Monday May 18, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news...Letters... Where your views make the news
This is a dangerous yet prevalent Congratulations to the coalition, it’s time to now belief about raising children DEAR EDITOR, As a mother and parent I vicariously shared the pain being felt by Denise Mc Pherson whose daughter Alicia was murdered on April 19 . The mother intimated that for over a year her daughter had been in a relationship with the suspect, who has thus far managed to elude the police. “Everywhere she went it was the boy”, she added. There have been reports that on the night in question, the accused was seen slapping up the deceased, corroborated by an earlier report wherein the mother said that she had noticed a bite mark on the hand of her daughter, and had inquired as to its origin, etc., as most concerned parents should, but settled for the excuse/ alibi by her daughter that she had gotten injured. Seemingly such a response was good enough for the mother, as it is not stated where any further information was elicited or investigation carried out. From the parent’s perspective, reticence and
silence in Alicia were desired traits, as the mother further added that her daughter was the kind of girl, who bore it alone and would not talk about what was going on. Alicia was stabbed 41 times, and this highlights a certain issue. Sad but true, most parents need to wake up to how much every teenager, even the most typical, desperately needs his parents to be in close touch with his life. Such newly cognizant parents may feel they face a big hurdle — the notion that children, especially teenagers, have an inherent right to privacy. This is one of the most dangerous yet prevalent beliefs possessed by our culture about raising children today. The affluent insist on it and the law sometimes enshrines it, but children are endangered by it. This notion of privacy is a direct result of the widespread but destructive mindset that the child and the parents have. I am not big on privacy rights especially where my children are concerned. It was well
Preservation of our environment by the new Govt. DEAR EDITOR, Congratulations on your election to the Presidency of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Echo is delighted that voters have elected you tothe highest office in our beloved country. As you know, we advocate for good environmental stewardship and have organized many local activities to raise environmental awareness among local communities. In that regard, we look forward to your active support, to our advocacy. We are happy, too, with your public announcement on Saturday May 8, 2015, of your intention to set up a special environmental fund for future generations. We believe the best investment we can make for the future is the protection and preservation of our environment and natural resources.It will always pay rich dividends. Best wishes as you begin your term in office. Royston King, Executive Director Environmental Community Health Organization
established in my home, from the early outset in their youth, that they would not be having their own phone, television or computer in their room. They would not be using any password or any of their devices that would prevent me from accessing their online activities. No Dear Diary or journal entries written in codes or unintelligible words. There would be no locks on their bedroom doors, and in fact, those doors will for the most part remain open. There was no mysterious withdrawing for hours on end, alone or with friends, behind closed doors in my home. A disengaged child will always be sought after and reengaged, because today it should be clearer than ever that such a child is at risk. Let the idea be grasped that I have no intention of listening in on my children’s conversations, or walking unannounced into their rooms, or checking their emails. However, I do need to be at all times privy to their whereabouts, and be well aware of any individual outside of the home regardless of gender who has is having an impact on their lives. There will always be the healthy understanding that I might and that in any case I possess the right and sometimes even the responsibility to do so in order to serve and protect them. Is it naïve to think that the lives of teenagers can be such open books to their parents? It certainly would be if teenagers were allowed to grow in the belief that them and their parents were on opposing teams and with opposite goals. Sadly, this is the case in so many households today. We as parents, especially
with daughters must teach our children that along with them we are part of a winning team. It is my undying belief that the extent to which our children are aware that we are all on the same team, regardless of what, is the extent to which their lives being open to us as parents can truly flourish – even in their teenage years.. These gestures are only starters, as it should also be instilled in them even now that they are unconditionally love and listened to by us parents like no one else on Mother Earth, and in addition that we have a responsibility for them like no one else on Earth either. They must be left with the impression that they can come to any of time of say, any season any place or space. The truth of the matter is if the lives of more teenagers, ( especially females) were open to responsible engaged parents, and less concern was paid to privacy rights, then it follows to logical reason that more young people would be better equipped to safely navigate and circumvent their teenage years on the way to becoming respectable men and women of character. And, last but not least, we would have fewer infamous teenagers on the front pages of our national newspaper. The advice herein should be heeded so that the deaths of Alicia Mc Pherson, Aszeema Ali, Shondell Peters and so many other teenagers do not go in vain. My heartfelt wishes for relief through their grief go out to the parents of these and all other teenagers who have lost their young lives at the hands of crazed lovers. Let the mate not decide the teenager’s fate. Concerned parent
hold their feet to the fire
DEAR EDITOR, Now that the dust has settled, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all Guyanese and the coalition on their win. For those who disagreed with the AFC for joining forces with the APNU, it is clear that the AFC and APNU made the correct judgement. I would like to also congratulate the independent media, namely Stabroek News but more so the Kaieteur News and specifically the Freddie Kissoons of the world for exposing the previous government during their kleptocratic, cronyistic, nepotistic, non-nationalistic reign. I now plead with you (the independent media) to ensure you use same great enthusiasm and energies to keep the coalition feet to the fire to ensure they do not go down the same path. Politicians must be reminded it is the people who vote them into government and not they who vote themselves. Once politicians have to truly compete for the people’s vote, then they have no choice but to develop the entire country and not one specific group and or section of their society. As it relates to holding their feet to the fire, let’s start with their 100 day plan. If within the first 100 days they have not implemented at a minimum 75% of the things they stated they would, you should apply the necessary pressure to ensure they do. On a parting note, I find it quite fascinating that 49% of the Guyanese population still thinks that the PPP is good for Guyana at this time. Good luck to the coalition and congratulations to Guyana, we have turned the corner. Nik Alleyne
