Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 11, 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

Helping difficult

CHILDREN

In Guyana, as in almost all other countries, children are considered the most precious gifts to parents and society as a whole. They are welcome in every culture as a continuance of the human race. But the realistic and deep-rooted determinants do play their part from the early years and later in life. Some are born into wealth while others know only abject poverty. Several children are born difficult, many have become difficult, and countless just have difficulties thrust upon them by the trappings of society. Every parent or guardian of children knows that it can be a tough and sometimes unrewarding job to raise a child to become a good human being. As such, everyone should have some sympathy for parents who have found it very difficult to raise their offspring. This is where the extended family can help to teach and support parents and guardians who have shortcomings, on how to raise a child properly. Be that as it may, every parent wants to raise their children to be decent and productive in society. The fact that children do not grow or develop themselves means that adults and society must accept responsibility for a lot of what children become as they turn young adults. Parenting in general requires great skills, but most of all it requires the ability to love and to care for children. Not all parents can do either of these things because of their own life experiences or state of mental, emotional or physical health. The damage inflicted on one generation of children, because of parental ineptitude can be reproduced through following generations as the result of a long process of the lack of care for children. This may well be part of what the society is currently experiencing from some youths in terms of violence and crime. Society, and not just teachers, must recognize difficult children and make space for them within the educational and social systems. Almost every adult who has seen the increasing problem that society has with young people has advocated tough penalties for them such as imprisonment, instead of pressuring the State to help them by providing more services. Every generation has its own style of dress code and how to behave and conduct themselves in society. Therefore, society should not abandon this generation. Schools are the learning centres of children, and while the difficult child does not necessarily emerge out of the schooling process, the education children receive may very well contribute to their frustrations. Education should not only be formal but also sufficiently creative, given that the rapid changes in society which, to a large extent, are dictated by technological advances should be integrated into the education system as they occur. There is always a lag between what children are taught and what they learn, and that is to be expected, since most of the public schools are experiencing a shortage of qualified and trained teachers. It is imperative for the government to hasten to revolutionize the educational system into a 21st century one for school-aged children and the post-school aged people. Schools must harness the volumes of information and life experiences that are instantly available in the social media and the Internet. More importantly, teachers must make learning more attractive to the difficult child. However, many public schools seem to be way behind the technological changes that would help educate the difficult child. Public schools should have supplementary programmes for difficult children, and cultural programmes should be made part of the curricula in order to strengthen and support difficult children as they progress. It is hard for difficult children to transition into adulthood without the proper parental guidance and schooling to support their career ambitions. The education system in Guyana is still somewhat outdated; it has to be much more holistic to help the difficult children cope in society. This is long overdue, it cannot be delayed.

Description of the PPP’s destruction DEAR EDITOR, In the late 90’s with the corporation of the Prison Management , I conducted a self sponsored Art course that resulted in two inmates proceeding to institutions of higher learning and another branching off to perfect his unique skills of model building, while yet another is now an ardent producer of craft products. I had also written to the then Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gadraj on behalf of an inmate who I knew was constantly in prison before I had left school as a teenager, on ridiculous offences. A representative from the Ministry visited me during class, I think his name was Mr. Green, however with the support of Mr. Dale Erskine the then Director of Prisons, this inmate was released, he did begin to pursue an Art career, but I advised him to get a job and develop his skill with his spare time, this he did, and as far as I know he held on to his job and was still employed a few years ago when I saw him. That course could not have happened without the vision of Mr. Erskine and his team that included Mr. Howard. These men were even in 1997-98 faced with severe problems, which only the unwilling state could initiate solving. They were forced to deploy female guards where only males were deployed before, cells designed for three inmates were now housing four and five prisoners. Though prisoners would ascend to the roof in protest of the

very long waits for trial among other contentions, the PPP remained unmoved, Andrew Douglas, one of the famous 2002 jail break inmates became popular before the jail break because of his jail roof protests. It was then Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee following Ronald Gadraj who remarked in response to requests from stake holders and the British High Commissioner for reforms at the Brickdam lockups and the Georgetown Prison, that “Where do they think they are, a five star hotel”. This was said after the 2002 Mash day jail break, an asinine statement after a macabre precedent. The British High commissioner did eventually in 2007 present the Prison authorities with a 5000 pound cheque, but the problem had long extended far beyond the parameters of that good intention. In my article on Sunday 6, March in the Guyana Chronicle I outlined the collapse and decimation of mass semiskilled, muscle based employment centres in Georgetown, between 1987 to 1991, and when the PPP came to power in 1992, they ignored those social traumas, and out of political spite they further destroyed the National Service, a powerful training centre that provided skill training for thousands of Guyanese youth. Imagine Clement Rohee today, does not know that the Timehri Prison from its inception in the early seventies was designed as a young offender facility, and thinks that he is now suggesting it. The PPP is a 1960’s political fossil, and its propaganda arm was effective in

carrying out its bottom-house philosophies, foremost in 2013-14 was the ‘Sultan Mohamed group’ that consisted of Ravi Dev and other senior party member. In the ‘Sultan Mohamed’ letter of Thursday April 17, 2014 titled; prisons, cemeteries, garbage and mashramani should be privatized, Quote: “ Afro Guyanese flock to fill Guyanese Jails, and they also currently manage its daily affairs. Who is best equipped to make it a business venture?” – “ If perchance a predominant Afro-Guyanese company ventures into running the prisons will they be more successful in dissuading kith and kin from going back to jail repeatedly?” unquote: This letter was pure malice and hatred, incidentally Ravi Dev was Donald Ramotar’s hopeful as commissioner to the Ethnic Relations Commission, that he, Ramotar never swore in. If the propaganda arm articulated a common PPP contempt for the responsibility of prison reform in Georgetown then it would be rational to say that the very similar PPP’s neglect of the city coincides with the consistent small minded attitude of spiting the constituency that rejected them with good reason politically. Why was Gladwin Samuels retained under the PPP after interdicted for a past serious incident? The PPP habit of retaining fallen personalities as indebted souls to deploy when necessary has always led to dire circumstances. Barrington Braithwaite

We don’t want this casino period! DEAR SIR, Relative to a report in the media and captioned HOW CAN A LICENCE BE GRANTED FOR A CASINO IN CHURCH STREET? A government release was expected but seeing that none so far reported, I hasten as a Muslim, beg to follow up on this action if, indeed it is so. As a senior citizen in this country of my birth, I have always been aware of, for permission to be granted for any application by a citizen for public singing, dancing and gambling etc., must first be published in the media, by the authorities in case there will be any objections before the matter is determined. Has this been done? If so when and what dates of publication and only hope it was legally done. In any case this should be most reprehensible to the religious community of Guyana which enjoys religious freedom and practices under the Constitution of Guyana. To begin with this report is a very big SURPRISE and Muslims have not heard of this before, and as I understand it, many religious peoples are now asking questions of what appears to be an attempt to keep this casino thing very quiet. We are very grateful to Bro Juman Yassin supported by the Imam of the Queenstown Masjid of bringing this matter to the attention of the public. In the case of Muslims, I quote the under- mentioned from the HOLY

KORAN and is aware of similar expressions in the revelations from all the Prophets sent by Allah (God) to mankind, and especially believers. It is clear from the above that the Muslims and have no doubt all religious denominations will protest this decision and further, it cannot be doubted that CITY PLANNERS over the past years, when naming the street between Water Street and Vlissengen Road running East to West had in mind that this should be named CHURCH STREET and indeed it has been used in accommodating the following religious edifices, 1. East, Top of the Street Catholic Church (Fatima) 2.Middle between Oronoque and New Gardens, Queenstown Jumu’ah Masjid for Muslims 3. Oronoque and Church Streets, Seventh-Day Adventist Church. 4 Across of Meriman Mall South of Church Street, Church of Christ. 5 Church and East Streets, Assembly of God 6.WestTop of Church Street, St. George’s Cathedral In answer to Mr. Eric Phillip’s letter in the Stabroek News of March 8th, the religious leaders could only get involved in matters brought to their attention when it affects religion, or related matters. The question of parking was raised by Mr. Phillips; we must however let

you know that parking space on the Merriman Mall for our Masjid was given years ago for Muslims and members of the Seventh Day Adventist to park especially for Fridays and Ramadan and other Festivals and Saturdays. The City Council took it back without our knowledge for a playground which was meant to be opposite the new hotel, but as we are told because of an objection by the hotel, the playground was constructed in front of the Masjid instead, after protesting they promised us parking, a facility which we are still awaiting. Please read through the lines and see if we have not been discriminated against, now that this casino information has come to light. Mr. Editor, don’t we have enough social troubles in Guyana, with SUICIDES, RAPES, CRIMES, ALCOHOLICS ETC., why then should we have more with gambling when the religious peoples are trying to do their best to bring back to Guyana the STATUS QUO as we know it to be as taught and practiced by our forefathers. “OUR NEW GOVERNMENT”, take note and remedy this situation, PLEASE!!! S.M.V. Nasseer Chairman-Bait-ur-Rahma Queenstown Jumu’ah Masjid Compound Church Street

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In an election, winners Time has arrived in must govern for all people Guyana for new blood DEAR EDITOR, “if you do not vote, other people who vote will choose your community representatives, and you will have no voice in the decisionmaking process. The importance of having a voice in decisions that directly affect you cannot be overstated.” According to the ministry councillors elected by the people who vote will make decisions on what bridges and roads to repair or build; they will decide where playgrounds are to be constructed; they will be responsible for garbage collection, cleaning of drains and parapets, provision of healthcare services, pest control, noisenuisance control, and all other aspects of community life. “Can anyone, therefore, afford not to vote?” This quote is taken from a news article in Thursday’s edition of the Guyana Chronicle newspaper based on a statement from the Ministry of Communities on the issue of low voter turnout for Local Government Elections (LGE) by members of the disciplined forces. Let me at the outset state that every citizen who has the right to vote should exercise it. Voting is a constitutionally provided opportunity for citizens to contribute to the process through which their leaders are chosen.

However I have a problem with the statement, which implies that by not voting, citizens will not have a voice in the decisionmaking process. In addition to those who do not vote, there are those who will vote for a candidate who is not successful and therefore will not become the elected official. Am I to understand that these categories of citizens; non-voters and those who vote for unsuccessful candidates; will have no voice...no say in the decision making process? Elected leaders are responsible for and required to serve the interests of their communities/constituencies and this entails taking on board the views and recommendations of all; thereafter making decisions that are technically, financially and operationally sound and feasible. All ideas must contend! Citizens must go out and vote. In certain parts of the world thousands have sacrificed their lives to ensure all citizens regardless of race, gender and religion enjoy the entitlement to vote. But let it be clear that elected officials have the responsibility and obligation to listen to the voices of all and to act in the best interest of their constituencies/communities. Wesley Kirton

Every human is entitled to a decent burial DEAR EDITOR, Good sense must prevail in handling the burial of those who perished by fire during the recent Camp Street prison events. It doesn’t matter that some of these men were allegedly on the wrong side of the law, their rights and dignity are protected under United Nations Declarations and this is what ought to govern actions and thinking by the state in dealing with this matter. These persons were under the protection of the state. The state had undertaken to incarcerate them and implicit in this is their safety and security in keeping with conventions, laws and human rights. Any failure or breach in safety is the responsibility of the state because the state is in control of it. Out of care and compassion, the government should see to

the burial of these persons at a reasonable cost. Funeral parlours can be commissioned at reasonable cost to offset burial expenses. This is not a matter of whether persons are guilty or innocent but is how we treat with issues, which in civilised society one expects that the behaviour of the state will not mirror that of criminals, alleged or proven. In a prison system the law vests responsibility on the state to ensure the wellbeing of the inmates. In this instance where deaths have occurred out of events that occurred within the prison, the custodian of the prisoners is liable. The government is called on to rethink the position of designating $100,000 per person to defray funeral expenses. Any humanitarian government, after these

people were failed by successive regimes, it is a caring administration, supportive of human rights and dignity to take responsibility and honour its obligation forthwith, without feeling it is an indictment on the political parties that form the government. It is not about trying these persons, and even if persons feel the fire was the prisoners doing, they have no authority to sentence them to fiery death. There is no call for a grand funeral, but something decent. And this can happen by commissioning a parlour of the people’s choice at an agreed cost. This is an appeal to the humanitarian nature of all of us. It could have been anybody’s child in the prison and for any reason. Let us view this matter impartially (Continued on page 31)

DEAR EDITOR, March 18, 2016 will soon be upon us, it will truly be the return to democracy because after twenty two (22) years we will have local government elections being held in Guyana. It will be historical for many Guyanese in that this will be their first time voting in such elections with a hybrid system of Proportional Representation and First Past the Post. It is imperative that citizens come out and exercise their franchise so that they can elect the persons who they want to represent them on the various councils and municipalities. I make special reference to the City of Georgetown as I look forward towardsa new dispensation. However they are a few things which I need to highlight and bring to the fore which I think will give people an understanding of why they need to vote, why they need to vote for change in this election. Mr. Hamilton Green in a discourse on television emphasized the need for our young people to be given the opportunity to serve at the local level now, since this serves as a training ground for higher level of governance. As I reflected I noted that our first Executive President served as a Councilor and Mayor of Georgetown in 1959 and 1964, Raphael Trotman the current Minister of Natural Resources served as a councilor in the year 1994, Basil Williams current Attorney General served as a councilor. Suffice to say Raphael Trotman was just 28 years old when he was a councilor, Forbes Burnham was in his 30’s, so these men were given an opportunity at ages where people can make

important decisions. I have argued in my previous letters to the media that it is time for new blood and leadership within the Mayorship and Councilors of the City of Georgetown. The time is opportune for a new dispensation; we experienced one on May 11, 2015 so I say let us ensure that March 18, 2016 is another new experience for us the citizens of Georgetown. I am opposed to any of the current councilors returning to serve on the new council since I believe that they would have served over twenty years and so most if not all of them have no new ideas and their way of thinking and modus operandi is outdated and so them returning would be very detrimental for the city of Georgetown. Many of them have become complacent, comfortable and sluggish and rather that city development, they seek selfgratification. Many of them would have sat there and colluded with officers in some strange operations and activities, many of them all they know about is cussing out and so for them I do not think they are capable of

being part and particle of this new dispensation. There is the saying “you can take the pig out of the mud but you can’t take the mud out of the pig.” Some of these councilors would have become so powerful to the extent they operate as ‘Gods’ rather than servants of the people. Many councilors have forgotten how they got there. They treat staff members with disrespect and are very hostile in some instances. There is a particular councilor who is on the campaign trail telling people they are doing things for them so they must ensure that they do for them come March 18 and more worst is that this councilor is professing to be running for Mayor of the City of Georgetown, so it is not Benschop alone saying that. It is important to note that no one runs for Mayor or deputy mayor, they all run for councilors. I ask myself why must Oscar Clarke, Patricia Chase Greene, Andrew Garrett, Gregory Fraser, Monica Thomas, Randwell Jordon, and others return to the City Council of Georgetown, they (Continued on page 31)

