohamed, took 2 for 42. British Guiana first Innings 421 - Clive Lloyd 194, Rohan Kanhai 61, Stephen Camacho 32. Bowling for Jamaica, R. Cohen took 3 for 111 from 29.5 overs, L.N. Levy took 3 for 116 from 51 overs. J a m a i c a ’s s e c o n d innings they made 404 for 9 declared, Easton Mc Morris 190, Skipper Jackie Hendricks 51, Ron Headley 38. Bowling for British Guiana Rex Ramnarace took 2 for 84 from 31 overs. British Guiana reached 27 without lost when the match was called off. Guyana vs Jamaica 1969 Sabina Park - Result Jamaica won by 81 runs. Jamaica first innings 289 all out - Maurice Foster 135, R. A. Pinnock 58, Easton Mc Morris 21. Bowling for Guyana, Philbert Blair took 5 for 60 from 27 overs, Rex Ramnarace 2 for 44. Guyana first innings 104 all out - Vincent Adams 19, Leslie Stewart 17, Joe Solomon 16. Bowling for Jamaica, Castell Folkes snared 5 for 29, A. B. Wellington 2 for 36, O. Miles 2 for 12. Jamaica second innings 189 all out - Lawrence Rowe 54, Easton Mc Morris 41. Bowling for Guyana, Lloyd Cornelius took 5 for 67, Winston English 3 for 43. Guyana Second Innings 293 all out - Rex Ramnarace 71, Claude St. John 45, Lloyd Cornelius 37, Vincent Mayers 30, Winston English 31. Bowling for Jamaica, O. Miles took 7 for 71 from 34.2
Rohan Kanhai overs. Guyana vs Jamaica at Sabina Park 1970 - result Jamaica won by 4 wickets scores. Guyana first innings 285 all out - Stephen Camacho 80, Alvin Kallicharran 58, Clive Lloyd 42. Bowling for Jamaica, O. Miles captured 4 for 77 from 36 overs, R. Mc Catty 3 for 44 from 14 overs. Jamaica first innings 295 for 9 declared - Skipper Easton Mc Morris 88, Maurice Foster 54, Lawrence Rowe 45. Bowling for Guyana, William Jeffrey took 3 for 64 from 27 overs, Lloyd Cornelius 2 for 64 from 23 overs. Guyana second innings 245 all out -Alvin Kallicharran 72, Stephen Camacho 44. Bowling for Jamaica, Arthur Barrett took 6 for 78 from 26 overs. Jamaica second innings 239 for six wickets; winning by four wickets. Lawrence Rowe 88, V. Fray 46, Skipper Easton Mc Morris 45. Bowling for Guyana Clive Lloyd 2 for 30, Philbert Blair 2 for 44. Guyana vs Jamaica at Sabina Park 1972 result drawn. Jamaica First Innings 467 for 7 declared - Maurice Foster 160, Lawrence Rowe 147, Samuel Morgan 71. Bowling for Guyana, Sydney Matthews took 3 for 87 (31 overs), Roy Federicks 2 for 18. Guyana first innings 199 all out - Roy Federicks 75, Munilall 34. Bowling for Jamaica, C. Lawson 5 for 47, C. Campbell 4 for 43. Guyana Second Innings following on, 405 all out - Leonard Baichan 95, Roy Federicks 84, Sydney Matthews 82, Alvin Kallicharran 33, Sew Shivnarine 31. Bowling for Jamaica, Maurice Foster took 5 for 65 from 38 overs, Uton Dow 3 for 122 from 31 overs. Guyana vs Jamaica at Sabina Park 1974 result drawn. Jamaica 483 all out Lawrence Rowe 204, Ron Headley 79, Skipper Maurice Foster 59. Bowling
Lawrence Rowe
Clive Lloyd
for Guyana, Rex Collymore 5 for 102 from 57 overs, Lance Gibbs 2 for 96 from (50 overs). Guyana first innings 478 all out - Alvin Kallicharran 197, Clive Lloyd 134, Leonard Baichan 43, Philbert Blair 30. Bowling for Jamaica, Arthur Barrett took 4 for 170 (60 overs), Uton Dowe 3 for 90 (28 overs). Jamaica second innings 130 for 2 - Ron Headley 50, Hubert Chang 31 not out, Lawrence Rowe 29 not out. Guyana vs Jamaica at Jarret Park, Montego Bay 1976 result match drawn. Jamaica first Innings 252 all out - Skipper Maurice Foster 70, Hilton Gordon 41. Bowling for Guyana, Keith Cameron 3 for 40 from 22.1 overs, Sydney Matthews 