Give the youths... From page 4 He has worked hard for his region and should be chosen to go to parliament. He is a dynamic young leader in our community, chairman of the Upper Demerara branch of the Guyana Teachers Union for the past several years, in which he was elected two times unopposed and has brought a once dead branch to life. I call on the leadership of the coalition to not let the people of Linden down before you start leading the country. Do not let Region Ten down like the past government; give the youths a chance as they have given
you. Give Mr. Jermaine Figueira a chance to serve the people of Linden and Region Ten in the eleventh parliament. Shika Fortune Teacher and Youth leader
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Kaieteur News
Monday May 18, 2015
Housing Ministry denies A Guyana void of poverty, corruption and nepotism awaits locking out Irfaan Ali The Ministry of Housing and Water has denied that it had locked out former Minister Irfaan Ali from the Brickdam building. The Ministry recently issued a statement in response to reports that the former Minister of Housing and Water, Ali was locked out of his office last week. However, the Ministry did admit to changing the locks. In its press release, the Ministry expressed disappointment with regard to an article published in this newspaper last Wednesday. The Ministry opined that the “inaccuracies” published brought “dishonour to the lauded offices of the Minister and Permanent Secretary”. According to the Ministry, Ali was at no time denied access to the Ministry. Instead, the Ministry said, he was “still engaged in activities related to the just concluded elections and had not gone
- Ramkarran
By Abena Rockcliffe
Irfaan Ali
Emile McGarrel
to the Ministry.” Subsequent reports indicated that Ali said he had not visited his office since the Friday before Elections Day. However, though Ali made this claim, the vehicle identified as his was spotted outside of the Ministry on Wednesday afternoon when this newspaper paid a visit. Furthermore, this newspaper maintains that it was reliably informed by two
well-placed sources that the locks had indeed been changed. The sources also indicated that the order had come from “higher up”. Outside of the Minister himself, only the PS has the authority to give such a directive. Also, though the release said that the Ministry did change the locks, it did not indicate the reason for doing so. Nonetheless, it maintained that “action reportedly taken by the Ministry was done with the knowledge of the former Minister after he had completed clearing his office of personal items and documents.” Before the locks had been changed, vehicles were spotted moving several boxes and files from Ali’s office. Staff members had captured photos of at least one vehicle being loaded with boxes. Emile McGarrel, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, has already advised staff to prepare to work with the new Minister, the release said.
Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran is saying that now that the elections dust is settled and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has been unseated, Guyana eagerly awaits a bright future void of the ills that previously characterized its society. On Saturday last, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) announced the final results of the General and Regional Elections of 2015. The APNU+AFC coalition was declared the party with the most votes and as such was announced to be the party that will form the new government. Later that day, President David Granger was sworn in at Parliament Building before thousands who converged to bear firsthand witness. In his most recent article, Ramkarran, a former PPP Stalwart, extended congratulations to the APNU+AFC coalition on its historic victory and to David Granger, Guyana’s new President. In that very article, Ramkarran pointed out that the results of the elections reflect a very close race, as many observers had predicted, “But the APNU+AFC alliance won the right to form the Government.” He said that the majority of the Guyana’s electorate supported APNU+AFC’s message, ‘It Is Time’. According to Ramkarran, the fact that that slogan resonated with most citizens shows, clearly that the electorate has grown tired of what the PPP/C was offering. The former party stalwart said that it is not surprising that the PPP/C has reached this denouement as the Party lost its way since the passing of Cheddi Jagan in 1997. “No longer motivated by his high ideals, it (the PPP/C) allowed one-man rule, arrogance, crime, corruption, nepotism and high living to flourish and become dominant features of its governance. Ramkarran said that the PPP/C ignored the fact that it lost a significant percent of its support at elections held in 2011. “It deluded itself by a self-serving analysis that apathy caused its supporters to stay away from the polls in 2011. This prompted an
Former PPP stalwart, Ralph Ramkarran expectation that elections with a divisive political strategy will restore its majority. Thus it rejected any idea of a coalition government.” Ramkarran said that he tried the best he could in numerous articles to project this idea that the 2011 results could presage historic changes. “In ‘Ramotar holds the Pen of History in his Hand,’ (SN 2014/09/28) I argued that the PPP could transform the destiny of Guyana in accordance with its historic mission of 1950 by creating national unity through a coalition government. The shocking reality is that such an option was not even discussed after the elections.” He said that instead, former President Ramotar preferred to sacrifice part of his first term and a second term, than to sit in a coalition, which PPP founder and former President the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan would have eagerly done, subject to agreed policies, had he faced the same situation. Turning his attention to the gains of the coalition, Ramkarran pointed out that the APNU made substantial compromises with the AFC and noted that the Cummingsburg Accord (the agreement which bonds APNU and AFC) divided up governmental responsibilities and guaranteed 12 seats in the National Assembly and 40 percent of the Cabinet to the AFC. He said that the “AFC deserves special mention for the courageous positions it took when it first ensnared a reluctant APNU into supporting a No-Confidence Motion and then changed course and decided to seek an alliance with APNU… it boldly embraced the new approach and pushed forward with the alliance.”
