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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Remembering Mothers Everyone on earth should celebrate Mother’s Day. It is a special day. It provides an opportunity for us all to pay tribute to mothers and thank them for all their love and support. This Sunday should be no different. The history of Mother’s Day celebrations can be traced to the Greek annual spring festival which in Greek mythology is dedicated to their maternal Goddess, Rhea. In England, the origins of Mother’s Day began in the 1600s when a “Mothering Sunday” was celebrated to honour Mary Magdalene, the mother of Christ but was later expanded by a religious order to include all the mothers of England. And in the United States, thanks to the hard work of the pioneering women of their times, Julia Ward Howe, a social activist who wrote the Civil War song the “Battle Him of the Republic” and Anna Jarvis, a Pennsylvania native, Mother’s Day came into existence on May 8, 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. In keeping with a U.S tradition that began in the early 20th century, most of the countries celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May, though different societies have devised unique ways to recognize the multifaceted roles and talents of women and mothers. Millions of people across the globe celebrate Mother’s Day by giving thanks to their mothers for giving them life, raising them and being their constant support. In modern times, Mother’s Day has become tremendously commercialized, and merchants perhaps more so than mothers are the greatest beneficiaries. This contrasts sharply with the intent to conceptualize a special day to honour the work of mothers. While we celebrate Mother’s Day with our families on Sunday, we should do so with Toya Graham of Baltimore in mind. You may not know her name, but you probably know what she did. A video of Graham went viral during last week’s unrest in Baltimore with her using some rather strong language while punching her 16-year-old son who had defied her orders not to protest the alleged murder of Freddie Gray by the police. In so doing, Graham, a single mother of six children, had inadvertently not only become a symbol of the struggle but of a good mother who should be honoured on Mother’s Day. But for us to understand what she did, we must first understand that she is a mother who saw her son in danger and was afraid that he could be killed and end up like Freddie Gray. Is that not what mothers are supposed to think and do? It was her motherly instinct that caused her to use whatever means necessary to protect her son from such an unsafe environment. Her action has ignited anew the role of mothers and women in the family and how it impacts families and society at large. While some hail her as a hero, others criticize her as being too violent and abusive. She should be commended and celebrated on Mother’s Day for essentially risking her life to remove her son from a dangerous situation and by extension, the commitment of her and most mothers to take care of their children. To the extent that she was violent, it was probably borne out of fear for her son becoming another statistic, but her action shows that she has a deep and genuine love for him and was determined to protect him, even if it meant compromising her own well-being. And so it is with many of our wonderful mothers in Guyana. Although fathers have their special roles to play in their children’s lives, it is the mothers to whom nature has entrusted the sacred responsibility of nurturing and caring for the young from conception to birth and beyond. Inherent in this relationship is a bond that is as deep and as eternal as life itself, and a sense of duty like no other. Mothers must not fail; they cannot afford to fail, because usually when they do it spells disaster for the children and, in many cases, the entire family structure as well as society. We must remember them in so many ways.
Friday May 08, 2015
Letters... Where your views make the news
Why is Govt. so enamoured of BaiShanLin despite a catalogue of illegalities? DEAR EDITOR, Stabroek News reported (‘Baishanlin says lack of funds delaying promised wood processing facility’, 02 May 2015) the protests of the Chinese transnational logger BaiShanLin (BSL), including the statement that Kaieteur News has carried ‘reports that are erroneous in nature, which fail to highlight, even in a single instance, where the company itself has broken any law or regulation’. This remarkable claim should be corrected because BaiShanLin has most certainly contravened laws, regulations, administrative procedures and approved policies of Guyana. Questions of differential treatments by government agencies of enterprises in the forest sector, and persistent allegations of corruption extending from the apex of government, have been increasing in public discussion during
the Ramotar administration. The following list of illegalities is not comprehensive, but should be enough to indicate that the senior management of BaiShanLin would have been prosecuted and penalised in jurisdictions where the rule of law was actually applied. Illegality 1: illegal renting of logging concessions in Berbice – Bai Shan Lin was registered in September 2006, with a 49 per cent share held by the transnational Chinese State-Owned Enterprise ‘Beijing-Uni-Construction Company’ (BUCC). CEO Chu WenZe stated that ‘the new company will initially be depending solely on smaller forestry producers for raw materials, but because of its intended scale of operations, it will be seeking forestry concessions to meet its increasing demand for these materials’ (Guyana
Chronicle, 09 February 2007). Just a week later, the GFC’s consultation on a log export policy agreed that ‘only holders of Timber Sales Agreements, Wood Cutting Licences and State Forest Permissions will be allowed to export logs. The logs must originate in their concessions’ (GFC post consultation summary, page 13, March 2007). BaiShanLin applied for permission to export logs but the then junior Minister for Forestry (Robert Persaud) ‘declined to grant such a request, and reminded the company of its commitment to become immediately engaged in value added production’ (Guyana Chronicle, 24 April 2007; Stabroek News, 21 and 30 April 2007). M o r e o v e r, a c c o r d i n g t o a n announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture on 06 May 2007, ‘a (Continued on page 5)
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Why is Govt. so enamoured of BaiShanLin despite a catalogue... From page 4 commitment was said to be given that the company would not engage in the export of round logs’ (Stabroek News, ‘Jailing forestry deal suspended – following breaches, noncompliance’, 07 May 2007). The WAICO Timber Sales Agreement (TSA 01/1999) was granted originally to Danny Ameerally. BaiShanLin acquired operational control of WAICO and was thus able to comply with the log export policy which came into effect on the first day of 2009. There is no public domain information that e i t h e r WA I C O o r BaiShanLin obtained prior Presidential consent for transfer of operational control. Under the then valid law, BaiShanLin was violating Forest Regulation 12 (1954) – ‘No transfer of any lease or timber sales agreement shall be made by any forest officer without the prior approval of the President where such lease or timber sales agreement grants exclusive rights to any person over an area estimated to exceed three thousand acres or is for an unexpired period exceeding three years’. Landlording is still illegal under Condition 13 of Timber Sales Agreements – ‘The grantee shall not transfer, sublet, mortgage or otherwise dispose of any interest arising under this agreement except in accordance with the Forest Regulations and any purported disposition made except in accordance with such regulations shall be null and void.’ The Forest Regulations 1954 were transposed to work under the
Forests Act (cap. 67:01, 2009, section 85 (1)). The Board of Directors of the GFC approved a rentier agreement (‘joint venture’) between BaiShanLin and WAICO in April 2009 but the Forest Regulations 1954 require prior Presidential approval, so the BaiShanLin – WAICO deal was illegal. Illegality 2, Customs fraud, false names – as the renting of WAICO was illegal, it follows that log exports by BSL using the name of WAICO were also illegal, because a false name is a fraud under Customs law (cap. 82:01, sections 157 and 158). The pretence that small-loggers associations are exporting logs to flooring and furniture factories in China is also Customs fraud, because the loggers have been paid before the logs are loaded, so the name of the real owner/shipper should be on the export documents (Stabroek News, ‘Cocaine in logs shipment may have been destined for China’, 28 March 2011). Illegality 3, Customs fraud, false values – Customs law requires an exporter to provide an accurate description and valuation of the goods exported. BaiShanLin is non-compliant because it declares a uniform FOB price for a shipping container from Guyana to China for particular timber species, without regard for the varying volumes of logs of that species inside the container. Illegality 4, health and safety violations BaiShanLin took over the Coomacka sawmill of Ja Ling / Karlam South America Timbers, and
secured an improvement grant of US$10 million from the European Union through LEAP, the Linden Economic Advance Project (LEAP); this amount was later reduced. During a visit to the sawmill by the Ambassador of the European Commission in August 2007, together with local journalists, violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (cap. 99:06, 1997/2009) were observed by the visitors and protested by the Guyanese workers (Stabroek News, ‘Safety violations seen at Coomacka timber works’, 15 August 2007; Guyana Chronicle, ’Deplorable wages and working conditions at Bai Shan Lin Linden operations. Agri Minister insists that the company has to comply with occupational health and safety standards’, 15 August 2007). The sawmill operated under Bai San Lin management for only a few months before being shut down as the company shifted into log exports. The mill compound has subsequently been used for stuffing logs into containers for export shipment (Stabroek News, ‘Baishanlin still logging, no sign of value added’, 08 December 2014). The container stuffing is apparently without routine oversight by the Customs and Trade Administration of the Guyana Revenue Authority Illegality 5, illegal renting of DTL logging
concessions – Bai Shan Lin (BSL) took over operational control of Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) (Stabroek News, ‘Demerara Timbers to be taken over by Bai Shan Lin’, 21 August 2007). In spite of a painted sign at the DTL gate at Mabura Hill indicating BSL control, the GFC said that this was not a takeover, merely a transfer of shares and the giving of a technical assistance management contract to BSL. However, this is legally a transfer of interest, and so a violation of condition 13 of the TSA licence. Illegality 6, illegal acquisition of logging rights – BSL claimed in November 2012 to operational control of 960,000 ha of logging concessions and exploratory permit areas in Guyana. The GFC stated in its Press conference on 18 August 2015 that BSL’s forest holdings were only 627,072 ha. The GFC has not explained the discrepancy; see also Stabroek News, ‘GFC contradicts Minister’s report on Bai Shan Lin’s operations’, 24 August 2014. My estimation of BSL’s holdings totals over 1.4 million hectares (tabulated in Stabroek News, ‘Would the GFC place documents related to joint venture with Bai Shan Lin in the public domain’, 17 January 2015). The lack of point-by-point response from the GFC suggests improper allocation of logging rights, over a long
period. This is not to suggest, by any means, that all BSL concessions were acquired illegally. Illegality 7, nonpayment for purchased logs – the log purchases by BSL have been spread over many areas of the hinterland of Guyana. Purchases are rarely supported by written contracts. Payments for the logs are usually in cash at the roadside or log market. In spite of a reputation for being cash-rich, BSL has been negligent in paying independent loggers. Oral agreements to buy are, however, contracts. Illegality 8, nonpayment or very delayed payments of NIS and PAYE –the Bai Shan Lin group of companies has been derelict in payments of national insurance and tax for its workers for long periods (Kaieteur News, ‘GPSU warns foreign investors to obey laws’, 12 September 2014). Illegality 9, illegal extraction of laterite gravel, road building – besides taking logs without payment, BaiShanLin has excavated and carried away without authorisation an estimated 47,000 m3 of laterite gravel from Moblissa for road building, foundations for buildings at Conception and for a construction park, vehicle storage and pontoonbuilding site at Coverden. The BSL vehicles have repeatedly damaged roads in Region 10 and polluted
