Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

What can one expect? The firing of the Minister of Health, Bheri Ramsaran on the eve of the election for his ‘slap and strip’ remarks against Rights Activists, Ms. Sherlinga Nageer, has served to shift the population’s gaze, with more intensity than ever, onto the APNU+AFC Coalition. It would seem that barring unexpected developments of massive proportions, the Coalition is likely to win the general election on May 11. That is the prediction of the Coalition’s Presidential Candidate, David Granger. Is he right? I personally believe so. But the key question to be asked is, what is there in the current configuration and operation of the Coalition to suggest that if it wins this election it is going to be any different from the PPP government. What makes the Coalition and its leader different? Given the character and background of David Granger, the answer would lie in his personality and leadership style. As far as the coalition itself is concerned, it is different from the PPP in structure, type of leadership and philosophy. It comprises six parties. As far as the people are concerned, what they need to note is the tone of the vicious vituperation and personal attacks in which the campaign was conducted. Whatever one might have thought of David Granger, the fact is, he is a decent man with strong leadership and organizational skills and therefore, will lead the coalition to victory and become the next president of Guyana. But because of his military background, he has been branded by his opponents as someone who should be feared. But the fact is, David Granger is not the only military leader to enter politics or to seek high office, more than half of all U.S Presidents had some sort of military background either from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Militia or the National Guard. So for anyone to be critical of David Granger’s military backgroundis not only insulting to the armed forces, but is to court disaster as his opponents will find out after the elections. The point here is simple. If this is how the incumbentexecutive conducted their campaign, what is there to suggest that they would govern in any way differently? Of course, it could be argued that the way the 2015 election campaign was conducted demonstrated the abnormal vulgarity and absurdity of campaigning in this country. During the campaign, every weapon including personal attacks and character assassination were used to destroy the character of David Granger and in the process destroy his electability. But to use one’s ethnicity or tribe to gain votes is poor leadership and politics at its worse. And I would respond “exactly.” Now let me be fair and objective. Most of the issues raised against David Granger in the campaign are not new. What is new to the voters are the false accusations against him as a leader who will send ex-soldiers to kick down the doors of East Indians if the Coalition wins the election. However, such fabrications and distortion of the truth will not stick with most of the electorate because they know that there is no one in the current administration who is as honest, decent and honourable as David Granger. Further, no one should believe that the political culture of the country would change if the incumbent party is reelected. For this to happen, it first must begin by changing its own political culture. If that party did not operate differently as a party from how it has always done, it would be foolish for anyone to expect anything different from it as a government. Just as how a tiger cannot change its stripes, so too, a human being cannot change his/her essential character! A government of the people, by the people, for the people is truly needed to unite the races and move the country forward. Will there be one?

Tuesday May 12, 2015

Letters... Where your views make the news

Reform and political compromise needed DEAR EDITOR, We should wait patiently for the election commission to count the ballots and announce the results. e must abhor violence and peacefully accept the outcome. And we should encourage the winner to form a national inclusive g o v e r n m e n t o f representatives of varied stakeholders, including the opposition. The people have rendered their verdict in what has been a very competitive, racially divisive election campaign. It is time for national healing and the establishment of a

government - preferably a national unity government in which the loser is not completely left out. The victor should reach across the aisle and incorporate some members from the other side. Given our divided politics, it will not hurt to co-opt members or supporters or even candidates from the other side to promote healing and reconciliation after this bitter campaign. Besides, given the limitation of our human resources, the country needs all the talents it can access for national development. It may also be a necessary price for political

stability given the history of the aftermath of elections the loser never concedes, stirring up trouble, making the country ungovernable. This makes investment difficult, and by extension, development becomes affected. Whoever wins must give a commitment to political reform in which the people will be empowered - they must be able to exert some influence over policymaking and contracts. The winner must redefine the role of government to include the views of the opposition. The policies of the government must be people focused -

reforms must be instituted so that people are consulted on every aspect of governance and policy-making. The opposition must demand this concession if the ruling party does not consult the people. This will strengthen public support for and the legitimacy of the government. Mechanisms must be put in place to insure proper accountability of funds and efficiency in governance. A spirit of compromise is required from the winner and cooperation is required from the other parties to improve governing. Vishnu Bisram

Oxford Dictionary Editor supports Sanders for C/wealth SG position DEAR EDITOR, While electioneering is in full swing in the Caribbean since a few countries are voting for new governments, there are moves behind the scenes in most Commonwealth countries to elect a new Commonwealth Secretary General. A l e x M a y , a distinguished writer and commentator, who is the research editor of Oxford Dictionary, feels that Sir Ronald Sanders, a senior

diplomat, commentator, is the best person suited for the top position of the 53 nation body. Writing in the Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, he stated that the election will be a crucial one since there is need for a “turn around” and it is of vital importance who is elected to make this move. He said that the choice is between two persons. One from the Caribbean and the other from Africa: The first is a distinguished woman who

served two terms as deputy Secretary General under Lamaesh Sharma, with responsibility for Secretariat’s activities. Mmasekgoa MasireMwamba has considerable experience in business (including Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority) and the other Sir Ronald Sanders who he said “brings considerable experience of management (including in

the international finance and telecommunication section) and of the Commonwealth as a diplomat, political commentator and key figure in the: (“Eminent Persons Group) appointed in 2010 to advise on reform of the Commonwealth (some of whose recommendations were rejected and others accepted, though their implementation has been very long in coming). Well known and widely respected in the Caribbean (Continued on page 5)

THE IDENTITY CONUNDRUM

DEAR EDITOR, The discussion on the question of identity always seems to heat up during an elections campaign in Guyana. The language of the discussions is often coloured to influence voters around a particular identity as dictated in recent letters to this newspaper. These coloured identities are afraid of being left out of the political process, but fail to see that voting for your own identity results in other identities being left out of the political process which in turn fuels a host of unwanted human behaviour. The point I make here is that no matter what colour your identity is, the resulting behaviours are human. Nelson Mandela summed it up in one line, “We are fighting for a society where people will cease thinking in terms of colour.... It’s not a question of race; its’ a question of ideas.” If a government makes decisions on behalf of all human beings all ethnicities will benefit, but when a

government is only representative of one ethnicity all humanity does not benefit - but is there such a thing as a human identity? In all the letters that I have read there is no mention of the human identity, despite the fact that there is enough scientific proof to justify that we all belong to the human race. So the question I would like to leave with our identity writers is: what is your identity? And if it is not human how is it different? Is it superior or inferior to the human being? I am not an academic or a scholar by any stretch of my own imagination, but as far back as I can see into the past, this ethnic identity that we have accepted is one which was given to us by those who usurped their power over us for their own economic benefits. As long as we continue to hold on to these subdivisions of our humanity, we will continue exposing ourselves to economic exploitation by selfish

human beings. I will close with these thoughts from Nelson Mandela. “The anchor of all my dreams is the collective wisdom of mankind as a whole. I am influenced more than ever before by the conviction that social equality is the only basis of human happiness... It is around these issues that my thoughts revolve. They are centered on humans, the ideas for which they strive; on the new world that is

emerging; the new generation that declares total war against all forms of cruelty, against any social order that upholds economic privilege for a minority and that condemns the mass of the population to poverty and disease, illiteracy and the host of evils that accompany a stratified society.” Our fight is with Ignorance, not with each other. Jai Parsram Toronto

The nation holds its breath

DEAR EDITOR, As never before in the last twenty-three years, the nation awaits the results of an election. As the saying goes, all is fair in love and war but in Guyana, the phrase “he who laughs last, laughs best” will define every moment until the results are known. The people, especially the youths, were fully aware

of the importance of this election, and turned out in their numbers. They were cognizant that it has put the fate of the nation at stake and could not be taken lightly. Further, everything was on the line in this election and nothing was taken for granted. So as the votes are counted, the nation holds its breath. Dr. Asquith Rose