Further, Ramkarran said that the maintenance of its structural independence and a separate campaign strategy allowed the AFC to play upon its distinct strengths. This victory, he opined, was due in no small measure to the bold political decisions of the AFC and the innovative course it charted. The former House Speaker said that Guyana now enters a new era of alliance politics, which introduces a significant non-ethnic dimension. Even with such a welcomed dimensional change, Guyana still looks forward for much more, said Ramkarran. He said that most of Guyana looks forward to measures to reduce poverty and corruption and for constitutional reform, which are all things that the Alliance government promised to do. Guyana now joins 80 countries around the world that are being run by coalition governments. In Europe, there are countries like France, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine that are being run by coalition governments. While in Latin America and the Caribbean, there are countries like Panama, Zimbabwe, Guyana’s neighbour, Brazil and the Twin-Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. There are also other countries like India, Iraq, Japan, Israel, Lebanon, Malaysia and Sri Lanka that are also being run by coalition governments as well as oceanic countries like Australia and New Zealand which can be found on Oceania. Much of the confidence placed in the coalition stemmed from the fact that if any of the parties forming the coalition acts in violation of the constitution, the will of the masses, or the law, the other parties are there to sanction them. The Alliance for Change (AFC) had told its supporters that it will not allow A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to do as it likes and APNU made a similar commitment regarding the AFC. On February 14, the two political bodies joined forces in a bid to take over the reins of government in Guyana. The union is steered by the Cummingsburg Accord which stipulates the rights and expectations of both the AFC and APNU.
Monday May 18, 2015
Kaieteur News
Germany’s SPD notches up pressure on Merkel to divulge U.S. spy list Reuter - Chancellor Angela Merkel is coming under increasing pressure to divulge a list of targets, including the IP addresses of individual computers, that German intelligence tracked on behalf of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). Critics have accused Merkel’s staff of giving the BND foreign intelligence agency the green light to help the NSA spy on European firms and officials, triggering a scandal that has dented the c h a n c e l l o r ’s popularity. The affair has strained relations between Merkel’s conservatives and their junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD), whose leader Sigmar Gabriel has publicly challenged her over her role in the affair. Gabriel said in an interview with Bild am Sonntag newspaper that the German parliament needed to see the list, which contains “selectors” such as names, search terms and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, the unique identifiers that enable computers to communicate via the Internet. The government has said it must consult with Wa s h i n g t o n before
Angela Merkel revealing the list, whose contents are considered crucial to establishing whether the BND was at fault in helping the NSA. Spying is a sensitive issue in Germany because of the abuses of the Nazi and Communist eras. Revelations by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden about wideranging U.S. espionage in Germany caused outrage here when they surfaced, and this has now been compounded by the allegation that the BND was complicit. Gabriel, who is also vice chancellor, said: “Imagine
if there were suspicions that the NSA had helped the BND to spy on American firms. Congress wouldn’t hesitate for a second before looking into the documents.” SPD General Secretary Yasmin Fahimi told Tagesspiegel newspaper Germany should not “beg” the United States for permission to disclose the list, and Merkel “shouldn’t be subservient to the USA”. News magazine Der Spiegel said the issue had driven a wedge between Gabriel and the SPD’s FrankWalter Steinmeier, who is also foreign minister. Its report, which did not cite its sources, said while Gabriel was calling for the list to be released despite possible U.S. resistance, Steinmeier did not think this advisable and had called the SPD leader to express his concerns. Conservative politician Patrick Sensburg, who heads a parliamentary committee investigating the NSA affair, accused the SPD of political point-scoring. He said he was sure Berlin would find a way to let committee members see the list but this would not be enough, as it also needed explanations of why certain search terms were chosen.
Nigerian military says it destroyed 10 Boko Haram camps LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria’s military destroyed 10 Boko Haram camps in the country’s remote northeast yesterday as it pressed on with an offensive against militant Islamist fighters now confined to a final hideout there, the army said. A military statement said troops had killed many Boko Haram militants in the Sambisa forest and captured several armored vehicles and anti-aircraft guns. One soldier was killed by a landmine explosion. Thousands of people have been killed and several million displaced in a six-year Boko Haram insurgency that at its height saw the group control an area the size of Belgium. But the neighboring states of Chad, Niger and Cameroon launched a combined series of
offensives with Nigeria this year that have recaptured nearly all the occupied territory, pushing the remaining militants into the Sambisa forest. Boko Haram, whose name roughly translates as ‘Western education is sinful’ in the Hausa language, has hit back with a series of raids over the last week, including two assaults on the regional capital Maiduguri. “The Nigerian Air force is maintaining an active air surveillance to track the movement of terrorists for appropriate action as the operation continues,” army spokesman Chris Olukolade said in the statement. There has been no comment from Boko Haram, which occasionally puts out statements and videos via the Internet.
