Thursday May 01, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
We all need to reflect upon the inevitable DEAR EDITOR, As human beings we question so many things. Who are we apart from our job titles? Who are we without the trappings of achieving and striving? What is the core value of me and you? No assumptions, no pretence, no one watching, no one expecting anything, no editing, no proving. Who are we behind and beyond the opinions of others? Who are we really beyond the likes and dislikes on facebook? Who are we beyond the busyness, the critics and the acceptance? For sure we will find answers not in this world but in the hereafter. Death is an occasion of unfathomable proportions. All the words written about it cannot give us that feel of it.
That’s why God-Almighty said,” Every soul must taste death”. It is an experience that will bring each and every one of us face-to-face with the pure and unadulterated truth. If we constantly reflect upon death our contributions to the world will be of great significance. We will compete with each other to do good; to build a better world, to stop conflicts and preserve human dignity. Yes, we will stop insulting each other in the parliament, in our homes and on the streets. We will do business with integrity and our political, spiritual and social leaders will give justice to their people. Death is the destroyer of all pleasures! We all need to reflect upon it deeply. GodAlmighty has blessed this
country with enormous natural resources, fertile land, great weather, hardworking people and educated leaders. But, we are so divided in unity. We cannot deliberate and make simple decisions for the benefit of our people and our country. In retrospect, we all need to reflect upon the inevitable “Death” then and only then we shall be kind, generous, hospitable and caring. Think about our relatives, friends and leaders who have already returned to the great beyond, they left with empty hands to a place of everlasting bliss or torment. I pray for God-Almighty to bless this nation and cause our leaders to unite for the common good of the people in an atmosphere of peace, love and tranquility. Nazar Mohamed
Does the Opposition have anything constructive to show in this regard?
DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Basil Williams’ admission that his party’s number one priority is to regain political power must be a blatant and narrow-minded disregard of what the functions of any political group in Parliament should be, and also clarifies the opposition’s policy of “Slash and Burn” that has informed their recent escapades, which must be contrary to all that is expected of a responsible Opposition. The Honourable Speaker’s lament to the effect that not much that is positive is coming out of that august House must surely be directed
to the party that elected him to that position. It is left for us to see any improvement in the nature of the debates there. Again, we may well ask whether our politics are to be forever mired in this quagmire of controversy and negativity that is responsible for a continuous regression of our national affairs. If APNU’s ambition is merely to regain control of these, are we not to expect the same type of behaviour from the other side of the House if they succeed in this objective, resulting in similar endless stagnation? I daresay that the purpose
of all political groups that comprise the government of any state should be to work together to produce what is beneficial for the country as a whole. Power would be won by those in opposition if and when they have performed so positively in this function that the electorate feels that they can do better than those who held the reins previously. Does the present Opposition have anything constructive to show in this regard? Roy Paul
The spirit of Rodney will forever haunt the PNC DEAR EDITOR, There have been two distinct periods in our history when we were very close in achieving the elusive national ethos of ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’ and both times the destroyer that thwarted the movement was the PNC. I am referring firstly to the anti-colonial struggle for independence that created class and racial unity across the breadth of Guyana, the likes as was never seen before. The movement was founded by Dr Jagan and generated mass mobilization of the working class on a scale that was unprecedented in its magnitude and diversity. But like day follows night, the PNC under its egotistical
founder Burnham destroyed the racial and class unity with his obsession to be the leader. Today, the cleavages of that power struggle still embody itself in our politics, to the point where our national motto becomes more elusive than ever. The second instance of achieving class and racial unity was the Rodneyite rebellion against the PNC dictatorship. The period 1974-1980 saw the unification of all the class forces in Guyana in the common goal of removing the PNC dictatorship. The inspirational and charismatic historian Dr Rodney removed from the eyes of ordinary Guyanese the mystique and persona that Burnham as a petty
dictator had created by his antics. Thousands of people of all persuasions, race, class and ethnicity flocked his meetings to hear his message of a united and free Guyana. Dr Rodney preached a message of a racially tolerant Guyana, a just Guyana, and an equal Guyana for all its sons and daughters. But alas! True to form, the PNC extinguished all of our hopes. I truly wonder when I see a WPA member sitting on the same bench and on the same side of the House with the PNC what Walter would have thought of that. The PNC’s withdrawal from the commission of inquiry was predictable. Walter’s spirit will live to haunt them forever. Reggie Bhagwandin
DEAR EDITOR, People who see race as an impediment to our progress as a nation are ethnically insecure. Having many races does not make us weaker as a nation. It makes us stronger. We just have to find the solutions to our problems. Some people propose power-sharing, partition or federalism to our problems. My personal belief is that federalism would not work, as one Federal State can overspend on its budget, leading to the other states needing to bail it out (case citation: EU- Greece, Spain,
etc). We are too integrated for partition to be an option. So, that leaves only powersharing or the present system. I am not against powersharing. I just do not like the way it was being proposed. For power-sharing to work, we need mutual trust, mutual co-operation and mutual respect for each other to
promote mutual understanding. We all want the same thing. That is, to see Guyana move forward economically, politically and socially. This is why I believe that consensus politics can be practiced by our politicians. Consensus politics will Continued on page 23
Race is not an impediment to our progress
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Kaieteur News
Thursday May 01, 2014
Company vying for drug supply pre-qualification ‘legally inactive’ …another hasn’t filed annual returns since 2010 New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC) is now clearly poised to be the pre-qualified source of drugs for Government in this and coming years. Two of the companies that applied to be considered are in ‘murky waters.’ Meditron Scientific Sales, according to the records, is a ‘legally inactive’ company. It has not renewed its Business Certificate which expired on February 22, last. This publication has learnt that this company is not incorporated but rather it is an individual trading under a business name. The owner is Andrew Debidin. Meditron’s registered office is located on Sheriff Street. Telcom Solutions (Guyana) Inc, which has also submitted a bid to be considered for pre-qualified status, has not submitted its annual returns since 2010. This would mean that the company currently runs the risk of being struck off the Registrar’s list of companies. That company is registered locally but has no Director resident in Guyana. Directors Nigel Clarke, Paul Scott, Patrick Scott, Byron Thompson and Melanie Subratie all have their addresses listed at various parts of Jamaica. Niall Obrian has an Irish address, Donald Bakhuis has his listed in Curacao, Netherland Antilles and the Managing Director has his address listed in Trinidad. This would mean that the only other locally based
competitor to Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop’s companies is International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA). The other local company that has submitted a bid is Global Healthcare Supplies Inc. which is also owned by Ramroop, in addition to the New GPC’s bid. Under the new rules for being pre-qualified, local companies that meet the criteria would be favored above overseas bidders. Of the seven companies that submitted bids, two are Trinidadian companies, ANSA McAL and Western Scientific Company. Under the revised criteria for the prequalification of suppliers of drugs and medical supplies the companies that bid must demonstrate a gross turnover of $1B (US$5M) and net assets of $500M (US$2.5M). The Ministry’s criteria said that a maximum score will be awarded to applicants which have paid $50M in corporate taxes annually. The company with 50 or more employees, and warehousing capacity of 30,000 square feet in the city, will also gain an edge. Ramroop, former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s best friend, is the only supplier, locally with a bond of that size. According to the revised prequalification criteria, maximum points will also be awarded in the evaluation process to the applicants who have been supplying
Government more than seven years without any negative reports. Opposition Leader Brigadier (rtd) David Granger is on record as saying that what the Ministry of Health has done is to devise tailormade criteria, meant to negate other competitors so that Ramroop could proceed unopposed. The Opposition Leader conceded that the Parliament would be unable to prevent the implementation of this strategy, given that it is a Ministerial Order. Alliance for Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, in an earlier interview published by Kaieteur News, had said, “Could you imagine the resultant impoverishment of the treasury and corresponding enrichment to
New GPC! This is bloody larceny, but in the eyes of past and present PPP administrations it is economics. The little boy who picks your pocket for a $2,000 would have to go to jail.” The last pre-qualification period for suppliers of drugs and medical supplies expired on December 31. The Ministry of Health had been looking to select the suppliers for the next three years. A pre-qualified contractor is automatically considered when it is time to order critical or emergency supplies. Ramroop’s company has been benefiting from billions of dollars annually, controlling supplies of up to 80 per cent of the drugs purchased by the Georgetown Public Hospital
Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo
Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop
Corporation (GPHC) and the Ministry of Health. In excess of $5B has been allocated for the purchase of Drugs and Medical Supplies and while the pre-
qualification has not been completed as yet, Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran has already indicated that of that amount New GPC will be getting a large slice.
Shot policeman calls for assistance from Police Force Samuel Elvis, the 23-yearold policeman who recently had his leg amputated, is calling on the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, to look into his plight and offer some assistance. The Lot 4 Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara resident told Kaieteur News yesterday that ever since he was shot on March 20, no one from the Guyana Police Force has visited him. “I was not doing my own thing when I get shoot, I was at work, and nobody come forward yet to tell me anything. I was injured on the job, so as far as I know, I’m entitled to some form of compensation or so.” The man recalled it being sometime after 01:00 hrs on
March 20, when he and another rank were asked to uplift a lost weapon belonging to the Guyana Defence Force. Elvis said that he and his colleague were at the base waiting to lodge the weapon when a Corporal picked it up and cranked it. The father of one said that after the gun went off, he realized blood was pouring from his right leg. Elvis was shot at the back of the knee. “I can’t really say if it was intentional, but I know that me and de Corporal had a li’l talking a while back, suh I don’t know if he coulda shot me deliberately because of that. The whole incident is 5050. It could ah been both; an accident, or something deliberate.”
Elvis told this publication that the errant officer has not made contact with him since the episode. “If it wasn’t intentional, the least he could’ve done was call and say sorry. But nobody did that. I just here with one leg and nobody ain’t seem to care,” Elvis lamented. Elvis said that sleepless nights have become the story of his life, since he is not sure how he would be able to take care of his family, especially his one-year-old daughter. “I can’t go back to being an active policeman. I lose my leg. Me ain’t de same way I was before, and is nah my fault. I waiting to hear something from the Force. I need to know wha my next move is,” Elvis said.
He noted that after being shot, he and his family were informed that the Commissioner of Police would soon be visiting his home. “That’s why I didn’t really fight up much to get help, because I seh he gon visit and I gon know wha I deh pon, but I waiting and waiting, and till today, after all that happen to me, nobody ain’t come.” Elvis said that he has been hearing from friends that he is being considered for a desk position within the Force, but this has not been confirmed. “I would love if they give me any kind of a job. I know my life ain’t gon be the same anymore, but I have to stop crying and get on with my life…take care of my daughter and so.” The injured cop said that so far, he is being taken care of by his parents. However, as school reopens, his mother, who sells eatables at a school, would have to return to work. “Plus my father take leave, and he gon have to go back soon. My condition coming around, but I still getting bad pains, and I have to use taxis and so now, so it hard on me all round,” Elvis said. He is calling on the Commissioner of Police and Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, to look into his plight and lend some assistance. “I can’t help but say that I was shot on the job, and I am asking for something that they should have done ever since the incident. I am asking that they provide me with some compensation and a desk job. It’s all I’m asking.”
Thursday May 01, 2014
Kaieteur News
Chinese workers shot during robbery bid Two Chinese nationals who were determined to resist all attempts at robbery fought against two armed men at their Robb and King Street business last night. About 8:45 hours, the workers of Zhen Xing Commercial Company at Lot 67 Robb Street, Robbstown, a clothing store, returned to their business place where they also have a living quarters after shopping for groceries at a local supermarket. One man and a woman, both Chinese nationals were shot after they got into a scuffle with the men who approached from a white car and demanded cash and jewellery. The victims were rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital to seek medical attention. Hospital sources confirmed that the injuries were not life threatening and that the Chinese nationals were in a stable condition. Police investigators were only able to get a few details
from the spouse of the man who was shot in his buttocks. The woman told officers that she, her husband, and some other workers had returned from buying groceries when they tried to open their door and were attacked by the men who were armed with sharp instruments and a shotgun. “They ask us to show all the money we got. They said they want everything. We said we no have money. They tried to hit us and we hit back. We hit back hard. Then they fire off the gun at us and go away. They only get one phone,” the woman explained. One victim was also injured on the right side of his abdomen. The nationals were unable to communicate further details of the suspects as they informed that they knew little to no English. When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene, one witness Mark Barker, who is a law enforcement officer said, “I work for the man who owns the flat that the Chinese are
occupying. My boss owns Central Electronics and he rented it to the Chinese Nationals. The two men came and tried to rob them but the Chinese fought back. They did not give in. The men gave up and fled the scene after they didn’t get through immediately. There are cameras surrounding the four points of the place so trust me it will be figured out who the attackers were.” Officers on the scene arrested one person, an employee of the Chinese Nationals. The police noticed that the man was standing at the corner observing and approached him. After much questioning they found out that the man had not been to work for over a week. Given his unsatisfactory excuses and suspicious behaviour, police officers held him for further questioning. Officers up to press time were still trying to determine the names of the nationals who were injured.
