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: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210

Editorial

Counterfeit products and Guyanese During February 2013 it was reported that the Agriculture Ministry had indicated that claims by the National Milling Company (NAMILCO) that someone was selling bogus flour on the local market were being investigated even though - as the minister offered, there was no real evidence to substantiate the claim. Now the latest in scams involving the foisting of bogus products on the Guyanese people is in the news with reports confirming the presence of three counterfeit beauty products. What makes the continued emergence of bogus products on the local market all the more alarming is the fact that recourse to criminal prosecution may only net a fine that can best be described as laughable. Maybe it is time that class action suits become a part of the litigation process in the judicial system whereby citizens affected negatively by the use of these products can seek civil legal remedies from those unscrupulous ‘business persons’ who prey on gullible and unsuspecting consumers. Last January, this newspaper reported that an imitation margarine bearing the ‘Golden Cream’ label and stating it was a product of Guyana was found in shops in Regions Five and Six. Sterling Products, manufacturer of the authentic Golden Cream brand, clearly recognized that any quality problems could have been blamed on the company and raised the alarm. Notwithstanding the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department’s valid claim that it has insufficient staff to visit every supermarket, it needs to adopt a more proactive posture in protecting the safety of consumers. This suggestion does not preclude importers and manufacturers from doing their part in the same respect since currently there is no sustained public awareness against fake goods. None of the two companies gave any party permission to package and label any substitute of their products. It is time that the authorities shed their lax approach in dealing with what appears to be an undesirable trend. On July 26, 2010 High Court marshals took possession of numerous boxes of bogus Piccadilly brand shoes after the authorized dealer moved for the seizure of the items from a retailer. Worthy of note is the possibility that the authorized dealer could have suffered tremendous losses due to the fact that persons were returning defective shoes to the store for refund or replacement. But bogus practices do not end with consumables; way back before 2009 an unscrupulous woman with various aliases and posing as a biomedical engineer, and owner of a medical laboratory conned aspiring nurses into believing that they could attain certificates at her nursing school. Students paid hard earned cash in the belief that the school was accredited by the Guyana Nursing Council and would have allowed students entry into the three local nursing schools, namely the Georgetown School of Nursing, the New Amsterdam Nursing School, and the Charles Rosa Nursing School at Linden. In our peculiar Guyanese situation it goes without saying that she did not face official condemnation except for a vapid statement by the Ministry of Health that that particular school was not accredited to provide nursing instructions. Sometimes scam artists move from the creative to the outrageous, but then again desperate circumstances perceived or experienced, sometimes dictate the pursuit of what could be termed foolhardy endeavours. Take the 18year-old prospective police recruit who had learned to forge his birth certificate to play a football game when he was 15 years old. The bogus document was discovered during the police background check; he was unfortunate. Not so the police officer who retired in the lofty rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police who at the time of

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

President’s refusal to assent to this Bill should not hold up Local Government Elections DEAR EDITOR, The President’s refusal to assent to the Local Government (Amendment) Bill should not hold up the hosting of Local Government Elections (LGE). All that is required now is for the President to instruct the Attorney General to move the case to the judiciary. There, the court can decide whether certain functions conferred to the Local Government Commission

(LGC) exceeds the constitutional authority of Article 78A, thus making Local Government (Amendment) Bill No. 12 of 2012 “null, void and of no effect” as articulated by the attorney general. No amount of political grandstanding, rhetoric and declarations in the press will resolve this issue, as we approach a year since parliament approved the four local government reform bills. If the President and his

applying to become a Cadet Officer presented false academic certificates. The Guyana Defence Force refused four cadet officers after they tendered forged CXC Secondary Education Certificates in order to gain entry to the army. It is not unknown for executives and employees to claim academic qualifications to gain superiority over their

government are serious about determining the legislation’s constitutionality, then move to the courts quickly for resolving, once and for all, the essential legal questions. Notwithstanding the need to clarify the bill’s constitutionality, there is no compelling reason to delay establishing and announcing a date for holding LGEs. The government must act now. I say this not only because I agree (Continued on page 6)

colleagues. More importantly perhaps is the potential loss to the tax and revenue administration when the viability of government including the Guyana Revenue Authority and the National Insurance Scheme is threatened by the tendering of bogus certificates of compliance to get past the inconvenient problem of unpaid arrears.

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

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I can’t recall seeing Sherod Duncan in the protest but DEAR EDITOR, I refer readers to a letter in the Friday, May 23, 2014 edition of KN captioned. “Freddie, the UGWU never supported us in the Struggle.” His missive is in response to my Thursday last column in which I outlined a historical picture of law students’ avoidance of protest at UG. Mr. Duncan replied to say that under his leadership, when he was a communications major, the student union did engage in protest action and he gave examples. Mr. Duncan knows my daughter who is his colleague at UG, therefore he can ask her what I have said to her about Mr. Duncan several times over the dinner table In discussing student politics with her, I have said

to her that my personal friend Jason Benjamin was the most popular student leader UG produced but Jason never lead a picket demonstration or engaged the students in protest, but Sherod Duncan did. I will take it to mean that Duncan is a decent person and would not think that I would mention my daughter in a matter in which I lied. Let me repeat; I have told my daughter this story several times and I went into details. Mr. Duncan did lock the outer door leading to the office of the Vice Chancellor as a form of protest Mr. Duncan’s point does not vitiate the integrity of my argument since I specify law students and his protest took place when he was a communications major. As to the protest on campus when

Still no response from Minister Anthony DEAR EDITOR, A few weeks ago, the Minister of Culture committed, in Parliament, to undertake a more expansive, consultative and cooperative approach in managing the cultural policy aspect of his portfolio. Despite two e-mails to his Permanent Secretary, Alfred King, outlining a programme of engagement, there has been no response from either the Minister, or any proxy of his with regard to moving forward on this issue. Neither have I seen any notice being placed in the public domain either on policy as a whole, or in part. For example, there has been no invitation for applications to access the Sports and Arts Development Fund, despite Dr. Anthony’s assurance to the Speaker in particular that

this would be done, just before the collective opposition approved his entire budget untouched. I understand that the Minister might be overwhelmed with the numerous press events he is compelled to attend when dealing with sexual abuse allegations scandal coming out of the New Opportunity Corps, but Culture at a policy level remains a critical aspect of his portfolio. As I communicated to Mr. King, meeting with the Minister himself is not necessary - a representative, including Dr. James Rose, his Director of Culture, would suffice. This is the same offer I have extended numerous times over the past years. This e-mail has been carboncopied to both King and Rose. Ruel Johnson

I was dismissed from UG on January 18 2012, I know Mr. Duncan was sympathetic. But truly I cannot recall seeing Mr. Duncan in any of the picket exercises that lasted for almost two weeks. I want to make it clear that I am not saying he wasn’t there but I honestly can’t recall seeing him. But it doesn’t matter if he was there or not. Mr. Duncan I am sure, given what I know of him, would have been indignant about my dismissal. In my opinion, Mr. Duncan was a concerned student leader In comparing him with Jason Benjamin, I would say that Benjamin certainly spoke up far more on violations on campus at meetings of the Council of the University of which I was a member. Benjamin’s activism also extended beyond UG. He marched one year with the UGWU on May Day and through his role as a coast guard with the army, free meals were supplied to UGWU marchers on that May Day rally. I should clear the air for readers in that Duncan was not the student leader at the time of my dismissal; it was Dwayne Benjamin.

Benjamin was quite active in the protest Mr. Duncan pointed out that my union agreed to help his union in calling for civil disobedience across the campus but we failed to act. This is not exactly correct. Our position in the union was that when there was a violation on campus, the respective union would initiate action and other stakeholders would show solidarity. In the situation where Duncan advocated civil disobedience, there was no action by the students only the isolated bravery of Duncan and few of his colleagues in the student leadership Surely, it would have been a bizarre process, not to mention the immense national embarrassment, for the student union to call for massive protest at UG and only the non-academic staff turned up with their pickets and padlocks. Mr. Duncan is honest enough to admit that the students did not come out. They hardly do. Only once, and that was in 1995 that began when the Sociology 100 lecturer tore up all the submitted essays of his

students and one thing led to another. Not before 1995 not after. Not even with the Yohance Douglas (Douglas and other UG students were shot by the police) murder by the police. Those streets protests against the Douglas killings were led by citizens and politicians and members of civil society but not UG students It need not be mentioned here because all Guyanese know that there isn’t another university anywhere in the world, not even in Cuba or a despotic Arab state, not even in Iran, where the students are as morbidly apathetic as UG students. The UG student sheepishness is definitely pathological and sickening. There are super-rich students in many American and European university that tomorrow will quickly take to the streets and confront even policemen over wrongs committed at their university.

In this connection, I would ask readers to read my column today in which an author makes a powerful case for the connection between genes and race. Some races do better he argues because of the process of natural selection and adaptation as spelt out in evolutionary biology pioneered by Charles Darwin Finally, for reasons he may want to explain at a later date, nowhere in his letter did he agree that the focus should now be for law students to pressure the Government of Guyana in having our own law school or reinstitute Guyana’s stipend to the Council for Legal Education. When cowardly law students become lawyers can they really have a good grasp on the difference between right and wrong? I don’t think so. Sheep cannot tell the difference. They never will. Frederick Kissoon

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Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox PPP’s devious action in the Rupununi No relief from DEAR EDITOR, There is a typical case here in the Rupununi of misplaced priorities by the PPP government. There is an intense campaign, almost an obsession by the party, to convert all and sundry to PPPites. This campaign has now shifted focus to the youths. On most weekends the PPP operatives, mostly from Georgetown, visit villages on this divisive quest. The youths are lured to the meetings on the ruse of government officials seeking to ascertain the communities’ problems. At these meetings the youths are given forms to complete and their induction into the PYO is finalised. What deviousness! What happens next demonstrates the lack of patriotism and crookishness of the Party. For anyone to have access to a job in the village, whether it be the dubious and confrontational Community Support Officers (CSOs), or Health Worker, or teacher, one has to be a PYO member. Qualifications or suitability are of no importance. But while millions of taxpayers’ dollars are being spent to fortify the position of the Party, the Police in the

region are languishing without resources to fight crime. The Rupununi is 23,000 square miles and consists of five Sub-Regions, each in itself, a huge expanse of land. There are four Police Stations in the Region-one each in the Sub-Regions except the South-Central SubRegion. The station at Aishalton is manned by two ranks. That area extends from Shea in the east, 42 miles from Aishalton, to Parabara in the West, which is some 57 miles away. The area also takes in the mining area of Marudi mountains which is 38 miles to the South. This police station has no vehicle. In examining Annai, the largest Sub-Region, the situation is no different. This area extends to Fairs View in the North, some 68 miles away. The communities in this SubRegion are widely scattered and are hours driving from one village to the next. There are also communities along the Rupununi River like Apoteri, Rewa, Crash Water and Yakarinta. The police station at Annai does not have a vehicle or boat to access these communities. The station at Karasabai is responsible for Yarong Paru

in the East to Taushida in the West. This area is mountainous and probably requires an ATV to enable the police to access theses villages. This leaves the Regional headquarters, Lethem. The ranks at Lethem number no more than 15. They are responsible for the Central and South-Central Sub-Regions. This is one massive tract of land with villages widely scattered. Apart from St. Ignatius Village which is 30 minutes walk from Lethem, the next village, Kumu, is seven miles. As you go to the next the distances increase to double figures. Sand Creek, the center of the South-Central Sub-Region, is at least 58 miles from Lethem and there are other villages further away. The Police at present have no vehicles to patrol, much less to respond to crimes in these areas. Just before their vehicle became unserviceable, there were always five ranks in the vehicle whenever it left the compound. The reason? Whenever the vehicle was parked it had to be pushstarted. Hence the driver dared not venture too far least he will not be able to get a quick start. That in itself was

an undesirable situation, not to mention a dangerous one. I am quite certain that the condition of this vehicle would have been included in the station’s routine reports to the Division Command. Additionally, the Rupununi has over 1,000 miles of border with Brazil. Hence one can appreciate the impossible mission the ranks have in policing the Region. In the meantime, illegal crossborder activities continue unabated. Even with one vehicle, the police were engaged in mission impossible. One has to sympathise with the ranks here. The government by not addressing these shortcomings has failed the residents of this very region which they are desperately trying to retain. It has neglected the residents in the same way they have neglected the sugar workers. My advice therefore is that the government stops this wanton waste of scarce resources and spend it where it is needed. Leave the people to decide which party they want to be members of. That decision will be made in two years’ time. Carl Parker Sr. Regional Councillor, Region 9

Citizens being encouraged to ignore their innate sense of what is right DEAR EDITOR, Since a few hundred years B.C., when the Greeks experimented with a form of egalitarian rule, democracy has been practised by various states which have realised its efficacy over other systems that entailed some form of autocratic rule in producing an equitable society where all citizens could participate in national decision-making. This is all to the good, as the system has produced many of the great liberal nations of the world, and contributed to evenhanded

rule and freedom that has spurred vast advances in economic and social growth. But one of the negative results of this political arrangement is that we now find that the principle of giving power to the masses is that it is being used by those in authority to determine what is right in many crucial areas of national life. By this politicians aim to satisfy the greatest number of their constituents, giving them the best chance of retaining power. One instance of this is the current movement in many

societies to decide whether to legalise marijuana, which is illegal in many countries, and the use of which is addictive and known to lead to more harmful drugs. As far as the trend that is showing, the chances are that this will succeed as more people become more dissolute and depressed, and feel that this drug will ease their problems because of the sense of euphoria that it engenders. Another example is the effort being made in many countries to legalise same-sex relationships, which has heretofore been always condemned as an abomination to the human condition, and surely an unnatural practice that has produced endless disease and despair. This is what is happening in many nations, even those who would have us believe that they are more advanced, civilised and progressive. Citizens are being encouraged to ignore their innate sense of what is right for this principle of what the majority prefers. Shouldn’t we be exploring what standards we should be using to determine what is integrally right or wrong?

Should we not be consulting with those who have been known to be able to guide us morally, as well as the dictates of our own conscience to determine these standards, and use these to guide us into what we should be adopting as legal? There are various means available to all human beings to judge right from wrong, which would result in everlasting benefit, rather than the temporal advantage that these compromises to our consciences encourage. Deductive reasoning, intuition, the virtues that are inborn, and religious tenets are all instruments that we can invoke in every instance when we need to determine what will lead to the common good? Let us not discredit these and blindly follow those who basically seek our political support, and end up in the proverbial ditch. If we really care for our people, let us at least strive to educate them on how to make the right choices and then we can trust their judgement in any movement towards the formation of a just society. Roy Paul

noise nuisance

DEAR EDITOR, For years now we as residents of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, are going through lots of problems with noise nuisance. The source is Black Stone music set. Almost every month there is some show or sport at the head of Old Road. Just Easter Monday they had the set playing until about 3:00 hrs Tuesday. They had posters up early for 1st May, 2014 when they had another session. When the music is playing your roof is vibrating. Those who have a vehicle their alarm is going off. You cannot sleep at night because of these people. We are transported property owners. Why must one person disturb so many lives? When you call Timehri Police Station they keep

telling you they will come. Sometimes the police patrol will pass and then you think you will get help but the police will stop and drink beers. So there is no help. Sometimes when you call the station, the police will say you have to come in and make a report. How can one go at those hours in the morning to the station? Then you might be victimised. I am calling on someone in authority to look into this matter with urgency. When someone is having a wedding you have to go through so much hassle to get a pass for music to play. How is Black Stone owner getting pass to play every month or twice a month? What is the connection with the police. Concerned resident

President’s refusal... From page 4 with the statement that “three-quarters of a loaf is better than none,” as advanced by opposition parliamentarian Khemraj Ramjattan but also because the disputable issues do not affect the hosting and execution of local elections. In fact, while we wait for a ruling on the outstanding bill’s constitutionality, the government and parliamentary opposition can agree, in terms of mutual national interests, to proceed with the elections under the old laws where the powers still reside with the Minister of Local Government instead of the LGC. A healthy dose of political maturity and political will from our elected policy makers can facilitate this process quickly. I have seen in the press and in other public forums the belief of some that the contested pending bill is the one containing the provisions establishing the LGC’s roles and functions. I wish to reiterate that this is not so. The Local Government Commission Act was passed and assented to last year by the National Assembly and the President, respectively, and the structure and roles of the Commission have been elucidated. Among its many powers is the LGC’s responsibility to “deal with all matters relating to staffing of local government organs” including “employment, transfer, discipline and dismissal of staff” and approving “remuneration, superannuation, training, leave and promotion of staff.” What the outstanding bill

seeks to do is confer additional powers onto the Commission. Moreover, once the Minister of Local Government signs the commencement order, then the nomination process of commissioners under the LGC Act would begin. I personally have an issue with either the Minister of Local Government or the LGC deciding on who gets to run the administrative affairs of the municipalities around the country. That responsibility should be left to those elected authorities, who are closest to the citizens, and which, in this case, would be the elected mayor and councillors. The buck should stop with the Mayor, in particular. This is what local selfgovernment is all about: the ability of local authorities to regulate and manage a substantial share of public affairs under their own responsibility and in the local population’s interests. Powers given to our municipalities should be full and exclusive, allowing discretion for them, as far as possible. One pragmatically cannot expect to hold our mayors and councillors responsible for the overall interests of their respective areas and communities and then deny them the right to decide who gets to execute policy on their behalf. Thus, the Minister or the LGC should only have a supervisory role in this process. However, that is a discussion for another time. At the moment we have sufficient laws to work with and it is time for the Minister to call a date for LGEs. Clinton Urling Blue CAPS

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

Opposition to Thai coup simmers, ex-PM in ‘safe place’ BANGKOK (Reuters) - Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was in a “safe place” yesterday after being held by the army following a coup, an aide said, as opposition to the takeover grew among her supporters and pro-democracy activists. The army moved on Thursday after failing to forge a compromise in a power struggle between Yingluck’s populist government and the royalist establishment, which brought months of sometimes violent unrest to Bangkok’s streets. Consolidating its grip, the military dissolved the Senate yesterday, the only legislative assembly still functioning in Thailand. It also sacked three senior security officials who were seen as close to the ousted government. The military detained Yingluck on Friday when she and about 150 other people, most of them political associates, were summoned to an army facility in Bangkok. More people were summoned over the weekend, including some outspoken academics and journalists. The bosses of 18 newspapers and private and public sector economic administrators were also called to meetings with the military. A senior officer told Reuters Yingluck could be held for up to a week and media reported she had been taken to an army base in Saraburi province north of Bangkok, but an aide denied that. “Now she’s in a safe place ... She has not been detained in any military camp. That’s all I can say at this moment,” said the aide, who declined to be identified. Thailand’s political woes are the latest chapter in a nearly decade-long clash between the Bangkok-based establishment and Thaksin Shinawatra, a former telecommunications tycoon who broke the mould of Thai politics with pro-poor policies that won him huge support and repeated electoral victories. Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and left the country after a 2008 graft conviction, but he remains Thailand’s most influential politician and was the guiding hand behind the government of Yingluck, his sister. The military also detained Thaksin’s adult son, and Yingluck’s nephew, Panthongtae Shinawatra, according to posts on social media, but his sister later said that was not true. Army deputy spokesman Winthai Suvaree told a news conference that anyone being held would not be detained for more than seven days. He did not mention Yingluck.

The military also issued an order to financial institutions to freeze dealings with two former ministers in Yingluck’s cabinet who had not responded to a military summons. The army also said King Bhumibol Adulyadej had acknowledged the military takeover, a significant formality in a country where the monarchy is the most important institution. An undercurrent of the crisis is anxiety over the issue of royal succession. The king, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, is 86 and spent the years from 2009 to 2013 in hospital. Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn does not command the same devotion as his father, but some Thaksin supporters have recently been making a point of their loyalty to the prince. Despite international calls for the restoration of democratic government, army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha has not promised a swift return to civilian rule, insisting there must be broad reforms and stability first. “We must have economic, social and political reforms before elections,” Prayuth told civil servants on Friday in his first comments on his plans since the coup. “If the situation is peaceful, we are ready to return power to the people.” But reforms could take many months and stability could be elusive. Many countries have issued travel warnings for Thailand. The United States swiftly condemned the coup and the State Department suspended about $3.5 million in military aid. The Pentagon said yesterday it was cancelling training and readiness exercises with Thailand, as well as a visit to Thailand by U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Harry Harris, and one by a top Thai commander to the U.S. Pacific Command. Human Rights Watch said rights in Thailand were in “free fall”. But in what appeared to be a quick move to win over some of Thaksin’s core supporters, Prayuth said on Friday paying farmers money owed under a failed subsidy scheme organized by Yingluck’s government was a priority. The military has banned gatherings of more than five people, censored the media and imposed a 10 p.m to 5 a.m. curfew, but that has not stopped some from showing their disapproval. About 200 people gathered outside a mall complex in north Bangkok early yesterday, holding up handwritten slogans such as “Anti the Coup” and “Get out Dictators”.

A man is detained by the police after a confrontation during a protest against military rule in Bangkok yesterday. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

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Sunday May 25, 2014

Tower Hotel goes under, workers protest non-payment At a time close to the completion of the 197-room Marriott; Tower Hotel, which has been one of Guyana’s more popular places, has gone out of business. Yesterday, several non-paid workers attached to the hotel mounted protests at the Main Street location to register their aggravation. Those involved in the demonstration lamented that they weren’t paid for quite some time. One senior employee has not been paid in as long as seven months. Over 50 workers, 45 of whom are unionized, are affected by the hotel’s “flap.” Only security and maintenance members of staff were allowed inside the hotel. Others stood outside the front door of the property with

placards that reflected their frustration. The placards, which they held high, read “We need to be paid now,” “Lockout without pay,” “Single mother without pay,” and “Workers need to meet with directors” President of the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), Sherwood Clarke, told Kaieteur News that the Union had a meeting with the Hotel’s management on Monday last. He said that during the course of the meeting, management lamented the financial constraints that the hotel is being faced with. According to Clarke, CCWU was basically told that business was at an all time low. The Union President said that the hotel management recommended that staffers be

laid off for si to eight weeks until the hotel is able to raise its head above water. However, Clarke said that the Union rejected that proposal. According to him, the union had, instead, recommended a reduction in the work-week from five days to three days, a recommendation to which management agreed. He said, however, that lo and behold, he got a call on Friday that workers were told to do what the initial proposal was made by management. Yesterday’s crowd was dominated by women who bemoaned the fact that they are single parents and the present situation is causing them not to fulfill some of their parental obligations. Kaieteur News

understands that one woman, who reportedly worked at the Tower Hotel for over 20 years, took ill when she turned up to work and learned about the new arrangement. Her colleague said, “She only found out about it today, because she didn’t work (Friday). But when she realize what they did she took in with she pressure.” One staff member showed Kaieteur News her work agreement between CCWU and Tower Hotel. Under severance and retrenchment, there are six conditions; one being that there must be one month’s notice or payment in lieu. That very employee, identified as Thereza, said that she learnt that NIS hasn’t any contributions for her since 2013.

Asked how come the workers have not yet sought employment elsewhere, given the conditions, Thereza replied, “Most of us are trained in hospitality and most members of staff have worked here for 10 to 15 years. We went through different owners and all so it is not that easy to walk away like that. The consensus among workers is that the present management should be blamed for the poor state of affairs at the Hotel. Clarke told Kaieteur News that a complaint would be lodged at the Labour Ministry on Tuesday as part of steps to ensure that the workers are paid. Hotel Tower has been struggling with business in

recent years, but it became worse over the past two years. The Hotel has been has been on the market since March but there are no known offers for buyers Just this past week, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) disconnected the electricity as a result of mounting unpaid bills. In 2009, Tower Hotel was sold to Canal Hospitality Inc, a business partnership headed by Salim Azeez. Recently, Prairie Hotel was placed on the market for sale. So far there has been no known sale of that hotel. But even though all these hotels go under; the government insists that the Marriott is what Guyana needs at such a time.

Investigation continues into fracas at New Amsterdam prison Investigation is continuing into Friday afternoon’s fracas during which four high profile remand prisoners were brutally chopped and burnt by fellow inmates. The violence broke out around 18:00 hrs in what apparently was gang warfare. The four men are reportedly members of a gang within the prison. Pandemonium broke out first outside the New Amsterdam Prison and then at the New Amsterdam hospital as relatives got word of what was taking place in the penal institution. Reports are that shots were fired outside the prison as the crowd pressed forward in an effort to get a closer look at what was happening. The big question is how did the inmates get possession of prohibited materials such as cutlass, acid and cell phones. One relative said that he got a call from inside the prison telling him to come quickly, because they were being murdered. As word spread more and more relatives poured down to the scene. The situation was quickly

brought under control and the four men were rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital. At the Hospital pandemonium broke out as more relatives arrived. The hospital authorities locked the door and relatives desperate to see their love ones banged at the door and broke the windows. Police reinforcement was quickly summoned and more armed ranks arrived. This however did not stop the relatives from venting their anger and abusing the ranks and hospital authorities who firmly stood their ground. This was after relatives were told that they could not enter the Accident and Emergency Unit where the men were. Although more than 24 hours have passed since the incident occurred, neither the Guyana Prison authorities nor the Guyana Police Force has issued a statement on the incident. Senior Officers in the Police B division including Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph were busy conducting investigations. Also during the night the prison service

rushed senior officers to Berbice among them, Acting Deputy Director of Prisons Carl Grahame to get a hand of the situation. However information remained sketchy with many versions being peddled as to how the men got injured. One report was that the men were injured by one Randolph Rodrigues, called ‘Shoulders,’ who is serving a 20-year sentence for murder. Another report is that the perpetrator wrestled a prison warden and took away the keys after which he armed himself with a cutlass and opened the cells where the men were before chopping and burning some of them in what was said to be a well planned attack. An inside source stated that there were three persons who carried out the assault. One of the injured men told a relative that the lock was opened by one of the Samaroo brothers who are the leaders of the ‘Scare Dem Crew’ from Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam. There are reports that a cutlass and a corrosive substance were smuggled into the prisons recently. According to a hospital source the four men all received multiple chops about their bodies and were in

critical conditions when they arrived at the hospital. However they were stabilised before they were transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital in two different ambulances. Those confirmed injured are Davendra Harricharran, called ‘Bara’, 27, of Nigg Squatting area, Corentyne, Berbice; Quammy Bhagwandin, 32, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam; Clarence Williams called ‘Wild Hog’, 41, of Angoy’s Avenue; and Adbussulum Azimulla called “Sato” 31 of Lot 183 Hampshire Corentyne Berbice. Harricharran is on remand for the $10M armed robbery committed onApril 9, last, at Rose Hall Town, on businessman Mangalie Ramlinggum . Investigators had received information that Harricharran was the owner of the getaway motorcycle. He was also a member of the notorious ‘Pop Corn’ gang and was recently freed on a murder charge. He was charged along with Gansham Jagassar called ‘Suresh’ and Abdulssalam Azimullah for the 2004 murder of Gary Simon which occurred at Nigg Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice. AdbussulumAzimulla called “Sato” 31 of Lot 183 Hampshire Corentyne Berbice is on remand on the murder charge which occurred since 2004.

