Sunday October 11, 2015
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
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Kaieteur M@ilbox
Performance Jagdeo will be a footnote management overlooked? of Guyana’s history DEAR EDITOR, Former President and leader of the opposition Bharat Jagdeo’svisit to Richmond Hill, Queens New York last week was the first since the PPP was defeated in the May elections. Richmond Hill, Queens has long been a stronghold of the PPP, but unlike his previous visits when there were large crowds, many PPP supporters have boycotted this visit because of Jagdeo’s leadership, which lacks credibility. His address to a small group of about 60 diehard supportersof the PPP was followed by a series of questions, most of which were answered indirectly.It was a dull moment. Being his usual self, Jagdeo dodged questions pertaining to his wealth, corruption and grabbing the country’s best ocean front land for himself, friends and relatives. On the question of unity, Jagdeo stated that he would only support it if the APNU+AFC coalition government rehired the 1900 Amerindians that it fired soon after taking office. Why would the former president sacrifice the country’s unity, which is so important to score cheap political points? When asked
why the PPP lost the election, Jagdeo ignored the question and instead turned his venom and puerile remarks to the Burnham era and stated that GECOM stood idly by and allowed the coalition to rig the elections in Buxton, Georgetown and Linden—all PNC strong holds. As if this was not enough, Jagdeo claimed that the ABC countries—America, Britain and Canada conspired to get rid of the PPP. The good news is that his callousness and racist rants did not galvanize any sympathy or much support from the tiny audience, many of whom have criticized him for his corrupt practices and for giving himself a three million dollar a month pension. Quite frankly, there was an articulate minority in the audience who believed that Jagdeo had perfected the practice of insanity which according to Albert Einstein is the practice of doing or saying the same thing over and over again as if being crazy. Jagdeo’s practice of this kind of madness was on display in Queens, New York as he audaciously lectured his supporters, although many doubted his sincerity to the country. This kind of madness
stems from Jagdeo and the PPP’s moronic belief that they were ordained to rule over the people of Guyana and that he, Jagdeo has the solutions to all of Guyana’s problems. His ranting and raving were so outrageous that it brought a few of the supporters to the brink of disbelief. He played to a vulnerable audience with the hope that they will continue to support the PPP. Such deviant behavior has no place in Guyana’s politics. It is time for Jagdeo to bring this madness to an end. His opposition to almost all of the coalition government’s policies, including Venezuela’s claim to two thirds of Guyana’s territory, shows his lack of patriotism and insensitivity to the people. It has also exposed his poor leadership and brought to light his defeatist attitude. This type of uncivility is immature. In the midst of his tirade, he mistakenly stated that the PPP is badly divided as a Continued on page 6
DEAR EDITOR, Those of us who reflect on the past while contemplating current institutional behaviour, cannot help noting the substantive difference in some employment procedures, moreso in the public sector which is obviously more exposed than the private sector counterpart. Management practices over the last decade or two in the public sector, and substantively the public service, declined in direct relationship to that of the authority of the Public Service Commission – a constitutional entity hardly known to the generations recruited into the service in this century; and even to some Ministerial incumbents. Contrast this scenario of exponentially increasing contract employment (inherently assured irrespective of performance) with the times when annual performance of the employee was mandatory, and was the only basis for an individual salary increase within the relevant grade. For the many
who have only experienced across-the-board increases such exposure would be anathema – particularly to ‘managers’ who have been appointed on other than performance criteria. It was if there were a national c h a r i t y, which indeed reduced certain hypersensitive employees to being mendicants. So when under a new dispensation there is talk about productivity, it not only jars the listening if those embedded in the ongoing culture, but also commits visionary managers to find new (and perhaps old) ways of incentivising performance. What is also interesting is that for the longest while little thought seems to have been given to a recruitment process which includes measurement of the physical health of the employee to discharge duties to be assigned. (One wonders whether this is the case in the health sector, with particular reference to the recruitment of nursing capabilities).
Actually it was at the Public Hospital, Georgetown (PHG) that I was examined by an (Italian) doctor who pronounced me fit to work in the ‘civil service’ after ascertaining that I drank the same brand of rum as he did. It was on such a foundation that I was able to progress from a Temporary Class II to a confirmed Class II Clerk after one year’s service. Such lowly progress was nevertheless public information since a Public Service Staff list was published annually up to sometime in the 1960s. The conundrum was however, that despite the insistence on promotion strictly on seniority there was still the consistent implementation of the performance appraisal process at that time. More recently there has been the perceived correlation between (contracted) promotion and virtual mendicancy. Take your choice for change! E.B. John
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Kaieteur News
Sunday October 11, 2015
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Presidential pardons
An alarming number of men endure both...
DEAR EDITOR, I hold with President Granger on the granting of presidential pardons. He has that right and there is no reason why in his best judgment he cannot or should not exercise right. President Granger has set his measurement criteria ( quite unlike the former president Ramoutar!), and in all reasonableness, he is right that youth should be given second chances. Being a devout man, the President full well knows how wayward youth can be and behave recklessly. Second chances do give them an opportunity to recognize the error of their ways and the hope to straighten out and fly right. One slight variance I have with the President’s expression and that is that
young people do have to be jailed when they foolishly, recklessly and disdainfully ignore the norms of proper societal behavior. I think the President was deeply thinking of the sentences meted out for what can be considered ‘trivial offence’, and therefore he is right to say that “Young people don’t have a right to be jailed”, given the trivial nature of the offence, but surely be punished in some form. I suspect that apart from granting presidential pardons, that there is some support and follow up program that such pardoned persons would be expected or required to follow. In my view an assessment of those individuals would have been made before the pardon and the potential of full rehabilitation determined. The
President would not want his exercise in granting a pardon to be a futile one. For what it is worth, I would say that serious efforts should be made to channel the pardoned persons into meaningful occupations while enlarging their level of education. The more educated they become, the less likely they would want to become repeat offenders. President Granger is on the right track. Now Mister President, how about getting rid of that Camp Street prison and use the prison population to build for themselves a spacious residence somewhere up the East Coast or somewhere up the East Bank, either within commuting distance from Georgetown? Carl Veecock
From page 5 party and is losing its supporters all across the country and if this trend continues, it may be difficult for the party to win the next election. Now, which sensible politician in his/her right mind would publicly say such negative things about his party in public? Only one who plays the race card to his constituents to the point where his brain trips and he says the wrong things. Not only has Jagdeo divided the country during his
twelve years as president, but since grabbing power from former President Ramotar, he has also divided the PPP. It is therefore no surprise that the PPP is on a slippery slope. His dislike for Moses Nagamootoo, Khemraj Ramjattan and Glenn Lall and Adam Harris from Kaieteur News was evident in his speech. He was told by a member of the audience that he was speaking from both sides of his mouth. To add insult to injury, he has blamed the new
government for the spike in crime and murders, the collapse of the sugar and rice industries, increased tension between Guyana and Venezuela, shortages of drugs, for not offering the workers a 20 percent increase and for flat-lining the economy. This was a display of hypocrisy on his part. Jagdeo should end his partisan politics, stop his manipulation of the people, focus on the issues rather than on personalities and put the country and people first. He does not have the courage to confront the main challenges facing the nation. Bold and positive actions are required of him to be a transformational leader. Cowardly men keep sound bones but they do not even appear in the foot-notes of history. Asquith Rose
Jagdeo will be a footnote...
From page 4 object of ridicule by friends, family members, peers, coworkers, and also the fear of people claiming that Roshini was the real victim, and must have had a reason for being unfaithful. For any man to admit or confess that he is the victim of female perpetrated domestic abuse calls for the immediate abandonment of the façade of machismo that society demands from men, and to concede submission to a female. Sorry, but very few men are willing to make or take this admission. So often, if not in every case, women are highlighted as the victims, which clearly gives one sex the edge over the other. The common and accepted rule of thinking is that the law is on the woman’s side no matter what, and lying in wait is a myriad of women that have been battered that will rally to her aid. Do not for one moment labour under the apprehension that I am diminishing the predicament of women who have suffered domestic violence. The time has come for us to realize that both men and women are human beings, and surely one’s safety in the home should never be esteemed over another. From time immemorial, we have lived in a society that see men as the epitome of strength, and are relegated to less than a man if they take a beating from a woman. I was once a witness to an occasion where in the heat of an argument, the woman involved threw a few punches in the face at the man involved. It was apparent that she did not see him as a victim because he was a man. She is also bolstered by the fact that if he dare defend
himself or even fight back, the police would arrest him regardless of the fact that she dished out the first punch. She knows and knows well that in many cities the law is on her side no matter what. Let me say with no rancor or malice aforethought and no tongue in cheek. Yes, there are many women out there loudly proclaiming that he should not hit her back, and that a man should never ever hit a woman. Believe me as a bona fide Guyanese I fully grasp and understand this perception, yet in the face of all that permit me to proffer an alternative idea—No one deserves to be abused or hit. I have several brothers and sons and I do respect why they should never hit a woman. However, confessedly I would be concerned about their position should a woman deign to put her hands on them. Men are never allowed any excuse for beating a woman. It does not matter if he is under stress, his health is not up to par, in fact, it does not even matter if she provoked him verbally and or physically—get it straight in your face – Men ought not to hit. Pointe Finale. Every woman ain’t a weakling or a frail individual. There are women who can deliver a punch or a jab comparable to Sonny Liston in his heyday, and there are men who are not as elusive as Cassius Clay in dodging the impact. There are also many women who know what words would bring them to their breaking point cause them to resort to abuse and violence. They feel justified in whatever cause would get their goat and provoke them. Sadly,
men are not allowed this latitude. Let us remember that our brothers are human beings just like us, they have feelings and can be provoked to behave out of character. Pray tell me is it an appropriate or correct way of thinking that if a man spat in my face I would have some difficulty in restraining myself against striking out at him, but feel that if I spat in his face, he should automatically be the pillar of restraint and he had better not put God out of his thoughts and dream of striking me. Is this not illogical, hypocrisy of sorts and a double standard? No one should be faced with enduring psychological or physical abuse. Abuse and violence leave scars, some deep and long lasting, and inflicts damage on man and woman alike. In fact a double standard that should be urgently addressed by the appropriate authorities and departments in Guyana. There should also be a reaching out to the other face in domestic ab u s e - t h e males. I am calling on the nation and by extension the diaspora at large to convoke our humanity for all- not just the women. Let us reach out not only to our sisters, but also our brothers that are hurting because of domestic violence and abuse. Remember that domestic violence is not only about women—plainly put, it is about human beings. Let us now come forward with renewed sensitivity viewing the other face of domestic violence and abuse through a clearer and understanding lens. Yvonne Sam
Sunday October 11, 2015
Kaieteur News
Hundreds of thousands protest in Berlin against EU-U.S. trade deal
Consumer rights activists wearing masks dipicting US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and German Finance Minister Sigmar Gabriel, (L-2nd R) take part in a march to protest against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), yesterday. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
BERLIN (Reuters) Hundreds of thousands of people marched in Berlin yesterday in protest against a planned free trade deal between Europe and the United States that they say is anti-democratic and will lower food safety, labour and environmental standards. Organisers - an alliance of environmental groups, charities and opposition parties - said 250,000 people were taking part in the rally against free trade deals with both the United States and Canada, far more than they had anticipated. “This is the biggest protest that this country has seen for many, many years,” Christoph Bautz, director of citizens’ movement Campact told protesters in a speech. A police spokesman estimated 100,000 people were taking part in the demonstration which has
been trouble free so far. There were 1,000 police officers on duty at the march. Opposition to the so-called Transatlantic Trade and Inv e s t m e n t Partnership (TTIP) has risen over the past year in G e r m a n y, w i t h c r i t i c s fearing the pact will hand too much power to big multinationals at the expense of consumers and workers. “What bothers me the most is that I don’t want all our consumer laws to be softened,” Oliver Zloty told Reuters TV. “And I don’t want to have a dictatorship by any companies.” Dieter Bartsch, deputy leader of the parliamentary group for the Left party, who was taking part in the rally said he was concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding the talks. “We definitely need to know what is supposed to be being decided,” he said.
Marchers banged drums, blew whistles and held up posters reading “Yes we can Stop TTIP.” The level of resistance has taken Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government by surprise and underscores the challenge it faces to turn the tide in favour of the deal which proponents say will create a market of 800 million and serve as a counterweight to China’s economic clout. In a full-page letter published in several German newspapers on Saturday, Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel warned against “scaremongering”. “We have the chance to set new and goods standards for growing global trade. With ambitious, standards for the environment and consumers and with fair conditions for investment and workers. This must be our aim,” Gabriel wrote.
Reuters - Isolated North Korea marked the 70th anniversary of its ruling Workers’ Party yesterday with a massive military parade overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, who said his country was ready to fight any war waged by the United States. Thousands of troops stood at attention under a blue autumn sky in Pyongyang’s main Kim Il Sung Square, named after Kim Jong Un’s grandfather and the founder of the nation, as Kim, appearing relaxed and confident, made his speech, leaning heavily on the lectern. The young leader was accompanied by senior Chinese Communist Party
official Liu Yunshan, with whom he was seen speaking throughout the event and occasionally shared laughs, and flanked by senior North Korean party and military officials. “The party’s revolutionary armament means we are ready to fight any kind of war waged by the U.S. imperialists,” Kim said in a speech strikingly more forceful than previous public comments, praising the feats of past leaders and the ruling party. He made no direct mention of the country’s nuclear programme, likely a conciliatory diplomatic gesture towards China, which hosted the now-defunct “sixparty talks”, also involving
the United States, on giving economic incentives to Pyongyang in return for scrapping its atomic ambitions. On Wednesday, a highlevel U.S. military official said Washington believed North Korea had the capability to launch a nuclear weapon against the U.S. mainland and stood ready to defend against any such attacks. Kim’s speech was followed by troops marching in formation, first by a corps of soldiers dressed in the style of the revolutionary force that fought Japan during World War Two, and then a procession of military might rolling past the square.
Isolated North Korea says ready for war with U.S. as it marks anniversary
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Kaieteur News
Sunday October 11, 2015
Russia steps up air strikes against Assad opponents in Syria
A man rides on a motorbike past damaged buildings in Latamneh city that was hit by Russian air strikes, in the northern countryside of Hama, Syria. REUTERS/Ammar Abdullah
BEIRUT/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said yesterday it had stepped up its bombing campaign against Islamic State militants in Syria, while local observers said several of the air strikes had hit areas in western Syria where the hardline group has little presence. Russia, a top ally of President Bashar al-Assad, started bombing in Syria on Sept. 30 saying it was targeting Islamic State and other opposition groups, a campaign that has drawn Moscow deeper into Syria’s more than four-year-old conflict. Rebels on the ground and Western states have said Moscow’s air campaign, which has been combined with ground attacks by progovernment forces, have mainly targeted rebel groups not associated with Islamic State, including U.S.-trained fighters. A Russian defense ministry representative said yesterday Russia had intensified its campaign in the last 24 hours, with 64 sorties hitting 55 targets, Russian news agencies reported. The representative,
Major-General Igor Konashenkov, described the targets hit as controlled by Islamic State, also referring to them as belonging to “militants” and “terrorists”. He said they included command and control centers, weapons depots and training bases, located in the Syrian provinces of Raqqa, Hama, Damascus and Aleppo. The first of those provinces is in eastern Syria and the main Islamic State stronghold, while the other three are in Western Syria where the group is typically
weak. However, Islamic State militants have been advancing on Aleppo in recent days, seizing villages in the province from rival insurgents. Konashenkov said one of the targets hit near Aleppo was a concealed base for military vehicles, which he said had received a direct hit from an Su-24M bomber. More than ten vehicles had been destroyed, including two tanks and five infantry vehicles, he said in comments cited by Interfax.
China to intensify crackdown on illegal money transfers to fight corruption SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China will step up its crackdown on illegal cross-border money transfers conducted by underground money dealers and offshore companies, as part of efforts to fight corruption, the central bank said yesterday. Authorities, including the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) and the police, will intensify measures to clampdown on illegal money outflows, the PBOC said in a statement on its website. China has already detected 92 “major” cases involving more than 800 billion yuan ($126 bln) since launching the campaign in April this year, it added. The crackdown is also seen aimed at curbing speculative money flows as Beijing gradually opens up its financial markets and promotes the yuan’s usage in trade and investment.
Sunday October 11, 2015
Kaieteur News
Govt. begins transfer of power to regional authorities …APNU+AFC determined not to make the mistake of PPP -- Bulkan
Ministers Ronald Bulkan and Dawn Hastings-Williams (centre) flanked by the Regional Executive Officers for the 10 Geographic Regions. With Local Government Elections likely by next April, the administration has begun taking steps to devolve power from the Central Executive to the Regional bodies. As such, the Ministry of Communities—which holds responsibility for the local democratic organs, namely the Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Offices—yesterday commenced a ‘Round Table Inquiry,’ targeting the formulation of Plans of Action for Regional Development (PARDs). The group of Executive Officers gathered at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre along with Ministers of Communities, Ronald Bulkan and Dawn HastingsWilliams and representatives of: IDEA International, Conservation International, UNESCO, UNDP, UNICEF, CARILED and the University of Guyana. DECENTRALIZE Delivering the keynote address to those gathered at the Convention Centre and tasked with developing the regional agendae, Minister Bulkan reminded that Government is committed to the process of the decentralizing of power. Guyana, he said, is too big to be managed effectively from a centralized point. This, he said, was long recognized, since in 1980 when the requisite legislation brought into being the several local government organs, meant to give effect to democracy as envisaged under the Guyana Constitution. According to the Minister, Guyana’s supreme law—its Constitution—does not provide for a single central government but rather, for administrative bodies across the 10 Regions and their constituent NDCs.
In crafting their development strategies, Bulkan told the RDC officials that they must pay careful attention when addressing issues of local government, local democracy and the role, scope and authority of the RDCs. The Round Table Inquiry, according to Bulkan, forms part of the process of advancing the very important agenda - that of national development. “We are here to articulate a framework and to outline as far as we can, a particular strategic vision in relation to the management of our country and the role of our RDCs,” said Bulkan. The Minister of Communities was adamant that Regional Administration and Regional Development are integral to the construct of Local Government. The Minister said that the forum was organized to begin to give effect “to constitutional provisions related to how our country should be managed.” The coalition A Partnership for National Unity plus Alliance for Change ( A P N U + A F C ) Administration, according to Minister Bulkan, “is fully committed to the process of
decentralization and in this regard and as part of that strategic agenda, is the main reason why we are here today to advance a particular aspect of that overall framework which is the creation of Plans of Action for Regional Development.” EMPOWERMENT He also committed the administration to working collaboratively with the regional democratic organs to fulfill their mandates. The administration, he said, “will respect your role and authority, we will seek to empower you…The administration will seek to cooperate with all of our local government organs, in particular the RDCs.” Minister Bulkan said that as long as the constitutional provisions for local government, decentralization and devolution of powers are not honoured, “we will not truly unlock our enormous potential…We will fail our people particularly our young people and this administration is determined not to make the mistake of our predecessors.” At present the local democratic organs in many cases are under-resourced and as such lack the capacity to play any meaningful role
in delivering their mandates. VISIONLESS Presenting an overview of the expectations of the Round Table Inquiry, Minister within the Ministry, Dawn Hastings-Williams, lamented that for too long the regional administrations have been operating without a long term vision. “We have recognized that for too long our regional administration has been trying to give satisfaction to the residents throughout the regions without having a visionary plan that would help them carry out their activities throughout the regions,” said Minister Hastings-Williams. According to the Minister, from time to time there would be ad hoc and lofty ideas presented as viable regional development models but none have evolved into working long term visionary plans for any of the 10 Geographic Regions. This state of affairs is untenable, according to Minister Hastings-Williams and has led in part to the Ministry of Communities looking to have PARDs developed for the 10 Regions, cognizant of the specific requirements of each.
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Dem boys seh...
Sam Blinds colleagues didn’t thief from all over De British High Commissioner meet wid de local media de other day fuh talk how he country can fund de new Demerara Harbor Bridge. Dem boys seh that even before de British think about putting in money dem boys want Brassington and Jagdeo draw up de contract. De contract got to be similar to de Berbice Bridge contract. We don’t know how to draft such a contract and dem boys doubt whether de British can draft it. Only Jagdeo and Brassington know how much everybody can get but dem boys know how much dem want. Such a contract allow people to put li’l bit money to own half de bridge. Dem boys want put two per cent and own de whole bridge. Dem boys seh that de British must see something wha dem boys ain’t see. Dem can’t see dem people tying bundle wid Guyanese politician. Something deh beneath. Guyana got to look out just like how Sam Blinds got to look out fuh he colleagues. That is de same Sam who seh he was deeply hurt by de words from Li’l Joe mouth. Li’l Joe seh that dem was accepting low salaries because dem was thiefing money all over de place. Sam seh that dem wasn’t thiefing money all over de place. Dem boys seh that dem was only thiefin from dem office. If Sam use to thief, and dem boys don’t want to believe that, he use to thief from he own office. Dem Ministers never thief from all over. Li’l Joe mek a mistake when he seh all over. But Sam got to understand that he got to explain how he many, many colleague Ministers get so wealthy; how some of dem can own so much properties in and out of Guyana. He should try explaining dem wealth, including that of de leader of de Rat pack. He all time boss. If he can’t, he playing dumb and stupid because he blind already, dem boys willing to take him and show him wheh every piece of wealth each one of dem have can be found. Dem boys ain’t gun show dem property wha dem great grandmother lef like wha Irfaat seh how he greatgreat-grandfather lef things for him. De only thing he great grandfather had was two cow and two duck and a kitchen garden. Irfaat now got more property than he can count. Talk half and feel sorry fuh Sam who couldn’t see that he colleagues been thiefing.
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Audit on NFMU reveals … By Kiana Wilburg Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, has said that the “upsetting” findings of the forensic audit into the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) prove that “several fraudulent decisions opened up the Unit to abuse and horrible acts of corruption.” He added that the audit reveals some of the “most appalling acts of corruption” in a statutory agency. The Junior Finance Minister, who is in charge of the forensic audits, also pointed out that the level of corruption which was taking place at the agency “exposes” the incompetence and “lack of integrity” of those who are in charge. The Head of the Frequency Management Unit is Valmiki Singh. Sharma had said that the “disturbing” findings of the report also prove that the mission statement is nothing but a “nicely-worded declaration to fool the people of this nation when all along, a set of wickedness was taking place.” “In no uncertain terms,
Kaieteur News
Sunday October 11, 2015
Fraudulent decisions opened up Unit to “abuse”- Junior Finance Minister Sharma the things which occurred at the Frequency Unit point to some very disturbing acts of corruption. The report has to be sent back to the auditor for some minor clarifications in some areas. What went on at the agency is quite appalling and I don’t know which agency operates like this.” “I really expected better from the Head of this Unit, Valmiki Singh, who earns around US$4,500 per month. All these things that happened under the Unit highlight a lack of professionalism, malfeasance in office and incompetence from him and those managing it. They occurred under his watch. It is unbelievable what they were getting away with under the PPP.” Sharma had expressed his disgust after discovering that “almost 90 percent of the funds of the Frequency Management Unit dating back to 2012, were spent on two projects that had absolutely nothing to do with the agency.” The report on the forensic audit which was conducted by Chartered Accountant Chris Ram, showed that in some cases, the hog of the
Unit’s funds went to the PPP’s failed Fibre Optic Cable from Brazil and the One Lap Top per Family project. Sharma said that he found this to be “very strange and downright deceitful.” The fibre optic cable which was started in 2011 was intended to bring another source of internet connectivity to Guyana. It should have been completed by 2013, but turned out to be a major embarrassment for the previous administration, after it faced delays due to damage and other technical issues. It was part of a bigger initiative to advance Guyana’s e-governance drive and equip 90,000 poor families with laptops and link state agencies into a network. The contract signed between Dr. Roger Luncheon and Faisal Mohamed for the repair of the cable from Brazil has been described as the most generous giveaway package, worse that the Sanata Complex in the run-up to the 2011 elections. It also mirrored the giveaway of the radio frequencies done under the administration of former President Bharrat Jagdeo,
Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma during his last days. Since the new administration took over, it ordered Dax to halt all its operations, bringing an end to the sweetheart deal the entity signed on to with the then PPP/C government. The One Laptop Per Family and the E-Governance
projects along with the Brazilian fibre optic cable initiative, reportedly cost taxpayers in excess of US$70M. Another fiber optic cable contained in a transmission cable laid by the Guyana Power and Light Inc. and stretching along the coast, reportedly pushed the finally tally well past the US$120M mark. “It is unbelievable that (the NFMU) were hiding expenditure on these projects. It goes to show the kind of financial lawlessness that was allowed to take place at these agencies. I just don’t understand how monies could be spent on these two programmes which had nothing to do with the Frequency Management Unit from the beginning. The auditor has already made it clear that about $100M has to be recovered in this regard,” said the Junior Finance Minister. Minister Sharma had said, “There was just no proper management at this unit.
There were instances where you could see that they just lost out on millions of dollars worth in fees that they should have ensured they collected. There were some defaulters as well who the agency just took no action against.” “They could have collected a lot more revenue but no. They allowed a lot of favouritism to take place and as such they lost, I would say, millions in revenue. They allowed their PPP boys to slip under the radar while others were called upon to pay their dues. In fact, they weren’t collecting from two of their PPP big boys for some time. It was a lot of unfairness that was going on at that agency.” Sharma had said that the revelations of some of the forensic audits thus far vindicate the concerns the APNU+AFC had when it served in the opposition regarding the lack of accountability under the previous administration as well as the stench of corruption in some agencies.
