Monday May 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news...Letters... Where your views make the news
An example of US eyepass for Guyanese
DEAR EDITOR, I looked at the television coverage of the function hosted by the US Ambassador at his residence in observance of World Press Freedom Day. I have observed the presence of two of Guyana’s most controversial figures at that function, Mr. C.N. Sharma and Mr. Mark Benschop. It is public knowledge that Mr. C.N. Sharma has been
charged for allegedly sexually assaulting female minors and has been committed to stand trial in the High Court. It is also public knowledge that Mr. Benschop was charged with the capital offence of Treason and was committed to stand trial in the High Court by a magistrate. The questions many are forced to ask, therefore, are what were persons with such track records doing at such a
function? Who invited them? Did the Ambassador’s principals in the US knew and approve the invitation of these characters? Every decent and proud Guyanese would like these questions answered by the Ambassador. Would the US Government be indifferent to a similar act by a foreign mission in the US? Faruk Mohamed
It is important that the truth be told DEAR EDITOR, The Walter Rodney Inquiry currently underway has brought back memories which some people would prefer buried in the sands of time. For the vast majority of Guyanese, it brings back memories of a period in our history when there were institutionalized fear and repression. It took men and women of courage and strength of character to stand up against the dictatorship which obtained at that time. The spotlight of the Inquiry is on the late Walter Rodney but it must not be forgotten that there were many others outside of the WPA who were also victims during that dreaded reign of terror which once pervaded the land. There was for example the killings of the two ballot box martyrs in the Corentyne and the imprisonment of Arnold Rampersaud, who spent years behind bars on trumped-up charges. It took the collective efforts and condemnation by a wide cross section of the Guyanese people, which included bauxite and sugar workers, and a battery of legal minds drawn from the Guyana
and the Caribbean before he was eventually set free. And who could forget the knifing to death of Jesuit Priest Father Darke yards away from the Brickdam Police Station by members of the notorious House of Israel cult which at the time enjoyed close contacts with the PNC regime. Interestingly, surviving members of that cult reportedly refused to appear before the Commission out of fear of saying the ‘wrong’ things. I have vivid recollections of those days when public meetings by the PPP and the WPA were broken up by PNC and House of Israel thugs in full view of members of the disciplined forces. Many were the times when public meetings had to end prematurely and speakers forced to flee out of fear for their safety against thug elements associated with the PNC. The killing of Walter Rodney was to a certain extent a culmination of a series of atrocities committed against those who dared to speak out against dictatorial and authoritarian rule. There are so many people from the opposition political parties who have their own
stories to tell of harassment, intimidation, incarceration and threats to their life that could make volumes of published writings if they were to be told. Many will remain untold and many others literally gone to the graves but together they constituted a narrative of pain and sufferings inflicted on men and women of honour and worth. There are stories of persons who were demoted, lost jobs, transferred to interior locations and summary dismissals all because they dared to stand up for their rights and for justice and human dignity. These are the unsung heroes and heroines who by their courage and resolute stance helped to bring an end to dictatorial rule and a new political dispensation and culture. President Donald Ramotar must be commended for the decision he took to set up the Commission aimed at going after the truth surrounding the death of Dr. Rodney. It is important that the truth be told for in the final analysis it is the truth that shall set us free. Hydar Ally
FIFA Is No MAFIA...
From page 4 involvement be construed as government interference? Isn’t this or could it not be a blatant offense and clear breach of FIFA statutes, which may lead to sanctions prescribed under article 14 of FIFA statutes? Editor, the point is simple, football like other professional sports all over the world is a private enterprise. The stakeholders of the game ought to be left to organize and operate as they so wish, with the government providing and enabling environment.
There is no need for government or its representative to politicize or be intimately involved in governing any sport body especially the world most loved sport, football. Their role should be to provide potent advice which may or may not be accepted, along with resources and facilities to aid the development of its people
and the game. For our edification, change has come to Guyana’s football, thanks to Matthias and his conscious support. Some fail to realize that slow progress is progress and that the obstacles to faster progress, is the behind the scenes undermining and scheming of the past and some present actors. Jermaine Figueira
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Kaieteur News
Monday May 12, 2014
Amaila Falls Access road misses another deadline …Engineer says he is not authorized to speak By Gary Eleazar The Amaila Falls Access Road has missed yet another completion deadline and efforts to garner any details from the officials proved futile. Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn, during his presentation during the 2014 Budget Debates had announced that the road would be completed at the end of last month. This did not occur. Contacted earlier this week, the Minister confirmed that there has been a delay due mainly to rains but he indicated that he would have to get the necessary information from the Chief Engineer Walter Willis. Efforts to contact the Minister since have been fruitless as he has not been taking any calls on his mobile numbers, and calls to his office are met with a response that he is not in office. Willis when contacted by this publication said he has not been authorized by the Minister to make any pronouncements as it relates to the road. The delay in the completion of the road is also compounded by the fact that the final cost of the construction of the Amaila Falls Access Road is still to be had. Government is yet to finalise and allocate contracts for two key crossings, the Kuribrong and Butakari. It is expected that the Butakari crossing would be via pontoon while the design for a bridge across the Kuribrong River has been completed. Furthermore, the initial US$15.4M contract issued to Makeshwar ‘Fip’ Motilall, which was inked in 2010 based on specifications
Senior Govt. Engineer Walter Willis provided by Sithe Global, was increased by US$1.9M. This revelation was made by the Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh to his shadow counterpart in the National Assembly, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Carl Greenidge. Greenidge had tabled a formal question to the Minister in the House in which he queried the cost of the amendment of the specifications of the Amaila Road contract, undertaken after the termination of the contract with Synergy Holdings Inc. The Finance Minister in his response said that during the course of construction in 2012, the scope was revised after taking account of third party inspections of the terrain, environmental consideration, maintenance requirements and the detailed negotiation ongoing with China Railway First Group. This publication understands that the width of the road had to be increased from five to seven meters and the embankment had to be raised accordingly. “The cost of the amendment of the
A completed section of the Amaila Falls Access Road at one of the many crossings specifications of the Amaila Falls Access Road Contract amounted to US$1.9M, taking the contract sum of Synergy Holdings Inc. to US$17.3M.” Motilall was paid US$5.8M before his contract was terminated. The current costs include both changes in specifications and other changes in costs since 2010. This would mean that US$29.6M would have been spent thus far on the project and this figure will increase further when the cost of the two river crossings is determined and contracts executed. According to the Finance Minister, on March 18, 2010, a contract agreement for the construction of the Amaila Falls Access Road and Transmission Line Clearing was entered into between Synergy Holdings Inc. and the Government of Guyana, represented by the Ministry of Public Works and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). The specifications for the building of the road were provided by Sithe Global and reviewed by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NIICIL) and the Ministry of Public Works. The Finance Minister explained that given that the contract was jointly executed by both NICIL and the Ministry of Public Works, the tender documents were jointly reviewed by the two contract parties in consultation with Sithe Global. The Finance Minister said that the tenders received were reviewed by a three-person evaluation team comprising Walter Willis, Leon Goring, and Gordon Gilkes, and the evaluation report was submitted ultimately to
Cabinet for its no-objection. The road project is being undertaken in a number of segments, with the Ministry of Public Works assuming responsibility for ‘Section Two.’ That section runs along the Mabura Road to the Essequibo River and has a contract price of $336,094,861. Section Three was allocated to Toolsie Persaud Quarries Inc. for $373.3M. That section of the Amaila Falls road stretches from Butukari to the Kaburi Village bypass. The same company has also been awarded a contract
for Section Four of the road for $246M. Section Four runs between from the Kaburi/ Omai junction to the Issano bypass. Ivor Allen was awarded the $182.3M contract for Section Five of the road that runs from the Issano junction to Craig Road. Section Six of the road was awarded to G. Bovell Construction Services for $281.7M, but had to be terminated. It was subsequently granted in two lots, with the first from Issano Junction to Sorrow Hill being allocated to Ivor Allen for $145M.
The second lot of Section Six was awarded to Dwarka Nauth for $45M. Hassan N Pasha General Building and Civil Contractor was handed the last and reportedly the most difficult section of the road, ‘Section Seven’ with a contract price of $838M. That contract was terminated in April 2012 after only 15 per cent of the work was completed. Pasha received almost $315M. The contract was subsequently handed to China Railway First Group (Guyana) Inc. for $1.7B (US$8.5M).
After five years...
