Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday March 03, 2016

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

PUBLIC TRUST IN MPs HAS DIMINISHED On Friday January 29, last, Finance Minister Winston Jordan presented the Budgetary Proposals to the nation in Parliament under the theme “Stimulating Growth, Restoring Confidence: The Good Life Beckons.” His speech was an insightful analysis of the current state of the country’s staggering economy inherited from the former administration. It was the largest budget ever presented in the history of Guyana, a whopping $230 billion for fiscal year 2016. Devoid of the highfalutin jargon that often characterizes discussion on the budget, Minister Jordan is convinced that the budget will place Guyana firmly on a path of sustainable economic growth and provide a good life for all. His presentation was simple and could have been understood by any layperson seeking to gain a better understanding of the policies of the Government and the challenges it faces. The Minister addressed a number of major issues including the achievement of financial stability, a decent standard of living for all, and the urgent need to reduce the public debt that continues to place a severe strain on the country and adversely affecting its development prospects. Despite the fact that budget debates are known for disagreements between the government and the opposition, Jordan’s speech was not in the partisan language of the typical politician, but as a serious statesman befitting of his status as the Minister of Finance of the Coalition government. The opposition was adamant that the Minister failed to deliver on several of the important promises made by the government to the people during the election campaign. Opposition MPs drew a line in the sand to send a clear message to the Minister and, indeed, the entire Government that the government is irresponsible, and would not accept the mismanagement of the country’s financial affairs. There were loud noises from government MPs as the opposition branded the Minister of Finance as being incompetent. They accused him of betraying the trust of the people. However, given the litany of complaints against some MPs, it is reasonable to conclude that such acrimonious debates have led to the dissatisfaction among many Guyanese, especially young people. Instead of taking the criticisms in stride and zero in on the underlying reasons for them, and resolve to make a genuine effort to improve their performance, MPs on both sides of the House have contemptuously dismissed the criticisms as nonsensical and doom and gloom. Such hostile reactions did not address the fact that the people have lost confidence in politicians and increasingly see them as selfish and greedy. Some MPs can be quite profuse and brutal in attacking their opponents, but become incredibly touchy when they find themselves at the receiving end. Most people view MPs as the authors of the country’s future. Their only task is to chart a way forward for it to grow. But sadly, some do not have any pride or respect for the august House. Their behaviour continues to leave a bitter taste in the mouths of the citizens, especially students. Not only have their behaviour caused many to be disappointed, but they have also failed to set the right tone as leaders. Parliamentarians have a duty to behave decently and to respect Parliament at all times since they need to set an example for youths. The wider public is peeved at the dismal performance of the MPs they elect, especially if they also happen to be ministers. What is even more annoying is that their performance in terms of finding solutions to problems often pales in comparison with the generous remuneration they receive. At this critical juncture of the nation’s history where sacrifice by everyone is required, MPs, especially those from the opposition should lead by example. Walking out of Parliament is offensive and would definitely impede efforts to rebuild the trust and respect which Guyanese traditionally had for them.

LAWYER MAKES OBJECTION TO CHURCH STREET CASINO DEAR EDITOR, I write in respect to the two multistoried buildings being constructed in Church Street, Georgetown between Albert Street and Oronoque Street. I understand that they are being constructed by the owner(s) of the Sleep Inn Hotels and from the exterior a massive amount of money is being spent. My further information is that a casino is to be opened in one of the buildings and I could not have believed that permission was granted for such a purpose. I am completely opposed to the opening of a casino in that residential area as going east it is four buildings from the Seven Day Adventists Church and about two hundred yards from the Queenstown Mosque. The Mall between Church Street and North Road

in that area is being converted to a family area with emphasis for young children to have a playing area. A casino will indeed be a bad example for our young children. I can foresee a parking nightmare and a great deal of inconvenience to the residents of that neighborhood. I cannot comprehend how a license could have been granted for a casino to be opened in this area and more so how the Commission for the licensing of casinos could have granted permission. Did they not see the two long established religious buildings there? Were they blind to the fact that that this was a residential area? This will change the face of Church Street and Georgetown. It is shameful and those persons appointed for the licensing should resign in disgrace and if they do

not then they should be removed. I spoke to Imam Shaheed Mohamed who is the leader of the Queenstown Mosque and he was completely unaware that a casino is to be set up there. He understood that it is to be a hotel and he was dumbstruck as to what is planned there. No notice was sent to the mosque nor were they asked for their opinion. I asked myself whether the close connections with the former members of the government and those responsible for granting the license may have played a part. I am calling on all Guyanese and the government of Guyana to look into this matter urgently and stop this tragedy from occurring as history will not be forgiving for inaction. K.A. Juman-Yassin Attorney-at-Law

JUDY SHOWERS PRAISES ON THE ANIMAL CLINIC, GSPCA DEAR EDITOR, Re: “Serious accusation against the animal clinic, GSPCA,” KN March 1. I would like to respond to the above letter to the editor. While I appreciate the words of encouragement from this letter writer (Anand Kissoon is neither a friend or an acquaintance of mine) regarding efforts to aid animals in need of medical help in my community. I cannot condone nor do I agree with the criticisms in this letter leveled at the GSPCA and the veterinarians who work

with the GSPCA. In the letter there is a reference to a posting on my Face Book page. This post was an unfortunate error in my judgment, it was not intended to bring any criticism or discredit the GSPCA or any vets. Obviously, it was interpreted that way by this letter writer and I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to the GSPCA and the vets for any perceived slight this may have brought upon their reputation and their dedication. In fact, over the past few

months the GSPCA has been very helpful. I am fortunate to be part of the GSPCA spay and neuter campaign where I’m able to help low income families in and around my neighborhood with their animals. In the end we are all working towards the same goal for the benefit of the animals. And yes, there is a need for pet carriers to assist owners in transporting their animals.Again I would like to apologize for the misunderstanding this has caused. Genevieve (Judy) Beepat

Who is financing Mark Benschop? DEAR EDITOR, As, we, in Guyana get closer to local government elections, we see several political parties attempting to gain seats at the city, municipalities and towns. Georgetown appears to be attracting the attention of most of those, who are hoping to be councillors. However, I wish to single out one particular partyTeam Benchop. Two things are very wrong with the campaign of this party. First, it is asking citizens to vote for Mark Benchop for Mayor. This is grossly misleading. Citizens do not vote for Mayors; they vote for councillors. Elected councillors vote for Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen. So the campaign begins from the position of dishonesty and misinformation. This attitude could not help the efforts of the current government to develop the city and the country as a whole. Citizens need to be aware that Team Benchop is misleading them at this initial stage. Imagine what will happen if such a person gets into local politics. Second, Team Benchop must tell citizens who is financing its campaign. Word on the streets is that, that party is apparently being bankrolled by the PPP. Nothing wrong with that but Mark Benchop and his team must tell us if this

is the case because “he who pays the piper calls the tune.” If this is the case then it means a vote for Mark Benchop is a vote for the PPP. If the PPP is indeed financing Team Benchop then they are trying to get into council through the backdoor. The PPP knows that, its poor performance record will prevent citizens from putting its members in councils so they are using Mark to get in and then attempt to take control. I believe that citizens need to know who is financing Mark’s

campaign. He must tell us the truth. Finally, Team Benchop is yet to come up with a sensible plan on how they will contribute to rebuilding Georgetown. Making small talk and empty promises will never work. Citizens need serious plans to assist their communities. Guyanese are fed up of politicians who are average and dishonest. So let us hear the truth, the whole truth and nothing else but the truth. John Jackson

Rooting for failed Councillors DEAR EDITOR, The ploy by City Hall City Hall to boost the chances of the old worn out City Councillors who are seeking reelection is becoming more clear and palpable. There is a rush to start up as many projects as possible around the city, many of which will not and cannot be completed after March 18, because the Council has already reached its overdraft limit with its bankers and will be given no more money, is merely to make the present sitting councilors seem to be doing something worthwhile, after twenty years of doing nothing for the capital. Through the various media outlets

one can see the Deputy Mayor and other Councillors parading past the projects that are underway giving the impression that they are responsible for the improvements. Why is the Mayor not on this clown parade? This is open campaigning and will not work to fool the voters. The Council should have been prorogued as soon as local government elections were announced which would have prevented this vulgar and reckless display of fiscal irresponsibility. I urge voters to elect fresh, young and energetic persons as the next city mothers and fathers of Georgetown. Amber Valentine

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In what capacity was Nadine Jerrick fires back Basil Williams there? at City Hall DEAR EDITOR, I refer to two articles in the Guyana Chronicle one dated Feb 24, 2016 under the caption “E’bo folk urged to vote in LGE” and “Use LGE to unite communities – AG tells Linden dinner” on March 1, 2016. Editor, both articles referred to the Attorney General addressing the two audiences one in Linden and the other in Georgetown on Local Government Elections which has me confused between the portfolios of Attorney General and the Minister of Communities, the latter whom I understand local government responsibility lies. Further neither of the two activities was a public forum on LGE but rather partisan campaigns for two Candidates in Linden and the other for PNCR and AFC representatives in

Essequibo which also included the REO. Editor, how could the Attorney General ask us to “use LGE to unite communities” while using his office to engage and promote a partisan political agenda. I’m very concerned about the mixed messages this coalition government, which campaigned on change and abuse of office by the last regime is sending in the local communities. This conflicting role is a reason why national political parties should have been absent from the LGE. Louis Nestor First Past The Post (FPTP) Individual Candidate, Constituency 4 Municipality of Georgetown And Proportional Representation Candidate for A Guyana Nation Building Corps

A bully is on the loose in Isseneru Village

DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me a space in your letter columns so the whole country can know how a certain village big wig is treating his fellow villagers. Sir my little brother was punting for gold near the box of the village land dredge when some villagers accused him of being a raider. The big-wig and his daughter tied him up at gun point and they give him a severe licking that include kicks to the ribs, back and abdomen also some lashes with his hand gun on his fingers. My brother is suffering swollen knuckles at this time as a result of the blows he received, rib pain and swollen

back with bruises on his face and other parts of his body. After the beating, my brother received he decided to travel to Georgetown, so he was seeking money to pay his passage from the village of Isseneru to Georgetown and news got to this powerful man that he is seeking his passage, the bigwig then went in search of him and offered him $500,000 to stay up there, and that my brother mustn’t make contact with me and my mother who is in Georgetown because he doesn’t want no police story. He also said he is sorry for what went on the previous day and my brother must not say a word to nobody about

what happened, because he the captain doesn’t want any of his gun to be impounded by the police. Sir this is not the first, second or third time this Amerindian oligarch is using fire arm against people who are living in the mission or “coastlanders.” This man is a frequent gun puller on people in this Riverin area. The police are having many complaints against this man. Mr. Editor my mother is seeking legal advice about the matter and intends taking legal action against this man because all the reports made to the police of this behavior have produced no results. Nathalie Fernandes

DEAR EDITOR, Team Benschop is disappointed with the sloth in which the Town Clerk’s office has been moving to approve our request to stage a meeting at the Stabroek Market Square ahead of Local Government Election. Letters of request were sent to both the Commander of ‘A’ Division of the Guyana Police Force, Clifton Hicken and the Town Clerk Royston King.

Approval has been granted by the GPF but to date no approval has been issued by from City Hall. Team Benschop would like to thank the GPF for the swift action in this regard. The meeting has been scheduled for Friday March 5, 2016 from 18:0021:00hrs.Numerous calls have been made to the relevant authorities at City Hall without success or a clear

indication from anyone there as to the reason for the delay. Team Benschop is concerned that this may be a deliberate attempt to stymie our campaign process and would like to call on the relevant authorities to grant the go ahead as soon as possible in the spirit of democracy. Ronson Gray Campaign Manager, Team Benschop

Team Benchop cites City Hall for victimization

DEAR EDITOR, Have the folks at City Hall ever heard the old saying ‘That there isn’t just what dog named Pompeii’? Do they know how the word ‘Namesake’ was derived? I think it is just plain arrogant and stupid to believe that a first and last name combination belongs to only one person in an entire country. Could you believe the Council’s PRO, who claims that she researched the entire Jerrick clan, and is now challenging my authenticity and existence and that of others? I have observed that some persons at City Hall are totally intolerant to being subjected to constructive criticism. How arrogant is this? You are being paid by the citizenry through taxes and you are intolerant to being assessed by these same persons? Is it your wish that John Public must cheer you on even when you are doing an awful job of managing our capital? Only an authoritarian municipal government would be intolerant to such. We must vigorously exercise our right to criticize every level of Government.

