Monday November 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 5
Letters... Where your views make the news...Letters... Where your views make the news
There will be nothing positive to report These trucks ought to be lighted coming from the work of the SMD up like a Christmas tree at nights
DEAR EDITOR, To expect anything else from the police hierarchy when it comes to the work of the civilian-led Strategic Management Department would be an exercise in folly. From the very start of its operations those of us close to the action realized that the members had their work cut out for them when it came to acceptance by the senior officers. The level of resistance that the department is encountering is a sign that people are only interested in enjoying the benefits of a corrupt system which preys on the underprivileged and uninfluential in this society. Editor, the only time that the majority of junior ranks became aware of the strategic plan was when the officers of the Strategic Management Department visited. Noticeably also was the fact that several gazette officers professed ignorance of the plan and the actions that the Force is taking in the direction of modernization which is touted. The officers who can make a difference by being role models have no interest
in that, but are more interested in grabbing for themselves while the grabbing is good. Most of us know of the tensions between the current Commissioner and the SMD while the incumbent was a Deputy Commissioner, but we expected that maturity and commonsense would prevail. This did not happen. Instead there is the encouragement of one-onone engagements with individual members to the exclusion of the head of the Strategic Management Department who- in any event, is the person with reporting responsibilities for the work of the department. This is seen as an attempt at undermining his authority to make him appear clueless about what is going on. In some places, a person who would have written extensively on policing and law enforcement would be considered an expert; this aspect has been ignored to the detriment of timely implementation of the plan and the whole modernization thrust. The current Commissioner, as one who
has spent his entire career in secure surroundings, shows scant regard for the conditions under which his ranks operate and live. This Commissioner is only focused on enhancing his person a l image as evidenced by his assuming the Force crown in place of licence number on the official vehicle. Many of us don’t agree with a lot of things that are taking place but we opt to remain silent in the hope that things will change for the better. I am making the prediction that there will be nothing positive to report coming from the work of the Strategic Management Department. This view is shared by many persons including junior ranks whose presence is ignored when the big boys are chatting on this and similar critical issues. As it is right now the upper levels of the Force have an agenda to make the Minister look as if he is interfering in the work of the Force and to make him look bad and incompetent in the eyes of his detractors. Name and address withheld
Minister Whittaker - Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa? DEAR EDITOR, Which City Council was Minister Whittaker referring to when he cast blame for the flooding of the city and environs? The one he and Sooba runs or the legal City Council? The Government has to govern a country not run it into the ground by wasting money and time in efforts to denigrate stakeholders who do not support them and would only support prodevelopment activities. These ultra cats in a strange pantry have managed to rip up every modicum of administrative decorum and have mapped a path of corruption never before witnessed or even thought about. Whittaker and his Government have destroyed
the decent structure of the system of Local Democracy. They have imposed IMCs, parallel CDCs in Amerindian Villages thereby uprooting the authority of the Village Captains and Councils. They are just not allowing the tiers to function. So often we hear about how the country is developing. The yardstick used is the many incongruous looking buildings going up around the city and to the sensible eye this is just ‘the Emperor’s new clothes’. If Minister Whittaker
wants to say a mouthful on the recent flooding and its disastrous aftermath, then it should be ‘Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa’. Incidentally, this is not the first flooding disaster that this Minister has presided over. Check the flooding in the Barabina community in the North West District. Wanda Ross
DEAR EDITOR, There is quite much meat in the saying: “what we see depends mainly on what we look for”. This is exactly what is happening with me every time I see those massive giant logs piled high on those logging trucks and being transported through Linden along the highway to wherever. Editor, this letter is yet another for the umpteen time and moreso a direct appeal to the entire community and the relevant key players and top functionaries with responsibility for the affairs of Linden/Region# 10. I trust that this call will not be glossed over; a cursory glance as also ran; that it serves to seriously start or quicken dialogue for logs to be transported by river as
they once used to be, once they are not concealed in containers as some are being transported until a better alternative is created. This appeal is for the safety and goodness of all. Very often, watching these logs being transported set your imagination ablaze in a most frightening way; now this is not a question of being pessimistic, no sir, but rather very pragmatic and a genuine concern for the lives of people. Just talk with folks and hear their views; everyone shares a sense of foreboding whenever these logging trucks are on the move – and they are more regular now than ever day and night. Our forestry will soon vanish at the rate the trees are falling. Logs are only cut to
specific lengths when they are carried in containers, otherwise they are any length long over forty feet and more and invariably are projected ten feet beyond the end of the trailer if not more, dangerously dangling and bucking even as they are strapped and chained which you sometimes imagine can snap at any moment as they cross bridges and uneven portions of the highway, many parts which long now need resurfacing and are getting worse. Watching these trucks negotiating a turn with the logs extended across the road raises the pores on your skin. One cannot erase the horrible thoughts that enters the mind – it just happens–one is always overwhelmed with Continued on page 7
Perhaps Ansa McAl Marketing Division can address this situation DEAR EDITOR, Guyana needs to join the bandwagon with Trinidad & Tobago and categorise Soca Music for its 2015 Carib Soca Monarch Competition (Mashramani). It’s either ‘Power Soca Category’ or ‘Groovy Soca Category.’ It also does not limit any artiste from entering both categories. Failing to do so, it is my opinion that Guyana will once again have a messed up decision by judges as it did in 2014. As I can vividly remember, Jumo sang a Power Soca tune and Kwesi sang a Groovy Soca tune. Kwesi was awarded the winner and I just never endorsed such a
decision by the judges. Again, I am not certain whether most Guyanese are aware of the difference between Power and Groovy Soca Tunes/Music. I hope they do research and understand the difference. Enough time is available and perhaps Ansa McAl Marketing Division can address this situation ASAP. The Press Report stated that ‘Kwesi’ is coming with something different for the
2015 Competition and if it is that he is belting out a Power Soca Tune vs Jumo with a Power Soca, I will endorse the judges’ decision between the two artistes. Quite frankly,I can’t think of anyone else at the moment who can seriously challenge Jumo when it comes Power Soca, but perhaps Kwesi might be the one to change everything from a Power Soca level. T. Pemberton
Page 6
Kaieteur News
Monday November 24, 2014
Works Minister will suffer consequences for unapproved spending
APNU warns Benn… A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Saturday warned Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn that should he sign on to major infrastructure projects and spend monies unapproved by the National Assembly, he and his Ministry will be made to suffer the consequences. Those consequences will be revealed in due time, the Opposition said. Specifically, APNU’s Shadow Minister of Public Works, Joseph Harmon emphasized that the Minister would do well in not taking the Opposition’s warning lightly. APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC) had APNU made it clear since the November 10 proroguing of Parliament that any major investment Government enters during this period would be seen as being illegal. The joint opposition had said that projects would not be seen as binding and are liable to be reopened or halted. On several instances, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn had told this newspaper that the
- during suspension of Parliament
APNU’s Shadow Public Works Minister and General Secretary, Joseph Harmon government will continue to forge ahead with its major investment deals. He had said too that all projects signed on to by the Minister of Public Works are necessary for Guyana’s development. Benn had also said that even if either opposition parties was to take the reins of Government at the next General Elections, they would still have to continue to pursue many of the infrastructural programs being implemented by the
current administration. He had concluded that the AFC is simply leading the APNU by its nose. After taking note of the Minister’s comments, Harmon told this newspaper that the nation will not accept any level of arrogance from Ministers of Government. Harmon concluded that the focus on roads is merely a ploy to steal money for election spending and intended to gain votes for the PPP. He said that road projects provide an opportunity for siphoning off of funds from public works for party political purposes. “Citizens in communities where these works are undertaken are called upon to be vigilant and be aware that the PPP knows their days are numbered and will be trying their best to fill their pockets with the people’s money,” the Shadow Minister added. To further cement his arguments, APNU’s Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl
Greenidge stressed that such sentiments by the Public Works Minister can only be seen as “mischievous for someone who is responsible for a series of grave infrastructural calamities.” Greenidge said that instead of spewing “disrespectful comments which show no regard for taxpayers’ monies”, Benn should ensure that the projects for which he has responsibility are in order and that they can be justified in terms of their economics and the law, which he said, has not been the case in many instances. He emphasized that the tax-payers are not interested in whether Benn thinks the AFC is leading the APNU or the reverse. “We know that the PPP is trying to fool the people all the time. His job is to ensure that the Timehri Airport road which is over a year behind schedule is finished expeditiously and that the fiasco that passes for four lane highways on the East Bank Demerara and the East Coast are fixed before further monies are wasted,” he asserted. The APNU financial point man said that not only will there be a different set of projects and programmes under his coalition but those that carry the same names as programmes being pursued by the PPP will be properly put together in a manner, unlike the Skeldon Estate and the Enmore packaging plant.
