Kaieteur News

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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: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Struggling to obtain by means fair and foul In a poor country such as ours, the list of the things that we need might seem endless. There is, of course, the popular distinction between “wants” and “needs”; the former deemed to be somewhat much more fickle and ephemeral as opposed to the latter that supposedly goes deeper into our psychological, and some may have it – even into our physical makeup. Wants, then, may be infinite, but needs presumably are tied to our makeup and are more limited and hopefully may be satisfied. And then there are those who want everything. But that is a totally different animal. “What do we need?” We can turn the question on its head and propose that our needs may provide a potent source of explanation as to who we are, what are the bases of our behaviour and our social interaction? If, as has been proposed, we are all driven by needs then our society and its rules must be responsive to these needs or we will constantly find ourselves bemoaning one or other individual “acting out” as they strive, like bears caught in a trap to gnaw at their own limbs in a desperate effort to “express” themselves. Such drives may inevitably lead to conflict and violence. So what are some of these needs? According to the renowned psychologist, Abraham Maslow, we all have a hierarchy of needs, and these are ranked in the order of their attainment. We begin, according to Maslow, from the basic physical needs of food, water and shelter – which we share with all our fellow animals. When we talk about “basic needs” we cannot get more basic than this. In Guyana, while we may quibble about how far we are from the standards of the “developed” countries, we believe that by and large our basic needs are being met. This does not mean that we do not want what we see flashing on our TV screens as available elsewhere. And struggle to obtain them by means fair and foul. Maslow proposed that after fulfilment of the basic needs, we are driven to demand safety and security. Based on the primordial nature of our conflicts in the last decade, not many Guyanese would deny Maslow’s assertion. We then move on to non-physical things that go deep into our psychological makeup and into the realm of needs that distinguish us from other animals and indeed perhaps make us human. We need belonging or love, self-esteem and finally personal fulfilment. And it is because these needs are provided by other humans that we have been called a “social animal”. These latter needs emphasise the importance of family, friends, community and society. Without these institutions we would all revert to the feral creatures that were formed when some babies were abandoned in the wild. Families are the fundamental unit for making us human and it is not a coincidence that with the gradual erosion of the family in recent decades, the psychological degradation of many members of our society has increased exponentially. In such dislocations many youths will seek fulfilment of their “higher” psychological needs in gangs that provide recognition. On a larger scale, in the modern, increasingly atomised world, it may not be surprising that the saliency of ethnic groups has skyrocketed. It has been said with more than a little truth, that only the ethnic group accepts us for “what we are”. Extending the early insights of Maslow, other theorists have posited that human needs are actually the emergence of the essentials of our human development – and that the needs do not have a hierarchical order. We seek to fulfil our needs simultaneously in a strong and inexorable manner. They contend that needs also include the human quest for identity, cultural security, freedom and distributive justice. Our societal arrangements will court trouble, they assert, if these needs are not allowed to be fulfilled.

Friday March 07, 2014

Letters... Where your views make the news

This magistrate should be removed from the bench DEAR EDITOR, If the Chief Justice, the Chancellor, our Parliament, women groups, our human rights organizations and our political parties including the PPP remain silent on the egregious assault on the traditions of fairness and neutrality in the dispensation of justice by Magistrate Judy Latchman, then Guyana is definitely beyond redemption. I taught philosophy to Ms. Latchman when she was my student at UG and my wish is for the Guyanese society to demand the removal of this magistrate from the bench. I have met with the President of the Bar Association yesterday on the issue of her removal and I have completed my letter of same to the Chancellor. Let me make my position clear – what this magistrate did last Tuesday is horrible

and that is putting it mildly. Ms. Latchman should be removed from the magistracy peremptorily. Every school kid all over the world knows that a judge (meaning magistrate and High Court judges) are compelled by law and morality to be neutral. They analyze what the defence and prosecutor present and give judgement based on what is in front of them. At all times a judge must appear to be neutral The prosecutor in Ms. Latchman’s court told the bench that the accused, Alana Taylor, should not have been charged, it was a mistake, the decision didn’t come from the DPP and the mistake should be corrected. The defence asked for bail, the prosecutor offered no objection. The magistrate ignored what was in front of

her and denied bail. So who is the real prosecutor in Court 3? Is Magistrate Latchman a neutral judge? Based on what occurred in her court with Ms. Taylor, Ms. Latchman has sullied the name of judicial fairness in this country. Prosecutor Hunte said in open court that his superiors informed him that the charge was a mistake. I went to interview his superiors. Superintendent Jessamy refused to speak so did the Superintendent of the Court at Brickdam, Mr. Cooper. Mr. Cooper refused give me his first name Commander Vyphius was very professional with me. He summoned both Jessamy and Cooper in front of me and suggested that they respond to my queries. He then asked them for an explanation why Taylor

was charged when she should not have been. Jessamy told the meeting that he would have to speak to Prosecutor Hunt to ascertain exactly what was said about him in court. Cooper said he cannot withdraw a charge once it is in the system Prosecutor Hunt also named Inspector Guinness as one of the investigating ranks who told him that Taylor should not have been charged. While interviewing Guinness at Albertown Police Station, a fire broke out in a room where there was no access to it. Ranks had to climb unto the ceiling to extinguish it. Guinness said he is not speaking to me even though I told him Commander Vyphuis has requested Jessamy and Cooper to talk (Continued on page 5)

The pre-conditions regarding GLU’s subventions are ludicrous DEAR EDITOR, I want to address what is turning out to be a misunderstanding of my personal position regarding the recently approved motion in the National Assembly vis a vis the restoration of the Critchlow Labour College’s annual subvention. I demitted office as President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress during October, 2013. Consequently, I have no authority to speak for and on behalf of the executive of that august body. During my tenure as

GTUC President I held no discussion with the political opposition on the subject of the restoration of the college’s annual subvention. There had been no exchange between myself and the political opposition during the months I demitted office either. On the day the motion was approved in the National Assembly, I had attended the sitting solely to keep abreast with the debate on the AntiMoney Laundering & Countering of Terrorism Bill and during the recess of the House —after the

Motion for the restoration of t h e C o l l e g e ’s a n n u a l subvention had already been approved- I was approached by the AFC leader and Member of Parliament Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan and made aware of the development. The entire matter of the motion was news to me. It was the first time I heard of it. After a brief chat with Mr. Ramjattan during which I was not fully apprised of the conditionalities for the restoration of the subvention, I expressed the hope that it could be a step in

the right direction. In retrospect, it may have been more prudent to have withheld comment when a p p r o a c h e d b y M r. Ramjattan to avoid any possible distortion of my opinion on the subject of the subvention. As a trade unionist who is aware of the intrigues concerning the management of Critchlow Labour College, it is my opinion that the pre-conditions for the restoration of the annual subvention is nothing but ludicrous. Norris Witter

I want to assure Mr. Ramdhani we are with you in this struggle DEAR EDITOR: The above thought clearly references how I feel when I observe the plight of Mr. Ricky Ramdhani, an ordinary upholstery worker from Grove on the East Bank of Demerara. This father of five girls, who is allegedly at the receiving end of the corrupt and mentally bankrupt Guyana Police Force, should

have been working to emancipate his children from their current condition rather than have to be protesting because the system has failed him and his family. From the evidence this man released to the independent media, the only conclusion I can arrive at is the police are for sale and the rule of law is being used as the rule of oppression and

While some have emphasised the importance of addressing “interests” in our angst-ridden society, ignoring the underlying needs and just negotiating the interests may at times lead to a short-term settlement, but it rarely will lead to long-term resolution of our problems.

b r u t a l i t y. The poor Guyanese family is truly a remarkable institution. Their lives are so filled with suffering and horror but yet as single units they are willing to stand for what is right in such an oppressive society. What kind of country allows an institution to attack an individual like this while criminal run rampantly all over the country with such freedom? As we self-examine ourselves during this Jagdeo Ramotar (PPP) tenure, the results are disappointing at best. I want to assure Mr. Ramdhani, we are with you

in this struggle; you are not alone. Thank you Mr. Ramdhani, for taking justice from the oppressors, since please rest assured, the oppressors are in no position to give you justice. Every time you are harassed, find the time to protest in front of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Next time you will be joined by another oppressed family and another and another and before you know it, the revolution will be over and the oppressors would have been routed from the place. Sasenarine Singh

Friday March 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news

President must ensure racial balance in SWAT

DEAR EDITOR, Does anyone really believe Mr. Eusi Kwayana actually wants an answer when he inquires “Will someone say whether the MPs know that at the last general election the President’s party polled under 50 per cent of the votes, won under 50 per cent of the seats and yet appointed 100 per cent of the ministers from his own narrowly defeated party. And does anyone believe that all the present (sic) unfairness and (sic) abuse of power and discrimination could be possible with a mixed cabinet?” What’s brewing? Could WPA’s Dr Clive Thomas’s recent poke at APNU for its failure to pass the money laundering bill be revealing

confirmation that their “brother Rupert Roopnarine” will soon transform from their agarbatii incense stick into a mosquito destroyer still smoking ? Can anyone recognize any mischief afoot to inject confusion or will we genuinely find some crossing the floor changes? No doggie has been able to catch its tail even if its spinning velocity is given more gas but they are welcome to try. “The eye sees not itself but by reflection” says (Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar) so let Mr. Kwayana imbibe his own words, as a late blooming constitutional expert to comprehend the legalities by which Guyana’s democracy is governed. It was Mr. Kwayana who himself wrote: “The PPP has

a lawful minority President because of the 1980 Constitution (which) they had no part in making…. But the same constitution has a balance, whether some want to accept it or not, to the minority Presidency. It is the power of the same President to restore balance”. Has anyone now in the WPA,AFC or APNU even the Buxton sage ever consistently advocated the racial balancing of the armed forces and civil service all exclusively funded by taxpayers as their official policy? Both President Donald Ramotar and the Home Affairs Minister are certainly also under eyewitness scrutiny regarding the finality of SWAT’s racial balance. Such

This magistrate should be removed... From page 4 to me. I asked him to call Mr. Vyphuis. He said he will do so. But I don’t know if he did. Mr. Burch-Smith of the Bar Association told me he cannot ask for the removal of the Magistrate because he needs to be more familiar with what Ms. Latchman did. But he did say that he would be uncomfortable discussing the case since Ms. Taylor’s lawyer is his law firm partner and it would not be proper to analyse the Magistrate’s conduct lest he be accused of bias. But he accepted to be quoted in saying if the facts are true then for Magistrate Latchman to refuse bail would be very unusual. I spoke to Mark Waldron, Taylor’s lawyer and what I was told I cannot repeat but Mr. Waldron may not have faith much longer in the rule of law in his country. But then again who has? Let me repeat what are the horrible implications for the rule of law in this country. Magistrate Latchman removed her legal obligation to be neutral, disregarded what was in front of her and acted like a prosecutor thereby jeopardizing the

priceless principle of fairness before the law Ms. Taylor was no longer an object of threat to the society; the prosecutor informed the court that she should not have been in front of the court, then by what reason, logic or evidence the magistrate used to deny Ms. Taylor her freedom? It is for the prosecutor to deny Ms. Taylor her freedom not the magistrate. The magistrate has to act on what is in front of her and in front of her was an accused that was not

supposed to be charged. And who informed the court about that? The prosecutor himself. Why did Latchman deny bail then? Only one answer stands out. The magistrate had become the prosecutor If lawyers and higher judicial officials do not seek to have this magistrate removed from the bench then how can any defence attorney accept her as a neutral judge? Let us see how sheepish Guyana will react to this latest atrocity in this tragic land. Frederick Kissoon

type of balance or equality does not concern Mr Kwayana or the AFC which was to make the biggest difference. “The fault lies not in our stars but ourselves that we are underlings “makes Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar such an excellent Guyanese prophet. In his legendary rush to defend kith and kin, Mr. Eusi Kwayana in the SN of 5-3-14 excoriates both sides of the National Assembly for requirement of FITUG board membership at the Critichlow Labour College (CLC) in return for taxpayer funding. He writes: “I don’t excuse whatever faults the unions have. But it seems quite easy to reach a consensus to bully the unions”. Yeah right! Nice try. It would seem Mr. Kwayana arrogantly feels he is anointed with Papal power to excuse or ratify sins and faults like the Catholic Church selling of indulgences. With his extraordinary cunning method of madness how quickly Mr. Kwayana changes his camouflage to swiftly lambast the PPP/C government and also daggers APNU who he is behind. In the initial termination of taxpayers funding for CLC Mr. Kwayana charges “The

denial was a selfish, heartless act and a breach of what Parliament, that is the National Assembly and the President, had approved in the Appropriations Act”. Furthermore he rails how “Now, without hearing the affected trade union body, the National Assembly has imposed a condition larded with phrases of reconciliation and labour unity”. Why does Mr. Kwayana find it so repulsive even when the combined National Assembly makes a tiny step to advance anything to do with reconciliation and unity? As if the current political gridlock is not stultifying enough, Mr. Kwayana prefers moving it up by his agenda into the cabinet to be hidden from public eyes. With the Trojan horse safely within, Mr. Kwayana would like us to believe he will permanently have sailed away to imperialist America. Mr. Kwayana’s Brer Anancy-like efforts to get

political power has reenergized his expired relevance of doom division and disaster of which he is an accomplished expert. He knows enough but fails to fully comprehend even as he admits “I know that my letter writing watchmen will be answering this letter and especially the rest of it”. Educated in the last century he has bravely adjusted to the reality that ‘the members of the National Assembly can all count, one, two three. Most of them have calculators”, an educational aid unknown in his time. For those in the opposition promising they will dish out lavish goodies when in government control of the country’s treasury they must really be delusional to believe by illegal reductions (count one, two, three now) they can, like Jesus Christ, feed more than a multitude of both believers and unbelievers with fewer loaves and (Continued on page 7)

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 07, 2014

Foulis teenager’s death… Pastor’s son killed in highway accident “I never know he was sleeping - Three others critical

Several church members gathered at the hospital yesterday afternoon. Up to press time late last night, members attached to the Full Gospel Fellowship Church were mourning the loss of their pastor’s son by way of accident. Dead is Cliffon Orande Marks, 22, of Mahdia. According to reports, Marks was part of a group that was involved in a collision between a Tapir vehicle in which they were travelling and a lorry on the Soesdyke Highway yesterday.

Relatives, including the young man’s father, refused to divulge any information about the accident. Three other persons were up to press time nursing serious injuries. Hospital sources told Kaieteur News that Fabian Williams, Adlenne Simpson and Kishana Singh were all in critical condition. This newspaper was told that they were transferred to the Georgetown Hospital. Sources said that all three of

the patients suffered serious head injuries and doctors ordered that scans be done. Kaieteur News was told that the group was on their way to a crusade at Bellvue, West Coast Demerara. The driver of the Tapir is one of two persons in a critical condition. The driver of the lorry reportedly told investigators that as he was climbing the hill at One Mile, Soesdyke, the Tapir veered into his path.

Man, 21, shot by bicycle bandit A 21-year-old construction worker is battling for his life in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after being shot by a lone gunman around 05:15 hrs yesterday. The injured man has been identified as Inshan Ali Ramlakhan of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara Public Road. He was shot once to the upper left shoulder by a gunman on bicycle in the vicinity of Conversation Tree. The injured man’s mother, Bibi Ali Ramlakhan, said yesterday that she was

… battling for life at GPHC informed by doctors at the medical institution that the bullet which struck her son on his shoulder also damaged his spine and lung. He is said to be on a life support machine at the hospital. Police in a press release said that Ramlakhan was walking along the Railway Embankment, Blygezight, when he was attacked by a man armed with a handgun. The release further added that the victim was held up and shot to his left shoulder by the perpetrator who took away

three cell phones and $8,000 before escaping on a bicycle. During an interview with the injured man’s mother, she explained that her son, who does construction work with one of his uncles, was supposed to go on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway yesterday. “He does normally stop off at Conversation Tree every morning to reach up his uncle and then the two of them does go to work together, but yesterday he left early because he had to go far,” Bibi Ali Ramlakhan said. The woman said that she was informed that a few minutes after her son exited the minibus he was confronted by a lone gunman who demanded that he drop his haversack. “I heard when he dropped his bag with his working clothes and lunch, the man shoot he and pick up the bag and ride away,” the mother lamented. The injured man was rushed to the hospital by his uncle, who had found him lying in a pool of blood on the roadway. He was immediately taken for surgery and was placed in the ICU a little after 14:00hrs. Police say investigations into the robbery/shooting are ongoing.

under my truck” - Driver

A Foulis, East Coast Demerara truck driver who was being sought in connection with the death of a 14-year-old boy, turned himself in to police at Cove and John yesterday. The man, who was accompanied by an attorney, remained in custody up to late last night after giving a statement to investigators. He denied any involvement in the teen’s death. The boy whose only name was given as Andy, was found with his skull crushed on the parapet at 20th Street, Foulis, on Wednesday morning. Police are working on the theory that he was crushed by the wheel of a truck, under which he was reportedly sleeping for the past few weeks. Apart from the extensive damage to his skull, investigators also found what appeared to be tyre marks on the dead teen’s body. They became interested in

Dead: Andy the truck driver, since the spot where Andy’s body was found was right where the vehicle is usually parked. Yesterday, police also combed his truck, GLL 9253, which they have impounded, for any possible clues that could shed light on their investigation. Initially police were treating the matter as a murder and were of the impression

that Andy was killed somewhere else and dumped at the back of the village, since there were no signs of blood or a struggle near the body that would suggest otherwise. Police had detained one resident but released him after they had received new information about the truck. However, there are still several questions that are lingering in the minds of residents. “How come de truck driver nah feel he run over something and check fuh see is wha?” one resident asked. “And how come he nah wake up when de truck start up?” was another question. Residents also want to know if the driver of the truck did not know that Andy had been sleeping there for the past few weeks. Kaieteur News understands that the truck driver is claiming that he was not aware that the teen had been sleeping under the truck.