The health of our children, the vigor of our communities, the survival of this nation depends on the courage to criticize politicians and public servants. Our light is going out. Our freedoms are dying. Before long we will lament the days long past when we could freely celebrate our independence as citizens. We need answers. The citizens of Georgetown deserve better accountability than what the Mayor and Town Clerk are giving us. Let’s not forget that we have a right as citizens to demand accountability from our municipal government, to speak out freely against corruption and injustice, to tell the Mayor and City Council where they can get off, and to elect representatives in touch with needs of the citizenry. Nadine Jerrick EDITOR’S NOTE Nadine Jerrick has submitted an address with her letter. The lot number is in the La Penitence district. We will visit the address to ascertain her true identity. If Ms. Jerrick cares to call our office to submit a telephone number we would appreciate it

Filth and urine surround the perimeters of Parliament DEAR EDITOR, All over the world, one of the most visited places by tourists, visitors, students and travelers tends to be the Parliament Buildings of the capital cities of countries across the globe, and Guyana is no different. The more famous ones include the Hungarian Parliament, in Budapest; the Palace of Westminster, in London; the Capitol, in Washington DC; the Reichstag, in Berlin; Centre Block, in Ottawa; Houses of Parliament, Cape Town and many more. But visitors to our Public Buildings Georgetown, particularly if they walk along the pavement on the western side have to tip toe around excrement and other unmention-

ables, pass along a drain that has been stagnant for years, encounter persons urinating right there into the trench and are also faced by an unsightly building that once housed a gas station but now accommodates an assortment of vending stations from pirated CDs and DVDs to alcoholic beverages. How could the Georgetown Municipality be so disrespectful of the Parliament of Guyana? And this situation can be verified by any and everyone who is willing to venture along that pavement, but just do not go at night or you will surely be mugged on top of it all. Apart from demolishing that ugly edifice that should have never been there in the

first place, cleaning the pavement and drain and arresting those exposing themselves in public while urinating, should the City Constabulary not post sentries and have a changing the Guard ceremony at this most important institution of our country? Mark Roopan

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Aurora denies allegations GPL starts search for new boss of running ‘slave camp’

Some unflattering allegations made by a group of former employees against the Aurora Gold Mining Inc. (AGM) have given the company an opportunity to explain its position. The men made allegations of working in a “slave camp.” They said that they were made to work long hours but were not paid in full for that. One employee claimed that he worked for over 12 hours for several days, but his pay at the end of the month reflected that he was being paid for eight hours a day. The men claimed as well that they were made to do the work of several others. One cook said that, as others were laid off, he was made to cook, wash utensils and serve. The man, who is well in his 60s, claimed that he suffered in this regard because his hands started to bother him—something he contends is an effect of dealing with the hot and cold. Another man said that he had to work in the gym, water treatment plant, garbage disposal, kitchen and laundry. The workers lamented that there is no union. They

also made allegations of being penalized if they tried to speak up about concerns relating to working conditions. One former worker claimed that he was laid off after working four years with the company. He said that all he was given as severance was one month’s pay in lieu of notice. The workers also claimed that they were verbally abused. While some employees received termination letters, some of the workers claim that they haven’t received any official word on their employment status but were told that they cannot travel at this time. However, most of these allegations were denied when Kaieteur News contacted Guyana Gold Fields of which AGM is a subsidiary. The only allegation that the Company said had truth to it was with regard to the worker who spoke about having to man multiple locations. Administration Manager Peter Benny told Kaieteur News that these locations are small and not much is required from the attendant in this regard. Benny said that these

issues always arise whenever the Company makes adjustments to the workforce. He said that most of the workers who were laid off have been temporary workers who were hired for short periods to do specific works within the operations. He said that since Last December, employees were informed that temporary works would soon end and that when it is done, the Company will have to end the contracts and to get back to its budgeted strength of 554 permanent employees. He said, however, “There will be new opportunities as we develop and expand but for now we have to adjust…However, I do understand how it feels when the opportunity to be continuously employed is not available.” With regard to the payment, Benny said that most employees are paid hourly and are paid for every hour worked with overtime premiums after the completion of eight hours. He offered to present documented support to prove the “truth” about overtime

payment. “I am willing to expose each and every one of our payrolls for scrutiny as we usually do when Governmental Officers visit either from the GRA or from the NIS or the Ministry of Labour. Hence, I do hope you have that employee name who worked for 15 hours and get paid eight.” Further, he said, “We do not have one cook working at any time at any of our locations. At Aurora we have a workforce of over 500 employees and meals are prepared three times per day it is impossible for one cook to do such a preparation. At Buck Hall we have two cooks and a Kitchen Helper and two of them at any one time to cater for some 35 persons daily. This is a fabrication.” He said that there has not been any complaint from any of the cooks or helpers of this problem before. Benny also told Kaieteur News of a solid medical team comprising Medical Doctors and Medex at both locations, “And any such complaint would have been recorded and attended.” Benny said that while there is no union, unionization was never prevented. With regard to the slave camp allegation, Benny said, “I do not understand it. Employees enjoy a modern gym, cafeterias, recreational centers, a functioning Sports and Games Committee, Cultural Committees, Credit Union Committee, Women in Mining Committee and a Grievance Committee which looks into matters of workers grievance with representatives elected by the workers.” He said that employees meet daily before work commence and raise issues affecting them on the job and most issues are dealt with promptly. Country Manager, Violet Smith, took deep offence of the description “slave camp.” She said, “The use of the term is unacceptable and given the historical dehumanization of persons to which the word slave refers, its use is meant to slander and place the Company in disrepute. “A visit to the Aurora Project would immediately disavow any casual observer to the maliciousness of the claim. I would like to take this opportunity to invite Ms. Rockcliffe and others in her agency to visit our facilities, and as well to suggest to the media that they direct the laid off workers to the Ministry of Labour.”

GPL’s Chairman, Robert Badal Just a week after sacking its chief, the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) has started its search for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). According to a vacancy advertised yesterday, in Kaieteur News, the new CEO will direct, administer and coordinate the internal operational activities of the company in accordance with policies, goals and objectives established by the Board of Directors. The successful candidate will lead and direct the activities of the divisions of the company, including the Operations, Customer Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, Loss Reduction, Finance and Projects Divisions. “The Chief Executive Officer shall promote positive relations with internal and external stakeholders, including the shareholder (the Government of Guyana), customers, regulators, the private sector and the public.: The successful candidate is required to have a professional degree in electrical or mechanical engineering from a recognized University with experience at the executive management level in a large electric utility business or other industrial business. “A Master’s degree or higher professional degree in electrical or mechanical engineering, or finance or business administration plus 10 years relevant and proven experience would be an advantage,” the ad said. Late last month, the GPL new Board of Directors as one item of its first order of business, examined the performance of Colin Welch, the former acting CEO. Welch was appointed to act as the company’s head six months ago, but his tenure was rocky, with several clashes with management. He was fingered, via a number of leaked texts and Skype messages, in an attempt to tamper with an

$800M contract to buy prepaid meters from a Chinese contractor. There were questions also about his qualifications and whether he was a Harvard graduate. Following the appointment of a new Board of Directors for GPL in January, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who is charged with responsibilities for the electricity sector, made it clear that issues and questions of Welch would be dealt with. GPL Chairman, Robert Badal, in confirming that GPL has decided to end its relations with Welch, said that applications for the CEO’s position will now be entertained, and the aim is to attract a competent and dynamic replacement to lead the GPL team. Senior management officials reportedly met Badal and a team regarding a number of complaints about Welch. With regard to the future of GPL, Badal, a businessman who owns Pegasus Hotel and Guyana Stockfeeds Limited, said that the executive management team has been directed to update its fiveyear strategic plan which would soon be posted on its website and shared with the nation. “This plan focuses on significantly reducing the company’s technical and non-technical losses with investments to improve the transmission and distribution infrastructure of GPL, in addition to expanding its generating capacity.” Badal made it clear that the President’s vision of a clean, green economy would be central to the plan, with emphasis on a more diversified matrix of power supply, including solar, wind, hydro and other renewables. “GPL would seek to improve its customer service with shorter response times to customers’ queries, reduce blackouts, by replacing old, inefficient equipment and systems and investments in effective technology in the area of billing and managing customer accounts.” According to the new Chairman, electricity tariffs are currently being reviewed to lower current rates. “Progress never comes without hard work and the management and staff are fully dedicated and committed to delivering a highly improved electricity supply at a lower cost.” Welch was appointed CEO (Ag) of the company in August, following the sudden, stormy departure of (continued on page 12)

Thursday March 03, 2016

Kaieteur News

EU launches emergency refugee aid scheme for Greece

Migrants argue with police near the Greek-Macedonian border, near the village of Idomeni, Greece yesterday. (Reuters/Marko Djurika) The European Union, faced with a growing refugee crisis in Greece, launched a new aid program yesterday worth an initial 700 million euros that mirrors the kind of disaster relief it offers developing nations. European states have tightened border controls following the arrival of more than a million migrants by sea last year and the Athens government has appealed for help to house and care for tens of thousands still arriving and now stranded in Greece. “We are ... really worried,” European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said of the build-up of migrants on the now-closed Macedonian border, adding that the new plan had been prompted by fears of “a huge humanitarian crisis in Greece”. The Commission’s proposal, if approved, will channel 300 million euros ($325 million) this year from its 155 billion euro annual budget to the new emergency assistance scheme and 200 million

euros both next year and in 2018. Officials stress that the program will not divert funds from the EU’s 1.1 billion euro annual budget allocated to helping the world’s poorest. Relieving the suffering of refugees closer to their homes is a key part of an EU strategy to deter people from making dangerous journeys to Europe, they say. More than 400 people have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean this year as they tried to reach Europe, most of them on the short but perilous crossing from Turkey to Greece. Turkey is at the heart of the EU’s efforts to slow the influx of refugees and migrants and the bloc wants Ankara to ensure that daily arrivals fall below 1,000 from 2,000-3,000 at present. Two officials told Reuters that Germany, the principal destination for those arriving in Europe, is looking for flows to be “in the realm of three digits, not four” per day. Should that happen, Berlin

would start taking refugees directly from Turkey for resettlement - an attempt to promote legal migration rather than continuing the chaotic influx of 2015.The new EU money, to be spent in conjunction with the United Nations and charities working in Greece and other EU states, will help to fund shelter, medical aid and other basic services. Greece, which now houses about 25,000 migrants, has hitherto received EU funding under other programs to bolster its border and security systems, though Athens has complained that the offers have been inadequate. “The number of refugees continues to rise, so do their humanitarian needs,” Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Christos Stylianides said. At a single border point, the Idomeni crossing between Greece and Macedonia, between 12,000 and 15,000 stranded people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, he said.

Mozambique plane debris believed to be from Boeing 777: Malaysia minister Debris believed to be part of a Boeing 777 jet has been found off Mozambique and is being taken to Australia to be examined by investigators involved in the search for the missing Flight MH370, Malaysia’s transport minister said. Liow Tiong Lai said there is a “high possibility” that the piece of debris belonged to a 777 jet but added he could not conclude yet that it was from the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner. “The debris will be taken to Australia for further examination,” he told Reuters. Earlier yesterday NBC News said the piece could be a horizontal stabilizer from a Boeing 777, citing U.S., Malaysian and Australian investigators who looked at photos of the debris. The piece of debris was discovered off the east African coast between Mozambique and Madagascar. Liow said a team of investigators had been sent to Mozambique on Tuesday to inspect

the object. He said Malaysian authorities had sought the help of Australian investigators to secure the debris, as Malaysia did not have an embassy in Mozambique. Flight MH370 disappeared two years ago when it was en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur. Last year authorities found a piece of the plane’s wing on the shore of Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean on the other side of Madagascar. “It is yet to be confirmed and verified....I urge everyone to avoid undue speculation as we are not able to conclude that the debris belongs to MH370 at this time,” Liow said on his Twitter account. Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, with 239 passengers and crew on board, and is believed to have crashed in the Indian Ocean. An initial search of a 60,000 sq km (23,000 sq miles) area of sea floor has been extended to another 60,000 sq km.

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Northcote sailor praised for recovering body in raging Atlantic A sailor on a vessel that plies the Georgetown/North West District route is being hailed as a hero, after he risked his life in the high seas to recover the body of a mentally ill man last Saturday. Adolphus Nedd braved waves several feet high to haul in the body of Michael Adams, minutes after the mentally ill man had jumped from the vessel into the raging Atlantic Ocean. Even after recounting the risk he took, Nedd, a 26-year veteran of the water top, did not rule out doing it again if the situation presents itself. Nedd, who has been sailing the North West route for the past decade, had left Port Georgetown with the vessel loaded with passengers heading for Port Kaituma. On board among the passengers was 26-year-old Michael Adams, a mentally ill patient who had just been discharged from the Georgetown Hospital’s Psychiatric Ward. Kaieteur News understands that Adams was given a three-month supply

of his medication and was travelling unsupervised. Nedd and his fellow crew members as well as the passengers had buckled down for what they thought would be an uneventful journey. But as the vessel was in the high seas just off the Essequibo Coast in line with Anna Regina, things changed dramatically. “We coming down de line… I was on the bridge (of the vessel)…water heavy bad. I was looking ahead doing normal navigation, looking for anything that might obstruct we path. All of a sudden I hear passengers saying ‘man overboard,’ Nedd recalled. He explained that he did not see when Adams jumped overboard, but by the time the alarm was raised the vessel was several feet away from where the passenger was battling the ocean. Nedd said that the Captain turned the boat around and they grabbed lifesaving equipment as they prepared to rescue the struggling Adams. Of course, the Captain could not take the vessel too

close to Adams who was fighting to stay above the waves. At first, life-saving equipment was thrown into the water for Adams to cling on to, but he could not, as the pounding waves kept them out of his reach. It was then that Nedd decided to jump into the ocean to help the passenger, but by then it was already too late. “I really didn’t think about my own life. I wasn’t scared though,” the sailor told this newspaper. He said when he got to Adams, the man had already given up. “He did not fight up because he was already unconscious,” Nedd stated. Adams’ lifeless body was placed aboard the vessel and taken to the Port Kaituma Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Nedd said that this is the first time in his sailing career that he has encountered something like this and he would certainly not want it to happen again. “Everybody praise me, even my family.” And would he do it again? “It all depends,” he said.

