Monday May 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news...Letters... Where your views make the news
A TALL ORDER FOR MINISTER Ramotar demonstrated poor judgement OF INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS DEAR EDITOR, I wish through your medium to address the Honourable Minister Dominic Gaskin. We welcome your appointment and wish you well and nothing but success. Unfortunately, you are stepping into an arena that needs to be resurrected and requires a postmortem. The deceased have long been buried and the family members are at a lost on how to survive with no plans of their own. This economy and Private Sector in Guyana are dead and all industries are either totally failed or failing. Do not rely on the Private Sector to resurrect the economy. They cannot do it. Our Private Sector is accustomed to easy money with no sweat by merely aligning themselves to the PPP government and funny money friends for almost 22 years. Yes, they were a sellout and heavily compromised bunch with no moral compass to challenge the wrongs of the former government and all the wrongs they committed for 23 years. You will have to come up with your ideas and plans in order to lead the business growth in this country out of the abyss. The Private Sector actors have survived the past two decades of the PPP government by being stooges and puppets of the government. Most of the Private Sector actors have learned to adapt in order to survive, so they know nothing other than government handouts which led to high kickbacks for the former government officials, smuggling, under invoicing, underhand deals, cocaine and money laundering. They are bankrupt of ideas and lack the vision to lead the country
forward out of the cesspit they have nurtured based on their own selfish attitudes and greed. This is evident based on where you see our economy today. The Private Sector couldn’t even convince the government to keep the city clean and yet preached investment and development. I called them actors because they acted for 23 years and will be prepared to act again and do whatever it is to survive. The real Private Sector members packed up and departed our shores during the 23 years and the other decent ones were going to do so if the coalition lost the elections. These are the real Private Sector men you should involve in your discussions to contribute and maybe you can win a few back to reinvest in Guyana. You will have to rebuild confidence in the tattered and fake economy and encourage overseas investment in Guyana. This is a tall order but not impossible, since you will have to ensure the country is dealing with reducing crime, eradicating the cocaine business and money laundering, not forgetting the need for total transparency. The sad part about the business sector in Guyana is when you bring them forth for a meeting, you will be staring at former PPP cronies who sucked the treasury dry in collaboration with their corrupt government friends, others whose names have been called in numerous US courts linked to illegal activities and friends of the many perpetrators incarcerated in the USA. You must break away from the local business sector actors and develop your own network of successful, local
‘clean’ entrepreneurs with access and contacts around the world. It is the only hope for Guyana. You must bring in new money. Beware of some of the foreign investors, they are predatory, and pay big bribes to pave their way pre and post arrival with no social interest in contributing to society. The western investors are demanding with calls for good governance, stability, low crime, equality, etc. and do not pay bribes to part with their monies but drive long term deliverables. I would recommend a few major projects such as hydro for cheaper electricity at the right place only after we do a proper study. Our electricity costs are manufacturing prohibitive. Another project is the road to Brazil, which comes at a time when the Brazilian economy is contracting. However, don’t worry about the Brazilian economy, they will rebound. A national airline for Guyana is in order and badly needed. The bridge linking Guyana to Suriname is another good one. Low cost, truly high speed internet service for all will be ideal. A local investment bank to drive down interest rates and offer better loan terms for local entrepreneurs. Agricultural projects around the hinterland to encourage large scale farming for local and international consumption. Long term strategies must lead to partnering with successful Chambers of Commerce around the world, holding workshops for the local entrepreneurs eyeing the oil and gas industry but don’t let them think oil production is immediate since we are many years away from this phase. I must reiterate my earlier
plea that you will get no quality investors to take any risks in Guyana unless the government fixes the crime situation, levels the playing field for all by stamping out the lucrative cocaine trade in Guyana and eradicating the money laundering which is now normal business in Guyana. The social ills of our society must be tackled as well to ensure the youth are not in perpetual hopelessness and despair. Your assumption of this role is at a critical time when the cocaine trade and money laundering will be eradicated by the new government as promised by them. This we all welcome after 23 years and hope the coalition delivers to rid us of this evil curse. However, it means you have to work hard to bring hard currency to our shores to replace the cocaine and funny money being sucked out of the economy. A necessity because we must replace the ‘non- traditional’ businesses with ‘traditional’ ones, willing to take risks and generate foreign exchange. Minister, you have a tough road ahead and all you have to do is look what the former Ministers did and don’t do the same to be a success. Please remember the former ministers left us with over 40% youth unemployment and high crime while preaching growth in our economy. The math doesn’t add up and I know why, non-traditional businesses have been the order of the day for the past 23 years. I must end by saying that the Private Sector does have a few decent hardworking men and women remaining who are non-politically exposed and heavily compromised. Balram Bhagwandin
DEAR EDITOR, I am outraged to learn that President Ramotar pardoned a child killer, days after learning that his party had lost the election. The President demonstrated poor judgement by letting this killer loose to roam among our children population without warning. Therefore, the PPP and Donald Ramotar have an obligation to let the public know the whereabouts of this killer so that communities can safeguard their children. I call on the Pandits and Imams to condemn this action by the PPP and President Ramotar and ask that they encourage him to release the whereabouts of this killer. Shame, Shame, Shame on you President Ramotar and the PPP. Berkeley Van Bowen
Guyana should not have more than 10 Ministers
DEAR EDITOR, The primary challenge of President Granger’s leadership will be to find ethical, moral, and strategic, competent and influential ways to be effective, productive and constructively unifying and visionary. Former President Ramotar failed in leadership but will President Granger succeed in leadership? Will David Granger do things right? Will he do the right things for all Guyanese and with his party, his appointees, Guyana’s ethnic diversity, and his country? We support Granger and Moses, but cannot support 26 Ministers for one of the poorest country in this hemisphere. The cost of sustaining 26 Ministers, plus a 10% increase in pay for Public Servants, plus a planned reduction in the VAT rate and increasing the basket of zero-rated VAT goods, plus a possible increase in the personal tax free allowance for workers, etc., must be cause for great concern, especially for the new Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan. Guyana should not have more than 10 Ministers. Our economy and GDP are too small to accommodate a
greater number of Ministers. I believe even the USA does not have 26 Ministers. And with the USA, we are talking of a 1520 trillion dollar economy. Mr. President, if extraordinary events or external uncontrollable shocks adversely hit Guyana and its exports, prudent management of its International Reserves, current account and fiscal deficit, and the country’s Net Cash Flow surplus or deficit will become even more critical. The IMF will be back with their recipe for devaluation, sacking of workers, increases in cost of services and other severe austerity measures, etc., in order for you to get their financial help. Mandy Nelson
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Kaieteur News
Monday May 25, 2015
Final census report due soon Ramkarran blames Jagdeo Nearly a year after the Bureau of Statistics revealed the 2012 population census to the public, the final report is expected to be revealed shortly. In late June last year, the statistics body unveiled the preliminary findings of the 2012 Population and Housing Census which showed that Guyana’s population had decreased rather than increase since 2002. The drop had been at about 3,000 persons. However, the body could only provide preliminary information but promised a subsequent report in the second quarter of 2015. With June rapidly approaching and marking the entrance in the second quarter, the final report is expected any time soon. The
final report is set to include a number of additional information, including data on the employment and unemployment rates in the country along with the ethnic makeup of the population. According to the 2012 Census report, Guyana recorded a marginal decline of 3,339 persons from the 2002 Census report. In September 2002, the Guyanese population was recorded at 751,223 while the new count was down to 747,884 persons as of September 15, 2012. The preliminary report looked at the broad parameters of the population including the density of the administrative regions and the male to female ratio of the population. Further, the preliminary report took a look at the building stocks of the
country. The decline from 2002 to 2012 represents an annual negative growth rate of 0.004%, the report showed. It had previously been indicated that the conducting of the 2012 Census had been plagued with challenges including the lack of skilled personnel and issues with making conduct with persons. The 2012 Census was the 17th National Census of Guyana and was also Guyana’s seventh Post-War National Census of Population and Housing. As part of the conducting of the census, Guyana joined the regional movement led by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat as part of the United Nations’ mandate to execute the 2010 Global Round of Censuses.
No ‘dirty fighting’ in new... (From page 3) recognize her during the budget debate speeches if she did not apologize. Manickchand only apologized to the House but refused to do so to Sharma. Though she received pardon on the matter, the incident affected Sharma so much that he resigned as a Parliamentarian. Even when he was the Leader of the Opposition, Granger pointed out that such behaviour sends a bad message to the nation’s children. There were other cases of blatant disrespect for the National Assembly such as legal challenges taken by the former Attorney General, Anil
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
Nandlall against decisions taken by the National Assembly. This was seen as nothing more than deliberate attempts to undermine the power of the House. Then there were instances where the Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh disrespected and violated the instructions of the House in spending taxpayers monies. Dr. Singh spent about $4.5B without parliamentary approval, which the court later ruled to be a most unconstitutional move. The Executive Member of the PPP has been accused over the years of displaying disrespect for the norms of the Parliament and even escaping without punishment. Trotman, who was recently appointed Minister of Governance, has spoken on several occasions on the disrespect shown to the National Assembly. He said that the lack of compromise and dia-
logue was the greatest failure of the Tenth Parliament. He had said that at the end of the day, the image the citizens get is one of disagreement, discord and fighting. The politician said that repairing the image of the Parliament requires a collective effort by both government and opposition. “Citizens need to see their leaders in discussion and working out their disagreements, and it doesn’t appear that we are capable of solving our problems. The ability to solve our problems is essentially what sets us apart from being ordinary.” Trotman said that the current manner in which MPs “go at each other in the Assembly really captures the level of disrespect and disdain that members and their parties have for each other at a national level and it is a frightening prospect because no nation so divided can be successful.”
for PPP’s ‘great fall’ By Abena Rockcliffe Former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) stalwart, Ralph Ramkarran has chronicled what he calls “the fall of PPP” while naming former President Bharrat Jagdeo responsible for the defeat which the Party still cannot come to grips with. Ramkarran noted this in his most recent publication posted on his website. The former stalwart said that the PPP’s boast has always been that it never lost elections. He recalled that while PPP gained the highest votes in 1964, the People’s National Congress was invited to form the government, which it did in coalition with the United Force. Ramkarran noted that it was then the slogan of ‘cheated not defeated’ came about and said that the slogan is once again rearing its head. “The claim that it lost as a result of fraud allows it to maintain the delusion, for the benefit of its supporters, that it has never lost elections. This also serves to protect its leaders and policies from critical analysis and corrective action and revive its historic claims to victimization,” said Ramkarran. The former Speaker of the National Assembly said that the “fall of the PPP”, though a shock to its leaders and members which will take some time for them to come to terms with, was a gradual process and commenced in 1997 with the passing of Dr. Cheddi Jagan. Ramkarran said that Dr. Jagan, who is often referred to as the ‘father of the nation’, was the only person within the PPP who kept alive the flame of national unity by way of a coalition. The former party stalwart said that after Dr. Jagan’s death, his wife was pulled away from coalition politics and pushed in the direction of becoming the Party’s presidential candidate. He said that this was somehow thought to be the best
strategy to win the elections, the then leadership not wanting to go to the polls without a Jagan in the leadership. Ramkarran said that the “ambitious Bharrat Jagdeo, who followed Mrs. Jagan, had his own plans for personal greatness, which precluded the sharing of political power…by 2006 he was master of his universe. Soon to publicly insult Mrs. Jagan, he had no opposition within the leadership. However, instead of using his political capital to seek a real political solution, he wasted it by devoting his energies to micro managing, manipulating, and dominating and, since early 2008, ensuring postpresidential authority and control by engineering the
Former PPP stalwart, Ralph Ramkarran presidential candidate was nominated again in 2015 and “will no doubt return in 2020, unless the contrived effort to secure a third term for Jagdeo
“By 2006 he (Jagdeo) was master of his universe. Soon to publicly insult Mrs. Jagan, he had no opposition within the leadership. Instead of using his political capital to seek a real political solution, he wasted it by devoting his energies to micro managing, manipulating, and dominating and, since early 2008, ensuring post-presidential authority and control by engineering the presidential candidacy of Donald Ramotar.” presidential candidacy of Donald Ramotar. But by then the PPP’s leadership had been tarnished and its image sullied.” Ramkarran opined that after the 2011 elections, the PPP could have recovered by pursuing a political solution, “but it took the wrong fork in the road. Instead, Jagdeo campaigned on a disastrously flawed campaign strategy based on race.” The former party executive pointed out that instead of examining its strategy and leadership line up after the loss of 2011, the PPP degenerated into race baiting and presented the same leaders to the electorate. He said that the same
is allowed by the courts. Moreover, he will not loosen his control and the leadership has no will to confront him, even though they know it was he who lost them the elections, this time around as well as in 2011. He dominates every discussion, has the final word, and has loyal lieutenants.” Ramkarran predicted that the powerful Jagdeo is not going anywhere, anytime soon and will continue to lead the rest of the leadership and members, perhaps as a Member of Parliament, “maybe later as general secretary and a future presidential candidate, like lambs to the slaughter.” In addition, Ramkarran noted, “The bare nod given in the direction of reform at its recent Central Committee meeting signifies no serious intent. Any substantial reform based on evidence and research, rather than broad and shallow generalizations, which is usually what happens, will expose the deficiencies of Party leaders and will demonstrate that, in addition to deep reforms and restructuring, cooperation with the government for development and constitutional reform is the best course for the PPP.”
