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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
In pursuit of roads in Guyana Roads provide for the cheapest and most efficient communication means. All over the world the powers ensure that there are roads to take people to anywhere in the country. Today the United States boasts that there is no part of the country to which people cannot drive. And the network is so carefully constructed and marked that once one is on any of these roads one can know in which direction one is heading. Roads with odd numbers would take people either to the eastern or western part of the country; those with even numbers take people to the northern and southern part of the country. In fact, this is the case in North America because the Canadians have the same road numbering. But there were not always roads. People walked or used available waterways. The railroad helped open up many countries and today the rail plays an integral role in moving large quantities of cargo, much more than is easily moved on roads. Guyana is a developing country and only recently began constructing roads to open up the country. The first of these ran along the coast. The early roads were nothing but tracks that motorists avoided when they could. With independence came increased attention to the road surfaces to the extent that there is a surfaced road stretching from Charity in the Pomeroon to the river that serves as Guyana’s easternmost border with Suriname, its neighbour to the east. Travelling to the interior was a tedious affair that seemed to take forever. Linden was at least fourteen hours from Georgetown along the Demerara River. Today that community is a blink, away courtesy of the road that was formally commissioned in 1968. Today that road is part of the road link to Lethem in the south. Guyana blundered badly when it scrapped its railroad, the first on the South American continent. At the time oil was cheap and the roadways had been drastically enhanced. The then leaders never considered that oil would become extremely expensive as to make the railroad very profitable. In fact, trains move the bulk of the people in the city at peak hours. Without these there would have been massive congestions on the streets. Already, Guyana with its increasing number of cars experience traffic jams at least three times a day because the roads are very inadequate. The railroads would have been very helpful. In fact, as is being done in some cities, it would have been cheaper for the government to construct a city rail network than to build new roads. But it is to the hinterland that the country must look. When people talk about Guyana’s wealth they do not talk about those two agricultural products-rice and sugar-that once fuelled the economy. These are no longer the powerful export earners they once were. So it is to the hinterland that the national leaders are looking. For one there is the pursuit of renewable energy through the construction of the Amaila hydroelectric project. A road to the dam site has been constructed and immediately the presence of the road has caused mining activities to be undertaken in that part of the country which until the road was not exploited. Those miners of yore took weeks and even months to reach a suitable mining location, using boats and manually fetching huge loads. Many people died and their bodies were buried there because the area was all but inaccessible. Today there are roads that cause miners to cover that distance in a few hours. Brazil was a distant dream until enterprising people fashioned a trail linking the coast and Lethem. A proper road would definitely change Guyana’s fortunes because Brazilian business would pass through Guyana to foreign lands in the process leaving needed revenue in this country. Guyana has been reluctant to permit the upgrade of the road link with Brazil because of its fear of an increased drug trade and other criminal activity, spread from the larger countries to the south. But such is the cost of development. Roads throughout the hinterland could help make Guyana rich.
Saturday March 21, 2015
Letters... Where your views make the news
Let us redouble our efforts to leave a better world for our children DEAR EDITOR, Guyana is a country with great potential. But as Desmond Hoyte said in Washington DC in 1988, potential is not real wealth. Next year, in 2016, we will be celebrating 50 years of independence. But for too much of this period, Guyana has not lived up to this potential. The country went through decades of dictatorship, now a decade of squander-mania and wholesale theft and lost opportunities. These periods leave behind a bitter legacyGuyana is the third poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and close to 40 percent of its population
lives in poverty. In 1992, there was a push for change and to rebuild the nation, but unfortunately the post-Jagan era was one mired with a history of maladministration and misrule which basically unwound much of the gains from 1989-1999. The time has come again for change-for Guyana to finally break through and secure its future. But forging a new Guyana for a new era is a collective effort. The next government needs partnerships not political supremacy. Most importantly, the next Government needs partnerships with the people. Partnerships with investors
who not only want our raw materials, but have the technology to add value to them right home in Guyana. So let me focus on why I believe Guyana can be on the cusp of an economic rebirth if the PPP/C is defeated at these upcoming elections and an alternative government is elected. The rebirth has its roots in insufficient diversification. Agriculture still accounts for 22 percent of GDP and rice and sugar still account for almost quarter of total export earnings. What this means is that Guyana and its people are too vulnerable. Vulnerable to the forces of nature. Vulnerable to the
vagaries of global commodity markets as a raw material producer. Vulnerable to people slipping back and forth between poverty and just getting by. Growth was too narrowly based to be inclusive, and has not effectively reduced poverty, especially in the rural areas where most people live. In short, the economy was not working for the people. This forms the backdrop to Guyana’s economic rebirth. How can we leverage economic stability, economic growth, and human development, especially for rural Guyana, (Continued on page 05)
The Economics of Bharrat Jagdeo DEAR EDITOR, Lest we repeat the errors of the past, the following is an earlier letter which has much relevance today as when it was first published. As someone immersed in the economics of Guyana, I have been able to acquire some perspective on the evolution and machinations o f J a g d e o ’s b r a n d o f economics. This I would like to share with my fellow Guyanese so that we can be collectively aware of the challenges we face as a developing nation. When Jagdeo ascended to the presidency, he had already been involved in transforming Guyana’s economy into its present dilemma. Hoyte demitted office with the economy on track to becoming a mainly capitalist society with the privatization of the stateowned corporations and the other attendant measures typical of a free market economy. Without a doubt, Guyana experienced strong growth as a result its return to free market economics, with the investment in Omai by Cambior being significant. Under Hoyte, Guyana was ‘open for business’, as he recognized that Guyana desperately needed international investment and international investor confidence to kick start the economy and bring it back on track. In short, (as is widely acknowledged) all the other measures adopted by Hoyte under the IMF’s Structural Adjustment Policies (and its successors) in the reversion to free market economics
were responsible for the strong growth achieved in the years subsequent to Hoyte’s exit from office. (Admittedly, a number of these, the return to market exchange rates, for example, which triggered the severe bouts of inflation in the nineties, resulted in intense economic hardships for much of the population. Nevertheless, SIMAP had been established and it did its best to ameliorate the impact of the adjustment policies on the wider society). What happened when the PPP came into government was that it recognized that Guyana had been bound to the Structural Adjustment Framework policies agreed to with the IMF and realized that there was very little it could do without raising concerns from Guyana’s in ter n atio n al f in an cial partners. While parroting capitalism to the international community and the public, the PPP privately clung to its socialist/ communist dogma. The PPP did its best to control private sector investment, as evidenced from the poor numbers on international investment and the bureaucratic footdragging of GO-Invest. Instead of being an open channel for investment, GOInvest became a bottleneck and a means of controlling/ limiting foreign/private sector investment in Guyana. Under socialism, private entrepreneurship and ownership is inimical to the wider society. And so Guyana continued for about a decade or so with poor investment from both local
and foreign players, with the consequential return of comparatively poor economic growth in the late nineties to about the middle of the last decade. As a socialist economist, Jagdeo recognized that there was nothing to be done about the private sector he literally grew up with, so he sought to control it and bend it to accomplish his grand ideas. The privatization process, which removed production from state control, opposed t o J a g d e o ’s s o c i a l i s t economics, turned out to be a blessing in disguise for him, since with the creation of NICIL, the money from the sale of all of the state public companies and other assets fell under his control. Of course, whatever he did via that entity was all ‘for the good of the country’ (Jagdeonomics). The Low Carbon Development Strategy was a fine idea indeed. In fact it was a masterpiece in economics aimed at getting foreign finance while strangling private sector initiative in the background. The gentleman was nevertheless rightly credited with at least one honorary doctorate for his efforts. Jagdeo had transformed himself into a
true autocrat, with complete authority of Guyana’s economic and judicial framework. While there was a law and economics for the general population, there was also Jagdeo’s law and Jagdeo’s economics which superseded everything else. This was characterized by the pardoned atrocities of some of his notorious acolytes, who remain above the law, and on the other hand, powerful men like those who require no identification, who own and control large businesses across various sectors of the economy. This is the true exercise of Jagdeo’s authority over Guyana. He has established powerful economic players with strong financial relationships and his (and our) more embarrassing public officials are above the law. It is in this context we need to acknowledge the magnitude, dimension and p a r t i a l i t y o f J a g d e o ’s authority and power across Guyana’s judiciary and economy, and recognize that his machinations and ideas are not conducive to real prosperity for ALL Guyanese, but in fact channel wealth into the hands of his select few. Craig Sylvester
ROAD SIGNAGE
DEAR EDITOR, Because of the faded No Entry signs painted on the twin roads connecting Garnett Street and Durabana Square in Lamaha Gardens, indifferent motorists have been ignoring what was intended to indicate one-way traffic. Could the Traffic Department correct this situation urgently by erecting upright signs that are more visible, in order to avoid vehicular confrontation, as well as crashes. E.B. John
Saturday March 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Jagdeo, Rohee and the PPP are in panic mode DEAR EDITOR, If ever an ideal setting was created for a naïve person to etch his/her name in the annals of bunkum in Guyana, it was the General Secretary of the PPP. That he enjoys the unique distinction of being the first to say that Guyana is a happy country and to boast about it was indelibly stupid. Was he mocking the citizens of Guyana? Is he fully conscious that no one will believe his silly statement primarily because of the PPP regime’s poor record in enhancing the quality of life for all? How can Guyana be a happy country when more than half of its population are poor, an unemployment rate of over 40 percent, and with an average of over three murders per week?
Every week when the General Secretary takes centre stage at Freedom House for his press conferences, the people merely wait for more dismal, depressing and disgusting melodrama to be inflicted upon them. His weekly outbursts are customary, ancient, baseless and redundant. The minority government is mired in disgrace and immorality in public affairs, not to mention corruption. Its plethora of wasteful, reckless and irretrievable squandering of the taxpayers’ money is nauseating. All of the efforts by the cabal to demean the priceless integrity of the APNU+AFC Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates at Babu Jaan have backfired.
Now comes their last stand: a pathetic, pointless and impotent effort to scare IndoGuyanese into ethnic insecurity with their racebased political campaign. They are in panic mode as the day of reckoning draws near. They will lose the election and whether they know it or not, their time is up. If ever one needed to be convinced that Jagdeo is the most dedicated, committed and persistent advocate in championing David Granger to be the next President of Guyana, his remarks about his party and the comparison of his opulent lifestyle to the modest existence of Dr. Jagan have put all doubts to rest. He has lost all credibility because no one, not even the
hard core supporters of the PPP would believe the latter statement. Dr Jagan never built a palace on the country’s best ocean front land. He would have never burdened the taxpayers with an extravagant pension. Contrary to what some are being coerced to believe, there is absolutely no precedent anywhere in the Caribbean where a former president has lived or is living in such a luxury. And the fact that he had the gall to compare his lifestyle to that of Dr. Jagan not only proved that he is disingenuous but he does not have a conscience, because if he did, he would have been more frugal and not burdened the nation to pay for his lavish lifestyle and all his bills.