He is also charged with two counts of robbery under arms, while in company with others and armed with an AK 47 rifle on Saturday 2nd June 2012 at Cumberland, East Canje he robbed a business couple millions of dollars in cash and jewelry including foreign currency. Azimulla was on the run for more than eight years after the murder. He was subsequently charged with the capital offence and remanded to jail. Quammy Bhagwandin, 32, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam was wanted by the police for a series of break and enter and robbery offences and was captured when he turned up at the Sisters Magistrate Court for an impending matter. Bhagwandin was remanded on two charges of discharging a loaded firearm on February 13, last, at Bath Settlement West Coast Berbice and attempted robbery on the businessman and his son. That incident led to a high speed chase over the Berbice River Bridge. Two men were subsequently captured and identified Bhagwandin as the master mind. He was also wanted in connection with the break and enter that occurred at C and K Pharmacy and drugs store. Police had recovered a number of items

from a dilapidated house at Angoy’s Avenue which was reported to have been frequented by Bhagwandin. He was also wanted in the break and entering and robbery of the Furniture World business establishment at Main and King Streets, New Amsterdam. He is also still being investigated for a number of other robberies that occurred recently. Clarence Williams called ‘Wild Hog’ 41 of Angoy’s Avenue had written to the Chancellor of the Judiciary citing victimization and undue delay and a number of other issues. Williams’s matters include sacrilege, robbery, possession of house breaking implements and break and enter and larceny which were committed in the months of April and May 2009. Williams who was in custody for the four matters is also charged with escaping from lawful custody while being a prisoner at the New Amsterdam Prison between June 1st and 2nd 2009.He had dug himself out of his cell and scaled the fence before making good his escape. He had fled to neighbouring Suriname where he was recaptured and brought back to Guyana. While on remand Williams had also assaulted a police officer.

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

Dem boys seh

DE WHOLE COUNTRY LOOKING FUH WUK

Scampish and sweetheart deal is wha run things in Guyana. This thing start under Jagdeo and it continuing because Jagdeo lef he people in place. When dem ask fuh investor fuh de Berbice Bridge dem never tell de ordinary people wha was de sweetheart deal dem coulda get. Is only a few people Jagdeo talk to and Bobby was one of dem. Brazzy tell he pardner at Foot in Foot. Dem know wha dem was doing. De two of dem tek de taxpayers dollars fuh build de bulk of de bridge. Then when is time fuh profit sharing, de taxpayers ain’t get nutten but Jagdeo best friend, Bobby, and de others get de hog of de profit. If you think it done deh dem boys seh you lie. Jagdeo and Brazzy put in a clause that mek that profit tax free. That is de sweetheart deal fuh de bridge. Dem got many other sweetheart deal. Dem boys seh that when dem check everything was a sweetheart deal under Jagdeo and if anybody got a doubt, dem can challenge dem boys. De Marriott is a sweet man deal, sweeter than de Berbice Bridge. Dem boys did smell de rat from de time dem announce de hotel. De boss man fuh de Waterfalls paper tell Ash Knee that he want to invest in de hotel. Brazzy did talk big and bold at a press conference how de Waterfalls paper was printing negative reports which pushing away any potential investors in de hotel. That is how de boss man call Ash Knee, de Finance boss man, and offer to invest a small piece. Ash Knee tell him up front, “This nah fuh you.” De boss man ask him wha he mean. He seh, “Glenn, we got fuh tek we time and sort out who we want—who we picking as investors.” Glenn ask him why and he go on to seh, “You in de newspaper business. We would prefer to tek somebody who got some knowledge about hotel business in front of

any other investor because dem can mek a meaningful contribution.” In short he was pushing aside de boss man because he was not one of de clique and dem know who dem want. At last Brazzy, de fast scamp, seh that he find two man who come from Hang Kang. Brazzy seh that dem is de investor and that dem putting in US$8 million in de Marriott. It tek Brazzy, Ash Knee and Jagdeo three years and a day to name de so-called private investors. Dem boys know that this is only a front to mislead all Guyana. Dem boys want to know which government anywhere in this world gun put in US$20 million of de taxpayers’ money in any venture, dem seh that a bank putting in another US$27 million, then de same government gun bring in two foreigner who dem seh putting in US$8 million and getting de major share and to own it in front of de taxpayer $US$20 million and de bank US$27 million. Dem boys seh that only Jagdeo, Brazzy and Ash Knee coulda come up wid a plan like that and mek Donald believe in it. An Israeli doctor says: “In Israel, medicine is so advanced that we cut off a man’s testicles, put them on another man, and in 6 weeks, he is looking for work.” A German doctor says: “That’s nothing, in Germany we take part of a brain, put it in another man, and in 4 weeks he is looking for work.” A Russian doctor says: “Gentlemen, we take half a heart from a man, put it in another’s chest, and in 2 weeks he is looking for work.” De Waterfalls boss man laughs: “You all are behind us. Three years ago, we took a man with no brains, no heart, and no balls and made him President. Now, the whole country is looking for work!” Talk half and pray fuh Guyana.

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Argentine guitarists bring classical Spanish melodies to Guyana

Professors Jorge Palacios (right) and Jorge Francisco Marti of the Escordando Duo The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in partnership with the Embassy of the Argentine Republic have brought to Guyana’s shores, the classical Argentine Guitarists, Jorge Palacios and Jorge Francisco Marti of the ‘Escordando Duo.’ Palacios was born 1979 in Argentina and he is a guitar professor. Marti was born in Uruguay and completed his undergraduate studies as a music professor as well. The group was created in 2008 in the city of Neuquen, Argentina. The word Escordando comes from the Portuguese root “escordar” meaning to awaken or remember in Spanish. The group established itself in its homeland as a popular one and this year the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the

Argentine Republic through its department of Cultural Affairs invited the duo to participate in a musical world tour. They have travelled to Asia (India and Thailand), the Middle East and they are now in Caribbean (Guyana). The duo devotes its musical activity towards passing on the beauty and intricate tones of the beautiful music of guitar. Their music is said to be inspired by Argentina’s folklore and love for tango. Their programme aims at unifying the purpose of the concert and that is; to highlight the authentic aspects of argentine folklore, capturing the essence of the popular rhythms and its harmonies and melodies through a more classical approach. The goal the duo

says is to honour the guitar, w h i c h i s t h e c o u n t r y ’s musical instrument for excellence and to share that experience and appreciation with the world. From today to June 4, the group will be performing at a number of functions. Some of the activities include live performances at the Caribbean Development Bank’s Cultural Evening at the National Cultural Centre on May 28 and the 204th anniversary of the May 1810 Revolution Reception hosted by the Embassy. The duo will also be performing at the New Amsterdam Multilateral School in Region Six on May 27, and then at the McKenzie High School Auditorium in Region Ten on June 2, 2014. ‘An Evening of Guitar Music from Argentina’, with also be hosted by the Embassy of Argentina, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and The Theatre Guild of Guyana, starting at 7:00pm on Thursday, at the Theatre Guild, Kingston. This will be followed by a reception hosted by the Embassy. The duo is also scheduled to perform at a music workshop being hosted by the University of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary Committee on May 31. These activities are specially tailored to promote cultural diversity in the area of music between Guyana and Argentina.

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Kaieteur News

Guyana wants Venezuela oil-for-rice deal to include sugar, flour

Rice Guyana has signaled its intentions to increase its barter arrangements with neighbouring Venezuela. According to Venezuela’s online El Carabobeño news yesterday, Guyana’s Ambassador, Geoffrey Da Silva, indicated that there is interest in using barter as a tool to streamline the process of importing and exporting food and canned goods between the two neighbouring countries. Da Silva made the approach during a meeting held with officials from the offices of the Mayor of Ciudad Guayana, Bolívar State. The Ambassador is leading a delegation of officials and businessmen

from Guyana on a four-day visit. The Ambassador pointed to the multi-million-dollar deal that the neighbouring countries have with the oilfor-rice agreement. The intention was to expand to other products, he said. In the specific case of Ciudad Guayana, da Silva said his government explore with the Venezuelan authorities the possibilities of supplying wheat flour, milk and sugar, in exchange for canned goods and other products. Guyana is also looking to expand the number of flights currently provided by the Venezuelan Consortium Aircraft Industries and Air Service (Conviasa) between

Ambassador Geoffrey da Silva the “Manuel Carlos Piar” Guayana City International Airport and the Timehri airport in Guyana. “If we expand flights in this route we can establish more lines of economic connection give support to tourism and move forward in our development,” he said. It was also pointed out that Venezuela has an attractive source of tourists for Guyana. For more than five years now, Guyana has been taking oil at concessional rate and sending rice to Venezuela. The deal has been seen as a valuable one for Guyana especially as it secures a market for rice whose production has been on the increase in recent years.

Sunday May 25, 2014

Ed Ahmad’s GuySuCo land deal…

AFC, Gaskin demand contract be made public Members of the political opposition and one financial analyst disagree with Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, who reportedly said that the onus is on the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to take legal action against a New Yorkbased Guyanese businessman, Edul Ahmad. Ahmad, who is currently before the courts in New York, is a close friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo. He appears to have breached the conditions of a land deal. Dr. Luncheon also said that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) is not responsible for taking action against the defaulting developer since the agency only acted as an agent in providing the needed expertise for the sugar corporation during the “suspicious” deal. The political opposition party, the Alliance For Change (AFC) and a financial analyst, Ramon Gaskin, have said that Dr. Luncheon is only being “economical with the truth” and as such they demand that the contract be made public. Ahmad was sold an almost 17-acre portion of land belonging to GuySuCo, at Leonora, for $80M. The conditions of sale were that the company would have established a factory to create jobs for persons in the neighbourhood. The agreement to this condition was the factor which governed the price at which it was sold. However, the businessman ignored those initial agreements and the land has now been converted into a house lot project, Leonora Mall and Hollywood Garden, all being managed by Leonora Projects. It is owned by Shareef and Ed Ahmad. The $80 million plot of land is now worth more than $600M. An investigation into who authorized Ahmad’s actions was launched but to

Ramon Gaskin, Financial Analyst date, there has been no official statement on the details of the findings. Specifically, David Patterson, General Secretary of the AFC in a recent interview said, “It is incorrect for Dr. Luncheon to place the onus on GuySuCo to pursue legal recourse. The establishment of a wood processing plant was part of his bid…Ed Ahmad’s bid was accepted since it was deemed to be creating jobs. If NICIL had advertised the land for housing a lot more persons may have been interested thus allowing GuySuCo to get more money for the lands.” The AFC member added, “This is a sweetheart deal, for one of their friends (Ed Ahmad), who never had any intentions of doing anything other than profiting from the deal. The onus is on the government to enforce the articles of this deal and the people of Guyana once again, have been short changed.” The politician said, “What is the use of the government using NICIL to execute these deals and when it is exposed, is it nothing short of a sweetheart deal for their friends. After it is exposed, then they state that the other government agency has to be the enforcer of the agreement. NICIL would have received a commission for this.”When asked if he believes that NICIL should take the legal action he said, “They should be the agency. The reason they gave NICIL the land to sell in the first place is because they claim that GuySuCo does not have the capacity to do so.”So how come now that the deal has been exposed as flawed, they are now saying that GuySuCo has the responsibility to enforce a deal that they entered into. Does GuySuCo now have the capacity to take Ed Ahmad to court when they did not have the capacity to sell it in the

Developer Ed Ahmad

David Patterson, General Secretary first place?” Gaskin said, “Listen, Dr. Luncheon is lying through his teeth about this land deal. This is nothing but a sweetheart deal. The people of this nation must understand the links between these people. Ed Ahmad is the man that helped to build the house for the former President Bharrat Jagdeo.” “This matter will not be pursued by GuySuCo and NICIL is simply shifting responsibility. The people need to demand to see the contract. Dr Luncheon is telling lies through his teeth when it comes to the nature of this contract. They must make it public so that the people can know who signed what and what the nature of this land deal is.” Dr Luncheon was quoted as saying that he saw a legal brief prepared by stakeholders who said that this matter needed to be pursued legally. He said, too, that this matter will not be unattended or swept under the mat. Ed Ahmad was charged by the US Federal authorities for his involvement in a massive real estate fraud scheme. In October 2012, during a plea deal in a New York court, he was found guilty of knowingly and intentionally conspiring to defraud several lending institutions over a period of 15 years.

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

Rodney inquiry to resume on Tuesday The hearings into the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry are expected to resume on Tuesday, at the Supreme Court Buildings on Avenue of the Republic. According to a public announcement by Secretary of the Commission, Attorney at Law Nicole Pierre, the hearings will run from May 27, to May 30. The sessions would continue from June 2 and run to June 6, 2014. It was noted that original and follow up statements from interested parties will be accepted during the life of the commission. The commission would also be setting subsequent hearing dates to facilitate the attendance of witnesses. All persons who wish to testify on the hearing dates are asked to submit statements of their intended testimony in writing to the commission. Persons who may need assistance in composing their witness statements could be assisted by the commission secretariat the notice detailed. The three commissioners Sir Richard Cheltenham, Mrs.

Walter Rodney Jaqueline Samuels Brown QC and Mr. Seenath Jairam, were appointed to examine the facts and circumstances immediately prior, at the time of and subsequent to the death of Dr. Walter Rodney in order to determine who or what was responsible for the explosion that caused his death. Secondly the commissioners have to determine the cause of the explosion in which Dr. Rodney died whether it was an act of terrorism and if so who were the perpetrators. They also have to examine

whether, Gregory Smith, had a role in the death of Rodney. If so, they would have to inquire who may have counseled, procured, aided and or abetted Smith, including facilitating his departure from Guyana after Rodney’s death. In 1974 Rodney returned to Guyana from Tanzania. He was due to take up a position as a professor at the University of Guyana but the government prevented his appointment. He became increasingly active in politics, founding the Working People’s Alliance, a party that provided the most effective and credible opposition to the PNC government. In 1979 he was arrested and charged with arson after two government offices were burned. On June 13, 1980, Walter Rodney at the age of 38 was killed by a bomb in his car, a month after returning from the independence celebrations in Zimbabwe and during a period of intense political activism. He was survived by his wife, Pat, and three children.

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Gold Board Scam…

Police come up short on review of video footage Investigating ranks probing the Gold Board scam are yet to recover anything meaningful in reviewing video footage of the operations at the now closed Bartica Office. According to a source close to the investigations, the ranks began reviewing footage at the office over a period of one month prior to the racket being uncovered. That process began almost a month ago but this has seemingly been a dead end. The move to review the footage came following an announcement by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment that there will be a forensic audit of the Gold Board operations. “The Guyana Gold Board has engaged the services of an external auditor to perform a full forensic audit of the activities of the GGB at its locations to assist with the current investigation by the Guyana Police Force,” the Board said in a

statement released via the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. The Gold Board insists that its control systems remain one of the most robust in the region, even as investigators continue their probe into how staffers managed to breach systems. Police are also still hunting for a technician of the Bartica branch of the GGB who reportedly went on the run after the probe was launched last month. The Board announced that it closed one of its main sub-offices at Bartica, Region Seven; a community located up the Essequibo River and once considered the gateway to the hinterlands. The closure was said to be because of allegations that staffers may have tampered with the gold being purchased from miners. Gold Board sources insisted that the probe is centered on a specific timeframe, March, when the

bulk of the alleged tampering of the gold took place. It is believed that as much as 50 ounces of gold ($10M) was involved. Police have been pursuing a theory that staffers colluded in switching purchased gold with silver and were doing so almost on a daily basis. It is also not being ruled out that the staffers could have also colluded with miners by buying gold of a lower purity quality and passing it through the Gold Board system as gold of a higher quality, attracting better prices. At least six persons were taken into custody, including the female manager and the accountant but they have since been released on bail. The case is worrying authorities as gold remained for the third c o n s e c u t i v e y e a r, t h e biggest foreign exchange earner and a major spinner and employer. Last year, gold exports earned a massive US$648.5 million.

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Kaieteur News

GBCHA launches ‘signature’ Annual Awards for Business Excellence With the intention of recognising work done to improve health and wellness in the society, the Guyana Business Coalition on HIV/ AIDS (GBCHA) has issued a call for suitable entries to be entered into its 2014 Annual Awards for Business Excellence. The signature event was officially launched on Thursday simultaneous with a campaign to expand and strengthen collaboration between the business sector and non-governmental organisations to help sustain the fight against HIV/AIDS. Speaking at the forum at the Kingston, Georgetown, Demerara Distillers Limited, building, Chairperson of GBCHA, Tracey Lewis, said that the Annual Awards “is an unparallel opportunity to publicly recognise the unique and vital contributions made towards health and wellness by the business community.” She said that GBCHA has deliberately modified categories of the annual awards this year, to acknowledge and support the work of the Business Sector in responding to other areas of health and wellness. Previously, awards were focused on the contributions made to tackle mainly HIV/ AIDS. Moreover, this year the Awards for Business Excellence on health and wellness are expected to focus on Workplace Programmes, Community Investment and Individual Leader relating to a wide cross section of issues. In the category of Workplace Programme the award will seek to recognise programmes which benefit employees by providing information, training, referrals and distributing of prevention and other resources. And instead of

GBCHA’s Chairperson Tracey Lewis merely focusing on HIV, the programme may be aimed at other health issues such as cancer, diabetes, among others. The Community Investment category will recognise programmes that benefit the community and could be an extension of a Workplace Programme or a unique initiative focusing on health and wellness in the community. As such consideration will also be given to Community Programmes addressing violence prevention through education, sports, etc. Awards for Individual Leadership will be classified in three separate categories – Workplace Peer Educator, Advocacy and Leadership and Media Action. The Workplace Peer Educator Award will recognise a workplace peer educator who has gone above and beyond expectations to provide quality service to their colleagues in the workplace and/or community. And a business leader who has made a significant contribution by consistently advocating on behalf of the business sector, key affected communities such as persons infected or affected by HIV and other health conditions, or persons affected by issues such as violence will be the beneficiary of the Advocacy and Leadership Award. Meanwhile, proactive and intuitive contributions from a journalist from either the print

or electronic media could be eligible for the Media Action Award. Entries in this category would have had to publish special articles or reports or standard news reports focused on Health and Wellness and Violence prevention. Awards Entry forms are available on the GBCHA w e b s i t e www.guybizcoalition.org or at its Secretariat located at Lot108 Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown, and must be completed by 16:00 hours on July 25, 2014. However, if additional information is required, persons can contact GBCHA via email at awards@guybizcoalition.org. GBCHA is a registered non-profit organisation which works with the business sector, the Ministry of Health, international partners and Community Based Organisation to mobilize resources to assist in the National HIV/AIDS response. Since launching in May 2008, GBCHA has expanded its mandate to address general health and wellness including gender based violence. Through human and other resources from its partners it has been seeking to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS and to prevent new infections. This work is supported by the contribution of members’ annual subscription, fundraising events and donor funding for special projects and all activities are managed by the GBCHA Secretariat while oversight is provided by a Board of Director. GBCHA, on Friday, celebrated six years of existence and according to Lewis the work aimed at helping to combat HIV/AIDS would not have possible “without our member companies, who continue to leverage resources to sustain prevention programmes, our partners and non-member supporters and our dedicated board of Directors and the staff of the Secretariat.”

Sunday May 25, 2014

Guyana, Argentina strengthen bilateral cooperation in tourism Sector

From Left, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Indranauth Haralsingh, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic, His Excellency, Luis Martino and Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali The local tourism sector will be boosted with the implementation of a threephase programme to be executed by the Ministries of Tourism of Guyana and Argentina. Argentina is considered a leading tourism destination in South America. Minister of Tourism, Irfaan Ali, and Ambassador of the Argentine Republic, Luis Martino today informed the media of initiatives to enhance the tourism sector through training in tourism and management of protected areas. Following Argentina’s participation in last year’s GuyExpo that country’s Tourism Minister visited Guyana and held fruitful discussion on mutual beneficial projects for both countries. The Argentine Tourism Minister, during his visit in December, met with the Ministers of Natural Resources and Tourism, and the private sector. During a media briefing, which was held at the Ministry of Tourism’s Boardroom, Minister Ali said, “I am very delighted to be here as this demonstrates the further collaboration and partnership between these two countries, extending not only our friendship, but our economic collaboration for the betterment of the people of our countries.” Minister Ali said this initiative in relation to tourism

started some time ago in 2011 when the Government announced a strategy to expand Guyana’s products in South and Latin America. “We made it clear that a number of steps were needed to ensure that we enter into this exciting and large market which has tremendous potential. Our strategy was to first ensure we have the infrastructure that will allow access to the market, including flights and air capacity and to commence training for institutional capacity,” Minister Ali said. The training and marketing capacity, the Minister said, would help Guyana in marketing promotions and product development hence the successful negotiation to have Copa Airlines fly to Guyana. Speaking on the area of training, the Minister pointed out that only recently several front line staff from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) benefitted from courses in conversational Spanish. He said that the Ministry is partnering with a number of other South American countries including Argentina, for locals to learn conversational Spanish while more training for staff within the tourism sector is ongoing at the Venezuelan Institute. Other spin off benefits from this collaboration will include student exchange programmes, trade shows, national park management, and private sector cooperation. “We can take a lead from Argentina; they have some of the finest regulations and best practices, best capacity for the management of national parks and we can learn from them, this can be used as a starting point,” Guyana’s Tourism Minister said. The Argentine Ambassador in his remarks said that this was a good opportunity to renew the link between Guyana and Argentina. “Indeed it is really an

opportunity to highlight a new episode on the path of further integrating and cooperating in the area of tourism and protected areas between the two countries.” The Ambassador stated that last year, Guyana and Argentina began developing projects of technical cooperation for mutual benefits in the area of tourism and protected areas. The Argentine Tourism Ministry has approved financing through the Argentina Fund of the Horizontal Cooperation which will see the manifestation of a three-phase project. This will cater for “a visit to take place in Argentina with Guyanese expertise with two GTA representatives, they will take part in a weeklong exchange with expertise and technical staff they will travel to other parts of the country to visit places to share knowledge and successful practices in order to develop capacity.” The second phase deals with the hosting of a Spanish course for GTA staff and translation of promotional material to enable Guyanese representatives to participate in the International Tourism Fair in Argentina. The third phase of the project deals with protected areas and technical assistance. “All these initiatives follow into the broad goal of increasing the depth and scope of the technical cooperation between Guyana and Argentina, in this particular case in tourism and environmental protection and natural resources, and we are hoping this represent the kick-off of a very fruitful and sustained cooperation relations,” the Argentine Ambassador said. This is the second recent initiative embarked on in the area of tourism linking Guyana with South America. Guyana signed an agreement with the Chile Government in the area of eco-tourism and poverty reduction through a South-South initiative recently.