Third Sand Pit teen gives birth Two of the three Onderneeming, Sand Pit teenagers, who were impregnated while attending secondary school at the Johanna Cecilia High have given birth. One of the three teenagers gave birth almost a year ago while the two others delivered their babies this past week. The mother of one of the 15-year-olds who gave birth to a baby boy on Thursday, at the Suddie
Public Hospital said that her teenage daughter delivered via a C- section. The woman said that her daughter who displayed unusual behaviour patterns conceived during the time she, the mother, was attending to a medical condition in Georgetown. She said during the period she was away, the teenager was left in the care of an older brother but whenever the
older brother was away from home the teenager’s boyfriend would visit her. The mother said that she is financially unstable and is not in a position to look after her new grandson. However close relatives would assume that responsibility. The 50year-old grandmother said her daughter and the boy’s parents have since engaged in discussions about the position he intends to play in both the child and teenager’s life. He has reportedly said that he does not intend to either cohabit or marry the teenager who was forced to leave school in fourth form. (Yannason Duncan)
Sunday October 11, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Delayed Indian, Chinese loans stall massive road projects Two large loans from the Indian Export Import Bank (Exim) and their Chinese counterparts are currently at various stages of the approval process but the delays have resulted in two massive infrastructural road projects being stalled, locally. Chief Works Officer, Selywn Vaughn, said, “With the East Coast Four lane project, at this stage we are still awaiting the contract being signed.” He was making reference the loan from the China Export Import (Exim) Bank. This publication understands that the Chinese are currently engaged in a due diligence process ahead of approving the loan. According to the Chief
Works Officer, when the loan has been finalized, then the project will move ahead. “Once that has been finalized then the East Coast four-lane project will continue,” said Vaughn. He reminded that the project is being undertaken from Better Hope to Annandale which would be upgraded to a four-lane roadway. According to Vaughn, this stretch of road from Annandale to Belfield will be upgraded as a two-lane roadway. Vaughn said that at the time he could not give any reasons for the delay in signing off on the loan. “We wouldn’t be able to say at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. That’s a
financial issue and that deals with Ministry of Finance not us,” according to Vaughn. Meanwhile Guyana is also awaiting a submission from the Indians with respect to the pre-qualified contractors and consultants that would be engaged in the project. This publication was told that given the concessionary arrangements with India for the money, that country would submit to the Guyana Government a list of prequalified contractors and consultants for approval. Kaieteur News was told that Government is currently awaiting the proposals from India so that a shortlist can be agreed on. The process involved sees Guyana having to send to India, the bidding document associated with the project after which the Indian government would solicit prequalified companies for the Guyana Government’s approval. While the Chinese are funding the road works along the East Coast of Demerara, the Indian loan is slated to be applied to the East Bank Demerara, Mandela Avenue Road bypass project.
Sunday October 11, 2015
Road safety month to be observed next month Come next month, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will be observing National Road Safety Month, under the theme, “Be Wise, Stay Alive, Stop Speeding, Don’t Drink and Drive.” Every year the GPF in collaboration with the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) and the Ministry of Home Affairs embarks on a series of activities, training programmes and seminars in various regions. Some of the activities will include a school safety patrol
rally, a drivers’ seminar, first aid programmes, and a safety awareness walk. The Road Safety month will kick off in the first week of November with special focus being placed on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims which will be held on November 15. The month of activities will be launched at a time when the numbers of road accidents and road fatalities seemed to be escalating. Acting Traffic Chief, Dion Moore, said that Road safety
month will start with a Church service followed by a series of planned activities. It will officially be launched on November 04 at the Author Chung Convention Centre. “It is open to all members of the public. They can come and witness what we do as part of Road safety month,” the acting Traffic Chief said. He added that it is with the five ‘Cs’Care, C o m m o n s e n s e , Consideration, Courtesy and Caution that a person moves from point A to point B safely.
West Berbice businessman to face judge and jury on attempted murder charge Dwayne Morgan, 38, a businessman of 20 Plantain Walk, Blairmont, West Bank Berbice, has been committed to stand trial in the next session of the Berbice High Court on a charge of attempted murder. Morgan, who sells and delivers feeds and baby chicks, will have to face a judge and jury for attempting to kill businessman Randholl Bissondat, 39, of Bath, West Coast Berbice. The incident is alleged to have occurred on Tuesday February 17, 2015 at Bath, West Coast Berbice.
The verdict was read out on Friday at the conclusion of a preliminary inquiry which was conducted by Magistrate Rhondell Weever at the Blairmont Magistrate’s court which proved that a Prima Facie case has been made out against him. The case for the prosecution as presented by Prosecutor Corporal Racquel Mars was that on the day in question the two men who are both businessmen were driving separate trucks around 20:14 h in the Bath area. They both tried to turn
into a street coming from different directions. However the street had a heap of sand thus making it impossible for the two trucks to pass at the same time. There was a near collision as both men tried to force their way through. An altercation subsequently ensued and Bissondat allegedly received several chops and other injuries about his body. He was subsequently hospitalized. Morgan was later arrested and charged. Bissondat was also charged with assault and fined.
Sunday October 11, 2015
GRDB $100M loan… There is no provision in the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) amendment Act of 1994 for the granting of loans under any circumstance, thus making any loan agreement null and void. This is according to former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran, who was commenting on a controversial loan transaction between GRDB and the Rice Producers’Association (RPA) that was recently uncovered. He also made it clear that the Government’s priority is to recover the money or hold the principals in the transaction responsible. Last week, forensic auditors had uncovered documentation showing that the GRDB had loaned the RPA some $100M last year. Signing off on behalf of the RPA was the association’s General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj, at the time also Vice President of the GRDB. Former Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and former GRDB General Manager Jagnarine Singh also signed the agreement. The loan agreement, which consisted of three paragraphs, was drawn up July 22, 2014. It made no mention of the reason for the loan, nor was there mention of any collateral. There was, however, a promissory note signed by Seeraj promising to repay the amount by October 31, 2014. The $100M is yet to be repaid. It seems that this was not the only time the GRDB has loaned money to the RPA
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Priority should be to recover money or hold principals personally liable Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma decried the mounting evidence of financial transactions
Former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran
Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma
unknown to the public. Kaieteur News was able to view another agreement made by a farmer in 2014. In the agreement, the farmer can be seen acknowledging a sum of $22M advanced by the GRDB to the RPA for farmers and promising to repay same in four installments. Commenting on the situation, Goolsarran noted that under the GRDB Act and financial provisions, there is no allowance for issuing loans. Therefore, he said, GRDB authorizing a loan was not lawful. Both Seeraj and Ramsammy have defended their role in the $100M transaction. According to Seeraj, the money had been secured for part payments to rice farmers who had supplied paddy to Ruimzeight millers, but had to wait for extended periods for payment. For his part, Ramsammy has been quoted in sections of the media claiming he
would “do it again”, as the transaction reportedly provided relief to rice farmers. However, Goolsarran made it clear that the agreement could not override the law, which does not allow that. He also stated that for the signatories on the agreement to have approved the loan was outside their authority. He said that if the law does not mention that GRDB can grant the loan, it is thus a violation and the agreement is null and void. The former Auditor General stated that the first step would be to recover the money. If it could not be recovered, he said, whoever signed the agreement can be held personally liable and action should be taken. Goolsarran said that if it could be shown that the principals benefitted personally, it is a criminal offence. In a recent interview,
Brickdam Cathedral gears for centenary concert
In recognition of 100 years since the laying of the cornerstone of the Brickdam Cathedral, a grand concert is to be held at the National Cultural Centre on October 14. The show which is expected to last for about two and a half hours is scheduled to start at 19: 00 hrs. The Guyana Police Force Military Band, the Woodside Choir, the Circle of Love and the Bank of Guyana Choir are
some of the acts slated to perform for the auspicious event. There will also be dances from the National Dance Company and the Indian Culture Centre Dancers Group. Tickets are being sold at $500, $800 and $1000 and can be had at all Roman Catholic Parishes, Nigel’s Supermarket, Ashmins and Shoe Source.
conducted under the previous administration in questionable circumstances. “This is just what
happened to the Co-op ($100M transaction). We don’t know that the GRDB Continued on page 72
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Sunday October 11, 2015
Guyana reopens talks with T&T on ALL projects - Greenidge Government has agreed to reopen negotiations with Trinidad and Tobago with regards to all of the projects that would have been submitted for consideration in recent years but never
implemented. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, during an interview yesterday, provided an update on the recent high level bilateral meeting
between Head of State, President David Granger and recently elected Prime Minister of the twin-island Republic, Dr Keith Rowley. “Both leaders wanted to get a feel of each other’s
positions,” according to Greenidge. He said that talks also centered on both countries’ position on the Caribbean bloc of nations, CARICOM, as well as areas of mutual cooperation and assistance. He said while the gettogether was largely a meeting of two recently elected Heads of State reaffirming positions on previous commitments, the two also agreed on reopening talks on a number of projects, including forestry and other proposals from companies such as Ansa McAl. President David Granger traveled to neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago, on Wednesday last, where he met with new Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Rowley. President Granger had also used the opportunity to brief Prime Minister Rowley on the recent developments regarding Venezuelan aggression, with regard to Guyana’s sovereign territory. Prime Minister Rowley expressed the hope that the matter would be resolved peacefully and in the best interest of all in accordance with international law. President Granger was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Greenidge and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the matter of the reopening of the talks on the projects between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, Greenidge told Kaieteur News that the two countries would be looking to seek to implement what is practical
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge and modify those which do not find favour, as is. One such project that had been proposed by the Trinidadians and had attracted a bit of criticism surrounds the granting of 10,000 acres of land for cultivation in Guyana. The then Trinidad and Tobago Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj, had met with the previous Guyana administration and had paid keen interest in food security, cooperation and land for Trinidadian farmers. Technical teams from Trinidad had also visited Guyana on separate occasions on the prospects of rice, aquaculture and livestock farming. The Trinidadians had expressed interest in growing rice and corn and getting involved in aquaculture. Talks had concentrated on an allocation of 10,000 acres of land to be given in one location or to be split up among different locations in a pilot phase.
Another project from a Trinidadian company which had generated significant media coverage was linked to a proposed ethanol plant to be built in Guyana by Regional Conglomerate Ansa McAl. The company had commenced a feasibility study. The project was initially slated to be centered in the Canje Basin but Ansa McAl had also requested an alternative site, which was in the savannah region. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ansa McAL group of companies Anthony Sabga, had confirmed that the company is conducting a feasibility study for a bio-fuel project in Guyana. “We envisage a sugar cane plantation cultivated to produce a minimum 2,000,000 metric tonnes of high sucrose sugar cane per year and produce 40,000,000 gallons of ethanol and approximately 175,000 metric tonnes of raw sugar,” Sabga had stated. In December last also, a 15 member team of investors from Trinidad and Tobago had traveled to Guyana to explore investment opportunities and had benefitted from presentations on land availability, investment incentives, trade logistics, and ongoing investments in the country’s agricultural sector. The Agriculture Minister at the time had said that these persons only represent a portion of a larger group of people who are interested in possible investments in food production in Guyana.
Pregnant woman suffers multiple electric burns Fingers of blame are pointing at a police rank as a pregnant woman is nursing second and third degree burns to 25 percent of her body at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). An unconscious five months pregnant, Lukeisha Clarke of lot C Middle Street, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) for burns she sustained to her back, butt, legs and head just after 2: 30 hrs yesterday. She was eventually transferred to the GPHC. Reports are that the woman, a vendor, was outside of a dance at Pouderoyen, when a police patrol arrived on the scene. Their objective was to enforce the 2:00 hrs curfew. However, after being met by some opposition from patrons, one of the ranks discharged a warning shot into the air. That
warhead hit an electrical wire that was above Clarke’s stall and a fire started. Before Clarke could have moved out of the way the wire had already landed on her person burning her severely. “People came running in me yard shouting Debbie come quick; Clarkey dead and I started to holler,” her mother, Debbie Stephens, recalled. The mother said that by the time she had run out of her home, her daughter had already been transferred to the WDRH. “When I got there doctors were around my daughter. She back burn up, and dem had to shave out the front of she head. She was hollering then she was transferred to GPHC,” a visibly shaken Stephen said. Medical professionals confirmed that the woman is stable but nursing second and third degree burns to her body that will require surgery. Around 15:30hrs, yesterday
BURN VICTIM: Lukeisha Clarke the doctors were awaiting advice from a senior surgeon for directives on how to proceed. Up to press time the woman was scheduled to undergo an ultrasound to determine the well-being of the foetus. The rank who discharged the round is said to be in police custody as investigations continue.
Sunday October 11, 2015
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TIGI Head questions 50% salary increase for MPs - says it was never part of Govt’s manifesto By Kiana Wilburg How can the four-monthold government objectively determine that its Ministers deserve a 50 percent salary increase when they have not been evaluated? Moreover, this was never a part of their 2015 campaign manifesto so how did it become priority? These questions and more, continue to gnaw at the peace of mind of Calvin Bernard, Head of the Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI). The public did not learn about this 50 percent salary increase from a press release from Government’s proficient information arm; it did not learn about this through Government’s revamped programme which airs weekly, “The Public Interest” or from a post Cabinet press briefing with the media. Such a significant development was published in the Official Gazette of
September 25. The gazette report listed the Prime Minister’s salary as $20,580,000 per annum, while the salary of every VicePresident was listed as $11,135,064 per annum. Cabinet Ministers’ salaries were listed as $10,439,124 per annum while the Junior Ministers were listed as receiving $8,346,492 per annum. Bernard said that the increase, like the modification at the level of ministries, was not part of the party’s manifesto for the 2015 elections, “So it begs the question, how did it become such a priority?” “The way in which it was done suggests that there was hope that it would go unnoticed. One of the first things we learned from the new government was that the Treasury was nearly broke when they took office. “If we are near broke how do we afford these increases?
We should therefore be given a clear explanation on how they will be funded,” the TIGI Head said. He argued that the salaries paid to public servants are “shameful” and likely drives some to corrupt the systems. Following the tabling of the 2015 budget, the basic minimum wage was increased from $39,540 to $50,000 effective July 1. Also effective July 1, 2015 was that all other public servants received a five percent salary increase, in addition to $5,000 monthly. Minister of Finance Winston Jordan had stated that this was to allow a greater increase in the lower income brackets. It had also been announced that workers currently earning $50,000 will have a monthly increase of $7,500, or 15 percent, while a person currently receiving a salary of $100,000 would get
a 10 percent increase. Bernard contended that the public service received increases of “no real consequence” as it relates to giving them a decent living and allowing them to stop corrupt activities; or at least not to think themselves justified in corrupting the system. In spite of a chorus of disapproval being sung by the Guyana Teachers Union, the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Red Thread and regular letter writers, Minister of State Joseph Harmon insisted earlier this week that the increases are justifiable considering the quality of Cabinet members. “Government has no apologies to make.” The Minister also stated the increases would prevent certain situations which occurred under the past administration, when Ministers were prepared to accept “lowly” salaries, but
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon
TIGI Head, Calvin Bernard would engage in corrupt practices. Bernard however, disagrees with Harmon’s “justification.” He said, “Everyone knows that ministers never steal for need, but for greed. No matter what you pay a greedy thief he will still steal. Better to make sure you have no thieves in the (Continued on page 70)
Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge
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Sunday October 11, 2015
PPP GOVT. HID SATELLITE UPLINK EQUIPMENT IN NCN STOREROOM In a major development this week, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has launched an investigation into the discovery of special satellite uplink transmission equipment that has been sitting unused in boxes at the National Communications Network (NCN) Headquarters for the last two years. During those two years, the Donald Ramotar administration released tens of millions of dollars to Television Guyana (TVG), a company controlled by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, for transmitting the Learning Channel across the country. But all the time NCN had the capacity to do so. Ramroop is a close friend
- paid Ramroop’s TVG millions monthly for Learning Channel
Former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand of former President Bharrat Jagdeo under whose watch
the Learning Channel was started up. The present coalition Government, when they were in the Opposition until the May 11 General and Regional Elections, had accused the previous administration of deliberately positioning TVG and Ramroop to receive $3.6M monthly ($43.2M annually) for transmitting the signals. Why NCN did not install the equipment since acquiring it in 2013 is what officials at OPM want to know now. The matter has reportedly also been brought to attention of the Cabinet of Ministers. According to NCN officials familiar with the investigations, the new David Granger administration had been reviewing the contract with TVG and recently approved $23M for the purchase of transmission equipment for NCN so that it can take over the satellite uplinks for The Learning Channel. This was before the Cabinet of Ministers received the shocking news that all the required equipment, to the tune of millions of dollars, had been already purchased by NCN since 2013, and were still in its unopened boxes at the NCN Homestretch Avenue headquarters. DELIBERATE? “What this means is that
the previous government had been knowingly paying $3M a month to the Ramroop Group (owner of TVG) when these monies could have been paid to NCN instead,” an incensed senior Government official said yesterday. It is understood that the NCN management did not inform the new Government of the equipment it had on hand. It was only discovered when a former staff tipped off senior officials and an investigation was launched by OPM, which has the portfolio for public information and oversight of the state media. The disclosures would continue to raise serious questions over the management of state agencies and assets by the previous administration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic. NCN itself had been described as a hotbed for corruption and fraud with evidence emerging that the previous Government frequently interfered in the day-to-day operations. In April 2011, months before he ended his constitutional two terms in office, Jagdeo announced the launch of The Learning Channel. That same month, the then Government also announced that it will be using Cable Channel 80 as
TVG boss, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo
The Learning Channel for broadcasts in the city and its environs. Different channels are being used for outlying areas. The juicy deal with TVG was not made known until two years later, in April 2013, when former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, in response to questions by then Opposition MP Jaipaul Sharma, disclosed that $3.6M was being paid monthly to Jagdeo’s best friend. Manickchand had said then that for The Learning Channel to send the signal to the satellite, it would have had to set up a commensurate service that would have required an initial capital outlay of US$150,000 ($30M) plus monthly recurring costs of over $4M in bandwidth rental and associated services. She insisted that The
Learning Channel was using “the only teleport capable of up-linking video-signals in existence in Guyana,” She added that because the Learning Channel’s bandwidth is bundled with the bandwidth of TVG they are able to negotiate better rates from the satellite operators. It was widely believed that Ramroop, coincidentally, moved to establish his satellite uplink ahead of the 2011 launch of The Learning Channel. CONTRACT TO END Last month, Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, indicated that Ramroop’s contract comes to an end in December and that his government had no intention of renewing it. The Minister had noted that The Learning Channel is not being accessed all over (Continued on page 70)
Sunday October 11, 2015
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Gout: The Unusual arthritis pains By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Historically gout was known as “rich man’s disease” because it was only found in the rich who ate lavish diets especially meats and alcohol. Turns out that a breakdown product of protein rich foods called uric acid was found in large deposits in joints of patients with arthritic pains from gout. In the ancient times only the rich could have afforded to eat lavish and unhealthy but what was considered lavish diet in ancient times is now easily accessible in the modern world. As a result gout is becoming a more common presentation in our current generation. What is gout? Gout is a form of arthritis. It can cause pain and swelling in the joints. At first, it tends to affect only one joint —
most frequently the big toe. Uric acid can form sharp needle-like crystals that build up in the joints and cause pain. Uric acid crystals can also form inside the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. These crystals can turn into “kidney stones” that can cause pain and problems with the flow of urine. What are the symptoms of gout? People with gout get sudden attacks of severe pain, most often the big toe, ankle, or knee. Often the joint also turns red and swells. Usually, only one joint is affected, but some people have pain in more than one joint. Gout attacks tend to happen more often during the night. The pain from gout can be extreme. The pain and swelling are worst at the beginning of a gout attack. The symptoms then get better within a few days to weeks. It is not clear how the body “turns off” a gout attack. Patients with gout tend to
have pain “flare ups” especially when their diet and lifestyle becomes unhealthy. In between these episodes, they tend to be symptom free. Treatment Treatment for gout is geared around treating “flare ups” and using preventative methods including lifestyle changes and medications to prevent future episodes. Over the counter anti-inflammatory pain medications such as ibuprofen or diclofenac are usually used to treat the pain episodes. Sometimes your doctor may prescribe steroids if the pains are unresponsive to the anti-inflammatory medications. Allopurinol is a commonly used medication that decreases uric acid levels and helps to prevent episodes of gout “flare ups”. Lifestyle and home remedies Medications are the most proven, effective way to treat gout symptoms. However, making certain lifestyle changes also may help, such as:
The authorities are going to make another destroying a dwelling house. Fantastic large drug bust. The increased vigilance of community response will save adjoining the foreign authorities buildings. coupled with information out The cause of the fire of the country will fuel these would be carelessness but the busts. homeowners would not want But there are always to accept that fact. enterprising people. One man ** is going to be caught with a The police are going to quantity of cocaine hidden in get a surprise. A simple stop a suitcase that had nothing would uncover a plot that more than the cocaine. He will would have netted the not be a mad man, just a man criminals a lot of money. The whose system failed. number of guns would not be ** staggering but the people The dry spell will spawn would be among those whom fires. Another fire will strike in the east the police had long wanted to catch in a crime.
· Limiting alcoholic beverages and drinks sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose). Instead, drink plenty of nonalcoholic beverages, especially water. · Limit intake of foods high in proteins rich in purine such as red meat, organ meats and seafood. · Exercising regularly and losing weight. Keeping your body at a healthy weight reduces your risk of gout. Prevention During symptom-free periods, these dietary guidelines may help protect against future gout attacks: · Keep your fluid intake high. Stay wellhydrated, including plenty of water. Limit how many sweetened beverages you drink, especially those sweetened with high fructose corn syrup.
· Limit or avoid alcohol. Talk with your doctor about whether any amount or type of alcohol is safe for you. Recent evidence suggests that beer may be particularly likely to increase the risk of gout symptoms, especially in men. · Get your protein from low-fat dairy products. Low-fat dairy products may actually have a protective effect against gout, so these are your best-bet protein sources. · Limit your intake of meat, fish and poultry. A small amount may be tolerable, but pay close attention to what types — and how much — seem to cause problems for you. · Maintain a desirable body weight. Choose portions that allow you to maintain a healthy weight. Losing
Dr. Zulfikar Bux weight may decrease uric acid levels in your body. But avoid fasting or rapid weight loss, since doing so may temporarily raise uric acid levels. The next time you have a painful and swollen joint it just might be gout. It’s not just a rich man’s disease any longer so ask your doctor about the possibility of you having gout.
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Sunday October 11, 2015
The five murdered grandmothers By Michael Jordan Do the names Kharpattie Shivnauth and Rajkumarie Mahadeo mean anything to you? They don’t? How about Prampattie Ramsundar, Khirul Najidam and Sukhdai Ramkilaum? Still nothing? I’m not surprised. They were not young or glamourous. But they had a few things in common. They were all elderly women, they all lived alone, and they were all brutally murdered between 2009 and 2011. Three lived on the East Coast of Demerara, some eleven miles from each other; a fourth lived on the West Bank of Demerara and the fifth in Greater Georgetown. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not yelling ‘serial killer’, though even some police are wondering if there is a pattern here. On Friday, August 28, 2009, Bhemwattie Ram, a resident of La Grange, West Bank Demerara, realised that she had not seen her active and healthy 80-year-old grandmother, Kharpattie Shivnauth, for the day. Shivnauth, called ‘Ma’, lived alone in her Lot 66 Independence Street, La Grange home. ‘Ma’ was an active individual who was usually up and about in her yard by 05:00 hrs. On Fridays, in particular, she would pick flowers and then pray in a small temple in her yard. The worried granddaughter contacted the elderly woman’s son, who
lived a short distance away. At around 19:00 hrs, the son, Gopaul Nauth, accompanied by a few other residents, ventured into Shivnauth’s home. Not seeing her in the hallway, and getting no answer, they ventured into her bedroom. They found Kharpattie Shivnauth lying nude on her bed. Someone had tied her to the bed with strips of cloth. Another piece of cloth was tied around her mouth. It was later revealed that she was suffocated and sexually assaulted. The victim’s gold earrings, gold ring and gold bands were missing. Shivnauth’s two-bedroom house was ransacked, and the son surmised that the killers made off with cash that his mother had stashed in her home. He speculated that his mother’s killers gained entry by climbing through an open eastern window, which had no panes. Kharpattie Shivnauth was last seen alive the previous night (Thursday August 27), when she had attended a Mandir in the community. A hire car driver had dropped her home at around 20:00 hrs. She had reportedly rested briefly in a hammock under her house before going upstairs. Almost immediately, police began to focus on a man who lived a few houses from Shivnauth’s. Relatives alleged that the man was seen acting suspiciously outside the victim’s home on the night on which she was believed to
have been slain. About two weeks before her death, the same man had reportedly tried to sell Shivnauth a gold chain. The elderly woman had ordered him off her property. Relatives described the individual as a drug addict who had recently moved into the area. Someone who knew the suspect also claimed that the man’s jersey and his cutlass were found in Shivnauth’s home. Despite these leads, police were unable to link the man to Shivnauth’s death and eventually released him. No one else was ever detained. Gopaul Nauth, the victim’s
person strangle her.” Like Kharpattie Shivnauth, 78-year-old Rajkumarie Mahadeo was also healthy and active. Unfortunately, she also lived alone in her Lusignan, East Coast Demerara abode. She habitually woke up early to tend to her cows. Most of the children she had raised single-handedly after her husband’s tragic murder. They had planned to give her an overseas Christmas vacation in December 2009. But at around 05:45 hrs on Christmas Eve 2009, Mahadeo was found dead on the parapet outside her yard. She
out to the elderly woman, but got no answer. When the neighbour peeped outside about an hour later, Ramsundar’s door was closed. Later in the day, Ramsundar was found dead in the bottom flat of her home. Her hands were bound and a telephone cord was wrapped around her neck. Ramsundar’s house was ransacked and there were ashes inside,
At around 15:00hrs that day, a group of school children went to the woman’s house to make a purchase. After calling and getting no response, two girls ventured further into the yard and found the woman’s body in the storeroom. One neighbour claimed to have seen three young boys running from the house some time before 15:00hrs, but thought nothing of it, since some persons would often try
son, said that despite her age, his mother was healthy and did all of her own chores. At the time, he appeared to be convinced that more than one individual killed his mother. “My mother was strong…is not only one
was still wearing some of her jewellery when her body was found. A post mortem revealed that she had been strangled. It is alleged that Mahadeo had received some threatening phone calls a few months before she was slain. The individual was questioned but was never charged and no one else was detained. Mrs. Mahadeo’s children issued a reward for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of her killers. To date, though, no one has come forward with any information that could result in charges. In mid-February, 2011, some residents of Enmore, East Coast Demerara, were awakened by a woman’s screams. Those screams seemed to be coming from the Lot 88 Second Street home of 64-year-old Prampattie Ramsundar called ‘Aunty Daro.’ One neighbour peeped through her window and observed that Ramsundar’s front door was ajar. She called
indicating that her attackers were smoking in the house. A sister, who found the body, said that over $500,000 in cash was missing. According to the sister, there was no sign of forced entry to the victim’s house. She believed that this suggested that her slain sister knew her attacker and willingly opened her door. Later that day, a police tracker dog led investigators to a house some two corners away from the slain woman’s house. The house was reportedly occupied by a man who was often abusive to Ramsundar. The woman’s killer remains unknown. In early March of 2011, two schoolgirls found the body of 74year-old Khirul Najidam, called Babloo Saddick, in a store room located in the lower flat of her 1215 Gaulding Place, South Ruimveldt Park residence. She was bound and gagged and her home was ransacked. Najidam was last seen alive around noon on the same day she was slain. The victim had operated a small confectionery stand.
to steal the woman’s fruits. The following month, the partly nude body of 68-yearold Sukhdai Ramkilaum, called ‘Mama Rose’ and ‘Rosaline,’ was found in a pool of blood in the bedroom of her Lot 80 Vryheid’s Lust North residence. Her throat had been slit and her home was ransacked. Like the other victims, Ramkilaum also lived alone. The dead woman’s nephew, who lived next door, said that the first sign that he and his wife got that something was amiss was when the woman didn’t respond to calls the afternoon before. His wife then observed blood dripping from the floor boards to the ground below. The nephew then contacted the police, who accompanied him to the house where they made the grisly discovery. A police rank speculated that a ‘sadist’ or two may have been seeking out elderly women who live alone. “We can’t do away with this theory,” he said. If you have any information about these or any other unusual cases, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown office. Our numbers are 22-58465, 2258458 and 22-58452. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s : mjdragon@hotmail.com.
