Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 25, 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

No room for complacency If anyone is reading the signs correctly, the government has resigned itself to the fact that it did not do as well as it would have wanted in the Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) but it outdid the PPP in Georgetown and four other towns. Its intention appears to be not to dwell on the negative but the positive. According to one of its ministers, the government is “quite satisfied” with the outcome. The administration opined that the elections and results confirm that its strategy has worked,” This indeed is not the right time for the government to look back; it has to look forward and engage the people in the decision-making process. The LGE is over and it is no use crying over spilt milk. The clearest sign of relief for the government is its impressive victories in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Linden, Bartica and Lethem. The President was stately in his acknowledgement of the LGE results and was upbeat as he spoke to the nation about the democratic process and the future of the municipalities and NDCs. We are soon likely to see changes in personnel and strategies as the government grapples with the LGE results. It has to recognize that it squandered a good opportunity that could have resulted in more victories at the NDCs had it started its campaign earlier. It assumed that it had done enough. Clearly, it underestimated the political landscape and the mood of the people who believe that the government rested largely on its laurels for too long, believing that its election machine which had won the polls in May 2015, would deliver a widespread victory again. It did not happen. The results of the LGE suggest that the government cannot just stick to its old plans; it must seek to better manage the economy and the affairs of the country. Truth be told, the government did not have well-oiled political machines in all the NDCs districts, and although it had the resources, it ran an election campaign which was more akin to an outfit playing for second best in the smaller communities. The PPP, even though it was tempered by its significant defeat in Georgetown and the other towns, nonetheless was able to boast of winning the majority of the NDCs and the popular vote. The PPP dominated in the NDCs, while APNU+AFC reigned supreme in the municipalities. Not only was the PPP humiliated in Georgetown where it won only two districts, but it also performed poorly in Bartica and Lethem. It was battered in Linden, where for the first time it did not win a seat. However, its margin of victory in the NDCs probably eased some of that pain. Both APNU+AFC and the PPP claimed victory, and rightfully so, but the former has to be cognizant of the fact that the PPP won 48 of the 71 districts and the popular vote. A careful examination of the election results revealed that voting along racial lines is alive and well in Guyana, and is likely to remain that way for the foreseeable future. The claim by the PPP that its strategy was not to focus too much on the Municipalities should be taken with a grain of salt, because it contested all of the Municipalities. This has been the modus operandi of the PPP after every election, especially in areas where it did poorly. It is a normal afterthought which it cleverly uses to distract the people from the real issues. The government as indicated earlier, is satisfied with its victory in the municipalities, but it should recognise that it has a lot of work to do to gain more votes in the NDCs. There is no room for complacency.

Plea to Kaieteur News to help Guyana DEAR EDITOR, I believe Kaieteur News to be a forceful politically non-aligned paper. Given that perspective, I shall like to see your paper do the following: 1. From different sources that I’ve read, Georgetown is currently undergoing a major cleanup. If Georgetown returns to the nauseating grime, filth and stench of the last fifteen to twenty years, after Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary, Kaieteur News must expose it. Further on grime, stench and filth, two of the most revoltingly choked and sickening drainage gutters were those under Camp Street, between Church and Croal Street. One of the gutters was close to the old Kissoon Furniture Store on Camp Street (think a bank might be there now), while the other was in the vicinity of the Citizens’ Bank on Croal Street. Currently, I live in the USA but, when I was in Guyana, I saw people use the alleyways where the two gutters under discussion are to defecate. People did the same on Merriman Mall. One reason for the unsightly, unhygienic defecation was that no one wanted to use the unspeakably horrible

public bathrooms in the Stabroek and Bourda markets. Kaieteur News must carry regular reports on the condition of the two gutters and alleyways mentioned (and others) and on the condition of the public bathrooms in the markets and elsewhere around the city. 2. People being murdered for their money or other property is a major scourge in Guyana, and Kaieteur News must let the government know about. Keep the pressure on the police for them to act. Keep pressure on the government, too, for them to act to keep citizens safe, whether that means regularly making changes to the top brass of the police force or constitutional changes to allow the army to fight crime also. I’m conscious, though, that the police and the army alone cannot fight crime in any country - families, churches and other organizations must also be involved. Therefore, in addition to the pressure on government and the police, I’d like to see Kaieteur News lead the charge to get all religious faiths (that is if you accept my point) to work together to develop programmes to collar crime. I’d also like Kaieteur

News to form family groups throughout Guyana, where parents can get help with raising their children to be good citizens, not criminals. Of course, Kaieteur News can publish regular articles on rearing children, but parents meeting for talks/discussions would be more effective. Truth is, some parents may be illiterate. 3. I lived in Festival City from December,1972 to August,1988, before I migrated. The Georgetown City Council collected garbage for the year 1973. Thereafter, we had to either bury or burn or garbage, while paying rates and taxes! Is there anything more unfair than that? And forget about having to get up at two and three in the morning to get water to wash dishes and clothes and to bathe! (Showers weren’t possible due to low pressure, so one had to fill a bucket and dip from it with a bowl to bathe.) Kaieteur News must ensure that the citizens of Georgetown get their water supply, have their garbage removed and get everything else they should for paying their rates and taxes. Walk good. Roy Brummell

Vincent Alexander again accused of cruelty DEAR EDITOR, I wish to refer to Mr. Vincent Alexander’s letter in the caption “FOUR VICE CHANCELLORS RULED ON THE MATTER” of your issue Wednesday 23,2016. I am one of the three students affected by Alexander’s cruel action as Registrar (ag) University of Guyana because Mr. David Chanderbali, Registrar, was regrettably on leave for one reason or the other during the period in question. The first point to note is that Mr. VINCENT ALEXANDER, is to this day, seeking to confuse the reading public, but thankfully the public is not stupid. He informs the public that we were not students of the University of Guyana at the material time ,because fees due were not fully paid by Mr. Sheik Mustapha, Mr. Clairmonte Cox

and myself. We were all properly and fully registered as students of the University of Guyana to read for our Law Degrees. Our registration through the Department of Law and Faculty of Social Sciences for the programme conferred on each of us the status of bona fide students in the Department of Law, University of Guyana. The University never wrote either of us demanding fees because it was known by officers of the University that we had individual applications to the Ministry of Finance for funding through the Ministry’s revolving students’ loan fund. We were each told by operatives at the MINISTRY’S TURKEYEN CAMPUS OFFICE AND CENTRAL MINISTRY THAT THE INDIVIDUAL APPLICATIONS WERE BEING PROCESSED. We relied on them.

I now wish to bring to the world’s attention the “goodness” and “Godliness” of Mr. Vincent Alexander and others in this matter. Mr CLAIRMONTE COX was granted the first loan, and from the Ministry’s records, a copy of which he has, he had until August 2006 to discharge the repayment, yet his results were withheld from 2003 until 2013. His results were released on Vincent Alexander’s letter head. A prudent reader may ask the lawyer’s questions, how valid are these grades that Mr. Alexander in writing said never existed? Were they tampered with? Mr. Vincent Alexander is herby urged, and the media is strongly advised to go to the registry of the High Court on Avenue of the Republic to read carefully and see that Mr Vincent Alexander (Continued on page 31)

Presidential park or presidential monument? DEAR EDITOR, The media report that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council plans to create a Presidential Park on the Merriman’s Mall is a beautiful concept, given that it is reported the intent is based on the Unity theme. There is concern however, and it is hoped this is taken in the light it is intended to be, i.e. constructive criticism. Guyana is 50 years old as an independent nation. In this period there has been nine presidents- Arthur Chung, Forbes Burnham, Desmond Hoyte, Cheddie Jagan, Sam Hinds, Janet Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Romatar, and David Granger. The diversity in the pool is seen upfront in race, gender and political affiliation. Digging deeper other diversity can be seen in academic record, age, accomplishment, family

status, etc. More importantly to a nation still evolving and having to work through race, gender and political divisions, the former identifiers are considered higher on the totem pole. Imagine changing the president every 5 years, 20 to 50 years down the line with a bust being placed in recognition of these persons, it can be envisaged what this area will look like. After a while the area, in addition to becoming cluttered, also opens itself to ridicule. It is more feasible and effective (cost and aesthetic) to look at creating a presidential monument which imposes symbols of race, gender and other. At a strategic place on this monument space should be dedicated to identify each president by name and period served. To recognise the contributions of the presidents on the same Unity theme in a

more constructive way, what can be considered of great premium to having our history accurately recorded and known through primary sources, is the establishment of a national presidential museum with designated areas dedicated to the work of the each president and upkept by the National Trust, or whoever is responsible for it. There will be no weighing in on whether the decision had the input from the wider society and indepth ventilation by the council. The Council also has to consider that even as it engages in this project whether it is honouring its liabilities to contractors and suppliers of goods and services. And it reasonable to deduce the council’s creditors may be concerned about the placement of (Continued on page 31)

Friday March 25, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Land of many waters Six damning indictments against Vincent Alexander but no water at Guysuco DEAR EDITOR, By replying to my complaint which appeared in the KN on March 18, I wish to thank Mr. Alexander for affording me the opportunity to be, figuratively, the Doctor (to pronounce him dead), the Mortician (to embalm him) and the Undertaker (to bury him)! I hope he does not take ‘umbrage’ at this since he was the Judge, Jury and Executioner in my (our) matter at UG. Before I begin my dissection of Mr. Alexander, please allow me to give a brief background to the genesis of this issue. It is common knowledge that an application for a Student’s Loan to study at U.G. took ‘forever’ to be processed. As such, students were normally allowed to attend classes while the loan was being processed. Due to some other issues arising with the Loan Agency, our applications took an exceptionally longer time to be approved. In the meantime, as registered students of the University, we paid students dues, examination fees, attended classes and wrote exams. It was after our final LLB (Year 3) exams, that the R e g i s t r a r ( a g ) , M r. Alexander, refused to release our results on the untenable ground that we were not students of the University. Firstly, Mr. Alexander LLM.,(Russia) ought to know that as Registrar(ag), he was an agent of the University and therefore cannot divorce himself from any actions taken by himself or his office on behalf of the University. The “University” does not have a mind of its own M r. A l e x a n d e r. L e g a l semantics cannot and will not absolve you from your doings. It is cruel and heartless or compassionate beings that give death or life to an institution.

Secondly, he heaps scorn upon the officials we approached to have this matter resolved. Ye t e v e r y o n e w e approached was disturbed at the ‘impotency’ of UG to resolve this matter. No one wanted to intervene directly in the internal affairs of the institution for such a matter that you could’ve easily been resolved. Dr. PremMisir, then Pro Chancellor of UG, invited us to his office and said to the three of us (Mr. Cox, Mr. Marcus and myself) that his boss who was Dr. Luncheon, having being apprised of the matter (we had also written to Dr. Luncheon),expressed a desire to have our matters r e s o l v e d q u i c k l y. M r. Alexander refused to budge. Ministers of Legal Affairs Mr.Anil Nandalall and the late Mr. Doodnauth Singh intervened on our behalf and on one occasion a written advisory was issued for arrangements to be made for the fees to be paid and the results released. That was ignored by UG. Mr. Alexander refused to budge.The late Professor Bishop , for sure, and I believe Ms. Saadie Amin, Attorney at Law and then member of the University council, raised the issue at meetings of the said council but again Mr. Alexander refused to budge. I have reasons to believe Mr. Alexander was written to and asked to present one or all of these matters fully to the council. Even if he was asked to present one matter fully, was he kind , compassionate and/or unbiased enough to present all fully? Thirdly, he further insinuated that our matter is without merit. The High Court of Guyana did not think so. Or is he saying that these eminent judges are unable to grasp the concept of Natural Justice? The records in the case of Cox v the University

of Guyana are public. He should read them and see the tenth rate defense that UG is putting up in this matter; wasting perhaps millions on lawyers in the process and to think that they deny us our degree on the basis of a few thousand dollars! If this is not cruelty then what is, Mr. Alexander? Fourthly, he boasts about this matter having being dealt with by four successive Vice-Chancellors. I was never informed of any such hearings nor was I ever informed of any of these Vice- Chancellors’ decisions. Moreso these VC’s heard what Alexander said to them and no doubt would have credited him with honor. He should have been fair to us by informing us of the process and also invited us to present our cases to the VC’s. On this point, we thank him for acknowledging that this is an ongoing matter and requests for reviews are likely to be on the card. He spoke about the Equitable Principle of having ‘clean hands’ but had he abandoned the Natural Justice principle of the Right to a Fair Hearing when our matter was called before the four VCs? He claimed that he was part of the decision but not the final arbiter. What about another Natural Justice principle ‘Nemojudex in causasua’ – ‘a man cannot be a judge in his own cause’? Significantly, we had no breakthrough as long as he was Registrar(ag) but a minor break came when Opadaiye took that position and released (by an order of the Court) exam results belonging to Mr. Cox. Results which Mr. (Continued on page 31)

DEAR EDITOR, We wish to refer to the letter by Mr. Ganga Persaud that was published in the Stabroek News on March 19, 2016 and titled “GuySuCo has more water than it needs on the West Coast but is not sparing any for the rice farmers”. We empathize with the writer, and others who may be affected adversely, in view of the current severe dried conditions being experienced across Guyana, the Caribbean and in other regions worldwide. However, we would like to n o te th at th e ad v er s e statements made about the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) in the letter are not correct. GuySuCo does not have in place a permanent “stoplock” structure at Leonora to control and take all the water as stated in Mr. Ganga’s letter. The two door intake structure at the back of Leonora is under the control of the Boerasirie Commissioners in accordance with the Laws of Guyana, Boerasirie Creek Act, Chapter 50:05. It is the Commissioners who control the release of irrigation water to the rice and other crop farmers as well as to the sugar estates;GuySuCo does not have control over that process. It is also incorrect for Mr. Ganga to state that

GuySuCo takes all of the water and leaves just a little for rice farmers. For floatation of loaded punts and water transport to the Uitvlugt factory, GuySuCo has an established minimum operational water level of 54.0’ Georgetown Datum (GD); for the Leonora section, the operational level is 53.5’ GD with a check sluice to control the two different water levels across the Uitvlugt and Leonora sides of our cultivation. There are many other navigational check structures located throughout the cultivation which are used to control water levels and prevent wastage of water. It should be noted that GuySuCo is struggling to maintain these navigation levels during the current El Nino situation. We have two large fixed pumps at Uitvlugt Estate which re-circulate water from our drainage system into our navigation system. Water used in the factory is also recycled. The field staffs are ever vigilant in checking and monitoring the drainage and irrigation network to prevent wastage of water. Despite these efforts, the estate is experiencing difficulties in moving punts in the sections where the land level is higher. At our Wales Estate, we have not been able to obtain water from the

Boerasirie Conservancy for the current first crop of 2016. That estate had to source its water from the Kamuni Creek via the Kamuni Water Path. On Saturday March 12, 2016, the level of water had fallen too low for natural gravity flow and a mobile pump had to be installed to pump water from the Kamuni Water Path into the Wales Estate navigation system. GuySuCo has had to cut back on its replanting programme for the first crop 2016 by approximately 50 % because of the current El Nino phenomenon and consequential low level of water in the Conservancies. While sugar cane, more-so the ratoon, is much less susceptible than rice to dry conditions, growth and development of sugar cane has been adversely affected on all of our sugar estates. The Corporation is currently conducting an evaluation on the extent of the impact on cane growth and sugar production, as a result of the dry weather conditions currently being experienced. Nonetheless, we do understand that in challenging situations such as the prolonged dry spell and in cases where there is interdependence by various parties on a particular source, (Continued on page 31)