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

IMMIGRATION INFO: Attorney Gail S. Seeram, Gail@GailLaw.com Through this “Question & Answer” column, our goal is to answer your immigration questions. We appreciate your comments and questions. If you have a question that you would like answered in this column, please email: Gail@GailLaw.com. Question #1: I married a U.S. born guy in November 2013 and he filed for me and my son. When he went back to the U.S. they sent him two sets of paperwork and he paid fees since February 2014 and he did not get any more. Do you know how long it would take for me to get an interview? Answer #1: It takes about 9 months to 1 year after filing to get an interview. If there is a delay then your husband needs to check that he submitted all the required documents to the National Visa Center. Once file approved from the National Visa Center then it will be sent to the Embassy for interview scheduling. Question #2: I was

Whenever some holiday approaches there is always a group of people who think about spending money. There was a robbery against a woman who visited the bank for some cash. Fortunately the police knew the men and caught them in a jiffy. This will not mean anything to a group who will go after a businessman. Things will not go well because people will get hurt. ** Electricity theft is

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Immigration News For Our Community

married for 21 years common law and have four kids together with my husband. I came to the U.S on March 15, 2011. I went back to Guyana and married my husband legally on May 15, 2011. I’m a green card holder. I fill out an I-130 form and I’m wondering how long I have to wait before my husband can come to live with us. Answer #2: For spouse of a permanent resident, visas are currently available without a backlog but processing time should be one year. So, if you have not heard from the National Visa Center then contact our office. Question #3: My mom, who is a permanent resident, sponsored her son who at the time was under 21 years old. The case was approved and completed in 2013. She’s finished paying for his visa and is just waiting for the appointment date for him to go in for the visa, but now he is over 21. Is he still able to get the visa now that he is over 21? Answer #3: Since the beneficiary is now age 21, he has moved from a 2A family preference category to a 2B family preference category.

rampant but those who steal power are unaware of the dangers. Another electrocution will expose the danger. This piece of live wire would be lying in a clump of grass. A holidaying child

For an unmarried child over age 21 of a permanent resident, visas being issued for petitions filed on or before October 2003. For an unmarried child under age 21, of a permanent resident, visas are being issued for petitions filed on or before May 2012. Also, the Child Status Protection Act may apply to recompute the child’s age to under 21, depending on the date the petition was received and the date the petition was approved. Question #4: My Fatherin-Law applied for us to migrate to the US. The Priority date is June 2002, which falls under the F3 category. My husband is the beneficiary. In 2008 my Father-in-Law died and my husband’s sister and her husband who migrated in the ‘80s are now the sponsors. Recently the USCIS sent a checklist for them to submit the relevant information that was sent back to them (USCIS) via express mail approximately two weeks ago. Answer #4: I hope your sister-in-law applied for reinstatement of the I-130 filed by your father-in-law. When

would come into contact with it and there will be grief. ** The roads will claim another life. A cyclist would make the mistake of swerving from an indentation in the road only to be hit by a car coming from behind. The driver would be put under pressure because there would be people in the community who would want to dispense their own justice. Wiser counsel will save him.

your father-in-law died, the petition is void. Reinstatement has to be approved before you can substitute a sponsor. Our office has handled many reinstatements and would be happy to help. **** UNLAWFULPRESENCE IN U.S. RESULTS IN 3- OR 10-YEAR BAN In applying to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, there are many requirements that must be met by the petitioner and beneficiary. In most cases, the petitioner must prove income eligibility and the qualifying relationship (i.e., spouse, child, parent). On the other hand, the beneficiary must prove that they do not have a criminal record, are in good health (hence the medical exam) and do not face any type of bar from entering the United States. Many beneficiaries of an immigrant visa (green card) are unaware of the three-andten-year bar from returning to the U.S. The “three- and tenyear bars,” provisions of the U.S. immigration law prohibit applicants from returning to the United States if they were previously in the U.S. illegally. Thousands of people who

qualify for green cards based on their relationships to U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relatives discover the three-and-ten-year bans when they process at the U.S. Embassy. If an alien or immigrant was in the U.S. illegally or without legal status for six to 12 months (such as overstay on visitor visa and then departs the U.S.) then they are barred from returning to the U.S. for three years; those in the U.S. illegally for more than a year illegally are barred from returning to the U.S. for 10 years. The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive the bar to admission if extreme hardship to a spouse or parent can be established. But there are no waivers available for others, even if it would mean hardship for U.S. citizen children. Unfortunately, current policies and interpretations of these provisions have made it difficult-and sometimes impossible-for many deserving applicants to obtain a waiver. For those who qualify to submit a waiver for unlawful presence in the U.S., these waivers are submitted in the U.S. and not at the U.S. Embassy. Under current policy,

Gail S. Seeram spouses of U.S. citizen who are illegally in the U.S. and have accumulated unlawful presence in the U.S. can file a provisional waiver in the U.S. to waiver the 3/10 years ban and once approved, they are required to return to their native country for issuance of the immigrant visa (green card) and then can re-enter the U.S. legally. The waiting time for a decision on a waiver can vary significantly, but averages between six and twelve months. Of course, not all waivers are granted, and those immigrants may not reunite with their family members for years. An appeal of a denied waiver can take up to 28 months or longer before the Administrative Appeals Offices.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 25, 2014

WHO KILLED THE PEEPING TOM? The shed from which Yvonne Correia believed the handyman fell

The passageway where the body was found Victor Ramsabad, called ‘Tun Tun’ By Michael Jordan Radio announcer Matthew Allen loved to tell the story about a notorious peeping tom who roamed the seawalls many years ago. They called him ‘the moving blacksage’ because he would reportedly cut clumps of blacksage bushes and hide behind them while creeping up on unsuspecting

lovers. Bill Rogers even made up a calypso about him. But his luck reportedly ran out one night when an irate man caught the ‘moving blacksage’ and beat him with a bull-whip. “And that,” Matthew Allen would say, “was the end of him.” Like I said, that was many, many moons ago, so let’s turn to another ‘peeping tom’ who met an ignominious end just

a year ago. The Safari Inn at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, is one of Guyana’s oldest hotels. It is where handyman Victor Ramsabad, also called ‘Tun Tun’ worked and sometimes slept. The Safari Inn is owned by Francis and Yvonne Correia, and 37-year-old ‘Tun Tun’ had been doing oddjobs at the couple’s hotel

since he was a teen. Yvonne Correia told me that ‘Tun Tun’ was paid $3,000 for a day’s work. He was well treated, and the business couple even put up with his heavy drinking and his habit of stealing alcohol and other beverages from the bar. It was said that whenever he misbehaved, ‘Tun Tun’ would stay away for about a month, but then return and ask the Correias “for another chance.” But while they put up with Ramsabad’s pilfering, Mrs. Correia claimed that he had a particularly nasty vice. He was also an incurable ‘peeping tom’. According to Mrs. Correia and some of her staff, Ramsabad would peep into the bedrooms and into bathrooms of the hotel guests. The businesswoman alleged that ‘Tun Tun’ would even “bore holes” in the bedroom walls to get a view of the guests. As if that wasn’t enough, he would joke with his friends about his escapades. Mrs. Correia would say: “Tun Tun, stop peeping the customers,” and even complained to his mother. Despite being occasionally caught by guests, and despite pleas from his mother, Tun-Tun apparently just couldn’t stop ‘peeping.’ Eventually, the hotel proprietors ordered their handyman to stay off the premises whenever he was drunk. Nevertheless, ‘Tun Tun’ would still sneak into the unfenced compound. At around 10 p.m. on Sunday, August 18, 2003, a couple came to book a room at the Safari Inn. A female

tenant gave the customers a room key. She then looked outside and saw Ramsabad in the yard. The tenant reportedly said: “Tun Tun, Auntie Yvonne ain’t say that she don’t want you in the yard after hours?” It is alleged that the tenant then went inside, so she was unable to say whether the handyman had left. It is believed that he was intoxicated at the time, since he had visited a wedding house in the area earlier in the day. It is alleged that on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 20, 2013, proprietor Francis Correia was strolling in his compound when he spotted his handyman’s motionless body near a passageway at the southern section of the premises. The body bore what appeared to be a gaping wound to the back of the head and lacerations about the body. Police, who eventually arrived and examined the body, surmised that the handyman had died sometime between Sunday, August 18 and Tuesday, August 20. Because he had found the body, the police took Mr. Correia into custody, while awaiting a post mortem. Ramsabad’s mother later said she had received reports that her son had gotten into an altercation with someone at the Safari Inn after taking several bottles of beer from a freezer. According to this report, the handyman had taken the beverages under the pretext of giving them to a customer on credit. This was refuted by individuals at the hotel. Meanwhile, businesswoman Yvonne Correia had her own

theory about how the handyman had died, and she suggested that he had caused his own demise. Taking me for a stroll around the sprawling compound, she showed me a shed and explained that this was where they had found ‘Tun Tun.’ According to Mrs. Correia, her handyman would often climb onto the shed. From there, he got a good view of the bedrooms of the hotel guests. Mrs. Correia believed that the heavy-drinking handyman had clambered onto the shed. But this time, the intoxicated ‘Tun Tun’ slipped and tumbled to his death. She suggested that the body was not discovered immediately because the area where he fell was not frequently traversed. But then a post mortem revealed that Ramsabad had died from a fractured skull and brain hemorrhage. According to the police, someone had murdered the handyman. But detectives were unable to make any headway in their case. They released Mr. Correia, and, to this day, no one knows how Victor Ramsabad, the peeping handyman, met his end. If you have any information about any unusual case, please contact us by phone or at our Lot 34 Saffon Street location. We can be reached on telephone numbers 22-58465, 2258491, and 22-58473. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address mjdragon@hotmail.com.

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

A new book argues for genetic superiority of some races It couldn’t come at a more appropriate time - on the 48th anniversary of Independence of Guyana. There is a new book that confronts a universal taboo that the entire world of seven billion people is scared to even whisper about much less discuss openly - some races will do better and have done better than others because of genetic differences. Nicholas Wade argues in “A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race and Human History,” that there are genetic determinants for why one race group is more successful in nation-building, modern in outlook, freespirited, freedom-loving than other races. This is a lovely debate to enter into at this particular time, almost fifty years of Independence in Guyana. When you look at Guyana after nearly fifty years of Independence, the gross ignorance, the unspeakable backwardness, the total disrespect for modernity and modernness, the brutal contempt for nation-building, the disdain for the nationalist spirit, the miserable collapse of social institutions, the abysmal failure of social bonding (which late 20th century biologists love to use to prove that race has genetic

foundations), it is almost impossible to ignore Wade. There is an uncanny feeling you get when as a Guyanese you read Wade. It is as if Wade is writing about this land but does not want to mention Guyana by name. Here is an extract which makes you think that Wade had Guyana in mind when he did his research; ”Institutions are not just a set of arbitrary rules. Rather they grow out of instinctual social behaviours such as the propensity to trust others, to follow rules, and punish those who don’t, to engage in reciprocity and trade or to take up arms against neighbouring groups. Because these behaviours vary slightly from one society to the next as the result of evolutionary pressures, so too may the institutions that depend on them. Evolutionary biology might have something to say about why some people live in modern states and others in tribal societies and why some nations are wealthy while others remain mired in poverty”. The book is persuasive. For those who have their doubts about the connection between genes and race, Wade may persuade you.

Wade simplifies for the lay reader complex arguments that the scientists who write about these things cannot do. There cannot be any discussion of the connection between genes and race without the mention of the man who popularized the debate, Harvard Professor, Edward Wilson A newspaper column cannot do justice to Wilson’s concept of “sociobiology,” but briefly, he says that the very foundation of the thought processes of humans reside in our genetic make-up; humans did not evolve in a vacuum and then culture and society kicked in and made us who we are, whatever we are, our genes have played the pivotal role in shaping us; humans evolved with built-in behaviour fashioned by the genetic map. Wilson was viciously attacked but he maintained that what scientists discover they must be brave to announce and not be cowered by those who are afraid of the social and

political implications. Since Wilson, scientists live in mortal fear of writing about the intimacy in the relationship between genes and race. Wade’s book is bound to stoke the fire. Of course the anticolonial and anti-West minds are going to fire back at Wade. “Hey, you white man; you think you are better than us, and you write books to put us down and show the world that we are inferior to Europeans? You exploit us for centuries, steal our resources (and our women too), made us poor, and now you say our poverty is because our genes are inferior to yours?”

I can see Ravi Dev picking up the argument as he did by saying the West has been propagandizing for years against the Prime Ministerelect of India, Narendra Modi. The fact is that more than half of India finds Modi a dangerous man. Non-white races find an excuse for their failed civilizations by blaming the white man. And for the next million years they will continue to do so. The white man has to be the culprit, because if you admit that the failure lies in yourself then you have to offer an explanation, and the analysis may lead you into what you fear the most – the

Frederick Kissoon facts of Nicholas Wade. But let us say that Wade is wrong. How do you explain India, China, Africa, Guyana? Half of the population of India does not have indoor toilets and almost half the population engages in open defecation (source - BBC online article, March 14, 2012). Have Africa, the Arab people and Mexico proven Wade right? They come very, very close to so doing.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 25, 2014

Book Review…1970s Jamaica:

Politics, Blood and Murder Book: The ‘Ands of Time by Michael Anthony Bell Dr Glenville Ashby, Critic Michael Anthony Bell opens this dark drama with a suffocating dose of quantum theories and particle physics. Whether it’s Einstein’s relativism, Higgs boson, or Heisenberg’s theory, the reader, if unfamiliar or disinterested in time-matter continuum, is left unattended and potentially lost for good. No doubt, Bell has his reasons for cloaking, at least initially, this sociological narrative in scientific terms. Crime in Jamaica is a theme that has had its fair share of

commentary. Bell must hold our attention, hence his unconventional style. And it works for the most part. Cause and effect, sociological correlations and the timelessness of impactful deeds, best depict a society lost in an abyss of despair and hopelessness - the proverbial black hole of no return. The ‘Ands of Time is fiction etched in reality. Jamaican society, circa 1970s, is painted on a rotting canvas, where swarming vultures in places, high and low, leave for dead, the defenseless and the weak Bell is descriptively vivid. Words are used and reused – in varying expressions,

languages, and style for maximum effect. Arguably, it exceeds redundancy, tiring the reader at intervals. Then again, his language can be emotive, crisp and imaginative, rivaling the very best in the business. At the end of the day, Bell needs to be heard. The world needs to know the potential depravity of the human mind. Bell serves as a physicist, social critic and activist. His words are exhortative and biting. He probes, conjuring conspiracies in the process. He impugns the duplicity of politicians and questions the authenticity of the clergy. “At the end of it all,” he writes, “the politicians are

just the front men for the haves. They reinforce the exploitative ideological superstructure and the status quo.” And of the clergy, he is equally scathing: “The pastor should portray a loving God, Creator of all things, beautiful, bright, and upright. The pastor rules his congregation with heresy hunting and fear of future judgment, fear of brimstone and fire…Nowhere in his pew is there any love for the havenots in this lifetime. They will get their reward when they are gone.” Interestingly, though, with the novel on the brink of derailment, Bell abruptly switches gears, from the complexity of scientific theorems and pontificating, to the reality of existence in a warped society. For sure, the reader is jolted as Bell resurrects his narrative from a gnawing labyrinth. And what follows is sheer brilliance. Bell presents a Jamaica that is in political tatters, boiling over with vitriol. It is a hot bed of insurrection and wanton disregard for life. No one is spared the wrath of hooliganism, even the iconic Bob Marley. Bell introduces an assembly line of dons: Barsky, Curly Cat, Blax, Fang and others, who control Travoli and Concrete Gardens with ruthless abandon. They are the community leaders, the de facto governors of their fiefdoms, carved out along political lines. This is art mirroring life. This is a psycho drama of duplicity, prurience, paternalism, the aphrodisiac of violence, orgiastic vengeance, corruption and the exploitation of innocence.

“The ‘Ands of Time weaves a tableau of lost p o t e n t i a l , p o v e r t y, hopelessness, the archetypal nature of fragmented societies, generational curses, and even the blight of superstition. The transformation of the protagonist, Colin Hamilton, from an assiduous worker, to a stealthy, cold and clinical assassin seeking revenge for an assault on his family and his near death, is chronicled without pretension. Bell delivers the exploits of Colin - aptly assuming the moniker of the vampiric Barnabas Collins, in an exigent and almost pedestrian fashion - a far cry from the highly technical, verbose and literary excess seen earlier. The eerily similar exploits of Colin’s brother, Devon, is narrated in like mode. It is a style that works for Bell as “’Ands of Time’” finally erupts as a veritable page-turner, sprouting a

fusillade of dizzying twists and turns. It ferries the reader through the intrigue of the transnational drug trade, law enforcement, geopolitics and the demise of once invincible kingpins. How this plot unfolds is anyone’s guess. Then again, Bell might have shown his hand, when he admonishes, “Nothing can save you from the effects of your cause and action, and from the consequences of your action, and from the consequences of those effects.” Feedback: glenvilleashby@ gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby The ‘Ands of Time: Cause, Effects, Conscience, and Consequences by Michael Anthony Bell Publisher: Author House Bloomington, IN 47403 ISBN: 978-1-4634-0082-8 Available: amazon.com Rating: Recommended

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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My column

A land where precious little works On Friday there was a most interesting happening. A woman attached to Humphrey’s Bakery had gone to the bank to effect a withdrawal. She must have had transportation because she made it all the way back to the bakery. And it was there that something happened. Two men on a motorcycle pulled up. One of them used a gun to strike the woman to her head then he grabbed the cash. In the process, a magazine from the gun fell out and was left on the road for the police to pick up when they came. They might have escaped had it not been for the security cameras attached to the bakery. The police had a look and soon after they were at the home of the bandits to drag them off. Indeed, these men are going to appear in court and plead not guilty. The overwhelming evidence will not count. When President Bharrat Jagdeo announced that he was going to have cameras placed around the city we all said that it was a great idea. In fact, we still do, but for some reason these cameras are not doing what was

expected of them. In fact, we must wonder whether they are working. It is not known if they ever detected anything. We do know that when the police sought to use them to detect the people who shot and killed a policeman in the vicinity of Bank of Baroda they saw nothing. They never saw the car when it drove up and they never saw the police approaching the car. Similarly, they were to be able to help the police with cars escaping out of the city. This has not happened. There have been many excuses, but none can really hold water. For example, when I did ask about the police being able to share the images, I was told that someone, somewhere, is recording the footage from the cameras and when the need arises, the police would ask that someone for a look and then take matters from there. I did express the hope that when the country got the egovernance cable then so many things would have fallen into place. There would have been connectivity between police stations and the main server that is

recording the images. Lo and behold even that e-governance cable has serious problems. It should have been up and running by now but it is almost a year behind schedule. Money has been spent but the service has not been provided. To make matters worse, Guyana must have started paying back by now. I may see working cameras and the egovernance cable in my lifetime but then again, the government may decide to scrap what exists and install something new and reliable. It might be that these cameras are reliable, but the contractor who installed them must have done a job that leaves a lot to be desired. These are not the only things in which a lot of money has been invested but for which the results are grossly unsatisfactory. I remember the Amaila Falls road which should have been completed two years ago. That road is

still under construction and it is a good thing that the project collapsed. The equipment might have been here gathering dust and Guyana paying for something that it did not have. Of course we are already paying about US$17 million per annum to the Chinese for the loan we got to undertake the Skeldon Modernisation Project. The money for these nonfunctioning things is coming from the public treasury which would suggest that it is coming out of the pockets of the taxpayers. If a man were to do that with his money then he would be accused of waste and condemned to a life of penury. But governments have a way of getting away with these things. I listened to the Finance Minister on Thursday. He was telling a forum co-hosted by the Caribbean Development Bank that there needed to be a mechanism to allow Governments to punish

consultants. He said that these are the people who inspect the work by the contractors and order Governments to pay. So there was Ashni Singh saying that these consultants must be responsible for the slipshod work that the contractors do because they are the ones to approve payments. I thought that it was a good point and my mind raced back to the cameras set up in the city. There was never the mention of a consultant. There was also no mention of a consultant for many of the projects being pursued. There is no consultant for the Marriott project, unless he is a quiet Chinese, so who would Guyana penalize and how? I do know that some contractors have been taken to court for failure to produce. The word the officials used was non-performance. Two of them who were awarded

Adam Harris contracts for the egovernance cable are in the lot. We also understand that two of them who were awarded contracts on the Amaila hydropower road have also been taken to court. No one has been taken to court for the Skeldon plant, for the many failed roads across the country—one of them is the Coldingen road— and surely, no one has been taken to court for the security cameras. But then again, many things are being done quietly, outside my hearing. Perhaps there is a confidentiality clause.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 25, 2014

1966 - 2014: What has changed? “The form of the Constitution being handed down at this time is one which perpetuates divisions in our society, and entrenches minority rule. The Constitution has failed to lay the foundation for national unity. The fundamental rights which the Constitution seeks to safeguard are, in a great measure non-existent, and the government has provided evidence in great abundance of its intention to render all safeguards nugatory.” - Dr Cheddi Jagan, May 26, 1966, Independence Day. The above statement was

made to the National Assembly at the handing over of the new Constitutional Instruments declaring Guyana a free and independent nation. Fortyeight years later, twenty-two of which have been under a PPP Government, Guyana still hangs on to a Constitution that “entrenches minority rule.” Not only is “minority rule” entrenched in our political system, but the latter part of Dr Jagan’s 1966 statement is as relevant today as it was forty-eight years ago. Despite the changes to the 1980 ‘Burnham Constitution’, we find today

that, “the fundamental rights which the Constitution seeks to safeguard are, in a great measure non-existent,” and the PPP government “has provided evidence in great abundance of its intention to render all safeguards nugatory.” As evidence, let us examine: (1) the Executive branch of Government: This is made up entirely of the PPP. If what Jagan had complained of in his Independence Speech in 1966 was remedied under a PPP Administration, Guyana today would have had a political system that provided for coalition governments

where the Executive would be more representational of the will of the electorate. (2) The National Assembly: The PPP holds less than half the number of seats but seeks to control the outcomes of the House. During debates, the views of the opposition, unless they are supportive of the Government are labelled ‘antidevelopment’ and those Bills are not assented to. (3) Abandoning the Separation of Powers: The Court has been replaced by the Executive in determining the constitutionality of Bills passed by the House. Bills that were not assented to, these are deemed unconstitutional by the Attorney General, a responsibility that is reposed in the Court. This practice has come to the fore under the stewardship of President Donald Ramotar who once championed the doctrine of the separation of powers. “One of the great problems faced by the administration in the past was caused by the philosophy of the paramountcy of the Party which the PNC espoused in the early 1970’s. That caused the erosion of the concept of the separation of the powers…” - Donald Ramotar, Government Information Agency, October 2005 (3) Safeguarding Human rights: Article 121of the Constitution provides for a Human Rights Commission. Since the passing of the Constitution (Amendment), Act of 2001 that provided for the establishment of the Human Rights Commission, the PPP/ C Administration has failed to

have this Commission set up. This could only be seen as an orchestrated attempt to subvert Human Rights in Guyana, an area where the present administration continues to fail badly and one only has to look at the ever increasing complaints of police brutality. (4) Safeguarding the rights of citizens to manage their own communities: Article 71 of the Constitution recognizes the importance of Local Government as a vital aspect of democracy and the right of people to be involved in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live. By preventing the holding of Local Government Elections, the PPPC Administration continues to subvert the Constitution and make this right of the people ‘non-existent.’ (5) Safeguarding the public purse: Article 212 W of the Constitution provides for the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission to monitor public procurement and procedures in order to ensure that the procurement of goods, services and execution of works are conducted in a fair, equitable, competitive, cost effective and transparent manner, according to law, and such policy guidelines as may be determined by the National Assembly. The PPP Administration has, since 2001, failed to take the necessary steps to set up the Procurement Commission. The delay in the establishment of this Procurement Commission has seen so much corruption it is just obscene. (6) Failure to preserve the

integrity of high offices: The Integrity Commission has not been properly constituted for years. This Commission is vested with authority to investigate complaints of breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officials. Breach of the Code would include such acts as: taking bribes; engaging in discriminatory practices; receiving gifts for reward for services; conflict of interest violations; using documents or information for personal benefit; using public property for private use; engaging in sexual misconduct; and, giving private interest a higher priority than public duty. When one looks at the list of persons obligated to make declarations to the Integrity Commission and considers this in light of the blatant display of new wealth by public officials, especially our new Sultanate, understanding the slothfulness in establishing the Integrity Commission becomes elementary. Among those public officials who are obligated to make annual declarations to the Integrity Commission are the President, Ministers, Parliamentarians, Permanent Secretaries, Regional Executive Officers, Chief Executive Officers of State Agencies, Presidential Advisors just to name a few. One would have thought that after all the protestations of the PPP while in opposition, that they would have used their ascension to office to remedy the faults they found with the way of governing. When did they find that the faults were actually not faults at all?