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Kaieteur News

Attorney writes PM Stuart on new immigration policy BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – Attorney and social activist David Comissiong has written to Prime Minister Freundel Stuart calling on him to outline the reasons for introducing new immigration policies that would have Barbadians fingerprinted when leaving and entering the island from April 1 this year. In the letter, Comissiong said that he had also written to the Minister Responsible for Immigration Darcy Boyce and the former Chief Immigration Officer Erine Griffith on the issue but to date has received no response. In his letter, which was made available to the media, Comissiong said that he had informed that the Immigration (Biometrics) Regulations 2015 were made by Prime Minister Stuart in his capacity as Minister Responsible for Immigration. “Apparently, you made these regulations virtually in secret by merely publishing them in a Supplement to the Official Gazette of 23rd April 2015 – an arcane document that 99.9 per cent of the Barbados population does not come into contact with,” Comissiong wrote. He said that the move ensured “that there was absolutely no publicity about or discussion of these Regulations before or at the time they were being made”. “Surely – in a supposedly free and democratic country – this is not good enough,” he wrote, adding that “as you are only too well aware, in

David Comissiong Barbados, the practice of fingerprinting persons is associated with the procedure that persons charged with a criminal offense are required to undergo. “Since it has now become clear that this decision to require citizens of Barbados – like myself – to be subjected to fingerprinting when they travel from or to their own country was made by you. I would like to inform you that I consider said decision to be a decision that affects me adversely.” Comissiong said he was requesting that the prime minister “provide me with a written statement of your reasons for making such a decision! “Please provide me with a clear written explanation as to why you consider it necessary or appropriate that I, a Barbados citizen, should be fingerprinted when I leave Barbados, and also, when I attempt to return to Barbados.

“Please treat this as an urgent matter, and – in keeping with the terms of the Administrative Justice Act of Barbados – kindly provide me with your written statement of reasons for your decision within a reasonable time,” he wrote. Last month, former attorney general Dale Marshall questioned the wisdom in having Barbadian nationals leaving or returning to the country be subjected to being finger printed. Marshall said that the new measure was a “mindless adherence to international dictates”. Griffith said the new measure would be followed later in the year, with one to facially scan passengers. She said the only exemptions to these regulations will be holders of diplomatic passports and children under the age of 16.

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Modi’s party vows to strip Muslim immigrants of vote in eastern India Reuters - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party has vowed to disenfranchise millions of Muslim immigrants in a volatile frontier state, waging a polarising election campaign in a bid to form its first government there. In campaign rallies in the remote state of Assam, officials of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have also promised to identify and deport younger illegal migrants, in response to rising discontent among the state’s Hindus. When Assam elects a state legislature in April, an estimated 10 percent of its 20 million voters will be Muslims who have migrated since the 1950s from the former East Pakistan, later Bangladesh, and gained Indian citizenship. “Legal Indian citizens are being branded as Bangladeshis,” student Ismail Hussain, wearing a white skullcap, told Reuters at a rally held by a mainly Muslim party in Assam. “The BJP can’t just do what they want. We have faith in the Indian constitution.” Modi, 65, swept to power less than two years ago with

Narendra Modi a promise of jobs and growth, playing down his roots in the powerful Hindu-nationalist umbrella group to which his party is affiliated. Yet, after a heavy defeat last autumn in Bihar, another eastern state, the BJP has pursued a more confrontational line. It has promoted the idea that India is a Hindu nation and rounded on “antinational” opponents, in what critics say is an attempt to marginalise minority Muslims. India is officially secular, but four-fifths of its 1.3 bil-

lion people profess the Hindu faith. Muslims comprise 14 percent of the population, with Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and others making up the rest. At 34 percent, Assam has the second highest percentage of Muslims of any Indian state. The BJP’s plan risks reigniting communal tensions that have led to deadly clashes between Hindus and Muslims, although analysts doubt there will be a full-scale drive to expel Muslim immigrants. “All this is pre-electoral mobilisation,” said Ajai Sahni of the New Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management, which tracks security issues across South Asia. “You don’t have a state that has the capacity, the instruments and the institutions to do anything about this.” If the BJP gains traction in Assam, hardliners in the BJP and the Hindu-nationalist movement that backs it, the Rashtriya Svayamsevak Sangh (RSS), could push a similar brand of anti-Muslim politics in West Bengal, a bigger state that also borders Bangladesh and votes in April and May. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP’s campaign manager in Assam, told Reuters that if the party is elected it will try to bar Muslims of Bangladeshi origin who entered India between its first census in 1951 and 1971, when Bangladesh won independence, from voting. They can stay but would have to re-apply for citizenship, he said.

Friday March 11, 2016

JLP tax package an April Fools’ trick, say PNP supporters KINGSTON, Jamaica – People’s National Party (PNP) supporters have described the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) tax package as an ‘All Fools’ Day’ trick. “Come April I is April Fools’ Day, a trick dem a trick people” said one supporter. “A style Andrew a style Jamaicans.” According to him, the tax package is a bad plan and if implemented will cause wide scale job cuts. “At the end of the day everybody ago out of a job,” he said. He was supported by another supporter who expressed that, “If a person [employer] has 50 people 10 ago lef when dem bruk it down, and crime and violence ago increase”. Meanwhile, a third supporter said “a lot of Jamaicans will be in for a surprise if the tax plan comes into effect”. “All a de people dem weh sit down and a wait if you

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller waves to PNP supporters on arriving at Gordon House yesterday morning. (Jamaica Observer) ain’t getting $1.5 million you ain’t getting $18,000 so a trick,” she said. During its election campaign, the JLP administration promised t h a t e f f e c t i v e April 1, it would remove income tax obligations for people earning $1.5 million or less. The party estimated that the government would lose

$12.5 billion if the plan was implemented. However, after being sworn in as Minister of Finance and Public Service, Audley Shaw said that following a review, there was a positive deviation from the original estimate. After recalculation, he said, loss would be in the region of $11 billion.

Senior policymakers to meet in St Kitts to discuss Caribbean debt relief BASSETERRE, St Kitts — The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Caribbean office will convene the fourth meeting of the Caribbean Development Roundtable (CDR) in Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis, on April 21, 2016. This year’s roundtable will explore possible options for debt relief for heavily indebted countries in the sub-region. Senior level policymakers from governments of the Caribbean, officials of the United

Nations system, representatives of regional civil society organisations, academia, regional development institutions and international development partners will meet to address the Caribbean’s debt obligations and consider practical solutions for current debt overhang. The CDR will be followed by the 26th session of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC) on April 22, 2016, where participants will take stock of the outcomes of the

CDR, and review the implementation of the work programme for the ECLAC sub-regional headquarters for the Caribbean for the biennium 2018-2019. The CDCC was created as a permanent subsidiary body of ECLAC to promote the economic and social development of ECLAC member states and associate members. ECLAC Caribbean acts as the secretariat of the CDCC. Regular sessions of ministers are held every two years, with a meeting of the Monitoring Committee convened during the intervening year. Transmission of relevant reports and decisions of the CDCC are sent for ratification at the biennial sessions of ECLAC. (Caribbean News)

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Forensic audit reports to be scrutinized by legal minds before police - Ramjattan By Kiana Wilburg

A number of forensic audit reports have been handed over to the Ministry of Public Security where they will be initially perused by legal minds, for irregularities of a criminal nature, and then forwarded to the police. This is according to Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. The attorney-at law noted that Cabinet on Tuesday decided that a sub-committee would be formed to scrutinize some of the major forensic audit reports. The committee will include Ramjattan, Attorney General Basil Williams and Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma. The Minister noted that the sub-committee will go through the reports with an aim to determine which deal mainly with administrative irregularities and which enter the realm of criminality. The Parliamentarian said that the matters of an administrative nature would require disciplinary action against those at fault, while those of a criminal nature will be forwarded to the police for further investigations.

Ramjattan said that it would be too burdensome to just hand the reports over to the police only to find that some reports speak only to administrative improprieties. He revealed that some of the audit reports relate to the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Guyana Gold Board, the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU), and the audit into the procurement of drugs in Guyana. Kaieteur News understands that from all indications, the six major forensic audit reports already have irregularities of a criminal nature. Last week, Junior Finance Minister Sharma said 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 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 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. Mr. Sharma 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 Cabinet. He emphasised 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). 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.

Police were up to late yesterday afternoon trying to locate businessman Errol Singh, after a boat in which he was travelling capsized in the Mazaruni River. The incident is said to have occurred on Wednesday. Kaieteur

News understands that two of Singh’s workers were also in the vessel but that they have been rescued. Singh owns a store and other businesses in Bartica and has been travelling to the interior for several years.

Teen’s body with stab wounds found Businessman missing after at Goedverwagting boat capsizes in Mazaruni Police are trying to track down the individual who stabbed a 19-year-old and left his body on the Goedverwagting, East Bank Demerara Railway Embankment. The body of Sherwin Lynch, of Sparendaam Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, was found at around 20.30hrs on Wednesday. Police said that he had been stabbed in the chest, left arm and left thigh. They reportedly have a description of the killer. Investigators do not ap-

pear to believe that robbery was a motive. The youth is said to have returned from the interior last Monday, where his father is also employed. The body is at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary awaiting a post mortem.

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Friday March 11, 2016

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

17 men burned to death but the causation goes on A man was sentenced to prison for stealing a cell phone. This happened days after the worst prison riots in any English-speaking country in the Caribbean, and trust me, Jamaica has some of the most feared convicts jailed for gruesome murders anywhere in the Americas except Mexico. Then another young man was imprisoned for three years on a possession charge of 15 grams of marijuana. The brother of a well-known sports official was remanded over a wounding incident. This is Guyana for you. This is Guyana that will spend hundreds of millions to celebrate 50 years of Independence at the end of May this year. I read in this newspaper the views solicited by Kaieteur News on what Independence means. The respon-

dents waxed lyrical. It is not what Independence means, it is what you have done with it after you got it. This will be the content of a forthcoming column. The media recently highlighted the unbelievable plight of a convict who lost his leg while working for the prison authorities in the cemetery. Why did the media have to do that when compensation was due from the relevant Ministry and a prosthetic leg should have been given to him from the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre? But do you think this is an isolated case? There are many more like him who got seriously injured and received insulting sums as compensation. The abomination may even be worse in the private sector, where many guards and carpenters have endured

horrible injuries but were cast into the wilderness of an uncivilized jungle to survive and provide for their families. This is a brutal, bestial country where nihilism has long replaced reason and humanity. It will only stop when the population confronts its selfdestructive fears. I have had three complaints so far that there are police roadblocks on the East Bank highway, far from any police station, and drivers are pulled over at random and their vehicles searched. I encountered one yesterday where I live and protested it to Assistant Commissioner, Marlon Chapman. Not even one driver would say to the police, ‘Sir, on what suspicion are you searching my vehicle?” At least ask the question. The police rank has to offer an explanation.

The United States, France and the UK are facing unrelenting terrorist threats, but my friends tell me all the time that they have never experienced a police roadblock and a stop-and-search exercise. Police act on suspicion when they intercept vehicles. That doesn’t happen in Guyana. An entire population accepts it. Well-known diaspora personality and frequent letterwriter, Wesley Kirton disagreed with me in a letter he published to this newspaper. It was in response to my comment that I have instructed my daughter not to submit to a routine traffic pull-over, since the police do not engage in routine stops. Kirton wrote that is going too far; he opined that the police order to stop should be complied with. That may be so and Kirton is right. What I didn’t see in Wesley’s letter is an elabora-

tion or even an explanation on motive. I am absolutely sure, Wesley knows from living in Washington, D.C. that the police will pull you over and if you request a reason, one will be given. He is right. You must stop when requested to do so. What I am contending is that a policeman cannot be insane to intercept you on the road without a reason. There must be one. Based on Wesley’s concern, I will advise my daughter to stop, but I would hope when she solicits a reason, there will be one. Humans operate with motive. Back to the causation of the prison riot. The nation awaits the report of the inquiry. But it is the recommendations section I am overzealous to see. How will they deal with overcrowding? Are the commissioners going to do their research and examine the charges for each of the inmates in the Camp Street institution? I hope they do, be-

Frederick Kissoon cause you have to get to the root cause of overcrowding, and it does not derive from long delays in trial only. Maybe the commissioners will find quite a large number of remands in Camp Street because they cannot raise the gigantic bail sums set by unreasonable magistrates. Maybe they will find convicts who stole mangoes, cell phones and shop-lifted milk powder. If the commissioners cannot connect the sentencing structure of the courts, especially in the lower courts, to overcrowding, then they are wasting their time. In Guyana, the wheels of justice move slowly and sometimes not at all.

Dem boys seh...

