Kaieteur News

Thursday Edition

Online readership yesterday 105,971

Price $80 November 21, 2013 - Vol. 6 No. 47 (VAT Inclusive) Online: http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com

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

Media revelations force Govt. to abandon MoU with - Dr. Roger ‘Ghost Company' Luncheon

Barefaced thieves are taking advantage of the stalled road extension works on the East Coast of Demerara by stealing the sand.

However, they fled, leaving their horse drawn cart behind when a Kaieteur News reporter began taking photographs of their daytime activity yesterday.

Pressure mounts for CJIA Man plunges to Ministerial advisor squatters' removal after death in search among six homeless stolen items, drugs found for lost gold in Vryheid's Lust fire

GPHC Board fails in bid to remove CEO …145 professionals already quit Ministry

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 21, 2013

Thursday November 21, 2013

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Kaieteur News

Media revelations force Govt. to abandon MoU with 'Ghost Company' - Dr. Roger Luncheon Following days of explosive revelations regarding Natural Globe Inc, a company that inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government to pursue the setting up of a US$30M recycling plant, Cabinet has decided to abandon the pact.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet S e c r e t a r y, D r R o g e r Luncheon, confirmed this yesterday during his weekly press engagement at Office of the President.

This latest development came days after Government would have stoutly defended the company and the MoU. Minister Ganga Persaud had even accused the media of seeking to scare away investors, such as Mohamed Osman, the Chief Executive Officer of Natural Globe Inc. The Minister of Local Govt. claimed that he was “satisfied that there is credible evidence with regards to Mr Osman (sic) experience, involvement, and expertise in the business of recycling and his initial commitment to invest approximately US$30M in this particular project.

“The standard operating procedures were followed in identifying Natural Globe Guyana Inc.” Dr Luncheon yesterday took an about-turn and said that the media exposure prompted the review and eventual abandonment of the MoU. “In the wake of the media

revelations and in the context of its recent execution of the MoU with the firm Natural Globe Inc, for recycling services in Guyana, Cabinet has decided to withdraw its execution of the MoU with t h e f i r m , ” s a i d D r.

Luncheon.

As a result of the Cabinet decision, Dr. Luncheon said that the planned move to approach Go-Invest for the necessary feasibility study, prior to an investment agreement being inked, has now been abandoned.

Asked about the due diligence that Government would have conducted prior to inking the MoU with Natural Globe Inc, Dr. Luncheon said, “A number of areas were inadequately attended to.”

He said that it was “the media revelations that pointed this out, rather forcibly, to the attention not only of Cabinet, but of the Guyanese people.”

Dr. Luncheon, commenting on the level of due diligence that was conducted on Natural Globe Inc, said that it was because it was merely for a MoU and not an actual contract.

“I would be the first to concede, it did not attract the same level of due diligence, had it been for the execution of a contract,” according to Dr. Luncheon.

Asked about tax breaks or concessions that would have been demanded by Natural Globe Inc, Dr.

Mohamed Osman, CEO of the 'Ghost Company' Natural Globe Inc (left) signing the MoU along with Permanent Secretary in the Local Government Ministry, Colin Croal Luncheon said that because it was only a MoU and not a contract, this was not a consideration.

When the MoU was first announced, Guyanese were told that it was a Canadian Company.

Searches for the Canadian registered company proved futile. It was later learnt that the Company was in fact registered in Guyana only three months ago.

The proposal for the project was submitted 14 months ago.

Natural Globe Inc, the company in question, is run

Irresponsible Gold mining being conducted in Region Eight Residents of Region Eight are concerned about the way miners are dredging for gold in the Minihaha area located approximately seven miles from Mahdia.

The residents are peeved that the gold miners are operating within the Minihaha area and not filling the holes that they create in their search for gold. What's worse is that the miners are even mining on the access road linking Mahdia and North Fork and Konawaruk.

According to one resident who lived in Region Eight for over 20 years, Floyd Herman, “This matter has been reported to the mines officer on several occasions and on these occasions the mining officer would try to catch them on

the work site or catch them working.”

He said that this was however unsuccessful since the miners would cover up their tracks before the authorities arrive. “The dredge owner got persons at look out points with cell phones about four miles from Minihaha, so by the time the officers reach the spot the men would take their mat out the box, move their engine and leave the area until the officers are gone.”

Herman said that he knew of one Licenced dredge owner that was stopped by an OMAI surveyor, but as soon as the surveyor left, work commenced.

According to one

resident, the most dangerous thing is when officers go home for Christmas or close off the mining station then (continued on page 24)

by Osman and has as its Directors, his son, Imzamam Osman and Andrianna Webster, the daughter of the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster.

When Kaieteur News first began questioning the MoU with what was deemed a 'Ghost Company' the Ministry of Local Government lashed out saying that it wishes to clarify the misrepresented, misinformed and mischievous statements published by Media Houses which seek to confuse and communicate incorrect messages to the public on the recent signing of the MoU for the establishment of recycling plant in Guyana.”

The Ministry said that the company is owned and operated by a Guyanese entrepreneur who resides in Canada and is in the process of becoming a re-migrant resident.

“This company is also a

local consultancy firm that provides integrated solutions for sustainable development in the fields of solid waste management and specializes in operations in the environmental sector,” the Ministry said.

Osman during an interview with this publication, had said that the US$30M required for the project was already in place and that the company was just awaiting word from Government to go ahead.

Asked to identify the investors, he said that it was the Minister's daughter and himself that would be putting US$15M each.

Minister Webster while confirming that her daughter was a Director of the c o m p a n y, v e h e m e n t l y denied that she was investing any money given that she was not a shareholder.

Pressed further on the source of his share of the financing, Osman said that

he is the Vice President of Mogford Enterprise in Canada which is the parent company for a subsidiary called the Tadger Group International.

While there was no website found for the parent company, one was located for what he claimed is the subsidiary.

When questioned further about this company, details such as contact information, among other things, Osman said he could not recall at the time and would text Kaieteur News the information.

The Ministry of Local Government had on the very day contradicted what Osman was saying when it released a statement that he “Osman serves in the capacity of Technical Advisor to this agency.”

In wake of the revelations on the Company, A Partnership for National Unity's (APNU) Joseph Harmon had described the MoU between Osman, and Government as “disgusting and disturbing.”

Harmon, at the time said that what makes the matter more interesting and questionable is the obvious link with a sitting Government Minister's daughter.

APNU executive was adamant that the persons at the Local Government ministry who actually dealt with the proposal should be disciplined.

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Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

That avoidable tragedy The dust of public commentary seems to have settled on the fateful events of November 12, 2013-the civilian shooting to death of twopoliceranksandtwociviliansonMiddleStreet,Cummingsburg.

It appears, though, that the citizens of this country will be left none-the-wiser of the lessons the Guyana Police Force and by extension the Ministry of Home Affairs would have learned from what is widely considered to be an avoidable tragedy the implications of which, have for all intents and purposes been fully ventilated. Mention is made here of the MoHA because in any democracy the ultimate responsibility for ensuring public safety and security lies with the Minister of Home Affairs.

This is not to be confused with the role of the police who are but the implementers of public safety and security policies.

It is in that respect it is a reasonable public expectation that the police as a public service body must be held accountable for poor performance or wrongdoing. This is not to disregard the demand for a careful balancing of legitimate supervision, and the potential for illegitimate interference and influence over the police by the subject minister.

Guyana is not unique in a scenario where political control and politicizing of the ranks have so eroded internal chains of command that the clear result is a dysfunctional, demoralized body of men and women.

There have been conflicting views on the actions of the first responder(s) but there definitely is a consensus that all of the persons reacting on behalf of law enforcement were woefully unprepared, uninformed or misinformed – at least during the critical initial stages.

The GPF seemed to have gone into a comatose state seemingly ignoring that what is needed at this albeit late stage is a formal review of the disastrous events of Tuesday, November 12, 2013. The administration owes it to its ranks and to the citizens to undertake a review of actions as soon possible after a deadly fire encounter where the police are involved.

There is no doubt that the actual information about the incident that was available to officers and staff would have been a factor when they had to make operational decisions in what was undoubtedly a dangerous, fast-moving and emotionally-charged environment.

By whatever name it is called, such an exercise could have the beneficial result of providing an insight on several issues namely: What was supposed to happen? What actually happened? What went well? What can be improved and how? There is no doubt that answers to these questions can benefit (i) commanders involved in operational planning; (ii) teams who may be required to respond to a similar crisis; (iii) ranks who have never encountered a similar situation; and (iv) ranks who are unsure of the appropriate policies, procedures, or protocols involved.

At the end of the day all who are likely to face an active shooter in the future need to know what was learned.

It becomes nauseating when the public is told that ranks did not follow the standard operating procedures; the recently bereaved Forde, Pantlitz and Cleto are cases in point.

But was a post incident analysis conducted whose findings and recommendations resulted in the dissemination of modified or reinforced policies throughout the force?

If not then the GPF administration is criminally negligent regarding the occupational safety and health of its police men and women. Listening to hollow talk from supposedly knowledgeable persons, leaves one with the impression that no one really cares about this aspect except when seeking to castigate others for speaking out against police excesses.

The focus now should also be on how effective are the command and control systems in place and used in operations, bearing in view the perception that a lack of preparedness may have actually contributed to the risks in Middle Street. The quality of decision-making at incidents is a good indicator of whether individuals have been adequately prepared by the Force.

The police force public relations people have a duty to advise citizens on what is expected of them in active shooting and other deadly situations.

Thursday November 21, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

The Public Procurement Commission must be established forthwith DEAR EDITOR, Someone once said “all it takes for evil to succeed is for a few good men to do nothing.”

The National Assembly is meeting to debate amendment(s) to the Public Procurement Commission Act, of which the government’s primary interest is to retain a no-clause objection to awarding contracts.

History has shown this is fraught with danger and continues to see the abuse of taxpayers/workers’ money, a scarce resource that, should it be properly managed, can result in the improvement to the quality of lives for all.The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) is a constitutional authority and must be established forthwith. Our politicians, as representatives of our interests in the National Assembly, have a moral and legal responsibility to uphold the Constitution, which ensures the effective and efficient management of our resources and protects the citizens’ rights.

Having taken the Oath, our Parliamentarians must at all times respect this

instrument to the letter and in behaviour. As such, every element must be on their agenda, for no one is entitled to be selective in honouring this sacred document.

The establishment of the PPC will also signal to the society that those who have taken the Oath by their actions are demonstrating genuine commitment.

This country is faced with a dire situation where we are fighting for the soul of this nation. The fight to ensure probity/justice, inclusive of the management of our money, is not one to be taken lightly, treated with contempt, or left to the sole determination of a few. To do this would be an abrogation of our civic duty.

C a b i n e t ’s recent Memorandum o f Understanding to allow an unknown and unproven person/entity to engage in business which would cost taxpayers/workers millions of dollars, even more so that there is dispute over source of funding, which may likely end up being one where we, the people, have to advance the money as seen happened

before, must be a matter of concern to all.

The issue of overpayment to, overcharging by, and sole distribution assigned to a pharmaceutical company with close ties to government see money that, were it properly spent and overseen, could have resulted in savings and better services.

Properly spent it could have gone towards such things as buying more and needed drugs, satisfying the medical needs of more patients, improving services in the health care system.

In other instances where Cabinet has awarded contracts, corrupting the noclause objection, we continue to have to contend with shoddy and incomplete works. Again, with the establishment of the Commission such abuses and disrespect for the public could be contained/ eliminated through this oversight body that would bring more rigours to the process and is answerable to the National Assembly.

When the State manages the people’s money properly it can realise improved

wages/salaries to public workers, improvement in infrastructure such as roads, social services.

The workers will have greater spending power that they will be able to put back into the economy, which would see simultaneous improvement not only to their personal wellbeing but also from the cottage industry to the megastores, etc. All in all, the possibilities are greater to improve the holistic wellbeing of the people and society.

The fact that the ruling administration wants to continue the squandermania, thievery and abuse of the people and their resources that had been the hallmark of the Jagdeo presidency, we must call upon the opposition majority to bring a halt to these.

And where there continues to be an absence of self-restraint by members in the Executive, we must, by our actions demand they keep their dirty hands off our money.

In closing I borrow another statement, “noncooperation with evil is a sacred duty.” It is an evil act (Continued on page 5)

An objectionable article predicated on deeply flawed premises DEAR EDITOR, The article in your publication: “35 years later … Jonestown should be restored as tourist site/history and memorial ground” (see November 19, p.13) is predicated on deeply flawed premises in addition to being objectionable. The premises as stated are economically motivated (for profit), i.e. “to generate foreign exchange . . . use it to our advantage . . . [economic] revitalization.”

The advocate of this sordid idea asks Guyanese “to think outside the box”; while he appears to be thinking from inside the bank.

“Hustling” has become one of our national traits.

However, I cling to the belief that our people still retain some sense of propriety, even if a modicum.

Establishing a memorial site to honour the dead in the singlelargest mass murder/suicide is an appropriate thing t o do—because it is good in itself. To exploit this tragedy using an economic argument is analogous to someone calling on the Germans to convert Auschwitz to a tourist site. Could you

imagine?

Mr. Rodwell Paul who is quoted largely as proposing this macabre idea says, “[a]ll around the world where a great tragedy has occurred, it is marked and remembered.”

Yes, but not for profit. I observed with some

incredulity that he is referred to as a captain of sorts.

Guyanese are best advised to refrain from taking directions from this badly misguided “captain.”

Lastly, your article noted that two memorials are planned this month at the

Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland, California, rightly so. Guyana, my compatriots, should be seen worldwide as a place of natural beauty where the human spirit can flourish and excel rather than a jungle of human failure.

Fuad Rahaman

This “boy” is no fraud DEAR EDITOR, So the right and honourable “firearm specialist” has replied, but rather than having an intelligent debate, he’d rather go into a long verbal ramble and namecalling. I will not reduce myself to his level.

I should state that I have never purported myself to be a gun specialist. I have not made any recommendations on how to curb gun crime. I merely, as a concerned human being, asked some matter-of-fact questions which I will repeat below: 1. Would Mr. Hopkinson or any of his loved ones go into a combat zone without the necessary protection?

2. Would anyone be held responsible for those two police officers’ deaths?

3. Would an investigation be carried out as to the procedure that was followed or not followed in providing Mr. Kanhai with a gun?

4. Is it acceptable that the bulletproof vests were expired?

I notice Mr. Hopkinson has referred to the known adage “never put a boy to do a man’s job”. I take it that he is referring to my young age.

You know what?

I am not offended.

Patients and staff generally find it difficult to reconcile my youthful appearance and my job title.

Finally, I do wish to allude to the title of Mr. Hopkinson’s letter, “Someone is a fraud, I wonder who?”

I presumed that this is being directed at me. Please

allow me to address this point.

I am in the last five months of my specialist training and as per standard practice in the UK, I have been recommended to undertake the duties and take the responsibilities of a medical consultant, hence the title acting consultant.

I should also add that I have been offered a medical consultant job at one of London’s top University Hospitals. I will be taking up this position next April.

So Mr. Hopkinson, this “boy” is no fraud. I humbly ask the question: what qualifies you as a firearm specialist? Over to you. This boy has made his point.

Dr. Mark Devonish Acting Consultant Acute Medicine

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

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

Reckless statements that should alarm the majority of us

DEAR EDITOR, Firstly, I must express thanks to Mr. Tony Vieira for granting my letter his focal attention.

On November 6, 2013 Kaieteur Newspaper featured a letter of mine commenting on David Granger’s explicit intent to cut the 2014 budgetary allocations to the National Communication Network (NCN) and Government Information Agency (GINA).

Mr. Granger urged that changes were necessary in these two public entities and he was prepared to cut funding. The point I raised was for Mr. Granger to clearly outline the changes needed and how he would implement them to better serve the national interest.

My letter highlighted that it is not only unconstitutional and unlawful for the Opposition Parties to utter views of cutting the budget that is yet to be seen, but it is also presumptuous and premature. In doing so, I also

indicated the constitutional entitlements of the Oppositions which are to approve or withhold approval of such allocations through valid deliberations in the National Assembly.

This fundamental premise can simply be ascertained from Article 218 paragraphs 1 and 2 of our Constitution. It appears that Mr. Tony Vieira missed that part of my letter.

As a citizen of Guyana, I believe I am entitled to the same constitutional rights as Mr. Vieira to the freedom of expression.

Mr. Vieira coined in his reply, “sometimes it’s not possible” which drove me to respond to his vapid criticisms.

It is to my amazement that Mr. Vieira spoke about selfrespect and attempted to lecture me on the topic. He does not emulate what he purports to teach.

I argued that the incumbent ruling government should be allowed precedence in these media outlets. After all they

The Public Procurement...

From page 4 to deliberately violate the Constitution having sworn to uphold it. And today the call is made to those who respect the Constitution as a sacred instrument to not cooperate with the forces who seek to undermine the intent of the

PPC by moving to have amendment(s) that would ensure Cabinet overrules and imposes its position on this Commission.

Lincoln Lewis General Secretary, Guyana Trades Union Congress

are government media houses. At no point in my letter, did I mention that the Opposition parties are not entitled to fair media time and involvement.

Hence, my reasons for asking what changes would be proposed to facilitate this equitable media distribution; irrespective of our political positions.