Sunday May 25, 2014

SUNDAY SPECIAL US JUDGE ORDERS NEW GPC TO ANSWER KN The New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC) case against the Kaieteur News in New York continues to crumble as the Judge recently denied a petition to present requested documents confidentially. New GPC owned by Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, has also been ordered by the New York Court Judge to present the documents requested within 20 days. The ruling came on Friday May 16 by Judge Joan Kenney. New GPC was asked to, among other things, prove that as a result of the publications by Kaieteur News, sales to overseas clients plummeted. Lawyers for Kaieteur News asked Ray Beckerman, the lawyer for the New GPC, to set forth the names, addresses and contact information of those customers with whom plaintiffs’ relationships have been seriously injured and prejudiced as alleged. The company had alleged that since the publication of articles by Kaieteur News New GPC had lost markets internationally. Beckerman replied, “Until such time as an appropriate and sufficient confidentiality order has been entered it would be impossible to respond to this question. “Customers are apprehensive of coming forward with information because they fear being victimized and harmed by the nefarious owner and principal of Kaieteur News, Glen (sic) Lall. “Customers also worry about being denigrated in Kaieteur News…” The Kaieteur News lawyers’ next step, if GPC fails to answer this and other pertinent questions about the operations, will be to request that the Judge dismiss the case. NEW CONFECTIONERY COMPANY HITS LOCAL MARKET Guyana’s confectionery market is about to witness a serious shake-up. Last Saturday Sueria Manufacturing Inc. came into operation. The complex which was officially launched in grand style at its Eccles Industrial Site location offers to take the taste buds of “candy-crazed” children and even the discerning palates of adults on a tasty adventure. The business was established by Fank Sanichara and his wife, Teshawna Lall, an insightful businesswoman. Many of Guyana’s celebrated business tycoons, among them Dr. Yesu Persaud,

Kaieteur News

and Hemraj Kissoon, joined President Donald Ramotar and First Lady, Mrs. Deolatchmee Ramotar, for the opening. On display of course was the wide assortment of condiments produced by the company. There were Ginger, Ice Drops, Strawberry and Pineapple sweets. The manufacturing company is also producing packaged peanuts, also available in four flavourssweet and salty mix, salted, hot and spicy and honey roasted. The welcome address was delivered by Mr. Tony Yassin, a close associate of the Lall family for over 25 years. Publisher of the Kaieteur Newspaper, Glenn Lall, traced the development of the company from the time a group of school children toured his newspaper plant. “I remember walking into Kaieteur News and I saw 81 students who came for a tour. I asked them if it was their first time to Georgetown and they explained to me that before they arrived at Kaieteur News, they made a stop at a local candy factory. “But then I noticed that they weren’t chewing on anything. They told me that they were not given any sweets.” MONDAY EDITION WE NEED TO RECLAIM GUYANA’S MARKET FROM FOREIGN PRODUCTS – SAYS NEW CANDY FACTORY OWNER - JAGDEO, GAJRAJ REFUSED TO GRANT VISAS TO ENGINEERS A new confectionery company, Sueria Manufacturing Inc., is determined to redefine the meaning of “candy heaven.” With its candies that feature more than just sugar as the principle ingredient, it

is poised to reclaim the local market which has been flooded with foreign products. On Saturday last, the company was officially launched at its Eccles Industrial Site location. The complex is being operated by Frank Sanichara and his wife, Teshawna Lall. Teshawna Lall said, “This is a significant milestone in our lives. Today marks the culmination of an innovative idea which began five years ago. “My husband and I undertake separate duties to ensure its success. This company will strive to ensure perfection by confection, which is our mission, and our motto is, “sweet dreams do come through.” More importantly, the businesswoman said that there has been an influx of foreign products taking over the local market and the new company will be one of the first steps in taking it back. She noted too that the company has plans to expand its production as they are looking to produce bubble gum and packaged plantain and cassava chips. Sanichara said, “The Ice Drops were developed with the same technology used for the popular Halls Mint. The Ice Drops are ideal for giving the right cool temperature and temporary relief from cold. The Ginger mint is being continuously refined to be the best in the world. We have developed as well, the Black Mint, which is our hallmark product. It is formulated for smokers to get rid of the smoky breath. This is just a stepping stone.” OPPOSITION NOT BLAMELESS IN US$6M JUDGMENTAGAINST GUYANA– RAMKARRAN The case of Rudisa Beverages and Juices against the State of Guyana which

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was recently decided on by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), “exposes not only the state of governance in Guyana over the past two decades but also symbolizes the complete loss of Guyana’s ability to achieve political agreement on any matter of consequence.” This is the view of Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, who in his recent analysis of the case which has caused Guyana to be liable to the company for US$6M, maintains that the Opposition cannot hold itself blameless. Rudisa, a Suriname-based company, produces and sells beverages in non-returnable containers. Caribbean International Distributors Inc. (CIDI), a locally owned subsidiary of Rudisa, imports and sells them in Guyana. They alleged that the imposition by Guyana in 1995, of an environmental levy or tax of $10 on all nonreturnable beverage containers imported into Guyana, was discriminatory and amounted to a violation of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas passed into

Guyana law in 2006. The CCJ ruled in favour of Rudisa and rejected the argument of the Attorney General Anil Nandlall that Guyana’s violations were excusable because the Government had made ‘a good faith effort to comply with its treaty obligations’ but that the National Assembly in 2013 refused to pass the necessary amendments to address the breach of the treaty. The Opposition had declined to support an amendment in the National Assembly, which would have reduced the tax to $5 and removed the discriminatory aspect by imposing it on Guyana’s containers as well. TUESDAY EDITION GTT DELAYS EBD FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY - BK INT’L BK International is claiming it loses approximately US$10,000 daily due to a delay caused by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company. BK International was awarded a contract to complete Lot Three of the East Bank Road Project. The multi-million-dollar project

was expected to have been completed almost two years ago, but has been stalled. However, according to Julian Archer, BK International’s Chief Engineer, the blame for the delay must be placed solely at the feet of GT&T. Archer and several other executives from the company took the media on a tour on Monday to explain the situation. Archer said that the company is faced with two problems, poles and cables from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company. There are also some obstacles from Guyana Water Inc. According to Archer, they have dispatched numerous letters to these companies. He said that BK International has had a favourable response from the water company. “GWI has complied, but GTT has not. This hinders the critical activity such as construction of bridges.” Archer maintained that the company would have to wait until GT&T removes the cables and poles. When pushed further about the “worst case scenario” Archer said that if GT&T does not move its utilities the project would have to be extended. That extension would in turn cost government and taxpayers millions of dollars. Archer was questioned whether BK International would have to pay any contractor penalty clauses. He replied that once there is a justification with the cables they would not have to pay. When asked about the reality of BK International seeking the intervention of the court in the matter, Archer said that BK International has not gone down that route since Government has been trying to deal with it. FOUR BREAK OUT OF COURT LOCKUPS… ONE SHOT DEAD, ONE RECAPTURED A manhunt was launched for two prisoners who were (Continued on page 45)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 25, 2014

Strategic campaign launched to expand and strengthen collaboration to combat HIV/AIDS

A Representative of Hope For All explains how that NGO helps to support the national HIV/AIDS fight. Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have over the years played an indispensable role in helping to tackle the scourge of HIV and AIDS in the local society. However, the contribution of the business sector cannot be underestimated in helping to sustain the gains that have been made.

It was in recognition of the need for the continued support of these two sectors that the USAID-supported Advancing Partners and Communities (APC) Project, on Thursday last, launched a campaign intended to expand and strengthen their collaboration. The strategic undertaking, which was held

Partners aiding the national HIV/AIDS response at the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL)’s, Kingston, Georgetown headquarters, before a sizeable gathering of stakeholders, was done in collaboration with the Guyana Business Coalition against HIV and AIDS (GBCHA). To emphasise the need for sustained collaboration, the

event had a deliberate focus on the fact that Guyana has made impressive achievements in HIV prevention and treatment, and has maintained solid declines in new HIV infections. Guyana’s AIDS-related death track-record reflects a laudable reduction from 1,258 in 2006 to 758 last year.

Chief of Party of APC, Folami Harris, in addressing the gathering on Thursday emphasised that a national response is about genuine partnerships working together across differences. Moreover, she underscored that the guests of honour of the event were in fact “the women and men from

businesses across Guyana whose awareness of national needs, whose relationship with the Guyanese people, and whose commitment to Guyana’s development brought them here today.” And, indeed, over 50 representatives from 44 small and large businesses had (Continued on page 31)

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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HEART FAILURE a growing concern to the local health sector ...but collaborative efforts can make a difference, says Cardiologist By Sharmain Grainger Although there are evident efforts being undertaken to improve the delivery of health care in Guyana, there are yet some disturbing trends that are threatening to diminish the gains made. Among these are the increasing cases of heart failure that have surfaced in recent times. This phenomenon, is however not unique to Guyana, as according to Resident Cardiologist at the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI), Dr Mahendra Carpen, “this has been going on for a number of years all over the world.” In fact, heart failure has been listed as a leading cause of death in some sections of the world. CHI, which represents a public-private partnership, is conveniently housed in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. According to Dr Carpen, heart failure is an advanced stage of heart disease. At this point, he noted, the heart is so incapacitated that it is unable to function effectively to circulate blood throughout the body. And there are a number of reasons that can lend to this development. But the number one cause is that of blockages, explained Dr Carpen. Nevertheless, other factors such as heart attack and high blood pressure among others are of equal

concern, he noted. “Some people have inherited conditions, and some conditions result from environmental factors, whether it may be chemicals or whether it is something that is in the water or something in the air, or some infection...all of these can have a part to play in causing heart failure,” he disclosed. And according to him, among the patients he sees frequently at CHI are those with advanced heart failure, some of whom were found to have a history of working in interior locations. Just last week, Dr Carpen saw at least four of these patients, all of whom were below the age of 55. “Either they are still working there or worked there for a number of years...It is a very troubling trend I have noticed and I am very worried about it,” said Dr Carpen, who disclosed that CHI is in the process of compiling data in order to undertake a scientific analysis. “This is something we have become very vigilant about at CHI, in fact when I see patients who have this kind of history come to me, one of the first things I would do for them is an echocardiogram to get an accurate and objective assessment.” “I don’t know if it’s mining or some kind of infection that is prevalent there...We don’t currently have what is

necessary to make a definitive pronouncement on it, but the first step really is the compilation and assessment of data,” disclosed Dr Carpen. MANIFESTATION The condition of heart failure can be classified as either Systolic or Diastolic heart failure. The former classification is used when a patient’s heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood around the body, while the latter speaks to when the heart muscle does not relax enough to accommodate the return of blood to the heart. A common cause for Diastolic heart failure is high blood pressure, a condition Dr Carpen says is rather prevalent here in Guyana. But according to him, Systolic heart failure is a rather daunting development as it hinders the heart from operating as a pump to circulate blood. “When that muscle gets weak or thinned out that is when that pump is unable to function to send blood to the brain, the legs, the kidneys and so forth,” Dr Carpen pointed out. And because the blood is not being distributed throughout the body, an obvious outcome is that the blood is instead backed up into the lungs, thereby causing patients to develop symptoms such as shortness of breath. “Developing shortness of breath can start in a very subtle way...an individual

CHI’s Resident Cardiologist, Dr Mahendra Carpen might try to run up the stairs or walk a little further than usual and realise that they can’t do it like they used to and persons may adjust to this limited lifestyle,” Dr Carpen theorised. The manifestation of this condition, he disclosed, may gradually develop to a point where persons may awaken from their sleep with intense bouts of coughing or they might start panting for breath even when they are lying down. Lying down too may require that they be proppedup with two or more pillows in order to be comfortable, and

as the condition progresses it could lead to swollen feet or the neck veins becoming especially conspicuous. “When it gets really bad even the tummy swells up, the liver gets enlarged and swollen, and some persons may also have abdominal pains,” Dr Carpen revealed. As if the foregoing progression of the condition is not bad enough, the Cardiologist informed that doing simple things like speaking can eventually become a difficult task. “Persons may find that they cannot speak in full

sentences and have to stop in the middle of a sentence to take a breath...and this might just be a normal eight-word sentence,” he noted. MANAGEMENT But there are several ways that the condition can be effectively managed, Dr Carpen intimated. Management can only be effective, he said, if patients are properly diagnosed. “When you examine a patient with a suspected heart condition you essentially look for edema (swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the (Continued on page 44)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 25, 2014

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Strategic campaign launched to expand and... collaborated to help Guyana reach to the place it currently is in terms of HIV awareness. Such stories, according to him, are rarely highlighted, but are nevertheless some of the key factors that help to sustain the gains made. Another well-known figure in the local HIV/AIDS fight, Dereck Springer, was also on hand Thursday to lend his voice to amplify the strides Guyana has been able to make over the years. He emphasised that “it is the NGOs who (have) blazed the trail in relation to the current response we have.”

A section of the gathering at the launch of the campaign on Thursday From page 28 indicated their interest in attending the launch to better understand how they could contribute to building a stronger, healthier, more productive Guyana. According to Harris, “the challenge of HIV provides each of us an opportunity to create and express the best of ourselves.” As such, the event was one intended to not only highlight the achievements of the national response but also to remind of the distance remaining before the finishline is attained, with a focus on achieving zero new infection. Harris in her brief deliberation told a cautionary tale that amplified that where collaboration fails, successes achieved could very well be under threat. She recalled noticing just over a week ago how the grassy areas adjoining the seawalls had become quite sparkling and clean. According to her, it was an almost overnight feat that the garbage was gathered into fragile little black bags and lined up for collection. She

recounted how the neat little black bags dotted the seawalls from the Band Stand up to about Sheriff Street. “How wonderful it felt that there was progress in cleaning out those areas. Perhaps you saw it too and you might have felt the same?” But according to Harris, although the gatherers of the garbage did their part, the collectors appeared to take on a delinquent mode in supporting the process. “As the days went on those neat little bundles, waiting to be picked-up, began to crumple. By the weekend they were torn and the garbage that was in them re-scattered to the area that was cleaned...So the situation reverted to the mess that existed prior to the collection,” Harris divulged And so it was in a rather sombre tone she appealed to the gathering to ensure that efforts are made to sustain the gains made so as to ensure that such a dilemma does not become the reality of the HIV/ AIDS fight. “Let this not be the fate of the epidemic! We are so

close to the finish line, we, all of us, are the anchor in this relay. We are the last runners, we are the ones who make up for time or build on the speed of the team, so it is now our turn to clasp the baton firmly in our hands. Only together can we finish this race to zero new infection; so make a try,” Harris urged. Also speaking at the event was GBCHA Chairperson, Tracey Lewis, who informed that Guyana’s private sector has certainly been firmly lending its support to the fight. In fact, she disclosed that the private sector’s response is a model for partnership aimed at reducing the spread of HIV and the associated stigma and discrimination. As such, Lewis extended gratitude to the private sector for remaining committed to the quest aimed at sustaining “the gains we have had so far and to increase and strengthen partnerships...” Representing the Ministry of Health’s National AIDS Programme Secretariat, Nizam Hussain highlighted instances where the business sector and NGOs effectively

Springer went on to express his optimism that the NGO community will continue to demonstrate cohesion as moves are made to heighten and broaden the response. The event on Thursday saw the attendance of 11 frontline NGOs whose representatives wasted no time in showcasing the work they have been doing to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Among them were: Youth Challenge Guyana, Artistes in Direct Support, Agape Network, Comforting Hearts, the FACT Group, G-Plus, Hope for All, Hope

Foundation, Lifeline Counselling, Linden Care and United Bricklayers. Also gracing the event were representatives of USAID, the Peace Corps, the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Cicatelli Associates, Skills and Knowledge for Youth Development (SKYE), Supply Chain Management System (SCMS), the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS, the World Wildlife Fund and the Red Cross.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 25, 2014

CDB returns to ‘stable’ outlook following ratings review BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has welcomed Standard and Poor’s revision of its outlook from “negative” to “stable” and affirmation of its “AA/A1+” status on long and short term foreign currency ratings. Following a review of CDB’s 2013 results, S&P made the announcement on May 16, stating that factors

that contributed to the shift to “stable” include: • The abatement of external liquidity pressures among some of the Bank’s largest borrowers • High capital adequacy with a risk-adjusted capital ratio of 23% as of December 31, 2013, to offset the significant embedded credit risk in its portfolio • CDB’s “strong”

business profile and its “very strong” financial profile • Its role as a prominent lender in the Caribbean and ability to lend to sovereigns through the credit cycle • Demonstration of members support for the Bank’s mandate by granting a 38% increase of paid-in capital in 2010 • Strengthening of its risk management structures and monitoring over the past 18 months. “We welcome the revision in our outlook to stable and are satisfied that the

measures we have taken have been successful in contributing to the improvement in outlook. We have strengthened our risk management structures and monitoring; further improved capital adequacy and continued with good liquidity planning. Our priority continues to be equipping ourselves to remain a strong institution which has the confidence of our partners and provides timely, effective support to our BMCs,” said Dr Warren Smith, president of CDB. Among the measures

implemented were: further improvements to profitability; increased monitoring and compliance; establishing the foundation for a successful private sector initiative and strengthening balance sheet capital adequacy to improve our external rating. “We are encouraged by the gains made within the region in 2013 in fiscal and debt sustainability where they have occurred, while being mindful of the continued challenges of: accelerating growth, sustaining fiscal consolidation, and containing the debt burden. Our performance is inextricably linked to that of our member countries’ performance generally, and to their support of the Bank’s preferred creditor status specifically,” Smith said. S&P described CDB as having a strong business profile. This is reflected in the rating agency’s assessment of CDB’s mandate and of its public policy role as a prominent lender through the credit cycle for its borrowing

members in the Caribbean. S&P noted that the Bank’s borrowing members have treated the CDB as a preferred creditor in most periods of stressed external liquidity — evidence of the strength and stability of CDB’s relationship with its shareholders. S&P further noted that significant support from nonregional members, including the funding of CDB’s Special Development Fund (not rated), which provides grants and concessional loans to lower-income countries, had helped sustain the credit quality of the rated ordinary capital resources. The review concluded: “In our calculations, a potential moderate credit deterioration of some of CDB’s borrowing members would have limited effect on the Bank’s capital adequacy.” CDB also maintains a strong “Aa1” rating with Moody’s Rating Agency which in November 2013 revised the Bank’s outlook from “negative” to “stable”.

Sunday May 25, 2014

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Spotlight on importance of statistics to regional development ST GEORGE’S, Grenada — Regional policy-makers and other high level officials will gather in St George’s, Grenada, tomorrow for a discourse that is aimed at placing the spotlight on the value of statistics to regional development. Top government officials and other regional and international stakeholders will participate in a high level advocacy forum on statistics that ultimately aims to position statistics as a critical component of decisionmaking and citizen empowerment. It also aims to call attention to the necessity for investment in the field. The forum is organized by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat. It is supported by international and regional development partners such as the Partnership in Statistics for Development in the TwentyFirst Century (PARIS21), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP), Barbados, and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The second of its kind, the forum is anticipated to be an intense one-day activity. It will begin with a keynote address by Dr Keith Mitchell, prime minister of Grenada, and a feature address by McDonald Thomas, operations officer, social sector division of the CDB. Other speakers at the opening session will be Dr Philomen Harrison, project director, statistics, CARICOM Secretariat; El Iza Mohamedou, senior programme coordinator, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); Crispin Gregoire, chief for the Caribbean, Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, UNDP; and Ewout Sandker, head of cooperation, delegation of the European Union (EU). Following the opening session, panel discussions will be held to explore issues such as government

investment in statistics; the status of statistics including challenges in the field, strategy and initiatives; and how the Community could move forward to anchor statistics in its development programmes. The data revolution and what it means for the sustainability of CARICOM member states will also be discussed. That discourse would be set against the background of a report from a high level panel of eminent persons on the post-2015 development agenda. That report called for a data revolution for sustainable development with a new international initiative to improve the quality of statistics and information available to citizens. It also focused on the need to take advantage of new technology, crowd sourcing and improved connectivity to empower people with information to achieve goals. The high level forum

Caribbean leaders to meet on cybercrime and e-governance PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - An upcoming meeting of Caribbean Commonwealth officials with responsibility for ICT will b r i n g t h e r e g i o n ’s e governance and cybercrime issues squarely into focus. The Caribbean stakeholders’ meeting on the importance of ICTs and their impact on regional development will take place in Port of Spain, Trinidad, from May 26 to 28. Conference delegates are expected to discuss the impact of cybercrime on social and economic development, with a view to identifying next steps in implementing e-governance and infrastructure initiatives in identified countries. Cybercrime is a global multibillion dollar industry with untold impact on Caribbean economies. The conference will also identify and address the major infrastructure components required to deliver government services online. By investing in electronic governance, governments across the world are saving money, delivering more effective services, and competing more effectively in the global economy. Infrastructure is a critical component to successfully implement e-governance strategies. “An efficient, effective and secure public service is essential for economic investment and development

as well as for deepening citizens’ participation in policy and service delivery,” a release from the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) quoted Commonwealth deputy secretary-general Deodat Marahaj. The meeting is being convened by the Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with the ministry of science and technology of Trinidad and Tobago, Organisation of American States (OAS), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Microsoft and the CTU. The ITU, OAS, CTU and Microsoft are active partners in the Commonwealth Cybercrime Initiative (CCI), an

international program started in 2011 to support member states in the implementation of robust cyber security programs. The 53 member countries of the Commonwealth share similar legal systems and institutional structures, and have a long history of active collaboration on issues and concerns related to cybercrime and the internet. “The Commonwealth is uniquely positioned to bring together the major regional players in ICT for development. This meeting presents a significant opportunity for collaboration by a range of stakeholders on issues that have a direct impact on citizens’ lives,” Maharaj said.

headlines a week of statisticsrelated events occurring in Grenada. The others are a Caribbean population and housing census symposium on 27 May, a regional

statistics seminar on 28 May, the first meeting of the Caribbean Association of Professional Statisticians (CAPS) the following day, and a meeting of the advisory

group on statistics, which will be convened on 30 May. Between 26 and 28 May, an information technology fair focusing on statistics will be held.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 25, 2014

Winners of Courts promotions receive prizes - World Cup promo ends June 30th

Winners with their prizes (in envelopes) at the handing over ceremony Winners of the Courts’ promotions running from April 1st to May 10th received their prizes yesterday. There was the Whirlpool promotion where one person won $400,000 while others won in the Mothers Day, Grocery, Coca-

Cola and Soap Powder promotions. The prizes were distributed at Courts’ Main Street branch. According to Courts Marketing Officer Trudy Abrahams, a football world cup-themed promotion is currently ongoing.

Customers can purchase any digital item from the store which will allow them to enter the promotion which ends on June 30th. “If a customer purchases anything digital during this time, they can win a football party which will be

sponsored by Courts whenever there is a World Cup game. The person can choose any spot in Guyana where they want to look at the game and Courts will sport you and your friends. Eight customers will win football parties around the country.”

Sunday May 25, 2014

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Guyanese and our Bahamian... From page 34 uglier aspects of living in the country, particularly in the two most populous islands, New Providence (with the capital, Nassau) and Grand Bahama. There, foreigners, mostly tourists, are usually kept away from the seedy and impoverished areas where criminal activities, including drugrelated violence, are rampant. They do not overtly see the poverty, the dysfunctional single-parent households, the jobless and semiliterate youths, the sexuallyactive preteens, the incestuous relationships, the drugfueled gunfights, and the white-collar crimes that ordinary Bahamians talk about casually and openly. However, most Bahamians are shrewd enough to keep up the appearance of equanimity and cultural cohesion for the sake of tourists and the tourism industry which they also 'know' is helping to keep their country from economic implosion. And the funny thing is that many tourists are not so naïve, or so unread, as not to be aware that the 'façade' Bahamas and the 'real' Bahamas co-exist as the proverbial two sides of the same coin. But they come in their cruise ships, parade half-naked along Bay Street in Nassau, and in the Port Lucaya Marketplace in Freeport, go on booze cruises, shop for mementos, and generally part with enough U.S currency to help perpetuate the status quo. It is an understanding and necessary relationship. In the case of Guyana, tourists are like Granny's teeth – few and far apart. We have not the lure of white sand and blue waters, nor the necessary infrastructure for a Bahamian-type tourist industry. So unlike The Bahamas, there is little in terms of a foil to lessen the burden of our complex social, economic and political problems. Nevertheless, many Guyanese (I included) may want to think of our muchvaunted natural resources, and our undeniably accommodating attitude towards foreigners, as having the potential to mitigate our dilemma. But in any case, our country's façade lacks the polished veneer of the Bahamian model, which makes the 'real' Guyana that much more visible, and that much easier to discredit. Guyana has long sheltered behind the assumption of being a highly-literate and articulate society. It was, in my opinion, a correct assumption, and one that was validated by the way we spoke and wrote, how we handled our affairs individually and collectively; even

how we carried ourselves. That aspect of our façade is crumbling, and it is never more evident to me than when I am abroad. 'Mud heads' used to be a jocular nickname for Guyanese, at least several decades ago when I first visited Barbados with my father. That epithet may now be the tamest of the many pejorative terms used to describe our people. I listen now to the way our leaders and politicians speak and express themselves, as well as our television personalities, young professionals, sports men and women, and schoolchildren, and, with relatively few exceptions, our standards have dropped, in comparison with those of many of our Caricom sister nations. Look at, and listen, to the leaders, broadcasters, sports persons and schoolchildren in The Bahamas, Trinidad, Barbados etc… Compare them to their Guyanese counterparts and tell me what you think. I now realize that while teaching in The Bahamas, I too adopted a façade to deal with at least two perceived issues that drove many expatriate teachers to frustration, and in my case, to the point of an imminent nervous breakdown. The first was a perception that the schoolchildren there were easily the most inattentive, undisciplined and aggressive pupils I'd ever taught; the second was an idea that the Ministry of Education had a special design to entice, ensnare and infuriate foreign teachers with what we felt was too much bureaucracy and too little efficiency. Obviously, neither perception was really accurate. There were several very smart, disciplined and personable students at each school I taught, and on more than one occasion, Ministry of Education staff went out of their way to help me. But with nationalistic Guyanese nerve, I inwardly compared these two seemingly exasperating groups of Bahamians to their Guyanese equivalents, and found consolation in the 'fact' that notwithstanding the tourism motto of 'It's better in The Bahamas', it is actually better in Guyana. However since my return to my native land five months ago, I've done some serious rethinking about this comparison thing, and the truth is I don't know which, if any, is actually better. While as nations Guyana and The Bahamas have quite a few dissimilar notions with respect to history, geography and cultural influence, these go more with the façade than with the real. Ordinary Caribbean people - especially those struggling to keep from going under - probably have

little time to consider the nuances of what makes them different. And tourists and foreigners are not usually inclined to fight poverty, crime and social disintegration for you. Rather, Guyanese and Bahamians may want to ponder how best they can adjust their lifestyles to accommodate both the façade and the reality of living in such a farcical and changeable landscape. That is what we share.

Not Georgetown but could've been; A Bahamian vista tourists hardly ever see

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 25, 2014

HEART FAILURE - a growing concern to the... From page 29 body’s tissues), you look for fluids in the lungs that could affect a person’s ability to breathe, fluid in the abdomen, distension of the veins in the neck, which is a direct reflection of the pressures in the heart...All these things you use as your clinical tool before you actually start doing investigations,” said Dr Carpen. However, an echocardiogram test, which is deemed an ultrasound of the heart, is in fact the way to go to obtain an accurate assessment of the heart, he noted. An echocardiogram, he explained, is a process that can ascertain the function as well as the thinness or thickness of the heart muscle, assess the structure and the valves, and even measure pressure without doing anything invasive. According to Dr Carpen, “this is an absolutely critical test that we have at our disposal that we can use to diagnose and manage these patients properly...Gone are the days when you only rely on just stories and your own clinical assessment.” “There are lot more objective measures of managing patients, but first and foremost you must be

able to determine how badly this heart muscle is damaged; how badly the function of the heart is compromised, so that you know how to treat and what medications are appropriate,” said Dr Carpen. TREATMENT And it is expected that patients with heart failure will be required to use a great deal of medication in order to stabilise their conditions, which of course may be seen as a major drawback. But according to Dr Carpen, there is no avoiding the fact that patients must adhere to a rigid treatment course. “When my patients ask me ‘how long I should take medicines for’ I usually tell them for as long as you want to live, because for heart conditions you generally have to live with them and learn how to control them, especially with heart failure,” said Dr Carpen. He however noted that although a lot of patients regain heart function with the use of medicines, quite a lot do not and therefore have to adjust to taking medicines in order to help improve their quality of life. And, of course, patients should always try to find out from their doctors not only the name of the medicines

prescribed to them, but also their purpose, Dr Carpen asserted. Among the medicines used to treat heart failure is lasix, commonly referred to as a water pill, which is intended to help control patients’ symptoms, the Cardiologist said. However, he is convinced that medicines that really help to make a difference, in terms of survival rate, are betablockers, a line of drugs including metoprolol, carvedilol and to a lesser extent atenolol. Another class of drugs commonly used are those referred to as the ace-

inhibitors or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) such as captopril, ramipril, enalapril and losartan, all of which have been shown to improve patients’ longevity. According to Dr Carpen, patients may also find themselves on drugs such as isordil and GTN which can help to dilate the blood vessels and reduce the pressure in the lungs. “When medicines can only get you to a certain point then those patients require something else and that is when treatment for advanced heart failure and advanced heart disease becomes

complicated and very expensive and time-consuming,” disclosed Dr Carpen. In order to prolong life and improve quality of life, advanced heart failure will become absolutely necessary, said Dr Carpen. This may include cardiacresynchronisation therapy which essentially works to control the heart muscle, and has proven to help prolong life. EARLYATTENTION But addressing heart failure may be long in coming for some patients, since according to the concerned Cardiologist, societal culture

sees some persons suffering from the associated symptoms “trying a number of different things before reaching to a doctor to be assessed.” This, according to Dr Carpen, is not necessarily the best approach and therefore amplifies the need for more efforts to be directed towards education of the population with a view of even lending to the prevention of the condition. And such an objective can be realised, he noted, through intensified collaborations that will cater to educating the public of the symptoms of not only heart failure, but other health issues that may not be effectively addressed without the intervention of medical practitioners. “People need to be empowered so that they can become more aware of these conditions, of their own health, so that they can take more control and become more responsible for their own health.” According to Dr Carpen, heart failure, even with the best medical therapy, has a 20 per cent chance of mortality per year. This therefore translates to one in five patients dying per year of heart failure, hence amplifying the need to work towards prevention or early detection.