Monday May 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
U.N., EU, Africa urge dialogue in Burundi after politician’s killing
Men carry the coffin containing the body of Zedi Feruzi, the head of opposition party UPD in Bujumbura during his funeral in Bujumbura, Burundi, yesterday. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic Reuters - The United Nations, the European Union and African nations urged Burundi’s government and the opposition yesterday not to let violence derail dialogue, after an opposition politician was shot dead and some groups said they were boycotting talks. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and others condemned the killing by unidentified gunmen on Saturday of Zedi Feruzi, the head of the UPD party, who opposed President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third five-year term. Nkurunziza’s decision to run again has triggered the worst crisis in the small African country since the end of an ethnically charged civil war in 2005. The longer unrest lasts, the more chance of a return to ethnic violence, diplomats say. U.N. special envoy to the region, Said Djinnit, the African Union and other regional African states have been sponsoring dialogue between rival sides since May 5 to end the crisis. “They strongly urge all participants to remain fully engaged in the dialogue,” the
sponsors said in a joint statement after the latest round of talks in Bujumbura yesterday that were boycotted by some parties and civil society groups. Separately, the EU, the biggest donor to aid-reliant Burundi, urged “all parties to engage in good faith” in talks. Opponents say Nkurunziza’s re-election bid violates a two-term limit in the constitution and a peace deal that ended civil conflict. Protesters have regularly clashed with police in the past month and unrest provoked a failed military coup on May 13.
The president, who has called protests an “insurrection”, points to a constitutional court ruling that said his first term, when he was picked by parliament not a popular vote, did not count. He has shown no signs of backing down from his bid. The U.N. secretarygeneral called on parties involved in talks “not to be deterred by those who, through violence, seek to prevent the creation of an environment conducive to peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in Burundi,” his office said.
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Kaieteur News
Monday May 25, 2015
Monday May 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
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FORM VS SUBSTANCE It could have been worse. The government could have renamed the Ministry of Finance as the Ministry of Money. They could have also rechristened the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the Ministry for Relations with Overseas States. They could have re-designated the Ministry of Agriculture as the Ministry of Plant, Fish and Bird. So be thankful for small mercies. The changes in the names of the Ministry will cause mass confusionwhoever heard about a Ministry of Social Cohesionbut in the end it will all sort itself out .People will either continue to refer commonly to the various ministries by their original designations or grow accustom to the new names. All of the rebranding reminds me of the past: form but no substance. Instead of smaller government, we will end up with a larger
bureaucracy. It is not the benefits that are the problem; it is the fact that every Minister would have to be provided with staff and equipment to do his or her work. Ministries that traditionally had one Minister will now have two. Others that should have two, such as agriculture, only have one. The logic behind this reorganization of the public service has nothing to do with rationalization for efficiency. But one has to understand that after an election, the spoils have to be divided. When you are in a coalition and have just won a hard fought election, you have to reward every constituent party in the coalition, and you have to reward those who worked beyond the call of duty. This is the reality of coalition politics: the spoils have to be divided. What other choice was there?
Forget about what the PPPC did when it created a strange Ministry known as the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. The Government of Guyana presently comprises a coalition of six parties. The Cummingsburg Agreement led to an agreement that there would have been a 60/40 split between APNU and the AFC in terms of minister. Well, the new arrangements have gone beyond this. The AFC, from all accounts, secured eight ministers. APNU gained the remaining 17. Do the math and you will see that the Cummingsburg Agreement has already run into problems. But were they not also supposed to be civil society persons gaining ministerial responsibilities? Apparently not! There is a political crisis brewing and one man has already begun to recognize this. He has criticized the fact
Dem boys seh...
Ex- Ministahs wake up calling fuh dem security Soulja Bai just sit down in de chair and people start fuh hot up he tracks already. Dem start fuh condemn de new Ministry, dem even condemn some of de people who tun Minister. Dem boys want believe is jealousy because some of dem want portfolio. Dem ain’t even allow de man fuh warm de seat and dem start cussing. Is only couple day de man deh in and people seh he do nuff thing already. De li’l clean up wha he do already got de place smelling good. Dem losers been in fuh 23 years and never initiate fuh a moment to clean dem own surroundings. Dem do a different clean up from Jagdeo and Donald right down de line. Some of dem clean de treasury and some of dem clean out de Ministry bank account. Even at de end dem carry way vehicles. Ten Edghill must be de only one who nah get. He had to tek back de old car he give he brother in law.
De rest of dem send vehicle and shock de Ministry wha didn’t even know so much vehicle exist. Dem boys seh that it had to be that dem buy vehicle fuh dem Mooma, dem sweet man, dem sweet woman and even dem pickney. Dem even had security fuh all dem generation. Dem boys had to laugh de other day when one exMinister, de Goat Man, wake up and call fuh dem security fuh tun on de pump fuh push water upstairs. Priya call fuh security fuh bring de newspaper. When none body nah answer dem boys hear de Goat Man call Mr Seeall to complain. Seeall tell him that he is not Minister anymore. In fact, you shouldn’t even be calling me. You is an ordinary citizen. If you want security you got to spend you own money and hire private security. Priya call de commander and de commander ask she if
she dreaming. Donald Dumb was driving down de road yesterday. He was going over de river to meet Irfaat and as soon as he lef he house he ask de security why de siren not on. De security seh, “Boss you not president anymore. De Soulja Bai tek over de vehicle wid de siren.” One of de security tell he fuh tek he mouth and mek siren. Dem boys hear through de grapevine that de Rum Jattan seh he gun cut down all dem entourage wha Jagdeo tek fuh he self and Donald Dumb. Talk half and smile fuh this change because it sure bring dese vagabonds to human level.
that APNU did not meet immediately after the elections to decide on the way forward. He is being dismissed. But he may have been the first to recognize that trouble is on the horizon. People however are getting excited by the clean up exercise that is taking place in Georgetown. They are not concerned about the political mess that is being generated because of the lack of consultations with APNU and what seems to have been a violation of the Cummingsburg Agreement. According to that Agreement, it is the Prime Minister that is supposed to be responsible for Home Affairs. But is this still on the cards or are the requisite Ministers going to report to the President? And it is the Prime Minister who was supposed to recommend the names of Ministers. But did he know the ministries that were being created and how many of his nominations were accepted? That question will never be asked, and never be answered. The Office of the President has now been converted into a Ministry.
Now, the PPP may be wrong about whether it is illegal to establish certain other Ministries but if All Executive Power resides in the Presidency, how can the seat of the Presidency be administered as a Ministry? There is likely, given the many vigilant lawyers around, to be a constitutional challenge to the designation of the Office of the President as a ministry. All of these developments however are being overshadowed by the works at the Independence Arch, which incidentally was built and donated by a multinational company which the Burnham regime later accused of plundering Guyana. We took Queen Victoria statue and, for years, threw it at the back of the Botanical Gardens. We are now giving a facelift to the monuments given to Guyana by the imperialists. Our Independence
monument is a gift from our old exploiters. The Independence Monument is undergoing a welcome facelift. The last time the PPPC government did that it lasted only a few days. The sprucing up provided greater comfort to the smelly vagrants who occupied all the concrete benches, defecated in the drains behind the monument and even took baths in the same drains. Unless a permanent guard is placed there and is instructed to not allow vagrants or the homeless to take up residence there, the place will soon return to the dismal state that the present government is attempting to save it from. What really changes in this country? Tell me!
