Kaieteur News

Monday November 30, 2015

Kaieteur News

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

I am begging for some I lay the blame on the authority to save my health administrators of WI cricket DEAR EDITOR, There is much hype at the moment about the upcoming Local Government Election but nothing about what will be done to tackle and suppress corruption at this level. I have been left bitter and disgusted by the biased and lawless operation of the Mon Repos/ La Reconnaissance NDC located in my neighbourhood of Lusignan. For over 4 years I have constantly complained to this body about a health hazard involving air pollution that has immensely affected my quality of life and cripples me with respiratory problems. My complaints have been answered with humiliation, apathy and a gross display of partiality towards my next door neighbour who is the cause of my plight. This man chose to erect a structure in front of his property to burn garbage from his business and an outdoor cooking setup using wood to cook food for his bar. Both of these produce so much smoke that I am left constantly sick and have become a ‘medication junkie’. After receiving no help from the police who informed me that this is an NDC problem and that they have no jurisdiction there, I visited the EPA and was told the same. Tenaciously, I held on for my dear health and went even further, visiting the RDC and ultimately the Ministry of Communities only to be referred back to the very ‘impartial and people oriented’ NDC in Lusignan and adding more episodes to my series of degradation and being treated as a second class citizen. On several occasions in

my presence the officials of this NDC were instructed by the relevant authority at the Ministry to investigate this matter fairly and serve my neighbour with a letter instructing him to dismantle his incinerator and desist from burning wood in his yard yet these noble officials of the people chose to ignore the instructions of the Ministry. After persevering and a loud outburst (the meek, polite and mannerly are never heard in this society) I was able to secure an audience with the former Minister of Local Government in April of this year. In my presence this Minister instructed officials of the mentioned NDC on a certain course of action failing which legal action would have been taken against the neighbour and yet lo and behold, to date this has yet to be implemented! From my experience I can only surmise that the NDCs operates independently and there is no body overseeing them because my neighbor doesn’t give a damn about the authority of the RDC and the Local Gov’t Ministry. I still don’t know where to complain to since I have been told that smoke doesn’t enter my yard. Apparently, smokeless wood is being burnt or smoke stays confined to a small space then disappears without being noticed or it is a solid entity How can we have so called ‘sanitation officers’ working in communities who do not know the meaning of the word ‘sanitation’ and probably never heard of pollution in their lives? How can I clean the air that I breathe when others are polluting it? Smoke which diffuses into the air carries all

sorts of contaminants which directly enters into the body through breathing and contributes to a host of respiratory problems. There is much fuss about cleaning up our country of litter on the ground but nothing about cleaning up our air. There is absolutely no sympathy for the asthma and allergy sufferers. I would really like to know about just one benefit we and the environment derive from air pollution. Due to the fact that NDCs are located in communities and the officials are familiar with the residents the threat of corruption and favourtism is greater. Which institution monitors the NDCs and where should I seek help to deal with my issue? Narissa Deokarran

DEAR EDITOR, In the Caribbean today, we have a failing Regional Test cricket team. Some fans would like to blame the cricketers who recently bowled Sri Lanka out in both innings for a total of 406 runs in a Test match but still could not win. Yes, I would give them 25% of the blame for failure to apply themselves and surpass what we all saw as a meager total. However, I would lay 75 % of the blame at the feet of the Administrators of West Indies Cricket. In every aspect of life and living we need to first lay a solid foundation. Where is our foundation? The facts speak for themselves: The West Indies Cricket Board recently selected and played a left arm

Mark Benschop wants the City Council dissolved DEAR EDITOR, Now that a date has been announced for the holding of Local Government Elections (LGE) the Minister should dissolve the entire Council with immediate effect. This will eliminate the perception of any unfair and illegal campaigning by incumbent city officials, who will no doubt be using taxpayers’ money to have them reelected, or to have their friends selected. In the event that some would rush to say that this is impossible for the Minister to do, let me remind them of what the law says (Chapter 28:01 — 306, section 5) “Where the Minister dissolves a council under this section, he SHALL, when he deems fit, by order appoint - (a) A day for the election of the councilors and prescribe the term of office of the councilors so elected.” If we are going to replace this outdated and sleeping city council with energetic folks, and visionaries, let’s do it the correct way. Mark A. Benschop

seamer who could only bowl one fast spell in a Test match. We had an opening batsman who had never scored a First Class hundred. Finally, although our team performed poorly in the recent series in Sri Lanka, the Regional Selectors were forced to select the same squad for the December, 2015 tour of Australia. Yet, among the twenty-five man party which include ten officials, they have not named a batting coach or a bowling coach. It is a crying shame that with our Test team struggling as it has been, we do not have a B team in 2015 from which we could select new players. During the New Zealand tour of the West Indies in 2014, the West Indies Cricket Board chose to have them oppose a Jamaica Select XI twice. In 2015, they had England opposing a St. Kitts Invitational XI twice. No B Team or President XI matches were played against these teams and the B team did not function in 2015. We have not been producing a Test batsman of class because, as Sir Garfield

Sobers rightly said: “The Twenty/20 format has taken a heavy toll on our cricket.” The art of playing every ball on its merit, remaining at the crease and scoring hundreds has been lost. The fact that we have been losing so terribly with our matches ending in four days or less should come as no surprise. Two decades ago teams coming to the Caribbean knew that the pitches in Barbados and Jamaica were lively, Trinidad had a spinner’s wicket after the first day and Bourda in Guyana was a batsman’s paradise. Today, all of the pitches in the region are spinner friendly. Has this benefitted the West Indies? Definitely not. Three of our best Test spinners have recently been called for throwing. On the other hand, because of these lifeless pitches, we have not been producing fast bowlers and batsman who can play on lively pitches. The few fast bowlers who do come through are not given extended spells to help them Jusann Bess

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Kaieteur News

Monday November 30, 2015

Despite evidence of corruption...

Govt. still to act on recommendations in Forensic audit reports It was in May that the Granger administration began expending some $133 M of taxpayers’ dollars on a series of forensic audits to ascertain how the assets of the state were sold, disposed of or transferred under the previous administration. Now, some six months later, most of the completed reports on several agencies are yet to be read and handed over to Cabinet. Finance Minister, Winston Jordan admitted that several reports have been completed but he has not yet gotten the opportunity to read the reports. He noted too that no recommendation from the reports have been implemented as yet as they require Cabinet’s blessings. Jordan was grilled by members of the opposition during the 2015 budget debates on the Forensic audits, the Terms of Reference implemented and the cost for each. The Finance Minister had said that the forensic audits are costing government some $133M. Several audits were launched in July while others started in later weeks. The report on NICIL has been completed for over a month, while those on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) have been completed for a

it.”

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan longer period. Most of the forensic audits have unearthed several hidden accounts with billions of dollars poised to be transferred to the Consolidated Fund by year end. Government stated that this phased transfer process has already started. More importantly, the forensic audits in some cases have reportedly not only uncovered fraud and various forms of corruption, but investigators have also made several critical recommendations for the way forward on several agencies and sectors, all of which Cabinet is yet to see. The Government was also recently blasted for failing to release the forensic audit reports in a timely manner to the public. Making this comment in particular was Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo during his most recent

Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma press conference which was held on Saturday at Freedom House. “Government needs to release the reports now. Where are the audit reports? I thought they would have done one on the Specialty Hospital too. But they need to release the other audit reports on NICIL along with NICIL’s statements. There was supposed to be one on Hope Canal, the Marriott Hotel etc…they need to release these reports so that the people can comment on them.” The only report released thus far is one on Carifesta X, which reveals that hundreds of millions were siphoned off from the account. The forensic audit into the NFMU has unearthed some of the “most appalling acts of corruption”, said Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, in a previous interview with Kaieteur News. Commenting on the findings of the report, Sharma had said, “There was just no proper management at this unit. There were instances where you could see that they just lost out on millions of dollars worth in fees that they should have ensured they collected. There were some defaulters as well, and the agency just took no action

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo against them.” “(NFMU) could have collected a lot more revenue. Instead (the entity) allowed a lot of favouritism to take place and as such they lost, I would say, millions of dollars in revenue. “They allowed their big PPP boys to slip under the radar while others were called upon to pay their dues. In fact, they weren’t collecting from two of their PPP big boys for some time. It was a lot of unfairness that was going on at that agency.” Sharma had said, “The level of corruption which was taking place at the agency points to the incompetency of those who are managing

The Junior Finance Minster had told this newspaper that the revelations of some of the forensic audits thus far vindicate the concerns the APNU+AFC had regarding the lack of accountability under the previous administration as well as the stench of corruption in some agencies. As for the forensic audit launched into the EPA, Sharma who is in charge of the audits, revealed that this has been completed since August. He had said that the audit uncovered that the entity has been holding some 15 accounts with millions of dollars. A reliable source revealed that the monies total over $400M. Kaieteur News understands that recommendations were made for the monies to be transferred to the Consolidated Fund. The Forensic audit revealed that the agency was apparently receiving monies from various agencies and opening a new account every time it received large sums. Sharma explained that the agency should not have done

that. He said that it should have held one account and categorized its expenses. The Environmental Protection Agency was established on World Environment Day, June 5, 1996. It was on this date that the then Acting President of Guyana, Samuel Hinds, assented to Environmental Protection Act (No 11, 1996). The Act mandates the Agency to oversee the effective management, conservation, protection and improvement of the environment. It also requires that the Agency takes the necessary measures to ensure the prevention and control of pollution, assessment of the impact of economic development on the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources. The Agency’s work enables Guyana to contribute to global and national environmental protection and conservation. As part of its work the EPA implements education, regulation and enforcement programmes and uses partnership and collaborative approaches to strengthen the impact of its interventions.

Who killed Travis Bollers? Police were yesterday still trying to locate the driver who killed 17-year-old Travis Bollers last Thursday night in the vicinity of Sheriff and Pike Street, Georgetown. Bollers, who was on a motorcycle, was about to cross from Pike Street into Sheriff Street when a speeding Tacoma hit the teen and a pillion rider off the bike. The teen, who was not wearing a helmet, sustained multiple head injuries. The

pillion rider escaped with a few scratches. The accident occurred sometime around 23: 30 hrs on Thursday and Bollers died the following day at 01:00 hrs at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Police are yet to locate the driver of the car, who according to eyewitnesses was driving a white Tacoma. There are reports that after hitting Bollers and the pillion rider, the driver exited the (Continued on page 21)

Dead: Travis Bollers

Monday November 30, 2015

Kaieteur News

U.S. senators call for 20,000 troops in Syria and Iraq John McCain (left) and Lindsey Graham

Reuters - Two senior U.S. senators called yesterday for Washington to nearly triple military force levels in Iraq to 10,000 and send an equal number of troops to Syria as part of a multinational ground force to counter Islamic State in both countries. Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham criticised President Barack Obama’s incremental Islamic State strategy, which relies on airstrikes and modest support

to local ground forces in Iraq and Syria, and said the need for greater U.S. involvement was underlined by this month’s Paris attacks. “The only way you can destroy the caliphate is with a ground component,” said Graham who is seeking his party’s presidential nomination. “The aerial campaign is not turning the tide of battle.” McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, recently proposed

intervention in Syria by a European and Arab ground force backed by 10,000 U.S. military advisers and trainers. Yesterday he and Graham told reporters during a visit to Baghdad that U.S. personnel could provide logistical and intelligence support to a proposed 100,000strong force from Sunni Arab countries like Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Graham said special forces would also be included.

Obama last month ordered the deployment of dozens of special operations troops to northern Syria to advise opposition forces in their fight against Islamic State, adding to an increasingly volatile conflict in Syria. Russia and Iran have ramped up their military support for President Bashar al-Assad’s fight against rebels in Syria’s four-and-ahalf year civil war, while the Paris attacks showed how Islamic State has extended its reach to Western cities. U.S. counter-terrorism experts have warned that deploying ground troops risks backfiring by feeding Islamic State’s apocalyptic narrative that it is defending Islam against an assault by the West and its authoritarian Arab allies. The U.S.-led coalition which has been bombing Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq for more than a year relies heavily on American resources despite including some 60 nations. McCain said it would be possible but not easy to rally Arab allies to contribute to the proposed ground force in Syria.