FBI creating unit to trace corrupt foreign assets WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - The FBI will create a unit to help trace the assets of corrupt foreign leaders, to complement an existing group of prosecutors focused on the issue, Attorney General Eric Holder said last Tuesday. The announcement comes as the United States scrambles to respond to unrest in Ukraine, and follows a new round of sanctions the United States announced on Monday over Moscow’s involvement in the crisis. Prosecutors, agents and other U.S. government officials have traveled to Ukraine to help authorities there recover assets allegedly stolen by former president Viktor Yanukovich’s government, Holder said in remarks before a London conference on recovering Ukrainian assets. Around one dozen agents and analysts will be part of the new FBI squad to support such efforts in Ukraine and elsewhere, he said. A group of seven prosecutors at DOJ, created in 2010, have been focused on recovering the assets of socalled kleptocrats. The group has helped to trace assets in the wake of the Arab Spring unrest. Last month it froze more than $458 million that former Nigerian leader Sani Abacha and his conspirators obtained
Eric Holder through corruption and hid in bank accounts around the world. “What we’ve seen is that
the initiative has been very successful, the agents and prosecutors with this expertise are in great demand ... and in order to be able to ensure that the department has the resources the next time a kleptocratic regime falls, we need to have a dedicated rapid response team,” David O’Neil, who is acting head of the Justice Department’s criminal division, said in an interview. U.S. investigators working in Ukraine in early March were able to help review documents recovered from the waters behind Yanukovych’s palace, for example, including records of land transfers and engineering permits.
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THE RODNEY INQUIRY SHOULD SCHEDULE HEARINGS IN LONDON, TORONTO AND NEW YORK The Commission of Inquiry into the death of Dr. Walter Rodney has commenced in Georgetown. Evidence is being led by witnesses who are attempting to recall events that took place more than thirty years ago. Thirty-four years is a very long time. Some of the lawyers who are part of inquiry process were not even born at the time of Rodney’s death. Many persons who would have been knowledgeable about what took place have either passed on to the Great Beyond or are no longer living in Guyana. Many of them in fact were forced to leave Guyana because of their assessment of the political climate at the time and the possible threats to their lives. Almost all of the head teachers, for example, who were transferred in those days because of what they believed were political reasons are no longer in Guyana. They have moved on and moved out of Guyana. Many persons left Guyana because of their experience during that period. Many left subsequently for other reasons to live overseas. They are not likely to volunteer to return for the Commission of Inquiry. In the ensuing years since Rodney’s death, hundreds of thousands of Guyanese have migrated including highly
placed security officials who would have had knowledge about the activities of the Working People’s Alliance, the surveillance to which they may have been subjected to and also information about Gregory Smith who has admitted publicly to having delivered the instrument that exploded in the lap of Rodney. It would be extremely regrettable if those persons would not be able to give testimony before the Commission of Inquiry because of the fact that they are now resident overseas. For one, certain senior former police officials who were intensely familiar with what
took place during that period now reside overseas. They should at least be afforded the opportunity to see whether they will come forward and offer whatever information they can offer. They are colleagues of Rodney who will also have information that they may wish to share with the Commission. While it is true that they can from where they are send in statements, it would be extremely helpful if the Commissioners can try to reach out to these persons by implementing measures that would at least allow them to give testimony from where they are. There are persons
Canada should be asked to submit their statements and through the use of Skype and other means, hearings can be arranged whereby they can be led in their testimonies and cross examined from here in Guyana. The same things can happen for persons from the Caribbean who may wish to give evidence before the Commission. The Caribbean Court of Justice undertakes hearings via video-conferencing with witnesses and their attorneys in one country and the judges sitting in Trinidad and Tobago. The same can happen in the case of the Commission of Inquiry into the death of Walter Rodney.
It would do no harm to at least see whether there will be persons who will be willing to give evidence from the Caribbean, Europe and North America via video conferencing. The COI has already shown some flexibility in terms of the evidence that it is allowing and there is no reason why it should not try to invite persons from the Diaspora to be part of this important inquiry which aims to determine just what led to the death of Dr. Walter Rodney.
Ramotar refuses to sign 2014 ‘Budget' Bill President Donald Ramotar whose office has been in receipt of the Appropriation Act of 2014 from Parliament since Friday April 25, is yet to give his assent to the said Act. This is according to the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, who said that the President left the jurisdiction early on Monday morning for the activities of the CARCIOM Mexican summit in Mexico City “so no discourse has as yet taken place and the intentions of the President has not been
gleaned over the weekend which essentially is when the Appropriations Bill has been with us.” The Bill is necessary since it allows for money to be allocated by governing bodies and generally if it is not assented to it would mean that government would be unable to function, a problem which is usually solved by the holding of General Elections. Luncheon, pronouncing on elections as a last resort, said, “I don’t believe that we face an either or proposition or situation. Among the
Dem boys seh ...
Mosquito ah pick fight wid elephant Dem boys fed up reminding people that knack always got knack back. When you live by de sword you gun die by it. That is another saying that deh round a lang time. You live like a scamp, you gun die like a scamp. Everybody in Guyana want to go to America or Britain or Canada. That is what dem does call de ABC countries. Nobody in de world want mek trouble wid dem, except two-three mad people— North Korea, Iraq, Libya… and now Guyana. Everybody know wha happen to de leaders of Iraq and Libya. And if dem put hand pun de chubby shaatie from North Korea, people mightn’t find ee. Guyana decide to play powerful. It revoke de visa fuh a Canadian who wukking fuh Uncle Sam. But like everybody didn’t know bout de move. When Luncheon mek de announcement, de whole Cabinet get quiet. Right
who were active in the WPA and the security services who may be willing to give evidence but who may not be inclined to travel to Guyana because of personal and financial reasons. A special effort should be made to reach out to these persons because of the fact that there may not be many persons alive in Guyana who can present a full picture of what took place during that period and those who are still around may struggle to clearly recall what took place. The technology is there to allow for persons overseas to offer evidence from abroad. Guyanese living in the United States, in England and in
away some Ministers studying fuh done Luncheon dance more fast. Dem Government people remember when dem couldn’t travel to Uncle Sam and that was because de government did talk fat to Uncle Sam. Jagdeo was de man. He tell de Ambassador that Guyana ain’t tekking back none of dem deportees. When de US Embassy seh that no government official could travel to de States, de next day Jagdeo mek Luncheon tell de Americans that we didn’t mean wha we seh…Is just that we didn’t want dem Americans to pay fuh send de deportees back to Guyana; we did want spend we money fuh bring dem back we self. Well dem boys think Guyana did learn a lesson. But now it seem like we going back down de same road. Tekking way that man visa got more than backlash. Dem boys seh that is like a monkey pun a tree peeing pun a man wid a AK47 in he hand or a case of a mosquito
picking fight wid an elephant. Pulling de man visa didn’t come just so. De Cabinet hear that Obama create a special unit fuh trace de assets and wealth of all dem corrupt leaders and politicians around de world. Somebody whisper that that man, Glenn Bradbury, was not only heading de American project, he was also heading a team that is investigating Jagdeo, Brazzy, Boyah, Bobby and all dem other Bees plus Irfaat, Rob de Earth, Ash Knee and a whole heap of dem. De Cabinet hear that Donald already give de FBI approval to come to Guyana any time to do anything. A special team that include de Canadian Feds investigating Jagdeo and all who very close to him. People gun hear de hooray fuh that visa wha dey tek away and fuh de work permit wha dem revoke. Talk half and wait fuh de backlash.
options that are available, holding National Elections cannot be excluded but that is not the exclusive option.” The combined opposition which has the Majority in Parliament has disapproved over $37 Billion from the 2014 Budget including projects from Office of the President; those disapprovals are reflected in the Appropriations Act. According to Luncheon, expenditure as authorized by the constitution in the Appropriations Act comprises Current and Capital items. He said that the Appropriation Act “as amended to reflect the decisions made during the Committee of Supply by the majoritorian opposition did not provide approval in 10 instances.” He said that it is to be noted that the one instance where the current expenditure was not approved was that of the Office of the President
(OP) and that the Capital expenditure for the OP was one of the nine Capital expenditures that were not approved by the combined opposition. This cutting of the Capital and Current Expenditures of the OP, according to Luncheon, has placed a “stranglehold” on programmes within the said office. “Obviously the intention of the opposition of our Shiv Chandrapaul Drive premises is to have erected a ‘for rent’
sign because in the absence of current and capital flows we probably might be able to acquire revenue renting the facilities as we won’t be able to run a Ministry,” said Luncheon. The other eight instances when capital expenditure was not approved during the committee of supply according to Luncheon, “indeed continues the 2012 and 2013 saga however, one important difference in 2014 is, we are not dealing with (continued on page 24)
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=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Trade unionism in Guyana: Dying or dead? There are two incredible facts about trade unionism in this country and the word, “incredible,” is simply too mild a descriptive term. The first is that some of the most powerful trade unions are shamelessly attached to and supportive of the power of the party in government. For these unions, political support comes before trade union militancy. In fact, the head of the biggest union, Komal Chand of the sugar organization, GAWU, has been an inner member of the PPP hierarchy for over forty years. The second one is even more bizarre. Those unions have enjoyed a twenty-twoyear-old relation with the party in power and have absolutely nothing to show
for their sycophancy. Isn’t life about, “I do for you, you do for me?” Isn’t this an inherent instinct of civilized life? But what do these servile unions get from the central government in terms of economic elevation of their members? If you think these two facts are unbelievable, there are even more disturbing aspects of this masochistic/ sadistic relation. Take the CCWU. Its bargaining power in public sector entities has been whittled down over the past fifteen years. The CCCW has received absolutely nothing for its prostitution which of course is a contradiction in terms. A prostitute sells a service and receives an income. If
you try to rob her, she solicits the help of a “pimp.’ So a prostitute does not go emptyhanded. In the case of the CCWU, it remains the exception of a prostitute who works for nothing. Today, at the May Day march sponsored by the TUC, the CCWU will be seen in the parade, then, it follows the instruction of the Government and swings into the National Park or another location instead of the TUC compound. The CCWU lives in a prison. It cannot break out of the pro-government group under the acronym, FITUG, because once it does that, the PPP will view it as a hostile act and probably remove its representation in the public sector. That will eventually be
the funeral service for the CCWU. This writer was told that CCWU made efforts to talk to the management of Republic Bank for representation but was bluntly told by the Champion of Garbage that it should allow NAACIE to do it. NAACIE then began negotiations with Republic Bank. On e o f m y U G students at that time informed me and I went to see the seniors of the Bank. I insisted that if they allow NAACIE to address their employees then they have to provide that opportunity to NAACIE’s competitors. The bank agreed but never invited the other unions although it shelved the NAACIE application. The head of NAACIE told the Stabroek News in a published interview that Republic Bank’s employees are without representation because I sabotaged the process. Unapologetically, I say I’m glad I did though I would reject that nasty term, “sabotage.” A dying CCWU cries out from its hospital bed. When
it was alive, the CCWU had a thriving restaurant and drinking spot at its head office on Quamina Street. The Friday night lime there was really satisfying. Lack of funds has killed that off. If ever there was an example of sadism and masochism in trade unionism it is the moribund CCWU. There is the tale of the Guyana Labour Union. Traditionally tied to the PNC because of the skills of the PNC founder, Forbes Burnham, the GLU broke away from the PNC and went straight into the arms o f t h e P P P. A n d w h o achieved this? Its head, Carvil Duncan. I never spoke or saw Mr. Duncan before 2011. Then I met him at a forum of the Ethnic Relations Commission at the Princess Hotel and a conversation followed. How the PNC allowed such an intellectually limited, uncharismatic, poor leader to take the GLU into the orbit of the PPP remains a sore on Guyanese history. Then there are the two sugar slaves – NAACIE and GAWU. It was shocking to see how both unions were
Frederick Kissoon using their resources to campaign for the PPP in the 2011 elections. Essentially East Indian oriented because of the niche they were born into, these two unions became alive because of the politics of President Forbes Burnham. NAACIE took the Burnham Government to arbitration and won a stupendous sum under the chairmans h i p o f J . O . F. Haynes and bought its present head office. GAWU was given legal recognition by President Burnham. When you survey the rest of the trade union scene, it isn’t a nice picture. A financially strapped TUC with its affiliates marches on as we will see today. The great trade union movement of Guyana may be dying.
