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Sunday March 17, 2013
Tenth Parliament unanimously passes motion
Restoration of Georgetown underway By Abena Rockcliffe The poor sanitation and other pertinent issues that currently hinder the beautification of Guyana’s capital city, are about to be addressed as the National Assembly unanimously passed a motion titled “Restoration of Georgetown.” The motion was successfully piloted by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Member of Parliament Volda Lawrence. It sought to capture the committed support of the National Assembly towards the restoration of our Capital City, Georgetown. More importantly, the further resolved clause of the motion called for the Government to expand its multi stakeholders Committee to include Members of Parliament, Officials of the Georgetown City Council, and relevant Government Ministries. Those bodies are called to aid in the development of an action plan, to allocate resources and to monitor the progress of the restoration of Georgetown. The Motion stipulated that the Minister of Natural Resources and the
Environment will, on behalf of the Committee, report to the National Assembly within four months. Though agreed to by both sides of the House, the motion saw several amendments being made to it by the government. Debate on the motion attracted 11 speakers— five from APNU, the same number from the government, and Catherine Hughes representing the Alliance for Change (AFC). Robert Persaud, during his presentation, received tremendous support from the opposition as they acknowledged many of the points he made by banging their hands on the desks. The original motion had five whereas clauses but when amended by the government two were added. One of the clauses amended was “the Georgetown City Council is unable to carry out its mandate as prescribed in the Municipal and District Councils Act of 1969 and the Local Democratic Organs Act of 1980, due to the severe under collection of taxes, rent and fees as well as the miserly
What the City used to be; in the heart of town, no garbage around
subvention received from the Central Government.” With the government’s amendments, all the reasons stated above were deleted. Lawrence, in the tabling of her motion, said that Georgetown is the Capital City of Guyana, and had gained the Caribbean title of the
Garden City. She noted that the present state of the city does not merit it sustaining that title. She pointed out the expanded boundaries of Georgetown need for better drainage system. The heavy siltation of canals, the dumping of refuse and various other kinds of items
which block drains, the lack of maintenance of the outfall channels have all led to poor drainage of the city. The longstanding female Member of Parliament also pointed out that refused collection and disposal have reached a critical point where large amounts of garbage are being
dumped on street corners, open spaces and canals, creating public nuisance and health hazards for citizens and visitors. During her presentation, she mentioned that it pains her to know that many youths of Guyana will not enjoy the Georgetown she once loved.
DO YOU KNOW THAT JAGDEO GAVE HIS BEST FRIEND NINE RADIO AND TV CHANNELS Five radio and Four TV channels the same month he left office Best Friend: Dr. Bobby Ramroop
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo
Sunday March 17, 2013
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Media owners demand reversal of Jagdeoissued broadcast licences …Press Association calls for overseas intervention
Revelations that former President Bharrat Jagdeo farmed out radio and television licences to his friends and others close to the government just before the last elections have sparked widespread concerns and a statement of defiance from privately-owned media houses. Yesterday, the Guyana Media Proprietors Association (GMPA) and Guyana Press Association (GPA) issued statements calling for an immediate reversal of the allocations. Several private media houses and personalities who had applied for licences and are seen as critics of the government were bypassed by Jagdeo. The former President approved the licences as Minister of Information shortly before his constitutional term in office ended in November, 2011. According to GMPA, the “lawlessness” must end. The body said that it is “appalled at the revelations in the National Assembly on the recent allocation of radio licences.” Three of the stations issued licences under Jagdeo have already started broadcasting. GMPA said that the manner in which the allocations were made “flies in the face of freedom of expression. It will not be accepted. It would effectively limit objective voices. It smacks of deceit, duplicity, and downright discrimination. Effectively, then President Jagdeo breached the agreement between himself and Desmond Hoyte in 1997.” GMPA is convinced that there was deliberate bias in the process when Jagdeo
refused to issue licences to the others. “We demand the right to free and independent voices.” Already, members of the GMPA have met to discuss the way forward. Meanwhile, the GPA in a separate statement, said it is disturbed over what appears to be the unfair distribution of frequencies, weighed in favour of the governing party. The association yesterday called on overseas media bodies to intervene. On Friday, the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM), of which GPA is part, also said that it is monitoring the situation and is concerned. The association’s President, Wesley Gibbings, who is based in Trinidad, said that the ACM has been keeping an eye on the developments. The body is preparing to issue a statement shortly. “It is equally disturbing that the Government of Guyana is creating a media environment of monopoly ownership and control that leaves media workers limited options on employment and creative outlets for their skill and talent,” the GPA stated An under-pressure government, with a one-seat minority in the National Assembly, was forced to disclose specific details of the licences granted following questions by the Opposition demanding answers. GPA also pointed out that Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, in releasing details of the allocation, did not explain why for over two decades there has been no national plan to (Continued on page 14)
Media owners who were ignored
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KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210
Editorial
The Pope’s Mission The Roman Catholic Church with its 1.2 billion adherents is the largest Christian denomination and on its own can stand as the second largest religion in the world after Islam. Even in an increasingly secularised world, the Vatican as the centre of this mass of humanity obviously wields tremendous power. The election of the new Pope after the surprise abdication of Pope Benedict in the midst of a series of scandals that have rocked the institution is obviously of great import, not only in countries like Guyana that have a significant number of Catholics, but everywhere. The Roman Catholic Church, as the most senior Christian Church, has typically pioneered inter-religious dialogue. The choice of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio — who took the name Francis after St Francis of Assisi— as the 266th Pope, appears to be a calculated move by the Catholic church leadership to signal that they were making a concerted effort to address the upheavals in their organisation. Pope Francis would be only the second Pope to come from outside Europe. However, as the son of first generation Italian immigrants to Argentina, the Church appears to have got the best of both worlds. He is a theological conservative who vigorously backs Vatican positions on abortion, gay marriage, the ordination of women and other major issues. His most noticeable public trait is his humility and his austerity: he has never lived in the palatial church mansion in Buenos Aires preferring a simple bed in a downtown building. While there have been persistent questions of the role of the new Pope when he was head of the Jesuit order in Argentina during the dictatorship there, this appears to have merely buttressed his credentials to protect the Church. His authorised biographer Marco Rubin declared: “Is Bergoglio a progressive — a liberation theologist even? No. He’s no third-world priest. Does he criticise the International Monetary Fund, and neoliberalism? Yes. Does he spend a great deal of time in the slums? Yes.” We can therefore expect Pope Francis to be a transitional figure (at age 76) who will place the survival of the Church ahead of all other concerns. While he will therefore take a hard-line position against changing the Church’s position against homosexuality, it is difficult to see exactly what he can do about the manifestation of the phenomenon in the bosom of the Church itself. The overwhelming problem in Latin America is the shortage of priests and the shrinkage of believers. Battered first by a widespread rebellion against compulsory celibacy — more than 100,000 priests were dispensed from their vows to marry in the 1970s and 1980s before John Paul II made it almost impossible as part of his more general crackdown on liberalism — and then by the reputational damage of the abuse scandals, the clergy had dwindled and aged at astonishing speed. Seminaries have closed all over the Western world. A very high proportion of the remaining clergy are thought by qualified observers to be gay, if often celibate. In the developing world, the regulations on celibacy are widely flouted. Although 40 per cent of the world’s Catholic population lives in South America, it can no longer be automatically assumed that a Latin American is a Catholic. Pentecostal protestantism has made huge inroads, and, nowadays, secularism as well. Partly as a result of shrinking family sizes — themselves a symptom of the way in which women ignore the teaching on contraception — Catholic church attendance in the developed world has been falling steadily in the last decade. The Church has been deeply shaken by the exposure of sex scandals among the clergy; in the developed world this seems to consist mainly of the abuse of young men and boys including young priests, and in the developing world of breaches of the vows of lifetime celibacy. Further problems arise from continuing revelations of slow responses to the scandals, in what is tantamount to a concealment strategy. In addition, corruption scandals have surfaced, together with allegations of incompetence within the Curia, the Church’s governing body.
Sunday March 17, 2013
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President Ramotar Should Follow Obama’s Examples DEAR EDITOR, President Ramotar is continuing to criticize the legislative actions being taken by opposition-party leaders; his latest blasts against the opposition-leaders came during his address to the audience that attended this year’s tribute to the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan at Babu John, Port Mourant. I believe that instead of attacking Guyana’s opposition parties which hold a one-seat majority in
parliament, President Ramotar would be better served to follow the examples of ( America’s ) President Barack Obama, who has decided to sponsor social-consultations with Republican congresspersons and senators in search of compromises... it is being called “the charm offensive”. Why I recommend President Obama, because the Democrats have the presidency and the governments, but the
Republicans have the majority in the U.S. Congress and the Democrats do not have the 60 votes that they need to pass bills by themselves in the U.S. Senate. Editor, as the saying goes “ it is, what it is” and President Ramotar should face the reality that his political-party does not have the majority in Parliament , thus I feel that he and his spokespersons would be better off seeking compromises with the opposition-parties, instead of
attacking those parties or seeking solutions through the courts...judges were not elected to lead Guyana. Parliamentarians were elected to lead Guyana. I should add that the P.P.P’s founder-leaders Dr. Cheddi Jagan when he served as head of the opposition, met quite frequently with the Burnham/Hoyte Governments and he even ended up pledging ”Critical Support” to the Burnham Government. Morris Wilson
Sunday March 17, 2013
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The African race has done great things like every other race in the world DEAR EDITOR, In his letter of Thursday, March 14 (“Is Mr. Kissoon preparing to join the communist PPP?”), Mr. Devand Bhagwan repeats a manifestation of statistical asininity that is not only misleading and racist but sickening in its deception. In order to comprehend the offensive nature of it, it needs to be repeated so readers can comprehend its fraudulent nature. Bhagwan wrote;” Indians make up about 1.5 percent of the US population yet they account for more than 38 percent of the doctors in the country. Similarly, 36 percent of NASA scientists and 34 percent of Microsoft employees are Indians…Indians own more than 50 percent of the motels in the US. Can you imagine what the ethnic business ownership would be like if Indians were 5 percent or 10 percent of the population.” First, there is no source from where these figures came. Secondly, these statistics are not situated in a comparative framework so we can see how other ethnic groups are doing in the US. Thirdly, these statistics are operational in the US only meaning that you have to examine Indian performance in other countries compared with other ethnic groups in those countries. Take Britain. Indians form a greater percentage of the population than Orientals yet Oriental
immigrants have achieved a greater level of development than any other immigrant community in the UK. Where does that leave this great Indian spirit that Bhagwan keeps boasting about? Fourthly, why are Bhagwan’s statistics an indication of how great the Indian race in the US is when we are not given a comparative framework to work with? So what is the percentage of Afro- Jamaicans in the American population? The 2002 census puts it as 0.3. Now please note the point in front of the 3. If you look at the fantastic achievements of this 0.3 percent then it knocks out any special quality of Indians. For an ethnic group that occupies only 0.3 percent the Afro- Jamaicans can be found in some of the most influential positions in the American social structure with the son of Jamaican immigrants becoming the head of the armed forces in the US. Fifthly, Bhagwan seeks to deceive us by refusing to mention the numbers game. With a population of 1.1 billion and 1.3 billion respectively, India and China send more of their citizens to the US than other lands on Planet Earth. It simply means then that they will be more Indian scientists in the US than Barbadian ones. That needs no debate. That is common sense Bhagwan needs a lecture in economic demography to see
Translation of the Common Law into foreign languages is a very specialized skill DEAR EDITOR, It was reported that some Ministers and Ministries are giving translations of segments of the Laws of Guyana to foreign nationals who have set up shops and restaurants in Guyana. May I point out to the Ministers and Ministries so involved that translation of the Common Law into foreign languages is a very specialized skill and there are very few such expert translators in the world. It is quite obvious that such attempted translations are amateurish and the Ministers have no way of fully ascertaining their accuracy. Since Ministers and Ministries are handing out such translations, sometimes in person, they are putting the State’s and the Government’s imprimatur on them and if such
translated Laws are referred to the Courts and they don’t fully tally with the English version, the Courts and indeed the Ministers would bring down upon themselves much embarrassment. In the USA where there are tens of millions of Germans, Poles, Chinese and other non-English speakers, such persons have to make their own efforts to understand the Law of the Land and the US Federal Government will not get involved in the costs and complications of translations. If the Ministers and Ministries wish to translate our Laws into foreign languages, they would have to employ expensive expert translators and take measures to guarantee the authenticity of the translations. R. Edmonds
how the Chinese are outstripping all other immigrant groups in the US in terms of possession of wealth and in Europe too. I guess if you use Bhagwan’s logic, the Chinese are a superior race to all others. Sixthly, let us look at African achievements in the very US that Bhagwan points to in his support of the great talent of Indians. In the 2010
census, African Americans constituted 13 percent of the US population. At a time when that statistic stood at just 10 percent, African Americans’ achievements were breathtaking and phenomenal. In all sports except ice-hockey, Africans excelled and dominated other races in the US. In the music world, except the opera, Africans were and are on top. Even in what we
call white people music like rock, the greatest rock guitarist that is yet to be surpassed is a Blackman, Jimmy Hendricks (deceased). In rock music, a Black woman was the best vocalist in her time, Tina Turner. The only race that provided the US with its presidents was the Caucasian ethnic group. No other non-white race has been able to break that pattern
except Africans. Let us move the statistical game to Guyana and the Caribbean. A small group of islands in the Caribbean mostly of African descendants between 1958 and 1985 have dominated the game of cricket played by Indians in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and whites in South Africa, England, Australia and Continued on page 7
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An 1823 Monument and one for the 1964 Wismar massacre
Who really are the true Parliamentary Assassins?
DEAR EDITOR Any monument/memorial which reminds us about horror of man’s cruelty to his fellow man ought to be built. Such a reminder, hopefully, can ensure it does not reoccur in Guyana. Who can have any problem with the 1823 slave commemoration monument? Who can even have a problem with a memorial which commemorates the 1913 rose hall uprising and the 1964 massacre of Indians at Wismar? In fact the PNC found the 26 May 1964 so significant it selected the anniversary of the Wismar massacre to proclaim independence from the British. Didn’t the PNC find the date most propitious and symbolic in its long quest for freedom for all Guyanese? It’s an
excellent symbol of equality which the PPP/C government can make; unless its socialist polices find such things distasteful. Undoubtedly the 1823 slave rebellion was a milestone in better rights for all. So any rethinking which the PPP/C government does in locating the 1823 monument in consideration to the opposition APNU and AFC cannot hurt anyone. No doubt the opposition would have no problems in proudly supporting the Wismar monument. Should taxpayers pay for both monuments? A monument is an asset to understanding ones country, its history and culture. Look at the Lincoln monument in Washington Dc. It is a magnificent edifice telling the story of American unjust laws
against slavery. Consequently, Guyanese must have national monuments which remind us of inhumanity to Indo Guyanese. It’s just part of our national history. Permission and facilitation should be the government’s main contributions with taxpayers funding to be decided. Since Indians do not seem opposed to the erection of either the 1823 or Cuffy monuments there should be some relief when the Wismar monument is erected at a suitable location. In fact the symbolic presence of a replica of the Hesperus which brought the first batch of Indian immigrants to Guyana should be also be symbolically mounted in a prominent location. Such monuments serve to remind us of our ugly history, for example, the Queen Victoria statue in front the law courts. Our monuments should inspire our citizens to move forward and elect leaders of exemplary status to represent all our races for a better Guyana. Can’t we all get along? Vassan Ramracha
DEAR EDITOR, Isn’t it criminal that NICIL continues to hold and spend billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money without Parliamentary oversight? Isn’t that an act of Parliamentary Assassination? Isn’t it an act of Parliamentary Assassination when the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission transferred G$254 million of the people’s money to NICIL without Parliamentary approval? Isn’t it an assassination of Parliament when the Jagdeo/ Ramotar cabal makes NICIL into a parallel custodian of the people’s money without seeking Parliamentary approval? Isn’t it an assassination of Parliament when parliamentary motions are passed by the majority and not assented to by the President because these motions originated from the majority opposition? Isn’t an assassination of Parliament when taxpayers’ funds are misused on the Marriot project without their permission by way of the necessary approval in the Parliament? So what is all this balderdash coming out of Freedom House about parliamentary assassination? When your head is hard and
you are also a bully, you need mental counseling to save you from your mental delusions. The PPP operatives seem to be in need of such counseling since they chose to ignore the political reality that they are the minority in Guyana today. They choose instead to block out the voice of the majority of people and chose the weapon of bullyism to progress the developmental agenda and expect the majority to just roll over and say thank you to them? Wake up, Gail! Since August of 2012, the majority in Parliament made it very clear they have lost confidence in Rohee at Home Affairs. The principled thing for the Government to do was to engage the majority in parliament in the tripartite committee to arrive at solutions to the situation. But no, the minority Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal chooses to bully and take the collar off its pit-bull of propaganda. But the old people always say the best methodology in dealing with bullies is firm and consistent action with a dose of the silent treatment. Congratulations to the majority opposition for finally stemming this barrage of bullyism being unleashed on the people
by the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal. We observe the latest discovery in a long list of governance infractions being the Jagdeo/ Ramotar cabal sharing out airwaves to their favorite friends and family and shutting out legitimate broadcasters like Enrico Woolford. The political operative in the PPP who are defending this ROHEE-Gate saga really got hard heads since it defies logics that in light of the majority of Guyana losing confidence in Rohee at Home Affairs, there is no justification for keeping him in place? Would it not be wiser to move him to another Ministry? He will still get to keep all the perks and even if he wants they can offer him a police siren so he can feed his amaranthine ego. This political grandstanding by the PPP to feed Rohee’s ego is immature and at best infantile. All they are doing by focusing on the micro- issues and neglecting the macro-issues is contributing to the acceleration of the poverty in the country. Let good sense prevail Mr. President – Rohee must GO! Dr. Asquith E Rose and Harish S. Singh
Sunday March 17, 2013
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Returning Georgetown to its pristine condition DEAR EDITOR, I am addressing this issue to Ministers of the Government, Shadow Ministers of the Opposition, all Parliamentarians. The 11,455 members of the Anything Guyanese Face book group are profoundly happy with the motion piloted, which finally addresses the issue of sanitation in Georgetown and surrounding environment. Additionally, we are elated with the united
language to address the restoration and beautification of the once aptly named “Garden City” back to its original glorious facade. Much praise must be given to Volda Lawrence, for her tireless effort in getting this motion to a successful agreement. The Guyanese community is anxiously and eagerly looking forward to a successful collaboration. This type of unity “bodes” well for the city, and the entire nation.
Going forward, this collaboration must now become contagious in the many other “areas” of neglect. Guyanese of all ethnicity stand to benefit tremendously. In addition to the sanitary blight which have affected the city of Georgetown, there are additionally issues which needs to be addressed. First, arrivals at the International Airport should not be subjected to Beggars,
From page 4 New Zealand. In this period where was the Indian greatness. An African Caribbean island, St. Lucia, has produced two Nobel Prize winners. Per capita speaking, that is more than India has gained in that area. Let’s come to Guyana. The African percentage in the Guyanese population has always been smaller than East Indians yet between 1950 and 1980, African Guyanese could have been found in the most influential positions in the world’s most prestigious international organizations. Let us look at the other side of midnight. Most of the
people that passed off bogus documents to the US Embassy for visas have been Indian Guyanese. Most of the people whose conspiracies forced the Canadian visa section to move to Trinidad were Indian Guyanese. Most of the complaints to the Ministry of Labour over industrial exploitation have been against Indian business places. Most of the high level drug traffickers in Guyana are Indian Guyanese. Most of the illegal migrants that the Thompson Government in Barbados deported were Indians. Most of the illegal migrants from Guyana living
DEAR EDITOR, The right to be heard is a fundamental right guaranteed to every person in the state of Guyana. That is, every person who makes an allegation against another person has a right to present his side of the story and the other person has a right to reply. This in everyday language is referred to as “fairness.” In the matter before the Parliament concerning the gagging of Mr. Rohee, the Leader of APNU, Mr. Granger, who has moved the motion must first be allowed to present his motion and this having been presented, Mr. Rohee must be given a right of reply. The Speaker has not allowed Mr. Granger to present his case. The motion has only been moved, and accordingly the Speaker’s ruling is premature. It is a well known principle of Public Law known to every student that Courts have no jurisdiction in matters of conflict between the
Parliament and the Executive. And this has been so since the case of Ship Money (1625) and reinforced by Bradlaugh’s case (1689), where there was a conflict between the affairs of Parliament and the affairs of State. Because of the minority government in Guyana seeking to maintain its power in office, it can only do so by invoking the power of the courts by inviting the court to intervene in conflicts between the Executive and the Parliament which in this country ought never to arise since an Acting Chief Justice and an Acting Chancellor cannot preside over matters involving c o n f l i c t s b e t w e e n the Executive and Parliament. The decision in every case will be obvious. The great need in this country is for an effective Attorney-General. Benjamin E. Gibson Attorney-at- Law
in Barbados, Trinidad, Surinam, Canada and the US are Indians. India has the world’s largest leprosy victims. India has the world’s biggest population of beggars. Outside of civil war, India has the world’s largest concentration of people living in poverty. Finally, Bhagwan says the only supermodel that he is interested in is from India Aishwarya Rai. That comes as no surprise. The two global supermodels that interest me are Leona Lewis whose father is African Guyanese and of course Rihanna whose mother is African Guyanese. I chose them not because of ethnicity but they share roots connection with my country –Guyana Frederick Kissoon
The African race has done ...
Mr. Granger must first be allowed to present his motion
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Editor’s Note: This is the last on this issue
Hangers-on or Unscrupulous Characters. Tourists should never and must not be harassed at the airport, it’s very un-welcoming to the incoming/outgoing tourists. This unacceptable behavior must be addressed, immediately. We are also looking forward to a successful and united collaboration, in efforts to remove the homeless and vagrants from the streets, while placing them into controlled environments. The issue of stray animals are also a threat to citizens and must be addressed. Proper garbage containers(cans) should be strategically placed around the city, and residents be sensitized to the normalcy of using those containers for disposals. Fines must and should be imposed on businesses, that are not in compliance with the exterior cleaning of their business frontage. Finally, Guyanese deserve a cemetery where their final resting days can be a place of dignity and peace. Therefore, all efforts should be made to restore the Le Repentir Cemetery to its original manicured look. Returning our once proud city to its glory days, should not be “If” but instead “how quickly.” As William Cowper stated “ God made country, and manmade the town,” so let’s reclaim the beauty of a our nation. Lloyd Phillips
Today this harsh reality is hitting home DEAR EDITOR, A while back there was a letter or article in one of the newspapers under the caption : WHY COMPLAIN WHEN NOTHING WILL BE DONE. Today this harsh reality is hitting home. There are two issues I would like to highlight one is now entering its third year. I will begin with the most recent one – it is months now since construction started at a Supermarket on Sheriff Street, for whatever reason a pipe is being turned on every night and sometimes during the day and water is not only being wasted by the gallons but is causing severe discomfort to businesses located closest to that entity a restaurant included. Although I am aware that the drains need digging and most businesses are concreting their bridges that has nothing to do with it, it is not raining. Reports were made both by phone and a personal visit to GWI as recent as Tuesday 12th March, 2013, yet this practice continues unabated. On Tuesday 12th 2013 yesterday workers began putting sand around the area to make it look as if everything is normal yet water flooded the bridges of other businesses last night and evidence of the excess water is always there during the day, at nights it can be seen running from the same direction it always comes, the security in my opinion is the one detailed to carry out this distasteful act at nights he is very evasive when approached and tries to mislead when he knows exactly what is going on. Right in front of the
Supermarket on the bridge to the end of the road pipes underground at two different points can be located if the sand is removed and if not the only outlet those two points are sure outlets. I am hoping that something will be done to curb this inconsiderate, disgusting act swiftly. Numerous letters to different offices seeking relief from the heavy bass from a Sheriff Street night club entering my place of residence every night since 2010 is all a waste of time, I am now forced to abandon my room and seek a place in a corner of the hall which is just a little less tormenting, having to put my mattress on the floor of tiles and close to the concrete wall to get some rest, my granddaughter a toddler always ends up with a stuffy nose whenever she has to sleep over. How can people function effectively when hours of rest are cruelly taken away from them, especially at weekends? The bass is a bit low on rare occasions but it never remains that way and recently on some days like Sunday afternoon one has to put up with it from as early as 17 hr, Saturday night parties never stops until around 4am on Sunday mornings, I wish to remind the authorities the law states that midnight is the cut off point for music, also noise is a serious health issue, our very young children are exposed to this atrocity night after night, my health is affected and as citizens of this country we deserve peace and comfort in our homes. (Name and address provided)
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Immigration INFO Immigration News For Our Community How can a Green Card Holder (Permanent Resident) file for a Family Member? The most common question presented to my office is how can a green card holder (permanent resident) submit a sponsorship petition for their relatives? As a green card holder (permanent resident), you may petition for certain family members to immigrate to the United States as permanent residents. A green card holder may submit a family-based sponsorship petition for the following family members: (1) spouse (husband or wife), (2) unmarried children under 21, and (3) unmarried son or daughter of any age. What is the application process? To obtain a green card for your family member, you must file a sponsorship petition, provide proof of your status to demonstrate that you are a permanent resident, submit evidence of the qualifying relationship such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc., and submit proof of any legal name change for you or your family member (the beneficiary). What are the Preference Categories?
