Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
The effect of drugs on Guyana When President Desmond Hoyte caused draconian laws to be introduced for drug possession and for drug sale, the society at the time thought that he had done the right thing. He had seen the effect of drugs on the society. With the passage of time the society, at least some sections of the society (mainly the academics) thought that the law was too draconian and discriminatory against the small man, the man in the street. There were columnists who accused Magistrates of being uncaring and senseless. Some saw nothing wrong with a person having a small amount of marijuana. Today, and since last year there was talk about the increase in crime. The then political opposition made crime a campaign issue. It made sense. Many households could not sleep for fear of visits by criminal elements. That crime situation is not as bad as it was toward the middle of last year but it is still at a level that makes the society feel uncomfortable. The police do not conduct drug tests on criminals but should they do so they would find that every single one would test positive. The first robbery murders committed this year were committed by drug-crazed young men, one of them still a teenager. One of the witnesses spoke of these men smoking marijuana while casually beating their victims. These same young men went to another home two days later and while smoking marijuana brutally chopped their victims. Yet there is a call for the legalization of marijuana because that call emanated from the United States. Scientific evidence proves that drugs change a person’s mentality. Of course there is the argument that different people react differently. That reaction depends on the level of that person’s mental development. The more academically inclined the individual, the less likely is that person’s propensity for violence. An academic is likely to be employed while the other must turn to crime to sustain the drug habit and that is the case today. The regular criminal would first buy drugs with his ill-gotten gains. Last year when the police closed in on the people who attacked a Land Court Judge in her home, the men had been stoned out of their heads. It is apposite to note that the entrance of drugs into the society coincided with the escalation in crime and the advent of guns. This is the case in every society in which there is a drug problem. Jamaica which grows large quantities of ganja has more guns and murders than any other Caribbean country. Trinidad is no different. In fact, most of the murders are drug related. In Guyana the drug trade has brought its fair share of killings. During the crime wave of the early part of this century, men died like flies. Cocaine was there in huge quantities and men killed to protect the industry. Reports are that some two hundred young men died. There has been a clamp on the cocaine trade and immediately the killings declined. But there is marijuana, the drug of choice for the criminals. This is because people can function after smoking marijuana, unlike cocaine which debilitates the user. And, if proof is needed to show that the criminals are habitual marijuana users, one only has to look at what happens inside the prisons where there is a flourishing market. During the Commission of Inquiry into the recent riot at the Camp Street prison, some of the witnesses actually said that the authorities should have left them with their marijuana. These very people get released on bail and immediately commit a similar crime, sometimes killing their victims. It is impossible to rid the society of marijuana but society could help keep children away from the drug. That would be the start of the decline in crime.
Tuesday May 03, 2016
Quoting Bob Marley to debunk the AFC’s freedom-giving habits DEAR EDITOR; I have read a press release from the AFC which took me to task for what it called “regular attacks” on the party. I have to assume that I must have offended the party. Let me first of all commend the AFC for inferring that all is not well with the party and government—that there are things to be corrected and that the party”ought to do more at the grassroots to build itself into a mass-based party, and that it suffers from both financial and organizational weaknesses. But our resolve to help take this Coalition forward is undiminished.” There is a hint of humility there. And that is a quality in short supply among politicians, especially those in power But true to form, the political party gives a little with one hand and takes it back with the other one. In slamming me the AFC repeats my very criticism. It is unfortunate that the AFC reads the criticisms as “regular attacks” on the party. Why political parties are so obsessed with seeing attacks in every little nook and cranny? There is no such intent on my part. I voted for the Coalition Government of which the AFC is a part. My criticisms are part “Selfcriticism” and part democratic critique of the political order. I come from a tradition that asks questions of poweralways. That’s how you get freedom and preserve it. I observe politics in Guyana and around the world and see what the absence of self-criticism eventually does to those in power. In that sense my criticisms may be doing the AFC a good turn. Just imagine what a difference it would have made if some who now sit in the halls of power had spoken out earlier and louder against the Jagdeo-PPP excesses. We have to learn to question power more, even when we support the party or parties in office.
The AFC’s statement asks me to be grateful for the “new freedom which our Coalition Government has afforded and guaranteed” me. As the young people would exclaim—Wow! Therein lies the origins of “political gods. “That statement alone justifies my criticism that the AFC has moved away from their founding principles. There is more than a hint of political intoxication there—for Guyana’s sake the AFC needs to get sober quickly. Let me assure the AFC that it does not afford or guarantee me or any Guyanese freedom of speech or other liberties. Insofar as we have freedoms in Guyana, it is because our people have for centuries fought and struggled against those who arrogated unto themselves the power to determine who should be free. He who thinks he gives freedom will logically think he can take away freedom. The AFC should be careful. It’s not its duty to “afford and guarantee” freedom; that is done by the constitution. The duty of the parties in and out of government is to protect the liberties of the people from being trampled by the powerful and the mighty, including themselves. But for the record, if the AFC thinks it has given me freedom, I hereby tell the AFC—”Teck back yuh Freedom.” My freedom as an individual is guaranteed and afforded by those ordinary people in the towns and villages who on May 15 2015 and before turned their agony and pain into the stuff of freedom that released Guyana from modern-day bondage. That is the freedom I align myself with—the freedom that arises out of collective struggle. Brother Bob Marley best answers the AFC for me on this score. “Everytime I hear the crack of the whip/My Blood runs Cold/I remember on the Slave Ship/ How they Brutalize our very soul/ Today they say we are
free/Only to be chained in Poverty/Good God I think its illiteracy.” It is obvious that the AFC is not accepting criticism even though it admits that there are still “some issues in the Coalition that must be addressed.” They don’t like “self -proclaimed critics”; they apparently prefer the ones they proclaim to be critics. If you cannot handle criticisms from friends, then what will you do when the criticisms come from those who are unfriendly to you. If the AFC must be honest, it should say that my criticisms of the party are shared by many in their followership, supporters and some in its leadership. Insofar as the AFC is a part of this government, they will hear my critical voice even if they remove their gift of “freedom” from me. Our people have invested too much in the government and I am determined that they, the government, will not go the way of previous ones which betrayed the people’s trust. So cool it, Mr. AFC, I am just trying to do my small bit to keep you honest and from drifting into the JagdeoRamotar tradition. And I do it with extreme love. Let me repeat—my critique of this government is aimed at protecting it from self-implosion. And just in case the faction of the AFC leadership that is associated with this release has now arrived into Planet Guyana from outer space, David Hinds and “others like him” have been doing what they are now doing for a long time now. Did you join them in the picket lines, on the streets facing the guns of unfreedom and in the jail cells of the oppressor? We did all of that so that you can now sit on the throne. If you know not from whence your power emerges, you will mess it up just as others before you have done. So that is why I have to have the AFC’s back. David Hinds
model both at the political and at the trade union level which must be based on the principle of proportionality and fairness. One reason for the failure to achieve unity at the trade union level in the past was the unfair and disproportionate representation given to the larger unions, in particular GAWU at the Executive Committee of the GTUC. Several “paper unions” were created with insignificant membership but were allocated seats in the umbrella trade union body. At the political level, the same misguided principle applied with the smaller parties demanding representational strength in Cabinet out of proportion with their popular and electoral support. The Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD) formed during the pre-1992 period folded up for the same reason which eventually
resulted in the formation of the PPP/Civic alliance which was swept into power in the elections of October 1992, the first free and fair elections in close to three decades. Dr. Cheddi Jagan had repeatedly advanced the proposition that the PPP, even as the largest political party, had no desire to dominate political space but at the same time did not wish to be dominated. Regrettably, his offer was rejected which led to dissolution of the PCD. The country is now looking forward to the release of the constitutional reform report which was recently submitted to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. Guyana cannot advance on the current mode of adversarial politics and the “winner take all” formula. After fifty years of independence we have to find new ways of realising our full potential, a necessary pre-requisite of which is political and national unity. Hydar Ally
PPP executive wants national unity
DEAR EDITOR; It was indeed refreshing to see trade unions from the two umbrella organisations, FITUG and GTUC, marched the streets of Georgetown and converge at the National Park for the first time after some twenty-eight years. It was also great to hear trade union leaders speaking with one voice on the issue of wage increases, collective bargaining and the closure of Wales estate among other issues. This show of unity and working class solidarity could not have come at a better time as the nation celebrates fifty years of political independence. One can only hope that this show of unity could be a precursor to a higher level of unity, namely, at the political level which despite several attempts in the past has proven elusive. Guyana needs a new governance
Tuesday May 03, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Volda Lawrence should not continue as a Minister DEAR EDITOR; Ms Volda Lawrence, Minister of Human Services and Social Protection’s infamous statement that “child molestation” is a family issue collided with public sentiments and sparked public fury over her lack of judgment. Ms Lawrence unscrupulous utterance is a move to loot the rights of an innocent child and to downplay the seriousness regarding child molestation issues, so as to cover up wrongdoings by her
APNU/PNC political affiliate, Mr. Harding, who was once charged. Ms. Lawrence’s hideous demeanor puts on display an unprincipled and merciless woman. She is unforgivable and ought to be stripped of her powers in order to allow the Guyanese a humane life. Ms Lawrence has no credibility and cannot be trusted. She is damaged goods. To this end, Ms Lawrence needs to resign. In America, Canada or Great Britain, Ms Lawrence
would have had to step down plus extend an apology. The absence of such principled directives in this country has caused the powerful to trample the ordinary man. Ms Lawrence is unremorseful and pompous enough to enlist her political supporters to stage protests on her behalf. Such protests are insane and comical. Clearly, Ms Lawrence has no respect for the Guyanese and she has no regard for moral principles. Obviously, Ms Lawrence
is of a dysfunctional mentality that rules, laws and moral principles do not apply to her. Unprincipled folk like Ms Lawrence pervade this society and are the architects of our pains and sufferings. Dredging deeper into this saga reveals a Government mired in dysfunction. Besides, Ms Lawrence also paraded her ignorance and her serious lack of understanding for her job when she so infamously claimed that “child molestation” is a fam-
planning model. Development of an electronic document management system. In relation to the GPF Strategic Plan, Capita Symonds posited twenty five significant risks. The group advised, “ The GPF will develop a Strategic Risk Management Plan to identify mitigating measures and monitor each risk’s ongoing relevance as well as identifying emerging risks. Should a risk be realised then this may mean that objectives and targets as set out in the Strategic Plan may not be achieved and/ or the achievement will be lessened or delayed.” Apparent, little or no attention was paid to the risk analysis. Hence, the SMD failed in its delivery plan. Here is a random sample of risks identified by Capita Symonds: There will be a lack of suitable equipment for officers in the GPF to meet new and emerging challenges ( e.g. increased marine/ air capacity, improved vehicles, etc. ) The MOHA does not have a Strategic Plan which gives overall directions to the GPF. However, the MOHA is in the process of developing a Strategic Plan. New and emerging crimes will divert resources to tackle other activities not set out in this plan. There will be insufficient succession planning to ensure that skilled resources are in place to deliver this plan. A decrease in the economy of Guyana may increase the demands of the GPF and at the
same time mean that increasing the number of officers up to establishment may not be achievable. An escalation of serious criminal or public order activities that prevent the involvement of GPF staff in delivering the objects and targets as set out in this Strategic Plan. The skills and abilities of staff of the GPF will be insufficient to implement, or will delay, delivery of the Strategic Plan. Alleged and perceived corruption with the GPF will adversely affect public trust and confidence in the police. Insufficient human resources will be made available to the GPF to implement the Strategic Plan. Staff of the GPF may be resistant to change so that the activities outlined in this Plan may not be achieved or delayed. That the outcome of General and Regional Elections due in 2011 may result in different objectives and targets for the GPF being set by the MOHA We may want to equate this with Elections 2015- my input. All is not lost. There is hope. Since the change of government in May 2015 there has been a significant shift in the police paradigm. There is a new and clearer vision for the force. Large amount of resources is been pumped into the force, particularly the Criminal Investigations Department. Green Shoots are emerging in various sections of the force. They will bear fruits. Sustainability is the watch word. Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (retired)
This police related institution was bound to fail
Dear Editor; The Guyana Police Force Strategic Management Department was destined to fail. The persons employed were not well grounded in Strategic or Project Management. The salary offered did not attract the right type of qualified persons for the job. Deceased assistant commissioner of police Balram Persaud mentioned several times, “When you pay peanuts, you will get monkey business.” The civilians were unilaterally imposed on the police. They did not understand and appreciate the power and rank culture of senior police officers, hence there were several conflicts. The focus was on the agents of change not on the victims of change, when it should have been the other way around. Many mile stones were missed, some were not even approach, yet no real corrective action was taken. The policy analyst was not inclined to respond to well founded criticism with a willingness to change. Major
General, Norman Mc Lean and some other security experts can testify to that fact. Assistant Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine complained about the team’s regular ‘treks’ to Brickdam and later to Camp and Young Streets and the many political intrusions. He ended up in hot water, but like the Phoenix, he rose from the ashes. On February, 23, 2011, Simon Reeves, Director of Capita Symonds submitted a memo to Mr. Khemraj Rai , Programme Coordinator, Citizen Security Programme in relation to the Institutional Modernisation Of Guyana Police Force, Strategic Plan, Final Draft. The Draft was accepted by the government and forced on the GPF. The Institutional Modernisation of the Guyana Police Force project under the auspicies of the Citizen Security Programme set out to achieve three primary objectives: Development of a five year Strategic Plan for the Guyana Police Force. Development of a results orientated
Security guards in Mabaruma not paid for April DEAR EDITOR; There seems to be a problem with payments to security guards in the Mabaruma Administration. The poor people have not yet been paid for the month of March and April is coming to an end. Editor, this seems to be the trend because they
were not paid in time for Christmas either. It is said that the Security Services are contracted out but, to which entity? Also, what is the minimum wage in Guyana? Are these people paid their due? Thank you for bringing this issue out please. Concerned guard
ily issue. Ms Lawrence’s deficiencies are unsurprising considering her lack of qualifications. Ms Lawrence possesses not even an ounce of the requisite credentials necessary to run such an agency, yet President Granger appointed her to the top post- a fine example of political patronage /corruption. President Granger’s Ministerial cabinet is built on a foundation of corruption though he preaches otherwise. Such hypocrisy! President Granger, like Ms Lawrence, operates without regard for rules, laws and moral principles. These are people who think that they can get away with “murder” because they grip power. Five decades of such ruinous rule is destroying this country. In spite of this President Granger resorts to a Machiavellian approach in order to fulfill his political ambitions. How can any human being be this reckless? It is common knowledge that the Public Sector is flooded with clones of Ms Lawrence. These are unethical people who are ready to loot the rights of the Guyanese. Coupling this picture with the fact that Guyana is also swamped with bigots makes it a pressing case for any responsible Government to diversify the work force. However, the bigoted APNU/AFC/PNC Government turns a blind eye. The APNU/PNC/AFC Government outrageously harbors a work force predominantly of one race/ethnicity who also happens to be its political supporters. This is unacceptable and brings into focus a lack of judgment, recklessness, lawlessness, disrespect and cal-
