Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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

EDITORIAL

Losing can be traumatic

Over time people have been known to suffer loss and the experience is always bitter. No one likes to lose. Cricket teams lose and there are always analyses of the loss. England, more than any other country tends to deal harshly with the cricket administration. Heads roll. Similarly, football administrators for the various clubs and even country take harsh actions when there are losses. Managers are sacked as are the coaches and those that have to do with the technical aspects of the game. We have seen people reduced to nervous wrecks because of a severe loss, particularly in the field of sport. One American footballer had a field goal to kick to win the match; he missed and for four years he could not come to grips with himself. He even contemplated suicide. The fans were equally harsh. So we come to the politics of elections in Guyana. These recent elections ousted the People’s Progressive party after 23 years. This was the party that had ousted the People’s National Congress that had taken over from the very PPP back in 1964. Flashback to 1964. The civil unrest had just ended. Many people got killed and properties were destroyed. In the end peace prevailed and elections were held. The PPP won the majority but the combined opposition polled more votes. The coalition that was born therefore had the right to rule Guyana but the PPP was determined that this should not happen. In the end the Queen of England, who was the de jure ruler of Guyana had to evict the PPP by executive order. The slogan that emanated from that action was ‘Cheated not defeated.’ In 1992 the PPP evicted the ruling PNC from office because it was sure that it had an ethnic majority that could keep it in office in perpetuity. And that might have been the case except that increasingly people chose to shun the race vote. But that did not stop the PPP from making a shameful pitch for the race vote. Former President Bharrat Jagdeo was the main caller for the race vote. The evidence is now in the reaction of those who listened to and heeded his call. To scare them into voting race he told them some sordid tales. These people now live in dire anticipation. When the PNC was ousted there were street protests. Fires raged in parts of the city as property was destroyed. In fact, this was the trend for three other elections. People were not known to accept loss. Fast forward to this year. Once more the PPP has had to demit office, a situation that it never envisaged again when it come to power in 1992 and it is finding this loss to be devastating. For one, it is insisting that there be a total recount. Why? This party had never granted any request. The courts ruled that it had been erroneously granted a seat after the 2006 elections; it never surrendered that seat. Similarly, in the 1964 elections it had erroneously been awarded the Houston seat, it held on to that seat. Never has the PPP conceded anything. In this case with the international observers, nearly 200 of them finding the elections process above board, in fact, excellent. For the PPP to insult its guests, accusing them of cheating is perhaps one of the greatest insults anyone could hurl at a guest. Of course the observers were at pains to ignore the allegations and in the face of that, the PPP is changing its tune. It is saying that the observer missions were duped by some new system that they never envisaged. Observer missions know about elections; they know where to look for irregularities. There is something that needs to be addressed at this time. In the face of the accusations, the PPP should realize that it is continuing to divide the nation. Its supporters are going to remain firmly in its corner, even to the point of refusing to cooperate with the government. Perhaps the PPP is never keen on a united Guyana.

Saturday May 23, 2015

Letters... Where your views make the news

Nowhere in the civilised world are parties engaged in alliances treated with such disdain DEAR EDITOR, I write this letter conscious of the likely risk of offending comrades in APNU and thousands of its supporters who are at present enjoying and celebrating the electoral defeat of the PPP/C, the coming to office of the APNU+AFC coalition and the installation of our newly-elected Head of State, His Excellency, President David Granger. At the outset, let me state that in spite of the remarks which I am forced to make I wish to take this opportunity in this my first letter since the victory of May 11, 2015 to congratulate Mr. Granger and the members of the APNU+AFC Coalition on their historic performance at the just concluded elections. In politics it is often said that the timing of political interventions is essential to achieving much sought after political objectives. However, there are

times when such considerations can be counter-productive to the people’s interests. I feel very strongly that this matter which I will allude to must be addressed publicly at this time. If it is not, we will be setting a dangerous precedent that can have negative effects on our collective political aspirations. I feel an obligation to myself as a political activist and as a member of the WPA’s leadership to express my concern and dissatisfaction that President Granger in his capacity as the leader of APNU, did not and presumably, has not seen it fit to call a meeting of APNU’s executive members to discuss and reach an agreement on our post- election responsibilities. This failure to act on Mr. Granger’s part has taken place in spite of efforts by the WPA to have APNU’s executive meet on these matters. Further, the

failure to initiate meeting/s of APNU’s Executive has to be seen in the context of the WPA’s protracted efforts to have this critical decision-making organ of APNU function as it was intended to do, thereby facilitating the making of important decisions of the alliance. I find it hard to accept that the common courtesies and respect for comrades which civil political relations dictate, in this case was not followed. Nowhere in the civilised world are parties, which are engaged in alliances with each other, treated with such disdain. This letter is limited to the issue of the failure of the executive to meet at this historical juncture in the life of APNU and the country when important matters of the organization, the government and the state have to be decided on. Tacuma Ogunseye

We must all lend our unfettered support to President Granger’s administration DEAR EDITOR, The 2015 General and Regional Elections in Guyana have come and gone. The smoke has cleared, and the dust has finally settled. The Guyanese people have spoken and they have decided to embrace change. Their will cannot be ignored, no matter which group of cowards fails to graciously accept defeat, and no matter how many dossiers are filed. A new hope for a better, united Guyana is now our reality. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate and commend President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and all of the hardworking APNU-AFC Coalition proponents. They have succeeded where many others have failed, in bringing a much-needed change to the way that politics has for all too long been decided, along racial lines. They have proved that Guyanese can and will

do what is best for their nation without standing racially divided, but rather, by standing united as one. The importance of this change cannot be overstated, for it is the basis upon which our nation now finally has the truest opportunity to grow and prosper – united, as one. The true beauty of democracy is that regardless of who the people elected yesterday, citizens have the right and can exercise it to effectuate change today. That is what happened in these elections and that is what will inevitably happen each and every time the regular, hard-working people feel that their government is not living up to what it promised and not taking into due consideration the interests of each and every one of its citizens. There was no tainted result as some cowards would have you believe. This was the result of Guyanese coming together as one, demanding and bringing about change

through their own will, based on their overall perception of the PPP/C as not acting in furtherance of the ultimate benefit of our nation. We must now all lend our unfettered support to President Granger ’s administration and ensure that we faithfully cooperate with his government in executing its duties for the betterment of all Guyanese, irrespective of race or ethnicity. Now is not the time to be stubborn, vengeful or to act in any manner which would impede Mr. Granger and his government from steering us on the proper course. Democracy has led us to this point and the will of the people should not be ignored based on sentiments of race, ethnicity, political affiliation, etc. Thank you President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo for giving us a fresh start. Cheddi B. Jagan II, Esq.

We must clean-up our economy and get rid of that which retards our development DEAR EDITOR, Over the past 10 years, I have witnessed the country go down one of the darkest roads I have ever seen. The cocaine trade spiraled out of control and the newly-created masses used their illegal wealth to corrupt every state institution and almost every business directly and indirectly with their need to launder money to clean it. The money laundering has now completely penetrated every single industry in Guyana and many of the ‘so called’ businessmen are heavily involved, with no end game other than more illegal activities. The wealth has led to a false economy not ebbing from entrepreneurial wealth creation or investments from abroad. It has destroyed so many decent and honest businesses who have packed up and left. Others are hanging on by a thread with no voice and nowhere to turn to get support or lodge complaints,

since the very government entities are corrupted by the money launderers and cocaine kingpins. The corruption has led the state institutions over the years to channel monies, contracts and support into the coffers of the same launderers and dirty businesses because they will pay the kickbacks, bribes and buy the fancy equipment and develop that image of success. With all the corruption, money laundering and cocaine trade comes the crimes. The hired guns kill with impunity for the cocaine kingpins and the businesses laundering represent the corrupted government agencies interests for many reasons. The crime situation in Guyana will not be solved until the drug trade is stopped and the money launderers flushed up and a total assault on corruption in all levels of government. The new government failing to tackle the cocaine trade, money laundering and corruption

would never be able to create a level playing field to encourage legitimate businesses to flourish and encourage foreign investment. Lack of foreign investments and local businesses being able to flourish means that the money launderers, cocaine kingpins and corruption win, the Guyanese people lose and the new Government fails. We must clean-up our economy and get rid of the ills of society continuing to affect and retard our development while forming a platform for criminal activities, corruption and an ever-expanding drug trade. I am so glad the new government is promising to let the DEA get full access to Guyana. Also pushing the Code of Conduct to fight corruption and taking steps to fight drug trafficking at all levels. We as Guyanese need to wish them luck and truly hope they succeed to do what the previous government never truly wanted. Brian Rodrigues

Saturday May 23, 2015

Kaieteur News

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

Kaieteur News may need Dominic Gaskin is not only a new critic-in-chief qualified, he is also competent DEAR EDITOR, I do not believe that Dominic Gaskin needs anyone to defend his appointment as Minister in President Granger’s cabinet. He is competent to do that for himself. But it aches me to read of the high hypocrisy of the PPP in their condemnation of his appointment. But, as we all know, that is the real PPPnothing of substance comes out of them. As the good book reminds us, we should take the beam out of our eye first, then, when we begin to see better, we should then take the mote out of our brother’s eye. Dominic Gaskin is not only qualified for the position, but he is also competent. This appointment is the recommendation of the AFC, where Dominic has been our competent Treasurer for a number of years. The mettle that Dominic displays is commendable. In 2011, after David Granger became the candidate for APNU, we had many discussions with Dominic here in New York. He was very frank with us in our deliberations. He laughed when he told us that his wife

will have to make the hard decision of whether to support her Dad, who would be President if APNU won, or her husband, who would be a Minister if AFC won. Dominic was, and is, a man of principle. He stuck with the AFC and campaigned against his father-in-law in 2011. His appointment as Minister is the recommendation of the AFC. The agreement between APNU and AFC is for the allocation of 6 Ministerial positions. Dominic qualifies for that position. The PPP is a party without principle. Our new President has not even settled in his seat at the Ministry of the Presidency, and the members have started to fire missiles all over the place. When will the PPP learn anything of substance and act as if it is a responsible party. Maybe, it should not be difficult for its leaders to take a page out of President Hoyte’s book when he graciously conceded to President Jagan after GECOM declared their results. But, this is the PPP, it has no decency. I would like to give notice to the PPP that your so-called support base that you have

taken for granted for so long will disappear in the next five years. President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo will lead our country without fear or favour, and all Guyanese will be raised up together. In a previous letter to the newspaper, I reminded my countrymen that we are neither Indian nor African - we are Guyanese with a rich Indian, African and Amerindian culture. We will preserve our culture and enhance it as Guyanese. In the next elections of 2020, President Granger will continue to be President with an overwhelming outpouring of support from all Guyanese. He and our Prime Minister will lay the foundation for a unified Guyana where all will be welcome, regardless of our ethnicity, religion, or party affiliation. These two gentlemen will go down in history as the great unifiers of the Guyanese people. I call on my countrymen to give our unwavering support to our President, Prime Minister and their team in transforming Guyana for all Guyanese. Charles Sugrim

DEAR EDITOR, Things are unfolding quickly in Guyana and the new government seems anxious to restore decency, informed and intelligent decision-making at the level of central government. I noticed some interesting revelations by President Granger at his meeting with senior public servants. First his promise that experience and competence will be the principal qualifications for promotion in the public service. This is encouraging, as it will replace the old system of mere seniority and party affiliation as the basis of promotion. Secondly, that the retirement age for workers in the public service will be revised with the intent of retaining expertise past the age of 55 and 60, this is long overdue. Sending public servants home at age 55 and 60 in a country that is losing skills to migration at the speed of a jet plane at the top of its take-off run is both suicidal and stupid. It was either in 2013 or 2014, a teacher in California was recognized for his long service to education, at the time he was 90 years old. Yes, you heard me right, he is now over the age of 90 and teaching, in a country where

there is no shortage of skills to the magnitude as prevails in poor Guyana. America understands what has to be done to ensure its children at all levels are exposed to the most competent teachers possible. So why in Guyana are we sending our best, brightest and most experienced teachers and other public servants home at age 55 and 60? The answer is simple: the economy is not producing as much new jobs as a healthy economy should. Manufacturing is at a virtual standstill, our economy still depends largely on sugar, rice, gold - little else is happening. The Chinese are exploiting our forest, but no value added products are being produced. So young people coming out of schools can’t look forward to finding jobs in new industries. In such a situation, the only way of creating employment for these young people is by sending workers home at ages 55 and 60, thus freeing up slots for new recruits. In my days as a student at the University of Guyana I was fortunate to be taught by the likes of Michael Parris, Berkeley Stuart, Gordon Payne, Dr. Tara Singh, Dr. Ken Danns (Dr. Danns might have

left before the age of retirement), men at the top of their game, sent packing from the university, why? They turned 60 years old. Why would the University of Guyana seek to get rid of someone like Freddie Kissoon simply because he turned age 60? No matter one’s disagreement with his politics, one would have to admit that he is extremely intelligent, his knowledge base sound, and a person who provokes others to think out of the box. We send such persons home at age 60, while here in the USA we celebrate a teacher 90 years old and still teaching! In this regard, Guyana could be rightfully dubbed “the insane society.” Perhaps it is in recognition of this insane practice of sending home experienced and skilled workers merely because of their age that led President Granger to concede the need to maintain the practice of contract workers in the public service. Claudius Prince