water sources. The Regional Democratic Council, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission have not been able to exert effective authority over BSL activities. Illegality 10, violation of TSA conditions – the general terms and conditions for Timber Sales Agreements (TSAs) are now given in Annex V of the third edition of the GFC Code of Practice for Forest Operations for Timber Sales Agreements and Wood Cutting Licences (July 2014). Bai Shan Lin has operational control of several such TSAs. Item 6 of these terms and conditions states that ‘The concessionaire shall work the area to the satisfaction of the Commissioner in accordance with the terms of the concession agreement and only in accordance with the Forest Management plan, as approved by the Commissioner …’ (page 194). Presumably Bai Shan Lin needs to comply with all relevant laws, regulations, procedures and approved national policies in order to ‘satisfy’ the Commissioner of the GFC. Given the catalogue of illegalities almost since BSL arrived in Guyana, why is the Government so enamoured of this group of companies and so reluctant to provide equivalent incentives to its own citizens? Janette Bulkan and John Palmer
Friday May 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
ROWLEY KICKED OUT
…Emailgate fiasco: Opposition Leader suspended from Parliament Trinidad Express - Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley was suspended from the Parliament at 9.15 Wednesday night and therefore will not be allowed to return to the House for the remainder of the session. Parliament will automatically dissolve by June 17. A total of 24 Government members voted for Rowley to be kicked out of Parliament, with only the Chaguanas West MP, who is also the leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), voting against the motion. The vote was taken in the absence of the Opposition members, who had walked out hours earlier. Leader of Government Business Dr Roodal Moonilal had moved a motion of censure against Rowley, which stated he produced false information to the House when he brought some 31 e-mails to Parliament two years ago. In the absence of the Opposition, the motion was debated with contributions from Warner and Government ministers Suruj Rambachan, Errol McLeod, Prakash Ramadhar, Rodger Samuel, Tim Gopeesingh and Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar. The Prime Minister said a wheel of conspiracy was plotted against her Government using fake e-mails, which she condemned Rowley for bringing to Parliament. Persad-Bissessar said the Opposition Leader abused the privilege of the House because while he was entitled to freedom of speech, that freedom must be regulated and should have a foundation of evidence. Persad-Bissessar went through some of the correspondence contained in the string of e-mails, saying there were elements of fact which were twisted into a wheel of conspiracy to make grave allegations against her and members of her Government. “We have shown today that there is no truth, there is no evidence whatsoever to support either the content of the e-mail or the format of the e-mail, whether the form, the structure, the context, and therefore, Mr Speaker, I join with other of this House in calling for censure of the Honourable member for Diego Martin West and for his suspension from this Honourable House,” said PersadBissessar as Government members loudly thumped their desks in support. She knocked Diego Martin North-East MP Colm Imbert’s contribution to the debate, noting he spent not a
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley leaves the Parliament Chamber Wednesday following a walk out by members of the Opposition benches. Photo: CURTIS CHASE moment on addressing the issue of the fake e-mails, even though Moonilal had brought evidence to show the e-mails were not authentic. She said when Rowley brought the e-mails to the House two years ago, he did so with conviction and put to the Parliament that she and her Government members conspired to harm a journalist and bug the office of the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions). Persad-Bissessar said it was her Government that ensured the Interception of Communications Act became law to prevent the tapping phones. She said if any member of her Government was engaged in tapping phones, they would immediately be removed. She pointed out the emails allege Government members conspi-red to ensure the deputy head of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA), Keron Ganpat, left the country so the DPP’s office could be bugged. Persad-Bissessar noted Ganpat did in fact go to Germany from September 2 to 13 to attend a security course at the George C Marshall European Centre for Security Studies. This visit, she said, came after approvals from the permanent secretary and then national security minister Jack Warner in July that year. “The approval was given long before you could even dream of these e-mails for September because September didn’t reach yet,” she said. She said it was a fact he left the country but there was fabrication that he was instructed to do so in a conspiracy. “They have bits of fact, predicting the past was very easy; they pick up one or two grains of truth but tie into this wheel of conspiracy,” she
said. Persad-Bissessar also referred to allegations in the emails there was a plot to bug the DPP’s office. She noted thereafter there was a sweep of the DPP’s office and a Guardian report stating bugs were found. The Prime Minister said there was a report from the acting Commissioner of Police, clearly stating no bugging device was found in the DPP’s office. “They were alleging the Attorney General hired some security firm and this security firm had this red light on the DPP’s building,” she said. She noted there is no straight line of vision between the DPP’s office and the AG’s office for any red light to be used. The Prime Minister added there was an e-mail alleging the US Charge d’ Affairs, Thomas Smitham, was in cahoots with Government members in a conspiracy. “That obviously is not a fact,” she said noting it is true he came to Trinidad as the Charge d’ Affairs, but it is not true he came in September. Persad-Bissessar said there was the allegation these e-mails were all tied to the Section 34 fiasco—an attempt to give freedom to businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson. She stressed her Government was busy trying to ensure no person could escape the law through Section 34. She pointed out Section 34 was a clause that came about in the Senate, and the Lower House had no sight of it. The Prime Minister outlined the actions her Government took to ensure the clause was repealed. Following the Prime Minister’s contribution, Moonilal wound up the debate and the vote was then taken.
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DO NOT DEMONIZE CONCESSIONS The opposition parties/ coalition in Guyana must be careful that they do not join the proverbial bandwagon that is demonizing duty free concessions to investors, be they local or foreign, be they crooked or straight. Recent criticisms by opposition spokespersons have been highly critical of the manner in which the government has been dispensing duty free concessions. This indeed is ironic because when the PNC was in power, the same criticisms were made by the PPP about the generous duty free concessions to major investors such as Omai, Barama, Aroaima, Green Construction and Booker Tate. These companies were granted virtually everything duty free, inclusive of tax holidays. One of the arguments that the PPP used then was that the only benefits to the country from these investments were the petty royalties and the taxes which the workers paid. APNU should be the last to categorize concessions as premium, gold and silver. The PNC, the main party in APNU, had a track record of giving premium concessions to companies that did businesses whose overall benefit to the country is still questionable. OMAI was to have made us all millionaires. Barama was to have raked in enormous benefits for Guyana. Aroaima took out tonnes of our ore and when it
left, the industry was no better off. Green Construction did not revive the bauxite industry. The PPP when it came to power in 1992 instituted a virtual ban on granting tax holidays. This hurt the investment prospects of the country. It was only after large investors began to demand concessions that the laws of the country were amended to allow for the reintroduction of tax holidays in certain circumstances. The government had to correct itself when it granted to a local company a tax holiday which was not contemplated under the law. The government had to amend its own law so as to bring its actions into compliance. One does not need to go into economic theory in order to justify the benefits of duty free concessions and tax holidays. Unless these things are offered to large scale investors, the investments are not going to materialize. You cannot ask a company that is coming to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into an economic venture, to pay taxes on its capital equipment. That would be a drain on the resources of the investors. The investors will be discouraged. Investors are not lining up to do business in Guyana. You, the host country, have to make the investment worthwhile. One way in which this is done is to offer
incentives in the form of tax holidays and duty free concessions. Fiscal concessions are therefore necessary to attract investment. Duty free concessions are also a means of reducing the cost of the investment and consequently the cost of whatever good or service is being produced. If for example the contractor that has been contracted to repair the fibre optic cable has to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in duties on his equipment to be used in repairing the cable, then that cost is not going to be absorbed by the contractor. It is going to be passed on to the government. This will increase the cost of the project and consequently the burden on the treasury or wherever else the funds are coming from for the project. In this context one has to correct the mistaken view that the offering of concessions to investors represents a transfer to the beneficiary. This is not always the case because these concessions are often used as means of keeping down the cost to the government of the project. Without the concessions there will in most instances be no business. So it is not a case of a loss of revenue at all. Of course, some investors are able to extract concessions on things which are not directly related to the projects. There is a tendency for example, for investors to
demand duty free concessions on luxury vehicles. This is a practice that should be discouraged because these vehicles are hardly used for the purposes of pursuing the investment but are instead used to benefit individuals concerned with the investment. These types of concessions should be outlawed. However, other types of vehicles such as trucks are often needed for carrying out the actual investment and if the investor had to bear the duty on these vehicles it would prohibitively raise the
cost of doing business. This is especially so since Guyana still has high tax rates. Concessions are also extremely helpful in the initial stages of a business when there are high start-up costs. These costs can end up crippling the prospects of the business. Concessions are one way of allowing the business the opportunity to grow. We therefore have to be careful that in an attempt to highlight a poor contract, that we do not demonize concessions which are necessary to attract, facilitate and reduce the costs of large
investments. We should be careful that we do not demonize concessions. Nor should we fall prey to deeming all concessions as transfers to the investors. This is not supported by economic theory or by investment history. Concessions should instead be linked to performance and to encourage reinvestment in Guyana.