lousness by the APNU/PNC/ AFC Government. This is a glaring case of we Guyanese are trapped into a harrowing life by Government. Government deliberately refuses to do what is right. What can be more inhumane? The public needs to shift its focus from Ms Lawrence and onto President Granger. President Granger needs to be protested. Clearly, President Granger is giving a green light allowing Ms Lawrence to remain in office. Who can argue with this? His silence speaks volumes in regards to his stance on such an important matter. We all know that President Granger is armed with the ultimate power to fire Ms Lawrence, but he shamelessly refuses. President Granger’s silence suggests that at the very least he endorses child molestation. Who can argue with that? Such dysfunction within the Government subjects us to a life in hell. It seems our pain and sufferings are not enough to motivate President Granger to do what is morally right. How would Ms Lawrence and President Granger feel if their child were sexually molested? I guarantee that they would fight tooth and nail for justice. The twisted mentality shared by the powerful needs to be jettisoned in order to allow our fellow countrymen a humane life. The powerful ought to treat others the way they would want to be treated. Every life is equal regardless of our status or power we hold. All lives matter. To this end Ms Lawrence needs to be removed from office. Drupattie Singh Diaspora Member (New York)
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Kaieteur News
Ed Ahmad says he cooperated, deserves more time a free man
Guyana-born, New Yorkbased Guyanese businessman, Edul Ahmad, who is facing jail time for real estate fraud, has successfully applied for more time outside, pending his sentencing. In a letter last month to Judge Dora Irizarry, Ahmad’s lawyer, Steven Kartagener, pointed out that his client had been a critical cooperating witness in the trial of former US Senator, John Sampson. Sampson, also of Guyanese roots, was found guilty last year of trying to thwart a federal investigation. He had been facing charges for allegedly embezzling state funds when he was appointed to oversee the sales of properties in foreclosure. He attempted to cover up the embezzlement, Prosecutors said. He was found guilty in late July and is awaiting sentencing on May 18. Ahmad, a prominent real estate businessman in the New York
Edul Ahmad area, was a key witness who decided to cooperate with prosecutors to sink Sampson, who was a friend. He wore a recording device to a meeting with Sampson. Ahmad was supposed to have been sentenced since last year but a series of ex-
cuses by his lawyer pushed back the dates, time and again. His sentencing is now set for June 10. In his letter dated April 12 asking for the date to be postponed, the lawyer noted that Ahmad’s sentencing was set for April 25. He said that consent had been received from prosecutors for his client’s sentencing to be deferred after that of the former senator. “Defendant was a critical cooperator in the Sampson case. It is our understanding that former State Senator, Sampson, is presently scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, 2016. Accordingly, we would urge that this court fix a sentencing date for defendant some time in June, 2016.” According to the lawyer in the letter, by granting the adjournment, the court would be permitting the defendant to get the benefit of his literally hundreds of hours served as a cooperator, which will
undoubtedly be chronicled at length when prosecutors submit a key document which would speak of the cooperation. Ahmad’s sentencing would come more than three years after he pleaded guilty to a mortgage fraud charge in the US. The sentencing had been delayed for Ahmad, a well-known businessman in both New York and in Guyana, but prosecutors moved in immediately after Sampson was found guilty, instituting proceedings to bring the matter to closure. In February 2012, Ahmad reportedly wore a wire, recording Sampson during a meeting. In July, he gave testimony during a four-week trial. Ahmad is well known to tens of thousands of Guyanese living in the New York area, as he was well connected in the real estate business. A former policeman in Guyana, he appeared in a New York court before Judge Irizarry in October 2012 and pleaded guilty to count one of the ten-count criminal complaints against him, and told the court that his attorney
has advised him that there is no viable defence to the charges against him. In admitting guilt, Ahmad told Judge Irizarry that between January 1995 and January 2009, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, together with others, he knowingly and intentionally conspired to defraud several lending institutions, in a mortgage fraud scheme that lasted almost 15 years. The United States Attorney’s office said that Ahmad was part of a scheme that defrauded American lending institutions of approximately US$50 million, obtaining approval for mortgages on various properties by falsifying documents submitted to the lending institutions, using a string of straw buyers, and other illegal practices. In detailing the allegations against the Queens businessman with strong political connections, Judge Irizarry outlined a scheme which had as its victims not only financial institutions, but also many ordinary New Yorkers, most of whom were Guyanese
Tuesday May 03, 2016
For sentencing: Former NY Senator, John Sampson immigrants pursuing the American dream to own their own home, only to find themselves trapped in a Real Estate scheme, ultimately resulting in them losing their homes in foreclosure proceedings, while Ahmad and his co-conspirators made millions of dollars.Ahmad’s attorney had signaled intentions to challenge the financial loss attributed to him. Prosecutors have advised a term of between 121 and 151 months (10 years to approximately 13 years) of imprisonment for Ahmad. Ahmad’s case has attracted much attention from the media in Guyana and in New York.
Tuesday May 03, 2016
Kaieteur News
Greenpeace publishes confidential U.S.-EU trade deal documents (Reuters) - A sweeping free trade deal being negotiated between the European Union and the United States would lower food safety and environmental standards, Greenpeace said yesterday, citing confidential documents from the talks. But the European Commission said the documents reflected negotiating positions, not any final outcome, and the EU’s chief negotiator dismissed some of Greenpeace’s points as “flatly wrong.” The U.S. Trade Representative’s office also rejected them. While it would not comment on the “validity of alleged leaks,” a spokesman said “the interpretations being given to these texts appear to be misleading at best and flat-out wrong at worst.” Greenpeace opposes the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), arguing with other critics that it would hand too much power to big business at the expense of consumers and national governments. Supporters say the TTIP would deliver more than $100 billion (68.15 billion pound) of economic gains on both sides of the Atlantic. Greenpeace Netherlands published 248 pages of “consolidated texts” for 13 chapters, or about half, of the deal on the website TTIPleaks.org yesterday. They date from early April, before a round of meetings in New York last week. “We’ve done this to ignite a debate,” Greenpeace trade expert Juergen Knirsch told a news conference in Berlin, adding that the documents showed the negotiations should be halted. “The best thing the EU Commission can do is to say ‘Sorry, we’ve made a mistake’.” European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom
A copy of the leaked TTIP negotiations is projected to a screen during a news conference of the environmental campaign group Greenpeace in Berlin, Germany, yesterday.Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch) called the leak a “storm in a teacup” and told an audience in Geneva the EU would not compromise its principles just to get a deal before U.S. President Barack Obama leaves office in January 2017. “If it is not good enough we just have to say ‘Sorry but we have to put this on ice’ and wait for the next administration. Obviously we lose time and momentum but we cannot agree to TTIP-lite or something that’s not good enough,” she said. Greenpeace said the documents showed differences had become entrenched between the two sides of the Atlantic. Malmstrom said it was “not very dramatic” to say there were disagreements and the EU was being as open as possible about the negotiations. Knirsch said the texts showed the United States wanted to replace Europe’s “precautionary principle” which prevents potentially harmful products from coming to market when their effect is unknown or disputed with a less stringent approach. Malmstrom said the precautionary principle was part of the “acquis” - the laws binding the EU together - and Greenpeace’s assertion was not true. Malmstrom called on EU
governments to do more to explain TTIP’s merits to their populations. NO CHANGES ON GMOS In Europe, there is widespread opposition to allowing more imports of U.S. agricultural products due to concerns about genetically modified foods. In Brussels, EU chief negotiator Ignacio Garcia Bercero dismissed Greenpeace’s comments on the precautionary principle, adding: “We have made crystal clear that we would not agree on anything that implies changes of our regulatory regime on GMOs (genetically modified organisms).” The negotiators aim to have “consolidated texts” by July, when a 14th round of talks is due to be held. They would then try to settle the thornier issues in the second half of 2016. A survey published last month by the Bertelsmann Foundation showed waning support for a TTIP deal in both Germany and the United States after three years of negotiations. A spokesman for the German government said it was still working to complete a deal. An Economy Ministry spokeswoman said Germany would not accept lower food safety standards.
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Tuesday May 03, 2016
Tuesday May 03, 2016
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Kaieteur News
WHO OWNS THE OLD ROYAL CASTLE PROPERTY? I have not gone to the Stabroek Market area for over ten years. I have no intention of ever going there. Unless it is totally unavoidable, I am not going to be found driving or even walking in that area. It is the most confusing and crowded area in the whole country. It is dirty, disorganized and dangerous. The drains are filled with muck. People, buses and hire cars are battling for territory. Pickpockets are all around and makeshift barbers are using the pavement as salons. The traffic cops really have a difficult time controlling the movement of vehicles in that area, parking is nonexistent and a great many chains have been snatched in that area. It is not a place to be in unless you have to travel. The Stabroek area is the transit station of public transportation and this is why it is frequented every day by persons who have no choice. The situation becomes more chaotic because of the large number of vendors who ply their trade there. The market itself loses business because whatever you want you can obtain from a vendor.
This makes a mockery of people having to pay rental to the City Council when unfair competition is happening right outside the market. The City Council is cleaning the area for Guyana Independence anniversary and is asking the vendors to move. But instead of simply telling them to leave, they are actually going to the trouble of relocating the vendors. The intention may be good but illegal vending should never be encouraged because in so doing it can be construed as according legal sanction to this activity. The vendors at Stabroek Market are being temporarily removed to a location which I always presumed was private property. If it is private property then what right do vendors have to be there in the first place? For vendors to be relocated to private property would constitute trespass. As such, they would be liable to ejected from that location should the owner or owners obtain a court order. If the spot to which they are being relocated is private property then the City Council should explain the legal basis on which they are relo-
Dem boys seh...
Casino bandit cry pun he money-it wet Bandits does plan dem crime like how some children does study fuh exams. Dem does do research and conduct interviews. That is how de people who rob de casino de other day, operate. Dem study de place and then dem ask questions when dem didn’t understand. But like some children who don’t study properly dem does fail. This set study but some of de things that dem run into was pun de exam paper. One of dem didn’t know bout de door at de back suh he fail that test and end up in police custody. Dem boys seh that once he land in de hands of the police he sing when a policeman ask him if he want to dance. Right away de man didn’t feel fuh mek he skin tun a drum so he sing. One time he sound like Rihanna and another time he sound like Charmaine Blackman. That is how dem ketch de security guard who got de same name as Charmaine but who couldn’t sing so he decide to recite. De police had to beg de two of dem to stop. Wha dem didn’t talk about was wha dem didn’t remember. It was all de talking that mek dem police couldn’t sleep and that is how dem ketch one of de mastermind. He find a hole fuh rest up but when he hear that he colleagues sing he run to he sister. That is when he cry bucket a drop. When de police ketch him he had money and de money was wet. Dem boys want to know if he hide it in a river. But de thing that got dem boys talking is how these bandits get to go in de casino like if dem want to gamble? Ordinary Guyanese can’t go in unless dem rent a room in de hotel. These gunmen didn’t have time to rent room so it had to be that de casino people let dem walk in. Old people does seh something about when you own bug bite you. That is fuh de casino people Now de police saying something about ingratitude and something bout never bite de hand. That is fuh de bandits. Talk half and see if de police gun find more wet money.
cating vendors to that location. Do they have the permission of the owner or owners to do so? If such permission has been granted then the public needs to be told whether there are any conditions for allowing the vendors on private property. If, however, the land is public property then it needs to be asked whether the best use is being put to that land. If the spot at which the vendors are being relocated is
public property then why is it not being used as a parking lot to help ease the congestion in the Stabroek Market area? The City Council is digging a hole to fill a hole. They will end up creating a new vending spot. The old Toolsie Persaud property was supposed to be for pavement vendors. But the creation of a vendors’ arcade at that location did not reduce the number of persons vending on the pavements.
It simply created more vending in the city. The same is going to happen with the old Royal Castle site. When it is time for the vendors to return to their old spots that site is going to become an additional arcade and the vending situation will get worse. The solution is simple. All vendors have to be removed once their activities are illegal and against the council’s by laws. There is no reason to find any temporary spot for
vendors. Once they are not legal, they should be removed, once and for all. Order must be restored to Georgetown. Unless vending and squatting are outlawed, then there will only be continued disorder.
State must withdraw from competing with Private Media- Granger …Eventually, Chronicle Newspaper should revert to private ownership By Kiana Wilburg A free, pluralistic and independent media community, on all platforms, is important for facilitating good governance and transparency. With an aim of ensuring that this is achieved on all levels and to the highest degree, President David Granger has given his thoughts on the role of the state media recently and how he sees its future in the dispensation of information. On the televised show, The Public Interest, the Head of State noted that the state has a responsibility, particularly in a country like Guyana, to provide current information. Granger said that most media houses are located in Georgetown or on the coastland. This, he said, has resulted in a large part of the country not being covered by the private media. He said that the private media, to some degree, is driven by profit and there is no profit in setting up a station at Lethem or Aishalton. Granger said that most of these areas do not get the full benefit of information and as such, the state has a responsibility to provide information to those communities whether it is on health issues, natural hazards, epidemic diseases or threats to the communities in those areas. But beyond the role of providing information, the President said that he feels that media must be free. He said that is where the private media has a role.
The Head of State said that he does not believe that the state should attempt to control the private media. He hopes that the state withdraws from competing with the private media and just pays attention to its primary role of providing public information. Granger said that under the Constitution, it is quite clear that all citizens have certain rights to transmit and receive information. He noted that the state cannot contradict or contravene the Constitution by preventing citizens from receiving information. He said that in this regard, it is considered carte blanche for the private media to operate, but within certain limits of course. “But as I see it, eventually the state must withdraw from competing with the private media in terms of publishing newspapers or television services. The state’s role is to provide public information and I see that organizations like GINA (Government Information Agency) and NCN (National Communications Network) could continue but the commercial arms like Chronicle newspaper, in due course, should eventually revert to private ownership,” expressed the President. He continued, “It is a period of transition but I don’t believe that we need to get involved in that type of activity anymore.” Being the historian he is, Granger said that the state media had its origins in the
Second World War when there was a need to provide certain controls and certain messages because of the security situations during the war. He noted that a period of constitutional crisis followed; the British government continued to maintain control of information through the Government Information Service (GIS). The President said he does not believe that the state should maintain those controls any longer. He said, “I believe in free media and as Head of State, I need criticisms, I need to be told where the government is going wrong. I need an alert media community, one that will look at projects, how people are being treated, the dangers of diseases, environmental hazards and alert the government to the people’s concerns. I can’t do without criticisms. No government can do without criticisms.” The Head of State continued, “I don’t want someone to always be telling me ‘Oh yea, yea everything is fine, everything is going good.’ And I don’t want state media personnel to feel that their roles are to simply tell the government good things and not report what is being said by the other side.”