Friday March 25, 2016

Kaieteur News

U.S. indicts Iranians for hacking dozens of banks, New York dam

Reuters - Seven Iranian hackers conducted a coordinated cyber attack on dozens of U.S. banks, causing millions of dollars in lost business, and tried to shut down a New York dam, the U.S. government said yesterday in an indictment that for the first time accused individuals tied to another country of trying to disrupt critical infrastructure. It said the seven accused were believed to have been working on behalf of Iran’s government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Those named live in Iran and the Iranian government is not expected to extradite them. There was no immediate comment from Tehran. At least 46 major financial institutions and financial sector companies were targeted, including JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N), Wells Fargo (WFC.N) and American Express (AXP.N), the indictment said. AT&T (T.N) also was targeted. The hackers are accused of hitting the banks with distributed-denial-of-service attacks on a near-weekly basis, a relatively unsophisticated way of knocking computer networks offline by overwhelming them with a flood of spammed traffic. “These attacks were relentless, they were systematic, and they were widespread,” U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch told a Washington news conference. The indictment from a federal grand jury in New York City said the attacks occurred from 2011 to 2013. Washington has previously accused military officers from China and the North Korean government of cyber attacks against U.S. businesses. The attack on the Bowman Avenue Dam in Rye Brook, New York, was especially

alarming, Lynch said, because it represented a known intrusion on critical infrastructure. A stroke of good fortune prevented the hackers from obtaining operational control of the flood gates because the dam had been manually disconnected for routine maintenance, she said. The Bowman hack was a “game-changing event” for the U.S. government that prompted investigators to uncover other systems vulnerable to similar attacks, said Andre McGregor, a former FBI agent and a lead case investigator on the dam intrusion. “The investigation’s discovery of many more exposed computer systems with vulnerable management consoles is a constant reminder that basic cyber hygiene remains at the forefront of the battle against cyber attacks,” said McGregor, now director of security at Tanium, a Silicon Valley cyber security firm. “We must step up our counter-hacking game ASAP to deal with threats from places like Iran and would be terrorists,” said New York Senator Chuck Schumer in a statement. Cyber security experts and U.S. intelligence officials

have grown more alarmed in recent months by the possibility of destructive hacks of critical infrastructure such as dams, power plants and factories. Some have said a December cyber attack on the Ukraine’s energy grid that caused a temporary blackout of 225,000 should serve as a wake-up call. The defendants were identified as Ahmad Fathi, Hamid Firoozi, Amin Shokohi, Sadegh Ahmadzadegan, Omid Ghaffarinia, Sina Keissar and Nader Seidi, all citizens and residents of Iran. They are accused of conspiracy to commit computer hacking while employed by two Iranbased computer companies, ITSecTeam and Mersad Company. Pix – Hacking Caption- U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey participates in a news conference to announce indictments on Iranian hackers for a coordinated campaign of cyber attacks in 2012 and 2013 on several U.S. banks and a New York dam, at the Justice Department in Washington yesterday. REUTERS/ Jonathan Ernst

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Kaieteur News

A family affair at GuyOil…

Sacked boss gave multi-million$$ contracts to brother, nephew -approved gas station for brother-in-law -placed $$millions in employee’s credit card The forensic audit report on the Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) is out and it speaks of deep, dirty rackets that were being run at the entity. Its former chief, Badrie Persaud, gave out contracts and benefits without any control to family and friends. The audit, ordered last year by the David Granger administration, has been released by the Ministry of Finance. It tells of multimillion-dollar contracts by Persaud, and inappropriate transfers to an employee’s credit card to make overseas payments on behalf of that state-owned entity. The GuyOil chief was sacked a few weeks ago for taking unauthorized decisions during his tenure. He was sent on administrative leave mid-last year, shortly after the new government took office. The audit, conducted by Nigel Hinds Financial Services, said that undisclosed and ignored conflicts of interest occurred between November 1, 2011 and May 31, 2015. During the period, Persaud awarded transportation contracts worth $62M to his brother, Indarjeet Persaud, and a construction contract for $860,000 to his nephew, Avinash Persaud. The audit found that the brother continued to provide transportations services with the fuel tankers although the contract period had expired. The report recommended that Persaud be disciplined for non-disclosure of conflicts of interest, awarding of contract to his nephew and multiple breaches of GuyOil’s procurement policies. The report also flagged Persaud’s decision to become a candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic national list for the May 11, 2015 General Elections. “Adherence to the decisions of a political party concurrent with managing a state owned corporation, creates conflict of interest issues that have negative implications for employee morale”, use of GuyOil’s resources and its image, the report said. There was an absence of comprehensive manuals documenting policies, procedures, and work instructions for the Board of Directors, Administration, Finance, Audit, Marketing, Information Technology and Security. The absence of a Board of Directors’ Charter

Former GuyOil’s chief was paying hundreds of millions to family and friends on contracts. was one example. GuyOil had 30-odd dealers but under the Managing Director’s watch they were poorly managed. Auditors could find no evidence on the files for critical documents like ID, Tax Identification Number (TIN), transport, lease, tenancy agreement, relevant Guyana Energy Agency licences and insurance coverage. The auditors also flagged the absence of a Marketing Manager at GuyOil. “The functions of the Marketing Director were performed by the Managing Director allowing for the avoidance of checks and balances - as one would expect in the largest government corporation by revenue.” GuyOil also breached its own agreement with dealers allowing them to get credit on fuel supplied without a bank guarantee or security bond-in other words, GuyOil had no protection against a customer who refused to pay. As a matter of fact, the report said, GuyOil was not concerned about it inaction to manage the collection of monies from customers. “There was and continues to be major irregularities in the charge system used for fuel sales to customers with charge accounts. “A 10% sample of 758 charge customers was conducted and our findings revealed that over fifty percent were irreconcilable and improperly managed.” In one case, a GuyOil staffer even signed a guarantee that a customer, Mohamed Bacchus, would get a $5M credit limit. The guarantee was signed by Leonard Khan, then manager of the Castrol brand and the brother-in-law of Bacchus.

With regards to how GuyOil went about procuring services and supplies, Persaud overlooked a system where he invariably went to a single person or company. An example of this occurred over the period under review, where purchases exceeding $90M were made from Manesh Seeram, an Information Technology supplier. The audit report explained that GuyOil does not have a credit card facility and in order to obtain goods from overseas; monies for purchases from GuyOil were transferred to the account of employee Azaad Hassan, the IT Network Administrator. Aside from the failure of GuyOil to establish a corporate debit/credit card facility, inherent weaknesses in this method of purchasing unnecessarily expose the corporation to opportunities for fraud by insiders, the report pointed out. According to the report, GuyOil is a state-owned public company, where its major share-holder benefits from dividends, taxes and relat e d p a y m e n t s . T h e services GuyOil provides act as leverage against unfair petrol pricing, thus providing economic relief to the public. Its main c o m p e t i tors are multinational companies, Sol Guyana Inc., Rubis and other importers of fuel and lubricants. GuyOil operates three bulk terminals-at Providence, Georgetown; Heathburn, Berbice; and Adventure, Essequibo, and seven service stations. In addition, GuyOil has 36 dealers for its petrol and Castrol lubricants across the regions. It employs over 300 personnel.

Friday March 25, 2016

Biker detained in executed bus driver probe Police have detained a biker who they believe helped a gunman to escape following last Monday’s executionstyle killing of minibus driver Elvin Lorrimer. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that the suspect was detained on Wednesday, and that investigators have impounded his CG motorcycle, while bore no licence plates. Police had indicated that Lorrimer appeared to have been “deliberately targeted,” since the killer and his accomplice seemed to have made no attempt to take their victim’s cash, jewellery and other valuables. One report is that Lorrimer, who was also a pastor, had a dispute with an individual who owed him money. Another report is that he had indentified two bandits on a CG bike, who had committed a robbery in the vicinity of the Linden minibus park in Hadfield Street. Police said that Lorrimer,

53, of 184 Carter Road, Kara Kara, Linden, was standing on Hadfield Street, near the Linden Bus Park, at around 21.00 hrs, when two men rode up on a motorcycle. One of them discharged rounds at Lorrimer, before riding away with his accomplice. The victim was hit to his chest and left foot and was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed. Eyewitnesses said that one of the killers was brown in complexion while his accomplice was fair-complexioned. They reportedly both wore dark clothing and their CG motorcycle reportedly had no licence plates. According to eyewitness reports, the men rode up to Lorrimer and the pillion rider immediately shot the bus driver. There are reports that the gunman rifled through Lorrimer’s pockets as he lay on the roadway, before escaping with his accomplice. An eyewitness had told Kaieteur News that she was

Elvin Lorrimer standing nearby when she heard a gunshot. She then saw Lorrimer lying on the roadside. According to the woman, she then heard another gunshot, and saw two men on a motorcycle riding in the direction of the Stabroek Market area.

There was ethnic, regional balance when I gave out radio licences – Jagdeo -says Gov’t can revoke licences but may face courts By Jarryl Bryan

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo is defending the decision he took in 2011 to grant some of his family members and favoured friends, prime spots on the radio spectrum. In the face of calls for those licences to be revoked, he is stating that the Granger administration “can do what it wants.” The Opposition leader is claiming that there was ethnic and regional balance when he granted those radio and television licences. He made these statements during a press conference at Freedom House yesterday. During his conference, there seemed to be a “tit-fortat’ approach. Jagdeo used examples of the current administration’s handling of contracts, including contracts for the cleanup of the city and the specialty hospital, to substantiate his claim that there is less transparency under this current administration compared to his. “When we talk about transparency, at least I made it clear. There was a committee that was set up that recommended them to me. As Minister of Information, the committee recommended. You had regional and ethnic balance because of the 12 licences; six went to non-Indo Guyanese.” “I ensured ethnic balance across the country and geo-

Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo graphic balance. I had criteria,” Jagdeo declared. “The present Government can do what it wants. If it wants to revoke those licences, that is the Government’s decision.” However, Jagdeo said that if the Government took this line, it would become a legal matter since the licence holders would likely go to the court. Jagdeo also said that Government did not need approval from his party, save and except for when it came to connecting it to corruption. “I didn’t know the Government needed approbation from the PPP to do anything, excepting when it wants to connect us to corrupt acts. Like the (Specialty) hospital. (Government’s position) was they are not going to go (ahead) with it. And then we found out

they are giving it to a person who was very close to (Minister Khemraj) Ramjattan with no public tender.” This is a reference to the Government’s decision to not engage in a new bidding process for a contractor to complete works on the Specialty Hospital. This project was started under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). However, the previous contractor, Surendra engineering, ‘skipped’ the country prematurely. “They said that the PPP had evaluated this bidder and ranked him second. And so, since the first rank bidder is in court now, they had to go with the second ranked bidder. And then they lied about it too. In fact the evaluation report disqualified this company.” Weeks before leaving office in 2011, then President Bharrat Jagdeo granted his best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, five radio frequencies; he also gave New Guyana Company Limited, five frequencies. In addition, Telcor, a company with close links to his nephew-in-law and former Minister, Robert Persaud and Cultural Broadcasting Inc. received another five. Jagdeo also ordered the grant of two cable licences to two of his closest friends, (Continued on page 33)

Friday March 25, 2016

Kaieteur News

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End the double standards! Stop the crime! A poor fast food delivery man was set upon by a bandit and shot. He is now nursing injuries in the hospital. Another working class individual was not that lucky. A mini bus driver was shot by one of two men who wanted to rob him. He has succumbed to his injuries. These were two ordinary workers trying to make a living the honest, hard way, the way they know best, by working. These persons were shot. One of them died as a result. Several days ago, a man in a hotel was robbed of cash. There is a striking similarity in the three attacks, except that in the latter case the victim was not shot. Is this the sort of news that is going to encourage Guyanese to come home for the big 50th birthday bash in May? Those coming home for the May celebrations would already have had to book their airline tickets. There can be no cancellation at this stage without losing the cost of the airfare. People therefore who have booked will be here in Guyana, and they will be concerned about the spate of armed robberies in the country. Why should foreigners risk coming to Guyana? To see a battalion do a military parade and see people scream and cry when a flag is raised? Is this the reason why people are going to spend thousands of United States dollars? The main hotels in Guyana are fully booked for

May 2016. And so if there is any mass cancellation of guests for that period, it will seriously hurt the economy. Guyana cannot afford this. Guyana’s image will take a battering if its marquee anniversary event on May 26 flops because of security concerns. The government is claiming that the police are making arrests. Well, the police always make arrests, but each day we are reading about the record of some suspects who were previously charged for serious offences but who were acquitted. The fact that the police are making arrests is no comfort for those concerned about the security situation. It is certainly no comfort, either, for the victims of criminal attacks. Prevention is better than cure. People want the crime to stop, to go away, to disappear. This is the main reason why a great many people voted for the coalition. They voted for the coalition because they were fed up with crime. People do not want

to live in fear and uncertainty. People had hoped that the APNU+AFC administration would have brought about a serious decline in crime. Instead the situation is getting worse. People had become frustrated with the PPP’s handling of crime. They felt APNU and the AFC would have done better. But they are not seeing the evidence that things are about to get better anytime soon The criminals in this country have no regard for human life. They shot and killed a mini bus driver without any regard to how this man’s family will survive. They shot a fast food delivery man without any concern that this man was working to provide for his family. These criminals seem to have no conscience. Operation Dragnet seems to be dragging behind. We are told that the army should not be involved in crime-fighting; that this is the responsibility of the police. Yet a member of the army was being used to

undertake surveillance of a man’s home. That poor soldier met his death. He had two small children. Who is taking care of them? What disciplinary action has been taken

against whoever ordered a solider to undertake criminal surveillance work? No wonder crime is on the upsurge. There are too many double standards.

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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

A small mind thinks about small things Once civilization lives on, the search for the correct moral values will forever defy humans. Pope John Paul was adamant that there is a cluster of core values that are absolute. No doubt the former Pope had Nietzsche in mind when he insisted on absolute values. A whole generation was brought up on Nietzsche’s contention that values are relative. But we can see what we want to see in philosophers and use what we want in their writings and discard what we do not like.

