Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

The result of partisan politics When stubborn partisan politics puts a country at risk then one must wonder in whose interest the politicians are working. In this case there was the anti-money laundering legislation which had been in the making for a number of years. Guyana has always had anti-money laundering legislation but those pieces that made up the legislation were found to be porous. In short, if applied, they could not have helped the authorities secure convictions. A long time ago the very legislation mandated that commercial banks report all suspicious transactions. This was hardly done and in any case, the Finance Ministry which houses the Financial Intelligence Unit simply did not have the staff to undertake the investigation. The authorities then explained that the Unit would simply investigate and pass the findings over to the police. It must be that there were no suspicious transactions because there were no reports to the police. We do know that one banker once said that such was the porous nature of the intelligence that if he were to report any suspicious transaction in the morning he would be dead by the time he leaves for home at noon. Since then Guyana has been talking about strengthening the legislation but the nation never knew that the new clauses were being fashioned by people outside the country and would be handed to Guyana for tabling in the National Assembly unchanged. That must have been the case because when the Bill was taken from the Parliamentary Select Committee to which it had been sent for modification, and tabled in the National Assembly the government adopted a position that caused the Bill to die. At least that is the contention of the parliamentary opposition. There were moves to have the Bill sent back to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee because everyone recognized the importance of the legislation at this time. One can understand the refusal on the part of the government to allow for this course of action. It knows that unless the Bill was passed at this time Guyana was bound to be blacklisted and it knew that any decision other than a ‘yes’ vote for the Bill would be of no use. To the casual observer, this was allowed to go too far. There should have been discussions between the government and the parliamentary opposition for a very long time knowing the serious nature of this Bill. If the amendments sent to Guyana were the same sent to Jamaica then one must examine what went wrong in Guyana. Jamaica voted unanimously for the amendments to the anti-money laundering legislation. There are those in the country who feel that Guyana wanted the Bill to fail but this should be debunked given the angry responses one got from the parliamentarians who were piloting the Bill. Having taken the decision, the parliamentary opposition now has time to sit back and either survey the wreckage of what is to become the Guyana financial situation or to gloat; having proven the government wrong about the harsh sanctions that would follow the failure of the National Assembly to pass the anti-money laundering Bill. Yet one cannot help but ponder on the relationship that exists within the National Assembly. Most problems can be solved through dialogue but there seems to be a marked absence of this civilized course of action between the parliamentary political parties. Instead, confrontation seems to be the hallmark of their relationship. Budget presentations have seen them failing to agree on issues to the extent that portions of budgets have been cut and the courts are now engaged in determining whether the parliamentary opposition has the right to cut the budgets. This has come about because the government has failed to involve the opposition in the budget preparations. There is need for a new dispensation. There has always been a measure of hostility between the political parties dating back to the days when the respective leaders took strong positions and refused to budge. That continues to this day to the extent that everything is seen as an issue between ‘us’ and ‘them’. That may be responsible for the state the country is in at this time.

Saturday November 09, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

The planned fishing licences giveaway is a further assault on our sovereignty DEAR EDITOR, Only Guyana’s dimwitted regime, less than one month after an oil exploration vessel was seized in hostile fashion in its waters by a neighbouring power (Venezuela) with huge territorial ambitions on its territory, would consider giving fishing licences to 40 Chinese trawlers to fish in its territorial waters. Only clueless administrators would make this offer to a country, China, that is very close to Venezuela, is deepening its ties with Venezuela out of oil security and is on a serious mission to expand its maritime presence and power geographically. Only beggars and bandits would prostitute their nation in this fashion, seeking to reduce the number of

Guyanese-owned trawlers to 100 licences while giving 40 new licences to a foreign power to trawl in waters these same failed leaders cannot even patrol and monitor. Who but a bunch of ‘sailors’ would not only miss these clear signs and dangers but would so enthusiastically deflate their own fishing industry to bend over and spreadeagle for crumbs so they can expand their Pradoville palaces in the mudflats. Only miscreants and new colonialists will think in this fashion, destroying their own to fatten outsiders. The Chinese have megatrawlers with on-board factories that will catch, process and package humungous amounts of fish without ever coming to shore. A handful of Chinese mega-trawlers will catch the

same amount of fish the entire Guyanese fishing industry catches. Plus, these Chinese super-trawlers can go further than any local trawlers dare to go. With the Guyanese g o v e r n m e n t ’s z e r o capability to monitor these mega-trawlers, we will also have local trawlers illegally selling to these factory ships and coming ashore with little to nothing, thus driving up fish and seafood prices for locals already burdened by rising prices in this inflationary economy. And it will be Chinese-only labour aboard these super-trawlers. Is the PPP so catastrophically stupid to think the Chinese will only catch certain species and will throw back other species? Now, the Pradoville profiteers have given the

same Chinese a licence to study which fish species can be extracted without depleting our fish stocks. This is the level of tomfoolery we are dealing with here! Let’s not forget that the Chinese are one of the biggest culprits in illegal fishing, particularly in deep waters of nations like Guyana, unable to monitor and patrol their own waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Armed with this knowledge, one has to assume that the Chinese along with other illegal fishing powers are already making a killing in our waters. With this knowledge, the question is this: could the challenged minds of the PPP be providing, by way of these 40 licences, legal cover to an (Continued on page 23)

GRA SHOULD WITHDRAW FROM THE DEAL WITH BAI SHAN LIN DEAR EDITOR, The deal by which the Chinese conglomerate Bai Shan Lin (BSL) is building a car-park for the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) reeks of impropriety and should be terminated. The incident is yet another revealing glimpse into the ethical confusion around so much of upper eschelon decision-making in Guyana. Much of the background to the GRA occupancy of its new premises is puzzling. What, in the first place, possessed the GRA to rent an apartment building reportedly for some G$10 million per month that also required G$227 million to convert into an office block and has no parking space. Given that the building was rented from the NIS, which inherited it as a result of what proved to be reckless investment in the failed Tr i n i d a d i a n f i n a n c i a l conglomerate Clico, the answer to that question would seem to involve further murkiness. Apart from the fact that all of this is tax-payers’ money, public interest arises from the problems created by an almost permanent traffic jam over a four-block area throughout the working day, creating a general nightmare for vehicles and pedestrians. The parking issue wasn’t an oversight. GRA, by its own estimates of staff and customers with vehicles,

requires over 500 parking spaces on a daily basis. Moreover, six months ago the Ministry of Works informed the public that the Government had scrapped plans for the Guyana Revenue Authority to use the Lamaha Reserve as a car park. Which gives rise to a second question. In one of his statements the Commissioner claims that Bai Shan Lin was building the car-park for GRA, as if GRA still had a lien on the Reserve. Later it seemed as if GRA was renting the space from Bai Shan Lin. What is the background to the decisions both with respect to the GRA and the renting of the Reserve to private

businessmen and who exactly are they to be so privileged? The third question is what provoked the current solution, namely returning to the Lamaha Reserve as clients of a chinese conglomerate, six months after it seems to have been on offer to GRA directly. It should be pointed out in GRA’s favour that they attempted to get the cooperation of City Hall to convert the median down Waterloo Street into parking spaces. This would be a good environmental move in a number of city streets if the trench were first palled-off to prevent erosion. Unfortunately, City Hall remains in a coma.

Sifting through the Commissioner of Inland Revenue’s various and varying statements about the exact nature of the deal between the GRA and BSL, it is clear that the GRA was benefitting in some shape or form from BSL in a manner that went beyond a normal commercial arrangement. References to being ‘good corporate citizens’ and ‘giving back for the benefits they received for their investments’ all point in this direction. Bai Shan Lin, in the short time they have been operating in Guyana, have shown themselves to be anything but good corporate citizens in Region 10, and it (Continued on page 5)

A callous approach that has caused much damage DEAR EDITOR, This Government never ceases to amaze, and so I will not stop sharing with others the truth. We see that the Ministry of Home Affairs is now considering the establishment of a number of one-way streets; they say to ease congestion in the city. Why citizens are being denied the opportunity to basic sensible and good governance by this government is the big question? If the Government would only take the city seriously and be sincere, these ad hoc proposals and reinventing of the wheel would be unnecessary. In 2001, a plan was prepared for the redevelopment of Georgetown 2001-2010 and at the risk of repeating myself, one of the

proposals dealt with relieving the congestion in Georgetown. That proposal, among others, was to establish cul-de-sacs and a number of one-way streets. Last year, after the State took no action, I wrote the Ministry of Home Affairs and Police suggesting that Bent, Durban and Norton Streets should be made one-way at certain points. In spite of pleadings, Central Government has ignored what was a structural professional approach to this plan, so we have confusion, mayhem and ad hocism. People must understand how much damage this callous approach to Georgetown has caused us. Hamilton Green, J.P.

Saturday November 09, 2013

Kaieteur News

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

Moral decadence fosters societal degeneracy DEAR EDITOR, In recent years the display of public lawlessness has come to be characterized as the new social norm of Guyanese life. For the most part individuals that engage in moral decadence are unwittingly compromising the moral fibre of our society. Moral decadence can best be described as the deterioration or decline of moral and ethical traditions– tantamount to a precipitous drop of moral values, which consists of the over indulgence in anti-moral lifestyles. Although a majority of citizens do not engage in degenerate behaviour, nonetheless a significant percent of our population is guilty of such practices. Regrettably, the prevailing standard of decency no longer reflects that of previous decades. What causes moral decadence? Maybe the primary factor is a profligacy of social vices as opposed to embracing well-known universal virtues. However, there are many other elements including decaying family structures, poverty and a lack of opportunities to attain selfactualization. When people look for special pleasure there is a tendency to inadvertently act in ways that defy reason and logic. Whether intentionally or otherwise, anyone that succumbs to decadent thinking and behaviour, reinforces the notion that cultural decadence is on the rise. While it is premature to suggest that Guyana has plunged into total depravity I must hasten to elucidate that widespread debauchery cannot

be dismissed as implausible. However, avoiding the possibility of such a predicament will necessitate immediate national focus and collective action. A good first step could be for a highly regarded organization to carry out an in-depth study to ascertain the ramifications of deviant behaviour and whether this emerging trend would also negatively impact chances of establishing an egalitarian society. It is imperative that elected officials, government functionaries and civic society as a whole, support any and all initiatives aimed at eliminating this scourge. In fact all responsible stakeholders must fully participate rather than be passive observers of a march towards increased deviant behaviour. Any hope of thwarting the present deviant trajectory, which indicates spiraling to vices rather than virtues needs a holistic approach. As a nation we must confront social and political trepidations that foster racial insecurity as well as impediments for even greater socio-economic progress. In addition to the proposed non-partisan commission, there should be an initial acknowledgement of our cultural plight. Further, it would be deemed proactive if an official assessment were carried out without delay to decipher whether our existing culture survives or Guyanese can expect the emergence of a new social construct. Guyana’s possible collapse into the abyss must be averted and rightly so. If we do not become conscious of this dilemma, examine its ruinous consequences, and

GRA SHOULD... From page 4 is disturbing to learn they are expanding their interests into construction. This company left Suriname under questionable circumstances. The environmental record of Chinese companies globally is appalling. Yet, despite knowing all of this, BSL has put together a one million hectare timber and mining concession in an area only accessible by a road the company itself is now constructing. Rather than cozying up to companies of this nature, the GRA should be keeping them at arms’ length and under strict surveillance. Georgetown, once the ‘Garden City’ of the Caribbean, is now paying the price, as has been pointed out frequently, for the free-for-all in

the construction and property sectors, massive violation of building regulations, blocking of drains and collapsing sewers, and unlimited importation of vehicles. The respective Ministries appear to be under no pressure to account for their part in this situation and the more ruthless among the business sector appear to be the ultimate beneficiaries. If the GRA is actually the victim of pressures of one kind or another with respect to the fiasco surrounding their new building and the car-park, the Commissioner would do a considerable public service by making clear the true state of affairs. Executive Committee Guyana Human Rights Association

work audaciously to mitigate a disquieting threat, we will undoubtedly forfeit the culture as inherited. Therefore, it is incumbent on all citizens to ensure the perseverance of a truly unique culture - our customs and traditions, which previous generations have proudly bequeathed to us. As such this generation must do everything that is humanly possible to preclude deviant behaviour from spreading beyond its current levels. Restoring a high moral and ethical standard in our country will require a longterm (six years) government action plan to combat poverty. This public/private collaboration should include NGOs, non-profit organizations among others. The fight against poverty must consist of three elements: Massive job creation to ensure economic sustainability, Educational reforms- training/research and Integrated regional cooperation (emphasis here on functioning local authorities that provide good governance) where central government funds initiatives deemed priorities that are based on agreed to formulae/s. In addition, local communities should be encouraged and empowered to participate in developmental projects/programs and actively involved in the political process. Parenthetically, the likelihood of national leaders demonstrating courage to effectuate societal transformation can best be interpreted as an unlikely proposition. Given that our politicians have the propensity to ‘double-speak’, not coincidentally, that obfuscation seems deliberate when it pertains to consequential national issues. Again, it should not surprise anyone that this ominous moral threat to our social fabric continues to permeate society without serious intervention by parliamentarians. However, there is a silver lining on the horizon because inaction will only but result in negative reverberations due to obvious paradigm shift in Guyana’s demographic projections. The task that confronts citizens exasperated by the gradual decline of our cultural mores (child molestation, premarital sex, murder, incest, rape etc) is quite pellucid. There is no ambiguity in describing the sordid conditions people are still compelled to live through on a daily basis after more than twenty–one years of dictatorial rule. The denial of harsh living

conditions can be equated to the twisted use of words. The ruling cabal wants citizens to believe utter falsehoods and tries to convince them that Guyana is a functioning democracy. Similarly, the scheme of mass deception has succeeded in corrupting the minds of people to act against their own self-interest. In an effort to distract especially low information people from their plight, citizens have been enticed to attend frequently held so-called cultural/sporting events though they cannot afford to do so. Government operatives continuously manipulate the population with ‘shell games’ knowing that for a large segment of the population critical thinking is avoided in resolving complicated matters. Therefore, in many instances political functionaries refrain from providing specificity cognizant that many people will not challenge information/ news provided by their purported government. For the few unconscionably cultural despots that relish fleecing unsophisticated supporters because they do not fully

understand secretly disguise ponzi schemes, you are also guilty of aiding and abetting if not augmenting moral decadence. Such acts of entrepreneurial barbarism must be exposed and not be encouraged or permitted during a time of increasing poverty and an enormously high rate of youth delinquency. Indubitably, these promotions bring in a tremendous amount of cash but more importantly they serve as sedatives.

The Guyanese culture has become decadent because people have adopted spurious ideas, values, and practices as being real and authentic. Substituting erroneous notions that purport to represent legitimate ones is definitely not the solution. Eventually truth will overpower ignorance. According to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Tony Jones

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Tax evasion more rampant than ever - The immorality of Guyana is that one set of people pays the tax while another spends it - Christopher Ram

By Kiana Wilburg The debate over tax evasion, particularly by the wealthy, has once again been brought to the table by Chartered accountant Christopher Ram and economist Dr. Clive Thomas. The duo believes that this illegal practice is more rampant than ever today, even in the face of the “sheepish” attempts by the government to reform Guyana’s Tax system. Tax evasion is the method of illegally avoiding taxes one owes and on an aggregate basis, hampers governmental efficiency. Ram on his website (http://www.chrisram.net) referred to taxation as a major tool of economic management and if properly used, it can play a significant role in fixing prices, allocating resources and alleviating social problems by redistribution of income. However, in Guyana’s case, he noted that serious misallocations and distortions were allowed to develop because of poor fiscal and monetary management. Ram, based on his interaction and experience, said that there are genuine efforts to deal with the misallocations. “But one has to wonder why, like in the drug trade, only the small fish ever get caught.” He added, “In Guyana, there is one law for the rich, the powerful and the connected and another for the poor, the voiceless and the helpless. The immorality of Guyana is that one set of people pays the tax while another spends it.” Dr. Thomas who also spoke on the issue at length, said in a published article that, “Today, the tax system is fractured and far too costly, burdensome, and inefficient.”

Dr. Clive Thomas

Christopher Ram

Ram explained that common examples of tax evasion include a deliberate failure by a business to report the full amount of revenue received or the deliberate claiming of a deduction by a business for an expenditure it has neither incurred nor paid. Paying tax is supposed to be seen by citizens as contributing to the development of their country. However, this is not so, as artful tax dodgers who continue to cheat the system or are allowed to slip through the preferential doors, continue to hold faithful taxpayers hostage. Furthermore, the government on its competitiveness website: competitiveness.org.gy stated that since the early 1990s, Guyana’s Tax system has undergone a series of reforms aimed at stimulating investment. In 2000, the government established the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to lead the implementation of the accelerated programme. The most important recent reforms that were implemented or are in the pipeline are several which include, the Value Added Tax (VAT) and Excise Tax. Even in the face of the aforementioned, Ram contended

that tax reform in our case has first to deal with tax evasion and administration. Ram said, “This government has been paying lip service to tax reform ever since it came to

power…. Unless it thinks that imposing VAT on top of high personal tax rates is tax reform, it has done nothing and tax evasion is now worse than it has ever been. “VAT has brought in immoral windfalls, reducing the incentive for reform which the Government has delegated to the National Competitiveness Strategy. So far, that body which is chaired by the President has shown no intention, appetite or capacity to deal with it. And the GRA is either overwhelmed by the level and scale of tax evasion or is not utilizing the tools and deploying the resources at its disposal to

deal with the crisis.” The accountant added, “While laws exist for dealing with tax evasion; resources available to the revenue authority are clearly inadequate to deal with the apparent scale of this practice.” It is not a matter of laws or penalties, he said, for these are already “extremely severe.” “The administrative capability to deal with this crisis must be enhanced by better staffing, training and salaries.” Dr. Thomas explained that the sure way to overcome tax evasion is through the establishment of a broad-based National Commission on Tax Reform. He said that tales abound

about how friends and the criminally inclined are “facilitated” by the tax administration. And while these observations by themselves would represent a system gone horribly wrong, one would find that many taxpayers look on the tax administration authorities as, “not only rewarding those who are politically favoured, but also using the system to punish those politically out-of-favour.” Regrettably, once the tax system acquires the reputation of being misused and abused for political ends, it becomes exceedingly difficult to recover the authenticity of the system, the professor explained.