Soulja Bai blind Clinty de Willie A politician is someone who gun lay down your life for his country. Is not dem boys seh suh. Is a old American businessman seh suh. And dem boys seh he damn right. When Hay Heff See and Hap New been out of power dem talk how dem gun jail that scamp Jagdeo and all he kavakamites. Dem also seh dem gun regularise this and regularize that; how dem gun fix this and fix that. Nutten ain’t fix up to now. Dem gun go out of power and de same people who dem promise to jail gun end up jailing dem. Dem promise to cancel de radio licence wha Jagdeo share out and mek it right. Dem boys want to know if dem fall in a coma. Dem promise fuh release de findings of de forensic audit. If dem boys didn’t talk dem woulda never hear that de audit gun be released next two weeks.Dem promise to set up Procurement Commission. That ain’t happen too and dem doing de same thing wha de Pee Pee Pee use to do-give out contract willy nilly at any price. And dem using dem same scampish engineer’s estimates. Dem use to seh that not accepting favour

and tekking donations like how Jagdeo use to love tekking stuff. Dem was de same people who cuss Jagdeo when he tek de 50 laptop from that Chinee company-Haier. Dem boys seh Soulja Bai and he team doing de same thing. Yesterday, dem boys nearly drop down when dem see de foreign oil company giving dem $20 million fuh clean up Botanic Gardens. Dem boys want to know if dem tun whores and prostitutes like you know who. Dem boys can understand if foreign people got a training session and invite dem to participate in de training. That is what you call help. Guyana gone beyond begging which dem now calling by a new name –corporate responsibility. Clinty de Willie had corporate responsibility till he lost de wuk fuh eating. Dem boys hear he not getting enough big basha and jumbo prawns fuh eat. Dem things good fuh yuh eye. He get blurry eye. That is how he crash into de library fence. Dem Chinee loggers fix de fence fuh ee. Talk half and get a trawler fuh Clinty suh he can get back he eyesight.

Friday March 11, 2016

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Slain Sgt. laid to rest - described as courageous by Top Cop Police Sergeant 16934 Leonard La Rose was yesterday laid to rest at the Christianburg Cemetery with full military honours including a 21-gun salute. The burial followed a poignant funeral service at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, where persons travelled from all across the country to pay their final respects. La Rose was a resident of Wisroc, Linden. Among those paying respects and giving glowing tributes was Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud. Persaud described La Rose in glowing terms, reflecting on his career, where he was promoted to Corporal in 2009 then to Sergeant in 2014. The commissioner said that La Rose was “a very courageous individual – a very good public servant and a very dedicated policeman”. He reflected that La Rose would have paid the ultimate price, doing that which he loved to do.” The slain police Sergeant was also paid tribute to in poetry and song, with the veteran vocalist Winston Caesar singing the song ,”He ain’t heavy”, which drew many a tear and loud applause. A group of trainee

teachers also sang two touching renditions, one of which was the famous “Lean on me’, which was their way of telling one of La Rose’s daughters, who is also a teacher, that they are all there for her. Sergeant La Rose, 52, was stabbed in the neck and was pronounced dead at the Matthew’s Ridge Hospital last week Tuesday (March 1st). Another rank was stabbed in the chest, while a third was wounded in the hand. The attacker, identified as Dennis Marks, was shot in the right leg. He was treated at the Matthew’s Ridge Hospital before being taken into police custody. A police release stated that ranks stationed at Matthews Ridge, NWD, went to arrest Marks who was wanted pending investigations into a report of alleged rape. Reports out of Matthews Ridge indicated that the suspect was intoxicated at the

The draped casket

time of the incident, and that there had been reports that he was physically assaulting a woman at his home. Sergeant La Rose was stationed in the interior since 1999.

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 11, 2016

President calls on society to remove impediments to gender parity Guyana is poised to achieve gender equality and ensure that all women and

girls are empowered. This assertion was made by President David Granger earlier this

week on the occasion of International Women’s Day. But according to him,

Guyana’s ability to realise the ambitious goal of gender parity, “depends on our ability to dismantle the structures which oppress and marginalise women today. And these structures include a societal culture that is biased against women. The task for us is to begin to remove structural impediments, impediments to greater equality”. President Granger recalled that at a Global Leaders meeting on Gender Equality and Woman Empowerment, which was held at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015 in New York, the strides that Guyana has thus far made were highlighted. And Guyana, according to him, has already achieved internationally agreed upon goals of gender equality and empowerment. Speaking on behalf of Guyana at the meeting in Sep-

tember, President Granger reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to build a country in which women and girls can expect to live in safety, to be protected from abuse such as trafficking in persons, domestic violence and workplace hazards. And according to Granger, “I intend to honour that commitment.” And already, he noted, constitutional, conventional and regulatory frameworks to attain the desired goals are well established. “The Constitution of our country is enshrined in those rights and I quote from our Constitution ‘women’s participation in various management and decision-making processes, whether private, public or state, shall be in large facilitated by law for that purpose or otherwise’,” said the President. He continued by noting that the Constitution also prescribes that “‘ev-

President David Granger ery woman is entitled to equal rights and status with men in all spheres of political, economical and social life.’” The Constitution, the President highlighted, also speaks to the fact that “all forms of discrimination against women on the basis of gender or sex are illegal. Every woman is entitled to equal access with men to academics, vocational and professional training, to equal opportunities in employment with remuneration and promotion in social, political and cultural activities.” The President, moreover, insisted that in Guyana the legislative architecture for gender equality is intact. He further shared his conviction that what obtains today in Guyana can easily be deemed nothing short of revolutionary when compared with what existed before. “We all know the plethora of laws which have been passed...Guyana is also signatory to a number of international Conventions and Declarations which promote women equality,” said the President as he considered that “what we need now is the operationalising of laws and conventions.” But even as he asserted that Guyana can be proud of its record of putting measures in place to promote and protect the rights of women and enabling equality, he added that there is still a far way to go. “The legal architecture cannot be faulted. Perhaps we can make some changes here and there but what we need, in addition, is an attempt on our part as legislators, as Members of Cabinet and government, as citizens and members of non-governmental organisations, to put into practice what we have passed into law,” the Head of State stressed. He is therefore of the firm view that “we must move into the realm of performance and tackle the task of breaking down barriers which prevent women from being treated as equal to men. What is not intact is the attitudinal and behavioural approach to equality”.

Friday March 11, 2016

Kaieteur News

Page 13

Importers jittery as Govt. appears firm on issue of used tyres

GRA and GNBS officials during the meeting

An importer makes a point during the discussion on an impending “ban” on used tyres. By Leonard Gildarie Government appears resolute on its plans to prohibit the importation of used tyres for cars, pickups and minibuses, but there may be some room for proposals from worried operators. On Wednesday, several importers attended a meeting at the Camp Street head office of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to discuss the “ban” announced in January by Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan. During his reading of the 2016 budget speech in January, Jordan, in announcing a number of measures including tax reductions on cars, signaled Government’s intentions to address the environmental fallout from used tyres and its dumping. The Finance Minister gave “notice of intent to ban the importation of used tyres and to reduce taxes on new tyres to encourage their use.” He said that the ban will come into effect as soon as some procedural hurdles are cleared. The announcement had created worry by used tyre importers who feared a loss of business from their investments. There are scores of tyre shops around the country with at least 20 containers or an estimated 20,000 used tyres entering Guyana annually. With the taxes on new tyres too high, many car owners have been opting for the cheaper, used tyres. Operators have said that vehicle owners will not afford to buy new tyres. However, the David Granger administration said that there are safety issues involved with the dumping of damaged tyres, a major environmental issue. There were also complaints about some importers bringing in tyres, including ones from countries that have snowy conditions, that are unfit for

use in Guyana, a tropical country. On Wednesday, importers were told that nothing has been made law yet and that their input was needed. It was stressed that the ban was not finalized and what is on the table is a restriction on the importation of used tyres. The restriction, it was explained, does not necessarily mean a total ban, but could leave room for possibilities like the number of importers. Yesterday, GRA in a statement of clarification insisted that announcement of the ban (prohibition), still stands. GRA said that it is retracting any statements made at the stakeholders’ forum that may have given the impression that the budget measure would not be implemented. During Wednesday’s meetings, it was learnt that importers may be packing up to 1,000 used tyres in a container, not an ideal situation because of the high possibilities of damage. Present among the officials were GRA’s Head of Project Coordination, Fitzroy Corlette; Deputy

Commissioner, Rohan Beekhoo and Gavin Lowe, Deputy Head of Customs and Trade Administration. Also there at the meeting were Customs brokers. It was disclosed that importers were not in the habit of detailing specifications on the invoices which are submitted for importation. Inspectors of GNBS lack the capacity to verify the quality of tyres, with no equipment that could in all practicality test hundreds of tyres that are in each container. Rather, inspectors are forced to conduct visual checks, not the best practice. It was pointed out by importers that there must be conformity between the laws and standards. There have been complaints that police are stopping vehicles and using visual inspections to determine whether a tyre is “bad”. There are no standards that say what specifications a used tyre must have for it to be acceptable for importation into the country. Also raised was the

Oral and caution... (From page 6) defence. While Attorney Adrian Thompson will put forward a case for Samaroo, Narine and David. McKenzie and Millington who have not retained lawyers were advised by the Magistrate that they have the right to give evidence and call witnesses on their behalf. The defendants are scheduled to lead their defences next Wednesday (March 16), when the matter continues in the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

possibility of a recycling plant for used tyres that are to be dumped. However, it was noted that such an investment will raise questions about a steady supply of materials. According to the GRA officials, the outcome of the meeting will form the basis of a proposal by GRA to the Finance Minister on the way forward. Currently to import used tyres, all it takes is a business licence and registration with the GNBS. Corlette disclosed that it is the hope that eventually Guyana would move to the importation of only new cars with new tyres being used.

New tyres for cars currently being imported are normally eight millimetres in thickness. However, there are no standards which demand importers to even bring used tyres that have half of that. A major issue raised was the misuse of tyres. Too often, tyres are over-inflated or used to carry more weight than is recommended. With tyres that are of unknown quality, the dangers are multiplied for used. Many times, car owners are given just a few days of warranty, with no written agreements - it is all verbal. On average, a used tyre for a car lasts for up to six months. For taxis, it is an average of

about six weeks. According to one importer, one idea to solve the dumping of used tyres is to implement a tax on importations which could be paid to a recycler. It has been known that used tyres could be recycled and used in road making. Another major issue raised was that there is no way that the GRA or GNBS could know how long ago a new tyre was manufactured. The Customs invoices do not specify. GRA officials assured that they will be liaising with importers on the proposals which are to be taken to the Minister of Finance.

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 11, 2016

Govt. wasted about $1M on NCERD to spearhead curriculum revamp for education system needless sitting - Opposition The sitting of the National Assembly yesterday lasted less than an hour and only dealt with a few matters, all of which the Opposition felt was not urgent. In this regard, members of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) indicated that it basically boiled down to a waste of taxpayer’s money when Government comes to Parliament to deal with just a few items, all of which could have waited until there was really more on their legislative agenda to deal with . It was emphasized that each sitting costs about $1M and that taxpayers certainly aren’t paying for their leaders to just deal with three to four issues within 45 minutes and “cut and run.” The political opposition emphasised that this is not value for money. Specifically, Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira told the media that the sitting of the House was just “an absurdity.” The politician asserted,

Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira “The sitting was less than one hour and really no sitting should have been held today (yesterday) because there was nothing on the agenda basically.” She continued, “Furthermore, I did think that maybe they were calling the sitting because they wanted to bring bills and motions in, but there is nothing that they brought really. It seems as if Government’s legislative agenda is extraordinarily thin and almost nonexistent.” The Member of Parliament also expressed that she was shocked to learn that the next sitting of the House would be until May 4, which is on the eve of Arrival Day, a national holiday. “Again, one wonders what it is with this Government. Doesn’t it have any agenda?” Teixeira asked. The Opposition Chief

Whip also noted that the move to have the next sitting in May, would suggest that Government’s Members of Parliament are doing a lot of travelling in April. She added, “But I think the Guyanese should be asking, what the devil is this Government really bringing into this Parliament?” With regard to the business of the House yesterday, members collectively agreed for Guyana to join the InterParliamentary Union (IPU) following a motion that was moved by Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo. In his motion, Nagamootoo noted that the IPU provides an opportunity to express views on issues of international interest with the aim of bringing about action by Parliaments and provides the forum for the promotion and defence of human rights, which is an essential factor of parliamentary democracy. The politician noted that the Parliamentary Management Committee, at its 13th Meeting, held on May 2, 2014, decided that Guyana should become a Member of the IPU, and the Parliament on May 27, 2014 made application to the IPU for membership. The motion was passed with the understanding that it will cost the nation some $2M annually as part of the membership agreement. (Kiana Wilburg )

Plans to revamp the public school curriculum are on the cards for the Ministry of Education. And the key player behind this undertaking will be the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD). This is according to Director of NCERD, Ms. Jennifer Cumberbatch, who revealed during an interview with this publication that renewing the curriculum will in fact be a big task for NCERD. A new curriculum, according to Cumberbatch, has not been attempted for sometime, thus, she anticipates that “this is one of our biggest areas right now. The curriculum area in any educational establishment is very important”. While the task will commence this year, it is expected to continue for a few years since Cumberbatch asserted that “this is not something that can happen in one year; this is something that can go on for two, three years.” The process is one, she disclosed, that will require the involvement of all stakeholders, especially teachers who will help to actually write the curriculum. It will therefore entail training for teachers in the area of curriculum. “This is a huge area that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, so that is why it is so huge and that is why it is taking a little while, but we seem to be getting somewhere, so we should start this year,” said Cumberbatch. She moreover disclosed that pre-requisite

work has been completed and the focus is currently on getting started with the actual renewing of the curriculum. But the work of NCERD is not one that is done without some challenges. Cumberbatch told this publication that NCERD is faced with a situation of limited human resource. NCERD is however embracing a strategy to tackle this situation. “We do not have enough persons here and so we are doing capacity building. You need persons to take up the slot when the older ones leave, but if you don’t train them and you don’t give them the skills and the knowledge, you will find that you have to keep relying on older persons and we want our education system to be a vibrant one that is moving on, so we have to build capacity,” Cumberbatch emphasised. Describing NCERD as the “heartbeat” of the Ministry of Education, the Director disclosed that the institution under her charge is mandated to carry out the plans of the Education Ministry. And this, according to her, includes the training of teachers. “Teachers are where the action is, so if your teachers can’t deliver then the education system is in trouble,” she stressed. But aside from functioning as the training arm of the Ministry, NCERD, among other things, has the responsibility to produce the country’s national assessments. This, according to Cumberbatch, does not only speak to the production of the actual materials but

NCERD Director, Ms. Jennifer Cumberbatch also the formulation of these assessments. In doing its part to support the education curriculum, NCERD not only produces but also procures books and other materials for schools. And another interesting task it has is to help to produce teaching aids conceptualised by teachers. “If teachers find that there is a special aid they are doing and they think everybody should know about it, they can come to NCERD and then we will ratify and try to reproduce it,” Cumberbatch disclosed. According to her, since literacy and numeracy continues to be a major concern of the entire education system. “This is where we also step in. We have been producing programmes, training teachers all year to ensure they understand how it is we can teach our little ones to read and for the teachers to understand reading is more than just saying the words, it encompasses a whole host of other skills.”