President, David Granger Granger said that the Government consists of three branches; the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary and the state media must report on all three branches. He said that in the Legislative branch for example, there are the usual debates the state media must report on Government’s side as well as the arguments being put forward by the political opposition. “I have to hear the Opposition’s side to know what half the population is taking, thinking and saying and so the state media must report on both sides. So in due course, the actual functions, the commercial functions I hope would disappear.” The President asserted that in the meantime, the state will continue to provide credible information to the entire population.
PAGE 10
Tuesday May 03, 2016
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
The audits, the actions, the actors Macabre is the only word to use for the contents that are pouring out of the revelations of the actions of the past administration. Incredible, unimaginable, unbelievable are hackneyed words. Even bizarre may not be the right description. Perhaps “evil” is the most compelling adjective. With each forensic audit, the nation learns about skullduggery, illegalities, immoralities. The audits lay bare the nature of the mentality of the actors. But where are the actors? This poor country is owed US$5 million from a
Chinese investor as the remaining installment for the purchase of the Government’s 20 percent share in GTT. No one knows where it is. NICIL has not received it and NICIL indicated that it may have been waived by then Guyana Ambassador to China, David Dabydeen. If that is so, Dabydeen should be surcharged. The nation found out that it was taxpayers’ money that was used instead of investment funds from Sithe Global in the Amaila Fall project. The outline of this financial irregularity stinks to high
heaven. What happened is that NICIL opened an account in the name of Sithe Global. It meant that the money the investor, Sithe Global, was spending on the Amaila Falls project wasn’t finance it brought into Guyana but funds from the Government of Guyana. Sithe Global came and went and didn’t invest. The forensic audit into the Gold Board has cited improper and illegal behaviour of then Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud. The inquiry into the airport revealed that one particular contractor was getting
more than eighty percent of the contracts. The particular recipient was interviewed by the police for fraud but wasn’t charged although Bank of Guyana documents revealed that he had committed fraud. The audit of the Guyana Energy Authority cites the practice of corruption with the recommendation that its CEO face disciplinary charges. Space would not allow for extensive quotes from these forensic probes but the same picture repeats itself in every one of them – corruption was involved, money went to people in transactions that were not above board. Where are the actors? Robert Persaud sits comfortably in New York. A little digression is in order. This is the same Robert Persaud that fought down Khemraj Ramjattan when he, Ramjattan, was in the PPP, over a party congress resolution that Ramjattan tabled to remove Marxism-Leninism from the PPP’s constitution. Persaud chose to live in the heart of capitalism – the US. Persaud turned his back on his own Caribbean neighbours and a sound
place like Canada. Of the fanatical PPP communists, not one has chosen to live in India, Australia, Canada or the Caricom region but in the heartland of capitalism – the US. It would be interesting to see if these communist ideologues still want to retain the Marxist-Leninist description in their party’s constitution. The airport’s CEO is still on the job. The CEO at the Energy Authority is still on the job. And the NICIL king, Winston Brassington, has taken up residency in Miami. When you read these reports you see the abysmal failure of this country. Just one of those reports would have seen criminal charges in a place like Chile or Argentina or Brazil. Those audits in places like Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad would have already resulted in criminal proceedings. Interestingly these horrific descriptions of financial skullduggery have not bothered the PPP leadership in the least. You have to look hard and still you wouldn’t find another country whose toppled leadership could have so abused the law, violated the law, steal billions of dollars and carry on as if they are democratic angels. The PPP leadership now in opposition says it plans to grill the government benches when Parliament resumes in the coming weeks on its ex-
Frederick Kissoon penditure on the Durban Park project among others. You have to look hard and still you wouldn’t find another group of politicians so barefaced. Frustrated supporters of this Government would say that unless the Coalition Government places these people in front of the courts the PPP is not going to stop its public masquerade. For fifteen years under Messrs Jagdeo and Ramotar, this country was financially denuded, politically raped, its major institutions left in a rotting state (UG is an immense tragedy) and the capital city was deliberately left to exist in filth and miasma. This horrendous abuse of power would not have been tolerated by any incoming government. The magnitude is simply shocking. Amidst all of this, the NICIL king lives happily in Miami where he presides over his own business. And the former Finance Minister who should have been on remand on Camp Street dwells comfortably on an island near to India.
Tuesday May 03, 2016
PAGE 11
Kaieteur News
Corruption is staunching the existence of a manufacturing industry in Guyana By Jeanna Pearson Once corruption is present, Guyana’s development will be stagnant. So too will the hope of the existence of a manufacturing industry in the country, Economist Dr. Thomas Singh has said. Dr. Singh, who is a professor at the University of Guyana, stated that the reason for there being no viable manufacturing industry in Guyana, is the rampant, barefaced corruption. Corruption is defined as the abuse or misuse of public power for private gain. It is in corruption that the public’s interest is forfeited in favour of private gain. He stated that the skullduggery that occurred in the previous administration will continue to rear its ugly head in the present government since corruption does lie with a political party but with governments. “Governments are highly inefficient…people in governments are self-interested,” he opined, indicating that according to the public choice theory in economics, Governments are deemed as the beast and not as the “good guy”. “When governments become dysfunctional it is usually the officials who are corrupt and corruption undermines development. So the problem is not that we are importing too much and corruption is in one political party…No, it’s the fact that we do not manufacture goods and corruption is in governments,” he said. He stated that with oil on the horizon, corruption will eventually start to kick in again, if it has not already begun. At present, Guyana is ranked among the most corrupt in the Transparency International’s (TI) latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), with a ranking of 119 and a score of 29. A country’s score indicates the apparent level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Meanwhile, Guyana’s economy grew by less than two percent per annum between 1960 and 2014, according to UN statistician Ramesh Gampat. Singh asserted that corruption-especially mass corruption-is like a disease that destroys the regulatory system of a country and its chances of working together to build its economy. Singh stated that mass corruption is the abuse of power that benefits a select at the expense of many, ending in extensive damage to the society. He said it also benefits those with strong political connections or those
…..with oil on the horizon corruption will start seeping in again - Dr. Thomas Singh that are favoured. Once corruption has overtaken a society then that society, he explained, will begin to operate as if its chief concern is to acquire stuff illegally. Singh hails this as “rent seeking” behaviour. He said, too often this rent seeking phenomenon occurs in Guyana, where officialdom bypasses the regulatory system and earns rent through bribes. He said if people are rewarded for corrupt behavior then the system will fail. “If people are awarded for their productivity as opposed to their corrupt behaviour the economy will grow,” he said, adding that once there is corruption there would be a deficit of productivity. He said the problem does not rest solely on the shoulders of BaiShanLin but rather on the officials who did not uphold the system. He also mentioned that it was not only the BaiShanLin Company that raped the country’s natural resources but others, including local investors. According to a GRA report, during the period 2012 to 2015, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government granted BaiShanLin monetary concessions on a range of machinery, equipment and construction materials, valuing some $7.5 billion (US$37.3 million). The report further indicated that GRA said that it
was unable to provide information relating to the earlier years because of computer problems. “If those systems which were set up to ensure that our natural resources are not fritted away were upheld, then we wouldn’t have this problem. We would be manufacturing and our economy would be growing. “There is no reward for productivity. Productivity enhancement is key to economic performance so corruption undermines that entire and fundamental process because you can get rich now just because of your position,” he said passionately. He stated that Guyana should not be satisfied with its economic growth, and the fact that there is no viable manufacturing industry in the country since independence. He said the measure of a country’s development is linked to education, human capital, technological capacity and the quality of the country’s institutions. NO TRUST = STAGNANT ECONOMY Singh said that the degree of interpersonal trust in a society is crucial for the development of a country’s economy. However, he stated that no one wants to work together because it is not a level playing field, so businessmen would not want to invest in manufacturing products. He indicated that high
cost of electricity, high tax rates, difficulty in accessing finance, high cost of transportation and crime are all impediments to the existence of a manufacturing industry-corruption being the key factor. “It undermines trust in the society. We no longer trust each other. Businessmen are left to think they have to offer a bribe to get something. The bank person is saying how big the bribe should be and the loan officer is asking, ‘Can I use this as an opportunity to extract a bribe?’ “With considerations like that we don’t even bother to pursue the matter of investment and manufacturing. Transactions lock up,” he said, reiterating that widespread corruption is connected to why the country
Thomas Singh has so little manufacturing. “Our electricity tariff is higher than any other country in the Caribbean,” he argued. He said it is unfair that companies like BaiShanLin receive duty free concessions while local companies have to face the legal framework and in some cases do not receive any concession. “Take
Massy, for example, it receives heavy concessions and it will squeeze the daylight out of the local supermarkets that do not get those concessions,” he lamented. “Other persons who want to come to Guyana and invest know that they can only do so if they get special privileges and concessions and they know the only way to get those privileges and concessions in a corrupt society is to begin bribing,” he added. Singh posited that strong regulatory institutions and working together will eliminate the high instances of corruption in the country. Chairman of Transparency International, José Ugaz, had stated earlier this year that, “Corruption can be beaten if we work together. To stamp out the abuse of power, bribery and shed light on secret deals, citizens must together tell their governments they have had enough”
PAGE 12
Kaieteur News
City Hall out to reclaim city property
Tuesday May 03, 2016
An unprecedented change, Stabroek Market Square in the aftermath of yesterday’s cleaning exercise.
- dismantles Brassonic’s illegal shed, removes Stabroek Market pavement vendors The dust has hardly settled after the massive cleaning at the Stabroek Market Square yesterday; but Town Clerk Royston King marches on with his clean-up of Georgetown streets. Recently, citizens of Georgetown, time and again have heard King saying that he is out to restore Georgetown to its former beauty and to a state of cleanliness Guyanese haven’t seen for decades. Yesterday King was on hand to oversee the cleaning and removal of illegal structures along Water and Longden Streets. He stated that prior to yesterday’s exercise, all vendors and commuters were given notice on Sunday that there would be cleaning and removal of any illegal structures or stalls from the pavements and City Hall properties. He noted that most of the vendors were cooperating and that he was “pleased and happy with the cooperation we have been afforded by the vendors and businesses.” Kaieteur News understands that 80-odd vendors are scheduled to move into the site behind Parliament building, a move that has been delayed in the aftermath of Stabroek Square’s cleaning exercise. The Town Clerk said that the site has to be prop-
erly prepared; lights and sanitary facilities put in place, the grounds filled so as to prevent flooding and repairs made to certain sections of the fence. He added that City Hall wants to ensure maximum comfort and safety for vendors when they take up their new accommodations. As was previously reported, security will be provided by the presence of City Constabulary ranks and absolutely no illicit activities or wrongdoings will be tolerated on the premises. King added that contrary to what some members of the media and the Guyanese public at large have been saying; he is not going after the “small persons” or the man on the street trying to earn a dollar, but that anyone found breaching city laws and regulations, big or small will have to face the consequences, whether it be the biggest business in Georgetown or just a simple fruit vendor. The owners of Brassonic’s had a shed that was illegally built onto the pavement which was subsequently dismantled during yesterday’s exercise, King said that they (Brassonic’s) had been notified and were fully aware of the consequences that followed. This, he continued, is
proof that there is no victimization or discrimination being meted out. This newspaper understands that the clothing and shoe vendors plying their trade on Water Street immediately in front of the vendors arcade as well as the fruit and vegetable sellers in front of Bounty Supermarket and all those on Longden Street were given notice to move their respective structures the day before City Hall moved to dismantle the illegally placed stalls. Some vendors have since asked for a day’s extension on their removal which King has granted. This extension, as some vendors explained, is for (Continued on page 23)
M&CC workers dismantling Brassonic’s illicit shed.
The structures to be dismantled in front of the Vendors’ Arcade.
Tuesday May 03, 2016
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
Full Works Auto-Spares broken into, new stocks carted off Employees of Full Works Auto-Spares got the shock of their lives when they opened the store on Saturday morning and found the place ransacked. The employee who would usually open the business every morning said, “When I come in (Saturday), I noticed something wrong right away because all the boxes were scattered in the office.” He said that the thieves gained entry to the building
through an open window on the second floor and reached the bottom flat where they ransacked the place. According to the owner he had received new stocks of LED lights, several radiators and other car parts only the day before. The thieves reportedly carted off an undisclosed number of car lights, radiators and shocks. The proprietor of Full Works Auto Spares refused to estimate his loss. He said
that the police lifted fingerprints from the windows and some radiators that were left behind. In addition, a glass display case was broken into and some electronic items removed. When this newspaper visited the crime scene, several footprints were visible just beneath the window where the bandits gained entry. It is assumed that at least two persons were responsible for the break in, the
The window through which the thieves gained entry. building has surveillance cameras but they couldn’t get any footage of the thieves.
The MV Canawaima
Following emergency works on Sunday, the MV Canawaima, was ready to resume operations yesterday. The vessel, which plies the Guyana to Suriname route, was set to depart as scheduled at 11:00hrs. “The Management of the Canawaima Ferry Service Incorporated wishes to thank the members of the general public, particularly those who might have been affected by the disruption, for their patience and cooperation.” The ferry service is a key
link between Guyana and Suriname, taking vehicles and goods between Guyana and Suriname. The Transport and Harbours Department was incorporated in Guyana on October 28, 1998. It is one of two wholly owned subsidiaries of the Canawaima Management Company J.V which was incorporated in Suriname. The other subsidiary is the Scheepvaart Maatschappij Suriname NV (SMSNV). Canawaima Management Company is itself a wholly
owned subsidiary of Canawaima Ferry Services Inc. which was incorporated in Guyana. Transport and Harbours Department Inc. was incorporated to handle the ferry service and terminal facilities on the Guyana side while SMS NV did likewise on the Suriname side. The operations commenced on November 6, 1998 but, despite the initial hurdles and difficulties, the service continued to grow and advance over the years.
Work underway to repair hole on Linden-Soesdyke Highway
The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has commenced repairs to a section of the Soesdyke- Linden Highway which had developed a hole. According to a Government statement, the section under repairs is located at the foot of the Moblissa Hill. The work began after a report was made,
by a taxi driver, to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. Prime Ministerial Representative Vladimir Glasgow was among those on the site today, observing the repairs and expressing gratitude for the Ministry’s response to remedy the situation. The work is expected to be completed next week, weather permitting, the statement said.
The proprietor has stated that he is willing to give a reward for any information that
could lead to the arrest of the person or persons involved in the crime.
PAGE 22
VACANCY Hair, nail, barber stations for rental; (experienced persons & clients) all rounder hairdressing – Glam & Go Beauty Salon. Call: 638-1106 SERVICES
SALON
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
- Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.
