Wednesday March 30, 2016
Kaieteur News
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There are three theories on the first humans in Guyana
The Brian Tiwarie appointment is hard to believe and accept
DEAR EDITOR, I refer to a letter in Kaieteur News, March 29 issue, entitled: “My country’s history needs to be told” that endorses a letter in the Stabroek News, March 25 issue, entitled: “Amerindians were not the first people on the continent.” There are three theories of how the first people came to Guyana. The first is that Guyanese Amerindians were the first people on earth: Two men Makonaima and Pia and two women Mazaruni and Cuyuni left their homeland called the Place of the Sun through a hole on a ladder leading down into Earth. Makonaima married Mazaruni and Pia married Cuyuni and their descendants populated the E a r t h . h t t p : / / guyanachronicle.com/ preserving-our-literaryheritage-amerindian-folkloretales-of-makonaimaschildren-by-henry-josiah/ The second, validated by human DNA variations, says that humans developed in sub-saharan Africa from early primates about 200,000 years ago, with some immigrating about 60,000 years ago to
DEAR EDITOR, Your article captioned “Brian Tiwarie (BK) appointed Business Advisor to Government” carried in your March 28, 2016 edition makes interesting reading, and the one captioned “A criminal probe will answer all questions…..East Bank housing land scandal” carried on March 29 makes even more interesting reading. Editor, it befuddles the mind of any right and logical thinking person that amidst a reported scandal whereby Mr. Tiwarie is embroiled in an imbroglio that involves millions of Guyanese patrimony could be appointed as an advisor on business to this government. It’s reported that this gentleman was bequeathed by the previous administration 100 acres of prime real estate land on the East Bank of Demerara to a specially created entity,
Yemen in middle Asia. Descendants of these early immigrants moved to South Asia about 50,000 years ago, Europe about 30,000 years ago and Central and East Asia 20,000 years ago. These immigrants evolved different physical appearances to maximize survival in the environmental conditions they encountered. Descendants of the Central Asian immigrants migrated to the Americas, populating all of South America about 10,000 years ago. https:// genographic.nationalgeo graphic.com/human-journey/ The third is that all people on earth are descendants of Noah’s three sons (Shem, Japhet and Ham) who went to the Middle East, Europe and Africa after the great biblical flood about 5,000 years a g o . h t t p : / / www.biblearchaeology.org/ post/2005/12/11/A-UniversalFlood-3000-BC.aspx Except for the third theory which makes no mention of South America, it is absurd to say ”Amerindians were not the first people on the continent.” Kingsley Harrop
Quoting the Bible to condemn health deficiencies DEAR EDITOR, At eighty five and diabetic I had hoped that, with a change of Government, the health post here at Saxacalli, where I live, would have been provided with a blood sugar machine. To my disgust the situation has remained the same. Myself and other diabetics have to go either to Bartica or Parika, at great expense, where we have to pay for a test. Although our community is serviced by medical team from the West Demerara Hospital, we are told that the West Demerara Hospital has only one of these machines which cost paltry eight thousand dollars on the retail market. The Minister of Health needs to do less talking and more action to rectify the neglect of the
former Government of the health sector. While on the campaign trail we were promised the sun, moon and stars but now we are hearing only excuses. As soon as they received power, they gave themselves a whopping raise in salaries, money which could have provided a blood sugar testing machine for every health post and health centre in the entire country. The Bible says, “ The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it” Jeremiah 17:9 E. C. Lobert
Sunset Lakes, which was seemingly formed to facilitate the land transfer. The land was sold by the previous government to Tiwarie for G$458M; G$13M less than what it was worth 3 years before. Land value depreciates in this case! Two months after the land sale to Tiwarie by the Central Housing and Planning Authority, the goodly gentleman sold the said land to Bai Shan Lin Forest Development’s local principal, Chu Hongbo, for a whopping US$8M or G$1.6 billion. This transaction resulted in a profit of G$1.142 billion in 2 two months. No wonder this gentleman could be appointed an advisor to this government for business. From this phenomenal turnover in profit in such a short period he is worthy of being appointed the Minister of Business. Editor, this government
won the last election on its campaigned philosophy to stamp out corruption and pledged to the electorates that it will lead this nation on a trail of honesty, prudence and good management. I am afraid this appointment certainly defies that philosophy that this government campaigned upon. It is incomprehensible that a Vice President of this government, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, and a leading figure in the AFC faction of the APNU/AFC government is not aware of this appointment until he read about it in KN on March 28. Worst yet, as the subject minister responsible for national security he is recommending “an investigation into the lands, hundreds of acres of it worth billions of dollars, should be launched”. Well Mr. Minister, this is a case of a government whereby its right hand does
not know what its left hand is doing. On the one hand, the Minster of National Security is recommending a criminal investigation of the transaction of a gentleman who has been appointed on January 19, 2016 as Ministerial Advisor on Business Development by the Minster of State. It’s obvious that there is a serious conflict of interests by 2 most senior government ministers in this appointment. Surely, as a ministerial advisor on business, such an important appointment ought to have been discussed and endorsed at Cabinet. From Mr. Ramjattan’s public admission, it appears not. Can someone brings some semblance of order in this comedy, or is it tragedy, of national errors and convince this nation that it will practice what it preached? Over to you, Mr. President. Rovin M. Khan Blackbush Polder
CLINTON URLING IS WRONG ON THE NATURE OF THE LGC DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Clinton Urling fiercely rejects the idea of the Local Government Commission (see, for example, his letter in both SN and KN. His beefs are on two fronts: (i) the legislated power granted to the Local Government Commission (LGC) on staffing of local councils (to hire, fire, discipline, promote, etc) undermines, he declares, “democratic accountability”, and (ii) the formula to compose the LGC, he states, will make the LGC “a creature of the sitting government”. Mr. Urling’s first concern is on soft ground, but his second has firmer footing. On his first complaint, the LGC was set up to remove the
responsible Minister from exercising direct political control over administrative and executive personnel in the local councils, such as town clerks and overseers. Because these staff members were direct appointees of the Minister, they were beholden to that office and not to the elected councils. The situation led to much dysfunction and dissatisfaction. The amended local government legislation has removed the Minister from the decision-making chain and has transferred this responsibility to the LGC. It is here that Mr Urling fires his first salvo, for he believes (wrongly) that this function can only be exercised directly
hands-on. On the contrary. One effective approach commonly used by similar bodies elsewhere is for the LGC to exercise a rule-making, adjudicating and other oversight functions over staffing matters, allowing local councils to retain a respectable degree of direct executive power. If we take hiring of staff as an example. The LGC can stipulate clear preset rules on vacancies, applications, interviews and appointments for all councils to follow to ensure uniformity,
transparency and fair play. The commission can then exercise an oversight role (for instance, by monitoring or observing the short-listing and interview processes) to ensure rules compliance. There is no need, as Mr Urling fears, for the LGC to become the de facto human resource department in the municipalities and NDCs. Mr. Urling’s second complaint is, however, warranted, but not his solution. The formula to Continued on page 23
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Vague contract gives Courtney Benn ...as East Bank housing no deadline on 50 acres land scandal unravels It has been unearthed that yet another Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) transaction is one of many that has failed to deliver as promised. The land, some 50 acres, is located aback of the Providence Police Station and New Providence, a quiet, upscale community along Mocha Road. But five years after being allocated to Cumberland Developers Inc., not much has been done in terms of development. A bridge and gate are all that remain evident with the overgrown bushes. Cumberland Developers Inc. is owned by contractor, Courtney Benn. On April 28, 2011, Benn signed an agreement with the Central Housing and Planning Authority to pay $225M for the plot. The agreement does not say how many acres, unlike many of the other deals that the authority did that year with a number of developers. Cumberland Developers paid over $62.5M as an advance and was supposed to pay $56.25M when
Courtney Benn infrastructural works were completed. A similar amount would have been paid over two months after that and the remainder of $50M on the passing of the block title. CH&PA insisted that time was of essence in the agreement. Cumberland Developers was supposed to immediately mobilize and enter the land on the signing of the agreement and start infrastructural works. These works would include access roads, bridges, culverts, drainage, water and electricity
Little work has been done to develop the land along Mocha Road, in Providence, by Cumberland Developers. networks. CH&PA, in the agreement, said it must approve the designs of the homes that the developer would build and can only sell to persons who do not own other property elsewhere in Guyana. The developer was told that he would have to finance the infrastructure and the construction of the homes. The delay of works at the plot in the possession of
Cumberland is similar to that of several other developers not much going on. Benn has done nothing to date. Hundreds of acres between Peters Hall and Golden Grove area have been transferred to 20-odd developers, but CH&PA has failed to monitor them to ensure that the lands were utilized. As a matter of fact some of the lands were sold en bloc,
just weeks after. This was evident in the plot that was sold to contractor Brian Tiwarie, owner of Sunset Lakes. Some 100 acres was sold to him. It was promised to him in February 2011 by CH&PA in a letter from Chief Executive Officer, Myrna Pitt. But the agreement was only signed three years later in February 2014 - which meant that the housing
authority held on the prime lands for three years. About eight weeks later, Tiwarie sold Sunset Lakes to Chu Hongbo, a Chinese logger for a significant profit. Tiwarie was supposed to have paid $458M. He sold the land for US$8M. Chu, however, only paid US$4M, and is now being sued by Tiwarie who wants back the lands and (Continued on page 21)
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Kaieteur News
St. Lucia PM pushes for rape unit …considers Sex Offenders List on heels of sex attacks CASTRIES, St. Lucia – Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony has expressed concern about the recent spike in rapes and has promised to ensure that police implement his suggestion to establish a dedicated unit to investigate rapes and bring perpetrators to justice. He says authorities must also explore the possibility of creating Sex Offenders List, and should start by looking at the experience of other countries that have moved in that direction. In a message following the recent spate of rapes, the St. Lucian leader says he feels a deep sense of outrage, revulsion and anger. “It is true that there have been many incidents of rape in the past, many of which have never been reported, but why is it that some men have suddenly felt emboldened
Dr. Kenny Anthony to commit these crimes in recent times?” he questioned. “It is clear that strong laws with stiff penalties are not enough. We have to look for other solutions.” In addition to proposing the dedicated rape unit and Sex Offenders List, Dr. Anthony said there needs to be a review of how rape victims
give evidence in court. “It is not right that a victim of rape has to undergo such trauma in giving evidence before a judge and jury. Giving evidence is a dehumanizing and traumatic experience. Should rape cases be heard before a jury?” he said, noting that suggestions that had been put on the table, including legalizing the use of pepper spray. The Caribbean Committee Against Sex Crimes has commended Dr. Anthony’s “forward thinking” suggestion of a special rape unit, describing it as “brilliant”. It said it is ready and willing to partner with the St. Lucia government to assist in the implementation of that unit, the Sex Offender List/ Registry, and any other policies it brings to the table. (Caribbean360)
Argentina claims UN boost in Falklands dispute Susana Malcorra
Buenos Aires (AFP) - Argentina has claimed a boost in its dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands, saying a UN commission endorsed an extension of its maritime territory. Britain and Argentina fought a war in 1982 over the British-governed islands, known as Las Malvinas in
Spanish, which claimed the lives of 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British soldiers and three islanders. Argentina’s foreign minister said Monday that the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLCS) had unanimously ratified its claim to expand the official area of its shelf in the
South Atlantic. “We have taken a great step forward in demarcating the outer limit of our continental shelf,” Argentine Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra said in a statement. She said the new maritime boundary expanded the area of continental shelf under Argentine sovereignty by 1.7 million square kilometers (656,000 square miles). Although the islands already lay within Argentine waters, the country hopes the new boundaries will strengthen its case further. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed that the UNCLCS adopted on March 11, without a vote and with amendments, an Argentine recommendation dated April 2009 seeking to extend its continental shelf. But he stressed that it did not rule on the country’s claim over the Falklands.
Italy rescues nearly 1,400 migrants in southern Mediterranean Reuters - Italian coast guard and navy vessels rescued nearly 1,400 migrants from boats and rubber dinghies in the southern Mediterranean on Tuesday, officials said, indicating numbers were rising as the weather warms up. About 570 were rescued by the navy and about 780 by the coast guard, according to Tweets from both branches of
the military. Also yesterday, some 730 migrants who had been rescued in various operations in previous days and transferred to a larger ship arrived in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo. Most of the migrants were from African countries and were believed to have left from Libya, which is widely lawless. Officials fear the numbers of migrants trying to reach
southern Italy by sea, relatively contained so far this year, will increase as sailing conditions improve in warmer weather. More than 1.2 million Arab, African and Asian migrants have streamed into the European Union since the start of last year, most of them via Greece rather than Italy after a much shorter sea journey from nearby Turkey.
