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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
The said reliance on the unscientific The Guyana Energy Agency is at the centre of an imbroglio over the use of the polygraph. Of some three dozen people employed within the section that deals with fuel marking, more than two dozen have been sent home. The agency simply refused either to extend or opted to terminate their contracts with the agency. Indeed most of the contracts had a clause which stated that employment may be terminated by either side with minimum notice. What the contract did not specify was whether the employer would be responsible for honouring the contract to its duration. In short, if the contract is for a year and the agency opted to terminate it after four months, then that agency should pay the employee as though he or she had worked for a year. But that being apart, and while the letters of termination do not offer a reason, those terminated say that the agency is pointing to the results of a polygraph. It would seem that the agency opted to have the bulk of its employees undergo the polygraph. Some volunteered to comply but there were those who quite rightly refused. Polygraphy is not a stated clause in the local labour laws and therefore cannot be enforced. No employer can force an employee to be subjected to a polygraph test. However, mere refusal was enough to warrant the termination of the contract. When the dust settled the Guyana Energy Agency merely said that it was maintaining its integrity; that it wanted people who were above board to monitor the fuel marking system. None can question such a statement; what should be realized, however, is that maintaining the integrity of the organisation should be pursued by all legal means. A nation cannot kill all its criminals on the pretext that it wants a crime-free society. It must use other measures, one of which happens to be the prison system which removes the criminal from society for varying periods of time. The idea of polygraphy first surfaced when former president Bharrat Jagdeo opted to have it used within the Guyana Revenue Authority. A number of Customs officers were found wanting and sent on leave for extended periods. Many have been on this extended leave for as long as two years. The Guyana Energy Agency may argue that these are public servants and their dismissal is governed by certain clauses which do not apply to the contract workers. However, that apart, in no part of the world is the polygraph relied on. In the United States which places a heavy reliance on technology the results of polygraph testing cannot be used as evidence in a court of law. “The efficacy of polygraphs is debated in the scientific community. In 2001, a significant fraction of the scientific community considered polygraphy to be pseudoscience. In 2002, a review by the National Academies of Science found that testing can discriminate lying from truth telling at rates above chance, though below perfection,” according to Wikipedia. Another expert published, “There are a variety of instances in which you may be subjected to a polygraph, or lie detector examination. These tests can be a source of tremendous anxiety, even for people with nothing to hide, and for good reason. Polygraph examinations are interrogations, and it is all too common for innocent people to fail them for no reason, resulting in the denial of employment or false criminal accusations. Fortunately, they are easy to trick.” One must then wonder how is it that the Guyana Energy Agency has placed total reliance on polygraph testing to the extent that it can terminate the services of people whom it perceives fail the test. “There are no machines and no experts that can detect with a high degree of accuracy when people, selected randomly, are lying and when they are telling the truth.” Sadly, this practice of sacking people based on an unreliable and unscientific method is being practised and
Saturday May 18, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
The Opposition shouldn’t pass the anti-money laundering Bill at all DEAR EDITOR, Karma is a wonderful thing. Mere days after the PPP’s President blocked two critical Opposition Bills, vital for putting this nation on the right accountability and transparency footing and ensuring those in power do not economically abuse their offices upon retirement, the PPP wanted opposition support to pass a critical anti-money laundering Bill in order to not be internationally blacklisted. When the PPP unreasonably and without fair or just basis killed the opposition’s Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill and the Former Presidents (Facilities and Other Benefits) Bill, it showed blatant disregard and callous disdain for the sovereignty of Parliament and for the work done by its own members in Special Committees on these Bills. Now it wants the opposition’s help in passing anti-money laundering legislation that, if not passed, exposes this country to stringent checks on financial transactions. Well, it is about time this happened. If the opposition has the guts to do the right thing, it would utterly refuse to pass this Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing Terrorism Act (AMLCFTA) and let the PPP face the consequences imposed by the world. There is enough of the Guyanese people’s money illegally exiting this country into offshore bank accounts and towards the purchase of properties in foreign lands that desperately need scrutiny from international institutions. If the PPP itself refuses to be compliant and remains only partially compliant on many of the recommendations of the international body monitoring financial crimes, then
there is nothing to make the PPP compliant but international scrutiny obtained by not passing the AMLCFTA. Guyana is a drug trafficking haven. It is about time the superpowers of the world start paying close attention to the illicit proceeds of crime that flow into and out of this country because the PPP continues to turn a blind eye to this scourge. When the wealth of this nation is stolen by the corrupt power brokers of this country and ends up offshore, the PPP does nothing. It is about time those with the ability (international community) do something the PPP refuses to do - start looking at the financial transactions emanating from this country. It would expose a lot of crooks, criminals and rogues to sanction and prosecution in the developed world after decades of sheltering under the safe haven of a PPP crime-filled Guyana. It is time for the opposition to drop its demand for passage of the two opposition bills in exchange for passing this anti-money laundering Bill and simply block this legislation outright. There is no political risk here. The majority of this nation, including many PPP supporters, disgusted with the corruption, stealing and graft feel this regime needs an awakening, and this is the best opportunity for a wakeup call. Further, the majority of this country unavoidably sees the nasty hypocrisy and crass bullyism of the PPP in blocking the Opposition’s Bills while demanding the opposition pass theirs. The PPP left this for the last moment to try to bully the opposition into passing the bill by using the time crunch to force the opposition into passing the bill. The opposition has to be a pack of
fools to pass this bill and enable the PPP to continue its foot-dragging, noncompliance and partial compliance on the issues of financial integrity of this country. Only a foolish opposition would fall for this hollow patriotism gambit and end up being mocked by an errant PPP which continues to do nothing. The opposition has to stand firm and let this blacklisting take place. There is no greater opportunity for fighting corruption, instilling integrity, fashioning transparency and bringing accountability to the PPP than by letting this Bill perish without passage. Allowing this Bill to die puts the international community on the side of the opposition in fighting corruption and non-accountability within the PPP. It will bring the force, might and almighty power of the USA, Europe and other nations onto the PPP. The PPP will have to clean up its act… and fast. The Opposition would have to be clowns to let this opportunity pass. Many power brokers with money and expensive real estate interests overseas are panicking over the potential nonpassage of this AMLCFTA Bill. Patriotism is the refuge of vagabonds. So, the PPP will suddenly become patriots and adorn themselves in the flag, just as they flatly laugh this country in the face while hiding the identities of the Marriott investors and committing other cardinal sins. The opposition will fail Guyana and Guyanese if it allows this Bill to pass. It will be political suicide by the opposition. There is no greater opportunity to bring the PPP to account than this AMLCFTA Bill. Will the Opposition be mice or men? M. Maxwell
It was an unfortunate situation, but it was also an unusual occurrence DEAR EDITOR, With reference to the letter published in the Wednesday May 15, 2013 edition of the Stabroek News captioned “Long lines, poor organisation, unhealthy conditions at Licence Office in Smyth Street” I wish to express regret for the experience of the author and other members of the public. I am tremendously disturbed and embarrassed over these reports of extreme provocation to members of the public and will spare no effort to ensure that there is no repeat of this situation. Although I cannot fathom why there was so much confusion, I wish to state that while the situation was unfortunate, it was also an unusual occurrence. Hence, contrary to the impression given by the writer, there is no such chaos on a daily basis at the Licence Revenue Office (LRO). It must be noted that on the day the executed in Guyana. We saw law enforcers dismissed, and Government officers suffering a similar fate. What is strange is that no one has had the gumption to test their dismissal in a court of law.
taxpayer visited there was a power outage which rendered the lodgment system useless, bringing about a change in pace, as numbers had to be issued. Also the generator did not have the capacity to power all the equipment, including air-conditioning units. This meant that in order to avoid congestion in the building there had to be a reduction in the number of persons that were allowed to enter at any particular time. The system in place requires that persons lodge their documents and return on the given date to complete the transaction. Further, the public is aware that the Guyana Revenue Authority is in the process of consolidating its Georgetown operations, with the exception of the wharves and a few other services, at its new headquarters on Camp Street. Most of it has already been completed, with the movement of the LRO being staggered to ensure that any disruption of service is severely minimized and that when the move is completed the system will only be generating computerized documents. Hence, very soon (in a matter of days) the GRA will be offering the services related to drivers’ licences at the Camp
Street office, as the service is shifted from Smyth Street. The GRA has made a massive amount of investment at its new location to ensure that members of the public conducting business with the entity are provided with convenient and efficient service. As such, the GRA is highly optimistic that when the services related to the sale of drivers’ licences are relocated, taxpayers will be satisfied. The public is therefore asked to be patient and to cooperate with the organisation over the matter, including the long-awaited transfer of the unit to the new headquarters. I regret the inconvenience caused by the lack of proper systems to deal with the situation and thank the member of the public for bringing it to my attention. Also, I would appreciate if in future persons experience any difficulty in transacting business with the LRO, they should communicate with or seek clarity from the Senior Manager, Licence Revenue Office, Deputy Head Value Added Tax & Excise Tax, Director, Tax Operations & Services or the Commissioner-General. Khurshid Sattaur Commissioner-General
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Time for Burnhamites to defend the former president’s legacy DEAR EDITOR, I have been observing the debate surrounding the Oliver Tambo Award and Burnham; I have made my notes and decided to say my piece. It is clear that the political enemies and those who despise Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (LFSB), Guyana’s first Executive President, have made a commitment to use every available means to denigrate the name of this iconic Guyanese political leader. The recent controversy has inadvertently caused these people to expose their obscured preoccupation with a mission to tarnish Burnham’s image, and erase his rich legacy. So the reality of the Oliver Tambo Award, they believe, presents them a golden opportunity to launch their vile attacks on Burnham. It is, however, time for those who knew and served with Burnham to set the record straight. Yes! It is time that the unfounded lies and propaganda, pedaled by a bunch of ‘yesteryear politicians’, and ‘Johnny-come-latelys’, be exposed for what they are. The PNC/ Burnham haters must know that there are those who are willing to tear their propaganda apart and expose their wicked intentions. From what I read, it appears that a number of WPA sympathizers or members are claiming that Burnham, for reasons best known to them, may have had some knowledge of how Walter Rodney died. These pseudo intellectual and ‘redundant politicians’ for some strange reason talk of Rodney’s death but refuse to speak of the circumstances under which he died. Is this by design or is it that some things are better left unsaid? I do not claim to know the details surrounding Rodney’s death, but public discourse has it that he died when something, either in his possession, or in close proximity to him exploded. I am not sure what the exact cause of death is, but I believe that the exact cause of death might tell us more about whether Rodney was transporting dangerous material or whether he was merely in close proximity to such materials. I would want to believe that those ardent Rodney defenders and WPA executives ought to have read their leader’s death certificate…Or will they claim that Burnham tore it up? To simply blame Burnham for Rodney’s death, because the two were political foes is idiotic, disingenuous and downright insane. I say bring me the evidence to support your theory, and dispel with the wild insinuations and insipid
speculations. I am surprised that these same people have not seen it in their wisdom to petition the PPP/C government to reopen the Rodney case and call for an independent inquiry, since it was Dr. Jagan and the PPP/ C who ran with this issue as a front-burner campaign promise in 1992. Jagan and the PPP/C told Guyanese that should they be elected to power they would immediately reopen the Rodney case and conduct some special inquiry into his death. I believe this ‘mantra’ might have given the PPP/C the few Rodney votes that were left. However, it has been almost twenty-one years since the PPP/C has been in power, they changed five presidents, including Sam Hinds, and to date there is no such inquiry. Where are the voices of the ‘so-called’ Rodneyites? Are these people serious? The neutral posture of these pro-Rodney/ Burnham haters, towards the PPP/C, on this matter, is very suspicious, and plays into the other popular narrative which says that Rodney’s death came a mere few days after some deal he had with the PPP/C turned sour. What was this deal about? Will the vociferous defenders of Rodney enlighten the people? Did this deal backfire and prove fatal for Rodney? And what about the comments coming out of key operatives of the WPA, that Rodney and his party were stockpiling weapons to overthrow the PNC, was this ‘the deal’ that backfired and caused Rodney’s death? If so, how did it backfire and what are the specific details? Did Jagan and the PPP double-cross Rodney? It is said that many in the WPA describe themselves as intellectuals. It would, therefore, be a major disappointment if these ‘intellectuals’ refuse to examine all these different theories or claim that they are unaware of the existence of
these well-known theories. Or are these Rodneyites, merely attempting to simply play a strange game of ‘dodge-ball’ with this issue. The theories behind Rodney’s death are becoming more and more interesting and suspicious, every time one of the so-called Rodneyites speaks. I wonder more, if Burnham is not being used as a target to deflect attention from the true reason for Rodney’s death or whether political bankruptcy and irrelevance have forced some to use Rodney’s death to attempt to usher in a new breath of political relevance. One Eddi Rodney, in a letter published in SN dated May 4, 2013, and captioned “Time is catching up with the WPA”, lashed out at executive members of the WPA for joining forces with APNU. For some strange reason, he deemed this as an act of betrayal against Walter Rodney. The tone of his letter seems to suggest that Rodney was an uncompromising politician, who would not team up with anyone who did not share his ideas. If this is a true characterization of Rodney, I say, Rodney’s relevance, as a political leader, in this time would have been nullified. This new era of political leadership requires that leaders are able to reach across the aisle and collaborate with opponents, a phenomenon which is becoming increasingly recognized as the new modus operandi in the scheme of things political. Mr. Eddi Rodney’s language presents Walter Rodney as someone who was more obsessed with perpetuating his ideology and thinking to the extent that he would have refused to even listen to anyone who shared a different perspective, as Mr. Eddi Rodney claims in his letter that ‘Walter Rodney was uncompromising…, and so he might not have even entertained the idea of joining
a partnership such as APNU, even if that partnership is likely to be in the best interest of the people.” I am in no position to make a definitive pronouncement on what kind of person Walter Rodney was and so I am, merely, being guided by the words of the Rodneyites and the so-called defenders of Walter Rodney. However, Eddi Rodney has said sufficient to make me come to a logical conclusion. Thus it appears that for Walter Rodney, his political ideology was paramount to national development. I therefore ask myself whether Walter Rodney’s politics was more about standing up to Burnham and perpetuating his ideology rather than looking at solving broader
national issues. These Rodney defenders leave me with more questions than answers! Regardless of whether or not South Africa decides to rethink its position and confer upon Burnham the Oliver Tambo award, Burnham’s legacy will live on. His leadership and wisdom which guided his party and nation to actively support the South African people during those dark years of apartheid cannot be denied. Those of us who know what it is to be true to self will have no difficulty recognizing the sacrifice Burnham encouraged us, as a people, to make in order to help our brothers and sisters at a time when their own country turned against them. The now
vocal Rodneyites, who also describe themselves as ‘black conscious’ and supportive of efforts to liberate African people across the globe, sat idly by and watched Dr. Jagan receive the said award, even though they knew Dr. Jagan and the PPP used the Mirror Newspaper to attack Burnham’s support for the South African people. Jagan and the PPP withheld support and accused Burnham of robbing the Guyanese economy to, according to them, “help his black brothers”. Yes, the PPP put a racial spin on Burnham and Guyana’s support for the South African people who were being oppressed by a white ruling class. Where were the voices of the (Continued on page 27)
Correction of date of Dr. Jagan’s Assault DEAR EDITOR, Regarding the letter “Hinds Right on Kwayana but” (KN May 17), the attack on Dr. Jagan took place in 1968. Dr. Rodney was banned from Jamaica in October 1968. Dr. Jagan was assaulted at a protest rally in solidarity with Rodney. At the time Bro.
Kwayana was in the bad books of the PNC and not listened to, and I am not sure if African youths would have heeded his reprimand of their actions. Burnham and the PNC were deathly afraid of Dr. Rodney, and would have preferred that he not come to Guyana. Eyewitnesses to the
incident informed me that the intention of the hoodlums sent by Burnham and the PNC was to stir up racial tension and Dr. Jagan did not make “a big scene” of the incident. Dr. Rodney was denied employment by Burnham and the PNC at UG after getting approval from the UG Board. Vishnu Bisram
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Guyanese do protest, but those in a position to try to correct the evils of the society are not listening
DEAR EDITOR, I think either I am too ‘dim,’ or Martin Carter is too ‘deep,’ for me to understand much of his poetry. He seems to write in riddles or, as I once heard it described, “gibberish”. Hats off to those who understand his work. In any case, I do not much care for blank verse; I prefer
rhyming lines that I can easily commit to memory. I read the recent letter about “An ironic and terrible parallel to our situation today”, citing instances of serious criminal acts. I was dumbfounded by such assertions as “The middle class in contemporary Guyana has blindfolded itself
to the increasing indecency in this place, its voice silent against the din of baleful idiocy that emanates every hour........,”all responsibility abdicated, surrendered to the moral and intellectual peasantry of those in power......”; “we are silent at such alarming proximity......”; ending with the statement “I
can speak with the same exasperation at the cowardice of the middle class that Carter expressed in the final lines of....” (his Freedom poem). How can anyone say or think that, I wondered? I read the online version of Kaieteur News every day and have noted that so many people continually protest
about the ills of present-day Guyana, the wrongdoing of those in power, and always think of the poem with the opening lines of ‘A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds”. And let us not forget the closing lines - “And when your heart begins to bleed You’re dead, and dead, and dead indeed”.