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Kaieteur News
Monday May 18, 2015
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13-year-old raped, impregnated by stepfather Yet another 13-year old girl from Guyana’s interior has been raped and impregnated. Reports reaching this newspaper stated that police at Lethem have arrested the stepfather of the teenager who hails from Kumu, Central Rupununi, as they probe allegations that he sexually assaulted her. The 27-year old man is currently incarcerated at the Lethem Police Lock-ups, while preparations are being made to have the teen transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for medical attention. Last month a thirteen year old student of Wakapoa Secondary School, in Region Two gave birth to premature twins at the Suddie Hospital Complex, in Essequibo. The young girl has since revealed the name of the man who allegedly raped her. The girl was left in the care of her aunt, Norma James, for almost five years, after her mother along with her husband, Trevor Abrams, was charged with the murder of 54-year-old Wilfred Williams, aka “Willo”, of Grant Friendship Canal. The couple is currently on remand. Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA), Ann Greene said that the agency has since launched an investigation into the matter and has taken steps to provide counseling and further monitor the teenager as she recuperates and re-enters the school system to complete her education. According to Greene, a number of similar incidents occur in those far flung areas of the country quite often.
GMSA congratulates... (From page 12) initiatives that will redound to the benefit of the business community and to Guyanese in general. In addition, we anticipate that more effective strategies will be implemented in the immediate future to re-train and re-equip our law enforcement bodies to ensure the personal and material safety of business owners and their communities. The GMSA hopes that the calm which has accompanied these recent elections will stretch into the years ahead.
Kaieteur News
Monday May 18, 2015
One in custody following robbery, murder of overseas-based Guyanese One man who is said to be a prime suspect is in custody as police continue their investigation into the brutal robbery/murder that took the life of an overseas-based Guyanese on Thursday evening. The man in custody is a frequent visitor to the premises and lived there at times. Kaieteur News was told that he was seen acting suspiciously throughout the day. Information revealed that he was in and out of the premises during the day and had just left when the attack occurred. Overseas-based Guyanese Ramesh Puran, 49, a father of three and of Richmond Hill, New York, USA, had returned home on Friday 8th May with his family to do some religious work, when four masked bandits armed with guns and cutlasses attacked him and his family at their residence at 153 Belvedere Squatting Area, Corentyne, Berbice. According to information, Puran who is a regular visitor to Guyana was at home
Ramesh Puran and his wife in happier times. around 21:15h when they were suddenly accosted by the bandits. Puran who was wearing several expensive pieces of gold jewelry, including rings, bands and chains was attacked and robbed in the hallway. The man reportedly put up a fight and was shot and chopped. Two of the bandits entered one of the bedrooms and attacked the man’s niece, Tamarattie Seecharran, a
Looking forward with... (From page 13) Sharma, was another to express expectations for working in an inclusive Government. “What is important is that we give them (PPP/C) the opportunity to be part of this history-making moment,” said Sharma. He noted that Saturday’s swearing-in was an unbelievable moment that people across the nation have been waiting decades for. Speaking on behalf of the religious community was Pastor Ronald McGarrell of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO). He said that the community is looking forward to
the promises of the new President for making life better for Guyanese citizens. “I hope that he starts right away to make life better for all Guyanese,” said the Pastor. “To make the country safer and make sure all people are well taken care of, especially the elderly and young people who need jobs.” Looking towards the immediate future, Pastor McGarrell said that he wants for the new government to quickly implement systems that will help those suffering in Guyana, so that they will “be happy and glad to be living in this land.”
housewife, who occupies the house with her husband, Dhanraj Narine and their 10month-old baby. The bandits sat on top of the woman while placing the cutlasses on her neck, threatening to slit her throat if she didn’t say where the US currency and jewelry were. Her aunt, who was in her bedroom, opened the door and saw the men hacking
away at Puran. The woman immediately closed the door, removed the louvers and jumped 25 feet to the ground, injuring her back in the process. She got up and fled in the muddy yard, screaming as she ran through the streets. Neighbours heard the commotion and came out, but were first held at bay after realizing the men had guns. While Puran was shot, another relative, Devika Ramotar, was also chopped in her head. They were picked up and rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital where Puran was pronounced dead on arrival. According to relatives and neighbours, the police responded promptly, but by then the men had already left. The ordeal lasted about five minutes. Relatives are also confident that they have a good knowledge of some of the perpetrators, who they believe had visited the premises earlier on the day of the robbery. Investigations are continuing.
Slain activist’s relatives... (From page 15) second thought is that we would also get justice and also for (Ronald) Waddell and ‘Sash’ (Satyadeow ) Sawh. He was upset that there was no inquiry into ‘Sash’ Sawh’s death. A lot of deaths would be solved now,” she added. Last Saturday was an even more emotional time for family members who stood with thousands outside Parliament Buildings for President Granger’s inauguration. “I cried today,” his mother, Donna Harcourt said. “I would have loved him to be here (at the ceremony). I felt sad because justice has not come up to now.” While police said that they have questioned several people and checked surveillance camera footage from the night of his assassination, senior police officials have never said whether they had ever questioned two individu-
als who had allegedly threatened the slain activist. Relatives of the slain former army officer have stated that he was threatened twice while staging his oneman protest against Attorney General Anil Nandlall. He reportedly identified one of the individuals who made the threats, while filing a complaint at the Brickdam Police Station. Relatives said that he also filed a complaint with a rank at the Attorney General’s office. During the initial stages of the investigation, Crime Chief Leslie James had told Kaieteur News that he had instructed his staff to check their records to see if there were any reports of threats made against the activist. James had also said that the Guyana Police Force will go “wherever this investigation leads” in its quest to apprehend Crum-Ewing’s killers.