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=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Patricia Rodney and Nadira Jagan have disgraced the ones they love Guyana has some of the world’s most unbelievable humans. Things that people do here with such a small population, maybe, are not replicated in states that are much older with much larger populations. The behaviour of the wife of Walter Rodney and the daughter of Cheddi and Janet Jagan leaves one in utter bewilderment and causes you to wonder at the kind of people are Guyanese. Nadira Jagan has no counterpart anywhere in the world at the moment. When Bharrat Jagdeo openly proclaimed that at the time the Jagans built their house, the Jagans
had constructed a structure that was affluent, Nadira Jagan took furious umbrage. She flew into tempestuous rage and denounced Mr. Jagdeo with the rebuttal that her parents always lived an ordinary life and that the house itself was small and simple. Part of her anger was directed to the PPP whom she denounced as failing to defend the legacy of her parents. To date not one PPP leader has rejected Mr. Jagdeo remarks. Rohee endorsed Jagdeo’s emanation by publicly stating that as General-Secretary of the PPP, he will not distance himself
from Jagdeo’s words. Not only did the PPP leadership refused to come to Cheddi Jagan’s rescue, but the PPP in the form of its General-Secretary actually support’s Jagdeo’s description. Nadira Jagan then was rebuffed by the PPP. Nadira Jagan tries to prove that she is no rat leaving a sinking ship. She has boldly announced her support for the PPP’s election campaign. You have to acknowledge she isn’t a rat leaving a ship that is going down, but one can be harsh with this woman by describing her mind as ugly and I am unapologetic for this frank assessment given her recent postures on the PPP. Nadira Jagan made the news the past four years in a big way. First, she made reference to corruption and luxurious existence in the PPP that was not in her father’s tradition. Then a few weeks ago, she rebuked the entire leadership for a terrible moral and political sin in not defending her parents from Jagdeo’s
unfair comment on her patent’s sprawling, expensive residence. If she can endorse these very people and want them to win the election then something is definitely wrong with the mind of this man hence the adjective ugly. There are two competing theories for explaining Nadira Jagan’s volte-face. One was the PPP was right to ignore her because they know she was lying about her parents’ modesty and she knows that, so she tries to save face by throwing in her support for the PPP at this last minute. Alternatively, she wants the same people she criticized to win and is prepared to sacrifice the legacy of her parents. If the answer is the second one then she has disgraced both of her parents that she claims she love. In fact, a few years ago she intoned that she feels hate for those to derogate her mother because her mother was a good person. But this very lady has abandoned her protection of her parents’ simple lifestyle by siding with
those who scandalized that very lifestyle. In my opinion there can only be these two explanations for her embrace of the current PPP leadership. What a woman! Guyanese should be grateful she is not into politics. Another famous Guyanese woman who has disgraced the one she loves is the wife of Walter Rodney, Patricia. Mrs. Rodney is prepared to let her husband’s name be used in the service of political nastiness that involves the most atrocious and sadistic use of race hate. It is not that the Rodney Commission which came about because of Mrs. Rodney’s opportunism has restored the image and sacred symbolism of Walter Rodney. The fact is the commission is using the name of Walter Rodney for sordid political gain by the PPP. The PPP wants to secure political capital through the denunciation of the rule of Forbes Burnham in the 1970s. Let us say that when Mrs. Rodney secretly planned her
Frederick Kissoon commission thing with certain PPP leaders, she didn’t know that the PPP would have shaped the commission’s work to prop up their tattered image. But when the PPP began to unleash the propaganda side of the hearing and put PPP leaders on the stand to talk about their so-called suffering under Burnham to score points, she should have intervened with those PPP leaders with whom she surreptitiously planned the commission. Mrs. Rodney had to know that the PPP objective was to use her husband’s name. She became a willing participant in that game of Caribbean Machiavellianism. In other words, Mrs. Rodney disgraced the name, legacy and symbolism of Walter Rodney
Dem boys seh... Donald promising everything that Granger promise As soon as politician get you vote, fuh de next five year, dem cuss you, dem kick you and dem treat you wid disrespect. Some of dem does watch you like dem don’t know you. You want a li’l help from dem and you never get a chance to see dem, much less meet dem. Now Donald very busy. Dis man hardly hold a press conference in de three years. Now de man writing letter every day in de papers and issue press release, fuh seh wha he shoulda seh at press conferences. He visiting some place he never know exist. He cut so much ribbon that he start to look like a tailor and all de ribbon he cut is in Robb Street, Regent Street and King Street. Things reach such a pitch that he and Ashni, de shaat scamp, actually fall out. One week ago, Ashni criticize de opposition when dem seh that dem gun lower taxes on vehicles. He seh how dem dreaming. Yesterday, Donald promise fuh do de same thing. Why he didn’t do that and many other things he seh he gun do when he was de president. Dem boys seh is games all dem politicians playing wid voters. Is sheer promises and more promises. De Hapnew plus Hay Heff See ain’t different from Donald. De other day Granger wife go in de Rupununi and talk to dem in Portuguese. She ketch some of dem and actually win votes but that is de trickery. Gail couldn’t talk Portuguese but she coulda talk Albouystown — nuff eff and ess. Dem people proppa clap she suh she gun pick up couple votes deh. Kwame got to pick up crab louse, not votes. Jagdeo, that crooked bastard, is another one who can’t get votes. He is de one who mek Donald become de minority government and now he is de one who might get Donald completely out of de office. Everything about him is scampish and nasty and dem boys warn Donald but he nah listen. Jagdeo tell de world that he nah running back fuh third term. De spit nah even dry when he put somebody fuh go to court and get de Chinee man to rule in he favour. He seh he not going on de list; two days later he name deh number three pun de list. When he talk, who gun believe him now? And he campaigning fuh Donald. Talk half and watch how dem politicians talking different language.
Friday May 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Hit man implicates retired Asst. Comm. and Sergeant in MFK execution If the police really want to solve the murder of businessman Mohamed F. Khan, they should be listening to a murder accused who is currently lying in the Camp Street prison. Lennox Wayne, called ‘Two Colours’, has implicated a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police and a serving Sergeant in Khan’s murder. Khan was killed some time between August and September last year, a murder that is still baffling investigators. Giving dates and locations which are consistent with information provided by Khan before his death, Wayne admitted to being part of the plot to kill Khan, but denied that he actually committed the murder. Khan’s dismembered body was discovered on a dam at Cummings Lodge on September 23, last, a month after Khan disappeared. Before his death he detailed a scheme that pointed to the use of police ranks and even former policemen to carry out executions. Khan had survived an execution attempt last July at La Grange, West Bank Demerara, when a gunman shot him in his abdomen shortly after he had returned to Guyana on a brief holiday. That gunman turned out to be Wayne who is now on remand for the murder of Lusignan cosmetologist, Ashmini Harriram, which occurred on July 10. Wayne, who admitted that he was once an informant for the police, is convinced that he is being framed for Harriram’s murder by the persons who orchestrated Mohamed F. Khan’s death, in an apparent effort to silence him for his part in the execution plot. He decided to speak out since he claimed that he was short changed by the persons who orchestrated the hit. He is also seeking to ensure that Khan’s family gets justice. In a three-page statement that this newspaper was able to obtain, Wayne claimed that on July 8 last year he was contacted by the sergeant (name given) who requested that he “report to base”— base being the compound of the Tactical Services Unit. When he got there he was told that there was a job for him… that someone wanted him to kill Mohamed Khan. He was to be paid $500,000. Wayne said that the sergeant took him to West Bank Demerara and showed
policemen) left and go behind him (Khan) at the station,” Wayne wrote in his statement. Khan had described his shooter as a tall man whom he recalled had police connections, a description that perfectly fits Wayne. “When I look at him, I’m seeing a policeman…He looked like an old police that I knew. I said, ‘Tall Man wha wrong with you? Why you shooting at me man?’” Khan
Lennox Wayne called ‘Two Colours’
Mohamed f khan
him where Khan, who had just returned to Guyana from neighbouring Venezuela, was staying. At the time Khan was not at home so they waited several hours until he arrived for Wayne to get a good look at his target. They left and Wayne alone returned the next day around 06:30 hours to carry out the hit. He positioned himself on his motorcycle and waited for the opportunity which took a while. “I positioned myself outside the man home on my motorcycle and I start to trail him from when he left his house around lunch time until he reach in Georgetown,” Wayne wrote in his statement. He claimed that he trailed khan to a house on Barr
Street, Kitty, where he stayed for a while until it became dark. A few weeks before he disappeared, Khan himself had told this newspaper about a visit to a friend in Kitty that very day when he watched a World Cup football game. According to Wayne, he and the sergeant followed Khan back over to the West Bank and when the businessman made a stop at La Grange he decided to grab his opportunity. “When we reached La Grange, I collected the equipment (weapon) from (name of policeman) and I end up rolling and I shot the man. After I shot him, he did not fall and die, he end up running and jump in a car. I left and ride away and (name of
had related back in July when he was interviewed by this newspaper after the shooting. Khan then left Guyana and according to Wayne, that move delayed his death. “He was to return to the station the next day but he left and went away. If he had returned to the station, I would have finished the job when he walking out of La Grange Station because I was to collect a higher caliber
weapon to do it, but Khan never showed up,” Wayne said. But last August, Khan did return to Guyana to tie up some loose ends with his business regarding the sale of a high rise property on Hadfield Street where he previously operated a supermarket. Wayne said that he received a telephone call on August 9, 2014 from the (Continued on page 28)
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Kaieteur News
Friday May 08, 2015
APNU+AFC faces UG students electorate in open forum Presidential candidate of the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), David Granger, addressed the concerns of the University of Guyana (UG) in an American-style
question and answer session last Wednesday evening. The forum was organized by the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) The forum, held at the Main lecture hall, saw the
presidential candidate elaborating on his party’s plans for education in Guyana, but he also fielded rapid questions submitted by students that sought to have him clear up misconceptions about his
… pledges to end political appointments to UG The Presidential candidate fielding questions
stance on tertiary education, as well as how he intended to bring the University back to its glory days. One issue foremost in the student body’s mind was
why had APNU+AFC politicians cut out budgetary allocations towards student loans. Granger pointed to the failure to establish a tri-party
parliamentary committee by the Government, designed to oversee and ensure that allocations to the University were free of hidden clauses and (Continued on page 26)
Friday May 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Friday May 08, 2015
High-priced investment still gathering dust at GPHC Having spent several millions to procure a much needed Hybrid Machine to help improve the operation of the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI), Government is still unable to complete a Cardiac Cath Laboratory to accommodate this pricey investment. Since last year, the Hybrid Machine sits on the ground floor of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, covered by a tarpaulin. It has never been used. However, Government is already expected to fork out some US$1 million of tax payers’ money to fix the machine which has sustained some damage. Based on an agreement between Government and General Electric (GE - the company that supplied the machine), a suitable room, in this case the Cardiac Cath Laboratory, must be completed to accommodate the machine which will be transported and installed by GE technicians. And should the conditions of supply and installation not be adhered to, Government would be expected to stand any additional cost. “There is no telling whether the machine has developed any problems because it is sitting unused
in conditions that it was not intended to be,” said one official close to the Ministry of Health who made reference to the current storage location of the machine. But of even more concern, is whether GE will be willing to honour its warranty for the equipment. This is in light of the fact that GE has made it clear that because of its improper storage there is no guarantee that the equipment will function optimally when installed. Kaieteur News has tried on countless occasions to ascertain the cause for the delay of the project. The Ministry of Health through the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) made a pact with CHI to work as a public/private partnership. CHI, which is accommodated at GPHC, was officially commissioned in 2006 and soon after started offering crucial heart operations with keen plans on expanding its services. But this publication understands that the expansion plans will have to be put on hold because of the delay of the Lab. The Lab, according to reports reaching this publication, should have
been completed within a twomonth period but close to 18 months later is still incomplete. Based on reports reaching this publication, around 2011 the management of CHI had consulted with Government about acquiring a new Cardiac Cath Lab, in light of the fact that its equipment was nearing the end of its lifespan. The expectation was that with the lab in place both cardiology intervention and cardiac surgery would have been possible in a single room using the Hybrid machine, thereby, allowing for Guyana to possibly be the first in the Caribbean to offer such advanced technology. The delay in the completion of the Lab has therefore resulted in the stalling of expansion plans for CHI and even worse is the possibility that the facility’s operation may be in jeopardy. According to Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CHI, Dr Gary Stephens, who in December of last year expressed concern about the prevailing state of affairs, “any day now our machine can suffer a catastrophic failure and even if it doesn’t, I don’t see us surviving the next six months.”