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Wednesday March 30, 2016
Kaieteur News
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INTOLERANCE “Our task therefore, comrades, is to push on with our endeavours of revolutionizing our entire society. Concomitant with this, however, must be our ability to identify our class enemies and to impose imprisonment or death upon them depending on their level of counterrevolutionary activities.” Recently declassified documents have recalled that this statement formed part of a New Year’s message for 1979, issued by the youth arm of the People’s National Congress, the Young Socialist Movement (YSM). The person who declassified documents attributed as the source of the statement is still alive, and is active politically
within the present coalition government. The United States Embassy in Guyana took note of the statement in 1979 because of its call for imprisonment and death for the class enemies of the PNC and because of the coincidence of these remarks with Guyana entering into negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. The language of that New Year’s message showed the high degree of political intolerance within the then PNC. Interestingly, this statement was made during the height of the civil rebellion launched by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). It was made before Burnham’s public warning to
the leaders of the WPA that they should make their wills, because they had entered the amphitheatre, and that one of them had to die and the PNC was going to survive. While the statement by the YSM was interpreted as addressing the class enemies of the so-called PNC revolution, it had to have had some effect on the mindset of the supporters of the PNC against all enemies of the party, including possibly the WPA. Why was this extreme language necessary? It just shows how politically intolerant PNC rule was in Guyana, something that the new coalition government should try to avoid since the PNC, the main partner in
Dem boys seh...
Soulja Bai treat BK like a yo-yo When people stay off de job dem does get dem letter of dismissal. When dem do wrang thing like thiefing, dem does get knock off, too. Forestry and Housing people get letter of dismissal fuh something wha everybody know dem do. BK ain’t do nutten and he get knock off yesterday by Soulja Bai. Dem boys seh although people tell Soulja Bai that BK deh in China wid Li’l Joe transacting business fuh Guyana, Soulja Bai tell dem to fire him. BK and de same man who appoint him, Li’l Joe, was in de air heading to Guyana when dem get a phone call that BK is no more a business adviser. Soulja Bai even lef instruction at de airport fuh tek way his diplomatic passport that Li’l Joe authorize. This is a very funny world. This man was appointed and Soulja Bai didn’t know. Dem boys hear is that Sandra gyal pick up de Waterfalls paper and shout, “You so and so stupid? You fuh real? How you could put BK as business adviser?” Soulja Bai ask, “Who BK?”
She seh, “Is how much a dem you know in Guyana?” Is then Soulja Bai call Li’l Joe pun de plane and ask him, “Wah de so and so going on? You mekking people business adviser in secret? Well I gun fire him in public. “And when you come back I gun decide wha to do wid you.” One man seh that BK get like a yo-yo; one letter in and one letter out. Dem boys hear Sandra gyal tell him Jagdeo use to operate in secrecy and how he, Soulja Bai, did tell de nation how nutten will happen in secret under his presidency. She remind him, he also promise de nation to tek back every inch of Guyana, be it on land, air or de sea, that Jagdeo tek fuh heself, he friends, he family plus de Bees, including that same BK get. Dem boys seh dem like how he act here but he moving very slow on de audit reports that reveal skullduggery to de highest order. Talk half and watch how Li’l Joe trying to comfort BK.
APNU, carries with it the historic baggage, not just of intolerance and political persecution, but also rigged elections and undemocratic conduct. For months now, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 5 has had to cancel its monthly statutory meetings because persons connected with the ruling APNU+AFC have taken to disrupting the holding of these meetings. Their grouse is that the Chairman of the Region snubbed the President of Guyana when he visited the region to hand over a school bus. The persons who are refusing to allow the statutory meeting of the Council to be held are demanding that the Chairman of the Region apologize to the President. It is interesting that the President of Guyana, himself, has not called for an apology, but his supporters are insisting that the Chairman issue an apology to the President. In pursuit of this objective, they are disrupting the meetings of the council, and thereby hindering the work of the Region. They seem to have ignored the fact that both the President and the Regional Chairman are elected officials. The President is elected at general elections and the Chairman is elected at a meeting of councilors who are elected at regional elections. Both are political appointees,
and it is quite possible that they can come from different sides of the political fence. The Chairman of Region 5 is from the People’s Progressive Party. The PPP has made no official statement indicating that it is in protest mode, and that it has urged its Chairpersons to boycott events attended by the President. However, the reality is that the PPP is upset over some of the actions of the new government, which it has described as a political witch hunt. It could well be that the absence of the PPPC regional chairpersons at events at which the President is present, is a form of protest action. It could be. The right to protest is a constitutionally guaranteed right. Any action aimed at punishing person’s exercising this right is ultra vires of the constitution. Those who are preventing the Regional Democratic Council of Region 5 from meeting do not seem to be aware that their actions represent an assault on the freedom of individuals to protest. The disruptors are protesting against the right of others to protest. There is no convention that a Chairperson of a region has to be present whenever a President visits a Region. It is a common courtesy for the Regional Chairman to be present, but there is no convention that compels him
or her to be present. There is no obligation for a Regional Chairman to be present whenever the President visits his or her region. But there is a far more compelling reason why the Chairman of Region 5 should have stayed away from the activity organized by the activity of the handing over of a bus to the Region. This activity was converted to a political rally. Partisan speeches were made. The colours of the bus and the colours of the decorations used were the colours of the ruling coalition. The speeches were laced with partisan rhetoric. How can any Regional Chairman from another party be expected to participate in something like that? This is one of the criticisms being made about the distribution of these buses. The handing over of these buses was done at partisan rallies. How can a Regional Chairman for the PPP be expected to attend a rally of APNU+AFC? The danger of the actions taken by those who are refusing to allow the RDC to meet until an apology is offered, is that it represents the same sort of intolerance that was evident in Guyana in 1979. History is repeating itself in dangerous ways.
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THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Tiwarie’s titularity; Government’s titubation In the dying hours of last January, the government appointed Brian Tiwarie as its business advisor. One must assume that it is a titular thing. It cannot be an essential function, for the basic reason that Mr. Tiwarie has not established himself as an innovative entrepreneur. Mr. Tiwarie has no formal business education and is not a multi-layered capitalist. His main business is civil engineering. In very small, poor countries like Guyana, engineering firms rely mostly on contracts. If any fact is an established one in Guyana, it is the knowledge that Tiwarie grew bigger and larger in size with governmental contracts. So monopolistic was the relationship with Tiwarie’s
firm and the Jagdeo regime that it became the talk of the town and the source of opposition anger when the AFC and APNU were in the opposition. What academic and versatile knowledge in business does Tiwarie possess that could enable him to advise the APNUAFC regime? Immediately Yesu Persaud and Banks DIH spring to mind. They are multi-dimensional investors. Yesu Persaud is phenomenal. Look at his lines – mainstream commercial banking (Demerara Bank), small lending facility (IPED), commercial importation and supermarkets (Distributors Service Ltd), rum and soft drink production, fruit juice manufacturing etc. It is difficult to see how
persistent Government contracts to build roads, bridges etc could have qualified Mr. Tiwarie to be a business advisor to the Government. It is interesting to note that in the outlay of his monopolistic contracts, there has been severe criticism of some of his engineering executions, even by the PPP Government, in particular a wharf and a dumpsite. With each passing day, the leadership of APNU and AFC are ignoring the lessons of history. It is unbelievable that in the space of ten months, a new government can make such banal mistakes that experience would lead you to avoid. Mr. Tiwarie built up a reputation as a favoured contractor. My own thinking on the expansion of his firm is that it was done through the patronage of the state. He became rich and famous (one can argue infamous) not through the
route the Beharrys used, not through the initiatives of people like Yesu Persaud, but through the generosity of Bharrat Jagdeo. I have had a plethora of complaints about horrible exploitations in Tiwarie’s firm. Three years ago, a group of workers journeyed to the National Park to interrupt me from my jogging to show me employment contracts, the contents of which may be in violation of the laws of Guyana. There and then I called Tiwarie for a response, but his explanation was far from satisfactory. I turned our conversation into a column. I distinctly remembered in that discussion, Tiwarie told me he was strongly thinking of closing down. I believe Tiwarie’s large outfit is a violator of trade union rights It is obvious that the APNU-AFC outfit is riding high on its 2015 victory. From
all indications, the sweet taste of power has it so intoxicated that the resulting titubation is causing it to make unpopular decisions. Just a year ago, when in opposition, the monopoly of BK International was stirring the wrath of both APNU and the AFC. By some weird psychic contortion, this leadership finds Tiwarie so endowed with knowledge that he landed an advisory role with the government. The absurdity is too obvious, that one must assume that the appointment has more titularity than substance. It has to be. If not, then not only are the windows of power becoming opaque, but laughable, by its unsightly shape The world’s combined geniuses cannot fathom the minds of power-holders. Power is so inscrutable an element in life that it defies study. Why of all the talent available to it from intellectually gifted Guyanese around the world, would the Coalition want to make BK Tiwarie an advisor on business? To advise on what? How to build a road? How to use and repair a bobcat? How to buy a quarry and make it profitable through governmental contracts?
Frederick Kissoon Interestingly, Tiwarie’s huge five-storeyed structure at Vlissengen Road and Sandy Babb Street in Kitty was left in disuse for almost a year now. Suddenly since his appointment, construction has restarted. I wonder why. It would be interesting to know if the appointment came from the AFC quarters or from within the ranks of APNU. I know as night follows day that AFC Ministers have been telling their second and third tier leaders that they cannot employ them if they do not have qualifications. I have heard that from literally dozens of AFC members. What qualifications does Tiwarie have? So who made the decision – APNU or AFC? Just asking. And by press time the Ministry of the Presidency announced that it had rescinded the appointment of Brian Tiwarie.
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Bidders vie for $$M contract for contraceptives During yesterday’s session at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), there were several supply and delivery contracts. One of these was a multi-milliondollar contract for the supply and delivery of contraceptives. The project was under the Ministry of Public Health. And finally, there was a contract for the supply of outboard engines, All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) and reconditioned mini buses for the indigenous communities. Prices varied according to the three lots that were bid for.
In addition, there were bids for the supply of medical, pharmaceuticals and laboratory supplies.
The final contract under the Ministry of Public Health was for the supply of medical equipment.
Under Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), there were expressions of interest for consultancy services for its Human Resources Management Information System.
Meanwhile, under the Ministry of Education’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, there were also bidders for the procurement of a 100KVA generator.
Under the Protected Areas Commission, there were bids for the procurement of a boat and outboard motor.
Also within the ambit of the commission, there were bids for the procurement of office and communication equipment.
There were also bids for the procurement of a hydraulic mini excavator, under the National Parks Commission. Four companies had their bids read.
Under the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, there was a contract for the procurement of uniform-related materials and readymade uniforms. Bidders also submitted samples of the uniforms.
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Sisters Village manslaughter Prison deaths COI adjourned pending official date of continuation case for summing up today It is apparent that those desirous of testifying before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the disturbances of the Georgetown Prison, which left 17 inmates dead, will have to put their request on hold, given that the Commission is awaiting approval for an official date for continuation. The CoI was adjourned last week after eight prisoners presented evidence about the deadly March 3, 2016 fire. Among the witnesses to have testified are inmates Steve Bacchus and Collis Collison. Recently, Vickram Budram, an ex-inmate of the Prisons expressed willingness to testify before the COI. The former prisoner believes that his testimony can only be beneficial to the COI which must make recommendations for the reform of the system. However, the commission is awaiting word from Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on a date to officially
reconvene and continue its work. The Commission which comprises Justice James Patterson, Merle Mendonca and retired Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine was established to investigate, examine and report on the causes, circumstances and conditions that led to the disturbances on the morning of March 3, 2016, that resulted in the death of prisoners and any other subsequent disturbances at the Camp Street Prisons; the nature of all injuries sustained by the Prisoners, and any other subsequent disturbances. Stakeholders whose views will be considered by the commission may include staff of the Prisons and their representative unions, members of the j u d i c i a r y, prisoners accommodated within the C a m p St r e e t f a c i l i t y, f u n c t i o n a r i e s i n t he Ministries of Public Health
and Social Protection and any other stakeholder whose input would be deemed appropriate. According to the rules of procedure, the commission was expected to render its report, findings and recommendations to the Minister of Public Security by the 15th of March, 2016 or such other date as the Minister of Public Security shall determine. The Inquiry is continually held in the Conference Room of the Department of Public Service, Ministry of the Presidency, 164 Waterloo Street, South Cummingsburg, and can be held in such other places as the Chairman may determine. Additionally, the Inquiry is held in public, with reservation of the Commissioners to exclude any person/s deemed unfit for the due conduct of the Inquiry, the preservation of Order, or for any other reason.
Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry is set to sum up in the trial of Shameer Mohamed at the Georgetown High Court, today. Mohamed is facing a charge of manslaughter for Munrajie Amza, his reputed wife. The incident allegedly occurred on May 12, 2001, at Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara. The victim suffered severe burns about her body after she was set alight. According to the facts of the matter, presented by State Prosecutors Michael Shahoud and Orinthia Schmidt, the victim also called “Sandra” was drenched in kerosene before Mohamed lit a match and threw it at her. During the trial, former Police Sergeant Gordon Doobay testified via Skype that on May 16, he visited Amza after she was admitted at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for treatment. He recalled that the victim had told him that she believed she would
die as a result of her injuries. Amza told the detective that she poured the kerosene on herself on the morning of May 12, 2001 but it was the accused who lit the match, and she was burnt. Prosecutor Shahoud in presenting his closing arguments yesterday told the mixed 12-member jury that it was a clear case of manipulation. He referred to the words of the deceased in which she told investigators that her then lover had urged her to douse herself in kerosene to prove her love to him. But the accused, who is being represented by Attorney at law Michael Somersall, has repeatedly claimed he is innocent of the crime. Additionally, Parmanand Bharrat called “Navin,” the brother of the deceased, claimed that the accused told him that he was at home that day, when “Sandra,” set herself alight, and that he had tried to extinguish the fire.
Supt. Persaud performs Traffic Officer duties While Traffic Chief, Superintendent Dion Moore continues to recuperate from injuries he sustained in a vehicular accident a little less than a month ago, the Guyana Police Force has appointed Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud to perform the duties of Traffic Officer. Persaud who previously served in the Berbice Division is no stranger to the Traffic Department, having served
there for a number of years. On March 4, Moore was a passenger in a motorcar heading north along the East Bank Demerara (EBD) Public Road in the vicinity of Guyoil Service Station at Providence when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a utility pole. While the driver of the vehicle escaped without injuries, Moore sustained a fractured leg and rib.
Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Kaieteur News
Jamaican rice deal will organize Guyana’s supply, prevent under pricing - GRDB - Doerga reiterates country losing out in deal The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), is contending that its agreement with two Jamaican companies, described by some as “corrupt”, will organize rice supplies to Jamaica and prevent under pricing. The Guyana Rice Development Board recently signed the agreements with the Jamaica Rice Milling Company Limited and Musson (Jamaica) Limited. Both companies have agreed to import a total of 80,000 tonnes of rice from Guyana during 2016. In a release issued yesterday, GRDB’s board expressed confidence that the export of rice from Guyana will almost double in 2016. It noted that in 2015, export of rice from Guyana to Jamaica was 48,000 tonnes. “The agreements seek to organize the supply of rice to the Jamaican market and prevent under pricing and under invoicing by suppliers. The agreement allows the Jamaican companies to buy rice from licensed rice millers/ exporters from Guyana. Minimum orders of 1,500 tonnes will be given to mills for export.” “In addition to committing to import increased volumes of rice, the companies have also established a price schedule with the minimum price to be paid for white rice being US$ 400 per tonne.” “Prior to the agreements, Guyanese exporters were receiving prices ranging from US$345 – US$ 370 per tonne. This means that Guyanese millers will earn an additional US$30-US$55 per tonne of rice exported to Jamaica, or an additional US$2.4 million - US$4.4 million annually.”
GRDB noted that with the increased price for rice, millers are expected to offer a higher price for paddy. They noted that for the first (spring) crop of 2016, some mills have been paying between G$ 2,200 (grade C) – G$ 2,700 (grade A) per bag of paddy. “Millers have already begun to receive orders. One rice miller who has received a 3,000-tonne order, hailed the agreement as a very positive step in the development of the rice industry of Guyana, stating that he is very happy with the agreement that the GRDB has signed with the two companies in Jamaica.” However, rice industrialist Dr. Turhane Doerga has expressed a completely different view of the arrangement. According to Doerga, the agreement just boxes Guyana into a detrimental deal, when the price for rice will be on the rise. In addition, he is decrying the fact that $500 would have been a better benchmark to negotiate for, but was not pursued. Doerga is also questioning the fact that the deal has gone through without the knowledge of the GRDB. According to Doerga, to bypass the board of directors in signing the contract is a breach of the GRDB Act. “I am challenging them. Let them come with the parent company. We will challenge it in court, if necessary.” Doerga, in expressing his views of the situation yesterday, reiterated that the deal was an example of corruption in the agriculture sector. He also described the deal as another example of mismanagement.
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Vague contract gives Courtney... (From page 6) monies too. Developmental works on the land have been stalled as Chu Hongbo - whose family owns BaiShanLin, a company which is under fire for its activities here- has run out of cash. Also receiving lands were a number of others. The CH&PA transaction in 2014 would be a mere indication of the amount of money at stake when it came to the lands on East Bank Demerara. CH&PA reportedly had no official notice that the company had been sold. Rather, Sunset Lakes was introduced as a joint venture partner. The relationship between Tiwarie and the Chinese logger appeared to have soured after the latter failed to pay and he was sent several lawyer’s letters. Several housing developers are facing the possibility of their lands being repossessed for failing to meet deadlines. But in each case, the agreement with CH&PA is silent on what happens if the developer fails to satisfy the agreement. The issue of repossession does not arise. A number of them, like BK, have reportedly sold their plots, but those transactions will be
illegal as CH&PA’s agreements are specific—the developers are to build homes, not sell the lands or sell house lots. The Sunset Lakes transaction would continue to raise alarming questions about CH&PA, which oversees the state’s housing programmes. The deals, signed under the previous Government of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, have been angering state officials and citizens alike, for a simple reason. There are more than 25,000 applications for house lots in the database of the CH&PA. There are few plots of land for housing remaining in the East Demerara area. The new Government is under pressure to find new lands. Shortly after the David Granger administration took office last year, senior housing officials paid surprise inspection visits to lands stretching from Eccles to Golden Grove. The inspection team found little activities on the lands. The developers were hauled in for a meeting and given a February 2016 deadline to complete infrastructural works. However, not much progress has been made. There were
questions itself about some of the developers. One of them is Luxury Realty, whose director, Ravie Ramcharitar, is also a senior official in Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. That company is controlled by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, the best friend of the ex-President Bharrat Jagdeo. Another person who benefitted was Mohamed ‘Arafat’ Qualander, one of the owners of Queensway, a Water Street business. In November 2011, three days before General Elections, he signed a deal with CH&PA for 35 acres of land behind Golden Grove. He paid $500,000 per acre. He is a close friend of former President, Donald Ramotar. At the time, CH&PA was headed by former PPP/C Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali. Under his watch, the ‘Remigrant’ housing scheme was launched but its administration and who really received lands from the CH&PA are now being investigated. Reportedly, the current CH&PA Board of Directors, headed by City Mayor, Hamilton Green, has launched a number of investigations into several transactions by the entity.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 30, 2016
I hope Moses Nagamootoo knows his history DEAR EDITOR, The Stabroek News editorial of March 27, 2016 captioned “First-comers” states “One has the impression that the public’s familiarity with the history of this country is not as great as it used to be – all except the period since the Second World War - that is. Those seven decades are subject to endless recitation, at least one version of which forms the premise on which a whole political creed has been constructed. In contrast, a certain degree of vagueness attends the period before that, and confrontational debates are on occasion prosecuted on the basis of some very dubious historical data”. It seems to me that even with this post Second World War period, familiarity with the country’s history certainly appears questionable; and I am not referring to anyone’s version of the history of that period but to factual information which is easily verifiable. In the March 26, 2016 edition of the State-owned Guyana Chronicle, embedded within the article “Local Gov’t elections... BV - the community that has won the right to govern itself” are four bullet points of facts considered to be “Firsts for BV/Triumph”. Unfortunately, the last of these which states “BV is the only village to have produced
three ministers of education, namely Ceciline Baird, Vibert Mingo and Dr Henry Jeffrey” is inaccurate. It is an indelible fact of history that BV has produced four Ministers of Education, the first being Balram Singh Rai.Mr. Rai was born on February 08, 1921 at Beterverwagting Village. He attended Beterverwagting Government School (formerly Bethel Congregational School), after which he proceeded to Modern High School in Georgetown, from where he matriculated. Now in his 96th year, he resides in London, England. He is a Barrister of the Honorable Society of the Middle Temple, England, where he passed the 1952 Hilary Term Bar Examination with honors and was placed first among all overseas students. Earlier he had secured the LL.B Degree with Honors from London University in 1952, as an external student. In fact, Mr Rai was the Minister of Community Development and Education in the PPP Government of British Guiana during the 1957-61 period. As Minister of Education, he abolished the system of” “dual control of schools” by Government and Christian religious denominations thereby allowing Hindus and Muslims of the country to secure employment in teaching positions in
Christian denominational church controlled schools, a barrier that prevented their employment under the earlier system of “dual control”. As a result, serving teachers of the Christian faith were also able to move laterally on appointment and promotion in and between Christian Denominational schools. He was also responsible for building Government Secondary schools in the countryside which were the first to provide free secondary education starting in 1963. Additionally, Mr. Rai’s “History and Culture Week” policies and programs for the Ministry of Education in regard to enhancing the latent potential of the liberal arts and sciences enabled the country to move progressively from a colonial state circumscribed by the motto “Damus Pettimusque Viccissim” (We Give and We Take in Return) to a higher state of independence and freedom, engendered in the new motto of “One People, One Nation with One Destiny”. The foregoing is not all the accomplishments of BV and Mr. Rai. Any proper, unbiased study of local history at the time would reveal that Balram Singh Rai also helped to secure independence and freedom for Guyana from the British Government. He was a PPP delegate at
EMOTIONAL PLEA TO AMERINDIAN LEADERS DEAR EDITOR, On the 26th May 2016, Guyana will be celebrating 50 years of Independence. Amerindian leaders across this nation please, let us reflect on what we have achieved during the past 50 years, which is indeed very long time. “Are we satisfied with our leadership in our respective communities? Have we advanced in our living conditions? Have we uplifted ourselves educationally, economically or socially? These qualities my brothers are not for sale! Development and success can only be possible through skilled leadership, application, dedication and a system of accountability. I say now to the three(3) Amerindian Organizations that are supposed to be active in this country, A. P. A, T. A. M. O. G and G. O. I. P- have you been of any help to your people and in what measure? Can each organization identify a project or development which has been a success? There are many Amerindian Villages or Communities in this country where its residents lives in abject poverty. Have the three organizations been actively involved in helping to reduce the impact? What about teenage pregnancy, trafficking in persons, drugs and substance abuse etc. There are numerous weak points in Amerindian Villages that need to be rectified. My question is, “who cares?” There are various charitable
organizations helping to alleviate the numerous social issues experienced by citizens of this country. Some donates food, some medical supplies and services, some build homes while others donates educational tools, clothing, and other domestic furnishing and appliances. Are the intellectual minds that govern these three Amerindian Organizations aware of the existence of such NGOs and what system do they have in place to ensure that aids from such, can filter into our impoverished Amerindian Villages? Finally, I say to my Amerindian brothers who are leaders in your respective communities. “You have a moral responsibility to your people. The goal is not just to lead, but to lead your fellow indigenous brothers and sisters to a better and more fruitful way of life. It takes a good leader to hold up visions of a better society, a better country and a better world. That my brothers, takes monumental faith, faith to see qualities that are not visible, to see others not as you perceive them, but rather for what they are or may yet become. Let us therefore, move on in strength and unity and there will be a better life. God bless Guyana, God bless Guyanese, God bless the president and his ministers. Ignatious Roberts, Four Miles Community, Port Kaituma, NWD, Region 1
the British Guiana Independence Conference at Lancaster House, London, England, in March 1960; and through his erudite political, legal and diplomatic presentation, Her Majesty’s Government was persuaded to agree to vest responsibility for the police in an elected Minister of the PPP Government, to promulgate an internally selfgoverning Constitution for British Guiana, and to discontinue British rule in the colony soon after a general election in 1961. Mr. Rai was the Minister in whom responsibility for the Police Force was then vested in April 1960, soon after the British Guiana delegation returned to Georgetown. Thus Balram Singh Rai of BV became the first Minister of Home Affairs. Later in a PNC Government, Mr. Vibert Mingo of BV was appointed Minister of Home Affairs. Thus, another historically wonderful “first” for BV, being able to claim two Ministers of Home Affairs – Balram Rai and Vibert Mingo. It should be noted as well that the Geneva, Switzerland, based International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) on page 37 of its October 1965
Commission of Inquiry into Racial Problems in the Public Service endorsed the remarkable achievement in 1961 of the Minister of Home Affairs (Balram Singh Rai) in dealing with the sensitive matter of racial imbalance in the Police Force. As Minister of Community Development, Mr. Rai was a pre-eminent trail blazer in local government reforms as he took steps to give the people in the rural areas a greater degree of responsibility in the management of their own affairs. This was done, among other things, by raising country districts to village district status and by such other means as the relaxation of Local Government Board control over the award of contracts. Previously there were villages with partly nominated councils and country districts with wholly nominated councils. This hybrid system was abolished and all members of the re-constituted councils were elected to provide for wider representation to villagers. For additional information on the remarkable achievements of Balram Singh Rai in the history of BV his native
village, I would like to refer readers to “PATTERNS OF PROGRESS, The Story of Achievement in British Guiana 1957-1960”. The Booklet was published in May 1961 by the Government Information Services (GIS), then of 30 Hadfield Street, Georgetown, and printed by the B.G. Lithographic Company. La Penitence, E.B. Demerara. P r i m e M i n i s t e r, M r Moses Nagamootoo, under whose portfolio is the responsibility for the Guyana Chronicle, may want to see that Mr. Rai is not subjected to revisionist history in the State-owned newspaper which wipes him out from the picture of Guyana’s history. He may also wish to take steps to reverse the unjust denial of a parliamentary pension to Mr. Rai. Surviving members of an older generation may remember Mr. Nagamootoo as one of a number of young activists in the Letter Kenny/ Whim// Nigg/ Bloomfield area in Corentyne, Berbice who stood on the side of the 1964 Justice Party of Balram Sngh Rai, Haji Ramjohn and Jai Narine Singh. Harry Hergash
Exposure of the Town Clerk’s deceptions DEAR EDITOR, I laughed so hard that I almost fell out of my hammock when I read Royston King’s most recent letter to the press enumerating his earth moving achievements over the last eight months. Clearly, this fellow was not prepared to await the blandishment of the citizens at large who are supposed to be the recipients of this largesse, but who seemed to be taking too long in coming forward with applauses, so he decided to ‘Toot his own horn’ as they would say here in Guyana. King in the story of his life as Town Clerk, failed to highlight his access to hundreds of millions of dollars if not billions with the Government first gifting him close to four hundred million and then most recently another one hundred million coupled with the hundreds of millions made from the amnesty. Surely, it does not require any genius to begin to fix our capital with those bucket loads of cash. The Town Clerk speaks so glowingly of the projects that he has undertaken which would be routine and
expected work in most, if not all other cities. But then again, when the bar is set so low, any and every thing would seem like heaven coming down to earth. What King was careful to avoid in his self-tribute was how many laws and regulations were severely bent or broken to earn these glorious achievements including ignoring tender board procedures, financial regulations of Guyana, the featherbedding of the payroll, the unrefined encouragement of nepotism, cronyism and favouritism, the implementing of draconian rents on vendors, the racking up an overdraft of three hundred million dollars, and the incurring of a huge debt on the Georgetown Municipality by taking on credit of tens of millions of dollars in building materials etc. The achievements listed by King would hardly qualify Georgetown as being one the best cities in the world to live in, and one would have hoped to see more advanced and modern initiatives being undertaken like we see happening in the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean.
