Monday November 07, 2016
PUT THE GUYSUCO BILLIONS INTO OTHER PLACES DEAR EDITOR; How much longer will Guyana be forced to be the economic lifeline for the depleted Guyana Sugar Corporation? How much longer will the government be expected to pump billions of dollars into a loss-making industry that is also ill-equipped to contend with cheap sugar producers outside of Guyana? The discussion on what must be done with the sugar industry is becoming pretentious since it is clear that GuySuCo is sucking heavily from the country’s treasury. It was analysed that almost $40billion will be needed in the next two years to just keep GuySuCo afloat, while the company is in some $80billion debt. What about the rest of the country? Workers and their families will be affected by the obvious changes needed at GuySuCo, but change is never easy so the PPP preferred to pump money into this failing industry to keep their support base happy. It even worked out better for the party since it was better to keep their supporters in the fields and draw them out when it is voting time. It is time to hand the billions of dollars being pumped into GuySuCo to the regions so they can really become
independent and create jobs for their citizens. It beats me why any genuine government would prefer to cause the country to suffer because one sector refuses to let go of a colonial job which once broke the backs of all our ancestors and now sucks life from our country. President David Granger spoke of independent regions, their own flags and emblems. Where is the emphasis on this idea? Having independent regions is a marvelous idea, not only will the regions be responsible for their own welfare but they will eventually generate their own money and develop unique personalities. Special emphasis should be placed on the capital. The Garden City is a must for any visitor, our largest wharfs, shopping and business centres, and a large portion of citizens reside here. Linden Town, New Amsterdam, and Bartica are among several locations that can use some of that money that is going to GuySuCo. Farming regions and other cottage industries need assistance. What about the ‘bread basket of the Caribbean’ idea? When will serious money be pumped into the communities like it is being pumped into GuySuCo? Akeem Bennons
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO STOP THIS TRAGEDY? DEAR EDITOR; Before I delve into the crux of my missive, amidst trying to digest a bevy of emotions, kindly permit me to offer condolences to the parents of Simon Elijah De Florimonte, who was shot dead last Tuesday by a licensed firearm holder, as he along with his accomplices attempted to gain unlawful entry into the alleged shooter’s home at Diamond Housing Scheme. From time immemorial society has arbitrarily established certain things to which no parent should be subjected to, among them being, having to bury their child/ children. The converse is held as the widely- accepted norm. Sadly, the father of the deceased found himself afoul of the decided order, in that not only has he to bury his offspring, but was forced to identify the bullet ridden body at the morgue, in addition to seeing the ghastly picture strewn across the media as the Police Force sought the assistance of the public in carrying out the identification. Following this incident, the father has made an impassioned plea to youths to try to find some form of employment rather than having to resort to crime, and meeting a similar demise as that of his son. . I am certain that death was not an intended outcome,
although one of the robbers had a handgun, but nevertheless it is a foreseeable outcome, as is the death of any individual in such encounters. And so a family is devastated, a home owner feels violated, and a nation / community enraged wondering when the crime will stop and what could have been done to stop this tragedy. I intend to answer that question in typical Holmesian manner, Elementary, my dear people! Elementary! Yes, the answer is very simple. Like it or leave it, do it or did, the truth can no longer be hidden. As a people we should have done better by those young men involved in the robbery, and so many others. At some point in their lives something happened to those young men like so many of the others that caused them to “check out”. By this I mean that something happened that caused them to no longer have any vested interest in their own future. “Checking out” takes place when an individual becomes so convinced that he or she has no future, no opportunity for a good life, no chance whatsoever to progress on their own merits, no sense whatsoever of selfworth that he/ she no longer cares what happens. At this juncture I will insert excerpts from my article in Kaieteur News October 23,
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2014- “Who speaks for the Youth?” There has been a proliferation of such crime by these young perpetrators, demonstrating such levels of criminal proficiency, and who are totally unfazed by the risks that accompany their pursuits. I am certain that like many others, shock and consternation eventually give way to the mind sobering question, “Who speaks for the youth? Who will send the message loud and clear for all concerned to hear? Currently, the youths are trapped within their surroundings, unable to breathe, no viable options to idleness and its accompanying consequences, lack of constructive activities, negativity is all they see around and even far ahead, employment totally out of reach. What then? Tell the truth, who speaks for the youth? What relief except to thief! Cannot find a job forces me to rob! Please for one nano second, labour under the misapprehension that this big “check out” is a solitary event. No way! It creeps insidiously into the psyche of individuals by way of years of seeing hopelessness leading to worthlessness. Then comes the tipping point, the point of no return, when the youth simply stops caring for his/ her own life. However, in that moment they also stop caring for the
lives of others as well. Only, and I categorically state only, to a youth who has “checked out” of his own future is the risk of going to jail or being killed an acceptable option. Youths who have checked out do not give a damn about consequences. We must from this day forward resolve ourselves to preventing the “check out” from occurring in the first place. A village must be built around these youths that will keep them off the streets, accounted for and supervised. If we keep the youths invested in their own future, with the passage of time it will dramatically change how they think about what they do to others. Yes, we have failed our youths as is evidenced by the current malaise that pervades the nation. The government has certainly failed to offer satisfactory solutions, and has found itself competing with the options offered by crime. We have looked away far too long and now it’s time to change our song. Be it resolved that the nation has evolved and will invest resources and time towards eradicating youth crime. Yvonne Sam
THE WEAKENING OF CONSTITUTIONAL AGENCIES BY THE GOVERNMENT DEAR EDITOR; Ours is a constitutional democracy constructed upon the foundation of the doctrine of separation of powers. As Justice Saunders posits in Benjamin v Minister of Information (1997: “… our democracy rests on three fundamental pillars, the Legislative, Executive and the Judicial. All must keep within the bounds of the Constitution. The Judiciary has the task of seeing to it that the Legislative’s and Executive’s action does not stray outside of those boundaries onto forbidden territory. If that occurs and a citizen with standing complains, the court declares the trespass and grants appropriate remedies… For our democracy to operate effectively, it has been said that it is necessary that a certain comity should exist between the three branches. Each should respect the role and function of the other. The executive should respect and obey the decisions and accept the intimations of the court. If this comity does not exist, then the wheels of democracy would not turn smoothly a jarring and dangerous note will resonate from them.”(unquote) The principles adumbrated by Justice Sanders equally apply to relationships between the Executive and independent constitutional agencies. Over the last seventeen months, this Government has been pursuing an institutionalized policy of undermining, emasculating, interfering with and assaulting these important independent constitutional agencies
whose critical functional responsibility is to oversight the Executive to ensure that the Executive acts within its powers and does not exceed and abuse its authority. Like every authoritarian regime, this Government perceives such scrutiny to be intolerable. As a result, a constant and incessant battle is being waged against these constitutional agencies either to embarrass, sideline or emasculate them. We have witnessed the hasty and precipitous actions of the Government to remove Mr. Carvil Duncan as Chairman of the Public Service Commission, a member of the Police Service Commission and a member of the Judicial Service Commission. The reason is clear. The Government obviously believes that they cannot manipulate and control Mr. Duncan. We saw the verbal onslaught to which the Auditor General was subjected to by the Minister of Finance. All that the Auditor General was guilty of was discharging his constitutional mandate of highlighting the abuse by the Minister of the constitution and fiscal laws. We recently heard of the Government’s intention to by-pass the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and to hire and, possibly, import, prosecutors to prosecute certain criminal cases, although the constitution vests the DPP with the exclusive responsibility to do so. Again, the reason for the Government’s intended action is obvious. They need prosecutors Continued on page 6
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Monday November 07, 2016
Honduran Airline committed Why the Police Complaints Authority needs ten investigators to serving Guyana DEAR EDITOR; Easysky Airways of Honduras says it is committed to a reliable and sustained relationship with Guyana so as to offer a vital air link to Cuba and countries in Central America. The airline, which recently introduced four flights weekly between Guyana and Cuba via Honduras, gave the assurance that “we are here to serve the Guyana market for the long term and to offer a connection that would contribute positively to the economies of both Guyana and Cuba,” said its president, Manuel Rodriguez Campo. Speaking at a reception Tuesday evening here in honor of the Guyana delegation currently participating in the Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV 2016), Rodriguez Campo disclosed that his airline is currently taking over 300 Cubans to Guyana each week to conduct business. He indicated Easysky’s interest in obtaining the necessary approvals from the Guyana Government to be able to sell tickets in Guyana for leisure and business travel in addition to transporting cargo which is likely to be generated as the commercial ties between Guyana and
Cuba are expanded. He also thanked the Government of Guyana for permitting the airline to offer its service to Guyana and expressed the hope that the relationship would be further cemented for mutual benefit. Easysky, whose local partner is Roraima Airways, first introduced service to Guyana just over one month ago and has since expanded its thrice weekly flights to four flights per week. Roraima Airways president and chief executive officer Gerry Gouveia told guests at the reception, which included G u y a n a ’s M i n i s t e r o f B u s i n e s s a n d To u r i s m , Dominic Gaskin, that with the introduction of the new service significant revenue “is being pumped into the Guyanese economy since the Cubans were spending between three and five thousand US dollars each during their stay in Guyana.” Gouveia said that with sustained service the new air link would generate a significant injection of almost one hundred million US dollars annually into the Guyana economy. He said that the airline is
planning ahead to be able to provide for the efficient transport of cargo from Guyana once the business links with Cuba and countries in Central America “take off”. Minister Gaskin in his remarks alluded to the importance of reliable, efficient and sustained air service to the development of emerging economies like Guyana, adding that he is encouraged by the efforts of the Guyanese private sector to look for new markets and to diversify where appropriate. He said that the introduction of new air links such as that being offered by Easysky, once reliable and efficient, should serve to help the effort of the private sector to be more competitive and to penetrate new markets internationally. Earlier Tuesday Minister Gaskin and Guyana’s Ambassador in Cuba, Halim Majeed met with the Ambassador of Honduras in Cuba along with a team from Easyjet, during which it is understood that the ambassador raised the possibility of sending Honduran students to Guyana to learn English. The Guyana delegation will be guests at a reception hosted by Ambassador Majeed at his residence. Wesley Kirton
You don’t have to be a lawyer to know the laws of a counry DEAR EDITOR; Attention is being given to the statement by the government legal adviser, the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs that Ramon Gaskin is not a lawyer and therefore cannot pronounce on a constitutional matter. As a citizen who is not only protected by the constitution but bound in my civic duty to uphold this supreme instrument such a statement is disturbing, Laws are made for the citizens. They are written in a manner that the least educated among us can understand them not only to safeguard their well-being but
also in ensuring their civic duty in maintaining order in society. What distinguishes a lawyer from a non-lawyer is that that person would have spent the time to acquire a legal education and certification to practice at the bar. At the same time it ought to be said that not only lawyers are allowed to lead evidence in a court. We see every day in the courts non-lawyers leading evidence including from the police to a citizen who does not have the means to retain a lawyer or refuses to have one, which the law allows for. The perception that only lawyers can speak to matters
of law is false. For the very premise undermines the spirit and intent of making laws for the people and the people’s responsibility to obey the law. This aids in understanding the truism that there is no excuse for breaking the law, given that it is expected everyone to be au fait with the law. The Government of Guyana stands to gain when every citizen knows the laws because it aids in the delivery of governance. Ignorance of the law on the part of the people makes governance harder and allows rouge elements in and out of government to run roughshod over the people. Lincoln Lewis
DEAR EDITOR; Both Kaieteur News and Stabroek News, in their Sunday edition, October 30, 2016 carried advertisements from the Ministry of Public Security. One struck me like a bolt from the blue. It came under the caption; “Request For Individual Consulting Services Ministry Of Public Security Cooperative Republic Of Guyana.” According to the document the Project Executing Unit of the CSSP is inviting eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services for Investigators for the Police Complaints Authority (10). It further stated that the incumbent is expected to conduct and / participate in investigations of matters which potentially involve allegations of misconduct, criminal violations, or violations of Standard Operating Procedures of the Guyana Police Force. This advertisement has jolted me. It leaves more questions than answers. It leaves me to wonder a bit. Why would the Police Complaints Authority need ten (10) investigators? Is the PCA so democratic that it is decentralizing its base to include one investigator for each Region in Guyana? I know that the Disciplined Forces Commission had mentioned that in the longer term, serious consideration should be given to the PCA having additional offices outside of the capital. Certainly, not ten investigators. Will the incumbent be given the legal status to investigate offences under the Police (Discipline) Act? Maybe, the PCA had conducted an environmental scanning and came up with the futuristic position that members of the GPF will commit so many offences now and in the future that the PCA will require ten investigators to deal with the projected deviant behaviour. Commissioner, look out for the challenges of inappropriate behaviour. What a potential waste of human and other scarce resources! In a letter to the editor last month i question the legality of the investigators of the PCA to investigate breaches of discipline under section 4. (a) of the Police (Discipline) Act Chapter 17: 01. I argued that section 5 (1) of the Act debars them from investigating breaches of discipline and that the investigators may also be violating section 5. (2) - (4) of the Act. Section 5 (1) of the Act states , “Every alleged commission of an offence against discipline under this Act shall be investigated as soon as practicable by a member of the force not below the rank of sergeant and of a higher rank than the member of the Force who is alleged to have committed the offence.”