GRA moves to introduce online tax payments The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) says it is moving closer to launching its online tax payment service. The tax collection agency disclosed yesterday that corporate and financial commercial institutions are on board with the new system that is likely to be launched this month. Already, a number of agreements have been signed and the system is being tested to ensure its security. “The initiative seeks to bring to the public a more convenient and faster payment option as the GRA moves to optimize the use of technology in its provision services, allowing tax payments to be done via the internet or telephone from the comfort of one’s home, office or other suitable location,” GRA said yesterday. The system, which is similar to what is already in place by several utility companies for electronic bill payments, will seek to promote several objectives. “Chief among them is to provide more convenience and security for clients who often flock the GRA’s 200-201 Camp Street Headquarters to conduct business, particularly as due dates approach. It will also relieve congestion in the building as well as on the streets as it relates to parking.” Commissioner-General of the GRA, Khurshid Sattaur, is

convinced that the new system will be welcomed by all stakeholders since it will lessen the time customers and clients have to spend and promote security for taxpayers engaged in money transactions. “Accommodation and parking for clients has been an issue the GRA has had to address since the bulk of its operations were consolidated at Camp Street. I think this is a great breakthrough. Therefore, to be able to offer this service through the internet… we should be seeing a reduction in the number of persons visiting our office.” Early last year, Sattaur met representatives of local commercial banks for talks on the online tax payment system. He was accompanied by representatives of the GRA’s Information Technology (IT) Department. GRA disclosed that during that engagement, the

banks agreed to work along with the GRA’s IT Department to have a tax payment feature added to their websites. “Additionally, taxpayers who, for one reason or the other, may not be able to use the computer or telephone to transact business will be able to use the over-the-counter service of the nearest Bill Express location. The GRA will soon provide details of the obligations and requirements for persons using the system, and the value limits for payments and relevant tax types for which payment can be made.” Since moving to the Camp Street location last year, placing several of its scattered departments under one roof, there have been repeated complaints of congestion in the area. Even the conversion of a number of properties into parking lots has not seen alleviation of the problem.

Miscommunication... From page 3 qualified in a shorter space of time. “I think every parent in this country wants the teacher in front of their child's class to be the best teacher that that teacher can be; we have a duty as a State to make sure that we provide the facilities and the accommodation, and the necessary curriculum that would allow that teacher to be best trained, so that is why

we moved from just providing teachers who have certificates to teachers who have degrees.” The GITEP-revised programmes were brought into effect post-2011 catering for all trainee teachers who pass through CPCE to be graduate teachers rather than just certificate teachers as obtained in the past, Minister Manickchand noted.

Friday March 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Letters... Where your views make the news

An Inquiry into this period will cleanse a stench that still haunts us DEAR EDITOR, There’s a tendency to embark on pointless cowardly political excursions while shrinking from that grotesque creature before us that is most significant, and has damaged, as no period before, the collective psyche of the nation. Both Forbes Burnham and Walter Rodney are significant contributors to our growth psychologically in understanding ourselves as Guyanese, and we will honour them as long as this country exists. The death of Rodney and the political accusations of Burnham’s responsibility has become a political subculture, and there seems an intention to milk it more. There is a current consensus to undertake an investigation into the death of Walter Rodney. This is not unnecessary, but is it currently relevant, and is it more important than the Tabled motion by the leader of the opposition for an Investigation into the 2000 to 2010 Insurrection-Crime Spree?, NO! it is not… though I think that the reasons

should be obvious yet for those rooted in the modes of facades, safe props and disinformation agendas, let us examine the two areas. By the admittance of Political leaders of the WPA vs. PNC political era, this was an era of insurrection, of warfare against the State. To be able to ascertain credible Data on Rodney’s death and prove that Burnham ordered it that will leave no doubts behind, requires a league of persons who will have to testify. Most of these people are dead; Forbes Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, Gregory Smith, Laurie Lewis, Colonel McPherson, the incredible Patrick Alexander among others. Norman Mclean is alive , but this is going to be difficult to prove. I stated in a previous letter that I bought some pictures of Rodney’s last moment and they did tell a compelling tale. My contention is not against an investigation into Walter Rodney’s death but rather the rejection of the PPPGovernment, the AFC, even

the writer Maxwell, Thurs, Jan 10, 2013 supported the AFC’s cowardice in a letter in which he surely did not understand. To begin; the motion was tabled requesting 2000 to 2010, not 2004 to 2010, a period that embodies the PPP/ Cartel-Business community pact, which preceded 2000. And this was the foundation that fused into the most significant bloodletting to have occurred in this Colony-Country since Emancipation. This was the period when the ‘Phantoms’ Drug Cartel auxiliaries fused politically with the Police force, and Ministers, for the first time in the history of this country, endorsed organized crime, who hung the bait of millions before their tainted characters. The investigation that should take precedence above all others is based on the January 2013 motion tabled in Parliament by the leader of the opposition for an inquiry into the criminal violence between 2000 to 2010. The architects, secret directors political and legal

benefactors are all still alive and so are the mothers whose sons were made to disappear are all alive, so are members of the Gajraj and other Phantom squads. I have coined part of that era the ‘Jagdeo-Roger Khan era’ and I am sure part of the deal testimony of both ‘Roger Khan and Captain David Clark’ would more than assist in pointing to the evidence of this dark period which has traumatized and infected a generation who now believes that hard work is pointless and that the culture of illegalities that pervades our nation is the hype, a culture that is difficult to identify, as to who are the Government and who is organized crime. This cult of the JagdeoRoger Khan era now directs the national ethos. The Inquiry into this period to wherever it leads will serve as a cleansing closure of a stench that still haunts us. This inquiry by the weight of its importance in Bloodshed and national trauma should be struggled for precedence above any other inquiry. Barrington Braithwaite

President must ensure racial balance... From page 5 nonhalal fishes. If less is more, shouldn’t it apply to the cabinet as well? Such Kwayana-type recalibrations to piggyback onto others to achieve his kind of equality involves imposing guilt, entitlement, division, abuse, and traditionally always demanding a change of the rules in the middle of the contest. The PPP was split in 1955, the electoral system was changed in 1964 from first past the post to PR, overseas and

proxy voting became the norm in 1968, rigging elections, changing the constitution in 1980 and forcing Guyana’s best brains to leave has all been done. In 1964 when the PPP got the largest amount of votes and with the imposition of PR which allowed the PNC-UF coalition to become the new government could Mr. Kwayana explain if senility prevented him from advocating the inclusion of that party in a national front government or equality only

matters when it serves his permanent interests? Has Guyana’s political mess been cleaned up by their solutions? Mr. Kwayana last demanded a fixed permanent election date on the calendar a la the US. No Commonwealth country has

such a feature but these demands by “any means necessary” are all designed to destroy the PPP/C and their supporters. It’s either his way or the highway to extinction. Try Federalism to make your paradise a reality. Sultan Mohamed

Street vendor stabbing…

High court trial for ex-paramour A retired member of the Georgetown City Constabulary accused of slashing his ex-girlfriend’s throat and stabbing her outside a church last October is set to face a Judge and Jury in the High Court for attempted murder. The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) ended earlier this week, as Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry told the accused that the Prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case of attempted murder against him. Godfrey Lammy, 62, of 5 Laing Avenue, Georgetown was last year brought before the Chief Magistrate for attempting to murder 45-year old Denise Hope on Wellington Street, Georgetown on Saturday, October 26, 2013. Hope is a vendor on Regent and Wellington Streets while the accused is a taxi driver. Previous reports indicate that the victim was conducting her daily business when she was approached from behind, held by the neck and stabbed with a knife, also in the back. The assailant had fled the scene. Lammy was later arrested at Sister’s Village, West Bank Demerara, approximately five hours after he allegedly attacked his ex-lover. He was then brought to the courts and charged with the indictable offence. The PI got underway earlier last month and the Prosecution which was led by Police Prosecutor, Corporal Bharat Mangru, attached to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, brought five (5) witnesses to testify on behalf of the state. In response to the Prosecutor’s submissions, the Chief Magistrate indicated that based on the hold of the evidence she is of the opinion that a sufficient case of attempted murder is made out against Lammy to stand trial for the attempted murder of Denise Hope at the next practical sitting at the High Court.

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Kaieteur News

China mission will pay off says InvesTT president

Trade Minister Vasant Bharath, second from right, accompanied by the InvesTT team, from left, manager of investor sourcing, Shymal Chandradathsingh, president Racquel Moses and senior officer-investor marketing, Kathy-Ann Donowa at the end of the Guangzhou Investor Forum at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Guangzhou. Photo: Anthony Wilson Trinidad Guardian InvesTT president Racquel Moses says the organisation achieved a great deal in executing the investment mission to China, which ended in the city of Guangzhou on Saturday last. “I think that we accomplished a lot in terms of having some good meetings that will definitely yield investment. But we also

accomplished learning about how we want this kind of mission to go in the future,” said Moses. InvesTT led a team of about 30 local businessmen and entrepreneurs, who visited three Chinese cities, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in a mission that operated in parallel to the official mission, which was led by Prime Minister Kamla

Persad-Bissessar. The prime minister’s team included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Dookeran, Minister of Energy, Kevin Ramnarine and Trade Minister, Vasant Bharath. The purpose of the InvesTT mission to China was to encourage Chinese businesses to invest in T&T, particularly the non-energy sectors and, to that end, the agency hosted three investment forums in each of the three cities that the T&T delegation visited.

Friday March 07, 2014

Youths narrowly escape bullets during high speed chase

Police surround the car in Republic Park at the end of the chase Two youths, one of whom is a member of the Guyana Police Force, were lucky to escape unhurt when ranks on a mobile patrol unit opened fire on them during a high speed chase around 20:45 hours last night. The duo took the police on a hair-raising chase that began at Middle Road, La Penitence and ended in front of a house in Republic Park, East Bank Demerara. Reports reaching this newspaper stated that the police spotted the two men in a white Toyota Premio motorcar acting suspiciously and when they were about to

challenge them, the car sped away. Several other patrol units responded to a request for back-up, but the car eluded them all, and despite the car being struck by at least two bullets from the police’s highpowered rifles, the men did not stop. They made it to the Republic Park house where they fled the car and ran inside with the police in hot pursuit. The two men were eventually brought out from the house and began giving the ranks who had converged on the scene, several conflicting

explanations as to why they did not stop. One of the men told this newspaper that he drove away because he thought that the occupants of the vehicle that was trailing them had come to seize his car, since he was in arrears with his payment for the vehicle. This is despite the police using their siren throughout the chase. Police did not buy his explanation since they believe that the men had something to hide, hence their desperation to get away from the patrol unit. A subsequent search of the Republic Park house and its surroundings, however, failed to come up with anything incriminating. The men were nevertheless detained.

Friday March 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Burial or cremation? With the rapid pace at which stem cell research is being conducted and the encouraging results which tests have so far yielded, within the next thirty years, unless some cataclysmic event takes place, the global life expectancy will soar. This research holds out great hope for medical science and for ending deaths due to some of the major medical conditions which today afflict mankind. I certainly think that this research will find a cure for many diseases which are now incurable. Perhaps within the next hundred years, scientists may even be able to bring back persons from the dead. I do not expect to live that

long. I do not expect to live another fifty years and therefore I do not expect anything would be able to be done to bring me back from the dead or to prevent me from falling victim to some of the major killer diseases of today. I expect to die and to be buried. Well actually, I have not made up my mind as yet how I wish to go. I cannot decide at this point whether I wish to be buried or cremated. I am still thinking about it. I may not have a choice in the matter however. At the rate at which the existing burial grounds in Guyana are being occupied, we will very soon come to a stage where some cemeteries will have to be retired.

Space is running out in Le Repentir Cemetery. In fact, burial should now cease at that location. There is no longer any space left in the city for burial. There is no land in the city to establish a new cemetery and therefore we have a problem on our hands. With persons dying all the time, there will come a time in our history where burial grounds will have to be shifted further and further outside the residential areas. And this, of course, will pose problems for planning and development. It will also pose problems for families wishing to bury their dead. It seems clear to me that more and more Guyanese will have to opt for cremation. In

Govt. afraid to implement corruption laws “A lot of big officials will go to jail” - Harmon “Government is afraid to implement pertinent legislation which could see the end of alleged corruption among public officials, since it could mean a lot of them would be going to jail.” This opinion was expressed by APNU parliamentarian Joseph Harmon. Harmon was commenting on the recent US State Department Report on Human Rights which focused on the level of corruption and transparency in Guyana. The report accused the government of not implementing the corruption laws effectively. According to Harmon, the report strongly supports APNU’s position on the implementation of corruption laws. “They don’t want to effectively implement laws in Guyana, because the implementation will mean that a lot of the corruption will come to an end and a lot of people, a lot of big officials will go to jail,” Harmon told Kaieteur News. The report also criticized government’s inability to properly set the Integrity Commission, which Harmon said is another indictment on the administration. According to the APNU MP in other countries where there are Integrity Commissions they are fully operational and active. “In other countries a proper report is taken to the President. However in Guyana, because of our political structure, the information goes to the President and he sits down on it and does nothing,” he

APNU MP Joseph Harmon said. Harmon opined that there is the need to have these commissions restructured so that the reports could be laid in the National Assembly or something of that nature. “They are given certain powers of investigation so that if they submit reports they ought to be able to independently, in the commission, enquire if a public official, from being a tenant, somehow becomes the owner of several properties,” Harmon posited. He said a further indictment on government’s part to compound what the report is claiming about implementation is the fact that the Financial Intelligence Unit, out of 800 suspicious transactions, only sent one report to the Director of Public Prosecutions’ Chambers. Over the weekend the report which was released claimed that although the laws of Guyana provide for criminal penalties for corruption by officials,

Government did not implement these effectively. Corruption, according to the report, remained a widespread public perception involving officials at all levels, including the police and the judiciary. Even the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators have assessed that Government corruption was a serious problem. Even though under the Constitution there is the Office of the Auditor General, Public Procurement Commission (PPC), and the Integrity Commission which all have mandated roles in the area of government transparency and accountability, two are yet to be established. According to the Report, the Office of the Auditor General scrutinizes the expenditure of public funds on behalf of Parliament and conducts financial audits of all publicly-funded entities, including donor-funded entities, local government agencies, and trade unions, and reports to the National Assembly. It noted that the work and effectiveness of the Audit Office remain limited, since Government may or may not act on the discrepancies noted in its reports. Moreover, the Constitution has called for the establishment of a PPC to monitor public procurement and ensure that authorities conduct the procurement of goods and services in a fair, transparent, competitive, and cost-effective manner. There has been significant public criticism of (Continued on page 12)

fact, I am very surprised that given the condition of some of our burial grounds that we are not having far more cremations these days. I am now giving serious thought to requesting that my earthly remains be cremated when I leave this world. I certainly am not enamored with the idea of my remains being sealed in a concrete tomb, with my family having to visit regularly to help clean keep the spot, and to have to from time to time come to pay their respects. When I am gone, I am gone. I do not wish to be a bother to anyone. And this is why while I am not totally comfortable with the idea of cremation, I am leading towards this as the best option for the disposal of my body. It certainly will be cheaper in the long run. Cremation does not require an expensive coffin and does not require, as is the case with burial, after-care and maintenance. I can be put in any cheap box and my body

placed on a pyre to be burnt. My ashes can be kept in an urn as a reminder to my descendants that I existed. No one has to leave where they are living to come to Guyana to pay their respects to me whenever my death anniversary comes around. In fact, my ashes can be taken wherever my children wish them and could even be divided amongst them. I certainly value the thought of my remains moving all around the world with my children. That is far more comforting than the thought of being

locked permanently in a coffin and placed in a sealed tomb. But I have not fully made up my mind. I still wish to give how I would like to be sent off further thought. Whatever I decide, I will write it down and give it to my lawyer for inclusion in my will. The rest is out of my control. By the way. How do you wish to be sent off?