Sunday May 25, 2014

From page 27 among four that staged a breakout from the lock-ups at the recently renovated Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday. One was recovered on the same day and another shot dead at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice. Twenty-eight-year-old Vickram Persaud, of Doctor’s Dam, La Grange, West Bank Demerara was shot to his abdomen and his head. He was caught up in one of the roadblocks set up soon after the escape. His body was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation shortly before 21:00hrs on Monday. Another prisoner, Steve Richard Bacchus, had his freedom cut short when he was dragged out of a minibus at Hadfield Street, Georgetown, moments later. The two prisoners at large, and who are facing murder and armed robbery charges, were identified as Randolph Marques of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown and Keron Cummings of Sophia. The breakout occurred around 12:45 hrs during a heavy downpour, while the men were awaiting their scheduled court appearances. They escaped by ripping the grill work and the mesh that covered the window at the back of the building to provide ventilation to prisoners in the holding cell. They then proceeded to climb down the back wall and scale the fence, cutting a stand of razor wire at the top of the fence. Kaieteur News understands that their escape was facilitated by the fact that there were no police patrols at the back of the building. WEDNESDAY EDITION N/A MAN 49, DRINKS POISONAFTER KILLING EX-GIRLFRIEND, 19 A teen mother was brutally murdered late Monday evening in Berbice by the 49-year-old father of her baby daughter after she spurned him. The man subsequently ingested a poisonous substance and was in a critical condition at the New Amsterdam Hospital. The depressed community of Angoy’s Avenue also called ‘Cow dam’, ‘Caracas’ and ‘High Dam’was startled by a woman’s brood-curdling screams, and their curiosity led them to the home of 19-year-old Oneka Greaves, who had been stabbed multiple times by her four-month old baby’s father, Robert Stanley, of Mai Mai Dam, in the same area. The man was reportedly upset that the young lady had

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told him that they should end the relationship and she wanted to move on with her life and he should do likewise. After committing the act, Stanley reportedly went to the Central Police Station and told the ranks there that he had just injured his wife after they had a misunderstanding and he had consumed some poison. He was placed under police guard at the New Amsterdam Hospital. ONE MORE ESCAPEE RECAPTURED… UNDER MOM’S BED As the manhunt continues for the remaining bandit who escaped from the lock-ups at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, the Guyana Police Force is warning persons against harbouring those who are fugitive from the law. The warning comes in the wake of the recapture of Randolph Marks who was found under his mother’s bed in a house at Freeman Street, East La Penitence, less than a day after he and three other persons broke their way out of the lock-ups. Kaieteur News understands that the police were tipped off about marks whereabouts and swooped down on the house at around 01:15 hours Tuesday. No one from the house was arrested for harbouring the escapee since they reportedly cooperated with the police. Police in a press release Tuesday said that they are continuing in their efforts to recapture the remaining escapee, Keron Cummings of Sophia. THURSDAY EDITION ANTI MONEY LAUNDERING LEGISLATION…DEADLINE DEPENDS ON GOVT. ACTION – APNU Carl Greenidge, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Shadow Minister of Finance, has expressed the coalition’s position on Guyana’s Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill and its May 29, deadline. Greenidge said, “We need to bear in mind that the May deadline is one of many deadlines. You should not have the idea that the deadline is going to be met and we are going to have Nirvana afterwards. “There are a series of obligations which the government of Guyana is obliged to meet. This is only the first in the set of obligations. The ones down the line may be even more severe,” said Greendige. “There is no way that the deadline can be met unless the government takes the

action that is required of it and between the government and opposition to collaborate to make sure that the conditions that are required are met expeditiously.” He said that the objective therefore is to “make sure that we have a regime in place that can deal on a continuing basis with a series of deadlines— deadlines about implementation, about effectiveness of reporting, deadlines about analysis of financial transactions.” “I think that the government seems to feel that it can simply frog march us to take a decision on the assumption that people will be frightened into apocalypse tomorrow and we simply sign on the dotted line and the process will go ahead.” The Shadow Finance Minister alluded to the seriousness of Guyana being non-compliant with the passage of its AML legislation. Both the government and opposition agree on the seriousness of the situation. Greenidge said, however, “If it is a very serious situation, and we were unlikely to have encountered as serious a situation as this in the past, then why is it the government can’t do the things that the opposition requires?” CAPTURED ESCAPEES JAILED FOR TWO YEARS AFTER GUILTYPLEA Recaptured prisoners, Randolph Marks and Steven Bacchus returned to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court Wednesday, to answer to charges of escaping from lawful custody, less than two days after they staged a daring escape from the lock-ups. The heavily shackled prisoners were escorted from the police van and placed in the chute leading to the courtroom by several armed police ranks. Clad in bright orange uniforms, the men stood before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to the charge which alleged that on Monday, May 19, last, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, they escaped from lawful custody. Marks was initially facing

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the court for the murder of Patsan security guard, Bharat Ramcharran, who was shot and killed during a robbery on April 24, last, while Bacchus, 21, was charged with the murder of Police Special Constable Quincy Wright at Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, on January 24, last. When given a chance to explain, both men told the court that they had not planned to the escape, but did it out of frustration. In his explanation, Bacchus begged for a short sentence and told the court that he was wrongfully charged with a murder, of which he has no knowledge. He said that he became frustrated because he had to find $800,000 to pay a lawyer to fight his case and the lawyer did not show up to represent him. His Attorney had left the country instead. Bacchus said that when he was placed in the holding cell at the Magistrates’ Court, the opportunity presented itself and he escaped. FRIDAY EDITION SHODDY WORK ON CONTRACTS…SUPERVISING CONSULTANTS MUST BE HELDACCOUNTABLE – GOVT. Complaints about poor quality State contracts have come under sharp focus with calls made by Government on Thursday to make supervising consultants more accountable for shoddy work. But the calls have raised eyebrows from the Opposition which says that the current situation drives home the urgent need for a functioning Public Procurement Commission (PPC), a constitutional body that is empowered to overlook public contracts. The quality of work delivered on State contracts has been a sore point in recent years amidst increasing scrutiny and calls for more transparency. There have also been calls for more emphasis to ensure value for money. It is not unknown of cases where roads crumble just a few weeks after completion. The $500M ferry stelling at Supenaam, Region Two, which suffered structural problems after a few weeks in operation, is but one glaring

example of faulty works. The contractor, BK International, had claimed that designs were flawed. Remedial works were done by Government and later independent investigations blamed all the parties involved for the works, but there were no penalties. While the focus has been on contractors, scant attention has been paid on the role of supervisors, who are mandated to ensure that the works are completed according to the Bills of Quantities; within the time frame and within costs. The supervisors are the ones who prepare the certificate of completion. Under some conditions from overseas funding agencies, Government is bound to hire private consulting firms to supervise projects. There have been widespread accusations of supervisors – Governmentemployed and private ones – taking kickbacks for turning a blind eye on faulty works. LUNCHEON MUM ON PROFITABILITY OF GT&T SHARES SALE Two years after Government sold its 20 percent shares in Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) it remains tight-lipped about the financial transaction. Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon during his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, on Thursday, would not reveal whether Government received the outstanding US$5M from the US$30M deal. He also declined to comment on whether Government’s decision to place the proceeds of the sale in the National Industrial and Commercial

Investments Ltd (NICIL)’s coffers was a profitable one, earning more than the annual US$2.5M in dividends. According to Dr. Luncheon, he would not be specific as to whether all the monies were received but assured that all the proceeds that were earned from the sale of the shares are retained in the coffers of NICIL. The shares were reportedly bought by a HongKong-based company, Datang Telecom Technology and Industry Group. Dr. Luncheon said it would be easier to say where Government has the money than to say who bought the shares. However, he believes these disclosures might have been made before. SATURDAY EDITION APPALLING CONCESSIONS GIVEN TO PRIVATE INVESTORS IN BERBICE BRIDGE …OPPOSITION INTENDS TO UPTHE ANTE TO HAVE TOLLS REDUCED – HARMON A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is gearing to up the ante to bring Government into compliance with a resolution it approved in the House recently to reduce the tolls charged to cross the Berbice River bridge. Government throughout the debate maintained that it would not comply with the motion and the Attorney General Anil Nandlall has in the past argued that such resolutions in the House are not binding on Government. APNU’s Joseph Harmon, in a brief interview with this publication said that the coalition has a number of options available, including hauling the company before the Parliamentary Economic Services Committee.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 25, 2014

Diabetic retinopathy - Damage to the retina By Dr. Kumar Sukhraj Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of the eyes in diabetics. It is caused by damage to the blood vessels that are found in the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina). People with type 1 and 2 diabetes are prone to retinopathy. The longer you have diabetes, and the less controlled your blood sugar is, the more likely you are to develop diabetic retinopathy. When there is too much sugar in the blood, it can

cause damage to the tiny blood vessels that supply the retina with blood. These vessels may even be blocked completely. As more and more blood vessels become blocked, the blood supply to more of the retina is cut off thus resulting in loss of vision. In response to the lack of blood supply, the eye attempts to grow new blood vessels. But, these new blood vessels don’t develop properly and can leak easily. Scar tissue may also form, which can pull on the retina. Sometimes, this can cause the

retina to detach. Initially patients may not experience any symptoms or may complain of mild problems with their vision. Eventually, however, diabetic retinopathy can result in blindness. Diabetic retinopathy can happen to anyone who has diabetes. The factors that increase a person’s risk of developing diabetic retinopathy are as follows: · Duration of diabetes - the longer you have diabetes, the greater your risk of diabetic retinopathy

Mosquito-borne chikungunya virus spreads in the Caribbean

· Poor control of your blood sugar level - High glucose levels can damage the blood vessels in the eyes. Also, with high levels of sugar over long periods of time, the lenses can swell, providing another cause of blurred vision. · High blood pressure · High cholesterol · Pregnancy · Tobacco use Initially patients may have no signs and symptoms however as the condition progresses, diabetic retinopathy symptoms may include: · Spots or dark strings floating in your vision (floaters) · Blurred vision · Fluctuating vision · Dark or empty areas in your vision · Vision loss ·Difficulty with color perception The following are complications of diabetic retinopathy. These complications can lead to serious vision problems such as: · Vitreous hemorrhage. The new blood vessels may bleed into the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the centre

of your eye. If the amount of bleeding is small, you might see only a few dark spots or floaters. In more-severe cases, blood can fill the vitreous cavity and completely block your vision. · Retinal detachment. The abnormal blood vessels associated with diabetic retinopathy stimulate the growth of scar tissue, which can pull the retina away from the back of the eye. This may cause spots floating in your vision, flashes of light or severe vision loss. · Glaucoma. New blood vessels may grow in the front part of your eye and interfere with the normal flow of fluid out of the eye, causing pressure in the eye to build up (glaucoma). This pressure can damage the nerve that carries images from your eye to your brain (optic nerve). · Blindness. Eventually, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or both can lead to complete vision loss. To protect your vision, take prevention seriously. Start by carefully controlling your blood sugar level and scheduling yearly eye exams,even if your vision

Dr. Kumar Sukhraj seems fine - because it’s important to detect diabetic retinopathy in the early stages. Please feel free to send an email to kumarsukhraj @yahoo.com or call 6228032 for further enquiry and discussion on the topic. Patient education plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of diabetes and any other illness. Please look forward for a continuation of the discussion on health issues in the next publication. References: Kertes PJ, Johnson TM, ed. (2007). Evidence Based Eye Care. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-6964-7.

Studies still looking for link between CELL PHONES AND BRAIN TUMORS

A painful mosquito-borne virus spreading quickly through the Caribbean is causing alarm in Haiti and neighboring Dominican Republic, where health officials are scrambling to respond to a surge of new patients. Chikungunya, a virus more commonly found in Africa and Asia and transmitted by the same daytime-biting aedes aegypti mosquito that causes the more deadly dengue fever, was first detected in the eastern Caribbean five months ago. Since then, it has jumped from island to island, sending thousands of patients to the hospital with painful joints, pounding headaches and spiking fevers. “These mosquitoes know no borders,” said Phyllis Kozarsky, a physician with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Seven deaths have been associated with the virus, but those people likely suffered from other health problems, health officials say.

Chikungunya is normally not deadly and symptoms begin to dissipate within a week. The Pan-American Health Organization reports more than 55,000 suspected and confirmed cases in the Caribbean. Officials say the number is likely much higher due to unreported cases. Florida health officials confirmed at least three cases, though Reuters is aware of at least two other unreported cases. In Haiti, where the virus was first detected early this month, the Health Ministry estimates 5,500 people have been sickened. “My 22-year-old son is brave, but now he’s crying like a kid. His arms, his neck, his back, every part of his body is in pain,” said Marco Dorival in Port-au-Prince. There is no vaccine or treatment that can cure the virus. Paracetamol, an overthe-counter painkiller, is used to treat high fevers. The price of the medication has doubled in Haiti, leading the Ministry of Health to order 400,000 doses of acetaminophen, the ingredient in many non-

prescription painkillers, be distributed around the country. World Health Organization representatives in Haiti said chikungunya will continue to spread as the mosquitoes breed in standing water and open water containers used in many Haitian homes that lack running water. “Thirty to 35 percent of the population will get sick,” WHO representative Dr. Jean-Luc Poncelet said. The Dominican Republic’s Public Health Ministry suspects 14,000 cases. Both Haiti and the Dominican Republic said they would spray pesticides to kill mosquitoes and urged residents to destroy breeding grounds, such as pools of standing water. “There was a period of time that I couldn’t walk, and when I could walk again I was bent over,” said Richard Barbour, a pastor at Advent Lutheran church in Boca Raton, Florida, who believes he and another church volunteer contracted the virus, after a trip to Haiti last week.

The heaviest users of cell phones may be at higher than average risk of being diagnosed with a brain tumor, according to a recent French study. But for most people, it’s still not clear if there’s added risk, the authors say. Plus, the devices and the way people use them keeps evolving so that more research is needed going forward, they add. This isn’t the first study to point to a tumor risk with heavy cell phone use, said Dr. L. Dade Lunsford, a distinguished professor of neurosurgery specializing in brain tumor management at the University of Pittsburgh. But these kinds of studies rely on people to recall how much they have used cell phones in the past with no indication of their actual use, said Lunsford, who was not involved in the French research. The new results found no difference between regular cell users and non-users, which suggests that if there is a link, it is only applicable for people who claim to use their cell phone the most, he noted by email. Cell phones emit radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in the microwave spectrum, which may be cancer causing, although that’s not yet proven, said Dr. Seung-Kwon Myung of South Korea’s National Cancer Center. Myung led a large analysis of all the previous studies of cell phone use and brain tumors (see Reuters article of October 13, 2009 here: reut.rs/1tlL8JZ). In 2011, the World Health Organization’s International Agency on Cancer classified this radiation as possibly carcinogenic, based on existing studies. The French team, led by Dr. Gaelle Coureau of the Universite Bordeaux Segalen, used a cancer registry to identify adults with meningiomas or gliomas, the two most common types of adult brain tumors.

Brain tumors are generally rare relative to other types of cancer. Less than eight in 100,000 people in the U.S. each year are diagnosed with meningiomas, and 85 percent of those tumors are benign, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic. Malignant brain tumors represent only two percent of all cancers. The new analysis included 253 cases of glioma and 194 cases of meningioma in four French regions, and twice as many people from the same areas of France who had never had a brain tumor, for comparison. Researchers interviewed the participants about their past cell phone use, with questions about the model of phone they had used, how long they had used it, the average number and length of calls made and received each month and whether the phones were used for work.

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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KIM KARDASHIAN, Hungarian dog film takes prize KANYE WEST DAZZLE for innovative film at CANNES GUESTS IN VERSAILLES TV personality Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West arrive at a fashion designer workshop in Paris May 21, 2014.

Director Kornel Mundruczo is licked by a dog during a photocall for the film ‘’Feher isten’’ (White God) in competition for the category ‘’Un Certain Regard’’ at the 67th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes May 17, 2014.

U.S. television personality Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West toured the Chateau de Versailles in France on Friday with hundreds of guests ahead of their wedding in Florence this weekend, the visit’s organizer said. The couple were due to host an informal dinner and concert in Paris after visiting the palace, Omar Cherif told Reuters TV. The two had hoped to marry at Versailles, which King Louis XIV transformed from a hunting lodge into the dazzling heart of an absolutist state but were told in January that would not be possible.

Kardashian and West will celebrate their wedding in the 16th century Belvedere Fort in Florence on Saturday. An official at Florence mayor’s office said last week that the couple were renting the Belvedere Fort for 300,000 euros ($411,100) for the occasion, which will be presided over by a Protestant pastor. However, as the castle is not an authorized site for weddings, there was some question about whether the event will be an officially recognized marriage ceremony or a celebration with some looser status.(Reuters)

‘American Idol’ finale audience hits new low of 10.6 MILLION The finale of Fox’s singing competition show “American Idol” drew the lowest viewership in its 13-year history, with 10.6 million viewers, 25 percent below last year’s audience, according to ratings figures compiled by Nielsen on Thursday. “Idol,” which crowned North Carolina singer Caleb Johnson the winner in a twohour finale on Wednesday night, was once an industry powerhouse for Fox, watched by more than 30 million viewers at its peak. But it has steadily declined in ratings in recent years, averaging around 8 million viewers per episode over the latest season, despite featuring celebrity judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. The 18-49 demographic that advertisers covet accounted for 3.4 million of the viewers for this year’s finale, down from last year’s 6 million. Early Nielsen ratings data on Thursday from Fox said total viewership for the “Idol” finale was 10.1 million, with 3.3 million in the 18-49 demographic. Last year, the finale garnered 14.2 million

viewers, the first time the show’s end failed to draw 20 million people, despite bringing in high-priced celebrity judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Urban to boost sagging ratings. Its biggest competitor in the singing contest space, NBC’s “The Voice,” drew 11.6 million viewers during its Tuesday finale, down from the 15.3 million during its spring finale last year. “The Voice,” which airs in both the spring and fall each year, continues to be a ratings hit for the Comcast Corp-owned network and has outpaced “Idol,” averaging about 13.8 million viewers per episode this season. “Idol” will be scaled back for its next season from approximately 50 hours to 37 hours, Twenty-First Century Fox Inc’s Fox Broadcasting entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly said earlier this month. Last year, longtime “Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe was fired from the show because of low ratings and replaced by Swedish Per Blankens.

The Hungarian film “Feher Isten” (White God), starring a pack of stray dogs that terrorizes the capital Budapest and directed by Kornel Mundruczo, won the top prize in the “Un Certain Regard” forum of the Cannes International Film Festival on Friday. The runner-up, winning the jury prize, was “Turist” by Swedish director Ruben Ostlund. It is about the disintegration of a marriage after a husband abandons his wife and children on a terrace and flees when he falsely believes they are all about to be killed by an avalanche.

Jury President for the “Un Certain Regard” festival was Argentine director Pablo Trapero. The forum, “A Particular Outlook” in English, is for young, innovative filmmakers or directors that runs alongside the main Cannes competition, whose winners will be announced on Saturday. Other films competing for the prize were the directorial debut of Hollywood A-list actor Ryan Gosling, “Lost River”, the only Indian film in the competition, “Titli”, by Kanu Behl, and “Jauja” starring Viggo Mortensen from Argentina’s Lisandro Alonso.

Judge reinstates ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ author’s lawsuit against museum A federal judge on Thursday reinstated a lawsuit by “To Kill a Mockingbird” author Harper Lee against an Alabama museum she accuses of illegally profiting from her Pulitzer Prize-winning book. Attorneys for Lee and the Monroe County Heritage Museum announced in February that the two sides reached an out-of-court settlement. But the agreement has fallen through, according to legal filings from Lee’s attorneys. An Alabama judge on Thursday reset a trial date for November 2014. Norman Stockman, an attorney for Lee, said in the filing that the museum has not complied with the terms and is attempting to add new requests. The museum’s lawyer, Sam David Knight, declined to comment. Details of the agreement have not been made public. The reclusive author sued the museum in October, saying it never paid her a licensing fee for using the novel’s title and a mockingbird image on merchandise it sold in its gift shop. Lee’s suit contended the museum earned more than $500,000 in 2011 by selling goods including aprons, kitchen towels, clothing and coasters emblazoned with the title of her sole published work. The museum is located in Monroeville, the rural town that inspired the setting for Lee’s

1960 bestselling classic about racism and injustice. The tourist attraction includes the old courthouse that served as a model for the courtroom in the book’s movie version, which earned Gregory Peck the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of small-town lawyer Atticus Finch. Museum officials contend that Lee never requested compensation for the souvenirs honoring her literary legacy before filing the lawsuit. Lee, 88, is in declining health after suffering a stroke and lives in an assisted living facility in Monroeville, according to the suit.

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Guyanese will have to curb their appetite for all things “foreign” By Ralph Seeram I picked up the bottle of pepper sauce that said Guyanese Pepper Sauce and bought my brown sugar, (I do not use processed white sugar). I try to buy Guyanese made products, not only out of Guyanese pride but I know buying Guyanese made products creates jobs for Guyanese while earning export dollars for the country. I would later discover to my surprise the “fine print” said made in Trinidad. I will discover that Guyanese style pepper sauce and Guyanese made pepper sauce are two different things. So now you go to the Caribbean groceries, you see a variety of products labeled Guyanese style, but really not made in Guyana. You have to be careful about the brown sugar which a deceptive Guyanese-owned Canadian company passed off as its Demerara sugar, and label it as such, but it was really made in Mauritius. Don’ let me even get in to those Cassareep labeled Pomeroon cassareep made by people who probably don’t even know where Pomeroon is. However what it tells me is that there is a demand for Guyanese products in the Diaspora not only by Guyanese but the wider Caribbean populace living abroad. What is disappointing is the lack of Guyanese made products on the shelves of supermarkets abroad. Part of this has to do with Guyanese manufacturers. While they were ‘sleeping’, their counterparts in Jamaica

and Trinidad were penetrating the markets in the Diaspora; from simple things like fried channa and plantain chips to sugar and rice. Guyana considered an agricultural country is being “outgunned” by their Caribbean counterparts; and I can tell you why. They were not ready for “prime time”. I will give you two examples, a few years ago there was an expo for Guyanese manufacturers to showcase their products, and quite a few manufacturers were there. I was then the President of the Guyanese Association here in the Orlando area, so I tried to introduce local businessmen to the Guyanese manufacturers. Believe it or not, some of them could not give price quotes for bulk quantities, could not say what the FOB price were or what kind of shipping cost to get the product to the U S. One guy selling lumber was confused with square feet and linear feet, did not know treated wood from kiln dried wood. The only impressive companies were the Beharry Group of Companies and DDL. Today I see their products on the shelves here. So while there is a demand for value added Guyanese products in the Diaspora, we find in Guyana the total opposite. I read on social media this week where one overseasbased Guyanese who went back home said that she was shocked when she saw a local person buying a can of “bhagee” and a can of coconut milk. That is minimal to what I saw. Back in the Burnham days, to his credit

(regardless of the motives) he pushed using local products. In some cases there was no choice. Today in the US with the proliferation of Chinese goods and inferior at that, you are seeing labels that say “Proudly made in the US” Guyanese go back to Guyana and want to drink Banks beer, the locals want foreign; the visitor wants good old Guyana rum, considered the best in the world, and Guyanese are craving foreign “liquor”. I go and want to drink things made in Guyana and I see Guyanese drinking soda made in Barbados and Trinidad and feel proud about it. I find the Guyanese at home feel “foreign” is better. It seems as if they gain status by eating, wearing and using things “foreign”. I saw some time ago on You Tube two local women “busing” each other for the affection of their male lover. At one point one of the women displayed a handful of panties to her rival, holding the handful of panties in the air for all to see said “This is from Victoria Secret”. I don’t know if wearing Victoria Secret panties gave her and advantage over her rival. They are made in Guyana but are not offered for sale in Guyana. But back to the serious side, the Guyanese economy is showing signs of cracking; Guyana is experiencing Balance of Trade deficits. I don’t care how you put it, if you spend more than you earn it catches up with you. The proliferation of foreign goods in Guyana, including

cars, is hurting the Guyanese economy. Already, the exchange rates are going up and will continue to go up. The Guyanese economy depends largely on gold exports; forget about the traditional three pillars— sugar, rice and bauxite. It was gold that kept the economy alive, along with remittances from the Diaspora. Some will also argue that the white powder that is NOT cassava flour, or regular flour, but baked into pastries, placed in fruits, vegetables, lumber and other ingenious methods to

export, is also helping to drive the economy. Guyana has already seen how the dependence on gold exports is risky business. Gold prices decreased to a third of its peak value in recent years. Besides being a depleting source, it is subject to speculation of the world market. Forget about all this talk of the economy growing every year, the problem is exports are not keeping up with imports, and while

