Kaieteur News

Thursday Edition

Online readership yesterday 109.174

Price $80 November 28, 2013 - Vol. 6 No. 48 (VAT Inclusive) Online: http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com

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

Guyana's Blacklist status can impact entire region …CARICOM urges speedy resolution to deficiencies

Flood forces city to a - 42 city schools remain standstill closed, more rains expected

Carmichael Street yesterday

'SS' series begins as GPHC maternity vehicles' registration ward overcrowded reach record levels - admissions reach record heights

October deadliest month for 2013

- pedestrians are this year's 'endangered species'

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 28, 2013

Thursday November 28, 2013

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Kaieteur News

Flood forces city to a standstill - 42 city schools remain closed, more rains expected The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy was caught at the crossroads. On the one hand, sections of the country were affected by yesterday's flooding whilst farmers were demanding water for their crops.

The dilemma was stated yesterday at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Agriculture. Dr. Ramsammy said that they expect more showers within the next 24 hours.

He described yesterday's rainfall as the most intense the country has ever recorded during a six-hour period. The heavy rains forced the closure of several private and public schools.

Even businesses were forced to forfeit the day's earnings

as the flood waters crept into some stores.

The Georgetown Magistrates' Court on Middle Street was also closed as its entrance and holding cell were “anklehigh” with water. Several streets were also covered while garbage floated around the city.

Dr. Ramsammy said that the Hydro Meteorological Office noted a high pressure system over Bermuda which was dominant and forced the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) to shift from its last position bringing it directly over the Guyana Coast.

It brought in heavy rains, which the Minister said, could not have been predicted yesterday. The

Carmichael and Quamina Streets Botanical Gardens in Georgetown which is one of the measuring sites recorded 128.9 mm of rain in a sixhour period from 02:00 hours yesterday.

According to the Agriculture Minister, the 128.9 mm is the most intense

Caught on Camera: Two Timehri squatters nabbed after Amerijet break-in

T

wo men, who are squatters living in the Timehri area, were caught on Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) plundering the AmeriJet Bond, Timehri between November 19 and 20.

The surveillance led police to Albert Ramjaram and Ryan Waddell. Nearly $1M in office equipment was stolen at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Thirty-four-year-old Rajaram, also known as 'Bonnie' was sentenced to three years for break and enter and larceny offences when he appeared in court on Monday, November 25.

He pleaded guilty to the charges.

However, his alleged accomplice 22-year-old Waddell, also known as 'Patchie', denied any involvement and was remanded to prison until November 29 for another hearing. He was unrepresented.

According to police records, only a computer and backup system from the loot were recovered under a house in the vicinity of the Timehri Fire Station.

This is the second such incident in two weeks where individuals have been arrested and charged for breaking and entering,

an airport official confirmed yesterday.

At the moment, a 17year-old is behind bars awaiting trial after police confiscated four motorcycles [three of which were in parts]; one camera; one refrigerator; three cell phones; two laptops and one pair of computer speakers in a dwelling in the squatting area.

The Ministry of Public Works had previously and continues to express worry over the security aspect of the dwellings around CJIA including cultivation of narcotics and thefts of aeronautical and airport facilities.

period of rain in the history of weather recording in Guyana.

He said, “Indeed, we have never experienced that intensity which surprised me because I would have thought that the rains during the 2005 floods would have been the worse. However, this morning's rainfall had an intensity of 21.5mm per hour, compared to 6.9mm per hour in 2005 and 5.9mm per hour in 2004.”

In terms of flooding, more than 75 percent of Georgetown was affected by the floods.

Regions Five and Six, the Minister said, reported low flooding but the struggle in those areas was ensuring the rice fields had water. In Region Five, there was a great need for water. The frontlands of Black Bush Polder are in a critical situation in terms of having adequate water. And this, the Minister said, created a dilemma, as they were faced with two situations; “floods

and a drought.”

While cloudy conditions are expected to continue over the city the heaviest rainfall over the next 12 hours is expected to be over Regions Two and Region Four, recording between 50mm and 100mm of rainfall. East Coast Demerara was not significantly affected.

And the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority has been instructed to remove two excavators from the Hope Canal Project to clear priority outfall channels.

The first outfall expected to be cleared will be Cottage, Mahaicony, Region Five.

Meanwhile, flood warning remains in effect for areas along the Coast.

“For Georgetown, we operate with seven pumps and all are controlled by the Municipality. Two of those pumps we assist in operating. These two are the Liliendaal and Kitty pumps.

These are automatic pumps

which require a certain amount of water in the reservoir.”

“The other five pumps are also operated with collaborative assistance. We were informed yesterday morning that two pumps that are located at the mouth leading to the Demerara River are not working and the Municipality has requested our assistance. We have instructed the NDIA to help them and bring them into operation.”

“The pumps at the Lamaha Canal and the one within the vicinity of the Guyana Forestry Headquarters are not working and we are trying to provide as much support as we can.”

Dr. Ramsammy also disclosed to members of the media corps that during the flood there was a high tide and the two pumps which are not operating are critical to this situation.

He said, “The channels (continued on page 14)

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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

QUESTIONABLE CONSTRUCTIONS The recent roof collapse of a large store in Riga, capital of Latvia in the Baltic, has not made the kind of impact that one might reasonably expect here in Guyana - a country which over the last several years seems to be in a mad rush to emulate the high rise buildings found in the developed world. Interestingly, the public statement by President Andris Bçrziòð in a departure from what we in this region have grown accustomed to, virtually described the construction firm which built the Maxima XXX store as murderers and has called for an immediate investigation into the disaster.

The last news reports gave the number of innocent persons who died as 54 with dozens injured, and 13 missing.

One wonders about the buildings which are being erected in Georgetown and its environs, and whether they conform to established building codes. As a matter of fact the question really should centre on whether said building codes have been revised to accommodate the upsurge in these mammoth edifices. To elaborate the citizens of this country need to be advised that their public safety is not being compromised on the altar of political expediency and monetary considerations.

Maxima XXX was constructed in a residential area – something we are seeing on an almost daily basis.

Furthermore, we have to question the preparedness of our essential services to respond to an emergency should a similar catastrophe (heavens forbid) befall us.

Both central government and regional authorities must ensure that officials carry out their duties conscientiously with the safety of citizens foremost in their consciousness. We are willing to accept as a given, that plans are reviewed stringently by qualified engineers on behalf of the administration. It is therefore no accident when Latvian ombudsman, Juris Janson, said that the state should bear responsibility for such tragedies.

Here in Guyana we would not have been surprised at the shirking and shifting blame game by all relevant parties as to who was responsible for a collapsed building. After all we have seen the avoidance of responsibility over a fallen lamp pole.

There seems to be no consideration of the proximity of these sometimes very narrow tall buildings to neighbouring residences and whether their foundations were sufficiently tested to not pose a physical threat (not to mention environmental) threat to residents or passersby. Imagine if you will, a structural defect being the cause of a building collapse which results in injuries or possibly death for innocent neighbours or people going about their lawful business.

People need to be reassured that everything possible is being done to prevent that horrible and avoidable fate including strict monitoring of compliance with all elements in the original design of approved plans.

A few of the more insightful comments on the Latvian tragedy are worth sharing including: (i) A greedy owner building an apartment building in a city with too many already; (ii) A greedy contractor who paid off a greedy building inspector; (iii) Greed and corruption need to be punished. If there are no consequences it will continue and this is one of the results.

We in Guyana need to be aware of the potential for disaster that could befall without warning as obtains in some countries which fail to observe safety regulations. It is quite one thing to demand a reduction in road accidents but are we failing in other respects just as deadly?

Just last Tuesday November 19, in Tongaat, 30 km north of Durban in South Africa, a portion of a shopping mall collapsed killing at least one and injuring dozens. The familiar note in this instance is the fact that local authorities made an unsuccessful attempt to halt construction since according to Deputy Mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala the builders were not in compliance with the terms of building. Shades of Guyana don’t you think? Just imagine questionable and substandard construction of publicly owned facilities in the continued absence of the Public Procurement Commission.

Thursday November 28, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

We must make the Constitution work for us DEAR EDITOR, The best written blueprint in the hands of those who don’t understand their role, care about the document’s intent and the people/community it sets out to serve, presents the opportunity to decry or abuse it. Conversely, the worst blueprint in the hands of those who understand their role, care about the document’s intent and the people/community it sets out to serve will find accommodation to operate in the people’s best interest.

From now until thy kingdom come, the Guyana Constitution, like constitutions around the world, will be subject to criticisms and arguments for amendments.

Some continue to demonise what is called the Burnham Constitution, in as much as significant reform via national consultation and input from every sector in society, including the major political parties (PNC, PPP, WPA, TUF), Guyana Trades Union Congress, was done in the 1990s.

In the USA, there is a school of thought that the popular vote should replace the Electoral College as key to effective and representative government. The Jamaican government has promised constitutional reform to replace the Queen as Head of State, as some argue for the

status quo. In Britain, some argue for a written constitution as some prefer the status quo.

These illustrations are made to make the point that in an imperfect world, these are normal occurrences and battles/fault lines will always be present, and amendments made where necessary.

What distinguishes us from others, however, is our unique preoccupation of spinning in the mud and finding reason(s) not to hold responsible persons accountable, or not to move this country forward.

This dangerous misrepresentation of the Constitution, albeit its imperfection, as the reason for the stagnation, violations, divisions and unaccountability, when no one such power or authority is granted anyone, is doing a disservice to this country and hindering its people’s development.

The much vaunted Article 182 that grants the President protection from criminal and civil actions conducted in”…the performance of the function of his office or for any act done in the performance of these functions…” can never, never, translate to immunity to transgress the rule of law which enshrines the rights of citizens, duty of public officials, management of our natural and capital resources, and holding public

officials accountable in pursuit of same.

Having taken the oath to office to uphold the constitution, Article 182 cannot then grant him immunity from same. It is a puerile argument, initially used in the political hustings, and now being used by persons the society expects better from. This article should be tested in the Courts.

In the meantime, from a reasonable standpoint, Article 182 is better understood through Article 111 which says “…the President shall act in accordance with his own deliberate judgment, except in cases where, by this Constitution or by any other law, he is required to act in accordance with the advice or on the recommendation of any person or authority.”

With recognition given to Article 111, Article 182 therefore seeks to give the president needed protection from frivolous lawsuits that may arise from governing or a mistake from some wellintended act on the people’s behalf. It also assumes the holder of this office will have a functioning I.Q. The framers could never have envisaged this office will be held by ruthless and reckless persons whose priority is to p l u n d e r t h e n a t i o n ’s resources and trample the p e o p l e ’s r i g h t s , b u t

buttressed this expectation by putting mechanisms in place where the people can stand up and demand what’s rightly theirs.

Here is some evidence to reinforce the point:-A constitution that enshrines the people’s involvement in decision-making (Article 13); protects Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the I n d i v i d u a l ( Ti t l e 1 ) ; reinforces the right to selfdetermination (political, social, economic and cultural) throughout; sets time frame and operational guidelines for the President and Leader of the Opposition; grants public servants recourse to address grievances (Article 215A); stipulates the Service and Rights Commissions (Title 7); protects trade unions (Articles 23, 38, 147, 149C); gives Parliament the power to allow “regional democratic councils to raise their own revenues and dispose of them for the benefit and welfare of their areas” (Article 76); subjects the President’s conduct and violations to the National Assembly for review and pronouncement (Article 180); demands an independent judiciary (Article 122A); protects children, youth, women, and seniors; secures continual Constitution evaluation (Continued on page 5)

An astounding level of ignorance DEAR EDITOR, The level of ignorance in some communities is astounding and worse yet is the lack of judgement and common sense displayed by those who are supposed to be law officers. I, along with many others, locally and internationally, have seen the video on facebook and news sites about several pit bulls being chopped and shot whilst still penned at Beterverwagting on the East Coast of Demerara.

This followed the attack by two of the dogs on the wife of a dog breeder.

I can understand the reaction to destroy the two animals that turned on the woman (even this should have been done humanely) but to kill the dogs that were penned!?

It reminded me of those videos from Africa or Afghanistan, where persons are systematically chopped to death on camera due to their religious beliefs or for

any perceived wrong. If police ranks can actually kill your dogs that are penned, and which were not a threat, then it doesn’t say much for their common sense or humanity (They should be sanctioned for this action).

A good comparison would be to kill a thief caught in the act, then go to his house and kill all of his or

her remaining family members - this would include any newborn children along with grandparents.

To h e a r f e m a l e neighbours exhorting others to hit and chop defenceless animals is truly sickening and makes me wonder what those persons’ social lives are like, and by extension, what some communities are

being subjected to.

On another note, it may be time for the relevant ministry to look at licencing and certifying dog breeders.

This could also result in them paying some type of insurance etc., to cover incidents such as the attack.

Dogs are not the problem, owners are!

Paul Romeo McAdam

The meaning of ‘cc’ in email correspondence DEAR EDITOR, The other day I was speaking to a friend of mine of a younger generation, and who is quite a wizard in IT operations, while I, on the other hand, am an unfashionable insouciant.

What made me feel, if only for a brief moment, on equal terms with his expertise, was when I discovered he did not know what the abbreviation “cc” stood for. He quite understood what it was intended to achieve – that is to send copies of correspondence to parties other than the primary addressees, but

the actual translation of cc, i.e. “Carbon Copy” was totally alien to him.

Like several still young generations, he had never seen or heard of ‘carbon’ paper which was used to duplicate hand and typewritten documentation, and to complete various types of forms.

Not that ‘carbon’ sheets are not now available. Some entrepreneur must still be importing stocks. Just go to your local post office and see how widely (and slowly) used they are!!

E. B. John

Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

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

Can an elected govt. manage without a no-objection clause?

DEAR EDITOR, I have been reading a lot about the delay and functioning of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). Yes, I agree that the PPC should be functioning a long time ago with the appropriate laws and stipulations for the entire procurement process, along with the roles and responsibility of every group and individual, in this process, to be well defined.

The message I am getting is that the elected government of the day or any government in power, now and the future, will have no authority over the procurement process, even a cosmetic one, i.e. the tender board (TB) and Public Procurement Commission (PPC) will have full control over procurement.

I do not support this. For this letter, TB +PPC = PB (Procurement Body).

How will the government account to the people who put them in office to manage their business, and spend their money?

If an elected government has no authority over the procurement of goods, services and works, then why do we need a government?

With a no-objection clause, the government A) cannot say to the people at a later date or when campaigning for a future election, that they had no authority to oversee procurement and blame everybody else for their failure and poor governance.

B) will not have a hand to build a $100.00 project for 200.00. C) The TB and PPC will now have the authority to build a 100.00 project for 200.00.

Therefore the government must have a no-objection clause, to see that costs are justified, and clauses that are loose, that can increase cost due to variation or extra work, are commented back to the TB/PPC. D) PPC will have control, value for money, quality, quantity, but with a noobjection clause they cannot do what they want. E) Even the foreign-funded Agencies like the IDB have a noobjection clause, before they can release funds that have already been approved in the form of a loan.

The PPC and the tender board should be made strong, with qualified persons to oversee the entire procurement process of all

goods, services and works for the country, and the government having a noobjection clause.

The following is my opinion: 1) Every government procurement “initiative”, is to be well defined and documented and have the procurement body review and comment. If the project is not well conceived and adequate information is not provided at the beginning the PB will have difficulty in evaluating the tender, in terms of value for money, scheduling, quality, budgeting and possibility of cost overruns, resources, risks, etc., and it will help to eliminate corruption.

“Initiation” of a project must address what, why, who, when, and where, be properly qualified and quantified, showing the needs (critical, necessary, or desirable) and the criteria for the final stakeholders’ satisfaction.

The PB would review this initial project document and provide comments to the executing unit and the cabinet. The cabinet would provide their comments or noobjection, meaning that it has satisfied their manifesto or

Remembering Muriel ‘Babes’ Glasgow - A GT Girl Extraordinaire DEAR EDITOR, Muriel ‘Babes’ Glasgow, woman of our soil, has left this earthly plane (23 November 2013). For a moment, a bright star in this universe was diminished, for in her petite frame dwelt an enormous spirit.

Others will tell of Muriel the humanitarian; the UNICEF Resident Representative; the Bishops’ Girl; the entrepreneur; the promoter of a multitude of interesting issues and people; the creative being; the breast cancer survivor; the GT Girl Extraordinaire.

She was all of that and more. I, however, wish to celebrate the amazing sistergirlfriend she was to me and countless others.

Muriel, above all, was a Truth Teller and Encourager of no small magnitude. She could strip you down and build you back up in a fiveminute telephone conversation. She was not the person you invited to your pity party.

However, if you were excited about something, anything at all, she could always add to it the possibility of greatness and service to mankind.

To have spent time with Muriel was time spent challenged and encouraged

to be a better human-being.

We claimed one another as blood relatives and we went through the usual Guyanese game of “Where was your father born?

What was his mother’s maiden name? You related to the so-and-so from such-andsuch a place?” She would say to me time and again “You’ve GOT to be my little relative!” I agreed wholeheartedly, and even though we’d found no evidence of such, there was just a mutual “knowing”. If you did not know the meaning of the word BOLD, you just had to see Muriel in action.

She pursued everything that interested her and was always open to learning something new from anyone at any time.

A call from Muriel could result in your attending a free Pilates class in mid-town Manhattan, a confidence shared, accompanying her to the Sloan-Kettering hospital, seeing her on TV promoting raw foods, in Harlem attending a “street” fashion show where the models were strutting her creations, a make-up session at Bloomingdale’s, researching the benefits of the moringa plant, etc. You never knew what adventure you were embarking on when you

called her, but it was never going to be boring.

I thank the Creator for the countless memories I have of time spent with Muriel. She allowed me to be a part of her life, the challenge and the triumphs.

She had a love for young people and surrounded herself…, well THEY surrounded her like bees to nectar. She loved them and they loved her more!

There is painting on the wall in her apartment that I loved and she would say to me every time I commented on it: “When you get your own home, you can have it.” It seemed like an impossible dream to me at the time, but she believed I would and I am happy that she lived to see it become a reality. I do not need a painting to remind me of Muriel.