Earn certificate in: cosmetology, nails, wig designs or hair cutting, etc. Register Now! Call Abby: 666-5241; 619-7603
INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs to LED, Plasma, LCD and all other electronic equipment. Ordering of circuit boards. Abdul Electronic- Call: 225-0391 Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar Stunning designs with largest variety of plants by experienced landscapers! Call: 219-0468 / 648-1821 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING OF “ANY PLAN” $15,000CALL: 694-9843/225-1972
FOR SALE/RENT A complete hair dressing salon located in Alexander Street Kitty (Opposite Seepaul’s Bar). Call: 6235960
Spacious 3 bedroom, top flat at Mon Repos, E.C.D. Bank, Mall, Market access. $45,000 monthly. 645-2395 / 629-5300. WANTED One maid. Should be good in cooking & house care. One helper/maid needed for beauty spa. Call: 231-0734, 653-4537.
Driver & porter to deliver water- apply @ Nimbus Water 79 Albert & Lamaha Street. Call: 231-7002; 6220445; 685-7659 Popular East Coast Gas Station Day/Night: pump attendants, sales clerk & office assistant. Contact: 6719570; 695-9880,Non-Pareil One Trainee A.C, Refrigerator, Technician - Call: 231-0655 1 Female cleaner apply @ Technical Service 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles. Housekeeping staff, male desk staff and male security guard- Call: 225-0198 or visit 233 South Road, Lacytown Cook needed at Aracari Resort, experience is necessary. Call: 264-2946
WANTED Car to hire - $20,000 per week. Call: 652-7420 Joiners- Call: 619-9966; 6999671 FOOD DISTRIBUTOR COMPANYLOOKINGFOR SALES PERSON WITH CAR FOR BERBICE, ESSEQUIBO, BARTICA & GEORGETOWN. CALL: 231-8529 OR 231-8344 Experienced cashier, counter servers, roti/puri cook, curry cook, waiter boys. Apply at Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. One Field supervisor for night shift, road sweeping work & basic mechanical experienced & license is an asset. Call: 227-1717 NANNY for 20 month old baby boy. Relevant experienced & police clearance mandatory; handsome salary & incentives. Call: 655-6766 One live in female housekeeper, over 35years old and from outside of Georgetown. Call: 223-0654 Republic Park family needs an experienced caregiver, age 42-55; live in, 1 week on 1 week off-$13,000 ag. Call: 667-2535
TO LET
Tuesday May 03, 2016
Kaieteur News
Driver with minibus + taxi license living in G/Town. Call: 664-0802 1 Cleaner to work in snackette & bar. Must know to cook- between ages 20-35 -Call: 647-7432/ 223-5798 One Arc welder must know to do grill work with limited supervision. Call: 613-3879 Kitchen Cleaner to work in the interior, ages 23-40. Call: 670-8182 Nanny (age 25 to 40 ) for a 5 year old, contact 223-5273
Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020
PROPERTY FOR SALE
FOR SALE
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Flat house in Grove, (corner property) 1 Block from main road, price negotiable. Call: 1905-6262572
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Sale! Sale! 3116 Cat Engine$1,150,000; 3208 Cat Engine$850,000; 3406 Cat Engine$1,250,000- Contact# 6500402/260-4988 House Lots for sale $3.9M @ Boodhoo’s Housing Scheme, Blankenburg. Contact#650-0402/260-4988
Very low prices on unregistered cars: Allions, Bluebird, Mazda, Fielder, used Rav4. Call: 626-7478; 676-8876
Transported property @ Grove $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Newly built @ Craig E.B.Dland size 91X50 feet; house 40X28 – 3 rooms- 1 self contained. Call: 718-2136496; 617-7691 Transported property, prime, furnished liquor restaurant & bar, 2 freezers, 1 pools table, double lot @ E.C.D$24.5M neg. Call: 600-7228 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 Property @ Block 8 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara -$16M. Call: 654-4312; 6575330 Transported Property @ Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo. Call: 639-7903
Cashier 6am-3pm & 3pm12pm. Submit application to Shell Station Providence EBD, shellramsburg@ gmail.com
Special 50th Anniversary! Computer Package: 9 courses, windows 10, Office 2016 -$40,000 @ Micrographics, Vreed-enHoop. Call: 264-3057 Special 50th Anniversary! Computer package: 4 course in computerized Accounting -$35,000 @ Micrographics, Vreed-en-Hoop. Call: 2643057
1-Cat 928 F Wheel Loader$7.3M; 1-Light Tower$850,000; 1-Perkins Welding Plan-$850,000- Contact#6500402/260-4988 14.5 Ft. Fibre glass boat with tilt trailer and 35 Horse power, mercury motor. Call: 678-9536
CAR RENTAL
Jet-Ski for sale: 1500cc, super charged. Brand New! Call: 231-7839 during office hours
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM
1 Week Sale! Dell/HP computers with 19" flat screens -$45,000, lap tops $55,000 -(6 months warranty) @ Future Tech. Call: 2312206; 644-6760
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One 125CC XR for sale $270,000 –Call: 699-7870; 698-8503
Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494
One AE110 XE Limited sprinter, very good condition; female driven. Call: 223-0654 Lister Petter single Cylinder generator, in good condition. Call: 698-9462 1-Old model Raum in excellent condition, price $900,000 negotiable-Call: 642-4416
TAXI SERVICES GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
TOURS Suriname Tours: Labour Day Weekend April 29, 2016May, 2nd 2016 & Indian Arrival Weekend May 5th8th, 2016. Call: 663-5171; 6927270; 639-2663; 223-0056
Unbeatable Prices!!! Audi A4-$3,750,000; BMW 318i$2,750,000; Premio 2008$2,850,000- Contact#6500402/260-4988
Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call:225-9032;647-2943;6045198
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EDUCATIONAL I.A.E Classes for CSEC January/June 2017: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subject for Students, Adults & repeaters. Call: 683-5742
Unbeatable Prices!!! Spacio$2,095,000; Ist-$1,995,000; Fielder-$1,995,000-Contact# 650-0402/260-4988
FOR SALE Stamps! Valuable Stamp collection -12,000 and over for sale. Call: 624-7341; 2276817
1-6ft wood lathe, 1-4ft wood lathe; prices negotiable $420,000. Call: 646-4416 2 Pools table (slate) –Call: 616-0398; 687-1757 Empty Drums for sale contact 223-5273 One front house and one 2 storey back house for sale @ 180 Charlotte Street Bourda. Call: 226-5183; 227-6817; 6247341 1 G e n e r a t o r 4 0 K VA Cummings Engine, icecream machine, 1pc AC 48,000 BTU, 2pcs 36,000 BTU, 380Volts. Everything ½ price! Call: 617-6088
One Toyota 212 Motor Car, excellent condition, alarm, remote start, mags. Call: 6162309 Unregistered Allion: 2004, fog, dark interior, TV DVD, CD. Price: $2M- Call: 6175536 Toyota Hilux Surf, 3Y engine 1998 cc 4wd, power windows, sunroof, AC, AM/ FM/USB Stereo. Call: 6789536 Toyota Fun Cargo, AT212, AT192, AT170, Tundra, LTouring, Wagon, VVTZ, 4X4 Solid DEF pick up & Nissan Pickup unregistered. Call: 644-5096; 697-1453 One Toyota Spacio 2002$1.2M. Call: 668-7988 1- Backhoe, JCB-Call: 6631372 Nissan X-Trail 2013 model, fully loaded, 2500 cc cut 31000KM -$8.9M negotiable, serious enquiries only. Call:685-3069; 644-9141 1 Nissan Titan for sale; fully powered, 4 wheel driveprice negotiable- Call: 6437195; 220-9883
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Apartments for rent @ Nandy Park with free WiFi, recently renovated, 2 bedrooms - $70,000. Call: 641-3318 Fully furnished apartment for rent-Call: 682-9021 Two bedrooms bottom flat @ lot 6 Drysdale St Charlestown -$50,000 monthly. Call: 677-5031; 2319334 Second floor for rent at 26 Sheriff Street C/Ville. Call: 628-7953 Apartmemts for rent @ Boodhoo’s Housing Scheme by the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Call Steve: 670-4623 Three bedrooms flat on 347 East Street for rent, residence or business. Call: 223-4565; 672-3161
Tuesday May 03, 2016
PAGE 23
Kaieteur News
Gold miner to Flooding averted in be charged for Queenstown after killing friend culverts cleared A gold miner is expected to appear in court today to answer a charge relating to the fatal shooting of his friend, Nafasie Edghill, last Friday. Police say they will be seeking the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution early today and that there is a very good chance that the suspect will be arraigned before a Magistrate shortly after. The man, along with two other friends was detained shortly after Edghill, 39, succumbed to a gunshot wound in his abdomen, while receiving treatment at a private city hospital. A police source told this newspaper that the two other friends were released on $100,000 station bail on Saturday. However their licenced firearm remains in police custody as investigators continue to probe the suspicious shooting. This newspaper was told that Edghill of Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, was at Mon Repos, ECD and three other men were together in a car. They went to the NARI compound to locate another man who owed one of them some money. Two of the men went into the compound while Edghill and the shooter remained in the back seat of the car.
According to a source, Edghill and his friend began tantalizing each other and this turned into a playful scuffle. It is alleged that Edghill subsequently grew impatient at the two other men who went into the NARI compound and took a while to return. He came out of the car and was going after them, when it is alleged that his friend tried to restrain him. It was during this scuffle that a round went off and Edghill fell to the ground, clutching his abdomen. According to an eyewitness, the two other men who had gone into the NARI compound, heard the shot and rushed out to investigate. They found Edghill lying on the ground with his friend standing next to him with his .32 pistol in his hand. “He (Edghill) turn to one ah dem and say, ‘Buck, I get shoot bai!’” the eyewitness told this newspaper. He said that the wounded man was placed in the car which sped off. “I hear he tellin dem he can’t mek it and they must take care of he family,” the eyewitness said. Kaieteur News understands that all the men, including Edghill, are licensed firearm holders.
City Hall out to reclaim city... From page 12 them to remove their stocks; most of the persons that have asked for extensions are those that have built structures that are attached to the old zinc building at the side of the vendors’ arcade. King stressed that these structures are a haven for criminal elements at nights. Robbers are known to pounce on unsuspecting passersby, especially at nights. He continued that City Hall will be moving through all marketing municipalities to rid them of illegal structures and illicit activities, he marked Bourda Market as the next municipality to be dealt with in the near future as vendors have made a habit of encroaching the street area on North Road. A sore point according to King is that of persons that are often seen loitering and “liming” in market areas, as they are more often than not involved in criminal activities, he stated that in the future City Constabulary ranks will be strictly monitoring the vari-
ous markets to ensure that there are no loiterers and if persons that have no business are found in the markets; there will be penalties to pay. “We want to make our markets free of such elements so that people can be safe and free from harassment while shopping, our markets need to compete with the modern supermarkets, we (M&CC) are going to restore this city to a level that is second to none, Georgetown is going to be the top city of the Caribbean.” Telling words by the City Administrator Royston King as the M&CC continue to clean the streets of Georgetown and piece by piece restore our city to the once “Garden City” pinnacle it embraced. This recent course of action continues to evoke mixed reactions from the public at large but citizens can only take heart by the state Georgetown’s proverbial heart (Stabroek) is now in; unimaginable before the last few days.
Government said that it avoided serious flooding after the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and City Hall took action to clear two culverts in Queenstown, Georgetown area yesterday morning. Community Coordinator, Neilson McKenzie, said that the two culverts, which drained the areas surrounding the Demerara Cricket Club Ground and Herdmanston Lodge, were found to be blocked with debris, including discarded builder’s waste. With assistance from City Hall, the culverts were cleared and water receded quickly into the Lamaha Street Canal,
Work being done to clear one of the Queenstown culverts yesterday. McKenzie explained. “The work is part of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s
mandate to respond quickly to ensure that communities are adequately drained,
particularly in light of the prevailing inclement weather conditions.”
Forestry Commission transferred $$M... From page 3 agency said that it was told to make the transfers and do so on that basis. “Transfers were done to the Consolidated Fund and other State Agencies based on Ministry of Finance instructions or Cabinet directives to the GFC. “In the circumstance, GFC complied with the directive provided through the Ministry of Finance and Cabinet instructions.” Apart from the transfers, Goolsarran pointed out that Section 22 (1) (a) of the Act prohibits the Commission
from making any loan or grant except for the purpose of carrying on the functions of the Commission. Nevertheless, on September 10, 2014, Cabinet approved of the Commission granting a loan of US$600,000 in six monthly installments of U$100,000 to the Iwokrama International Centre, commencing May 2014. Goolsarran said that “Repayment was to commence on 31 January 2016 at a rate of US$50,000 per month for the period January to December 2016, plus interest at 5%, with an additional 2% in event of
default. “However, the loan is not in conformity with the Act since the operations of Iwokrama do not relate to the functions of the Commission.” GFC's response was that it can grant loans once it sees the loans appropriate. GFC stated that Goolsarran did not take account of Section 22 (1) (c) of the Act which states that the Commission shall not make any grant or loan except on terms and conditions that it considers appropriate. GFC said, “Although Sec-
tion 22 (1) (a) prohibits the making of loans and grants by the GFC for such purposes as in the case of Iwokrama, Section 22 (1) (c) provides for the Commission to make loans and grants available on terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the Commission. The GFC granted a loan to Iwokrama of US$600,000 on the basis of a Cabinet directive to the GFC. The GFC Act makes provision for granting of such loans under Section 22 (1) (c). A loan agreement is in place that stipulates the terms and conditions of the loan to Iwokrama.”
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Tuesday May 03, 2016
Kaieteur News
Police still clueless on Best Buy watchman’s murder - family desperate for justice Police on East Coast Demerara are still to make a breakthrough in the brutal murder of security guard, Abdul Sattaur Kadir, almost a week ago. The 53-year-old Kadir, of Foulis, East Coast Demerara, was hacked to death late Wednesday night last, at his work place, Best Buy Hardware store at Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara. Six days after the killing, investigators are still no closer to identifying the two men whose images were captured on surveillance cameras mounted at the back of the hardware store on the night Kadir was killed. A police source told this newspaper that the images obtained are not of good quality and cannot be enhanced to provide detectives with a chance to positively identifying the men. The source said that Kadir’s killers appear to know the compound, since they were aware of where the light switches were located and took them off to make it difficult for the surveillance cameras to pick them up clearly. Investigators also believe that the killers were recognized by Kadir, who confronted them when they entered the compound. Police said that about 22:45 hours on Wednesday,
the security guard was alone on duty when he challenged two men who had entered the large compound from the back. During this time, he was attacked by the men who dealt him several chops about his body and escaped. According to reports, persons heard Kadir’s screams but by the time help arrived, his attackers had already fled. Divisional Commander Marlon Chapman had told Kaieteur News that the police received a call about the incident and responded, only to find Kadir lying in a pool of blood next to his guard hut. He had been chopped to the head, face, hands and about his torso. The Commander said that his ranks picked up the wounded man and took him to the hospital where he succumbed. This newspaper was told that after chopping the watchman, the killers made no attempt to break into the hardware store, nor did they take anything from the compound. “There was no sign of any attempt to enter the building and the owner said that nothing was stolen from the yard, although there are many pieces of equipment of immense value,” an East Coast Demerara police official told this newspaper.