Hitler borrowed conveniently from Nietzsche. Fidel Castro borrowed conveniently from Marx. It is doubtful if Marx was alive he would have endorsed the semi-fascist rule of Castro in the name of a workers’ paradise. Nietzsche would have been sickened to death at what Nazi Germany did to his philosophy. Closer reading of Nietzsche on values would reveal he made a complex distinction between moral values, which he argued could only be subjective, and value judgements , which can come close to absolute values. One thing racist minds have in common; they fear absolute values. A school boy can see that Donald Trump believes moral values are relative. I thought of Nietzsche’s subtle distinction when I read about a known Indian supremacist lecturing the young people of Guyana on the need to be competent on grammar, in a letter that person wrote in the Stabroek News. This person observed; “Our inability to use our official language well to articulate our issues, hopes and desires

plays a large part in our continued underdevelopment.” What that person failed to mention, and I believe deliberately so, is that our bigoted attitude to our fellow Guyanese whose culture and ethnicity differ from our own, has not only contributed to our underdevelopment, but the violent, nihilistic destruction of this nation. This person is the vivid embodiment of such an attitude. Here is a quote from that person who wants us to use words correctly to halt our underdevelopment; “Citizenships can change. I can be Guyanese, or American or Canadian, etc., if I cared to be. But how does one deny or change one’s essential being? I would never negate my Indian self. It is my DNA. It is my history, my legacy, my traditions, my culture. It is my spiritual home. If I ever denied any of it, that would be the real dishonour. And if anyone asked that of me they would be trampling on my guaranteed human, spiritual and constitutional rights.” (unquote). I read that and got goose bumps all over my body. I

read that and thought of what Nazi Germany did to other ethnicities. I read that and remembered what the Hutus did to the Tutsis in Rwanda. Mention of that makes me feel extreme trepidation about Donald Trump becoming President of the USA. This same person who was obnoxious enough to tell Guyanese about the correct use of words, does not even know to make distinction in the meaning of words when juxtapositions are presented. This impertinent person says that “my Indian self is my DNA.’ That is semantic nonsense. Self is a philosophical term. DNA is a scientific term. DNA and Self are constantly competing for the soul of Homo sapiens. Self is never essential, but constantly changing. Could the human have an essential Self? They could embrace a cluster of values they cling to until death. But what is “the essential Self? In philosophy it is called “Nature versus Nurture. Your DNA cannot determine what you “essentially” are if you do not want it to be so determined. A person with a certain ethnicity can leave the land of their culture and devote his/herself to the cause and culture of people of other races, giving their lives in the process. Martin Luther King Jr. had white devotees that

would have laid down their lives for the civil rights of Black Americans. Mandela chose to ignore DNA and embrace white folks of South Africa. Mahatma Gandhi was killed by a Hindu zealot who rejected his embrace of Muslims. I remember as a teenager my love for the music of the white, British, hippie singer, Cat Stevens. His worldwide hit, “Wild World” was turned into Caribbean hit tunes done respectively by reggae artists, Jimmy Cliff and Maxi Priest. Stevens in the late eighties became a devout Muslim and is one of Britain’s most recognized Imams. Here is an in-

Frederick Kissoon candescent manifestation of Self over DNA. We, humans, can choose to be slaves to our DNA if we want to. That person who advises us to use words correctly needs to be advised on the bigoted nonsense they preach in this country.

Dem boys seh...

Jagdeo see ethnic balance wid a cock eye Albert Einstein, a famous mathematician and scientist once said, “We can’t solve problems by using de same kind of thinking used, when we created them.” That mean you can’t do or seh de same thing and expect a different result. But Jagdeo, that scamp, think that he can create and solve a problem by thinking de same way. He run de country fuh almost 15 years and create unimaginable hardships and problems that to this day de leaders who come after him can’t find solutions. He had a press conference yesterday in which dem boys ask him to explain dem radio licence and frequency that ee give away couple days before he lef office. His answer shock dem boys. He seh how he share dem licence and frequency wid ethnic balance. That mean that he give de radio licence equally to all de races. He give Babbie, he best friend, five; he give Robert Persaud, he nephew in law, five; he give de PPP five. That alone account for 15. De other couple give out to one and two coolie and black people. That is what that scamp Jagdeo call ethnic balance. And de big three—Robert, Babbie and de PPP— can broadcast countrywide while de others can permitted to only cover a village. That is also balance in Jagdeo book. When he share out de prime waterfront Pradoville land dem boys want to know wha kind of ethnic balance living in there. Jagdeo should also show de nation de ethnic balance of de people who get prime housing lands by de acres pun de East Bank. During de same press conference de GEA boss, Mahender Sharma, is a bright young man. Dem boys agree wid him. De boys was a bright li’l boy when dem know him but since he start hang wid Jagdeo he get just like Jagdeo, ethnically balanced. This same bright young man, Sharma, introduce polygraph testing to catch thieves in ee workplace. This bright young man too smart. He didn’t lead by example. He test everybody, except himself. He knock off de petty thieves and keep de big ones just like how Jagdeo knock off Joseph O’Lall, de petty thief, and put in Sharma. Dem boys seh Sharma learn from de best—Jagdeo— about ethnically balance. This is de same Jagdeo that couldn’t find one black person to employ as an ambassador anywhere in de world. And is not dem boys seh suh; is Luncheon tell de court that Jagdeo eye didn’t see none so he couldn’t appoint nine. That is what Jagdeo, that scamp, call ethnic balance. He mandate two cable licence to two of he friends and of course none ain’t black. That is ethnic balance. Dem boys can write a book about this bandit. However, today is Good Friday so dem boys ain’t want to upset Guyana, because is not one set of people gun be upset. Is all de races, including Uncle Glenn, who got de biggest newspaper in Guyana. To succeed he had to be a big thief or one of Jagdeo friends. Talk half and a quiet Good Friday to you all.

Friday March 25, 2016

Kaieteur News

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LGE 2016 turnout lower than 1994

After being denied for more than two decades, the return of the Local Government Elections (LGE) was met with a low voter turnout lower than the last LGEs held in 1994. The 2016 LGE attracted a 47.10 percent turnout as opposed to 47.91 in 1994. Many theories were formulated by both electors and candidates as to the reason for this decrease, the most common theory saw GECOM receiving most of the criticisms. However, the Commission has brushed aside all claims made against them, while referring to the “many” voter education projects that the commission began conducting “immediately” nationwide, after the General Elections held in May last. Contestants also found themselves at the end of the barrel for not doing their best to educate the electorate. However, the elections would have been seen as a “trial” by candidates, more specifically some independent candidates, who vowed to intensify their efforts to educate their constituents in the next LGEs slated for 2019. According to GECOM, the elections were held “free, transparently and fairly”. This was endorsed by the various

foreign observers who immediately after the elections sent statements lauding the commission’s efforts. Voting was conducted in 542 Constituencies in Guyana, with 1562 Polling Stations available. The total number of votes cast was 239,070 from this amount, 236,323 were deemed valid, while 2,747 were recorded as spoilt ballots. Recounts at the request of the Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), for District 6 and Region Three, revealed the same amounts as when counted initially, GECOM stated. Meanwhile, the LGE results for Municipalities listed on the GECOM website were Mabaruma in District 1; Anna Regina in District 2; Georgetown, District 4; New Amsterdam, Corriverton and Rose Hall in District 6; Bartica in District 7; Lethem in District 9; and Linden, District 10. Mabaruma, District 1 A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) was able to obtain 777 votes in the Local Authority Area of the Municipality of Mabaruma, District 1. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), obtained 687 votes.

The number of rejected ballot papers amounted to 31. The PPP/C and the APNU/ AFC obtained three seats each. Anna Regina, District 2 In the Anna Regina, District 2, the PPP/C ‘took the cake’ with 4,310 votes, followed by APNU/AFC with 997. There were 54 rejected ballots. The PPP/C obtained 6 seats and APNU/AFC, two seats. Georgetown, District 4 The following is a notification of the results of the election in respect of the Local Authority Area of the Municipality of Georgetown. A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) obtained 30,023 votes which earned the party 11 seats. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) followed by 6,719 votes; two seats. Team Benschop for Mayor (TBFM) obtained 2,415 votes which earned the party one seat while Team Legacy (TL), with 1,515 votes, was also able to obtain a seat. A National Building Corps (AGNBC) obtained 660 votes, followed by the Youth for Local Government (YLG) Group with 591 votes. GECOM recorded 392 rejected ballot papers. New Amsterdam, District 6 APNU+AFC hauled in

3,947 votes which enabled the party to obtain five seats followed by the PPP/C with 1,220 votes; two seats. 74 ballot papers were rejected. Corriverton, District 6 In the Municipality of Corriverton, the PPP/C obtained 3,137 votes which earned them six seats followed by the NDDA with 1090 votes; two seats. GECOM recorded 59 rejected ballot papers. Rose Hall, District 6 In Rose Hall, Berbice, the PPP/C received 1,177 votes; four seats. APNU+AFC received 742; three seats. 27 rejected ballot papers were recorded. Bartica, District 7 In Bartica, APNU+AFC was able to gain 2,132 votes, the PPP/C 853, followed by the Bartica Independent Green Alliance (BIGA) with 375 votes. 37 ballot papers were rejected. APNU+AFC got six seats, the PPP/C gained 2 and BIGA, one. Lethem, District 9 The APNU+AFC gained 662 votes; three seats. The PPP/C, according to GECOM, gained 457 votes which enabled the party to gain two seats. The number of rejected ballots recorded by GECOM was 23.

Linden, District 10 In Linden, Region 10, the APNU+AFC gained 7,084 votes which earned them seven seats followed by the Linden 2025 group with 448 votes; one seat.

The PPP/C obtained 361 votes while the Ambassadors for Progress Group hauled in 386 votes. GECOM recorded 116 rejected ballot papers. (SEE RELATED TABLE ON PAGE 12)

C’tyne man badly chopped by intruders A 27-year-old Corentyne resident was yesterday morning attacked and badly injured after armed bandits broke and entered the home which he shares with his wife and children at Belvedere, Corentyne, Berbice. The injured man’s name has been given as Yufraj Ramphal. According to reports, the family was at home when three men, two of whom Ramphal reportedly recognized, broke into their home and carried out the shocking

- one in custody attack. The man’s wife Bibi Afeeza, who is reportedly pregnant, was also hit on her head by a metal pipe by one of the intruders. Ramphal was chopped on his forearm, head and upper arm, while one of his fingers was severed. This is reportedly the third time that the family has been attacked. One man has been arrested and is in custody as investigations continue.

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Forensic audit report on GFC recommends…

Repossess state forests, recover cost of concessions to BaiShanLin - halt all agreements with company By Kiana Wilburg Very soon, the Granger administration will have to make a crucial decision on whether it will bring the hammer down on a Chinese company found with a history of corruption in Guyana, or continue to treat with it diplomatically. The current administration was recently in receipt of a forensic audit report prepared by Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran. This report documents numerous irregularities which go as far back as 2006, when BaiShanLin International Forest Development Inc was incorporated. The main objective of the company, when it came in 2006, was to set up downstream wood processing operations in Linden and on the East Bank Demerara. In his audit report, Goolsarran revealed that on November 4, 2011, the Guyana Forestry Commission granted a State Forest Exploratory Permit (SFEP ) to the Chinese company. This covered 104,783 hectares of State forest. On the surface, everything seemed well with this arrangement. But what alarmed the forensic auditor BaiShanLin was blessed with the permit (SFEP) for which it failed to meet the necessary requirements.

The criteria the Chinese firm failed to meet included (a) the submission of audited financial statements for the last five years; (b) evidence of technical and financial qualifications; and (c) a history of compliance. Goolsarran revealed that a key consideration for the grant of the permit was the reassurance BaiShanLin gave the government to build a state-of-art wood processing facility in Linden. It intended to do so since 2006. The forensic auditor revealed that the company had leased 200 acres for this purpose and had given a commitment to complete the facility by the end of 2013, following which the Government of Guyana would make available a further 100 acres for additional valueadded processing. As a condition for the grant of the permit, the auditor discovered that the company was required to carry out an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) before any extraction could begin. It was also required to prepare a business plan and do a forest inventory. However, at the time of the expiration of permit on November 4, 2014, the company had not honoured its obligations. The auditor said that documents show that BaiShanLin contended that it faced a number of constraints

Bai Shan Lin CEO in Guyana, Chu Hongbo including the need to repair and upgrade roads. As a result, the forensic auditor found out that on October 1, 2014, BaiShanLin requested an extension of one year to fulfill these obligations under the permit and to set up the wood processing facility. He emphasized however that Section 9 (9) of the Forests Act 2009 specifically prohibits any renewal of such a permit. He said that there is also no provision in the Act for an extension once the expiry date reaches. In spite of this, the laws of the Forest Act were ignored and the Commission approved BaiShanLin’s request for an extension of the permit. Goolsarran noted that BaiShanLin’s extended permit expired on November 4, 2015, but there was no board in place to address the issue. He said that Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, indicated that the company applied for a further extension of two years to set up the

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman wood processing facility. “The Ministry of the Presidency later clarified that the Government had not taken any decision and that it has requested information from the company about its proposed business plan and evidence of financing. “Upon receipt of this information, BaiShanLin’s request would be reviewed and a decision taken,” Goolsarran noted. Up to the time of reporting, Goolsarran said that the company was yet to provide the business plan and evidence of financing. He said that if this second request for extension is approved, the company would have enjoyed the benefit of the grant of an exploratory permit covering a period of six consecutive years whereas the law allows for a maximum period of three

GFC Commissioner, James Singh

Forensic Auditor, Anand Goolsarran

years for such a permit. Taking into consideration that the Chinese company has failed to fulfill its obligations to Guyana, and the fact that the Forests Act does not permit a renewal of a SFEP at the end of three years, the contract with the company Goolsarran said, should be terminated forthwith. Goolsarran also

recommended that State forest should be returned to the Commission for reallocation. In addition to this, he said that the coalition administration should consider terminating the investment agreements with the company and recover the value of the fiscal concessions granted to it.

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Serial carjacker jailed again for another car theft Convicted serial carjacker, Mike Tyson who is currently serving a 58-month jail sentence for robbing a taxi driver of his motorcar was yesterday jailed again for 18 months on a similar offence. The 25-year-old man of Conciliation Drive, Tucville, Georgetown, was found guilty yesterday, by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, of robbing Lawrence Singh at gunpoint of his Toyota Spacio motorcar valued at $2M, a cell phone and $10,000 cash. The incident occurred on August 10, last, at McDoom, East Bank Demerara. During his testimony, Singh had told the court that on the day in question he had picked up Tyson from La Grange, West Bank Demerara, and dropped him off at McDoom, East Bank Demerara. Singh had recalled that the convict disembarked his vehicle at a Mc Doom gas station and another man entered his car and pointed a gun at him demanding that he drive the vehicle. The witness said that he ran out of the vehicle and begged for his life with the gunman hot in his pursuit. According to Singh, persons came to his rescue and the gunman eventually made good his escape. Tyson, he said, jumped into his vehicle and sped away. The taxi driver recounted that he alerted police before boarding a taxi to chase after the carjacker. Police chased after Tyson and he eventually crashed the stolen vehicle at David Street, Kitty, Georgetown. While giving evidence, Singh had told the court that the robbery occurred around 20:45hrs. He had maintained that there was adequate lighting in the area which

JAILED: Mike Tyson aided him with identifying his attackers. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers called a total of four witnesses. On February 29, City Magistrate Judy Latchman had jailed Tyson for 58 months after he was found guilty of robbing another taxi driver. Tyson robbed Anish Veersammy of one Toyota Premio motorcar valued at $3.8M, two speakers valued $200,000 and $10,000 cash among other items. The robbery occurred on July 3, 2015 at Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara. Tyson is also accused of committing another armed robbery. It is alleged that on July 1, 2015 at Durban Backlands, Tyson, in possession of an unlicenced firearm, robbed Eson Grimes of a car valued $3.2M, one cell phone valued $20,000, one driver’s licence valued $2,000 and $34,000 cash, among other items, all totaling $3.2M. This matter is still engaging the attention of the courts. He had made his first court appearance in August 17, 2015 and pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

Store owner shoots thief in buttocks A thief is hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation after being shot in the buttocks by a store owner during a botched robbery around 21:30 hrs Wednesday. Police have identified the suspect as a 35-year-old of ‘D’ Field Sophia, Georgetown. He is under police custody. Police in a release said that the suspect broke into Lisa’s General Store on Charlotte Street, Georgetown and during a confrontation with the owner, who is a licenced firearm holder, he was shot to his buttocks. When this newspaper visited the store yesterday afternoon, the owner was not around. Kaieteur News was told that the suspect was caught breaking into the store by the owner, who had just arrived at the location. The Sophia resident was shot when he tried to escape. He was taken to the hospital by the police. When this newspaper visited the hospital yesterday, he was in the theatre. Investigations are ongoing.