The brilliant light that she was in this world was not extinguished upon her passing. She lived a life of such joy that her light sparked hundreds, maybe thousands of lights in the souls of those whom she touched so powerfully, while on this plane.

Rest in Peace my beautiful sister-girlfriend of the curious, generous, bold, joyful soul.

Aluta continua!

Cheryl E. Noel

needs of the people. The initiative is now approved with a Class D estimate pending the feasibility study.

2) Terms of Reference (TOR) for the feasibility study is prepared by the execution unit for review by the TB for their comments which will be sent to the PPC for comments, and the PPC send all comments to the cabinet for comments and no-objection.

3) Ads are placed within Stipulations; the Feasibility proposal has reached the TB and is handed over to the executing unit for their evaluation and report. The report is presented to the TB for their review and

comments, which is then given to the PPC to comment, and then the PPC send to cabinet for their review, comments and no-objection.

All comments are collectively discussed and consolidated.

The feasibility report may show that the initiative/ project is not feasible, due to value for money, a breakeven analysis was not satisfied, and may propose different alternatives, or agree that the initiative/project is feasible.

4) TOR for a consultant to design and supervise construction is prepared by the executing unit.

I recommend that a consultant who designs must

We must make the Constitution...

From page 4 (Article 119A); makes parliament the nation’s supreme organ of democratic power (Article 50); and subjects the president, elected and public officials to uphold these principles (via the Oath of Office), is not to be discarded and treated with disdain.

We must make the Constitution work for us. And where there is contention

let us move away from the abstract arguments and address the specific article(s) responsible for our concerns that would create reasoned discussions.

Let us also not forget the Constitution allows for amendment(s), but this approach has to be based on evaluation, which includes testing it.

Lincoln Lewis

not supervise the construction to avoid corruption. If the consultant who designs will supervise the construction, then he may over-price his “engineer’s estimate”, to pay off his government friends etc. The comments of the TB, PPC and cabinet are forwarded to the executing unit, to include all consolidated comments.

5) Ads for design follow the procedure, the TB give proposal to executing unit for evaluation and the report goes to TB, PPC and Cabinet and back to the executing unit, for preparation of final revised report.

6) Same procedure for contracting.

The people in the TB/PPC must be non-political, qualified and of sound character. Non-Guyanese should be used. I still believe in the white man. I was the former Director of PEIP in Guyana, and an employee of the Government of Canada.

Pt. Joe Persaud

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 28, 2013

OP funding comes under 43 schools to remain closed Auditor General’s microscope in wake of torrential rains

Auditor General Deodat Sharma in his 2012 annual report has noted that the Office of the President has continued to inappropriately meet expenditure for the presidential guard and Castellani House from the subsidies and contributions to Local Organizations.

He said that this continued even though they were not legally separated from the Office of the President and in fact operated as departments under this Office.

The Office of the President, according to the report, spent amounts totalling $252M and $284M under this subhead over the respective years of 2011 and 2012.

According to the AG, assurances were given that efforts were being made to have the finance secretary rectify this situation. It was noted that the inclusion of the expenditure amounts to material misrepresentation of subsidies and contributions for the years.

The AG office has since recommended that OP followup with the Ministry of Finance with a view to ensure that specific programmes are allocated to all operational units under the present programme budgeting

arrangements.

In the area of Technology the Office of the President in 2010, the sum of $846.451M was voted for the Lethem to Providence E-Government Project and the Appropriation Account for the said year, reflected that the full amount was expended in that year.

The Project’s records revealed that a sum of $777.635M was deposited into an escrow account at a commercial bank, while direct disbursements to a local contractor for the execution of civil works accounted for the difference of $68.816M. In this, Government aims to deliver technology driven information through the installation of 580 kilometres (km) of high speed fibre-optic network spanning from Lethem, Region Nine to Providence, East Bank Demerara with drop off repeater sites in Lethem, Annai, Kurupukari and Mabura and another high speed fibre-optic backhaul network connecting Moleson Creek, Region Six to Anna Regina, Region Two. The establishment of a data centre for the development of eGovernment with high speed wireless access using a 4G network also forms part of the

programme.

Government’s EGovernance project started in late 2009 with a concept that was designed over 18, but actual work on the programme began in late 2011.

The 4G network cloud system will serve as the premier data centre for all Government information and is expected to provide Guyanese and local businesses with faster and more efficient internet access.

The cables will hook up government entities across the country, providing them internet accessibility for activities such as video conferencing and document signing via electronic signatures, hence precluding the need for hinterland or far off residents to travel long distances to access same.

In relation to the sum of $777.635M, amounts totalling $241.551M and $434.075M were expended in 2010 and 2011 respectively, leaving a balance of $102.009M as at 31 December 2011. Of the balance of $102.009M, amounts totalling $69.709M were expended in 2012 leaving a balance of $32.300M as at 31 December 2012.

The total expenditure as at 31 December 2012 was $745.335M.

…but teachers must still report for duty - Manickchand The Ministry of Education has announced that 42 schools in Georgetown and one on the East Coast of Demerara will remain closed today following flooding in several areas resulting from heavy rainfall yesterday.

According to the Ministry, the schools identified to remain closed are the most heavily affected. The decision was made following reports from several teams dispatched yesterday by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, to assess the effects of the rainfall on school buildings and the immediate environs. The assessment exercise was led

by Chief Education Officer (CEO), Olato Sam.

Sam has since advised that every other school will remain opened.

He is however advising all teachers, including those stationed at the 43 schools to report for duty on today.

The Ministry said that Manickchand’s decision to have the schools remain closed has taken into consideration, the latest weather report from the Hydrometeorological Office, which indicates that more rainfall is expected for another 12 hours.

The Ministry said that it is working around the clock to ensure that all affected schools are reopened by Friday.

East Bank Berbice man remanded on attempted murder charge A man who wounded another with a knife during a heated argument has been remanded to jail. The man, Clive Marks 20, called ‘Black Boy’ or ‘Peppa eye’ of 821 Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice, was not required to plea to the indictable charge of attempt murder; when he appeared before Magistrate Sherdel

Isaacs-Marcus on Friday in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s court.

Marks, is accused of attempting to kill Mark LaFleur of Heatburn Village, East Bank Berbice on November, 18, last.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Phillip Sherriff, told the court that about 18:00 hrs on November 18th, the two

men were on a bridge at Heatburn when an argument ensued. Marks, is alleged to have taken out a knife and stabbed La Fleur causing injuries to his left arm and left side rib. La Fleur is alleged to have collapsed was picked up and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where he was admitted and remains a patient in the intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The police were informed and Marks was subsequently arrested and charged.

Bail was refused and he was remanded to jail until December 13.

Linden Hospital staff protests Protest action by the staff of the Linden Hospital Complex, entered its third day yesterday, as the employees remained resolute in their decision to continue industrial action until their needs are met.

Calling the recent increase of five percent to public servants wages by Government an ‘imposition’, the employees began their protest on Monday, and vow to continue every day, between twelve and one o’ clock.

The peeved workers are demanding an increase of no less than 25 percent.

They have adamantly refused to accept the five percent increase in public servants’ wages and salaries which was recently announced by Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon.

GPSU representative, Maurice Butters, in an interview with this newspaper said that the increase was an imposition, as no prior consultations or negotiations were conducted with the GPSU. Butters said that letters were written to the Public Service Minister requesting meetings to address the issue of the workers’ wages and salaries, since April last, but to date there has been no response.

He added that letters were also written to the Minister of Labour seeking his intervention.

The GPSU representative said that ‘enough is enough’.

“We believe the time has come for this to stop, and for them to get back to the negotiating table,” Butters declared.

Butters pointed out that the GPSU had consulted with President Donald Ramotar on the issue of the five percent increase before its ‘imposition’.

“We even met with President Ramotar and he agreed to stop this imposition and requested that the GPSU provide him with a three-year plan.

“The collective agreement between the government and the Union must be respected...what about our allowances and overtime which is now being denied without an increase since 1980?”

The protest action is expected to continue today, and according to reports, there are plans to soon stage a massive rally to sound the workers rejection of what they also described as an imposition, by Government.

(Enid Joaquin)

Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 7

Mabaruma miner admits to ‘SS’ series begins as vehicles’ registration reach record levels killing countryman in Venezuela Vehicle registrations have continued to break records with the recent 12 months being among the best one for auto dealers.

According to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), in less than one year, more than 10,000 cars and sports utility vehicles were registered. Last week the ‘RR’ series came to an end.

A booming gold industry and easier auto loans have all been contributing to the more homes owning a vehicle…or two.

GRA yesterday confirmed that it commenced the ‘SS’ series after the ‘RR’ series came to an end on Friday. By Monday 50 cars had been registered with the government taking possession of the first 20.

“This is historic, as it is the shortest time period for the completion of a series in the ‘P’ (private) category,” the state’s tax collection agency disclosed.

Prior to the ‘RR’ Series, the ‘PP’ Series officially commenced on December 7, 2011 and ended on the same date in 2012.

The ‘P’ series includes sedans and enclosed sports utility vehicles (SUVs).

The GRA statement did not speak of what was happening to the pickups and motorcycles.

But over the last few years, dealers have been reporting significant increases in sales with scores of females now riding also.

GRA also did not talk about the number of sedans that were also purchased for use in the taxi services.

Over the past year, Government introduced tax relief measures, as part of the taxi regularization process, to entice operators to paint their vehicles in yellow, the standard service colour.

There has been a significant rise in the number of these being registered, Kaieteur News has been told.

In addition to the many dealers who have been importing from mainly Japan, many Guyanese have themselves been going online and buying their own vehicles.

The increase of vehicles in the country has taken a toll on the roadways with Government now battling to

The past 12 months has been a recordbreaking one for vehicle registration, GRA has said. build new ones and deal with the fallouts.

Traffic jams have become a norm on especially the East Bank, West Bank and East Coast of Demerara during peak morning and afternoon periods.

Currently, construction is ongoing to extend the fourlane highway from Providence to Diamond, on the East Bank of Demerara-- said to be the busiest roadway in the country. Similar works are underway on the East Coast of Demerara.

The authority urged for owners to be on time to renew Motor Vehicle Licence (MVL)

or register their vehicles.

MVLs are valid until the registration anniversary.

“Hence such licence must be renewed every year on or before the anniversary of the vehicle’s registration. Newly registered vehicles or vehicles that underwent changes, for example… change of colour, must be physically examined by the Licence Revenue Department of the GRA.” All registration and change of motor vehicle registration are being done at GRA headquarters on Camp Street while vehicles are examined at the former Smyth Street office.

Ukrainian protesters demand release of Tymoshenko KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Thousands of people yesterday kept up their nearly week-long protest against the Ukrainian government’s decision to ditch an agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia, but officials showed no signs of relenting to their demands.

About 5,000 people gathered on Independence Square despite freezing temperatures, listening to music and singing.

A couple of thousand demonstrators also rallied earlier in the day outside the Ukrainian government building to call for the release of jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

The EU had made the release of Tymoshenko, the political rival of President Viktor Yanukovych, a condition for signing the association agreement at a summit that begins T h u r s d a y i n Vi l n i u s , Lithuania.

A Mabaruma man, who almost decapitated his countryman in a mining camp in neighbouring Venezuela earlier this week, has confessed to local police.

Ivelaw Baird reportedly told a local detective who is investigating the matter that the victim, Gordon McLennon, had stolen three ounces of raw gold from him and had threatened him when he demanded that he return it. Baird turned himself over to the police on Tuesday, two days after committing the act at a place called Polvo de Oro, a gold rich area in Venezuela.

His younger brother, Ian Baird, who visited him at the Mabaruma Police Station, told this newspaper that the suspect informed him that he went to bathe leaving the gold among his belongings in the camp he was sharing with McLennon and other miners.

When he returned from bathing, he discovered it missing and began making enquires of those who were in the camp.

Everyone denied stealing the gold, but Baird was subsequently informed that McLennon was seen going through his belongings when he was away.

According to Ian Baird, his brother told him that he confronted McLennon and an argument developed.

“He said he even pleaded with him (McLennon) to stop making jokes and give him back the gold,” Ian Baird told Kaieteur News.

Baird was convicted several years ago for the murder of a young woman in the Northwest District. That incident saw Baird attacking the woman with the intention of raping her at gunpoint.

At the time the woman was walking with her nephew, who valiantly tried to protect his aunt. Baird shot them both but only the young woman succumbed.

Baird was also fingered in the murder of a Brazilian woman after a pair of slippers reportedly belonging to him was found in the camp where the woman was killed.

According to his brother, Baird had been turning his life around after his release from

prison and was desperately trying to keep out of trouble, to avoid returning to the place where he spent almost 20 years of his life.

“I know my brother was a bit hot tempered…He did say to me that he did not want to go back to prison. He desperately tried to stay away from certain things. He didn’t even want to drink,” Ian Baird said. He told this newspaper that the ex-convict was working with him after he was released from prison in 2011 but decided to go into the mining area to raise money to build his house after acquiring a piece of land.

He left for the gold fields in May this year.

“It must have been some particular reason; someone pushed him over the edge,” said Ian Baird.

The case will be interesting since it happened out of the local jurisdiction and there is a scarcity of witnesses.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 28, 2013

Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 9

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY! There was no escaping what took place yesterday.

While most of the country lay in their beds dreaming of a dry Christmas, the clouds belched open like a burst water main and drenched the coastland with an unbelievable five inches of rainfall.

This was no ordinary downpour. It was the most intense period of rainfall that Guyana has ever experienced, perhaps even more intense that the monsoons of 2005 which inflicted destruction of families and on the economy of the country, wiping out over 40 per cent of the country’s agricultural Gross Domestic Product.

The losses this time will be far less because Guyana was better prepared this time. But there were significant losses suffered by households because of yesterday’s heavy rainfall.

Many people were angry about what happened and the usual blame game began. The greatest blame was showered on the country’s residential drainage system which remains in a dismal state, a development that goes back to the seventies when municipal services went into serious decline from which it has never recovered.

However, even if all the drains and alleyways were cleared of weeds, plastic

bottles and Styrofoam boxes, even if the water flowed as freely as the cascading Kaieteur Falls, there would still have been flooding in Guyana.

The reason is simple. The downpour that was experienced yesterday was too intense over a short period. Over five inches of rain was dumped on the coastland over a period of six hours.

There was no way in which such a situation flooding, and extensive flooding at that could have been avoided.

Even with a drainage system that is not compromised, the flatness of the coast land restricts gravity flow and limits it to a situation akin to running molasses. With the drainage system at its best, the coastland was never able to take off more than three inches of rainfall over a twenty-fourhour period, much less five inches over a period of six hours.

There has always been accumulation on the land whenever the rainy season comes. This is why most of the houses in the old days were built on stilts. They were so constructed because the drainage system in Guyana was primarily designed for the plantation and could not take off more than three inches over a one-day period.

Dem boys seh...

Irfaat pee he pants in Miami Old people does suffer from weak bladder and people can understand but when a young person walking around wid he crotch wet people does think all kind of thing. Some people does think bout prostate cancer but never about Irfaat case.

Irfaat got to Miami wid de Rat fuh celebrate he, Irfaat, burrday. Was a nice party and people still smiling today.

Some of dem laughing.

De party was in full swing; people see Irfaat drunk and wining up bad. Dem boys seh that he had to be a real, real dance man. But wha dem didn’t know was that he was holding in something. And is not like in Guyana wheh you could run by a post and leggo.

Dem boys see Irfaat close he eye and he head moving from side to side. Dem thought is faint he fainting. But then he smile. Is relief. De man pee heself. All he pants front wet, he shoes wet and he lef a trail when he walk.

People start fuh notice and is then he pick up a waiter and cover de pants front. De people didn’t hear when de Rat tell he to go to he de Rat car and collect a pants; that he does walk wid spare. De same thing does happen to he.

Right away dem boys remember de photo wid de Rat holding he crotch in New York at an Indian Day parade.

Irfaat been wid he that time too. Like something rub off.

And while this been going on they had a man lashing from he boss right down in GT. Daniel start this thing since he was wukking wid Karren at Guywa and it tun a habit.

He mek Karren sing.

He wukking wid Barbie and de Rat now but he ain’t stop. He start wid Barbie and tun he into a Barbie Doll.

Then he move down de line. He lash Nigel de Willie and all.

He try a thing wid den three gyal but dem walk off de wuk.

Dem boys seh that he planning to visit State House but somebody got news fuh he. Dem got a more serious lash man does deh bout deh and Daniel could feel de squeeze.

Talk half and watch Irfaat pants front.

With a highly compromised drainage system, it is now impossible for more than two inches of water to be drained over an eight-hour period, even with the pumps and improved kokers that have been constructed. Thus, once the rainfall exceeds two inches flooding will occur. But like in the past, the water will eventually pull off the land.

People in Guyana are however, enjoying higher standards of living and because they are driving fancy vehicles and living in posh homes, they feel that there must be something radically wrong that every time there is a heavy downpour there is flooding.

The flooding from the heavy downpours however cannot be totally avoided once a certain threshold of rainfall is surpassed. But what is compounding the agonies of citizens of Guyana and particularly Georgetown is that the hold capacity of the drainage canals is far less than it used to be.

As a result the trenches are holding far less water and

are thus overtopping after a mere few inches of rainfall.

For a very long time, the major canals that drain the greater portion of Georgetown have not been de-silted.

There are some canals that are cleaned and this usually involves extracting the heavy overgrowth of weeds but this exercise does not significantly increasing the holding capacity of these drainage canals.

In other cases, canals cannot be cleaned. Squatters have taken up resident on the banks and dams of these canals with the effect that the heavy growth of weeds that clog these vital drainage systems cannot even be removed much less address the heavy siltation.

Squatters defecate or throw their filth into these major drainage canals and it sinks to the bottom where it forms a cake-like layer. Unless this situation changes, one day, perhaps sooner than later, there is going to be a cholera outbreak from which the majority of citizens will not recover.

The second major complicating factor is the

Guyanese in arson charge in Barbados A Barbados magistrate has remanded 33-year-old Guyanese, Gordon Andrew Roberts, to prison on charges of assault, and arson for a fire which destroyed the home of his estranged girlfriend, Shonette Williams.

