Kaieteur News

Thursday Edition

Online readership yesterday 108,900

Price $80 May 31, 2012 - Vol. 5 No. 21 (VAT Inclusive) Online: http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

AFC bats for Ram, Goolsarran on Public Procurement Commission Pg 6

A collapsed roadway

This section of the Railway Embankment at Paradise collapsed.

It had been threatening lives all along. Fortunately, it caught no one.

Death Row Tutors say nursing Granger calls brothers for urgent programme is walk free local govt. health crisis reform on appeal in the making Pg 2

Pg 16

Pg 13

Court awards sugar worker $6.4 million Pg 3

- 13 years after he fell while fetching cane

Page 02

Thursday May 31, 2012

Kaieteur News

Death Row brothers walk free on appeal Yesterday the three brothers who had been on Death Row for some five years walked out of the Appeal Court all free men after the judges ruled in their favour, upholding a no case submission. Three brothers, Marvin, Patrick and Allan Ramnauth, along with Tulsie Seelall were charged with the murder of Achama Madramootoo, back in 2003.

During the decision hearing yesterday the judges, Justice Ian Chang, Justice James Bovell-Drakes a n d J u s t i c e Yo n e t t e Cummings-Edwards ruled in favour of the appellants who were represented by defense counsel Mursaline Bacchus. The Justices ruled that there was not sufficient evidence to prove that the men committed murder.

The courtroom which was packed with mostly relatives of the appellants was told that while there were caution statements which stated facts there was nothing showing that the men committed the act of murder.

The court was further told that the caution statements outlined

activities in which the appellants participated but nothing supports the prosecution's case that they committed murder. Hence the court upheld the no-case submission.

The three brothers had their first hearing in the appeal court some three months ago when the matter was first called.

Some of the grounds for appeal presented by the lawyer include: The Appellate Court found that the trial Judge erred in not directing a verdict of not guilty upon the submission of no case to answer by Counsel for the Appellants there being no evidence that: the Appellants had committed the offence of murder by agreeing with 'Johnny' to commit a felony with violence upon the deceased.

Bacchus in his presentation further stated to the court that there was a non-direction amounting to a serious misdirection when, The Learned Trial Judge failed to direct the jury on the ingredients of the felony of abduction, in that the learned Trial Judge failed to direct

the jury that for abduction, one or more of certain intents must have been held by each of the Appellants.

It was also put to the court that the Learned Trial Judge misdirected to the jury on the law relating to joint enterprise thus depriving the Appellant of the chance of an acquittal.

Attorney-at-law Jo-ann Barlow, who was representing the state, said that at the close of the prosecution's case the evidence was substantially contained in the caution statements of the three appellants. “…And in those statements while I acknowledge, each spoke for himself, the common thread was that pursuant to instructions given to them by a man who was armed, they went to a man's home in the dead of the night and removed by force that other man's wife, took her to the man who was armed and proceeded away from her home with her”.

Ms. Barlow further pointed out to the court that in those circumstances the prosecution presented to the

learned trial judge and jury a scenario which said these persons acting together with this person who was armed, must have intended, must have foreseen and must have contemplated that the man with the gun could have caused serious bodily harm to the victim or could have killed her with intention to do so.

“In those circumstances, Yo u r H o n o r , i t i s respectively submitted that the learned trial judge could not withdraw that case from the jury”.

Addressing the Court on the issue of the action of the appellants, Barlow said “To

deal more specifically with the actions of the four persons who were there, my learned friend did say that the activity of taking the woman from the house came to an end when she was handed to 'Johnny'.

“I contend that once started, that activity cannot stop unless there is some recognisable legal principle which brings it to an end and the only principle is the principle of withdrawal, which my learned friend (Mursalene Bacchus) said he does not rely on since it does not arise on the evidence”.

Barlow further informed the court that it would not be

correct to separate this (incident) into an abduction, incidents of rape and then of murder.

“When a party joins an enterprise, that party joins that enterprise assuming that he knows all the circumstances existing at that time he joins that enterprise, taking the risk for all that follows that falls within his contemplation.”

Initial reports were that the brothers along with Seelall abducted the woman, dragged her into the backdam and drowned her.

She was later found dead in a trench close to the Kildonan (continued on page 7 )

CJIA staff get CDC organised First Aid and CPR Training Participants of one of the four groups listen attentively to the AISM Instructor (standing)

Thirty-two persons associated with the local aviation industry gained valuable training in First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on Friday last at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.

The training was conducted by doctors and student doctors from the American International

School of Medicine (AISM) and was a collaborative effort involving the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the United States Embassy Humanitarian Assistance Programme (USHAP), and the CJIA. Participants were divided into four groups and were exposed to the theoretical aspects of First Aid and CPR during the three-hour interactive session. Each group was assigned as many as four medical personnel from the AISM. Participants benefitted from adequate discussions of the subject matter and the sharing of practical experiences during the oneon-one interactions.

The May 25 activity comprised the first of three phases of the training.

Phase Two will be held on July 6. It will take the form of a practical session, which is designed to reinforce the lessons taught and learnt during Phase One. Phase Three is the review and evaluation of the participants and will be conducted on July 27 at C J I A . T h e c o u r s e ’s participants are expected to

receive their certificates of participation at the conclusion of the third phase.

The Civil Defence Commission’s involvement in this training is in keeping with its roles and responsibilities as Guyana’s lead agency for Disaster Risk Management.

The CDC is heartened by the response of the management of CJIA toward this initiative and hopes that in the future more personnel, spanning the aviation industry across Guyana will benefit from such training.

The initiative is aimed at enhancing the airport’s disaster response mechanism in the wake of the recent Caribbean Airlines accident in which one of its aircraft overshot the runway at CJIA and broke in two.

CJIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ramesh Geer revealed that the airport authority is in the process of organizing follow-up training in other disasterrelated subject areas and the setting up of a medical aid post and response team/unit at the CJIA are being planned.

Thursday May 31, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 3

Court awards sugar worker $6.4 million The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has been ordered to pay $6.4 million to a Blairmont sugar worker who slipped and fell while fetching a bundle of cane in a slippery field 13 years ago.

The cane-cutter, Harrilall Motilall, has not been able to work since the accident, and he decided to take legal action after the sugar corporation claimed he was faking his injuries.

Motilall was not in court yesterday when Justice Winston Patterson handed down the decision.

The legal battle was launched in 2002 – three years after Motilall fell.

Moses Nagamootoo represented the sugar worker, while Senior Counsel Ralph

Ramkarran represented GuySuCo. Ramkarran begged the court for a stay of execution of six-weeks, indicating a possible appeal by the state-owned corporation.

Motilall was 24 years old when the accident occurred.

He was working with the estate since he was 15 years old. During those nine years, he worked as an unskilled field labourer, doing various chores, such as digging drains, forking cane beds, supply canes to planters and planting cane top.

The job of planting cane involved fetching bundles of cane on his shoulders and taking them into the fields.

On the day in question, May 28, 1999, he reported to work and the foreman

- 13 years after he fell while fetching cane instructed him to join other workers on the estate lorry.

They were taken to Field 53, Eccles Section, on the Blairmont Estate.

Even though there was consistent rainfall, the foreman put the workers on the fields. Motilall was instructed to plant cane. He did so for two hours, after which he met with the accident.

“I lifted a bundle and put it on top of my shoulder and while walking, the dirt slipped away…and I fell and hit me back on the ground. I feel pain in my back. I couldn’t move my feet,” Motilall said in court documents.

The foreman instructed the other workers to lift Motilall and put him on the truck to take him to the Blairmont dispensary. From there, an ambulance took him to the Bath Hospital.

He was treated with pain killers and given an injection.

Three days later, he returned to work and was ordered to do the same work. He complained that he was still feeling the pain in his back, but was told to take his medication and get to work.

Next day, while working, he collapsed in pain and started to cry out for help.

After the accident, the sugar corporation had Motilall going to several

doctors and specialists. That was over a three-year period.

All that time, he attended clinics for therapy.

Doctors at the Woodlands Hospital interpreted their scans to mean that Motilall had a “prolapsed disc” and that therefore there was “incapacity to work” and recommended “further need for treatment.”

The Medical Board of the National Insurance Scheme diagnosed the injuries to be “lumbar sacral strain” and “lumbar disc disorder” and recommended 20 percent partial permanent disability.

Ten years after the incident, Motilall was still encountering tremors and

Child whisked away to Canada Woman Constable Cadogan, an Immigration Officer who is stationed at Moleson Creek, yesterday told Justice Brassington Reynolds that the grandparents of two-year-old Ethan Jaichand Latchman had produced original authorization by the father who lives in Canada along with a birth certificate and Emergency Travel documents from the Canadian embassy, thus the child was allowed to leave the country.

Last week Justice Reynolds ordered for the original ED-Card (Departure Record) and Emergency Travel Document issued by the Canadian High Commission for the two-yearold, a Canadian citizen, whose Guyanese mother had been deported from Canada for illegal entry to be presented.

The witness Cadogan was asked if she checked to see whether there was an alert against the child leaving the jurisdiction. According to the witness there were no alerts in the computer regarding the child.

The court heard, yesterday, that the original (ED Card), which was requested by the judge was forwarded to the Central Immigration Office at Camp Street, Georgetown. However checks there failed to find the

- Original documents still not produced to Judge records.

The court was then told that the Central Office had sent it to the Criminal Investigation Department after a request was made.

However CID has also denied having the document, so the court still has not seen the original document.

Attorney at law Joan-Ann Edghill who represented the Child Protection Agency, indicated to the court that they had written to the Ministry of Home Affairs so that they could approach the Canadian Embassy to get certain information.

Justice Reynolds ordered that Edghill produce all her documentation regarding the matter within ten days. Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos was also given ten days to file his affidavit of reply to the court.

The child’s mother Anita Persaud had brought the child to Guyana on March 30, last, but died two days later at the Georgetown Hospital.

Following her demise, the woman’s sisters had custody of little Ethan, but custody was challenged by a relative of the child’s Guyanese father now living in Canada.

The child’s father had allegedly also gone to Canada by the backtrack route with the child’s mother,

who was his girlfriend.

Denowattie Sookdeo, Anita Persaud’s sister, alleges that she was entrusted by Persaud with the temporary care of the infant, custody and control, along with her other sister, Taramattie Ruiwen.

An application of Writ of Habeas Corpus ad subjiciendum, filed by the dead woman’s family had its genesis in an allegation of larceny of a child made to the police by the paternal grandparents, Harry Narine Arjun and Savitrie Arjun, of the infant.

According to reports, the two had in their possession a notarized authorization from the infant’s father, Jaichand Latchman. The two had travelled to Guyana to take custody of the child who is a Canadian Citizen.

Upon their arrival in Guyana, the Arjuns made several efforts to locate the infant, but these attempts were unsuccessful. The grandparents then reported the matter to the police and enlisted the assistance of the Canadian Embassy in

Guyana, since the infant is a Canadian citizen by birth and his whereabouts are unknown.

A written request was then made to the Commissioner of Police (ag) Mr Leroy Brumell, by Ms Angelica Alvarez Councilor of the High Commission of Canada on April 23, 2012.

Pursuant to investigations conducted by members of the Guyana Police Force, Taramattie Ruiwen was arrested and taken to the Den Amstel Police Station where she was placed in custody.

Subsequent to her release, Ruiwen took the said infant to the Leonora Police Station where she met with his grandparents and had the opportunity to read and examine the notarized authorization from the father.

According to reports, Ruiwen voluntarily handed over the infant to Savitrie Arjun in the presence of Assistant Superintendent of Police Terrance Paul. It was noted that the child was never taken at any time by any member of the Guyana Police

Force.

Following the release of the child, the dead woman sister’s then retained the services of Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos who moved to the High Court on April 24, 2012, for the issue of a Writ of Habeas Corpus as subjiciendum directed to the Commissioner of Police ASP Paul and the child’s grandfather.

The order was granted by Justice Reynolds, directing the Commissioner of Police and ASP Paul to produce the infant, Ethan Jaichand Lachman, immediately. The order which was served on (continued on page 7)

pain. The court would have observed that Motilall was unable to walk unaided and could hardly stand properly for a prolonged period of time and was allowed to sit whist testifying.

However, GuySuCo maintained that Motilall was faking his injuries and that he must have suffered some other injury for which he is attributing to his work on the fields.

His lawyer, Nagamootoo, had argued that Motilall would probably be unable to work for the rest of his life.

Nagamootoo argued that Motilall “walked bare-footed on cracked and ragged dams, which when rain fell would become uneven and breakaway” and even with his injuries from the fall, he was not offered alternative work.

According to the lawyer, Motilall lost his manhood and with it went the village lass he loved. In addition, he could no longer play cricket, which he loved, or ride a bicycle, or swim or throw a cast net.

Nagamootoo argued that the foreman on duty could have foreseen the danger of sending the workers out on a slippery dam that was not properly maintained.

It remains to be seen if GuySuCo will pay or appeal the ruling.

Page 4

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 31, 2012

Letters... Where your views make the news

Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

The ERC debacle If Bishop Juan Edghill is to be believed, then the first casualties of the budget cuts have been identified by the non-payment of their wages and salaries for May. These are the employees of the Ethnic Relations Commission.

When the National Assembly met to discuss the budget for this year the parliamentary opposition voted to cut the allocation to the ERC to one dollar. And there was a reason.

The ERC is a constitutional body but the political opposition said that it was not constitutionally constituted at the time of its recent existence.

This has not been the first controversy involving the ERC. One of the earlier issues involved the chairmanship of the body. The Guyana Council of Churches had voted to have Bishop Edghill to cease being its representative on the ERC. However, the government intervened and insisted that Edghill remain on the Ethnic Relations Commission.

But even then, the government adopted measures to ensure that Edghill remained as head of that commission. It helped create an alternative to the Guyana Council of Churches and sought to perpetrate Edghill’s tenure to infinity because there never was an effort to have the commission properly reconstituted.

Be that as it may, the body being a constitutional body, was allowed to exist. It mandated certain investigations and it travelled countrywide before the elections, discussing the laws and the penalties of ethnic discrimination. There was a large focus on conflict resolution but it was strange that when all this was happening the actual commission had been reduced to three people—Edghill, John Willems and Carvil Duncan.

Edghill and Duncan emerged as pro-government. They were seen as refusing to take any decision that would make the government appear in a bad light. And worse, although the government was found guilty of discrimination there was no criticism from the ERC. The case of discrimination was uncovered by a survey conducted by Donald Rodney into the award of scholarships.

It was a damning report; there were cases of Government Ministries refusing to release information to the investigating team although there was clear evidence that the investigation was being done at the insistence of the Ethnic Relations Commission.

When the report was made to the ERC, despite all the talk of its legal power the commission did nothing. People said that it might have been because a government Ministry was involved and because the ERC was beholden to the government, its paymaster.

Be that as it may, it is unfortunate that there is the belief that political control is exerted at every corner. The opposition parties say that they have not been unkind to the ERC. They point to the extension of the life of the ERC despite their objections; they point to the operations, to the withdrawal of their representatives on the commission and they all conclude that the ERC was not as independent as it should be. But they never sought to have funding withheld.

This time around the organization has been identified for budgetary cuts. In any country such a body would have been welcomed. Surely the political opposition would not have descended on this body without good reason.

When this happens the organization must review its operation. There were warnings for a review but these went unheeded because there must have been the feeling that talk is cheap and that the political opposition is nothing but a toothless poodle.

The commissioners are all employed or have independent earnings. The staff is another kettle of fish.

They are the ordinary public servants; they are the people who went begging for the restoration of the financial allocation. To say that they are compromised is poppycock.

They are mere clerks. They are of their own political persuasion. Speaking with anyone would not compromise them.

Even the commissioners have a political view. It is when it comes to doing the work that one must appear to be impartial.

PHILIP MOORE DESERVES MORE DEAR EDITOR, Nay, the dust should not settle on the nation’s tribute to Philip Moore, citizen, humanist and artist; notwithstanding his interment at Auchlyne.

Last November 2011, I had the honour to be invited to open the 23rd annual exhibition of the Guyana Women Artists’ Association.

Among other things, I stated, while Philip Moore was still among us: “There is always a special feeling when we stand alongside works of art. We are elated, reserved, pensive and somewhat diminished.

That is the authority of great works of art as they impart powerful themes and morals.

We know that as we stand alongside the works of, say, Michelangelo’s sculptural masterpiece of David in Florence, or Aubrey Williams’ profound and expressive Olmec and Timehri murals; Philip Moore’s redemptive and African inspired 1763 Monument; Marjorie Broodhagen’s meticulous attention to nature; Stephanie Correia’s sensitive and touching pen portraits; or O’Donna Allsopp’s picturesque and inspiring details of rural Guyana.”

The refined and revealing appreciations, in prose and verse, of the life, work and, particularly, contribution of Philip Moore that continue to

come from some eminent citizens affirm the great respect that a number of us hold for this highly accomplished and perceptive artist. Surely, after forty-six years as an Independent state, a grateful state could have paid tribute to this outstanding citizen without dispute or prevarications.