The Hybrid machine covered with a tarpaulin on the ground floor of the GPHC This publication understands that CHI was forced to expend in excess of $60M to ensure that its current equipment remain in working order. According to Dr. Stephens, without urgent progression of the project, the future of CHI will remain uncertain and “it’s a shame after all the hard work and goodwill that kept it afloat. I hope we will survive but the service we offer will be restricted.” The development, this publication was informed, has not been very comforting to CHI staffers. Outside of the basic Echocardiogram and Stress Testing services, CHI also provides angiograms, angioplasty, stent placement, open-heart surgery, and has expertise to address congenital defects such as
holes in the heart. It also caters to the implantation of devices such as pacemakers, intra-cardiac defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization. The latter was in fact, an historic procedure undertaken by CHI last year. CHI’s track record suggests that it is able to conduct some 200 angiograms on an annual basis, while statistics show that in 2013 alone about 50 open-heart operations were conducted, an increase from previous years. In 2013 too, about 25 pacemakers and device implantations were done, and according to CHI’s Interventional Cardiologist, Dr Mahendra Carpen, during an interview last year, weekly clinics attract about 500 patients and were likely to attract more with the planned expansion of cardiac services.
Dr Carpen at that time too, had disclosed that “in the very near future, as early as January (2015), we will be introducing cardiac electrophysiology where basically that is treatment of heart rhythm disorder.” It was the expectation of the Cardiologist that this venture would have seen CHI being able to advance its crucial partnership with Government through the Ministry of Health, thereby allowing the institution to be in a better operational place. In this regard, he had spoken of the need for the Lab which he speculated would have allowed CHI to evolve. “I believe that within the next couple of months we will be the envy of many of the Caribbean nations,” Dr Carpen had predicted.
APNU+AFC faces UG... (From page 24) encumbrances as what led to the opposition voting to cut loans. He also pledged to cut out political interference in management of the University’s council. “This is not a place to transfer people from the central committee or any political party. I don’t intend to do it. And I intend to discontinue the appointment of political persons, whose interest is to watch over the interest of their political party” He stated that the practice was not helping the University. Instead, people on the council should have, as their foremost concern, garnering better funding for the University, attracting the best quality of scholars and ensuring that the accreditation standards are on par with campuses at St. Augustine or Cave Hill. Granger also stated that as free education was enshrined in the constitution,
his government would work towards bringing free education back to the University level, though he warned that such a measure would not happen overnight. In relation to his plans towards rescuing the university, Granger spoke of committing more state funds towards the University, should he be elected. “It is impossible, given the present size of the business community that the funding can come from donors. And it cannot come from students; they cannot pay the level of fees needed to run the university.” Asked how he would guarantee these measures designed to bring the University back from the brink, Granger pointed to the very composition of his proposed Government, made up of a multifaceted party system, as a natural guarantee that he would stay on track of his promises. Granger, a former member
of the University of Guyana student body, also had words of advice for the student body. “The life of a student is something unforgettable. It’s about making friends, having experiences, going places, doing things that you’ve never done in your life. That is what the University experience must be. This is not a trade school. “University means what it says—a universal outlook on life. Nothing in the world must escape your interest, whether it’s cultural, social, politics.” The University of Guyana was rocked by weeks of protest and strike actions earlier in the year, following unmet demands for better working conditions and facilities. The UGSS forums are expected to continue with Presidential candidates of the National Independent Party (NIP) Saphier Hussein, and the Independent Party (IP) Mark Benschop.
Friday May 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Disabled granny remanded on ganja charge A 63-three-year-old limping woman was hauled before a magistrate on Monday after she was allegedly found with a quantity of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. Patsy Baptist, who resides at Lot 963, 16th Street, Diamond, East Bank Demerara, denied the allegation that on April 30, she had 16 grammes
of marijuana in her possession for the purpose of trafficking. The differently-abled woman pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to her by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. The prosecution told the court that on the day in question, around 14:30hrs, ranks
from the narcotics branch of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) went to the home of the defendant and conducted a search. The illicit drug was found in a hat in Baptist’s bedroom. According to the police, under caution, the woman confessed to having “pur-
chased the drug to sell and make a living”. She was arrested and charged for the offence. However, her attorney, Nigel Hughes, argued that the substance was not found in his client’s possession. The lawyer said that the home is occupied by several persons and the drug could have be-
longed to any of them. Hughes contended that there is no way possible that the woman could be involved in selling the drug because she is not physically ca-
pable. Bail was refused for the defendant because her attorney failed to advance special reasons to satisfy the court.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
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Friday May 08, 2015
Hit man implicates retired...
(From page 23) police sergeant who informed him that Khan was seen at his lawyer’s office on Hadfield Street. Wayne said that he was told to stake out the lawyer’s office to see when Khan would leave. It was around 14:00 hours that Wayne spotted the target and informed the Police Sergeant. It was on this day that he saw the Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police who was also staking out the lawyer’s office for Khan. According to Wayne, the Police Sergeant subsequently pulled up with some other persons in a heavily tinted vehicle and they too waited for Khan to emerge. When the businessman eventually left the lawyer’s office and boarded a taxi, the Police Sergeant and the Retired Assistant Commissioner followed him in their respective vehicles. Wayne said that he was told to back off since “they told me they would take care
of things from here.” He said that after Khan vanished a second time and weeks passed, he decided to ask the policeman, who had contracted him, about his payment. “They tell me that they can’t get into trouble and I don’t have no money to get,” Wayne said in his statement. This, he said, was what started a train of thought in his head that he should expose the persons involved, especially when he learnt that the remains found at Cummings Lodge could be that of Khan. But sensing that Wayne could be a liability and not wanting to kill him, the masterminds of Khan’s murder hatched a plan to put him away. Wayne believes that is why he was arrested and had a murder charge pinned on him. He said that he continued to negotiate with the plotters to collect his payment which he said would have assisted
in paying lawyer’s fees to defend himself against the murder charge, but he was met with blunt refusal to pay. The situation got desperate and Wayne said that he had no other choice but to get even with the persons who had recruited him to kill Khan. Through an intermediary, Wayne contacted persons connected to Khan and told them what part he had played in the plot to kill him. H e told them that he is being framed because Khan’s killers did not want him to reveal what he knew about their actions. He stated that the Cosmetologist’s murder occurred on July 10, the day he was supposed to return the weapon he had used to shoot Khan at La Grange to the policeman at the TSU. “So they tried to get rid of me from off the road so that I could hush me mouth.” But wouldn’t it have been easier and safer for the killers to kill Wayne instead? After
all, they were said to be seasoned killers who “can’t get in trouble.” “To be honest, I am in for whatever they are in for because whatever they could do, I could do too. I just have to get the right backings and I am capable of taking care of myself,” Wayne wrote. He explained that it was the Assistant Commissioner who was the organiser of the entire episode since he is a friend of the person who ordered the hit on Khan. Khan had stated that he was threatened by a businessman with whom he had done a large transaction regarding one of his buildings. Wayne said that he is not afraid of giving himself away with regards to the shooting at La Grange. “I never get any money
for the shooting over the river, not even twenty dollar. Although Khan did not die when I shot him, I still supposed to get something. Is not me fault that he did not die. The main thing was that the man get hit, I did my part,” Wayne stated. “All they keep telling me was, ‘man you f@#k up, you f@#k up.’ When I call them, the most they would do is to send a $300 top up for my phone,” he added. He said that he is terribly upset by the way he was treated, especially since he had helped the policemen in their normal legal duties in the past. “I was on the operation when they killed the three youth man outside K&VC, even the set at Diamond. I does be on a set of operations
because I am a man of the streets,” said Wayne, who explained that he became known to the police after serving a 10-year sentence for armed robbery. “I used to thief and after helping the police a couple of times, they promised me they will clear my background because every time I go for a job I getting turn down. But all they did was use me and tried to make me a gunman,” Wayne stated. “When they charged me with the Lusignan murder, they are trying to make me look like a criminal and they don’t know me when in fact I was police intelligence,” he added. So far the police have not arrested anyone in connection with Mohamed F. Khan’s murder.
Friday May 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Friday May 08, 2015
Exxon’s search finds traces of oil, Govt. cautious President Donald Ramotar and Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud during a visit earlier this year to Exxon’s exploration vessel.
Guyana’s third major search for oil in recent years is showing encouraging results, Government announced yesterday. It would spell good news, at least for the Government, with four days left before Guyana heads to early polls to choose a new Government. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources yesterday, the Deepwater Champion located approximately 120 miles offshore Guyana, has encountered hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that are made of only hydrogen and carbon atoms. They are found in many places, including crude oil and natural gas and are strong indications that oil is there. Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, reflecting on the performance of the natural resources and environmental sector, warned that it is too early to confirm whether there are commercial quantities of hydrocarbons, specifically light crude. “Minister Persaud revealed that a full evaluation of the results is underway from the exploration company.” The Liza-1 well on the Stabroek Block is being drilled by Deepwater Champion, which was hired by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. (EEPGL), an affiliate of ExxonMobil, which holds 45 percent interest. Hess Guyana Exploration Limited holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest in the venture. The well is being drilled approximately 120 miles offshore Guyana. “Further, the Natural Resources and the Environment Minister, remains optimistic of a hydrocarbon discovery of commercial quantities which will further transform Guyana’s economy for the benefit of all Guyanese,” a statement from the Ministry said .