This section is pellucid. It needs no legal interpretation. It clearly states that the investigation must be done by a member of the Force not below the rank of sergeant and of a higher rank than the member of the Force whom it is alleged to have committed the supposed breach of discipline. The investigators employed by the PCA are civilians. They have no police rank but they are investigating breaches under the Police (Discipline) Act. There are four of them. According to the advertisement the projected number is ten. In keeping with the present status quo more investigators will mean more illegal actions. I felt that by now the PCA would have responded to my letter. There is a thick wall of silence. Perhaps, my letter is not worthy of a response or the policy makers are quietly confabulating with the Police and the Police Service Commission to accommodate the investigators by swearing them as members of the Force and bestowing the relevant ranks on them so that they can legally investigate breaches of discipline; or the Act which has remained pristene since its enactment in 1975 will be amended to give PCA investigators legal status to investigate disciplinary offences. The Police Complaints Authority Act enacted in 1989 does not change a single word in the Police (Discipline) Act. It is in addition to and not in contradiction of the provisions of the Police (Discipline) Act. I am still wondering. Interestingly there is a thin blue wall of silence coming from the GPF and the Police Service Commission who are receiving or will receive and act on the forbidden fruits from a poisonous tree that is or will be regularly submitted to them by the investigators. It is debatable whether or not the police should investigate themselves. But who has the investigative techniques, the serving members of the Force, the ex members or civilians? I have no quarrel who should conduct investigations of misconduct by the police but those persons so employed must be legally empowered. I agree that swift, certain and appropriate action must be taken against defaulting ranks. On the other hand, the police personnel should be quickly rewarded for outstanding work done. However, in doing so the rights of the police under the Laws of Guyana must not be trampled on. Justice must not only be done but must appear to be done. Let justice and fair play prevail. Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police Retired
The weakening of constitutional... From page 5 whom they can direct, manipulate and control. They cannot do so in respect of an independent DPP Office. We already know that SOCU and SARA, staffed with political appointees and politicians, are masquerading as law enforcement agencies and are directed to investigate persons identified by the Administration, including, leading members of the Opposition. The Guyana Police Force, which has had the exclusive statutory mandate to detect, investigate and prevent crime for the past 150 years, is being excluded. In their policy of interference and attack, even the Judiciary has not gone untouched. The Attorney General has engaged the Judicial Service Commission in a public confrontation in relation to the latter’s appointment of the Deputy Registrar of Deeds, a responsibility which the constitution clearly vests with the Judicial Service Commission. The matter is now the subject of legal
proceedings. Only recently, the Attorney General launched a most disrespectful public tirade against the Chancellor of the Judiciary, describing him as a “dictator” in the judicial system. The aforementioned examples are by no means exhaustive. But they vividly demonstrate that the “comity” which Justice Saunders opined should exist among these poles of constitutional power, is absent, largely because of the contempt with which these agencies are treated by the Executive. As a result what now obtains is precisely what Justice Saunders warned against: “If this comity does not exist, then the wheels of democracy would not turn smoothly a jarring and dangerous note will resonate from them.” As a consequence, the sloth which has affected the Judiciary for decades has gotten progressively worse under this Administration. Anil Nandlall Editor’s note; this letter will conclude in our edition tomorrow
Monday November 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Granger pleads for patience from crime-weary public
Alleged beating of fisherman by GDF ranks…
Have a little patience. That’s the message President Granger is sending to the crime-weary citizens of Guyana. While there is a semblance that crime is on the increase, President David Granger is convinced that the strategies employed by his administration are working and crime is actually under control. “We are working and I ask the public to be patient because initiatives that were put in place by the Ministry of Public Security are starting to have an effect.” The President said that there are several types of crime and while interpersonal crime remains hard to control, piracy is “almost at zero percent.” Granger said that the form of crime that “has come to greatest prominence is interpersonal crime.” The President made reference to a 53-year-old mother of two, Bhumattie Deolall, who was brutally murdered in her home in Belvedere, Corentyne, Berbice last week. Her body, with the head severed, was discovered by neighbours. The suspect has been identified as Balgobin, (aka ‘Payo’) a 39-year-old man who lives opposite the woman’s house. Granger said that “it is very difficult to stop that sort of crime.” While the President mentioned other crimes, he stayed clear of addressing the prevalence of robberies. As he listed some of the steps being taken to address crime, Granger mentioned the fact that the Mounted Branch of the Guyana Police Force has been deployed away from the ceremonial role and has
- says strategies are working
President David Granger been given an operational role in places like the Rupununi. He said that the government has also ensured the strengthening of the maritime units. Granger also noted that his administration is still looking to procure more equipment for border control which will include m o r e b oats and even an aircraft. Granger said that policing has been strengthened in Bartica, which is now the home of the commander of F Division “for the first time.” Further, Granger said that his government has been reintroducing organizational change. He noted that he reengaged the British government to get access to the Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP). The SSRAP, a US$4.7 billion programme, was scrapped by the UK some years ago after major disagreements with the then Bharrat Jagdeo PPP/C Government over some of the conditions of the plan. Some of the conditions would have seen UK Officers working closely with local
counterparts and giving advice on critical issues. Granger told reporters, “It (the plan) is now back on the table and we expect the experts to come later on this month or in December.” Because of this intervention, Granger assured that there will be changes in the Police Force “and some problems will be corrected.” The Head of State recognized the fact that the Guyana Police Force needs more manpower, particularly in the Rupununi. THECRIME WAVE EFFECT The president said that crime is still at an unacceptable level, “they are being solved more quickly.” Granger recalled that the highest rate of murder in Guyana was recorded in 2003 when 206 persons were killed. “Now the body count is lower. But we want to bring it much lower, maybe fewer than 100 per year.” “It is too high; but we must bear in mind that many of the youngsters who were just three and four years old in 2002 when the gangs were operating are now grown.” He said that these youth have grown accustomed to solving their problems with violence. “We have come out of a very difficult period where the murder rate seemed to have had a secondary impact. The first is what happened to the victims but the second impact was to those who witnessed these crimes.” Granger said that it will take much more work for Guyana to recover from that dark period.
The sky can be the limit ...First Lady tells budding entrepreneurs First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, on Saturday said that “the sky can be the limit” for young entrepreneurs, in her address at the Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central’s ‘The CEO in You: Young entrepreneurs in a changing global economy 2016’ workshop, held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. The Club planned and executed the workshop as part of its professional development programme and invited the First Lady to deliver the charge based on the work that she has done over the past year to empower women and young people across the country. “The beauty of being
young, I think, is that you are not as cautious as older folk like me. The sky can be the limit for you. And you will have the opportunity, today, to listen to wise women and men share their ideas and their expertise with you as they point the way towards success in your chosen areas of business,” the First Lady said. She noted that the title of the workshop identifies three areas of focus – the chief executive officer, the entrepreneur and the environment in which the entrepreneur will operate and advised participants about the importance of researching their markets, knowing the rules and regulations applicable to the diverse
business environment, knowing their competition and learning how to protect themselves. “You will be operating in a changing global economy… Apart from your organisational and managerial skills, you need the acumen to understand how rapidly the world of business is evolving. You need to be au fait with the developments in information and communication technology [ICT] because much of today’s business is conducted through ICT… You can plan to grow and expand your business and keep your records through your computer software,” Mrs. Granger said. President (Continued on page 8)
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Commander insists action being taken
With Julius Taylor, the man who lost his left eye after he was allegedly beaten by Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guardsmen making several visits to the Police Station and Kaieteur News, Commander of Police ‘D’ Division Leslie James, has assured that action is being taken in the matter. Julius Taylor, 33, a fisherman, of Lot 1639 Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo was reportedly attacked and beaten by GDF Coast Guardsmen on July 27, last. At the time of the assault, he was said to be making his way home from the Parika Police Station where he had visited to inquire about a report he had made about larceny of a cell phone. When contacted yesterday, James said that the matter is currently under investigation. Medical documents seen by Kaieteur News indicated that Taylor was advised by doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to seek medical attention overseas since corrective surgery to save his right eye, cannot be done here. Taylor returned home in September after a successful operation. He estimates the total cost for the operation, airfare and accommodation at $1.6M. He also underwent reconstructive surgery on his face at the GPHC. Taylor said that he had visited the station to inquire
about investigation into a matter he had reported some time ago. He said that as he was making his way past a “rum shop”, four men who were consuming alcohol confronted him and an argument ensued. He recalled that one of the men threw a Guinness bottle at him while he was involved in an altercation with another man who was armed with a knife. Taylor also said that he was dealt several stabs to the face and about the body with broken bottles. He alleged that the beating occurred a short distance from the station and was witnessed by three police officers who refused to assist him. When asked how he knew the men were members of GDF, Taylor said that he was able to ascertain their identity based on information he received from residents in the area. Taylor made it clear that he had never seen his attackers before.
Julius Taylor He related that police officers from the station transported him to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was visited by a policeman who took a statement from him. His relatives only became aware that he was hospitalized after an official from the Cottage Hospital contacted them via phone. He was referred to the GPHC two days later, where he had the badly damaged eye removed.