But it would appear that Mr. Vieira is saying that these media entities have to operate exclusively in favour of a oneseat majority and totally ignore the ruling government because it is the minority.

Perhaps, those are the changes Mr. Vieira finds equitable and impartial. I strongly agree that taxpayers’ revenues should be utilized for the national well-being, but not to sanction unlegislated cuts on taxpayers’ monies.

It is evident that Mr. Vieira is on board to cut the budget and disregard the laws as well.

Mr. Vieira dissected my letter well, which even brought him to point of regurgitating.

Furthermore, he failed to comment on the basic fact that the Opposition’s intent to cut the budget is in violation of our Constitution.

Guyanese at large would recollect that Chief Justice Ian Chang ruled cutting the budget is both unconstitutional and unlawful. The Attorney

General Anil Nandlall also made clear in the National Assembly the constitutional grounds of the government and opposition on budgetary affairs.

Moreover, the question I raised, should the ordinary Guyanese also disregard the judicial system? Should we flout the document that governs our nation?

I can only surmise by paying a blind eye to the constitution and laws will have severe consequences to any nation.

Mr. Vieira added that the opposition almost never gets to express its views on these two public entities, but that’s simply not the case. For instance, the debate series aired on National

Communications Network, invited the opposition for dialogue, but its members selectively absented themselves.

My critique also mentioned that the opposition is often ridiculed and criticized in these public domains. Are these comments ridiculing because these are in contravention of his political views?

If Mr. Vieira is so versatile in the media, why not comment on the broadcasting networks that the opposition parties exclusively have that ridicule the government?

Why not point out that the government has no say in that as well? Mr. Vieira’s letter emphatically embraced cutting of the budget as he reaffirmed, “Exactly, cut,

regardless of the circumstances.” Now the majority of Guyanese that he spoke of should be alarmed with a statement of such magnitude.

With simple logic, one can conclude from his statement, the interest of this majority people is also not important, so cut despite of the outcomes. According to Mr. Vieira, we should cut at whatever cost without factoring the repercussions.

I hope that the majority of Guyanese can see the recklessness in that statement.

Persons of Tony Vieira’s ilk are from a bygone era.

Their usefulness is no more.

The quicker they are ignored the better for Guyana.

Mahendra Hariraj

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 21, 2013

GPHC Board fails in Tax chief worries about $5000 note being counterfeited bid to remove CEO

By Kiana Wilburg

…145 professionals already quit Ministry Reports out of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation state that Minister Bheri Ramsaran is on a clean sweep campaign designed to rid the facility of staff members whom he does not appreciate.

The most recent target was Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan.

Using Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nirmal Rekha, Ramsaran sent Khan home ostensibly on his annual leave. However this decision was reversed by Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford, who is currently performing the duties as Health Minister.

When contacted, Minister Westford said that no organization can send someone home on his vacation leave. And if Rekha wanted to send Khan off on administrative leave, then he would have had to seek a reason.

Rekha did try to offer the reason that a fraud enquiry was underway and that Khan had not informed the Board about the fraud. But it transpired that Khan was not on duty at the time. Rekha did not attempt to discipline the person who was acting for Khan at the time.

The situation is currently in abeyance but Khan seems to be in a bind because he is worried about proceeding on his annual leave and having this used to close the door behind him.

Sources close to the hospital have reported that since Bheri Ramsaran’s accession to office, 145 medical practitioners, some of them doctors, have either resigned or have walked off

Minister of Health Bheri Ramsaran

Mr. Michael Khan

the job.

The incident with Khan came weeks after the Director of Financial Services and a Clerk of the hospital were sent on leave to facilitate a probe into the disappearance of over $4M at the facility.

Khan, in an invited comment, said that he received a letter from the Chairman of the Board of Directors, last Friday instructing him to proceed on his annual leave with immediate effect.

He explained that he was not told why he was sent on leave but claimed that he has 60 days accumulated annual leave. He disclosed, too, that he is not sure when he will be back at the hospital but stated that the Director of Medical Services Dr. Sheik Amir will act as the CEO in his absence.

Kaieteur News had tried to contact Rekha who is also the Finance Secretary of the Ministry of Finance to no avail. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, who also serves as a member of the Board, said that he was

not aware that Khan was asked to go on leave.

However, while the Health Minister acknowledged that Khan was sent on leave based on a directive of the Board, he did not divulge a reason for the action.

According to him, the Board is allowed to operate under a certain recommended framework which requires that he, as Minister, have “an arms-length” approach to it.

“I will have to consult with Mr. Rekha…He was trying to get me (Friday) afternoon; he will have to let me know what exactly is the position of the Board. I don’t want to be speculating on the details of it, I have to be briefed further…but I have confidence in the Board,” he added.

The Minister said, “The decision was not the decision of a single person, it was a Board decision; so myself and my Chief Medical Officer, who is also on the Board, will be checking exactly what is the position, and about the sustainability of operations.”

While the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Khurshid Sattaur, fully supports the recently launched $5000 note, he expressed some concern over the possibility of the new denomination being forged.

Mr. Sattaur said that when the note goes into circulation on December 9, it will make their processing system a bit lighter and easier especially as it relates to the amount of money they have to count and take to the bank.

The Commissioner General added that the new denomination will only serve to improve Guyana’s economy and will certainly assist the Bank of Guyana in responding to the increase in the number of transactions being done as Guyana prepares to welcome the Christmas season.

However, Mr. Sattaur did note that GRA has to deal with numerous counterfeits of the $1000 on a daily basis. This poses a lot of difficulties for the Authority he oversees.

It was against this backdrop, that he then disclosed his concern about the $5000 note being counterfeited thereby creating additional problems for his sector.

The Commissioner General however noted that the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga, has assured him that the note is very secure with many latent security features making it difficult for counterfeiting to go undetected.

When this concern was posed to the Deputy Governor, he explained that the new note comes with several security measures that are of international standards.

He pointed to one of the most internationally recognized marks of them all, which is the “Dual Track” feature.

The dual track feature, he

Commissioner General of GRA, Khurshid Sattaur

Dr. Gobind Ganga, Deputy Governor, Bank of Guyana said, is a two-track thread with optically variable and metallic print properties that are very difficult to duplicate.

Though it is not impossible for the new denomination to be forged, Dr. Ganga said that it is difficult for such a thing to happen.

He explained that the $5000 note is printed by Oberthur Fiduciary of France and has the signatures of Mr. Lawrence Williams, Governor of the Bank and Dr. Ashni Singh, Minister of Finance.

The Oberthur Fiduciary is a French Bank note printer that has been in operation since 1840.

Today, the company

stands as one of Europe’s trusted printers whilst printing for 50 countries worldwide.

Oberthur is very active in research and development and has property rights for a number of security features.

One of these is the Dual Track thread which was a finalist in The Best New Currency Feature Award category at the 2013 Excellence Awards, hence the feature being incorporated into the new note to safeguard its integrity.

He also stressed that the $5000 note is not in response to inflation nor will it cause inflation.

The Deputy Governor also said that the new note will only lend to the efficiency of large transactions.

He explained, “The $1000 note will still maintain its important role in our system whilst the $5000 will help with large transactions and further enhance the financial system of Guyana. While it will serve to carry out this function, it also lends to the decrease in the volume of money that people will have to take around and reduce the space needed to store large sums of money.”

At the recent launching of the note, Dr. Gobind noted that while moving to non cash settlement should be the goal, it is not something that would be achieved in the immediate future because of the cultural orientation and inadequate infrastructure.

During his address, he asserted that the current highest note is the $1000 which was introduced in 1996 and currently accounts for about 60 percent of the number of notes in circulation and over 90 percent of their value.

In light of this fact, the Deputy Governor highlighted that the higher denomination note is expected to decrease the demand for other notes which continues to increase, due to higher economic growth and increased income.

The $5000 note

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Khamenei warning as Iran nuclear talks start Geneva (AFP) - World powers and Iran kicked off talks late yesterday aimed at reaching a landmark nuclear deal as Tehran’s supreme leader vowed there would be no retreat from “red lines”.

The first plenary session in Geneva lasted less than 10 minutes. Diplomats however downplayed the significance of the unexpected briefness of the initial meeting, as more detailed discussions are expected today.

A senior US official said the first meeting was “meant in many ways as a kick-off, to lay a quick basis for how we go forward.” Another diplomat called it a “brief introductory session”.

But comments from the supreme leader earlier yesterday indicated that this week’s round of talks - the third since Hassan Rouhani’s election as president in June raised hopes of a deal - may not be easy.

In an anti-Israel diatribe that France said would “complicate” the Geneva negotiations, Ayatollah Ali

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Khamenei said: “I insist on not retreating one step from the rights of the Iranian nation.”

Iran’s lead negotiator Abbas Araqchi said meanwhile that “the lost confidence must be regained”, in reference to the last round of talks 10 days ago in Geneva when divisions emerged among the powers.

The United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, known as the P5+1, want Iran to suspend certain parts of its nuclear programme for a period of several months

in a “first phase”.

A longer-term agreement would then be hammered out in the meantime that would reduce Iran’s programme to a size acceptable to the international community.

But Israel, widely assumed to have a formidable nuclear arsenal itself, has expressed alarm at the mooted deal, as have hardliners in Washington arguing for more sanctions.

Instead of stopping all uranium enrichment, as multiple UN Security Council resolutions have demanded, the powers appear to be satisfied with a suspension of enrichment above five percent purity.

For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who arrived in Moscow yesterday where he sought to harden Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stance, this leaves intact Iran’s ability to make a bomb.

Putin said after the talks that he hoped for a “mutually acceptable” solution while the Israeli leader called for a “real solution” to the crisis.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 21, 2013

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Luncheon takes backseat on issue of unpaid GTC/GT&T pensioners ...Finance Minister says Luncheon best person to address issue When questions were posed to Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh last week Thursday about an update on the position of unpaid or underpaid former Guyana Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Corporation (GTC) and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) workers, he said to this newspaper that he was “unfamiliar” with the matter.

He added that Kaieteur News “should direct all questions to Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon who would be the best person to address the matter.”

Dr. Singh said that the Cabinet Secretary would have

better knowledge of what might be happening with the pension payments.

Dr. Luncheon however distanced himself from being directly involved or being a “point person” on the telecoms matter being engaged by both the Government’s National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and the representatives of the over 130 pensioners; the Postal and General Workers Union (GPTWU).

At the post-Cabinet’s press briefing, Office of the President yesterday, when asked for an update on his role regarding the controversy, Dr. Luncheon

Dem boys seh...

Ganda lef holding a IOU Is now dem boys understand that all de project that de government plan was a case of who expect to collect de biggest raise. A man come from Canada wid a programme to do recycling. All over de world people does recycle because dem got to preserve dem resources. Dem does recycle paper, bottles, tin cans and things like that.

In Guyana dem had people who use to recycle bottles.

Dem mad man use to wash dem bottles that dem collect from de garbage heaps. When dem done, dem does sell de same bottle to people who got to collect medicine from de hospital. That is why some people use to go to de doctor wid one sickness and when dem tek de medicine dem end up wid another. And that is wha de Canadian come to get into. De first thing he do is tell Ganda Egg that he got US$30 million and that he deh in business long. Ganda immediately mek he pitch. He ask fuh a cut.

Of course de Canadian claim that he got de money in Canada and when de deal sign then he gun bring de money.

That is why Ganda run and sign de memorandum of understanding. That is something people know as Hem ho Hew. After de signing de Canadian give Ganda a IOU. Dem boys do some digging and de next thing de find out is that de Canadian come wid a bogus company. In fact it was more than a jumbie company.

Dem talk and before dem spit dry de government panic.

All Ganda telling dem that everything alright. He did done cuss de media and announce that he had all confidence in de company. Wha he mean was that he had all confidence that he woulda collect a raise.

Well Donald pull de plug. From till in Sri Lanka he holler and tell De Lunch Man that dem got to chase de Canadian, that he is bad news.

Dem boys see when de government tear up de Hem Ho Hew. Ganda still crying and he want to know why he is de only one who can’t draw. He seh that de Rat, and Rob de Earth and Irfaat and Barbie and all de other Bees does collect. At least one Minister breathing li’l easy. She save US$15 million.

Talk half and wait fuh de next contract.

said that he could not speak to the issue. He told reporters that the pensioners’ issue is being addressed by the Chief Executive Officer and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NICIL. Dr. Luncheon, who sat on the NICIL Board of Directors for several years now, rejected any claims that he would have decisive information pertaining to the issue. When asked about a package purportedly prepared for the pensioners by Winston Brassington, Luncheon said, “I am a Director. The CEO and the Deputy CEO and the Board of Directors have some consideration of this matter.

But the notion that I am a point person; this I have to repudiate. This is a collective responsibility of the system; both NICIL, the Ministry of Finance and, I suppose the successor (of the telecoms

agency).”

Dr. Luncheon also refuted claims by the unpaid pensioners that Government officials have not been coming to the bargaining table to speak to the issue. He concluded that the matter is being addressed, “but not by Luncheon. It is being addressed by NICIL, by the Ministry of Finance and the successor.”

In the meantime, the former GTC/GT&T pensioners are contemplating their next mode of approach to the issue given that the pensioners’ union has warned that it is at its wits end of discussions. The pensioners are earnestly contemplating protest and legal redress in order to obtain millions of dollars of unpaid pension and gratuity payments.

At an urgent meeting last Thursday the pensioners and

their union warned that they are exploring one more avenue before taking to the streets and possibly the court.

They said they have asked the Opposition members to take the matter to parliament so that it could be addressed.

The issue, they say, dates back to the early 1990s when GTC became GT&T and workers were asked to remain on the job past the previous retirement age of 55. They said that they were ensured that all benefits would be paid, however, more than 20 years later; pensioners say managers down to sanitary workers are receiving a monthly pension of $18,000.

They said that over two dozen of those said pensioners have since passed on without ever receiving their due pensions.

Additionally, the pensioners said that the

Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon government requested a compromise on due payments asking for benefits to be accepted from 2004, thus denying the retirees some 13 years of service payment which the union strongly rejected.

GPTWU said that it had never taken the matter to court or protested the issue because they did not want to be confrontational. They said however, that the current position of the pensioners’ pay is leading them in a direction otherwise.

Money laundering risks for lawyers…

Anti-money laundering specialist to make presentation for Legal Practitioners A Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) will be doing a presentation for members of the legal profession tomorrow on the risks money laundering poses for them.

The presentation comes in light of the fact that Guyana has failed to implement the recommendations made by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act 2009.

November 18 was the deadline given to Guyana by the international body to implement the said recommendations.

Guyana scholar, Toussant Boyce, who is on a short visit to Guyana, will be delivering his speech at 13:00 hours in the High Court.

The presentation comes at a critical time as it will discuss the transactions

which are carried out by attorneys-at-law and independent legal practitioners who are subject to the reporting requirements of the Act. These transactions are in relation to real estate, managing client funds including bank and securities accounts, company formation, operation and management of companies and the buying and selling of business entities.

Boyce who is also an Attorney-at-law, has attained more than 15 years of expertise from his work and studies done in areas of corporate, banking and international financial law and regulation.

While he recently submitted his PhD in international financial regulation to Cambridge University, the academic also holds a Bachelor of Law degree (LL.B) with distinction

from the University of Guyana, a Diploma in banking with distinction from the American Bankers’ Association at Georgetown University in Washington DC and a Legal Education Certificate (LEC) from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago.

Boyce also has double Masters of Law degrees (LL.M), first class, in

commercial law (Cambridge Univ.) and international financial law (Harvard Law School).

The intellectual has also worked with the National Bank of Industry and Commerce in Guyana and was later transferred to Republic Bank in Trinidad and Tobago.

He is admitted to practise law in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and New York.

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Kaieteur News

Atmosphere in Guyana not conducive to robust transplant programmes In light of the fact that Guyana has less than appropriate professional, technical and technological environment, the establishment of a robust transplant programme here is simply non-existent.

This assertion was forthcoming from Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, even as he responded to published reports of the sale of body parts to facilitate transplants at his weekly post-cabinet press briefing yesterday.

Particular reference was at the time being made to the sale of kidneys.

According to Dr. Luncheon, “The notion of a market in transplanted parts would appear to be, on the surface, a highly unusual activity that would be difficult to contemplate.”

“I don’t believe we have done 10 transplants in Guyana of any sort and to imagine that there will be or could be an industry building up around the sale, illegal or otherwise, of body parts is difficult to countenance,” Dr. Luncheon noted.

He vocalised his convictions that there have merely been a few transplants conducted, all living related, as most such organs for transplants are donated by family members. “I don’t know if we sell our kidneys to our families but if that is the implication then they still would be in the context of the few...literally few transplants that have occurred, an extremely small market.”

Dr. Luncheon questioned what he termed a “ploy” behind the heightened resort to the media to speak of the sale of body parts. “I wouldn’t be disparaging about other jurisdictions where these things are documented and such behaviour occurs and is an offence...,” observed the Cabinet Secretary.

His remarks were premised on reports that were

carried in sections of the media that reported that desperate patients suffering from renal failure have been forced to procure kidneys to facilitate needful transplantation.

But not only is the trafficking and sale of organs recognised as a major concern but the practice is deemed rather unethical in many countries around world.

According to reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO) kidneys are the most indemand organs, accounting for 75 per cent of illegal sale.