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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
An evening on the Atlantic behind the Marriot It is five years since I walked on the sands of the Atlantic next to which lies the ill-fated Marriott Hotel. This place holds immense memories for me. If I say “large memories” it would be an understatement. Even the word immense does not convey the mountains of memories I have of that place. On Saturday, October 3, in the early hours of the evening, while waiting for a couple of friends from the AFC who were engaged in their party confabulation, I visited the Kingston shore of the Atlantic on which lies the controversial Marriott Hotel. I returned to Guyana in 1984 after a brief sojourn in Grenada where I took a job with the Maurice Bishop Government while writing up my doctoral thesis for the University of Toronto. The American invasion came. I lost my job, abandoned my thesis (which I still have) and returned to Guyana only to face the wrath of Forbes
Burnham. It has really become a joke that compels you to laugh when you hear people in Guyana say that Burnham was not dictatorial. On a television programme with Aubrey Norton the other night, Aubrey said he preferred the word, “authoritarian” in describing some of the actions of Burnham. Since that year of my return I would often be seen, most afternoons, on the seawall, particularly behind the Marriott. My fascination with the Camp Street and Kingston seawall goes back to my childhood. My dad worked as the groundsman for St. Stanislaus sport ground and I would miss school countless times and visit him. While he worked, I roamed the seawall. Behind the Marriott is a completely different environment from when I was an evening occupant. The menagerie of dilapidated boats is gone. The fleet of half-
constructed boats is gone. The squatters’ homes made out of rotten wood and porous zinc sheets stolen from the huge warehouse are gone. The swaying palms that remind you of Cole Porter’s fantastic song, “Begin the beguine” are gone. What is left has been covered with white sands where lovers stroll and children bury their acrobatic feet in the sand. I was never afraid to be there during those longs years. I came to be accepted by the homeless people there as one of the area’s denizens. They stole the zinc sheets from the rotting government bond to put a roof over their heads right in front of my eyes. One afternoon, this emaciated guy asked me to help him fetch the sheets. I did and we became friends. Months after he died from AIDS related complications. On the evening of Saturday, October 3, I stood pensively and watched the waves rush to the shore and I
thought of the time I nearly died there. We heard the shouts of “maan drowning, maan drowning.” Few persons attempted to jump into the ocean. I saw the tide took one of the boys out to his death. I knew I had to do something to save the other. I jumped into the mighty Atlantic in trying to rescue Nicholas Griffith also known as Nicholas Hoyte. I came extremely close to drowning (see Stabroek News, Tuesday, October 19, 1995, “Fourteen Year old drowns off Kingston seawall,” by Alim Hassan). More in a forthcoming column on the 20th anniversary of this incident. My daughter was born when I was in full swing of my seawall occupancy. From the age of three I took her to the stretch of beach where the Marriott now stands. She was fascinated by the crapauds (“crappo” in Guyanese parlance) in the abandoned Luckhoo Swimming Poll. I
taught her to play cricket and football there and each time we were ready to leave, we had to go and look for crappo at the pool. Sunday mornings were special. I took my discman, park outside of Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation which was in kissing distance of the pool, lay on a well structured bench that belonged to the boat builders and listened to the music of my youthful days in Wortmanville for over three hours all by myself. I thought I was the only person in that unpopular spot. But one Sunday, I saw Johnny Kowlessar, owner of Pavnik Press next to Roraima Airways in Bel Air Park (Johnny and his neighbour, Jerry Gouveia have one of the longest running court battles). He was jogging. I stopped him and asked that he explain what he knew of my brother, “Lightweight” Kissoon during the era of the sixties when he and my brother were fanatical Jagan fans. I asked
Frederick Kissoon Johnny to explain what he saw in Dr. Jagan. Since I don’t have Johhny’s permission to quote him, I’ll leave it at that.
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Sunday October 11, 2015
THE GREEN REVOLUTION
GREEN is the catchword of this millennium. Throughout most of the developed and developing world, a drive is on to reduce every country’s carbon footprint. These terminologies mean different things to different governments, to lobbyists, and to the authors of short and long term strategic plans. In the simplest terms, “green energy” mean generating electrical power (mainly) from sources other than petroleum, this ‘black gold’ that has been ruling the world’s socio-economic well being for as long as we could remember. “Green” energy could be derived from wind farms that are powered by the force of wind by means of ‘windmills’ sited on land or out in the sea or ocean. It is commonly believed that the Dutch perfected this technology many millennia ago when their towns and hamlets were powered by the ever-present wind mills. We first learnt about these in fictional stories and children’s tales, many of which were written since the 17th Century.
Green energy in this era of rapidly advancing technologies and hundreds of thousands of new innovations also entails generation of electrical power from water sources with which Guyana is abundantly blessed. Our Guyanese catch phrase of this millennium is ‘Hydro-power’ and our diplomatic, developmental and funding partners in North America, Europe and Asia, have recognized that this nation would do itself a world of good if we succeeded in harnessing specific freeflowing waterways and building/installing the equipment and facilities that would generate electrical power with water as the main raw material. Once again we could hark back to three centuries ago when water wheels were built and used widely for converting the energy of freeflowing or free-falling water into various forms of power. They were used as well as a ‘water plant’ or a ‘watermill’. A water wheel consisted of a large wooden or metal wheel with a number of blades or
buckets arranged on the outside rim. This rim formed the driving surface. Most commonly, the wheel was mounted vertically on a horizontal axle, but the tub or Norse wheel was mounted horizontally on a vertical shaft. We are not sure when the device was invented, but in the 17th Century water wheels were used to mill flour in gristmills, and to grind wood into pulp for papermaking. Other uses included mechnanical hammering of wrought iron, machining, ore crushing, and for pounding fiber for use in the manufacture of cloth. (Wikipedia) Water wheels were still in commercial use in the North American south, the English, Irish and Scottish countryside boroughs, parishes and districts, and in quite a few European countries well into the 20th century. But industrialization took over first and machines powered with petroleum products largely replaced the simpler ones of old. Then High Technology came and made most of those machines more efficient, but the raw
ingredient – petroleum fuel – was still required in copious amounts. The Government strategy to dramatically decrease Guyana dependence on imported fuel is multipronged. Feasibility studies are continuing on the viability of Wind Farms to supply some energy to the national grid. One initial unofficial report has earlier stated that the force of wind hitting Guyana’s shores near Georgetown and East Coast Demerara, but another study will shortly commence to assess its viability on the Essequibo Coast. Simultaneously, the overpriced Amaila Falls Hydropower project that was crafted by the previous administration is in the process of review. This government fully intends to harness our water resources but at several locations to provide hydro-power to our citizens in the Essequibo regions at first. Until we are able to power the entire nation from alternative sources (including biomass), the main power provider, GPL will be subjected to an intensive review aimed at rectifying the decades old problems of lost power from the transmission and distribution lines, inefficient fuel consumption, and a disproportionate management structure. GREENINGTHE ENVIRONMENT In the last century, Scientists detected a hole in the ozone layer which protects the Earth from the harshest effects of direct sunshine. This hole, they say, is growing larger as a result of atmospheric pollution from industrial plants, from household products such as aerosols, (note the perennial
presence of heavy smog in highly industrial and populated places like Manhattan NY and Beijing, China), and from the degradation of forests all over the world. Forests, Trees, shrubs, plants and most if not all sprouts from Mother Earth act as the lungs of the earth. Primarily they absorb carbon dioxide and other toxins in the atmosphere. Now, with a large quantity of the world’s forests severely depleted, our most natural layer of protection has diminished. Today there are hardly any trees left standing in many islands of the South Pacific. All around the world centuries-old trees, some with trunks of 40-foot circumference, were cut down to make room for new concrete structures. Certain sections of the densest parts of theAmazon Rainforest have been completely depleted as were many forests on the African continent. Enter 2006 and the sights of hungry international logging conglomerates fell upon Guyana, this land of ours that used to be able to boast of 70 percent pristine forest coverage. Unexplainably, these logging concerns have been allowed to strip our forests of one of Guyana’s most valuable resources. This resource is so valuable to the world that the United Nations a few years ago dubbed this country “The Lungs of the World”. Around that time the Government of Norway sought to encourage Guyana to keep our forests intact by paying a large sum of money to the national coffers. This compensation was, among other things, to encourage us to avoid degrading the thick forest canopy with mining and logging industries. The previous government committed some blatant breaches of the commitments
they made to Norway. One of the breached commitments involved replanting sapling in areas where trees were cut down. Now this government has to find the way to restoring Guyana’s greenery for the children of the world. H.E. President Brigadier David Granger recently launched “Guyana’s Green Revolution”. The aptly chosen location to kick off the initiative was Bartica, the community that is being transformed into Guyana’s model Green town and green economy. A symbolic tree was planted and watered in the Bartica Community Center Ground and President Granger announced that every year the nation will observe National Tree Planting Day. All national agencies and NGO’s are on board and will play their own roles in this endeavour to promote sustainable environmental practices and implement sustainable energy generation and responsible usage. As a general policy, the “Green Revolution” has the potential to improve Guyana’s food security, reduce poverty, improve nutritional and health education, create jobs in rural areas, reduce the pressures on the environment (e.g. soil erosion), and best of all, take care of the health of our people who would not be affected by pollutants in the air. The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (DNRE) joined the movement earlier this month and planted 20 flambouyant trees in the Botanical Gardens. The Ministry of Tourism will follow suit in the Camp St. Avenue this week and will shortly officially adopt a section of this Avenue and assume responsibility for its general care and beautification.
Sunday October 11, 2015
Kaieteur News
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MY COLUMN
The lure of the north is not as strong, busts are too frequent Guyana has a population of fewer than a million people. I must admit, though, that it is a beautiful country in which the people simply cannot accept that they are poor. These are the people who would more often than not, make believe that they are as good as people anywhere else. And they take every opportunity to prove that they are as good as anybody. There was a time when Guyanese simply wanted to get away. And they had good reason to; they saw on the television screens the kind of people they pictured themselves to be—driving cars and living in fancy houses while wearing fancy clothes. I still run into people who left these shores and never returned but to hear them talk you would believe that they have been in Guyana all the time. These are the people who know how bad things are here and wonder how we live. These are the people who would have no problem begging us for some money although they had just regaled us about how bad Guyana is. And back home I saw people who dressed fit to make a comic laugh. I saw girls wearing high-top winter boots in this hot country; I saw men wearing leather as though it was the best thing when the country is hot and cotton would be the best thing to wear. Those were the people who left Guyana with a visitor’s visa and as soon as
their feet touched the soil of North America they decided that they had reached a new home. A lot has changed since then. Many of them struggled and sent for their children who failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation. These children made Guyana and to some extent Jamaica, household names on the lips of the Americans. They ran the streets and distributed drugs. They made life hell for the locals and pretty soon Guyana developed a new term—deportee. But there were those who survived long enough to make so much money that even their most cautious parent learnt to turn a blind eye and smile indulgently. After all, money can make so many things different. These parents sent money back home to relatives who were also struggling; they sent barrels of clothing and for their part, the relative back home concluded that America was the land of milk and honey. A lot has changed since those heady days. People coming back talk about how hard it is in America for people who are now going. And with that information more people are going to see for themselves. The United States is not averse to allowing people to secure a visitor’s visa. Such is the confidence that just recently the embassy reported that there has been a more than ninety per cent return rate. But this does not mean
that there are not people heading there to cash in on the money that cocaine can provide. And it is this that made me shake my head when the news media reported that a popular young man is now hiding. It would seem that somehow or the other, the Canadian authorities got wind of the happenings in which a group indulged. Unlike the Guyanese police, these Canadians busted the drugs and got the person they busted to work with them. Last week I recalled that there is no honour between thieves and so it had to be in Canada. When the Canadian police felt that they had enough fish in the net they closed in. They found cocaine, cash and guns. Somebody in Guyana has lost a large sum of money and must now be mourning. I did say that some of those who left placed Guyana on the map to such an extent that every Guyanese who enter that country gets some special attention. I remember one night when the Delta flight that I travelled on at that time landed. Something must have gone wrong because the aircraft was stalled outside the airport, ostensibly waiting for a gate. When I got off I never
recalled seeing so many security personnel. It was as if all of them expected to see each passenger had a quantity of drugs on their person. On another occasion, the aircraft had to be stalled on the runway while the authority changed every baggage handler. I later learnt that the new handlers, by simply going about their job, helped the authorities collect a quantity of cocaine. Guyana is known for other things. The police would routinely tell you that they have had to go to Guyanese homes and get the man out because he is abusive. Fortunately, they have not yet concluded that every
Guyanese man is an abuser. And indeed they are not. American women are excited to secure a Guyanese husband. She boasts that he can cook and that he is very loving. When I meet with a countryman who has his American wife, I find out that he is submissive. And for good reason. For one, he is illegal and he knows that anything stupid would see him busted and sent back to his homeland. But the time he is ‘made straight’ he has already been house broken or as the experts say, conditioned. The good thing is that tide is changing. There are not
Adam Harris enough young Guyanese men who rush to live illegally there. They have seen many of their friends who made the move either get deported or get killed on the streets. Yet there are many who cast their eyes northward. Some go to Canada, but then again, life is not easy.
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Sunday October 11, 2015
ICT and Real Empowerment By Lance Hinds Sometimes, for very long periods, I get completely wrapped up in this world of information and communications technology and like many of my colleagues, forget myself. And so I delve into debates about open source versus proprietary software, which databases should be used or not be used for specific functions. I continue to find ways to nag and harass my government colleagues about quickly moving towards telecom liberalization, drafting modern intellectual property and electronic transaction legislation, and by and large, building an enabling environment for the increased utilization of ICT for national growth and prosperity. I also have a passing concern about my long term prosperity as well. I remember many years ago when a company called Unisys had a television
advertisement with the closing slogan “we sleep, eat and drink this stuff�. I believe that applies to me with very little modification. I get up early morning with my head buzzing about what next I can be doing with technology. During breakfast I am watching either Bloomberg or CNBC as commentators wax about technology stocks and how these companies are performing. In the corners of my eyes I see my old aunt watching me and shaking her head like I am a lost cause. Commenting in technology based groups on Facebook and Google+ about the latest concepts and products is a daily ritual. I own a technology company, so when you enter my office you are practically tripping over computers and related peripherals. As for me, I have a smartphone, tablet and laptops all interconnected so that I can access documents, office information systems and project-related information systems on a 24-hour basis. For example, my phone rings and my tablet answers. Charming isn’t it? I comb through the dailies every day looking for opportunities and utterings by Government officials, to see how these can
be turned into opportunities for the infusion of information technology for the betterment of all. I go into stores innocently to make a purchase and end up sniffing around to evaluate efficiencies, and if they are using technology, and whether it is being used effectively. My dear friends have sometimes wondered aloud whether the goodly people asked me to do this in the first instance, and maybe I should just mind my own business. I of course have found that to be irrelevant to the matter at hand. So, like I stated before, I am an ICT practitioner, an evangelist, and I sleep, eat, drink and possibly sniff this stuff. Reality, however, hits you like a bucket of ice cold water whenever you take time off to do some volunteer work in one of our many communities. The uncomfortable truth is that in 2015, my friends and I still live in what I would call rarefied air. Our mostly unfettered access to technology and its many benefits is simply not shared by all. The devices, software, the information that we use and take for granted that do not benefit a significant percentage of our society. I go into many community high schools and
start by asking students how many of them have persistent access to computers and the internet. We only still have a few who raise their hands. There are still a lot of schools that do not have ICT labs to support students who may wish to sit the information technology examinations at the CSEC and CAPE levels. My question therefore is whether my colleagues and I in the ICT community are doing enough. For years I have either written or spoken, calling on the policymakers to make the structural and institutional changes necessary to foster a more enabling environment for the growth of ICT. I have shown marked impatience when I believed the policy decisions required have taken second fiddle to what in my ICTdominated mind are less important matters. My struggle now is that if I am going to complain about what I perceive to be sloth in implementing the necessary changes at the national policy level, should I not be doing more on the ground to support or accelerate these efforts? I now firmly believe that my intervention, and that of my colleagues, should begin at the community level. ICT must be effectively utilised to
solve local problems. It has the overall ability to narrow the gaps between the served and the underserved communities, and can certainly provide better possibilities to empower individuals to better serve their immediate societies. It can also be used for various basic education and skill training activities, through both formal and non-formal mechanisms. Much work needs to done to reach the economically disadvantaged population who live in the rural areas. These include unemployed people, women and girls and out-of-school children, youth and adults among others. The recent news about job losses in Linden as a result of the closing down of a Call Centre has been of particular concern. Part of our thinking therefore on the use of ICT for community economic empowerment, has to be the implementation of multipurpose solutions that would provide the level of support and flexibility that lessens the impact when the demand for specific business services reduce because of external economic factors. The combination of being a service provider and a perennial capacity builder must be taken
Lance Hinds
advantage of as much as possible. ICT has the greatest potential to effect positive change in local communities and create opportunities when it is specifically adapted for local needs and priorities. The digital divide between the rich and poor threatens to increase already existing socioeconomic disparities. It is therefore important to ensure that as much as possible, all groups benefit from the use of ICT in an increasingly knowledge-based society. My friends and I have a lot of work to do. (Lance Hinds is the President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is also the Chief Executive of the BrainStreet Group, an Information Technology and Content Development Company.)
Sunday October 11, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Excerpts from “The Defence of the New River” by David Granger and The Guyana –Suriname Boundary –A historical Review The New River Triangle is part of our territory and has been in our possession from time immemorial The New River Zone is estimated to be about 15,540 km2 (6,000 square miles) an area that is three times the size of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the south-east of the country in the AmukuAcarai highlands which form the watershed boundary between Guyana and Brazil. The terrain is rugged- a maze of steep-sided slopes, narrow valleys and numerous hills and ridges with heights up to 300 meters. High temperatures and heavy rainfall sustain dense rainforest with a thick canopy and tangled undergrowth. The zone is drained by several tributaries of the New River which flows in a north-northeast direction into the Corentyne River. The history of Guyana’s boundary with Suriname is long and complex….. Guyana’s position has always been that the south-eastern boundary between Guyana and Suriname was determined by international agreement among the governments of Brazil, Great Britain and The Netherlands in 1936. The concrete evidence of that agreement is the trijunction point at the head of the Kutari River where their three territories touched. International maps have been drawn on the basis of that agreed point since that time. Guyana always exercised sovereignty over the zone by granting licences and concessions to balatableeders and wood-cutters. From the colonial era, government geological expeditions have conducted surveys and rangers from the department of Agriculture and Lands and Mines have patrolled the zone to enforce regulations. Much happened to alter the attitude of theNetherlands to Suriname’s mineral resources and its western border between 1926 and 1966, however. Weakened by invasion and occupation during the Second World War, the Netherlands was exhausted further by a costly but unsuccessful colonial war with its subjects in the Dutch East Indies. That second war resulted in the independence of the new state of Indonesia in December 1949 and the loss of many of its lucrative economic interests there. The Netherlands as a result, revived interest in Suriname, its next largest colony, as a source of strategic raw
material.Suriname by the 1950s, had become the World’s largest exporter of bauxite and, unlike all other underdeveloped countries, already possessed a fully integrated industry- from mining bauxite ore to processing alumina and smelting aluminum. This industry would eventually generate 80 per cent by value of all Suriname’s exports. The expansion of the production meant tapping new reserves in Western Suriname, developing new hydro-electrical power sources and constructing transshipment facilities on the Corentyne River. Suriname’s quest for new sources of hydroelectric power led it to conduct hydrographic surveys deep within Guyana’s national territory where it was calculated that the volume water flowing from the New River was greater than that of the Corentyne River. Largely on that basis, Suriname simply passed a resolution in its Staten thereby inventing a fictional frontier by changing the name of the New River to the Upper Corantyne (Boven Corantijn) and laying claim to it in 1965, the year before Guyana gained its independence. In late 1967, the Suriname Government sent a land survey party into the New River Triangle. Early in December 1967, members of the Guyana Police Force launched “Operation Kingfisher”. A detachment of drawn mainly from the Tactical Service Unit was dispatched to the New River Zone. The police treated the 40 members of the Surinamese survey party working in the area as ‘illegal immigrants’, relieved them of their shot guns and expelled them. The Suriname authorities, which had laid claim to the area, protested the action as a grave breach of their sovereignty. They asked the Netherlands Government through their Ambassador in London to request Sir Lionel Luckhoo, Guyana’s High Commissioner, to provide a clarification at the earliest possible time. In reply, Luckhoo informed the Dutch Ambassador that no permission had been granted to the Government of Suriname to carry out any survey in the area. The presence of the survey team was therefore illegal and a violation of Guyana’s
territorial integrity. In the circumstances, Luckhoo explained, the Guyana police had acted with commendable restraint. Following this incident, an understanding was arrived at between the Governments of Guyana and Suriname that the latter would refrain from encroaching on Guyana’s territory. The right of Guyana to the New River Triangle was stated firmly in 1968 by the Minister of State, Shridath Ramphal: “By every token of history, custom, usage, prescription and recognition, indeed by every relevant criterion of international law, Guyana’s title to the New River Triangle is unassailable. It cannot now be competent for the Netherlands to raise a claim to the area when over the years they have acknowledged the Kutari as the boundary in the Notes and letters of their diplomats, in the speeches of their Ministers in their own Parliament, in their proposals for the conclusion of a Boundary Treaty, in their concurrence in the fixing of the common international boundary between Guyana, Suriname and Brazil, and in the absence of any exercise of jurisdiction over the area.” Neither the Dutch nor the Surinamese showed any interest in holding talks on the border issue. Eventually, in September 14, 1968, Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, in a letter to Minister-President Johann Pengel of Suriname, expressed Guyana’s desire to discuss fully, cooperation and settlement of all issues between the two countries. This letter received no reply. But while Guyana was looking forward to discussions on the border issue, Suriname commenced the clandestine occupation of the New River triangle in clear breach of the understanding arrived at in 1967. In mid-August 1969, a Guyana Defence Force patrol found an unauthorised camp and a partially completed airstrip on Guyana territory west of the Corentyne River in the area of the New River triangle. On August 19, 1969, the GDF carried an operation in the New River Triangle. In the course of that operation, the GDF encountered a number of uniformed Surinamese who opened fire on the Guyanese soldiers. However, the Surinamese resistance was repelled and they abandoned their camp and fled in the direction
of the Suriname border. In spite of the hostile intention of the Surinamese, the action taken by the GDF was essentially a policing action, aimed at removing intruders from Guyana’s territory. The camp built by Suriname’s armed forces on Guyana’s territory was constructed as a military i n s t a l lation. It had underground bunkers especially constructed to protect against shell and m o r t a r attacks a n d w a s equipped with towers and machine-gun emplacements. Maps left by the Surinamese revealed a plan to occupy the entire New River area with a series of military camps, with the discovered camp serving as a base and supply headquarters. Judging from the personal effects and accommodation facilities left at the camp, it was estimated that there were between 50 to 55 men occupying it.