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Education gaining keen attention of Caricom Heads Education has been gaining immense attention in the Region, so much so that the Heads of Government have been examining the issue of education and have even proposed to address the quality of education offered. The Heads have also been addressing human resource development. And according to Minister of Sport and Development of Saint Lucia, Mr. Shawn Edward, during a recent visit to the Caricom Secretariat headquarters at Turkeyen, efforts have firstly been focused on the development of a Human Resource Development (HRD) Strategy which will focus on a systemic reform of education in the Region. This move, according to him, is designed to address the

development of a 21st century economy and society region-wide. In this regard, he pointed out that a Commission on Human Resource Development has been tasked with the development of the Strategy and has already started its work. The Commission is expected to report on its progress in February of 2017. “Leveraging our human and cultural assets for development will require a strategy which actively addresses the appropriate development and nurturing of creativity in our children from earlier stages,” said Edward. And he pointed out that “creativity is a precursor of innovation, and continued nurturing of the creative talent of our children and

youth needs to be done in education systems that are themselves creative in the way they treat with different abilities and aptitudes,” said the Sport and Development Minister. He therefore underscored that efforts in this regard are essential to build creative industries in the Region. Edward also observed that new technologies have changed not only the way that people communicate, but also the way in which people create. Moreover, he asserted that “acquiring digital skills is also crucial. The digital divide poses an additional layer of inequality, and is one which we cannot afford to ignore,” he added. Currently, he disclosed, the Region’s education systems are not geared to

‘Chicken’ stabbed to death at Patentia Two families are giving different versions of how a 25-year-old man ended up dead from stab wounds at around 19.30hrs Wednesday at Patentia, West Coast Demerara. Dellon Bradford, called ‘Chicken’, of Skull City, Patentia, died at the West Demerara Regional Hospital after collapsing on a roadway with stab wounds to the back, stomach and arm-pit. Police had earlier detained a woman and a male relative, but Kaieteur News understands that only one man is at present in custody. Branford had fathered three children, aged seven, two and one. Police sources said that an arrest warrant was out for Bradford, who had failed to return to court

- suspect held to answer to a robbery charge. Police sources alleged that he would secrete himself in the nearby canefields when police were in the area. According to police officials, the mother of Bradford’s children lives a short distance away from his residence, and at around 19.30 hrs on Wednesday, she accused him of breaking into her residence when no one was at home, and making off with $200,000. It is alleged that Bradford punched her after she confronted him with the allegation. Some of the woman’s relatives reportedly then stabbed him.

But Bradford’s relatives allege that the woman’s relatives attacked him after the couple had an altercation over her drinking. They claimed that Bradford’s reputed wife was drinking at a house a short distance from his residence, when he asked her to come home and look at the children. When she refused, he reportedly slapped her. It was then that the woman’s relatives stabbed Bradford. Some of Bradford’s associates said that the wounded man ran towards them. He reportedly said “you see what they do to me?” he then collapsed. The friends then rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he succumbed.

develop the critical mass of young people to take advantage of the new opportunities available. As such he disclosed that there needs to be a shift in the thinking of the people of the Region and the valuing of areas of the education curriculum, even as efforts are made to recognise the importance of critical thinking and creativity, and innovation disposition, to succeed in the ‘knowledge economy’ and society as a whole. “Our systems have often relegated the very subject areas in which some of our students are naturally gifted to the margins of the curriculum, often robbing them of opportunities to succeed in schooling and also depriving others of opportunities to experience even better outcomes,” related Edward. According to him, research has demonstrated quite conclusively the links between exposure to the arts, for example music and drama, and enhanced outcomes in other areas. These issues, he added, are related to the reorientation of teachers, and teacher education, which will certainly be among those to be addressed at the level of the Commission on Human

Resource Development. “We need to engage our youths, envisioning and transforming education and youth development,” said Edward, who added that “leveraging our human and cultural assets for the sustainable development of our Region would require a shift in thinking on the part

of policy makers, youths, parents, teachers, students, administrators and others in the community.” He also pointed out that efforts will also require specific policies and strategies to enable the desired change. “I am sure that we are equal to the task,” said an optimistic Edward.

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Friday March 25, 2016

Kaieteur News

Arson suspected in former nightclub fire - Source says origin was not electrical The burnt building

As investigations continue into the mysterious fire which gutted a portion of a building formerly known as the Sheriff Night Club on Wednesday, fire fighters have ruled out electrical as the origin. Yesterday, a source from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) said that the power supply at the property was disconnected so the fire could not have been started by electrical means. He explained that investigations are currently ongoing and the result will most likely be out on Tuesday. While the probe is still ongoing, it is believed that the fire was an act of arson, another source from the fire service said. The owner of the property, Deolall Pooran called “Davo” said that he purchased the building about two years ago and was about to rent it to someone when he got the devastating news. While he could not say what could have caused the

fire, he suspects that arson might have been the cause, although he has no idea who would want to destroy the property. Pooran said that he will have to return to the scene and look for nearby surveillance cameras to see whether anything suspicious transpired there on the day of the fire. The man said that the property was vacant at the time. According to the owner, the insurance on the building is minimal and cannot cover the cost of the extensive damage. “The insurance is not anything big.” He noted that he received a call from a neighbour who informed him about the fire, around 15:00 hrs on Wednesday. When this newspaper visited the scene, GFS’s Divisional Officer in Charge of Operations, Compton Sparman, said that they received a call a little after 15:00 hrs that a building was on fire at Sheriff Street. “We immediately

responded with three fire appliances, one from Campbellville and two from Central. When we got there the entire upper floor was engulfed in flames,” the fire officer explained. He added that there were some problems at first, but fire fighters were able to contain the blaze to where it started in the upper flat of the two-storey building. “The tank that came first, it ran out of water, and that posed some problems. The other two (fire tenders) arrived and we started fighting the fire,” Sparman said. He told this newspaper that the heavy grill work on the property was also an issue for fire fighters. When the other two tenders ran out of water, the firemen resorted to a fire hydrant on Sheriff Street. “Fortunately for us, the fire was contained in the upper flat. The bottom flat was unoccupied at the time.” Investigations are ongoing.

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No immediate plans to intercede... From page 15 upcoming planting season.” Trotman also related that the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/Agricultural Development Association (MMA/ ADA) would cater to the irrigation needs of the Blairmont estate for the rest of 2016's first crop. He also stated that potable water is being supplied to areas in Region six by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI). “These (areas) are East Bank Berbice; Sisters Village to Mara, and the new forest area in New Canje. These areas depend on river water and that water has become salted. These (water suppplies from GWI) are expected to be increased to four times per week should the situation get worse.” CROPS LOST

In light of all this, Trotman related that the irrigation situation was still below critical, since pumps are working. He noted that out of the 54,000 acres of rice presently under cultivation in the region, only 5,000 were expected to be lost. According to the Minister, the affected areas include number 19 village, East Bank Berbice and Crabwood Creek, while in region seven, the emphasis will be on cleaning creeks and drilling eight shallow wells, to be funded from the Basic Needs Trust Fund. “A budget for relief efforts in Region eight has been proposed. However, discussions are ongoing on the technical requirements needed to implement the measures proposed.” Trotman also noted that several villages have been identified as priority for water

in Region nine, including Annai and Shulinab. He provided assurances that special funding would be provided for El Niño relief efforts. Severe El Niño conditions have set in throughout Guyana over the past few months. According to reports, ponds have dried up and shallow hand-dug wells are either low on water or have gone completely dry. In some places the rivers have also dried up due to the scorching heat and zero rainfall. Rice farmers have also been calling for intervention from Government, out of consideration for anticipated losses in crops, due to prices. Farmers have been saying that this intervention could take the form of interceding with commercial banks, as many farmers are in debt.

RUSAL and Kwakwani... From page 16 group to invest in the community and a working crushing plant is integral to their plans. These plans include the loading of sand and quarry, which Thom said would provide much needed jobs for the residents of Kwakwani who have been denied this for a while now. “The Russians came here and met a working crushing plant and now that they are leaving, they have to leave a working plant. We are search-

ing for other investors, so if they take it away we have nothing to entice other investors,” Thom said. This newspaper tried yesterday to contact RUSAL officials but was unsuccessful. The relationship between RUSAL and the residents of Kwakwani had become acri-

monious over the years, with workers even calling for the intervention of the government on a number of occasions. “They already rape the community. They have no respect, not even for the past or present government,” Thom stated.

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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Building Construction: house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362 Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 6831312, 627-3206 INNOVATIVE MARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs to LED, Plasma, LCD and all other electronic equipment. Ordering of circuit boards. Abdul Electronics. Call: 225-0391 JADESCO offers: Architectural designs (house plans), 3D designs, construction, rehabilitation works and estimates. Call:612-0468; 649-3059 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:629-4946 or 225-4822

WANTED 1 Live in domestic to work, salary -$60,000. Call: 6741767, 685-8720; 661-5992

One bulldozer operator to work in West Bank area. Call: 694-3978; 627-9909 Bill clerk (girls) to work at grocery stall in Stabroek Market, experience is an asset. Call: 226-9800 1 Male cook (baheir) to cook in the Interior. Call: 678-0565 Housekeeper to cook for an Indian Family in Turkeyen, 6 days @ $15,000 weekly. Police clearance and reference required. Call: 655-6766

TAXI SERVICES G R TA X I S E RV I C E . CALL: 219-5000; 2271982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

PROPERTY FOR SALE

- Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257

Flat house in Grove, (corner property) 1 Block from main road, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572

Mofiw Beauty Salon is looking for professional cosmetologist to rent beauty station. Call Marcia: 682-2604

Operator, porters/labourers. Apply at Wieting & Richter Ltd. We pay cash for land in Eccles, Herstelling, Parfaite Harmonie, Farm, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, Berbice & East Coast. Call: 611-7223; 6042207 Live in domestic must know to cook and bake -$80,000 monthly. Call: 610-5043 Live in waitress must be able assist with lotto and top up$70,000. Call: 610-3974

Female worker with driver’s license needed @ Regent Street, starting $12,000 – Call: 672-0429 One experienced sales clerk to work at Curtains & Drapery. Call: 225-2224 Driver/porter @ Carmen’s Funeral Home, Little Diamond, E.B.D. Call: 2655010; 647-1776 Female domestic to work in Trinidad, must be educated and know to cook. Between 25-35 years.

Transported property @ Grove $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 3068 Amelia’s Ward Linden: 4 bedrooms, 1 self-containedCall: 640-4731; 641-6450 House & land fully furnished, 3 self contained rooms, 1 master bedroom, alarm systems, 9 cameras, 7 AC units. Call: 628-0016; 667-2536

WANTED 1 Person to cook various meals, between ages 40-50, must live on West Bank or West Coast. Call: 623-7914 Persons to take care of 1 Elderly woman between the ages of 40-50, night job. Call: 623-7914 Contract cars and taxi drivers (salaries paid). Call: 2310002; 231-0316 Salesgirls and boys to work. Call: 668-0159

Diamond: $15M & $14M, Grove: $9.5M, New Road V/ Hoop: $6M, Pouderoyen:$45M, Goed Fortuin : $7M, La Grange $10M. Call: 604-6724 House & land at Good Hope E.C.D -$32M negotiable. Call: 654-4312 & 629-3344 House & land @ Block 8 Mon Repos, E.C.D -$27M neg. Call: 654-4312; 629-3344, serious inquiries only. Church and 2 storey building Lot 180 Charlotte Street Bourda-Call: 227-6817; 6247341 2 Storey concrete building, 1 master room, 3 bedrooms 30’X58’ @ Xora Avenue, Eccles -$56M negotiable – Call: 672-4190

Porters: apply in person on Tuesdays & Thursdays at Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff St. Must be18yrs old

Highly skilled person who can fillet fish. $5,000 per day. (2) A computer operator who has a knowledge of Quickbook. Must be able to download accounts & to enter them into a Quickbook programmes. Call 697-5221 EDUCATIONAL Private Custom Brokerage Certificate: training course29th March 2016. Register now! Call: 223-1506; 694-8322

SALON

1 Skilled bobcat operator must have at least 3yrs experienced. Call: 265-3024; 609-0766 Hairdresser/sales representative needed for hair products. Must have a vehicle. Call: 231-4999; 6770480, email:irbcguy@gmail. com

Friday March 25, 2016

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Furnished salon @ 153 Middle Road La Penitence. Call: 665-3307 Executive Furnished 4 bedroom house@ Republic Park, EBD-Call 600-2031 Furnished 2 bedroom house@ Farm, EBD $150,000 per monthly neg. Call 6002031 Executive semi furnished 4 bedroom house, air condition, Lamaha GardensCall 600-2031 Two bedrooms, bottom flat, with A/C, hot & cold, security, overseas clients only- Call: 226-1519

La Parfaite Harmonie: $1M & $1.3M, Uitvlugt: $3M, Providence: $9M & $4.5M, Kitty-$18M, Sandpit @ Yarrowkabra -$90M. Call: 6046724 Property @ Lot 87 Albert Street- Call: 669- 8701 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 Must Sell! Owner migrating: Two bedrooms concrete house, recently built, in Werk-en-Rust -$30M negotiable. Call: 645-6498 One roadside, 2 storey building @ V/Hoop, ground excellent for restaurant or other business –Call: 6540779

2 Bedrooms apartment in Eccles for rent, recently built, fully secured -$80,000 per month. Call: 641-0568 Three bedrooms apartment @ 19 Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme. Call: 617-8215 PEN PAL Indian male is seeking female, age 30-33yrs. Write: M.D, 7475 Goreway DR #47 Mississauga on L4T 3T3 Canada.