In the prevailing turmoil of duplicities and falsehoods, he lived, worked extensively and died in Guyana without any taint of dishonour or disrepute.

At a time of continuing exodus, he stood his ground for eight decades and rallied around the state. He was a shining example of simplicity, humility and serenity. Yet his creations were profound, always exploratory and with an amazing degree of endurance.

The modern state has long since deemed it necessary to establish strict rules of protocol to honour its leaders and eminent citizens at death.

The Leader of the Opposition, Brigadier (retd.)

David Granger, has adverted to the urgency to formulate guidelines to accord to persons of distinction the appropriate respect at death.

Generally, the modern state reserves state funerals for heads of state or heads of government.

Though, at the discretion

of a head of state or government, a state funeral may also be accorded to important persons of national significance. Other categories of ceremonial funerals that are currently in use are: military funerals for members of the disciplined services and official funerals for other distinguished personage.

There is a military content of varying intensity in each category.

The honour of a state/ official funeral is essentially the state’s way, not the only way, of expressing appreciation on behalf of all citizens to an individual for the exemplary contribution and services to the state and to its citizens.

The honour does not and cannot bestow greatness upon the individual who would have already earned it during his or her lifetime.

Thus the occasion ought to be a rare one and not every day. By any rigorous yardstick, Philip Moore has earned such official recognition.

Rules of protocol for these state occasions can easily be crafted for each category; they do not have to be exhaustive at the commencement as they can be modified with time. They should however be very strict.

Moreover, they do not require the establishment of any committee to bury the

matter and should certainly contemplate citizens outside the realm of politics.

Recently, on May 16, Mexico afforded a state funeral for its acclaimed novelist, Carlos Fuentes.

Also, in March, Jamaica held an official funeral for Justice Carl Rattray, and in May, Dominica for Ambassador Charles Maynard, both of whom are fairly well known here.

There are varying customs about initiating a state funeral. Two examples from the Commonwealth will suffice. In the United Kingdom a motion or vote in parliament is required; though not for a ceremonial event.

In Canada, the Governor General-in-Council normally takes the lead, though the House of Commons has voted for such funerals.

Now, to enlarge a suggestion from Bro. Eusi Kwayana, in the absence of rules of procedures and in accordance with the wishes of the Moore family, the National Assembly, in an emergency session, could have proclaimed an appropriate public ceremonial funeral for Philip Moore.

The interment of his remains at the Seven Ponds Monument, the Place of Heroes, or elsewhere, is a separate matter. The wishes of Philip Moore and/or his (Continued on page 5)

DEAR EDITOR, Reference is made to Mr. Lincoln Lewis’s “Bisram doesn’t care about the Linden issue or the people” (KN May 22). Lewis’s claims are not coherent or substantiated with facts and he ought to stop rewriting history and derogating the important contributions Indians made to the struggle for the ballot in Guyana.

Lewis originally queried when did any Indian ever fight for the ballot in Guyana and charged President Ramotar with using racially coded language when Ramotar stated he wants to lower the cost of electricity so all Guyanese can enjoy the rates being paid by Lindeners.

Now, Lewis introduces extraneous issues and levels all kinds of unsubstantiated allegations unrelated to his initial claims.

Lewis asked a basic question, getting factually correct answers cited from several texts (Dwarka Nath, etc.). Historians noted that since 1910, several Indians (some names provided) petitioned for voting rights and gained representation in the legislature. I also posited that the struggle for the right to vote was not carried out in

a vacuum but was interconnected with the total struggle for all kinds of rights.

And I did indicate that Africans were the first to rebel against the colonial system for human dignity and rights.

I did not manufacture the evidence, but cited a few texts where relevant information was obtained.

Lewis now claims the texts are wrong and that no Indian ever fought for suffrage but he offers no citations to substantiate his claim. Lewis claims that it was Mr. Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow who fought for universal suffrage in 1926

(some 16 years after Indians petitioned for the right to vote) at a Congress of Caribbean Labour Leaders.

He also claims that Dr. Cheddi Jagan was not instrumental in the battle for the franchise which he maintained was all the work of Critchlow.

He also said Indians and the PPP do not give recognition to Critchlow. That claim is not substantiated with facts.

Critchlow was a hero to the African working class but Lewis is not correct on Critchlow’s position on universal suffrage. Peeping Tom (KN May 19) offers an

apt background on Critchlow and suffrage.

Mr. Lewis comes across as an angry man who is leveling charges based on racially motivated emotions and fictions rather than on facts.

He will do himself a favour to engage in a civil, focused debate that can be backed by facts and cited evidence. I also wish to note that contrary to what Lewis claims, I like Linden and visited the town several times.

The people are warm and hospitable and I was entertained in homes.

Vishnu Bisram

Lewis not accurate on Critchlow

The term ‘axed’ was not appropriate DEAR EDITOR, Because of numerous calls from reporters, associates and friends, I find it necessary to clarify issues raised in your May 24th edition in an article that stated that myself and another senior official were ‘axed’.

I would suggest that the term ‘axed’ was not appropriate. I officially retired from public service years ago, and was retained on a threeyear contractual basis which expired on May 15. The Government chose not to renew the agreement and although no reasons were stated, the Cemetery Road Bridge was not and could not have been an issue in my case, as your reporter speculated.

I have no intention or desire to have further debate or discussion on this.

I would however, like to express my appreciation for being allowed to serve my country as a senior public official for the past thirty-eight years.

I was allowed to participate in the conceptualising, planning, designing and implementation of most of the major transport infrastructure projects in Guyana and served as Guyana’s National Coordinator for IIRSA the South America Infrastructure Integration Initiative since 2003.I thank those who supported me and shared in the success.

Rickford Lowe EDITOR’S NOTE: Indeed, Mr Lowe’s contract was not renewed and we regret the harsh term, ‘axed’

Thursday May 31, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

J.C. Superstar and Freddie the See-Far Man

DEAR EDITOR, Some persons think Kaieteur News columnist Freddie Kissoon is a man whom has the gift of extraordinary foresight, but not many know that his gift is more mystical than it seems and he is what we call in Guyana a “see-far man”.

In a recent column titled “Three dead musicians and the Sandpiper”, Freddie wrote this astounding recollection. “On Old Year’s Night in 1967, alone without my friends, I saw “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Astor and it left a deep impression on me.”

It was a staggering revelation — enough to catapult stunned movie enthusiasts from their seats and send icy fingertips racing up and down the spine of anyone who has ever seen a “jumbie” or been pelted by “baccoo”.

This is because Universal Studios did not release the movie “Jesus Christ Superstar” until August 15, 1973 — more than five and a half years after Old Year ’s Night 1967 when Freddie, who was at the time a startlingly visionary youth, “saw” the not yet made movie “alone” at Astor cinema.

In fact, when Freddie “saw” the film that night, Norman Jewison, who produced, directed and wrote the screenplay for it, had not yet even conceptualized it because the rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, on which the movie was based, was not released until 1970!

Freddie, an accomplished academic and researcher, must have been fully aware of these facts when he wrote his column about his experience. After all, this information is just a few clicks away from even the most casual of internet surfers. So, don’t jump to premature conclusions, folks. This was no accident; Freddie does not make such mistakes.

Read between the lines, people. Modest Freddy is giving us a broad hint about his amazing farsightedness— a rare glimpse into the inner

workings of his intricate psyche. If youthful Freddie with only raw visionary skills “saw” on Old Year’s Night 1967 a movie that was not filmed until the 1970s; imagine what he can see now!

It seems incomprehensible that anyone else who attended Astor cinema on that fateful night would have seen the same film Freddie saw, unless the cinema setting itself was part of his vision. Therefore, it is quite understandable Freddie’s recollection that the film he “saw” at Astor cinema on Old Year’s Night 1967 left a “deep impression” on him.

Indeed, the term “deep impression” is way too modest. Imagine the impact on Freddie’s twentysomething-year-old mind.

Imagine Freddie sitting alone and friendless in Astor cinema (or a mystically equivalent location) watching

a movie that would not be filmed until years after he saw it.Such a spellbinding experience would have overwhelmed weaker men, but not Freddie. Bigheaded men would have spoke of the incident often as testimony of their mystical powers, but not Freddie. To his credit, in all his years as a columnist he has only now disclosed this previously secret dimension of himself. Now the toothpaste is out the tube; we are seeing the real Freddie.

If Freddie comments on this letter, I think his modesty would constrain him to protest that he simply mixed up his dates and this is much ado about nothing. Don’t be fooled; keep your eyes, ears and minds open and you will find that Freddie can see many things that no one else in the world can see. So, give Jack his jacket.

Rayman Ibrahaim

From page 4 family would be definitive in any consideration and the National Assembly is obliged to respect them.

This determination remains open. Regrettably, a recent sarcasm about parliament taking care of the dead is just another indication of the churlishness that intrudes critical discourse.

State/Official funerals that involve the general public

without hyperbole provide a useful pause for meditation and reflection on, inter alia, one’s relationship to each other and to the state. Philip Moore would have liked that aspect.

Against the dissonance, cant and spin enveloping our consciousness, a moment of introspection could be soothing for the citizen as much as for the state.

Cedric L Joseph

PHILIP MOORE...

COME ON, GUYANA!

DEAR EDITOR, Three years ago I was visiting the Essequibo coast and was shown around the new Supenaam stelling by one of the contractor’s managers. The stelling was “finished” I was assured.

From the press I knew that there were new ferry boats being provided by the Chinese nation.

Now some three or more years later, although the ferry boats have been delivered, and I understand commissioned, tested and the crews trained to operate them, the service is still not operating from Parika to Supenaam, because the necessary berthing dolphins are not yet completed.

I was visiting Essequibo again from December last to February this year and had hoped that my wife and I could enjoy using the new ferry

service. This was not to be!

Why can’t the country complete the necessary infrastructure required at the two stellings?

The country is now hoping that oil will be found off shore and bring much needed wealth to Guyana. If Guyana cannot complete the two stellings, with simple to be constructed berthing dolphins, what hope has the country got in embracing and completing the necessary infrastructure for servicing an off shore oil industry?

Foreign Companies can of course do this, but at what cost to Guyanese?

Please let us get together and demonstrate to the wider world that Guyana can and will take its place in the developing world’s expanding economies and improve the living standard of all of the Guyanese people.

The delay to the opening of the new Parika-Supenaam ferry does not give me confidence that Guyana is equipped to take advantage of the benefits that would be available to the nation if oil is found in commercially exploitable quantities.

“COME ON GUYANA.” From a concerned expatriate married to a proud Guyanese.

Geoff Hopkins

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Kaieteur News

Thursday May 31, 2012

AFC bats for Ram, Goolsarran on Ramotar to headline CDCC Public Procurement Commission at Conference Centre today The Alliance For Change (AFC) has signaled intentions to name accountants, Christopher Ram and Dr. Anand Goolsarran, to be members of the long-awaited Public Procurement Commission (PPC).

With accusations of corruption, opposition parties have long been clamouring for that constitutional body which will have oversight to probe Government contracts.

There have been several delays in the appointment of that five-member commission with the opposition parties accusing the former Bharrat Jagdeo-led PPP/C government of foot-dragging.

Responding to questions over plans by his party to tackle long standing issues over Government contracts, AFC’s Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, yesterday defended the choice of Ram and Goolsarran.

“AFC is proposing two very top notch names…

Christopher Ram and Anand Goolsarran to be members of that five-man commission.”

Ramjattan said that it is a requirement that members of the Commission be qualified in law, business, economics and management. “…And when we look at those two persons, we know

Christopher Ram that Christopher Ram knows his accounting. We know he is a lawyer and fully qualified.

If there is one man that can scrutinize these matters for us in that constitutional body it is Christopher Ram.” Regarding Goolsarran, a former Auditor General, Ramjattan pointed out that the accountant was considered qualified enough to work with an arm of the United Nations as an auditor.

Doctor Goolsaran has even written a book on Guyana and is a “fantastic accountant,” the Parliamentarian said.

“He is experienced in public works and that means he is fully qualified to be there.

These two fit the bill perfectly and they are willing to work as far as I know.”

Questioned about Ram and Goolsarran being critics of government, Ramjattan was clear about the two men’s professionalism.

“I do not believe that their freedom of expressions during the course of their public duties and their citizenship should be any hurdle or any block to being appointed. In any event, it is people who have been talking about the issues who will know about these issues and you want people who know the issues to be there.

“You don’t want to play test cricket when you have never played Shell Shield.

This is test cricket you are going to play at the Public Procurement Commission.”

According to Ramjattan, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), a Parliamentary body which scrutinizes government accounts, has the authority to recommend names to the PPC. “I am happy that the Public Accounts Committee got its inaugural session going.

PAC has the authority to recommend names of the Public Procurement Commission and will soon do so.”

Having missed the opening ceremony of the second Caribbean Development Roundtable hosted at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Head of State Donald Ramotar is set to deliver the clarion call to the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC), today.

Both forums are being organized in part by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Guyana’s Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, in his remarks to the CDR yesterday apologized on behalf of the President and assured that he will be present at today’s forum and will deliver the feature address.

Among the other dignitaries slated for today’s opening ceremony are Patrick Eustace Simmons, Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sports, Government of Grenada; Carolyn RodriguesBirkett, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana; Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and Diane Quarless, Director of ECLAC‘s Sub-regional Headquarters for the

Caribbean.

The 24th CDCC which commences today is slated to address, inter alia, a review of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) for implementation of the outcomes of the Mauritius Strategy for the further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, review the implementation of the work programme for ECLAC, and address the matter of strengthening statistical capacities in the Caribbean.

At the conclusion of the meeting a report on findings from the second phase of the evaluation of the role of the

Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in the Caribbean sub-region is expected to be generated and presented.

The CDCC was created in 1975 as a permanent subsidiary body of ECLAC to promote the economic and social development of ECLAC Member and Associate Member States in the Caribbean.

It meets at the ministerial level every two years with a meeting of the Monitoring Committee convened during the intervening year.

The sessions are convened on dates that facilitate the transmission of relevant reports and decisions to the biennial sessions of ECLAC. The Member States are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Associate members are Anguilla, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, and United States Virgin Islands.

The 20-year-old Sophia man who was on Tuesday last, struck in the head “with a 2x4 piece of wood” was admitted in the HighDependency-Unit (HDU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Devonty Da Silva, of 862 ‘B’ Field Sophia, Georgetown, and a student of Mercy Wings Vocational School, was allegedly struck in the head by a vengeful teenager.

According to information, a Sophia resident had organized an Independence Day party at which Da Silva was the bar man.

A teen, identified as

‘Chucky’ allegedly tried to steal a Mackeson stout from Da Silva but was eventually caught and was forced to leave the party.

On Tuesday however, ‘Chucky’ and his friends formed a group and “tackled” the 20-year-old. It first started with an argument and ended with ‘Chucky’ brother hitting him with the plank.

The 20-year-old fell to the ground. He was subsequently transferred to the GPHC, where he spent several hours undergoing surgery.

The police have since arrested two of the suspects.

The injured teen

Head of State Donald Ramotar

Sophia man struck in head with plank now in HDU

‘Dinga’ charged with Good Friday cow theft Ramnarine Sewnarine, called “Dinga” a butcher of 93 Section A Rose Hall Town, Berbice, was on Wednesday granted bail by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo when he appeared before her at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on a charge of larceny of animals. He was sent on $50,000 bail.

The case for the prosecution was that between Holy Thursday and Good Friday the accused at Chadwick Farm, No.19 East Coast Berbice stole two cows

owned by Steven Saul of Don Robin Farm, East Coast Berbice.

The man had stated earlier that on the day in question he had rounded up his animals , which numbered over 100, at his pasture about a half mile away at Chadwick farm.

On Good Friday morning when he went to check on his animals he noticed his cow pen was broken and two of his best milking cows were missing. He followed a trail and found parts of his

animals scattered about.

A report was made to the police who visited the scene.

A suspect was identified and the police made a check on the suspect’s premises where meat was found. The beef when found was full of mud, grass, black sage and other shrubs. It was seized and taken to the Central Police station.

A file was prepared and sent to the DPP and Sewnarine was subsequently charged. He will return to court on June 18.

Thursday May 31, 2012

Kaieteur News

Air Jamaica not responsible for CAL mounting debt KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC - The head of the divestment team involved of the sale of Air Jamaica to the Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines (CAL), Dennis Lalor, has rejected claims that the airline’s multi-million dollar debt is to blame for CAL’s current financial problems.

“The Government of Jamaica assumed all liabilities of Air Jamaica, providing CAL a clean slate as it relates to Air J’s operations,” Lalor told the Jamaica Observer newspaper yesterday, adding that this was done to ensure

that CAL would have no disadvantages when it got the Air Jamaica brand.

“In addition, the Government of Jamaica provided CAL with cash of over US$17 million, which represented tickets prepaid for by customers not yet flown.”

Earlier this month, Trinidad and Tobago’s Transport Minister Devant Maharaj said the burden Trinidad and Tobago had to endure because of Air Jamaica arose out of the “imperialist ambitions of former prime

Death Row brothers...