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Russian air strikes kill at least 30 in stepped up raids in northwest Syria Reuters - Air strikes believed to have been carried out by Russian jets killed at least 30 people in the town of Ariha in northwestern Syria yesterday, rescue workers in the rebelheld area said, part of an escalation of Russian strikes near the Turkish border. In separate air strikes closer to the frontier with Turkey, jets believed to be Russian hit a truck depot that was also struck on Thursday, destroying 10 trailers and killing five people, a rebel in the area said. Officials at the Russian defence ministry could not immediately be reached for comment. Syrians in rebel-held areas of northwestern Syria near the Turkish frontier have reported intensified air strikes in the days since Turkey downed a Russian warplane near the border. The air strike on Ariha in Idlib province wounded dozens more people, striking a market place, the rescue workers said. Mohamed Queissi, a rescue worker with the Civil Defence service which operates in rebel-held areas, said the bodies of 31 people had been identified, with 12 more awaiting identification. “The vendors were shouting loudly as people were buying and selling and suddenly we heard the sound of the planes and in less than a second the jets struck and there was deadly silence. “I saw people thrown in the street, strewn corpses and terrified children crying and shouting for their parents,” said Mohamed Amine Qurabi, 25, a second Civil Defence worker. Both were contacted by Reuters and spoke from Ariha. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which reports on the war, gave an initial death toll of 18 people including four children and “a leading opposition” member. It said the toll was likely to rise, with a total of 60 killed and wounded. Ariha fell to rebels in May during an advance that resulted in the whole of Idlib province falling to the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad. Rebels in Idlib include the al Qaedalinked Nusra Front. The province is not a stronghold of the Islamic State group that controls wide areas of eastern Syria.

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Kaieteur News

Monday November 30, 2015

Brazil confirms zica virus link to fetal brain-damage outbreak RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - A link between a form of fetal brain damage and the mosquito-born zica virus has been confirmed by Brazilian health authorities on Saturday. The link between zica, first medically identified as a new disease half a century ago, and birth defects has never been made. The virus, endemic in parts Africa, South America, Southeast Asia and some Pacific Islands, has until now been blamed for symptoms such as fever, mild headache, skin rashes, joint pain and

conjunctivitis, or “red eye.” Initial analysis shows that the virus can be passed to a fetus and that the fetus is at greatest risk from the virus during the first three months of pregnancy, the statements said. More tests and studies are needed to clarify the exact method of transmission and infection, the statement added. A surge in recent months of babies born with microcephaly, or an unnaturally small brain, in Brazil’s northeast, led authorities to suspect the virus may have more sinister

effects than previously recorded, the ministry said. Microcephalic children can suffer developmental and intellectual difficulties that limit intelligence and muscle coordination for life. The ministry’s conclusion was made after tests on the tissue of a deceased child with microcephalic symptoms by the Ivandro Chagas Institute in Belém, Brazil, one of South America’s leading health institutes. There is also evidence that zica has contributed to the deaths of adults weakened by other diseases. Zica is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito also known to carry the yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya viruses. The ministry said that the new information means that zica has become a serious risk to public health and that Brazil must embark on an emergency program to control the Aedes aegypti mosquito to prevent the virus’ spread. Brazil has invited the Atlanta, Georgia-based U.S. Center for Disease Control to visit the country and observe research and control efforts, the health ministry said.

Monday November 30, 2015

Kaieteur News

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How to reduce crime in Guyana In my last column I indicated that any strategy to find crime in Guyana and which is based primarily on improved training, increased resources and police reform will not reduce crime in Guyana. I pointed to a country in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago with all the resources in the world and which has seen an escalation in crime. The question therefore is what needs to be done. This is what I will concentrate on today. The first observation is that we are criminalizing our young people by jailing them for having small amounts of marijuana. These persons when they enter into the prisons end up consorting with hardened criminals and since society shuns them upon their release they are pushed into crime and association with hardened criminals. The legalization of marijuana can be conditional

and controlled. Persons need not be jailed for having small amounts of marijuana, especially now that other countries in the world are seeing the wisdom, not of legalizing marijuana, but of making legal money out of the illegal nature of possession of marijuana. We need a market solution to the problem of our jails being filled up with young men smoking a joint here and there. We need to have a controlled situation whereby persons can legally buy small quantities of marijuana for recreational purposes. This can be done in a way to limit the amount any one person can have. If this is done, the jails would not be that filled with young people and it would bankrupt a lot of local marijuana sellers since prices would fall and the business would not be profitable. Other countries are taking action and Guyana should

examine what is being done. This past week there was a complaint by a private sector official about “immigration controls” for internal travel. The term “immigration controls” for travel inside a country is oxymoronic. Immigration controls relate to persons leaving the country. There are immigration controls however, where persons are traveling to one part of the country from another part which is a port of entry. In this instance there is a need for immigration controls because without these controls illegal immigrants can secrete themselves as nationals. The more germane point is about police monitoring of persons going into certain parts of the country. This is not a new policy. It has been around for some time. It also happens in many parts of Europe. If you are, for example, a

Dem boys seh...

Minister singing solo in she white elephant When people tek things that dem ain’t wuk for dem does end up holding on to a thing that dem can’t even use. Dem boys see some people build mansion and palace and these things just like white elephant. Georgetown got nuff white elephant wha dem people who mek dem want to sell and nobody ain’t buying. Well dem got a lady who was a Minister who get nuff things that she couldn’t even think that she would ever own. She got a white elephant that she trying to use. De other night dem boys pass by de place and dem hear a woman singing. When dem peep dem see this Minister

singing. She alone and de Dee Jay in de place. She couldn’t even get money to pay fuh de ice and de current that de Dee Jay use. People ain’t going in this place even if de beer giving away for free. Is de same thing happen when a man build a bigger white elephant near to an old time funeral parlour. When de man build this place he think that it gun be a powerful hotel. A food place rent it but never move in suh it stand up there gathering cobweb. Jagdeo get a property in Queenstown fuh set up some foundation. He spend money to paint although dem boys seh that de paint come from

overseas in a container from a friend who now waiting fuh Uncle jail him. That building stand up so empty and fuh so long, that people actually go inside and thief out some things. That foundation is also a white elephant. Dem boys seh that all de people who got white elephant is people who cut deals wid Jagdeo. Babbie got a big warehouse that he build because he sure that he gun buy all de drugs fuh de Ministry of Health and de hospital. That gun become de next white elephant. Talk half and watch how wha don’t belong to people does end up as white elephant.

visitor to certain parts of France or Italy, you will be required as matter of policy to report to the police station where you are staying. The reason is simple. The authorities want to monitor, for security purposes and for the safety of visitors, the movement of persons entering these domestic jurisdictions. Without such controls, persons would disappear and the authorities would be unable to trace them. It has been the practice in Guyana for persons entering interior areas to give their names to the police so that the authorities know who is in these areas. This is the sort of control that should be encouraged. The police cannot deny movement, except if it is to an Amerindian reservation but there is no harm done by them monitoring the movement of persons within and out interior communities. These controls will do more in the anti-crime fight than the training and reform of the police. The next measure that will be helpful in reducing crime is social engineering. Zoning

needs to be reintroduced so as to help the police to have a better handle on crime. Right now the police are spread thin. There are businesses which can be found in residential areas. If there were specific areas designated for industry, for entertainment, for businesses and for residences, it will make a world of difference to crimefighting. But these days you cannot stop anyone and question them why they are in an area far from where they live because they can claim they are looking for a shop to drink a few beers. If however, there are no such shops in residential areas, then these persons will

have to have a good explanation as to their presence. Freedom is not absolute. I cannot walk into your home without your permission. Similarly people should be able to go anywhere without some controls. These are the things that will make Guyana safer. The permissive society has to be rolled back. Order has to be restored even if it involves some restrictions on personal freedom. That is the price we have to pay to reduce crime, not billions of dollars being wasted on buying vehicles and guns and batons and equipment for the police.

Monday November 30, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Govt. allowing CHEC to shaft nation on Airport expansion project - Jagdeo By Abena Rockcliffe Under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) rule, the then opposition had contended that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project venture was plagued by corruption. A few months later, the proverbial shoe has been placed on the other foot and it is the PPP that is now suggesting that government is allowing the nation to be robbed. Guyana may recall the toilet bowls for the project that cost taxpayers $424,000 each. This was negotiated under the PPP/C and the then opposition chided it. Now, the new Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo is saying that the nation is again being cheated. Jagdeo is accusing the new government of accepting a six for a nine. According to him, the PPP government was having problems with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) since the firm contracted to undertake the project, was attempting to shortchange the nation. Jagdeo is claiming that CHEC was requiring more money but the PPP turned down the request. “Before the election they (the then Opposition) said that the PPP overestimated the price (for the project). But after the election they (government) said that we underestimated it by $45M.” Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson had stated a few months ago that the PPP underestimated the price by $45M as the initial price did not include costs for a new parking lot and some other facilities. Jagdeo told the media on Saturday that CHEC had asked the PPP government to increase the contract price by $45M but the PPP government had denied that request. “We had said no, it is a design bill contract. You

Minister of Public Security, David Patterson

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo (CHEC) did the geotechnical surveys so you bear that risk and you have to fulfill the original specification for the sum of money,” said Jagdeo. He said that because of this, there was a “deadlock” between CHEC and the PPP govt. “This government moved ahead with the project but we have not heard on what conditions. What I have been hearing is that the footprint of the terminal building has reduced and the number of bridges to the aircraft has been reduced drastically.” The Opposition Leader said that while the nation is not footing a higher bill, it is being given reduced facilities “so in net effect, they (the government) have acceded to the request because you are

getting less being built for that money we had approved.” “Assuming you decide to build a 500 sq. ft house for a million dollars then someone says do 250 sq. ft for the same million that is equivalent to what we are getting for the airport same price different delivery.” The opposition leader asserted that the PPP needs more details about the project. “We need to know in detail. The country wants to see it. We want to know more about the Marriott too,” said Jagdeo. But it was Jagdeo who, along with his party, touted a confidentiality clause in several projects. The airport expansion project was conceptualized under the PPP/C administration and a contract was inked with CHEC in 2011. Key components of the expansion project included: The extension of the runway from 7,500 to 10,800 feet – to accommodate the BOEING 747-400 aircraft; Doubling of Aircraft Position from four to eight; installation of eight Passenger Boarding Bridges; and the fortification of the CCTV system with approximately 300 cameras and a new terminal. A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) administration has made some changes to the project. These changes include renovating the existing terminal building instead of building a new one. The APNU+AFC Government launched an investigation into the project upon assuming office. In this regard, Patterson said that the figure of US$150M previously stated by the PPP/ C was understated and that some expenditure was not included in the original contract. This newspaper recently revealed the fact that BaiShanLin has been hired to work on the project and is using its vehicles acquired with duty free concessions to

carry out works. This is in contradiction with the purpose for which the duty

free concessions offered to that company were granted and also in contradiction with

the contract signed between Harbor Engineering Company jhfjCHEC and government.