How sad. Positive action is urgently required - in one form or another. It has worked before. No, no, no. Guyanese, on the whole, protest - loudly and continually - but those in a position to try to correct the evils of the society are not listening. Perhaps, it is not in their interest to do so. Geralda Dennison
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A NEW STRATEGY HAS TO BE FOUND IN SEEKING THIS AWARD Yesterday, I woke up to the pleasant discovery contained in a letter from the Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Hamilton Green, who pointed out that he had attended the Independence Celebrations of Namibia on 21 March, 1990 and that ”all of the leaders, including Nelson Mandela, were loud in their praises” for Forbes Burnham. There is always a first time for everything, including the first time one stumbles on something that one knew before. When you stumble upon something that you never knew before or found surprising or bewildering, it reminds one of what Socrates said centuries ago, “I only know that I know not.” I do not know what Green means by leaders being loud in praise of Burnham. But if there was any praise at all of Burnham at that Independence celebrations, I respectfully suggest that this would have had to have been more in the form of w h i s p e r e d acknowledgements because there is little indication that Burnham’s name was mentioned at all during N a m i b i a ’ s Independence celebration. In fact from the text of the speech of Sam Nujoma, Burnham’s name never
appeared nor was there any reference to the support provided by Burnham. Burnham did support Namibia’s quest for freedom. Let there be no mistake about this fact. But the question to be asked was whether this support was acknowledged ten years after the assassination of Walter Rodney, or for that matter whether Burnham’s name was even mentioned during the Independence celebrations. It has been a long time since that historic day in Namibia but perhaps the Mayor’s memory is still good enough to edify the young people about exactly what all the leaders said loudly about Forbes Burnham. What is clear though is that Nelson Mandela did not speak at the Independence celebrations. He was barely a free man at the time having been released from captivity just one month earlier. The then President of South Africa, Frederik Willem de Klerk, represented South Africa and spoke, as did the UN Secretary General. However, Mandela who represented the African National Congress did not speak. I therefore respectfully suggest that if the name Forbes Burnham was
mentioned by all of the leaders present, it must have been during private conversations between Guyana’s representative and these leaders. And for praises to be paid loudly, then they would have had to have been spoken when the music was being played loudly because this would have been the only occasion when the leaders would have had to raise their voices. Perhaps, for the historical record, our Mayor would like to edify us a little more as to what was said, who said it and where it was said. What can be said with certainty is that despite the good relationship which had existed between Forbes Burnham and Sam Nujoma,
the latter would have been deeply upset by the assassination of Walter Rodney who was a pivotal figure amongst the freedom fighters operating out of Tanzania where Nujoma spent many years. In the campaign to ensure that Burnham receives the Order of the Companions of Oliver Tambo, the supporters of the former dictator of Guyana should not try to exculpate him from the death of Rodney. It is a misplaced strategy which will not, even thirty years after Rodney’s death, convince the people of Africa. A long sought victory for Burnham’s loyalists was achieved when the decision was taken to award the Order of the Companions of Oliver
Tambo to Forbes Burnham. That decision was one that slipped through the cracks but it was quickly deferred indefinitely after protests were registered. To recall the award so close to the presentation ceremony meant that the South African government took the protests against the award seriously and wanted to avoid a controversy. This decision to defer the award has hurt those who remain faithful to Burnham and want to have him as a heroic figure. But South Africa is not going to be moved by denials about Burnham’s involvement in the death of Rodney. Another line of argument has to be found. The hurt that is felt at the deferral of the award must also
be seen in the context that the very award being was given to Dr. Cheddi Jagan, the political nemesis of Forbes Burnham. This fact deepens the pain felt. To think that Cheddi Jagan who was out of office for twenty-eight years could have been granted the award for the work of his party, the PPP, is what loyalists of Burnham may consider to be the unkindest cut of all. And to add salt to the wound, guess who collected the award on behalf of Dr. Cheddi Jagan? None other than Donald Ramotar, the sitting President of Guyana!
Three Bosai’s generators down …company scales back operations to meet Linden’s power demands
Dem boys seh ...
Donald got to follow Kamla As soon as Guyana give Caribbean Airlines de flag ship status Trinidad fire de entire Board of Directors. De Prime Minister, Kamla, seh that de Board cost de country too much money. Of course dem was paying demself very good suh when she fire dem she decide to save money. Poor Donald in de same boat but he ain’t fire anybody. He tell dem boys that if he fire some of dem he ain’t got nobody to put except if he tek dem from de opposition. And de opposition cussing him all de time. He explain that is de same thing mek he ain’t give no radio to de opposition and to all who does cuss he. He seh that if dem does cuss he in de papers is only once a day but if he give dem radio dem gun cuss he every minute and he can’t allow dem to do that. Prakash who been wid he cussing he more than anybody else. He seh that he try everything fuh mek people happy but de more he try is de more he getting cuss. But dem boys seh that he trying wid de wrang people. But out of evil cometh good. Kwame was de person to target de opposition. He now seh that he done wid that. Somebody put dem hand pun he and slow he up. He don’t believe that is de Man above because he, Kwame, is a good person. That is why he cry. He blaming Donald too. He seh that is Donald send he to Curacao to lie bout de radio licence and that is why he get sick. But dem boys notice something. Is everybody who wukking in Ohh Pee getting sick. Roger de Lunch man get sick; Kwame get sick; Gail ain’t too well and Odinga did get touch up. That is why he move out from Ohh Pee and he staying quiet. To cut this bad spell, Donald trying a thing wid de national awards. He hear that you got to give to get. He don’t believe in giving money suh he gun give National awards. Well dem boys seh that he might try giving radio licence and he luck might change. Talk half and pray fuh Donald.
Linden’s bauxite company, Bosai is facing power woes after three of its generators went down. Linden’s bauxite company, Bosai Minerals Group Inc, yesterday admitted that it is facing problems with its generators and is now forced to scale down its operations to ensure residents of that Region Ten community are provided with enough power. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, which has jurisdiction over the mining sector, yesterday disclosed that it has been advised by the management of Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc. (Bosai) that it has encountered difficulties with power generation at Linden. Both Minister Robert Persaud and Prime Minister Sam Hinds, who has responsibilities for electricity in the country, have been apprised of the situation, the Ministry said yesterday. “The bauxite company has assured the Minister that efforts are being made to repair three damaged power generating units. “Further, the Minister was advised by the company that it will be scaling down its bauxite operations so that the power can be distributed to be
utilized by the Linden community.” Meanwhile, the Ministry said, various
stakeholders will be reviewing the situation today to have a normalization of power
generation to service Linden soonest. Bosai, a Chinese (continued on page 18)
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Nurses to ‘bridge the gap’ for improved healthcare Nurses across Guyana will be given the necessary tools to enhance the traditional practices of the profession. “Professional nurses within the health sector, will undergo training to “bridge the gap” in eight main areas which were pinpointed during the week of activities held in commemoration of International Nurses’ Day,” Chief Nursing Officer, Tarramattie Barker said. Her remarks came during, an event linked to the International Nurses’ Day celebration. “We are looking today at closing the gaps of several areas in which nurses can develop the sector, finding out how nurses in one way or another could arrive at ideas to improve their work. We have reflected on our accomplishments at this juncture, and identified where there’s a need to bridge the gap so as to accelerate and meet our goals by 2015,” Barker related. Infant mortality, maternal healthcare, malaria,
tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS treatment are among the list of issues to be addressed throughout this period. “Even as focus is on the health goals, there are other areas that are key and critical to improving the general health of the population, so we are advocating and encouraging nurses at every level to be involved in health programmes. We are the ones, who have the knowledge and the relevant skills on how a health service can be designed, coordinated and effectively implemented to meet the needs of patients, families and communities.” Barker, who commands the nurses within the public and private sector, said that nurses and other health care providers will also undergo training for better patient care in addition to their relationship and interaction with the general public. She explained that while there have been criticisms about the methods used by nurses in handling persons seeking attention at hospitals
From left-Senior Medex, Ministry Of Health(MOH)- Zetta Alberts; MOH Representative Claudette Adams; Chief Nursing Officer Tarmattie Barker; Presidential Advisor Gail Teixeira; Director, Health Science Education Wilton Benn and other health facilities, the necessary systems and techniques will be implemented to foster development in this area. “Attitude and behaviour of nurses are currently being addressed. We have a group session with presentations from the different stages, that is the regional, district and
general hospital levels to determine what we need to do to reach our goals” According to Barker, additional infrastructural work and the introduction of necessary equipment as well as adequate and necessary supply are also part of the plan
to assist nurses in their work. Barker advised that those considering nursing as a career, should be mentally prepared to endure continuous training as she advocates that nursing is not just a job; it’s a calling. A week of activities was
designated to commemorate International Nurses’ Day observance. During the period of May 6 – 12, 2013 nurses in various regions of the country were awarded for their unmatched contribution and dedicated service to the health sector.
Antiguan court fines Guyanese man after fight in court with wife Antigua St. John’s - A Guyanese national who battered his wife in the Family Court, recently, was fined when he appeared in the St. John’s Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh. Ronnie Ray pleaded not guilty to the charge of battery.
He said that his wife ‘jumped’ him first. He was however convicted of the offence after several witnesses gave evidence. The incident reportedly took place on May 8 in the said building which houses the High Court. Ray is said to have fought with his wife after the Family
Court Magistrate ordered him to pay her $300 monthly for maintenance. According to reports, the fracas broke out during the absence of the Magistrate and the police had to be called in. The couple was subsequently escorted out the courtroom. Ray was ordered to pay a fine of $750 forthwith, or risk spending the next six months in jail.
New Road man gets 10 years for wounding Justice Franklyn Holder, who is presiding at the Suddie High Court has sentenced 44year-old, Sewnaraine Naraine, of New Road, Essequibo Coast, to ten years’ imprisonment. The sentence was handed down on Naraine on Tuesday. Naraine was initially charged for attempted murder and wounding Jetindra Harricharran, of Somerset and Berks, with intent. The incident occurred on April 22, 2009, at Somerset and Burks. The jury returned a guilty verdict for wounding with intent, but not guilty verdict for attempted murder. A probation report, which was submitted by the officer in charge, had also found Naraine to be in contempt. Naraine was represented by Counsel Compton Richardson.
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Sparta fisherman ready to give up after fourth robbery
Immigration INFO: Immigration News For Our Community By Attorney Gail S. Seeram Through this “Question & Answer” column, our goal is to answer your immigration questions. We appreciate your comments and questions. If you have a question that you would like answered in this column, please email: Gail@GailLaw.com. Question #1: M y grandmother had filed a petition in 2010 for my mother and myself. Her papers were filed as single. I am now 20 years old and would like to know how long will the sponsorship take and will I be able to go. I have heard persons who are over age 21 cannot travel with their families. Is that true? Answer #1: If your grandmother is a U.S. citizen then visas are being issued for petitions filed on or before April 2006, so your mother has a four-year wait. If your grandmother is a permanent resident then visas are being issued for petitions filed on or before July 2005, so your mother would have a five-year wait. Since you will be over age 21 when the visa is available, you may not be eligible for the visa with your mother. However, at the time the visa is available, you should speak with our office to see if you are eligible for the visa under
the Child Status Protection Act. The Child Status Protection Act is a law that allows children who are over age 21 to still get an immigrant visas if certain conditions are met. Question #2: My mother is a U.S. citizen. She filed for my wife and me in 2008 as F3 preference. How much longer we have to wait because my eldest child will be 21 years old next year. Answer #2: According to June 2013 visa bulletin, visas being issued for F-3 petitions filed on or before September 2002. So, you and your wife have about a 6 years wait. See answer to Question #1 for the age-out issue relating to your child being over age 21. Question #3: I have a question. My husband has been sponsored by his parents and five years are up for his parents over there, how long more will he have to wait? Also I am married to him but not legally and as well have a child for him. Will I get to go with him at the same time? Answer #3: T h e parents are probably permanent residents and they can only file for an unmarried child. If the parents become U.S. citizens then they can file for a married child. He can only marry you once his parents are U.S. citizens. If you are not legally married, then you cannot come with
Gail S. Seeram him. Question #4: I saw your column in the newspaper and love reading it. I have a question and I hope you can help me. My grandfather filed in 2005 for my mother and our family and her sisters and family. He died in 2009. Then my uncle (my mother’s brother) took over the sponsorship. One of my aunts is a widow. I was wondering how long more do we have before we can obtain a visa? My grandfather was a US citizen and so is my uncle. Answer #4: When a petitioner dies the petition is void. I’m assuming that your uncle filed for reinstatement and it was approved. Reinstatement can take about one year before getting a decision. The petition keeps the original priority date - so 2005 would be the priority date for F-3 preference. Right now, visas are being issued for F-3 preference for petitions filed on or before September 2002. So, assuming reinstatement approved, you have about a three- year wait.
Marlon Dolphin remanded for robbing Cop A man, who has been suffering from constant seizures, was brought before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell, yesterday, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer to the allegations which stated that he robbed his two friends, one of which happens to be an Immigration Officer. The particulars for the two counts of robbery under arms read that on May 11, the defendant, Marlon Dolphin, being armed with a gun, robbed Tony Clarke of one
gold chain and $160,000 in local currency. The second charge stated that on the said date, the defendant who was armed with a gun, allegedly robbed George Sean Porter of one Blackberry Torch cell phone worth $66,000. To both charges, the defendant pleaded not guilty. According to Prosecutor Alexis David-Hossanah, while both complainants were standing on the Aubrey Barker Road, they were
Hypocrisy: Finance Minister's... From page 14 licences were granted to friends and family of the Government.” Ramjattan said that Dr. Singh never expressed anger or shock when directly under his nose public monies were poured into NICIL to build a Marriott Hotel, a corporate project which could not see scrutiny and approval from the National Assembly. In addition, the Finance Minister did not express disappointment when the President vetoed Bills, which only seek to limit expenditures of former Presidents on the one hand, and ensure financial
antimony for institutions like our Supreme Court, on the other. “And to add insult to injury the President went beyond the constitutional time limit of 21 days to respond to the National Assembly about the position on the Bills.” Ramjattan said, “This was the same Minister who said in Parliament that he will defend to the hilt, the majority Opposition's right to amend the Budget, yet runs to the High Court days thereafter and argues that the Opposition cannot so amend. What a flip flop! What shameless irresponsibility!”
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confronted by the 27-year-old defendant who was in the company of two others armed with guns. The alleged robbers demanded their belongings or threatened to end their lives. With the items mentioned in the charge, in hand, the defendant and company made good their escape. The matter was later reported and the complainants explained to officers that they are friends with the defendants. Dolphin was later arrested and charged. Appearing for the defendant was Attorney at law, Paul A Fung-A-Fat, who stated that the defendant who resides at 186 Beverly Close, South Ruimveldt is an employee of Banks D.I.H. He requested bail for the defendant based on the grounds that his client is Epileptic, has serious clotting in the brain and is expected to travel to Trinidad at any point in time to undergo surgery. He said that he feared that incarceration may kill his client. Despite the lawyer’s appeal to the court for mercy on his ill client, the defendant was remanded and is expected to return to court on May 21 for the beginning of
Haresh Singh, a fisherman residing at Sparta, Essequibo Coast, said that he is uncertain about when he would venture back at sea. He is the latest victim of another pirate attack in the Hampton Court waters. He suffered an attack on Wednesday. Singh was previously attacked by pirates on three separate occasions. He has tallied his current loss at $2.8M. Singh who has been fishing almost 26 years, said that sometime between 20:00 hours Tuesday and 2:00 hours, Wednesday, he and three of his employees were
in the process of setting their seine when they noticed a boat sail past theirs. Singh explained that after they had completed setting their seine they docked at another location but upon their return, their seine were missing. A report was lodged with the police and members of the Fisheries Department. Singh said that he is unable to continue operating at sea because he has been robbed of his seine and is unsure when he would return, since it is costly. Singh has described his recent loss as the worst ever.
Haresh Singh
Appointment of Chief of Staff wholly President’s discretion - Luncheon The appointment of Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is absolutely and exclusively the discretion of the President who is also the Commander in Chief, says Dr. Roger Luncheon, Cabinet Secretary. Dr. Luncheon said that he is certain that either the process of selecting a new Chief of Staff has not concluded or the process is ongoing. This is premised on the fact that the serving Chief
of Staff Commodore Gary Best will be retiring from the GDF. He hinted that Best’s departure will not only see a new Chief of Staff but there will be a change to the entire hierarchy of the army. Without providing possible names for the position Dr. Luncheon said, “So the fact that you are there in the current leadership it is imposed on the President that you will be there so I don’t see the value who currently
holds top positions in the current position.” He added, “It could be a promotional something that those in the leadership would just move up.” In 2007, Gary Best who was then Captain of the GDF Coast Guard was promoted to Chief of Staff amidst much controversy following the retirement of Brigadier Edward Collins. His inauguration was shunned by several senior officers of the GDF including Collins himself.
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Ed. Ministry apologises T&T Govt. fires Caribbean Airlines Directors to Literacy Teachers - promises delayed payment in new week The Ministry of Education, in apologetic mode yesterday, broke its silence on the non-payment of stipends to Literacy Teachers across the country. The Ministry, in a statement, even sought to “reassure teachers that measures have been put in place to ensure that all literacy teachers receive their stipends during the coming week and that this never happens again.” The statement, which was attributed to the Literacy Department of the Ministry, headed by Mr. Murray Greenidge, noted that it “wishes to publicly offer an apology to the literacy teachers who have been affected by the delay in the release of stipends.” “We concede that our Literacy Teachers should have been informed of the unforeseen circumstances that caused this,” the statement added. It was also noted that the contributions of the teachers are invaluable therefore “we thank you for your patience and commitment.”