News reports said that Exxon Mobile country manager, Jeff Simons, also confirmed that a bore hole in the Atlantic Ocean in an area claimed by Venezuela has produced positive results, though he declined to discuss specifics about what had been found. “We have found hydrocarbons but we are still evaluating to see to what extent it is in commercial quantities,” Simons said. “We do not want to go too far down the road at this point. We will know after the testing and evaluation is done.” Minister Persaud is set to meet with company officials and discuss the find. Decades of exploration in Guyana have yet to locate a viable source of oil or gas despite the proximity of energy-rich Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. Venezuela has long claimed about two-thirds of Guyana’s territory as well as the offshore area where Exxon Mobil began drilling in March. In October 2013, the Venezuelan navy detained an oil research vessel operating under contract for U.S.-based Anadarko Petroleum Corp. Guyana Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said in March, that the country would push ahead with exploration in the area despite protests by the Venezuelan government. In May 2012, CGX Energy
which has concessions, announced that it has failed in its bid to find oil during a drill in its Corentyne concessions. That same year, another well being drilled in the Georgetown offshore concessions by Spanish-owned Repsol also failed in its attempt. A large chunk of Guyana’s foreign currency earnings goes back to buying oil. With neighbouring countries like Suriname, Venezuela and Brazil already with large wells, it is widely expected that Guyana will also find oil in commercial quantities. But territorial disputes first with Suriname and now with Venezuela have threatened to derail the explorations. The first attempt was delayed for years after a CGX rig was ejected in 2000 from what Guyana considered its waters. A UN resolution later saw the waters between the two countries being divided. Venezuela, following the October 2013 removal of Anadarko Petroleum Corp has been expressing its unhappiness, but Government has insisted that the waters belong to Guyana, as ratified by various rulings over the years. Guyana, with support from the US and other countries, has been preparing for the advent of full scale oil production, including managing the proceeds and dealing with the possibilities of a spill.
The Deepwater Champion drilling vessel.
Friday May 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Duo accused of abducting Bhena’s Footwear employee released on $500,000 bail each Two persons accused of abducting Bhena’s store employee, Xanier Waaldjik over a dispute in the disappearance of a quantity of raw gold, were yesterday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Dexter John, 34, of 109 Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara and Viola Morrison, 48, of Section ‘C’ Block ‘Y’ Grove, East Bank Demerara, denied the allegation which stated that on May 4, at Regent Street, they abducted Waaldjik, so as to cause him to be wrongfully restrained. Police Prosecutor, Bharrat Mangru told the court that on the day in question the victim was about to enter the store when he was confronted by a man known to him. The man pushed him into a parked car and then drove away. The matter was reported to the police and CCTV footage from the store was reviewed and the defendants were caught on camera committing the act. Subsequently, they were
Xanier Waaldjik Alleged kidnapper: Dexter John
Alleged kidnapper :Viola Morrison
arrested and charged. Their attorney, Gordon Gilhuys during a bail application, asked that his clients be granted reasonable bail because they pose no risk of flight. Each defendant was ordered to post bail in the sum of $500,000. This matter will be called again on June 5, for statements. Waaldijk was snatched
just before 08:00 hours last Monday as he was about to report for work. The incident occurred in full view of members of the public. Camera footage from the Bhena’s Footwear store showed the abductors waiting near a parked car outside the store for their victim to arrive for work. They then pounced on him as he was crossing Regent Street and forced him into the
bronze coloured Toyota Corolla PLL 9811. However, after a security
officer of the store made a report at the Brickdam Police Station about the incident, the police immediately went into action and by midday they had located the car used in the abduction along with the driver. They were at a house on the West Coast Demerara. During questioning, the driver claimed that he dropped off Waaldjik and the other abductor at a house at La Parfaite Harmonie and left. They also found the relative who claimed she had lost the gold. As the police were about to question the two suspects, Waaldjik turned up at the Brickdam Police Station just
after 15:00 hours in good health. He claimed that he was blindfolded by his abductors and taken to a house where he was allegedly beaten and questioned about the missing gold. From all indications the abduction stemmed from a family issue that originated over the weekend. According to reports, Waaldjik was accused of being involved in the disappearance of a quantity of raw gold from a house he had visited a few days ago. Kaieteur News understands that the owner of the gold solicited the help of the abductors who made moves to recover it.
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Kaieteur News
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Friday May 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views
EVERYTHING COMES WITH A PRICE DEAR EDITOR, The entire Guyanese population is seemingly in a state of euphoria, heightened somewhat by the presence of the international and GECOM accredited observers. The Pied Piper of Hamelin (and his entourage) has arrived and will oversee the process that rids the country of its vermins. According to one writer, Hydar Ally in the Kaieteur News May 6, 2015 the presence of the observers is most reassuring. Yes, there is no doubt that international election observation is viewed as being instrumental in increasing domestic confidence in the electoral process. However, while the observatory process has become highly popular, and monitoring can improve the quality of elections making incumbent turnover more likely, amidst this seeming acceptance and popularity lurk certain facets that should be either addressed or at best considered. At the very minimum the role of observers is to offer an independent assessment of the election process within a broader program of democracy promotion. Also a lot lies at stake within these professionalized observer
groups, as they themselves are interested in providing accurate reports which dictates future invitations as well as putting their credibility and reputation on the line. International election observers do not monitor an election unless invited by the incumbent government. These monitoring and observatory activities are inherently political, and research has shown that credible monitoring organizations worry about funding, not inciting violence , pleasing important parties and the viability of their ongoing projects in a specific country. So it can be clearly seen and logically deduced that financial, political and other accompanying considerations can at times lead these said monitors to refrain from demonstrable criticism where it is due, or even to endorse elections where more caution would have been warranted. Thus, political, financial, and other considerations at times lead monitors to refrain from clear criticism where it is due or even to endorse elections where more caution would have been justified. Countries in question, for example this was especially likely in high-profile cases such as Afghanistan when
geopolitical stakes are high for those who sponsor the monitors, or in potentially pivotal elections like those coming up in Myanmar in November. However, as the practice of international election observation is becoming ubiquitous, it is in no way, shape or form ubiquitous. In spite of strong and sustained pressure, some countries have rebuffed international monitors, while others have become adept at extending invitations. In 2002 in Zimbabwe, the President Robert Mugabe officially prohibited the E.U from monitoring his election, but at the selfsame time admitted other organizations. A Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers was spearheaded in 2005 by the United Nations. All the ideals outlined in the declaration are truly laudatory and admirable, but on the issue of monitoring to change on the ground, that is the proverbial horse of a different colour. These missions will need to gain greater independence which will ultimately obviate the need for them to run their assessments by their donors
or worry about their long-term survival. But herein lies the paradox - such decisions rest with their sponsors, who are guarding their own interests. A sponsor that is willing to provide complete freedom credibly and consistently across all elections probably does not currently exist, and with no hope of a future existence or resurrection. Thus it can be safely concluded that monitoring organizations have their own political entanglements, practical constraints, and normative concerns that somehow or other water down their effectiveness. How do organizations decide which countries to monitor, and furthermore on account of the variation in quality of the organization , the question “ who goes where is also applicable. Perhaps even as we welcome the observers, we should also hang our heads in collective shame that our very behavior has brought about their presence in our country and catapulted them to international fame, over what is, always and forever will be a bastion of national sovereignty-election. While the monitoring of election remains a prominent tool for promoting election integrity and democracy, and
we are greeting them with outstretched arms, let us ask ourselves, has there been any accomplishment? When organizations have to return to the same countries election after election, what are they accomplishing? After all, elections are representative of the most fundamental exercise of a citizen, the right to be included in the conversation, to express his/ her preference and to be counted. It is my fervent hope that come May 11, 2015 when the last vote has been deposited, the last ballot box sealed, the final vote counted, the winning party announced, the observers submit their findings and as they turn their back s on my Guyana Eldorado, heading to the countries which they call home, that it would mark their final visit in the capacity of election observer. From May 11 onward individual growth should commence to the level where international election observation will be viewed as external meddling. Free and fair elections will be the order of the day, thereby restoring Guyana to a level of international legitimacy. It is a long road but the goal is not unattainable. Yvonne Sam.
This upcoming poll is not about the future of Guyana DEAR EDITOR, This upcoming poll is not about race. It is about the future of Guyana. It is about whether we continue along the path of progress and development as we have experienced over the past twenty-three years or whether we go backwards as during the pre-1992 period when the PNC regime was in power. In the final analysis, it is about which from among the contending political parties can be trusted to lead this nation. Only two political parties have had experience in government, namely the PPP/C and the PNC which is now in coalition with a number of smaller parties none of which have any experience in government. In the case of the PNC, it had a dismal record of undemocratic rule, economic mismanagement, suppression of free speech and a host of other shortcomings which cumulatively reduced this country to one of the poorest in the region. The PPP/C on the other hand has a proud record of re-building a broken economy to one that is today one of the fastest growing in the e c o n o m y, s i g n i f i c a n t l y higher that IMF projection for the Caribbean.