How about establishing a municipal swimming pool, constructing a modern municipal shopping centre and relocating the vendors there, constructing multilayered municipal parking in the downtown area to alleviate the traffic situation in the city, placement of bicycle lanes to encourage more people to get out of their cars and ride, having well lit streets, proper roads without potholes , a new abattoir to safely and hygienically process meat, a well policed city for better security, eradication of mosquitoes in the city to reduce incidents of dengue, zika malaria, filariasis, West Nile virus, chikungunya, yellow fever, etc, creating a more green environment and I could go on and on. It is hardly time for King and his cabal to be patting themselves on their backs, but rather they need to get cracking as the journey to make Georgetown the city it ought to be, has only just begun. One gets the impression that he believes he is doing the citizens a favour rather that his duty. Amber Valentine
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Kaieteur News
Kit Nascimento thinks the Govt. needs to explain DEAR EDITOR, A front page headline in Sunday’s Kaieteur New (27th March, 2016) announces “Weeks after housing land deal inked…BK sells 100 acres to BaiShanLin for US$80M – now suing Chinese logger for outstanding US$4M.” On the following day, Kaieteur News’ (Monday 28th March, 2016), we read the front page headline “Brian Tiwarie (BK) appointed Business Advisor to Govt.” According to the KN report, “The appointment was made on January 19th by Minister of State Joseph Harmon.” It says “Tiwarie is appointed the Ministerial Advisor on Business Development.” I wonder, does anyone see the irony in all of this? Does our government feel it needs a public explanation? Kit Nascimento
Clinton Urling is... From page 5 select commissioners does somewhat favor the sitting government. The LGC legislation was passed and signed into law in 2013 under the previous administration, but with the then opposition having a parliamentary majority. As far as one can discern from the minutes of the debate and the select committee reports, the concern then of all parties apparently focused more on the size of the commission rather than on its selection mechanism. Be that as it may, Mr. Urling’s second objection does not provide grounds to scrap the LGC, but only to tweak the selection mechanism to inspire more public confidence in its operations. Considerable strides have been made towards making local governance more independent in Guyana. The LGC, properly understood and administered, facilitates that movement and improvement. Sherwood Lowe
Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it.
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
WANTED Hairdresser/sales representative needed for hair products. Must have a vehicle. Call: 231-4999; 6770480, email:irbcguy@gmail. com Bill clerk (girls) to work at grocery stall in Stabroek Market, experience is an asset. Call: 226-9800 Housekeeper to cook for an Indian Family in Turkeyen, 6 days @ $15,000 weekly. Police clearance and reference required. Call: 655-6766 2 Live in waitresses to work in bar at Berbice– Call: 6046606; 692-4649 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.Call 1868-755-1990 Contract cars and taxi drivers (salaries paid). Call: 2310002; 231-0316 Contact cars for new taxi location on Durban Street. Call: 226-0765/611-6632
CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM
SALON
FOR SALE
- Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 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
VACANCY One maid who knows Indian cooking and a helper cleaner for a salon spa. Call: 231-0734. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. RA Soda: male & female workers, bond clerks, accountants, drivers, housekeeper, worker with mechanical idea. Call: 3302399/ 623-5920
One domestic cleaner must be able to prepare vegetarian meal. Apply in person at Alabama Trading Georgetown, Ferry Stelling.
Toyota Fielder & L-Touring Wagon, AT192, AE100, Funcargo, Tundra, Pickup 4X4 solid DEF, (Ducati 1098cc). Call: 644-5096; 697-1453
1 Male professional baker to work in St. Maarten. Please send resume marguritagrocery@hotmail.com/ Contact: 1721-526-63610/ 1721-580-9232
We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154
Exist for sales representative and porters. Send resume via e m a i l : jkeswani.alesie@gmail.com – Call: 269-0058/26
Flat house in Grove, (corner property) 1 Block from main road, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572
Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 Property @ Lot 87 Albert Street- Call: 669- 8701
Leyland DAF55, Flatbed truck-in, excellent condition. Call to negotiate: 675-4287; 628-0016; 667-2536; 233-2383
VEHICLE FOR SALE
PROPERTY FOR SALE
Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick House & land fully furnished, up rental- Call: 690-6494 3 self contained rooms, 1 master bedroom, alarm LEARN TO DRIVE systems, 9 cameras, 7 AC Soman Son & Outar Driving units. Call: 628-0016; 667-2536 School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615- Church and 2 storey building Lot 180 Charlotte Street 0964; 689-5997 Bourda-Call: 227-6817; 6247341
One 20 tons dump, one truck tray, one blocks machine, one ZF gearbox. Call: 6179230/269-1406
1 Female cleaner apply @ Technical Services 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles.
Accounts Clerk must have 5 CXC, Maths, English & Accounting. ACCA qualification. Apply rtilak@adamantiumholdings. com
Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick Transported property @ up, cheapest rate, low Grove $16M negotiable. Call: security- Call: 698-7807 625-5461
TAXI SERVICES GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
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PEN PAL Indian male is seeking female, age 30-33yrs. Write: M.D, 7475 Goreway DR #47 Mississauga on L4T 3T3 Canada.
AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 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 1 Toyota RZ, year 2011, price$1.6M, 2 Recon Winch 17500lb. Owner migrating. Call:649-8214; 679-1415; 2332583; 674-8589 White Avensis 2006, 66k mileage, newly painted, rims, LED, good condition 2.8 million neg. Call: 692-3368 Honda CRV (RD5), PNN stick gear -$1.9M negotiable, 2006 Hyundai Tucson, left hand drive, PMM -$4M. Call: 6911198 One Honda CRV PPP series 2003. Call: 674-6480
LAND FOR SALE Eight (8) Acres farm land at Kuru Kururu with creek passing through-Call: 6431861
TO LET One three bedrooms two flat house in 2nd Avenue Diamond -$65,000. Call: 6643488
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 2 Bedrooms apartment in Eccles for rent, recently built, fully secured -$80,000 per month. Call: 641-0568 Apartment for rent: 2 bedrooms @ 5th Avenue Diamond H/Scheme. Call: 683-5745 or 610-0652 2 Bedrooms bottom flat apartment located @ Better Hope, E.C.D. Modern amenities & parking available -$50,000 monthly. Call: 6697351 or 672-0922 Rooms to rent -$5,000 and $6,000 weekly @ North Ruimveldt. Call: 663-8025
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 30, 2016
THE VOICE OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
What to make of our local govt. 2016 results? By Sase Singh INTRODUCTION Congratulations are in order for Minister Ronald Bulkan and his team for making the 2016 Local Government Elections (LGE 2016) a reality. No doubt, these results represent a stronger than expected “off year” showing for the PPP. We cannot spin the fact that the PPP dominated the winnings in the rural areas; while as expected the PNC dominated the winnings in the urban areas. I will come to why I used PNC rather Coalition later. If there is anything these elections would have done for the PNC, their hands are now firmly strengthened in the Coalition government. THE BIG PICTURE Some 239,017 voters exercised their franchise (47 percent of the potential voting population). This was not a surprise when compared to the 1994 results. Some 50
percent of those valid votes were cast for the PPP (118,297 votes). This was a noteworthy performance since they earned some 11,741 votes more than the governing party. The governing party got some 45 percent of the votes cast. There are many lessons to learn from these results. These elections proved that you couldn’t win new votes by only issuing press releases from air-conditioned offices or from the back seats of luxurious state vehicles (the “Prados”). The “face to face” contact with the people is still an essential ingredient. The governing coalition suffered in rural Guyana because over the last 10 months, their relationship with the agricultural belt was not the best. The Ministry of Agriculture is one of the most important political ministries. The Guyanese people are not politically stupid; they saw the game from a mile away.
Many in rural Guyana took political decisions at the micro-level because of the state of this relationship. The consequences were catastrophic for the governing party across rural Guyana. The Independent Groups (IG) did not do so well; overall they received fewer than five percent of the total valid votes cast, mainly because there was a trust deficit when it came to third parties. Some political commentators told me this has much to do with how people see the AFC today but it is too early for me to conclude on this matter. However, there were several instances where IGs did very well. The most successful case was the “the 8th of May Movement” which won the NDC elections in the BV/Triumph area on the East Coast of Demerara. Then there was the “Community for Change and Development” which won
seven seats on the East Bank of Demerara in an area stretching from Craig to Caledonia. There was also the “Kwakwani United for Progress” in that Upper Berbice mining community that also did creditably. The most important phenomenon for me in these elections was the performances of two individual farmers from Golden Fleece and El Dorado villages, West Berbice, who challenged the political establishment and won. There are 71 Local Authority Areas (LAA). The PPP won 48 LAAs (68 percent) of the available communities outright. When we look at the seats won, there was a very instructional message. The PPP won some 740 seats vs. the governing party 382. The governing party, on the other hand, won outright in some 14 communities (20 percent), which were mainly urban areas. Most of the remaining areas were tied with respect to seat allocations. In the geographic area from Charity to Patentia (Essequibo Coast and West Demerara) there were some 15,000 more valid votes cast compared to Georgetown. However, the governing party only won the majority of seats in only one of those LAAs on the west side. From my visits to the west side, the two issues that kept reverberating from the voices of the people were how the rice and sugar industries were being coordinated by central government over the last 10 months. The rice and the sugar industry are two of the main foreign currency earners and major employers across coastal Guyana and to not have the senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture
performing at the required level to meet the needs of the farmers and the sugar workers is nothing but political “HariKiri” in the rural areas. This consistent underperformance in the Ministry of Agriculture at the highest levels on matters of public policies and timely political actions, only serves to political undermine the Granger administration. If there is any advice these LGE 2016 offer, it is that there ought to be urgent policy and personnel changes at the highest levels in the agriculture sector if this political meltdown in rural Guyana is to be stemmed. Many government supporters are denying the fact that the PPP control more LAAs in Region Four than the governing party. Nevertheless, the fact remains that the PPP won 11 LAAs vs. four for the governing party in Region Four. Outside of Georgetown, the PPP got more votes than the governing party in Region Four. But the good news for the governing party is their excellent performance in Georgetown. The citizens of Georgetown voted with glee to reject the PPP and quite correctly so. The citizens had to wait some 19 years to dish out these blows to the PPP for deliberately keeping the City stink as they played petty politics with City Hall. Even in places like Kitty, where the PPP usually does well, it got licks like peas. What happened in Georgetown is a message for all politicians, serve the people not yourself and your family or else we shall get you one day. As we moved to the Corentyne, it was a totally different message. It was as if that part of Guyana knew no other symbol but the CUP.