Teachers attached to the programme had, since the commencement of the year, been denied payment for facilitating remedial classes. A similar state of affairs had occurred last year where some of the literacy teachers had not been compensated for the entire year until December. Teachers, most of whom are currently not fulltime educators, are attached to the Ministry’s Remedial Literacy Programme on a contractual basis. They are required to deliver the relevant programmes to primary level students who are regarded as slow learners. Sessions usually start around 14:30 hours, after normal school sessions and conclude at around 16:30 hours. The remedial programme commenced some six years ago. Several teachers facing the dilemma this year reported to this publication that although they had not been paid for the past months, they were afforded an explanation from the Coordinator of the programme, Mr. Greenidge. However, this publication was informed by some
teachers that although they were initially required to sign an annual contract, it was only in April that they were told that the contract period had been reduced to six months. The Ministry’s statement did not speak to the reported change in the contract timeframe. “Mr. Greenidge himself, four months into the year, came and told us that our contract is no longer for one year. He had nothing to say about why we are not being paid,” disclosed one distraught teacher who said that she has since stopped facilitating classes. “They can’t expect me to continue offering my service when they can’t pay me this small stipend...My husband isn’t even working right now and I simply cannot afford to do this for free anymore,” lamented the teacher. Teachers contracted to administer lessons are paid a total of $30,000 per month but are in receipt of $28,440 after NIS is deducted. As part of their contractual agreement they are required to facilitate sessions four days per week.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC - Less than 72 hours after he announced that Caribbean Airlines (CAL) had accumulated losses of more than US$100 million, Trinidad Finance Minister Larry Howai yesterday said that the current board of directors of the state-owned airline has been replaced. Howai told a news conference that the new interim board will be chaired by former independent legislator Phillip Marshall and includes the Jamaican Dennis Lalor. Howai told reporters that the new board would have to outline measures to turn around the fortunes of the airline that accumulated losses
of US$110 million, including a US$40 million in government subsidies. On Tuesday, Howai told the Senate that the preliminary unaudited figures showed US$32 million of the $70 million loss was incurred by the Air Jamaica route, with the London route also accounting for a major part of the losses. Caribbean Airlines, which began operations in 2007, acquired Air Jamaica in 2011. The Jamaican Government has a 16 per cent stake in the Trinidadian air carrier. “On the Jamaica route, it has cut flights to Jamaica and on the London route, it has terminated the wet-leasing arrangement,” Howai said, adding he expects to
“significantly reduce the losses of the airline during this year”. The finance minister said the airline used a lot of its cash in the acquisition of planes and that he had instructed that a new restructuring of the balance sheet be done where the airline would have to borrow and replace the cash which had previously been used. “It is better to leverage the asset rather than leave it unencumbered while having the company incurring significant debt obligations.” Howai said the US$40 million fuel subsidy applies to Air Jamaica and CAL. He said it was the same as last year and would end in 2015.
Scam artist jailed for 15 years - admits to defrauding vulnerable young girls The man responsible for swindling money from several women was yesterday sentenced to jail, after he confessed to his crimes before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell and a packed courtroom at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Troy Webster faced charges for defrauding seven women of their valuables. His crime against unemployed young girls led to his arrest last Monday night. At his court appearance yesterday, Webster, who happens to be homeless, told the court that he “took money from at least four girls.” During his confession, the man, who also claimed to be chronically ill, revealed that he recently served five months in jail for similar offences. “I ain’t want waste de court’s time.” According to the charges, between April 19 and May 4, with intent to defraud, Webster obtained $7, 500 each from Madonna Cameron,
Troy Webster Tenisha Charles, Ameka Arthur, Yolanda Tuesday, Tracey Cato and Latoya Boston as a down payment for uniforms for employment knowing same to be false. Webster was also charged with fraudulent conversion. He took a pair gold earrings
from Towanna George for the purpose of employment but converted it to his use and benefit. Although no facts were provided to the court, newspaper reports revealed that Webster had posed as a businessman, in search of women to suitably fill the vacancies of Sales Representatives, Supervisors and Managers at his boutiques. He promised his “potential employees” that their salaries would be within the range of $17,000 and $35,000 weekly but that they were required to first, purchase uniforms at the cost of $7,500 as it is “Company Policy.” Magistrate Lovell sentenced Webster to two years on each of the fraud charges and 36 months for the latter indictment. His sentences will run concurrently.
Nigerian “prophetess” arrested with Guyanese “passport” Nigeria (OsunDefender) The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a prophetess, Annie Chukwurah, for allegedly defrauding a businessman, Charles Ikechukwu and his brother, Sunday Ikechukwu, to the tune of N5,225,000. PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect allegedly collected money from Charles in order to acquire a Guyana Passport. Charles said, “She (Chukwurah) used to pray for me before I left Nigeria for Switzerland. On getting to Switzerland, I knew I would soon be deported so I called her for prayers. “She then said she could help me acquire a Guyana
passport but I would need to pay N1, 150,000 for the passport and ticket. “She explained that with a Guyana passport, I would not need a visa to enter certain countries so I gave her the money.” Charles said he also sent N3.5m to her to buy a piece of land for him but she embezzled the money. According to police sources, the suspect also collected N1,355,000 from the victim’s brother in order to start a charcoal exportation business. Sunday said, “She (Chukwurah) said there was a business opportunity in the United States which entailed (continued on page 23)
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Georgetown Restoration Programme…
Govt. not likely to investigate Mayor cites garbage, poor drainage, GEA over polygraph traffic congestion, as crucial areas
Because of the sling mud accumulated, boats can no longer be parked aback of the Wharf As far as the city restoration programme goes, the Mayor of Georgetown yesterday highlighted some key concerns to be addressed in order to ensure that the project is successfully executed. In his opinion, the three main areas of concern rest with the never-ending issue of ghastly and unsightly garbage piles in and around the city, poor drainage and inadequate parking facilities. Mayor Hamilton Green, while giving the local media a tour of the city yesterday, said that he wants to have the public appreciate the complexity of the restoration programme which he said, does not only mean cleaning up the garbage. Green said that the only way that the issue of garbage can be dealt with, is if the citizens, the Government, the City Council, and the business community, work hand in hand. The drainage issue, Green said, is as a result of flawed decisions to block up some key canals in and around the city that have been causing the repeated floods. He explained that since Guyana is below sea level, the ideal thing was to have maintained as many canals in the city as possible, so that the water can be discharged freely, instead of lodging inconveniently in and around the city. This scenario, when compounded with the careless disposal of garbage, causes flooding, which in turn affects everyone in some way or the other, Green said. In addition, there is also the build-up of “sling mud” on the coastline, which not only increases flood, but also poses a grave inconvenience to the hundreds of fishermen who operate, particularly at the Meadow Bank Wharf, one of the main sources of the
fisheries department. The Mayor explained that as the fishing boats come to shore, they would discharge sling mud, a heavy sandy/ muddy substance that would lodge on the shoreline, blocking the 11 outfall channels. According to Shane Rahim of the Meadow Bank Wharf, an initiative was taken about six to seven years ago by private individuals, including a few of the fishermen, to hire an excavator to dredge the mud. This gave fishermen temporary relief, until recently when the buildup has once again become unbearable. Green added that a survey was done, and a suitable location at sea was marked for the mud to be discharged there, but this recommendation was never taken up by central government. As far as the traffic congestion goes, Green said that this has been one of the main hindrances to effectively sanitize Stabroek Market. It was pointed out that it would be sometimes impossible for M&CC compactor trucks to manoeuvre its way to the back of the Stelling View market to
pick up garbage. Green said that City Council has always stressed that big businesses cater for parking for employees and workers. He noted that this is something that is rarely being done, thus adding to the traffic congestion. The Mayor pointed out that the private sector has already expressed interest in the project to restore the city, and that when it kicks off would determine to what extent the private sector is committed. Green said that the aim of the tour was to underscore the degree to which the city has deteriorated, and to further educate the public on the magnitude of work that the parliament has undertaken via the restoration project. The Parliament approved the APNU-proposed Georgetown Restoration programme to improve the current deplorable state of the city. The ongoing row between Councilors and the acting Town Clerk seem to be posing a threat to the programme. Nonetheless, Green has said, “I am as ready as ever to get started with the restoration project.”
Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, yesterday described the Opposition request to have the GEA staffers dismissal investigated as dubious. Dr. Luncheon made the statement yesterday at his weekly press briefing. According to Dr. Luncheon, Government does not have a position in recognizing a policy on polygraph which has been elaborated over the last four to five years. He said that on the basis of that implementation various functionaries, officials in a number of agencies have subjected themselves to this testing and have been abiding by the intervention made by the results of the test. The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) this week continued to clean house based on polygraph testing. By Tuesday the tally was 21 staffers who lost their jobs after allegedly failing the government-imposed lie detector test. Kaieteur News was told that another batch of workers was fired, with six employees - fuel inspectors and marking officers - being dismissed Tuesday morning. A staffer fired yesterday said that he saw the dismissal coming and has already secured a lawyer. Some employees who were dismissed, did their interviews last September and some in January of this year. The staffers claimed that they were forced to take the polygraph tests and further ordered to sign documents that said they volunteered to
Dr. Roger Luncheon subject themselves to be scrutinized. Two senior officers were fired earlier this year because they did not volunteer to take the test. Protocol states that staffers must volunteer before the test is conducted. Staffers further alleged that questions asked during the test were unrelated to work and leaned more on the political end. According to them, questions pertaining to their affiliations and whether they had ever lied for a friend or family made up the line of questioning. The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), the representing body, has expressed its disapproval from the inception of the use of the polygraph test as a means of ensuring the Agency’s integrity. Several members of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) were among the first set of workers to undergo lie detector tests. They received
dismissal letters based on the results. The GPSU however promised a thorough investig a t i o n i n t o t h e workers’ dismissal, but to date there has been no word on the issue. However the initiators of the polygraph test made it clear that using this means should not be the only basis for an employee’s dismissal. It was further stated that there must be a credible reason for using the test; that is suspecting foul play by an employee. The test alone cannot constitute grounds for a worker ’s dismissal since additional reason and evidence should be provided. For this reason, GPSU had stated that the test is not foolproof and cannot stand up to scrutiny. Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, during his time in office introduced the use of polygraph testing. He had stated during a press conference in 2009 that once an agency is selected, then all the staff, from ‘top to bottom’, should undergo the test. Despite calls from staffers and the GPSU for top ranking officials of the Energy Agency to undergo polygraph testing, nothing has surfaced on whether executives see it fit to subject themselves to the lie detector test, and therefore, “lead by example.” But yesterday, Dr. Luncheon did say that Head of the Guyana Revenue Authority, Khurshid Sattaur, did offer to lead by example and take the test.
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Husband remanded for Guyana records drop in murder at K&VC Hotel Malaria ...as Vector Control Unit
Vinod Balgobin, 34, of 316 La Penitence Boulevard, was yesterday remanded for the alleged murder of his wife when he was brought before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The defendant was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that between May 11 and 12, at the K&VC Hotel in Georgetown; he murdered his reputed wife, Maryann Sunita Nauth. According to court documents, the defendant and the deceased who have three children together were married for 13 years but after some time, they separated due to the defendant’s abusive behaviour. On May 11, last, about 17:00 hours, the deceased went to see Balgobin at Demico House to receive money for the maintenance of his children. It was alleged that the two went to the hotel before the defendant would give the deceased the money as promised. About 22:30 hours, they booked room 209 at the K&VC hotel. Later that evening, around 1:15 hours, one of the cleaners of the hotel went to the room to inform the couple that their short time stay was up. The cleaner then saw the deceased in a pool of blood with a knife stuck in her chest and called for the assistance of other staff members, including the supervisor of the hotel. The matter was reported and
Vinod Balgobin investigations were launched which enabled ranking officers to capture the suspect on Essequibo Coast. He was searched and officers found the defendant with US$200 and $57,000 in local currency. An identification parade was carried out and several staffers of the hotel were able to positively identify the accused. Balgobin is expected to make his next court appearance on May 21.
As the Vector Control Services Department of the Ministry of Health continues with its drive to combat vector borne diseases, a recent visit to Region Seven - Cuyuni/ Mazaruni saw more than 3,700 blood smears for malaria being taken. Of that number of smears taken, close to 100 were tested positive for malaria, a development which suggests that the proactive approach of the Unit is proving to be instrumental in denting the impact of malaria. This is according to Dr. Reyaud Rahman, the Director of the strategic and proactive Vector Control Unit, who led the recent outreach mission. During an earlier interview he disclosed that the Ministry of Health through the Vector Control Services Department is looking to reclaim the leadership status as it relates to the vector control fight in the Caribbean and South America. “We want to create a service where we are an authority in the country concerning vector-borne diseases and bring vector control back to the levels that it was in the 1960s and 1970s, basically,” said Dr. Rahman. This ambitious goal, he noted, is being sought despite the fact that the vector control fight is no small challenge. Moreover, sustained efforts are being made by the Unit to embrace a proactive mode whereby vector control teams are often dispatched to support regional efforts in this regard. The recently concluded trip to Region Seven targeted areas such as Imbaimadai, Chineoweng, Wax Creek, Jawalla, Phillipai, Fort Knox, Quebanang, Kambaru, Kako, Emokeng, Ominaik, Amokokapai, Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni Dredge camps, Pepper Camp, Meyume Bay, Courba, Hill Top, Paruima and
continues outreach
A vector control worker taking a smear during the recent outreach
Waramadong. The smears taken in the named localities detected instances of both Plasmodium Falciparum (PF) and Plasmodium Vivax (PV). Plasmodium Falciparum is a protozoan parasite, one of the species of Plasmodium that cause malaria in humans. It is transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito. Plasmodium Vivax, on the other hand, is a protozoal parasite and a human pathogen. It is said to be the most frequent and widely distributed cause of recurring malaria and is one of the five species of malaria parasites that commonly infect humans. The strategic moves that were engaged by the outreach mission included the mass blood surveys and the treatment of the detected cases, resupply of drugs and the issuance of new microscopes to at least four locations that were so in need. In order to aid a sustained intervention in the Region, Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) were also distributed to homes where there were pregnant women as well as children under five years old. Locations that were especially
identified for impregnated bed nets were Jawalla, Phillipai, Quebanang, and Kamarang. The distribution of impregnated bed nets has been one of the primary tactics employed by the Health Ministry in order to address the challenge of malaria. In this regard moves were made to procure several thousands of the high-priced nets which have been distributed in tranches to the areas that are malaria-prone since the commencement of the year. However, officials within the Vector Control Unit had anticipated that there would have been a likely spike in the incidence of malaria even as efforts are made to intensify the vector control operation in the various regions. The increased tackling of vector borne diseases are strategically directed to the mining regions which had seen a surge in gold mining activities. As such the Health Ministry had seen the need to put measures in place to stave off a potential upsurge of malaria, a task which is being fully undertaken by Dr. Rahman-headed Vector Control Unit.
Drug running prison officer jailed for three years Yougeshwar Gossai, called ‘Scar’, 25, a prison officer who was caught taking drugs into the prison for a notorious felon was, on Thursday, jailed. He will now have to spend time with those whom he once had the duty to supervise. The man, a married father of two, of Lot 118 Woodley Park, West Coast Berbice, had in his possession 80 grams of Cannabis Sativa for the purpose of trafficking. He was charged with introducing narcotics into the prison on Sunday August 9, last. At the time he was a
prison Officer attached to the New Amsterdam Prison. He appeared before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s court and was found guilty and sentenced to three years in jail. He was also fined an additional $25,000. Presenting the state’s case Sergeant Phillip Sheriff stated that on the day in question the accused who was supposed to report for work at 07:00 hrs, reported late. Upon entering the gate he was accosted by one of his superiors who
questioned his reason for reporting late. He was then subjected to a search during which a parcel which was wrapped in a brownish paper bag and a cell phone was found in his right side pants pocket. The items were checked and later found to be leaves, seeds and stems of the marijuana plant. During the investigation the accused attempted to bargain. He told investigators that he was given the drugs to take to Richard Barrow, called “110”.
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
President’s refusal to assent to Opposition Bills: right or wrong? DEAR EDITOR, The country is now facing a new controversy with the President’s refusal to assent to the two Bills presented and passed by the majority Opposition, and as usual, there is strong support for both sides. The Opposiion is threatening to take retaliatory action which could produce a constitutional crisis, which makes me want to take a closer look at the problem. I think the problem is the Constitution itself. Burnham, the de facto dictator, needed a Republican Constitution that would give him all the powers he wanted, under the appearance of legality and democracy, and whereunder, with his new-found techniques, he would keep himself in power as President for life with his party always being the majority in the National Assembly. He succeeded in getting what he wanted, and with some minor amendments, that is the Constitution under which Guyana is yet governed. That Constitution gives the President tremendous powers. He is the Head of State, meaning he personifies Guyana. He is the supreme executive authority,meaning he is the Head of Government.