Roberts, of no fixed place of abode, had allegedly set fire to Williams’s home at Phillips Road, St Stephen’s Hill, Black Rock, St Michael on November 16, last, and following a newspaper report, police declared him a wanted man. The police had asked for the public’s assistance in locating him, but warned them not to approach him as he was armed and dangerous.

Roberts was arrested Sunday.

Williams’s story had appeared in the Nation newspaper on November 18, last stating that police at the District ‘A’

Gordon Andrew Roberts Station had not treated her complaints with the respect they deserved after she was assaulted by her former partner who subsequently set her home to fire.

She claimed to have received death threats from Roberts who said he was going to kill her before he turned himself in.

state of most of our outfalls.

These outfalls are silted. They need to be dredged so as to increase the removal of floodwaters when the kokers are opened.

That will require a significant investment but there are short-term measures similar to what was employed during the 2005 floods, which can be implemented to improve the flow of water from the canals into the rivers.

The third and perhaps most important complicating factor is the lack of routine

maintenance. That has been something that has been absent from all areas of public administration since the British left and unless Guyana returns to the system of planned and routine maintenance, then sustained improvement in drainage should not be expected.

Third form student attacks Deputy Head A Grade Nine student of the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School physically attacked the Deputy Head teacher last Friday during the afternoon session.

According to reports, the female student was reportedly loitering at the back staircase of the school when she was approached by the female teacher and reprimanded. The child reportedly resisted and a physical confrontation ensued. The child then ran away from the scene and picked up a piece of wood and pelted the teacher. Luckily, the

wood missed the target.

The Department of Education in New Amsterdam is investigating this matter.

Students are frequently becoming more and more aggressive towards teachers in schools these days. The student was suspended several times before from school. Efforts to reach the teacher proved futile.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 28, 2013

Guyana’s Blacklist status can impact entire region The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is urging an early resolution of the issues surrounding the implementation of recommendations to address deficiencies in the anti-money laundering regime of Guyana.

A statement issued by the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM after its meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday last, said that CARICOM was “deeply concerned about the impact that any adverse action” by Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Member States could have on “the Guyanese economy, and by extension the CARICOM Region as a whole, particularly in the areas of trade and financial services.”

The Bureau said that

…CARICOM urges speedy resolution to deficiencies CARICOM has taken note of CFATF’s consideration of Guyana’s progress in i m p l e m e n t i n g recommendations to address deficiencies in its anti-money laundering regime.

“CARICOM has also taken note of the efforts made by the Government of Guyana to implement the said recommendations, including by tabling in the National Assembly a Bill to amend the legislative framework, which Bill has since been rejected by the National Assembly, given the Parliamentary and political configuration that obtains in Guyana.”

It said that any action that reduces the ease or increases the cost of processing

international financial or trade transactions will adversely affect trade and financial flows in the Region, retard the regional integration enterprise and reverse the gains made by Guyana and the region.

“CARICOM notes that this could also directly and severely hinder the functioning of the CARICOM Secretariat which is based in Guyana.”

Mindful that this action could result in hardship for the people of Guyana and having regard to the extenuating circumstances that obtain in Guyana particularly as it relates to the Government securing legislative approval, and the

Berbice teen pleads guilty to beheading fellow worker A 19-year-old school dropout who beheaded his one-time good friend, classmate, villager and workmate a little over two years ago following a dispute at a private cane farm on the Upper Corentyne, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Royston Mc Allister, called ‘Slow Pork’ or ‘Junior’, 19, a cane harvester who was 17 at the time, of Kortberaad, East Bank Berbice who was charged with murdering Stephon Bacchus, 17, a harvester also of Kortberaad East Bank Berbice following a dispute on November 9, 2011 has pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. He appeared on Wednesday before Justice Dawn Gregory in the Berbice High Court.

Mc Allister was accused of severing Bacchus’s head following a dispute on the private sugar plantation at Moleson-Jackson owned by Mr Rabindranauth Prasad, called Mary, of Crabwood Creek Corentyne.

However, before the start of the day’s proceedings defence attorney Charrandass Persaud

Killed: Stephon Bacchus informed the court that his client wanted to take a certain course of action and change his plea from not guilty of murder to guilty of manslaughter.

However, sentencing has been deferred to Wednesday December 4, when a probation report is expected to be presented.

State prosecutor Renita Singh, in narrating the state’s case, stated that on the day in question the accused and the deceased were among a group of men working at the farm. They finished working around 12:00 hrs and went to their camp. At the camp a

dispute developed after Mc Allister accused Bacchus of not assisting with dorm chores and cleaning.

Bacchus then slapped McAllister and laughed at him, causing him to become angry.

The accused then took a broom and swept the room, smoked a cigarette and subsequently both men went to bed. They slept in separate rooms.

The next day while going for meals and were preparing to return to the fields they had another argument.

Bacchus was lacing his boots when Mc Allister apparently came from behind and broadsided him. Bacchus slid down the steps and fell on the ground. Mc Allister was standing on the landing with a cutlass in his hands and with what appears to be blood dripping from it. The teen then descended the steps causing those around to flee. He then left the scene.

The police were informed and arrived on the scene.

Upon leaving, the police saw the accused walking on the access road with a cutlass in his hand. He was accosted by the cops and told to drop the cutlass to which he complied. He was arrested and taken to the station during which time he told the cops that “Me na go fo kill he.”

The accused in a caution statement confessed to the crime. When ah chop he, he fall down right away, but he na seh nothing. I seh sorry and ah left to come to the station. The police reach me at Jackson dam.”

The post mortem examination conducted by Dr. Vivekanand Brijmohan gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage, fracture of the cervical spine, with fracture of the spinal cord.

deleterious consequences that are likely to arise from adverse action against Guyana, CARICOM hopes that this matter could be resolved at the earliest opportunity.

The blacklisted status applied to Guyana by CFATF is akin to that which was applied to Iran and North Korea. This was recently confirmed by Roger Hernandez, a financial advisor with CFATF, who in an invited comment to clarify the status of the decision on Guyana said, “Guyana’s CFATF listing is similar to the listing that the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) has applied to Iran and North Korea in that it calls on its members to apply counter-measures against Guyana in particular against financial transactions and relationships with persons and businesses from Guyana.”

He said that the language used by FATF when it issued a warning against Iran and North Korea is the same applied for Guyana.

“You will see that the language is the same as that applied against Guyana,” said Hernandez He noted too that the

CFATF statement is also carried on the FATF website which is also effectively, “warning all FATF members, which includes all the major economies of the world.”

Hernandez said that in order for Guyana to get off the list, it has to do what the public statement says, pass the requisite legislation and remedy the identified deficiencies in the statement.

On November 21 last, following a review of Guyana’s compliance as it relates to the CFATF recommendations for Guyana in addressing its deficiencies when it comes to Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism, Guyana was found wanting and as such was blacklisted.

CFATF has since called on its member countries to “consider implementing counter measures to protect their financial systems from the ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risks emanating from Guyana.”

In its review it was found that Guyana had strategic anti-money laundering deficiencies. According to CFATF, “Guyana has made efforts to address its

deficiencies, however, it has not taken sufficient steps towards improving its AML/ CFT compliance regime by failing to approve and implement required legislative reforms.”

Further, it did not make sufficient progress to address the deficiencies or did not comply with its Action Plan developed with CFATF to address these deficiencies.

In November 2011, the international regulators had warned the Bharrat Jagdeo administration that the country needed to take steps to ensure that the nation had strong financial regulations but this was ignored and two years later, the country is still to comply with the necessary measures hence the blacklisted status.

Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon explained, last month that the amendments were fashioned

by CFATF and that Guyana had no option.

However, for the two years that CFATF ordered Guyana to get the necessary legislation in place, the administration did nothing.

It was only in April of this year that the Bill made its way to Parliament at which point in time the political opposition voted to send it to a Parliamentary Select Committee.

October is the deadliest - pedestrians so far for 2013 are this year’s

Despite it being designated Road Safety Month, the month of November has already turned out to be the deadliest month so far, this year.

The recent carnage that occurred two weekends ago, pushed the number of road deaths in this month alone to 15, compared to eight in November last year.

Police figures show that the November death toll has surpassed that of February which stands at 12, the months of June and October with 10 each, and March, April and May with nine apiece. These were the other periods that raised concerns for the Police Traffic Department.

July and August with five and six deaths respectively were relatively safe months for road users.

While November outdistanced the figure for the same period last year by five deaths, February has been resolute in its relationship to road deaths.

It was also among the list of months with the most road fatalities last year. A look at last year’s statistics revealed that the June to August period had the Police Traffic Department holding its

breath. Last year August, with 14 deaths, and July and September with 11 each, were worrying months. So far this year, a total of 100 persons have been killed in road accidents, one less than for the same period last year.

Of this total, 37 were pedestrians and 16 were motorcyclists. Thirteen drivers and 12 pedal cyclists also helped to make up the total figure, which include nine children.

As expected, Georgetown and its environs (East Bank Demerara) are so far accounting for the most fatalities, followed by the East Coast of Demerara with 18.

Berbice has so far chalked up 17 road deaths.

Most of the fatal accidents occur between 18:00 hours and midnight, with 36 taking place during that period.

Thirty six drivers between 25-33 years old were involved in accidents that resulted in deaths, while only seven drivers were involved in fatal accidents.

Sunday is the day when most fatal accidents occurred, 23, followed by Friday with 18.

The figures showed that an increasing number of persons are using their cellular phones while driving.

‘endangered species’ So far this year, the police have charged a whopping 810 persons for this offence.

However, prosecuting the offenders appear to be going very slowly with only 155 matters completed in the court while the other 655 are listed as pending.

Drunk drivers have so far for this year contributed a total of $652,500 to the nation’s coffers in fines.

This amount could be significantly higher if all the persons charged so far are found guilty, as the police have so far charged 496 persons for the offence, with only 87 convictions.

According to the statistics, drunk driving is most prevalent on the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara.

Significantly, while 146 persons were charged for failing to adhere to sirens, all the matters are still pending in the courts.

For breaching traffic light signals, only 355 out of a total of 11395 persons have been fined.

Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 11

GPHC maternity Fewer teachers being ward overcrowded assaulted - GTU - admissions reach record heights

GPHC’s PostNatal Ward Peaking numbers of deliveries and admittances at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Maternity Unit have once again put the strain on staffers to efficiently administer the best care while providing adequate accommodation.

Director of Nursing Services, Matron Audrey Corry, during a recent interview with this publication, noted that it has been a general trend over the years to see a peak in the number of pregnant women admitted and babies delivered at year end, well beyond the numbers encountered at midyear.

This usually presents a challenge, as during this period, the Unit is strained for staff to adequately monitor all patients in every section while having to cope with an insufficient number of available beds. According to the Matron, the rise in numbers “does not help to deliver good care.”

She explained that the hike usually starts in September and continues onto December, and sometimes into January of the New Year.

According to hospital records for the year thus far, the hike in numbers can be clearly seen with the hospital delivering babies in the 400s per month from February to May, then dipping into the 300s in June and July, only to climb right back up to 485 in August. The number then increased to 567 in September and then 607 in October.

There were 520 deliveries recorded in January this year.

The Matron explained that the same goes for the number of pregnant women admitted to the Unit during this period, with the numbers rising as the year ends.

Statistics have proven though that the number of admissions into the unit far exceeds the number of deliveries. In the case of October, while 607 births were recorded, admissions totaled

927. Matron Corry explained that this is due to the fact that women may be admitted to the wards, not necessarily to deliver, but to address peculiar illnesses acquired during the pregnancy.

She noted that as the country’s primary referral centre, GPHC has an obligation to accept any patient who is referred from any health centre or hospital.

On the downside however, fulfilling such an obligation often leads to overcrowding in the wards.

To address this dilemma, the Matron said that GPHC is looking to the other Regional Hospitals to help to “take the load off. “She said that on heavy days, staffers are forced to ask mothers to sit on chairs or in some instances to share beds with other patients.

She made reference especially to the Diamond East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital, the West Demerara Regional Hospital and the Dr. CC Nicholson Memorial Hospital located at the Golden Grove/ Nabaclis area, East Coast Demerara; noting that if these institutions pitch in, overcrowding can be avoided.

The Matron said that the doctors at the GPHC are being very proactive in this regard, only admitting patients if it is absolutely necessary, so as to guard against the wards being full beyond their capacity.

“As soon as they come

in, the doctor would examine them and administer the necessary care. They would not admit unless it is absolutely necessary.”

Further, severe understaffing at the Unit has been identified as lending to the strain experienced during the peak period.

Matron Corry said that of a total staff count of just about 90; with 30 on average managing each of the three shifts; the birthing room, operating theatre, pre and post natal units, admission room and labour room all have to be covered. “The strain is on the staff to do their best and to deliver the services.

But they have no choice. It is tiring… taxing. But they try.”

According to the Matron, only more midwives will curb this problem.

Still to be examined, though, are the provisions that are needed to be made to retain the current ones.

She said that the Unit suffers as a result ‘losing’ its senior midwives, be it due to migration or through the search for greener pastures.

“We are left with the juniors who are not provided with the guidance and the experiences of the senior staff.”

The Matron said that only one third of the staff could be considered senior staff. “We have to find ways to retain out seniors… make the conditions and benefits more attractive so that they would feel good about coming to work.”

There has been a decrease in the number of reports of teachers being assaulted by their students.

This assertion was made yesterday by Coretta McDonald, Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), who said during an interview with Kaieteur News that this is as a result of a new system which was put in place several months ago.

McDonald explained that at present, students who continue to portray violent behavior are transferred to other schools where authorities are stricter and more alert.

She noted that this has been working well, stressing that reports on the number of teachers being assaulted by students have significantly lessened.

Beginning last year Guyana saw an upsurge in the number of teachers being assaulted by their students, which President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union, Colin Bynoe described as a “dangerously worrying trend.”

Bynoe had expressed his dissatisfaction over the fact that cases of teachers being assaulted by students are being prolonged, while just a mere claim of a teacher assaulting a student would result in teachers being brought almost immediately before the Teaching Service Commission.

Just recently, Carmelita Hackim, a teacher of the Skeldon Primary School expressed dissatisfaction at the way a matter was handled at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court, where assault charges brought against a parent by a teacher were dismissed after nearly two years.

The 28-year-old teacher

claimed that she was hit on the back and arm, following which she suffered a miscarriage.

Hackim had provided this newspaper with a medical certificate showing a miscarriage after being more than two months pregnant.

The parent had refuted all of the allegations.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, had given her support, stating that the perpetrator “should face the full force of the law”.

A very dissatisfied Hackim said that she has not had the desired support of the GTU. However, Ms. McDonald refuted this, stating that as far as she knows, the GTU representative in Region Six has been in communication with Hackim.

“I feel insulted because (the parent) has something to laugh about and we as teachers, we don’t have any value. This thing really took a toll on me…to go through all this and face all this and to just stand up and hear that the case was dismissed,” Hackim complained.

Hackim has since resigned from the teaching profession and has started her own play school in Corriverton.

Earlier this year, GTU President, Bynoe described the process of teachers getting justice in cases of assault as being “too long and drawn out”.

Bynoe explained that a formally reported case of a teacher being assaulted would see the Regional Education Office carrying out a series of investigations, after which it would be decided whether or not the matter should be brought before the courts, where it would be further prolonged.

GTU Secretary, Coretta McDonald He maintained that no student should retaliate against any teacher, and that if this phenomenon continues, it will pave the way for other students to physically act out against their teachers.

He noted that there are scenarios where students would be on the streets “boasting and bragging” about beating their teacher.

Such cases, he said, would diminish teachers’ motivation, something that is “very worrying, taking into consideration that teachers mold the existence of every other career.”

Bynoe noted that while such incidents occur in all parts of the country at the various schools, there are certain institutions that can be pinpointed for the rampant reports in this regard.

He said that just as the law emphasizes the rights of children, considerations need to be taken to address the safety of teachers in the system at a higher level.

“If not addressed soon, and effectively, the issue of teachers being assaulted would lead to a bad situation where a breakdown between students and teachers will most likely occur, resulting in a decline of the educational values in future generations.”

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 28, 2013

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Predicting the continuation of evil Here is an extensive extraction from my November 15 article on flooded Georgetown, titled, “25 Minutes of Evil.” “I did not count the duration of the rain but I am inflexible on the time.

The downpour lasted for 25 minutes. For sure it was not beyond half an hour.

As we drove back home from Carmichael Street, most of the roadways we passed were flooded.

Citizens’ yards were flooded, my nephew’s included. You cannot read about it. Even if you watch it on video it would not be potent in your eyes.

You had to be around in those 25 minutes to see the failure of Guyana.

“What is so frightening in this country is that you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that if 25 minutes of rain can bring such swollen streets what would four hours of a downpour do?

If you saw College Road

between Brickdam and Hadfield Street in Wortmanville on Monday where the technical head office of GT&T is located then you know that GT&T cannot avoid total wreck of its lower buildings if we have eight hours of a thunderstorm.

“We are talking about a national disaster if we have those four hours. We are talking about the devastation of Georgetown if those four hours go into eight hours. We are talking about the erasure of Georgetown if those eight hours repeat themselves the next day.

In celebrating 21 years of office for the PPP in Lusignan, Bharrat Jagdeo told his listeners that Guyana is a good country and they must not be disillusioned by a few clogged drains (see my response to Jagdeo’s horrific statement, “No one in Lusignan and Guyana can be that silly,” KN, Wed., Oct 19, 2013) The most horrible aspect

of that deception is the word “few.” I need not repeat my argument here because not only Georgetowners but all Guyanese (yes, all) in this land and the Diaspora know that Georgetown as a city is immensely clogged with a drainage system that has been blocked up for all of the twenty one years of PPP rule.”

Yesterday my prediction came through. It was the entire Georgetown that was flooded. It was not confined to downtown Georgetown. It was all over – it took in Kitty, Campbellville, Wortmanville, Lodge, and Prashad Nagar.

One day I looked at the gutter that runs along Garnett Street in Newtown when that road meets Middleton Street and so thick was the mud that I said that if the rains came it is going to flood that area.

Well, yesterday, it happened. I saw it. We are creeping towards a major national disaster. We are

seeing it but the entire population of this country stays silent and refuse to act.