Tuesday May 12, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news

FORCE RIPE TERRITORY The President who never was

DEAR EDITOR, When we think of a mango or fruit that is picked to eat before it is ripe, we are in force ripe territory. Or think of the case, where something is dressed to look as if it is fully matured or ready for commercial use. Guyanese have had a collection of these force ripe experiences in this political season. For example, the Marriott Hotel is a classical exposition of being force ripe. It opened for business a few weeks ago, but construction is still ongoing and financing is still to be completed. Any guess of the occupancy rate? Is it 10, 5 or 2 percent? What is the value of the subsidy received on a daily basis from the treasury? Did I hear force ripe? What of the Skeldon factory and the sugar packaging plant? Both opened a long time ago, but performance is far below expectations and it costs tax

payers a ton of money. Are these as well force ripe? And is it true that the plant is being used to packaging rice instead of sugar? Is this another gimmick? Can the Minister of Agriculture confirm? Then there is “Morning Glory”. Morning Glory? Yes, another force ripe idea. It is recorded that the President visited the site and turned the sod. He made a promise of jobs, but it would appear that the feasibility study for the project and its financing are not yet available. It is also important to point out that in naming your product, “Morning Glory”, you must check the meaning of the words used to identify your product to avoid any embarrassment. A quick check on the worldwide web will show why the name, ‘morning glory’ is not appropriate for a morning cereal. Caution is recommended to those who wish to visit the web. But back to the force ripe

idea and now the Specialty Hospital. Is the specialty hospital a force ripe idea? Yes it is, for taxpayer money is wasted and legal action has been instituted to get a refund of taxpayer money which seems like a lost cause, signaling another force ripe ‘plaything’ on the Guyanese palate. What of the Amaila-Motilall road to nowhere that cost taxpayers millions of dollars daily? Add to this list of playthings the fibre optic cable, one laptop per family, the hopeless canal. Force ripe, tax payer expense? The answer is obvious. Finally, on May 7th 2015, Minister Robert Persaud forced an announcement before the private company made a press release about finding something in the Atlantic Ocean. Notice, I did not say commercial quantities of oil. To the time of writing all we have is only political posturing and a force ripe territory. C. Kenrick Hunte

These children deserve a peaceful environment DEAR EDITOR, The Elections have been held. The CSEC and CAPE examinations will resume. Children, their parents, their teachers and their lessons providers have invested much in the preparation for these examinations. These children deserve a peaceful environment in which to complete this phase of their lives. Adults, particularly the political operatives, need to show respect for these children who so often are referred to as the future of the country. The recent soundings at many of the campaign meetings and during interviews have certainly not demonstrated that respect or

an appreciation of the manner in which vitriol affects the psyche of individuals as well as the collective. Attempts at instilling fear in sections of the populace are reprehensible. Let the post-election period be one which is calm and conducive to performance of a high quality by these students. Let adults behave in a responsible manner, one which sets the example for these young Guyanese

poised as they are to realize the sentiments of one of the national songs: But not in vain we’ll strive to build A new Guyana great and free; A land of glory and of hope, A land of love and unity. Janice M. Jackson

DEAR EDITOR, It always amazes me, particularly during election campaign season, that the PPP never seems to mention the name Hugh Desmond Hoyte. It is as though he never existed. During every elections campaign, the PPP resurrects Forbes Burnham as the bogey man who is blamed for multiple perceived ills and injustices too numerous to count. The PPP/C speakers then paint Burnham as the Godzilla who ran the PNC and wrecked all that was good and pleasant in Guyana. But, stick a pin! Forbes Burnham died in 1985 and was succeeded by Hugh Desmond Hoyte. This latter gentleman was Guyana’s PNC President from 1985 to 1992. In the annals of Guyana’s political history, as written up by the PPP/C, Guyana must have run itself during this seven-year period. Of all people, former President Jagdeo should remember Desmond Hoyte from the days he (Jagdeo) worked at the State Planning Secretariat. Hoyte told me many times that he remembered Jagdeo well from those days. It was during the Hoyte years as President that Barama and Omai Gold Mines put down their huge investments in Guyana, to name just these two foreign direct investors who paved the way for the many investments that followed in the mining and forestry

sectors. It was Hoyte who gave the world Iwokrama and paved the way for Jagdeo to finesse recognition as a Champion of the Earth. In 1992, it was Hoyte who paved the way for the elections that brought the PPP in to power. As a direct result, most, if not all, of our present day nouveaux riches and parvenus indirectly owe their staggering wealth to Desmond Hoyte’s embrace of free and fair elections. At the apex of this rich list I place the politician who

was able to discard his tight, faded, blue shirtjac in favour o f d es ig n er s u its an d handmade ties. Hoyte did not build a huge mansion in Sparendaam, he did not own huge properties in Queenstown, Central Georgetown or Subryanville opposite the Russian Embassy, nor did he own luxury apartments in New York in prime up-market areas. Small wonder the PPP never mentions Hoyte—the President who never was! F. Hamley Case

Oxford Dictionary... From page 4 and in Commonwealth circles, he combines diplomatic, managerial and political skills and a realistic appraisal of possibilities with a passionate commitment to the Commonwealth and core values” The respected Alex May then made this important point “If anyone can revitalize the Commonwealth, one feels, it

is him...” If Sir Ronald is chosen it will certainly give the Caribbean a big boost because he was intimately involved in the region from a broadcaster in his homeland Guyana to the Head of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) and then to Antigua and Barbuda High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Oscar Ramjeet

Tuesday May 12, 2015

Kaieteur News

Drug-resistant ‘superbug’ strain of typhoid spreads worldwide An antibiotic-resistant “superbug” strain of typhoid fever has spread globally, driven by a single family of the bacteria, called H58, according to the findings of a large international study. The research, involving some 74 scientists in almost two dozen countries, is one of the most comprehensive sets of genetic data on a human infectious agent and paints a worrying scene of an “ever-increasing public health threat”, they said. Typhoid is contracted by drinking or eating contaminated matter and symptoms include nausea, fever, abdominal pain and pink spots on the chest. Untreated, the disease can lead to complications in the gut and head, which may prove fatal in up to 20 percent of patients. Vaccines are available — although, due to limited cost effectiveness, not widely used in poorer countries — and regular strains of the infection can be treated with antibiotic drugs. However, this study found that the H58 “superbug” version, which is resistant to multiple types of antibiotics, is now becoming dominant. “H58 is displacing other typhoid strains, completely transforming the genetic architecture of the disease and creating a previously underappreciated and on-going epidemic,” the researchers said in a statement about their findings.

Vanessa Wong of Britain’s Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, who was part of the international team, said that since typhoid affects around 30 million people a year, robust and detailed good global surveillance is critical to trying to contain it. The research team, whose work was published in the journal Nature Genetics on Monday, sequenced the genomes of 1,832 samples of Salmonella Typhi bacteria that were collected from 63 countries between 1992 and 2013. They found 47 percent were from the H58 strain. The team found that H58 emerged in South Asia 25 to 30 years ago and spread to Southeast Asia, Western Asia, East and South Africa and Fiji. They also found evidence of a recent and unreported wave of H58 transmission in many countries in Africa, which may represent an ongoing epidemic. Kathryn Holt, a scientist at the University of Melbourne in Australia who worked on the study, said multidrug resistant typhoid is caused by the bacteria picking up new resistance genes as disease strains mix and pass from person to person. Resistance “has been coming and going since the 1970s”, she said, but in the H58 strain, the resistance genes are becoming a stable part of the genome “which means multiple antibiotic resistant typhoid is here to stay”.