Friday March 11, 2016

Kaieteur News

Page 27

Broadcasting Authority considering new fees for TV, radio operators - warns of stricter monitoring on programs

Anand Persaud, TV and radio station owner, making a point during the meeting with GNBA officials.

The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) said it last week successfully hosted a session with television broadcasters to update them of new developments. GNBA is the body that regulates the operations of television and radio stations in the country. The event was hosted by the authority’s recently appointed Public Relations Officer (Acting), Joel Ally,

who welcomed broadcasters and introduced the chairman, Leonard Craig. The Board of Directors was officially introduced. Present were Anthony Vieira, Jocelyne Josiah, Vic Insanally and Ex-Officio Member, Valmikki Singh, the Managing Director of the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU). Directors Ameena Gafoor and Abiola Wong-Inniss were not in attendance.

According to the GNBA, the names of the SubCommittees of the Governing Board were introduced. Josiah will chair the Monitoring and Compliance Committee (MCC); Vieira- the Chair of the Legal Matters, Fees and Licensing Committee (LMFLC) while Insanally will chair the Finance Committee (FC). Broadcasters were briefed on the various zones and the proposed annual fee

GNBA’s Board of Directors meeting with the broadcasters. structure for each zone. These include Primary Zone- which takes in Mahaica/Mahaicony district to parts of the Essequibo Island and parts of the Linden Highway: $1.2M; Secondary Zone which takes in New Amsterdam, Corriverton, parts of the Essequibo Coast, Charity and the Pomeroon: $600,000M and Tertiary Zone covers areas in Parika,

Linden and Lethem-$300,000. GNBA said that it is important to note that each of the zones fall under two categories- profitable and non-profitable. “To this end, during the consultative process, it was decided that Community Radio Stations should be encouraged hence a category for this was necessary.” GNBA also announced

intentions to utilize the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) TV Ratings System for determining content for broadcast in Guyana. “Television broadcasters will be monitored to ensure their content adheres to the broadcast policy outlined in the Broadcast Act with respect to offending taste; as (Continued on page 29)

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 11, 2016

Friday March 11, 2016

Kaieteur News

High vandalism in turn-key homes discovered during Minister’s visit

Some of the turn-key houses at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara. Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valarie Sharpe-Patterson, visited Perseverance, East Bank Demerara, on Wednesday where she discovered several instances of vandalism of the turn-key homes which have already been allocated. Doors, windows, pipelines and zinc sheets were stolen from the houses. According to the Minister, her Ministry will now have to stand the cost of repairing those houses before persons can occupy them. There are about 100 turnkey homes already allocated in Perseverance, but only 45 of those houses are occupied. The other occupants are in the process of casting their yards, and constructing bridges and

fences among other minor works, before occupying their homes. However, as the occupancy rate increases, the Ministry of Communities will have to look at putting security measures in place. The Minister explained that some of the options that will be explored include having a police outpost in the community, and the creation of a Community Policing Group. “We’ve also discussed the idea, because we have a lot of men and women from the Guyana Defence Force and police officers who have indicated their interest in those homes, and we are going to allocate some to them…We will further engage the Guyana Police Force to have an outpost so that they can bring more security

consciousness within the area,” Minister SharpePatterson explained. She was pleased with the level of occupancy in the area. “Some persons have begun to fence their yards, grill their home, and replace the wooden bridges with concrete structures and that’s really nice, it really looks good,” she said. Two hundred homes currently under construction in Phase Two of the turn-key homes project are scheduled to be completed within six weeks. The houses cost $4.9M ($4.4M for the house and $500,000 for the land). There have been questions over the construction and quality of the Government-built homes at Perseverance, a programme initiated by the previous administration.

Broadcasting Authority considering... (From page 27) such, programs will be allowed to be aired only in a time slot for which it is suitable.” With regards to GNBA’s finance, it was noted that there is a large outstanding balance which must be liquidated. The authority is toying with the idea of a significant fee reduction and amnesty period being granted and all broadcasters who settle their outstanding amounts within the period be considered for the 2016 license. “Broadcasters were told that the authority wants to know how they are operating their stations with the intention of helping them. To this end, broadcasters were assured that efforts are being made to level the playing field as far as possible.” Discussed also were TV ratings such as TV-MA (Mature Audience) and the content of lewd music videos were also raised with the issue of advertising coming up. “Specific emphasis was placed on monitoring and compliance. All broadcast media will be monitored based on approved

guidelines. A review of those guidelines will be done in an effort to give advice on issues relating to the said guidelines,” the GNBA said. On the important point of finance, it was noted that licence fees need to be reviewed. “The current board inherited a situation where there had been no monitoring, regulating or enforcing; hence these matters are to be addressed. To this end, broadcasters were assured that efforts are being made to level the playing field as far as possible,” GNBA disclosed. This event saw participation from a wide cross-section of television broadcasters who expressed personal concerns faced within the broadcast industry. “Some of these concerns included unfair practices among broadcasters, fee structure, signal interferences and the expressed need for protection by the GNBA.”

As part of the reforms to ensure that broadcasters are regulated, new laws had mandated the establishment of the GNBA. However, there were protests after ex-president, Bharrat Jagdeo, shortly before he ended his tenure in 2011, named several close friends and his party as being the recipients of broadcast licences for radio stations. Among those benefitting were Jagdeo’s close friends, his party’s newspaper and a relative of one of his ministers. Sidelined were several prominent media houses including Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Capitol News and CNS 6. The previous GNBA board had said it was moving to correct the situation but did little during the last few years. A new board was announced by the David Granger-led administration shortly after it took office last year.

Page 29

Major countrywide campaign to deal with consumers’ rights The Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Business will intensify its campaign to ensure that consumers better understand their rights. Since assuming responsibility for the Consumer Affairs Division in February, the Ministry has set out to build consumers’ confidence in businesses, a release from the Government Information Agency explained yesterday. On March 15, the Division will host a symposium themed ‘Antibiotics off the Menu”. It targets the general public and farmers. The latter group is specifically targeted because cattle and poultry farmers use feed laced with antibiotics. There will be outreaches in all the administrative regions, targeting residents who will be made aware of their rights as consumers. The Ministry will continue the “Know Your Consumer Rights” campaign, launched in 2015 under the Ministry of Tourism. This campaign is based on the eight rights of every Guyanese consumer including the right to choose, the right to safety and the right to receive redress for grievances over consumer products. The ‘Know Your Consumer Rights’ campaign involves lectures to Grades 10 and 11 students,

commemoration of World Consumer Rights Day (March 15), participation in expos, conducting live radio and television programmes, and disseminating consumer awareness booklets, brochures and book marks. The division has the responsibility for public education, drafting consumer policies and legislation, and implementation of regulatory systems to ensure compliance. According to the Ministry of Business, the activities in this division are centered on consumer awareness in collaboration with all affiliated agencies which are responsible for consumer protection- the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission, Food and Drug Analyst Department and the three consumer bodies- Guyana Consumers’ Association, Consumer Advisory Bureau and Consumer Movement of Guyana. Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, believes the campaign is a means to build consumers’ confidence to

accept and pay for only services and products that they are satisfied with, while encouraging businesses to provide consumers with quality products. Over the past years, consumers have lamented over the wide range of poor quality goods which are available on the market. These goods range from utensils to clothing, household appliances, technological instruments, and industrial machinery. It has also been recognised, that too often, the provisions of the law are not honoured by businesses. Consumers from low to medium socio-economic areas are targeted for this campaign since they are traditionally less likely to know and exercise their rights than those from the higher socio-economic brackets. Consumers have two levels of protection; the first coming from the Consumers Affairs Division and the other being the Competition and Consumers Affairs Commission (CCAC). The latter is empowered to pursue justice for aggrieved consumers.

Page 30

Kaieteur News

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PROPERTY FOR SALE Transport property located @ Rosignol W.B.B: 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished. Call: 679-3496; 6026333; 330-2576; 699-4689 (motivated settler) Flat house in Grove, (corner property) 1 Block from main road, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572 1-3 2flat bedrooms wooden & concrete house 20X50 @ Belle West, Canal No.2 -$9M. Call: 604-1299 Transported property @ Grove $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461

Friday March 11, 2016

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Vreed-en-Hope Junction: Lessons place, office, storage bond, church -$20,000$25,000-Call: 603-6400 Canteen and washbay @ 15 Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo. Call: 690-6840; 693-3340; 277-3033 1-3 Bedrooms apartment, 1 master room, 2 bedrooms, 1 kitchen, dining area; laundry room, cameras and security lights @ Diamond . Call: 2260880; 671-1474 Three bedrooms top & bottom flat; at Lot 6 Mc Doom Public Road. Call: 2330528 Executive 2 bedrooms apartment in exclusive Residential Area , close to the Ogle Airport. Call for appointment: 653-2920 Self-contained rooms in Prashad Nagar. Tel: 227-2993 Apartments for rent in Nandy Park, recently renovated, free Wi-Fi. $70,000. Call: 641-3318

Furnished 6 bedrooms house with attic, 4 self contained bedrooms located @ Anna Catherina, New Housing Scheme. Call: 611-5354; 6154728 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 Property @ Lot 87 Albert Street- Call: 669- 8701

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM

TO LET Two bedrooms apartment $42,000 monthly. Call: 687-3017 Bottom flat in Diamond, 1st Bridge -$35,000 monthly – Call: 694-4276; 680-6399 Apartment in Eccles & rooms in Alberttown- Call: 225-3234

Sales Representative (with license), Industrial Engineer (Diploma/Degree) – Telemarketer, Labourer. apply:jkeshwani.alesie@ gmail.Com- Call: 269-0026 Male security, male desk staff, 30-45yrs old @ 233 South Road Lacytown. Call: 225-0198 Bulldozer operator, site engineer/technician, experienced Human Resource Personnel. Good salary-Call: 261-2280; 668-7104 Persons to hand work and pressing in sewing factory. Call: 264-2763; 642-6079 Need professional counselor. Call: 670-5759 Experienced waitresses, cooks, bartenders, bouncers needed @ Eden Bar & Lounge (East Bank). Call: for appointment 652-0074

Black Hawk Security Services is accepting applications. Must be able to read & write. Call: 231-8232 for appointment, Mon-Fri; 9:00-5:00

VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Raum, AT192, Fun Cargo, RAV 4, Tundra, LTouring Wagon, IST, 4X4 pick up sold DEF, (Ducati 1098cc) - Call: 644-5096; 697-1453 Toyota Carina 212 -$1.1M, Toyota Ipsum -$2.2M, Nissan Pathfinder -$1.6M, Toyota Vigo -$4.5M. Prices negotiable- Call: 609-7766/ 225-8427 AT192 Carina, automatic, price $700,000- Call: 668-8431 One model M Bush Truck with winch, excellent condition-Call: 261-5514; 698-3662; 698-3014 Unregistered Bluebird 2006 model, TV, Reverse Camera, Dark interior low mileage $2.3M. Call: 655-3400 One Toyota fun cargo, mini -van AC, CD, 17" mags, flair kit, never work hire, in excellent condition -$1.2M. Call: 618-1047 Carsmart Auto Sale: Fielder$2,095,000, Ist-$2,095,000, Audi A4-$3,795,000, BMW 318i-$2,695,000-Call:6500402\654-5504 Carsmart Auto Sale: Premio(08)-$2,895,000, Clight Premio (05)-$2,450,000, Spacio-$2,095,000-Call:6500402\654-5504 Carsmart Auto Sale: CAT 928F Loader-$7.3M, Hyster forklift 6000LB - 4 cyl Perkins-$1.5, Diesel welder - 4 cly Perkins-$895,000Call: 650-0402\654-5504 PPP Series, Premio, excellent condition- Call: 695-9927; 639-7844 Honda CRV (RD5), stick gear, PNN series - $2.1M negotiable. Call: 691-1198

LAND FOR SALE

AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call:680-3154

Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494

Vacant land for sale in Eccles, East Bank Demerara 70’X100’- Call: 623-6136

Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807

Land 95X65 in high income gated community -$9.3M negotiable. Call: 609-0783

We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154

One 50ftX80ft fenced land at Mon Repos E.C.D (Martyrsville) price-$3.5M negotiable. Call: 220-0538; 645-2395; 629-5300

Prado TZ, Automatic diesel, PHH series -$4.5M, fully loaded-Call: 233-2546; 688-5554

Property for sale at Harry’s Avenue, 1 minute drive from Public Road Friendship, E.B.D- Call: 654-5385 Lall & Sons: property in Diamond -$9M, $14M, Grove-$12M, Middle Road $22M. Call: 604-6724

1 Domestic cleaner, must able to prepare vegetarian meal, apply @ Alabama Trading, Georgetown, Ferry Stelling, Stabroek.

One Housekeeper for Xenon Hotel contact 225-0254

Property @ 650 Section ‘A’ Block Great Diamond East Bank Demerara. Call: 2254792; 609-1114 Property @ prime location 18 Acres, suitable for house lots/farming @ Independence St. W.B.D, any reasonable offer accepted. Call: 675-0506; 663-0753