Over the past few years some 18 kidney transplants were conducted in Guyana and there are reports that at least two patients requiring such operations were required to procure their own kidneys from persons willing to sell.

According to founder of the Doobay Renal Centre, Dr. Budhendra Doobay, while he doesn’t have any statistics about the transplants conducted here, he has been privy to information that two patients were listed among those procuring kidneys for the purpose of transplantation.

“I do know two of our patients from our dialysis centre went and I am told, and I don’t think I am wrong, they bought kidneys…One bought a kidney for $1.5M and died a week or two after the operation. Another gentleman I’m told bought a kidney for $8M and he died too,” disclosed Dr. Doobay.

This, according to him, has never happened in North America and isn’t permitted in India, which was once a haven for the easy sale of organs.

Currently, Dr. Doobay explained, the Indian Government, once aware of any hospital engaged in such practices, would immediately seek to put an end to its operation. “There are a few places that you can get kidneys in the world but not in the Caribbean or in North America,” noted Dr. Doobay.

Moreover, he pointed out that the preferred practice is certainly not to support the sale/trafficking of kidneys adding that “we should not support such a thing.”

Thursday November 21, 2013

Rohee seeks medical attention overseas, to resume duties next Monday Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee is scheduled to resume duties as the country’s Security Minister next week Monday, government officials have confirmed. The Security Minister fell ill some two weeks ago and was recently flown overseas for medical attention.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds is also performing the duties of President Ramotar.

Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon told media workers at his Cabinet’s weekly press briefing that the Prime

...PM is acting Home Affairs Minister Minister is acting as both president and constitutionally, in the absence of a minister gazetted with the responsibility, the president assumes responsibility for that sector.

As President, the Prime Minister is therefore acting Home Affairs Minister.

Luncheon said. “I expect Minister Rohee to resume his functions as Home Affairs Minister on Monday 25.”

Rohee was admitted to

Woodlands Hospital on November 7, following reports of health challenges facing the Minister.

This caused Minister Rohee to miss several public appearances, including the Fourth meeting of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Commission on Monday where he was supposed to deliver the feature address.

Rohee, 63, is said to have undergone tests at a hospital

Minister of Homer Affairs Clement Rohee in the United States and is said to be coming along.

Minimum wages order sees increases in salaries, cost for services Cabinet is monitoring the implementation of the new minimum wage in the public and private sectors as the cost for the procurement of services and salaries have increased.

This is according to Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, during his post Cabinet press briefing yesterday, months after the new minimum wage order was implemented on July 1.

The order provides that full-time workers outside the public sector would not be paid less than $35,000 monthly, $8,000 weekly, or $200 (US$1) per hour, thanks

to the new national minimum wage that will be implemented from July 1.

He said that the two major areas in compliance with the minimum wage order involve financial considerations of cost increases associated with the eight-hour work day for full-time employees.

They are expected to work five days per week amounting to forty hours.

Dr. Luncheon said that because of the new minimum wage, salary and the procurement of services have increased. In the public sector the Ministry of Local Government has been

impacted heavily with Government having to find additional monies to pay sweeper/cleaners employed in the schools across the Regions. To meet the growing expense of the Linden Municipality’s Interim Management Committee Cabinet recently approved $9M to help the body offset its expenditure.

Though, the security guard services are privately owned, their services are contracted by Government to secure official residences and Government buildings. The implementation of the new minimum wages saw private

Melanie Damishana man stabbed with ice-pick In an effort to prevent a robbery, 48-year-old Lebert Thomas was stabbed about his body with an ice-pick by one of four bandits when he put up a fight with the men around 01:00hrs yesterday.

Thomas, a father of six of Lot 362 Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, is currently hospitalized at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) with four wounds about his body.

He was stabbed to his abdomen, to his left hand, once under his left arm and once near to his heart.

Yesterday, from his hospital bed, Thomas, who operates a beer garden at his home, said that he had just locked his shop and went to the outhouse when he heard some strange noise.

“I went out to investigate and I saw four men. I don’t know if they were going to rob me or the neighbours,” the father of six related.

He explained that he asked the men what they were doing there and an argument ensued between them, during which three of the four men escaped. The fourth that was left scuffling with Thomas, pulled out an ice pick and stabbed him before making good his escape.

A few years ago, Thomas was shot by bandits during an attempted robbery at his premises. Investigations are in progress

security services increasing the cost for their services.

“The minimum wages order has seen an escalation of prices in which security services are procured that directly lead to increases in wages, salaries and conditions of security services employees of the contractor in the public service,” he said.

According to Dr. Luncheon, in the private sector the Ministry of Labour continues to arbitrate in those instances where conflict, disputes and the need for clarification arises in the interpretation in the minimum wages order.

Lebert Thomas at the hospital yesterday

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Corriverton man jailed for 12 years after pleading guilty to manslaughter Mulshankar Sukharan, called ‘Greg’, 21, a fisherman of 24 ‘C’ No 79 Corriverton, Corentyne, who was charged with murdering Krishandat Kolandawel. called ‘Sham’, 40, was on Wednesday jailed for 12 years after he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Kolandawel, a fisherman of No 79 Corriverton, was killed during a fight at his home on Sunday April 3, 2011.

He appeared before Justice Dawn Gregory at the Berbice High Court.

Before the jury was sworn in, the accused through his lawyer Attorney at law Raymond Ali; indicated to the court that he wanted to adopt a certain course of action.

The accused then pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder, but guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

State Prosecutor attorney at law Renita Singh in her opening address, stated that about 18:15 hrs on the day in question the accused, Sukharan, and the deceased, Kolandawel, had a verbal exchange about the accused not being able to work and catch fish.

Kolandawel then returned to Sukharan house and verbally abused him. He told him to come to his house to meet him.

The accused then armed himself with a knife which he hid from the deceased and during a scuffle he stabbed Kolandawel on his neck and about his body.

He then hid the knife in his house but showed it to the police the following day after he was arrested.

She continued that two eyewitnesses had testified that on the day in question

the now dead Kolandawel had returned to Sukharan’s home and started making verbal threats.

He gained entry into the house by kicking and smashing in the front door with a chair. The men then emerged from the house in a scuffle and fell on the street.

During that time Kolandawel was ‘juck’ a few times. The men eventually parted. Kolandawel got up first and jumped a nearby fence then lay on the ground where he subsequently died.

Attorney at law Raymond Ali in a plea of mitigation asked the court to temper justice with mercy.

He said that his client expressed deep remorse ever since the incident happened and has thrown himself on the mercies of the court.

He stated that his client did not waste the court’s time.

The convict when given time to speak in open court expressed remorse for what happened. “I am sorry and beg for mercy.”

Justice Gregory said that despite the plea that he was attacked and provoked, his response was more of anger than self defence.

She stated that there was no evidence that he was attacked and despite the provocation his response was too severe.

She wanted to start with a sentence of 25years, but will have to do some deductions.

He will take away the two years he spent in jail another six years for his guilty plea and another five years for the provocation leaving with 12 years.

The accused relatives, including his grandmother, broke down in court and had to be consoled.

Ghana arrests Guyanese crew, seizes cocaine trawler Ghana - The Western Naval Command on Tuesday arrested a foreign vessel carrying 21 bags of a substance suspected to be cocaine.

The vessel, “ATIYAH, George-Town”, according to a source, was travelling from Guyana arrested and was escorted by Ghana Naval Ship, Yaa Asantewaa, to the Sekondi Naval Base.

The five men on board the ship together with the substances have been flown by a Military Helicopter to the

Nation’s Capital, Accra, for further investigation.

According to news reports, the vessel was a fishing one believed to have been registered as a trawler in James Town, a suburb of Accra, had had part of it converted and was being used to haul the cocaine.

The crew, including four Guyanese and one Ghanaian, have been arrested and handed over to the National Security and the Narcotics Control Board for investigations.

Page 11

GWI disconnects delinquent customers The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has expanded its countrywide disconnection activities for outstanding water service charges. According to Customer Services Manager Jeanette Thomas, while the disconnection campaign launched in June 2013 initially garnered a large response from customers, the utility has been experiencing a decline in revenues since October.

“Customers in particular areas simply refuse to respond to our appeals despite the fact that they are receiving excellent service,” stated the Customer Services Manager. “We are now forced to remove the entire service of customers who have not made any payments or attempted to resolve their debt with the utility company.

Thomas explained that the utility company launched several initiatives to recover outstanding debts including ‘Wallet-friendly Payment Plans’ which allow customers to pay their debt in small, flexible amounts.

“We also launched another phase of our Community Connect programme,’ stated Thomas. ‘We visited communities in Mahaicony, Timehri, Buxton, Annandale and Enterprise, East Coast Demerara; unfortunately the response was poor in some communities and we will be forced to remove the entire service of these customers who refuse to make any payments.

GWI Executive Director of Finance, Jaigopaul Ram, stated, “More than 50 per cent of our customer database is in debt and we are forced to take this action because our energy costs continue to increase. We have expanded water service on the East Coast of Demerara and we have improved our service in Georgetown, East Bank of Demerara and Bartica which has increased electricity costs.

“We cannot continue to provide water service at such high costs and not receive adequate revenues from our customers.”

In addition to payment plans and community outreach, GWI offered waivers to disconnected customers and those with large arrears. “This yielded minimal results,” said the Customer Services Manager.

“We have no option but to disconnect our customers, remove their entire service and have them start the process of registering for

a new service again.”

Thomas explained that disconnected customers would be required to visit the nearest GWI branch to register for a new service and pay the necessary penalties, including disconnection fees.

“GWI contractors and water service inspectors will be policing communities to ensure that disconnected customers do not illegally reconnect their service or tamper with GWI’s system’, stated the GWI Manager.

“Once disconnected, GWI contractors will return all equipment, including service connections and saddles to the company.

Customers will not receive a new service until they have paid and registered for a new service, paid all outstanding debt or signed a payment contract.”

Thomas said that GWI contractors have mobilized for the countrywide service removal from Monday November 18. Water Service Inspectors will be visiting disconnected customers to inspect for illegal activities or tampering.

“We are appealing to every customer with outstanding payments to visit the nearest branch,” stated Thomas. “Having to sign up for a new service and pay disconnection or tampering fees will be a long and arduous task for customers and must be avoided at all costs.”

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 21, 2013

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Really! Tendulkar is the world’s 29th greatest batsman?

One of the priceless values in life on which knowledge is based is research. Research removes the fiction and fallacy that your naked eyes bring to you.

And this is because when you observe a phenomenon over a period of time, what then is presented to you is what you see. But what about context?

It is only when you contextualize an activity, behaviour, process or phenomenon that the objective meaning is brought out.

The world’s attention was turned last week to a sad event – the retirement of one

of the globe’s greatest sporting icons - a not very tall and robustly built batsman in cricket by the name of Sachin Tendulkar.

Yet the people of India and countless others around the world think he is the best cricketer the game has ever seen. But there is a big BUT. Were we not glued to India to see the retirement last week of Sachin because of what our eyes told us - He has the most runs in cricket than any other and more century’s figures that may never be broken.

But what happens when the career of Sachin Tendulkar is contextualized? Prior to reading a brilliant

contextualization of the statistics of Sachin last week on the BBC, my choices were Don Bradman and Brian Lara as batsmen and Gary Sobers as the best cricketer in history.

After reading that BBC article which is a scholarly masterpiece, I am not sure if Sachin could still retain his place as numero uno in the eyes of educated people who know how to contextualize.

I hereby suggest you read, “Sachin Tendulkar: The 29th Best Batsman in the World?” by Ben Carter, BBC online edition, November 15, 2013. This is a superbly written academic analysis of Sachin Tendulkar’s career in which the writer quotes from ICC statistics, a potent book titled, “Masterly Batting: A Hundred Great Test Centuries,” by Patrick Ferriday and Dave Wilson and the IMPACT INDEX, a methodology invented by an Indian from India named Jaideep Varma.

Ben Carter in analyzing the materials from these sources has put Sachin

Tendulkar way below a dozen other batsmen, placing him at number 29. But what readers should know is that Carter didn’t arrive at this judgement as his opinion.

He relied on the sources he used. In other words, Carter contextualized.

Here is what Jaideep Varma did with his Impact Index methodology.

Varma looked at the impact each great batsmen has had on getting India out of dangerous, hopeless situations with their long, brilliant innings at the cease.

He concludes that Tendulkar is way behind Rahul Dravid when it comes to the value of Indian batting in terms of the impact it had on the game for India’s success.

Now this is not the statement of a non-Indian and this Indian writer did not choose someone from outside of India. His choice for the best batsman India produced is Rahul Dravid.

Carter ’s statistical comparison of Tendulkar with Rickey Ponting, Brian Lara,

Jacques Kallis and Kumar Sankakkara is fascinating and I am strongly suggesting you read it. As a matter of fact, I think anyone who is in love with Sachin but most of all, cricket, should read Ben Carter.

From the statistics seen, there is a fascinating piece of knowledge that has emerged.

Ricky Ponting is just two thousand runs behind Sachin’s accumulation but played 32 fewer tests.

Carter is arguing that in that context how can you put Sachin above Ponting?

It is a fair argument. The only thing Sachin would have going for him would be the phenomenal talent of being there for 200 Test matches.

Could any cricketer match that now or in the future?

But in terms of a great batsman, Ponting with just two thousand runs behind Sachin and played 32 fewer games than Sachin puts the Aussie in the spotlight.

Carter quotes from the book by Ferriday and Wilson and shows where out of the 100 great centuries, Sachin is

Frederick Kissoon given one while Brian Lara is allotted four. Carter does some fantastic juggling with context using various methodologies and relying heavily on ICC statistics.

His conclusions are that Sachin Tendulkar is not among the five greatest batsmen the world has seen.

But let us end this article with a simple statistic that all Caribbean people will find exciting. Sachin Tendulkar has 15,921 Test runs from 200 Test matches.

Brian Lara has 11,953 from 131 Test matches. Lara has 68 matches fewer than Tendulkar but only 4,000 runs less than Tendulkar.

You must be careful to conclude on the basis of matches played and runs scored that Tendulkar was the best. When contextualized, Sachin may not be.

Thursday November 21, 2013

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Kaieteur News

Frustrated farmers protest faulty koker at Alness ...demand that Armogan resign “Armogan must go!" scores of cash crop and cattle farmers of Hogstye, Manchester and Alness on the Corentyne shouted. They wanted the Region Six Chairman David Armogan, to resign.

The residents staged a picketing exercise in front of the Lancaster-Hogstye Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Alness Village and aired their grievances about a leaking koker which was constructed some three years ago by Anirud Contracting Services.

According to the angry and frustrated residents, despite numerous reports to t h e R e g i o n S i x Administration about the poorly- constructed koker, nothing has been done. As a result, their losses are accruing into hundreds of thousands of dollars due to the saltwater infestation

among their crops and their livestock, too, are dying at a rapid rate.

A cash crop farmer, Sherlon Brushe, complained that he has more than two acres of watermelons but is skeptical about what he will reap since the saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean seeping through the drainage structure is too much.

“What will become of them? We get animals in the back dam! What will they drink?! People living in this place here….is because here is 'Black' people area?” he questioned. The residents are claiming discrimination.

He claimed that all of the drainage and irrigation canals “are filled up with weeds.” They visited the officials at the Drainage and Irrigation Board housed in the Whim NDC “but only promises are being made.”

The irate residents are demanding that Armogan

Angry and frustrated farmers and residents protesting on Monday visit the community. “Ask him if he ever visited this community. Two times he

promised to visit the Whim Drainage Board but he never turned up,” Brushe said.

“He cannot be an administrator in Berbice. Let him run the trucks at the

estate!”

Another cash- crop (continued on page 19)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 21, 2013

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Pressure mounts for CJIA squatters' removal after stolen items, drugs found The seizure of suspected stolen motorcycles and a significant amount of marijuana in Timehri, not far from the airport, has prompted Government to again insist that it wants residents from the area removed.

Scores of families living in the North Timehri area are squatting, Government has claimed. The administration now wants them removed to make way for a US$150M expansion which is currently in the way.

The settlement is just northwest of the current terminal building and runway.

According to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport ( C J I A ) y e s t e r d a y, Government is alarmed about a number of incidents.

A 17-year-old living in the Timehri Fire Station area was recently slapped with several break and enter charges and has been remanded to prison until March 24, 2014 to stand trial.

During the early hours of November 14, last, Timehri police officers raided the abode where Ronslyn Clarke resides and confiscated four motorcycles (three of which were in parts); one camera; one refrigerator; three cell phones; two laptops and one pair of computer speakers.

“Ironically, police raided the same dwelling on November 1, 2013 and ultimately arrested and charged a couple – Stanley and Nikita Johnson – following the discovery of 1,406 grammes of cannabis.

“Stanley is currently serving three years for the drug charge while his wife was sentenced to 18

months,” the airport said in a statement.

The arrests of these individuals have prompted Minister of Public Works and Transport, Robeson Benn, to reiterate his concern for individuals living in such close proximity to the country's main port of entry – the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

According to him, the vulnerability of CJIA comes into question.

“That is one of the main reasons we want the squatters removed,” he stated. “Over the years, we have been faced with many security challenges with undesirables living close to the airport.

One of Guyana's most d a n g e r o u s criminals/terrorists (Rondell Rawlins also known as 'Fine Man) lived for months in the area. Imagine what could have happened if he had unleashed terror in the community,” he said.