Monday May 18, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Monday M ay 18, 2015
Kaieteur News
‘Time for public service overhaul’ Trinidad Express Economist Dr Ralph Henry has called for a “radical reorganisation” of the public service. He believes that given falling oil and gas prices, the country must move to performance-based budgeting in the public service. “That will turn the tide against the absolute inefficiency that we have in so many areas of our public service. “There are many hard-working public servants, don’t get me wrong, but we need to move to performace-based budgeting,” Henry was addressing the third annual Meet the Court Symposium hosted by the Industrial Court at the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad) hotel in Port of Spain. He was at the time responding to a question by one attendee as to whether he thought it prudent for the Government to increase wages in the public service in the face of a diminishing oil and gas prices. The nation’s 40,000 public servants are set to receive a 14 per cent salary increase this year. Henry noted: “The last budget exercise seems to suggest that we were starting to go in that direction (performance-based budgeting) because lots of questions were being asked like, ‘You want this amount of money working for this particular ministry but what
Wants performance-based budgeting: Economist Dr. Ralph Henry speaks during Saturday’s -symposium at the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad) hotel in Port of Spain. Looking on is Deborah Thomas-Felix, - president of the Industrial Court. -Photo: CURTIS CHASE was achieved with the money you got last time around?’ “Those are the questions that need to be asked, and I think many agencies and institutions felt themselves under the gun because the questions came that they could not answer. So we really must move to a situation where we have performance-based budgeting,” Henry said. But Industrial Court president Deborah ThomasFelix said if this is to happen, there must be good governance structures in place. “The question of having good indicators as to performance, as it stands, starts with the governance structure, and if you have a
good governance structure and good oversight then the rest is gravy. “But if you were to put performance-based budgeting and you still have some of the governance issues which exist all over the public sector, then we will be there going around in circles.” On the impact of dropping commodity prices on the economy, Henry earlier said it was critical for Trinidad and Tobago to -diversify away from oil and gas. “If we took oil and gas out of the picture, and the international community could take oil and gas out of their picture and our picture, we see where we are as a society.”
EBC puts its house in order Trinidad Guardian - Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar is yet to announce the date for the 2015 general election, but the Elections and Boundaries Commission has started putting its house in order. The commission has started recruiting staff for election day and is hoping to hire 14,000 personnel. Speculation is rife that the Prime Minister will announce the eagerly awaited election date on May 24 when the People’s Partnership holds its grand fifth anniversary celebrations at Constantine Park, Macoya. Several dates are being bandied about in political circles, among them September 7 and September 14. Saturday, Dominic Hinds, EBC’s corporate communications manager, confirmed that the commission has begun training its internal staff in preparation for the election bell’s tolling. The EBC published
Kamla PersadBissessar advertisements calling on citizens interested in working for election day to collect application forms for polling day staff positions, which include presiding officers, returning officers and clerks. Hinds, in an email to the Sunday Guardian, said “the procedure is a normal practice conducted by EBC prior to any elections.” He said the EBC expected to have approximately 14,000 people assigned to the
various polling stations throughout the country on polling day. “Preceding this, though, persons will have to undergo a series of training (about five days) and then complete an assessment examination. Thereafter the final selection of polling day staff will be determined,” he said. The EBC, he said, had not been informed of the election date, but was putting procedures in place for the proroguing of Parliament on June 17. After that, the Government has 90 days to call an election and the EBC, Hinds said, required a minimum of 35 days for the preparation of any election. Hinds also said the redesign of the EBC’s new website, which will be an interactive platform with the capability to deliver real-time election day results, would be ready in the next couple of weeks. “We are presently working on its final phase with the developers,” Hinds added.
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Opposition legislators to end boycott of Parliament =PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Opposition members of the People’s National Movement (PNM) will return to Parliament on Friday putting a temporary end to their non-participation in the legislative chamber following the suspension of their leader Dr. Keith Rowley earlier this month. PNM chairman Franklin Khan, speaking to reporters after the party’s General Council meeting on Saturday, said that the move to return is strategic and would prevent a move by the coalition government to move to have the seats declared vacant. Parliamentarians who miss six consecutive sittings of Parliament without leave of absence could have their seats declared vacant. But Khan said the opposition legislators would return to their boycott until Parliament is prorogued on June 17 because of the unlawful and vindictive suspension” of Rowley. “That decision still stands, however, as you would realise the UNC (United National Congress) has been keeping two sittings (of Parliament) per week now instead of one, on a Wednesday and a Friday, only for them to invoke the six consecutive absents from Parliament without the Speaker ’s permission to invoke the decision to declare the seats vacant,” Khan said. Khan said in addition, Friday will be private members day, when opposition legislators could table motions for debate and the PNM intends to file a motion on the “contentious and scandalous SouthWest Soldado project.