Dem boys seh ...

Jail man try to mek bar-b-q When monkey ain’t got nutten to do old people seh it does get a perfume bottle and try to fill it with an unmentionable substance. That was de case of some jail men inside de Camp Street jail. Dem get vex over something suh dem start to protest. Then a smart man start a fire. He inside he cell and he start de fire outside de cell door. When he do that others join in and all of dem start fuh feed de fire. Well dem boys seh that if a man stupid fuh light a fire inside he house then he deserve to stay and burn. But then again, all dem people in de international world woulda blame de authorities and Guyanese is a set of people who does shame.

When dem prisoners in some other countries start a fire inside de jail de authorities does lef de fire leh it spread. Ten out of ten nobody gun start another fire in a long time. But Guyanese different; dem call de fire service. Dem bys seh that dem never see so much comedy. De firemen frighten to go inside de jail suh dem try fuh out de fire from outside. De water couldn’t reach so dem had to go inside de jail. Is suh dem walking single file wid police in front and behind. In de end dem out de fire but nuff people had to bathe. Dem bowels suddenly get loose while dem was fighting wid de hose. All this can happen because de prisoners deh pun

holiday. That is wha dem boys seh. Dem deh good pun de outside then dem do stupidness and get lock up. One of dem come out a week ago and go and thief soon after he come out. It got to mean that dem like de jail. And when dem done get lock up dem want to protest. Some of dem start fuh holler, “Freedom.” If dem did want dem freedom dem woulda never thief. Is de same thing wid de set who got Soulja Bai spending so much money pun audits. De people he targeting know dem was thiefing but dem didn’t believe that dem gun have to pay. Soon dem and all gun be lighting fire in Camp Street. Talk half and don’t do stupidness.

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WHO ARE THE DONORS AT DURBAN PARK? The government is very silent on the financing of the works that are taking place at Durban Park. The only comment that has been made so far is that it is a public-private partnership. So much for transparency! The public is not aware of the nature of this public private partnership. It is not known whether the same model that was used for the Marriot Hotel is being used to finance the works at Durban Park. It is not known who are the private financiers involved in the works. It is not known how much money the government has spent so far in creating a drill square for the military. It is not known why the government wants to hold major events at that area. It is known what will be the final cost to taxpayers of the works. The national flag was raised there on February 23, 2016 but the accounts for the project are yet to be made public. Once public funds are involved, once public funds are allocated then there has to be some process of tendering. The government cannot simply utilize state funds without following the necessary laws, unless it is treating the allocation as a subvention in which case some body corporate would have had to have been established. There has been no word on this so far and therefore the public is again in the dark over a major government project. The newspapers have not indicated whether any sums were specifically allocated in the Budget for the works at Durban Park. The opposition does not seem interested in how much money was spent so far on this project. We have also learnt that the repairs to the Kitty Market

will be partly funded by the government. This was what was reported on local newscast by one councillor. The estimated cost of the repairs was given as $240M. Yes, you read right! The repairs to the Kitty Market are expected to cost $240M and these repairs involve using wood. A whole new structure made out of concrete would have been erected with $240M, and it would not have required, within a few years, the sums that will be necessary to maintain a wooden structure. It is not clear whether the works were publicly tendered for but since the government is footing part of the tab, it should have insisted on this so as to ensure that the best price was obtained. State funds simply cannot be allocated unless it is clear that the beat deal was obtained. There is need for greater public disclosure on the government’s contribution to the works at Kitty Market. There is an even greater obligation for the government to indicate how the works at Durban Park are being financed. It is nice to know that businesses may be contributing to the works

there. But the public needs to know the names of businesses involved. The public needs to know the names because they need to be on the lookout if these businesses will be looking for favors down the road from the government. Government has to be careful about accepting assistance from private companies. If it wants a public- private partnership to develop Durban Park, it should have solicited donations through a transparent public process. Was this done? So as to avoid the allegation that secret deals were made and that favours may have to be reciprocated in the future, the government should make public just who is financing the works at Durban Park and how much tax dollars is financing the repairs to the Kitty Market.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday March 03, 2016

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Have you seen the movie, “Spotlight?” You should I was so enamoured with this movie that I bought copies for some of my colleagues at Kaieteur News, including its publisher, Mr. Lall. As you would know the movie won “Best Picture” at the recent Academy Award last Sunday. I told my daughter the Sunday morning that the Catholic Church was too powerful in the world to let Spotlight win Best Picture. She also said, without prejudice that the homosexual society in the world is too powerful to allow Spotlight to win. But win it did. Spotlight is not only an education on how the media protects the freedom of a nation and pursues justice for

those wronged, but it also shows how important a country should take the recording of history. There is a part of that film that I pointed out to some of my friends at Kaieteur News what many viewers may have overlooked. The Catholic Diocese of Boston kept an annual yearbook on the postings of each priest. One of the biggest clues on the pedophiliac priests came when the journalists went through those yearbooks. For each priest that was involved and reassigned outside of Boston there was an entry next to his name that says, ‘sick leave.’ This made

the journalists suspicious. So many of them just disappeared because of ‘sick leave’. I felt a deep sense of shame as a Guyanese when I saw that part of the film. As a trained historian you feel Guyana is a wasteland the way documents are treated in this country. The journalists at the Boston Globe went to the Catholic Diocese and went through years of old yearbooks. Go to UG and see if you can find any graduation booklet for the seventies. I donated seven doctoral theses in 1985 to Joel Benjamin, the then Head of the Caribbean section of UG library. All were on important

aspects of Guyana’s contemporary foreign policy and post-Independence politics. While lecturing at UG, I tried hard to find those books. I couldn’t; they were never catalogued. Priceless booklets, papers and documents were strewn all over the floor that people walked on at the National Archives when it was located next to the museum This country is sad and tragic but you are kept alive by your capacity to laugh at it. When I heard that we had now banned used tyres, I laughed so much that I cracked a few ribs and had to be hospitalized at the dreaded Georgetown Hospital (just a joke). As a policy, there is absolutely nothing wrong in banning used tyres. But context is everything. You are banning used tyres in a used, second hand country. And what takes place in this country that is so modern that it has banned used tyres and stopped the importation of

cars more than eight years old? Let us offer some tiny samples of what takes place in this second-hand country. On the day of my testimony before the Public Service Commission, I submitted a research paper titled, “Ethnic Power and Ideological Racism: Comparing Presidencies in Guyana.” A large section of that research dealt with the public sector under the PPP Government. I used it as my defence in the Jagdeo libel writ. Since the Commissioners had to each get a copy, the paper, 70 pages long, had to be taken to the Public Service Ministry to be photocopied. The Ministry does its photocopying at private outlets, so we had to travel to a private store on Croal Street to have it done. Leonard Craig and I went into the Deeds Registry for Craig to make a $200 payment for some minor matter. We had to stand in line because the cashier was occupied writing two hundred receipts for a

Frederick Kissoon particular company. Yes, she had scores of receipt books in front of her and was writing the receipts (I subsequently heard her fingers broke down and she had to get physiotherapy – just joking) You cannot go and take a pee in a urinal at any Magistrate’s Court in this country. There are no such washroom facilities. There is only one urinal for members of the public at the High Court and it is in full view of the public and there is no sink to wash your hand. The toilet like the urinal is in front of everybody. In the police lock-up at Pariika and Leonora, faeces and urine fill the bowl. This is happening in a country that has banned used tyres because it is a very modern nation. When I was courting my wife, we loved the Shirley Bassey version of a song titled, “Send in the Clowns.”

Thursday March 03, 2016

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Massive corruption in fuel importation…

Govt. launching probe into GEA, GuyOil, licensing Government will be launching investigations into the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to determine how rooted these agencies really are in corruption. This was confirmed by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, yesterday. His comments came in the wake of startling revelations concerning these agencies, by whistleblowers. Harmon also made it clear that such an investigation would be separate from the investigation that the GEA’s Board of Directors has started, with GEA Head, Mahender Sharma, and his staff having to provide details. He stated that it would cut across the respective agencies. “Of course, there will always be investigations into matters like this where large sums of money is being spent, especially the people’s money,” he related. “So certainly yes, this is not just GuyOil. It has to be the Guyana Energy Agency and the Guyana Revenue Authority. So there is going

to be an investigation.” GEA, the agency charged with purchasing fuel for GuyOil, and the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL), as well as monitoring/marking to ensure taxes have been paid, made the news in a bad way last week after whistleblowers accused the management of overseeing a system that allowed widespread smuggling. More than half of the fuel brought into Guyana is said to be smuggled. With GEA officially importing US$561M worth in fuel back in 2014 for the country, the taxes lost from smuggled and illegal fuel would be staggering, especially for a small economy like Guyana which is already struggling from a compliance issue. The ex-staffers also alleged that stolen fuel markers from GEA, used to track legal fuel, has helped the country lose billions of dollars as the fuel is sold by some gas stations and even taken to the gold mining and logging camps. It is also being reported that Guyana loses more than $150M in taxes weekly from Venezuelan fishing boats that

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon bring fuel here. While the fishing industry enjoys tax free concessions on fuel, the boats that brought them were reportedly selling them to others, including miners and gas station and wholesalers. A forensic audit was recently completed and handed in to Government, with GuyOil’s Board of Directors taking a decision to sack Managing Director of GuyOil, Badrie Persaud, effective from Monday last. They had stated that they had no confidence in the official’s

GEA head, Mahender Sharma ability to execute his duties “honestly, objectively and efficiently.” CHINESE COMPANY’S FUELLICENCE Minister Harmon also expressed surprise at the fact that Chinese Company, China Zhonghao Inc. has been granted a fuel export licence, despite the fact that Guyana is still years away from exporting fuel. The company’s licence was issued in such a way that even insiders were allegedly

taken by surprise, as they are not aware of any prior grants. “I thought that Exxon (Mobil) had started pumping and that licences were being granted,” Harmon said. “But these are things that we will have to investigate because what (he) might be doing is buying fuel from one country and then allowing a company here to export it to another third party.” The grant of China Zhonghao Inc.’s licence appears to have given the company the first jump in the

Former Managing Director of GuyOil, Badrie Persaud country’s fuel export business. The details were published in the Official Gazette of February 13, last, and are raising eyebrows. Indeed, the amended Petroleum and Petroleum Products Regulations of 2014 allow for applications to be made for an export licence for fuel. The licence for China Zhonghao will be the first. The regulations indicated that an applicant desirous of exporting petroleum and petroleum products has to (continued on page 24)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday March 03, 2016

Ministry preaches ideal working conditions to hoteliers, restaurateurs Some of the participants at yesterday’s sensitization session

Employees can refuse work dangerous to their wellbeing. Added to this, it is illegal to employ a person under 15 years old. This is being emphasized by the Ministry of Social Protection. Speaking to Hoteliers and restaurateurs yesterday , Ms. Neza King, Senior Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Officer reminded employers to familiarise themselves with the existing Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act which protects workers’ safety and empowers them to be informed about any “actual or potential dangers in the workplace.” Senior Labour Officer Mrs. Karen VansluytmanCorbin, in her presentation,

Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Charles Ogle emphasized that no child under 15 can be legally employed. VansluytmanCorbin said the governing

International Labour Organisation (ILO) stipulates that children should not be deprived of their childhood, their potential or their dignity. According to the ILO, child labour is harmful to

children’s physical and mental development while at the same time it deprives them of having a good education. Child Labour must not to be confused with chores around the home done by children, the Social Protection officials emphasized. The seminar is a weekly exercise by the Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Department of the Ministry of Social Protection,

and is held at its Brickdam, Georgetown office. This week hotels and restaurants were targeted. Chief Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Officer, Mr. Charles Ogle, outlined the need for accurate record-keeping as it is stated in the law; proof of employment, payment, annual leave and other aspects of employment crucial for independent

verification by the Ministry. Ogle told participants that the minimum leave allowance is 12 days per year and overtime is calculated after eight hours of work in a day. He stated that while the minimum wage in the public sector is $50,000 (US$250) per month, in the private sector it is $35,000 (US$175) per month. The role of the OSH (continued on page 19)

GPL starts search for new boss From page 6 long-serving Bharat Dindyal. With regard to the text messages and the allegations of contract tampering, Welch had categorically denied the purported texts, saying they were falsely created and that he had been framed. He said that the people who created the chat site spelt his name incorrectly; that they used a computer that was not connected to him in any way. The texts which were denied by Welch had suggested that he had asked

the supplier to lie to authorities in Guyana about the specifications. The leaked messages were sent to a number of top Government officials, including Minister Patterson and GPL management. Welch was brought in to GPL under the previous administration, as a Deputy CEO but his post was never advertised. GPL handles billions of dollars annually but has been struggling with electricity thefts, technical losses and

aging equipment, despite being able to add new generators. GPL currently generates 140Mw with a further 10Mw being provided under an Independent Power Producer Agreement (IPP). The company currently supplies electricity to approximately 183,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers. However, there have been complaints about blackouts and corruption and high losses from theft of electricity and aging equipment.