From page 2 cemetery.

A caution statement by Allan Ramnauth said that they were drinking when a man by the name of 'Johnny' pointed a gun at them and told them to go to the woman's home and call her out. He said she did not respond and the man then told them to break down the wall and they did so with the help of the man.

By then, Allan said, the woman had opened the door

and they dragged her downstairs and headed towards the backdam.

While taking her to the backdam he said the man stopped three times and “made love” to the woman and there was a confrontation between the two.

He said after the last stop the man ordered the woman to walk into the trench and pushed her head down into the water. Allan said he threatened them and told them not to say anything.

Child whisked...

From page 3 the commissioner and the ASP was forwarded to the DPP. ASP Paul, who was present in Chambers at that time, confirmed that the police never had custody of the child and explained their involvement in the matter.

State Counsel then made an application for the Order Nisi issued against the Commissioner of Police and ASP Paul to be discharged and/or struck out. However Justice Reynolds did not accede to this application.

On April 27, 2012, an Affidavit in Answer was filed and served by State Counsel Judith Gildharie-Mursalin, in which it was specifically stated that the child was not in the custody of the Commissioner of Police and ASP Paul, and an application was made for the Order Nisi issued against the

Commissioner of Police and ASP Paul to be dismissed as it is bad in law, misconceived, vexatious and an abuse of the process of the Court.

On May 7, 2012, an Affidavit in Rejoinder was filed and served to reinforce the point that the infant was not in the custody of the Commissioner of Police and ASP Paul and therefore, the Commissioner of Police and ASP Paul were not proper Respondents to the application.

On the same day, immigration records, including emergency travel documents issued in favour of the said infant by the Canadian High Commission in Guyana, were laid over to Justice Reynolds, evidencing the departure of the said infant, via the Kanawaima Ferry Stelling at Moleson Creek, Corentyne, from the Court’s jurisdiction.

minister Patrick Manning, as he attempted to become the colonial master of the Caribbean”.

He said in addition, local tax payers “have been paying for the luxury of Jamaicans flying at a fuel subsidy”.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Finance Minister Winston Dookeran told Parliament this month that the state-owned airline had recorded losses in excess of TT$50 million (US$8.3 million) last year, and owed several creditors including the United States Inland Revenue Service and the Norman Manley International Airport in Jamaica millions of dollars.

In 2010, Port of Spain and Kingston agreed to a deal that

allowed the Jamaica government to own 16 per cent of CAL as part of the conditions for CAL taking over the lucrative routes of Air Jamaica.

The deal also allows for Trinidad and Tobago agreeing to a US$300 million transition plan for CAL to acquire and operate six Air Jamaica aircraft and eight of its routes.

When it came to office following the May 24, 2010 general election, the fiveparty coalition government of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar said it would review the accord, but Dookeran later announced that the government was okay with the agreement.

New Governor General to be sworn into office tomorrow BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC - Retired Chief Justice Elliot Fitzroy Belgrave will be sworn into office as Barbados seventh head of state at a special ceremony in the Parliament building tomorrow.

A government statement said that Justice Belgrave will take the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Office before a number of dignitaries, including Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, Chief Justice Marston Gibson and the legendary West Indies cricketer and national hero Sir Garfield Sobers.

It said that after receiving the Royal Commission from the Private Secretary in the Senate Chamber, the new Governor-General will be accorded a 21-gun Royal

Salute in National Heroes Square, where he will inspect a Guard of Honour.

“In keeping with tradition, her Majesty the Queen has agreed to confer on the Honourable Elliot Fitzroy Belgrave, the honour and dignity of Knight Grand Cross of the most distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George.

The Honourable Elliot Fitzroy Belgrave’s assumption of the office of Governor General under the Order of the Knight of St. Andrew, will become the Chancellor and principal Knight of St. Andrew,” Prime Minister Stuart said recently.

Born in 1931, the Governor General designate is a graduate of the universities of Cambridge and London.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday May 31, 2012

Former Liberian leader Taylor jailed for 50 years THE HAGUE (Reuters) Former Liberian President Charles Taylor was jailed for 50 years yesterday for helping Sierra Leonean rebels commit what a court in The Hague called some of the worst war crimes in history.

Taylor, 64, was the first head of state convicted by an international court since the trials of Nazis after World War Two and the sentence set a precedent for the emerging system of international justice.

In an 11-year war that ended in 2002, Sierra Leone’s Revolutionary United Front rebels murdered, raped and mutilated their way across Liberia’s West African neighbour, helped by Taylor as he profited from a trade in so-called blood diamonds.

“He was found responsible for aiding and abetting some of the most heinous and brutal crimes in recorded history,” said the Special Court for Sierra Leone’s presiding judge

Charles Taylor Richard Lussick, emphasising that the world was “entering a new era of accountability.”

Although shorter than the 80 years that prosecutors had sought, the sentence set a precedent for an international justice system aimed at deterring future war crimes. The court rejected defence appeals for leniency.

“It is really significant that Taylor’s status as a former head of state was taken as an aggravating factor as far as his sentence was concerned,” said Geraldine

Mattioli-Zeltner of Human Rights Watch.

“That is a very important precedent and I hope that Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and Sudan’s Omar Hassan alBashir take note.”

Dressed in a blue suit and yellow tie, Taylor sat impassively through the roughly 45-minute sentencing.

Hands clasped in front of his mouth and brow furrowed, Taylor shifted uneasily when the camera broadcasting proceedings settled on him.

Lussick described some of the most hideous atrocities: the amputations of limbs which became a hallmark of the conflict, the gang rape victim whose eyes were torn out so she could not identify the perpetrators, the mother forced to carry a bag of human heads - including those of her children.

“She was forced to laugh while carrying the bag dripping with blood,” he said. “She saw the heads of her children.”

Taylor is due to serve his sentence at a high security prison in Britain. The six years he spent detained during the trial will count against his term.

The lawyer who led Taylor’s defence said that rather than promoting international justice, the sentence would only encourage embattled leaders to fight to the end rather than give in and face possible trial.

Taylor stepped down as Liberian president under a peace deal in 2003 when rebels overran his capital, Monrovia.

The defence said it would appeal against the sentence.

Its focus is on payments the prosecution made to its witnesses, which it said were prejudicial. Chief prosecutor Brenda Hollis says all payments were disclosed to the court and were legitimate expences.

The prosecution could appeal to seek Taylor’s conviction for direct criminal involvement, a more serious crime.

Report: Chavez’s cancer has ‘entered the end stage’ This reporter has been told that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive cancer that has “entered the end stage”. The information and the quote come from a highly respected source close to Chavez and who is in a position to know his medical condition and history. This source says the prognosis is dire and that Chavez is now not expected to live “more than a couple of months at most.” Chavez is running for reelec tion in Venezuela but several sources—including the one who revealed the exact kind of cancer - have told me that they believe it is doubtful the dictator will live to see the results.

Voting is scheduled for October 7th. Chavez has been treated three times in Cuba but the exact kind of cancer has been a closely guarded state secret.

Reporter’s note: There is

Hugo Chavez only one source for identifying the cancer and for the prognosis quoted in the first part of the above story.

This is a person whom your reporter has very good reason to trust, but you should know that there is only one source so far; no other immediate confirmation.

All sources asked for and were granted anonymity because to reveal their names could place them in danger or, at the very least cost them their positions. (HDNet)

Thursday May 31, 2012

Kaieteur News

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APNU AND THE AFC SHOULD DONATE THEIR PARLIAMENTARY SALARIES TO THE ERC STAFF The PNCR has long had an issue with the composition of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC). They questioned the composition of the Commission arguing that it is not in keeping with the provisions of the constitution and with the decision to extend the life of the commission without resolving the controversy over the selection of commissioners.

But if the opposition had a problem with the manner in which the life of the commission was extended or with the selection process of the commissioners, this should not have led to cutting the budget of the commission proper because in so doing, the opposition parties have effectively vitiated a constitutional commission.

If the manner in which the government extended the life of the commission was in the estimation of the opposition parties unconstitutional, these parties could have sought constitutional redress. The government itself recently sought constitutional redress in relation to the actions of the opposition in parliament and it lost that court action.

So there was no reason why the opposition could not have moved towards the courts to correct what they believed was an unconstitutional commission.

There was no need for them to pick up their sword and slash the entire Budget allocation to the commission thereby effectively shutting the body down and placing its administrative staff on the breadline.

Dem boys seh ...

Rob Bert and Jagdeo team up again Rob Bert, Jagdeo, Bobby and some other man gone to Miami. Dem travel pun de same plane and dem boys want know wheh dem going and why dem going. Some people at de airport seh that dem gone to Jamaica. It got to be fuh talk bout plans fuh de extended airport.

But then again, it could be that dem going to order a pontoon because de one that get thief from de Harbour Bridge get find back wid everything. Dem boys ain’t saying that dem thief de pontoon, just like how dem ain’t saying that NICIL thief de pontoon.

But a pontoon is a pontoon and nuff people want one because dem have wuk fuh all dem pontoon. Then dem boys notice something strange. One Edghill lef de ERC fuh wuk wid de government but he still talking fuh de ERC. Is like Rob Bert going to talk bout wha happening in agriculture or Jagdeo going to a Caricom summit and talking like Uncle Donald.

And he got de nerve to talk bout who compromise who. Is he mek de people budget cut because if he did go lang he way when dem church tell he that dem didn’t want he all this trouble wouldn’t happen. And dem boys notice that since he ease up wid de post office less ganja and cocaine passing through. Is not he been shipping dem but people eye did pass he suh dem use to do anything wid de post office. That is wha dem boys seh.

But is funny how de budget cut ain’t affect Gee Nah. Dem was de ones who protest and dem getting pay. Well dem boys seh that dem believe that Gee Nah gun protest every month like when children writing exam and once dem do a good job dem gun get pay. Hen See Hen ain’t had to knock off anybody too.

Dem was only blowing hot when some of dem cry pun TV how dem gun join de breadline. At least dem woulda get bread. Talk half and protest fuh de other half.

The opposition parties failed to make a basic distinction. They failed to distinguish between the organization proper and its office holders, that is between the ERC proper and its commissioners.

If it had made this distinction, it would have realized that its actions were punishing those who had nothing to do with the selection of the commission and that the collateral damage that it did was unnecessary and unwise.

Many years ago, the main opposition party had a problem with the extension of the employment of a retired commissioner of police. It wanted someone else appointed as commissioner.

Suppose then the opposition had the majority that it now has. Would it have cut all the funding for the Guyana Police Force simply because it had issues with the manner in which the holder of the office of commissioner was extended?

There was also, in the past, a difference between the opposition and the government

over who should be substantively appointed as Chancellor. Imagine if in order to impose its choice on the government, the opposition had opted to cut substantively the funding of the judiciary to the extent where it would have disrupted the wheels of justice administration?

By logical extension, even if the opposition had issues with the composition of the ERC, it was reckless to have cut all funding for that body more so when there was an option of filing a constitutional motion to vitiate the selection of the commissioners without effectively dissolving a constitutional commission.

The problems the opposition has with the ERC cannot also be blamed on the existing commissioners who accepted the extension of the life of the commission. They were not responsible for the extension of the life of the commission or its composition.

Through legal action, the opposition could have effectively paused the work of the commissioners without

affecting the institution itself.

However, the opposition seemed more interested in exercising its power with the effect that it has now effectively closed that body down.

Not only that, but by agreeing to meet with the staff, it has opened to question whether the staff is liable to be perceived as beholden to the opposition parties since they approached these parties to reinstate funding to save their jobs.

The staff out of desperation went to meet the opposition parties perhaps not realizing how this action could compromise perceptions about their future independence. The opposition parties should not have met with the staff. They should have discouraged such contacts.

It is very sad that workers are now going to be put on the breadline, whichever way it is looked at. Even if somehow the funding is restored, the independence of the commission has now been called into question and therefore the entire ERC will have to be reconstituted, including its administrative staff.

There was never any need to cut the funding of the ERC. The amount allocated to the ERC is not an exorbitant sum relative to the whole budget.

Yet now the poor staff of the ERC is facing the possibility of being sent home when all it would have taken is just about 100 million dollars to continue the work of the ERC. It is unfortunate what has happened to the staff of the ERC. Many of them would have bills to pay and other financial obligations to meet and perhaps as gesture of remorse the opposition parliamentarians can donate their fat monthly parliamentary salaries to these workers or alternatively can ask the staff to send to their parties’ headquarters their monthly utility bills so that they can take care of it at least until the staff can find alternative employment.

Edghill contempt case against Freddie Kissoon …

Judge to rule on validity of proceedings Justice Diana Insanally will in a month’s time, decide whether she will hear the contempt of court proceedings launched by Bishop Juan Edghill against columnist Freddie Kissoon and Kaieteur News’ Publisher, Glenn Lall.

Senior Counsel Ashton Chase, who is representing the Bishop, defended the way in which the proceedings were filed. Rebutting the charges made by the defense attorneys, Chase said that a motion is the correct procedure to be adopted in the contempt proceedings brought before the court.

Defence lawyers for Kissoon and Lall however maintained their argument that the contempt proceedings filed by Edghill

are not consistent with the rules of the court.

The Judge reserved June 27, 2012 for her decision.

Edghill, who headed the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), and later joined the ruling PPP and became Junior Finance Minister, wants Kissoon jailed for an article he had written.

Edghill, in his capacity as Chairman of the ERC was before Justice James BovellDrakes in an application for an injunction by then Opposition Leader, Robert Corbin, to stop Edghill from functioning as Chairman.

Edghill is asking the court to institute penal sanctions against Kissoon because while that injunction was being determined, Kissoon had written a commentary on the ERC.

Nigel Hughes represents the first defendant in association with Mrs. HobbsNurse. The second defendant, Kaieteur News, is represented

by Khemraj Ramjattan in association with Mr. Neil Parsram.

“Frederick Kissoon contributed and caused to be published an article in which are expressed views and opinions touching the above court proceedings and which are aimed, calculated and directed to prejudice a fair and impartial hearing,” Edghill charged in his affidavit.

Mr Chase told the court that the proceedings are essentially summary proceedings and are devoid of the weighty considerations or the “long drawn out” proceedings associated with

writs and petitions.

As such, in seeking various legal authorities, he told the court that seeking to get the court’s attention on the contempt proceedings by way of a motion was correct.

Ramjattan and Hughes argued otherwise, saying that under the Rules of the Court Mr Chase’s case was “incapable of being sustained.”

Hughes argued that filing the proceedings by way of “motion” was inconsistent with the rules of the High Court.

It was reiterated that filing contempt proceedings by way of motion can only take place in existing proceedings.

Bishop Edghill was present in the courtroom, as the defense lawyers had before complained to the Judge that the Bishop was being absent.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday May 31, 2012

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Hitchcockian themes left unattended Just days before the debate on the 2012 budget got underway the TUC sponsored a seminar at its head office in which the discussants were Lincoln Lewis, Christopher Ram and Carl Greenidge.

Mr. Ram told his audience that if one examines Guyana’s last census then the total number of persons over sixty five receiving old age pension appears too large. This was Chris Ram speaking in April 2012.

In January 2011, this very perplexing story was raised by the late AFC Parliamentarian, Mrs. Sheila Holder. She alleged that the numbers were inflated and that $1.3 billion was lost to the treasury. Then subject minister, Priya Manickchand,

in a posture in Parliament that was unbecoming, answered Mrs. Holder in language that was typical of the deportment of the post-Jagan generation at Freedom House.

For Mr. Ram to bring up the subject again sixteen months later indicates that he is certainly not satisfied with the pyrotechnical explanation of Ms. Manickchand. So is this going to remain a secret cave because no one in Guyana can interpret the last census to arrive at exactly how many persons are over age 65?

The old age pension puzzle is just one of many invisible pages that form the book of Mr. Jagdeo’s Guyana.

Mr. Jagdeo is gone but the inscrutabilities remain. He spends his time in an

ambience that is mystified.

Mr. Jagdeo lives in style that reminds you of the main character in the novels of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Cynics have given the name Pradoville 2 to the villa where Mr. Jagdeo can be found. But how did the President’s men when Mr. Jagdeo was President acquire Pradoville 2?

Only one piece of the puzzle has fallen into the laps of journalists. Roger Luncheon testifying for his then boss, Bharrat Jagdeo, in Mr. Jagdeo’s libel suit against me and this newspaper nonchalantly told the court that he called up his friend, Mr. Mingo in Linden and offered him a house lot in Pradoville 2.

So the jigsaw needs to be exposed as to how the other

recipients acquired their land in the now infamous or famous Pradoville 2 giveaway.

Perhaps the most intriguing secret that has gripped this nation is who got their money back when CLICO’s share in the Berbice bridge company was bought over by NBS. It was a simple tale without any complications.

CLICO became bankrupt.

Investors lost their money.

NBS came to the rescue. Dr. Nanda Gopaul, famous for his alleged burning of Dr. Jagan’s effigy, the Chairman of NBS told the CLICO investors not to worry. NBS bought out CLICO’s stocks in the bridge.

With the money CLICO got, it paid a number of its victims. But who are these recipients?