When petitioning for your relative, Immigration will place the petition into one of the following preference categories for processing: • First preference: Unmarried, adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. (Adult means 21 or older) • Second Preference (2A): Spouses of green card holders, unmarried children (under 21) of permanent residents • Second Preference (2B): Unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents • Third Preference: Married sons and daughters (any age) of U.S. citizens • Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens A visa becomes available to a preference category according to the priority date (the date the I-130 was properly filed). Your family member ’s preference category will determine how long he or she will have to wait for an immigrant visa number. What happens after I file the Petition? If your relative is already in the United States
Attorney Gail S. Seeram, legally, he or she may apply to adjust status to become a permanent resident after a visa number becomes available – certain grounds of ineligibility may apply. If your relative is outside the United States, your petition will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC will forward your petition to the appropriate U.S. consulate when a visa becomes available and your relative will be notified about how to proceed. This process is referred to as “Consular Processing.
Sunday March 17, 2013
Midshipman Frank wins NRA Free Pistol for US Naval Academy Columbus, Georgia - The NRA Intercollegiate Pistol Championship’s started yesterday morning with a victory by the United States Naval Academy in Free Pistol. Despite being left out of the Naval team, it was Midshipman Czerda Frank who ended up the day as our individual championship with a score of 615.2. Frank is the son of Air traffic controller, Courtney Frank. He is a member of the Guyana Defence Force. The Free Pistol Championship, as the name implies, comes with a few restrictions on the type of pistol used. The matches are shot with a .22 caliber rimfire pistol. The firearms must have open sights, cannot have grips that come into contact beyond the wrist and feature no limit on barrel length. There are no restrictions, however, on sight radius or trigger weight. Competitors have two hours to fire 60 shots from a
distance of 50 meters. After the opening round, the top eight shooters gather for a ten shot final. That was all the Naval Academy needed to get on the winners board. The United States Naval Academy came into the Championships with the goal of defending last year’s title. Their efforts were rewarded after narrowly beat out longtime rival Army for the back-to-back win. At the end of the day, only two points separate the two military academies. Navy with 2006, Army with 2004. Winner of sixteen Free Pistol titles, Navy is the all-time record holder in this particular event. The individual championships provided an equal amount of excitement. At the end, it came down to a shooter from North Dakota and a shooter without a team. That shooter, Naval Academy Freshman Czerda Frank, found a way to make it work. Left off the Naval Academy team for the Free
Pistol Championships, Frank put the snub aside and fired his way to a semifinal total of 521. That was enough for a first place finish. But he wasn’t alone. Sitting at his side was Matthew Pueppke of North Dakota State University. A respected shooter in his own right, Pueppke had every intention of heading back north with the title. Luckily for both, Olympian Nick Mowrer is no longer here ... and his signature 26-point lead wasn’t either. As the finals progressed, shot by shot, the two jockeyed back and forth for the top position. It wasn’t until the final shot, taken with a cool, calm demeanor, that Frank grabbed the lead for good. Besting Pueppke with a final score of 615.2 to 609.3, Frank was suddenly surrounded by his Naval Academy brothers. Now a team, they lifted the Midshipmen over their heads in celebration.
The Guyana Press Association is disturbed over what appears to be the unfair distribution of Frequencies weighed in favour of the Governing party. It is equally disturbing that the Government of Guyana is creating a media environment of monopoly ownership and control that leaves media workers limited options on employment and creative outlets for their skill and talent. The revelations by the Prime Minister in a written response to a Member of Parliament’s questions on the assignment of Radio and Television Frequencies, nationally, have indicated too that the administration of the Broadcasting and
Telecommunications sector appears to be haphazard at best. The fact that the Prime Minister notes that the sector is in transition does not explain why for over two decades there has been no national plan to allow for investment in the sector by Guyanese and Caricom Nationals. The Guyana Press Association is also concerned that at least one TV channel has been farmed out to essentially carry International Content from a foreign Power that clearly does not bring employment or other tangible benefits to the Guyanese media fraternity. We call on the Guyana Government to correct the
obvious lapses in the administration of the B r o a d c a s t / Telecommunications Sector in the country. The Guyana Press Association would like to see the elected representatives from both sides of the House (the National Assembly) engaged with other stakeholders in the process to redress the deficiencies in the sector. We encourage the involvement of Caribbean and Commonwealth Media Advisers in this task to ensure the equitable distribution of the resources of the electromagnetic spectrum that would redound to the benefit of all media workers and those involved in the creative industry. (GPA)
GPA reacts to recent radio licences distribution
Sunday March 17, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Region Three Councilor tells chairman...
Stop playing games and serve the people An Alliance for Change (AFC) Councilor is calling on the relevant authorities to put in place measures to secure the people of Region Three. Harry Narine Deokinanan said that his community is desperately in need of a police station or outpost, but all they have to deal with is a oneyear-old, unattended, unoccupied, empty container which never filled its purpose of being the Tuschen Police Outpost. The AFC Councilor said that Phase One and Two of the Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, are in need of police presence, while infrastructure and amenities need to be put in place. Deokinanan said that for over a year now, “Petty thievery, robbery, house break-ins and regrettably, the incidence of rape have been on the rise” in his community. According to him, within a year, there have been at least three murders in the community with one occurring during a robbery as recent as last month. On February 10, a police trainee, 26-year-old Harold Haimchand Sukhai was shot twice in a dark, deserted area in Rockers Street, Tuschen Housing Scheme. The lad and his girlfriend, Drupattie Sookdeo, were
returning from an aunt’s house around 19:00hours when three unmasked men attacked and robbed them. The young woman managed to get away after being robbed, while Sukhai was shot once in his upper arm and chest. Prior to that, in the said area, Deokinanan said that two women were raped. Those are only few of the many incidents occurring in the area, he said. Because of the lack of police presence, Deokinanan said crime continues to escalate. Some time last year, he said the police brought a container with a few windows and one door. A shed was set up at the front, and a bridge was built for access. For about two weeks he said persons were seen on and off at the “so-called police outpost” and then nothing more. “They have never serviced the community. For about two weeks there was movement and then nothing more.” Deokinanan said that the nearest police station from Tuschen would be Parika, which is a far distance away. Deokinanan argued, “These are the issues plaguing the people of Region Three, but the Chairman is refusing to be
professional.” Opposition Councilors had been complaining that the Chairman and his colleagues from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) outnumbered them by four. They had told Kaieteur News in previous reports that the Chairman and his colleagues were using their
majority to undermine the functions of the Opposition Councilors. At the Region’s first meeting for the year, Councilors walked out citing disrespect and insult from the Regional Chairman. Subsequent to that, an A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) member, Kathlene Armstrong, was silenced and
prohibited from speaking after she spoke out against the Chairman’s behaviour towards opposition councilors. Deokinanan said there are various issues plaguing the communities but the Chairman is refusing to take earnest action. The people of Tuschen Housing Scheme told this
newspaper that after Sukhai’s death that “this community got a lot of crime.” They are contemplating taking security into their own hands and hope that when they act, “there will be no outcry that people wrong,” since they asked, “How can anyone be wrong to defend themself if they are under attack?”
The importance of food security in the Caribbean was again brought to fore on Friday with the European Union (EU) dedicating 8.6 million Euros to aid the development of agriculture at small and medium levels in the CARIFORUM countries. The Intra ACP Agriculture Policy Project aims at increasing the capability of Regional Agricultural Development Organizations within the Caribbean in order to address the development needs of smallholders. It will be implemented over the next 45 months by Inter American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) in collaboration with CARICOM Secretariat and Caribbean Agricultural Research & Development Institute (CARDI), that will be major actors responsible for technical guidance and implementation. This project will see improvements in the policy regimes and incentive schemes for smallholders; enhanced food security at regional, national and local levels; and increased capacity of regional agricultural institutions.
According to Head of Delegation, Ambassador Robert Kopecky, cognizant of the challenges faced by the Caribbean Region such as climate change and natural disasters the promotion and development of smallholder agriculture will allow for closer integration into local, national, regional, and where appropriate, global markets. “This, we expect, will result in diversified production and sustainable food security, which will reduce the strain on consumers caused by the soaring food prices and assist agricultural exporters in dealing with the challenges posed by the international health standards,” he said. Kopecky said that IICA was selected as the implementation agency on behalf of the CARIFORUM countries because of its involvement in agriculture at the technical and community levels. He added, “…On an institutional assessment, we are assured that IICA’s rules and procedures allow the EU to confidently disburse (or transfer) the funds, knowing that it will be well managed.” Kopecky said that given
the state of the economies of both EU and CARIFORUM countries it cannot be business as usual. Both EU taxpayers and CARIFORUM citizens are owed the best from this initiative, he added. According to IICA’s Representative in Trinidad and Tobago and Co-ordinator of Regional Integration for the Caribbean Region, Gregg Rawlins, this contribution agreement is designed specifically to address the developmental needs of the numerous small farmers, small processors and other small agri-preneurs in CARIFORUM countries. He noted that the programme recognizes the need to strengthen the institutional environment that supports the agriculture development process. It adds value at the regional level through actions aimed at enhancing capacity to implement regional initiatives. Rawlins said that the greatest expectations of this programme will be found amongst the target beneficiariessmall producers- who, as a result of this initiative will expect to be placed in a more favourable position to improve
productivity and profitability status of their agricultural enterprises. According to Irwin LaRocque, Secretary General of CARICOM Secretariat, this agreement establishes the fundamental legal, technical, financial and project implementation principles that will guide the relationship between the Project’s principal implementing agency, IICA and the European Commission. “This programme exemplifies the strength of the partnership between IICA and the CARICOM/ CARIFORUM Secretariat as IICA implements this activity on behalf of CARIFORUM. It also reflects the continued commitment of the European Union to the on-going development of our Region,” he added. LaRocque stated, that CARIFORUM, in its capacity as the ultimate Beneficiary of the Programme, has signed with IICA, a Memorandum of Understanding which will complement efforts aimed at getting the best results out of this Programme. The MOU sets out the conditions under which IICA has agreed to implement the
programme on our behalf. The content of the Programme has also been informed by the agriculture sector development issues of CARICOM’s Liliendaal Declaration and the Jagdeo Initiative on the nine Key Binding Constraints to agricultural development, as well as the key objectives of the sector as outlined in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. It is also important to note that there is a specific bias to women and youth as these groups have been identified as important to the sustainability of the sector, he said. Emphasizing the importance of this timely agreement, President Donald Ramotar said that food has become a very important subject and experts believe
that it could be the cause of future problems. He pointed out that agriculture is of growing importance today taking into consideration competition from other sectors for land and biofuel. The Caribbean has great capacity for agriculture but it remains underutilized. As such, the food bill in the Caribbean is US$4B. This amount could reduce and direct and indirect jobs could be created if agriculture comes to fore. The CARIFORUM countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, The Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The unoccupied outpost at Tuschen Housing Scheme
EU financing food security in CARIFORUM countries
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Kaieteur News
West Dem businessman shoots intruder West Dem businessman shoots intruder
An intruder got the surprise of his life early Thursday morning when he was caught red- handed in an unfinished building which houses millions of dollars worth of automobile spare parts. The intruder, who is said to be a known character in the Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara village, was shot once in the left leg after he attempted to attack the armed businessman with a piece of wood.
Forty- two-year-old Ronald Capelle, proprietor of Turbo Diesel spares and repairs, said he awoke around 2:30 hours Thursday to the sound of barking dogs. He said the racket was such that he decided to check out what was happening on his property, knowing that there is an unfinished structure in front of his yard with millions of dollars worth of parts such as alternators, tyres and gear boxes inside.
Capelle said that when he entered the building he saw the stranger amongst the valuables and shouted to the man that he must not move. At that time, he said, his family was also at his side. When the assailant looked up at him, Capelle said he reminded the thief not to move, but the man started to look about for something with which to arm himself. Capelle said that the man found a piece of wood and
Sunday March 17, 2013
Dem boys seh...
De Rat give way land, sea and air
started to approach him. That is when the businessman said he had no choice but to shoot, striking the thief in his left leg. The man fell to the ground and the police were summoned. The injured man was taken by police officers to the West Demerara Hospital where he remains in stable condition. A report was later given at the Wales Police Station and the alleged thief is expected to be charged soon.
Some people get pompous. De Rat give dem spunks and dem now decide that dem powerful like de Rat. Tek Shaatie. He is a man who people don’t even see. He quiet like de mouse he is. Now all of a sudden he talking down to people. That alone is enough to get people vex. But wha got people really vex is how de Rat decide to silence every voice that is not he own. De man give radio to all he friends and lef out everybody else. He know that he friends ain’t gun talk anything bad bout he. And besides, he know that when he want seh anything he got a whole lot of people who gun mek he talk all over de place. Dem boys know that he plan to come back as president after Donald move on and dem know that if that happen is dead de country dead. He give way land. Just travel all over de country. De land pun both sides of de road done sell out to he friends and family. People know that de road to Lethem is a long road and some actually believe that dem could get a piece of land when de place open up. Dem find out that no land is available. People gone wid all and all dem people is de Rat friend. De man give way de water. He got people wukking in all dem river and when dem boys check is he friends and he kavakamites. Now he give way de air. Well dem boys seh that if people sit back and allow that to happen then is de whole country gone. Imagine people want space fuh radio and TV. De Rat claim how he don’t want a Wild West suh he gun wait till dem have a proper authority. Next thing dem boys know is that he is de authority. He give some people nuff channel and ignore dem who really want. People gun walk pun de road and a man gun demand tax fuh de air dem breathe. If people want travel pun water another man gun charge dem toll. Some people already can’t walk wheh dem want. Talk half and leff half
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security is currently conducting interviews for persons who will fill positions for the “support staff” in the first ever Family Court. Minister Jennifer Webster made this disclosure yesterday to Kaieteur News. According to the Minister, her Ministry is almost through with the recruitment process. She explained that the staff will provide various services within the court, such as preparing reports. The Minister said she could not give an exact number of positions which are to be filled. Webster noted that her Ministry is working towards getting the court into operation. The Minister also noted that the Ministry of Legal Affairs is currently trying to complete the issue of furnishing. Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, had stated that the rules of the court have been completed and have been laid in the National Assembly. Nandlall said that he is aware that the Judicial Service Commission has interviewed several persons for appointments to the High Court as judges. Like Minister Webster, Nandlall had
highlighted that the issue of furnishing was holding up the court in the procurement of furnishings. He said that he was aware that a decision was made for a particular contractor to provide these items, but it was decided that the cost quoted was exorbitant. He said that other avenues will be resorted for the sourcing of the items. Nandlall said that that process has already commenced and an agency has been identified through the tender process to provide the requisite items. He affirmed that the entire process would be conducted in an efficient manner. Nandlall told Kaieteur News that he had no doubt that having a specialized court to deal exclusively with family and childrenrelated matters would be a tremendous boost for the entire justice system. “With a specialized court, it would certainly bring speed to the resolutions of familyrelated disputes which, unless they are resolved quickly, normally have devastating consequences on the lives of the persons involved, especially the children, which could cause social problems that pervade our society, including crime.” Nandlall stated that in
Human services conducting interviews for the Family Court…
recognition of the importance of having a speedy resolution of these cases, the executive in conjunction with the judiciary decided to establish the court. Former Minister of Human Services and Social S e c u r i t y, Priya Manickchand, had said that the initiative of a Family Court was prompted by the awareness that the family unit is severely affected by societal demoralization. The new facility will handle issues such as divorce, division of property, domestic matters, adoption, guardianship and custody. In early 2009, Cabinet granted a two-fold approval to establish the court and erect a structure in which the entity would be housed. “This means that the process of compartmentalizing family law should begin even before the completion of the building and indicates the significance placed on judicial preparedness in family welfare matters,” the Minister had stated. The new two-storey building has replicated the architectural style of the Supreme Court, its adjoining mediation centre and library.
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E.B.D. deadly roadway
Inadequate safety features, lax enforcement of road laws responsible for most road fatalities – Transportation Consultant The absence of adequate safety features, primarily for pedestrians on the East Bank Demerara thoroughfare, and lax enforcement of road laws contribute to numerous road fatalities giving the corridor the reputation of being the deadliest, says a Transportation Consultant. Safety features are usually installed on roadways when they are being erected as a result of studies conducted on the volume of traffic expected to traverse the stretch. This is the case of the ongoing East Bank Demerara Public Road fourlane expansion from Providence to Diamond project that caters for pavements and parking. However, the existing stretch, including areas with four-lane, lacks adequate safety features and Government should have aggressively worked to reverse this scenario that took too many lives including those of children, the consultant noted. He opined that whenever accidents occur, more so, fatal accidents investigations
should be launched to identify if flaws in the road infrastructure contributed to the accident. Appropriate adjustments should be made to facilitate the smooth flow of vehicular traffic and pedestrians depending on the findings. The consultant related that safety features must address the issue of pedestrians being vulnerable on the roadway. However, over the years Government has been slow in reducing this vulnerability. In August 2009, the Police Traffic Department released statistics showing the East Bank Demerara thoroughfare as the deadliest route for commuters. Of the 70 persons who died in road accidents from January to August 2009, 14 of the victims perished on this roadway. Five years later the situation remains the same even though safety features such as traffic lights, street lights, and safety barriers were installed in certain areas along the stretch. Earlier this month, Kaieteur News reported that seven lives were
This stretch along the EBD Public Road at Little Diamond lost along this corridor, thus far for 2013. Recently, Traffic Chief, Hugh Denhert, said that figures over recent years have shown that the East Bank Demerara Public Road can be considered the country’s deadliest thoroughfare. He attributed it to the fact that this road is heavily traversed.
“The East Bank road is used by thousands of vehicles on a daily basis, travelling to our interior locations. There are also people who have taken up residency in new housing schemes which have been established,” Denhert noted. While, the Traffic Chief’s comment is acceptable, the consultant said that had there been adequate road safety features and full enforcement of road laws fatal road accidents could have been reduced significantly. Safety features According to the consultant, the East Bank Demerara corridor began to change when the Jagdeo regime started to widen the road into four-lane. There is no doubt that it helped to reduce traffic congestion to some extent. But, erecting a ‘highway’ close to houses and where pedestrians frequent is dangerous. The consultant said that the communities of Mc Doom, Bagotstown and Agricola exemplified how poor planning did not cater for pedestrians’ safety.
Traversing those areas, particularly, during the peak hours is usually difficult because of limited space for parking. Most times, pedestrians are seen walking on the road while vehicles are parked on the small space allotted for pavements (if any). Further up the East Bank, where there is only a two-lane thoroughfare, pavements are absent forcing pedestrians to walk on the shoulders of the road where possible. Other than that they are exposed to the numerous heavy-duty machinery, minibuses, cars, vans and motorcycles that use the road. In addition, where there are bridges along the stretch there should be complementary foot bridges. There is a foot bridge linking Grove and Diamond but this is not a popular feature along the corridor. The consultant said that having pedestrians off the public road should have been a priority. Road markings, signage and safety barriers are important features needed to secure drivers and
passengers, who are also at risk. Along the stretch there are road barriers but more are needed at deep turns. Signs stating speed limits are woefully lacking. These need to be installed to advise drivers and passengers of the acceptable speed vehicles should be travelling at, he said. Enforcement of laws Within recent years the legislative arm of Government has moved to pass laws in the National Assembly to safeguard the roadways. Drinking and driving and travelling without seatbelts are now against the law. He noted that Guyanese have another culture of tolerating bribery. This corrupt act has many traffic ranks turning a blind eye to drivers’ misgivings— for a ‘raise’. “But, it is this raise that causes the lives of many innocent persons including children,” the consultant said. He said that the moment the police execute their duties diligently road fatalities along the East Bank Demerara would reduce.
From page 3 allow for investment in the sector by Guyanese and CARICOM nationals. It referred to recent disclosures that China’s CCTV was allowed to use a channel, reportedly allocated to the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) under strange circumstances. “The Guyana Press Association is also concerned that at least one TV channel has been farmed out to essentially carry international content from a foreign power that clearly does not bring employment or
other tangible benefits to the Guyanese media fraternity.” GPA called on the Government to correct the “obvious lapses” in the administration of the b r o a d c a s t / telecommunications sector in the country. “The Guyana Press Association would like to see the elected representatives from both sides of the House (the National Assembly) engaged with other stakeholders in the process to redress the deficiencies in the sector. “We encourage the involvement of Caribbean and
Commonwealth media advisers in this task to ensure the equitable distribution of the resources of the electromagnetic spectrum that would redound to the benefit of all media workers and those involved in the creative industry.” The granting of the licences to close friends and party members by Jagdeo is widely seen as a move by the party to further consolidate its control on the media. Following the ruling party’s loss of its control of the National Assembly, the private media was blamed.
Media owners...
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What’s the price of human life? By Ralph Seeram The debate continues in Guyana on what constitutes fair compensation for the deaths of the three persons killed in Linden last July. The Linden Commission of Inquiry has made its recommendation which did not find much favour with the opposition while the Government seems to believe it’s fair. Guyanese in Guyana and in the Diaspora have varying views on what constitutes a fair price for a human life. Of course in the Diaspora, the sums awarded would seem very meager as compared to some compensation made in countries like the United States. Here in the United States, the criteria differ from state to state as well as case to case.
The earning capacity or the person, the circumstances of the death, the skill of the attorney and sometimes the person’s social status are all factors that are taken into consideration. From time immemorial varying values have been placed on human beings alive or dead. Slaves had a price, alive that is, a dead slave had no value. Here in Florida one is bombarded by advertisements from liability attorneys more known as “ambulance chasers”, “If you lost a loved one you may be entitled to compensation up to $$$$$ call law office of so and so”. So we come to the Linden Commission of Inquiry recommendations, and what constitutes a fair compensation. Personally, I
am not in a position to make a judgment on the award, as I have no idea of the criteria used by the courts in Guyana to determine compensation, suffice to say it should be guided by precedents established by the courts in Guyana. The truth of the matter, to make it very simple, NO PRICE can be placed on human life. Human life is priceless. Coming back to the Linden COI. The report in my view tried to appease everyone. There is no evidence the police fired the fatal shots but yet the Commission concluded that since only the police had guns they had to fire the fatal shots. Now in a court of law, those same jurists would have found the police innocent because of lack of evidence of their culpability. It is interesting to note that the COI also placed blame on some of the organizers of the protest specifically Ms Kissoon and Trotman.
Speaker appeals for maturity, productivity to prevail in the tenth parliament By Abena Rockcliffe House Speaker, Raphael Trotman, at the most recent sitting of the National Assembly, advocated for members to make greater efforts maturely and for more emphasis to be placed on productivity. To point out the high levels of immaturity, Trotman alluded to the proceedings of the 38th sitting of the National Assembly where he found need to prematurely adjourn the session following what he referred to as “intol-erable behaviour and remarks.” According to Trotman, “remarks such as ‘thief ’, `liar’, and ‘prostitute’, were just a few of the ones most audi-ble.” He said that he considered the utterances to be of disdain, disgust and disrespect shown by members to each other “and even to the Chair.” Firmly, he reminded that “we are all, including myself,
elected officials – servants and stewards of the people’s trust and aspirations. The peo-ple are not only expecting a more robust, fruitful and honourable National Assembly of the 10 th Parliament, I believe they are entitled to it.” He then offered an apology to all if he may have
Horace Andy, 58, a farmer formerly of Akawini, in the Lower Pomeroon River, died a day after he accidentally fell into a hot pot of cassareep. A family member said that Andy died as a result of pneumonia. The Pomeroon farmer will be laid to rest on Tuesday. The family member said that Andy fell into the boiling pot of cassareep, after the rope attached to the boat he was pulling, burst and he lost his balance.
Andy, the family member said, fell in a sitting position and was later rescued by persons who witnessed the incident. It was reported that Andy and other persons from Akawini were boiling the cassareep on a dam when the incident occurred. He was later taken to the Oscar Joseph Hospital, at Charity, but succumbed to his injuries a day later. Andy sustained severe burns.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman
Farmer falls into boiling cassareep, dies
offended them in any unjust way. Also, Trotman said, “There are far too many statements and actions of intoler-ance in our society coming from as far away as Babu John to Marudi Mountain and we representing the apex of lead-ership of this country must deliver a higher level of behav-iour and governance.” Since Trotman prematurely adjourned that sitting on Valentine’s Day, no date for the next sitting was set on that evening. Government Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had insisted, on previous occasions, that it is the government’s prerogative to set the date of the next sitting. However, weeks have passed and a decision on the next set date has not been made. The Speaker said that just before yesterday’s sitting he received a letter of protest from the Government’s Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira challenging his decision to hold the sit-ting yesterday. However, he cited standing order 47.9 under which he has the powers to, once there is disorder, suspend the sitting and have a new date set as he did in November as a result of the ruckus that erupted over the Rohee saga. Also, the speaker has the authority to summon the Assembly if he feels that there is business to be done. Yesterday, Trotman told the House that he believed “that it was important for us to resume after a month’s hiatus and to put our House back in order before the much anticipated budget debates com-mence within a few weeks.”
Shouldn’t they also be made to pay compensation? After all there was no evidence that the police fired the fatal shot, but there were evidence that these two organized what turned out to be a riot with burning, looting and highway robbery. It would be interesting to know if they made any contribution to relatives of the deceased men. The report also make mention of the lack of training for the police to effect crowd control. It is not only training but the culture in the police force, where “brawn” is substituted for “brains”. There are many instances of police brutality in Guyana and there is no clear evidence that firm efforts are made to root it out. The Marudi beatings are an example. In Linden you had a riotous mob where the police had to take measures to defend themselves and uphold the law. In Marudi you had what was a complete peaceful protest, no threat to the life and safety of the police officers, no physical resistance, yet one police corporal played judge and jury and went on a rampage beating the protesters, including women and child.