Thursday March 03, 2016

Kaieteur News

Page 21

New television station causes quandary in Linden Region Ten Chairman, Rennis Morian, has called for a cessation of all transactions of business pertaining to the new television station which according to a correspondence he is in receipt of, is expected to become operational some time soon. During a press briefing, Morian apprised members of the media, regarding the latest developments as regards the Linden television station. The Regional Chairman said that early yesterday he got a call informing him that people were at the Richmond Hill site trying to erect a dish. “As the Chairman I don’t even know. I know for sure

that they are not people from Region Ten, so this has got me worried. I was told also that there are plans to hand over by weekend and have a trial run, but as the Regional Chairman I don’t even know, so this is happening under the radar. “I’m saying whatever is happening, or whoever is involved, whichever Government agency or entity I’m calling for a cease order right now; and all correspondence relating to the dish, the station or whatever must be directed to the people’s representative of Region Ten. That is the Chairman and Councillors or even by extension the Town

Council. It cannot be to benefit one individual. Morian elaborated that the establishment of the television station must be of benefit to Region Ten by providing jobs and programmes that would be of interest to the community and foster development and unity. He added that for the past three weeks he has been addressing those issues that are happening and many times he does not even know, because some, like the television issue, ‘were a throwback’ from the previous administration. “What persons need to know is that there is a change of administration in the

GDF says it finds no evidence that soldiers raped 16 year old Three soldiers stationed at Lethem are breathing a slight sigh of relief after a Guyana Defence Force Board of Investigation found no evidence to support the allegations of rape. The ranks were accused of raping a 16-year-old girl at Lethem, Central Rupununi two weeks ago. The GDF’s finding comes at a time when the police are still seeking the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions. A statement from the GDF indicated that following the allegations, which were made at the Lethem Police Station, a Board of Investigation (BOI) was deployed to Lethem on Thursday, February 18 to investigate the allegations made against the members of the GDF stationed at Camp Kanuku, Lethem. “The BOI found no evidence to support that the allegations of rape occurred. However, the BOI was able to conclude that there were several breaches to the GDF’s Standard Operating

Procedures (SOPs), as well as verify that some of the ranks under investigation physically assaulted a female in the vicinity of the Republic Bank, Lethem,” the GDF statement said. According to the GDF, the Chief of Staff Brigadier Mark Phillips has since instructed that corrective action be taken against the ranks involved, and that the operational posture of the ranks based at Camp Kanuku be redefined, so as to ensure that the cordial and harmonious relations with the residents of Lethem is maintained. Last week Thursday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that the file in relation to the matter has been returned by the DPP to the Guyana Police Force for further investigations to be conducted. Kaieteur News understands that once this is done, the file will be sent back to the DPP so that legal advice on the matter can be sought. As of now, the three

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks are on station bail. Two Fridays ago, the 16year-old and her relatives turned up at the Lethem Police Station and made a report that she had been raped by three soldiers. Upon receiving this report, the men were immediately arrested. Statements were taken from the ranks and the alleged victim, after which the file was sent to the Crime Chief and then forwarded to the DPP. In the statement, the teenager claimed that the three soldiers picked her up from a popular drinking spot at Lethem and took her at the back of the Army Camp where one of the ranks choked her. She then claimed that she was “blacked out” and when she regained consciousness, her pants and underwear were removed and the men had vanished from the location. She later identified the rank who choked her, along with his two colleagues who took her to the desolate area.

Region and while you might have been in discussion with other leaders before, now that there is a change, the continuity must be with us. “Let us move the process forward. So I go out here today, and I’m asked a question about the dish, I can’t answer. So somebody somewhere drop the ball and so I call for a stop order!” Morian said that he was in the process of sending letters to the relevant authorities, informing them of his decision concerning the cease order. Morian said that the missive detailed that permission has been given to a private individual to operate the Linden Television Station. He then proceeded to read an excerpt from the said letter. Morian added that he was simultaneously informed of

the imminent handing over of the facility to the said individual. He reminded that when residents of Region Ten, through their leaders, made an open cry for a television station, it was not to benefit any private individual but the people of Region Ten. “The Regional Democratic Council is the authority managing the affairs of Region Ten. Hence any handing over or any discussion pertaining to licensed establishment of a television station should be chanelled through the Office of the Chairman and Councillors. Morian said that there was no discussion regarding the television station with any private individual. “We haven’t had discussions with any private

investor, hence I’m calling on the Prime Minister and the Presidency to look into this matter with immediate effect. “We don’t want the station to be operated by any private group outside of Linden. If there is any agreement, that agreement has to be after consultation with the people,” Morian declared. He added that there ought to be a broad based committee representing the people of Linden to manage such an entity. The giving back of the Linden Television Station formed part of the agreement that was entered into by the residents of Region Ten and the previous administration following the 2012 protest against electricity tariff increases for the mining Town. (Enid Joaquin)

Page 22

Kaieteur News

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals and Black Opal - Cosmetology Courses - Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257 SERVICES

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Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Building Construction: house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362 Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 6831312, 627-3206 INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Female domestic to work in Trinidad, must be educated and know to cook. Between 25-35 years. Call: 1868-683 1528 1 Domestic worker & 1 domestic cook to work in Cummings Lodge, E.C.DCall: 621-8478- between 9am to 4pm Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literate-Tel: 6225518 One live-in or live out maid/ assistant salesgirl- Call: 6035416; 644-9802 1 Domestic cleaner, must know to prepare vegetarian food, apply @ Alabama Trading, Ferry Stelling.

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Hairdressers, nail technician, barbers, also hair & nail stations available for rental location: New Market StreetCall: 638-1106 Monique’s Nail Studio @ Bent Street Wortmanville: Acrylic-tips, airbrush, nail art, pedicure, hair, lashes, make-up. Call: 699-4889; 2316980

FOR SALE One two tons forklift, one blocks machine, one Leyland truck (scrap). Call: 617-9230; 269-1406 XBOX 360 Slim with gamescall or whatsapp: 683-8386 40 HP Yamaha 40 KVA generator, tyre machine, air compressor. Call: 694-0535 Toyota Rear Differential 39.8 and 14.5 fiberglass boat with trailer and 35HP motor. Call: 678-9536 One-6 Cylinder Perkins generator set 55KWs – 110/ 220v, single phase, 60Hz-Call: 695-3444/674-7400 One Toyota Hilux Surf Model KDKZN185W, please call 227-7538 or 226-8247 between 08:15hrs and 17:00hrs, Mon-Fri. Cheap! Cheap! CCTV Security Surveillance Kit, 8 Channels DVR with built in Hard Drive, 8 bullet cameras – Tel: 621-4740; 686-3500

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LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

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Thursday March 03, 2016

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM Eternity Luxury cars rental. Call: 615-5315; 231-7374 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

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LAND FOR SALE 1 House lot in gated community -$4.5M n e g o t i a b l e . C all: 6947817; 668-0306 Providence Scheme (115ftX81ft) located on a Cul de Sac close to Bai Shan Lin -$8.2M negotiable. Call: 6014163 or 223-0719 Lall & Sons Real Estate: Providence -$5M, La Parfaite Harmonie- $1M, $1.2M, $1.6M, Tuschen -$3M, Parika Public Rd -$65M. Call: 604-6724 Vacant land for sale in Eccles, East Bank Demerara 70’X100’- Call: 623-6136 Affordable house lots for sale: K&R Realty-Call: 6044945; 639-8474 House fully complete with land - $6M or less. Call: 6398474; 604-4945 TO LET Four storey business place located on Robb Street, next to Bourda Market- Call: 6237731; 629-0636 Fully furnished 1 bedroom, air-condition $90,000 monthly, $6,000 daily. Call: 668-0306; 694-7817; 218-1400 One 2 bedroom apartment $45,000 monthly. Contact Petboy @ Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, between 10:00am-4:00pm Continued on page 23

Thursday March 03, 2016

Kaieteur News

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More forensic audit reports to be released within two weeks - Junior Finance Minister Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma says that while he understands that the public may be impatient, he is asking them to just wait a little bit longer. Government is expected to release numerous forensic audit reports in a matter of two weeks, he said. He promised that it will not be a second longer than this deadline. Only four of the 50 forensic audit reports launched by Government have been released. These are the reports on the Marriott Hotel, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Carifesta X 2008 and the acquisition of the water cannon by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Sharma said, yesterday, that most of the reports are complete but are under review as the respective entities must have a chance to respond to some of the damning findings uncovered by the forensic auditors. Some of the firms contracted to conduct the forensic audits included Nigel Hinds Financial Service, Ram and Mc Rae and HLB Seebarran and Co. Chartered Accountant Anand Goolsarran along with Harryman Parmesar were also contracted to conduct several forensic audits. Nigel Hinds Financial Service earned some $25M for auditing agencies such as the Guyana Oil Company Limited (Guyoil), the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) and the Guyana Office for Investment (GoInvest). Ram and McRae bagged some $20M for auditing the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Gold Board and the E-Governance Project among others. Sharma said that Cabinet is working at a considerable (Continued on page 25)

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A list of the forensic audits , firms contracted and how much they were paid

Measures to tackle Zika Virus among projects... From page 14 according to Teacher, Kathleen Parasnath, of the Covent Garden Primary School, “This is a greenhouse that you have never seen before. It has moved away from the traditional greenhouse to something that would more suit our environment.” Greenhouses are usually made of glass but according to Parasnath the use of the plastic bottles is in fact more affordable and embraces recycling. “Thrill bottles are everywhere and that is what makes it so efficient for us to do. Nobody at this point in time would go and buy the materials that are supposed to be used to build a normal green-

house,” said the Grade Six teacher. Added to this, the creation of the greenhouse, she said, is intended to promote the 'grow more' initiative. “You can use this to grow crops right in your own backyard...here we have garden crops, flower plants and we even have budding trees which can eventually be transferred into the open environment,” informed Parasnath. Miss Tilota Hussain of Lancaster Secondary School also boasted of her school's project, which showcased how to utilise discarded glass bottles in a manner that is environmentally friendly. The discarded glass bottles of

choice were Stag Beer bottles which are not returnable to the sellers. “The village we are from has a lot of beer gardens; there are a lot of bottles around the place,” said Hussain. She explained that it has been observed that after consuming stag beers, many people have simply been throwing their empty bottles along the road sides and in the waterways, thus are polluting the environment. “Because of the Government's initiative to keep the country clean we are looking at recycling,” said Hussain. She explained how her school's project incorporated the use of glass bottles to make attractive concrete fin-

ish walkways, to design rails and even to make wall partitions. But the most eye catching use of the glass was the use of the bottles to make a Christmas tree and a candle holder. Among the intriguing projects was a mini model of an improved and reinforced sea defence structure which capitalises on the use of plastic bottles. According to student, Gayatri Mohanlall of the Beterverwagting Secondary School, plastic bottles were used since it is non-biodegradable. Based on research, Mohanlall explained, that plastic will not begin to break down until after about 1,000 years thus making it suitable

to craft a sea defence mechanism. The Fair also included a booth by the Government Information Agency (GINA) which highlighted with photographs Guyana path to independence and the progress that has been since. The Science Fair, which commenced with an opening ceremony with speakers who stressed the importance of STEM, will conclude today with the various projects being assessed.