Sase Singh Across the Corentyne, the PPP won 15 LAAs vs. 2 for the governing party. The PPP ran away with more than two and a half times the votes earned by the governing party on the Corentyne. The margin of victory in favour of the PPP on the Corentyne was some 16,795 votes, which was more than what the governing party earned collectively in Bartica, Lethem and Linden. These Corentyne results confirmed that the AFC, WPA and all the other small parties are on political life support and may have been politically dead if it was not for the “saline” of being part of the government. CONCLUSION These LGE 2016 have now confirmed that the PPP and PNC have re-established themselves as the only mannequins in the Guyanese political showroom. All other political forces have been shunted to the background as window dressing. The message is clear; the people want national unity and they want this dialogue to happen directly between the PPP and the PNC. Will their leadership listen? Finally - thank you, President Granger, for holding these Local Government Elections. Regardless of which side feels that it has won, our people were finally able to speak at the local level. For that exclusive reason, the people have won.
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Kaieteur News
Trump campaign manager charged with misdemeanour battery against reporter Reuters - Donald Trump’s presidential campaign manager was arrested and charged with misdemeanour battery in Florida yesterday, the latest chapter in a raucous U.S. race marked by threats, insults and physical confrontations. Police in Jupiter, Florida, charged Corey Lewandowski, 42, with intentionally grabbing and bruising the arm of Michelle Fields, then a reporter for the conservative news outlet Breitbart, when she tried to question Trump at a campaign event on March 8. Republican front-runner Trump repeatedly defended Lewandowski, saying he was innocent and would fight the charges while continuing as campaign manager. Lewandowski was a good man who was “very, very seriously maligned, and I think it’s very unfair,” he said. “I told him I think he should never settle this case. He should go all the way,” Trump told reporters on his plane after he landed in Wisconsin for a campaign trip. “I just can’t stand by and watch a man’s life be destroyed.” Police released a video of the incident showing Fields walking alongside Trump and trying to question him. Lewandowski is seen grabbing her arm and pulling her backward. Previous videos of
Corey Lewandowski the incident had been obscured by people in the crowd. At the time, Lewandowski called Fields “delusional” and said he never touched her. Campaign rallies for Trump, the billionaire businessman who leads the race to become the Republican candidate in the Nov. 8 presidential election, are tumultuous at times and have been marked by occasional clashes between protesters and supporters or security personnel. His pugnacious campaign style, which includes personal insults directed at rivals and scathing criticism of protesters, has been criticized for encouraging physical altercations at his rallies. Trump leads rivals Ted Cruz, a U.S. senator from
Texas, and Ohio Governor John Kasich in opinion polls and in the number of delegates to the nominating convention, despite a concerted effort to stop him by a Republican establishment worried he will lead the party to defeat in November. Cruz picked up the endorsement on Tuesday of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker ahead of the state’s primary next week. Walker, who dropped out of the presidential race last year, called Cruz a principled constitutional conservative. “I’m all in,” Walker said in a radio interview on WTMJ radio in Milwaukee, adding he was not endorsing Cruz in an attempt to stop Trump. “I just fundamentally believe if you look at the facts, if you look at the numbers, that Ted Cruz is in the best position by far to both win the nomination of the Republican Party and to then go on and defeat Hillary Clinton in the fall this year,” Walker said, referring to the Democratic front-runner. Walker joins a number of other more establishment Republicans who have backed Cruz as an alternative to Trump, who has racked up a strong delegate lead but alienated many party leaders with his harsh views on illegal immigration, Muslims and women.
West Africa Ebola outbreak no longer poses global risk: WHO Reuters - West Africa’s Ebola outbreak no longer constitutes a threat to international public health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday, declaring an end to a nearly 20-month emergency that has killed about 11,300 people. Dr. Margaret Chan, the WHO director-general, accepted the recommendations of a committee of independent experts who also called for lifting any travel and trade restrictions affecting Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. “The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC),” Chan
told a news briefing at WHO headquarters in Geneva. “However a high level of vigilance and response capacity must be maintained to ensure the ability of the countries to prevent Ebola infections and to rapidly detect and respond to flare-ups in the future,” she said. Ebola, a hemorrhagic fever, has killed about 11,300 people in the three countries since emerging undetected in late 2013 in the forest of Guinea. It caused global alarm in mid-2014 - and heavy criticism of WHO, the U.N. health agency - as governments and aid agencies rushed to help contain the epidemic. All original chains of vi-
rus transmission have now ended, although new clusters of infections continue to occur due to reintroductions of the virus, the WHO said in a statement.
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Biker guns down soldier -Another hospitalised after shot in foot A 22-year-old army lance corporal was gunned down at around 21.00 hrs last evening outside his mother’s Sussex Street, Charlestown home. Kevon Payne, 22, called ‘Scar,’ was reportedly shot at least six times by his killer, who arrived on the scene on a white motorcycle and escaped with an accomplice, following a brief exchange of gunfire with police ranks. Kaieteur News understands that Shakel Wilson, a friend on the slain soldier, was shot in the leg and is being treated at a private hospital. A police official told Kaieteur News that ranks were scouring the area in the hope of finding the killers. The official said that a mobile patrol in the area responded to
the sound of gunshots. He said that the gunmen managed to escape after a brief exchange of gunfire. However, some of Payne’s relatives and others at the scene alleged that a police vehicle was parked nearby when Payne was slain. Payne, a Coast Guard rank, is survived by two daughters, aged three and two. Relatives said as far as they were aware, the victim had no grievance with anyone. However, other sources said that Payne was involved in an argument with some individuals earlier in the day. According to an eyewitness, Payne was standing at the side of the roadway with another man when two men
on a white motorcycle rode up to Payne and shot him. The eyewitness said that the gunman then walked east up Sussex Street towards a group of policemen in a vehicle. The man reportedly then turned and headed back to where Payne lay, and the police then opened fire. The eyewitness said that the heavy gunfire caused her to run into her yard. This is the third execution in the city in recent days. The first was O’Riley Small, 31, who was riddled with bullets just as he entered his Smyth Street home. The second victim was murder accused Steve Mohamed, who was riddled with bullets and dumped in Le Repentir Cemetery.
Obama seeing China leader as South China Sea tensions rise WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will be meeting with Asian leaders in Washington this week as fears grow that long-smoldering tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the South China Sea risk flaring into conflict. World leaders, including those from China, Japan and South Korea, will be in town for a summit hosted by Obama on nuclear security — the final round in the U.S. president’s drive for international action to stop materials that could be used for an atomic weapon or dirty bomb from getting into terrorist hands. But other pressing security issues will be up for discussion on the sidelines of the two-day gathering that starts tomorrow. Obama will tomorrow meet separately with China’s President Xi Jinping at a time when frictions between the two
In this photo taken Nov. 30, 2015, President Barack Obama meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Le Bourget, France. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) world powers over China’s island-building in strategic waters are growing and look set to intensify with an upcoming ruling from an international tribunal on Beijing’s sweeping territorial claims. The U.S. president is also meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and
South Korean President Park Geun-hye. Washington is looking for an elusive unity between its core allies in Asia as threats from North Korea reach fever-pitch after Pyongyang was stung with tough sanctions in response to its recent nuclear test and rocket launch.
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Kaieteur News
Brazil’s biggest party quits coalition …This cripples Rousseff’s fight against impeachment Reuters - Brazil’s largest party announced yesterday was leaving President Dilma Rousseff’s governing coalition and pulling its members from her government, a departure that cripples her fight against impeachment proceedings in Congress. The Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) decided at a leadership meeting that its six remaining ministers in Rousseff’s Cabinet and all other party members with government appointments must resign or face ethics proceedings. Under Brazil’s presidential system, Rousseff will continue in office but the break sharply raises the odds she will be impeached by Congress in a matter of months, which would put Vice President Michel Temer, leader of the PMDB, in the presidential seat. The opposition is pressing to impeach Rousseff for allegedly breaking budget laws. Their efforts gained steam as Brazilians have grown frustrated with the worst recession in decades and a vast corruption scandal reaching the president’s inner circle. Rousseff has denied any wrongdoing and called the impeachment efforts a coup. The loss of Rousseff’s main coalition partner may prompt smaller parties to abandon the government, leaving Brazil’s first female
Dilma Rousseff president increasingly isolated as the impeachment process nears its first vote as soon as mid-April. Investors weary of Rousseff’s interventionist economic policies and a deepening recession have cheered the prospect of her ouster, boosting Brazil’s currency 8 percent this year as the benchmark Bovespa stock index .BVSP rose 19 percent.
Wednesday March 30, 2016
PNP used up funds earmarked to finance $1.5-m tax break – Shaw KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Finance and Public Service, Audley Shaw, a short while ago disclosed that funds that should have been set aside from the existing gas tax have already been used up in the consolidated funds under the previous People’s National Party (PNP) administration. The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), in making its election promise to implement a threshold of $1.5 million for Pay as You Earn (PAYE) contributors planned on using an estimated $9.5 billion from the gas tax to assist in funding the expected $12.5 billion that the tax plan would cost the country. The disclosure means that the Government has to
Audley Shaw
institute other plans to fund the loss from the reallocation of revenue from the existing gas tax. Shaw is however reassuring the country of the Government’s commitment to providing the proposed tax break to employees. He was speaking at the Private Sec-
tor Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) President’s Forum yesterday morning. He told OBSERVER ONLINE that the Government will present new plans to address the issue in the upcoming budget debate. (Jamaica Observer)
Trinidad: 13-year-old raped twice Daily Observer - A 13year-old Carenage school girl was abducted on Sunday afternoon and taken to two locations in the west where she was sexually assaulted twice. According to police re-
ports, at about 5 pm on Sunday the girl boarded a PH car outside the Portof- Spain General Hospital and asked to be taken to downtown Port-ofSpain. The driver reportedly made a detour and went to
Upper Bournes Road, St James in a lonely area where he raped the girl. He then took her to an area behind the Jaamat-al-Muslimeen mosque on Mucurapo Road where he again raped her.