Dead: Abdul Sattaur Kadir The dead man was buried yesterday. One of his daughters told this newspaper that the family is hoping that the authorities secure justice for them. His wife, Maureen, had told this newspaper that she was not told all the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death, but she too is depending on the police to quickly apprehend his killers.
Another jaguar captured
Joy once more filled the hearts of the residents of Lima Sands who early Monday morning awoke to the exciting news of the capture of another jaguar, this time in their area (turf). A group of young men from Capoey, another Amerindian community on the Essequibo Coast was responsible for the successful capture of one animal a few weeks ago. The recent capture is documented as the fourth case thus far for this year. Residents said that some men living in Lima Sands constructed a trap some time ago and waited for an opportunity to lure the jaguar. The roaming jaguars some of which were
seen by residents in Lima Sands, Capoey and at Tapakuma have been killing and eating residents’ dogs and other domesticated animals. Ever since the capture of the three jaguars between February and March last, staff of the Environmental Protection Agency have on each separate occasion ventured to the Region to transport the jaguars to a safer environment. Before the capture of the jaguars, a foreigner visited the Mainstay/ Whyaka and Lima Sands areas and cautioned them not to harm the jaguars which are endangered. Yannason Duncan
Tuesday May 03, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Kerry sees hope of extending truce to Syria’s Aleppo (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday talks were closer to extending a Syrian truce to Aleppo, the divided northern city where a sharp escalation of violence in recent weeks has torpedoed peace talks. Kerry was in Geneva for talks with other dignitaries to try to revive the first major ceasefire of the five-year Syrian war, which was put in place in February with U.S. and Russian backing but has since all but collapsed. Syria announced temporary local truces in other areas last week but has so far failed to extend them to Aleppo, where government air strikes and rebel shelling have killed hundreds of civilians in the past week, including more than 50 people in a hospital that rebels say was deliberately targeted. The Aleppo fighting threatens to wreck the first peace talks involving the warring parties, which are due to resume at an unspecified date after breaking up in April when the opposition delegation walked out in an-
ger. “We’re getting closer to a place of understanding, but we have some work to do, and that’s why we’re here,” Kerry said at the start of a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir. After meeting Jubeir and U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura, Kerry said he hoped for more clarity in the next day or so on restoring the nationwide ceasefire. The United States and Russia had agreed to keep extra staff in Geneva to work on it. “Both sides, the opposition and the regime, have contributed to this chaos, and we are working over the next hours intensely in order to try to restore the cessation of hostilities,” Kerry said. De Mistura said he would travel to Moscow for talks. The civil war in Syria has killed hundreds of thousands of people, driven millions from their homes, created the world’s worst refugee crisis and provided a base for Islamic State militants who have launched attacks elsewhere. The fighting has drawn in
global powers and regional states, while all diplomatic efforts to resolve it have foundered over the fate of President Bashar al-Assad, who refuses to accept opposition demands that he leave power. The United States and Russia have taken the leading roles in the latest diplomatic initiative, which began after Moscow joined the war last year with an air campaign that tipped the balance of power in favor of Assad, its ally. So far, Syria has announced a “regime of calm” — a temporary local truce — in the Eastern Ghouta suburb of Damascus and the countryside of northern Latakia province, from Saturday morning. The Latakia truce was for three days and the Ghouta truce, initially for 24 hours, was also extended by another 48. Both are areas where there has been heavy fighting, but Aleppo remains the biggest prize for Assad’s forces, who are hoping to take full control of the city, Syria’s largest before the war. The nearby coun-
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) gestures next to United Nations Special Envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura during a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday. tryside includes the last strip of the Syria-Turkish border in the hands of Arab Sunni rebels. A Russian military official, General Sergei Kuralenko, said talks were under way on extending the regime of calm to Aleppo. CIVILIANS KILLED The opposition accuses the government of deliberately targeting civilians in rebel held parts of Aleppo to drive them out, and says the
U.S. cruise ship pulls into Havana on historic Cuba voyage
U.S. Carnival cruise ship Adonia arrives yesterday at the Havana bay, the first cruise liner to sail between the United States and Cuba since Cuba’s 1959 revolution (Reuters/Alexandre Meneghini) The first U.S. cruise ship to arrive in Cuba in decades received a warm welcome yesterday from Havana residents who gathered at the wharf in the colonial old city as hundreds of Americans waved from the decks of the vessel. It was another first for the two countries since U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced a historic rapprochement in December 2014, and comes weeks after Obama’s visit to the Caribbean island. Carnival Corp’s Adonia, a
small ship with a capacity of 700 passengers, slipped through the channel into Havana Bay in the morning under picture-perfect skies, then docked at the colonial old town recently visited by Obama. A Cuban law prohibiting nationals from entering the country by sea had almost delayed the cruise but was lifted by local authorities just over a week ago. Obama has made the dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward Cuba a part of his legacy. The two countries rees-
tablished diplomatic relations a year ago and have signed agreements on issues of common concern such as the environment, postal services and direct flights. Talks are ongoing over other issues that have kept the next-door neighbors apart, from the return of fugitives to reparations for embargo damages and the return of the Guantanamo Naval Base. Obama had urged the Republican-controlled Congress to lift the trade embargo and travel ban, but to no avail, resorting to his executive pow-
ers to punch holes in them instead. Both sides appear determined to make further progress on travel before Obama leaves office. “Regularly scheduled cruises are the third leg of the land, sea and air efforts by the Obama Administration to cement its policy changes, the goal is to make the initiatives big and loud so that they are harder to dislo d g e , ” said John Kavulich, president of the N e w Yo r k - b a s e d U S Cuba Trade and Economic Council.
world must do more to force Damascus to halt air strikes. For its part, the government says rebels have been heavily shelling governmentheld areas, proving that they are receiving more sophisticated weaponry from their foreign supporters, which include Arab states and Turkey. A British-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, has reported scores of civilians killed on both sides, although more in rebel-held territory. Syrian state television said on Monday that a missile had hit the surroundings of Aleppo University Medical Hospital, and several civilians were injured by rebel mortar attacks on the residential area of Jamiyat Hay al Zahra in western Aleppo. The rebel-held local council of Aleppo city announced a state of emergency in areas it runs due to the intense bombardment. About 350,000-400,000 people are believed to remain in rebelheld parts of what was once a city of 2 million. Mohammad Muaz Abu Saleh, a senior councillor in the rebel Aleppo governate council, said residents were not abandoning oppositionheld areas, despite the intense bombardment. “Those who wanted to leave Aleppo have fled,” he said. Those who have stayed behind “have decided to stay under all circumstances of shelling and siege. Aleppo will remain populated with its people not leaving.” Amar al-Absi, a resident of a rebel-held area, said: “There was heavy shelling throughout the night. In my neighborhood, Salah al-Deen, a missile hit a building that was empty and it was leveled but there were no casualties.”
In the countryside north of Aleppo, other rebel groups have been fighting against Islamic State fighters, who are not party to any ceasefire. Amaq, a news agency affiliated to Islamic State, said the militants had gained control of the villages of Doudayan, Tel Shaer and Iykda from rival rebels in the northern Aleppo area near the border with Turkey. They said they were able cut the supply routes of other rebels in the area, despite Turkish artillery shelling to aid the rebels against Islamic State. The Observatory said the militants had staged a counterattack to regain ground lost from other rebels in toand-fro fighting that has seen no major gains for any side. Turkey said it had shelled Islamic State positions across the border and attacked them with drones on Sunday, killing 34 militants in retaliation for cross-border strikes. The death toll could not be confirmed. Turkey, a NATO ally, is part of a U.S.-led coalition launching air strikes against Islamic State, but is also strongly opposed to the main Kurdish militia in Syria, Washington’s closest ally on the ground. It is one of the leading opponents of Assad and backers of rebels opposed to him. Another major supporter of the rebels is Saudi Arabia, whose Foreign Minister Jubeir blamed the latest escalation on the government, condemned it as a “violation of all humanitarian laws” and called for Assad to step down. “He can leave through a political process, which we hope he will do, or he will be removed by force,” Jubeir said alongside Kerry.
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GTU worried about stalled negotiations with Ministry The Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) is questioning whether the Ministry of Education views the welfare of teachers as an important factor. “We are becoming worried as to how this Ministry sees the teachers...their action doesn’t seem to see teachers as important stakeholders. The welfare of teachers doesn’t seem to be a matter of urgency,” said GTU President, Mr. Mark Lyte. Lyte was at the time responding to a delay in continued negotiations between the Ministry and the Union for a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding a remuneration package for teachers for the period 2016 through 2020. A previous remuneration MOU inked between the previous Government and the union expired at the end of last year. The Union, under the leadership of Lyte, crafted a new proposal which was for the first time brought to the attention of the Ministry last year end. Following the review of the proposal, Lyte said that at least two meetings, one in January and one in February (with the latter being attended by the Minister), were had during which the proposal was discussed. This, according to Lyte, constituted a start of negotiations, though it has been stalled for the past two months. Lyte yesterday said that it was rather troubling when he learnt that the Minister had informed the media that negotiations regarding the union’s proposal had not started. The Minister, responding to a query on the progress of the negotiation, said, “I wouldn’t call that negotiations...I have been having some discussions with (GTU President) Mark Lyte and people in the Union and I’m hoping whatever difficulties they have we can resolve them...” In insisting that no negotiations have started, the Minister added, “We haven’t really reached the stage of negotiations in the sense that they bring their documents and we address their documents ...that is going to be a higher stage of the conversation.”
Tuesday May 03, 2016
Kaieteur News
He, however, admitted that the discussions with the Union have thus far yielded a commitment on the part of Government to pay teachers the debunching money that the Union had long been advocating for. But according to Lyte, “I think the Minister was just trying to escape a direct question. We have had two formal sessions of discussion regarding our proposal. When you present your proposal it goes through a round of talks and at every stage it is considered an aspect of the negotiation...whether it takes the form of a discussion, that we will accept certain things or that we seek certain things, it is part of the process which would not take one session. It would take many meetings to become conclusive,” Lyte asserted. He explained that when the negotiations are completed at the ministerial level then the subject Minister is tasked with preparing a report which is taken to Cabinet for its approval. “Based on our last discussions they (the Ministry) were supposed to do some internal talk and then get back to us and the process has been amicable,” Lyte added. But according to him, it has been taking quite some time to have a continuance of the meeting. “They are always busy and their agenda is always packed and the Union is becoming worried with ‘where do we stand in the whole process?’ “If the Ministry is going to be too busy to meet with the Union then that sends a message about how the Ministry sees the union and teachers as a whole. Are teachers not important?” Lyte questioned. “We understand that the Minister has 1,001 meetings and cannot put the Union’s proposal in the forefront of his plans. But the Minister doesn’t have to deal with everything...There are aspects that other officials can deal with in the Minister’s absence such as Whitley Council and class sizes,” Lyte considered. He, however, acknowledged that there are some aspects of the negotiations that require the Minister’s attention. Part of the negotiations
will have to be brought to the attention of the Education Minister and even the Minister of Finance. The Union is this year is negotiating for a 40 per cent across the board increase in salary for teachers. It is also hoping for a 45 per cent increase for next year (2017) and 50 per cent for the following three years (2018-2020) for all categories of teachers. In a proposal seen by this publication, the Union has taken into consideration inflation and made it clear that “should there be inflation higher than the percentage agreed upon, then the teachers/teacher-educators must get the benefit of the difference.” However, when asked whether the GTU-proposed 40 per cent increase across the board increase for public school teachers this year would be feasible, Dr. Roopnaraine said, “frankly I would like to give the teachers even more but you know we have teachers to deal with, we have nurses to deal with...if you begin to raise the salaries of teachers in the classroom, the nurses are going to say what about us?”
Guyanese must condemn all forms of racial profiling by Opposition–AFC The spirit of brotherhood and national unity is the message the Alliance For Change (AFC) is urging all Guyanese to embrace in the face of distasteful “race fear” tactics being spun lately by the political opposition. The AFC, in a missive to the media, also registered its concern about politically connected agents who are linking recent acts of crime to ethnicity. The party said that such acts represent a reprehensible attempt to sow division, discord and ethnic fear in the society and it must be condemned. It said that ethnic mobilization is a known chief instrument for opposition political mobilization. The AFC said that the naked and vulgar levels to which the Opposition has descended is abhorrent and reiterated its call for all peace-loving Guyanese to join the party in denouncing such political tactics. The Party also recalled that recently, a “former President and ruling party General Secretary”, invented an ethnic dimension to a purely
AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan technical requirement for the names of school children to appear on answer sheets for examinations. The AFC said that the Opposition saw this innocent and pragmatic requirement as a stratagem to target the children of a particular ethnicity, and to give them failed marks. It noted that this was subsequently debunked by the Ministry of Education. It said that “The former President”
also invoked the ghost of national service, and wickedly alleged that the scheme was directed against IndoGuyanese women. The Party urged that as the nation prepares for another Arrival Day, all political parties and social organizations must avoid the temptation of racial profiling and commit themselves to achieving Guyana’s motto, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.”
Rowley surprised: Gov’t not reviewing ganja laws (Trinidad Express) The decriminalisation of marijuana is not something the Government is examining at this point in time, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said yesterday. Rowley was responding to questions from the media at the VIP lounge of the Piarco International airport on a Guardian newspaper headlined report “AG looks at legal ganja” where Attorney General Faris Al Rawi is quoted as saying that there is a drive to gather statistical information on the issue of decriminalising ganja. The AG was placed in a hot spot by the Prime Minister’s comments as he (Al Rawi) is quoted at length in the Guardian report as he spoke about consultations and the need for a holistic approach on the controversial topic. However, Dr Rowley said he would be “very surprised” if the AG spoke to decriminalising marijuana and would want to explain himself as the Cabinet never discussed this matter. “I lead the cabinet and I don’t know that any such examination is taking place. I’ve seen the headline, I haven’t read the story but I’m pretty sure the Attorney General will really want to explain that and I would be very surprised if that is what he said”.