Benn has since ordered CJIA officials to amass data to formulate a security impact assessment report.

According to CJIA, over the last few years, the airport facilities have been exposed to theft. In 2008, runway lights valued thousands of US dollars were stolen.

Police operations uncovered electrical cables at several locations in the Timehri squatting area.

Furthermore, burglars have breached the airport perimeter fence on a number of occasions to steal any accessible equipment and fuel from the Navigation Aids' storage facilities.

Navigation aids are critical to the safe over flight and (continued on page 24)

Page 15

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Kaieteur News

Fallen GPL live wires cause anxiety for Lusignan residents

F

or the past three months Bibi Amena Khan and her family have been forced to keep out of their backyard. Why? Because Guyana Power and Light has been negligent in removing some live wires that have fallen in their Lusignan Railway Embankment residence.

Khan told Kaieteur News that she has reported the matter to the power company but “all they do is come and look at it and gone.”

“They always say they gun look into it and gun come back,” she said adding that the last time the power company workers visited her residence was two weeks ago.

According to Khan the GPL

employees usually tell her that once people in the area are getting electricity, they do not have to remove the wires.

This newspaper visited Khan's residence only to find that thick bush had covered a portion of the wires, since the family has been unable to weed their yard out of fear of coming into contact with the wires.

To compound the issue, Khan said that her neighbours have been stealing electricity and this has been creating nervous moments for her.

“You could see de wire sparking every time dem put on something; all we light does deh blinking. Me nah care where dem get current from but me want de wire move,” she stressed.

Thursday November 21, 2013

Khan's husband bravely holds up the wires during a power outage yesterday.

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 21, 2013

Courts Christmas Light-up dazzles hundreds in New Amsterdam The magnanimous crowd which gathered outside the Courts Main Street, New Amsterdam Store for the Annual Christmas light- up. Cartoon heroes, Santa and his entourage arrive much to the excitement of the kiddies

Courts Guyana Inc. on Tuesday evening attracted a massive crowd at its Main Street, New Amsterdam store for the Berbice leg of the Annual Christmas Light- up.

The faces of the anxious children, as well as their parents, were lit up upon the arrival of Santa and his entourage.

Cartoon characters, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Dora, Batman, Big Bird, Spiderman, and even a princess along with Mrs. Claus arrived shortly after dark. Emcee of the evening's proceedings, Ms. Wanita Huburn, entertained the crowd in her unique way until it was time for Councilor of the New Amsterdam Mayor

& Town Council, Ms. Jennifer Conway, to lead the countdown and flick the switch until all the lights that were so positioned to illuminate the building, as well as the tree, were turned on.

Managing Director of Courts, Mr. Clyde de Haas was also present. Region Six Chairman, David Armogan, was the main speaker at the event. The children received sweets and other goodies that were distributed. Courts also partnered with Fly Jamaica that evening to sponsor a raffle drawing for a free airfare. The Courts Christmas Light- up was broadcast live on DTV-8 in Berbice.

Thursday November 21, 2013

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Kaieteur News

Teenager runs away with 20-year-old boyfriend - threatens to kill self if parents make report

K

hemraj Puran is worried sick o v e r h i s “ m i s s i n g ” 1 5 - y e a r- o l d daughter, Natalia Puran aka Talia. The family hails from Pearl Village, East Bank Demerara and is calling on her to “please come back.”

The teen went missing over a week ago but was in steady contact with the family. According to the disturbed father, an extreme ominous feeling made its

self present and has been growing over the last two days as the teen ceased all communications.

He said that even though the teen went off on her own with her 20- year-old boyfriend, he is still worried because he views her as a child who is just making some bad choices at the moment.

The father said that last week Wednesday night around 9:30 the girl, who is still a minor, packed some of

Frustrated farmers protest faulty ...

From page 13 farmer, Quacy La Rose, said, “I only hear about David Armogan…I don't know the Chairman for Region Six. I never see him…but I would be glad to know him.”

Ernie Park said that what is amazing is that “we continue complaining about our situations in this community.”

“We talked to the NDC right down to the regional office—even the President knows about this situation in Alness, so that's why we decide to make up our mind and come forward.”

He said that the residents enjoyed more cordial relations with former Region Six Chairman, Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha, “even if he comes and makes a promise. But this Chairman does not even know where the NDC is, and I believe it is a shame. Every time we see him, is only on the TV. “Crops just being destroyed and rice fields just left like that. All the drains in the community are just blocked up; we are crying out for help and we will continue to struggle and this is just a start.

“Some time we will be back with numbers and let our voices be heard in this country! We are citizens in this place and our voices have got to be heard!”

Raymond Campbell, a rice farmer at Manchester, complained about clogged drainage trenches. “I want them to look into this. I depend on drainage to drain my land and I want the Chairman or President to look into this thing.”

“Anirud is not fit to be a contractor because from the first day he started this project, the residents shared concerns. The President Mr. Donald Ramotar come and opened the koker and we gave our concerns to him

and vented our frustrations about how the koker was built. They listened to us but the contractor did not come back to rectify the work.

“We are very much concerned that our taxpayers' monies are going to waste and going into somebody's pocket. We are demanding a better service and it is time for this nonsense to stop. Contracts must be given to suitable people—who know about the specifications and able to do the work, not anybody to waste the people money—get serious Comrade Chairman!”

Upon an inspection of the koker, the sea water was pouring through the door of the structure. The residents are also concerned about a dilapidated bridge in the Alness area which school children use daily.

“Look at the rails! This morning a child's foot passed through the bridge!

This lawlessness has got to stop!” complained Campbell.

The Overseer of the NDC stated, “The Region called Tuesday morning (and said) that they award a contract. Works (on the faulty koker) are supposed to start as early as possible.”

She added that the NDC is currently without a Chairman.

When questioned about the clogged drainage and irrigation canals, she stated that “the region bring in some excavator so they are working from one NDC to the next.”

When further questioned as to whether Anirud Contractor will be penalized for substandard work, she said, “I can't really say. That is a contract awarded by the region.”

Efforts to contact the Region Six Chairman yesterday for a comment, proved futile.

her belongings and made her way off with the 20-year-old identified as Rajeean Rajhu.

This happened while the rest of the family was asleep.

Puran told Kaieteur News that the man his teenage daughter ran off with, was last employed at a sawmill and before that “used to run bush.”

He said that he fears that Rajhu may very well and expose his daughter to “bush life and you never know what can happen there.”

The father said he cannot

put his hand on a reason for his daughter's behaviour.

He said that he tried his best to keep her a part of the happy nuclear family they had.

According to Puran, a few months ago his daughter started acting in a distasteful manner.

He said however, that he thought that that was behind her after she underwent counseling and promised never to act in that manner again.

“She de reach a stage

where she use to leff to go one place and end up somewhere else and we carry she to welfare.

She de apologize and thing but now she gone again,” said Puran.

The father said that he felt compelled to make a missing person report since his daughter cannot possibly know what she is getting herself into.

The worried parent is calling on any member of the public who may know the likely whereabouts of his daughter to contact him on 266-5482, or contact the nearest police station.

Runaway teen, Natalia Puran

Page 20

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Ministerial advisor among six homeless in Vryheid's Lust fire What remains after yesterday's fire

Six persons, including Yvonne Pearson, the advisor to Minister Amerindian Affairs, are now homeless in the wake of a fire at lot 35 Vryheid's Lust Public Road, East Coast Demerara, yesterday.

Kaieteur News was told that the fire started some time after 13:00hrs yesterday. The upper flat of the building was completely destroyed while the lower flat suffered tremendous water damage.

According to Pearson, no one was home at the time of the fire. She said that her son was a short distance away from the house when a group of construction workers told him that the house was on fire.

Pearson said that by the time her son arrived the fire had completely engulfed the upper flat and he could not save anything.

Pearson was at work. She said that she received a phone call from her son telling her to come home

immediately. According to the woman the family could not estimate the loss. She told Kaieteur News that everything that the family has worked hard for was destroyed.

The occupant of the lower flat, Glen Baptiste, said that he was not at home when the fire started. He was tending to a roadside stall he operates a short distance from the house.

He said that neigbhours shouted to him that his house was on fire and he immediately rushed home. The man said that he attempted to save some items but only managed to save his chair set and a few pieces of clothing.

The house was being rented to the two families by the Board of Directors of the Ephraim Scott Memorial Presbyterian Church which is also located in the compound. Pearson is the former Head of the National Toshaos' Council.

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

‘D’ division Police Action Plan 2013…

Commander wants support from businesses and populace Police Commander Eric Bassant of the Guyana Police Force ‘D’ Division, located in Region Three unveiled the division’s Christmas Action Plan. This will see an increase in community and neighbourhood policing in the region to tackle crime and traffic congestion.

Commander Bassant, at a recent press briefing at the Leonora Police Station, West Coast Demerara, said that for their Action Plan to work effectively, they must get the support from the business community and the populace.

According to Deputy Commander Clifton Hicken who was present at the briefing, “The whole operation modus for the division during this Christmas period is one that is conducive for partnership.

“We ask the members of the public to come on board…This is the time where partnership is of utmost importance to the police force since we are going through a strategic reform and one of the key priority goals happens to be partnership.”

According to the Commander there is a “crime analysis policy report which we receive every month, it gives an overview of the measures of performance for the month whether there is a drop or increase in certain categories of crimes,” this report he states is used in collaboration with their findings.

He explained, “During 2012, we had an overall report of 245 instances dealing with crime, while we have a slight increase of 266 in 2013.” Bassant said that there has been a drop in murder, robbery where firearms are used, rape, break and enter and larceny.

In terms of traffic he said, “We have seen so far a, total of 12 fatal accidents which is below the figure for last year.”

Bassant, speaking on behalf of his division (which includes Wales, Lagrange, Vreed-enHoop, Dem Amstel, Leonora and Parika) detailed the various areas of focus. Ranks will be looking to ensure that the action plan work effectively to tackle crime and traffic.

According to the commander, emphasis will be placed on hotspots and roadblocks where there is need for attention. Deputy Commander Hicken said that “hotspots are just an analysis done by the police to identify and understand whether there is a crime pattern and potential for crime development.”

Some of the hotspots identified by the commander are Jetty squatting area, Best Village, Crane Housing Scheme, and La Parfaite Harmonie.

The commander said, “Patrols will be done on a rotation basis at Vreed-en-Hoop, Tuschen, Zeeburg, Anna Catherina, Parika, Zeelugt, Cornelia Ida Housing Scheme and other areas”. More ranks are to be placed on

Commander of the D division Eric Bassant foot patrol in both uniform and plainclothes to ensure safety of commuters during the Christmas season.

The commander said that roadblocks will be intensified to make sure that persons who are wanted are intercepted. He is urging persons to corporate with the road block officers.

Bassant added that based on the intelligence they receive from the public and business community; raids will be conducted accordingly.

The commander said that specific arrangements will be put in place to monitor the traffic congestion and crowd control within the villages that usually become very populated, more so within the context of Christmas.

He said that monitoring of the Demerara Harbor Bridge, gas stations and commercial banks would be a priority during the Christmas season. Anti crime patrols will be on a 24-hour rotation. This, he maintained, will be achieved by boosting the additional ranks with those stationed in office. He said, also, that the division will be boosted by additional ranks brought from the Essequibo training school to enhance their policing capacity.

“Our intention is to ensure that all activities within this division are done in an orderly manner to ensure that there is no interruption in the flow of traffic and this is due to the fact that there is an increase in commercial and social activities, there is always this influx of shoppers, increase in traffic flow and therefore, my team and I have put systems in place as to how we are going to do this, we also intended to insure that we have a peaceful and incident free Christmas,” said Commander Bassant.

Man plunges to death in search for lost gold The body of a 42-year-old miner and chainsaw operator was recovered Tuesday night, a day after he fell into a water-filled abandoned mining pit at Big Creek, North West District.

Leroy Creem, of Four Miles, Port Kaituma, reportedly jumped into the pit to recover a large quantity of gold that fell out of his batel.

Kaieteur News understands that Creem went missing on Monday but his body was not immediately recovered even after a search

was carried out in the pit.

One of his daughters, Shevon France, who also resides at Port Kaituma, told this newspaper via telephone that she learnt of her father’s demise on Monday afternoon from a cousin who is working in the same area that her father was.

“He say my father went punting and he find some gold about one or two ounces and it slip out he batel and he try fuh jump behind it,” France explained.

She said that she was later

told that her two younger brothers were with Creem but there was nothing that they could have done except to run for help. But by the time help arrived, Creem had disappeared under the water.

“The last time I saw him was last month. He tell me that he going in de back dam and he gun come home fuh de holidays,” France lamented.

The body was expected to be brought last night from the Big Creek Backdam to Port Kaituma where a post mortem examination will be performed.

Page 21

Rural constable shoots man in the butt A 25-year-old Foulis, East Coast Demerara man is currently nursing wounds on his rear at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) after he was reportedly shot by a member of a Community Policing Group on Sunday.

Relatives identified his shooter as Rural Constable Lennox Narine. They said that Rayon Sebastian was chased by two police officers and three rural constables because they claimed that he had broken and entered some building in the village.

However, according to Sebastian he was standing in the Enmore Primary School/ Ballfield yard when he noticed one of the RCs approaching him. He said that he then observed the said RC give a signal to another so he started walking at a fast pace.

He claimed that his uncle, Lennox Narine, being in the possession of a long gun also advanced towards him and in fright he jumped into the yard of one of the President’s guard when the bullet struck

him on the butt cheek.

Sebastian said that he then jumped some six fences and arrived at his grandmother’s yard at Hope West, Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

Relatives report that when the police posse entered the grandmother’s yard, she begged them not to shoot her grandson but a rank pushed the woman who recently suffered from a stroke down.

One family member said, “The children kept hollering and screaming but de officers dem didn’t lower dem gun even though he (Sebastian) deh under the house on the ground hollering out in pain.”

The relatives of the man said that he was left lying there for 30 minutes and during that time, the armed ranks argued with the family and stepped on the man’s feet on several occasions. They said that the wounded man at that time was bleeding profusely and screaming for his life. Sebastian who was

by that time drenched in blood,- was then dumped in a police van and taken to the GPHC where he is being kept under police guard.

His mother, Esther Sebastian, told this publication that her son had previously worked in the Policing Group and that his father is the officer who drives the prison truck on the East Coast.

The woman said that her son, who currently has five charges at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court, is always regarded by the police as the prime suspect in anything that occurs in the area. She said, “If anything happen they come after my son, if ten thing happen all ten is he.”

The family told Kaieteur News that Narine is Sebastian’s uncle. “Me nah see a vigilante get the right to shoot he. We feel this thing is like racialism.”

The family state the police are now claiming that it was a police officer who fired the shot.

Single mother of seven nabbed with marijuana in crotch Debra Scott, 49, a security guard and a single mother of seven, of Speculation, East Canje, Berbice, and Lakeram Baichan, 41, a father of two and a cane cutter of Adelphi Village, East Canje, Berbice, were on Wednesday remanded to jail by Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus when they appeared before her on a joint charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

According to reports the police stopped hire car HB 8259 at Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice and it observed that Baichan, the

number two accused, handing over a bulky parcel to Debra Scott. The woman then quickly hid the parcel in her crotch.

She was confronted by the police and she retrieved the parcel from her underwear and handed it over to the police.

The parcel contained a transparent plastic bag and when checked, contained what appeared to be leaves, seeds and stems of the marijuana plant. The contents were weighed and tested and found to be 21 grams of the prohibited plant.

Attorney-at-law Charrandass Persaud, who made an appearance for the two, asked that bail be granted since they are both sole providers of their families.

Prosecutor Sergeant Phillip Sheriff asked that bail be refused, citing the quantity of the drugs found.Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus then remanded the two to jail after ruling that no special circumstances were put forward for the granting of bail. They will have to return to jail on December 16, at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

Page 22

WANTED Contract cars- Contact City Taxi Service- 660-1100 / 2267150 One driver for the interior must have bus license Contact: 681-6044 Live in waitress to work in bar - Tel:665-7865 One live in domestic – Contact:658-9495; 6272550

Kaieteur News

VEHICLE FOR SALE Must See!!! 2002&2003 Premio - $2.5M, 2001 Carina 212 - $2.1M. All cars fully loaded & clean. Tel:226-5473

VEHICLE FOR SALE

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Dump Canters, Long & Short Canters, Pitbull & RZ minibuses, Sienta, Voxy, Liteace – Tel:257-3178; 650-5657

Toyota Tundra, Tacoma, Nissan Tittan, Ford F150 Parts in a hurry! - Tel:226-5473

17ft fiberglass boat with 175 Yamaha Seadoo jet ski – Tel:651-8870

VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, self-contained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community- Call:592-6248704/592-684-9203

Toyota Fortuna for sale.

Excellent condition, very low mileage – Contact:600-3320

One Cummings and Perkins mechanic to work in interior contact:681-6044

1 Toyota Caldina & Fielder Wagon, IST, NZE Corolla, Fun Cargo, AT212, AT192, Hilux pick up 4x4- Tel: 6445096, 697-1453

Experienced counter servers, roti/puri cooks, curry cooks, pastry makers & handyboys Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St.