The insane society

DEAR EDITOR, It is now scarcely news that the government of Guyana has changed. The APNU/AFC coalition has won the government. Soon enough the most pressing matters of the day would not be the questionable transactions of the PPP/C government in the years it held office. The shoe is now on the other foot. The public, as time passes, will be more hyped up about the dealings of the new APNU/AFC government, what possible scandals are being hatched behind closed doors, what lopsided deals are being forged both above board and under the table. For years, columnist Freddie Kissoon used his pen

as a torch to bring to light all manner of improprieties of the PPP/C, both real and imagined. Yet it needs to be said and perhaps repeatedly, that the anti-corruption fight has no end point. It does not fold up with an APNU/AFC victory on May 11th. In fact, there is no finish line. The catalogue of corrupt acts is long enough to span successive governments and countries that encircle the globe. As someone well read in philosophy, history, literature and the sciences, Kissoon knows that there is enough human nature to touch all of us as individuals and fester in all organizations, be it APNU, AFC or PPP/C. Is there no greedy bone in any of the top leaders of the

coalition? Is there not even the faintest desire to exploit public office for personal profit? Is there no taste in any of them for victimization? So the question that now needs to be asked: Can someone who seemingly views the APNU/AFC coalition as some sort of a messianic outfit, be a cheerleader-in-chief for the new government and its political critic-in-chief at the same time? Kaieteur News hopefully will work this out. In the meantime, the struggle for clean and competent governance will go on, constantly a work-inprogress despite which party holds power and even after APNU/AFC makes its exit. Wesley Hicken

I would much prefer to live in a country where... DEAR EDITOR, UN Resident Coordinator Khadija Musa was evasive enough in her response regarding the statements she made to Kaieteur News for me to ask for further clarifications. However, I am going to accept her new statements as being sincere. The issue of race and identity erupts in the press from time to time. The eruption always surrounds the issue of Indian identity. Africans can be proud Africans, as they should be. And we all encourage Amerindians to honour and even preserve their customs and traditions. Not so with Indians. If I say that I am Indian, this statement is seen by a significant number of Guyanese citizens as being assertive and the assertiveness is further perceived as an infringement on every other group’s identity. I am then abused as a racist and supremacist who is creating divisiveness and disunity. This idea has its roots perhaps in colonial times when our European masters tried their best to colonise the Indian into Christianity and into European ways and habits. Indian beliefs, traditions, names, foods, etc. all made us pagan in their eyes. However, Indians refused to become mimic men and women and, even as we have evolved in order to live comfortably in the West, we have maintained enough of our ancestral past to give us

a definitive Indian identity. This identity also offends self-hating Indians who are promoted by sections of our society as the politically correct Indian. To be politically correct and acceptable you must deny your Indian identity, a process that results in cultural loss on the part of the Indian. The UN Declaration on Cultural Diversity, agreed on after 9/11, reaffirms the UN’s initial declaration on human rights and goes further. It begins with the statement: “The cultural wealth of the world is its diversity in dialogue.” All of the 12 articles are beautifully written and I will share just part of the preamble: “The Universal

Declaration makes it clear that each individual must acknowledge not only otherness in all its forms but also the plurality of his or her own identity, within societies that are themselves plural.” The Guyana Constitution also protects my right as an Indian in Guyana. However, I would much prefer to live in a country where I do not have to remind my fellow citizens of my legal rights to my identity from time to time. I would much prefer to live in a country where it is a matter of course, as for every other group, because we are all intelligent, gracious, and respectful of each other and each other’s otherness. Ryhaan Shah

President Granger should be careful with his selections DEAR EDITOR, I first wish to congratulate President Granger on his election as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and to wish him every success. I know that these first days will be very difficult, especially with the intense lobbying and jockeying for positions. I therefore wish to suggest to President Granger that he may do well to heed the words of Investment Guru, Warren Buffett, who

speaking “On the importance of Ethics” said, “When looking for managers, I basically look for three things, integrity, intelligence and energy. The problem is that if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. Why? Because if someone doesn’t have integrity, you really want them to be dumb and lazy. It is only if they have the first, that the second two really count.” Good luck Mr. President. Bish Panday

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Saturday May 23 , 2015

Kaieteur News

CDB president renews call for global partnerships Daily Nation - President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr Warren Smith is urging regional governments to set aggressive timelines for implementing reforms that create more “business-friendly” environments. Speaking at the official opening of the 45th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the CDB in Basseterre, St Kitts, Dr Smith said fiscal rules, backed by tough legislation, must become the norm rather than the exception, adding that the building of fiscal buffers should also become an integral component of every national sustainability strategy. In his overview of the CDB performance over the past year, Dr Smith noted that the CDB had continued its own internal reforms to aid BMCs address longstanding social and economic challenges. Among them, modernisation and strengthening of the Bank’s governance framework were key areas for reform. “Such institutional arrangements are already a precondition for access to certain types of financing…and are likely to become a standard pre-condition for access to all development financing. Should this prove to be the case, CDB will be in a very favourable position,” he said. Also in an assessment of the CDB’s operational performance and some of internal reforms undertaken over the past four years, he said, CDB worked hard to maintain a strong presence in BMCs. “Approvals grew by US$ 770 million, lower than had been anticipated. This was mainly attributable to our inability to engage in policybased lending because we had reached our lending limit for this product,” Dr Smith

Dr Warren Smith told the governors and delegates. Despite these challenges, the Bank exceeded target approvals of US$320 million for the concessionary window by some US$28 million. “This is a testament to our BMCs’ resolve to maintain their social programmes and to provide adequate social safety nets to the most disadvantaged groups in the society, Dr Smith added. He also reiterated a call for the forging of a new global partnership. According to Dr Smith, if the shared vision is the eradication of extreme poverty, then the Caribbean context must be objectively examined. Uniformly ambitious, rather than piecemeal

solutions need to be embraced, he suggested. In 2013 at the Bank’s 43rd Annual Meeting in Castries, St Lucia, he had appealed for a broad-based “compact of co-operation” between Caribbean countries and the wider international community to deal with the issue of sovereign indebtedness in the region. He noted that at the time he had asked for a re-examination of the strongly-held view that middle-income countries, like those in the region, did not qualify for debt relief. “In 2014, I raised the issue of debt again in Jamaica at a High Level Caribbean Forum sponsored by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In that forum, I challenged the large multilateral institutions to use their balance sheets creatively, as CDB had done in St Kitts and Nevis in 2011, to address this country’s debt problem. Borrowing member countries that adhere strictly to adjustment programmes supported by the IMF and other financial institutions would be ideal candidates for such support.” Dr Smith said he was putting the issue on the table again at this meeting. “The sentiments expressed in St Lucia and in Jamaica remain just as relevant today, and are in urgent need of a solution.”

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THE PEEPER WAS WRONG! The letter writer who in Thursday’s edition of the Kaieteur News pointed out that even if the PPP had secured the two additional votes to win Region Eight in the General Elections, this would not have allowed it to gain a majority in the National Assembly. The writer is correct in his assertion. The Peeper concedes this point, apologizes to my readers for an incorrect deduction, and thanks the letter writer for pointing out the mistake. There was no malice or mischief intended. In strict mathematics if you have one hundred balls

and you have to divide it equally among four children, you can simply divide the total number of balls (100) by the total number of children (4) to arrive at how many balls (25) each child would receive. Or you can try a convoluted method of dividing the total number of balls into two groupings of fifty and assigning the four children to two groups of two each. Then each group of two children will share fifty balls, giving you the same total of twenty-five. Now suppose there are ten Regions in the country and the votes in the entire country comprised the

combined votes of each region, and if there are sixtyfive seats to be contested, and further supposing that twenty-five seats are for geographic constituencies and for what is called the national top up seats. One way of determining who gets how many seats is to assume that that forty seats will be determined by the overall vote and twenty-five by the regional vote. Unfortunately this is not what Guyana’s electoral laws dictate as was correctly pointed it. How it is done is that the total sixty-five seats are proportioned based on

the respective total votes received by each competing parties. The regional constituencies are determined before and then factored into this distribution. This would mean, as was correctly pointed out by the letter writer, that in a primarily two-horse field, once a party gains a majority it will most definitely gain a majority of the seats. What the Peeper’s calculation mistakenly did, was to assume that the twenty-five geographic seats are first determined from the votes in each Region and then

the remaining forty seats are distributed in relation to the overall votes cast in all region combined. This is not how it works even though some will contend this is how it should work. In other words, what may be examined for the future is a system that allows the geographic constituencies to directly vote for twenty-five seats with the number of geographic seats in each region being determined by the number of voters in the respective regions. The remaining forty seats should be competed for by virtue of

the proportion of the overall vote that each party gets. It seems a bit lopsided that a party which won the most geographic constituencies and lost the overall votes by a margin of under 5000 votes, would end up as a minority in the national assembly when the presidency can be determined by a plurality. But do not tell that to the winner, or for that matter, the losers.

Guyana Learning Channel contract for review By Abena Rockcliffe The newly appointed Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine has said that the Ministry of Education, under his stewardship, will be reviewing “everything” including contracts that were entered into during the rule of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). The Minister said that the contractual arrangements for the Guyana Learning Channel will definitely receive special attention. The Guyana Learning Channel is transmitted by TVG at a monthly cost of $3.6M. TVG is owned by

former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop. The learning channel initiative came into being while PPP/C was in power and while it was lauded as a good one, many criticized the fact that Dr. Ramroop was the sole financial beneficiary. The then opposition-A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), the parties now in government-had lauded the Guyana Learning Channel as both educational and beneficial, but had labeled the deal behind it as “sour”. Yesterday, Dr. Roopnaraine said that the Ministry of Education is now

Dem boys seh...

Some people lef basody Fuh de first time dem boys see wha does happen when people who born and meet power, lose it. Is like a family who had a nice house and fire destroy it. De people does lef in shock. Dem does walk around wid a funny look pun dem face. Some does run mad. That is de case of de last set of Government Ministers. Dem lose power and it look like if dem lose dem house, dem family and almost lose dem life. Dem boys see dem when de Pee Pee Pee hold a press conference de other day. Normally, is two and three people does hold a press conference. This time was a whole platoon. Was like dem glad fuh get an opportunity fuh come out and sit down at a head table wheh dem feel that dem got power. But some of dem look like if dem was crying non-stop; some look like if dem ain’t sleep since de elections and some look mad. Is now dem boys understand when a man retire how he does feel. He got to wake up and he ain’t got nowhere to go and nutten to do. Old policeman does go and sit down in de police station. Old PPP Ministers does go and sit down in Freedom House. Some of dem had to beg a drop because de vehicle get tek away. One man who was a bishop sell out he church when he tun a minister. He tell everybody that he woulda be a minister till he dead. Dem boys hear that he send to ee brother-in-law fuh collect de old car that he did give de man. De shaat scamp deh home cooking because he wife leffing home like de man to go to wuk. And Jagdeo now find that he suddenly got nuff friends. All of a sudden people visiting he house like if dem going to wuk—everyday. Rohee got a permanent office at Freedom House because he tek Donald wuk as General Secretary and Donald going to study law. He seh that he can never run out of people who get charge fuh cussing especially since most of dem deh cussing him. Talk half and watch how dem old Minister get basody.