Govt. fails to honour promises to improve accountability The Alliance For Change (AFC) has emphatically stated that it is dissatisfied with the government’s behavior as it relates to following through on its promises to improve financial systems and accountability which were outlined in its last Treasury Memorandum in 2009. This was stated by Trevor Williams, AFC’s Member of Parliament who sits on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The Treasury Memorandum details Government’s comments on, and actions that Government has taken or intends to undertake in response to the report of the Public Accounts Committee. The report of the Public Accounts Committee would be done after they would have scrutinized the report of the Auditor General, which speaks on how Ministries and agencies have used funds allocated to them. In the last Treasury
Memorandum 2009, the Ministry of Finance said that it continues to recognize that many of the issues raised by the Auditor General in his reports, as well as the concerns highlighted in the reports of the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly, will continue to be reduced through the use of prudent financial management policies, improved information technology, and closer monitoring of the activities within the agencies through the conduct of frequent inspections and the conduct of ongoing training programmes. Additionally, in support of this modernization process, Government introduced the Integrated Financial Management and Accountability System (IFMAS), which assisted in further transforming the financial management architecture of the Public
AFC Member of Parliament, Trevor Williams Sector, but more specifically the Central Government Agencies, as it facilitated the introduction and utilization of a single bank account for all Central Government transactions, as well as the automation of financial systems. The government in the (Continued on page 17)
Monday May 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Rebels talk of splitting Ukraine as East votes on self-rule M A R I U P O L / SLAVIANSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - Pro-Moscow rebels expressed confidence that eastern Ukraine had chosen self-rule in a referendum yesterday, with some saying that meant independence and others eventual union with Russia as fighting flared in a conflict increasingly out of control. Well before polls closed, one separatist leader said the region would form its own state bodies and military after the referendum, formalizing a split that began with the armed takeover of state buildings in a dozen eastern towns last month. Another said the vote would not change the region’s status but simply show that the East wanted to decide its own fate, whether in Ukraine, on its own or as part of Russia. A near festive atmosphere at makeshift polling stations in some areas belied the potentially grave implications of the event. In others, clashes broke out between separatists and troops, over ballot papers and control of a television tower. Zhenya Denyesh, a 20-
Ukrainians line up to cast their votes at a polling station in the Budennovskiy district, on the outskirts of Donetsk, Ukraine, yesterday. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo) year-old student voting early at a university building in the rebel stronghold of Slaviansk, said: “We all want to live in our own country”. But asked what he thought would follow, he replied: “It will still be war.” In the southeastern port of Mariupol, scene of fierce fighting last week, there were only eight polling centers for
a population of half a million. Queues grew to hundreds of meters in bright sunshine, with spirits high as one center overflowed and ballot boxes were brought onto the street. On the eastern outskirts, a little over an hour after polls opened, soldiers from Kiev seized what they said were falsified ballot papers, marked with Yes votes, and
France offers to host African security summit on Boko Haram BAKU (Reuters) - France has offered to host a summit with Nigeria and its neighbors focused on Islamist militant group Boko Haram, President Francois Hollande said yesterday. Global outrage over the Boko Haram’s abduction of 200 schoolgirls last month has focused attention on the group, which has destabilized large swathes of northeast Nigeria and its neighbors. “With Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, I have proposed to hold a meeting with the countries bordering Nigeria,” Hollande said during a visit to the Azeri capital of Baku. “If the countries agree, it should take place Saturday”
in Paris, Hollande added. His aides said that the leaders of Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger might attend. Britain, the European Union and the United States would likely be represented as well. France, Britain, the United States and other countries have said they were sending experts to help Nigeria track down and free the schoolgirls. Nigeria’s army has mobilized two divisions to hunt for the schoolgirls as Jonathan’s government has faced criticism for not responding more quickly to the abductions. A French priest was released in December after being kidnapped the previous month in northern Cameroon, a region where Boko Haram
Francois Hollande is known to operate. The group kidnapped a French family of seven on holiday in northern Cameroon in February 2013 and released them the following April.
detained two men. They refused to hand the men over to policemen who came to take them away, saying they did not trust them. Instead they waited for state security officers to interview and arrest them. On the edge of Slaviansk, fighting broke out around a television tower shortly before people began making their way through barricades of felled trees, tires and machinery for a vote the West says is being orchestrated by Moscow. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said one serviceman was wounded. A man was later reported killed in a clash in the eastern town of Krasnoarmeisk, Interfax-Ukraine news agency said, adding to a toll so far in the dozens but creeping higher by the day. Western leaders, faced with Russian assertiveness not seen since the Cold War, have threatened more sanctions in the key areas of energy, financial services and engineering if Moscow continues what they regard as efforts to destabilize Ukraine. The European Union declared the vote illegal on Sunday and may announce some modest measures as soon as Monday, limited by the bloc’s reluctance to upset
trade ties with Russia. Moscow denies any role in the fighting or any ambitions to absorb the mainly Russian-speaking east, an industrial hub, into the Russian Federation following its annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea after a referendum in March. But, in a sign it may have set its sights beyond Crimea, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said he had brought to Moscow a petition by residents of Moldova’s Russian-speaking breakaway region of Transdnestria backing union with Russia. Ukraine’s Interior Ministry called the eastern referendum a criminal farce, its ballot papers “soaked in blood”. One official said two thirds of the territory had not participated. Ballot papers in the referendum in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, which has declared itself a “People’s Republic”, were printed without security provision, voter registration was patchy and there was confusion over what the vote was for. n Slaviansk, selfproclaimed mayor Vyacheslav Ponomaryov said turnout was 80 percent and the result was not in doubt. Asked if he knew what would come next, the former businessman, who wore a Ralph Lauren polo shirt with a pistol in an underarm holster, said: “Of course we know. Work starts on the establishment ... of the Donetsk People’s Republic.” Engineer Sergei, 33, voting in the industrial center of Mariupol, said answering “Yes” to the question: “Do you support the act of state self-rule of the Donetsk People’s Republic?” meant leaving behind “that fascist, pro-American government (in Kiev), which brought no one any good”. But in the same queue of voters, 54-year-old Irina saw a “Yes” vote as endorsement of autonomy within Ukraine: “I’m not against a united Ukraine, but not under those people we did not choose, who seized power and are
going to ruin the country.” Others see the vote either as a nod to absorption by Russia or merely Russian aid. Shop assistant Katya Yutkalo, 28, rushing to vote in Slaviansk, said it would mean a better life. “I don’t know how exactly, but it means Russia will help us too.” Annexation is favored by the more prominent rebels, but the ambiguity may reflect their fears that an explicit call for full “independence” might not have garnered the support they seek and could leave them in an exposed position towards Kiev. The present Kiev government took power when president Viktor Yanokovich was toppled in February after mass protests. Pro-Western activists were angered by his decision to discard a cooperation accord with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Moscow. They also accused him of corruption penetrating all areas of the Ukrainian state.
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Kaieteur News
Former boxer’s battered body found at Ruimveldt A father of seven was yesterday morning found dead on the Ruimveldt main road opposite DiDCO in what is suspected to be a hit and run accident. However, the lack of evidence to support this theory has left the family of 48-year-old Trevor Colin Bumbury awaiting a post mortem examination to determine the cause of the man’s demise. Bumbury’s younger brother, Ozah Edwards told Kaieteur News last evening that he was preparing for work yesterday morning when he received a call from an aunt asking him to make his way to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Edwards said that when he arrived there, he was told that his brother had been in an accident and was in an unconscious state. However, when Edwards saw his brother’s body, the man was already dead. Edwards told this
Trevor Colin Bumbury publication that he only saw injuries to his brother’s head, and there was nothing else to indicate that he had been hit by a vehicle or that he was involved in an accident. Edwards explained that his brother had a single wound to the back of the head. “There was a hole at the back of his head where blood was coming out from. There was also a cut over his nose and his face was swollen as if he was lashed in the face.” Edwards said that in his opinion, his brother may have been attacked from behind by more than one person. He said his brother is a former boxer who was well built and could have “handled himself.” The
brother said however that he is unaware if anyone would have wanted to harm his older sibling. Bumbury’s oldest son, Trevor Junior Edwards said he last saw his father around 04:00am yesterday morning when he was awakened by him as he left for work at the Meadow Bank wharf where he operated a small shop. Young Edwards said his father was drinking with friends on Saturday evening and then went to bed before heading out to work. The youngster said that about 07:00am the following day, he received a call from his ex-girlfriend who asked if it was true that his father had died. After making checks, the 19-year-old said he confirmed the information and made his way to the Public Hospital but was unable to see his dad. Edwards said his father was an easygoing person and he too is unaware whether someone would have wanted to hurt him. He too is anxiously awaiting the post mortem results. Kaieteur News understands that Bumbury’s body was discovered by a police officer and he was taken to Georgetown Public Hospital.
Monday May 12, 2014
GuySuCo’s first quarter crop no reason to celebrate …target was set way below capacity despite billions invested - GTUC The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) says that there is nothing to celebrate as it relates to the recent Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) announcement that it has surpassed production target. According to GTUC, the target set by GuySuCo is way below the expected return for the investment of billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money in the form of loans and grants. “Surpassing a five-figure target when the industry has historically produced at sixfigure levels is the waving of a white flag that the industry is in distress and requires salvaging…The nation ought not be fooled by the publicly stunt aimed at hoodwinking the citizens/workers that the industry is turning around.” GTUC points out that when taking into consideration that the market availability allows GuySuCo to sell all the sugar it has the capacity to produce, the targets are set far below this, and this “is a reflection of management deficiencies.” According to the GTUC, “it exemplifies the failure to pull all the factors of production together which will cause the company to deliver at its optimum based on the existing market conditions.” The union body said that the failure of the government
to present a plan for the industry’s development- seeking to escape accountability when called upon to justify the $6B taxpayers’ bailout by turning it into a divisive political issue, may have influenced the National Assembly to shelve its responsibility to the nation and act in accord with government. “The Opposition must return to its watchdog/oversight role and keep its foot on the pedal to salvage the industry and protect the livelihood of those to be affected.” GTUC took note of public comments made by the Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Dr Rupert Roopnarine, regarding the expectation of the Substantive Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, in honouring his commitment to the National Assembly to produce a revised Strategic Turnaround plan by June. “GTUC cautions against this type of expectation given the government’s track record and ministerial history of the subject Minister.” The GTUC said that it must be recalled that it was during Dr Ramsammy’s stewardship as Minister of Health that the Ministry was racked with questionable execution of programmes and contracts, including overpricing, overstocking, wanton wastage, and single sourcing of pharmaceuticals. “The GTUC prefers to err on the side of caution and calls on the Opposition to develop a plan and present it to the National Assembly.” According to the GTUC, the current production level in the industry is incompatible with operational cost and must be of concern to all. “History reveals the industry’s ability of higher production targets and self-
Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy sufficiency in spite of the chall e n g e s encountered…Evidence also demonstrates the PPP does not have a Development Plan for the industry.” The GTUC said that GuySuCo carries fixed costs regardless of the volume of sugar produced and any production level that is achieved and heralded as successful must be consistent with prevailing factors. “Under the PPP administration, the management of sugar has not been to the benefit of the rank and file workers, the industry and the nation as a whole…Management is being driven by expediency of crude political motives, rewarding and enriching the livelihood of a few with political connections, with the rank and file workers being used as pawns in the process.” GTUC said that the Opposition, by their action in the National Assembly must demonstrate to this nation that they are capable of addressing the wellbeing of the industry and its labour force with the dexterity and commitment it deserves. “The failure to give leadership will be tantamount to giving the PPP latitude to abuse the industry, workers and nation’s coffers.”