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 07, 2014

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Where is Desmond Hoyte’s ghost? There is increasing pressure on both opposition parties to up the ante in a country where democracy in the substantial meaning of the concept died inside the PPP when Cheddi Jagan passed away. Under Bharrat Jagdeo, Forbes Burnham has emerged in Guyanese historiography as a more tempered president whose nationalist commitments and working class advocacy put him millions of miles ahead of Mr. Jagdeo. All indications are that Donald Ramotar is going to stay close to the genre to which Jagdeo belongs. The only people who don’t seem to understand this are the AFC and APNU and the PNC. A column on Clive Thomas’s critical evaluation of APNU’s performance to date is forthcoming. Suffice it to say that this writer is an immense admirer of Dr. Clive Thomas and considers him one of the greatest sons of this land,

therefore I am always inclined to see validity in his endless critiques of Guyana’s political economy. The opposition’s acceptance of the PPP’s demand of four FITUG representatives on the Board of Critchlow Labour College is a huge strategic mistake that is bound to weaken its support in south Georgetown constituencies and maybe all of Guyana. The most obvious questions the AFC and APNU did not ask themselves, two of which stand out like a ball of fire in the sky on a dark night. What is FITUG and where does its ultimate loyalty lie? What do you think those four board members are going to do or how are they going to act? Then there is the third question, the billion-dollar question – do we trust the PPP to act professionally now that the State has six representatives on the board? Let me answer those

questions before I go to the missing ghost of the great Desmond Hoyte. FITUG is a PPP front organization. Carvil Duncan of the GLU has politicized trade unionism in ways no other trade unionist has done in the history of this country, not under President Burnham, not even GAWU under the PPP Government since 1992. GAWU and NAACIE are unapologetic supporters of the PPP Government and until there is regime change in this country, their sycophancy will not stop. This writer had to intervene with the management of Republic Bank to stop discussions with NAACIE. My essential point to the bank was NAACIE is as much a political organization as it is a trade union. Why APNU and the AFC trust FITUG to act professionally on the Critchlow Board is one of the

mysteries in politics in Guyana that can only engender frustration among Guyanese who support APNU and the AFC. The point is not Lincoln Lewis or Critchlow’s continued existence or trade union unity, the point, the gargantuan point, is that the PPP is not to be trusted, and they are going to seek to reduce Critchlow to a floor cloth. Sadly, most tragically, APNU and the AFC honestly believe they have done a good thing. I will have lots more to say about the politics of Rupert Roopnaraine. As a young boy in the seventies, I never admired his politics. I never did, and never will and I consider his partner, Jocelyn Dow, to be one of the most unreliable, unacceptable political activists ever in the history of this country. Those two persons are not my cup of tea and I don’t think their

politics is good for the poorer classes of this poor country. APNU, of course, is going to feel the heat more than the AFC. The Critchlow vote is going to deepen the frustration of the large numbers that see APNU as a weak opposition that is getting weaker, more inelegant in appearance and deportment and disoriented in its strategy formulation. In times like this every PNC member, supporter and sympathizer must be asking where is the presence of the ghost of Desmond Hoyte at Congress Place. Mr. Hoyte made some fatal mistakes that allowed the PNC to lose power and he was psychologically lacerated by those errors which haunted him every day. Mr. Hoyte never forgave the PPP for the Rosinante cooperative land issue, where he felt the PPP had crossed the line in race

Frederick Kissoon discrimination. And that land incident transformed the psychology of Desmond Hoyte. Hoyte would not have stopped until there was regime change in Guyana. If he was alive, I think the PPP would either be out of power or we would have had an allparty government. Hoyte was convinced that the PPP’s goal was to dominate Guyana and would supplant democracy with PPP hegemony. Sadly, his party, the PNC is yet to see his point. Will they ever see it?

Dem boys seh...

Donald plan fuh enjoy Jagdeo pension Bill Nobody does like to throw away money, but it look like de people of Guyana ain’t got a choice. Dem got to throw money behind Jagdeo. One man seh that he got to help pay fuh Jagdeo suffer. This is a man who get li’l belly wuk and hire a private jet to fly to Florida. Dem boys seh that if he did paying fuh it was one thing and he got money to pay fuh nuff private jet fuh a man who had nutten when he tun president. Is Ah Kneel seh suh. He tell de country how Jagdeo didn’t got nutten in 1999. Now dem got to worry bout Donald. Wid a belly like wha he got if he get belly wuk he got to hire three private jet. And de thing is that Donald expect de people to pay fuh that because he refuse to sign de Bill wha de opposition pass to reduce de benefits to presidents. Ah Kneel, who expect to be president, following in dem footsteps. He is de one who advise Donald not to sign de Bill. He claim that as de chief lawmaker he got a right to advise de president and if he wrong then people can go to court.

He know that when de matter go to court it gun be a lifetime before any decision come, suh is six of one and half dozen of de other. De same Ah Kneel who like publicity now don’t want dem boys to talk. He run to de court because people talk de truth. He is not a bad person, but he got to learn that life is not only fuh people talk nice things. He like Bobby. He run to court and only he know how he mind wuk. He had a plan fuh sue de Waterfalls paper that does print in Guyana, in New York. He lawyer tun up fuh question Uncle Adam bout Guyana, but lawyers fuh de Waterfalls paper ask he if he head good. He got a company wid de same name in New York, but that company ain’t sue de Waterfalls paper in New York although people woulda expect that company to complain. Bobby really think he smart. He better provide dem invoice wha he give to de Ministry of Health and de Georgetown Public Hospital. Talk half and watch how Ah Kneel and Bobby gun cry.

Friday March 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

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PPP statements on FIU grounded in utter ignorance – Greenidge

By Kiana Wilburg On Tuesday last, at a press conference, the government disclosed that despite extensive research, it is unaware of the proposed amendment by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to have the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) monitored by a non-partisan anti-money laundering body - existing in any other part of the world. It was also unable to find similar architecture in the world where the Parliament is involved in the appointments of persons to the FIU. Engaging members of the media were Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, Minister within the Finance Ministry, Juan Edghill, Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall and Government’s Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira. Teixeira told media operatives that in relation to the FIU the government, after extensive research, found that nowhere in the world is the Parliament allowed to play a role in the appointment of members to the (FIU) nor is there an Anti-Money Laundering body to oversee the FIU, as being proposed by APNU. Dr. Singh categorically

Carl Greenidge expressed that the insertion of such a body is without precedent, considering that the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) had examined the legislation and made no changes in that regard. However, APNU’s Financial Spokesman, Carl Greenidge, says that it is a non-partisan body the coalition is proposing be appointed to oversee the FIU. And that “the statements by the government are grounded in utter ignorance.” “So what if their (Govt.) research shows that? The Financial Advisor, Roger Hernandez of the CFATF, after a meeting explained that

Slower vessel irritates Parika - Bartica passengers The four-hour journey from Parika to Bartica has now increased significantly, in terms of time, to the dismay of passengers, especially those dependent on the service to transport cargo. The regular flow of service was reportedly interrupted since Monday without the travelling public being notified. According to a businessman, who depends on the ferry service, the MV Makouria, which usually plies the route, is at the dock, and the MV Malali is the replacement. The MV Malali plies the Wakenaam route. With only one engine, the MV Malali departed the Parika stelling to go to Bartica at around 10:30hrs yesterday. It would usually take four hours to travel to Bartica, but because only one engine was powering the vessel, at around 16:00hrs it was still on its journey. The businessman said that owing to the slothfulness of the vessel, “an entire productive day is lost”. He said that many trucks on the vessels are loaded with perishables and other essential cargo. Attempts to reach the General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department were unsuccessful.

he had not touched the FIU, since there was only one person employed, and he agreed with our position.” Greenidge explained that during the discourse with the Advisor, the CFATF representative had emphasized that he was only authorized to discuss the financial issues associated with the AML legislation. “He, in other words, has no power to discuss or challenge the powers of the Parliament or the National Assembly. As it relates to the CFATF’s position on the autonomy of the FIU, Hernandez said that overview should not involve interference in the day-to-day operations of the FIU. It also means that the personnel should be appointed on the basis of clear criteria and specified qualifications and, that the grounds for termination should be specified. There should not be extended periods of acting appointments.” Greenidge also explained that Hernandez was asked by the PPP about oversight in other countries and he

explained that in the case of Barbados, there is an oversight body which actually comprised heads of the various agencies identified as being responsible for implementation. “Notwithstanding CFATF’s rules, appointments to the Barbados FIU were not made by the head of the FIU, but by the Public Service Commission (PSC)…All the Opposition members laughed at that stage because it was clear that Mr. Hernandez did not recognize that Guyana’s legislation and Constitution equally provided for that.” “The idea that the Assembly has neither the experience nor Constitutional capacity to vet appointments is absurd.” The APNU parliamentarian expressed that the question of autonomy was not mentioned in the CFATF’s 2012 assessment as being in need of attention. Greenidge said that both the Government representatives and Mr. Hernandez pointed this out. “The inference was that the Assembly need not have worried about it. But it is precisely because the Opposition is aware that the FIU, like the enforcement agencies such as the Police,

Gail Teixeira are not autonomous, that it was brought up as an issue of concern.” “Mr. Hernandez explained that this matter was not mentioned because in 2012 the FIU had only one staff member, so the question of mode of appointment had not arisen. This does not, of course, explain why the legislation governing the appointments was not examined.” Greenidge contended that the AML legislation allows for the appointment of the FIU head, an attorney-at-law and an accountant by the Ministry of Finance. “The qualifications

specified in the legislation are so general as to allow for anyone who has been near a bank or an economics book to meet the requirement. For the FIU Director, for example, it is specified in section 8, which reads; ‘a person with experience in legal or financial or administrative matters’. The appointment of a head in these circumstances was, not surprisingly, a matter of controversy.” He noted as well that this is precisely why APNU had in the past explained to the CFATF that while it “has the utmost regard for its (CFATF’s) expertise, the Opposition’s local knowledge informs that there is a need, additionally, for farreaching organizational changes and a more public (National Assembly-driven) oversight of a coordinated national body/task force... dedicated to accomplishing the goals of the CFATF”. In spite of the claims being made by the government, Greenidge stressed that the opposition is convinced of the accuracy of its views, having heard Mr. Hernandez on the question of autonomy of the FIU and the issue of oversight.

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 07, 2014

Anti-Money Laundering legislation...

Overseas banks threaten to close accounts Overseas banks are threatening to close accounts belonging to Guyanese and Guyanese businesses, according to Minster of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh. The Minister was a part of the panel that held a press briefing earlier in the week where he stressed that as a result of Guyana’s current blacklisted status by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), business transactions have been rendered more complicated. Dr. Singh said he received a report from an individual who said that they were told that their account in an overseas bank would be closed if they continue to do transactions with Guyana. “That is happening now,” according to the Finance Minister, who added that he was also in receipt of a report of overseas banks refusing to transfer funds until lengthy detailed information is provided. This, he said, is putting pressure on local businesses, because they are being rendered into a position where they are unable to complete their transactions.

…local businesses facing delayed access to finance - Dr. Ashni Singh

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh He said that these businesses now have to incur additional costs. Dr. Singh spoke too of financial challenges being incurred by local businesses because they are unable to have access to their money, ultimately placing the wellbeing of these businesses and the welfare of their workers in jeopardy. “That is a fact that is occurring right now.” “The opposition in my mind is being irresponsible and unreasonable in withholding their support for

the substantive Bill,” said Dr. Singh, who was at the time lamenting the fact that the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership National Unity (APNU) have refused to return the Anti -Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, without their amendments to the National Assembly for a vote. The Minister told media operatives that the opposition has the majority in Parliament and were they to proceed with the current Bill, they could always bring their amendments at a later date. He said that even if the opposition was unable to secure an agreement with the Government on their proposed amendments, APNU and the AFC hold the majority to take it to House and pass it, “they don’t need support of Government.” As such, according to the Minister, there is no reason why they need to detain the Bill and await agreement on

their amendments. “So the deliberate act of detaining the CFATFcompliant Bill on account of these amendments is unnecessary and places Guyana in jeopardy.” Dr. Singh was asked what guarantee the opposition has that the President would assent to their amendments were they to proceed with the Bill without their amendments and bring it at a later date. He responded: “The President (Donald Ramotar) didn’t say that he is guaranteeing that their amendments would be enacted as is.” Dr. Singh reminded that what the President said, was that he is willing to consult

with CFATF and once that body endorses their amendments as recommendable and acceptable and will not place Guyana in default, then he is providing the Leader of the Opposition with the assurance that Government will support them He said that the caveat is that the amendments would not collide with CFATF and the Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) standards “and it’s obvious why he would want to insert that caveat.” The Finance Minister said that no responsible Government would enact amendments that would bring Guyana “in default where

prior, we were not in default.” According to Dr. Singh, CFATF identified specific deficiencies that the Bill now seeks to address. In defending the 2009 Act, which Government is now seeking to amend, Dr. Singh said that while CFATF did identify some deficiencies, it was a “strong piece of legislation”. He said that the Act was very substantial and was the subject of intense deliberation. According to the Minister, when the original Act was submitted it spent two years at the level of the Select Committee before it was unanimously approved by Government, AFC and APNU’s predecessor, the Peoples National Congress Reform. Dr. Singh added that with the new amendments, the Act will certainly be strengthened further.

APNU calls on Govt. to further fortify Judiciary A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) yesterday called on the government to further fortify the Judiciary. This declaration was made during a press conference held at the office of the Leader of the Opposition on Hadfield Street, Georgetown. During his presentation, parliamentarian and Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams asserted that while APNU welcomes the decision by President Donald Ramotar to increase the number of Puisne Judges to 20 in an effort to expedite trials and cut back on backlog of criminal and civil cases, it is also calling for other measures to be implemented.

The politician reminded media operatives that in June 2012, the coalition had passed a Motion calling on the National Assembly to ensure that the Judiciary receives its funding directly from the Consolidated Fund. “Under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act 2003, the Supreme Court is a budget agency under the Schedule of Estimates in the budget. By making it a budget agency, the government has made the Judiciary subordinate to the Legislature and the Executive. The Principal Act (Fiscal Management and Accountability - 2003) is contrary to the separation of

powers and infringes on Articles 222 and 228 of the Constitution of Guyana.” Williams then stressed that if President Donald Ramotar is serious about strengthening the Judiciary then he should do all that is necessary to ensure that the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2012 and 2013; which were passed by a majority in the Parliament are re-tabled and assented. He also called for the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2013 and the Former President’s Benefits (Amendments) Bill to also be re-tabled and given Presidential assent.

Govt. afraid to implement... (From page 9) the present system’s ineffectiveness in awarding Government contracts in an equitable and transparent manner. Under pressure from Opposition parties in

Parliament, the Government promised to establish the PPC by June 2012; however, it has not done so to date. The Report stressed that there is no law which provides protection for public or private employees who make internal

disclosures of evidence of illegality or corrupt practices in corporate governance. Public officials are subject to financial disclosure laws and are required to submit information about personal assets to the Integrity Commission, but there is no clear indication when the Commission will actually be functional. In June 2012 the National Assembly approved a Government motion that members submit annual declarations in keeping with provisions of the Integrity Act, but compliance was uneven, and the Commission had no resources for enforcement or investigations.

Friday March 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Education Ministry awards contracts to aid UG’s improvement By Sharmain Grainger Curriculum reform and civil works to the tune of US$867,000 are expected to start shortly at the University of Guyana (UG). Contracts in this regard were yesterday handed over by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, to two consultants at a simple ceremony held in the Education Lecture Theatre of the University. The University of the West Indies Consulting Inc. was awarded a contract valued at US$499,243 to coordinate and supervise the curriculum reform process for 15 Bachelor’s Degree programmes in the Science and Technology Faculties. However, it was an Italian/ Guyanese joint venture, Hydea in association with RPA Rossiprodi and subconsultant CEMO , that was awarded a contract valued at US$368,014 to undertake the civil works component. The latter consultants will cater to the design and supervision of the rehabilitation of 14 laboratory buildings in the four science faculties on the campus. Funding for the contracts has been made available under the University of Guyana Science and Technology Support Project (UGSTSP) which is based on a US$10M credit from the World Bank to the Government of Guyana. The project is being executed by the Ministry of Education in close collaboration with UG. According to Project Coordinator, Vidyawattie Looknauth, the objective of the project is to strengthen the four Science and Technology faculties at the University – Faculties of Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Sciences, Technology and the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences – to better prepare graduates for jobs in low carbon industries and build sustainable capacity to operate the University and plan for its future growth. The project, according to Looknauth, focuses on improving the quality of science education through curriculum reform, support for research in Low Carbon Development areas, improve physical infrastructure and capacity building. She noted though that while curriculum reform is one of the main focuses, keen focus is also being directed to the provision of research grants to the academic staff of the university, infrastructural enhancement, in terms of rehabilitation of

the laboratory buildings, provision of equipment to the labs, provision of ICTS and campus-wide drainage infrastructure. Added to this, the project is expected to cater to capacity development in the form of four forward-looking studies – one relating to human resource management and three being feasibility for the establishment of a business development Unit, a research and innovation fund and a centre for excellence to study biodiversity. All of the outlined aspects of the project are expected to be implemented over a five-year period, by which time it is anticipated that the US$10M would have been exhausted. Some aspects of the project commenced last year. And the UGSTSP is certainly poised to help with the overall development of the tertiary institution. Speaking at the ceremony yesterday, Minister Manickchand noted that tertiary education plays a huge role in development, whereby more informed choices are available to individuals and equality is promoted. “Development allows for countries generally in the world to look better...studies across the world indicate that tertiary and higher education institutions play a large role in nations, and so we are absolutely sure that if we are to develop rapidly at a pace that Guyana deserves, then we must ensure that the University of Guyana is ready and prepared, and churning out graduates who can contribute to that development that we so desperately seek.” Moreover, she noted that projects such as the UGSTSP will certainly accelerate the pace at which Guyana develops, even as the preparation process is enhanced. “We are sure in the Government that the university is well poised to play its role in national, human and social development,” said the Minister even as she added that every partner must play their part. She noted that while it is one thing to erect buildings there is also a need to ensure that lecturers who enter the doors are performing at their maximum capacity and are on campus doing what they are supposed to do. And students, the Minister stressed too, must also avail themselves to the various opportunities that are

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand ( centre) is flanked by representatives of the two consultancy firms, her Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ms Delma Nedd (fourth from left), and Vice Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi (fourth from right). available to them, even as she noted that “we have to make sure that there is a market available for them when they exit...Government is committed to providing an environment where all of this can happen,” added Manickchand. The ceremony was also graced by Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, who took over the reins of the university just over a year ago. He insisted during brief remarks that “it is no secret that the university has been behind in all the departments of further education – infrastructure, curriculum, facilities you can name it.” However, he noted that he is now delighted that strategic moves are apace to transform the institution where it is likely to become the leading university not only in the Region but also in the wider Community. “So far we have been moving very steadfastly in implementing those projects. I am pleased to let you know that next week we will be handing over contracts to our colleagues who will be conducting research, and every year we will be giving research grants to our staff,” Opadeyi disclosed. He said that already six research grants have been approved which will take effect from next month and a second is expected to follow soon. “When you look at the basket of topics of research to be done and the quantum of money that has been given to them, we will conclude that this university is ready for the future,” the Vice Chancellor added. In commenting on the infrastructural component of

the project, Professor Opadeyi expressed optimism that “we will start seeing sand and bricks on the campus before the end of this year. We can’t spend too much to be planning...when we start

seeing those changes then I think we are good to go.” He disclosed that in the University’s budget for 2014, provision will be made for portable classrooms and offices, so as to provide

accommodation when the infrastructural works commence. “I want to just tell the national community that this university is ready for business,” Opadeyi asserted.