What? : Trinidad Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley addressing the media and members of his government at the VIP Lounge, Piarco International Airport, prior to his departure yesterday. (Photo courtesy: Office of the Prime Minister) “We have been in office for seven months and we spent no time examining the decriminalisation of marijuana so whatever conversation generated that headline, there is certainly some misunderstanding there,” he added. Asked whether the decriminalisation of marijuana was something the Government would look at, Rowley responded: “What’s publish there is we are doing that. I am simply saying we are not doing that at this point in time. What happens in the future we will deal with that when we get to it.” AL RAWI EXPLAINS Speaking to the media after the Prime Minister departed aboard an American
Airlines flight for the US, Al Rawi met with reporters to clarify that he was speaking to the Guardian as Attorney General and not on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. “You must disaggregate the question of Cabinet versus Government. I am the Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago and it is quite simple, the questions posed to me by Gail Alexander (Guardian reporter) were in the context of the work that’s going on in the prison system, specifically the questions were posed in the context of the maximum sentencing approach and the issue that the Archbishop has raised which coincides with the issue that we put into the
public domain of really looking to see how people who are remanded have been managed by the criminal justice system,” he said. The AG explained that it was in this context that the issue of possession of narcotics, specifically marijuana arose. “I said to the reporter that we were of course looking at the statistics behind that because you can’t engage in the exercise of maximum sentence application or treatment of remandees through the system of possession matter without looking at the statistical impact, so regrettably the headline doesn’t really say where the questions arose and in what context,” he added.
Tuesday May 03, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Venezuela’s Maduro calls for ‘rebellion’ if opposition recall succeeds CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — A defiant Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro urged supporters to launch a general strike and “rebellion” if the opposition succeeds in ousting him from office in a referendum. Maduro’s fiery May Day speech came as Venezuela’s emboldened opposition prepared on Tuesday to present more than 10 times the roughly 200,000 signatures needed to begin organizing a referendum to remove the unpopular president, blamed by many for the country’s deep economic crisis. Maduro vowed to fight for his job, despite a deep crisis in the country that has seen riots and looting in the second city over four-hour daily blackouts introduced to save energy. “If the oligarchy some day does something against me and manages to take this palace, I order you to declare yourselves in rebellion and decree an indefinite general strike,” he told supporters massed outside the presidential palace on Sunday. Maduro told them the referendum “is an option, not an obligation. Here the only obligation is the presidential election and that will be in 2018”. A recent poll found that more than two-thirds of Venezuelans want Maduro, elected president by a razorthin margin in 2013, to leave office. Once-booming Venezuela, which has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has plunged into economic chaos as global crude prices have collapsed. It has been in recession since 2013. The import-dependent country faces acute shortages of food and basic goods like toilet paper due to a lack of currency, more than 96 percent of which it gets from oil sales.
Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro rallies supporters during a march to mark International Workers’ Day, in Caracas on Sunday. (AFP Photo/Juan Barreto) Maduro has vowed to press on with the socialist “revolution” launched in 1999 by his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, which has given Venezuela a government-led economy. If the electoral board accepts the signatures collected by the opposition as valid — far from a sure bet, since opponents say the board is stacked with Maduro cronies — the opposition will then have to collect four million more for the board to organize the vote. Opponents are racing to hold the referendum before the end of the year. According to Venezuela’s constitution, after January 2017 a successful recall vote would transfer power to Maduro’s vice president rather than trigger new elections. Jesus Torrealba, spokesman for the MUD opposition coalition that controls Venezuela’s legislature, said the signatures — collected in “record time” — will be delivered to the electoral board on Tuesday. However board official Tania D’amelio suggested on Twitter that the board might not start verifying the signa-
tures until late May. Venezuelans lost half an hour of sleep Sunday as their clocks were set forward on the president’s orders in a move to save power. At 2:30am local time Sunday, Venezuela shifted its time ahead by 30 minutes — to four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. The move, announced in mid-April, is part of a package of measures the embattled socialist president is pursuing to cope with a crippling electricity shortage. Hugo Chavez implemented the unusual half-hour time shift back in December 2007, saying he didn’t want children to have to walk to school in the dark. Chavez died in 2013. In announcing the time change, the Maduro government said 30 extra minutes of daylight at the end of the day would curb the use of lights and air conditioning, especially draining for the power grid. Maduro’s government has also instituted four-hour daily blackouts across most of the country, reduced the public-sector workweek to two days and ordered schools closed on Fridays — adding to the woes of a nation already stuck in a crushing recession. The power cuts sparked riots and looting this week in Venezuela’s second-largest city, Maracaibo. Maduro blames the power crunch on the El Nino weather phenomenon, which has unleashed the worst drought in 40 years, reducing the reservoirs at Venezuela’s hydroelectric dams. But the opposition says mismanagement is to blame for the power crisis as well as the recession and shortages.
Tuesday May 03, 2016
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Qatar investigates death at World Cup site as labour rights under scrutiny (Reuters) The organizers of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup said on Sunday they were investigating the death of an Indian labourer at one of its sites but denied it was caused by working conditions which the wealthy Gulf country is under pressure to improve. Along with accusations of corruption during its World Cup bid, Qatar has long been under fire from rights groups for labor abuses. Last week, world soccer body FIFA urged Qatar to hasten improvements for builders on World Cup sites and said it would monitor conditions. Qatar, an energy exporter which has the highest income
per capita in the world, is also under pressure from the United Nations to address workers’ rights before World Cup construction peaks in 2017. Labourer Jaleshwar Prasad, 48, fell unconscious on Wednesday while performing steel work at Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor, 50 km (31 miles) north of Doha, a witness told Reuters. Organizers said the death was not caused by working conditions. “Al Khor Hospital reported the cause of death as cardiac arrest,” the Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy of the 2022 World Cup said in a state-
ment. “The family of Mr Prasad were informed of the tragedy immediately. A full investigation is underway.” Qatar’s efforts to become the competition’s first Arab host have been dampened by accusations including that workers were forced to live in squalor and to work without proper access to water and shelter in the blazing sun. About 5,100 construction workers from Nepal, India and Bangladesh are building stadiums in the country. Unions and labour protests are banned and authorities penalize dissent with jail terms or immediate deportation.
Tuesday May 03, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Catch up on correspondence. Unique forms of entertainment could capture your attention and bring about a romantic interest. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Travel will turn out to be far more exciting than you imagined. Don't give your heart too readily. In-laws may cause difficulties. Travel should be considered. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You can make a serious attempt at quitting those bad habits that you've picked up over the years. You'll have problems with authority figures if you don't play by the rules. You can expect sorrow to evolve from the information you discover. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your nerves are frazzled. Difficulties with older females in your family may turn out to be quite trivial after all. You need an energetic outlet that will help you dissipate your anxiety. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Sudden romantic infatuations could lead to a significant and prosperous connection. Look for professional guidance if it will help unite the family. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You are best to listen for the time being. Be sure to sidestep those who are eccentric or unpredictable. You can't lose today unless you get involved in gossip or overwork to the point of exhaustion.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Someone left a real mess for you to sift through. Don't spend more than is necessary on travel or friends. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your intellectual wit will bring greater popularity with your peers. You will have a little more energy than usual. You need to be inspired and have your spirits lifted. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Older family members may try to put unreasonable demands on you. Try to deal with the problems of those less fortunate; however, don't allow them to make unreasonable demands. Don't be too hard on yourself. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Property investments, insurance, taxes, or inheritance should bring you financial gains. This will not be the day to start new business ventures or make drastic changes in your career. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Physical limitations are possible if you aren't careful. Erratic behavior at home may be hard to handle. A series of misunderstandings may be at fault. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your emotions have been pulled out of shape and you need to do a little backtracking. Your mate may not be too sure about your intentions. Your emotional state could leave you vulnerable and confused.
Migrant labourers work at a construction site at the Aspire Zone in Doha, Qatar, March 26, 2016. (REUTERS/NASEEM ZEITOON) Prasad is the third Indian employed on a World Cup site to die of a heart attack in the last six months, according to a February report by the Supreme Committee. Qatar’s Supreme Committee says there have been no work-related fatalities on World Cup sites, but law firm DLA Piper, in a review for the government in 2013, found evidence of dozens of workrelated deaths across Qatar among migrant laborers from South Asia. Qatar’s government has also denied claims there are higher instances of heart attacks among construction
Federer out of Madrid... (From page 30) match. “I would rather play it safe and rest up now and get ready for Rome. I’m sorry to the tournament for coming and leaving without playing. “I arrived and I was okay and then I practiced on Saturday and hurt my back a little bit and stopped early. I’m very disappointed to say the least,” said Federer. “I changed my schedule around and practiced well in Switzerland before coming here.” Federer said he was not worried about his preparations for the French Open that starts on May 22. “I’ve been doing a lot of practice on clay,” the world number three explained. “I don’t always need a lot of matches to feel 100 percent ready. “With my experience and the way I feel about big tournaments, if I have matches, great. If I don’t, I trust in my game, in my mind that I’ll be fine regardless of the preparations.”
workers and does not publish independently-verified statistics on worker-related injuries and fatalities. Autopsies and postmortems on people who die sudden and unexpected deaths are forbidden by Qatari law unless a crime is suspected. “Workers dying suddenly from heart attacks is something we hear about often, the causes are not always clear. But we’re moving now into the hottest time of the year when the risk of fatality increases,” said Amnesty Gulf researcher Mustafa Qadri.
“When a worker dies, Qatar needs to get to the bottom of what happened. People’s lives are in danger”. Amnesty reported on abuses at a World Cup stadium in a wide-ranging report three weeks ago based on the accounts of 132 workers. DLA Piper recommended that Qatar launch an independent study into cardiac deaths among migrant workers. The head of Qatar’s Supreme Committee has said Doha is working to reduce abuses he described as occurring on construction sites all over the world.
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DeRozan, Raptors shoot past Pacers in Game 7 Reuters (The Sports Xchange) - Dwane Casey read the reviews of the Toronto Raptors’ decisive Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers. They were not good, and the Toronto coach feels many of the critics dismissed his team heading into Game 7 of the firstround Eastern Conference playoff series. “I think everybody wrote us off and gave us up for dead,” Casey said. “I love that because I thought our guys used it as motivation.” DeMar DeRozan, who had struggled in the playoffs, took matters into his own hands and led the way with 30 points as the Raptors held on to defeat the Pacers 89-84 on Sunday. The Raptors advance to face the Miami Heat in the second round, with Game 1 on Tuesday in Toronto. The Heat eliminated the Charlotte Hornets in Game 7 earlier on Sunday. Toronto led by 16 points with 7:31 to play and then held on as the Pacers cut the margin to three points with 2:35 left. Indiana had the ball with 26.9 seconds to go, down by three, but the Raptors made the stop. DeRozan sank two
free throws to stretch the lead to five with 6.5 seconds left to clinch the game. “We stunk in the fourth quarter,” Casey said. “I don’t know if we ran out of gas. The guys were so jacked up emotionally to start the game, I thought we ran out of gas.” DeRozan said: “We were just going to leave it all out there. It was great. A lot of people don’t get a chance to play a Game 7 with everything on the line.” “DeMar is special,” said forward Paul George, who led the Pacers with 26 points and 12 rebounds. “Guarding, you’re not going to stop him, but you just try to make every shot as tough as you can for him.” The Raptors led most of the way and used a 28-20 third-quarter surge to take a 14-point lead into the fourth. “Credit their defence,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “They played really well. They played so hard and they’re so well-prepared. It’s not going to be easy when you’re competing on the road. “We made a couple of turnovers, which were problematic. You don’t win Game 7s on the road, but we were positioned to do that.” Jonas Valanciunas had 10
Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) dribbles away from Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. (Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports) points and 15 rebounds for Toronto, Norman Powell scored 13 points off the bench, and Patrick Patterson had 11. Kyle Lowry added 11 points and nine assists, and Bismack Biyombo contributed three points and 11 rebounds off
the bench. George broke Indiana’s playoff-series record with 191 points, topping the mark of 181 set by Reggie Miller in the 1995 Eastern Conference finals. George Hill added 19 points for the Pacers, and
Monta Ellis had 15. Led by 13 points from DeRozan, the Raptors were ahead 28-23 after the first quarter. George guided the Pacers with 12 first-quarter points but also picked up two personal fouls. The Raptors led by as
many as eight in the second quarter before settling for a 50-44 edge at the intermission. Neither team scored in the first two minutes of the second half before Patterson hit a 3-pointer to give the Raptors a ninepoint lead. The Raptors increased their lead to 58-46 when DeMarre Carroll made a 3point shot. After a Pacers turnover, Patterson made a 3-pointer to extend the margin to 15. George responded with a 3pointer for the Pacers. Field goals by Ellis and Solomon Hill trimmed Toronto’s lead to eight. After Indiana cut the lead to nine on a 3-pointer by George Hill, DeRozan reeled off six straight points and Toronto led by 15. Toronto’s advantage was 78-64 after three quarters. The Raptors’ lead reached 16 points with 7:31 to play in the fourth on Cory Joseph’s jumper. Ellis got the Pacers to within eight, and when Ellis hit a 3-pointer, the margin was down to three. Lowry got the edge back to five points with two minutes left on a driving layup. George cut the lead to three with two free throws.
‘Was told by a WI selector that it’s not how I bowl, but how I look on TV’ - Rampaul Cricbuzz - Ravi Rampaul has stated constantly being overlooked for a catalog of reasons by a succession of selectors in the Caribbean across the various formats is why he decided to become a Kolpak player with Surrey. Rampaul’s most recent appearance for the West Indies was in limited overs colours during last September’s Sri Lanka tour. But on return from that series, he never played for Trinidad domestically and thus missed out on being present in the victorious ICC World T20 2016 winning squad that he usually is part of. He has started the English county season with a bang clinching two fivewicket hauls and spoke to Cricbuzz about his career decision which will makes him ineligible for West Indies selection. Since taking 5-51 versus India during the 2011 World Cup group match, Rampaul’s bowling stepped up to another level. Alongside Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach, he became recognized as part of the senior trio
of West Indies quicks. Strangely though, the 31year-old Rampaul hasn’t played Tests since 2012 for aforementioned unknown reasons and rumours over his fitness. Last August, before the domestic season began, he declared his aim to get back into the Test team, but things changed very quickly according to Rampaul. “At that time (August 2015), I was very interested in playing Test cricket. However, after West Indies aborted the tour in India in 2014, my retainer contract was taken away and I was left out of the 30-man squad for the 50-over World Cup”, Rampaul explained. “I was being less and less selected by the West Indies. In fact, I was not selected for that entire year. All of that played a big part of my decision to go Kolpak with Surrey. Cricket is my profession and I had to take the opportunities that came along.”Perceptions among West Indies fans, and likely even the current Clive Lloyd and past Clyde Butts-led se-
lection panels, was that his body appearance clearly played a big role in how often he was picked for the West Indies. Rampaul highlighted that even noted Caribbean strength and conditioning coach and physio such as Ronald Rogers, Oba Gulston (part of the West Indies Men’s and Women world cup winning squad backroom staff) could vouch for his fitness (he regularly worked with them while in Trinidad). Rampaul was always deemed to be “fat” but 31-year-old did his best to stay mentally strong and ignore. “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I have heard that (he is too fat) a lot throughout my career”, said Rampaul. He continued: “I train and practice as much as I can because, as I said before, cricket is all that I have. Every time I played for West Indies and any other team, I always give 100%. I was told once by a selector that it’s not how I bowl but how I look on television - (that) was the reason I was not selected.