Monday May 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
Govt. fails to honour promises... (From page 6) 2009 Treasury Memorandum said that a number of steps were taken by a number of Agencies to reduce, if not eliminate the occurrence of over payments to contractors. One of these steps included employment of engineers and the establishment of field audit units, which serve to provide the necessary technical capabilities as well as audit oversight. In relation to the Nonadherence to Stores Regulation, the Ministry of Finance outlined that the newly established and operationalized Internal Audit Division will assist in further strengthening the current system of internal controls through its monitoring of storekeeping practices. Heads of the Budget Agencies have been urged to ensure that there is compliance in this regard. However, this was in stark contrast to what this newspaper discovered after several discussions with staff of the Division, its Head and even the Minister of Finance,
Dr. Ashni Singh. It was revealed that the Internal Audit Division was only established last year. However, in light of the aforementioned steps that the Ministry said it has taken and will continue to take, Williams of the AFC pointed out that the Government still continues to underperform. In a recent interview Williams said, “There are many issues that keep recurring. Yes there are some cases where a few issues were cleared up but the Committee is still concerned about a number of issues that still show themselves in the 2010 and 2011 Auditor General’s report and we are not satisfied with this. Even though we have not started the 2012 Auditor General Report, I have made a check of it and it’s still the same issues recurring such as the overpayments to contractors.” “Government said in their 2009 Treasury Memorandum that they would deal with these issues in a number of ways and as such they have not held firm to their promise to improving financial systems. We keep seeing
ridiculous slip ups with some of these agencies. Overpayment to contractors remains an issue as cited in the 2010, 2011 and even the 2012 report, even though it is not yet up for examination by the PAC. The fact that we continue to see this clearly says that the government is underperforming from 2009 to now. Promises to assure improvement in certain areas have been broken. Government needs to take its Treasury Memorandum more seriously and not see it as something that they just have to produce.” Williams made a call for the government to take a serious stance when it comes to these highlighted irregularities and ensure that it upholds measures which promote accountability. This Treasury Memorandum continues to be an integral part of the Government’s systematic drive and on-going efforts to improve Public Financial Management in general and in particular, transparency and accountability in the conduct of Government’s business.
Monday May 12, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Push your business or romantic partner to take a risk. You know just what to say to get your friend angry enough to make a change. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): You cut through your chores like a hot knife through butter. Give yourself a handsome reward for working so hard. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You're focused on having fun and with good reason. Recently, you've been pouring all of your energy into an emotional family matter. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Home improvement projects are highly recommended. Taking a break from public life will be a huge relief. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Promoting work over radio, television and social media is advised. Don't hesitate to spend a little extra money on advertising. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): A lucrative job could be yours, but you will have to fight for it. Prepare well for an interview. Update your CV, assemble a list of references and put together an impressive portfolio. *********************
LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): You're more determined than ever to get your way. In the past, your quiet grace and dignity has stopped you from pushing your way to the front of the queue. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): Staying in the shadows is a good strategy for realising your goals. If there's anything you hate, it's being observed by critics. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): Setting long term goals is strongly recommended. Recently, you cleared an impressive career hurdle. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Success is very important to you. Now there is a chance to land a job of your dreams. Be ready to throw your hat in the ring. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): You've always been passionate about the world of ideas. That's especially true now, when you have an opportunity to travel to a fascinating land. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): You're in tune with your sensual side and seek to satisfy it. Make some romantic o v e r t u r e s t o wards the object of your affection.
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GEA says employees facing the bread line due to 2014 budget cut The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has outlined that the budget cuts to the allocations for the Office of the President could put some of its employees out of work. According to the agency, part of the budgetary allocations to the Office of the President falls under the line item of payment of salaries for its staff. The GEA said that the nonapproved allocation was for G$73.5 million as subsidies/ contribution from Central Government. “An additional G$10 million which was requested for capital expenditure towards the cost of extending the building to create additional office space for GEA’s employees, was included in the Office of the President’s Capital allocation which was also not approved.” GEA explained that its recurrent budgeted expenditure for 2014 is $119M (excluding the 10 million capital expenditure for the extension of the current office space). Of the aforementioned amount, the Agency outlined that it only needed G$73.5 Million, since “the remaining G$44.5 Million
will be generated from revenue received for Agency and licensing fees. Of the G$119 Million budgeted expenditure of the Agency, G$76.264 Million is allocated to employment cost. Hence, the G$73.5 Million dollars subvention that was requested was towards employment cost for 33 employees.” “With no finances to pay salaries, the future of the staff is bleak and uncertain. Many have children and other dependents who rely on them for financial support. Additionally, they have mortgage, rent, water and electricity bills, loan repayment and financial obligations to Ministry of Housing and other banking institutions. All of this pales in comparison to the reality that without their salaries, individuals will not be able to provide food which is needed for basic survival.” The Agency explained that it had planned several activities for 2014 toward ensuring the “vision of providing reliable energy that is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable for all in Guyana.” According to the GEA, it plays a significant role in the
development of Guyana through various activities such as the importation and sale of petroleum and petroleum related products, regulation of the licencing process, providing advice, giving recommendation and giving approval on energy related matters. Additionally, “through school presentations, dissemination of information, research and implementation of various energy efficient activities and initiatives, the Agency has made a significantly positive impact on the Nation’s economy and sustainable energy initiatives,” said the GEA. The non-approval of the Agency’s subvention request “has therefore lent a tremendous blow not only to the staff of GEA but also to Guyana and Guyanese as a whole,” the GEA outlined. The combined Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance for Change (AFC) had placed blame squarely at the feet of the government for disapprovals to the 2014 Budget. They had explained that the government had linked non problematic areas with areas of contention so that allocations to the contentious areas will be approved along with the non contentious which were certain to receive Opposition support. The AFC had said that “it feels that the government is to be wholly and solely blamed for irresponsibility and recklessness in not de-linking the controversial projects from other worthwhile allocations such as rehabilitation of interior airstrips, student loans, presidential guards, land titling, basic needs projects, etc., which the AFC support, and would approve when the government returns them to the National Assembly for supplementary vote, as it has done on previous occasions.” APNU has since expressed similar sentiments and said that government could return for supplementary appropriation for the non problematic areas provided that its (government) intentions are clear.