Indeed, from a highly indebted poor country under the PNC the country has now graduated to middle income status and is poised to move even higher up the pecking order. This is one electoral race that transcends race. All people benefit when a society grow and prosper. Children of all races and ethnicities do well when more money is spent on education. The improved performance of our students across the board at local and regional elections is only one indication of the even-handedness of the PPP/ C when it comes to distribution of budgetary resources to the education
sector. The same can be said for the delivery of health care. Guyanese today enjoy much higher levels of literacy and numeracy and are in a much better position to make informed choices as to which political party they would like to manage the affairs of state. The two main indicators of progress is an educated and healthy population. Guyanese are enjoying a much better quality of health care and education delivery. Additionally, more people today have access to higher education as could be seen from a growing number of young professionals many of whom at early age are successful businessmen and
entrepreneurs. The number of people who are today the proud owners of their own homes, vehicles and consumer durables have never been higher. This came about because of the several opportunities created by this PPP/C administration including access to bank credits and training programmes. One only need to look at the number of banks that have been established in all regions of Guyana to get a sense of how far we have come in terms of access to money and credits. Banks are indicators of the state of our economic health and from the
published reports our banks are doing well. The choice we make on May 11 will determine the future health of our economy and our country. Only under a PPP/C government under the leadership of Donald Ramotar can there be a continuation of this growth trajectory that we have been enjoying over the past two decades. As mentioned earlier, boils down in the end to one of trust. The PPP/C has a proven record of success. The PNC, by contrast, has failed this nation. The choice cannot be clearer. Hydar Ally
I will condemn any attempts to use my Indian self to create divisions with their calls to tribalism DEAR EDITOR, I am compelled to respond to Ryhaan Shah’s letter (May 6, 2015) in which she criticizes what she terms my Indian self denial. Indian self denial Ms Shah? Where do you live? I could never deny my Indian self. It is interwoven into the very colourful fabric of our society. It is the mango achar that pairs perfectly with cook up rice. it is the length
of hair on our beautiful ‘dougla’ children, it is the drumbeat that pulsates in soca, calypso and chutney music. My Indian self belongs to me as much as it does to Guyana. My ancestors brought their Indian selves here and made this country richer in its cultural diversity and I will celebrate that. I will not celebrate and will deny and condemn any
attempts by politicians and others to use my Indian self to create divisions with their calls to tribalism. I will deny and condemn any attempt to separate citizens like me from my family, friends and neighbours who are nonIndians. I will deny and condemn any attempt to vilify people on the basis of their race. If my ‘Indianess’ requires that I live in fear and
perpetuate that fear for generations to come then I deny that too. Ms Shah avoids any discussion on the substance of my letter namely the consistent call to race based voting by the former President Jagdeo. Does Ms Shah’s ‘Indianess’ preclude a discussion on this very ugly and destructive strategy? Nadia Sagar
(From page 48)
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Finance Minister, AG ignored laws on disclosing, auditing, tax concessions Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram has lashed out at the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and the country’s Auditor General, Deodat Sharma for having failed, over several years, to adhere to the country’s investment laws. Ram was referring specifically to the sections of that Act which call for transparency surrounding the monitoring and disclosure of tax concessions granted to foreign and local businesses annually. Ram emphasized that both financial officers have ignored their statutory duty and stressed that this needs to change in the new era of governance. The lawyer said that Sharma has been pressured on several occasions to report on the tax concessions as stipulated by the country’s tax laws, but he has continuously turned a blind eye to the issue. Guyana’s Investment Act, Section 38 (1) states that the Auditor General, or any suitably qualified person, designated by him for the purpose, shall annually carry out a procedural or process audit of incentives granted under section 2 of the Income Tax (In Aid of Industry) Act to an investor or an investment enterprise. It goes on to state that the report of the audit carried out , shall be laid in the National Assembly within six months after the end of each financial year. This has never been done . Further, Section 37 of the said Investment Act says that the Government shall publish in the Gazette, information regarding all fiscal incentives granted under section 2 of the Income Tax (In Aid of Industry ) Act. Given the failure of both Dr. Singh and Sharma to respect and obey the country’s laws, the Chartered
Accountant said it becomes imperative for the whole matter of tax concessions to be part and parcel of the tax reform process with the aim of minimizing the cases for which exorbitant concessions are granted in an ad hoc fashion. He said that the rules need to be made tighter and applied across the board. In doing this, the lawyer asserted that the country would stand to benefit more from greater revenues. A Partnership for National Unity plus Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has been over the last week , highlighting the “ad hoc” manner in which Government seems to be handing out tax concessions and tax holidays to foreign investors and local businessmen. These criticisms are on the front burner again given the recent deal struck between Government and a local contractor. That contract signed by Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon and Faisal Mohamed of Dax Contracting Services sees the latter party receiving billions of dollars worth in concessions. The opposition has also highlighted the controversial Marriott Hotel which has been the recipient of extravagant tax holidays and tax breaks similar to Dax. Given the aforementioned “concession-trend”, the party has concluded that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) grants concessions in three packages: Gold, Silver and Bronze.
- Chris Ram One of APNU+AFC’s financial advisors, Jaipaul Sharma, had said, “The gold package is the first-class tax concessions that Government grants through the Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh to its family and best friends. “The silver package is for party members and the bronze package represents the tax concessions that are given to its supporters.” Sharma, an accountant, had also stated that he is disgusted at the manner in which Government discriminates when it comes to investments. Ram, in sharing his views on the matter had said that should the APNU+AFC assume office, it would be wise for it to look at a few things relating to tax concessions. Ram said that the discretion given to the Finance Minister to be the final check point for the approval of concessions needs to be reviewed.
He had said that the secretive manner in which tax concessions are treated needs to be rejected immediately. The new government should deal with it in an open manner, forthwith. “The decisions to grant tax concessions should not be left to the Finance Minister alone. We should have some strict rules regarding concessions and tax holidays and those should be incorporated into the law. “The regulations need to provide for a strict review process and failure from certain companies to meet the relevant terms and conditions attached to the tax breaks should lead to automatic suspension and or revocation of the tax concessions granted to them by the Ministry of Finance,” Ram added. According to the Fiscal Incentives Institutional Framework for Investment, incentives are supposed to be granted in such a manner that
they foster and promote a suitable investment climate for both local and foreign investors. The document says that Government’s commitment to investment is also set out in the Investment Act (No. 1 of 2004), which was crafted – “…to stimulate the socio economic development of Guyana, and to attract and facilitate investment.” APNU Executive Member, Carl Greenidge had argued that tax concessions are supposed to be granted in a transparent manner and one that promotes the adherence to international best practices regarding investment. He stressed that based on how government operates, as
Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram is evident in the case with its recent “Dax Deal”; favouritism plays out when giving out tax breaks and holidays to entrepreneurs. He said that this inevitably leads to unfair competition in the market place as well as the death of certain companies which did not receive similar tax breaks.
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CJ quashes GGMC’s $3B Ramroop provides telecoms... loan to Housing Ministry Says agreement null and void The Chief Justice (ag.) Ian Chang in a written decision handed down yesterday afternoon, ruled that the decision by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to make a loan of three billion dollars from its funds and resources to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) was “both irrational and ultra vires.” The action brought by WPA Member of Parliament Desmond Trotman arose out of a joint statement by the GGMC and the CHPA of a $3B loan agreement. The deal was further exposed by Mr. Ranwell Jordan, a member of the CHPA. Trotman and Jordan filed the court action to challenge the purported approval of a loan of $3B by the GGMC to the CH&PA. The action against the two state controlled entities sought to quash the agreement for the loan which the plaintiffs argued were fictitious and unlawful. GGMC and the CHPA had signed a Loan Agreement
following the submission of an “Investment Proposal by the CHPA last January. According to the Statement, the money was to be used for the development of the housing sector. GGMC had touted a five percent interest rate being offered by CH&PA, which according to the GGMC, was 3.2 percent more than what was currently being earned via the commercial banks and other investment options available to the Commission. The parties involved had articulated that in the event that CH&PA fails to repay the entire amount by the deadline, the Commission has the right to increase the interest rate by seven percent. The body said that the agreement was subject to the terms and conditions enshrined in the Loan Agreement and any additional guarantees required by the Commission. However, according to the actions filed last April, the plaintiffs are arguing that should the $3B Loan Agreement between the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) materialize, it would represent the crudest form of financial lawlessness. Based on the grounds listed in the action, the Chief Justice, (CJ) had instructed that GGMC and CH&PA must prove to the court why a Writ
Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang of Certiorari should not be granted to prevent GGMC from going ahead with its decision to lend the monies to the Housing authority. Chang had also instructed that the Housing Authority should justify why a Writ of Prohibition should not be dispensed to ensure that the mining commission is inhibited from making any further move on the loan on the premise that it is in breach of the law. The judge subsequently made absolute the Orders of Certiorari and Prohibition he granted based on an application by Trotman’s attorneys-at-law Christopher Ram and Brendon Glasford. In his decision yesterday, the Chief Justice ruled that the GGMC agreement is therefore “null and void”. He further noted that while the GGMC has the discretionary powers to make loans, the power does not extend for the purpose of the development of the housing sector. Ram, in a statement on the ruling, noted that the decision by the High Court not only vindicates Trotman and other commentators about the lawlessness involved in this tainted transaction but exposes the entire Cabinet and others in an elaborate scheme to siphon off money from the GGMC to GuySuCo using the CHPA as a front. He further stated that essentially it was conceded by the CHPA that it had no authority to enter directly in any Loan Agreement to borrow any money
From page 16 networks that the group is responsible for. iNet is one of four companies named by Jagdeo in draft telecoms liberalization legislations to receive telecoms licences when new liberalization laws are pass. It will allow Ramroop to compete with the current two licensed providers, Digicel and GT&T. The other companies, which Ramroop and Jagdeo have links to, and which are set to also be licenced include E-Networks and Quark Communications. The Opposition has been questioning Government about lucrative concessions and the promised licences which all spoke of a massive
scheme by Jagdeo and close friends of the administration to gain control of the very lucrative telecoms sector which not only offers internet connectivity, but the possibilities of radios, cable television, mobile and other telephone services. The telecoms (ICT) industry is one of the most lucrative in the world with most countries placing a premium price on it. Some countries like Jamaica and even India are auctioning their airwaves. Officials have been sacked for mismanagement and manipulating contracts in favor of particular companies. Two weeks ago, Government announced that it signed a deal with Faisal 'Dax'
Mohamed of Dax Contracting Services to repair the Brazil fibre optic cable which was supposed to bring internet to link state agencies and provide internet access for 90,000 families that were part of a programme to receive laptops. Dax Contracting, according to the agreement that has been made public, now has control of the US$100M-plus network that runs Lethem to Georgetown and stretches from Anna Regina to Moleson Creek. It is believed that the Dax deal is really to allow Ramroop and few others control over Telecoms sector, a scam that was unearthed and made public by Kaieteur News two years ago.
Observer Group cannot supervise... (From page 41) its coverage is “all encompassing”. Meanwhile, as crunch time draws nearer, teams will be deployed across Guyana to observe the election environment and preparations for Election Day, Wilkinson said. She explained that on Election Day, teams will observe a number of procedures including the opening and closing of the polls, the polling itself, the counting of votes and finally
the transmission of the results. Furthermore, an interim statement of key findings will be released shortly after the elections before a final report is prepared. The final report will be an assessment to be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General before it is transmitted to GECOM, the Government, local political parties and finally all Commonwealth governments. The report will eventually become publicly avail-
able. “We look forward to a high turnout on election-day and the conduct of peaceful elections,” Wilkinson said. She went on, “We encourage political parties to take a constructive approach to campaigning in these remaining days before the election. We also strongly urge the parties to respond to the officially declared results in a responsible manner.” The group is expected to depart Guyana on May 17.