City Hall concerned about non assent to ‘essential’ Local Government Bill The Mayor and City Council (MCC) has joined the main opposition party, APNU, to express dissatisfaction at the President’s non-assent to the “essential” Local Government Bill. This Bill will facilitate the quality reform desired to make local government bodies more functional. During a press briefing yesterday, Georgetown Mayor, Hamilton Green, cited the importance of the Local Government Amendment Bill. “The Local Government Amendment Bill has the power to relieve the Local Government Ministers of their imperial powers, barring them from dissolving Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and micro-

managing the council. “On condition the Amendment Bill is signed into law the Ministers will no longer have control over the management of the regional bodies, allowing it to function smoothly. “We are concerned and anxious for Local Government elections… we believe that it is not fair to the young people in particular, who never had the opportunity to participate democratically, in the direct appointment of the Government of their respective communities.” On Wednesday, President Donald Ramotar signed three of the four Local Government bills into law, three months after they were passed in the National Assembly. Addressing the media, following the assent, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon explained that the President had given his assent to the Fiscal Transfers Act, the Municipal and District

Councils (Amendment) Act, and the Local Government Commission but did not give assent to the Local Government (Amendment) Bill. He assumed that in time the President would give his assent to the fourth Bill. The main opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity, (APNU), subsequently described the President actions as a method to frustrate the holding of elections and defer the reform of the Local Government system. The move, APNU said, confirmed and reinforced the public perception about the ruling party. APNU opined that the President’s nonassent confirms the view that the PPP wishes to retain the archaic colonial powers now vested in the Minister of Local Government. According to APNU, “The Local Government (Amendment) Bill asserts the autonomy of the Local Democratic organs and as

such, addresses the very essence of Local democracy.” It was noted that the PPP intention to impose Regional Executive Officers into the Principal Act (28: 02) was rejected in Committee. The Local Government Commission Bill No. 13/2012 seeks to establish the Local Government Commission, to provide for the Commission’s functions and procedure, and for connected and incidental purposes. The Fiscal Transfers Bill 2012 determines how monies are allocated to the various Neighborhood Democratic Councils, (NDCs) and local Municipalities. This bill also seeks to enhance the financial independence of the councils. The Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill 2012 seeks to modify the Municipal and District Council’s Act, Chapter 28:01 modifying the arrangement for town councils.

Saturday November 09, 2013

Kaieteur News

Good political will is Guyana’s only hope – APNU By Abena Rockcliffe A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), facing the reality of Guyana being blacklisted, is resting the country’s chances to rid itself of such sanctions solely in the hands of the government of the day. APNU said that the government has already led Guyana to a “dark gray list” and hadn’t the political will to get the country off it. He was talking about the limited sanctions that had been imposed because Guyana had a flawed anti-money laundering Act. APNU has long held the position that it will not be passing the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (amendment) Bill 2013 if, in the party’s view, the Bill not strong enough to adequately deal with the issues it is intended to address. APNU does not want to have a Bill that can be described as “a toothless poodle.” However, members of the government maintained that even though the APNU purported that it wanted a strong Bill, the party was making no “meaningful” contribution at the level of the select committee. APNU leader, David Granger, said that his party needed to have all stakeholders come before the committee before it could put forward its amendments. APNU, up to the time of the vote, did not yet know the amendments the party wished to make to amend the amended Bill. Attorney General Anil Nandlall, in whose name the Bill was laid in the National Assembly, had advised through the media, that the Opposition will get all the time it needs to further strengthen

APNU Leader, David Granger the Bill once the recommendations that CFATF wants have been passed and made law. On the evening that the Bill was resent to a Special Select Committee where it had been for the past four months, Nandlall told Kaieteur News that there is no turning back, now. He said that he cannot now return to Caribbean Financial Action Task Force asking for another deadline; as he did before on more than one occasion. So after November 18, Guyana has to brace itself for the full sanction that falls upon a blacklisted nation. According to Nandlall, CAFATF already has a draft report blacklisting Guyana and will just adopt that report once the legislation is not passed. Yesterday, at APNU’s weekly press conference, Granger told media operatives that surely, if the government was serious about passing the Bill, it would have worked over night to see a safe passage and would have not made the move to call a sitting so long after parliament came out of recess; knowing full well that it will be very close to the deadline.

Granger, when asked about Guyana’s fate to come off of the blacklist in a timely manner, respond saying that only political will can save Guyana. Granger said that CFATF will not be impressed with just the passing of the legislation. He told the media that it will take serious efforts and CFATF will have to see actual changes. Granger ’s colleague, Deborah Backer, added her opinion that next elections will make the difference as when the APNU gets into power that party will do the necessaries. Backer said that the government was only interested in making cosmetic changes “a little rouge here and a little rouge there.” She said, though, that the real issues relative to a change of diet is what the government is running from; “they don’t want to make sure that people can be dealt with or prosecuted.” Backer posited that this can only mean that the government has a good idea who is the real money launders and has no intention of stopping those short in their tracks. She said that passing for passing sake is quite easy but noted, with no apologies that the passing of a weak legislation is not on the agenda of APNU.

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Early morning exercise leaves one dead, one critical What was usually an early morning jog for a book store proprietor ended fatally in the wee hours of yesterday morning when he and a companion were struck down by a contracted minibus. The dead man identified as Bholan Boodhoo, 65, of lot 41 Third Street, Alberttown, was a long standing member of the Alliance for Change and an adviser to the political party on matters of Economics and Finance for several years. According to the police, investigations revealed that the driver of minibus BGG 4671 was proceeding north along the roadway about 04:45 hrs, allegedly at a fast rate when Bholan Boodhoo reportedly attempted to cross the road and was struck down. The police further claimed that Boodhoo’s jogging partner, 59-year-old Bibi Baksh of Stanley Place, Kitty, who was also attempting to cross the road was struck by the vehicle. They were both rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Boodhoo was later pronounced dead. Baksh was admitted. Boodhoo’s wife, Mahadai Boodhoo, said that her husband had just returned to Georgetown from an out of town trip on Thursday. She said that as a usual practice since 2006, her husband would frequently go on early

Dead: Bholan Boodhoo morning jogs along with a companion. “I don’t go with him and he usually leaves at 04:30 hrs but this morning (yesterday) he came down at four o’ clock and I came down with him. I know he don’t lock the gates properly so I went behind him just to make sure he did and he gave me the keys,” the grieving wife said.

The woman added that about 05:00hrs she was awakened by a phone call notifying her that Boodhoo was involved in an accident and was rushed to the GPHC. “I say is which customer calling me at this hour, and I get up and answer the phone. Me husband friend, ‘Kato’, told me that dem boys at the National Park call he and tell he that me husband get in accident,” Boodhoo bewailed. The widow said that she immediately boarded a taxi and travelled to the National Park. “When I jump in the car the taxi man tell me is not the National Park they had one by JP Singh road and he took me to the scene and then took me to the hospital,” Boodhoo explained. The woman said that when she arrived at the hospital, one of the police officers greeted her with the news that her companion had passed away. Continued on page 25

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Saturday November 09, 2013

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SOMETHING IS FISHY HERE! Since when is the issue of the government granting fishing licences a human rights concern? Or is it a case that the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has become the mouthpiece of powerful economic interests within the local fishing industry who feel threatened that their comforts are going to be eroded now that the Chinese are making their belated foray into our fishing grounds. It is surprising that the Guyana Human Rights Association which has been very silent in all the debates about the Anti- Money laundering and the Countering of Terrorism Act, should suddenly raise its concerns about the fact that the government is issuing licences to Chinese firms to engage in deep sea fishing.

Why the sudden concern by the GHRA and how is this issue a human rights one? The Guyana Human Rights Association will undermine whatever little credibility it still has by its objections to this issue. It will also run the risk of being accused of being selective since for decades in Guyana industrial fishing has been under the control of foreign firms in Guyana. In all that time, the GHRA never saw a problem but only now that Chinese firms are entering our markets, something that threatens the vested interests in the sector, has the GHRA chosen to raise its voice. For years industrial fishing in Guyana was dominated by American and British companies which deployed large fleets of

trawlers to catch the thriving stocks that Guyana held. No assessment has been done as to how the licences which were granted to American and Japanese firms, have helped the local economy. Indeed, there is an opinion that these firms helped to deplete our fishing grounds and shipped out their catch rather than help develop processing plants that would have allowed for the employment of thousands of Guyanese, especially women. If the GHRA was raising a concern that the jobs in the fish processing sector, jobs which are mainly done by women, are threatened by the entrance of the Chinese into the market, those concerns might be understood as a gender and by extension a human rights

issue. But the GHRA has raised no concerns about loss of jobs. So what is it that is bothering the GHRA? Is it the fact that certain big companies in the local fishing industry, companies that are controlled by both local and foreign elites, feel that the Chinese will take away critical markets from the companies presently operating? In other words, has the GHRA become the mouthpiece for big business in the fishing sector? The real concern about fishing licences should not be about who is granted the licences. It should be about what benefits accrue to Guyana as a consequence of these licences. What level of value added is being promoted through the grant of these licences. Or are

we simply allowing persons from all over the world and also from within Guyana to pillage our fishing grounds and then to export the catch without any significant benefits to the Guyanese economy? The grant of industrial fishing licences should be tied to the construction of fishing plants that process the fish locally before being exported. Guyana should refuse to grant any industrial licence to any foreign or local national unless the fish is going to be processed here and unless there is an established fish processing plant and there is verifiable evidence that fish processing actually takes place. We cannot continue to allow local and foreign fishers to deplete our already

depleted fishing grounds unless they are accompanying value-added activities. This has to be the bottom line. The issue should not be about whether it is Chinese, Japanese, American or European firms that are engaged in the fishing industry in Guyana. The issue has to be nature of that involvement. No industrial fishing licences should be issued unless there is an agreement between those who will catch the fish and some local firm that will process it.

GPHC receives $1M for environmental enhancement The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s efforts to revamp its immediate surroundings have attracted sponsorship with corporate citizen Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company donating a grant of $1M to aid the works. Chief Executive Officer of

GPHC, Michael Khan, noted at the simple ceremony, that it has long been the aim of the hospital to work towards enhancing the appearance of its immediate environs and is grateful that the telecommunications company has come on board to assist in that regard.

Dem boys seh ...

Jenny still fulling Jagdeo pocket It ain’t good fuh wish bad for your fellow mankind. One of de Good Book seh suh. Not dem boys. But dem boys seh that when it got people who look like human and think like animal you can’t help wishing dem bad. Is like a man get trapped in a field wid a lion. Wha you gun wish dah animal, good or bad? When Brazzy, Bharrat and Barbie throwing bait and setting trap fuh de whole country, wha you expect people fuh wish dem? When dem set de stage fuh continue to rape we blind you must wish dem bad. And de Man above wouldn’t vex if we do that. Now listen wha dem chaps do. Dem set de stage fuh still funnel y’all hard earned tax money to Jagdeo/Ramroop enterprise. Imagine all pensioner glad fuh dem two cent wha dem does get from de government when de month come. Some of dem depend pun that fuh eat. If dem miss a month dem eat green grass. And Jenny, like she don’t give a raa— ass. De government start fuh announce that dem gun share de pension book fuh next year. Of course dem old people got fuh know wheh fuh guh to collect dem pension book. De government does inform dem all de time by way of advertisement. Dem boys got no problem wid dat and nobody should, too. But is de ‘but’ and not anybody’s butt dem boys talking about. Dem boys different from de Bees butts. Jenny Webster put out a notice that this Sunday only Jagdeo and Ramroop butts (de Hard Times paper) gun get massage wid de ad. She lef out de Big Market Paper, de Chronic, and de biggest of all, de Waterfalls paper or as CN does seh, de Cochore Paper. De others gun get it next week Sunday. Of course de Waterfalls boss man seh that he don’t kay fuh de money because he always seh that he can carry all de government ads fuh free. But fuh lef out dem three newspaper, and fuh give de Hard Times paper wha nobody don’t even see, much less read, is not eye pass, you figure is wha pass. Talk half and ask Jenny fuh de answer.

While the cheque was only handed over yesterday, the beautification works are well underway, including works to ensure that the entrances, particularly those at New Market Street remain cluster free. Of the works visible, were signs of ‘No Stopping’ along the section of New Market Street where the hospital is located, while at the immediate entrance of the hospital, the urge of keeping the area clear is worded onto the road. Additionally, it was noted that the hospital declared the section a ‘No Entry Zone’ to minibuses; and collectively a ‘No Parking’, ‘No Drop-off’ and ‘Keep Clear’ zone. It was noted that the funds also enabled the hospital to deal with the problem of private taxi drivers who not only contributed to the overcrowding of the hospital entrances but also molested patrons while soliciting customers. Public Relations Advisor, Vic Insanally, noted that it has been a constant fight to maintain a clear passageway into and out of the hospital compounds with both taxi drivers and food vendors crowding the entrances on a daily basis. He explained that these holdups often result in time being lost and also present danger to patrons, especially in emergencies involving ambulances. To deal with this issue, the hospital has partitioned a section of the northern shoulder New Market Street to be used by 11 taxi drivers authorised by the Corporation. The area was designed so as to allow the taxis to operate on a ‘turn’ basis. This provision, it is hoped, will ease the cluster at the gates

of the hospital. According to Insanally, the plans went further where the hospital’s administration took a decision to “take back” the East Street parking lot. He said that management will be working to reintroduce the initial intended use of the park, which was to cater for the parking of vehicles used by visitors to the hospital. He said that it is especially appropriate now since parking will not be allowed at the immediate entrance or surrounding areas of the hospital and urged that patrons recognize this arrangement. He said that the hospital will be seeking the assistance

of the Police Traffic Department and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to enforce the decisions made involving the use of the roadway. Not too long ago, moves by GPHC to remove the vendors were seen as “taking bread out of their mouths” and as such, the works were ordered to cease. In response, the hospital’s CEO has maintained, over the time, that while it is not management’s intention to obstruct the livelihood of the vendors, consideration must be given to ensure that the hospital’s environs are managed properly and in a way that ensures cleanliness. In the near future, the

hospital will be embarking on a project to create a food court. Of course, vendors who would want to occupy spaces there would have to fit the requirements, including being holders of legal food handlers certificates. As of now, however, Khan said that management will be looking to relevant authorities to assist in moving them to areas where they do not crowd the entrance of the hospital.

Saturday November 09, 2013

Kaieteur News

37th meeting of COTED … By Latoya Giles Trade Ministers from across the region met yesterday at the Princess Hotel, to discuss the Strategic Direction of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED). The special session was held to iron out several key agenda issues including the recent judgment by the Caribbean Court of Justice in the Shanique Myrie case which has cemented the Community’s rules-based system. Secretary-General of Caricom, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said that the discussion was an integral element of the Community’s agenda for change. He said that discussions were being held at a time when the Community is searching for answers. “ We are searching for answers on how best to advance the integration process…we are searching for answers to alleviate the low levels of growth and high levels of debt and most importantly, we are searching for answers to raise employment levels, particularly among our youth” LaRocque noted. He told participants that there is a quest for innovative ideas to drive the progress of the integration movement. He pointed out that after 40 years the region’s integration movement continues to endure, giving cause for celebration in the midst of reflection and introspection. He noted that the region continues to remain relevant to its members. “We are engaged in seeking ways to improve the way we do business.” According to LaRocque, the Community is in the

Page 11

Private Sector and Youths must be engaged to assist economic goal

process of reviewing every facet of its operation and institutions. He said that the heads of Government has agreed that it was necessary to examine the future direction of the Community and to craft the requisite arrangements to govern the agreed structure. LaRocque went on to state that work has already begun on the Five-Year Strategic Plan for the Community. The Secretary General urged that COTED’s agenda and deliberations must be more strategic as they seek to address the challenges faced by Member States. “The role of the institutions that relate to COTED is equally important, as they are an integral part of our integration architecture, and have been established to facilitate our economic and trading arrangements. COTED must ensure that any discussion on its future construct and operation must take a full account of that architecture.” “As a Region we must collectively endeavor to put all our Member States on a sound footing in order to tackle the harsh economic realities head on” LaRocque posited. In regards to Caricom, enhancing competitiveness and expanding trade are crucial elements for propelling growth and improving the welfare of the Region, he said. He urged the ministers to be fully aware of their challenges and limitations and seek to address these, both at the regional and national levels. Ambassador LaRocque said that while the region address challenges, the key to achieving its economic goal would be the full involvement of the private sector. He urged the Ministers to bring the private sector to the table. “It

is the private sector who produces …it is the private sector who trades” LaRocque noted. Meanwhile, Minister Carolyn Rodrigues- Birkett who acted as Chair of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) said that the principal engagement was to improve the living standards of the region’s people. She said this was the first objective of the Community as stated in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and COTED’s remit is to promote the trade and economic development of the Community. According to Minister Birkett, the region is certainly not short on vision, orators or great speeches. She said that they are much involved in reviewing and updating the Revised Treaty. Minister Birkett posited that trade ministers must ensure that implementation is accelerated.