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Kaieteur News
Monday May 12, 2014
Victoria residents commence activities to commemorate 176 years From page 19
TO LET One newly built 2 storey concrete house, 2 bedroom for short or long term Bartica – Call:685-2707 2-bedroom apartment @ 2290 Section C Block X Diamond New Scheme – Tel: 673-8128 Campbellville - $60,000$80,000, Ogle- $60,000$120,000, Atlantic Gardens US$850, AA Eccles - $1200US – Contact Diana: 227-2256, 626-9382 Two bedroom unfurnished apartment for rent in Albouystown – Tel: 6895877. Fully furnished two bedrooms apartment for rent in South with TV, Airconditioned, hot & cold, cable – Call: 689-5877 TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT in Charity Housing Scheme – Contact: 771-4180, 687-5814 Furnished and unfurnished two bedrooms apartment in Eccles, for short or long term – Tel: 643-1131 Rooms - Tel:225-9223
WANTED Experienced roti/puri cooks, curry cooks, pastry makers. Apply at Hack’s Halaal, Lot 5 Commerce Street Live out domestic babysitter and live in babysitter – Call:225-0188, 223-7500 (Monday to Saturday ) (8:15am-4:15pm) Skilled carpenters to work in Linden- Contact:625-0930; 668-9863 Home tutoring in Diamond, Children 7 and 8, Time: 3-5:30pmContact: 657-8732 Cars to work at GR Taxi Service – New Base at Sheriff St, Opposite Survival Supermarket. Base Fee $6,500 – Contact:614-6202 Live in small family husband to labour, wife domestic. Good accommodation/salary Tel:227-1830 Urgently needed, live-in waitresses to work in Bar. Reasonable salary offer – Tel: 259-0574 Republic Park Family needs live-in aid/domestic. Alternate week off - $12,000. Police clearance needed – Call:627-5098, 675-0767 Live in domestic & waitresses – age 18-25yrs, must be honest & courteous – Salary $50,000, boarding & lodging free – Call: 610-5043
CATERING Roxy’s Catering: We cater for any special occasion, also available daily breakfast, lunch & snacks – call: 223-0092, 223-0095
WANTED One live in maid – Call: 2533336, 675-5256 1 honest & trustworthy caregiver to work in Canal No.1, W.B.D, age 45-50, 2 references are required – Call: 683-8758, 218-0082, 226-2677 Contract hire cars & male dispatchers to work at Flambouyant Taxi Service – dispatchers preferably from E.B.D- Tel:678-4470, 233-2322
Do you need an excavator operator for the interior? 12 years experienced in mining. Call:254-1874, 698-6819
The Village of Victoria, located on the East Coast of Demerara, will be celebrating 176 years of being in existence. To commemorate this historic occurrence, the 5000 plus residents are anticipating a grand festivity. Friends of Victoria Diaspora Incorporated has taken up the mantle of hosting several spectacular events in honour of the first village to be bought by slaves from their British colonial masters. Victoria, which was originally established in 1839 as Plantation Northbrook, lies some 18 miles east of Georgetown on the Atlantic coast. History has it that 83 exslaves from the five neighboring estates such as Dochfour, Ann’s Grove, Hope, Paradise and Enmore, pooled their resources and bought the plantation. They paid 30,000 guilders, or $10,283.63, and each ex-slave owned one plot of land. After being purchased, the buyers renamed their property Vi c t o r i a , presumably in honour of the Queen of England. A few of the current residents, however, believe that their village got its name in light of the ‘victory’ of the freed slaves. Speaking with this newspaper on Saturday, Joseph Barlow said that the commemoration of activities got underway from as early as March, with an interfaith ceremony, followed by the DRESSMAKING Jean is offering courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral & cake decoration @ 153 Barr Street Kitty – Call: 6702653, 618-1706
Workers to work on farm – Call: 265-3586 2 persons to clean. Evening & Saturdays. Industry area, full time housekeeper, Kingston Area – Call: 226-2829 Experienced Machinist and gear cutter at E&N Beck, Lot 3 Princess & Ketley Street Charlestown, GeorgetownCall: 225-6272
EDUCATIONAL Balloon Decorating Classes – 31st May 2014 – Call: 2253133 or 613-7513 for more information and to register.
Drivers: Apply at Wieting & Richter Ltd.
Computer classes for all students who completed 2014 Common- Entrance Examinations @ Micrographics, Vreed-EnHoop, Call: 264-3057
Experienced male sales representatives. Apply at Wieting & Richter Ltd. Maid to work on lower East Bank Demerara- Call: 6717878 between 6pm to 9pm only Experienced hire car drivers and contract vehicles at Buddy’s Transportation Service – Call: 645-0025 Attractive live in waitressCall:327-0252/674-4665
Earn your Diploma in Computer Studies: 9 courses @ Micrographics Technology, Vreed-EnHoop, Call: 264-3057 FREE! FREE! FREE! Sessions of one week: Phonics, reading and spelling classes for all ages –Tel: 691-8699
A Victoria lad tries to read the inscription on this monument dedicated to the freed African slaves who bought the village. Kite Flying competition held in April and continued with yesterday’s activity to honour three of the oldest mothers in the village with hampers and tokens of appreciation. In celebration of Guyana’s Independence on May 26, the villagers are expected to partake in a grand Maypole fair. The Friends of Victoria Committee will also be hosting competitions in Metem-gee cooking, Football, Dominoes, Drumming and Masquerade. An award ceremony would also be held to honour the village’s children who are successful at this year’s major examinations. This will be followed by a ‘Victoria Pageant’ scheduled for October 27th, and a dramatization of the purchase of Victoria village on November 8th. Barlow, who is 73-yearsold, told Kaieteur News during a brief interview that “History, being mischievous as it is, loves to repeat itself but loathes reinventing itself. It holds on to the number 83 but…some records say 63, with the 63 names mentioned. The survey plan shows 86 though.” Nonetheless, Barlow said that his village has a love
affair with religion and now boasts of 18 churches with sizeable number of believers. “The village population swelled and running out of farm lands, many Victorians moved over to Nabaclis and set up homes. The land portions were larger …shares instead of Lots and lower taxation. It is for this reason that there is such closeness between the people of Nabaclis and Victoria, resulting in much intermarriage and so on.” Barlow wasted no time in boasting that Victoria produced many stalwarts and notables, including sculptor of the 1823 rebellion monument, Ivor Thom. Reflecting on some of the changes in the village, Barlow said that these are as a result of the generation gap. “As time changes, everything changes, and for me to talk about some of the changes, it will be bias. You see, as I don’t like the changes now, the generation before me didn’t like the changes in my generation.” One regret that Barrow said that he now has though, is the fact that the village, which was once self sufficient, is no longer this way. “Like the cattle farming and coconut industries. We
followed the white people and we abandoned those industries. They provided employment and so, but now people are going out of the village to seek employment…but then again, it goes back to all the changes that are happening everywhere,” Barlow said. Speaking on sports and entertainment in Victoria Village, the man said that residents utilize the Lady Sendall Park, which is the only operational community centre ground. “The ground is mostly used to play football. First, was cricket, but football is taking over now. In its heyday, the ground was a well manicured cricket ground and hosted many agricultural fairs. The last such fair was held in 1960, but we’re looking to hold one in 2014,” Barlow noted. He said with regret that today, most of “the cooperative spirit has disappeared. There is a mass of school drop-outs... the scourge of drugs is omnipresent and the village is in need of a massive dose of moral rearmament .Can this be reversed to bring back this once stellar, economically viable hamlet to a semblance of its glory days? Time and history will tell.”
Monday May 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale.Call:627-5416 Double lot with house at East Bank Demerara, one block away from Public Road – Call: 621-1766 FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Pure bred Rottweiler puppies, 8 weeks old – Call:682-2148 or 618-2903 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Pork - $380, Pork Chops $650, leg pork - $480lb, salted pork -$450 (8 Lbs pails) @ Geroge & Hadfield Sts. Suites, beds, desk, guitars, divider, radio set, table –Tel: 226-2284 Honda Welder, 270 Amps, 2002 Tundra – Call:611-5114, 220-4495 PORK WHOLE SALE, WHOLE, HALF & QUARTER CARCASS. NO HEAD! NO TROTTERS! – CALL:2662711, 609-4594 1-CAT 320 excavator, 1-22 RB long boom dragline, 1helmet & hammer, 1-120G motor grader -D4H CAT bulldozer- Good conditionCall:660-4021/275-0578 1 Playstation3 with games $65,000, 1 – XBOX360 with games - $60,000, Used XBOX360 - $25,000, PSP $15,000, DS - $15,000 – Tel:621-7497, 603-8643 1 Leyland Daf dump truck with HIAB, excellent condition – Call: 671-1608 Pure bred pit bull, 6 weeks old – Call: 661-1601 Two stalls for sale at Port Kaituma – Contact: 6846428, 618-7983 PVC Ceiling Panels, PVC Mouldings, Medallions. American Standard!!! – Call:614-8564, 680-0862 Cold Storage Facility: freezing & cold storage facilities. Affordable price @ BM Enterprise Inc., Houston GFL Wharf Call: 227-8176/77. 40Ft round bottom boat, 40HP Yamaha outboard engine, 350Lbs 5" Nylon anchor seine – Call:6040038, 601-4585
FOR SALE Toyota Forklift - Excellent condition, 4,000lbs capacity, 117" Lift, Solid Wheels, Automatic Transmission, 4 Cylinder LPG Motor. Call: 604-6108. 100% Pure Bred pit-bull pups 8 weeks old, Father blue & mother red nose – call: 6953813/whatsapp pictures/ dogsrus@facebook Brand new 6,500 watts power fist gasoline generators on wheels & Led torchlight – Contact: 617-2205, 681-1032 One Toyota Carina 170 PGG series recently spray, price negotiable – Tel:680-4718, 600-5418 Pure Rottweiler pups, parents are imported pure breed dogs – Call: 264-2870 or 672-6402 after 6pm 665-9140 or 6391431 One female pure bred German shepherd puppy, fully vaccinated & de-wormed – Call: 629-1471, 220-2277, 2208904, 629-1419 Toyota 4 Runner, great condition – Call:223-9719, 227-1028 Loving, fluffy puppies – Call: 645-0240, 685-0942 Well established auto parts store. Fully stocked with all used Japanese Parts, serious inquiries only – Call: 6192090
CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 225-7126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com Progressive Auto Rental cars- Call: 643-5122 or 2258711,Email:pro_ autorental @yahoo.com Wings Car Rental- Call:643-1131 Aidan’s Car Rental, Canter & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 6987807