Greece says deal will be ‘difficult’ at EUROGROUP MEETING Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis acknowledged that a deal to ease Greece’s cash crunch was not likely at a meeting of euro zone finance ministers later on Monday despite progress in talks with lenders on some issues. Greece is under growing pressure to reach agreement with lenders to avoid financial chaos though many Greeks also want the government to stick to its “red lines” of avoiding further pension cuts and labor reforms making it easier to fire workers. A 750 million euro debt repayment to the IMF falls due today but Varoufakis said a deal that would provide some liquidity relief for Greece was more likely in the coming days. “Ôhe likelihood is not ruled out. The messages we are getting are that it will be difficult,” Varoufakis told Sto Kokkino radio yesterday. Varoufakis, who will take part in the meeting, said the two sides had converged on many issues. “The Greek government is struggling in a very tough negotiating fight to achieve an agreement that will not only be an agreement to have a disbursement (of aid) but one that will deliver a substantive hit to the crisis,” he said. “I think the solution will be given in the coming days and not necessarily

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis today. We will do whatever we can to achieve (liquidity) relief today.” Euro zone officials have ruled out a deal with Greece at Monday’s meeting and said any statement they make is unlikely to be enough to allow the European Central Bank to raise the limit on short-term Treasury bills that Greek banks can buy - a move Athens has sought as a way to avert a national bankruptcy. In a sign of growing pressures within the ruling Syriza party against backing down to lenders, the parliament speaker Nikos Filis suggested on Monday that the IMF debt repayment would depend on the Eurogroup outcome. The stance of Filis, a

hardliner within Syriza, is different from that of the government, which says it will make the payment on Tuesday. “It is clear that any move by one side affects the other side. The next moves will be shaped by today’s developments, we are seeking an agreement,” Filis told Mega TV. “The decision (on the IMF repayment) will be taken today. It depends on the Eurogroup,” he said. A Marc poll for Ton Syntakton newspaper on Monday showed that 76.9 percent of Greeks want the country to stay in the euro zone with only 19.2 percent saying they favor a return to the drachma.

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Tuesday May 12, 2015

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GIVE PATIENCE A CHANCE! Guyana is a huge country. Guyana is not Georgetown. It comprises human settlements from the highlands to the coastland. And while 80% of the population resides along the coast, we must appreciate that Guyana’s coastline runs for more than two hundred miles and there are hundreds of villages and settlements along the coastal strip. One of the problems that is presented every election year is that people tend to judge what happens based on their little neck of the woods. They see a massive turnout in one area and assume that whichever party the majority

of the turnout in their area votes for has won the election. One has to be cautious in this regard because one neck of the woods is not the entire woods. A clump of trees is not a forest. People find strength in numbers, but often their numbers are not as strong as they may feel. What they may assume may not be really so. Guyanese are awaiting the results of yesterday’s elections. Some people have expectations about victory. But sometimes when one’s expectations are too high and too unrealistic, when it fails to consider that the election is not won by any single community, village or town,

then reality can have a devastating effect when that reality sinks in. And that reality can lead to frustration and cause people to lose reason and control. It is always wise in situations such as the one that faces Guyana today to be patient. The Guyana Elections Commission has promised results in fortyeight hours. That may be too ambitious given past experience and the need to avoid mistakes, especially where there is a belief that the election is going to be extremely close. Guyanese have to be patient. There are

Dem boys seh...

It wrang to be stupid and bun people vehicle fuh no reason Almost all over de world, elections does cause tension. It does raise blood pressure. Some people can’t sleep. Some does cause confusion and riot. In short, elections does disrupt life in general. Before 1992 PNC use to mess up de election wid rigging. Carter come and mek things change. Since ‘92 every election had tension; some had riots, looting and violence. Last night dem had violence in Sophia because of people who can’t read and write and who really stupid. Dem ain’t know de difference between a polling station and a command centre. Dem create confusion and bun up eight of de people vehicles. Dem boys sehe that it wrong. Yesterday, violence nearly bruck out elsewhere and people coulda dead. But Granger and Harmon save de day. Kwame, always an upstart, walk in a polling place like wha he do de last time and think people woulda let him carry on wid he lawless lewd behavior. Not yesterday, dem boys seh. De people wasn’t willing to tolerate nutten bout Kwame. Not even de police coulda save him. He start fuh beg and cry upstairs when de crowd tun up at de school. Right away he beg de polling station staff fuh call President

Granger. Dem boys seh that when Granger arrive he go down pun he knees. “Ow Comrade Leader, help me.” This was de same Granger that he cuss throughout de campaign and seh how de man is a danger. De same Granger had to escort he out of de polling station, put him in a police vehicle, then he and Harmon jump in de tray of de vehicle so that de vehicle coulda come out de crowd. When de vehicle was out of harm’s way, Granger stop de vehicle and he and Harmon walk back to de polling station. Dem boys hear Kwame hollering “Thank you Comrade Leader.” Dis same man lef de place in perfect condition. Every camera show this. Yet dis upstart seh how people break he jaw. He spend de night in hospital. Rohee coulda spend de night in hospital too. He got a sick finger that could turn septic. Moses seh that he woulda cut it off. But he choose to walk around wid de sick finger hide up and de middle finger up in de air, showing everybody. Dem boys seh that he should stick that finger wheh de monkey pout de nut because people deserve more respect. Talk half and remember that elections is time fuh stupidness

international observers who are overseeing the process. There are local observers doing the same. The political parties have their personnel also involved. The staff of GECOM will be under a great deal of pressure and while it is important that they be held to a high standard, it is equally important they be given the latitude and space to complete their work. Patience is necessary at this time. Any attempt to rush GECOM into making a hasty declaration can backfire on the elections body, because in trying to appease the anxious it may create further problems for itself. By now, of course, the various political parties would have some idea as to how they performed at yesterday’s polls. Their polling agents would have submitted to their parties’ command centres, the respective statements of poll. The parties would have been tallying up these statements of poll. In 2006, the PPPC knew long beforehand that it had won the elections, but it could not come out and say so because there is an agreement that the results would only be declared by GECOM. But by and large the main contesting parties would have by now known how they did. But they have to also await the count by GECOM which would be eager to avoid any mistakes. The problem with the political parties is that they often have organizational problems, and while many of them like to criticize GECOM and protest about the pace of the release of the results, they

are no better. Many times they are unable to efficiently put together all their statements of poll. And thus they have gaps in their tallying. In 2011, APNU demanded that GECOM supply them with both hard and soft copies of the results. APNU made this demand despite the fact that it should have had polling agents in every polling station and thus in possession of the statements of poll for these stations. Months after they received the required information from GECOM, APNU was still tallying. APNU+AFC has now come up with a strange system to allow the coalition to tabulate the results. It has asked its supporters to send images of the results pasted up outside of the polling stations. This is strange request by APNU, because the more logical thing to do is to have its polling agents call in the results. Images can be doctored and sent to APNU

giving one result while the true result is different. One therefore has to exercise patience in the matter of tabulation of the results. And let us be clear: once the ballots have been counted at the polling stations and the statements of poll complied and submitted, the ballot boxes, whose movement people are so suspicious of, really no longer matter. It is the certified and verified statements of poll from which the final declaration is derived. All those appeals, therefore, for people to safeguard the ballot boxes is nothing but a mobilization tactic. The final count is done from the statements of poll. Instead of fretting, people need to give patience a chance.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 12, 2015