Guyanese are wasting valuable foreign exchange importing fresh flowers etc. the time is rapidly coming when they may have to choose between FLOWER and FLOUR. This may sound farfetched for some, but if they continue this trend they will find they will have to pay more for their appetite as the Guyana dollar continues to devalue. Guyanese need to be (Continued on page 64)

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PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale.Call:627-5416 33’X24’ – two storey concrete building @ Tuschen New Scheme E.B.E Contact: 665-9102 FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. ($80,000), 250GB XBOX360 WITH 6 CONTROLLERS AND 9 GAMES - CALL: 601-7152 OR 223-9987 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 PVC Ceiling Panels, PVC Mouldings, Medallions. American Standard!!! – Call:614-8564, 680-0862 Top Quality imported pups for sale, 1 golden retriever, 1 malamute, 2 German Shepherds and 3 Rottweilers. For more information call: 615-5343 Nine & seven months old female German shepherd for sale – Contact: 263-5755, 683-4832 Rabbits -$2,000 each – Contact: 642-8843 Pure Rottweiler pups, parents are imported pedigree dogs Call: 2642870 or 672-6402 after 6pm 665-9140 or 639-1431 Dell computers with 17" Leds -$59,000, laptops from -$64,000, Blackberry 8310 $9,000 @Futuretech – Call: 231-2206; 644-6760 Live/pluck chicken call: 6504421, 220-9203 Dressed and mill cut lumber: Kabukalli, Silverballi, Greenheart, Purpleheart etc – Call: 688-6579 One female pure bred German Shepherd puppy, fully vaccinated & dewormed – Call: 629-1471, 220-2277, 220-8904, 629-1419 American made Werner Aluminum Ladders; 25 feet -$35,000, 17 feet, multipurpose - $28,000 – Call: 609-7257, 602-5794 1 MF290 Tractor, 1 Toyota Tacoma, STIHL chainsaws, tractor parts, STIHL blower, STIHL paint sprayer, pressure washer, etc - Call: 689-8884 Yard Sale May 25th @ 250 Meadow Bk – Household items: Linen, etc, men, women & children clothing @ a low cost. Call: 622-8134, 691-7054 Canadian rebuilt Perkins Duetz engine, Lincoln generator welder, model M with winch, 320 excavator Call: 691-2921

FOR SALE Pigs & Pork – Call: 695-4510 Dachshund & Terrier pups – Contact: 680-0192/ 216-3408 MERCURY 99.99% PURE LAB GRADE. USA QUALITY, NOT CHINESE! BEST PRICE! – CALL: 592648-5281 Tibetan pup and household furniture, reasonable, owner leaving country – Call: 2254780, 601-5927 Dachshund pups mix with Pekingese for sale – Call: 6772476 1-65-210 DAF engine in excellent condition, foreign used – Call: 628-1756, 2285655 One SLI serato, RCF 18" p400 speakers, 2EV DHIA 4" horn driver etc – Tel: 639-8953 Chicken Hatchery (Robbins), 28,000 eggs capacity fully ready, 3 Incubators, 4 Hatchers all $ 5Million or Credit available Tel: 227-3939 621-4000 Tools: Mechanical, electrical/ corded, cordless & air, 15" tyres, Hilux Crash Bar, 2E engine/transmission, windchargers –Tel: 222-4158, 6417526 One business property @ Lot 1 Durban & Smyth Street, One house & Land @ 119 Pike Street Kitty – Phone:231-1966 Cheap earth delivered to spot E.C.D and E.B.D- Call: 6279977, 698-0182 Clean garden earth & builders waste, our service also includes Bobcat rental, excavating, clearing & leveling - Call: 616-0617, 663-3285

ACCOMMODATION Rooms available at Serenity Inn US$50 & US$55 breakfast included- Contact 676-2907 for reservation. Lot 11 Lamaha Street Harmony Inn -$5,000-$8,000 per night, complimentary breakfast, discounts (longterm), honeymoon package, 3 nights $15,000-$20,000 - Call: 668-0306, 694-7817 FOR HIRE Do you want safe transportation to the airport, creek, etc? Then book your spot now! –Call: 644-4958

Prime Business. Established Business, Three storey building 220 South Road Lacytown Georgetown – Tele: 227-1042, 601-3369. Serious callers only! 20 acres cultivated farm, 3 bedrooms fully furnished located Pomeroon River – Tel: 672-7827 Flat 3-bedroom house at LaGrange Call: 613-4131 Two storey house at Retrieve Linden. Price $11MCall: 641-7979 1-2storey wooden & concrete 5-bedroom house; upper & lower flat 4 apartments located@ Shell Road, kitty - $38.9M - Tel: 642-7898 Lot 81 Lamaha Street. No Agent! - Call: 673-5882 Prime Business property, huge land space, 200’X50', next to Police Outpost @ Mc Doom 233-0570 1-2 storey building, wooden & concrete in Northon St, 5 building from Camp St. Second building from Main Rd. $19M Neg. – Call: 6280972 One 2-storey building business property in La Parfaite Harmony Call: 6865083 Prime Commercial Properties @ Alberttown, GT, 3 lots with business, sold furnished, (Guyana Variety store & Nut Centre). Tel-621-4000, 2273939

FOR SALE/RENT American Pool tables – Call: 277-0578

SALON

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773

Smart Choice Auto Sales: Unregistered: Premio, Spacio, Allion, Allex, IST, 2 1 2 , F i e l d e r, Vo x y – Call:652-3820; 665-4529 2006 Toyota Tacoma fully loaded - $3.5M - Tel:6857659, 622-0445

Earn a certificate in cosmetology, wig designs or nails alone, limited spaces – Call Abby: 619-7603, 666-5241

1 Toyota RAV 4 2001 model Call: 686-5083 FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One barber shop / salon with 5 stations at David & Queen Streets Kitty – Call Alana: 646-0268 One complete dredge and one three bed top flat to rent Call: 687-0835 Prime Location, residential & commercial building for any business @ 22 Public Road Covent Garden East Bank Demerara – Call: 682-7490 Secured Concrete bond 87’X32’, Public Road Mc Doom, next to Police Outpost suitable for storage/factory etc- Tel: 233-0570 G.T TOOL RENTALS SPECIAL: ALL SAWS CIRCLE, CHOP, TABLE, WET, $20,000 PER WK CALL: 675-0767 OR 627-5098 Rooms for anyone who is 40 years and older –Call: 699-2727 1 business bottom flat, bridge to road, approximately 1000 SQFT – Call: 628-1342/ 2266071

New, fully furnished, 3bedroom, Mexican-style home with free Wi-Fi internet, W.B.D – Call: 682-1256

CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 225-7126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com Aidan’s Car Rental, Canter & Pickup - Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807 Wings Car Rental- Call:6431131 ProgressiveAuto Rental: Cars & SUV for rental- $4,000 & up per day- Call: 643-5122, 628-2284 ,Email:pro_ autorental @yahoo.com EDUCATIONAL Balloon Decorating Classes – 31st May 2014 – Call: 2253133 or 613-7513 for more information and to register.

Sunday May 25, 2014

LAND FOR SALE Parfaite Harmonie (100ft X 50ft) -$2.2M &$1.2M, Grove (new) with foundation & column -$3.2M Herstelling 110ft X 60ft. Call: 675-7292 Over 70 Acres of Transported land for sale at Coverden, East Bank Demerara, serious inquiries only – Call: 661-6993

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Real Estate properties to rent, sell or manage? Then Call Diana: 227-2256, 626-9382 for professional services COOL TECH : Repairs Services & Installation of all types if homes appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units - Tel: 233-2008; 675-4959

Toyota L-Touring & Fielder Wagon, At192, AT212, AE110 Corolla Raum, Fun cargo, RZ minibus, IST –Tel: 644-5096, 697-1453

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar:2310655,683-8734

STAR CARS AUTO SALE: Premio, Spacio, Allion, IST, Feilder, Altezza, new Raum, Axela, Carina 212 – Call: 679-3140, 615-1199

House plan drafting from$10,000 electrical works and estimates services available. Tel:667-2189,646-6572,629-8750 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 662-6045 Brian Moe @ 642-3543; computer technician; FB: Brian.Moe165; home and office visits at your comfort!!! Building and need exceptional quality service at an affordable price – Please contact Rica on 223-2695/ 661-6073 Luxury building construction, general contractors, general building construction concrete, wood, ceiling, roof, etc – Call: 592-6954062, email:anojaisari@yahoo.com

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 B & C Driving School: Lot 5 Hadfield Street Lodge- call: 225-0150, 229-7258, 680-6826

2-1RZ mini bus BLL & BJJ diesel, good working condition – Call: 628-1342 or 226-6071 2 Toyota Corolla AE100 Wagon - $1.1M, 1 Toyota Dyna Canter - $1.1M, 1 Toyota 4-wheel drive Tundra - $1.9M – Call: 627-8442, 6394626 Toyota Tundra – GKK Series - $2M negotiable – Call Samantha on 628-5590 HUMMER H1, MILITARY GRADE, F U L LY LOADED, F U L LY S E R V I C E D , E X C E L L E N T CONDITION, GSS SERIES – CALL: 5926485281

MASSAGE The Gent’s Spa: Be pampered by our beautiful masseuses, H-Hands, wet bliss. Won’t You Let Me? – Contact: 657-5979

First Class Auto: Allion, Premio, Spacio, IST, 212, Fielder, Raum, Allex, Runx, Bluebird, Axela - Tel:6098188, 638-3045 One Toyota Land cruiser Prado, PMM Series Call: 225-0188, 223-7500, Mon-Fri 8:15-4:15pm, Sat - 8:15-1:15PM Unregistered Spacio, TV Flair Kit, Noah mini buses BSS series – Call: 697-0294 Toyota Marino excellent condition, automatic, AC, CD, Mags -$750,000 - Tel: 619-1047 Toyota Raum, Silver, year 2002, PMM series with alarm - Call: 621-5244 Toyota Avensis 2003, PRR series 18" Rims, leather interior, HID, A/C, Alarm, TV, $3.250M, immaculate condition! - Tel:609-7257, 602-5974 ALYEA AUTO SALE: SPACIO 2004, DARK INTERIOR, FOG, PRICE TO GO. LOT 40 CROAL STREET G/TOWN – TEL:622-3823/ 231-5789 One Toyota RAV4 automatic model UA-ACA 21W (Rav-4) Plate PPP series – Call: 2276903, Cell: 676-6109 Price: $3.8M (Continued on page 63)

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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ALPHA HOTEL PROPRIETRIX MURDER...

Ex-husband freed on no case submission

On Wednesday afternoon, murder accused Kwabena Barker, also known as Alex Barker, was freed after a jury found him not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife and proprietrix of Alpha Hotel, Roselaine Pearl Hall. It was alleged that between January 30 and March 13, 2008 at Yarrowkabra, Barker murdered Hall. Hall, a US citizen, disappeared on January 30, 2008, reportedly after leaving a hairdressing salon in the city. Six weeks later her decomposed remains were found by workers in the area about one and a half miles off the Soesdyke/Linden Highway near Yarrowkabra. The decomposed remains, wrapped in blue tarpaulin, wore clothing identified as those worn by the missing Alpha Hotel owner, Roselaine Pearl Hall, the day she was last seen. Hall had come to Guyana to manage the guest house business owned by her father, Byron Dick, after he was gunned down outside his home in 2003. Dick was the original owner of all of the Alpha Hotel outlets. At the preliminary inquiry at the magistrates’ court a couple years ago many questions were raised about the involvement of the husband, Romeo Rockefeller, in the murder. Hall had filed for divorce shortly before she was murdered and Rockefeller stood to and did inherit a large share of Hall’s estate of over $80 million. At the trial in the High Court, Justice William Ramlal found after conducting a “voir dire” (or a trial within a trial) that the state had not

satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the caution statement taken from Barker should be admitted into evidence. Barker’s lawyer, Charles S. Ramson, said that “the exclusion of the caution statement in this case was critical”. Ramson went on to say that in charging and prosecuting Barker alone for this murder, a very unusual situation had occurred. “The Prosecution wanted us to believe part of the statement, that Barker was involved in the plan to commit this murder but to disbelieve the other part that Rockefeller was the mastermind of this plan.” It was revealed at the preliminary inquiry that Rockefeller had been questioned by the police and released without charge. After the exclusion of the caution statement the State submitted that it had no further evidence. Ramson then made a no case submission and the jury returned a not guilty verdict. The case had attracted the attention of the FBI as Hall was a US citizen and samples of the body had been sent for DNA identification. That evidence, however, had never been tendered by the State in the preliminary inquiry. Ramson added that despite the recent debate about the elimination of the jury system, he is not advocating for that. In an age where allegations are always made loosely about the corruption, negligence, and incompetence of a person in authority, a judgement by your peers is still the best method to preserve the

perception of justice which should always be the paramount consideration in the debate. “I, however, believe that the jury method should be the preserve of about three offences.Having said that and bearing in mind that the burden is on the state to prove beyond reasonable doubt that a person is guilty of an offence, legitimate concerns are raised when one considers conviction rates in jury trials. “I am of the view that the response to that concern is not to get rid of the jury system but I strongly believe that the prosecution could benefit from having more access to resources which includes human. The state would be in a better position to secure convictions if at the point of investigation an attorney representing the State is advising appropriately. “I would suggest that when judges retire or attorneys with a long and successful record of criminal practice retire they could be retained as a consultant to the DPP chambers. Their experience is invaluable to our country and they bring a perspective of seeing it from the other angle.” The steps taken in the justice sector reform have been no doubt commendable but they have to go much further, Ramson said.

VEHICLE FOR SALE Unregistered Toyota Noah, with TV, Rims, Camera - Tel: 629-2619 or 663-2700 Stretch limousine, Lincoln Town car, fully powered, leather interior, CD player, 18" rims $5.M or credit available Tel 227-3939, 621-4000 5 Pcs -Trike-Can- Am style, Motorcycle, digital dash, 200cc new, unregistered $275,000 negotiable/ financing available, wholesale -Tel 227-3939, 624000 Mitsubishi 3000GT sports car, 18" rims, leather seats, CD player, excellent condition $2.2 million or credit available -Tel 621-4000, 227-3939 Reduced: - Mercedes Benz S300 bullet proof, leather seats, automatic, 19" rims CD and DVD player, $2.2 million cash- Tel 621-4000 Trident car new 250cc, 5 speed, power windows, keyless entry, cd player $450,000 or financing available Tel 621-4000, 2273939 1-2001 Toyota Rav4, Late PMM series in showroom condition. Fully loaded, fully powered, great offer- Contact: 621-6363

TO LET 1 - Four bedrooms house with all modern conveniences, semi-furnished - $300,000 monthly, Happy Acres – Tel: 231-7839 (working hours) CAKES & PASTRIES Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery; also edible images and Wedding dresses for sale. Call: 670-0798

EDUCATIONAL Canadian School of Arts & Science, Third Avenue, Diamond: CAT Accounting Classes begin on July 1, – Call: 216-6921/22 to register Foundation/ summer classes: Form 1, 2 &3 – JulyAugust. Mathematics, English, Spanish, Music, I.T, etc – Call Mr. Lee: 227-7850 Just completed Level 6? Need transition/foundation classes – Forms 1 & 2 – Call Mr. Lee: 227-7850

From page 62

Three bedroom apartment & studio @ Eccles – Call: 6447000, 233-3133 or 233-2369

VACANCY

WANTED Barbers and tattoo artist opposite Kitty Police Station – Call: 621-8812

Vacancy exist for one personal home tutor – Please contact: 676-2812

Car/Van Driver for weekend duties, labourers - Tel: 2271830

# 1 Plant Shop 18-28yrs, sales experience, Mon-Sat, healthy, hard working, pleasant – Tel: 648-1821

Live in experienced cook and waitresses 18-30yrs, accommodation free. Salary negotiable - Call: 698-7172

DRIVER and SALESMAN for Gas Trucks on East Coast, West Coast and East Bank Demerara. 266 4427

Lady to clean house & cook. Must be mature, good manners & must know to cook food - EBD Call: 2318344

Gardener 18-35yrs, hardworking, punctual, team player no experience & no education needed – Call: 646-2108 Chief/ Baheir & Kitchen assistant to work & live in Buckhall Essequibo River – Contact: 592-690-4860 Drivers, visiting & security officers. Apply within NM Security Solutions Inc, Lot “O” Ruimveldt Georgetown – Tel: 225-5773/76 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 670-8893/684-2838 Accounts clerk with 4 Subjects CXC, 2 yrs experienced, knowledge of Peachtree WBD area – E-m a i l : sase_shewnarain@hotmail.com. Mature, friendly driver with Lorry licenses needed for water delivery company – Call: 610-8282, 671-9614

2 bedrooms apartments @ Factory Road Paradise, ECD. Large living, dining, etc. One month’s security - $38,500 monthly - Call: 625-9939, 6722677 One furnished upper flat 3 bedroom, @ Pike St Kitty, long & short term - Tel: 6448015 One bedroom apartment bottom flat @ Newtown Kitty -$25,000 – Tel:227-5985, 6607952 One room for female only, with no children on the E.C.D – Call: 687-5197

Lifelong partners, friends, companions- Call: 223-8237/ 648-6098 (8:30am-5pm), both phones same hours. Confidential rules apply.

One new furnished 4 bedrooms house, 5 minutes from UG -$160,000 – Tel: 2224158, 641-7528 EDUCATIONAL IAE –Camp Street – Registration has commenced Forms 1-5 (fulltime school); day & evening, adult CXC classes – Call: 6835742, 223-0604

DRESSMAKING Jean is offering courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral & cake decoration @ 153 Barr Street Kitty – Call: 6702653, 618-1706 TO LET Newly built one bedroom apartment for rent - Call: 6578335

PENPAL

Two handymen to work in interior Call : 684-7516 Urgently needed 2 plots of land to buy in La Parfaite Harmonie. All legal fees paid Call: 675-7292 Pacific Development Inc – Looking to buy empty lands in all areas. Contact 2278274, 223-6035 General domestic maid at Lot 8A Eccles Public Road, E.B.D - 233-2408 or 233-2631 One shop attendant & one handy boy to work in the interior Call: 681-6044 One daytime security, 1 gardener/farm worker, also one house & land @ Covent Garden Island for sale - Call: 265-3586 Live out domestic babysitter and live in babysitter –Call: 225-0188, 223-7500 (Monday to Saturday) (8:15am-4:15pm) One Honest counter clerk, 3yrs experienced selling Japanese Spare Parts – Contact Ray’s Motor Spares & Auto Sales: 231-7839 (working hours) Experienced hair/nail person at Parika E.B.E location – Call: 260-4737, 661-0019 Live-in experienced caregiver – Call: 664-8150 Part-time domestic to do basic house work, no cooking @ Guyana Variety Store & Nut Centre, 38 Cumming St, Alberttown, Tel 2273939 One domestic worker, one domestic cook @ East Coast Demerara – Contact: 6115398, 621-8478 One handy boy, live in accommodation and free meals – Call: 628-1756 or 2285655 Workers for land dredge, 1 male bahier - $80,000 monthly – Tel: 694-2310 Person to draw cones from machine and sell.Good Rates - Tel:227-1830

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Kaieteur News

Man executed, dumped on Eccles Rd A security service made a startling discovery last night in the Eccles Industrial Site. The ranks found a man dressed in denim coat and pants lying face down on the access road behind the Eccles Industrial Site. He had been shot and killed and his body dumped there. This newspaper

understands that the man was identified only as “Charles”. No one could say where he lived or who his relatives were. Someone reported hearing gunshots and called the guard service. The man, believed to be in his 30s, had what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his

left side chest. Kaieteur News was told that security personnel on patrol saw the body just after 20:00 hours and called police. His cell phone was found next to his body. Police on the scene believed it was a hit and run accident because of bruises to his hands and blood in his

face. Emergency workers who arrived with the ambulance found what appeared to be a bullet wound to his chest. A doctor from the Diamond hospital had found a faint pulse. Persons in the area reported hearing several gunshots but could not say from whence they came.

C’tyne Chambers decry skyrocketing Berbice... (From page 60) different variety at the event.” Security, which is always a big issue, he said, will see the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in charge of security at the event. There will be assistance from Sentinel Security “to ensure law and order and safety at the event.” The flood lights at the Albion Sports Complex, he noted, “will provide a different level of security, because I am sure when you put on six large floodlights, it will be as bright as day. We shall turn the night into day!” Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh as well as Vice- Chairman of Region Six, Mr. Bhupaul Jhagroo, also addressed the launch.

We cannot determine our destiny, but we do have a choice of a philosophy that will influence the direction of our life.

A section of the gathering.

Guyanese will have to curb their... (From page 61) educated on the value of using local products; they need to understand it’s money coming back in their pockets by way of more employment opportunities etc, while local manufacturers

need to step up to get their products to foreign markets. There are foreign investors willing to invest in Guyana, but the “push around” they get discourages them. I was told by a source responsible for promoting trade in Guyana, that when Investors go to places like Trinidad and Jamaica the process is smooth, encouraging. In Guyana it’s a NIGHTMARE, running around various

ministries to get required paperwork, permits etc. The concept of one clearing house is broken. Then we have the cases where those in power use personal vindictiveness to stifle local investors. Guyanese will have to curb their foreign appetite, or pay the price. They are already paying to buy scarce US dollars. Ralph Seeram can be reached at ralph365@ hotmail,com

Sunday May 25, 2014

Gunmen lock up Lucky Dollar workers, escape with cash Two gunmen escaped with over $1M from the Lucky Dollar store located in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, yesterday after locking workers and customers in a room. The robbery occurred around 10:00 hrs. There were two customers and four workers, including the security guard, in the building. According to one of the workers, she was attending to a customer when she was notified by her colleague to check on another customer who was interested in purchasing a recliner chair set. “I went up to him and I noticed him from the day before (Friday). He came in and said he wanted to purchase the chair set. He was asking if we have another colour and I said no and he left and went away,” the worker said. She added that when she approached him yesterday, he informed her that his aunt was coming to do the necessary transactions. “I left him upstairs and I went back downstairs to deal with my customer. Couple minutes later another guy came in and he was checking out the music sets and he was behaving strange. He was walking around the store fast, fast, fast,” the staff noted. Kaieteur News was further informed that the customer who was inquiring about the music set left and went to the back of the

building. “When he went to the back, the other guy who was upstairs came down with the sales representative and the security guard and they asked everybody to lie on floor. He had a gun in his hand,” the worker added. She further posited that the second gunman took the cashier into a room and demanded that she give him the cash. “When they got the cash they carry us in a room and lock us in and when we average that they left, we came out,” the worker said. The young woman added that the gunmen were well aware of the building and the fact that there were no surveillance cameras there. “He (gunman) tell the cashier not to press the buzzer (security alarm) so he was aware of everything,” the woman added. Investigations are ongoing. On January 25, last, a security guard was found dead at a Lucky Dollar branch in Rose Hall Town, Berbice after bandits gained entry into the building. According to reports, the bandits entered the yard through the back gate of the compound and pounced on the unsuspecting security guard. They bound and gagged him, and he reportedly died of suffocation. The robbers then gained entry to the building by breaking the concrete ventilator at the side of the structure.

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Sunday May 25, 2014

Pakistan says no tension between government and army ISLAMABAD (Reuters) Pakistan denied reports about deepening divisions between the civilian government and the army yesterday and said it had yet to decide whether to call off attempts to engage Pakistani Taliban insurgents in peace talks. On Friday, Reuters quoted a government insider as saying that during a tense meeting this week, Pakistan’s powerful army chief told Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that the time for talks with the Taliban was over. Sharif came to power a year ago promising to find a peaceful settlement and has put talks at the heart of his security policy. But as round after round of talks failed, the army started to lean towards a military solution in the troubled North Waziristan region where the militants are holed up. Pakistani media almost never report on the often

difficult relationship between the civilian government and the army. In a statement on Saturday, the Interior Ministry said there was no tension with between the government and the military. “Clarifying the situation the (Interior) Minister said the meeting was held in a highly congenial and positive atmosphere in which wideranging issues pertaining to national security including the situation on our borders was discussed,” it said. “No decision for a full scale military operation in North Waziristan was taken,” the ministry quoted the minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, as saying. “There was no decision to call off the dialogue process, nor was any such demand made from either side as reported by the news agency,” he added. The day after the meeting, Pakistani forces launched rare air strikes against militants holed up in the

remote, lawless tribal belt on the Afghan border. Then on Thursday, they backed that up with the first major ground offensive against the Taliban, putting the military, which has a long record of intervening in civilian rule, firmly back at the center of Pakistan’s security policy. “Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the current state of airstrikes and limited military action is in continuation of the already taken decision that any act of violence or terrorism against civilian or military targets will meet a calibrated and measured response,” the statement said. Pix – Newly Caption - Pakistan’s newly appointed army chief General Raheel Sharif attends the change of command ceremony in with outgoing army chief General Ashfaq Kayani (not in picture) at army headquarters in Rawalpindi. REUTERS/Mian Khursheed

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Sunday May 25, 2014

Tower Hotel goes under, workers protest non-payment At a time close to the completion of the 197-room Marriott; Tower Hotel, which has been one of Guyana’s more popular places, has gone out of business. Yesterday, several non-paid workers attached to the hotel mounted protests at the Main Street location to register their aggravation. Those involved in the demonstration lamented that they weren’t paid for quite some time. One senior employee has not been paid in as long as seven months. Over 50 workers, 45 of whom are unionized, are affected by the hotel’s “flap.” Only security and maintenance members of staff were allowed inside the hotel. Others stood outside the front door of the property with

placards that reflected their frustration. The placards, which they held high, read “We need to be paid now,” “Lockout without pay,” “Single mother without pay,” and “Workers need to meet with directors” President of the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), Sherwood Clarke, told Kaieteur News that the Union had a meeting with the Hotel’s management on Monday last. He said that during the course of the meeting, management lamented the financial constraints that the hotel is being faced with. According to Clarke, CCWU was basically told that business was at an all time low. The Union President said that the hotel management recommended that staffers be

laid off for si to eight weeks until the hotel is able to raise its head above water. However, Clarke said that the Union rejected that proposal. According to him, the union had, instead, recommended a reduction in the work-week from five days to three days, a recommendation to which management agreed. He said, however, that lo and behold, he got a call on Friday that workers were told to do what the initial proposal was made by management. Yesterday’s crowd was dominated by women who bemoaned the fact that they are single parents and the present situation is causing them not to fulfill some of their parental obligations. Kaieteur News

understands that one woman, who reportedly worked at the Tower Hotel for over 20 years, took ill when she turned up to work and learned about the new arrangement. Her colleague said, “She only found out about it today, because she didn’t work (Friday). But when she realize what they did she took in with she pressure.” One staff member showed Kaieteur News her work agreement between CCWU and Tower Hotel. Under severance and retrenchment, there are six conditions; one being that there must be one month’s notice or payment in lieu. That very employee, identified as Thereza, said that she learnt that NIS hasn’t any contributions for her since 2013.