“We need to and will have a bauxite smelter as soon as we get rid of this PPP regime. These projects will form part of a meaningful investment programme,” he added. There is obvious need for a massive rehabilitation of coastal physical and economic infrastructure, he expressed. Greenidge said that the lawlessness in the award of building permits, including construction of drains and koker pathways has to stop. He opined that something is seriously wrong with a Government programme that can permit such breaches to continue for more than nine years, even as billions are being appropriated to fund emergency works on the same drainage system. He said too that the government believes that it cannot be removed so it does not bother to remedy its mistakes. He said that more attention is being paid to awarding contracts by sole tendering. Greenidge said that this is where PPP cronies make their money and “provide finance to the decisionmakers at the so-called Freedom House, a place of freedom to engage in lawlessness, kickbacks, corruption and victimization of officials and citizens public and private as is evident from the Ombudsman report on the New Building Society (NBS) case.” According to Greenidge, the Berbice Bridge is a good
APNU’s Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge case for the study in lawlessness and corruption involving the PPP, the private sector CLICO and NBS, which he said is complete with intimidation of and violence against public officials in the course if their duties. The former finance minister remarked that a sitting Government cannot prevent its successor from investigating, cancelling or re-opening contracts. He said that what the Public Works Minister should be assuring the nation of is that the Opposition will be able to find the economic feasibility and related studies for all the projects, including that for the airport expansion and that for the Marriott Hotel. He said that the Minister will have to show that the internal rates of return of the current projects on which the PPP has embarked and how they are advantageous compared with other possible options.
GDF rank accidentally shoots friend While police are still investigating the circumstances under which 20-year-old electric i a n Devon Howell was shot to his neck at Dandrade Street, Kitty last Friday, a member of his family released some details she received on the shooting.
...victim remains critical According to his cousin, Natalie Howell, the shooting occurred at Lot 100 Dandrade Street, Kitty, at the home of Howell’s friend, a rank of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
She alleged that the soldier “accidently shot Devon to his neck”, while he was “unloading a gun”. She said the gun either belonged to the accused soldier or another GDF rank who was at the residence. “Devon was liming with Woolford (the accused soldier), another GDF rank and his friend Daniel. He does go there every day to hang-out,”she related. Reports indicate that Woolford is currently in police custody at the Sophia Police Station where he was escorted by ranks of the GDF, to assist with investigations. His mother, Allison Howell, is hopeful that her son will recover soon.
Monday November 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 7
Letters... Where your views make the news...Letters... Where your views make the news
Dave Kumar is at it again DEAR EDITOR, Kaieteur News November 18th November 2014, page 20, reported another drunken episode where Dave Kumar and another manager were locked up for urinating on the public road and abusing Policemen who were rebuking them. The article refers to another drunken altercation with Kumar and an employee named Daniels which resulted in a total shutdown of Skeldon Estate for nearly one week. This cost the industry millions of dollars in losses but no one is accountable. What is next? What would it take before management comes to its senses and let him go? Is the management
pool at Guysuco so limited that no replacement can be found for Kumar? He must be keeping some BIG Secret for GUYSUCO and the Government. He has to be the worst Manager in Guysuco’s long history. His behaviour was just shameful. The man needs to be in some rehab center. Instead, he is managing one of Guyana’s largest failed investments - the Skeldon Factory. Does this make any sense? None of the workers in the Estate or anywhere have any respect for him; he has no respect for anyone, not the Police, the C.E.O. of Guysuco or Chairman of Guysuco. I wonder if he is part of the
big turnaround plan. Raj Singh and Sheik Baksh should be holding their heads in shame - but at the end of the day, he is their problem. Moving him from one Estate to the next as they have been doing is not solving the problem. They both failed to do the right thing and take appropriate action against him when his altercation with Daniels caused the shutdown at Skeldon. Let’s not forget this is Guyana where anything goes. Dave Kumar obviously has political connections, so he is untouchable. He would be allowed to ruin Skeldon Estate and Guysuco. Devindra Pooran
These trucks ought to be lighted... From page 5 wild alarming trepidation seeing and imagining children cycling alongside of them as many do in getting to school. I’m speaking here of naked raw fear, a frightening heartthrobbing experience/ scenario. Attention must also be taken of the fact that the prescribe requirement for fitness are often not in order, hence the reason why they can be seen here and there, broken down along the highway. Vehicles approaching them many times have no proper sense of judgement of the extent to which the logs are extended; some trucks are poorly illuminated at nights, no reflectors, no red lights signalling danger, even at times one head lamp, when indeed these trucks ought to be lighted up like a Christmas tree at nights. One time you hear that they are restricted to working between certain hours, but
that is not so, they work around the clock. With all that we have seen in the past, can someone tell me what we are waiting for. Just why isn’t the river a safer place until there is another alternative? I repeat: I hope that this appeal is not treated with scant regard. And if the
opening saying I began with: “What we see depends mainly on what we look for” didn’t prick your ears to take hold of you, here’s another I know to be true: “Fear has many eyes and can see things underground”. May Jesus be our Shepherd. Frank Fyffe
A Nation besieged and...