Irwin LaRocque

Carolyn RodriguesBirkett

“The only direction for the Caribbean Community is forward - in all respects of the Treaty’s declared promises and common goals” Birkett stressed. “The Caribbean’s history is replete with instances of regional leadership in the global community, however must rediscover the region’s natural

instinct to lead and not merely follow, we are small but not insignificant” the Minister noted. Minister Birkett urged the trade Ministers to take the tough decisions and commit to follow through, and owe it to themselves and people. “Let us deliver real value for the people’s investment in

the one Caribbean project and in this regard, COTED can and should harness the ideas and input of the Caribbean public in its policymaking and implementation process” the Minister stressed. Like Ambassador LaRocque, Minister Birkett called for the engagement of the private sector which acts as the engine of growth, jobs and innovation. The minister also asked for the engagement of young people who are the future captains of Caribbean industry. “Their belief in and commitment to the Caribbean project is essential to the success and sustainability of the region’s integration” Birkett said. She opined that the youths must be convinced and they must be won over. The Minister further said that the universities and technical colleges must also be brought into the fight to harness the relevant human resources.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Saturday November 09, 2013

Anti-money Laundering Legislation …

Govt. must be held responsible not Opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is insisting that contrary to what the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C) is peddling, his party is “committed to amending the current Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (AML/CFT) to ensure that it is effective.” APNU leader retired Brig. David Granger, at a press briefing yesterday at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition; expressed that in addition to wanting to ensure an effective AML/CFT they are “committed to ensuring that the Bank of Guyana and the Financial Intelligence Unit are empowered and equipped to fulfill its functions and achieve the objectives of the Act, as well as engaging the Government of Guyana, the private sector, civil society, the trade unions and the international community to protect our economy with enforceable AML/CFT laws.” According to Granger, the

- Granger PPP/C Government has refused to complete essential changes to the AML/CFT Act that would have improved the law and strengthened the Financial Intelligence Unit. These changes were negotiated in the parliamentary Special Select Committee that was established to bring consensus quickly on the AML/CFT between government and the combined opposition (Alliance for Change AFC, and APNU). However, the “Committee work was abruptly ended by the government chairperson in the absence of the opposition members at the meeting held on October 22, 2013,” said Granger. He articulated that the chairperson knew that the opposition could not meet on October 22 and used that opportunity to close off the Committee.

Chairperson, Gail Teixeira, then sent the report to National Assembly. Granger said that the report did not reflect the views of the Opposition members. The consequences were that a deficient AML/CFT Amendment Bill was brought before the House on November 7, last. The opposition could not support it, Granger said. “The Government insisted on putting the Bill to a vote despite strong recommendations by the APNU and AFC that the Bill be returned to the Select Committee to correct the deficiencies. The National Assembly was therefore forced to vote against it to prevent an inadequate, incomplete and imperfect bill from being foisted on the Guyanese people.” But President Donald Ramotar is insisting that the Opposition objected to the Bill being sent to the Select Committee. Indeed, the government proposed the

return to the Select Committee but for a limited period. The opposition objected to the time restriction. According to APNU if anybody should be responsible for the non passage of the AML/CFT Bill it is the PPP/C Government. Granger said that the PPP/C “administration has deliberately not enforced its own anti-money laundering legislation for over 13 years until it was threatened with sanctions by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force

and the international financial community.” The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act of 2009 was then introduced under international pressure. It was never enforced and deemed ineffective. “The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) made recommendations to strengthen the AML-CFT Act, the Bank of Guyana (BOG) and Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). It was only in April 2013 when Guyana was

threatened with being ‘blacklisted’ and deadlines for compliance were set that the Government was forced to introduce amendments to the AML-CFT Act in the National Assembly,” said Granger. The opposition leader said that the “PPP/C Government must accept full responsibility for the consequences of failure to amend the Act by inserting and implementing the recommendations of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force.”

Sithe Global still interested in Amaila Hydro Plant - Ramotar Sithe Global is still very interested in pursuing the Amaila Falls Hydropower Plant project, even though it “pulled out” of Guyana following a divide on the project in the National Assembly. This disclosure was made by President Donald Ramotar, yesterday, during a press conference at the Office of the President. He also divulged that Government has received additional expression of interests to develop a hydropower plant at Amaila Falls, Region Eight. The President’s disclosure, while contradicting some Government pronouncements, did not come as a surprise since Sithe Global is still the holder of the licence to develop a Hydro-electric power station, reservoir, transmission to the coast. Sithe Global bought the licence from Synergy Holdings Inc, which was granted an Original Interim Licence on July 29, 2002, almost 11 years ago. The arrangement is to pay Makeshwar ‘Fip’ Motilall, Office Manager of Synergy

US$12M after financial closure of the project. However, the company’s pursuit of the project was said to be dependent on all Parliamentary political parties unanimously approving the project. In August, President of Sithe Global, Brian Kubeck, maintained that “a publicprivate partnership of this magnitude requires a national consensus in order for us to proceed further.” While the Alliance For Change (AFC) supported Government on the project, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which holds 26 seats in the National Assembly, voted against Bills related to the Project. Meanwhile Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, on Wednesday last said that Sithe Global’s possession of the licence is considered a leftover of an initiative that has not been conclusively terminated. “Sithe Global still has the licence; it hasn’t been revoked. But, that is not by any means constitute any basis to say that a licence is being used and it is being used

with the effect of executing a project is what currently exists,” he said. Skeptics of the project felt vindicated about not supporting the US$858M project after the Amaila Falls ran dry in October. The site was identified for the 165 MW plant. Transport and Hydraulics Minister, Robeson Benn, in defending the location had said that it is not unusual for waterfalls used to provide hydroelectricity to run dry. He pointed to similar power stations in Suriname and in Brazil. He insisted that there would be a dam associated with the project and “the extent of dryness at this time would not have been as severe.” While, Benn and other Cabinet members believe the Amaila Falls Hydropower Plant Project is dead, Dr. Luncheon believes “hope beats eternal in human breasts”. “But I will continue in the same light and say that hope beats eternal in human breasts. There is still a lingering hope that something would yet be done,” he said.

Saturday November 09, 2013

Kaieteur News

ImmigrationINFO...Immigration News For Our Community Attorney Gail S. Seeram Through this “Question & Answer” column, our goal is to answer your immigration questions. We appreciate your comments and questions. If you have a question that you would like answered in this column, please email: Gail@GailLaw.com. Question #1: I was returning to the U.S. as a permanent resident when the Officer at the border took me into a room, asked me some questions, and took away my green card. What does this mean? Answer #1: As a permanent resident, you must always apply for admission every time you return to the U.S. Your travel history or maybe a prior criminal history may have prompted the Officer to take away your green card. Next, you will either be scheduled for a

deferred inspection interview at your local Custom and Border Protection office or you will receive a notice of hearing to appear in Immigration Court. This is a serious situation and you should consult with an immigration attorney. Question #2: I owe some taxes to the Internal Revenue Service; can I still file for U.S. citizenship? Answer #2: I would advise you to pay in full any taxes due and owing. When you file for U.S. citizenship one of the requirements you must meet is good moral character for the last five years (three years if married to a U.S. citizen). If you owe taxes, this will show that you lack good moral character and Immigration will have a ground to deny your U.S. citizenship application. Question #3: My U.S. citizen parent filed for me and I amunmarried.Canmychildwho is five process under my pending

application and come to the U.S. with me? Answer #3: Yes, but the required documents must be submitted to the U.S. Embassy proving you are the parent for the child and the child’s other biological parent must consent for the child to emigrate to the U.S. Question #4: My green card expires in two years; can I still travel with this conditional green card? Answer #4: Yes, a twoyear green card gives you conditional residency but you have all the benefits of a permanent resident, such as traveling outside the U.S. and working. The only limitation is that it expires in two years versus 10 years. Remember, that 90 days before your card expires, you must file a petition to remove conditions or your status will be terminated and you can be placed in removal proceedings.

From page 15 examine the role of the CSME in addressing the economic challenges of Member States. I remain convinced, however, that the CSME is our best option for addressing our economic challenges,” Ambassador LaRocque said. In a ruling issued on October 4, the CCJ awarded Myrie a total of Bds$75,000 or J$3.6 million after it found that the Barbados Government had breached her right to enter the country under Article

5 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Myrie took the Barbados Government to the CCJ, alleging that she was discriminated against because of her nationality when she arrived in Barbados on March 14, 2011. The 25-year-old also said she was subjected to a dehumanising body-cavity search and placed in an unsanitary cell before being deported the next day to Jamaica. The Barbados Government denied the claims and

argued at the trial that Myrie had been untruthful to Immigration officials. Myrie wanted the CCJ to determine the minimum standard of treatment for Caricom citizens moving within the region under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. She asked the CCJ to award her almost US$500,000 in punitive damages for the treatment she received on her visit to Barbados. She also wanted the regional court to award costs and special damages.

Shanique Myrie’s judgment has “far...

Page 21

Essequibo records another road fatality

Dead: Narine Singh Narine Singh, 71, formerly of Riverstown, Essequibo Coast, became the second pedestrian to be killed on the roads, Wednesday evening. He was struck down on the Riverstown Public Road. Narine’s death came hours after popular newspaper vendor, Bhagwadeen Narine, 61, of Lima, was struck and killed by a speeding car, on the Sparta Public Road, earlier the same day. The deaths ignited an outcry by Essequibians, who are convinced that most of these fatal accidents are a result of reckless driving by younger drivers. The driver who struck down and killed Narine in front of his gap at Riverstown abandoned his vehicle aback

of Dartmouth backdam, after fleeing the scene. Police have since recovered the abandoned vehicle and have impounded same in the Anna Regina Station Compound. The driver is currently being sought by the police. The elder Narine, who manned the Riverstown Mandir for a number of years, met his demise while he was walking from his daughter Sabitree Singh’s Pomona home to his residence at Riverstown, s o m e y a r d s a w a y. H e sustained a broken neck, hands, feet and back. Narine died on the spot. Sabitree Singh explained that her father had visited her earlier that day (minutes after 3pm) and had left her Pomona home around 6:30pm. Singh said she watched her father reach the end of the street before she ventured back into her yard.

The grief-stricken woman said that since her father and mother, Shirley, separated some 33 years ago, she was tasked with taking care of him. As a result she would usually prepare his daily meals. Singh said her father had visited her to remind her of a trip he and she were to undertake yesterday. “My father come to tell me that both of us were to travel to Georgetown Thursday. “He said that if I ain’t ready by 17:00 hours, he would go ahead of me.” Mahendra Singh, a grandson, said that a neighbour informed him of his grandfather’s demise. He said that when he visited the scene, he was confronted by scores of persons who had converged to view the mangled body. Narine’s death represents the eighth road fatality in Essequibo for the past three months.

Page 22

WANTED Contract cars- Contact City Taxi Service- 660-1100/ 2267150 Live in female domestic 4045 years old – Tel:610-2978; 613-3091 One driver for the interior must have bus license – Contact:681-6044 GREENHEART AND PURPLE HEART LUMBER - TEL: 653-9752 Labourer, Arc/Acetylene welder - skilled in Grill work. Driving an asset, Georgetown area Tel: 6102978; 613-3091 One Cummings and Perkins mechanic to work in interior contact:681-6044 Experienced counter servers, roti/puri cooks, curry cooks, pastry makers & handyboys Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. One experienced female to work in the interior free meal and accommodation. Age 25-30 – Contact:697-1164 Worker wanted for restaurant and roti shop in Trinidad; accommodation provided. For more information contact - 0011866-760-1426. Urgently needed 1 plot of land to buy in Parfaite Harmonie - Tel: 675-7292; 218-5591 Urgently upholsters, joiners, spray painters ( Furniture) handyman Contact S. Khan: 225-6810

Kaieteur News

WANTED TRUCK DRIVER WITH EXPERIENCE, MUSTHAVE POLICE CLEARANCE, 3 REFERENCES OF LAST JOBS & ALL PROPER I.D’S & LICENCE. TEL:231-8529 1 Live in experienced waitress (18-25 years) & 1 experienced cook ( Salary $50,000 monthly) - Call: 6987172 One maid to cook and assist in cleaning. Between age 25 to 40 years – Tel:616-6168

2 Handy men to work in the interior. Free meal and accommodation – Call:6276416; 226-3799 (8am-4pm), (Friday - Monday) HOUSE KEEPER/ NANNY: MATURE WITH EXPERIENCE, POLICE CLEARANCE & 3 REFERENCES.FLEXABLE HOURS – TEL:231-8529

1 Toyota Carina (212) excellent Condition – Contact:629-9511; 625-9511

Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252; 674-4665 Land to buy @ Non-Pareil, Eccles & Herstelling – Tel:675-7292; 218-5591

1 Toyota RAV 4; Excellent Condition – Contact:6269582

Male and female to work at wash bay in G/TownTel:669-4676

Smart Choice Auto: Premio, Allion, IST, Runx, FielderCall:652-3820/665-4529

PORTERSAND DELIVERY PERSON, ALSOSALESGIRL WITH COSMETICS EXPERIENCE. REFFERENCE REQUIRED. BUILDING MATERIAL DEPOT - TEL: 231-8529 One female to work in snackette/bar. Must know to cook. - Tel: 647-7432; 223-5798 One waitress. Age 18-25 years. Contact: 650-3680; 233-5450 (Between 8am-3pm) Minibus driver for contract, living in Georgetown - Call: 675-3093 One hairdresser for salon - Call: 684-3384; 231-8735

Labourers/ painters/ carpenters with own tools to work with limited supervision - Tel:225-6070

One domestic, live in & live out babysitter from 12pm8pm- Call:225-4492

We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154

1 AE100 Carolla: Alarm, AC, mags & crystal lights, HID $800,000- 1 AT170 EFI fully powered: mags & CD $580,000 – Tel:619-1047

Urgently needed land to buy - Tel:675-7292; 2185591.

Office Clerk: CXC English/ Mathematics- Call:225-0188/ 225-6070

VEHICLE FOR SALE 2007 Toyota BB, fully loaded, unregistered special price $2.350M – 617-2891

LAND FOR SALE House lot for sale on the West Bank of Demerara Harbour bridge in Harbourville contact # 6500402 Citrus farm at Yarrowkabra with over 300 bearing trees and creek running through - Call Paul at: 602-7740 5 Acres, 3 lots $15M @ Canal #2- Call: 227-7734

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

LEARN TO DRIVE

Security guard/ gardener. Age: 35-40, preferable from: Triumph/ Mon Repos ECD area- Call:623-1387

Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964

1 Unregistered Toyota Tundra, Fully accessorized with crash bar, step, cd player & alarm, price:$2.8M - Tel: 601-0706; 225-0024 First Class Auto: Premio, Axio, Passo, Runx, Allex, IST, Fielder, Raum – Call:609-8188; 602-6307

Saturday November 09, 2013

VEHICLE FOR SALE GRR 573, long base RZ minibus, automatic. Excellent Condition - Tel:687-5657; 652-0709 One fully loaded Toyota Hilux Vigo - Tel: 638-8930; 653-8226 One Toyota MK 2 GX81 – Tel:626-0329; 684-7633 1 Honda Fit PMM 4223; with rims and CD player; Immaculate Condition $1.3M Negotiable – Tel:6101818, 618-5140 Mitsubishi Galant Car, fully loaded – Tel:628-2063; 6002063; 227-7544; 612-2542

FOR SALE

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Cheapest Online Vehicles!!! - Tel:626-2771

Honda welders; 270 amps 15,000 watts generator Tel:611-5114/220-4495

1- Caterpillar D5 Bulldozer and 1- Caterpillar engine 3406 Contact number 650-0402

AT212 - $1.050M, AE100 Corolla wagon - $875,000 – Call:611-6632

Whole sale: Pluck Chicken - Tel:676-0931

Norpan Auto: Premio, Raum, Fielder & Vitz, never registered. Tel: 269-0432; 686-0323

One caterpillar 317 excavator. New engine and hydraulics Tel: 687-0077 (Gregory); 6613671; 602-0036

1 Toyota Caldina & fielder wagon, IST, fun cargo, AT212, AT192, AT170, Ceres, Hilux pick up 4x4 – Tel:644-5096; 697-1453

2 Tool Kit – Wrinch, socket, scanner, testers etc & tyre plugs – Tel:601-0706; 2250024

Two Toyota Tacoma 2006 unregistered: 4wd $3.9M & 2wd $3.1M- Call:662-1396/ 678-0573 1 Suzuki 600 GSX-R, 1 Nissan Virgo Mini Van, PKK series Tel: 644-5096, 697-1453

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

1- 5705 John Deere tractor, 1Rome plough 20 dish, 1- 1630 Bedford truck articulated with 2 trailer- Call:693-4596 2- M132 Lavarda Combine, 122RB Dragline, 3- Pressure pump 4x3 for gold field, 12640MF tractor 4WD, 1385MF tractor- Call:627-0447

Furnished short term apartments - Tel: 687-3017

1 CAT standby 3306, 194 KVA 3 phase 60 cycleCall:641-8472

One Toyota RZ mini-bus BJJ series – Call:678-5887

Furnished top flat house, Queenstown, generator, A/ C, Grille & parking. Tel: 2271218 or kpthomas7@gmail. com

Creole birds, chicks, eggs @ Lot 1 L’ Oratoire Canal No.1 WBD – Tel:655-1284

3-Ton Canter excellent condition – Model M.Bush truck for interior – Tel:2318417; 231-6560; 231-1238; 624-0443

Ground Floor Office space, Queenstown, generator, A/ C, grille & parking - Tel: 2271218 or kpthomas7@gmail. com

New RX8 (Red) rotary 7 speed engine, new rims, tires, music kickers, lambo doors Tel: 680-2095

Two Toyota Hilux 4x4 left hand drive, 22R engine. Never registered - $2.7M each - Call: 671-1512 ALYEA’S AUTO SALE: PREMIO 2003/2004. ALL PRICES ARE NEG. 40 CROAL STREET STABROEK- TEL:2317284/622-3823 One AT192 PLL966 $1.1M; with DVD player – Tel:6399528 Toyota Primo Late PNN Series – Tel:624-6471; 2254741

Coolers and ScaffoldCall:657-0424 Executive property in gated community at Houston D’ Aguiar’s Park, fully furnished. Tel: 609-2876 or 623-0425 One 2 bedrooms house for rent in Tuschen E.B.E - Tel: 216-0644 or 684-3195 Executive houses & apartments - $75,000 upward – Contact:223-8479; 6473768; www.spaceseek.gy One mobile canteen - call: 693-8322

Generators, welders, diesel yanmar, low noise key start 10,000 watts - $1.2M Tel:6128879; 678-2918 - Ramroop Furniture Store. Lincoln welder gas 220 AMPs, Jack Hammer Bosh, Drill Press. Tel:612-8879; 6782918 - Ramroop Furniture Store, Lombard St Georgetown. Ladies boutique closing down have dresses, tops, etc for sale, made in USA. Going cheap! – Tel:624-7333 Pure breed pit-bull 5 months fully vaccinated and dewormed, also pure 7 weeks pit-bull pups – Contact: 6565412; 234-1460; 661-4112.