I asked Christopher Ram a few weeks ago, if it is not possible with an opposition controlled Parliament to ascertain the identities of those who were paid back.

Can’t the relevant

parliamentary committee summon Dr. Gopaul and roast him? Does Maria Van Beek know?

This brings us to another dark plot. Who shot Maria?

An eminent politician from the opposition benches relayed an interesting conspiracy to me about the attempted murder.

His angle is that Maria Van Beek had come across dangerous material when she was put in charge of the CLICO investigation. That dangerous material had as its main player a very powerful figure.

Apparently, Nadira JaganBrancier, Maria’s cousin, is fuming with rage because she knows why her cousin got hurt and she knows who ordered the hit.

This explains her acerbic condemnation of those who have inherited Freedom House and her parents’ party.

I guess the rule of the PPP is overflowing with conspiracy theories.

Is that the end of the enigmas that grew into mountains under the Jagdeo presidency? We haven’t even touched the surface. Who ordered the throwing of a miasmic substance on me?

Frederick Kissoon Who give instructions to beat up Bentcock when he played a Hitchcockian investigator and sought to photograph a swimming pool in Diamond owned by a depraved thug whose official income will only allow him to dream of a swimming pool much less own one.

And talking about pool, there is a huge one in Leonora.

How do you investigate that one? Maybe the owner has the same explanation as the lady in Pradoville One. When Mrs. Janet Jagan saw the imported marble from Italy that adorns the interior of this mansion, she walked out.

The lady ran behind Mrs. Jagan and complained that her relatives sent money for her to build it. Mrs. Jagan turned around and queried; “Why didn’t they send it before you became a Minister.

You needed it then.”

Thursday May 31, 2012

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Kaieteur News

AFC insists on ERC CJIA tells squatters to move or be moved reform, has 'no regrets' for budget cuts The Alliance For Change (AFC) has no regrets voting against the almost $100M allocated to the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) in this year's National Budget.

The move has placed 20-odd staffers on the breadline, according to the ERC. Ye s t e r d a y , A F C ' s Parliamentarian, Khemraj Ramjattan, did not rule out his party's endorsement of making the monies available again via supplementary provisions. But there will have to be administrative and other reforms first.

“No, no regrets, absolutely not. It comes out as if I am very harsh. We have to understand that when we make those decisions, we are frank enough to understand that there will be collateral damage,” the official said yesterday during the AFC's weekly press conference.

S e v e r a l E R C s t a ff members had met with Ramjattan at his office on the matter. The official said that he made it clear that it was not as if the matter was unforeseen. “But we are realists and we are hard pragmatists too. And we want to see reforms too.”

According to Ramjattan, the staff members admitted that they are not unwilling to reforms of ERC, a constitutional body that takes complaints of racism and other issues of discrimination.

Opposition parties have accused the ERC of being partisan and not balanced.

Ramjattan admitted that he is aware that for the ERC workers, it is a case of bread and butter issues.

“The sugar and bauxite workers are suffering too, and nobody saying anything about them. The running of Guysuco is hopeless and that

is why sugar workers are leaving their jobs. We need reform there too.”

According to the AFC Parliamentarian, the stateowned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is facing an unprecedented crisis with its work force dwindling alarmingly from 18,000 to 11,000 in recent years. The sector, too, needs reforms.

He insisted that many reports of the ERC were not scientifically done. Foreign reports like the “Gay McDougal” report show that there is marginalization and racial discrimination. Yet, ERC has made no mention of this. “Why use taxpayers' money like this? It is not fair.”

According to Ramjattan, the ERC workers understand the stance of AFC and that if there are reforms; they will get back their jobs.

On Tuesday, former ERC's Chairman, Juan Edghill, who is now the Junior Minister of Finance, announced that the body will not be able to function as staffers have not been paid and operations are at a standstill.

He defended the ERC as being an independent entity.

Edghill had also blasted ERC workers for meeting with opposition leaders and “begging for their jobs and begging for money to be released to the ERC.” Edghill said that he is aware that staffers of the organization had met with opposition leaders of both APNU and the AFC. That, he noted, was not sanctioned.

He attributed the actions of the workers to the threat they faced as it related to their jobs. He said persons were fearful and felt insecure.

Women held as accomplices in taxi driver robbery Police in Berbice have detained two women who are believed to be part of a four-member gang that robbed a taxi driver early yesterday morning.

The two women and their two male accomplices were arrested after police recovered the taxi driver's stolen car.

According to reports, about 01:30 hours yesterday Nankishore Arjune was robbed of his AT 192 motor car, jewellery, a cell phone and $15,000 by three men, one of whom was armed

with a gun at Timmers Dam, Angoy's Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The police in a statement said that Arjune was operating his motorcar for hire when the suspects and two women stopped him and requested to be taken to Timmers Dam. When the vehicle arrived at Timmers Dam, the women exited, leaving the men who proceeded to rob the driver.

The motorcar was later found intact at Angoy's Avenue.

Management of the country's lone international airport has ordered squatters to move within 30 days or face a forced removal. The letters/notices of eviction were issued by the Chief Executive Officer of the airport, Ramesh Ghir.

However the Timehri (North) Community Development Council has said that the move will affect over 3,000 men, women and children along with their buildings.

The Council stated that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) had, at a meeting held in the CEO's office with the Officer-in-Charge of the No. 1 Sub-Division of the

Guyana Police Force, a farmer representing his own interest, an engineer of the said Corporation and the Chairman of the TNCDC, notified the meeting of its intention to conduct soil testing and to construct a road 10 feet by 3,300 feet after the farmers in that area were amply notified and arrangements made for their relocation and the harvesting of their crops.

D a n i e l F r a s e r, t h e chairman, in a press statement said that it must be noted that at the time of the said meeting, the TNCDC was not a representative of the farmers who inhabit and cultivate in excess of 15 acres

of farmlands outside of the Corporation's boundary -beyond the Localizer north of the main runway.

He said that the CJIA move will be destroying hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cash and permanent crops belonging to the said farmers on lands of the state that were left unattended, unmanned and unregulated from since the days of the colonial British and subsequent American soldiers.

Fraser said that a grave injustice of insurmountable proportion is being contemplated, and is about to be committed by the Government of Guyana, on a

section of the populace that is opposed to its practices as they related to the working people, those who are not overwhelmingly and ethnically affiliated to the party in Government and those who it is said “are the last rung of the ladder.”

Fraser said that he is calling on all Guyanese, and civic-oriented organizations, political parties, Members of Parliaments, African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) to heed this call, and to assist an established community, of working and God fearing residents, to resist this foul and evil endangerment of its people.

ScotiaBank contributes to Bartica's development The St. Anthony RC church of Bartica has made a plot of land available to the community for the development of a kids play park. The Staff members of Scotiabank Bartica have taken up the challenge to coordinate /facilitate the development of the Park.

They have conducted a series of self help activities in collaboration with the business community working to make this project a reality.

Mr. Chunilall Baboolall has responded by funding the construction of the fence for the park.

The staff of Scotiabank Bartica cleaning the Park

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 31, 2012

Thursday May 31, 2012

Page 13

Kaieteur News

Tutors say nursing programme is health crisis in the making - want review, more lecturers

T

he Alliance For Change (AFC), is calling on Government to immediately review the country's nursing programme, as concerns grow over the quality of training.

There have been complaints by the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and officials of the East Street, Georgetown School had warned of crowded classrooms, insanitary conditions and few lecturers.

According to AFC Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, yesterday, during the party's weekly press conference, Government's nursing programme is a health crisis in the making.

Earlier this month, amidst protests from the union, 65 nursing students were taken in.

“It has been brought to the attention of the Alliance For Change that the quality of training at the Georgetown School of Nursing is being compromised.

The AFC was informed that by accepting more students into the nursing school that can be c o m f o r t a b l y accommodated, the Ministry of Health is actually forcing lecturers into a position where they cannot provide adequate supervision of the students,” Ramjattan said.

“It is clear that the government is only interested in showing large numbers but in doing so they

AFC's Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan are sacrificing basic quality for quantity. This situation does not bode well for the future of health care in Guyana as in a few years, these students will become Registered Nurses but they will lack the competence to provide quality health care.

Such a situation will result in many patients in the future not being properly looked after and possibly resulting in deaths,” he warned.

REVIEW Describing the situation as grave, AFC called for an immediate review of how the nursing programme is being run.

It also wanted a number of critical issues to be addressed. These include the conditions of the sanitary facilities and classrooms including seating, ventilation and teaching supplies.

The shortage of competent and qualified lecturers is also another issue that warrants attention.

The availability of adequate clinical instructors and adequate time allotted for clinical training of students and internet access for student nurses should also be addressed, Ramjattan urged.

“Continuing to run the nursing programme the way it is being run right now is equivalent to a national health crisis in the making.

The people of Guyana will be the ones to suffer from this.”

Almost two weeks ago, an orientation ceremony for the new batch of students was held at the Regency Suites. It was not attended by a representative of the school.

Currently, the school has a student population of about 400, which makes it difficult for the seven tutors to lecture and execute administrative duties. The Nurse Assistant Programme and Clinical areas have one tutor each.

There are two midwifery tutors and four tutors for the Professional Nursing Programme.

OVERCROWDING Overcrowding has been blamed for some students taking a 'free ride' through nursing school. Tutors had alleged that the present third year batch is large but many students are still not competent in first year skills.

The class size undergoing

AFC yesterday called for a review of the government's nursing programme, amidst increasing complaints. clinical studies at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is also an unmanageable number.

This enables some students to sign the register and skip classes later.

The student population also affects the length of time students experience practical studies at GPHC's Intensive Care Unit, Accident and Emergency Unit and Operating Theatre.

“Students in batches of four are expected to spend one month at those units… If there are 200 students and everyone has to undergo training that would take years…Therefore, the length

of time students spend at those areas is reduced to two weeks.”

The tutors disclosed that the school administration and key stakeholders met with the former Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, Hydar Ally, and discussed some major issues in depth, especially the ad hoc placement of students at the facility.

They related that there is documentation stipulating March and September as the entry period for students.

However, this is not being respected. Students are being sent at anytime during the year. This affects

examinations.

“Last November students were sent to the school…Those students did no work until January but they were given stipends…Students should not be taken in like that…There should be a demand for those students first,” the tutors said.

The tutors said that the absence of a representative of the school on the Selection Board contributes to the poor quality of some students who join the school.

In early 2000s, the responsibility of the school to interview students was removed.

AFC wants swift justice for cop wounded by arrow

T

he Alliance For Change (AFC) is calling on the Guyana Police Force to act speedily and bring the perpetrators of last week’s attack on Constable Kevin George to justice.

George was shot with arrows and beaten severely by a group of persons at Monkey Mountain, Potaro, after he and a colleague had arrested a Brazilian man during a drug raid.

He was air-dashed to the city and is receiving treatment at a private medical institution.

Police Public Relations Officer, John Sauers, told this newspaper yesterday that although a team of investigators was sent to the area no one has been arrested

so far.

Yesterday at its weekly press conference the Alliance For Change condemned all forms of violence and especially violence against members of the security forces.

According to the AFC, security service personnel risk their lives to make Guyana safe and they deserve the full support of all Guyanese and their communities.

“The attack on Constable Kevin George of the Guyana Police Force while he was in the process of carrying out his duties is totally unacceptable and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. This attack on a police rank speaks to an ever increasing ‘wild-west’ type

scenario that is fast developing in the interior regions of Guyana and which the Guyana Police Force is ill equipped to address due to the government’s negligence to comprehensively address national security,” said AFC Member of Parliament Trevor Williams.

According to the AFC all Guyanese are aware that crime in the interior is on the increase and the government wants the citizens to believe that it has the situation under control.

“How can the situation be under control when ranks of the primary law enforcement agency are being attacked and only by pretending to be dead are they able to save their own

lives? If police ranks in the interior come under this type of assault, it boggles the mind to think what ordinary citizens will have to endure,” Williams reasoned.

The party said that it understands that the young police rank had to pretend to be dead after overhearing his attackers planning his death.

“This was the only way to save his life. He was left on his own to make his way to Georgetown with only the pilot in the aircraft.”

The party added that as if that was not enough, the young policeman waited for about two hours at the Georgetown Public Hospital for an X-Ray only to be told that the machine was not working.

The Alliance For Change

called for a full investigation into the crime and urged the government not to give up, thereby rendering the incident another cold case.

The party also urged that adequate resources and manpower be deployed to the interior regions to deal with the upsurge of criminal activities and lawlessness

there.

“More than that, the AFC demands that the government review its position on national security with the intention of seeking international assistance to address comprehensive reform of the security sector,” Williams told members of the media.

Page 14

Thursday May 31, 2012

Kaieteur News

Gunmen assault “If you don’t like E’bo businessman the salary, quit” Arnold Granville

Businessman, Arnold Granville, of Lot 22 East Richmond, Public Road, said that he has been forced to close his business which housed a hotel and restaurant, because of a frightening ordeal. He was the victim of a robbery, on Tuesday evening.

Recalling the episode, Granville explained that he was engrossed in a version of the local news when he heard someone calling.

Granville said a few seconds later a male who presented himself as a customer showed up at his door and made a request for some phone cards.

Granville added that he told the man, whom he had never seen before, that he was looking at the news and was not selling phone cards at that moment.

Granville said that he thought that the man would have left, but he made another request, this time asking for something from the restaurant.

The businessman said that he realized that he was being attacked and robbed

when another bandit came from behind one of his pillars, armed with a gun. He said the one with the gun was masked.

Granville said that the men proceeded to push him further in his house. There was a scuffle between him and both men. "I kept hollering for thief, thief, help, murder," Granville related.

Granville said during the scuffle, the masked gunman lashed him in his head with the gun. He also received cuffs in his face and his feet were trampled on.

Granville said the bandits made good their escape with his gold chain and three finger rings, all amounting to almost $200,000.

The traumatized Granville said that he has since received treatment from the Suddie Public Hospital in the form of stitches to his head. He said that he needs some form of protection in order to continue his business.

The police visited Granville's residence and investigations are continuing.

- Manickchand

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand

T

eachers who are dissatisfied with their salaries and are not dedicated to educating the nation’s children should quit the job.

This stern warning was sent by Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, during a recent public consultation at New Amsterdam Secondary School, Berbice.

The consultation attended by Region Six head teachers, teachers and Education Officers sought to determine the future of the Ministry’s automatic promotion and corporal punishment policies.

During discussions on the automatic promotion of students, which was rejected by teachers, it was discovered that many teachers are not keen on giving remedial classes after regular school hours.

Remedial programme is integral to the success of the automatic promotion policy, since it aims to assist students in their slow areas.

According to a teacher, the salary teachers are paid is not sufficient to meet their needs, as such, they need to seek other earnings after

school. This was met with widespread agreement from the gathering, who responded by applauds.

While accepting that teachers may have their own problems and needs, Manickchand declared that lackadaisical teachers have no place in the education system.

She emphasized that those who are dissatisfied with the salary should leave the system.

Another reason posited by teachers why schools should not host remedial programmes in the afternoon is poverty. Most students who require remedial classes are from poor homes.

A s s u c h , h u n g e r, especially in the afternoons, those students cannot function properly.

In response to that claim, Manickchand pointed out that within each school, teachers should be aware of students who do not have meals regularly.

Those students should be given a snack, she recommended.

Some believe that even before a student fails there are signs a dedicated teacher would observe. Early detection of students’ responsiveness in the classroom would also help to make the automatic promotion work and perhaps there will be no need for the automatic promotion.

M a n i c k c h a n d challenged the teachers to reposition their thinking of what they want to achieve and why they enter the profession. She asserted that teachers should be inspirational rather than staying in the system marking time.

Thursday May 31, 2012

WANTED Urgently wanted. 1 House lot to buy at Pharfait Harmony. Call: 672-3017.

Wanted to buy, Washiba Squares & Logs. Call Jettoo’s Lumberyard & Sawmill @ 261-5041 or 2615042 Office Clerk, CXC English/ mathematics. 225-0188, 2256070 Pastry, roti/puri makers, counter servers, cleaners, handy boys & waiters.

Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. Drivers & porter to work on water trucks on the WCD $20,000 wkly Call: 684-8231 Experience Interior drivers Call Paul : 592-646-6730,592225-1939 Mill/Saw Doctors, Moulder Operators to work @ Jettoo’s Sawmill @ Coverden Public Road, E.B.D. Call – 261-5041, 2615042, 226-2756 Skilled Lathe Operator, livein domestic, live-in handyman Arc/Acetylene Welder. Tel: 22-71830 Bright, well-spoken sales assistant for small store, with 5 subjects CXC. Send written application to PO Box 101599 Live-in attractive waitress.

Tel# 228-5129 East Coast Guyoil pump attendants wanted (day and night), wash man, office assistant & sales girls. 6842838, 602-5031

Kaieteur News

EDUCATIONAL Imperial College – CXC Jan/ June 2013 exam. Day/ Evening classes, flexible hours. Contact 227-7627, 683-5742 Private tutor –home schooling. CXC English, adult upgrading. Call: 6494247 Pam’s Daycare, Playschool & Nursery. Lot 227 KuruKururu.