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

VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Fielder & L-Touring Wagon, AT192, AE100, Funcargo, Tundra, Pickup 4X4 solid DEF, (Ducati 1098cc). Call: 644-5096; 6971453

Live and pluck chicken- Call: 220-1043; 621-4304

We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154

Nissan Titan- Call: 696-5135 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call: 225-9032;647-2943;6045198 ADORABLE PUPPIES FOR SALE. CALL: 615-0146 Labrottie puppies (jet black) for sale @ $50,000/each; 5 weeks fully de-wormed & vaccinated. Call: 654-7683 Leyland DAF55, Flatbed truck-in, excellent condition. Call to negotiate: 675-4287; 628-0016; 667-2536; 233-2383 Cheap! Cheap! CCTV Security Surveillance Kit, 8 Channels DVR with built in Hard Drive, 8 bullet cameras – Tel: 621-4740; 686-3500 (9 Stalls) 64 to 72 (47feet long x 7 feet wide) @ La Penitence Market Albouystown. Call: 663-1597; 218-4837 For all your spices: black pepper, wholesale $1,000lb, chicken season, $400lb, fish seasoning, all purpose etc. Call: 668-0159

Rooms in Alberttown- Call: 225-3234 2 Bedrooms apartment for rent with toilet & bath inside at Section ‘B’ Field, Turkeyen. Call: 231-2669; 646-4976

One Toyota Premio PTT series. excellent condition, reverse camera-$1.850M, prices negotiable. Call: 6280481 Smart choice Auto: 08&06 Premio, 08&06 Allion, 212, Runx, IST, Fielder. Call: 6523820; 665-4529 2005 SPACIO -$2.2M NEG, 2006 PREMIO-$2.3M NEG, NOAH & VOXY-$1.7M NEG. ALL VEHICLES FULLY LOADED & UNREGISTERED. CALL: 642-7295 One Toyota Hilux E/Cab pickup M/T 3RZ engine. Call: 676-0931

XBOX360 E with games & controller PS3 super slim with games & controller. Call: 6838386 Brand new KIA sports SUV. Call: 624-5650

VACANCY

CAR RENTAL

Accounts Clerk/Salesgirls, apply at D.Singh & Sons. Call: 226-1316 ACCOUNTS CLERK, MINIMUM qualification CXC Accounts Grades I,II, familiar with QuickBooks POS & Accounts. Email : info@guygas.com

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807

TO LET

Unregistered Bluebird 2006 model, TV, Reverse Camera, Dark interior low mileage $2.3M. Call: 655-3400

Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 689-5997

Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. Vacancy for maid; specialized in Indian and English cusine. Call: 231-0734 1 Female cleaner apply @ Technical Services 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles. 1 Maid for East Bank area. Call: 614-4358 Porters, apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling. One domestic cleaner must be able to prepare vegetarian meal. Apply in person at Alabama Trading Georgetown, Ferry Stelling. Continued on page 31

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Vincent Alexander again accused of... From page 4 wrote Mr. Cox and said to him ‘you are not a student and therefore there is no results for you official or otherwise....” Mr. Editor, I should be able to produce a similar letter sent to me by the “humane” Vincent Alexander. Mr Vincent Alexander is a proud holder of a Soviet Masters of Laws (LL.M) Degree. He has sensitised the world that we may not have clean hands. But by his own

words he said four Vice Chancellors ruled on the matter, but neither of us was informed whether it was an assembly of Vice Chancellors as a body or individually when each took office. He admits he was part of the process. Clearly the cardinal principles of natural justice were not observed. I hope Mr SAPHIER HUSSAIN and other lawyers come to the assistance of Mr. Sheik Mustapha and John

Marcus to have those decisions quashed by certiorari. Thank you, Mr. Alexander. Mr. Alexander shows no remorse, even at this point in time and to these glaring injustices has publicly accused Mr. Clairmonte Cox, Mr. Sheik Mustapha and myself of the crime of conspiracy etc. We wrote the exams collectively on fifty (50) odd occasions during the period. What is ironical and moreso laughable is that Mr.

Alexander as a diligent and competent Registrar, never had either of us prevented from so doing, either by personal action, or instructions to his officers in the registry or the invigilators. He did nothing. The crime of conspiracy is not a lonely soldier. If we conspired, we did not. I ask persons not to impute that he (Alexander) or his agents aided and abetted knowingly, negligently or recklessly.

Finally,on the Nation Watch APNU programme of 2nd January,2005 , Alexander, in response to a caller’s enquiry on my matter and the relentless pursuit of the law degree, said that Mr. Marcus’s problem is a PPP policy matter. Mr Vincent Alexander has wronged us with hideous cruelty. Editor, please give this letter the same prominence as Vincent Alexander’s. My side needs to be ventilated. John Marcus

From page 5 Alexander had previously claimed never existed! (see court records) Fiftly, he accuses me of playing the race card. I am not a politician Mr. Alexander, I leave that for you. What I said was a plain and simple fact: you, a harping Black man on the injustices done to poor Blacks by Indians have singlehandedly destroyed the careers of two hardworking Black men for no proper reasons. Are Mr. Cox and Mr. Marcus the only two students

who are indebted to UG? Only recently the Minister of Finance had spoken of the need to recover monies from scores of former students who are now gainfully employed (many of them are prominent lawyers). What efforts did you make during your tenure to recover these monies? What prevented you from heeding the advice of Mr. Nandalall, Mr. Nirmal Rekha, Dr. PremMisir and many others, who incidentally were mostly Indians, to have this

matter settled amicably? You instead chose to insist adamantly that we are not students of the University and therefore UG owes us nothing and we owe UG nothing (yet exam results were produced for us from your office).What is our crime

which makes us undeserving of your advocacy for justice? Sixtly, we were accused of conspiring to write exams! Well really, Mr. Alexander! UNDER YOUR WATCH we conspired for more than two years to write exams and you knew nothing about it? De-

spite all the permits we had originated from your office? And to think that such incompetence will now be allowed to flourish at the Ministry of Education! No wonder I received no reply from that office when I wrote to them recently concerning this matter. Finally I hope Mr. Alexander is pleased with the heading of this letter. He was annoyed at being referred to as ‘cruel’ in the previous one. Dear Editor, kindly give this letter of response the same prominence that you had given to Mr. Alexander’s. Sheik Mustapha

From page 5 in this case, it is the water source, there could be fallouts. GuySuCo is therefore calling on all parties to be mindful of managing our relationships, so that we can together find solutions to our common problems. The Corporation would also wish to reiterate that it has always exercise good cor-

porate social responsibility and will continue to do so. We sincerely hope that Mr. Ganga Persaud, other rice farmers and other stakeholders experiencing similar challenges as our Corporation, would be able to find greater relief shortly. Audreyanna Thomas Senior Communications Officer, Guyana Sugar Corporation

Six damning indictments against Vincent...

Land of many...

Presidential park or presidential...

From page 4 priorities as they are denied their money to manage and develop their businesses and pay their employees. No one will fault the council for engaging in acts of beautification and environmental health, but the council has to be mindful that it is not perceived to be engaging in projects that are not well thought out, inclusive of being cost effective. Merriman’s Mall is named in honour of a mayor of Georgetown. It may also be prudent to have some sym-

bol on this mall in recognition of Mayor Claude Merriman, inclusive of the period served and some distinguished achievement of his tenure. Minette Bacchus

From page 30

VACANCY RA Soda: male & female workers, bond clerks, accountants, drivers, housekeeper, worker with mechanical idea. Call: 3302399/ 623-5920

LAND FOR SALE Eight (8) Acres farm land at Kuru Kururu with creek passing through-Call: 643-1861 La Parfaite Harmonie $1.3M, Herstelling (100ftX50ft) -$3M, Zeelugt -$2M, Uitvlugt$2.5M, Eccles-$5M. Call: 604-2207; 611-7223

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Friday March 25, 2016

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Barbados air and sea Karadzic guilty of Bosnia genocide, jailed for 40 years ports hit by strike action Reuters - Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was convicted by U.N. judges of genocide for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, the worst war crime in Europe since World War Two, and sentenced to 40 years in prison. Karadzic, 70, the former president of the breakaway Bosnian Serb Republic, was found guilty on 10 out of 11 charges brought by war crimes prosecutors at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague. He would appeal the decision, his legal adviser said. “The accused was the sole person within Republika Srpska (the Bosnian Serb Republic) with the power to prevent the killing of the Bosnian Muslim males,” said presiding judge O-Gon Kwok, in a reference to the 8,000 killed at Srebrenica. “Far from preventing it, he ordered they be transferred elsewhere to be killed,” the judge said. Karadzic was acquitted of one count of genocide in various towns across Bosnia during the war of the 1990s.

Radovan Karadzic The three-judge panel said Karadzic was “at the apex of power,” heading the selfstyled Bosnian Serb Republic and Supreme Commander of its armed forces, when crimes were committed by his troops. Judges said the 44-month siege of Sarajevo could not have happened without his support; that he committed crimes against humanity in an attempt to purge Muslims and Croats from parts of Bosnia; and that he had intended to eliminate the Bosnian Muslim males of the town of Srebrenica.

Karadzic’s legal adviser Peter Robinson said Karadzic was “disappointed by the verdict, astonished by the reasoning and he wants to appeal.” As the judges described the siege of Sarajevo, Karadzic looked pained and his face tightened into a grimace. Victims’ families in the courtroom, some of then elderly, listened intently when the genocide at Srebrenica was discussed. One wiped away tears as the judge described men and boys being separated from their families.

Brazil unemployment at its highest since 2012 SAO PAULO (AP) — Unemployment in Latin America’s largest country is at its highest level since 2012, the Brazilian government said yesterday. The country’s IBGE statistics bureau said that the jobless rate in the three months through January was 9.5 percent, compared to the 6.8 percent posted in the same period one year ago. The number of people out of work by the end of Janu-

ary rose to 9.6 million — up 6 percent from the previous three-month period. IBGE said that 91.7 million people were employed during the three month period, 0.7 percent less than in the August to October period, and that average monthly wages dropped from 1,988 reals to 1,939 reals. Earlier this year, Brazil’s labour ministry said the country lost 1.5 million payroll jobs

in 2015 amid a contracting economy that has led to high inflation and layoffs in the manufacturing and service sectors. The ministry said that 39.7 million workers were formally employed at the end of last year, compared to 41.2 million at the end of 2014 and 40.8 million in 2013. Most of the lost payroll jobs were in the industrial and civil construction sectors.

There was ethnic, regional... (From page 08) Vishok Persaud and Brian Yong. In addition The Mirror, a newspaper which belongs to Jagdeo’s party, received multiple frequencies. The disclosures of the licences, which also included approval for two cable TV operations, sparked court cases and several days of protests, as well as local and international condemnation. Former President Donald Ramotar had promised to examine the issue but never did. Jagdeo was mandated by law to consult with the Broad-

casting Authority which was not operational at the time. Between 2001 and 2011, it was this provision that was used by Jagdeo’s government to deny anyone a TV or radio licence. It is understood that even existing stations were denied expansion since it would have meant granting them additions to their licences. Channel Seven TV’s Rex Mc Kay, Veteran Television personality Enrico Woolford and numerous others had also applied for radio licences, but were not given.

GNBA Officials have recently disclosed that Jagdeo’s ad hoc approach has led to prime spots on the spectrum being taken up. All premium spots on the television and cable channel frequencies are gone. There is little space left for new applicants on the radio spectrum. During a post cabinet press briefing yesterday, however, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman revealed that the radio licences imbroglio will be up for a policy decision by Cabinet in mid April.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Operations at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) are at a standstill and work at the Bridgetown Port has been disrupted as a result of industrial action being taken by workers in solidarity with striking Barbados Water Authority (BWA) employees. Flights into and out of the country have been put on hold, as workers in the air traffic control tower, who direct all flights entering and leaving the country, take strike action. Hundreds of departing passengers have been left stranded. Members of Barbados’ CARIFTA team, who was due to fly to Grenada yesterday, are among those waiting for word on when their flights will be able to leave. Regional airline LIAT yesterday morning issued an advisory, indicating that all its flights have been delayed due to the closure of the airport. “LIAT also regrets to advise that passengers who decide to travel but are unable to complete their journey will not be provided with meals, transportation or hotel accommodation as the situation is beyond LIAT’s control. Passengers with onward connections are advised to contact the respective carriers,” it stated.

Over at the Bridgetown Port, unionized workers are also taking action. The air and sea port employees are showing their support for BWA workers who have been on strike for almost a week as they demand payment of BDS$33 million (US$16.5 million) in increments dating back to 2006. Wednesday, the workers’ representative, the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), warned that pressure on the BWA would increase. Opposition Leader Mia Mottley has blamed the escalation of action on “the callous attitude to and the contempt of this Government for ordinary workers”. “The Government believes that they can put the workers’ concerns on a lay way plan to be dealt with ei-

ther when Government gets around to it or when the workers are forced to bring the country to its knees to get the Government’s attention,” she said in a statement. “The BWA must engage its workers with respect as their claim is legitimate, even if daunting. I trust, however, that the BWU will not be unreasonable in their immediate demands.” She called on Prime Minister Freundel Stuart to get a clear commitment from the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Water Resources Management to provide the necessary funds that could lead to an urgent settlement of the impasse. The BWA strike comes as the communities in the north and the east of the island experience water woes.

Free movement should be a human right, says CARICOM Ambassador BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, Robert ‘Bobby’ Morris, wants to see the day when more Caribbean citizens try to secure their future by taking full advantage of the opportunities provided under the CARICOM Single M a r k e t a n d E conomy (CSME). He made that point as he delivered the feature address at a briefing ceremony for 19 students and one CARICOM Youth Ambassador in Barbados, who will be going to Jamaica as part of a CSME Student Exchange Programme. Reminding the students that Caribbean people have always been travelling to various destinations, whether through forced migration or voluntarily, he said: “. . . We look forward to the day when freedom to move to learn, to work, to do business, to provide services, with full social service security and safety nets, with

Robert ‘Bobby’ Morris provision for the full movement of families, will be seen not as a privilege for a few, but a right for all CARICOM citizens.” The envoy underscored the importance of the Freedom of Movement regime to the regional integration process, and emphasised that the CARICOM Strategic Plan, 2015-2019, had this regime at its centre in terms of economic

development. “We look forward to the day when surplus human resources from one territory can be employed to add value to surplus land and natural resources in another country for the overall benefit of the region. It is the fervent wish and desire of integrationists that within the shortest possible time span, the identity of being members of a Caribbean civilisation will be on an equal basis with our commitment to our individual nation states.” Morris told those present that the Freedom of Movement regime was identified as an important catalyst for the development of regional economies, since it would help to lift them from their current state of economic stagnation. He noted that if this was to become a reality, then it was imperative to engage the youth in such an exercise, and to offer them work opportunities either as employees or as entrepreneurs.

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Friday March 25, 2016

Kaieteur News

Congo’s Sassou Nguesso wins re-election, opposition vows protests Denis Sassou Nguesso

Reuters - Congo Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso has won a new fiveyear term with over 60 percent of the vote, the interior minister said yesterday, but the opposition rejected the outcome, alleging fraud and calling for civil disobedience. Residents said Brazzaville, capital of the oilproducing Central African nation where Sassou Nguesso has ruled for all but five of the past 37 years, was quiet but tense as police and soldiers patrolled the streets. In the economic hub of Pointe Noire, an opposition stronghold, police fired in the air near the Tchi Tchi market to disperse a crowd that had gathered, a witness said. It

was not immediately clear who was in the crowd. The government lifted a blackout of telephone and Internet communications imposed for Sunday’s vote, a measure it said aimed to prevent unofficial election results circulating and causing unrest. Sassou Nguesso came to power in 1979 and governed the Congo Republic until 1992, when he lost an election. He regained power in 1997 after a civil war and then won elections in 2002 and 2009 amid allegations of fraud. The constitution was changed by referendum last year, lifting term and age limits that would have excluded him from running again.