VACANCY Hairdressers, nail technician, barbers, also hair & nail stations available for rental location: New Market StreetCall: 638-1106

TOURS

Eccles New Scheme, already bobcat & land filled, brand new, main road-$6M. Call: 604-2207; 611-7223

2001 Toyota Allex, Mileage 77,000km, $1.6M negotiable, first owner (female), in excellent condition. Call: 687-1263

SURINAME EASTER WEEKEND TOUR TRIP: SHOPPING, FUN, TOURS & SIGHTSEEING DOLPHINS MARCH 23RD -28TH, 2016. CALL: 692-7270; 6655171; 639-2663; 223-0056

Prime high income land in La Parfaite Harmonie (100ftX50ft) -$2.5M & $1.6M & $2.6M with foundation. Call: 604-2207; 611-7223

Toyota Avensis in immaculate condition. Call: 676-0706, between 09:00AM - 06:00PM

Rodeo Tours: get your chance to be @ The Rupununi Rodeo this Easter Weekend, unbelievable prices. Call: 2263463 or email:delbon360@ hotmail.com

Lall & Sons: Parfaite Harmonie-$1M, $1.3M, $1.6M, Tuschen -$3M, Uitvlugt, Providence -$9M, Kitty $19M, Sandpit Yarrowkabra -$90M. Call: 604-6724

Herstelling New Scheme, corner lot (100ftX50ft) 4th Bridge -$3M. Call: 604-2207; 611-7223

LAND FOR SALE

Continued on page 31

Friday March 11, 2016

Kaieteur News

Page 31

Book on Guyanese, European Hard-working policemen cultural heritage to be produced were denied monies due DEAR EDITOR, I perused the recent list of police promotions announced by the Police Service Commission. It left me in a quandary. I am both happy and sad. Happy that despite the wrangling, tangling and washing of their dirty linen in the print and electronic media and elsewhere the PSC and the GPF produced a reasonable list of promotions. There were a few minor surprises. This list is a vast difference from the previous one which was riddled with controversy and irregularities. I am perturbed that the newly promoted assistant commissioners and the vast majority of the other promoted officers were apparently not given their correct dates of appointment, thus causing them to be denied some amount of money and

other benefits. Eight cadet officers’ promotions were back dated to 2014. 01. 01 while two others received 2015. 01. 15 as date of appointments. The other eighty were lumped to 2016.01.01. What has happened to consequential promotions? Has in gone through the window? Perhaps, a new appraisal system has jumped out of the sky and unjustly denied a large number of hard working police officers money they justly deserved. As I understand it promotions are made when vacancies exist and the dates of promotions are tied to the dates the vacancies exist. This has been the common practice over the years. This procedure was not followed for the present and the last promotions. Maybe this is a

new trend. If the paradigm has shifted then the officers should be so informed. If it is not, then the recent promoted officers should be given their correct dates of promotion. I can recall that when I was promoted to the rank of assistant commissioner of police my date of promoted was back dated three years prior to the date the promotion was published. Others on the list had diverse dates. I hold no brief for the newly promoted officers. Although I am a police pensioner I still however, have some interest in the police and more so the development of its officers be it financially or otherwise. Justice and fair play must prevail. Clinton Conway Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police

DEAR EDITOR, The measly sum of $100,000 offered to the dead prisoners is at best an indication of the value Grander and his advisors place on the life of the prisoners and at worst an insult to the families and all Guyanese. Regardless of the crime these men were alleged to committed, they were innocent men awaiting judgement by a jury of their peers, more so, they were under the care and custody of the State, and the very State failed to care for them, resulting in their

death. What makes this unethical, condescending and downright unfair behavior more reprehensive is that these very people while in opposition, when the Linden COI awarded a low settlement for those killed and injured as a result of the Linden electricity protested, vehemently. They criticized the foreign COI members, and the PPP for going along with it, for placing such a low value on Guyanese life, now they turn around and do worse. Editor and fellow Guyanese, Isn’t this the

height of hypocrisy, what leader would place such low value on his followers? These is the man that portrays himself as a compassionate leader that pardons youths and mothers from their prison sentences, yet turns around and do this, makes you question his motives. Is it a mere Public Relations Campaign? He had the best example of what a compassionate and true leader should be, in Sup’t Pilgrim and he ignored it. At lease Jagdeo never pretended to be what he is not. Brian Thomas

I am disappointed in the President’s attitude

Time has arrived in Guyana... From page 5 would have served the city for a number of years, some of them would have made invaluable contributions to their friends and family while forgetting the citizens of Georgetown. Mr. Editor now is the time for a new dispensation. Let us see the likes of Sherod Duncan, Martin Gaul, Akeem Peters, Abigail Brower, Malcolm Defreitas and others with new ideas and a new vision take their rightful place in city hall. Let those who would have served before move on, the time is now for our young people to take up the mantle of leadership, the time is now for young people to be at the helm of leadership at the local level. Further Mr. Editor I would hope that good sense would prevail when the councilors meet to elect the new Mayor. I would like to see Mr. Sherod

Duncan alleviated to that position, since I believe he is a visionary, he has good and positive ideas, he is well articulate and has sound judgement. As I listened to this young man at the debate I feel a sense of pride that we have young people who are capable of leadership now. I am therefore urging the citizens of Georgetown to come out on March 18 and vote positively, vote for a new

dispensation. On May 11, 2015, we came out in our numbers and we look forward for the same type of enthusiasm come March 18, 2016. The time is now for our young people to lead and not follow, we want new blood, we want new vision and aspirations and so come March 18. I and family will be out there voting for a new, young and visionary city councilors. Garfield Boston

Every human is entitled to a decent... From page 5 through reasonable and humanitarian lens. We have had person from all socio-economic and political background who have been incarcerated, rightfully and wrongfully. Yours truly, Mark Benschop, Norris Witter, Freddie Kissoon, Cheddie

and Janet Jagan, were among the prison population. When it is a loved one, persons who have been advancing for some consideration, such ought to be considered. This matter is best handled when we divorce ourselves from the whom and deal with the what. Lincoln Lewis.

EU Ambassador Jernej Videtiè presents copies of the terms of reference to Minister Nicolette Henry in the presence of Ben ter Welle and Nirvana Persaud. The Guyana Heritage Society and the European Union, in collaboration with the National Trust of Guyana, will jointly produce a book on shared Guyanese and European cultural heritage. The publication will include a number of themes relating to periods of significant cultural or historical interest for the shared heritage of Guyana and Europe, according to the EU. Guyana’s relationship with Europe stretches back to the 15th century when Spanish explorers arrived at the mouth of the Essequibo, and Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch and British influences partially shaped the county’s

heritage and culture. There are many locations within the country including towns, islands and forts whose names and appearance reflect the influence of various European countries throughout different periods of history. Nicolette Henry, Minister within the Ministry of Education, and Ambassador Jernej Videtiè of the European Union, together with Ben ter Welle of the Guyana Heritage Society (GHS) and Nirvana Persaud of the Guyana National Trust, met yesterday for the official signing ceremony for the Terms of Reference for the production of the book. The EU will contribute

BVI police charge Guyanese woman for alleged wrongful beating of translator British Virgin Islands (BWI News) - A Guyanese woman who lives at Purcell Estate on Tortola, it appears, ended up beating the wrong woman she thought was having an affair with her male lover. It turned out she actually beat a translator who, possibly unwittingly, was facilitating a love triangle. At the time she was attacked, BVI News Online understands, the translator was interpreting a letter the Guyanese woman’s lover had received from his Spanishspeaking paramour.The translator, who was treated at Peebles Hospital, reported the beating to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) which launched an investigation. The RVIPF, while not disclosing details of the case, yesterday reported that the 47-year-old Guyanese woman has been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm. She was granted bail in the sum of $3,000 with one signed surety to appear in the Magistrate’s Court on April 22. The RVIPF, based on a recently implemented policy, does not release the names of accused persons unless they appear in court.

approximately $4.3 million, while the GHS will contribute approximately $900,000 towards the initiative. It is envisaged that the book will be published in August 2016, with 1,500 copies to be printed. Ambassador Videtiè noted that one of the purposes of the collaboration is to “make a contribution towards the celebration of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary of Independence in 2016 by publishing a book that highlights the shared Guyanese and European cultural heritage stretching over 350 years. This initiative shall help raise awareness of the rich joint cultural heritage we share and instill a sense of pride in this heritage. It shall also be beneficial in bringing this cultural heritage to the attention of a wider public beyond Guyana and help promote tourism for the beautiful land of Guyana”.

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 200 Layer birds recently started laying. Call: 650-5676 or 645-5947 for more information.

From page 30

Transported property with furnished liquor restaurant, 2 pools table, fridges & freezers, etc. Call Lovin: 225-7796 Nissan Titan- Call: 696-5135 1-4Cylinder, English Perkins with bearing block, already beded, in excellent condition. Call: 698-6796 Doberman/Rottweiler puppies, eight weeks old, fully vaccinated –Call: 678-2495 5 Acre farm at Pearl E.B.D, bearing fruit trees, equipped chicken pens etc, terms of sale negotiable. Call: 692-1999 Playstation1 with games $5,000 – Call: 684-4827 Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, phone games & applications. Delivery also – Call: 6722566; 265-3231

FOR SALE One two tons forklift, one blocks machine, one Leyland truck (scrap). Call: 617-9230; 269-1406 Toyota Rear Differential 39.8 and 14.5 fiberglass boat with trailer and 35HP motor. Call: 678-9536 1 Mercedes Benz – C200Call: 690-6840; 693-3340; 277-3033 One full size double bunk bed for sale- Call: 623-5533price negotiable PS3 with games accessories. Call whatsapp: 683-8386

& or

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 11, 2016

Friday March 11, 2016

Kaieteur News

Third man charged for murder of Regent Multiplex Mall owner A third man was yesterday remanded to prison, after being charged with the murder of Regent Multiplex Mall owner, Ganesh ‘Boyo’ Ramlall. Appearing before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan was Kurt ‘Banana’ Erskine, 35, of Lot 285 Section C, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara. The father of four was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on July 5, 2015, at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara, he murdered Ramlall, during the course of a robbery. Erskine was captured last Friday by police in Georgetown. Police had been trying to locate him for some time, ever since they received reports that he played a major role in the attack. Erskine, a welder, was represented by Attorney Lyndon Amsterdam. The Attorney told the court that his client is surprised at the charge leveled against him, since the

Murder accused: Kurt ‘Banana’ Erskine murder occurred almost a year ago. Amsterdam, however, told the court that his client intends to prove his innocence. Police Corporal, Deniro Jones presented the prosecution’s case. The matter was transferred to the Leonora Magistrate’s Court for March 29. Two other men, Lennox ‘Soldier Man’ Roberts, 32, of

2279 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo and Fazeel ‘Javed’ Bacchus, 21, of Lot 7 Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara were charged last year, for killing the businessman. They were arrested after police raided a house at Craig, East Bank Demerara, shortly after the killing. According to reports, on July 5, last, Ramlall had just returned home from a barbecue and had gone to use an outdoor bathroom at his premises. The 48-year-old businessman was reportedly confronted by four men and was shot to the head and chest. The bandits took his jewellery and a wallet before e s c a p i n g . Ramlall was later pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. The assailants had prematurely aborted their attack when an alarm was raised by the businessman’s wife and neighbours.

Vigil held in Crum-Ewing’s honour

Some of the attendees at the vigil yesterday. A vigil which saw the participation of mostly family members was held yesterday at Carmichael Street, Georgetown, in honour of assassinated activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing. His mother, Donna Harcourt, who was present at the vigil, said that the family is still coping with his passing. She also called for swift justice to be served as she remembers her son as being “an ambassador for change and justice”. Crum-Ewing was gunned

down on March 10 last year. The heinous act was committed in the Diamond Housing Scheme, while he was calling for persons to come out and vote in the May 11, 2015 General Elections. Yesterday, as the vigil was going on, it attracted much attention as some

vehicle operators passing by, took the time out to roll down their windows and raised fists in support to the family members, friends and colleagues of CrumEwing who, braved the sun as he once did, while the banners and posters fluttered in the wind.

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Local Govt. Commission imminent The relevant laws were passed in 2013, giving the green light for the establishment of a Local Government Commission, and this body is expected to come on stream shortly. This was revealed at City Hall yesterday where the Mayor and City Council (M&CC)’s held a Special Session on Local Government and Local Governance in Guyana. Oscar Clarke, Chairman of Personnel and Training Committee of the M&CC, said yesterday that the commission will be responsible for various matters related to the staff of all Local Government Councils nationwide. While most of these processes fell under the purview of the minister responsible for Local Government, this would no longer be the case. The Commission, Clarke said, will be an independent body “like the Public Service Commission” which will be responsible to Parliament and to the President. He added that 20 sections of Chapter 28:01 of the Municipal and Districts Councils Act will be decommissioned to make way for the commission, which will have the power to make its own rules. Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, who was also present at the Special Session, said that relevant funding for the commission was provided in the 2016 National Budget. However, he did not commit to the exact date of the commission’s commencement. The minister also touched on various issues but spoke mostly of the importance of Local Government Elections (LGEs) and A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Chance (APNU/AFC)’s commitment to make the LGEs a reality. The Commission’s functions, outlined at clause 13. (1) of the Act, state that the Commission shall have power to deal with all matters relating to the regulation and staffing of local government organs including employment

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan

M&CC’s Oscar Clarke

and dismissal of staff and with dispute resolution within and between local government organs. It shall also monitor and review the performance and implementation of policies of all local government organs, including policies of taxation and protection of the environment; monitor, evaluate and make recommendations on policies, procedures and practices of all local government organs in order to promote effective local governance. The commission will investigate any matter under its purview and propose remedial action to the Minister, whenever or wherever necessary; monitor and review all existing and proposed legislation, and/or policies and measures relating to local government organs and make recommendations for any legislation or any amendments to any legislation and/or policy to the Minister, as well as examine and propose ways of enhanc-

ing the capacity of local government organs. The Commission, once established, will take over most of the current oversight role exercised by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. Local government organs will now be able to exercise executive authority in keeping with the autonomy guaranteed by the constitution. The Commission will oversee not only municipalities and NDCs but also Regional Democratic Councils as well as Amerindian Villages. The Act states, at Clause 13. (5): In the discharge of its functions the Commission shall have regard to the provisions of the Municipal and District Councils Act (Cap. 28:01), the Local Government Act (Cap. 28:02), the Local Democratic Organs Act (Cap. 28:09), the Amerindian Act (Cap. 29:01), and any other provisions bearing on matters of local government.