In attempting to shore up President Ramotar and his crumbling regime in the election, Jagdeo is blinded by venom, vindictiveness, desperation and despair. He has refused to accept that he is a liability to the state and the PPP. His depth of despair begets his psyche which has caused him to betray the highest pinnacles of respect, as distinguished by a lack of etiquette and his use of ineloquent language to arouse insecurity and to spew hate, dragging his party into further disrepute. This is not enlightened or esteemed political behaviour by anyone. In fact, it is the most disrespected, repulsive and un-statesmanlike conduct. Having comprehensively
failed to make the minutest dent in the APNU+AFC Alliance by way of insidious and incestuous remarks and by citing every conceivable imperfection known to man on the planet, Jagdeo, Rohee and the PPP now find themselves in uncontrollable panic mode, aiming their vicious attacks directly at the leaders of the Alliance. But David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo are the two most formidable, feared and foreboding champions of resistance to Jagdeo and the PPP’s unbridled criticism. This is their mark of desperation and fear as the day of reckoning draws nigh. Asquith Rose, Chandra Deolall, Dr. Merle SpencerMarks
Let us redouble our efforts to leave a better world... From page 4 to transform Guyana? One must acknowledge that from the start of the ERP under Carl Greenidge in 1989, both the PNC and PPP have maintained this path of continually strengthening the financial system. The banking system remains strong and is well prepared to promote growth, but what we must acknowledge is the majority of the Guyanese people are excluded from this financial system. As a prerequisite reform to truly start the economic wheels spinning at the required pace of 7-8 percent growth rates, we need more of our people involved in productive activities. For this to happen, Guyana desperately needs a State Development Bank that can engage and facilitate the smaller but riskier investors to incubate their ideas into bankable projects. Secondly, we have to focus on successful completion of relevant infrastructural projects (reliable transport link to Lethem, Deep Water Harbour, etc). Finally, the entire social sector operation has to be revamped to ensure the real beneficiaries are gaining from
the dollars spent. I do not want to know that G$32 billion was spent on education. What I really want to know is whether we are securing value for money spent. The evidence reveals that Guyana has one of the lowest rates of functional literacy. According to the UNDP 2014 Human Development Report, Guyana has an adult literacy rate of 85 percent. But when one analyzes between literacy and functional literacy, Professor Zellyne Jennings-Craig from UWI, stated that only approximately 11 percent of the Guyanese students are functionally literate. So clearly the national budget is not benefitting the poorest and the neediest. This conclusion is reinforced in how we procure medical supplies in Guyana. The true benefits of all these billions spent is captured by the well-to-do and politically connected. This clearly does not help the human development process. Progress will always be under threat by this kind maladministration and misrule which only benefits the business cabal that controls the PPP. Fixing this system of governance remains an urgent priority for the new Government
since it continues to directly impact the income inequality in the nation. According to the UNDP, the inequality income index for Guyana was 0.474 in 2013. Only two countries in the Western Hemisphere ranked lower – Haiti and Nicaragua. People need greater access to dietary staples. As a primary producer of rice, the new Government can inexpensively provide in-kind rice assistance to the most needy. In the AFC 2011 Action Plan, one of the commitments made was to provide 1 kg of rice to all those on the Old Age Pension and Social Assistance Register. To complement that promise, the AFC committed to conduct a production audit in all Amerindian villages with a view of building their capacity on what they produce best and helping them market their output on the coast. This two-pronged process is vital to attacking poverty. In reality, economic stability is really a means to an end—stronger growth and more job creation. It is about lifting the prospects of all Guyanese producers – rice farmers, cane harvesters, etc. The key to unlocking
Guyana’s potential lies in making it more competitive. This should help with diversification, allowing the country to rely less on agriculture and gain a foothold in newer and promising areas. This means making it easier for the private sector to invest, innovate, and expand. Right now, Guyana ranks poorly in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index— 102nd out of 144 countries. It also means boosting investment and upgrading poor quality infrastructure, especially in renewable energy and that vital transport link from Brazil to a Deep Water Harbour on the Guyanese coastlands. I also believe that growth can become more inclusive and I am pleased when I read about Mr. Granger’s commitment to this process. This means developing and protecting robust social safety nets. It means expanding access to financial services, so
everybody—including the poor—can get access to credit. It means investing in skills, training, and education to equip the next generation of Guyanese for the world that awaits them. This must always go together with stability and growth. Indeed, we can look upon growth as merely a means to a higher end—creating the conditions for the flourishing of human potential. True growth is human development growth – expansion of opportunity for all, political and economic freedom for all. Growth is also about ensuring a higher percentage of our students are graduating with Grade Is and IIs at CXC, especially in the core subjects of Maths, English and the Natural Sciences. Growth is about creating the environment to incubate new jobs for the school leavers. Growth is about increasing the number of mothers who give safe birth in a
hospital, and the number of families who have access to a daily balanced diet. In other words, growth is ultimately about human beings and the living condition of peoples. How is Guyana doing on this front? Well, if we look across the all-important Millennium Development Goals, I believe that if we did not have so much corruption in the system, we would have met all of these goals by now. As Guyana gets this opportunity to secure the dawn of its third era – (first independence, then 1992 and now 2015), it is important that we dream big and give all our people the opportunity to incubate their ideas into new wealth. After all Guyana belongs to all Guyanese. It is within our power to turn this vision into reality. So let us redouble our efforts to leave a better world for the children of Guyana. Sase Singh
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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 21, 2015
Ex Sri Lanka President hid Guyana signals interest more than $2bn in Dubai in another forest deal
Mahinda Rajapaksa COLOMBO – Reuters Sri Lankan investigators have located more than $2bn that was secretly transferred to accounts in Dubai by figures close to the administration of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, the government said on Thursday. Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said the funds represented about a fifth of the total amount of socalled ‘black money’ that the authorities suspect was illicitly stashed abroad. “We have information that more than $10 billion, more than our country’s foreign reserves, is kept outside the country by those closely related to the last government,” he told reporters. A former top official
in Rajapaksa’s administration dismissed as “nonsense” the government’s suggestion that the money found was evidence of corruption. President Maithripala Sirisena, who defeated Rajapaksa in a January election, has ordered an investigation into all financial deals sealed by his predecessor. Rajapaksa and his former government officials have rejected allegations of corruption and nepotism and said they are ready to face any investigation. Describing the accounts found in Dubai, Senaratne said: “One person from a leading family held $1.064bn. Another account under a parliament member’s name had over $500m and a secretary to a very important person had over $500m jointly with another person, who is very famous for corruption.” Senaratne did not say who held the accounts, as the probe is still under way. He said it had also identified large
withdrawals, including one of $600m, from accounts belonging to people who had worked with Rajapaksa’s government. “We have given these details to the US and Indian financial intelligence agencies which are helping us in the investigations,” he added. His assertion was dismissed by a former government official and Rajapaksa ally, who declined to be named. “In the context of money laundering, you can’t take $600m at once,” he told Reuters, adding that the government should name the holders of the alleged accounts. “Why can’t he say the names if they have the information?” the former government official said, describing Senaratne’s comments on Thursday as “absolutely nonsense”. Sri Lanka’s anticorruption body has so far barred former central bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Sajin De Vass Gunawardena, a parliamentarian close to Rajapaksa, from leaving the country because of corruption complaints. Both have rejected allegations they misused public funds. Senaratne also said the government had cancelled an $85m airport runway project awarded to Colombo-based Access Engineering Plc, which won a number of infrastructure contracts during Rajapaksa’s time in office. No comment was immediately available from the company.
As a five-year, US$250M forest deal with Norway nears end, Guyana has signaled its interest in continuing similar programmes. Top Government officials were in Norway this week for meetings on the way forward. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, a delegation led by Minister Robert Persaud, and comprising technical staff of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Office of the President (OP), participated in several highlevel visits in Norway this week. “The goal of the mission was to exchange strategic views regarding the existing partnership between Guyana and Norway, the global climate agenda and progress towards the Conference of Parties of the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (CoP 21), planned for Paris in December this year,” the Ministry explained yesterday. Among the highlights of the mission was a meeting with Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment, Minister Tine Sundtoft. “At this meeting Minister Persaud expressed Guyana’s continued interest in ensuring that forests play an important role in the climate change solution, and the importance of REDD+ and climate financing to making those solutions possible.” Other high level meetings were those held with the Director of NORAD (the Norwegian Agency for Development), Director
- briefs Norway on protection systems, development projects
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud and Norwegian Minister of Climate and the Environment, Tine Sundtoft . General Villa Kullid, and State Secretary within the Ministry of Climate and the Environment in Norway, Lars Andreas Lunde. Technical discussion sessions were also held with officials of Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative. According to the Ministry, Persaud during his two-day visit also met with officials of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Secretariat and expressed Guyana’s commitment to advance the process recognising the importance that the Government of Guyana has placed on effective governance and transparency within the natural resources sector. “There were also several high level technical discussions on the second day at which Minister Persaud presented updates on Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy and REDD+ programmes, the achievements and progress so far under the Guyana/ Norway Cooperation on Climate and Forests, and the challenges and remaining activities in moving forward on Guyana’s strategic agenda on forests and development.” These sessions were attended by Norwegian Government, development agencies, and civil society, and provided an opportunity for Minister Persaud and the delegation to interact with a broad range of leading civil society and environmental groups, and address a range of matters pertaining to Guyana’s development focus, the LCDS and various
projects under the LCDS. “The mission concluded on a high note, with broad recognition that among Guyana’s significant achievements, have been the development of a credible and robust Monitoring Reporting and Verification System for REDD+, advancements of several projects under the LCDS, and concrete plans made for taking the next step forward, including in forest governance programmes such as EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.” Minister Persaud was accompanied by Pradeepa Bholanath - Head Planning and Development Division, Guyana Forestry Commission and Kapil Mohabir - Head, Project Management Office, and Office of the President. In November 2009, Guyana and Norway signed a US$250M to preserve forests as part of a scheme to slow climate change. Norway, which has led donor nations in slowing tropical deforestation with a budget of 3 billion Norwegian crowns ($530 million) a year, said it wanted to help Guyana maintain forests that cover 75 percent of its land. “Saving the world’s remaining tropical forests is a crucial element in the battle against climate change,” Norwegian Environment Minister Erik Solheim said of a memorandum he signed in Guyana. Under the programme, Guyana is supposed to implement measures to slow deforestation rates.
Saturday March 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
Petrobras scandal prosecutors seek tougher anti-corruption laws BRASILIA (Reuters) Prosecutors who uncovered Brazil’s biggest corruption case called yesterday for tougher prison sentences and more legal powers to crack down on rampant graft that costs taxpayers more than the annual budget for education and health. Hoping to ride a wave of national disgust over the latest corruption scandal at state-run oil company Petrobras, the top federal prosecutor’s office known as PGR sent Congress proposals to stiffen penalties for corruption to up to 25 years in prison. The prosecutors are seeking legal reforms to speed up the arrest of corruption suspects and seizure of their assets before they can be hidden. They also proposed reducing Brazil’s long appeals process that often lets criminals go scot-free. A multibillion-dollar kickback scheme uncovered at Petroleo Brasileiro SA has shaken President Dilma Rousseff’s government and threatens to further slow a
Dilma Rousseff
stagnant economy. The investigation dubbed “Operation Car Wash” has led to the indictment of scores of executives from Brazil’s top builders. It has implicated 47 politicians who allegedly received graft money, all but one of them from Rousseff’s governing coalition. “The Car Wash case has angered Brazil but it has not reduced corruption or impunity in the country,” said the lead prosecutor in the probe, Deltan Dallagnol. He said the proposals could transform the anger into changes needed to fight corruption. According to an estimate
by the United Nations Development Program, graft amounts to 200 billion reais ($62 billion) a year in Brazil, or twice the 2014 health budget and 2-1/2 times the education budget. The Petrobras scandal and economic downturn led to protests by about 1 million people across Brazilian cities on Sunday. The PGR’s anti-corruption wish list came two days after Rousseff made her own steps to counter rising discontent over the Petrobras scandal that has undermined her popularity and put her Workers’ Party and its allies on the spot.