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. - Mahatma Gandhi
Monday May 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Ministries renamed to emphasize functions – President David Granger The renaming of some ministries and the addition of a few new ones by President David Granger has raised eyebrows and criticisms in some quarters. But President Granger said yesterday that some ministries have been merged with others and renamed, to emphasize their functions. He cited the Ministry of Communities under which, former ministries like Local Government, Housing and Water were placed. “When we speak of Communities, it is not just about places but about the social and other elements of living in a community. The intention is not just to speak
- Junior Ministers to understudy seniors of Local Government or speak of Housing but to foster a feeling among the residents that they belong to these new communities. We hope to infuse the feeling of community solidarity and provide not only physical facilities but social and cultural facilities to transform the communities.” Granger said that as it relates to the Ministry of Presidency formerly Office of the President, one has to be cognizant of the great burden it has to direct other ministries and the weight of responsibilities it has with its
own departments. Considering this, Granger said that it was only fitting that it be renamed to emphasize the responsibility that the presidency has to direct the development of the country and to coordinate the work of other ministries. He sought to remind that the Natural Resources Ministry was not placed under the purview of the Ministry of Presidency “out-of-the – blue.” He said that based on the records of 2011, it was an inherited function of the office. In terms of the Ministry of
Roger Khan, Ed Ahmad may testify against former US Senator
Shaheed “Roger” Khan
Rep. Gregory Meeks
One was the drug-trafficking leader of a South American death squad. The other is a former airline baggage handler now serving a life sentence for drug running. Shaheed “Roger” Khan and Victor Bourne are just a few in a rogues gallery of possible witnesses whose stories or testimony will feature in the upcoming trial of Brooklyn State Sen. John Sampson. Sampson, the former Democratic leader of the Senate, is accused of obstructing justice, witness and evidence tampering and lying to an FBI agent. His trial is expected to begin June 22 in Brooklyn federal court. Aside from the drug -lords, others on the list of people who will testify or whose names might come up at trial are Congressman Gregory Meeks of Queens and Paul Rivera, a political operative with strong ties to the Clintons. The names were listed in the questionnaire given to potential jurors in the case. Rivera, a former top aide to Sampson, worked in the Clinton White House and formed the pro-Hillary Rodham Clinton American Leadership Project in the 2008 Democratic primary. There are also several Sampson confidants, state workers and a businessman with whom Sampson was a secret partner in a Brooklyn liquor store. Another businessman, Edul Ahmad, was convicted in a mortgagefraud scheme and will figure prominently in the trial. He cooperated with Prosecutors and wore a wire in the Sampson case. Ahmad, a Guyanese immigrant and realestate broker, funneled cash to Meeks and
John Sampson
Sampson. He pleaded guilty in October 2012 to mortgage fraud but has yet to be sentenced. Ahmad gave his longtime pal Sampson $188,500 in 2006 to repay funds the senator allegedly embezzled from escrow accounts he supervised as a lawyer in private practice. Sampson was charged with embezzlement in 2013, but the charges were dismissed last year because the statute of limitations had expired. Sampson, 49, who has been in the Senate since 1997, is also accused of trying to lean on a mole in the US Attorney’s Office to learn the names of those cooperating in the Ahmad case and telling Ahmad he could arrange to “take them out,” legal papers say. Sampson is of Guyanese heritage and traveled to Guyana frequently, sometimes meeting Ahmad. Khan is alleged to have headed a squad in Guyana that murdered hundreds of people, including government opponents. Both Khan and Ahmad had ties to a former President of Guyana. Khan pleaded guilty in Brooklyn Federal Court in 2009 in a cocainetrafficking scheme. His lawyer, Robert Simels, was convicted of witness tampering and other charges in the case. Less clear is any link the Senator has to Bourne, a native of Barbados who for years ran the “Bourne Organization” to smuggle cocaine from the Caribbean to the United States by hiding it in planes or baggage. He was convicted in 2012. Sampson’s lawyer would not comment on the drug lords. A US Attorney’s Office spokeswoman also declined to comment. (New York Post)
Citizenship, the President noted that there have been problems regarding registration and the granting of passports to aliens, illegal immigrants and the fact that at the time of elections, particularly, there always seems to be a “mad rush for people to get registered.” Granger said he feels that the confusion can be eliminated and that his government intends to introduce a system to ensure that the right of Guyanese citizenship is protected from the cradle to the grave. “And right now, it is not just a matter of having a Guyana Registration Office. It is a matter of ensuring that every single Guyanese child is registered free of cost because in some areas poor people can’t even afford to pay for the stamp. It has been difficult for people to acquire birth certificates and identification cards and we want a lifelong system so that people, both in Guyana and the Diaspora, can feel secure about their citizenship rights being protected and their status, secured.” The President stressed that the system is one that is too important to be left in the “fragmented” state it is in and the creation of that Ministry, he believes will bring some
President David Granger order and accountability to that area. There are only 15 ministries and over 20 ministers but Granger said that the new additions such as the Ministry of Cohesion and the Ministry of Governance will be operating from the Ministry of the Presidency. He said, too that the junior ministers are really “understudies” and this has become necessary because only about two persons in the Cabinet really have ministerial experience. “We now find ourselves, after 23 years, with the need to train a new cadre of young ministers because they never had ministerial experience and it is burdensome and requires a great deal of commitment.” Speaking on the importance
of the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Granger said that there have been ethnic problems in the country and this entity will be working towards achieving a higher level of unity. “We need someone specifically dedicated to that. We want to foster greater cohesion in that party as well so the Minister has a great responsibility, countrywide and within the coalition.” He believes that this can be attained to some degree in first term. Granger said too that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport was not merged with the Ministry of Education on a mere whim. He said that it was only returned to where it came from. The historian recalled that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport was created to provide a job for Miss Gail Teixeira who was removed from the Ministry of Health by the late Janet Jagan. “The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) created many ministries to deal with internal conflict. After Clement Rohee was removed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2001, they created something called the Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Corporation for him.” “When he was removed from there, that invention collapsed… These things were invented... they weren’t there from time immemorial.”
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Kaieteur News
Monday May 25, 2015
I will pursue all ‘white-collar’ suspects The new government will embark on an aggressive pursuit of all white collar crime, says recently swornin Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. Speaking to Kaieteur News shortly after being sworn-in last Friday, Ramjattan highlighted the fight against white collar suspects as one of the key areas he will focus on while in office. As an Opposition Member of Parliament, Ramjattan had been vocal about shortcomings to effectively address white collar crime. “That would be a huge area that I intend to pursue and I intend to pursue all white collar suspects.” Persons employed, he said, will also be “checking back on the systems in place in which there were deviations and violations.”
- new Public Security Minister
Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan According to the Minister, focus will also be given to strengthening the fraud squad. He added that such an endeavor would require “top class qualified people” and further expressed confidence that
the endeavor would receive support from the government. Ramjattan had also criticized the Guyana Police Force for their apparent inability to investigate and prosecute alleged perpetrators of these “intelligent” crimes. The new Minister also spoke of strengthening the prosecutorial service. Ramjattan is now in control of the security sector and with it, the Guyana Police Force. White collar crime refers to financially motivated nonviolent crime committed typically by business and government professionals. In countries like the US, forensic accountants, auditors and whistle-blowers identify and report white-collar crimes. Typical white-collar crimes include fraud, bribery,
insider trading, embezzlement, cybercrime, copyright infringement, money laundering, identity theft and forgery. Last year, reports surfaced that senior ranks of the police force were unaware of the fact that charges could be brought against former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh for the illegal spending of $4.5B. They had requested that Ramjattan, the complainant, prepare an extensive report. Ramjattan, a practicing Attorney who has been a legal advisor to the Force for several years, had explained to this publication that its ranks have not been trained to deal with high level “white collar” crimes, such as the one he is alleging against Singh. This led to court action brought by the then
Opposition, now Government and a subsequent ruling from the Chief Justice that the money had indeed been spent illegally. Additionally, the Opposition had last year remained firm in its position not to make way for passage of the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMT/CFT) Bill unless it is sure that Guyana is being given the best legislation, capable enough to deal with a range of white collar crimes. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Leader, Brigadier David Granger, had long held the position that this Bill “must” address all the inadequacies of the first piece of legislation and not be just another ornament “just to say we have it.” However, Granger had informed that it is advocating the strengthening of the
Government established body, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which is for requesting, receiving, analyzing and disseminating of suspicious transaction reports and other information relating to money laundering, terrorist financing or the proceeds of crime. Also, last year Guyana remained at the bottom of the list of English Speaking Caribbean countries its 2013 rating on the Global Corruption Perception Index. The result of the 2014 Annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI) showed that out of the 175 countries surveyed by the international body, Guyana ranked 124, with a score of 30 .(0 being highly corrupt;100 being very clean.) The only other countries in the region that ranked below Guyana were Haiti and Venezuela.
Bartica Hospital to be developed into a regional facility The new A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government is immediately looking at making the Bartica Hospital into a regional facility. This was disclosed by Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, yesterday, during a visit to the hospital. “We (are) not out here to criticise for the sake of criticism or to break down to build up, but we are here to build up what has been in existence,” Minister Norton explained, even as he gave recognition for what has already been accomplished at the hospital. “Kudos must be given for the appearance of the hospital in general. We can see that efforts were made in the line of hygiene and maintenance of equipment,” he said. “Considering the large catchment area that Bartica
really is involved in, I think, the job (health care delivery) is well done here in this area…there is quite a lot that the Bartica community can be contented with,” he added. Minister Norton noted, however that the meetings with the staff did bring to the forefront some of their concerns. He said that the Public Health Ministry under his stewardship will see regular meetings with the staff. “Bearing in mind the different issues that were raised, I could see vast improvement in a short space of time.” Going forward, with the effort at upgrading the facility to a regional one, “we have got to concentrate on the surgical aspect of the hospital,” Minister Norton said. “There is an operating theater, but that does not mean anything if we do not have a surgeon here or
- Minister Norton surgical cases being done on a regular basis, whether it is cold cases or emergency cases,” he explained. He said that a Regional Hospital like Bartica will definitely need four main specialist areas: paediatric, internal medicine, gynaecology and general surgery. “With that being available in here, and medical supply, and pharmaceuticals and the general administration, I think that it would put Bartica on a very favourable position in terms of health care,” he said. He said that the mere fact that he was inaugurated just days ago, and he was already visiting health facilities, Dr. Norton said that will be his approach of going on the ground to see what is going on, talking to the nurses and
Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton, accompanied by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Shamdeo Persaud and staff of the Bartica Hospital visiting a patient other personnel, finding out their issues and receiving suggestions and ideas and
The Bartica Hospital, Region Seven, set to be upgraded to a regional facility
trying to solve those problems. While in Region Seven,
the Minister also visited several health posts. (A GINA feature)
Monday May 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 21
IGNORE THIS SIGN One of the great doublebinds in communication is the question, “Have you stopped beating your wife?” Whatever your answer, particularly in a society where domestic violence is a criminal offence, you are likely to put yourself into serious trouble. It is a situation that has been described as “pedodentology” or “putting your foot in your mouth.” In this case, you cannot help incriminating yourself unless you answer a question with a question and ask, “Why are you asking me thatdarling?” At a recent strategic communication workshop I held in Trinidad, I use an example that is less personally involving. It is a sign that says, “Ignore this sign.” Obviously, once you’ve read the sign it is impossible to ignore it. A Japanese hotel had a more intricate version, “Is forbidden to steal hotel towels please. If you are not person to do such thing is please not to read notis.” This is completely different from those signs which say, “The tethering of
animals is strictly prohibited” and you see cows and goats tied to them. A variation of this sign, in a field in England, has the words, “The farmer allows walkers to cross the field for free, but the bull charges.” Other forms of “No Trespassing” signs are quite common, particularly in Trinidad where signs declaiming that “Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted” are as common as they are ineffective. One on a Norfolk, England, farm-gate might achieve better results, “Beware! I shoot every tenth trespasser and the ninth one just left.” In the United States instead of “Beware of the Dog” the sign on a fence read, “Salesmen welcome. Dog Food is expensive.” Another sign said, “Everyone on the premises is a vegetarianexcept the dog.” Passing through San Fernando recently, I saw a classic. It proclaimed, “Body Wash, Underwash, Nipple Greasing Done Here.” Unfortunately, it belonged to an automobile repair shop. There are many examples of inadvertent advertising. One
restaurant boasted, “Fine food served by waitresses in appetising forms.” A desk was advertised as, “An antique suitable for lady with thick legs and large drawers.” One company wanted, “Fifty girls for stripping machine operators in factory.” A very proud laundry described its competitive edge, “We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by hand.” One pet shop was selling a dog which “eats anything and is fond of children.” A classified advertisement in a newspaper read, “Wanted. Man required to work in dynamite factory. Must be willing to travel.” Another required, “Man to take care of cow that does not drink or smoke.” San Fernando also produced the sign selling second-hand tyres as having “previous road experience.” However, one has to go to Paris for this hotel sign, “Please leave your values at the front desk.” In Athens one hotel advised, “Visitors are expected to complain at the office between 9 and 11
a.m. daily.” In some countries, chambermaids have it toughaccording to the signs. In a Yugoslav hotel, “The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid.” In a Japanese hotel, “You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.” In Zurich, one hotel wanted to ensure that all was above board. Its sign read, “Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.” A Roman laundry suggests suggestively, “Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time.” Even in England, there are problems with signs. A sign in a Laundromat read, “Automatic Washing Machines: Please Remove All Your Clothes When the Light Goes Out.” In England, however, there is the sign that many men would love to see. It is outside a second-hand shop and says, “We exchange anything- Bicycles, Washing
Machines etc. Why not bring your wife along and get a wonderful bargain?” Some signs, however, are deliberately cute. One on an electrician’s truck read, “Let us remove your shorts.” An auto-body shop asked, “May we have the next dents?” and a muffler shop made it clear, “No appointment necessary. We’ll hear you coming.” In the non-smoking area of a large installation was the sign, “If we see you smoking we’ll assume you’re on fire and take appropriate action.” On the door of a maternity ward, the sign read, “PUSH” and someone added, “PUSH, PUSH!” An electric company had one which would win any “Use of English” award. It read, “We would be delighted if you pay your bill. However, if you don’t, you will be.” One went even further. A British gas station warned, “Please do not smoke near the pumps. If your life isn’t worth anything, gas is!” In addition to the cute and
accidental are some that are essentially serious and these take the cake. One for an automobile fan-belt warned, “Do not change the belt while the engine is running.” Another for a hair blow-dryer was firm. “Warning! Do not use while sleeping.’ My favourite is the one written on the back of a car winshield sun-protector. It said, “Do not operate vehicle with screen in place.” Perhaps it was meant for Poland where the announcements and ads are different. In the USA they ask, “It is ten o’clock. Do you know where your children are?” In France they ask, “It’s ten o’clock. Do you know where your wife is?” In Poland they ask, “It’s ten o’clock. Do you know what time it is?” * Tony Deyal was last seen praising British intelligence. Once in London he saw a leaflet which proclaimed, “If you cannot read, this will tell you how to get lessons.”