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Can someone please help Donald Ramotar It is mind-boggling for the captain of a continuously losing cricket team to heap praise on his wicket-keeper, who throughout the Test series, dropped vital catches. For the captain to say that his wicket-keeper never dropped catches is tantamount to being a fool and will bring ridicule. As a human being, not just a Guyanese, I feel sorry for Donald Ramotar. Surely, a president can say partisan things but even in that game he has to appear credible. Why would a president say the most outlandish things that invite laughter from his nation? In reporting on the 2015 elections, the BBC lists Guyana as the third poorest country in South America after Haiti and Nicaragua. It has been like that a long time now. But President Ramotar told an audience in Albion in July 2013 (see my August 8, 2013 column) that

in his three remaining years in power, he plans to make Guyana, a First World country. It meant that Mr. Ramotar would have performed the most miraculous feat in nationbuilding since Plato wrote, “the Republic.” From being the third poorest in South America and one of the poorest in the entire world, Mr. Ramotar would have jumped more than a hundred and fifty countries in the space of three years. It was appalling nonsense and all Guyanese knew it was. In November of the next year (2014) at another public event, Mr. Ramotar repeated the silly statement. Can’t Ramotar be more realistic when he speaks about the performance of his government? After voting yesterday with his wife, Mr. Ramotar was interviewed by the media. He made three observations that were both infantile and dangerous. He said he told

Jimmy Carter before the former American President left on Sunday that the opposition wasted priceless opportunities at inclusive governance. Secondly, he said that the parliamentary committees were embodiments of powersharing. Thirdly, opposition supporters had nothing to fear from a 2015 PPP election victory because since 1992, the PPP has not victimized any such person. The first two opinions need not detain us suffice it to say that opposition participation in parliamentary committees is not powersharing because state control under our constitution is exclusively in the hands of the presidency. The two most blatant examples of this are the spending of monies by the Finance Minister that Parliament had prohibited. This was what eventually led to the no-confidence motion and Ramotar’s refusal

to assent to Bills passed by Parliament. It is the third opinion that is both comical and dangerous. If Mr. Ramotar could say that since 1992 when it came to power, the PPP never victimized its critics then that is equivalent to saying that there was never a thing named slavery and there was never a thing called the killing of Jews by Nazi Germany. The denial of victimization of Guyanese who criticized the PPP Government may sound asinine but it is dangerous—dangerous in the sense that it calls into question how mentally balanced Mr. Ramotar is. If Mr. Ramotar can argue that his PPP Government since 1992 was never vindictive towards an opposition person or a citizen who was opposed to it, then it is frightening to think what this man will do if he is reelected. One does not know where to start to show Mr.

Ramotar the evidence and the pieces of evidence would run into the thousands not hundreds. I honestly don’t know where to begin but we can start with the media. It was Mrs. Jagan herself, the matriarch of the PPP, that informed President Jagdeo he was wrong to withdraw state placements from the Stabroek News. Later, the Kaieteur News fell victim to that vindictive act. One wonders how the publishers of both of these newspapers feel when both were denied their application for radio licenses and more than two dozens such permits were awarded and not even one went to an independent organization much less a critic of the PPP. Mr. Ramotar said he told Carter that if he wins the 2015 elections, he will not be pressured into powersharing. That is obvious. Even when Ramotar lost the 2011 elections, he refused even a modicum of power-

Pensioner Cedric Boyce, 85, of 130 Cato Street, Agricola, who was struck down on a pedestrian crossing on the Agricola public road Monday, last, is recovering at the Georgetown

Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) male surgical ward. Boyce said, contrary to what this publication would have published, he was struck by a car and not a minibus. In his account of what

Frederick Kissoon sharing. But the problem with people like those in the PPP leadership, is that they think that the nonsense they tell Guyanese they can also tell people from other countries. Mr. Ramotar seriously believes that Jimmy Carter does not know about the internecine ethnic and political divisions that strangulate Guyana’s development? Does Ramotar believe the scholars at the Carter Centre haven’t informed Mr. President Carter about the nature of power under the PPP? I hope Ramotar isn’t that stupid.

Pensioner recovering after road accident

happened, Boyce said that he went to the Agricola Post office to receive his pension, but it was not available, so he decided to make his way back home. With the Agricola police outpost just above the post office, a police officer stopped traffic on both sides of the road to allow pensioners to cross, using the pedestrian crossing that was in the vicinity, according to Boyce. He said that he was able to cross the first half of the four lane road, but as he attempted to cross the second half he was struck down by the car which was being piloted by a female staff member of the GPHC. The driver was subsequently arrested and placed in police custody for 72 hours before she was released. She has since made visits to Boyce and have offered compensation, an action that the man’s daughter has confirmed. “We done settle the matter,” she said. The woman explained that her father is in good health so there is no need to push the matter. Boyce also told Kaieteur News that the driver was reasonable and remorseful as she paid interest in his well-being since the accident. He said that he is feeling a little better. He now nurses fractures to his neck, spine, right shoulder, and right elbow and lacerations about the body. However, he is expected to be discharged from the hospital soon.

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Kaieteur News

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Death of motorcyclist… US hit-and-run driver jailed for death of Guyanese girl Relatives' adamant victim received no CT scan

NEW YORK (CMC) -Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice, Elizabeth Foley, has sentenced a Long Island, New York man to four to 12 years in jail after pleading guilty to killing a nine-year-old Guyanese American girl in a vehicular accident. Brooklyn District Attorney, Ken Thompson, said that Kenneth Palache, 63, was sentenced to the "indeterminate term" by Justice Foley. Palache had pleaded guilty to one count of seconddegree manslaughter and two counts of second-degree assault on April 14, 2015 for causing the death of Rebecca Ramnarine after he "rearended" the van she was riding in and injuring two other passengers. Palache had been fleeing from police at the time, Thompson said. Justice Foley ordered Palache's sentences to run concurrently. He had faced a maximum of five to 15 years if convicted at trial. "This defendant senselessly killed a 9-year-old little girl and seriously injured another young child and her mother by driving recklessly on the streets of Brooklyn," Thompson said. "He should have never

JAILED: Kenneth Palache

DEAD: Rebecca Ramnarine

been behind the wheel in the first place. Every day that he serves in prison will be a reminder of the innocent young life that he's destroyed." According to police investigation, on May 4, 2014, Palache, who was driving with a suspended licence, ran a red light and collided with a SUV carrying a family of five, including three children, causing minor injuries to all. Thompson said Palache left the scene and was stopped by police about a mile away from the initial accident.

He then sped away and struck another vehicle, after which he ran a red light on Remsen Avenue and Avenue M in Canarsie, going in excess of 50 miles per hour, the District Attorney said. He said Palache then struck a minivan that had stopped at a red light. Rebecca, who was seated in the rear of the minivan, was pinned in the vehicle and had to be removed by emergency service workers. She was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Father of dead five-month-old makes second court appearance Kevin Critchlow, the father of dead five-month-old, Kevon Critchlow, made his second court appearance at the Sparendaam Court on May 8, 2015, to answer to the charges of threatening language and threatening behaviour. However, the case was adjourned to June 29, 2015, because Critchlow's lawyer, Dexter Todd, and the virtual complainants Tenisha Harry and Latoya Kellman were absent from the hearing. During his first court appearance Critchlow was placed on $10,000 bail for each charge. The charges read that on the day in question, Critchlow being armed with a cutlass in one hand and while bearing the coffin of his son in the

Kevin Critchlow other hand went into the Plaisance health centre, making threatening remarks to-

wards the nurses. Critchlow was accused of blurting out "Blood will shed here today", and then he chopped a table before leaving. The man, who suffers from hypertension, is maintaining his innocence and has opined that he is now being framed and victimized by members of the health sector, in their attempt to cover up being culpable for the death of his baby boy. Kevon Critchlow died in March, less than 24 hours after he was injected by a nurse at the Plaisance health centre. Although the preliminary post mortem indicated that the child died of brain hemorrhage, the family maintains he was given a wrong injection.