They left behind a Caterpillar bulldozer, a jeep, an electric power plant, a mechanical water pump, power driven hand saws, a large refrigerator and wellstocked kitchens. On August 21, 1969, Prime Minister Burnham informed the Guyana National Assembly that strong protests were sent to the Governments of the Netherlands and Suriname. He announced that the GDF would remain in the New River triangle to prevent any further incursions. He concluded his statement by saying: “There can be no doubt that the New River Triangle is part of the territory of
President David Granger
Guyana and has been in our possession from time immemorial. This Government is pledged to maintain traditional friendly relations with our neighbours, including Suriname, and at the same time, our country’s territorial integrity.”
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Kaieteur News
SUNDAY SPECIAL
Sunday October 11, 2015
of national unity. He said too that if there is to be an efficient public service then frank approaches must be taken to deal with issues.
GRDB official fired, Minister says audit now threatened
MONDAY EDITION As the fallout of the forensic audit into the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) continues, a senior GRDB official said to have been co-operating with the auditors, has been dismissed on the orders of GRDB General Manager Nizam Hassan. Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma, who bears oversight for the audits, is up in arms as the individual had already aided in uncovering questionable activities at GRDB. Last week forensic auditors combing through GRDB uncovered that $100M was “borrowed” from the agency by Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA) General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj, reportedly to pay farmers who had supplied paddy but were left being owed for extended periods. The decision to fire the individual is reported to have been taken on Wednesday by Hassan, who has been functioning as General Manager since July. He replaced Jagnarine Singh, who resigned from GRDB ahead of the impending audit into the agency. When contacted two Saturday Saturdays ago, Sharma revealed that the man’s dismissal was in fact not the first instance that a cooperating employee was dismissed from GRDB. The Minister related that when he was
Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma
first informed of the dismissal, his immediate concern was to ascertain if the official was qualified. However, Sharma said that the official was indeed qualified, being the holder of a Master’s Degree. “I see it as preventing me from carrying out my audit,” Sharma noted, adding that he will take it up with Hassan in order to secure a resolution. In a letter to Hassan seen by Kaieteur News, the official can be seen requesting an explanation for the GM’s decision to dismiss him. The official’s letter went on to note that no reason for firing him was provided in the termination letter.
Multiple agencies begin probe into source of Jagdeo’s wealth
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon
necessary to bring it up to standard. These statements were made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, during the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) 21st Biennial Delegates’ Conference held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre. The convention came to an end two Fridays ago. During his remarks, Harmon opined that the public service played the crucial role of delivering services to the citizenry. He said too that the Guyana Government viewed the public service as “the engine of the executive”. He continued, “The government cannot function without the public service; you are involved in one of the most important tasks of national life: the delivery of public service. To the nation, services such as education, health, public security and infrastructure all depend on your delivery.” He further said that the quality of the public service is a key determinant of the quality of life in Guyana’s society. Therefore, he went on, the public service needed to be efficient to create an environment in which the populace can benefit from a good life. “A good life is not possible in Guyana without good public service,” he added. He went on to stress that it is necessary to pay more attention to the purpose of the public service. Furthermore, he said, the projected enhancement of the public service comes at a time when the country is embarking upon a process of democratic renewal and the pursuit
Govt. pushes to revamp public service With responsibilities such as the provision of health, security, and educational services, Guyana’s public service has a significant role to play in the development of this nation. But even with this mammoth responsibility Guyana’s public service is apparently underperforming and therefore reforms are
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo
Guyana’s anti corruption commission otherwise known as the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) has no interest in waiting on the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, to disclose to the nation, the source of his assets on his own terms. Multiple agencies have already begun to investigate the wealth of the former president and the disposal of assets during his 12 year reign. SARU’s Head, Dr. Clive Thomas, disclosed that the agencies, along with SARU, will also be investigating all those persons who had control over assets of the states be it former Ministers or Permanent Secretaries of the previous administration. Dr. Clive Thomas said that there remains “deep interest” in ascertaining the source of the former President’s assets. “Government is very much interested in determining the source of Jagdeo’s wealth among others whose salaries do not seem to match the fortunes they have acquired over the years so multiple agencies are looking at that. We cannot be told not to investigate anyone including Jagdeo,” said the SARU Head. “But I don’t want it to be misconstrued to mean that Jagdeo is our only target. We don’t want to make it look like we are only going after him because there will be some other developments taking place. That’s why we have our experts in the country now because we are trying to find…those who were found to be engaged in stealing public assets.” The State Assets Recovery Unit has already undertaken several cases. Dr. Thomas said that two such cases include the ‘Pradoville scandal’ and the alleged misuse of state assets by former GuySuCo CEO, Dr. Rajendra Singh. The Ministry of Housing had called on the Recovery Unit to investigate the ‘Pradoville Two’ deal, where abuse of state resources by the previous administration allegedly occurred.
“alarming.” “The reason for passing legislation is because you think there are matters you need to tend to, and you need the legislation in order to deal with the issues as you saw it. But if you have the legislation and you don’t utilize it, it makes people think why not?” “With my background in the UK, if a piece of legislation is implemented it is because it is relevant to something that needs to be dealt with and it needs to be used…but perhaps one of the reasons it wasn’t used was the lack of skills and technical staff to implement the work the legislation was intended to do, but that is just speculation on my part.” The UK asset recovery advisor said that his role is really going to be using that piece of AML legislation to inform any subsequent legislation that he may recommend to strengthen Guyana’s State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU). TUESDAY EDITION Territorial controversy…US has not ruled out military support for Guyana The United States has not ruled out military support for Guyana when it comes to dealing with Venezuela’s challenge to the country’s territorial integrity. Two Fridays ago, President Granger said that generally, when countries have territorial disputes or controversies even reaching the point of confrontation, larger nations rarely get involved. As a result, the President said that he does not expect the United States to get physically involved.
UK Expert alarmed…Guyana has never utilized its anti-money laundering legislation A UK expert on Asset Recovery is currently gathering information on Guyana’s systems for thwarting corruption as well as examining how much use law enforcement agencies have made of its legislation in this regard. Mr. Brian Horne is appalled at his findings. “I don’t think at the moment there have been any prosecutions or use of the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Legislation (AML/ CFT). My understanding is that there hasn’t been a case using those provisions which are in place.” “Now I would ask myself in this regard why not? The legislation has been in place since 2009 and there hasn’t been any prosecution. Why? It might be a rhetorical question but it is still curious to know that you have the legislation but have not used it.” Mr. Horne, who is a Guyanese by birth, and has worked in more than 22 countries in the field of State assets recovery and the successful prosecution of the defaulters said that he found such a situation to be
Ambassador Perry Holloway
Asked if that is a good assessment of the reality, Ambassador Perry Holloway said, “Each situation is different; the circumstance that may bring about a situation at that particular moment is different. So everything is obviously evaluated on a case by case basis; but right now our focus is on peaceful resolution, continued dialogue and respect for international law.” The fact that Venezuela’s most recent quarrel stemmed from the presence of US Company Exxon Mobil’s presence in Guyana’s waters was pointed out to Ambassador Holloway. He was then asked if the US response to the controversy has much to do with the fact that an American Company is caught in the middle. Holloway responded, “We do have a policy to ensure that the rights of US Continued on page 33
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From page 32 companies are protected under international law or under the law of a given country they are operating in. We are an entrepreneurial capitalist country without a doubt in certain aspects, so we do support US companies. “But we expect our companies to comply with international laws and norms so I do not think whether it was US Company or Chinese Company…that would not dramatically change our view on the current dispute.” Holloway told the media that the US maintains a position that any efforts to address the boundary controversy should be through peaceful means consistent with international law. He added that both sides should avoid any action that can complicate the ongoing efforts to reach a diplomatic solution. Dr. Van West-Charles named new GWI boss -Nigel Hinds heads new Board of Directors A new board of the state-owned Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has been announced with former top minister in the People’s National Congress (PNC), Dr. Van West-Charles, named the new Chief Executive. According to the GWI Monday, Dr. Van West-Charles met with the Corporate Management Team two Fridays ago with the official stating that access to safe, potable water is a priority on his list of areas for attention. “Without a healthy society we cannot achieve the Guyana we are hoping to build,” he said, adding that “Paramount to maintaining good public health is access to safe water. Hence, this area along with water quality and GWI’s financial viability are key issues I will be addressing immediately.” The Corporate Management Team of GWI congratulated the newly appointed Chief Executive and expressed its commitment towards providing improved services through GWI. Dr. Van West-Charles, MD, MPH, was said to be a former Minister within the Health, Housing, Water and Environment Sectors, with the PNC. His appointment took effect from Thursday last, October 1, 2015.... Also named Monday was a new board. Accountant, Nigel Hinds, is the new Chairperson while the members are engineer Charles Ceres; Emil McGarrell; David Dewar;
Minister, David Patterson
New GWI Chairman of the Board, Nigel Hinds (seated center); Chief Executive, Dr. Richard Van West Charles (2nd L) and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities, Emile McGarrell (2nd right standing) with the Corporate Management Team. Christina Bissessar; Savitri Singh-Sharma; Ryan Belgrave; Patricia Chase-Greene and Samantha Fedee. According to GWI, Hinds, a Certified Public Accountant, possesses vast experience in Guyana’s financial sector as the founder and Chief Executive of Nigel Hinds Financial Services. WEDNESDAY EDITION No automatic Telecoms Licences under new laws – Patterson The new coalition government is in the final stages of the liberalization of the local Telecommunications Industry, as the draft laws are nearing completion. But unlike its previous version, which was set to automatically grant telecommunications licences to a select few, all interested in such will now have to re-apply. This position was disclosed by Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, who met with media operatives on Monday last at his Wight’s Lane, Kingston Office and said that the two related Bills are almost completed and will shortly be laid in the National Assembly. He did not provide a more detailed timeline. “I can’t say if it will be done next week but it will be done this year,” Patterson said. He said, government had retained two consultants to put together a draft of the new Bills and this has been completed and returned to the administration. “Both the draft of the Telecommunications Bill and the draft amended PUC (Public Utilities Commission) Bill is right now with our Cabinet Sub-Committee, it is being circulated,” Patterson disclosed. According to the Public Infrastructure Minister, the drafts will now have to be vetted to ensure they are compliant with the provisions required by the administration. Patterson explained that, “as long as it passes through that process, it goes to the CPC (Chief Parliamentary Counsel) and then to Cabinet and then soon after we will lay it in Parliament.” The Public Infrastructure Minister reiterated that government is looking to have the legislation and inherent liberalization approved of the sector by the end of the year. Minister Patterson was also asked to respond to whether the automatic licensing of named companies will be kept in the draft legislation. He told media operatives that all aspirants will be required to re-apply for their
telecommunications licences. No apologies, Government justifies salary increases – Harmon Following news of over 50 per cent salary increases for Ministers of Government, Minister of State Joseph Harmon has stated that these increases are justifiable considering the quality of Cabinet members and thus the Government has no apologies to make. During an interview with the media Tuesday Harmon, himself a Minister, noted that the $560,000 paid to a Government Minister previously was on par with what he, as a lawyer, paid his lawyers in private practice. The Minister also stated that there could not be a situation such as in the past administration, when Ministers were prepared to accept “lowly” salaries, but would engage in corrupt practices. “We are not going to do that. Our ministers will have to sign to a code of service which requires them to act at a different level. And so we have to pay people well if we want them to perform,” he said, adding that he has no apologies to make in this regard. “And if you look at the Cabinet, you will find people of quality working there. I believe the increases are justifiable,” he said. The rumours of the increases were floating
since August, with media reports even producing detailed figures of the projected increases. When questioned at a press conference in August, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman had stated that the proposed increases were in an effort to adjust salary scales to better distinguish the categories of Government Officers including Ministers and Junior Ministers, Vice Presidents and Presidential Advisors. He had stated that adjustments have not been made in the last 20 years. Noting that the increases were subject to a review under the purview of Harold Lutchman, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, he also mentioned that the adjustments were on hold. THURSDAY EDITION Footballer fatally shoots fiancée, self, after discovering strange man under bed A woman, who stabbed her fiancé for cheating via text messages several months ago, was shot dead Wednesday morning after her child father found her allegedly “playing a game” with a half-naked man under her bed. Dead are Roshini Amanda Mohan, age 20 Continued on page 34
Mark Anthony Moses and Roshini Amanda Mohan
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From page 33 and her fiancé Mark Anthony Moses, age 25. The two have a nine month old daughter together and were engaged to be married, although their relationship was a bit patchy. Using an unlicenced 9mm pistol, Moses, a footballer from the mining town of Linden, shot Mohan four times about her body before shooting himself in the chest. The woman died almost instantly. Her killer succumbed a few hours later while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Police in a press release stated that investigations are being conducted into the murder of Amanda Mohan, 20 years, of Pike Street, Kitty, which occurred at about 05:40hrs Wednesday at her home. Initial investigations have revealed that Amanda Mohan and the suspect, with whom she shared a relationship, had an argument during which she was fatally shot. The suspect then shot himself to his chest and died hours after being admitted to the GPHC under guard. A cousin of the dead man, who identified herself as Tiffany, said his rage was fueled after he travelled from Linden to visit the woman and found her with another man. According to the cousin, when Moses arrived at the Mohan’s house unexpectedly on Tuesday night, a relative opened the door, and upon seeing him, hastily ran back towards Mohan’s room in what appeared to be an attempt to alert her to Moses’ presence.
Kaieteur News
He cautioned the Minister of State. “Harmon is advised to be careful with the lies and invectives hurled at members of the PPP.” In dismissing Harmon’s insinuation of thieving from the national patronage by the PPP, its General Secretary said, despite the numerous audits set about by the administration, the government is yet to lay credible evidence against any of the hierarchy in the past administration. “They are saying that we are stealing all over the place. In the same breath I can say that they all over the place looking for evidence, in every nook and cranny, under every bed, in every cupboard. They still have not been able to cough up anything,” according to Rohee. FRIDAY EDITION Local entertainer, Dwidth Ferguson, on the run as … Illegal drugs, gun smuggling operations smashed in Canada -22 firearms, US$12M in cocaine, vehicles seized A year-long international investigation into drugs trafficking and gun-running has resulted in the arrest of several persons in Canada. An arrest warrant was also issued for a popular Guyanese entertainer.
Opposition angry at pay hike for Govt. …may refuse increase to MPs Guyana can ill-afford to pay the astronomical increases in the salaries now being paid to Ministers of the Government, says General Secretary of the opposition People’s Progressive Party, Clement Rohee. The increases are also for the newly installed Vice President portfolios of the fourmonth-old government. The opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is yet to decide on whether to accept its ‘chicken feed’ offer. The party’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee, did not mince words Wednesday, as he responded to confirmation of the salary increases—as published in the Official Gazette—and defended by Minister of State Joseph Harmon. Harmon in defending the increases, on Tuesday, said he had no apologies and that better paid Ministers would not be ‘thieving.’ Rohee lambasted Harmon’s allegations that “The PPP was prepared to accept low salaries because they were thieving money all over the place,” and called it “libelous defamatory and provocative.”
Sunday October 11, 2015
station. Canadian authorities said that he is suspected and wanted for importation of cocaine and possession for the purpose of trafficking. During the course of the investigation, the project team worked closely with investigators from three other drug importation projects, who combined to seize a total of 123 kilograms of cocaine, worth a potential street value of US$12.2-million. Project MONTO investigators seized 22 firearms and $146,000 in Canadian currency. In addition, four vehicles were seized as offence-related property. Ontario Provincial Province (OPP), Chief Superintendent Rick Barnum, during a press conference Thursday, unveiled details of the investigation and samples of the evidence seized during the year-long probe. It was disclosed that 13 persons from Toronto, including Ferguson, were charged. Several of them have since appeared in Canadian courts on various charges. They are David Blevins, 36, of Oakville; Jermaine Wilson, 38, of Mississauga; Sandra Lewis, 48, of Milton; Dainnia Cameron, 40, of Milton; Kenton Lnafhorne, 42, of Vaughan; Rionne Martelly, 38, of Milton; Donovan Brown, 44, of Oakville; Dexter Griffith, 43, of Toronto; Natasha Ruddock, 24, of Toronto; Rocco Petrucci, 49, of Toronto; Michael Robinson, 44, of Toronto and Fitz Prince, 63, of Toronto. Investigators say that the arrested persons imported the illegal drugs and guns into Canada from Central and South America and the United States. Elderly woman brutally raped, sodomised and murdered by relative
Dwidth Ferguson
On the run is Dwidth Ferguson, 32, said to be a director of Hits and Jams Entertainment. That company is closely associated with Hits and Jams Television and 94.1 Boom FM radio
The village of Hopetown, West Coast Berbice, is in shock following the brutal raping, and strangling of one of their senior citizens. The suspect is believed to be one of the woman’s own relatives. The elderly woman, Vida Britton, 78, of Hopetown, was believed to be attacked by her great nephew around 03:00hrs on Monday. She would usually sleep with her eightyear-old granddaughter and another relative. Her great-nephew who is said to be a deportee and a heavy dope smoker, would from time to time sleep by the elderly woman. He would usually watch over the family’s cows in the backlands. On the night in question the deranged man visited and asked who was at home. When told that it was the elderly woman and her granddaughter alone he decided to stay over. On Monday morning the little girl awoke and
Devon Griffith
reportedly saw her relative standing naked over her grandmother. The child, before she could call out, the man covered her mouth and told her to be quiet. He then picked up the elderly woman and replaced her on the bed and fixed her neatly before leaving the premises. As soon as he was out of sight the child used the opportunity to scream for help, alerting other relatives. SATURDAY EDITION Proprietor of Sanjay’s Jewellery jailed on causing death charge … refused bail pending appeal Prominent city jeweler, Bishnarine ‘Sanjay’ Persaud, was on Friday jailed for 58 months by City Magistrate Judy Latchman, after he was found guilty on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. His attorney, Glenn Hanoman, gave an oral notice of his intention to appeal the matter in the High Court and asked that his client be released on bail. But Persaud, of Lot 26 Sheriff, Street, Campbellville, Georgetown was sent to prison after the bail application was refused. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Vishnu Hunt opposed bail for the businessman and his objections were upheld by the Magistrate. On September 10, 2014 at Lamaha Street, Newton, Georgetown, Persaud drove motorcar PKK 5051, in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of former Mayor and City Council worker, Leon Hunte, 55, of Stone Avenue, Blygezigt. According to reports, about 23:15 hrs on the day in question, Hunte was riding his pedal cycle when he was struck from behind by a sports car driven by Persaud. Hunte was pitched some distance away and died before an ambulance arrived on the scene. Police Prosecutor, Hunte, submitted that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt and none of its witnesses were discredited. A few hours after the verdict, Persaud was handcuffed and shackled. He was then whisked off to the Camp Street Prison in a blue and white metal prison van. One of Persaud’s relatives and his bodyguard were present in court to give support. There were no relatives and friends present for the deceased. Hanoman, in mitigation, pleaded with the magistrate to consider the application because his client covered funeral and wake expenses for the deceased. He added that his client is the sole breadwinner of his family, which comprises of two small children, who are attending playschool.
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Fulfilling outcome overrides poor income as NRMSS acknowledges teachers’ input
Ms Margaret Joseph (sitting) enjoys her final moments at the school surrounded by Headmaster (ag) Kirwin Mars (L) and other teachers. By Michael Benjamin Someone once said that teachers don’t teach for the income but rather for the outcome. Indeed, one day after the nation celebrated World Teachers’ Day, teachers of the North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary School (NRMSS), though their unions may still be agitating for better incomes, reveled in the outcome of their trade. Their students joined with members of the local alumni and other stakeholders to acknowledge their respective contributions during celebratory activities on Tuesday. Indeed, in what could be best described as a humbling and delectable show of gratitude, the students of ‘Multi,’ as the school is familiarly called, convened in the recently commissioned Sylvester Hall and serenaded the teachers with songs, poems and dances that evoked sentimental feelings even among the uninitiated. The school is also currently celebrating its 40th anniversary. The ceremony served a bifurcated objective when the headmistress, Margaret Joseph, who recently resigned after 39 years in the teaching service, was given a fitting send off - a concert that left her teary eyed and with nostalgic memories. Later on,
President of the local alumni, Michael Benjamin, presented the retiree with a beautiful plaque, donated by his executive and other members of the local alumni. She also received another plaque as well as gold jewelry from her staff and students. Certainly, the performances were far from perfection but the quality of the songs and dance left spectators in awe and were a true reflection of the talent in the school that the teachers have promoted and continue to nurture. Activities got underway with the students escorting their mentors on stage to rousing applause and then the fun started. One of the students, Johanna Davidson, opened the proceeding with a poem fittingly entitled, ‘A teacher for all seasons.’ Shabiki Solomon then belted out a melodious song before returning to comprise a part of a dance group that choreographed a series of enthralling moves. The audience was also emotionally moved when Henry Elcock, a pint sized student, teamed up with Shemroy Pilgrim to dish out a moving rendition that left the audience in awe. Just when it appeared that the best acts were completed, Shemroy Pilgrim climbed on stage and covered his mouth with his
hands before emitting soothing and melodious sounds comparable to a musical instrument. Meanwhile, amidst the jollification, Ms Joseph was praised for her stewardship while at the school. Shortly after the culmination of the culture show she ascended the stage and expressed gratitude to her colleagues and all others that had acknowledged her contributions to the school. She noted that her tenure in the teaching service was fraught with challenges but nonetheless enjoyable. “The important thing is that teaching has been my first choice and I was engaged in activity that I totally loved,” she said. She praised her staff and said that it was the dedication displayed by them that made her three-year tenure at the school most satisfying. She lauded the work of several teachers including Lillian Prowell, who served as her deputy; current Headmaster (ag), Kirwin Mars; Social Studies teacher, Rasleigh Joseph, and Technical Drawing master, Erwin Thomas. “These are but a few that made my stay pleasant but it does not eliminate the other teachers who have all been an integral part of my experiences,” said Ms Joseph. She also had kind words for members of the local and USA Alumni whom she feels go beyond the call of duty to assist the school. As such, she expressed gratitude to the respective Presidents, Michael Benjamin (local), and Audrey Fredericks (USA) as well as the entire membership of both entities. “They taught me what it meant to go beyond the call of duty, even against the odds,” she concluded. Ms Joseph then closed with a fitting acrostic that truly exemplified her notion of retirement.
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SMALL-SCALE FOOD VENDING - a means to fighting unemployment By Akola Thompson For many women, cooking is a hobby, a pastime done to amuse or more importantly put food on the table for their family members. For the women in the Stabroek Market however,
cooking is a livelihood, a business mostly passed down through generations of women who contribute to the rich cultural heritage of Guyanese society. The question of “why” these women chose this particular work however
arose and most of the reasons given revealed the way society has failed them. Years of unemployment and below-minimum wage, combined with a natural love for food, saw these women starting a trade they were already good at in order to
Food Vendor Janet Sheonarine provide for their families. One vendor, who would rather not be identified, revealed the challenges she has had to overcome throughout the years before she was able to enjoy her current comfortable life. “Before I start renting here, I had a lil office job, typing. They used to pay $36,000 a month and I used to work 10, sometimes more, hours a day. Them time I had my lil son and he father been dead but I couldn’t spend no time with he really cause I deh working long, long for lil bit pay. I ask my manager to raise my pay lil after a while ‘cause I poor
and suh yuh know and I get my child but he wanted (sexual) favours and that’s when I left the work,” she confided. The woman then recounted her various stints selling greens, cleaning houses and washing clothes in her area in an effort to make ends meet. “Many times I just wanted to give up, ‘cause my son keep getting big and like I was just getting poorer.” The woman revealed that she had never given the idea of cooking for a living any thought but on her son’s eight birthday the idea was expressed to her to sell food. She related that she had held
Cheddi Jagan and the Politics of Power... From page 42 Jagan' s determination to fight for justice for his people and country, using whatever means possible, made him de facto one of the heroes of Guyana, and to some extent, the international community. Palmer recognizes this and underscores that “Cheddi Jagan emerges as the classic tragic hero. He was never the demon that his detractors loved to excoriate and plotted to defeat, and Jagan never lost his passion for his country's welfare. He was, arguably, the most outstanding leader produced in the twentieth century, although his enormous limitations interfered with any claims to greatness. All too frequently, Jagan appeared a prisoner of Marxist rhetoric, even if the ideas he embraced so tenaciously had many fathers, ultimately creating the
bewildering ideological hybrid of Jaganism” (312). More studies will be done on Cheddi Jagan, mainly because Palmer does not seem to have closed the gaps in the literature of this deceased leader. The author relies too much on the records of the colonialists, particularly on the views of resident British governors in British Guiana, and less on the records of local politicians. None of the local politicians who were involved in this period were interviewed, even though some of them are still around. In this regard, the jury is still out as to what transpired in the 1950s and early 1960s in British Guiana. (Dr. Lomarsh Roopnarine Associate Professor Latin American and Caribbean History Jackson State University, USA)
a small ‘get together’ where she cooked several different dishes and one visitor complimented and encouraged her cooking so heavily she felt embarrassed. The idea stuck with her however and when she became aware of a stall in the market for rent she immediately pounced on the opportunity. “I’m not saying everything really, really good now ‘cause it’s not but I getting enough money to take care of myself and my son now and that’s all that really matters.” Another food-vendor, Janet Sheonarine, the proud owner of two connected stalls, one of which was inherited while the other was bought, said that despite her not facing direct hardships her great grandmother had it very “hard” in the beginning. “Our family was never rich but with the economy at the time we really began to feel the squeeze and my great grandmother was always struggling to make ends meet,” Sheonarine divulged. Tinged with poverty, her great grandmother, after years of saving her meager earnings, finally had enough money to invest in a food-stall in the Stabroek Market. The stall was later passed down to Sheonarine’s mother and then to Sheonarine herself who revealed that she has every intention of passing the stall down when she believes they are ready as she explained it is very hard for young women in the competitive working environment. “I frighten they may have a hard time, it was very hard when I came out here first because everybody have their people they build relationships with and want to buy from and it takes time,” stated Sheonarine. Sheonarine has been in the food stall business for over five years and throughout these years has relentlessly catered to thousands of individuals and continues to attract so many customers that she now has several hired hands. The dishes she prepares, like most of her counterparts in the market, are Creole based dishes, which sees her pulling in around 40 customers on regular days and more on holidays. A large part of her clientele consists of tourists who wish to experience the taste of authentic Creole food. While she related that most of the foreign customers would come by word of mouth, it clearly displays the cultural significance these stalls have on the Guyanese economy. The food vendors like Sheonarine at the Stabroek Market are just a small number of several women across Guyana using the things they love to fight against unemployment and minimum wage jobs.