From page 4 slave masters wallowing in a disgraceful governance system mired with injustices and unfair practices against the poor and the working class. Mr. Ramotar’s provocative actions have created such a stir that the pages of the press, especially the only two prominent newspapers, Kaieteur News and Stabrook News were ablaze with criticism and resentment against the uncaring, high-handed and dictatorial PPP cabal, who saw their lofty and superior status over the people being threatened. The president’s traditional unstatesmanlike conduct and ineloquent and indecisive action have delivered one of the most devastating blows not only to the country but also to the PPP. We are confident that it would forever destroy his legacy and cost the PPP to lose the next election. The people, including supporters of the PPP had thought that Guyana was heading towards a level playing field and the abolishment of the colonial hangovers which had enslaved them, but they were wrong. The PPP has and continues to stand in the way of progress, unity and equality among the races and has heightened the fear of East Indians against their fellow Afro-Guyanese brethren, which dates back to APHAN JHAAT political era. Instead of bridging the gap in the social divide, the PPP cabal has widened it to the extent where the poor and the working class are poorer today than they were ten years ago when the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal assumed power. Guyana’s worst and most corrupt
president was that little boy from Unity village who had no ability as a leader, no experience in governance, no interest in the masses and is childless. No president has ever treated his wife with such disrespect. In fact, the former First Lady was treated worst than an animal. The President’s indiscriminate use of his powers has resonated throughout the society with lightning dispatch. For one thing, the timing was wrong and the people are charged in the wake of such indiscretions. For another, the President’s ignominious actions have created trauma and tremor within the already troubled soul of the nation so much so that anything is likely to happen. Here is the PPP and its cohorts who had called the PNC regime under Burnham dictatorial but today, it is the same PPP that has imposed a rule by decree and is using the same constitution they have criticized. What hypocrites? In essence, the PPP has become a dictatorship never before openly and boldly practiced by the PNC. The intent was clear and adulterated. They could no longer mask their dictatorial tendencies which they have used for decades to bamboozle the people and hide their incompetency. The truth has now been revealed that the PPP is not the bastion of the protection and defense of democracy as they hypocritically claimed; they are the modern-day dictators in Guyana and the Caribbean. Guyana has been a nation besieged and held hostage by a dictatorial regime. Asquith Rose and Harish Singh
Page 8
Kaieteur News
Monday November 24, 2014
Page 18
Kaieteur News
Monday November 24, 2014
CARJACKED DRIVER HAD TO WAIT UNTIL POLICE BOUGHT CHINESE FOOD Taxi driver, Fharis Mohamed, is peeved with the police who he claims failed to adequately intervene when he was attacked by a carjacker last Monday. Mohammed, who works with an Eleventh Avenue,
Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara taxi service, helplessly watched a gun-toting carjacker drive away with his Toyota Spacio. He had bought the vehicle two weeks ago and is still making down payments.
Body of CJIA employee found in airport reservoir Police and CJIAC officials are investigating the death of an off duty employee, whose body was found in a reservoir behind the airport at around 13.30 hrs yesterday. A police release stated that Chris Jacob, 26, of Hauraruni Village, Linden Soesdyke Highway, was discovered “apparently drowned” in the reservoir after reportedly being involved in an altercation at 23.00hrs on Saturday in the Works Maintenance area. “Mr. Jacob’s body was discovered at 13:30hrs today 23 November after repeated efforts to locate him last evening. He was identified and the body was removed under supervision of the Police,” the release added. “His relatives have been contacted and information is being gathered by the authorities.” Reports reveal that the man had been working in the maintenance department at CJIA for several years and before he was discovered dead there was a party in that division.
Speaking to Kaieteur News yesterday, the taxi driver recorded his displeasure with the way the police handled his case. Mohamed said that the incident occurred a few yards from his place of employment around 20:45 hours, last Monday. The driver recalled that he and a friend hopped in his car to head home and he had just turned on his vehicle, PSS 9658, when an armed gunman opened the door and snatched his cellular phone which he had answered to take a call. “The gunman then told me to exit the vehicle and I pleaded and cooperated with the gunman for him not to shoot. However, just as the gunman drove off, I called a taxi service at the head of the scheme to inform them my car was just hijacked,” he related. Mohammed told this publication that he then opted to call a friend that
Most female govt. MPs still silent... From page 16 contacted her immediately from another phone line. When that was done, Teixeira refused to answer. Webster, who sits as Minister of Human Services and has women empowerment programmes falling under her Ministry, has not said a word about Nandlall’s utterances. That is also the case with MP Indra Chanderpaul, who also sits as Chairperson of the Women and Gender Equality Commission. Manickchand, who received an honorary doctorate for her work in gender based equality, was the first Government official to comment on the immorality of the utterances made by Nandlall in the recorded conversation.
From page 19
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Manickchand, told Kaieteur News, ”What Nandlall said was crude and disrespectful and flies in the face of the environment that we (the government) are trying to establish and foster in Guyana.” The Minister had said that the environment is one in which women should be treated as equals and celebrated for their worth in the development of Guyana and “not seen as chattel for men to use.” On Saturday, Dr. Persaud said that she found Nandlall’s remarks to be extremely uncouth. “We as women have been fighting for some time to ensure that we are not seen as objects and I think that his (Nandlall’s) comments in that regard were just absolutely obnoxious,” she told Kaieteur News. “One can only hope that the sentiments he expressed
in his apology are true but we have to wait, watch and see.” Persaud said that she has not seen Nandlall in a while but wants to and will let him know that she found his remarks to be very offensive to women. Asked if she feels comfortable with him as a political colleague in Parliament, Dr. Persaud declined to comment. “I would not comment on that at this point but it (Nandlall’s remarks) was really obnoxious. I hope he meant every word of his apology.” In addition to the remarks about the female reporter, Nandlall was also heard saying that “innocent people” working at Kaieteur News would be killed in retaliation for some of the stories the paper has been carrying. He was also heard admitting that he used taxpayers’ money for personal reasons.
was “just around the corner” and they were going to chase after the stolen vehicle. Instead, he noticed a police patrol van in front of a Chinese restaurant on Ninth Avenue and sought assistance from them. “I then stopped and informed the police which is supposed to protect and serve the citizens of Guyana. They then said they were going to send transmission to all outlets,” he related. According to Mohammed, he then asked the Police to chase after the vehicle and “their exact words were that their vehicle can’t do that because it can’t drive speed and it doesn’t pick up fast enough.” The peeved driver related that he then had to wait until the ranks finished purchasing food and drinks
at the restaurant before they instructed him to go to Diamond/Grove Police Station and lodge a report. At that station, Mohammed said ranks took a report and when he asked if they heard the “transmission” they said no. He told this publication that it was then that they proceeded to send a transmission which Mohamed heard outlets acknowledging. “The police said they were going to have roadblocks. I then had a few friends with me and we began to patrol the road from Diamond to Le Repentir Cemetery which we saw no road blocks,” Mohammed said. He went on to note that the owner of A&A Cabs who was coming from his residence in Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank
Essequibo had stopped and informed several stations along the way of the carjacking. According to him, the taxi service owner did not notice any road blocks. “Some of my friends’ cars patrolled from Diamond to Soesdyke, Diamond to Mocha and Le Repentir Cemetery and not any road block. Is this the way some members in the police force operate when we, the taxpayers, pay our hard working money to the Government of Guyana?” he questioned. “The police always patrol to check for tint, and other minor traffic offences at even in the wee hours in the morning, but not one single road block for a hijacked vehicle,” the disgruntled man told Kaieteur News.