1 – 2 storey wooden & concrete house with 5 bedrooms, upper flat & lower flat 4 apartments located@ Shell Road, kitty $38.9M – Tel: 642-7898 One commercial property located at Broad St, Charlestown, close to the Public Road – Call:615-7526, 661-9885 Lot 81 Lamaha Street. No Agent! – Call: 673-5882 One house for sale at Covent Garden Island – Call: 265-3586 Kitty - $32M, Atlantic Garden -$50M, Lamaha Garden - $35M, AA Eccles $55M Contact Diana: 2272256, 626-9382 Large two flat house at Richmond Hill Linden – Phone: 226-9424 or 662-0094 or 609-6327 or 673-7516 2 Storey concrete property in Parfaite Harmonie, size 24’X57’, Price: $16M – Call:622-1782/658-5803 1-3 storey business property @ Middle St. G/ Town, 2 business properties @ Whim Public Road, price negotiable – Call: 619-7134, 225-6481 Property at Section ‘D’ Turkeyen, E.C.D – Call: 6046973 or 695-7610 Transport house & land @ Tuschen old Scheme newly built & visible from the public road – price negotiable – Tel: 667-5900
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 BRAND NEW 3 STOREY modern building. Located on North Road, between Oronoque & Albert St – Tel:629-0037, 626-6909 G.T TOOLS RENTAL: CONCRETE SAW, RANDSOM & MORE. EVERYDAY SPECIALS – CALL:675-0767 OR 6275098 BRAND NEW 4 STOREY modern building. Located on Regent Street, between light and Cummings St. Call:6266909, 629-0037 One nails table – Call:6025469 or 628-9297 Now Open! Grooming Palace Barber Shop & Hair Salon station to rent - Above Royal Castle in South - Call: 621-6738 Two bedrooms bottom flat in Turkeyen Sophia - $35,000 monthly – Call: 219-0310, 6601251
The Gents Spa: Be pampered by beautiful masseuses. New masseuses Amanda and Crystal – Tel: 657-5979 Classes & Services in massage therapy & reflexology “Healing Naturally” by N.Y State Professional! For enrollment & services call: 670-3399,651-0128 FOR SALE/RENTAL
VACANCY General managers to work on land dredges in the interior with popular mining firm – Tel:226-9768, 615-6172 Model ‘M’ truck drivers to drive into the Interior, must be sober headed & ability to service – Call:226-9768, 6156172
Male Cleaners Needed, Skilled Machinist. Apply @ Technical Services Inc. 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles E.B.D
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. COOL TECH : Repairs Services & Installation of all types if homes appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units - Tel: 233-2008; 675-4959
House plan drafting from$10,000 electrical works and estimates services available. Tel: 667-2189, 646-6572, 6298750 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 6472943 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312, 627-3206 (Nick) Od’s Health Club gym: Areobic, Zomba, etc – Mother’s Day Special, Above Royal Castle – Contact Odella: 697-5270
VEHICLE FOR SALE
One Trainee refrigeration A/ C Technician – Tel: 231-0655, Call between Monday-Friday (8:00am-4:30pm)
Mini- bus super custom, 3sunroofs, DVD player, reverse camera, DC outlet, price negotiable – Call:6724423, 682-0157, owner leaving country
NOTICE
Experienced Graphics Artist Contact:233-2439, 233-2725
Flambouyant Restaurant & Bar has reopened its doors to the public Located: 271 BB Eccles H/Scheme E.B.D – Call: 233-2849, 678-4470
SERVICES Cybertron Online Shopping at Vreed-En-Hoop, Call: 2613057
Smart Choice Auto Sales: Unregistered: Premio, Spacio, Allion, Allex, IST, 2 1 2 , F i e l d e r, Vo x y – Call:652-3820; 665-4529
Toyota Spacio – TV/DVD/ CD, body kit, reverse camera. Never registered $2.1M. Call:617-2891 One Toyota Land cruiser Prado, PMM Series Call: 225-0188, 223-7500, MonFri 8:15-4:15pm, Sat – 8:15-1:15PM Toyota Raum, Spacio, AT212, AT192, NZE ,LTouring wagon, Fun Cargo, IST, Nissan E24 Caravan – Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453 Seinta and Noah with Body Kits – unregistered and top notch condition with terms available – Call:641-8647 One new Madza Axela car, low mileage, never registered – Call: 663-0819 or 618-3575 One AT192, PKK Series, mag rims, spoiler, $800,000 negotiable – Tel: 671-5792 or 681-9297 New Model Hilux Surf and RX8 – Very clean vehicles. Terms available – Call:6418647 Stick gear and automatic Pitbull and RZ buses at the best prices around – Tel:641-8647 2008 Blue Bird - $3.0M, 2005 Spacio - $2.1M, 2006 Premio - $2.3M. ALL VEHICLES FULLY LOADED & UNREGISTEREDCall:642-7295 One Toyota 212 stick gear, $750,000 good working condition. First come first serve – Call: 664-0825 STAR CARS AUTO SALE: Premio, Spacio, Allion, IST, Feilder, Altezza, new Raum, Axela, Carina 212 – Call: 679-3140, 615-1199
One female clerk – Call: 2315171
One 4 month old female pure breed German shepherd – Contact: 638-5778 One smoothie machine and ice machine – Call:231-0655 or 683-8734.
VEHICLE FOR SALE First Class Auto: Premio, Allion, Spacio, Raum, 212, Allex, Runx, IST, Fielder, Bluebird, Axela – Tel:6098188, 638-3045
Toyota Avensis, PRR Series, immaculate condition, leather interior, alarm, A/C, TV, 18" Rims, HID - $3.250 Neg. – Call: 609-7257, 6025794
MANAGER/SUPERVISORS at Xenon Hotel Charity / EBo. ACCOMODATION PROVIDED. Attractive Salary is offered – Contact: 223-5273/4
American Pool Table – Call:277-0578
At Eccles Housing Scheme – price $6.5M – negotiable – Call:616-6000
Natural beauty salon & spa: Grove Market Street EBD Tele: 265-4138, 652-5800. We specialized in everything for women.
HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING AND ESTIMATES FOR ONLY $10,000- CALL:6949843/227-2766
Food warmer and Deli case – Call: 696-9999
LAND FOR SALE
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar:2310655,683-8734
Surveyor/Ranger to monitor mining lands. Must have vast knowledge of G.P.S & riding ATV bikes – Call:2269768, 615-6172 MASSSAGE
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1 Toyota Carina Sold as is where is contact:218-1886 One big Toyota Dina freezer canter, hardly used in La Grange – call:611-9297
Pre-order: AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 2 Ton freezer canter, GRR Series – Call:658-3209 (Continued on page 18)
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Kaieteur News
Four held as police probe murder of Dana Seetahal PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Police say four men are assisting their investigations into the murder of prominent senior counsel, Dana Seetahal, who was gunned down last week as she made her way from a casino. Media reports Sunday said the men were detained in police raids in Arima, east of here and Petite Valley, west of the capital. Media reports quoted the police as saying that they had identified one of the men involved in carrying out the murder on the former legislator and law lecturer after images from close circuit
television (CCTV) had been “cleared up”. The state has offered a reward of TT$2.5 million (One TT dollar = US$0.16 cents) for information leading to an arrest and conviction, while Crime Stoppers International is offering one million dollars for information regarding the murder of the 59-year-old senior attorney, whose body was cremated following a funeral service last Thursday. Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Security has downgraded the national alert status to “Green” from “Orange”. It did not give any reason
Dana Seetahal for the de-escalation of the threat.
Former Airports Authority GM in custody over ‘false degree’ Trinidad Express Former acting general manager at the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (AATT) Dayanand Birju has been charged with two counts of fraud. This was confirmed Saturday by Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenn Hackett who said Birju was in police custody. Birju, sources say, was held at his San Fernando home on Friday at around 9.15 p.m. and taken to Fraud Squad headquarters at Richmond Street, Port of Spain. He is expected to appear before a Port of Spain magistrate today charged with obtaining money by false pretences and uttering a false document. Last September, the Sunday Express through a series of exclusive stories claimed that Birju had submitted a bogus degree certificate which stated he had a BSc in computer science from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in the United States. The certificate stated he was awarded the degree in computer science on May 28, 1988. This formed part of his curriculum vitae submitted to the AATT to obtain the managerial position he held. Sources said the former AATT board led by Trevor Benjamin and line minister Stephen Cadiz did not lodge an official police report. Several letters were written to the board by its legal department last September alleging offences had been committed and the police ought to be contacted,
Dayanand Birju sources said. Sources told the Sunday Express that Hackett initiated an investigation and mandated detectives attached to the Fraud Squad to probe the matter. Hackett supervised the investigation which was led by Snr Supt Edwards. The detectives throughout their investigation visited AATT senior personnel and requested certain documentation. However, on Friday afternoon, the detectives received written correspondence from the university in the United States. During its investigation, the Sunday Express on September 24 last year contacted David Cesario, registrar of the University of Massachusetts, Boston, asking him a series of questions. He was also e-mailed a copy of the certificate tendered to the AATT. Cesario claimed after
inspecting the certificate, “I have reviewed it and it is not authentic.” Cesario said prior to the Sunday Express request the AATT also requested information as to whether the “certificate” was authentic. A reply has since been sent to the AATT. Cesario had confirmed that Birju attended the university “from fall 1983 through fall 1987”, but did not graduate. Sunday Express investigations also claimed the document tendered by Birju contained discrepancies. For instance, it listed “Peter McFarlene” as the university president. But Registry officials at the university told the Sunday Express they knew no one by that name who served as president of the university. “From 1978 to 1990, the university listed Mr David C Knapp as president of the University of Massachusetts.” The names “Thomas Alan Caretherson” and “Veronica Miles” also appeared on the document. They were listed as serving at the institution in the capacity of chancellor, Boston Campus, and chief, board of trustees, respectively. This was also alleged to be inaccurate. Birju’s basic monthly salary at the AATT in the post of acting general manager was $41,500. He received an acting allowance of $16,000, entertainment allowance of $2,000 and housing allowance of $4,000. Collectively, he received $63,500 per month.