Sunday October 11, 2015
Kaieteur News
THE VAT From page 24 flown in from Georgetown. It had gone well for the most part: She had focused on the causes of suicide—alcoholism, mental illness, and various forms of abuse and depression. She spoke about how each could help a family member or a neighbour, who was perceived as having the kinds of problems that might lead to suicide. She stressed the need to be aware of individuals drinking too much; crying—and of course, individuals who spoke of killing themselves. Coming to the end of it, she had opened the floor to the residents. An elderly man rose, hesitantly, with something like a rolled poster. “Miss, Holder,” he began. “My name is Phillip Pires. What I want to say is this: that what going on in this community is not natural—I have a mind dat is something very spiritual—very spiritual, and I believe—you hear me?—I believe that it has to do with a dream I've been having…” “This is interesting, Mr. Pires.” The young psychologist from the City said. “Do you want to tell me about it?” He began unfolding the large cardboard furled in his hands. “I will not only tell you … I will show on this chart, what I think is—” A burly, curly-haired resident reared to his feet. “Phillip!—why you have to embarrass we like this, eh? Why you have to give visitors from Georgetown the impression that all o' we is damn backward bush people?— Why yo don't shut you stupid mouth and stop embarrassing we?—you think this nice lady come all the way from the City to listen to your damn, crazy dreams? Eh?” “Who you calling, crazy, Victor James? Eh?—You don't have any roots in Port Kaituma—so what you know about me?” “I know that you is a mystical damn fraud like yo damn brother!—Who give you the right to come here with you nonsense? —Who want to hear that the boys committed suicide because they been into Jonestown?—People always going into Jonestown for curiosity—and how come they don't dead?” He drew his teeth and turned to the psychologist. “Miss Holder… my name is Victor James. Them four chaps killing they-self, because dem probably was experimenting with drugs! They getting it too damn easy from across the blasted border! Look!—the La Cruz boy—nice, nice boy—decent family! Eh? And what happen next? Days before he dead— he start acting like he was going out he damn head—and before you know it—he
plunge into the river last month and kill heself! Eh? If that wasn't the drugs he did using cause it—I don't know what!” Then he glared at the elderly Phillip Pires and ended: “Old man!—why you don't go home! This is not the place for you dotish dreams!” There was a titter of laughter after which a woman, of mixed race, stood. “James! The big man only saying what on he mind—and he too got a right to talk like any one o' we! Look at who killing they-self in this place— young, young people—nuffa dem who ent even gat a chick or a child to have worries so as to make them depressed with this economy we in, and mek them commit suicide! Most of the few old time suicides we had in this place was by men who uses to drink and cuss and beat up they wife and children!—But look what going on here!—Young men!—four young men ups and kill theyself—and I doubt that any one of them used!— As a matter of fact, them four boys was some of Port Kaituma's brightest! Not one o' them young boys was an alcoholic like plenty o' the fools your age that we have on this landing!” The burly man shot back: “Petty!—you telling me that dat last boy, Sean La Cruz, who dive between dat trawler and the iron barge at the waterfront, never uses to use some drugs or something?— You remember how, in he last days, he uses to walk around like he in a blasted daze?” Someone began to wail. The psychologist's skin grew.
Through the sobbing came a broken voice: “You can't scandal mih nephew name like that, Victor James! Sean was a good, good boy… He was a good boy!” Yvonne Holder called for order, and made a note about the possibility that widespread drug-use amongst the youth population may have caused the suicides. She had then rounded off the meeting, shared handouts; and thanked everyone for coming. * Yvonne was intrigued; she needed to understand this tension surrounding the deaths of four young men from the small gold-mining community. So, she had invited the Regional Chairwoman, Shelley Wright, who had sat with her at the workshop's head table, to have dinner with her at the guest house. Just after they were finished eating, Yvonne Holder said, “What kind of young man was this Sean La Cruz, Miss, Wright?” “You can call me, Shelley, Miss Holder.” The Regional Chairwoman sighed. Yvonne laughed. “Then you might as well call me, Yvonne.” “Well…” continued the Regional Chairwoman, “Sean La Cruz was a quiet young man—very quiet—a kind of dreamer.” She nodded. “Ambitious; he wanted to be an archeologist like Dennis Williams who started the Walter Roth Museum in Georgetown.” She sighed. “His parents—dredge owners—still don't understand what happened. Nobody, so
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far, can explain why on that blackout night this boy—just run out of his room, down the street and threw himself between an oil pontoon and a trawler.” She shook her head and continued: “And his aunt at the workshop, was right— Sean was never into that marijuana smoking or using that cocaine business!—he even had a girlfriend.” “I'd love to speak with his parents—the La Cruzes?” “They left the area. They left for America. But you can talk to his girlfriend, Irene.”
“Anyone ever spoke with her?” The Regional chairwoman shrugged. “I'm not sure, but I'd love if you can speak to her.” What people need here is grief counseling and things like that.” Shook her head. “Don't happen.” “I'll talk to her,” Yvonne Holder said; then like an afterthought asked about the man, Phillip Pires. “Why was this man James so hard on him?” The Regional Chairwoman chuckled lightly. “Well… Mr. Pires is just one of the village
spiritists—if there's such a word.” She yawned. “As for Victor James? He and Pires always having it out—they have history.” “He was all set to tell me about some kind of dream.” “Well…” the Regional Chairwoman said, teasing the last of the pasta in her plate, “he's been telling all who would listen, about a recurring dream he gets…” “About?” “About darkness hanging over Port Kaituma. Some kinda bad omen that has to do with Jonestown.”
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King Perai: Calypso is not just...
King Perai and one of his Managers, Miss Charmaine Blackman-Alves From page 44 managers - Bonny Alves and Charmaine Blackman –Alves. He said that he was given the right direction by the duo who were eager to work with him given his unique talent and flare for calypso music. TAKING CALYPSO SERIOUSLY King Perai said that with the encouragement of his managers, he participated in the National Health Song Competition for the first time in 2010 and copped third place. In 2011, he got third place again but moved up to second place when he competed in 2012. Alongside that contest, he also competed in the Mashramani Calypso Monarch Competitions. He didn't win those but his time to shine came earlier this year when he competed against some of the very best in the genre locally. “I competed in 2015 with a lot of confidence but still I had some nervousness because I had been competing for years
in the competition and I have not been placing and sometimes that can daunt your spirit. But that feeling subsided because each year I learned something new and for the 2015 competition I dared to do it different and be myself and utilize all that I learned. Bonny Alves wrote the winning song for me which he titled “King Perai” and it captured exactly how I feel about the way my Indigenous brothers and sisters were treated under the past regime,” said the Calypsonian. He continued, “And I was happy with what he produced for me because lyrically it was perfection and I am grateful for it. They are exceptional managers and I am so thankful to have them in my corner. With their guidance I was able to earn the title of 2015 Mashramani Calypso Monarch and even a much greater title.” WINING THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS King Perai after earning
that title successfully entered another competition, which to him, was more nerve wrecking to think of. Local aficionados of Calypso music pooled their resources and teamed up with other members of the business community and hosted a “Champion of Champions” Calypso Competition at the National Cultural Centre. On that platform, all the former Calypso Monarchs converged to slay their competitor with their best calypso pieces to see who would remain the last man standing. With a clever piece on the territorial controversy between Venezuela and Guyana,
which was written by Bonny Alves, King Perai walked away with the title, monetary prizes and a brand new car. “To compete with the best in the country on such a level was inspiring for me and I was grateful for the opportunity and again, every chance to perform and to see others in action is a learning experience. I was happy that I won but even more ecstatic to have created history because that is the first time such a competition has been held in Guyana. I do hope that it continues to get the support it needs because we do need the support from everyone.”
IS CALYPSO MUSIC DYING? King Perai, like his other calypso colleagues have expressed their disgust over the years about the unsatisfactory treatment meted out to calypsonians and the fact that the nonchalant attitude towards the art form may lead to its death. The 2015 Calypso Monarch categorically stated that the responsibility now falls on those in charge to ensure that a number of things are corrected. He cited these to be; more shows and opportunities for showcasing local calypso
music, more air play of calypso music other than during the Mashramani season and an increase in the “chicken feed” prize money that is offered to participants of the Mashramani Calypso Competitions. King Perai who already has a CD with his calypso music out, said that he will stop at nothing when it comes to breaking down barriers that hinder the growth of artistes in that arena. He asserted, “This isn't just music, it's my life line we are talking about and I am going to take a stand and see that we are treated right.”
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The culture of the 'killer' gun From page 38 long time. Even the first two (with the exception of Jonestown) are not as problematic for law enforcement as they are in more developed and sophisticated societies. In the United States for example, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suicide by gun accounts for more than 60 percent of all firearm deaths, and over half of all suicides. To some that isn't surprising since research has shown that America has more guns than any other developed country
in the world - some 88 guns per 100 people. When it comes to accidental gun deaths, the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence says more than 600 people have died in one year from unintentional shootings, and that on average, states with the highest gun levels had nine times the rate of unintentional firearm deaths compared to states with the lowest gun levels. But what really gets me is a federal government study of unintentional shootings which found that eight percent of these
deaths resulted from shots fired by children under the age of six. A Washington Post article earlier this year noted what it called 'America's extraordinary number of child-involved shootings' and that the inevitable consequence of widespread gun ownership is a never-ending series of tragedies involving children. It gives a few examples of what it calls 'endless and gruesome' stories. 'A toddler shoots an infant while they are left alone in a car. A 12 year-old boy, think-
ing the bullets from his father's pistol had been removed, playfully points it at his 11 year-old sister and pulls the trigger. A two yearold shoots his mother dead after finding a gun in her bag at a Walmart store. Earlier this year, three children were shot dead within a four-day period in Texas. The implication is that the common denominator in these mishaps is guns, and access to guns. Last week an 11 year-old shot and killed his eight year-old neighbour for refusing to show him her puppy. That's the clichéd tip
of the iceberg. And it's much more than the traditional good guy versus bad guy situation, as the Washington Post stated in debunking what it calls the NRA myth that guns don't kill people. “Talk of good guys and bad guys loses all meaning when a toddler has shot his baby brother,” it reiterated. The 'guns-don't-killpeople; people-do' debate and wrangle will no doubt go on indefinitely. I think it should be taken up seriously here in Guyana; although, in spite of the sensationalizing
of our gun-related crimes, Guyana's homicide by firearm rate vis-à-vis other developing countries is a 'manageable' 11 to 12 per 100,000. Compare this with Brazil (18), Honduras (68), Jamaica (39), Trinidad and Tobago (27) and little St. Kitts/Nevis (32). The tragedy of last Wednesday's murder-suicide is just what the term states – a tragedy. While my heart aches for the smothering of young lives, my mind tells me it is time to launch a blitzkrieg on the culture of the killer gun before it's truly and actually too late. Exactly how I do not know, but our shattered sensibilities, our vulnerable young people and our vision of national unity demand it.
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Should the police be solely responsible for dealing with violent mentally ill persons? By Dale Andrews Treating with the mentally challenged, especially those who are inclined to be violent, has always been a challenge for law enforcement in Guyana. This is especially so since in the absence of adequately trained mental health professionals the police are most likely to be the first to be called upon to restrain violent mentally ill persons. The consequences of their responses have been dire; ther e3have been deaths on both sides. Two recent cases come to mind; the fatal shooting of Junior Gulliver, called ‘Reggie’, by two cops in July, and the stabbing to death of Police Constable Antonio Dawson, last month. According to a police officer, both incidents highlighted a lack of adherence to any Standard Operating Procedure that may guide engagement with mentally challenged persons. But not all police ranks are buying into that of course the police could only respond to requests to deal with violent mentally ill persons with their guns. “There is a clear Standing Order as to what procedure to follow…but a lot of the ranks don’t see that as part of their duty,” one senior police officer told this newspaper. This position is supported by Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton, who had informed Kaieteur News that there is a close collaboration between the Mental Health Unit and the Guyana Police Force. “As a matter of fact our first help line was launched in collaboration with the police. We did some training along with the Police Force on how to deal with persons of unsound mind,” the Minister said. At least the Force administration has noted a particular deficiency in treating properly with mentally challenged persons and has seen the need to develop a package that will equip its ranks to deal with these situations when they occur. So far, they have trained 134 of their frontline ranks (those on patrol duty) who are more likely to be the first responders. Of course the training is ongoing but should be incorporated in the training manual for recruits, so that all police ranks will be aware of the procedure that needs to be followed when dealing with the mentally ill, so as to avoid unwanted physical harm or in the worse case,
Police examine the body of Junior Gulliver, the mentally ill man who was shot dead by police ranks at Strathavon Cane Grove.
death to either party. “Regarding guidelines they (police) would have been brought up to date with how you deal with a patient, depending on the state of that patient. It is not something that has not been deliberated on...instructions are available,” Minister Norton said. “If somebody of unsound mind is violent, of course the police have got to use more restraining force than for somebody who is acting strangely but not endangering anybody’s life...It’s a different situation there or to somebody trying to commit suicide, it would vary how they deal with them,” the Minister added. Two police ranks are awaiting the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution on whether they should face a murder charge for the fatal shooting of mentally ill man junior Gulliver at Cane Grove, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.
The circumstances of the shooting are still unclear as both the police and eyewitnesses, including the dead man’s relatives have given conflicting accounts of what transpired.
to shoot Gulliver. The eyewitnesses said that the ranks confronted the mentally ill man again and shot him even though he posed no threat to them at the time. But the ranks are
“The safety of both law enforcement officers and citizens is compromised when law enforcement responds to crises involving people with severe mental illnesses who are not being treated… There are also many cases where individuals with mental illnesses provoke police into killing them. This is now commonly called ‘suicide by cop’.” What is clear though is that Gulliver did attack the police ranks with a cutlass, forcing them to seek refuge in the vehicle they went to the scene with. Such was the violence displayed by Gulliver that the car’s windows were damaged. Eyewitnesses claimed that the ranks went back to the station and uplifted weapons then returned to the scene with the pre-meditation
maintaining that when they went back to the station, they received another call to return to the scene since Gulliver was acting up again. Since they were almost seriously injured in their first encounter with Gulliver, they decided to take no chances. So they armed themselves and went back where they met Gulliver again and this time the consequences were fatal. Many are arguing that the
police should not be the only ones called upon to respond to reports of mentally ill persons behaving violently. “What about the professional people who are supposed to be trained to deal with the mentally ill? They are supposed to know how to restrain them because the only resort of the police will be their guns,” a police rank said. But even the staff at Psychiatric Ward of the GPHC appears ill-equipped to deal with violent mentally ill people; it would seem that they too depend on the police. A case in point was when the police were called to deal with a ‘mad man’, who was breaking windscreens outside the Ward. The question is why wasn’t anyone from the clinic capable of restraining him? Like relatives, the operatives at the psychiatric ward call the police first…of course the police response was to discharge several
rounds albeit into the air to calm down the mentally ill man. “By right these people should be institutionalized; that is why we have the National Psychiatric Hospital but of course that hospital needs a lot of regulations being put in place,” Minister Norton said. He explained that a mental institution is one where a person is taken into the care for a period of time, treated and then made to leave after being cured or relieved of some of their difficulties condition. But even the task of getting mentally ill persons to the mental institution is left up to the police. According to a US publication, Treatment Advocacy Center,”a natural outgrowth of a mental health system that withholds needed treatment until a person with a mental illness (Continued on page 70)
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Crisis in headless Supreme Court registry - AG By Abena Rockcliffe Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, yesterday confirmed that there is a crisis in the Supreme Court Registry. This crisis arises out of the fact that from tomorrow the Registry will be operating without the constitutionally directed upper echelons. Former Registrar (Ag) for the Georgetown Supreme Court, Rashid Mohamed, has been in that position for the past three years; but his contract ended yesterday. Mohamed was basically managing the affairs of the Registry single-handedly. Therefore, when employees of the Registry turn out to work tomorrow, there will be no one for them to report to. There is no Assistant Registrar, Deputy Registrar or Registrar. Kaieteur News got wind of this and contacted Williams who confirmed the reality. It seems like the issue is one that has existed a while now but was covered by an unconstitutional appointment. The unconstitutionalities of Mohamed’s appointment are numerous. Mohamed was appointed, by contract, as an Acting Registrar while there is no such position. The Constitution says, “There shall be a Registrar and Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court” the Constitution does not provide for any such position as Acting Registrar. Also, the Constitution says, “The Registrar and the Deputy Registrar shall be deemed to be ex-officio sworn clerks. Then it states, “the Registrar and the Deputy Registrar shall be deemed to be ex-officio sworn clerks…A person who is an attorney-atlaw and who within a period of five years prior to his qualifying as such had at least
- Former acting registrar was appointed unconstitutionally one year’s experience as an assistant sworn clerk in the registry; or is an attorney-atlaw of not less than one year’s standing, may be appointed a sworn clerk for such time as he may hold a public office in the registry.” Therefore, the fact that Mohamed is not an Attorney at Law also makes his appointment unconstitutional. Williams told Kaieteur News yesterday that he was only made aware of the situation on Friday. Apparently, the Minister did not know that such an important office was operating without two of its head personnel. He also did not know the expiration date of Mohamed’s contract. However, Williams found the fact that Mohamed had a
contract was “strange” since that position does not usually attract a contract. He said, “I was appalled when I found out that there is no one to take over and that there was no succession plan.” Asked how he could not know, Williams said that such appointments do not form part of his responsibility as Minister of Legal Affairs nor as Attorney General, neither does the day to day running of the Registry. “My role is in policy making and the smooth dispensation of justice.” Williams recommends that Assistant Registrar of Berbice be brought to Georgetown since she is most qualified professional at the moment to take the reins “during this crisis”. Williams lamented, “He
(Mohamed) knew he was appointed erroneously; but even so he should have had a succession plan now the place is headless.”
Educator and Information Technology (IT) specialist, Vidyaratha Kissoon, has offered the Commission of Inquiry, (COI) into the Public Service, information on the benefits of free and open source software technology, in the improvement of the sector. Kissoon is the holder of a Degree in Computer Science and a Graduate of the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. In a presentation before the Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday, Kissoon pointed to a recent revelation that public servants have been illegally acquiring software to conduct their duties. Kissoon said that this was
indeed “shocking” since public servants have the option of using “free and open source software” to complete their tasks. Kissoon held that “no public servant in Guyana has any reason to use pirated software.” According to him, free and open source software has numerous benefits for the Public sector. These include the availability of a source code which can be modified and improved to suit changing conditions; the right to freely and legitimately redistribute the modified and improved code and the right to a large population of users and information sharing between various government
agencies. He said that the government can surely benefit since it is the largest user of IT software in the nation. The witness recommended, too, that the government champions the investment and stimulation of the local IT sector. The IT specialist underlined the need for more training and education in the field of technology. In response to questions, Kissoon said that with this type of software, security is not a major issue; it has been proven to be a safe mode of preserving and transmitting “sensitive data.” He held that “free and open source” software has been the choice of
AG, Basil Williams
It is said that one is not supposed to act two ranks above his or her substantive position, before Mohamed retired three years ago, he was just a judicial officer. It is not yet known how exactly Mohamed was appointed. Williams said that it is uncharacteristic of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to give short term appointments. But, the Constitution states that the Registrar and Deputy Registrar must be appointed by the JSC. The situation is facing the nation at a time when the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh is abroad. It is not clear whether Singh is out of the country on vacation or officially. Singh is not there to explain why the JSC, which he chairs, did not make the necessary appointments. The JSC allowed the Registrar to run without the Deputy
Registrar which is constitutionally mandated. Several questions are to be answered. The constitution says “The Deputy Registrar shall, subject to the general or special directions of the Registrar, assist the Registrar in carrying out his functions and the Deputy Registrar shall, in the exercise of his office, have all and singular the like authorities, powers, duties, immunities and liabilities as the Registrar, except where otherwise provided by rules of court. “The Registrar and the sworn clerks and assistant sworn clerks thereto authorised by the Court shall have power to administer oaths and take affidavits, and to take solemn affirmations or declarations in lieu of oaths. The Registrar shall be the chief executive officer, and every marshal shall be an executive officer of the Court.”
‘Free and open source software’ can improve public service system Governments in North America. Kissoon also noted that the use of software technology can aid the human resource component of the public sector. “This provides opportunity for us to break free from any issue with licensing or piracy in this capacity,” he added. And commenting on the recruitment process in the Public Sector, Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of the Integrity Commission, Amanda Jaisingh, suggested that employment in the sector should be conducted solely through the Public Service Commission, (PSC). Jaisingh, who has a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management, Planning and Development, told the Commission that based on her thesis on recruitment, the PSC should not have to contend with the Public Service Department in the recruitment of civil workers. “I think there should be one agency doing the recruitment, to eliminate corruption and conflict.” She outlined a list of methods in which the recruitment process of public servants can be improved. “You must have the right person for the right job”. Jaisingh held that recruitment of persons should be characterized by theoretical (written) and practical examinations and analysis; in which applicants have the opportunity of proving that they are competent enough for the
Vidyaratha Kissoon position. “It should not be an ‘I know you, you know me’ thing… There should be various components for applicants to undergo before getting the job.” In the employment of persons, Jaisingh said there should there be a training manual for every job title. She held that there should also be continuous training after recruitment. She also pointed to the need for improvement in the area of planning and data collection. “There should be an adequate system for human resource planning and forecasting…. In India for instance, with the click of button they know in the next ten years how many persons would be retiring and which posts would be vacant so as to plan ahead.”
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Kaieteur News
The Story of Carol Bagot From page 22 annually to give its support but according to Bagot, “what we found was that there were changing faces and services were not kept up…it was worrying. It was always something different.” She was however not prepared to give up on Guyana. In fact Bagot recalled that during the floods of the mid 2000, OSHAG, in addition to rendering medical support, also offered much needed social relief to many affected communities. In its quest to offer specialized medical help OSHAG decided to partner with the Caribbean Medical Mission whose members continue to render annual medical support to Guyana which includes conducting surgeries at the New Amsterdam Hospital. Bagot however always kept the cancer awareness focus of OSHAG on the front burner. Moreover, the annual trips to Guyana were designed to coincide with the observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month – which is done in October. Through outreaches Bagot has been encouraging women to “be in tuned with your body and always seek annual medical checkup…don't take your body for granted,” she has been appealing over the years. STARTLING DISCOVERY But it was even as she busied herself balancing her family life, work and pushing to expand OSHAG, Bagot would make the most startling discovery. It all occurred in 2009. At the time she was working on a project – Child Health Plus – which was designed to include mental health services in the school system of New York. “I started to see signs that were not consistent with my body at my age…I was sure something was wrong. It was simply worrying,” recounted Bagot. Indeed by then she'd read enough about women's health and of the signs and symptoms of cancer to know when it was manifesting in her own body. She wasted no time in bringing her observations to the attention of her doctor. But to her amazement several examinations later her doctor was not able to find anything wrong. “I did all of the recommended tests for cancerous cells and all of that but nothing was found but I still wasn't convinced…Something was wrong and I was determined to find it,” said a passionate Bagot. Her persistence eventually forced her doctor to take her into the operating theatre and there, nearly hidden away in her body, was a cancerous cyst that had formed on the inside of her lower abdominal wall. The cyst had the potential of developing and devas-
tating her anatomy. Surgery was required. This discovery was made almost four months after she observed that something was not right in her body. “The day I was taken into surgery all the doctors at the hospital were in the operating room with me…My doctor said that was not usual but because my case was so unique they all wanted to be a part of the experience,” said Bagot. “I knew I had to get through this. I absolutely had to muster strength because I was representing every woman whose life I touched at some point and even others out there who were looking at me. I could not let myself get weak…I couldn't fail them.” “I had preached for so many years before being diagnosed with cancer myself that women can live through this disease and there was no way I could do otherwise…I developed the strength from all of the others I provided service to,” said Bagot with pride. After surgery to remove the cyst she was required to undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy for a period of six weeks. Bagot's friend of many years, Nathalie Bishop, also a member of OSHAG, said that while she was shocked by the diagnosis she was more amazed at Bagot's determination to fight the disease. “From diagnosing herself to fighting through chemotherapy and radiotherapy...she fought the fight of cancer in a fighting mode…When I was crying she was wearing a smile.” According to Bishop, even as she (Bagot) struggled through her condition at no point did she opt to give up on anything or anyone in her life. “If you check the dates, she was starting her mental health programme and she told me just send out the invitations and then she went back and did chemo. Nothing was going to fail because of a cancer diagnosis…She was there doing what she had to do the whole time.” “People don't have to die from cancer; you can live through it…or early detection can help ensure that you beat it altogether,” Bagot has always insisted. And she certainly practices what she preaches. IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORT Of course, the support from her family, including her three children, was especially instrumental, Bagot asserted. According to her, for many people, including herself, “the first thing that floods your mind when you are diagnosed with cancer is that 'it's a death sentence'.” But she is adamant that dealing with cancer in any part of the world requires a strong
support base. “First and foremost support is needed - a team of people who will brace you when you get that diagnosis…family, friend, pastor, church, anybody – it becomes a community issue,” Bagot asserted as she intimated that constant prayers is also a very important factor. But the ideal support base would be of no significance without a compassionate medical team, Bagot warned. In fact she is certain that dealing with certain diseases such as cancer requires nothing but “a compassionate medical team.” “From the doctor to the nurse, it's all about them being compassionate towards that patient…being able to talk to that patient about their options; treatment regimens and so on…” “All this can help a patient to want to survive…” added the OSHAG President. In addition to her friend (Bishop), Bagot's other immediate support was her daughter, Arlene, who was by then a Registered Nurse. Overwhelming support was also forthcoming from the other members of OSHAG. POSITION OF EMPATHY Before her diagnosis, Bagot's contribution to OSHAG was premised on her concern about what she was told about a disease that has had disparaging outcomes in Guyana and across the world. She dealt with persons on the basis of her academic knowhow. She used extensively her background in human services. Today, however, she speaks from the point of true empathy. “I can encourage women today that they can survive if they are diagnosed with cancer. They must learn to understand their body and get treatment early…I can tell women there is hope because I have lived through it,” said Bagot. She has since incorporated into the OSHAG mission to not only raise awareness about cancer but also to guide women towards available support that can help to save their lives if diagnosed. Already OSHAG has contributed significantly to cancer care here with the introduction of an Oncology Room at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. A proposal has also been extended by the group to help facilitate cancer treatment training in the US for local medical practitioners. But in order to ensure that OSHAG's presence is not limited to a mere month (Breast Cancer Awareness Month), there are plans for the establishment of a local office, which Bagot hopes will be constructed in Berbice. She has also emphasized the need for organizations with similar agendas to work
in close collaboration. “Coming here every year to help is not only gratifying, yes I can give back something to my country but I feel I have an obligation to share with my community some of my resources and skills…doing this in collaboration with other organizations would only boost the support to the country as a whole,” asserted Bagot. In a matter of weeks OSHAG will commence its annual medical outreach as part of activities to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness
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month. It is however Bagot's vision that eventually a treatment facility could be established here to focus primarily on the treatment of all forms of cancer. She is optimistic that this vision would be one embraced by the entire Caribbean. “We have the land space here but I think that Caricom countries should collaborate to help with the realization of such a project. I think Guyana is poised to take the lead in making this a long-term solution to dealing with cancer,” she is confident.