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Kaieteur News

Monday November 30, 2015

New tender for Specialty Hospital would be to Guyana's disadvantage - Ramkarran While the critics have been roasting the government for not pursuing a new bidding process for the completion of works on the Specialty Hospital, former House Speaker, Ralph Ramkarran contends that doing so would only be to Guyana’s disadvantage. He made this remark, among others, in his recent writings on his blog, www.conversation tree.com. Ramkarran’s comments come in wake of Government’s announcement that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Feeders Lloyd to complete works on the Specialty Hospital. According to the Finance Ministry, Fedders Lloyd will review the works already started, conclude a design of the Hospital that is acceptable to the Coalition government and commit to fully equip the facility on completion of its construction. The company has also undertaken to commence work on the facility immediately. When the project was first tendered in 2012, Fedders Lloyd had submitted a bid which did not make the cut as Surendra Engineering Inc. was given the upper hand in the deal. This is in spite of the fact that, unlike Surendra, Fedders Lloyd’s bid was lower and it had experience in constructing hospitals across the world unlike the winner of the contract. Surendra is a mere spare parts fabricator for sugar mills across India. But Surendra turned out to be an embarrassment for the previous administration as it ended up running off with millions of dollars in

- Says Opposition’s criticisms only meant to divert attention from its own notorious deeds advance payment for the project and government, despite a court ruling in its favour, is yet to recover the monies lost. When Feeders Lloyd lost the bid in 2012, it had protested against what it deemed to be a corrupt procurement process under the previous administration and representing him at the time was Attorney at Law, Khemraj Ramjattan, who is now the Minister of Public Security. The APNU+AFC government, on accession to office, reviewed the project and concluded that since there was no existing contract that could be enforced, it was impractical to continue to keep the Line of Credit (LOC) in its existing form, especially since it was attracting commitment fees. Government therefore requested EXIM Bank of India to cancel the LOC for the Specialty Hospital and to re-allocate the balance of funds to a project to modernize three Primary Healthcare Facilities. However, the Government of India (GOI) in its response, while indicating its no objection and support for the modernization of Primary Health Care Facilities, suggested that the Granger administration consider salvaging the Specialty Hospital, as it will complement Primary Health Care facilities in Guyana. The Specialty Hospital is intended to cater for high end surgeries and other health care demands. The administration

examined the merits of the proposal and began searching for a willing partner to complete the Specialty Hospital using the remainder of the LOC. In the interest of time, Government said that it approached Fedders Lloyd to explore the possibility of the company completing the project. Since the government made the move to sign the MOU with the Indian company, criticisms have been coming left, right and centre, all suggesting that the agreement flies in the face of transparency and accountability. Both Opposition and Transparency Institute Guyana have emphasized that it is necessary for the project to be retendered. Specifically, the political opposition said that this should be done. It recently recalled that in 2012, evaluation documents show that the company was disqualified. But Ramkarran says that the political opposition is merely clutching at straws. “There is absolutely no reason why a new bidding process must be undertaken when the contract is ready to be awarded. If the value of the works already done is subtracted from the contract price, a new contract price is arrived at. The Government gets an advantage because the bid by Fedders Lloyd, the lowest at the time, is three years old. “Prices have risen since then. A new bidding process is therefore to Guyana’s disadvantage. Taking into

consideration the fact that only two entities came close, the crooked friend of the then Government, Surendra Engineering, and Fedders Lloyd and the qualifications and reputation of Fedders Lloyd together with the further delay that a new bidding process would bring, the Government made the right decision to sign the MOU with Fedders Lloyd and to proceed later without a new bidding process.” Ramkarran emphasized that there is no rule or principle which dictates that for a new contract, a new bidding process has to be undertaken. He said that the Government cannot take into account, but can certainly alert the public, that those who are now demanding a new bidding process tolerated for a decade or more the extraordinarily stringent pre-qualification conditions that ensured, contrary to Guyana’s interests, that only one entity was pre-qualified to supply drugs to the Ministry of Health. He said that those “same folks” who now cry foul presided over the giveaway of radio and TV licences worth billions without a bidding process. The columnist recalled that during the life of the last government, the then Opposition consisting of both the AFC and APNU had refused to support the Specialty Hospital. He noted that the AFC’s opposition was founded on the suspect award of the contract to Surendra Engineering rather

Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran than Fedders Lloyd, which had a track record in the construction of such facilities and had made the lowest bid. APNU argued that Guyana needed improved primary care centres, rather than a specialized facility. Ramkarran said that while in government, every device was employed, every advantage given, every trick in the book was used by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), to steer contracts to friends and to exclude legitimate, credible and successful bidders such as Fedders Lloyd. “Shamelessly ignoring its clearly flawed award to the corrupt Surendra Engineering, the Opposition is now clutching at straws to build a narrative of nepotism and corruption on no evidence, which they hope to use down the road in deflecting attention from its own notorious deeds. And the Government is doing precious little to counter it,” He added. “The Specialty Hospital project was good for Guyana and I strongly supported it at the time and criticized the

then APNU+AFC Opposition for dragging ethnic considerations into the issue. I believed that their reasons for opposing the project were unjustified. Now that the Government has reversed its position and signed on to the project, it ought to be congratulated. I look forward to a similar reversal on the Amaila Hydropower Project.,” expressed the columnist. The Opposition had recently stated that Feeders Lloyd being selected as the contractor for the project may be hinged on its relationship with the Minister of Public Security. Ramkarran however believes that this is a baseless contention. He expressed that Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan has played an honourable role in exposing the “flawed bidding process and the shallow, whimsical, reasoning that led to Surendra Engineering being awarded the contract.” He said that this flawed award has led to the loss of $900 million by the unsuspecting Guyanese taxpayers, resulting from Surendra Engineering’s fraud. He said, “Mr. Ramjattan did a service to Guyana, albeit unsuccessful, in preventing loss to Guyana by the fraud of Surendra Engineering…Mr. Ramjattan would have been failing in his duty to his constituents and to the nation had he not alerted the nation and his constituents to the dubious selection of Surendra Engineering, even if Fedders Lloyd was his client, which he has denied. It is this act of exposure, which has made Mr. Ramjattan the target of the (Continued on page 17)

Monday November 30, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 21

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS American journalist, Charles Dudley Warner (1829 – 1900), coined the expression, “Politics makes strange bedfellows.” Helen Thomas, a columnist, disagreed and insisted, “War makes strange bedfellows.” The German General and strategist, Carl von Clauzewitz, combined the two, “We see, therefore, that war is not merely an act of policy but a true political instrument, a c o n t i n u a t i o n of political intercourse carried on with other means.” Comedian Groucho Marx took the intercourse part seriously and quipped, “Politics doesn’t make strange bedfellows, marriage does.” Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Basdeo Panday, who often used the war and politics quote, was asked by a journalist about the coalition which Panday had formed with ANR Robinson, Lloyd Best and others, “Mr. Panday,

isn’t that a marriage of convenience?” Panday, with his usual insouciant smile, replied, “Aren’t all marriages?” The difference between politics and war is the behavior of the bedfellows when it is time to change the sheets. This is when the dirty linen and not just the dirty money is laundered in the public domain and line of sight, partners are hung out to dry, the search for fresh sheets reveals many skeletons airing in the cupboard, and everything is not just on the line but online in the social media. Because money is the mother’s milk of politics, there are more bread-fellows than bed-fellows. French playwright, Marcel Achard, had an even more interesting twist on the bedfellow theme, “The bedfellows politics made are never strange. It only seems that way to those who have not watched the courtship.” Actually, those

who were there at the genesis of the relationship are always surprised when the whole saga ends, as the Bible does, with revelation (after revelation). Early next month, on December 9th 2015, St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) will have its General Elections to determine which of the two main parties will become the Government, and the United National Congress (UNC) of Trinidad and Tobago, the leading force of the People’s Partnership which formed the Government from 2010 – 2015, will have its internal elections on December 5th. In SVG, the bedfellows business is being played to the hilt and even deeper. The Trinidad Express reported, “PRIME Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Dr Ralph Gonsalves has found himself embroiled in a phone sex scandal. Two audio clips posted on videosharing website YouTube on November 12, claim to be a

City Hall loses 14 stalwarts... (From page 14) Health Officers. He said as a result of the job at City Hall he managed to complete his University education. “I remember the magnificence of this city. The greenery and its natural beauty made me proud to be associated with this organization. “In those days there were a number of satellite stations from which workers operated ensuring that Council delivered satisfactory service to the citizens.” Back then too Stephens said it was not only about work as workers also benefitted from numerous sporting activities or were involved in the culture corps and drama related activities. “Those were healthy days and workers of the Council were one big happy family. Then things changed amid promotions and numerous constraints in the section and the Council as whole,

struggled to deliver essential services to the citizenry.” However, while he has now gone into retirement at this time he said he is heartened to see some positives taking place yet again within the City. He also offered his services as a trainer for the return of Environmental Health Officers. There are less than five such officers in the entire Municipality. Jagdeep Singh also retired as Chief Meat & Food Inspector after 29 years. He began his career as an Environmental Health Assistant in 1987. He moved through the ranks after being transferred to the Food and Hygiene and Abattoir Section as Meat & Food Inspector. Through training facilitated by City Hall, and in Barbados and Canada, he was elevated to Chief Meat and Food inspector. “I have no regrets of my working life with the Mayor

and City Councillors and I am thankful for all I have achieved morally, technically and financially…I am willing to offer my services, advice and help if or when called upon to this Municipality.” City Councillor, Oscar Clarke, who is also Chairman of the Personnel & Training Committee, said that he foresees Georgetown returning to its ‘Garden City’ status. He also encouraged the retirees to make sure that their skills and other achievements are not wasted. “Do not rust out. You are in your prime and you remain valuable assets that will be used and paid appropriately too.” Clarke further expressed optimism that the age of retirement will be changed to ensure that the nation does not continue to lose its best and most qualified to other countries. (By Mondale Smith)

Who killed Travis... (From page 6) vehicle, looked at the victims, and then fled the scene. Yesterday, the teen’s brother, Eon Bollers, said that they received information that the driver of the pick-up might be somewhere on the East Coast Demerara (ECD). Eighteen people have been killed on the roadways this month, which is designated as Road Safety Month. There were 14 road fatalities in February, May and July;

five in January; 10 in March, seven in April; eight in August; 10 in September and six in October. The drivers, in most of the accidents, were killed and according to a traffic officer, this is as a result of drivers

being under the influence of alcohol or speeding on the country’s roadways. Last year, the month of November turned out to be the second deadliest month for road users, with 16 road fatalities.

leaked telephone conversation between Gonsalves and a younger female. The clips contain two sexually explicit conversations between a male and a female. According to news reports from St Vincent and the Grenadines, officers from the ruling United Labour Party (ULP) have claimed although the voice bears a striking simila-rity to Gonsalves’ own, it is not him. Addressing the issue, Gonsalves told the media the release of the audio clips is nothing more than a set-up to be used as leverage in that country’s December 9 general election.” Despite the long-standing relationship between politics and bedfellows, some people are deeply shocked by what they think is behavior unbecoming a Prime Minister. However, it is doubtful whether Gonzalves, the original and only “Mr. Big Stuff” of Caribbean politics, will suffer any political slings and arrows from outraged voters and an even more outrageous fortune. Nobody expects the Apcalypse to follow the revelation because, in the Caribbean nobody has ever won or lost an election on the basis of corruption, sexual misconduct, crime, drugs, racism or all of the above. In the internal UNC election, the major issue is the party’s loss of political power in the 2015 elections. Deputy

Political Leader, Dr. Roodal Moonilal and former Communications Minister, Vasant Bharath, are challenging former Prime Minister, Mrs. Kamla PersadBissessar for the leadership of the party. Interestingly, Bharath is not an elected member of Parliament so he cannot be the Leader of the Opposition and, if he wins, will have one of three options - appoint someone who is a Member of Parliament (MP) to become Opposition Leader, keep Mrs. PersadBissessar as the Opposition Leader, or persuade one of the UNC MPs to give up his or her safe seat and then Bharath can contest it in the hope of winning. This last option is hardly likely to occur. The real issue in the election is what Dr. Moonilal describes as anger by party loyalists who believe the loss of power was caused by Mrs.

Persad-Bissessar ’s mismanagement of the 2015 Election campaign. Political observers and even some diehard UNC supporters felt that in an election with fortyone seats at stake, the emphasis was too much on Mrs. Persad-Bissesssar (Kamla 2015) and not enough on the other candidates. It would be useful to see if the anger is converted into votes or whether Mrs. PersadBissessar and, for that matter Dr. Gonsalves, are so good at what they do that all their bedfellows will rally to their cause and help them save both face and their political careers. *Tony Deyal was last seen repeating an appropriate Grouch Marx observation, “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.”