More than any antimoney laundering Bill, more than any Procurement Commission, more than any Local Government election, the major priority for the people of Guyana is to drain and clean the place wherein lies the nerve centre of Guyana – Georgetown.

I repeat; if the Private Sector Commission is a patriotic body it will insist that the Government of Guyana drain and clean Georgetown.

There is an additional problem that adds to the nightmare. Construction in Georgetown is adding to the

clogged drains. Go to the site of any large construction and you will see what they are doing to the drainage system.

And no one in authority can do anything about it.

There can hardly be any question about it, Guyana is worse than a banana republic.

Look at the misery this country goes through with floods every year and poor Georgetowners are the main victims. These people’s houses are inundated and they loose what they cannot afford to buy back. What happens if the rains go on for the entire month of December?

I am not on FaceBook but I am dead sure that pictures of flooded Georgetown

Frederick Kissoon yesterday went all over the world. Those who put up those pictures need to state that Georgetown looked like that after ninety minutes of rain. They need to tell people that a major national disaster will inevitably occur once the rains go beyond four hours.

But it can be avoided. We just have to let our voices be heard.

Children on trial for stepfather’s murder The trial of the four persons accused of unlawfully killing US-based Guyanese Motielall Singh, continued on Tuesday at the Georgetown Supreme Court.

The persons on trial, Bibi Farida Khan, called ‘Pum’, Shamiza Khan called ‘Sham,’ and Hoosman Khan, called ‘Strongman’Singh’s stepchildren- along with and Bissoondial Mahadeo, called

- Police witnesses testify ‘Weed Man’, were indicted for the murder which occurred in September of 2009.

A fifth person, Ayube Hamid, called ‘Little’ was also charged for Singh’s murder but, subsequently died in prison.

On Monday, Deputy Superintendant of Police (DSP) Terrace Paul testified on behalf on the prosecution.

He was cross examined on Tuesday by Defence Counsel, Bernard De Santos (SC) and Attorney -at –Law, Glenn Hanoman.

State Prosecutor Judith Gildharie-Mursalin also called retired Police Inspector Ingrid Abrams to the stand. Abrams told the court that she was on duty at the Leonora Police station on September7, 2009, when based on information

received, she visited the Dem Amstel Police Station around 3:00 hrs. There, she met Hoosman Khan, the number three accused.

Abrams told the court that Khan said that he was at First Street Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara, with his stepfather when three masked men attacked them from behind. Abrams related that Khan told her that the men told him to “run for his life,” which he did.

Khan subsequently took the police officer to the scene, where she said she saw what appeared to be the lifeless body of man, lying in a pool of blood.

Abrams said that it was later discovered that the man was a resident of Lot 290 Hemlock Street, Brooklyn New York.

According to Abrams’s evidence, police investigators later recovered a ‘black knob’ of a knife from the scene. However the blade was never found.

Keith Boodram told the court on Monday that Singh’s relatives had offered him US $700 to murder their stepfather. However, Boodram, a former policeman, said he made off with the money without harming Singh. The relatives then allegedly paid others to commit the crime.

In her opening statement to the court, the Prosecutor revealed that the post mortem report stated that Singh died of shock and haemorrhage due to multiple stab wounds.

He had been stabbed 20 times about his body.

Several other witnesses are set to testify when the matter, which is before Justice Navindra Singh, continues.

Thursday November 28, 2013

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Kaieteur News

Police probing Police investigations continue into - Robbery suspect shooting of Ogle Liliendaal shooting in stable condition pit-bulls by ranks W ...GSPCA calls on police to act against slaughter of caged pits

T

he Guyana Police Force is currently investigating the circumstances that led to police ranks shooting to death several pit-bull dogs, two of which were involved in a vicious attack against their owner.

The dogs were killed with the aid of police ranks by members of the community, at Ogle Street, Beterverwagting East Coast Demerara.

While some have expressed anger over the killing of the dogs that were penned and not involved in the attack against owner Rochelle Callender, the police say they are also looking into the matter where police ranks used their firearms against the animals.

It was noted also that the dog owner has not given a statement about the slaughter of the dogs, but the matter is being reviewed.

The Guyana Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) has called for the prosecution of those persons involved in the slaughtering of the caged pitbulls.

Commenting on a video on the slaughter of the caged animals, the body said in a letter to the media that, “It was a barbaric display – if one can bear to watch it – and a stark reminder of the plague of violence that grips our society.”

While complimenting those who rescued the dog owner from the pits' vicious attack, the GSPCA said that these said persons should be prosecuted for the cruel act performed against the pitbulls which were locked helplessly in their cage.

“On this video, we see a group of men mercilessly beating and hacking these animals, which were still penned, to a painful death.”

“The Guyana Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) has consistently warned of the link between violence towards animals and violence towards fellow human beings.

The website of PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a major welfare organisation, notes that “violent acts toward animals have long been recognized as indicators of a dangerous psychopathy that does not confine itself to animal abuse.”

“Surely there was a more civilised way to deal with the remaining dogs in the pens than to descend into the primal chopping frenzy that ensued. This incident was animal cruelty at its very worst.

It will surely cast Guyana in a very bad light, given the intolerance developed societies have for such atrocities on animals; and without question, the perpetrators of this animal cruelty must be charged accordingly.”

“With plenty of video evidence available, the GSPCA calls on the Guyana Police Force to enforce our country's animal welfare laws and bring the offenders before our courts.

Meanwhile, the GSPCA will reach out to those international animal welfare organisations with which it is affiliated so as to ensure this incident receives the attention it necessitates.”

hile robbery suspect, L l o y d Johnson remains in stable condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), police have stated in a release yesterday, that investigations are continuing into the alleged larceny of two motor vehicles from Selena Auto Sales at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.

According to the release “about 19:30hrs last Tuesday night, the police went to conduct a search a house at

Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, in relation to the allegations of theft.

“Lloyd Johnson called “Belly” and five other men were gathered at the house.

Upon seeing the police, Lloyd Johnson opened fire on the ranks in a bid to escape. The police returned fire and Johnson was struck to his abdomen and left thigh. A .32 revolver with 3 rounds and a spent shell were recovered at the scene.

During the ordeal, one man managed to escape. Four men were subsequently

taken into custody.”

Johnson was charged in connection with a $17.2 M payroll heist from GuySuCo. He was also charged, along with three others, for the December 2005 Fort Island, Essequibo River armed robberies when over $10 million of booty was carted off.

Last Tuesday, relatives of the injured man reported that he was on his way to his brother's residence at Liliendaal, when he was shot. However police reports revealed that four complete

car doors and a rear bumper were recovered at the scene of the crime.

According to the police, further inquires led to the search of a house at North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, where the body of one of the stolen motor vehicles and a number of parts that had been stripped off, were found.

Another man was later arrested.

While Johnson remains under guard at GPHC, his alleged accomplices are in police custody assisting with the investigations.

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Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Flood forces city to a ... Linden Hospital staff protests

From page 3 and the sluices had to be closed as we have to determine why the two pumps aren't working. We have sent engineers there and while in the past there were minor problems with these pumps, I don't think that is the case now.”

Also of note, is that the pump at Diamond, East Bank Demerara is not functioning properly but the Agriculture Minister has assured that it should be in operation today.

But Mayor Hamilton Green said, “The flooding in the city has to do specifically with clogged drains and ensuring that canals are cleared regularly and, desilting of the main canal around Georgetown requires the use of trucks to remove the waste and sludge.

However, Town Clerk Carol Sooba, refused to sign the cheques to have this system in place so that the canals can be desilted.”

He explained that the

garbage situation during the Christmas season is inevitable, thus the unauthorized move by the Town Clerk to have removed the contractor has led to the garbage build up in the city.

He said, “In my 19 years of being at this council we have never had this situation before even during the great flood in 2005.”

However, Mayor Green explained that work is underway to clear the flooded areas. Meanwhile, in light of the unforeseen weather, the Guyana Power and Light has implemented several initiatives in an effort to moderate the likelihood of network faults.

And members of the Opposition are questioning how effective are the “socalled” irrigation and drainage projects since the same problem continues to remain a problem year after year.

Reference was made to the Agricultural

Diversification Programme (ADP), a component aimed at improving drainage and irrigation. It was also highlighted that a number of pump stations which were done under the programme are not completed by their initial deadlines.

Minister Ramsammy said that the contractor, who was blazed for lagging behind on the $237M Patentia Pump station, is still moving slowly as the pump has not been installed as yet.

The 2012 budget had said that Government expended $7.1 billion on drainage and irrigation systems across the country whilst in the 2013 budget, a total of $6.5 billion was budgeted for the final payments towards the acquisition of fixed irrigation pumps, the construction and rehabilitation of pumps and pump stations in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six. (See more flood pictures on page 15)

Protest action by the staff of the Linden Hospital Complex, entered its third day yesterday, as the employees remained resolute in their decision to continue industrial action until their needs are met.

Calling the recent increase of five percent to public servants wages by Government an 'imposition', the employees began their protest on Monday, and vow to continue every day, between twelve and one o' clock. The peeved workers are demanding an increase of no less than 25 percent.

They have adamantly refused to accept the five percent increase in public servants' wages and salaries which was recently announced by Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon.

GPSU representative, Maurice Butters, in an interview with this newspaper said that the

increase was an imposition, as no prior consultations or negotiations were conducted with the GPSU. Butters said that letters were written to the Public Service Minister requesting meetings to address the issue of the workers' wages and salaries, since April last, but to date there has been no response.

He added that letters were also written to the Minister of Labour seeking his intervention. The GPSU representative said that 'enough is enough'.

"We believe the time has come for this to stop, and for them to get back to the negotiating table," Butters declared.

Butters pointed out that the GPSU had consulted with President Donald

Ramotar on the issue of the five percent increase before its 'imposition'.

“We even met with President Ramotar and he agreed to stop this imposition and requested that the GPSU provide him with a three-year plan.

"The collective agreement between the government and the Union must be respected...what about our allowances and overtime which is now being denied without an increase since 1980?"

The protest action is expected to continue today, and according to reports, there are plans to soon stage a massive rally to sound the workers rejection of what they also described as an imposition, by Government.

(Enid Joaquin)

Bakery delivery truck robbed, driver shot A bakery delivery truck attached to Budram's Bakery, of Enmore, East Coast Demerara, was yesterday robbed as it was delivering bread to a shop in Sophia.

The salesman for the truck was reportedly gunbutted to the head and robbed of $40,000 while the driver of the truck ,Mohamed Rahaman 24, of Foulis,East Coast Demerara, was also gunbutted to the head and shot in his left arm.

The bakery truck that delivers for Budram's bakery located at Enmore Old Road was delivering bread to Garraway's Shop in 'B' Field Sophia when an armed bandit attacked the salesman of the delivery truck gunbutted him and relieved him of the cash.

The driver of the truck on realizing what was happening allegedly advanced to the bandit with a piece of wood to defend his

associate but was himself gunbutted and shot. “I hear gunshots and I run then I feel a burning sensation in my arm, when I look down then I realize I get shot,” Rahaman said.

The bandit after robbing the delivery truck rode off with his loot on a BMX bicycle.

The delivery truck driver was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was treated for his head and gunshot wounds and released.

He told Kaieteur News that two shots were fired by the bandit. He believes one was fired at the salesman of the truck while the other was fired at him during their altercation. The shot fired at the salesman missed while he was shot in the arm.

He described the attacker as being short with a low cut hair. The police have taken statements from the victims.

Thursday November 28, 2013

Page 15

Kaieteur News

Flood scenes in the city yesterday

Gas Station on Regent Street

Magistrates Court

King Street

State House

City Hall

Office of the President

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Thursday November 28, 2013

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Kaieteur News

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Thursday November 28, 2013

Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Mrs. Agnes Mc Lean is 102 not out, and humorous Mrs. Agnes McLean shares a birthday toast with Kaieteur News

By Rehana Ahamad Agnes McLean, of Lot 277 Forshaw Street, Georgetown has turned 102.

She is a sassy centenarian who possesses just the right amount of wit to turn a normal interview into one that is worth remembering.

Born as Agnes Dey, to a 17-year-old girl at Hadfield Street, Stabroek on November 5, 1911, Mrs. McLean is a well polished mother of two.

An only child, McLean recalls that her mother, “a sapodilla brown skin woman,” was quite strict, and always watched over her “like a hawk.”

“She always used to tell me not to make people touch me here, and there. She was very strict. A very strict woman with a full head of hair that people thought was fake.”

As a child, McLean said that despite coming from a “not so wealthy” single parent home, her mother ensured that she had a sound education.

The centenarian said that her academic life centered on the St. Philip's Anglican School which is still standing at Smyth Street, St. Joseph Intermediate which used to be on Regent Street, Georgetown, and later, the Brickdam Cathedral, also in Georgetown.

While attending the latter, a smiling Mrs. McLean told Kaieteur News that before reaching the age of 20, she got married to her childhood friend, and the love of her life, George Edgar McLean better known

as Eddy, who also lived with his family on Brickdam.

Although her mother was quite strict, a jovial McLean said that “she did glad fuh the m a n f u h m e . ” McLean's mother died of peritonitis only four months before turning 40.

This glamour girl blushed at every recollection of her husband whom she referred to as a redheaded lover boy.

“I remember one time I was walking down the road, and Eddie grabbed me and clap a kiss on meh. Those were the days,” McLean reminisced.

He was the Engineer for whom she bore two children, Norman McLean, known for his distinction in the uniformed services (Police, National Service, and Guyana Defence Force) and Gloria McGregor who resides in Florida.

With her education, Mrs. McLean embarked on a career as a midwife at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), and later became a District Health Visitor, a name given to nurses who visit rural areas.

This was a job that Mrs. McLean enjoyed a whole lot, and boasts that she made more money than her husband did. It was not just a significant accomplishment for the middle class girl who married into a more “well off” family, but as a woman, because in those days, women were not exactly allowed to work outside of the home.

Mrs. McLean appeared a (continued on page 20)

Page 19

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Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Mrs. Agnes Mc Lean is ...

From page 19 bit teary as she recalled her husband's death many years ago. But when asked how he died, the centenarian became humorous, adding that despite his heart condition, her man loved to make love.

“He had a head of red hair. They used to call him Reddy Eddy, and trust me, Reddy Eddy was always ready,” She laughed.

Mrs. McLean attributes her longevity to her lifestyle-- eating right, working hard, and possessing a positive attitude.

Asked for some tips, the pretty lady stressed that she hardly drank alcohol and never smoked.

Currently, Mrs. McLean is in excellent health. She has all her faculties. According to her grandchildren, “Granny Agnes” is still able to climb the stairs unaided; she does so routinely, so as to ensure that all unused electrical appliances and light switches are turned off; surely the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) can use more vigilant citizens like Mrs. McLean.

Even so, she can carry out a most enjoyable conversation without the use of a hearing aid, and remains extremely keen of her surroundings.

Nonetheless, Mrs. Agnes said that she still enjoys reading a good romance novel and watching her favourite television shows, and devouring her favourite dishes- a massive pigtail cook-up and ground provision boiled in coconut

Agnes McLean in her golden days milk.

Back in the golden days, McLean said that she mastered the art of ballroom dancing, a hobby which earned her several medals and monetary prizes.

Granny McLean's birthday was celebrated earlier this week with a party which was attended largely by family, friends, and the members of her Church.

Agnes McLean's advice is that one should live life without any regrets. “We mustn't live life with no hocus pocus. We have to live a good life.”

I definitely experienced a historic moment yesterday, having had the opportunity to have a birthday drink with not just any centenarian, but one of the jolliest that I have ever met; and indeed, I have met many.

I anticipate meeting Mrs. McLean as she celebrates her 103rd birth anniversary next year.

Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Mercury free technology fund to benefit Amerindian communities, small miners Cabinet recently gave its no-objection for the setting up of a mercury free technology fund to benefit small miners and Amerindian communities involved in mining, says Robert Persaud, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.

He was at the time addressing members of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Natural Resources in the National Assembly.

According to Persaud, the “recurring” fund would be managed by the banking institutions. He explained that there would be a limit as to how much money could be accessed. And, the fund would only be used to purchase alternative technology for mercury.

He said this initiative would facilitate Guyana’s transition to mercury free mining, a goal set internationally for 10-years.

The Minister is confident that Guyana would achieve this task, owing to the works being done currently. Efforts being

Minister Robert Persaud makes his presentation to the National Assembly made by Government are to satisfy the requirements of the Treaty signed by them by the Minamata Convention on Mercury held last October.

The Minamata Convention on Mercury which is a global legally binding instrument on mercury was adopted in Minamata, Japan, during the convention held on October 7 to 11, 2013.

The treaty is named after Minamata city where its residents suffered mercury poisoning during the 1950s.

Persaud said Guyana should be proud since it is one of the first countries to sign the convention. This step has enabled Guyana to move from a position where many in the mining sector were resisting the elimination

of mercury, to the phasing out of it. According to Persaud, some businesses in the mining sector have already phased out the use of mercury. In addition, suppliers are including alternative technology on their inventories.

“So the sector itself has started…GGDMA from time to time working with us would

have demonstration activities,” he said.

Another initiative by Government to phase out mercury usage is the provision of equipment to miners. He explained that in this regard ‘Nelson Concentrators’ have been purchased and tendered to medium scale miners while other technologies are being procured for small miners.

According to the Minister, the minimization of the use of mercury would help to reduce some of the difficulties in the mining sector such as contaminated water and the threat to miners’ health.

However, there are other challenges facing the mining sector which are being combated through coordinated efforts of the various agencies under the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment.

He made that comment in response to a question posed

by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Member of

Parliament Joe Harmon on whether the Ministry shouldn’t be split in two; separating Natural Resources from the Environment.

Persaud emphasized that there is no conflict and contradiction of having the areas of Natural Resources and the Environment under one umbrella since there would be greater coordination According to Persaud, the Ministry recognizes the unavoidable disturbance mining has on the environment. Its objective is to minimize this negative impact and prevent destruction of the environment.

He emphasized that the establishment of the Guyana Mining School would provide the necessary training that would allow miners to operate in an environmentally friendly manner. The introduction of new technology would also facilitate proper land use. He stated that increased recovery from a small plot of land would reduce the need to mine on large areas.