1 Suzuki 600 GS X – R , 1 Toyota RAW- 4 & CERESTel: 644-5096, 697-1453

Security guard to work in Georgetown (Shift System) Apply in person – Tel:2185105

5L Toyota Hilux (Winch, mud grip tyres) Interior Ready – In Excellent Condition – Tel:667-2703 or 662-5570

One person to look after layer birds in interior- Tel: 681-6044

Unregistered Toyota Spacio 2003 model & Toyota Sienta 2004 – Tel:617-5536

One gasoline mechanic for interior must know to fix RZ, solid deff pick-up: Contact: 681-6044

1 Toyota Carina AT212.

Excellent condition – OCD model Gray – Tel:652-3066; 690-1611

Need 1 plot of Land to buy in Parfaite Harmonie Tel:675-7292

MASSAGE

Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252; 674-4665

T h e G e n t ’s S p a : L e t beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse availableCall: 657-5979

Looking for models, actors, dancer, singers, videographers and photographers. Male or female contact:592-609-0845 Honest live in domestic (single or widowed) - Call: 646-1758, 646-9574.

Between: 9am – 4:00pm, attractive salary offered One male for 11pm to 7am shift – Tel:650-0104 1 Labourer – Call:226-3736 Live in domestic. Must know to cook Indian dishes, live in waitress, salary $50,000 Tel: 610-3974 3 washbay attendants; male or female between 18-25yrs – Tel:227-5169 Salesgirls & porters: Apply with written application @ Best Buy Food Supplies: Lot 1E Middleton & Dennis Street Campbleville One experienced Nail technician, specialized nail art design, air brush and hair extension – Tel:231-6000 Furniture store wanted one experienced production manager are one Auto cad / draft person - Contact: 6571414 One cook for the interior to cook in a home- Tel:6816044;666-6836 Barbers – Tel:683-1534; 6094983

Thursday November 21, 2013

First Class Auto: Premio, Axio, Passo, Runx, Allex, IST, Fielder, Raum – Call:609-8188; 602-6307 2 - 2007 Toyota Avensis Tel:698-0674 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & cheap RZ buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / termsCall:680-3154 ALYEA’S AUTO SALE: PREMIO 2003/2004. ALL PRICES ARE NEG. 40 CROAL STREET STABROEK- TEL:2317284/ 622-3823

Eccles 3 bedroom (one master) House - $25M Call Diana:227-2256; 626-9382 Property for sale- Call:6275416 House & land @ Lot 35 Middle St. Mc Doom; minor repairs. $8.5m negotiableTel: 601-0803, 664-5985 Durban Backlands: Squatting houses. Selling price $1M – Tel:231-2199; 618-7483 Two flat 6 bedrooms house $12.8M negotiable – Tel:6044174; 619-5332

Mitsubishi Galant Car, fully loaded – Tel: 227-7544; 6122542, 614-6011.

Prime 2- storey concrete building dimensions 80x23, 6 bedrooms, 2 master bedrooms @ Leonora opposite to Primary School – Tel:652-0709; 268-3572

1.5 & 2 Tonne open back canter, power gate $2.4M, unregistered - Tel:617-2891

House (20x30) & Land @ lot 1523 Block 8 Tuschen EBE – Tel:268-2759/ 660-4043

2005 Tacoma 1995 V6 4x4 Tacoma – Tel:651-8870

Lot 1302 Section B Block X Great Diamond EBD – Tel:698-0317

Toyota Passo PNN Series $1.8M – Tel:681-6066

One registered NZE Corolla - Call: 652-3820; 665-4529 2008 Fielder – $2.7M, Premio$2.5M, Spacio $2.1M, Unregistered – Tel:617-2891

Meadowbrook - $9.5M, East Coast – $11M , Alberttown $31M, Highway (28acres) @400,000 per acres – Call Diana – 227-2256; 626-9382

1 Datsun Pick-up with Canopey. As is where is! – Tel:226-5199; 628-8553 WANTED Scrap metal – Tel:658-8045; 658-8044 Space for gym in Georgetown or immediate environment – Tel:647-4587; 615-5315 Labourers for wood concession. Accommodation Provided, $5,000 per day Tel: 642-3899 Chain saw operator with own saw – Tel:642-3899 CLEANING LADY WITH EXPERIENCE AND MATURE FOR OFFICE/ SHOWROOM. POLICE CLEARANCED AND REFFERENCE NEEDED – CALL:231-8529

We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 1 Toyota 212, 1-Toyota AT212, 1- 91 Corrola, 1 Corrola Axio 4WD (new model) never registered call:259-0836, 621-7838 One Toyota Tacoma Extra Cab GMM Series - $1.2M & One AT192 Toyota Carina PLL Series - $1M –Tel:678-2298

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1 Toyota Allion – PNN 736 Series – Tel:225-0709; 6828876

1 Live-in maid to work in Diamond – Tel:664-5199

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Looking for 1 female to work in the interior in a shop – Tel:664-5199

One good Toyota RZ mini– bus, good condition $650,000 – Tel:265-4164

1 land to buy in Linden – Tel: 697-0054; 686-2201.

Preferably Amelia’s Ward

AE100 Corrola @ $975,000, 212 Carina @ $975,000 – Tel:611-6632

FOR SALE

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

5 acre fruit bearing organic farm with small cottage to lease or purchase. Leases $120,000; purchase US $ 145,000 – Call 261-2988

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– Tel:626-2771 5 Head & 7 Head Moulders, 150Kw Genset, CC Saw, Resaw – Tel:626-0024; 6165595; 665-3676 NISSAN WINGROAD PRR SERIES - TEL: 695-4785 1-320 Cl excavator excellent condition – Tel:699-3992 1 New ASCO automatic change over switch, 200 amps Tel: 694-7817; 612-1351

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Potting soil, top soil and quality cow mould - Call: 6561326; 678-0058 Laptops, 4GB from $85,000Tel: 611-3038 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call:225-9032,647-2943 Almost new Honda 6500 watts generator on wheels only 18 hours $ 445,000 – Call: 261-2988

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Contact:220-1981; 690-1945

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Massey, Yanmar Ford 5000 Logging/ Agriculture Tractors, parts, Loader & Ford Truck- Call:615-1578/ 694-3595: Tools & Chainsaw668-2831

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Closing Down Sale!

Imported antique furniture, bed sets and centre table & consoles – Tel:622-3587 Pure bred pit-bull pups – Call:685-1231

White 2008 Tacoma 4x4 lift kit, off road tyres. Excellent condition- Call:610-5370 HILUX SOLID AXLE PICKUPS, unregistered, in excellent condition – Call:691-2077

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One CAT 320 BL excavator in good working condition Tel: 275-0578; 660-4021 1 22-RB long boom aircontrolled dragline in good working condition with 3.5ton hammer, helmet & drag bucket. Tel: 275-0578; 6604021

Xantrex Trace Inverter/ Charger TR3624 3600 Watts Sell- $250,000 (Neg.) Contact: GlobeSpan Technology 269-0140, 269014, 269-0142

One CAT 120G Motor Grader with Scarifier in good working condition Tel: 2750578; 660-4021 One pure bred female Rottweiler pup - Call: 2206879 Live/pluck chicken call:6504421, 220-9203

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Curtains and carpet for sale - Call: 219-3732 after 6PM

1 Raum PMM - $1.4M, 2006 Hyundai Tuscon Jeep $2.9M, negotiable – Tel:6716051

Games PS2 $900, PSP $900, X-Box 360 $2600 & PS3 $2600- Call:672-2566 Original Games- Call:6722566

Hi / low HID kits (crystal lights) cheapest in 6T – Call: 601-4640; 216-3214 270 Amps, portable welders - Telephone: 611-5114 One pools table - Tel: 686-7180 FOR SALE / FOR RENT American pool table – Tel: 227-0578 ADOPTION Free! Free Puppies for adoption! Contact Mohanie Kayman 618-8039

Fluffy Dachshund pups – Tel: 642-6664 SAWMILL COMPLEX design to produce 40,000 BM per week export & local market. Wanted log Kabakallie, etc. Tel:684-5868 2-50 Feet fishing boats complete with 400 LBS bangamary nets, 2-48 Yamaha engines. Call: 2202259; 220-9325; 220-3133 (Continued on page 23)

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Linden trio remanded for stealing from church “I am a Christian your worship, I will not break into a Church and steal madam” was the plea of one of the three men accused of stealing a quantity of musical equipment from the Flourishing Church – Divine Place of Worship on Republic Avenue, Mackenzie, Linden.

Ray Wilson, Ryan Samuels and Lenard Moore yesterday pleaded not guilty before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to a Break and Enter Larceny charge which alleged that between November 1718, they stole one amplifier valued at $190,000, one equalizer valued at $55,000, four 15 inch speakers valued at $100,000, one crossover valued at $40,000 and one mixer valued at $120,000. The total value of items stolen is $520,000, property of the said church.

An indictable Robbery under Arms charge was also read to the trio which claimed that on March 3, at West Watooka, they robbed Audrey London at gunpoint of one gold chain valued at $300,000, three gold rings valued at $60,000, one BlackBerry cellular phone

valued at $140,000 and $70,000 cash.

On the allegation of Break and Enter , Police Prosecutor Corporal Vernette Pindar told the court that on November 18, the police were on mobile patrol duty at the Mackenzie area when at between 3:00hrs - 4:00hrs they stopped and searched a car, which was driven

by Samuels, with Wilson and Moore as passengers.

Prosecutor Pindar stated that the search uncovered the items stolen musical equipment and further investigations revealed that it was the church’s property.

The court also heard that Moore admitted that he was the one who committed the act while Wilson and Samuels were lookouts.

As it relates to the robbery charge, the Prosecution told the court that on March 3, at about 9:30hrs, London, who was walking on the West Watooka Public Road was held at gunpoint by Wilson and relieved by Samuels and Moore of the items mentioned.

Pindar stated that the trio was brought before the court eight months after committing the offence because the police

Venezuelan women fined for illegal entry Yesterday, Melanie Grace Cox Rodriquez and Genesis Vieira appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where they were told to either pay a fine of $30,000 each or spend the next three months behind bars for the charges of illegal entry which were read to them. Both women pleaded guilty to the charges which alleged that on November 11,

at Charity, on the Essequibo Coast they entered Guyana by sea and disembarked without the consent of an Immigration Officer.

Speaking through Interpreter Stephanie Mohansingh, the Venezuelan women stated that they have no prior convictions and explained that they visited Guyana for the ‘holidays.’

Rodriquez and Vieira opted to pay the fine.

were only recently successful in apprehending them.

However, Samuels who is market vendor and taxi driver stated that he was driving on the morning in question when he was approached by Wilson who was heading to Kara Kara, Mackenzie.

According to Samuels, Wilson then entered his car with two “salt” bags and a blanket.

Moore, a “clothes seller” told the court that on the same Sunday morning, he was coming from Club L&L when he solicited a drop from Samuels who already had Wilson in the car. He stated that he merely entered the car as a passenger to be transported home.

Meanwhile, Wilson who is a miner and mason told the court that “I have the responsibility because I have stolen property but I purchased it from two guys.

I didn’t know the stuff was stolen. I gave the police the name of the guys I purchased the stuff from.”

Moore accused one Inspector Singh of torturing him to confess at the police station. “A police placed a towel in my mouth and put a knife to my neck telling me “Talk talk talk.” He then placed a black plastic bag over my face two times and I couldn’t breathe. It’s illegal to torture people,” He said After listening to the plea of the Amelia’s Ward men, the Chief Magistrate stated that she approved the prosecution’s objection to bail on account of the seriousness and prevalence of the offence as well as the fact that the men are flight risks.

She then remanded them to prison. The matter was transferred to the Christianburg Magistrates’ Court where it will be heard on December 18.

(From page 22)

Man jailed for stealing dress

“It fall off and ah pick it up and put it in ma dust bax” said an East La Penitence man yesterday as he was convicted by the Chief Magistrate for the offence of simple larceny committed on R&R Imports on America Street.

Troy Lyte yesterday pleaded guilty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to the charge which alleged that on November 18, he stole a $2000 dress from the store headed by Rabindra Rampersaud.

Police Prosecutor Corporal Bharat Mangru told

the court that the store usually displays clothes on mannequins and at about 16:00hrs on the day in question, Lyte disrobed the mannequin and strolled away with the dress.

The court heard that when the man was arrested, he admitted to stealing the item and was subsequently charged.

After listening to Lyte’s admission, Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry told him that he was old enough to know the consequences of his actions and sentenced him to two months behind bars.

CAR RENTAL First Choice Car Rental: Cars as low as $5,000 per dayCall: 668-0306 / 694-7817/ 225-6337 Wings Car Rental- Call: 643-1131 A i d a n ’s C a r R e n t a l & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807 Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www.dollysautorental.com Premio, Vitz call:679-7139

LAND FOR SALE House lot for sale on the West Bank of Demerara Harbour bridge in Harbourville contact # 6500402 Non- Pariel, Eccles, Herstelling 100ftX60Ft $4M-$5M – Tel: 218-5591; 675-7592 Promising Gold and Diamond mining lands in various areas – Tel:699-3992 Land on Highway to River side 28acres @400,000 per acres Call Diana:227-2256; 626-9382 110 Acres @ Mahaicony Tel: 225-3070; 686-4994

LEARN TO DRIVE B & C Driving School: Lot 5 Hadfield streer Lodgecall: 225-0150,229-7258, 680-6826 Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964 Ultravoilet Driving School Tel: 226-0765; 602-2583 (Gwenette)

VACANCY Vacancy exist for one experienced cosmetologist on the EBD ( Grove) Contact: Ms Rashrie call: 652-5800 Garden maintenance staff needed for Landscape Company 18-28 years. No education necessary - Tel: 648-1821 Vacancy exists for experienced cooks and counter clerks - Tel: 696-9999

TO LET Furnished 2-bedrooms top flat & 2 bedroom bottom flat apartment for overseas guests @ Bent St, Wortmanville – Phone:2222778/640-4130/226-3309 Harmony Inn: Apartments fully furnished, airconditioned apartments: As low as $5000 per night- Call: 668-0306/6028769/ 694-7817

GME real estate seeks an agent paid only by commission: 231-2199, Text: 618-7483

Furnished two bedroom apartment in Linden for short term local & overseas guests – Tel:444-4704; 6144415

Vacancy exists for experienced cashier & salesgirls. Apply in person @ Fabric World, 140 Regent & Light Street.

One bedroom unfurnished apartment, Grove New Housing Scheme E.B.D $35,000 – Call:642-1956 After 6PM

Vacancy exist for one experienced gas/diesel mechanic - Tel: 225-6158 or 223-6055

One bedroom apartment to rent at Parafaite Harmonie WBD $18,000.00 per month – Tel: 668-0306; 394-7817

Night Security. Apply: Avinash, Water Street - Tel: 226-3361; 227-7828 An Industrial Electrician with qualification & Experienced.

Apply to Technical Services Inc 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles EBD

Short term rental (fully furnished 2 bedroom apartments – Tel:222-7891; 609-9202.

1 Bedroom apartment @ Uitvlugt Housing Scheme West Coast Demerara – Tel:680-4990 Two bedroom flat to rent in Alexander Village – Tel:6881647

SERVICES Professional and affordable landscaping and tree trimming services. BUDRAM’S LANDSCAPING SERVICES Call: 656-1326; 678-0058

MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call:678-7499

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,6626045,223-8115 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call:225-9032,647-2943 We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000- CALL: 694-9843/227-2766 Text your name & Address for a Gospel Package - Tel: 675-7292

Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call:6797139 Kitty - $65,000, Atlanic Gardens – US900, Providence – US1250- Call Diana:227-2256; 626-9382

FOR RENT Furnished top flat house, Queenstown, generator, A/C, Grille & parking -Tel:227-1218 or kpthomas7@gmail.com Ground Floor Office space, Queenstown, generator, A/ C, grille & parking - Tel:2271218 or kpthomas7@gmail.com

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

Property rentals at different price- Tel: 231-2199, 618-7483

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Classes starting January 2014. Full course only $80,000 - Call: 614-6655; 2266705

One barber station / hair station / one nail station in Kitty area – Contact: 622-7031 or 670-4270

Professional & affordable salon service: Hair care, nail & skin care – Contact Amrita: 680-2609

Furnished apartments $70,000 monthly - Tel: 687-3017

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 21, 2013

La Penitence goldsmith Irresponsible Gold mining being... robbed at gunpoint The building in which the goldsmith operates.

A popular Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown goldsmith called “Tayo” was robbed at gunpoint yesterday. He retaliated by shooting at the duo, hitting one in the arm while the other fled on a motorcycle.

Police are yet to apprehend the perpetrators who visited the goldsmith’s business place under the guise of being customers who wanted a gold chain cleaned.

The goldsmith has been in operation for over a decade.

Reports are that the

robbery occurred at 11:20 hrs yesterday. The robbers who were wearing three-quarter pants were not masked and had parked a motorcycle several feet away. One of the robbers then whipped out a handgun and hit the goldsmith in the head and face. The goldsmith who had an assistant with him was placed on the ground face down.

Knowing that the goldsmith was a licenced firearm holder, the bandits checked him thoroughly and looked around his business

place for the weapon to no avail. However, after the robbers left the goldsmith retrieved his weapon and discharged three rounds behinds them.

Residents in the area noted that the goldsmith always boasted that he was untouchable and was never robbed. This has since changed. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he received a medical certificate and later gave a statement to the police.