Cops caught on wrong side of... From page 16 Phillip Small, a bicycle repairman, noticed what had happened, intervened and upbraided the rank about the way he handled the man. Dawson reportedly became annoyed and cuffed Small and the man cuffed him back. The rank then discharged three shots from his gun. Two hit Small on his right leg. The Force had revealed that Dawson was issued a pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition but when he returned after the incident, the gun had 14 rounds. Dawson was charged with discharging a loaded firearm with intent, as well as unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. The Magistrate, in ruling, said that one shot was enough to restrain Small and that a member of the TSU should not have acted in that manner. She noted that Dawson did not act out of self-defence. The Magistrate had also stressed the need for the courts to send a message to members of the Force that abrasive actions will not be condoned. SHOOTING CIVILIANS, COLLEAGUES On June 9, Police Cadet Officer Franz Paul, was accused of discharging a loaded firearm at Alex Griffith, a teen. It was said the Cadet Officer placed a firearm in the teen’s mouth on April 30 and shot him. He was charged with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm to him. It is also alleged that he unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous
bodily harm as well as assaulted the teen. Paul and Corporal Singh were charged for conspiring with each other, on May 1, at Georgetown to pervert the course of justice. They were released on $150,000 for that charge in the Magistrates’ court. It was said that Singh took the Firearms and Ammunition book to Paul, while he was under close arrest, to alter the entries therein. Paul was remanded but later secured bail in the high court. Also, Detective Constable, Shawn Roberts who reportedly shot one of his colleagues and attempted to remove the spent shells from the crime scene, was released on $240,000 bail when he appeared before city Magistrate Ann McLennan last week. Roberts, a constable attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Brickdam Police Station, was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, discharging a loaded firearm with intent, threatening language and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The detective constable was accused of discharging a loaded firearm at his colleague, Police Constable, Leroy English. Another Constable stationed at the Brickdam Police Station was also charged in relation to Roberts’ incident. PERVERTING THE COURSE OF JUSTICE Constable Jermaine Charles appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman on Tuesday and was granted
$200,000 bail on perverting the course of justice allegation. That stemmed from an incident that allegedly occurred on September 3, last at Eccles, East Bank Demerara. He is set to face Magistrate Leron Daly at the Providence Magistrate’s Court on December 15. LARCENY Also to make headlines was the Sergeant-in-Charge of the Leonora Police Station. Aleem Subhan, 34, is being accused of stealing just over $7.5 million bail money from the Guyana Police Force. The charge against Subhan stated that between October 1st, 2013 and August 8th, 2014, being employed as a Clerk/ Servant with the Guyana Police Force, he stole $7, 536, 733, which was the property of the Guyana Police Force. He was granted $500,000 bail by Magistrate Ann McLennan after he pleaded not guilty. The case will be called again on December 2nd at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court. PUNISHMENT A senior police official had once explained that from the first day of a lawman’s arraignment, he will be interdicted from duty, pending the outcome of the court case. If found guilty ranks will face dismissal but if exonerated the file will be sent back to the DPP for advice. Ranks charged have police powers and will be receiving half their regular salary during the period of interdiction.
Monday November 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Bedford Truck Model M 4X4, 2 Perkins engine, one 6, one 4 Cylinder, fully bead, Owner leaving country Call: 693-2237 Wolf power 7500E, Generator, One Tohatsu everrun , outboard engine 18HP. Owner leaving country Call: 693-2237 9 weeks German shepherd pups – Contact: 654-6355 3" Honda water pump – 5.5HP Brand New, one Garmin GPS map. Owner leaving country – Call: 6932237 Hacked PS3 with 40 top games and more - Call: 6519620 TAXI SERVICES City Taxi Service (since 1968), 8 Vlissengen Road, Newtown -24hrs service – Call: 225-8600, 226-1088, 2271101, 226-7150 Eddie’s Taxi Service, 6 Vlissengen Road, Newtown. Call: 226-0606, 225-1513
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Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 662-6045 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves. Contact Nick: 683-1312, 6273206 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Grooming Palace Barber Shop & Salon, excellent, prestige & refine haircuts & designs, Royal Castle Building South - Tel: 6018045, 218-0116 Repairs to refrigerators gas stoves washing machine, A/ C units – Call Lindon: 6411086, 694-2202, 227-8907 FOR LOW COST: REPAIRS TO FRIDGE, FREEZER, A/ C UNIT, MICROWAVES, TV & WASHING MACHINE CALL: 629-4946 OR 2254822 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar:2310655,683-8734
Page 19
LAND FOR SALE ECCLES: Build your own home in a modernize gated community, lot size 60X100 - $7.5M – Call: 227-2913, Cell: 689-3033 ECCLES: Commercial Lots - $14M – Call: 227-2913, Cell:689-3033 Parika (Butcher Shop Street) – One (1) Lot 38' X 150' $ 7m - Contact 650-0402 - for serious inquiries Blankenburg @ The Back Of Gas Station (3) Lots @ 75' X 76' Each. $20M for all 3 Lots. (1) Lot for $10m - Contact 650-0402 Blankenburg Public Road, W.C.D, 38X150, 37X150$16M Each. Call: 666-3619 1500 ACRES TRANSPORTED LAND IN REGION 6 @ No19 Corentyne Highway, Cane & Rice Cultivation, & Fish Ponds Etc. Call: 694-0079
VACANCY Carpenters & Welders to work in Coverden E.B.D. Apply in person to Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling. Work from home;earn $5,000- $20,000 daily- Contact: 233-6517, 622 1957,www. jobfairworld wide.com F o r o n e m a l e c l e a n e r, apply to Alabama Trading, G/town Ferry Stelling Stabroek.
TO LET Barber Stations & Hair Stations for hairdressers, in lucrative & friendly environment. Call: 601-8045 5th Street Alberttown: Three bedroom house, bottom for business, air conditioned & surveillance - $1200US. Call: 231-7805, 618-7483
IT Technician to install outdoor antenna, must have driver’s licence. Send application to jobs@awngy.com.