Early screening needful to tackle... From page 22 Dr Novick said. The collaboration with the Foundation was streamlined by Guyanaborn Cardiovascular Surgeon, Dr Raj Kishan Narine, who currently practices in Canada but recognised the need for improved cardiac care in Guyana. He pointed out, then, that one of the important things in addressing cardiac care is the paediatric aspect

which includes paediatric cardiology and all supporting services. He mused over the fact that in Guyana “until now we have been unable to meet the need of this care.” However, he observed that the Government through the Ministry of Health has been working “very hard” over the last few years to address this state of affairs. Follow up care for chil-

dren operated on over the past two weeks will be afforded by GPHC's Head of Paediatrics, Dr Marisa Seepersaud, with the help of a few others. And according to Dr Isaac, “We want it to be the same level of care we give at home (Canada),” as she noted that she is happy with the level of care already being offered.

The family of dead motorcyclist, Quincy Greene, who died hours after he was injured in an accident last Sunday night just outside the Princess Hotel, in Providence, East Bank Demerara, is adamant that their relative was never given a CT scan and that he was dead before being taken for the 'supposed' scan. Greene died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) last Monday. The family is not only peeved at the fact they had initially paid for the scan which “was not done”, but because in their opinion had the scan been done, the moment it was paid for the life of their relative could have been preserved. The night of the accident, after Greene was transferred to the GPHC from the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, doctors informed the family that they had to pay for a head scan, which they did. The Surviving brother, Dexter Greene, said that the family arrived at the hospital sometime after 11:00pm and left about 3:00am and his brother who suffered severe head injuries was still in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Ward waiting to be thoroughly attended to. When the family arrived at the hospital the following morning, they were told that they needed to pay an additional sum of money to have the scan done, which they once again did. After being pushed around to see their relative, the family was told that he would be taken for the scan at 8:00am but was never taken until 11:00am. “Less than ten minutes after they took him for the scan they returned” said the brother. The family has opined that it is highly impossible for a scan to be done in such a short space of time. They have since accused the hospital of failing to save the life of Quincy as the scan which was much needed to influence treatment, was procrastinated for quite a number of hours. Greene also said that when his brother returned he went into the A&E ward with him and there were no signs of him breathing, but the doctors did not say anything, they just avoided the family from seeing his brother. After some prolonged time the doctors then broke the news of the young man's death to the family. It was then that loud wails were heard outside the GPHC A&E unit as family members comforted each other.

Quincy Greene The peeved family members were in loud uproars as they protested that the hospital present the scan result if it was indeed true that a scan was done on the young man. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of GPHC, Sabitini Daniels, said in a press release that Greene died due to the severity of the injuries acquired during the accident. The deceased man was taken to have a CT scan at 10:30 hrs on Monday, May 04 and was transported back to

the Accident and Emergency Unit at 11:15 hrs on the said day. The scan showed that his vital signs were unstable and he had multiple intracranial bleeding. He died 20 minutes after returning from the CT scan. The hospital has dismissed the claims by the family, who opined that when he left to have the CT scan done he was not breathing and had already died. “The reason, the man may have appeared not to be breathing is that doctors had to intubate him in an effort to keep him alive since he was not breathing adequately. However, he subsequently died.” It is still unclear whether the alleged Doctor who was piloting the car on the night of the tragedy, has been apprehended. Meanwhile, the driver who was behind the wheels of the car which struck down and kill former Guyanese boxer Andrew 'Sixheads' Lewis almost immediately, has already been arrested and charged.

Political candidates... From page 13 respective stations. An 86year-old great grandfather was eager to speak to this newspaper yesterday about his eagerness to vote. “I have voted for some time and I must say that I have never felt emotion before like this. It is a different energy. Everybody wants to vote now and it was really overwhelming. It is a season that is bringing people together. “Look, my neighbour who always cussing me out for some nonsense when the day come, was the one to help me out the house

this morning. I feel a change coming. I pray to the almighty that it is here soon,” he expressed with his head raised to the sky. Another voter of La Penitence said, “I just voted and to me, everything was very easy and fair. The officers were courteous and I didn't have to wait long. “I am happy that I got it done early but I am just worried about the next few days. I hope the leaders continue to be around and engage the electorate because the tension is high and people are nervous.”

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Kaieteur News

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Tuesday May 12, 2015

Page 25

Kaieteur News

Defective GECOM stamp causes protest at polling station By Abena Rockcliffe Pandemonium broke out at Central High School Smyth Street, Georgetown, yesterday morning, after a reported amount of 49 voters got news that they might have been disenfranchised at the negligence of a worker attached to the Guyana E l e c ti o n s C o m m i s s io n (GECOM.) When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene, an angry crowd stood outside the building demanding that something be done to ensure that their cast votes with defective stamps are counted. This was as a result of the fact that the Presiding Officer of one of the polling stations housed at the school, decided to write on some of the numbers that are supposed to form GECOM's official six digits stamp. Kaieteur News was told that about two of the numbers of the stamp were absent and the officer, instead of informing the relevant authorities so that a new stamp could be had, decided to write the missing digits. When one voter realized what was happening, he raised an alarm and “things went crazy” from there, resulting in the suspension of voting at that station. “They wait till the young people come out to fool them. We came cool and calm to nasty we finger and

watch wah dem doing. You can't tell we months you preparing for elections and your stamp ain't working,” said a voter. Another voter added, “Only Jah knows what would have happened if that man didn't realize what they doing. We votes wouldn't a count.” Applause was given when GECOM's Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally arrived at the polling place. He immediately went into the specific station and addressed the issue. The angry voters were so eager to know what would become of the officer that they rushed to the side of the school and peered through the vents. Dr. Surujbally seemed to be speaking firmly to the young woman. But even that was not enough to “humble” her as she rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips while being spoken to by her boss. The GECOM Chairman then had cause to ask her if she had any training. The attentive crowd shouted, “We gun hang yuh.” After this Dr, Surujbally returned outside and assured irate voters their votes would be counted, nevertheless, after which he apologized for the mishap. Surujbally said that a similar problem was identified at a polling station at West Ruimveldt. He said that Chief Elections Officer, Keith

Dr. Steve Surujbally as he addressed irate voters Lowenfield, would have arrived in “10 minutes” with a replacement stamp so that the once stalled voting process at that station could have continued. This announcement appeased the voters and things continued peacefully. As promised, Lowenfield soon after delivered a new stamp. Lowenfield told reporters, “Yes she marked it with a pen and said that it was in her training. I really can't say what is going on. I brought the stamp and the situation has been appeased.” Meanwhile, A Partnership For National

Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) held a press conference yesterday afternoon where this matter was addressed. The coalition's election co-chair, Raphael Trotman said that he would not deem the incident as nothing more, but one where the equipment simply failed the officers there and as such, they substituted with writing in the illegibly stamped six digit numbers. Though there have been several disturbances around the country, Trotman said that he is generally satisfied with the process. Even

at15:00pm, he was still encouraging the “undecided” to “get out and vote” during this historic period Trotman stated that voting in all the regions except Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four) saw a smooth process with little to no disruptions. In Region Four, the politician said that the opposition has noted that persons were found trying to infiltrate polling stations and tamper with the ballot boxes. “I spoke with the people on the ground and I don't understand why people would want to take

possession of ballot boxes in Guyhoc and Tucville. And some of these people involved in these activities are known PPP/C activists. We don't know why these attempts, but we were made to understand that these cases were adequately dealt with by the police,” said Trotman. He noted, however, that while Region Five voting was smooth, the party received one report of an under aged girl being allowed to cast her vote. Tr o t m a n s a i d t h a t h e understands that the matter is being investigated.