He is Commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Article 99(1) repeated that the executive authority of Guyana shall be vested in the President which may be exercised by him or his subordinates. I think all that makes it clear that the President is the person with clear and unambiguous authority to govern the country, and making laws for that purpose is part and parcel of his exclusive executive function. That is his duty as the supreme executive authority. That is his turf. Anyone going there is a trespasser. On the other hand, the power of Parliament to make laws is exercised by Bills passed by the National Assembly, which again need the assent of the President to become Acts of Parliament. Under the Constitution, that is basically all that the National Assembly is there for, to debate and pass Bills, and then send them back to the President who, in his unfettered discretion, will decide whether those Bills become Law or not. I am not saying this is right, but that is how the framers of the Constitution wanted it, and that is how it is. From Burnham’s days and up to the last Parliament, the governing party was always in the majority, so that the National Assembly was really
a tame poodle performing for the President, and all was peaceful. The tenth Parliament saw some changes, with the Opposition gaining a majority. This created immediate discord between the two component parts of Parliament, the President and the National Assembly, which truly became a house divided against itself. The National Assembly was no longer a tame poodle. It became assertive, even aggressive and combative. It began chafing at its restraints, its diminished role under the constitution, and it began reaching out to grab more power. But the only place or person from where or whom it could grab more power was from the President. The majority Opposition began first by passing a noconfidence vote against a Minister, and then demanded that the Minister resign or be dismissed by the President. If they had succeeded, every Minister would have been under the thumb of the Opposition, who would then have been the power behind the throne, directing the government, with the constitutional Head of Government, the President, pushed to one side. They failed there, but they did not give up. The Opposition, without consultation or contribution from the Executive, presented and passed two Bills and then demanded that the President give his assent to them. Those Bills, they said, were necessary for the good governance of the country. The Constitution very clearly marked the line of separation of powers between the Executive and the Legislative branches of Government, and governance is not part of the Legislature’s
responsibility. Is not the Opposition pushing itself into the President’s preserves and behaving like a bully? When the President refused to assent to those Bills, what clearly he was doing was fighting to protect his territory. In his message to the Speaker he may not have wanted to say that, but he did not have to make it long. All he needed to say was that at this time the Bills did not fit in with his current legislative agenda for the country’s good governance, and therefore he will not give
his assent to them. He could have garnished it a bit by thanking them kindly for their effort to assist him in his heavy responsibilities, but that next time, before they undertook such arduous labours, they should consult with the Office of the President. If they can bargain for the two-thirds support from the other MPs, within six months they can send back the Bills, and the President will then have to assent or dissolve Parliament. I think the Opposition should now stop this game, as well as all the talks about
reprisals. The remedy is not retaliation, but scrapping the Burnham Constitution altogether and replacing it with one more in keeping with the people’s needs and desires. This will take time, so in the interim they will be putting their majority to better use if they seek to bargain for the two-thirds support necessary to amend Article 177(2), to give the presidency after elections to a party or group commanding a majority in Parliament. If they succeed, the political life of the country will start moving again. Kumar D. Doobay
Guyana’s economic recovery DEAR EDITOR, Guyana’s economy is doing well, especially when seen against the background of other economies in the region. The country has now graduated out of the IMF structural adjustment programme which, as the experience of Jamaica and other crisisstricken economies has demonstrated, is not a panacea for the myriad social and economic woes that have bedeviled those countries. According to media reports, the Jamaican government has now entered into a new agreement with the IMF to help stabilize the economy and put it on a path to economic growth. An IMF Executive Board Member stated that, ‘for most of the past three decades, Jamaica has suffered from very low growth, high public debt, and serious social challenges. Key factors behind these problems have been Jamaica’s unsustainable debt burden, low competiveness, a weak business climate, and lack of policy credibility’. The situation facing the Jamaican economy is reminiscent of the days when Guyana was heavily enmeshed into an IMF arrangement and was forced to introduce austerity programmes which saw among other measures, cuts in subsidies and social services, a virtual freeze in public servants’ income and drastic reduction in the public sector wage bill. The PNC administration was forced to borrow heavily from the IMF in an effort to stabilize a sinking economy, but such agreements came with a heavy price as alluded to earlier. Perhaps more significantly was the virtual surrender of sovereignty when it came to important policy decisions, as the IMF was instrumental in the setting of benchmarks and ‘conditionalities’ which invariably do not go down well with the working people. It is usually quite a bitter pill for sovereign nations to swallow and many governments, including the Michael Manley administration of Jamaica, suffered politically as a consequence of harsh austerity measures. The Manley Government was roundly criticized by opposition forces - for entering into an agreement with the IMF under such harsh conditions - who derisively dubbed the crisis situation the country found itself in as “Manley Fault”, a clear reference to the IMF and the debilitating effects of IMF-dictated policies and programmes. Guyana, under the PNC administration, was faced with a similar situation as in the case of Jamaica today. Despite significant sums of IMF money, the country was no better off than it was before the IMF intervention. In fact the country found itself in a situation where it was unable to meet its financial obligations to the IMF, forcing the Fund to declare the country “uncreditworthy”. A running battle between the Fund and
the PNC regime took place during the Burnham years, with Burnham calling IMF technicians “paper doctors” whose prescriptions and medicine, he lamented, only served to make the condition of the ‘patient’ worse than before. The result was a souring of relations between the then PNC government and the IMF which later spilled over to relations with all the other major international financial institutions and the donor community, of which the United States was a key player. The situation deteriorated to a point where there was a complete rupture of diplomatic relations between Guyana and the United States of America. The United States, in retaliation, discontinued its PL-480 programme of assistance to Guyana, in which wheaten flour was given to the country on highly concessionary terms. The government then banned all but a few imported food items including wheaten flour, split peas, sardines and a range of consumer items which only worsened the situation and created a virtual nightmare for the average Guyanese. It was only after the passing of Forbes Burnham in 1985 that relations between Guyana and the United States, and the international financial institutions, began to improve. Hoyte, in the face of the aftermath of yet another massively rigged election, sought the assistance of the United States and other western powers to push through his Economic Recovery Programme, which essentially was premised on market reforms, deregulation and a neo-liberal economic agenda. To his credit, the economy showed some positive growth during the initial years of the recovery programme, although much of this recovery was attributable to the sale and divestment of state assets which included several ‘sweetheart’ deals and not necessarily out of any significant increase in production and productivity. Indeed, during the final days of the Hoyte administration, the two leading foreign exchange earners, rice and sugar recorded their lowest levels of production ever. Guyana’s economic recovery did not commence in earnest until the new PPP/C administration assumed power in October 1992, which saw a steady growth of the economy and a corresponding decrease in the debt burden which was consuming over 90% of government revenues. The PPP/C administration, due to prudent management of the economy, was able to reduce the debt burden along sustainable lines, while at the same time accelerating the pace of economic development. The economic health of the country is good, a fact that is being acknowledged by the IMF and other regional institutions. Hydar Ally
Saturday May 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 27
Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Time for Burnhamites to defend the former... From page 05 Rodneyites and the defenders of oppressed people when Jagan received the Oliver Tambo Award? It is clear as to what the agenda of these people is; it is simply to tarnish the work of LFSB. I, therefore, call on those who know different to speak the truth and educate people, especially our youth, of what a great leader and president Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was. To do less is to leave the door open for the enemies of Burnham to attempt to define him. It is time that the truth be told. Burnham will not be defined by those who hate him. Let objective reasoning and criticism guide any discourse on Burnham and his contribution to nationbuilding and his work on the
international scene. I am emboldened to say that Burnham and Guyana have, given our limited resources, done more for South Africa during the apartheid era than any other Caribbean country. Let the debate on Burnham, ‘The Caribbean man of 20th century’ begin. I expect his children and family members, those who work with him, those who knew him and those capable of objective political analysis, to lead the debate. His legacy warrants that you do this. To do less would be to allow his detractors to spew their venom. I would hope that the questions raised in this letter are answered, by either the Rodneyites the Burnhamites, or the Jaganites. Let the truth be told! Lurlene Nestor
You’re on a wrong wicket, Mr. Bisram DEAR EDITOR, I still regret that my review of the Linden Commission Report ran into many pages. I am now trying to make sure of some facts and to cut a long letter on the Awards debate. But I must let Mr. Vishnu Bisram know at once that he is “hearing things” about 1973. I know I have been “seen” by one holy man tied to a metal fence with the slogan “Partition or Death.” That vision ran its course. But Mr. Bisram is a designer and producer of rare talent. He is now creating an atmosphere. He wants to separate me from his audience, so that I lose their
vote when I run for New York or Georgetown, to satisfy my secret ambitions. If you read his letter in Friday’s Kaieteur News, you will see how he uses three symbols to expose me as disrespecting the late Dr. Jagan, hero of thousands. He speaks of a thug who “kicked” that national figure in my presence, while I said not a word. I thank him for not “hearing” that I laughed and patted the thug on the back and said, “Good job,” and pushed aside Dr. Jagan’s lawfully armed bodyguard. Then he correctly quotes my claim that Jagan always “wanted to be top dog.” He
has waited all these ten years to object to my addressing the President as Mr. Jagan. And he was present and silent. Mr. Bisram insults readers by suggesting that a “top dog” is some kind of dog. You’re on a wrong wicket, Mr. Bisram. Recently I received an email from another, finding me guilty in the demonising of the late Mr. Burnham. In any case Mr. Bisram’s incident is reinvented. It was not 1973. There was no kicking. Jagan was on the platform with the microphone. Tacuma Ogunseye was chairing. He was also hit and attempted to defend Dr.
Jagan. For doing that, he was the only person charged with an offence. To help Mr. Bisram’s future script writing, I say that in talking with Dr. Jagan personally I called him “Cheddi.” In a meeting I would say “Comrade Jagan.” In public I referred to him as “Dr Jagan” or “Jagan” as the world does. He worked for his title. It was not donated. I have seldom heard him called “Mister” Jagan since I first heard of him in the 1940s. I am not sure whether Mr. Bisram is a doctor. If so, I hope to learn soon. Eusi Kwayana
Page 28
WANTED Factory workers to work at Buckhall- call:266-5583/6673341 Two Wash Bay attendants to work Monday-Saturday 7:30-5:30- contact:227-5169 Experienced Armed Security Guard only with valid police clearance - Call: 231-8344 One night guard, preferably from the Kitty area. Wage $18,000 per week. Call 691-8960 Experienced Roti/ Puri cooks, Pastry makers & Handy Boy: Apply @ Hack’s Halaal 5 Commerce St. Between 9-11 One cashier - Call 691-8960 One computer literate operator. Call 691-8960 One live-in maid to work in Bel Air area: contact Ms. Bisnauth on #227-5585
Kaieteur News
WANTED 1 Gas asselitine welder: No Equipment needed: Living accommodation free call:628-1756/228-5655 Attractive live in waitresscall:228-5129 Live- in Maid to work in Interior: Age 20-40 $70,000call:664-5199/686-2201 Between 9am-6pm
One female clerk- call:2315171 Responsible hire car drivers call:231-7475 1 Attractive waitresscall:678-1481
Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, c a l l : 2 2 5 9032,647-2943
06 Toyota Avensis, European model: New tyres, hands free alarm, TV: Excellent conditionCall:677-1237
We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar
NEW 250 GB SONY PLAYSTATION3 with 1 game (of your choice) other games available- call:6098132/672-8569 (Max) SONY PLAYSTATION 2 (Original) game discs. Dozens to choose fromcall:609-8132/672-8569 (Max) HID lights call: 642-2850
Dell laptops & desktops complete computers from $55,000 Futuretech, call: 2312206 Marine parts, engines 120400HP Cummins/ Perkins, GM. Propellers, Transmissions, Shafts, All electronics, GPS, Radios- call:674-3735/652-8970
1,000 LBS Scale $200,000/ obo- call:611-5929
2 New shape Avensiscall:698-0674
125 HP Yahama Outboard engine –Call:611-5292
Need 2 Barbers- Contact:6831534
1 complete Kubota 4 Cyl engine- Call:666-4000/2570193 or 666-9455
Swamee & Sons Lumber yard @ 2nd Street Herstelling: Best quality & price for rough & dressed lumber- Call: 6141466/ 686-9485
One live in domestic, must know to cook. Salary $50,000 monthly- call:222-4890
Games for PS 2, $900,PSP $900, Xbox360 $2600, PS 3 $2600, call:672-2566 Original games for sale call:265-3232 Household articles and construction tools: Owners migrating- contact:697-7894/ 626-3750 1-MF 185 $2M, 1-MF 394 4WD $6M, 1 fiat F150 4WD $7M- callL699-2995/276-3701
2006 Toyota Allion (white) $2.2M Neg- Call:639-6852 Scrap aluminum for saleCall:226-8100/621-4839
Live/pluck chicken call:6504421,220-9203 All-in-one Vanity/ Wardrobe- Tele:225-4658
CAKES & PASTRIES
General domestic maid on E.B.D; 1 Handy Man, 1 Small Engine Mechanic 3 yrs experience- call:233-2408
Rock star hollow blocks available in large quantity in 3",4" & 6" call: 269-1406, 617-9230
Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery, Call: 670-0798. Also Wedding dresses for sale
Experienced driver & dispatchers to work in Gem’s Taxi- call:627-9424/227-0638
Lumber Sales, dressed (B) grade quality at Lumber Master Sawmill - Tele: 6845868
One experienced male cook to work in the Interior - call: 686-8996
Sales girls apply in person with written application @ Best Buy Food Supplies: Middleton & Dennis St. Campbellville
Attractive live in waitressCall:327-0252/674-4665
To buy one House Lot in Eccles, Providence, Herstelling area- Call: 6535941
One (1) Pressure Washer1650 PSI: One (1) Oscilloscope- Bandwidth 20MHZ: One (1) Dell Notebook ComputerCall:660-6672/227-5421 GMC Ton Truck, scrapNissan 720 pickup, one Industrial Lathe: Call Richard: 609-7675/233-2614 4 Cylinder Perkins Engine and 45 (gal) Plastic Barrelscontact Nicky @ tele:2267948 or 646-6000
Technician specialized in repairs & servicing to washers, dryers, fridges, A/C units & stoves: Home Servicing available - call: 661-5099 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves, TV, DVD Call: 683-1312, 627-3206 (Nick) Spraying of Vehicles- Call: 681-6603
Toyota Spacio: PNN series $1.9M negotiable- call: 6008338 Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered Runx, Allion call:652-3820,665-4529 1 Toyota Land-cruiser Prado PMM series- call:225-0188/ 225-6070 93 L.H.D Honda Accord: Excellent conditionCall:623-8909 1 Toyota Verossa: Excellent condition, PPP seriesCall:678-0456 First Class Auto (03 & 06) Allion, (03 & 04) Spacio, (01) Carina, (07) Axio, VerossaCall:609-8188/226-2689 Axio, Blue Bird, Pitbull: Going cheap- Call:697-0294
Leading Auto- Unregistered: Allex, Runx, Spacio, IST, Allion, Premio, Tacoma (06), F150 (06)- Tele: 677-7666/ 610-7666
Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call:225-9032,647-2943
Urgently wanted 1 house lot to buy: No Residential areacall:617-6015
Repairs to walk in cool room, fridge, washing machines, ice making machines etc: contact:666-2276
Cruiser Auto Sales: Unregistered: Toyota Fielder, New Raum, Noah, Mazda, Axela- call:603-9700
16 cubic Ft refrigerator $65,000: 123 Burgundy Suite- $40,000: 29" TV$45,000: China Cabinet$20,000- Call:684-6053
One live-in domestic to work in a bar in Mahaicony River, 18 years-40 years $50,000 monthly- call:225-6571
As is where is: 2 scrap Leyland DAFF Trucks: 200 Turbo Charge-T45: 240 Turbo Charge- Contact: 225-2954
Galaxy Tours: Bus service for tours, Airport, Springlands, Molsen Creek, Weddings, groups etc- call:629-5913/ 675-3093
One Toyota 212 in excellent condition: Price $1.2M negotiable- Tele:661-3525
1 Flock sheep and goats and flock Rams- Call: 696-8103
3 Fridges: 2 Kenmore & 1 GEcontact:616-2338
1 Cosmetologist- call:6025469
Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Profressional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building: Call: 225-6496, 662-6045, 223-8115
VEHICLE FOR SALE White Rav4: Excellent condition- Call:624-3950/ 225-5568/219-3972
1-F150 Ford 3 doors: fully loaded, burgundy: working condition: Price $1Mcontact: 641-6516 or 264-2644
Labourers: Friendship Shipway & Co Ltd: 7 Friendship, E.B.D- Tele:2662217/266-0311 Mon to Sat 7:30am-4:30pm
General worker to work in Parfaite Harmonie- Call: 6680306
2 General workers: Shift system- Call:225-6337
Khemraj & Son landscaping - Call: 6275969; 18 months coconut tree, plant for sale, mould for sale, trimming plants
Need immediately, Diesel Mechanic familiar with John Deere engines- call:609-8727/ 683-5759
FUNITURE UPHOLSTERERS TO WORK IN TRINIDAD: MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE- CALLRAVI AT: 0011-868-356-2015/ 0011-868-753-3582
One girl to work in Gen store, age 17-24: Text 6946004 with your details
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY M E R C U R Y (QUICK SILVER) 9 9 . 9 9 9 9 5 % PURITY - $20,000 PER POUND CALL:604-6108
Babysitter, domestic, live in/ live out- call:225-6070
Live- in attractive waitress, must be honest & courteous: Salary $50,000: Boarding & lodging free- call:698-7172
Sawmill in Coverden, E.B.D: Immediately needs Edger operator - call: 609-8727/ 6835759
SERVICES
Tibitean pups-call:225-4780/ 663-3407
1 General Domestic within the ages of 30-45- Call:6777123
1 Handy-boy to work: Living accommodation freecall:228-5655/628-1756
FOR SALE
House and Land for sale @ D-Edward W.C.B- call:6892973/675-8518
Attractive waitress at De Hangout Bar Industry: Age 18-24 yrs- Tele: 611-0979 / 695-6835
Cook, waitress & Bar man: Singh’s Restaurant & Bar 5th St Cummings LodgeCall:600-6053/614-6053
FOR SALE
All-rounder male/female: No education needed: Around Georgetown 18-30 yearsCall:621-2453