Life expectancy of dialysis patients can vary - but transplant can give more hope - Nephrologist

From Left: Dr. Alistair Ingram and President of the Doobay Renal/Medical Centre, Dr. Budhendra Doobay.

While there is hope for dialysis patients to live long and fulfilling lives, their existence can however be limited by the underlying disease that caused their kidney to fail in the first place as well as other diseases they may have.

This was the assertion of Head of Nephrology at the McMaster University in Toronto, Canada, Dr Alistair Ingram.

Dr Ingram, who was at the time speaking at a media briefing on Monday at the Doobay Renal/Medical Centre, East Coast Demerara, noted that although dialysis can almost always be offered to a patient, particularly through fistulas, such patients oftentimes die through problems related to their heart.

“Many of our dialysis patients have diabetes that is why they are on dialysis, and diabetes of course affects the arteries and the heart as well...so the most common cause of death in dialysis is what we cause sudden cardiac death,” said Dr Ingram.

He explained that some dialysis patients are known to suffer arrhythmia or heart attack while they are at home.

He added that on average a diabetic patient starting dialysis will survive about six years.

However, he noted that younger patients in a similar situation are in fact likely to survive longer.

He said that non-diabetic patients on dialysis may survive even longer. “People with, for instance, polycystic

kidney disease some have been on dialysis for over 30 years... so certainly you can survive for quite long periods of time,” assured the Nephrologist.

He nevertheless, noted that individuals who are eligible for renal (kidney) transplant could further improve their survival rate and by extension their quality of life could be prolonged.

Such transplants require serious considerations in Guyana, he said.

He said that he was aware of transplantation here that have been provided intermittently on a private or semi-private basis.

“Obviously now that we have 40 dialysis patients, many of whom are young, we would like to see renal transplants started here...Obviously we would like to involve the Ministry of Health and the Georgetown Public Hospital.”

Moreover, Dr Ingram, whose visit comes as part of routine technical support to the Renal Centre, is hopeful to meet with Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, to discuss plans for further

collaboration.

According to him, renal transplantation involves the identification of a donor, the actually operation and certainly long term follow-up of the patient who has been given a new lease on life with a new kidney.

“All of this must be done properly...the actual operation itself is properly the simple part, the identification of the donor and making sure that the donor is healthy enough to donate and the recipient is healthy enough to receive and the follow-up afterwards, those are the tricky parts and that is what needs to be in place,” asserted Dr Ingram.

“We need to do things right...we don’t just want to come down here and do a bunch of operations and have a bunch of transplants but that is something that we would really, really like to get into because it is heartbreaking to see a bunch of young people on dialysis...we don’t want them to stay on dialysis,” expressed Dr Ingram.

However, he noted that there is much work that must be done before such

operations can be added to the services offered by the Doobay Centre which is

currently looking to considerably expand its operations.

Page 22

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1 Suzuki GSX–R 600cc, 1 Toyota Hilux Pickup 4X4- Tel: 644-5096, 697-1453

One live in attractive waitress 18-25yrs Boarding & lodging free – Salary $50,000 – Tel:610-5043 Driver wanted urgently for ice-cream van between ages 40-45yrs – Tel:218-3021

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

2008 Fielder – $2.7M, Premio$2.5M, Spacio $2.1M, Unregistered – Tel: 617-2891

Office Clerk: CXC English/ Mathematics- Call:225-0188/ 225-6070 Space for gym in Georgetown or immediate environment - Tel: 615-5315, 647-4587.

VEHICLE FOR SALE Dump Canters, Long & Short Canters, Pitbull & RZ minibuses, Sienta, Voxy, Liteace Tel: 259-3178; 650-5657

Thursday November 28, 2013

Massage therapy service call:674-8147 FOR SALE / FOR RENT American pool table – Tel: 277-0578

Pure bred german shepherd pups & 1 female Rottweiler (5months old) – Contact:2202277; 220-8904; 626-0910 One 8000 Ford Tractor one Ford 450 2005 towing truck contact:694-5599; 689-1864 Three foot KU off set satellite dishes – Price $22,000 – Tel:683-7167, 609-7363 AZ – Evoxl satellite receiver boxes FTA, Price: $22,000 Tel: 683-7167; 609-7363

Potting soil, top soil and quality cow mould - Call: 656-1326; 678-0058 1 Complete 6" dredge, 1 – 6" Lavadore – Tel:677-2281 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call:225-9032,647-2943 Searay boat fiberglass white leather interior, inboard engine with trailer. Price US$10,000.

Email: lpersaud2002@ gmail.comTel: 1 2014483565 (overseas) 1 New Model Tacoma, 1 12" Aluminum Boat, 1 14" Aluminum Boat.

Contact:220-1981; 690-1945 Rosetta stone language software – Tel:695-7595 150cc Dirt Bike for parts – Tel:695-7595 Lumber for sale hard wood 140 per Bm, greenheart 220 per Bm – Tel:680-3154 Ducks & Pigs – Tel:688-7291 One pure bred female Rottweiler pup - Call: 2206879 Live/pluck chicken call:6504421, 220-9203 Curtains and carpet for sale - Call: 219-3732 after 6PM Games PS2 $900, PSP $900, X-Box 360 $2600 & PS3 $2600- Call:672-2566 Original Games- Call:6722566 Fluffy Dachshund pups – Tel: 642-6664 F150, Chevy Cargo Van, Suzuki Sports, Tundra- Tel: 227-8519 Dog Food! 13lbs &50lbs bags wholesale & retail – Tel: 222-7891; 609-9202 350 Diesel (fully loaded, excellent)- Tel: 227-8519 One 6" dredge and 200 acres of mining land (Turtle creek area) Tel:641-8005; 602-7168 Cheapest iphones!!! - Tel: 626-2771 Cheapest Online Vehicles!!!

– Tel:626-2771 One Toyota Tacoma 3400cc PJJ series - $2,000,000 – Contact:223-8479; 647-3768 (Continued on page 23)

Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Money problems hurt Guyana’s chances at judo gold A lack of funding probably cost Guyana a gold medal in the Barbados 2013 International Judo Tournament on Saturday, as the country’s lone competitor, Delroy Murphy, sorely missed his coach and had to settle for silver.

“I feel I did well, but if I had my coach I would have done much better,” the 18year-old Blue Belt Judoka told Kaieteur News after his losing match.

This youngster, coming out of the Kitty Jamaat Club, cannot be dismissed as a typical loser offering up excuses, as he has two gold medals to back up his contention that the presence of his coach and mentor could have made the difference.

With coach, Raul Archer, he competed in Barbados last year and earned Guyana a gold medal after pulling off the same feat in Panama.

The difference this time around, is that Archer was unable to accompany his young charge because he couldn’t come up with the

funds for the trip, and no help was forthcoming.

In fact, young Murphy made it to Barbados by a whisker, through the last minute purchase of a ticket by his Barbados-based uncle, Derrick Lashley.

“Actually it was an emergency ticket I bought, because I bought my ticket from Friday midday. The flight was leaving 2:15 and we bought the ticket 12something,” Delroy explained outside the competition arena, the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium.

Relatives had to also fund the Barbados trip last year when he made Guyana proud with a gold medal.

“This is twice we had to buy his ticket,” explained a family member who was there to cheer him on, but prefers her name not be mentioned.

“No sponsor. You know what it is buying a ticket for Bds$800 (BDS$1 = 50 cents US) to represent Guyana twice. It’s ridiculous because if it was any other sport they would have found the money

somewhere somehow,” she said.

The relative’s position is that a winner like Delroy should have been able to obtain funding from the Ministry of Sports to compete for Guyana along with his coach.

“Mostly I was looking forward to my coach being present because that would have make me do much better,” Delroy said, and added, “In all the competitions I was training, all along he was with me. Last year we came here [Barbados] one week before the competition, we were training here so I was more focused and fit.”

Treasurer of the Kitty Jamaat, Gilbert Archer, told Kaieteur News that Delroy is a judoka who holds out much for Guyana in martial arts.

Delroy also wants to see an improvement in the competition standard at home to bring out the best in participants.

“The tournament here is far better than the tournament in Guyana, and I think Guyana should hold international competitions,” he said.

process is placed before the Board of Commissioners and the way forward is decided upon based on what is presented.

“They will judge objectively and make a ruling in relation to the law. They can agree that sufficient investigation took place and the product is indeed defective; and the respondent did not adhere to the law that was provided. They can then enact the law which would sanction the respondent to replace, repair or provide a refund.”

Khan said that while the Commission’s aim is to solve the complaint brought, the process allows for both parties to receive an objective state of representation.

“It is a due process that is transparent and objective,” he said. This reaffirms their commitment not only to protecting consumers in relation to the law but also to advising businesses of the benefits that will be derived from application of the measures set out in the Act.

Professional and affordable landscaping and tree trimming services.

BUDRAM’S LANDSCAPING SERVICES - Call: 6561326; 678-0058

Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,6626045,223-8115

Delroy Murphy

“It has been proven that if the Consumer Affairs Act is applied by businesses, their profit levels will increase; but not only that, service improves, customers increase and a sense of good will dominate the market. In turn, it benefits the entire economy.”

In light of the upcoming ‘Christmas season’, the Commission has been working to alert both consumers and enterprises of their respective roles when it comes to shopping. enterprise informing them of the contravention of the Act and providing of the opportunity to appear before the Commission to counter the complaint lodged.

According to Khan, this is the “time consuming” stage as the enterprise is given a 15day period to respond.

“Failure to adhere to the request to be present will be met with a summons to appear. Failure again to respond to the summons is followed up by a request for justification of non appearance. Failure to provide a justification resorts to a fine,” he explained.

During this lengthy process however, the opportunity is still afforded to the respondent (enterprise) to adhere to the law that was breached; to provide a replacement, repair or a refund. Failure to comply however would lead to yet another stage – the judicative process. Khan explained that here is where the evidence gathered from the investigative

VACANCY 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant- Call: 6910894/684-2838

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar

Problems not solved overnight - Consumer body The Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC), though tasked with attending to complaints of consumers, has maintained that such ‘problem solving’ does not take place overnight.

According to Economist attached to the Commission, Haroon Khan, the process includes investigation as well as a judicative process; both of which can only be efficiently completed with the passage of time.

Khan said that upon receiving a complaint from a customer, the Commission is first tasked with carrying out the investigative process, which involves executing the due diligence that is necessary to ascertain the accuracy of the complaint.

He said that in such cases, an objective and independent assessment needs to be made and the evidence put forward by the complainant examined.

Khan used the example of one of the most commonly received complaints; that of an enterprise’s failure to replace, repair or provide a full refund for a commodity, in the event it proves to be defective; in harmony with Section 22 of the Consumer Affairs Act (CAA).

“We have to carry out our own investigation to determine objectively if there was a defect,” Khan explained.

He said that upon concluding that there was indeed a defect, the formal phase of the investigation begins, whereby a written notice is dispatched to the

SERVICES

(From page 22)

One mature pharmacy Technician/Assistant. Must Have at least 5 years working experienced – Tel:661-3124; 675-8790 Office worker needed. Must be computer literate, good at customer care and have pleasant personality - Tel: 642-2028

Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call:225-9032,647-2943

Salesman for Cooking Gas in Georgetown store, physically fit, completed high school. 676-6700.

We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699

Experience cashiers & Salespersons needed to work in supermarket/ cosmetics department @ East Coast, age 25-50yrs, call: 220-2128 / 642-1141

Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING F O R O N LY $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 CALL: 694-9843/2272766 All industrial work, generator repairs and domestic house wiring Tel: 644-9084; 664-9635

Cashier at Shell Service Station Providence, E.B.D. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm)Call:265-7305

Children’s Party Service: Let’s make it fun – Call:6471773 Do you live out of town and need a care giver for your child? – Tel:694-0689 Masons Seeks daily or Job work – Tel:619-3296

LEARN TO DRIVE Ultravoilet Driving School Tel: 226-0765; 602-2583 (Gwenette) Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964

SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad.

Call: 660-5257, 647-1773

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

FOR RENT

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

Place to rent @ 92 Nismes Public Road prime business spot - $140,000 monthly – Tel:644-9084; 664-9635

2 flat new building (down town) suitable for business or offices- Tel: 227-8519

Executive Houses & apartments. Contact:2238479; 647-3768; www.spaceseek.gy

Rooms – Call:225-9223 Apartment for rent @ Friendship E.B.D - Tel:2662494; 643-2934

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

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 28, 2013

A Thanksgiving in jail for son of Suriname’s President New York (News Americas) - Dino Bouterse, son of Suriname’s president, Desi Bouterse, will be stateside this Thanksgiving, today, for this quintessentially American holiday, having

turkey and all the trimmings provided by Uncle Sam as a “guest” of the government in a Lower Manhattan federal jail.

This come as his lawyers deny their client was involved in terror plots against

American and Dutch targets.

The U.S. claims Bouterse attempted to provide material support to Hezbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization; conspired to import and distribute cocaine

into the United States and used, carried and branded firearms and a destructive device – a rocket launcher.

His lawyers, however, claim thatthe accusations being made by the United

States, against Bouterse, were fabricated and coerced as they gear up for a pre-trial motion next February.

“Mr. Dino Bouterse is not, and never has been a supporter of any terrorist organization and never intended to render aid to such organization. The charges alleged in the indictment were initiated, instigated and invented by the United States government without any involvement of any terrorist or cartel organization and are an insult to our client and the good people of Suriname,” the lawyers of Bouterse wrote in response to their client being charged with attempting to provide material support to terrorist organization Hezbollah.

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court, in 2013, Bouterse used his position to assist individuals he believed were members of Hezbollah.

In exchange for a multimillion-dollar pay-off, Bouterse agreed to allow large numbers of purported Hezbollah operatives to use Suriname as a permanent base for, among other things, attacks on American targets.

In furtherance of his efforts to assist Hezbollah, Bouterse allegedly supplied a false Surinamese passport for the purpose of making clandestine travel easier, including travel to the United States; began determining which heavy weapons he might provide to Hezbollah; and indicated how Hezbollah operatives, supplied with a Surinamese cover story, might enter the United States.

In June 2013, Bouterse and another accused met in Suriname with DEA confidential sources (the “CSes”), in a local government office. During the meeting, Bouterse showed the CSes a rocket launcher and a kilogram of cocaine.

Approximately one month later, Bouterse and the second defendant worked to provide transportation and security for cocaine being sent through Suriname to the United States.

As a test run, Bouterse and the second defendant sent ten kilograms of cocaine on a commercial flight departing from Suriname.

Bouterse personally verified the arrangements for the 10kilogram cocaine shipment in a text message. The cocaine was intercepted by law enforcement officials after it departed Suriname.

In July 2013, Bouterse met with one of the CSes to discuss opening Suriname to the CSes’ purported Hezbollah associates.

Later that month, Bouterse met in Europe with one of the CSes and with two other men

IN JAIL: Dino Bouterse who purported to be associated with Hezbollah.

During this meeting, Bouterse discussed initially hosting 30 to 60 Hezbollah members in Suriname for training and operations.

He also indicated that he wanted a Hezbollah cell in Suriname to, in part, act as a kind of personal armed force.

Bouterse confirmed his understanding that the purported Hezbollah operatives would operate in South America against American targets, and he agreed to supply Surinamese passports to the operatives-and to assist with their applications for visas to travel from South America into the United States.

In response to a request for surface-to-air missiles and rocket-propelled grenades, Bouterse stated that he would need “two months” and that he would provide a list of what he could supply.

Finally, at the July 2013 meeting in Europe, Bouterse agreed to create a false Surinamese passport for one of the purported Hezbollah operatives, so that Bouterse and the Hezbollah operative could travel to Suriname to inspect the facilities that Bouterse had agreed to prepare for the Hezbollah contingent.

At a subsequent meeting in August 2013, Bouterse delivered a Surinamese passport with false identifying information.

As had been discussed at the July 2013 meeting in Europe, one of the purported Hezbollah operatives was to use the fraudulent passport to travel to Suriname.

Bouterse indicated that everything was ready in Suriname for the arrival of the purported Hezbollah members, and that some “toys,” or weapons, would be available for inspection.

This is the second charge against Bouterese who was previously charged with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States with using, carrying, and brandishing a rocket launcher during, and in relation to, the cocaine importation conspiracy.

Bouterse was arrested in Panama on August 29, 2013, and arrived in the United States the next day.

Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Letters... Where your views make the news

Taxpayers should register their U.S. affirms support for Japan complaints via the means provided

in islands dispute with China

(Reuters) - The United States pledged support for ally Japan yesterday in a growing dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea and senior U.S. administration officials accused Beijing of behavior that had unsettled its neighbors.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel assured his Japanese counterpart in a phone call that the two nations’ defense pact covered the small islands where China established a new airspace defense zone last week and commended Tokyo “for exercising appropriate restraint,” a Pentagon spokesman said.

China’s declaration raised the stakes in a territorial standoff between Beijing and Tokyo over the area, which includes the tiny uninhabited islands known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China.

The United States defied China’s demand that

Chuck Hagel airplanes flying near the islands identify themselves to Chinese authorities, flying two unarmed B-52 bombers over the islands on Tuesday without informing Beijing.

It was a sharp reminder to China that the United States still maintains a large military presence in the region despite concerns among U.S. allies

that President Barack Obama’s “pivot to Asia” strategy has borne little fruit. In a previously a n n o u n c e d t r i p , Vi c e President Joe Biden will visit China, Japan and South Korea next week. He will seek to ease tensions heightened by China’s declaration, senior administration officials said.

Washington does not take a position on the sovereignty of the islands but recognizes that Tokyo has administrative control over them and the United States is therefore bound to defend Japan in the event of an armed conflict.

Some experts say the Chinese move was aimed at eroding Tokyo’s claim to administrative control over the area.

China’s Defense Ministry said it had monitored the U.S. bombers on Tuesday. A Pentagon spokesman said the planes had not been observed or contacted by Chinese aircraft.

Syria says to attend Geneva but won’t hand over power Damascus (AFP) - Syria will send delegates to a Geneva peace conference under President Bashar alAssad’s orders, but his grip over the war-torn country will not be under discussion, an official said yesterday.

The announcement was immediately condemned by Syria’s opposition, which restated its demand that the talks, dubbed Geneva 2, must lead to a political transition that excludes any role for Assad.