Granger escorts Kwame McCoy through... From page 2 went up. Presidential Candidate for A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Granger had arrived along with Joseph Harmon, a top official and candidate. Granger made his way into the compound of the polling station and the gates were locked behind him. Upstairs, Mc Coy was seen in a corner on the phone, all alone. After speaking with police officers, Granger returned downstairs where he climbed onto a police truck and urged for quiet. He warned that the presence of a “certain person” inside the polling place would derail the voting process at the station. He urged the crowd to allow the police to escort the “person” out and that he was not to be touched. There was a resounding “shout of assent from the crowd.At this, Granger urged for the voting to go on

and for the police to do their work. Within five minutes, Mc Coy came downstairs, to loud boos. Surrounded by police he was escorted to a black police pickup, which earlier was involved in another incident that left its rear glass shattered. The pickup with Granger and Harmon in the tray, and Mc Coy inside, drove off for a short distance before the Presidential Candidate and Harmon jumped off. Meanwhile, Mc Coy's p a r t y, t h e P e o p l e ' s Progressive Party (PPP) claimed that he was physically assaulted by Opposition supporters. They said that Mc Coy, as part of his responsibilities for which all candidates are entitled, visited the St. Sidwell Primary School. “Acting upon a deliberate and malicious r u m o u r, h u n d r e d s o f supporters of the Opposition coalition, swarmed the school thereby entrapping

Mc Coy in the process. During that horrific and frightening period, Mc Coy was subjected to abuses and is currently hospitalized nursing serious bodily injuries. Had Rt. Brig. David Granger not dissuaded his supporters from pursuing their assault, Mc Coy's injuries could have been much worse.” PPP said it had warned about the Opposition peddling reckless rumours, which not only have the potential for serious consequences on people, but can put the electoral process in jeopardy thereby derailing the hard fought democracy. “Our Party believes that the spreading of rumours is a manifestation of the Opposition's attempts to fabricate excuses if they were to lose these elections. Having built false hope in the minds of their supporters, they have, through these rumours, set the stage for the non-acceptance of the results which can precipitate

calls on the leadership of the Opposition coalition to demonstrate a profound sense of responsibility and to reign in its supporters who are bent on creating havoc. Only recently, leaders within the Opposition declared that the coalition would be unable to restrain its supporters during these elections.” The party added, that it was calling on both the international and local observers to be cognizant of these incidents and for all to stay resolute to safeguard democracy. Harmon in a press conference late yesterday denied Mc Coy was injured during his exit from the polling place. He said that any injury sustained by Mc Coy was either self-inflicted or caused by the police. Video Kwame Mc Coy upstairs of the polling station at St. Sidwell's Primary yesterday. evidence showed McCoy walking out of the school instability within the country. elections and have only protected by the police, into There is overwhelming served to set our country the vehicle, and being driven evidence of such, during past backwards.” The PPP said it away.

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 12, 2015

Tuesday May 12, 2015

Kaieteur News

U.S. rejects notion that Gulf rulers snubbing Obama summit The White House scrambled yesterday to counter perceptions that the Saudi king’s absence from a summit later this week could undermine U.S. efforts to assure Gulf states it remains committed to their security against Iran. King Salman’s abrupt decision to skip the U.S.hosted regional talks shows how Gulf rulers, displeased by what they see as U.S. indifference to Iranian meddling in the Arab world, may hesitate to bless any final nuclear deal that President Barack Obama reaches with Tehran. Some analysts and diplomats in the Middle East and Washington interpreted Salman’s decision to stay away from the meeting at the Camp David presidential retreat as a diplomatic snub, despite denials from U.S. and Saudi officials. Riyadh announced the monarch’s no-show on Sunday, only two days after the White House had said he would attend the summit of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states - some of which have long doubted Obama’s commitment to confronting Iranian backing of Shi’ite Muslim militias across the region. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who has strong ties with the U.S. political and security establishment, will represent Saudi Arabia at the May 13-14 gathering along with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the king’s son who serves as the defence minister. Since Salman took power in January, the pair have determined most aspects of Saudi policy. Only two of the Gulf countries - Kuwait and Qatar - will be represented by their ruling monarchs, while the others are all sending lowerranking officials. U.S. officials quickly pushed back against the notion that Gulf Sunni Muslim allies downgraded their attendance to signal dissatisfaction with Obama’s diplomacy with Shi’ite Iran ahead of an end-June deadline for a landmark nuclear deal. The White House announced that Obama had spoken by phone to Salman on Monday, apparently trying to show that relations remained on a solid footing. Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser, said the administration was convinced that the president would have “the right group of people around the table” at Camp David. “These are

King Salman Bin AbdelAziz the people responsible for the security portfolios,” he told reporters in a pre-summit briefing. The Saudi government said one of the main reasons Salman was skipping the summit was because it overlapped with a five-day humanitarian ceasefire in neighboring Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is waging a bombing campaign against Iran-allied Houthi rebels. The leading Gulf Arab power has complained for years that Washington does not take its concerns seriously. It thinks a focus on settling the dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program has distracted the United States from more urgent problems and raised questions about broader security commitments to the region. SEEKING TO PLACATEALLIES Seeking to reassure the Gulf allies, White House officials said on Monday the summit would produce announcements on integrating ballistic missile defense systems and increasing joint military exercises. They said there would also be a statement outlining both U.S. and Gulf states’ commitments but were vague about whether that would entail the written U.S. assurances that some Gulf diplomats have sought. The U.S. officials said, however, that they told Gulf states they would not offer a defense treaty, which would face steep obstacles in Congress. Washington is also poised to offer new weapons under a push for a joint region-wide missile defence system, senior U.S. officials said last week. “The conspiracy theorists of old have been proven right. The U.S. creates threats for us and then offers us more weapons systems. That does not bode well for us,” said Sami Alfaraj, a Kuwaiti security adviser to the sixnation GCC.

Riyadh believes Iranian support for militias in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen is the biggest cause of regional instability, aggravating sectarian tensions, undermining strong government and boosting Sunni Muslim jihadists. The Saudis fear Obama sees a settlement between world powers and Tehran as his legacy. Such a deal on the nuclear program - which the West believes may be aimed at building weapons despite Iranian denials - could lift international sanctions without taming the country’s regional ambitions, they think. Backing from the GCC made up of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman - is important for Obama to show Congress that the Iran deal has broad regional support, despite Israeli opposition. Salman expressed guarded support for a framework nuclear agreement reached last month, but insists any accord must be robust, verifiable and no threat to Tehran’s neighbours. Echoing White House denials, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters in Washington that the notion of a snub by Salman was “really off-base,” and he insisted the king’s absence was not related to any disagreements between the two countries. But others in the region cited reasons for Saudi disappointment. “Their experience of six years from Obama is assurances, promises, nice words. But at the end of the day they got nothing in their hands,” said Mustafa Alani, an Iraqi security analyst with close ties to the Saudi crown prince’s Interior Ministry. Some diplomats in the region believe the absence from Camp David of King Salman and close ally King Hamad of Bahrain, host of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, may backfire.