Page 22

Kaieteur News

SERVICES

SERVICES

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

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WANTED 1 Cook to work in the Interior for Family. Call: 683-2271 Wanted experienced taxi drivers and dispatchers@ Princess Hotel ProvidenceTel: 616-5419, 256-7075 One live in maid assistant salesgirl, E.C.D –Call: 6035416; 644-9802 Experienced pastry maker, curry & roti/puri cooks, counter servers, handy boys. Apply at Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce Street. Bartenders, waitress, cook, maintenance, please apply in person @ Aracari Resort 160 Plantation Versailles W.B.D Live in waitress to work in a bar and hotel –Call: 604-6606; 665-7865 Live in waitress 18-30yrssalary $60,000 monthly- Call: 610-3974 Senior Mechanic to work in Georgetown – Call: 218-1156 Drivers, dispatchers & contract cars- Call: 2310316,231-0002, 219-4086, 2194087 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 Wanted land to buy at Parfaite Harmonie, Eccles, Diamond, Tuschen (best price pay)- call: 604-6724 Girl to work in snackette at Schoon-Ord, West Bank Demerara- Call: 626-2629, 6766312 Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic- Call: 219-5354 (Monday- Saturday) 8:154:15pm Office clerk senior/ junior CXC English/ Mathematics, computer knowledge an asset- Call: 219-5354 Experienced wash bay attendants living in Georgetown. Attractive salary- Call: 646-8748

VACANCY Rays One Stop Auto Parts: experienced used parts counter and bond clerk @ 74 Sheriff Street. Call: 225-6356/ 7 Landscape maintenance team seeks, Hardworking, reliable workers, 17-35 ages; on the job, training. Contact: 2190468/621-2453 Plant Shop Sales Clerk: Hardworking, literate, punctual workers, Work experience an asset.Contact: 648-1821 Experienced bar/ shop worker for Ekereku bottom Interior, age 17-30years- Call: 231-0363 Exist for bartender, waitress, security guard –Contact Sheik or Donald on Tel: 227-1131 Hairdressers, barbers, also hair stations available for rental -location: New Market Street- Call: 638-1106 Experienced cook, waitress, bartender, bouncer needed for Eden’s Bar. Call for appointment: 652-0074 Vacancy exists for cooks, waitstaff, bartenders & cleaners at Starbuds Restaurant. Send applications to 183 Albert St, Georgetown. ACCOUNTS CLERK, MINIMUM CXC Accounts Grades I or II; PLANT TRAINEE, GTI/ GITC graduates preferred E.B.D Residents- Tel. 676 6700 Security officers wanted by security company-Contact: 672-1920, between 8:00am5:00pm TRINIDAD JOB O P P O RT U N I T Y: E X P E R I E N C E D HOUSEKEEPER WITH VALID PASSPORT CALL: 669-6565; 695-2838 Vacancies for porters. Apply at Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling Stabroek. 5 Waitresses to work at Sports Bar on E.B.D $17,000 weekly. Free meals and accommodationCall/ Whatsapp: 661-8802 CATERING Order now – Puri, Roti and curries (no order too big or small) –Call: 676-6312; 626-2629 FOR SALE/RENT American Pools table-Call: 277-0578

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

Monday November 30, 2015

SALON -Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal, Mabelline. -Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Earn a certificate in cosmetology. Enroll now at Artee’s School of Cosmetology and Beauty Salon-Call: 680-0156; 2750267 TOURS Suriname Old years into newexciting fireworks, shopping, site-seeing & tours (Dec 30thJan 3rd). Call: 665-5171, 6392663

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. One 928 F Caterpillar Wheel Loader $ 7.1 M, Price Negotiable-Call Us Today 650-0402/260-4988 3 Lots At Blankenburg Behind The Gas Station; $13 M Price Negotiable; Each Lot Size 75x76- Call Us Today 650-0402/260-4988 Rotweiler pups. Tel: 619-6086, 622-6646, 699-7077. PRADO: TOP CONDITION, SUNROOF, FULLY LOADED, 8 SEATER, FUEL, 2000 MODEL. CALL: 6845868

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Lot 175 Atlantic Gardens E.C.D – 2 Storey Building, 3 bedrooms- $120,000- Call: 687-1050 Top flat, 2 bedrooms @ East Street opposite Balwant Singh Hospital, no children. Call: 227-6776; 667-3062 2 Bedrooms apartment located @ Mon-Repos North E.C.D- price $60,000 – Contact: 692-9295 & 688-6005 2 Bedrooms bottom flat @ West Ruimveldt - $40,000 per month. Call: 692-7194; 6927377 Hair & Nail Stations @ Forgaty’s Building, also a braider either to rent station or work -Call: 602-7256; 6859836 J u l i e a n n ’s A p a r t m e n t Rentals: fully furnished apartments with aircondition & Wi-Fi -$9,000 daily –Call: 226-5336; 6926595; 616-4686 One self contained room; preferably bachelor. Call: 2234545 SMALL 1 BEDROOM U N F U R N I S H E D APARTMENT @ ECCLES$35,000 MONTHLY. CALL: 609-8132; 672-8569 SD Real Estate, Executive 2 Bedrooms Apartment in exclusive Residential Area with all modern amenities. Tel: 653-2920. Prime business place for rent @ Mon Repos Public Road E.C.D, 2 (2) Bedroom apartment @ Block 8 Mon Repos E.C.D. Contact: 6181754; 681-1508; 220-6168

CRV EXCELLENT CONDITION, 1998CC, ALARM, DVD, MAGRIM, CLEAN ENGINE & BODYCALL: 684-5868 1-36ft cabin Cruiser for saleCall: 648-6815; 654-2817 1 Mitsubishi Canter: Long base, open back, PNN series 4D33 Engine –Call: 610-2878 Used XBOX 360, PS Vita, PS3 I-pad & I-pods, XBOX one & games –Tel: 621-7497; 6038643; 649-3277 Rottweiler and German Shepherd mix pups for sale – Call: 641-1771 and 654-0388 Pure bred Rottweiler pups with pedigree – best quality. Call/Whatsapp: 664-5401 Stalls 64-72 -47ft longX7ft wide @ La Penetence Market Albouystown-Call: 663-1597; 218-4837; 225-4410 Cheap! Cheap! CCTV Security Surveillance Kit, 8 Channels DVR with built in Hard Drive, 8 bullet cameras – Tel: 621-4740; 686-3500 Pools-table cloth, balls, pocket, coin-shute, rubber, cue-stick, coin, chalk, spots gully boot, white ball, poolstable locks –Tel: 669-9927

PROPERTY FOR SALE House on land, 18 ponds, length-200X24-width, 20,000 Tilapia & Hassa in pond at Craig – Back. Call: 266-3156; 682-6128 Church and 2 storey building Lot 180 Charlotte Street Bourda-Call: 227-6817; 624-7341 Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461. Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 1-2 Storey building in Diamond, New Scheme 3rd Avenue & Better Hope, Line Top-Call: 220-5525, serious buyer only 2 storied transported concrete property- upstairs: 2 bedrooms apartment, downstairs: 2 bedroom apartment, block ‘8’ MonRepos, E.C.D -$19M neg. Call: 625-1514; 231-7255 2 Storey 45x35 concrete property, lower flat incomplete. Land 65x120 @ Diamond N/S 5th Avenue,E.B.D- Call: 664-5052 Popular business place at temple Street, WindsorForest, W.C.D, -$35M price negotiable. Call: 642-6664, 658-3640. Transported land, 2 storey building; four bedrooms fully grilled @ Tuschen, New Housing Scheme-Call: 6953983; 685-5747 House and land - $3M @ Lot 13 La- Bagatelle, Leguan – Call Rita: 6565734, 664-1134 Transported property 48X223ft (with old house) at Hague (duck pond/ settlement) W.C.D, price $5.5M negotiable- Call: 6553667 Two properties for sale at West Coast and West Bank. Excellent condition- Call: 660-3235, 668-3985

Pure bred pit-bull pups for sale –Contact Lisa: 697-8867 One 600amp automatic transfer switch sold as isCall:627-7835 ADULTAMERICAN BULLYCALL:667-4845, 610-0068, 220-7933 Clean Garden earth, Trucking Services and Builders Waste, also bobcat rental, excavating, clearing, levelingCall: 627-9977; 616-0617; 6633285

For the best rates, call us on telephone number: 225-8458

EDUCATIONAL Computerized Accounting: QuickBooks, Peachtree, Excel 2016, P.O.S Pre-Xmas giveaway -$35,000 Micrographics, Vreed-enHoop, Royal Castle Building. Call: 264-3057 9 Courses Diploma in Computer Studies, –Xmas Deal -$20,000 off @ Micrographics, Vreed-enHoop, Royal Castle Building- Call: 264-3057 Continued on page 23

Monday November 30, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 23

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

Victims should have a say in sentencing of those found guilty DEAR EDITOR, Recent commentaries on the criminal justice system moved me to share a few observations. The issues of bail while awaiting appeal, parole, or pardon after conviction should not be treated lightly. In my view the public has a veritable right to be apprised of the reasons and conditions which attend any or all instances of the above. Incidentally in this era of transparency the sentencing guidelines should be reflective of that thrust. Indeed no one should be surprised at the outcries (albeit muted) of crime victims or their survivors about the “unfairness” of the criminal justice system. Where – they ask is the justice when a convict with

access to high-priced lawyers can secure his sometimes unconditional pre-trial or post-conviction freedom. On the other hand, I have always maintained that some attorneys ought never to be retained even if there were no eyewitnesses to an alleged crime and the prospects for a conviction are nonexistent. Editor about three years ago I argued for the need to introduce the victim impact statement (VIS) concept which provides the input of a victim or survivor of violent crime at sentencing of an accused. It is also a useful tool in all of those scenarios which affect post-conviction freedom. During the 1970s VIS were introduced in the United States when the Attorney General endorsed the use of

victim impact statements by stating that judges should “Provide for hearing and considering the victims’ perspective at sentencing and at any early release proceedings.” The concept was introduced in Canada in 1988 and is now an important component of the sentencing process. None of us could gainsay the rights of an accused to a fair trial, and we have been very vocal when we accuse the police of violating those rights. But I am adamant that we are not doing enough to ensure that the victims’ rights are protected. We cannot definitively state that we empathize with the victims of crime when we really have not provided them with the avenues to be heard apart from giving evidence as

virtual complainants. Victims and survivors need to be given the opportunity to express themselves to the court and to participate in the sentencing process. Complaints by victims and survivors of crime that they are unaware of the status of investigations must be addressed, since as early as 1981, researchers, mental health practitioners and criminal justice professionals recognized that victims who receive information about their criminal cases and are allowed to have input into the criminal justice process have a higher degree of satisfaction with the justice process, and experience a higher degree of closure to their victimisation. It might be a good idea to explore the possibilities of

Not even one from the present City Council should be re-elected DEAR EDITOR, Local Government elections are finally to be held in March 2016 as announced by the Minister of Communities and I know that this has been welcomed by most if not all. As a citizen of Georgetown I am delighted that this election will be held and I know that some amount of fresh breeze will be bestowed on the Council of Georgetown thereby they will be new persons, new ideas, young visionary people with zeal and zest to move this municipality forward. I therefore wish to say that the present councilors on the City Council would have served more than they have

anticipated and so far many of them have become complacent and lackadaisical of their duties. In fact I think most of them have reached the point of saturation to the extent that they are burnt out. Having been around for over twenty years they would have reach the stage similar to the PPP/C regime at the last elections and so people want a change and are looking forward for this current set of councilors to step aside and gave the reins to another set of Guyanese who are willing and ready to work for the betterment of the municipality. The information I have received is that the current