- Education Minister in the middle of an audit. He said that systems and operations are also under review. According to the Minister, as soon as the audit is completed, the contract for the Guyana Learning Channel will be reviewed. He said that the Ministry will be looking at it with an aim to cut long term cost. Dr. Roopnaraine added that his administration will prefer to have the Learning Channel function in such a way that it can be deemed a government asset as opposed to a rented facility. The AFC had criticized the arrangement for the Guyana Learning Channel. AFC leader, Khemraj Ramjattan had likened the contracting of TVG to air the Learning Channel for $3.6M

monthly, to the Sanata Complex deal authorized by President Bharrat Jagdeo. He said that though separate deals, their similarities appear to be a mirror reflection. The primary beneficiary of these two deals is Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ramroop. And, in both instances, the deals were specifically designed to suit Ramroop, said Ramjattan. Ramjattan said that it was a move by Jagdeo to further enrich his close friend. According to the AFC leader, contracting TVG for this multi-million-dollar project is a perfect example of how the “favoured ones” got rental contracts under the then PPP/C Government. He said that the PPP/C should

Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine have invested in the necessary technologies for the Learning Channel instead of contracting a ‘privately owned’ television station. Ramjattan offered two

India’s President of India congratulates Granger The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has congratulated President David Granger on his assumption of office as the Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. In his message to the newly sworn in Head of State, the Indian President said: “It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on your assumption of office as the Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of

Guyana. I take this opportunity to wish you all success in your endeavours.” Traditionally, India and Guyana enjoy warm and friendly relations, he said. “I am confident that the friendly ties between our two countries will further strengthen in the years to come.” India has been funding a number of projects, including the US$4M purchase of drainage pumps, in Guyana.

India’s President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee

options that should have been explored. One was the creation of a television station for the Learning Channel where jobs could have been created for media and education professionals. Another was that the University of Guyana could have been made responsible for that television station, where much needed funds could have been generated. “While this would have been a profitable venture for the University it would have been a loss for Government since their friends finance campaigns during National and Regional Elections,” Ramjattan opined. APNU’s Joseph Harmon had said that Guyana needs to move its legislation forward to prosecute those who use privileged information for the unjust enrichment of their friends. He had said that the granting of the contract by Jagdeo to his best friend is a clear indication that Ramroop was privy to Government’s plan to establish the Learning Channel and as such made the necessary investments in the relevant technologies to air it via satellite. Harmon pointed out that this is called insider trading and it is a criminal act in most developed countries.

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=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Rebranding a dinosaur The PPP used the word, “rebrand” in its press release after a meeting of its central committee. It announced that it intends to rebrand the party with changes to the party itself, its parliamentary existence and its representation in GECOM.

The trouble with the statement is that, we do not know who is doing the rebranding. We do not know who spoke up at the meeting, whose voices carried weight. Only when these dimensions of that confabulation are made

known can we determine if the PPP will change for the better. Parties transform themselves after defeat after long years in power. That is the trend in the world but one sign appears immediately when new directions are being made – new leadership is definitely a compulsory requirement. The PPP will go not an inch in a new direction and will falter, wither and die away if they do not change aging stalwarts who have long lost their humanity and staying power and who have presided over two consecutive election banishments. From 1992, there are PPP personnel who are still around and dominate the PPP’s hierarchy. It is commonsense to ship them out given what they have become, the wrongs they did while in power and their disastrous failure in 2011 and 2015. We can start with Clement Rohee. As a stalwart of the PPP, Mr. Rohee deteriorated badly over the past twenty-three years to the point, where once he opened his mouth he alienated not opposition

supporters but the Guyanese people. He commanded authority inside the PPP fortress and was not subject to decisions by others; therefore, he had to remain. But over the past five to ten years, Rohee was no longer a winnable figure for the PPP. Next is Donald Ramotar. Mr. Ramotar is not a competent politician. He is not suitable for the leadership of one of the country’s major political organizations. Honestly, I think Mr. Ramotar has outlived his usefulness to the PPP. There is no way Ramotar can be successful in resuscitating the PPP. The leadership qualities are not there; I say honestly not even one. Bharrat Jagdeo does not belong to the world of politics and should be the first victim of the rebranding. One would hope that Kellawan Lall, Roger Luncheon, Gail Teixeira, Komal Chan, Nanda Gopaul, Manzoor Nadir, Charles Ramson Senior, Clinton Collymore, Indra Chandarpal, Pauline Sukhai, Ganga Persaud, Bheri Ramsarran, Hydar Ally, Ali Baksh and similar types are moved out. These are the central committee faces that belong to the past. The problem with moving these people out is that, they

have to move themselves out because they are the bosses. Who is going to show them the door? The young second tier leadership does not have the authority to get rid of the dinosaurs and even if a few from that section have been promoted in the hierarchy the past five years, it is questionable they would be credible faces to the Guyanese people for the next five years. Anil Nandllal and Priya Manickchand should follow Robert Persaud and take leave from active politics. Frank Anthony has been a failure as a Minster. The dilemma for the PPP is if it honestly wants to rebrand itself, it cannot, because it does not have people to use the brush to paint over the old coats. After twenty-three years in power the entire PPP leadership became corrupted with absolute power. It destroyed their reason to think decently; it destroyed their ability to see people as human beings; it destroyed the inner soul of the possessor of absolute power. There were no exceptions. These are the people who are in the leadership of the PPP in May 2015. Who then is in the position of authority to effect the transformation?

Frederick Kissoon If I were a betting man, I would wager my last penny that as the weeks and months unfold, the PPP will continue to exist with the troglodytes that have been in the central committee the past million years. Rohee, Teixeira, Jagdeo, Ramotar and company will be around leading the PPP. And they will be their natural selves. Rohee will continue with his arrogance; Charles Ramson Senior will continue with his pomposity; Ramotar will continue to say the most comical, irrational and illogical things. Illness will not deter Luncheon. Komal Chan will continue to lead GAWU. Sityra Gyal will be there. So will be the man behind Anilgate. In the meantime, David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo will be reshaping Guyana so that by the time 2020 comes around, the PPP and its dinosaurs will be rebranded as footnotes of the past.

Saturday May 23, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 11

PPP yet to determine position on new Govt., Parliament As the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) continues to contest the results of the 2015 elections, the party has indicated that it is yet to determine its position with regard to the new government and Parliament. The update came during a press conference at Freedom House yesterday, which saw the attendance of nearly 30 PPP/C candidates. Former President Donald Ramotar said that the party is yet to decide what its approach to the new APNU+AFC coalition government will be. He said, too, that the party is also discussing its position on Parliament. “We’re still in discussion on this matter; we think that we have some time to deal with this issue because so far, GECOM [Guyana Elections Commission] has not yet given us what we requested of GECOM.” This request, Ramotar said, was a general recount of the ballots cast in the General Elections. Former President Bharrat Jagdeo added, that the party is “remaining vigilant” and looking at all of its options to deal with the new government and Parliament. Discussions on the matters will occur over the next week or two, Jagdeo

The PPP/C’s Friday press conference was attended by about 30 party members added. However, though the party has made no decision yet on how it will approach the coalition government and Parliament, Jagdeo said the members have already planned a number of steps to address what they believe, was sabotage of their victory. According to Jagdeo, the party is “regrouping” and analyzing what took place during the General and Regional Elections. He added that the party was prepared “to struggle to return this country to democracy and the PPP to office”. He said that during the past week, the PPP/C leadership has been meeting with its members and various

issues have been discussed. He said too, that the party is working on mobilizing and reaching out to the people and intends to file a petition shortly. “We’re gathering up all evidence and we will file a petition soon. That petition will outline our issues and many more,” he added. Jagdeo said that the party has written several letters to GECOM since the declaration of the results. However, he said, the body is yet to acquiesce to any of the PPP demands. Ramotar said that the party will take its concerns to the international stage and will engage with other

countries and international organisations. “We’re going to make this international as well; we want to take this thing to the international level, so that Governments around the world will know that the government of Guyana is not a government that reflects the will of the people in our country,” he said. “We’re going to inform all the governments and international organisations of our position and our attitude as it relates to the government.” PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee also said that the party’s discontent has already been registered with

a number of diplomatic representatives outside of the ABC countries. He said, too, that the necessary documentation is being prepared to provide different bodies with “fulsome information, testimonials, sworn statements, the data and the argumentation so that they can read and digest properly.” Rohee added that the party will be engaging at least 30 international organisations including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). “We are remaining vigilant; over the next week or two, we’ll discuss our attitude to the new government and our

approach to Parliament. But in the meantime, we’ll be busy working on our election petition, reaching out to people, internationalizing the issue, and mobilizing people so that we’ll return to office,” Jagdeo said. The PPP/C government was ousted out of 23-year rule last week after the APNU+AFC coalition secured the majority of votes cast on May 11 during Guyana’s 2015 general and regional elections. However, the party has refused to concede victory and has instead challenged the results, saying the elections had not been free and fair.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 23, 2015

Allegations surface of deliberate move to shut down CHI A delay in the completion of a Cardiac Catherisation Laboratory to accommodate a much needed Hybrid machine to help improve the operation of the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) was a deliberate tactic to oust CHI’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Gary Stephens. Kaieteur News was reliably informed of this state of affairs, which comes to light even as the newly elected coalesced A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change Government begins to assume control of the country. Dr. Stephens, the founder of CHI, last year expressed concern to this publication that the delay of the lab was one that could very well jeopardise the existence of CHI, which represented a crucial public-private partnership aimed at catering to a variety of heart complications in patients. And based on information this publication was able to obtain, the neglect of CHI was a well thought out tactical move. This publication was informed that the works on

- as Health Minister promises to look into neglect of institution the lab could have been completed in two months but well over a year later, it is still not completed. The alleged reason for this, was to create a void with a view of bringing on board an overseas based medical practitioner (name withheld) said to be a “friend” of the then ruling administration. It is alleged that a senior health functionary of the former ruling administration was instructed to ensure that CHI flopped in order to accommodate the individual. The friend in question, a Canada-based assistant surgeon, was earmarked for a position similar to that held by Dr. Stephens. But, unlike Dr. Stephens a well-trained and established Cardiac Surgeon who has successfully completed hundreds of heart related procedures at the reputable Brooklyn Maimonides Medical Centre as well as CHI, the “friend” in question based on his qualifications was not

permitted even in Canada to operate without guidance. “It was all a ploy to put a less than qualified person to head CHI,” intimated a source close to the former ruling administration. As part of the tactic to force CHI’s collapse, the source related how CHI was deliberately starved of funds. As part of the public-private partnership agreement to subsidise the cost of cardiac care for patients, Government, at the start of CHI’s operation, granted part funding for patients, for needed operations. But since the start of the Cath Lab which has been left in limbo, the source revealed that “Government drastically cut back on its funding. This was the main revenue source for CHI that was drastically altered.” This publication was informed that since the start of the lab, close to three dozen patients’ requests for support were made to the then Government but a mere three were acknowledged. The responses were forthcoming months after the requests were made, a situation that could have placed patients’ lives in grave danger. But reports reaching this publication suggest that Government through its legal arm had re-examined and revised its agreement with CHI. It was expected, that the neglect would have frustrated

Dr. Stephens paving the way for Government to exclusively “revamp” the institution. However, the situation at CHI is definitely expected to change. According to newly appointed Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, he intends to give keen attention to the situation at CHI. Dr. Norton said the delay in the completion of the lab and the failure to install the hybrid machine, has been an especially worrying one to him since the entire project is one that attracted the whopping sum of some $2.1 billion. He recalled that the project was brought to Parliament for approval on a supplementary sheet and was approved. As such, he expressed disappointment that nothing has yet been done to allow for even one person to benefit from improved cardiac care. CHI, which is venued in the GPHC’s compound, commenced operation in 2006. However by 2011, the management of CHI had consulted with Government about acquiring a new Cardiac

Cath Lab, in light of the fact that its equipment was nearing the end of its lifespan. The expectation was that with the lab in place, both cardiology intervention and cardiac surgery would have been possible in a single room using the Hybrid machine, thereby, allowing for Guyana to possibly be the first in the Caribbean to offer such advanced technology. The delay in the completion of the lab has therefore resulted in the stalling of expansion plans for CHI, and even worse, was the possibility of its closure. Dr. Stephens had intimated last year December “any day now our machine can suffer a catastrophic failure, and even if it doesn’t, I don’t see us surviving the next six months.” This publication understands that CHI was forced to expend in excess of $60M to ensure that its current equipment remain in working order. According to Dr. Stephens without urgent progression of the project, the future of CHI will remain uncertain and “it’s a shame

after all the hard work and goodwill that kept it afloat. I hope we will survive but the service we offer will be restricted.” Since last year the multimillion Hybrid machine, covered with a blue tarpaulin, has been sitting on the ground floor of the GPHC near the Ophthalmology Department gathering dust. It has never been used. Based on an agreement between the former Government and General Electric (GE - the company that supplied the machine), a suitable room, in this case the Cardiac Cath Lab, must be completed to accommodate the machine which will be transported and installed by GE technicians. And should the conditions of supply and installation not be adhered to, Government would be expected to stand any additional cost. “There is no telling whether the machine has developed any problems because it is sitting unused in conditions that it was not intended to be,” one official close to the former administration had told this publication.