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 07, 2014

Property tax system needs GNBS employees held with to be reviewed - PSC marked money in sting operation The Private Sector Commission (PSC) believes that the entire property tax system, as it relates to individuals, needs to be reviewed, as it is a form of triple taxation. Chairman of the PSC, Ronald Webster, says that the PSC in recent years has made several successful recommendations to the Ministry of Finance over improvements to the taxation system. The most recent being those considered in the National Budget of 2013. They included increases in the tax threshold, reduction of income taxes, and adjustments to the property tax structure. Webster said that where Property Tax for Companies is concerned, the higher property tax threshold will undoubtedly help the many small companies; the larger companies would be faced with a much higher rate of property tax, as the fixed assets valuation basis had been moved from January 1, 1991 to January 1, 2011 and true property and replacement costs had moved dramatically over that period. Adjustments to the property taxes structure are a

PSC Chairman Ronald Webster fairly complex process that will have a bearing on cash flows and need to be monitored carefully to avoid overkill. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), “With effect from year of assessment 2014, companies will be charged at the following rates: the first $10 million of net property will be taxed at zero percent, the next $15 million of net property will be taxed at 0.5 percent, and the remainder of net property will be taxed at 0.75 percent. In other words, whereas the current tax-free threshold for property tax on

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

companies is $1.5 million, the new threshold will be $10 million, as a result of which thousands of small businesses with net property below $10 million will no longer be subject to property tax. With effect from year of assessment 2014, individuals will be charged at the following rates. The first $40 million of net property will be taxed at zero percent, and the remainder of net property will be taxed at 0.75 percent. In other words, whereas the current tax-free threshold for property tax on individuals is $7.5 million, the new threshold will be $40 million, as a result of which tens of thousands of low and middle income earners with net property below $40 million will no longer be subject to property tax.” In highlighting the need for a review, Webster explained that individuals are taxed on their salaries, taxed on their bank account savings, and then on their fixed assets including their properties. “All this needs to be looked at; however, the PSC has not gone into any details to offer a position on this for the 2014 budget where the focus of the PSC is on infrastructural development. But, it remains high on our agenda and would be addressed in greater detail next year.”

Three employees of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) were arrested yesterday after they were found in possession a large quantity of cash after they had fleeced a city businessman. The three suspects were nabbed yesterday following a carefully planned sting operation, which was in response to a scheme in which they extracted huge amounts of cash from gullible fuel truck owners. Kaieteur News understands that the three employees ran a scheme in which they demand $300,000 from fuel truck owners to certify their vehicles for the transport of fuel. The licences cost $52,000 each. According to reports, the businessman, who operates a fuel station, received a

complaint from a fellow fuel dealer that the employees were making exorbitant demands to process the licences. He decided to check for himself and he was soon surprised to find out that what was reported to him was indeed happening; the employees demanded $300,000. He went along with the demand, but little did the employees know he had his own plan. In collaboration with the police he placed secret marks on several currency notes, which he used to pay the unsuspecting employees. Minutes after they had collected the money, detectives from the police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters moved in,

before the employees could have stashed their ill-gotten gains. When they were searched, the notes with the secret marks were found on them. “This scheme was large. Think about all the fuel tankers in this country having to go through them. They do about one truck per day,” one fuel truck owner told this newspaper. He praised his colleague for using his initiative to expose the scheme and to initiate the process to have the perpetrators face the full force of the law. “They picked on the wrong man,” he said, while lauding the officers and ranks of the CID. This newspaper understands that the three employees could be placed before the court today.

Jagdeo/Kissoon libel case...

Defence presents draft of proposed amendments By Zena Henry Lawyer for defendants in the Jagdeo/Kissoon libel case, Attorney Nigel Hughes yesterday presented a summons for the amendment of the defence’s case, along with a draft of the amendments being proposed. Yesterday’s hearing at the High Court, before Judge Brassington Reynolds, was for discussions between the plaintiff and the defence over the issue that arose during the testimony of the defence’s latest witness. Lawyers for the plaintiff, Sase Gunraj and Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos (who was absent), requested additional time to formulate their affidavit in answer to Hughes’s amendments. Gunraj explained that the plaintiff’s side had received the amendments late and was unable to complete its answer that is in the process of being

finalized. The plaintiff’s side was initially given seven days to answer Hughes’s arguments. The court thus allowed the seven days to be fixed from the date the plaintiff had received Hughes’s amendments. The two sides are expected back in court on March 14. Senior Counsel De Santos had difficulty with information being provided to the court by defence witness Lincoln Lewis, who was at the time giving evidence on the Critchlow Labour College and the alleged discriminatory act of removal of subventions by government, at the time led by former president Bharrat Jagdeo. De Santos argued that there was no evidence to justify what the witness was saying. He argued that the defence lacked justification and carried no weight unless they can prove substantially the information being

Attorney Nigel Hughes provided. De Santos is representing the former president who brought a lawsuit against Kaieteur News columnist Frederick Kissoon, Kaieteur News’ Editor-in-chief Adam Harris and Publisher Glenn Lall for more than $10million. Hughes stated yesterday that he has amended the defence for all the defendants.

Friday March 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 15

Guyana currently unable to address radiation emissions By Zena Henry Guyana is currently unable to manage or address any form of radiation emission. According to Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud, “national standards and limits for radiation emission have not been developed in Guyana, but rather, guidance is sought from the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).” Guyana, he said, “has not signed on to any international, multilateral or bilateral agreements that address radiation either as a contaminant or as an emission in health facilities. There exist no national policy documents or guidelines to address any such issues. There is currently no legislation specifically designed to address the protection of Guyana’s environment from radioactive materials if and/or when emitted into the environment.” Minister Persaud was on Wednesday answering questions on the country’s preparedness to deal with the environmental issue in light of reports which stated that radioactive vehicles were being imported from Japan and possibly making their way to Guyana’s shores. The Minister admitted that there is not much in place to tackle the environmental issue, but recalled that in February last, Cabinet approved a ‘management of radiation emissions’ proposal which was forwarded by his Ministry. He pointed out that the proposal was developed subsequent to the interception of used motor vehicle parts with elevated radiation levels, destined for Guyana, by Jamaica Customs Authority in December 2013. “The proposal put into perspective the existing situation as it relates to radiation emission management in Guyana, and proposed recommendations

- Cabinet approved a proposal last Feb. – Environment Minister

The Fukushima nuclear plant following the 2011 tsunami GRA Head Khurshid Sattaur

Environment Minister Robert Persaud

for radiation emission management. It aims to facilitate the platform for discussions at various levels towards the development of a Policy and Legislation to address radiation emissions in Guyana and to provide an opportunity for Guyana to improve and maintain the quality of the environment and limits on the release of radiation into the environment.” For the short-term, the proposal recommends that the Ministry of Health be considered the focal point for the management of radiation emission in Guyana, since the existence of the Health Facility Licensing Act, 2007, already provides a basis for radiation management, through outlining specific measures to protect people from radiation. It was further emphasized that there is a need for specialized equipment which can detect hazardous radiation levels when cargo is being imported, and that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and importers of vehicles and parts could put mechanisms in place to ensure that all vehicles/ materials being imported are free from radioactive contamination. For the long term, it was

recommended that, “a needs assessment be conducted to determine the current status of radioactive material/ radiation emission, and measures for management in Guyana, that Policy and Legislation be developed for the management of radiation emissions, and the need to establish a Technical Committee comprising the different stakeholder sectors, to plan for the formulation of standards and setting limits for radiation emissions.” Though there is uncertainty as to how soon work on this proposal will kick off, it was advised that locals involved in vehicle importation and agencies that deal with same take the necessary precaution. Commissioner General of the GRA Khurshid Sattaur told Kaieteur News yesterday that a more proactive approach must be taken

towards the issue. He said that he had written the Natural Resources Minister in a bid to make his concerns on the matter known and to further highlight not only the need for detection equipment, but mechanisms to be put in place where agencies could have an idea, or be alert on the issue beforehand. He said he also reiterated a call for the collaboration of agencies. Sattaur also mentioned receiving a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said to be from the Japanese government, warning about the possibility of contaminated vehicles being exported and advising that the importing country take additional precaution - apart from that being taken in Japan - to detect vehicles with unsafe radiation levels. It was already established that GRA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and vehicle importers are in no

position to detect vehicles with high levels of radiation. The EPA had told this publication that it had no equipment to detect varying levels of radiation, while several vehicle importers said that they too are unable to do so, and that they were depending on exporters to

sell them safe motor vehicles. The problem of radiation was highlighted following the Fukushima nuclear plant fallout in Japan in 2011, which was caused by a massive earthquake that triggered a tsunami causing widespread devastation in the East Asian country.

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 07, 2014

Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI)…

GHRA, WPA skeptical about APNU peeved with Guyana-born “puzzling” terms of reference Commissioner’s appointment The long-awaited Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the death of Walter Rodney may not have started its hearings yet, but it is already on shaky ground, with the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) yesterday saying it will not be associating itself with the work. GHRA’s statement comes even as Rodney’s party, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), has expressed unhappiness over the Commission and was up to yesterday in the midst of sending a letter of objection to President Donald Ramotar. The CoI’s three members were sworn in last week by Ramotar following the announcing mid-last year of its establishment. According to GHRA, it received an invitation to contribute to the inquiry into the death of Dr. Rodney, but after studying the Terms of Reference (ToR), it wrote the Administrator of the COI “indicating its unwillingness to associate itself with the work of the Commission.” Several reasons were highlighted. “The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) is of the view that the proposed Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the death of Dr. Walter Rodney has greater potential for reviving rather than healing ethnic division in Guyana. Should this indeed be the outcome, it would be a travesty of Dr. Rodney’s major contribution to Guyana. Moreover, failure to consult the Working People’s Alliance, Dr. Rodney’s party, on what may be perceived as opportunistic terms of reference for the COI, robs the initiative of credibility.” A senior WPA official when contacted yesterday said a letter expressing concerns over the ToR and the CoI itself was being drafted and will be sent to President Ramotar before the day was out. The official also said that further comments will be made after the administration would have had a chance to study it. Asked what happens if the Commission makes contact for cooperation, the WPA official insisted that the party will await Ramotar’s response. GHRA, in its statement, said that numerous calls have been made over the past three decades for a COI into the circumstances of the death of Dr. Rodney. “The closest this longdemanded Commission came to realization occurred in 1995

“It is clear that govt. desires a certain outcome”

Dr. Walter Rodney when the PPP Government invited a team appointed by the International Commission of Jurists to assess the evidence available for holding such an enquiry. The idea of the Commission foundered on the inability to go forward with extradition proceedings of the main suspect Gregory Smith (now deceased) from Cayenne, because Guyana could not meet the assurance required by France, that the death penalty would not be invoked against him.” PUZZLING TERMS The association also noted efforts to mount an inquiry generated much acrimony and were resisted by the Government, the most persistent being in 2008 following a much-publicized protest by Dr. Rodney’s son, Shaka Rodney. “This effort failure (was) due to an unprecedented Parliamentary manoeuver in which the PPP abstained from voting on its own motion to mount an inquiry.” GHRA said it was puzzled by the ToR of the Commissioner which while suggesting the Commission was a criminal investigation, leaves out the possibilities of criminal charges. “The COI states that all persons who may be found guilty of any kind of act related to Dr. Rodney’s death are to be granted ‘an absolute pardon’. The alternative rationale is that the COI is intended to strengthen a process of ethnic healing between the major races in Guyana.” One particular clause of the ToR of the Commission is itself provocative, GHRA said. “That clause requires the COI to investigate the extent to which the many quasipolitical military organizations existing in Guyana at the time of Rodney’s death, were tasked with surveillance against the

‘political opposition’, rather than against the WPA.” PROLONGING ETHNIC DIMENSION GHRA believed that hearings, by the clause, will provide an “opportunity for inserting the ruling PPP into events in which it was marginal at the time and for generating a stream of horror stories from that era into the work of the Commission, with rich potential for stirring up Indo-Guyanese resentment against the PNC.” Coming at a time of much speculation over General and Regional Elections, the proposed COI could be read as the worst form of electioneering, GHRA felt. The association urged that at the present time, a more appropriate priority would be an impartial investigation into the numerous extra-judicial killings of young men during the mid-2000s in circumstances which suggested involvement of the state. “The reluctance of the GHRA to involve itself in the current enquiry comes against a background of the association having worked assiduously in previous decades to have an inquiry come into being. Dr. Rodney’s unique contribution to Guyana was the momentum he generated across the society to challenge the ethnic nature of Guyanese politics. The perpetrators of his death correctly calculated that it would ensure the survival and continuance of a system sustained by ethnic insecurity.” The statement made it clear also that GHRA feels that the proposed initiative has more to do with prolonging the ethnic dimension of Guyanese politics, than laying to rest controversy over who was responsible for Rodney’s death.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, categorically stated yesterday that the coalition is not pleased with the appointment of Guyana-born, Trinidad-based Senior Counsel Mr. Seenath Jairam as Commissioner to the recently constituted Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI). During a press briefing at APNU’s Hadfield Street Headquarters, Williams said that the concern is grounded on the premise that Jairam, based on his connection with the government, cannot be considered to be “politically neutral” thereby presenting the potential for a clear bias to exist. The Member of Parliament reminded that in 2012 after the Parliamentary majority in the National Assembly reduced the budget, Jairam was retained by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) to represent the government in the case that was brought against the Leader of the Opposition David Granger and Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman. “Given the very sensitive political nature of this Commission, the Partnership would have hoped that the PPP/C Administration would have selected Commissioners that are politically neutral and individuals with no links to the government so as to at least give the perception of impartiality.” TERMS OF REFERENCE The Shadow Minister expressed that apart from their concerns with regard to Mr. Jairam, they also have some difficulties with the Terms of Reference for the CoI. “Our belief is confirmed by the PPP’s release in today’s (yesterday’s) newspapers that it appears that the inquiry is targeting the period when the People’s National Congress (PNC) was in government.” “… especially recommendation four, which says that the commissioners are to examine and report on the actions and activities of the state such as the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana National Service , the Guyana People’s Militia and those who were in command and superintendence of these agencies, to determine whether they were tasked with the surveillance of and the carrying out of actions, and whether they did execute those tasks and carried out

Commissioner Seenath Jairam

Basil Williams

those actions against the Political Opposition, for the period 1st January, 1978 to 31st December, 1980.” Williams opined that this amounts to nothing more than a witch hunt. “Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done. That’s a well-worn adage in the law, but could justice be seen to be done when you have a SC who was prosecuting a very important case on the welfare of all Guyanese people against the Opposition? He was here to tell us we couldn’t cut our budget. Could he be impartial? As lawyers would know, there would be a likelihood of bias. We aren’t questioning the competence; but certainly a man who has been involved in partisan politics in Guyana ought not to be sitting to determine the involvement of the main political opposition party during that period.” Williams was asked whether members of APNU would be participating in the Inquiry. “We will take things one step at a time. We will make the assessment as to whether it is necessary to participate in such an inquiry, but we are showing you right now that we believe they started on the wrong foot.” The APNU parliamentarian also voiced his surprise at the fact that members of the political opposition were not consulted with respect to the CoI and its Terms of Reference. “They (PPP) have just done everything without consultations with the Opposition, so it is clear that the government desires a certain outcome in this matter.” “This is supposed to embark on an inquiry, but when you look at the Terms of Reference they are

suggesting that they know the answer. For example, the first term of reference which says, ‘to examine the facts and circumstances immediately prior, at the time of, and subsequent to, the death of Dr. Rodney in order to determine, as far as possible, who or what was responsible for the death of the historian’. There is nothing whatsoever here as to whether he himself might have been culpable in his own demise. They have excluded that possibility.” Williams then reminded that the statements being given would be from 30 years ago. He stressed that the accuracy of the recollection of those events is something that requires a lot of consideration as well. In concluding, he also cited another term of reference which he said may “open all kinds of Pandora’s boxes.” It makes provision for one to have “absolute pardon” if fingered in the unfortunate event. “It opens all kinds of Pandora’s boxes… and what does this absolute pardon mean? A person would come up and say; ‘I was involved’ and he would give evidence and be pardoned? What if he implicates John Thomas’s name and he is not around? Such provisions I believe will be good in a Truth and Reconciliation Committee. This is an Inquiry.” Asked if considering the aforementioned concerns he believes the CoI will not bring closure to the case, Williams firmly asserted, “With the points I have raised, you can draw your own conclusion.” The CoI is being chaired by Barbadian Queen’s Counsel, Sir Richard Cheltenham, with the others being Mr. Jairam, and Jamaican Queen’s Counsel, Jacqueline Samuels-Brown.