Thursday May 01, 2014
Kaieteur News
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UG gets $60 million injection from GT&T - monies to be expended over three years
GT&T’s CEO, Radha Krishna Sharma (second from left) shakes hands with UG’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi (second from right) after signing the MoU yesterday. Also in photo are GT&T’s CFO, Justin Nedd, (extreme left) and UG’s Registrar, Vincent Alexander. The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) yesterday signed over a whopping sum of $60 million to the University of Guyana (UG) which will be tangibly expended to aid academic work over the next three years. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked between the two parties yesterday in the Ballet Room of the Quamina Street, Georgetown, Cara Lodge, details that GT&T will provide sponsorship funds to the University which will be paid out in tranches of $20 million annually. Being effective from April 2014, the GT&T commitment will cater to the delivery of two megabytes of internet bandwidth to the Centre for Information
Technology (CIT) which alone will attract an overall cost of $1.2 million monthly. Additionally there will be a provision of $4.4 million annually to fund capital works identified by the University. Further still, GT&T’s Chief Executive Officer, Radha Krishna Sharma, said that the telephone company will direct another $10 million towards the re-tooling and refurbishing of the CIT Laboratory, including the replacement of 57 Dell computers the telephone company had donated in 2004. It is expected that the refurbishing work will commence immediately, paving the way for the recommissioning of the laboratory at the start of the
new academic year, Sharma said. Added to this, he said that the vision of additional support inclusive of routers and access points among other features, to enhance the delivery of distribution of the bandwidth, will be funded by the telephone company. Sharma disclosed yesterday too, that GT&T is prepared to provide a closeuser group service package which will be made available to UG’s administrative staff with a view of offering savings and greater value for money. In detailing the extensive aid planned for the University, Sharma divulged that the financial endowment represents the “highest dollar (continued on page 24)
Thursday May 01, 2014
Shot rapist unwittingly gave hideout location to victim The man who was shot dead by police while hiding out on a farm on the Linden/ Seosdyke Highway had unwittingly given away his whereabouts to the woman he had allegedly raped. According to relatives, Joel Ross who had fled his Haslington, East Coast Demerara home since April 21 last to avoid a rape charge, was in constant telephone contact with the victim, trying to get her to change her story. This newspaper was told that the woman gave Ross the impression that she had agreed to his request and even befriended him, resulting in him inviting her to the highway pig farm he was working on. According to Information reaching this newspaper, the woman was directed by Ross to his employer so that she could be taken to the farm to spend a few days with him as was agreed. The employer did acknowledge on Tuesday that he had spoken to the woman who claimed to be Ross’ reputed wife and had planned to take her to the farm the day he was killed. “I was to take in his wife but I could not make contact with her via telephone today (Tuesday)” the employer stated. Relatives believe that the 43 year- old Ross and the
woman had shared a casual relationship and had exchanged telephone numbers prior to the rape allegation. “But is he who cause he own downfall. After he rape she he keep calling she and asking she to put credit in he phone. I hear he was even directing she to where he was,” one relative stated. They believe that the woman went along with Ross’ “game” and after obtaining information on his whereabouts, she turned it over to the police. “While he was talking to her in good faith, she was alerting the police,” the relative added. Kaieteur News understands that the police received information that Ross was hiding out at a location on the highway and went after him just after midday on Tuesday. “At about 12:30 hours today (Tuesday)…, Joel Ross, who was armed with a cutlass, attacked a policeman who was in the process of arresting him at Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke/Linden Highway. This caused the rank to resort to the use of force and Joel Ross was shot to his body. He succumbed to his injuries. Joel Ross was wanted in relation to a matter of rape committed at Haslington, ECD, on April 21, 2014,” a
police press release had stated on Tuesday. But relatives believe that there are still several unanswered questions surrounding the circumstances of Ross’ death. This was after they positively identified his body yesterday at the Lyken Funeral Parlour. According to a relative they were informed that the funeral parlour workers had picked up Ross’ body from the Timehri Police Station. “The body was not supposed to be there. Is either they de leave it at the scene for a proper investigation to be done or it was supposed to be at a hospital,” a sister of the dead man told this newspaper. They also questioned the location where police claimed that Ross was shot. While the police said that Ross was shot at Kuru-Kuru, his employer informed that the farm he was working on is located several miles away at Yarrowkabra. “He was working because when we look at the body today, he had on his working clothes and long boots. But who we gun complain to? He done dead,” the relative stated. A post mortem examination will be performed on Ross’ body tomorrow.
Pandit to face High Court trial for rape Accused rapist, Pandit Rajindra Maraj is expected to stand trial at the next sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes at the Georgetown Supreme Court. Maraj was committed to stand a High Court trial yesterday, after Providence Magistrate Leron Daly ruled that the Prosecution which was represented by Police Sergeant Shellon Daniels, provided the court with sufficient evidence for him to face a trial for rape. The charge states that on December 8 and December 29,
2009 Maraj raped a sixteen year old girl at an Eccles, East Bank Demerara Mandir. According to details of the case, on the first occasion, the teenager had accompanied her grandparents to the Mandir in Eccles to make arrangements for a religious ceremony, when Maraj instructed the elders to leave his office, since he needed to perform a special spiritual ritual on the girl. The Pandit then told the girl that she had been possessed with an ‘African spirit,’ and he needed to
perform a ritual to cure her. Maraj then instructed the teenager to remove her clothing. He placed special ointments on several parts of the victim’s body before raping her. After the incident, the Pandit warned the teenager not to tell anyone about her experience. However on December 29, after Maraj allegedly raped the teenager a second time, she confided in another Pandit. The Pandit in turn, told the teenager’s grandparents, who reported the matter to the police.
Thursday May 01, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 21
Cabinet gives unusual no-objection for contract award On April 29, Cabinet gave its no-objection to the award of several contracts including a $7.2M contract for the procurement of pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and consumables for the Ministry of Health. This is according to Dr. Roger Luncheon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, who emphasized that this contract was an unusual inclusion. “I don’t see that going to Cabinet…Our rule is $15M and more going to Cabinet for no-objection,” he told media operatives at his weekly postCabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, yesterday. The rule, which Dr. Luncheon refers to, is a clause in the Procurement Act. As it is presently, Cabinet, headed by President Donald Ramotar,
Dr. Roger Luncheon, Cabinet Secretary does not award contracts but gives its no-objection to contracts valuing $15M and above. With the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission,
Government will no longer have the authority to offer its no-objection to contracts. As such, Government recently tabled amendments to the substantive Procurement Act in the National Assembly to ensure the no-objection clause remains even when the Commission is in place. However, this was met with disapproval by the joint Opposition parties and the amendments were withdrawn. Government said it would have to discuss the matter further with the Opposition parties. The other contracts Cabinet gave its no-objection to are: the construction of river defence at Mosquito Hall, Region Four to the tune of $275M; procurement of irrigation pumps at Mibicuri, Region Six valuing $40.9M; and the fabrication and delivery of
Former national junior athlete caught after botched robbery Satkumar Deonat, claiming to be policemen at No. 50 Village, Corentyne, Berbice and demanded that they open the door to their home. The man stated that he peeped out and saw that it wasn’t the police so he called his father. He said one of the men ha d jumped onto the
… fails to outrun residents The police continue to put a dent in the criminal enterprise in Berbice. This time the person who was nabbed during a botched robbery was a national figure. Former national junior athlete, Cortez Fraser, 20, of Tucber Park, New Amsterdam, was captured by residents last Friday after a botched robbery at a residence at No 50 Village, Corentyne. Swift action by ranks at the Number 51 Village Police Station had led to the arrest of the man, who, along with an accomplice, tried to gain entry into a couple’s home by pretending to be police officers. Fraser was on Tuesday remanded to prison by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh when he appeared before him at the Albion Magistrate’s Court; He was remanded to jail until May 7,
Cortez Fraser next, when he is expected to appear at the No. 51 Magistrate’s court. The prosecution asked that bail be refused on the grounds that a number of other matters of similar nature are being investigated and many charges are likely. Around 21:30 hrs on April 25, Fraser and an accomplice entered the premises of
verandah while the other stayed on the steps. He stated that when he turned on the outside light the bandits asked him why he put on the light and told him to turn it off. He said he did not obey and the man who was on the steps ran away. “He was wearing a mask, a brown shirt and black pants.” His mother raised an alarm
and neighbours came out and surrounded the home. The second man, who was later identified as Fraser, jumped a fence and landed in a pond. He was subsequently caught and given a sound trashing by residents before being handed over to the police.
Man sneaks into girls’ bed, causes panic Two men are currently in police custody at the Anna Regina Police station awaiting charges of attempted rape, after one of them was found in a bed, at Lima Sands attired only in his underwear. Reports are that “Bujo”, (only name given) apparently gained entry through a window of an unfinished house at Lima Sands, a remote community located some nine miles from Anna Regina he was caught in the bed of the two teenage sisters around 4:00 hours. The teenage girls’ aunt, (name given) related that her brother, her nieces’ father
caught Bujo after his daughters’ alerted him to a man lying next to them in their bed. They said that he had been fondling them. The woman said that her nieces screamed for their father, who was in another room of the unfinished house, and who quickly ran to his daughters’ aid. He managed to apprehend “Bujo”. He also arrested Bujo’s accomplice “Snakey”, who later revealed he was the lookout man. When further questioned, “Bujo” said that he was from Hampton Court, some distance from Lima Sands and indicated that he usually stalked the girls
One of the intruders while they took their baths at a canal at Lima Sands. “I did this because I does see the girls bathing naked at the canal.”
eight stainless steel sluice gates for the outfall structure being built on the Hope Drainage Canal to the tune of $44.4M. Additionally, the two sluices on the East Bank
Demerara at Grove/ Diamond and Herstelling, would undergo expansion works to the tune of $19.7M and $63.2M respectively. And in the health sector, Cabinet gave its no-objection to the
award of contracts for the procurement of Tuberculosis medication costing $30.7M as well as the procurement of vaccines for the maternal and child health programme valuing US$164,000.