Guyanese Hindu pandits owe a lot to this man DEAR EDITOR, I write to commend Pandit Ramdial Balbadar on his relentless efforts in defending the position of Diwali being November 10, 2015—a position the majority of Hindu organizations and leaders agreed to. When many remained silent as the issue unfolded, Pandit. Balbadar did not relent. He took upon himself the challenge to defend the truth for the benefit of the Hindu society. Kudos to him. To date, five missives of his have been published in a few dailies: “Diwali date is November 10” (SN 10/18), “Should Diwali be celebrated on the night of the new moon or on Amavasya” (SN 11/5), “Amavasya runs for approximately 26 hours” (SN 11/7), “A final gasp...” (SN 11/ 12) and “New angle on the Diwali date debate” (KN 11/23). Editor, apart from this Diwali episode, Pt. Balbadar has always gave his best in promoting and defending Hinduism. His contributions to Hinduism in Guyana are enormous and quintessential. He has taught many pandits in this country. His simple and systematic compilations of the many textbooks in Hindu rituals and ceremonies (prayer books, marriage ceremonies and after death rituals, etc) are widely used by pandits in this country. He has also compiled and written many texts in many areas of Hinduism. Perhaps his compilation consisting of over 650 verses from the Hindu scriptures under the title “Searching the Scriptures” is maybe the only of its kind in Guyana. Pandits in this country and Hindus in general owe a lot to him. Pandit Charranlall Nandalall

Deputy Mayor Ms. Patricia Chase Green has the aspiration of becoming the next mayor of Georgetown but I must say she is not the most suitable candidate for that position , while I have respect for her as a community leader and one who is involved in the political arena I am not satisfied that she is ready for the position of Mayor for the city of Georgetown since I had the opportunity the most unprofessional behavior meted out to staff members of the City Council and she seems to lack diplomacy and becoming the mayor of

Georgetown would be a slap in the face of the citizen of Georgetown. As a concern citizen I would urge citizen would urge persons within the municipality that they should vote wisely come Elections day in March 2016, we want to see a change in the City Council those who would have served their time and made their contribution should move on gracefully and gave other people a chance. It is time for fresh and new ideas as we seek to rebuild and reshape the city of Georgetown and its environs. Garfeild Boston

drafting legislation and policies which give crime victims a strong and active voice through the use of VIS. In that regard, the authorities (if they are so inclined) would be required to draft comprehensive guidelines, protocols and model victim impact statement instruments to address the needs of both the justice system and the victim.

From page 22

LAND FOR SALE Luxury gated community with pool, mall, swipe entry/exit, underground irrigation – Contact: 609-0783 Providence Scheme 115ftX81ft located on a Cul de Sac close to Bai Shan Lin $8.2M negotiable –Call: 6014163; 223-0719 Land @ Moblissa Soesdyke Linden Highway, 22 Acres if cleared land with nearby creek -3 minutes off Highway-Call: 689-0003 At Parfaite Harmonie- $1.4M, $1.6M, $1.1M, Tuschen 2nd street $5M, Tuschen Phase 2 $1.2M. Term available- Call: 604-6724

together a committee of likeminded persons, this organisation will be tailored to not just meet the needs of the disabled businessperson, but to also engage and include the immediate family members in a real and constructive way to enhance the operation and growth of such businesses all across Guyana in every region. We are presently in the process of collecting data of all disabled businesspersons and we encourage persons with any such information to contact anyone of the persons listed below. All of this will be done in keeping with the local disability legislation and all the UN Conventions of Disability. Mr. Marlon N. Noel– Founder/President Ms. Karen Hall Mr. Leon Wallcott Mrs. Berlinda Persaud Mr. Norris Cummings. Ms. Simone Poole Mr. Leon Cummings

VEHICLE FOR SALE Star Cars Auto Sales: Premio, Spacio, Runx, IS, Fielder, Bluebird, Axela, Pit-bull, Raum, Benz -Tel: 268-3509; 679-3140 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 Toyota Noah & Voxy, Fully loaded, never registered, ‘G’ Series -$1.7M –Call: 617-2891 One yellow cab 212 motor car, very good condition-Call: 691-5086 One Honda CRV, immaculate condition –price $1,650,000Call: 626-2884

Guyana Disabled... From page 4 enhanced tax breaks and concessions to make the disabled owned businesses more viable and profitable. b. Engage NIS to waiver some of the requirements to make the disabled owned businesses more efficient and effective; for example, no more monthly application for Compliance Certificate. c. Engage Ministry of Public Infrastructure and M&CC – City Engineer department to ensure that all public buildings and public spaces are fully compliant with the UN charters on accessibility. d. Engage the Ministry of Social Security to enhance the benefits given to the disabled person and family as a whole. e. Other areas of mutual interest to all stake holders…especially the private business community. With these and other issues in mind, I have taken the initiative to start this new organisation and put

These instruments could be designed for specific audiences including police, judiciary, parole board etc. This will serve to show that we are all listening to the victims and survivors of crime, and demonstrating an awareness that crimes impact not only the direct victims, but to a greater degree our communities in general. Patrick E. Mentore

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Monday November 30, 2015

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Negotiators grab head start on Declaring ‘new beginning’, EU monumental climate challenge and Turkey seal migrant deal

Reuters Senior negotiators from almost 200 nations yesterday began thrashing out a new global deal to curb climate change as the president of China, the world’s biggest polluter, landed in Paris. The United Nations conference begins at summit level today, when more than 150 heads of state and government - including U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping - will attend talks at a sprawling complex north of the French capital. Xi arrived yesterday. To signal determination to resolve the most intractable issues, expert negotiators sat down yesterday rather than after today’s high-level speeches, as originally planned. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the aim

was to give the world the means to cap global warming at 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times or even 1.5 degrees. That would avoid the most devastating consequences of global warming, such as rising sealevels and desertification. Referring to previous U.N. conferences that have dragged on days beyond the official close, Fabius said relying on “a last-night miracle” could risk failure. Progress must be made every day. “The process cannot be chaotic. We owe it to ourselves and to the world to conclude the process in an orderly and respectful manner,” he said. France, as well as hosting the Paris talks, formally takes on leadership of the U.N.

Greek central bank chief says need political consensus to end debt crisis Reuters - Greece’s central bank chief called on the country’s party leaders yesterday to maintain their political consensus to help pull Athens itself out of its financial crisis once and for all. His comments came a day after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras failed to secure the backing of Greek opposition parties on tough pension reforms the country has promised to implement by December under its latest international bailout. The Greek people are weary after six years of punishing austerity, and legislating in painful pension reforms will be the next big test of Tsipras’s coalition government, which saw its majority shrink to just three seats this month. “There has been a high degree of consensus when the (bailout) deal was voted in by a big parliamentary majority last July,” Greek central bank governor Yannis Stournaras told Mega TV in a statement. “It (the consensus) should be safeguarded to secure political stability, support a definite exit from the crisis and pave the way towards growth,” he said. Greece and its international lenders agreed this week on a new set of reforms the country must approve in December to qualify for an additional 1 billion euros in aid. Pension reforms are not part of this list but remain a key issue in order to complete the first review of progress under the bailout programme and open the way for negotiations on debt relief.

process for a year from today. Governments hope the Paris summit will end on Dec. 11 in a deal that will herald a shift from rising dependence on fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution to cleaner energies such as wind or solar power. Hundreds of thousands of people yesterday joined rallies across the globe, telling leaders gathering for the summit there is “No Planet B” in the fight against global warming. There is a tough task ahead. Weeks of preparatory talks this year have struggled to whittle down a negotiating text, which is still more than 50 pages long. The most difficult issues include working out how to share the burden of taking action between rich and poor nations, how to finance the cost of adapting to global warming and the legal format of any final text, as U.S. politicians are likely to block a legally binding treaty. “Some countries have concerns about all of the targets being binding,” Canadian Environment Minister Catherine McKenna told reporters. “The idea is to have a binding agreement. There may be elements that are not binding.”

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (L) and European Council President Donald Tusk greet each other after a news conference following a EU-Turkey summit in Brussels, Belgium November 29, 2015. REUTERS/Yves Herman Reuters - Turkey promised to help stem the flow of migrants to Europe in return for cash, visas and renewed talks on joining the EU in a deal struck yesterday that the Turkish prime minister called a “new beginning” for the uneasy neighbours. Leaders of the European Union met Turkish premier Ahmet Davutoglu in Brussels yesterday to finalise an agreement hammered out by diplomats over the past month, as Europeans struggle to limit the strain on their 28-nation bloc from taking in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. A key element is 3 billion euros (£2.1 billion) in EU aid for the 2.2 million Syrians now in Turkey. The money is intended to raise their living standards and so persuade more of them to stay put rather than attempt perilous crossings to the EU via the Greek islands. The final offer of “an initial” 3 billion euros represents a compromise between the EU, which

offered that sum over two years, and Turkey, which wanted it every year. Now the money, as French President Francois Hollande said, will be paid out bit by bit as conditions are met, leaving the total payout unclear. “As Turkey is making an effort to take in refugees — who will not come to Europe it’s reasonable that Turkey receive help from Europe to accommodate those refugees,” Hollande told reporters. He added that the deal should also make it easier to check migrants arriving and keep out those who pose a threat, like Islamic State militants who struck Paris two weeks ago. Also on offer to Ankara, which wants to revive relations with its European neighbours after years of coolness as it faces trouble in the Middle East and from Russia, is a “re-energised” negotiating process on Turkish membership of the EU, even if few expect it to join soon. Many Turks could also benefit from visa-free travel to Europe’s Schengen zone

within a year if Turkey meets conditions on tightening its borders in the east to Asian migrants and moves other benchmarks on reducing departures to Europe. “Today is a historic day in our accession process to the EU,” Davutoglu told reporters on arrival. “I am grateful to all European leaders for this new beginning.” Aware of a sense of desperation in Europe for a solution to a crisis that has called into question its own cohesion and the future of its Schengen passport-free travel zone, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has driven a hard bargain. The deal involves Turkish help, including through naval patrols and border checks, in handling the flow of migrants to the EU, expected to reach 1.5 million people this year alone.

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Meeting in South Africa views new models for African cities JOHANNESBURG (AP) — With more than half of Africa’s population expected to live in cities by the year 2050, a gathering in South Africa yesterday is exploring new models for urban Africa. Hundreds of city officials from across Africa have gathered for the seventh Africities Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, to discuss the future of urbanization on the continent. “What has worked yesterday, might not work today,” said Jeff Radebe, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency responsible for planning, as he opened the five-day meeting. Radebe warned that if development does not match population growth, future cities will face more crumbling infrastructure and social unrest. Another key topic for the meeting is climate change. Among the delegates was Deputy Mayor of Paris Patrick Klugman, who described the French capital as “arguably the most African city outside of Africa” because of its high population of African immigrants. Speaking ahead of the climate talks, scheduled to begin in Paris today, Klugman said environmental sustainability is key to building future African metropolises. In the wake of attacks in Paris and Mali’s capital Bamako, urban security is also on the agenda. Citizens isolated by poverty are vulnerable to extremism, said Khalifa Ababacar Sall, mayor of Senegal’s capital Dakar. “What the international community forgets is that these people are the first victims,” Sall said. “To combat this, we could provide better education, better social development.” Today, more than 400 million Africans live in cities, according to the African Development Bank. Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Kenya’s capital Nairobi and the Congolese capital Kinshasa are Africa’s fastest growing cities, it said. The meeting has been held in various African cities every three years since it was launched in 1998 in Abidjan, the largest city of Ivory Coast.