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Thursday March 03, 2016

Hundreds descend on Murder charge for Corentyne Housing Authority offices man in bottle-pelting incident

The lines were lengthy at the Central Planning and Housing Authority (CH&PA) headquarters yesterday, as house lot applicants turned up in their hundreds to get in on the 50/50 payment plan. Earlier this week, the Minister responsible for Housing within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Adams-Patterson, announced that under the plan, persons who would have completed paying half of the cost of their house lots by May 1, will be given a 50 percent discount

on the balance. She explained, “If you have an allocation for a house lot for $1M and by the May 1, you would have completed paying $500,000 (which is 50 percent,) then you have 50 percent on the remaining balance of 500,000. So you now have a discount on the balance of $250,000, but the balance, must be paid by the end of May,” The payment plan is also applicable to the beneficiaries of turnkey homes, with regards to the cost of the house lot, not the

homes, she explained. A house lot for a turnkey home costs $500,000. Also in commemoration of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary, the CH&PA will give 50 persons, $300,000 as a subsidy. The beneficiaries of these grants must be living within one of the Government’s housing schemes, and the subsidy is to be used to implement home repairs. The Minister explained that the beneficiaries will be randomly selected during a public exercise in each region.

Convict tells court he was intoxicated when he snatched phones Shortly after stealing two Samsung Galaxy phones, Winston Lang, was caught and placed before the courts where he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. The cell phones were recovered and returned to their owners proving his efforts futile. Winston Lang, 18, of Timehri Base Road, admitted before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan that on Sunday, at King and Regent Streets, Georgetown he stole from Leona Robertson one Samsung Galaxy S3 phone. He also admitted that he stole a Samsung Galaxy S4 from Elizabeth Ramasar. The court was told that Lang was recently released from prison. Lang claimed that at the time of the incident he was under the influence of alcohol and was not aware of what he was doing.

JAILED: Winston Lang The convict told Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, “I went out with some friends last week and drink and I didn’t know what I was doing.” Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones related the facts of

the matter to the court. He said that on the day in question, Robertson and Ramasar were seated by the window in a route 44 minibus with their cell phones in their hands. He said that Lang went up to the bus window and snatched the women’s phones. According to Jones, the women raised an alarm. A nearby police patrol responded promptly and apprehended the defendant. The victims identified the defendant as the person who took away their phones. Police ranks searched him and the items were recovered in his possession. The victims positively identified the phones as their belongings. Subsequently, he was arrested and charged. He admitted to stealing the articles mentioned in the charge.

Patentia v endor jailed ffor or vendor robbing pedestrians at gunpoint A Patentia resident was yesterday jailed for a total of 15 years, after he pleaded guilty to three counts of armed robbery and admitted to having an illegal firearm and ammunition in his possession. He was taken to the Providence Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Cane juice vendor, Trevor Wilson, confessed to robbing Trevor Blackett, Totaram

Baburam and another man of a total of $27,000 between February 3 and February 8, last, at Eccles, East Bank Demerara while he was armed with a gun. On February 8, Wilson was caught by police with an illegal .32 revolver in his possession. He was also found with three live rounds of matching ammunition. Magistrate Leron Daly sentenced him to three years

jail on each count of armed robbery. Wilson was given another three years sentence on the illegal firearm charge and three years for possession of the ammunition. The sentences will run concurrently. According to court facts, Wilson held the victims at gunpoint while they were along the Eccles Public Road. Police Inspector, Michael Grant presented the prosecution’s case.

The man who allegedly pelted another with a glass bottle which severed a vein on the man’s left foot causing him to bleed to death, has been charged with murder. Rafael Quintyn called “Feg” of Kildonan, Corentyne, Berbice was on Wednesday remanded to jail by Magistrate Charlene Artiga when he appeared before her at the Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court, Black Bush Polder on a charge of murder. He is accused of murdering Richard Dundas, called “Matrix”, 52, a labourer of Kildonan Village, Corentyne, Berbice. He was not required to plead. Dundas, met his death after he was reportedly pelted on his foot with a glass bottle by Quintyn. The incident

occurred outside a popular Off Licence Liquor Store and Grocery in the same village where Dundas usually works. The injury reportedly severed a vein around the man’s left ankle which caused the wound to bleed profusely. Shop owner Ivan Dipnarine stated that he tried tying the wound with a rag but the blood kept spraying from the wound. Dundas was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital by a passing Police patrol. He was looked at by a doctor on duty who sutured the wound and sent the man away within 15 minutes, despite the protestation of his relatives and Dipnarine. The man was sent away and was taken home by the

same police vehicle. But within 25 minutes the man stopped moving and responding. His cousin called Dipnarine who hurried over only to find the man not responsive. The police were called and responded promptly and conveyed the man back to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival by the same doctor who treated him earlier. A post mortem examination conducted on the body on Monday by Dr. Nehaul Singh gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage, blunt trauma to the head and laceration to left ankle. Quintyn will have to return to court on March 31 at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.

Duo remanded for seawall robberies Two men accused of robbing three persons at the Kingston seawalls last Saturday, were yesterday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Jason Thomas, 22, a vendor, of Canje, East Coast Berbice and 21-year- old pork knocker, Christopher Niles, of Lot 1 Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, both denied the allegations after the charges were read to them. It is alleged that on

Saturday, at Kingston Seawall, Georgetown they acted in concert to rob Selville Hopple of one wallet valued at $7000, one bag pack valued at $10,000 and $5000 cash all totalling in the amount of $22,000. The other charge alleged that on the same day, at Kingston Seawall, Georgetown they robbed Drusilla Threfall of one handbag valued $10,000. Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, informed the court that upon apprehension of the men they

both gave their address as Lot 13 Stevedore and Tucville Housing Scheme, Georgetown, respectively. He pointed out that the addresses differ from what the men told the court and requested that they be remanded to prison. The Prosecutor also highlighted the gravity of the charge and penalty attached to the offences. The defendants are expected to make their second appearance on March 15, before Magistrate Alex Moore in Court 10.

Govt. launching probe into ... From page 11 apply to the agency and must lodge supporting documents. These documents are the same as for wholesale or import wholesale licences. In early January, Government disclosed that a multi-million-dollar bulk fuel importation operation on the East Bank of Demerara was on hold, with the Chinese owners asked to dismantle an unauthorized wharf construction. According to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David

Patterson, the operation called “Falls” and located at Coverden, reportedly built a larger-than-authorized wharf. Officials from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) reportedly unearthed the unauthorized works during inspections. The matter was reported to the Ministry, with the company ordered to do corrective works. The fuel operation is reportedly associated with Rong-An Inc., which came into the spotlight more than

two years ago after applying for fishing licences. The application had come under fire from local fishing companies who feared that the industry, already facing problems from over-fishing, will be further threatened. In 2013, Rong An launched a US$4M shipyard at Coverden. Zhanghao Shipyard is reportedly owned by Tresey Su, who is also said to be heavily involved in the logging and mining industry. Su is said to be a naturalized Guyanese.

Businessman raises objections ... From page 15 mall is now family-oriented location. In any case, the businessman said, the casino will be an enclosed facility that will only be opened to guests of the hotel and visitors to Guyana. Bacchus is hoping that the hotel will be opened in May. It will provide up to 300 jobs. The issue of casino was a touchy one for the country when it was first announced

in the mid-2000s. There were concerns from churches and other groups about the social implications but it was agreed that no locals would be allowed in when the first casino opened its doors at Princess Hotel, East Bank Demerara. The regulations said it was only to be accessed by guests or visitors. However, Princess Casino has since relaxed its rules, allowing locals to enter once they produce identification.

Government is reportedly contemplating tabled amendments to the law to allow locals full access. Under gaming regulations, no more than three casino licences can be granted in the country. In addition to Princess Hotel, another licence has been promised to Marriott Hotel, in Kingston. Sleep In is the third. The construction of the Marriott casino has been delayed.

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More forensic audit reports to be released within... From page 23 pace as it is looking into at least one report at almost every meeting. The Junior Finance Minister was reluctant to say how many reports will be released and in what order. He said that this is a decision that will have to be made by the Cabinet members. Sharma insisted that the reports must receive Cabinet’s blessings before being released. It was in May that the Granger-led administration began expending some $133M of taxpayers’ dollars on 45 of the 50 forensic audits to ascertain how the assets of the state were sold, disposed of or transferred under the previous administration. The remaining five audits were sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Several audits were also launched in July while others started in later weeks. While

the report on NICIL has been completed for months now with criminal proceedings still to take shape, those on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) have been completed for a longer period. Most of the forensic audits have unearthed several hidden accounts, with billions of dollars poised to be transferred to the Consolidated Fund by year end. Government stated that this phased transfer process has already started. More importantly, the forensic audits in some cases have reportedly not only uncovered fraud and various forms of corruption, but investigators have also made several critical recommendations for the way forward on several agencies and sectors, all of which Cabinet is yet to see. The government was also recently blasted for fail-

Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma

ing to release the forensic audit reports in a timely manner to the public. Making this comment in particular was Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press conference which was held at Freedom House. “Government needs to release the reports now. Where are the audit reports? I

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thought they would have done one on the Specialty Hospital too. But they need to release the other audit reports on NICIL along with NICIL’s statements. “There was supposed to be one on Hope Canal, the Marriott Hotel etc…They need to release these reports so that the people can comment on them.” The forensic audit into the NFMU has unearthed some of the “most appalling acts of corruption”, said Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, in a previous interview with Kaieteur News. Commenting on the findings of the report, Sharma had said, “There was just no proper management at this unit. There were instances where you could see that they just lost out on millions of dollars worth in fees that they should have ensured they collected. There were some defaulters as well, and the agency just took no action against them.” “(NFMU) could have collected a lot more revenue. Instead (the entity) allowed a lot of favouritism to take place and as such they lost, I would say, millions of dollars in revenue. “They allowed their big PPP boys to slip under the radar while others were called upon to pay their dues. In fact, they weren’t collecting from two of their PPP big boys for some time. It was a lot of unfairness that was going on at that agency.” Sharma had said, “The level of corruption which was taking place at the agency points to the incompetency of those who are managing it.” The Junior Finance Minster had said that the revelations of some of the forensic audits thus far vindicate the concerns the APNU+AFC had regarding the lack of accountability under the previous administration as well as the stench of corruption in some agencies. As for the forensic audit launched into the EPA, Sharma who is in charge of the audits, revealed that this has been completed since August. He had said that the audit uncovered that the entity has been holding some 15

accounts with millions of dollars. A reliable source revealed that the monies total over $400M. Kaieteur News understands that recommendations were made for the monies to be transferred to the Consolidated Fund. The Forensic audit revealed that the agency was apparently receiving monies from various agencies and opening a new account every time it received large sums. Sharma explained that the agency should not have done that. He said that it should have held one account and categorized its expenses. The Environmental Protection Agency was established on World Environment Day, June 5, 1996. It was on this date that the then Acting President of Guyana, Samuel Hinds, assented to Environ-

mental Protection Act (No 11, 1996). The Act mandates the Agency to oversee the effective management, conservation, protection and improvement of the environment. It also requires that the Agency takes the necessary measures to ensure the prevention and control of pollution, assessment of the impact of economic development on the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources. The Agency’s work enables Guyana to contribute to global and national environmental protection and conservation. As part of its work the EPA implements education, regulation and enforcement programmes and uses partnership and collaborative approaches to strengthen the impact of its interventions.

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U.N. imposes harsh new sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear program (Reuters) - North Korea faces harsh new U.N. sanctions to starve it of money for its nuclear weapons program following a unanimous Security Council vote yesterday on a resolution drafted by the United States and Pyongyang’s ally China. The resolution, which dramatically expands existing sanctions, follows North Korea’s latest nuclear test on Jan. 6 and a Feb. 7 rocket launch that Washington and its allies said used banned ballistic missile technology. Pyongyang said it was a peaceful satellite launch. U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said the sanctions go further than any U.N. sanctions regime in two decades and aim to cut off funds for North Korea’s nuclear and other banned weapons programs. All cargo going to and from North Korea must now be inspected and North Korean trade representatives in Syria, Iran and Vietnam are among 16 individuals added to a U.N. blacklist, along with 12 North Korean entities. Previously states only had to inspect such shipments if they had reasonable grounds to believe they contained illicit goods. “Virtually all of the DPRK’s (North Korea) resources are channeled into its reckless and relentless pursuit of weapons of mass destruction,” Power told the council after the vote, adding that the cargo inspection provisions are “hugely significant.” U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the 15-nation council’s move, saying in a statement that Pyongyang “must return to full compliance with its international obligations.” North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 because of its four nuclear tests and multiple rocket launches. After nearly two months

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power of bilateral negotiations that at one point involved U.S. President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, China agreed to support the unusually tough measures intended to persuade its close ally to abandon its atomic weapons program. China’s Ambassador Liu Jieyi called for a return to dialogue, saying: “Today’s adoption should be a new starting point and a paving stone for political settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.” However, he reiterated Beijing’s concerns about the possible deployment of an advanced U.S. missile system in South Korea. “At this moment all parties concerned should avoid actions that will further aggravate tension on the ground,” he said. “China opposes the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system ... because such an action harms the strategic and security interests of China and other countries of the region.” He was referring to the U.S. Terminal HighAltitudeArea Defense (THAAD) system. There was no immediate reaction from the North Korean U.N. mission. The official North Korean news agency KCNA said on Monday the proposed sanctions were “a wanton infringement on (North Korea’s) sovereignty

and grave challenge to it.” Shortly after the U.N. move, the U.S. Treasury Department said it was blacklisting two entities and 10 individuals for ties to North Korea’s government and its banned weapons programs, and said the State Department was also blacklisting three entities and two individuals for similar reasons. The new U.N. sanctions close a gap in the U.N. arms embargo on Pyongyang by banning all weapons imports and exports. The Security Council’s list of explicitly banned luxury goods has been expanded to include luxury watches, aquatic recreational vehicles, snowmobiles worth more than $2,000, lead crystal items and recreational sports equipment. There is also an unprecedented ban on the transfer to North Korea of any item that could directly contribute to the operational capabilities of its armed forces, such as trucks that could be modified for military purposes. The new U.N. measures also blacklist 31 ships owned by North Korean shipping firm Ocean Maritime Management Company (OMM). Added to the U.N. sanctions list was the National Aerospace Development Agency, or NADA, the body responsible for February’s rocket launch.