Friday March 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Mandela Ave. fatal hit-and-run…

Magistrate sets $2.1M bail for GWI driver Twenty seven-year-old Shawn Ravindra Ramai appeared afraid as he quietly occupied the prisoners’ docks during the court proceedings yesterday morning. Moments before his case was called by Magistrate Judy Latchman, his lawyer Mortimer Coddett was seen attempting to pacify him, while about half a dozen of the victim’s family members were evidently emotional during the session at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Ramai, of 15 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, is the suspected driver in the hit-and-run that resulted in the death of a food vendor on Mandela Avenue nine days ago. The victim, Claude McPherson called ‘Chippy’ was said to be riding his bicycle when he was struck by a SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) and dragged about 100 yards from the point of impact. Reports from that area are that McPherson was found in front of a shop with his bicycle badly mangled. His leg was severely crushed. The father of six died a few hours after the accident at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Less than an hour after the accident, the driver who made off from the scene reportedly parked a damaged vehicle bearing registration number PRR 2923, in the water company’s Vlissengen Road and Church Street compound. In a statement, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) had said that the driver reported to work the following day and submitted a written report of an accident. According to GWI, the driver claimed that he hit

a horse and asked for time off to visit a relative in the hospital. Amidst the cry for justice by the victim’s family members, efforts to contact Ramai days following the accident reportedly proved futile. When the driver - who turned himself in earlier this week - appeared for his arraignment, he was slapped with four charges. Aside from being indicted for causing death by dangerous driving, Ramai was charged for failing to stop his vehicle after the accident, failing to render assistance to McPherson, as well as failing to report the accident within the allowed time. The first charge laid against him detailed that on February 26, Ramai drove in a manner dangerous to the public on Nelson Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, while piloting motor pick up PRR2923 thereby causing McPherson’s death. It is alleged too that on the said date, he drove the vehicle and having been involved in an accident which resulted in injuries to McPherson, Ramai failed to stop the vehicle after the accident and render assistance to the injured. Ramai was also charged for failing to report the said accident to a police station within 24 hours of the said accident. When each of the charges was read to him, he pleaded not guilty and submitted an application for reasonable bail through his lawyer. Coddett, in his address to the court, acknowledged that the situation was unfortunate. Ramai had been licenced for the past six years and had been under the employ of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) for the last seven

months, he said. According to the attorney, about four weeks ago, the driver reported to the authorities at GWI that there was a problem with the vehicle’s brakes which needed attention, but his complaint was ignored. He said that on the night of the accident, Ramai, on duty at the time, was driving east along Mandela Avenue at 45mph since it was a dark and rainy night. The lawyer claimed that as his client approached “Trench Road,” McPherson who was operating a pedal cycle rode into the SUV. “My client stopped, came out and went to see what happened to the injured person, but by that time a crowd gathered. Before he could have seen what happened, he was attacked by a crowd so he had to run back to the vehicle and got away to save his life,” Coddett related. He said that Ramai then took the vehicle back to his work place and parked it. “Since then, he has been in a state of shock and confusion. After the publicity in the newspapers of the accident, he sought legal representation.” The lawyer claimed that “out of caution” he went to Dr. Hanoman and received a medical report which showed no harm was done to his body.

Claude McPherson On Monday, they then reportedly went to the Brickdam Police Station and Ramai, producing a written statement, turned himself in. In making his bail application, Coddett asked the court to consider reasonable bail for his client because “he never intended to run away.” The lawyer said that during the trial it will be revealed that his failure to report the matter was justifiable. He attempted to

offer assurances to the Magistrate, saying that if granted reasonable bail, his client will present himself for trial when necessary. Coddett beseeched the court to consider Ramai was never in court for any matter of this nature and that the offences which Ramai are charged for are bailable offences. Meanwhile, State Prosecutor, Inspector Joel Ricknauth stated that he would not object to Ramai being granted his pre-trial liberty but asked for conditions to be attached to bail. Ricknauth made a request for the accused man’s passport to be lodged and that he reports to Traffic Sergeant Small at the East La Penitence Police Station. As the bail discussion was in progress, the wife of the victim Marissa McPherson stepped forth and asked to address the Magistrate. She said that “(Attorney) Nigel Hughes will be prosecuting for us. We didn’t know that the matter was going to be called today.” She was however informed by Magistrate Latchman that usually when a lawyer is seeking to

represent the victim, the attorney will have to be granted permission by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Continuing, the Prosecutor requested three weeks to complete their investigation. He indicated that the file is incomplete and it also has to be sent to the DPP for advice. In response, the presiding Magistrate honoured the Prosecution’s request and scheduled the matter to be called on March 27 for statements. She set bail to the tune of $30,000 each for failing to stop his vehicle, failing to render assistance to the injured McPherson, as well as failing to report the accident within the allowed time. Ramai was slapped with $2M bail for the charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Latchman indicated to the accused that he must report to the Traffic Sergeant every Friday at 9:00 hours. “If any Friday is a national holiday you are still obligated to report to the said Traffic Sergeant Small,” she sternly instructed.

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Kaieteur News

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

PROPERTY FOR SALE

LARGE QUANTITIES O F H IGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICKSILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

Greenheart Piles - Tel: 6393450

2 Story Concrete building 45X30 with 4 rooms upstairs, 3 rooms downstairs - Tel:6796377; 667-0064

Games PS2 $900, PSP $900, X-Box 360 $2600 & PS3 $2600- Call: 672-2566 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Live/pluck chicken call: 6504421, 220-9203 1- 500 Ton Cargo ship - Tel: 676-6933 Large Plucked Chickens $280lb retail, Pork $380lb retail @ George & Hadfield Streets. 1-2640 MF Tractor 4wd with 1 – Rome Plough 20 dish, 1CAT Satndby 3306,194KVA 3 Phase 60 Cylinder - Tel: 693-4596 Dachshund Tel:669-8421

Puppies-

1 Complete 4 Cylinder Kubota engine bedded $450,000 negotiable, 1- 4 Cylinder Perkins - $300,000 – Call:666-4000 or 666-9455 2 – M132 Laverda Combine, 3- Pressure Pump 4x3 for gold field, 3 - 50 H/P 3 Phase Motor call: 627-0447 Imported Rottweiler female with full pedigree Call: 685-2584 PVC Ceiling Panels, PVC Mouldings, Medallions. American Standard! – Tel: 614-8564; 629-0372

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 three storey business property @ Middle street, Georgetown, 2 business Property on Whim Public Road Berbice - Tel: 619-7134; 225-6481

One hardly used cradle $20,000 with accessories & one brand new play pen $33,000 - Call: 670-2343

2 Storey wood and concrete building. Droom St, Annadale, ECD - Tel:6219099

Digital Canon camera 8.0 MP A720 power shot, asking $21,500 – Tel:663-2079; 2256046; 226-0011

Near Regent Street - $38M, Mc Doom - $19M, Lamaha Gardens -$55M – Call Diana:227-2256; 626-9382

Toyota Allion, excellent condition, mag rims & CD Deck. Price: $2M negotiable – Tel:682-3600

Satya Cinema Good Faith Mahaicony – Call:641-8472

Toyota Tacoma 4X4 Extra Cab 2002, Nissan Frontier 4X4 Extra Cab 2002, DJ System - Tel:695-9807

Property for sale - Call:6275416

Blow out sales on Steel Rods: ¼”, 5/8", ½”, 3/8" - Call: 6574072

House For sale @ Peters Hall EBD - Price-$5M - Call: 654-3389

Now Arrived @ Fabric World 140 Regent & Light St Bourda. New & Used Story fixture e.g Four arms (Clothes Rack)

3 Storey wooden concrete building situated @ Broad & Charles Sts, Charlestown – Tel:677-3406

Rottweiler pups for sale Contact: 639-1431 or 665-9140 2 red nose pure breed pit-bull dogs – 1-yr-old - Tel: 660-3118 Lumber Locust, Tatabu and mixed hardwoods - Contact: 600-5872; 600-1329 1– 484 Ducati Pearl White Mint Condition - Call: 648-4959

2 Fishing Boat 5" Seine 36ft 48HP Yamaha, 33ft 40HP Yamaha – Phone:626-1856

Compressor, Generators winch, Fridge & many more Tel: 227-8519

Car Alternators / Starters & Amplifiers – Tel:227-8519

14ft Aluminum boat,40HP Johnson outboard engine, steering, fuel tank, battery & lift - Price: $600,000 negotiable – Tel:609-7257

Pure Rottweiler pups - Tel: 650-8496 Original Games- Call:6722566 1 smoothie machine,2 ice machine- Contact:2310655,683-8734 Food cart with storage compartments, deep fryers & gas bottles - Tel: 673-5882 1 – 36ft Flat bottom boat Tel: 604-0038

Sophia - $3.2M, Queenstown - $25M, La Grange – Tel:2312199, 618-7483 2 Storey wood and concrete building on EBD – 5 minutes from Georgetown – Tel:6585452

Make Up Courses, Artist T r a i n e d & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773

Komatsu / PC200 or Doosan /225 bottom rollers - Tel: 6195357; 650-0716

1 -46" Western-house LCD TV - $190,000; 1 -51" Samsung LCD TV - $230,000, 1- Maytag washer - $90,000 Contact: 692-7377 PS3 Controls & System PS2, PS3 and XBOX original games, Nintendo DS Cartridges – Tel:672-8569 or 609-8132

Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 647-2943 COOL TECH: Repairs Services & Installation of all types of home appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units - Tel: 2332008; 675-4959 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,662-6045, 223-8115 Online shopping just got easier. Now Open! Cybertron ,Vreed-En-Hoop – Call 2643057/ Email for quotes @ micro.gteck@yahoo.com. 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 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000CALL: 694-9843 /227-2766 Part time Accounting: Income Tax, Vat, Compliances for sale of property/vehicles. Reasonable Fees Tel: 6283652; 227-4893

We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699

Household items: One China ware cabinet & one three pierce cream leather chair set (owner migrating) – Tel:6638237; 226-5478 Almost new gas 6500 Watts, Honda generator on wheels - $430,000, the other 1 is a 4300 watts Honda – Call:407599-3775

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

SALON

One cabin Cruiser boat for sale – Tel:665-2314

1-R6 Yamaha Motorcycle – Call:674-2263

One house lot & one 3 bedrooms house in La Parafaite Harmonie & 1 three bedroom house in Bella Dam Contact:622-1782; 658-5803

Mixed pit-bull – Tel:618-5220

Kinston Memory card and flash drive – Tel:675-2239; BBM 25C58FEO

3 Wheel Motor bike, large beverage cooler, Toyota 4 runner – Tel:227-1028 Owner Migrating!

2 Income properties at bargain p r i c e - $ 4 0 M negotiable - Tel: 686-4899; 684-3718

Friday March 07, 2014

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

FOR SALE 1 Stall at Stabroek, Stelling View, mall for sale – Tel:6118291 Generac Pressure washer and portable AC- Tel:2162363; 683-4700

Unregistered Toyota Premio $2.450, Toyota Spacio - $2.250 Tel: 616-3001; 628-4284 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

Untouchable Car Rental: Low Rate , Low Deposit call:231-8653,621-6827 Premio, vitz call:6797139,639-4452 Wings Car Rental - Call: 643-1131

VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Verossa Excellent condition – PLL Series $2.6M - Contact: 666-8492 1 NZE for sale with alarm, reverse camera, TV/DVD & Rims, very good condition Price: $1.5M – Tel:266-1723 Toyota Raum, Spacio, AT212, AT192, AT170, NZE and L- Touring wagon, Nissan E24 Caravan – Tel:644-5096; 697-1453

Toyota Fun Cargo, RZ minibus, IST, 4X4 Hilux pickup Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453

1 Mitsubishi Galant Car; 1 Toyota Corolla AE100 Car, 1 Honda CBR motorcycle – Call: 227-7544; 612-2542; 614-6011

2 Ton Canter with power gate, unregistered - Tel:6172891

Toyota Premio- Dark interior with TV, mags, spacio. Tel: 697-0294

2004 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 2700 CC – 4 Cylinder @ 31 Grove Housing Scheme EBD Call: 665-8933; 416-836-1466

One Verossa, with chrome rims PMM 5454, excellent condition – Call:682-3396; 665-7206; 687-3866

Toyota Marino AC, mags, CD, recently sprayed over $750,000 – Tel: 618-1047

One New Model LF/DAF dumping truck in very good working condition price negotiable – Tel:681-5988; 675-5448

Chevy Cargo Van, Ford 150 & Toyota Tundra - Tel: 227-8519 1 Nissan laurel Car - $350,000, 1 American made Saturn Jeep L-hand drive, stick gear – $2.5M – Call:677-3406 1 – F150, 1 – New Model 212 – Call:621-8129 2003 Toyota Avensis ; immaculate condition, leather interior, HID, Alarm, TV, 18" Rims, 73000 mileage - $3.6M , PRR 2877 – Tel:609-7257 Madza 2 PLL series; leathered upholstery, BMW 318i PMM series, Toyota Corolla Axio PRR series. Excellent condition - Contact: 600-1329 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super customs. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154

FOR SALE/RENT American pool table – Tel: 227-0578; 685-9714

VEHICLE FOR SALE 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 Toyota CAMI PNN Series – Automatic, TV, mags - $1.6M Premio: PNN series reverse camera, mags -$2.2M - Tel: 227-0613; 645-7242 One Toyota Ceres: AC, alarm, CD Deck with USB Port $680,000 – Contact:646-7336 One 110 Sprinter PLL series Price:$1M (negotiable) - Call: 648-7868

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 Super Custom – 1K2 BLL – Telephone #6091138 1 Toyota Rav4 old model , good condition (Selling cheap) – Tel:687-1392 One Mazda Axela, PPP series. Excellent Condition Price:$2.1M negotiable - Call: 623-3726 Tundra GPP, fully powered, AC, 4 wheel drive – Price: $1.6M – Call:654-3389 One Primo – Unregistered, Price: $2.550M – Contact: 225-5082 110 Corolla new model, crystal Lights, CD, AC, good condition - $850,000 – Tel:618-1047 1 -212 - $1.3M negotiable, 1 grand Cherokee - $1.5M, Two 250 night hawk & one 750 night hawk – Call:2653024; 265-4454; 663-8639 (Continued on page 31)

Friday March 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

VEHICLE FOR SALE

VACANCY

Toyota Allion (Black) – Excellent condition, fully powered, automatic, AC, 16" rims, late PMM series – Tel:622-0112

1 Female sales clerk. Qualifications and experienced needed – Call:227-8894; 674-8833

Runx PPP series - Price: $1.8M - Call:648-7868 CATERING Planning an event? Conference, birthday, party, wedding, graduation, anniversary, Thanks giving! Call Chef David Elisha 6773146

Two Joiners to work in Workshop - Tel:610-7005; 219-1342 Accounts Clerk / Marketing – 5 CXC subjects, knowledge of QuickBooks, valid driver license – Call:592-681-3619 Live in housekeeper to care for one infant –30-45 years – Call:697-8797 Vacancy exist for 2 pharmacy assistant in a reputable pharmacy located in Kitty. Interested persons please call: 641-3240/609-9829 for more information.

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Place for rent in Parika: Top Flat (60"X20") suitable for office, computer classes, etc Contact: 260-4609; 694-4609 GT TOOLS RENTAL: TEL: 675-0767; 627-5098 Attractive Salon Space to rent, front Spot on Public Road, Vreed-En-Hoop – Contact:626-8051 One and two bedrooms furnished apartments situated at South Ruimveldt Price $500USD and $800USD Call: 601-9323; 649-2251 Lot 109 Block AA Eccles – 4 bedrooms: AC, fully furnished – Good Price – Contact:689-0610 One semi furnished 2 storey 2 bedrooms house at Plantation Walk Vreed-EnHoop, W.B.D -$40,000 – No Parking – Tel: 616-0111

Salesgirls to work evening shift and bond attendants/ porters @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff Street. Real Estate Clerk - $45,000 (Starting) – Text:618-7483 Needed: Operator Securities. Apply in person to B.M Enterprise Inc, Guyana Fisheries Wharf Limited Houston, E.B.D.

Beautiful Diamond, Republic Park, Lamaha Gardens – Tel:231-2199; 618-7483 5 Acre land with house to lease - $95,000 for month – Email: gzplayter@ol.com Tel:407-599-3775 Hair station to rent, professional hairdresser with client -$7,000 weekly – Call:645-9266 For the BEST RATES, call us on 225-8458,

LAND FOR SALE 2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at ParikaCall:226-7968 House lots for sale on the West Bank of Demerara Harbour Bridge in Harbourville Schoonord- Contact:650-0402 Herstelling Residential - $4M Negotiable – Tel:654-3389 Land (100X50) @ Paradise, East Coast Demerara, Last Street - Tel:619-5357; 650-0716 High Income land for sale @ Diamond - $5.5M Negotiable Tel: 683-9699. Parafaite Harmonie with foundations (20ftX30ft) $1.5M – Tel:675-7292 Romrima Trust Versailles @ W.B.D – Tel: 652-3707 One house lot in gated area at Versailles,WBD -Tel:622-6527 20 Acres Poultry Farm @ Yarrowkabra & 120 acres @ Mahaicony, 10 acres @ Moblissa, house & land @ Windsor Forest. – Tel:6864994; 225-3070

1 Able bodied handyman / yardman, two passport photos, valid police clearance - $25,000 weekly Call: 223-0595

LEARN TO DRIVE Shalom Driving School @ 2 Croal street. Fee $16,000Call:227-3869

MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call: 678-7499 To Experienced a healthy and relaxing massage, improves circulation and emancipation of waste – Call:666-9274 The Gents Spa: Deep tissue, Swedish massages, sport massage, aromatherapy, body scrubs Call:657-5979

Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call:6193660,639-4452

Market Constable - Call:2208110; 663-6282 during working hours (8am-4pm) Contract Cars and drivers, attractive base fee - Call:6131847 General Domestic, cleaner – Contact:609-1535; 227-8529

Fully Furnished apartments in Ogle USD$650 - $1,400 Call: 622-7236

Drivers with lorry licence. Apply @ Wieting & Richter Ltd.