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Kaieteur News
PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale.Call:627-5416 Double lot with house at East Bank Demerara, one block away from Public Road – Call: 621-1766 FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Almost brand new items to be sold: Refrigerator and microwave – Contact:671-2066 One 6125 John Deere tractor for sale. For more information contact: 670-3328 Pork - $380, Pork Chops - $650, leg pork - $480lb, salted pork $450 (8 Lbs pails) @ Geroge & Hadfield Sts. Red Honda 250 Twister motorcycle – Contact:6713533; 681-2217 Two 212 Carina, 2 AE100 Wagon – Tel:660-0018, 6411040 Honda Welder, 270 Amps, 2002 Tundra – Call:611-5114, 220-4495 Clean garden earth, also Bobcat & Excavator rentals – Tel:626-7127 PORK WHOLE SALE, WHOLE, HALF & QUARTER CARCASS. NO HEAD! NO TROTTERS! – CALL:266-2711, 609-4594 Beverage cooler, great condition – Call:223-9719 Household items: Stoves, bed, couch, sewing machine, closet, coffee dispenser – Tel:223-9719 or 227-1028 Day-beds, office desk, vases, divider, wardrobe, table, radio set, photo frames, etc – Tel:226-2284 2 x M132 Laverda Combine, 3 x Pressure Pump 4x3 for gold field, 3 x 50 H/P 3 Phase Motor – call:627-0447 1-2640 MF Tractor 4wd with 1 – Rome Plough 20 dish, 1CAT Standby 3306,194KVA 3 Phase 60 Cylinder – Tel:6934596 1-CAT 320 excavator, 1-22 RB long boom dragline, 1helmet & hammer, 1-120G motor grader -D4H CAT bulldozer- Good conditionCall:660-4021/275-0578 1 Playstation3 with games $65,000, 1 – XBOX360 with games - $60,000, Used XBOX360 - $25,000, PSP $15,000, DS - $15,000 – Tel:621-7497, 603-8643 Pure bred German Shepherd puppies with long hair fully de-wormed & vaccinated, good blood line breeding – Tel:696-4659
FOR SALE Toyota Forklift - Excellent condition, 4,000lbs capacity, 117" Lift, Solid Wheels, Automatic Transmission, 4 Cylinder LPG Motor. Call: 604-6108. Delux pedicure spa chairs, salon chairs, mirrors, stations – Call:223-1719, 600-0036 One Brand new led Television with 3D glass – Contact:623-1615 1–48 Feet Boat with 900lb ice box, price negotiable – Tel:609-0783 SONY PLAYSTATION 2 & 3, AND XBOX360 (ORIGINAL), VIDEO GAME DISCS, WIDE VARIETY AT THE BEST PRICES. CALL “MAX” – 609-8132; 6728569 One 210 Hyundai Excavator with one complete 6" Dredge and also 4" Dredge Contact: 690-1568 CBR motor cycle- Honda 2007 model with installed power commander - $800,000 neg. Contact Chris Da Silva – 678-0545, 226-4985 & 2237376
MASSAGE The Gents Spa: Be pampered by beautiful masseuses. New masseuses Amanda and Crystal – Tel:657-5979
DRESSMAKING Jean is offering courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral & cake decoration. Lot 153 Barr St Kitty – Call:670-2653, 618-1706
One back lot for sale @ Lot 239 2nd Street, East Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown – Tel:691-4009; 679-3895 Vacant corner lot 58 ½” x 30" @ Garnette & Republic Streets, Newtown, Kitty ideal for business – Tel:6450616 Satya Cinema, Good Faith, Mahaicony – Call:641-8472 Transport house & land @ Tuschen old Scheme newly built & visible from the public road – price negotiable – Tel:667-5900 One property for sale at Covent Garden Island, EBD – Call: 265-3586 Prime Property for sale – Light Street, Alberttown – Contact: 639-3619, 619-7299 Lot 1064/65 Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt Park. – Serious Offers onlyCall:615-5844, 619-7299 1 – 2 storey wooden & concrete house with 5 bedrooms, upper flat & lower flat 4 apartments located@ Shell Road, kitty - $38.9M – Tel: 642-7898 Houses & land from $15M$35M Vreed-En-Hoop to Parika, Georgetown to Mahaica & Timehri, Parfaite Harmonie - $1M-2.5M – Call: 675-7292 One commercial property located at Broad St, Charlestown, close to the Public Road – Call:615-7526, 661-9885 1 Newly built 2 storey concrete house @ Canal No#2 Belle West - Tel: 6153333; 648-9428
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Two Bedrooms lower flat apartment, one month’s security - $40,000 per month @ Paradise Factory Rd, E.C.D – Contact:625-9939; 672-2677 One upper flat @ 6th Street Cummings Lodge ECD – Call:622-3580 House @ Lot ‘M’ First Street, Grove Housing Scheme, E.B.D – 3 bedrooms & bottom flat, big yard space – Tel:265-3055, 647-2296 PRIME BUSINESS CORNER, WEST BANK MAIN ROAD (600 SQ FT). $100,000 MONTHLY, SERIOUS ENQUIRIES ONLY. CALL ‘MAX’ – TEL:609-8132; 672-8569 3 Bedroom apartment at ‘B’ Field Sophia - $50,000, 3 months advance- Call:2194583, 223-1719 Store front and small office Haley/Durban Street – Call:223-1719
CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 225-7126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com
Wings Car Rental- Call:6431131 Aidan’s Car Rental, Canter & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 6987807 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
TO LET Space for office or canteen in Albertown – Call:225-6458 or 614-8022 Furnished and unfurnished two bedrooms apartment in Eccles, for short or long term – Tel:643-1131 One bedroom furnished apartment @ Lot 4 Henry Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown – Call Winston: 660-6446 1 – Top Flat at Diamond, $45,000 negotiable – Call:6975933, 231-8567, 638-3622, 6882255 New modern 2 bedroom apartment @ Bel-Air. Furnished, AC, Hot & Cold, CCTV, Expat preferred, no agents please – Call:692-0986
Barber Station at Lot 109 Durban Street W/Rust, Georgetown – Call:682-6396 Two bedrooms apartment – Call:646-5147 One bedroom apartment – self contained, fully grilled at Land of Canaan, EBD – Contact Navo: 615-9441, 2665563 One nails table – Tel: 628-9297 or 602-5469 Three bedroom apart in Duncan St C/Ville – Call: 6224170
EDUCATIONAL
Progressive Auto Rental - carsCall: 643-5122 or 225-8711, Email:pro_autorental@yahoo.com
LAND FOR SALE Lot 12 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, Market Street – Tel:220-7330 Parfaite Harmonie - $2.2M (Prime High Income Area) (100ft X 50ft), Parfaite Harmonie - $1M, Herstelling - $3M – Call: 675-7292
Thursday May 01, 2014
Practical Electronic Course beginning May 6th 2014 – Call Abdul Electronics – 2266551 or 225-0391 VEHICLE FOR SALE One Toyota RAV, 4 PNN Series- Contact: 650-7875. Serious Enquires only! Sold by first owner! Toyota Avensis, PRR Series, immaculate condition, leather interior, alarm, A/C, TV, 18" Rims, HID - $3.250 Neg. – Call: 609-7257, 602-5794 One BMW 3 Series 2002 up, transmission & computer box – Call:666-8295 Unregistered 2002 PremioPhone: 227-5950 or 6817117
VACANCY Experienced hairdressers at Magic Touch Salon- Call:2256492 Federal Management Security Services: Armed, Baton Officers, bus drivers. Located @ 120 Peter Rose Street, Queenstown - Tel:2260633, 226-0652, 226-0637 One machinist & one welder – Call:234-0780 or 613-1588 Office clerk senior/junior. CXC: English, Mathematics & computer knowledge an assetCall:225-0188/223-7500 Operators- training will be provided, driver/expeditor, security guards. Apply :Guyana Fisheries Wharf Limited Houston, E.B.D- Tel # 227-8176/7 One female to assort and arrange goods. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. Pump Attendant at Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) – Tel: 265-7305 Hire car drivers from E.C.D – Contact A1 Taxi – Call:220-1000 Cashiers at Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm12pm) – Tel: 265-7305 Professional HAIRSTYLIST NEEDED at DIVA HAIR SALON, TORTOLA BVI. 5+ years experience required.
VEHICLE FOR SALE First Class Auto: Premio, Allion, Spacio, Raum, 212, Allex, Runx, IST, Fielder, Bluebird, Axela – Tel:6098188, 638-3045 One 8,000 Ford Tractor, one 450 Ford Towing Truck & size 16 & 17 tyres - Contact Floyd: 694-5599 One RX-8 Mazda fully air conditioned, stick gear, wheel lights, fog lamps, power windows - Tel: 653-2477 2004 Toyota Tundra GNN Series - $1.6M. Owner leaving country - Phone: 6475919 One Toyota AT192, good condition – Price $850,000 negotiable – Tel: 616-1671 2008 Blue Bird - $3M, 2005 Spacio - $2.1M, 2006 Premio - $2.3M. ALL VEHICLES FULLY LOADED & UNREGISTERED- Call:6427295 Two Model M Bedford 4x4 Trucks – owner leaving country – Call:693-2237 AT192 Carina, HC series, Yellow – Price:$750,000.00 – Tel:676-8233 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30-seater buses; extra-cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 Pre-order: AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN RZ & Pit-bull, 7seater Super Customs. Cash/ terms- Call:680-3154 Unregistered Toyota Raum - Year 2004 , black interior, HID lights, power door, TV navigation – Tel:617-5536 Smart Choice Auto Sales: Unregistered: Premio, Spacio, Allion, Allex, IST, 212, Fielder, Voxy– Call:6523820; 665-4529 One new model yellow cab 212, in excellent condition – Call:691-5086 Toyota 4 Runner, great condition – Call:223-9719, 227-1028 One AE100 Corolla Car $450,000, One AE100 Corolla Wagon - $900,000 – Tel: 6116632, 664-3488 One AE100 Corolla, in good condition, engine just overhaul - $600,000 – Call: 592-6920986 1 Carina AT212, PMM Series, very good condition. Leather seats, flash drive deck, rims. Price negotiable – call: 6631576 1- Toyota Corolla AE100, excellent condition, A/C, mag rims, alarm, DVD player $825,000 neg. – Call: 225-3217, 612-9625, 695-6461 Toyota Raum, Spacio, AT212, AT192, NZE ,L-Touring wagon, Fun Cargo, IST, Nissan E24 Caravan – Tel: 6445096; 697-1453 (Continued on page 23
Thursday May 01, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Letters... Where your views make the news
Labour Day reflections DEAR EDITOR, May Day is regarded as Workers’ Day. It is a day that is set aside to celebrate the role and contribution of labour in the creation of wealth. It was Karl Marx who however is credited for highlighting the key and critical role played by the working class in the creation of surplus value which is appropriated by the capitalist class leaving the worker with a mere pittance. This exploitative situation, Marx posited, inevitably resulted in what he termed as the class struggle. The class struggle is manifested in street protests in a number of western capitals, in particular in the Eurozone countries, which is beset by unprecedented high unemployment rates and drastic cuts in social services. In the final analysis, it is the working people who suffer the most. Many are pushed into the breadline being forced by circumstances to suffer the indignity of literally begging for food and shelter to put body and soul together. This situation of a ‘naked cash nexus’ between man and man, caused by the heartless and inhuman character of the capitalist system, was elaborated by Marx in several of his writings. He posited that the greater the capitalist accumulation of property at the expense of the
working people, the more vulnerable and insecure the workers become as they become mere cogs in the production mill which strips them not only of their right to exist but of their very identity and individuality. This state of affairs is what he called “alienation” where the worker is alienated not only from himself but also his family, and the only relationship that matters is one based on money. This is why enlightened and progressive humanity have always been opposed to the capitalist mode of production and distribution, which is inherently unfair and exploitative. Under capitalism, the main emphasis is on the creation of surplus value which, as mentioned earlier, is hogged by the capitalist class with the workers only getting, as it were, ‘the crumbs” that fall from the master’s table. There are some who will regard all of this as academic stuff or worse as ideologically biased and propagandistic, but a closer examination of current realities would demonstrate that despite technological and scientific advances in the means of production, the gap between those who provide labour and those who own and control the production process continues to widen.
Race is not an... From page 5 eventually lead to the three conditions above (trust, cooperation, respect) being developed, leading to power -sharing. That was why I temporarily joined the AFC (because the PPP/C and PNCR-lead APNU were not practicing
consensus politics) until I realised that the AFC was also not practicing consensus politics. There is no such thing as a homogeneous race. That is, there is no pure blood Indian, African, Amerindian, Chinese, etc race. Sean McLean
Simply put, the rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer. What we have today is what sociologists refer to as the working poor, where many persons simply cannot exist on the income they receive and are compelled to do multiple jobs or are forced to supplement incomes by way of borrowed money. This tendency to spend more than they earn has now become a norm in many developed countries, including the United States, and has been a major contributory factor in the collapse of the banking system. With so much wealth concentrated in the hands of a tiny few, it is only natural that workers will be trapped into forced borrowing with disastrous consequences as is now playing out in the United States and a number of European countries. In Guyana, Labour Day is once again observed with a fractured labour movement and a fragile political situation in which the opposition parties in parliament have conspired to cut budgetary spending with obvious implications for the working people. Many countries both in the developed and developing world, faced with severe financial crises, are finding it difficult to mobilize resources for development. The budget is in effect a work plan for the government which when executed will have a multiplier effect on the rest of the society in terms of money circulation, job creation and the provision of social services. To suggest cuts in budgetary allocation is not only irresponsible but counterproductive and clearly not in the best national interest.