Asked how come the workers have not yet sought employment elsewhere, given the conditions, Thereza replied, “Most of us are trained in hospitality and most members of staff have worked here for 10 to 15 years. We went through different owners and all so it is not that easy to walk away like that. The consensus among workers is that the present management should be blamed for the poor state of affairs at the Hotel. Clarke told Kaieteur News that a complaint would be lodged at the Labour Ministry on Tuesday as part of steps to ensure that the workers are paid. Hotel Tower has been struggling with business in

recent years, but it became worse over the past two years. The Hotel has been has been on the market since March but there are no known offers for buyers Just this past week, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) disconnected the electricity as a result of mounting unpaid bills. In 2009, Tower Hotel was sold to Canal Hospitality Inc, a business partnership headed by Salim Azeez. Recently, Prairie Hotel was placed on the market for sale. So far there has been no known sale of that hotel. But even though all these hotels go under; the government insists that the Marriott is what Guyana needs at such a time.

Investigation continues into fracas at New Amsterdam prison Investigation is continuing into Friday afternoon’s fracas during which four high profile remand prisoners were brutally chopped and burnt by fellow inmates. The violence broke out around 18:00 hrs in what apparently was gang warfare. The four men are reportedly members of a gang within the prison. Pandemonium broke out first outside the New Amsterdam Prison and then at the New Amsterdam hospital as relatives got word of what was taking place in the penal institution. Reports are that shots were fired outside the prison as the crowd pressed forward in an effort to get a closer look at what was happening. The big question is how did the inmates get possession of prohibited materials such as cutlass, acid and cell phones. One relative said that he got a call from inside the prison telling him to come quickly, because they were being murdered. As word spread more and more relatives poured down to the scene. The situation was quickly

brought under control and the four men were rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital. At the Hospital pandemonium broke out as more relatives arrived. The hospital authorities locked the door and relatives desperate to see their love ones banged at the door and broke the windows. Police reinforcement was quickly summoned and more armed ranks arrived. This however did not stop the relatives from venting their anger and abusing the ranks and hospital authorities who firmly stood their ground. This was after relatives were told that they could not enter the Accident and Emergency Unit where the men were. Although more than 24 hours have passed since the incident occurred, neither the Guyana Prison authorities nor the Guyana Police Force has issued a statement on the incident. Senior Officers in the Police B division including Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph were busy conducting investigations. Also during the night the prison service

rushed senior officers to Berbice among them, Acting Deputy Director of Prisons Carl Grahame to get a hand of the situation. However information remained sketchy with many versions being peddled as to how the men got injured. One report was that the men were injured by one Randolph Rodrigues, called ‘Shoulders,’ who is serving a 20-year sentence for murder. Another report is that the perpetrator wrestled a prison warden and took away the keys after which he armed himself with a cutlass and opened the cells where the men were before chopping and burning some of them in what was said to be a well planned attack. An inside source stated that there were three persons who carried out the assault. One of the injured men told a relative that the lock was opened by one of the Samaroo brothers who are the leaders of the ‘Scare Dem Crew’ from Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam. There are reports that a cutlass and a corrosive substance were smuggled into the prisons recently. According to a hospital source the four men all received multiple chops about their bodies and were in

critical conditions when they arrived at the hospital. However they were stabilised before they were transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital in two different ambulances. Those confirmed injured are Davendra Harricharran, called ‘Bara’, 27, of Nigg Squatting area, Corentyne, Berbice; Quammy Bhagwandin, 32, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam; Clarence Williams called ‘Wild Hog’, 41, of Angoy’s Avenue; and Adbussulum Azimulla called “Sato” 31 of Lot 183 Hampshire Corentyne Berbice. Harricharran is on remand for the $10M armed robbery committed onApril 9, last, at Rose Hall Town, on businessman Mangalie Ramlinggum . Investigators had received information that Harricharran was the owner of the getaway motorcycle. He was also a member of the notorious ‘Pop Corn’ gang and was recently freed on a murder charge. He was charged along with Gansham Jagassar called ‘Suresh’ and Abdulssalam Azimullah for the 2004 murder of Gary Simon which occurred at Nigg Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice. AdbussulumAzimulla called “Sato” 31 of Lot 183 Hampshire Corentyne Berbice is on remand on the murder charge which occurred since 2004.

He is also charged with two counts of robbery under arms, while in company with others and armed with an AK 47 rifle on Saturday 2nd June 2012 at Cumberland, East Canje he robbed a business couple millions of dollars in cash and jewelry including foreign currency. Azimulla was on the run for more than eight years after the murder. He was subsequently charged with the capital offence and remanded to jail. Quammy Bhagwandin, 32, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam was wanted by the police for a series of break and enter and robbery offences and was captured when he turned up at the Sisters Magistrate Court for an impending matter. Bhagwandin was remanded on two charges of discharging a loaded firearm on February 13, last, at Bath Settlement West Coast Berbice and attempted robbery on the businessman and his son. That incident led to a high speed chase over the Berbice River Bridge. Two men were subsequently captured and identified Bhagwandin as the master mind. He was also wanted in connection with the break and enter that occurred at C and K Pharmacy and drugs store. Police had recovered a number of items

from a dilapidated house at Angoy’s Avenue which was reported to have been frequented by Bhagwandin. He was also wanted in the break and entering and robbery of the Furniture World business establishment at Main and King Streets, New Amsterdam. He is also still being investigated for a number of other robberies that occurred recently. Clarence Williams called ‘Wild Hog’ 41 of Angoy’s Avenue had written to the Chancellor of the Judiciary citing victimization and undue delay and a number of other issues. Williams’s matters include sacrilege, robbery, possession of house breaking implements and break and enter and larceny which were committed in the months of April and May 2009. Williams who was in custody for the four matters is also charged with escaping from lawful custody while being a prisoner at the New Amsterdam Prison between June 1st and 2nd 2009.He had dug himself out of his cell and scaled the fence before making good his escape. He had fled to neighbouring Suriname where he was recaptured and brought back to Guyana. While on remand Williams had also assaulted a police officer.

Sunday May 25, 2014

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“All Hail - Christopher Henry Gayle – 100 Tests not out!” He may not be the classical opening batsman that many, especially old timers, would prefer, nor would he always be the most patient batsman in the world when at the crease. But when it comes to being dynamic, calculating, confident, destructive, effective, mostly ultra-aggressive in his batting, properly productive too, then Christopher Henry Gayle is your man! Come June 08, at Sabina Park, one of the premier, and oldest, Test cricket grounds in the Caribbean, where many a record has been broken, and, except for any additional injuries, Gayle will make his one-hundredth Test appearance for West Indies.

A special few of our cricketers have given such long and wonderfully stellar service to this region! Gayle epitomizes the newer breed of batsman of this last decade; very tall, angular, physically strong and hard hitting. He can be compared to recently-retired South African captain Graeme Smith and recently decommissioned and excluded Englishman with South African roots, Kevin Pietersen. These are all really big, strong boys who have hit the cricket ball many a mile away! Not since the likes of (Sir) Clyde Walcott and Clive Lloyd can batsman anywhere be compared to the set that arrived this last decade, built

more like most fast bowlers of 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, than like batsmen! Gayle’s overall returns, to date, from international cricket have been excellent, astoundingly so, really, given the turmoil and upheavals his career for especially West Indies seemed to always encounter: 99 Tests, 6933 runs, highest score 333, 15 centuries, average 42.01; then 255 ODI’s, 8743 runs, h/s 153 no, avg. 37.52; also 42 T-20-I’s, 1239 runs, h/s 117, avg. 32.60, with an outstanding strike rate in T-20-I’s of 84.22. Those are good figures for any batsman, mostly an opening batsman, who many still think is not “normal”; whatever that is; regardless

Sunday May 25, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): If situations get too hot and heavy, Aries, your first instinct is to run away or jump to the next subject before anyone notices you're avoiding the serious ones. That's one way to deal with today's intensity, but deep down you know it isn't the best. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Your actions today could take an investigative approach, Taurus. You're able to probe much more deeply than usual as you search people's eyes for the answers you seek. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Your courageous strength and desire to take a leadership role may be threatening to others today, Gemini. Be careful of automatically assuming the dominant position before learning what other people feel about the situation. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): You can cut through to the truth quite easily today, Cancer, so don't hesitate to do so. If you come to an intersection and no one seems to know who should go next, take the initiative and go. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): IYou may want to keep your ship on an even keel today, Leo, but remember that no matter how hard as you try, this simply might not be possible. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): This is your day to shine in many respects, Virgo. The action you take is right on target, so draw back your arrow as far as you can before letting it fly.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): You could be wondering why everyone has to be so serious and emotional all of a sudden. You're likely to be feeling this way, too. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): Don't put up with anyone's shenanigans, Scorpio. Your time is too precious and your energy too powerful to waste on those who see you as a fair-weather friend or emotional crutch. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): You may have the intellectual side of the equation completely set in your head, Sagittarius. You've collected all the facts and have all the data worked out in such a way that it's impossible for anyone to fault your calculations. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Come out of your shell today and try not to be so aloof, Capricorn. You will never find the exact path you want to be on until you explore the different options. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18):Secure your bunker and make sure it's fully stocked with heavy artillery, because there is bound to be a battle, Aquarius. ********************* PISCES (Feb. 19 March 20): You tend to get quite emotional about things even though you don't always show it prominently to the outside world, Pisces. The difference today is that more people are likely to be openly acting out their emotions, so you, in turn, could feel safer about exposing your true feelings to the people around you.

of his position in the batting order. This new breed of cricketer does not always confirm to what “normal” is, but, at least now, for his 100th Test, all seems wonderfully well with the world and especially Gayle’s presence in West Indies teams! Gayle might not qualify fully as being a classical allrounder either, but as a right arm off-spinner who does not normally turn the ball much, he has done a relatively good job for West Indies too. 72 Test wickets at 42.00 avg., best bowling 5-34; 157 ODI wickets at 35.38 avg., best bowling 5-46, economy rate 4.74; and 15 T-20-I wickets at 24.00 runs average, economy rate 7.17 runs, are collectively nothing to sneeze at or ignore. Gayle, the bowler, has done his part well too! Of course, it is in T-20 format, internationally, or for teams world-wide, especially in IPL, that Gayle has really excelled. Indeed, it is as if T20 cricket was especially made for him, as he is still considered as one of the most feared T-20 batsmen anywhere, from Bulawayo to Brisbane to Barbados to Bangalore. Not many West Indian cricketers have managed 100 Tests or more, a really special bunch of players who have endured politics, selection policies, inefficiencies, inter-island jealousies, bad management and any number of odd situations that could have affected their presence and production in West Indies teams. According to cricket web-site “ESPN/Cric-info”, Clive Lloyd (110 Tests), Gordon Greenidge (108 Tests), Sir Vivian Richards (121 Tests), Desmond Haynes (116 Tests), Courtney Walsh (132 Tests), Carl Hooper (102 Tests), Brian Lara (131 Tests) and Shiv Chanderpaul (153 Tests), are the only West Indies players, to date, of the nearly three hundred that

Chris Gayle

have played Tests so far, to get to triple figures appearances in Tests. That Gayle will join this erstwhile band of superlative Caribbean cricketing marauders in completing 100 Tests, in two weeks’ time, is in itself a great honor and shows magnificent diligence and longevity! These special guys have endured and made whole the positives and great honors that representing the seven and a half million West Indies populace, and its diaspora, brings. Hail Christopher Henry Gayle and Company! Gayle has certainly seen tremendous upheaval in West Indies cricket, after his Test debut in 2000 v Zimbabwe at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

Colin E. H. Croft says: & Tobago, a game that West Indies should have lost, after setting Zimbabwe 99 to win, but somehow won, thanks to (Sir) Curtly Ambrose and Walsh. Gayle figures in that game, batting at No. 3, were 33 and 00. He did get 3-25 in Zimbabwe’s 1st innings. With such experiences, of course Gayle was also made West Indies Test captain, a situation that has the jury still out as to if he was useful, comfortable, innovative, positive and successful. Given full team captaincy in 2007/8 for WI Test tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe, after captaining in ODI’s and T-20-I’s in England the summer previously, Gayle was celebrated by his team for being “Mr. Cool” and most communicative, as WI won his first Test game as captain, v South Africa, by 128 runs. Not long afterwards, he too became immersed in WIPA/WICB situations and was promptly dropped. Nonetheless, Christopher Henry Gayle deserves all of the accolades he will get for his 100th Test! Enjoy!

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GCA’s Hadi’s World Inc first division two day cricket

Barnwell (165), Chanderpaul (131*) score 1st day tons By Sean Devers First-Class batsmen Christopher Barnwell and Taignarine Chanderpaul fashioned well constructed centuries yesterday when the latest round of the Hadi’s World Inc first division twoday cricket tournament continued in the City with first day action at three venues. At DCC, Barnwell’s pugnacious 165 spearheaded the host to first innings points over GNIC after DCC declared at 352-7 and bowled out GNIC for 167 by the end of the day, while Chanderpaul’s maiden first division ton, an unbeaten 131, helped home team Everest to first innings points over GCC. GCC fell for 172 all out while Everest responded with 216-3 when stumps were drawn. At Eve Leary, Transport also collected first innings points from Police after finishing the day on 189-6, replying to the 187 all out made by Police. Barnwell and the dreadlocked Jahron Byron, who made 72, added 175 for the fourth wicket for DCC before teenager Kemol Savory hit an unbeaten 21. Alistair Ifill captured 3-72 for GNIC who fell 185 runs short of their first innings target and could be asked to follow-on when play resumes at 09:00 hrs today. Collis Butts (46), Marc Nicolson (26) and Ifill (25) all got starts but failed to go on as part time off-spinner

Christopher Barnwell

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Trevon Griffith took 2-13 and left-arm spinner Totaram Bishun (4-58) did the damage with the ball for the hosts. At Camp Road, Robin Bacchus hit 15 fours in 76 and put together 79 with Royston Alkins for the third wicket before Alkins (29) was run out. The match saw the return of former National under-19 left hander 45-year-old Richard Jodha who returned to first division for the first time in over nine years. Jodha, who last played for Guyana in 1996 in Trinidad, made 13 before he was taken at slip off spinner Stephen Khan. Former national under17 batsman 21-year-old Delon Fernandes, who finished unbeaten on 31, also returned the domestic cricket after a two-year break for the game. Chris Sattaur 3-15 did the bulk of the damage for Everest

with the ball, before Chanderpaul and Joseph Perry (39*) shared in a 96-run unbroken fourth wicket stand after joining forces at 120-3 when first class player Chanderpaul Hemraj fell for one. At Police Royan Fredericks led the way for the Cops with 65 and shared in a 74-run opening stand with Rawle Browne (40). Seon Daniels (14) and Darson LaRose (18) then put on 36 for the last wicket as Kevin Ross, who turns 40 at the end of the month, captured 6-62 and Devon Nandan had 4-49. Transport took a two-run first innings lead with four wickets in hand by close of play with Aziz Azeez who retired hurt after being hit on his neck, hooking at LaRose, getting 51 and adding 98 with Nandan who top scored with 74. The action continues today.

From page 75 materials.NCN sees bringing the FIFA World Cup 2014, as an important aspect of its social responsibility in ensuring Guyanese enjoy the experience of this world class quadrennial tournament, taking place in our backyards. Already NCN is partnering with a number of corporate entities, to ensure that the 42 days of exciting games are brought to the Guyanese populace uninterrupted. NCN is also encouraging other corporate entities to join us in our bid to bring this highly anticipated tournament to all Guyanese, the release stated. Molly RampersaudHassan, Chief Executive Officer of NCN said: “It is an investment, a significant investment. NCN sees this as part of our national obligation, to bring to the Guyanese public the FIFA 2014 games coming out of Brazil, so across the length and breadth of

Guyana, Guyanese can now view the games and we can all share in the excitement.” Marketing manager of NCN Raymond Azeez said: “We have not sub-let the rights to any other television station up to this point in time, so it’s only on NCN in terms of cable and direct TV we are looking at that, because we don’t understand that people in their homes should have a choice, but for anyone outside of the legal framework trying to pirate or take a feed of the FIFA world cup, there will be some legal implications. So I want to advise other networks and viewers at large not to breach this contract, since it can lead to us losing the broadcast rights and ultimately the Guyanese public losing the opportunity to see the games.” Troy Peters, Communications Director of Banks DIH, franchise holder of Coca Cola informed: “We are quite

pleased to know that NCN will be bringing the broadcast to the Guyanese public, like coca cola, we are very much pleased to be associated with the World Cup Football 2014. Coca Cola is one of the longest corporate partners of the World Cup Football. I know that not a lot of people will be able to travel to Brazil, but with the kind of coverage being done by NCN, all Guyanese can benefit. We are totally behind NCN in this endeavor.” Apart from the airing of the games, there are a number of other promotional activities that will be taking place on NCN Radio and TV, including a high-energy, highly interacting and analytical programme, to be hosted by UK-based Football analyst Faizal Khan and Sports Journalist Isaiah Chappelle on Saturdays from 15:30 Hours, starting on May 31, the release noted.

Sunday May 25, 2014

Everest to host Enterprise in T/20 fixture Everest cricket club 100 years anniversary celebration continues, with the Masters’ team hosting Enterprise Busta Sports Club in a T/20 game tomorrow starting at 12:00hrs. Trophies for the winners and man of the match have been sponsored by Trophy Stall.

Teams: Everest- Rajesh Singh (capt.) Basil Persaud, Sahadeo Hardiou, Rakesh Gangaram, Ronald Jaisingh, Ravindranauth Seeram, David Harper, Sudesh Persaud, Deniss Mangru, Rohan Sarjoo, Paul Parsram, Johnny Azeez, Hemraj Garbarran and Shaheed Mohamed. EnterpriseYadram

Ceemangal (capt.) Vishnu Gobin, Latchman Yadram, Jitlall Jowahalall, Nazim Khan Omar, Karran Namdhoon, Nadesh Balram, Nandalall Seebarran, Vickesh Nankellanan, Deopaul Hewraj, Jaigobin Mohabeer, Jai Singh, Kalleel Mohamed, Jagdesh Persaud and D. Albert.

CULT/EBFA U-17 League

Kuru Kururu Warriors upset Diamond United; Grove Hi Tech blast Soesdyke Falcons

NCN has sole broadcast...

The Linden Soesdyke Highway based Kuru Kururu Warriors created the first upset of the CULT sponsored East Bank Football Association Under-17 league yesterday at the Grove Playfield, erasing a 1-0 deficit to defeat Diamond United in the feature game. Yesterday’s opening encounter saw home team Grove Hi Tech, led by a helmet-trick from Joel Dick and a double each from Threvon Pluck and Captain Trevor Jones, hammering Soesdyke Falcons 12-0 in a lopsided affair. Diamond United went into the game against Kuru Kururu Warriors as favorites to win, especially from the stand point that it was the first competitive junior game for the Warriors this season. The lack of cohesiveness did show for the highway based side in the first half as Diamond established themselves, taking the lead in

the process through a 19th minute strike from Daniel Melville. The Warriors did show at times glimpses of individual understanding of the game and as the game matured, they came into their own to the extent that they shocked the Diamond side. They earned the equalizer when one of their players was brought down in the area, Brian Daniels making no mistake in finding the back of the nets. The Warriors’ bench including the coaching staff was actually in a huddle when the penalty kick was being taken and erupted in celebrations when Daniels scored as if they had won the championship. Pressure was now on Diamond to stave off the Warriors and they did not succeed in this regard. In the 64th minute, Joshua Grant inked his name on the score sheet for the first time when

he lashed in the winning goal for Kuru Kururu Warriors enabling them to start their campaign at this level on a high. It was easy sailing for Grove Hi Tech, the reigning Trophy Stall Under-15 champions. Soesdyke Falcons did look a bit rusty and were not able to catch their length against the rampaging home team. Joel Dick led the goal party with four goals, netting in the 13th, 43rd, 47th and 52nd minute. Threvon Pluck netted a brace, he found the back of the nets in the 25th and 50th minute; his Captain Trevor Jones also netted twice, in the 53rd and 61st minute. There was one apiece for Antone Stanton (26), Kevin Padmore (64), Alwyn Haynes (66) and Marvin Squires in the 68th minute. Action will continue on Saturday at the same venue with two more matches.

Blind cricketers beat Celebrity team in fund raiser

National Blind Cricket team’s Captain Ganesh Singh collects the winning trophy yesterday. Pemberton (4th from left) celebrates the victory with her team Members of the National Blind cricket team warmed up for their participation in this year’s regional Blind cricket tournament in Jamaica with an exciting five wicket win against a ‘Celebrity X1’ off the last ball at the Malteenoes ground yesterday. The Blind team was led by West Indies Blind Cricketer Ganesh Singh and the

Celebrity side by former West Indies Blind team Coach Bharat Mangru. After the game Theresa Pemberton, who will manage the West Indies Development team, which will be a combination of seven players from Guyana and seven from the Windward Islands, described the day as ‘exciting and satisfying, and a

resounding success’. Pemberton explained that event which was witnessed by a fair size crowd, included a sale of Fish and Chips to aid in the cost to offset the player’s trip to Jamaica. Man-of-the-Match, B3 batsman Kevin Douglas (partially sighted) led the Blind team with a fine unbeaten innings. (Sean Devers)

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Lewis Hamilton beaten to pole by Nico Rosberg in Monaco BBC Sport - Nico Rosberg beat Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix in controversial circumstances. The German was quickest on their first runs in final qualifying but then went off at the Mirabeau corner and the caution flags meant Hamilton could not improve. Race officials have launched an investigation into the incident. Daniel Ricciardo beat Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel to third place. Red Bull had appeared as if they might challenge Mercedes for po l e i n Monaco, where their power deficit from their Renault engine does not have as big an impact as at most tracks. But Ricciardo was 0.395 seconds off Rosberg’s pole time. Instead, it was left to the Mercedes drivers to battle for

pole, and Hamilton was clearly unhappy about the way the fight was resolved. Rosberg was quicker than Hamilton by 0.059secs on the first runs in final qualifying but on his final attempt the German was more than 0.1secs down on his previous best at the first split, which is just after Casino Square, the corner before Mirabeau. Hamilton was very slightly faster than his own previous lap in that same sector on his final lap, but had to back off because of the waved yellow caution flags that resulted from Rosberg’s incident. Rosberg said: “I just locked up. I thought I was going to hit the tyre wall. I knew I had a banker [lap] so I just tried to push that little bit more and went over the edge.” “Of course I’m sorry for Lewis. I didn’t know exactly where he was but once I was reversing I did see he was

coming up. Of course that’s not great, but that’s the way it is.” Hamilton, practically monosyllabic in the postqualifying news conference, looked extremely unhappy. “It happens and that was that,” he said, adding he was “on target” to get pole before the incident. “Yeah, it’s ironic,” he said, in reference to Rosberg taking pole having brought out the yellow flags which forced Hamilton to back off on his fastest lap. “It was OK, I was up a couple of tenths [on my lap].” The controversy will add spice to the already growing tension in the championship battle between the Mercedes drivers, and makes their battle for victory in today’s race a fascinating prospect. The incident brought back memories of the 2006 Monaco race, when Michael Schumacher deliberately parked his car at Rascasse to

prevent Alonso from beating him to pole. Of the tension between the Mercedes drivers, Ricciardo told BBC Radio 5 live: “I thought I’d be the miserable one in the presser... it was a bit awkward.” Ricciardo was 0.163secs quicker than team-mate Vettel. The Australian said he hoped to be closer to the Mercedes but made a mistake at Turn Eight, almost losing the rear of the car. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was fifth, ahead of team-mate Raikkonen by 0.703secs. Toro Rosso’s JeanEric Vergne was seventh. Kevin Magnussen took an impressive eighth for McLaren on his Monaco debut, comfortably beating team-mate Jenson Button, who was knocked out in the second session and will line up 12th. Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat and Force India’s Sergio Perez completed the top 10, with the second Force

India of Nico Hulkenberg 11th. Williams driver Felipe Massa was unable to take part in the second session despite making it through in 12th place following an incident with Caterham’s Marcus Ericsson. Massa moved over at Mirabeau to let the Swede through, but Ericsson went in too fast and hit the Brazilian, taking both cars into the barriers. Williams were unable to get the car

back to the pits in time for the second part of qualifying. M a s s a ’s t e a m - m a t e Valtteri Bottas was 13th. The stewards later ruled that Ericsson will start the race from the pit lane for causing the crash. Also potential blocking incidents between Perez a n d S a u b e r ’s E s t e b a n Gutierrez and Lotus’ Pastor Maldonado and Caterham’s Kamui Kobayashi are under investigation.