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Monday November 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Cops step up search for Murder accused stabs vanished Prospect woman prison orderly over woman Detectives are likely to step up the search today for Shawnette Savory, the 37year-old woman who vanished without trace two months ago. Kaieteur News understands that police are preparing to focus their search on a particular area, where they have received reports that Savory was last seen. One lead suggests that Savory has been in the company of two individuals who are known to the police. Persons making anonymous calls to the woman’s relatives have claimed that she was being held against her will in a shack on the West Bank of Demerara. Savory reportedly left her Lot 222 Prospect apartment on August, 28, 2016, to attend an uncle’s birthday party at Eccles, East Bank Demerara. She reportedly then returned home. On August 30, she left her apartment, where she lived alone, to pay her electricity bill. She returned home, only
Missing: Shawnette Savory to go out again. Days later, Shawnette’s landlady contacted the woman’s relatives to say that she had not seen her tenant for some time. The relatives tried contacting her via her cell phone, but all calls went unanswered. Relatives filed a report at the Providence Police Station and at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary. They were reportedly told that they needed to provide more information for
the police to work with. A relative who checked Shawnette’s apartment became even more concerned on realizing that the woman had only taken a small handbag with her. All of her belongings appeared to be intact, and even her phone charger was left behind. Relatives checked at hospitals, and even at mortuaries. At one point, some family members travelled to Wismar after receiving a call from someone who said that they had seen a person fitting Shawnette’s description crossing the Wismar Bridge. However, CCTV footage revealed that the individual was not Shawnette. Then they began to receive calls from individuals who claimed that they knew of the missing woman’s whereabouts. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Shawnette Savory can contact relatives on telephone numbers 689-0107, 654-1536, 233-3699, 696-1870, or the nearest police station.
Murder accused Calvin Bailey was placed in isolation in the Georgetown Prison at around 09.00 hrs yesterday after he stabbed another inmate. The victim, identified as Dwain King, 30, was stabbed twice with an improvised weapon during a clash with Bailey in a section of the prison known as the “New Wing Division.” He was treated and was
later released from hospital, since the injuries were not considered to be life threatening. Prison sources said that Bailey ha d a l l e g e d t h a t King, a prison orderly convicted for narcotics, had been in contact with Bailey’s girlfriend. The Lindener was charged in April, 2007, for murdering his 18-month-old son, Shaquan Nero, during an altercation with the child’s
mother, Bernadette Nero. He was freed last March after three hung jury trials. However, he is at present awaiting trial on another murder charge. Bailey has repeatedly clashed with prison warders and other inmates during his incarceration. In May, 2014, Bailey sustained injuries when he set a mattress on fire and allegedly attacked a prison officer.
National Congress for Women raises funds for Region 1 children
The sky can be the... (From page 7) of the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central, Ms. Kneka Franklin, who chaired the event, told the group that the First Lady articulated for them the crucial first steps that they must take in order to become successful entrepreneurs. “One of the things I want to second is the …use of [ICT]. I think that is one of the areas that we should really focus on and develop in Guyana, especially since we’re hoping to go ‘green’, we can do away with a lot of paper,” she said. Meanwhile, Mr. Andrew Boyle, Director of Eureka Laboratory and the Past President of the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central echoed the First Lady’s remarks about the importance of preparation. “Dreaming
and positive thoughts are, of course, not enough to reach one’s goal. It takes preparation [and] innovative practices,” he said. Mr. Boyle also told the group to use obstacles to motivate them to reach their goals and to celebrate and be grateful for small accomplishments along the way. “My advice to you is that you should never think that you have reached your set of starts, but rather celebrate your accomplishments and keep reaching for those stars and in the process lend a helping hand to those in need,” he said. The six-hour-long workshop aims to provide small businesses with the insight into the regulatory and legal environment, opportunities and support
mechanisms that exist for doing business in Guyana. Its agenda includes sessions on writing business plans and other topics related to business creation, business ventures, decision-making, support options, and relatable testimonials of successful entrepreneurs. The First Lady continues to support organisations that focus on empowerment, education and support for vulnerable populations and has supported the work of the Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central. Just last August, she made a financial contribution to the group’s Operation BOOST, which targets 150 nursery and primary age students in Lima Sands, Essequibo Coast, PomeroonSupenaam (Region Two). (A GINA Feature)
First Lady Sandra Granger chats with fashion designer Pat Coates.
Models display locally made outfits, footwear and clutch purses.
The National Congress of Women (NCW), the women’s arm of the People’s National Congress Reform, hosted a tea party and fashion show on Saturday at Castellani House, Vlissengen Road, Georgetown. The objective was to raise funds to bring Christmas cheer to the children of Region One, Barima Waini.
First Lady, Sandra Granger was the patron for the event. Minister of Social Protection and the First Chairperson for the NCW, Volda Lawrence chaired the event. The fashion show featured local Guyanese fashion designers namely, Pat Coates, Sonia Noel, Olympia Small Sonaram, Vashti Harlequin, Andrea Braithwaite and Jason
Shurland. Local models wore locally designed fashion outfits, for a casual evening, the workplace and even the beach. Also locally made shoes, handbags and clutch purses with local materials were on display at the event. Among the attendees was the Public Procurement Commission member, Carol Corbin, Chairman for Region 4, Demerara Mahaica, Genevieve Allen and members of the NCW. The Vice Chairman of the NCW, Carol-Smith Joseph stated that the event was a good one for socializing and showcasing our local talent in the fashion industry.
Monday November 07, 2016
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Kaieteur News
PRICES AT CHRISTMAS! Heaven help us this Christmas! The price of eggs has already passed $900 per tray. It is likely to reach $1200 per tray by the time the cakebaking season peaks. It might be more economical for persons to buy their own sponge and fruit cake this Christmas from the bakeries. But that will take away from the spirit of the season. You cannot really
have Christmas without the smell and taste of homemade sponge and fruit and black cake. The price of preserved fruits used in the making of fruit and black cake has remained stable. The preserved fruits are all imported. With demand likely to peak, there should be a spike in the cost of fruits. The price of cut chicken
in the supermarkets is now over $400 per lb. A few years ago, there was concern when at Christmas time, the price of chicken had reached $300 per lb. The price has now consistently stayed above $400 per lb. Consumers have not complained and no attempt has been made to bring the price down despite Guyana now being self- sufficient in
Agro-processors Street Fair highlights Guyana’s manufacturing potential The New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC) hosted its third annual Agroprocessors Street Fair on Main Street, Georgetown last Saturday. The aim of the annual event is to bring local agro-processors together in a central location to promote the sale and use of locally produced commodities at affordable prices. The public also had an opportunity to sample and look at new products that will hit the shelves of the Guyana Shop for the Christmas season. Some 22 manufacturers showcased their products made and packaged in Guyana. Manufacturers also sought to create linkages and strengthen their agriculture and marketing strategies. Manager at the Guyana Shop, Kevin Macklingam said the mandate of the New GMC is to market local
products on local and international markets. Macklingam added that the Guyana Shop is the retail outlet for the New GMC, noting that it stocks a host of locally produced products. The Guyana Shop manager also added that the New GMC is working along with several supermarkets, which have dedicated special areas to showcase local products. Sandra Craig, of SS Natural Fruit Favour Bar-bcue sauce makes seven flavours of sauce. Craig began her operation on Orange Walk, Bourda. Now that her business is growing she said she is seeking the public’s support. Paul Warner of Jet’s Enterprise said the company has been around since 1990 and sells its products on the local and international markets. The company’s products range from noni juice, Capadulla Beverage – “The Back
Tonic”, and various fruit concentrates like cherry, sorrel, guava, and ginger beer. Macklingam said that the Agro-Processors’ Street Fair was held in Port Mourant and was deemed a success by the participants. The official also disclosed that there will be a similar activity in Linden at the end of November. Macklingam said the New GMC will continue to work with reputable supermarkets across Guyana to help promote local products. Macklingam added that all products can be found at the Guyana Shop located in Georgetown at the corners of Alexander and Robb Streets, Lacytown.
chicken. If the price hits $500 by Christmas, there will be gnashing of teeth and wailing. The rich of course will have their imported turkey and ham. The price of ham is unaffordable to the poor in Guyana. The supermarkets will have ham but how many poor people can afford. The poor cannot switch to fish on Christmas day. The wholesale price of snapper is now over $500 per lb. The retail prices, depending on the cuts, can reach as a high as $800 per lb., or twice that of the price of chicken. The price of fish will drop at Christmas because of the fall in demand – Christmas is a meat eating season- but fish is still likely to be retailed at a higher price than chicken. This means that there is no alternative for the poor who may want to have a more affordable Christmas lunch. The poor may be hoping for an increase in income this Christmas. The construction sector however is not as robust as before. Persons are delaying the usual Christmas repairs because they are not quite certain how the economy is going to perform. They also are concerned about
increased cost of land which could adversely affect the agricultural sector. The government has paid its increase to workers retroactively. Traditionally, the government had paid the back pay at Christmas time. This allowed the workers to enjoy themselves over the Christmas. The new government had promised that they would impose wage increases on workers. They have done exactly that. They have paid the increases, however, one month earlier. The workers may end up spending their back pay even before the holidays in the hope that like last year, the government will give a bonus to all workers. The workers had better not gamble on that. Even if there is a bonus, it is not likely to be more than $50 000 per person. That is not going to be sufficient to compensate for the increases in prices that we are seeing for Christmas. The other sources of increased spending in the economy at Christmas are tourist arrivals and increased remittances. In the case of tourist arrivals, Guyanese came home in their droves for
the Jubilee celebrations. Many of them saw this as a show of support for the APNU+AFC and so many of them borrowed heavily on their credit cards to come back to Guyana. They are not likely to come back for Christmas. There are many others who did not come for the Jubilee who would love to come home to enjoy a traditional Christmas, but who are scared hell of those young boys who are robbing and shooting people. We may well therefore have a lower level of tourist arrivals in 2016 than we did last year. As for remittances, the official numbers indicate that this is falling significantly and therefore Guyanese at home must expect a shortfall in the usual remittances they receive at Christmas. The one thing that will be available in abundance and very cheap at Christmas is rum. There is never a shortage of this and it is always affordable.
Monday November 07, 2016
GPHC A&E head promises faster response for emergency cases Head of the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Dr. Zulfikar Bux gave his assurance that persons referred to the A&E Department would not have to wait for extended periods before being treated. Bux said that the nurses in the department are trained according to protocol to see patients when they arrive, figure out what the emergency is, and thereafter place them into a category according to urgency. The doctor was at the time addressing the media at a sensitisation session held at the GPHC on Friday. According to the emergency care specialist, there will no longer be complaints from persons about going to the department and waiting for hours before receiving care. Bux said that there are doctors who attend to patients in the A&E and decide the level of urgency for each case, and ensure that the persons are taken care of as soon as possible. “If you get a gunshot to your chest, I dare to say that 100 per cent of the time you’re going to be taken into the emergency room and be seen. That time has passed and now people who are very sick are being taken care of.” However, the doctor said that persons arriving with minor issues will have to wait their turn. “If your wife slaps you and you come for a police medical, you will have to wait four to five hours. Our role is to save lives and that’s what we’re doing very well.” The doctor said that the institution is not at the level yet where it can do VIP care and does not envision it happening in the future. He said that the department’s main focus is lifesaving care. According to him, training doctors and nurses will equip the hospital to reduce its turn over time. The department treats approximately 150 to 200 patients daily. Bux said that one of the challenges which affects turn over time is that the laboratory department has to serve emergency labs and give labs to the entire hospital. “Because of that, patients have to wait maybe a few hours more to get their results, but they are not waiting at the expense of their medical condition. Whenever you see a doctor, you’re getting treatment, you’re stabilized. So at no point you can say I had a complication because I was waiting on a lab.” The doctor admitted that the department does find it difficult to improve its efficiency, but assured that it
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Kaieteur News
More emphasis on reducing Malaria in hinterland - Bartica has highest rate of cases among Guyana’s ‘moving’ population
Dr. Zulfikar Bux will improve in time. He said that the A&E is short on resources which he said is a common problem throughout the hospital. He said that with proper training, which nurses will receive, the hospital and his department particularly, will achieve the correct nurse to patient ratio thus improving efficiency. Despite these shortcomings, the doctor advised: “If you do have an emergency or you do have a life threatening condition, this is the place to come. If you have a non- emergency or something that is bothering you, the health centres and other outlying hospitals are the places to go.” He urged that persons in far-flung areas first visit the closest hospital before going directly to the GPHC for treatment. The wisdom behind this is that outlying hospitals can perform initial stabilization of conditions before transferring the patient to the GPHC.