The PPP/C administration has consistently defended the interests of the working people as part of its working class bias and orientation. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that the PPP emerged out of the bowels of the labour movement. It was in the end a labour of love, with the PPP capturing political power which it has always and consistently utilized to enhance the quality of life of the Guyanese people, more particularly the working people. There was a time in this country when May Day activities were used as a façade to legitimize antiworker postures by way of sloganeering and empty promises. Public servants were forced to participate and carry slogans which were clearly against their own interests. There was one particular instance where workers were forced to shout slogans which pitted salary increases in favour of proposed hydroelectric power which, needless to state, never saw the light of day. Today, workers participate in May Day activities of their own free will without fear of losing their jobs if they fail to show up. Hydar Ally
WANTED One whole day domestic for East Bank Demerara Area – Call:614-4358 Live-in waitress- Call:6439007/ 664-1804
(From page 22)
WANTED Urgently wanted: One place to rent between $12,000 to $15,000 Please Call: 674-4871 anytime Experienced carpenter, labourer, mason for job at Providence & L.B.I, E.C.D – Call:690-7316 (8:00am-5:00pm) Part-time salesman to sell locally manufactured Windows & Doors of High Quality - Telephone #6005253 One mechanic to work in the interior. Must have knowledge about Cummings Engine – Call:681-6044 D.J/Promoter to work at a club in Essequibo – Call:226-9768, 642-7963 Experienced diesel mechanic to work in the interior – Call:226-9768, 626-6909 Urgently needed live-in waitresses to work in bar, offering an attractive salary – Call:689-8859 Live-out domestic babysitter and live-in babysitter – Call:225-0188, 223-7500 (Monday to Saturday ) (8:15am-4:15pm) Skilled carpenters to work in Linden- Contact:625-0930; 668-9863 General Domestic. Must be able to cook. Attractive terms. Tel: 628 6719 (Mon-Fri: 5-7 p.m. only) Farm workers to work on Highway – Tel:644-6693, 6957075 We buy all low income lands especially in La Parfaite Harmonie 218-5591 or 6757292 Home tutoring in Diamond, Children 7 and 8, Time:3-5:30pmContact: 657-8732 One night guard – Call: 2251276, 666-7734 Experienced roti/puri cooks, curry cooks, pastry makers. Apply at Hack’s Halaal, Lot 5 Commerce Street EXPERIENCED DRIVERS: Apply with VALID Police Clearance & Driver Licence. – Tel:231-8529, 231-2344 Live-in couple. Husband: driving duties; wife: domestic. Good rates & accommodation – Tel:227-1830 Bartenders & security at El Club Latino – Call:650-4155 or 616-2902 from 10am to 6pm Cars with drivers to work at base located in Sophia (low base fee) – Call:613-1847
NOTICE: Tulsie’s Tailoring @ 40 Charles St. Tailor will be retiring April 30th 2014. Please Uplift your garments ! Thank You!– Tel:227-8826
SERVICES A-Z PARTY SERVICE: Let us plan your child’s, Party! While You Relax and enjoy it....... Call:660-5257 PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. COOL TECH : Repairs Services & Installation of all types if homes appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units - Tel: 233-2008; 675-4959 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 662-6045 Repairs to washers, dryers, stoves, deep fryers, control system, etc – Call:619-0793, 699-8802 TAXI BUSINESS CARDS SPECIAL: $4 each- Black; $17 each- Full-colour. Thick 14pt. Glossy. Offer ends May 2nd. Alert Printing 227-(COPY) 2679 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call: 2310655,683-8734 Omar HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000CALL:694-9843/227-2766 School bus from Land of Canaan to Greater Georgetown and back – Call:646-5147
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
Page 24
Kaieteur News
No evidence of pollution of Canje Creek - Armogan ... future visit planned By Leon Suseran Region 6 Chairman Mr. David Armogan has said that during a recent visit to the Canje Creek communities, there is no evidence of pollution. He and Minister ofAgriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, along with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the CEO of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) visited the communities a few days ago to have a look at the situation and to meet with residents “to see to what extent they are being affected.” However, during the visit “we haven’t seen any evidence of pollution, because at this time of the year, water is not released into the system because it is harvesting time.” A protest was raised a few weeks ago by residents there after it was learnt that a number of residents in the area have been affected by contaminated water being pumped into the Canje Creek by rice farmers in the area. The Canje River serves residents in East and West Canje, Canje River, New Amsterdam, Corentyne and Berbice River areas. Reports are that five residents have since died from what the residents are claiming is the contamination caused by the chemical in the water. Many of the illnesses were not diagnosed by the doctors. But Armogan said that another visit will have to be planned in the near future
Region 6 Chairman David Armogan when the water from the rice fields will be released into the Canje Creek, “because there is no evidence right now there to show. What the people are complaining about, is that when the farmers sow their paddies into the fields and once they (the paddies) fertilize and they (the farmers) throw chemicals and so on to kill snails and so on—those are pretty dangerous chemicals I was made to understand—and those things are released into the Canje Creek, what we find is that it affects the fishes and so on and besides that, those people depend on the water for all purposes…they don’t have any other source of getting water.” At this point in time, the government, he added, has not been “definitely able to say that the water released from the rice fields in that area is the problem, because when
we went there we haven’t seen anything to that extent, but the people have said to us that it wouldn’t happen all the time—only when the water is being released from the Canje Creek and that is not an everyday exercise.” Armogan had stated firmly that farmers will not be allowed to disrupt the lives of the people in the area. He however, mentioned that despite several warnings they continue to plant in the area and a decision was pending. He warned that firm action will be taken against those bent on doing their own thing.
Thursday May 01, 2014
NICIL gifts Turkeyen land to China Railway With the intention of making an official check for the assent of the amended 2014 Appropriation Bill by President Donald Ramotar in the Official Gazette, the Alliance for Change (AFC) learnt instead that NICIL has gifted a plot of Turkeyen land to China Railway Engineering Group. China Railway was considered as a key construction partner during discussions last year on the controversial Amaila Falls Hydro Project. During a press conference Ramjattan said, “We have taken a look at the
Official Gazette and we found a double transfer of lands at Turkeyen from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) which is headed by Winston Brassington.” This publication checked the latest publication of the Official Gazette and it stated that a portion of one acre of land of Plantation Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara as shown on a plan by D. Ramkarran, a sworn land surveyor dated June 18, 2013 and signed by the Minister of
Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh on April 4, was transferred to NICIL. The Member of Parliament added, “NICIL then transferred to China Railway Guyana Incorporated, a piece of land as the donor and the donee. There was no cost attached to the land transfer.” The AFC Leader stressed that he would like the government to be transparent about this questionable transaction and explain why Lands and Surveys, transferred the land to NICIL and why it was not sold to the engineering group.
Uncle and nephews freed of Mahaicony murder Satnarine Jaikaran, called Sato, and his nephews, Neville and Randy Crawford, walked out of the Georgetown Supreme Court as free men yesterday, after Justice William Ramlal upheld a nocase submission presented by their attorneys, Renee Kissoon and Satyesh Kissoon. On January 29, 2010, news of a murder spread through Little Abary, Mahaicony after 33-year-old Maxwell Watson succumbed to injuries resulting from a family altercation, during which he was brutally chopped and beaten. Watson, a labourer, was reportedly stabbed in his chest after he initiated an argument with his relatives, who had been consuming
alcohol at his residence in Mahaicony. After the fight, the man who was bleeding profusely from his wounds, collapsed at the side of the road. Watson later succumbed to his injuries. Subsequent, police investigations led to the arraignment of Jaikaran and his nephews. Yesterday, before instructing the jury to return a unanimous verdict of not guilty for the three accused, Justice Ramlal delivered a lengthy ruling, in which he outlined a number of discrepancies in the evidence provided by the prosecution witnesses, and the inefficiency of the investigation conducted by the police. The Judge explained that the evidence which was presented to the Court by the prosecution witnesses were
weak, unreliable and flawed in relation to the law and guiding principles regarding such matters. He noted that once again, the investigations conducted by the police have proven to be very, very poor. “We know that a crime was committed… but the evidence was not forthcoming as to how it was done or who might have committed the act. The evidence provided to the court was in fact questionable …what happened to the body between the time that it was picked up at Mahaicony to the time that the Post Mortem examination was conducted... What is the time of death or where did this man die?” At this point the jury announced the verdict for the three accused. They were not
guilty of the crime. As the verdict was being read the three men stood motionless and expressionless in the docks while the mother of the victim openly wept. “You are going home today not because you were not involved in the series of events that lead to this man’s death but because the police really messed up in their investigations. There is no doubt in my mind that one or all three of you were involved in the death of Maxwell Watson but it is unfortunate that the police could not get their act together,” Justice Ramlal told the three men standing in the dock. “In the future keep away from conflict even if you are in the right… get as far away as possible least you end up in the same situation.”
UG gets $60 million injection ... AFC to take legal action against ...
From page 12 value commitment we have given to any agency.” In fact he disclosed that the move is one designed to forge a new relationship with the University even as efforts are made to lend “even greater support.” According to Sharma, GT&T is a company that has, from its inception, embraced core values that foster sustainable development and has been driven by a vision to create value for its employees, customers, shareholders and society in general. As such he highlighted that “the duty of the company is to create value, and value is not limited to economic benefits but also includes social responsibility...” GT&T has over the years been able to maintain a cordial and very supportive relationship with the University which has seen it being able to contribute to various aspects of the University’s programmes. As such, Sharma, in alluding to a long history of beneficial collaboration between the two entities recalled that GT&T was instrumental in the setting up of the University’s CIT laboratory and the
provision of high-speed internet access. And according to Sharma, “we also facilitated and continue to provide the technical requirements to host the University domain...” Over the years too, GT&T has been partnering with the University to provide five annual scholarships for studies in the fields of technology and natural science, Sharma disclosed, even as he amplified his conviction that “education is pivotal in moulding the minds of young people and to develop the intellect and academic skills to pave the entry into the work force and a better quality of life.” Moreover, he stressed that UG is uniquely positioned to make a contribution to a life-changing experience for young people, a task that the telephone company is only too willing to support. “It is in this context that we have taken this decision to move our relationship to this level,” he added. He disclosed that during the past few months officials at GT&T were busy reviewing the company’s
contribution to the various sectors of the social economy and “we feel that support to this premier education institution should be a priority as we recognise that such support benefits a wide cross section of society...” The MoU was signed by Sharma and Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Jacob Opadeyi. Professor Opadeyi, who was integrally involved in outlining the nature of the telephone company’s support, pointed out that the commitment is significant as it is substantial. Professor Opadeyi expressed his belief that the support is well directed since UG is a national institution and “not an institution for the Government or an institution for the Opposition which means that it is owned by every one of us...it is a symbol of Guyana.” The signing of the MoU was witnessed by Registrar of the University, Vincent Alexander and a number of senior officials of the telephone company including Chief Financial Officer, Justin Nedd.
From page 3 been doing research on this course of action and I will bring private criminal prosecution against senior officers that are going to sign off on the cheques to do spending.” “Under the present law, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, has sort of immunized himself from prosecution by not putting in the word 'Minister of Finance' in Section 85 of the Financial Management and Accountability Act. “It only has Public Officer. We amended that section of the
Act to include the Minister but that too has not been assented to by the President and so right now only officers would be breaching the law if they were to spend money unauthorized.” The politician assured that action can be taken against those officers at the private level because they would be breaching the Constitution and the Financial Management and Accountability Act. “I hope they all understand that the Minister and President have immunized themselves while they are left
out to be slaughtered.” The lawyer said that this is the first time he is witnessing such a case with regard to the Appropriation Bill. When asked what he believes to be Government's motive for not wanting to assent to the Bill, he said, “I want to know if they want to call elections. They are creating a situation that will not encourage legal spending and if they call a no confidence vote in the amended Bill and call elections then we will be ready. But they too may not be fully prepared for such a call.”
Ramotar refuses to sign ... From page 9 cuts and reduction in the expenditure approved by or during the Committee of Supply. The decisions here perhaps in accordance with the Chief Justice’s ruling are to essentially disapprove the entire expenditure.” “So the current expenditure for the OP has been disapproved its zero in the Appropriations Act and
the other eight instances Capital has been rendered zero no Appropriations,” said Luncheon. According to Luncheon, “a situation like this cannot be entertained and one can hardly in the remaining months of the fiscal year 2014 see the government discharging its constitutional and statutory responsibilities fettered by the provisions in
the Appropriation Act and reflect in the intentions of the majoritarian opposition.” He said that one can anticipate that the “administration would have to undertake those interventions that are necessary to allow it to discharge its constitutional responsibilities and to do so within the meaning and within the exercise of the law of Guyana.”
Thursday May 01, 2014
Kaieteur News
GO-Invest CEO attacks PSC - Challenges body to “stop parroting negative comments” By Kiana Wilburg Guyana Office of Investment (Go-Invest) Chief Executive Officer, Keith Burrowes, lashed out at the Private Sector Commission (PSC) which has been critical of the entity for its failure to contribute significantly towards Guyana’s economic growth. Burrowes now challenges the “critics” of the business society to state publically, what their grievances are with the entity. He asserts that their “grumblings” will be in stark contrast to his Client Survey which ranks the entity’s performance highly. Go-Invest is a government agency which provides advice and concessions when necessary to investors, who are looking for the best way to start a business in G u y a n a . I t also enables entrepreneurs from around the globe to tap into the wealth of trade and investment opportunities available in the country. In an interview on Tuesday, the CEO said that some members of the business community have been accusing the entity of not carrying out its mandate effectively and efficiently. He expressed his frustrations with the said claims stating that the very members who are “parroting the negative comments” are not providing any recommendations for development. Burrowes also claims that some of these very businessmen who make these utterances were assisted by the agency at some point and were granted certain concessions. “I believe it is high time that we start looking at a way in which we can determine the long term benefits to the Guyanese economy as it relates to concessions that are given to investors.” He added, “I want to make clear that Go-Invest has done several client surveys which
CEO of GO-Invest, Keith Burrowes are not done by its members. It is an independent survey and we have always ranked in the 90 percent average when it comes to delivering to our clients and our performance thus far with the resources at hand. Now we have a one week response rate when investors come to us. If businessmen are late providing us with certain information what do you want us to do?” The CEO added that one of the many documents that is a requirement by his agency is the Audited Financial Statements of certain companies. The provision of this document, he said, is often delayed. He said that the statements are necessary for Go-Invest to carry out its due diligence report. Burrowes also stated that some entities have not been carrying out their legal responsibilities in terms of registration of the company. “I am keen on doing proper due diligence. Government needs to work along with us. We need to work together towards achieving the same targets. There is a need for there to be an improvement in the technical support capacity but we don’t have the resources and we are working with what we have.”