Witnesses recall gun fire exchange... From page 59 suspects, whose name he later learnt to be Romel Bollers, discharged a round in their direction as he tried to run away. Constable Roopnarine said that Wallace did not hesitate in returning fire and he shot Bollers. The policeman said that at this time, he dropped to the ground to take cover but he heard two more gunshots. Roopnarine told the court that he had no idea where the shots came from and who fired them. He recalled seeing one of the suspects collapse to the ground; he was later taken to the hospital. Officer Roopnarine related that he later learnt the name of the person to be the deceased, Shaquille Grant. The witness noted that Romel Bollers was also injured during the exchange of gun fire. However, Bollers who was
touted as an eyewitness from the beginning of the matter, gave the court a different side of the occurrence. Bollers is currently serving a prison sentence. Since the shooting, he has since been convicted of robbery twice. While providing the court with a portion of evidence, Bollers told the court that the entire incident and his subsequent arrests are as a result of victimization by the police. He recalled that on the day Grant was shot and killed, he received a phone call from his friend, Troy Greenidge. The witness said that Greenidge requested a meeting with him and subsequently met with him in a yard at Caesar Street. Bollers said that while talking to his friends in the yard, Shaquille Grant stopped by. He recalled that “not even a good 10 minutes” had gone by before the police turned up. Bollers told the court that the officers instructed them to lie on the ground. He said
that he did as he was told but asked the policeman if he could have taken his cell phone from his pocket. The witness said that as he reached his hand into his pocket for his cell phone, the police hit him in the face with the gun before discharging a round which hit him behind his head. Bollers said that at that time he heard Shaquille Grant yell “aw officer I get shoot.” He recalled hearing two other shots at which point he felt like fainting. Bollers said that he subsequently identified the shooter to be Officer Wallace. But his evidence was taken to task by Defense Attorney, Sonia Parag. Parag questioned whether Bollers had told the court the truth about what transpired between himself and the police on the day Grant was shot and killed. She suggested to the witness that he in fact exchanged fire with the police officers and was subsequently shot but the witness maintained that he was unarmed and the subject of victimization. Under cross examination by the attorney, Bollers appeared unsettled; and did not provide responses to the questions directed to him. He repeatedly, however stated that Wallace was responsible for the shooting.
Friday May 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
Caribbean needs new development vision, says Barbados opposition leader MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Barbados opposition leader, Mia Mottley, has asserted that “the Caribbean needs a new development vision” that will guide export growth and economic enrichment. “We have gone through all kinds of experiments over the last 50 years (spanning) industrialization, import substitution, opportunities that balance the desire to bring people out of poverty but constrained by old structures of production and in more recent times the new neo-liberal vision that has rendered us susceptible to the dilution of local vision and empowerment enfranchisement through foreign capital and foreign investment being the primary mechanism through which production is obtained in our countries,” said the outspoken politician. Addressing the recently held 3rd CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum hosted by the Caribbean Export Development Agency in collaboration with the ACP Business Climate facility (BizClim), Mottley conceded that there had been gains from the perspective of lifting some people out of poverty and in the modernization of some
aspects of society. “But the rate at which the gains are coming and the risk of pauperization for too many of our people who have made it is real and it therefore causes us to ‘take fresh guard again’,” she declared. Endorsing views expressed by former Jamaican prime minister and regional negotiator, P.J. Patterson, Mottley said the risk of fragmentation of the region was real, coupled with the threat of people becoming insular and myopic “and neither of them will bring success to us in the region and we have to recognize that however it may appear to be expedient to focus on national affairs is in fact a recipe towards undermining not just national entities but as a regional collectively.” Underscoring that people had to be at the centre of the development process, Mottley declared that the sectors that will carry the region to the next level of development were all based on human capital with each citizen being capable of achieving the most they can through education, exploitation of opportunity and their rich and creative capital. She said governments
and businesses needed to ensure that their actions support and coincide so that people in the region have the opportunity to be the best they can be — “to become global citizens anchored by strong regional traditions and values.” The former Barbadian deputy prime minister said initiatives designed to create wealth and allow for the transformation of the people of the region had not succeeded, “and it is ironic that the very solution towards achieving that wealth comes not simply from the importation of foreign investment… Not from accessing aid but comes from us putting policies and programmes in place to allow our very citizens to be engines of the wealth that we want to create for sustainable growth in the region.” She told the Caribbean business leaders who are looking at ways to boost export to recognize that “the world is not going to wait on us.” “Too many countries are capable of leapfrogging the Caribbean region because technology has made geography and distance completely irrelevant in a way it was not 40 to 50 years ago,” she said.
LIAT begins process to cut staff ST JOHN’S, Antigua Regional carrier LIAT is offering employees voluntary separation and early retirement packages as it moves to cut staff numbers. The offer to full-time, permanent employees who have no disciplinary action pending against them and have been employed for more than six years, comes less than three months after shareholder governments agreed on a plan to send home 180 workers. The Antigua-based carrier said downsizing was the only way to ensure its survival. “We must remove the costs that we were carrying as a larger entity. The company wishes to avoid having to impose compulsory redundancies in order to achieve this,” stated the offer document signed by Director of Human Resources Ilean Ramsey. However, LIAT said if it did not have enough workers opting for either voluntary separation or early retirement, it would have to go the route of redundancy. Interested employees have until 4 p.m. on May 19 to submit their applications. According to the Antigua
Ilean Ramsey Observer, veteran trade unionist Stafford Joseph has advised LIAT workers interested in parting ways with the company to negotiate for more benefits than stipulated under the Labour Code. “Things are hard now and work is hard to get,” he told the newspaper, contending that workers could “easily negotiate a six month or year’s salary” in addition to what is legally owed to them. Following meetings on February 14 at the Hilton Barbados, attended by Barbados’ Prime Minister Freundel
Stuart, St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Dominica’s Roosevelt Skerrit and Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Public Utilities, Civil Aviation and Transportation Robin Yearwood, as well as LIAT officials, a plan to return LIAT to profitability was outlined. It involved reducing staff numbers and shifting LIAT’s fleet base to Barbados, both of which have subsequently been resisted by Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
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Cameron on track to return to power as PM - exit poll Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives are on track to govern Britain for another five years even though they are likely to fall just short of an outright majority at Thursday’s election, an exit poll showed. The poll gave the Conservatives 316 of 650 seats in the lower house of parliament and the main opposition Labour Party 239. If accurate, that would be one of centre-left Labour’s worst ever results. Conservative government
minister Michael Gove said that if the exit poll proved correct “the Conservatives have clearly won this election”. Such a result means Britain is likely to face a historic in-out European Union membership referendum in the next two years and that billions of pounds will be cut from government spending to eliminate the budget deficit in the world’s fifth largest economy. Sterling jumped to a oneweek high after the poll. The pound jumped nearly 2 U.S.
cents to $1.5430 in early Australasian trade, hitting its strongest since April 30. UK election exit polls have a good track record but the large number of parties competing this time has raised the potential for error. It will be well into Friday before final results are announced. The poll, conducted for Britain’s national broadcasters, suggests Cameron will have multiple options to form a government, perhaps with
the support of either the Liberal Democrats, his current coalition partners, or Northern Irish unionists or both. He could also try and go it alone. STUNNING SCOTTISH FORECAST The same poll said the Scottish National Party (SNP) would win 58 of Scotland’s 59 seats, all but wiping Labour out in its former stronghold. Opponents fear the SNP is preparing to use an em-
phatic win to renew its push for an independence referendum even though it lost such a plebiscite only last year. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said the exit poll’s prediction should be treated with huge caution. But even if the final tally is a little lower it would still be the nationalists’ best result in a UK-wide election by a huge margin. The centrist Liberal Democrats, who have governed in coalition with the Conservatives for the past five years, will finish with just 10 seats, the exit poll said. If confirmed, that would represent a disaster for leader and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg. The UK Independence Party, which wants an immediate British withdrawal from the EU and enjoyed a poll surge last year, was on track to get just two seats. A separate poll of Britons who had already voted by YouGov extrapolated a more even result however, putting the Conservatives on 284 seats and Labour on 263, the Liberal Democrats on 31 and the Scottish Nationalists on 48. Before the election, opinion polls had shown the Conservatives and Labour neckand-neck, leaving that industry facing a potential inquest.
If the main exit poll is accurate, Cameron’s position as Conservative leader, which had been looking shaky before the election, would be secure. By exceeding expectations he could expect to quell dissent within his party. Conversely, the result would be a crushing defeat for Labour and Ed Miliband, its leader. Even if the centre-left party got together with the left-leaning Scottish nationalists and the Greens the exit poll suggested it would still be well short of the 326 seats needed for a majority in parliament. Miliband, who was widely perceived to have performed better in the campaign than expected, would be likely to come under pressure to step down as leader. The country’s mostly right-wing press has long criticised him for being socially-awkward and presiding over what it has described as a dangerous lurch to the left. Cameron has pledged to eliminate Britain’s budget deficit, now running at 5 percent of gross domestic product, by 2018/19, including through cuts to welfare spending of 12 billion pounds.
Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha leave a polling station after voting in Spelsbury, central England (REUTERS/EDDIE KEOGH)
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Khan open to September Williams, Sharapova heading Mayweather bout for Madrid showdown London (AFP) - Britain’s Amir Khan has declared that his observance of the Muslim festival of Ramadan would not prevent him from fighting Floyd Mayweather in September. After preserving his unbeaten record with a points victory over Manny Pacquiao in their long-awaited megafight last weekend, Mayweather said that his final bout will take place in Las Vegas in September. Ramadan, during which Muslims are obliged to fast, is due to end on July 17 this year and Khan believes that would give him enough time to fully prepare for an encounter with the American pound-for-pound master. ”I’m not ruling out fighting in September because it’s
this year, which helps. It gives me enough time to get the training done. So it can happen in September.” Both Khan and Algieri are former light-welterweight world champions and the 28year-old Briton, who has a 333 record, says it would be wrong to look beyond the former kickboxer (20-1). ”I need to win this fight if I’m to get near any of the big names in boxing,” Khan said. “It’s time to fight Chris Algieri. I’m not going to be fighting Mayweather until I win this fight. “Winning this fight is everything to me. I’m not looking past Chris because I’ve made that mistake in the past. There are bigger fights out there for me, but this is my focus.”