Monday May 12, 2014
Bouterse says he would visit Holland if verdict quashed PARAMARIBO – If the Dutch Supreme Court would reverse the 11-year jail sentence against him and relations with the Netherlands improve, President Desi Bouterse would not be against traveling there once. “Surinamers who live there deserve to see their president too,” Bouterse said on Wednesday. He was clarifying statements his lawyer Irwin Kanhai made on Tuesday about him holding a big political rally on Dutch soil as soon as the court quashes the sentence he received in absentia in 1999 for drugs trafficking. Dutch attorney Inez Weski has submitted an appeal to the sentence, because Patrick van L who made the incriminating statements that got Bouterse convicted has said that he lied. Weski said she has irrefutable proof that Van L., a 47-year-old Belgian, was coerced by the Prosecutor’s Office into saying that Bouterse ran the Suri Cartel ring that shipped Colombian cocaine from Suriname to the Netherlands. She said the
entire case that led to Bouterse’s conviction was founded on fabrications and bothersome wanderings of the law that she had brought to light. Kanhai, sure that his Dutch fellow attorney had a solid case to clear Bouterse of the drug conviction, said the President and leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP) who will be running for a second term at the 2015 elections, would soon hold a rally in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, where most of Suriname’s diaspora lives. Bouterse said that Kanhai was “just joking” but admitted that he too was happy the Dutch “case has crumbled” and his lawyer saw an opening to appeal the 1999 verdict. “I knew it was coming. They promised Patric van L. all sorts of things, but he retracted his statements because they did not keep their promises. Gods mills grind slowly but surely,” he said. He acknowledged that a repeal would mean he could visit the Netherlands again. Bouterse has not visited the Netherlands since the verdict
Desi Bouterse and the Netherlands has steadfastly said that he would only be allowed to visit if he came to sit out his jail term. The former colonizer seemed to soften up after he became President in 2010, but he still preferred to give the country a wide berth when traveling to Asia last year. “I would (still) rather travel to the hinterlands of Suriname than Australia, Asia or the Netherlands. But if matters between Suriname and the Netherlands would normalize, I could go yes. The Surinamers there deserve that,” he said on Thursday.
Venezuela frees most students detained in camp raids CARACAS (Reuters) Venezuela said yesterday it had freed most of the 243 youth activists arrested in raids last week on street camps set up to protest against President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government. Although the government hoped the demolition of four camps in Caracas would snuff out a three-month protest movement, activists vowed the measure had only strengthened their resolve to demonstrate against Maduro. The students had been camping for weeks outside U.N. offices on a major highway, and in several other public squares. The Venezuelan public prosecutor’s office said in a statement that 11 detainees had been kept behind bars, accused of a range of crimes including possession of arms and drugs. Authorities freed 155 with cautions and orders to report to courts periodically, and instructed 15 to undergo medical treatment for drug abuse, the statement added. Anti-Maduro protests have been raging since
Nicolas Maduro February, with activists complaining about high inflation and crime rates, scarcities of basic goods, and repression of opponents. Maduro, the 51-year-old successor to the late Hugo Chavez, says the demonstrations are part of a wider, U.S.-backed “coup” attempt against him.
Maduro’s position in power does not appear under threat, given that the protests have not spread far from middle-class opposition enclaves, and military chiefs are behind him. In what has been the OPEC member’s worst unrest in a decade, at least 42 people have died in violence around the protests - with victims on all sides - and about 800 have been injured. About 160 people remain in jail in total from round-ups since February. Demonstrators marched on Saturday to protest the breakup of the student camps, with masked youths battling riot police at the end of the rally in scenes that have become familiar to Venezuelans over the last three months. Security forces again used tear gas to disperse the youths, who were throwing stones and petrol bombs.
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Kaieteur News
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Monday May 12, 2014
Lithuania’s ‘Iron Lady’ poised for victory amid Russia fears Vilnius (AFP) Lithuanians go to the polls yesterday to choose their president with incumbent “Iron Lady” Dalia Grybauskaite a shoo-in as fears in this EU Baltic state soar over a resurgent Russia. The karate black belt, nicknamed for her Thatcherlike resolve, is poised to win a second term as many here who remember Soviet times see her as a their best hope amid Europe’s worst standoff with Moscow since the Cold War. A former EU budget chief, the 58-year-old Grybauskaite is likely to score over 50 percent of the vote, recent opinion surveys showed, but low turnout could trigger a May 25 run-off in this EU and NATO member country. Six other candidates have all polled around 10 percent and are not regarded as serious rivals. “If turnout exceeds 50 percent, she has quite a good chance of scoring a first round victory,” Ramunas Vilpisauskas, a political scientist at Vilnius University, told AFP. A candidate must win half
of the votes cast with a turnout of at least 50 percent to win in round one. In 2009, Grybauskaite captured a resounding 69.04 percent of the vote in the seven-candidate first round with turnout at 51.67 percent. This election comes as Russia’s takeover of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and sabre rattling in the neighbouring Russian exclave of Kaliningrad have sparked palpable fear in Lithuania, a country of three million. Elvyra Vaicaityte, a student living a stone’s throw from Kaliningrad, is spooked by rumblings of military might in the Russian exclave, sandwiched between Lithuania and fellow NATO member Poland. “I can hear explosions during exercises, and windows often rattle — I don’t feel very secure,” the 23-year-old told AFP in the border town of Vilkaviskis. Grybauskaite first urged and then welcomed the arrival of American troops last month as NATO stepped up its presence in the Baltic states, which spent five
decades under Soviet occupation until 1991. Lithuania along with Baltic minnows Latvia and Estonia all are keen to see more alliance ‘boots on the ground’ amid the Ukraine crisis. Grybauskaite has sworn to take up arms herself in case of Russian aggression. “If there’s a problem, I’ll never flee abroad. I’ll take a gun myself to defend the country if that what’s needed for national security,” she said as campaigning wound down Thursday. Iron will vs. soft touch Aurelija, a 36-year-old Vilnius businesswoman who declined to provide her family name, is impressed by G r y b a u s k a i t e ’s “determination, courage and strength” as national security has become a number one priority. “In calm times, a hardline style could be annoying, but that is not the case now. Other candidates are weak opponents,” she told AFP. Grybauskaite has backed the country’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal intended to boost energy
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite speaks during a press conference after the arrival of US troops at the air force base near Siauliai Zuokniai, Lithuania. security by easing total dependence for gas on Russia’s Gazprom. She also sees eurozone entry in 2015 as an economic buffer against Moscow. In contrast to Grybauskaite’s firm line, her center-left and populist rivals insist dialogue with Russia is crucial, and have focused more on social issues. “We’ll have to seek dialogue with Russia. Any kind of peace is better than a war,” Social Democrat
Zigmantas Balcytis said. Balcytis, a member of the European Parliament, and populist Labour party MP Arturas Paulauskas are her most likely rivals in a possible run-off. “The Ukraine crisis is an important mobilising factor, and Grybauskaite’s stern rhetoric is likely to have appeal among centre-right voters,” says Professor Algis Krupavicius. “Other candidates are focusing on her mistakes, rather than addressing the
atmosphere of foreboding,” Vilnius-based analyst Tomas Janeliunas told AFP. Augustinas Vizbaras, a 29-year-old Vilnius entrepreneur, says Grybauskaite has his vote. He has also volunteered in a paramilitary unit that was part of Lithuania’s WWII-era anti-Soviet resistance. “We feel a Russian threat and I felt a civic duty to join the unit so that we prevent a repeat of a Ukraine scenario here,” Vizbaras told AFP.
Sisi sees Egypt situation better ‘in two years’ Cairo (AFP) - Presidential frontrunner Abdel Fattah alSisi said yesterday Egypt’s situation will improve in two years, adding that he would not hesitate to resign if there were mass protests against him. Sisi, lauded by millions of Egyptians for ousting Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in July last year, is expected to trounce his only rival, leftist leader Hamdeen Sabbahi, in the May 26-27 election. “If things go according to the plan we have prepared, we will see an improvement in two years,” the retired field marshal said in an interview with Sky News Arabia. Egypt’s “problems will be over in two years”, he added. The country has been rocked by more than three years of political turmoil that
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi toppled two presidents after massive street protests, a deadly crackdown on protesters that has killed more than 1,400 people, and a spate of militant attacks that has left the country deeply polarised
When we pause and experience silence, we discover answers that activity does not have time to reveal. During your day, take threeminute “vacations”. Relax and re-energise. Take time out to feel the peace of silence.
and the economy in a shambles. The deadly crackdown on backers of Mursi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, has also resulted in more than 15,000 people jailed and hundreds sentenced to death in rulings that have triggered international outrage. In Sisi’s second television interview this week, he also said he would not hesitate to step down if there were mass protests against him. “If the people go out (on the streets), I will ask them ‘What do you want? I am under your orders’,” he said when asked what he would do if protests also erupt against him as they did against longtime strongman Hosni Mubarak in early 2011 and later against Mursi in 2013. “I won’t wait for the army (to intervene) ... the army acts according to the people’s will,” Sisi said. The then former army chief ousted Mursi after millions of people staged demonstrations, accusing the Islamist of a power grab and ruining an already dilapidated economy.