The Public Health Ministry’s, Vector Control Services (VCS) unit will be taking a more proactive role to reduce the mosquito-borne disease, malaria, in the hinterland regions. A number of health workers from within Region Seven have already been trained in microscopy which will assist in early tracing and diagnosing of the disease. This was highlighted at the “Malaria Day in the Americas” observance on Friday in Bartica, Region Seven. The annual event is observed on November 6, in all the countries of the Americas. The theme for this year’s observance is “End Malaria for Good”. A team comprising officials of the VCS, Ministry of Public Health, and the Pan American Health Organisation, World Health Organisation’s (PAHO/ WHO) Dr. Jean Alexandre travelled to Bartica to join with their health counterparts within that region to recognise this day. Bartica was chosen for the launch and celebration of this day since it is recorded that this area has the highest rate of malaria cases among Guyana’s ‘moving’ population. Dr. Quacy Grant remarked that for this year thus far, malaria rates in Region Seven have been fluctuating. Efforts have been made to ensure the numbers of cases decrease. Grant outlined a number
of activities that VCS will be involved in with an effort to fulfill this year’s Malaria Day in the Americas’ theme. Other measures are being put in place to ensure that the high number of cases within mining and logging areas is reduced. One of these measures is the training of regional health workers. “Beginning from next year, and projecting onwards, we’d be looking at how we can build capacity, and we have started (the training) already with the assistance of PAHO/WHO of persons in the regions’ malaria programme,” Dr. Grant said. Also community mapping is expected to be carried out, starting with Region Seven, in order to track the moving population, and the rates of detected malaria cases. Mining and logging areas are prone to producing higher numbers of vector borne diseases because the condition of the surroundings is perfect breeding sites for mosquitoes. However, miners and loggers who are numbered among the moving population of endemic regions, can contract malaria at any time. Director of VCS, Dr. Horace Cox said, “We found that in Guyana we have a mining population of about 38, 000 people which we consider to be mobile population, which is a combination of both mining and logging. What we have discovered is in the mining
Dr. Quacy Grant – Malaria Programme Coordinator, Vector Control Services, Ministry of Public Health setting, persons would dig the pits looking for gold, and they do all of these different things and create mosquito breeding sites.” The VCS plans to further decentralise the malaria programme to effectively reach persons who are more likely to be infected with malaria in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine. Additionally, steps are being taken to intensify net distribution within these areas. “We have tried this decentralisation in times past, and it wasn’t successful, but we are going at it again because we believe that strong regions will make a stronger central body… we cannot do the work in the regions, so if we have strong regional malaria teams it would mean that our work at VCS, at the central level would be much lighter,” Dr. Grant explained. Regional malaria supervisor of Region Seven, Nathalie Griffith who was recognised by the Ministry for outstanding work done in the malaria programme pointed
out, “We were able to do malaria smear around Bartica, at the hospital itself, treatment on a daily basis, also in the surrounding areas, and we were able to visit some of the interior locations through medical outreaches, (and) net distribution was done at the malaria department also in the mining areas.” Guyana has been commemorating a National Malaria Day since November 6, 2003 which was the proposed date for the observance of Malaria Day in the Americas. This date coincides with the day when the presence of malaria parasites in the blood of patients with febrile symptoms was first detected by Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran in 1880. Having made note of this, at the 27th Pan American Sanitary conference held in Washington, D.C in 2007, it was agreed upon by all countries of the Americas that November 6 will be recognised as Malaria Day in the Americas. (A GINA Feature)
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Kaieteur News
Monday November 07, 2016
Nandlall, Opposition walkout during heated debate over President’s speech Say, “The Speaker committed a travesty. There is not even an effort to conceal the bias anymore…Dictatorship is back!” By: Kiana Wilburg The debate over President David Granger’s recent address to the Parliament was so controversial that it led to an intense exchange between Parliamentarians as well as another walkout by the political opposition. This was sparked at the time when Opposition Member, Anil Nandlall made his contribution to the debate on Friday. Nandlall was heavily critical of the President’s speech as well as his steady appearance in the Parliament. So contentious was his input that he was asked by House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland to withdraw quite a few of his statements. And he did; except in one instance. His most upsetting statements for the Government’s side of the House were in relation to the President’s reference to the judgments and debt that the coalition administration inherited from the former regime. Nandlall said that the state will always attract liability. The former Attorney General then spoke specifically about the controversial BK settlement. He sought to make it clear that the BK judgment was one debt that the government did not inherit. He said that the nation subsequently learnt that BK International sent a letter which led to a settlement under the coalition administration. “They came to a settlement over the most
potent legal letter ever written,” Nandlall told the House. Attorney General, Basil Williams rose on a point of order by that time. He insisted that Nandlall was misrepresenting the facts of the matter. He said that Nandlall’s contentions that no judgment was ever granted in the case against the former regime and that government came to a settlement with BK on a mere threatening letter are erroneous. He then asked Nandlall to withdraw the statements. The Opposition Member insisted however that the information about the letter being sent was what he got from the daily newspaper. His colleague, Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira also stated that the comments regarding the letter were actually revealed by the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan in the National Assembly. Bulkan however took offense to the statements attributed to him and called for Nandlall to withdraw his comments. To Bulkan and Williams, Nandlall responded, “So all yall playing stupid now?” The politician insisted that he can produce the newspaper he is referring to and as such would not withdraw his statements. Nandlall said that he repeated those statements several times and it was never refuted. The House Speaker however maintained that unless he could substantiate it, he would have to retract his comments
In another attempt to prove his case, Nandlall asked for one hour of leave to go home and bring the newspaper before the House. The House Speaker however told him that when he comes to the National Assembly he must come prepared. Nandlall said, “I don’t expect to be asked to prove things that are established.” Hoping to bring the matter to a close and move on Dr. Scotland told the Opposition Parliamentarian, “Withdraw or take your seat.” Nandlall opted to do the latter. Dr. Scotland subsequently told Nandlall that he was out of order and would not participate in the rest of the proceedings. But Nandlall did not leave it there. He sharply retorted, “I don’t intend to” The Speaker then asked, “Then you will leave?” Nandlall said, “I am packing.” His colleagues did the same. But there was no quiet walkout. Opposition and Government Parliamentarians descended into an exchange of insults. The Speaker even warned that the Opposition with its behaviour was
bordering on contempt. But some still continued with their unsavoury comments. Teixeira went on record before leaving the House to state that her members had no time to prepare for the debate on the President’s speech. She said, “…When a motion is thrown at us without proper notice this is what happens.” Nandlall on his facebook page said that he felt that he was muzzled and then evicted from the National Assembly. He said, “The Speaker committed a travesty. There is not even an effort to conceal the bias anymore.” Nandlall attached a link to the Kaieteur News article to which he made reference during the debate, with the comment, “Does the Speaker not owe me an apology? Dictatorship is back!” For months, several Government officials sought to defend the US$5.7M outof-court settlement with BK International, claiming that had the government decided to challenge any suit, then it would have risked losing double the amount. The Government officials also suggested that BK International’s initial claim of US$10M was made before the
Opposition Member, Anil Nandlall
House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland
courts, hence the haste to hammer out the deal and pay the contractor off as quickly as possible. Relentlessly, this newspaper tried to get a hold of documents to that effect, but all efforts proved futile. Court officials said that no such records existed. Attorney General Basil Williams refused to cooperate with the newspaper, and the owner of the company, Brian Tiwarie, made numerous promises to provide the mystery document, but failed to do so. However, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan in an interview explained that indeed the court said that BK International should be compensated after its contract for the management of the Haags Bosch was arbitrarily terminated.
Bulkan said that the company however never moved to the court for compensation. He revealed that by way of letter, BK made a claim for over US$10M to the government. According to Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, the US$5.7m settlement was hammered out since last year. He said it was agreed that BK International would receive the payments for the US$5.7M settlement in three tranches; two this year and the other which will be part of the 2017 budget. Jordan said the first tranche of $350M was already part of the 2016 budget which was passed last February. He said it was paid over to BK in keeping with the agreement. The second part of $500M would be paid in the second quarter of the year.
Regular check-ups helped Eileen Baker- Wright beat breast cancer By Enid Joaquin Eileen Baker-Wright is petite, has a glowing complexion and an upbeat personality. It’s hard to believe that she was once in the grip of two diseases-one debilitating, the other life threatening. And one of them was breast cancer. It was around 1998 that she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, an auto immune disease. She was devastated with that diagnosis, as the disease was attacking her body to the point where normal movement was very restricted and excruciatingly painful. At the time Eileen was living in the United States and she was about to retire from her job, where she functioned in a Managerial capacity. She reflected that there were days when the agony prevented her from even writing. Even simple
Cancer survivor Eileen Baker-Wright tasks like putting on her clothing became a challenge, and so she had to depend on her husband to help her. She admits that being an independent person, this new dependency was especially hard for her. She has since managed to overcome this ailment. Then, three years later, a far more deadly disease struck. “I had gone to the doctor because I had felt a lump, and
I did a mammogram but it showed nothing; I was clear, but I felt something and so I insisted that I wanted to see a specialist, because I felt that something was wrong.” She was subsequently referred to a specialist, who tried to “aspirate” but he couldn’t get any liquid out of the lump. At the time, she was about to go on vacation, and her doctor encouraged her to do so. But after her return, Eileen’s doctor called her. Eileen said that she just knew that the diagnosis was not good. It wasn’t. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. Was she devastated? Surprisingly, Eileen says no. ‘When I was diagnosed, it was unbelievable- I think I was in shock, because I’ve always taken good care of my health, so I certainly wasn’t expecting that diagnosis. But I knew I had to deal with it.” A perpetual optimist, Eileen knew she was going to beat the disease, as she had overcome her rheumatoid
arthritis. “Having that problem, I think, somehow prepared me for cancer, because I felt if I could beat that (rheumatoid arthritis), I could beat anything.” She subsequently had to undergo several tests to determine whether her body was ‘up to’ taking chemotherapy, and what type. It was, as the doctor told her that despite the cancer, her body was in excellent shape. Eileen confessed that the decision to take chemotherapy is never an easy one, but she was determined that she had to do it. She would undergo two surgeries and received the chemotherapy for just under a year. During that year, Eileen said that she took a lot of trips, as she was advised by her doctor to avoid stress. And she continued working, even though she (Continued on page 24)
Monday November 07, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Contractors linked to PP collect over $2 billion Trinidad Express - From 2011 to 2015, two contractors affiliated with the former People’s Partnership government received over two billion dollars from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC). They were TN Ramnauth & Company Ltd and Motilal Ramhit & Sons Construction Ltd. While from 2012 to 2015, two companies linked to People’s National Movement (PNM) financier Andrew Gabriel—Trinidad & Tobago Landscaping Company Ltd and Norman Gabriel —Trinidad & Tobago Landscaping Company Ltd and Norman Gabriel Ltd—were paid close to $94.5 million. Other spending by the HDC inclu-ded: $5.7 million to the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad) hotel from 2011-2015; $424,931.25 to Al-Rawi & Company (the law firm of now Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi) in 2013; and $174,902.44 to former HDC chairman Rabindra Moonan. The sums were included in documents obtained by the Sunday Express which were compiled for an audit of HDC’s spending for the period 2011-2015, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC). The Sunday Express understands $3.6 billion in questionable payments to a handful of contractors were reviewed. The audit, which took over six months, cost about $1.1 million. From 2010-2015, the HDC has spent $5.4 billion, and it currently owes contractors over $600 million.