Despite the dim prospects for peace with both sides refusing to compromise, Iran said it and Turkey, which support opposing sides in the war, would press for a ceasefire ahead of the talks.

The January 22 peace conference is aimed at ending the nearly three-year-old civil war, a bloody stalemate which has killed an estimated 120,000 people and driven millions from their homes.

“Syria announces the participation of an official delegation under the

Bashar al-Assad orders of (Assad) and the d e m a nds of the Syrian people, with the top priority eliminating terrorism,” said a foreign ministry source quoted by state media.

The source also said the delegation was not going to Geneva to hand over power, and that the condition stipulated by Syria’s opposition and the West that Assad must not have a role

in the country’s future was out of the question.

“Our people will not allow anyone to steal their right to choose their future and their leaders, and what is key about Geneva is to assert the Syrians’ rights, and not of those who are spilling the people’s blood.”

The main opposition National Coalition dismissed the announcement as “a pretence of cooperation with the international community as a cover to continue its war on the Syrian people”.

The Coalition reiterated its demand that Geneva 2 must lead to the creation of a “transitional governing body” with “full executive powers” that excludes Assad “and those associated with him”. Iran, Turkey call for ceasefire Iran, the Assad regime’s most powerful regional backer, said that both it and Turkey, which supports the opposition, would press for a ceasefire in Syria ahead of the planned peace talks.

DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me to respond to an article which appeared in the Friday November 22, 2013 edition of the Stabroek News captioned “long waits for documents at the GRA.’’ While the Guyana Revenue Authority has no difficulties with taxpayers publishing instances of glaring inefficiencies that serve to highlight areas that warrant intervention by the management of the entity, one is reminded of the proverb ‘one swallow does not make a summer.’

Taxpayers should seek redress when unsatisfactory situations occur before

resorting to the press as the taxpayer by the very words penned, admits that delays are not the norm.

There are avenues for complaints and these public exposures only serve to discredit the image of the entity which continuously seeks to improve its effectiveness and service to members of the public.

Further, the presumably genuine motive of the letter writer is reduced to a public tarnishing and possible future exacerbation from the humiliation officers are subjected to rather than to bring about positive changes.

There have been significant improvements in

the service offered by the GRA as a result of the consolidation of its Georgetown operation, but that does not negate the fact that nothing is perfect or that everything is well until someone becomes dissatisfied for one reason or the other.

Members of the public who are dissatisfied at any point in time with the service provided by the GRA are advised to lodge their complaint of such instances of mistreatment with the managers of these errant officers or to call the Hotline on 2276060 extensions 1201-1204.

Commissioner-General Guyana Revenue Authority

Britain’s Cameron curbs welfare benefits for EU migrants LONDON (Reuters) Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday promised to make it harder for migrants from the European Union to access Britain’s welfare system and pledged to try to restrict the freedom of movement of people from poorer EU states in time.His plan, an attempt to address public fears about an influx of Romanians and Bulgarians when EU restrictions on those two countries expire next year, drew a rebuke from the European Commission which said his intervention was “an unfortunate overreaction”.

But Cameron, whose Conservative party risks seeing its vote split at European elections next year and at a national election in 2015 by the anti-immigration UK Independence Party, is

hold an in/out referendum if re-elected in 2015 amid public skepticism about the benefits of belonging to the bloc.

“The EU of today is very different from the EU of 30 years ago,” Cameron said in an article in the Financial Times. “We need to face the fact that free movement has become a trigger for vast population movements caused by huge disparities in income.

David Cameron under pressure to act at a time when he is trailing in the polls.

He has said he will try to renegotiate Britain’s membership of the EU to give it more of a say over its own affairs and has promised to

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 28, 2013

Britain’s Cameron curbs welfare benefits for EU migrants LONDON (Reuters) Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday promised to make it harder for migrants from the European Union to access Britain’s welfare system and pledged to try to restrict the freedom of movement of people from poorer EU states in time.His plan, an attempt to address public fears about an influx of Romanians and Bulgarians when EU restrictions on those two countries expire next year, drew a rebuke from the European Commission which said his intervention was “an unfortunate overreaction”.

But Cameron, whose Conservative party risks seeing its vote split at European elections next year and at a national election in 2015 by the anti-immigration UK Independence Party, is under pressure to act at a time when he is trailing in the polls.

He has said he will try to renegotiate Britain’s membership of the EU to give it more of a say over its own affairs and has promised to hold an in/out referendum if re-elected in 2015 amid public skepticism about the benefits of belonging to the bloc.

“The EU of today is very different from the EU of 30 years ago,” Cameron said in

David Cameron an article in the Financial Times. “We need to face the fact that free movement has become a trigger for vast population movements caused by huge disparities in income.

That is extracting talent out of countries that need to retain their best people and placing pressure on communities.”

Cameron said he planned to change British law so that new EU migrants would have to wait three months before they could access unemployment benefits, saying he shared deep public concerns about a possible influx of new migrants.

Newcomers would not be eligible for housing benefits

and would lose the right to unemployment benefits after six months unless they could prove they had a realistic chance of finding a job.

He said he also planned to try to renegotiate the way EU freedom of movement rules are applied to make it harder for people from poorer countries in the 28-nation bloc to relocate to richer countries in time. That, he said, could involve capping the annual number of EU migrants or withholding full freedom of movement rights until a country achieved a certain gross domestic product per head. “Britain, as part of our plan to reform the EU, will now work with others to return the concept of free movement to a more sensible basis,” he wrote.

“We must put in place new arrangements that will slow full access to each other’s labor markets until we can be sure it will not cause vast migrations.”

The previous Labor government waived transitional controls for migrants from new EU members states, something Cameron called a “monumental mistake” which meant 1 million people from central and Eastern Europe were now living in Britain.

Ukrainian protesters demand release of Tymoshenko

Protesters demand release of Tymoshenko KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Thousands of people yesterday kept up their nearly week-long protest against the Ukrainian government’s decision to ditch an agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia, but officials showed no signs of relenting

to their demands.

About 5,000 people gathered on Independence Square despite freezing temperatures, listening to music and singing. A couple of thousand demonstrators also rallied earlier in the day outside the Ukrainian government building to call

for the release of jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. The EU had made the release of Tymoshenko, the political rival of President Viktor Yanukovych, a condition for signing the association agreement at a summit that begins Thursday in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

‘Don’t forget how much T&T helps J’ca economy’ Trinidad Express Jamaicans should be informed more about the contribution Trinidad and Tobago firms make to their country’s eco-nomy rather than calling for a boycott of goods from this country, businessman Nicholas Lok Jack said Tuesday.

Lok Jack, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA), said this country’s firms employed 5,000 Jamaicans, and several more indirectly through distribution networks and other sub-industries.

He added Trinidad and Tobago firms have also been very supportive of their Jamaican partners, taking a loss on debt-exchange programmes twice.

“We are not exploiting the market. There are the certain elements of employment and a massive amount of investment that Trinidad firms contribute to the Jamaican economy. The public needs

Nicholas Lok Jack to be educated. It is sad that an immigration issue like this should impact trade,” he said.

Last Tuesday, 13 Jamaicans were denied entry at Piarco International Airport by immigration officers. Since then, the Jamaican Manufacturers’ Association has spoken out against it, calling the action “divisive and foolhardy”. There have also been calls for a boycott

of T&T-produced goods.

“I think diplomatic (talks) need to continue; I’d also like to see Caricom countries list their immigrant/visitor policy clearly to reduce incidents like this,” he said.

If there is a boycott, he said, there are likely to be economic impacts on both countries, with spiralling effects from decreasing volumes, sales and other factors.

Tuesday at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran said he welcomed a request from his Jamaican counterpart to discuss the immigration s i t u a t ion and will try to organise a meeting between them as soon as possible.

He a d d e d t h e t r a d e repercussions caused by the fallout were a matter of concern, “but I think once we clarify the immigration matter, I hope that issue will then no longer be on the table”.

Dominican Republic breaks off Haiti talks over immigration ruling SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) - The Dominican Republic broke off talks with Haiti yesterday over a recent Dominican court ruling that potentially strips citizenship from more than 200,000 Haitian migrants, many of whom were born on Dominican soil.

The tw o c o u n t r i e s , which share the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, have been holding talks mediated by the Venezuelan government to resolve their differences over a September 23 ruling by the Dominican Republic’s Constitutional Court.

The Dominican government has come under intense international pressure over the ruling, with foreign leaders, United Nations agencies and human rights groups questioning its legal basis.

Gustavo Montalvo, chief of staff to Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina, said in a statement the government will not participate in a meeting with Haitian officials scheduled to be held in Caracas on Saturday.

The decision comes a day after Caribbean heads of state agreed to defer an application from the Dominican Republic for membership in

Michel Martelly CARICOM, the region’s largest cooperation group, until Santo Domingo addresses the high court’s ruling.

“Haiti has decided to take a different route and that has brought an end to our talks for now,” Montalvo said.

Haiti President Michel Martelly attended the CARICOM meeting in Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday where the group’s leaders urged countries in the region to call on the Dominican Republic to “right this terrible wrong.”

The court ruling retroactively denied Dominican nationality to

anyone born after 1929 who does not have at least one parent of Dominican blood, citing a constitutional clause declaring all others to be in the country illegally or “in transit.”

Human rights groups say the ruling could leave Haitians in the Dominican Republic without basic rights, such as the right to vote, and restrict their access to basic services including public education.

The wealthier of the two countries, the Dominican Republic has long complained of illegal migration of undocumented workers from its impoverished neighbor, even as it benefits from a steady source of cheap labor.

Most of those affected are the descendants of Haitians who moved to the Dominican Republic to work in the sugar cane fields. Many used a temporary worker ’s card issued by the former state sugar company as proof of their residence in order to register their offspring.

The Dominican Republic’s population of 10 million includes about 458,000 people of Haitian descent, many of whom lack proper documents, according to official figures. About 240,000 of those people of Haitian descent were born in the Dominican Republic.

Page 27

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 28, 2013

Moving closer to the CCJ ROSEAU, Dominica CMC – Dominica says it has written to the United Kingdom government informing it officially of its intention to cut ties with the London-based Privy Council in favour of the Trinidadbased Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

“We have in fact written to the Foreign secretary if the British government indicating the Dominica government’s decision to end our relationship with the Privy Council and to establish our relationship with the Caribbean Court of Justice in the appellate jurisdiction,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told reporters.

The CCJ was established in 2001 as the region’s highest court replacing the CCJ. It has both an original and appellate jurisdiction, but while many Caribbean countries are signatories to the original jurisdiction, only Barbados, Guyana and Belize have signed on to the appellate jurisdiction.

In addition, the CCJ serves as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping.

Skerrit said that the island’s High Commissioner in London had already held

Roosevelt Skerrit talks with the Privy Council “seeking to work out the administrative matters with respect to their final decision on their part.

Cuba suspends consular services in U.S., blames embargo MIAMI (Reuters) - Cuba is shutting down nearly all of its consular services in the United States until further notice after it said no bank would handle its business, the government announced on Tuesday, blaming the situation on the longstanding U.S. economic embargo.

The decision threatens to disrupt a recent surge in travel between the United States and Cuba on the eve of the busy holiday season, as well as the Obama administration’s “people-topeople” policy of increased contact with Cuba.

The Cuban Interests Section, Havana’s diplomatic mission in Washington, said in a news release that it was informed in July by its bank, M&T Bank, that it would no longer provide banking services to foreign missions.

Officials at Buffalo, New York-based M&T Bank did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.

The Obama administration tried to convince M&T to keep the account active, according to a U.S. official.

“The Department of State has been actively working with (the Cuban Interests Section) to identify a new bank to provide services to the Cuban missions,” a spokeswoman for the department said.

The administration does not believe the decision was politically motivated and was brought on by the complicated nature of Cuba’s banking needs and currency convertibility issues that did not make it commercially viable for M&T to keep the accounts open.

M&T has apparently

divested all of its diplomatic accounts in recent years and this was the last remaining one.

In a press release, Cuba blamed the five-decade-old U.S. embargo that limits financial transactions with the island, saying it had been unable to find another bank willing to operate its U.S. accounts.

The decision came as a shock to travel companies offering services to Cuba.

They said it would affect many travelers, both Cuban and American, who need documents approved by Cuban consular officials prior to departure.

Christmas period flights were sold out between December 20 and December 31 and those passengers would not be affected as they already have travel documents, said Tessie Aral, president of Miami-based ABC Charters, one of several companies offering charter flights to various cities in Cuba.

But other travelers who do not have up-to-date Cuban passports and need a visa to travel “would have a problem,” she said.

Cuba said the loss of banking services meant consular services would only be available for humanitarian and special cases “until further notice.”

Cuba said it “particularly regrets the effects this may have on Cuban and U.S. citizens ... with the negative impact on family visits, academic, cultural, educational, scientific, sports and other kind of exchange between Cuba and the United States.”

Cuban American critics of Cuba’s communist

government accused it of seeking to use the banking issue to pressure the Obama administration to relax U.S. sanctions against the island.

“The Obama administration has already weakened many sanctions and it should not fall for this blatant emotional blackmail,” said U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican from Miami.

On the other hand, the decision is potentially a big blow to Cuba’s tourism industry, one of the mainstays of the island’s cash-strapped economy.

Around 350,000 Cuban Americans visit relatives in Cuba each year according to travel industry estimates.

Many of them must seek entry visas if they do not have a valid Cuban passport.

Cuban emigres who lack U.S. citizenship must keep their Cuban passports up to date through the Cuban Interests Section in Washington.

Close to 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 Americans also visited Cuba in 2012, according to the Cuban government, under the Obama administration’s people-topeople policy of cultural and academic exchanges, providing much needed revenues to the hotel and restaurant industries.

Cuba said the United States was required under the diplomatic treaties to ensure “full facilities for the performance of the functions” of its diplomatic missions and consular offices in the United States.

The U.S. does facilitate connections but has no ability to compel private banks to provide services, according to a senior U.S. official.

Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 29

NBA roundup: Magic down Hawks, Wickets for pacers in Test warm-up snap 17-game road losing streak From page 33 chance to win it for New Orleans w i t h a n o p e n 3 pointer from the left corner in the final seconds, but the shot rimmed out and Anthony Davis couldn’t quite reach the rebound.

Jermaine O’Neal returned from right knee

and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and did not look at all rusty, sinking his first seven shots en route to 18 points — including a clutch baseline hook with 2:06 left. David Lee added 19 points .

Ry a n A n d e r s o n h a d 2 1 p o i n t s a n d 1 2 re-

bounds for New Orleans.

Davis finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The Wa r r i o r s ’ Stephen Curry struggled to find his usual accur a c y, m i s s i n g 1 3 o f 2 0 shots, but scored seven of his 16 points in a tight fourth quarter. Harrison Barnes added 14 points.

Thursday November 28, 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.

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand – The West Indies bowlers who arrived early in New Zealand made solid progress on the opening day of their tour match against a New Zealand XI in Lincoln on Wednesday.

The tourists ousted Black Caps opener Peter Fulton for one and national captain Brendon McCullum for 22 after the New Zealanders won the toss and elected to bat.

The hosts declared at 227 for eight at stumps on a raininterrupted day, with Hamish Rutherford top-scoring on 61.

Sheldon Cotrell (2-63) and Shannon Gabriel (2-50) were the pick of the West Indies bowlers, both bowled with good pace and troubled the home batsmen, while

Shannon Gabriel

Shivnarine Chanderpaul also had a brief go with his slow bowling. There were also two catches for Chadwick Walton behind the stumps.The West Indian team contains four New Zealanders, who were drafted in to make up the

numbers as the rest of the Caribbean side wrapped up a One-Day series in India. As such, it is not being recognised as a first-class fixture. The first of three Tests begins next Tuesday at the University Oval in Dunedin.

Michael Phelps fuels comeback rumours with...

From page 35 Baltimore. Having completed doping tests, he will be eligible to compete in trials for the 2015 World Championships. Rumours have circulated for some time that Phelps is keen to compete at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

It would be his fifth Games where, in addition to his 18 golds, he has also won two silver and two bronze medals. Responding to the speculation about a return he said: “Nothing is set in stone. If I decide to keep going and swim again, then I’ll compete.

“If I don’t, I guess I’ll reretire. Just don’t compare me to [American football quarterback] Brett Favre [who made several comebacks].”

Coach Bowman was also non-committal on the subject of Rio 2016. “I just think he’s in a place where he’s feeling good about swimming,’’ he said.

“If he chooses to compete, he’s got some time. To be perfectly honest, he’s not anywhere near being able to compete in a meet or anything like that. We’re just getting started on improving his fitness. We’ll see where that goes.”

(BBCSport)

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Letter to the Sports Editor

Leave Matthias alone, detractors back off

DEAR EDITOR, Football is considered as the beautiful game with its symmetry and ballerina like effect it has when it is in full flow. Look at Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho, just to name a few when they have the ball at their feet as they dazzle the spectators and their opponents with their grace, chemistry and skill.

In Guyana the game is (was) sliding to an all time low with the various distractions.

Enter Mr. Christopher Matthias, Customs Officer & Sports Administrator who took up the reign as President of the Guyana Football Federation sometime in March 2013. Since then he has transformed the institution and game to some form of respectability with his charismatic and sometimes unconventional style of leadership. He was and still is preaching accountability, transparency, technical and tactical development and inclusiveness to all as he go along to ensure that the GFF has a structure.

Associations and Clubs are managing their business in a more professional manner and it is evident on a daily basis. As an employee I am privy to what is going on and things are only getting better.

After being involved in football for approximately 40 years and still counting as a Player (Lodge Rovers, St Barnabas, Santos & GFC), Administrator (Secretary Santos, GFA & GFF) and Referee (FIFA International Assistant Referee, FIFA Futsal Referee, FIFA Referee Assessor & FIFA Referee Instructor), as such, I am

quite confident I am qualified to pronounce on the stewardship of Mr. Christopher Matthias as President during his few months at the helm of this troubled organization.

I am quite appalled by the ill things that are being pedaled in the dailies of Mr. Matthias. With all fairness, this goodly gentleman has only been in office for approximately eight (8) months and he entered with a massive debt in the vicinity of 40 million dollars. For someone to enter an organistion with such debt one must have cohunes and I have pledged as an employee to work diligently to ensure that the GFF become an organization that will be highly respected. However, there are detractors who have their own agenda to destroy this beautiful game just for their personal aggrandizement.