Saturday May 23, 2015

Kaieteur News

Cocaine busts at Ogle Airport….

The worst thing that someone can do besides setting oneself on fire -is to let someone use that individual as a drug mule, some would say. But for many it’s a chance for them to get a better life. Of course the promise of seemingly easy money can be irresistible. And of course, every now and then people do get away with it; otherwise no one would try anymore. For many, the trade will never die, as they attempt desperate measures; even risking their lives to traffic cocaine. After vacationing in Guyana for some time, a young Surinamese, was about to visit Barbados. But before she could have boarded her LIAT flight, she was intercepted by security officials at the Ogle International Airport, East Coast Demerara. Upon checking her, officials found a condom laced with cocaine in her vaginal cavity. Damario Cheslie, 21, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore, at the

Georgetown Public Hospital, after spending several days at the Georgetown Public Hospital under police guard. She was admitted to the hospital after she provided the police with certain information at the airport. This led the authorities to have an x-ray conducted on her at the facility. The x-ray found that the woman had several foreign objects in her stomach. She later excreted 42 pellets containing the illegal substance. Yesterday at her court hearing, she pleaded not guilty to a charge which stated that on May 17, at the aforementioned airport, she had 526 grammes of cocaine in her possession for the purpose of trafficking. Cheslie, who was unrepresented by an Attorney, was denied her pre trial liberty, after Police Prosecutor Bharrat Mangru objected to bail. However, she told the court that she has no relatives in Guyana and is unaware of the address she was residing at in the country.

Damario Cheslie Meanwhile, a mother of four was also brought before the court after she allegedly had cocaine in her possession for the purpose of trafficking. As she was being hauled into the holding cell, upon seeing reporters she quickly threw a white rag over her face to prevent her photograph from being taken. Zainab Mohamed, 29, of 197 Pineapple Street, East Ruimveldt, denied the allegation which stated that on May 21, she had 1.426 kg of the illegal drug in her possession, also at the Ogle International Airport. Her attorney, Dexter Todd, in an unsuccessful bail application, told the court that his client has an unblemished criminal record. Although the Attorney acknowledged that special reasons must be advanced in these circumstances, he did not provide the court with any. Both women were remanded to prison until Monday, when they will appear before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry.

City Hall identifies constraints The Mayor and City Council is appealing to all Guyanese to pay more attention to the way they treat city drains as these are vital to public health and safety. The city is drained by 12 canals which empty into the Demerara River. The outflow from these canals is controlled by gates which open at low tide to drain the city and close at high tide to prevent flooding. Over the years, the challenge of drainage of the city seems to be aggravated by complex natural conditions. The Atlantic brings with each tide, a large quantity of mud suspended in the water creating serious problems for the city. Post 1970 Georgetown has same sluices. It also does not have catchment areas that existed before but 13-odd square miles

to be drained. There is the presence of squatters on drainage reserves (this prevents access to machines cleaning canals), heavy aquatic growth, widespread

GRIL versus National Hardware...

Eddie Boyer grilled about destruction of disputed property

Woman held with cocaine in vagina

Zainab Mohamed

Page 21

disposal of waste into canals, inadequate staff and absence of vehicle to transport staff, equipment and materials. The major constraint would be finance.

The legal dispute between local commercial giants, National Hardware and Guyana Realty Investment Limited (GRIL) over prime land in the city continued yesterday, with National Hardware’s owner, Eddie Boyer, denying that he at no time destroyed any building, which was situated on the Regent Street plot. Eddie Boyer, who is also known as Claude Deygoo, claims that he and his wife, Donna Deygoo, have legal entitlement to the said property on the basis of a transported title, they acquired in September 2008. But, the property located at 117 “B” Regent and Alexander Streets, Georgetown, became a source of contention several years ago, with Sattaur Gafoor, the Chairman of GRIL, which is linked to Gafoor & Sons Group of Companies, claiming that GRIL has a prescriptive title, having purchased the property from a third party (Stanley Collymore) in 1993, to use the premises to operate a paint shop. The ongoing matter is being heard by Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire at the High Court in Georgetown. The Boyers are being represented by Attorneys-at-Law Devindra Kissoon and Rajendra Poonai, while GRIL is being represented by Rex McKay S.C, Edward Luckhoo S.C, and Neil Boston. Yesterday, Boyer was asked about his knowledge of the demolition and the occupation of the building on the property. When asked by Attorney Rex McKay S.C, about occupants of the building located on the property, Boyer said that he

National Hardware, Proprietor, Eddie Boyer met a few people, who were tenants of the property, in 2007. Boyer said that he was introduced to Donna Chase, as one of Stanley Collymore’s tenants in 2007. Chase, he said, had occupied a part of the building located at 117 ‘B’ Regent Street but subsequently moved, because the building was being condemned. Asked how he knew this, Boyer said that he saw a signed document from Collymore to Chase to that effect. The Attorney then asked the witness whether he could recall when he saw the document. “I think it was 2007,” Boyer replied. The witness went on to note that he also met Mahendra Gangaram at the property. He recalled speaking to Gangaram, who operated a business at the side the building at 177 ’B’ Regent Street. “Would it be correct for me to say that Gangaram is now, one of your tenants?” the Attorney inquired. Boyer responded in the

negative, but told the court that of the three persons currently occupying the property, only one is a tenant. The persons, the witness said, include Gangaram, Alicia Moore and Franklin Bumbury of Classic Creations. He said that Bumbury is the only person paying a rental for occupation of the building. At a previous hearing, the court heard that GRIL is currently not in possession of the disputed property, given that, during December 2009, the property was destroyed by persons allegedly acting on instruction of the Boyers. “Do you know that a building at 177 ‘B’ Regent Street was broken down in December 2009?” Mc Kay asked. “Yes,” Boyer quickly responded, adding that it was because City Council had condemned it and had sent persons to break it down. His response met with warnings from Justice George-Wiltshire, who cautioned the witness that his answer should only be simply “yes” or “no,” at this point But Boyer continued to reaffirm that it was City Council that was responsible for the destruction of the building. As the lawyer sought to get from the witness, how he knew it was City Council that was responsible for the demolition of the said building, Boyer repeatedly said that the building was condemned by the council. He subsequently clarified that he had sent persons to investigate and he received information that City Council was there to break down the building. The hearing is scheduled for continuation on June 18, 2015.

Page 22

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Kaieteur News

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Saturday May 23, 2015

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LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Male Enhancement; 4 in each pack -$500 - Tel: 638-1627 Complete engine/ electric Lucas Mill - $1.2M. All mill spares and frame – Call: 6935281 Attention Loggers!!! Anchor seal wood wax 18000 5-G, N.C sanding sealer $4500 1-G, nail plates, metal straps - Tel: 2653541; 695-4785 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc call:225-9032,647-2943 Great Deals on video games and all gaming consoles, PC games, phone games & applications – Call: 6722566; 265-3232 Registered pure bred Rottweiler, first litter male & female. Viewing of parentsCall:231-5902, 227-2958 Fluffy, loving puppies - Tel: 645-0240 or 629-3814 Table model cone machine can be used as portable or stationed @ 1 Location, price $600,000/ negotiable. Contact: 612-7360; 660-0494 1 – 3years old female Rottweiler dog, good for breeding and guarding. Tel: 220-2277, 220-8904 & 6291471 Minibus roof rack – Tel:6932237; 219-0211 “Garcinia Cambodia” weight loss. Tel: 644-6077 Mostly female adult novelties –Tel: 644-6077 Sale! Dell Computers complete from -$55,000 free educational software and games, Blackberry -$14,000 @ FutureTech: 231-2206 Attention designers! Exquisite & exotic UK fabric on sale- Contact: 218-1475, 693-9260, 651-0534, 2315768 AMERICAN BULLY PUPS GOTTILINE REMYLINE – CALL: 220-7933; 6674845; 610-0068 32" flat screen TV $48,000, X-Box 360 with games $45,000, PS3 with FIFA 15 & 4 games $50,000 negCall:664-7014 I-phone 5C for sale, brand new in box -$95,000 –Tel: 679-7899 or 617-6556 20lbs Tex & Shell gas cylinders –Tel: 228-5688, 6281756. Owner leaving country. One accent Hyundai- Price $250,000 neg- Contact: 610-0517 Continued on page 23

Saturday May 23, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Emergency works ongoing on damaged Linden/Lethem road Emergency works are being conducted on sections of the Linden/Lethem road which collapsed in recent days. According to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, temporary bypasses are currently under construction in an effort to alleviate the traffic build-up due to the erosion of culverts which caused two sections – at Miles 1 and 12 – from Annai heading towards Lethem- to collapse. “The road link is essential for transporting goods and other commodities to and from Lethem. A team of engineers from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, were immediately dispatched to assess the area and to formulate corrective short and long term measures to

remedy the situation.” According to Naeem Mohamed, the Ministry’s Hinterland Engineer, the eroded area is placed with six 3 feet by 12 feet planks at Mile 1 which is traversable for light motor vehicles. In addition, V. Dalip Enterprise will complete a bypass culvert to Mile 12, which also facilitates vehicles carrying loads not greater than five tonnes. The bypass/ culvert is scheduled to be completed by today. Mohamed explained that the erosion occurred as a result of the high intensity torrential rainfall experienced over the past few weeks. “It must be noted that this area was experiencing a drought. This occurred during the period August 2014-end of April 2015.” Meanwhile, newly

From page 22

The One Mile breach.

VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Prado, Price$4.4M Neg. Call: 643-2403 Smart Choice Auto Sale: Premio, Allion, Spacio, Fielder, Bluebird, Carina 212, IST - Call: 652-3820; 665-4529 First Class Auto: 09 Allion, 05 Premio, 06 Allion, Bluebird, Rush, Spacio, Runx, IST, Carina 212, Verossa, Mark 2, Axio –Tel: 609-8188; 638-3045 appointed Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson has requested his

engineers to carry out a full assessment of the affected areas to determine permanent

Tamika Miller Story…

Courts continues support to domestic violence survivor More than a year after life seemed over for Tamika Miller-Patterson, she continues to receive support to renew her life that was threatened by domestic violence. Courts Guyana on Thursday presented Miller with a fridge and stove. The furniture giant had also collaborated with Habitat for Humanity, Qualfon, Scotiabank, Demerara Bank and Edward B. Beharry to present the victim with a house at La Parfaite Harmonie, in March. Habitat for Humanity had responded to plights by the wounded woman and had solicited partnered sponsorship by the other mentioned sponsors. Miller-Patterson survived a terrible knife attack by her now dead husband in March 2014. She came close to death’s door but she pulled through her horrific ordeal. She was stabbed 27 times about the body, and her husband after believing she

For Urgent Sale: Audi A4, PSS Series, good condition, going cheap, price $3.7M VEHICLE FOR SALE negotiable. Phone: 610RZ minibus for sale -$815,000 7665, 656-5287 – Call: 622-8550 One Toyota Allion 2004 1 Toyota Prado & Toyota Model & 1 new & Hilux both in excellent unregistered Madza Axela, condition, owner migrating – excellent condition -Tel: 6490956 Call: 601-0053; 691-8079 One Toyota Alteeza, silver. PNN series. Immaculate condition. Tel: 649-9647

From right, Tamika Miller-Patterson, Eleena King-Luke (Resource OfficerHabitat for Humanity) and Roberta Ferguson (Marketing OfficerPRO for Courts) was dead, committed suicide. Miller-Patterson had also lost her home to fire. The very optimistic woman is very grateful for the continuous support by the many sponsors, as they have brought much hope for a

better life to her. She was overwhelmed with emotions as she extended her gratitude. With the renewed hope, Miller-Patterson now desires to have a happy life with her daughter. Despite having some

flashbacks and even having to look over her shoulders sometimes, she said that she is comfortable in her new home, and now that the home is being furnished she is even more comfortable.