Audit into HDC’s spending from 2011-2015...
Emile Elias
Andrew Gabriel
Last week, Government announced it had filed its first anti-corruption case in the courts. Al-Rawi said the matter involves nine former government officials and public officers from the last administration. The Sunday Express understands the case includes former Housing Development Corporation officials and the alleged misappropriation involves hundreds of millions of dollars. From 2010-2015, the HDC received $8,306,221,025, of which $5,735,895,711 was allocated for the former People’s Partnership’s housing programme. The sum $5,735,895,711 for housing was
broken down as follows: $4,235,894,711 was allocated via the Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF); $1,500,000,000 via borrowings; and $151,221,801 via the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) for rental properties. TN Ramnauth & Company Ltd, whose shareholders are Taradath and Meena Ramnauth, collected $1,511,338,746.14 from 2011 to 2015. In 2011, the company was paid $92,671,971.18; in 2012, $266,330,702.68; in 2013, $375,891,409.30; in 2014, the company was paid $228,646,399.85; and in 2015, it was paid $547,798,263.13. Since 2011, Mootilal Ramhit & Sons has received hundreds of millions from the HDC. In 2011, it was paid $73,802,361.80; in 2012,
$134,634,540.05; in 2013, it was paid $322,815,624.92; in 2014, $247,622,428.71; and in 2015, $222,272,973.36. The third biggest contractor at HDC was Emile Elias’ NH In-ternational, which was paid $603,008,252.05 from 2011 to 2015. Last week, Elias was selected out of 12 local and international entities for the People’s National Movement (PNM) Government’s first public- private partnership housing project—a $145 million contract for the HDC’s new Mahogany Court housing development in Mt Hope. Trinidad & Tobago Landscaping Company, owned by Gabriel’s wife, Natalie, was in the top 20 companies paid by the HDC over the five-year period. The company collected $51,434,466.72. Since 2012, it was paid $2,904,019.88; in 2013, $12,034,809.98; in 2014, it was paid $13,748,478.67; and in 2015, it was paid $22,747,158.19. Gabriel’s own company, Nor-man Gabriel Ltd, was paid $42,961675.22. In 2012, it was paid $12,612,251.63; in 2013, $1,717,964.95; in 2014, that sum increased to $17,445,859.48; and in 2015, it was paid $11,185,599.16. Rounding off the top 20 contractors at the HDC were—Kee Chanona Ltd at $361,645,124.37; Hanover Construction Ltd at $285,182,635.29; Point Lisas Park Ltd at $157,500,000; Trinity Hou-sing at $$128,487,504.08; Syne’s Contracting at $119 million; and Pace Construction Services at $105 million.
Nicaragua’s leader and wife seem likely to win elections GIS called a ‘hellhole’ that’s not helping
Nicaraguan President, Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo. Managua (AFP Photo/Inti Ocon) Managua (AFP) Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega and his extravagant wife, Rosario Murillo, looked likely to win elections yesterday that would hand him a third straight term and cement her role as co-ruler. Voting was taking place “in a calm and normal way” across the Central American nation of six million to select the president and lawmakers, the head of the Supreme Electoral Council, Roberto Rivas, told reporters. Foreign observers were barred from monitoring the election, though some
Organisation of American States (OAS) representatives and a couple of former presidents of Guatemala and Paraguay were invited to lend their presence to the vote. Rivas defended the stance against monitors, saying that the legitimacy of Nicaragua’s elections “comes from the people, not from any foreigner.” Polling was scheduled to close at 6:00 pm (0000 GMT Monday), with results expected around five hours later. Voter intention surveys credit Ortega with an insurmountable lead over
rivals. The 70-year-old former Marxist rebel is wildly popular — especially with Nicaragua’s poor who account for more than a third of the population — for social programmes and economic stability and security that has promoted vibrant growth. If he triumphs, it would be Ortega’s fourth presidential mandate. He has served two consecutive terms since 2007, and previously between 1985 and 1990, when his Sandinista National Liberation Front emerged victorious from a revolution that toppled a dictatorial dynasty. Murillo, 65, already fills a prominent role as his government’s spokeswoman. With Ortega increasingly reluctant to make public appearances, she has stepped up — wearing trademark colourful dresses and ostentatious jewelry — to represent the administration. She has also left her mark on the capital, ordering the erection of tall, metal “trees of life” that decorate the main boulevard in bright colours. Many observers believe “La Companera” (the companion), as she is known, already shares decisions with Ortega and could become president herself if he bows out, or in the next elections.
Daily Nation - A hellhole is how child advocate Shelly Ross has described the Government Industrial School (GIS), Barbados’ lone reform institution for young offenders. For the past few months, Ross said, she had been carrying out an investigation into the girls’ section of the school at Barrow’s, St Lucy, and she concluded that very little reform was taking place. “GIS is a hellhole,” she said. “I have interviewed several young girls recently who went there and who have left without one certificate after spending three to four years there. They have nothing to show and some of them are worse than when they went in.” Ross said the school had no remedial programmes. In addition, she said one of the things she had discovered was that the majority of girls were displaying behavioural problems linked to sexual abuse.
Shelly Ross
PAGE 22
VACANCY Receptionist Male 25-40yrs, room attendant. Call: 225-0198 or visit 233 South Rd, Lacytown
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620
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Cashier (shift work 6am3pm & 3pm-12pm). Submit application to Shell Station Providence EBD, shellramsburg@gmail.com Exist for one male office assistant, having a motorcycle is an asset $20,000 weekly. Call: 220-2878
Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535.
Pump attendant – Call: 6803863/ 624-0033 Customer/sales assistant. Call: 624-0033
INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.
Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020
1-Cook. Call: 624-0033
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2 Storey house, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths @ 87 Daisy Street, South Ruimveldt Park -$18M. Call: 232-3244/ 697-5018
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1-5HP Yamaha Engine, like new. Call: 670-3912
Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:629-4946 or 225-4822 Guytec Repairs Services & Spares to washing machines, pressure w a s h e r, d r y e r, s t o v e s , refrigerator, treadmill, vacuum, etc –Call: 6802377
17 Inch Acer computer monitors -$12,000 (used, like new). Call: 624-7155 Mitsubishi Galant 1996 Model. Body in good condition. Sold as parts. Price negotiable. Tel: 216 1079 /616 8027
Driver/Salesman to sell bakery products preferably from West Coast/West Bank area. Call: 254-1399/627-2515 One salesman to work in parts store contact 2235273/4 Once cashier contact 2235273/4
LAND FOR SALE Uitvlugt-$2.5M, Zeelugt $1.6M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M, $1.2M, all prices negotiable. Call: 642-1252 Land @ La Parfaite Harmonie: $1.4M, $1M, $1.6M, Zeelugt $1.5M, Tuschen School Street $2M (terms available). Call: 6046724
PROPERTY FOR SALE
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1 Church building in front and 2 story building at the back (W30XL120) @ 180 Charolotte Street Bourda. Call:624-7341/ 227-6817/2265183
Special Sale: 2009 Belta $2.1M, 2009 Airwave -$2.4M. Call: 617-2891
Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
One (1) RZ bus, WTI engine. Call Lawrence : 615-7506
WANTED Salesgirls & porters, apply with written application @ 1E Dennis & Middleton Street, Campbellvile (Best Buy Food Supplies) Straight Stitch & over edge machine operators, porters. Call: 222-2541 8:00am-4:00pm Mon-Fri
1244 Block ‘Y’ Grove, EBD, house 45X26, $15M negotiable, owner migrating. Call: 660-1353
Yamaha R1 CG609, Toyota AT212, AT192, L-Touring Wagon, Tundra, Tacoma, Nissan Pickup. Call: 6445096; 697-1453
One experienced Driver apply @ Hack’s Halaal with Handwritten application, 5 Commerce Street.
Property @ Lot 172 Zohora Street, Market Street Better Hope, East Coast Demerara. Call: 220-1583/667-6066
One Truck, excellent working condition, worked for one year, Model M. Call Lawerence: 615-7506
Male workers between 2035yrs to work at Ice factory on Meadowbank Wharf. Call: 231-1408/ 6429191 8am-2pm
Property with extra large land well built with 2 storey house @ Back Street BetterHope, E.C.D Won’t last. Call: 2201583/667-6066
1 RD5 Honda CRV, immaculate condition, TV, reverse camera, CD, mags, alarm, etc, price -$2.850M. Call: 626-2884
One live in domestic or couple to work in Mahaicony River. Call: 6446905
One flat 3 bedrooms house in highly residential area, land size 150’X50’, price negotiable. Call Kim: 6963624 (no agent) Property @ School St. Zeelugt, brand new, fenced, land: 60’X120’ -$8.5M, owner migrating, must sell! No reasonable refused! Call: 6844759 One flat three bedrooms house lot 529 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, price negotiable. Call Marvin: 6425652/ 231-1253 Campbellville- $45M, $32M. Festival City (2 Families) $19M, $9M. Aubrey Barker $30M. Diamond $12M- GME Realty- 231-2199, 618-7483
1 Landcruiser Prado, excellent condition. Call: 625-4196 or 656-0565 1 New & unregistered Toyota Allion $2.4M, 1 Allion PVV series $2.150M & 1 Premio PNN series $1.7M negotiable. Call: 649-0956 Oswin J’s Auto Imports: New Arrivals: Premio, Allion, Fielder, Axio, Rush, X-Trail. Free full coverage insurance. Call: 609-2815 PRR Series Toyota IST, PMM series Toyota Carina, TL Bedford 330. Call: 256-3405/ 663-2450 One black pit-bull BTT 9621, in good condition, 1TR engine. Call: 277-3657 Unregistered Axela 2011, fully loaded $2.750M negotiable, Corolla Fielder 2002, dark interior, rims -$1.950M. Call: 617-5536
Land 50ftX175ft located in Friendship, E.B.D-Price$5M negotiable. Call: 645-6498 Diamond 21st Street, can transfer $3.5M. Schoonard, WBD $25M, Land Of Canaan $5M per acre- Contact Shawn 231-2199, 618-7483
2009 Raum- $2.4M, 2009 Sienta -$2.4M, 2009 Axio $2.8M, 2009 Fielder -$2.6M. Call: 617-2891
1RZ Hiace minibus, BNN series. Call: 677-9112/ 6395200 HEALTH Avoid Side Effects, use herbal supplements. Call Hazel’s Herbal Store: 2269136
Toyota 110 Sprinter for sale $650,000 negotiable, PKK series. Call: 684-5402 One To y o t a AE100 Sprinter, Stick shift. Price negotiable. Call:613-6666/ 222-4579
One generic 17,500 watts generator. Call: 623-9679 or 681-6570
Need a building contractor, house plan to be drawn or just an estimate. Call: 216-0671/ 692-8464/ 622-0267 LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
Monday November 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Experienced attractive waitress 18-25yrs preferably from E.C.D (shift), one supervisor. Call: 610-3974 Live in waitresses to work in bar– Call: 692-4649/6046606 (1) Live in caretaker. Call: 233-2427/233-2923 no private or unknown caller. Cashier sales boys/girls to work at a new hardware store, Innovations America. Call: 226-9768 1 Experienced cook must to bake also, salary negotiable. Call: 222-4890 One male to work on chicken farm in the interior, must have knowledge about rearing chicken. Call: 680-2702 Dishwashers, apply at Shanta’s, 225 Camp Street. Bodywork men. Call: 660-3004 One general domestic, Must know to cook & 1 babysitter. Apply @ R Sookraj & Sons 108 Regent Street (opposite GBTI) Canter Drivers & Porters $30,000 weekly to work water truck on the W.C.D. Call: 684-8231 Cleaner to work in Tuschen Scheme-$14,000 weekly. Call: 629-4236
CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
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Driver for taxi. Call:664-0802 CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES, SPECIALOFFER. CALL: 690-6494
One mature kitchen assistant to work from 7am-3pm. Contact 193 Charlotte St, G/ Town or call 226-2320 MonFri EDUCATIONAL CXC Classes: day & evening classes, personal tutor, Grade 4 to 6, Form 1-5 Maths. Call Sir Jarvis: 690-5008/ 693-4588/ 638-2359 Continued on page 23
Monday November 07, 2016