Public Security Minister faces uphill task to reduce... (From page 12) the murder of a Linden schoolgirl. The suspect was eventually freed, and there is now no evidence to establish if he had indeed committed the crime, or if there is a childkiller out there. But detectives have also complained about the mysterious ‘misplacement’ of exhibits in recent cases. One investigator alluded to the recent Shaquille Grant murder trial, in which a detective was unable to account for the whereabouts of spent shells and swab samples collected during the investigation. BALLISTICS One of the positive moves by the previous Government was the acquisition of an Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). This is a system in which fingerprints of suspects are placed in a database. Investigators can then quickly check and match fingerprints taken from a crime against those stored in the database. Police solved a number of murders and other offences within a few months of setting up this system. Similarly, Minister Ramjattan could also push for acquisition of an Automated Ballistics Identification System (ABIS), which is a computer system, designed to store and quickly compare digital images of bullets and cartridge casings. At present,
ballistics experts have to go through the sometimes tedious process of viewing casings and cartridges under a microscope to ascertain if they match those that are found at a crime scene. POLICE CANINE DIVISION Do you know that the Guyana Police Force once hired out one of its tracker dogs to help capture a dangerous Caribbean criminal? Have you ever heard of the famous dog, Rio that helped to solve many cases? Do you know that another tracker dog once helped to solve the murder of an estate supervisor? But that was decades ago. Now the Canine Division seems to be an almost forgotten arm of the Force, with only its drug-sniffing dogs being used at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. A vibrant Canine Division could have played a major role in several recent cases. One of these cases involves the suspected murder of 11-year-old Nordex Wilkinson, who disappeared without trace on May 18, 2004, at Pattensen, Turkeyen. Tracker or cadaver dogs could also have helped detectives to locate Kwame Rumel Jobronewet, the 67-year-old US citizen who vanished in June, 2009. He reportedly disappeared in Buxton, after returning to Guyana to visit the
home of his recently-deceased mother. There is also the case of 28-year-old Babita Sarjou, who seems to have literally vanished off the face of the earth on November 4, 2009, after leaving her workplace and informing friends that she was going to her estranged husband’s home in Kitty. COLD CASE UNIT Finally, Mr. Ramjattan could push for the establishment of a team of detectives, possibly including retired ranks, whose sole focus would be the solving of ‘cold cases’. The late Police Commissioner Laurie Lewis had raised this idea in the late nineties, with a suggestion that retired Homicide Division Head, Superintendant Michael Marks head the unit. This idea was again suggested in 2009 by Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, who was at the time functioning in the capacity of Crime Chief. According to the Crime Chief, a proposal to establish the unit has been stymied by the lack of adequate manpower. This is in addition to the growing demands on the staff of the Criminal Investigations Department. Despite the advancement of technology which can greatly assist in solving cold cases, the Guyana Police Force currently relies on paperwork
which is stored in the best available way. According to the Crime Chief, should such a unit become a reality, the Police Force will first have to look at the amount of unsolved cases, and then build a data base to facilitate proceeding with them. He pointed out that they will have to revisit evidence
and re-interview available witnesses. But while some may question the proper storage of evidence over a prolonged period, the Crime Chief pointed out that the police force has managed to store these to the best of its ability. “Once exhibits are seized, they are lodged and stored in
the best way possible. Spent shells and other murder weapons are some of these. In the case of perishable evidence, we photograph them and then dispose,” Persaud stated. He added that one problem facing the proposed initiative is the unavailability of witnesses, either through migration or death.
Page 22
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Advertisements; Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves. Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Your Dream Yard Today! Stunning designs, Assortment, colourful plant choices, Professional Landscapers Tel: 219-0468/ 648-1821 Balloon decorating for birthdays, weddings, anniversary etc, make your event extra special! Tel Maya: 642-6664 R E PA I R S AT L O W COST: FRIDGES, AIRCONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES, FREEZERS - CALL: 6294946 OR 225-4822 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building visadocumentsgy@yahoo.comCall: 225-6496, 662-6045 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655,683-8734 Mahadeo Construction for all construction, carpentry, masonry, pluming, painting etc. Free estimates and plan Contact # 669-7376
Kaieteur News
WANTED One experienced cosmetologist (must have atleast 1 year experienced) preferably on E.B.D. Contact: 645-3010 1 Maid, 40years and older to work in SurinameContact: (+597) 322-5442; (+597) 651-6666 Diesel mechanic to work in the back dam, must have experienced in repairing Perkins, MWM engines, etc Contact: 661-4265 Experienced cashiers, apply in person with written application at Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce Street. Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literate- Tel: 612-1607 Farm workers male only – 3045 years old –Call: 265-3586 Diesel Mechanic to work in Georgetown-Tel: 218-5105 1 Mechanic to work in the Interior must know about Cummings & Perkins Engine. Tel: 691-6260 Need an advisor to help with setting up a new Private School, email details to mozatart@yahoo.com
PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 2193900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YAHOO.COM/WWW. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM Aidan’s Car & Pickup rental, cheap rate, low security – Tel:698-7807
SALON
VACANCY
FOR SALE
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Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
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TO LET Prime office space @ lot 239 Quamina Street, Central Georgetown, parking available in Private yard. Tel:592-227-2913, 592-689-3033
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Gated luxury community: mall, pool, underground irrigation, swipe card entry$6USD per sq. ft.- Call:6090783
New unfurnished three bedroom house located at Eccles US$800 neg. Phone: 621-6888
Omai Quartz Hill Mining Block, 303 Independence Boulevard land size 3489.16 sq ft Call: 622-9998
Land at Farm East Bank Demerara Call: 668-0000, 6037900
PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale, Grove $18M neg. Tel: 625-5461. Residential lots ad houses for sale at Eccles, E.B.D $7.5M. Tel:592-227-2913 or 689-3033 Flat house for sale, West Minister Cash only -$6M or nearest offer- Tel:661-8700, 671-2689 Property @ Lot 63 West Ruimveldt, Estate Housing Scheme Georgetown – Contact Mark: 618-9744 For sale in Central Georgetown: Spacious house in desirable Bel-Air, New Haven Residential neighborhood. Call: 6748851 Two storey concrete and wooden business place located at 35 Ketley and Howes Street, Georgetown. Tel: 623-9679 Property at Covent Garden E.B.D, serious inquiries – Call: 265-3586 Four bedroom home at Atlantic Gardens $50M neg. Phone: 621-6888
LAND FOR SALE Commercial lots available at Eccles E.B.D $14M - Tel:592227-2913 or 592-689-3033
10 Acres Kuru Kuru, High Way Roadside for Resort Business –Tel: 601-3369 or 227-1042
1 Coal burner, caretaker & security guard, Sawmill supervisor to work @ Yarrowkabra Highway. Tel: 226-0395
One 2 bedrooms apartment @ 35 Howes Street- Contact Pet Boy Shop, between the hours 11am-6pm - $45,000 monthly
1 bedroom apartment with parking & other conveniences $30,000. For Christian working couple. (Available)- Contact: 6721586, 218-3463
Eagle’s fridge re-gases $8,000 & washing machine repairs. Phone: 697-2969, 646-0966
CAR RENTAL
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1 Maid to wash and clean in the interior-Tel: 691-6260 One experienced cook preferably from the EBD, mature person 35 yrs & up Call: 660-7790 (after 5pm Mon-Fri & 8am-5pm weekdays)
Monday May 25, 2015
Experienced cleaners – Call between 7am-9am on 225-8572 Cutter/straight stitch/button tack/hole operators. Call: 222-2541 (8:00am-4:00pm Mon-Fri) Assistant cook- Carnegie or grilling experience would be an asset- Call: 225-7933/ visit us at 172 Sheriff street Skidder, tractor & chainsaw operator to work at GuyAmerica-call:260-4580,660-2100 Hotel Manager for Xenon Hotel in Essequibo. Send application and resume to rtilak@adamantiumholdings. com Accounts Clerk send application and resume to rtilak@adamantiumholdings. com
MASSAGE
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MASSAGE Relaxing Massage ServiceTel:674-8147 Continued on page 23
Monday May 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Letters... Where your views make the news
President Ramotar pardon of Ravindra What the coalition victory Deo should be condemned by all means for Guyana
DEAR EDITOR, The President of Guyana has wideranging executive powers that make him or her immune from prosecution for his acts while in office. However, last week’s news that former President Donald Ramotar, in one of his last acts in office, freed child killer, Ravindra Deo, who was serving life, is appalling to say the least. This killing had shocked the nation to the core and left two law-abiding citizens without a child. God knows their pain. What thoughts were in the head of the former President when he decided to free this man? Were there others in jail who could have been freed? Is the President related to Mr Deo? The police had done their work in investigating the crime which occurred 21 years ago and which left eight-year-old Vishnu Bhim dead after he was abducted from his
Annandale, East Coast Demerara home. The kidnappers demanded $1M in ransom. Indeed, Mr Deo had been the man that led police to the LBI backdam where the little boy’s bound and battered body was found. He was sentenced to death but had the sentence commuted to life. I am ashamed to have been supporting Mr Ramotar. The PPP has gone to Lusignan to pray for the massacre victims saying how they are sorry. What kind of message is the freeing of Ravindra Deo sending to Guyanese who wants justice for crimes and now see this? Would it be too hard to ask the new President, David Granger, to look into this illogical, and highly immoral act by Mr Ramotar. This is indeed a shocking decision by the former President and one that should be condemned by all. Cobeer Persaud
The emasculation of the GDF DEAR EDITOR, The GDF glory days were over when the PPP took office. They literally took away all the tools and equipment for the GDF to function as a Defence Force. Now don’t blame the PPP for the initial move because they saw the GDF as an enemy and friend of the PNC. After all, most of the votes from the GDF goes to the PNC now APNU and now the Coalition. However, many years later after, the GDF proved themselves as a professional Defence Force and capable to securing the governance of the PPP. The reasons for depriving the GDF of assets changed. It became an inevitable corruption game. Senior officials in the PPP government and OP saw it as a money maker to lease trucks to
Unjust parallel... From page 4 family situation of another leader of an unhappy era past, is most absurd and unjust. From my knowledge, Mr. Gaskin has never been a member of the PNC wing of the APNU. Secondly, Mr Gaskin, from my knowledge, was very well established and married before Mr Granger was the leader of the PNC/APNU. Mr Gaskin has earned his experience at his own expense and really does not owe Guyana anything. I personally was very happy to know that a person of Mr. Gaskin’s stature, was selected to be a Minister in the Ministry of Business and Investment (formerly the Industry and Commerce portfolios) since I think Mr. Gaskin can set an example for many present day politicians to follow both within and outside of this present government. I am sure in all fairness that anyone from any political party who had had the chance to meet Mr. Gaskin and really know what he stands for morally and ethically would not disagree with me. Andrew Dookhan
the GDF, allow contracts for humanitarian and basic services done over the years by the GDF Air Corps to go to their two very good friends. All this coming with the permission and out of the corridors of the Office of the President. I hope the new government rebuilds the GDF to be a proud group of men and women with the equipment to tackle border defence if needed, handle humanitarian missions, fight the narcotics trade, secure our borders and return our badly needed search and rescue capabilities. It is a shame that after all the GDF did for the PPP led government for the past 22 years, the legacy they left for the GDF is one with no or little assets and equipment other than free items donated by the Chinese and U.S. governments. It is shameful and a disgrace for the professional GDF and our nation. The nearby Caricom members, the Surinamese and Trinidad Defence Forces are all better equipped on land, sea and in the air than our GDF. A sad story of how corruption and focus by the