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, (SALE) AND MORE, SAWS & DRILLS -$10,000 - CALL: 675-0767, 667-2535 Five bedrooms house, 107 Lamaha Gardens & Large Parking; AC Rooms Hot & Cold, Purified Water System Call: 661-8908, 335-3590 4 Bedrooms house- AC, Security camera, GEB alarm, phone, 2 vehicle parking, etc @ Friendship, E.B.D. Call: 674-6363 Two bedroom apartment at Stewartville West Coast Demerara, 1 Business place at Stewartville opposite Primary & Secondary School Call: 613-5261 Hair station to rent behind Bourda Post Office opposite The Net Library Contact: 676-4316, 602-0333, 225-4665 One top flat @ Enmore $35,000 monthly – Call: 6771495
Nail Technician, barber, hairdresser. Tel:225-5360, 687-7566, 625-7844 CANTER DRIVER/ SALESMAN and Factory Assistant living on E.B.D, free accommodation also available. 266 4427
Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
One Trainee refrigeration technician – Call: 231-0655, 683-8734
Indian Male from USA is seeking female age 30/33 with good personality. Call:6653246 (no texting)
Glamazon Beauty Salon and Cosmetology School, Located 28 Sheriff Street C/ Ville, Visit us or Call for an appointment. Tel:225-5360, 687-7566, 625-7844
Live in House Keeper 3545yrs, Long term employment. Call: 697-8797.
Two bedroom furnished house in Crane Housing Scheme W.C.D. Call: 671-6855 LEARN TO DRIVE
EDUCATIONAL Earn a Certificate in Cosmetology or nails alone. Tel:225-5360, 687-7566, 6257844 PEN PAL
SALON Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
Sales girls & boys @ Avinash & Ravina’s Stores – Call:2263361, 227-7828 PROPERTY FOR SALE 2 STORIED 3 BEDROOMS CONCRETE & WOODEN PROPERTY ON LARGE LAND 300FTX40FT, IN BERBICE, NEAR CANJE BRIDGE. CALL MAX: 6098132, 672-8569
PROPERTY FOR SALE Diamond Section “A”, 274 Great Diamond, E.B.D, 56’ by 40’ building on 111’ by 60’ land- $17.5 Million- Call: 2332546, 233-5859 3 bedrooms upstairs & 3 bedrooms downstairs, Thomas Street Kitty, Georgetown – Tel: 680-7047 Six acres prime roadside land and metal workshop in Corriverton, can be sold with or without workshop. Call: 626-6245 1-3 Bedrooms flat house with full bath at Recht- Door – Zee, Parfaite Harmonie W.B.D – Serious enquiries only – Call: 643-4740
VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Prado, Price$5.5M Neg. Call: 643-2403 Nissan Titan for sale, immaculate condition, must see serious enquiries only. Call 641-4556 (Anytime after 4:00pm) 2005 Honda Airwave, Mint Condition - $2.6M negotiable Call: 592-6851231, 592-670-2343 2003 Toyota Premio - $2.3M, New Model Spacio $2.150M, fully loaded, unregistered. Call: 617-2891 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 1 AT170, Small Canter Truck – Call:664-5444, 601-4929 Minibus (pitbull) sliding glass - $15,000- Contact:6280909 Toyota 212 Carina, Toyota Vigo Pick-up, Nissan Pathfinder Jeep, excellent condition, prices negotiable. Call: 264-3732, 225-8427, 6097766 1-Honda-600RR, Toyota Raum, Rav4, AT212, AT192, EP71 Starlet, Fun cargo, Tacoma 2007- Call: 644-5096, 697-1453 Unregistered Spacio 2004, camera, rims, body kit, Fielder 2003, black interior, fully loaded. Call: 617-5536 Cheapest VVTI and 1RZ Super GL buses, CAMI, Road Side Property in Bougainvillea Park, Farm E.B.D – Tel:616-7635 Two Suzuki, minivan 1 for parts – Call: 216-2465, 6876083, 678-5438 Ford F150 - $1.1M, GX90 Mark 2 - $1.1M, enclosed pitbull with refrigeration, never registered, reasonable offer accepted – Call: 6106066 2002 Toyota Premio $2.450M, 2003 Toyota Spacio (new model) $2.150M – Tel:681-7117, 227-5950 Series: PRR 9216, White Premio. Call: 265-3053, 627-3139 ACCOMODATION SIGNATURE INN: Luxury Suites & Apartments. Free Wi-Fi & Breakfast; AC & Self Contained Rooms @ 83 Laluni Street Queenstown. Tel: 592-226-2145 Harmony Inn: Furnished apartments (A/C, Hot & Cold, refrigeration, microwave, etc) $5,000$8,000. Your luxury hide away. Tel: 668-0306, 694-7817 Continued on page 18
Monday November 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Canada imposes visa requirement Gov’t bowed to on St Kitts-Nevis citizens pressure on used cars
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — As of 12:00 pm EST on Saturday, citizens of St Kitts and Nevis now require a visa to travel to Canada. Following the announcement on Saturday, the St Kitts and Nevis government said that nationals in good standing travelling to Canada between November 22 and 24 would be granted a temporary resident permit upon arrival in Canada, free of charge. According to a press release by the Canadian High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados, Canada is implementing the visa requirement on visitors travelling from St Kitts and Nevis due to concerns about the issuance of passports and identity management practices with its citizenship by investment program. “Canada is acting to protect the safety and security of Canadians and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system. The visa requirement will ensure that Canada will be able to properly determine the true identity of St Kitts and Nevis passport holders and to deny entry to those who would otherwise be inadmissible to Canada,” the release said. Canada continues to welcome genuine visitors and has a number of programs,
Richard Hanley including a multiple-entry visa, to make it easy for those genuine visitors to travel to Canada, the High Commission added. “Canada welcomes genuine visitors from St Kitts and Nevis, and we are committed to making it as easy as possible for travellers to get a visa to come to Canada. The visa requirement will help us facilitate the entry of legitimate travellers, while preventing those who are inadmissible or pose a risk to our country from travelling to Canada,” said Richard Hanley, High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados, during a visit to St Kitts and Nevis The release noted that St Kitts and Nevis citizens can
apply online for a visitor visa to travel to Canada, or submit a paper application in person or by mail or courier to any visa application centre (VAC), including the VAC in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. It currently takes no more than 14 days to process a visitor’s visa at the visa office in Port of Spain. According to the St Kitts and Nevis government a “thorough report” will be made by the minister of immigration pertaining the country’s immigration policy in general, and changes that have been made to St Kitts and Nevis passports in particular. The key changes regarding the latter, in summary, are as follows: (i) Effective February 2014, any name changes made by a St Kitts and Nevis passport holder has been reflected on the passport. (ii) Effective July 2014, all passports issued by the government of St Kitts and Nevis have had the place of birth printed in the passport. iii) New St Kitts and Nevis passports are being issued that will replace any passports in existence that may not indicate the place of birth. The government said it will continue to work with the government of Canada to maintain and strengthen positive relations.