1 Male between the ages of 17-30 with experience in house wiring: Preferably of W.B.D/ W.C.D- Call: 6449084
One Handy Man to work in Interior: 18-35- call:6645199/686-2201 Between 9am6pm
Saturday May 18, 2013
SALON New classes Cosmetology , Nails, Wigs, Designs, Make-Up, HairStyling; call Abby 2161950, 666-5241, 619-7603
CAR RENTAL Progressive Auto Rental cars from $4000 per day. Call 643-5122, 225-8711; email w w w. p r o g r e s s i v e a u t o rental.com Untouchable Car Rental: Low Rate , Low Deposit call:231-8653,621-6827 Adian’s car rental- Tele:6987807 Car Rental- Tele:643-1131 Premio, Vitz call: 689-6668 Adian’s car rental/PickupTele:698-7807
Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call660-5257,647-1773 Natural beauty salon & spa: Grove Market Street EBD tele:265-4138,652-5800 specialized in everything for women & children
VEHICLE FOR SALE Honda CRV, PLL series, sun roof, alarm, 4 wheel drive, CD, low mileage, Burgundycall:643-8049/641-5366 1- Unregistered 2003 Toyota Tundra, fully accessorized, crash bar, steps, alloy rimsPrice $3.3M neg- call:6010706/656-9990 Toyota Allion 2.6 Million Negotiable- Tele:616-3001 We buy & sell vehicles for cash; we also do trading-in of vehicles- call:680-3154
Bush Truck model M, GNN series, have winch and needs repairs $1.7 millionCall:674-3735/652-8970 Black CRV: PMM seriescontact:692-5460 1-New model 212, excellent condition, alloy rims, CD player- Price $1.650M negcall:601-0706/656-9990 Unregistered: Raum with reverse camera $2.150M; Solid DEF 4×4 Pick-up; 2 Ton Dump canter $2.3Mcall:227-1737 (2) F-150 Trucks, blue$1.8 million, white-$2.5 million: Both in very good working conditionCall:674-3735/652-8970 Just Arrived: 2006 Ford F150-Harley Davidson Edition: Black, 80,000 miles in Mint condition $6MCall:658-2686/643-6386 RZ mini-buses, AT192, 212, Raum, unregistered Spacio, Canters, 100 Corolla, NZE, cheap cars- call:680-3154 LEYLAND DAF single axle, new gear box and new engine- call:613-6615/2161315 (Continued on page 29)
Saturday May 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 29
Trafficked Bangladeshis found in Brazil routed through Guyana, Peru Brazil (Times of India) The Brazilian federal police have rescued 80 Bangladeshis in Brasilia. All the Bangladeshis, who were lured with the promise of receiving a salary of US$1,500 a month, had reached Brazil after paying $10,000 each to the traffickers. Travelling more than 16,000km from their homes, the Bangladeshis entered Brazil without visas from three neighbouring countries: Peru, Bolivia and Guyana. The Bangladeshi embassy in Brasilia, the capital city Brazil, has expressed surprise at the news but it has offered its support to the Brazilian authorities in their investigation. The victims have not been arrested but advised to seek refugee status. Their cases will now be decided by the National Council for Refugees. According to the National Secretary of Justice, Paul Abram, Brazilian law provides that victims of human trafficking and people working in degrading conditions can get resident visas on humanitarian grounds. “The first step is to confirm the occurrence of trafficking and slave labour since the simple fact of being identified as victims of trafficking gives them protection from the Brazilian state,” the secretary told reporters in Brasilia. The federal police launched an operation, called “Freedom”, after noticing a sharp rise in the number of asylum claims by Bangladeshis in recent years. In 2010, there were 39 such cases but the number went up to 111 in 2011. Last year, the Bangladeshis were one of the four countries from where Brazil gets the maximum number of asylum seekers and refugees. On Wednesday, the federal police teams, tracking the victims, found them in six places in Fern, a satellite town of Brasilia. According to the police, all the victims were living in
very bad conditions, with 20 people crammed into a room. Currently unemployed, they have been looking for work in the construction sector. Now, some of them are afraid of going back to their country, where the majority of population is trapped in poverty. Melad Ahmed, 35, came to Brazil illegally to work in poultry industry in Parana state, but he was taken to Brasilia. “I cannot go back. In Dhaka, I have no job and money. Here, I can work in construction, slaughter house and Indian restaurants. I will do any service,” Ahmed told Estadao de Sao Paulo newspaper in his broken English. “If I return to Bangladesh, I will have trouble with the police.” Leaving his wife and son in Dhaka, according to Estadao, Ahmed travelled from Dhaka to Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia, with stops in Dubai, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires. From Bolivia, he took buses to Parana and from there he arrived in the federal capital. The growth of new routes being used by international traffickers to bring illegal immigrants to Brazil has set the alarm bells ringing in Brazil. The first to use these routes were Haitians, who received special treatment due to the critical situation in their country. However, the same routes are now being used by Africans and Asians who pass seven different countries until they reach the border of Brazil, often paying thousands of dollars to middlemen and smugglers who take them to Brazil through the porous borders with Peru and Bolivia, which are covered in heavy vegetation and difficult to patrol. With its economy growing and the wages getting better, Brazil is now becoming a destination for migrants from poor countries, including Bangladesh.
Nigerian “prophetess” ... From page 22 the exportation of charcoal. I gave her over N1.3m but till now, she has not said anything meaningful about it.” According to police sources, a Guyana passport was retrieved from the house of the suspect. One of them said that since Guyana had no embassy in Nigeria, it would be difficult to confirm if it was original or fake. The suspect admitted that she collected money from the brothers but that her intention
was not to dupe them. Chukwurah added that she would pay the money back. She said, “I am the General Overseer of Fire of Revival Ministries located in Ipaja. I have members and I am an honest person. I collected N950, 000 for the passport because that is the real cost of acquiring a Guyana passport. “The remaining money was invested in the charcoal business and if I’m given enough time, I will pay the money.”
TO LET Furnished two bedrooms apartment in Linden for short term local & overseas guests: Hot & cold- call:6144415/444-4704
PROPERTY FOR SALE
FOR RENT
At Clifton Port Mourant: Prime location on public road- Contact:905-595-1813/ 613-6795 or 322-5270/6248799
Two bedroom flat house at 11 St. Paradise- Call:614-1723
Secret Villa apartment, fully furnished apartments Landof-Canaan E.B.D - Call: 2665243/266-5245
Versailles 5 Bedroom House with modern facilities and beautiful landscape- Call: 592-684-9203 / 592-624-8704
Harmony Inn Apartments: Fully furnished, air conditioned apartments $5000 per night- Call:668-0306/ 6947817/602-8769
Charlestown property with Business potential- Tele:6735882
Furnished 2 bedrooms Apt to let- call:665-2548/693-0710 Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call: 6896668 Furnished 2 bedrooms Apt $US 50-60 daily- call:665-2548 Executive Rooms US $500US$1500- Call:675-7292 Diamond- $75,000; Kitty$75,000; BelAir-US $1800; Brickdam -US$6,000- call Diana:227-2256/626-9382 Stations available on Regent street between Camp & Alexander for Barbers, Nail Technicians, Hair & Tattooistcall: 602-2337/ 223-9691 Parfaite Harmonie $60,000Call:675-7292 PROPERTY FOR SALE Anna Catherina $11M, Prospect $13M, Mc Doom $18.5M, Diamond $22M- call Diana:227-2256/626-9382
Two business properties @ Whim public road; 1 House & Land 4th street Whim, Corentyne: Price negotiablecontact:231-5171/619-7134 One 3 storey concrete building @ 26 Sussex street; Two-2 Storey; Two-3 Storey @ NonPriel & Sussex streetcontact Molly 226-3497 Business Property for sale, lot 32 Timehri public roadTele:667-6554 House for sale- Contact: 6090062
(From page 28)
One furnished 2 flat fenced executive property in gated community, Roraima H/S, Versailles W.B.D: Price $120,000 call:668-6808/673-4216 3 Bedrooms lower flat: Newly paint + tile: Inside toilet & bath: Inside parking $70,000 monthly: Industry Market Square- call:640-6596 2 Property Atlantic Gardens E.C.D: one fully furnished, one unfurnished, long term Rental only- Tele:614-9060 2 Bedrooms apartment $55,000- Newly renovated Call: 674-3735/652-8970 Newly constructed apartments, with & without A/C: Parking & security available, L.B.I East CoastCall:628-8008/603-0000 Hutsonville, E.B.D: Furnished 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Bungalow with all modern convenience$100,000 Call:697-4131 2 Storey concrete 5 bedrooms with A/C, hot & cold, generator @ Happy Acre E.C.D call:647-1569 One (1) three storey commercial building located on South road –Contact:6266909/629-0037/642-7963
VACANCY Sales girl (shift) must be computer literate: Phatz Style Boutique 16E Durban Stcall:227-0501 Popular 24 hour East Coast Guyoil needs day & night pump attendants, sales girl, cleaners/maintenance- Tele: 698-5559/ 684-2838 Trainee refrigeration Technician call:2310655,683-8734 1 Experienced excavator operator for 225 Doosan & 320 DL CAT- Call:226-9492 (office hours) Vacancy exists for drivers and porters: Apply to Alabama Trading Georgetown ferry stelling Stabroek Porters, lumber clerk, wood mizer operator, moulder operator, lorry driver @ Eccles Industrial Site: Call Richard 609-7675/ 233-2614
1 Stall located in Stelling View Mall- call:646-0268 Barber Stations: Located in Kitty- Call:646-0268 Rooms - Call: 225-3234
LAND FOR SALE Garnette Street, Newtown Kitty: 4,588 sq foot – Call:647-1569 House lot for sale: Friendship EBD & drafting of house plans call: 2230733, 223-0730
EDUCATIONAL LEARN TO DANCE LATIN STLE:SALSA, MERENGUE, WALTZ, TANGO, ETC. COME & FEEL THE EXCITEMENT CALL: 6126475, 629-8842
7 Acres cultivated with house, 2 Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated contact: 226-7968
Private teacher available to help you read, write, give general English upgrade- call: 649-4247
American Pool Table - Call: 277-0578
$1M-$1.5M Parfaite Harmonie – Call:675-7292 FOR SALE/RENT
TOURS May 26th & 27th: Santa Mission, Fort Island, White Water- Call Joy: 218-1285/ 649-9059/692-3114
MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call:609-4036
LEARN TO DRIVE
The Gent’s spa: Come be pampered by beautiful sophisticated masseuses four hands special call:657-5979
Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964
Page 30
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 18, 2013
OAS drug study eyes marijuana legalization LIMA, Peru (AP) — An Organization of American States study commissioned in response to calls by some Latin American leaders for rethinking the war on drugs advocates serious discussion of legalizing marijuana. “Sooner or later decisions in this area will need to be taken,” the study released yesterday says, although it makes no proposals or specific recommendations on any issue. The $2.2 million study also notes that “no significant support” was found among any of its 35 member nations for the “decriminalization or legalization of the trafficking of other illicit drugs,” including cocaine, which most directly affects the region. The report was hailed as historic by drug policy reform advocates who call the more than $20 billion that Washington has spent on counterdrug efforts in Latin America over the past decade a damaging waste of taxpayer money. “This is the first time any multilateral organization anywhere has done
Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos, left, holds a copy of a regional study the illicit drug trade presented by OAS chief Jose Miguel Insulza, right, during a joint press conference yesterday. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) something like this,” said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance. The study arose from last year’s Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia, and was presented by outgoing OAS SecretaryGeneral Jose Miguel Insulza on Friday in Bogota to
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, who has said he smoked marijuana as a college student at the University of Kansas. The study examines four different scenarios for confronting the illicit drug trade, which has fueled violent crime and corruption, especially in drug production
and transit countries, including destabilizing governments. The most controversial scenario would involve countries unilaterally abandoning the fight against drug production and trafficking in their territory in order to reduce violence. President Otto Perez Molina of Guatemala, a hardhit cocaine transit country along with neighboring Honduras, made headlines before the Cartagena summit when he said he was tempted to put his country on such a path.
The report’s authors conclude, however, “that there is no absolute link between the drug problem and the insecurity experienced by many citizens in the Americas.” The 400-page study emphasizes drug abuse as primarily a public health issue and suggests drug abusers should not be criminally prosecuted but rather treated as ill. “Decriminalization of drug use needs to be considered as a core element in any public health strategy,” it says. That echoes the approach of the U.S. government. But it diverges from Washington’s longstanding opposition to legalizing marijuana despite the fact that voters in two states — Colorado and Washington — have done that. Nadelmann said the U.S. government has in the past suppressed any multilateral attempt to promote discussion of alternatives to the current drug war. “The notion that the OAS would actually convene 50 people, including a number of my allies and people associated with reform, and then have this open-ended discussion and then produce a report that was not subject to intensive political review and censorship is actually extraordinary,” he said from
New York. Rafael Lemaitre, spokesman for the White House’s drug czar, said in response to the report that “any suggestion that nations legalize drugs like heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine runs counter to an evidencedbased, public health approach to drug policy and are not viable alternatives.” The report was released two weeks before Guatemala hosts the OAS General Assembly, where the subject of drugs tops the agenda. Nadelmann said the report reflects to a large degree of interest in Latin America with voter-driven marijuana legalization in the United States. Uruguay’s president, Jose Mujica, is pushing marijuana legalization and wants to put the government in charge of sales. Other findings of the study: —Drug abuse is the 15th direct cause of death in the OAS’ northern countries , 40th in Andean countries and 52nd in Central America. That supports arguments that the United States and Canada bear more responsibility for illicit drug demand. — Retail sales of illicit drugs account for 65 percent of drug profits, while farmers or producers get 1 percent.
Regional foreign ministers disappointed at position by Guatemala on border dispute with Belize GEORGETOWN, Guyana - CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) foreign ministers say they are concerned that “Guatemala is reneging on an agreement to hold a referendum” as part of the efforts to end the long running border dispute with Belize. The foreign ministers who met in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this week, said they had received an “update on the efforts of Belize and Guatemalato find a final and definitive resolution to the Guatemala claim” but “expressed concern that Guatemala is reneging on the agreement to hold a referendum on 6th October 2013” in accordance with the Special Agreement between the two countries. Earlier this month, the Belize government said that it remained hopeful that a referendum would now be held next year. Last month, the Dean Barrow government said Guatemala appeared to be having difficulty with proceeding with the
referendum in both countries on October 6 this year and that the country wants to go straight to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). It also did not want to put an end to the existing Special Agreement between them. The communiqué issued after the foreign affairs ministers meeting, said they urged “the parties to set a new date for holding the simultaneous referendum in the shortest possible time “ The ministers also called on the international community to continue supporting the process under the Organization of American States and to engage the parties to assist in their efforts to reach a final settlement. “They commended the OAS Secretary General for his
Good Offices and for the role of the OAS in the Adjacency Zone,” the communiqué added. The referendum is in compliance with the special agreement between them to submit Guatemala’s territorial, insular and maritime claim to the ICJ. The Belizean-Guatemalan territorial dispute is an unresolved bi-national territorial dispute between the two Central American neighbours dating from 1940 when Guatemala claimed control of all of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country. CARICOM leaders have repeatedly “reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Belize”.
A very dangerous message has been delivered to the people of Guyana. If the independent media can be so spitefully cast aside for selfish pleasures, then the ordinary citizen - man, woman or child – has absolutely no chance.
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Former CLICO chairman blames world Brazil approves law to modernize ports (AP) — doctoral degrees who want to recession for collapse of insurance giant BrazilSAOplansPAULO to modernize and work for up to 90 days for a P O R T- O F - S PA I N , Trinidad - CMC – Former chairman of the financially troubled CL Financial group, Lawrence Duprey, has blamed the world recession and not mismanagement for the collapse of the Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICCO), the flag ship company of the group. The financial problems of CLICO and the collapse of the British American Insurance Company (BAICO) have not only affected clients in Trinidad and Tobago, but in many Caribbean countries where policy holders have reported losses estimated at millions of dollars. The Trinidad and Tobago government said it has pumped more than TT$25 billion (One TT dollar =US0.16 cents) in bailing out the company since it collapsed in 2009 and last year, the Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard said the police had started a “full criminal investigation” into the conduct of individuals and corporate entities involved in the collapse of CLICO and related companies. But Duprey, who resides in the United States, in an exclusive interview with the Trinidad Guardian newspaper blamed the world recession and not mismanagement for the situation. “It’s the downturn and the bubble that burst that hurt the company. It’s not mismanagement, or what I do or what anybody else did. When you measure the numbers, you could see that could not happen. When you measure the numbers, you could see that mismanagement couldn’t cause CL Financial to come down, it had to be the economy.” The newspaper said that Duprey, who failed to appear before a Commission of Enquiry set up by the
Lawrence Duprey authorities here to examine the situation that led to the collapse of CLICO, refused to comment or entertain questions on the Commission because of the ongoing criminal probe and civil matters before the courts. But he said when CLICO was established, its aim was to assist poor people and improve development among youths in sport and culture. “It was to build an economy that can provide an exceptionable standard of living for our people. We didn’t want to be rich, we just wanted to be comfortable,” he said, noting that Trinidad and Tobago has a small population and “in a small state, you have to determine your own future. In a small state, you have to build on savings. “We were the caretaker of the people’s savings. That’s why it is ridiculous to say that I’m going to do something wrong because I know I am a caretaker of plenty people’s savings. Mentally, I helped them save. I also helped them to be better people through their savings.” He defended the policies of the Port of Spain-based insurance regional insurance giant and dismissed reports that he spent lavishly on himself.