Businessman remanded for possession of arms, ammunition A 20-year-old mining business operator is now a remanded prisoner after he was yesterday brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on two charges; unlawful possession of firearms and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Ravi Samaroo of 363 Mon

Repos, East Coast Demerara pleaded not guilty to the charges which alleged that on November 18, at Port Kaituma; he had in his possession two rounds of .32mm ammunition and a 1.32mm Taurus Pistol without being the holder of a firearm license. Police Prosecutor Corporal Bharat Mangru stated that Colwyn Johnson,

The access road in Region Eight Minihaha where the miners are dredging close to the road and on the road itself

the owner of the weapon, visited Gold Nugget Run, the business operated by the accused at Trade Line, Port Kaituma where he lodged his gun . The court heard that when Johnson attempted to reclaim his weapon, he discovered that it was missing.

Mangru said that acting on information received, the police went into the defendant’s home and found the firearm concealed therein. According to Mangru, Samaroo claimed that he was asked to keep the gun.

The Prosecution objected to bail on account of the seriousness and prevalence of the offence committed.

Mangru also stated that no special reason was given by the defendant for bail.

Attorney at Law Sase Gunraj who represented the accused stated that Samaroo has had no brushes with the law and made an application for bail. Gunraj disputed that his client is a flight risk and opined that the likelihood of a similar offence being committed by Samaroo is negligible.

The Chief Magistrate refused bail and transferred the matter to the Matthew’s Ridge Magistrates’ Court where it will be called again on February 3.

Part of the road that has been dug up From page 3 the punters (persons who would go and work in the wake of the larger mining companies) would get their shovels and go to work.

This, the resident said, contributes to serious problems since the punters would dig up the soil close to the roads and don't refill the holes they create, the consequences of which is that as soon as anything heavy

passes on the road it caves in.

According to Herman, “Persons have claims and block concessions in the North Fork and Konawaruk area and have to use this road. If we do not protect it we would pay double.”

As such he is calling on the miners to desist from mining irresponsibly and fill up the holes when they are finished.

Pressure mounts for CJIA squatters...

Government has insisted that squatters in Timehri airport vicinity will have to remove after drugs and stolen items were found recently.

Pressure mounts for CJIA squatters' removal after stolen items, drugs found

From page 15 landing of commercial aircraft. When these aids are rendered inoperable, Air Traffic Control's workload increases as they will have greater difficulty in ensuring the safe separation of aircraft flying in Guyana's airspace, CJIA said yesterday.

There are more than 500 persons living in the area. Residents have insisted that they are not squatting but were recognized and promised that they would have been regularized. Some even have power and water and are operating shops. Residents have claimed that they lived there for over 30 years.

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Actions of top aide to Canada PM were corrupt, police suspect (Reuters) - A former top aide to Prime Minister Stephen Harper is being investigated for acting corruptly when he cut a personal check to help a disgraced senator repay his expenses, according to police documents released yesterday.

The documents, which underpin a request for more information, quote a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigator as saying he suspects Harper’s former chief of staff, Nigel Wright, “did directly or indirectly corruptly” give money to Senator Mike Duffy, then a member of the governing Conservative Party.

The statement, which has not been proven in court, will increase pressure on Harper over what has become one of the biggest scandals to hit the Conservatives since they came to power in early 2006.

The party’s popularity has slipped since news emerged in May that Wright had given Duffy a check for C$90,000 ($86,540) to cover expenses he had inappropriately claimed. The

Nigel Wright Conservatives now trail the opposition Liberals in public opinion polls.

Canadian law forbids people from offering legislators money that is linked to their official duties.

Harper insists he did not know about the payment and would have vetoed it had he known what Wright, at the time an enormously influential and powerful official, was doing.

“I have seen no evidence that the prime minister was involved in having Senator Duffy’s legal bills paid,” the police investigator said.

Wright, who could face a

jail term of up to 14 years if charged and convicted, has repeatedly denied he did anything wrong. “I acted within the scope of my duties and remain confident that my actions were lawful,” he said in a statement.

The affair has nevertheless become a big embarrassment for Harper, who came to power promising to clean up government. The next federal election is not due until October 2015.

Under pressure from Harper’s office, the Senate this month voted to suspend Duffy and two other Conservative senators over their expense claims.

All three said they were following Senate rules and that their suspensions were carried out without due process. The three are also all under criminal investigation by the police, but no charges have been laid.

“The PM knows, in broad terms only, that I personally assisted Duffy when I was getting him to agree to repay the expenses,” Wright said in an email. He gave no details.

Harper’s office appeared to dismiss that idea.

Page 25

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 21, 2013

Integrity Commission dismisses concerns of Attorney General PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – CMC - The Integrity Commission has described as “misleading and inaccurate” recent statements made by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan regarding the probe being conducted by the Commission into his purchase of two luxury Range Rover vehicles.

Ramlogan had questioned the fairness of the Commission after it acknowledged that it had started the probe without informing him of the matter.

Ramlogan said he found it strange that an investigation plan had been agreed on September 23, and that a letter drafted to notify him of these developments was never sent.

“The Integrity Commission is asking me to believe this was an ‘error’. No explanation whatsoever was provi-ded as to how this alleged error occurred. It is too fundamental an error and cries out for an explanation.

“It is the most obvious, basic and elementary first step in any investigation that the person against whom the complaint is made must be notified of the allegation made against them and be given the opportunity to respond. This is the established practice and pro-cedure of the Integrity Commission,” Ramlogan said.

Romlogan had written to the Integrity Commission on numerous occasions asking whether a probe had started based on a complaint filed by opposition legislator

Fitzgerald Hinds on July 23.

But in a full page advertisement in the local media, the Commission said that the “recent statements” by Ramlogan “are misleading and inaccurate and could lead to serious misunderstanding on the part of the public” The Commission said that it was “under no obligation to apologise to Mr. Ramlogan” and that It merely extended discretionary courtesy in view of the sixweek period that had elapsed between September 23rd when the investigation commenced and November 7th when he accused the Commission of suppressing his letters questioning whether or not a probe had indeed started.

Maintaining the pressure KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent– St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves maintained his criticism of the Constitutional Court ruling in the Dominican Republic that could render, stateless, thousands of Haitian descendents in that Spanish-speaking country.

Gonsalves, who has already written two letters to President Danilo Medina, said the country cannot use sovereignty and the doctrine of on-

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves interference in internal affairs to shield itself from criticism over the court ruling on September 23.

“It is a fundamental

m a t t e r o f h u m a n i t y, o f civilised life, that you are a citizen in the country where you are born. There are some narrow bands of cases where a country may say if you just happen to be passing through, in transit, you take the citizenship of your parents.

“But how can a man be transiting through the Dominican Republic since 1929? That’s absolutely ridiculous!” said Gonsalves, adding “that’s absolute rubbish! It is offensive to all right thinking persons and they must know that”.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders are s c h e d u l e d t o m e e t in Trinidad later this month to discuss the m a t t e r.

Informed sources told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the talks, which were scheduled for this weekend, would most likely take place on Tuesday next week.

Gonsalves, who has emerged as the most vocal regional leader on the issue in the Dominican Republic, told reporters that he was aware of the argument of non-interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country.

“I confronted it in the first letter I wrote to President Madina of the Dominican Republic. I said that persons may raise the fig leaf of sovereignty and the doctrine of noninterference in the internal matters of a state. There are certain a matter which transcend these,” Gonsalves said.

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Guyana Legion and Gittens to host Two-Day Dominoes Tourney Popular dominoes organiser Lyall Gittens has teamed up with the Guyana Legion to host a dominoes competition on Friday and Saturday that will be held a t t h e L e g i o n ’s H a l l , Carifesta Avenue.

Among the teams already confirming that they will be in contention for the top prize of $120,000 are Rage, Police, Banks

DIH, Ansa McAl, F&H Printers, Ministry of Works, All Seasons, La Belle, Specialists and Regal.

Entrance fee is $10,000 with the second to fourth placed teams to receive, $60,000, $30,000 and $10,000 respectively. The first player to share a double love will be rewarded with $3,000 and a trophy.

Page 27

Rising Sun Judo Dojo preparing for several upcoming events

Lyall Gittens Members of the Rising Sun Judo Club posing after a tough groundwork session, instructor Bruce Fraser is the first from left.

Thursday November 21, 2012 ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 19): A social event today could put you in contact with some old friends who mean a great deal to you. The occasion will be very warm and friendly, though you may feel a little subdued. *************************** TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20): Working closely with someone might bring up some strong, warm affection between you. It may or may not be a romantic attraction, but if it is, don't read too much into it now. *************************** GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20): Love, affection, and romance seem to be all around you. Strong unity with close friends, family members, and your romantic partner may well up throughout the day. *************************** CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22): Strong psychic impressions about absent friends or family members may come to you today. All are apt to be positive, though you might find it disconcerting. You might even think it more so if you learn your intuition was right! *************************** LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22): Today you could intuit powerful feelings of affection from someone you might be romantically attracted to. You could feel a rush of exhilaration from this experience before your skeptical side kicks in to say it's all wishful thinking. ************************ VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22): Your kindness and good manners could pay off today.

Someone who respects you a great deal might offer you an opportunity to advance that increases your income. You may have known this person for a long time, and the two of you work well together.

LIBRA (SEP 23 - OCT 22): Love and romance are going marvelously well today.

If you're attached, affection continues to grow between you and your partner. *************************** SCORPIO (OCT 23 NOV 21): You tend to be intellectually inclined. Today you might put some of your knowledge to work in a creative way. Your intuition and imagination are working overtime. *************************** SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 - DEC 21): A loving, supportive letter or call from a close friend could be just what the doctor ordered today. You may feel overworked and a little pessimistic about any plans you've made. *************************** CAPRICORN (DEC 22 JAN 19): Today you may come up with some attractive new ideas to advance your career and increase your income. *************************** AQUARIUS (JAN 20 FEB 18): Today you might experience a rush of spiritual insights. Whatever comes to you seems clear and right, and it could inspire music, poetry, or painting. The only problem might be that these insights may disappear if you don't write them down right away.

Visions from the other side can be ephemeral. *************************** PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20): Today you could receive some unexpected good news regarding the impending arrival of money that you've anticipated for a long time.

This will be very welcome news and worthy of a celebration, although you still might not believe it. Believe it! Your long wait is over. Now you have to resist the temptation to spend it all in one place.

The Rising Sun Judo and Jiu-Jitsu club (Marian Academy Dojo) has been very hard at work lately in both educating/promoting

Judo to the public and preparing members for its upcoming Ne-waza/ Submission grappling tournament slated for

December 1st 2013 at its Marian Academy Dojo. It is going to be the second such tournament to be hosted by the club, the last one being in 2010, the tournament being an invitational one, has already attracted the attention of the other clubs such as Alpha MMA, Marian Judo Academy and Black Hawks with a view of participating.

The Rising Sun Judo and Jiu-Jitsu club would also like to congratulate Randy Phillips, Alex Jarvis and Yara Silva on their recent promotions in rank and competition achievements.

GCU&SA congratulates successful umpires The Georgetown Cricket Umpires and scorers Association (GCU&SA) has extended congratulations to the umpires who were successful at the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA) 2013 final written examination.

The umpires are Ryan Banwarie, Leyland Liverpool, Shameer Hussain, Chattnarine Persaud and FIFA referee Deon Feassal. The GCU&SA would like to encourage the umpires to continue their formal training and complete Oral and Practical Examinations in 2014.

Page 28

Kaieteur News

City Inn /Intercity Taxi Upper Corentyne 10/10 Inter Primary School cricket competition

Massay, Reid lead No. 56 primary school to victory

The Winning team No. 56 Primary School along with the Sponsor and executives of the UCCA. The City Inn Suites/ Inter City Taxi Service 10/10 Inter Primary Scho o l c r i c k e t competition for schools in the Upper Corentyne concluded on Friday at the Crabwood Creek Cricket ground with No. 56 Primary School winning both of their matches to come out with top honours.

No56 Primary first defeated Crabwood Creek Primary by 6 wickets and then returned to defeat Massiah Primary by 60 runs in the final round playoff, which featured the winners of the different zones.

In the first game Crabwood Creek (CWC) Primary batted first and scored 83 for 6 in their allotted 10 overs with Lakhraj Beepat top scoring with 16. Bowling for No. 56

Primary Nicholas Reid took 2 for 4.

No. 56 Primary in reply reached 86 for 4 in 9.4 overs with Nicholas Reid 13 not out. Bowling for CWC Primary Michael Abrahim took 2 wickets.

In the final game, No. 56 Primary batted first and raced to 136 for 4 off their 10 overs with Samuel Massay 51 and Nicholas Reid an unbeaten 44. In reply Massiah Primary were restricted to 76 for 7 in their allotted 10 overs.

Bowling for No. 56 Primary, Samuel Massay took 3 for 4 in 2 overs.

The Man of the match award was shared by Nicholas Reid and Samuel Massay, whilst Reid also received a special prize as being the talented young emerging cricketer.

A trophy and a gift certificate value $15,000 was given to the winner No 56 Primary team whilst CWC Primary, Massiah and No. 56 Primary also received a trophy and a gift certificate value $10,000 each for being the winners of their respective zones.

The executives of the UCCA took the opportunity to thank Mr. Krishnand ‘Hemchan’ Jaichand, proprietor of City Inn Suites and Inter City Taxi Services, for coming forward and sponsoring the competition. He stated that next year will be even better. The primary school tournament is aimed at bringing back interest in cricket among the younger generation in the Upper Corentyne area.

From page 32 Amsterdam’s Melissa Byass (2:31.4) was second while Cassie Kirton (2:33.6) was third in the race.

The trend continued in the Boys’ race when Ornesto Thomas, also from the East Coast lowered Grivon Grant’s 2:01.6 at National Stadium last year, with his new mark of 2:00.1; North Georgetown’s, Orin Prince (2:02.2) was second, while Upper Demerara’s Shaquillew Smartt was third with 2:02.7 seconds.

We s t D e m e r a r a ’s

Rondel Austin won the Boys U-20 800m in 2:11.3 with Corentyne’s Denzil Leitch (2:11.4) second and West Coast Berbice’s Collis Burnett (2:11.9) third. Upper Demerara’s Shenicka Chapman won the female race in 2:32.4 seconds.

Jomal Johnson also smashed an 800m record in the U-16 Boys race when he lowered Ricardo Martin’s 2:05.5 at National Stadium in 2007 with his 2:04.1 performance. North Georgetown’s, Anfernee Headecker (2:06.5) was

second while West Coast Berbice’s, Ruel Chester (2:09.0) was third.

Double CARIFTA Gold medallist, Upper Demerara’s Cassey George ran 2:23.6 to win the Girls U-16 800m ahead of West Coast Berbice’s Delicia Harper (2:29.4) and West Demerara’s Kezra Murray (2:34.1).

Jeremy Garrett (2:12.8) lowered Dexroy Nestor 2:13.8 at the National Stadium in 2007 to continue to rewrite Nationals record books yesterday.

Thursday November 21, 2013

Mayor Green Inter-Ward/Village Football tourney continues tomorrow The Mayor Hamilton Green 79th Birthday 7-a-side Inter-Ward/Village Football tournament continues tomorrow at the Tucville ground from 7:00pm. All the teams appearing tomorrow would have won their respective matches on opening night.

They would be battling for places in the quarterfinals.

The scheduled matches tomorrow will see: Sara Lodge vs Wales, Crane vs Pouderoyen, Uitvlugt vs Newtown Kitty, Den Amstel vs Berlin, South Sophia vs bent Street, North East la Penitence vs North Sophia, Tuschen vs Leopold Street and Meadow Brook vs Kitty.

The winners collide on Sunday December 1 when the quarterfinals, semifinals and final are staged at the Den Amstel ground. Jamal Harvey and Shemroy Arthur are among the key players on show representing their respective wards or villages.

Several corporate entities and persons have lent their support to the event so far.

Among them are GT&T,

Jamal Harvey

Shemroy Arthur

MACORP, Chris Fernandes, Ricks and Sari, who will give hampers of their products to the winners and runner-up, Guyana Lottery Company, New Thriving Restaurant, Eddie Grant and Giftland Office Max. The winner collects $100,000 and the Trophy Stall Trophy donated

by Ramesh Sunich, with the runner-up claiming $50,000

and the Ricks and Sari Trophy. Both teams also collect hampers from Ricks and Sari. The 7-a-side games are of 20 minutes duration, that’s two halves of 10 minutes, being contested.

Three substitutions will be allowed per team during matches with penalties determining a winner in the event of a stalemate.

Lance Armstrong settles $3m bonuses lawsuit

BBC Sport - Former cyclist Lance Armstrong has settled a lawsuit brought by an insurance company that paid him $3m (£1.9m) for successes while doping.

The American was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles before admitting he took performanceenhancing drugs.

Nebraska-based Acceptance Insurance said the Texan’s drug use meant their policy with him was void.

The US Postal Service is also suing Armstrong, 42, for money it spent sponsoring

his team from 1998-2004.

The US government announced in February it would join that 2010 ‘whistleblowing’ lawsuit filed by ex-US Postal rider Floyd Landis, who himself admitted using drugs throughout his career. A federal judge is expected to rule on Armstrong’s request to dismiss that suit in the next 30 days. His settlement with Acceptance Insurance comes a day before he was due to give sworn testimony in court over the case.