Thursday March 03, 2016

Kaieteur News

London would lose out if UK votes ‘out’ - Foreign Secretary Rival European financial centres are already looking at how to take business from London if Britain votes to leave the European Union in a June 23 referendum, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said yesterday. In a speech setting out the alternatives to EU membership, Hammond, who is backing an ‘In’ vote, said none of the outlined options were better than remaining in the bloc under a deal agreed by Prime Minister David Cameron and other EU leaders. He said it would be “naive” to think others within the 28-country bloc were not already looking at the potential advantages of Britain being “locked out” of the European market. “Let’s be blunt, there will be people in Paris, there will be people in Frankfurt today already planning how they can seize the financial services market share in London and grow the business of their own cities if we decide to leave,” he said. Hammond said other member states would pursue their own national interest “aggressively” in any postBrexit negotiation. “We can talk as much as we like about friendly and

amicable discussions, it will not end up that way if we snub 27 other countries who frankly have gone the extra mile to try to give Britain a deal that recognises our particular concerns ... They won’t owe us any favours,” he said. The government published a report on Wednesday analysing the alternatives to EU membership, highlighting the risks of each option and warning that establishing a new relationship with the

bloc from outside would not be quick or straightforward. Britain’s economy would meanwhile face years of uncertainty, Hammond said, adding that it was unlikely nonEU countries would be willing to negotiate bilateral deals before they knew what Britain’s future links to the EU would be. ‘Out’ campaign group Leave.EU said the government’s report was “full of lies and false assumptions”.

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JLP denies claim it’s being PM to grieving prisons body: vindictive in refusing sale We will restore peace, safety of vehicles to ex ministers KINGSTON, Jamaica – A senior member of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is dismissing as unfortunate and baseless, outgoing justice minister Mark Golding’s claim of hypocrisy and vindictiveness, on the part of the incoming administration, in barring the sale of vehicles to former ministers. Member of Parliament for West Portland, Daryl Vaz, has insisted that said the move is aimed at saving taxpayers millions of dollars. Last week, after the JLP won general elections, prime minister designate Andrew Holness said he had indicated to the Cabinet secretary, the financial secretary and the permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister that he did not intend to continue the policy of selling government vehicles to the ministers who used them during their tenure. Vaz said the incoming JLP government was willing to utilize the used motor vehicles, which cost the public over J$60 million (US$

Mark Golding

495,031) in 2012, to demonstrate its sincerity regarding fiscal discipline and sharing in the sacrifice the public is called upon to make. “The breaking of this customary practice that even former members of the last JLP administration benefited from in the past, is a direct sign of change and that the new Andrew Holness-led administration will not subscribe to cherished practices that are not in the best interest of the economy and the people Ja-

Investigation into Brazil’s speaker of the house approved SAO PAULO (AP) — The Ethics Committee of the lower house of Brazil’s legislature has approved an investigation that could cost the speaker his job. The committee voted early yesterday for the probe of Eduardo Cunha. It had already voted 11-9 on Dec. 15 to begin hearings on whether to strip Cunha of his seat and his political rights for lying to a congressional hearing on corruption

when he said he had no bank accounts overseas. Swiss prosecutors later located accounts held by Cunha. But the vice president of the Chamber of Deputies last month ordered an annulment of that earlier vote. The Cunha ally said the process needed to be re-discussed. The unilateral annulment of the vote by Waldir Maranhao was initially questioned. But the Supreme Court ruled in Maranhao’s favour.

maica,” Vaz said. “I find Mark Golding’s comments quite disturbing and disingenuous. I would wish to point out to him that outgoing finance minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, took the decision to not issue the customary 100 motor vehicle duty concessions to each of the major political parties. Attention must also be drawn to the fact that all Members of Parliament and Senators were entitled to a motor vehicle duty concession during the parliamentary term and were free to access that entitlement. The fact that Mark Golding and the PNP were so confident of victory in the general elections that many of them did not utilize the duty concession to which they were entitled is no fault of the JLP.” Vaz insisted that based on the campaign which the JLP ran and the mandate it had been given by the people, “it is critically important not just talk the talk but walk the walk in terms of how we govern”. Against that background, he said, Holness’ decision was a prudent, sound and responsible one. He further contended that it was not unreasonable to ask incoming ministers to use three-year-old vehicles.

Trinidad Guardian - Government will redouble its efforts to protect, secure and ensure an environment “that is not conducive to fear and terror” aimed at those who provide security to the population, Prime Minister Keith Rowley said Tuesday. Rowley extended condolences to the family and friends of prisons officer Fitzalbert Victor Jr, who was gunned down in front of his Laventille home on Monday. He was the third prisons officer slain in the past year and it has caused outrage among the ranks of the Prisons Service, which has bitterly blamed the state for failing to implement legislation to protect prisons officers. Rowley’s statement, which responded to complaints from the Prisons Service, came at the same time Tuesday that National Security Minister Edmund Dillon met with the executive of the T&T Police Service on various issues, from crime to police management, and gave them the assurance his team would treat urgently with is-

Keith Rowley

sues raised by them. Rowley, in his statement on Victor’s death, said: “One cannot overstate the importance of the work done by the men and women of the Prisons Service, Police, Coast Guard, Regiment and other arms of the nation’s security system, who put their lives on the line and stand in defence and promotion of law and order in our communities. If they don’t, the result will undoubtedly be anarchy.” The PM added: “Government acknowledges that the level of criminal conduct in

Trinidad and Tobago is unacceptable. We also acknowledge that incarceration of persons on remand and convicted persons remain an integral part of the national security regimen. “The level of violent crime and criminal conduct is objectionable and continues to attract the full attention of the Cabinet, National Security Council and all other arms of the State, whose duty it is to work assiduously to ensure that we return, in the shortest possible time, to good order, peace, safety and security in T&T.”

New Jamaica Prime Minister to be sworn today KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica will officially have a new leader today and a new Cabinet by next week. Andrew Holness will be sworn in this afternoon, a week after his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) won general elections. The procedural recount, which ended on Monday night with the JLP winning 32 seats to the People’s National Party’s (PNP) 31, had delayed his inauguration. But the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) Tuesday confirmed that Director of Elections Orrette Fisher had advised Governor General Sir Patrick Allen that the JLP had won majority of the seats, paving the way for Holness to be sworn in. The preliminary count after last Thursday’s elections had given the JLP 33 seats and the PNP 30 in the 63-seat House of Representatives. However, following the recount in the St. Mary South Eastern constituency, the JLP lost that seat to the PNP. The JLP candidate Dr. Norman Dunn has filed for a magisterial recount, contending that votes for him which were accepted in the preliminary counting, were disallowed in the recount and ballots for the PNP’s Dr. Winston Green were improperly accepted.

Andrew Holness

Meantime, JLP general secretary Dr. Horace Chang said on local radio that a new Cabinet should be in place by next Monday. He said the Cabinet would have a mix of youth and experience. Although not yet sworn in, Holness has been meeting with officials in various government agencies as well as diplomats. Tuesday, he met with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr. Kevin Harvey and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Winston De La

Haye, to discuss the management of and get an update on, the swine flu virus in Jamaica. Two people died from swineflu related illnesses last month. Holness said requests have been made for vaccines from overseas while current stocks are now being positioned for frontline workers. “We are keeping a close watch on the daily happenings in the health sector as it relates to the swine flu virus,” he said on his Facebook page. (Caribbean360)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday March 03, 2016

Bassarath v Narine: NLR calls meeting with TTCB over ‘mocking’ email WIRED 868 - The National League Representatives (NLR) has requested an “urgent” meeting with the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, over an email sent from TTCB president Azim Bassarath’s account, which, according to the NLR, appeared to be a personal attack on West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago cricket star, Sunil Narine. The elected members of the NLR are: Dinanath Ramnarine, Daren Ganga, Gile Antoine, Anil Kamal, Clint Pamphille and Andre Lawrence. The following is the letter dispatched yesterday to the TTCB: Mr Arjoon Ramlal Secretary Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) Balmain, Couva Dear Mr Ramlal, On February 26, 2015, the National League Representatives (NLR) of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) received a request from one of our international and national cricketers, Mr Sunil Narine, requesting our intervention in a matter involving him and the TTCB, with specific reference to the President, Mr Azim Bassarath, and an email with Mr Bassarath’s address which mocked Mr Narine at a time when he needed the total support of all the TTCB’s members and stakeholders. In addition, we also note the contents of the emails in response to Mr Bassarath’s two emails sent on 29 November 2015 by an email address belonging to Mr Baldath Mahabir and Dr Allen Sammy. Following a meeting convene by members of the Na-

Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) president Azim Bassarath. (Courtesy TTCB) tional League Representatives last evening (February 29), the members of the NLR’s are of the view this as an extremely serious responsibility that has been thrust on us and intend to ensure that it is carried out with the fullest objectivity and transparency. Additionally, we do not wish our pursuit of the truth to be tainted by any appearance or allegations of impropriety, witch-hunting or personal vendettas. This is an extremely sensitive matter and we do not wish to impose any further emotional burden on Mr Narine. He is going through a difficult and traumatic period in his life and career and we all need to deal with this issue with the utmost discretion and fairness. We know that we cannot change the past but together we can take steps to ensure

the right precedent is set. Mr Narine as well as any other player, should not be subject to what seems on the surface to be a personal attack by the President of the TTCB and other members of the TTCB Executives. Mr Narine also alludes to two other matters: 1. He was denied entry to the Players’ Enclosure during the Nagico Tournament after having been allowed on two previous occasions to enter coupled with the fact that another T&T and West Indies player was allowed to enter and remain in the Enclosure. 2. There was an attempt made to change the rules regarding his eligibility to bowl in national tournaments organised by the TTCB. The NLR views these matters seriously as they have the potential to bring the TTCB into disrepute, an organisation which is sacrosanct in its own right having been constituted by an Act of Parliament Act No. 34 of 1989. As elected members of the TTCB we strive to uphold the principles of good governance and measure success based on the benchmark of

what is considered best practice in sport administration. In this particular matter, we must fulfil our fiduciary duty and recommend a course of action which is fair, credible, transparent and equitable to both parties. This is in keeping with request conveyed to us by Mr Narine for an independent investigation into this matter. In light of the above, we are seeking an opportunity to discuss a suitable list of persons or panel acceptable to all who will conduct, with our support (for both the NLR and the TTCB) an investigation of the matters raised and make pronouncements on same for the greater good of the TTCB and the sport of cricket in general. We also hope that the outcomes of said investigations will allow for any breach(es) to be dealt with in accordance with the constitution of the TTCB and the laws of Trinidad and Tobago. We would like to propose that meet on 4 Friday March 2015 at 10 am at the TTCB’s offices in Couva or in Port of Spain whichever is more convenient to you. We look for-

West Indies spinner Sunil Narine prepares to bowl against New Zealand at Seddon Park, Hamilton on 21 December 2013. (Copyright AFP 2014 / Michael Bradley) ward to your urgent response to our letter. Respectfully, (not signed when electronically sent) Elected Members of National League Representatives Mr Dinanath Ramnarine

Mr Daren Ganga Mr Gile Antoine Mr Anil Kamal Mr Clint Pamphille Mr Andre Lawrence cc All Members of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB)

Petra Organisation mourns passing of member Angeline Dyer-McCarty The sporting fraternity was plunged into mourning on Tuesday following the death of former national netballer, teacher and Petra Organisation member Angeline Dyer-McCarty, who passed away, at the Woodlands Hospital. According to reports reaching Kaieteur News, Dyer-McCarty was rushed to the medical institution last Sunday after complaining of feeling unwell and was subsequently ordered to be

hospitalised for surgery, before she finally succumbed. Petra Organisation Director Marlan Cole speaking on behalf of the Organisation about her passing said that she will be sorely missed, informing that the late DyerMcCarty was an integral member, who performed her duties fearlessly and fairly and was not afraid to challenge even her senior counterparts. “Angeline represented Petra Organisation very well,

she was fearless and outspoken and stood against wrong whoever it may have emanated from as well as advocated for the voiceless on many issues,” Cole told this newspaper via telephone yesterday. According to Cole, DyerMcCarty’s association with the Organisation commenced in 2012 during the staging of the inaugural Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Competition and until her demise was an active member whose recent

assignment was undertaken at the present Milo Under-20 Schools Football Competition where she acted as a broadcaster, announcing the fixtures and acutioning students to be vigilant with their personal effects. Cole, one of the founders of the Petra Organisation added that Dyer-McCarty’s service was outstanding and exceptional and her straightforward attitude was a feature that they had always embraced and supported. He further staed that her absence will no doubt leave a noticeable void in the Organisation, a development that they will struggle to grapple with in the near future. Cole extended heartfelt sympathy to the husband, relatives and friends of the late Angeline Dyer-McCarty and urged them to stay strong during this period of difficulty. Meanwhile, Kaieteur Sport also took the opportunity to extend condolences to the entire Dyer-McCarty family, especially for her outstanding service to sport and the teaching profession.