Secured Concrete bond 87’X32’, lots of yard space suitable for CarMart Public Road McDoom: Tel: 233-0570

Wallaba posts, greenheart and bullet wood lumber (milled sawn preferably) Tel: 600-5872; 600-1329

Campbellville - $90,000, Queenstown - $US800, Atlantic Garden – US900 – Call Diana:227-2256; 626-9382

Sawmill workers – Tel:6539752.

Beautiful 2 bedroom apartment located @ Timehri Call:658-4754 FOR HIRE

WANTED Rangers. Must have experienced reading maps and using GPS - Contact:2235273/4

1 PMM- PPP Toyota IST Tel: 642-6664 Experienced Cashiers to work @ supermarket on the East Coast, Age 25-50yrs Call: 642-1141 Pump attendants and cashier @ Shell Mc Doom Gas Station - Call: 627-2550; 6997782 Workers for land Dredge, 1 male bahier - $80,000 monthly Tel: 694-2310 1 Live in maid, 22 years & over. Home study correspondence certificate courses (upgrade) available. Preferably out of town - Tel: 680-7402

Learn any language fast Tel: 662-0001 Study in Canada: Any Career. Email:micro.gteck @yahoo.com 9 Courses Diploma in computer studies - $30,000. Individual teaching: limited space. Micrographics Technologhy -Vreed- en Hoop - Tel:264-3057

TO LET Furnished Apartments for Overseas Visitors – Contact: 668-5198

Live in Domestic must know to cook Indian dishes & live in waitress - $50,000 (boarding & lodging free) Tel: 610-5043

DRESS-MAKING Courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral, cake decoration - Tel:670-2653; 618-1706

Do you want to live & work in Canada? Train as a live in caregiver, Canadian Standards – Tel:592-2274881; 416-674-7973

WANTED

Van Driven, Arc/ Acetylene welder, live in couple , domestic/caretaking duties - 227-1830 Attractive live in waitressCall:327-0252/674-4665 1 Ice-Cream van driver – Ages 40yrs to 55yrs – Call:218-3021 2 Salesgirls, must be experienced – Tel:668-0159 or 639-3036

Ultravoilet Driving School – Contact:231-2372;6022583;658-4015

EDUCATIONAL

(From page 30)

Bush Truck for hire - Tel: 6603400

Factory Assistants and Security Guards for Land of Canaan location. 266 4427

Space suitable for business on Durban Street Lodge 38"X26 “– Call:648-7868 1-2 Bedrooms apartment @ Best Rd – Vreed-En-Hoop $25,000 monthly – Tel:6114482; 628-9500

Page 31

PEN PAL

Live in waitress- Call:6439007/ 697-2978

Overseas male is seeking female 29yrs & up – Call:6613299 (no Texting)

1 hairdresser station to rent Contact Number: 682-4077; 617-2055

1 Female – Experienced in drawing cones from machine. Good wages – Tel:227-1830 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 One Experienced daycare attendant, between 25-45 years old - Contact:614-4005 Professional hairdresser needed urgently at Miskkio Salon & Spa @ 68 Sandy Babb St Kitty – Contact Tricia: 647-5908 One welder and one spray painter - Tel:228-5655; 628-1756 Drivers to work labour lorry at Enmore Estate – Tel:2285655; 628-1756 One hire car driver – 35years and older from West Bank or West Coast Demerara – Tel:616-0111. Husband and wife to work on farm at Kuru Kururu, Linden Highway – Age:4055 – Tel:225-4708 Land to buy in Parafaite Harmonie – Tel:675-7292

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 07, 2014

Friday March 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

Obama: West won’t let Kremlin carve up Ukraine WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama ordered the West’s first sanctions in response to Russia’s military takeover of Crimea yesterday, declaring his determination not to let the Kremlin carve up Ukraine. He asserted that a hastily scheduled referendum on Crimea seceding and becoming part of Russia would violate international law. European leaders announced their own measures but split over how forcefully to follow the U.S. lead. Obama threatened further steps if Russia persists. All signs pointed to a continuing diplomatic battle over Ukraine’s territorial integrity and what could prove a broader fault line in Europe’s post-Cold War order. While East and West no longer threaten nuclear war and have vastly expanded commercial ties, Russia is determined to dominate the future of the former Soviet republics along its borders. Washington, its NATO partners and others across the continent are striving to pull these nations out of Moscow’s orbit. Underscoring his resolve to Putin, Obama issued an executive action slapping new visa restrictions on Russian and other opponents of Ukraine’s government in Kiev and authorizing wider financial penalties against those involved in the military intervention or in stealing state assets. None of the measures appeared aimed

at the Russian president personally. “Today the world can see that the United States is united with our allies and partners in upholding international law and pursuing a just outcome that advances global security and the future that the Ukrainian people deserve,” Obama said at the White House. “That’s what we’re going to continue to do in the days to come until we have seen a resolution to this crisis.” Obama hailed U.S. cooperation with the European Union, which imposed its own sanctions on Russia on Thursday. In an emergency meeting in Brussels, EU leaders decided to suspend talks with Putin’s government on a wideranging economic agreement and on granting Russian citizens visa-free travel within the 28-nation bloc — a longstanding Russian objective. Yet at the same time, Europe’s presidents and prime ministers were divided on more drastic steps such as freezing assets and issuing travel bans on Russian officials. European hesitancy reflected the reality that targeting influential Russian businessmen or major Russian companies would also harm Europe’s economic interests. Russian investors hold assets worth billions in European banks, particularly in Britain and Cyprus, and major exporters such as Germany and the Netherlands have far more at stake than the United States in Russia’s consumer economy. Many

other European countries depend on Russia for oil and gas supplies. Russian troops have seized control of much of Crimea, where ethnic Russians are the majority. Moscow doesn’t recognize the Ukrainian government that came to power after protesters ousted the c o u n t r y ’s p r o - R u s s i a n president last month. Putin and other officials have cited strategic interests as well as the protection of ethnic Russians in making the case for intervention. Russia leases a major navy base there. T h e We s t e r n d e b a t e over how strongly to penalize Russia is important given that neither the U.S. nor Europe is advocating the use of force. The U.S. military has stepped up joint aviation training with Polish forces and American participation in NATO’s air-policing mission in its Baltic countries. But the Pentagon, like its NATO partners, has strictly ruled out military options. In the latest threatening move Thursday, Crimean lawmakers voted 78-0 to schedule a referendum on March 16 on whether the region should secede from Ukraine and join Russia. Obama said such a vote would “violate the Ukrainian constitution and violate international law.” Because Ukraine is a member of the United Nations, any action that is unconstitutional in Ukraine would be considered illegitimate in international law.

South Africa graft watchdog to release Zuma report March 19 JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa’s main anti-corruption watchdog said yesterday it would release its report into a $21 million state-funded security upgrade to President Jacob Zuma’s private home on March 19, less than two months before a general election. The cost of the upgrade to Zuma’s rural homestead in Nkandla, in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, has sparked an outcry, with South Africa’s biggest union calling for Zuma’s resignation. Last year, a newspaper published what it said were leaked findings of a provisional report in which

Jacob Zuma Public Protector Thuli Madonsela ruled that Zuma had derived substantial personal gain from the upgrades and should pay back some of the money.

Madonsela has declined to comment on the report. The government has denied any improper spending, justifying a cattle enclosure and chicken coop as necessary security features and classifying what the paper said was a swimming pool as a “fire pool” for dousing flames in the event of a fire. Zuma’s ruling African National Congress is almost certain to win the May 7 election, South Africa’s fourth since the end of apartheid, but analysts say the scandal-plagued leader could shoulder the blame if the party polls below 60 percent.

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Friday March 07, 2014

Crimea votes to join Russia, accelerating Ukraine crisis

Cossacks march at the local parliament building in Crimea’s capital Simferopol, Ukraine, yesterday. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine/ BRUSSELS (Reuters) Crimea’s parliament voted to join Russia yesterday and its Moscow-backed government set a referendum on the decision in 10 days’ time in a dramatic escalation of the crisis over the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula. The sudden acceleration of moves to bring Crimea, which has an ethnic Russian majority and has effectively been seized by Russian forces, formally under Moscow’s rule came as European Union leaders held an emergency summit groping for ways to pressure Russia to back down and accept mediation. The 28-nation EU condemned Russian actions in Crimea as illegal, voiced support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity but took

only minor steps suspending talks with Moscow on visas and a new investment pact while warning of tougher steps if there is no negotiated solution within a short period. By contrast, U.S. President Barack Obama announced immediate first steps to punish Russians and Ukrainians involved in what he called “threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine”, ordering the freezing of their U.S. assets and a ban on travel to the United States. The names on the blacklist were not immediately made public but a U.S. official said they did not include Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Pentagon also announced a large-scale air force exercise in Poland which

Washington’s ambassador to Warsaw said had been augmented to reassure U.S. allies in the region in the light of the Ukraine crisis. The crisis began in November when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, under Russian pressure, turned his back on a trade deal with the EU and accepted a $15 billion bailout from Moscow. That prompted three months of street protests leading to the overthrow of Yanukovich on February 22. Moscow denounced the events as an illegitimate coup and refused to recognize the new Ukrainian authorities. The Crimean parliament voted overwhelmingly yesterday “to enter into the Russian Federation with the rights of a subject of the Russian Federation”.

Russia’s Lavrov says no agreement with Kerry on Ukraine: report MOSCOW (Reuters) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday there was still no agreement between Moscow and Washington over the crisis in Ukraine where the regional parliament of Crimea voted to become part of Russia. Speaking in Rome after meeting his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of State John Kerry, Lavrov said Washington’s order to freeze assets and ban visas to Russians responsible for an incursion into Crimea was unconstructive. “For now we cannot tell the international community that we have an agreement,” Interfax news agency quoted Lavrov as saying after his second meeting with Kerry in two days.

Lavrov said talk of blacklisting some Russians from entering the United States was complicating talks: “He (Kerry) assured me there are no such lists for now. There is only the order but that doesn’t change facts, this is still a threat.” The West has pushed M o s c o w to agree to international mediation to resolve the crisis in Ukraine but Lavrov said he would now report to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the proposal before any decisions were made. “We want to bett e r clarify what our partners mean when they propose the creation of various international mechanisms,” he was also quoted as saying.

Sergei Lavrov

Friday March 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

Fleeing members of orthodox Jewish sect detained in Trinidad after Guatemala denies entry PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC - Members of “an orthodox Hasidic Jewish group” from Canada, known as Lev Tahor, are currently staying at Piarco International Airport after being denied travel to Guatemala in an alleged attempt to flee their country. Then nine members of the sect - six adults and three children were prevented from travelling to Guatemala days before members of the religious group were scheduled to appear before a court in Chatam-Kent, Canada, where a decision was expected to be m a d e concerning whether 14 Lev Tahor children were to be returned to Quebec and placed in foster care. On We d n e s d a y, Director of the National Operations Centre Commander Garvin Heerah

stated that the group was intransit to Guatemala through Trinidad and To b a g o f r o m To r o n t o , Canada, when they arrived at Piarco on Monday. Heerah said when the group was interviewed by immigration officials, “inconsistencies in their responses” were discovered. “As a consequence and in adherence to international immigration protocols the group was rejected and advised of their inability to travel on to Guatemala,” he said. “The group subsequently employed the services of a local attorney, Farah Masai, who began advocating their concerns with the airline and immigration authorities.” Heerah said the group was presented with the

option to stay at a hotel of their choice, but this offer was turned down. The spokesman for the group , Avraham Dinkel, has continued to negotiate with local authorities to travel on to Guatemala and not return to Canada. According to a report from the Toronto Sun on Wednesday, “the Jewish sect, distinguished by its conservative dress, fled Quebec in the dead of night last November, amid allegations—not proven in court—of child neglect and abuse, including of arranged marriages of children as young as 14”. L e v Ta h o r r e c e n t l y appealed the Quebec childseizure order in that province, and lost,” the Toronto Sun’s report stated. “The order is to take the children into temporary foster care for assessment.”

Staff training key in sugar plans Jamaica Gleaner - Pan Caribbean will be spending US$200 million in capital and human resources, most of which is being spent on factory upgrading at the Monymusk and Frome sugar factories in Clarendon and Westmoreland, as well as on an overhaul of the irrigation system in the Clarendon plains. Chief executive officer of Pan Caribbean Sugar Company, Huaxiang Wu, told The Gleaner that the company had already started an internship programme with the University of Technology (UTech), with plans to also engage the HEART Trust/ NTA in another training programme for factory staff. He explained that over time, the high-tech equipment that will replace the very old machinery at the factories will require a new kind of expertise to run and maintain them. The new CEO told The Gleaner that upon taking office in the middle of 2013, he and the shareholders were caught off guard regarding the poor state of the factories. “I think on the whole, they underestimate the poor management of the company. To manage a company in the sugar industry in this country is very difficult, so they underestimate. The shareholders underestimate the difficulty to manage the cane company,” he admitted.

Consistent with the factory upgrade, the entire irrigation system will be overhauled to significantly improve the volume of cane harvested in order to ensure the requisite throughput to ensure efficiency of the milling operations. However, Wu emphasised the importance of investing in staff training as another vital component of returning the sugar factories to viability and profitability. The two, he insisted, must go hand in hand. He told The Gleaner: “I have two succession plans. First, a succession plan for the engineers and the factory managers because they are very old. They are pretty much close to 60, so I see that

there are no young people around. That is why I took the initiative to hire probably 20 young people from UTech. Every year I do that. Every year I pick a few and then they will grow up to be the engineers or the managers of factories, but that is one side. “The other side is I want to recruit some educated, vocational people to be workers. So I want us to get young people - nice, educated - to work in the factory as workers, as foremen, or things like that. “So there are two sides to it, not only engineers, but some management trainees. So I want to make sure we hire the best of Jamaicans to serve the company. That is my intention.”

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Friday March 07, 2014

Witness feared Pistorius might kill himself after shooting girlfriend Reuters - One of the first people on the scene after Oscar Pistorius shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp told a court yesterday he feared the Olympic and Paralympic star, now on trial for murder, might kill himself with the same gun. Testifying on the fourth day of the trial, neighbor Johan Stipp said he entered the athlete’s home, minutes after hearing screams and shots, to find the distraught South African sprinter kneeling over the lifeless

body of a woman. “I shot her. I thought she was a burglar and I shot her,” Stipp quoted the 27-year-old Pistorius as saying. Stipp, a doctor, went on to describe his futile attempts to revive Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate who had been dating Pistorius for a few months. She died after being hit by three rounds, including one to the head, out of four fired by Pistorius through the locked door of an upstairs

toilet. He denies murder, arguing t h a t h e m a d e a tragic mistake after mistaking her for an intruder on Valentine’s Day last year. As Stipp checked Steenkamp for signs of life, Pistorius was begging him to save her life, Stipp told the court. “Oscar was crying all the time. He prayed to God: ‘Please let her live, she must not die,’” he said. At one point when

Friday March 07, 2014 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Children or possibly some close friends or a love interest could be upset today, Aries. The financial coffers aren't full enough to afford something they think they absolutely have to have right now. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Worry about a family member may be on your mind today, Taurus. This person could be all wrought up over work, money, or possibly a love affair that's broken off. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Uneasy feelings may be plaguing you throughout the day, Gemini. There could appear to be no valid reason for this. Everything seems to be going well for you, and no one close to you has anything heavy going on. CANCER (June 21–July 22) A friend, perhaps a woman, could well be upset or even angry with you today, Cancer. Money might be involved in some way. There may be nothing you can do to reassure her at this time, so it's best to give what reassurances you can and then back off. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Is your boss a woman, Leo? If so, stay out of her way today. To put it mildly, she isn’t in a good mood. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Travel may cause more problems than it's worth today, Virgo. You may forget some vital items when packing or there could be too little time to get everything ready.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Finances may cause an upset between you and a friend today, Libra. Perhaps this person owes you money and can't pay it back, or vice versa. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A social event could put you in touch with someone who's carrying around a lot of bitterness and anger, Scorpio. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) The workplace could be very hectic today as a colleague prepares to leave on an important business trip, Sagittarius. Nerves could be strained and tempers short. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You may have a wonderful day today, Capricorn. Your imagination, intuition, and creativity are all high, and inspiration for new artistic works could be filling your heart and brain. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Your home could be a very busy place today, Aquarius. Visitors could come and go throughout the day, probably annoying you at times. You might also find yourself having to soothe angry outbursts on the part of a member of your household PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Someone you work with might need a sympathetic shoulder to cry on today, Pisces. Stresses on the job extend beyond everyone's capacity to endure, so don't be surprised if at some point a colleague sheds a few tears. You might find your patience pushed beyond its normal limits.