He was banned for life by

the United States AntiDoping Agency in August 2012 and stripped of the seven Tour de France titles he won between 1999 and 2005.

Armstrong, who also had to return the time-trial bronze medal he won at the 2000 Olympics after his confession to television host Oprah Winfrey in January, was reported to be worth $125m (£78m) earlier this year.

Last week he told the BBC he would testify with “100% transparency and honesty” at any future inquiry into doping.

Lindsey Vonn: Olympic downhill champion injures knee in crash Abbensetts equals Nationals BBC Sport - Olympic downhill champion Lindsey Vo n n r e - i n j u r e d h e r surgically repaired right knee in a Colorado training crash ahead of her return to racing. The 29-year-old American partially tore the right anterior cruciate ligament that she injured in February.

US Ski Team medical staff did not put a date on her comeback, saying “her response to therapy will determine the timetable for her return”.

The women’s downhill at Sochi 2014 will take

place on 12 February.

Vonn also suffered a mild strain to the knee and cuts to her face and shoulder in the accident at the Copper Mountain resort.

“She plans to rest for a few days before pursuing physical therapy,” added US Ski Team spokesman Tom Kelly.

The injury is likely to scupper Vonn’s planned comeback at the World Cup event in Beaver Creek at the end of November. It could also put in doubt her bid to defend her Olympic

crown at Sochi in February.

The four-time overall World Cup champion only started training in September after being out for seven months with rupt u r e d ligaments following a crash at the Wo r l d Championships in Schladming, Austria.

Vonn’s friend and teammate Julia Mancuso tweeted on Tuesday: “Let’s all send Lindsey Vonn our positivity and hope for the best.” The American is dating 14-time major golf champion Tiger Woods.

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

RCMTC&SF/PMTC, Shariff Business horserace meet rescheduled to December 15 The one day horserace meet organised by the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports Facilities (RCMTC&SF), Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) and the Shariff Business Enterprise and Racing Stable, which was fixed for Sunday November 24th and was rescheduled to Sunday 1st December, has now been further pushed back to Sunday 15th December at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne Berbice.

This latest change according to the organisers is due to some unforeseen circumstances.

The programme remains the same as entries continue to pour in and more sponsors get on board. A whopping $8M in cash, trophies and other incentives are up for grabs.

Eight races are carded for the day with a number of top n o t c h events set to feature, including races for the A class horses, Three year old, two year old, the E and G3 races expected to be the main draw cards.

Over 40 hors e s h a v e already signed up for the meet, but the animals will now have to ease up on their

preparations due to the long time they will have to wait.

The event is expected to see the return of Guyana’s number one racehorse Score’s Even as it throws down the gauntlet against the best of the lot. However it is not expected to get an easy time as horses such as two time Guyana Cup champion Elle’s Vision, Grande de Roja and Settle in Seattle, along with newly imported Rock Movie Star, Money in Return and Some Legend battling against Got To Go, Donut Prince, City Tune, California Strike, CP Got Even, Swing Easy, Prince Charming ,Who is on the Case, The Message, Force Entry, Country Armagh, Red and lovely, Zelick, and Rena Del Cafa among others are all in training and looking good at gallops and should give a good account of themselves.

The winning prize in the main event is a hefty $1.2M and trophy up for grabs in the 6Furlongs race which incidentally in the distance for all the events.

The other races on the day are - the event for 3yrs old Guyana and West Indies Bred horses, for a winning take of $600,000. The

E and lower event will also have a first prize of $600,000.

The race for Two Year old Guyana Bred a n d We s t Indies Bred maiden horse will have a winner’s purse of $300,000.

The horses running in the G3 and lower class race will also have an opportunity to race away with a first prize of $300,000. Three years old Guyana Bred horses will be competing for a $300,000 first prize.

The ‘I’ and lower race will have a first prize of $200,000.

The J, K and L class event will fetch a winning prize of $150,000 and trophy.

Outstanding individual performers including top Jockey, trainer and stable will be presented with accolades compliments of the Trophy Stall Bourda Market and the organisers.

The race will be run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA).

Interested persons can contact the Mohammed Shariff on 611-0684, Chanu Ramkissoon- 6249063, or Kris Jagdeo (624-6123; 322-0369), Rajendra Jagdeo 618-7278, Ramnauth 337-5311. (Samuel Whyte)

From page 31 before. The 72kg women’s division did not exist prior to 2011.

Green, on behalf of his executive also expressed gratitude to the many fans that came out to support and rallied with the athletes despite the late start.

He said they will now be looking at increasing the championship to two-days given the overwhelming response by the athletes, the majority coming from Berbice and Georgetown. Green said he was not happy with just a single athlete representing the Bauxite Mining Town of

Linden, which was once a stronghold in the sport.

He further stated that the GAPF will have to seriously look at educating lifters on what they should and should not take with regards to supplements.

“This is an area that we will have to invest in given the increased number of persons competing in the sport and the very stringent WADA regulations governing the use of supplements which include energy drinks.

Also, we will have to look at the issue of drug testing in the near future.”

Apart from Rahim, Mars-

Loncke, Ramlochan, De Nobrega and Stoby winning their respective categories, Leon Rupertie won the two way contest in the 59kg Class, Anis Ade-Thomas topped the 83kg Category, Marino Jeffrey (Raw Power Gym/Team Rip It) outdueled his opponents in the 93kg Division, Karel Mars of Buddies Gym took the 105kg contest, Farook Abdool of Hard Core Gym of Berbice was unstoppable in the 120kg showdown, while Kingsrow Barbell Club’s Rowndell Clementson was the lone 120+kg competitor.

Page 29

Ramcharitar Construction Ser. 1st div. 50 overs KO

Bishoo, Foo and Barrington hit 50s; Albion Bermine advance When first round play in the Ramcharitar Construction Services First Division 50 overs knock-out competition continued on Saturday last, recording convincing wins were Albion Community Centre and Universal Solutions Bermine which saw them advancing to the 2nd round to join Port Mourant Karibee Rice, Police and West Berbice.

Playing at Blairmont, Albion Community Centre hammered Blairmont Community Centre by 127 runs in a match which was reduced to 40 overs-a-side due to rain. Albion, sent in to take first strike, lost Sewnarine Chattergoon for 38 and were 82 for 3 but benefitted from a 59 run fourth wicket stand between Jonathan Foo and Guyana wicket-keeperbatsman Anthony Bramble.

Foo fell for 60 but Bramble continued the fight with Devendra Bishoo, the two

adding a further 80 for the fifth wicket before Bramble went for 37. Albion ended on 221 for 6 in their 40 overs, Bishoo was unbeaten on 60.

Leg spinner Kevin Jawahir took 2 for 47 from 8 overs for Blairmont who in reply were pegged back by o ff s p i n n e r Ve e r a p e n Permaul, who took the first three wickets to leave them at 25 for 3. Leon Johnson and Nick Ramsaroop put on 32 for the fourth wicket but Johnson fell for 34 to off s p i nner Sharaz Ramcharran.

Left arm spinner Gudakesh Motie picked up two quick wickets further reducing Blairmont to 72 for 6. Bishoo joined the party and grabbed three wickets in quick succession including Ramsaroop for 32 and Blairmont were all out for 94.

Bishoo ended with 3 for 24 from 3 overs, Permaul 3 for 27 from 8 and Motie 2 for 17 from 2.

Over at Edinburgh, Universal Solutions Bermine pummeled Edinburgh by 8 wickets. With the match starting late due to a disorganized Edinburgh having to round up their team from around the village, Edinburgh won the toss, batted first and were bowled out for 79 in 25.1 overs.

Deonarine Seepersaud top scored with 20. Off spinner Devon Clements was the leading wicket taker with took 3 for 8 from 6.2 overs, Romario Shepherd had 3 for 35 from 7 overs and Eugene La Fleur 2 for 15 from 6 overs.

Universal Solutions Bermine hit off the runs without much bother reaching 81 for 2 in just 10 overs. The sixth first round match between Bush Lot Rising Star and Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets will be played on Saturday at Bush Lot, West Berbice.

Second round action will start this weekend.

CMRC November 24 Race Meet

Offering patrons VIP President Green pleased with... experience on race day Already labeled with a reputation of being Guyana’s premier Events Company, Rent-a-Tent will once again be presenting its annual VIP Pavilion for the final leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) scheduled to be staged this Sunday, at the South Dakota Circuit. As the Guyanese community gears up for the final showdown among the Caribbean’s best racers and with an estimated 15,000 fans anticipated descending at the venue, Rent-a-Tent will be offering fans an exclusive view and VIP experience from its 6,000 square foot tent where patrons will be pampered all day by qualified staff. According to an official from the Company, patrons will be able to sample the

breakfast station where delicacies such as omelets will be cooked on-the-spot.

Lunch, snacks, premium beverages and Banks DIH Cocktails will also be available throughout the day.

Over the last three years this unique pavilion was an overwhelming success and the official informed that this year they are determined to provide patrons with an even higher level of service. With the purchase of a ticket, Renta-Tent will offer you access to the VIP Pavilion, an elite atmosphere, secure parking, use of all facilities within the compound, including a supervised play park for children, air- conditioned restrooms, sponsors’ giveaways, interaction with the drivers and other

surprises.

For added convenience, the official said that the VIP Pavilion tickets can be delivered to persons desirous of enjoying the experience at their home or office, or may be purchased at Rent-A-Tent in Rahaman’s Park. The VIP Pavilion is limited to 600 patrons and only tickets sold prior to the date of the event are guaranteed entry. The officials said that the Company is looking forward to entertaining patrons in the comfort of the VIP Pavilion from as early as 08:00 hrs and is reminding that airconditioned washroom and secure parking will also be available. Interested persons are also being encouraged to contact Rent-a-Tent for any queries that they may have.

GCA competitions continue this weekend The Georgetown Cricket Association\ Hadi’s first division and Noble House Sea Foods second division 2 day tournaments continue on Saturday with several matches. In the first division competition, GDF will face GNIC at DCC with Mario Nicholls and Edward Nicholls umpiring, Transport will travel to Police with Shannon Crawford and Andrew Allen officiating, Gandhi Youth Organisation

will battle Everest at Malteenoes with Cyril Garnath and Clyde Layne in charge.

In the second division, Police will take on Transport at GYO with Ashok Brijkumar and Anthony Ramsahai doing on field duties, Muslim Youth Organisation will host UG under the watchful eyes of Javed Persaud and Leyland Liverpool and GDF will entertain Malteenoes with Linden Matthews and Heuvel Cunha umpiring.

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 21, 2013

Ronaldo hat-trick propels Portugal to Brazil SOLNA, Sweden (AFP) — Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brilliant hat-trick as Portugal survived a second-half scare to qualify for their fourth straight World Cup final with a 3-2 play-off second leg win against Sweden Tuesday to qualify 4-2 on aggregate.

The Real Madrid superstar scored all four of his side’s goals, including the first-leg winner as he overcame an equally brilliant display from Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a classic encounter at Solna.

Ibrahimovic scored both goals for Sweden in vain as the match featured five goals in 29 minutes of second-half madness.

Ronaldo also becomes Portugal’s all-time leading scorer as he took his tally to 50, and three ahead of retired forward Pedro Pauleta.

With Portugal leading 1-0 after the first-leg and the match scoreless at half-time, Ronaldo turned the game on its head five minutes after the restart when he latched onto a glorious through ball from Joao Moutinho and guided a left-foot shot past the despairing Andreas Isaksson.

The counter-attack that began inside the Portuguese penalty area, took just two touches to send the former Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United striker free on a break that went the length of the pitch.

Sweden were left facing the daunting prospect of scoring three times in 40 minutes and roused the crowd into a frenzy when

Ibrahimovic headed home Kim Kallstrom’s corner with 22 minutes remaining. The packed crowd at the Friends Arena were given further hope four minutes later when English referee Howard Webb correctly awarded a free kick to Sweden just outside the area which Ib r a h i m o v i c drilled low past Rui Patricio.

With a wave of yellow shirts bombarding the Portuguese defence, Ronaldo again came to the rescue with two goals in two minutes, both of them clinical finishes after breaking behind the defence.

Hugo Almeida set up Portugal’s third goal which took the sting out of the crowd before another perfect pass from Moutinho enabled Ronaldo to round Isaksson before smashing the ball in off the underside of the bar.

Portugal had the better of the first-half chances with Ronaldo twice blasting over from inside the box and Bruno Alves seeing his glancing header desperately pushed away

by Isaksson.

However, Sweden kept at the task at hand with Ibrahimovic turning a close-range shot over the b a r a n d K a l l s t r o m ’s rasping long-range shot well collected by Rui Patricio.

The stage was then set for a second-half of thrilling action and Ronaldo’s battle with Ibrahmivic which was finally won by the Portuguese. Meanwhile in Paris, France put up a superb performance to bounce back from a 2-0 play-off first-leg

Georgetown Turf Club to host Gymkhana on Sunday The Georgetown Turf Club has reopened the door for competition and as such will be hosting a Gymkhana and Horse Race meet on Sunday, November 24 at Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara.

Forty horses from Georgetown, East Bank and East Coast Demerara are slated to take part in the meet. President of the club

Michael Sims has recently returned from Canada and still has a great interest in promoting the sport and as such works to resuscitate the track has commenced as well as clearing of the access road.

Simms is hoping to make the venue compatible with those in Berbice and to have full-fledged horseracing in Demerara.

Banners Foundation Dominoes on today Banners Foundation 6- team dominoes competition will be played today at Pink Shop Hide Out, first street C field Sophia for teams in the area commencing at 07:00 hrs.

Entrance fee is $6,000 and trophies are being donated by Banners Foundation and Trophy Stall Bourda Market. The competition is being organized by Johnny Barnwell.

Portugal players celebrate after qualifying for the World Cup after defeating Sweden 3-2 during the World Cup qualifying play-off second-leg soccer match in Sweden Tuesday. (PHOTOS: AP) defeat to beat Ukraine 3-0 in the second leg to book their ticket to Brazil 3-2 on aggregate.

The goals came from Mamadou Sakho, Karim Benzema and an Oleg Gusev own goal.

France were up against it at the Stade de France as no team before them had ever overcome a 2-0 first leg loss

to qualify for the World Cup. Greece sealed their place at next year’s World Cup after a 1-1 draw against Romania in Bucharest in the second leg of their play-off, advancing 42 on aggregate. Kostas Mitroglou, who scored twice in a 3-1 victory last Friday in Piraeus, gave Greece the lead in the 23rd minute, beating Romania’s offside trap to control a cross from Giorgos Karagounis and steer the ball past goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu. Romania came back into the game in the 55th when a botched Greece clearance led to an own goal

by Vassilis Torosidis. But the Greeks held on for the draw and a second straight qualification to the World Cup. Moments after the final whistle at Bucharest’s National Arena, Greece players lifted coach Fernando Santos and heaved him into the area to cheers from 2,000 travelling fans.

MOE/GTU 2013 ‘Nationals’

Championships officially opened by PM Samuel Hinds

By Sean Devers The Ministry of Education (MOM) and Guyana Teacher ’s Union (GTU) National Schools Athletics, Cycling, Swimming and Track & Field Championship, sponsored by Digicel, was officially declared open yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence by Prime Minister of Guyana, Samuel Hinds.

There was an impressive march past of the 15 competing teams with the Ceremonial salute b e i n g taken by Hinds, who was performing the duties of President.

The PM was flanked by GTU President Colin Bynoe, Education Minister Priya Manickchand, Degicel’s Customer Care Executive Sherwin Osborne and Deputy Chief Education Officer Donna Chapman.

The 2013 four-day event commenced on Tuesday with competition in Swimming, the Cycle Road race and some field events. The first ‘Nationals’ Championships was held in 1959 in Georgetown when the host captured the inaugural title.

In ideal conditions for outdoor sports and watched by students from several schools on the East Bank of Demerara area, the Lodge Secondary School students produced an energized physical display, while the

Guyana Karate Association (GKA) give a skillful exhibition of Katas.

The North Ruimveldt Secondary School provided Steel Pan renditions including the National Anthem to start off the day’s activities.

The torch was lit by four members of the defending champions North Georgetown District after they completed running a lap around the Stadium.

Bynoe said that the GTU has already identified a number of Athletes who they feel should be in the Guyana team for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. The GTU top man opined that the Government and Sports Ministry should now bear some of the responsibility of getting the Guyana Olympic team properly prepared for Brazil.

He added that the total expenditure to host the championships is about $23 million.

The Prime Minister, performing the role of President, who is abroad, delivered the opening address before declaring the event open.

“I express my appreciation to the GTU and the MOE who are once again partnering to bring off these important championships. A great deal of effort has gone into the organization of these championships which brings together the students from all over Guyana,” the Prime

Minister expressed.

The Prime Minister pointed out that these championships provide a moment for all of the students to give of their best so as to bring glory and accolades to themselves, their districts and their regions.

He congratulated all the participants and urged them to compete fiercely and fairly to ensure that the best person, region or district wins.

Manickchand, who expressed her pleasure at being able to be part of the opening proceedings of this prestigious national sporting affair, pointed out that even though the Ministry is continuously working assiduously to ensure it provides the highest quality education possible to the children of Guyana. She added that it is also placing great emphasis on extracurricular activities, particularly sport which she believes plays a significant role in establishing wellrounded students.