“I had a Mercedes, but I end up driving my Honda. My Honda was about 18 years old and that satisfied me, wherever I wanted to go,” he said. Duprey has also told a group of policy holders advocating for him to return the Chaconia Medal (Gold), the nation’s second highest award, that they can come and collect it. But chairman of the CLICO Policyholders Group, Peter Permell, said he was “shocked” at Duprey’s comment adding “we just could not fathom how this individual, who was once held in such high regard by the citizens of this country and who has benefitted so much over the years from the patronage and loyalty of thousands of policyholders to the ‘CLICO brand’, could be so callously ungrateful and dismissive of these very same people. “Based on Duprey’s comments we are of the considered opinion that he has forfeited any modicum of entitlement that he had to this honour and should as a consequence send it back to the President,” he added. Duprey, during his interview with the newspaper, which is also being aired on the television station of the Guardian Media Group, has also angered Attorney General Anand Ramlogan while responding to earlier remarks by the government minister who described the businessman as a “wanted” person. “Duprey was further insulting citizens of Trinidad and Tobago by his “dismissal” of the request by the CLICO Policyholders’ group for him to return the Chaconia Gold Medal awarded to him in 1999. In the T&T Guardian report Duprey responded to that matter by saying: “If they want it, take it... I don’t need it.”
Neal & Massy records $285M after-tax profit Trinidad Express - The Neal & Massy Group has recorded a $401 million profit before tax for the first half of its financial year ended March 31, 2013. Its profit for the year from continuing operations (profit after tax) was $285 million. For the same period last year, the group earned before tax profits of $385 million, and $275 million in after tax profits. “The group’s revenue for the half year grew by 0.4 per cent, reflecting the flat and weak economies in the region, and our exit for, the international inward
reinsurance buisness,” chairman Arthur Lok Jack said in a published statement Wednesday. The company reported strong profits before tax (PBT) improvements in its automotive, insurance and Guyana operations. PBT in the energy & industrial gases and integrated retail business units declined. “PBT from the group’s continuing operations produced a modest growth of 4.2 per cent over the prior year,” Lok Jack said. The group’s financial condition and balance sheet
remained strong. Total assets increased to $8.6 billion and the group’s working captial also improved. The group also recently signed a project Development Agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Gas Chemicals Company, and the T&T government for the construction of Phase One of a petrochemical complax for dimethylene ether (DME) in La Brea, in which Neal & Massy will have a minority 13 per cent interest, Lok Jack said.
expand its overcrowded ports, attract private investments to the sector and make it easier for companies to hire skilled foreign workers, in a bid to spur economic growth, The Brazilian Congress approved legislation late Thursday that allows the private sector to invest in state-owned ports and lifts restrictions that have hindered the building of private terminals. The legislation, which must still be approved by President Dilma Rousseff, eliminates a rule that forced private companies with their own terminals to only handle their own cargo. They now can handle third-party goods. The government has said the legislation will help eliminate bottlenecks that have hurt exports such as soybeans. It is part of a government plan to invest 54 billion reals ($27 billion) to make the country’s ports more efficient and improve the competitiveness of Brazilian exports by reducing freight costs by 20 percent. Also on Thursday, the
Dilma Rousseff government’s official gazette published new measures that reduce the paperwork foreigners need to go through to obtain visas for temporary or permanent work permits. The changes, approved earlier this week by the National Immigration Council, make life easier for companies in need of skilled labor. Skilled professionals can obtain visas without a contract and no longer have to leave the country and get a new visa every time they move to a new job or company. In addition, students working on their masters or
Brazilian company will be able to easily obtain visas. “The idea is to increase the circulation of highly skilled professionals in the country,” Labor Minister Manoel Dias told the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper. Thanks largely to a decade-long boom in commodities, Brazil last year became world’s sixth largest economy. To keep growing, the country needs welltrained professionals, especially engineers to help tap the vast deep-sea oil deposits off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state that officials here are counting on to fuel Brazil’s development. Experts have warned that the lack of skilled professionals and workers could stymie Brazil’s development. The past decade of booming growth saw the number of unskilled jobs shrink, replaced by semiskilled and high-skilled posts which observers say the country is already hardpressed to fill. And if the economy is to continue to develop, so will its need for skilled labor.
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Canada’s PM defends aide at heart of growing expenses scandal OTTAWA (Reuters) Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper defended yesterday a top aide who is at the center of an expenses scandal that is becoming one of the biggest crises to hit the governing Conservatives since they took office in 2006. Opposition parties want an inquiry into why Nigel Wright, Harper’s chief of staff, secretly gave a personal check for C$90,000 ($88,000) to a senator who could not afford to repay housing allowances he had claimed improperly. Critics said the deal made a mockery of the government’s claims it would boost accountability in Ottawa. They also said it broke ethics rules preventing senators from accepting gifts. “Mr. Wright has the full confidence of the prime minister ... Mr. Wright is staying on,” Harper’s chief spokesman, Andrew MacDougall, told reporters on Friday. The senator, Mike Duffy, resigned from the Conservatives on Thursday and will sit as an independent. The affair has the potential to damage Harper
Stephen Harper badly. Even before the scandal broke, polls showed his party trailing the opposition Liberals. The next election is not due until October 2015 and the next two years could prove painful unless he deals with the crisis. “I think the prime minister really needs to understand that this is about as serious an ethical breach as it gets and he needs to take some action here,” said Charlie Angus, ethics critic for the official opposition New Democrats. “He can’t keep Nigel
Wright in his position and pretend that this is going to go away... This is really about the prime minister’s personal credibility,” Angus told Reuters. Commentators across the political spectrum say Wright, a wealthy businessman who is on secondment to Harper’s office from private equity firm Onex Corp, had made a shocking error of judgment and should resign. MacDougall, asked why Wright had written the check, said Harper’s office was in contact with federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson, who is responsible for ensuring officials obey the rules. MacDougall did not answer when asked how it was possible that Harper, who keeps a famously tight grip on government, could not have known about the C$90,000 check. The Conservatives are now distancing themselves from Duffy, a former television journalist who Harper named to the Senate, the unelected upper chamber of Parliament, in late 2008, and who had proved particularly popular at fund-raising events.
Saturday May 18, 2013
Russia sends Syria advanced anti-ship missiles: U.S. officials WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - Russia has sent Syria advanced anti-ship missiles, U.S. officials told Reuters yesterday, bolstering Syrian defenses despite pleas from Washington and elsewhere to stop supplying President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. One of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the latest Yakhont surface-to-air missiles were delivered recently. The transfer of the missiles was first reported by the New York Times. There was no immediate comment from the Russian government. The disclosure comes just over a week after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry suggested that he raised the issue of arms transfers to Syria during talks in Moscow this month. The Russian arms transfer could intensify a push by some lawmakers in Congress for the United States to deepen its role in Syria, particularly after President Barack Obama’s government acknowledged preliminary intelligence that Assad’s forces likely used chemical weapons. “We can watch from the sidelines as the scales are tipped in Assad’s favor, or protect U.S. national interests by supporting the armed opposition striving to build a new Syrian future,” said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez. Menendez is the author of legislation that sanctions arms and oil sales to Assad, while providing lethal arms and training to the Syrian opposition.
But many U.S. officials fear weapons could fall into the wrong hands. Reuters yesterday reported that al Qaeda’s Iraq-based wing is eclipsing the Islamist Nusra Front. Al Qaeda in Iraq includes thousands of foreign fighters whose ultimate goal is not toppling Assad but anti-Western jihad. Obama said Thursday he would consider both diplomatic and military options to pressure Assad, but insisted that U.S. action alone would not be enough to resolve the Syrian crisis. The 2-year-old civil war in Syria between Assad’s forces and rebel fighters has killed an estimated 80,000 people and forced more than 1.5 million to flee the fighting. The United States and Russia have agreed to convene a conference to try to stop the war, but no date has been set. The anti-ship missiles supplied by Russia are designed to keep hostile ships away from Syrian waters. They fly at just over 2.5 times the speed of sound,
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Twenty-three youths have died in the past nine days at initiation ceremonies that include circumcisions and survival tests, South African police said yesterday. Police have opened 22 murder cases in the deaths in the northeastern province of Mpumalanga, according to spokesman Lt. Col. Leonard Hlathi. He said an inquest is being held into the 23rd death, of a youth who complained of stomach pains and vomited. Initiation ceremonies are common in South Africa, where youths partake in various activities as a rite of passage into adulthood, usually over the course of three weeks. Some 30,000
youths signed up for initiation this year. In addition to being circumcised, the boys and young men are put through a series of survival tests which sometimes include exposure to South Africa’s chilly winter conditions with skimpy clothing. Their faces are painted with red clay and they also are given herbal concoctions to drink. Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected president of South Africa, described the experience in his autobiography as “a kind of spiritual preparation for the trials of manhood.” Hlathi said that all the deaths occurred at government-registered initiation sites where medical
Robert Menendez
have a range of about 300 kilometers (185 miles) and pack a huge punch from their 200 kg (440 pound) warhead, according to Nick Brown, editor in chief of IHS Jane’s International Defense Review. “They are hard to detect and even harder to shoot down or decoy away, so they’re a powerful tool for keeping warships a long way off the Syrian shore,” Brown said. A spokesman for Russia’s state arms exporting monopoly, Rosoboronexport, would not comment when asked about the shipment of a new batch of Yakhont missiles to Syria. Russia previously delivered Yakhont missiles in 2011 in a deal estimated at $300 million at the time. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has defended Russia’s arms sales to Syria by saying that Moscow is only fulfilling previously sealed contracts and did not want to lose its reputation as a reliable supplier. Russia, which has protected Assad from three consecutive U.N. Security Council resolutions aimed at pressuring him to end violence, has been a large supplier of arms to Syria. Moscow sold nearly $1 billion worth of arms to Damascus in 2011 though its sales fell significantly last year, according to data released by Moscow-based defense think tank CAST. U.S. officials also confirmed a report that Russia has deployed a dozen or more warships to patrol waters near its naval base in Syria.
23 dead in initiation rites in South Africa practitioners usually are present. The government became involved to prevent such unnecessary deaths. Mathibela Mokoena, chairman of the House of Traditional Leaders in Mpumalanga, says the Department of Health was alerted before the initiation ceremonies began, but only showed up after the first few deaths were reported. He said the department has now agreed to have officials present for the remainder of the ceremony. Popo Maja, head of communications at the Health Dpartment, said: “We would want to find out why they were done without the supervision of medical personnel.
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IRS chief declines to identify employees involved in scandal WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - The outgoing head of the Internal Revenue Service provided little help yesterday to lawmakers investigating who at the taxcollection agency was responsible for targeting conservative groups for extra scrutiny. As Congress kicked off the first of several investigations into a scandal that has put President Barack Obama on the defensive, acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller said he could not say who had come up with the idea to single out conservative groups for intense scrutiny when they applied for tax-exempt status. “I don’t have names for you,” Miller told the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee. Miller, who was ousted by Obama on Wednesday and will leave his post by June, apologized for the IRS’s actions. But his appearance was unlikely to satisfy Republicans who have accused the Democratic administration of targeting political foes - even though a Treasury Department review found no evidence of that in the IRS scandal, and said that poor management was to blame.
Miller denied that IRS agents targeted conservative groups based on ideology. He added that he had not misled Congress even though he had not notified lawmakers when he learned in May 2012 about the agency’s “inappropriate” conduct in reviewing conservative groups’ applications for taxexempt status. Without identifying lower-level IRS employees involved, Miller initially said that one employee had been disciplined because of the scandal, then later said two had been disciplined. He asked budget-cutting Republicans to give his agency more funds to beef up tax enforcement at the IRS, suggesting that the agency’s difficulty in handling waves of applications by tax-exempt groups had been a factor in grouping conservative organizations for review. Miller sometimes seemed defiant, as he grimaced and threw up his hands while answering questions. At one point, Miller said he did not think the IRS had broken any laws when it drew up its targeting list - a response that elicited “wow” from Republicans on the committee. The scandal has angered
Steven Miller lawmakers in both parties, but Miller’s appearance appeared to further inflame Republicans who see it as a symptom of a federal government that has grown too large and is overly intrusive into Americans’ lives. “Is this still America?” Republican Representative Kevin Brady of Texas asked. Tea Party groups investigated by the agency say they were asked to provide social-media posts and lists of books they read. The questioning in some cases took nearly three years,
Zimbabwe PM confident he’ll oust Mugabe in vote
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday he is poised to sweep to victory in upcoming presidential elections and return the nation to the world community after years of isolation. “We are going to be new brooms” for change, he told about 500 party leaders and activists at a party conference to finalize a platform. He will be pitted against long-time ruler President Robert Mugabe, 89, in elections. No date has been set but it is expected to be held around September. Tsvangirai described his Movement for Democratic Change party as the main champion of a new, reformed constitution accepted by 95 per cent of the vote in a March referendum. “We have a new constitution, we must definitely have a new government” to open Zimbabwe for business and restore human rights and the rule of law, he said. The conference, which went into closed session after Tsvangirai’s speech, ends on Sunday with the release of an election manifesto. Leaks to local media organizations of
Morgan Tsvangirai its proposals suggest the MDC intends to cut spending on the military, traditionally dominated by Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party loyalists, and offer retirement to long-standing military and police commanders. The proposal is fraught with peril since commanders of the security forces are Mugabe loyalists and some have been disrespectful toward Tsvangirai. It also calls for a full overhaul of chaotic voters’ lists and electoral laws the party says have led to vote rigging in the past. Tsvangirai said a return to stability will create jobs in the
battered economy that faces record unemployment since a meltdown triggered by the often-violent seizures of thousands of white- owned commercial farmS which began in 2000, collapsing the agriculture-based economy. Reforms within the police and military are demanded in the coalition agreement between Tsvangirai and Mugabe forged by regional leaders after violent and disputed elections in 2008 but Mugabe has dismissed calls for such reforms. Senior generals have repeatedly vowed their allegiance to Mugabe and have refused to salute Tsvangirai since he became prime minister in 2009, arguing he did not take part in the guerrilla war that ended colonial rule in 1980 and brought Mugabe to power. The independent legal and constitutional research group Veritas said in a report Friday that among reforms that have not been tackled as called for by the coalition agreement are ones on freeing up the media, including the sole broadcaster controlled by Mugabe, and the repeal of security laws stifling free expression and freedom of association.
preventing some groups from participating in the 2010 and 2012 elections. “I think what happened here is that foolish mistakes were made by people trying to be more efficient,” Miller said. The Treasury watchdog’s report released this week did not identify individuals in the IRS’s Washington headquarters or its Cincinnati field office who were
responsible for coming up with the criteria used to single out conservative groups. Republicans have vowed to find out who was involved, but Miller did not provide much of a road map. In one particularly combative exchange, Miller said he had asked IRS senior technical adviser Nancy Marks which agency employees were behind the targeting, but he said he did not remember whom Marks identified as a responsible party. Republicans accused him of dodging their questions. “I’m hearing, ‘I don’t know, I don’t remember, I don’t recall, I don’t believe,’ “ said Representative Dave Reichert of Washington. “You don’t even know who investigated the case, but yet you say it was investigated.” The IRS has seen the number of groups applying for 501(c)4 status double in the wake of a January 2010 Supreme Court decision that loosened campaign-finance rules at a time when it has struggled to monitor existing tax-exempt groups. That status allows groups to keep their donor lists secret
while engaging in limited political activity. Political campaigns, by contrast, must make their donors lists public. Several Democrats on the committee said the IRS needed to take a hard look at those applications to ensure that political groups do not exploit the tax code to shroud political activities in secrecy. Miller said the IRS needs clearer guidance and more examiners to process the applications in a fair and timely manner. The top Democrat on the committee, Representative Sander Levin of Michigan, warned Republicans not to turn the investigation into a partisan witch hunt. Levin said, however, that the IRS official who made the scandal public last week, Lois Lerner, should be fired for misleading Congress because she did not inform lawmakers about the problem sooner. Two other congressional committees will hold IRS hearings next week. One of those panels, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, plans to question five lower-level IRS employees over whether they played a role in the targeting of conservative groups.