Kaieteur News

Monday November 30, 2015

Israel suspends EU role in peace process with Palestinians Reuters - Israel said yesterday it was suspending contacts with European Union bodies involved in peace efforts with the Palestinians after the bloc started requiring the labelling of exports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the foreign ministry to carry out “a reassessment of the involvement of EU bodies in everything that is connected to the diplomatic process with the Palestinians”, a ministry statement said. “Until completion of the reassessment, the Prime Minister has ordered a suspension of diplomatic contacts with the EU and its representatives in this matter.” The EU published new guidelines on Nov. 11 for labelling products made in Israeli settlements, a move Brussels said was technical but which Israel branded “discriminatory” and damaging to peace efforts with the Palestinians. Drawn up over three years by the European Commission,

Benjamin Netanyahu the guidelines mean Israeli producers must explicitly label farm goods and other products that come from settlements built on land occupied by Israel if they are sold in the European Union. The EU’s position is that the lands Israel has occupied since the 1967 Middle East war - including the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights - are not part of the internationally recognised borders of Israel. As such, goods from

there cannot be labelled “Made in Israel” and should be labelled as coming from settlements, which the EU considers illegal under international law. After the EU announcement, Netanyahu called it “hypocritical and a double standard”, saying the EU was not taking similar steps in hundreds of territorial conflicts elsewhere in the world. “The European Union should be ashamed of itself,” he said while on an official visit in Washington earlier this month. “We do not accept the fact that Europe is labelling the side being attacked by terrorist acts.” The development of settlements has been one of the obstacles to negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. U.S.-backed peace talks stalled in April 2014. “It’s an indication of origin, not a warning label,” the EU ambassador to Israel, Lars Faaborg-Andersen, told Reuters after the bloc’s decision was announced. Britain, Belgium and

Denmark already affix labels to Israeli goods, differentiating between those from Israel proper and those, particularly fruit and vegetables, that come from the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank. Following the decision, all 28 EU member states will have to apply the same labelling. Israel’s economy ministry estimated this would affect goods worth about $50 million a year, including grapes and dates, wine, poultry, honey, olive oil and cosmetics made from Dead Sea minerals. That is around a fifth of the $200-$300 million worth of goods produced in settlements each year, but a drop in the ocean next to the $30 billion of goods and services traded annually between Israel and the European Union. Israeli farmers and wine growers in the West Bank have expressed worry about the impact on their business and some have begun diversifying into markets in Russia and Asia to escape EU rules.

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Monday November 30, 2015

Under tightest security, pope urges peace in central Africa Reuters - Protected by the heaviest security ever seen on his trips, Pope Francis yesterday preached reconciliation in the divided Central African Republic, a nation racked by bloodshed between Muslims and Christians. As the pope’s Alitalia plane touched down from Uganda to start his first visit to a war zone, attack helicopters patrolled the skies and armoured personnel carriers from French and U.N. peacekeeping forces waited outside the airport. Special security forces wearing patches of the yellow and white colours of the Vatican flag were on hand to help his normal security retinue. In an unprecedented precaution for papal trips, a U.N. soldier armed with a rifle rode in each of the minibuses carrying reporters accompanying the pope.

Pope Francis Bangui, the capital of the former French colony, has seen a surge in clashes that have left at least 100 people dead since late September. France, which has around 900 soldiers deployed in the country, warned the Vatican this month that the visit could

be risky but the pope was determined to go to the majority Christian nation. “Reconciliation, forgiveness, love, peace,” he said in a dramatic voice in the homily of a Mass at the city’s cathedral in the afternoon, appealing to warring militias to “lay down these instruments of death”. Francis was driven past tens of thousands of cheering people to and from events in a simple car or an open popemobile. “Work, pray, do everything for peace. But remember, peace without love, friendship and tolerance is nothing,” he said at one stop, a visit to camp housing some 4,000 people displaced by the violence in Bangui’s neighbourhoods. He was mobbed by the crowd and asked them all to shout out repeatedly in their native Songo language: “We are all brothers”.

Cubans protest stricter rules for traveling to Ecuador HAVANA, Cuba - CMC – Dozens of Cubans gathered outside Ecuador’s embassy on Friday, to protest against new rules that require Cubans to have a visa to enter Ecuador. Before the new visa requirement, Ecuador was the only Latin American country that did not require Cubans to have a visa to enter. As of tomorrow, Ecuador will ask Cubans to apply online, “a difficult process in a country with very limited Internet access,” the protesters noted. According to a New York Times report, bloggers and passers-by said early Friday, about 200 Cubans gathered outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in the residential Miramar neighborhood, “brandishing plane tickets and passports.” Cubans will “always be welcome” in Ecuador, said

Xavier Lasso Xavier Lasso, the deputy foreign minister, in a statement, adding that the new rules are necessary to “prevent violations of human rights and even loss of life.” Thousands of Cubans travel to Ecuador each year,

mainly to buy goods that they sell in Cuba and many to begin an arduous trek north through Central America to the United States. In Ecuador, Cubans who cross the border become residents under special regulations aimed at giving them refuge from persecution. It’s reported that the number of Cubans entering the United States via Ecuador have surged this year because of fears that those privileges will terminate. Approximately 35,000 Cubans crossed the border from October 2014 to August, adding that the decision by Ecuador, a close ally of Cuba, to impose the new visa rules is aimed at easing a crisis involving about 2,000 Cubans who have been standed between Costa Rica and Nicaragua since Nicaragua closed its border earlier this month.

Monday November 30, 2015

Kaieteur News

Attorney General underscores importance of intellectual property rights BASSETERRE – Attorney General and Minister of Communications Vincent Byron Jr has underscored the importance of artistes to have their creative and original works protected by the law. Appearing on the Government’s weekly radio programme “Working for You” on recently, Minister Bryon said some focus should be placed on protecting creative works produced in and by people of St Kitts and Nevis. He is of the view that intellectual property rights should be a growth area, especially for young people, and that there is need for them to protect their work. “It is an area that we feel should be a growth area for our young people and those who use their talents to create music … and that we can find ways in which they can benefit to make a profitable livelihood from having this

Vincent Byron Jr. office of intellectual property,” Byron said. The Office of Intellectual Property is involved with registering and protecting intellectual property including creative works such as music, books and films. This office falls under the Ministry of Justice and Legal

Affairs, which is under the purview of the Attorney General. The Minister of Communications also spoke about Information Technology, which includes the Information C o m m u n i c a t i o n Technologies (ICTs) Department. Work is being done, he said to rebrand and restructure the Office of Information Communications Technology (ICT) at the CA Paul Southwell Industrial site. In referring to his nine months in office, Minister Byron said that “it has been an exciting time” and “it has been exceptionally hard work”. “I think no one can really understand the sort of hours and the sort of work that a minister of government would normally have to do,” he added. “It’s been a great nine months, exciting, a lot of hard work, sleepless nights, but enjoyable nonetheless.” (SKNIS)

Health Minister Calls Emergency Meeting On Revelations Of Mass Dead Baby Burials The Gleaner - The management of the Kingston Public and Victoria Jubilee hospitals, as well as the Southern Regional Health Authority (SERHA), have been summoned to an emergency by Health Minister Horace Dalley, which should be under way now at the health ministry’s offices in Kingston. The emergency meeting follows revelation that scores of dead babies, most of them stillbirths, from both hospitals were being buried in paupers’ graves at the May Pen cemetery. The health minister has since instructed that the burials be halted pending clarification on the deaths. He has expressed condolences and regrets for any further grief that may have been caused to the families of the babies. Meanwhile, the SERHA has sought to explain that not all the babies which died were still births as Dalley said he had been informed by his team at the health ministry. SERHA says 27 of the 65 babies were no-nates or born prematurely. Further, the health authority has moved to clarify that they did not die as a result of bacterial infection. SERHA is insisting that the removal of the bodies from the morgue was a routine process and that there was nothing “untoward” in their action.

Horace Dalley It says the senior medical officer of the Victoria Jubilee Hospital is completing a report to be submitted to the chairman of the hospital board and that the health ministry has been informed about the matter. SERHA says preliminary reports indicate that the babies died over a period of time, but there were delays in issuing the requisite burial documents, which allows for

the bodies to be released to the funeral home for burial. It says the cause for delays vary and include the absence of parents from scheduled post mortems, which is required for a burial order to be issued. SERHA says burials were also delayed to await a decision from the parents whether to take custody of the body of babies which were still born. According to SERHA, government policy dictates that if parents are absent from post mortems, the hospital should take responsibility for the burial of the bodies. It explains that to facilitate the grieving and decisionmaking process of some parents, the hospital will wait up to 30 days before moving to proceed with a burial. SERHA says the funeral home contracted by the hospitals to carry out these burials does not collect the bodies until arrangements have been finalised for burial. It says these delays can result in an accumulation of the bodies at the morgue.

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Monday November 30, 2015

Decry use of internet to shame Kamla: Where US$500M and humiliate — Falconer foreign exchange gone?

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – A call has been made for the society to decry the use of the internet for the posting of personal and private information, including photos, which cause humiliation, and damage the reputation of innocent persons, particularly children. Minister with responsibility for Information Senator Sandrea Falconer, who made the call during her contribution to the debate on the Cyber Crimes Act in the Senate on Friday, said that a “culture of humiliation” is permeating cyber space and it must stop. She noted that victims are devalued, when persons engage in malicious posting, with the sole intention to “hurt, defame and abuse people.” “The cost to the dignity of affected individuals cannot be measured… which too many have unfortunately paid,” the minister said. She noted that equally disturbing “is the growing audience, and the ease with

Sandrea Falconer which individuals can be recruited to engage in cyber stalking, and cyber harassment.” “That is why I am so pleased that this Bill will afford more protection to a teenage girl, who is naïve and trusting, and shared more than she should, and ends up facing the type of humiliation that can destroy her,” the minister told the Upper House. Stressing that public

shaming must end, she said that “together, we must shape a better future that leverages the power of the Internet, to create, collaborate, innovate, and resolve the challenges of our time in a positive and uplifting way.” “There can be no place in a civilized society for the digital space of citizens to be invaded, to be used to harass and to spread violent messages. There is no place for private information and photographs of an explicit and sexual nature to be publicly exposed as an act of revenge, or to inflict wanton abuse,” Senator Falconer argued. The Cyber Crimes Act was passed with 17 amendments, after it was given passage in the House of Representatives on October 13. The legislation includes provisions to deal with computer-related fraud, malicious transmission of information, as well as disclosure of unauthorised information. (Jamaica Observer)

Trinidad Guardian Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is warning that the PNM dipping into the country’s foreign reserves is a dangerous precedent. She was speaking at a town meeting at the Charlieville Presbyterian Primary School, on Friday night. Persad-Bissessar said, “We’re seeing an economy that is contracting, another question that we asked today was the amount of foreign reserves the country has. “The question was asked of the said Finance Minister Colm Imbert, has the foreign reserves dropped or increased? “Of course he didn’t answer yes or no, he stood

up and gave the numbers. In fact, what it is they got from us on November 20, he said it was less than what we left in the treasury for the foreign reserves.” She said US$500 million was pumped into the system and Imbert couldn’t give an account of where and how it had gone. She said they kept pumping the foreign exchange into the market and that was being bought out. Persad-Bissessar said the next step was to dip into the country’s foreign reserves and that was a very dangerous place to go. Persad-Bissessar said Dr Suruj Rambachan attempted to pose the question and he was shut down, but she was sure they would find other

Kamla PersadBissessar ways to continue to raise those questions. She said new VAT increases would come into effect in January.

Britain sends £5m foreign aid to C’bean to improve fishing, tourism MALTA - CMC – British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a £5.6 million cash injection to help improve fishing, tourism and shipping in the Caribbean and other countries. The 25 “small island” Commonwealth recipients include Bermuda, Jamaica, the Maldives, the Seychelles, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. Cameron, who is attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting here, said he wants the countries to be able to make the most of their natural maritime resources. He made the announcement while unveiling a £26 million aid package to help tackle global warming ahead of a meeting

David Cameron of world leaders in Paris on Monday. The cash will be used to manage fisheries, protect coastlines and tackle pollution, as well as extending

disaster risk. “We have a real opportunity to get the small island states that are so vulnerable to climate change on board for an ambitious global climate change deal in Paris,” Cameron said. “Britain is firmly committed to helping these countries deal with the effects of climate change. “That’s why we’re announcing new support today to help protect them from the risks of climate change and to make the most of their natural maritime advantages, which are so vital to their economies,” Cameron added. Britain will be spending £16.3 billion on its foreign aid programme by 2020, more than the amount spent on border controls, immigration, police and prisons.