“We are at a beautiful stage in the history of our country where - having ironed out many of the problems we had in delivering an academic curriculum, although we still work hard every day with that which we deliver - we are at a place where we can pay far more attention now to extracurricular activities that can bring out the best in our

students,” the Minister said.

The Minister urged the participants to ensure they give of their best at this championship and to use the opportunity to move on to greater competitions and dominate. She alluded to the fact that Guyanese students have established themselves as leaders academically at the CSEC level after repeatedly topping that level and particularly winning five of the eight top regional prizes this year.

“We have seen repeatedly how Guyana has excelled academically, topping the Caribbean at CXC over the past decade and we have the ability, we have the talent to top in every single sphere in the region, not only in academia,” the Minister declared.

She also said discussions are ongoing between the Ministry and the GTU as to the best period to stage all the sports. The Minister disclosed that the Ministry has budgeted between $10-15 million for the event.

Digicel’s Head of Marketing Jacqueline James also spoke of the importance of this championship to Guyana’s Olympic hopes in 2016.

In addition to Digicel, Guyana’s most used cell phone provider, Courts, Banks Malta, Giftland Officemax, and DDL are also on board as sponsors.

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 31

Fitness Express/GAPF Senior C/ships

President Green pleased with overall support; to look at two-day format

Chitra Ramlochan

Leon Rupertie

Steffie De Nobrega

Anis Ade-Thomas Marino Jeffrey

President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) Peter Green in an invited comment said that federation is delighted with the number of athletes that turned out to compete on Sunday last at their Senior championships, which were held at the National Gymnasium, Mandela, Avenue.

Some 35-athletes including four females competed against each other with Hardcore Gym’s Vijai Rahim (66kg Division) emerging as the best male athlete overall, while Kimberly Mars-Loncke (84kg Class) representing Buddies Gym was adjudged the best female lifter.

While competition got going some three hours past the scheduled 10:00hrs starting time, athletes and

fans were treated to some scintillating performances led by Rahim who set new records in the deadlift, squat and total.

Veteran Winston Stoby (74kg Category) of Kingsrow Barbell Club achieved a personal best on local soil in the deadlift of 617.5lbs (280kg), he also has the world record which stands at 275kg.

Kimberly Mars-Loncke (84kg Class) sets new marks in all her lifts and the total, while Steffie DeNobrega (52kg Category) of Buddies Gym and Fitness R e v o l u t i o n ’s C h i t r a R a m l o c h a n ’s ( 7 2 k g Division) performances were all record performances given the fact that there were no standards set in their categories (Continued on page 29)

Karel Mars

Farouk Abdool

Rowndell Clementson

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 21, 2013

Cell Phone Shack aids Chico K&S Sports fraternity mourn the loss of two athletes School football with phones for fans Rifle Shooter Charles Dean and Bodybuilder, Michael Morris

Priya Ramrattan Branch Manager, Christopher Low-Koan Managing Director, Tracy Harris Supervisor and Aubrey Shanghai Major at yesterday’s presentation.

12 patrons of the K&S tournament will receive a cell phone with entry to the games complements of the Cell Phone Shack. The manager of the cell phone giants said they have been

supporting the K&S Organization over the past 11 years and will continue to do so, this time we will be giving a quality cell phone to one lucky patron at every venue the tournament will be

played at and they also will be providing the trophy for the most goal scorer in the tournament.The tournament is scheduled for December 8, 2013 and concludes on January 1, 2014.

Abbensetts equals Nationals oldest sprint record

By Edison Jefford North Georgetown’s, Kevin Abbensetts equalled the oldest sprint record of the National Schools’ Championships yesterday at the National Stadium, which continued its reputation as a Mecca for breaking records when old middle distance marks also tumbled.

National junior sprinter, Abbensetts, who enjoyed a consistent ascendancy since winning the same race at Nationals last year, stormed across the finish line yesterday in 10.6 seconds in the Under-20 Boys’ 100m Final to equal Julian Edmonds’ 1992 record.

Edmonds mark had remained unchallenged over the years until yesterday.

South Georgetown’s, Selwin Foster finished second in 11.0 seconds, while West Coast Berbice’s, Rennick Burnette was third in 11.2 seconds. The disparity of times gave a true reflection of how Abbensetts won his second title in the coveted race in consecutive years.

U p p e r Demerara/Kwakwani’s, Shannon Griffith continued her dominance at Nationals with the Under-20 Girls 100m title, which she secured in 12.4 seconds.

N o r t h G e o r g e t o w n ’s , Shaqunne Daniels was second in 12.8 seconds while S o u t h G e o r g e t o w n ’s , Tiffany Carto finished third in 13.0 seconds.

The seasoned stars continued to shine when national junior sprinter, CARIFTA Games bronze medallist, Jason Yaw blasted to the 100m Under-18 Boys title in 10.8 seconds. Arinze Chance of North Georgetown finished second i n 11 . 0 s e c o n d s w i t h Corentyne’s Mark Wronge (11.2) third in the race.

Then tragedy struck sprint phenom, Tiranna Mitchell, who was forced to quit the Girls’ 100m U- 18 race owed to an injury. South Georgetown’s Mitchell was the overwhelming favourite to win this event, but it was not to be. North Georgetown’s Deja Smartt roared to an easy victory in 12.5 seconds, while Essequibo Coast, Sasha Loo (13.0) and East Georgetown’s, Mearisha Carter with 13.1 seconds w as second and third respectively.

Compton Caesar won the 100m Boys U-16 race for U p p e r Demerara/Kwakwani, which leads the track and

- middle distance athletics records tumble field competition after the first day, in 11.2 seconds.

New Amsterdam’s, Ryan Bramble was second in 11.3 and Corentyne’s Shawn Beresford third in 11.5 seconds.

N o r th G eo g eto w n ’s Jevina Sampson won the female race in 12.4 seconds, while Natricia Hooper was second in 12.9 seconds and Denita Jackson (13.0) third.

In the Under-21 Teachers’ 100m, South Georgetown’s Euodia Forte won in 13.5 seconds while East Georgetown’s, Abigail Robertson (13.9) and Upper D e m e r a r a ’s , M e l i s s a McBean (14.3) was second and third respectively.

North Georgetown’s Floyd Phillips won the male v e r s i o n , w h i l e We s t Demerara’s Kevin Paul was second in 11.7 seconds and West Coast Berbice’s Akim Huston third in 11.9 seconds.

Meanwhile, in the 800m middle distance finals yesterday, records tumbled at the new Mecca for setting new marks at Nationals.

East Coast’s, Andrea Foster with 2:20.4 set a new mark in the U-18 Girls race, erasing Jevina Straker’s 2010 record of 2:25.8 at National Stadium. New (Continued on page 28)

The sports fraternity in Guyana has suffered the loss of two athletes in the span of two days, Rifle Shooter Charles Dean, who last represented Guyana at this year ’s Caribbean Championships in Barbados and Bodybuilder Michael Morris.

The quiet and unassuming Dean was a consistent O-Class shooter and always took pride in aiming his rifle down the range for Guyana and on the local scene.

Secretary of the Guyana National Rifle Association, Ryan Sampson in an invited comment paid tribute to the late Dean who passed away on Monday evening after a brief period of illness.

“Dean was a committed rifleman ever since joining the association some six years ago. He represented Guyana with pride in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados but shot on a regular basis for Bermuda at the Caribbean level to make up their eight man team.

He was a jovial individual whose presence on the ranges would be sorely missed. Were it not for his illness, he would have certainly be part of this year’s championship which concluded on Sunday last at the Timehri Rifle Ranges.”

Dean, who hailed from #5 Village on the West Coast of Berbice is expected to be buried next Saturday at #9 Village.

Sampson, on behalf of National Fullbore Captain Mahendra Persaud, Small

Charles Dean Bore Captain Dale Hing and the GNRA Executive extended sincere condolences to Dean’s wife, family and relatives.

Bodybuilder Michael Morris who was last on stage at the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) senior championships ‘Mission of Mega Proportions’ in September 2010, was allegedly murdered in Guyana’s interior on Monday last.

Morris, a keen competitor, placed second in the Lightweight category. A

Michael Morris police press release had stated that Morris was i n v o l v e d i n a n altercation with some other miners at West Park Backdam, Cayuni, during which he was dealt a blow to his head with a piece of wood. The injury suffered by Morris eventually resulted in his death. Kaieteur Sports takes this opportunity to extend sincere condolences to the families of both Charles Dean and Michael Morris, May their souls rest in eternal peace.

(Franklin Wilson)

Crawford takes boys open 800M...

From page 33 District 4 East Coast Demerara copped silver in the Girls U-16 800M while Allesia Grant of District 3 West Demerara grabbed silver. The Girls 800M open was taken by Marica Dick of District 15 followed by Crystal Lambert of District 6 and Sasha Lowe of District 5 We s t C o a s t B e r b i c e .

Romello Crawford of District 6 won the Boys U-16 800M, Antonio Sanichar of District 4 took second and Andrew Holder of District 12 East Georgetown third.

The Boys U-14 800M title was taken by Tyresse Souvenir of District 11 North

Georgetown while Raphael Miles of District 14 East Bank Demerara and Stephen Isaacs of District 12 took second and third places respectively. Cassy Williams of District 14 chalked gold in the Girls U-14 800M, Tiana Barker of District 12 claimed silver and Kezia Browne of District 7 Bartica took bronze. Tarique Williams of District 10 won the Boys U16 2000M and Andrew Hicks of District 6 placed second. The boys open 3000M went to Andrea Green of District 6; To s h a w a n n a D o r i s o f District 11 won the Girls open 2000M.

Jeban Crawford carted off the Boys open 5000M event in a time of 13 minutes 03.5 seconds, Michael Anthony of District 11 placed second in 13 minutes 03.7 seconds and Romario Samuels of District 4 finished third in 13 minutes 04.2 seconds. Doris crowned a fine day by winning the Girls open 3000M in 9 minutes 21.2 seconds ahead of Niomi Alsopp of District 10 with 9 minutes 41.8 seconds and Sasha James of District 12 who clocked 9 minutes 42.3 seconds r e s p e c t i v e l y. T h e championships continue today.

Thursday November 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

GVF 2nd Invitational Int. Club Festival

Page 33

GSCL Inc\Digimax tourney

Adams guides Regal into semis Young Achievers, PMTC, GDF and Vanguard to battle T&T’s Big Sepos and Suriname’s Yelyco

GVF President Lennie Shuffler (right) and VP for Technical Development, Capt. John Flores at yesterday’s press briefing.

By Franklin Wilson T h e N a t i o n a l Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue in the City is expected to be volleyball headquarters over the weekend when the Guyana Vo l l e y b a l l F e d e r a t i o n (GVF) in association with its top three local clubs host their International Volleyball Festival featuring the top club from Suriname a n d t h e Tw i n I s l a n d Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, respectively.

Following tomorrow evening’s opening ceremony at 17:00hrs there will be no holding back as the team’s battle for supremacy in what is anticipated to be keen rivalry in a festive but professional atmosphere.

This tournament according to GVF Vice President for Technical Development, Capt. John Flores at a press briefing yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, forms part of the federations Bloc Development Plan designed to promote increased a c t i v i t y a m o n g neighbouring countries at an affordable cost, and to provide international exposure for Guyanese players.

All the attention will not be on the male players as the recently formed Vanguard Female team; made up of past and present Under-19 players as well as some seasoned campaigners will be throwing down the gauntlet to the Yelvco

Female team of Suriname.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Big Sepos will arrive in Guyana this evening, while Yelvco’s male and female teams will be arriving tomorrow morning. Both these teams are no strangers to these shores and have both stated their pleasure of coming yet again to compete.

Big Sepos were in the final of the inaugural tournament last year against Roraima of Brazil while Yelvco is the leading club side in Suriname.

The local teams that will be aiming to win this festival are the best in the land, led by West Demerara’s Young Achievers, Port Mourant Training Centre the best in the Ancient County of Berbice and a Guyana Defence Force Combined Team.

All the local teams have been undergoing intense training and are eager to get their competition game on, fans, supporters and lovers of the game are being encouraged to come out and lend support to the locals whilst enjoying top class volleyball, admission is free.

The preliminary stage of the male competition will be done using the round-robin format while the female teams will be engaged in a Goodwill series, one game each day.

Matches will serve off after tomorrow afternoon’s opening ceremony at 17:00hrrs and will continue on Saturday from 10:00hrs

until 20:00hrs. The semis and respective finals will be contested on Sunday beginning at 11:00hrs with the closing ceremony set for Sunday evening at 19:00hrs.

According to GVF President, Lennie Schuffler, the festival is a partnership between the federation and the local clubs.

“What we have here is a partnership between the GVF and these three local teams who were given the opportunity to invite a team of their choice. This presented a very good opportunity for them to get into the idea of hosting teams and sharing the costs with the GVF, this is one way of reducing our costs and sharing knowledge.”

The GVF boss also noted that there will be exposure for Coaches and Referees.

Trophies have been donated by the Trophy Stall and the GVF. Other corporate entities on board include John Fernandes and Digicel.

While this is the only international tournament under the auspices of the GVF this year, Shuffler informed that they will be organizing another tournament for local teams before the end of the year featuring teams from Berbice and Demerara.

Efforts are being made to revive the sport in the Cinderella County of Essequibo, the process has already begun.

An attacking century from Ricardo Adams propelled Regal XI to a 155run win over Super Eagle thereby cementing their place in the semi finals, when the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc)\Digimax tournament continued last Sunday at Everest Cricket Club.

Playing in the open category, Adams belted eighteen sixes in scoring 119 and got support from Safraz Esau with 47 (6x6) as Regal posted 207-3 off their allocation of 12 overs, batting first. Super Eagle were skittled for 52 in 11 overs in reply. Rafman Ally made 22 while Mohamed Ayube snared 3-6 and Esau 2-17. Farm XI got a walk over from Better Hope and Wo l f ’s Wa r r i o r s b e a t Princess in other matches.

Trophy Stall beat Challengers by 8 wickets in another quarter final game.

Challengers took first strike

and were bowled out for 91.

Ravi Ramnauth scored 19; Fazal Rafiek claimed 3-16.

Trophy Stall replied with 932. Rafiek stroked 34 and Surajpaul Deosarran 32.

In the over 35 division, Success defeated Industry Super Kings by 6 wickets.

Industry batted first and scored 125-8 in 20 overs.

Ishwar Persaud made 44 and Danny Gangadin chipped in with 38 as Dhamendra Mohabir captured 4-20, Rajesh Baljeet 2-18 and Shazim Mohamed 2-25.

Success scored 127-4 in 19.2 overs in reply. Randy Katwaroo top scored with 67 while R. Singh and J. Persaud grabbed 2 wickets each.

Regal Masters trounced Super Star by 87 runs. Regal rattled up 207-9 in 20 overs after taking first strike. Asif Ally led with 68, Saheed Mohamed supported with 44 and Samuel Kingston 38.

Superstar were bowled out

for 120 in reply. Hermon Persaud cracked 85; Ally picked up 3-18 and Raymond Harper 3-20.

Ogle overcame Park Rangers by 4 wickets. Park Rangers batted first and managed 175-5 in 20 overs with Richard Persaud top scoring with 68 while Ejaz Mohamed made 41 as S. Mohamed grabbed 3-26.

Ogle responded with 178-6 in 19.4 overs. Kishore Mohabir scored 57 and Wasim Baksh 25; Tony Singh took 2-53. Savage got the better of Frontline in their encounter.

The semifinals will be played on November 30 and the final on December 1 at Ministry of Education ground. In the open category Regal will face Farm XI and Wolf’s Warriors will play Trophy Stall, while in the over 35 division Regal Masters will take on Ogle and Savage will battle Success.

Digicel National Schools cycling c\ships

Crawford takes boys open 800M title; Melville cops Girls U-16 800 M

Jeban Crawford (right) crosses the finish line ahead of his rivals in the Boys open 800M.

Sheriah Melville takes the Girls 800M U-16 title ahead of Okel Samuels

By Zaheer Mohamed Jeban Crawford of District 15 New Amsterdam overpowered his rivals to win the Boys 800 Meters Open cycle event, while Sheriah Melville of District 13 South Georgetown took

the first podium spot in the Girls U-16 800 Meters when the Cycling segment of the Digicel National Schools Championships continued yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Akeem Arthur of District 1 0 U p p e r Demerara\Kwakwani placed second in the 800M Boys open and Elijah Bijadder of District 6 Corentyne finished third. Okel Samuels of (Continued on page 32)

t r o Sp MOE/GTU 2013 ‘Nationals’

Championships officially opened by PM Samuel Hinds P.30

Bynoe, hinds, Priya: (from right to left) GTU President Colin Bynoe, PM Samuel Hinds, Education Minister Priya Manickchand, Deputy Chief Education Officer Donna Chapman and Degicel’s Customer Care Executive Sherwin Osborne at the March Past yesterday.

Defending champs North Georgetown District gives the ‘eyes right’ to Acting President Sam Hinds.

Abbensetts equals Nationals oldest sprint record -middle distance athletics records tumble

P.32

SUPURB EFFORT! North Georgetown’s, Kevin Abbensetts storms across the finish line on his way to equalling the oldest sprint record of the National Schools Championships, yesterday at the National Stadium.

Crawford takes boys open 800M Cycling title; Melville cops Girls U-16 800M

P.33

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