In the interim, though, Bagot intends to continue to reach out to the communities in Guyana to share information on preventative health care. “We need to guard against waiting until somebody has a disease before we start dealing with it…we have to address this now. We need to start aggressively emphasizing behavioural changes; things like exercise and eating right that can help people prolong their lifespan,” added Bagot who is convinced that “the strength of Guyana lies within its communities.”
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Providing transportation for school children a priority – Pres. Granger As the Government of Guyana seeks new ways to improve the education system, President David Granger has said that the provision of transportation for schoolchildren, particularly those in poor communities, will go a long way to improve access to education. Therefore, the Head of State said, strident steps will be taken to do as much as possible to get as many children as possible into schools. President Granger made the statements during the Education Ministry’s Education Rally held on Friday at the National Park. During his address, Granger noted that across the country, particularly in rural communities and villages, many children do not attend school for one reason or another. He shared that a few months ago – as part of his birthday wish – a boat was made available to transport schoolchildren in the Pomeroon River area. He said that in such areas, travelling expenses are hefty and too
In some areas, children are required to travel by boat to school. many parents are unable to afford to send their children to school. “Children in the Pomeroon River were not getting to school; they had to pay $5,000 to get to school at Charity. Some of them on the West Coast Berbice pay $5,000 to go to the Berbice High School. Every week, many parents who cannot afford the minibus fares simply do not send their children to school,” the President said. He added that while many children are enrolled in school, the government will play its role in ensuring that the children actually made it to school. Therefore, he said,
the Guyana Government is looking towards providing school transport for children. This school transport, he added, would also extend to teachers. He said that the means of transportation will not be limited to boats but will also include buses and bicycles. Noting the boat transportation initiative launched in Charity, Granger shared that the business community has been responding favourably and has offered means of transportation. “The important thing is that children must go to school,” Granger emphasised.
He said that as part of the drive to get children into schools the Government of Guyana is also looking towards the provision of meals. Granger noted that while children might indeed make it to school, many of them arrive there without even having a proper meal for breakfast or one waiting for them at lunchtime. Speaking to the hundreds of schoolchildren, Granger said, “All of you don’t need to get a breakfast at school because you had a healthy breakfast at home but those who cannot afford it should look forward to having a breakfast when they get to school.” Additionally, he said, another important factor to consider is the provision of uniforms and footwear. “I have gone into every
region of this country. Many of you are lucky that you can march from Parade Ground to the National Park but I’ve been to some villages in the Hinterland,” Granger said. He continued, “Three o’clock, you’ll see the whole school coming out and not one child has shoes on; not because the road is muddy, not because they’re playing football; it’s because they’re too poor to have shoes.” Granger indicated that as part of the programme to keep every child in school, a large part of the focus should be on ensuring that children are supplied with the necessary items to foster their attendance. “This is a challenge which I give to the Ministry of Education, the Chief Education Officer and the Permanent Secretary.” “We want to make sure
that as far as our resources would allow us that we get every child in school.” He added that while some of the current focuses, such as tackling truancy, were important, more attention must be placed on initially getting children into school. “I don’t care about rounding up children at 10 o’clock on a Tuesday morning; I care about getting children to school at 8 o’clock on a Monday morning,” he said. He continued, “Once they get in school, it’s up to the teachers to ensure that they learn their lessons.” He said that the plan is to restore education standards to ensure that every single child is enabled to complete his or her education. He stressed that education must take this direction if the system were to succeed.
High Court order quashes Magistrate’s decision to refund spousal maintenance A High Court order has been handed down, quashing the decision of a Magistrate to refund the spousal maintenance fee for New Amsterdam resident, Savitree Persuram. The court noted that a decree absolute to discharge spousal maintenance after divorce was unlawful, ultra vires and without legal authority. Savitree Persuram, the applicant was awarded a maintenance fee upon the dissolution of marriage to her former husband Peter Singh. The divorce was made absolute on July 6, 2007. The then Magistrate of Providence Magistrate’s Court, Priya SewnarineBeharry, made an order that Singh must pay his ex-wife $4000 a month for maintenance and $16,000 a month to the two children until they reach the age of 16 years.
However, Singh, through his lawyers, approached the court to have the maintenance order discharged. When Singh filed for the discharge order, he argued that even before the legal dissolution of their marriage, his ex-wife had left the matrimonial home and had been living with a new partner and that she continues to do so. Persaud, therefore held that the woman was and is capable of taking care of herself and requested that the maintenance fee $4000 per month to his ex-wife be discharged. He also requested a reimbursement of the money already paid in maintenance to her. Singh’s request was granted by Magistrate Leron Daly. Based on the request, the Magistrate ordered that the maintenance fee be
discharged and the monies which were already paid as spousal support under the said order be reimbursed. However, on August 17 last, Persuram’s Attorney Mark Conway approached the High Court and successfully obtained an order quashing the decree of Magistrate Daly, that initial order for maintenance spousal was unlawful and that the monies amounting to the sum of $387, 000 be returned. Persuram’s attorney argued that the initial order by the Magistrate is lawfully due, payable and cannot return. The lawyer further claimed that the order by Magistrate Daly to have his client return the monies that were lawfully received is unlawful, capricious, contrary to and devoid of natural justice principles without lawful authority and arbitrary.
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CONSUMER CONCERNS
EDUCATION AS TO CAUSES OF MENTAL DISORDERS - A PUBLIC HEALTH NECESSITY by PAT DIAL Last week, Mental Health Week was commemorated worldwide. It is an annual event aimed at helping the public to understand and appreciate the need to support the mentally ill and work with them to have them reintegrated into society. One or two consumer bodies in North America have got into the field of helping the mentally ill by running recovery centres where peer support, socialization, education and training are offered. In Guyana, as is the case with the overwhelming numbers of consumer bodies worldwide, the Guyana Consumers Association concentrates on educating the public as to what is mental illness, breaking down prejudices against the mentally ill and trying to have the public and families of the mentally ill play a more constructive role in assisting sufferers.
The term ‘mental illness’ or ‘mental disorder’ covers a wide range of mental conditions such as acute depression where one feels deeply sad all the time resulting in loss of interest and being overcome with inactivity; or obsessions leading to repetitive behaviour; or having attention difficulty; or hyperactivity. There is also Post traumatic stress where a sufferer feels or experiences a terrifying event impending to assail him; or Autism where a sufferer has an impaired ability to communicate and interact; or even such conditions as alcoholism or the effects of a brain tumor. In Guyana, though all conditions of mental illness occur, most people tend to associate the term “mental illness” with Schizophrenia where the sufferer interprets reality abnormally. This leads the sufferer to do or say all
kinds of things which appear to normal people as strange, abnormal or objectionable. In common parlance, such sufferers are called “mad”, a term which is loaded with contempt, unacceptability and even fear. The other conditions with which most people are acquainted are Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia when there is memory loss, inability to do basic things such as turning a key to open a lock or recognizing persons, even very close relatives or friends, or saying contradictory things as if such were fact. These conditions are due to the gradual deterioration of the brain and as such are not readily recognized until they become acute. So far, medical science has not been able to discover the conclusive causes of these disorders though numerous psychiatric and physical theories have been advanced. Accordingly, psychiatric and
Standards in Focus
Standards – the world’s common language The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has designated October 12 to October 16, 2015 as National Quality Week. World Standards Day, which is commemorated annually on October 14, is part of the week of celebrations. The theme chosen for the 2015 observances by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) and the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Telecommunication Union (ITU) is “Standards – the world’s common language.” Imagine a world where your credit card would not fit into every cash machine or where you could not just stroll into a shop and find the right light bulb for your lamp or a world without telephone codes, country and currency codes and access to the Internet. How would you know where a call came from, or how to reach a specific region? If we didn’t have standards, communication between people, machines, parts and products would be extremely difficult. For example, graphical symbols display important information quickly and clearly, no matter what language we speak or read – be they wash and care instructions on clothes, emergency evacuation signs, or electrical equipment
instructions. But if everyone used different symbols for the same message, the symbols would not serve their purpose! Technology also needs standards to communicate. Have you ever wondered how your computer sends your documents to a printer from a different manufacturer? Standards set out common rules and parameters so that products can work with each other. Standard file formats like MPEG and JPEG standard enable you to share videos and photos with family and friends using technology from different vendors. Now imagine how difficult it would be to order products and parts from international suppliers if we didn’t have standardized units of
measurement. “Small”, “medium” and “large” mean different things to different people. Not only are standards good for trade, they also make it easy for people around the world to work together. International Standards are like the Rosetta Stone of technology. They are essential for products to work together smoothly and for people to communicate easily. When standards are in place things just work, but if they are not used we instantly notice it. In a world without standards, routine activities we take for granted, like making a call, surfing the Web or using our credit cards when we travel, would be much more complicated, nearly impossible.
physical remedies suggested are not conclusive, or are experimental. Sometimes, some remedies tried have been helpful to individual cases but they have no universal applicability. The discovery by Chinese female scientist, Professor Youyou Tu of an effective anti-malarial drug for which she was recently awarded the Nobel Prize, derived from her exploration of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, sweet wormwood. Prof. Tu’s discovery points to some remedies or effective treatments of mental diseases which may be hidden in ancient folk remedies or ancient systems of medicine such as the Ayurvedic. Indeed, a traditional Indian
treatment for pain and brain deterioration is the ingesting of tumeric powder (haldi) and also coconut oil (nariyar ka tel). India has the lowest Alzheimer and Dementia rate in the world and many Indian doctors attribute this to the fact that tumeric and coconut oil are used daily in Indian cooking. Once the public begins to be educated as to the causes of mental disease, they would not regard sufferers with contempt, fear, as pariahs or as almost not human. And families who may have had an Alzheimer sufferer in their midst and may not have noticed the gradual mental deterioration and would have become extremely puzzled and
alarmed when the symptoms become acute would not have the usual traumatic experience once they would have understood what is happening. If sufferers are treated with tolerance, understanding and love, they as well as those who have to be in contact with or have to live with them will be far happier since the sufferers would begin to regain selfesteem, identity, pride and dignity. The Ministry of Public Health and relevant Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO’s) should make education as to the causes and possible treatments of mental disorders part of their programme.
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PPP GOVT. HID... From page 16 the country as it was intended to. He added that NCN is already able to reach all across Guyana so he can see no problem with NCN being able to fulfill this mandate once the other facilities are put in place. The Alliance For Change (AFC), which forms part of the Government coalition, had made it clear that it is convinced that the TVG deal for $3.6M monthly, was one of the many schemes by Jagdeo to further enrich his close friend. TVG, it has been reported, collected $70M in 2011 for the transmission of the channel throughout the country, using a dish network receiver
system for remote communities. The Learning Channel is described as a noncommercial, apolitical educational television broadcast network, focused on education, since it started up on April 2011. It has been producing local programmes including Maths lessons and broadcasting them. These latest developments surrounding The Learning Channel and its arrangements with TVG would call to mind the drug storage facility that was controlled by New GPC, another company owned by Ramroop. Government had been
paying millions of dollars to rent a facility from New GPC before the shady deal was brought to light. Several of Ramroop’s companies have reportedly benefited, under questionable arrangements, from billions of dollars in contracts and even state properties over the years from the PPP/C governments. Opposition MPs, questioning Ministry of Health officials a few years ago, were shocked to learn that New GPC which was supplying drugs to the then Government was being paid to store it. A new storage facility has since been built in Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
From page 65 becomes dangerous is that police officers and Sheriff’s Deputies are forced to become front line mental health workers.” “The safety of both law enforcement officers and citizens is compromised when law enforcement responds to crises involving people with severe mental illnesses who are not being treated… There are also many cases where individuals with mental illnesses provoke police into killing them. This is now commonly called ‘suicide by cop’.” It was explained that the relatives of a mentally ill person will first report the circumstances to the police, who should assist in taking that person into custody. Of course the police station lock-ups is not the ideal place for such persons, but there is hardly anything else that can happen especially if the incident occurs at the weekend. “The police will now have to play the role of a Psychic Doctor,” a police rank said. The relative is then given an insanity form to fill out and the matter then goes before a magistrate where the relative swears to information that would cause the magistrate to refer the patient to the
National Psychiatric Hospital. Most police ranks are reluctant to be a part of this process since it involves long waits at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Ward in the first place before the patient can be seen and diagnosed. “After a waiting while, the patient starts to get anxious because he knows where he is and he does not want to be there, so he begins to act up and nobody from the Psychiatric Ward is there to restrain them; that task is left for the police,” the rank complained. The minister said that if that patient is going to fall into a crisis or not after they would have left the institution one cannot say. “The natural tendency for most of them is not to use their prescribed medications, and somebody who is on the street today looking perfectly sane, tomorrow can be in full crisis of mental disorder and for that reason you might find persons of unsound mind on the streets,” the Public Health Minister told this newspaper. But more and more the police seem reluctant to take on the task of dealing with the mentally ill. In fact in some cases, subordinate officers have refused to risk sending their ranks to apprehend
violent ‘mad people’. Only recently a woman of unsound mind broke several windscreens and when police picked her up, she somehow managed to jump through the window of their vehicle. Of course the police, frustrated by the situation, left her on the road, a move that led to persons questioning their actions which seemed to suggest that that was not their problem or responsibility. Needless to say, the woman was left on the road to continue her damage. Apart from the fatal shooting at cane there have been several police shootings of mentally ill persons. But the police themselves suffer at the hands of the mentally ill. Remember Solomon Blackman, who walked into the Brickdam Police Station compound, disarmed a rank and proceeded to shoot two policemen dead. Strangely enough, he was not shot in return but was skillfully restrained and disarmed. Not many police ranks may be able to do that today. Constable Antonio Dawson tried something like that and paid the ultimate price. Solomon Blackman charged for the policemen’s murder but was consider not lucid enough on many occasions to stand trial. He was eventually killed in prison but not before he himself had murdered another prisoner. But despite standard operating procedures, many ranks are clear in their decision not to engage violent mentally persons. “I am not risking my life over that and besides there is nothing to covert us if we shoot that person and kill them, even if we are protecting our lives,” one subordinate officer declared.
Should the police be...
Sunday October 11, 2015
Bandits shoot bus driver, rob passengers Two young gunmen, posing as passengers, yesterday shot a route 32 bus driver in the back, before fleeing with valuables belonging to the other travelers during a brazen daylight robbery. The incident occurred around 11:45 hrs at Flour Mill Road, Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Firoz Ghani, 48, of Lot 332 Ruby, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) was shot once in the back by one of the armed men. He is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. According to information, two men boarded the minibus at Parika and asked to be put off at Flour Mill Road. Just as the driver stopped at the requested location, one of the men pulled out a gun and instructed him to reverse. Ghani allegedly tried to drive off when the gunman shot him. The bullet passed through the back of the driver’s seat and struck him in the back. The armed men allegedly grabbed the passengers’ valuables before fleeing into Flour Mill Road. The father of two was rushed to the hospital in a taxi by his son, who was the conductor of the minibus. When this newspaper visited the hospital yesterday, Ghani was in the Accident and Emergency Unit being prepped for surgery. His son, Rafael Ghani, explained that he and his father were loading the bus at Parika when the two men entered. He said that they thought the men had come from the interior. “When we reached at Agricola, they said they coming off at Flour Mill Road so when my father stopped, one of them grabbed the passenger’s bag who was sitting next to me and the other one, who was in the third seat, pulled out a gun,” the younger Ghani said. He added that the bandit with the gun, instructed his father to reserve into Flour Mill Road. “Like he (shot driver) didn’t see the gun and he tried to drive off but I shout and tell he to stop because the man got a gun. When my father stopped, he shoot him and then grabbed some valuables for other passengers and they
Shot bus driver: Firoz Ghani run away,” the conductor explained. Someone who was passing at the scene, in another minibus at the time, recalled seeing a man with plait-hair, holding a gun in his hand and running behind another male into Flour Mill Road. The amount of money and valuables, the men escaped with, is still to be confirmed. Early last month, 17-year-old Abdul Kareem Shivrattan was shot in the chest while trying to assist passengers who were robbed at gunpoint when the minibus they were traveling in, stopped at Flour Mill Road. At that time, the two bandits had boarded the minibus at Diamond.
TIGI Head questions... From page 15 system. Additionally, theft at the high level is indirectly felt by the ordinary man.” The TIGI Head added, “Minister Harmon says that the ministers deserve the increases, but how could they objectively determine this when they have not been evaluated?” He recalled that the issue of salary increases for the new government ministers goes back to early August when it first came out in a section of the print media. But it was vehemently rejected by Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman who had said that government was only “considering” it. Bernard recalled that government said that it was looking at setting up some structure for salary scales. He emphasized that the impression given by Trotman was that it was not going to be implemented anytime soon. He said that it is important to note that while in opposition, “The same folks (the current administration) considered the salaries of the then government (PPP) to be too high.” Bernard reminded of a letter by Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge only a few months before the historic May 11, General and Regional Elections which was published in the print media In that letter, published March 30, last, Greenidge was responding to statements made by General Secretary (GS) of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Clement
Rohee on March 16, attempting to defend the PPP against criticisms of lavish lifestyles. Rohee claimed that the salaries and benefits enjoyed by the then government ministers reflect the principles of the “lean” and “clean” government asserted by the late President Cheddi Jagan. The Foreign Affairs Minister carefully made the point that former PPP ministers have always paid themselves higher salaries than existed prior to their assumption of office. He noted that the same applies to benefits. “In fact, the first significant increase in ministerial salaries after independence was made soon after Dr Jagan took office. In 1993 Dr Jagan approved a 10% increase which moved senior ministers to $25,235/month. The next year an additional 33% hike took them to $33,723. In 2006 a massive increase further moved the ministers to $347,644/ month.” By 2014, the Minister of Finance was receiving $579,951, which is not a reduction from G$20,483; nor is the Attorney General’s salary of $1.6 million, which is 35 times the (then) minimum wage…” Greenidge emphasized that basic ministerial salaries and allowances have increased every year since the PPP took office in 1992. The new administration has not steered off this route as it has significant increases while insisting that it is “justified.”
Sunday October 11, 2015
Kaieteur News
FOR RENT
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. PARTY DECORATING: balloon creation, back drops etc. for weddings, birthdays, anniversary etc. Make your event extra special! Tel Maya: 642-6664 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, A/C, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES,FREEZERSCALL: 629-4946 OR 225-4822 REPAIRS & SPARE, FRIDGE, FREEZER, A/C, WASHERS, STOVES CONTACT NICK: 6831312, 627-3206 Floor sanding & Lacquering House plans, Estimate & painting, Boat for Santa Mission - Call: 650-4362 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building. visadocumentsgy@yahoo.comCall : 225-6496, 662-6045 Landscaping: Palms, largest varieties of plants, Used in every one of our unique landscapes- Call: 648-1821/ 219-0468
WANTED Farm worker for Soesdyke Highway-Call: 644-6693 One live in maid –Tel:6755256 or 666-4153 Popular band needs keyboard player- Indian Music-Call: 680-4024; 615-1350 We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Zeelught & Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 611-7223; 604-2207 Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literate-Tel: 6121607 Contract Cars & Drivers – Call: 619-2228; 227-1720; 2271721; 660-6102 Honest and able handy boy apply to Nanda’s Boutique 223 Camp Street; next to Shell Gas Station. One live in domestic or a couple to work in Mahaicony River, well paid-Call: 2256571; 644-6905 One experience assistant salesgirl E.C.D Tel: 603-5416, 644-9802 2 Skilled Carpenters to work on a roof, must be able to modern design, paying $10,000 daily. Call: 670-7171 1 Portable toilet cleaner to work in Georgetown-Call: 2271717 Welder to work in Georgetown-Call: 227-1717 1- Domestic worker-Tel: 6675717 or 650-4761 Experienced Canter Truck Driver. Preferable from GTown. Call Neville Osman 624-1737 (8:00am - 4:00pm Mon-Fri .)
Creative construction Plumber, professional in all your Experienced general work: roofing, pool, Carpenter/Joiner , Painting & carpentry, plumbing, tilling, Lacquering of Cupboards . ( painting –Call: 675-1510; 613- Day + Job Work)Call N. Osman 624-1737 (8:00am 7964 4:00pm Mon-Fri .) Austin Power ’s repairs: fridge freezers, washers, gas- Windows: To make and stove, AC unit, house supply windows for wiring-Call: 685-2588 residential buildings.Call: N. Osman 624-1737 (8:00am Eagle’s fridge re-gas @ 99100 New Market Street - 4:00pm Mon-Fri.) $8,000 & washing machine Carpenters and masons to repairs. Phone: 697-2969, work in Linden-Call: 668-9863; 223-5818 602-9469 License custom broker/tax Attractive live in waitressconsultant: assistance with Call: 327-0252/674-4665 tax compliance, tax returns, etc. Call: 660-9478 Driver ’s Contract Cars, dispatcher –Call: 231-0316; LEARN TO DRIVE 231-0002; 219-4087; 219-4086 Soman Son & Outar Driving FOR SALE/RENT School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615- American pool tables –Call: 0964; 689-5997 277-0578
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 3 Bedroom bottom flat apartments on WBD $45,000 monthly, water an garbage inclusive –Call: 6094810 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW & MORE- CALL: 667-2535, 627-5098 Vreed-En-Hoop Junction, Storage Bond, office, lessons place, games shop, stationery shop & other – Call: 680-9905 Prime business place for rent @ MonRepos Public Road E.C.D, 3 (2) Bedroom apartment @ Block 8 Mon Repos E.C.D-Contact: 6181754; 681-1508; 220-6168
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SALON
Work from home earn $5,000-$20,000 monthly. Call monday-friday (9am-5pm): 233-6517; 638-0595 or www.jobfairworldwide.com Porters and Carpenters to work at Coveden, E.B.D, apply at Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling.
-Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal, Mabelline. -Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257
Maid, 38-50years; experienced will be an asset @ Wieting & Richter LtdCall: 226-6150-7 Female accounts clerk, apply at Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling.