“That is tabled for debate so we will attend Parliament this Friday coming, Friday 22nd May, to debate our motion because that is really Opposition Day and debunk this whole foolishness that they feel they setting trap for us to miss six successive sittings,” he said. Khan said after the May 22 sitting there will be no more than six sittings until Parliament is prorogued “save and except if they decide to keep a session every day of the week”. “And knowing them they may well do that but it will look ridiculous and scandalous to the population,” Khan said. Opposition member Colm Imbert will be also be moving a motion on the adjournment calling on the Parliament to rescind the decision to suspend Rowley. “At least that will give us a half an hour of debate on the matter even though we don’t expect them to vote in favour of it but at least we will have half an hour airtime as it were on that matter,” Khan said. Meanwhile, Khan said the PNM has no intention of forming any “formal alliance” with anyone to contest the upcoming general election. “At this point in time the PNM has no intention of joining forces with anybody to contest any election in Trinidad and Tobago. We will meet people in the national interest, the classic example of that is the round table,” Khan said. He said the arty participated in the Chaguaramas march last weekend and other meetings involving the roundtable but this however does not signal an alliance.
Franklin Khan “But as we speak there is no intention on the part of the PNM to form any formal alliance with anybody to contest the election,” he said. Khan said while the PNM appreciates the two motions filed by Chaguanas West Member of Parliament Jack Warner calling for Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley’s suspension from the Lower House to be rescinded, this does not equate to any alliance between the two parties. “He (Warner) is an opposition voice in the Parliament and he is free to do that and we appreciate the sentiments he expresses sometimes, but being that translated into formal political alliance in terms of contesting an election that is a nonstarter,” Khan said. Rowley was suspended after the government accused him of bringing “faked:” emails to the Parliament indicating that senior government ministers including Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar were involved in a plot to undermine several state institutions as well as the media.
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Kaieteur News
Monday May 18, 2015
Islamic State claims full control of Iraq’s Ramadi BAGHDAD (Reuters) Islamic State militants claimed full control of the western Iraqi city of Ramadi yesterday in the biggest defeat for the Baghdad government since last summer. In a statement, the group said it had seized tanks and killed “dozens of apostates”, its description for members of the Iraqi security forces. Ramadi is the capital of Iraq’s western Anbar province, which is dominated by Sunni Muslims. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi signed off on the deployment
of Shi’ite militias to attempt to seize back the area, a move he had previously resisted for fear of provoking a sectarian backlash. Earlier, security sources said government forces evacuated a key military base after it came under attack by the insurgents, who had already taken one of the last districts still holding out. It was the biggest victory for Islamic State in Iraq since security forces and Shi’ite paramilitary groups began pushing them back last year, aided by air strikes from a
U.S.-led coalition. The government had vowed to liberate Anbar after routing the militants from the city of Tikrit last month. But the security forces, which partly disintegrated under an IS onslaught last June, have struggled to gain traction in the vast desert province. An officer who withdrew from the besieged army base said the militants were urging them via loudspeaker to discard their weapons, promising to show mercy in return. “Most of the troops
withd r e w from the operations command headquarters and Daesh fighters managed to break in from the southern gate,” the officer said. Daesh is an Arabic name for Islamic State. “We are retreating to the west to reach a safe area”. Early yesterday, Anbar provincial council member Athal Fahdawi described the situation in Ramadi as “total collapse”. It was one of only a few
towns and cities to have remained under government control in the vast desert terrain, which borders Saudi Arabia, Syria and Jordan. Islamic State, which emerged as an offshoot of al Qaeda, controls large parts of Iraq and Syria in a selfproclaimed caliphate where it has massacred members of religious minorities and slaughtered Western and Arab hostages. The United States and its
allies have been pounding the militants for months with air strikes in both countries. Washington said on Saturday its special forces had killed a senior IS figure in a raid into Syria. Over a period of 24 hours up to 0500 GMT yesterday, the U.S.-led coalition carried out seven air strikes near Ramadi, according to a statement — the highest number on any single location in Iraq and Syria.
France joins opposition to EU quota plan for migrants PARIS (AP) — France has joined a chorus of voices opposing a European Union plan to ease pressure on nations dealing with an influx of Mediterranean migrants by establishing a quota system to share the burden. Prime Minister Manuel Valls says he opposes the
proposed plan to set maximum refugee limits for each country in the EU based on population, employment levels and other factors. In comments made Saturday on French TV, Valls said a quota system “was never part of the French propositions.” Last week Interior
Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told RTL radio that France supported the plan, which was already unraveling in the face of opposition among other EU countries. Exact details of the plan haven’t been hashed out, but countries including H u n g a r y, S l o v a k i a a n d Estonia have already rejected it.
Iraqi security forces defend their headquarters against attacks by Islamic State extremists in the eastern part of Ramadi in Anbar province. Reuters/Stringer
Monday May 18, 2015
Kaieteur News
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China bids emotional farewell to Liu in Shanghai
Liu Xiang tears during his retirement ceremony. Reuters/Aly Song (Reuters) SHANGHAI China bade a fond farewell to its greatest athlete yesterday as Liu Xiang, the nation’s peerless sprint hurdler, took a bow in front of 40,000 fans in his home city of Shanghai after a spectacular Diamond League meeting. On a night when Ethiopian Almaz Ayana recorded the third fastest 5,000 meters in history, nothing could upstage the ceremony after the event in the Shanghai Stadium to honor the former Olympic 110m hurdles champion Liu, who retired last month. After making an emotional speech to the crowd, Liu was joined by his fellow hurdlers, led by world champion David Oliver and Olympic champion Aries Merritt, in a gentle lap of honor which reduced some fans to tears. Earlier, the crowd had been treated to the sight of six world bests for the year, with pride of place going to Ayana, the 23-year-old who missed the world record of her Ethiopian compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba by just over three seconds as she clocked 14 minutes 14.32. Cranking up the speed over the last two kilometers with a brilliant solo effort on a windy evening, Ayana reckoned she did not even know what the record was as she came so close to Dibaba’s mark of 14:11.15. “I was surprised when I heard it was close,” she told reporters before admitting the record will now be in her sights at the world championships in Beijing. Ayana’s performance was the highlight of an evening which on which Mutaz Essa Barshim (2.38m in the high jump), Silas Kiplagat (3min 35.29sec for 1500m), Jairus Kipchoge Birech (8min 05.36sec in the steeplechase), home favorite Gong Lijiao (20.35m in the shot) and Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou (4.73m in the pole vault) also set world leading marks. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was surprisingly well beaten in her opening 100 meters of the year as Blessing
Okagbare-Ighoteguonor crushed a high-quality field. Jamaica’s double Olympic champion looked sluggish as she trailed home fifth in 11.25 seconds while up ahead, Nigeria’s OkagbareIghoteguonor roared to victory in 10.98. O k a g b a r e Ighoteguonor’s huge stride over the second 50 meters allowed her to comfortably hold off a late challenge from American Tori Bowie, last year’s world number one, who clocked 11.07sec.