GCA/Noble House Sea Foods second division tourney

GCC grab first innings points from Sophia Mohamed, Benn slam centuries

Real fight back to beat Atletico and win 10th European crown

LISBON (Reuters) - Real Madrid secured a 10th European Cup when they snatched a stoppage-time equalizer before extra-time goals by Gareth Bale, Marcelo and a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty gave them a 4-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday. Atletico, who won the Spanish league title a week ago, looked set to complete a double after Diego G o d i n ’s 36th-minute header, helped by a blunder from Real keeper Iker Casillas, put them in control of the first European final between teams from the same city. Real attacked relentlessly in the second half at Lisbon’s Stadium of Light but had to wait until the third minute of stoppage time for an equalizer when Sergio Ramos headed in powerfully from a corner. Atletico looked a spent force in extra time and Real completed the comeback win when Bale headed them into the lead in the 110th minute before Marcelo slammed in a late third. Ronaldo, the Portugal captain playing in his own capital city, scored the fourth from the penalty spot to clinch an astonishing turnaround and a double of Champions League and King’s Cup after Real could only finish

Daniel Barker (left) and Troy Benn

Real Madrid’s captain Iker Casillas and team mates celebrate with the trophy after defeating Atletico Madrid in their Champions League final soccer match at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, May 24, 2014. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach third in La Liga. Atletico took the lead when their city rivals failed to clear a corner and they hooked the ball back into the box. Casillas, w h o c a m e rushing out of his goal, was left stranded in no man’s land as Godin beat him to the ball and headed towards goal. The keeper rushed back and attempted to scoop the ball out but it had already crossed the line. It was a notable double for Godin who headed the goal in last week’s 1-1 draw at Barcelona that secured Atletico’s first league title

since 1996. MISSED CHANCE The opener came five minutes after Real’s world record signing Gareth Bale had spurned a great opportunity to put his side ahead when he picked up the ball in midfield after Tiago gave possession away cheaply. Welshman Bale surged forward, powering his way deep into the Atletico penalty area, but waited too long to shoot and when he did he fired wide of Thibaut Courtois’ goal. That started a surge of Real pressure that finally paid off when Ramos headed the

equalizer to force extra time. The first period of that ended without another goal, but Real finally took control of the game in the last 15 minutes when Bale headed them in front in the 110th minute before Marcelo fired home the third and Ronaldo scored from the spot. Ronaldo’s goal was his 17th of the campaign, an alltime record for the competition, and meant Carlo Ancelotti became only the second man after Bob Paisley of Liverpool to win three European Cups as a coach after the Italian’s earlier successes with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007.

Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) grabbed first innings points from Sophia when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/Noble House Sea Foods second division 2-day tournament continued yesterday. At University of Guyana ground, Sophia were bowled out for 98 in 29.4 overs after they were inserted by GCC with Dwight Peters scoring 18. Deonarine Seegobin claimed 4-18, Ronaldo Mohamed 2-12 and Devon Lord 2-21. In reply GCC were 205-3 off 39 overs at stumps. Mohamed stroked an unbeaten 100 which contained seven fours and four sixes, while Seegobin is not out on 61 (5x4,1x6). At Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO), the host were 78-2 in 17.2 overs when play ended just before the scheduled close due to rain with Khadir Manjoor not out on nine and Imtiaz Pooran on two. Chabiraj Ramcharran had earlier retired hurt on 46 (10x4). Troy Benn and Rawl Haynes have so far taken one wicket each. Earlier, Police batted after winning the toss and declared on 300-9 after 38 overs. Benn slammed 164, while Daniel Barker supported with 50. The pair came together after Stephon Blacks (05) was bowled by

Ronaldo Mohamed medium pacer Richard Latiff with the score on 13 and added 196 for the second wicket. They capitalized on some sloppy fielding by MYO and Benn, who could have been caught in the first over at short cover off Latiff and was dropped at the wicket just after reaching his century, belted twenty seven fours and four sixes before he was bowled by Robindra Persaud. Barker, who cracked six fours in his innings, was eventually caught and bowled by Shafeek Ishmael. Richard Leacock assisted with 24 (4x6,1x6) and Dwayne Mc Pherson 21(3x4). Ramcharran captured 3-40 including a hat trick; Parmanand Parsram snared 2-29, Ishmael 2-76 while Latiff and Rovindra Persaud had one each. GNIC gained a walk over from St. Stanislaus. (Zaheer Mohamed)

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Kaieteur News

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ final on tonight in Haslington

Sunday May 25, 2014

Confident Media XI face scorers, umpires tomorrow at Bourda SPORT JOURNALISTS along with scorers and umpires, who are affiliated to the Georgetown Cricket Scorers and Umpires Association (GCS&UA), will tomorrow (Independence Day), down their tools and square off in what has been dubbed a grudge match at the world famous Georgetown Cricket Club ground, in a specially organized T20 affair from 10:00hrs. With the aim of getting in top condition for the match, the Media XI has been in training under the watchful eyes of former national middle-order batsman and England ODI player, Monte Lynch at the venue. During the sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, the confident media men were involved in several drills, as well as batting and bowling practice and in an invited comment after the sessions, Lynch said he enjoyed working with the media team and wished the journalists well. “I find it most enjoyable. It’s nice to see people who write about the game look to come out and play it as well, so when guys make fools of themselves you can understand how they feel,” Lynch said, as he addressed the team at the end of the session. He added, “I’m looking forward to watching the game because like I said umpires,

scorers and journalists have a part to play in the development of the game and I think the more you guys play the more inclined you are to understand how players feel when they get out or make mistakes.” Skipper of the Media team, Calvin Roberts, explained the genesis of the game, which will be played with red ball and white clothing. According to Roberts, the game was formalized after the umpires and scorers had challenge media operatives to test their skills on the field of play during a Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-19 Inter-county contest. Following Tuesday’s session, Roberts sent a strong message to the opposition, boasting that the Media team is a very balanced one with a solid batting line-up that is backed by a capable bowling attack. Meanwhile, senior cricket journalist, Sean Devers, will be using the game to get back into competitive action after a period of illness and like several of his teammates, is earnestly looking forward to Monday’s contest. After the sessions, Devers thanked God for saving his life after he was diagnosed with Brain Cancer and said he was feeling “pumped up” for the game and will be giving his best to ensure the Media boys come

out on top. The Media team’s batting will hinge around John Ramsingh, Rajiv Bisnauth, Ravi Persaud, Ishaka Jackman, Avenash Ramzan, Keon Blade and wicketkeeper/batsman Daniel Singh, while Roberts will spearhead his side’s bowling attack, with support from Devers, Persaud, Jackman, Kizan Brummell and Esaun Griffith. Admission to the venue is free and members of the public are invited to witness the game, while the Media fraternity wishes to thank, Lifetime Realty, Trophy Stall, P&P Insurance Brokers, Christopher Matthias and the management of GCC, for their tangible support in making this venture a success story. The Media squad: Calvin Roberts (Capt), Sean Devers, John Ramsingh, Daniel Singh, Ravi Persaud, Avenash Ramzan, Rajiv Bisnauth, Esaun Griffith, Duncan Saul, Clifton Ross, Ishaka Jackman, Kizan Brummell, Ruben Stoby and Keon Blade. GCS&UA from: Colin Stuart (Capt), Delvin Austin, Ryan Banwarie, Shannon Crawford, Nigel Duguid, Zaheer Mohamed, Javed Persaud, Daniel Richmond, Trevor Ritney, Arleigh Rutherford, Mikoowanyah Yosef-Yisrael, Hortence Isaacs And Edward Bowen.

All set for Rising Sun Independence Cup horserace meet today. Trophy Stall, Banks DIH on board in a big way

Even more important than bragging rights is the opportunity to represent the community in the national finals and ultimately at the Caribbean Tournament and tonight’s finalists Melanie Damishana ‘A’ and Beterverwagting ‘B’ will have these two ambitions uppermost on their minds when they contest the championship game in the East Coast Demerara segment of the Banks DIH-sponsored Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition, at the Haslington Market Square. The two combatants who reached the final in contrasting style have shown that they possess players with a high caliber of skill in this format of the game and fans are expecting a scorching showdown for the top prize and bragging rights for another year. The two teams have

already assured themselves of qualification to represent the East Coast Zone in the national finals where they join the winners and runners-up of the Linden and Georgetown zones with the eventual champion to be declared this country’s representative at the Caribbean tournament set for June in Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o . M e l a n i e ‘ A’ i s perhaps the strongest team on paper with national striker Dwight Peters the lynchpin of their attacking force, while William Europe and Jamal George are equally potent and expected to play a major role in their quest for victory, while opponents BV ‘B’, though they’ve made it this far, has been led mainly by the prolific Erin Fraser. The third place playoff that features last year’s beaten finalist Victoria Church Yard United and Melanie ‘B’

could also turn out to be a riveting slugfest and predicting a winner seems to be a difficult task. Keyron Johnson has demonstrated sublime skills in this format and no doubt Church Yard United will be hoping that he maintains his rich vein of form in this important game. On the other hand, Melanie ‘B’ has clearly shown that they do not rely on any one player to score goals, but Ryan Seales has been solid throughout the tournament and containing him could prove to be an onerous task for the opposition defence. Up for grabs is $300,000 for the winners, $150,000 for the runners-up, $100,000 for third place and $50,000 for fourth place. A few supporting games are also scheduled as part of the night’s proceedings. Kick-off time is 19:000 hrs.

Over 80 of the country’s top horses have taken entry for the Rising Sun Turf Club in collaboration with the People’s Progressive Party, one day Independence Cup horserace meet today at the Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima Park, West Coast Berbice. With all the ingredients in place horserace fans are expected to throng to the venue to see some of Guyana’s Top Horses in action. Most fans will be eager to see the return clash between top horses, Score’s Even, Treacle, Got to Go and California Strike in the feature A and lower event. Will there be another upset or will Score Even continue its dominance. The A class event has so far attracted some of the best horses in the country and apart from those mentioned the others will be looking for the win to take the top prize. Among the lot set to race are Score’s Even, Treacle, Got To Go, California Strike, Run Nana Run, Jack is My Style, Rock Movie Star and new import Toro Rosso among others will battle for the $1M first prize and the General Secretary trophy over 1400M. The other events listed for the day are the

race for horses classified D3 and lower for those that have not won in 2014 and those classified E and lower for a winning take of $500,000 and trophy over 1400M. Red and Lovely, Force Entry, Swing easy, Appealing Harvest, It’s My Turn, Run Nana Run, Work Force, Red cloud and Double mu Fortune. A top class line up including Unsettled, Today is My Day, Shooting Star and Settling Jet have been entered for the Three year Guyana and West Indies Bred event for the top money of $400,000 and trophy over 1400M. Incentive for the winner in the F1 and lower 1400M event is also worth $400,000 with Work Force, Appealing Harvest, Swing Easy, Red Cloud, Silent Night, Captain Crook, Princess Alisha, Cassie and Gold Majesty. The G3 class 1100M race will see the winner taking away the $300,000 first prize and trophy with the likes of Damascus Dream, The Legend, Ameera’s Joy, Gold Majesty, No Body Wants Me, Release the beast, Miss Doubt Fire, Cassie, Wild Grinder, Quiet Storm, Flying

baby and Prince page. The race for animals classified ‘I’ and lower for the $200,000 top money and trophy over 1100M will see the likes of Savion, Easy To Win, Mary Ann, I Want Revenge, De Gump, Windy Killer and Iron man. The J1 class horses 1100M sprint has a winner’s prize of $180,000 and trophy. Famous Pride, Iron man, Affinity, Dance for Gold, Swift way, Dem A watch me, Red Jet, De Gump, Little, Prince Bayaya, Natasha, Windy Killer, Smarty Light, Royal Cash and natural Mystic. With so much on offer a scintillating and action pack day of racing is anticipated. The top individual performers will be presented with trophies compliments of Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Bourda market. For last minute information persons can contact Fazal Habibulla on No 2320232 or 6577010; Justice Cecil Kennard on telephone numbers 226-1399, 225-4818 or 623-7609, Roopnarine “Shine’ Matadial on 325-3192, Chandilall on 615-8239 or Dennis DeRoop on 609-9143. (Samuel Whyte)

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 73

Berbice Educational Institute is TGSCOP Inter secondary school U13 football champions Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) edged past arch rival Vryman’s Erven Secondary School (VESS) 1-0 in the final of the fifth Trinidad and Guyana Sports Club and Outreach Programme (TGSCOP) U13 Inter Secondary School football competition for schools in the NA/Canje district, which was played on Friday at the All Saints Scott’s Church ground in New Amsterdam. The competition was organized by the Hearts of Oak Masters Football Club. The game was evenly contested with both teams fighting for all their worth to secure the coveted trophy. The BEI unit looked more likely to break the deadlock, but the lads from VESS fought hard to thwart them and sprung some counterattacks of their own. The top players in the match lived up to expectation and showed dominance and brilliance at times which augurs well for the future. The dead lock was broken in

the 45th minute when leading goal scorer Dwaine Alleyne netted his 7th goal in the competition, which was enough to see them to the end and title. Tutorial Academy was awarded third place. At the presentation ceremony that followed, the winning CSS team was presented with the Trinidad and Guyana (T&G) Sports Club and Outreach Programme trophy. VESS collected the second place trophy, while TASS got one for placing third. A number of individual awards were also presented to outstanding performers and they went to Dwayne Alleyne of BEI for being the top goal scorer in the competition with his seven goals. He also won the award last year for scoring six goals. The Best Defender on show was Shaquan Durant also of BEI. Devaun Pyle of VESS was the best midfielder on show. Best Goalkeeper prize went to Gerald Forde of BEI. He also won that award last year. The players were

The winning BEI team members pose with their silverware, teachers, organisers and sponsors after the presentation ceremony. presented with trophies, shin pads and hose among other gifts. President of the organization, June Britton, congratulated the winners

and thanked all the teams for participating in the competition. She urged the others to try harder next time. She also had special

words of commendation for the Hearts of Oak Masters Football Club for organizing the competition which was incident free. The competition

was coordinated by former national players Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey and Kenrick Bowry. (Samuel Whyte)

Lights at Albion ready for use, to be tested tonight The illuminated Albion ground during a test of the lighting.

One of the lighting towers at the venue. Despite a few hiccups and some unwarranted delays the promised and much anticipated Albion Community Centre Lighting Project is almost complete and is ready for use. The project, which was scheduled to be completed by the 15th March and done at a cost of $91M, has been reportedly completed and tested. Stakeholders are elated that the project has come to fruition. The lights are expected to be put into full

use tonight with the staging of the annual Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) annual cricket extravaganza. The project was done in three phases - Supply of equipment, civil works and electrical installation. The first saw the arrival of the Electrical Components from overseas back in January. The second phase which was undertaken by

Cummings Electrical and supervised by Engineering Consultant and Engineering Firm was scheduled to be completed to the tune of $44M. This aspect had many hiccups with some aspects of the project being redone due to some flaws. Cummings Electrical was responsible for the construction of the foundation for the Light Towers, the construction of the Electrical hut and the installation of the equipment. The third phase was supervised by Musco

Lighting and saw the project coming to being with the installation of all the imported equipment and powering of the system. Musco Lighting is the same company that supplied the Lighting for the Guyana National Stadium and a few other facilities. Additional facilities such as drainage, outfield and

enhanced seating arrangements will be addressed by the Government after the lighting project is completed. There are six towers with seventeen luminaries on each pole, totaling 102 1500 watts bulbs. The lights will be powered by a generator or

local power source. The energy saver type lights are expected to be used. The project is expected to be given a 10 year warranty. The Albion Community Centre was the venue for the first one day international match played in the Caribbean. A formal opening is expected to be done soon. (Samuel Whyte)

Page 74

Kaieteur News

Competed in 14 events at GASA National LC Swimming C/ships

Sunday May 25, 2014

Same opponents same result

Amy Grant continues West Indies vs New Zealand 1972 encouraging rise in the pool Rising local swim sensation, Amy Grant is continuing to show that great days are ahead for herself and the Land of Many Waters. Grant, the Girls 12 and Under Schools National champion at 50 meters backstroke for 2012 and the Girls 14 and Under 2013 Schools National champion in the 50 meters freestyle and backstroke, again showed her prowess at the just concluded Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) Long Course Championships, May 17 – 20, 2014 at the National Aquatic Center, Lilliendaal. Young Amy Grant has been out of the pool for two months with an ear infection and only started back swimming three weeks ago to get fit for the GASA Championships. Grant entered a mind bugling 14 events over a period of four days which made some asked the question, “Can she do it”... Can a 12 year-old swimmer who has been out sick for 2 months be fit enough in 3 weeks to swim the 50m fly, free, back, breast, 100m back, free, fly, 200m free, fly, back, IM as well as the 400m, 800m, and 1500m free. She also asked for three Time Keepers which meant that she would have been attempting to break or set records in the events she was entered. As it turned out, Grant set a new record in the Girls 11-12 100m Butterfly (1.32.50) and also established a new mark in the Girls 11-12 200m Backstroke of 3.39.12. In the Girls 11-12 1500m Freestyle, Grant clocked 27 minutes 58 seconds the fastest recorded time by any 11-12 girl in the Long Course Meet. She achieved her personal best

third to fifth Test also drawn

Amy Grant

in the Girls 11-12 50m Freestyle just missing the record by 300th of a second. The 12 year-old Grant did not compete in two of the events she had initially entered; Girls 11-12 50m Breaststroke and Girls 11-12 200m Butterfly. She won all 12 events she swam. Meanwhile, following are some of the other results achieved at the GASA championships. Boys 8 and Under: Raekwon Noel won the 50m Freestyle (1.20.91),100m Freestyle (35.32) and 50m Breaststroke (52.55). Girls 9-10: Lian Winter won the 50m Breaststroke (52.39), 50m Butterfly (52.26), 100m Breaststroke (1.56.68), 100m Backstroke (1.45.70). Jadyn George won the 200m Freestyle (3.29.87), 100m Freestyle

(1.31.56). Danielle George won the 50m Freestyle in 38.08. Boys 9-10: Leon Seaton won the 50m Freestyle (32.84), 50m Breaststroke (48.77), 50m Butterfly (38.93) and 100m Freestyle (1.16.34). Sekhel Tzedeq took the 50m Backstroke (38.23) and 100m Backstroke (1.29.03). Girls 11-12: Kenita Mahaica won the 50m Breaststroke (47.06) and 100m Breaststroke (1.48.88). Gi r l s 1 3 - 1 4 : N i k i t a Fiedtkou won the 50m Breaststroke (45.34), 100m Freestyle (1.12.80) and 50m Freestyle in 30.99. Boys 13-14: Andrew Jordan won the 50m Breaststroke in 41.53. Girls 15-17: Jamila Sanmoogan won the 50m Breaststroke (44.12) and the 100m Freestyle in 1.09.24.

Kaieteur News and Statistician Charwayne Walker continue their look at the 1972 Test series between West Indies and New Zealand. As the preceding two matches before it, the third, fourth and fifth Test matches between the two sides ended in stalemates. Third Test: West Indies first innings 133 all out Michael Findley 44 not out, Skipper Garfield ‘Gary’ Sobers 35, Maurice Foster 22. Bowling for New Zealand, Bruce Taylor snared 7 for 74 from 20.3 overs, Brian Condgon 2 for 26 from 16 overs. New Zealand first innings 422 all out - Brian Condgon 126, B. Hastings 105, G.E. Vivien 38. Bowling for West Indies, Gary Sobers took 4 for 69 from 29 overs, Vanburn Holder 3 for 91 from 40 overs, Grayson Shillingford 2 for 65 from 24.2 overs. West Indies second innings 564 for 8 declared - Charlie Davis 183, Gary Sobers 142, Lawrence Rowe 51, David Holford 50, Michael Carew 45. Bowling for New Zealand, Brian Condgon took 2 for 66, Bruce Taylor 2 for 108, H.J. Howarth 2 for 138 from 74 overs. West Indies vs New Zealand 1972 Fourth Test at Bourda; result - drawn. West Indies first innings 365 all out - debutant Alvin Kallicharran 100 Not out, Geoffrey Greenidge 50, Clive Lloyd 43, Roy Federicks 41, Lawrence Rowe 31. Bowling for New

Garfield Sobers

Alvin Kallicharran

Zealand, Bruce Taylor took 3 for 105 from 37 overs, Brian Congdon 2 for 86 from 33 overs. New Zealand first innings 543 for 3 declared Glenn Turner 259, Terry Jarvis 182, Brian Congdon 61 not out. Bowling for West Indies, Tony Howard took 2 for 140 from 62 overs, David Holford 1 for 78 from 54 overs. West Indies second innings 86 without loss - Roy Federicks 42 Not out, Geoffrey Greenidge 35 not out. West Indies vs New Zealand 1972 Fifth Test at Queens Park Oval: result drawn. West Indies first innings 368 all out - Alvin Kallicharran 101, Roy Federicks 60, David Holford 46 Retired Hurt, Charlie Davis 40, Geoffrey Greenidge 38. Bowling for New Zealand, Bruce Taylor took 3 for 74 from 19.4 overs, H.J. Howarth 2 for 109 from 51 overs. New Zealand first innings 162 all out Terry Jarvis 40, Brian

Hasting 27, G.E. Vivien 24, Bruce Taylor 26. Bowling for West Indies, Inshan Ali took 5 for 59 from 26.4 overs, Garry Sobers 2 for 17 from 11 overs. West Indies second innings 194 Vanburn Holder 42, David Holford 25, Charlie Davis 23, Geoffrey Greenidge 21. Bowling for New Zealand Bruce Taylor took 5 for 41 from 24 overs. H. J. Howarth took 3 for 70 from 29 overs. New Zealand second innings 253 for 7, Brian Congdon 58, Glenn Turner 50, Bruce Taylor 42 Not out, H.J. Howarth 40 Not out, Terry Jarvis 22. Bowling for West Indies Vanburn Holder took 4 for 41 from 26 overs, Inshan Ali 2 for 99 from 51 overs. Several players that represented the West Indies in that historical 1972 series are now deceased: Inshan Ali, Roy Federicks, Grayson Shilling Ford and Michael (Joey) Carew gone but not forgotten. R.I.P Champs.

King’s Jewellery softball

Malone hits fifty as Dynamic Security victorious Ramo Malone stroked a fine half century as Dynamic Security defeated Traders and Distributors Inc by 35 runs when the King’s Jewellery Wo r l d 1 0 / 1 0 s o f t b a l l tournament commenced on Wednesday night last at Thirst Park. Batting first Dynamic Security scored 126-7 in 10 overs. Malone led with 56, while Azeem Azeez and Randolph Perreira assisted with 17 and 15 respectively. Joseph Singh and Harripaul Dhanraj claimed two wickets each. Traders and Distributors

replied with 91-8 in 10 overs. Ryan Benjamin made 38 and Ryan Persaud 24; Yunnis Yusuf grabbed 3-9 and Perreira 2-11. Khan’s Trading Enterprise overcame Ramchan Auto Spares by 18 runs. Khan’s Trading took first strike and managed 155-4 in 10 overs. Anand Rooplall scored 63, Rajesh Reddy 25 and Patrick Khan 23. Ramchan Auto Spares responded with 137-5 in 10 overs. Anand Persaud cracked 36, Dellon Sanichar and Andre Gomes 34 each. Sheldon Perch took 2-26. Brickery got the better of

Diamond Trading by 37 runs. Brickery rattled up 125-9 in 10 overs, batting first. Kelvin Kanhai top scored with 29, Antonio Juman made 24 and Christopher Bedesi 22. Diamond Trading were skittled out for 88 in 10 overs in reply. Patrick Khan and Juman captured two scalps apiece. Princess Hotel beat Stockfeeds in a super over eliminator. Princess batted first and scored 131-7 to which Stockfeeds responded with 131-4. Stockfeeds scored eight in the super over and Princess replied with 9.

Sunday May 25, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 75

3 St Lucian boxers confirmed for GBA ‘Nuff cuff injection’ card at Buxton The St Lucian Boxing Association, through their President David ‘Shakes’ Christopher, has confirmed the participation of three boxers, one female and two males, in the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) ‘Nuff cuff injection’ amateur boxing card fixed for the Buxton Friendship Community Centre ground on May 31. The St Lucia trio is: Arthur Langeleire, Malinda St Clair and Ron Bastiean and they will be accompanied by Trainer Conrad Hunte. They are due

here on Friday and will add an international flair to the card. With all systems in place, boxing fans on the East Coast and those trekking from Georgetown will be in for a treat with exciting bouts promised. Fans will be keen to see their home fighters do well against the visitors and GBA President Steve Ninvalle is encouraging all to come out in support. He told Kaieteur Sport that the local fighters are in preparation and are expected to put on a good show.

Malinda St Clair

Ron Bastiean

Steve Ninvalle

Arthur Langeleire

NCN has sole broadcast rights of FIFA World Cup 2014 T h e N a t i o n a l Communications Network Incorporated (NCN Inc.) Guyana’s largest radio and Television Broadcaster, with the widest reach, is proud to announce that it is the SOLE RIGHTS HOLDER for the Broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil from June 12 to July 31, the organisation stated in a release.

NCN Inc. procured the terrestrial, cable and satellite broadcast rights from Caribbean Broadcast Rights holder International Media Content Ltd (IMC Ltd) and as such is the ONLY authorized broadcaster for all FIFA World Cup 2014 content, before and during the games, including promotional (Continued on page 70)

Ninvalle disclosed that several sponsors have come on board and during this week a full disclosure of those lending valuable support will be made via a Media Briefing. He expressed thanks for those who have come forward and others that have

offered assistance to the success of the card. Two of the St Lucians have been here before in Arthur Langeleire and Ron Bastiean, while the lone lady, Malinda St Clair, is making her first trip here. They all will be keen for a good showing and their local

opponents can expect fierce opposition. Langeleire is preparing for the Commonwealth Games and Christopher intends for him to have as much action as possible in the lead up to the games. This event follows on the heels of a very successful

programme in East Ruimveldt with the next stop after Buxton being Golden Grove on the East Coast. Another programme supported by the GBA was held last evening in Mahdia adding impetus to the thrust of the association to take the sport to the communities.

t r o Sp CULT/EBFA U-17 League

Kuru Kururu Warriors upset Diamond United; Grove Hi Tech blast Soesdyke Falcons P.70

Grove Hi Tech Captain Trevor Jones (on ground) scores one of his goals as Soesdyke Falcons goalie Desmond Mc Lean is well beaten.

Joshua Grant (left) and Brian Daniels

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ final on tonight in Haslington P.72

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