Registration commenced. Limited places available. Tel no: 261-5496 Learn to speak Spanish in 1 month. Call: 673-1232 Princeton College. CXC Adults/Students. Slow learner classes. Day & Evening. January/May June 2013. 690-5008, 611-3793

SALON Make up courses, artist trained & certified in Trinidad: 660-5257,647-1773 Qualify yourself in Cosmetology or nails, make up, Register, Limited spaces.

Call Abby: 216-1950, 6197603, 666-5241 Seeta & Soma Salon.

Specialists in perming, relaxing, styling, manicure, pedicure, etc. Tel: 618-6346/ 644-7142 Certificate Courses in Cosmetology & Nails from $6000. 669-4511

Sawmill workers. Tel: 2616412/653-9752

WANTED Security Contact: 223-5273-4 Sales boy and girl. 615-3090

Contract cars. Must be in Hire & Yellow. Base free. $3500 weekly. Call 660-9977

Live-in/Live-out babysitter/ clerk/domestic. 225-0188/ 225-6070

One general live-in domestic. Must know to cook and bake, Security on the E.B.D. Contact: 665-8737

Domestic help. Call 225-2598

(2) Attractive waitresses.

Call: 233-5481, 5450 Urgently needed, live-in waitresses to work in Bar. Attractive salary offer. Tel# 259-0574 1 – Experienced General Domestic. Must know to cook & iron. $10,000 per week – 227-0557

US & Canada VISA application services. Call 643-6630. Family discounts available.

Repairs, sales & spares, air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & Stoves.

Ultra Cool: 225-9032, 6472943 ONLINE SHOPPING NO COMMISSION, WEEKLY S H I P M E N T S , AFFORDABLE RATES, FREE PRIVATE MAILBOX. TEL: 231-5789.

FREIGHTLINKEXPRESS@ GMAIL.COM WE FILL OUT PASSPORT & VISA FORMS: USA, UK & CANADA. TEL: 2315789 Repairs in all types of Jet-Ski, stern-drive, inboard and outboard engine (2 & 4 stroke). Contact: 694-7949 Do you need a female bahir (cook) or bartender to work in interior? Call Andrea 6921798, 652-7355 US & Canada VISA application services. Call 643-6630. Family discounts available.

We repair fridge, freezer, AC ,washer, dryer Call: 231-0655, 683-8734 Omar.

Bulah Enterprise Inc. seeks interior charter Call: 592-6466730,5692-225-1939

General Contractor. Does interior decorating, carpentry, mason work.

Estimate from $5000. 6694511, 684-2100 Hello, the doctor is back!!

Have your gas stove repaired and serviced. Tel: 601-0595, 220-4073, 220-5785

1 kitchen assistant/cook to cook for family in the interior.

688-4905

East Bank $12M. Newtown $30M. Queenstown $35M. East Coast $16M. Diana 2272256, 626-9382 House & land, Diamond, E.B.D. Tel: 677-3472

1 5000 watts Centurion generator $175,000. 1 stand up Frigidaire Freezer $110,000. 3 coffee makers $10,000 each. Tel: 692-7377 Original projector, next to new. Call: 671-935

MASSAGE American Style Massage Service. Call 609-4036

Going cheap, foreign used Perkins Engines, pressure & clutch plates, hydraulic pumps. 661-3043

Treat yourself to a relaxing massage Call: 622-6256

1 Super-custom minibus. $1.4M negotiable. Contact #693-6630, 231-8051 Two Detroit Diesel series 50 engines, 300 HP. Call Troy 601-9004.

1 Tundra, 1 Perkins engine & Welder 400 amps. Call: 6605462, 611-5114

FOR SALE GPS Map 76, Garmin System.

600-0036 or 223-1719 Large Land in Bagotville, WB. Great for Greenhouse farming. 600-0036 or 223-1719 Body kit for IST. 641-1127 Canon 4 Function Inkjet Colour Printer; also: 80 GB IDE Hard Drives for computer. Reasonable price – Call: 675-5196 or 622-1541 233 pieces Mastercraft Tool Kits; IBM P4 Computer, 18" LCD Monitor. Reasonable price–Call:675-5196or622-1541 2001 F-150 Ford, 8 cylinder engine with 4 WD. Very good condition, with fiberglass cab on back. GLL plates. $2,000,000. Call Hans 645-5596 NARS lipgloss, eyeshadow & Clinique Chubby Stick. Tel: 669-8374.

Roofing shingles. Call: Mr. Skepmire . 227-5195 (8am to 5pm) Roof Rack, Spot Lights, Crash bar, Blue Tooth Radio, Double Battery System, Leather seats, 645-2286

Yamaha Crankshaft outboard 150HP-200HP, fine & fat top, Piston Kits, Crankshaft Bearings. Call Terry 665-9405 CAR RENTAL

FOR SALE 6 brand new in box IPod touch. 8GB $60,000, 32GB $75,000. Price neg. Contact: 686-5004

Brand new American made Crosely 10.5 cu ft Refrigerator for sale $75,000.

626-4452/697-5677

Brand new Blackberry Torch 9800, under $100,000. Call: 676-7443

1 mechanic to work in the interior. 688-4905

Skilled Lathe Operator.

Excellent rates. Tel: 22-71830

1 three bedroom house Prashad Nagar, asking price $29M neg. Call: 227-2563, 684-2115

Visa and Immigration forms prepared for Canada, USA and UK. Also Passport forms. Call 626-9857

Taxi drivers (yellow) Tel: 2253234

Female workers needed; 3 subjects or sound secondary education. Call: 225-7307.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

We refill HP cartridges for $1,800. Call:650-7699

Get your VISA or get refunded. Call: 645-0975

Tailors @ B. Paul Tailoring Establishment, 14 Lombard St. Tel: 223-8266, 680-8046 Porters; male & female, to work in Grocery Shop, Stabroek Market. Call: 2269800

SERVICES Permanent &Visitors Visa Applications Professional Immigration Consultant Sabita, Room E-4 Maraj Building 225-6496/2238115/662-6045.

Page 15

Progressive auto rental, cars from $4,000 per day. Call: 6435122, 656-0087, www.progressiveautorental.com

Massage Leather Table, brand new in box, perfect for massage business, heavy duty; $65,000. Call Terry: 6659405

Al’s Car & Pick-up Rental.

Call: 698-7807

Household items for sale.

Call 225-3079, 656-7864

2004 Land Rover Discovery.

100,000 miles. Excellent condition.

Off road suspension and tires. Warn Winch. Call: 645-2286 Spares for washer, microwaves, fridges, stovetimers, gear boxes, pumps, etc. Contact 225-9032, 647-2943 Games for PSP $900, PS2 $900, XBox 360 $2600, PS3 $2600, XBox, Wii. Junior 6722566, 265-3231 Corrugated Zinc sheet @ 40% off. Local Lumber @ 25% off. Pine Lumber @ 10% off. Zack’s Lumber. Tel# 2267054.

2003 Kawasaki Ninja, also 8 Camera DVR Security System. Tel: 643-6468, 6867273 1999 Tacoma 4 cylinder engine with 4 WD. Good condition, GLL plates. $2,000,000. Call Andrew 6388599 Big blow out sale at Lot 29 Croal Street Enterprise, kids shoes $200 and lots more.

Call:664-2209 Exercise Bike, brand new.

Electric Schwinn 131, Digital Heat Rate monitor; $75,000.

Call Terry: 665-9405

VEHICLES FOR SALE Just arrived: Allion and Premio, tel: 624-2000, 6221610 Hilux 4x4 solid def pick-up, diesel, long base, excellent condition Call: 623-0243 Unregistered Allion and Spacio. Tel# 697-0294 International Tow Truck with flat aluminum bed; takes two vehicles. Call: 639-3900, 619-5400 1 2004 Honda Civic AT, music, excellent condition.

PMM series. One year in taxi, $1,750,000. Contact 6505567 One Allion, fully powered, A/C, music, mag. Tel: 2590836, cell: 621-7838 Two (2) Nissan Titan; year 2004. LE and SE model; new tires $3.5M and $3.7M, price neg. Contact 681-3300.

One 2 ton enclosed canter.

Price $1.1M negotiable.

Contact # 253-3349, 6938830 Unregistered Spacio (Blue) $2.5M. Fielder (Blue) $2.4M. Tel# 641-1127 First Class Auto. Allion, Premio, NZE, Fielder, AT212, Carina & Raum. Tel# 6098188, 602-6307 One RZ EFI long base minibus.

Excellent condition. Price $1.175 neg.

Call: 619-5157 Leading Auto. Unregistered Allion, Premio, Runx, Spacio, Avensis, Verossa, 212. Tele: 677-7666, 610-7666.

1 Honda CRV Call: 233-5476, 617-4133 1 -2 Ton Mitsubishi Canter open back, GKK series $1.4M Neg. Call: 684-8231 3 ton enclosed & open back canter, unregistered. 6172891 One New Model Caldino Wagon, 41,000km. Excellent condition. Price negotiable $1.4M. Call: 629-1451, 6776003 Toyota Prado, 2004 Prado, 2005 Mark II GX110, 2005 Tundra. All fully loaded.

Excellent condition. Call: 600-5759

1 Hamilton Beach Commercial Milkshake Machine, 3 cups, excellent condition, 110v $100,000.

Call: 696-5566 or 683-7968 New Blackberry Torch (Slider) $80,000. Accessories included. Buy 2 or more & receive a discount. 680-1722 Everything must go. Salon products & equipment, exercise equipment, florals.

669-4511

ACCOMMODATION Signature Inn Luxury Suites & Apartments 83 Laluni Street, Queenstown.

Call for reservations 2262145, 227-5037 (Continued on page 20)

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 31, 2012

Bees create unease at Granger calls for urgent Craig Primary local government reform

The Craig Primary School, East Bank Demerara Panic filled the air Monday morning when several parents who took their children to school noticed a huge bee hive at the front fence of the Craig Primary School, East Bank Demerara.

Reports are that the bees were sighted in the school’s compound for many days but did not harm anyone.

It was during the weekend that the bees multiplied and expanded the hive at the entrance of the school.

Early Monday morning the parents became concerned about the wellbeing of their children upon seeing the enormous hive.

“We didn’t really even know what type of bees they were. We just assumed they were honey bees looking for flowers and such. But over the

two days (Saturday and Sunday) the bees built their hive almost two times the size it was. “Like they wanted to take over the fence. We don’t want our children to get sting to death or anyone get hurt,” one mother said.

When Kaieteur News arrived at the school on Monday, the hive had been removed though several bees were still lingering nearby and on the fence.

One vendor explained that the Ministry of Agriculture was notified of the incident within minutes of alarms being raised.

“I don’t know who exactly, but somebody called the Agriculture Ministry about the bees and they promised to send someone. A little while later a woman come and

throw some things on the hive and capture it and take it away but it still got a set of bees remaining. Maybe they will come back and build again so we need constant checks just in case,” the woman stated.

Some parents were highly upset that their children were exposed to such dangers while attending classes.

One father stated that the Education Ministry should have allowed the children to go home early since the bees had to be removed and posed a serious threat.

According to a senior teacher at the Craig Primary School, the bees never harmed any student or teacher to date. However the growth of the hive was alarming.

Opposition Leader, Brigadier David Granger, has issued a call to the People’s Progressive Party Civic administration to expedite local government reforms so that local government elections can soon be held.

Granger’s call has come in the wake of a number of issues pertaining to local democracy in this country. It is evident that local democracy is being trampled upon, he said. Little regard is being shown for the various tiers of government – be they Regional Democratic Councils or Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, he said.

Ministers Ganga Persaud and Norman Whittaker have taken a high-handed and heavy-fisted approach by transforming overseers from one NDC to another without any prior consultation with either the NDC or the overseers themselves, Granger noted.

“The fear of loss of jobs by the overseers has resulted in them not speaking out even though most if not all are not in agreement with the move.

“The disrespect shown in failing to consult the NDCs on this move is alarming. But the administration continues with its approach to trample

on peoples’ democracy.”

Granger said that at the moment, the administration is going around to the various NDCs installing IMCs without bothering to consult these bodies before attempting to do so. “What is worse is that these IMCs are being staffed with PPPC cronies.

The most recent was the NDC in Bartica, where fifteen PPPC nominees were installed as NDC councillors and the four other councillors perceived to be independent nominees were entirely left out.”

These new appointees must be rejected by residents as the Lethem and Kwakwani NDCs did. While there must be maximum participation with fully constituted councils, there must also be adequate consultation before imposing appointees on the people of Guyana, the Opposition leader said.

But not only is the administration imposing itself on the NDCs; the RDCs are no different, he said. There has been gross disrespect for the Region Four administration.

“The allocation made for Region Four has been severely cut from its original

Keino Anthony Thompson, who was convicted on a charge of robbery with violence and jailed for three years by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court, has been granted bail in the High Court pending an appeal.

Thompson robbed Richard Bhola, on July 8, 2011,at Vryheid, West Canje, Berbice.

Attorney at law Mursaliene

Bacchus petitioned the High Court upon an application made

by Thompson’s mother, Doris Sharper.

In his petition Mr. Bacchus had noted that during the trial which ended in July 2011, his client was never charged with any offence before. He stated that his client was at the time employed as a bus conductor.

The attorney stated that during the case an illegality was committed by the

proposal. Now that it has been cut, the correct path should have been to go back to the Region to re-prioritise its programme for the approved expenditure.

“Instead, the government decided what and how the money would be spent. Why then did the government request a programme and estimates from the Region?

Regions must be allowed to function but this is not happening. Rather, the government is using its Regional Executive Officers to do their bidding.”

Brig. Granger said that the Regional Executive Officer is the Clerk of the Regional Democratic Council; hence, he must execute the decisions of the Council.

Local government elections have not been held since 1994 and the time has come when the country cannot continue in this vein, Granger added.

“Rather than running around the country like headless chickens installing IMCs, the government needs to hold Local Government elections. But first, the Local Government reforms must be brought back to the National Assembly.”

High Court grants bail to armed robbery accused Magistrate. Bacchus who was not the counsel for the man during his trial in the Magistrate’s Court stated that during that trial, counsel had sought an adjournment to call a witness for the defence.

However, the Magistrate had closed the case without giving the defence an opportunity to call the witness.

Mr. Bacchus added in his petition for bail that it is almost impossible that an appeal will be heard within three years. He is thus asking that his client be given bail because if not given bail he would have served a term imprisonment for which he is not guilty.

The state’s case against Thompson was that on the day in question, about 19:30 hrs Bhola was on his way home on his pedal cycle when the accused and another man came up on separate cycles and attacked him.

He was choked and beaten about his body and the men made off with an Eco Cell phone and a Casio wrist watch. The men then made their escape on foot.

The matter was reported and based on information the accused was arrested and subsequently charged.

Thompson pleaded not guilty and the matter went to trial resulting in him being found guilty and sentenced to 3 years in jail.

Thursday May 31, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 17

Guyana deplores CARICOM’s ‘emotional’ …Trinidadian counterpart calls for more begging on Intl level evolved regional integration model

By Gary Eleazar The Finance Ministers of Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana have both delivered to regional policy holders, developmental partners and academia representatives an examination of the state of affairs in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and its relationship to the global environment.

Dr Ashni Singh and his Trinidadian counterpart, Winston Dookeran, were at the time addressing the second ever meeting of the Caribbean Development Roundtable (CDR) hosted at the Guyana International Conference Centre, in conjunction with the Executive Administration and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dr Singh immediately implored on the stakeholders to desist from wasting time seeking to redefine the challenges facing the region as these problems are well known and documented.

The local Finance Minister also told the gathering that he is of the firm belief that the region needs to move away from making emotional arguments as it relates to the treatment of countries in the region when it comes to debt relief and debt servicing which should

Guyana’s Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh be balanced by each country with sustainable investment for development as well as spending on social sectors.

Dr Singh said that he is convinced that the International Community will be unmoved by emotional arguments. As such the region should now be working towards formulating and articulating credible arguments for its case.

“We must not just have another conversation on defining our problems and making another emotional argument....the International Community will not be convinced.”

His Trinidadian counterpart, Dookeran, said that the CARICOM model which some 13 Caribbean

Trinidadian Finance Minister Winston Dookeran Countries have signed on to and are making painstakingly slow progress is one that has to be revised given the shortcomings which have now come to the fore.

Dookeran warned that it is imperative for the CARICOM nations to find a balance between economic and political logics and forge synchronization.

“It’s essential to align economic and political logic,” said Dookeran even as he expanded on his argument that the CARICOM model has to evolve.

Dookeran says that the forum being held over the course of the two days in Guyana is nothing new but poses a very important

opportunity for the Region.

In prefacing his argument for a more evolved CARICOM model, Dookeran warned, “Unless we find the right formula to merge the logic of economics and politics we won’t get development right.”

The gathering included representatives from the United Nation’s Framework as well as members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of International Financial Institutions.

Dookeran reminded that the CARICOM model was premised on the European Union’s model which is fundamentally flawed for the region.