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France opposes Syria conference if Iran to attend SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - France spelled out yesterday that it would oppose a peace conference for Syria if Bashar al-Assad’s regional ally Iran is invited, clouding the prospect for a U.S.-Russian initiative to end the two-year-old war. No date has yet been agreed for the international meeting, which appears to face growing obstacles. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Kimoon met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday and said the conference should take place as soon as possible. U.N. officials announced that the number of refugees fleeing the fighting in Syria had exceeded 1.5 million. The war has claimed the lives of at least 80,000 people, the U.N. says. Western leaders have been cautious about the prospects of the talks achieving any breakthrough, and Russia’s desire that Iran should attend could complicate matters. “As far as we are concerned, not Iran,” French Foreign Ministry spokesman
Philippe Lalliot told reporters in Paris, discussing who should attend. “What’s at stake is regional stability and we can’t see how a country that represents a threat to this stability could attend this conference.” Apart from the question of which countries will attend, it is also far from clear whether the Syrian foes would accept it. The main Syrian opposition, expected to decide its stance next week, has previously demanded President Bashar al-Assad’s exclusion from any future government as a precondition to talks. After months of diplomatic stalemate, Washington and Moscow have been pushed to convene the conference by the rising death toll and atrocities, signs of escalation across Syria’s frontiers and suspicions that chemical arms may have been used. “We should not lose the momentum,” Ban said of the conference proposal. “There is a high expectation that this meeting should be held as
soon as possible,” he said after talks in Sochi with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Lavrov agreed: “The sooner the better,” he said. A Western diplomat at the United Nations in New York said the target date for the conference was June 10-15, but it depended on the readiness of the Syrian parties. An alternative plan would be to hold an international conference and then have the Syrians meet at a later date when they are prepared. Putin also spoke by telephone with the British prime minister. David Cameron’s office said he told the Russian president that he supported the U.S.-Russian initiative. Russia has made clear it believes Iran should attend the conference. “Moscow proceeds from the position that all the neighboring countries, Iran and Saudi Arabia, and the participants of the first Geneva conference, must be invited,” Lavrov said,
referring to an international meeting on Syria held a year ago. The Geneva talks on June 30 produced an agreement that a transitional government should be created in Syria, but the United States and Russia disagreed over whether that meant Assad must leave power. Moscow says his exit must not be a precondition for a political solution, but most Syrian opposition figures have ruled out talks unless Assad and his inner circle are excluded from any future transitional government. Lavrov said opposition participation would be crucial. “The main thing now is to understand who, from the Syrian sides, is ready to take part in this conference without that, nothing will happen at all,” he said. The United States said on Thursday that it was not ruling anyone in or out of the conference. Pressure has grown on Western countries to act after reports that Assad’s forces used chemical weapons,
Philippe Lalliot which U.S. President Barack Obama and other Western leaders have described as a “red line”. The White House says it believes Syrian forces probably used poison gas but the evidence is not certain. Assad and the rebels both have accused each other of using chemical weapons in Aleppo in March and in Homs in December. Syria is not a party to international treaties banning poison gas
but says it would never use it in an internal conflict. The rebels say they have no access to it. A team of U.N.-led chemical weapons experts has been ready for more than a month to investigate the rival allegations, but has been held up by diplomatic wrangling and safety concerns. Ban urged Syria on Friday to give the experts unfettered access.
House bill to have more stringent immigrant controls: aides WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - A bipartisan plan brokered in the House of Representatives will be tougher on illegal immigrants living in the United States than a Senate counterpart, congressional aides said yesterday. But it fails to address the difficult issue of how many low-skilled foreign workers should be allowed into the country. Late on Thursday, the
eight Republican and Democratic House negotiators working on an immigration bill announced that they had successfully wrapped up a four-year effort and had hammered out a tentative deal. R e p u b l i c a n Representative Mario DiazBalart of Florida, one of the negotiators, told reporters yesterday that he was “confident” that the deal will get a full airing in the House
Judiciary Committee that has oversight of immigration policy. Many Republican members of that panel are opposed to moving a comprehensive bill and instead want to take smaller steps to further bolster U.S. borders against illegal crossings and to improve access for foreign high-skilled workers. While the lawmakers themselves refused to
discuss details, which will be translated into legislative language over the next week or two, some congressional aides familiar with the plan sketched out bits of the agreement yesterday. According to those aides, the House measure, as expected, will set a 15-year path to citizenship for the approximately 11 million undocumented residents, many of whom have been in the United States for years
and are raising families here. The Senate bill, which is now being debated in that chamber ’s Judiciary Committee, sets a 13-year time frame. Like the Senate bill, those illegal immigrants who are serving in the military or who were brought over the border as children with their parents, would be put on a faster path to citizenship. But details were not available. The Service Employees International Union said the tentative deal showed that momentum for immigration legislation was building. Eliseo Medina, secretarytreasurer of the 2.1 millionmember union, added that it was “the responsibility of the House leadership to ensure this bipartisanship continues.” Congressional aides confirmed that the negotiators failed to agree on one of the most contentious issues in immigration reform efforts: the future flow of workers from abroad that American firms want to hire as construction workers, hotel maids, waiters and for other low-skilled jobs. Instead, if and when a comprehensive immigration bill reaches the full House, Democrats and Republicans will offer competing amendments to try to resolve the matter, according to aides. Republicans control the House by a narrow majority. The bill in the Democratic-
controlled Senate relies on a low-skilled worker program that was worked out by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO labor organization. That deal has been criticized by some business interests as providing too few slots for foreign workers hoping to apply for American construction jobs. Labor unions have been pushing hard for stringent controls, saying a flood of foreign workers would displace domestic job-seekers. Aides said that the House deal also would be more stringent than the Senate bill by requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to achieve new border security measures before the 11 million undocumented immigrants could begin moving into legal status. The Senate effort requires DHS to pursue tough border security measures. But the 11 million would be able to move almost immediately to temporary legal status. However, in at least one area, the House measure might be viewed as more progressive than the Senate bill, according to an aide. “People will find the family reunification (provision) is better under the House plan than the Senate plan,” the aide said. Like the Senate bill, the House deal eliminates an avenue for siblings living abroad to win visas.
Saturday May 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
WIFBSC name A and B Teams for Australia Match today The West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council has named an A and B team to compete in today’s Australia Match at the Paragon Ranges in Barbados. Team Captain Paul Slowe in making the announcement yesterday afternoon said that the Coaches were very
impressed with the level of shooting and commitment displayed by the marksmen and women which prompted the naming of two teams. The A-Team comprise of Lennox Braithwaite (Guyana), Ransford Goodluck (Guyana), Mahendra Persaud (Guyana),
Norris Gomez (T&T), David Rickman (Jamaica), Jose Nunez (Jamaica), Marlon King (Barbados), Canute Coley (Jamaica), Wayne McNair (Jamaica), and Sean Elliot (T&T). The two reserves are Anderson Perry (Antigua & Barbuda) and David Rajnauth (T&T). Coaches are Paul Slowe (Guyana) and John Nelson (Jamaica) while the Manager/Adjutant is Roland Forde (T&T). The B-Team comes from Ezekiel Joseph (T&T), Tommy Greenaway (Antigua & Barbuda), Leo Ramalho (Guyana), Valarie Newman (Jamica), Basillos Hado (Jamiaica), Carl Awong (T&T), Shelly Ann Hinds (Barbados), Oscar Waldron (T&T). The Coaches are Dennis Lee (Jamaica) and John Fong-Yew (T&T). Competition will get underway at 08:00hrs at the 300 Yards Range.
England v New Zealand: Tourists hold edge in first Test at Lord’s BBC Sport - New Zealand hold a slight advantage after an absorbing second day of the first Test on which James Anderson became the fourth England bowler to reach 300 Test wickets. The hosts lost their last six wickets for 40 runs as they were bundled out for 232, with Tim Southee taking 4-58. Anderson then brought a packed Lord’s crowd to its feet by removing New Zealand openers Hamish Rutherford and Peter Fulton in quick succession to join Sir Ian Botham, Bob Willis and Fred Trueman in the 300 club. But New Zealand fought back through Ross Taylor, who scored 66 off 72 balls, and Kane Williamson, whose unbeaten 44 steered the tourists to 153-4 at the close - trailing by 79. Scores: New Zealand 153 for 4 (Taylor 66, Anderson 332) trail England 232 (Bairstow 41, Southee 4-58) by 79.
Saturday May 18, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): You are on the hunt for some excitement today, but you’re not sure how much to say about what you want. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20): You want to be sailing on calmer emotional waters, but you may have to stir up a few waves of your own today if your values clash with someone else’s. GEMINI (May 21–June 20): You are entering an emotionally intense period when you must learn something important about yourself. The information you receive today might rattle your previous assumptions. CANCER (June 21–July 22): You can quickly see what’s wrong with someone’s big scheme today, which prevents you from investing too much time or money in an unrealistic project. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22): It isn’t always easy to hone right in on what you offer others, but thinking about your contributions may be a very interesting exercise for you. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22): You normally don’t like too many distractions, yet you’re still obsessed with gathering as many facts as you can now.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Knowing what to expect from a serious relationship makes the difference between a brilliant success and a discouraging failure. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): Having a discussion about intimacy and actually being intimate with a loved one are not the same thing. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): Although you’re often better at describing a general concept than zooming in on the individual facts, today’s Virgo Moon enables you to separate the fine points from the big ideas. CAPRICORN(Dec.22–Jan.19): You may be charmed by someone who behaves in a flirtatious manner toward you now. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18): You might feel like you’re riding a creative streak, but you’re still struggling with putting your best ideas into concrete action. Unfortunately, you could give up prematurely today if you aim your sights too high and set yourself up for frustration. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): Your closest friends may ask for your undivided attention now. Ironically, their encouragement is also just what you need to support your current growth.
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BRA President Anthony Wood... From page 40 The prompt support of the BOA gave the BRA the required jump start they needed in pulling off a successful championship, the early support enabled them {BRA} to get in the ammunition on time. Payments of dues by the various members {countries} have also contributed and Wood declared that that would see them balancing off expenses after consulting with his finance department. On Friday afternoon, Wood met with the BOA to update them on the progress of the championships and at that meeting he was accompanied by the General Secretary and Vice President of the International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Associations, Phil Harrison and Collin Cheshira. “I think such a meeting and interface was necessary because I believe that the BOA must see the faces of the people who matters on the ground and for them to feel that the monies they invested was well spent. The meeting went well and they have expressed their delight in being a part of such a historic
event that showcased Barbados and the entire Caribbean in a positive light. I am confident that this would add to our Sports Tourism profile as a Region.” Looking ahead to the further development of the sport, Wood is of the view that the policy makers must not be afraid of guns including my Commissioner. “You need to appreciate that this is a sport that can put your country in the world light and youngsters are required throughout the region. The Cadet core, at schools and if legislation is hostile, and I use this word deliberately, to prevent even a recruit or cadet from privately manipulating a gun in practice, you will not get this sport going, it will not grow.” Wood pointed out that all the support you would get from the private sector and you don’t have persons to work with because the Law (s) strangles that avenue, “It goes to naught”. “So if somebody comes and gives me right now two juniors, because they are not 18, the law says don’t touch the gun. You have to be in
Spurs to tackle Grizzlies... From page 39 Golden State’s bench added 36 points to the cause, led by Jarrett Jack’s 15. “We’re disappointed for it to end the way it did in our
home court,” Curry told reporters. “We are excited about the foundation we built as a team going forward and we look forward to next year.”
fatigues or uniforms to touch the gun and then only when you are in camp; that’s how restrictive my law is. I can get the money but if I don’t have the material to work with from young, this sport will die in the region, not only in Barbados. That is the hurdle we face, how do I get my Law makers to understand that this is sports tourism, 178 people renting cars, buying food, buying novelty, hotel accommodation, spending almost two weeks in your country, I am sure the math is not hard to work out.” The budget for hosting these championships was US$125,000, Wood declared.
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Kaieteur News
RHTY&SC to host historical Sentinel Security Berbice Sports Award Scheme Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, continues to create history in the ancient county of Berbice by announcing the first ever Berbice Sports Award. The Club and Mrs. Noreen Gaskin, Managing Director and owner of Sentinel Security have joined hands to host the sports awards which would honour outstanding Berbice male and female sports persons for the year along with the Berbice Sports Association of the year. Club Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, the brain child of the award, stated that it is another attempt by the RHTY&SC to identify and honour Berbicians who excel in sports over the year under review. The RHTY&SC Sentinel Security Sports Awards would also honour the Berbice Sport Association of the Year. The presentation ceremony would be held on the 23rd of June and sports associations and members of the Berbice public have until the 1st of June to make nominations. The veteran sport
administrator stated that the main objectives of the awards are to promote the importance of sports in the lives of youths, to promote the say NO TO DRUGS message, to recognise and honour outstanding sports performance in Berbice and to identify positive role models for youths. The period under review for the first award would be January 2012 to April 2013 and the different sports disciplines that would be under consideration are cricket, football, volleyball, basketball, cycling, athletics, lawn tennis, bodybuilding, weightlifting, chess, horseracing and boxing. Each sport organisation in Berbice along with clubs and schools are invited to submit nominations for athletes under their watch, while they can also submit their work programme for the review period to be considered for the group award. The awardees would be selected by the panel of judges selected by the RHTY&SC based on achievements during the past year, discipline, role model status and support of others to
achieve their own goals in sports. Only Berbicians can be nominated and must be living in the ancient county. The Berbice Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year would each receive a trophy, a plaque and a special gift, while the Sports Association would receive a special trophy and a plaque. Members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club cannot be nominated even by their schools. Nominations can be dropped off at the Club Office, Area ‘H’ Ground; the Berbice Cricket Board Office or DTV-8 office in New Amsterdam. The Sentinel Security Berbice Sports Awards is the second award unveiled by the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club in the past week, with the Ansa McAl Award for Excellence launched recently. The Ansa McAl Award of Excellence would honour outstanding administrators in sports, education and community development. The Berbice Youth of the Year Award, the third and final of its kind would be announced shortly.
Saturday May 18, 2013
School of the Nations rules the roost in Scotiabank/Pepsi School Football Academy tourney School of the Nations has amassed 12 points after winning all 4 of their matches played so far to lead the points standing in Group A as action in the Scotiabank/Pepsi School Football Academy continues at venues countrywide. Christ Church Secondary lost one of their 4 games played so far to amass 9 points, the same as Charlestown Secondary and St George’s High, but leads the points standings in Group B by dint of a positive goal difference of 17. The action continued last Wednesday afternoon at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue when Campbellville Secondary female team edged out defending champions, North Georgetown Secondary 10. 2012 Scotiabank/Pepsi All Star player, Cindy McPherson netted in the 4th minute to send her tournament tally to 4 goals. The win was the 3rd for the Campbellville team propelling it to the finals. Meanwhile, the action continues today with 3 games in the male category at the same venue; Lodge Secondary will clash with School of the Nations at 10:00hrs, while Queens College and New Campbellville Secondary will collide at 11:30hrs. North Georgetown and Tutorial will face off at 12:30hrs in a game that is just as important for both teams. All the games are male games. The action continues tomorrow when Chase Academy and Bishops High clash at 10:00hrs in a male encounter, while Tutorial High and Charlestown Secondary will clash
Cindy McPherson
in a female game starting at 11:15hrs. The winner of this match stands a great chance of advancing to the final. The final game will witness Christ Church up against current leaders, Campbellville Secondary starting at 12:30hrs. Two games are scheduled for Linden today; Harmony Secondary clash with Wisburg Secondary starting at 10:00hrs while Linden Foundation Secondary takes on New Silver City Secondary from 11:30hrs. Persistent rains over the past weekend disrupted activities and one of the male games, Berbice High against Berbice Education Institute had to be rescheduled to Thursday afternoon.
GCA\NBS 2ND Division 40 tourney continues this weekend The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)\New Building Society second division 40-over competition continues this weekend with a number of matches weather permitting. The fixtures read; Saturday GCC vs UG at GCC: Umpires Cyril Garnath and Patrick George. TSC vs Police at MYO: Umpires Mario Nicholls and Edward Bowen GNIC vs Sophia at GNIC: Umpires Linden Matthews and Saeed Mohamed GYO vs GDF at GYO: Umpires Randolph Rose and Colin Stuart DCC vs MYO at DCC: Umpires Hortence Isaacs and Leyland Liverpool Everest vs Third Class at Everest: Umpires Eddie Nicholls and Jageshwar Goberdhan Sunday GCC vs TSC at GDF: Umpires Patrick George and Cyril Garnath MSC vs UG at GYO: Umpires Kendall and Clyde Layne DCC vs GYO at DCC: Umpires Hortence Isaacs and Leyland Liverpool
MYO vs Third Class at MYO: Umpires Linden Matthews and Devin Austin Everest vs GDF at Everest: Umpires Eddie Nicholls and Ryan Banwarie Meanwhile, chairman of the GCA competition committee Shawn Massiah said the players need to assist the grounds men in covering the pitch. “If players are really interested in playing they should assist the grounds men to cover the pitch, we don’t get this problem at MYO and GYO, the other
clubs should follow suit. Clubs need to get better covers as well,” said Massiah. Massiah also stated that he is disappointed that certain section of the media misquoted him as saying that only one grounds man takes care of all the grounds instead of each ground has one staff. He also informed that he did not blame the ground staff for the water logged pitches last weekend but the inferior covers as was stated in another newspaper.
Carmelo Anthony, Knicks... From page 39 Indiana (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), and New York’s victory ensures the Eastern Conference finals will start Wednesday in Miami. Anthony, who scored 15 points in the first half, had help from reserve guard J.R. Smith and reserve forward Chris Copeland who each added 13. Raymond Felton scored 12 points, and the Knicks took advantage of Indiana starting point guard George Hill’s absence. D.J. Augustin started in Hill’s place.