previous PPP government didn’t see anything worthwhile unless it meant a dime for them and a kickback with direct cash benefits for the senior PPP decision makers. Hopefully, the current government will stop the government corruption affecting the GDF and re-invest in the GDF without fear or favour. This means allowing the GDF to commence performing the tasks they were proud of performing before the corrupting PPP forces took over in 1992. I often wondered whether the deliberate depriving of the GDF from assets was meant to prevent the GDF from being called upon to fight the narco trade which led directly to the corridors of power and other officials as we saw from wikileaks. Thank you for wikileaks it was all revealed. I think I am right why the GDF was deprived. Good riddance to corruption. The worse we have seen in the former British Caribbean Territories and known only to Latin America. Harold Singh
DEAR EDITOR, With the announcement of the final preliminary results for the May 11, 2015, General and Regional Elections, which shows the opposition coalition APNU+AFC having the majority of votes, all Guyanese have won. This victory means that we as Guyanese were able to put aside our differences and unite to fight a greater evil, that of rampant corruption, inequity and nepotism which existed under the PPP/C government. These elections were held at a period where many Guyanese would have lost trust and confidence in the government to act in their best interest, one where revelations about “secret deals” and costly projects were the order of the day. This angered many persons, including myself to the point where voting didnot become option, it was a must. On May 11, the lines were long and the talk was “vote them out” and “vote like a boss”, there were many first time and elderly voters,
anxiously awaiting their turn to cast their ballot. On the eve of Election Day, persons were again at the polling stations, this time to get a glimpse of the Statement of Poll, which reflected the votes each party would have received. With the imminent victory for the coalition, it is expected that the new government will be one that is transparent in its operations and accountable to the Guyanese people. It is also expected that all “shady” projects undertaken by the past PPP/ C government will be reviewed, reworked or disbanded, where applicable, so as to benefit all Guyanese and not just a few selected friends and family. The tide has turned, and now we have a great opportunity to live up to our motto of “one people, one nation and one destiny”. I congratulate our new President and Prime Minister elect and urge them not to lose focus on the task at hand, and to always put the Guyanese citizens first in every decision they make. Ronley Kendall, MBA
From page 22
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Monday May 25, 2015
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Monday May 25, 2015
Polish president concedes defeat after exit poll released WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski conceded defeat in the county’s presidential election yesterday after an exit poll showed him trailing Andrzej Duda, a previously little-known right-wing politician. If the exit poll is confirmed by official results, which due today, it marks a significant blow to the ruling Civic Platform party ahead of more important parliamentary elections this year. The promarket and pro-European party has overseen unprecedented growth during its eight years of power but is now being punished by voter discontent. Many Poles say they are fed up with corruption scandals involving members of the ruling party, and with the fact that economic growth has not trickled down to many ordinary Poles. The exit poll said 52 percent of the votes in Sunday’s final round of the presidential election went to Duda and 48 percent to Komorowski. It was conducted by Ipsos and
Bronislaw Komorowski reported by the private broadcaster TVN. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. “I congratulate my competitor Andrzej Duda and wish him a successful presidency,” said Komorowski, whose term ends in August. Duda belongs to the Law and Justice party of former Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a right-wing party that mixes traditional national values like Catholicism with calls for a stronger state role in the economy. The party ran the government from 2005-
2007 and the presidency from 2005 to 2010, when President Lech Kaczynski, the party chairman’s twin brother, was killed in a plane crash in Russia. During the campaign, Duda, a lawyer and member of the European Parliament who was previously little known in Poland, called for a reduction in the retirement age. He also said he wants Poland to retake control of the banks, two-thirds of which are foreign owned. The mood was joyous at the election night gathering in Warsaw of Duda’s Law and Justice party as supporters celebrated what is apparently its first significant electoral victory in nearly a decade. There was an explosion of cheering and people flashed V-for-victory signs. In a brief speech, Duda, 43, vowed an open presidency based on unity and said that it would take a lot of hard work to fix the country’s problems. “We can change Poland,” Duda said with his wife and grown daughter by his side. After his speech the family and the crowd sang the national anthem.
Greece ‘has no money’ to meet IMF debt repayment Athens (AFP) - Greece warned yesterday it has no money to repay the International Monetary Fund on time in June unless a deal is reached with its creditors, in a stark warning that the country could be just days away from defaulting. Athens already had a close shave in May, when it was only able to scrape together the 750 million euros ($845 million) due to the IMF then by raiding its emergency reserves. With the clock ticking down to four more debt instalments from June 5, Interior Minister Nikos Voutsis told Mega TV that the country has nothing left for the IMF in its coffers.
“The instalments for the IMF in June are 1.6 billion euros ($1.8 billion). This money will not be given. There isn’t any to be given. This is a known fact,” Voutsis said. Nevertheless, the minister believes that negotiations between Athens and its creditors were taking place “on the basis of cautious optimism that there will be a strong agreement”. Greece’s radical-left government has been locked in negotiations with its creditors — the IMF, the European Union and the European Central Bank — for the past four months in a bid to unlock some 7.2 billion euros in bailout cash.
Monday May 25, 2015
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Russia’s new ‘undesirables’ law draws Western ire Moscow (AFP) - The European Union joined the United States yesterday in condemning a Russian crackdown on “undesirable” NGOs, calling it a “worrying step” that would stifle free speech. Under the law signed by President Vladimir Putin on Saturday evening, Russian prosecutors will be able to target foreign groups whose “undesirable activities” are deemed to threaten “state security” or the “basic values of the Russian state.” Such groups and their publications risk being banned in Russia, having their bank accounts blocked and violators face fines or prison terms of up to six years. People cooperating with such entities would also be hit with fines and could be banned from entry to Russia, according to the text, which
Vladimir Putin sailed through the two chambers of Russia’s parliament. The EU called the law a “worrying step in a series of restrictions on civil society, independent media and political opposition” in Russia.
“It will restrict freedom of speech and media as well as pluralism of opinion,” a spokesperson for the EU’s foreign service said in a statement US State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said the law illustrated the creeping restrictions on criticism of the Kremlin. “We are concerned this new power will further restrict the work of civil society in Russia and is a further example of the Russian government’s growing crackdown on independent voices and intentional steps to isolate the Russian people from the world,” she said in a statement. “Russians, like people everywhere, deserve a government that supports an open marketplace of ideas, transparent and accountable governance, equal treatment
under the law and the ability to exercise their rights without fear of retribution.” The “undesirables” law builds upon existing legislation branding groups with foreign funding as “foreign agents,” passed shortly after Putin began his third historic term in the Kremlin in 2012, despite massive protests. Russian officials have accused NATO of trying to undermine the country and views internal criticism as the work of spies and traitors. The Kremlin’s sensitivity to reproval has been accentuated by the West’s isolation of Russia — and levying of sanctions on the country — over its Crimea annexation and alleged military backing for insurgents in eastern Ukraine. Critics say the vague wording of the new
Iraq regains ground from Islamic State; mass deaths reported in Palmyra Reuters - Iraqi forces recaptured territory from advancing Islamic State militants near the recentlyfallen city of Ramadi yesterday, while in Syria the government said the Islamists had killed hundreds of people since capturing the town of Palmyra. The fall of Ramadi and Palmyra, on opposite ends of the vast territory controlled by Islamic State fighters, were the militant group’s biggest successes since a U.S.-led coalition launched an air war to stop them last year. The near simultaneous victories against the Iraqi and Syrian armies have forced Washington to examine its strategy, which involves bombing from the air but leaving fighting on the ground to local forces in both countries. In a sharp criticism of Washington’s ally, U.S. Defence Secretary Ashton Carter accused Iraq’s army of abandoning Ramadi, a provincial capital west of Baghdad, to a much smaller enemy force. “The Iraqi forces just
A member of Iraqi security forces carries an elderly woman across a bridge on the outskirts of Baghdad, yesterday. Reuters/Stringer showed no will to fight,” he told CNN’s State of the Union programme. “They vastly outnumbered the opposing force, and yet they withdrew from the site.” Iraq’s government, along with Iran-backed Shi’ite militiamen and locallyrecruited Sunni tribal fighters, launched a counter-offensive on Saturday, a week after losing Ramadi. A police major
and a pro-government Sunni tribal fighter in the area said they had retaken the town of Husaiba al-Sharqiya, about 10 km (6 miles) east of Ramadi. “Today we regained control over Husaiba and are laying plans to make more advances to push back Daesh fighters further,” said local tribal leader Amir alFahdawi, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State,
also known in English as ISIS or ISIL. “The morale of the (progovernment) fighters is high after the arrival of reinforcements and loads of ammunition,” Fahdawi said. “Today’s advance will speed up the clock for a major advance to regain control of Ramadi.” Planes were bombing Islamic State positions on the opposite bank of the Euphrates river, where the militants were launching mortars and sniper fire to prevent the pro-government forces advancing, Fahdawi and the police major said. Days after taking Ramadi, Islamic State also defeated forces of the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad to capture Palmyra, home to 50,000 people and site of some of the world’s most extensive and best-preserved Roman ruins. The fighters have killed at least 400 people, including women and children in Palmyra since capturing the ancient Syrian city four days ago, Syrian state media said yesterday.
legislation, and a process that bypasses the court system, means that any group or business could be targeted. Veteran rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva said groups like New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) and London-based Amnesty International, which have a sizeable Russian presence and regularly issue damning statements on rights violations, would probably be worst affected. In a joint statement last
week Amnesty and HRW blasted the law as “the latest chapter in a crackdown” on NGOs and free speech in the country, w h e r e P u t i n ’s r a t i n g s soared after the Crimea annexation and remain above 80 percent a year l a t e r, d e s p i t e a r a f t o f economic woes. “This law is another step toward lowering the curtain between our country and the West,” Alexeyeva told Interfax news agency.
Cameron says to freeze government ministers’ pay for five years Reuters - British government ministers will have their pay frozen for another five years as the government tries to reduce the budget deficit, Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday. Cabinet ministers receive 134,565 British pound ($208,000) a year, including their parliamentary salary. Their pay has been frozen since 2010, when it was cut by 5 percent as part of the then-coalition government’s austerity efforts. C a m e r o n ’ s Conservatives, who won a surprise majority in this month’s election, have pledged to find 25 billion pounds ($39 billion) of spending cuts over the next two years as they seek to turn a 5 percent budget deficit into a surplus by 2018/19. “We will continue to take the difficult decisions necessary to bring spending down and secure our economy,” Cameron wrote in the Sunday Times newspaper. “I’ve decided to freeze the pay of the ministers in the government ... as we continue knuckling down as country, we will all play our part.”
David Cameron An independent body which oversees lawmakers’ pay and expenses has recommended all 650 members of parliament, including ministers, receive a 10 percent pay rise this year which would take their parliamentary salary to 74,000 pounds. Cameron has called on it to reconsider this proposal. In the past when the independent body has raised lawmakers’ pay, the government has decreased what ministers earn on top of their MP salary so that their overall package remains unchanged.