St. Lucia to open embassy in Taiwan CMC - St. Lucia will be opening an embassy in Taiwan by the end of June. The announcement was made by a Taiwanese foreign affairs official responsible for Latin and Central American affairs. St. Lucia has selected a location in Taipei and is finalizing details of setting up its embassy there for the first time, said Antonio Yeh, counselor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, at a regular news briefing.
When asked about the progress of the embassy, Ye h s a i d i t w o u l d b e opened by the end of June and senior officials St. Lucia will attend the opening ceremony. During a visit to Taiwan in February, St. Lucia’s minister of external affairs, international trade and civil aviation, Alva Baptiste, then said the purpose of his visit was to look for a location for an embassy in an effort to strengthen bilateral ties. The Republic of China
and St. Lucia have maintained close cooperation in public health, education, infrastructure and culture since the both countries resumed diplomatic relations in 2007 following a 10-year hiatus. The two sides first established diplomatic ties in 1984, but St. Lucia switched its recognition to the People’s Republic of China in 1997. Of Taiwan’s 22 diplomatic allies, St. Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are the only two countries that have not set up embassies in Taiwan.
Jamaica bans importation of poultry and poultry products from North America The Gleaner - Jamaica has imposed an immediate ban on the importation of poultry products from parts of North America arising from the outbreak of bird flu in sections of the US and Canada. The Agriculture Ministry says the ban restricts the importation of all poultry and poultry products and byproducts not fully cooked, hatching eggs and raw pet foods. The ministry says the ban applies to products originating from Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota, California, Idaho, Oregon and Wash-
ington in the USA and British Columbia in Canada. It says there is no immediate food safety risk and the consumption of properly cooked poultry meat and poultry products remains safe. In addition to the imposition of immediate restrictions, the agriculture ministry says it has already taken other steps to safeguard Jamaica’s poultry and human health. It says a National Emergency Animal Disease Committee is in place to execute programmes necessary to en-
sure Jamaica’s preparedness to handle outbreaks of animal diseases, including bird flu. The ministry also says it has engaged major players in the poultry industry and has been communicating with importers, Jamaica Customs Agency and the Ministry of Health on the matter. The ministry says further engagement will involve backyard and smallscale poultry operators, egg farmers, pet bird owners, pet stores and all other stakeholders to ensure full cooperation.
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EDUCATION IS NOT THE DRIVER OF ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is making politically correct sound bites. But what is politically correct is not always right. Indeed if a policy prescription is based on a misanalysis of a particular situation, then the solutions proposed by that policy prescription will not achieve its desired end, no matter how well-sounding it is. APNU has a policy prescription which it intends to pursue should it win the next elections. That policy prescription places increased emphasis on education. Now this sounds nice; it is politically correct. It is agreeable. And indeed any country has to invest in its educational system but not
for the reasons that APNU provides. APNU wants this investment because it views education as the driver of transformation. One can only assume that when APNU speaks about transformation it does not limit this to social transformation, but includes economic transformation without which there would be nothing to socially transform. APNU’s view that education is the driver of transformation is questionable. If APNU means economic transformation, then this is a flawed analysis. In as much as its proposals regarding the emphasis of education may sound good, it is good for the wrong reasons and therefore is not
Dem boys seh...
Guyana gun hire foreign investigators like Sri Lanka When dem boys seh that dem got people waiting wid nuff pumpkin jumpsuit fuh some of dem scamps dem know wha dem saying. All over de world all de scamps finding out that jail waiting. Jagdeo been to Sri Lanka wheh de President do nuff of de same things that he and he kavakamites do in Guyana. De former Sri Lanka president and he colleagues tek Chinee people money; dem put dem friends and family in top government position, and dem share de country assets among demself, dem friends and dem family. De elections barely done and de authorities in Sri Lanka start an investigation. Right away de investigators find that de former president hide over US$2 billion in different bank accounts in Dubai. That was more than de budget of de country. In fact, is more money than nuff country got in de treasury. At least Guyana only got couple hundred dollars. An investigation will be launched soon right here in Guyana and everything wha dem think de do in de dark gun come to light. Everybody know that de investigators gun find nuff money because is only a few places these people could hide money. De thing wha got dem boys fuming is that dem boys got to pay tax pun every cent that dem earn. Jagdeo even mek poor Freddie pay tax pun he old furniture. De people who thiefing and hide de money not only thief de tax money; dem also don’t pay tax pun de thiefing tax money. Everybody know that retribution is a thing that does follow people who do bad things. Some people believe that retribution is a thing that does follow people after dem dead. But dem boys know that retribution does visit even while you alive. All that happening to Ashni today is retribution. He do nuff bad things and he paying. De thing is that de man ain’t learning and trying to repent. Is one car accident after de next. He crash last year Mash; he crash near Mash this year. De year before he crash and mash up a girl, she car and she husband. And he still doing bad things like if he can’t learn. Jagdeo did get a warning that mek he tek a medivac out of Guyana. Odinga crash and nearly dead and when he was pun he hospital bed he call fuh de Bible de Bhagvad Gita and de Koran. Edghill crash pun de Kwakwani trail. Somebody did tell Jagdeo that he can save he soul if he give back de money he tek. He start a foundation but he never set it up fuh give back any money, suh he still got all that money. More retribution coming fuh him and de plug ain’t big enough. Talk half and watch how dem gun holler is obeah.
going to result in economic transformation. Education is needed for a transformational process. But it is not the driver of this process. The three traditional factors of production were land, capital and labour. New factors of production have emerged and it is these new factors that are the drivers of economic transformation. What are these new factors? I will name four. But I will begin the discussion with three. The first is inventiveness. The second is innovation. The third is entrepreneurship. These are the factors that are driving economic transformation in the world today. Pushing global economic transformation is the desire for global competitiveness. And the industries that are transformative and are yielding competitive advantages are known as knowledge-based industries. Education is important to these industries but it is not the driver of transformation. The critical factors driving global competition in developed economies are inventiveness, innovation and entrepreneurship. In developed economies, it is technical innovation that is achieving competitive advantages. However, in these economies there is in place the infrastructure and the investments in design and research that are necessary to achieve high levels of technical innovation which when coupled with inventiveness and
entrepreneurship, gives a huge boost to the competitive advantage of these stronger economies. On the other hand, in the developing countries, there is a deficit in infrastructure, including technological infrastructure, and there is a lack of resources for investment in research. As a result, technical innovation is all but absent. In these developing economies, the factor most needed to drive this technical innovation is not so much education as it is infrastructure. Developing economies need education to manage a transformational process but education is not the driver. Infrastructure is, and in this regard, the PPP is way ahead of the opposition when it comes to its understanding what drives economic transformation. Developing countries are limited in their capacity to innovate and invent. Developed economies and emerging economies have greater capacity in these two areas. Because of the deficit in innovative capacity, developing countries have to
find another means to transform their economies. And that driver is infrastructure. You do not need to be a jaguar to know that. There is a relationship between building infrastructure and creating the capacity to innovate. It is beyond this column to explain this but it should be obvious to the most casual of economic students that developing countries are behind the developed world in innovative capacity only where there is a deficit in infrastructure, including technological infrastructure. Education has a role to play in building and sustaining knowledge based industries. But infrastructure has a far more important role. Infrastructure is a prerequisite for building innovative capacity. Education on the other hand has long been associated with social transformation, or so it is argued. For example, education, it is said, is the best means to move people out of poverty. But is it the education per se that moves
people out of poverty or is it the opportunities it provides to the select to move more rapidly towards higher income jobs? And if these jobs were not there in the first place, what would be the use of education? This is a highly debatable issue, one that many people are not willing to take on because it is considered heresy to dispute the role of education in poverty reduction. While it is true that education opens up greater opportunities for the poor to be more socially and economically mobile, the returns on educational investment are as a mass level extremely poor. That is fact but one that is ignored and dodged by economists.
Page 10
Kaieteur News
Saturday March 21, 2015
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Groupthink: Ralph Ramkarran comes in from the cold Have you read the book, “The Spy Who came in from the Cold” or saw the movie with the same name? TIME magazine includes the book in its pick of the best 100 novels ever written. For many experts, it is the best spy novel ever authored. One of the lessons offered by the book is that when you belong to groupthink, it becomes impossible to tell the difference between fact and fiction. I have never joined a political party even though I was with the Working People’s Alliance from the time it was born. I am very
close to the Alliance For Change but I doubt I would take out a membership card. I have always been afraid of groupthink. It is a deadly psychological killer. It reduces the mind and soul of a human being. Today, the PPP has become a monster that not only successfully stalked this land but almost devoured it. And the blame can be laid at the doorstep of Dr. and Mrs. Janet Jagan. Professor Clement Seecharan is the latest condemnatory voice against the Jagdeo claim, that Cheddi Jagan had an elevated lifestyle given the fancy,
expensive house he lived in. Dr. Seecharan, like all those before him, including Mrs. Jagan’s personal assistant, Sadie Amin, has commented on the very ordinary income and existence of the two Jagans. A word about Sadie Amin which reveals the power and psychosis of groupthink. I approached Ms. Amin one evening at the bar of the NAACIE trade union. I asked her how she can conceivably vote as a member of the Council of the University for Dr. James Rose to be the Vice Chancellor of UG. I will never forget her groupthink
response; “Freddie, I am a communist, I belong to a communist party, I follow and will always follow what my party tells me”. Once you mention the two Jagans, the incontrovertible fact automatically comes up – they were humble people who had no lust for any kind of wealth. As the days and months go by, we will hear more facts on how modest were the lifestyle of the Jagans. And we will respect those facts. But as much as we respect the Jagans for their ordinary income, we must read
between the lines. The Jagans were simple, incorruptible people but their politics invented groupthink in the PPP and their politics is responsible for the canopy of evil with which the PPP is now wrapped. Ralph Ramkarran is leading the way in providing researchers with material to generate revisionist conclusions. I have consistently called on Ralph Ramkarran and Henry Jeffrey not just to write scathingly about the PPP, but tell us what they saw for all the decades they were inside the PPP and its government. Jeffrey is not the type who will care to do so. But Ralph Ramkarran has come in from the cold. Two startling facts Ramkarran has given us will cause researchers to take out their fine-teeth comb. First was the insistence of Mrs. Jagan that she will run for the Presidency in 1997 after Roger Luncheon sought it and got rejected. Now Ramkarran tells us about an intriguing incident. Then President Jagdeo rebuffed Mrs Jagan over the withdrawal of advertisements from the Stabroek News by referring to her as an ordinary citizen. He, Ramkarran, wanted to confront Jagdeo on Jagdeo’s insult and asked Mrs. Jagan to let him reply. Mrs. Jagan refused. Two curiosities arise here. Why Ramkarran had to ask Mrs. Jagan to do what was morally the right thing for someone with the standing of Ramkarran? Surely, Mr.
Frederick Kissoon Ramkarran had to know that given his tall stature in the PPP he didn’t need Mrs. Jagan’s permission. The answer is groupthink. The Jagans made sure that everything and everyone in the PPP revolved around them, so it was simply instinctive for Ramkarran to make sure he knew how Mrs. Jagan was thinking. Secondly, why did Mrs. Jagan stop Ramkarran? Because no matter how sick an act, how depraved a fault, how criminal a habit, how immoral an utterance that was found inside the PPP leadership, Mrs. Jagan would have tolerated it and swept it under the rug because the party must not be criticized and there must not be any dissention in the party. The PPP is not the Jaganite party it once was because groupthink destroyed it when everyone fell in line and bowed to Mrs. Jagan’s edict that a very nincompoop, unknown member become the President in 1999 when she chose to resign. She chose Bharrat Jagdeo. Mrs, Jagan turned out to be more destructive than Jagdeo himself.