This is a horrible reflection of the Guyana Police Force, and the blame goes right up to the desk of the Commissioner of Police. I am sure most readers must have viewed the video of the vicious beating of civilians protesting peacefully. I am not going to deal with the merits or demerits of the miners’ claim as there are procedures to deal with that. Suffice to say in civilized societies when peaceful protesters lie down blocking roads, entrances etc. the police just lift them bodily into vehicles and take them to court on relevant charges. They don’t go about beating innocent civilians involved in passive resistance. The fact that the Commissioner of Police has this corporal on duty still, is an insult to all law abiding persons. It goes back to the culture within the force. It was amusing to read a letter writer in last Monday’s Guyana Chronicle justifying the beatings inflicted on the woman and child. This fool who I am told is in the security business, must have graduated from the “school of the blind” because anyone who viewed that video cannot conclude that that
police corporal “should be recognized for doing excellent work with his colleagues”. This idiot went on to write, “the law allows the police to use a baton to uphold the law but instead he used a whip to create fear”. The police were not facing a riotous situation; there were defenseless men and women and a child on the ground. I am on record as defending the actions of the GPF to an extent at Linden, the police have a difficult job in upholding the Rule of Law; they stand between anarchy and law and order. In a riotous situation they need to take appropriate actions to restore order and it does not help when they are second guessed in hindsight by politicians for political gains. Officers must not be afraid to carry out their duties, worrying whether they might be demoted for their actions. Therefore it is necessary that the force implements training that would reflect a professional and impartial police force. This obviously starts at the top. The Marudi beating is a case in point. Ralph Seeram can be reached at: ralph365@hotmail.com
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Zeeburg cops top spot in Sagicore Visionaries Challenge
The elated Zeeburg Secondary School students pose with their winning project Although it was the Zeeburg Secondary School carting off the coveted top prizes, all of the schools participating in the Sagicore Visionaries Challenge were declared winners yesterday when the national leg of the competition came to an end at the Kingston, Georgetown, Umana Yana venue. However, the emotional responses to the result of the competition, which was intended to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as a means of ensuring that the future is sustainable, were not all the same. Both students and teachers of the winning school were overwhelmed when the announcement was made by chairperson of the
proceedings, Michella Abraham-Alli. And understandable were their responses since they are now eligible for a seven-day, all expense paid STEM Ambassador Programme trip to Florida, United States, from July 20. The Zeeburg Secondary School will also be the recipient of US$5,000, a Challenge trophy, certificate and six CXC approved Science kits. That school presented the use of a Shrimp Dryer to reduce air pollution. Claiming the second place in the competition was President’s College with a Biogas Generation project which utilised farm and kitchen waste - a clean source of fuel and electricity. Skeldon
Sagicore’s Richard Kellman congratulates students from the winning school. Line Path Secondary secured the third place with its water filtration and purification system project. All participating schools were presented with certificates of participation but a few were awarded additional accolades for their outstanding efforts. Duly rewarded for best presentations were Anna Regina, President’s College and Zeeburg. The schools with projects which applied the best use of STEM were again President’s College and Zeeburg as well as Skeldon Line Path and Tagore Memorial Secondary. It was however President’s College alone being awarded for the best plan and project design. Champion school, Zeeburg,
again coveted the most creative and innovative presentation. St Ignatius’s ‘Self sustainable water supply’ was duly awarded for the project that was most relevant to the Caribbean Communities. A total of 32 projects from 19 secondary schools were submitted for the competition and according to Sagicore’s Financial Off i c e r, M r R i c h a r d Kellman, these represented the highest number of projects across the 12 territories in which the competition has been introduced. “That is a tremendous achievement...32 projects and not just from one region, not just from Georgetown or from the prestige schools; this has
been spread right across the length and breadth of Guyana, so that from many different regions, from the Rupununi...from St Ignatius School all the way back up to the Coast, we have had representation,.” announced Kellman. Yesterday’s judging marked the first round in the competition and according to him it will move next Friday to Trinidad then to Barbados. This will lead up to the national finals on November 16, 2013. According to the local Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, the Ministry of Education has been pleased to support the competition, which according to him, is both a timely and important initiative.
He lauded all those who played vital roles in ensuring that the competition was realised even as he extended his appreciation to Dr Maya Trotz, who he noted, had singlehandedly orchestrated “our involvement...I encourage her to continue to support us in our efforts in this regard.” Dr Trotz, a former Queen’s College student, was in attendance yesterday and offered a review of the judging process. Also among those applauded for their contribution was the Ministry’s Science Coordinator, Ms Petal Jetoo, who the CEO asserted “tirelessly pushed and went beyond the call of duty to make this happen.”
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 17, 2013
Canada-based Miners’ claim that they sold illegal gold officially being probed Essequibian is 101 Johanna Alexandra Duncan,a/k Teacher Kate, celebrated her 101st birth anniversary on February 19,last,in Canada with a simple ceremony with four of her five remaining children and many grandchildren. While much emphasis was placed on putting on a grand celebration for her 100th birth anniversary, her son, Hector Duncan, said that her 101st birth anniversary was a simple ceremony. Mrs. Duncan, nee Brummel , is still active and at her age, is not stricken with any life threatening ailments. Teacher Kate, as her peers used to call her, migrated to Canada over a decade ago. Prior to her migration Mrs. Duncan lived with her now deceased husband, Charles Adolphus Duncan, at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, and was an active Mother’s Union member of the St. Paul’s Anglican Church. The couple lived for almost 40 years before her husband died on October17, 1978. Their marriage produced five children— four are alive today.
Johanna Alexandra Duncan was born at Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, to John and Princess Brummel. Mrs. Duncan, her son added, is the lone survivor of six siblings. Johanna, whose interests were primarily focused on education, began her teaching career and taught at the St. Barnabas Anglican at Dartmouth, from an early age. She worked as an educator for 32 years, managed a cafeteria and owned and operated a preschool establishment, where she nurtured and prepared young boys and girls, who today have acquired success. “Faith in God, the kindness and loving care for those who surround her and her commitment to living”, was her attribution to her longevity. The years have taken a toll on her physical form but her faith has never wavered, her son stressed. Mrs. Duncan has an addition of 20 grandchildren, 18 great grands, and one great, great grand to her family unit.
An investigation has been by ordered by Natural Resources and the Environment Minister, Robert Persaud, into claims by several miners from the disputed Marudi Mountains on the Romanex concessions that they paid royalties and sold gold to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). Speaking with the Government Information Agency (GINA) on Friday, Persaud said that his Ministry will not sanction any illegalities by either miners or GGMC officials. “Overall, the bigger issue is regularisation and at the end of the day, they have all committed to doing so. No form of any illegal act will be tolerated and the GGMC and the Guyana Gold Board have been mandated to undertake a comprehensive investigation into these claims”. Several miners from the Marudi area have claimed that, until recently, they were selling gold mined from the disputed area to GGMC and Gold Board officials. Several receipts have been reportedly produced to back up these claims.
On Thursday, NRE officials met with miners and among general concerns raised were efforts to end illegal mining in the Marudi Mountain and access to mining properties by small miners in the location. According to GINA, it was agreed that through representatives of the
Rupununi Miners’ Association, GGMC’s efforts to curb illegal mining will be through special planning and land management. “This will also be used as a guide towards building government’s capacity to undertake integrated regional planning procedures and better manage its mapping,
cadastral and land administration data base supported; they will collaborate with the GGMC and the Guyana Police Force in the ongoing investigation of the police-supported operation at Marudi Mountain where allegations of police excesses were made, and a Special Mining Lottery will be held on March 30, 2013 in Lethem for legitimate small miners/residents of Region Nine.” The association also indicated its support of the on-going review of Romanex Mining Licence for the Marudi Mountain. The GGMC also was mandated by the Minister to continue to engage the association on issues of concern and explore ways of supporting legitimate mining activities. A few weeks ago, police and GGMC officials moved to the area to remove illegal miners. However, a woman and her child were badly whipped by a police rank, according to a video of the incident. It was posted on YouTube. It sparked widespread anger and forced the Commissioner of Police to order a probe. The Ministry and GGMC are also investigating.
Chief Engineer (ag) Lloyd Alleyne of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) says that works on sluices/ kokers are being carried out in preparation for May/June rains since the tide table shows extremely high tides are occurring every month in the morning and afternoon periods. The M&CC is responsible for kokers from Kingston to Agricola. “These are between the hours of 3:00 hours and 4:00 hours and between 16:00 and 17:00 hrs as much as 3.5 meters above the bar. The necessary preparations are being made especially from the Ministry of Works, Local
Government and other agencies,” he noted. Yesterday, the city engineer and a team descended on a sluice behind the Guyana Forestry Commission and carried out the necessary service. He explained, last year, that the koker door had some problems which resulted in the bottom board being damaged. It was replaced but the door was twisted because when there is problem with closing the door a machine is used to put pressure on top of the door to force it down. Yesterday, another plank was used to correct the further damages at the bottom
of the koker door. “What we have to do now is make sure the operators controlling the door do not contribute to damaging the door. While the door is going down, the brakes should always be on, so the door does not fall on the concrete bottom with its own weight which damages the door.” “Complaints reveal that some of the operators tend to loose the brakes allowing it to come down with its own weight.” Adding that all obstructions under the door were removed, the Chief Engineer (ag) said that previously, even a metal plate was found to be jamming the proper closure of the koker
door. There were also a pile of silt and pebbles. “This door should be closed on time so there is no water pressure on the door when it is going down. And they must not loose the brake so that the door would slam down.”He further underscored that works on the sluice doors will commence with them being tarred and serviced. The door of the Cummings Koker in Kingston was recently destroyed by the spring tides. Water flowed freely from the Demerara River through the koker swamping several streets in northwestern Kingston. Works are presently being done to replace that door.
Police and GGMC officers with Marudi miners a few weeks ago.
M&CC services kokers under purview
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Singing Ambassador Terry ‘Guyana Baboo’ Gajraj is a ‘Special Person’ By Leonard Gildarie Perhaps one of the most famous speeches ever made that drew on what patriotism should be was one by former US President, John F. Kennedy, at his inauguration in Washington on January 20, 1961. He challenged Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you…ask what you can do for your country.” The words have been echoed by many and continue to this day to stir the imaginations and tug at the heartstrings of even those who lived outside of the US. It is believed that almost one million Guyanese live outside of Guyana. Staggering…if taken in context of the fact that Guyana has around 750,000 persons living within its shores. Many Guyanese have gone on to excel beyond these shores. They include the likes of Norman Beaton, who made his name in the popular British sitcom, ‘Desmond’; singer Eddy Grant who has rubbed shoulders with royalty and drew adoring crowds that singers can only dream of; poet Martin Carter and
diplomat Sir Shridath Ramphal. Guyana would also want to claim a little of Bajan-born sensation, Rihanna, whose Guyanese roots are well known. And then there is another level of standout which includes an individual like Terry Gajraj. Gajraj, in the 1990s, had Guyana dancing and singing with his popularly infectious
boy from the village of Fyrish remained determined to follow his dream of singing, regardless of the odds. He would have released two other albums starting in 1990 - ‘Soca Lambada’ and ‘Caribana ‘92’. But it was ‘Guyana Baboo’ that did it for him. His boyish good looks and impressive physical condition have also helped
“In everything that I do, Guyana remains first place in my heart. I attempt to inject a flavour of my home country into my songs.” “Guyana Baboo” album. One of the songs, titled ‘Guyana Baboo’, became a craze in the Queens, New York community, spreading like wildfire down to Guyana and Trinidad, making the Berbice-born youngster an instant sensation and the song an anthem. The album was recorded in a little Bronx apartment in one night with frequent stops to cater for the noise from passing trains. It was done on a cassette…there were no CDs back in those days. It was but small testimony of how the little
Posing with The Golden Arrowhead in front of the world renowned Taj Mahal in India.
him to keep performing nonstop every single weekend on the road for the last 15-20 years, not an easy feat for any artiste. And he has outlasted many a one-hit wonder. First to perform Gajraj is the first Caribbean singer to perform at the Millennium Bollywood Music Awards… the Indian equivalent of the Grammys. He has been described as the unofficial goodwill ambassador for Guyanese music and culture. But perhaps one of the biggest attractions of Gajraj is his ability to take
seemingly taboo subjects, like the ‘Guyana Baboo’, and make it his own. It was a song chorused by the little ‘ole’ ladies at wedding houses. Not many singers would have dared to put a mix on it. But with his love for all things Guyana, the New York-based lad who was groomed by his Pandit grandfather and uncles, found it a no-brainer. While others have claimed to have written the song, it was Gajraj’s rendition that made it “immortal”. His ‘Lilawattie’ and ‘Come Le Go Sooky’, and ‘Champa come’, on the same ‘Guyana Baboo’ album, became standard wedding house fixtures. His contributions to Guyana saw him wearing his Guyana colours and the flags, making him a true representative in every sense of the word. Everything for him was somehow tinged with something Guyana. He has sung between 300-500 songs, recording almost 30 albums during the last 20 years. These included a compilation of Guyanese folk songs. He has done Maxi Priest and renditions of ‘Roses are Red” and ‘Take the Ribbon’. He has even performed some of Tom Jones’ songs. Terry has become an automatic invitee for the chutney shows in Guyana and is in constant demand in gigs throughout the region, Canada and the US. “In everything that I do, Guyana remains first place in my heart. I attempt to inject a flavour of my home country into my songs.” He even has his costumes depicting Guyana’s flag. Gajraj is not too enthusiastic talking about his age…he is a 30something or 40-something. S e p a r a t e d n o w, h e understands it is a demanding calling that involved sacrifices…lots of it. Religious Gajraj, or Terry as he insists to be called, grew up in Fyrish Road, Corentyne, East Berbice. His father was a head teacher of the school while his ‘Aja’ (grandfather) was the Pandit at the local mandir. “So yes, I came from a religious background.” He was the eldest of three with his two siblings being girls. While the family was not rich, they were by no means starving. His introduction to music was the radio and at
An ecstatic fan learning the ropes with Terry’s help the mandir. At an early age, his uncles taught him the Dholak, Dantal, harmonium and even the guitar. “I am not ashamed to say where I came from. I have known persons from my homeland who have migrated and have travelled for vacations all over the world but never returned home.” It would not have been unusual for Terry to go ‘ketch” fish and he still remembers his mother’s kitchen garden. Terry remembers all too vividly the effects of the restrictions on the importation of certain food items, like flour, by the government back then. His idol was Trinidad’s Sundar Popo, regarded as the King of Chutney Music in those days. “I listened to him and he was singing about me.” Even at a tender age, Terry was clear in his mind that music was in his blood and that it was something that he would be doing for the rest of his life. Between life at the mandir and school, he was busy following his uncles to sing bhajans at the religious functions at home and weekend shows. He became a pest to his uncles, insisting that he get a part in a band, ‘Dil Bahar’ that was doing gigs in the East Berbice area. Terry’s “big break” in his work with bands eventually came. Laughing, he said it was as a helper holding a microphone to the bongo drum that was being played. But he persevered, dreaming big. He did well at the CXC exams and even became a “pupil teacher” for a while, tutoring some of his classmates. In the late 1980s Terry and his family migrated to New York. He was still determined to pursue his music dream, but the reality of making a living was all too real. He worked as mail
clerk for a while, before joining the insurance industry. But he was still making his rounds in the show business circuit. “I knew I wanted this badly and I even ended up singing for free on many occasions.” Innovator Soon, with his lively, interactive style of getting the crowd riled, waving their hands and “giving a shout out” Terry started to become popular. Managers were demanding him as part of their shows. He has credited the current “shout out” style as something that he started to keep the crowd alive. He was not satisfied with the “standing up and sing style”. “All the DJs are now using it. Things like telling the crowd to raise your hands…wine yuh waist…screw de light bulb…I am proud to say I started that. Everybody picked up on it.” It was around 1992 that Terry and couple of friends started earnestly working on an album…and that was how ‘Guyana Baboo’ was born. Using a small, makeshift studio in a Bronx apartment, Terry and another singer, David Ramoutar, recorded eight songs in one night. It was more than a year before the songs started catching on. And strangely enough, before it hit Guyana, it was Trinidad that Terry’s name was beginning to sink in as an artiste to be reckoned with. The songs were all written with the mandatory Guyana theme, an aspect that he has continued to insist on playing over the years. It was the soca-mad Trinidad that he did his first big show in the region before his grand homecoming to Guyana. In 1994, the National (Continued on page 31)
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Singing Ambassador Terry... (From page 18) Park was packed to its fullest and Gajraj wooed the crowds and tantalized them with his music. But it was his show at Albion, East Berbice, not far from where he grew up, that saw the crowds overflowing the grounds. It was beginning of many more such visits. “Yes, the ‘90s was the record decade for me.” Big Up But while Terry is happy that his music has remained part of a Guyanese culture over the years, he is unhappy that local artistes are just not given the needed exposure. “We see Trinidad and Jamaica and Barbados bigging up their music with the radios playing them all the time. There was a time Trinidad was playing music that was not their own. Then they realized that that was all wrong. It is hypocritical to wake up and hear the radios p l a y i n g s o n g s predominantly not local. We have good singers, good lyrics.” L a s t y e a r, Te r r y participated in the lucrative TT$1M chutney competition, promising to donate all the proceeds to
charity if he won. While he did not win, the Berbice boy is nevertheless is pushing his charity, ‘saveabee.org’. He has sponsored an ongoing computer programme in Cotton Tree, Berbice. Terry is also making it a habit to do one free show every month, donating the proceeds to charity. “Growing up in a mandir and I still do go regularly with my family, I do believe I have to give back.” The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) is now set to h o n o u r Te r r y f o r h i s contributions. He is said to be one of Guyana’s most touring solo singers, performing in Suriname,
Holland, Spain, England (notably at the prestigious We m b l e y S t a d i u m i n London) and at all the major carnivals. He has also performed with top names in the soca/calypso arena including the Mighty Sparrow, “Hot Hot” Arrow, Machel Montano, Calypso Rose and Byron Lee, Sundar Popo, Sonny Mann, Ramdeo C h a i t o e , K r i e s Ramkhelawan, Rikki Jai and celebrated Indian performers Babla and Kanchan. For his contributions to music and his work in showcasing Guyana in the region and around the world, Terry Gajraj is unquestionably a “Special Person”.
Terry (at left) with Trinidad’s Ravi B at Clash of the Titans at the National Stadium.
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Sunday March 17, 2013
Senate begins debate on illegal lottery scam KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The Jamaica government has reiterated its position of adopting a tough stance against people involved in the illegal lottery scam noting it has damaged “brand Jamaica and threatening the growth of legitimate businesses”. Piloting the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act in the Senate on Friday, Justice Minister Mark Golding said it specifically targets the illegal lottery scam and other related
fraudulent actions. It was passed in the House of Representatives last week. Government said the lottery scam, centred primarily in western part of the country, causes significant financial loss and emotional trauma to unsuspecting victims who are mainly elderly persons living overseas, particularly in the United States. Golding told legislators that the illegal operation is fostering criminal activity, causing damage to Jamaica as well as threatening the growth of legitimate
businesses, and stifling investments, particularly in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector. “The scam gained international notoriety in August 2012, when Western Union International closed 14 of its branches in St. James, in order to implement security measures capable of combating the lottery scam,” Golding said. He said there was a general feeling that scammers were exploiting weak laws and conservative approaches to confronting new financial crimes
which have resulted in relatively few successful prosecutions despite tremendous efforts, which were being made. The scam has gained increased international attention with the United States Senate Special Committee on Ageing bringing the matter to the attention of Congress. Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister A.J. Nicholson suggested that the debate on the Bill be suspended as issues have been raised in the public about
the Act. “Even if the issues were raised by one or two persons in the society, it is the duty of the Senate to contemplate the raising of those issues. (This will) give the Senators a chance to examine the issues that have been raised on the outside. Out of an abundance of caution, let us have another look,” Nicholson said. He said that the lotto scam was affecting the country internally, and it threatens to damage the country’s image on the global stage. “So, the Senate is going to be steadfast in forming an alliance against this evil that threatens our image, and in its pledge to cooperate with the United States authorities to remove the threat to the people of both our countries,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said. Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, Arthur Williams, welcomed the suggestion to suspend the debate on the legislation. “Not only are we to give due consideration to issues raised in the public, but we also have some serious concerns about the Bill and what the suspension of the debate will do, is to give us the opportunity to communicate with the Ministry of Justice our
concerns so that you can be fully informed. “Let me say for the record that the Opposition intends to support the legislation that is going to put the scammers on the retreat,” Williams said. The Bill addresses, among other things: obtaining any property or inducing any person to confer any benefit on any person by false pretence; inviting or otherwise inducing a person to visit Jamaica for the purpose of committing an offence under the Act; and knowingly conducting a financial transaction with the proceeds of an offence. It also makes provision for powers of search and seizure and restitution.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan opposition candidate Henrique Capriles has launched a nationwide tour as part of his campaign to replace the late President Hugo Chavez. Capriles spoke to a massive crowd yesterday in the town of Calvario in western Venezuela. He said the government had closed the airport there hours before his planned rally and he had to fly to a different town and finish the journey with ground
transport.The 40-year-old governor slammed the government for the country’s high crime rates and the shortage of basic items in markets. Also yesterday, government candidate Nicolas Maduro led an homage to Chavez in Caracas that took on the tone of a political rally. The acting leader told an auditorium full of supporters that Capriles would send home Cuban doctors now working in government clinics.
Mark Golding
Presidential candidates spar in Venezuela
China to invest $2 bln in IADB Latin America investment fund (Reuters) - China will invest $2 billion to back Interamerican Development Bank (IADB) public and private sector projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, the development bank said yesterday. The contribution by the People’s Bank of China will be used to co-finance up to $500 million in IADB public sector loans and up to $1.5 billion in private sector credit, available over the next three to six years, the IADB said in a news release. The goal of the fund was to alleviate poverty and boost
competitiveness. China has invested tens of billions of dollars in the region, from Mexico to Argentina, over the last decade to acquire strategic assets or companies in sectors such as oil, minerals and food products. Last March, China’s export-import bank and the IADB announced a joint $1 billion dollar fund for private and public sector investment in the region, reflecting the country’s eagerness to link up with prominent institutions in the region.
Sunday March 17, 2013
Kaieteur News
Jamaica to re-introduce Cuban Light bulb project Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says he will be re-introducing the Cuba-Jamaica Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) Project,as part of the national energy conservation and efficiency plan. He noted that the initiative, introduced in 2006 as part of a demand reduction plan, had achieved results in terms of saving on energy use. The project involved the exchange of high energy consuming incandescent light bulbs for energy saving fluorescent bulbs. Hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans benefitted under the project before distribution ended in 2011. “I am going to resurrect that project. There are still thousands of light bulbs in Cuba destined for Jamaica. We need to get those bulbs here, we are going to install them, we are going to do so in a way that will ensure that we lower our (electricity) usage, and it will be done in a transparent and open manner,” he stated. Minister Paulwell was
Phillip Paulwell addressing the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry breakfast forum on Thursday, March 14, in Montego Bay, under the theme: ‘Jamaica’s Energy Sector’. The Minister gave a commitment to tackle Jamaica’s energy problem from both the production and consumption fronts, and expressed the hope that the
whole country will adopt conservation measures as a mantra. Citing the energy efficiency project currently being implemented by the Government within its offices and agencies, he said this is intended to serve as an example for the general public to follow. Meanwhile, Minister Paulwell told the businesspeople that by the end of March, there should be some decisive word on the implementation of the proposal for a 360 megawatt generating facility. He also informed that “we are going to be seeing the 150 megawatts renewable project on stream by June. The tenders should be in, and we intend to allocate the licences shortly thereafter.” He said so far this year, he has signed off on 23 additional net billing licences bringing the total in place to over 40. “So, things are happening. We just need now to continue that momentum, and to get the price of electricity down,” Mr. Paulwell stated. (JIS)
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Barbados to launch Skills for the Future Programme BRIDGETOWN (BGIS) — The Skills For The Future programme, being executed by the Government of Barbados with funding by the Inter-American Development Bank (GOB/IDB), will be officially launched on Thursday, March 21, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC), Two Mile Hill, St. Michael, beginning at 6:00 p.m. A key objective of the GOB/IDB programme is to support the operationalisation of the Barbados’ Human Resource Development Strategy (HRDS) 2011-2016, with an emphasis on improving the quality and relevance of secondary education and the effectiveness of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Additionally, it aims to facilitate the school to work transition and improve the level of success among the youth on the island. The specific objectives of the Skills For The Future are to support implementation of a National Qualification
Framework (NQF) that incorporates the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) and the Caribbean Vocational Qualifications, and includes a new secondary education certificate: the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC), which will be accessible to all graduates. It will also seek to improve core skills (i.e. English and Mathematics) as well as life skills at the secondary level and in TVET institutions. Additionally, the programme will support the labour market Information System through the execution of employer surveys and tracer studies which will provide feedback to education and training institutions. Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones will deliver the feature address at the ceremony, while remarks will be made by IDB Representative, Joel Branski, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Social
Security and Human Resource Development, Andrew Cox and Director, Sport for Development (Partners of the Americas), Paul Teeple. Following the launch, there will be a workshop on Friday, March 22, at the LESC at 9:00 a.m. The main objective of this is to allow stakeholders, particularly those responsible for implementing aspects of the programme, to understand and appreciate the requirements of the International Financial Institutions/IDB as it relates to the implementation of programmes funded by these agencies. Workshop participants will be introduced to the components, subcomponents, and activities associated with the Skills For The Future program. The seminar will also seek to garner the necessary support and buy-in for the programme by providing stakeholders with the opportunity to meet and interact with each other.