In pointing out some of the flaws in the EU model Dookeran said, “We see what has happened in the global arena.”

In giving his diagnosis, he said that the financial problems facing the EU right now were first classified as a private sector problem before evolving into a “sovereign” fiscal problem for countries such as France and Greece.

He said that even the diagnosis of the EU’s problem still has its shortcomings. He described it as “a partial analysis of what was happening...It turned out to be a developmental problem.”

Dookeran said that for the region to deal with its problems “we have to face up to political problems facing the country….the EU problems,” he said aptly

illustrate his point.

Dr Ashni Singh said that when the region copied the EU’s model, the problem that currently faces the region was not envisioned.

This, he said, has now left CARICOM at a different cross-road to that of the EU. “We must reassess our direction to pursue,” said Dookeran even as he reminded that there is “no easy answer on how to address the problem but it must be answered.”

According to Dookeran, “We may need to reassess the way we think about problems...go into new frontiers.”

He used the opportunity as did his colleague Dr Singh, to lambaste the International Financial Institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank among others, all of whom, according to the Minister, attempt to assess the region’s problems through arithmetical computations and reflective ratios.

Dookeran said that their method, while it does lend to understanding the state of affairs in a country does not point to a direction for which the country should move.

Dr Singh was a little more critical of the methods being used by the IFI’s and gave an example of providing services to isolated communities in Guyana’s hinterland.

Dr Singh said that there is no way that a true picture of

the state of affairs can be determined by ratios, such as the spending on social services as against the Gross Domestic Product of a country.

To illustrate his point, Dr Singh said that in Guyana there are communities where only a few hundred people may reside, but nonetheless the Guyana Government is committed to ensuring that they have equal access to social and other government services.

He spoke of services related to health, sanitation and ICT related activities, which Dr Singh explained, would on paper and using certain arithmetical computation make the per capita expenditure appear exorbitant.

Dr Singh however made n o apology for the expenditure for remote communities saying that Government has and is committed to the goals and reminded that peculiarities such as this could not readily be appreciated using certain ratios.

The Guyanese Finance Minister said that he has heard the appeal by ECLAC’s Executive Secretary Diane Quarless as it relates to what ECLAC can do for CARICOM. “I do believe the UN system and ECLAC have an important role to play in moving from emotional arguments of vulnerability to a more credible case of the plight of the Caribbean.”

UG gets book donation from UK-based group Opposition leader meets women

The University of Guyana through the Office of the ProChancellor received three pallets of book donation consisting of over a thousand university text books from Europa Worldwide Logistics, a United Kingdom (UK) based Guyanese group.

These books pertain to the faculty of Health Sciences, Social Sciences (Law, Business and English), Natural Sciences (Computer Science, Biology), Technology (Mechanical) and Agriculture (Geography).

The Pro-Chancellor Dr. Prem Misir officially handed over the books to the Acting ViceChancellor Dr. Marlene Cox and Head Librarian Mrs. Gwyneth George yesterday, at the Office of the ProChancellor.

Mr. Desmond Mohamed, Europa Worldwide Logistics representative, officiated in the handing-over ceremony.

The donors comprised members of a United Kingdom (UK) Guyanese Diaspora inclusive of Mr. Ronald Rampat, Former Director of Europa Worldwide Logistics;

Ms. Patsy Downey (Liaison); coordinator, Mr. Faiyaz Alli; and Europa’s Established Charity Committee members Ms. Marlise Vallally and Mrs. Laila Baljit.

This valuable donation was also made possible by Mike Harrison Shipping, (Local Shipping Agent), and Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cricket Competition.

According to Europa former Director Rampat, the book donation represents a collection from Europa Worldwide Logistics, one of the largest privately-owned Transport and Logistics companies in the United Kingdom.

He stated, “It is presented to the University as a gift from all staff and Directors of Europa for use by all students of the University.” Europa’ s Established Charity Committee facilitates global distribution through fund raising activities which at present raised approximately £550,000 for distribution to many projects including Enmore Mandir, a beneficiary, he added.

Previous donations to Guyana included new books to the Ministry of Health, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), and to the Ministry of Education.

Mr. Desmond Mohamed talked of Europa Worldwide Logistics’ continued support to Guyana. Both Acting ViceChancellor Dr. Cox and Head Librarian Mrs. George expressed gratitude to the donors.

They said that this donation represents the largest receipt of books by the University of Guyana for the year so far.

Pro-Chancellor Dr. Prem Misir explained that Europa Worldwide Logistics would continue to support the University of Guyana in its pursuit of national and international recognition.

And, Dr. Misir requested University of Guyana to provide an inventory of these books vis-à-vis cataloging, to ensure proper accounting and transparency; as such measures tend to give greater impetus to donors to garner additional assistance.

and gender equality commission

Leader of the Opposition, David Granger, accompanied by the Opposition Chief Whip, Amna Ally, M.P.; Shadow Minister of Human Services, Ms. Volda Lawrence, M.P.; and Annette Ferguson, M.P., met with the Wo m e n a n d G e n d e r Equality Commission at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Hadfield Street, yesterday.

The encounter and the exchanges were cordial.

Among the matters discussed were support by the Police Force for the women who face problems affecting their personal safety; the functioning of the family court; the non-issuance of a youth policy; the representation of women on state boards ; u p w a r d mobility of women in the Public Service and the absence of a large number of people without birth certificates.

T h e L eader of the Opposition and his team expressed their views and gave responses promising to work with the Women and Gender Equality Commission to bring about changes on these matters.

The visiting delegation welcomed suggestions and promised to continue to develop the relationship to ensure that Guyana moves forward towards greater equality and security.

Page 18

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 31, 2012

Corriverton Mayor, councillors ‘chased ... maintains he out of positions’, IMC installed is still Mayor The former Mayor of Corriverton, Roy Baijnauth, is furious at what he said was the manner in which he and his councillors were “chased out” of their positions in the Municipality of Corriverton, Corentyne. Additionally, he is maintaining that he is still the Mayor of Corriverton.

A few weeks ago, Minister of Local Government, Ganga Persaud, and a team of Government officials, including Member of Parliament, Faizal M. Jaffarally, installed nine Interim Management Committees (IMCs) in Berbice.

Eight Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs)— CanefieldEnterprise; Ordnance/Fort Lands 38; Enfield- New Doe Park; Kilcoy- Chesney; Maida-Tarlogie; Black Bush Polder; Bush Lot- Adventure, and Whim- Bloomfield were dissolved.

The Corriverton Mayor and Town Council was dissolved soon after and IMCs were installed to manage their affairs.

Baijnauth is now contending that neither he nor his councillors was given notice that they had to vacate office and their positions.

“They put an IMC in Corriverton without notifying

my councillors...Nobody from the Local Government [Ministry] told us anything— [they were] hoping we would just walk off like that”.

Baijnauth stated that how he knew he was to have left office was through his Town Clerk “who received something from the Local Government Ministry without any signature— a list of names— and this was on the day before the swearing- in.

However, but up to now I believe I am still the Mayor”.

Baijnauth is further alleging that he was not informed by the government, the Ministry or the PPP that his municipality was to be dissolved.

Member of Parliament, Faizal M. Jaffarally, said that there was a public enquiry in the Municipality Chambers in late 2011. “Notices were placed in newspapers and on television informing residents of the public enquiry into the affairs of the Corriverton IMC”.

He said that the investigation into the affairs of the Corriverton Mayor and Town Council was carried out by an investigator “who submits the report to the Ministry [of Local Government] and they act on his recommendation. Based on the public outcry, an IMC

should be established...The people there said that they were not being provided with quality services by the present administration operating there (in Corriverton) and they requested the council to be replaced by new body in 2011.

“After a process of due consultation with the various stakeholders of the Corriverton community including business leaders, educators, farmers, women, youths and the religious community, the Ministry appointed the current IMC.” Jaffarally noted that some of the main findings of the investigation into the council’s operations were that the council “did not provide the kind of services as expected; that there has been a lack of interaction with residents and they were not responding in a timely manner to complaints by residents”.

Jaffarally said that while he could not comment on the late notification to the Corriverton Town Council of the dissolution of the Municipality, it was normal and lawful since “the law states that you can only dissolve a council when you’re installing a new one...you cannot dissolve a council the day before and

install a new one two weeks later.

“So just before the swearing- in, the council was dissolved and the Town Clerk was present at the swearingin ceremony for the new IMC, “ he added.

The Member of Parliament said that Baijnauth “[still] cannot be the Mayor— it’s impossible”.

There is also a grouse that the current IMC constitutes only of members of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). Jaffarally refuted this and said that there are several members including a businessman representing the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (UCCCI), Ganesh Gangadin— “I am saying the man is not a PPP...and then he is coming from the business community”.

The Chairman of the IMC himself, Bowis Harripaul, “was selected as an old educator...he is not PPP”.

He added that when an NDC or Municipality is being dissolved, the Minister can appoint whomever he wishes to appoint after intense consultations whereby the people of the community would have submitted a list of names of persons they

recommend for positions on the IMC. But Baijnauth believes the entire process was “a setup”. “He [Jaffarally] is one of the chaps that set this whole thing up— he and [Zulfikar] Mustapha (former Region Six Chairman)— he is wicked— let him come to Corriverton with me and my councillors— I want to confront them and [let them] tell me what it is— 20 years— who won’t vex?

“And they can’t tell me I do anything wrong on the inside”. Baijnauth wants a meeting with the government officials to “let them tell us what wrong we did”.

He questioned the investigation that was done and said that it was merely an investigation carried out between the Deputy Mayor and himself “concerning a problem with me because he [the Deputy Mayor] claimed prescriptive rights on Government sea defense property—They did not come to investigate anything— they just come with a piece of paper to fool the people— they are a pack of liars!”

“Ask them how long I asked to meet with President Jagdeo— for five years— and I couldn’t meet with him because of them”.

Baijnauth claimed that the officials handled the entire process “wrong”. “We knew we had to come out of there (out of office) some time. Up to last year, I resigned and the General Secretary (of the PPP) asked me to hold on until Local Government elections but the Vice- Chairman and these two chaps wicked— that is why the PPP nearly lost the elections!”

Baijnauth added, “They just chased us out after serving for 17 years...they could have sent a letter— The Minister never met with me.

“Aren’t we human beings?

After serving so long; and Corriverton was the best- run town in this country— look at New Amsterdam, Rose Hall, Linden, even Anna Regina— we have things in place as much we were short of councillors.

“When we collected 60 per cent of money, we did 100 per cent of works, because we stretched the money. Nobody ain’t put it in their pockets!”

Baijnauth stated that he gave up his Canadian Residency in 1994 to “serve this country and the man responsible for that was Cheddi Jagan and not any of them farts we got there today”.

Randy Morris faces Cutlass-wielding bandits beat East Canje businessman court for armed robbery

An East Canje businessman says he is being regularly targeted by cutlasswielding men and that he believes they are the same people who are making attempts to break into his Cumberland grocery store.

He was beaten on the last occasion. He also believes the incidents of him being terrorised by the men with cutlasses are connected to several occasions whereby his business suffered attempted break-ins.

Bisham Sarju, of Number Two Village, East Canje said that last Friday evening around 20:30 hrs, after closing his business and making his way home in his car, he noticed two men with cutlasses in his yard. “They asked me where is my money and I told them I don’t have money so they started to put lashes on my back and me and them had a scuffle and then they ran away”.

Sarju received lashes on his shoulder, hands and back.

Luckily, he did not have any cash on him that evening since he did not take home the day’s sales. He made a report at the Central Police Station

The injured Bisham Sarju

and they took a statement.

According to Sarju, this is the sixth occasion that he is being terrorised and threatened by the men. “One time, they blocked the road— two times, they tried to attack me”.

Sarju believes he would be safer if he has a firearm. He applied over six years ago for

a firearm “and me can’t get a gun...and I am doing a business here. Now I applied for the licence and can’t get the licence...and if I buy a ‘bush’ one (illegal firearm) they would charge me and lock me up”.

He is living in constant fear and wants the police to intervene to capture the bandits.

Randy Morris, 32, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday before Magistrate Hazel Octive- Hamilton to answer to a charge of armed robbery. He was not required to plead.

The police said that the Lot 263 Freeman Street, East La Penitence resident, on May 20, last, at Bourda Street, Georgetown robbed Gregory De Gammes. The charge stated that while armed with a gun, Morris allegedly relieved the man of in excess of $2M. Morris was represented

by Attorney-at-law Gordon Gilhuys who made an application for bail. The lawyer argued that it was a regular habit of the police to pick up Morris after a robbery has been committed. He said that his client is out on bail and has been reporting to numerous police stations.

The prosecutor however objected to bail for Morris.

She agreed that the accused has other matters and has been reporting to the police, but on an identification parade, she said Morris was positively identified by the victim. She objected to bail for the seriousness and

Randy Morris

prevalence of the offence.

The court granted the prosecutor‘s application and Morris was remanded to jail until today when he will face Magistrate Judy Latchman in Court Three.

Kaieteur News understands that the victim in the matter is the director of the Church’s establishment with a branch located at Bourda Market.

It is alleged that on the day in question the victim went to the Church’s

Restaurant, Bourda branch, to pick up the night’s sales.

During his time at the establishment Morris and another person allegedly went into the restaurant, held the victim at gunpoint and relieved him of the bag in which the cash was kept. The suspects then made good their escape via motorcycle.

A report was made to the police and Morris was later arrested.

The victim reportedly identified Morris as the culprit.

Thursday May 31, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 19

The Abigail Column Promises, promises, but nothing changes DEARABIGAIL, I recently married my boyfriend, “Joey.” We have a 5-month-old baby. Joey still goes out drinking with his friends, and I don’t know if he’s cheating on me.

I’ve asked him many times to come home and take responsibility for his family because he doesn’t spend a

lot of time with us. He always promises he will, but nothing changes.

Joey is also lazy. He sleeps late and won’t help with the housekeeping or cooking. We argue almost every day, and I’m tired of it.

For our baby’s sake, I’m trying to keep things together, but all the fighting and tension can’t be good for our child.I believe a man who can’t keep his promises is a liar. Would it be better for the baby if I leave? We can’t

afford counseling, and I can’t hold on much longer.

Need Advice Dear Need Advice, Does Joey have a job? Is he helping to support his family? The two of you need to decide what will provide the healthiest environment for your baby.

You should be able to find a low-cost counseling service, and you also may be able to find affordable counseling through the church. Check it out.

Thursday May 31, 2012 ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 19): A partner’s suggestions could trigger off a whole set of new ideas. These could involve changes to your surroundings such as a house move or a home improvement project. Try to curb your natural Arian impulsiveness; take time to think things through before committing yourself. ************************************ TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20): A sense of drive and vitality gives you a new lease of life. You attack all projects and chores with both a fresh outlook and a speed which is out of the ordinary. This is just what you need to blow away any mental cobwebs. ************************************ GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20): Good results come through putting your creative imagination to work even in the most mundane of areas.

You have some good ideas and your inventive mind will help solve your own and other people’s problems. ************************************ CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22): Do you feel as if life is uninspiring, not enough goes on and people around you aren’t getting along? Do you crave more excitement? If so, start swapping ideas on how to make things more interesting. ************************************ LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22): Events and conversations influence the more impressionable side of your nature. On the plus side, this should lead you to taking full advantage of new opportunities as they come your way. ************************************ VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22): Finances could take a turn for the better and good news is likely to concern your future income. Your mood is extravagant and unusually generous; nothing is too much to ask of you.

LIBRA (SEP 23 - OCT 22): A need to branch out in new directions may mystify someone you live with. They might wonder why you’re spending so little time at home. What people don’t understand is you’re caught up in outside events and you want to put your all into these. ************************************ SCORPIO (OCT 23 NOV 21): Professional commitments conflict with your responsibilities to your home and family. You need to take stock of the situation and rearrange your priorities. Ask which aspects of your work are causing your loved ones the most resentment; at least this will provide you with a starting point. ************************************ SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 - DEC 21): Time spent with others could alert you to new goings on in your area. New friends will be the result. A desire to spend time with others along with a creative urge may not lead to any definite activity. ************************************ CAPRICORN (DEC 22 JAN 19): You are about to see the end of one or two incidents you’ve been concerned with. These may connect your career, a probationary time, enterprise scheme or apprenticeship. ************************************ AQUARIUS (JAN 20 FEB 18): Your intuition is working overtime; you can almost sense what people are thinking. Because you anticipate what others are going to do, it will seem as if you’re steps ahead of them. ************************************ PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20): You are standing at a crossroads and you don’t know which way to turn. You would like to wait for the direction to become apparent but it is time to make a choice and go one way.

DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55hrs. Sign On 09:00hrs. Live! With Kelly 10:00hrs. The A-Team 11:00hrs. The View 12:00hrs. Prime News 12:30hrs. The Young and the Restless 13:30hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 14:00hrs. The Talk 15:00hrs. Boy Meets World 16:00hrs. Beverly Hills, 90210 17:00hrs. The Wayans Brothers 18:00hrs. World News 18:30hrs. Nightly News 19:00hrs. Greetings and Announcements 21:00hrs. Movie: Easy A 23:00hrs. Sign Off NCN CHANNEL 11 02:00 – NCN Late Edition (R/B) 02:30 – Late Nite with GINA 03:00 – Movie 05:00 – Inspiration 05:30 – Newtown Gospel 06:00 – NCN Late Edition News(R/B) 06:30 – Feature 07:00 – Guyana Today 08:00 – Bollywood 60 Mins(R/B) 09:00 – Stop the Suffering 09:30 – Cartoons 10:00 – CCTV 11:00 – History 12:00 – CNN 12:30 – NCN Newsbreak

12:35 – Feature 13:00 – Revelation & Power 13:35 – Feature 14:00 – Movie 16:00 – Cartoons 17:00 – Anderson 18:00 – NCN News Magazine – Live 18:30 – Farming Today 19:00 – Al Jazeera 19:30 – NIS & YOU

20:00 – 3d/daily millions/ play de dream/lotto draw 20:05 – GT&T Switch it UpUpdate 20:35 – Feature 21:05 – Ravi D Show Essequibo 22:05 – NCN News Late Edition 22:35 – Caribbean Newsline 23:00 – Movie

Guides are subjected to change without notice

Page 20

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 31, 2012

After weeks of diligent preparation Kelsie George confident...

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From page 22 sparring sessions with Eastman, national amateur boxing champion, Richard Williamson and a few other amateur boxers out of the Ancient County, while his coach has also doubled as a sparring partner.

While admitting that there were kinks in his preparation for his first two professional bouts, George, a top amateur

Federer gets record 234th...

From page 21 sets Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Second-round action was called off for the day at the French Open because of rain showers on Wednesday.

Local favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was level at 6-2 4-6 1-1 with German Cedric Marcel Stebe when the umpire stopped play and Court Suzanne Lenglen was covered. Organisers said play would not resume. Play was finished for the day on Court Philippe Chatrier.

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the ‘Pocket Rocket’.” Rogers further stated that the fight should propel his charge’s professional career which should be the beginning of George’s success story. ”Kelsie knows how important it is to win this fight and I don’t think he will allow anyone to stand in his way.

He definitely has the potential of becoming a future world champion,” stated Rogers.

Meanwhile, George has intimated that he is prepared for anything Walcott has to offer. He scoffed at the suggestion that his opponent has the advantage by dint of experience. “Yes, he is experienced and that is why at the end of the fight he will be experiencing a lot of pain,” George quipped.

The two other

Stag Beer / WDFA Senior League kicks...

From back page lasting and productive relationship with Ansa McAl for football in their association.

Wilson applauded the association for the energy they have been showing by running off three junior tournaments towards the end of 2011 / 2012.

The nine teams including reigning division one champs Den Amstel will be vying for supremacy. The others are Seawall FC, Uitvlugt Warriors, Stewartville, Beavers (Goed Fortuin), Eagles

(Stewartville), Pouderoyen Young Achievers, Wales FC and new comers Bagotville.

The two matches slated for Sunday kicking off at 14:00hrs after the march-past will see Uitvlugt Warriors taking on Stewartville with the feature match between Den Amstel and Seawall FC. Prior to the matches, the official march-past will set the scene for the remainder of the season with all the participating teams expected to be rep-

resented. Representatives of the sponsors, GFF and WDFA will be on hand.

The tournament will see the teams playing against each other in the first round with the top four earning a berth to the second round which will be played on a knockout basis to decide who will be crowned champion.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top four teams while there will also be a number of individual prizes at stake.

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professional bouts on the card will see Rudy Fraser matching skills with Lindener Cassius Matthews, while Trinidad based Guyanese, Iwan Azore tackles Barbadian, Miguel Antoine. There will also be the customary 4 amateur bouts among the nation’s top Simon Pures.

Admission into the venue

remains at $1,000 for adults and $500 for children. The card is an innovation of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control in collaboration with the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association, the National Communication Network and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. The action gets underway at 20:00hrs.

Gayle doesn’t rule out...

From back page called on at the last minute.”

While the agenda for Sunday’s meeting has not been disclosed, among the “residual matters” is expected to be Gayle’s role in a multimillion dollar West Indies Players Association lawsuit against the WICB, relating to the issuing of No Objection Certificates.

In correspondence to Gayle last month, the WICB raised concerns about the lawsuit and Gayle’s continued participation in the litigation process, especially since he was making himself available for selection.

At the time, Gayle said he could not “possibly contemplate withdrawing unilaterally from proceedings”, contending that such a move would

affect all West Indies players.

The left-handed opener said the meeting with the board was critical in moving forward with his international career.

“It’s nothing really to do with the cricket, to be honest with you,” Gayle said of the meeting.

“It’s other issues to actually deal with at this particular time which the board needs to iron out. We’ll see how best we can work that out and see what comes out of it,” he said.

“Hopefully, I can be clear and have my mind free of all these ongoing issues and play some cricket and have fun.”

Gayle is the region’s most experienced opener with 6,373 runs from 91 Tests at an average of 41. He is one of only four players in Test history with two triple centuries.

National ruggers aiming...

From page 23 Mourant Training School, there will also be other games featuring a few other clubs.

He said the GVF has always tried to co-operate and collaborate with other associations and was happy that such an opportunity presented itself for them to do so thanks to Digicel.

Vice-President of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) Rawl Davson in his remarks opened by thanking Digicel for the initiative, adding that they are extremely happy to be part of it.

The GHB will be represented by defending Diamond Mineral Water champions Old Fort and

recently crowned Brydens Classic champions Pepsi Hikers, while the Ladies segment will see GCC and Hikers square off.

Starting time is 18:00 hrs.

Meanwhile, below is a breakdown of the prize monies on offer for the respective winners and the donation that each discipline will receive.

For Hockey-1st Place: $ 80,000, 2nd $ 40,000 and the Board $ 50,000.

Volley Ball- 1st Place $ 70,000, 2nd Place $ 35,000 and Federation $ 50,000 For Netball- 1st Place: $ 40,000, 2nd Place $ 20,000 and Association $ 25,000.

From page 23 and if they show the usual determination and calmness of the past coupled with the vociferous home support that they normally take pleasure in, the visitors will once again struggle to get past a team that has taken pleasure in beating them recently.

Players such as Staglon, Mayers and Butts are the lynchpin of the Guyana squad and they possess vast experience playing at the international level and their calming influence in addition to their exceptional ability and speed, a striking feature of most Guyana teams, will be critical components for victory.

The locals looked quite relaxed and confident ahead of the looming fixture and

From back page of the fast bowler.

“We still have an awful lot of cricket to play this year and we did not want to risk losing as valuable a player as Kemar for a long period,” said Gibson.

“He has been outstanding with the ball for us so far this year and we are all gutted by his departure. “Kemar made a lot of improvements, after enduring a tough time last year, and gave us some World-class performances during the Digicel 2012 Series against Australia and here in

England.” West Indies trail 02 against England in the Test series, but Gibson indicated Tino Best and Fidel Edwards were chomping at the bit to play, and felt the two fast bowlers were more than enough firepower on the ground to replace Roach.

“We believe that a very excited Tino and a fit-again Fidel will be able to provide us with the spark that we will miss from Roach’s absence,” said Gibson.

“We still have an awful lot for which to play in the final

Test, and Tino and Fidel can give us the cutting edge to our bowling if they play.”

Best is yet to play a match on tour. He arrived as an injury replacement for Shannon Gabriel, who made his debut in the first Test at Lord’s, but subsequently returned home with a back injury.

Edwards played in the first Test, but was sidelined for the second Test, which ended on Monday at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

Remaining matches June 2-3: Leicestershire vs

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boxer, has effected changes to his schedule and endured weeks of rigorous preparation. This has prompted Rogers to declare that Walcott is in for a torrid night.

Rogers admitted that George commenced training sessions with a few technical errors which he (Rogers) has been able to rectify. “He is now good to go,” declared

some members were even seen having a night out at the recently concluded Indoor Hockey Tournament.

Just like they did when the Golden Jaguars played the Soca Warriors and defeated them for a place in the third round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, all Guyana is being urged to come out and support the national ruggers as they attempt to reach the final once again.

Trinidad and Tobago was the victim last year and with overwhelming home support, they could very well be condemned to the same fate.

The call has been made to come out Guyana and pack the National Stadium in support of the multiple-times regional champions.

West Indies – Grace Road, Leicester 7-11: 3rd Test – Edgbaston, Birmingham 13: Middlesex vs West Indies – Lord’s, London 16: 1st One-day International – The Ageas Bowl, Southampton 19: 2nd One-day International (d/n) – Kia Oval, London 22: 3rd One-day International – Headingley Carnegie, Leeds 24: Twenty20 International – Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Kemar Roach returns home, Sunil...

Thursday May 31, 2012

Kaieteur News

Spurs silence Thunder to notch 20th straight win (Reuters) - The San Antonio Spurs continued their perfect run in the playoffs, marching to a record-breaking 20th straight win as they fended off Oklahoma City Thunder 120111 to take firm control of the Western Conference Finals.

The top-seeded Spurs surpassed the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers’ 19-game winning streak from the regular season into the playoffs, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series on the back of four-game sweeps of the Jazz and the Clippers.

The 1971-72 Lakers hold the longest winning streak of 33 games in the regular season.

Tony Parker exploded for 34 points and eight assists, sixth man Manu Ginobili netted 20 to follow up his 26-

point effort in the series opener, and San Antonio treated their fans to yet another triumph since their last loss on April 11.

However, the Spurs seemed less than satisfied with their latest success and coach Gregg Popovich could be seen yelling at Parker in the third quarter even with his team up 16.

“He’s been yelling at me for 11 years,” Parker told reporters after making 16 of his 21 shots. “We were playing sloppy and OKC (the Thunder) came back on us.

He wanted to make sure I kept pushing the ball.”

Kevin Durant scored 31 points and James Harden put up 30 for the Thunder, who squandered a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter of Game One but were behind all night

in Game Two. The visitors trailed by as much as 22 points in the third quarter before trimming the deficit to six in the fourth, only for the veteran Spurs to deliver the knockout punch.

Ginobili drained a clinching three-pointer with 1:29 left to establish a 10-point advantage, letting out an intense scream to signal the triumph.

“We fought hard but it was too big of a deficit,” Harden said. “We can’t put ourselves in that situation.”

Having lost only one game from the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Thunder will hope to claw back into the series in Game Three on Thursday when they head home to Oklahoma City.

Berbice Chamber congratulates Universal DVD Titans for winning Independence T20 Cup Hails Sponsors and promises more quality events in the Future The all conquering Universal DVD Berbice Titans cricket team, which played unbeaten to win the Independence Twenty 20 cricket competition played last Saturday at the Albion Sports Complex and its Franchise Owner Vickram Seebarran, came in for high praises from the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA).

According to the chamber its members and executives would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to the all conquering Universal DVD Berbice Titans cricket team which is yet to lose a T/20 cricket competition so far.

The statement said that the Titans have played like real champions and has proven themselves as Guyana’s best performing team over the past few years and the management and franchise owner must be congratulated for doing an excellent job.

The statement said that the event at the Albion Sports Complex was a success and despite the rainy conditions, patrons still came in their thousands (Over 4000) to grace the occasion. The Chamber would also like to thank and congratulate their partner the Berbice Cricket Board for their unrivalled and

Man of the Match Jonathan Foo receives his winnings from a representative of Digicel Guyana. superb organising skills in helping to make their joint project a success.

The chamber was also high in praised for the numerous sponsors who came on board and put their trust in the inaugural Guyana Independence T20 Cup and has all given their commitment to their continued sponsorship.

The release stated that, “We promise a bigger event next year and do look forward to our continued partnership with the stakeholders to help building unity among our people, our community and our Country as a whole.

Event like these brings to the forefront quality family oriented entertainment and at the same time creates economic opportunities for vendors, patrons and part time contracted jobs.”

The activity which was jointly organised by the two

august bodies will see most of the funds garnered going to charity. Some projects already identified are community developmental works, assist cricket development projects, orphanages and renovating the Commentators Booth at the Albion Community Centre ground among others.

Guyana’s T20 Cup will now be on the Annual Calendar and will be played in recognition of Guyana’s Independence Anniversary.

The Organising committee is also looking at adopting other events that will coincide with National Holidays in Guyana.

Plans are also on stream for Berbice First ever Summer Break activities which will be launched very soon in the County and for the Corporate Business in Sports (CBIS) 2012 Tournament.

Page 21

Budhan Memorial Sports Complex holds horserace meet The Budhan Memorial Sports Complex at NO 66 village Corentyne Berbice held an Independence One day Horserace meet and Gymkhana on Saturday May 26.

Race one was for unclassified animals over 1200M and saw Summer Breeze ridden

by Raj Drepaul winning from Wonder Flower and Big Rich.

Race two which was for animals classified L and lower over 1200M saw Bright Light with Sukhoo winning from Windy Killer, Gangster and Champ. Race three also for unclassified animals saw Party Time with Raj Drepaul the winner from Royal Choice and Delilah. The fourth race for animals classified K and lower over 1200M was taken

by Sporting Time with Richmond on the hunch winning from Lucky Gambler.

Race five saw Gangster ridden by Raj Drepaul winning the event from Mangie with Pops in the third

Sporting Time won the feature race and the owners collect the winner’s prize. spot. Extra Heat ridden by Yap Drepaul blazed to victory in the ‘I’ class event as it won from Try Again and Silver

Kid. Race Number seven was for cow horses and was won

by Mangie with Andrew in the saddles from Pops.

Four teams register wins in Inter Ministry/Corporation 7-A-side football Despite torrential rain the Inter-Ministry/Corporation 7A-side 30-minute football competition continued on Tuesday evening at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park with four matches.

Watched by a fair sized crowd under cloudy skies Deputy Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports Steve Ninvalle who had kicked off the ball to start the competition and said he would be playing in the Sports Ministry’s team in their opening match against the Media United next Thursday.

Orlando Fredericks netted a hat-trick (10th, 14th & 28 minutes) in the opening game as Bank of Guyana whipped

the Sports Ministry 3-1 with Andre Mark scoring the consolation goal for the losers.

Devon Benjamin (2nd) and Triftian Bacchus (23rd) scored for Macorp in their 2-all draw against the Ministry of Tourism.

Jolyan Harry (22nd) and Delvon Beckles (4th) beat the Macorp custodian.

In the evening’s third game, GRA, spearheaded by a brace (14th & 23rd minutes) from former National youth cricketers Shawn Holder drew 2-all with GT&T whose goals were scored by Linden Hinds (18th) and Delon Williams (29th).

With the rain dumping buckets of water on the venue in the final game, John

Fernandes hammered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 10-nil in a goal feast.

Dwayne McAlister and Alden Lawrence scored hattricks while Kishern Lovell netted a double and David Britton and birthday boy Sherwin Pinda a goal each.

The competition continues on Tuesday with five more first round encounters at the same venue.

GNSC and JS Electrical faceoff in the opening game from 18:00hrs while the Ministry of Public Works battle Guyana Lottery Company, Ministry of Education take on the New GPC, GNIC come up against GWI and hosts Banks DIH oppose GPL.

Federer gets Venus Williams record 234th Grand loses in 2nd round Slam match win PARIS (AP) Roger Federer dropped a set before earning his record-breaking 234th Grand Slam match victory to reach the French Open’s third round.

Federer eliminated 92nd-ranked Adrian Ungur of Romania 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-3 Wednesday to break a tie with Jimmy Connors for most career wins at major tournaments in the Open era, which began in 1968.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion is now 234-35 in tennis’ top four tournaments, an .870 winning percentage.

Ungur, meanwhile, is 1-1; the French Open was his Grand Slam debut. Seeded third this year at Roland Garros, where he won the 2009 title, Federer is on course for a semifinal showdown against No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who won in straight (Continued on page 20)

of French Open

PARIS (AP) - Venus Williams followed little sister Serena out of the French Open.

The elder Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, lost to third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-2, 6-3 Wednesday in the second round.

Williams was playing at a major tournament for the first time since last August, when she withdrew before her second-round match at the U.S. Open. It was then that she revealed she had been diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, a condition that can cause fatigue and joint pain.

On Tuesday, Serena Williams lost in the first round of a major tournament for the first time, falling to Virginie Razzano of France 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Page 22

Kaieteur News

Lodge/Meadowbrook down Albouystown/Charlestown - moves atop table in its group, through to next round

By Edison Jefford As Kaieteur Sport had considered in its pre-game preview, Albouystown/ Charlestown just didn’t have the usual fortitude necessary to stave off Lodge/ Meadowbrook, who assured its place in the next round of the National Community Basketball League (NCBL) with a hard fought, but clinical victory.

The Guinness Barsponsored Lodge/ Meadowbrook beat the defending Inter-Ward Champions, Digicomsponsored Albouystown/ Charlestown 58-51, to move atop the table in its group after it had also secured a nailbiting win against Plaisance/ Vryheid’s Lust last week.