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Iran missile tests were ‘in defiance of’ U.N. resolution - U.S., allies Reuters - By launching nuclear-capable missiles Iran has defied a United Nations Security Council resolution that endorsed last year’s historic nuclear deal, the United States and its European allies said in a joint letter seen by Reuters yesterday. Iran’s recent ballistic tests involved missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and were “inconsistent with” and “in defiance of” council resolution 2231, adopted last July, said the joint U.S., British, French, German letter to Spain’s U.N. Ambassador Roman Oyarzun Marchesi and U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon. The letter said the missiles used in the recent launches were “inherently capable of delivering nuclear weapons.” It also asked that the Security Council discuss “appropriate responses” to Tehran’s failure to comply with its obligations and urged Ban to report back on Iranian missile work inconsistent with 2231. Spain has been assigned the task of coordinating council discussions on resolution 2231. Council diplomats have said the case for new U.N. sanctions was weak, hinging on interpretation of ambiguous language in a resolution adopted as part of a July nuclear deal to drastically restrict Iran’s nuclear work. Western officials say that although the launches went against 2231, they were not a violation of the core nuclear agreement between Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. Russia, a permanent veto-wielding council member, has made clear it does not support new U.N. sanctions
Ban Ki-moon on Iran. Both Russia and China had lobbied against continuing restrictions on Iran’s missile programme during last year’s negotiations on the nuclear deal. The four powers’ carefully worded letter stopped short of calling the Iranian launches a “violation” of the resolution, which “calls upon” Iran to refrain for up to eight years from activity, including launches, related to ballistic missiles designed with the capability of delivering nuclear weapons. Diplomats say key powers agree that request is not legally binding and cannot be enforced under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which deals with sanctions and authorization of military force. But Western nations, which view the language as a ban, say there is a political obligation on Iran to comply. International sanctions on Tehran were lifted in January under the nuclear deal. The commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ missile battery said the missiles tested were designed to be able to hit U.S. ally Israel. The United States condemned the remarks and Russia said
countries should not threaten each other. The letter said the four Western powers “note with concern that Iranian military leaders have reportedly claimed these missiles are designed to be a direct threat to Israel.” Several diplomats said the most Iran could expect would be a public rebuke by the Security Council. Under the nuclear deal, the reimposition of U.N. sanctions would only be triggered by violations of the agreed restrictions on Iran’s atomic work. But a council rebuke could provide a legal springboard for European countries to consider new sanctions against Iran, Western diplomats said. Last week the U.S. Treasury Department blacklisted two Iranian companies for supporting Iran’s ballistic missile programme, and also sanctioned two British businessmen it said were helping an airline used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. France has also suggested there could be unilateral European Union sanctions against Iran over the launches.
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Kaieteur News
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GCB U-17 Inter-County bowls off today West Indies set to host India for... Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-17 Inter-County Championship 2016 is slated to bowl off today. Essequibo will take on Berbice at GCC ground, while a Selected Under-15 team will go up against Demerara at Wales ground. Round two which is slated for April 1, will see Essequibo and Demerara clashing at Enterprise ground, while a Selected U-15 team will battl e Berbice at Wales ground. On April 3 in round three, there will be action between Essequibo and a Selected U-15 team at DCC ground and Demerara and Berbice at GCC ground. The teams are as follows: Demerara: Bhaskar Yadram (captain), Joshua Persaud, Mark Ramsammy, Rajendra Singh, Alphius Bookie, Kurt Lovell, Ashmead Nedd, Pradesh Balkishun, Sagar Hatheramani, Tameshwar Motiram, Bhojnarine Singh, Anthony Antonio, Colin Barlow and Chandrapaul Mohabir. The
Coach is Garvin Nedd and the Manager is Latchman Yadram. Berbice: Kevin Sinclair (captain),Alex Algu, Junior Sinclair, Javid Karim, Steve Deonarine, Kevlon Anderson, Garfield Benjamin, Chandra Dat Veerasammy, Keith Simpson, Kevin Omroa, Karran Rajpaul, Brandon Stewart, Steven Kalamadeen, and Syaad Peerbaksh. The Coach is Andre Percival and the Manager is Rabindranauth Saywack. Essequibo: Joshua Jones (captain), Orlando Jailall, Bomesh Ramdahin, Joel Fortune, Besham Moses, Rayon Venture, David Charitar, Kevin
Christian, Chanderpaul Mohabir, Trevor Collins, Shamar Dusraj, Quintin Sampson, Ramnarine Chattergoon, and Randy Rooplall. The Coach is Forbes Daniels and the Manager is Nazeer Mohamed. Selected U-15: Sachin Singh (captain), Mohamed Shaw, Jarron France, Seon Glasglow, Lance Roberts, Yeudistir Persaud, Gevon Schultz, Amos Sarwan, Dwaine Dick, Nickeem Noble, Sheldon Charles, Leon Swamy, Nigel Deodat, and Daniel Paul. The Coach is Julian Moore and the Manager is Andy Ramnarine.
AAG congratulates CARIFTA team The Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) has congratulated Guyana’s 2016 CARIFTA Games team. According to a press release from the association, the 16-member team finished with three silver and two bronze medals at the meet in Grenada last weekend. “The AAG would like to
congratulate our athletes, who attended the just concluded CARIFTA Games 2016. Our medal count at this meet is 3 silver and 2 bronze. Our Team will be arriving at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Wednesday (today) at 7:30am,” the release noted.
Wednesday March 30, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Talk to your emotional partner about your intentions. Changes in your home will be positive. Property investments should payoff.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Things are looking good for you, so open your eyes and get to it. Overindulgent people will cause disruptions in your life.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Don't shy away from potential mates they want to introduce you to. You will be overly generous with children today.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Don't overspend on friends or children. You will take on too much if you aren't careful. Stick to basics. Don't let your stubborn nature get the better of you.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You will learn valuable information if you travel today. Be prepared to step into the limelight if you wish to promote your ambitions. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You need a job with more responsibility and a higher wage. Follow your gut feeling regarding your business ventures. Stop those bad habits. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Be quiet about your intentions or ideas that might bring added cash. Keep calm. Someone around you is bouncing off the walls. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Take positive action. You can make financial deals that will bring you extra cash. Look into ways that you can make extra cash.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Don't let your health suffer because of abuse. You need to get out and have some fun to reduce tension. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Be careful when dealing with loved ones. You may have difficulties finishing projects you start. You must follow your desires and dreams. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A long, quiet walk alone may help you sort out your thoughts. It may not be the best day to confront employers or to present your ideas. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Responsibilities with respect to older relatives may be a burden. If you've been really busy, try to schedule some time to spend with loved ones.
(From page 30) hampered.” In January the WICB had shortlisted 15 names for retainer contracts with the emphasis being on those players featuring in Tests. Some of the prominent names in that shortlist include Marlon Samuels, Jason Holder, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Bravo and Kemar Roach. Allrounder Carlos Braithwaite, who is not part of the contracted list but made his Test debut in Australia, the last bilateral long-format series West Indies played, will also miss out on the CPL along with the rest should he play India. “The [CPL] draft did not include the Test players simply because it was always anticipated it would clash with the Test series. So the players are already aware of that,” Cameron told ESPNcricinfo on Tuesday. So far, the CPL, which is into its fourth edition, has already organised the player draft, and even announced that six matches will be played in the USA, but it is yet to announce the dates. Unofficially, it is understood that the CPL will begin in the last week of June and run till the first week of August. According to the FTP, the India tour is scheduled to be played between the months of July and August. Cameron also took the opportunity to insist that the relations between the BCCI and WICB were absolutely cordial, and that he failed to understand where the reports of perceived differences came from. “You know, the truth is
I am not sure where the talk of bad relations with the WICB and the BCCI have come from,” Cameron said. “We have always maintained good relations. Fortunately or unfortunately, the leadership of the BCCI has
changed, and as you know, Mr Shashank Manohar is now the president, BCCI, and chairman of the ICC, and he has made some changes there as well, and we’ve been able to move forward in an efficient way.”
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Kaieteur News
Wolf’s Memorial Softball Challenge Cup starts Sunday Imran Hussain, owner of Wolf Furniture World of Leonora West Coast Demerara, and also owner of one of Guyana’s foremost softball cricket teams, Wolf’s Warriors, is sponsoring the next nationwide softball tournament. This tournament is for both males and females and will be manged by the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association and will be called the ‘Wolf’s Memorial Challenge Cup.’ This competition is being held in honour of Emam Hussain, the father of Mr. Imran Hussain, who passed away twenty-one (21) years ago in 1995. The Wolf ’s Memorial Challenge Cup’ will be played in three (3) categories. These are Male Open, Female Open and Male Masters. The Male Masters category will be for players who are 43 years or
older. That is, a player must be born in 1973 or before. The tournament starts on Sunday 3rd April. The prizes for the Open Male and Masters winners are $100,000 and a trophy, while the runners-up will receive $25,000 and a trophy. The Female Open winners will receive $50,000 and a trophy, while the runner-up will receive $25,000 and a trophy. There will be a trophy and $5,000 for the players of the tournament. Additionally, the players of the finals will receive a trophy and $5,000. For further information, all teams in Berbice and Demerara which are interested in playing, can call GFSCA’s Organizer, Wayne Jones on telephone 650–1790. Teams in Essequi b o c a n c o n t a c t Khalid Baksh on telephone 618–1905.
Wednesday March 30, 2016
India v West Indies, World T20 2016, semi-final, Mumbai March 29, 2016
Gayle-Ashwin clash provides centrepiece for pivotal duel ESPNcricinfo - A duel that could ignite and excite the Thursday evening blockbuster between India and West Indies. Chris Gayle v R Ashwin. Matchwinner v matchwinner. Aggressor v aggressive. Evidence suggests Gayle respects Ashwin, who might hold the edge in contests till date. In all T20s so far, Ashwin has dismissed Gayle four times in nine innings. Gayle has taken 57 runs from 71 balls. Ashwin has bowled 51 of those 71 deliveries in the Powerplay. Bowled, caught, stumped, lbw - Ashwin has got Gayle in every possible way. Gayle has managed to hit just three sixes and three fours, and an incredible 40 dot balls makes it clear who holds the top hand in the exchanges so far. So Gayle will not be surprised to see his old friend staring at him from the oppo-
The semi-finals of a global event are bound to throw up some mouth-watering contests, and Chris Gayle v R Ashwin promises to live up to its billing site end come Thursday. In the past, Ashwin relied on slowing the pace against Gayle, aware of the lack of feet movement from the batsman. Gayle would also be aware of Ashwin wanting to stick to a straight line on off stump and surprising him with the carrom ball. What Gayle wants length where he can utilise his reach - will possibly not be granted. For a spectator, it would be a curse to see the back of Gayle or to sit back and watch him bludgeon India, like he did to England at the same ground a couple of weeks back. But, India would want to see the former. If it is not Ashwin, then there will be Ashish Nehra with his speed, swing, cutters and mind. MS Dhoni’s ticking brain will make sure Gayle remains on his toes. He might say any batsman can stand up if he fails, but Gayle knows if West Indies have to beat India, he has to stand strong and bat long. So
far in the tournament, as feared, West Indies’ middle order stands on a wobbly scaffolding comprising Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, and Darren Sammy, amplifying Gayle’s importance at the top. However, Gayle needs support from his opening partner. Johnson Charles or Lendl Simmons will need to guard Gayle and play the attacking role in the Powerplay. Charles has been shaky throughout the tournament. So, West Indies would hope Simmons comes good and utilises his IPL experience where he opens for Mumbai Indians - in a positive way. For Gayle, the challenge is as much about mental strength as it is about figuring out what India are throwing at him. No doubt, he will have his own plans and play the waiting game. Gayle is known for his muscle, but his cricketing brain makes him equally strong from the neck up. Two days before the big match, Gayle was relaxed,
blasting almost every ball out of the Brabourne stadium. Before walking into training, Gayle admitted he was aware of Dhoni making the first move through Ashwin. “We just have to keep our eyes open, play according to the situation. Chris Gayle will always be positive. It doesn’t matter which bowler is bowling against Chris Gayle. Chris Gayle is looking to attack. That’s the nature of T20 cricket. And that’s the nature of Chris Gayle. No names, just cricket ball, beat it as hard as possible.” At 36, with a bad back, Gayle knows he will not get too many more chances of playing the final of a world tournament. As his captain Darren Sammy said at the outset of the tournament, this might be the last big tournament for many of the senior players. Gayle and West Indies are two steps away from touching glory, but Ashwin and India are in the way.