Guyanese man wanted in slaying of DC rich... From page 18 enforcement official involved in the investigation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for lack of authorization to discuss the investigation publicly. Wint has a record of violent offenses. He was arrested once in 2006 and twice in 2007 for assault in Oswego County,

procedures that would 1 Toyota Premio (PNN Series) prevent any re-occurrences in in immaculate condition. Including: mag rims, HID the future. lights, alarm. $2M negotiableCall:679-9800 New model Allion: TV reverse camera, low mileage $3,300,000 negotiable –Tel: 655-3400

N.Y., Undersheriff Gene Sullivan said. He was released in July 2008 after serving a 10-month sentence, and then convicted again of assaulting a girlfriend in Maryland in 2009. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to malicious destruction of property after he allegedly broke into a woman's apart-

ment, stole a television, vandalized her car and threatened to kill her infant daughter. "The defendant advised he was good with a knife and could kill them easily and was not afraid of the police," a detective wrote. Also in 2010, Wint was arrested carrying a 2-footlong machete and a BB pis-

tol outside the American Iron Works headquarters, but weapons charges were dropped after he pleaded guilty to possessing an open container of alcohol. Attorney Robin Ficker said Wint didn't seem violent when he defended him in earlier cases. "He's a very nice person," Ficker said.

2006 Suzuki Escudo, fully accessorized, duty free, 2003- Toyota IST fully accessorized, 2005 Allex, fully loaded. Call:609-2815 2 Ford F350 2006 model, extended cab 4X4, 6" lift kit, 35" tyres, diesel, auto, excellent condition - Tel: 610-5370

TO LET

AT192, 212, Allion, Prime office space @ lot 239 unregistered Premio, Hilux Quamina Street, Central Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 Georgetown, parking seater super custom. Cash / available in Private yard. terms- Call: 680-3154 Tel:592-227-2913, 592-689-3033 We buy & sell vehicles for 1 bedroom apartment with cash, also parts available & parking & other 30 seater buses; Extra Cab conveniences $30,000. For pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: Christian working couple. 680-3154 (Available)- Contact: 672- One Nissan Pick-up 410 1586, 218-3463 $1.2M –Call: 663-5960; 681Furnished 2 bedroom bottom 4275 flat apartment with AC & Parking -$100,000 monthly & V8 Titan (2005) KIA $10,000 daily –Tel: 665-2548 SPORTAGE 2003 –Call:2751230 One 3 year old Prado LandCruiser – Call: 266-5322 or 682-0105 or 222-0110 Mitsubishi Galant, excellent condition, price negotiable, owner migrating. Contact Danny: 651-5692 Sale! Sale! Premio- $2.250M, 06 Fielder - $2.550M, 06 Bluebird-$2.650M, Axela Sports, manual gear-$2.8M – Tel:616-3413

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Kaieteur News

Saturday May 23, 2015

MARINES SEIZE 6,000 KILOS Vigorous marketing marijuana on Guyana-bound ship plan among strategies to improve tourism By Jarryl Bryan

The bags of marijuana on board the ship. The Dutch marines intercepted a 6,000 kilograms shipment of marijuana on the Caribbean Sea on Thursday morning. According to the Dutch Ministry of Defense, this is the largest catch ever. The contraband was on board the fishing boat Caribbean Soul, on its way from Jamaica to Guyana. An American Coast Guard patrol plane spotted the boat early on Thursday morning and notified the Dutch marine ship Zr. Ms. Zeeland. According to the Ministry of Defense, the marines as well as the Law Enforcement Detachment of the US Coast Guard, boarded the boat just before sunrise and found the enormous amount of marijuana almost

instantly. The 12- man crew of the fishing boat was arrested. The Caribbean Soul was escorted to Ponce in Puerto Rico, where it (the fishing boat) and the suspects were handed over to the Drug Enforcement Agency. The commandant of the US Coast Guard in San Juan said that cooperation with the Dutch marines and other partners continues to bear fruit. “These big interceptions indicate that there is enough work for us. In order to achieve this, good cooperation and information exchange with all partners in the area is critical.” said Hans Lodder, Naval Commander in the Caribbean area. (http://www.nltimes.nl)

Stabroek Lions Club makes donation to Amerindian Hostel Administrator receiving the donations

The Stabroek Lions Club made another generous donation yesterday to the Amerindian Hostel Princess Street, Georgetown, location as part of the Lions International week of service. This presentation saw many cheerful faces as members of the Stabroek Lions Den, made their presentation to the members of the administration department along with the residents of the hostile. With a total value of $150,000 the donation

included, books and clothing catered for all ages and both sexes. Administrative Director, Charles Jerry, thanked the members of the Stabroek Lions Club, “On behalf of the Amerindian Hostel administration and on behalf of the residents. I’m very happy to receive these items from the Stabroek Lions club. “I would like to give them a heart-filled welcome and may they always continue their contributions… I know these

are some very good books that everyone will be able to benefit from. Once again, I say thank you Lions Club.” Stabroek Lions President, Odessa De Barros, accompanied by other members of the Lions Den noted, “This is a week of service by Lions International and we decided as a club to make the donation to the Amerindian Hostel. We trust that the residents and other members make good use of these items.” The Lions Club of Stabroek was commissioned on October 19, 2002. It has since made numerous donations to different organisations all across Guyana. Its mission is to be a leader in the community, particularly in the humanitarianism.

- Hughes

A few days after being sworn in, Minister of Tourism Cathy Hughes has projected plans to improve Guyana’s tourism sector through a vigorous marketing strategy. This strategy, according to Hughes, will encompass all available media outlets, including social media, in order to get the word out to potential markets about what ‘Guyana, South America undiscovered’ is all about. Hughes, who is a past President of the Tourism Association of Guyana (THAG), spoke of the ministry’s projected main target demography as being the Guyanese in the Diaspora and international markets. She also spoke of persons with disposable incomes as being another area that the Tourism Ministry will be looking to tap into. Developing a partnership, Hughes said, between

Guyana’s private sector and the Ministry of Tourism is also important towards the marketing process. Regarding the transitioning process, Hughes is already well into her stride with regard to consultation with the senior staff in her ministry. She also revealed that former Minister of Tourism, Irfaan Ali had contacted her and offered a hand in the transitioning process. “At the end of the day, it is important that more pockets of people know about Guyana and what it has to offer.” Since the new administration assumed office, the Government has embarked on a city wide cleanup campaign, in an effort to return Georgetown to its ‘garden city’ status. Based upon figures from the Guyana Tourism

Authority (GTA), Guyana’s quarterly performances with regard to arrivals for 2015 are ahead of last year’s first quarter figures. Data show that the period of JanuaryMarch 2014 had 40,713 arrivals, versus the 46,369 for the same period this year. In addition, there has been a steady increase in arrivals throughout the preceding years, with the United States being the largest source market with tourism market shares standing at 39.3%, followed by the Caribbean with a 24.4% slice of Guyana’s tourism market. States such as New York and Illinois are in the lead in terms of visitor arrivals.

Businessman Intiaz Yakub, the owner of the Swiss Guest House and General Store on the Upper Corentyne, is now counting his losses after two bandits who had earlier checked into the hotel as guests robbed him of over $2M. The robbery was captured on CCTV camera. According to the businessman the men checked into the hotel earlier in the morning. He stated that it was around 12:30 hrs, while he was in the hotel compound doing some chores that he was approached by one of the men, who was armed with a gun. The bandit, using expletives, ushered him into the business sector of the

hotel which houses the store and the cashier cage. There he was met by the other bandit who had a bag. The thieves still using a set of expletives, ordered him to lie on the floor. The bandits then rummaged through the cashier cage and took out $1.9M he had one side, and another $60,000 which he also had stashed in the cage. The man said that the $1.9M was to pay off his debt while the $60,000 had belonged to a Masjid. The businessman stated that prior to the attack, one of the suspects who is an excop had booked into the hotel with a female. Upon

checking his surveillance camera he noticed that the excop had earlier been in conversation with one of the thieves. The businessman stated that the police response was good, but that they were hampered by the absence of a vehicle. The businessman is calling on other business persons to unite and aid in crime fighting. “We need to stop this for all of our benefits,” he said. He is offering a reward to anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects. Investigations are continuing and according to the police, one man who is a prime suspect is in custody.

Minister of Tourism, Cathy Hughes

Bandits posing as guests rob guest house

Last Sophia fire victim succumbs after months in hospital Shawn White a victim of a disastrous fire on January 4 last, succumbed to his injuries months later at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, GPHC. The inferno completely destroyed a two-storey house at Lot 636 ‘C’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown. Two other victims had succumbed earlier. Mr. White was visiting his paramour, the late Tabola Abrams when the house was allegedly set ablaze; he subsequently fled the burning building through a window. The fire was allegedly started by Abrams’ jilted lover, Gavin Harris, 48, who fled the scene but surrendered days after the incident. He also sustained burns about his body and needed medical assistance. Harris had doused the two-storey house and its environs with gasoline and set it ablaze

after he was denied entry. He had shared a turbulent seven-year relationship with Abrams. The injured woman had related from her bed in the Burns Care Unit of Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation before she passed, that her lover wanted to rekindle the relationship. The fire which broke out around 12:00 am on January 4, last, claimed the lives of Tabola Abrams, 38, who was a mother of three. She succumbed days later at the GPHC Burns Care Unit. Her stepfather, Clifford Sampson, 68, also perished as a result of the blaze. The house was home to nearly a dozen people, some of whom lived on the bottom flat. Those occupying the home were Clifford Sampson, his spouse Anita Buelow, daughters Tabola Abrams and Faustine, three-year-old Troy Buelow, and some other relatives.

Saturday May 23, 2015

Kaieteur News

Child killer pardon…

Ramotar defends decision Less than a week after Donald Ramotar pardoned child killer Ravindra Deo, the former President has defended the presidential pardon. He says that it is within his rights as the President to pardon the man. Ramotar was hesitant to speak on the matter during a press conference held yesterday at Freedom House. During a round of questioning with media operatives, Ramotar maintained that he would not deal with the issue of the presidential pardon at that time. Even though reporters continued to press the matter, Ramotar emphasised that the press conference was not called to address the pardon and questions outside of the matters at hand would not be entertained. However, when pressed, Ramotar said that the pardon had been within his presidential rights. He said, too, that he believed 21 years was already a long time to be incarcerated. “The man spent more than half of his life in prison,” he added. From Ramotar’s words, it seems as though mercy

Murdered eight-yearold Vishnu Bhim played a role in his decision. When further questioned on why he had specifically chosen Deo for pardon, Ramotar simply said that the man’s case had been the only one he knew about. Former Presidential Advisor, Gail Teixeira, explained to this publication that Deo had been one person who had requested a pardon through the Committee for the Prerogative of Mercy. This committee, she said, is a constitutional advisory body to the President that informs the President of

requests from persons on death row for pardoning. The body also makes recommendations. She said that the process is one that takes a long time. Deo’s case would probably have been under review for quite some time, she said. She emphasised that the committee is constitutionally covered and had been there when the PPP/C went into office. “That body is the one that would say to the President or recommend to the President, this particular case was worthy of consideration,” she added. Ravindra Deo walked out the Georgetown Prisons on May 16 after two decades of imprisonment. He was found guilty in 1995 of kidnapping and murdering eight-year-old Vishnu Bhim as the Annandale, East Coast Demerara child was heading home from school. At the time, Deo was 19 years old. Since the pardoning, several persons have expressed their dismay with the former President’s decision including the group, Guyana Coalition for Children.