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Sunday March 17, 2013
Zimbabwe votes on curbs to president’s power CHITUNGWIZA, Zimbabwe (Reuters) Zimbabweans voted yesterday in a referendum expected to endorse a new constitution that would trim presidential powers and pave the way for an election to decide whether Robert Mugabe extends his threedecade rule. Mugabe, Africa’s oldest president at 89, has ruled the former British colony since independence in 1980 and has been accused of waging violent crackdowns on the opposition and weakening state institutions like the cabinet and parliament. The new constitution would set a maximum two five-year terms for the president, starting with the next election, expected in the second half of this year. But the limit will not apply retroactively, so Mugabe could rule for another two terms. Presidential decrees will also require majority backing in the cabinet, and declarations of emergency rule or dissolutions of parliament will need the approval of two-thirds of
Robert Mugabe lawmakers, changes that will take effect after the next election. Mugabe’s ZANU-PF and the rival Movement for Democratic Change of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai are backing the charter, making yesterday’s vote almost a rubber stamp exercise. Voting ended at 11.00 a.m. ET at the nearly 10,000 polling stations across the southern African nation, with results to be announced within five
days, said Rita Makarau, head of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. Turnout at the poll was generally low across the country but both Mugabe and Tsvangirai have been optimistic the constitution would be approved before presidential and parliamentary elections later in the year. “We want peace in the country. Peace, peace, peace. It must begin with Robert Mugabe and go on to you and everyone else,” said Mugabe
as he voted in the Highfield township near downtown Harare, accompanied by his wife and daughter. After a violent and disputed vote in 2008, Mugabe was pushed into a power-sharing agreement with Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai made the referendum on the new constitution a condition of the power-sharing deal and said there would be no point in holding new elections without it. “This is a new political dispensation and I hope it sets in a new political culture. From the culture of impunity to constitutionalism,” Tsvangirai told journalists after voting in the town of Chitungwiza, some 30 km (20 miles) south of Harare. Hundreds of voters filed patiently into polling stations earlier in Kuwadzana and Mbare, the oldest township in the capital, which has
witnessed clashes between ZANU-PF and MDC supporters in the past. “It is a good constitution because now a president can rule for 10 years at the most,” said Douglas Muchena, after voting at a polling station in Avondale, just outside central Harare. The run-up to the referendum was peaceful. Analysts say they are more worried about presidential and parliamentary elections later this year, where ZANU-PF is expected to face a stiff challenge from the MDC, although there are no reliable polls. The periods preceding previous elections since 2000 have been marred by violence, and the MDC says hundreds of its members have been killed at the hands of Mugabe’s youth brigades and independent war veterans supporters. Tsvangirai defeated
Mugabe in March 2008 but not by enough votes to avoid a second round of voting. The former trade union leader was forced to quit the run-off race after a campaign of violence by Mugabe’s supporters, but regional leaders intervened to force the two rivals to form a coalition government. Although fragile and at times acrimonious, the unity government has eased political tensions and helped stabilize an economy which shrank 40 percent between 2000 and 2010. Mugabe wants to continue with his nationalist policies, like seizing whiteowned commercial farms and taking majority shares in foreign-owned firms. The MDC says if it wins it will revive a once-vibrant economy, attract foreign investment and reduce the 80 percent unemployment rate, one of the world’s highest.
Cameron tells fractious party to stay focused (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron sought to quell talk of a leadership challenge after a run of political setbacks, telling activists in his Conservative party yesterday to concentrate on winning the next national election in 2015. Cameron is under pressure from a growing number of party legislators and activists who have broken ranks to say they are unhappy with his policies. The economy is stagnant, heading for a possible third recession in four years, and the Labour opposition holds a 10-point lead in opinion polls. Home Secretary Theresa May provoked media speculation she was aiming for Cameron’s job when she delivered a speech last week that went well beyond her brief. “Anyone in this party who’s in any doubt who we should be fighting, what we should be debating, where our energies should be focused - I tell you: our battle is with Labour,” Cameron told party members at a rally in
David Cameron central London. “This is a bunch of selfsatisfied Labour socialists who think they can spend your money better than you can, make decisions better than you can and tell you what to do, and we should never, ever let that lot near government again.” Half-way through a fiveyear term, many Conservative MPs are growing restless, fearful of defeat at the next national election and fed up with ruling in coalition with the
Lib Dems. Hit by the loss of Britain’s top-notch AAA credit rating in February, Conservative spirits were further depressed when the party was beaten into third place in a vote for a parliamentary seat that it needs to win in 2015 to rule alone without a coalition.Speaking days before a closely watched budget statement, Cameron told activists to hold their nerve, invoking the memory of former Conservative leaders including Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, saying the party was building an “aspiration nation”. “We always knew we’d face pretty big challenges right now. It’s mid-term ... We are recovering from the deepest recession since records began,” he said. Perhaps mindful of how deeply the issue divides his party, Cameron made no mention of his support for gay marriage. Last month, half his legislators voted against government plans to extend the right to marry to homosexual couples. Although Cameron spoke to applause, Conservative commentator Iain Dale said he would have to do more to win over doubters within the party as well as voters across the country. “When you talk to a Conservative audience ... you need to put a bit of red meat in there to get them going, and he didn’t really do that this morning,” Dale told BBC television.
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Pope Francis wants Church Syrian general, 20 soldiers to be poor, and for the poor defect: opposition VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis, giving his clearest indication yet that he wants a more austere Catholic Church, said yesterday that it should be poor and remember that its mission is to serve the poor. Francis, speaking mostly off-the-cuff and smiling often, made his comments in an audience for journalists where he explained why he chose to take the name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi, a symbol of peace, austerity and poverty. He called Francis “the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man”, and added: “Oh, how I would like a poor Church, and for the poor.” Since his election on Wednesday as the first nonEuropean pope in nearly 1,300 years, Francis has signaled a sharp change of style from his predecessor, Benedict, and has laid out a clear moral path for the 1.2-billion-member Church, which is beset by scandals, intrigue and strife. He thanked the thousands of journalists who had covered his election but invited them to “always try to
better understand the true nature of the Church, and even its journey in the world, with its virtues and with its sins”. He urged journalists to seek “truth, goodness and beauty” in the world and in the Church. Francis has set a forceful moral tone and given clear signs already that he will bring a new broom to the crisis-hit papacy, favoring humility and simplicity over pomp and grandeur. He recalled how on Wednesday night, as he was receiving more and more votes in the conclave, the cardinal sitting next to him, Claudio Hummes of Brazil, comforted him “as the situation became dangerous”. After the voting reached the two-thirds majority that elected him, applause broke out. Hummes, 78, then hugged and kissed him and told him “Don’t forget the poor”, the pope recounted, often gesturing with his hands. “That word entered here,” he added, pointing to his head.
Pope Francis
While the formal voting continued, the pope recalled: “I thought of wars .... and Francis (of Assisi) is the man of peace, and that is how the name entered my heart, Francis of Assisi, for me he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects others.” It was the latest indication that the pope wanted the worldwide Church to take on an austere style.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A brigadier general and about 20 soldiers defected from the Syrian army in two separate incidents yesterday, activists said, in another sign that the strength of President Bashar al-Assad’s armed forces is diminishing. Brigadier General Mohammed Khalouf appeared dressed in a camouflage military uniform in a video on Al Arabiya news channel and said he had planned his escape with the opposition movement for some time. “It is not possible for anyone to accept any of the ideas of this regime unless they have achieved special interests,” he said in the video. There was no comment about the defection on Syrian state news outlets. Defection of high-ranking military and political figures has slowed in past months. But a study by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) published this week estimated that Assad’s forces, thought to be more than 300,000-strong
at the start of the uprising two years ago, were now at a much lower effective strength and were likely to diminish further. The IISS said that perhaps 50,000 of the Syrian army’s elite troops could be depended on for loyalty. Most of them were likely to be from Assad’s minority Alawite sect, which has dominated the country for more than four decades. Many deserters report that their units were held inside bases to prevent their escape. Syria’s civil war began as a popular street movement but has evolved into an increasingly sectarian conflict. The opposition has been mostly led by the Sunni Muslim population, with Alawites and other minorities mostly throwing their weight behind Assad. In central Syria, around 20 soldiers fled their posts for embattled rebel territory near the ancient desert city of Palmyra, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The British-based group, which has a network of activists across Syria, said
the soldiers fled to farmlands near the city, where there has been shelling and gun battles for two days. Fighting has now spread across most of the country, except for a stronghold on the Mediterranean coast which is home to a large Alawite population. Wi t h increasing violence has come a rising use of cluster munitions, the Human Rights Watch reported Saturday, saying it had identified at least 119 locations across Syria where the bombs had been used in the past six months. It said cluster bomb attacks were causing a mounting civilian death toll in a conflict that has already killed more than 70,000 people. “Syria is expanding its relentless use of cluster munitions, a banned weapon, and civilians are paying the price with their lives and limbs,” said Steve Goose of Human Rights Watch. “The initial toll is only the beginning because cluster munitions often leave unexploded bomblets that kill and maim long afterward.”
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Tear gas in Kenya as prime minister files suit
Raila Odinga NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Police in Kenya lobbed tear gas yesterday on crowds supporting the prime minister as he filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to void the presidential election, a vote the prime minister says was neither free nor fair. Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s court filing comes a week after Kenya’s election commission declared Uhuru Kenyatta — the son of Kenya’s founding father — the winner of the country’s March 4 vote. Kenyatta won
by a hair, with 50.07 percent of the vote, breaking the 50 percent mark by about 8,000 votes out of 12.3 million cast. Kenya’s election has been largely peaceful, unlike the disputed 2007 vote that sparked two months of violence that killed more than 1,000 people. But downtown Nairobi carried the scent of tear gas yesterday after police threw canisters at Odinga supporters who gathered despite warnings from police. An Associated Press reporter at the scene said the supporters were not demonstrating or being violent when the police lobbed the tear gas. Later, police lobbed more tear gas at supporters gathered in front of the Supreme Court building. “It’s everyone’s right to hold demonstrations, but police will stop demonstrations that may have ramifications on security,” said police spokesman Masoud Mwinyi. “Police are taking precautionary measures to warn people to disperse, but if they don’t we will use
minimum force. Their presence can create unnecessary tension. Already we are seeing pockets of volatility.” Odinga wants Kenya to hold new elections. The petition filed yesterday asks the court to set aside the announcement by the election commission on March 9 that Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto had won the presidency and deputy presidency. Odinga is being represented by a U.S. lawyer who formerly represented former President George W. Bush, said Eliud Owalo, Odinga’s campaign manager. The Supreme Court has two weeks to decide on the petitions. Odinga came in second in the eight-candidate field with 43 percent of the vote. He had hoped to keep Kenyatta under the 50 percent mark and force a two-man runoff. The Odinga petition says that the voter register was altered and “mysteriously grew overnight by a large proportion” on the eve of the election. Votes cast exceeded the number of registered voters in several locations, it
said, adding that the change in the number of registered voters was to allow the election commission to manipulate the election results. The petition said that the electronic voter ID and biometric voter registration systems were “so poorly selected, designed and implemented that they were destined to fail,” which forced the election commission to revert to a “discredited manual system” that carried risks for abuse and manipulation. The election commission “failed to establish systems which are accurate, secure,
verifiable, accountable and/or transparent and indeed declared results which in many instances had no relation to votes cast at the polling station,” the petition said. If the court upholds Kenyatta’s win, he will become the second sitting president in Africa to face charges at the International Criminal Court. He and Ruto both face charges related to having helped orchestrate the 200708 postelection violence. Both deny the charges. Ruto’s trial begins in late May; Kenyatta’s begins in July.
Kenyatta has promised to report to The Hague even if he wins the presidency. Despite the second straight disputed presidential election, Kenya has for the most part remained at peace during the election period, though vicious online fights between supporters of Kenyatta and Odinga have broken out on Facebook and Twitter. Odinga has asked for calm from his supporters during a week of news conferences in which his team has claimed the vote was rigged. He has said he will respect the Supreme Court’s ruling.
EU’s Ashton urges caution on lifting arms ban for Syria rebels
(Reuters) - The European Union’s foreign policy chief urged caution yesterday about a Franco-British drive to lift an EU arms embargo to help rebels in Syria, questioning the impact such a step might have on attempts to reach a political settlement there. Other EU governments rebuffed efforts by Paris and London at an EU summit on Friday to lift the Syrian arms embargo to help opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, although they asked foreign ministers to discuss it again next week. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the EU needed to think “very carefully” about French and British arguments that lifting the embargo would encourage Assad to negotiate. The EU should also consult U.N. mediator Lakhdar Brahimi and and Moaz al-Khatib, head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, about what impact
Catherine Ashton
lifting the embargo might have on their efforts to start talks to end the Syria crisis, she said. “What we’ve got to make sure of is anything we do does not make that (work) harder,” she said, speaking at a conference organised by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a group committed to strengthening
transatlantic cooperation. Germany led opposition to the Franco-British move to lift the embargo to help the rebels after two years of civil war that have killed 70,000 people, according to U.N. estimates. Opponents argue that arming the rebels could encourage Assad’s backers, Russia and Iran, to step up weapons deliveries to the government, fuelling an arms race, and they also fear that weapons could fall into the wrong hands, such as Islamist militants in the rebel ranks. Ashton said she had told EU leaders at Friday’s summit that they must think through very carefully the implications of lifting the arms embargo. “Would putting weapons into the field make it more or less likely that others will do the same? What would be the response of Assad based on what we know about his response so far? Would it stop people being killed or would it kill people faster?” she said.
Berlusconi clashes with “stupid” protesters as tensions rise
ROME (Reuters) - Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, facing trial on tax fraud and sex charges, abused protesters who whistled and jeered as he entered parliament on Saturday to vote in an election for speaker of the Senate. “You should be ashamed, you’re poor, stupid fools,” he said loudly as he made his way into the Senate. Wearing sunglasses after spending all week in hospital for eye problems, Berlusconi arrived for the final phase of the multi-round vote which is being closely watched as a pointer to the balance of power in parliament. A few dozen protesters whistled and called out “Buffone! Buffone! (Clown)”
Silvio Berlusconi
as he made his entrance. The 76-year-old media billionaire faces pressure over
his legal problems with two trials this month as well as a separate investigation over accusations of political bribery in 2006. Yesterday, judges granted a request to delay a hearing in his appeal against a four-year sentence for tax fraud connected with his Mediaset broadcasting empire because of the vote. The hearing will now go ahead next Saturday. Berlusconi is also facing a separate trial in which he is charged with paying for sex with former nightclub dancer Karima el Mahroug, better known under her stage name “Ruby” when she was still a minor. A verdict in that trial may come as early as March 25.
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Former CIDA exec mulls legal action after losing prominent CARICOM post
A
former federal bureaucrat was about to be named the deputy head of a major international organization in the Caribbean until he was linked to a public service watchdog’s finding of “gross mismanagement” last month. Now, former Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) DirectorGeneral, Naresh Singh, says he is considering legal action to combat what he believes is an unfair undermining of his personal and professional
reputation, according an ocanada.com news report. The issue highlights an ongoing controversy surrounding the Public Sector Service Integrity Commissioner’s refusal to publicly identify bureaucrats his office believes are guilty of wrongdoing. Last month, the Caribbean Community offered Singh, who is originally from Guyana, a job as its Deputy SecretaryGeneral. The position is prominent as CARICOM represents 15 Caribbean countries; Canada is
currently negotiating a free trade agreement with the organization. But CARICOM withdrew the offer last month after a Quebec newspaper identified Singh as the CIDA manager accused in Public Sector Integrity Commissioner Mario Dion’s report of using government resources, including administrative staff, for private business. Even though Dion did not identify Singh by name, CARICOM cited the commissioner ’s investigation in a statement
explaining its decision to rescind the job offer. “Subsequent to the offer and Dr. Singh’s acceptance of that offer, information came to light regarding certain allegations against Dr. Singh which had been the subject of a confidential investigation by the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner,” the statement read. “The allegations and findings of that statutory body of inquiry are of grave concern to the Caribbean Community and the Secretary-General. The
Naresh Singh Secretary-General has taken the necessary action to repudiate the offer.” CARICOM would not say whether its concerns were based on the Quebec newspaper report that the CIDA official was Singh, or on additional information it received from other sources. Singh acknowledged he met with the Integrity Commissioner’s staff once for an hour to discuss allegations brought against him by a subordinate he said was upset with him. He also admitted he used his CIDA telephone and email for personal reasons “from time to time,” though he maintained it was to an extent no different from anyone else working in government or even the private sector, and that it was never for personal gain. “(Dion’s) conclusions of gross mismanagement and conflict of interest could never have described my career or things I have done at CIDA,” Singh said. “But now the world is thinking that.” Singh would neither confirm nor deny that Dion’s report was about him. Instead, he maintained that the report’s conclusions could not apply to him if they were drawn from “any fair and reasonable process of what I have done.” Dion has consistently refused to name bureaucrats accused of wrongdoing in his reports, citing privacy concerns and saying he will only identify officials when it’s in the public interest. That has prompted c r i t i c i s m f r o m whistleblower groups who argue such anonymity protects guilty officials — many of whom leave before investigations are complete — from any real consequences and leaves prospective employers in the dark. Singh’s situation also now raises questions about what happens if a person is identified — rightly or wrongly — as the subject of a Public Service Integrity Commissioner finding of
wrongdoing by media reports or other means. Singh said he has hired a Montreal lawyer to look at ways to clear his reputation, but “it’s unclear how to proceed and how to prevent such things from happening to others.” Tyler Sommers, coordinator of watchdog group Democracy Watch, said refusing to name a wrongdoer could be a way for the Public Service Integrity Commissioner to reduce the chances his office will be dragged before the courts and forced to defend its findings. “If they’re able to distance themselves and say t h e y d i d n ’t h a v e a n y involvement in releasing an individual’s information, I don’t really see how (the individual) could bring them before the courts and challenge that,” Sommers said. David Hutton, executive director of Fair, said whistleblower groups like his have long raised concerns about what they see as a lack of due process in the Public Service Integrity Commissioner’s investigations. “If you have due process, then that protects everybody,” Hutton said. “Everybody who’s involved needs to have due process rights, and that seems to be what’s missing.” B u t D i o n ’ s spokeswoman, Edith Lachapelle, dismissed suggestions the commissioner withholds names from his reports because he is afraid of a court challenge. Lachapelle said Dion is “entirely confident” any of the findings in his report could be defended in a legal challenge. She also defended the investigative process, confirming commissioner staff met with the CIDA official only once during the investigation, but adding that the “wrongdoer” got a chance to submit feedback on the final report before it was released.
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Political parties should not be granted broadcasting licences The responsibility for the granting of broadcast licences lies with the National Broadcasting Authority while the allocation of frequencies is the responsibility of the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU). Obviously, one cannot come without the other. There can and should be no allocation of frequencies unless there is a licence issued by the National Broadcasting Authority. The President of Guyana is no longer empowered to grant licences. However, he can and should instruct the NFMU to examine the number of frequencies granted to certain entities. After all, if the NFMU could have been asked to assign a frequency for NCN to allow CCTV to transmit, then surely they can be told to limit the number of frequencies assigned to licenced broadcasters. The manner in which the frequencies were allocated effectively makes some stations community stations while others will become national stations. There will come a time within the next three years when the technology will make these arguments redundant because, as was explained by the Prime Minister in his statement to the National Assembly, there will be no limits to the number of television stations and radio channels which can be accommodated using the new technology which is being phased in within the developed world, and not without some resistance too. The source of the local opposition to what is taking place in the broadcasting spectrum is two-fold. Firstly there is the question of the licences to some while others were not considered. Then there is the related issue of the assignment of frequencies to those with licences. T h e N a t i o n a l Broadcasting Authority is not likely to re-examine the licences issued controversially under former President Jagdeo. The courts had ordered that all licences be considered. But it seems as if only some were and therefore there is a basis for a legal challenge. There are also strong grounds to ask the courts to do as the Privy Council did in one instance and order that the authorities issue a licence rather than simply consider them again.
The legal route, however, takes an inordinately long time and is extremely costly to litigants. As such, those persons whose applications are languishing need to urge the authorities to consider their applications immediately. This, however, does not settle the issue of the licences granted just before the 2011 elections, including licences to the ruling party. The ruling party or any company associated with it should not have been granted a licence or assigned a frequency. This offers an unfair advantage to the ruling party. If an entity that is a known sidekick of the PPP can have a broadcasting license, then there is no reason why the opposition or a sidekick company should not demand the same. If the PPP-affiliated companies gain licences and establish stations, it means that concerns are going to be expressed about the fairness of elections. Having television and radio stations affiliated to the ruling party gives them an unfair advantage over their competitors and this cannot be allowed to happen. As such, the New Guyana Company which prints the Mirror Newspaper and is known to be associated with the People’s Progressive Party should voluntarily surrender the licences which were granted to it. It ought to surrender them on the basis that no political party or any company directly associated with any party should ever be granted licences. If needs be, the law should be amended to ensure this. The worst thing that can happen in Guyana is for political parties to be granted broadcasting licences. The President, as General Secretary of his party, should go ahead and surrender the licences, unless of course he claims that the PPP has nothing to do with the New Guyana Company. Apart from this, an explanation needs to be provided as to why the public was never told that a licence was also granted to a company called Telcor Cultural Broadcasting Incorporated. According to newspaper reports, the contact person now happens to be employed in a civil service position within the
government. Why would someone associated with a firm that was granted a broadcast licence be working within the government? Answers are needed. Those pressing for answers and those within the media fraternity should now have first-hand experience about what this column had been warning about for years: the extending of the reach of a potent economic oligarchy that has become far too
powerful because of its political connections. Balance and order has to be restored, but those keen on this to happen must understand that the government is in turn aligned with this oligarchy and will not budge unless they are forced to do so through united and peaceful agitation. The private media houses have an interest in ensuring that these answers are provided. As such, it is
hoped that all the private media houses can come together in a show of support by shutting down their operations for one day to demonstrate their concern as to what has happened both with the granting of broadcast licences and the allocation of frequencies. All private television stations opposed to what has taken place should run a blank screen on that day; all the private newspapers should not put out an edition
on that day, and they should invite some international and regional journalists to come to Guyana to observe their peaceful protest. Only if these things happen will anything be done to remedy this terrible situation that has developed.