After being one of the few pilot countries to have a Goal Project assigned to us, there is no evidence of same being completed much less being commenced any time soon, why blame the present regime. Guyana has no proper ground, no training facility, no uniform sponsor, huge debts, no proper structure, no proper player data base, just to name a few of the inefficiencies that are prevailing within the football fraternity and we at this end are diligently trying to fix same.

I have known Mr. Matthias for quite a while and I have found him to be a very diligent, honest and hardworking individual who has sports development at

heart, he is a community based individual and has under privileged children at heart. Ladies and Gentlemen I am appealing to you all to allow Mr. Matthias to function with some amount of parity and suppleness I know he means well. Don’t judge him until he has been given the time, space and privilege to perform, you out there are not seeing the changes and only time will tell. Just be patient, benefits will be the reward in the long run.

It really amazes me how people in Guyana could be so haughty and mischievous.

We in Guyana, I assume and hope, want football to develop and run in a structured manner. Yet the detractors usually assemble and gossip at street corners or beer gardens about the perceived wrong that they say are being perpetuated in the football arena. What they should be doing instead is to sit with the leaders of the football fraternity and voice their concern in constructive remedial meetings so that GUYANA will benefit.

Why should we sit and criticize, and by creating a cordial relationship with the administrators it will only enhance football development for the entire country and all will benefit.

“Fools live to regret their words wise men to regret their silence.”

Bill Vaughn once said, “An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old one leaves.”

Where do you place yourself, you decide?

Thank You, Lawrence Griffith

Thursday November 28, 2013

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition

Abrams hat-trick hands defending champs first loss - Action switches to National Cultural Centre Tarmac Former national player Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams easily transferred his talent harnessed from the longer version of the game to the Futsal format, firing in a hattrick in Laing Avenue’s 4-2 triumph over defending champions Leopold Street on the first night of competition in the Georgetown segment of the ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Tournament which kicked off at the Demerara Car Park last Tuesday night.

Abrams’ performance came just ahead of other outstanding d i s p l a y s b y four other players namely Omallo Williams, Akeem Jackson, Jamal Brenons and diminutive striker Devon Millington, who all slammed in braces for their respective teams, even as Jermain McLeod scored the fastest goal of the tournament, with his 13 seconds strike.

Appropriately, Leopold Street, who defeated former champions Back Circle in last year’s final, raised the curtains for this year’s tournament after some brief remarks from Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and other executives of Banks DIH Limited.

Abrams sent Laing Avenue into the lead with his first goal that was scored in the third minute of play, doubling that lead within another two minutes later before Williams drew the defending champions level, scoring his brace two minutes apart, with the first being scored exactly two minutes after Abrams got his second goal.

With the scoreline reading

2-2, many felt that Leopold Street, who had an unsuccessful run in the second annual Caribbean ‘Guinness Greatest of the Streets’ competition last year in comparison to Back Circle’s sojourn the previous year, were on the verge of making a successful start to their title defence.

However, Laing Avenue had other ideas in mind and it rose to the forefront when Abrams completed the lone hat-trick of the night and first for this year’s tournament, when he found the back of the net in the 13th minute followed by Fabian C r a w f o r d ’s s t r i k e o n e minute later which sealed the win for the eventual victors.

Jackson scored his brace in the 4th and 24th minutes respectively for South Sophia, which along w i t h Ry a n O ’ S e l m o ’s solitary strike in the 5th minute, handed Norton Street-East a 3-0 defeat, a contest which was followed by Berlin Massive’s 4-0 drubbing over Stevedore Housing Scheme.

Brenons scored his double in the 17th and 20th minutes of play for Berlin Massive, after Travis Heyliger opened their scoring in the sixth minute, followed by Devon Charles’ 8th minute strike which handed them a 2-0 lead.

Kevin Griffith (13th), Jamal Cozier (27th) and Calvin Pitt (28th) were the men on target for Broad Street ‘B’, who came away with a 3-1 victory over

Castello Housing Scheme, f o r w h o m M a r k We l c h scored their lone goal in the 25th minute.

After the usual Guinness Break that is seen at these tournaments that are held countrywide, Norton Street defeated North East La Penitence 2-1, with McLoud 13 seconds strike being complimented by Laurex Fraser’s 20th minute goal for Norton Street, while Colin Daniels pulled one back for the losers in the 14th minute.

Millington showed his class and superiority with his 1st and 7th minutes goals that were backed by S h e l d o n H o l d e r ’s 1 5 t h minute strike, which in the end enabled East La Penitence to defeat Bent Street 2-0, even as a Ronsford Coleridge’s 18 minute penalty was the lone goal in the contest between Hope Street – Tiger Bay and South Ruimveldt, which the former won.

Action in this year ’s tournament, which includes 32 teams from across the City playing for a top prize of $500,000, with the second, third and fourth placed teams taking home $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively along with trophies, will continue at the National Cultural Centre tarmac from 18:30hrs tonight.

Along with the above mentioned prizes, teams can pocket an additional $25,000, $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000 each, according to their placing at the end of the preliminary round, while the tournament culminates on December 21.

Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Systems in place for Roberts Champion Boxing Gym Amateur card on Saturday Systems are now in place for the much anticipated first ever Amateur boxing competition organised by the newly former Roberts Champion Boxing Gym (RCBG) on Saturday at the Matthew Allen (Stelling Road) New Amsterdam Berbice, as boxing returns to the Ancient County.

The gym, which was formed by former national

multi-weight amateur and professional boxing champion Jeff Roberts, has organised a 12 bout card which will feature boxers from all three counties. According to Roberts two gyms from Berbice in the RCBG and the Rose Hall Jammers boxing gym of Corentyne will be adequately representing the might of Berbice as they move to defend their turf against

the invading forces from gyms such as the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Harpy Eagle (HE) and Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) among others.

Berbicians are expected to turn out in large numbers to take in the anticipated fistic fury in the programme dubbed ‘Berbice verses Georgetown’.

Box off time is 18:00 hrs.

(Samuel Whyte)

GT&T, Hand-in-Hand Inter-County cricket

Matches postponed due to rain Heavy overnight and early morning rain left almost the entire Georgetown flooded ruling out the DCC ground, which was under water yesterday, as a venue for the opening round of the GT&T, Hand-in-Hand fourday senior Inter-County cricket tournament which was scheduled to start today.

It also rained on Tuesday night on the East Coast of Demerara but the sun was out yesterday afternoon and if there is no more rain

prospects of a start tomorrow at Enmore looks promising in the contest between Demerara and the President’s X1.

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) intends to shift venues in the City and the Police ground is the first option of an alternative ground for a start in Georgetown in the match between Berbice and Essequibo. If the inclement weather abates a weekend start is likely.

The recently refurbished

Enmore Community Centre is one of fastest drying cricket grounds on the East Coast and with the covers protecting the pitch the outfield should be dry enough to facilitate play by tomorrow According to GCB officials the Board is monitoring the weather and will announce by this afternoon a new commencement date for the four-team competition. (Sean Devers)

Rampant Man Utd ease through to last 16

BBC Sport - Manchester United reached the Champions League’s last 16 with a game to spare after thrashing Bayer Leverkusen 5-0.

Wayne Rooney, who had a hand in four goals, chipped to the back post for Antonio Valencia’s tap-in for the first before Emir Spahic scored an own goal from the United striker’s free-kick.

Stefan Reinartz’s header hit the post after deflecting off Ryan Giggs before Jonny Evans turned in from a corner.

Chris Smalling then touched in and Nani rounded the keeper for a fifth.

The result is United’s biggest away win in the Champions League and confirmed a miserable night for the German side, who are second in the Bundesliga and lost an unbeaten home record.

Sami Hyypia’s team could not cope with the irrepressible Rooney and the evergreen Giggs, who two days short of his 40th birthday showed his class and composure alongside Phil Jones in the centre of midfield.

United’s two first-half goals obliterated any momentum the hosts had, and although United were without the injured trio of Robin van Persie, Michael

Page 31

Dhawan flattens WI in decider ESPNcricinfo - India have been masterful while chasing in ODIs this year, and against a moderate total and a mediocre West Indies attack, they ambled to victory in the series-deciding third ODI in Kanpur. Shikhar Dhawan hit his fifth ODI hundred of his magical year and the struggling Yuvraj Singh hit his first ODI half-century in 11 innings as India cruised to their sixth successive oneday series win of the year.

With a 9am start on a hazy winter morning, the talk at the toss was about how the first hour would be a challenge for the batsmen. West Indies negotiated that phase well losing only one wicket, and half-centuries from Kieran Powell and Marlon Samuels took them to a strong 164 for 2 when the batting Powerplay was taken. Perfectly placed then for the power-hitters to come; they nearly squandered that advantage by losing three quick wickets, but Darren Sammy and Darren Bravo provided the late flourish to lift them to 263. That proved too little, especially as only Ravi Rampaul and Sunil Narine posed any threat with the ball. Jason Holder had a disappointing day, with Dhawan feasting on the poor lines to take five fours in his first two overs to propel India along early. Dwayne Bravo and Sammy were tame, and midway through the chase when Dhawan and Yuvraj were killing off the chase West Indies had turned to the innocuous duo of Veerasammy Permaul and Lendl Simmons. There was briefly some hope for West

Indies early on, when Rampaul dismissed two of India’s red-hot top three early.

He couldn’t get the wicket of Dhawan, though, and Dhawan scored big. As usual, the innings was studded with breathtaking cuts and drives through the off, and without really seeming to make the effort, he had 20 fours to his name was scoring at over a run a ball.

While it was Dhawan’s innings that made the game safe, Yuvraj’s will gladden Indian fans. A destructive batsman with a penchant for the big stage, Yuvraj hasn’t been among the runs in recent months, even during the Australia series which was a bowlers’ bloodbath. Australia turned to Mitchell Johnson to dismiss him early several times, and West Indies hoped Narine would have a similar impact.

Yuvraj wasn’t comfortable against Narine today either, misreading him several times, but he managed to ride out that difficult phase and cashed in against the lesser threats in the attack. Even though Dhawan and Yuvraj were dismissed with India just under 50 away from the target, it only afforded the chance for India’s other outof-form batsman, Suresh Raina, to play a pressure-free cameo on his birthday, with the result never in doubt.

It was far easier batting in the evening than in the first hour. India’s new-ball bowlers posed plenty of questions for West Indies’ openers, who were regularly beaten by the movement. Even as late as the 12th over, India had three slips in place.

Powell had grabbed the

chance offered by Chris Gayle’s absence with a halfcentury in Visakhapatnam, and built on that with another solid score. He was a bit loose outside off early on but settled in as the innings progressed, showing off his driving skills, with a square drive off Mohit Sharma in the sixth over a highlight. He had reached 70 by the 30th over, but miscued a sweep off R Ashwin - the fifth time in a row that the opener has gone past 40 without reaching triple figures.

His 117-run partnership with Samuels had set West Indies up for a strong total.

Samuels was nervy early on, extremely reluctant to get on the front foot against the fast bowlers, and played and missed often. After his initial struggles, he was more at ease against the spinners, stepping out to launch Ashwin onto the temporary roof in the stands beyond long-on.

He was reprieved on 60 when Virat Kohli put down a chance at first slip, but was bowled soon after by Ashwin.

That was in the first over of the batting Powerplay, and with Simmons and Dwayne Bravo failing, West Indies had suddenly slipped to 196 for 5.

However, Darren Bravo made his third consecutive halfcentury and Darren Sammy’s all-power game worked again this time as they threw the bat around to put on 67 in little over eight overs. It proved to be too little against India’s formidable batting though.

Scores: India 266 for 5 (Dhawan 119, Yuvraj 55) beat West Indies 263 for 5 (Samuels 71, Powell 70, Darren Bravo 51*) by five wickets.

BBC Sport - Bayern Munich sealed top spot in Group D and made it a recordbreaking 10 successive Champions League wins with victory at a snow-hit CSKA Moscow.

Arjen Robben gave the German giants the lead when he swept in at the near post, before Mario Gotze danced through the defence to score a fantastic second.

Keisuke Honda, who missed two glorious chances, pulled one back from the spot for CSKA after Dante had handled.

Thomas Muller’s penalty after Robben had been fouled secured Bayern’s win.

Pep Guardiola’s side took just 17 minutes to beat Igor Akinfeev in the CSKA goal.

Germany international Muller swept down the left and cut the ball back for Robben, who, on the run, smashed in a first-

time shot. The home side then had three good chances to equalise. The first fell to Nigeria forward Ahmed Musa, who failed to trouble keeper Manuel Neuer with a weak shot.

Honda, whose clever flick led to Musa’s chance, then found himself in space and one-on-one with Neuer.

However, the Germany number one grabbed the ball as the midfielder was indecisive over what to do.

The Japan international had a chance to make amends moments later, but scuffed his shot from six yards out.

The Russian side paid for their profligacy 11 minutes after the break w h e n f ormer Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze’s waltzed into the area, past three defenders before finding the bottom c o r n e r. C S K A f i n a l l y

managed to reduce the deficit when French referee Antony Gautier judged Brazil defender Dante to have handled in the Bayern area.

Honda took responsibility of the spot-kick and this time made no mistake with his effort. But three minutes later, another lapse cost CSKA. Gotze slammed a superb curling shot against the far post but as Robben raced on to the loose ball he was brought down by Georgi Schennikov. Gautier pointed to the spot and Muller calmly placed his penalty past Akinfeev.

CSKA went close once more when Serb midfielder Zoran Tosic hit the woodwork with a brilliant effort from the edge of the area, but luck was not on the side of Leonid Slutsky’s men who will rue wasting a golden opportunity to defeat a strong Bayern side.

Bayern in record Champions League wins Man United hammered 5 past the Germans. (AP) Carrick and Nemanja Vidic, plus the suspended Marouane Fellaini, the visitors were rarely troubled.

The victory meant United boss David Moyes has reached the latter stages of the Champions League at his first attempt with the club and it will give further credence to claims from first-team coach Phil Neville that the players are beginning to believe in his methods.

Last year’s Premier League champions extended their unbeaten run to 11 games, and ahead of a tricky run of domestic fixtures against Tottenham, Everton and Newcastle, they can at

least relax about their final Champions League match at home to Shakhtar Donetsk.

A point in that game will mean they top Group A. Leverkusen are only four points behind leaders Bayern Munich in Germany and looked like they were beginning to pose a threat to the heart of United’s defence early on.

But the game’s course changed after 22 minutes when Evans did superbly to block Stefan Kiessling’s shot before United immediately swept down the opposite end to open the scoring after a swift counter attack.

The ball was fed to Giggs

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 28, 2013

GFC new venue for Bhaskar Yadram’s 41 and 8 for 5 ensures Vision Sports Inter Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes advance Club C’bean football to semifinals - Edinburgh also through 2013 Tenelec Inc Under-15 Cricket Competition in Berbice

A fighting innings and telling spell of leg spin bowling from Guyana Under15 captain Bhaskar Yadram playing in his first club match in Berbice, gave Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes the edge over No. 73 Young Warriors to earn their place in the semi-finals of the 2013 Tenelec Inc Cricket Competition.

In the quarter-final which was played at No. 73, Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes took first innings honours from No. 73 Young Warriors in the match which ended in a draw.

Choosing to bat first, Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes made 138 all out in their first innings with Yadram topscoring with 41, Kevon Anderson 30 N.O and Haifa Walters 25. Bowling for No. 73 Young Warriors, Abdul Ajib took 4 for 15 and Vickram Laljit 3 for 11.

When No. 73 Young Warriors replied they could not cope with the leg-spin of Yadram and with him taking 8 wickets for 5 runs from 7 Overs with 4 maidens, they were duly bowled out for 51 w i t h o n l y Ta l e s h w a r Baichan with 16 and Sahif

Jamesay 13 reaching double figures.

Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes batting a second time had reached 100 for 9 when time ran out, Yadram again topscoring this time with 21. Shaif Jamesay took 5 for 40 and Ajib 2 for 15.

Also advancing to the semi-finals were Edinburgh, who defeated Achievers on first innings in their drawn quarter-final.

In that match which was played at Edinburgh, Achievers choosing to bat first made 104 all out in their 1st innings with Joseph

Nicholson 27. Bowling for Edinburgh, Ishwar Mangru took 4 for 34, Joel Seiteram 3 for 52 and Raffik Latif 2 for 10.

Edinburgh replied with 119 all out in their first innings with Raffik Latif topscoring with 32 N.O, while Joseph Nicholson took 4 for 19 with Titus Webster 4 for 33 for Achievers.

Achievers in their 2nd innings made 129 for 3 declared with Makesh Ramroop 64 N.O and Titus Webster 38. Ishwar Mangru took 2 for 44. With just 40 minutes play left, Edinburgh were 31 for 2 at the close.

Nation’s best chess players go after premiere prize at National Senior Chess Championship Three years ago, Taffin Khan relinquished the Junior National Chess Championship and went after the senior crown held by the then champion, Berbician Kriskal Persaud.

The wily player went on to dethrone Persaud and since then has defeated all and sundry to retain the coveted accolade.

Now, Khan will be out to prove that he is indeed a class act when he puts his title on the line when the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) stages the 2013 National Senior Chess Championship at the Ocean Spray Hotel, Stanley P l a c e , K i t t y, S a t u r d a y November 30-Sunday December 8 next.

The tournament would be played in a single round

robin format and those in the line-up are: Anthony Drayton, Davion Mars and Roberto Neto (junior players) and Wendell Meusa, Errol Tiwari, Glenford Corlette and Neil Khan (seniors).

A few years ago, Meusa had defeated Persaud and won the national title.

Fans were eagerly anticipating a showdown between Meusa and Khan but hopes evaporated after the former player relinquished the crown even before making a first defense; Khan had stepped up to the plate and defeated Persaud.

Afterwards, Meusa and Khan had had many epic battles and had shared the spoils but had never clashed at this level.

An inevitable collision

looms and interesting tournament lies ahead.