F150 Tundra, chevy cargo van – Tel:227-8519; 653-4287

Generators, welding sets, compressors, power washers, drill - migrating, must see! - Tel:227-8519

AA60 Toyota Carina. Price $350,000 negotiable - Call: 644-2306

2 white female and 1 brown male fluffy dogs - contact: 699-6006

AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN& cheap RZ buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154

MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call:678-7499

Clearance Sale: greenheart lumber, slabs, strips & firewood. Toolsie Persaud Ltd, Lombard St. Georgetown - Tel: 226-4920; 226-4071-5

Potting soil, top soil and quality cow mould – Call:656-1326; 678-0058 Tundra ‘Woman Driven’ Tel:627-1983 Large vacuum cleaner wet & dry (for cleaning or car wash), stereo sets& speakers. Tel:227-8519 One 8000 Ford tractor & one Ford 450 2005 Towing truck – Call: 689-1864 (Guru) / 6945599 (Floyd). Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call:225-9032,647-2943 Hifi Sound Connection: Car Audio, Pro Audio, complete sound system generator.Call:610-1230/673-5828 Honda ATV 500 4X4 DBL shocks - Tel: 688-6274; 6913851 Massey Ferguson 6140 4X4 Turbo – Call:688-6274/6913851 One stall @ La Penitance Market; $600,000 – Tel:6900437 Original door mirrors for 212, AT192, Allion, Premio, Runx, Alex, AT110 sprinter, AT170 Sprinter, NZE - Tel:654-6401 Happy Acres - $66,000,000, Ogle- $65,000,000, Hotel$2,000,000 USD - Contact: 223-8479; 647-3768 www.spaceseek.gy Houses in East Ruimveldt $10,000,000 – Mon-Repo $16,000,000 to $30,000,000, Diamond - $34,000,000. Contact: 223-8479; 647-3768 - www.spaceseek.gy Imported 6 weeks blood line pit-bull pup. Fully vaccinated & De-wormed, nice colours – Call Anil: 6254583; 225-6801 One pure bred female Rottweiler pup - Call: 2206879 Live/pluck chicken call:6504421, 220-9203 3 Pcs suite furniture. Excellent condition! Tel:6450240; 685-0942 SAWMILL COMPLEX design to produce 40,000 BM per week export & local market. Wanted log Kabakallie, etc. Tel:684-5868 (Continued on page 23)

Saturday November 09, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Letters... Where your views

The planned fishing licences... From page 4 already booming Chinese illegal fishing industry in Guyana territorial waters? After all, if the Chinese are fishing illegally in our waters, wouldn’t 40 licences to operate in waters we cannot patrol make it virtually impossible to determine which Chinese vessel is legally fishing and which isn’t? For all you know, 150 Chinese trawlers could operate with impunity in our exclusive economic zone, of which 40 of them will have licences, and those ‘sailing’ in Freedom House will not have a clue. Have they considered that the Chinese could strategically place their 40 licenced trawlers closer to shore where our patrol limit reaches and where our local trawlers have their utmost range? This will devastate our local fishing industry, as their small local trawlers plying the same waters would be dominated by the larger, faster and more advanced and effective Chinese trawlers, while other Chinese trawlers illegally fish in the deeper reaches of our territorial sea where we cannot patrol. Not only does this scenario destroy our local fishing industry which cannot compete with advanced Chinese mega trawlers, it runs the risk of severely depleting our fishing stocks at the same time. So, we end up with a collapsed fishing industry and a severely depleted fishing stock. Only in the watery Stalinist minds of the PPP leaders, led by Jagdeo and

Ramotar, would this be a wonderful securement of our sovereignty. A nation with significant claims on its territorial waters from two neighbours (Venezuela and Suriname) cannot afford this senseless act from the rogues within the PPP, devoid of any inkling of patriotism and logic. Instead of encouraging local trawlers to expand, and to more forcefully commercialise our territorial waters by giving them 40 more licences, the PPP misfits want the Chinese to become the commercial presence in Guyana’s outer territorial waters and EEZ. Will these people ever do the right thing for this nation? How much is the PPP getting for these 40 licences? No nation faced with brazen claims on its territory should surrender control or allow economic exploitation in such reckless and destructive fashion. I commend the Chinese for doing what is right for their people. God bless them and their government for advancing the interests of their people. They are right to exploit those who will stoop for crumbs. It is up to the people of Guyana to deal with those among us who are operating blindly, not the Chinese government acting in its people’s interests. M. Maxwell (From page 22)

FOR SALE One registered Yamaha R1 motorcycle. In immaculate condition. Price:$1,100,000 – Tel:600-3177

CAR RENTAL Premio, vitz call: 679-7139 Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/ 226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www.dollysautorental.com Aidan’s Car Rental & PickupCall: 645-7981/ 698-7807 First Choice Car Rental: Cars as low as $5,000 per dayCall: 668-0306/ 694-7817/ 2256337

Fab’s Rental: Cars to RentCall: 671-6051/609-6890 VACANCY

PROPERTY FOR SALE VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, self-contained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community- Call:592-6248704/592-684-9203 111 Collinswood Avenue, Nandy Park, EBD Contact:616-9775;687-0835 One - two storey 3 bedrooms house @ Montrose ECD, Price negotiable. Serious enquiries only! - Tel: 619-6005

Pump Attendant at Shell Service Station Providence, E.B.D. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm12pm)- Call:265-7305

Businessman in Trinidad seeks Guyanese woman for friendship & marriage between ages 30-40; email:ramphal mahadeo@ live.com – Tel:0011-868-7243155; 0011-868-4681075 Need a friend for serious relationship or marriage, call Brian: 695-8528

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

Vacancy exists for 1 experienced Accountant & Accounts clerk with 5 years experience. Apply @ Alabamba Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling.

Large two flat 6 bedrooms house - $14M negotiable Tel:604-4174; 619-5332

Vacancy exist for one experienced cosmetologist on the EBD ( Grove) Contact: Ms Rashrie call:652-5800

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

Property for sale- Contact: 699-9926 192 Lance Gibbs Street Queenstown – Tel:667-7659 Benn Street - $5.5M, Highway – 50 acres from road to river – Call Diana: 227-2256; 626-9382

SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773 Celebrity Look Beauty Salon: hair and nail stations to rent. Hair - $6,500 and nail - $4,000. Contact Leoita: 602-2337

TO LET Self contained rooms in Prashad Nagar; contact: 2272993 One Furnished Two bedrooms bottom flat @ Uitvlugt - Contact: 680-4990

Fully furnished Vacation home with all amenities- Call during working hours- 2271218

Canter Drivers & Porters fromECD&EBD,MaleSecurity Guards for Land of Canaan location, accommodation available. 266 4427

One bedroom unfurnished apartments, Grove New Housing Scheme, EBD $35,000.00 Call # 642-1956

Domestic /cook with Carnegie training - $2,500 per day to work in New Providence Contact: 265-7550

Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,6626045,223-8115 Christmas cleaning! Power washing for residential & commercial properties - Call: 648-1544

North East Taxi Service – For best rates, 24hrs Service, 280 Savage Street, North East La Penitence – Tel:227-8856; 231-3567 We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699

Harmony Inn: Apartments fully furnished, airconditioned apartments: As low as $5000 per night- Call: 668-0306/602-8769/ 694-7817

Skilled carpenters & apprentice, salesboys & girls. Apply: In person to Avinash Water St.

North Ruimveldt, Tuckville, Mon-Repos- $8.5M & Herstelling $4.5M – Tel:2312199; 618-7483

HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000CALL:694-9843/227-2766

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

Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call: 679-7139

Incomplete transported property @ Diamond Housing Scheme - Call: 6093426; 683-6920

Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call:2259032,647-2943

Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick)

Garden maintenance staff needed for Landscape Company 18-28 years. No education necessary - Tel: 648-1821

Gardener/ handyman$20,000 per week to work in New Providence must know to operate weeding machine - Contact: 265-7550

SERVICES Professional and affordable landscaping and tree trimming services. Budram’s Landscaping ServicesCall:656-1326/678-0058

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

Canter Drivers & Porters from East Coast & EBD, Male Security Guards for Land of Canaan location. 266 4427 2 Female sale Clerks must be between18-25. Tel:679-9449; 231-3059. People’s Choice Café

Property for sale- Call:6275416

2-50 Feet fishing boats complete with 400 LBS bangamary nets, 2-48 Yamaha engines. Call:2202259; 220-9325; 220-3133

Vacancy exists @ Survival Shopping Complex; 173 Sheriff St - For IT Technician. Apply with written application & passport photograph & CV - Contact: 227-5288-89

Diamond - $6.2M, Alberttown - $35M, Kitty - $30M, AA Eccles - $60M - Call Diana: 227-2256; 626-9382

Original Games- Call:6722566

Beautiful fluffy puppies Call: 645-0240; 685-0942

PENPAL

Vacancy exists @ Survival Shopping Complex; 173 Sheriff St - For cashiers & drivers. Apply with written application & passport photograph Contact: 227-5288-89

Light St Front Property in good condition & parking $25M. 5 Bedrooms house @ South & parking – $30M – Call Diana: 227-2256; 626-9382

1 TATA Truck GEE 9962 – Contact:629-9286; 219-2395

MASSAGE The Gent’s Spa: Let beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse available- Call:657-5979

Untouchable Car Rental Tel:621-6827; 226-9668

Complete 50" fishing boat with two 48Hp Yamaha engine, 450 LB 2¾ in sain & ice box – Contact:220-0410; 695-9860

1 Raum PMM - $1.4M, 2006 Hyundai Tuscon Jeep $3.5M, negotiable - Tel: 6716051

TOUR Suriname pre-Christmas trip returned tour etc. Nov 28th - Dec 1st – Tel:644-0185; 6392663; 665-5171; 227-8290

Fully secured concrete bond 87x31ft (private compound) @ Mc Doom public road back of Police OutpostCall:233-0570 Kitty - $65,000 & $120,000, Kingston – US900, Atlanic Gardens – US900, Providence – US1300. Call Diana – 227-2256; 626-9382

EDUCATIONAL CXC/CAPE classes for students and adults. Highly qualified teachers & CXC examiners - Call: 683-3887 Institute Academic Supremacy; East Street, 4 building before Balwant Singh Hospital – Forms 1-5, CXC, adults/classes - Call: 226-8468, 690-5008 Nehemiah Comprehensive School; evening classes: Integrated Science, Human and Social Biology - Call: 226-0847 for more details. Register now for CAPE Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics classes – Call:683-3887

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Saturday November 09, 2013

Minister places ads Police clampdown on alcohol exclusively in Guyana Times vending at city bus parks ‘Ramotar should comment on this’ - Glenn Lall

Eyebrows are being raised at the irrational, illogical and unfair tactic being employed by one Government ministry to alert senior citizens that their Old Age Pension books will be ready in a week’s time. The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, yesterday disseminated a media release informing that 2014 book distribution will begin on November 18. The notice further informed that the list of distribution centres, dates and times will be published in the November 10 edition of the Guyana Times, and in the November 17 edition of the Stabroek News, Kaieteur News and Guyana Chronicle. With the daily readership of the Guyana Times significantly below the Stabroek News and at least ten times lower than the Kaieteur News, questions are being raised as to the rationale behind this move. Noting that the action is ‘expected’, given the origin

and purpose of the Guyana Times, Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall described the move as “blatant theft.” “I am not fighting or begging for ads; I have said and will repeat it again, Kaieteur News still has open, its offer to publish Government ads for free, but it is the principle involved…This move is reflective of the fact that Jagdeo’s instructions, principles and directives are alive and well, and are being played out every day in this society. “This is what I have been saying all along; that Jagdeo created the newspaper with the aim of enriching himself and Bobby Ramroop using taxpayers’ money. This is what I have been explaining in the Heist of Guyana... “To add more insult to this nation, he (Jagdeo) has left office, yet his underlings continue to show disrespect.” Lall questioned how a government Minister/ Ministry could place an ad for

Jamaica finds 57 kilos of cocaine in tea bags from Guyana Jamaica — Fifty-two packages of cocaine weighing 57.5 kg, with an estimated street value of US$57,000 or J$57 million, was seized Thursday in a joint operation by Jamaica Customs and the Transnational Crime and Narcotics Division (TCND) at Kingston Freezone.

According to the Jamaica Customs Department, the contraband was found wrapped in brown masking tape in a 40-foot import container with commodities declared as tea bags from Guyana. No arrests have been made in connection with the seizure. However, investigations are ongoing.

the Guyanese people in the Guyana Times; a newspaper that “nobody has even heard of or reads, leaving out the Stabroek News, Guyana Chronicle and the Kaieteur News”. “They continue to find ways to pump more tax dollars into their pockets. I would love to hear Minister Jennifer Webster’s rationale for this seemingly illogical decision. “I am sure President Donald Ramotar is reading and seeing this. I would love to have him comment on it too.” Efforts to contact Minister of Human Services and Social Security Jennifer Webster proved futile. According to the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, all pensioners are reminded to walk with their 2013 pension booklet and the corresponding national identification card or passport. “Pensioners cannot authorize anyone to collect their Old Age Pension Booklets. Officers will deliver booklets to those pensioners who are unable to visit the centres.” The Ministry reassured that it has made every effort to place distribution centres closest to pensioners. “Persons are advised to kindly check the schedule carefully and present themselves at the distribution centre that caters to persons in their catchment area. For queries or additional information, kindly contact the Pension Department on telephone number 223-6027 or your District Office.”

The Guyana Police Force plans to further clampdown on illegal alcohol vending so as to ensure that drivers desist from driving under the influence. To date, about 15 persons who vend at the city bus and car parks have been arrested and charged. The police said that in light of the increasing spate of road accidents, the raids are aimed at controlling drunk-driving among drivers of minibuses and other vehicles. This action has been taken to directly combat drunk-driving since it was recognised that the selling of alcohol at these areas allows drivers to easily access alcohol. Law enforcers stated that they have been performing

raids on the bus parks in an effort to directly address the issue of drunk-driving since many drivers are in the habit of consuming alcohol before they embark on their journeys. According to the police, the raids will be continuous and designed to protect scores of people who entrust their lives to drunken drivers. The police said that the first point to check is the motor park so as to ensure safety and to reduce the number of road accidents. The Police stated that anyone who wants to sell any form of alcohol should obtain a permit and the business must operate at an authorised place. The police insisted that the bus park is not one such place. Persons who risk selling

without a licence are liable to two fines; one for the unlawful possession of spirits which would include rum, wine and whiskey. The other is for selling alcoholic beverages such as beer and stout without being in possession of a licence. For the past two weeks, eight persons appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and were fined between $10,000 and $25,000 for breaching these laws. The Magistrates had made orders for the items to be confiscated and disposed of by the Guyana Revenue Authority. The police intend to conduct more raids at the parks and will go on to shops that are currently selling without being licenced.