Page 27

Justice Minister urges citizens to respect the police ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) – Minister of Justice, Senator Mark Golding, has called on citizens to respect the police, particularly in relation to the recent amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act, which have introduced several important changes in respect to ganja. “As Government, we are not encouraging anybody to smoke ganja, especially the youth at school. In fact, we are coming up with a public education programme to say to the youth, yes the law has changed and some of the harsh penalties have been removed, but this is not something for kids as kids should not be smoking and they should not be drinking alcohol,” the Minister emphasised. Senator Golding said the public education programme is necessary as the situation must be dealt with responsibly. Addressing a large group of citizens at a community sensitization meeting for farmers and hoteliers on the new legislation on ganja, in Orange Hill, Western Westmoreland, on May 8, the Minister urged citizens not to “exalt” themselves and disrespect hardworking law enforcement officers. “The Police have had to deal with

Senator Mark Golding the law for a long time as it was, so there are certain types of behaviour and understanding that have developed over many, many years around ganja. It is not an easy thing to transition from one set of understanding to the new dimension…this will take time. What I would say to everybody is this, deal with the police with respect,” he said. The Bill to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act to decriminalize ganja for medicinal, religious, scientific and therapeutic purposes, was passed by Parliament earlier this year. The law makes the possession of small quantities of ganja a non-arrestable offence, instead it makes it a ticketable infraction that does not result in a criminal record;

it permits the use of ganja for religious, medical, scientific, and therapeutic purposes; and it provides for regulation through the granting of licences to permit the development of a lawful industry for medical ganja and industrial hemp. Senator Golding also appealed to the police to “respect the law of the land, learn the law and serve and protect, work with the population and use your discretion wisely.” “I encourage you farmers to organize around the Association. I think this is a good system because when you are dealing with the government agency, it’s better than every little man doing it on his own,” Senator Golding urged.

Duty to clear government’s name, says Trinidad PM PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar yesterday emphasised that she has a duty to clear her government’s name with regard to fabricated emails that opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley presented to Parliament in May 2013. “I have a duty not just to myself, but to the members of our government and to the people of Trinidad and Tobago, to have the record cleared in the Parliament now that we have the evidence from independent sources. “Given that Parliament dissolves in June, if we had not done this now, Mr Rowley’s reckless and false charges would have stayed on the Hansard record for the rest of our lifetime. Now we can move forward with our responsibility to improve the lives of the people of our nation. “Mr Rowley was suspended because he fabricated documents with

Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar

serious false charges and introduced them in Parliament. If Mr Rowley cannot be trusted to work with integrity in the Parliament, how can we trust him to run our country?” Persad-Bissessar said. The prime minister also released a letter from a California law firm Computerlaw Group LLP, which confirmed that Google Inc had provided information requested by the Integrity Commission in relation to all emails exchanged between her and former attorney general Anand Ramlogan during the month of September 2012 and

confirmed that “there has been no match for any of the emails contained in the document produced by the leader of the opposition, Dr Keith Rowley which prompted the Integrity Commission’s investigation.” Computerlaw Group’s managing partner Jack Russo, who specializes in internet, computer law, and intellectual property litigation, also stated for the avoidance of doubt that none of the offending emails in that document were found to have been sent from or received by kamlapb1@gmail.com and anand@tstt.tt.net.

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RAMNARINE: T&T to produce cleaner diesel fuel (Trinidad Express) Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine said Trinidad and Tobago may soon be producing a cleaner alternative to diesel fuel when the recently-signed Mitsubish project comes on line. Ramnarine was the feature speaker on Saturday night at the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Dealers Association’s annual dinner, which was held at Radisson Hotel, Port of Spain. Ramnarine explained that the diesel alternative, or dimethyl ether or DME, is currently being used in mainland China which over the years has not only seen a phenomenal rise in private vehicle ownership but also a rise in the smog levels in their main cities. The Minister also stated that Trinidad and Tobago still maintains a buoyant economy despite the fall in oil prices, which he said had since steadily rose. Pointing out that the country’s GDP remained at US$21,000, he said: “Look at activity on the nation’s roads. There are 25,000 new and foreign-used cars being sold every year and in a few weeks time the children’s hospital and National Aquatic Centre and Dibe’s UWI campus is scheduled to be completed as well.” He also said that demand for everything, including cement, was also increasing which was another indicator of a buoyant economy,

adding that there were several more oil rigs operating off the country’s coast. “Our economy is strong and if you doubt me, look what’s happening in Trinidad and Tobago. We have had two surpluses for the first quarter of the year and oil prices have fallen and creeped back up and gas has fallen but not as dramatic as oil prices...we continue to weather the storm,” he said. Minister Ramnarine also explained that Trinidad and Tobago has one of the lowest fuel costs, including LPG or cooking gas, in the region, thanks to both Government and subsidies from State-owned Petrotrin. He said that while a small 20-pound tank of gas costs $21, in Grenada it is $110, St Vincent $102 and Tortola (British Virgin Islands) $172. He also explained that between April 2014 and January 2015, Petrotrin’s capacity to produce LPG was stymied amid reports that its catcracker, which breaks down crude oil into various other products, was felt to be unsafe by Petrotrin’s employees until it was examined by Lloyd’s of London who declared that it was indeed safe. However, he said, what locals did not know was that the country’s LPG needs were met without an interruption from Phoenix Park Gas processors, which is really a company meant to produce for the regional market.

Specially trained nurses leaving Jamaica in droves The ailing public health sector could be hauled into intensive care as scores of specially trained nurses have been leaving Jamaica for higher-paying jobs overseas. While Jamaican nurses have always been in high demand in foreign markets, the most recent exodus is particularly worrying to health sector insiders, who say overseas recruiters have been targeting the most highly trained nurses. These nurses have spent years earning speciality training in high-demand areas of patient care, including midwifery, critical care and operating theatre. According to some sources, as many as 150 such specialist nurses left the island last year. According to president of the Nurses’ Association of Jamaica (NAJ), Janet Farr, the migration of these specialist nurses is having a calamitous effect on the health sector. DRAINING THE SYSTEM “Last year alone, almost 90 specialist nurses left one particular institution in Kingston, and by specialist nurses I am talking about nurses who are double trained in midwifery, trained in accident and emergency, trained in critical care, and the recruiters are looking for these nurses desperately, and the result is draining our system,”

said Farr. The NAJ president argued that the Government needs to implement a retention programme that would offer highly trained nurses special incentives in an effort to keep them in the local health care sector. “We understand that there might not be enough money to pay them what they are worth, but the Government could offer them parcels of land or discounted loans for cars. These are things that the Government has done before, but we don’t see them doing it anymore. Offer them something tangible that might make them think twice before leaving, because as we train them, they go,” added Farr. The flight of specialist nurses has had a particularly negative effect on the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). According to CEO of the UHWI, Dr Cecil White, the hospital lost a substantial number of specialist nurses last year despite its investment in the training of these nurses. “The UHWI offers specialist training through its Nursing Staff Development Division (in-service), for nurses in critical care, emergency room nursing, operating theatre nursing and midwifery. Nurses are also given study leave to receive specialist training in psychiatric

nursing, paediatric nursing, nephrology nursing offered by the Ministry of Health InService Education Unit,” said White in a statement to The Sunday Gleaner. “Despite these efforts, during 2014, 50 specialist nurses resigned from the UHWI, and have indicated that they are migrating to North America,” added White. NURSES THAT LEFT He said specialist nurses who left the hospital last year included 25 critical care nurses, seven operating theatre nurses, five nurses specialising in midwifery and four emergency room nurses. White noted that the loss of such a large number of trained personnel in such a short period of time was placing additional pressure on the hospital’s administration. “Whenever specialist nurses resign, it results in shortages and increases the need for sessional work to maintain satisfactory levels of patient care. It also increases our administrative costs, as replacements have to be recruited and trained on an ongoing basis,” stressed White. “Most of the nurses that resign cite financial and family commitments as their main reasons for leaving for greener pastures. The UHWI is unable to offer salaries to compete with the packages being offered by the recruiters.”