Warner files judicial review to block extradition on corruption charges PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Corruption accused Jack Warner has filed an application for judicial review, challenging his extradition to the United States. Warner, through his attorneys Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein, Rishi Dass, Nyree Alfonso, Sasha Bridgemohansingh and Anil Maraj, is asking the High Court to stay the proceedings and declare the extradition order and the Authority to Proceed (ATP) issued by Attorney General Faris AlRawi null and void. Warner, 72, is accused of 29 counts of racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering,

bribery during his time in football’s world governing body, FIFA. The former FIFA vicepresident has denied all allegations, but extradition proceedings have begun before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar. However, those proceedings will be stayed pending the outcome of the judicial review application. The judicial review notes breaches of natural justice in the issuance of the ATP – the document required to begin the extradition process; the failure to provide Warner with a fair hearing; as well as the issue of bias as the Attorney

Jack Warner General was advised by lawyers representing the interests of the US in the proceedings in the courts. (Caribbean360)

Monday November 30, 2015

Kaieteur News

Russian clubs banned from signing Turkish players BBC Sport - Russian clubs will be banned from signing Turkish players during the upcoming winter break. Relations between the countries have been strained since a Russian warplane was shot down by Turkish forces on the Syrian border, killing one pilot. Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko told RSport news agency that clubs had “already got the message”. “If anyone wants [to sign a Turkish player] during the break, there will not be such a possibility,” he said. Mutko said the sports sanctions would not affect Turkish players currently playing for Russian soccer clubs, such as Rubin Kazan’s midfielder Gokdeniz Karadeniz, who joined the Tatarstan outfit in 2008. “Everyone who has an existing contract will carry on working,” Mutko said. “They won’t be here in

the future but at the moment they have contracts and these will not be looked into.” Mutko added that Turkish companies already involved in constructing stadiums for the 2018 World Cup in Russia would be allowed to continue. The sports ministry has also recommended that Russian football clubs cancel winter training camps to Turkey. Several sides, including Lokomotiv M o s c o w, S p a r t a k M o s c o w, F C Krasnodar and Kuban Krasnodar, have said they would heed the advice. In addition, Mutko has confirmed that Russian athletes will be able to participate in tournaments organised in Turkey, with maximum security ensured. He said that the measures that Russia is taking against Turkey will not impact on the calendar of international sports federations.

Spurs send defensive... From page 33 advantage that grew to 54-37 by halftime. The Spurs outscored Atlanta 31-12 in the second quarter. “At times we had good looks and you have to take advantage of your good looks against a team like the Spurs,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “They pressure the ball well, run you off the three-point line and rebound well. They do a lot of the little things to be one of the top defensive teams in the league.”

Siddle completes nerve... From page 36 defend and Siddle’s inelegant shot to seal the win sparked a thunderous roar from the crowd of 33,923. Paceman and man-of-thematch Josh Hazlewood was vital for the hosts, capturing a career-best 6-70 in the absence of injured spearhead Mitchell Starc to limit New Zealand to 208 in the third innings. Boult dismissed Voges for 28 straight after the dinner-break but allrounder Mitchell Marsh joined his older sibling at the crease and compiled a brisk 28 to push Australia within 26 runs of their target. Mitchell Marsh bashed a six over the head of spinbowling all-rounder Mitch Santner but was out swiping at the next delivery, the skied top-edge well-caught by a scrambling Kane Williamson. Shaun Marsh grew jumpy as victory and his 50 approached and he holed out with a needless push at a Boult delivery which ended in the slips and left Australia 11 runs short of their target. Wicketkeeper Peter Nevill also fell to Boult, caught behind for 10, before Siddle

finally pushed Australia over the line. The match was won earlier in the day, however, when Hazlewood took three wickets as New Zealand could only add 92 runs to their overnight total of 116-5. The 24-year-old struck with the ninth ball of the day to remove wicketkeeper BJ Watling for seven and had Mark Craig nick behind for 15. He later wrapped up New Zealand’s innings by bowling Boult for five, with Mitchell Marsh capturing 3-59. “It’s pretty hard to separate the two teams over the last two test matches,” New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum told reporters. “We’ve got a bit of a mantra within our team, that if you are going to get beaten, then make it bloody tough for the opposition to do so.” Scores: Australia 224 (Nevill 66, Smith 53, Bracewell 3-18) and 7 for 187 (S Marsh 49, Boult 560) beat New Zealand 202 (Latham 50, Starc 3-24, Hazlewood 3-66) and 208 (Santner 45, Hazlewood 670, M Marsh 3-59) by 3 wickets.

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No regrets on exposing Russia doping: whistleblowers LONDON (Reuters) The husband and wife who blew the whistle on doping in Russian athletics say they have no regrets about speaking up and exposing cheats despite being accused of betraying their own country. Yulia Stepanova, an international runner who was herself suspended for doping offences, and her husband Vitaly, a former Russian antidoping agency official, secretly recorded Russian coaches and athletes over almost two years describing how they used performanceenhancing drugs. Their evidence formed a major part of an investigation that led to Russian athletes being suspended from international competition this month, but came at a high personal cost. Both have been heavily criticized in their homeland and have spent the past year living abroad but say the sacrifice was worth it. “In the sense that I believed in something that I thought was right, and I tried,” Vitaly told the Sunday Times newspaper in Britain. “You can have fake values, animal instincts or you can be more human. “Because if this year has proved anything, it is that sports are run by the wrong people.” The Stepanovas first took on the role of whistleblowers last year when they featured as witnesses in a television documentary that alleged widespread corruption and drug-taking in Russian athletics. The pair had been in hiding since but agreed to be interviewed by the Sunday

A security guard walks on the territory of the federal state budgetary institution ‘’Federal scientific centre of physical culture and sports’’, which houses a laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in Moscow, Russia, November 11, 2015. (Reuters/Sergei Karpukhin) Times. In the interview, the pair said their actions had been vindicated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Independent Commission’s (IC) report into allegations of widespread doping in Russian athletics. “I knew that I was right, I didn’t need the report to tell me that,” Vitaly told the Sunday Times. “It did make me feel that a naive person can make a difference in this complicated world. I was a spy without a cover, and everyone was looking at me as an idiot, but I could still manage to get this thing going. “I felt very alone but right now it seems the whole athletics world is discussing

what I have been talking about for the past five years. I keep thinking about this. This happened to me. This happened to Yuliya. This is our life. This is our story. A true story. I’ve told it as it is. People should know the true story.” Vitaly said he believed Russia should be banned from competing at next year’s Rio Olympics because of its doping record but doubted that would ever happen. “Sports officials and politicians in Russia did a lot

worse than what athletes were doing, so I think fair punishment for Russian Athletics would be four years. Learn from your mistake, change and come back in four years. See you in Tokyo,” he said. “(But) I estimate there is a one per cent chance of Russia not being at the Olympics. For this to happen, the International Olympic Committee would have to change and that’s not going to happen in the next six months.”

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Kaieteur News

Monday November 30, 2015

Back to the Future’ Development Boxing Tournament

Guyana stays in contention as visiting countries fight back

Bajan Mary Fraser lands a right hook to the head of Guyanese Akea Lamazon to take ‘gold’ in the women’s Flyweight final. (Sean Devers photo) By Michael Benjamin Guyanese boxers lost a few fights but also registered numerous wins to stay in contention for the championship trophy when the action continued on the penultimate night of the ‘Back to the Future’ Development Boxing Tournament last Saturday evening. Indeed, boxing buffs were treated to several action packed fights when and the contests were so keen that Guyana’s hopes of clinching the championship trophy is not as assured as was touted by the coaches during the initial stages of the competition. Nevertheless, the Guyanese pugilists remained hopeful and several of them

registered convincing victories to bolster this country’s chances. Jason Phillips opened Guyana’s account with an impressive TKO victory over Alston Ryan of Antigua and Barbuda (A&B) in 2:31 of the 3rd round. In another lightweight bout, Jean Paul Cooper (T&T) overcame Jamesay Greenaway to also keep his team in the hunt. Guyanese, Jason Barker, also bolstered his country’s chances when he took just 2:48secs of the first round to take care of Barbadian, Arkeem Isidore in their heavyweight encounter while another Guyanese, Desmond Amsterdam, scored a unanimous verdict over

Jamaican Ian Darby in light/ heavyweight shindig. Dennis Thomas also represented staunchly and retained his dominance in the middleweight division when he forced the ‘third man’ to halt his bout with Bahamian, Herbert Fernander in 2:15secs of the 2nd round. Much was expected of French Guiana’s Leonardo Mosquea but he sustained an injury to his eye in his bout against Israel Johnson of the Bahamas on Friday night and was deemed unfit for his light/ heavyweight bout against to St Lucian, Marvin Anthony, gifting him a walk over. The welterweight division witnessed an upset when T&T Aaron Hassette

dominated St Lucian, strongman, Lyndell Marcellin to take their welterweight encounter. Jamaican, Nico Yoyo then won on points over Hendrix Farlot of French Guiana, also in the welterweight division. Middleweight, Johnathan Hanson (Jamaica) was too good for Aaron Prince (T&T) and won their bout by a split decision, while heavyweight boxer, Brendon Dennis of T&T got a walkover after his opponent from Antigua and Barbuda, Tuvia Lewis, failed to make the weight. Nigel Paul strengthened Trinidad and Tobago’s chances when he stopped Bahamian, Amron Sands in 1:01secs of the 2nd round to take their super/heavyweight clash. The women pugilists were also on show and most of their bouts were finals. Barbadian, Mary Fraser, won the gold medal after defeating Guyanese Akea Lamazon in the (junior) bout in the flyweight category while another Barbadian, Kellyanne Blackman, also won gold after defeating her Guyanese opponent, Riana Rogers, in their pinweight (youth) bout. Another Guyanese, Kesha Aroukium, fought Trinidadian, Stephanie Allen and the fight ended in a stalemate after 4 rounds of competitive action. In keeping with the rules, the judges were required to award the fight to one of the fighters who proved superior in a specific department; they opted for Gittens, on aggression. Another Guyanese, Simone Cambria, compensated for that loss when she defeated Martha Rodney (T&T) to take the gold in the heavyweight division. The last 8 bouts were all

Kellyanne Blackman lifts Guyana’s Rianna Rogers off her feet with a left upper cut to win the Youth Pin weight girls final. (Sean Devers photo) finals and were contested in the Men’s (Junior) category. In the Pinweight division, Guyanese Delroy Elcock won by TKO in the 2nd round after the referee stopped his contest against Iwesika Austin in 1:37secs of the 2nd round. Barbadian, Ikeoujah Austin also forced the referee to halt his light/flyweight bout against Anguillan, Juan Carlos Nouel in 1:18secs of round one while Guyanese jnr/bantamweight boxer, Kevin Allicock, overcame Trinidadian, Moses Dempster (T&T) to take that bout on points. The featherweight bout between Daniel Hylton (Jamaica) and Justin Parris (T&T) ended in round one after Parris delivered several clouts to his opponent’s head

and forced the referee to call a halt in the first frame. Lightweight, Junior Peirerra (French Guiana) won on points from Kareem Boyce (St Lucia) while local welterweight pugilist, Kevin Benn, won on points from Curlan Richardson (Anguilla). Light/middleweight boxer, Egmar Cozier (St Maarten) was also in winners’ row with a points win over Kenwal Hodge (Anguilla). The Guyanese ended the night in similar fashion as the start when Akiel Mounter unleashed a two fisted attack on Japheth Olton of Anguilla to win by technical knockout. The boxers resumed punching last night and the champion country, best boxer and other accolades would have been established.

Briton Fury crowned world champion...