Petrotrin claims sabotage, calls in cops after oil leak
Trinidad Guardian - A day after Petrotrin beefed up security following an internet threat, saboteurs have struck at a Petrotrin installation in Grand Ravine, Palo Seco, unscrewing a plug from an oil tank. However, Petrotrin was able to avert a catastrophe as only five barrels of oil leaked into the environment before it was contained. Petrotrin President Khalid Hassanali said the removal of the bull plug at the base of the oil tank was the work of saboteurs who used a wrench to unfasten the plug. “We have taken note of this and reported it to the police,” Hassanali said. While he admitted that it was extremely difficult to man all Petrotrin installations in the refinery, marine and field operations, Hassanali said hiring additional manpower was not an option at this time. Instead, he said Petrotrin would invest in technology that would better assist in keeping surveillance on all of Petrotrin’s installations. “You have to remember
that we have installations in the forests, so it would be impossible to hire watchmen to guard every installation. We are looking at investing in technology to assist in this regard,” Hassanali said. He admitted that no discussions have yet been held with the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) about the sabotage. Police officers from the Santa Flora Police Station visited the site and took statements. It is uncertain who was in charge of the installation at the time of the incident, but Hassanali said an investigation has been launched. On Friday night, Petrotrin raised its threat alert after a cryptic warning was issued in a video posted on Youtube from the group Anonymous T&T. Describing itself as a “loosely associated international network of human/civil/ animal activist,” the group called on Petrotrin to come “clean” on the Marabella oil spill and its impact on residents. Filmed as a news bulletin and featuring an
Khalid Hassanali individual dressed in black and wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, the narrator accused Petrotrin of not being open with the nation on the impact the July oil spill. That spill which cost Petrotrin over $5 million resulted in 8,000 barrels of oil leaking into the Guaracara River. Dozens of residents were affected by the fumes and last week they staged a protest in Port-ofSpain calling on Petrotrin to compensate and relocate them.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Prime Minister Gaston Browne has admitted government bowed to public pressure when it reversed the decision to impose a ban on the importation of used cars that are five years and older. “We had to reverse the policy because of public pressure, but I hope that some time in the future we can look at the issue dispassionately and to determine the cut off limit, because we cannot have a situation in which individuals with impunity importing vehicles which are 10 15 years into the country,” Browne said during a press
conference Saturday. Browne said government was attempting to curb the number of vehicles being imported out of Japan because of environmental concerns. The ban went into effect on October 15. “I know there is any issue about costing and that these vehicles are affordable, but some of them do represent an environmental hazard. In fact, they are not allowed to be on the streets in Japan. However, we are readily taking those vehicles into our country and evidently would be literally doing harm to the environment,” he further
Gaston Browne stated. The Cabinet decision, which was announced last week, was met with strong condemnation from all circles. (Antigua Observer)
Royal Bank pulls out of Caribbean wealth market TORONTO - (CMC) – The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has decided to exit its wealth management business in the Caribbean, resulting in hundreds of layoffs, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has reported. It said that the Caribbean move, which follows the sale of its Jamaican operations earlier this year at a loss, will affect international wealth management teams in Toronto, Montreal and the United States and result in an undetermined number of job losses. “While regrettably there will be some job losses, it would be premature at this stage to estimate the number of employees that will be impacted as we are currently considering a number of strategic options for these businesses,” said RBC spokeswoman Claire Holland in a statement. She said these efforts will help the bank focus on serving high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients in key areas for expansion, including Canada, the US, the British Isles and Asia. Craig Fehr, an analyst with Edward Jones in St. Louis, Missouri, said RBC’s action may be another sign that Canadian banks are cutting their losses in the region and cleaning house. “What we’re seeing is the banks are doing a thorough evaluation of their business mix and figuring out what makes sense long term and what is probably best left in the hands of someone else,” he said. The move by RBC follows a similar one announced
Craig Fehr earlier this month by Scotiabank, which is planning to cut 1,500 jobs – about twothirds of them in Canada. While none of its domestic branches is slated for closure, Scotiabank said its international banking arm will shut 120 of its foreign branches, including some in Mexico and the Caribbean region. CBC said that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), which has maintained a presence in the Caribbean since the 1920s, said in September that it planned to focus on managing expenses amid challenges in the region. Fehr said Canadian banks are taking the prudent step of reorganizing their businesses, as the sector prepares for lower profitability. “I think we’re moving into
the next phase of the economic cycle – particularly domestically – where Canadian consumers will probably demand less of personal loans and certainly mortgages,” he said. CNC said the banks may also be reorganizing ahead of the likely possibility of higher interest rates coming from the Bank of Canada sometime in 2015. It said the central bank’s key short-term interest rate has been at one per cent since September 2010, making it relatively inexpensive for bank customers to borrow money to make major purchases such as real estate and vehicles. Like several other major Canadian banks, CBC said RBC is undergoing a change in upper management after the retirement of its long-time chief executive. RBC’s pullout from the Caribbean international wealth management business follows this year’s sale of its Jamaican banking division, at a loss. Despite that, the bank had a profit of nearly CAN $2.4 billion (One Canadian dollar=US $0.89 cents) in the quarter ended July 31, including a record CAN $285 million at wealth management, up 22 per cent from a year earlier. The bank’s fourthquarter and fiscal 2014 annual results will be issued December 3.
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Monday November 24, 2014
Iran and powers set to extend nuclear talks if final push fails (Reuters) - Iran and six world powers looked set to miss today’s deadline for resolving a 12-year stand-off over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and are already looking at a possible extension of the negotiations. The talks in Vienna aim for a deal that could transform the Middle East, open the door to ending economic sanctions on Iran and start to bring a nation of 76 million people in from the cold after decades of hostility with the West. The cost of failure to reach a deal could be high. Iran’s regional foes Israel and Saudi Arabia are watching the Vienna talks nervously. Both fear a weak deal that fails to curtail Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, while a collapse of the negotiations would encourage Iran to become a threshold nuclear weapon state, something Israel has said it would never allow. It became increasingly clear during a week of intensive negotiations between the top U.S. and Iranian diplomats that what officials close to the talks have been predicting privately for weeks is proving to be correct: a final deal is
still too far off to hammer out by the parties’ self-imposed deadline. A European official said the possibility of securing a final agreement “seems physically impossible”, echoing comments by Iranian officials. With the deadline less than 24 hours away, the issue was one of several options for negotiations raised in U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s latest meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, a senior U.S. official said on condition of anonymity. The United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China began the final round of talks with Iran on Tuesday to clinch a pact under which Tehran would curb its nuclear work in exchange for lifting economically crippling sanctions. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke of a deep divide between Iran and the six powers, saying they were “still far apart on many issues”. But British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said they would launch one more attempt to get a final
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L), Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif (R) and EU envoy Catherine Ashton pose for photographers before a meeting in Vienna Saturday. Reuters/Leonhard Foeger agreement. “At the moment we’re focussed on the last push, a big push tomorrow (today) morning to try and get this across the line,” he told reporters. “Of course if we’re not able to do it, we’ll then look at where we go from there.” Some Western officials describe two possible options for a likely rollover. Under one scenario, described as the “stop the clock option”, the talks would
simply break off and experts from the parties would reconvene in a few weeks for another attempt. A lengthier option would be a formal extension into next year, adding new elements to an interim accord from last year. International Crisis Group’s senior Iran analyst
Ali Vaez said there could be a “no-cost extension in which the parties would continue negotiating without discussing the terms of a new interim agreement or a firm deadline, with the hope of hammering out the final agreement by the year’s end”. Several Western officials
have questioned the value of repeatedly extending the talks, saying there is little reason to expect the Iranians will show the flexibility needed to end the impasse in the weeks and months ahead. They have questioned the Iranian leadership’s desire to compromise. Tehran blames the West for the deadlock, saying it has consistently made unreasonable demands of Iran. They have also warned that the upcoming change in U.S. Congress, where hardline Republicans will soon dominate both houses, means U.S. lawmakers may push for new sanctions on Iran, which the Obama administration has said could torpedo the talks. The negotiations aim to end Western suspicions that Iran is seeking an nuclear bomb capability, while allowing Iran to have the civilian nuclear programme it says is its right under international rules. Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons.