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 11, 2016

Friday March 11, 2016

Kaieteur News

C&W, Columbus Communications fail to reach agreement in St Lucia CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) — The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) says negotiations with respect to the proposed merger between Cable & Wireless and Columbus Communications International have ended, without the parties reaching an amicable agreement. In a statement Wednesday, ECTEL said from the announcement of the merger in November 2014, ECTEL and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commissions (NTRCs) have been working assiduously to reach an agreement with Cable & Wireless. It said this was necessary as existing legislation does not give ECTEL sufficient legal standing to stop or impose remedies on companies partaking in mergers and acquisitions in the telecommunications sector. ECTEL says the agreement sought to address issues, such as, but not limited to, the minimum speed and

price for entry-level broadband packages, maintaining an open Internet, sharing of telecommunications infrastructure for existing and new entrants to provide new services, and protection provisions to ensure customers are not disadvantaged by new services and pricing, to be implemented following the merger. ECTEL says in the absence of an agreement, it will continue to fulfil its mandate as set out in the Treaty establishing ECTEL, namely to promote open entry, market liberalisation and competition in the telecommunications sector of the contracting States. “The Telecommunications Act will guide ECTEL and the NTRCs as they seek to maintain a fair and liberalised market environment.” ECTEL says it is also working to secure the passage of the draft Electronic Communications Bill which was consulted upon from October to December 2015, and which

will further assist with managing any adverse effects on consumers and other stakeholders, by giving ECTEL additional powers and tools with which to regulate. ECTEL is also currently conducting a pubic consultation on a suit of new regulations inclu d i n g r e g u l a tions of access to network infrastructure, retail pricing and consumer protection, which are intended, in conjunction with the proposed Electronic Communications Bill, to further strengthen the regulatory environment, promote fair competition, and safeguard consumer rights. “As we seek to maintain a competitive environment in all ECTEL Member States, the public is hereby requested to report to the NTRC in their respective jurisdictions, any actions in the telecommunications market that infringe their rights as consumers, or degrade their existing service,” the ECTEL statement noted.

North Korean leader Kim orders more nuclear tests – KCNA Reuters - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched a ballistic missile launch test and ordered the country to improve nuclear attack capability by continuing to conduct more tests, the official KCNA news agency reported today. The report did not say when the test took place but it was likely referring to the launch of two short-range missiles by North Korea yesterday that flew 500 km (300 miles) and splashed into the sea. “Dear comrade Kim Jong Un said work ... must be strengthened to improve nuclear attack capability and issued combat tasks to continue nuclear explosion tests to assess the power of newly developed nuclear warheads and tests to improve nuclear attack capability,” KCNA said. Tension rose sharply on the Korean peninsula after the North conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and fired a long-range rocket last month leading to the U.N. Security Council to adopt a new sanctions resolution. Conducting more nuclear tests would be in clear violation of U.N. sanctions which also ban ballistic missile tests, although Pyongyang has rejected them. North Korea has a large stockpile of shortrange missiles and is devel-

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets scientists and technicians in the field of researches into nuclear weapons in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang. REUTERS/KCNA oping long-range and intercontinental missiles. The North Korean leader was quoted in state media on Wednesday as saying that his country had miniaturised nuclear warheads to mount on ballistic missiles. South Korea said it did not believe that North Korea had successfully miniaturised a nuclear warhead or deployed a functioning intercontinental ballistic missile. Pyongyang has conducted four nuclear tests in the past decade and claimed to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb in January

but most experts expressed doubt saying the blast was too small to back up the assertion. North Korea has issued nearly daily reports this week of Kim’s instructions to fight South Korea and the United States as those two allies began large-scale military drills. North Korea called the annual drills “nuclear war moves” and threatened to respond with an all-out offensive. Kim last week ordered his country to be ready to use nuclear weapons in the face of what he sees as growing threats from enemies.

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 11, 2016

Shami clears first hurdle on comeback... (From page 38) While on one hand Shami’s inner demons must have been multiplying, the team management too would have had a tough call to make. He wasn’t a part of the Asia Cup squad as well after being deemed to have not recovered sufficiently. But that Shami was picked for the World T20 was as much a

leap of faith as an educated gamble; MS Dhoni & co. wanted him. Period. Dhoni has never been shy about his admiration for Shami’s ability to provide thrust with the new ball and finish well at the death. Bouncers, made-to-order yorkers, Shami has always delivered what his captain wanted. His return to action

has only added to the considerable gains that India have made recently. After India had set West Indies 186 to win in yesterday’s World T20 warmup, he went about rolling out his bouncers and yorkers, not always achieving the desired results but nevertheless persistent in his attempts. For instance, the short-pitched

Jaguars aiming to roar to record... (From page 38) titles. But while the Guyanese Franchise will be keeping an eye on the Barbados / T&T game in Central Trinidad, they will know that despite their bottom-of-the-table position, the Leewards could spring an upset victory to break the Jaguars’ unbeaten streak. In 37 matches between the two teams since their first in 1983, which Guyana, led by five-wicket hauls from Butts and Harper and a century from the late Andrew Lyght, won by 173 runs, the South Americans have won 11 of their matches against the Leewards, losing 10 and drawing 16. Today, as Guyana hunt another win to take them one game closer to their eighth Regional First-Class title, they cannot afford to take the Islanders for granted. The Leewards have invested in their under-19 World Cup

pair of Kacey Carty who made a fifty on debut in the last round and the genuinely quick pacer Alzarri Joseph who has 18 wickets from six First-Class games, including a five-wicket haul when the two teams last met at Providence last year. They have also recalled 26-year-old Kieron Powell who played 21 Tests after two years in the wilderness. The Leewards batting has been disappointing with only wicket-keeper Jahmar Hamilton scoring a hundred in addition to two fifties while their Jamaican Franchise player Nkrumah Bonner has the most runs (499). Of the other batsmen only the burly Rakeem Cornwall and Orlando Peters have 300 runs. Cornwall has the most wickets for Leewards (36) but Guyana’s biggest test could be from the new ball pair of Joseph and the experienced

Gavin Tonge, the only other bowlers with more than 10 wickets. Shiv Chanderpaul and Chris Barnwell return after injuries and Guyana’s batting will hinge on Johnson and his Vice-Captain Vishaul Singh, the only two batsmen with 600 runs. Rajendra Chandrika and the in form 19-year-old Taignarine Chanderpaul would hope to give the Jaguars a firm foundation while Shiv, keeper Anthony Bramble, who has the most dismissals (28), Raymond Reifer, Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo gives the visitors batting depth. Although they have played in the same match, Taignarine and his father has never batted together in a First-Class game and this could be the opportunity for the pair to do so. The Jaguars’ bowling could again depend on spinners Bishoo and Permaul but if the track is a fast one to accommodate the lively Joseph, then pacers Ronsford Beaton Keon Joseph and Reifer could do some early damage, leaving no room for 20-year-old left arm spinner and Guyana’s leading wicket-taker this season Gudakesh Motie. Jaguars’ squad: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rajendra Chandrika, Leon Johnson (Captain), Vishaul Singh (V/Captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble (Wicketkeeper), Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Devendra Bishoo, Keon Joseph, Ronsford Beaton, Esuan Crandon (Head Coach), Rayon Griffith (Assistant Coach/Manager) Beverley Nelson (Physiotherapist). Hurricanes squad: Nkrumah Bonner (Captain), Orlando Peters (Vice Captain), Keacy Carty, Rahkeem Cornwall, Daron Cruickshank, Colin Hamer, Jahmar Hamilton (Wicketkeeper), Montcin Hodge, Alzarri Joseph, Jeremiah Louis, Kieran Powell, Jacques Taylor, Gavin Tonge Photos: Johnson, Singh, Alzarri Joseph & Powell.

stuff didn’t quite work on this flat, easy-paced surface as Gayle demonstrated with a pull, one of his two boundaries off Shami. After going for nine runs in his first over, he began his second with a short ball outside off to Marlon Samuels and got away with a single. The next delivery was quick and had Johnson Charles stuck on his crease. Shami had closed in on his sweet spot. His third ball wasn’t exactly a yorker but was fast and full. Charles’ attempt to back away and carve him over cover only resulted in a caught behind. Shami, however, erred with his last two deliveries, going too full and too short on either occasion, and Samuels cashed in with two fours. By the time Shami returned in the 16th over West Indies had lost eight batsmen and were down for the count. He stuck to a length that was slightly shorter of a full length and attacked the stumps. One

such delivery had Ashley Nurse charging out of the crease and scooping the ball to deep point. Shami finished with 2-011-1 in his second spell. There was no sign of restricted movement or controlled operation. His run-up was easy and the momentum generated by the smoothly-swinging non-bowling arm contributed to his rhythm. Rohit Sharma paid tribute to Shami’s performance, and said he managed to do what he intended to. ”He just wanted to go out on the park and play. For a bowler to not play for so long it’s never easy,” Rohit said after the match. “So he just wanted to go out and feel the conditions and feel the atmosphere, and feel [the joy of] wearing the India jersey again. He has really worked hard all this while; coming back from a knee injury is not easy for anyone, not just a bowler. But he really worked hard and looking at [the fact that] he is playing his first game he did

pretty well. ”He bowled bouncers, yorkers, slower ones, that’s what we expect from him. The last game he played for India, till then he did pretty well for us. He was one of the main bowlers for us and expectations will be there from him, no doubt about it.” Dhoni has recently pointed to the happy dilemma he would face should Shami be fit, with Jasprit Bumrah sealing the other paceman’s slot. Shami would then have to compete with Ashish Nehra for the second seamer’s position and there is a possibility he might not find himself in the playing XI straightaway. But for now he is unlikely to entertain such worries and would rather focus on dialing up the momentum in India’s last warm-up match against South Africa in Mumbai on Saturday. Shami sure knows a thing or two about the value of taking baby steps. (ESPNcricinfo)

Friday March 11, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) If you're looking to do something worthwhile, consider volunteer work. You will have a childlike approach today, big hearted and full of spunk. Avoid getting involved with married individuals. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You will do best to entertain those you wish to close deals with. Try to be reasonable. You may have ignored or neglected your mate lately.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Satisfy your passionate mood. Don't overspend on luxury items. In return, the satisfaction you get is enough for you. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Residential moves will be in your best interest. Your contributions will be valued and helpful. You need to keep the peace and you will have to bend in order to do so.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're likely to encounter new partners if you take short trips. Don't get so wrapped up in being rich that you overlook the fact that your plan may not be as solid as you thought.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You need a job with more responsibility and a higher wage. Entertainment should include sports events or physical activities. You will feel better about yourself and you may also meet potential lovers.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Don't forget to read the fine print. You can make major decisions regarding your professional direction.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You can receive recognition for the work you've done. The knowledge you have will enhance your reputation.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Romance is quite possible if you are willing to approach someone who interests you. Use your creative flair. Don't offer to pay for others.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You will inspire confidence in others. Be sure to take care of the needs of youngsters. Problems with your boss could lead to unemployment.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Don't count on your friends to be loyal when it comes to doing things. You will be highly entertaining when in contact with your lover.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Stay away from social unpleasantness. Children might be on your mind. Don't hesitate to make special plans just for two.

Friday March 11, 2016

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Sharapova’s peers stunned, but support doping system While Maria Sharapova’s fellow players were shocked by the Russian’s announcement that she failed a drug test at the Australian Open, most of them felt the “huge mistake” could have been avoided. World number three Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland described it as “a very sad day for tennis” but expressed the views of many by saying it was down to every player, via their doctor, to check whether prescribed medications were legal. Five-times grand slam champion Sharapova tested positive for meldonium, which some researchers have linked to increased athletic performance and endurance, after failing by her own admission to realize that it had

been outlawed since Jan. 1. ”I don’t check those emails,” Radwanska told reporters on Wednesday about receiving notification of which substances and medications were on the banned list before the start of every year. “That is what my doctor is doing and my agent. ”I am scared because I know every pill can have something in it so when I am sick I am just taking aspirins 100 percent because I am always afraid that it is going to be something else. (To be safe) I had better play with the flu.” Men’s world number five Rafa Nadal pointed to Sharapova’s negligence while also hoping that the Russian had made an innocent mistake. ”Everybody can have mis-

takes,” the Spanish lefthander said at Indian Wells. “I want to believe for sure that it is a mistake for Maria, she didn’t want to do it. “But it is obvious that it is negligence. The rules are like this. It is fair and now she must pay for it.” SYMPATHY FOR SHARAPOVA Eighth-ranked Czech Petra Kvitova, Wimbledon champion in 2011 and 2014, expressed sympathy for Sharapova but felt that the doping system was working well. ”Of course it’s not great for her,” the 26-year-old lefthander said. “It’s something which we all should know, what we are taking and what we are putting into the body. ”It’s a huge mistake unfortu-