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Jailed Venezuelan leader starts hunger strike, urges protest CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez said he is beginning a hunger strike and called for a mass antigovernment protest next week in a video leaked Saturday. Lopez has been held in a military prison for more than a year on charges related to his role in leading protests against the South American country’s socialist administration last year. In the video, the former Caracas area mayor repeats his charge that the government is corrupt and incompetent, and he accuses authorities of killing dozens of people during the 2014 protests, which saw more than 40 deaths. The video comes after Venezuela’s currency lost a quarter of its value over the last week. Earlier Saturday, news broke that fellow opposition leader Daniel Ceballos was being removed from the military prison outside Caracas where he was being held with Lopez, and transferred to a public jail away from the capital. Lopez’s video offered a rare glimpse of the Harvardeducated opposition leader who has become an international cause celebre among opponents of President Nicolas Maduro. “One year and three months after our call for change, the situation has
Leopoldo Lopez gotten even worse. More lines, more inflation, more scarcity, more crime, more corruption,” he says, standing in front of what looks like a metal door in a mostly bare white room. Lopez calls for big, peaceful demonstrations next Saturday. He also says he and Ceballos are starting a hunger strike to demand the release of political prisoners, the end of repression, and a set date for legislative elections, which the administration has promised to hold at some point in November or December. Venezuela’s ombudsman, Tarek William Saab, said on Twitter that he had met with Lopez on Saturday. He said Lopez had been disciplined after a cellphone was found in his cell in violation of prison rules. He said it was the third mobile phone found in Lopez’s cell in four months.
Stuart mum on LIAT plans Daily Nation - Prime Minister Freundel Sturat is holding the LIAT files close to his chest. When asked Saturday if Barbados was contemplating starting its own regional airline, the Prime Minister offered little apart from a smile. “We [regional heads] met Saturday as shareholders, and we took a conscious decision not to engage the press after that meeting because we are at a fairly delicate stage in a transition of LIAT,” Stuart said while touring BMEX at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre Saturday. “We do not want to say anything that might compromise that transition. I said nothing Saturday, and I say nothing again today.”
Monday May 25, 2015
Basdeo says fresh faces needed for victory Trinidad Guardian Political analyst Maukesh Basdeo believes that at this point voters are focused more on the UNC and PP candidates than their campaign strategy. He said as the party celebrated its fifth anniversary, PersadBissessar should consider adding fresh faces to her 2015 slate if she wanted to retain power. “It will give these parties a certain edge. A lot of discussion has been held in the public domain that the Prime Minister should have a new slate of candidates, which will see possible new faces,” he said. Basdeo said in the PNM only political leader Dr Keith Rowley, Terrence Deyalsingh, Marlene McDonald and Colm Imbert had been returned as
candidates for the 2015 polls. He said Rowley had recognised the need to present new faces and a new team. “I think the other parties will have to recognise that, because if you have a stock of MPs who have been there for five years and performing, the population may want to see fresh faces. I think what we may see with the other parties, we may see fresh faces in this election,” Basdeo added. Basdeo said there was need for a level of succession planning in the UNC as well, since at this point no one had emerged as a possible leader for the party. Basdeo said should Persad-Bissessar maintain the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill two-term provision for prime ministers,
Maukesh Basdeo the question of the paty’s leadership would have to go to the membership to decide since there was no automatic successor. There are three deputy political leaders—Dr Roodal Moonilal, Dr Surujrattan Rambachan a n d M a r l e n e C o u d r a y. Basdeo said if for any
reason a political leader vacancy arose there would have to be an election. The political analyst said Persad-Bissessar still had a political edge even though the PP was embroiled in controversy with Emailgate and the Integrity Commission. “One thing that the PM has as an edge are the letters from the US Justice Department and Google that tell her that the e-mails are fake, and the controversy with the IC is another thing. I think what is going to happen here is convincing the voters. There is a set base of voters for both political parties. It is how they activate it,” he said. Basdeo said the population was more confused over the Emailgate issue than before.
Cuba allows five more foreign companies to invest in Mariel Cuba has given the goahead for five more foreign companies to set up operations in the Mariel Special Development Zone, a port and trade complex aimed at luring foreign investment, officials said at an international trade symposium in this capital. “Six companies have been approved (to date), five of them with 100 percent foreign capital,” the director of the ZEDM’s support office, Ana Teresa Igarza, was quoted as saying by Cuba’s official Prensa Latina news agency. The approved companies
operate in agribusiness, light industry, electronics, chemicals and transportation, Igarza said Friday, without indicating in which countries they are based. Plans are for the companies to be installed at the development zone and begin production in the first half of 2016. Cuba has received more than 300 applications to invest in the ZEDM from companies based in Spain, Italy, China, Russia, France, Vietnam, Brazil, Mexico, the Netherlands and Canada, Igarza’s office said in April.
‘Noise’ doesn’t bother PM Daily Nation - Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has heard the “noise” all week. But he admitted Saturday not being too worried about a threat of a national strike, more industrial action by disgruntled Customs officers, or waste haulers putting their trucks down for good. In fact, Stuart considers it “par for the course”. “I don’t think we need to worry too much,” Stuart said during an impromptu Press conference in the middle of his visit to BMEX at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre Saturday. “Trade unions are supposed to make noise on behalf of the persons they represent. These noises have to be made.
Freundel Stuart “I am sure that all the trade unions in Barbados are committed to the best interest of Barbados. When the chips are down they will put the interest of Barbados first,” the Prime Minister added.
Last month it was revealed that Spanish company Hotelsa, which produces and markets food and beverage products for the hotel industry, would be the first foreign firm to build a factory in the ZEDM. The Cuban government envisions the Mariel Special Development Zone, which provides favorable tax conditions for foreign firms and is the first of its kind on the Communist-ruled island, as an engine for job and export growth and a magnet for foreign investment. (Caribbean News.Net)
Ana Teresa Igarza
Roundtable asks President to fire IC Trinidad Guardian - The Roundtable Group has joined the chorus of voices calling on President Anthony Carmona to immediately revoke the appointment of the Integrity Commission chairman, retired justice Zainool Hosein, and the remaining members of the commission. Saturday, the Roundtable, whose convenor is Movement for Social Justice leader David Abdulah, demanded the dismissal of the commission as it said the IC’s “credibility and integrity are completely compromised.” The Roundtable, in a release Saturday, said it met on Friday at Ambassador Hotel, Port-of-Spain, to discuss “yet another recent crisis of governance facing the country—the collapse of an important independent institution, the Integrity Commission.” The collapse of the IC, the Roundtable said, came just days after the Prime Minister attempted to vindicate herself. The Roundtable also noted with concern that the deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Joan Honore-Paul was “constrained” to issue a statement making it clear that the Emailgate investigations were still ongoing and that no one was cleared. “The country then witnessed an avalanche of attacks upon the independent office of the DPP by senior officials of the Government including the Attorney General,” it added.
Monday May 25, 2015
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Usain Bolt getting back into Hull go down, Newcastle shape ahead of worlds survive on final day of drama LONDON (Reuters) Hull City were relegated and Newcastle United survived the drop on a dramatic final day of the Premier League season on Sunday while West Ham United announced that manager Sam Allardyce’s contract was not being renewed at Upton Park. While the spotlight shone brightest at St James’ Park, where Newcastle preserved their top flight status by beating West Ham United 20, the mood was a lot darker at KC Stadium where Hull drew 0-0 with Manchester United to finish in the bottom three. “We just haven’t been good enough. I thought at the start of the season that we had enough to stay up but we haven’t done enough,” Hull manager Steve Bruce told Sky Sports. “You can look for all sorts of excuses: injuries, suspensions, but in the end we have not been good enough, and that goes for me too at the top.” Elsewhere, the goals flew in at Stoke City, Leicester City and Arsenal, who warmed up for next week’s FA Cup final against Aston Villa with a 4-1 win over West Bromwich Albion. Champions Chelsea enjoyed the party atmosphere at Stamford Bridge where they came from behind to beat Sunderland 3-1 with Loic Remy scoring twice and Diego Costa once from the penalty spot as their season ended on a high with the presentation of the Premier
League trophy after the game. Didier Drogba’s final match in a Chelsea shirt ended with him being chaired off by his team mates during the first half as the fans gave him a standing ovation. There was a far worse send-off for Steven Gerrard who suffered his heaviest defeat in more than 700-plus matches for Liverpool in their 6-1 hammering at Stoke City. HEAVIEST DEFEAT The fact he scored their only goal was little consolation as Liverpool crashed to their heaviest league defeat for 52 years. Frank Lampard marked his final Premier League appearance by scoring Manchester City’s first goal in their 2-0 win over Southampton as last year’s champions finished second behind Chelsea. With Tottenham Hotspur winning 1-0 at Everton thanks to Harry Kane’s 31st goal of the season, Spurs finish fifth, Liverpool sixth and Southampton seventh. Spurs claimed the Europa League group stage place, Liverpool go into the playoffs and the Saints will have to wait for the outcome of the Cup final to see if they are in the competition. If Villa beat Arsenal in the final, they will claim it instead. Hull’s fate was sealed by Newcastle’s win over the Hammers where goals from Moussa Sissoko and Jonas Gutierrez secured all three points and safety for Newcastle who finally halted their nosedive down the table
after 10 matches without a win. Gutierrez’s goal completed a fairytale for the player who was diagnosed with testicular cancer two years ago and only returned to the team earlier this season. “I told the players it was going to be a 90-minute rollercoaster and I thought we controlled our emotions quite well,” manager John Carver told the BBC. “We knew what was happening at Hull but we had to go about our own business, credit to Sam Allardyce for putting out a strong side, there were no gimmes and it was a good performance.” Allardyce meanwhile became the former manager at West Ham United minutes after the final whistle when the Hammers issued a statement to confirm that he would not be retained after four years at Upton Park. “The club have begun the search for a new manager after deciding not to renew Sam Allardyce’s contract,” West Ham said. Arsenal remained the bookies favourite to retain t h e FA C u p a f t e r T h e o Walcott scored a hat-trick and Jack Wilshere also found the net in their 4-1 win over West Brom while Villa lost 1-0 at home to relegated Burnley. They drop down to the Championship with Hull and already-relegated Queens Park Rangers, whose dismal season ended with a 5-1 thrashing at Leicester City.
Hull City players looks dejected at full time. (Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough)
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, left, and United States’ Justin Gatlin compete in the men’s 4x100-meter relay final at the World Athletics Championships in the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (AP) — Usain Bolt is not worried by Justin Gatlin’s fast times and is using this season to get into shape ahead of the world championship in Beijing after his injuries last season. The Jamaican great was talking Sunday in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava, two days before he runs the 200 meters at the Golden Spike meet there. The six-time Olympic champion said his focus this season was ‘’on trying to get back into shape, get a lot of races on my belt’’ before the world championships in August. Tuesday’s event will be his second 200 after clocking 20.20 seconds in Jamaica in April. Bolt said he was feeling better than a month ago and that his coach expects an unspecified fast time in Ostrava. ‘’I’m in much better shape, I’ve been working harder,’’ Bolt said. ‘’ (My coach) is very happy with the progress I’ve been making.’’ Bolt previously said his goal remained to break his own 200 world record of 19.19, set in 2009. ‘’I’ve never really thought about the 100 that much after running 9.58,’’ Bolt said about his world record. ‘’The 200’s my favorite event. I really focus on trying to run faster over 200. My aim is always gonna be the 200
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood.
meters. That’s one of the biggest goals of my life.’’ Coming from injuries, Bolt said he needed to focus on his technique ‘’to make sure everything is fine tuned’’ and he had even ‘’started eating better’’ as part of the process. ‘’My start is always crap as everybody knows, I still have to work on that. The 200 meters, it’s just work on little things on the corner and coming out of the corner and dropping my shoulders. I’m just trying to get everything together, leading up to the world championship. As long as everything comes together there shouldn’t be a problem.’’ In Bolt’s absence, Gatlin was the fastest man in the world last season over both 100 and 200, and ran even faster in the Diamond League
opener in Doha, Qatar, clocking a world leading 9.74 in his first 100 of 2015. Bolt said it was good for the sport that others had fast times but was not worried. ‘’For me the aim is to get to the world championship ... I live for challenges, I live for championships. And that’s my focus.’’ For the world championships in Beijing, it will be Bolt’s return to the track where he won his first three gold medals in 2008. He got three more in London in 2012. ‘’It’s gonna be something big, it’s gonna be exciting,’’ Bolt said about the worlds. ‘’I’m definitely looking forward to going back to the Bird’s Nest (stadium). I’m definitely going there to do my best.’’