Announcing the results on state television in the early hours yesterday, Interior Minister Raymond Zephyrin Mboulou said opposition leader Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas finished a distant second with 15 percent of the vote. Retired general JeanMarie Mokoko, a former security adviser to Sassou Nguesso, came third with 14 percent, Mboulou said. A coalition of five opposition candidates said on Wednesday that its own results showed Sassou Nguesso headed for defeat. It was expected to provide its own vote tally today. “I ask you to claim your stolen and confiscated vote,” Mokoko said in a statement on Thursday, potentially setting the stage for street protests. At least 18 people were killed by security forces during opposition demonstrations ahead of October’s constitutional referendum. Mokoko also directed his remarks at Congo’s armed forces: “We are a public and republican force in service of the people toward whom we have duties and obligations.”

Former Miss Jamaica World Runner-Up…

Civil Service Association Recommends That Govt. Abandon Income Tax Plan The Gleaner - A former Jamaican beauty pageant contestant was Wednesday arrested after trying to smuggle seventy pounds of cocaine through security at the Los Angeles International Airport in California. Thirty-two-year-old JetBlue flight attendant Marsha Gay Reynolds was reportedly pulled out for random screening by airport officials. Officials say Reynolds appeared to be nervous as she went to the secondary screening area. They say Reynolds then pulled out her cellular phone and made a call in a foreign language. After that she reportedly dropped the two suitcases full of cocaine, flung off her heels and fled. She reportedly boarded a flight to Queens, New York, where she has an apartment, then later turned herself in to federal authorities at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Reynolds was charged with cocaine possession with intent to distribute. She was the third-place

Marsha Gay Reynolds winner of the 2008 Miss Jamaica World competition and runner-up in the 2007 Miss Jamaica Universe pageant. She is also a past student of New York University where she was reportedly on the

school’s track and field team. The Los Angeles Airport Police say the cocaine found in Reynolds’ luggage is worth about US$3 million on the street and US$750,000 wholesale.

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Friday March 25, 2016

Shane Watson: Australia all-rounder announces international retirement

Shane Watson has the highest one-day international score by an Australian

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson will retire from all international c r i c k e t a f t e r t h e Wo r l d Twenty20 in India. Watson won 190 one-day

international caps, scoring 5,757 runs at an average of 40.54 and taking 168 wickets at 31.79 apiece. The 34-year-old has

played in 56 T20 internationals and is in Australia’s squad to face Pakistan today. Watson, who retired from Tests in 2015, is the only Australian to have scored centuries in all forms of the game. He will continue to play in domestic T20 tournaments, including the Big Bash. “Shane should be proud of his contribution to Australian cricket,” Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said. ”To be bracketed with [former captain] Steve Waugh as Australia’s most prolific batting all-rounder in Test and one-day cricket is a very significant statement about his international career.” A powerful batsman and seam bowler, Watson, who made his ODI debut in 2002, has the highest score in that format by an Australian - 185 against Bangladesh in 2011. Twice a winner of the Allan Border Medal as Australian player of the year, he featured in three World Cups and was part of the Australian sides which triumphed in the 2007 and 2015 tournaments. He has also appeared in all six World T20s and was player of the tournament in 2012. Watson retired from Te s t s f o l l o w i n g l a s t summer’s Ashes series in England having won 59 caps, scoring 3,731 runs at 35.19 and taking 75 wickets at 33.68. He captained his country in one Test in India in 2013.

Banks DIH, Trophy... (From page 39) My Choice, Settling Star, Midnight Blue and Big Man Bass running f o r a w i n n i n g pocket of $400,000 and trophy. The Guyana Bred three year old maiden horses will have among them Fire ball, Lil Dude and She Is in Control among others competing for the first prize of $300,000 and trophy over 11000M. Cat Messiah, Jumbo’s Gift, She So Special, the Girl Is Mine, Sweet Return, Silver bell, Atlantic Storm, Mary Ann, Glamour Queen and Amazing Run are among the large field assembled for the H3 and lower 1400M event for the $250,000 winner’s purse and trophy. Another large field that includes Sunny Silence, Royal Stallion, Another Storm, Plane Land, Amazing Warrior, Golden Kiss, Liquid Lion, and Massiquita Dr have taken entry for the J1 and

lower 1100M for a pole position taking of $200,000 and trophy. Kites and other giveaways will be a part of the day’s activities, while Crown Vibes International will be providing musical entertainment. Top horses, stables and jockeys will be awarded with trophies compliments of Ramesh Sunich Managing Director of the Trophy Stall of Bourda Market. Last minute information can be had by contacting Chandu Ramkissoon (6249063 or 232-0633), Irshad Mo h a m m e d o n 6 6 4 1650, Fazal Habibulla on telephone no 6577010, Ramnauth 3375311 or 697-1979, Campton Sancho on 690-0569 and Rajendra “ J i m - J o ” J a g d eo 6187278. The coordinator is Nazrudeen Jumbo Jet Mohammed Jr. (Samuel Whyte)

Friday March 25th 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You might find that your desire to conquer is active today, Aries, and that your mind is right in line with the urge to take action.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Things should go nicely for you today, Libra. You will find that the brighter you shine, the more prosperity will come your way.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Other people may want your attention, looking for advice and help with their own sob stories, when in reality you have your own matters to take care of. Attend to these today.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You may need to make some mental adjustments in order to get on the same wavelength as other people today, Scorpio. You may not see what all the fuss is about.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) This is a terrific day for you, Gemini. You can accomplish a great deal when you set your mind in motion. There's a strong, warlike instinct within you that's fired up and ready to fight.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) There may be important lessons about balance that come up today, Sagittarius. Make sure you're ready to handle the fire, because it will be coming at you.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Being of service to others is important, Cancer, but make sure that you're taking care of yourself, too. Turn up the heat and let yourself expand into other worlds today.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The events of the day might leave you feeling a bit confused and bewildered, Capricorn. Perhaps you're feeling like you aren't getting the attention you feel you deserve.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If there is an imbalance in your relationship with someone close, it's important to take a stand now, Leo. Make sure you speak your mind with conviction.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) This is a terrific day for you, Aquarius. You will find that your mind and your urge for action are on the same page. The fire within you is raging hot.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) There could be a great deal of friction in your world today, Virgo, as stubborn minds aggressively come into conflict with each other.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Feel free to be a bit more selfish than usual, Pisces. You might find yourself turning inside out in order to get your point across.

Friday March 25, 2016

Kaieteur News

Second Annual International Dominoes Tournament launched Five countries confirmed to date Following a successful inaugural tournament that saw several teams from overseas in attendance, the 2nd Annual Faye Joseph- organised International Dominoes Competition which is being run under the auspices of the Georgetown Dominoes Association (GDA) will be played from April 1-4 at 1222-23 Gaulding Place, South Ruimveldt. This was disclosed during the Launch which took place yesterday at the President of the GDA residence in South Ruimveldt. In attendance at the occasion were President Faye Joseph, Secretary Barbara Marshall, Organisaing Secretary Mark Wiltshire, Barbados representative Gregory Bledman, PRO Basil Bradshaw and team representatives. Joseph, whose brainchild it was for the tournament which is regarded as an international event and has received the blessings from the World Dominoes Council (WDC), speaking at the briefing first thanked the teams that participated in the first tourney, adding that the re-

sponse this year has been good both at the local and regional levels and she expects this year’s competition to be very competitive and fiercely fought among the teams. She opined that there is enough evidence to suggest that the game is gaining in popularity locally and because of this she is more that encouraged continuing to be an integral part of the sport. The popular head of the GDA said she is confident that come next year the tournament will be able to attract more teams from even more countries and urged the Private Sector and Government to continue to extend more support to the sport. Marshall in her remarks revealed that twelve countries were sent invitations and so far there have been positive responses from at least five. She disclosed that in excess of US$10,000 will be up for grabs during the four-day competition along with trophies and individual prizes for outstanding players. The wining team will receive US$5,000 along with the corresponding trophy, while

the second, third and fourth placed teams will collect US$2,500, US$1,500 and US$1,000. The cost to enter the tournament is US$200 or GY$40,000. Marshall said that members of the Private and Public Sectors and established teams were invited to participate in the tournament. Bledman, who is a member of the WDC opened by saying that he would love to see more countries attending the tournament, but assured that quite a few teams will be coming in from Barbados to participate in the competition. He, however, noted that the prohibitive cost of travel within the Region is affecting many sports events, adding that many more teams would like to compete, but the cost to do so is beyond them. Wiltshire whose task it is to run the tournament urged all teams to be on their best behaviour, informing that any act of indiscipline will be dealt with firmly and instantly. He then gave a synopsis of the tournament’s format.

WICB statement: Rangy Nanan passing

St. John’s, Antigua - The Board of Director, Management and Staff of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regret the passing of Trinidadian and West Indian off-spinner, Rangy Nanan. Nanan was described as a quality off-spinner who served Trinidad and Tobago for almost two decades with distinction, leading them in the Shell Shield in the 1980s. He played in 94 first class matches where he racked up 366 wickets and scored 2,607 runs. He played one Test for the West Indies in the 1980-81 year versus Pakistan where he took four wickets and scored 16 runs. His bowling figures for the match were 36-7-91-4. West Indies won that match by 156 runs. After making his first class debut in 1973, he served the TT team as captain from 1984 – 1991. Following his retirement, he served as a police officer, a liaison officer for the West Indies team and was a volunteer for the Cricket World Cup 2007 in the Caribbean.

Rangy Nanan The WICB offers condolences to his family and close friends. Lara hails “team player” Rangy Nanan Brian Lara today expressed his sadness and condolences to the family and friends of Rangy Nanan upon hearing the news of his passing! “In just over a month, the cricket fraternity has lost another of our nation’s and region’s great cricketers in Rangy Nanan. To Rangy’s family and friends, I extend my deepest sympathies. I will always have fond memories of Rangy, not only of his love, passion and dedication to the game as a player and administrator, but for the

integral role he has played in my own cricketing career. We spent many enjoyable moments together in the Trinidad & Tobago dressing room. My greatest memory will have to be the countless battles we had in the nets against each other. It always felt like if I was at school when facing his prodigiously turning off breaks. I learnt a lot about the art of playing spin from Rangy Nanan. I think he enjoyed bowling to me and I definitely enjoyed batting against him and learning from him.”. Lara went on to add, “I cannot recall ever going to the Oval, up to very recently, without Rangy being there. He had a devotion to the game that was unparalleled and he shared his wisdom freely to all the cricketers he came in to contact with. We are all better players and individuals because of him and the wisdom he so freely and readily imparted. We will miss him… I will miss him”.

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Johan Cruyff: Netherlands great dies of cancer aged 68 Netherlands footballing great Johan Cruyff has died of cancer aged 68. Cruyff, who made his name as a forward with Ajax and Barcelona, was European footballer of the year three times. He won three consecutive European Cups with Ajax from 1971, coached Barcelona to their first European Cup triumph in 1992 and helped the Dutch reach the 1974 World Cup final, where they lost 2-1 to West Germany. The Dutch FA said: “Words can hardly be found for this huge loss.” It added that Cruyff was the “greatest Dutch footballer of all time and one of the world’s best ever” and wished everyone “a lot of strength in this difficult time”. King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands said the country had “lost a unique and brilliant sportsman”. He added: “He was a Dutch icon. He belonged to us all.” Holland’s friendly against France on Friday will stop after 14 minutes for a minute-long silence in tribute to Cruyff, who wore number 14 as a player. Barcelona FC expressed their “pain and sorrow” at the news of his death, adding: “We will always love you, Johan. Rest in peace.” Pele, regarded by many as the best footballer of all time, said Cruyff “was a great player and coach” who leaves a “very important legacy”. Bayern Munich’s Manchester City-bound manager Pep Guardiola, who played under Cruyff at Barca, said his former manager “painted the chapel and Barcelona coaches since have merely restored or improved it”. David Beckham called Cruyff a “true hero” who was “not just one of the best footballers in the history of the game but also one of the greatest men and nicest person you could meet”. Gary Lineker, an exBarcelona player, added: “Football has lost a man who did more to make the beautiful game beautiful than anyone in history.” Cruyff scored 293 goals in 521 appearances for five different clubs - including 204 in 276 games while winning 18 trophies in two spells for Ajax. He first showcased the ‘Cruyff turn’ at the 1974 World Cup in a match against Sweden and scored 33 goals in 48 internationals. With his precision passes, speed, technique and

Johan Cruyff is considered one of football’s greatest ever talents. goalscoring ability, Cruyff set new standards as a player. He helped end an era of dour defensive football, inspiring the Dutch team in their ‘Total Football’ offensive that took them to the 1974 World Cup final. Cruyff had double heart bypass surgery in 1991 and gave up smoking immediately after the operation, swapping cigarettes for lollipops. He even featured in a Catalan health department advert, warning the public: “Football has given me everything in life, tobacco almost took it all away.” Barcelona won four consecutive La Liga titles 1991 to 1994 - under Cruyff, who remained influential at the club after his sacking in 1995. Cruyff was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2015 but in February said he was “2-0 up” against his illness and was “sure I will end up winning”. He “died peacefully in Barcelona, surrounded by his family after a hard-fought battle with cancer”, according to a statement on his official website. Other tributes BBC football commentator Barry Davies said Cruyff deserved to be in the top three footballers of all time, along with Brazil’s Pele and Argentina’s Diego Maradona. “He was so exciting to

watch, so full of ideas,” Davies told BBC Radio 5 live. Manchester City and Belgium captain Vincent Kompany called Cruyff “true football royalty”, adding: “I don’t think anyone has ever influenced the game as much as he has done. Football will miss him, but we will never forget.” World Cup-winning Germany captain Lothar Matthaus said Cruyff was “a great man who transformed football”, while Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal called his fellow Dutchman “one of the true legends of the game”. A c c o l a d e s Ajax (as a player): European Cup x 3, European Super Cup x 2, Dutch league title x 8, Dutch Cup x 5, Intercontinental Cup x 1, Super Cup x 1. Ajax (as a manager): European Cup Winners’ Cup x 1, Dutch Cup x 2. Barcelona (as a player): Spanish league title x 1, Spanish Cup x 1. Barcelona (as a manager): European Cup x 1, European Cup Winners’ Cup x 1, European Super Cup x 1, Spanish league title x 4, Spanish Cup x 1, Spanish Super Cup x 3. Feyenoord (as a player): Dutch league title x 1, Dutch Cup x 1. (BBCsport)

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 25, 2016

Women’s World Twenty20 2016

England beat Windies off final ball England claimed a nervewracking final-ball, onewicket win over West Indies to move closer to the Women’s World Twenty20 semi-finals. Chasing 109, England slipped from 59-0 to 836, then 101-8. With seven needed off the final over, Anya Shrubsole scored four from two balls but was then bowled. A wide, a Rebecca Grundy single and a scrambled bye then got England home. England will reach the semi-finals if they beat Pakistan on Saturday. The 2009 champions will also secure a place in the last four if West Indies fail to beat India earlier on the same day. Charlotte Edwards’ side only just managed to scrape past India on Tuesday, with Shrubsole required to hit the winning runs with six balls to spare. Here, the finish was closer and also echoed the thrilling match between India and Bangladesh in the men’s tournament 24 hours earlier. 19.1 overs, Deandra Dottin to Shrubsole - two runs, five runs needed from five balls 19.2 overs, Dottin to Shrubsole - two runs, three from four needed, England in control 19.3 overs, Dottin to Shrubsole - dot ball, three from three required 19.4 overs, Shrubsole b Dottin