The Pacers declined to blame the loss on Hill’ absence, and in fact, Pacers coach Frank Vogel, Hibbert, George and forward David West, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds, all mentioned a variation of Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau’s next man up philosophy. All-Star forward Paul George handled a majority of the offense with 23 points and six assists. But Vogel confessed before the game he really couldn’t ask George to do more with Hill out.
Saturday May 18, 2013
IPL fixing allegations... ESPNcricinfo - A day after suspending three Rajasthan Royals cricketers who were arrested for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing during the IPL, the BCCI has convened an emergency meeting of its working committee, the panel responsible for its functioning, in Chennai tomorrow. “The Working Committee will discuss, among other things, the fallout of the spotfixing controversy in the ongoing IPL, in which three players have been arrested by the Delhi Police,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement issued on Friday. Jagdale also confirmed the arrest and suspension of Amit Singh, the Gujarat and former Rajasthan Royals cricketer who was caught in the spot-fixing scandal as a bookie. Despite the Delhi Police interrogating all the four cricketers that have been arrested so far, there is a growing feeling among the BCCI members that all the players should be “banned
Kaieteur News
BCCI to discuss spot- Sunrisers take lead in playoff fixing issue tomorrow race, Royals miss out on top two for life” even before the investigations are over. “These players have tarnished the image of the game so much that it would take a long time for us to restore it,” a member told ESPNcricinfo, preferring anonymity. “It would be prudent to act swiftly and not lose the BCCI’s and Indian cricket’s credibility any further.” However, the BCCI president N Srinivasan is likely to play it safe and constitute an internal inquiry panel that will work with BCCI’s disciplinary committee. IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla, addressing the media for the first time since the controversy erupted, stated that the board would take action against players found guilty of spot-fixing. “We will be taking some important decisions [at the working committee meeting]. The strongest possible action will be taken against the guilty. Whoever is found to be involved in spot-fixing will not be spared,” Shukla said.
Shukla also revealed that BCCI’s anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU), headed by Ravi Sawani, has been asked to investigate the matter and submit its report. “If we have Sawani’s preliminary report by Sunday, we will go through it and discuss it,” Shukla said. It has also been learned that Srinivasan has also asked the ACSU to be represented at the meeting. While Srinivasan had started consultations with his colleagues for the Chennai meeting, the city also had a lot of action on the spotfixing front since Thursday night. The Tamil Nadu police took a cue from their Delhi counterparts and conducted several raids on bookies, arresting six of them, besides seizing numerous gadgets and Rs 40 lakh (US$73,000) in cash. However, the Chennai Police clarified in a media briefing that their raids had revealed only “betting” syndicates and hadn’t established links between the bookies and IPL players.
Universal DVD/Berbice Cricket Board T20 Tournament
Romario DeJonge-Shepherd, Renrick Batson, Rajiv Ivan highlight latest round Despite the rains, the Berbice Cricket Board was able to complete two matches in the BCB/Universal DVD T20 Competition for first division teams in Berbice. At Albion, host Bermine led by a fine all round performance by West Indies Under-19 selectee, Romario DeJongeShepherd thrashed Upper Corentyne by a massive 70 runs. Winning the toss, Bermine took first strike and compiled a challenging 138 for 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. DeJonge-Shepherd opened the batting and top scored with 35 runs (2x4). He was supported by his opening partner Joemal LaFleur with 23 and an unbeaten 20 from Keon DeJesus. For Upper Corentyne, right arm medium pacer Kamesh Sugrim took 4 for 24 off his four overs. In reply, UCCA were squeezed for a paltry 68 for 8 off 20 overs. Only Nazim Mohamed and Jameel Azad resisted with 26 and 20 not out respectively. For Bermine, Julian Moore, Shepherd and Damien Vantull took two wickets a piece for 2, 8 and 13 runs
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Romario DeJongeShepherd respectively. Over at the Port Mourant ground, the host won the toss and invited Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets to take first strike. RHTG&G scored 129 for 7 wickets off their allotted 20overs. Renrick Batson led the way with 38 and was supported by National senior all rounder Rajiv Ivan with 35. Bowling for Port Mourant Karibee Rice, off spinner Samuel Kisnasammy took 4 for 19 off four overs. He was supported by Manoj Looknauth with 2 for 34. In reply, PMKR were bundled out for a paltry 70 to
lose by 50 runs. Chandrasekhar Arjune and Joshua Ramsammy resisted with 25 and 21 runs respectively. Dominic Rikkhi with 3 for 15 and Clinton Pestano with 2 for 13 were the main wicket takers. SUMMARIZED SCORES: At Albion: Bermine beat Upper Corentyne by 70 runs. Bermine – 138 for 6. Romario DeJonge-Shepherd 35, Joemal DeJonge 23 and Keon DeJesus 20 no. Bowling for UCCA, Kamesh Sugrim 4 for 24. UCCA replied with 68 for 8 off 20 overs. Nazim Mohamed 26 and Jameel Azad 20 no. For Bermine, DeJonge-Shepherd, Julian Moore and Damien Vantull took two wickets a piece. AT PORT MOURANT: RHTG&G defeated PMKR by 50 runs. RHTG&G made 129 for 7 off 20 overs with Renrick Batson 38 and Rajiv Ivan 35. Samuel Kisnasammy took 4 for 24 off 4 overs and Manoj Loakhnauth 2 for 34. In reply, PMKR made 79 to lose by 50 runs. Chandrasekhar Arjune made 25 and Joshua Ramsammy 21. Bowling for RHTG&G, Dominic Rikkhi 3 for 15 and Clinton Pestano 2 for 13.
A team effort kept Sunrisers in the nicer half of the collection. (BCCI) ESPNcricinfo - Sunrisers Hyderabad gave themselves a lead over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the race for the final spot in the IPL playoffs, with a comprehensive win over the troubled Rajasthan Royals, their sixth win out of seven home games. Both Sunrisers and Royal Challengers have a game left, but Sunrisers play the easier opposition in Kolkata Knight Riders. Royal Challengers go up against Chennai Super Kings in their last match. Royals, who have qualified for the playoffs but have also been rocked by an alleged spot-fixing scandal, began the game needing a big win to give themselves a chance of finishing in the top two. For a long time they looked like they could do so, thanks largely to James Faulkner’s second five-for of the season - both against Sunrisers - but they let Sunrisers back in followed by an indifferent batting display in the chase of 137. Royals will rue a seemingly innocuous moment in the sixth over. Sunrisers had gone against their winning formula of chasing at home and were in deep trouble when Biplab Samantray took two instinctive steps down the wicket and went back a little lazily. The ball had gone towards point, Ajinkya Rahane swooped in, and had actually run Samantray out. Except that nobody appealed. Had Rahane appealed, Sunrisers would have been reduced to 21 for 4. Instead Samantray - 8 off 12 then went on to score his first IPL fifty, which took Sunrisers to a fighting total. With Darren Sammy, Samantray added 56 runs in 5.5 overs. Sammy scored 23 off 19. Sunrisers didn’t even manage a big push towards the end, because Faulkner came back to undo the rebuilding work,
but Sunrisers’ bowlers have defended worse than 136. Their two big bowlers Dale Steyn and Amit Mishra set the tone of the defence. Steyn bowled fast, accurate and with swing, and conceded just four runs in his first two overs. Royals had surprisingly still opened with Rahul Dravid and Ajinkya Rahane because they needed a huge-win-or-nothing approach: they couldn’t have missed out on the playoffs but needed a win and a big netrun-rate boost to compete for the top two slots. The pressure exerted by
Steyn was too much on the openers, and Mishra didn’t let up at all. He returned the jointmost economical figures of this season: 4-0-8-2. In between, Rahane and Shane Watson holed out, effectively ending the chase. Mumbai and Super Kings now finish in the top two, and Royals await either Sunrisers or Royal Challengers in the eliminator. Scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 136 for 9 (Samantray 55, Faulkner 516) beat Rajasthan Royals 113 for 9 (Mishra 2-8, Steyn 2-17) by 23 runs.
Rose Hall SC Namilco Bakewell cricket tourney rescheduled The Management of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club would like to inform the general cricketing public that the Namilco/ Bakewell 20/20 tournament has been postponed until August due to unforeseen circumstances and the start of the rainy season, the club stated in a release. The club would use the available time to make all the necessary arrangements to make sure that the tournament is fully organized and be one of the best in Guyana. The tournament has already attracted over a million dollars worth of sponsorship from the National Milling Company, Bakewell and Ansa McAl. The RHTY&SC would use the tournament to raise
funds to purchase a mini-bus for transportation purposes for its seven cricket teams and charity programmes. Berbice top teams – Albion, RHTGG, West Berbice, Blairmont, Bermine, Young Warriors, Port Mourant and Skeldon would take part in the tournament which has a total prize package of $385,000. The RHTY&SC would like to express gratitude to Mr. Bert Sukhai of Namilco and Mr. Rajin Ganga of Bakewell for their cooperation and understanding of the postponement. The club would also like to reassure all Guyanese that it remains committed to the development of cricket from the grass-root level to test cricket.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday May 18, 2013
NORTH AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN RUGBY ASSOCIATION’S SENIOR MEN 15s CHAMPIONSHIP
Guyana, Barbados ready for today’s showdown Defending Southern Caribbean champions Guyana will engage Barbados in the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association’s (NACRA) Senior Men 15s Caribbean championship today, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) held a press briefing yesterday, at Olympic House where they brought the media up to speed with preparations for the game and the local ruggers preparedness for the encounter against the Bajans. A win for the Guyanese team today and another against Trinidad and Tobago on June 1 will ensure that they set up a clash for the NACRA title against either Southern USA or defending title holders Bermuda, who defeated the locals last year at the same stage. The briefing was attended by President of the Union Peter Green, Director of
Sport Neil Kumar, Team Manager Robin Roberts, Technical Director Mike McCormack, Head Coach Theodore Henry and Captain Ryan Gonsalves. Green, who was the first to offer remarks, said “…all eyes and hearts of the players and management are focused on the game today and I’m urging all Guyana to come out and rally around the team.” He extended thanks to the corporate community, especially Banks DIH, the Ministry of Sport and National Sports Commission for their support, while he called on other members of the business sector to come on board and add their support to the sport. Roberts, who was taksed with the responsibility of giving an update on the preparations, said he was satisfied with the level of fitness exhibited by the players, adding that despite the fact that game strategies have not been finalised as yet, he is optimistic that
everything will be in place come game time. Henry in his presentation said, “I think we did as much we could have in the period of time we had in terms of getting the team tactically ready. Personally, I think is more mental than anything else. I am convinced the guys are ready and I am confident of a win.” The Head Coach, while conceding that the Guyanese cannot match the Barbadians physically, he said the team has other strategies lined up to negate that advantage. “We will play the fast game, our aim is to get them tired early so we will get the upper hand,” Henry added. He called on the players to get into championship mode from yesterday, advising that they not wait until today to get into that mental zone. Meanwhile, Gonsalves exuded confidence on behalf of the team, informing that it is a blend of youth and
experience and steadfastly focused on beating Barbados. “The team’s confidence is very high, we will take one game at a time, we are pretty confident and it is just about getting ready, playing the physical game, staying focused and stick to the game plan. Once we do all of that we will come out on top,” Gonsalves said. Kumar in a short speech first congratulated the recently elected President for his aggressive attitude in ensuring that preparations for the game was adequately addressed and even assured that Government will assist in the further development of the sport in whatever way possible. Barbadian Jason Brewer has been appointed Match Commissioner, USA David
Ardrey is the match referee, Trinidad and To b a g o ’s A n t h o n y Pontifleete is the Assistant Referee 1/Replacement Referee, while Guyanese Carlton Heywood, Shebana Daniels, Sabola Gray and Terrence Grant will act as Assistant Referee 2, fourth official, fifth official and coach of match officials respectively. The Bajans arrived yesterday and were scheduled to hold practice sessions in the afternoon. The Guyana 22-man squad is: Ryan Gonsalves (Captain), Delroy Gordon, Rondell McArthur, Dwayne Schroeder, Rickford Cummings, Richard Staglon, Avery Corbin, Jacques Archibald, Jason Tyrell, Grantley Williams, Cloyd Prowell, Dillion Downer, Christopher Singh, Breon
Walks, Claudius Butts, Lancelot Adonis, Ronald Mayers, Akeem Fraser, Peabo Hamilton, Kevon David, Elwin Chase and Carl Lewis. The Barbados squad is: Dwight Forde (Captain), Neil Forde, Jeren Clarke, Caston Howard, Christian Preece, Antonio Gibbons, Raj Edwards, Stephen Millar, Kevin Murrell, Adon Rogers, Shaun English, Irfan Khan, Marcus Harewood, Nico Blunt, Kevin Carter, Stephen Atwell, Nicholas Jackman, Sean Ward, Ramoun Downes, Kevin Chobam, Anthony Bynoe and Dario Stoute. The coach is Stuart Copland, while the Manager is Romeo Mayers. Admission to the venue is free and supporters are asked to wear ‘Green’ in support for the local team. Game time is 16:00hrs.
Sparta Boss, Albouystown ‘B’ on collision course - as Mackeson ‘Keep Your Five Alive’ heats up Football-loving fans turned out in their numbers at California Square, East Ruimveldt Thursday night to witness the intense rivalries in the Mackeson ‘Keep Your Five Alive’ tournament, which continued at the popular venue in East Georgetown. Favourites Sparta Boss and Albouystown ‘B’ did not disappoint their huge fan base; the teams brought the curtains down on what was an entertaining night with the final two matches against Turkeyen and Rasville ‘A’ respectively, coming away with similar margins of victory, 3-0 over their opponents to advance to the next round. Berlin also advanced after defeating 2011 Georgetown ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Champion Back Circle 1-0, which was the same scoreline for the West Front Road versus Castillo clash that saw We s t Front Road advancing. Festival City and Broad Street ‘B’ also qualified after defeating Leopold Street ‘B’ and Vryheid’s Lust Champs on penalty kicks, but it was the two final games of the night that set the venue alight with contention and keen competition on both ends of the concrete field. Devon Millington and Dennis Edwards were the two main figures in the Sparta
Boss’ lineup and certainly they did not fail to impress as they did when the team also won last week at the National Cultural Centre tarmac. The duo combined to give their side the first goal of their contest against Turkeyen in the first minute. Known for his controlling ability on the big field, Millington exhibited such similar traits for the small goal, finding Edwards on the left side for a conversion that sent the crowd into frenzy, making it clear that they are favourites. Jermaine Weekes missed an opportunity to put Sparta Boss in the lead three minutes later, when his penalty kick, which was awarded after a Turkeyen player defended the ball in the no-zone area, struck the left post. However, Millington made up for that blunder with his sixth minute strike. Edwards completed his double with a clinical goal, driving the ball through the legs of the opposition. The play sparked off loud celebrations off the field before the end of the first half. Turkeyen found it difficult to pull back the Sparta Bosses, who displayed showmanship to the delight of fans. Like Sparta Boss, a large uproar greeted Albouystown ‘B’, who are also heavily favored to take home the
$300,000 top prize. The team took apart a hapless Rasville ‘A’ lineup. Melvon Ross emulated Edwards’ brace in the fifth and 18th minutes with Shaka Jones adding the third goal in the 13th minute to set Albouystown ‘B’ on a collision course with Sparta Boss. Rasville ‘A’ have only themselves to blame, since they lacked coordination and communication on both the offensive and defensive sides. When Ross got his first goal, which he calmly placed through the legs of Rocky Cumberbatch, it signaled the start of Albouystown ‘B’s domination of the game. Meanwhile, Sherwyn Cadogan’s sixth minute goal was all that was needed to guide Berlin past Back Circle, after Festival City edged Leopold Street 1-0 on sudden death penalty kicks, with Andell Bailey being his team’s hero following a nil-all stalemate at the end of regulation time and 3-3 on penalty kicks. Broad Street ‘B’ also defeated Vryheid Lust Champs 3-1 on penalty kicks, while Wendell Pedro’s 11th minute goal separated West Front Road from Castillo. The action continues tonight at Punt Trench and School Street, Albouystown.
t r o Sp
NORTH AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN RUGBY ASSOCIATION’S SENIOR MEN 15s CHAMPIONSHIP
Guyana,Barbados ready for today’s showdown
rd
President of the GRFU Peter Green (3 right) makes a point during the briefing in the presence of Director of Sport Neil Kumar (2nd right), Head Coach Theodore Henry (3rd left), captain Ryan nd Gonsalves (2 left), Mike McCormack (left) and Robin Roberts yesterday.
Scorching pace anticipated as annual 3-stage cycle road race gets underway today
Sparta Boss, Albouystown ‘B’ on collision course
‘KEEP YOUR FIVE ALIVE’ HEATS UP
School of the Nations rules the roost in Scotiabank/ Pepsi School Football Academy tourney
Carmelo Anthony, Knicks stay alive vs. Pacers in Game 5
KEEN BATTLE! Berlin and Back Circle battle for possession Thursday night at California Square, East Ruimveldt in the Mackeson ‘Keep Your Five Alive’ Futsal football tournament.
WEST INDIES FULLBORE RIFLE SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS AUSTRALIA MATCH
WI, Canada, Great Britain, Channel Is. take aim in Region’s biggest shoot Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210