Pistorius left Steenkamp, Stipp and housing complex manager Johan Stander to go upstairs, Stipp thought the athlete might be about to kill himself. “I noticed that Oscar was going upstairs and I asked Mr. Stander if he knew where the gun was because it was obvious that Oscar was emotionally very, very upset,” he said. “I didn’t know the situation in the house so I thought maybe he was going to hurt himself.” SLUMPED IN THE DOCK During Stipp’s graphic testimony, including his assessment that Steenkamp was “mortally wounded”, Pistorius sat slumped in the dock, his head bowed and his hands covering his ears. Pistorius had his lower legs amputated as a baby but went on to achieve international fame as the “fastest man on no legs”, running on carbon-fiber prosthetic limbs. Already one of the bestknown Paralympic athletes,

he ascended to the pantheon of track greats at the 2012 London Olympics when he reached the 400 meters semifinal, competing against able-bodied athletes. Wi t h r u g g e d g o o d looks and an easy smile, he was a sponsors’ dream, but since he shot Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year a different side to his carefullygroomed media persona has emerged. On Wednesday, the court heard how Pistorius had accidentally fired a pistol under the table in a packed restaurant - right next to a child - and then asked a friend to take the blame. The prosecution has used the incident to portray an image of Pistorius as a gun-obsessed hothead. If found guilty of intentional murder, Pistorius is likely to spend at least 25 years behind bars. Other witnesses have testified to hearing a woman’s terrified screams in the house before and during the volley of shots.

Strathspey...

From page 41 four runs. Enterprise posted 152-6 in 10 overs after taking first strike. Vickram Narine slammed 12 and Edmond Pearson made 10 while extras assisted with 26. Tyrese Bowman and Shamal Adams picked up two wickets each. Ann’s Grove scored 148-4 in 10 overs in reply. Shammiah Adams and Lawrence Pelleu scored 10 apiece while Navindra Narine and Clinton Alexander took one wicket each. (Zaheer Mohamed)

Friday March 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 37

Letter to the Sports Editor

Caribbean Inter-Club Football Competition

A Forgotten Hero

Slingerz and Boystown draw; Alpha defeat Buxton United

DEAR SPORTS EDITOR, It is often said that a sports star will die twice, the first time at retirement. For elite athletes who have dedicated their lives to sport, what happens when your time comes to an end? Elite athletes train extensively for years, in many cases, consuming the majority of their young lives, often making extensive personal sacrifices in order to pursue their dreams of glory. However, what happens to these athletes once they leave the days filled with rigorous training, and the buzz and adrenaline of competing? No doubt, in his prime and time, Moses Dwarka was the best. His dominance as an athlete created an indelible mark on the minds of those that competed with him and the minds of those that just want to see him run. Moses Dwarka’s achievements and accomplishments in representing this nation regionally and in t e r n a t i o n a l l y are testimony to his greatness. Wi t h t h e d e p t h o f h i s brilliance, he triumphed over his entire struggle and odds. Moses Dwarka was a well known individual, and his name was a household one especially on race day. He was well known around the sugar estates and was a household name especially on race day. His competitors respected him and he likewise. Moses was aware of his running ability, his stamina, his endurance but never boasted any of it. His running did all the talking. He was well known around the sugar estates and was a household name especially on race day. His

Moses Dwarka

competitors respected him and he likewise. Moses was aware of his running ability, his stamina, his endurance but never boasted any of it. His running did all the talking.Moses Dwarka knew his ability and never boasted of his achievements. His running did all the talking. Lots have dominated throughout their careers, but after their retirements, are brought up very little in sports conversations. There are so many athletes like this who we were talking about at one point in our lives and don’t even get a thought today. None of those athletes experienced a sadder fall from grace than Moses Dwarka. He was well known around the sugar estates and was a household name especially on race day. His competitors respected him and he likewise. Moses was aware of his running ability, his stamina, his

endurance but never boasted any of it. His running did all the talking. We h a v e a l l s i m p l y discarded him from our memories to make room for the next phenom who will capture our imaginations until he is unable to do so too. It’s appalling, that a man of such stature has gone unnoticed. His brilliance as an athlete has long eluded us. Despite all the accolades he has won for this country, he has got nothing in return except for a Medal of Service in 1998, and recently, a stipend of G$5,000 per month which he is currently receiving. This little master, who is well known as the “barefoot king” and hails from Better Hope, on the East Coast Demerara is living a simple life in his time of need, trying to make much from a mere NIS and Old Age pension. Yours Respectfully, M. Azimullah

Two action packed encounters heralded the opening night when the curtains went up on the Caribbean Inter-Club football competition at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Wednesday evening last. Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams continued his good showing for his new club, Slingerz with a 19th minute strike to put Jamaican club team, Boystown, on the back foot. The goal held up for most of the match until Peter Keyes brought the situation back to equilibrium in the 90th minute as the game ended 1-1. One match earlier, Edison Gomes slammed in a double in the 36th and 56th minute to seal the deal for Alpha ‘The

Hammer’ United against Buxton United. The latter team played valiantly but was simply outclassed by a unified force in Alpha who played a superior brand of football. The action moves over to the East Coast this evening when Buxton would enjoy home advantage to the Jamaica team, Boystown at their Community Centre Ground in the feature attraction of a double header. The curtain raiser will feature Slingerz and Alpha United in an eagerly awaited grudge match. The final set of matches will be played on Sunday March 9, when Slingerz clash with Buxton United from 18:00hrs followed by a Celebrity game at 20:30hrs.

The final match for that evening pits the skill of Alpha United against Boystown FC. These matches will be played at the GFC Ground. Meanwhile, the two Jamaican reggae stars, Duane Stephenson and Ginja were at the touchline rendering full support for their countrymen. Later on, they took centre stage with the microphone, dishing out some of their popular renditions. Whichever way the competition goes for Alpha, they will feel gratified to have had worthwhile match practice as they are now preparing for the all important CFU Club Championship in Jamaica. They are grouped with Habourview and T&T’s Defence Force.

Trophy Stall / EBFA U15 League Play in the Trophy Stall sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-15 League is set to continue tomorrow at the Grove Playfield with two more matches. The clash of the day will be the Soesdyke / Grove Hi Tech showdown, both teams notching up wins in their opening encounters on Saturday last at the same venue. Grove defeated Diamond United 5-1 while Soesdyke were in more devastating form, hammering Herstelling FC 10-1. L e a d i n g S o e s d y k e ’s charge for victory will be Kevin Sobers and Tyrone Khan who both netted three goals each in their big win. Support will come from Shane

Meusa, Shanon Samnauth and Raymond Khan among others. Grove will look to Threvon Pluck and Alyne Haynes who scored a double each against Diamond. A k e l F o r d e , Kevin Padmore and Randy Smart will look to lend support. The opening game at 10:00hrs between Diamond United and Herstel l i n g w i l l b e a n interesting match given that both teams are chasing their first win of the competition. Herstelling like Diamond features one female player in their lineu p a n d they have both looked well in play. Indira Amardeo stood between the uprights for

Herstelling in the first half of their game but was used outside in the second stanza. She will hope to be a formidable force along with the skillful forward Devon Winter who netted their lone goal against Soesdyke, Adrian Sattuar, Joseph Ramsarran, N a r e n d r a R a m k u m m a r, Yadeo Kumar and Ajay Singh. Diamond’s lone female, Diana Angoy will hope to be on the winning side along with teammates, Jumo Geroge, Marvin Garnett, Dennis Bascomb, Delon dennis, Shamar Hicks, Godfrey Williams, Omarion Fowler and Vibert Chung who netted against Grove.

ECCB competitions continue this weekend The East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) Under-15 and second division competitions are set to continue this weekend. Tomorrow, Lusignan Under-15 will host Ogle while Enterprise B will travel to Ogle on Sunday for second division action. Both matches start at 11:00hrs.

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Kaieteur News

Republic Bank joins list of sponsors for Rising Sun/Shariff Horserace Meet Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited has joined the list of sponsors for the Rising Sun Turf Club Horserace Meet, which will be held in collaboration with the Shariff Business Entity and Racing Stable ,West Coast Berbice. The one-day showdown is slated for this Sunday at the Club’s entity Rising Sun, Arima Park, West Coast Berbice. Seven races are listed for the day with over $8.5M up for grabs and so far the activity has attracted over 70 of the best horses in the country. Republic Bank, Rosignol Branch, through its Manager Imran Sacoor on Wednesday presented a cheque and trophy to co-organizer Mohammed ‘Nankoo” Shariff at the Bank’s office for the G and Lower event. Beverage Giants Banks DIH Limited, Trophy Stall, Gene Equipped (John Dere) Company, Chester Fry Chicken of Bush Lot West Coast Berbice, Hablaw Meat Centre, Berbice River Bridge and the Shariff Business Enterprise are already on board, joining Jumbo Jet business Enterprise, Shane Seenarine, Inshan Bacchus Hard Running Trucking Company and Racing Stable

and Romell Jagroop Construction who had originally offered support. The feature C class event has a total prize money of over $2M with the winner set to race away with $1M and trophy compliments of Banks DIH Limited over 1400M. The other events listed include the event for four year old West Indies maiden and Guyana bred horses over 1400M for $400,000 first p r i z e a n d t r o p h y. T h e three-year-old race for West Indies and Guyana bred and born animals will be sponsored by Gene Equipped (John Dere) Company for a winning purse of $300,000 and trophy. The F Class event has a winner’s prize of $400,000 and trophy and is also over 1400M. The G3 and lower showdown will see the animals running for the $300,000 first prize in an 1100M contest. There is a race for I class horses with a first prize of $250,000 and trophy over 1100M on offer, while the final race is for animals classified J and lower for a winner’s prize of $180,000 and trophy. Top individual performers including champion jockey, champion trainer and

champion stable will be presented with accolades compliments of Trophy Stall, Bourda Market. The Race will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse racing Authority and bugle time is 13:00 hrs. Among some of the top horses entered are: Treacle, Swing Easy, Run Nana Run, Mission King, Force Entry, I want Revenge, Settle In Seattle, Got to Go, Today is My Day, the Message, CP Got Even, Red and Lovely and California Strike, Cat Messiah, Fairy Landing, Ameer’s Joy, Savion, Easy to win, Unsettled, Gold Princess, War Craft, Silent Night, Fresh Again, Wild Grinder, Lady Secret, De Gump, Gold Rush, Top of The line, Mary Ann, Damascus Dream, Monsoon, Shooting Star, Wild Grinder, Speed Vision and Piece of the Cash among others. More information can be obtained by contacting Fazal Habibulla (232 0232, 648 6522, 657 7010), Inshanally Habibulla (623 4495, 623 5453, 232 3295), Donald or Zaleena Lawrie (225 4530, 225 4565), Mohammed ‘Nankoo’ Shariff on 611 0684. Proceeds from the event go towards charity. (Samuel Whyte)

Friday March 07, 2014

Mattocks double lifts Jamaica past St Lucia

Action from the international friendly between Jamaica and host St. Lucia Gros Islet, St. Lucia – Darren Mattocks scored two goals to propel Jamaica past host St Lucia 5-0 in an international friendly on Wednesday at Beausejour Stadium. The Vancouver Whitecaps forward netted in the 18th and 69th minutes, helping the Reggae Boyz complete a sweep of their eastern Caribbean tour. On Sunday, Mattocks struck for his first international tally in a 2-0 win

at Barbados. “These wins are important,” said Jamaica head coach Winfried Schafer. “It’s our first step on the road. “The team pressed and put St. Lucia under pressure.” The Jamaicans got single goals from 17-yearold Michael Seaton (16’), Garath McCleary (35’) and substitute Deshorn Brown (82’), who also scored against the Bajans. St Lucia head coach

Francis Lastic was quick to credit his opponent. “We were beaten by a well-organized Jamaica team,” commented Lastic. “We are a team in a rebuilding stage, and we have a set of young players moving forward, and as the game went on I saw some positives.” Jamaica is scheduled to return to action in a friendly against Serbia on May 26 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.

Nation’s top basketball clubs seek semi-final place - GABF ‘Road to Mecca’ down to Super Eight The Nation’s eight top clubs will seek places in the semi-final of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) ‘Road to Mecca’ nation-wide club championships on Sunday with the Super Eight playoffs of the competition at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The tournament attracted participation from the Linden, Georgetown and Berbice Basketball Associations with sixteen teams drawn from the three sub-associations for the first round last weekend at the ‘Mecca’ of local basketball, the Sports Hall. Eight teams were booted from the competition following eight games last weekend. Another four games, this time quarterfinal match-ups, will be played on Sunday to decide the teams that will be heading to the Final Four slated for March 16 at the same venue. In the first half of the draw, Georgetown’s number two

seeded, Colts will play the fourth seeded, Pepsi Sonics at 6am on Sunday, following first round wins last weekend. The next game will be a showdown between Linden’s second seeded, Amelia’s Ward Jets and third seeded Victory Valley Royals. The third game of the night will feature Linden’s number one seeded, Kings against the fourth ranked, Retrieve Raiders. The last game brings together arguably two of the nation’s top clubs, number one seeded Georgetown club, Trinity Grid Holdings Pacesetters against fourth ranked, Dyna’s Ravens in an epic battle for a semifinal place. The seeding has ensured that Ravens and Pacesetters do not meet in the semi-final or final as well as ensuring a long-awaited Linden vs Georgetown dual. In a press release yesterday, the GABF has asked that all clubs report to the venue one hour before

jump ball. “Please note on the fixture, uniform colours were already highlighted. We discussed directly with relevant team leaders and administrators, the need for certain teams to fix the number on the front of the vests for clear identification,” the release added. In an effort to continue to raise the standards of local basketball, the Guyana Basketball Officials Council (GBOC) had circulated a set of rules that will govern officials’ administration of the game, which included teams arriving on time and uniform numbers. The nation-wide club championships are being held to determine the best club in Guyana as well as to shortlist players for the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships, which will be held during July 1-12 in the British Virgin Island of Tortola. (Edison Jefford)

Friday March 07, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Regional 4-Day Tournament, Round II Ronaldo breaks another record as Real Madrid man nets double in rout to become Portugal’s all-time top scorer

St. John’s, Antigua – This year ’s Regional 4-Day Tournament continues today with a full slate of matches. Windward Islands, one of three sides that won their first round match, will be looking to create a piece of history when they travel to Port of Spain to face Trinidad & Tobago at Queen’s Park Oval. The Windwards have had little success in the TwoIsland Republic, winning just four matches in the history of the modern Regional 4-Day Tournament, dating back to 1966. Their previous victory came eight years ago, when they claimed an 86-run victory

at Shaw Park in Scarborough, Tobago, the other half of the republic. They have not won in Trinidad since prevailing by nine wickets 21 years ago at Guaracara Park in Pointe-APierre and their previous and only victory at the Oval came 32 years ago by two wickets. Jamaica, with whom the Windwards share the lead on the points table, will be looking to continue their dominance over Leeward Islands, the other first round winning side – and mark the occasion of the first ever floodlit, first-class match at Warner Park in St. Kitts with

their fourth straight victory there. Guyana and Barbados, two of the beaten sides from the first round, will renew their long-standing rivalry in the other match of the round at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence, Guyana. A victory for the Guyanese would be a piece of history. They have not beaten the Barbadians on home soil for three decades – during which period they have collected three wins in their opponents’ backyard. Points standings after Round 1

Ronaldo celebrates his second goal of the night and Portugal’s fifth

FIFA fines Caribbean member over finance rules ZURICH (AP) — FIFA has fined the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association for financial wrongdoing linked to a development project. FIFA says the Caribbean member’s football federation broke rules by agreeing to mortgage its Technical Centre. The building was largely paid for by Goal Programme funds from FIFA. The ABFA has been fined 30,000 Swiss francs (US$33,800) and reprimanded by FIFA’s Disciplinary panel. FIFA reports say the federation received US$1.4 million since 2000 to modernize the training centre on the island. FIFA has budgeted to spend $34 million in 2014 on Goal projects for its national members. Accounting rules for FIFA spending were tightened in anti-corruption reforms following a 2011 election scandal which implicated Caribbean officials in receiving bribes.

Cristiano Ronaldo became Portugal’s all-time leading scorer after making the most of shambolic Cameroon defending by netting twice to help his team to a 5-1 friendly win on Wednesday. Ronaldo took his international tally to 49, two more than the previous record set by Pauleta, as Portugal ran rings around the Indomitable Lions in a meeting of two World Cup finalists. ‘I don’t worry about breaking records, it something that happens naturally, with lots of dedication,’ the 29year-old told RTP television. Cameroon were level at half-time but fell apart in the second half as they conceded four goals in a disastrous 18minute spell. Portugal went ahead in the 21st minute when Joao

Pereira pulled the ball back from near the byline and found Ronaldo, who shimmied past his marker and fired a low shot past Guy Rolland Ndy Assembe to set a new scoring record. The hosts did not have it all their own way and Vincent Abubakar levelled two minutes before the break when he was given time to control the ball on his chest and score with a shot on the turn. The second half began with both teams on the attack and Assembe made an outstanding save to deny Ronaldo from close range just after the hour. But Cameroon collapsed after a dreadful mistake by Aurelien Chedjou, who sent an attempted pass out of defence straight to Raul

Meireles and the midfielder gratefully accepted the gift to put Portugal back in front in the 65th minute. Fabio Coentrao added another two minutes later after he was set up by Silvestre Varela and, with Cameroon wide open, Edinho snapped up the fourth in the 77th minute after Essembe could only touch Ronaldo’s shot straight into his path. Ronaldo completed the scoring in the 83rd minute, firing in a snap shot from 18 yards after two Cameroon defenders failed to clear the ball. Despite the emphatic nature of the victory, Portugal coach Paulo Bento refused to get carried away. ‘We are not going to get euphoric because of a 5-1 win,’ he said.