U.S. women top Germany, win SheBelieves Cup title

Maria Sharapova. Jayne Kamin-Oncea -USA TODAY Sports nately and she has taken responsibility for it. We see that they (doping authorities) are trying to have a clean sport. The system is working, they are doing a good job on that.” Sharapova, who faces a ban of up to four years pending an investigation by the International Tennis Federation, has got vocal support from fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova but other players have taken a less charitable

view. Three-time grand slam champion Jennifer Capriati tweeted earlier this week: “I’m extremely angry and disappointed. I had to lose my career and never opted to cheat no matter what. I had to throw in the towel and suffer. ”I didn’t have the high priced team of drs that found a way for me to cheat and get around the system and wait for science to catch up.” In stark contrast, twice grand

slam champion Kuznetsova tweeted on Wednesday: “First of all, I want to say that Maria is a great athlete, and even this “strange mistake” will not be able to outshine all of what she has achieved in tennis. ”And most importantly, none of us, especially me, have no rights to comment this story - not to criticize or evaluate Maria. Doping agency has to see this case, not others.” Sharapova also has been backed by both world number ones, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams. “I obviously wish her all the best,” Djokovic told TMZ Sports. “I’ve known her for a long time and I feel for her for what’s happening. I just hope she gets out of this stronger.” Williams said: “It’s just taking responsibility, which she admitted that she was willing to do and ready to do. She showed a lot of courage and a lot of heart. She’s always shown courage and heart in everything she’s done, and this is no different.” (Reuters)

Canada women win Algarve Cup

Alex Morgan (pictured) shows the form that netted her the USA’s first goal in a SheBelieves Cup win over Germany. Brad Smith/isiphotos.com Boca Ration, Florida – All the goals were scored in the first half as the United States women’s national team rallied from a one-goal deficit to earn a 2-1 win over Germany and capture the SheBelieves Cup on Wednesday in front of 13,501 fans at FAU Stadium. The Americans finished atop the four-team table with a perfect 3W-0D-0L record, extending their winning streak in 2016 to nine consecutive games. Anja Mittag snapped the USA’s eightgame shutout streak in the

29th minute to give Germany a 1-0 lead. Isabel Keshowski forced a U.S. turnover in its own territory and played a short pass to Anja Mittag, who took three touches before skipping a low attempt from distance between a group of defenders and past goalkeeper Hope Solo. Alex Morgan, the tournament’s Golden Ball and Golden Boot award winner, equalized six minutes later with a brilliant finish. After eluding a defender, Meghan Klingenberg lofted a pass

Gittens Birth Anniversary dominoes set for Sunday Lyall Gittens will be hosting his birth anniversary dominoes tournament o n S un d a y a t R a n d R Sports Club, Meadowbrook starting at 13:00hrs. Entrance fee is $12,000 and among the teams set to

take part are H J Boom 6, Ansa Mc Al, Banks DIH, Pisces, Legend, In Time, Canal 6, Masters, Dynasty, Thunder, Next Level, Limpy Lotto, Compu Design, F and H Printery and Harbour Bridge.

from the midfield line into the left side of the German box for a sprinting Morgan. The Orlando Pride forward let the ball bounce twice and then chipped it over a defender with her left foot. Without hesitation, she drilled a rightfooted shot into the back of the net from seven-yards out. In the 41st minute, another outstanding individual effort led directly to the game-winner. Samantha Mewis stripped possession from Germany’s Melanie Behringer in the midfield, turned and dribbled towards goal. As the defense retreated, Mewis snapped off a leftfooted shot from 24-yards out that deflected off a defender and slipped under left-diving goalkeeper Almuth Schult. The U.S. returns to action on April 6 with an encounter against visiting Colombia on April 6 in East Hartford, Connecticut. (CONCACAF)

Lagos, Portugal – The Canada women’s national team won the Algarve Cup for the first time after earning a 21 win over Brazil in the final on Wednesday at the Estadio Municipal de Bela Vista. After a scoreless first half, Canada took a two-goal lead through Shelina Zadorsky and Janine Beckie, before Cristiane halved the deficit with a late strike. The high-intensity encounter saw the sides exchange words on a number of occasions as Canada head coach John Herdman was sent to the stands for the second half. Zadorsky’s first senior goal came off an Ashley Lawrence corner kick in the 60th minute, when she eluded four defenders by making a near post run and flicking the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Barbara. Seven minutes later, Beckie doubled the advantage, jumping onto a Brazil turnover forced by the active Sophie Schmidt. The 21-yearold forward took possession and ran in on goal alone to fire a right-footed shot into the back of the net for her seventh international tally in 15 all-time appearances. In the 90th minute, Cristiane beat substitute Canada goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo with a left-footed effort from beyond the penalty area to make it 2-1. D’Angelo, though, secured the win by catching a

free kick prior to the final whistle. Canada, which will host Brazil in a pair of international friendlies on June 4 in Toronto

and June 7 in Ottawa, captured the Algarve Cup for the first time, finishing with an overall record of 3W-0D-1L. (CONCACAF)

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Zimbabwe hold on to end Scotland’s World T20 Scotland’s chances of further participation at the World T20 ended in a match they will rue letting slip away. They took regular wickets to keep Zimbabwe to under 150 and then recovered from 20 for 4 to stay in the chase until the final over but in the end, remain without a win in a major tournament in 19 attempts. Zimbabwe sneaked through for their second victory in qualification even though they failed to tighten up on the disciplines that almost let them down over Hong Kong. There were soft dismissals in their batting and they took their foot off the pedal after a superb start with the ball but they also had much to celebrate. Sean Williams’ fifty held them together, Wellington Masakadza’s wickets at the beginning and in the middle

allowed them to keep pulling Scotland back before Donald Tiripano’s death bowling sealed the win. If nothing else, Zimbabwe showed their ability to hold their nerve in pressure situations, which is what these events are all about. The contest could have been over 19 balls into Scottish reply when their top four had all been sent back but Richie Berrington hung on. He survived the loss of a fifth wicket and then combined with captain Preston Mommsen to add 51 runs for the sixth wicket and threaten to take the game away from Zimbabwe. Then, the contest looked decided in the 15th over when Masakadza’s double-strike included Mommsen’s wickets and saw the required run-rate balloon to more than ten an over but Josh Davey was on hand. He slammed 24

Sean Williams cuts en route to his 53, Scotland v Zimbabwe, Group B, World T20, Nagpur, March 10, 2016 ©Christopher Lee-IDI/IDI runs off 13 balls to leave Scotland with 30 runs to get off the final three. With Berrington still there, it seemed possible. On a surface that was a touch slower than the one

Junior U-19 International Badminton Championships

Guyanese pair into semifinals and medal round of Boys Doubles The Guyanese duo of Sunburst Champion Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra has advanced to the semifinals and Medal Round of the Junior Under-19 Inter-

national Badminton Championships being contested in Peru by defeating the host nation’s Renzo Camogliano Telge and Matias Zamorano Ramos: 21-8, 21-17 in the quar-

CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Semis on today Miami – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) has confirmed the matchups and the kickoff times for the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship Grenada 2016. The first of t h e t w o semifinal matches will start at 5:00 PM local (4:00 PM ET) at the Grenada Athletic Stadium today when to winner of Group A, Haiti, faces the current C O N C A C A F Wo m e n ’s U nder-17 Champion and Group B runner up, Mexico. The second semifinal, also to be played at the Grenada Athletic Stadium, will be a clash between

North America teams. The United States, winner of Group B, will face off against the runner-up of Group A, Canada. That match is set to start at 8:00 PM local time (7:00 PM ET). T h e w i n n e rs of the semifinals will earn a place in the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship final, to be played on Sunday afternoon at 6:00 PM local and ET, as well as a coveted ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Jordan 2016. The semifinal losers will have an opportunity to earn the third and final CONCACAF place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, in the third-place match on Sunday.

ter finals of the Boys Doubles. In the Singles quarter finals, Narayan Ramdhani lost to Nicolas Macias: 21-18, 2118. Ramdhani was pressured mostly in the backhand side of the court as it was there that his weak point was as he is still recovering from a knee ligament injury which affected his training schedule for two months. In a release from Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) President and Coach, Gokarn Ramdhani said that the association is happy to learn that Narayan is still able to play well and know that his injury is not affecting him much and he will be able to get back into his usual vigorous training schedule when he returns home. The II Peru Under-19 Junior International World Ranking Tournament is being held in Lima Peru at the Regatas Club Badminton Courts. The Guyanese duo was expected to be in semi final action last night. The association has expressed pleasure that the local players are in the Medal Round which would take their World ranking points higher.

used on Tuesday, Tiripano took pace off the ball, Berrington was early into his shot and offered a catch to short third man. Davey was still there but after four balls in the penultimate over without a boundary, he tried to send Tinashe Panyangara over long-on and only got as far as Sikandar Raza. Scotland needed 19 off the final over and took seven off the first three balls before Tiripano bowled Alasdair Evans with a slower ball and gave Zimbabwe reason for relief even though they would preferred to have more runs to defend. Zimbabwe’s innings

lacked fluency and was studded with setbacks which started with the captain. For the second successive match Hamilton Masakadza was run-out and this time in dangerous fashion. When Vusi Sibanda chopped one down to short cover, both he and Masakadza set off immediately for the single even as Kyle Coetzer at short cover swooped in. The pair continued ball-watching and collided into each other trying to complete the run. Masakadza was well short of his ground and Sibanda needed on-field attention for a cut on his chin. He only lasted seven further balls, of which he faced two, before it all got too much. In characteristic Sibanda fashion, he picked out the man at deep square leg with the pull to put Zimbabwe in early trouble. Richmond Mutumbami, who was not among the runs in the first match, seemed eager to compensate. He made Safyaan Sharif pay for errors in length and took on a Michael Leask full toss but the bowler responded in the field. In the next over, Leask was at long-off when Mutumbami tried to send Mark Watt down the ground but did not get enough on his shot. Leask almost dropped

the first attempt and then caught it one-handed on the rebound. Williams needed a partner but Sikandar Raza was dismissed early to leave Williams to take matters into his own hands after that. He brought out the sweep and found the boundary while rotating strike with Malcolm Waller. They put on 38 for the fifth wicket but just as they could look to accelerate Waller was caught at long-off. Elton Chigumbura’s finishing was called on earlier than he may have liked and he gave himself time to settle in. Williams kept most of the strike early in their partnership and reached fifty off 36 balls, before Chigumbura announced his intent with a six off Evans. When Williams departed three balls later, Chigumbura had to finish strongly but Scotland managed to keep him quiet for all but one ball, when he drilled Sharif for four. Scotland gave away just 19 runs in the last three overs and Zimbabwe may have been concerned they did not have enough. In the end they did, but only just. Zimbabwe 147 for 7 (Williams 53) beat Scotland 136 (Berrington 36, Masakadza 4-28) by 11 runs. (ESPNcricinfo)

Hurricanes anticipate victory vs Jaguars The Leeward Islands Hurricanes believe they can halt the dominance of Guyana Jaguars in the WICB’s Regional 4-Day cricket competition when they host the leaders here at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground starting today. Coach of the sub-regional team, Reginald Benjamin said their round nine clash against the visitors will not be a repeat of their first round encounter. ”We had them 21 for three and we allowed them to get away, so I don’t think this time around we are going to let it be that easy. I think the players now have the concept and the philosophy of what I am trying to bring on board, so I am confident that we should do better. I am looking for a win from this game because I

Reginald Benjamin know that we have the players to execute,” he said. The Hurricanes have made one change to their lineup going into the match, bringing in Nevisian batsman Kieran Powell for countryman

Nelson Boland. Benjamin hopes Powell will bring some stability to the middle order. ”Sometimes, we get good opening stands but we tend to lose wickets in bunches and two, with an experienced player, if he is in the 11, the adjustment can come sooner and hopefully help to lay the foundation at number 5, 6, 7 and 8 so if he is playing and batting within 1 and 4, he is one of the players we will be looking forward to in terms of basically anchoring the innings,” the Antiguan said. Leeward Islands are at the bottom of the standings with 39 points while Jaguars are on 125 points at the top. Barbados Pride is second with 106 points. Today’s match will bowl off at 10 am. (Antigua Observer)

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Regal Masters skipper Kippins confident of chances at 13th Florida Softball Cup Regal Masters’ Skipper Troy Kippins has expressed confidence ahead of his team’s opening fixture against Tri State Masters as the 13th Florida Softball Cup bowls off today at Brain Picoloo Park. Kippins stated in a release that they will not take any team for granted. “We are confident of going all the way, we do not know the other teams well, but we will stick to the basics and try our utmost to execute our game plan correctly,” he added. Kippins said they trained very hard for the competition and will take it step by step. The team departed on Wednesday last. The Florida Cup has attracted 16 teams in two categories, Open and Masters.

The Regal team just before their departure at the Cheddi Jagan International airport. This year’s tournament is organised by the South Florida Cricket League to commemorate Guyana’s 50th Independence

Anniversary and will conclude on Sunday at the Central Broward Recreational Park. Regal Masters team

reads: Troy Kippins (C), Mahendra Hardyal, Eoin Abel, Longsford Klass, Peter Persaud, Eric Thomas, Raymond Harper, Laurie

Singh, Rudolph Baker, Rudolph Rodrigues, Mohamed Rafeek, Mahesh Chunilall, Fazleem Mohamed, Shawn Massiah,

Amarnauth Boodhoo, Mahendra Arjune (Manager) and John Ramsingh (Media Manager).

All Seasons capture Phantom Dominoes title All Seasons Racing Service emerged champions of the Phantom Dominoes club sponsored competition when the final was contested recently at Dynasty Sports Bar. All Seasons who drew the bye to the final chalked up 79 games to finish ahead of Friends 71 and Rage 70. Randolph Albert made the

maximum 18 for the winners while Mark Persaud contributed 15. Bruce Goodman got 17 and Jermain Osborne 14 for Friends while Ron Callendar made 17 and Cargail De Freitas 16 for Rage. Rage won the semi final encounter with 77 games, Friends finished second on

69 followed by TNT on 67. Ronald Beharry and De Freitas were Rage’s leading players scoring 17 and 16 games respectively while William Sergeant made 15 for Friends. Shawn Morgan marked 16 Sonia Goodluck 15 for TNT. All Seasons pocketed $90,000, Friends $50,000 and Rage $20,000.

The victorious All Seasons Racing Service team.