Cameron’s party says likely to fail to cut immigration
(Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives said yesterday they were unlikely to keep a promise to reduce net migration to “tens of thousands”, possibly damaging their reelection chances next year. Immigration has shot to the top of voter concerns before a 2015 national election after the UK Independence Party (UKIP), which wants to limit inflows and leave the EU, won European elections in Britain in May and later secured two seats in the British parliament. Cameron’s party has promised to cut net migration to the tens of thousands by next year’s election in May. Instead, it rose to 243,000 in the year to March 2014 and new data due this week is expected to show the numbers getting higher, not lower. “It is of course unlikely that we’re going
to reach the tens of thousands by the end of the parliament,” Home Secretary (interior minister) Theresa May said yesterday. “Why is that? It’s because we’ve seen increasing numbers of people coming from across Europe, partly because our economy is doing better,” she told BBC TV’s Andrew Marr Show. Though an apparent statement of the obvious, the comments by May, tipped as a possible contender to replace Cameron, are significant because her party has until now been unwilling to concede defeat on such a major election issue. Fearing UKIP will split the right-wing vote next year and make it harder for him to get reelected, Cameron, who heads a coalition with the centrist Liberal Democrats, has hardened his rhetoric on immigration and taken modest measures to curb it.
Monday November 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Suicide bomber kills 45 at Portugal ex-PM Socrates still in custody, more questioning today volleyball match in Afghanistan (Reuters) - Police transferred Portugal’s former Socialist prime minister Jose Socrates back to his cell at a police station late yesterday where he will spend a third night in a row after his shocking arrest and questioning in a corruption investigation.Criminal judge Carlos Alexandre interrogated Socrates, 57, on Saturday and yesterday as part of an inquiry into suspected tax fraud, corruption and moneylaundering, and the questioning will continue today, Socrates’ lawyer Joao Araujo told reporters. “He’s fine, better than I am. He’s in good spirits,” a visibly tired Araujo said, declining to say whether Socrates had been charged with any crime or admitted to any wrongdoing. The crime of corruption carries a prison term of up to eight years. Socrates was questioned at the modern Justice Campus in Lisbon inaugurated by him as prime minister in 2009. The detention, the first involving a former premier in Portugal under democracy, followed arrests of other high-ranking officials or
Jose Socrates prominent people in separate inquiries in the past few months as prosecutors intensify a fight against corruption in a country notorious for its slow justice system. It was not clear if the inquiry, known as “Operation Marquis”, was linked to Socrates’ time as premier in 2005-2011.Police arrested Socrates, 57, at Lisbon airport late on Friday as he arrived from Paris. Three other individuals linked to Socrates were also arrested. Socrates resigned as prime minister in the middle
of his second four-year term in 2011 as an escalating debt crisis forced him to request an international bailout, which imposed painful austerity on Portugal. Socialist leader Antonio Costa, whose opposition centre-left party leads in opinion polls ahead of next year’s general election, has said the party was “shocked” by the detention. Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, who came to power in 2011 and heads the centre-right ruling coalition government, said on Sunday the case was “anything but trivial”, but added that it was not a political issue and declined further comment. After stepping down, Socrates left for Paris, where he attended a university course. He returned in 2013 to become a regular commentator on RTP state television. During his premiership, Socrates weathered several investigations, including allegations that he misused his post as environment minister in 2002 to allow the construction of a shopping mall. He denied wrongdoing and faced no formal charges.
Iraqi forces say retake two towns from Islamic State (Reuters) - Iraqi forces said yesterday they retook two towns north of Baghdad from Islamic State fighters, driving them from strongholds they had held for months and clearing a main road from the capital to Iran. There was no independent confirmation that the army, Shi’ite militia and Kurdish peshmerga forces had completely retaken Jalawla and Saadiya, about 115 km (70 miles) northeast of Baghdad. Many residents fled the violence long ago. At least 23 peshmerga and militia fighters were killed and dozens were wounded in yesterday’s fighting, medical and army sources said. “We have liberated Jalawla and Saadiya,” said Mala Bakhtiar, a senior official in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, speaking by phone from a nearby town. He estimated 50 Islamic State fighters may have been killed out of a force of 400. Iraq’s Shi’ite-led government, backed by U.S.led air strikes, has been trying to push back the Islamic State since it swept through mainly Sunni Muslim provinces of northern Iraq in June, meeting
virtually no resistance. Last week the army broke a months-long siege of the country’s largest refinery north of Baghdad, but Islamic State fighters continue to take territory in the western province of Anbar, which shares borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The militants have been fighting in the last two days to take full control of the Anbar provincial capital Ramadi. Yesterday, Iraqi and foreign jets struck Islamic State fighters near central
Ramadi, provincial council member Mahmoud Ahmed Khalaf told Reuters. Clashes continued in the city, he said. Jalawla and Saadiya are located in Diyala province which is mainly under the control of the Baghdad government forces and Kurdish peshmerga.