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FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Five bedrooms house @ 107 Lamaha Gardens & large parking, AC rooms, hot & cold, purified water system Call: 661-8908; 335-3590 Concrete compound 175X350 @ Soesdyke Public Road, access to Demerara River, ideal for sawmill/ fisheries, dockyard. Contact 682-4128; 693-5281 Comfortable, breezy 3 bedroom bottom flat built in closet, overhead tank, fully grilled, parking for 2 cars-Call: 641-2939 One bedroom apartment preferably working couple or single person- Call: 638-8858
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Services and repairs to gas stoves washing machine, electronic stoves, deep fryers- Call: 688-0183 VACANCY Table hands/ bakers to work in bakery @ Best Village W.C.D, preferably from West Coast Demerara. Tel:2541399; 627-2515 Work from home, earn $5,000-$20,000 daily Call Monday-Friday 9am-5pm #233-6517, 638-0595 www.jobfairworldwide.com
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Kaieteur News
Monday May 18, 2015
Arsenal stay ahead of Barcelona wrap up 23rd La United, City win thriller Liga crown with Messi goal (Reuters) LONDON Arsenal stayed ahead of Manchester United in the race to qualify directly for next season’s Champions League when they drew 1-1 at Old Trafford yesterday while Manchester City made sure of their place in the group stage with a 4-2 win at Swansea City. United are now left hoping Arsenal slip up in their last two home games so they can catch them, finish third and avoid a playoff for a place in Europe’s top club competition. With the season ending next weekend and the title already Chelsea’s, the three behind them are still jockeying for the final positions. Chelsea have 84 points with two games to play, City have 76 with one to play, Arsenal have 71 with two matches remaining while United have 69 with one to go. Chelsea and City have guaranteed their direct qualification to the Champions League group stage, while Arsenal just need a point from their last two games, at home to Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion to make sure they join them. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports after the game: “It was very important today not to let Manchester United get in front of us, even if we have a game in hand.” United manager Louis Van Gaal seemed to accept that United would most probably finish fourth and told Sky: “Then we will have to play a round to qualify because we have not qualified for the Champions League yet. United went ahead when Ander Herrera volleyed in a
Manchester United’s Radamel Falcao in action with Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal. (Reuters/Phil Noble) cross from Ashley Young that beat David Ospina. Arsenal equalised in the 82nd minute when a shot from Theo Walcott took a deflection off Tyler Blackett and flew past Victor Valdes, who had only come on seven minutes earlier to make his United debut. The former Barcelona keeper, who has been at United since January, replaced the injured David De Gea, who could have made his last appearance at Old Trafford as a United player following widespread conjecture he will join Real Madrid next season. YAYATWICE Earlier Yaya Toure scored twice to lift Manchester City to a 4-2 win at Swansea after the hosts fought back from 20 down to level the scores.
Ivorian midfielder Toure struck his 50th league goal for second-placed City to give them a first-half lead and James Milner added a second. Gylfi Sigurdsson pegged one back for Swansea with an excellent curling effort on the stroke of halftime and Bafetimbi Gomes struck his fifth goal in as many games to level the scores early in the second half. As the hosts pushed on to complete a remarkable turnaround, Toure squeezed the ball in at the near post to restore the visitors’ lead before City keeper Joe Hart made a stunning save to keep out a header from Federico Fernandez. City’s former Swansea striker Wilfried Bony added the fourth in stoppage-time.
TWITTER: Kobe Bryant calls Stephen Curry The ‘Real Deal’ (Yahoo Sports) The Golden State Warriors put on a show in Game 6 of their second-round playoff series with the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. Reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry led the way hitting a career-high eight three-pointers finishing with a game-high 32 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in a convincing series-clinching win in Memphis. Shortly after Curry’s incredible performance, a Los Angeles Lakers fan took to Twitter to ask Kobe Bryant about his opinion of Curry. Kobe responded by simply saying the following: Kobe Bryant @kobebryant Real Deal - https://twitter.com/ cassandra824/... 2:08 AM - 16 May 2015 Although in recent years Curry was labeled as injury prone and a player that may never reach his potential in the NBA, the sharp-shooting floor general has proven the
doubters wrong by crushing the competition on a nightly basis. Curry has taken his game to the next level and has obviously caught the attention of fellow superstars like Bryant. With the Warriors getting by the Grizzlies, Curry and company will be able to get some rest while awaiting their next opponent in the Western Conference Finals. The Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets will battle it out once again Sunday at the Toyota Center in a winner-take-all showdown in Game 7. Draymond Green and Curry were asked which team they’d rather face in Western Conference Finals during the postgame press conference. As expected, neither player said they’d like to face one or the other, but it’d be safe to assume they want the Clippers after losing to Chris Paul’s squad in seven games last season in the playoffs. Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals will take place on Tuesday, May 19 with either the Clippers or Rockets headed to ORACLE Arena to face Curry’s Warriors.