Saturday March 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 11
Jagdeo misled nation on growth under his watch - Chris Ram - took retirement package equal to 240 old age pensions For over two decades, the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), has been telling Guyana that the administration of former Finance Minister, Carl Greenidge, mismanaged the economy prior to 1992. It is myth. As a matter of fact, under the Presidency of Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana borrowed more and there is evidence that growth declined steadily. Writing in his online blog chrisram.net yesterday, prominent accountant and lawyer, Christopher Ram, argued that Greenidge, a Finance Minister in the People’s National Congress (PNC) administration, has been one of the chief targets of the PPP/C since 2011 for what they claim to be his mismanagement of the economy prior to 1992. “This claim is at best onesided and at worst totally dishonest, completely
ignoring the performance of the economy when Greenidge demitted office in 1992. Perhaps as the calypsonian Chalkdust sang: “they ‘fraid Carl”. Ram said that it must be noted that Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) which the PPP in opposition had dubbed Empty Rice Pot was not replaced after the party won the elections in 1992. “…why did they not replace it? The truth is that the ERP negotiated by Greenidge with the IMF and other international lenders and donors placed Guyana on a trend where its economic growth rate was well above anything the country has ever witnessed, before or after.” Ram said that Asgar Ally, the PPP’s Finance Minister, riding on the wave of debt write-offs initiated by Greenidge, “kept the economy roaring until he was undermined by then Junior
Finance Minister Bharrat Jagdeo.” Ram went further. “Following the appointment of Jagdeo as Finance Minister, the economy went into reverse, a trend which continued with his micromanagement of the economy when he succeeded Janet Jagan as President in 1999.” Backing his arguments, and using figures from the Bank of Guyana, the accountant noted that in October 1992 when Ally took over as Finance Minister, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which measures growth, was growing at 7.7% following a 6.1% growth in 1991. However, the economy recorded its first decline in the decade of the nineties under Jagdeo as Finance Minister, an underperformance repeated for three years between 2000 and 2005 under his presidency. Ram has been highly
Gregory Smith’s sister to testify in Rodney COI Two persons are expected to testify when the Commission of Inquiry, (COI) into the death of renowned Guyanese Scholar, Dr. Walter Rodney, resumes on Monday. According to an official attached to the Commission, Donald Rodney ( brother of the late Dr. Rodney’s and Ann Wagner, the sister of former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant Gregory Smith will take the stand for the upcoming session, scheduled to last for one week. The latter witness coauthored a book with Smith, who reportedly fled to French Guiana after he became the prime suspect in the assassination, which occurred on June 13, 1980. That day, Dr. Rodney, a scholar, social activist and founder of Working People Alliance (WPA) was killed in an explosion. Following the incident, there was also speculation that the killing was set up by the then Prime Minister and Leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. As such, close relatives and associates of the late historian made numerous requests for a Commission of Inquiry into his death. Decades after the event, local authorities heeded the requests and convened a public hearing in honour of the acclaimed social activist.
The late Dr. Walter Rodney Public notices on the matter outlined that the purpose of the COI is to receive testimony and evidence from interested parties to determine the circumstances immediately prior, at the time and subsequent to the incident in order to determine who or what was the cause of the explosion which resulted in the death of Dr. Rodney. Among other things, the COI was set up to determine whether the cause of the explosion in which Dr. Rodney died, was an act of terrorism. The Commission is expected to examine and report on the actions and activities of the State such as the Guyana Police Force,
Guyana National Service and those who were in command to determine whether they were tasked with surveillance and carrying of actions against the political opposition and whether they carried out those actions. The proceedings are continuing at the Supreme Court Library Building. The proceedings which commenced last year, was initially scheduled for four months after parliamentarians approved $112 M to fund the work of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry. The sum was listed under the Office of the President’s $2.2B current expenditure estimates in the 2014 Budget. Earlier on, there were concerns by the members of the opposition as it relates to funding the protracted exercise. Last October, Government’s chief spokesperson, Dr. Roger Luncheon announced that an additional $60M would likely be utilized on the Commission; that amount was scheduled for three months since according to Government’s calculation, the Commission spends about $20M a month. Recently, Dr. Luncheon has expressed confidence that sufficient funds have been secured to facilitate the work of the Commission. The activity is scheduled to last for the duration of 2015.
critical of the Government and the management of the economy for a number of years now, in his online blog, television program and newspaper column. A number of privatization deals by Government and large scale infrastructure projects have also come under his scrutiny. “The PPP/C would also have the nation believe that their Government paid off the debts inherited from the PNC. The reality is different. As a result of the economic recovery programme constructed by Greenidge, Guyana benefitted from substantial debt write-offs even as the PPP/C engaged in its own borrowing spree, both locally and internationally.” He said that unfortunately for Guyana, economic mismanagement is not the only or the worst of Jagdeo’s ailures. “He consistently violated the Constitution; undermined the judiciary; compromised public accounting and accountability; facilitated a
Accountant, Chris Ram
Bharrat Jagdeo network of slush funds; politicised and debilitated the public sector; gave Guyana the most expensive river bridge crossing in the world; made personal and political corruption into an art form; elevated extra-judicial killing into state policy in collusion with a drug kingpin; crippled the National Insurance Scheme; and his worst political/economic sin of all: destroyed the sugar industry first by his misconceived and mis-named Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Project and his mindboggling, brainless decision to give the construction of the factory to
the Chinese.” To cap it all, Ram wrote, Jagdeo did not wait on an independent Parliament to reward him with a fair retirement package. “He ordered his Cabinet and the then PPP/C majority in the National Assembly to administer to Guyanese the ultimate insult: a retirement package for him that is equivalent to the average earned income of sixty sugar workers. Or to put it another way, the equivalent of the old age pension of 240 persons.”
Page 12
Kaieteur News
Saturday March 21, 2015
CARICOM Member States Two held for the execution-style expected to review age killing of Courtney Crum-Ewing of consent legislation In light of the soon to be implemented Framework for the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy, initiated by Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), and the CARICOM Secretariat, all CARICOM member states are expected to adopt common legal standards concerning ages of marriage, consent, prosecution of perpetrators of sexual violence, access to social protection, and sexual and reproductive health services. This expected amendment, is due to the fact that in jurisdictions like Guyana, the age of consent remains at 16, while the age of majority is 18. This means that girls who end up pregnant before reaching the age of majority, are legally barred from receiving services available through the Ministry of Health. United Nations Fund for
Population Activities (UNFPA), Assistant Representative, Patrice La Fleur said that it is an important issue, since this complication defeats one of the many purposes of the Framework, which states that quality sexual, and reproductive health services and commodities are to be made available, accessible, acceptable, appropriate, equitable, and effective to all adolescents by public health facilities within every Member State. At a round-table forum addressing Women’s Rights and the Observation of the Beijing Platform for Action, one of the issues voiced by members of nongovernmental organisations and various bodies, was the fact that children of this generation are sexually active as early as the age of 10. This has helped the instances of teenage
pregnancy to skyrocket throughout the entire Caribbean, resulting in 26 to 97 out of 1000 births belonging to girls between the age of 15 and 19-yearsold. Just last October; this newspaper reported that a 12year-old girl give birth at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). However, this particular situation is likely to act as the perfect opportunity for Member States to apply the rules of CARICOM, laid down in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC). Just a few weeks ago, CARICOM’s legal Officer, O’Neil Francis, at a conference held for Immigration Officers, explained the precedential nature of Community Law and decisions of CARICOM and the heads of government. In doing so, he told the (Continued on page 23)
Two persons are now in custody as investigators continue their probe into the murder of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing, whose bullet riddled body, was found at Third Avenue, Diamond New Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) two Tuesdays ago. A senior police official yesterday said that based on information from members of the public, the two men were arrested on Thursday. A silver car was detained. The car, according to the official, is currently being put through a forensic examination. Two people reportedly threatened Crum-Ewing while he was carrying out his picketing exercise in front of the Carmichael Street, Georgetown office of the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. Yesterday, the police official said that if there is a need to question an individual, whose name has being bandied about in relation to the shooting, then his team will certainly question that person like anyone else. “We are working assiduously to ensure that we get to the bottom of this one.
Dead: Courtney Crum-Ewing It is important for the members of the public to know what we are doing. I don’t want them to see the police in a different light,” he said. The official added, “Given the speculation…there is only one way we can change the perception and bring an end to this; and that is to solve this one. I can tell you that we are putting all the intelligence together to ensure this case is solved.” Kaieteur News was told that the police have checked 10 surveillance cameras and have questioned a total of seven persons.
The surveillance footage, according to the official, is blurred and is being developed, according to the official. Crime Chief Leslie James had told Kaieteur News that the Guyana Police Force will go “wherever this investigation leads” in its quest to apprehend the individuals who riddled Crum-Ewing while he was using a bullhorn in Diamond Housing Scheme. The 40-year-old man was shot twice to the temple, once to the back of the head, and twice to the stomach. The killer(s) used a .32 pistol and fired at such close range that gunpowder burns were left on Crum-Ewing’s clothes and body. Police had stated that Crum-Ewing was accosted by four men in a car, one of whom discharged several rounds, hitting him about his body. However, other reports suggest that there were only two men in the car that transported the shooter. A second car with another two men came up soon after. Police have also received reports that there was a brief verbal confrontation before the gunfire.
Saturday March 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 21
Bandits in police uniforms at roadblocks…
Bogus cops would confuse even real police - official Police appear to have no plan in place to catch bandits who dress as cops to rob travelers at bogus roadblocks, and one official acknowledged that even real policemen would be unable to tell the real from the fake at night. The official gave this response after bandits dressed as policemen made off with $900,000 last Wednesday after holding three poultry business employees at gunpoint at Grove, Mahaicony. The victims, who were left tied up in their truck, said that two of the bandits were clad in the black police anti-crime uniforms, while the other was wearing the normal blue shirt and black trousers. Commenting on the robbery and what could be done to prevent other similar attacks, an official said that most routine roadblocks near stations are set up by senior ranks. There are others that are set up away from police stations if a robbery or other felony is committed. The source said that if the roadblock is in a dark area, it would be difficult, even for police ranks, to know if those manning the ‘roadblock’ are indeed policemen. “As a policeman you may slow down and you will see how they operate and say, ‘no, it’s not police, but by then it’s too late,” the source
said. “I may see men with a flashlight, and I would have no way of knowing. At a dark turn away from a station, what evidence do I have that they are not police if they have uniforms?” Last Wednesday’s robbery which was committed on three employees of Mohamed Farm of Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara, producers of Royal Chicken, occurred around 21:00 hours. According to reports, the victims were heading back to their place of origin after conducting business in Berbice when they were stopped at a “roadblock” by men dressed in police uniforms. The victims apparently thought that the police were conducting a campaign and it was “just another roadblock”, since they were stopped about 30 minutes earlier at another roadblock outside the Fort Wellington Police Station. But they were wrong on the latter occasion, as the “cops” turned out to be bandits, who held them at gunpoint. “Two of the bandits were clad in the black police anticrime uniforms, while the other was wearing the normal blue shirt and black trousers. The men said that they certainly looked like policemen,” a source who is associated with the victims told Kaieteur News.