From page 17 it reaches its maximum capacity, releasing it into the Atlantic Ocean, via an eight-gated high level outfall, the component which is being constructed by Courtney Benn Contracting Services. Meanwhile, the bridge, sited on the East Coast Public Road, is about 80 percent complete. Works are being carried out by DIPCON Engineering. Dr. Ramsammy said that the process of building an incline road to the bridge is also currently ongoing. Minister Ramsammy pointed out that while he would not entertain an extension of the project's deadline, the works being carried out so far are impressive. “Even people close to me had said that this project would be impossible, but today, for us to be talking about a deadline, is a major accom-

plishment,” Dr. Ramsammy said, adding that he is hopeful that none of the contractors would let him down by failing to meet the December deadline. Earlier, in July, a Parliamentary committee visited the multibillion dollar relief channel. Opposition Members of Parliament Joseph Harmon and Rupert Roopnaraine said that they were generally impressed with the works. Roopnaraine had said that even though he was skeptical at the outset about the project and its significant cost, it is commendable that the local engineers and their subordinates were able to overcome the many technical challenges and complete a considerable portion of the overall project. He had said however that initially, he was for the upgrading the East Bank Demerara

outlets, rather than the major investment in the Hope Canal. “I think that when it's completed, the Hope Canal will serve its purpose. I think the work that these engineers were able to complete, with all the technical challenges, is impressive,” A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)'s Roopnaraine added. Joseph Harmon had told Kaieteur News that the works being carried out by the local engineers are testament to the fact that “We don't need so much of the Chinese and other foreign contractors.” The project is being spearheaded by Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Lionel Wordsworth, and is being supervised by Raymond Latchman Singh and Dr. Ramsammy. (Rehana Ashley Ahamad)

No more deadline extensions on Hope...

Saturday November 09, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Colombian presidential candidate slams Santos’ peace efforts (Reuters) - Marxist FARC rebel leaders should be in a Colombian prison rather than negotiating peace with the government in Cuba, and no “terrorist” should ever be allowed into politics, opposition presidential candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga said yesterday.The aspirant for Colombia’s May 2014 presidential race is gearing up his campaign with a string of attacks on President Juan Manuel Santos’ effort to end 50 years of civil war, including this week’s accord to let the rebels enter politics. “The negotiators in Havana should be in jail paying for all their atrocious crimes, crimes against humanity that they have committed in Colombia,” Zuluaga, 54, candidate for former President Alvaro Uribe’s new party, told Reuters. “They can’t be awarded with political positions or seats in congress ... With terrorism, the only thing we can discuss is submission,

Oscar Ivan Zuluaga and if the FARC wants peace it should stop all criminal activity against our citizens.” Some three dozen commanders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, are in Cuba negotiating an end to the conflict that has killed more than 200,000 people since it began in 1964. While

Colombians are desperate for peace, they are split over the FARC’s civilian future. Frustrated by increased rebel attacks, a sluggish economy and Colombia’s surprising friendship with socialist neighbour Venezuela, Zuluaga, a onetime ally of President Juan Manuel Santos, is now his

Early morning exercise leaves... From page 7 “The police lady say, ‘Tek a seat; I want you take a seat.’ I go there expecting broken bones but I didn’t expect her to tell me is fatal. Then she tell me I have to be strong and then I start hollering,” the wife lamented. The woman said that while at the Kitty Police Station, she saw the driver whom she said was in a drunken state, and the bus which took her husband’s life. Boodhoo remembered her husband as the number one fan of Wrestle Mania. “I remembered at one time we

were at a function and he left me to walk all by myself because he needed to ketch the wrestling pon TV,” the wife remembered. Meanwhile, Leader of the AFC Khemraj Ramjattan, in a release, said that the members of the Alliance for Change are saddened at the death of its long-standing member. The release added, “He obtained a first degree in Economics at the University of Guyana in the early 1980’s and completed his Masters in England thereafter. “He served in the State Planning Secretariat for a

number of years and also in the Ministry of Finance in the 1990’s and early 2000. At the time of his death he was country agent for English Text Book Publishers, Longman/Hieneman Publishers of texts book out of England. He was originally from Stewartville, West Coast Demerara. “He was recently assigned by the AFC leadership to participate in the 2014 tripartite budget talks. He has been advising the AFC on matters of Economics and Finance for several years now.”

main rival assuming the incumbent seeks a second term. He has been travelling constantly the last year around the nation seeking support. Santos, who has until November 25 to decide on that, has seen his approval ratings slide in recent months after a series of labor protests turned violent, the FARC stepped up attacks and the peace process dragged on for a year with little progress. The centre-right president has suffered constant snipes from Zuluaga and Uribe - his former boss and ally - that the rebels are gaining the upper hand after years of setbacks. This week, the government reached an accord with the FARC on their potential political future

if a full peace deal is signed. Full details of the agreement have not been revealed. “I cannot accept that a legitimate state sits and talks to an organization that is financed by drug trafficking, financed by terrorism, acts like a criminal organization every day and attacks Colombians - and the state negotiates as equals? It’s not acceptable,” said a fierysounding Zuluaga in the gardens outside his Bogota apartment. A former senator and provincial mayor, Zuluaga charges that FARC negotiations have damaged the $360 billion economy. He is sure he can boost growth, attract more foreign investment and turn stillstrong support for Uribe into a sound win over Santos.

Zuluaga sees economic expansion this year around 3.5 percent - below the 6 percent annual growth he reckons he could achieve as president - and less than Peru and Chile’s respective 5.7 and 4.5 percent growth forecasts. “Why is Colombia growing less than Peru and Chile? I just don’t understand,” he said. As finance minister from 2007 to 2010, Zuluaga steered the economy through a period of record growth and then through a slowdown at the end of 2008 during the global financial crisis. The rebels have stepped up attacks on targets like oil and mining facilities this year, causing financial difficulties for companies in Latin America’s fifth-largest economy.

Man kills wife’s brother a day after prison release Police were last night hunting for a Cane Grove, Mahaica man who stabbed his brother-in-law to death at day after being released from prison. The incident occurred at around 22:00 hours.

According to information, the suspect and his wife had an argument, during which he tried to kill her. The brother intervened and was killed. Up to press time the name of the suspect and his victim were unknown. However,

Kaieteur News was told that the alleged killer was remanded to prison last month for assaulting his wife, after accusing her of infidelity. He was however released by a magistrate on Thursday.

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Kaieteur News

Jack calls for fresh elections Trinidad Express - The Independent Liberal Party (ILP) will be moving a motion in the Chaguanas council to have Faaiq Mohammed removed and for fresh elections to take place in the electoral district of Charlieville. Mohammed has been expelled from the ILP for voting with the United National Congress (UNC) to elect the presiding officer for the election of the Chaguanas mayor and deputy mayor. A shadow ILP councillor will be appointed, ILP interim leader Jack Warner said at a news conference Thursday at the party’s Chaguanas headquarters . “We shall pursue to the utmost and in the shortest possible time, we shall pursue all avenues to have early election in that district to replace our expelled councillor,” said Warner. ILP chairman Robin Montano said that as a matter of principle, the same way former St Joseph MP Herbert

Jack Warner Volney was ousted from Parliament because of his resignation from the UNC, the same should apply in the council. Calling on Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar, Montano said, “If you are a woman of principle join with us on the motion we will be bringing in the council and instruct your councillors to join with us to expel Faaiq Mohammed.” Warner confirmed that a car with a loudspeaker went

through the Charlieville area with a tape of his voice apologising to the people for what happened. “As a party we wish to apologise profusely to the people of Charlieville and by extension to our 102,000 supporters who voted for us and all our other members and supporters for this embarrassment that took place yesterday. We apologise for it and you would understand that even though it is painful for us....when he (Mohammed) was nine years old Ms (Falisha) Isahak was a councillor, he was almost in pampers at the time and if today he can do this to her and the party I still believe we should be forgiving,” he added. Warner had alleged that Mohammed was bribed $2.5 million to switch to the UNC and yesterday he said his proof came from two eyewitnesses who he claimed saw a Government Minister meeting with Mohammed.

China to loan Pacific island nations $1 billion BEIJING (Reuters) China will provide a concessionary loan of up to $1 billion to Pacific island nations to support construction projects, state media yesterday cited Vice Premier Wang Yang as saying, a part of the world

where Beijing and Taiwan compete for influence. Wang made the announcement at a forum with Pacific island nations in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, the official Xinhua news agency reported. It provided no other

details on the loan. China will also build medical facilities in the region and send medical teams as well as invest in green energy projects, Xinhua cited Wang as saying. The meeting was attended by representatives from Micronesia, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Niue and Fiji, the news agency added.

Saturday November 09, 2013

Cable & Wireless cuts 650 staff in the Caribbean

Huge cuts for CWC Jamaica Observer CABLE & Wireless Communications (CWC) cut 650 staff, or 18 per cent of its employees, in the Caribbean over the last year. The company, which operates as LIME in Jamaica and which had 3,028 full-time staff in the Caribbean at the end of September, saved US$18 million during the six months to September 30, but it says it plans to intensify cost cutting measures over the next 18 months. “The Caribbean has been the focus with operating costs reducing by US$18 million in the first half and we expect to step up the pace in order to meet our US$100million target,” said Tony Rice, CWC’s outgoing CEO. The telecommunications firm is targeting the

multimillion cost reduction across the group — which also operates in Panama and Monaco — on a run rate basis within two years, in light of declining revenues. “Operating costs at US$272 million reduced by six per cent compared with the prior period as we began to realise the benefits of the ongoing cost reduction initiatives,” added Rice. “We have now successfully outsourced our field services teams in Jamaica and Barbados.” Redundancy and restructuring costs predominantly related to the outsourcing of support services in the Caribbean cost CWC US$43 million during the six months to September 30. But CWC also has

another target in mind — achieving a Caribbean earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) margin in excess of 30 per cent in the medium term. Indeed, it increased its EBITDA margin from 25 per cent during the six months to September 30, 2012, to 26 per cent in the first half of the current financial year, although that had more to do with a smaller revenue base than the modest profit growth. EBITDA grew by one per cent year on year to US$138 million during the six months to September 30, but revenue dipped by US$32 million, or by six per cent year on year to US$521 million during the first six months of the current financial year, which runs to next March.

(Reuters) - Mexican authorities freed 61 kidnapping victims in the northern border city of Reynosa, the government said yesterday, liberating a mix of foreign nationals that included at least nine minors and one American. The raid, which took place on Thursday in four separate buildings in Reynosa, freed captives from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico and the United States, government spokesman Eduardo Sanchez said at a news conference in the capital. He said the captives, many of whom had been

trying to cross the border into the United States, had been held there for at least a week in “inhuman conditions,” although he did not go into details. Reynosa is across the border from McAllen, Texas. The captives included children ages 2, 7 and 11, he added. Authorities arrested four suspects, who could face sentences of up to 36 years if found guilty, Sanchez said. Mexican criminal gangs have long been involved in trafficking migrants from Mexico and Central America north into the United States in a side business that complements their drug smuggling efforts.

Although the murder rate in Mexico has fallen somewhat, kidnapping has risen since President Enrique Pena Nieto took office in December vowing to stamp out such crimes. A recent Pew Research Center report found that as of March 2012, 11.7 million illegal immigrants were living in the United States, according to a preliminary estimate based on U.S. government data. The number of such immigrants in the country peaked at 12.2 million in 2007 and fell to 11.3 million in 2009, bucking an upward trend that had held for decades, the study found. Immigration reform is one of U.S. President Barack Obama’s main objectives following his re-election last year. The White House hopes to push through a broad bill to reform immigration rules and provide a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented, but the effort has stalled in the House of Representatives after passing with bipartisan support in the Senate.

Mexico frees 61 kidnap victims held near U.S. border

Saturday November 09, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 27

Jordan looks set to take Saudi Security Council seat: Western diplomats UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Jordan appears set to take the traditional Arab seat on the U.N. Security Council after Saudi Arabia rejected the position in protest at the body’s failure to end the Syria war and act on other Middle East issues, Western diplomats said yesterday. The 193-member U.N. General Assembly elected Saudi Arabia last month to the Security Council for a twoyear term from January 1, but in a surprise move, Riyadh declined the position a day after the vote. While Saudi Arabia has made its decision known in a Foreign Ministry statement, it has not officially notified the United Nations. Most U.N. diplomats believe a formal letter needs to be received from Riyadh before a new election can be held. Western diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it appeared Jordan had agreed to replace Saudi Arabia on the council, after dropping out of a race

against Riyadh for a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council. Jordan’s place on the Security Council would still need two-thirds approval by the General Assembly, diplomats said. The unprecedented move by Saudi Arabia to reject the Security Council seat and the emergence of Jordan as the alternative candidate has left diplomats scratching their heads. Several U.N. diplomats have said Jordan would have been wary of replacing Saudi Arabia on the Security Council as it is so closely involved in key issues before the body. Jordan neighbors Syria and refugees from the more than 2 1/2 year civil war now represent one-tenth of Jordan’s population. “I don’t think Jordan, to be honest, wants to be on the Security Council,” said one senior U.N. envoy, speaking on condition of anonymity. Jordan’s U.N. Ambassador, Prince Zeid

King Abdullah Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Jordanian mission to the United Nations said that Zeid had returned to Amman for a few weeks. Jordan dropped out of the

race for a seat on the Human Rights Council earlier this week, paving the way for Saudi Arabia to be elected to that body unopposed, in spite of widespread criticism of its rights record. The U.N. General Assembly is due to

elect new members to the Geneva-based rights body on Tuesday. The Security Council is dominated by its five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - which have veto power over its decisions. To ensure diversity, the c o u n c i l ’s 1 0 e l e c t e d members are made up of three members from Africa, two from Asia-Pacific, one from Eastern Europe, two from the Latin American and Caribbean group, and two from the Western European and others group. Five are chosen each year to serve two-year terms. Arab states are split between the Asia-Pacific and African regional blocs and there is an unofficial deal that at least one Arab nation is always represented on the Security Council. Saudi Arabia was the Arab candidate from the AsiaPacific bloc. Kuwait had put its hand up to be the next Arab candidate from the group and

to run for the 2018-2019 term on the Security Council, which has led some diplomats to speculate that the Gulf U.S. ally could be a capable replacement. Arab countries have been trying to persuade Saudi Arabia to take up the Security Council seat. “Kuwait forms part of the efforts currently being carried out to convince Saudi Arabia to reverse its decision,” Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khaled alJarrallah told state news agency KUNA on Thursday. Saudi Arabia has threatened a rift with the United States in part over what it sees as Washington’s failure to take action against Syrian President Bashar alAssad and its policies on Iran. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Monday and praised the U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia as strategic and enduring, but strains in the nearly 70-year-old relationship were apparent.

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Ukraine acts to prepare anticorruption agreement, says EBRD KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine has renewed a push for agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to fight corruption after President Viktor Yanukovich’s commitment to improving the business climate was criticized, a bank official said yesterday. The ex-Soviet republic, which hopes to sign agreements on association and free trade with the European Union at the end of the month, backed away this week from inking the AntiCorruption Initiative with the EBRD aimed at ending corruption and extortionate business practices which deter investment. The delay led to dismay among members of the foreign investment community who heard Yanukovich tell a regional economic forum on Wednesday his government intended to deliver a “powerful and systematic attack on corruption in the country”. But an EBRD official said yesterday the bank had now learned that an order had been issued to all government ministries to agree quickly a text of a memorandum of understanding that could be

Viktor Yanukovich signed with the international lender by November 20. “We understood that they (the government) will intensify efforts to agree the initiative. Events have marshaled thoughts on this. We would welcome this renewed focus,” the EBRD source said. There was no immediate comment from the government. The international lender invests about $1 billion a year in Ukraine and the EBRD says the delay in signing the initiative - officially because of “technical reasons” - is costing the country hundreds

of millions of euros in lost EBRD investment. Commentators say this is not money that Ukraine can afford to pass up lightly, as it faces threats of retaliatory trade action from its biggest partner Russia which has been angered at Kiev’s course towards a new trading relationship with the EU. A text of the draft memorandum of understanding, seen by Reuters, envisages an independent body being set up to examine complaints from companies working in Ukraine about the way they are treated by tax and customs officials and the courts. Businesses, ranging from the large to the very small often face extortionate demands for hefty bribes and the threat of corporate raiding. As Ukraine moves towards signing the landmark agreements with the EU on November 28, the EBRD is pushing it to take more robust action to improve the work climate for investors and businesses. “If the investment climate is right then we have a potential strong pipeline for investment in the country,” the EBRD said.

One of world’s strongest storms hits Philippines MANILA, Philippines (AP) — One of the strongest storms on record slammed into the central Philippines yesterday, killing at least four people, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes and knocking out power and communications in several provinces. But the nation appeared to avoid a major disaster because the rapidly moving typhoon blew away before wreaking more damage, officials said. Typhoon Haiyan raced across a string of islands from east to west — Samar, Leyte, Cebu and Panay — and lashed beach communities. Nearly 750,000 people were forced to flee their homes. Weather officials said Haiyan had sustained winds of 235 kph (147 mph) with gusts of 275 kph (170 mph) when it made landfall. By those measurements, Haiyan would be comparable to a strong Category 4 hurricane in the U.S., knocking on the door of the top category, a 5. Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons are the same thing. They are just called different names in different parts of the

world. Because of cut-off communications in the Philippines, it was impossible to know the full extent of casualties and damage. At least two people were electrocuted in storm-related accidents, one person was killed by a fallen tree and another was struck by lightning, official reports said. Southern Leyte Gov. Roger Mercado said the typhoon triggered landslides that blocked roads, uprooted trees and ripped roofs off houses around his residence. The dense clouds and heavy rains made the day seem almost as dark as night, he said. “When you’re faced with such a scenario, you can only pray, and pray and pray,” Mercado told The Associated Press by telephone, adding that mayors in the province had not called in to report any major damage. “I hope that means they were spared and not the other way around,” he said. “My worst fear is there will be massive loss of lives and property.” Eduardo del Rosario, head

of the disaster response agency, said a powerful typhoon that also hit the central Philippines in 1990 killed 508 people and left 246 missing, but this time authorities had ordered preemptive evacuation and other measures to minimize casualties. He said the speed at which the typhoon sliced through the central islands — 40 kph (25 mph) — helped prevent its 600-kilometer (375-mile) band of rain clouds from dumping enough of their load to overflow waterways. Flooding from heavy rains is often the main cause of deaths from typhoons. “It has helped that the typhoon blew very fast in terms of preventing lots of casualties,” regional military commander Lt. Gen. Roy Deveraturda said. He said the massive evacuation of villagers before the storm also saved many lives. The Philippines, which is hit by about 20 typhoons and storms a year, has in recent years become more serious about preparations to reduce deaths.