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YBG unveils NSBF Regional Conferences Yo u t h B a s k e t b a l l Guyana (YBG) launched the 11th Edition of the National School Basketball Festival (NSBF) Regional Conferences yesterday. The Conferences is set to bounce off April 15 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH). Director of YBG, Chris Bowman said that his organisation is committed to the development of youth basketball in Guyana. “11 years is only possible through dedication and hard work. We are committed to student and athlete development but we could not do it without our sponsors and supporters,” Bowman indicated. He believes that Guyana will be able to field strong teams

Officials usher in the 2016 NSBF yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall while some of the high school ‘ballers’ share the moment. at the Under-16 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships, which is slated for Guyana in

July. Sponsors Digicel, Edward B. Beharry and Company Ltd., National Sports Commission (NSC)

along with Banks DIH, pledged their continued support for the event. B a n k s D I H Communications Officer, Troy Peters highlighted that YBG’s commitment resulted in the “growth” of youth basketball. Marketing Director of Beharry Group of Companies, Anjali BeharryStrand said that “Sports is

the way to go, it helps the kids to grow… more money needs to be plugged into sport because the youths are the future”. D i g i c e l ’s L o u a n n a Abrams said that the telecommunication giants will remain committed to the event while Director of Sport, Christopher Jones commended YBG for their longevity while

asking the organisation use the “50 Shades of Games” tag in accordance with the NSC’s celebration of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee. Schools from all over Guyana will compete in the event, which will conclude in July with the NSBF Championships that will name the national schools champions.

Dem Amstel Mash Cup

Uitvlugt Warriors to face Pouderoyen in tomorrow’s final It will be the renewal of fierce rivalry between the West Bank and West Side when Uitvlugt Warriors and Pouderoyen face off in the championship match of the Den Amstel Mash Cup organised by the Den Amstel Football Club. In their respective semi final matches on Wednesday night last at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground, Uitvlugt Warriors sneaked into the final on account of an own goal that was scored by Den Amstel while Pouderoyen clipped Eagles of Stewartville 2-1. Contesting the main game, Uitvlugt and Den Amstel did not let up as they have always battled in some scorching affairs. But this time around, it was Uitvlugt that prevailed as Den Amstel was not able to keep their nerves. An own goal from Kevaughn Ward in the 70th minute was all that was needed to gift Uitvlugt their passage into tomorrow’s final that has a purse of $200,000 at stake, second place attracts $100,000. In the first semi final,

Morgan Danny

Morgan Danny netted a double for Pouderoyen in the 29th and 59th minute to see them book their date with Uitvlugt. Eagles pulled one back in the 62nd minute through Jalen Williams but it was not enough to deny Pouderoyen. Tomorrow’s third place match which has $75,000 and $50,000 at stake for the winner and the loser brings

together Den Amstel and Eagles from 19:00hrs. This match will be preceded by a veterans clash between West Bank and West Side from 17:30hrs. Den Amstel FC is expressing thanks to the following sponsors for their support: Banks DIH, RDC Region #3, National Sports Commission, Attorney James Bond and Forrester Lumber Yard among others.

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Kaieteur News

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Slingerz down 9-man Alpha in clash of the Titans; Conquerors thump Monedderlust By Franklin Wilson It was billed as the clash of the big horses and lived up to all expectations with the only down sides to the clash, rather than being the feature game it was the curtain raiser and Alpha United being reduced to nine (9) players on the field at crunch time. Nonetheless, Guyana’s two best football sides went after each other from start to finish with Bakewell Slingerz emerging 2-1 victor’s over Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United on Wednesday evening last. The flow of this STAG Elite League FINALE clash could have been even better had it been played on a better surface but the players did their best to work with the conditions presented. Alpha took control of proceedings early on and found good rhythm as they controlled most of the early possession whilst creating a few chances that couldn’t be converted owing to poor finishing. But all along, Slingerz, winners of the GENESIS segment of the league, kept their composure and shape whilst putting in a few raids of their own. Slingerz found a better flow midway through the opening half and that momentum was maintained towards the end with the score 0-0 at the half way point. Alpha it was that took the lead on the end of a fruitful run when experienced forward Anthony Abrams fired his well calculated shot past Winslow McDowall in goal for Slingerz in the 59th minute. After taking the lead it appeared that Alpha’s players lost the focus and concentration on the task at hand. But like true champions, Slingerz took the chance to

Action in the Fruta Conquerors vs Monedderlust match. bury their opponents by upping the ante. Alpha was set back in the 62nd minute when Anthony Benfield received his second caution of the match. The one man advantage e n j o y e d b y t h e We s t Demerara based Slingerz saw them squeezing in the equalizer in the 71st minute, Julian Wade beating Alex Murray on the near post. One minute later proceedings got even more worst for Alpha when Anthony Abrams was red carded by the Referee for using abusive and insulting language to the Referee. As if that was not enough, Shavane Seaforth was evicted from the bench for a similar reason to Abrams as Alpha United cracked under pressure. With their rivals back now to the wall, Slingerz kept the pressure at a high level even as the remaining Alpha players tried their utmost to keep things tight at eh back. They finally wilted under constant pressure when Trayon Bobb who enjoyed another excellent match banged one past Murray with

four minutes to full time to hand Slingerz the lead. Thereafter, Slingerz kept the bulk of possession by passing eth ball around as they saw no urgency in moving forward. That trend continued even with the four minutes of added on time, the final score remaining 2-1 in favour of Slingerz which further consolidates their hold at the top of the points table as they seek to win the double. The main game saw Fruta Conquerors carving out a comfortable 4-1 win o v e r We s t B e r b i c e ’ Monedderlust. Enjoying home advantage, Conquerors wasted little time in taking control of the match which started at a very fast pace. Sixteen minutes on, Shaquelle Grant sent Conquerors into the lead with a lightning fast shot, that advantage was doubled in the 29th minute compliments of a Jamall Greaves goal. Monedderlust was able to pull one back two minutes before half time, Sean Jackman finding the back of the nets the half the deficit.

Hubert Pedro restored the two goal advantage in the 66th minute for the home team with Monedderlust drawing a red card at the same time when Travis

Henry drew his second yellow. Jermaine Junor put the icing on the cake for Conquerors in the penultimate minute to full

time as they sealed a 4-1 win. Three of the four teams that played on Wednesday will be back in action again today when action continues at the GDF Ground. Alpha United will be looking to restore pride when they come up against GDF in the feature match, the Army too will be looking to pick up another win following their 1-0 triumph over Pele in their last match. Opening play brings together the red hot Slingerz and Conquerors in what is anticipated to be an intriguing showdown between two very ambitious sides. Tomorrow, action will move to the #5 ground, West Coast Berbice for another d o u b l e h e a d e r. Monedderlust will play the main game against Buxton United with the first match between Georgetown Football Club and Pele.

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 11, 2016

Jaguars aiming to roar to record equaling 8th win Shiv Chanderpaul and Chris Barnwell back Leon Johnson goes on the attack against T&T, Regional Four-Day Tournament, 2nd day, Port-of-Spain, December 5, 2015 ©WICB Media

Chris Barnwell roars after taking his fifth wicket, T&T v Guyana, Regional Four-Day Tournament, 1st day, Port-of-Spain, December 4, 2015 ©WICB Media/Ashley Allen By Sean Devers in Antigua In Association with Noble House Seafoods The Leon Johnson led Guyana Jaguars are two wins away from establishing the

record for most wins in a season when they start their ninth round PCL four-day match against the Leewards Hurricanes today at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here in North Sound Antigua.

Another win in this game will give the Jaguars their eighth win for the season and extend their unbeaten streak, which began in the fourth round of last season (November 2014) to 16.

Only two teams have ever won eight matches in a single season. Jamaica achieved the feat twice (2005 & 2012) while Guyana won eight of their ten matches last year. The defending

champions start today’s round 19 points ahead of second placed Barbados on 106. The maximum points for a win is 20 and if the Jagaurs, who play Jamaica at Providence in the last game

from next Friday, can finish on top this season, Johnson will be the first Guyanese Captain to win back-to-back titles, joining Clive Lloyd and Roger Harper as the only Guyana Skippers with two (Continued on page 32)

Shami clears first hurdle on comeback trail

Sulieman Benn is mobbed by his team-mates © IDI/IDI/Getty Images

The setting wasn’t as low-key as Mohammed Shami might have probably imagined. This was a warm-up game and yet there were at least 25,000 people at the Eden Gardens. There were several thousand more claps, whistles and screams until palms and throats gave in. This is also his home ground, a city where he made a memorable Test debut in Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell series. But there wasn’t anything about Shami yesterday that betrayed nerves although some amount of nervous excitement would have only seemed reasonable. A spell of 4-0-30-2 against a batting lineup featuring Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Marlon Samuels is impressive in itself but it’s worth is multiplied when you place it against the backdrop of what he has gone through. But Shami would be the first person to insist

on telling false dawns from real ones, especially after what has happened to him over the last two months. The new year had begun well for Shami. He was nearly as thrilled about flaunting his suit as being on the flight to Australia with the rest of his mates. You couldn’t grudge his just deserts. This was a man who had, after a promising beginning, spent close to a year in pain, uncertainty and the sheer frustration of his knee coming in the way of playing at the highest level. But this new silver lining would soon be gobbled up by gloomy grey clouds as Shami’s return to India was advanced by an injury to the hamstring. It’s hard to surmise what he must have felt. Roughly as excruciating would be the analogy of a man being robbed soon after earning his wages (Continued on page 32)

Friday March 11, 2016

Kaieteur News

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North Georgetown launches 50th Independence Athletics Meet By Edison Jefford North Georgetown Branch of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) launched its 50th Independence Track and Field Meet yesterday with Director of Sports, Christopher Jones commending the zone for their initiative at the Union’s Headquarters, Woolford Avenue. ”This event is part of our 50 Shades of Games, which we will be hosting throughout the year at various venues,” Jones said, adding that “it’s good to see corporate Guyana supporting the event” since Government cannot always fund events alone. The North Georgetown 50th Independence Track and Field meet will be held at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary on March 20 from 4pm. The competition features athletes from clubs as Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Super Upcoming Runners, Mercury Fast Laners and Rurallites. District Sports Representative, Mariska Williams said that they have also attracted the two other Districts from outside

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones (centre) is flanked by North Georgetown District Manager, Mariska Williams and Marlon Laing (on his right) and Courts’ Marketing Manager, Pernell Cummings and Banks DIH Non-Alcoholic Brand Manager, Clayton McKenzie (on his left) with athletes standing behind at the launch yesterday. Georgetown, East Coast Demerara and Bartica. Asked about the participation arch-rivals, Linden, Williams said that Upper Demerara was not invited. She said that Running Brave Athletics Club was invited, but declined the i n v i t a t i o n . Wi l l i a m s informed that when she

approached one of the Coaches of Running Brave, she was told that “the Club do not participate where they are not welcomed”. “Our District is disappointed that our athletes, who form the bulk of Running Braves will not get to compete and benefit from this meet,” she said. North Georgetown is

Bulls, Pacesetters clash in epic re-match tonight

Mackeson Mecca III heats up Linden’s Half Mile Bulls and Pacesetters will clash in what is expected to be an epic battle for a Final Four place tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall when the National Basketball Championships: Mackeson Road to Mecca III continues this weekend. The evening jumps off at 7pm when Victory Valley Royals come up against the higher ranked Retrieve

Raiders in the first quarterfinal game, which is an all-Linden encounter, guaranteeing a Linden team a place in the semi-finals. The second game features a humdinger between two familiar foes; Pacesetters from Georgetown and Half Mile Bulls at 9pm. Pacesetters admitted that it has scores to settle from last year August when Bulls knocked it out of the Forbes

Burnham Memorial Championship. All the games will feature halftime entertainment with models, cheerleaders and artistes that also includes giveaways for patrons. Kirk ‘Chow Pow’ Jardine has been the host. The winning team will pocket $500,000 while second place will go home with $250 000, third $150,000 and fourth $100 000 respectively.

contemplating competing as a team to combat the threat of their athletes not participating. “We recognise that this event will be a success with your support; this meet would not have been possible without corporate support. There is no other

way for athletes to showcase talent than in a Jubilee Year,” the long-standing sports representative said. Courts Guyana Inc. Marketing Manager, Pernell Cummings indicated that the company is pleased to be part of the event. He said that Courts has enjoyed the

support of Guyanese and it is only fitting that they give back. “We are pleased to be part of this since a great nation needs healthy people,” Cummings said. The athletes and clubs will compete for medals and trophies.

DDL supports KMTC Phagwah Meet Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) under their Ivanoff brand has thrown support behind the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) for the staging of its Phagwah Meet which is set for Sunday at Bush Lot Farm Corentyne, Berbice. The entity presented the first place trophy for the G Class and Lower event at a simple ceremony held yesterday at Mr. Kennard’s office, Brickdam. The race which goes for a distance of one mile will see the winner also taking home $280,000. Ivanoff brand Manager Maria Munroe said they are pleased to be on board for the first meet of the year. She informed that they have been supporting the event for the past 43 years and will continue to do so. Munroe stated that apart from giving back to the community, they felt that the sport brings people together. She also lauded the organisers.

KMTC Chairman Cecil Kennard accepts the trophy from Maria Munroe.

KMTC chairman Cecil Kennard thanked the entity and said that such sponsorship is of paramount importance for the success of the event. Kennard pointed out that they have made a number of changes to the card. The L 2 Class, a distance of 5 furlongs which will see the winner taking home $100,000 has replaced the L

Class; the K Class has been replaced with the L1 Class, this race goes for 5 furlongs and carries a top prize of $120,000; the J K Class has replaced the J 1 Class, this event attracts a top prize of $160,000 and lasts for 5 furlongs. Kennard indicated that the track is in favourable condition and is calling on fans to support the event.

t r o Sp Slingerz down 9-man Alpha in clash of the Titans; Conquerors thump Monedderlust

-FINALE

Bakewell Slingerz Julian Wade (right) tucks the equalizing goal past Alpha United’s Alex Murray in the 71st minute.

Jaguars aiming to roar to Guyanese pair into semifinals record equaling 8th win and medal round of Boys Doubles Shiv Chanderpaul and Chris Barnwell back Junior U-19 International Badminton Championships

Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Narayan Ramdhani (left) and Jonathan Mangra.

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