The bandits locked their victims in the tray of the truck and drove it down a lonely dam. There they broke open a canister which contained the day’s sales and escaped. The three workers - the driver and two porters - were left tied up in the locked tray of the truck. About 30 minutes after the bandits left, the workers managed to free themselves and sought assistance from nearby residents, who subsequently contacted the police. By the time they arrived though, the bandits had vanished. Bandits have been using this modus operandi to carry out their activities, capitalizing on the absence of a clear policy on police
roadblocks. After such robberies, some victims have said that they would not stop again at any roadblock that is set up in a desolate area. “What do we do when we come upon a “police” roadblock in an isolated area in the middle of the night? Should we stop and risk getting robbed or do we drive through and risked being riddled with bullets?” the victims of Wednesday’s robbery had asked. Last August, Latchmin Gopaul, a teacher, her husband, Lekraj Gopaul, and a taxi driver were abducted at gunpoint in broad daylight by two men in police uniforms while heading to the airport for a planned vacation. The victims were then
driven to a desolate spot at Yarrowkabra, off the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, where they were bound and relieved of millions of dollars in local and foreign currency, jewellery and other valuables. The police had assured that nightly roadblocks will be conducted in well illuminated areas and there will be clearly marked police vehicles. This was after a spate of robberies by persons dressed in police uniforms on the East Bank of Demerara. Divisional Commander of the police East Coast Demerara Division, Assistant Commissioner Christopher Griffith told this newspaper that in the interest of trust, he had advised his ranks to conduct their roadblocks in
proximity to police stations, a method that has been working well. Another bone of contention is the number of unreturned police kits that have found their way into the hands of the criminally minded. These kits consist of complete uniforms and police identification cards. Within recent times, there have been reports of ex-cops and even serving policemen committing armed robberies, using the very police kits. “Once a person leaves the force, they are supposed to turn in their kits but there seems to be a lack of accountability when it comes to this area, we need to tighten up in that area,” a police source acknowledged.
Page 22
Kaieteur News
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One Toyota Tacoma SR5 4WD pickup, left hand drive and manual transmission, only 22000 miles – Contact: 623-1202 Toyota Voxy to be registered in “G” - $1.7M – Tel:6172891 Smart Choice Auto: Premio, Allion, Bluebird, Spacio, Fielder, Carina 212, Sienta, IST – Call: 652-3820/6654529 Allion PRR, DVD deck, reverse camera, alarm, HID, hardly used (40,000KM) $2.1M- Call:616-3566 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma - Call: 680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154
LAND FOR SALE 50 Acres titled farm land @ The Belle, Upper Dem, River Front - $100M Negotiable, serious enquiries only! Tel: 669-8152 Riverside land 75 acres @ Soesdyke Linden Highway, best price offered – Tel:2238590; 678-1575. Blankenburg, 3 lots 75X76 each, $15M, all 3 lots, Parika, Peter Street, lot size 38’X150' - $7.9M-Contact # 650-0402/ 260-4988
One Hino Canter- Tel:2282098; 628-5796. Price $1.3M Just Arrived! 09 & O6 Tacoma, manual & auto, new model Allion, Bluebird, Belta, Fielder - Tel: 621-4190, bestcarautosale s@ facebook.com Nissan Titan for sale, immaculate – Call: 647-3924 First Class Auto: Allion, Premio, Bluebird, Sienta, Runx, Axio, Verossa, Mark 2-Call : 609-8188; 638-3045
Road side 10 acres of land at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke Linden Highway - Call: 6013369
Unregistered Toyota Spacio with body kit, spoiler, rims, fog lamp -$2M - Tel: 6172891
40x110ft at 10th street Cummings Lodge near UG $12M- Call:674-5019
Honda CRV 2001; excellent condition -$2,150,000 negotiable – Tel: 624-6099 One RZ Bus, in Good condition – Contact: 6773177 or 678-5887
Houselot: Parcel No: 100, Block XV, Granville Housing Scheme, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara. Call: 227-1907 2369.664 Sq/ft of land @ Victoria village, E.C.D$750,000 Call: 255-3437; 6983678
SPECIAL DEALS ON YAMAHA OUTBOARD ENGINES: 90HP 4 STROKE, 75 HP 2 STROKE, 50 HP 4 STROKE – CALL: 683-6721 1-16FT BOW RIDER FIBERGLASS BOAT, 85HP OUTBOARD ENGINE WITH 25 GAL BUILT IN FUEL TANK, SEATS, 9 TRAILER INCLUDED CALL: 683-6721
Snackette Attendant must be able to cook; also general cleaner, industry area – Tel: 226-2829
Final Tent Sale: Clothing, footwear and more on Saturday March 21@ 445 Aubrey Barker Road, S/ Ruimveldt Gardens – Call: 626-6335
One Slate Pool Table – Price: $300,000 (three hundred thousand) - Tel:228-2098; 628-5796.
Great Deals on video games and all gaming consoles – Call: 672-2566; 265-3232
Live in domestic must know to cook Indian dishes; 3050yrs -$60,000 monthly - Tel: 610-3974 Live in experienced waitress 18-30yrs - $60,000 monthly – Tel: 610-5043
One canter in immaculate condition at reasonable price. Call: 676-0706
Get your cooked and smoothly grind split peas, for all your daily cooking needs. Contact Dr. Sharma’s : 6708212; 225-9701
1 Live in maid to work in Georgetown - Tel: 691-6260 1 Cook for home in the interior – Tel: 691-6260
Saturday March 21, 2015
2006 BMW 320i PRR Series, 2008 Toyota Premio & 2007 Mazda Axela unregistered – Tel: 615-4114 2005/6 Premio, Spacio and 2007 Belta, never registered. Call: 269-0432; 686-0323 1 RZ minibus GHH Series Tel: 604-9400; 667-4178
EDUCATIONAL Alpha is registering now for cosmetology, body massage, dressmaking, cake decoration, cakes & pastries & more- Call: 264-1052; 6637930 Accounting is easy! Sign up now for CSEC P.O.A classes for a guaranteed excellent grade. Call: 654-1723
One Lexus RX300 SUV, fully loaded, One Toyota Hilux, excellent condition – Phone: 227-4357 Unregistered 2003 Toyota Spacio front & back camera, TV/ navi / CD player 52000 KM - $2.250M – Contact: 682-5117 Unregistered Toyota IST fully Loaded - $2.1M – Call: 657-1796 Continued on page 23
Saturday March 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Intoxicated man refused bail on wounding charge An elderly man appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday to answer to a charge of wounding. The court heard that on October 25, 2014, at Kitty, Lionel Klass, unlawfully and maliciously wounded Salim Khan. Klass pleaded guilty. He explained to the court that he was consuming alcohol when the incident occurred. The accused stated that he and the victim had an argument. When the victim
left the scene, he returned with a glass bottle and lashed him on his head. Klass explained that upon noticing that he was bleeding, he retaliated. After hearing his explanation, a not guilty plea was entered for him by the Magistrate. The Prosecution’s facts stated that on the day in question both parties were consuming alcohol when an argument ensued. The accused slapped the victim
and the victim dealt him a cuff on the shoulder. The accused then left the scene and returned five minutes later with something in his hand. Before the victim could have turned around, the accused jumped on him and stabbed him several times under the arm with a broken bottle. Police were summoned and the accused was arrested and charged with the offence. Klass was remanded to prison until April 17.
HOMELESS CAR WASHER REMANDED TO JAIL
A homeless man was remanded to prison on an accusation that he was an armed robber. Kwame Bruce, also known as “Gully Bapp”, of 65 Cross and Leopold Streets, denied the allegation which stated that on March 17, last, at Camp Street, he robbed
CARICOM Member... From page 12 officers that Member States are expected to change, amend or repeal any legislation which conflicts with Community law. La Fleur, during the discussion on Monday last, presented an outline of expectations under the Framework for the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy, which provides that all governments in the Caribbean are to adopt common legal standards, in effort to achieve this community goal. The vision is to be achieved by the year 2020, and involves a system where governments in the Caribbean, exchange knowledge and information, while adopting good practices in addressing social determinants of adolescent pregnancy, and reducing it by 20%.
Walter Drakes of a quantity of confectioneries, valued over $40,000. At the time Bruce was said to be armed with a knife. Police Corporal Aduni Inniss, the Prosecutor, objected to bail on the premise that the defendant has no fixed place of abode.
Magistrate Annette Singh ordered that the defendant be sent to receive medical attention, since he appeared to be badly wounded. Walter who was unrepresented by an Attorney will return to court on April 2.