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Jump in Florida, Nevada early voting could reap Latino gains for Clinton Reuters - The man answering a volunteer’s knock on the door in the Kendall section of MiamiDade County on Saturday was emphatic: Not only would he vote but “esperamos que la presidenta gane” - Spanish for “we hope Madam President wins.” Volunteers across Florida made a last-minute push to get voters to the polls weekend with early voting ending yesterday ahead of Election Day tomorrow, pitting Republican Donald Trump against Democrat Hillary Clinton, or “la presidenta,” as the man at the door called her.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Latino voters like the man in Kendall and elsewhere could have an outsized influence in Tuesday’s
election. Early voting data may portend a jump in the number of Hispanic voters this year, especially in the key
May promises EU exit ‘in full’ despite legal challenge Reuters - British Prime Minister Theresa May said yesterday she would deliver a full exit from the European Union, hitting back at critics of her Brexit strategy who have threatened to try to block the process in parliament. The government’s plans to begin a two-year divorce process by the end of March were thrown into disarray last week when a court ruled that parliament must be consulted on the decision. May has said she is confident of overturning that ruling. Nevertheless, the prospect of a parliamentary vote has enraged eurosceptic lawmakers who fear the ‘hard Brexit’ they want will be watered down, and emboldened political opponents who want a less radical split from the bloc. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, May signalled she would resist any attempt to force her to change her approach to leaving the EU, a break that was approved by 52 percent of Britons in a referendum in June. “The people made their choice, and did so decisively. It is the responsibility of the government to get on with the job and to carry out their instruction in full,” May wrote. She said revealing her strategy for the talks would weaken Britain’s negotiating position and that members of parliament who regretted the referendum result “need to accept what the people decided”. The Daily Mirror reported the head of Britain’s opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, had said he
Theresa May would vote against the commencement of divorce talks with the EU if the government does not agree to his Brexit demands. He later tweeted that he would not try to block the process. May’s government, which has given little away about its plans for Britain’s future relationship with the EU, has
said that having to set out a detailed negotiating strategy to parliament would put it at a disadvantage in the talks. “While others seek to tie our negotiating hands, the government will get on with the job of delivering the decision of the British people,” May said in a separate statement before leaving on a trade visit to India on Sunday. The court ruling triggered an angry response from some lawmakers and newspapers, with minister Sajid Javid calling it an “unacceptable” attempt to “frustrate the will of the British people”, while The Daily Mail said the three judges who handed down the ruling were “enemies of the people”. May said she believed in the value of the independence of the judiciary, as well as a free press. “These both underpin our democracy and they are important,” she told reporters on the plane to India.
Montenegro: Russians behind coup attempt, plot to kill PM PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) — Russian nationalists were behind an alleged coup attempt in Montenegro that included plans to assassinate the pro-Western prime minister because of his government’s bid to join NATO, the Balkan country’s chief special prosecutor said yesterday. Milivoje Katnic said the investigation leads to the conclusion that “nationalists from Russia” organized a criminal group that planned to break into the Montenegro Parliament on election day, kill Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and bring a pro-Russian coalition to power. Some 20 Serbian and Montenegrin citizens, including a former commander of Serbia’s special police forces, were arrested in Montenegro during the Oct. 16 vote. Fourteen of them remain in custody, including some who have fought for pro-Russia rebels in eastern Ukraine. Russian officials have denied any involvement. But they have openly supported the “patriotic” parties that are against Montenegro’s membership bid in the Western military alliance.
swing states of Florida and Nevada. Clinton has polled much stronger among Latino voters nationwide, suggesting she would benefit more from a surge in early voting in those two states, voting experts say. Trump has fared poorly in that demographic, having repeatedly angered Hispanics with disparaging comments about their communities. A recent poll conducted by the firms The Tarrance Group and Bendixen and Amandi found that Hispanic registered voters in Florida favour Clinton 60 percent to 30 percent. In Nevada the gap was even wider - 72 percent for Clinton and 19 percent for Trump. In Florida, the Clinton campaign estimates early Latino voting is up 139 percent, or more than twice as much, compared to 2012, according to a field report dated Wednesday. Democratic strategist Steve Schale, a Florida expert, estimated that 170,000 more Hispanics had voted early or by mail as of Wednesday than had voted early or by mail in the entire 2012 election, according to a post on his
blog. “And keep in mind, because Hispanic is a selfidentifying marker, studies have found that the real Hispanic vote is larger than the registration. So while Hispanics might make up 14.2 percent of the voters who have voted so far, in reality, the number is larger,” he wrote. But the raw data leave a number of questions. Will Latinos keep up the higher turnout rates on Election Day? For which candidate did they vote? Will turnout from Latinos and other minorities make enough of a difference to swing Florida and other states? Trump kicked off his maverick campaign last year by calling many Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals, and his relationship with Latinos hardly improved from there. From his calls to build a wall on the border and have Mexico pay for it, to comments that an Americanborn judge could not do his job because of his Mexican heritage, Trump has consistently had low polling figures with Latinos across the country. The state of Nevada does not note race or ethnicity on its voter registration but other data there suggest Latinos also are turning out in force. For one thing, Clark County has seen a surge in early voting. Between inperson and absentee voting, registered Democrats have now returned over 72,000 more ballots than registered Republicans there. Those figures do not indicate which candidate voters picked, only the party with which the voters are registered.
From page 22
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Business place suitable for barber shop/salon located on Public Road. Call: 613-0448/ 672-8625 Apartments for rent @ Nandy Park, Free Wi-Fi, recently renovated. Call: 227-5194 3 Bedrooms bottom house @ Sophia - $85,000 neg. On/off road parking, CCTV, fully grilled & tiled. Call Mr. Gomes: 693-2237/ 219-0211 Suitable space for taxi based in central Georgetown. Please call: 624-6783
TO LET Three bedrooms bottom flat at 116 Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt Gardens. Call: 218-1688/ 625-0392/ 6097826 2 Bedroom furnished Apartment in exclusive residential area, close to Ogle Airport , with modern amenities. Call for appointment 622-5725. One two bedrooms apartment @ Lot 1031 ‘B’ Field Sophia. Call Maureen: 650-8827 or Colin: 621-5781 1-2 Bedrooms apartment fully furnished; 1-2 Bedrooms apartment unfurnished at Eccles. Call: 667-2536 Space for rent at Ashmin’s Building- Ideal for commercial and office use- Call: 683-7954
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Islamic State hits back in Mosul but faces new Raqqa front Reuters - Islamic State fighters targeted Iraqi troops with car bombs and ambushes in Mosul, stalling an army advance in their north Iraq stronghold, but faced attack on a new front yesterday when U.S.backed rebels launched a campaign for the Syrian city of Raqqa.The jihadists have lost control of seven eastern districts of Mosul to Iraqi special forces who broke through their lines last Monday. Officials say the militants are now sheltering among civilians in those neighbourhoods and targeting soldiers in what one called the world’s “toughest urban warfare”. Mosul, the largest Islamic State-controlled city in either Iraq or Syria, has been held by the jihadist fighters since they drove the army out of northern Iraq in June 2014. The three-week Mosul campaign has brought together a force of around 100,000 soldiers, security forces, Shi’ite militias and Kurdish fighters, backed by a U.S.-led coalition, to crush the Sunni jihadists.
A woman celebrates beside Iraqi soldiers after a part of the Intisar district of eastern Mosul was liberated, Iraq, yesterday. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra Across the border, U.S.backed Syrian fighters announced yesterday the
start of their own campaign, called Euphrates Anger, to recapture Islamic State’s
Syrian bastion of Raqqa. The Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) is an alliance of
Kurdish and Arab armed groups which has seized large swathes of territory
along the Syria-Turkey border from Islamic State and pushed to within 30 km (20 miles) of Raqqa. But the prominence within SDF ranks of the Kurdish P e o p l e ’s Protection Units, or YPG, has raised questions over its suitability as a force to capture the predominantly Arab city. Tu r k e y, w h i c h h a s battled Kurdish separatists for three decades, regards the YPG as anathema and Western officials have said the Raqqa operation should be fought mainly by Arab forces. Washington says the battle for Raqqa will “overlap” with the assault on Mosul, in part because of concerns that any delay would allow Islamic State to use it as a base to launch attacks on targets abroad. France also wants a coordinated campaign against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. “Mosul-Raqqa can’t be disassociated because Islamic State and the territories it occupies span that area,” Defence M i n i s t e r J e a n - Yv e s L e Drian said.
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Palestinian president can Eastern Europe gets 10 bln revoke parliamentary euro Chinese investment fund immunity of opponents – court Reuters The Palestinian Constitutional Court, a body set up months ago by President Mahmoud Abbas, ruled yesterday that he can revoke the parliamentary immunity of lawmakers, a move that effectively allows him to sideline rivals. A verdict issued yesterday which was swiftly condemned by c r i t i c s w i t h i n A b b a s ’s Fatah faction and Islamist rivals, upheld his decree from 2012 when he lifted the immunity of a major rival, Mohammad Dahlan, and expelled him from Fatah. Gaza-born Dahlan is seen as a potential s u c c e s s o r t o We s t e r n backed Abbas, 81. He now lives in self-imposed exile in Abu Dhabi as he would face corruption charges if he returned to the Palestinian territories. “The Constitutional Court ... stated that President Abbas has full authority to cancel
Mahmoud Abbas the immunity of any parliament member, when the legislative council is not convened,” a statement published by official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, said. Abbas opponents and analysts said the court’s decision confirmed fears they raised when he formed the nine-judge panel in April, saying it would give him too
much power and would effectively allow him to cancel the role of the Palestinian legislative council - the territory’s parliament. The legislative council has not convened fully since the 2007 civil war that ended with Hamas taking control of the Gaza Strip when they ousted forces loyal to Abbas from the coastal enclave. The court ruled that Abbas’s 2012 decree to cancel Dahlan’s immunity “had been made according to the authority afforded to the president by law”. Dahlan made no immediate comment but Majed Abu Shammala, a Fatah official close to him said the court’s decision reflected the political will of Abbas and not the law. The ruling means that Abbas could also stop Hamas’s Aziz Dweik, the speaker of the legislative council, from becoming caretaker president should Abbas die in office or resign.