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GCB to stage National T20 league The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) is now rolling out its National T20 League which will be called “GUYANA T20 CRICKET LEAGUE (GTCL). This Competition will be contested among eight teams and will be played on an annual basis prior to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and can be used as a feeder for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. This venture is viewed as a great opportunity for local players to be part of the Guyana franchise team and to vie for greater heights. The GCB is currently in discussion with two potential Title sponsors but has not yet finalised any formal arrangements with any entity in this regard. The tournament has been structured to showcase as many players as possible and is not intended to be a Club or County arrangement. The eight teams will be drawn from the following geographical areas.

Team 1- Upper Berbice(Albion to Crabwood Creek) Team 2- Lower Berbice(West Coast Berbice to Fyrish) Te a m 3 - E a s t C o a s t Demerara Team 4- Georgetown A Team 5- Georgetown B Te a m 6 - E a s t B a n k Demerara including Linden Team 7- West Demerara Team 8- Essequibo The GCB will also be seeking team sponsors with special preference being given to business entities located within the geographical area of each team; discussions have already commenced with some potential sponsors. The board will also be inviting at least 16 players from the Caribbean to be part of this tournament which will be held during a two weeks period in either May or June of this year. The Rules for the competition is currently being drawn up and one of the features will be the

allowance for local guest players; meaning that players who may have missed out on selection within their geographical teams may be eligible for other teams. There will be 28 preliminary matches, two semifinals, a third place playoff and a final which will be played under lights. Matches will be contested across Guyana with semis and finals slated for Providence and Albion. The winner is expected to cart off at least G$10,000,000. Persons or entities interested in coming on board with this new and exciting venture can make contact with the Secretary, M r. A n a n d S a n a s i e a t sanasiericky@gmail.com or the Marketing Manager, M r. Raj Singh at rsinsurance63@gmail.com on or before March 31, 2014 or they can obtain further details on the GCB website atwww.guyanacricketboard.com.

Friday March 07, 2014

Scotiabank/Pepsi School Football Programme holds trials for US Scholarship Three players from the Scotiabank/Pepsi School Football programme were recently evalu a t e d b y National Coaches Wayne Dover and Sampson Gilbert of the Guyana National Football Coaches Association for a scholarship to the ASA College in the United States. The players are Shaka Lewis, Ronaldo Dover and Dominique Babb. The three players were selected for evaluation after a pre-screening was done based on players’ academic qualifications. The academic and player evaluation will now be submitted to the ASA College Coach in New York where one will be selected for a full Football Scholarship opportunity at that College.

ASA College men’s soccer team qualified for the USA National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Championships last year. Before th e t e c h n i c a l evaluation, Programme Director Colin Baker explained to the players the nature of the scholarship and stated that it was in keeping with one of the main objectives of the Scotiabank/Pepsi School Football Programme. He also expressed his delight that the programme is now in partnership with the Guyana Football Coaches Association. This partnership has been created where 15 national coaches will assist with coaching of the

players and assisting the PE coaches of the schools who attended a Coaches Training course administered by Technical Director of the programme Mr. Stanley Harmon. Mr. Harmon was also instrumental in making the scholarship opportunity possible. The 2014 Scotiabank/Pepsi School Football Tournament phase kicks off on March 15 featuring 24 schools from Georgetown, Berbice and Linden. Most schools will be fielding a male and female team. A total of 100 league games will be played among the three areas before the champion male and female teams from each area contest the semi-finals and finals.

GBV Workshop deemed an overwhelming success

Course facilitators Adolescent Health Rep Dr. Ertenisia Hamilton (right sitting), Petra Organisation Director Troy Mendonca and Co-ordinator of GBV Unit of the Ministry of Health Joy Gravesande pose with participants shortly after the conclusion of the Workshop yesterday. The twenty-four schools represented at the Genderbased Violence Workshop which ended yesterday in the Boardroom of the Ministry of Health on Brickdam all agreed that the seminar was an overwhelming success that presented the opportunity for them to not only learn how to deal with and detect manifestations of the scourge, but that it also served to clear up misconceptions of the behaviour. The Workshop which was facilitated by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in association with the Ministry of Health and the Petra Organisation as part of its attempt to spread the message on Gender-based Violence and its eradication

saw in attendance CDC Official Nicolette Henry, Adolescent Health Rep Dr. Ertenisia Hamilton, Coordinator of GBV Unit of the Ministry of Health Joy Gravesande and Petra Organisation Directors Troy Mendonca and Marlan Cole. Attended mostly by teachers of the schools participating in the Milo / Petra Organisation Football Competition, the participants were charged with the responsibility of returning to their respective institutions and impart when they had learned over the two-day period. Among the topics that the participants were exposed to included Adolescent Development; difference between sex and

gender; what is gender-based violence; sexual harassment versus flirting; examples of GBV and its causes including contributing factors and consequences of GBV among others. The Resource personnel told the media that the CDC and the Ministry have been working in collaboration to eradicate the growing dilemma which has not only been restricted to Guyana, but the wider Caribbean as well and has become a topical issue for relevant stakeholders. The promise was also made to involve the media which the facilitators regarded as one of the best conduits to spread the message as they seek to sensitize and eliminate its prevalence within the society.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 07, 2014

Malta Supreme Hugh Ross Classic Body Building Show

Ray’s One Stop Auto Parts & Auto Sales contributes

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GCB/Scotiabank Kiddy cricket-Central ECD

Strathspey, Annandale and Enterprise victorious

Ray Seebarran (centre) hands over his contribution to HRC Sponsorship Officer Dexter Garnett in the presence of Hugh Ross. As preparations for the fourth Hugh Ross Classic Body Building and Fitness Show continues, the support of corporate Guyana continues to flow towards the hosting of a successful event. The latest entity to come on board is Ray’s One Stop Auto Parts & Auto Sales located at 74 Sheriff Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.Owner Mr. Ray

Seebarran in handing over his company’s contribution to the Hugh Ross Classic Committee noted that he himself is an avid gym member and recognizes the importance and benefits of exercising. Seebarran said that when it comes to athletes putting in the hard work to present themselves on stage for competition, it is highly commendable and his

company is pleased to play their part to make this Show a success. Hugh Ross, Chairman of the Hugh Ross Classic Committee in r es p o n s e than k ed M r. Seebarran for his kind gesture noting that it is appreciated. The Show is set for Saturday March 29, 2014 at the National Cultural Center commencing at 19:00hrs.

Maurice Solomon and Company Chartered Accountants Golf Tournament on tomorrow A keen fight is expected tomorrow when leading local golfers compete for the Maurice Solomon and Company Chartered Accountants Golf Tournament at the Lusignan Golf Club. With good conditions for the past month, golfers are getting to play more and finding their form as witnessed in last week’s competition with numerous scores coming in around par. This week’s event is a 3/4 Stableford competition which will award points for each hole depending on how well the golfer plays it. There will be four top prizes, along with a Nearest to the Pin and a Ladies Best Prize should none make the top four in the general category. In an invited comment, Maurice Solomon, who has been a member of the

club since the early 1970s, said he had committed since last year to sponsor a tournament and hoped for a good turnout. In addition

his brother, West Indian cricketing legend Joe Solomon, will be competing. Tee off time is 12:00noon.

Vadim John (left) and Randy Andrews Strathspey, Annandale and Enterprise Primary schools recorded victories when action in the Guyana C r i c k e t B o a r d (GCB)/Scotiabank nationwide Kiddy cricket festival continued yesterday in the Central East Coast Demerara district. Playing at Enterprise ground, Strathspey overcame Lusignan Primary by six runs. Strathspey batted first and scored 144-4 in 10 overs. Randy Andrews and Vadim John led with 12 each; Evald Hendricks claimed 2-5. Lusignan in reply made 138-4 in 10 overs. Andrew Killu was

their leading batter with 13 and Keshawn Frazer made eight. Annandale got the better of Company Road Primary of Buxton by two runs. Annandale managed 122-3 in 10 overs after taking first strike. John Roopnarine slammed 16; Rudolph Rambatt made 12 while Delwyn Boyce and Reckeemiah Sandy got 10 apiece. Company Road Primary mustered 120-4 in 10 overs in reply. Oniary Fredericks scored 10. Annandale defeated Enmore Primary by 21 runs. Annandale took first knock

and rattled up 187-8 in 10 overs. Delwyn Boyce stroked 18 and Shawn Roopnarine 12. Marvelyn Phillips snared 2-7 and Joshua Rahaman 2-10. Enmore responded with 166 in 10 overs losing 10 wickets in the process. Sasenarine Harich cracked 16 while Marvelyn Phillips and Farrien Mohamed contributed 10 apiece. Shawn Roopnarine grabbed 4-10, Rudolph Ramdatt 2-7 and John Roopnarine 2-8 for the winners. Ann’s Groove Primary went down to Enterprise by (Continued on page 36)

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Friday March 07, 2014

Guy/B’dos aim to rebound in day/ night clash at Providence from today Guyana and Barbados will both aim to rebound from first round defeats in their 2014 Regional four-day cricket matches when they meet from 15:00hrs today at Providence in their first Day/Night encounter. The two nations played the very first Regional FirstClass match in the West Indies in 1865 and since Regional cricket acquired sponsorship in 1966 Barbados has won the title a record 21 times while the last of Guyana’s six titles was achieved since 1998 when they shared the crown with the Leeward Islands. Guyana has been hit hard by illness and injury this

season, three of their batsmen with West Indies senior team experience (Shiv Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Leon Johnson) ruled out of the first match and will all be unavailable for this match also. The injury issue has been compounded by the forced withdrawal of Guyana’s fastest bowler Ronsford Beaton, who has been replaced by 22-year-old West Berbice rookie pacer Raun Johnson for today’s match after Beaton suffered a side strain in the opening match. Tagenarine ‘Brandon’ Chanderpaul, who returned from a successful Under-19 World

Cup and Chanderpaul Hemraj have been brought into the local team to replace Sarwan and Shiv Chanderpaul. In 2010 pink balls were used for the first time in West Indies first Class cricket when Guyana opposed Trinidad and Tobago in the inaugural Day/Night FourDay game in Antigua. However, the concept was shelved until this year when Guyana will host its maiden First-Class match under lights tonight. Of the 66 matches played against Barbados at this level since 1966, Guyana has just managed 12 wins and suffered 24 defeats with 30 of the encounters ending in draws. When the teams last met in Barbados last year the hosts won by 93 runs with Kirk Edwards leading the Bajans with a 120 while Jonathon Carter made 85 and Rashidi Boucher 81 and

today Guyana will hope to utilize what should be a slow track which should favor spin to reverse that result. When Barbados scored their lowest ever total of 58 against Guyana two years ago Narsingh Deonarine had a career best 7-26, Guyana won by an innings and 66 runs. Today, Deonarine will want to lend spin support to l e f t - a r m Ve e r a s a m m y Permaul who had a fivewicket haul in the last game. Leg-spinners Devendra Bishoo and Amir Khan will also need to bowl with control on what should be a fast outfield. The new ball pair of Keon Joseph and debutant Johnson will hope for support from Chris Barnwell. Sewnarine Chattergoon gets what could be his last chance to justify the selector’s faith in him and should have the inform Tagenarine Chanderpaul as

his partner with Assad Fudadin and Vishal Singh, who batted resolutely in a losing cause in Jamaica expected to be the rock Guyana builds there innings around. Barnwell and Anthony Bramble will want to also be among the runs. The Bajans will hope for their 21-year-old Skipper Kraigg Braithwaite, who has scored four half centuries in his 10 Tests and the only fifty for the Bajans in their first round loss, to lead from the front with the bat. Carlos Braithwaite, Carter, Boucher, Kevin Stoute and Shane Dowrich will hope to contribute with the bat for the visitors, who are without Dwayne Smith, Kirk Edwards and Jason Holder. The bowling attack will center round 23-yearold Miguel Cummings who recently made his ODI debut, Tino Best, Carlos Braithwaite, Ashley Nurse,

Stoute and left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn. Guyana’s Coach Esaun Crandon said the pace of Beaton will be missed but added the Johnson bowled impressively in the InterCounty competition. “Of course we will miss Beaton but Johnson is quite capable of performing at this level in his first match. We have a nice young team and team spirit is quite high. We had a light day on Wednesday since the guys were tried from the long travelling from Jamaica and we arrived at almost two Wednesday morning. Today (yesterday) we had a good session and did some fielding drills also” the Coach added. Crandon said he expects the pitch to be slow while he feels the pink ball should swing a bit during the night. The match is expected to end by 22:00hrs. (Sean Devers)

World Champions announce T20 squad St. John’s, Antigua – The WICB advised yesterday that its Selection Panel has named the 15-member squad for the upcoming threematch T20 Series against England in Barbados. The defending ICC World T20 Champions will use the matches as

preparation for the upcoming ICC World T20 Tournament to be played in Bangladesh from March 16 to April 6. SQUAD: Darren Sammy (Captain), Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle,

Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith. MANAGEMENT UNIT: Ottis Gibson (Head Coach), Sir Richard R i c h a r d s o n ( Te a m

Manager), Stuart Williams (Assistant Coach), Andre Coley (Assistant Coach), Saqlain Mushtaq (Assistant Coach), C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist), Hector Martinez Charles (Strength & Conditioning Coordinator), Richard Berridge (Video & Statistical Analyst), Virgil Browne (Massage Therapist), Philip Spooner (Media Manager).

To u r s c h e d u l e a n d results: February Fri 28: 1st ODI – West Indies won by 15 runs – Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground Sun 2: 2nd ODI – England won by 3 wickets – Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground March Wed 5: 3rd One-Day

International – England won by 25 runs – Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground Sun 9: 1st Twenty20 International – Kensington Oval Tue 11: 2nd Twenty20 International – Kensington Oval Thu 13: 3rd Twenty20 International – Kensington Oval (WICB Media Release)

Kaieteur News

Friday March 07, 2014

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Uitvlugt blank St. John’s 2-0 Tenelec Inc. on board again NAWF Girls U17 Inter-Secondary Schools Football

for BCB U15 Inter Club tourney

Tenelec’s James Samuel (3rd left) presents the cheque to BCB President Keith Foster in the presence of other officials.

Melinda Macey (left) and Suwanda Samuels

When play in the National Association of Women Football (NAWF) Under-17 eight-team Inter Secondary School competition continued on Tuesday last at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground, Uitvlugt became

the first team to register a win. They defeated St. John’s by a 2-0 margin with goals on either side of play and could have increased the scoreline were it not for fine goalkeeping by St. John’s’ Winette Small who denied a

penalty kick taken by Uitvlugt’s Shemika Marcus. On target for the winners were Suwanda Samuels in the 17th minute and Melinda Macey in the 61st minute. Matches continued on Wednesday and yesterday.

At a simple but significant ceremony held recently at the famous Albion Sports Complex, Mr. Bobby Deonarine of Tenelec based in Washington USA renewed sponsorship of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Inter Club Under-15 competition, investing over $500,000. One of the speakers at the ceremony, Mr Vemen Walter, Human Resource Manager of GUYSUCO Albion Estate was high in praise of the sponsors for their faith and role played in the development of the game, while also praising the work of the BCB. Walter noted that the tournament is used as the nursery for Berbice cricket where talented players are identified and nurtured. He added that two of the Guyanese players who were in Dubai with the West Indies Under-19 Team, Gudakesh Moti-Kanhai and Shimron Hetmyer are recent products of Tenelec’s sponsorship. He added that other successful cricketers that

went on to represent West Indies including Narsingh Deonarine, Verasammy Permaul, Devindra Bishoo, Assad Fudadin and Royston Crandon, all participated in this tournament. BCB President, Mr. Keith Foster thanked Mr. Deonarine on behalf of the Board. He noted that not many will invest in Guyana when they live and earn overseas but Deonarine is an e x c e p t i o n . M r. F o s t e r informed that Deonarine, who is the uncle of West Indies middle order batsman Narsingh Deonarine is a true patriot of his country of birth and is always willing to assist young people. BCB First VP Anil Beharry was also high in praise for the sponsors and thanked them for this investment in the youths in Berbice. He said that many young people are led astray towards the ills in Society and this tournament is an avenue to help them make meaningful contributions to the development of themselves and their

communities. He added that international quality floodlights will soon be installed at the Albion Sports Complex and it is expected that many sporting activities will be held to keep young people constructively occupied. He pleaded to parents to make sure that their young children take full advantage of this tournament. Mr. Deonarine, in a short but inspiring speech said it was money well spent and he will always support cricket in Berbice, with the younger players taking priority. He said that he is happy to be part of the success of so many players that come out of Berbice and go on to represent Guyana and eventually West Indies. Tenelec Inc. is also the sponsor of the premiere 50overs first division cricket competition in Berbice. That tournament is set to play in the second half of the year and the BCB is optimistic that Tenelec Inc. will be on board once more.

t r o Sp Caribbean Inter-Club Football Competition

Slingerz and Boystown draw; Alpha defeat Buxton United

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Anthony Abrams (#10) gets past the advancing Boystown keeper (#1) on his way to the eventual opening goal of the match.

Nation’s top basketball clubs seek semi-final place

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Flashback! Pacesetters guard, Kieth 'Bull' Tute finishes a left-handed lay-up Sunday night against Bulls in their win at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210