Ravi Rampaul: I rarely hear talk about my performance on the field but they always have lots to say about my appearance © Getty “People always look at your faults and say little about your strengths. I rarely hear them talk about my performance on the field but they always have lots to say about my appearance. All I can do is continue to give my best on the field, wherever I am and push forward.” While Rampaul does have his regrets of not accomplishing and playing more for West Indies, he is fully focused now on doing his best for Surrey. “I would have liked to play more Test matches and of course take more wickets, but my injuries restricted me from not achieving more and
not being a permanent fixture in the team. Now, I want to use my experience and my skill to help Surrey win games and championships. They saw something in me and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue playing cricket. “I love playing cricket in England so hopefully, I can take lots of wickets and also contribute with the bat. As far as my career goes, this is what is in front of me and I plan to make full use of it.” Considering the well-publicized criticism by the players since Twenty20 World Cup win, over how the TTCB (Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board) and WICB (West
Indies Cricket Board) operate, and calls for administrative change in the Caribbean Rampaul noted even if new leaders are installed in Caribbean cricket, he won’t relinquish his Kolpak status and come back. “No, I won’t give it up (Kolpak status)”, he stated. “My family and I, we are well taken care of in England, and it’s good knowing that I have a two-year contract rather than guessing when next I would be selected for the West Indies. It’s comforting and secure and its already showing in my game.” (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW by Colin Benjamin)
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Amazing Leicester celebrate fairytale title success LONDON (Reuters) Leicester City’s Premier League title dream became reality yesterday as their only remaining challengers Tottenham Hotspur drew 2-2 at Chelsea handing the underdogs the trophy in one of the greatest sporting achievements of modern times. The result provoked an outpouring of celebration in the provincial English city and as far away as Thailand and Japan, with Leicester’s players having watched nervously on television along with Foxes fans packed into local bars 160km away. Goals from Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Son Heungmin had looked like extending the title race to the penultimate week of what has been an unforgettable season. However, Gary Cahill gave Chelsea a lifeline just before the hour and substitute Eden Hazard’s superb 83rd minute equaliser ended Spurs’ slim title hopes to the delight of Leicester and their former Chelsea manager, Ital-
ian Claudio Ranieri. As tempers flared at Stamford Bridge at fulltime, television pictures cut away to Leicester’s players celebrating in the living room of leading scorer Jamie Vardy. Elsewhere in Leicester the city’s biggest ever party began in earnest, while in Thailand, home of the club’s owners King Power, Leicester’s army of fans was swelling. With two games left, Leicester are seven points ahead of second-placed Tottenham and Saturday’s home match against Everton will include a glorious lap of honour. “First of all, congratulations to Leicester City and to Claudio Ranieri. A fantastic season,” Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said. “I’m very disappointed but now we have to fight for second place.” “A massive, amazing season for Leicester, Claudio the players and the fans. They deserve it.” OUTSIDERS TRIUMPH Unfashionable Leicester,
Chelsea’s Eden Hazard scores their second goal. (Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley) 5000-1 outsiders at the start of the season, are English champions for the first time and become the first team to win a maiden English title since Nottingham Forest in 1977-78, having left the likes of Manchester City and
D’Andrade finishes second at Point Fortin Borough Races
United, Chelsea and Arsenal in their wake. Oddly the biggest match in Leicester’s history was one they were not involved in as the final act of an absorbing title race was played out in west London between last year ’s champions and a Tottenham side who have refused to give up the chase. But Ranieri’s intrepid team had already done the damage, churning out results to stay top of the table since Jan. 23 while their rivals fell
by the wayside. Incredibly, Leicester spent half of last season bottom of the league before a late surge saw them escape relegation. They began the season among the favourites to go down, but by Christmas they were already unlikely challengers for the title as Chelsea and Manchester City spluttered. Tottenham stayed in the hunt for a first title since 1961 but Leicester’s 1-1 draw at
Manchester United on Sunday saw Leicester puth one hand on the trophy. Hazard’s late goal against bitter London rivals Spurs at Stamford Bridge sealed the destiny of the title. Former England striker Alan Shearer, who won the title in 1995 with Blackburn Rovers, said: “For a team like Leicester to come and take the giants on with their wealth and experience — I think it’s the biggest thing to happen in football.”
GB Para-swimming star Josef Craig banned over tattoo
Guyanese, Lionel D’Andrade (centre) and Kelvin Johnson (right) following the Point Fortin Race on Sunday with winner, Trinidadian Curtis Cox. It was cold and rainy from start to finish, but the elements could not deter the Trinidad-based Guyanese duo, Lionel D’Andrade and Kelvin Johnson from carrying the flag for Guyana at the Point Fortin Borough Races on Sunday. D’Andrade finished second in a 15km Run on Sunday in 51:13 behind Trinidadian Curtis Cox (50:26)
while Kelvin Johnson was third in 51:28 in the road race. “I am very pleased with my time, because last year, I placed fourth. I got a late start this morning when the race started, because I was sheltering from the rain. So I was trailing in fifth place for most of the course and then increased my pace at the last three miles,” D’Andrade said from
Trinidad. The annual Point Fortin Borough Races 15km Run and 7.5km walk had 160 participants who all ran in the rain to contribute to the Borough of Point Fortin community development. The races are normally held on the Sunday prior to the culmination of the Point Fortin Borough Day celebrations.
BBC Sport - Paralympic champion swimmer Josef Craig has been disqualified from a race at the IPC European Championships for failing to cover up a tattoo. The 19-year-old from Jarrow has a motif of the Olympic rings on the left side of his chest, which breaches advertising regulations. He won his heat in the S8 100m freestyle but missed out on Sunday’s final after being disqualified. In Monday’s S8 400m freestyle heats, Craig swam with a cover on the tattoo. An International Paralympic Committee spokesman said: “Body advertising is not allowed in any way whatsoever and that includes the Olympic rings. The athlete did not wear a cover and was therefore disqualified. “All teams are informed of the advertising policy at a technical meeting prior to competition so it wasn’t as if they had not been reminded about the rules.” The City of Sunderland swimmer, who has cerebral
Josef Craig - GB’s youngest gold medallist at the London Paralympics - with his tattoo. (Simon Wright/CS swimstars) palsy, was Britain’s youngest gold medallist at London 2012 and qualified
third fastest for Monday’s 400m freestyle final at the championships in Madeira.
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National U- 21 stickmen in final prep for Pan Am Juniors -beat GCC Selection in a practice game Less than three weeks remain before the Guyana national under-21 boys hockey team make their first competition appearance against highly rated Chile on May 20th in the 2016 Pan American Junior Championship (Men) being staged in Toronto Canada. The team has been preparing for over one year under the guidance of National Men’s Coach Robert Fernandes and is optimistic of a good showing at the Pan American event. Fernandes is pleased with the effort and progress made by the players in the past several months although he indicated that there still needs to be some improvement in certain aspects of the game. Fernandes said he intends to focus on set pieces and defensive structure in the final weeks of preparation along with exposing the players to match practices. The Head coach was high in praise of physical trainer Barrington Brown who has been working with the team for the past four months and whom he credits for the teams high fitness level. This according to the Coach will factor heavily in a tournament such as the upcoming one, especially when they face big hockey nations that are likely to put pressure on the Guyanese for long spells during matches. Several players on the squad have gained valuable international experience having competed in the Pan American Challenge in Peru last year where Guyana turned in several fine performances narrowly missing out
on a podium finish on penalties. Among the more experienced players will be 19 year old hockey phenomenon Aroydy Branford, who is currently playing in the United Kingdom and will join the team one week before the trip. While a great deal of expectations will no doubt be placed on the shoulders of Branford, Fernandes indicated that his absence has made room for other players to step up during training matches and play more influential roles in the team. One possible setback in the team’s participation has been a clash in the schedule of the tournament with CXC examinations. The GHB, however, has been receiving kind support from the Ministry of Education in arranging for three players to write their exams at the University of Toronto, thus enabling them to participate in the tournament. Three of the team’s key starting players are affected by this scheduling and while their academics remains everyone’s priority, it would indeed be a shame for them to lose the opportunity to compete in the once in a lifetime event. This will be Guyana’s fourth appearance at this competition with its best ever finish being 6th place in 1988 where the team narrowly missed the semi-finals. According to President of the Guyana Hockey Board, Philip Fernandes, this current team is as well prepared as any he has ever seen out of Guyana. Fernandes indi-
National U-21 player Kareem McKenzie (red jersey) runs at the GCC defence during a practice game recently. cated that the team has been training together as a squad for a longer time than in the past and for the first time, there are several players who have already had international competition experience. In addition, Fernandes was high in praise of the national coach and management team whom he says has already showed their competence by solid results in the recent past with the senior men’s team. Guyana finds itself in Pool B with Canada, Chile and Mexico, while Pool A comprises of Argentina, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA. Argentina is the strong favourite, having never lost the championship in all of its ten years, while Canada and Chile possess the next best
Big Gibraltar win in fight for FIFA membership
(Reuters) Gibraltar won a major battle in its fight for FIFA membership when soccer’s governing body was ordered by sport’s highest tribunal on Monday to reconsider the British territory’s application that was rejected 20 months ago. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) partially upheld the Gibraltar FA’s (GFA) appeal that FIFA had “improperly rejected” its initial bid in September 2014. CAS also said it had told FIFA to submit the GFA’s application to its annual Congress which has the power to grant membership. The tribunal added the Congress, which meets in Mexico City next week, “shall
take all necessary measures to admit the Gibraltar Football Association as a full member of FIFA without delay”. FIFA said in a statement that its council would discuss the issue early next week and decide on a response “including a potential request to amend the 66th FIFA Congress agenda in order to submit the Gibraltar FA’s application”. Gibraltar became a member of UEFA in 2013 after a 14-year struggle during which it faced opposition from Spain. The British territory was twice rebuffed by European soccer’s ruling body and took its case to CAS which ruled in its favor. UEFA then said Gibraltar’s
teams would be kept apart from Spain in any competition in which they took part. Gibraltar’s national team made their competitive debut in the 2016 European Championship qualifying campaign. They lost all 10 matches, conceding 56 goals. Overall, they have played 18 matches, including friendlies, managed one win against Liechtenstein, and have employed three coaches. Angel Maria Villar, president of the Spanish soccer federation, refused to comment when approached by reporters at his hotel in Budapest where UEFA is holding its annual Congress today.
records of medal finishes. Guyana makes its opening appearance against Chile on May 20th then face Mexico on 21st and Canada on 23rd. The tournament runs
from May 20 – 28 with all matches being played at the University of Toronto. Matches will be streamed live on the Pan American website at www.panamhockey.org.
Meanwhile, the juniors played to an exciting 3-3 draw, before winning the penalty shootout 1-0 against a GCC Selection in a practice game recently, at the Guyana National Stadium.
Engine failures and reprimands add to Hamilton’s woes SOCHI, RUSSIA (Reuters) As if Lewis Hamilton did not have enough on his plate already, with two successive engine failures and Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg on a seven-race winning streak, the Formula One champion now has the stewards to worry about as well. The Briton, 43 points behind Rosberg after four races, collected his second reprimand of the season at the Russian Grand Prix. Three would trigger an automatic penalty on the starting grid and, with 17 races still to come, Hamilton saw trouble ahead. “I am just aware that there is most likely going to be at least one 10 place penalty in the future because I have got one more reprimand to go,” he told reporters after fighting from 10th on the grid to second on Sunday. “When I was in karting there was one steward, he was just there to make everyone’s weekend a bad weekend. Families would turn up and spend so much money to be there ... and he was just there to ruin people’s weekends. “I’ve started to see signs of him.” The triple champion col-
Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain drives during the qualifying session. (REUTERS/MAXIM SHEMETOV) lected his first reprimand in Bahrain, the second race, for reversing in the pit lane when he parked up in the wrong place after qualifying on pole. The punishment was seen by some as excessive, given that the session was over and he was merely repositioning the car a matter of centimeters. The second came in Sochi during the first phase of qualifying when he ran slightly wide and rejoined the track incorrectly, failing to go round a bollard. Hamilton said that reprimand, after he had been to see stewards to argue his case, was “ridiculous”. The Briton has not won a race since October, when he took his third title in Texas,
while Rosberg has started the year with four straight victories. The German has also had a reliable car whereas Hamilton had to start from the rear in China after a power unit failure in qualifying. In Russia, another failure meant he missed the final phase of qualifying. Mercedes had to fly parts out overnight to ensure he did not start from the pit lane. Drivers have five power units each to last a season, and exceeding that allocation incurs automatic penalties. The recent setbacks mean Hamilton is at a disadvantage to Rosberg there as well. “I’m running out of engines. That’s in my mind,” he said.