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Iran leader slams West’s ‘stupid’ missile stance before talks DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran’s Supreme Leader described as “stupid and idiotic” Western expectations for his country to curb its missile development, striking a defiant tone ahead of a fresh round of nuclear talks. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to mass produce missiles and said the nuclear negotiations were not the place to discuss Tehran’s defense program or to solve the problem of sanctions damaging the Iranian economy. “They expect us to limit our missile program while they constantly threaten Iran with military action,” Khamenei was quoted as telling the IRNA news agency while on a visit to an aeronautics fair held by the Revolutionary Guards. “So this is a stupid, idiotic expectation ... The revolutionary guards should definitely carry out their program and not be satisfied with the present level. They should mass produce. This is a main duty of all military officials.”
Iran and the United States, France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia will reconvene in Vienna tomorrow to try to iron out differences over how to end a long standoff over suspicions that Tehran has sought the means to develop nuclear weapons. While missiles are not at the heart of the talks over Iran’s nuclear work, which center on the production of fissile material usable in atomic bombs, Western countries would like them discussed at the nuclear discussions. Iran has one of the biggest missile programs in the Middle East, viewing it as an essential precautionary defense against the United States and other adversaries such as Israel. The United States and its allies fret that such missiles could potentially carry nuclear warheads. The Islamic Republic denies accusations that it is seeking a capability to make nuclear weapons. It insists that the missiles are part of its conventional armed forces and rules out including them
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the agenda of the nuclear discussions. Khamenei’s comments appeared at odds with more conciliatory remarks earlier by President Hassan Rouhani, who said he wanted Iran to do a better job of explaining its nuclear program to prevent “evilminded” people misleading world opinion. “What we can offer the world is greater transparency,” Rouhani said in a speech at a ceremony celebrating Iran’s scientific achievements.
Western powers have long demanded greater openness from Iran to address their concerns and head off a downward spiral towards a new Middle East war, with Israel threatening to attack its arch-foe if diplomacy does not succeed. Rouhani is a relative moderate compared to his predecessor, conservative hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who used strident rhetoric during his eight years in office, serving to shore up international resolve to curb Iran’s nuclear program. Khamenei, who has the last word on all matters in Iran, has backed Rouhani’s cautious opening to the West and nuclear talks with world powers, but has also said he doubts the West is ready to bury what he sees as its hostility to Tehran. Yesterday, he expressed further such misgivings. “I have always been in favor of initiative and negotiation in foreign policy ... but one must not tie our country’s needs and issues like sanctions to the (nuclear) talks,” IRNA quoted
Khamenei as saying. “Officials should tackle the sanctions issue in another way.” Iran in January halted its most sensitive nuclear operations under a preliminary deal with world powers, winning some relief from painful economic sanctions that have damaged its oil-dependent economy by forcing a sharp reduction in crude exports. Rouhani said Iran if it so chose could resume enrichment of uranium gas to a fissile purity of 20 percent its most sensitive nuclear activity because it is a relatively short technical step away from the level required for nuclear weapons. “We wanted to tell the world that our activities are moving in the right direction: If we say we can enrich to 3.5 percent, we can do it. If necessary we will do (it to) 20 percent,” he said. Iran agreed under the November 24 deal to shelve enrichment to 20 percent. It has since diluted some of its 20 percent-enriched stockpile to a lower concentration and
converted some into an oxide less suited to processing into bomb-grade material. Iran has justified its 20 percent enrichment drive by saying it was meant to replenish the fuel supply of a Tehran medical research reactor. But Western officials are skeptical, saying Iran had refined far more than it required for such a purpose. While Iran stopped 20 percent enrichment in January, it is allowed under the November pact to keep producing uranium refined to up to 5 percent, the level required for fuelling civilian nuclear power stations. Senior Iranian nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi was quoted by IRNA yesterday as saying Iran would discuss all areas of their nuclear program to come to a “quick” resolution. He said the “drafting of the final nuclear deal” would begin in Vienna. Talks will start tomorrow with a working dinner between EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, according to IRNA.
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Kaieteur News
Monday May 12, 2014
Thailand to tighten security as crisis deepens BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s caretaker government said yesterday that it would increase security to prevent clashes that could arise between the two sides in an escalating political crisis, and warned people to stay away from protest sites for their own safety. The announcement was broadcast on television as pro-government and antigovernment protesters held competing rallies in Bangkok over the weekend. The two groups were several kilometers (miles) apart, but concerns of violence have risen following a court’s ouster of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra last week. Senior security official Tharit Pengdit warned that if the anti-government movement carries out an attempt to appoint an unelected prime minister, it would ignite anger from government supporters that “could definitely spread to clashes and could eventually lead to a civil war.” The comment echoed one made a day earlier by the head of the pro-government Red Shirt movement. “It is therefore necessary for CAPO to escalate law
enforcement to a stricter level, to solve problems that will arise in the near future,” said Tharit, an executive for the government’s security Center of Administration for Peace and Order. “We are asking people to stay away from the protesters and ... to avoid the protest sites for their own safety.” He did not specify how or where security would be tightened. Two people were injured late Saturday when unknown assailants fired two grenades at Government House, the prime minister ’s office compound, where antigovernment protesters were camped, said police Col. Kamthorn Auicharoen. Officials vacated the compound months ago due to the protests launched against Yingluck in November. It was the latest in a series of grenade attacks and drive-by shootings that have left hundreds of people injured since Thailand’s political crisis escalated in November. Both sides accuse the other of orchestrating the violence. Anti-government protesters were emboldened
Anti-government protesters rest at a camp site in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) by the Constitutional Court’s ruling Wednesday to dismiss Yingluck for nepotism, accomplishing what months of anti-government protests supported by the urban elite and royalists have failed to achieve. On Friday, the protesters ramped up their efforts to bring down what remains of Yingluck’s administration by laying siege to television stations,
surrounding state offices and demanding lawmakers help them install a non-elected prime minister to rule the country. Yingluck’s Cabinet has named deputy premier N i w a t t u m r o n g Boonsongpaisan as acting prime minister, but the leader of the anti-government protest movement, Suthep Thaugsuban, said Saturday
that Niwattumrong “doesn’t hold the authority and status to be the head of the government.” Suthep has asked the Senate to “quickly consult the presidents of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Administrative Court and the Election Commission to work to appoint the new prime minister immediately.”
The Senate said it would hold an informal meeting today to discuss the crisis. The anti-government protesters called Friday for a “final push” to oust the entire Cabinet and set up an unelected “people’s council” that they say would implement still-undefined reforms to combat corruption and fight money politics. They oppose elections scheduled for July, which the current ruling party would likely win. Thailand’s long-running political crisis began in 2006 when Yingluck’s brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was toppled by a military coup after being accused of corruption, abuse of power and disrespect for King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Thaksin, a former telecommunications billionaire, remains highly popular among the rural poor in Thailand’s north and northeast, and parties controlled by him have won every national election since 2001. The anti-government protesters, aligned with the opposition Democrat Party, say they want to remove all traces of his political machine from politics.
Monday May 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
Final phase of India election as Modi fights for seat varanasi (India) (AFP) Voters head to the polls today in the final phase of India’s marathon election, with the hardliner Narendra Modi expected to lead his Hindu nationalists to victory after 10 years of Congress party rule. Modi, of the right-wing opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, will be vying to win his seat in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi five weeks after the start of the world’s biggest election which has been marred by religious divisions and personal attacks. Modi urged voters to turn out in record numbers on Monday to throw the scandal-plagued Congress party, run by India’s most famous political dynasty the Gandhis, from power after 10 years in charge. “People are tired of false promises, corruption and the same old tape-recorded messages,” Modi said in a blog after campaigning officially ended on Saturday night. “They want a better tomorrow and NDA is the only alliance that can provide this change,” Modi added, referring to a BJP-led National Democratic Alliance opposition coalition. Counting takes place on Friday and results are expected on the same day. Opinion polls show voters have turned against Congress, which has dominated Indian politics since independence, over massive graft scandals, spiralling inflation and a sharp economic slowdown during its two terms in charge of a coalition government. The BJP is expected to win the most seats in the 543member parliament, but it will likely fall short of an outright majority, meaning it will need
Narendra Modi to forge its own coalition with smaller and regional parties. India’s opinion polls have proved wrong in the past and can be unreliable given the size and remoteness of sections of the country, which has 814 million eligible voters, the biggest electorate in history. Rahul Gandhi, who has headed a lacklustre Congress campaign, denied in comments published yesterday that his party was staring at almost certain defeat. “I am confident that the voters will give a mandate to an inclusive, fair and unifying (Congress) government,” he said in an interview to the Hindilanguage Hindustan newspaper. “The Congress understands the needs of the people, particularly those who are poor and disadvantaged.” Among the 41 seats up for grabs today, the battle for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh state will take centre stage, with Modi pitted against anticorruption hero Arvind Kejriwal, the feisty leader of the upstart Aam Aadmi
(Common Man) Party. Uttar Pradesh is India’s most populous state and sends 80 lawmakers to parliament, making it key to the eventual outcome. Voting also takes place on Monday in the neighbouring state of Bihar and West Bengal. The voting will mark the end of an acrimonious election battle that has seen Modi launch personal attacks on Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka and his mother Sonia who is president of Congress. Modi, 63, the son of a teastall owner who rose through the BJP ranks, has derided Rahul, 43, scion of the Gandhi dynasty which has produced three prime ministers, as a reluctant “shehzada” (prince). Beleaguered Gandhi and other Congress leaders have hit back, accusing the avowed Hindu nationalist Modi of being dangerously divisive and prejudiced against the country’s 150million strong Muslim minority. The BJP “only wants to divide people, make people fight each other”, Gandhi told a mass rally in Varanasi on Saturday. Modi, chief minister of prosperous Gujarat state, has campaigned on a pledge of development, investment and jobs to revive the flagging economy, largely steering clear of any Hindu nationalist agenda. But Modi remains a deeply polarising figure over allegations that he failed to swiftly curb deadly 2002 antiMuslim riots. The riots that swept Gujarat during his early years as chief minister left at least 1,000 people, mainly Muslims, dead. The BJP leader was denied any wrongdoing.