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Interesting Creatures…
The potoos are a family, Nyctibiidae of near passerine birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. They are sometimes called Poor-me-ones, after their haunting calls. There are seven species in onegenus, Nyctibius, in tropical Central and South America. These are nocturnal insectivores which lack the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars. They hunt from a perch like a shrike or flycatcher. During the day they perch upright on tree stumps, camouflaged to look like part of the stump. A single spotted egg is laid directly on the top of a stump. The potoos are today an exclusively New World family, but they apparently had a much more widespread distribution in the past. Fossil remains of potoos dating from the Oligocene and Eocene have been found in France and Germany. A complete skeleton of the genus Paraprefica has been found in Messel, Germany. It had skull and leg features similar to those of modern potoos, suggesting that it may be an early close relative of the modern potoos. Because the only fossils other than these ancient ones that have been found are recent ones of extant species, it is unknown if the family once had a global distribution which has contracted or if the distribution of the family was originally restricted to the Old World and has shifted to the
New World. A 1996 study of the mitochondrial DNA of the potoos supported the monophyly of the family although it did not support the previous assumption that it was closely related to the oil birds. The study also found a great deal of genetic divergence between the species, suggesting that these species are themselves very old. The level of divergence is the highest of any genera of birds and is more typical of the divergence between genera or even families. This raises the
possibility that there are several cryptic species to be discovered. For example, the Northern Potoo was for a long time considered to be the same species as the Common Potoo, but the two species have now been separated on the basis of their calls. In spite of this there is no morphological way to separate the two species. The potoos are a highly conservative family in appearance, with all the species closely resembling one another, and even species accounts in ornithological literature remark on the unusualness of
their appearance. Potoos range from 21– 58 cm in length. They resemble upright sitting nightjars, a group they are closely related to. They also resemble the frogmouths of Australasia, but are stockier and have much heavier bills. They have proportionally large heads for their body size and long wings and tails. The large head is dominated by a massive broad bill and enormous eyes. In the treatment of the family in the Handbook of the Birds of the World, Cohn-Haft describes the potoos as little more than a flying mouth and eyes. The bill, while large and broad, is also short, barely projecting past the face. It is also delicate, but has a unique “tooth” on the cutting edge of the upper mandible that may serve a function in foraging. Unlike the closely related nightjars the potoos lack rictal bristles around the mouth. The legs and feet are weak and used for perching only. The eyes are large, even larger than those of related nightbirds in the order Caprimulgiformes. As in many species of nocturnal birds, they reflect the light of torches. These eyes, which could be conspicuous to potential predators during the day, have unusual slits in the lids. The slits allow potoos to sense movement even when their eyes are completely closed. The plumage of potoos is cryptic and designed to help them blend into the branches on which they spend their
days. Potoos have a Neotropical distribution. They r a n g e from Mexico to Argentina, with the greatest diversity occurring in the Amazon Basin, which holds five species. They are found in every Central and South American country except Chile. They also occur on three Caribbean islands:Jamaica,HispaniolaandTobago. Potoos are generally highly sedentary, although there are occasional reports of vagrants, particularly species that have travelled on ships. All species occur in humid forests, although a few species also occur in drier forests. Potoos are highly nocturnal and generally will not fly during the day. They spend the day perched on branches with the eyes half closed. With their cryptic plumage they resemble stumps, and should they detect potential danger they will adopt a “freeze” position which even more closely resembles a broken branch. The transition between perching and the freeze position is gradual and hardly perceptible to the observer. Potoos feed at dusk and at night on flying insects. Their typical foraging technique is to perch on a branch and occasionally fly out in the manner of a flycatcher in order to snatch a passing insect. They will occasionally fly to vegetation to glean an insect off it before returning to their perch, but
they will not attempt to obtain prey from the ground. Beetles form a large part of their diet, but they will also take moths, grasshoppers and termites. One Northern Potoo was found with a small bird in its stomach as well. Having caught an insect potoos will swallow it whole without beating or crushing it. P o t o o s are monogamous breeders and both parents share responsibilities for incubating the egg and raising the chick. The family does not construct a nest of any kind, instead laying the single egg on a depression in a branch or at the top of a rotten stump. The egg is white with purplebrown spots. One parent, often the male, incubates the egg during the day, then the duties are shared during the night. Changeovers to relieve incubating parents and feed chicks are infrequent in order to minimise attention to the nest, as potoos are entirely reliant on camouflage to protect themselves and their nesting site from predators. The chick will hatch about one month after laying and the nestling phase is two month, a considerable length of time for a land bird. The plumage of nestling potoos is white and once they are too large to hide under their parents they will adopt the same freeze position as their parents, and resemble a clump of fungus. (Source: Wikipedia – The Free Online Encyclopedia)
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The Commonwealth Charter, Human Rights and Sri Lanka By Sir Ronald Sanders The most important reason for the selection of a country as the host-venue for a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is that it serves the interests of the Commonwealth as a whole. If this reason were a consideration, President Mahinda Rajapaksa would already have withdrawn Sri Lanka from hosting the CHOGM in November. The President has not done so. Instead, he has insisted that the Commonwealth Summit must be held in Sri Lanka even as his government is mired in intense controversy over violations of human rights and disregard for the rule of law. By this insistence, the Sri Lanka President demonstrates only an ambition to claim honour and respectability through hosting the meeting and representing the Commonwealth for the next two years as its Chair. This self-serving position of the Sri Lanka government is i n j u r i n g t h e Commonwealth. Every member state of the Commonwealth – particularly its small and weak ones - needs the Organisation to be strong and credible. A discredited Commonwealth, that cannot stand-up for its own declared values, would have no moral authority or convincing status to advocate effectively for the welfare of its member countries in the international community. President Rajapaksa’s dismissal of the country’s Chief Justice, Shirani Bandaranayake, after an unfair impeachment process that was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court, and the appointment of his former Attorney-General to the post, is “serious” and it comes amid evidence of
“persistent” human rights abuses of journalists, and other groups within Sri Lanka. These developments follow the government’s refusal to allow an independent inquiry, as requested by the United Nations, into the deaths of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians in 2009, towards the end of a conflict between government forces and the Tamil Tigers. The unsuitability of Sri Lanka at this time to host the CHOGM is drawn into stark clarity by the Charter of the Commonwealth that was signed on March 11 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II a s H e a d o f t h e Commonwealth after the complete concurrence of 53 of the Commonwealth’s 54 Heads of Government. The fifty-fourth member state, Fiji whose military government seized power in 2006, is currently suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth. The Charter was one of t h e i m p o r t a n t recommendations for reform of the Commonwealth made by an Eminent Persons Group (EPG) of which I was privileged to be a member. The recommendation was accepted by all Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting in Australia in October 2011. An important clause in the Charter reads: “We are committed to equality and respect for the protection and promotion of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights including the right to development, for all without discrimination on any grounds as the foundations of peaceful, just and s table s ocieties ”. Unless the Sri Lanka government demonstrates that it upholds that commitment through actions that have been urged upon it by the UN, many
C o m m o n w e a l t h Governments, and a myriad number of international legal and judicial organisations, it is not qualified to host the CHOGM. Attendance by other Heads of Government would sully the Commonwealth by validating the Rajapaksa government. This is not the first time that the Commonwealth has had to deal with violations of its values and principles by a member state. It did so in 1977 in relation Idi Amin whose brutal regime in Uganda engaged in massive violation of human rights and sustained disregard for the sanctity of life. At that time, the Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral, Shridath Ramphal, said to Commonwealth leaders: “There has been in the Commonwealth, of course, as in the international community, a long and necessary tradition of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. No commonwealth country (indeed, who anywhere in the world?) is above reproach in some respect or other. If these traditions were not to be respected there would be no end to recrimination and censoriousness. How to strike a balance of political judgement between the two extremes of declamation and silence is sometimes difficult – but it would be entirely illusory to believe that such a judgment could, or indeed should, be avoided altogether. There will be times in the affairs of the Commonwealth when one member’s conduct will provoke the wrath of others beyond the limits of silence.... although the line may be indefinable, all the world will know when it has been crossed.” It had been crossed in Uganda; and at their meeting
in 1977, Commonwealth leaders stated that it was their “overwhelming view” that the excesses of Amin’s regime “were so gross as to warrant the world’s concern and to evoke condemnation by Heads of Government in strong and unequivocal terms”. In those days, there was no Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) as there is now, tasked with dealing with States where the Commonwealth’s declared values have been violated. Nonetheless, Heads of Government themselves made it clear that the excesses of Idi Amin were unacceptable, as they did later with the white minority government of Ian Smith in Southern Rhodesia (later Zimbabwe) and the Apartheid regime in South Africa. As CMAG has since suspended other member states – Fiji, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Pakistan – after addressing their
v i o l a t i o n s o f Commonwealth values, it should do so now with Sri Lanka, or the freshly minted Commonwealth Charter will simply become another set of words, not worth the paper on which they are inscribed in the name of the p e o p l e o f t h e Commonwealth. There is also precedent f o r m o v i n g a Commonwealth meeting if the host government has breached Commonwealth agreed principles and values. In 1981, the New Zealand Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, ignored the 1977 Gleneagles Agreement that banned sporting contact with Apartheid South Africa. Muldoon strongly supported the South Africa Springbok Rugby team’s tour to New Zealand. Commonwealth governments, feeling that Muldoon had violated agreed Commonwealth principles and values, moved a Finance Ministers meeting from New Zealand to the Bahamas as a mark of
Sir Ronald Sanders their displeasure. The Sri Lanka government should withdraw from hosting the CHOGM in November, or the other Commonwealth countries should withdraw themselves from attending. Either action would s t r e n g t h e n t h e Commonwealth and enhance its authority. But, on no account should the CHOGM be held in Sri Lanka. (The writer is a Consultant, former Caribbean diplomat and Visiting Fellow, London University) Responses and previous commentaries at: www.sirronaldsanders.com
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Sunday March 17, 2013
SUNDAY SPECIAL ST. MAARTEN’S US$117M AIRPORT VS. GUYANA’S US$150M In less than four months, Guyana will more than likely start construction on a brand new airport and runway at a cost of US$150M. With the US$840M Amaila Falls hydro falls project to be the most expensive project ever in Guyana, the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is set to be third on the list after the US$200M Skeldon factory and modernization project. It will see longer runways, a twostorey terminal building, passenger loading bridges, more check-in counters and concession spaces. The project, the construction of which is set to last for 32 months, will also allow for a larger apron to park planes and be fully equipped with close circuit television (CCTV), building automation system and several large screen TVs displaying flight information. But there have been questions as to the costs. The Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) of St. Maarten cost that government US$117M to build. St. Maarten is targeting 2.5 million tourists to pass through the airport. In 2007, 1.85 million tourists were processed. The airport is one of the busiest in the region serving as a hub to especially the Eastern Caribbean area. It is serviced by 18 airlines, and there is direct service to close to 30 major cities in the US, Europe, Canada and the Caribbean. TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON EAST BANK DUE TO POOR PLANNING TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANT Each year, the buildup of traffic along the East Bank Demerara Public Road increases. Within the next five years if an alternative road, the Southern Approach, is not built, travel time along the existing roadway will drastically lengthen leading to massive traffic congestion, says a Transportation Consultant. The Consultant who did a recent study, said that he utilized the Diamond Housing Scheme as the starting point of his journey to Georgetown during the morning peak hour and discovered that it took him about 75 minutes to reach Kingston—a distance of less than 10 miles. He encountered two traffic jams - one inside Diamond Housing Scheme and at the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the gridlock stretching
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using a stick to badly beat a miner who was protecting a female. An investigation has been launched by the police and GGMC. “The GGMC with support from the Guyana Police Service (GPS) is currently removing the more than 14 illegal dredges and other mining equipment from the area. The operators of these dredges were engaged in the removal of Guyana’s minerals and evasion of payment of royalties and taxes on the minerals extracted,” a statement from that body said last Monday. “To date, not a single gram of gold has been declared by any of the operators and there are no records of production, which is a breach of the Mining Regulations. The Commission is of the view that all the minerals removed were illegally sold.” GGMC said that the recently forced removal of the illegal miners is the final step after several other requests for the raiders to voluntarily remove failed.
The new Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten.
The proposed terminal building for Guyana. from the turn at Banks DIH to Ruimveldt Police Station. He stressed that given the current unbearable traffic situation and the expansion of more housing schemes along the East Bank Demerara, Government should invest in the construction of the Southern Approach Road, leading from behind the Diamond Housing Scheme to Mandela Avenue. MONDAY EDITION PRESSURED AFC EXECUTIVEMEMBER APOLOGIZES TO N/A HOSPITAL DOCTOR Alliance for Change (AFC) Executive Member Charrandass Persaud publicly apologized to all women and in particular to Medical Superintendent of the N/A Hospital Dr. Vishalya ‘Artie’ Sharma on television on Saturday evening for disparaging remarks he made about her at a recent AFC Public Meeting. Persaud referred to Dr. Sharma as “a really oversized doctor”. “Sharma is trying to control her own body weight and she can’t do that; she has to control the whole operation
of the New Amsterdam Hospital—the girl is so fat, she could probably not fit in the front seat of her jeep. She can’t control her own body weight; she is controlling our lives at the New Amsterdam Hospital…” Those were the words of Persaud while speaking about the recent death at the N/A Hospital of a woman during a blackout. As Guyana and the world just celebrated International Women’s Day on Friday, Persaud’s comments at an AFC public meeting at the Adelphi Market Square in East Canje about the doctor came in for severe criticism. Present at that meeting were AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan and Members of Parliament Dr. Veerasammy Ramayya and Mr. Moses Nagamootoo. As pressure mounted for a public apology and a pending lawsuit by the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), Persaud apologized publicly on a live TV programme. GDF OFFICERS SUE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR ANNUAL BONUSES Four Senior Officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)
have moved to the Courts against Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best over the non-payment of annual bonuses which were issued to soldiers by President Donald Ramotar last year. A lawsuit was filed against the Defence Force Head after he allegedly denied officers the bonus amounts from the government. The motion was filed in the High Court to overturn Best’s decision to withhold the payments. It also requests that the Chief of Staff be directed to pay out the monies. Kaieteur News understands that Commodore Best will make an appearance at the Supreme Court to explain why he should not be ordered to pay up the bonuses. Last December, at the annual GDF Christmas luncheon, President Ramotar announced one month’s salary bonus for members of the army. The Chief of Staff reportedly decided not to pay out any bonuses to soldiers or officers who may have or had any disciplinary matters taken against them. Over 100
members of the GDF were said to have been affected by the decision. Allegations surfaced that prior to the President’s announcement, a request was made via messaging system, where Commanding Officers were to identify army staffers who had unfavourable issues within the Force and a list of names were to be submitted. TUESDAY EDITION MARUDI CONFRONTATION… ‘ILLEGAL’MINERS DID NOT DECLARE GOLD, TO FACE CHARGES – GGMC Miners who were operating at Marudi Mountains, Region Nine, are to face charges for illegally being there and for not declaring their gold. According to the government regulator, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), it is preparing to file charges against “several raiders” that were engaged in illegal mining activities in the Marudi Mountain. The Marudi Mountains incident has been an explosive one after a video surfaced of a police rank
LINDEN BUSINESSMAN DIES AFTER CRASHING INTO LUMBER TRUCK Leon Barrett, popularly known as ‘Junior,’ and ‘Bryan’, a 61-one-year old businessman, and APNU Region 10 Councilor of 29 Bruce Alley, Christianburg, died Monday morning at the Linden Hospital Complex, despite the valiant efforts of doctors and nurses at the institution to save his life. He was rushed there shortly after slamming into the back of a lumber truck on the Soesdyke-Linden highway, in the vicinity of Amelia’s Ward. According to Barrett’s son, Seon, his father had left home shortly after 05:00 hours, to take his wife, Paulette, to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Seon said that his mother, Paulette, called him about 15 minutes later, informing him that they had been in an accident. “She said that she and me father de gaffing normally when they observed a car coming from the opposite direction- so is pull he pull over in the corner and slam into this truck that was going up the hill. My mother said that they didn’t see the truck, all they see was the car. And they just feel this heavy impact. The woman reportedly lost consciousness immediately. They were both rushed to the Linden Hospital. The distraught young man said that based upon his “deductions” the rear lights on the truck’s trailer were obscured by the lumber, (Continued on page 40)
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Kaieteur News
Help and Shelter
- striving for change in an increasingly violent society By Jenelle Willabus Violence, in all forms, is a social ill that affects everyone in one way or another, hence having seen the effects one organization over the past decade has dedicated all it resources towards combating this scourge. Help and Shelter has been in operation since November 1994 and has become a recognised leader in the fight against violence in Guyana particularly domestic, sexual and child abuse. It is no secret that domestic violence, in particular, takes a heavy toll on an individual’s emotional and physical health and has high social and economic costs for families, communities, workplaces and the country as a whole. The organization was the brainchild of a support group created in 1994 as an adjunct
to the Georgetown Legal Aid Clinic (now Guyana Legal Aid Clinic) and can be considered a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. This vibrant institute is headed by a Coordinator, Ms. Margaret Kertzious, and a Board of Directors. However the day-to-day operations are currently carried out by a staff of eleven very capable and skilled personnel including, Counselor Advocates, counsellors and Public Education Officers. One may ask what one entity can possibly do to fight against an issue of this magnitude. Well to begin with, Help and Shelter, which is located on Homestretch Avenue, has over the years been a place where battered women, children and men have sought much needed help. It is also safe to say it
Some of the reading material available to clients
may have also saved the lives of many who were removed from abusive environs. Help and Shelter has essentially been working to build respect for the rights of all persons to live free of violence or any such threat, by actively fostering high levels of awareness among all sectors, including governmental and nongovernmental. The organization also seeks to inform persons about the prevalence, causes and costs of violence, including in the home and other personal relations; and about alternatives to the use of violence through public education, advocacy and networking with like-minded individuals and groups. Also, through its shelter for abused women and children, Help and Shelter assists persons to develop alternative ways of handling power and resolving conflict, by providing progressively enhanced counseling for victims and perpetrators of violence through counseling services, including a crisis hotline. Ms. Kerztious has been at the helm for the past 13 years, not only because of her love for the job but because she is driven by the entity’s mission and policies as it relates to helping persons. The mission is to bring about behavioural change in societies where, attitudes to the use of violence and practices of violence are transformed. Some other areas of focus include child abuse, trafficking in persons and HIV/AIDS. “We recognized that these social ills are linkages between domestic violence and gender-based violence… they go hand and hand as far as I’m concerned.” On a daily basis, counseling services are offered free of cost. This can be done face-to-face or via a hotline service. But that isn’t
Sunday March 17, 2013
Help and Shelter Coordinator, Margaret Kertzious
all. “We offer public education outreach programmes where we have public education officers and facilitators, who we also have mobilized in different regions to assist us in doing the public education work.” Notably, Help and Shelter provides support to victims who have to go to court. With the assistance of counselor advocates these victims are prepared for such appearances. “A story of abuse involves the police and the court. We have two counselors who go to court every day to support our clients. We try to let them not feel nervous. We try to let them have confidence in themselves so that they can answer questions posed to them by the magistrate or lawyer,” Ms. Kertzious explained. “If at any point during a court hearing the counselor realizes that the intimidation is too much or it is found that a magistrate is insulting or seemingly has an attitude towards the client in any intimidatory form, a record of this is made. It does not only stop there, if it requires the incident being reported to the Chancellor or any other relevant authority, this is done without hesitation,” the Coordinator emphasized, while noting that this has been done in the past and has borne fruit. All in all, Help and Shelter over the years has been able to foster a better relationship with the judicial system through a workshop which was said to have been help for many magistrates. There are even instances where matters are now referred to Help and Shelter by Magistrates. However in instances where Help and Shelter does not have the resources to deal with a client, they use what is
Residents of Kwakwani during a public education programme in the area.
called their networking resource partnership. “We would refer our persons to other organisations, meaning if we have a client and we do not have the services to meet their needs, we refer them to other agencies like Legal Aid, the Ministry of Human Services and now the Child Care and Protection Agency,”. Another remarkable service which Ms. Kertzious boasts about is the organisation’s shelter for abused women and children. It is at a location which is never disclosed for obvious reasons, and is upkept through an annual Government subvention. There is a process which a client must go through before being afforded use of the facility. Ms. Kertzious explained that first a woman must want to be removed from an abusive situation. But this is always not an easy task as most times abused persons go through a series of emotional transformations. “We look at their cases and they have to say definitively that they want to be removed. If they don’t say this, it depends on how the counseling process goes and then we determine if staying in that environment is safe for them.” In addition the person is carefully screened through an intake process and if it is a matter for the police, a counselor advocate accompanies that person to ensure they follow through with a report, and also to lend support. “We saw this necessary since we have had cases where persons are reluctant to go to the police alone or when we send them many of them just abandon the process of getting help. So one of our counselor advocates will accompany that person to the police and even to the hospital once a
medical certificate is needed.” Further, once a person has signed onto to Help and Shelter for assistance this is not done in one visit, the entire process sometimes takes months. For instance, for those women who have been placed in the Shelter they are afforded counseling to help with the healing process having dealt with years of abuse. For those who have not opted for services at the Shelter they are treated with follow-up counseling sessions. This too serves to help them deal with the sometime physical and emotional scars during their years of abuse. In addition, systems are put in place for women with children at the Shelter, including transfers for their school-aged children and self-empowerment programmes. Meanwhile, while some may be of the opinion that Help and Shelter is a women’s organization, Ms. Kertzious insists that this is definitely not so. “All the services rendered to abused women are also available to men…except for them being offered a safe haven at a shelter. Help and Shelter is not a women’s organization, we deal with domestic and gender-based violence, so the acts to protect the victims are gender neutral. When a man comes in here and reports abuse we have all right to attend to him. We attend to them the same way we attend to a woman, we don’t have any different way how we attend to men”, the Coordinator stressed. “If a man’s situation warrants a protection order against his partner that is granted with our assistance. Statistics have shown that an average of 6 to 8 men access our services every month. For (continued on page 35)
Sunday March 17, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Ravi Dev Column
Cheddi Jagan and politics was part of the landscape for a child born in the 1950s - as was Burnham. The first time I remember discussing politics was when my friend Roy Rawlins promised me that ‘we will win next time’. Based on my very hazy memories, this must have been after the 1957 elections and even though Roy and I were bosom buddies at Uitvlugt Church of Scotland School, we both knew what the ‘we’ meant when he made the promise. He assumed that I was a “Jaganite PPP” as he was a “Burnhamite PPP” - or more to the point that our parents were. But the reality was a bit more complex for me. While my father was a firm supporter of Jagan by then, I had been sent to live with my Nana and Nani that year. My Nana was a supporter of Dr Jang Bahadur Singh, whom he’d voted for both in 1947 and 1953. I still remember the arguments between he and my father during family get-togethers. My Nana felt that Dr Jagan, unlike Dr Singh, gave too short a shrift on the cultural questions of the day. My father, then a canecutter who’d just transferred into the new rural constabulary formed to
The roadways continue to be a place of horror but the police may unwittingly be making it a bit safer. There is going to be a campaign to identify those who bought their driver’s licences from sources other than from the authorized source. There will be many arrests but the public would be left aghast, because after the arrests there is nothing. This is the frightening aspect because people would say that there is further corruption. ** The cloud that taints the emotion is still hovering
‘protect’ the Uitvlugt Estate from the rabble (presumably), was much taken by the radical programme of Dr Jagan. He and his friends were excited by the new world that would unfold after the PPP “kicked the white man out of British Guiana”. He had become an Arya Samajist to engender change within the Hindu bloc. He always remembered, also, that Dr Jagan’s “man” George Bowman had attended the funeral of his older brother who’d died suddenly as a result of poor medical care. The riots that began with the ‘sit-ins’ of the 1963 ’80 day’ public workers’ strike was to change many of the old premises. I first experienced tear gas as the police tried to clear protestors at my school. That school soon became off limits to me and new ‘bottom-house’ schools sprouted in other sections of the village. Roy and my other African friends became strangers as the village became segregated following ethnic cleansing by both ‘sides’. But most interesting was the change in the attitude of my grandfather towards Jagan: in the 1964 elections he and my Nani both voted PPP. One had to pick one’s
side. By then there was no choice in how one voted: biology became (political) destiny. Jagan was now the man for Indians. However those same Indians never tired of complaining about “Jagan trying to please everyone” a code for his insistence on multiracial politics. Jagan’s ouster in 1964 ‘cheated not defeated” further forced Indians under the PPP’s tent because of the PNC’s “jobs for the boys’ policy. Burnham insisted that his decisions were ‘political’ and not ‘racial’. To Indians it was a distinction without a difference. I left Guyana in 1972 having never met Jagan or joined the PYO as most of my friends in the village did. The reductionism of communist ideology never appealed to my Hindu sensibilities even as a youth. I’d been made president of my village mandir at the age of sixteen and was pretty full of myself as a ‘vedantist’. I first encountered Dr Jagan a decade later when I attended a lecture by him at the seedy 14th St. & 6th Ave “Casas de las Americas” building. As I have written before, he responded to my
over the coast. The result is that there would be two other murders in the vicinity of the capital. One of these murders would result from an indiscretion. But it is the second that would set tongues wagging. A simple conversation
would escalate into something that should have never been. ** The powers that be are going to be very angry over what has turned out to be a dangerous expose. The allocation of radio signals is going to split the country along racial lines, something that everyone, including the members of the international community, wants to see disappear. The final word is that there are those in the corridors of power who want to perpetuate the race card.