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Monday May 25, 2015
Rosberg takes Monaco Mumbai Indians saunter hat-trick after Mercedes gaffe to second title win
Mercedes Formula One driver Nico Rosberg of Germany crosses the finish line to win the Monaco F1 Grand Prix May 24, 2015. (Reuters/Max Rossi) MONACO (Reuters) Germany’s Nico Rosberg celebrated a surprise hat-trick of Monaco Grand Prix victories on Sunday after Mercedes blew championship-leading team mate Lewis Hamilton’s chances with a needless pitstop. The result, with Hamilton finishing third after leading most of the way, slashed the double Formula One world champion’s overall lead to 10 points after six of the season’s 19 races. The Briton had started on pole position and did not put a wheel wrong until he pitted for fresh tyres when the safety car was deployed with 14 laps to go. “I’ve lost the race haven’t I?” the disconsolate driver enquired over the team radio after rejoining in third place behind Rosberg and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, neither of whom pitted. “What’s happened guys?” Afterwards, with the enormity of what had
happened still sinking in, the stunned Mercedes driver told reporters: “I can’t really explain the way I feel at the moment. I won’t even attempt to.” While he did not blame the team, Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff indicated the call had come from the pitwall: “We thought the gap was different to what it was. A complete misjudgment, I am so sorry,” he told the BBC. “We screwed it up for him.” The safety car had been deployed after Dutch 17-yearold Max Verstappen’s Toro Rosso smashed into the back of Romain Grosjean’s Lotus and crashed heavily into the barriers while fighting for a possible 10th place. GRID PENALTY Verstappen, who had provided some of the more exciting moments of a largely processional race, was unhurt although the front of his car penetrated the plastic wall at the Sainte Devote corner.
Angry Federer blasts... From page 35 6-1 win over France’s Paul-Henri Mathieu and next faces either Australia’s Marinko Matosevic or Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil. Latvian 24th seed Ernests Gulbis, who knocked Federer out in the fourth round last year on his way to the semifinals, defeated Dutchman Igor Sijsling 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) for only his third win all year. Romania’s Simona Halep, the 2014 runner-up and third seed, saw off Russian world number 91 Evgeniya Rodina 75, 6-4 and next faces Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, the Croatian player who knocked her out of the US Open last year. Serbian seventh seed Ana Ivanovic, the 2008 champion, battled back to defeatc Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0. Russian ninth seed Ekaterina Makarova breezed past US wildcard Louisa Chirico 6-4, 6-2 while Spanish 21st seed Garbine Muguruza, who shocked Serena Williams in the second round last year, beat Croatian qualifier Petra Martic 6-2, 7-5. Croatian 18-year-old Donna Vekic, coached by 1997 champion Iva Majoli, put out French 31st seed Caroline Garcia 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 for her first win at the tournament.
Stewards later handed him a five-place grid penalty for the next race in Canada. Rosberg’s victory was the German’s second in succession, after winning the previous round in Spain, and made him only the fourth driver to win three Monaco Grands Prix in a row. The others were Graham Hill, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. “I’m very, very happy of course. I know it was just a lot of luck today. Lewis drove brilliantly and would have deserved the win for sure but that’s the way it is in racing,” said the Monaco resident. “I’m aware I got lucky, very lucky, probably the luckiest I’ve ever been in my career, but I’ll take it and enjoy it,” said the German. Russian Daniil Kvyat was fourth for Red Bull with Australian team mate Daniel Ricciardo fifth, after swapping places at the end, and Kimi Raikkonen finished sixth for Ferrari. Mexican Sergio Perez was seventh for Force India while Britain’s Jenson Button handed misfiring former champions McLaren their first points of the season with eighth place. “To come in now, sixth race with a brand new engine and everyone else has had a season with the new engine in, and to score points feels like winning a race,” said Button. Brazilian Felipe Nasr was ninth for Sauber with Verstappen’s Spanish team mate Carlos Sainz taking the final point for Toro Rosso after starting in the pit lane. In a novel touch decided by local organizers, the familiar ‘grid girls’ who stand in front of cars on the grid were replaced by male models.
ESPNcricinfo - Mumbai Indians completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the eight-year history of the Indian Premier League by transforming a terrible start to the tournament - they were at the bottom of the table for the first two weeks - into a title win. The final, a repeat of their 2013 success at the same ground against the same opposition, turned out to be one of the easier outings after an unbridled early onslaught by Rohit Sharma and Lendl Simmons, both of whom hit half-centuries, stunned Chennai Super Kings - veterans of IPL finals - into submission. Super Kings were not even given a sniff. MS Dhoni’s choice of bowling first on a patchy Eden Gardens pitch was interesting, not because he might have over-compensated for the presence of dew later on but because it was a departure from a strategy that had worked for Super Kings during in their two previous title wins - bat first, score big, then apply the squeeze.
Lendl Simmons goes for the pull, Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2015, Final, Kolkata, May 24, 2015. (BCCI)
The start was perfect; Faf du Plessis ran out Parthiv Patel brilliantly and Ashish Nehra ensured only one came off the first over. But that was it, because once Rohit tore into the second over, picking 16 off Mohit Sharma, Super Kings were always chasing the ball. R Ashwin was introduced in the fourth over, overstepped once and paid the price with a 12-run over. Jadeja was also bowled inside the Powerplay but Simmons smashed him for 14 runs to make it 61 runs off the first six. After seeing Rohit kick-start the innings with a flurry of boundaries in the first three overs, Simmons had played all but one ball in the next three and had overtaken Rohit. The spreading of field was not going to have an effect on the tiny outfield. Simmons continued hogging majority of strike and continued finding boundaries to reach his sixth half-century of the season in the 10th over. The run-rate showed no signs of stemming but Dhoni continued to hold back Dwayne Bravo, the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. As fate had it, it was Bravo who broke the dangerous stand in his first over - the 12th of the innings - by which time Rohit, too, had reached his half-century, of just 24 balls, and the run-rate was hovering around 10. An animated speech by Dhoni in the team huddle at Rohit’s dismissal had a brief effect: Dwayne Smith sent Simmons back with his first ball of the tournament and 30 runs came off four overs. But on 150 after 16 overs with Kieron Pollard and Ambati Rayudu warmed up, Mumbai Indians were waiting to explode. Nehra bore the brunt - he was hit for three sixes and a four in the 17th by Pollard - and Mumbai Indians finished for only the second ever 200-plus total in an IPL final. Super Kings’ chase needed early thrust but it never came. Smith, as had happened throughout the season, struggled to time the ball. He did reach a half-century - his second this season - but Super Kings needed more from him than a strike rate of 118. Harbhajan Singh dismissed Smith an over after he had removed Raina, Malinga struck too and Mitchell McClenaghan collected three. Super Kings’ wait for their third title entered its fifth year. Scores: Mumbai Indians 202 for 5 (Simmons 68, Rohit 50, Bravo 2-36) beat Chennai Super Kings 161 for 8 (Smith 57, McClenaghan 3-25 ,Harbhajan 2-34) by 41 runs.
Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis...
From page 31 Sixhead Lewis lifted me and every Guyanese that witnessed this fight to arguably the greatest moment of National pride that we will ever experience. He came to a door that said ‘World Champions only - No Guyanese Allowed,’ and he simply kicked it down. In the few years that followed, six of his countrymen and women came in through that open doorway stepping over the flattened door that still lies on the ground, demolished by Andrew “Sixhead” Lewis. His singular achievement represented a culmination of all of the countless years of toil and effort of all who preceded him – our amateur ranks through which he had come, our loyal and dedicated trainers, cornermen, sparring partners, the Guyana Boxing Board itself and the many, many loyal supporters over the years. His spectacular seizing of the World Title was at last, justification for all of the hard work over the years – a vindication as it were,
that it had not all been in vain – that our great and unyielding belief that our fighters were among the very best in the world was finally proven and justified in spectacular fashion for all the world to see. For the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, this man will forever be our “Eternal hero”. Nothing will ever take him out of the pages of this Country’s history or indeed out of our Hearts. Guyana has lost a real and true Hero one who took not a brush but a pair of Gloves and beautifully painted one of the most glorious moments in our nation’s history. It is for that reason that the Guyana Boxing Board strongly advocates that a national monument in the form of a life sized statue be erected in a prominent location in commemoration of this Guyanese Hero as has been done in other countries in honour of their boxing legends. Andrew ‘Sixheads’ Lewis deserves no less; Guyana deserves no less. May his soul rest in eternal peace! Yours Faithfully, Peter Abdool
Monday May 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Montoya back in Indy Lewis dubbed a hero 500 Victory Lane GBBC President, Peter Abdool proposes national monument in his honour
Colombia’s Juan Pablo Montoya recovered from the back of the grid to win his second Indianapolis 500. (Getty Images) INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya came from the back of the pack and outran his Penske team mate to the win the 99th Indianapolis 500 for a second time on Sunday. Montoya, who won his Indy 500 debut in 2000, survived an early collision that forced him into the pits and dropped him into 30th place before mounting a stirring charge. Returning to IndyCar last year after stints
in NASCAR and Formula One, Montoya took the lead with four laps to go and fought off a challenge from Australian Will Power. American Charlie Kimball was third. It was the fourth IndyCar Series win for Montoya, two coming at the sprawling 2.5 mile speedway. The victory was also 16th for team owner Roger Penske, giving him the rare Daytona 500 and Indy 500 double.
Warriors take 3-0 lead over Rockets in Western finals
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) looks to shoot as Houston Rockets forward Josh Smith (5) defends. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports (Reuters) The Golden State Warriors are one victory away from the NBA Finals after routing the Houston Rockets 115-80 in Game Three of the Western Conference finals on Saturday. Guard Stephen Curry scored 40 points, including seven-of-nine from three-point range, in the Warriors’ near-record road victory that gave them a 3-0 lead in the bestof-seven series. It was the second largest victory margin by a visiting team in the conference finals. Golden State, who have not been to the NBA finals since 1975, can close out the series in Game Four in Houston on Monday. No team has ever lost a best-of-seven playoff series from 3-0 up. After giving the Warriors a close contest in the first two games, the Rockets were never in the hunt on Saturday as guard James Harden struggled against Golden State’s
stifling defense. He shot only three-for-16 for 17 points. As brilliantly as Curry played, the Warriors won the match with their strong defense and dominance on the boards, out-rebounding Houston 60-39. Coach Steve Kerr was delighted his team committed only one turnover in the first half. “We were up 25 points with a box score that doesn’t look that impressive from a shooting standpoint,” Kerr told reporters. “The first half was probably the best lesson our team could learn. If we defend like crazy and take care of the ball we’re going to be in good shape.” Curry, this season’s NBA Most Valuable Player, sounded unfazed by his latest performance. “The ball movement tonight was the best it’s been all series so when you can get a few (shots) to go down early in the game it builds your confidence even more,” he said.