(Reuters) MADRID Treble-chasing Barcelona are La Liga champions for the fifth time in seven years after a clinical Lionel Messi strike secured a 1-0 victory away to Atletico Madrid that wrapped up the title with a game to spare yesterday. Cristiano Ronaldo hit a record-extending 26th La Liga hat-trick for Real Madrid in their 4-1 victory away to Espanyol but Barca cannot be caught now with a four point lead. Messi combined with Pedro Rodriguez and then slotted home from the centre of the penalty area with 65 minutes gone. It had been a cagey game but the talent of the Argentine shone through again to break the deadlock and help Luis Enrique to his first piece of silverware at the helm of Barcelona. The Catalan side have dominated the list of La Liga titles in recent years and remain on course to repeat their trophy treble of 2009. They are through to the Champions League final on June 6 to face Juventus and will play Athletic Bilbao in the King’s Cup showpiece on May 30. “Last year was tough for us and we were not good
enough to be champions but this year we are doing well,” midfielder Sergio Busquets told reporters. “This is the first trophy for us and we are going to celebrate it as it is the most difficult tournament because we face all the teams. “It is the most important although the Champions League is the most prestigious,” he added. Barcelona were missing Luis Suarez from their devastating attacking trio due to a hamstring injury with Pedro stepping into the forward line. Atletico provided their usual aerial threat and keeper Claudio Bravo clawed away a Jose Maria Gimenez header from a corner early on while Messi wasted a golden chance with a weak header in front of goal that went straight to keeper Jan Oblak. The game settled into a contest where Barca had plenty of possession, but lacked precision in the final third of the pitch, against an Atletico side that looked to soak up the pressure. The gaps were beginning to emerge in the Atletico backline as Barca continued to press and Messi found space after playing a one-two
with Pedro before finding the back of the net. Minutes later Messi assisted Neymar who could have doubled their advantage but the Brazilian’s shot flew over the crossbar. Ronaldo showed his typical competitiveness as he lifted Real to victory in the second half against Espanyol despite the La Liga title escaping their grasp. The Portuguese now has two more hat-tricks overall in the league than Messi and he also leads this season’s scoring charts with 45 La Liga goals, four more than the Argentine. Real looked low on morale during the first 45 minutes following their Champions League elimination last Wednesday by Juventus but Ronaldo put them ahead after being found by Karim Benzema on the hour. While Cristian Stuani pulled a goal back for Espanyol, Marcelo restored Real’s lead and then Ronaldo scored twice more in the final eight minutes to seal the win. Elsewhere in the battle for the Champions League places Valencia, in fourth, drew 1-1 with Celta Vigo and Sevilla a point below them in fifth beat Almeria 2-1.
LGC extends congratulations to President Granger The Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) has extended congratulations to His Excellency, the President Mr. David Arthur Granger, 8th President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. In a congratulatory missive LGC president David Mohamad stated; “Your Excellency, President David Arthur Granger, please accept, on behalf of the Executives of the Lusignan Golf Club sincere congratulations for being elected the President of our Cooperative Republic of Guyana. The Executive notes with appreciation and gratitude the expansiveness of your vision for us being one people, one nation, with one
destiny and salute you for the clear call for national unity and understanding. Though only a department of sport, golfing attracts many persons of influence on an international scale and so in our own small way we endeavour to always portray this national harmony.” “We are pleased and look forward to continue our support of this vision which you have clearly defined for the benefit of all Guyanese. May God grant you the wisdom, strength, health and national support to enable you to accomplish the things you have expressed for all Guyana,” the message concluded.
New Govt. must use opportunity... From page 27 opportunity to redirect the energies of our youths. Too many of them are engaged in unhelpful activities in their spare time and this has caused ethical decay within the society that has evidently become a huge burden on taxpayers. It is no secret that Guyana has been weighed down by racial strife and collective degradation and Sport which many researchers have shown could be one of the vehicles used to initiate
peace, capacity building and economic development has been largely ignored. There are many examples of programmes being implemented in various countries that deviant behaviour is rampant that has made an impact in helping to reduce crime, drug abuse and other social ills. Guyana is at the crossroads where many of our youths are uncertain about a bright future in Sport, a viable alternative for those without proper academic achievements, so the petition
to this new administration is to ensure that a sizeable chunk of its budgetary allocation is devoted to Sports Development and put into effect its implementation. Let instances like the Junior Carifta Games disappointment, the current plea by the Guyana Boxing Association and many other associations financial plight be a thing of the past. The past administration bluffed us repeatedly with the ‘Road to Rio 2016 Olympics’ being the most colossal one.