He added, “Given one year with the needed resources, I can assure that this agency would emerge as one of the most modernized in the region and it will contribute in a more direct manner to Guyana’s economic growth.” Also commenting on the issue was A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Joseph Harmon, the Shadow Minister of Public Works and Telecommunications. Harmon said, “APNU welcomes the appointment of a Head of GO-Invest. We are aware that in the past there were instances where ministers tried to interfere by giving directions of a political nature to businesses seeking to invest in Guyana. “In very many cases interfering in the process resulting in the influence of decisions that were made on investments that were not to the benefit of the country. We hope that the support for institutional strengthening of the agency will follow the appointment of Mr. Burrowes as he seeks to energize GoInvest; so that it becomes what it was intended to be— a one stop shop for investors in Guyana.” While expressing his sincerest condolence for the passing of the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Ronald Webster, Burrowes insisted that he has intentions of working along with the Commission but certain things must be changed. “I will be meeting with President Donald Ramotar to discuss issues such as the modernization of Go-Invest and its expectations in relation to its partnering agencies.”
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Kaieteur News
Thursday May 01, 2014
Ukraine’s restive east slipping from government’s grasp
Pro-Russian armed men stand in the seized regional prosecutor’s office in Luhansk, eastern Ukraine, yesterday. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko HORLIVKA, Ukraine (Reuters) - Pro-Moscow separatists seized government offices in more Ukrainian towns yesterday, in a further sign that authorities in Kiev are losing control of the country’s eastern industrial heartland bordering Russia. Gunmen who turned up at dawn took control of official buildings in Horlivka, a town of almost 300,000 people, said a Reuters photographer. They refused to be photographed. The heavily armed men wore the same military uniforms without insignia as other unidentified “green men” who have joined pro-
Russian protesters with clubs and chains in seizing control of towns across Ukraine’s Donbass coal and steel belt. Some 30 pro-Russian separatists also seized a city council building in Alchevsk, further east in Luhansk region, InterfaxUkraine news agency said. They took down the Ukrainian flag and flew a city banner before allowing workers to leave. Attempts to contain the insurgency by the government in Kiev have proved largely unsuccessful, with security forces repeatedly outmaneuvered by the separatists. The West and the new Ukrainian
government accuse Russia of being behind the unrest, a charge Moscow denies. Daniel Baer, the U.S. ambassador to the OSCE, a European security watchdog which has monitors in the region, told reporters in Vienna: “I think it’s very clear that what is happening would not be happening without Russian involvement.” A police official in Donetsk, the provincial capital where separatists have declared a “People’s Republic of Donetsk”, said separatists were also in control of the Horlivka police station, having seized the regional police headquarters earlier in April.
Barack Obama
“Change is happening, whether Republicans like it or not,” Obama said. “And so my message to the American people is this: Do not get discouraged by a vote like the one we saw this morning. Get fired up, get organized, make your voices heard.” The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that the bill would raise the wages of 16.5 million Americans and lift 900,000 of them out of poverty. But it also estimated the bill could cost up to 1 million Americans their jobs because businesses may simply be unable to afford to pay them. Republicans on Monday cited a Bloomberg Poll in which 57 percent of respondents said it was an “unacceptable” trade-off if the bill raised the incomes of 16.5 million Americans while eliminating 500,000 jobs. Democrats argue an increase in the minimum wage would boost the economy overall by getting more money into it.
Senate Republicans block Obama bid to hike minimum wage
(Reuters) - President Barack Obama blasted Senate Republicans yesterday just hours after they blocked one of his top legislative priorities, a bid to increase the federal minimum wage for the first time since 2009. “They (Republicans) prevented a raise for 28 million hard-working Americans. They said no to helping millions work their way out of poverty,” Obama said at the White House, backed up by low-wage workers. On a nearly party-line vote of 54-42, Obama’s Democrats fell short of the needed 60 Senate votes to end a procedural roadblock against a White House-backed bill. The legislation would raise the minimum hourly wage from its current $7.25 to $10.10 per hour during the next three years, and then index for inflation in the future. Just one Republican, Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, joined Democrats in voting to advance the
measure. Senate Majority Leader, Democrat Harry Reid switched his vote from yes to no to reserve his right to bring up the bill again. With polls showing that more 60 percent of Americans support raising the minimum wage, Democrats intend to hammer away at the issue in an effort to rally their liberal base in advance of the November congressional elections.
Thursday May 01, 2014
Kaieteur News
PM responds to calls for AG’s office to be probed Trinidad Express - PRIME Minister Kamla PersadBissessar yesterday broke her silence on the issues related to the alleged unethical conduct of attorneys and inmates involved in prison-related lawsuits against the State, and in which calls have been made for the Office of the Attorney General to be investigated. The following is Persad-Bissessar’s statement Subsequent to the submission of a letter from the Solicitor General advising that an investigation be conducted into matters involving lawyers engaged in prison litigation, I immediately addressed the matter with the Honourable Attorney General. My efforts in this regard met with the satisfaction of the then Solicitor General through a subsequent letter in which she states: “Honorable Prime Minister, your proactive attention to this matter is greatly appreciated as it underscores your recognition
Kamla PersadBissessar SC of the interests of those engaged in civil litigation on behalf of the State and their clients in the Prison Service. In light of the discussions with the Hon Attorney General, through your intervention, I am now confident that the issues raised in my letter will be adequately addressed and accordingly would no longer seek further investigation through your office.” As for the objections carried in the media about my own handling of the particular report,
given that the former Solicitor General is of the view that the matter had been appropriately handled by me, who else could or should question her professional assessment? In my respectful view, the issue was treated with the urgency and seriousness required and the former Solicitor General’s expressed opinion validates my actions in this regard. Notwithstanding the above, I have noted the current concerns raised by the former Solicitor General in a media release issued earlier this week. I have further noted the recent calls by the Prison Officers Association for the matter to be probed further. In this context, I have advised the Honourable Attorney General to meet with the Acting Solicitor General, the Commissioner of Prisons, the Inspector of Prisons, the Minister of Justice and the Chief State Solicitor to address the said concerns raised and to determine the best way forward in ensuring all concerns are addressed.
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Caribbean seeks Mexico’s help to access concessionary funds MEXICO CITY, Mexico CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries are looking to Mexico for assistance in reversing a decision by developed countries to re-classify the regional states thereby limiting their access to access to vital concessionary and development financing. The CARICOM leaders are here attending the Third CARICOM-Mexico summit and the Sixth Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) that ended yesterday. CARICOM Co-chairman and Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart said that Mexico’s membership of the G20 provides an important platform for it to promulgate the views of small states such as those of the Caribbean, “thus enabling a greater understanding and acceptance of the peculiar circumstances which apply to us”. He said the 2008 global economic and financial crisis
Freundel Stuart has exacerbated the economic challenges faced by CARICOM member states and that “many are struggling under high debt burdens. “Their classification as middle-income, upper-middle income, or high-income countries limits access to vital concessionary and development financing,’ Prime Minister Stuart said, adding “CARICOM will continue to advocate for an alternative measure of development to that of GDP
per capita, and for these measures to take into account the overall conditions of our vulnerability and resilience in the context of sustainable development. “We will continue to need Mexico’s valuable support in that endeavour,” he said. Stuart said he was also pleased that over the past year, the international community had taken “a major step towards improving the ability to harness the illegal trade in arms, which has been a major contributor to the security challenges which we all face, with the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) by the UN General Assembly in April 2013. “The task now is for us to work together to achieve its prompt entry into force and its full implementation as the first legally binding international instrument on conventional weapons trade. As that work progresses we will be seeking Mexico’s support for Trinidad and Tobago’s initiative to host the Treaty’s Secretariat.”
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Kaieteur News
Thursday May 01, 2014
Guyana Public Service Union People’s Progressive Party/Civic The 1st May symbolizes the culmination of the struggle of workers International. Today, the Workers Day, May Day is as relevant as ever and an enhanced celebration internationally. After many years of challenges and sacrifices the Trade Union Movement continues to fight for fundamental freedom and rights at work. It seems as though what was gained by our forefathers many years ago are slipping from us. Many employers’ particularly Governments are now challenging the hard won legal rights of workers. The Government of Guyana, is one such employer that displays these anti-working class tendencies regularly. At the same time masquerades as having working class credentials and pretends to be genuinely concerned about the plight of workers and being committed to improving their conditions of work and quality of life.
Among our concerns four (4) major urgent factors are: 1. Income inequality 2. Income insufficiency 3. Poverty 4. Job insecurity With respect to income inequality and income insufficiency there exit significant income inequality in the work environment and wide spread income insufficiency to the extent that families have to skip meals because of the economic plight they are confronted with. They are neglected by an uncaring Government who in addition to their adverse economic situation, are exploited by depleting the pittance they earn by ruthless taxation to benefit their special interest relationships and themselves. Poverty is increasing and security of tenure and authentic superannuation benefits are being undermined and miniaturized with the ongoing practice of filling permanent
pensionable positions with contract employment in the Public Service. This callous and unwarranted treatment of the nation’s workers must be confronted and conquered. However, to achieve this working class unity is essential at every level. In general as workers and Unions we must all set aside petty differences and join hands together once more to achieve this goal. As Public Servants this must be the year when we unite, stand up and demand our rights. Public servants possess tremendous clout and power to bring about positive change in our society. Therefore lets us march on this day together to be in the vanguard to liberate our nation from the scourges of crime, poverty and unemployment. Happy May Day to all Law abiding and harmonious citizens of Guyana.
Ministry of Education As we celebrate workers of all classes in our society today, we at the Ministry of Education salute and celebrate our hard working and dedicated teachers and administrative staff who work ardently everyday to shape the young minds and the future of
Guyana. There are no set of words that can amply describe the importance of teachers in any society. The teaching profession is regarded worldwide as the mother of all professions, since it provides the foundation for learning in an individual, upon which all greater academic
achievement rests. In other words teachers are the crucial guardians of intellectual life in any society. The Government of Guyana recognizes this, and has always placed great value on our teachers. And we have matched that value with real actions within the last two decades, which has significantly improved the quality of life for our teachers. We look forward to the continued support of the Guyana Teachers Union as we work together to better the working conditions of our teachers. The Ministry of Education remains committed to improving the quality of teacher education in Guyana and ultimately the quality of teachers we place in the education system. Education is one of our nation’s biggest industries, and we as a government will continue to invest in it so that we can raise better generations of Guyanese citizens. May God bless our teachers and out nation.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) salutes all workers on the occasion of International Labour Day. The PPP calls on all Guyanese to use this occasion to reflect on how far we have advanced in Guyana in terms of working class unity and the economic and social gains we have made over the years. As a party that originated out of the bowels of the working class struggles, the PPP has always embraced a working class orientation. It would be recalled that one of the first actions taken by the PPP government after it won power in the elections of 1953 was to enact the Labour Relations Bill which ultimately led to the
suspension of the constitution by the British Government and the eviction from office of the PPP Government after a mere 133 days in office. It took the return of the PPP to power after twentyeight years of PNC dictatorial rule before the Bill was finally passed and enacted. The PPP takes this opportunity to call on all workers not to allow themselves to be fooled by those who profess to have their interests at heart but who are doing everything in their power to undermine the economic well being and unity of the workers. Moreover, the Party’s record of granting annual increases to workers thus
improving real wages has suppressed the expectations of our critics and has not been matched by the undemocratic forces which misrule Guyana for the period 1964 to 1992. The PPP takes this opportunity to commend the PPP/C administration for the several measures it has taken over the years to protect the working and living conditions of workers especially at a time when the working class in other parts of the capitalist world are reeling under the impact of a severe economic and social crisis. Long Live the unity of workers in Guyana! Long Live Proletarian Internationalism!
People’s National Congress Reform May Day is a special occasion for the Labour Movement and Workers in Guyana. It is a time when they should be able to celebrate the consolidation of their rights, increased wages and benefits, improved working conditions, the protection of pension rights and the general progress of the labour movement. Unfortunately, on May Day 2014, Guyanese workers are forced to lament the absence of any such gains. As a consequence of the anti working class policies of the PPP/C Administration, even before the advent of the global economic events, Guyanese workers have been caught up in a vicious struggle to survive and ensure their material betterment. Indeed, with the introduction of the unconscionable 16% Value Added Tax (VAT) in 2007, the cost of living in Guyana spiked, considerably undermining the ability of our workers to provide for their families and sustain themselves. Guyanese workers must
be consciously aware of the current fragile state of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), which has resulted from the accumulated mismanagement and manipulation by the acolytes of the PPP/C Administration. In all of the adverse prevailing circumstances which confront the Trade Union Movement, particularly the Public Servants, careful attention should be paid to the intransigence and stubborn refusal of the Donald Ramotar PPP/C Administration to: -Reduce the VAT by 2%; -Increase Public Servant emoluments by 10% acrossthe board while committing to the effective reestablishment of normal Collective Bargaining negotiations; -Implement the various proposals and recommendations for the reform and modernisation of the Public Service. -Halt the blatant misuse of the device of Contract workers to bypass the rules established by the Public
Service Commission and to undermine the GPSU; -Increasing the pensionable age for Public Servants to 65 years; -Reduce the Berbice River Bridge toll to $1,000.00; -Commit to the pursuit of an action programme which would restore the long term viability of the NIS; and -Ensure that the financial assets of the nation, which are being abused through NICIL, to bypass scrutiny by and accountability to the National Assembly, are transferred to the Consolidated Fund. On the occasion of May Day 2014, therefore, the PNCR recognises the critical role that Trade Unions have played in the political, economic and social development of the country and urge the Movement to remember that such a role can only continue if the Trade Union Movement, as a whole, remains united to protect the interests of all Guyanese workers.