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PS Collin Croal ordered to ensure assests not removed from RDCs The unauthorized movement of properties from the compounds of a number of Regional Administration offices across Guyana, has forced a Government Minister to intervene. Yesterday, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, instructed his Permanent Secretary, Collin Croal, to ensure that Government assets are protected. That Ministry was formerly known as the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, but has been renamed under the David Granger administration. According to sources in the Ministry, Bulkan received several reports of items, including furniture, being removed from offices and other properties of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) offices across the different regions. After confirming that several suspicious incidents had indeed occurred, Minister Bulkan reportedly “instructed” Croal to ensure that nothing was removed. Croal as the Permanent Secretary, is the chief custodian of assets belonging to the central

Permanent Secretary, Collin Croal

Minister Ronald Bulkan

government and held by the RDCs in the 10 regions. The Minister declined to comment. He would only say that he was addressing a number of issues; a Ministry official said that the Permanent Secretary was asked to write the 10 Regional Executive Officers to warn them of the repercussions of

the unauthorized removal of assets and materials. There have been accusations, some of which are being investigated, of assets being removed from Government ministries in the days following the May 11, elections, in which the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic lost after a 23-year rule.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday May 23, 2015

US, Cuba close round of talks with no embassy announcement WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Cuba still have no agreement on reestablishing embassies. Five months after Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro announced their intention to improve ties, the former foes yesterday completed a fourth round of negotiations without ironing out enough of the differences that have accumulated over a half-century of estrangement to restore diplomatic relations. However, the top U.S. diplomat for Latin America, Roberta Jacobson, insisted the two sides were “much closer” to that goal after a “highly productive” session. Cuba said the talks would continue, but gave no date for a future next round. Jacobson said another high-profile gathering might not be necessary. Appearing first in backto-back news conferences, the communist government’s top diplomat for the United States, Josefina Vidal, was circumspect. She avoided any description of the remaining

Roberta Jacobson obstacles to restoring diplomatic relations and offered no criticism of the United States, but said two days of discussions in Washington focused on “every aspect of the functioning of embassies and the behavior of diplomats.” Even as many of the biggest hurdles have been cleared, Washington and Havana are still wrangling over American demands that its diplomats be able to travel throughout Cuba and meet dissidents without restrictions. The Cubans are wary of activity they see as destabilizing to their government.

“We are confident that when we get to an agreement, our embassy will be able to function so that our officers can do their job as they do worldwide,” a similarly careful Jacobson responded when asked about the matter. Cuba comes off the U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list on May 29, removing a designation that carries financial repercussions. And its Interests Section in Washington now has a U.S.-based bank account, meaning it doesn’t have to operate on cash anymore. Obama also has moved to significantly loosen the American trade embargo on the island. Both the U.S. and Cuba say the embassies are a first step in a larger process of “normalizing” relations. That effort would still have to tackle bigger questions such as the embargo, which only Congress can fully revoke, as well as the future of Guantanamo Bay and Cuba’s democracy record.

Farc suspends truce after Colombia army attack Colombia’s Farc leftist rebel group has suspended a unilateral ceasefire after 26 of its fighters were killed in a government air and ground offensive. The ceasefire had been in place since December 2014. President Juan Manuel Santos called on the rebels to “speed up” negotiations taking place in Havana, Cuba. The two sides have been in on-off negotiations since 2012 in an attempt to end more than half a century of conflict.

Thursday’s attack - in the country’s south-western Cauca region - was the deadliest since the resumption of air strikes against the rebels last month. The guerrilla group said in a statement that the ceasefire suspension was the result of “five months of land and air offensives against our structures all over the country”. “We deplore the joint attack by the air force, the army and the police,” said the statement. “We feel pain for the

deaths of guerrilla fighters as well as soldiers, sons of a same people and from poor families”. But the group said they were willing to continue with the latest round of peace talks in Havana. “Against our will we will proceed with the [peace] talks in the middle of a confrontation,” they said. They also reiterated their demand for Mr Santos to agree a bilateral ceasefire. (BBC News)

Dispute over Mideast nuclear arms ban set to torpedo U.N. meeting A month-long review conference on the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty appeared headed for failure yesterday after its members were unable to overcome disagreements on an atomic weapons ban for the Middle East and other issues. After four weeks of negotiations on ways to improve compliance with the pact, there was no consensus among its 191 signatories. U.S. Under Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller announced there was “no agreement” and accused some countries of undermining the negotia-

tions. Gottemoeller did not name any countries but diplomats said she was referring to Egypt. “We have made clear throughout the process that we will not accept the efforts by some to cynically manipulate the (conference) or try to leverage the negotiation to advance their narrow objectives,” she told attendees. Egypt denies trying to wreck the conference. The U.S. concerns were echoed by Canada and Britain. After that, Iran proposed a suspension of the

meeting in a last-minute attempt to find a compromise. The meeting adjourned but delegates said a last-minute compromise would be difficult. Last month, Egypt, backed by other Arab and non-aligned states, proposed that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon convene a regional conference on banning weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as called for at the 2010 NPT review with or without Israel’s participation, without agreement on an agenda and with no discussion of regional security issues.

Saturday May 23 , 2015

Kaieteur News

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Ramesh: The Integrity Commission China says U.S. South China Sea has lost the public’s confidence actions ‘irresponsible, dangerous’ Trinidad Express Former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj yesterday said that the Integrity Commission could no longer expect to have the confidence of the public as a result of its actions regarding the emailgate issue. The follow is his statement Thursday, I drew the attention of the national community to two matters. I pointed out that the probe by the Integrity Commission into the email gate matter was not a vindication of the Prime Minister because the Police Service and the D.P.P. were conducting an active criminal investigation. I also pointed out that the Prime minister was interfering in a criminal investigation which was being conducted by the Police Service and which was assisted by the USA Justice Department pursuant to the terms of the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Treaty with the USA and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act. Thursday night the nation discovered after the resignation of the Deputy Chairman of the Integrity Commission that even the Integrity Commission had not com-

Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj pleted its work with respect to this matter. The rush to produce a letter to the Prime Minister by the Integrity Commission is not only worrisome but it is frightening and it brings the Integrity Commission into disrepute. The effect of that is that the public can no longer have confidence in the Integrity Commission. Yesterday, I am left with no choice, but to call on the Police Service to immediately launch a probe in the national interest into whether the

Prime Minister (acting in concert with others) has interfered in an ongoing investigation by the Integrity Commission. Further, I am calling on the police to launch an investigation into whether the Prime Minister has interfered and/or attempted to interfere in an ongoing police investigation. These matters amount if proven to the criminal offences of conspiring to pervert the course of public justice and/ or attempting to pervert the course of public justice. I also call on His Excellency the President of our nation to dismiss the present Integrity Commission which has quite obviously at a minimum been placed under a dark cloud of suspicion I also call on the Prime Minister to tender her resignation as Prime Minister of this country and to take immediate steps for the Parliament to be dissolved and for the General Elections to be held. These events have shown that public office was misused and abused and that the Parliament and public office were used to promote the governing party’s political interests and not the public interests of Trinidad and Tobago.

T&T Chamber to lead trade mission to Cuba Trinidad Guardian - The T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce will be leading its first trade mission to Cuba next month. CEO Catherine Kumar confirmed that the mission would take place June 11 and 12. She said Cuba is an attractive market for T&T, especially as an economic partnership agreement is in place between the two nations. Kumar said the time has come for T&T businesses to capitalise on the Cuban market. Following a seminar on Cuba hosted by the Chamber earlier this week, Kumar said

a new foreign investment act would stimulate investment on the island. “Businesses will be able to take advantage of some of the incentives. “A very attractive one is the reduction in corporation tax on profits,” she said. Kumar said market access was important, so talks on air transportation had started with Caribbean Airlines. She said: “Right now to go to Cuba, the most feasible way is to use Copa Airlines via Panama then to Cuba. It takes a while. If we can get a direct flight to Cuba it will help with some of the logistics, make life

Last lap for sugar? Daily Nation - This year’s bulk sugar shipment to the United Kingdom could be one of last as the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation’s (BADMC) chairman admits that the market price for sugar versus the cost of production makes it highly unprofitable.

Dr Atlee Brathwaite, who is the head of the BADMC, as well as the Barbados Sugar Cane Industry Ltd, made the revelation to the Weekend Nation Thursday. He was giving an update on the proposed multipurpose facility slated for Andrew’s Sugar Factory in St Joseph.

Catherine Kumar a lot easier and make flying time a lot easier as far as getting there and returning.” Kumar said a combination of several factors was making Cuba a more attractive market for T&T business. “Even though the US has removed some of the restrictions, eventually removing the embargo would be a great incentive to open up Cuba. What made it difficult to do business with Cuba is the restriction. If you are doing business with the US you cannot do business with Cuba,” she said.

Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea in this still image from video taken by a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft May 21, 2015. (REUTERS/U.S. NAVY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS) China said yesterday it was “strongly dissatisfied” after a U.S. spy plane flew over part of the South China Sea this week near where China is building artificial islands, and called on the United States to stop such action or risk causing an accident. The U.S. flight on Wednesday was highlighted by the unusual Pentagon decision to invite a CNN team aboard the Poseidon surveillance plane. It said the Chinese navy issued eight warnings to the aircraft to move away from the contested territory. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the Chinese military drove away the aircraft, in accordance with relevant regulations. He labeled the U.S. action a security threat to China’s islands and reefs. “Such action is likely to cause an accident, it is very irresponsible and dangerous and detrimental to regional peace and stability. We express our strong dissatisfaction, we urge the U.S. to strictly abide by international law and international rules and refrain from taking any risky and provocative actions,” he told a news conference. “China will continue to closely monitor the relevant area and take the necessary and appropriate measures to prevent harm to the safety of China’s islands and reefs as well as any sea and air accidents.”

A Pentagon spokesman called the mission “routine” and said such flights occurred “every few days.” Colonel Steve Warren said the Poseidon had not gone within 12-mile (19-km) territorial limits that China claims around the artificial islands but said this could happen in the future. “We don’t recognize those islands as anything other than international space,” he said. “For us to fly through that, we wouldn’t see that as a change in the way we do business. It just so happens we haven’t flown over them in the last 20 years.” The U.S. stance reflects the fact that while it does not recognize Chinese territorial limits around reclaimed land, it wants to avoid escalating the issue further than necessary, he said. U.S. SAYS FLIGHTS “ENTIRELYAPPROPRIATE” Washington has been struggling to find a way to discourage what it has described as the “unprecedented” speed and scale of China’s land reclamation work. The senior U.S. diplomat for East Asia, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel, told reporters on Thursday the decision to take a TV crew on the Poseidon was in the interests of “transparency.” He said the U.S. reconnaissance flight was “entirely appropriate” and that U.S.

naval forces and military aircraft would “continue to fully exercise” the right to operate in international waters and airspace. The Pentagon believes the work is aimed at cementing China’s claim to the vast majority of the South China Sea - an important international shipping route and an area thought to have significant energy reserves and rich fishing grounds. Washington is particularly concerned that China, whose claims overlap with those of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan, may at some point declare an exclusion zone in the sea that could limit free movement of ships and aircraft. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that China’s land reclamation was undermining freedom and stability and risked provoking tension that could lead to conflict. The Global Times, a tabloid owned by the ruling Communist Party’s People’s Daily, called the U.S. flights “provocative”. “Washington is purposefully raising tensions with China, a move that has created a higher risk of a physical confrontation,” it said in an editorial on Friday. “China should be prepared to ramp up its countermeasures, one notch at a time, according to the degree of provocations from the U.S.,” it said.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday May 23, 2015

Teachers threaten to intensify action over wage demands The Gleaner - The Central Executive of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) at its regularly scheduled meeting yesterday in Kingston passed a resolution for the taking of all actions deemed necessary to ensure that the demands of the teachers regarding an improved salary offer are met. The resolution comes two weeks after a JTA team met with the minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance, Horace Dalley. At that meeting held on May 8, the Minister promised that by yesterday the government’s response would have been made known. However, up to 3 p.m. yesterday, the response was

Horace Dalley not received, leading to the action by the teachers. The government has so far offered the teachers a 5 per cent increase on basic salary

over two years; three per cent in year one and two in year two. This was rejected yesterday by the Central Executive.