Thursday March 03, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Leicester in pole position WARRIORS EDGE HAWKS IN OVERTIME as Spurs, Arsenal, City lose LONDON (Reuters) Premier League leaders Leicester City edged close an unlikely title as Tottenham Hotspur blew the chance to go top with defeat at West Ham United and fellow challengers Arsenal and Manchester City also lost on Wednesday. After Leicester were held to a 2-2 home draw by West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday, Tottenham could have gone above them on goal difference but were floored by an early headed goal from Michail Antonio at Upton Park to end a six-game winning run. It got even better for Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester as third-placed Arsenal and Manchester City, in fourth, suffered damaging defeats. Arsenal were booed off after a 21 home loss to relegation-threatened Swansea

City for whom Wayne Routledge and Ashley Williams were on target, while Man City’s joy at winning Sunday’s League Cup final proved short-lived as Liverpool gained swift revenge with a 3-0 victory at Anfield. With 10 matches remaining, Leicester have 57 points, Tottenham 54, Arsenal 51 and City, who have a game in hand, 47, ahead of Manchester United on goal difference after Juan Mata’s late strike earned them a 1-0 win over Watford. West Ham, on 46 points, are also in the mix for Champions League qualification. At the other end of the table, Newcastle United’s plight worsened as a 1-0 defeat at Stoke City left them second from bottom with 24 points.

WDCA President’s Cup... Atlanta Hawks forward Kent Bazemore (24), center Al Horford (15), Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40), and center Andrew Bogut (12) fight for the rebound during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) Reuters (The Sports Xchange) - Center Andrew Bogut capped a season-best, 19-point effort with a key tipin with 1:51 remaining in overtime Tuesday night, allowing the Golden State Warriors to keep their home-court winning streak alive with a 109-105 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Shooting guard Klay Thompson had seven points in the extra session, and power forward Draymond Green buried a back-breaking, desperation 3-pointer with 40.2 seconds remaining, allowing the Warriors to win a 43rd straight at home with their fifth overtime victory of the season. The Warriors (54-5) won without star point guard Stephen Curry, who sat out

due to a strained left ankle. Thompson, whose short jumper with 11.4 seconds remaining secured the narrow win, led the Warriors with 26 points on a night when he shot just 8-for-27. He did make six 3-pointers in 16 attempts. Bogut hit eight of nine shots. Green contributed 15 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, helping Golden State complete a two-game, seasonseries sweep over the Hawks, having won 102-92 in Atlanta last week during a game in which Curry scored 36. The Warriors, who have clinched a Western Conference playoff spot, improved to 2-1 this season in games without the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player.

Georgetown/Mahaicony, Essequibo to clash in Combined Elite final Georgetown/Mahaicony and Essequibo will face off in the final of the NSSCL Combined Elite League today at Bourda. Both teams registered victories in their respective semi final encounter. Georgetown/Mahaicony defeated Berbice by 58 runs at Albion Community Centre ground. Batting first, GeorgetownMahaicony made 181 all out in 47.3 overs on the back of a stylish 74 by Bashkar Yadram. He struck 10 fours and a solitary six, while Joshua Persaud made 48 with four fours; Junior Sinclair bagged 5-33 off 9.3 overs. In reply, Berbice were bowled out 123 in 40 overs. Alex Algoo made 28; Joshua Persaud claimed 3-16 and Bashkar Yadram 3-24. Host Essequibo got the better of Upper Demerara-West Demerara by 5 wickets. Upper Demerara-West Demerara batted first and scored 164-5 off 40 overs. Kevin Christian top scored with 38, while Sagar Hetheramani contributed 26. Bowling for Essequibo Combined, Beesham Moses had 2-30 off 8 overs. Essequibo responded with 162-5 with three overs to spare. Quintin Sampson got 39, Omesh Ramdahin made 34 and Rayon Venture 27 not out.

Small forward Harrison Barnes (12 points), backup guard Leandro Barbosa (11) and reserve center Marreese Speights (10) also scored in double figures for the Warriors, who began a stretch in which they will play 17 of their final 24 games at home. Power forward Paul Millsap had 19 points to lead the Hawks, who were playing the opener of a five-game trip. Center Al Horford, hitting a 3-pointer for a 10th consecutive game, had 17 points for Atlanta, as did backup point guard Dennis Schroder. Small forward Kent Bazemore (15 points), shooting guard Kyle Korver (11) and backup big man Mike Scott (11) also scored in double figures for the Hawks, who remained winless in four overtime efforts this season.

Shivgobin, Esau guide Independence A to victory Krishan Shivgobin and Safraz Esau struck half centuries to guide Independence A to a nine-wicket victory over Belle Vue when the West Demerara Cricket Association President’s Cup T20 tournament continued on Sunday. Batting first, host Belle Vue manage 161-8 with Mustafaa Azimullah scoring 53 (2x4,2x6) and Sheik Bacchus 33 (4x4,1x6); Ayube Mohamed grabbed 3-41 and Thakur Persaud 2-12. Independence A responded with 162-1 in 14.4 overs. Shivgobin hammered five fours and two sixes in scoring 57, while Esau clobbered four fours and three sixes in an even half century. Kevin Austin had 1-25. At Zeeburg, the host defeated Belle West by 181 runs. Zeeburg batted first and

posted 309-6. Ganesh Narine stroked 78 (5x4,6x6) while Vickash Dhaniram got 53 (4x4,3x6) and Kevlin Shewpersaud 52 (5x4,2x6). Kevlin Sankar and Roy Sundra claimed three wickets each. Belle West responded with 128-9. Navin Sundra hit 35 (3x4,1x6); Yetesh Dhanpaul picked up 3-14 and Malcolm Hubbard 3-24. At Wales, the home team overcame Canal No. Two by 50 runs. Batting first, Wales rattled up 193-8. Ryan Yankhana made 59 (3x4,5x6) and Roger Henry 30; Chien Gittens snared 3-27 and

Chabiraj Ramcharran 2-26. Canal No. Two were restricted for 143-7 in reply. Derwin Christian slammed 48 (4x4,3x6), while Rajkumar Latchman made 20. Vishnu Sue took 2-12. At Canal No.Two, Mc Gill beat Cultural by ten runs in a low scoring affair. Mc Gill made 45 all out in 16.4 overs, taking first strike. Anthony Ifill picked up 27 and Ghansham Mahabal 211. Cultural were bowled out for 35 in 15 overs in reply. Sudesh Persaud bagged 4-5, Daniel Basdeo 3-6 and Diquain Murray 2-12.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday March 03, 2016

GCB Scotiabank kiddy Prem’s and Omesh’s XIs cricket to commence shortly extend unbeaten streak Golyn 10/10 Softball cricket...

The Golyn 10/10 softball cricket tournament organized by the Guyana Softball League and sponsored by Trophy Stall and Golyn and Sons continued last weekend with Omesh’s XI and Pream’s XI remaining unbeaten in the third weekend tournament RESULTS: Omesh’s XI beat Maracs’ XI by 85 runs: Omesh XI made 141 -8 in 10 overs (Vickram Kissoon 50, Quincy Jones 43) Zahir Khan took 2-17 for Maracs who fell

for 56 in 7 overs. Mark Ally top scored with 26. Vickram Kissoon completed a good day with 2-18 and Vijai Jairam supported with 2-2. Pream’s XI defeated West Coast Blazers by 8 wickets: West Coast Blazers scored a paltry 69 all out in 10 overs with Hemendra Kowlessar making 26 as Salman Khan took 2-6. In reply Pream XI raced to 70 -2 in 6.2 overs with Rajendra Kumar celebrating

his birthday in style by clobbering an unbeaten 40 off 12 balls. West Coast Blazers defeated Amazon Warriors’ XI by 27 runs: West Coast Blazers made amends for their loss earlier by scoring a challenging 1284 in 10 overs as Leonard Harprashad finished 46 not out, Mohamed Saffie made 43 and Mohamed Ahamad supported with 28. Amazon Warriors made 101 in10 overs in reply as Chris Sookram hit 37 and Feroze Mohamed (25) shared in a partnership of 43 that nearly won the game for them but the rest of the batting couldn’t keep-up the run rate. Crossbreed Warriors defeated Power XI by 43 runs: Cross Breed Warriors made 119 all out in 10 overs with Elton Grant making 40. In reply, Power’s XI were bundled out for 65 in 9.5 overs. Meanwhile, the one ball manto saw Bharat Kumar advancing to the next round as 10 pairs participated. Teams wishing to register for this tournament can contact the following Association representatives: BERBICE SOFTBALL LEAGUE- James Hart (6282391/335-3111), ESSEQUIBO SOFTBALL LEAGUE-Elroy Stephney (621-8484), LINDEN SOFTBALL LEAGUE – Mortimer Denny (639-0057/ 442-1562/653-2589), EAST COAST SOFTBALL LEAGUE Nadir Baskh (6967285/222-3605), EAST BANK DEMERARA – Shafeek Mohamed (657-2300/2654729/216-1861), WEST DEMERARA (Ravendra Ramgobin- 276-1381), ESSQ ISLANDSVeren Chintamanie (692-9611), BONASIKA -Ashraf Mohamed (665-6138/6649245), Bartica-Edward Skeete or GSL Leonard Harprashad (646-0568/268-2458).

Crowe... From page 35 during the pool game between New Zealand and Australia in Auckland, and was also present for the final. One of his last public appearances would take place in April, when he delivered a typically articulate and heartfelt tribute to the retiring Daniel Vettori. Crowe is survived by his second wife Lorraine Downes, daughter Emma and step-children Hilton and Jasmine.

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/ Scotiabank kiddy cricket is set to commence shortly across the country. The programme was launched yesterday at the GCB office and will target 210 primary schools. The programme is designed to impart the necessary knowledge to students which will help them execute his/her cricketing skill using the correct technique. Speaking at the ceremony, Marketing Manager of Scotiabank, Jennifer Cipriani, said they are pleased to be associated with t h e p r o g r a m m e o n c e a g a i n . “ We a t Scotiabank remain committed to the development of cricket. We have seen the benefits of this partnership with the GCB

and are happy with the achievements of the youths,” she added. Assistant Chief Education Officer (Primary), Baydewan Rambarran congratulated the GCB and Scotiabank on the venture stating that the students will benefit tremendously while Treasurer of the GCB Anand Kaladeen indicated that the programme has played an important role in the development of the game locally. Among those that attended the ceremony were Nicholas Fraser of the Education Ministry’s Allied Arts Unit, Sports Chairman of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Seon Bristol, and Taaliba Speede of the Child Care and Protection Agency.

Minor League 10/10...