Saturday November 09, 2013

Kaieteur News

US charges Suriname leader’s son over Hezbollah ties New York City (AFP) The United States charged the son of Suriname President Desi Bouterse yesterday with attempting to supply weapons to Hezbollah and allow its fighters a base to attack American targets. Dino Bouterse, extradited from Panama to the US in August, already faces charges of plotting to import 22 pounds (10 kilograms) of cocaine into the United States and of holding an antitank weapon during the offense. “Today we add an additional charge of attempting to support Hezbollah to Dino Bouterse’s alleged crimes connected to a cocaine-smuggling conspiracy,” said US attorney Preet Bharara. He was arrested after a meeting with undercover US agents posing as Hezbollah associates to discuss hosting 30 to 60 Hezbollah members in Suriname for training and operations. According to the indictment unsealed in a New York federal court, Bouterse was given millions of dollars to allow dozens of purported Hezbollah operatives to use

Dino Bouterse Suriname as a base. He allegedly started to determine which heavy weapons he might provide Hezbollah and how Hezbollah operatives, supplied with a Surinamese cover story, might enter the United States. Bouterse indicated he was aware the purported Hezbollah operatives would operate against American targets and agreed to supply Surinamese passports to assist their travel into the US. In response to a request for surface-to-air missiles and rocket-propelled grenades, Bouterse said he would need “two months” and that he

would provide a list of what he could supply. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison on the Hezbollah charge and a maximum sentence of life in prison over cocaine trafficking and brandishing a weapon. “Drug trafficking organizations and terror networks are joined at the hip in many parts of the world,” said DEA administrator Michelle Leonhart. “Alleged criminals like Bouterse and his facilitators pose a direct threat to the safety and security of the United States.” Bouterse was previously jailed in 2005 after a judge convicted him of leading a gang that trafficked cocaine and weapons. When he was released after serving three years of an eight-year sentence, his father gave him a job as director of the country’s anti-terrorism unit. Bouterse was elected president by parliament in 2010 but led a ruling military junta from 1980-1987, during the former Dutch colony’s civil war.

LIAT pilots return to work, airline says normal services resume Several LIAT passengers across the Caribbean including the British Virgin Islands can breathe an amount of relief as normality has been restored to the company’s service following days of industrial action by pilots. The company, on Tuesday (November 5), announced that a number of its planes were grounded because pilots refused to show up for work. In a statement yesterday afternoon (November 8), LIAT however disclosed that the pilots are back on the job following negotiations. “LIAT wishes to advise that its operations are

returning to normal following the end of industrial action by members of its pilots’ union,” the statement said. “Acting Chief Executive Officer Julie Reifer-Jones said full service has resumed throughout the LIAT network. LIAT acknowledges with regret, the inconvenience and disruption passengers throughout the region have experienced over the past few days.” The airline is yet to disclose the reason its pilots took industrial action. But media reports indicate that the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA), which represents the pilots, has blamed the action on

“misguided and ill-informed decisions” taken by LIAT. The strike sent LIALPA and the airline’s management to the negotiating table where an agreement was apparently reached. At the time the pilots went on strike, the carrier advised that, when services resume, affected passengers should contact the company’s reservations to re-book before proceeding to the airport. “Customers affected by the disruptions who wish to re-book will be allowed to do so without charge for a period of one week from the date of their originally scheduled travel.”

CASTRIES, St. Lucia– The small opposition Lucian Peoples Movement (LPM) yesterday warned that the United States would not resume its security aid programme with St. Lucia until the government addresses accusations of human rights abuses being made against the police. The LPM said that the death of Chakadan Daniel, 22,

in a police station last month would be among factors taken into consideration by Washington in reviewing the Leahy Law restriction on security-related assistance. “St Lucia is not going to see a resumption of US security aid unless and until the government addresses and is seen to address these issues,” LPM said. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Dr. Kenny

Anthony confirmed that Washington had suspended assistance to St. Lucia police following the death of five men allegedly at the hands of law enforcement officials. Prime Minister Anthony had also indicated that killings would be investigated by the Trinidad based CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).

Caribbean to benefit from new agreement signed between IDB and Japan

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Kerry, Europeans rush to lead Iran talks amid hopes of deal Geneva (AFP) - Top world diplomats rushed to Geneva yesterday amid rising hopes for a long-sought deal on Iran’s nuclear programme, but warned there were still major obstacles to overcome. After cutting short a Middle East tour to attend the talks, US Secretary of State John Kerry struck a note of caution as he joined his British, French and German counterparts who had converged on Geneva. “There is not an agreement at this point,” Kerry told reporters before heading into talks with Iran’s foreign minister and EU chief diplomat Catherine Ashton, who has represented world powers at the talks. “There are still some very important issues on the table that are unresolved,” Kerry said. “It is important for those to be properly, thoroughly addressed,” he said, adding though that world powers were “working hard” to reach an agreement. After initial reports that he would stay away from the talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was expected to arrive in Geneva today, raising further hopes a deal was in the works. “We hope that his participation in the negotiations would help to bring positive results,” the

Itar-Tass news agency quoted an anonymous source as saying. Lavrov’s arrival would bring together the foreign ministers of all but one of the six world powers that have been negotiating for a decade with Iran over its nuclear programme. If some sort of agreement is reached, it would be a breakthrough after a decade of negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group comprising the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who cancelled a planned trip to Rome Thursday to continue negotiations, has said he

believes a preliminary deal could be struck during this round in Geneva. The talks, which started Thursday, were meant to have ended late yesterday. But officials said they would be extended at least today. The State Department said Kerry had also cancelled a planned trip to Algeria and Morocco on Monday and Tuesday. The outlines of a proposal Iran made in the previous round last month have been kept confidential by both sides in a bid to advance positions. But the hoped-for agreement — seen as a first step ahead of further talks on a final deal — could see Tehran freeze its nuclear efforts for as long as six months in exchange for some relief from the sanctions that have battered its economy. Reports say the proposed deal could see Tehran stop enriching uranium to 20 percent, which is just a few technical steps from weapons grade, reduce existing stockpiles and agree not to activate its plutonium reactor at Arak. Global powers would in exchange take limited and “reversible” measures to ease sanctions, such as unfreezing some Iranian funds in foreign accounts.

President Barack Obama Obama noted yesterday’s Labor Department data that showed the economy churned out more than 200,000 jobs in October, which was higher than expected, but said the shutdown had tempered the country’s employment engine. “These self-inflicted wounds don’t have to happen. They should not

happen again. We should not be injuring ourselves every few months. “We should be investing in ourselves. We should be building, not tearing things down,” Obama said. Specifically, the president called on lawmakers to pass an agriculture bill currently stuck in the divided Congress, to take up immigration reform bill that is stalled in the Republicancontrolled House of Representatives and to agree on a long-term budget deal. The Labor Department said earlier that the US economy created 204,000 jobs last month, many more than analysts expected, though the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 7.3 percent. On Thursday, the Commerce Department said the US economy grew at an annual rate of 2.8 percent in July-September, well above the 1.9 percent projected by analysts, in the strongest pace of growth in a year.

John Kerry

Obama blames Republicans for putting brakes on economy

New Orleans (AFP) President Barack Obama yesterday accused Republicans of slamming on the brakes every time the US economy is set to take off, as he cheered jobs and growth data that defied expectations. Obama traveled to the port city of New Orleans and warned that a government shutdown last month, which he blamed on his political foes in Congress, had dampened US economic prospects. “We learned yesterday that over the summer, our economy grew at its fastest pace in a year,” Obama said. “The bad news is that the very day the economic quarter ended, some folks in Washington decided to shut down the government and threatened to default on America’s obligations for the first in more than 200 years. “It’s like the gears of our economy, every time they are just about to take off, suddenly somebody taps the brakes and says, not so fast.”

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Third Annual Banks Beer KO Cup launched With a budget estimated to be positioned between $3235 million, the thirty-two (32) teams participating in the Third Annual Banks Beer Knockout Cup scheduled to be played from November 23January 1 will not walk away empty-handed. This was disclosed during the official launching of the tournament which was conducted yesterday in the Boardroom of the Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank, Demerara. In attendance at the occasion were Georgetown Football Association (GFA) President Vernon Burnett, Banks Beer Brand Manager Brian Choo-Hen, Outdoor

Events Manager Mortimer Stewart, Banks DIH pro Troy Peters, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) VicePresident Ivan Persaud, Referees Co-ordinator Roy McArthur, officials of the invited sub-associations, clubs representatives, players and the media. The tournament which was born in controversial circumstances, replacing another yearend competition has grown in impact since and is now viewed as the biggest event to usher in the Christmas season and one that local footballers eagerly look forward to. Burnett under whose stewardship the tournament

commenced speaking at the Launch reiterated the GFA’s happiness to once again be partnering with Banks DIH to host another edition of the event, while disclosing the entity’s decision to increase the amount of teams that will participate this year. He also extended thanks to the associations that will be involved in the tournament, while pointing to the support that has been offered by the GFF. Persaud, who represented the GFF immediately, stressed the importance of the tournament, informing that it will definitely assist in the further development of the sport as well as giving the

Saturday November 09, 2013 ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 19): You’re extremely productive, especially when it comes to creative ventures. If you don’t enjoy painting, writing or dancing, you may decide to conceive or adopt a child. Alternatively, you could start a business. ************************* TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20): Improved work conditions could be on the way. Perhaps you’ll be given a bigger office. Maybe you’ll be handed a plum assignment. It’s even possible you’ll be able to open your own business. ************************* GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20): Social activities related to religious, cultural or educational organisations are highly favoured. If you’re in the market for romance, be sure to attend such a gathering today. You could meet a vibrant intellectual who makes your pulse pound. ************************* CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22): You’re more determined than ever to spend time on the people and activities you love. Whether this means switching jobs or cutting back on work is up to you. ************************* LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22): Blessed with abundant animal magnetism, you’ve never had trouble attracting romantic attention. That’s especially true today, when all eyes will be on you at a local hotspot. ************************* VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22): The best way to improve your financial fortune is to obey your instincts. Normally, you don’t like to make a move unless you’ve examined all the angles.

LIBRA (SEP 23 - OCT 22): Don’t hesitate to share your enthusiasm for art, music and dance with a young person. Whether you realise it or not, your friend holds your opinions in high esteem. ************************* SCORPIO (OCT 23 - NOV 21): Obey your desire to go off to some secluded spot and indulge in secret pleasures. Eat lunch at a gourmet restaurant. Go for a hot stone massage. Buy some new clothes. You don’t need a reason to treat yourself. ************************* SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 DEC 21): Friends may introduce you to new philosophies, spiritual practices, and schools of thought. You’ve always been eager to expand your horizons, and today is no exception. ************************* CAPRICORN (DEC 22 JAN 19): It’s never been easier to advance professionally, as you seem to know what your superiors want. Addressing people’s unspoken fears makes you a valued member of the organisation. ************************* AQUARIUS (JAN 20 FEB 18): A highly educated, well travelled philosopher could capture your fancy. You’ve always been attracted to people who think out of the box. If you’ve already got a mate, you may want to discuss the possibility of going abroad together. ************************* PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20): Finding spiritually meaningful work has the power to transform you. Volunteering at an animal shelter, serving food at a soup kitchen or raising funds for the homeless are natural extensions of your compassionate nature.

national body the scope to choose from a larger pool of players, all due to the GFAorganised Banks Beer Cup. He extended gratitude on behalf of the GFF to the GFA and Banks DIH for making it a lot easier on the GFF to spot the talent that will be on display. Persaud was high in praise of Banks DIH, who he noted is in every sphere of football and at all levels and urged the coaches and players to prepare assiduously to produce a high brand of football since the standard will be judged by the performance of the national teams. Choo-Hen in his remarks reminded all present that Guyana is Beer country and as a Company they are happy to be associated with the tournament. “Banks is having a football fever going on right now and we are involved in many aspects of the sport’s development.” He called on the players to go out on the field and represent their respective teams and exhibit a high standard of play. Meanwhile, the winning team will receive $4million; runner-up-$2.5million; 3rd

place-$1.5million and 4th place-$-1million. The Organisers also revealed that all the quarterfinalists are guaranteed $250,000, while all first round teams will collect $100,000 and second round losers $150,000. There are also prizes for outstanding individual performances. Matches will be played over a 16-day duration at the

Mackenzie Sport Club, Den Amstel, Buxton Community Centre, Georgetown Football Club, Georgetown Cricket Club, while the use of the Camp Ayanganna ground is also being explored. It was announced that 20% of the gate receipts will be given to the host association by the orgainsers after all expenses are deducted.

Players go after... From page 29 and medals would be awarded to the top seven finishers. Meanwhile, President of the GCF, Shiv Nandalall, visited the Farm Village, East Bank Demerara office of CCI Human Resources Manager, Jimmy Lorrimer, where the latter individual handed over a cheque of close to $60,000 to offset the expenses associ-

ated with the tournament. The CCI Executive extended his best wishes to Mr. Nandalall even as he urged the players to be disciplined even though they are playing to win. The GCF President expressed deep gratitude while thanking Mr. Lorrimer for the prompt approval to their request.

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Heavy WI loss after Shami’s ‘fiver’ Kolkata, India - A dramatic batting collapse after tea under the pressure of high quality swing bowling from Mohammad Shami sent West Indies crashing to an innings and 51-run defeat in the first Test against India yesterday. None of the Windies batsman looked safe at the crease once Shami returned after the break for a third spell from the High Court End (south) and got the ball to reverse swing prodigiously, and the visitors were all out for 168 in their second innings about 20 minutes before the scheduled close on the third day at Eden Gardens. A handful of the West Indies’ batsmen got starts, but no one carried on – Darren Bravo’s 37 was the top score, Kieran Powell made 36, Chris Gayle hit 33 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul was not out on 31 – as Shami collected 5-47 from 13.1 overs to finish with the second-best match figures by an Indian on Test debut of 9-118 and offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin captured 3-46 off 19 overs. The result was formalised when tail-ender Sheldon Cottrell, playing his first Test, was bowled with another sharp in-ducker from Shami for five to a deafening roar from a crowd that built to close to capacity by the time the match was completed. The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series with the final match starting this coming Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium in

Mumbai, the home city of the hosts’ batting megastar Sachin Tendulkar, who will be playing his 200th and final Test for his homeland. This all unfolded after spinners Shane Shillingford and Veerasammy Permaul shared the last four wickets following a record seventhwicket partnership between century-makers Rohit Sharma, the Man-of-theMatch, and Ashwin, as India were bowled out for 453 in their first innings about 10 minutes before lunch. Off-spinner Shillingford ended with 6-167 from 55 overs and left-arm spinner Permaul grabbed 2-67 from 23.4 overs. It brought an end to the long, hard toil for the Windies, after Sharma with a debut Test hundred and top score of 177 and Ashwin with his second Test hundred of 124 shared a monumental 280 to transform the fortunes of their side. It was the highest seventhwicket stand for the Indians ever in a Test. Gayle gave West Indies a blistering start with a number of powerful off-side strokes, but the Caribbean side’s plans to remain competitive in the match were left in strife, as they stumbled to 112 for three at tea. Gayle fell to fast-medium bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the second time in the match. He miscued a hook at a short, wide delivery from his nemesis in recent contests against this opponent and was caught at square leg. For the duration of Gayle’s innings, Powell had been

Curtains come down tomorrow on ‘Super... From page 30 defeated through the power of the colored ball,” a release from Yolo Entertainment said. “Sonic Rebels was one such team, down 41 –46, Collis ‘Forty’ Pluck pulled a three pointer with two seconds remaining in the game. With the points being doubled, Sonics won the game 47-46 and sent Colts ‘B’ packing,” packing the release continued. It added that the excitement and fun will continue tomorrow with Buxton, Eagles and The West Side Jammers being recalled to join Knights, Colts, Pacesetters, Sonics and the Melanie Patriots to complete the Super Eight, which will decide the champions. The Bishops High School team that lost their game against Knights will also be back to play the Inter-Guiana Games female gold medal winners and the media basketball team will face off with a GABA

Executive Committee. Clear Waters, Mackeson, Hinds & Statia Financial Services, Creative Jewelery, Precise Printing, The Garage, Harris Paints, Organic Natural Resources Management, HJTV & 94.1 FM and Starr Party Rentals have all supported the ‘Super Sevens’. First to fourth place finishers are all guaranteed trophies and replicas while special awards will be presented to Basketball greats Eon Andrews and Mark Agard, the release added. It noted that the usual entertaining atmosphere will also remain in place. “All we wanted was for the ‘ballers’ and fans to come out; they did that and we had a great time of sportainment and for that my team is extremely grateful,” Yolo Entertainment’s Kirk ‘Chow Pow’ Jardine said, adding it was the beginning of greater things to come.