Accounts clerk: experienced in QuickBooks, accounting software, VAT NIS & PAYE, @ Technical Services Inc, 1823 Industrial Site, Eccles E.B.D Agent require for preparing document and quotes for regional contracts. Email: mozartart@yahoo.com/ 6919383 M.A.X Consultancy & Accounting Services urgently need: field sales agents. For more information-Contact: 2231855/ 609-0623
Business place in Georgetown 1st floor and 2nd floor, have office space for lawyers, just opposite the High Court. Call: 670-4036
Bond Clerk, Office Clerk, Security officers, Engineer, Kitchen assistant, Waiter/ waitress, Cleaner, Operator/ mechanic. Call: 603-4094
Two bedroom apartment $50,000 –Call: 681-4275; 2314432 Entire 3 bedroom house, semi-furnished, parking, secure & quiet, newly renovated, flower garden, US$1,000.Call: 604-2207; 6117223
Earn a certificate in cosmetology. Enroll now at Artee’s School of Cosmetology and Beauty Salon-Call: 680-0156; 2750267
Cashier’s & Salesperson for cosmetics/general store on the East Coast- Call: 642-1141
One bottom flat in Enmore $40,000 monthly – Call: 6003035 Huge bond space can hold up to four containers of goods & Huge corner lot at Meter-Meer- Zorg-Call: 6704036
Mining blocks with high potential in the Puruni, Erereku & Siparuni area – Call: 615-8810 or 668-3100
Affordable salon services: pedi, mani, wash & blowout, facials, etc $2,500 each. Vogue @ Kalyan Mall, Lamaha Street. Tel: 647-1773/660-5257
Bar worker to work in the Interior-Call: 231-0363 Male sales representative 25years and older @ Wieting & Richter Ltd-Call: 226-6150-7 Experienced Driver and porters @ Wieting & Richter Ltd-Call: 226-6150-7 Porter for water truck-Call: 680-3863
PROPERTY FOR SALE One commercial property at Sheriff Street, one double lot @ Cummings Lodge –Call: 638-8930; 653-8226 Large 4 bedroom concrete house for sale at Ruimzeight Garden W.C.D, Residential Area- Call: 269-0189; 268-3214 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461. 2 Storey 45x35 concrete property, lower flat incomplete- Land 65x120 @ Diamond N/S 5th Avenue, E.B.D- Call: 664-5052 Property in Prashad Nagar; top and bottom flat, land size 100X50. Contact Dennis & Nanda: 223-5934; 648-9226; 627-3557 Pearl: Well Built 1,995 Sq. Ft concrete structure 45X165 lot, formerly meeting hall 13.5M. Call: 649-1670
House in Bel-Air Park: 3 bedrooms upstairs/ downstairs, all modern conveniences -$1,600US monthly. Call: 231-7839 working hours
#53 Village: East Berbice, concrete house and land for sale, please submit offers, Call: 674-2155 Property for sale at South Half of 111 Bagotville, West Bank Demerara-Call:267-0117
From November 1st 2015: 4 bedrooms house in BelAir Gardens with all modern convenience. No agents! Call: 231-7839 working hours.
T&T Realty: Properties in West Minister, Robb Street (double lot); Alberttown, Canal #2 & rental. Call: 6609478
TAXI SERVICES
Huge property for sale Sheriff Street great location for a business of residential, lot size 60X110 –Call Today: 6704036
Mario’s Taxi Service; Travel & Collect Coupons to win a smart Phone, Drawing Every Month from October- Call: 225-7686; 225-7689
Albouystown- 3 Bedroom upstairs, downstairs parking and suitable for business$9M negotiable-Contact: 227-0583
Goedverwagting E.C.D: one space bedroom flat $45,000 monthly-Call: 657-3014
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. One 4-Shelf stand up cooler. Immaculate condition. Price $60,000 negotiable. Tel: 6546401 1 Complete sound system, 1 Vyper Sound, interested persons- Call: 265-3586 Reduced Prices: Dell/HP laptop & desktop computers complete, from $55,000, free games and educational software @ Future – Call: 231-2206 Pile Driving Hammers, weight 3 & 4 tons, 10 tons double steel wheeled roller, pneumatic roller -9 wheelsCall: 275-0538 or 683-7225 2,500 GLS, steel tank, 1-428 cat back-hoe, D4H cat bulldozer, 1 Leyland Daf 55 Tipper truck- Call: 275-0538 or 683-7225 20. Lengths-Plastic Sheet Piles, 1-930 CAT front end loaded, all in working condition-Call: 275-0538 or 683-7225 ‘One Manual Two-Function Home Used Hospital bed.’ Excellent condition Call: 6836200 Huskey Puppies for saleCall: 695-2377; 216-2364 One church & two storey house @ 180 Charlotte Street Bourda-Call: 624-7341; 2276817 2 Mixed German Shepherd and Pit-Bull female puppies, fully vaccinated-$20,000 each-Call: 269-0711; 6667895 Clean Garden Trucking Services and Builders Waste, also bobcat rental, excavating cleaning, leveling- Call: 627-9977; 6160617 1 Double Cab Nissan Frontier, 1 LX270 Yamaha jet boat-Call: 642-9486; 696-8534 1-Ford F250 truck, manual and lifted, 1-4-Stroke 40HP Yamaha Outboard – Call: 6843248; 662-9603; 653-0266; 696-0712 2-LL 7000 F.G Wilson Alternators (600KVA) Wieting & Richter Ltd-Call: 226-6150-7 One-1000 gallon fuel tank at (New Amsterdam Location) Wieting & Richter Ltd-Call: 226-6150-7 Just Arrived! Yamaha Outboard Engines –various sizes –Call: 698-7047; 6817737 Continued on page 72
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Sunday October 11, 2015
DENTAL ABSCESS From page 71 FOR SALE 1 Salon in full operation, prime spot in G/Town, stations rented, etc-Call: 680-6136; 677-1177 Second hand chair set & wall divider cabinet for -$90,000. Contact Small: 696-7155 1 Building on Mattew Allen Road, N/A, Berbice- Contact Wieting & Richter Ltd, Water St. Georgetown-Tel: 2266150-7 3 Jacuzzi –Call: 680-2095 Limited stock: 120z. Glass jars with Acid protective covers suitable for jam, achar, etcWieting & Richter Ltd-Call: 226-6150-7 Pools table (slate) & house hold items, rum shop equipment –Call: 616-0398; 676-7643; 269-0916 1 Complete music system, 6 base-Call: 221-2817; 699-5790 1-100 KVA Generator on trailer, 1-40HP, 2 Stroke Yamaha outboard. Call: 6843248; 662-9603; 653-0266; 6960712 Rottweiler pups with pedigree (certified) fully vaccinated and de-wormed. Call/ whatsapp: 592-664-5401 1-8 HP Tohatsu outboard, excellent condition- Call: 6425014
LAND FOR SALE House Lot: Republic Park, E.B.D. Developed AreaPrice: $17,5m. Or Make OfferCall 227-5194 1500 Acres Transported land 4 Miles from Bartica, 2 Miles River front, sand, loam, forestry, rock quarry, farming, resort-Call: 603-1266; 625-9788 Guyana’s 1st 5-Star Community, modern amenities, luxurious, recreational & business facility, security entry and more- land @ US$ 7.2SqFtCall: 650-0978 80X40ft. Land at B Field, Sophia. Well-developed and ready to build on. Call: 6836200 $1.2M (corner lot) Parfaite Harmonie, Farm (100ftX50ft) -$3M, Zeelught -$2.5M (100ftX50ft)-Call: 604-2207; 611-7223 Kuru Kururu 100X 200 residential lands, First Hill on Highway, 5 minutes walk in from Road-Call: 680-6136; 6771177 One plot of land for sale situated at 3167 Spurwing Drive, South Ruimveldt (corner lot), (size of land: 59’X90')-Call: 625-0356
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 minibus BJJ series – Call: 678-5887; 677-3177 Pitbull minibus-Call: 6886316; 603-4494
Houselot @ Wallers Delight W.C.D, 9 lots available in different size; road side land, great investment for business or huge bonds. Call: 670-4036
365 Acres cultivated, 1135 acres-unclean, house 20X60 AT170 Toyota Corona; need (porch)- Call: 657-0992 body works and CV. Asking $275,000 negotiable. Call: 663- Professional Realty: we buy/ 8033 sell/rent/value your real estate –Call: 694-3875; 6490353; 654-6198
EDUCATION Princeton College Forms 1-5 CXC Adults Classes, Grade 1-6 Lessons: Phonic lessons @ East Street-Call: 690-5008; 619-7911 Private Custom brokerage, Training Certificate CourseOctober 19, 2015 –Call: 2231506 or 694-8322 International Language Institute Classes for adults & Children, Spanish, English as Second Language, Portuguese, Dutch –Call: 2233556
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 656-0087 ,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N T A L @YAHOO.COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL. COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 6906494
VEHICLE FOR SALE We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 Toyota Noah & Voxy -$1.7M ‘G’ Series, never registered – Call: 617-2891 Quality unregistered cars @ cheap deals: 07 Allion $2.9M, 06 Bluebird-$2.65M, Manual Axela sports etc-Call: 616-3413 Two Hilux Pick up, one 3RZ, one Vigo-Call: 638-8930; 6538226 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 One 1.5 Ton Toyota Toyace Canter, GLL Series good working condition –Contact: 623-1202 PRR Series Toyota Sienta, excellent condition$1.7M negotiable-Call: 691-7475 2- Unregistered new model Tacoma, Step, crash bar, alarm, bed covering, mag rim-Call: 695-6461 or 6397758 AT170 stick gear $350,000 negotiable with papers also parts –Call: 656-5338 1 Toyota super custom bus, fully loaded BPP series price $1.6 negotiable Contact: 6470016 Unregistered Fielder Wagon, new shape Spacio, fully loaded, rims, camera, bodykit, HID, dark interior-Call: 6175536 Land Cruiser Prado in Mint condition, fully loaded, PNN Series-Call: 601-0053; 2750264 1 Toyota Granvia bus fully loaded BPP series price $1.7 negotiable Contact: 647-0016 Toyota Rush, AT212, AT192, Starlet Raum, Hilux 4 Runner, Tundra, Fielder & L-Touring Wagon, Nissan March & 4Door Pickup Call:644-5096; 697-1453 4 Wheel drive double cab, Hilux pickup in excellent condition –Call: 685-0942; 645-0240 3- Massey Ferguson Tractors, 1-MF tractor front bucket, 1 Toyota Forklift 3Ton, 1-Rav4 SUV. Call: 2580100
fitting dentures, wearing braces, increased hormonal levels during pregnancy and a number of other reasons. Swellings may be due to a dental abscess or severe periodontal disease. The main types of dental abscess are gingival abscess, periodontal abscess and periapical abscess. Gingival abscess is an infection in which a sac containing pus is formed at the gum line. It is caused by infection from bacteria that penetrate the Dr. Neromini Fagu gums after trauma or injury to · Tender, swollen lymph your mouth. Sometimes food particles nodes under your jaw or in get stuck in the gum line your neck · Sudden rush of foulleading to a gingival abscess. Gingival abscess only affects smelling and foul-tasting fluid your gum and not the tooth in your mouth and pain relief if the abscess ruptures or the ligaments. · Gum boil filled with pus Periodontal abscess is The tooth abscess won’t caused by the excessive growth of bacteria in the go away without treatment. space between the gum and If the abscess ruptures, the may decrease the root of your teeth. It is pain TO LET commonly a result of significantly but you still periodontal need to seek dental treatment. Fully furnished, air advanced conditioned, hot and cold disease. Left untreated, this If the abscess doesn’t drain, shower; 2 bedroom infection can cause the infection may spread to apartments, North Road, irreversible damage to the your jaw and to other areas Central Georgetown, $160,000 nearby bone and ligaments, of your head and neck. Left per month. Call: 676-0706 eventually leading to tooth untreated, you might even develop sepsis which is a life2 bedroom and 1 bedroom loss. threatening infection that A periapical abscess is apartments unfurnished for $85,000 and $70,000 per due to a chronic infection of spreads throughout your month respectively in the pulp that has spread to body. If you have a weakened Queenstown Georgetown. the surrounding tissues. Without a proper immune system your risk of a Call 227-4296 from 9am-4pm examination it would be hard spreading infection increases Apartments for rent @ to say the cause of the gum even more. Nandy Park, E.B.D-Call: 227- boil in the child mentioned The goal of treatment is 5194; 624-5194 above. However, if it is due to get rid of the infection. Your For foreigners fully furnished to a dental abscess then the dentist may cut into the two bedrooms apartment in parents need to stop treating abscess to drain the pus. A South. Hot & cold, cable, it at home and take the child root canal may be done to help washing machine & internet. to a dentist. The most eliminate the infection and Tel: 689-5877 common type of dental save the tooth. If the affected tooth can’t Fully furnished luxury 2 and abscess is a periapical 3 bedrooms apartments to let abscess. It usually occurs as be saved it may have to be (short and long term). Call: a result of untreated dental extracted. If the infection has caries, injury or previous spread to the nearby teeth, 603-9671 jaw or other areas, your dental work such as fillings. Apartments to rent @ dentist will likely prescribe If it is a baby tooth that is Prince William Street antibiotics to stop it from infected then there is a risk of Plaisance –Call: 674-0708 infecting the unerupted adult spreading further. Eccles single apartment tooth below. Avoiding tooth decay is upstairs include A/C, cable, Signs and symptoms of a essential in preventing a TV, Internet, furnished, etc, periapical abscess include: periapical abscess. Practicing short term – Call: 233-2770 · Severe, persistent, good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups will go a throbbing toothache · Sensitivity to hot and long way to ensure you keep your teeth. cold temperatures For more information · Sensitivity to the pressure of chewing or biting contact Omni Dental on Tel: 227-0025 or email questions · Fever comments to · Swelling in your face or and nerominifagu@hotmail.com. cheek ACCOMODATION Aracari Resort: rates from US$45; breakfast included, From page 13 fully air conditioned rooms, 5 mins away from the Demerara gave anyone money,” Sharma said on the new revelation. “But Harbour Bridge. Tel: 592-264- this man (is) just giving his commitment, similar to how Seeraj 2946 gave a commitment, to pay back $5,731,920 each and every Inner Retreat Hotel (rice) crop.” “So apparently GRDB again gave the RPA this money to Restaurant & Bar, Retreat Road Parika. Indoor /Outdoor bail out this man” he stated. “These are anomalies and bar in Picturesque setting – discrepancies that cropping up here and there, showing (how) these people are giving out money.” Phone: 260-4504; 685-6934 Kaieteur News understands that GRDB accountants have Saturdays & Sundays after supplied the junior Finance Minister with a list of farmers paid lunch @ Inner Retreat Hotel from the $100M sum, of which approximately $8M was Parika: Bar-B-Que & games: deducted for ‘legal fees’. However he has placed little pools, darts, table tennis etc credibility in the list and is expected to go after the RPA for – Phone: 260-4504 further information. By Dr. Neromini Fagu I recently had an interesting conversation with a patient. She has a friend whose child gets gum boils frequently. The mother of the child would squeeze the boil only to have the boil return again. She wanted to know what can be done to avoid the recurrence. Gum boil is a broad term that refers to various types of tissue overgrowth or swelling in the mouth. There are various reasons why people get gum boils. Gum overgrowth may be caused by the side effects of prescription medications, ill-
Priority should...
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US Ambassador warns that crime could turn away potential investors The Gleaner - United States Ambassador Luis Moreno has again appealed to Jamaicans to support the anticrime strategies of the security forces. Speaking in Montego Bay nearly 24 hours after six members of one family were brutally killed in neighbouring Hanover, Moreno warned that crime could turn away potential investors. He was speaking at the launch of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Expo 2015 held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. Moreno says one of the main objectives of his tenure is to increase US investment and trade in Jamaica.
Luis Moreno
He says with US firms already investing billions of dollars in Jamaica with commitments for millions more
on the horizon, the fight against crime has to be everyone’s business. Ambassador Moreno is again warning that the deadly lottery scam is doing tremendous damage to Jamaica and the United States. As part of the efforts to curtail it, he suggested that law enforcement authorities start by getting children to understand that it was not a case of people stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Instead, Moreno reiterated that a majority of those persons who fall victims to the scam are elderly persons who are sick or suffering from diminishes capacity and living on their pension.
CDB makes lifesaving investment in St Vincent and the Grenadines
The upgraded Bequia Hospital, which now has a capacity of 16 beds and enhanced amenities that will improve the quality of health care for the people of the Northern Grenadines KINGSTOWN, St Vincent — On the Northern Grenadine island of Bequia, if a pregnant woman goes into labour unexpectedly, sometimes her only option is to risk danger to herself and baby by traveling via speedboat to Kingstown, St Vincent to deliver. For many years, residents of Bequia and neighbouring Mustique could not depend on the hospital and clinic in Port Elizabeth to meet their primary health care needs. Getting the most basic medical treatment was often associated with hardship, high costs and long delays between being diagnosed and receiving treatment. Last week, that era ended
for the island’s 5,389 men, women, girls and boys when the newly reconstructed Bequia H o s p i t a l w a s officially handed over to the ministry of health and the environment and the community during a ceremony at the Port Elizabeth Health Complex. The upgrade initiative was supported through funding of US$325,800 under the sixth cycle of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), along with US$92,396 from the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines. The Port Elizabeth Clinic, also part of the complex and which was also funded under BNTF 6, was upgraded in 2013.
“Better access to health care saves lives, builds communities and strengthens economies. Our investment in the Port Elizabeth Health Complex is also — in many ways — an investment in the social and economic development of St Vincent and the Grenadines,” said Darran Newman, portfolio manager, BNTF at CDB, who also delivered remarks at the handover and opening ceremony. “This upgrade of the Port Elizabeth Health Complex improves the quality of health care and quality of life in the Northern Grenadines, and brings health services within the reach of the people on these islands,” she said.
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Bombs kill 86 at pro-Kurdish rally in Turkish capital ANKARA (Reuters) - At least 86 people were killed when two suspected suicide bombers struck a rally of proKurdish and labor activists outside Ankara’s main train station just weeks before elections, in the worst attack of its kind on Turkish soil. Bodies covered by flags and banners, including those of the pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), lay scattered on the road among bloodstains and body parts. The HDP blamed the government which, it said, had blood on its hands. Footage screened by broadcaster CNN Turk showed a line of young men and women holding hands and dancing, and then flinching as a large explosion flashed behind them, engulfing people carrying HDP and leftist party banners. “Like other terror attacks, the one at the Ankara train station targets our unity, togetherness, brotherhood and future,” said President Tayyip Erdogan, who has vowed to crush a Kurdish militant insurgency since the collapse of a ceasefire and resumption of intense violence in July.
Turkish Kurdish men shout slogans during a protest against explosions at a peace march in Ankara, in the Kurdish dominated southeastern city of Diyarbakir, Turkey, yesterday. REUTERS/Sertac Kayar
Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu told a news conference that 86 people had been killed and 186 wounded, 28 of whom were in intensive care. The HDP later said 97 had died. Witnesses said the two
explosions happened seconds apart shortly after 10 a.m. as crowds, including HDP activists, leftists, labor unions and other civic groups, gathered for a planned march to protest over the deaths of hundreds since conflict
resumed between security forces and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the mainly Kurdish southeast. There were no claims of responsibility for the attack, which comes as external threats mount for NATO
member Turkey with increased fighting across its border with Syria and incursions by Russian warplanes on its air space over the last week. But Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, exposing a mosaic
of domestic political perils, said Islamic State, Kurdish or far-leftist militants could have carried out the bombing. He said there w e r e s t r o n g s i g n s two suicide bombers were responsible.
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Kamla: A budget of deception
Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Trinidad Guardian - The PNM’s 2016 budget of deceptive figures will place financial pain on the poor, middle class, workers, small and medium businesses and everyone to whom costs are being passed on, Opposition Leader Kamla PersadBissessar warned Friday. Delivering the first budget reply in her new position as Opposition Leader, PersadBissessar added in Parliament Friday, “This budget appears designed to punish the poor and a vast majority of citizens ... to create financial hardship among those least able to manage it. The (Finance) Minister speaks of sharing the burden, even unions joined the PNM’s chorus of the need to share the burden. In reality, it’s only the lower and middle income who are sharing this burden. The deception is in the numbers. The devil is in the figures.” “The PNM has given T&T
half a budget, costing $63 billion with a deficit of $21 billion dollars and, in the same breath talking fiscal discipline, then they tell us the real budget will come next March...when the IMF arrives? So, citizens: hold your breath as you wait to exhale when the real budget comes. “These 2015 numbers are debatable. We’ll only know the real numbers some months from now, (but) the facts and figures will drown out the deception,” she said. Persad-Bissessar faced continuous haranguing from PNM members at the start of her speech. House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George had to call for order numerous times during PersadBissessar’s two-hour address. Annisette-George at one point had to tell Finance Minister Colm Imbert she was hearing him. Saying there were many deceptive elements in the budget, Persad-Bissessar said
Imbert’s presentation lacked context in his accusation of PP economic “mismanagement.” She began her address detailing and defending the PP’s economic handling, denying wastage and explaining government’s overdraft with the Central Bank. On budget implications, Persad-Bissessar said the personal allowance increase worked out to allowing individuals $250 more monthly, “or the princely sum of $8 per day, these days that can’t even buy two doubles.” Additionally, the VAT measures and fuel costs negated any benefit citizens would have received from this, she added. Persad-Bissessar questioned who would benefit from a reduction of VAT from 15 to 12.5 per cent. She said, “Already the items described as essentials: foodstuff, medication, etc, are VAT free. So it’s more likely persons involved in the purchase of luxuries will benefit. “The PNM Government is seeking to undo that not only by raising the prices of food and other items on their secret list by 12.5 per cent. But prices will escalate by substantially more than 12.5 per cent as a direct consequence of this.” Persad-Bissessar added, “The minister glossed over that the average citizen will have to pay more for food and basics.
Brazil lawmakers seek to oust speaker over Swiss accounts
BRASILIA (Reuters) - A group of Brazilian congressmen will seek the removal of lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha on ethical grounds after prosecutors confirmed the existence of undeclared bank accounts in his name in Switzerland, the leader of the leftist PSOL party said. Cunha, who has been charged with corruption for allegedly receiving a $5 million bribe in the Petrobras kickback scandal, denied holding Swiss bank accounts before a congressional inquiry into the massive graft scheme at the state-run oil company. But Brazil’s Prosecutor General said in last week’s statement to one of the lawmakers, Chico Alencar of the PSOL, that Swiss authorities had confirmed the existence of the accounts and froze their assets on the suspicion of money laundering. Alencar and other lawmakers plan to ask the lower house’s ethics council to look into the case next week
Eduardo Cunha
and rule on the removal of the speaker for lying about the accounts. “All the parties that have kept silent over this will now have to take a position in the Ethics Committee,” Alencar told reporters, waving a document he had been sent by the Prosecutor General. The prosecutor general’s office confirmed the statement had been sent to Alencar. Third in the line of presidential succession, Cunha is a key figure in Brazil’s political crisis because he can decide whether to open
impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff, something her opponents are seeking. The Folha de S. Paulo newspaper reported on Thursday that Cunha’s accounts at Julius Baer held $2.4 million in investment funds. Folha did not cite its sources for the information that it said the bank provided to Swiss authorities. Cunha has repeatedly denied receiving bribe money and has refused to answer questions about the Swiss accounts.
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Israeli forces shoot dead five Turkish editor jailed pending trial Palestinians as violence rages on for insulting Erdogan: media
Hamas militants attend the funeral of Palestinian Jihad Al-Obeed, who was shot dead by Israeli troops. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa JERUSALEM/GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli security forces yesterday shot dead two Palestinians aged 12 and 15 in protests along Gaza’s border fence, Palestinian medics said, and Israeli police said they killed three Palestinian assailants in separate violence in Jerusalem. Eleven days of bloodshed in which four Israelis and 19 Palestinians have been killed in Jerusalem, the Israelioccupied West Bank, Gaza and in Israeli cities have raised concerns about a new Palestinian uprising. Yesterday two Palestinians were shot dead by police after stabbing at least four Israelis in separate knife attacks near Jerusalem’s walled Old City, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. He said paramilitary police also killed a Palestinian militant after coming under fire from him during late-night clashes at the Shuafat refugee camp in East Jerusalem. Hamas, the Islamist Palestinian militant group which controls the Gaza Strip,
said in a statement that the Shuafat shooter was one of its members. “The hero martyr fought the Israeli occupation with language they understand,” Hamas said. In Gaza, Israeli soldiers shot dead the Palestinian boy and teenager as they were taking part in protests near the Israeli border security fence, Palestinian medical officials said. An army spokeswoman said the protesters, in an Israeli-declared no-go security zone by the border, were hurling burning tires and stones towards the soldiers, who fired warning shots in the air before shooting “at the main instigators”. Near the Old City’s Damascus Gate a Palestinian stabbed two police officers, seriously wounding one of them, a few hours after a 16year-old Palestinian stabbed and wounded two ultra-
Orthodox Jewish men nearby, Rosenfeld said. The violence has been fueled by Palestinian fears that visits by Jewish groups and lawmakers t o t h e Jerusalem Old City plaza revered in Judaism as the site of two destroyed biblical temples, are eroding Muslim religious control of the al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam’s third holiest shrine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said repeatedly that he will not allow any change to the arrangements under which Jews are allowed to visit the site but non-Muslim prayer is banned. His assurances over conditions at the site, known as Temple Mount to Jews and Noble Sanctuary to Muslims, have done little to quell alarm among Muslims across the region.
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A newspaper close to an Islamic cleric foe of Tayyip Erdogan said its editor had been remanded in custody ahead of trial on charges of insulting the Turkish president, fueling fears of a media clampdown ahead of a Nov. 1 election. The English-language Today’s Zaman chief editor Bulent Kenes was detained at its Istanbul offices last Friday, Dogan news agency said, and sent to Metris jail in Istanbul by court order. A crowd of around 200 people gathered at the offices of the paper and chanted support for Kenes Friday as he was taken away over charges of insulting Erdogan on Twitter. Protesters held up banners saying “Free media cannot be silenced”. Police and court officials were not immediately available to comment. “They are trying to silence the media. This is not befitting Turkey. Our people will never accept this,” Kenes was reported as telling the assembled media. The newspaper is staffed by many supporters of U.S.based cleric Fethullah Gulen, and it is sympathetic to his
views as well as being fiercely critical of the government. Erdogan accuses Gulen of seeking to overthrow him by means of a “parallel structure” of supporters in the judiciary, police, the media and other institutions. Gulen has denied such charges and Erdogan’s opponents say recent developments are an attempt to silence opposition before the polls, where Erdogan wants the ruling AK Party which he founded to win back the majority which it lost in a
June vote. Human rights groups say Turkey has one of the worst records for media freedom and for imposing long pre-trial detentions. The government denies this and says it does not try to silence dissent. Earlier this week Turkey’s largest pay-TV platform removed channels close to Gulen from its services on the order of a prosecutor. Last month prosecutors launched an investigation into Dogan Media Group for alleged “terrorism propaganda”.