questioning that violence in the Guyanese context would precipitate a race war and he was opposed to that. He wasn’t afraid to be called a ‘coward’. I next met him towards the end of the ‘80s when I came as part of the organising committee of GOPIO to invite him (and others) to the 1989 inaugural gathering at the Sheraton in NYC. I was to have several conversations with him at Freedom House and then in New York during the Conference. He was an avowed Marxist in his analyses and would use whatever fora available to bring pressure on the PNC to agree to free and fair elections. But he could not avoid the racial
consequences of the PNC’s rule. At the conference, he was to meet and make his case to Ron Brown, then chairman of the Democratic Party. When I asked him for advice on my return to Guyana, by then gathering that I was “Indian oriented’, he suggested that I take on “bourgeois’ rich Indians like “Hemraj Kissoon”. Hemraj and some other Guyanese Indian businessmen including Yesu Persaud, had attended the conference. Unlike many others, he never took a racial position even in private. I was to meet him several times subsequently in Guyana, when I attempted to organise a Conference on
Ravi Dev
“Race and Politics in Guyana’. Interestingly, on behalf of the PPP he agreed, as did Malcolm Parris on behalf of the PNC. It was the WPA that balked and tanked the initiative. I am still amazed that some in the present day would suggest that he was ‘racial’. (My deepest condolences to the family of Wendell George. He was a true Guyanese patriot.)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 17, 2013
One thousand, four hundred and forty-eight dead Another 115 dead were added to the death toll last year, 2012. This figure – a rough average of about a dozen deaths every month – represents only the number of persons killed. Thousands more have suffered injuries or lost limbs as a result of traffic accidents which are among the top ten leading causes of death and account for the greatest number of disabilities in Guyana. The numbers vary from year to year but the conditions under which our citizens die remain similar. The US Department of State still warns its citizens visiting this country: “Driving in Guyana can be potentially very hazardous. The rate of traffic accident fatalities in Guyana is higher than in the United States. Cars, large commercial vehicles, horse drawn carts, bicyclists, motorcycles, free range livestock, stray dogs, pedestrians, aggressive “mini-buses” and sleeping animals all share narrow, poorly maintained roads. Aggressive, speeding vehicles on the same roads
One thousand, four hundred and forty-eight persons were killed in fatal traffic accidents on Guyana’s roadways under the People’s Progressive Party Civic administration in the decade 2002-2011:
with slow-moving vehicles makes driving in Guyana especially dangerous. Driving at unsafe speeds, reckless driving, tail-gating, quick stops without signaling, passing at intersections, and passing on crowded streets is commonplace. Driving at night poses additional concerns as many roads are not lit, some drivers do not lower high beam lights, livestock sleep on the road and many pedestrians congregate by the roadside. You should exercise caution at all times while driving and avoid driving outside of Georgetown at night when possible. The Traffic Division of Guyana’s National Police Force is responsible for road safety but is ill-trained and ill-equipped.” Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, a former Minister of Health, once disclosed that of the
6,000-odd deaths Guyana experiences every year, road accidents are the seventh leading cause. He also estimated that the cost of care for accident victims amounts to more than $100M per year at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation alone and complained that an average of 18 road accident victims per week received surgery at the Georgetown and New Amsterdam Public Hospitals. Fatalities on the roads fit into a fairly clear framework. First, many occur at night or on weekends and on open stretches of country road. High-risk rural areas, however, attract low-level attention from the traffic police. Relatively few in number, despite the high accident death rate, traffic policemen are most visible at urban car parks and bus terminals. They work less at
night and do not have enough motorcycles to reach to the out-of-town trouble spots. Second, it is quite evident that there are many unqualified and incompetent drivers who are not fit to drive taxis and buses. There is, however, no programme for identifying and taking them out of the driving seats. No countrywide computer database has been established to authenticate their drivers’ licences - a measure that requires cooperation between the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Revenue Authority. Third, as John Daniels, a former Guyana Police Force Traffic Chief admitted while speaking at the start of the “Decade of Action for Road Safety, 2011-2020,” a large number of accidents can be blamed on persons driving under the influence of alcohol
and speeding. Fourth, there are insufficient trained personnel to certify the roadworthiness of the growing number of private and commercial vehicles and there is inadequate special equipment to determine cases of speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol. The People’s National Congress Reform continues to call for the establishment of an independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate road traffic accidents and to make recommendations for saving lives. Such a Commission of Inquiry must insist that: · Roads, especially newlyrepaired or resurfaced ones, are correctly marked and that road signs are erected where they could be seen. · Pavements, pedestrian crossings and sidewalks are clearly demarcated enabling
pedestrians to move safely from street to street. · Public transport vehicles, particularly minibuses and taxis, are inspected rigorously for mechanical defects. · Parked trailers carrying logs, sand and other materials are lit and not permitted on public highways. · Public entertainment, village markets and drying fish and paddy are not permitted within three metres of roadways. · Shipping containers, derelict vehicles and building materials such as sand, stone and wood are not permitted on roadways. · Drivers of minibuses, hire cars and taxis are required to qualify for special “commercial driver” licences which emphasise safety, skill and suitability for holding responsibility for the lives of passengers. Guyana’s road safety problem, as the records prove, has been aggravated by the fact that ‘new’ vehicles are being added to the roads at an increasing rate, (Continued on page 36)
Sunday March 17, 2013
Kaieteur News
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MY COLUMN
Who says that Jagdeo cared about all the people? Radio is perhaps the most convenient of the means of communication. Since its somewhat accidental discovery it has taken the world by storm. Drivers find it a convenient companion as they travel, people in remote lands keep abreast of developments in every corner of the world through radio and most of all it allows for the easy dissemination of information. Not so long ago people in Guyana kept abreast with the rest of the world through radio. Many were the nights
when neighbours gathered around the single radio around for such simple delights of soap operas, and the pop tunes. The information that most people wanted were the announcements of deaths and the messages. The sports fanatics followed every detail, be it boxing or cricket. The people at the other end had a command of language. They had to be very good to transmit the images they were seeing through the use of words. Radio made for the
development of people. I shall not attempt to examine the other uses because for many today, they are ancient. It is true that radio is not as pervasive as it once was. The telephone, particularly the cellular phone which has become smarter to the point that it is a radio, a telephone and an encyclopedia all in one, has taken the pride of place. Of course the phone is much more, not to speak about its role as link for social gatherings. But radio is still the
HELP AND SHELTER... From page 32 last year, out of four hundred new clients in excess of ninety were men who were abused by their partner. If these cases require being reported to the police this is also done.” Notably the services offered by this organization are not limited to Georgetown, where it is based. Through its outreach programmes other regions are involved, but unfortunately on a limited scale because of funding. “In the past the organization was able to reach other administrative regions, but as it obtains now our services only extend to Region 3. We are in the process of sending out proposals to donor agencies for funding. The outreach programmes which are ongoing are funded by USAID under the GenderBased Violence Project and European Union Project on Human Rights,”m Ms. Kertzious disclosed. For the Coordinator this is one of the organisation’s biggest challenges as she feels their work is being curtailed. “For the public education programme over the past three years we were not able to attract any major donor, so we feel that the lack of funding has really put us in a difficult position to do the work we really need to do in other regions and other communities.” Ms. Kertzious explained that this aspect of their service is important to them and the society as large, since it serves to let persons know what is on offer and also helps persons to change their attitude towards domestic violence and the practices of violence and how to operate with their partner without violence. Meanwhile, as it relates to the services offered to
children, this has been somewhat scaled down for the organization since the establishment of the Child Care and Protection Agency. Nonetheless, they still accept cases and render assistance whenever they are called upon to do so. In addition, like every other organization, being a part of Help and Shelter has it downside, since as human beings violence affects us all. Staffers at the organization are sometimes faced with clients, who would have opted out of getting help, turning up dead at the hands of their partner with whom they chose to reunite. In some instances clients are grievously injured. Ms. Kertzious recounted one case which has impacted her, where the abusive partner died as a result of a heart attack having been told that he would be heading to jail for his act of brutality towards his partner. “It all started a Saturday morning when a woman called in to our hotline seeking assistance having suffered years of domestic violence. With the help of our counselors the woman made up her mind to report all the incidents of abuse, which she never did prior to contacting Help and Shelter. Eventually that woman’s plight engaged the attention of the Police and subsequently the Magistrates’ Court. “All of the woman’s past reports to the police were tendered in court against her partner, and the Magistrate used it against him. During one court hearing the man was informed by the magistrate that he would be sent to jail since a strong case had been made out against him. Having heard this, the man suffered a heart attack and subsequently died. This was indeed devastating for his partner as well as our staffers.
Today the woman involved is an advocate for Help and Shelter and shares her story with other women.” Additionally, Help and Shelter runs a 24-hour hotline service where persons can call in and access free counseling if they do not want to come in face to face. In most instances, these persons are asked to visit the organization for improved assistance. CONFIDENTIALITY The question of confidentiality maybe a big one for persons who are thinking about accessing the services of Help and Shelter, b u t a c c ording to Ms. Kertzious, it is one of the organisation’s biggest priorities. As a matter of fact, the breach of confidentiality is a ground for dismissal and this is a clause in the employment contract for each employee. In the past, which dates back to more than a decade ago, there were instances where persons were asked to leave the entity because of breach of confidentiality. In addition, training is provided for staffers in this area. “In the event that a client needs his or her file to be removed from the organization to be used in a court, this can only be done with a request from the court. Only then the file is released, after the client would have signed a waiver of confidentiality. Each file is stored in a confidential place where only authorized persons are allowed.” In the meantime, Help and Shelter and the hard working staff remain committed towards alleviating the scourge of violence in our society with the aim being to see more behavioural changes and to get the message across about communication in a nonviolent manner.
easiest of the mass communication systems. Because of its capability to transmit messages over long distances to a multitude of people at the same time it became a worthwhile tool for politicians and entertainers alike. Guyana had many radios. There were the so-called ham radios which allowed private operators to listen to chats and other information from around the world. The first news out of Grenada after Hurricane Hugo came via ham radio. But I am getting ahead of what I really want to look at. Guyanese get almost all of their ready news from radio. In other countries people are informed of traffic jams, weather conditions, and the news by radio as they drive. When planes went into the World Trade Centre, radio gave those on the road immediate information and probably saved more lives because those who would have been in the vicinity a few minutes later, diverted. In Guyana, people are provided with what passes for news on television and most get these pieces of information at nights, hours after the event would have happened. The state radio, because of its misconceived role, provides tidbits on what the government wants to be known on the hour. But they cannot compete with the private media. It took decades, but the government has come to recognize that its statecontrolled media facilities are no match for the private media who, though few, do make an impact on the people of the
country. It is widely believed that the private media had so significant impact on the nation that they influenced the final outcome that saw the government, for the first time, having a parliamentary minority. During his tenure as President, Bharrat Jagdeo recognized that he had an uphill task to maintain his grip on information. Many believe that he was emulating Forbes Burnham who had an ubiquitous presence in the country by way of the only daily newspaper and the only radio station. The nation, for the most part heard what he wanted them to hear. Desmond Hoyte opened up the media and before he died there were many private newspapers and television stations. More voices were heard with different messages. However, the most pervasive of them, radio, remained in Government hands. Jagdeo had a television station controlled by Robert Persaud, three others by sympathisers of his party, but he still had to wonder at the power of the private media. The result is that he got a newspaper going, but that is still to get off the ground. Before he demitted office he decided to liberalise radio. This decision was hailed until Jagdeo kept his promise. He picked his friends, and close associates to own these new channels. Again he wanted to ensure that his message and that of his party reach everyone at the same time. The private media would have to catch up some twelve hours later and Jagdeo, being a clever man, knew the advantage of time.
Adam Harris It did not matter that there were numerous pending applications by people who seriously wanted radio to give people something other than government propaganda. Jagdeo handpicked those who would get radio. The insult to those who had applied more than a decade ago was that Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop, got five channels. Jagdeo’s party got five more and Robert Persaud got five. What does this tell us? Jagdeo wants to control the airwaves and he calls this acting in the best interest of the people. Chandra Narine Sharma who was moved to a television channel that automatically accommodated a radio frequency was actually told that he could not advertise his radio. Anthony Vieira, who was sick of the sole state radio station, opted to start his broadcast. The result was that the government swooped down on him and seized his radio. Vieira moved to the courts and found that he had a right to broadcast. That is a landmark decision and I am surprised that no other individual has opted to capitalize on that court ruling. Had they done so this mass allocation of radio stations to friends and family would not have occurred. (Continued on page 37)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 17, 2013
Restoring Georgetown - All must be involved! (Extracts from a speech to the National Assembly on the Motion by Cathy Hughes M.P) “It is my pleasure today to rise to support this important and timely motion “The restoration of Georgetown” on behalf of the Alliance For Change. I recognize that each of us honourable members sitting in this house, bring our individual, community and often political positions on a range of issues. Nonetheless, I am optimistic that when one closely examines the motion “The Restoration of Georgetown” to its once pristine glory, is a task that we should all be committed to finding real solutions to and consensus on, After all Georgetown is our Capital City, the seat of our Government, home to our parliament, historic law court, cathedrals, churches, temples and mosques and home to more than 20% of our population. We therefore have the responsibility to protect and preserve this great city that was handed to us and to ensure that we leave it
intact to successive generations of Guyanese. I am confident that none us would want to go down in history as ignoring, destroying, or failing to bring back from the precipice of destruction our city….Georgetown. This, therefore, is not a political issue but one that each and every Guyanese can and MUST rally around with a united commitment to taking responsible for the role each of us plays in this unfolding tragedy. Several organisations over the last ten years have attempted to clean up and find solutions to the smothering of the city under mounting piles of garbage. In each attempt the results have been limited and unsustainable. I feel that with this motion this parliament has a unique opportunity to declare to all Guyana that this unfolding disaster has got to stop and we have a responsibility to restore our city now. This must be done for our continued good health, and most importantly for our personal pride as Guyanese. I hold my head in shame
Cathy Hughes M.P when visitors to our country seek explanations as to why the city is so filthy. For the dirt and filth is a reflection of each of us…Our children, teenagers, adults and pensioners, each of us that contributes to this mammoth problem. I recognize that the entity to deal with most of these challenges is the City Council. I also recognize that the city has an expanding population that brings strain to an aging infrastructure and dwindling revenues, vis-à-vis rising costs and lower tax collection
revenues, all of which pose real and present dangers. Now is the time to implement the numerous suggestions put forward to increase the revenue base of the City Council. Parking meters, a municipal lottery, revenue to be gained by the erection of acceptable billboards on sites, are some of the many suggestions. Not to mention the revenues from the lotto fund and the $1.8 billion collected so far as an environmental tax that can be used for restoration of our city. I am well aware that criticism will be laid against the City Council, others against the government with claims that they do not pay their taxes on time. Many would even suggest that honourable Ministers speaking on this motion have no moral authority to bellyache about the ills of the City Council and the mismanagement of the municipality when the government has failed to hold local government elections in 19 years! We in the AFC are critical of the way the City Council operates, and we are aware of mismanagement and the inefficiencies, as well as the corruption, but the government cannot remove itself from blame. The cure is local government elections, which the PPP government refuses to hold. Government Member of Parliament the honourable Mr. Hamilton said that the problem is not garbage but solid waste. He forgets that the government benefited from a $20 million US solid waste project and up to this day has shelved a draft solid waste management law and has refused to set up a solid waste management authority with powers to prosecute. The government has also failed to introduce regulation for the proper disposal of toxic
medical and hazardous waste and has placed citizens safety in jeopardy as we saw recently in Red Village. So let’s stop the scapegoating! We in the AFC are not going to waste time debating where to lay blame. For a wise woman…Hillary Clinton in fact once said “ Every wasted moment looking back, prevents us from moving forward! “. The current blame game leaves us all paralyzed, living in filth and fearing an outbreak of something anytime. This is a “To Do “motion and we in the AFC would like to suggest that we reconsider the sub dividing of the city into wards as was done before. Let us also commit to examining new ways our municipalities can be managed in the future. We would like to further suggest that an architectural landscape of Guyana be commissioned by our architects and engineers so we can create a vision of our city in the next 50 years, with careful consideration for spaces we should be allocating for parking and recreational activities. Let’s put on the table the hundreds of plans and proposals gathering dust in offices across Georgetown that highlight innovative plans for the development of the Seawall and other prime locations. Now to the greater tourism potential that is possible if our city is restored. A review of the UNESCO’s world heritage website reminds us that as far back as 1995, and later in 2005, locations in Guyana have been placed tentatively on a list for possible acceptance as World Heritage Sites. UNESCO’s world heritage site listing grants worldwide recognition to locations and historical monuments deemed to be of outstanding universal
value. Today there are 962 such locations across the world. In the Caribbean, world heritage sites include- the Barrier Reef reserve in Belize, the Piton’s management area in St. Lucia and in Suriname, the central Suriname National Reserve and the historic Inner City of Paramaribo. We are fortunate that in Guyana we have 5 strong possibilities for world heritage site listing and three of the five possibilities are located in Georgetown. These are City Hall Georgetown, Fort Zeelandia including the Port of Policy in the Essequibo, what is called “Plantation Georgetown” structures and historic buildings, Shell Beach on the Essequibo coast and finally St. George’s Cathedral. The possibilities for increased tourism revenues and most importantly the success stories of listed locations being restored with the invaluable assistance from UNESCO are many. The process of restoring Georgetown will assist in moving Guyana’s sites from a tentative to a recognised listing. I have expressed on many occasions my willingness to work with the Tourism Minister on the development of the tourism sector. This spirit of cooperation and working towards making our city better for all Guyanese, I am convinced, is one area we can find consensus on. With continuing education and awareness, the implementation of sorting and recycling at the home of citizens, and the implementation of solutions to the myriad issues we are discussing today, we can restore the city of Georgetown. With public and private sector, the city council, government and Guyanese citizens of all ages on board we will succeed. Thank you!
One thousand, four hundred... From page 34 estimated at about 1,000 per month. Too many vehicles travel too fast and far too few traffic policemen are deployed on the rural roadways where and when speeding is rampant, both by day and night. Credible complaints of police
bribery and ‘shakedowns’ and other forms of corruption are rampant and reduce policemen’s credibility and enforcement capability. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force have a lot more work to do to make our roads safe for our citizens.
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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
Kennard’s kennedya. Guyana’s guayacan I really got to know the Guyanese society when I became a university freshman. Prior to that, I was an emaciated, disheveled, dirt poor, black-skinned boy from Durban Street, Wortmanville living on the edge. I had some exposure before I went into UG because I was a part of the Movement Against Oppression (MAO) in Tiger Bay and got an opportunity to talk to people like Clive Thomas, Josh Ramsammy, Andaiye etc. It was at MAO, I met Brian Rodway who had undue influence on me. I think my antibureaucratic bohemian style came from my admiration of Brian. My real awakening began as a history major at UG. There I got entry into the room of Guyanese society beyond the Turkeyen campus. While a student at UG, the WPA as an organization was born and I was fortunate to be part of it. What I saw of Guyanese society from thereon was very disappointing. Back then, I thought that Guyana needed saving. I still do, but maybe it would never be saved. Dialectically, there is nothing that could make Guyana have or not have a future. People make the dialectic, as Jean Paul Sartre always said, and therefore I believe we can still change Guyana. What I saw from 1974 when I went into UG and the WPA was a tragic country with tragic forms of hypocrisy. Nothing has changed since then. Yes, people have shown courage in trying to transform Guyana and in the process they have changed some of us. Some of us have taken up where they have left off and the cycle goes on. Brave ones have fought
and we should never be insulting, cynical, flippant or even forgetful about their sacrifice. The list is too long to mention, but surely Walter Rodney comes in for special commendation. From 1957 to 2013, indomitable Guyanese have fought authoritarian governments in the name of justice and human rights but half a century after, we must still ask some heart-breaking questions; can this country bring freedom to its people? Can the poor ever have justice? Can there ever be a secure future for this angstriddled nation? It is still fresh in our memory, so we are yet to internalize the horror of it, but the meagre price put on the life of three innocent protestors shot to death by the police in a demonstration last year in Linden points clearly to the fact that the fiftyyear-old post-colonial tragedy of Guyana rages on in all its tempestuous fury. I know some readers may object to the strange caption of this column, but it refers to the hard position of Justice Kennard and the hard heart of this nation. We are yet to hear from Justice Claudette Singh on her opinion of the eight million Guyana dollars awarded to the relatives of the three murdered protestors, but Justice Kennard has defended it publicly. Is it possible in today’s world for a man who once headed the judiciary of a CARICOM state to openly defend the award of 40 thousand American dollars (one million Guyana dollars equivalent to five thousand American) as compensation for the lives of three citizens? Can one’s imagination go so far as to contemplate such a primitive monstrosity? People
Who says that... From page 35 There is the contention that the National Frequency Management Unit, which is responsible for allocating the spectrum, would have deemed squatting illegal, and would have moved against the radio. But Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon actually told the nation that the NFMU is a rubber stamp. He said that
it can never tell the government not to or to refuse any move by the government. Desmond Hoyte knew about the power of radio and he got Jagdeo to agree that nothing would be done until there was a Broadcasting Authority. Jagdeo turned his back on that promise to satisfy his penchant for nepotism.
who sue their governments for wrongful dismissal, accident due to neglect, and a whole range of other sins get more than US$40,000. A scientist wrongly held in mistake for the Unabomber sued the American government and received US$2M. The most bizarre bestiality of that award is that a protestor’s life was worth two million dollars while a businessman was assigned $400,000 for a damaged truck by the same commissioners.
This is what Guyana has come to. In literature we call this a Kafkaesque nightmare. The award has been made, Justice Kennard has defended his role in the amount decided upon, and Roger Luncheon has exclaimed that the sum will not be upped. If you think that is hard to accept, then what about the attitude of the Guyanese people. Can any nation be so hard-hearted? We are beginning to see the fading of this injustice. Guyanese are getting on with
their lives. They are so heartless that they are prepared to show no emotion, no feeling, no protest on the final insult of our post-colonial masters. The compensation is ironic and reminds us of how less caring our non-white governors are than the white man. I believe the colonial governor would have asked London to pay far more than US$40,000. Our next show of excitement is the budget debate. Then the scene
Frederick Kissoon moves to some other form of governmental depravity and gone from our memory will be the tragedy of three lives that were worth eight million Guyana dollars.
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Learn about Dengue Fever By Krista Brooks Nursey was asked the other day about dengue fever by someone who worked out in the interior. He wasn’t sure how to treat the disease or what it is really. Since anyone can be affected by dengue, Nursey though it might be helpful to share a little information about the disease with all of you. Dengue fever is a virus, which means it uses the cells in your body to make more of itself. We learned a few weeks back that you can’t just take tablets to kill a virus in your body like you can do with a bacterial infection. So unfortunately, when you get dengue, you have to let the virus do its thing. Nursey says that sometimes dengue fever is called the “bone crushing” disease, not because it actually crushes your bones, but you can tell you have it because you get really bad muscle aches and pains. The dengue fever virus is carried by mosquitos. A person gets dengue when a mosquito carrying the virus bites them. You cannot get dengue from another person. Some symptoms include very high fevers above 103oF or 39oC, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, bad feelings, vomiting, swollen glands or rash. These symptoms can last for 2 to 7 days. If you get bad feelings, vomiting, and severe belly pains 24 hours after the fever breaks, you could have a more serious condition called severe
Krista Brooks dengue and should go to the hospital. Since you can’t really do anything to treat normal dengue fever, the best you can do is treat the fever and muscle aches and pains. A person can take Tylenol or a tablet with an active ingredient called acetaminophen for their fever and pains. It is also important to give the person lots of water because with a high fever people are losing a lot of fluids through sweat. If someone gets very dehydrated it can cause problems. It is best to let the person get plenty of rest until their fever has broken for over 24 hours. Nursey says it is important to recognize the difference between dengue and malaria, especially for people that work in the interior. Malaria can be a much more serious sickness that needs to be treated right away. All two are carried by mosquitos. The symptoms for both sicknesses at first are the same with fever, chills,
headaches. The difference is that the fever with malaria goes in cycles. There is the cold stage, the hot stage, and then the sweating stage that occur every few days depending on which type of malaria you might have. With dengue, the fever is steady for up to 7 days. If you are unsure which type of illness you might have, it is best to go to the hospital to do a malaria swab and dengue test. Unfortunately, there are no vaccines to prevent dengue or malaria so you have to recognize the symptoms. If you can (although they are everywhere) try to avoid getting bit by mosquitos by wearing long, light coloured clothing and sleeping with a bed net. Mosquito spray can also help. The good thing is that if you are infected by one type of dengue fever, you can’t get that type back again. There are four different types of dengue fever. Nursey hopes you learned a lot about dengue fever. Remember that knowledge is a tool you can use to keep you healthy and safe! I will be back next week to tell you more interesting things that Nursey says. Until then! If you have any questions about dengue fever or any other health issues please em a i l nurseysaysguyana@gmail.com. Krista Brooks is a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer working with the School of Nursing, which trains Nursing Assistants, Professional Nurses, and Midwifery Students.
Prostate cancer ‘damages sex life’ Around 160,000 men in the UK have been left with little or no sex life after treatment for prostate cancer, the Macmillan Cancer Support charity says. It suggested rising cancer rates meant cases could more than double by 2030. Yet many patients could be helped if more services were available on the NHS, it said. Erectile dysfunction is a potential side-effect of surgery, radiotherapy and hormone therapy used to treat the condition. More than 40,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK each year. In some there may be permanent nerve damage, meaning they cannot maintain an erection. In others the physical problem can be temporary while for some the treatment has led to a psychological barrier to sex. Two in three prostate cancer patients say they are unable to get an erection.
Macmillan said men also needed to feel they could seek help when they were having problems with sex after their treatment. Jim Andrews, 63, a prostate cancer survivor from London, said his first reaction to his diagnosis of the disease was that it would kill him. “The thought of libidokilling drugs and sexual dysfunction still seemed minor in comparison to the alternative. “By the time I realised I was likely to survive, my sex life had been destroyed. I was
devastated. “It was not a subject that any professional talked to me about. It’s been a lonely journey as no-one talks about it.” Professor Jane Maher, chief medical officer of Macmillan Cancer Support, said the figures showed that this was a major problem facing patients after their treatment and not enough was being done. “The sheer volume of men affected shows the need for careful discussions before treatment.