(From page 22)
PROPERTY FOR SALE Two storey, 3 bedrooms house with furnished kitchen, 36X40 & yard space @ Land of Canaan New Scheme- Call:690-6570, 6859994 Business property located @ Supply public road, E.B.D. Entering either by river/ public road- Call: 698-8100 Flat concrete house for sale in Grove with land spaceCall: 679-3913 Bunn office maker, with 3 draw flasks, Hamilton Beach 3 head, Swizzler, 6 Burner Stove, donut machine – Call: 683-5234 Houses & land available for sale in Non- Pariel, Enmore, Providence & Diamond Contact: Pacific Development Inc # 223-6035; 231-8480 Parfaite Harmonie, West Minister, Onderneeming, Cornela Ida, Tushcen, etc Contact: Pacific Development Inc # 223-6035; 231-8480 Caneville Grove E.B.D $2.6M, Sophia ‘C’ big foundation - $3.1M, Parfaite W.B.D - $1.3M, L.B.I EarlsCourt 90X120 - $20M – Call:231-2199; 618-7483
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Bond Space for rent with drive way at Eccles E.B.D; just off the Public Road – Tel:644-7529; 603-4637 1 Bedroom apartment for rent @ Soesdyke E.B.DPhone: 604-7022 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, , JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW & MORE - CALL: 675-0767, 627-5098 Church to rent @180 Charlotte Street - Contact Number: 226-5183; 227-6817; 624-7341
House for sale located in Eccles- Contact: 622-7473
Concrete 3 bedrooms upper flat house fully grilled, parking available @ Agricultural road Mon Repos, E.C.D- Call:687-1050
Property @ 62 Bent Street Wortmanville Georgetown – Tel: 629-6101; 660-5019
1-3 Bedrooms apartment for rent @ 74 Atlantic Ville Tel:644-9088 (after 6pm)
24x58 Seafield Leonora water pump street - Call: 642-5799
Rooms for rent - Call: 638-5335
Haslington, E.C.D: Building ‘A’, concrete/ timber modern 2 storeys, 7 bedrooms, grilled & fenced. Building ‘B’, 3 apartments, fenced- $18M negotiable - Call: 255-3437; 698-3678. Business property located at Mc Doom Public Road, newly renovated, huge bond for restaurant, spare parts etc – Tel: 622-5721
Spot in Alexander Village @ 68 Cross & Second Street, near to masjid, overseas investor preferably – Contact Winston: 666-3168 1-Two bedroom semi furnished apartment self contained - $45,000 per month @ Henry StreetContact Simone: 227-0501; 626-5317 Sophia new 2 bedrooms $40,000 @ Diamond, South house, Parfaite, Campbellville – Tel:231-2200; 618-7483; 2317805 Lodge Apartments (Vlissengen/Durban) unfurnished - $50,000 $60,000 P/M; furnished (for visitors) $500USD-$1000US P/M – Tel:677-9638; 629-1093 Lodge (Vlissengen/Durban): Professional/Office/ Business space (no food retailing) –Tel: 677-9638; 6291093 One bottom flat in Enmore $40,000 monthly – Call: 6003035 PROPERTY FOR SALE 2 Storied building; 5 years old, 9,600 sq ft suitable for apartment complex / recreational facility & bar – serious calls only, Tel: 6538754
VACANCY International Cruiseline AB Sailors, waitresses, waiters, cooks, receptionists, storekeepers, cleaners, electricians, carpenters, welders, costmetologist, etc – Tel: 231-6296, 650-9880 Work from home: Earn $5,000 - $20,000 daily, 9am 5pm, Monday to Saturday Call: 233-6517/ 638-0595 or www.jobfairworldwide.com Experienced hauler driver, porters, rip saw & plane operator @ Eccles Industrial Site E.B.D - Call Richard: 6097675; 674-1705; 233-2614 FAST GROWING IMPORTERS SEEKING NIGHTSECURITYGUARDS. MUSTHAVEPOLICECALL FOR INTERVIEW: 2318344; 231-8529 Experienced Cashier – Shift Work, Computer Knowledge, Apply: Fortune House Restaurant, 98 Sheriff Street. No Phone Calls. Exists for: Chef & Assistant Cook- to work & live- in with new business in TuschenContact:660-6099, 644-3338 Vacancy exists at Confidential Cabs for experienced dispatcherCall:231-4000, 231-8601 One driver/salesman to work on water truck, must be living around W.B.D, attractive salary - Tel: 6184257 (1)Live-in caretaker/ family to work @ Coverden, E.B.D. Send application to 31-33 Austin Street, Campbellville, G/Town- Call:225-7493
TO LET 1 -Two bedrooms apartment to rent in Lynn Street $50,000 per month - Tel: 6707171 1- Three bedroom house to rent in Prashad Nagar $1000US per month - Tel: 670-7171 Fully Furnished vacation home with all amenities- Call during working hours - Call: 227-1218
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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 21, 2015
GRA urges public to report suspicious behaviour by ‘staffers’ Recording concern over allegations of a Berbice man that was duped by an off-duty Customs Officer and claims that persons are engaging in various nefarious activities whilst impersonating officers of the agency, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is calling on the public to report any person or staff who might be engaging in illegal activities. The tax agency stated that it is concerned about a report which appeared in the newspaper headlined “Others claim to be duped by phone fraudsters”, and reported claims by one of the victims that he was duped by an off duty Customs Officer. The body, by way of public missive, said it is equally concerned about allegations being made that persons are engaging in various nefarious activities, whilst impersonating officers of the agency, since this practice tarnishes the image
of the agency and its officers. “While it is unfortunate that honest hardworking individuals have fallen prey to this scam, the GRA condemns in the strongest possible terms, such criminal activities by elements in our society whose aim is to defraud unsuspecting individuals of their hard earned money,” the agency noted. A resident from #2 Village, East Canje Berbice had told this newspaper that he was tricked out of $205,000 from an off duty Customs officer. He said he was lured through a telephone call by an overseas-based “cousin” who had requested that money be taken to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to clear and uplift some items from an air freight organization. On his way, he was stopped by a purported customs officer, who was dressed casually, on the
GRA Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur Public Road at Herstelling. The “agent” collected the money before urging the man to continue on his way to the CJIA. The tax body has highlighted the procedures in place for the payment of duties and taxes to the agency. It said “Monetary transactions are not conducted outside the official premises of the GRA or during unofficial working hours. All monies must be paid to the cashier of the GRA, where an official receipt will be issued to the taxpayer.” The body explained that with regard to the clearing of personal effects, it has implemented a system which is free of human intervention. “As such, examinations of personal effects are based on risk profiling and intelligence gathering in the presence of the consignee. Further, only the consignees are authorized to uplift their personal effects from the shipping agents upon presentation of valid forms of identification, and payment of relevant duties, taxes and fees,” GRA clarified. The tax agency went on to say that all its staffers are required to wear their badges of identification when performing official duties on behalf of the agency, and must identify themselves to taxpayers. The general public was advised not to make any payment to persons claiming to be a part of the agency, or to conduct any monetary transaction with GRA staff, unless such payments are being made to GRA’s cashiers at the official business office of the agency. “The general public is also encouraged to report any person or staff who might be engaging in illegal activities which can compromise the integrity of the agency and its officers, by calling the agency’s Law Enforcement and Investigation Division on 227 6060 extensions 32013208,” the statement ended.
Saturday March 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
Leave no stone unturned to find Courtney’s killers A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition is adamant that the assassination of political activist Courtney CrumEwing cannot be added to the list of unsolved killings. The alliance insists that “justice must be served.” The political force has called on the Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee to leave no stone unturned in search for Crum-Ewing’s killers. This call was made yesterday as APNU Executive Member, Basil Williams hosted APNU+AFC weekly media conference at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition. Williams hosted the briefing in the absence of APNU+AFC Presidential candidate, David Granger who is currently in the United States of America. The lawyer was accompanied by his comrade, Annette Ferguson whose comments on the issue harmonized with his. Williams, who served in the Tenth Parliament as Deputy Speaker, told the media that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C’s) tenure in Government has been characterized by hundreds of extra-judicial killings. “But, they have failed for over a decade and a half to constitute any Commission of Inquiry into those killings, including that of Satyadeow Sawh, a Government Minister.” He then turned his attention to Courtney CrumEwing and said that his “execution” comes in the context of his activities against the “excesses of the Government and its officials. Williams also pointed out that Crum-Ewing showed support for the opposition in the pending elections of May 11, 2015 “and the licentiousness at Babu John.” With that being said, Williams told the media that Crum-Ewing’s death takes on the hue of a political assassination. “The implications of his killing are manifold: his constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully; speak freely; move freely; to belong to a political party; his right to life and to the protection of the law have all
- coalition tells Rohee been impugned by this cowardly act,” said Williams. The politician added that “Courtney’s assassination confirms that we live in a failed and lawless country and magnifies the importance of May 11, 2015, to the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Guyana.” Crum-Ewing was laid to rest on Wednesday last. His funeral attracted thousands. APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger had paid his respects to the political activist at the Heavenly Light Full Gospel Church in Albouystown. Addressing the church he said that Courtney CrumEwing was a “peacemaker”, “noble,” and a “martyr” who employed lawful, peaceful, public and persistent means to bring about change in Guyana. Granger said that he had met Crum-Ewing while
picketing with the APNU. “Crum-Ewing appealed to all citizens, from all walks of life, to demand decency and respect for law and order from those in high office. While he recognized the danger of opposing a “desperate and dangerous” government and the oligarchs it has nurtured, Crum-Ewing felt strongly that opposition was better than submission. Courtney CrumEwing “bled to death for democracy”, Granger told the congregation. Pointing to the assassination of CrumEwing, Granger bemoaned the fact that the Guyana Police Force was unable to protect Guyanese citizens irrespective of the many programmes community policing groups, neighbourhood policing schemes, citizen security programmes – executed by the Force.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 21, 2015
Dominica opposition party wants Suicide bombers kill 137 in Yemen mosque attacks govt. to stay out of US-Venezuela spat
The mosques are mainly used by supporters of the Shi’ite Muslim Houthi group as well as Sunni worshippers. Above, bodies were covered in blankets after the blast. (AP Photo) (Reuters) - Suicide bombers killed at least 137 worshippers and wounded hundreds more during Friday prayers at two mosques in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, in coordinated attacks claimed by Islamic State. The attacks on mosques used by supporters of the Shi’ite Muslim Houthi fighters who control the city were the deadliest in a yearslong campaign of violence in the country, where Washington has been waging a drone air war against a local branch of the Sunni Muslim militant group al Qaeda. Sectarian unrest has increased in recent months after the Iran-backed Shi’ite fighters seized the capital last year. Four bombers wearing explosive belts targeted
worshippers in and around the crowded mosques. State news agency Saba, which is controlled by the Houthis, put the death toll at 137 and the number of wounded at 357. Hospitals were overwhelmed, appealing for blood donors to help treat the large number of casualties. A Reuters journalist at the Badr mosque counted at least 25 bloody bodies lying in the street and inside the building. One man carried a child in his arms. Islamic State, the al Qaeda offshoot that controls swathes of Syria and Iraq and has been attracting followers in other countries, considers Shi’ites to be heretics. Both groups have now rallied against the Houthis in Yemen, giving them the same enemies as the U.S.-backed government in a complex, multi-sided conflict in the Arab world’s poorest country. “Let the polytheist Houthis know that the soldiers of the Islamic State will not rest and will not stay
still until they extirpate them,” the group said in a statement posted by supporters on Twitter, claiming responsibility for the attacks. “God willing, this operation is only a part of the coming flood.” Among the dead was Almortada al-Mahatwary, a leading figure in Yemen’s Shi’ite Zaidi sect, the Houthicontrolled al-Masirah television channel said. Badr mosque was hit by two bombers and two others struck a second mosque. A fifth bomber was killed when he tried to attack a mosque in Saada province, a northern Houthi stronghold, but the device went off prematurely, a security source told Reuters. “I was going to pray at the (Badr) mosque then I heard the first explosion, and a second later I heard another one,” a witness told Reuters. Television footage showed young men in traditional Yemeni clothes carrying lifeless bodies, some dripping with blood, out of the mosque. I n Wa s h i n g t o n , t h e White House condemned the bombings and said it could not confirm that the attackers were affiliated with Islamic State.
ROSEAU, Dominica CMC – The main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) is calling on the Dominica government not to get involved in the ongoing disagreement between the United States and Venezuela warning that any action by Roseau could harm thousands of nationals residing in the North American country. The UWP leader Lennox Linton said that “by unreasonably challenging America’s right to determine if, when and by whom its national security is being threatened” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is threatening the security of “our own US-based Dominican and other Caribbean brothers and sisters who are dependent on the US government for their protection and the enhancement of their quality of life”. Skerrit was among several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders who attended a meeting of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) in Caracas earlier this
Lennox Linton week. At that meeting, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne, said that his government is troubled by the escalation of antagonism between two countries and proposed the establishment of a small group to act “as honest brokers” in the ongoing conflict. Browne said that while his administration “accepts that it is up to any government in the world whether it applies sanctions on another, the
process for doing so should be transparent with convincing evidence provided. “My government regrets the language of the Executive Order that declared “a national emergency” because it was felt that “the situation in Venezuela” poses an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States”. In his statement, Linton said that he was calling on Prime Minister Skerrit “to stop compromising the public interest of Dominica by thoughtlessly poking his nose and selfishly taking a side in yet another diplomatic flare up between the United States and Venezuela”. Linton noted that Skerrit had labeled the US action as “unfair and inexplicable” but that he “made no mention of the US concerns of undemocratic governance, criminalization of legitimate protest action, violation of human rights, public corruption and provocative anti-US diplomatic posturing by Caracas”.