4 (Eng 106-9) - Shrubsole plays on to her stumps, only number 11 Rebecca Grundy is left 19.4 overs, Dottin to Grundy - wide, a precious run to England’s score 19.5 overs, Dottin to Grundy - one run, a single to point, Nat Sciver needs one from the final ball 19.6 overs, Dottin to Sciver - one bye, Sciver misses, England scamper across the line. On Wednesday, in exactly the same situation, India wicketkeeper MS Dhoni ran to the stumps to run out Mustafizur Rahman and win the match for his team. Here, Merissa Aguilleira threw and missed, giving England victory. BATTING ISSUES REMAIN Against India, and chasing only 90, England fell from 623 to 87-8 before sealing victory. Here, the collapse was just as dramatic, with middleorder problems looking to be a serious obstacle to England winning the World T20 for a second time. Tammy Beaumont and Charlotte Edwards appeared to have England cruising with an opening stand of 59, albeit if they were fortunate to survive a stumping and caught-behind appeal respectively. However, after Beaumont

English players celebrate the victory. was harshly adjudged lbw to Shaquana Quintyne, England imploded in an overall collapse of 9-47 brought about by a series of loose shots. BOWLING IN GOOD ORDER Eng l a n d ’s b o w l i n g , h o w e v e r, r e m a i n s a strength, particularly

seamer Shrubsole. The number one ranked T20 bowler in the world returned figures of 1-11 from her four overs, including the dismissal of Stafanie Taylor in the 19th over. At that time, Taylor’s 52run stand with Dottin looked set to launch West Indies to a winning score. Dottin also fell in the 20th over, looping

Jenny Gunn to wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor and England had a target that proved to be only just within their grasp. AUSTRALIA BEAT SRI LANKA Defending champions Australia cruised to a ninewicket victory over Sri Lanka in the Women’s World

Twenty20. Captain Meg Lanning (56) and Elyse Villani (53) shared an unbroken second-wicket stand of 98 as the Southern Stars got home with 14 balls to spare. Dilani Manodara and Chamari Atapattu both scored 38 for Sri Lanka but they were pegged back to 123-8 in Delhi. In Group B, Pakistan beat Bangladesh by nine wickets, overhauling 1139 with 21 balls to spare. Sidra Ameen scored an unbeaten 53 and Bismah Maroof 43 to seal a victory that leaves their side third in Group B, behind leaders England who beat secondplaced West Indies by one wicket in Dharamsala. Pakistan can still reach the semifinals if they beat England tomorrow. In Delhi, Sri Lanka won the toss and were well set 751 in the 11th over as Dilani Manodara and Chamari Atapattu both scored 38 before Australia took 7-43 to slow the scoring rate. The Southern Stars, now second in Group A behind New Zealand, face Ireland in Delhi tomorrow. They will definitely reach the semi-finals if they beat Ireland and South Africa fail to win their last two matches. (BBCsport)

CONCACAF announces women’s football leadership group Miami – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) has announced the formation of the Women’s Football Leadership Group that will be composed by female leaders from within the region, with the aim of supporting the Confederation’s efforts to further develop the women’s game in addition to raising awareness about the opportunities that football offers women beyond the pitch. ”The growth potential within the CONCACAF region represents an extraordinary opportunity for the Women’s Football Leadership Group to exchange best practices and analyze strategic actions to help promote the sport’s development,” said CONCACAF Acting General Secretary Ted Howard. ”We look forward to working closely with this task force, in order to create a

strong foundation while increasing opportunities for women on and off the field.” Ms. Sonia BienAime will chair the group. Bien-Aime, who serves as President of the Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) and a member of the CONCACAF Executive Committee, is one of three women on FIFA’s Executive Committee. ”On the heels of the recent FIFA reforms to promote gender equality and empowerment of women worldwide, CONCACAF is already putting the wheels in motion by utilizing the knowledge, skills and expertise of this group of very talented women, all of whom are recent graduates of the FIFA Female Leadership Development Programme (FLDP), to assist the Confederation with growing the women’s game in the region,” said Bien-Aime. “It’s no doubt a much needed and long awaited step of which I

Sonia Bien-Aime am very honored and excited to be a part of.” The Women’s Football Leadership Group is composed by graduates from FLDP. Members include the following individuals:

- Ms. Monique André, Executive Committee Member and President of Women’s Commission, Fédération Haïtienne de Football (Haiti) - Ms. Elieth Artavia, Women’s Football Development Director, Federacion Costarricense

de Fútbol (Costa Rica) - Ms. Chantel Bird, Women’s Committee Chairperson, U.S.V.I Soccer Federation (US Virgin Islands) - Ms. Lyndell Hoyte-Sanchez, National Women Teams Manager, Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (Trinidad and Tobago) - Ms. Ana Rabell, Executive Committee Member and President of Women’s Football Commission, Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol (Puerto Rico) - Ms. Shequita Parson, Chairperson for Security and Executive Committee Member, Bermuda Football Association (Bermuda) - Ms. Gwendolyn Salmon, Vice President, Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (Antigua and B a r b u d a ) - M s . M i l d r e d We v e r, Women’s Football Coordinator, Arubaanse Voetbal B o nd (Aruba) - Ms. Malaika Church ( G r e n a d a ) The FLDP initiative is part of

FIFA’s Women’s Football Development Programmes for 2015-2018 and is aimed at: - Identifying, supporting and developing strong female leaders in football - Providing opportunities for women to access senior decision-making levels in football FIFA and CONCACAF are working together and enhancing their efforts towards women’s football development. The creation of this group is a key action to ensure the visi o n o f b o t h o r g a n i z a t i o n s . Further initiatives to promote the w o m e n ’s g a m e i n c l u d e the launch of the camp a i g n “ I t ’s O u r Ti m e ” , which is geared towards increasing awareness of women’s football and promoting its benefits, while encouraging the continued investment in the sport. Additional information on the group’s meetings and the “It’s Our Time” campaign will be available in the coming weeks.

Friday March 25, 2016

Kaieteur News

STAG / EBFA Senior League

Agricola needle KK Warriors

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Hampshire sign Darren Sammy Darren Sammy

Kacy ‘Boombie’ John (outstretched hands) in celebratory mood after scoring from the spot. KK Warriors custodian Ethan Sparman is on hands and knees after being beaten. Agricola Red Triangle on account of a 60th minute penalty from Kacy ‘Boombie’ John took full points from Kuru Kururu Warriors in the lone match of the STAG / East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Senior League which was contested on Sunday at the Grove Playfield. In a match that saw the Wa r r i o r s c r e a t i n g t h e majority of chances but failed to score, Agricola, runners-up to defending

champions Grove Hi Tech, made good on their only serious chance to win the match. It was John himself who was fouled in the box by the warriors’ Joshua Oselmo and he made the opponent pay for that slip up. What made the loss even more heartbreaking for Kuru Kururu was the fact that Agricola was reduced to 10 players in the 33rd minute when Collis Samuels was given marching orders by

the Referee for using abusive language to one of the Assistant Referees; Samuels will now have to miss two matches. But despite the loss, Agricola still rallied to win the match as Kuru Kururu blundered on too many occasions including the penultimate minute when one of their players missed an open goal. Sunday’s opening match did not come off as Diamond United gifted a walk over to

Mocha Champs. Agricola will now face of with defending champions Grove Hi Tech in a crucial match this Sunday which will have a bearing on the eventual outcome of the league. It is always a ding dong battle between these two sides and Sunday’s feature match is expected to be no different. The opening match at 13:00hrs will see Soesdyke match skills with Herstelling Raiders.

Hampshire Cricket are pleased to announce the signing of West Indian all-rounder Darren Sammy for the 2016 NatWest T20 Blast. The big-hitting St Lucian, who is hugely experienced in the shorter format having played in all of the best T20 competitions across the world, will be available for until his Caribbean Premier League (CPL) commitments at the start of July. Sammy’s first match at the Ageas Bowl will be Hampshire’s NatWest T20 Blast clash against the Kent Spitfires on Thursday 2 June. The West Indies T20 captain is more than familiar with the T20 Blast after a big impact during a short stint with Nottinghamshire last season, averaging 41 with the bat in four matches. More recently, the 32-year old featured in the Pakistan Super League, in a team captained by new Hampshire man Shahid Afridi, whilst this month he skippered the West Indies to an unbeaten start in the ICC World T20 in India. (Hampshire CCC)

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 25, 2016

Wins for Antigua and Barbuda, Martinique, Barbados and Guadeloupe on day 2 St. John’s, Antigua - Day 2 of the Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup 2016 qualifiers saw Antigua and Barbuda defeating Aruba, Martinique beating a resolute BVI, Guadeloupe needing a penalty shootout to get past Suriname and Barbados shocking Curacao. Antigua and Barbuda 2 1 Aruba Antigua and Barbuda defeated Aruba 2-1 at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds in North Sound. Joshua Parker opened the scoring for the hosts in the 4th minute of play. The Benna Boys then doubled their lead in the 23rd minute with a goal from Adriel George. Aruba would find the score sheet in the 28th minute with a strike from Fredrick Gomez. In the end, Antigua and Barbuda would hold out for a 2-1 victory over Aruba in the Group 1 match-up. Martinique 3 - 0 British Virgin Islands Martinique, playing at home at the Stade Pierre

Aliker in Group 7 action, opened the scoring in the 12th minute of play against the British Virgin Islands. Yuan Aquino made it 2-0 in the 68th minute, while Steven Lange scored Martinique’s third and final goal in the 84th minute. At the final whistle it was Martinique 3, BVI 0. Barbados 1 - 0 Curacao In the round’s shock result Barbados overcame Curacao at the Usain Bolt Stadium in Bridgetown, taking control of Group 4. The Barbadians’ lone goal came in the second half when Romario Harewood gave his side the lead in the 69th minute of play. Curacao failed to equalize and the match ended 1-0 in favour of Barbados. Guadeloupe 0 - 0 Suriname - Penalties - (3-2) Guadeloupe and Suriname’s Group 6 match at Stade Renee Serge Nabajoth Les Abymes in Guadeloupe would be the tournament’s first game to end on penalty kicks.

CFU Action Both teams battled but it the first half. was nil-all after 90 minutes Cuba doubled the lead in of play. the 77th minute with a strike It was Guadeloupe who would, however grab the 3 points by defeating Suriname 3-2 on penalties. Cuba and Grenada triumph on Day 1 Cuba 2-1 Bermuda Playing at Pedro Marrero Stadium in The Rose Hall Town Havana, Cuba defeated Youth and Sports Club, M.S Bermuda 2-1 to take in association with the control of Group 3. The National Commemoration Cubans opened the scoring Commission for Guyana’s through Deniel Luis in the 50th Independence 29th minute of play, Anniversary celebrations taking a one nil lead into would be hosting a one-day Cavalcade of Sports at the Area ‘H’ ground on Sunday April 24 to coincide with independence celebrations. The event would also be used to show case the club’s Te a m s c a n c o n t a c t achievement which led to them receiving the Medal of GSCL Inc. A s s i s t a n t Service from the Secretary/Treasurer Russell Government o Guyana. A special committee has Jagbeer on 226 4205 or been set up by the club which Samuel Kingston on 619 w i l l be headed by 5103 for more information. Secretary/CEO Hilbert Star Party Rentals, Payless Foster to plan for this event. Variety Store, Elegant Other members of the Jeweller y a n d P a w n Committee are Keith Hicks, Shop, Top Brandz and Ravin Kissoonlall, Franklyn Regal Sport and Regal S t a t i o n e r y a n d Ross, Levi Nedd, Sydney computer centre are the C o r t , Te r r y P i k e a n d sponsors on board so Elizabeth Brusch. T h e N a t i o n a l far.

GSCL Inc to host Independence Cup The Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc) will be hosting the 50th Independence Anniversary tournament from May 2022. The competition will be played in the open and over-45 categories; the winning team in the open segment will pocket a trophy and $200,000 while the runner up will receive a trophy and $50,000.

The top team in the over45 division will take home a trophy and $100,000 and the runner up a trophy and $50,000 while members of the finalists will be given medals. Everest, GNIC SC and Carifesta Sports Complex are the venues identified for the preliminary round games while the launching and draw will be done shortly at GNIC SC.

from Alberto Luis, making the match 2-0. Bermuda would score a consolation goal in the 90th minute of play through Jonte Smith to end the encounter 2-1 in favour of Cuba. Grenada 5-0 St. Maarten Grenada, meanwhile, welcomed back St. Maarten to Caribbean Cup action by defeating the DutchCaribbean team 5-0 at the Grenada National Stadium. After being held goalless in the first half, Jake Rennie broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute. Minutes later, in the 54th minute, Jamal

Charles double Grenada’s lead. The third goal for the Spice Isle came from a St. Maarten own goal in the 56th minute. T h e h o m e t e a m ’s second-half blitz in the Group 2 encounter continued when Shavon John-Brown added a fourth goal in the 67th, while Shane Rennie made it 5-0 in the 87th minute of play. The Caribbean Cup is a biennial event that qualifies teams to the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Jamaica’s Reggae Boys are the defending champions.