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From page 31 which would have been hanging downward as the vehicle climbed the hill. Added to that, he pointed out, was the fact that the place was very foggy. WEDNESDAY EDITION TIGI, PSC TEAM UP TO FIGHT CORRUPTION The Private Sector Commission (PSC) and Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI) are teaming up to fight corruption. “The perception of corruption of Guyana is too important to be ignored and negatively impacts on business and investment,” the organizations said in a joint statement Tuesday. They have agreed to collaborate on the appointment of Commissioners for the Public Procurement Commission, and the provision of adequate resources for its effective functioning; the appointment of Commissioners for the Integrity Commission and the provision of adequate resources for its effective functioning; tackling money laundering; the appointment of an Ombudsman; and bringing into operation the Access to Information Act. “Both parties agreed that as key stakeholders it was important that the PSC and TIGI collaborate their efforts aimed at eradicating corruption in Guyana and meet regularly to discuss progress as well as matters of mutual interest.” The PSC and TIGI, which is the local contact for Transparency International, met recently at the request of the PSC to discuss the Commission’s concerns about the low ranking of Guyana on Transparency International’s 2012 Annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). ANY BUYER OF MARRIOTT WILLHAVE TO PAY FAR MORE THAN US$51M – CHRIS RAM Any plans to sell the Marriott-branded hotel currently under construction in Kingston will have to include it being valued far in excess of the US$51M it is now reportedly costing. A number of undisclosed concessions, including duty free allowances, have been granted in relation to the project, which in dollar terms will push the final price way above the US$51M price tag. Under the country’s investment regulations, investors can apply through the Guyana Office For Investment (Go-Invest) for special conditions, including a waiver on taxes for a specific time; duty free concessions
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on vehicles and building materials and a host of other benefits. Government has recently said it is the intention to sell it once it is completed. Writing in his Sunday business column in the Stabroek News, accountant/ lawyer Christopher Ram argued that at first glance the hotel, construction of which is being managed by a government-owned company, would have to be valued much more than the actual amounts paid to the contractor. “And surely those concessions which Mr. (Winston) Brassington has negotiated from Go-Invest have a huge value which must be factored in any price. The selling price of the shares in the hotel should therefore exceed the actual cost giving rise to a huge profit. Of course, Director Brassington will argue, quite incorrectly, that the profit belongs to the company and can only be distributed by way of dividends.” THURSDAY EDITION US WANTS ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS AGAINST CORRUPT MONEY The United States government has again called for Guyana to act against corrupt money. “The United States looks forward to tangible progress on…enforcement of laws against money laundering and financial crimes,” states the recently released 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR). The report stated that as a matter of policy, the Government of Guyana does not encourage or facilitate the illicit production or distribution of narcotic or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances, or the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions. However, the report said that while Guyana is a party to the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, it has not fully implemented provisions, “such as the seizure of property obtained through corruption.” The report mainly dealt with drug trafficking and pointed to the illicit drug trafficking as having the potential to undermine key institutions in the country. “The influence of narcotics trafficking is evident in the political and criminal justice systems,” the report stated. It identified Guyana as a transit country for cocaine destined for the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and West Africa. According to the report, cocaine originating in
Sunday March 17, 2013
Colombia is smuggled to Venezuela and onward to Guyana by sea or air. The value of cocaine seized by Guyanese authorities in 2011 totaled US$42 million. BRITISH NATIONAL SAYS HE FOUND POUCH WITH CAN$10,500, NOT POLICE The return of a pouch containing Can$10,500 and a Passport to an elderly Canadian-based Guyanese, may not be as straightforward as was previously reported. The police had taken credit for the recovery of the lost pouch. They claimed that one of their Detectives, Constables Alvin Fraser found it and handed it back to its owner. It has now been revealed that someone other than the policeman found it. This newspaper was contacted Wednesday evening via telephone by British national, Aubyn Freeman, who expressed surprise that the policeman could claim credit for the find since it was he (Freeman) who found the pouch and handed it over to the police. Freeman, who was returning to London on Caribbean Airlines flight 424 via Trinidad on Tuesday afternoon after spending his holidays here, described in detail how he found the pouch belonging to 78-year old Abdool Haleem. “I went into the toilet to change because I had on shorts, so I went to the last cubicle. It was a blue pouch and I saw it and I could tell that it had a passport inside, so I went to the girl handed it over. She was just before the area where you check-in,” said Freeman whose father is a Guyanese from the island of Leguan. “I actually pointed out to my friend that the woman was holding on to the pouch without announcing it on the public address system,” Freeman added. FRIDAY EDITION JAGDEO SHARES OUT AIRWAVES TO FRIENDS Just before he left office, former President Bharrat Jagdeo farmed out the airwaves for his friends, those close to the government and a few others, it was revealed in the National Assembly on Thursday. This action was an abuse of power, said one parliamentarian. Further, it was revealed that while the government has been inviting applications for TV stations, just a few more channels are available to be assigned. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds revealed that Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop, the man Jagdeo publicly declared to be
Dead: Joseph Bagot his best friend, has Channel 28 and three other links to that station, which could effectively allow him to broadcast across the country. Further, Hinds made it clear that the very month Jagdeo left office (November 2011) he, Jagdeo, gave Dr Ramroop five radio frequencies. The President acts as the Minister of Information and it is under his hand that licences are issued. The Prime Minister was responding to questions posed by Cathy Hughes, Parliamentarian with the Alliance for Change. Her questions were sparked by mounting controversy over the granting of radio and TV licences, particularly to Ramroop and China Central TV. On Thursday, Hinds said that China Central TV does not have a licence; that its programmes are broadcast on channels assigned to NCN. FARMER HACKS WIFE TO DEATH, HANGS SELF Despite the intense focus being duly placed on domestic violence and spousal abuse, the unacceptable scourge continued Thursday with the brutal murder of a woman by her husband who then took his own life. Residents of the quiet village of Philippi, Corentyne, Berbice, were stunned when at around 1700 hrs, the bodies were discovered in the couple’s home at Lot 5 Philippi. The mutilated body of Samantha Williams-Bagot, 37, a mother of four, was found crouched in a corner of a blood-spattered bedroom in her home with multiple chop wounds to all parts of her body. Her husband of 14 years, Joseph Bagot, 38, a farmer, was found hanging from a cord in the kitchen of their newly constructed house. The couple was reportedly experiencing domestic issues for quite some time. POLITICAL POSTURING COULD UNDERMINE
Dead: Samantha Bagot NATIONAL SECURITY – PRESIDENT RAMOTAR President Donald Ramotar on Thursday appealed for an end to political posturing that could undermine the nation’s security. The Head of State was delivering the feature address at the formal opening of the Annual Police Officers’ Conference at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, during which he said that political figures on both sides of the divide must not allow politics to derail Guyana’s security. “We must not ever feel that we can have any advantage by using any kind of crime or criminal elements in our political activities,” President Ramotar said. In emphasizing the need for political cohesiveness with regards to security, the president said that criminal elements will capitalize on any political disunity. “I suppose that stats could be generated to show that whenever you have any kind of political instability, opportunistic types of crimes take place,” he stated, while pointing to events that occurred at Agricola several months ago. The President is of the view that the mini riots that occurred on the East Bank of Demerara following the shooting of a teenager by the police were fuelled by political disunity. “If there is one thing that we should unite around, it is that we must unite around creating better security for our people in our society and we must not allow criminals to feel that they could be protected by one side or the other,” the President told an audience that included Opposition Leader Brigadier (rtd) David Granger. SATURDAY EDITION PM HINDS FUMBLES ON MULTIPLE BROADCAST FREQUENCIES Prime Minister Samuel Hinds on Friday said that he sees no “big issue” over the granting of multiple broadcast
frequencies to favourites of the government and former President Bharrat Jagdeo. Hinds sought to explain that multiple frequencies were granted so that the programming of the station could be relayed to other parts of the country. But telecommunications experts say the Prime Minister does not really know what he is talking about. Hinds on Thursday disclosed that three entities were given five radio frequencies each. These are TVG, owned by Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop, the best friend of former President Jagdeo; Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting using a contact name Omar Lochan, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment under Minister Robert Persaud; and New Guyana Company Limited, owned by the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), with the contact given as Dharamkumar Seeraj, a Member of Parliament for the PPP. Hinds’s explanation that one station would operate the frequencies does not hold weight, experts say, since the one station can use another mechanism to relay its programming and does not necessarily need a frequency to do so. What Jagdeo’s government did therefore was to grab fifteen frequencies, apart from those assigned to the state broadcaster, NCN, and others close to the government. As a result, it lessens other frequencies that are available if others are interested in radio broadcasts. Further, those given multiple radio frequencies and links for television broadcast can use those to set up mini radio and TV stations, since they can de-link from their main transmission and send out whatever they want in different areas of the country. While seeking to offer an explanation, the Prime Minister admitted that there were technical issues.
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The Abigail Column Some people are irredeemably hopeless
DEARABIGAIL, My best friend of nineplus years is in a relationship with a man who has a wife and four kids with different women. He has been in and trouble with the police for the past two years, and I am concerned because she drops everything to wait for his phone calls. She has been seeing him
on and off for four years, and he always hurts her. She allows him to ride her motorcycle and take her money. She’s told me she would like to have his child. He has already made it clear to everyone around her that he is using her ... and she is allowing it. I would like to tell her how I really feel about him, and that she’s only setting herself up for more heartache, but she thinks they are soul mates. She is almost 30, and I can’t understand why she is still so blind after all these years. Concerned Friend
Dear Concerned Friend, If I hear of one more good-for-nothing who is someone’s “soul mate,” I’m gonna throw up. It has become such a trite word. My honest opinion is that you could tell your friend that this man is a modern-day ‘Jack the Ripper’ and it wouldn’t make any difference. It’s too bad she doesn’t have any sense, not to mention judgment, but there you are. Some things, and some people, are irredeemably hopeless.
Sunday March 17, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): You may be tired of relying on your intuition and look forward to basing decisions on more reliable information once again. The waters that have passed under your bridge are already heading out to open sea, so let go of whatever has happened in the recent past. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20): You’re able to speak directly from your heart now, even if you are still unsure how you plan to fulfill your personal needs. GEMINI (May 21–June 20): You’re particularly sensitive to change now as your key planet Mercury turns direct on the same day the Moon returns to your sign. CANCER (June 21–July 22): You may feel a special connection to your past as dreams and fantasies capture your imagination. Ultimately, you’re not very interested in looking back; you have your mind set on an upcoming adventure. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22): Your need to communicate is accentuated today, but it may not yet be apparent to anyone else. You might not say everything you are thinking, even if you know what’s going on. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22): You feel very excited as your key planet, Mercury, turns direct today. However, it may be challenging to express what’s on your mind, since sharing what you’re thinking could alter things in ways you would rather not change.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Your thoughts are quite original today, but it could be difficult to bring them to their logical conclusions. Even if you feel as if you’re on top of your intellectual game, there is an emotional uncertainty that prevents you from pushing to your final mental destination. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): A methodical approach enables you to get to the source of your own intense emotions today. Fortunately, you can find calm in the center of any storm. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): Imagine how much you could accomplish if you were able to hold time, itself, motionless, even for just a little while. CAPRICORN(Dec.22–Jan.19): Something feels amiss as you receive signals that tell you not to trust your emotions today. Although your reliance on facts over feelings may work to your advantage, this isn’t a good time to shut down your heart. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18): Don’t waste your precious time and energy spinning wheels that take you round and round in endless circles today. It’s pointless to obsess over goals that are out of reach. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): You have been given plenty of time to solve a problem that has bothered you for the last few weeks. Now, with Mercury turning direct in your sign, be ready to make a decision even if you thought you already chose your final answer.
DTV CHANNEL 8 09:25 hrs. Sign On 09:30 hrs. Turning Point 10:00 hrs. Kickin' It 10:30 hrs. Lab Rats 11:00 hrs. DTV’S Festival of Biblical Movies for the Lenten Season: “Ben-Hur” 14:00 hrs. Movie: Broken Trust 16:00 hrs. Movie: Willed to Killed
18:00 hrs. Catholic Magazine (Faith in Action) 18:30 hrs. Know Your Bible 19:00 hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00 hrs. Once Upon a Time (New Episode) 21:00 hrs. The Good Wife (New Episode) 22:00 hrs. The Mentalist (New Episode) 23:00 hrs. Sign Off
Guides are subjected to change without notice
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Mayor’s Annual KO football tourney continues today at Den Amstel Uitvlugt and Den Amstel record opening victories The Annual Mayor’s knockout football tournament continues today with a double header at the Den Amstel ground on the West Coast of Demerara from 6:30pm. This follows opening action where Uitvlugt and Den Amstel were on winners row at the expense of Police
and Riddim Squad. In tonight’s action Stewartville take on the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in the first encounter, while Slingerz battle Northern Rangers in the nightcap. Stewartville, one of the top Westside teams, will depend on the talents of Owen McGarrell, Donald Bobb,
Terrence Bobb, Earl McDonald, Denzil Charles and Kenon Brandt to spearhead their challenge. GDF will hope to produce an impressive performance to upstage the home side and will need Royan Morrison, Dellon Young, Desford Williams, Delwyn Fraser and Eusi Phillips to fire on all
cylinders. Slingerz, the new kids on the block who have started out by making an impression, will depend on Tichard Joseph, Anthony Harding, Dwain Jacobs, Kester Jacobs, Orville Bobb, Pierre Joseph and Andre Hector to lead their challenge. They are expected to get full support from the Westside fans as the home grown outfit
Dwayne Jacobs
Andre Hector
coached by former national Gordon Braithwaite seek that upward climb they set out to achieve. Undaunted, Northern Rangers will have the talents of Omali Nassy, Gavin Bobb, Michael Burnett, Pedin Fowler and Shawn Layne to call on in the hope of upstaging Slingerz. The tournament continues Wednesday with another double header instead of Monday as was originally advertised. The venue is the GFC and Camptown face Golden Grove, while Fruta Conquerors battle Mahaica. Meanwhile, the tournament commenced last Friday at Den Amstel with Uitvlugt and the home team recording 2-0 wins in their respective matches to start things off. Uitvlugt through goals from Delon Lanferman (33) and Jamal Petty (68) turned
Owen McGarrell back the challenge of Police. Den Amstel upset the Rhythm of Riddim Squad thanks to strikes from Jeffrey Perreira in the 38th minute and Ronald Hutson in the 41st. The winner of the competition will take home $1,000,000 while the runner up will receive $500,000. The third and fourth place teams will be given $300,000 and $200,000 respectively.
Auric Tappin from... From page 52 the only time Guyana males reached the Caricom championship finals since the tournament was inaugurated in 1981. He played his last international series for Guyana at the 1995 Caricom Championship in Nassau Bahamas. The million dollar question still being ask amongst Sports fans is whether Auric Tappin would have the dominance at the Caribbean and Latin American table tennis level like he dominated the Caribbean at Basketball. International Debut - 1984
Paramaribo Suriname world military Basketball Championship. Caricom championship Debut 1985 Bridgetown Barbados Career High 28 pts vs Jamaica National Arena Kingston Jamaica 1991 Caricom All Star selections 1988, 1991 Guyana Caricom Captain 1994 Highest individual scorer in division one Basketball in Guyana; 58 points YMCA Kings vs MSC Knicks; 1984 highest scorer in inter sub association match 38 pts Linden vs Georgetown 1990. Charwayne Walker
Man City beaten by... From page 53 Argentine’s shot and then reacted well to save the follow-up from James Milner. Pablo Zabaleta forced another fine save from the onrushing Slovakian keeper but City should have had the chance of a penalty to open the scoring. Fellaini blocked a Tevez strike with his hand but referee Lee Probert awarded a freekick. And within minutes Jelavic made it 2-0 on the counterattack to take Everton back up to fifth spot in the table and ensure Moyes could celebrate his anniversary in charge in style. A flowing move saw Fellaini find Jelavic who brilliantly curled the ball past Hart for his first goal this year and seal a fourth consecutive win over City at Goodison Park.
Sunday March 17, 2013
Kaieteur News
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“Do not blame West Indies for being better, but Zimbabwe does have reasons for being so poor!” Colin E. H. Croft Today is St. Patrick’s Day. If you are of Irish extraction, this day is important! In the distant past, I have even had green ale to mark this event. One thing about the Irish, they really do know how to celebrate! West Indies played well in Test No. 1 v Zimbabwe to have the run of the green, but there were kinks in that team system that, while papered over by that nine-wicket win, were not convincing. Already, noises have been heard that West Indies “only beat Zimbabwe. They are soft!” That is not West Indies’ fault. Any team can only play the opposition, assessing situations and planning for success! The boys from the landlocked country whose motto is “Unity, Freedom, Work”, will have to work diligently, together, freeing up their minds and stroke-play, to be even on par for Test No. 2 in Dominica. Zim’s players looked so lost in the environment, having not played a Test match for over a year. But, at 151-6, 1st innings, supposedly more accomplished West Indies were also wobbling badly too! Had it not been for that improving batting dynamism from captain Darren Sammy, putting paid to that stupidly continuing suggestion that his is just taking up space, and calming mature effect from wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin, West Indies would have been in a bigger dilemma than the under-par 307! Zimbabwe’s 1st innings, 211, was a poor effort, but reasons, not excuses, can be given for this underachievement, the relatively renewed glare of tough international cricket blinding them. Their 2nd innings, 107, on a spin-helpful, spiteful pitch,
was a travesty, batsmen way out of their present depths! The main batsmen, those with relative international experiences and performances, especially captain Brendan Taylor, veteran opener Vusi Sibanda and another veteran, past opener Hamilton Masakadza, failed badly, based solely on their lack of recent and continuing international cricket. I know Brendan Taylor quite well, as we roomed, and travelled around in style, in a Chrysler 300 Special Edition, while, a few years ago, playing for Lashings Touring team, run by David Folb in United Kingdom. Brendan is an extremely intense cricketer, who reminds me much of former Guyanese batsman Mark Harper. That intensity, though, almost always overwhelms output; hence great effort but no real success. One secret of professional sports-persons’ successes is to be able to relax at just the right time! Vusi is probably the most accomplished batsman that Zimbabwe has, always seeming poised and purposeful, whose previous
tours to West Indies earmarked him for greater things. Lack of top-class cricket, and his team’s absence from international cricket the last years, have certainly taken their toll! Hamilton is a special case of having much responsibility while not having enough opportunity. This is the same guy who, in his 1st Test ever, back in 2001, made 119 v West Indies, in Harare. Yet, to date, he has only played 20 Tests, in twelve years. That type of ridiculous isolation would put rust on anyone! Two bowling performances impressed; West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford’s matchwinning 9–107, and Zim’s fast bowler Kyle Jarvis’s 5-54. If Kyle had had any help, like former captain and fast bowler, sometimes coach Heath Streak, or similar, Zimbabwe would have shaken up West Indies more! Shane has improved immensely, using his spindly form, long fingers and great height to extract that latent element that is always present at Kensington Oval, the real,
West Indies names Squad for 2nd Test at Windsor Park BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The West Indies Cricket Board’s Selection Panel yesterday named the 13-man squad for the 2nd Test match against Zimbabwe at Windsor Park, Dominica. The match will be played from Wednesday, March 20 to Sunday March 24. West Indies lead the two-match series 1-0 following their ninewicket win at Kensington Oval earlier this week.
FULL SQUAD: Darren Sammy (Captain), Denesh Ramdin (Vice Captain), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Veerasammy Permaul, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels and Shane Shillingford. TEAMMANAGEMENT Ottis Gibson (Head Coach) Richie Richardson (Team
Manager) Toby Radford (Assistant Coach) C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist) Hector Martinez Charles (Strength & Conditioning Coach) Richard Berridge (Video & Statistical Analyst) Philip Spooner (Media Manager) Fitz Alleyne (Massage Therapist)
almost vertical bounce for spinners! It would be interesting to see how he goes at home in Rousseau - Windsor Park where he got 10 wickets v Australia last year, yet not to, somehow, play again until last week!
Instead of moaning that West Indies beat a soft team, we should ask: What is wrong with this picture? On the other hand, Kemar Roach, Tino Best and Shannon Gabriel were quite disappointing. On Kensington Oval, known to also help faster bowlers, West Indies spinners got 13 Zimbabwean wickets! Kemar looked so bedraggled, more a noise nuisance now than a fully functioning fast bowler. Nothing he delivered looked like the bowler of even two years ago. What the hell has happened to him these last few years? Can it be that T20’s around the world is wearing out a bowler that is younger than 25? Tino was unlucky when the new ball swung. Once the shine was gone, so was he. How can a Test fast bowler not know how to use an old ball? Bowling straight and fast will not get many wickets often! Shannon looked so big and muscular that I nearly did
Colin E. H. Croft not recognize him from his 1st Test, last year, at Lords, when he was lithe, athletic almost elastic, much like a young Ian Bishop. At times in Barbados, Gabriel looked like a war-tank running up! What Shannon must do, now, before he becomes muscle bound, is run many miles up hills and down valleys. What is this fascination of gyms? One gets anaerobic strength in a gym, not necessarily aerobic fitness! Anyway, West Indies should win Test No. 2, with a more convincing over-all team performance! Enjoy!
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Sunday March 17, 2013
Guyana Football Federation Presidential race...
Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major avails his expertise towards the sport’s advancement By Michael Benjamin It started as an intense battle with several wannabes, all with lofty ambitions, campaigning ardently to ascend to the prestigious seat of President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) when those elections are held April 12 next. Sadly, it seems that the stringent criteria of securing a nominator as well as two supporting votes has crippled the hopes of several candidates and as the ‘D Day’ draws closer, the aspirants have dwindled considerably and only three aspirants have managed to satisfy the criterion to contest for the post. Christopher Mathias have received overwhelming support from the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) and seconded by the East Coast Football Association. Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Alfred King, has received votes of confidence from the Referees’ Council and the East Bank Football Association, while Major enjoys support from two entities, the West Bank Football Association and the National Women’s Football Association. The three candidates have since intensified efforts to positively influence the electorate and convince voters that they are the best choice for the prestigious position. One day after he had secured nomination, Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major is exuding confidence and already he is making projections towards the development of the sport. Noted for his administrative prowess that transformed the Kashif and Shanghai football tournament from a small four team tournament to a gigantic national spectacle, Mayor, also a Vice President of the GFF with responsibility for organizing, feels that he has what it takes to transform the sport to international realms while improving the fortunes of local ball weavers. He is cognizant that his position as a Director within the K&S football organization could be deemed conflicting with his aspirations and has already initiated the process to nullify such an anomaly. Moments before engaging in this discussion he had dispatched a
correspondence to Mr. Mohammad and carbon copied to the GFF, informing of his resignation from that position. Having adhered to such protocol, Mr. Major is ready to ascend to the GFF Presidential seat and feels that his chances are as good as any. Already, he has managed to impress some of the major stakeholders with his plans and projections and has received confidence votes from several voting entities. Initially Mr. Major had been a part of the Troy Cadogan slate but the latter individual has since retracted from the process because of pressing work commitments thus paving the way for Major’s elevation. His slate incorporates such experts as Rawleston Adams, Aaron Fraser and Vanessa Dickenson. Mr. Cadogan has also pledged his unswerving support from a corporate and other relevant levels. Consequently, Major has already envisaged a first step towards the revamping of the fraternity. “I believe the major impediment towards the sport’s advancement is the reluctance and/or the inability of key personnel to operate from a common position,” he opines. As such he plans to initiate an all inclusive strategy where the talent of all stakeholders would be utilized to achieve the common goal. “Once we realize that you have something to offer towards the forward movement of the sport we will entertain your input,” assured Major. He believes that too many people enter the sport with personal agendas and to derive personal gains. “Such attitudes stymie the developmental process and compromise the development of football,” exhorted Major. Major is also cognizant that two other aspirants, Mathias and Alfred, are in the race but he says that he is unperturbed. “They will obviously present their strategies but to my mind I have a foolproof plan that will encompass the input of all stakeholders and I am promoting that idea,” said Major. He said that at the end of the day, irrespective of who comes out victorious, the will to work as a united force towards the development of the sport is paramount to any selfish agenda. Touching on the all important issue of corporate support, Mr. Major said that he realizes the competitiveness of two of the
biggest beverage companies, Ansa McAl and Banks DIH Ltd. He feels that the advertising pie is large enough to accommodate all and sundry but there must be a high level of corporation and understanding among all parties. He said that discussions will be necessary to broker an amicable deal so that everyone could enjoy a part of the spoils. “Irrespective of the size of the advertising cake, there must be consensus among the various players that dictates a reasonable formula that all stakeholders could benefit,” advocates Mr. Major. The dye has been cast; the clock is ticking away the seconds and each aspirant is working diligently to clinch the required votes to ascend to the prestigious position. Amidst it all Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major believes that he
Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major
has the requisite tools supported by the will to clinch the most prestigious prize in local football. Time will tell!
Linden segment of Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ starts March 24 The Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ phenomenon is about to return to the Linden community and acording to the Organisers it will take the town by storm. In the streets, in the homes and at every corner where people meet to have a conversation, the buzz is “Greatest of the streets”. Much excitement and a huge display of a high level of skill is anticipated as Lindeners can see the way how each team is serious about taking the bigger share from prize money in excess of $1.2 million. Most of the Linden tarmacs are populated by teams going through their paces of practice sessions every afternoon in preparation for the kickoff which is set for March 24. A total of 32 teams have already registered to participate in the competition and all of them were taken from the wards of Linden. The teams are as follows: Amelia’s WardTLC shippings Russians, South stars, Rough and Rugged, Speight Land United, Central Mckenzie: Team 25, Ripping Bullets, Retrieve Unknowns, Barsenal, Coomacka United, Exodus, Constab, The Amazing, High Stars, Star Boys, Silver Bullets, Classic Six,
Pokerburg, Blueberry Hill, Cherokee Park, Hard knocks, Eagles, Attackers, Trainline Warriors, Wisroc, Goal Getters, Half Mile/One Mile, Wismar Housing Scheme. Cash prizes will be distributed as follows: 1st place $600,000, 2nd place $300,000,3rd place $150,000 and 4th place $100,000. The games will be played in a safe environment under the watchful eyes of the Guyana Police Force. The tournament is scheduled to run for ten nights, beginning from March 24th, and ending on May 1st at the following venues, Wisroc/Amelia’s Ward Bus Park, Silvercity Hard Court and New Silvercity School Hard Court. All games are scheduled to begin at 18:00 hrs on each playing day. The tournament is divided into 2 segments the round robin phase in which, the 32 teams are being placed into 8 groups where the two teams to emerge with the most points moving on to the knockout segment. Spectators can expect a lot of giveaways on every playing night, along with nail biting games, excitement and a high level display of street football skills.
Preparations begin for Bush Lot United Turf Club one day Horserace meet April 14 Preparations have begun for the Bush Lot United Turf Club one day horserace meet slated for Sunday 14th April at the Club’s entity, Sea View Park, Bush Lot West Coast Berbice. Seven races are listed on the day’s programme with over $6M in cash and prizes up for grabs. With so much on offer an action pack day of racing is anticipated. A number of feature races are listed on the day’s card with races for B, F G, and the four and three year olds maiden events being the top drawing cards. The Feature race will be for horses classified ‘B’ and lower with the animals set to cover a distance of 1600M for a winning purse of $500,000 and trophy. There is the event for horses classified F and lower with the top notch field expected to compete for the $360,000 winners money and trophy over 1400M. Then there is an event for three and four year old maiden animals bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies with a tantalizing first prize of $300,000 and trophy over 1200M.
The G class race will be a 1200 M affair with the animals running for a winning purse of $300,000 and trophy. The ‘I’ and lower event is also a 1200 M contest for a winning purse of $240,000 and trophy. J class event will see the animals racing for a winner’s money of the $180,000 and trophy also in another 1000M event. The K class match up will see the winner pocketing $140,000 and trophy over 1200M. Among the sponsors who have indicated their willingness so far are Banks DIH Limited, Buddy Shivraj, Trophy Stall Bourda market, Inshan Bacchus Business Enterprise, Baijnauth Sawmills, Phagoo General Store, Hot and Spicy and Mohammed “Nankoo “Shariff. The individual performers including top jockey, stable and trainer will be presented with trophies compliments of The Trophy Stall, Bourda market. Interested persons can make enquiries with Coordinator and Treasurer Lakeram .B. Sukhdeo on Number 232-0558 or 672-0810 or president and President R. Jagit (tel 232-0231). Race time is 12:30 hrs.