Forward, Darrion Lewis was again among the offense for Lodge/Meadowbrook top scoring with 16 points with guard, Antwaun Austin with 12 points and forward Mortimer Williams adding 10 points for the unbeaten team in the nation-wide competition.

For Albouystown/ Charlestown, Marvis Hillman had 10 points, Nicko Fraser had nine points and Trevor McCleod added eight points.

One of strengths of the Albouystown team has been players who appeared as guests for the team, but that is not possible this year.

The game was extremely aggressive and defensive as

Mortimer Williams

Yusuf Edghill

expected with both teams matching strides on both ends of the Court. Lewis threw a perfect lobbed pass to Pelham Doris who went baseline for a smooth lay-up that put Lodge up 21-20 five minutes before halftime.

The teams continued to exchange points on offense before Williams led an offensive onslaught at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Tuesday night that propelled Lodge to a 49-38 points’ lead at the end of the penultimate period of regulation time.

Albouystown rallied to within four points, 55-51, in the fourth quarter with guard Devon Persaud hitting some big jumpers and Fraser taking more possession of the ball.

But it was not enough to stage a comeback as Lodge rightly placed the ball in Doris’ hands to close out the game.

In the first game, Nigel Hinds and Associatessponsored North Ruimveldt

routed the West Side Boys 8443 with the West Side Boys proving no match for North Ruimveldt with Yusuf Edghill scoring 30 points, Jason Squires 13 points and Damian Liverpool 13 points.

Koel Bentick scored 13 points for the West Side Boys.

The NCBL continues tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 7pm with New Amsterdam taking on the lethal Universal Group of Companies Wortmanville/ Werk-en-Rust.

In the second game, Tucville/Guyhoc plays Antarctic Maintenance Alberttown/Bourda with the two teams looking to record their first victory in the tournament.

The Coordinators of the event has upped the ante and will be showing the NBA Playoffs live on a big screen at the venue so the patrons won miss the Conference Finals currently underway.

Thursday May 31, 2012

Flex Night Inc. now has a Toronto chapter Flex Night Inc., legally established in Guyana in February of this year, have now formed its second overseas chapter – Friends of Flex Night – Toronto. The launching of that entity took place on Saturday May 26 in the Academic Complex of Vaughn Estate on the Grounds of the Sunnybrook Hospital; one week after the Southwest Florida chapter was launched in Fort Myers, Florida.

The event began with a lunch hosted by Dr. Alden Chesney, formerly of Fitness Paradise Gym in Georgetown and now working as hematopathologist at Sunnybrook Hospital and assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Chesney gave the Welcome to the participants followed by the main presentation made by Donald Sinclair, Managing Director of Flex Night Inc. Each participant then identified and shared a personal health and fitness goal which he/she would like to realize by August 31, 2012.

This was followed by a general feedback and discussion session that was moderated

by Yale Holder, former President of the GABBFF, and now computer engineer in Toronto.

The Toronto chapter agreed to the following activities in support of the Flex Night event: 1.

That an annual minimum financial contribution would be made to the Flex Night International

Part of Toronto Friends of Flex Night group in conversation at the Launching and Health & Fitness Expo event.

2. That a female athlete would be identified to participate in the Flex Night International event, representing the Toronto chapter.

3.

That the Toronto chapter would be responsible for a booth at the Health & Fitness Expo under the theme ‘Women in Health and Fitness.’ This booth would specifically address a wide range of issues relevant to health and fitness as may be applicable to women of all age groups.

4.

That the Toronto chapter would collaborate with Flex Night Inc. in efforts to establish, as a pilot project in Guyana, an open-air community exercise space that would consist of basic,

stationary exercise equipment to which members of the public would have free access.

5.

That the Toronto chapter would support Flex Night Inc. in efforts to strengthen the Physical Education component of the school curriculum.

6. That through face to face as well as electronic interaction, the group would relate as a mutual support group to help in the attainment and sustaining of optimum health and fitness.

The Chapter hold its next meeting on Saturday August 25 in Sunnybrook Park where members will report on progress made towards the realisation of their health and fitness goals and engage in healthy outdoor physical activity.

Fight Night boxing extravaganza...

Caria Caria village holds annual After weeks of diligent preparation Kelsie George confident of victory tomorrow night Independence Sports Day

On Sunday last the Caria Caria village held its annual Independence Sports Day at the village ground.

Several villages in the Essequibo River took part in the events, including Buck Hall, Bonasika and Aliki. Deputy Permanent

Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steve Ninvalle was part of the activity which included cricket among other sports.

In picture Ninvalle (left) pose with members of the Aliki cricket team.

The Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym (PRBG) in St Magdalene Street, New Amsterdam Berbice, was a hive of activity over the past month as the boxers contracted for the Fight Night boxing card scheduled for tomorrow night rounded off sessions in preparation for the big night.

In the main event, Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman is up against Simeon ‘Candyman’ Hardy in what is touted to be a mouthwatering 10 rounds contest.

While this bout has captured the imagination of boxing pundits, another Berbician, Kelsie George, is spouting confidence even as he prepares for his 4 rounds middleweight bout against James Walcott. George recently commenced his professional career and despite spirited performances against Troy Lewis and Edmond DeClou is still to register a victory.

Now as Berbice crew wind down the preparations for this fistic duty tomorrow night, George steps into the ring with every intention of registering the first victory of his fledgling professional career. The lanky fighter said that he has trained very hard for this bout and is adamant that he will come out victorious. “I have already suffered two losses

Kelsie George

which, to my mind are more than enough and I intend to reverse that trend,” George emphatically declared.

The Berbician has been training constantly and had intensified preparations over the past month for what he says is his biggest day since it will bring him his first victory in his professional career.

He has been training daily under the watchful eyes of coach and founder of the PRBG, Orland ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers and former amateur pugilist, Michael Crawford.

Over the weeks, he has engaged in hectic (Continued on page 20)

Thursday May 31, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Government launches Independence Half Marathon

T

he Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has collaborated with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) to re-host the Independence Half Marathon, which is scheduled for Saturday starting at 5:30am at Paradise on the East Coast of Demerara.

The race will end at the Ministry’s Headquarters on Main Street. The event was last hosted in 1996 and the Ministry’s aim is to sustain the event on the local athletics calendar.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony said the race is part of a continued effort to expose local athletes, adding that he hopes it becomes an attractive competition within the athletics community.

“We need to expand competitions and have some regularity because athletes can’t just hear about an event two days before and run in the event; that is totally

- Country’s best distance athletes to compete

Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Sport, Alfred King, Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, AAG Technical Directo,r Mark Scott and NSC Admin Officer, Gervy C. Harry address the media at the launch of the Independence Half Marathon yesterday. unfair because they would not be unprepared,” Anthony told the media yesterday.

“We want to have a regular calendar of activities that people can look forward to and train to get to the right fitness level,” he continued, adding that the two most important elements of the race is “competition” among seasoned athletes and “participation” of newcomers.

Anthony said that his Ministry is toying with the

idea of introducing a monthly 5km race on the last Sunday of every month with the aim of keeping athletes active. The ministry had proposed a similar idea that is yet to come to fruition last year.

He informed that the Synthetic Track will be completed shortly and there will be a need for more competitions. The construction of a modern Track and Field Synthetic Facility is currently under

Digicel to host Triple Sports Fiesta on June 9

Digicel’s Public Relations Manager Shonnet Moore (second left) shares the Head Table with GNA’S Shanomae Pearce-Baptiste (left), GVF’s Nicholas Fraser and GHB’s Rawl Davson yesterday.

By Rawle Welch Organised by Digicel, ‘the bigger, better network’, the Triple Sports Fiesta which is scheduled to be staged on June 9, at the National Gymnasium is anticipated to be an exciting affair according to the representatives of Hockey, Volleyball and Netball, who attended the launching yesterday, at the Company’s Head Office in Kingston.

Speaking at the Launching, Digicel’s Public Relations Manager Shonnet Moore said the Company was very excited about the project, informing that after much thought, they felt the three disciplines selected would have been the easier ones to work with, while the fact that they could be played under one roof was also a decisive factor in the eventual choices.

Moore also alluded to the fact that there are many other benefits that could be derived from hosting such an event and gave as examples: (1)- the continued support for the development of sports in Guyana; (2)- can serve as a catalyst to educate athletes from other sport disciplines about the rules and systems of other games; (3)- to encourage

multi talented athletes to get involved in other sports disciplines and the fostering of camaraderie among athletes from respective disciplines thereby creating an atmosphere of sharing knowledge both tactical and technical that could enhance the growth of individual athletes and teams.

The Guyana Netball Association (GNA) was represented by its Secretary Shanomae Pearce-Baptiste, who in her brief remarks said that the competition will help enhance the preparations of the national squad that is currently in training for the American Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) Tournament in Trinidad and Tobago in July.

She added that the two teams identified are the national squad and a combined unit made up mainly of young players, who according to Pearce-Baptiste will be presented with an opportunity to challenge their more established counterparts.

Nicholas Fraser, the Secretary of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) told the gathering that apart from the marquee matchup between national champions Young Achievers and the up and coming Port (Continued on page 20)

construction at Leonora with Phase I still to be completed.

Permanent Secretary within the ministry, Alfred King, remembered that the Independence Half Marathon was popular among local athletes in the 90s. He said that the purpose of reviving the race is to create the same type of hype and eagerness among

athletes.

King related that the organisers are working to ensure that the 2012 event is a major success, and is enthused with the involvement of a few overseas-based athletes such as US-based Euleen JosiahTanner.

Technical Director of the AAG, Mark Scott, informed

that some 30 persons have confirmed their participation. He said interested athletes can register by calling the Guyana Olympic Association office on High Street on 225-6376 or register on the morning of the activity.

The event will cater for athletes in the Open category (Men and Woman aged 18 and over) and Masters category (Men [40+] and Women [35+]). Among the top athletes expected to compete are Cleveland Forde, Cleveland Thomas, Kevin Bailey, Nathaniel Giddings, Alika Morgan and Llewellyn Gardner.

According to the Ministry’s Admin Officer, Gervy C. Harry, transportation to the starting point will leave the Ministry of Sport Headquarters on Main Street at 4am Saturday morning.

National ruggers aiming to duplicate Golden Jaguars when they take on TT

By Rawle Welch Another excellent opportunity will present itself in another two days when regional powerhouse Guyana takes on Trinidad and Tobago for a place in the final of the Northern Zone of the NACRA Rugby World Cup Qualifiers, at the National Stadium.

Since 2005, Guyana has enjoyed a narrow two wins against a solitary defeat against the Trinidadians, but more importantly, Guyanese teams have also registered some important victories over their CARICOM neighbours and in the process really brought heartbreak to an entire nation with September 11, 2011, amongst the most celebrated

of them.

The two nations have been engaged in some fierce battles in the sports arena for a number of years including cricket, football, table tennis and Squash among others and Guyanese athletes have always given a good account of themselves.

This Saturday’s clash for a final berth is anticipated to b e n o d i ff e r e n t f r o m previous encounters with the Tr i n i d a d i a n s a l r e a d y announcing that they’ve prepared like never before while the Guyanese have recalled most of their stars that ironically plays in the Twin Island Republic.

In their respective opening matches against B a r b a d o s , t h e Tr i n i s

p r o d u c e d a n e ff i c i e n t performance to trounce their Caribbean counterpart, while Guyana barely scrambled a draw.

In the game against Barbados, the Guyanese were without some of their stars like Richard Staglon, Ronald Mayers and Claudius Butts for personal reasons and injury in one case, but they’ve since been recalled thereby boosting the strength of the locals for their important encounter against the Trinidadians, who from all reports have revenge on their minds for the loss last year to the reigning Sevens champions of NACRA. Guyana will be at home (Continued on page 20)

National rugby players Richard Staglon, Avery Corbin (texting on phone), Dwayne Schroeder, Claudius Butts and Christopher Singh enjoy a break from training on Sunday to be at the Indoor Hockey finals, at the National Gymnasium.

Stag Beer / WDFA Senior League kicks off on Sunday

C

ompetitive senior football rivalry will make a welcome return to the West Demerara when the inaugural Stag Beer League kicks off on Sunday at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground with two matches.

Regional Brewery giants Ansa McAl Trading under their Stag Beer brand has stepped up to the plate to partner with the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) to revive the game at the senior level.

Speaking at yesterday’s launch, Ansa McAl Trading Marketing Director Troy Cadogan said that his company is committed towards the continued development of the game at the association level and that is one of the main reasons for

t r o Sp

- nine clubs to battle for supremacy them coming on board noting that they have sponsored other tournaments on the West Side in the past.

Cadogan also noted that West Demerara over the years have produced quality players who would have gone on to represent Guyana with flying colors.

Currently, 17 year-old Trayon Bobb of Uitvlugt is a member of the ‘Golden Jaguars’ and also plays for Trinidad and Tobago Pro League side, Caledonia AIA. “We would have been on board with the original ‘Sweet 16’ tournament and we are pleased to be board with this senior cup in an effort to resuscitate f o o t b a l l i n t h e We s t Demerara. We want to

contribute once again in a meaningful way to our player pool at the national level.”

He made reference to the upward climb of the senior national team in World football but alluded to the fact that a solid nursery programme is paramount to the consolidating our position.

“And this is our way of contributing to this initiative. As you know we are on board with the Guyana Football Federation supporting the ‘Golden Jaguars’ in their quest for World Cup glory for our nation.”

GFF President (ag) Franklin Wilson in brief remarks commended Ansa McAl for their continued

Ansa McAl’s Marketing Director Troy Cadogan (right) hands over the sponsorship cheque to WDFA’s Secretary Adrian Giddings in the presence of Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Chevon Monchoir. commitment towards the building of the game at the national and association levels noting that it is

imperative for the game and the nation as a whole.

The WDFA Executive was challenged top ensure

that the teams and all fans work towards ensuring that this is the beginning of a (Continued on page 20)

Kemar Roach returns home, Gayle doesn’t rule out playing Sunil Narine his replacement in third England Test

E

stranged West Indies batsman Chris Gayle has not ruled out making himself available for the third Test of the West Indies’ ill-fated tour of England but says a meeting with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) slated for Sunday will take priority.

The former Windies captain will sit down with WICB officials, Antigua’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and St. Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves in St. Vincent to discuss “residual matters”, relating to the solution that was brokered last month which paved the way for the Jamaican’s return to the team.

At the same time, speculation has been rife that Gayle could fly out to join the struggling side that has lost both Tests of the series and is currently in disarray, especially with a novice top order. “I don’t know if I’ll

eventually get that call (from the selectors) but I have to meet with the board first on the third (of June) and the Test match starts on the seventh, so I don’t how that would work,” Gayle said on the SportsMax Zone, Tuesday.

“We would have to meet and then (I would have to) jump on a plane. I don’t know how beneficial that would be for the team to actually be arriving a day before the Test match.”

He added: “But as I said, I am a sportsman and I am always ready physically and mentally for the occasion.”

Gayle had indicated his unavailability for the Test phase of the England tour, preferring to play the full Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, his IPL campaign ended early after Royal Challengers failed to reach the playoffs, and it sparked fresh discussion over his

Chris Gayle involvement in the ongoing Test series.

Gayle, who has not played a Test in 18 months because of his protracted squabble with the WICB, said since the IPL began he had been keeping himself fit.

“You’ve got to prepare. You never know what will happen. You have to be prepared for the unexpected at times,” the 32-year-old Jamaican said.

“As a sportsman, you definitely need to keep yourself in shape and make sure you are ready because you can be (Continued on page 20)

Leicester, England – Fast bowler Kemar Roach has been ruled out of the remainder of the West Indies’ tour of the United Kingdom.

Roach has been sidelined with shin muscle soreness and will return home to Barbados to allow this to heal before starting a bowling programme again.

We s t I n d i e s t e a m physiotherapist C.J. Clark said Roach’s workload has led to muscle soreness due to the repeated strain of bowling at high velocities.

“Kemar has been carrying this soreness for the last two matches, and in view of our upcoming schedule, we would like him to have the time to recover and prevent the onset of more serious injury,” said Clark.

“It is always important to balance workload with the body’s ability to repair, and I think it judicious to protect Kemar at this time.”

In a release, the selection committee of the West Indies

Kemar Roach Cricket Board advised that off-spinner Sunil Narine will replace injured fast bowler Kemar Roach in the West Indies’ Test squad on their tour of the United Kingdom.

The 24-year-old Narine is yet to play Tests for West Indies, but has played eight One-day and two Twenty20 Internationals for the Caribbean side.

Roach has been West Indies’ most effective bowler in the two Tests played in England, taking

Sunil Narine eight wickets at 34.25 apiece. He did not travel with the rest of the squad on Wednesday to Leicester, where West Indies face Leicestershire in a two-day, tour match at Grace Road, s t a r t i n g o n S a t u r d a y.

Instead, he returned to the UK capital of London and departed for home.

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson said Roach was a major loss, but the decision was taken in the best interest (Continued on page 20)

Digicel to host Triple Govt. launches Independence - Country’s best distance Sports Fiesta on June 9 Half Marathon athletes to compete Pg. 23

Pg. 23

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