Meanwhile, the tournament was officially launched at Banks DIH, Thirst Park yesterday afternoon under the Vita Malt Plus brand and President of the GCF, Shiv Nandalall, journeyed to that location and received the sponsorship package from Banks DIH Brand Manager (non-alcoholic malts), Clayton McKenzie.

M r.

Nandalall expressed deep gratitude to his benefactor and assured him that the gift would indeed assist in the effective running of the tournament.

He further said Banks DIH contribution is significant for the growth of chess even as he

pointed out that the beverage giants have been rendering similar support ever since the sport has been resuscitated some six years ago.

“Banks DIH is a true friend of the sport and has sponsored tournaments in B e r b i c e, Linden, West Demerara and Georgetown; this time we are doing so under the Vita Malt Plus brand because it has the right ingredients for athletes,” said Mr. McKenzie.

He further urged the players to utilize the product as they seek excellence in the c h a m p i o n s h i p s .

Communications Manager of the donating firm, Troy Peters, was also in attendance and said that it is an honour to sponsor championship for another year.

A release from the Georgetown Football Association, who have collaborated with Vision Sports and Entertainment Agency to host a two-match Caribbean Inter Club Football series involving Boystown FC out of Jamaica and Guyana’s Alpha United, Sunburst Camptown and Buxton United on November 29 and December 1, stated that the matches will now be played at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda.

According to the release, the change in venue is due mainly to the inclement weather which has left the original venue the GCC ground heavily waterlogged and unable to host the matches. The release added that the surprise artistes will be Christopher Martin and Dwayne Stephenson and fans are being encouraged to come out and witness the local clubs tackle their counterparts from Jamaica or Reggae Boyz country as it’s popularly known.

Canada, Mexico battle to draw in women’s friendly

Canada and Mexico in action Vancouver, Canada – Canada and visiting Mexico played to a 0-0 stalemate on Sunday in a women’s international friendly before a crowd of 21,217 at BC Place.

The Canadians posted their second straight shutout, previously blanking Korea Republic, 3-0, last month in Edmonton.

Christine Sinclair had the host’s first chance six minutes after the opening whistle.

Diana Matheson passed from the right side to the Portland Thorns forward, whose effort from the edge of the 18-yard box was saved easily by goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago.

Four minutes later, Mexico’s Guadalupe Worbis accelerated to a ball in the in the Canadian penalty area, forcing goalkeeper Erin McLeod into a quick reaction stop. Canada’s Rhian Wilkinson had to leave the game in the 27th minute with an injury and was replaced by 16-year-old Sura Yekka.

The defender, who admitted to being nervous in her national team debut against Korea, exhibited composure in her second outing.

“She was a real bright spot,” Canada head coach

John Herdman said after the game. “If anything she was pretty much showing the way in terms of a real positive attitude in terms of taking it to Mexico. I think a couple of players fed of her energy. I think that was real bright spark.”

Shortly after the break, Brittany Baxter Timko delivered a cross from the right side into the Mexican area. Sophie Schmidt did well to get to the ball, only to put it over the crossbar.

Lauren Sesselmann saw her 78th minute shot saved

by Santiago and Sinclair’s follow-up was blocked. As time elapsed, Sinclair had the ball at her feet in a good position once again on the right side, but Santiago was sharp, pulling off the save and preserving the clean sheet.

“We had some moments,” Herdman added. “We’re progressing. At times we were stringing 16 or 17 passes together and finishing with a cross or a shot so I’ll take that at his stage but it’s still a long way off 2015.”

Canada will host the next FIFA Women’s World Cup, June 6-July 5, 2015, in six cities across the country. (concacaf.com)

Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 33

Argentine eight-year-old Messi lookalike makes headlines (Reuters) - An Argentine eight-year-old prodigy from the southern Andes who could be mistaken as a clone of Lionel Messi may soon be taking the same road to soccer glory as the Barcelona ace.

Claudio Nancufil, small for his age, has become a media sensation since emerging as an unusual talent at the modest Martin Guemes club in the ski resort of Bariloche.

“As soon as he started to play (aged four) he was already different from all the rest of his playmates with regards to technique,” club president Marcelo Ernalz said.

“How he takes the ball stuck to his foot, brakes, stops, kicks, scores, shoots on goal, from when he was little he had all these distinct qualities,” said Ernalz, who also trains one of the age group teams at his club.

Spanish giants Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have shown interest and the boy could go to Spain for trials in the New

Year, according to the Madrid newspaper El Confidencial.

Ernalz told Reuters that Spaniard Manuel Otero, manager of Barcelona-based PR agency Suenos Comunicaciones (dreams communications), visited the Nancufil family in Bariloche when he heard of Claudio’s talent and offered to represent them.

“After the Christmas holidays, ‘Claudito’ (little Claudio) will go to try out with these three Spanish teams and then we’ll see what each of them offers us,” said Otero, whose agency normally has actors and musicians on its books.

Big Argentine clubs are also interested.

“We’ve had an invitation from River Plate for him to train for a week with them,” Otero added in a report in El Confidencial. “(The family) are not closing any doors and England could also be a great destination for the player.”

Premier League sides Manchester United and

Chelsea are reportedly interested in Nancufil, set to be part of a documentary on Argentine football.

“The BBC is preparing documentaries in the run-up to the World Cup in Brazil and with Argentina they want to unite the past, present and future,” Otero said.

“For this, they plan to bring together Diego Armando Maradona, Lionel Messi and Claudio Nancufil and with the participation of ( Wo r l d C u p - w i n n i n g coaches Cesar Luis) Menotti and (Carlos) Bilardo.”

‘MESSI OF THE SNOWS’ Such were the similarities in talent observers saw in Nancufil with Messi at the same age, dribbling past bigger and older boys with ease, that he was called the “Messi of the snows”.

“We’re happy because both the kid and his family deserve an opportunity like this,” Ernalz told Argentina’s Cadena 3 in a recent interview.

Claudio Nancufil (R) kicks the ball at the Club Martin Guemes in the Patagonian Argentine city of Bariloche November 26, 2013. REUTERS/Chiwi Gianbirtone “He’s physically small and had the same growth problems detected in Messi when he was little, and he’s getting hormone treatment.”

His mother Viviana said Claudio, who is from a humble background with origins in the Mapuche indians of the southern Andean mountain range, could not explain how he played.

“We asked him, how do you do that? And he said, ‘I don’t know. I just get it in my head and my feet move on their own. It’s like that,” she told Reuters. “‘I don’t know how I play like that. My legs just go.’ That’s what he told us,” Viviana Nancufil said at pitchside while watching her son play.

“We would kid him about

it, we’d say that he ran by remote control,” she said laughing, adding that over and above Claudio’s talent she wanted a good future for her two sons including 11year-old Braian.

“That’s my dream, that they will always be good people, (Claudio) as a footballer or in any profession.”

NBA roundup: Magic down Hawks, snap 17-game road losing streak ATLANTA — Arron Afflalo scored 26 points, Victor Oladipo and Andrew Nicholson added 18 apiece and the Orlando Magic snapped a 17-game road losing streak with a 109-92 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.

Al Horford and Jeff Teague each finished with 15 points for the Hawks, who lost consecutive games for the first time this season.

The Magic began the night having lost four straight overall and five in a row on the road. They won away from Orlando for the first time since last March 4 at New Orleans.

Nikola Vucevic grabbed 15 rebounds, Jameer Nelson had 10 assists, and the Magic got a combined 30 points from Nicholson and E’Twaun Moore off the bench.

The Hawks never led after Afflalo’s 3-pointer put

the Magic ahead 67-65 with 5:09 left in the third.

WIZARDS 116, LAKERS 111 WASHINGTON (AP) — John Wall stayed hot with 31 points and nine assists, Nene had a career high 30 and Washington broke Los Angeles’ three-game winning streak.

Wall scored more than 30 points for the third straight game for the first time in his career, with his 13 fourthquarter points coming in the final 4:40 to help Washington hold off Los Angeles. Wall was 10 for 18 from the field and made 11 of 12 free throws.

Nene surpassed his previous career best by two points on 13-for-22 shooting from the field. Martell Webster added 20 points with four 3-pointers.

Jordan Farmar led the Lakers with 22 and Pau Gasol had 17.

NETS 102, RAPTORS 100 TORONTO (AP) — Andray Blatche scored 24 points, Joe Johnson had 21 and Brooklyn snapped a five-game losing streak by beating Toronto.

Paul Pierce scored 16 points and Kevin Garnett had 12 as the Nets won for the first time since beating Phoenix on Nov. 15.

Brooklyn won for just the third time in its past nine games in Canada, getting the victory despite playing without guard Deron Williams and centre Brook Lopez, both of whom are sidelined with left ankle injuries.

DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points and Kyle Lowry had 21 for the Raptors, who lost a two-game winning streak.

Toronto’s Amir Johnson missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer from the corner in

Orlando Magic forward Maurice Harkless (21) and Atlanta Hawks forward Gustavo Ayon (14) vie for a loose ball during the second half of an NBA game on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013, in Atlanta. Orlando won 109-92. (John Amis, AP) the final seconds.

WA R R I O R S 1 0 2 , PELICANS 101 NEW ORLEANS (AP)

— Klay Thompson scored 22 points and tied a career high with eight assists, and Golden State snapped a

three-game skid by defeating New Orleans.

Eric Gordon had a (Continued on page 29)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 28, 2013

Nepal PM Regmi praises team over Twenty20 cricket win It is hoped the team’s success will provide a much-needed boost to Nepalese cricket.

BBC Sport - Nepal’s acting PM Khil Raj Regmi has congratulated his country’s cricket team after they qualified for their first major tournament in Abu Dhabi.

The Himalayan nation

secured an exciting last-ball victory over Hong Kong to secure a place at next year’s Wo r l d Tw e n t y 2 0 i n Bangladesh.

Many fans reportedly said prayers from the stands as Nepal required 13 from the final over.

Sharad Vesawkar was the hero, smashing the first ball for a straight six. He then went on to hit the winning runs to chase down 143 for eight at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier.

Nepal now face Afghanistan in the semi-final of the tournament on Friday.

‘A boost’ “This is a historical success for the Nepali cricket team,” Mr Regmi said in a statement.

“This has helped to boost up Nepal and Nepali cricket t e a m ’s p r e s t i g e a n d confidence in the world.”

Correspondents say that the team is likely to receive a heroes’ welcome when they return to Kathmandu, regardless of what happens on Friday.

Captain Paras Khadka’s

46 from 39 balls formed the basis of Nepal’s run-chase as they won by five wickets.

Cricket Nepal website editor Somesh Verma told the BBC that Nepal only started playing cricket in 1996.

“Nepal has never been to any kind of world cup in a team game - this is the biggest moment, not only for Nepalese cricket but for Nepalese sport,” he said.

“I have seen for the past 13 years players struggling, some didn’t even have side jobs… [I have] seen a lot of potential players who could have been in this team leave cricket altogether because they couldn’t support their families.”

Mr Verma warned that problems facing the game in Nepal would not disappear despite the latest triumph because the country lacks a cricketing infrastructure.

Six sides from the qualifier will reach the main tournament in Bangladesh next year.

Ireland, Afghanistan, Nepal and UAE have already secured their places.

Accident at Brazil World Cup stadium kills three Part of the stand and a LED panel outside the stadium were damaged. (Reuters)

SAO PAULO (Reuters) A crane collapsed on We d n e s d a y a t t h e construction site of a future World Cup soccer stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, killing at least three people and apparently causing damage to the structure.

The stadium, which was scheduled to be finished in the next month or so, is to be the site of the opening game and five other matches when Brazil hosts the 2014 soccer World Cup in June and July.

A spokeswoman for the Sao Paulo state military police confirmed the deaths.

Brazil has struggled to

deliver stadiums, public transportation improvements and other World Cup-related projects within the timelines specified by world soccer b o d y F I FA . S o m e construction sites, such as a new terminal at Sao Paulo’s international airport, are being built around the clock seven days a week to try to finish them before the Cup. The Sao Paulo stadium, formally called Arena Corinthians but known locally as “Itaquerão,” is being built by Brazilian industrial conglomerate Odebrecht SA, which recently said the arena was

94 percent complete.

Photos taken by local media appeared to show significant damage caused by the fallen crane to the outside of the stadium.

It was not immediately clear if the damage could pose a major delay to opening the stadium.

A spokeswoman for Odebrecht declined immediate comment.

Corinthians, the Sao Paulo soccer club that will play in the stadium after the Cup tournament, lamented the accident in a short statement but declined further comment.

Thursday November 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 35

GASA Short Course Nationals

Leon Seaton breaks 8 and Under 50m free record on final day

Britany van Lange

Stretching for the finish! Hannibal Gaskin (right) and Omar Adams completes an exciting 50m freestyle race with the former just outstretching his climate for the win. (Franklin Wilson photo) The curtains came down on this year’s edition of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) National Short Course Championships on Sunday last at the Castellani Swimming Pool with the exciting 50m freestyle events.

Splashing his way to a new record in the 8 and Under category was Sliver Shark Aquatic Swim Club’s

(SSASC) Leon Seaton who replaced his own record of 35.20 set on the 7th of July this year with a new standard of 35.16. Winning the female race in the same category was Riley Nurse (Dorado Speed Swim Club) in 41.34.

The 50m free has always ended these meets in breathtaking fashion and this time around it was no different as the swimmers and fans enjoyed every

splash.

The closet race was between arch rivals and Dorado Speed Swim Club (DSSC) members, Hannibal Gaskin and Omar Adams.

The duo, members of Guyana’s team to the inaugural South American Youth Games held in Lima, Peru in September, swam with energy from start to finish but it was Gaskin who prevailed by a slim margin

when the water settled.

Gaskin clocked 27.11 to Adams’ 27.15.

Britany van Lange (Dorado) won the female contest in 28.56 from Jamila Sanmogan of Dolphin Speed Swim Club (30.70).

Earlando McRae (Orca Speed Swim Club) was the victor of the 18 and Over race in 25.84.

In the 13-14 age group, Dylan Nurse (28.13) of

‘Sunburst’ Linden Secondary Schools U-17 b/ball championship

Wins for New Silvercity Secondary, Mackenzie High schools New Silvercity Secondary scored a 49-24 win over Harmony Secondary, while Mackenzie High School registered a 3022 victory as the Sunburst Linden Secondary schools Under 17 basketball championship bounced off on Tuesday afternoon at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

After the opening day’s lone game was washed out, New Silvercity Secondary

led by a top score of 14 points from Wayne Wilson led at half time 11-4 before they eventually rallied to a 29-18 win.

The other leading scorers for New Silvercity secondary were Royston Wilson with six and Jason Jeffrey with four points.

The best shot for Harmony was Keon McDonald with 11 and Leroy Lamazon supported with five.

In the second game of the tournament Mackenzie High won against Linden Foundation Secondary behind Daniel Anthony with 11, Ron Profitt six and Keenan Williams four. The best players for the Linden Foundation Secondary were Nigel Plowell with 12 points and Dillon Pellew four.

The tournament continues this afternoon at 2:30pm with Mackenzie High in action against

Harmony and the second game at 4:00pm bring together Linden Foundation Secondary and Wisburg Secondary.

Tomorrow two more matches will see C h r i s t i a n b u rg Wi s m a r Secondary taking on Harmony in the first game and the second is between New Silvercity Secondary School and Mackenzie High School. Yesterday’s action was also affected by rain.

Dorado and Onika George (28.94) of SSASC triumphed while the 11-12 division was ruled by George’ club mates, Nathan Hackett (32.72) and Amy Grant (34.00).

Easing to victory in the 9-10 division were Sekhel Tzedeq (Dolphin Speed Swim Club) in 38.67 and SSASC’s Danielle George of SSASC in 40.94.

Seaton also won the 50m butterfly in 42.47 with Nurse topping among the girls in 53.28. Britany van Lange (32.69) once again set herself apart from the competition in this race as did Gaskin (29.74). van Lange also won the 200m breaststroke, clocking 3:07.53.

Other 50m butterfly winners were {9-10 age group}Tzedeq (53.45) and Jadyn George (57.56); {1112 age group}Daniel Scott (38.03) and Amy Grant (38.66); {13-14 age group}Dylan Nurse (31.57); Earlando McRae won the 18 and Over contest in 27.38.

Leon Seaton Winners of the 100m backstroke were Dorado’s Alex Winter (2:05.79) in the 11-12 age group; Orca’s Accalia Khan (1:15.50) 1314 girls with Soroya Simmons (1:15.11) of Dorado the leading 15-17 girl. Silver Sharks’ Quivon Bourne won the 11-12 200m breastroke in 4:18.31.

Record Breakers during the Championship: Hannibal Gaskin (Dorado SSC) - Male - Age: 15 - DOB: 8/30/1997 Boys 15-17 800m Free Finals 9:21.44 National: 9:45.95S Soroya Simmons (Dorado SSC) - Female Age: 16 - DOB: 6/28/1996 Girls 15-17 200m Back Finals 2:44.46 National: 2:50.31S Leon Seaton (Silver Shark ASC) - Male - Age: 8 DOB: 5/18/2004 Boys 8 and Under 200m Free Finals 3:07.91 National: 3:17.54S Boys 8 and Under 50 Free Finals 36.73 35.16 National: 35.20S

Michael Phelps fuels comeback rumours with doping tests Michael Phelps, the most successful Olympian in history, has given further indication of a comeback by re-registering with the United States Anti-Doping Agency. The 28-year-old American retired from competition after winning his 18th Olympic gold medal during London 2012.

But Phelps has returned to training under Bob Bowman at North (Continued on page 29)

Michael Phelps

t r o Sp

Dhawan flattens WI in decider Shikhar Dhawan was aggressive right from the off. (BCCI)

P.31

Kieran Powell attacks the off side. (BCCI)

Marlon Samuels notched his 23rd ODI fifty. (BCCI)

Nation’s best chess players go Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition after premiere prize at National Abrams hat-trick hands Senior Chess Championship P.32 defending champs first loss P.30

Banks DIH Brand Manager (non-alcoholic malts), Clayton McKenzie ® hands over the sponsorship package to a grateful Chess President, Shiv Nandalall.

-Action switches to National Cultural Centre Tarmac

Action in the clash between defending champions Leopold Street and Laing Avenue which the latter won 4-2 on Tuesday night at Demerara Park.

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