Sunday March 17, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 51
WICB announces Guyana v Jamaica Jailing donates one Super50 clash is day/night motorcycle for lucky fan The leading motor cycle company in Guyana, Jailing has jumped on the bandwagon of the Digital Technology Chow Pow’s 10/ 10 Challenge Series 2013. Jailing is one of the top selling brands in Guyana for the past fifteen years and the company will use the opportunity to provide the softball fans with a chance of winning a Jialing 110- 8 Eclipse. Jailing Representative Anand Kalladeen said that his company was exceptionally happy to partner with Yolo Entertainment and Digital Technology to enhance the tournament and at the same time reintroduce the Jailing brand to the West side. This inclusion will definitely add more glamour to the tournament and provide more reasons for fans to attend the matches. One lucky fan will win the Jailing Eclipse at the finals of the tournament on April 14 at the Uitvlugt Center Ground. The drawing will be done via a tournament raffle of which the ticket cost is just a meagre one hundred dollars. Daily prizes will include headphones, computer speakers, clothing irons, cordless phones, peddle cycles and much more. Director of Yolo
St John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board yesterday announced that the 7th round Regional Super50 match between Guyana and Jamaica will be played as a day/ night encounter at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence. Friday the WICB announced that Guyana’s 6th and 7th round matches in both the Regional Super50 and 4 Day tournaments will be hosted
by the Guyana Cricket Board at Providence. Guyana will face Combined Campuses and Colleges in Round 6 and Jamaica in Round 7. Guyana will have a bye for Round 5 after the completion of the current mid-season break. The day/night match will commence at 2pm. Guyana’s Super50 match against CCC is also a day/night match scheduled to begin at the same time.
GOA President intensifies...
Jialing’s representative Anand Kalladeen (right) poses with Yolo Entertainment Kirk Jardine in the Company’s Showroom recently. Entertainment Kirk Jardine in response said that his Company is delighted to have the support of Jailing even though the tournament is in its second round. “From the onset we had wanted to have a prize for the fans, but we had not bargained for one of this nature, I am sure
the fans will be excited just as we are,” Jardine stated. Teams participating in the tournament are guaranteed a total of one million dollars in cash and prizes. The challenge series got underway on Sunday last and will come to a climax onApril 14th at the Uitvlugt Center ground.
:: :: Letter to the Sports Editor :: ::
A commendable gesture by the city’s football fraternity, but! DEAR SIR, I hasten to comment on the publication of an article by Iva Wharton, captioned “Matthias is the GFA candidate to contest GFF top post” S.N. 10.03.13. Editor, despite the fact that I had publicly favoured Colonel Bruce Lovell as my choice for the presidency of the Guyana Football Federation when the Ordinary Congress (Annual General Meeting) is convened on 12.04.13, since he has “no baggage from the past or hidden skeletons in his closet”. Surely, it would have been a “breath of fresh air”, in a new dispensation of the sports administration.” Nevertheless, the will of the city’s football populace has spoken in a democratic and transparent manner which must be respected. The historical convening of a “Special General Members’ Meeting” on 09.03.13 to deal specifically with the nomination of the GFF top post, is indeed commendable. And it should also be across the board for the remaining affiliates of the GFF. The nomination and seconding process ought to be decided by representatives of clubs, along with members of the Coaches Association. It was woefully sad, that Attorney-at-Law and APNU parliamentarian, Joseph Harmon could have only secured a solitary vote, compliments of Alpha United. And on a disappointing note Colonel Bruce Lovell a mere 2, not even from the Joint Services contemporary, Guyana Police Force. Does this bring into the equation the qualities of
leadership of the GFA President, an army Officer, since Matthias was overwhelming unchallenged with 9 of the 13 votes and 1abstention. Why is it that the largest constituency in football, Georgetown, rejected Harmon at least from a political perspective? “Food for thought”! Meanwhile, would it be a derailment of the nomination process, from a democratic and transparent perspective, if an association, i.e. Berbice, nominates, and or seconded a candidate within the prescribed timeframe, then convenes its AGM, thereafter and is voted out? And the incoming executive does not honour the nomination(s) or seconding, since there was no club involvement! How would the GFF executive deal with the issue? It is for this reason I had earlier alluded to the fact that the GFA’s process should be across the board! Finally, does the GFA in its entirety think that they have all the administrative capabilities to run the nation’s football? This I say unreservedly and unapologetically, since their level of non-compromise is being displayed as a “badge of honour”. Which affiliate or association would support a “GFA General Council mandate to make nominations for all positions of the GFF? Three Vice Presidents and two committee members”, maybe this “height of tomfoolery” would be the perfect script a humorous satire Something to Laugh About at Theatre Guild and definitely not the Cultural Centre. Lester Sealey.
From page 54 (bodybuilding), Gregory Rambarran, Maurice Amres, O’Brian’s Secretary, Desiree Blackman, Marva Patterson, Shanomae Blackmore, Margaret Ince, wife of squash trainer, Carl Ince, Priya Ramdhani and Carmen Pertab. Rifleshooter, Richard Fields expressed gratitude on behalf of the recipients while president of the Guyana Cycling Federation and GOA Council Member, Cheryl Thompson delivered the vote of thanks. Earlier, Mr. Yassin had requested that the audience join him in ten seconds reverence in honour of three
fallen sports stalwarts-Laurie Lewis, George Bishop and Joseph Lee Lam, who have all contributed to sports development and have passed away recently. Further, the Buxton Youth Committee, under the tutelage of Robin Phillips and Lenny Shuffler, received a special award for their efforts in
promoting positive change within the Buxton community. Several notable personalities introduced the awardees and gave brief summaries of their resumes including Lennox Shuffler, Deion Nurse, Garfield Wiltshire, Ivor O’Brian, Charles Corbin, Cheryl Matthews and Kevon Bess.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 17, 2013
Auric Tappin from table tennis reject to Caricom All Star Statistician Charwayne Walker this week focuses on national basketball player Auric Tappin as he continues his series on prolific players of the sport who represented Guyana. After defeating the number two Junior seed at the 1981 National Championship at Malteenoes Sports Complex, Auric Tappin, met the number one seed Garfield Wiltshire in the boys finals. Although he lost the finals to Wiltshire, Tappin was omitted from the National Squad selected after the tournament to represent Guyana at the Caribbean and Latin American table tennis championship in Caracas Venezuela. Instead, the man Tappin had eliminated en-route to the finals was selected in Sydney Christophe. The omission left Auric disappointed and although he was included in the National Junior Squad the next month against Barbados Juniors, he seems to lose the passion and enthusiasm he had for the sport so the – GTTA lost was the GABF
gain. He joined the YMCA Kings Basketball Club and had an immediate impact on his adopted sport. After some outstanding matches for Kings in the LABA Division one competition in Linden, Auric Tappin was selected for his first real test: Barbados Top Club Team Senators visited the land of many waters in 1983 for Goodwill matches after competing against Region 4 and 6, Senators headed to Region 10. Region 10 line up included nationals James Brusche and Royston Telford but the Star of the show was the Rookie Auric Tappin. His next game against foreign opponents was the following year, 1984 vs Suriname’s club team D’rend for Region Ten at the National Sports Hall. The same year, 1984, he became the highest scorer in First Division Basketball in Guyana when he Dumped 58 points against MSC Knicks in the LABA tournament at the MSC Court. Now that Tappin had
dominated the local scene it was time for the big stage and his National Senior debut; remember he was selected on the national Team in 1983 for the third Caricom Championship in Trinidad, but the tournament was cancelled. Now the wait was over Tappin as he is selected in the Guyana Squad for the World Military Basketball Championship in Paramaribo Suriname September of 1984. His first outing in National Colours was not easy as Guyana encountered opponents from the USA, South Korea, Brazil, Senegal, Japan and Italy but the experience young Tappin gained would later proved invaluable. Next international engagement the following August 1985, Guyana led by Centre Eon Andrews, deplaned at Grantley Adams International Airport Bridgetown, Barbados to compete at the fifth Caricom Championship playing under Head coach Hewley Henry Tappin and company, failed to progress pass the preliminary round, they only managed a
walkover victory vs Martinique. The next year 1986 he topped Guyana’s averages as leading scorer but again the National Team like 1985 left Trinidad with only one victory, this time against Minnows Grenada and to add insult to injury no Guyanese was selected to the Caricom All Stars team that was named after that tournament. Guyana missed the 1987 Caricom championship in Suriname but hosted Barbados Senior National Team for three Goodwill matches. Tappin again was the man with the hot hands as the Land of Many waters triumph two games to one. In 1988, his breakthrough year at the Caricom championship level, Guyana hosted the 1988 Caricom championship at the National Sports Hall in Georgetown. Although the National Team only won two games against Suriname and Aruba Tappin was the tournament leading scorer with 94 pts from five games he was also the recipient of the Best offensive player award and was an automatic selection on the Caricom All Stars team. The next Caricom championship schedule for Antigua and Barbuda 1989 was cancelled due to Hurricane Hugo so Guyana’s only internationals were three
friendlies against Barbados in December at the National Sports Hall. Guyana lost the series two games to one and this was the only time Tappin was second in scoring for Guyana as Skipper Leon Christian led the Guyana Aggregates with 61 points from the three games contested. Although Tappin was spectacular at division one and inter sub-association matches in 1990, no National Team left the Dear Land of Guyana, there were no foreign invaders either the GABF excuse was there was no funds. Guyana returned to the Caricom Championship stage in July 1991 in Kingston Jamaica. Tappin scored 22 pts in the opening loss to Barbados, in the second loss to host Jamaica he top scored with his career high 27 pts. In Guyana’s only win he top scored with 24 pts against the Cayman Islands. He had 16 pts in the final preliminary game vs Suriname which Guyana lost 82 to 84. Tappin finished the Jamaica championship averaging 22 points per game, he was selected again to the Caricom All Star Team. Please note only the late Stanislaus ‘Knox’ Hadmon who average 24 pts per game during the inaugural CBC tournament in Guyana 1981, have a better average than
Tappin at the CBC level for Guyanese players. With his first taste of National Captaincy in 1991 August after the dismal showing at the Caricom Championship in Jamaica, Guyana National Team headed to Suriname for a Goodwill tour. Veterans Skipper Leon Christian, Mark Agard and Robert Byass who were part of the squad for the Caricom championship in Jamaica withdrew from the Suriname tour. So the National selectors had no choice but to elevate Tappin to the National Captaincy, although Tappin led Guyana to victories against top club opponents. He was accused of partisan leadership and causing segregation amongst the Linden and Georgetown players on the squad and on his return Tappin was banned by the GABF for two years as a result he missed the National Team’s international programmes in 1992 and 1993. Return of the prodigal son 1994. Tappin returned to the National Team for the Caricom Championship in Guyana and was surprising named as the Captain although he missed the opening victory against Suriname because of work commitment; he led Guyana to the finals, losing to Barbados. Please note this is (Continued on page 48)
Shiv Nandalall retained at the helm of the Guyana Chess Federation
Shiv Nandalall (center sitting) is flanked by Irshad Mohamed and Ronald Roberts (l & r respectively) and other members of the executive committee Affiliates of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) demonstrated continued faith in the administrative ability of Shiv Nandalall and elected him to another term of office when that organization staged its Annual General Meeting at Olympic House, High Street, Kingston, Sunday March 10 last. Vishnu Rampersaud was also returned unopposed as the Secretary, while Irshad Mohamed clinched the position of Vice President. He was also retained as the Tournament Director. Three times National Senior Chess Champion, Taffin Khan, will serve as the
Chess Trainer while the lone female on the executive, Shazeeda Rahim, will serve as a head of the fund raising committee. Ryan Singh is the new Treasurer, while Ronald Roberts and Krishnandan Raghunandan are the two committee members. John Lee was the Returning Officer. Meanwhile, the executives will convene shortly to discuss projects, tournaments and other activities for the remainder of the year. Already, the local Federation is planning to host an inaugural team championship among other players from CARICOM member states scheduled for later this year.
Sunday March 17, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 53
Milo / Petra Organisation U-20 Schools Football Competition...
Man City beaten by 10-man Everton
Skills and determination collide today There is no doubt that the opening clash today in today’s Milo / Petra Organisation Under-20 Schools Football Competition will be a riveting contest judging from earlier performances of the two teams. However, if a serious pundit is to make a prediction then Richard Ishmael should be the likely pick since they’ve been one of the few teams to have performed consistently throughout the round robin and knockout phases. The Woolford Avenue-based team has been impressive, but the same could be said about South Ruimveldt, especially following their lop-sided walloping of North Georgetown in their round of 16 clash which they won by an 8-1 margin. In that game, Martin Adams netted a hattrick and he should be buoyed by that performance and eager to exhibit his skills against a more formidable team. He received admirable support from the likes of Keith Caines, who booted in a brace, while Davis George, Shaquan Simon and Colin Peters complete a formidable strike force that could tear apart any defence seen in the tournament so far. Richard Ishmael’s search for victory will be spearheaded by the lethal Kristoff
Watts, who has been a thorn in the sides of opposing teams, while players such as Ray Stanton, Orandy Roach and Ronald Dover stand ready to furnish the passes that will put him in a position to score. The feature game between Tucville and Bishop’s High is a bit tricky to predict the outcome and this is despite the former being classified as one of the favourites to grab the coveted crown. They have looked superior in every department compared with most of the other teams in the tournament, but it is because of this advantage that they’ve displayed a certain degree of cockiness and Bishop’s High have already demonstrated that they are a determined bunch and not a team to be taken lightly. On paper and field Tucville seems far more proficient, but it is their over confidence that could be their worst enemy against a team that is stubborn and not easily phased by more technically skilled opponents. Darwayne Filter, Shawn Hughes and Roland Mayers will be among a group of players ready to lead the charge for Tucville, while Shamel Lewis is the lone ranger up front for the Carmichael Street-based side. It promises to be a test of skills versus determination and who will survive will be known today.
GMRSC March 24 Race Meet...
Beharry Automotive Ltd on board Beharry Automotive Limited joined the growing list of sponsors to pledge support for the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) March 24 Race Meet which is scheduled to be staged, at the South Dakota Circuit. On Thursday last, Sales Manager of the Company Jan Verwey handed over a cheque for an undisclosed sum to Manager of the Club Rayon Samaroo at the entity’s business location on Charlotte and Wellington Streets. Verwey speaking on
behalf of the Company expressed delight at having the opportunity to contribute to the Meet and more importantly the sport, adding that the partnership between the two entities has always been strong and enduring. Samaroo in response thanked the Company on behalf of the Club for maintaining its support for the sport, adding that the club will endeavour to make the day an exciting one for the fans and to ensure that a high level of discipline is exhibited by the competitors
throughout the day. He also noted that with the support of the corporate community, the sport of motor racing is guaranteed continuity which will not only benefit the competitors, but all those who love the sport. According to Samaroo, some 22 races are carded for the day and competitors will line up in all the different categories in what is already being hyped to produce some exhilarating performances. The first race is set to begin at 09:00 hrs with the line up of competitiors set for 08:30 hrs.
Sales Manager of Beharry Automotive Jan Verwey (second right) hands over the cheque to GMR&SC Manager Rayon Samaroo in the presence of staffer Allan DaSilva last Thursday.
Everton manager David Moyes celebrated 11 years in charge as his 10-man side all but ended Manchester City’s already-slim title chances. The hosts had a Kevin Mirallas goal disallowed before Leon Osman smashed home a superb 30-yard curling effort. City could not respond despite Steven Pienaar’s dismissal following a booking for a studs-up tackle on the hour. The visitors had a strong penalty claim turned down late on but Everton sealed the win through Nikica Jelavic’s shot. Substitute Jelavic’s superb breakaway injury-time effort rounded off a perfect afternoon and fully deserved win for the home side and manager Moyes following a difficult week. Last Saturday’s home humiliation against Wigan in the FA Cup and the uncertainty surrounding Moyes’s future was soon forgotten thanks to a memorable performance full of spirit, passion and quality. City, who are now 12 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United having played a game more, will justifiably feel they should have had a penalty when Marouane Fellaini blocked a late Carlos Tevez strike with his hands in the box - but a free-kick was instead given outside the area. However, the hosts were the better side throughout, despite a frantic finale in which goalkeeper Jan Mucha made several fine saves. A City side missing the considerable midfield presence of Yaya Toure, who had a migraine, were second best from the outset and never look comfortable playing with three centre-backs. Everton’s Osman and Darron Gibson dominated the City midfield and continually exploited the gaps the system left
on either flank. The ever-impressive Leighton Baines saw less of the ball on the left but always looked likely to tee up a goal, while the excellent Seamus Coleman struggled to find a telling cross despite a barnstorming first-half display. Everton’s early superiority was almost rewarded when Mirallas had the ball in the net. However it was wiped out for offside, even though it appeared he was level as he smashed the ball into the near post after adjusting his feet brilliantly 15 yards from goal. City finally mustered a couple of tame efforts on goal by Edin Dzeko and Tevez just after the 20-minute mark. But Everton were still on top and deservedly went ahead when Osman crashed the ball into the net from distance. The midfielder ran onto Coleman’s pass inside and cut across the ball that left England colleague Joe Hart almost motionless. Mancini responded by switching to a 4-42 system and City immediately posed more of a threat. Tevez fizzed a long-range effort and Dzeko was unable to leap high enough to get a headed chance on target. Their improvement continued after the break and their chances of keeping alive their fading title dreams appeared good when Pienaar was sent off for a second yellow card following a nasty looking challenge on Javi Garcia. But although City did create opportunities, their performance remained unconvincing and disjointed and Mucha’s saves were all steady rather than spectacular. Dzeko’s delicate flick set up Tevez but Mucha, making just his second Premier League start in his three seasons with the club, kept out the (Continued on page 48)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday March 17, 2013
GOA President intensifies pleas for reinstatement of NSC By Michael Benjamin President of the Guyana Olympics Association, KA Juman Yassin has intensified calls for the re-establishment of a National Sports Commission (NSC) while pointing out that the absence of such an entity is compromising the development of sports locally. He was speaking at the Appreciation and Awards ceremony hosted by officials of the GOA at the Georgetown Club Inc, Camp Street, Georgetown, Friday evening last. Mr. Yassin further reminded the audience that despite his ardent pleas at a similar function, one year ago, for the re-commission of such an entity, another year has expired and the situation remains unchanged. “We need to work in tandem if we are to achieve that coveted Olympic gold medal,” asserted the GOA boss. He feels that administrators should take note of the timely caveat that ‘a current of consistent action becomes powerful and generates dividends of success.’ In what was dubbed as a nostalgic and memorable occasion, the cream of the country’s sports personalities were honoured for their past and present contributions and subsequently treated to a sumptuous dinner. The occasion was attended by the who’s who in the local sports fraternity and chaired by Vice President of the GOA, Noel Adonis. Sports stalwarts, past and present, were also reminded of
GOA boss, Juman Yassin (4th left sitting) poses for a photo op with the respective awardees. Noel Adonis is sitting 2nd left while guest speaker Michael Scott is at Yassin’s left their valued contributions to the foundation of the local sports front with tokens of commendation. Senior Lecturer of the University of Guyana, Dr Michael Scott delivered the keynote address while President of the GOA, KA Juman Yassin, reminisced on the participation of local sports stalwarts at the 2012 London Olympics. Dr. Scott was introduced by GOA Vice President, Karen Pilgrim and said that he felt privileged to have been selected for the feature presentation; conveying such thoughts to the organizers of the event. He admitted that he was more noted for his academic accomplishments but disclosed that he was once an athlete during the early seventies. “I have participated in the Inter-County Games in the 400m event and had registered a timing of 52.3secs,” informed Mr. Scott. He said that the fact that
he completed the event devoid of footwear was in itself a meritorious task. He said that he had nurtured hopes of competing at the Olympics but was forced to change his vocation and opt for academic exploits because of economic considerations. He further extended congratulations to the awardees even as he noted that it was an obligatory act to acknowledge the input of the various stalwarts in tangible ways. Dr. Scott also warned of those skeptics that hovered around with the sole aim of vindicating themselves while ignoring the input of the athletes. He further lauded the efforts of the officials of the GOA who braved the vicissitudes and managed to stay on track. Mr. Yassin extended gratitude to those that had earlier re-elected him to the post of President (GOA) even as he congratulated the recipients of awards.
He also lauded the maturity demonstrated by recently elected President of the Amateur Athletic Association, Aubrey Hudson and his predecessor, Colin Boyce, in retracting a court order questioning the authenticity of the former individual’s installation to that position. The GOA boss also noted that while it is wise advice to start a new day devoid of the former day’s trials, it is apt to understand the reasons for those trials in the first place. He was referring to what he termed the scathing remarks of a certain government official over the general performance of local athletes at the just concluded London Olympics. “Those comments were utterly unfair,” lamented Mr. Yassin. He feels that despite the fact that local athletes failed to procure medals they had turned in credible performances when all of the variables are taken
into consideration. While pointing out that all expenses for the trip to the Olympics were borne by the GOA, Mr. Yassin bemoaned the fact that local athletes are faced with unique challenges where most of them are required to seek a living even as they attempt to hone their athletic skills, a total contrast to their international counterparts. “The critics have frowned on our decision to accept a wild card but I maintain that once such an opportunity becomes available we should take full advantage,” exhorted the GOA boss. He feels that
local athletes have performed credibly despite the adverse prognosis even as he highlighted the realities. “Two hundred and four individuals participated in the Olympics but merely 85 of them won medals,” disclosed Mr. Yassin. He further noted that out of the 41 participating countries only three out of South America-Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina-were able to clinch any sort of medals. “We need to work in tandem if we are to achieve that coveted Olympic gold medal,” asserted the GOA boss. Meanwhile, former Secretary of the GOA, Ivor O’Brien was singled out for his yeoman service as a member of the council while Guyana Times sports journalist, Avenash Ramzan, was voted journalist of the year and received a monetary award and a beautiful trophy. Several other notable sports personalities were also tangibly acknowledged for their unselfish contribution to the sports fraternity including Frank Tucker (weightlifting), Richard Fields (rifle shooting), Beni Sankar (table tennis), Amir Khouri (karate), Linden Johnson (table tennis), Donald Sinclair (Continued on page 51)
Jets book semifinal berth; Royals get first victory With a 50 - 65 points win over New Era 12, Amelia’s Ward Jets have won two games in a row, while the Victory Valley Royals got the better of Wismar Piston, defeating them 62 - 55 when the New Era Ent/Cell Smart Super-8 tournament continued on Friday last at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court in Linden. Rodwell Pellew scored a game high 19 points for the Jets who became the first team to advance to the Semi-finals which begins on Sunday March 24. The New Era team trailed 21-6 to close out the first period, but rebounded to outscore the Jets 21 - 11 in the second quarter behind an explosive first half by Sports Journalist Rawle Toney and Oscar Adams. Jets nonetheless ended the half leading 32-27. The game went see-saw during the third stanza with Toney, who ended the night with 18 points, leading his team’s scoring though his side (New Era 12) trailed 39 47, entering the final quarter. Jets capitalised on a tired New Era 12 unit and with
Toney going cold in the fourth quarter, Pellew and forwards Javon Nelson and Devon (both ended with 14 points) carried their side (Jets) to a spot in the Semi-finals. Toney was supported by Adams who ended with 11 along with Delbert Kitt and Alwyn Rodney who both scored eight points. Meanwhile, Victory Valley Royals rebounded from their miserable performance against Kings, as they turned in a complete team effort to record their first victory, which came at the expense of Wismar Pistons. The Pistons were completely outplayed on both ends of the floor even though they held a slim lead (18-16) at the end of the first. But a collective effort by Royals saw them leading at the end of the half (31 - 24) and third quarter (49 - 36) and the rest was history. Harold Adams led his team’s scoring with 13 points, point guard Julius Carter had 12 as Alwyn ‘Shaq’ Wilson and Marlon Pollydore each shot 11. For Pistons, Dwight Cooper scored 12 and Quincy ‘Progzy’ Jones netted 11.
Sunday March 17, 2013
Kaieteur News
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t r o Sp
Milo / Petra Organisation Under-20 Schools Football Competition...
St. George’s outlast Charlestown - Carmel do the same for place in semis against Chase Academy I
t was anticipated to be a slugfest and so it was and in the end slight underdogs St. George’s prevailed 32 on penalty kicks after regulation period and overtime failed to break a 3-3 deadlock in their clash against Charlestown yesterday in the Milo / Petra Organisation Under-20 Schools Football Competition, at Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue. In the opening encounter, prolific goalscorer Marlon Nedd booted in all of Carmel goals in their clash against Chase Academy. The feature clash was a scorching affair and even though the first half failed to produce any goals, St. George’s dominated the period, hitting the crossbar and uprights on at least three ocassions. The start of the second period was the beginning of a toe-to-toe war and Charlestown netted as early as the first minute when Anthony Bartholomew was fouled inside the penalty area, resulting in a
Action in the clash between St.George’s and Charlestown yesterday. spot kick being awarded. The ensuing penalty was scored by Shane Morris. Four minutes later, Bartholomew was the one who netted off a similar infraction commited by a St. George’s defender. However, undaunted by the setback, St. George’s attacked with menace and got their reward in the 57th minute when Okenie Codrington beat the goalkeeper from close range.
They added another goal in the 70th minute when Ossie Small received a short pass just about 25 metres out and hammered a fierce right-footer past the backline and goalkeeper into the back of the net. It was now game on as both teams attacked relentlessly for the ascendancy and it was Charles twon, who regained the advantage through Morris who netted
from a goalmouth scrimmage to complete a brace in the 83rd minute of play. Just as it looked as though they would hold on for the win, St. George’s won a penalty in the dying moments of the game and Quacy Lawrence strode uo and placed it into the back of the net to level the proceedings which stayed even until the whistle sounded. The 20 minutes extra time failed to break the deadlock, sending the contest into overtime, before St. Geoge’s prevailed to move into the semi-finals. Earlier, Nedd scored all four of the goals for Carmel as they beat Chase Academy to book a place in the semi finals. Nedd netted in the 43rd, 52nd, 59th and 76th minutes and has now placed himself in pole position for the Most Valuable player award. On target for Chase Academy was Stephen Sankar, who continued his good form, scoring in the 22nd min & 68th minutes and Isaiah Reddy 60th.
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