Amir Khan. (AFP Photo/A Majeed) possible that it could happen,” Khan told journalists during a conference call to promote his May 29 fight against Chris Algieri in New York. ”Mayweather only fights in mid-September and Ramadan will be a little earlier
Friday May 08, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You feel especially sexy right now. A powerful feeling of love and a need to physically express it could be with you all day.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Communication between you and those you love is likely to be heightened, Libra, as you learn to speak your mind while not being too blunt.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Close relationships could lead to a feeling of spiritual unity today. In fact, Taurus, you might feel as if those who share your interests are actually your family now.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you will experience the full force of their feelings. The doors of communication are open for you. You could decide to spend the day getting to know your friends all over again.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Love, sex, and romance are on your mind today, Gemini, so you will want to spend as much time as possible with your lover. You could also grow closer to your friends, resulting in a powerful feeling of unity. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You're likely to feel extremely warm and loving toward most of the people you know, and they should reciprocate that feeling. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Relations with family or other members of your household should be especially warm now. Mutual goals and shared wins and losses are likely to bring you closer. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) The bonds in your relationships will be strengthened, perpetuating the good feelings you've felt all year. Current bonds grow more devoted, while new ones become close.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You're always one to face things logically, Sagittarius, and today you turn that l o g i c , along with your intuition, toward reassessing some of your values. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You're likely to feel especially friendly and outgoing today, Capricorn. People you meet, particularly through groups, are likely to be strongly attracted to you. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You should be in a warm and romantic mood today, Aquarius. You will want to schedule an intimate evening with your partner, but you probably won't feel like staying in. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) The mutual exploration of spiritual and intellectual ideas could bring you closer to friends and lovers. Fascinating discussions open new horizons to all participants.
Maria Sharapova Reuters - Top seed Serena Williams and defending champion Maria Sharapova remained on course for a heavyweight Madrid Open final showdown with contrasting victories in the last eight of the clay premier event yesterday. Williams, who triumphed in the Spanish capital in 2012 and 2013, when she beat Sharapova in the final, swept past local favourite Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-1, 6-3. Sharapova earlier had to recover from dropping the second set and going a break down in the third to beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-1, 3-6, 63. Suarez Navarro, who had never beaten the American world number one in five previous meetings, was powerless to prevent a fired-up Williams securing a last-four clash against Czech fourth seed Petra Kvitova, the 2011 champion, or unseeded Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu, who played their quarter-final later yesterday. Williams, who saved three match points in Wednesday’s victory over Victoria Azarenka, is looking to hone her claycourt game before making a bid for a third French Open crown in Paris starting at the end of this month. She won a sixth Australian Open title at the start of the year, her 19th grand slam singles title. “I think Maria is playing well,” Williams told a
news conference. “I saw her play today ... she really picked up her level and her game.”I don’t know, right now I think she’s probably a big favorite to win this. Yeah, she’s playing great.” Dane Wozniacki, a Madrid finalist in 2009 and like Sharapova a former world number one, had her service broken five times by the statuesque Russian, who is chasing a 35th career title. Sharapova called on her coach for advice after losing her serve at the start of the third set and said it had been
Serena Williams a turning point. ”I had a good start but my level obviously dropped and I became much more inconsistent and passive,” she told a news conference. “So I think that a little bit of a switch (helped) and just (being) a little bit more aggressive and going a little bit for my shots, moving forward,” she added. ”It was more of a mental change as well. Just looking for the next shot and creating a few extra steps in my footwork.” Sharapova will return to number two in the world if she reaches the final.
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Kaieteur News
Friday May 08, 2015
Plaisance Guardians blow out UG Trojans -Ravens win against West Side Jammers By Edison Jefford Plaisance Guardians blew out the University of Guyana Trojans Wednesday night in the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) ‘King of the Hard Court’ Championship with Nikkoloi Smith dumping in 34 points for the East Coast-based team. Guardians dismissed the University 85-57 with seven players, among them three veterans, Enoch Mathews, Kwame Fox and Mark Richards. But it was the rising stars that shone with Smith, and Ron Campbell, who scored 17 points, leading the way. The University of Guyana (UG) team was loaded with former junior national players and future senior national prospects. Emmanuel Archibald led with 20 points while Quincy Easton chipped in with 12 points for the leading tertiary institution.
The game started with a competitive first quarter that ended 19-18 in favour of UG, which had an obviously tired Akeem Kanhai on the sidelines looking on following his return to Guyana from a rigorous Suriname tour with the national team last weekend. It was the closest UG got in the game as the East Coastbased team outscored them 21-8 to take a commanding 3927 lead at half time. Guardians’ dominance continued as the University, despite its youthful prowess, struggled to convert on possession. They were once again outscored massively in the third period and further went down 36-58 as a result. Guardians coasted to the win with Smith showing off his insideout game with easy drives to the basket and three-point jumpers when the lane became clogged. It was too much of an easy win for the benchless Guardians. In the second game,
Dynas Ravens crawled to a 64-45 win against West Side Warriors in another Division I contest. Marlon Rodrigues scored 20 points while Ryan Gullen, Dominic Vicente and Tyrone Hamid supported with eighth points each for Ravens. Ralph Browne had 17 points while Devon Murray and Caleb Morrison scored 12 and six points respectively for the West Demerara-based Jammers that opened its campaign against one of the more formidable teams in Georgetown with a 12-12 first period stalemate. Vicente dropped a threepointer early in the second quarter before contributions from Rodrigues and Gullen helped Ravens seize control of the first half with a 35-22 points’ lead at halftime. The last two quarters was more of the same for Georgetownbased Ravens. They continued to press on the offensive gas in the
NPG Packaging First Div. B’ball
Black Sharks destroy Hardliners
Fyrish Black Sharks and Ithica Hardliners doing battle. Fyrish Black Sharks was in dismissive mood when they demolished home team Ithica Hardliners 78-43 at the Ithica Basketball Court, West Bank Berbice in the latest match of the ongoing NPG Packaging First division Basketball competition. The Black Sharks was on target from the start as they made steady raids on Hardliners softening them up
in the process. By the end of the first quarter, Black Sharks was runaway leaders 24-07. There was more pummeling in the second stanza as Black Sharks swam away to a 38-15 advantage. By the third quarter Black Sharks were well ahead 58-27. The final quarter saw Black Sharks pulling further away to wrap up a huge win, 78-43. The winner was led by Lin-
den Joseph with the game high 24 points, Dessie Douglas 14 and Saydron Fortune 08. Leading the resistance for the Ithica Hardliners were Kester Sinclair 13 and Kevin Perry 10. The seven-team competition will continue on Sunday when Canje Knights oppose Hopetown Stealers at the same venue. (Samuel Whyte)
Boxing fraternity floored by death’s... (From page 72) pugilist in Lewis. The officials of the GBBC is in mourning and in a recent press release have expressed profound condolences to the families, friends and all affected by the death of these two stal-
warts. “This is a double whammy and a great loss to the boxing community,” said Arno. ” On behalf of the President and executives of the GBBC I’d like to extend deepest condolences to the family and friend of both stal-
warts, Lewis and Henry. Boxing s much poorer without them,” asserted Arno. Kaieteur Sport shares this moment of grief with the boxing fraternity and all affected by these sad losses even as we express similar sentiments.
CLEAR THE PAINT! Guardians forward, Mark Richards elevates between three UG defenders in the paint for a right-handed floater Wednesday night on Burnham Basketball Court. third quarter, albeit not with its usual finesse. Leading 44-34 heading into the last period, Ravens scored 20 points in the final period while the Warriors was
reduced to merely nine points. The game was over. The tournament continues tonight with Melanie Patriots taking on Knights in an Under-23 game from 6pm then
Plaisance Guardians will play Buxton in another U-23 game, before Trinity Grid Holdings Pacesetters come up against Eagles in the Division I competition.
Yusuf, Chawla star in comfortable KKR win A vital cameo from Yusuf Pathan followed by a lastover onslaught from Johan Botha helped Kolkata Knight Riders post a challenging total on a slow pitch in Kolkata. Their bowlers, led by Piyush Chawla who took a fourwicket haul, kept them one step ahead of Delhi Daredevils to pull off their sixth win in 11 games. Daredevils, on eight points, were left needing to win their remaining three games to have any chance of making it to playoffs. Trusting the pitch to play the way it eventually did, Knight Riders had included four spinners in their attack, including Sunil Narine. Batting remained difficult through the match, with none of the batsmen being able to make a half-century. That Knight Riders were able to score 171 despite anyone scoring big underscored the importance of partnerships, and impactful innings. Yusuf’s was one such, but there were others, too. Even though Knight Riders had lost Gautam Gambhir in the fifth over, the batsman edging an outswinger from Zaheer Khan to the wicketkeeper, it had been a good Powerplay as 50 runs were collected. Robin Uthappa had picked up a couple of boundaries through outside edges and had been dropped once by Yuvraj Singh, but had also found timing to score 29 of those runs.
The arrival of spin, though, slowed things down. Amit Mishra bowled three dots at Uthappa in a tight seventh over that cost him just one run. After three more dots at the batsman in his next, he forced a mistake, Uthappa playing across the line and being trapped lbw. At that stage, Mishra’s figures read 2-0-2-1. Knight Riders sent Piyush Chawla up the order to arrest the slide of momentum, but the move turned counter-productive as the batsman struggled to middle the ball. He did hit a four and a six but his 19-ball 22 spanned a period of 5.5 overs starting from the 10th that saw Daredevils rein in the innings. Manish Pandey perished during that phase, chopping on and giving Yuvraj his first wicket this season. Still, Knight Riders, on 109 for 4 with five over to go and with a battery of spinners in their line-up, looked set for a challenging total. Contrary to his first spell, Mishra’s second announced a swing towards the home team. Bowling the 16th, Mishra was taken for 10 runs that included a six over long-off by Yusuf. The next over, bowled by Tahir, saw Andre Russell hole out in the deep but also cost Daredevils 16 runs. Pathan continued a measured onslaught on the two spinners and helped Knight Riders cross 150 in the penultimate over before falling for 42, his
Piyush Chawla best score this IPL. Botha, with four consecutive boundaries off Zaheer in the last over, provided the perfect finish. Daredevils’ chase started with a solid opening stand of 63 between the impressive Shreyas Iyer, who scored 40, and his new partner, Manoj Tiwary. But as the two repeatedly struggled for timing, it was clear the following batsmen were going to find it tough. Tiwary succumbed first, to Chawla in the 10th over, after a 28-ball 25. Iyer followed in the next. Then once Chawla removed Kedhar Jadhav and Yuvraj in the 14th over, the writing was on the wall. Kolkata Knight Riders 171 for 6 (Yusuf 42, Tahir 246) beat Delhi Daredevils 158 for 6 (Iyer 40, Chawla 4-32) by 13 runs. (ESPNcricinfo)