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Australia v England, Women’s World T20, 1st semi-final, Delhi March 29, 2016
In-form England gear up for defending champions’ mojo ESPNcricinfo - It’s a clash between two powerhouses of the women’s game, one that elicits excitement, passion and the urge to win at any cost. Not that some of the other sides don’t, but England v Australia anywhere in the world, be it in men’s or women’s cricket, is a contest of nerves, frayed tempers at times, anticipation, and plenty of verbal volleys. That Meg Lanning and her Southern Stars are within two wins from adding their fourth World T20 title into their burgeoning trophy cabinet should fire them up. Equally keyed up on the other side will be Charlotte Edwards, England’s talisman, best batsman, reputed leader, legend of the game, who would want to make, perhaps, her last World T20 appearance a memorable one. But that won’t be a walk in the park by any means. England go in to the clash with an all-win record in the group stages. The misfiring batting unit somewhat found remedial measures in demoralising Pakistan; Edwards leading the way with an exuberant halfcentury. In comparison, Australia’s campaign has been a topsy-turvy one, with the top order continuing to come under scrutiny - their meltdown against superior attacks in New Zealand and South Africa - is something England would have done well to note. Both England and Australia know what it takes to win the title, but the similarity ends there. Since winning the inaugural edition in 2009, England have somehow slipped under pressure - losing to Australia on three occasions in a knockout clash at a world event. Australia, who won two titles under Jodie Fields in 2010 and 2012, seemed to
have carried forward the mantle even in the absence of some stalwarts like Lisa Sthalekar. The transition has been seamless as the side lifted the trophy under Lanning in 2012 and 2014. While England have played their matches in Banglore, Dharamsala and Chennai, that Australia have been based in Delhi for more than week now could give them an edge come Wednesday. In the spotlight There’s been an air of intrigue around England’s Sarah Taylor ever since she became the first woman to play men’s grade cricket in Australia last year. Taylor evokes awe when she bashes the ball with an abandon rarely seen in the women’s game. With 288 runs in five innings coming into the Women’s World T20, she was a part of the opposition’s plan in every game. But scores of 9, 16, 3 and 0 accompanied by the manner of her dismissals against spin particularly may be playing on her mind. There’s no bigger opportunity to set things straight than against Australia in her fifth straight World T20 campaign. Alyssa Healy has been the No. 1 wicketkeeper across formats since Jodie Fields retired in 2013. While her modest numbers aren’t a true reflection of her potential, it’s time she translated that into a performance of note at the business end of the tournament. While her glovework has been impressive, scores of 5, 2, 12 and 6 point to her being a weak link in an otherwise robust top order. Teams news Heather Knight’s stomach bug briefly caused concerns in the England camp when she missed the game against Pakistan in Chennai, but
Edwards confirmed she has sufficiently recovered since and is likely to take the field barring a relapse. That means she is likely to slot back in at the expense of Georgia Elwiss, who made a golden duck in her only game in the competition. There could also be a temptation to persist with Laura Marsh, who impressed in her only outing, with three wickets. Her batting could come in handy as well. Depending on how the surface plays - Kotla is known to aid slower bowlers traditionally even though it has played far better than some of the other tracks in the country - Australia could ponder over the inclusion of Erin Osborne, the offspinner, in place of Lauren Cheatle, the left-arm seamer. Pitch and conditions Both captains expected the surface to play well, and there was ample proof of it when Australia played Sri Lanka last week. While spinners did make an impact, it was more due to their skill more than anything else. The fact that a men’s semi-final would follow later would mean the need to produce a surface that plays well throughout.
Heather Knight, who had missed the game against Pakistan because of a stomach bug, is likely to return to the XI © IDI/Getty
England face battle of wits... (From page 28) likely to take the field again. Almost no one would have expected New Zealand to leave both Trent Boult and Tim Southee out for the entire group stage, yet it has seemed, at times, that the only way they would get a game is if the Delhi matches were moved to Wellington or Christchurch. Hesson and
Williamson were seen taking a close look at the Kotla surface on the eve of the match, and as the pitch has not been particularly conducive to seam bowling, they may be out of the XI again. Pitch and conditions The pitch prepared for this match appears to have a little grass, but given the venue’s history that does not
mean it will be quick, nor does it suggest the ball will seam around. The two previous games on this square have been played on slowish surfaces, but these have not offered much turn. The weather is not expected to impede play. Temperatures are forecast to hover around the 30 degrees Celsius mark.
King Solomon Austin scores... (From page 30) range. That goal proved to be the decider as the teams battled throughout. This victory follows their
7-0 win over the visiting Anguilla at Providence. Anguilla also went under to Puerto Rico 4-0 in Anguilla on Saturday last. The Golden Jaguars made
it count to remain unbeaten in the final Group 5 match in the first round of the 2016/17 S c o t i a b a n k C F U M e n ’s Caribbean Cup.
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Kaieteur News
England v New Zealand, World T20 2016, Semi-final, Delhi March 29, 2016
England face battle of wits against smart New Zealand ESPNcricinfo - Where other teams have looked upon surfaces and made vague guesses at how they might play, New Zealand have read pitches like a soothsayer would tea leaves. Empowered by this clairvoyance they have picked boldly: three spinners to embarrass the hosts in turning Nagpur, Mitchell McClenaghan to rattle Australia in Dharamsala, Adam Milne proving handy in relatively quicker Mohali, before the trio of spinners were reunited for slow-andlow Kolkata. New Zealand had not played in Asia since late 2014, but they are here at the semifinals now; the only undefeated side. They have not just been clever with the ball. Batting first in each group match, competitive scores have been worked out and achieved. Kane Williamson has been described by teammates as a “great captain”. Behind the scenes, Mike Hesson’s wit has sharpened New Zealand. England, meanwhile, have been tempered in three scrapes, since losing their first match to West Indies. The chase of 230 against South Africa was a triumph of the batsmen’s making. Then the bowlers held their nerve as Afghanistan made a late charge at England’s low total at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Fi-
nally, just as Sri Lanka appeared to be stealing away the must-win match, Joe Root completed an outstanding take at mid-off to turn the match his team’s way. England haven’t been pretty or dominant, but they have found ways to win. There is a spine to this campaign that hasn’t always been the case with England’s limited-overs teams. They have also played two matches at the Kotla already, and have a batting order that goes deeper than a Barry White “oh yeah”. England only lost four wickets in the victory against Sri Lanka, but the men at the top of the order appear to be more likely to take risks while so many hitters sit in the dugout. Their bowling appears to be the weaker discipline. But then, New Zealand don’t have daunting batting form coming into this game either Martin Guptill has struck their only fifty in the tournament and they have not yet been tested chasing. In the spotlight With New Zealand sure to shake up their XI, and their strategy to suit the tournament, Eoin Morgan has the job of driving his side to adapt to the opposition’s adaptations. What if New Zealand have decided 140 is a good total and are pushing
the singles to get themselves there? Does Morgan bring in the field, and hope to force a mistake? And does he shake up his own top order to spoil New Zealand’s bowling plans? Also, as the most experienced man in that middle order, Morgan must also assess the pitch himself if England are batting first. His form has been moderate through the tournament, having produced two duds, as well as two decent finishes. Mitchell Santner has a front arm like a T-Rex when he bowls, but in this tournament he has also been taking tyrannosaurus-sized bites out of the opposition top order with his left-arm spin. Of players who have only bowled in the Super 10s, he has the equal highest-wickets (nine), as well as an economy rate of 5.73. He might have floated into the tournament a little incognito, but he can be assured now that England will have spent time analysing videos of his bowling and working out a plan to him. Will he be able to adapt to England adapting to his own excellent adaptations to Indian surfaces? Teams news England may think about switching one of their spinners for a seamer, but will likely abandon the thought. The XI that defeated Sri Lanka is (Continued on page 27)
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Persaud’s century hands Good Success comfortable victory Seventeen Year-old Prem Persaud struck a fine century as Good Success defeated Sans Souci/Belle Plaine by 100 runs in a 40-over fixture played on Saturday at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground. Persaud anchored his team innings, hitting fifteen fours and four sixes as Good Success posted 284-8, batting first. He shared in a third wicket stand of 123 with Kleon Venture after they were reduced to 22-3 before he was removed by Tamesh Challitar for 111. Venture struck six fours and one six in a fluent 51 while Devon Rambarran
Kleon Venture
Prem Persaud
scored 37. Challitar claimed 234, Jaggernauth Manbodh, Siddique Mohamed and Latchman Dindyal had one each. Sans Souci/Belle Plaine responded with 184-9.
Bhumeshwar Ramkissoon scored 48 while Marlon Dindyal made 45 and Derwin Daniells 3 6 . B e e s h a m Moses snared 3-34, Persaud had 2-23 and Imran Khan 2-24.
Referees Council demands GABF apology In its first official statement since the National Basketball Championships ended in controversy on March 19, Guyana’s Basketball Officials Council (GBOC) has called for an apology from the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) President, Nigel Hinds. Linden’s Retrieve Raiders had walked off the court with 9:18 left on the game clock in the fourth quarter, down 5154 against Colts; to protest what they believe was biased officiating. Hinds had issued a statement inadvertently indicating that referee; Adrian George made a mistake when the official made the initial call that started the imbroglio. This was after reviewing video of the referee’s call on the night in question. Hinds also called for the game to be replayed. Below is the full statement from GBOC on the matter: It was unfortunate that the Clubs Championship: Road to Mecca III on Saturday Mach 19, 2016 between Colts and Retrieve Raiders at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall came to a halt, based on the opinion that an unwarranted foul was called against a player from Retrieve Raiders. After receiving the foul, the said player threw the ball to the floor reacting to the Referee’s call. Subsequently, other players showed acts of indecent gestures, which led to two more technical (foul calls) and a disqualifying foul against the Captain of the said team for mouthing profanities at the Referee. Before the Referees ad-
ministered the free throws to Colts, the Raiders were informed what the decision by the three Referees was. After hearing this they immediately walked off the playing area. According to FIBA Rules Article 20.1 a team shall lose the game by forfeit if: % The team is not present or is unable to field 5 players ready to play 15 minutes after the scheduled time to begin % Its actions prevent the game from being played % It refuses to play after being instructed to do so by the referee. Point to note, GBOC would have written LABA (Linden Amateur Basketball Association) on February 24, 2016 inviting Referees to officiate in the said tournament. (No one from the LABA showed up.) However on the night in question, The GABF President intervened, which should not have happened because the Referees’ decision is final. The President was informed of what happened by the lead Referee that once a team walks off the playing area automatically they lose the game, which should have been awarded to Colts. The President was able to get the Raiders back on the floor, bearing in mind the fans really wanted to see the outcome of the game. At this point, Raiders and the President wanted the technical fouls to be withdrawn. But the Referees disagreed. The lead Referee and the President went to the monitor to review the play, which caused the foul after watching the play in “real game time” about
three times the lead Referee did not notice a foul. However, as the lead Referee, 24 hours later I had the opportunity of watching the same replay, this time in slow motion about five times, which gave me a better view from the previous replay, I was able to detect a foul from one of the players from Raiders pushing off a player from Colts to gain possession of the ball, therefore it was the correct call by the Referee. If you are playing for Five Hundred Thousand Dollars or Five Million Dollars, you must respect the Referees call at all times even if it is a bad call, because we are all humans and at some time we will make the wrong call, in this case it was the right one. Players must learn to control their emotions in such situations. In this case the Referees were very lenient with the players. FIBA rules article 6.2 states that the Captain shall immediately at the end of the game inform the referees if his team is protesting against the result of the game and sign the score sheet in the space marked ‘Captain’s signature’ in case of protest. With reference to comments made by the GABF President, Mr. Nigel Hinds, we the Referees of the Guyana Basketball Official Council (GBOC) would like an apology from him for the irresponsible comments made after the abrupt halt of game on the night of Saturday March 19, 2016. Yours Sincerely, Dexter Douglas GBOC President
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 33
GFSCA lights up Crabwood Creek
Clement Edwards Head Master of Crabwood Creek School hands over the Mohan & Meena memorial trophy to Floodlights Legend Skipper Ricky Deonarain. Great excitement and sound family entertainment thrilled approximately fifteen hundred spectators on Easter Sunday, at the Crabwood Creek Cricket Ground in Berbice. The Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association along with the teachers of Crabwood Creek Primary School organized a spectacular softball competition to raise funds for the r e s t o r a t i o n o f toilet facilities at the Crabwood Creek Primary School. There were three 15/15
Captain of Karibee Girls Erva Giddings receives The Nand Persaud memorial winning trophy from Clement Edwards Headmaster of Crabwood Creek Primary School.
softball matches; two males and one female. The first encounter was between Floodlights Legends and Crabwood Creek-Corriverton Masters. They went to war for the Mohan and Meena Memorial Trophy. (Mohan and Meena are the late father and sister of Mr. Ricky Deonarine). The Berbice team rattled up 178-4 off their 15 overs. Kash Persaud blasted 66, while Vishaul Persaud supported with 43. The chase by Floodlights Legends was not an easy one. They lost wickets at
regular intervals. They needed 26 runs from the last over. It is here where Wayne Jones came to the party. He smashed four successive sixes and sealed a great victory for his side and in the process copped the man of the match prize. In the second match which was in the open c a t e g o r y, F l o o d l i g h t s disposed of Crabwood Creek by 13 runs. Floodlights rattled 157 with Lloyd Rooplall Scoring 38 and Greg DeFraca plundering 35. Crabwood Creek
managed 144-8 off their 15 overs with DeFraca picking 3 wickets. Floodlights took away the Vejay SatnarineBreed Memorial Trophy, while DeFraca won the man of the match award. The final match of the day was among the ladies. The city girls, Trophy Stall Angels, travelled almost a 100 miles to take on Karibee Rice girls. From ball one, it was none stop action. Trophy Stall Angels folded for a paltry 73 in the 13th over. Leacock made 15 while Roberts scrambled 11. Encouraged by total home
Son of late Vejai Satnarine hands over winning trophy to Floodlights Skipper Ramo Malone. support, the Karibee Rice Girls reached 74-6 with two overs to spare. Shanna made 19 while Erva Giddings was left not out on 12. At the presentation ceremony, the Head-teacher of Crabwood Creek Primary S c h o o l , M r. C l e m e n t Edwards, expressed thanks to the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association, especially, Mr. Rickey Deonarine of 4R for putting together the day’s activities. He also thanked Mike’s Pharmacy, Trophy Stall, Massy Group of Companies and the Gopaul’s family for
the many gate prizes which include tablets, a DVD player, a magic jack and clocks. He also acknowledged the presence of cricket commentator, Inderjeet Persaud and thanked him for sharing his voice at Crabwood Creek. Dennis De-Andrade was also thanked for getting the venue in top conditions. GFS C A m a d e a c a s h donation of $100, 000, while Mr. Thakur Sookram chipped in with an undisclosed sum as well.