Thursday May 01, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Tiger Sport and Motor Trend Auto onboard for Arrival Day T20 Tiger Sport and Motor Trend Auto has thrown their support behind Quest International for the hosting of the Arrival Day T20 tourney in Enmore on May 5. Tiger Sport has donated the balls while Motor Trend Auto presented a cheque of an undisclosed amount to the planning and Organising Officer Benedict Prince of
Quest International Tuesday at their location in Enmore. Ato Singh of Tiger Sport said they are pleased to be associated with the competition since it will provide entertainment for the community, while Kevin Singh of Motor Trend Auto stated that cricket is the number one sport there and this tournament should
motivate the youths. Prince thanked both entities for their input, adding that it promises to be an exciting event. The tournament will feature two teams from Georgetown and two from East Coast Demerara and is an initiative by the host to make T20 cricket more competitive on the East Coast of Demerara.
From page 33 “In January, we restarted our Scotia Bank Kiddies cricket countrywide and that programme has been a tremendous success with close to 200 primary schools participating and over 2000 students between the ages of 7 and 11 benefiting from this invaluable programme. Special kudos to Scotia Bank for remaining committed to this noblest of programmes. The benefit of this initiative is blossoming now and will begin to bear fruit in the near future. A database of these players is being developed and the new director of cricket at the WICB has mapped out a continuous programme for the development of these youths,” Singh explained. In February the GCB launched its inaugural ‘ The Guyana Cricketer’ full color glossy magazine which contained its feature article on Test cricket’s great, Guyanese Shiv Chanderpaul on achieving his unique milestone of the first West Indian to play 150 Tests matches. According to Singh, a few other articles, statistics and records of the Board’s activities for the year 2013 are featured in the magazine which was considered to be a tremendous success and attracted close to 50 corporate sponsors in its inaugural 70th anniversary edition. The Board plans to make this activity an annual one after the GCB had launched its Grassroots programme in February which is still on-going and is aimed at students between the ages of 11 to 17years. “We are in the planning stages of having over 100 coaches and games masters in schools trained and certified with at least a Level 1 coaching certificate in the next few months. A Child Protection Seminar has just been conducted for these persons as a precursor for the coaching programme. A Managers and officials seminar has just taken place last Sunday. A scorers’ seminar took place on Tuesday and today we are launching our own website www.guyanacricketboard.com,” Singh informed. “This website is being developed in phases with the basic informational and
interactive phase just concluded. The next phase would deal with incorporating statistical and scoring software for our players and matches and ultimately our goal is to have live scores for our matches streamed for our viewers. At the present time, this website provides a wealth of information for the cricketing public. It provides the history and administrative structure of the GCB, details of the staff and executive body of the GCB, the 2014 cricket calendar, our administrative structure, GCB’s members and their constituents, our members’ constitutions, our cricket programmes, current news, local, regional and international. This site also features scores for the regional and local inter county matches recently completed,” Singh continued. It is the aim of the GCB to make their website the number
one go-to website for all cricket news from Guyana for our regional and international audience. “Our official sponsors are prominently displayed therein and a few have been granted the privilege of free ads for a few months thus ensuring maximum mileage for these sponsors. Our cricket magazine has also been posted online for those persons who did not secure a hard copy. The site also has several links to its parent, WICB, ICC and others along with its Facebook and Twitter accounts,” said Singh. The site which was constructed and is being hosted and maintained by GX Media and the Web Developer to Givendra Persaud has been given a year’s contract and is in the process of teaching staffers Savana Lake and Melinda Bishundyal the working of the Website.
GCB launches website...
Benedict Prince (right) collects the cheque from Kevin Deodass of Motor Trend Auto in the presence of manager Jailall Deodass.
Tuesday May 01, 2014 ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Your compassion will be appreciated more than you can imagine. Travel and family gatherings should be in order. You may attract attention if you get out socially. TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Your creative ideas must be put to good use. Your lover may not understand your needs so you must figure out a way to communicate them. Real estate ventures will be to your advantage. GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You will be in the doghouse if you are being. Take special care in any home improvement project you work on today, you'll be glad you did. Use your inventiveness to find solutions. CANCER (June 22-July 22) You need to get down to basics with regard to yourself. You will do well in social settings, and new and interesting individuals may spark a romantic curiosity. You can ferret out secret information if you just listen to what others have to say. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) It's time to make professional changes. You can make new friends and experience new things if you do a bit of traveling. Don't be too eager to cut those who have disappointed you from your life. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Sudden changes in your financial situation are likely. Don't let emotional upset force you into the poorhouse. Lend an ear to children; it can make a difference.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You can come into money; however, perhaps not under the best circumstances. Avoid any petty ego confrontations; they could lead to estrangement if you aren't careful. You are best not to confront situations that deal with in-laws or relatives. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)
The stamina you possess will be apparent in your approach to your hobbies and creative projects. This will not be the day to start new business ventures or make drastic changes in your career. Opportunities to go out with clients or colleagues will be in your best interest. SAGIT (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Get help setting up a reasonable budget. Look into ways of making extra cash. Plan your day carefully. You may find yourself interested in more than one person. CAPRI (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Travel will turn out to be far more exciting than you imagined. Moves or the possibility of having someone different living with you may be difficult at first. AQUAR (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Opportunities for romance may develop through dealing with groups that have a purpose. Relationships will be erratic today. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Ask a close friend for advice. Your efforts won't go unnoticed; however, someone you work with may get jealous. Your ideas will be well received.
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Kaieteur News
Letter to the Sports Editor...
GFF’s Matthias outfox his plotters who tried to get rid of him DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Football Federation Conference held on 26th April 2014, was indeed an interesting one. Mr Editor, it would be remiss of me if I fail to mention that I have never seen or experienced such high degree of arrogance, disrespect and an unparliamentarily decorum on display by some individuals who are in positions of influence and authority. These individuals for years were in the shadows and some were a part of the tyrannical rule of the previous administration. They have never fought nor had they the testicular fortitude to challenge the “king” of the past regime who ruled with an “iron fist” for fear of being marginalized or cut off from the so called sweet or piece of the pie. Their displayed attitude caused me to be reminded of the lion, who wrestled with the ox for his meal, after he would have exhausted all of his energies to conquer the beast, here comes the scavengers coming to stake their claim of the lion’s kill. The bully tactics of those individuals on the day on the conference to try to dictate the play of the game was well refereed by the President. Mr Matthias’ display of humility and control in the mist of the exhibits of uncultured behavior by men of repute and high office in the presence of FIFA and CONCACAF was nothing but a display of good leadership and character. The constitution of any body or organization is to give guidance and the GFF constitution is to do same. The motion of no-confidence put forward by the member association and seconded by another member association
GCA/Brain Street U-15 tourney Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) B and Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) registered victories when the final preliminary round games of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/Brain Street U-15 limited overs tournament ended yesterday. At Muslim Youth Organisation, DCC B overcame Bel Air Rubis by five wickets. Bel Air Rubis never recovered after losing a few early wickets and were bowled out for 67 in 23.1 overs, batting first. Nand Sanicharan and Anthony
did NOT in its entirety satisfy the constitutional requirement of how a motion is to be tabled. These learned men, whose foremost defence, for most of their arguments was the use of the constitution. They conveniently however wanted to disband it when the very constitution when used by the President, to put holes in their plan and it failed. What form of justice it is, Mr Editor, when one deems a man guilty (no-confidence) and cannot say what he is guilty of, but yet, wants him to be punished without an explanation? Isn’t this a blatant expression of tyranny and dictatorship? Do these individuals seriously want to lead Guyana’s football for the INTEREST of its players and its development? The walk out of those gentlemen and lady including Executives of the “present” administration, Mr Persaud and Ms Dickenson because they could not bully their way and get what they wanted, did not in any way surprise me. Their actions epitomize why the state of football in Guyana was crippled and stifled for years. It was because of selfish ambitions and desires of individuals who did not have Guyana’s football or its players at heart. The failure of the auditor’s report from being presented due to the displayed actions on the floor was indeed sad. This report and the damning revelations it possess, which shows a clearer picture for the state of Guyana’s football during all those years and its eminent potential to persuade individuals to make more informed decisions and actions for the way forward in Guyana’s football, is left to be seen.
What is most frightening, and they say actions speak louder than words, is that most of those individuals who disrupted the conference unceremoniously because they were defeated by Matthias’ use of facts, evidence and the very constitution that gives guidance to the conduct of the federation, are learned men and woman. Their actions should have been guided by their intellect but they choose to betray their intelligence to satisfy their selfish ambitions. The fear is, that despite the pure indications of gross misappropriation of funds by the previous administration for years, the peer pressure that will occur and group thing that was demonstrated on the day in question, will allow those individuals actions and decisions to once again be led not by intellect but by selfish desires, ambitions, promises and paid offs made. To the individuals of the various associations and affiliates who are being hoodwinked and bamboozled by individuals who see you as nothing but a pawn in “their chess” game, a stepping stone for “their ascension” to whatever post they desire, I tell you, do not be the house slave to their mastership, emancipate yourself from this group thing and be an independent thinker and do what is best for Guyana’s Football. The change we all once long for has come, don’t contribute to enslaving us again because of some selfish individuals. Be smart and do the right thing for Guyana’s football, give the man a chance. After all it was Matthias, with the help of others, was the ‘Cuffy’ in this struggle for change in the GFF. Yours faithfully, Jermaine Figueira
DCC B, MSC victorious Sukhai scored 17 each. Shamar Jones claimed 3-14, Osafa Green 3-16 and Adrian Hackett 2-20. DCC B encountered a few nervous moments before reaching their target in 22 overs, ending on 68-5. Anthony Roopnarine made 12 as Michael Pooran captured 317. At Bourda, MSC defeated Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) by 74 runs. MSC took first strike and posted 170-6 off their allotted 55 overs. Avin Gangadin top scored with 53 (2x4) and Ronaldo McGarrell made 31. The duo
shared in a second wicket stand of 82 after MSC lost Darren Dyal (13) with the score on 36. Avinash Boodhoo snared 3-48. GCC were never in the hunt and were sent packing for 96 in 37.4 overs in reply. Khemchand Hardyal stroked 35 (6x4) and extras contributed 39. Sase Norville grabbed 3-22 and Yannick Rameshwar 2-21. The competition continues today with semi final action. GNIC who won the league phase will host MSC and DCC A will battle Transport SC at GYO.
Thursday May 01, 2014
New Opportunity Corps back in the fray as GBA stages National Novices Boxing C/ships
President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle (2nd R), interacts with the team out of the NOC shortly after they had arrived in Georgetown. Others in photo L-R back Terrence Poole, Wensel Thomas, Lawrence Kellman and Brandon Cabose By Michael Benjamin As officials of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) press on in their bid to popularize the sport, residents of the East Ruimveldt and adjoining communities would be in for a treat when the nation’s Simon Pures throw down the gauntlet in two nights of fistic fury when subject association in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC) stages the National Novices Championships at the East Ruimveldt Community Centre Ground, California Square, East Ruimveldt tomorrow and Saturday nights. Though this is the first stage after the U-16 category, officials are confident that the young pugilists are good and ready to entertain the droves that are anticipated to flock the venue in high anticipation of the slugfests. Boxers will be drawn from the nation’s top gyms including the Harpy Eagle (HE), Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym (ALBG), Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) and the Essequibo Boxing Gym (EBG) among others. However, despite the anticipated wide participation, officials are excited following discussions with the relevant authorities that will see the welcome return of the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) to these championships. Situated in Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast, the NOC has produced more than its fair share of pugilists in the past but over the years following the death of the coach, Winston Roberts, they have become somewhat defunct. Yesterday morning, five boxers out of that institution travelled to Georgetown to be
a part of the action and were met by President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle at his Main Street Office, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. The pugilists were accompanied by national coach, Wensel Thomas who has played an integral role in their preparation, Sports Organizer (NOC), Brandon Cabose and Physical Instructor (NOC), Lawrence Kellman. All of those representing the NOC are junior fighters and are Andrew Newton, Nicko Jodha, Calvin Barry, Joel Bess and Samuel Forde. They will be categorized in their respective divisions following the weigh in session tomorrow morning. Additionally, a team of boxers out of the recently inaugurated Bartica Boxing Gym will arrive in Georgetown to participate in the tournament. Among them will be Ali Maziel in the 75-79lbs division plus Stevie Doprado who has made quite an impression when he travelled to Georgetown to engage his contemporaries last year. Two other Barticians, Zeggie Edwards and Shaquielle Nurse are also expected to add to the entertainment in the 90-94lbs division. Meanwhile, Mr Ninvalle
welcomed the boxers from the NOC and wished them well. He said that boxing has always proven to be the catalyst to the reformation of youths that have gone astray. It is for this reason that he feels that the reintroduction of participation of the youngsters from the NOC would auger well for them. He further said that the move is in compliance of a call made by Minister Frank Anthony for the introduction of a countrywide focus to the development of young pugilists. Mr Kellman said that the boxers are energetic and eager to show off their wares. He acknowledged the input of the late coach, Winston Roberts and said that he (Kellman) is optimistic that the boxers would gel as time progresses. “Hopefully, this will be the stepping stone to many further successes,” said the NOC official. GBA Tournament Director, Terrence Poole was just as enthusiastic as his fellow executives and urged the attendance of boxing fans. The boxers will conform to the weigh in and medical examination at 17:00hrs this afternoon and the action gets underway tomorrow evening at 18:00hrs.