scoreless and he was fortunate, when off-spinner Ashwin dropped a return catch in his first over from a leading edge. Powell needed 31 balls in 21 minutes to get his first run and fortune again favoured him on seven, when Kumar running a few yards to his right and diving dropped him at deep backward square leg from the bowling of left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha. Bravo, on nine, had two close shaves off successive deliveries in Ashwin’s eighth over, when he drove the offspinner uppishly past silly mid-off and then edged just short of second slip fielder Virat Kohli playing defensively forward. The two however, spent close to 1 ½ hours defying the Indian attack, putting on 68 for the second wicket, and were just shutting shop ahead of tea, when Powell was lbw playing back to a shooter from Ashwin. Next over, Marlon Samuels was dubiously adjudged lbw to Shami for four, when he played back to a delivery that swung in sharply. Television replays suggested the delivery might have missed leg-stump. After tea, there was little substance or stability from the West Indies batting and they lost their last seven wickets for 48 in less than 20 overs. Bravo had looked untroubled during his innings, but he mistimed a cut and was caught at backward point off Ashwin in the second over after the break, leaving the Windies 120 for four. Three overs later, Shami started his demolition of the lower half of the batting, when he had Denesh Ramdin caught at forward short leg for one from an inside edge that ricocheted off his thigh pad. West Indies captain Darren Sammy had his technique examined by a few searching deliveries from Shami and managed to stem the fall of wickets for about 40 minutes. But the final nail was hammered into the visitors’

coffin, when three wickets fell in Shami’s 11th over, leaving West Indies 152 for eight. Sammy and Shillingford were bowled by deep in-swingers from Shami for eight and a duck respectively in the space of three deliveries, extracting their middle-stumps in spectacular fashion, before Permaul was run out for a duck from the penultimate delivery, when he absentmindedly walked out of the crease after being struck on the boot and survived an lbw appeal. Tino Best was caught at deep mid-wicket off Ashwin for three before Shami brought the curtain down on a memorable debut by dispatching his fellow Test newcomer Cottrell. Before lunch, West Indies had gone wicket-less through the first hour of the morning, after India resumed from their overnight total of 354 for six, and Sharma and Ashwin continued the grind. The Windies had to wait until about 35 minutes before the interval to claim their first scalp of the day, when Permaul gained a dubious lbw decision to remove Sharma, whose innings included 23 fours and one six from 301 balls. Television replays suggested the batsman may have been struck outside the line of off-stump and Sharma stood in amazement for a period after English umpire Richard Kettleborough delivered the verdict before trudging away. Three overs later, Shillingford claimed five wickets in an Test innings for the fifth time in his 11 matches, when he bowled the lanky Ashwin behind his back from an attempted sweep, ending an innings that contained just 11 fours from 210 deliveries. Shillingford then had Kumar caught at slip for 12, and Permaul brought the innings to a close, when he had Shami stumped for one charging down the pitch to slog, leaving Ojha not out on two.

U-19s to play 7 One-Days in Bangladesh St. Johns, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board yesterday announced details for the upcoming tour by the West Indies Under-19 Team to Bangladesh. The Windies will play seven 50-over matches against the Bangladesh Under-19 Team. The squad will leave the Caribbean on November 30 and return on December 22. The full tour schedule has not been finalised – matches will

be played in Sylhet or Chittagong and also in Dhaka. The two teams recently played a hard-fought sevenmatch series in Guyana which Bangladesh won 4-3. The series of matches form part of preparations for the International Cricket Council’s Under-19 World Cup to be played in the United Arab Emirates in February 2013. Tour Schedule –

December 2013 Monday, 2nd: Arrive in Dhaka Thursday, 5th: warm-up match – Sylhet or Chittagong Saturday, 7th: 1st ODI vs Bangladesh Under-19 – Sylhet or Chittagong Monday, 9th: 2nd ODI vs Bangladesh Under-19 – Sylhet or Chittagong Thursday, 12th: 3rd ODI vs Bangladesh Under-19 – Sylhet or Chittagong

Friday, 13th: 4th ODI vs Bangladesh Under-19 – Sylhet or Chittagong Monday, 16th: 5th ODI vs Bangladesh Under-19 – Dhaka Wednesday, 18th: 6th ODI vs Bangladesh Under-19 – Dhaka Friday, 20th: 7th ODI vs Bangladesh Under-19 – Dhaka Saturday, 21st: depart Dhaka (WICB)

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Nigeria crush Mexico to Miami Heat burn Clippers win record fourth U-17 title NBA CAPSULES

MIAMI (AP) - Dwyane Wade scored 11 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and Miami held off the Clippers. LeBron James added 18 points for the Heat (4-2), who won their third straight and extended their club record by scoring at least 100 points in a sixth consecutive game to start the season. Chris Bosh, playing for the first time since his wife delivered a baby earlier this week, finished with 12 points for Miami. Blake Griffin had 27 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers (3-3). His dunk with 31 seconds left got the Clippers within four, but Griffin allowed about 15 seconds to run off the clock without fouling James on the ensuing possession. James made one free throw to push Miami’s lead to five, and that closed the scoring. J.J. Redick scored 15 points, Jamal Crawford added 14, Chris Paul finished with 11 points and 12 assists, and DeAndre Jordan had 11 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers. Ray Allen scored 12 points for Miami, which got 10 from Chris Andersen. LAKERS 99, HOUSTON 98 Steve Blake hit a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds remaining to lift the Lakers to a 99-98 victory over Houston and Dwight Howard on Thursday night. Houston led by two points before Blake took the inbounds pass from Jodie Meeks and

made the shot to win the game. The Rockets had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Patrick Beverley’s 3-point attempt bounced off the backboard. James Harden had 35 points and Howard finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds against his former team. Howard missed seven free throws in the last 3 1-2 minutes that could have secured the win for Houston. Howard spurned the Lakers to sign an $88 million deal with Houston, joining Harden and a team that made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009. Meeks, who led the Lakers with 18 points, made a 3-pointer with less than 2 minutes remaining to cut the lead to two and set up Blake’s game-winner. NUGGETS 109, HAWKS 107 Ty Lawson had 23 points and eight assists and Denver held on to give new head coach Brian Shaw his first win. Nate Robinson added 15 points and JaVale McGee had 14 for Denver (1-3), which rallied from eight points down in the fourth quarter before surviving a late Atlanta rally. The win leaves Utah (0-5) as the NBA’s only winless team. Paul Millsap scored a season-high 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Hawks but missed a short jumper that would have tied the game with 1.9 seconds left. Al Horford, who had 21 points, grabbed the rebound but his shot was off as time expired.

Canada top Jamaica for U-17 Women’s WC berth - play Mexico in today’s CONCACAF final Montego Bay, Jamaica – Canada got goals from five different players to defeat host Jamaica 5-0 in the semifinals of the 2013 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship on Thursday and clinch a spot in next year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The victory also secured a place for the 2010 champion in today’s final against Mexico, which overcame the United States on penalty kicks earlier in the day, also at Catherine Hall Stadium. Marie Mychele Metivier struck for her tournamentbest sixth tally in the fourth minute to give the Canadians a 1-0 lead. Jamaica could not clear a cross from its box that was delivered from the right wing. The ball rolled to Metivier, whose 16-yard, right-footed effort took a deflection off defender Cachet Lue before finding the back of Shanay Ricketts’ goal. In the 20th minute, a beautifully crafted sequence saw the ball move from Sarah Kinzer to Emily Borgmann, who slipped Marie Levasseur in on goal. The quick reacting Ricketts, though, charged out stuffed the 16-year-old’s attempt from 10-yards out.

Two minutes later, Jamaica’s Khadija Shaw ripped a free-kick from 30yards out on the left side that just whistled past the left post. Canada made it 2-0 in the 27th minute. Levasseur sent a pass across the goal box, allowing Metivier a shot from close range. Ricketts made the pointblank save, but Borgmann was there on the left to tap in the rebound with her thigh. Jessie Fleming added another at the 30-minute mark, firing from 25-yards. The jumping Ricketts got a hand on the ball, however, it still hit the netting. Despite emphatic urging from the large partisan crowd after the break, Jamaica could not generate a sustained offensive attack. The Canadians kept the pressure high, sensing that a third appearance in the final was close at hand. Kinzer netted her first goal of the tournament in the 48th minute, calling on determination to poke past Ricketts from six-yards out off a splendid through ball from the masterful Fleming. With 20 minutes remaining in regulation time, Levasseur closed the Canadian goal account. Kinzer delivered a

long ball out of the back for the attacker to collect. Once in possession, she cut inside from right to left and buried a left-footed rocket from 16yards, giving Ricketts no chance. The five-goal haul increased Canada’s tournament total to 24 in four games. Jamaica, which entered the game unbeaten in six of its last seven competition games, will face the United States for third place today in a match that precedes the Mexico-Canada curtain closer. Mexico had earlier topped the United States 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 1-1. Goalkeeper Emily Alvarado saved two American attempts, including the last one from Zoe Morse, to eliminate the defending champion. The Mexicans converted successfully on each of their four attempts. The result was particularly stunning in that the U.S. has never officially lost a game in the competition (17-2-0), but it has progressed to the World Cup only twice in four tries. Canada eliminated the Americans from contention at the same stage in 2010, 5-3 on penalties, after a scoreless stalemate.

Nigeria’s team players celebrate (Reuters) - Nigeria won the World Under-17 championship for a record fourth time yesterday, overpowering holders Mexico 3-0 in the final in Abu Dhabi, helped by two defensive mistakes. Nigeria, who thrashed their opponents 6-1 in the group stage, went ahead after nine minutes when Mexico defender Erick Aguirre turned Musa Yahaha’s shot into his own net after they were caught on the break. Mexico goalkeeper Raul Gudino was at fault for Nigeria’s second in the 56th minute when he failed to hold a wickedly swerving shot by Musa Muhammed and Kelechi Iheanacho snapped up the rebound for his sixth goal of the competition. Nigeria Captain Muhammed added the third in the 81st minute from a free kick which he curled around the Mexican defensive wall, the Golden Eaglets’ 26th goal in seven games. Nigeria won the inaugural tournament in 1995 and were also triumphant in 1993 and 2007. Brazil have won the twoyearly tournament three times followed by Ghana and Mexico with two apiece. Their triumph, however, is no guarantee of a successful career for the players. In the past, only a relatively small number have gone on to flourish at senior level. None of the Brazil squad who won the 2003 tournament, and should now be in the prime of their careers, is currently in the senior side as the South Americans prepare to host next year’s World Cup. Meanwhile, only three out of 21 members of

Switzerland’s victorious squad from 2009 have progressed to the national

side - Granit Xhaka, Ricardo Rodriguez and Haris Seferovic.

ECCB Trophy tourney continues tomorrow The East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) has scheduled its 40-overs cricket competition for tomorrow with five matches to be played. Avish Auto Sales play Dundee at Fairfield, Strathavon come up against

Perseverance at Strathavon, Unity face off with Cane Grove at Unity, Lusignan ‘C’ battle Lion XI at Lusignan and Ogle (A) oppose Better Hope (A) at Ogle. All matches are scheduled to commence at 11:00hrs

Wawrinka & Nadal... From page 32 shoot-out for a place in the last four today, but Wawrinka had a more complicated task yesterday. He did his part against an exhausted Ferrer, who admitted afterwards he had played “too much” in recent weeks. The Spaniard found the energy to recover from 5-2 down and take the first set in a tie-break, but from the moment he was broken early in the second - and smashed his racquet in fury - the world number three’s challenge began to fade. Wawrinka, 28, was not at his fluent best and passed the 40-mark for unforced errors, but Ferrer simply did not have anything left and lost seven of the last nine games. Nadal had won his last 15 matches against Berdych stretching back to 2006, and when he thumped two forehand winners on his way to breaking in the opening game, the streak looked sure to continue. That break was enough to give Nadal the first set and

ensure the Spaniard would win the group - and so avoid Djokovic in the semi-finals but what followed must have alarmed Wawrinka. Berdych got an early break in the second set and stunned most of the 17,000 spectators by racing through it in 29 minutes for the loss of one game, with just one unforced error. The last time Berdych beat Nadal he was jeered off the court by a furious Madrid crowd, but 15 defeats and seven years later the Czech had a growing level of support in the O2 Arena as the prospect grew of his miserable run ending. There was no sympathy across the net, however, and after six tight games the world number one rediscovered the vicious bite on his forehand. Berdych’s resolve wavered with two disastrous double-faults, the second on break point, and within the space of five minutes Nadal turned a tense decider into another victory, whipping a classic forehand winner on match point. (BBC Sport)

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Kaieteur News

GUYANA SOFTBALL CUP 3

Harper leads Regal Masters to victory By Zaheer Mohamed A fine all-round performance by Raymond Harper guided Regal Masters to a 5- run victory over New York President’s XI when the Guyana Softball Cup 3 commenced yesterday with matches at several venues. Playing in the Over-45 division at Police Sports Club ground Eve Leary, Regal posted 205-4 off their allotted 20 overs, batting first. Harper top scored with 70 and Longsford Klass supported with 49; S. Rampersaud took 2-34. New York President’s replied with 200-6 in 20 overs. Mohamed Rafeek stroked 105; Ryan Singh and Harper claimed 2 wickets each. Industry defeated SCI Miami by 7 wickets. SCI Miami took first turn at the crease and managed 107-9 in 20 overs. Muniram Pooran made 23. Joshua Prashad took 3-32. Industry won the game in 18 overs, finishing on 1113 in 18 overs. Mahendra Persaud scored 22 not out; Anthony Dhanraj had 2-25. Industry trounced New York President’s XI by 8 wickets. New York President’s XI chalked 166-7 in 20 overs after taking first strike. Rudy Rodrigues scored 40. Industry responded with 1672 in 17.1 overs. Joshua Persaud led the batting with 58; Mohamed Rafeek took 2-24. Regal Masters defeated SCI Miami by 7 wickets. SCI Miami were bowled out for 101 in 16.4 overs, batting first. Mahendra Pooran made 42 as Mahase Chuniall bagged 617. Regal scored 105-3 in 11.5 overs. Longsford Klass top scored with 42 not out. At GCC Ground Bourda, Ontario Masters hammered New York Sea View by 8 wickets. NY Sea View scored 121-9 in 20 overs, batting first. Parmanand Lutchman made 29 not out; Tony Singh captured 3-18. Ontario Masters responded with 1222 in 17.4 overs. Steve Messiah led with an unbeaten 34. At DCC, Wellman overcame Parika Defenders by 19 runs. Wellman posted 215-6 in 20 overs, taking first strike. Lloyd Ruplall slammed 92 while Ramesh Rambharose grabbed 3-46 for Parika Defenders who responded with 196 all out in 19.1 overs. Aftar Khan scored 54; M. Denny picked up 4-16. New York Sea View overcame Success Superior Woods by 14 runs. NY Sea View batted first and scored

Raymond Harper 167-7 in 20 overs. L. Longhorn made 40; Reaz Karim had 224. Success Superior Woods were bowled out for 153 in 16 overs. R. Kowlessar scored 40; Longhorn claimed 2-31. Savage Masters beat Brooklyn by 9 wickets. Brooklyn scored 143-9 in 20 overs, batting first. R. Seenarine made 38. Yunnis Mohamed grabbed 3-12. Savage replied with 145-1 in 12.2 overs. Mohamed scored 73 not out. In the Open Category at Ministry of Education ground, Trophy Stall defeated Ontario Softball League (OSL) by 70 runs. Trophy Stall batted first and scored 238-3 in 20 overs; Martin Dutchin top scored with 85 and Fazal Rafiek supported with 66. D. Ramsawak took 2-32. OSL replied with 168-8 in 20 overs. Gavin Singh made 36; Rafiek claimed 3-43 and Wasim Haslim 2-32. Corriverton edged Cotton Field Wild Oats by 1 wicket. Cotton Field 132 all out in 17.4 overs, batting first. Ramesh Narine 29; Alfred Garnett claimed 4-19. Corriverton reached their target in 18 overs ending on 133-9. Sherwin Murray led with 26; Rovindra Singh bagged 5-19. At Police Sports Club ground, Karibee Rice went down to Berbice Titans by 7 wickets. Karibee Rice batted first and were skittled for 80 in 16.2 overs. M. Baldeo snared 3-10. Berbice Titans responded with 82-3 in 16 overs. David Lukenauth made 33 not out. Trophy Stall got the better of Berbice Titans by 47 runs. Rafiek and Haslim scored 33 and 22 respectively as Trophy Stall posted 172-8 in 20 overs after taking first strike. C. Arjune took 2-24 for Berbice Titans who were bowled out for 125 in 18 overs in reply. Troy Gonsalves was their leading batsman with 41

Saturday November 09, 2013

BCCDA/CBIS cricket extravaganza on today at Albion The Albion Sport Complex, Corentyne Berbice is the venue for today’s Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) fourth annual Corporate Business in Sports (CBIS) Inter-Agency softball cricket tournament and fun day. Teams will engage in T10 cricket, dominoes and other sporting activities. The cricket final will be played under lights and this will be followed by the much anticipated T20 match between Albion Community Centre and the Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets clubs. Attractive prizes are at stake for the top teams and outstanding individual

players. The winning team will walk away with the BCCDA trophy, $50,000 and medals. The losing finalist will collect a trophy, $30,000 and medals while third place team will receive a trophy and $20,000. Man-of-the-match in the final gets $10,000 and a medal, bowler with the most wickets also receives $10,000 and a medal as will the batsman with the highest score of the tournament. Matches will be played simultaneously and the fixture are as follows: Regional Chairman’s X1 vs Guyana Hindu Dharma Sabah Karibee Rice vs Hand in Hand Insurance Demerara Bank vs Banks

DIH Ltd Oldendorff Carriers vs Guyana Power and Light Metro Office and Computer Supplies vs Neal and Massy Berbice Bridge Company vs New Building Society Republic Bank Ltd. vs Ansa McAl Stag Boyz MCYS vs GT&T Patrons will have an opportunity to win attractive prizes including phones, MP3 players, home appliances and hampers among other tokens from various companies. Among the sponsors are Banks DIH, Ansa McAl, Nand Persaud Karibee Rice, Berbice Bridge Company Inc, Hand in Hand Fire and Life Insurance Company and Greenidge Refrigeration.