DEAR EDITOR, The recent death of former World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion, Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis has left a void, not only in the boxing fraternity but, to my mind, the entire nation. This missive is written expressly to foster a better appreciation of the volume of Lewis’ achievement and what it meant to the sporting history of our Nation and its extraordinary significance at that particular moment in time. Allow me to regress ‘back into the future’ when on the 13th September 1980 an extremely talented Guyanese featherweight fighter by the name Patrick Forde stepped into the ring at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas, USA to face the WBC World Featherweight champion, Salvador Sanchez for his title. Of the many great fighters that Guyana had produced, this was a genuine shot at the world title staring us in the face. You see, despite the fact that we had produced many great fighters, we had never as a nation, managed to win a world title. In those days world title fights were a grueling 15 rounds and this one went exactly that distance. But at the end, the scores were 139148, 145-145 and 141-145 in favour of Sanchez. Seven months later, on 14th February 1981, Forde again made our hopes soar, this time taking on Eusebio Pedroza in Panama for the WBA World Featherweight title. Once again, despite a spirited effort, Forde surrendered in the 13th of the scheduled 15 rounds affair and it seemed as though the elusive world title was simply not to be. In 1981 on the 26th June, just four months later, our tremendously talented young super lightweight, Lennox Blackmoore lifted our hearts and our hopes once again as he took on undefeated Aaron Prior at the Hasciento Hotel, Las Vegas, USA for Prior’s WBA World Super Lightweight title. Guyana’s anticipation was palpable and our excitement immeasurable. In just two rounds, Blackmoore, as brilliant as he was, suffered a technical knockout from the rampaging Aaron Prior. Again Guyanese hearts were once more utterly and decisively crushed and the elusive world title remained, just out of reach. On 4th of May, 1993 we would try again, this time, our rising young middleweight star, Wayne Harris would take on American Reggie Johnson for his WBA World Middleweight Title at the McNicolls Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. Harris surrendered that bout by scores of 109-120, 108-120, 110-120 and once again it was cold denial for Guyana as the unrealized dream remained just that. In 1995 on 27th May, Anthony ‘The Pearl’ Andrews journeyed to the Broward County Convention Centre in Fort Lauderdale, USA in pursuit of Jorge Fernando Castro’s WBA World Middleweight title. It was an action packed encounter and at the start of round 12, the Pearl was ahead on all of the scorecards and needed only to avoid a surging and desperate Castro to lift the title. Guyana was tantalizingly one round away from its first world title but Castro, the man who stood between us and the title, would have none of it. He caught the Pearl on the ropes and landed shots heavy enough to render the Pearl helpless, forcing the referee to stop the contest. He lost by TKO at 2:14secs of the 12th round in what was a decisive heart breaking
loss yet. It seemed certain that Guyana would never win a world title although we had produced for decades, tremendously talented fighters. On the 17th February 2001 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, James ‘The Mighty Quinn’ Page stepped into the ring to defend his WBA 147 lbs Welterweight World title against Lewis. At 5’ 11" with a reach of 73" and just 30 years of age, Page was a formidable and large welterweight, an orthodox Pittsburg California native, an American Champion defending his world title on American soil. He was known for a bone jarring left hook, one that had stopped many of his opponents in his 23 wins from 28 fights with 19 knockouts. It was a very huge affair. The famous Kenny Bayless was the referee and the supervisor of the fight was none other than Giberto Jesus Mendoza, the now President of the WBA. The commentary team included the famous Emmanuel Steward. Across the ring draped in the hardly known green, yellow, red and black flag of Guyana in which he had entered was a diminutive Andrew ‘Sixheads’ Lewis, standing at only 5’ 8" in comparison to his opponent’s 5’ 11". I remember that like all Guyanese watching, my heart was in my hands. The difference in size alone was enough to cause panic and then there was that awesome left hook that Page possessed. It looked very much as if we would be denied once again. I had expected that a fairly intimidated ‘Sixhead’ would emerge from his corner and look to avoid Page’s big shots. The exact opposite happened – Sixhead came out as if there were only two people in the world, Page and himself and he (Sixhead) was, in his own mind, the far better fighter. He attacked Page with ferocious aggression, driving the bigger man back with hard left handed power shots from a classic southpaw position. A startled Page could deliver very little of his own and found himself confronted with a far superior boxer. By round two, Page was dumped on the canvas from a hard right uppercut. Sixhead’s focus was intense as he systematically dismantled Page with a brilliant display of ring generalship. Page’s poor defense proved porous against Six’s pinpoint accuracy and he could do little to stem Sixhead’s unrelenting aggression. Emmanuel Steward’s open admiration for Sixhead’s destruction of Page was clearly evident in his commentary. Page endured a battering and at the end of the sixth round, Sixhead landed a wicked combination, a right hook followed by a brutal right uppercut. At this point, all of us who know boxing, knew that Page could not endure much more punishment. At the 98th second of the seventh round a vicious right hook connected to the side of his head sending him to the canvas. Referee Kenny Bayless, intensely looking into his glazed eyes and mindful of the punishment he had already absorbed, stopped the contest. Pandemonium followed. It is just incredible how much emotion the human brain and body can process at one time. The pride that I felt for our country at that moment caused all at once a constriction in my chest that literally threatened to stop my breathing and a large lump in my throat the size of a breadfruit which was certainly not reflected in all the hollering that I was doing. Continued on page 30
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Kaieteur News
Contador reclaims Giro lead from Aru after time trial
Spain’s Alberto Contador pedals during the 14th stage of the Giro d’Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race from Treviso to Valdobbiadene, Italy, Saturday, May 23, 2015. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP) VALDOBBIADENE, Italy (AP) — Alberto Contador outclassed his rivals on a tough individual time trial Saturday to reclaim the overall lead of the Giro d’Italia after the 14th stage, which was won by Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus. Contador started the day 19 seconds behind Fabio Aru after a crash at the end of the previous stage lost him the overall leader’s jersey. But a superb ride in another rainaffected stage with challenging winds on Saturday saw the Spaniard finish third and move 2 minutes, 28 seconds ahead of Aru. Andrey Amador went into third overall, 3:36 behind Contador after the unusually long time trial of 59.4 kilometers (36.9 miles) from Treviso to Valdobbiadene. ‘’My legs are absolutely killing me,’’ Contador said. ‘’This result surprises me a lot. I gave everything and kept up a good rhythm throughout the course. I was faster than I
thought I would be in the first part but I saw that the wind was changing direction, maybe that was the reason. ‘’Now I have a good advantage in the general classification over Aru, especially after the crash yesterday, but I have to stay calm. The Giro is still long. Today we had a good day, now we’ll take it day by day.’’ Kiryienka, who rides for Team Sky, topped the standings for most of the second half of the day, setting a time of 1.17:52 for his third stage win in the Giro. Aru’s Astana teammate Luis Leon Sanchez was second, 0:12 slower than Kiryienka, with Contador two seconds further back. ‘’It was a long and nervous wait for the arrival of Alberto Contador,’’ Kiryienka said. ‘’I’ve been waiting a long time to win a time trial. Today our boss said ‘we’ll win the time trial,’ but he didn’t specify who would win. ‘’ Rain lashed down
QC inter class table tennis tourney commences today Queen’s College Allied Arts Inter Class table tennis Independence competition will commence today at 12:00hrs at the school’s compound. One A will take on one B and one A will play form three girls in the opening encounter. The competition will continue tomorrow and the final will be played on Friday. Meanwhile the QC basketball competition will commence on Wednesday and conclude on Friday at Burham Basketball court. Action gets underway at 11:00 hrs each day and at stake for both competitions are trophies and medals.
throughout the day and later riders were also affected by crosswinds, after headwinds earlier in the day. Contador coped best with the conditions and the Tinkoff-Saxo rider even overtook Mikel Landa who started the day third overall and had gone off the ramp three minutes before him. C o n t a d o r, who dislocated his shoulder in another crash on the sixth stage, is attempting to become the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Giro and Tour de France in the same year. A two-time Tour champion, Contador won the Giro in 2008 and was also triumphant in Milan in 2011 but was stripped of that title for testing positive in the 2010 Tour. Kiryienka’s teammate, Richie Porte, was expected to be Contador’s closest challenge but his Giro chances were all but over after a puncture and illegal wheel change on stage 10 and the crash in the finale of stage 13. Porte had targeted the time trial for a win but his misfortunes continued as he struggled with the wind change and a knee injury and was more than four minutes slower than Kiryienka, leaving him 17th overall, nearly nine minutes behind Contador. The race heads into the mountains for the final week with today being a rest day. The 98th Giro ends on May 31 in Milan.
Monday May 25, 2015
Geron Williams wins John Basilone Memorial Cycling Classic on 24th Birthday Guyanese Pro rider Geron Williams, who is competing on the USA circuit, on Saturday last won the John Basilone Memorial Cycling Classic 30 mile race on his 24th birthday. The race was contested on day one of the 2015 Tour of Somerville Cycling Series. Representing Champion System Stan’s Notubes, Williams described the win as an “Absolute Surreal Moment” for him since it was the first time he competed on his birthday, a win making it even better. According to the Williams who earlier this month placed second at the 16th annual Turkey Hill Country Classic/ Pennsylvania State Road Race Championships, a 65 miles contest, the John Basilone Memorial race covered a course that had six
corners, each being 1km in length each. He said when he looked at the course initially; he underestimated how technical it was. “When the race got under way I was caught off guard by quite a few of the corners but managed to relax and got my head wrapped around the task at hand. Throughout the race they were a lot of failed attempts to establish a break.” Approaching the half way mark in the race, Williams said he was harboring thoughts that the race would have been decided via a bunch finish; with in mind, the Guyanese cyclist said he started to ride as close to the front as possible to ensure he would have a chance to be in the top three at the finish. “As we crossed the line with three laps to go there was
a slowing at the front and a group of riders passed suddenly and I was 20 wheels back. Staying calm, I was able to work my way back into the top 10.” The peloton was back together for the final lap with everyone trying to position for the finish. “I exited the last corner in 3rd place, the sprint was in full swing, for a split second I was worried I wouldn’t get by the 2 rider in time since the finish was only about 150m from the last corner. With a few hard kicks and a final lunge for the line I was able to grab the win by the width of 2 tires. Close and exciting, great entertainment for spectators and a surreal win for me.” On day two yesterday, Williams placed 6th, winning a bunch sprint. (F.Wilson)
Arcia secures DirecTV W Connection SCCL return
Hashim Arcia (Photo Allan Crane) Couva, Trinidad & Tobago – A secondhalf goal by Hashim Arcia lifted DirecTV W Connection to a 1-0 win over Montego Bay United on Friday and a place in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship final against Central FC. The result at Ato Boldon Stadium also gave the Savonetta Boys a spot in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL), its fourth trip to the annual continental competition. Montego Bay United can still secure a SCCL berth with a victory today over Haiti’s Don Bosco – which fell 3-1 on penalty kicks after scoreless draw with Central earlier in the evening — in the CFU’s third place match that
will precede the all-Trinidad & Tobago tournament decider. In a tightly-contested semifinal, Arcia struck in the 70th minute to complete an unusual sequence. The Montego Bay defense sent a backpass in the air for goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett, who was forced to scuff an awkward clearance off the bounce to his right. W Connection eventually gained possession with Jomal Williams finding Arcia in the left side of the box. The 26-year-old stroked it into the right side of the net for his competition-leading seventh goal. The strike was a harsh punishment for the Jamaican champion after it began to enjoy some lengthy spells of enterprising football. The attack-minded duo of Allan Ottey and Dino Williams were doing particularly well, though their efforts did not yield a goal. In the 53rd minute, Montego Bay’s Ronaldo Rodney ripped a right-footer high, when it appeared he had some time to do better. Five minutes later, W Connection goalkeeper Julani Archibald blocked Ottey’s close-range attempt. Magical play from Williams nearly produced an equalizer in the 79th minute. The four-time capped Jamaican did wonderfully to turn in a swift motion while receiving the ball with his back to the goal. As a result of that agility, he resourcefully snapped off an unexpected shot to which Archibald reacted quickly and somehow saved with his left hand. W Connection had the brighter start in the encounter and was unlucky not to get a goal or two before the break. A neat 15th minute combination inside the area between Jerrel Britto and Shahdon Winchester ended with Winchester shooting just wide. Barrett came up huge in the 21st minute, making a block on Britto. NOTES: DirecTV W Connection competed in the 2009/10, 2012/13, 2013/14 editions of the SCCL, going unbeaten in eight of 16 games (3W-5D-8L). (CONCACAF)