JTUM marched out against corruption and nepotism in the workplace Trinidad Express Members of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) marched Thursday through the streets of Port of Spain in an attempt to get negotiations settled and speak out against corruption and nepotism in the workplace. The Movement of Social Justice (MSJ) political party is supporting the unions in this venture. A press release from JTUM Thursday stated: “The event will see workers from various unions and various sectors out in their numbers. They will walk through the streets of Port-of-Spain, in solidarity, and call for accountability from the current People’s Partnership Government and the Chief
Personnel Officer. Much more than an opportunity to rant about overdue negotiations and unjust wage packages, workers will also demand an end to nepotism, contracting out permanent jobs and other forms of corruption at the workplace; respect from the Minister of Labour (Errol McLeod) and others in authority; an end to using defective buses and several other health and safety violations in various workplaces. “ Sectors represented are banking and insurance, energy and manufacturing, education, daily paid workers and bus workers. MSJ’s political leader David Abdulah said the MSJ
supported the workers because McLeod has failed to implement the Workers’ Agenda. Abdulah said: “The MSJ urges working people and the Labour Movement in this election season to recognise that their faith cannot be placed any longer in the traditional political parties.” He said the People’s Partnership failure to implement the Workers’ Agenda was one of the main reason the MSJ existed the Partnership three years ago. And Abdulah also said the Workmen’s’ Compensation Act needed to be replaced by a modern Workers’ Injury and Benefit Act, A promise by the Government not yet fulfilled.
Saturday March 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
North Korea says can fire nuclear missile at ‘any time’ (Reuters) - North Korea has the ability to fire a nuclear weapon and would use a nuclear missile in retaliation if it is attacked, the country’s ambassador to Britain told Sky News yesterday. “It is not the United States that has a monopoly on nuclear weapons strikes,” Ambassador Hyun Hak-bong told Sky at the isolated Asian country’s London embassy. Asked if that meant North Korea, which quit the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1993, had the capability to fire a nuclear missile now, he replied: “Any time, any time, yes.” “If the United States strike us, we should strike back. We are ready for conventional war with conventional war, we are ready for nuclear war with nuclear war. We do not want war but we are not afraid of war,” he added. In a speech on March 3, North Korean Foreign Min-
ister Ri Su Yong said his country had the power to deter an “ever-increasing nuclear threat” by the United States with a pre-emptive strike if necessary. He also denounced military exercises staged by South Korea and the United States as provocative. The United States has said it is seriously concerned about North Korea’s nuclear work, which it says breaches international agreements. North Korea has conducted three nuclear detonations, the most recent in February 2013, and the commander of U.S. forces in South Korea said in October he believed Pyongyang had the capability to build a nuclear warhead that can be mounted on a ballistic missile, althoug h t h e r e had been no tests or other evidence to show it had taken that step. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department de-
clined to comment “on intelligence matters” when asked if North Korea was able to fire a nuclear missile, but said the United States remained “fully prepared to deter, defend against, and respond to the threat posed by North Korea”. On Wednesday, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said it was carrying out increasingly realistic tests of missile defenses, citing the growing missile threats from North Korea and Iran. MDA Director Navy Vice Admiral James Syring said North Korea has fielded hundreds of missiles that could reach U.S. forces based in South Korea and Japan. Syring told the defense subcommittee for the U.S. Se n a t e A p p r o p r i a t i o ns Committee that both North K o r e a a n d I r a n c o u ld achieve the ability to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile as early as this year.
Deadlocked Iran nuclear talks break off, to resume next week
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) expresses his condolences over the death of the mother of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani before a negotiation session with Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif (R). Also at the negotiating table is European Union Political Director Helga Schmid (rear C). CREDIT: REUTERS/BRIAN SNYDER (Reuters) - Iran and six world powers suspended negotiations on a nuclear agreement and were set to meet again next week to break a deadlock over sensitive atomic research and lifting of sanctions, Western officials said yesterday. While the talks have made progress over the past year, differences on sticking points are still wide enough to potentially prevent an agreement in the end. France was demanding more stringent restrictions on the Iranians under any deal than the other Western delegations, officials said. A European negotiator said the six power group - the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China - was generally unified but voiced concern that the Obama ad-
ministration was under pressure due to concerns Republican-led Congress might wreck any agreement. “The great ýparadox is that Congress and Israel have put the pressure on the Americans instead of pressuring Iran which is what we need to be doing,” the official said. Iran’s delegation told the six powers it was returning to Tehran due to the death of President Hassan Rouhani’s 90-year-old mother yesterday. Prior to the Iranian departure, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation chief Ali Akbar Salehi held another series of meetings to break the impasse.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 21, 2015
Obama’s visit a once-in-a- lifetime -Service sector is the way forward opportunity Jamaica Observer - As excitement builds about the impending brief visit of US President Barack Obama, the American Chamber of Commerce thinks that it represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to expand trade via the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI). The American Chambers of Commerce Jamaica (AMCHAM) and Trinidad and Tobago are currently piloting an initiative aimed at expanding trade and investment in services between Caricom and the United States. The group hopes to establish a new regime dubbed Services to the Caribbean (SOCA), to advance executive, legislative, and business-to-business (B2B) initiatives between Caricom businesses and the US. Ultimately, AMCHAM believes that the services sector is the way to expand economic growth and jobs for Jamaica and its Caricom neighbours. “CBI expires in 2020 and we have no doubt that it will be renewed, but the problem persists with how relevant it is when it was launched in 1983 and was focused on goods, free trade zones and manufacturing for exports”, vice-president of Manchester Trade and advisor to SOCA, David Lewis, stated via Skype at the AMCHAM public forum on SOCA initiative on Wednesday. Manchester Trade, based in Washington DC, has been in business for two decades providing strategic trade and business advisory services to American and international clients in areas such as trade negotiations, export development, investment promotion, and legislative advocacy. It works with its clients to advance domestic and global business and policy interests
in the US market and abroad. “The US president is coming to Jamaica to meet with the prime minister on April 9 and there is a wonderful opportunity to bring the issue up, and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. I think if we then patch that in with the business initiative we are working on, you end up having a good coalition effort,” Lewis said. “We need to do it this year, because when we get to fall at the end of the year we begin the season of pre-election, and by then it’s going to be very difficult to get their attention on an issue which is foreign and not critical to them,” he added. The AMCHAM initiative, which was launched in Washington DC two years ago, seeks to refocus the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), under which Caribbean countries and Central America receive several tariff and trade benefits to the US, to include services as the dominant sector of Caricom economies and of USCaricom trade and investment. “We want the Caribbean trade preference relationship to be a modern 21st century one, which complements the best of the CBI goods with the potential and the reality of servicing dominant economies in the Caribbean including manufacturing,” he added. Lewis stated that in 2008, Uruguay mobilised its relationship with the US and went from US$100 million in services exported to the US, to US$1.3 billion last year. The country’s free trade zone which totalled nine, grew to 13, creating roughly 16,000 jobs in the service sector. “We took our decision from what Uruguay did. A small country with only 3.5 million people, no free trade
Barack Obama agreement and very far away from the US — but through their trade and investment agreement focused on services as the key business areas to start up and mobilise their relationship with the US,” Lewis stated. The group is now in discussions with members of the US Congress about getting a part of the legislation passed this year. “You really want to meet with your US business counterpart and discuss how we can maximise trade and investment in services that we currently have. That aspect, the business-to-business matchmaking, will help us to see the value added to businesses in the region and the recruitment needed,” he added. Caricom goods exported to the US in 2012 totalled US$12 billion, down from US$32 billion in 2005. US goods exported to Caricom in 2012 were US$19 billion, down from US$40 billion in 2005. Data indicates that in 2012 Caricom exported about US$9.6 billion in services to the world while importing US$6.6 billion, showing a clear competitive export edge for the region’s services sectors, according to AMCHAM.
Saturday March 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 29
West Dem cops 3rd title... Australia down Pakistan to set up India semi-final
(From page 34) West Demerara side McGill, agreed with Nedd, but added the time spent together as a team is one of t h e r e a s o n s w h y We s t
Demerara is doing so well at the youth level. “Most of the guys in this team were playing since they were under-15 players and the unity and
team spirit among the team and Travis’ captaincy are key factors in our success at Under-19 and U-17 levels over the last three years.
Today’s encounters promise... (From page 33) impressive in their beat up of Bishop’s High and the usual potent strike force will once again be called upon to steer them to victory. Jarel Grannum, Keoma Crawford, Ryan Hackett and Shemar Dover, have all been in incredible form all tournament and should be able to continue in the same vein of form. On the other hand, Curtis Lellman, Rafael Bollers, Kareem Caines, Colin Denny and Rafael Charles have
shown similar instincts as well and it could well come down to which team is hungrier and who sticks to their game plan. The final encounter of the day pits the highly to uted Chase Academy against Queenstown and just like the three above this game promises to be a sizzler. Isaiah Reddy has been in red hot form and among the leading goalscorers in the tournament and his performance is crucial for Chase Academy, while the speedy
Marlon Nedd, who has not looked the same as last year, will be called upon for support. Kareem Knights is another player capable of turning a game on its head and Chase Academy will be depending on him also to engineer a win. For Queenstown, how well Kelsey Benjamin and Wellerson De Santos play will be critical if they are to upset the start-studded Chase Academy unit. It promises to be junior football it its magical best.
Saturday March 21, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you may feel a little out of sorts, Aries, but your creative energies are likely to flow freely. Inspiration could come from deep within you.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today your imagination is likely to be flying high, Libra, drawing on past images and events that you may have forgotten.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) The survival of a partnership could depend on some open and honest communication today, Taurus. Conflicting issues may be simmering and need to be aired in a sensitive and caring way.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A friend could put forth some ideas regarding incorporating the arts into a business enterprise. A lot of discussion could result, though it's unlikely that any final decisions will be made now.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A book, letter, or other important piece of paperwork that was misplaced might finally be found today, Gemini. This is important, as it may relate to financial concerns or a creative project that you've been working on.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Discussions, perhaps involving money, spur you and your collaborators on to new innovative projects that might prove to be of great benefit to all. Don't let your inspiration stop there.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Discussions with close friends could lead to ideas for creative projects of some kind, Cancer. Although the projects themselves may LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Money matters might require your attention today, Leo. Concerns involving the home are on your mind. You may need to work on the household accounts or balance the records of a home business. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Deep thought that occupies your time today could lead to some fascinating conversations with a close friend or partner, Virgo.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Friends who have been traveling or live far away could bring some interesting news your way that hasn't yet broken in your area. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today you might give some thought to career matters. You're probably trying to brainstorm ingenious ways to advance professionally and increase your income. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your partner may return from a journey today, and a deep conversation could follow. You will gain a stronger understanding of your partner and how things could shape up.