EU says will not recognize result of east Ukraine self-rule vote BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union said it would not recognize the result of a referendum on self-rule held by proMoscow rebels in east Ukraine on Sunday, calling it illegal. “The so-called referenda in ... parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions were illegal and we do not recognize the outcome. Those who organized the referenda have no democratic legitimacy,” Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said in e-mailed comments to Reuters. She said holding the referendum ran counter to the objectives of an agreement reached by Ukraine, Russia, the European Union and the United States last month that aimed to defuse the Ukraine crisis. Ukraine’s Crimea region was annexed by Russia in March after a similar vote. Kocijancic said the European Union
encouraged the Ukraine government to push ahead with efforts to reach out to all regions through a proposed national dialogue, including steps towards an inclusive dialogue on constitutional reform. Ukraine’s government said last week it was ready to talk to political parties and regional officials in eastern regions on ways to resolve the country’s crisis, but would not talk to “terrorists”. The European Union urged all parties to support holding free and fair presidential elections on May 25, Kocijancic said. The upheaval in Ukraine broke out after former pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovich turned his back last year on a trade and political cooperation with the European Union in favor of a $15 billion bailout from Russia. That sparked prolonged street protests that ended with him fleeing Ukraine.
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Lewis Hamilton wins Spanish GP YBG Regional Conference Tournament over Mercedes team-mate Rosberg commence with first day action BBC Sport - Lewis Hamilton took the world championship lead from Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg with a closely fought victory in the Spanish Grand Prix. Hamilton leads Rosberg by three points as his fourth win in a row finally made up the ground he lost by retiring from the season-opening Australian GP. The Briton led from start to finish to win a tense battle with Rosberg, with the rest of the field far behind. R e d B u l l ’s D a n i e l Ricciardo was third and team-mate Sebastian Vettel fourth. The world champion produced a superb recovery drive from 15th on the grid to finish ahead of Williams’ Valtteri Bottas and the Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen. Hamilton converted his pole position into a lead at the first corner and built a 2.6-second lead over Rosberg by lap 13. But the German closed in to within 1.6secs over the next four laps until Hamilton made his first pit stop on lap 18. When Rosberg stopped three laps later, Mercedes split the tyre strategies between both cars, just as they had in their close battle in Bahrain two races ago, putting Rosberg on the ‘hard’ tyre whereas Hamilton had been fitted with the ‘medium’. Hamilton was told he needed to maintain a foursecond gap by the time of his second pit stop, while Rosberg was told he had to get the margin down to two
Lewis Hamilton seconds if he wanted to win the race. Hamilton made his final pit stop on lap 43, fitting the hard tyres. And despite a delay fitting a rear wheel, he was a comfortable 4.8 seconds ahead when Rosberg emerged from his final stop on the medium tyre two laps later. Rosberg inexorably closed on Hamilton through the final stint and was close enough to be able to use his DRS overtaking aid as they entered the penultimate lap, but was unable to pass. Hamilton had to lap Raikkonen as they headed down the straight into the final lap but was able to retain the lead. “I wasn’t fast enough really t o d a y, ” said Hamilton. “Nico was quicker. I had to rely on my engineers to tell me where I could find time and what the gap was. “One more lap and I would have been close enough to give it a good go,” said Rosberg.
“I’m a bit gutted, but still second place and in a good position in the championship. There are many races to go.” Behind the dominant Mercedes cars, Ricciardo lost a place to Bottas at the start but the Red Bull was much faster and leapfrogged ahead at the first stops. Vettel was in excellent form as he recovered from a gearbox failure in qualifying and consequent five-place grid penalty for changing the part. Red Bull put the world champion on a three-stop race, and after his final stop on lap 52 he quickly passed Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and closed in on Bottas and passed the Finn on lap 63. Alonso, initially planning two stops, switched to a three-stop strategy in a successful attempt to beat Raikkonen, who led him in the first part of the race. Alonso had spent the first stint of the race stuck at the back of a three-car train led by Lotus’ Romain Grosjean and Raikkonen. Behind the Ferraris, Grosjean took Lotus’ first points of the season in eighth, ahead of the Force Indias of Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg. Jenson Button beat McLaren team-mate Kevin Magnussen to 11th place. The Dane lost a place to Vettel on the first lap when he had to pull out of an attempt to pass Button at the chicane, but fought back to finish just 0.6secs behind his team-mate.
Man City clinch Premier... From page 29 would not simply go in search of the draw that would ensure they finished ahead of Liverpool barring a miraculous turnaround on goal difference, and so it proved as they pressed forward from the kick-off. West Ham, with growing speculation that manager Sam Allardyce was taking charge of his final game, showed a desperate lack of ambition and frustration Position Team 1 Man City 2 Liverpool 3 Chelsea 4 Arsenal 5 Everton 6 Tottenham 7 Man Utd 8 Southampton 9 Stoke 10 Newcastle
threatened to be City’s biggest enemy. They played, however, with the maturity and control of champions and no hint of the nerves that plagued them when they were last in this position and needed Sergio Aguero’s winner with virtually the final kick of the season to snatch the Premier League away from Manchester United two seasons ago. And that nerve-shredding
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experience served them well here as they played a game of patience when confronted by West Ham’s blanket defence and simply kept possession until they could make their quality count. The time came six minutes before the interval when Nasri’s low shot from 20 yards beat West Ham keeper Adrian to release any tension that may have been lingering. And the job was done four minutes after half-time when, fittingly, captain Kompany turned in from close range after a corner had rebounded off the back of Edin Dzeko. All that remained was for City to close out the win which, despite Liverpool’s win against Newcastle United at Anfield, was done at a stroll as the Etihad celebrating the reclaiming of the Premier League title.
The Youth Basketball Guyana Regional Conference Tournament tipped off last Saturday with 5 games in the Georgetown & East Coast Conferences at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The cross conference format to be known as ‘Game Day Saturday’ will see teams from these two power conferences, playing in zone, as well as cross over games every Saturday at the CASH, until the June 21, when the Finals matchup in each conference zone is expected to be
set. The Regional Conference Tournament is the qualifying rounds for teams hoping to play in the National Schools Basketball Festival from July 6-13, 2014, and is sponsored by Digicel Guyana, Edward B. Beharry and Company Ltd and Banks DIH. Conference games will continue this Saturday at the same venue with seven games scheduled to play from 15:00hrs. The results from the first ‘Game Day Saturday’ are as follows:
BCB/Chambers of Commerce going ahead with Independence T20 Cup on May 25 By Sean Devers Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) first Vice-President Anil Beharry told Kaieteur Sport yesterday that his Board has collaborated with the Berbice Chambers of Commerce to host the third edition of the Independence Cup T20 cricket tournament on May 25 at Albion. Following a letter from the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) President Drubahadur informing that the planned event was not on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) list of approved tournaments, Beharry said the tournament will go ahead as planned. “This is our flagship tournament and along with the Berbice Chamber of Commerce we have invested a lot of time, energy and funding into the tournament and we are going ahead with it despite what the GCB says,” Beharry, a senior Manager at one of the leading Banks in New Amsterdam, stated. Beharry is of the view that
the GCB is being vindictive due to the on-going feud between the BCB and the GCB, adding that several charities including the new Shelter homeless Children in Port Mourant will benefit from the venture. The competition include the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) who are scheduled to face East Coast Jaguars after Berbice ‘A’ battle Berbice ‘B’ with the two winners facing off in the final under lights. The bulk of the National Players come from the city and Berbice and if there is no compromise it could put those players in an uncomfortable position since according to the organizers close to one million dollars will go to the players. The GCB letter, which was copied to the respective parties involved, in addition to the sponsors, the WICB and the Media, informed that the Independence Cup t20 competition is unauthorized and disapproved and
reminded all players, Clubs, Associations, Venues and Officials that the list of approved tournaments in the West Indies can be viewed on the WICB website windiescricket.com. The GCB letter added that the sanctions and penalties for venues and players participating in disapproved cricket is also on the WICB website. It added that it was reminding all stake holders that the authority for approving cricket, not on the approved list, is the WICB, which may delegate such authority to the GCB. Beharry said that after the players and various Charities receive their money the balance will divided equally between the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and the BCB to fulfill their respective mandates. It seems the battle lines have again been drawn and once again the players find themselves in the middle of it all.