(Reuters) - A suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest in a crowd of spectators at a volleyball match in Afghanistan yesterday, killing 45 people, a provincial official said, as foreign troops withdraw from the country after more than a decade of fighting. Mukhles Afghan, spokesman for the governor of Paktika province, said at least 50 more were wounded in the attack in Yahya Khel district, where residents had gathered to watch a tournament final. He said most of the casualties were civilians. No one immediately claimed responsibility for yesterday’s attack. The spokesman said around 50 more people were wounded. Casualties were high because the crowd was so dense, since people had come from nearby districts to cheer on their team. No other details were immediately available because of the remoteness of the location. The Taliban and other jihadist militants have unleashed waves of suicide
attacks in Afghanistan this year as foreign forces pull out after 13 years of war. About 12,000 international troops will remain in Afghanistan next year to train and support Afghanistan’s security forces. Paktika was the site of one of this year’s deadliest attacks in July, when 89 people were killed by a bomb in a crowded market. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach condemned the “cowardly” attack. “It is an attack on sport itself and on the positive values it can bring to help build strong communities and foster peace and reconciliation around the world,” he said in a statement. The Taliban banned public sports events as unIslamic during their five-year
rule before the 2001 U.S.-led intervention that toppled them from power after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on U.S. cities. Paktika province has an active Afghan Taliban insurgent presence and lies along the porous border with Pakistan’s North Waziristan region, used as a base by both the Haqqani militant network and the Pakistani branch of the Taliban. The Pakistani army for months has been waging an offensive against militants in North Waziristan, driving refugees and militant fighters across the border into Afghanistan. This year has been one of the bloodiest for Afghan civilians, according to the United Nations, which recorded nearly 5,000 deaths and injuries of civilians in the first half of the year.
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Kaieteur News
Diamond Mineral Water 50-Mile Road Race
Eastman is best of 32-starters The multi-talented Hamza Eastman rode to victory in the 15th annual Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) sponsored Diamond Mineral Water 50-mile cycle road race yesterday on West Demerara. From a field of 32-starters, Eastman covered the race route from Wales Police Station on the West Bank of Demerara to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo and back to Schnoord on the West Bank just off the Demerara Harbour Bridge in One Hour 59 Minutes 42.80 Seconds. Eastman, who copped three of the eight sprint prizes, was followed to the line by Orville Hinds, Romello Crawford, Jamal John, Alanzo Ambrose and Mark Harris in that order, the top six finishers who were all rewarded. Hinds took three sprint prizes with the
other two going to Ambrose. Crawford won the junior category followed by John and Ambrose. Taking the mountain bike category was Ozia McCaullay, Julio Melville and Seon Budnah were second and third respectively. The top veteran was Talim Shaw followed by Shameer Baksh and Kennard Lovell with Walter Isaacs was the leading veteran Over60. The lone female was Ronella Samuels. Organizer of the event, National Coach Hassan Mohamed was loud in praise for the top performers while also congratulating Demerara Distillers Limited for their continued support to which DDL’s Brand Manager Larry Wills said they were more than committed to continued investment in the nation’s sportsmen and women.
Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United defeat... From page 26 over in Alpha’s territory and simultaneously delivered a thunderous kick to the opposition’s goal. The ball sped off like a bullet from a high powered gun, gathered momentum around centre field and zipped past Dorville Stewart’s outstretched hands to settle aback the nets. The whistle sounded simultaneously to seal Rhythm Squad’s fate while handing Alpha another victory and lucrative accolade to its bulging cabinet. The buzz of conversation as the patrons trooped out suggested that all were
satisfied with the action packed encounter, while those that exited earlier would be ruing their luck. For their efforts, Alpha received $400,000 and a trophy while the Rhythm Squad received half of that. Coach Dover tersely summed up the match in post-game comments, “True champions always find a way to win,” he pronounced. Earlier, Western Tigers FC humiliated their counterparts of Santos FC 51 to finish in the third place to cart off the $125,000 prize on offer, while Santos walked away with $75,000. Scoring for the ‘Tigers’ were Stellon
David (7, 23), Daren Benjamin (12), Cleon Forrester (25) and Randolph Wagner (30). Kenroy Dominic narrowed the score for the losers in the 26th minute. There were also several exhibition matches that were very entertaining and put the crowd in the mood for the feature attraction. Meanwhile, the organizers said that they will be announcing the winners of several other categories later on. These include best goalkeeper, most prolific goal scorer and the Most Valuable Players among others. The tournament was sponsored by Ansa McAl.
Monday November 24, 2014
Hamilton takes second F1 title in style ABU DHABI (Reuters) A tearful Lewis Hamilton joined the elite ranks of double Formula One world champions yesterday after a nerve-racking drive to victory in the floodlit season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In a race overshadowed by the ever-present specter of mechanical failure after the Briton’s Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg suffered an early loss of power, Hamilton powered to his 11th win in 19 races. The 29-year-old, who took his first title with McLaren in 2008, became Britain’s first multiple champion since Jackie Stewart in 1971 and only the country’s fourth. “Lewis, thank you very much for not letting the British public down,” Britain’s Prince Harry told him over the radio from the pit wall as the chequered flag came down. “You are an absolute legend.” Hamilton, crying on the podium as the anthem sounded and with his voice cracking in later interviews, performed a slowing down lap with the British flag fluttering from the cockpit and the words ‘Hammer Time’ written on it. “World champion. Oh my
God, I can’t believe it, thanks everyone,” he had shouted over the radio before parking up and embracing his father, pop star girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger and family. The victory was a record 16th of the season for Mercedes, who had already collected the constructors’ crown, and for the first time the winner took 50 points in an unprecedented and controversial double points finale. “This has been just an incredible year. I can’t believe how amazing,” said Hamilton. “This is the greatest moment in my life. It feels very surreal. “(Winning in) 2008 was special but the feeling I have now is above and beyond. It’s the greatest feeling I’ve ever had. Thanks so much everyone.” Rosberg finished 14th after starting on pole position and 17 points adrift, the much-vaunted ‘duel in the desert’ becoming a nightmare after dark for the German son of Finland’s 1982 champion Keke. LOSING BRAKES He had suffered problems from the 25th of 55 laps, then complained about losing brakes as he fell down the order, still
hoping against hope that a similar misfortune might befall Hamilton and revive his chances. When the team asked him to pit and retire with only a handful of laps to go, Rosberg asked to stay out so he could at least end the season on track. “Sorry it didn’t work out but you drove like a champion,” said Mercedes technical head Paddy Lowe. “We come back next year to have another go.” Rosberg, who gallantly s h o o k H a m i l t o n ’s h a n d afterwards, did not need to tell anyone that he was disappointed but he said it anyway. “All in all, Lewis deserved to win the championship. What happened to me had no impact, it did not change anything so there is no point focusing on that,” he said. “He did just a little bit better than me. The positive is I’ve been the better qualifier over the last two years and that gives me a good base. I came very close and it is a pity it did not work out.” Brazilian Felipe Massa finished second for Williams in the race, after looking like he could win it, with Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas third. “Not bad for an old man,” said a delighted Massa after his best result since 2012, when he was at Ferrari. Behind them, Australian Daniel Ricciardo finished fourth for Red Bull with Hamilton’s former McLaren team mate Jenson Button fifth in what may have been his last race in Formula One. Force India duo Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez were sixth and seventh while outgoing four-times champion Sebastian Vettel was eighth in his last race for Red Bull before moving to Ferrari. The man he will replace at the Italian team, double world champion Fernando Alonso, was ninth and ahead of Finnish team mate Kimi Raikkonen.