Riga (AFP) - China yesterday announced a 10 billion euro ($11 bln) investment fund aimed at drumming up business between the Asian giant and central and eastern Europe. The move came as Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang met 16 counterparts from across central and eastern Europe in Lativa’s capital Riga at a weekend summit focused mainly on developing trade. China’s Xinhua news agency reported yesterday that the new China-Central and East European fund will be run by the Sino-CEEF Holdings Ltd. The company formally launched on Saturday in Riga by the Chinese prime minister is owned by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the country’s biggest lender. Xinhua quoted SinoCEEF Holding chief Jiang Jianqing as saying that the investment fund was expected to reach 10 billion euros. He added that it would
focus on developing infrastructure, high-tech manufacturing and mass consumption industries in the region, including EU and eurozone members. “China has signed MOUs (memorandum of understanding) with Poland and the Czech Republic on making financial contributions” to the fund, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told counterparts in Riga, but did not reveal any sums. Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis said that his small eurozone country had also decided to participate in the fund, though no details of the size of contributions
were given. The new fund is part of Beijing’s much vaunted efforts of establishing land and sea links for European trade, known as the “Belt and Road” policy. Chinese activity in central and eastern Europe is rooted in the “16+1 Forum” for cooperation between 16 excommunist eastern European states and China, launched in 2012 in Warsaw, Poland. At the time, Beijing vowed to commit a total of $10.5 billion in credit lines and funds to boost economic ties with the region, but analysts say the capital injections have been slow to materialise.
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Former CONCACAF head seeks Windies gear up for TriNations with preparation camp second delay in sentencing NEW YORK, CMC – The sentencing of disgraced former CONCACAF strongman, Jeff Webb, could be delayed yet again, if the court here grants another request for an adjournment. The 52-year-old was due to be sentenced here on November 18 but his lawyer Edward O’Callaghan filed an application with the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York to have the date delayed for “approximately six months”, the Cayman Compass newspaper has reported. It was not immediately clear why the adjournment was requested but if granted, it will be the second time Webb’s sentencing would have been delayed. Last June, Webb also sought and was granted a delay in sentencing until November, with no reason offered then either. The Cayman Islands national, a high profile former FIFA vice-president, pleaded guilty last November to racketeering conspiracy, three counts of wire fraud
Jeff Webb conspiracy and three counts of money laundering conspiracy. As part of a plea deal, he agreed to forfeit more than US$6.7 million. Webb has been under house arrest in Loganville, Georgia while the case has been ongoing. Earlier this year, the court agreed to relax the terms of his house arrest, allowing him to travel beyond the 20-mile restriction initially
imposed. He was one of several FIFA officials and football associates arrested in May last year when law enforcement conducted a shock dawn raid on a luxury Zurich hotel, where FIFA dignitaries had gathered for their annual meeting. Subsequently, Webb was named by the US Department of Justice as part of a 47-count indictment alleging racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies and extradited to face charges. He was earlier this year slapped with a life ban by FIFA from all football related activities. Trinidadian Jack Warner, who stepped down as CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president amidst a Caribbean corruption scandal five years ago, was also named in the indictment and is currently fighting extradition to the US. CONCACAF is the continental governing body for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean.
Windies kick off preparation for India series
West Indies Women’s captain Stafanie Taylor. VIJAYAWADA, India, CMC – West Indies Women will undergo their first training session here today as they kick of preparation for their limited overs series against India Women bowling off here Thursday. The Windies side touched down at the Gannavaram airport in the coastal state of Andhra Pradesh yesterday, after arriving in India on Saturday from the Caribbean. West Indies Women will practice at the Mulapadu playfield – located 12 miles outside Vijayawada – which will also be the venue for the six-game limited overs series. The Windies clash with India Women in three One-Day Internationals – all designated ICC Championship status – from November 10-16 and will follow up with three Twenty20 Internationals from November 18-22.
West Indies Women are currently ranked third in the championship on 22 points, one behind the second placed England Women and eight adrift of leaders Australia Women. India lie sixth on 13 points. The top four in the championship at its completion will earn automatic qualification for next year’s ICC Women’s 50-overs World Cup in England. West Indies, who are coming off a 3-2 loss to England Women in a five-match series in the Caribbean last month, will be led once again by the prolific Stafanie Taylor while stroke-maker Mithali Raj takes charge of the Indian unit for the ODIs. Harmanpreet Kaur will take over from Raj for the T20 series.
POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, CMC – West Indies will kick off a preparation camp here over the coming week as they gear up for the imminent TriNations Series in Zimbabwe, involving the hosts and Sri Lanka. The One-Day International squad assembled here last weekend, with the eight players who were part of the Test series against Pakistan arriving from the United Arab Emirates. Captain Jason Holder leads the 15-man unit for the tournament which runs from November 14-27. West Indies will undergo training at the High Performance Centre here as they sharpen their skills for the 50-overs format under the guidance of assistant coach Hendy Springer, batting coach Toby Radford and bowling coach Roddy Estwick. Last Thursday, West Indies beat Pakistan for their first Test win in 19 months and first on foreign soil in four
years, and Estwick said the victory would be a huge boost for the side as they prepared for the Tri-Nations Series. “I’m a great believer in momentum and I believe this win is going to be important. We’ve still got the Tri-Nations Series to play against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe so this win will give us some kind of confidence,” Estwick said. “A lot of the players [from the Test squad] are going to Zimbabwe as well so that’s very important that they know they can compete with the best teams in the world but what we are going to do is continue to work hard.” West Indies will enter the Tri-Nations Series ranked ninth in the world, with Sri Lanka in sixth place and Zimbabwe down in 11th. The last time the Windies met Sri Lanka in an ODI series a year ago, they suffered a bruising 3-0 drubbing in the series, on
what was a difficult tour of the subcontinent. However, Estwick said with the confidence gained from the recent victory over Pakistan, coupled with hard work in preparation, West Indies would be a potent force in the upcoming series. “All the best teams get success through hard work, discipline, dedication and that’s something we are really trying to get the players to buy into and this win will go a long way in trying to help that and get the belief and confidence,” the former first class cricketer said. “And once we can get the momentum we know we can compete. Now we know we can stay five days with all the teams in the world because our fitness has improved and that’s a very, very important thing for us.” West Indies open their Tri-Nations Series campaign against Sri Lanka on November 16.
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USA hold off Oman to claim WCL Division Four title ESPNcricinfo - Mediumpacer Jessy Singh scored a crucial 37 not out at No. 10 after entering at 141 for 8 and followed it with 3 for 29 to help USA defend 208 and beat Oman by 13 runs to win the final of ICC WCL Division Four at Severn Cricket Field. Jessy was named Man of the Final for his efforts as USA became the tenth host team to win a World Cricket League tournament title. USA elected to bat first but got off to a disastrous start, slipping to 5 for 3 inside five overs with both openers leg-before and Ravi Timbawala run out without scoring after sacrificing himself in a mix-up with Alex Amsterdam, who had scored a hundred against Jersey on Friday. Amsterdam delivered again, making 50 off 73 balls to steer USA out of the early hole before miscuing a drive to midwicket off Zeeshan Maqsood’s left-arm spin to be sixth out with the score 103. USA then had their second mix-up of the day, as Timil Patel didn’t respond to Timroy Allen’s call for a second run to third man. Timil gave himself up for 22 by leaving the crease with both men at the same end so the big-hitting Allen could stay in for a late surge. Allen wound up scoring 45 off 32 balls before he was caught at long-on off medium
pacer Mohammad Nadeem to start the 44th over after adding 41 for the ninth wicket with Jessy, who had come into the line-up in place of the injured Danial Ahmed. Last man Prashanth Nair blocked from one end while Jessy continued playing shots, allowing a 27-run tenth-wicket stand to take USA into the final over and reach a defendable total before Nair was caught slogging to longoff with two balls left to play. Jessy took the new ball
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) Distance running great Haile Gebrselassie has been elected president of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, as the country grapples with doping issues and poor results on the track. Ethiopia, which alongside neighbor Kenya has for many years dominated distance running, had its credibility questioned earlier this year when six of its athletes came under investigation for doping. It subsequently announced that it would carry out tests on up to 200 athletes. The east African nation is also struggling with a slump in form and won a single gold medal at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August, its poorest haul since 1992. Amid discontent over mismanagement, Ethiopia’s track body held a closed-door assembly and elected Gebrselassie as its chief late on Saturday.
“I feel so honored to be elected president of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation! Will work on a great future for Ethiopian athletics,” Gebrselassie said on his Twitter account. In August, Gebrselassie said the whole athletics setup “needed a revamp”. Gebrselassie, considered one of the sport’s greatest distance athletes, gave up competitive running in March last year. Nearly unbeatable on the track in his prime, he won the first of eight indoor and outdoor world championship gold medals at Stuttgart in 1993 and went on to hold world records from the 5,000 meters to the marathon. He won Olympic gold in the 10,000 meters in 1996 in Atlanta and 2000 in Sydney. Gebrselassie has since focused on business interests and is involved in real estate projects, owns four hotels, a coffee plantation and is an automobile distributor.
Rock-star royalty graced the USA squad during Saturday’s final as Sir Mick Jagger visited Woodley Park © Peter Della Penna and struck in the fourth over, bowling Arun Poulose with a full-length delivery that beat the batsman for pace as he flicked across the line. USA had Oman three down in the 14th over and continued to create chances but poor fielding once again allowed an opponent to stay in the game as Swapnil Khadye was dropped twice during a 51-run fourth-wicket stand with Zeeshan Siddiqui that took Oman past 100. It took Timil’s legspin to
break the partnership with Khadye held by Allen after top-edging a slog and two overs later Timil pinned Lalcheta on the back foot with a flipper to make it 115 for 5. The legspinner landed his biggest punch of the day in the 38th over when he coaxed the set Siddiqui into a charge down the wicket and had him stumped for 58 leave Oman needing 45 off the last 75 balls but with only four wickets in hand. Timil’s 3 for 38 gave him 14 wickets on the week, tied
Distance great Gebrselassie elected Ethiopia athletics chief
Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie (Action Images via Reuters)
for the tournament lead with Denmark’s Bashir Shah. Oman had held star batsman Jatinder Singh back to No. 8 but Timil and medium pacer Elmore Hutchinson choked the run rate over the next six overs and created two run-out chances. The required rate finally climbed to a run a ball after 44 overs when Jessy was brought back for a late spell and he struck with his first ball, bouncing out Nadeem. Two balls later, another runout chance presented itself and this time Steven Taylor seized it with a direct hit from point to send Amir Ali off without scoring. With Jatinder running out of partners, he tried to heave Jessy over long-off in the 47th but Timbawala took in a skier to make it 178 for 9. Jessy then pinned down No. 11 Sufyaan Mehmood in the 49th over, conceding just one run from it to leave Oman needing 23 off the final over. Only four runs came off the first four balls bowled by Allen, clinching victory before an inside-edge for four by Rajeshkumar Ranpura off the final ball resulted in Oman ending on 195 for 9. Oman’s Khawar Ali was named Player of the Tournament after taking 13 wickets while also scoring 168 runs at 33.60. Khawar’s 74 and 5 for 37 against Denmark on the last day of round-robin play helped Oman to a win that clinched promotion to Division Three. In the third-place game at Wright Cricket Field, Denmark avenged an earlier loss in group play to defeat Bermuda by44 runs. Playing his first game of the tournament, Taranjit Bharaj
top-scored with 68 not out in Denmark’s total of 269 for 8 after they chose to bat first. Former England Test medium-pacer Amjad Khan then took out Bermuda’s top order with three wickets to leave them 50 for 3 in the 12th over and they struggled to recover from there. Jordan DeSilva made an unbeaten 52 after entering at No. 8 with Bermuda 137 for 6 and they eventually finished their 50 overs on 225 for 8. Jersey won the fifth place playoff, defeating Italy by 42 runs at Wong Cricket Field. Injuries had left Jersey’s squad decimated, forcing 46year-old team manager Tony Carylon out of retirement and into the starting XI having not played since 2011. It allowed a special moment for Carylon, though, as he was able to take the field with his 15-year-old son Harrison, who earlier in the week had become the youngest player to debut for Jersey. Jersey made 250 for 6 as captain Peter Gough opened to top-score with 65 after electing to bat. Corey Bisson added an unbeaten 63 off 47 balls at No. 5 and finished as the tournament’s leading scorer with 242 runs at 80.66. Italy were bowled out for 208 in reply with captain Damian Crowley providing their best contribution with 39. Charles Perchard claimed 4 for 22 to lead the way for Jersey in the field. USA and Oman will now play in WCL Division Three in the first half of 2017 and will be joined by Canada, Malaysia, Singapore and hosts Uganda in the next phase of qualification for the pathway to the 2019 World Cup.