ADELAIDE, Australia (AFP) — Australia overcame to a fiery spell from fast bowler Wahab Riaz to record an entertaining six-wicket win over Pakistan in the World Cup quarter-final at the Adelaide Oval yesterday. The co-hosts, chasing Pakistan’s modest 213 all out, were reduced to 59 for three in the 11th over before Steve Smith (65) and Shane Watson (64 not out) swung the match around with a fourth-wicket stand of 89. Glenn Maxwell smashed an unbeaten 44 off 29 balls with five fours and two sixes as Australia recovered to coast home in the 34th over in front of a full house of nearly 47,000 spectators. Watson hit the winning boundary after a tense start to Australia’s chase saw left-armer Wahab remove David Warner and skipper Michael Clarke in his first two overs. But two dropped catches cost Pakistan dearly. Australia’s eighth consecutive win over Pakistan on their own soil set up an enticing semi-final clash against defending champions India at the SydneyCricket Ground on Thursday. Pakistan’s defeat ended the one-day international careers of two veterans in captain Misbah-ul Haq and allrounder Shahid Afridi. Pakistan, who won the toss and elected to bat, were shot out for 213, with one ball to spare, as fast bowler Josh Hazlewood grabbed four wickets and Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell took two each. Haris Sohail’s 41 was the top score. Three other batsmen settled down to reach 20 but were unable to build on their starts. If Australia expected an easy chase, Wahab provided a rude shock with a hostile opening spell of two for 24 in six overs. However, it was right-arm seamer Sohail Khan who gave Pakistan an opening by trapping Aaron Finch leg-before in the third over. Finch, whose top score in the tournament after making 135 in the opening match against England is 24, asked for a television review which proved umpire Kumar Dharmasena had made the correct decision. Wahab, brought into the attack in the ninth over as the fourth bowler, struck with his third legal delivery by having the dangerous Warner caught at third man. Warner made 24 off 23
balls when he attempted to slash a short ball and Rahat Ali took a well-judged catch running in from the boundary. Wahab removed Clarke in his next over as the Australian captain fended at a short ball and lobbed an easy catch to Sohaib Maqsood close to the wicket on the on-side. Watson was greeted to the wicket with a barrage of short-pitched deliveries from the fired-up Wahab, one of which nearly cost him his wicket when he was on four. The all-rounder hooked a bouncer high to fine-leg where Rahat got under the ball but dropped the catch to loud groans from the Pakistani fielders and supporters in the packed stands. The pressure eased as a tiring Wahab was taken off after his sixth over, allowing
Smith and Watson to build a partnership. The pair stayed together till the 27th over, taking the total to 148 for three, when seamer Ehsan Adil broke through by having Smith legbefore as the batsman missed an attempted flick. Wahab, returning to the attack in the 29th over, almost claimed another wicket with his second delivery back as Maxwell top-edged a pull, but Sohail Khan failed to hold the ball at third man. Maxwell sent Australia cruising to victory with a typically aggressive knock before Watson hit the clinching boundary, with Pakistan left ruing the lack of runs on the board by their batsmen. Scores: Australia 216 for 4 (Smith 65, Watson 64*) beat Pakistan 213 (Haris Sohail 41, Hazlewood 4-35) by 6 wickets.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday March 21, 2015
NBS 2nd Division Cricket David De Caires/Basil Sukhram Memorial golf tournament on today starts tomorrow in Berbice The eagerly awaited David De Caires/Basil Sukhram Memorial tournament (which was postponed in February) will be held today, teeing-off at 12 noon, at the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC). This Memorial tournament is one of the very significant tournaments on the Lusignan Golf Club calendar, because of the sterling contribution made by David De Caires, who served as President of the club and as Club Captain for many years, and veteran golfer Basil Sukhram. Today’s Competition, sponsored by the LGC, will be of the Open Medal Play format.
Captain Chen Deo indicates that the grounds are now in fair condition so that golfers can look forward to a good competition. Up for grabs will be the Best Gross, Nearest to the Pin, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Best Net scores. The David-De Caires Memorial tournament, to be held annually, was inaugurated in October 2009, to honour the memory of the late David de Caires and to remind golfers of the principles of respectful expression of individual views and freedom of expression which he founded (1986) and late Editor-in-Chief of Guyana Publications Limited, publish-
ers of the Stabroek News stood for and achieved. The Memorial for legendary golfer Basil Sukhram, who coached locally and coached and played professional golfoutside of Guyana, and is father to two of Guyana’s outstanding golfers – Christine and Rishi Sukhram - began in February 2014 as a joint tournament with the David De Caires Memorial, having been sponsored individually in January 2013 by Alfred Mentore Realty and the LGC. Sukhram suffered a heart attack in 2009 after teeing off at the fifth hole at the Club. He passed out subsequently.
This year’s edition of the New Building Society (NBS) second division 40-over cricket competition in Berbice is set to start tomorrow in Berbice with first round matches. This year 86 teams divided up into 16 geographical
Zones across the Ancient County are down to participate. Play in 10 of the zones are scheduled for tomorrow with the other six zones fixed to start next Sunday, March 29. Following are the fixtures for tomorrow:
Saturday March 21, 2015
Kaieteur News
Sankar Auto Works supports Pele FC ahead of K&S tournament Double- header tonight at Victoria Ground
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NSC extends condolences following the passing of Shanomae Blackmore The NSC on hearing of the tragic news – the death of Shanomae Blackmore, wishes to express profound condolences to her immediate and extended families, the Guyana Olympic Association, the Athletic Association of Guyana, the entire sports community, colleagues and friends. Shanomae, a hardworking Administrative Secretary to both the Guyana Olympic Association (12 years) and the Athletic Association of Guyana (14 years) left these earthly shores to be with her Heavenly Father last Wednesday after a short illness. Shanomae, who was loved and respected by all, served the sport fraternity with distinction. Her death is indeed a very severe loss to sport and those whose lives she would have touched over the many years.
Because of her efficiency, effectiveness in the performances in her duties in and outside of the office, she was in 2014, a recipient of a plaque for outstanding contribution to sport at the administrative level. At 34 years, Shanomae fought a good fight, she has finished her course. A wealth of experience and institutional knowledge has been taken away. Filling the void left by her sudden passing is difficult, but it is necessary as a recognition for her dedicated service, that the work continues as when she was present. Shanomae Blackmore is gone; her absence must be used as a motivating factor and a driving force to those who are still here to ensure the continuity of the organizations she so selflessly served. May her soul have eternal rest.
WICB First-Class Cricket Franchise
Windwards make 282 vs Guyana
The Guyana Jaguars were two without loss from two overs replying to the Windward Islands Volcanoes’ 282 when play on the opening day of their final round West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-Day First-Class Cricket Franchise ended in Dominica yesterday. At the crease were Rajendra Chandrika
Sankar’s Dwayne Rodrigues (second from left) makes the presentation to Marvin Goodman yesterday. One of Guyana’s oldest football clubs, Pele FC, yesterday received 22 pairs of Addidas cleats from Sankar Auto Works under their Valvoline brand, to aid the club’s participation in this year’s Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament which kicked off yesterday at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground. This is Sankar second time supporting the club, dating back to 2013 and according to the company’s Marketing Executive Dwayne Rodrigues, the sport can only move forward if corporate Guyana invest in clubs.
Rodrigues told the gathering of reporters at Sankar ’s Seaforth Street, Campbellville location t h a t a s a c o m p a n y, S a n k a r A u t o Wo r k i s always pleased to help a lending hand in areas where it’s much needed and said that Pele, being one of the foundation football clubs has always shown professionalism and passion to the sport. He added that Sankar will continue to support the club and wished them the best in the tournament and also asked that they remain a disciplined and committed
team. Marvin Goodman, one of Pele’s executive members, thanked Sankar Auto Works for always showing the faith in the club and for not only sponsoring their footwear, but also being committed and believing in their players’ ability. Pele will clash with Grove Hi-Tech tonight at the Victoria Community Centre Ground in game one of the double header, while Fruta Conquerors and Mahaica Determinators collide in game two of the ‘win or go home’ formatted tournament.
(1*) and Assad Fudadin yet to score after Devendra Bishoo (6-73) and Veerasammy Permaul (4-63) had shared nine wickets between them. Devon Smith (93), Tyrone Theophile (58) and Keddy Lesporis (50) scored fifties for the home team.
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Kaieteur News
Police arrest GDF for Balram Raghubir Joint Service T20 title By Zaheer Mohamed Police had little trouble in claiming the Balram Raghubir Joint Service T20 title - they defeated arch rivals the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) by 63 runs in the final yesterday at Eve Leary. Led by an attacking half century from Stephan Blacks, Police posted a challenging 169 all out in 20 overs, batting first. Their bowlers then maintained a steady line and length as GDF were sent packing for 103 in 16 overs. Medium pacer Andre O’Neil put Police on the back foot early on by removing opener Kelvin Leitch (05) with the score on 12. However Troy Benn and Brentnol Woolford repaired the early damage with a second wicket stand of 40 with level-headed batting in front of a fair size crowd. GDF bowlers kept a decent line at times, but the duo was equal to the task as they kept the score card ticking. Benn struck two fours before he was dismissed for 37, while Woolford thumped three fours and one six in scoring 25. Police then lost a few quick wickets as GDF fought back. But Blacks innings took Police to their projected total; he shared in a 47-run seven-wicket stand with Randolph Knights (11). Man of the match, Blacks provided some en-
tertainment for the fans, hitting six fours and three sixes in a top score of 52 before he was removed by Jason Garraway in the latter stages of the innings. Garraway was the pick of the bowlers with 2-13; Paul Castello had 2-17 and Andre O Neil 2-36. Left arm pacer Knights gave Police an early breakthrough when he had Kenrick McDonald caught for 11 with the score on 17. Isaiah Brijaddar (13) and Leon Andrew (06) kept their team in the hunt with a second wicket partnership of 23 before Seon Daniels removed them both in quick succession to leave the Army in trouble at 41-3. Andre O Neil and Jeremiah Harris (05) shared in a fourth wicket stand of 20, but when O’Neil was caught off Rocky Hutson for 15, the batting went downhill with only Orlando Fraser provided some resistance with 20 (3x4). Hutson claimed 3-14, while Leitch who effected the run out of Kenswall DeJonge to spark celebrations among the Police had 212; Daniels claimed 2-27 and Trevor Benn 111. Both teams received trophies. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Sports Officer of the Guyana Police Force, Tiffany Williams congratulated both teams and said she was impressed with the talent of the players and the level of discipline display by the teams.
Saturday March 21, 2015
Several clashes expected to feature at Guyana Cup Fever horserace event
The intense action will see Spit Fire of the Shariff stable and Just Call Me Boss of the Jagdeo Stable renewing their rivalry. By Samuel Whyte Even has minor adjustments are still being made to the final programme for the annual Guyana “Cup Cup Fever” horserace meet set for Sunday 5th April the Port Mourant Turf Club, organized by the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and racing stables, the activity is already beginning to gather a lot of interest. The Eight races, which have over $10M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for grabs, are already sending tongues wagging with a number of feature clashes on the programme. One such race will see the eagerly awaited return clash between Spit, Fire, Just call me Boss and Unsettled. According to organizer Nasrudeen Mohammed Junior preparations are going smoothly and entries and sponsors all already on board. The list of events will
see the horses galloping in the feature D1 and Lower event over 1600M for a tantalizing $1.5 and a combing purse of $2,820,000. The G3 and lower event which will also feature West Indies and Guyana bred colts, fillies, three 3yrs old and up will compete over 1200M for a combined purse of $750,000 and trophy. The F1 and lower 1200M event will also feature animals classified three year old West Indies and Guyana bred, colts, fillies, mares and up for a total prize of $ 940,000 and trophy. There is an event for West Indies and Guyana bred three year old animals including colts and fillies also for a total prize of $940,000 and trophy over 1500M. The Guyana Bred three year old colts, mares and fillies will have their chance at competing for a total prize package of $560,000 and tro-
phy over 1200M. The event for I1 & lower horses over 1200M is also for Guyana bred 2yrs old and up, colts, fillies and mares racing for a winning package of $470,000 and trophy. The final race will be for animals classified J2 and lower and Guyana bred colts, fillies and mares for a total purse of $375,000 over 1200M. The events will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. Contact can be made with Chandu Ramkissoon (6249063 or 232-0633), Romel Jagroop (624-1798) and Irshad Mohammed on 6641650 for further details. Nazrudeen “Jumbo Jet” Mohammed Junior is the coordinator. Race time is 12:30hrs. They organisers have also arraigning a number of added attractions, giveaways and incentives including free kites for kids upon entry.