Millington grinds out win in FACC Guyana Police Force feature cycling event Errant driver crashes into cyclist during event Ray Millington of The Flying Ace Cycling Club (FACC) returned to winning ways when he rode away from the field to take top honours when the FACC in association with the B Division of the Guyana Police Force staged a feature 20 miles cycle event. The event which was jointly coordinated by Coach Randolph Roberts and the f o r c e ’s C o m m u n i t y Relations officer Assistant Superintendent Keith Williams was staged as part of the their community relations blitz. The event which was for cyclists of the FACC saw 20 persons participating. The cyclists were sent on their way by ASP Williams from the junction of Main and Alexander Street and
proceed to the No1 Road and back, saw Millington winning from former top rider Neil Reece with Clement Doris and Jason Cameron placing third and fourth. Among the females Tamika Teixeira had things her way as she won from former champion Marica Dick with Whitney Poyer third. Curtis Dey was first among the juniors, while Zamal Khan won among the U16 riders from Corwin Collins. The Prime point prizes were taken by Khan with three, Doris two and Reece one. The junior, U16 and female riders had a three minutes head start from the main pack. Speaking at the presentation ceremony,
Wi l l i a m s t h a n k e d t h e participants on behalf of Commander Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam and Officer in Charge of the No1 subdivision, Deputy Superintendent Guy Nurse. He stated that the Police force is not only about arresting people, but using other initiatives in their Social Crime Prevention programme. He said that the police aim to work with youths to help them to help themselves in a positive way and using sports as medium. Also expressing thanks were Roberts and executive member of the FACC and sports enthusiast Eli Hazel. Among some of the sponsors were A. Ally and Sons Vickram Jewelry, DSP Guy
Top finishers pose with their silverware alongside organisers ASP Keith Williams (centre in uniform) and Randolph Roberts (right). Nurse, Dwayne Ferdinand, Imran and Sons, Persaud Funeral Home and Sookpaul Gas Station among others.
During the race one cyclist was injured by an errant driver. The driver has since being charged with
dangerous driving and was expected to appear in court yesterday. (Samuel Whyte)
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Pele Alumni Corporation assists students of Werk-en-Rust
The students display their kits with officials of the Pele Alumni Corporation. As part of its 45th Anniversary celebrations, Pele FC Alumni Corporation, the North American chapter of the local Pele FC presented a
quantity of school kits and footwear to students of the Werk-en-Rust community. The presentation took place at Brickdam presbytery yesterday.
Chairman of the organisation Denis Carrington urged the youths to focus on their education and remain discipline. He said that it is a privilege to
West Indies set to host India for four Tests
Carlos Braithwaite, who made his Test debut in Australia, will be among those to miss out on the CPL if he plays the India Tests © Getty Images ESPNcricinfo - India will travel to the Caribbean later this summer to play a four-Test series, Dave Cameron, the WICB president, has confirmed. The announcement puts an end to the uncertainty that has surrounded the series listed on the ICC’s Future Tours Programme - ever since the BCCI suspended
bilateral engagements as a penalty for West Indies’ abandoning of their tour to India mid-way in late 2014. Although no dates have been fixed, Cameron said the Test series would be spread over July and August. What that means, however, is that the tour would clash with, and disrupt, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL)
which is likely to begin in late June, and finish in the first week of August. “The official word is that the tour is on,” Cameron told Cricket Radio in Nagpur on Sunday. “We are just awaiting confirmation of the venues now. And once we have done that, we will send out a release with the dates, the venues and everything.” Cameron said it was unfortunate that the players featuring in the Test series will miss out on the CPL. According to Cameron, there was no choice left for the WICB but to agree to the dates despite the clash. “Yes, it will [clash with the CPL]. The unfortunate thing is that the international calendar is packed. And the only window for this tour to come off is during that time. So, there will be a clash, but we are working with CPL to ensure there is no clash of venues so times of the matches won’t be (Continued on page 25)
support the youths and their way of giving back to the society. Carrington added that they will host a coaching clinic during the week and an
awards banquet on Friday night at Georgetown Club where they will present laptops to the winners of their recent essay competition. The chairman
informed that high school students will also benefit from their scholarships and plans to establish a Pele FC Hall of Fame are in the making.
Scotibank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup
King Solomon Austin scores first Int’l goal as Guyana edge Puerto Rico 1-0
The Golden Jaguars following their win over Puerto Rico last night. Guyana’s Golden Jaguars kept the Golden Arrowhead fluttering high as they marched farther on in Group 5 action in the 2016/17
Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup football championship. King Solomon Austin was the man to make no
mistake during the second half of the match following a goalless first segment, as he drilled his shot from close (Continued on page 27)
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 35
GCA’s U-17 t20 tourney off to inauspicious start
Adrian Hinds pulls during his top score for TSC yesterday against Saints. By Sean Devers The First ever Cricket Board staged under-17 t20 cricket tournament in the Caribbean got off to an inauspicious start yesterday with only one of the four games being played. The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) organised the eight-team competition, which is sponsored by Ministry of Public Health (MPH), PA H O / W H O , G u y a n a Diabetic Association (GDA) and Smalta, saw the several hiccups exposing the lack of preparedness of the GCA and their clubs. At Everest debris from Easter Monday’s Kite flying littered the ground resulting
in the cancelation of the match between the host and GYO. At Bourda the game was called off due to inability of GCC to field a proper team even though their opponents Malteenoes turned up at the venue. The encounter between host DCC and GNIC was also not played, while the only game played was at TSC on a ground hosting its first competitive game since 2005. The game was played on a very rough and Sandy outfield with several stones littering the surface which made fielding a nightmare. The two-paced track produced uneven bounce for young players still learning the skills of batting and who
Anthony Antonio is caught at slip by Kennard Moonsammy off Daniel Persaud who took 5-14 in a losing cause for Saints Stanislaus College at TSC ground yesterday.
were ill-equipped for t20 cricket at this stage of their cricket development. TSC won the toss and were dismissed for 93 in 16.4 overs but 30 runs were added to the home team’s total since Saints fell three over short of the 40% of overs to be bowled by pacers. Five was the top score as the students, set 124 to win, were taught a harsh lesson by the Woolford Avenue unit as they were bowled out for 36 in 16.4 overs to lose by 88 runs as they had no idea how to approach a t20 run chase. Mark Ramsammy pulled pacer Ezekiel Canes and danced into off-spinner Kennard Moonsammy and dumped over long-on for six
but just when he was being to find his rhythm he was removed by Moonsammy for a 13-ball 20 to leave the score on 31-1. Jamal Micheal joined Adrian Hinds who played some lovely shots in his 21ball 24 and together they took their team to 52 before leg-spinner Daniel Persaud removed Micheal for three to being his destructive spell which earned him 5-14 from four frugal overs. After Joshua Bankay bowled the left-handed Adrian Hinds at 60-3, Persaud went to work on an under prepared track and took the next four wickets as he cut through the middle and lower order like a sharp knife cutting butter.
Persaud removed Devon Allen and Mark Baptiste for ducks before having the lefthanded Antonio brilliantly taken at slip by Moonsammy for 5 and trapped Tony Adjoda for the third duck of the innings as TSC slumped from 52-1 to 93 all out. Canes (2-20) and Moonsammy (3-25) did the damage with the ball for Saints who lost wickets at rapid intervals with Travis Thomas and Nathan Hackett with five each being the top scorers. Baptiste finished with 4-3-3-3, Antonio 3.4-1-63 and Joel Spooner 4-2-82. Today’s action will be played at Everest and MSC and will clash with the inter-
county U-17 tournament which is set for Wales o n t h e We s t B a n k Demerara and Bourda in the City. The GDA’s medical team will again be at match venues to check the blood sugar level as they continue their Diabetics awareness drive. To d a y ’s t 2 0 U - 1 7 matches sees GYO taking on Saints and Everest facing TSC at Everest from 09:30hrs and 13:30hrs respectively, while the other game between MSC and GNIC is fixed for the MSC ground. TSC will be without Colin Barlow, Ramsammy and Antonio who are in the Demerara U17 team.
Football legend Pelé sues Samsung Simmons replaces injured over image in newspaper ad Fletcher in Windies T20 squad
West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons follows a loose delivery from Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz during their Cricket World Cup match in Christchurch, February 21, 2015.(REUTERS/NIGEL MARPLE) (Reuters) Lendl Simmons has been called up to the West Indies’ World Twenty20 squad in place of the injured Andre Fletcher ahead of Thursday’s semifinal against hosts India at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, tournament organisers said
on Tuesday. The 31-year-old Simmons pulled out of the squad with a back injury before the tournament and was replaced by the uncapped Evin Lewis, but he has since recovered. Fletcher pulled his right hamstring during the
Windies’ six-run defeat by Afghanistan in their final Super 10 match on Sunday and has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament. Simmons was part of the West Indies side that won the 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
(Reuters) Brazilian football legend Pelé has sued Samsung Electronics Co (005930.KS) for at least $30 million, alleging the Korean company improperly used a look-alike in an advertisement that ran in the New York Times without permission. According to the complaint filed this month in federal court in Chicago, Samsung placed the October ad for ultra high-definition televisions after breaking off negotiations in 2013 to use Pelé’s identity to promote its products. Pelé, 75, whose given name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is widely regarded as the greatest soccer player ever and among the world’s most famous athletes. Although the ad does not mention Pelé, it includes a portrait-sized image of a man who “very closely resembles” him, and a small photo of a soccer player
Brazilian soccer legend Pele . (REUTERS/LUCAS LANDAU/FILES) making a “modified bicycle or scissors-kick, perfected and famously used by Pelé,” the complaint said. Pelé relies on endorsements for much of his income, and the ad will hurt the value of his endorsement rights and confuse consumers into believing he endorses Samsung products, the complaint added. “The goal is to obtain fair compensation for the unauthorized use of Pele’s identity, and to prevent
future unauthorized uses,” Pelé’s lawyer, Frederick Sperling, said in a phone interview. Samsung spokeswoman Danielle Meister Cohen declined to comment. The lawsuit was filed by Pele IP Ownership LLC, w h i c h o w n s P e l é ’s trademark and publicity rights. It is dated March 16. Sperling has also represented former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan, and helped him win a $8.9 million jury verdict last August against the former Dominick’s Finer Foods over the grocer ’s unauthorized use of the basketball Hall of Famer’s identity in an ad in Sports Illustrated. Jordan la ter settled for an undisclosed amount. The case is Pele IP Ownership LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, No. 1603354.
t r o Sp England v New Zealand, World T20 2016, Semi-final, Delhi March 29, 2016
England face battle of wits against smart New Zealand
Martin Guptill keeps an eye on Grant Elliott’s front foot during a nets session, Delhi, March 29, 2016 ©AFP Eoin Morgan takes part in a fielding drill, watched by his team-mates, Delhi, March 29, 2016 ©AFP
India v West Indies, World T20 2016, semi-final, Mumbai March 29, 2016
Scotibank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup
Gayle-Ashwin clash provides centrepiece for pivotal duel
King Solomon Austin scores first Int’l goal as Guyana edge Puerto Rico 1-0
The semi-finals of a global event are bound to throw up some mouth-watering contests, and Chris Gayle v R Ashwin promises to live up to its billing
Referees Council demands GABF apology
R Ashwin holds the aces coming into the semi-finals, but Chris Gayle will be keen to get his own back © Getty Images
Simmons replaces injured Fletcher in Windies T20 squad
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