3 for 58 from 21 overs, Ajodhia Persaud 3 for 84 from 28 overs. Guyana first innings 245 all out - Faoud Bacchus 80, Skipper Stephen Camacho 59, Romain Etwaroo 25, C. Munilall 21. Bowling for Jamaica, R. Wynter took 5 for 48 (13 overs), Hilton Gordon 2 for 42 from 17 overs, C. Lawson 2 for 44 from 17 overs. Guyana vs Jamaica at Jarret Park, Montego Bay 1978 result match drawn. Jamaica 506 for 9 declared Richard Austin 127, Basil ‘shot gun’ Williams 96, Skipper Maurice Foster 91, Everton Mattis 43, S.A. Francis 37. Bowling for Guyana, Colin Croft took 4 for 101 from 32 overs, Sew Shivnarine 3 for 80 from (30 overs). Guyana first innings 285 all out - Faoud Bacchus 102, Clement Neblette 62, Romain Etwaroo 39, Sydney Matthews 33. Bowling for Jamaica, S.A. Francis 4 for 89 from 29 overs, Maurice Foster 3 for 33 27 overs,
Errol Brown 2 for 62 from 25 overs. Guyana vs Jamaica at Jarrett Park Montego Bay 1980 result match drawn. Guyana 377 All Out Timur M o h a m e d 11 0 , F a o u d Bacchus 81, Skipper Roy Federicks 50, Roger Harper 38, Tyrone Etwaroo 34, Andrew Lyght 24. Bowling for Jamaica, Michael Holding 3 for 61 from 22 overs, Richard Austin 3 for 92 from 36.5 overs, C. Thompson 2 for 73 from 12 overs. Jamaica first innings 327 all out, Everton Mattis 132, Jeffrey Dujon 47 not out, Richard Austin 41. Bowling for Guyana, 17 year old Roger Harper took 5 for 95 from (40) overs, Colin Croft
4 for 46 from 12 overs. Guyana second innings 328 for 9 declared, Milton P y d a n n a 11 7 , Ty r o n e Etw a r o o 5 7 , F a o u d Bacchus 34, Andrew Lyght 32, Roy Federicks 32. Bowling for Jamaica Hilton Gordon 2 for 33, Junior Gordon 2 for 44, Michael Holding 2 for 73.Jamaica Second innings 277 for 9, Lawrence Rowe 94, Richard Austin 30, Hubert Chang 47. Bowling for Guyana, Roger Harper 4 for 70 from 44 overs, Deryck Kallicharran 3 for 86 from 25 overs. Bonus coverage British Guiana vs Jamaica at Sabina Park 1951 March (3-5-6-78). Jamaica won by 224 runs. Jamaica first innings 273 all out, N. L. Bonitto 82, J.K. Holt 63, H.H. Johnson 34 not out, S.R. Goodridge 33. Bowling for British, Guiana Berkley Gaskin took 7 for 58 from 24.3 overs. British Guiana first innings 162 All out, Cecil ‘Brusier ’ Thomas 26, J. L. Thomas 26, John Trim 26. Bowling for Jamaica, Al Valentine 6 for 52, G.H. Mudie, 3 for 57. Jamaica second innings 399 all out, N.L. Bonitto 121, G.H. Mudie 52, A.P. Binns 49, O.J. Cunningham 62. Bowling for British Guiana, John Trim took 4 for
83 A. B. Patior 3 for 90. British Guiana second innings 286 all out, George Wight 61, H.P. Bayley 94, Robert Christiani 53. Bowling for Jamaica, Al Valentine took 7 for 112 giving him match figures of 13 for 164, A. Bonitto took 2 for 44. Second match British Guiana vs Jamaica at Sabina Park 1951 result March (1012-13-14-15). Jamaica won by 9 wickets. Jamaica first innings 519 all out, K. R. Rickard 195, Allan Binns 82, V.R. Lumsden 60, O. J. Cunningham 46. Bowling for British Guiana, Berkley Gaskin took 5 for 112, Cecil Thomas 2 for 94, A.B. Patior 2 for 124. British Guiana first innings 256 all out, Robert Christiani 61, P.B. Wight 39, G. Persaud 33, Cecil Thomas 25. Bowling for Jamaica, Al Valentine took 6 for 102 R. Miller 3 for 78. British Guiana following on, 314 all out; G. L. Wight 64, J. L. Thomas 60, H. P. Bayley 36, Robert Christiani 34, A.B. Patior 32, G. Persaud 28. Bowling for Jamaica S. R. Goodridge took 5 for 73, Al. Valentine 3 for 101, L. E. Saunders 2 for 49. Jamaica reached their target losing one wicket.