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Yusuf, Russell power Knight Riders to scorching win ESPNcricinfo - Andre Russell and Yusuf Pathan are among the most powerful strikers of the ball in world cricket. The Chinnaswamy Stadium is among the world’s smaller grounds, and contains one of its flatter pitches. The ingredients came together spectacularly as Kolkata Knight Riders’ Nos. 5 and 6 defied a steep asking rate and put on 96 runs in 44 balls to power their side to a five-wicket win, with five balls remaining, over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Bowling first, Knight Riders’ had kept Royal Challengers quiet for 17 overs, despite half-centuries from KL Rahul and Virat Kohli. Shane Watson, Sachin Baby and Stuart Binny then plundered 54 off the last three overs to lift Royal Challengers to 185. Kohli later contended that his side’s total was about 10 above par. But given Royal Challengers’ bowling strength - or lack thereof, particularly with Chris Gayle’s return forcing them
Yusuf Pathan celebrates his half-century, Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2016, Bangalore, May 2, 2016 ©BCCI
Andre Russell plays a pull shot, Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2016, Bangalore, May 2, 2016 ©BCCI to leave out Kane Richardson - and Knight Riders’ batting depth, they might have needed 10 runs more. Royal Challengers’ bowling held up well initially, with Binny’s outswing removing his Karnataka team-mate Robin Uthappa in the first over, and Yu z v e n d r a C h a h a l
producing a ripping legbreak to bowl the leaden-footed Chris Lynn. When Gautam Gambhir and Manish Pandey fell within eight balls of each other, either side of the 10-over mark, Knight Riders were falling behind rapidly. Knight Riders know they can score two runs a ball with Russell and Yusuf at the
100-year old Ida Keeling breaks 100-meter age group record (Yahoo) The Turnstile What did you do on Saturday? Chances are, you didn’t break a world record. But Ida Keeling did. Ms. Keeling, who will celebrate her 101st birthday this week, was the oldest entrant in the mixed seniors 100-meter run on Satuday at the historic Penn Relays, and though she finished last of the nine runners, the centenarian set a new world record for her age group, finishing in 1:17.33 (the winner, an 80-year old man, finished in under 18 seconds). Keeling, a New York City resident who began running at age 67 when her daughter entered her in a road race, has lived quite a life: during the Depression, she took jobs washing windows and babysitting to help her family, which lived in the small living area at the back of her father’s grocery; and as a widow at just 42 years old, she was left to
Ida Keeling (scoopnest.com) raise the four children she and her husband had on her own, the five of them living in a one-bedroom apartment. In the 1960s, she became active in the Civil Rights movement Ms. Keeling, who ran the Penn Relays in a red beret, the capacity crowd at Franklin Field cheering her
on down the runway at full throat, exercises for an hour every day. “It was wonderful,” Keeling said after her record. “I’m very happy to offer all of this crowd a nice example of what you can do for yourself, and I thank God every day for my blessings.”
crease, and their asking rate was just under 12 an over when they came together. But it was just under 12 an over for a considerable length of time: they needed 110 off 58 balls. Though it was still a good pitch for batting, it was offering the quicks spongy bounce if they bent their backs, and the spinners a fair amount of grip. In the first two full overs with Russell and Yusuf Pathan at the crease, they hit a six each, but were also beaten by Varun Aaron’s bounce and Yuzvendra Chahal’s turn. This still looked like anyone’s game. The defining moment came in the 14th over, when Chahal left Russell stranded five feet down the pitch. Just like Russell, Rahul was beaten by the lack of turn, and the ball shot away for four byes. Two balls later, a quickish slider down the leg side shot past Rahul before he could react, and ran away for five wides. Russell mishit, slogged, and flat-batted Tabraiz Shamsi’s left-arm wristspin for six, six and four in the next over, and Knight Riders now needed 63 off the last five. Yusuf whipped Aaron to the midwicket boundary, and Russell mishit another six - it only just cleared the cover boundary - as Knight Riders took 16 runs from the 16th over. Watson came on to bowl the 17th. Usually the most reliable of Royal Challengers’ bowlers, he sent down two length balls
first up - the first on the stumps and the second wide of off - and Yusuf heaved them away to the midwicket and extra cover boundaries. A bouncer followed, and Yusuf got just enough bat on his pull to fetch the ball from outside off stump and find the square leg boundary. Then another length ball, and Yusuf easily cleared long-on. When he edged the last ball of the over to the third man boundary, the game was over - Knight Riders now only needed 23 off 18. Knight Riders had recalled Morne Morkel to their side, and he quickly discovered tennis-ball bounce to dismiss the returning Gayle. Bowling largely back of a length, Morkel and Russell kept Kohli and Rahul quiet in the Powerplay, denying them both room and leverage. Rahul gave Royal Challengers impetus, taking on the spinners, and using the sweep - regular, slog and reverse - for two fours and a six off Sunil Narine.
But just when Royal Challengers were shifting g e a r, P i y u s h C h a w l a dismissed Rahul and AB de Villiers in the space of 16 balls. Kohli joined them in the 17th over, picking out sweeper cover immediately after Gautam Gambhir had dropped him at point; Royal Challengers seemed in danger of falling short of 160. But Knight Riders’ quicks struggled in the slog overs. Umesh Yadav lost his radar completely, sending down two high full-tosses in the 17th, and ended with figures of 0 for 56 in four overs, with 41 coming off his last two overs. Russell gave away 13 in the 19th. In all, Watson, Baby and Binny hit seven fours and three sixes in the last three overs. Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 189 for 5 (Yusuf 60*, Russell 39, Chahal 2-27) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 185 for 7 (Rahul 52, Kohli 52, Morkel 2-28, Chawla 2-32) by five wickets.
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Jumbo Jet, Banks DIH Trophy Stall continue to show commitment to horseracing
Isn’t She Charming with Randolph Richmond showing its class with a convincing victory in the 3 year old event. The Jumbo Jet Business along with Banks DIH Limited and Trophy Stall among others has been contributing in a significant way in a number of ventures in Guyana’s development. Be it education, sports, culture, youth community or social activities among others second only to the Government of Guyana. Since its entry into the horseracing arena the company has been making significant investments in the field of horseracing with sponsorship of over $40M annually. Among the major investments are Organizing three major activities annual including the Guyana Cup, The Guyana Cup fever and The Guyana Cup Rematch and a few other events. The event on Sunday in collaboration with the Bush
Lot United Turf Club with investment of over $4M was almost single handily sponsored by the Jumbo Jet with some assistance from Beverage giants Banks DIH, Trophy stall and Inshan Bacchus Trucking Service. Despite the Jumbo jet stable won four of the five events with a few other placings staged in the wet and soggy conditions, organizer and owner Nazrudeen Mohammed Jr e x p r e s s e d h i s disappointment in the entries and turn out. He is expressing his desire for more support and corporation for horseracing in Guyana. Release the Beast of the Jumbo Jet stable with a classification of G1and ridden by Colin Ross was fearless as it moved up in class to tear up its opponents
Federer out of Madrid Open with back injury
Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a shot. (REUTERS/ERIC GAILLARD) MADRID (Reuters) Former world number one Roger Federer has pulled out of this week’s Madrid Open with a back injury. The Swiss great traveled to the Spanish capital for the tournament but was unable to practice on Monday and announced
his withdrawal. Federer, however, said he would be back for the Rome Masters next week. “I don’t want to take more chances as I know I’m not going to be fully ready for Wednesday,” he added, referring to his opening (Continued on page 25)
with an easy gate to pole victory in the wet conditions to take the feature D1 and lower event. Keep on Swinging also of the Jumbo Jet stable took second place ahead of Settling Star and Climate Change also of the Jumbo Jet stable. The event for West Indies bred three year olds that never earned and Guyana bred horses was taken by Isn’t She Charming of the Jumbo Jet stable with Randolph Richmond in control ahead of She is in Control and happy Run. She So Special of the Jumbo Jet stable with Richmond in stirrups was in winner’s row in the H2 and lower race ahead of Liquid Lion, Mary Ann and Fresh Again. Amazon Warrior also of the Jumbo Jet stable ridden
She SO Special of the JJ stable with Richmond winning the H2 and lower event.
Massaquita Dr. of The Crawford Stable with Ajai doctoring the reset of the field in winning the J and K class event. by Trinidadian Jockey Padmore started things off nicely for the entity by winning the L1 and lower event from Confusion, Mystery man and Blue Lightning. Massiquita Dr owned and Trained by Selso Crawford and ridden by Ajai continued its winning ways by riding away with the J and
K class event from Little, Affinity and Red Region. The Jumbo Jet stable was adjudged the champion stable for their four wins in the five races staged. Tr a i n e r N a z r u d e e n Mohammed Junior was the top trainer with Jockey Randolph Richmond the champion jockey.
They received trophies compliments of Ramesh Sunich, Managing Director of the Trophy Stall. The police under women Sergeants Cynthia Kelly and Joanne Johnson were commended for their good performance in maintaining control and order during the event. (Samuel Whyte)
Regal capture GYO softball crown Regal defeated Superior Woods by one run to win the final of the Gandhi Youth Organisation softball tournament played on Sunday. Regal managed 126-2 of their allotted 10 overs, taking first strike. Fazleem Mohamed and Eric Thomas added 56 for the opening stand to give their team a solid start. Mohamed slammed two fours and seven sixes in a top score of 68 while Thomas got 19. Mahase Chunilall chipped in with 20. Superior Woods threatened but were restricted for 125-8 in reply. Peter Persaud smashed one four and eight sixes before he went for 60. Persaud would have already set for foundation for the chase, but Regal skipper Mahendra Hardyal marshaled his troops well to ensure his side came out on top. With nine needed off the final over, Ricky Persaud conceded eight to finish with 3-17. Raymond Harper took 2-13. Regal had earlier beat Pune Warriors by 21 runs. Batting first, Regal posted 120-4. Harper scored 33 and Chunilall 31; Oslyn Batson had 2-14. Pune Warriors made 99-9 in reply. Danny Mohanram got 23 and R. Persaud 21. Javed Juman snared 3-5 and Mahendra Hardyal 2-30. Superior Woods overcame Pune Warriors by five wickets. Pune Warriors made 132 all out in 14.4 overs, taking first knock. R. Persaud made 35, Navin Singh 24 and Mohanram 21. Darmindra Mohabir grabbed 4-30, Richard Latif 2-02 and Peter Persaud 2-34. Superiors Wolf responded with 133-5 in 12 overs. Rudy Rodrigues struck 84 while Dannie Mangroo made 22 and Talesh Ramotar 16.
Mahase Chunilall (right) accepts the trophy from Surendra Hiralal of GYO as Superior Woods- Superiors Woods captain Rudolph Rodrigues (left) collects the runner up prize from Divesh Ramjattan of GYO. Devendra Narine took two wickets. Surendra Hiralal of GYO congratulated regal and thanked the other participating teams. He stated that the club is working towards improving the facility and expressed gratitude to Mahendra Hardyal of Regal Sport for their input. (Zaheer Mohamed)
Kaieteur News
Tuesday May 03, 2016
PAGE 35
Wins for Bishops’, Plaisance, Marian and St. Roses Girls in NSBF Regionals Yo u t h B a s k e t b a l l Guyana’s (YBG) National School Basketball Festival (NSBF) Georgetown and East Coast continued on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with Plaisance, Bishops’ High, Marian Academy and St. Roses High winning in the Girls’ category. Plaisance Secondary defeated Charlestown Secondary 13-2 with Daniela King scoring five points with four steals and Faith Primo four points and five steals for Plaisance. Taejha Allen scored two points for Charlestown. Bishops’ High defeated Tutorial High 16-2 with Sileena Arjune putting up six points and Kesann Charles four points for Bishops’ High. Mary Grant scored two points for Tutorial High in the game. Marian Academy beat President’s College 12-8 with Jada Mohan scoring four points with five steals and GeorginnaVyphuis four points and seven rebounds.
Glaudia Garraway scored six points for President’s College. St Roses High then trashed St. Stanislaus College 16-2 with Jada Amerally scoring six points and two steals and Ashley Khan six points and three steals. Natesha Seymour had two points for Saints. In the male U-16 category, Marian Academy beat President’s College 2315 with Jordan Alphonso putting up 14 points and six rebounds. Akeem Crandon scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds for President’s College. Meanwhile in the U-19 g r o u p , Tu t o r i a l H i g h , President’s College and Government Technical Institute (GTI) all recorded wins. Tutorial High defeated St. Stanislaus College 45-35 with Manasseh Murray scoring 12 points, Denzil Logan 10 points, and Tariq Nelson eight points and 10 rebounds. Kadeem Bowen scored 14 points for St.
Bishops’ Sileena Arjune (with ball) about to release a jumper in the paint on Sunday against Tutorial High at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in the NSBF Regionals. Stanislaus College. President’s College beat Bishops’ High 41-34 with Jahleel Duke pouring in 15 points and Kadeem Peterkin 12 points for
P r e s i d e n t ’s C o l l e g e . Timothy Thompson scored 15 points, and Mikhail Broomes nine points for Bishops. GTI defeated St. Roses
High 46-25 with Nathan Saul scoring 14 points and Kerwin Griffith 10 points. Patrice Agrippa added nine points and Anfernee Jervis six points for St.
Roses. Digicel, Edward B. Beharry and Company Ltd and Banks DIH LTD are the sponsors of the tournament.
In time, Falcons record victories Mayors Cup football kick-off Thursday weather permitting Coordinator Lennox Arthur has disclosed that the A n n u a l M a y o r ’s C u p Football tournament will commence at the Victoria Ground on the East Coast to Thursday from Thursday weather permitting. Heavy rainfall over the past few days had forced the rescheduling of the event from Sunday to Thursday. The fixtures will open with a doubleheader at Victoria which will see at 6:00pm Ann’s Grove of the East Coast clashing with Eagles United of Linden in
the curtain raiser, followed by BV/Triumph colliding with another Linden outfit in Milerock from 8:00pm in the nightcap. The tournament continues on Friday with Mahaica of the East Coast taking on Herstelling of the East Bank, while Golden Grove go up against fellow East Coast team Buxton Bakewell. The action runs into Saturday with another double header fixed, this time for the Den Amstel ground on the Westside.
Rising Star to host fitness event on May 22 Players in action during one of the first round games. In time and Falcons registered victories when the Impressors and Golden Masters dominoes tournament commenced on Sunday at R and R Sports Club. In time marked 70 games to beat Mix Up 69 and
Golden Masters 65. Marcia Solomon and Leatha Solomon made 17 each for the winners while Gilbert Mendonca scored 16 and Mark Wiltshire 15 for Mix Up. Rodwell Phillip got 15 for Golden Masters.
Falcons chalked up 64 games to come out victorious ahead of Impressors 63 and C7 59. Jack Sardina got 17 for Falcons while Barbara Marshall made 15 for Impressors. Claire Benjamin got 16 for C7.
Rising Star in collaboration with Office of the Presidency will be hosting an Independence 5k walk as well as a 5k and 10k run on May 22 commencing at Square of the Revolution from 16:00hrs. Entrance fee is $500 and $1000. All participants will receive a souvenir medal and T-Shirt, while cash prizes will be up for grabs. More information can be obtained through calling 673-8829 or 668-7897. The event is being sponsored by Banks DIH, GT and T, Real Value, BK Inc, Star Party Rentals, E Networks, Ansa McAl, S and L Electrical, Wartsila, Metro, Payless Toucan Industries, TG and Antarctic Maintenance.
Play starts at 1:30pm with Beavers challenging Eagles, while Den Amstel follow on pitch against Agricola at 3:30pm. Sunday at the same venue and times (1:30pm and 3:30pm), Uitvlugt tackle Soesdyke with Pouderoyen facing Kuru Kuru. The teams are battling for the Mayor’s Cup and cash prizes, with the top four set to claim respective $700,000, $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000.
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Amazing Leicester celebrate fairytale title success
Jamie Vardy (front right) is really having a party along with tens of thousands of Leicester City fans around the world as The Foxes’ 5,000-1 dream became a reality tonight (Leicester City FC via Getty images)
National U- 21 stickmen in final prep for Pan Am Juniors ame g e c ti c ra p a in n o ti c -beat GCC Sele
National U-21 player Meshach Sargeant attempts to weave his way into the GCC goal area during a practice game at the Guyana National Stadium. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210