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Six-goal Liverpool go top as Arsenal miss their chance
Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi in action with Everton’s Ashley Williams. (Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Couldridge)
(Reuters) Liverpool roared to the top of the Premier League yesterday, offering another dazzling demonstration of their attacking prowess under Juergen Klopp with a 6-1 demolition of Watford at an exultant Anfield. After Arsenal had missed the opportunity to jump ahead of overnight leaders Chelsea by only eking out a 1-1 draw with their north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool were in no mood to squander the chance as they overwhelmed their hapless visitors. Liverpool’s day could have been improved only if the woes of their rivals Manchester United had continued but goals from their misfiring double act of Paul
Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a 3-1 win at Swansea City ensured relief for manager Jose Mourinho after a trying week. If Chelsea’s 5-0 dismantling of Everton on Saturday had been a performance worthy of a team shooting to the top, Liverpool’s ascent had quite the same feel as they sliced through Watford with more of the delicious attacking invention that has illuminated the league this season. Their win was decorated by a double from Sadio Mane, who now leads their scoring with six this term, as well as goals from man-of-the-match Philippe Coutinho, Emre Can, Roberto Firmino and a first for the club from Georginio Wijnaldum.
Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho scores their second goal. (Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff)
It took their tally of goals to 30 — four more than any other team in the league — with Daryl Janmaat’s late consolation for Watford the only downside to their afternoon, continuing their now-familiar lack of clean sheets. It shot them back to the summit of the table for the first time since May 2014. On 26 points, they are one clear of Chelsea and two ahead of Manchester City and fourthplaced Arsenal, who remain three clear of Tottenham. Klopp, though, refused to get excited about taking his team to the top for the first time in his year in charge. “The League position is not important to me at the moment. It is important that we look like a team that can
play well,” he said. “We don’t need to be afraid of the future or offer guarantees in November. It is easy to love this game when you are winning games in a row.” The 184th north London derby had earlier proved an entertaining, close-fought tussle with Spurs ultimately happy to stop their rivals going top and to come away with the point that maintains their record as the only unbeaten side in the league. Kevin Wimmer, trying to clear Mesut Ozil’s free kick, headed into his own net, just before the break. Harry Kane, back following seven weeks out with injury, responded with a second-half penalty after Laurent Koscielny fouled Mousa Dembele.
Manchester United’s first win in five league games brought some relief to Mourinho, who was forced to watch from the stands at the Liberty Stadium as he served a touchline ban imposed by the Football Association in midweek. Pogba’s 15th-minute volley was the most dramatic repayment yet on his worldrecord transfer fee while Ibrahimovic’s double in the space of 12 minutes — his first league goals since September — confirmed Mourinho’s prediction that the Swede would soon start finding the proper rewards for his commitment. Ibrahimovic’s first goal was the 25,000th ever scored in the Premier League. When asked if he was aware of this fact, he responded in typical fashion: “Ah, no I wasn’t. I thought that was only me
who had scored 25,000.” Champions Leicester City now lie just two points off the relegation zone in 14th place after their 20match unbeaten home record was ended with a 21 defeat by West Bromwich Albion, thanks to goals from James Morrison and Matt Phillips. The plight of the bottom two — Swansea now lead Sunderland only on goal difference — was worsened by 18th-placed Hull City coming from behind to beat Southampton 2-1 with two goals in three minutes midway through the second half from Robert Snodgrass and Michael Dawson. Results from Sunday: Arsenal 1 – Tottenham 1 Hull 2 – Southampton 1 Liverpool 6 – Watford 1 Swansea 1 - Man Utd 3 Leicester 1 - West Brom 2
Kvitova powers past Svitolina to claim WTA Elite title
Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic reacts as she plays against Madison Keys of the U.S. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter) (Reuters) Petra Kvitova overcame a poor start to win the season-ending WTA Elite trophy with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Elina Svitolina in Zhuhai, China yesterday. Kvitova began slowly and trailed 4-1 in the opening set after struggling to hold serve and making a string of unforced errors. The big-hitting Czech, however, eventually found her range with her first serve and cranked up the aggression to win the next five games in quick succession and wrap up the opening set. Kvitova carried her momentum into the second, sweeping aside her Ukrainian opponent to secure victory in one hour and 10 minutes. “She played a little bit more aggressively than me in the beginning of the match. So I was trying to get the rhythm to play a little bit more aggressively,” Kvitova told reporters, after wrapping up a sixth straight win over Svitolina. The WTA Elite trophy is a year-end event involving the 12 highest ranked women who did not qualify to play at the WTA Finals in Singapore last week. Kvitova, who has never been higher than two in the world rankings, said she had been inspired by Angelique Kerber’s rise to the top, and also congratulated newly-crowned men’s number one Andy Murray. “The number one spot is still missing in my career. I know how difficult it is. We just saw how Angie did it. It’s a great thing to have for sure,” the twice Wimbledon champion said. “I told him (Murray) congratulations because I think it’s a great achievement. I think he did everything he possibly could to be there, so I’m really happy for him.”
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Kaieteur News
Monday November 07, 2016
Ghebreslassie and Keitany dominate New York marathon
Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Ethiopia crosses the finish line to win the mens field of the 2016 New York City Marathon in Central Park in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S. (REUTERS/Mike Segar) (Reuters) Eritrean world champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie and Kenyan Mary Keitany powered to dominant victories in the New York City Marathon yesterday. The 20-year-old
Ghebreslassie won the men’s race in two hours, seven minutes and 51 seconds, more than a minute ahead of Kenyan Lucas Rotich. Keitany became the first woman in three decades to win three consecutive New
York marathons with a runaway performance. The 34-year-old took the lead by the ninth mile, made a major move by the 15th mile and won by more than three minutes in 2:24:26.
Mary Keitany of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the womens field of the 2016 New York City Marathon in Central Park in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S. (REUTERS/Mike Segar) Ghebreslassie’s victory ended a string of four victories in a row by Kenyan men in the race and denied the African nation a fourth consecutive sweep of New York men’s and women’s titles. “I am really proud with my
Delhi smog forces cancellation of Ranji Trophy matches
Though the sun came out on the opening day, it failed to penetrate the dense layers of smog and the players complained of burning eyes. © ESPNcricinfo Ltd ESPNCRICINFO - High levels of pollution and smog have forced the cancellation of two Ranji Trophy fixtures in Delhi: the Group A clash between Gujarat and Bengal and the Group C fixture between Hyderabad and Tripura. Both matches will now be played after the league phase, the BCCI announced, without mentioning specific dates or venues. With the league phase ending on December 10 and the quarter-finals scheduled to begin on
December 17, it is unclear if the knockouts will be pushed back by a few days to accommodate these rescheduled games. The status of the next round’s games in Delhi, between Odisha-Assam and Hyderabad-Services, scheduled to begin from from November 13, also isn’t clear yet. Not a single ball was bowled in either game, at the Feroz Shah Kotla and the Karnail Singh Stadium. Play was called off on the second
afternoon after there was no improvement in the air quality. “The teams were informed around 3.15 in the afternoon that the match was called off,” Sairaj Bahutule, the Bengal coach, told ESPNcricinfo. “Our eyes were burning. Some of the guys had headaches. Pollution was at the highest level. This is the first time in my cricketing life I have come across such a scenario.” At the Karnail Singh Stadium, Hyderabad and
Tripura had a meeting at 11.30am, along with the match officials, and upon further inspection, the game was called off. “We could not even stand outside as our eyes started burning. It was impossible to run in or do anything,” Bharat Arun, the Hyderabad coach, said. The players had complained of burning eyes on the opening day as well. Although the sun came out, it failed to penetrate the thick layer of smog that has enveloped the national capital, resulting in poor visibility. The smog is believed to be an after-effect of Diwali fireworks, as well as the burning of paddy stubble in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana. “Yesterday, in the afternoon, when light improved, we went out to toss. But the dust and pollution was so bad that our eyes started to water,” Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary told ESPNcricinfo. “In consultation with both captains, it was decided that we’ll call off play. But today, when the same situation persisted, the match referees decided it was unsafe to even attempt to play. It was called off a little after 3pm. We’ve played a lot of cricket in the north, especially Delhi, in winter months in the past. But I haven’t seen anything like this.”
victory today to be the first one from my country,” said Ghebreslassie. “Nobody before from Eritrea won in the major marathons.” Fourth in both this year’s London Marathon and the Rio Olympics, New York’s youngest ever winner joined Rotich and Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa in breaking away from a crowded pack at about the 22km mark. By 35km Ghebreslassie held a 20 second lead over Rotich and was never threatened. Third went to 39-year-old American Abdi Abdirahman (2:11:23). Defending champion Stanley Biwott, suffering from calf problems, was never a factor and dropped out before 15km. American Dathan Ritzenhein, among the early leaders, also failed to finish, pulling out at mile 19. Keitany became the first woman to win the race three consecutive times since eight-time winner Grete Waitz’s streak of five in a row ended in 1986. “Winning three times means a lot to me,” said Keitany. “It’s not easy but I got it.” She joined Waitz and Britain’s Paul Radcliffe as the only women to win the race
at least three times. Radcliffe’s titles came in 2004, 2007-8. Only fellow Kenyan Joyce Chepkirui was in contention after 20km and Keitany, who surprisingly was not picked for Kenya’s Rio Olympic team, pulled steadily away. Compatriot Sally Kipyego took second in 2:28.01 and U.S. Olympian Molly Huddle made her marathon debut in an impressive 2:28:13 for third. Olympic triathlon gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen was 14th and fellow American Kim Conley 16th in their marathon debuts. U.S. Rio Paralympic silver medalist Tatyana McFadden continued her dominance of New York women’s wheelchair racing, winning her fourth consecutive title in 1:47:43. The victory was the fifth overall in the race and 17th major marathon win for McFadden, who defeated Swiss Manuela Schar by more than a minute. Swiss Rio champion Marcel Hug narrowly edged out five-time winner Kurt Fearnley of Australia in the men’s race. Hug, who was running his sixth marathon of the year, was given the win in 1:35:49. He also won in 2013.
Agard is Overall Champ... From page 34 Trials he felt very drained and had no energy. “I had no, no energy in the second stage, so I went home and prepared for the last stage because I like quick races. So in the final sprint Hamza and Anthony took off with like 200 meters to the line, I took long to get up the gears, so when I get up the gear, now I saw myself coming towards them so I just pushed myself and Hamza raised his hand before the line so I just pushed my bike and chuck in, that’s how I won the last stage.” Known as the ‘Spring King’ before his ban, Greaves who has announced his return with a bang said that he is well aware that next year would not be an easy task for him since his peers would have been competing an entire year ahead of him.