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Pietersen triple century gives Strauss timely nudge Reuters - LONDON Kevin Pietersen showed just how desperate he is to play for England again by hitting the first triple century of his career on Monday to offer a timely reminder of his talents to new England cricket director Andrew Strauss. Pietersen, sacked by England last year, finished the day on 326 not out for Surrey after batting for over seven hours against Leicestershire at The Oval. “I’m desperate to play for England again. That’s what I want to do. It’s not just numbers, but how important the timing is,” the South-African born batsman told Sky Sports. “The pressure I was under this morning ... that’s one of the best innings I’ve ever

played. “I knew that I basically needed to answer and question with runs and goodness: 326 is a pretty good argument.” It was Pietersen’s 50th first-class ton and his first county championship hundred for nearly two years. He has faced 373 balls, hitting 34 fours and 14 sixes. Pietersen was sacked by England in February 2014 following the team’s 5-0 Ashes defeat in Australia after being accused of being a divisive character in the squad. But the 34-year-old said the only thing that mattered was what the players produced on the field. “Personal differences between personalities have

nothing to do with what the public wants. The public wants to see England cricket winning. I feel I can add to the England team doing well this summer,” he said. Pietersen said he would be attending a meeting with former England captain Strauss, who has had his own problems with the controversial right-hander, and ECB chief executive Tom Harrison later on Monday. Pietersen, England’s leading run scorer in all forms of international cricket, was dropped after sending text messages about his skipper Strauss to South Africa players during a test series in 2012. Last year Strauss had to apologise after using an offensive term to describe

Tuesday May 12, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You feel like you have a stone strapped to your back, Aries. The farther you walk with this load, the slower you go, and the more hunched over you will be by the time you reach your destination. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Feel free to break ties with certain people now, Taurus. You may be overextending your emotional bank account by investing too much of yourself in others' lives. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Less is more should be your motto for today, Gemini. The more you cut back in certain areas of your life, the more room you open up to bring in new and exciting things. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may be asked to slow down today, Cancer. Whether this comes in the form of a speeding ticket or a scrape on the knee when you trip, you must listen to this message.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Remember that there's a benevolent force out there that loves you, Libra. No matter what, there's always a shoulder to cry on, even if it isn't a tangible one. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Don't hesitate to say the obvious today, Scorpio, even if it sounds corny. Many times people hesitate to say what they really feel because they think it's obvious to everyone. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Look to older figures for advice today, Sagittarius. Seek counsel with a parent or grandparent on issues you feel strongly about. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Consider composing a bit of poetry today, Capricorn. Use this as an exercise to condense your ocean of emotions into a very few words.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Share your skills today, Leo. You will find that as you engage in the role of teacher, you learn more than if you just hold onto your knowledge without sharing it.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Just because your emotions are reserved or somber today doesn't mean you shouldn't share them with others, Aquarius. Work through difficulties by processing your feelings and running them by someone close.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Don't underestimate the power of other people today, Virgo. They may seem flighty and scatterbrained on the outside, but underneath you will find that they have a great deal of wisdom to share.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may need to jump to many different people and situations today, Pisces, yet something is holding you back. Listen to this inner voice that's asking you to be conservative at this time.

Surrey’s Kevin Pietersen celebrates after scoring a half century. (Action Images via Reuters/ Andrew BoyersLivepic) Pietersen while working as a television commentator. He had not been aware his comments could be heard live on air. Strauss, who will face the media at Lord’s on Tuesday, must appoint a new England coach following the dismissal of Peter Moores on Saturday with the first Ashes test against Australia starting on July 8. Pietersen may have been encouraged by the departure of Moores, with whom he had a fractious relationship, but he knows he still has bridges to build with Strauss. Moores was fired in 2009 after his first spell as England coach following a fall-out with then captain Pietersen.

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Lens Craft Optical/EBFA U-13 League

James’ brace guides Herstelling to win and pole position; KK Warriors also win Herstelling Raiders’ Shoran James has taken over the most goal scorer position following his double which has also taken his team into the top spot of the ongoing Lens Craft Optical sponsored East Bank Football Association Under-13 League being played at the Grove Community centre ground, East Bank Demerara. James, an emerging prolific forward was unsung yet again in shaping another win for his team which defeated Mocha Champs 3-0, their second loss in the competition. James hit the target in the 3rd minute to open proceedings while doubling the advantage on the stroke of half time.

Mocha were never able to threaten the Herstelling Raiders advantage during the game and while they put up stiffer resistance in the second half they were not able to keep out the rampaging Raiders who netted their third goal on the stroke of full time, Narandra Kawal doing the honors. With the win, Herstelling have now taken over the top spot on the table with 12 points from five matches while Mocha dropped one position down to six as they were overtaken by Kuru Kururu Warriors who thumped Craig 4-2. While this was the first win for the Warriors in four encounters it was Craig’s fourth

successive loss. Kevon Scott led the Warriors with a hattrick, the fourth of the league to date. His first was netted in the 10th minute to hand the Warriors the lead but Craig’ Jadon for the responded in the 20th minute to level the score. But

before the half time whistle, Scott converted his second goal in the 25th minute to restore the Warriors’ advantage. It was an even game once again in the 40th minute when Shaquan Lawson of Craig blasted the nets. However, the lads from Kuru Kururu never

relented and in the spirit of true warriors once again restored the advantage; once again it was Scott who would be the hero with his third goal of the game with five minutes to game time. Not taking any chances with Craig, the insurance goal

came off the boot of Dwight Noble in the final minute of the game, the 60th, much to the delight of the Warriors who have now moved one position up to 5th while Craig remains at the bottom of the table. Matches will continue on Saturday at the same venue.

Windies women rearing to go against Sri Lanka COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CMC) - Captain Merissa Aguilleira says West Indies women cricketers are rearing to go against Sri Lanka when the two sides meet in round three of the ICC Women’s Championship, which starts in Colombo tomorrow. The Windies women, without some of their experienced players, have just completed a training camp in the Sri Lankan capital and are brimming with confidence ahead of the series. The series includes four ODIs but only the final three matches scheduled for 15, 18 and 20 May will count towards the eight-team ICC Women’s Championship. “We are determined to do well here because, coming out of our series loss in Australia, it is very important for us to gain points in this series to continue to compete for a top spot in the ICC Women’s Championship rankings,” said Aguilleira. “The team arrived in Sri Lanka a few days ago and had a successful training camp ahead of the start of the series which gave us an opportunity to get acclimatised to the Sri Lankan conditions”. The West Indies will once again be pinning its hopes on Stafanie Taylor, the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2012. The 23-year-old Jamaican will be the highest-ranked batter, bowler and all-rounder from either side in the series. Taylor is ranked sixth in the Reliance ICC Women’s

The ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2012, Stafanie Taylor

ODI Player Rankings for Batters, while she tops the Reliance ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings for Bowlers as well as Reliance ICC Women’s ODI Player

Rankings for All-rounders. “It is more humid than we are accustomed to but we have adjusted very quickly. The girls are coming off the domestic season in the West

Indies and are ready and rearing to go,” said the Windies women captain. “Although we have some of our experienced players absent due to injury, the play-

ers who have replaced them have all been in the team before and have fit very easily into the set up”. Sri Lanka and West Indies will both be aiming to boost

their standings. The West Indies is currently sitting fifth on the table while Sri Lanka is seventh. A 3-0 series victory for the visitors would see it join early pace-setters Australia at the top of the table. Sri Lanka, in contrast, would create daylight between itself and India at the bottom end of the table if it wins the series. “We are excited to play West Indies in our home town and the team is looking forward to the start of the series,” said Sri Lanka captain Chamari Atapaththu. “The ICC Women’s Championship is already proving to be a good initiative for the women’s game and the structure will see each team compete each other in a home and away series which is very important to all teams and will guarantee at least 21 ODI games for each team”. The top four sides from this tournament will qualify automatically for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, while the bottom four sides will play in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier. West Indies (from): Merissa Aguilleira (captain/wk), Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Stacy-Ann King, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Subrina Munroe, Tremayne Smartt, and Stafanie Taylor