RHTY&SC and Government to host 50th Independence Cavalcade of Sports Commemoration Commission via the National Sports Commission would be pumping $490,000 into the day’s events which will cover prizes and trophies for six sporting competitions. Foster disclosed that the events would be five-over cricket, two team softball, football, volleyball, basketball and athletics. Four teams would contest the hard ball cricket. The volleyball and basketball tournaments would have attractive cash prizes and trophies at stake for the top two teams. Trophies would also be given to the top performers in several athletic and cycling events that would be held after the cricket. Athletics, cycling and cricket would take place on the ground while the five a side football, volleyball and basketball tournament would be placed on the venue’s all

weather Court. Athletic events include the 100m, 400m and 800m for both male and females; 1500m for males along with a 4 x 100m relay races for males and females. There would also be 800m and 1500m cycling for males and females. Foster also disclosed that special emphasis would be placed on getting athletes from schools in the Lower Corentyne area to compete in the athletic and cycling events. The finals of the football, volleyball and basketball would be played under lights while several fun events would also be arranged. Interested teams from the Lower Corentyne area can contact the RHTY&SC M.S on Telephone number 337 4 5 6 2 o r e m a i l foster_hilbert@yahoo. com

Friday March 25, 2016

Kaieteur News

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NSC Easter Swimming programme

Coaches satisfied with progress of participants Swim Coaches Marisa Wray and Marcia Rodrigues both expressed satisfaction with this year’s National Sports Commission’s (NSC) Easter Swimming classes which is presently ongoing at the Colgrain Pool, Camp Street. The two-week programme began on March 21 and runs until April 1 with two classes from Mondays to Fridays. The first Class is from 09:00hrs to 10:00hrs and caters for children aged between 6 and 7 while the 10:00hrs to 11:00hrs seasons is for eight year-olds. Rodrigues is in charge of the first class which accommodates 22 students while Wray said two more children were enrolled yesterday bringing the number of her class to 24. No entrance fee is required and according to the Coaches they catered for about 100 students attending adding that if the number was higher

Coach Marisa Wray and her young charges at the pool yesterday. they would have gotten more Coaches. ”Even though the Easter programme is four weeks shorter than the summer

Potaro Strikers and Bartica South are Phoenix Sports Club U-13 and U-17 champions Bartica Potaro emerged Under-13 champions while Bartica South took the Under-17 title when the inaugural Phoenix Sports Club organised tournaments concluded on Sunday last at the Bartica Community Center ground. Bartica Potaro for their efforts won the Gordon Bradford (Regional Chairman – Bartica) trophy along with the Citizens Bank floating trophy. Beaten finalists, Bartica North were presented with the Citizens Bank runnerup trophy. In the third place match, Goshen defeated Bartica Central and took home the Citizens Bank third place trophy. Ta k i n g a w a y t h e individual prizes were Ian Gomes (Most Valuable Player), Tyrese Gomes (Highest Goal Scorer), Delon Jones (Best Goalkeeper), O’Neil Richardson (Best MidFielder) and Daniel Jeffrey (Best Defender). Goshen Football Club was adjudged the Best Dressed Team. In the Under-17

tournament, Bartica South defeated Bartica Potaro 2-0 in the final to win the Gordon Bradford trophy as well as the Harts Mineral Company floating trophy. Bartica Potaro was presented with the Hart’s Mineral Company runnerup trophy. Individual standouts were Coby Jones (Highest Goal Scorer), Michael Hendricks (Highest Goal Scorer) Marlon Cain (Best Goalkeeper), Nicholas Harrison (Best Defender) and Anzel Edwards (Best Mid-Fielder). The Bartica Football Association is expressing thanks to the following sponsors for contributing towards the success of both competitions. H a r t ’s M i n e r a l C o m p a n y, H o p k i n s o n Mining, SR Mineral Trading, Dave Younge C y c l e Wo r l d , A n i t a ’s Fashion, M.N. Kassim & Sons General Store, Vijay & Sons, Three Brothers Supermart, Regional Chairman Mr. Gordon Bradford and title sponsor, Citizens Bank Guyana Inc.

sessions, which is further cut short by Good Friday and E a s t e r M o n d a y, I a m satisfied with the progress of the kids,” said Wray, who

teaches the eight-year-olds. Rodrigues echoed Wray’s sentiments adding that the older children are at the Aquatic Centre on the

East Coast while explaining that beginners are taught How the enter the pool, Making bubbles, Kicking and pushing off the wall and

floating. The next session for both classes will be on Tuesday after the Easter Weekend. (Sean Devers)

Junior football to be focus as Pele FC North America Alumni celebrate 45th anniversary Linden Carter, Head of the Organising Committee of Pele Football Club’s 45th anniversary celebrations informed that a number of activities are being sponsored by the North America Alumni under the theme ‘Making a better life through Sports and Education’ from today to mark the event. Pele was founded in 1971 and Under-15 and 17 tournaments are presently being contested in the name of the club’s first President, Frank Watson. Today’s activities commences with an opening Ceremony at GFC from 09:00hrs before the U-15 final kicks off at 10:00hrs and the U-17 final at noon. Stella Maris Primary and St Stephens’ Primary, the two top Girls’ teams at Primary school level, will face-off in an exhibition game from 14:00hrs. Pele’s Masters will go head-to-head with an overseas Veterans unit from 17:00hrs before the opening night climaxes under lights with the elite teams from Pele and Alpha battling each other from 19:00hrs. On Easter Sunday a fun day for the young ones will

Linden Carter

be held at GFC starting from 10:00hrs. Athletic contests and novelty games will be contested while snacks will be provided for all youths. Special prizes will be awarded to the first 20 children and adults arriving by 10:00hrs. Admission to all events is free. On Tuesday school bags with educational supplies will be distributed to youths in need of additional support. Wednesday will see a three-hour Coaches Seminar at GFC from 09:00hrs and a football camp for the

youngsters. Carter stated that all kids will receive a football and a back pack with School supplies adding that meals and refreshments will be provided for Wednesday’s activity. Carter, who played in Pele’s inaugural match and now resides in the USA) informed that the activities will conclude with five matches at GFC on Thursday. The competition should be intense when arch rivals Pele FC and Santos FC go

head-to-head at various levels at the Mecca of the sport in the city. From 14:00hrs Pele and Santos tangle at U-15 and from 15:00hrs the U-17s will be the focus. From 16:00hrs the overseas Masters play Santos activities ends with what should be a pulsating match-up between Pele’s Elite reserves and the Santos’ senior team from 17:00hrs. The week of events culminates on Friday evening (April 1) with a Sports & Education Awards Banquet at the Georgetown Club where the winners of the Primary and Secondary school’s Essay Competition will be awarded their prizes which include a lap top, desktop and cash vouchers. The competition was facilitated by the Ministry of Education. ”Pele FC Alumni Corporation is a Non-profit Organization registered in the USA and our vision is to empower children in Guyana through sports to help them overcome their poverty by building their confidence, self esteem and ambition through the power of sports. (Sean Devers)

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 25, 2016

West Indies’ chance to seal semi berth It has been talked up as the fixture that will decide Group 1, making the matchup between South Africa and West Indies perhaps the most intriguing of the group so far.West Indies hold the aces after two wins from their opening two matches. A third will see them take control of the group and set themselves up to top it, with only Afghanistan left to play. It will also guarantee them a semi-final berth. South Africa remain far away from such safety. Defeat to England means that even after beating Afghanistan, they still have to deal with the two most recent champions if they are to ensure advancement. On paper, South Africa should not be too anxious of the West Indian challenge, but we all know the saying about where sport is actually played. In sharp focus will be the contrasting approaches of these two sides. Wellplanned South Africa take on c a r e f r e e We s t I n d i e s , perhaps the last people they want to see when under pressure - it means South Africa have to think of what they can expect and what they can’t from a West Indies side that thrives on the spontaneous. Already, one of South Africa’s strategies - to use JP

Duminy to bowl more - has been spoiled because Duminy is injured. West Indies don’t even have that worry after Chris Gayle’s injury scare passed. For both sides, this may be their toughest test before the knockouts. As such, whoever wins this may become favourite for the title. In the spotlight With spin set to take centre-stage Imran Tahir and Samuel Badree could be game-changers, albeit in different ways. Badree has opened the bowling against England and Sri Lanka, against whom he was both container and destroyer-in-chief, while Tahir tends to be held back for when the fielding restrictions are lifted. Both times, he has been successful in pulling back opposition from fast starts but they may not get off to those if he is used earlier on. Should South Africa be p o n d e r i n g a n y experimentation in the PowerPlay, then Nagpur will be the venue and West Indies the team to do it against. Unlike Mumbai, where South Africa conceded 89 and then 64 against England and Afghanistan respectively, things will slow down at VCA and West Indies already seem to like it

Star Party Rentals annual cycle race on tomorrow Some of Guyana’s leading cyclists will renew rivalry when the third edition of the Star Party Rentals, National Park 11-Race Meet takes place tomorrow at Guyana’s only indoor facility from 09:00hrs. Eleven events are carded for the day with the feature race being the 35-lap contest for school boys and novices. A new winner of this event will be crowned as last year’s winner; Team Coco’s Hamza Eastman (One hour 17 minutes 39 seconds) is currently training in Columbia. Other events slated are 12-14 boys and girls, Veterans Under-50, Veterans Over-50, Veterans Over-60, Juvenile, Mountain Bike, BMX boys 9-12, BMX boys 12-14 and BMX boys 6-9.

Andre Fletcher and Andre Russell celebrate West Indies’ win, Sri Lanka v West Indies, World T20 2016, Group 1, Bangalore, March 20, 2016 ©AFP

that way. They’ve scored 55 and 39 in their previous two PowerPlays but, importantly, have only lost one wicket in each to ensure they stick to a more traditional approach of keeping firepower for the end. Team news JP Duminy’s injury-

enforced absence means the balance of South Africa’s side will be affected. They will have to bring in a batsman to replace Duminy in the middle-order with Rilee Rossouw and Farhaan Behardien competing for the spot, but they will also need to make room for an extra spinner.

Aaron Phangiso should make his first international appearance in five months, at the expense of either Chris Morris or David Wiese. Kagiso Rabada will have to lead the attack if Dale Steyn continues to sit out. Quotes ”I’ve said it many times, once we do what we do well, we are a force to reckon with.

We are very destructive. We’ve doing just the basic things well.” West Indies’ Darren S a m m y ”[When] you peak at the right time, that’s when you win tournaments. When it happens the other way around, you generally fall out in those [big] games. As a team, we’ve been possibly going at 60-70% for a while and I’m hoping that we’ll step up a gear when it comes to crunch time.” South Africa’s Faf du P l e s s i s South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 AB d e Vi l l i e r s , 5 R i l e e Rossouw/Farhaan Behardien 6 David Miller, 7 David Wiese/Chris Morris, 8 Kyle Abbott 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Aaron Phangiso 11 Imran Tahir Chris Gayle has been declared fit to face South Africa after tweaking his hamstring in the Sri Lanka match, which should see West Indies go in with the same XI as they used for that game. West Indies: 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Andre Fletcher, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Dinesh Ramdin (wk), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Dwayne Bravo, 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Carlos Brathwaite, 10 Samuel Badree, 11 Sulieman Benn. (ESPNcricinfo)

Regal Sport/Trophy Stall T20-Wakenaam

Osbourne, Daniells guide Sans Souci, SS Jaguars into final Sans Souci and Sans Souci Jaguars have secured their places in the final of the Regal Sport/Trophy Stall T20 tournament after recording convincing victories in their respective semi final matches played on Sunday in Wakenaam. Sans Souci defeated Good Success by 20 runs at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground. Batting first Sans Souci were reduced to 35-5 before Wayne Osbourne and Kumar Persaud added 66 for the sixth-wicket to repair the early damage. Osbourne struck five fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 68 while Persaud made 20. Jermaine Wolf offered support down the order with 39 while Seon Venture scored 20. Imran Khan had 224. Good Success responded with 138 all out in 19.4 overs. They lost a few early wickets before

Wayne Osbourne Charles Benjamin and Wazir Khan featured in a fourth-wicket partnership of 55. Banjamin hit three fours in

scoring 40 while Khan got 30. Following their demise Good Success struggled against some steady bowling with only Gurnauth Khemraj 19, Shoaib Namaz 18 and Imran Khan 15 offering any resistance. Galo Persaud had 3-26 while Devon Rambarran and Venture picked up two each. Sans Souci overcame G Square Cavaliers by 55 runs at the said venue. Batting first, Sans Souci Jaguars posted 158-9. Derwin Daniells struck 55, Prem Persaud cracked 40, Dellon Osbourne made 22, Zameer Zaman 20 and Nokta Moses 18; Kamal Khan took 3-24 and Jaggernauth Manbodh 2-30. G Square Cavaliers were bowled out for 103 in 19.4 overs in reply. Manbodh and Chandrika Ragnauth got 20 each, Khan 18 and Satnarine Sahadeo 15; medium pacer Daniells captured 4-26 and Beesham Moses 2-19. The final will be played on Sunday at the said venue.

Friday March 25, 2016

Kaieteur News

Page 43

Corona Beer Beach Soccer League Banks DIH, Trophy Stall Kuru Kururu Warriors come big for Guyana Cup edge Silver Bullets 6-5 Fever horserace spectacular Number of new imports lined up for feature event

Cordel Johnson (center) flanked by Nigel Bennett (right) and Kevon Walker, KK Warriors goal scorers.

Proprietor of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich presents a collection of trophies to Nazrudeen Jumbo Jet Mohammed Jr at the Trophy Stall. With some last minute juggling taking place and action time just a few days away all roads leads to the famous Arima Park Turf Club, Rising Sun, West Coast, Berbice for the Guyana Cup Fever Horserace meet slated for this Sunday. The event, which is organised by the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables in collaboration with the Rising Sun Turf Club, has a massive $10M injection. With thousands of Guyanese home as usual for the Easter celebrations the Rising Sun Turf Club is expected to be bursting at the seams as it has been confirmed that over 70 entries have been received for the richest Easter holiday event. Seven top class races are on the cards with most of the top horses in the country slated to participate. Beverage Giants Banks DIH Limited and the Trophy Stall have come on board in a big way for the event. Apart from the Jumbo Jet Businesses, other major sponsors include Nanad Persaud and Company Limited, Shariff Business Entity and racing Stables, Fazal Habibulla and the Rising Sun Cattle ranch, Chester Fry Chicken of Bush Lot West Coast Berbice and Kris Jagdeo and Company.

At the moment the facilities at the RSTC are in the best of condition especially with the long dry season the stands, track and paddock have all being spruced up and a day of action packed racing is anticipated. The Jumbo Jet stable has so far confirmed over 10 runners for the day’s event. Other big stables such as the Shariff, Bacchus, Elcock, Singh, Bactowar, Crawford, Jagdeo, Baker, Habibulla and Mahaicony among others are expected to field multiple entries. A preview of some of the horses listed to participate in the various events will show that - The feature A and lower 1400M event for a $1.2million purse and trophy will see the likes of C.P Got Even, Just call Me Bass, American Boss, Plum Plum and Spit Fire throwing down the gantlet against new sensation Golden Blue Echo of the Nand Persaud Stable. They will be joined by a number of newly imported animals in the likes of King’s Knight and Climate Change of the Jumbo Jet Stable and Because I Say So of the Elcock Stable. These animals have come in with high ratings and are expected to take the arena by storm. The F1 and lower event has the likes of Swing East, Release the Beast, Right To

Rule and Precise Gold battling for the winner’s take of $600,000 and trophy over 1400M. Witchy Poo will be looking for another win in the 1100M event for West Indies bred three year old animals, but will have to beat off the likes of Time Line, C a r i c o m D a n c e r, R e d Rocket and Isn’t She Charming for a top prize of $400,000 and trophy. The G2 and lower 1400M match up will see such animals as Rosetta, It’s (Continued on page 32)

Led by indefatigable striker Cordel Johnson, Kuru Kururu Warriors held strong when they came from behind to defeated Silver Bullets (which played back to back matches) 6-5 when competition continued in the inaugural Corona Beer sponsored Guyana Beach Football Association, Beach

Soccer League. Johnson fired in a double as did Kevon Walker and Nigel Bennett in crafting a memorable win for the Linden Soesdyke Highway based team. On target for the losers, Silver Bullets were Kellon Adams with a brace, Geshawn Freeman and

Robin Adams. The opening match between Silver Bullets and Attention Family had to be abandoned with 7 minutes to game time as a result of a fight between two opposing players. The competition will continue on Sunday at the Kuru Kururu ground from 18:30hrs.

t r o Sp

Second Annual International Dominoes Tournament launched Five countries confirmed to date

President of the GDA and Organiser of the upcoming International Tournament Faye Joseph (6th left) and WDC representative Gregory Bledman (4th left) pose with members of the Organising Committee at yesterday’s Launch.

STAG / EBFA Senior League

Agricola needle KK Warriors

Action in the Agricola (red) and Kuru Kururu Warriors STAG / EBFA Senior League.

West Indies’ chance to seal semi berth Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210