China and Latin America: Diversification is the key word RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - The visit that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang begins this week to Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru marks a new milestone in the deepening of economic, political and cooperation ties between Latin America and the Caribbean and China. Premier Li’s visit and the speech he will give to the region from ECLAC’s headquarters Monday are part of China’s sustained effort to forge a joint path since that country recognized in 2008 the strategic nature of relations with our region in its White Paper (the formal document where it states official policy in that regard). These bilateral economic relations face many challenges, but there is a key word: diversification. In the last 15 years, ties have been highly dynamic. The value of bilateral trade grew 22 times greater between 2000 and 2014, and China is already the region’s second most important trading partner Foreign Direct Investment flows, and overall Chinese capital coming into Latin America and the Caribbean, have also expanded significantly. This process took place in a context in which the Chinese economy grew 10 per cent annually between 2000 and 2011, stoking a commodities “supercycle” that benefited much of the region, particularly South American countries. But since 2012, during an economic slowdown that has also affected the region, China has sought to grow at a pace that is compatible with its

ambitious reform plan while trying to prevent a negative impact on job creation. For now, its annual growth is expected to be between 6 per cent and 7 per cent during the remainder of the current decade, meaning it will still have one of the world’s best rates. Meanwhile, in Latin America and the Caribbean, growth has fallen abruptly, due to internal factors—such as the stagnation of investment and weakening consumption— and external causes, including low growth in the euro zone and the deceleration of China itself, with the resulting decline in demand for commodities. From a Latin American perspective, export diversification and increased productivity constitute the main pending issues: just five single products, all of them commodities, represented 75 per cent of the value of regional shipments to China in 2013. Chinese investment in the region reinforces this pattern, considering that between 2010 and 2013 almost 90 per cent of it was directed at extractive activities, particularly mining and hydrocarbons. To advance towards more prosperous and less unequal societies, the region must overcome its excessive dependence on commodities exports. Therefore, while the expansion of trade and investment flows with China is key, it is equally important to develop actions aimed at modifying their structure. If Chinese investment grows and diversifies in the coming years, it will be pos-

Li Keqiang sible to promote not only export diversification towards that country, but also productive integration within the region. Additionally, if cooperation with China helps bridge our well-known gaps in infrastructure, logistics and connectivity, we can stimulate intraregional trade and the development of regional value chains. Our countries’ rich accumulated experience with innovative social policies, urbanization, environmental protection and other matters can be useful for China as it addresses the major challenges that lie along its path to development. The China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Cooperation Plan 2015-2019, launched last January in Beijing, provides an appropriate institutional framework for advancing in all of these areas. Now both parties must agree to mutually beneficial actions to make that cooperation a concrete reality.

Saturday May 23 , 2015

Kaieteur News

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WIPA boss says awards showcase exploits of regional cricketers Jamaica Observer - PRESIDENT of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) Wavell Hinds says the annual awards ceremony, which is held in partnership with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), provides the opportunity to showcase the exploits of regional cricketers. “The awards is important so that we can recognise and show great appreciation for members and players who make the sacrifice to go out and play for the West Indies on a consistent basis,” Hinds told the Jamaica Observer at Wednesday’s media launch at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston. “They also have to go out of the Caribbean and play in tough conditions, at times very far from home. As consummate professionals we

Dave Cameron (left)... we have to show to our players how we feel about them. Wavell Hinds... the awards showcase what West Indies cricket is about for the past year. expect them to have those sort of traits, but we still want to recognise that they do it. We want to make sure that the

awards showcase what West Indies cricket is about for the past year,” continued Hinds, who is also the chief execu-

Saturday May 23, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Here you go again, philosophizing about what personal expression, creation, and authenticity are all about. Have you noticed that you have some problems expressing issues that don't fall within the norm, Aries? TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Think about tolerance, Taurus, and notice to what extent it can liberate you. If you let others do and think what they like, you will find that you grant yourself this same right. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Why not say yes a little more than usual, Gemini? You can be stubborn and want to do only what you want. It isn't easy to lead you into the unknown. You like to prepare in advance. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You could write fiction or journalism well today. There's a good possibility that you have given some thought to a literary line of work. Why do you hesitate? It's never too late. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today is your day, Leo! Do your best to make your mark on the people around you, especially those closest to your heart. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You have an excellent day ahead, Virgo. It's likely to open new horizons for you at a time when the future may have seemed bleak.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Several days ago you may have experienced a strong feeling of connection. People close to you opened their hearts and expressed their hopes for the future. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) There are some wonderful surprises in store for you, Scorpio. They could come in the form of a new career opportunity or potential dates. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You can look forward to a day full of satisfaction. You may have made a strong impression on the people around you as you learned to moderate your outspokenness. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You're definitely going to appreciate the harmony today, Capricorn. After the confrontational mood of the past several days, it looks as though you will be able to rest a bit. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) The day will come when an authority applauds you for your work or research. Only then will you understand that you've let yourself be fooled by society. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may feel that certain values in your profession won't let you undertake certain activities. But are you sure about this, or have you tried to convince yourself of it so you won't have to confront the part of you that yearns to explore?

tive officer of WIPA. The third joint staging of the WICB/WIPA Awards, which will recognise outstanding players’ achievements in 2014, will be held on June 9 at the Pegasus. It will be broadcast live throughout the region on Digicel SportsMax. WICB president Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron, who has overseen a cordial relationship with the players union since he was first elected boss of the regional board in 2013, believes the joint awards represents a symbol of unity in West

Indies cricket. “We have to show to our players how we feel about them,” he said. “That [the joint award] is critical to making West Indies better. We want to say to our players and our players association that it’s a partnership and we not only want to show it in words, but by our deeds,” Cameron added. There will be 12 award categories for players who have excelled in international cricket as well as at the regional level. Teams will also be recognised for achievements in regional cricket.

Batsmen Kraigg Brathwaite and Darren Bravo; allrounder Dwayne Bravo; Test captain and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin; and spinner Sulieman Benn are nominated for West Indies Player of the Year. In the women’s equivalent, batters Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin and Kycia Knight; and spin bowler Anisa Mohammed are the nominees. The WIPA and WICB will each acknowledge one recipient for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Wiltshire Pre-Independence Dominoes set for May 23 Organising secretary of the Georgetown Dominoes Association (GDA) Mark Wiltshire will be hosting a PreIndependence competition starting on May 23 at Turning Point. Action gets underway at

Chandradat Veerasammy’s 148... (From page 33) victory, seeing them to 122 for 8 at the close. Berbice under-17 leg-spinner Brandon Stewart took 5 for 25 for Tutorial. In summarized scores: At Blairmont, Rosignol Secondary School took first innings points from No.8 Secondary School in their drawn match. Rosignol Secondary School 1st innings 253 all out with Chandradat Veerasammy 148, Stephen Saul 3 for 56, Raymond Braithwaite 3 for 63, Chetram France 2 for 38. No.8 Secondary 1st innings 52 allout with Javed Karim 3 for 11, Chandradat Veerasammy 3 for 17, Geetesh Roopnarine 2 for 9, Keyon Gangoo 2 for 14 and 2nd innings 95 for 9 with Deinanauth Persaud 50 with Chandradat Veerasammy 4 for 29, Geetesh Roopnarine 2 for 15. At Edinburg, Berbice Educational Institute took first innings points from Tutorial Academy in their drawn match. Tutorial Academy 1st innings 119 all-out with Brandon Stewart 30, Steffon Anderson 28, Mahendra Parasram 5 for 28, Shelton Forde 2 for 15, Gevon Shultz 2 for 28. Berbice Educational Institute 1st Innings 122 for 8 with Steve Deonarine 56 not out, Shelton Forde 26, Brandon Stewart 5 for 25, Tyrell Peters 2 for 39.

16:00 hrs and entrance fee is $9,000; one re-entry will be allowed. The tournament will be played on a two-in-one-out basis. The first place team will take home a trophy and $120,000, the runner up

$60,000 and third place $30,000. Prizes are subject to change and teams can contact Wiltshire on 665-5855 for more information. The finals will be played on Sunday May 24.

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Saturday May 23, 2015

National women’s 7s ruggers gets support from GLC The national women’s Sevens rugby squad currently preparing for the NACRA Championship and Olympic Qualifiers at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina USA on June 13-14 yesterday received support from the Guyana Lottery Company (GLC), during a simple ceremony that was conducted, at the entity’s Head Office on Lamaha Street. The Guyanese who won the NACRA c/ships in 2008, 2009 and 2010 disappeared from the international scene for sometime and is scheduled to make their return in this year’s tournament. Managing Director Tracy Lewis said that it was a pleasure to assist the female team in their quest not only to go to the top of NACRA, but also to become the first team sport in Guyana to qualify for the Olympics. Should Guyana’s women come out victorious at the NACRA 7s championships or

place second or third, they then qualify for a playoff against similarly placed teams from the other Regional associations early in 2016. Canada and USA are the main conntenders to Guyana’s success, but with the current placing of both teams on the world circuit there is a very good possibility that they may pre-qualify without having to participate at NACRA in June. According to the GRFU, a cost of US$43 000 will be needed to send the women to the tournament. The players in training are: Carren Carter, Tricia Munroe, La Toya Hamilton Cordis, Collette Hope, Nicole Nero, Natasha Andrews, Alicia Fortune, Shennel Daniels, Alicia Mentore, Carren Skeete, Sabola Gray, Andrea Lashley, Grace Jarvis, Princesa Wilkie, Vionette Profitt, Cloetta Dublin, Theresa Torres and Cindy Fraser.

Letter to the Sports Editor

North Essequibo extends congratulations to APNU/ AFC government Dear Sports Editor, On behalf of the executives and members of the North Essequibo Cricket Committee, I wish to extend heartiest congratulations to the APNU/AFC victory at the recent polls. I am eagerly looking forward to working closely with the new Administration for the promotion of good governance especially in the field of sports and in particular cricket. I am confident that His Excellency Mr. David Granger and Prime Minister Mr. Moses Nagamootoo will create an environment of inclusivity, fairness and accountability in all facets of public duty and realize the full potential of this country. In this regard I am extremely hopeful that the cricket administration at the level of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) will be swiftly examined and amicably re-

solved to the mutual satisfaction of all stake holders wishing to see that the sport is governed in a transparent and democratic manner. The North Essequibo Cricket Committee is assuring the new Administration of its unwavering support and cooperation in developing cricket at all levels on the Essequibo Coast as we endeavor to promote healthy lifestyles, core principles of mutual respect, unity in diversity and a Committee that is driven by achieving realistic goals. I am therefore appealing to all other cricketing bodies to embrace the new administration in fostering a unified effort for the advancement and sustainable success of cricket in Guyana. My best wishes to APNU/AFC. Yours Faithfully, Prince Holder PRESIDENT NECC

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New Zealand make toothless England toil

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson in action. (Action Images via Reuters/Philip BrownLivepic) LONDON (Reuters) Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor mastered a lifeless England attack to lift New Zealand to 303 for two at the close on the second day of the first test at Lord’s on Friday. Replying to England’s 389, the pair shared an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 155 to give the touring side the ascendancy in the match. Williamson was 92 not out at the close with Taylor on 47 and New Zealand will look to

build a big lead on Saturday to put pressure on the hosts in their second innings. Tom Latham and Martin Guptill also made fluent half centuries in a solid opening partnership of 148 before the former, on 59, was trapped lbw by spinner Moeen Ali. Three balls later Guptill drove Stuart Broad loosely to cover where Gary Ballance took a fine sprawling catch to dismiss the elegant righthander for 70.