The brilliance of Britton By Edison Jefford Shemar Britton is your quintessential studentathlete, who practices and plays table tennis on his offdays from school while maintaining a rigid curriculum at Queens College where he’s a fourth form student in the Art Stream at the top secondary institution. But making table tennis sound like a past-time is not good enough for a 15 year old, who already has three major Men’s Singles titles under his belt with his most recent coming in the form of the Mashramani title that he won after toppling the 2012 National Champion. Britton is brilliant in the classroom and on the table tennis board. Last weekend, he defeated one of the sport’s wonder boys, Nigel Bryan, who won the 2012 National Senior Championships, but Britton outclassed him to
Shemar Britton
win his third Men’s Singles title. He had always had giantslayer status, however, and showed propensity to become the top player he is destined to be last year when he made headlines after defeating Edinho Lewis, who was an integral part of a
2010 Senior Commonwealth Games team. Britton beat Lewis at the National Sports Commission (NSC) Independence tournament before a singles win at Clash of the Champions. Those performances, along with his (Continued on page 71)
Sunday March 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 75
Bounty One Day Hockey Competition opens 2014 hockey season today GCC men’s midfielder, Trevon Smith, is challenged by Hikers Captain Devin Munroe.
D e f e n d i n g m e n ’s champions, Bounty GCC, will be given a chance today March 2nd to defend their similarly named trophy as the Guyana Hockey Board opens its 2014 season with the Annual Bounty One-Day Hockey Competition at the Providence National Stadium.GCC having lost a few of their senior players since Last year’s edition will need to rely on an emerging
crop of talented juniors including the McKenzie brothers, Keon and Kareem, to keep their record intact. The Hikers Cadets, boasting the largest presence on the current men’s national indoor squad, are likely to pose a formidable challenge as the entertaining duo of Jaramj Assanah and Aroydy Branford always produces moments of great entertainment with their
GCC Tigers Captain Sonia Jardine outwits Spartans goalkeeper in the ladies final of 2013.
speed and dazzling skills. A revamped Old Fort under new leadership has been improving with every showing and is certain to also make a strong challenge for the cup. As long as the incomparable Aderemi ‘Dove’ Simon is on the field for Old Fort, the trophy remains in their grasp and teammates Jason DeSantos and John Abrams provide the lethal finishing at the goal.
The men’s tournament also sees Saints making an entrance, being led by the solid midfield play of Joel Hunte along with veteran sides Hikers Generals and Ol’ Skool, all of whom have the quality to challenge for the gold. The ladies competition sees returning champions, the GCC Tigers, lining up as favourites as sisters Captain Sonia Jardine and Kerensa Fernandes will
lead a potent attack supported by the relentless national sweeper Ulrica Sutherland marshalling the defence. The Hikers Divas are the strongest likely challengers to the Tigers as the forward line of national strikers Janella Munroe and Cora Towler will be further boosted by the return of Amanda Garnett. Marisha Rodrigues and Latoya Fordyce round out their solid
defence. The newly reorganized Old Fort ladies will be anchored by veterans Sonia Gordon and Carol Caine. The Old Fort side, although new to the Game, have already displayed their immense talent in previous outings and hope to create a few upsets in this competition. Matches begin at 9:00hrs and run until the evening with the finals set to begin at 17:00hrs.
Simeon Hardy starts American sojourn on high note ‘Chin checks’ American fighter in 5
By Michael Benjamin He commenced his professional career sporting the sobriquet ‘Candyman’ but by the end of his fourth fight he had earned the tab ‘Chin Checker ’ after delivering fierce left hooks to his opponents’ chins and leaving most of them senseless. Now, just around fifteen months after clinching a
unanimous verdict over former European Middleweight champion and w o r l d - r a t e r, H o w a r d ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman, and some eight months in the United States of America, World Boxing Council Caribbean Boxing F e d e r a t i o n ( W B C C A B O F E ) welterweight champion, Simeon ‘Candyman’ Hardy
endorsed the famed nickname when he scored a convincing 5th round stoppage over American, Chad Greenleaf when the two faced off in a light/middleweight encounter at the Horseshoe Casino, Hammond Indiana USA, Friday evening last. Kaieteur Sport attempted to speak with Hardy yesterday morning but he
had already left Indiana, bound for Brooklyn NY, where he is currently residing. Later yesterday morning he despatched a terse text message, “They say save the best for last; I put him to sleep in round 5, thank God for another victory and all my family, friends and fans that supported (Continued on page 71)
Hardy and Greenleaf stare each other down at the weigh in Thursday evening last.
t r o Sp
Petra Organisation Schools Football Competition...
North Ruimveldt, St. Mary’s show little mercy on opponents P.71
Part of the action in the clash between North Ruimveldt and Freeburg which the former won yesterday.
Under-19 World Cup:
South Africa beat Pakistan in final
The South African players lift the World Cup trophy. (ICC)
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