Eight teams to contest Hilbert Humphrey Mem. U-15 football Troy Gonsalves as K.Bissoondyal captured 35, Dutchin 3-19 and Rafeek 2-21. At St. Stanislaus ground, Regal XI scraped past Wolf Warriors by 1 run. Regal XI batted first and rattled up 165 before they were bowled out 18.5 overs. Ricardo Adams led with 41; Narine Bailey snared 3-24. Wolf Warriors were restricted to 164-9 in 20 overs in reply. Mohamed Karim stroked 61 while Balram Roopnarine picked up 4-38 including a hat trick and Khalid Haslim 3-39. Smith XI beat South Florida Cricket League (SFCL) by 12 runs. Smith XI took first strike and managed 178-9 in 20 overs; Latchman Rohit leading the way with 83. SFCL were restricted to 166-9 in 20 overs in response. K. Budhan scored 70; C. Itwaru grabbed 3-26. At MYO, defending open champions New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) thumped Farm XI by 5 wickets. Farm XI batted first and scored 138 all out in 19.4 overs. Lennox Marks made 28 as Amit Moonsammy and Anil Beharry picked up 3 wickets apiece. NYSCL replied with 142-5 in 18.2 overs. Vickey Subkaran top scored with 57; Rawl Reid claimed 2-31. Ontario Cricket League (OCL) lost to Karibee Boyz by 5 wickets. OCL took first strike and mustered 154-5 in 20 overs. Gavin Singh made 49; V. Phillips took 2-17. Karibee Boyz scored 155-5 in 13.5 overs in reply with M. Sooklall hitting 47; P. Shivrattan grabbed 3-37. The competition continues today.

Eight Under-15 teams in Berbice will today contest the Hilbert ‘Old Beef’ Humphrey Memorial Inter Ward football competition organised by the Hearts of Oak Masters FC and coordinated by Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey. Matches will be played at the All Saints Scott Church Ground from 09:00hrs. Teams will come from North, South and Central New Amsterdam, East Canje,

Islington, Vryheid/West Canje, Fyrish/ Lower Corentyne and Edinburgh/East Bank Berbice. Prizes are reserved for the top two teams with the winner receiving the Hilbert Old Beef Memorial trophy and medals while the runner up will only collect medals. The MVP, player to score the most goals and best goalkeeper will also be rewarded.

Wawrinka & Nadal make semi-finals Rafael Nadal was joined by debutant Stanislas Wawrinka in the ATP World Tour semi-finals after both won their final group matches in London. Wawrinka battled to a 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-1 victory against David Ferrer to keep his hopes alive. The Swiss then needed Nadal to win and the world number one beat Tomas Berdych 6-4 1-6 6-3 in the last Group A match. Novak Djokovic is already through from Group B, and will be joined by Roger Federer or Juan Martin Del Potro. Those two face a straight (Continued on page 33)

Stanislas Wawrinka

Ramcharitar Construction First Div. 50 Overs KO starts today in Berbice Rivalry in the Ramcharitar Construction Services first division 50 over knockout competition organised by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) will get cracking today with four of six first round matches. A total of thirteen teams will compete in this year’s competition, Young Warriors Universal DVD drawing a first round bye. Today’s Matches 1. Port Mourant Karibee Rice plays Skeldon

Community Centre at Port Mourant 2. D’Edward takes on West Berbice at D’Edward 3. Edinburgh are at home to Universal Solutions Bermine 4. Guytrac Upper Corentyne engage Police at No. 69 All matches will commence at 09:30hrs and clubs are asked to take note that the BCB will be instituting a fine for games starting late where host clubs are found guilty of late pitch

preparations or when the visiting team turns up late. The officiating Umpires are expected to submit reports on such occurrences. Meanwhile, the other two matches, Blairmont Community Centre against Albion Community Centre at Blairmont and Bush Lot Rising Star against Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice are scheduled to be played next Saturday, November 16.

Saturday November 09, 2013

Kaieteur News

Fast paced action in Mayor Green birthday football bash T

H

i s Wo r s h i p M a y o r Hamilton Green celebrates his 79th birth anniversary today and in recognition of this politician and sports stalwart, former National Coach, Lennox Arthur, has organised the Inter Ward/Village knockout football tournament to commemorate ‘Hammy’s’ contribution to the development of local sports. The action gets underway at 17:00hrs sharp at the Tucville Ground and fans will be entertained with a minimum of 12 matches; the organiser has said that while to date that number is guaranteed several others may also be contested. When the action gets underway, Bourda will take on North Sophia followed by Wa l e s u p a g a i n s t Alberttown. Kuru Kururu will then play Ruimveldt while DeKinderen clash with South Sophia. Bagotville then take on Leopold Street shortly before Plastic City tackle Tiger Bay. Other matches include Sara Lodge versus Charlotte Street, Goed Fortuin against Berlin, Stewartville versus Meadow Brook, Crane against North East

Mayor Hamilton Green LaPenitence , Uitvlugt versus Newtown Kitty and Tuschen versus Kitty. The tournament will be played on two additional days, November 19 and 24 and already several sponsors have indicated their support including Ricks and Sari, McCorp, GT&T, Chris Fernandes, Guyana Lottery Company, Eddy Grant, Tr o p h y S t a l l , B o u r d a Market, New Thriving Restaurant and Giftland Office Max. The winning team pockets $100,000 while the runners up receive half that amount.

he historic Albion Community Centre Cricket Club ground will come alive tomorrow when the top cricket clubs in Berbice clash for a spot in the finals of NAMILCO/Bakewell T20 knock-out tournament. Semifinalists are West Berbice, Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets, Universal Solutions Bermine and Albion Community Centre; several West Indies and national players will be on show in what is anticipated to be an enthralling day of cricket. Powerhouse Albion Community Centre comes up against Universal Solutions Bermine in the first match bowling off at 09:00hrs while West Berbice and Rose Hall Town Gizmos

T20 KO SEMIS

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Set for tomorrow

West Berbice face RHT Gizmos & Gadgets; Universal Solutions Bermine face Albion

& Gadgets will face off at 13:30hrs. Albion’s charge will be led by the former WI duo of opener Sewnarine Chattergoon and all-rounder Devendra Bishoo with support from national players Jonathan Foo and Anthony Bramble. Added depth will come from WI Under-19 player Gudakesh M o t i e - K a n h a i , Kandasammy Surujnarine, Sharaz Ramcharran, David Latchaya and Veerapen Permaul. The absence of Narsingh Deonarine and Veerasammy Permaul should not in any way hinder Albion from making it into the final. Bermine, on the other hand will be harboring thoughts of an upset, their challenge will be led by

national opener Shemroy Barrington, Devon Clements, Eugene La Fleur, Joemal La Fleur, Romario Shepherd and Anthony D’Andrade with able support from wicketkeeper Hakeem Hinds, Damon Vantull, Nial Smith and Keon De Jesus. The feature game tomorrow between West Berbice and RHT Gizmos & Gadgets will see the former banking on a trio of fast bowlers as they seek to undermine the batting strength of RHT Gizmos & Gadgets. Former West Indies Test placer Brendon Bess, national pacer Keon Joseph and the exciting Raun Johnson have engineered turbulent times for batsmen lately and will be hoping to continue in similar vein.

They will not be alone as more help can be expected from players the likes of Arthley Bailey, Krisendat Ramoo, Keith Fraser and Raffiel Estriado. West Berbice recently reached the finals of the Universal DVD T20 tournament where they lost to Bermine but would have to bring their ‘A’ game if they hope to get past a RHT line up that consists of WI Test player Assad Fudadin, ODI specialist Royston Crandon and national player Rajiv Ivan. Dominique Rikhi, Eon Hooper, Jason Sinclair, Shawn Pereira, Clinton Pestano and Shailendra Shameer are all exponents of the game who are match winners also. The final is scheduled for Sunday November 17.

CARIBBEAN CONTAINER INC. SENIOR CHESS QUALIFIERS

Players go after Taffin Khan’s crown

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he recent battle of wits to determine the national junior chess champion culminated with Haifeng Su avenging an earlier loss to Anthony Drayton to secure the honours. Now that that segment is done and dusted, the senior players are now getting ready to do battle for that crown held by incumbent, Taffin Khan, when the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) in collaboration with Caribbean Container

Inc. presents the Senior Chess Championship Qualifiers at the Carifesta Sports Complex tomorrow morning. The seven best players will advance to challenge Khan for his crown later this month when the trials conclude. In all, the players will battle over seven rounds with the first two rounds being contested tomorrow. Round Three would be played on Wednesday November 13 at 17:30hrs at

the same venue while rounds four and five are slated for Saturday November 16. The final two rounds are scheduled for Sunday November 17. Each player would be allotted 90 minutes per game and the recording of moves would be compulsory. The registration fee is $800 for senior nonmembers of the GCF while members would pay a reduced fee. Cash prizes (Continued on page 31)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday November 09, 2013

Chico Kashif & Shanghai Schools’ Football...

MACORP RESTORE Dinar Trading buys 500 FOR GOLF tickets for Christmas Day fixture SUPPORT Medal Play, Caddies tournaments on this weekend

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ive-hundred children will part of the Christmas Day action of the inaugural Chico Kashif and Shanghai Schools’ Football tournament compliments of Dinar Trading which purchased the tickets noting that this is their way of contributing towards a tournament that will lay a solid foundation for Guyana’s future. Manager of Dinar Trading, Vishal Rampersad in brief remarks at a simple ceremony noted that the schools’ initiative is the best the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation has Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major (right) holds come up with to date the tickets along with Vishal Rampersad in stating that Dinar Trading the presence of Kashif Muhammad and will continue to support the Colin Moore of Dinar Trading. worthwhile venture. Responding on behalf partnership while noting that they of the world renowned duo {Kashif and organisation is working towards announcing Shanghai}, Kashif Muhammad thanked that the tournament would be free of charge Rampersad and Dinar Trading for their for all school children.

Managing Director of MACORP, Jorge Medina (centre), presents a branded golf ball to Lusignan Golf Club Vice President, David Mohamed, in the presence of other officials of MACORP.

A

keen tussle is anticipated today when local and foreign golfers battle in the annual MACORP Open tournament at the Lusignan Golf Course, East Coast Demerara. The Medal Play tournament will commence at 09:00 hours with over 50 players set to vie for supremacy. There will be a Caddies tournament at the same venue tomorrow also sponsored by MACORP. Speaking at the launch on Thursday at the MACORP headquarters at Providence, East Bank Demerara, Vice

President of the Lusignan Golf Club, David Mohamed stated that a few overseas players who participated in the Guyana Open, including C Flight champion Esau Shamshudin, are expected to play today. Guyana Open Men’s winner Avinda Kishore and Ladies champion Christine Sukhram, along with former Guyana Open champions Avinash Persaud, Imran Khan, Mike Mangal, Alfred Mentore and Mohanlall Dinanauth are slated to vie for top honours. Meanwhile, Managing Director of MACORP, Jorge

Medina, said sponsoring the tournament is part of the company’s corporate and social responsibility to Guyana. He stated that MACORP is celebrating a major milestone this year- 20 years in operation in Guyana- and the company is pleased to partner with the Lusignan Golf Club to share the occasion. Medina wished the players well, adding that apart from the beautiful trophies up for grabs for the top performers, every participant will be presented with a token.

Curtains come down tomorrow on ‘Super Sevens’

Kirk ‘Chow Pow’ Jardine poses with the replicas and trophies that will be handed out tomorrow following the completion of the ‘Super Sevens’ Basketball competition.

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he curtains will come down on the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA)-sanctioned Yolo Entertainment ‘Super Sevens’ Basketball competition tomorrow on Burnham Basketball Court, beginning at

3pm. “The ‘Super Sevens’ format proved to be quite exciting, especially when the colored bonus ball was injected into the game; points scored with that ball were doubled and teams who were in the lead found themselves being (Continued on page 32)

Saturday November 09, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 37

Anthony promises completed synthetic track by year end - as Regupol commences laying of rubberised surface

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inister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony has promised a completed synthetic track by year end after Germany-based Company Regupol commenced the laying of the track on the asphalt surface at Leonora. Anthony was reportedly speaking during a visit to the facility yesterday. The laying of the rubberised track has been given a December timeline for completion. “Once we have good weather it will be completed and I think with the installation of the track itself it will be ready for operation…we are happy that we are making this kind of progress,” Anthony was reported as stating. The track, which commenced construction in 2010 had a number of delays and setbacks over the years and is expected to cost some US$5M to complete the entire facility. The straight, which is closer to the seawall, is completely covered with the synthetic surface while a whole turn was visibly completed. Following the laying of the track, BSW Regupol will spray the lanes. The surface being laid is a black rubberized surface and once completely laid should be sprayed with the markings of the lanes by German company BSW Regupol which is being headed by Dtetmar Jakel. “It is a 10 millimeter surface that is 40 metres long and we have to glue it down to the asphalt, then comes the sealer, which should compact the surface, but we need good weather,” Regupol’s Dtetmar Jakel stated yesterday.

The rubberised surface being laid at the Synthetic Track and Field Facility at Leonora.

PETRA ORGANISATION/COURTS PEE WEE SCHOOLS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

Enthralling final anticipated today between St. Pius and West Ruimveldt A

n enthralling f i n a l i s anticipated when unbeaten St. Pius takes on West Ruimveldt today to signal the end of seven weekends of exciting football in the Petra Organisation / Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Competition which concludes today at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park. The grand finale will be preceded by the third place playoff that features East La Penitence and Tucville which many feel has all the trappings of a virtual final. Twenty-four (24) schools began the quest for top honours in late September, but only two teams have remained in the reckoning for the top podium spot and bragging rights for the next 12 months. In the final, St Pius are heavy favourites to wrest the title from West Ruimveldt, but as we all know football is played on the pitch and all the previous performances usually go out the window as the combatants’ battle for the

Action in this year’s Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Tournament.

ultimate prize. Both schools have played excellent football since the competition started, and while it is hard to decide which way the championship game will go, it is clear St Pius will start with the psychological advantage given the way they have trampled upon their opponents.

While Beveney Mark has been the star player for St Pius, chalking up by far the most goals in the competition (14), Michael Oie Jr. has played a pivotal role for West Ruimveldt and the two are expected to lead the charge for victory for their respective teams. They both advanced to the final via hard-fought

penalty shootout victories at the semi-finals last weekend, at the same venue. In the first semi-final, St Pius and East La Penitence rallied to a nilall draw after the 20 minutes of regulation and four minute of extra time. Penalties were required to separate the teams and it was St Pius who prevailed 2-0. In the other ‘final four’

match-up, Tucville, last year’s losing finalists, took an early lead through a DeAndre Linton 13th minute strike, much to the delight of t h e i r l a rg e f a n b a s e . However, their jubilation was short lived as six minutes later Oie Jnr. converted a penalty to level the scores. After the remainder of regulation and

extra time failed to separate the teams, penalty kicks were required and West Ruimveldt won the contest 3-2. The final will kick off at 16:00 hours, prior to which East La Penitence and Tucville will clash in the third place playoff. The action will start at noon however, with Redeemer playing St Ambrose for positions 15 and 16, while Ketley and J.E. Burnham will contest 13 and 14. At 13:00 hours, Marian Academy and St Stephen’s will battle for positions 11 and 12, while South Ruimveldt and North Georgetown will compete for positions nine and 10. The game for positions seven and eight between St Margaret’s and Enterprise will kick off at 14:00 hours, the same time F.E. Pollard and St Gabriel’s will go at each other for fifth and sixth. The competition is a collaborative effort of Courts (Guyana) Inc., Banks DIH Limited and the Petra Organisation.

Third Annual Banks Beer KO Cup launched

t r o Sp Banks Beer Brand Manager Brian Choo-Hen (3rd left) hands over the winning trophy to GFA President Vernon Burnett in the presence of Banks DIH officials Mortimer Stewart (left) and PRO Troy Peters, GFF Vice-President Ivan Persaud (2nd right) and Referee Coordinator, Roy McArthur.

Heavy WI loss after Shami’s ‘fiver’

Sheldon Cottrell is bowled to bring the match to and end .

Mohammad Shami celebrates

GUYANA SOFTBALL CUP 3...

PETRA ORGANISATION/COURTS PEE WEE SCHOOLS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT...

Anthony promises Enthralling final Harper leads Regal completed synthetic anticipated today between Masters to victory track by year end St. Pius and West Ruimveldt Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210