Kesha Aroukium (right) continued a dismal night for the Guyanese ladies as Stephaine Allen of T&T evads a pawing left jab to win Gold in the female Light Flyweight division. (Sean Devers photo)

From page 37 before serenading his wife in the crowd with a song by American band Aerosmith. “I worked for six months for this in the gym, it’s a dream come true,” Fury said while draped in his new world title belts and unable to hold back the tears. The fight, postponed once due to a Klitschko injury, almost did not take place with Fury’s team complaining earlier on Saturday over the thick ring canvas that they claimed limited his movement. Modifications were made and Fury, quick, despite his 2.06 metres, was better from the start, showing no problems with the new

canvas. He kept landing left-right combinations with Klitschko, not used to fighting taller men than him, struggling with Fury’s reach. Klitschko managed to get close with a few good left jabs in the second round but Fury landed a powerful right, pushing the Ukrainian back. Fury, constantly changing between southpaw and orthodox stance, kept chipping away at Klitschko’s defences with his combinations and by the eighth round the champion was bleeding from a cheek wound. Fury, who shed 32 kilos in five months to get in shape for the fight, landed a

bruising left uppercut in the ninth that wounded Klitschko’s right eye. Sensing the titles slipping away, Klitschko threw everything he had in the final round in search for a knockout but ended up losing on all three of the judges’ scorecards, putting an end to his winning run that stretched back to 2004. “Tyson really stepped on the gas,” said a disappointed Klitschko, fighting in front of a home crowd with his base in Germany. “I was missing my speed today and I struggled with his reach. “I knew I was behind and had to land the punches. I tried but it did not work.”

Monday November 30, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 33

No known terrorist threat to Rio Olympics — official BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP) — Brazil is preparing to deal with a terrorist attack at the Rio Olympics but has no

information of any planned plots, the country’s intelligence chief told AFP Friday.

Reuters (The Sports Xchange) - Defence is usually an aspect that San Antonio rounds into form as the year progresses but through their first 17 games the Spurs are ahead of schedule, a sign of trouble for the rest of the NBA. Forward Kawhi Leonard poured in 22 points and six San Antonio players scored in double-figures as the Spurs waylaid the Atlanta Hawks 108-88 on Saturday to remain undefeated at home. Leonard, who did most of his damage with 15 points in the first half, led the Spurs in scoring for the sixth straight game. San Antonio (14-3) is 9-0 at the AT&T Center this season and has won 11 of its past 12 contests overall. They are entrenched atop the NBA Western Conference’s Southwest Division. The Spurs have limited opponents to 88 points or less in 11 times this year and to an average of 83.4 points per game in their current fivegame winning streak. “We usually build as a team defensively, but this year we’ve started out very aggressively,” Spurs reserve guard Manu Ginobili said. “We’ve always tried to

play defense like this, and we are running back into transition better. We are much improved - now we’ve got to sustain it.” Forward LaMarcus Aldridge and reserve guard Patty Mills added 13 points apiece for San Antonio, while Ginobili scored 12 points, guard Tony Parker hit for 11 points and forward Tim Duncan tallied 10 points and grabbed a season-high 18 rebounds. Atlanta (11-8, second place in the Eastern Conference’s Southeast Division) was led by reserve forward Mike Scott’s 12 points. “The defense was the key,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Tony (Parker) and Danny Green were great defensively on (Atlanta guards Jeff) Teague and (Kyle) Korver and that really set the tone for us. Those guys are really hard to guard, but they took the challenge tonight.” Atlanta led 30-25 before the Spurs took command. Ginobili scored all eight of his first-half points in a 4:02 stretch that helped San Antonio move to a 41-32 Continued on page 31

Spurs send defensive message in win over Hawks

San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball over Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha (25) during the second half at AT&T Center. (Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports)

“We have no information about a terrorist cell preparing in Brazil. Our risk assessment does not indicate this, but we are working permanently as if the threat were imminent, as if this could happen tomorrow,” Wilson Trezza, director of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency, said. With nine months before the first Summer Games in South America, Brazilian security officials say they will be able to stop any threat. Fears have risen since the attacks two weeks ago in Paris, including outside the national football stadium, that left at least 130 people dead. Brazil is working so as

“not to be taken by surprise”, Trezza said at a seminar in the capital Brasilia. Brazil has no history of conflict with Islamist or other violent radical groups. However, with 10,500 athletes from 206 countries and dozens of heads of state and large numbers of tourists, the Olympics are considered a potential target. Brazil says it will deploy 85,000 security personnel, double the number used during the 2012 London Olympics. “It will be the biggest integrated security operation in the history of Brazil,” said Sports Minister George Hilton.

Four police slain in 24 hours in Rio, host to 2016 Olympics.

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Kaieteur News

Mavericks halt three-game skid after Nuggets go cold

Denver Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson (1) guards Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams (8) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports) Reuters (The Sports Xchange) - A stone cold third period from the Denver Nuggets allowed the Dallas Mavericks to flip the contest and record a 92-81 victory on Saturday to snap a three game losing streak. After shooting better than 50 percent from the field in the first half and taking a 52-48 lead over the Mavericks into halftime, the Nuggets couldn’t buy a bucket in the third quarter. They went scoreless in the first 8:55 of the quarter and finished with just two field goals and five points. It turned a promising start into a sixth consecutive loss as Dallas (10-7) used the 25-5 quarter to get the much needed win at American Airlines Center. “It was big for us, especially to win at home,” Mavs guard Raymond Felton said. “We’ve been traveling a lot — that’s how the

schedule is, that’s how it goes sometimes — so to get this win at home was really big for us, behind those three losses on the road. We’re back on the road tomorrow with tough teams.” Denver’s five points set a Dallas franchise record for the lowest total in a quarter by an opponent. The Nuggets, outscored 16-0 in the opening eight minutes while going 0 of 15 from the floor, ended the quarter two of 19 shooting, including one of eight from beyond the arc, with nine turnovers. “We play great in stretches. We went three quarters tonight, but that third quarter was decisive — 25-5,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “Turnovers — you can’t go on the road and beat yourself. We talked about that at halftime. We had 10 turnovers at the half. We wound up having 22

turnovers for 19 points, and nine of those were in the third quarter. “So when you are struggling to score, you cannot beat yourself by turning the ball over that many times.” The Nuggets’ 81 points was a low by a Mavs opponent this season. Dallas point guard Deron Williams hit four threepointers and led all scorers with 22 points, his secondhighest scoring game of the season. Center Zaza Pachulia had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and forward Dirk Nowitzki finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. Felton contributed 12 off the bench. Forward Darrell Arthur paced Denver (6-11) with 16 points. Guard Will Barton had 14 points off the bench and Danilo Gallinari, who typically has big games against the Mavs, finished with 12 points.

Kenya bans seven more athletes for doping

NAIROBI (Reuters) Kenya, facing scrutiny from world anti-doping officials and criticism that it is not doing enough to tackle the problem, has banned seven more athletes for doping offences, raising the total number of Kenyan drug cases in the last three years to 40. In a statement late on Friday, Athletics Kenya said it had confirmed the sanctions against seven athletes for a range of drug offences. The list included Emily Chebet, a double world cross country champion and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist. She was handed a four-year ban after testing positive for a diuretic. Joyce Zakary, a 400 metre runner, and hurdler Koki Manunga were also given fouryear bans. Both tested positive for diuretics at this year’s world championships in Beijing. The latest list also included four long-

distance runners, Agnes Jepkosgei, Bernard Mwendia, Judy Jesire Kimuge and Lilian Moraa Marita. They were each suspended for between two and four years. Kenya boasts some of the world’s finest middle and long-distance runners but in recent years has been shaken by a spate of failed drug tests. Some athletes have said the government and Athletics Kenya have not taken the issue seriously. Allegations of corruption among Athletics Kenya chiefs tied to a corporate sponsorship deal, combined with Russia’s recent ban from global athletics, have stirred fears the East African nation could be banned from international track and field. In total, 43 Kenyans have been suspended for doping with 40 of those in the last three years, including Rita Jeptoo, who won the Boston and Chicago Marathons.

Monday November 30, 2015

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition

West Front Road leads pack into KO phase West Front Road led the pack heading to the knockout phase following the conclusion of the group stage of the Georgetown Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition which continued on Saturday night, at Demerara Park. They were joined by North East La Penitence, East Front Road and Old School Ballers who all secured their places for the business end of the competition which begins on Wednesday, at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac. Played before a capacity crowd that witnessed an hour-long invigorating musical performance from Guyana’s reggae star Natural Black, who thrilled the fans with a sneak preview of his song for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary set for next year, West Front Road-Gold is Money cemented their place in the next round after coasting to a 2-0 win over Alexander Village. The inspirational Hubert Pedro opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a thunderous right-footer into the lower left corner. Randolph Wagner followed up his effort with a goal in the 20th minute, firing into the left corner from a pass delivered from the right flank. The most entertaining of

- NE La Penitence, East Front Road, Old School Ballers also advance the evening featured North East La Penitence and Albouystown ‘A’ who rallied from a 4-0 deficit only to lose 4-3 and in the process were eliminated. Calvin Moore booted in a pair of goals in the third and 16th minutes, while Shaquille Browne and Webby Webster netted in the 12th and 15th minutes for North East La Penitence. For Albouystown ‘A’, Darren Benjamin lashed in a brace in the 18th and 19th minutes, while Kemo Smith added the other in the 17th minute. East Front Road secured their spot in the next round with a comfortable 2-0 triumph over Castello Housing Scheme. Dillon Kelly gave them a positive start with a strike in the 13th minute and returned two minutes later to seal the deal. Old School Ballers appearing in the competition for the first time registered an upset win over Globe Yard 10 for a place in the next round with Junior Jordan’s strike on the stroke of full time supplying the lifeline. Debutants Channel-9Warriors also made it to the next round after playing to a goalless stalemate in their

clash against Cross Street, while West Back Road and Laing Avenue encounter produced a similar result with the former escaping to the next round. Albouystown ‘B’ followed their ‘A’ counterparts out of the competition after playing to a 1-1 stalemate with Festival City Warriors. Albouystown ‘B’ needing a win to keep their hopes alive suffered an early setback when Jermaine Tinch fifth minute strike gave the Warriors the early lead, before Chris Marshall equalised in the 15th minute, but the scoreline stayed that way until the final whistle sounded to send to equalize following Defending champion North Ruimveldt and Leopold Street scrapped to a 0-0 draw in an encounter that the result that could not affect their advancement. The winning team will take home $500,000, the championship trophy and the right to represent the zone at the national tournament, while the second, third and fourth p l a c ed finishers receive $200,000, $150,000 and $100,000 respectively.

India’s Shastri flays pitch critics NEW DELHI (Reuters) India team director Ravi Shastri sees nothing wrong in tests finishing inside three days and suggested South Africa could expect another rank turner in the fourth and final fixture in Delhi next week. India humbled South Africa with two days to spare in the series-opener at Mohali before repeating the feat in another dustbowl in Nagpur on Friday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series against the world’s top ranked test team. Forty wickets tumbled in Nagpur with Indian opener Murali Vijay’s 40 the top individual score in the low-scoring contest that followed the rainedout second test in Bangalore. Visiting captain Hashim Amla could not remember if he had faced more challenging conditions but

Shastri was unapologetic about the tracks India have rolled out in the series. “Nothing wrong with it,” the former all-rounder told ESPNcricinfo. “I would hope the one in Delhi is absolutely the same. I have no qualms about it. “It just goes to show that with the amount of one-day cricket being played, the tendency to graft, the tendency to spend long hours at the crease is diminishing. “(The pitch was) absolutely not (a problem). It’s on both sides...You have to stop cribbing and get on with the job at hand.” Far from being worried about tests finishing prematurely, Shastri said he would prefer such results to run feasts like that in Perth, where Australia and New Zealand scored a combined 1,672 runs in the drawn second test recently. “Nothing wrong with that (matches finishing inside

three days). It (Nagpur) was a test match that was moving all the time. You compare this test to the test match in Perth, I would pay money for a ticket for this game... To hell with the five days.” On a track that offered prodigious turn from day one, the Indian spinners claimed all 20 South African wickets in Nagpur, offie Ravichandran Ashwin taking 12 alone. Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell called the pitch “diabolical” while compatriot and former opener Matthew Hayden termed it “Bunsen Burner”, a slang for a turner. “Let them sit in Australia and talk about their pitches. Tell them not to waste their time about Indian tracks. Come and play here,” said Shastri. “Which rule tells me that a ball can’t turn on day one? Where does it tell me in the rulebook it can only swing and seam?” he added.