Bhimsain Softball cricket on this Sunday at Lusignan The Seeraj Bhimsain knock-out softball 10-overs competition is scheduled for the Lusignan Community Centre ground this Sunday, May 4. It is open to all interested teams and registration will be conducted on the day of the event at 09:00hrs. The entrance fee per team is $5,000. Prizes will be up for grabs for the winner, runner-up, manof-the-final, batsman with the most runs and bowler with the most wickets in the final. Trophies have been donated by AR Auto Sales and all players are asked to wear a white shirt and their team coloured pants. Balls will be provided for the matches. Teams wishing more information can contact Bhimsain on 647-2840.
Thursday May 01, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Persaud, Nageer win Persaud confident Guyana Muellar sports online contest will deliver at WIFSC National rifle shooting Captain Mahendra Persaud has expressed confidence that the Guyana shooters will deliver top class performance ahead of the team’s departure for the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Championships billed to fire off on Monday in Jamaica. Persaud said that the training over the past two months went fairly well and the local shooters are composed and ready for the task at hand. “We are ready and are just waiting for the competition, the team is jelling as a unit and once we shoot well we can expect the best result,” Persaud said. The recent coaching programme the team had with Great Britain’s top shooting coach Ian Shaw earlier this year at the Timehri rifle ranges is now paying off, the captain noted. The team leaves Sunday
morning with 11 shooters and other officials and will be joined by two United States-based shooters in Jamaica. The local shooters are Persaud (captain), Dylan Fields (vice captain), Lennox Braithwaite, Ransford Goodluck, Leo Ramalho, Ryan Sampson, ACP retired Paul Slowe, Lt. Col. retired Terrence Stuart, Inspector Dane Blair, Peter Persaud and debutant Sherwin Felicien. The two US-based shooters are seasoned campaigners Sigmund Douglas and John Fraser who have represented Guyana previously. Persaud said the squad had a full run of the short range course shooting at 300, 500 and 600 yards last Sunday at Timehri. “The wind was very tricky but this is the kind of condition we can expect in Jamaica,” he declared. The 2014 West Indies Fullbore Shooting
Championships will open on Monday at Twickenham Park ranges in Kingston with three days of individual competition. Guyanese Lennox Braithwaite won the Grand Aggregate last year in Barbados to be declared the r e g i o n a l ’s top individual shooter for 2013. The two team matches will take place next Saturday and Sunday with Guyana defending the long range (900, 1000 yards) title on Saturday, while the competing countries will contest for the short range (300, 500 and 600 yards) title now held by the Jamaicans. The regional championships will attract shooters from Antigua/ Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and host Jamaica and a visiting Canadian delegation.
Price is Right Supermarket/UCCA second division cricket final reset for Sunday
After being rained out on the first occasion, all is now set for the much anticipated final of the Price is Right Supermarket/Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) Second Division competition which has been reset for this Sunday at the Skeldon Community Centre ground. The two teams in the final, Corriverton Cricket Club and No.70 MYO, made full use of the additional time garnered due to the rain delay and are both exuding confidence of winning the competition. The encounter is expected to be a keenly contested affair and should go down to the wire with the teams being evenly
matched. The final will be for 50 overs which has been the case from the semi final stage. This was done by the UCCA in an effort to lift the standard of second division cricket in the area from which the Upper Corentyne first division team is being selected. The match will be played also using coloured clothing and white balls to allow the selectors from the UCCA to have a better look at the top teams playing in a first division cricket environment. The match is scheduled to begin at 9:30hrs. The sponsor and UCCA officials will be on hand to meet the teams before the start
of the game and to hand over the prizes at the end of the game. The two teams will come from- Corriverton C.C: Tarik Ibrahim (captain), Jermaine Reid (vice captain), Jeremy Moore, Anthony Seeraj, Rabindra Singh, Imran Jabar, Clavern Beresford, Amzaan Appalsamy, Eric Phillips, Faoud Bacchus, Tulsiram Munesar, Rajeev Persaud & Imron Mohamed. The No. 70 M.Y.O line up is -: Niazi Khan (captain), Jameel Assad (vice-captain), Mahmood Khan, Zameer Khan, Ahmad Khan, Salim Khan, Arif Khan, Alim Khan, Saif Hamid Khan, Mohamed Asarudin, Umar Ghani & Fazir Ally.
Shaheed Nageer (second from left) collects his cap from Manager of Woodpecker Products Luana Fernandes, while Sales Representative Tinelle Beckles (left) and supervisor Maria Hintzen display Muellar products. Guyanese Amarnauth Persaud and Shaheed Nageer won Mueller sports prizes for competing in their online contest during the recently concluded World T20 tournament. Persaud received an autographed Shivnarine Chanderpaul authentic West Indies Woodworm shirt and Nageer collected a Woodworm West Indies team
hat also signed by Chanderpaul from Woodpecker the local distributor of Muellar products such as Thigh sleeve, Ankle strap, thumb stabilizer, shin splint support, jumper knee straps and adjustable thigh support. Both Persaud and Nagger said they are delighted to be crowned winners while
manager of Woodpecker Luana Fernandes stated that they are pleased to be associated with Muellar products which provided support for athletes during the Olympic Games. During the T20 World Cup fans were invited to visit the Muellar website and enter the contest where winners were chosen at random.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday May 01, 2014
DBTSC beat MSC in Blueberry Gunners, Cherokee tapeball final Park among those advancing
Banks DIH Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ Futsal Tournament
Members of the victorious DBTSC team Double Black Two Sports Club (DBTSC) defeated Malvern Sports Club (MSC) by six wickets to win the final of the MSC tapeball competition played recently at Canal number one ground. MSC batted first and scored 87-6 with Elvis Williams scoring 27 and Mark Smith 25. Victor Dass and Omadatt Atmahadeo picked up two wickets apiece. Double Black Two Sports Club (DBTSC) replied with 894 off 8 overs. Peter Persaud smashed an unbeaten 48 (3x4,5x6) and Ravi Hardyal made14. Sanjay Coonauth took 2-10. In the third place play off,
MT United overcame West Side by 15 runs. MT United took first strike and posted 712 off their reduced six overs. Raghunath Raghoo stroked 40 (1x4,5x6) and Narine Rampersaud 19. West Side Voltz responded with 56-3 in six overs. Navin Latchman made 37. The Best Batsman prize went to Andre Kwang of MSC with a total of 83 runs, the Best bowler award was given to Devendra Singh of DBTSC with 15 wickets for 15 runs. Chaitram Choonilall of West Side Voltz collected the best dressed player accolade, while the Best Bowler award went to Davendra Singh of
DBTSC with 5 wickets for fifteen runs. In the semi finals, MSC got the better of West Side Voltz by 52 runs. MSC scored 136-4 batting first. Andre Kwang made 79 and Sanjay Coonauth 45. West Side Voltz were restricted to 84-4 in reply with Narine Latchman getting 34 and Chaitram Choonilall 31. Double Black Two Sports Club beat MT United by 51 runs. DBTSC managed 104-4, taking first strike with Christ Deen scoring 50. MT United replied with 53 all out. Denvendra Singh claimed 3-4 and Ryan Deen 312.
The Linden segment of the Banks DIH Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ Knockout Futsal Tournament kicked off on Tuesday evening with eight matches played before a sizeable crowd, at the Amelia’s Ward Bus Park in Linden. In the opening encounter, Eldon Saul’s 12th minute strike was enough to secure victory for Cherokee Park over Classic Six. It was a riposte response after Cherokee Park had to withstand a barrage of forays by Classic Six, before Saul fired past a host of defenders into the goal as they held on firmly for the remainder of the game. The following game saw Blueberry Gunners squeeze past Pokerburg by a 2-1 margin with Ezekiel Daw (8th) and Oral Peters (12th), the men on target for them, while Brian Tanner made the lone response for Pokerburg. Dwayne Fraser then registered the first double in this year’s tournament to lead One Mile/Half Mile to a comfortable 3-0 triumph over Goal Getters. Fraser’s goals came in the
8th and 16th minutes of play, while Keon Sears had given them the lead as early as the 4th minute. The fourth game before the break was an exciting affair between Scheme and Wisroc which ended 3-2 in favour of the former. Scheme’s Andre Chester duplicated Fraser’s earlier heroics when he netted a brace in the 8th and 20th minutes, while his brother Al made it a family affair when he too found the back of the goal in the 6th minute. Orande Wills had given Wisroc hope when he booted in, in the 4 th minute and returned ten minutes later to complete a double, but it was not enough to save them from exit. Following a break in the action, Troy Nelson registered the third brace on the opening night, doing so for Mini Bus in the 6th and 14th minute, to guide them to a 2-1 win over the much fancied Aliku lineup, for which Ryan Fraser scored a consolation goal in the dying stages of the fixture.
After Unity got a walkover from Main Street Panthers, Corlic Beckles became the fourth player to score a double, doing so in the 4th and 8th minutes, while his teammate Jermaine Saul scored in the 18th minute, as Constab showed Exodus the way out with a 3-0 win, while The Amazing completed the night’s action with their 2-1 penalty kicks win over Coomacka. The tournament has at stake one year’s bragging rights, a place in the national playoffs and $400,000 first prize for the victorious team. Action was set to continue last evening with eight more first round matches, while the round of 16 will be contested this evening, at the New Silvercity Secondary School Hardcourt. Among those in attendance was Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste, Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart along with Manager of the Linden Branch Shondell Easton.
By Sean Devers The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) which was founded in 1943, officially launched its website yesterday at the Board’s secretariat at Bourda and GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie informed that in 2014 the GCB made some very significant strides in preparing the only governing body for cricket in Guyana for the future in the administration of the game in Guyana. “The GCB has just celebrated seven continuous decades of outstanding service to the cricketing populace, albeit, in a very low key manner with this year marking the commencement of its eight decade of existence. The entire cricketing world has had to face up with numerous challenges from various forces, both internal and external. In this regard, the GCB has not been spared having to withstand more than its fair share of challenges and obstacles,” Sanasie declared. “Irrespective of these numerous distractions, if we may refer to them that way, the GCB has remained steadfastly focused on fulfilling its mandate of administering cricket in Guyana even whilst spending a
fair amount of time and resources in fending off these challenges and laying the groundwork for the changes currently taking place in the cricketing landscape around the world,” the West Indies Cricket Board Director added. Last December, at the GCB’s Annual Awards Ceremony, GCB President Dru Bahadur had prioritized his cricketing vision for this year with a few carefully orchestrated programmes, activities and events. These programmes were specifically geared towards, firstly, professionalizing the GCB’s operations while at the same time charting a course for the revitalization of Guyana cricket in all formats. “Our aim is to get Guyana back to the top of the region by 2017. Our very first activity for the year was the comprehensive preparation of 26 members of our Senior Male teams for the Regional tournaments that commenced in February and have just been concluded. In the Super50 tournament, we reached the semifinals but succumbed after the majority of the team contracted the flu in TT. That epidemic in TT severely hampered the performance of
several of our key players in that semi final encounter with Barbados and it was truly a stirring tribute and testament to the quality and character of our players that they were actually even able to contest this semifinal,” said GCB’s Marketing Manager Raj Singh. According to Sansei, the performance of the four-day team was deplorable and prompted an urgent inquiry to determine the cause of Guyana’s poor showing in the longer version this year. “At best, the results in the Regional four-day tournament have been hugely disappointing for the Guyana team even though we had most of our top players available most of the time and as we speak the GCB is currently conducting a post mortem of this tournament to ascertain the true cause of this clearly lackluster performance by our team,” Sansei lamented “In fact a four-man GCB delegation met with the Captain and the Management team in a debriefing session. We have not decided if the findings will be made public or be used internally by the Board” Sansei stated. Continued on page 29
- Four players hit braces
GCB launches websitewww.guyanacricketboard.com