That was England’s last success of the day, however, as the compact Williamson went about his work. He pushed the ball around cleverly and efficiently dispatched loose balls to the boundary, reaching his fifty off 78 deliveries. Taylor started watchfully but he played a couple of signature sweetly-timed drives in the final session to signal his return to form after a poor run. England captain Alastair

Lies will be exposed on court, says honest Nadal PARIS (Reuters) One thing that has been consistent about Rafa Nadal’s disappointing season so far has been his brutal honesty. After a recent defeat by Italian showman Fabio Fognini the 14-times grand slam champion described his feared forehand as “vulgar” while other defeats have prompted him to admit he is suffering from nerves and a loss of confidence. Hardly the language expected from one of the toughest competitors the sport has seen but Nadal says it is pointless trying to bluff his way through a poor spell. Speaking to reporters at the French Open on Friday where the 28-year-old will be gunning for a record extending 10th title, Nadal again pulled no punches. “I say what I feel. I said a lot of times in my career I’m not gonna lie if it’s not 100 p e r c e n t n e c e s s a r y, ” h e said. “I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but at the end of the day you can lie here but you cannot lie on court. “If you say that you are great and you go on court and you p l a y a g a i n s t a good player, you don’t lie. Otherwise you’re gonna come back and gonna say, Okay, I was lying before. “I don’t need to lie to create better expectations. I am being honest. When I say I

New Zealand’s Trent Boult celebrates after taking the wicket of England’s Moeen Ali (not pictured) (Action Images via Reuters/Philip BrownLivepic) Cook rotated his bowlers but none of the seamers extracted any movement and the hosts were sloppy in the field, Ian Bell spilling a catch in the slips and Jos Buttler missing a late stumping chance. New Zealand took three

wickets in the first hour to wrap up the England innings after the hosts resumed on 354 for seven. Moeen reached his fifty before edging left-arm seamer Trent Boult to stand-in wicketkeeper Latham for 58. Broad’s miserable batting

form continued when he nicked Boult through to Latham for three and James Anderson, on 11, was caught and bowled by Matt Henry. Boult completed figures of four for 79 and Henry took four for 93 on his debut.

Barbados FA opens CONCACAF Goalkeeper Course Bridgetown, Barbados – With a commitment to player development firmly in its focus, the Barbados Football Association (BFA) on Thursday last launched a CONCACAF Goalkeepers’ Coaching Course. The three-day programme is being attended by 30 participants, who will be tasked with sharing what they learned with the island’s clubs, youth programs and national teams. BFA technical director Marcos Falopa believes that the workshop will be crucial in lifting the standard of goalkeeping. ”It is important for football

here in this country to develop goalkeepers,” said Falopa. “Every professional club in the world has a goalkeeper coach at all levels from youth to seniors. This is the way forward as goalkeepers are very important and in modern football changes the game tactically. If you remember the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, when Netherlands changed goalkeepers just for penalty kicks in the quarterfinals and won.” CONCACAF instructor Clainne Plummer echoed similar sentiments, saying: “Goalkeeping has been evolving for years. In the

modern game, the game can be approached differently because they are considered sweeper-keepers rather than just goalkeepers, so that teams can now focus more on their offensive schemes. ”The grassroots program of CONCACAF will provide federations in the region more coaching education to improve the aspects of coaching goalkeepers.” Sessions are being conducted at the Barbados Olympic Association and the Wildey Astro Turf facility at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex. (CONCACAF)

Letter to the Sports Editor Rafael Nadal of Spain and his coach Toni Nadal (R) (Reuters/Vincent Kessler) don’t know what’s gonna happen, I really don’t know what’s gonna happen. “That doesn’t mean that I don’t have confidence in myself to try to be ready for it. I have to think that I am ready for it.” With no titles on European clay this season and crushing defeats by Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stanislas Wawrinka in the build-up to Roland Garros, most of the talk has been whether or not the Mallorcan is in decline. Defending women’s champion Maria Sharapova said the doubters were being disrespecftul to a player who has a 66-1 career record at Roland Garros, but her opinion is not shared by former men’s champion Jim Courier.

“What’s interesting with Rafa is that he’s so honest about what he’s going through,” he told Reuters. “Rafa has set himself up for the conversation because he talks about how he is not playing the big points well. “He says he doesn’t have confidence and that his forehand is vulgar. He is initiating the discussion.” Nadal will need that confidence to return quickly, with a possible quarter-final against Djokovic on the horizon. “I would love to arrive to that match, but that’s the quarter-finals and I didn’t start the first round yet” the sixth seed said. “If I arrive to that match, we are going to have two days to talk about.”

Appeal to New Administration to Resolve Cricket Crisis. It Is Time Dear Sports Editor, I wish to extend sincere congratulations to His Excellency David Granger, Hon Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, the newly-appointed Ministers of the Government and the entire membership of the APNU/AFC Coalition on your outstanding victory at the 2015 General and Regional Elections. The people have clearly voted against one-party political domination and have placed their confidence in the coalition in keeping with the universal trend. I look forward to and am supportive of the new dispensation and in particular the expected restoration of hon-

esty, integrity and accountability at all levels of national life. The specter of corruption has for far too long tarnished and retrogressed our economic and social developmental aspirations. It is against this backdrop that I wish to single out the administration of cricket as a major national tragedy as for five (5) years now there has been inordinate turmoil in our cricket. I hold the view that the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has been hijacked by a small group of persons through a series of shenanigans including legal maneuvers and c a s h - f o r - v o t e schemes for which monies intended for cricket development have been misap-

propriated. I remain adamant in my belief that there is no lawful executive body of the GCB. I fervently appeal to the new administration to ensure that the lawlessness that presently obtains in our cricket is immediately consigned to oblivion and that legal elections, order, accountability and integrity are restored to our national game. The time for change in our cricket is now. MALCOLM PETERS (Former President of the Berbice Cricket Board and Former Vice-President of the Guyana Cricket Board) for and on behalf of the Stakeholders of Guyana Cricket

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Saturday May 23, 2015

Nehra, Hussey carry CSK to the final ESPNcricinfo - Chennai Super Kings entered their sixth IPL final in eight attempts, withstanding and overcoming Royal Challengers’ fightback on a slow pitch. Super Kings seemed to have the game in control from the moment Ashish Nehra took out Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in the fifth over. But Royal Challengers scrapped their way through to set a fighting target of 140. Their bowlers kept the Super Kings top order quiet in the first half of the chase, and the wickets came in the second. MS Dhoni hung in but fell after levelling the scores. R Ashwin nudged a single off the penultimate ball to seal the win. Both captains had their wish fulfilled at the toss. Dew in mind, Dhoni wanted to chase. Knockout pressure and a dry pitch in mind, Kohli wanted runs on the board. With R Ashwin turning and bouncing the ball right away, the Royal Challengers openers targeted Nehra. Kohli pulled and lofted him

for a four and a six after which Nehra asked Dhoni to stand up to the stumps. First ball of Nehra’s next over, Kohli stayed on the crease and tucked one straight to backward square leg. Two balls later, Chris Gayle survived a close legbefore shout. Three balls later, de Villiers was not so lucky, given leg-before with replays showing the ball to have pitched just outside leg stump. Ashwin removed Mandeep Singh soon, and Royal Challengers were limping at 36 for 3 in the eighth over. Gayle bided his time, waiting for Dhoni to bring on his two left-arm spinners so he could attack them. Dhoni brought them on only after Gayle fell in the 14th over for 41 off 43. He instead used the part-time offspin of Suresh Raina after Ashwin had bowled out. Dinesh Karthik and Gayle took Raina for a few runs, Gayle swinging a couple of big sixes over long-on, before

Ashish Nehra appeals for a wicket, Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2015, Qualifier 2, Ranchi, May 22, 2015 ©BCCI Dhoni had his bowler change his line to get the left-hander. Raina went over the stumps, Gayle attempted the third six of the over and the bowler settled under the top-edge. Nehra made his third important intervention of the

Letter to the Sports Editor

YOUTHS IN ESSEQUIBO DESERVE A LEVEL PLA YING FIELD IN SPORTS PLAYING Dear Editor, The heralding of a new Government has heighten the expectation of it promoting goodwill, equal opportunities, including a level playing field and the concrete commitment for providing adequate resources for the advancement of our sports men and women. On numerous occasions I would have publicly highlighted the neglect of sports in Essequibo, yet with little success. I am of the firm conviction however that the new regime will immediately set a high standard for sports in the Region. Immediately on the horizon should be the creation of a department of sports which should be adequately staffed to efficiently manage the various sporting disciplines. While there is an abundance of talent, the institutions to harness same are

non-existent due to the absence of properly constituted bodies and committed personnel. As a result the evidence is clear that for far too long, no one has been representing the interest of our swimmers, basketballers, cyclists or even at athletics and table tennis. While the Essequibo Football Association has been resuscitated, there is very little opportunity for the footballers or even for the fans to witness a Kashif and Shanghai game, despite over 20 years of competition. This is unacceptable and shows the unequitable distribution of opportunities as compared to other districts. The Anna Regina Community Centre Ground has been under-utilized for sporting activities and it has deteriorated due to neglect and mismanagement. This facility can be made into a modern and first class venue for athletics, football, cricket and basketball. There is another building there which can also be transformed into an indoor Centre for other sports as well. It is the opportune time therefore for the administrators to place sports as one of the priorities to conscien-

tiously guide our youths from uncertainty and despair whilst assuring them that their future can be a success through their talent. The community enhancement programme under the previous Government saw the rehabilitation of several grounds across the Region. Unfortunately many of them have not been properly utilized and in some cases, work was unsatisfactorily done due to poor supervision. Additionally the annual day of interaction had good intention but there was no followup by the Ministry until the next exercise a year later. Such a culture should be discontinued and replaced by a process of continuous interaction, encouraging Organizations, Associations and Clubs to be properly constituted, registered and accountable; establish a body to solely monitor and execute sporting projects and strategically to strengthen the relationship between the office and clubs through a viable and effective network. The youths in Essequibo deserve no less from the Coalition Government. Yours Faithfully, Elroy Stephney

night when he had Karthik caught at long-on in the 17th over for 28. Sarfaraz Khan made an intelligent 31 off 21 to drag the total to 139 for 8, but as Kohli said later, Royal Challengers were 15-20 runs short. Dwayne Smith holed out early in the chase but Michael Hussey and Faf du Plessis had pushed the score to 61 by the tenth over. They had several close calls while running, and were put down once each, Hussey by Karthik and du Plessis by Gayle. Yuzvendra Chahal broke the stand in the tenth over,

Michael Hussey pulls away, Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2015, Qualifier 2, Ranchi, May 22, 2015 ©BCCI bowling du Plessis for 21. Raina’s poorest IPL season with the bat became worse when he charged out second ball and mishit Chahal to longoff. Playing only his third match of the season, Hussey steered the score past 100, relying on the pull and the drive. Two sixes off Chahal in the 16th over reined in the asking-rate, which had almost touched ten. Even after Hussey fell mishitting a pull off David Wiese in the 17th over, Super Kings found the big shot just when they needed it. Pawan

Negi swung Harshal Patel over deep midwicket for six in the 18th, Dhoni stepped out to lift Mitchell Starc over midoff for four in the 19th. Negi was run out in the same over, and Starc broke Dwayne Bravo’s off stump with his last ball, but only five were needed by then, and Royal Challengers were left to rue the rare collective failure of their big three batsmen. Scores: Chennai Super Kings 140 for 7 (Hussey 56, Chahal 2-28) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 139 for 8 (Gayle 41, Nehra 3-28) by three wickets.

Chanderpaul dropped for Australian series Guyanese left hander should know his fate today By Sean Devers The career of 40-year-old West Indies left-handed middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul could come to an abrupt end if an emergency meeting this weekend in Barbados with the Clive Lloyd led s e l e c t i o n panel and the WICB President and some of their Directors fails to rescind the somewhat surprising decision to drop the Guyanese from the team to face Australia next Month. Chanderpaul who made his Test debut at Bourda in 1994 against England is only the ninth player over the age of 40 to play in a Test match for the West Indies. According to a well placed source Chanderpaul was given the option of retiring when he meet with the selectors this month and re-

fused their offer claiming he was still available for Test cricket resulting in him being dropped. The left-hander from Unity Village in Guyana failed to reach 100 in the three matches against South Africa or in the three that followed in the West Indies against England. However, the veteran who has played 164 Tests, the most by any West Indian, and has accumulated 11,867 runs at an average of 51.7 and needs 82 more to pass Brian Lara’s most Test runs by a West Indian from 131 Tests and that could have also been a consideration. Chanderpaul reportedly wanted to continue his Test career but with each failure his average is dipping. Chanderpaul has never gone 12 innings without a half-century and the manner of some

of his dismissals suggest that his advancing age played a part in them. Gordon Greenidge was 40 when he played against Australia in St John’s in April 1991 and was the last West Indies player before Chanderpaul to play past age 40 and age must have been a consideration. Chairman of the WICB selectors Clive Lloyd was 40 when he played his last Test against Australia at Sydney in 1984 and would be an excellent judge of whether team or individual is more important. But because of tremendous contribution to West Indies cricket at the highest level over the last 21 years, he should be afforded the opportunity to break Lara’s record against Australia and then be asked to retire or be dropped if he passes Lara’s record or not.