Super over decides winner

Leonora primary school with some of their supporters enjoying the victory. The Final of the Guyana Softball League’s (GSL) Minor League 10/10 ebbed and flowed and ended an exciting tournament which attracted nine Primary schools from West Demerara. A Super over decided the winner of a thrilling Final which saw fans of Leonora Primary and Tuschen Primary, who were both bowled on 66, urging-on their teams as parents of the players from both sides were very vocal in their support. In the Super over Tuschen scored nine off Leonora Primary Skipper Aryan Persaud before Leonora reached 13 with a boundary to spark jubilation in their Camp. Persaud called correctly and elected to bat and Nicholas Persaud and Shaheed Vieira built an explosive foundation scoring 31 runs in 2 overs but they lost their way as they only managed 35 runs in the next eight overs. Alex Ritchie removed the aggressive Nicholas Persaud for a well-played 20 in the

third over but Persaud joined Vieira and was immediately into his stride striking consecutive boundaries to get off the mark. Persaud (15) and Vieira (10) fell with the score on 50 in the fourth over and it was all downhill after that as only Navindra Singh (14) offered fight. Ganesh Rampersaud (517) wrecked the lower order and got support from Alex Ritchie (2-19) and Rezekiel Renee (2-13). Tuschen suffered an early setback when they lost Trevlon Chichester (1) in the second over 5-1. Renaldo Scotten (28) quickly got them back on track and in the company of Skipper Alex Ritchie 14(2x4) who anchored the innings and it seemed as they were cruising until the hard-hitting Scotten got too ambitious and swung wildly at a Persaud and was caught in the deep. The innings went into decline but Varendra Narine (7*) and the tail tried to achieve victory but the last

man Shane Hemraj ran down the wicket and was dismissed to the disappointment of his teammates and supporters. Persaud ended (2-10) was supported by Vieira (2-8). Persaud was adjudged the MVP of the tournament having scored heavily, taking 18 wickets and leading his team to an unbeaten run culminating with victory in the final. A GSL representative congratulated both teams for their exemplary behavior and the standard of play at the presentation of trophies and medals. Meanwhile, The GSL will start the secondary school tournament shortly and sponsors are invited on board to ensure the young people in the secondary schools have the opportunity to display the talent. The GSL can be contacted on 646-0568. Additionally based on the success of the tournament the GSL will embark on similar tournaments in other areas to ensure continuity shortly as the sponsorship comes in.

Thursday March 03, 2016

Kaieteur News

Page 33

BVA stages successful Black Bush Port Mourant Centre Polder Volleyball outreach Training win again

Teams gathered for the activity.

I

t was yet another successful day for the Berbice Vo l l e y b a l l Association (BVA) as it completed yet another volleyball outreach, this time in the Black Bush Polder area. The outreach, which was held on Sunday at the Mibicuri Volleyball court, saw executives of the BVA led by President Levi Nedd and a number of other teams travelling to the area to participate in the exercise. In total 10 teams participated in the day’s activity inclusive of seven seniors and three junior teams. The large turnout was despite the absence of the teams from the Orealla/Siparuta area who had to leave on the boat some 70 miles back up the Corentyne River. The activity, which was open for persons living in the Black Bush Polder area and

interested in learning to play the game and those playing but are interested in enhancing their skills, saw a number of them participating. It also saw two teams from the area, Mibicuri Strikers and Gemini joining the association. The other teams that participated in the day’s activities were Port Mourant Training Centre (PMTC) 1, 2 and 3, Three Door strikes of De Edward, WCB and No52 Survivors. The three teams that participated in the junior category were Corriverton Jets, Tain Humanitarian and No 52 Survivors. Lectures, coaching and a few exhibition games were played as part of the day’s activity. The teams from the Black Bush Polder areas also received Literature, kits and playing balls, nets, rules books, training materials and other volleyball assortments. The other teams that

NOC capture SECC 40-over title

N

ew Opportunity Corps (NOC) were crowned champions of the South Essequibo Cricket Committee 40-over tournament after defeating New Opportunity Corps by 49 runs on Sunday at Pomona. Batting first, NOC managed 156 all out. David Williams struck four fours in scoring 56, while Akini Adams got 33 (3x4). Javed Azeez claimed 3-32, Norman Fredericks, Husbird Thomas and Wazim Kamal had two each. Jaguars were bowled out for 107 in 23 overs in reply. Neiland Cadogan bagged 5-19 from six overs to earn the man-of-the-match award while Pedrico Abrams claimed 328 and Akini Adams 2-18. NOC pocketed a trophy and $20,000, while Jaguars took home a trophy and $15,000. The committee will be staging another tournament on Sunday. Zone A includes, Aurora Knight Riders, Hiberina, Top Shatter and NOC U19 while Zone B comprises of Golden Fleece, Invaders Masters, NOC and Rising Stars. In the opening fixtures Top Shatters will play Aurora Knight Riders at10:00hrs and Jaguars will play NOC U19 at 14:00hrs at Pomona, while Golden Fleece will host Rising Stars.

participated were presented with playing balls. A number of exhibition games and a competition were played. In the final of the senior competition PMTC1 continued its dominance when they defeated Three Door Strikers 25-14, 25-23 in the finals. In the junior category the winner was No52 Survivors w h o w o n f r o m Ta i n Humanitarian 25-17. BVA President Levi Nedd and other members of his executives along with a number of national players were the resource personnel. The outreach, which is a part of the BVA series of volleyball outreaches, was the third for the year so far with the riverain communities of Orealla/ Siparuta benefitting. There was also one for female and

One of the teams receiving their donation. junior players at Skeldon, C o r e n t y n e . T h e B VA activities continue this week

end (Saturday and Sunday) with a workshop for coaches at the Port Mourant

Community Centre beginning at 09:00 hrs each day. (Samuel Whyte)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday March 03, 2016

Defending champs, Pacesetters have revenge on its mind By Edison Jefford Defending National Basketball Champions, Pacesetters have revenge on its mind ahead of the start of the 2016 tournament tomorrow night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Pacesetters bounce into action Sunday night at 7pm against Eagles. Head Coach of the team that won the national title last year, Clement Brusche was clear on its goal yesterday. “We are looking to exact revenge on our way to victory. We are not looking to squeeze pass anybody,” Brusche told Kaieteur Sport when contacted. He was directly speaking

about the likelihood of playing Linden’s Half Mile Bulls in the second round once he gets pass Eagles. Bulls play Amelia’s Ward Jets in the feature game tomorrow; the winner takes on the winner of the Pacesetters vs. Eagles game. Pacesetters are anticipating Bulls in the next round because of the latter’s famous victory over them last August in the Forbes Burnham Memorial tournament. Pacesetters have never fully accepted the loss and want the opportunity to take revenge. “Once we play as a team, we will win easy. We have what it takes to defend our title; we will do it easily. The problem is not who we could

beat but who could beat Pacesetters,” Brusche boasted on the eve of the start of the biggest basketball showdown in Guyana. Brusche informed that his team has retooled for the tournament. He noted that they have acquired the dominant centre from Melanie Patriots, Sherlan Legal and two other players. In addition, they will be promoting Under-23 stars, Jahleel Duke and Nathan Saul. The defending champion Coach believes that those players, along with the familiar faces of Travis Burnett, one of the most lethal defensive guards; shooting guard, Steffon Gillis, forwards Randy

Travis Burnett

Royston Siland

Randy Richardson

Richardson and Royston Siland, the team is well poised to make a title defence. “We have the youth to play up-tempo basketball, and the experience for when it matters down the stretch,” Brusche said, oozing a level of confidence that suggested that the club is certain that it will be holding the Championship Trophy in Guyana’s Jubilee year. The first Round-of-16 in the tournament will be held on March 4, 5 and 6 while the

Quarterfinals or Super Eight bounces off on March 11 and 12 before the semi-final or Final Four on March 13; the Grand Final will be held on March 19 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The top four teams will receive cash prizes: $500,000; $250,000; $150,000 and $100,000 for the teams placing first to fourth along with trophies. There will also be individual prizes for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament and finals.

Stephan Gillis

GFSCA pick three Teams for Florida Cup Floodlights, Floodlights Legends, GFSCA Wolf Warriors to represent

T

he annual Florida Cup is slated for March 11, 12 & 13 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. This year the Guyana Consulate in Miami in collaboration with South Florida Softball Cricket League (SFSCL) is hosting it as Guyana celebrates 50 years of Independence in 2016. Preliminary rounds in the Masters and Open categories will be played at Brian Picollo Park in Cooper City on Friday March 11 and Saturday March 12 . Both finals will be played on Sunday March 13 at the Fort Lauderdale Cricket Stadium. This year, the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) will feature three teams. GFSCA Wolf Warriors will be making their debut in the Open Category, while Floodlights and Floodlights Legends will be playing in the Masters. GFSCA Wolf Warriors were champions for the Open, while Floodlights were champions for the Masters in 2014 of “Guyana Softball Cup 4” played here in Guyana. Floodlights were also champions in New York at 2015 Independence and Legends Cup when they defeated Regal Masters there in the finals. Floodlights, Floodlights Legends and th

th

th

GFSCA Wolf Warriors are expected to give fierce competition to teams from Florida, New York, Canada. Regal also from Guyana is expected to play. The three GFSCA teams are very confident to uplift both Open and Masters’ title of Florida Cup 2016. GFSCA Wolf Warriors will feature some of Guyana’s top softball players in captain Amrit Roy, Mark Harold, Azad Azeez, Safras Karim, Reaz Karim etc. Floodlights and Floodlights Legend will also feature some reputable players in the Masters such as Ramchand Ragbeer, Lakhram Singh, Lalta Gainda, Ramo Malone, Jagdish Persaud, Jailall Deodass, Uniss Yusuf, Kenrick Persaud, Ramesh Sunich, Surendra Nauth, Steve Narine, Poran Singh, Lloyd Rooplall, Pithamber Maharaj, Anil Beharry, Ago Gopaul, Ricky Deonarain, Goordial Mattai, Ravi Lutchman, Joe Lutchman, Sydney Jackman Jnr., Ganesh Singh, Motilall Chumundat, Arjune Badal, Ashmool Ali, Mohan Sukhu, Fizul Ali, Goverdhan Arjune, Jaipaul Singh, Narinedat Roy, Sahadeo Budhu, Dennis Mangru. The three GFSCA teams have already started departing for Florida.

Thursday March 03, 2016

Kaieteur News

Fitness Express/GAPF Novice & Junior Championships concludes

Tinnisa Toney, 16 year-old Sub Junior Equipped Overall Champ accepts her reward. The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation on Sunday last held a successful Novice and Junior Championships

Nessa Bhagwandin, 61kg Female Junior Equipped Overall Champion collects her award from Shellon Nicholas. sponsored by Fitness Express at the Rosignol Primary School. Following are the results of the Best Lifters in the various categories:

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Crowe gone at 53 ESPNcricinfo - Martin Crowe, the former New Zealand captain, writer, broadcaster and mentor, has died in Auckland at the age of 53. Crowe had suffered from lymphoma since 2012, and withdrew from public life in his final months. Diagnosed in September 2014 with terminal double hit lymphoma he passed away peacefully yesterday, Thursday 3rd March in Auckland surrounded by family. “The family request privacy at this time.” Widely considered the finest batsman in New Zealand cricket’s history, Crowe debuted against Australia aged 19 in 1982, and quickly established a reputation as the most meticulous of batsmen, his technique widely admired. In all he would tally a New Zealand record 17 Test centuries, including an innings of 299 against Sri Lanka in Wellington that also stood as the national record until Brendon McCullum overtook it, also at the Basin Reserve. Arguably Crowe’s finest month was his inventive and inspirational leadership of New Zealand during the 1992 World Cup, when he took an unfancied side to the top of the competition table before a narrow defeat to eventual champions Pakistan in the semi-final at Eden Park. This performance confounded many, not least the co-hosts Australia who were completely overshadowed by Crowe’s tactics and skill during the opening match of the tournament. Knee problems were to

Martin Crowe dead at 53 (tvnz.co.nz)

curtail Crowe thereafter, and he retired from the game in 1995, aged only 33. His postplaying life was to be equally rich and constructive. He worked often as a television commentator, and was also visionary in his invention of a third format for the game, Cricket Max, that served as a precursor to Twenty20. In 2011, Crowe made the bold decision to attempt a return to cricket at the age of 48, turning out for his local club side Cornwall with a view to playing again for Auckland. He was to be curtailed not by slowed reflexes but a series of soft tissue injuries. Most valuably he served as a mentor for several members of the New Zealand side, notably Ross Taylor. After his replacement as captain by McCullum in 2012, Taylor leaned heavily upon Crowe as he rebuilt his confidence and career, going on to play brilliantly for a

Test double century against in Perth last year, the highest ever score by a visiting batsman in Australia. Michael Clarke, the former Australia captain, was another friend. Crowe’s influence was also seen in his writing, much of which appeared on ESPNcricinfo, where his advocacy of a more personable era of player behaviour was taken up by McCullum’s team. At the end of the recent Australia series, McCullum noted to team-mates that “we got our soul back”, and Crowe’s influence in this is not to be underestimated. Despite worsening health as he sought numerous remedies to his lymphoma, Crowe was a welcome presence at last year’s World Cup, where he watched McCullum’s team go one better than the 1992 team by making the final. Crowe was presented with ICC Hall of Fame status (Continued on page 32)

t r o Sp

GCB SCOTIABANK KIDDY CRICKET TO COMMENCE SHORTLY

Scotiabank Marketing Manager Jenifer Cipriani (center) makes a point at the launching in the presence of officials of the GCB, Ministry of Education and CPA.

Leicester in pole position as Spurs, Arsenal, City lose

Michail Antonio (not pictured) scores the first goal for West Ham. (Reuters / Stefan WermuthLivepic)

Petra Organisation mourns passing of member Angeline Dyer-McCarty

Angeline Dyer- McCarty.

DEFENDING CHAMPS, PACESETTERS HAVE REVENGE ON ITS MIND Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210