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Elite League: Familiar faces shine at...
Letter to the Sports Editor
Schultz at (Jamaal Shabazz owned) club Morvant Caledonia United in Trinidad, which is fantastic for their career development, whilst also being a loss for football in Guyana at the same time. Guyana Head Coach Shabazz did however state on Thursday that there are plans to have Schultz, a prolific scorer, return to his old club Fruta Conquerors for some portion of the Elite League. Transfers have been key for the fortunes of clubs this season: with many new
WOULD THE GFF ELECTIONS OF OFFICE BEARERS BE COMPROMISED?
(From page 81) Daniel Wilson, who have been instrumental in the team settling towards the top end of the table. Of course, where there are incomings there always has to be outgoings; many young talented Guyanese players are not taking part in the Elite League this season, having found greater pastures in the more lucrative and established T&T Pro League: Kareem Knights of GFC and Sheldon Holder of Alpha United have joined Pernell
signings reinvigorating teams such as Pele and Alpha. Currently teams can sign any player not already signed to a club in Guyana, and once the transfer window opens up once again after the 14-game ‘Genesis’ part of the league ends, teams will be able to sign players from fellow clubs in the Elite League. It will be critical for clubs to use the window to bring in the right players as they all search for glory in a league which has remained competitive during its early stages.
Fernandes ton hand GCC... (From page 83) DCC on course with an opening stand of 56 before Perez was bowled by Lindore for 24. Lindore then accounted for Tevin Imlach (00), but Rutherford and Andrew Gibson steadied the chase with a third wicket stand of 40. Rutherford hit five fours before he went for 28, while Gibson remained unbeaten on 26 (4x4,1x6). Lindore took 2-26. At GNIC SC, Police trounced Third Class by 228
runs. Police posted 314-7 off their reduced quota of 35 overs after they were asked to bat. Corwin Austin anchored the innings with a fine 101 which contained fourteen fours and four maximums. Troy Benn cracked 50 (7x4,1x6), Trevor Benn 46 (4x4,4x6), Vishal Jaigobin 39 (5x4,1x6) and Reginald Rodrigues 31 (4x4). Martin Salik snared 3-57. Third Class were skittled for 86 in 14.4
overs in reply. Salik scored 34 (7x4) as Jaigobin picked up 42 off two overs and Joshua Paul 4-36. At Everest, the host trounced Diplomats by eight wickets. The visitors were bowled out for 106 in 24 overs, batting first. Shaheed Mohamed grabbed 4-16 and Javed Rasheed 2-14. Everest responded with 107-2 in 10 overs with Ashkaya Persaud scoring 47 and Mohamed 18.
Sunday October 11, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Slow down the pace today, Aries. This is a day to sit back and observe and contemplate.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may have to make some serious adjustments to your approach today in order to chime in with the energy of the group, Libra.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your nurturing instincts are strong today, Taurus. This is an excellent day to reveal your opinions. You've probably been sitting in the background, quietly observing and collecting data for quite some time.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You should feel a renewed sense of confidence today that will help anchor your emotions and give strength to your thoughts and ideas, Scorpio.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Things aren't necessarily going to go well today, Gemini. There is the potential for conflict. You may feel a bit lost in the fog. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today is a day of reckoning in some ways, Cancer. Attention to detail is important, but make sure it doesn't become your only focus. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Be more sensitive to other people's space today, Leo. Respect their feelings and give them room to breathe. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Think about old times and people with whom you've had strong connections, Virgo.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Many people spend their whole adult lives trying to discover their true self, Sagittarius. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Tod a y i s a n e x t r e m e l y creative day for you, Capricorn. You should allot time and space to pursuing an artistic goal. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Make sure you have everything in line now so you don't get caught dealing with that one thing that ends up putting a monkey wrench in your plans later. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your intuitive side is aligning with your rational side today, Pisces. Listen to your emotions.
Dear Sports Editor, “The ill effects of democracy, allows any misfit to be elected by will of the majority”! And in so doing it empowers the elected executive to resort to undemocratic norms and practices, in defiance of Constitutionality and Parliamentary procedures. Within this context editor, would the GFF Elections of Office Bearers, be once again subjected to “a comedy of errors continuing unabatedly”, or, would the process of “absolute power, corrupting absolutely unfolds? Can public clarification as an example, but definitely not a precept be provided to the following:” i) Which country as an affiliate of FIFA allows “Elite Clubs” the privilege of voting to elect a national Executive Committee? ii) The “ top heavy” Elite Clubs’ structure of 8 participants, gives Georgetown, in excess of 50% of the votes cast accordingly, in addition to 1 from the Association, amounting to 7 overall! Surely, “Horse-trading, power brokering and corruption” is more than likely to take centre stage. Sadly, absolutely nothing can be done to eliminate this scourge. iii) In relation to (i) should the “crème de la crème” be allowed to vote for a national executive in the lucrative European Leagues. I.e. Spain, England, Italy and France; reflective of USD billions. Then the Confederation of UEFA’s, integrity will be compromised significantly! iv) So, what is the rational for Georgetown, in acquiring the largest bloc of votes? Have the mandate of the GFF, changed? Whereby previously the UDFA (Linden) would have been assisted administratively and otherwise, towards ensuring at least 1 club, if not 2, would have participated in the Elite League. While not foregoing EBFA (East Bank)! With Bartica and Essequibo, presently still being administered by IMC’s and having an extended period of inactivity, exclusion for 2015 is quite in order! Finally, should any perceived voting member at the Congress, fail in its endeavour to fulfill the required obligations set out by the Normalization Committee, within the stipulated timeframe for submission, would their vote be nullified? In the event of a club being culpable, would the club’s participation in the Elite League continue? Is there any preferential treat-
ment for GDF’s participation, despite the fact that they can fulfill almost all the obligations, as per se “Constitutionality and Youth Development,” are equally important? Can it be ascertained if parliamentary procedure and constitutional articulation is being adhered to? “Whereby a stipulated amount of clubs is necessary for a meeting to be convened, while a 2/3 (Twothirds) majority is required to pass or adopt a motion, minutes et. al”. v) “While Nero fiddles, Rome burns”! So, too are meaningful ideals, from the mindset of the guardians of the nation’s football! Moreover, when a notice by way of article have appeared in your edition of the newspapers (24.09.15) whereby members of the public are being invited to submit submissions, on or before 01.10.15 at the GFF Secretariat relating to: “Inviting interested individuals who are desirous of serving on the Executive Committee of these associations” Guyana Futsal Association (GFA) & Guyana Beach Football Association (GBFA). Once again, editor, “the cart is being placed before the horse; while shutting the stable door, after the horses have already bolted”! Am I, a product of amnesia or senility; or a combination of both?
How on God’s good earth can both Associations’ being granted Affiliate status, surpassing Associate, devoid of convening an AGM; encompassing Minutes of a previous AGM; Elections of Office Bearers, et.al then “request interested individuals to attend a meeting”? Why the haste? Surely, it would have been more prudent for a comprehensive study to be undertaken domestically within the Associations respectively, identifying most importantly venues. Then thereafter, incorporate a national body (Association)! In Lethem, Bartica, Essequibo, West Demerara, East Bank and the East Coast, is there any indoor facility conducive to host Futsal? While Georgetown has the Sports Hall, in relation to international requirements for specification, is it conducive? However, as it relates to Beach Soccer, venues in the various Associations are more realistic! It’s my sincere desire that whoever is elected President, of the GFF, in conjunction with other elected executive members utilize my expertise and insights as an Administrative Consultant, towards rectifying our nation’s football development, since I’m not interested in any elected position. Respectfully yours, Lester Sealey.
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“Focus, firmness, innovation and imagination needed from WI captain Jason Holder v Sri Lanka!” Says Colin E. H. Croft West Indies has a tremendous opportunity to start Jason Holder’s Test captaincy with a great bang. After so much agro on captaincy, team selection and Head Coach Philip Simmons’ suspension, all now comes down to what should really matter most; real cricket on the field of play. Nothing should distract nor disorganize WI’s all-important thoughts on playing well. Players must find that singular frame of mind to do whatever it takes to win, as it would be very uplifting, fulfilling, even surprising to some, if they manage to beat Sri Lanka in all three formats. While all acknowledge usage of Twitter, Face-book, Whatsapp etc., it still seems strange that players use social media so prolifically, especially during games. That must take away focus. While touring Australia, England, Pakistan or elsewhere; four months at a time; I, for one, seldom contacted anyone during those periods except to briefly inquire about “well-being”. I was present 35 years ago; October 11, 1980; when my first offspring, Colin Lee, was born. Forty eight hours later, I was jetting to Pakistan with WI to help beat the hosts for the first time ever in that country; getting the most wickets too, even if another fast bowler, Sylvester Clarke, was our best bowler on that four-Test, three ODI tour. You have to do what you have to do! Managing to focus 100% while touring was a simple mind-set for me. If someone close died while I was on any tour, then I could not help them anyway. Also, while only radios and televisions were available for coverage of our tours back then, it meant
Jason Holder addresses his first media conference after his appointment as West Indies Test captain, Barbados, September 14, 2015 ©WICB Media Photo/Randy Brooks that, at least, if anything ontoward happened to me, then my relatives would certainly know too, via the commentators! Former WI fast bowler Ian Bishop, describing my expectations of cricketers and my own training, once said what both of my ex-wives openly concurred with; “Crofty, you are a very hard man!” To this day I am not entirely sure what those two beautiful women really meant, but, seriously, no player needs to be on social connections even after a day’s play, for it is guaranteed that everything done that day has already been ‘tweeted’ and ‘whatsapped’. Yes, we did get up to mischief, as international sportsmen do too, but, mostly, we won. So, focus, guys, focus! Sri Lanka could also be at their most vulnerable for some time, for this is also an opportunity for Angelo Matthews’ men to find out how they
would cope without absolutely mercurial, majestic superstars Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. During the last decade, they have coped well enough, after losing fast bowler Chaminda Vaas and off-spinner Muttiah Muraliatharan. WI’s biggest question mark would be the effectiveness of nearly 24-year old captain, Jason Holder. For all of his potential, he has no real foundation except that “he is a student of the game”, a description that could be used for even on-lookers. Therefore, he must try to cultivate that “devil take the hindmost” approach, taking full charge, doing what he thinks is right at any given time! Holder’s cricketing history of eight Tests, 16 wickets @ 35.37 each, 380 runs scored, one century, avg. 34.54 runs per innings; plus thirty-three ODI’s, 46 wickets @ 31.93 and RPO 5.66, 317 runs scored, avg. 22.64; will
Fans to win 3 return tickets to Bardados at Finals of “Guyana Softball Cup 5” Survival Travel Agency is giving away 3 return tickets to Barbados via LIAT, to 3 lucky spectators at the finals of “Guyana Softball Cup 5” on Sunday November 1st at the DCC Ground, Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown. Spectators just have to retain their half tickets which cost $500, and listen for their numbers to be called. The 3 day tournament is played in the Open Category (Male of any age) and Masters Category (Male 45yrs and over) is on Friday October 30th, Saturday October 31st
at various venues in Georgetown starting at 9:00am on each day. The two finals along with 3 females 10/ 10 exhibition games starts at 11:00am at the DCC ground on Sunday November 1st. Survival Travel Agency has been on board in all of the GFSCA annual International Softball Tournaments from its inaugural year 2011. Survival Group of Business is also giving away complimentary tickets for “Guyana Softball Cup”to all customers with purchases of over $5,000 at any of its branches in Sheriff
Street and Vissengen Road. Spectators also stand a chance to win 12 hampers with their half ticket. There will also be many give-aways at the finals. Guyana Softball Cup which features teams from New York, Florida, Canada and Guyana, is being sponsored by STAG, RUBIS Guyana, Trophy Stall, Survival, Steve Jewelery, WJ Enterprise, A&R Jewanram Printery, Clear Waters, Busta Soft Drinks, Rohan Auto Spares, Mike’s Pharmacy and GT&T.
not blow anyone’s clothes off, as achieved in Mark Walberg’s 2003 film “Italian Job”, that poor imitation of Michael Caine’s superb 1969 film of the same name. When Clive Lloyd became WI captain early 1974 to India, he had already played 36 Tests and had a nucleus of a great team, players who beat the world afterwards. (Sir) Vivian Richards had mostly that same team too, already fully matured, so it was impossible for his team to lose! Holder, like former England captain Mike Brearley, will have to prove himself as captain first, then anything else afterwards, using intensity, elasticity, possible innovation and imagination. He simply will have to take chances as WI’s leader! Just ask Donald Trump! Denesh Ramdin’s elimination as captain, along with his less-than-expected batting
returns, came with noises that he had no imagination whatsoever as captain. Not always will anyone be successful as captain, but always will he or she be judged on abilities to in-vigor things; to lead aggressively. Ramdin was singularly lacking there! Australians Steve Waugh, especially Mark Taylor and my favorite Aussie captain and batsman, Ian Chappell, were team leaders who made things happen, never being patient enough to just wait for possible eventualities. Yes, they had pretty good teams, but to win, they had to take chances too! Former WI captains (Sir) Richie Richardson, Darren Sammy, Carl Hooper, Brian Lara, (Sir) Gary Sobers, Chris Gayle, even Courtney Walsh, have sometimes been maligned when they did not win. While they took chances in games, sometimes also de-
pending way too much on their own abilities, at least they used their imaginations. Conversely, Jimmy Adams, Shiv Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan were way too conservative as captains, even if they did produce well as batsmen. Per Walt Disney World; ‘This is the best time of your life!’ It must be for Jason Holder! Enjoy! E-mail address = c.e.h.croft@gmail.com
Jayasundera and Bhanuka drive Sri Lanka Board President’s XI ESPNcricinfo - Sri Lanka Board President’s XI took control of the West Indians’ three-day warm-up encounter at the SSC, as two young batsmen struck centuries. Udara Jayasundera remained unbeaten on 124 at stumps, by which time the hosts had whittled out a 24-run lead, with seven first-innings wickets in hand. Jayasundera had shared a 214-run stand with 20-year-old wicketkeeperbatsman Minod Bhanuka, who hit an attractive 101 from 160 balls. The partnership was all the more impressive for the state of the scoreline at its beginning. They had come together third ball after Kemar Roach had dismissed two batsmen from the Test squad in successive deliveries; Kusal Mendis was caught at point, and Lahiru Thirimanne offered an edge to the wicketkeeper. As Sri Lanka have picked only eight batsmen in its Test squad, Thirimanne’s failure is unlikely to force him out of the Test XI, but it does put further pressure on the batsman, who has had a modest home Test season so far. Jayasundera was largely the more secure of the two batsman, and Bhanuka was the strokemaker who occasionally rode his luck, with thick edges either passing between or over the slips. Bhanuka was especially quick on the short ball, pulling and hooking the West Indians’ seamers, while Jayasundera
File photo - Udara Jayasundera hit 17 fours and 2 sixes © International Cricket Council relied more on his drive. They runs an over. Holder removed were circumspect against Bhanuka late in the day, and Roach and Jason Holder, who the President’s XI went to were the most disciplined of stumps at 233 for 3. the quicks, but scored freely Earlier in the day, Suraj off the wayward Shannon Randiv had completed an imGabriel. Jerome Taylor was pressive five-wicket haul rested on Saturday, and did when he removed Shai Hope not bowl. and Holder on consecutive The West Indian spinners deliveries. Denesh Ramdin’s were unable to make a break- dismissal for 20 left West Inthrough on a pitch that had dians at 166 for 9, but some slowed down considerably. big-hitting from Carlos Frontline spinners Devendra Brathwaite, who struck four Bishoo and Jomel Warrican sixes and four fours in his 54, both traveled at more than 4.5 took the visitors to 202 all out.
Sunday October 11, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 81
Elite League: Familiar faces shine at new clubs By Santokie Nagulendran There’s a hint of irony in the fact that a 33-year old veteran striker whom many had written off has stolen all the headlines so far in the GFF Elite League which began a few weeks ago. The league’s long-term aim is to develop a new generation of young local players who can compete at the highest level, yet for now, it is Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, part of the previous generation of Guyana’s finest footballers, who has captured attention around Guyana. Richardson is one of the many players who has joined a new club in the Elite League and it’s no surprise that the three teams who have remained undefeated as of Friday night (Alpha, Pele and Slingerz FC) have done so due to the shrew acquisitions they have made this season. Pele FC were not given much coverage in the buildup to the league, with heavy focus on power-house sides Alpha United and Slingerz FC dominating news stories, even GFC were heavily hyped up as a team more likely to cause a stir in the league. However, in what is surely the most astute signing of the season, Pele FC recruited Richardson from Alpha United and he has paid the
Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson has been reinvigorated since joining Pele FC. club back in spectacular fashion, even scoring a two-goal brace against his former club Alpha not so long ago in a 22 draw. His presence has been complimented with the capture of Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant, also formerly of Alpha, as the duo have massively strengthened Pele. Naturally, with a remarkable 5 goals in 5 games so far, many fans are questioning why Richardson was not part of the National Team for World Cup qualifiers this year. When I spoke to Alpha United Coach and Assis-
tant National coach Wayne Dover for an interview in February, he cited that whilst Richardson was the most talented player of his generation, his attitude and discipline was what kept him from making the National Side. It was not too long ago that Richardson was suspended by Alpha for breaching club rules whilst during a CONCACAF Champions League game in USA. The Golden Jaguars are a side that are attacking, they scored six goals over two games in June, so the inclu-
GABA launches official website The Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) officially launched a website during a simple ceremony on Friday at Starr Computers on Brickdam; the website had been in th e making for quite some time. President of the GABA, Junior Andrew Hercules, was optimistic that the site (www.gabagy.com) will help to bring awareness to the association and affiliated clubs in Georgetown, as well as the sport of basketball, in Guyana. The site is expected to provide player profiling, team profiling, player statistics, updates as well as live scores for
Andrew Hercules games in the near future. The site is aimed at giving the sub-association greater
scope to publish information on its work. While stats for players have been limited to simply stats over the years, Hercules highlighted that GABA will be partnering with the Guyana Basketball Officials Council (GBOC), and long with the coaching association, to help eliminate such problems. To that end, GABA and GBOC have planned workshops, as well as a few test runs, before the start of 2016. The site is expected to have 10 pages and will also provide spaces for sponsors to advertise on the site as a means of generating revenue.
DCC to play GYO as Floodlights Under-13 cricket starts today at 6:00PM The Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association in collaboration with the Demerara Cricket Club is starting a 13yrs an under Cricket (Hardball) tournament from 6:00pm t o d a y. Today will see the first
match between DCC B team a n d GY O b e i n g c o n t e s t e d . DCC will feature 2 teams in the tournament along with teams from Everest, GCC, Ma l t e e n o e s , T r a n s p o r t , GNIC, Bel Air Rubis and GYO. Any other team wishing
to participate is welcome to join. All matches will be played in the night. Fixtures for other matches will be made available shortly. Matches will be 20/20. This tournament is sponsored by GFSCA and the Trophy Stall.
sion of Richardson may not have had such an impact as fans would like to think on a side that was more in need of defensive quality rather than more attacking options. At 33 years old, one must also question whether Richardson fits into the make-up of a young National side which coach Jamaal Shabazz hopes can stay together as a unit for years to come. Slingerz FC came into the league as undoubtedly the favourites, having won Kashif and Shanghai’s famous tournament earlier this year and also being undefeated in all games this calendar year. Owner of the club Javed Ali confidently declared that he sees the league as a chance for his club to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League and face the best clubs in North America. The club have not lost a game (as of writing), and only conceded one goal in the first four games they played, a credit to new signing Winslow McDowell, a goalkeeper who featured for St Vincent against Guyana in June. Fellow new signing from SVG Jolanshoy McDowell has also been a revelation in central defence alongside
Golden Jaguar Colin Nelson, and this is an example of one benefit of the league; it allows Guyanese players to learn from overseas players as they develop their own game. One critique may be that Slingerz do not have enough firepower in their line-up, having drawn three games and famed striker Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams failing to find form, but the West Side club do have Domini Garnett, an Under-23 National Player who this time last year was prolific for Grove Hi-Tech, having returned to Guyana after a short stint at T&T side Morvant Caledonia United. Garnett scored his first goal for the club last week and will surely prove his worth as a great signing by adding to that tally in the coming weeks as he develops with the team. The club also announced more big signings on Thursday. Dominican International Julian Wade returns to the club after a trial in England, whilst US-based Golden Jaguar Brandon Beresford has also joined in what is arguably the biggest transfer of the season, as he is a talented attacking midfielder who is more than capable of finding the net.
With the new signings added to an already strong side, Slingerz undoubtedly have the strongest side in the league. Alpha United have also benefitted from new signings: midfielder Dwayne Lawrence joined from Slingerz FC this season and made an immediate impact on his debut against GFC two weeks ago by scoring and making an assist to help Alpha to their first win of the season after two draws in their previous games, whilst National Under23 defender Sherwin Skeete has been a useful addition to Alpha’s back-line. That’s not to discredit the club’s more experienced players, such as Kithson Bain and (Continued on page 79)
4th Annual Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Competition
Enterprise continue merry run with win over reigning champs Reigning champion Stella Maris became another casualty of Enterprise as play in the 4th Annual Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Competition resumed yesterday, at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park. Enterprise who pounded Winfer Gardens 7-0 in their opening encounter, rolled past the defending champs 3-0 to stay unbeaten in this year’s tournament. In another highly anticipated clash, South Ruimveldt continued its mastery over West Ruimeldt after registering a slim 1-0 win courtesy of a cracking free kick from about 20 yards out by Zacharia Pemberton. Last year’s beaten finalist St. Pius, who benefitted from a walkover last week finally took to the field to defeat North Georgetown 2-0 in a clash that had a bit of controversy. St. Sidwell continue to be a no show after handing Rama Krishna a walkover, while St. Angela’s made it two from as many matches with a win over Sophia. Action in the competition continues next Saturday, at
the same venue. In the day’s full results: Game-1 St. Sidwell vs Rama Krishna Rama Krishna won via walkover Game-2 St. Stephen’s-3 vs J.E. Burnham Ronaldo Forde-10th and 34th Otis Straughn-31st Game-3 St. Angela’s-9 vs Sophia Primary-0 Keyon Douglas-4th, 7th, 9th, 11th and 16th Antwoine Vincent-29th and 34th Antonio McArthur-15th Kenroy Cadogan-30th Game-4 F.E. Pollard-1 vs Smith Memorial-1 Smith Memorial Scorer Dwayne Kellman-9th F.E. Pollard Scorer Jamal December-28th Game-5 Marian Academy-0 vs St Agnes Primary-5 Daniel Pollard-10th and 28th Ronald Abrams-16th and 40th Mwange Smith-18th
Game-6 Enterprise Primary-3 vs Stella Maris-0 Seon Archibald-13th Martin King-28th Garfield Caesar-32nd Game-7 St. Gabriel’s-0 vs Winfer Garden Primary-2 Makhaya Munroe-23rd and 37th Game-8 Comenius Primary-0 vs St. Margaret’s Primary-3 Makhi Adams-20th, 21st and 26th Josiah King-34th Game-9 East La Penitence Primary vs St. Ambrose St. Ambrose won via walkover Game-10 School of the Nations-0 vs Tucville Primary-3 Anthony Vandy-11th Rayheim Marques-18th and 30th Game-11 South Ruimveldt-1 vs West Ruimveldt Primary-0 Zacharia Pemberton-11th Game-12 North Georgetown-0 vs St. Pius Primary-2 Sherwin Nelson-16th Selwyn Jones-25th
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Kaieteur News
Stag Elite League
UPPER CORENTYNE 4R 20/20
Richardson and Grant sends Pele to the top; GDF claw back to tie with Alpha By Franklin Wilson Gregory Richardson continues to light up the Stag Elite League with his nimble foot movements as well as his ability to finish. The league’s leading goal scorer made it five in as many matches, scoring the winning goal that led Pele to their third win, a 2-1 triumph over Fruta Conquerors on Friday evening last at the Tucville ground. Richardson, winner of the Courts and E-Networks player of the month awards, also featured in the first goal as his pass into the box resulted in his Captain, Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant sending them ahead in the 18th minute. Friday’s opening game of the double header saw the Guyana Defence Force clawing their way back to draw with Alpha United, 1-1. There seems to be no stopping Richardson as he was again the pivotal link in Pele’s attack. He was too hot for Conquerors’ Deon Williams and crew to handle showing his class with the ball and ability to think fast. Conquerors had many positive moments of their own but the lack of potency in the final third put paid to their
chances of at least coming away with an equal share of the points. Pele went ahead in the 18th minute when Captain Travis Grant hammered the ball past goalkeeper Alex Murray on the third attempt. Shooting to goal on the right side was Richardson but his shot hit the cross bar and rebounded into play where another Pele player missed a simple header. Third time lucky, the ball came into the path of Grant who made no mistake. He was ecstatic to score and he ventured to celebrate on the sidelines with fellow players and fans. The advantage was defended by Pele up until the 59th minute when Dennis Edwards drew Conquerors level. And as he has done in the tournament twice before, against Alpha United and Slingerz FC, Richardson saved the day for his side. He netted the final goal in a 2-2 draw with Alpha and the 1-1 tie with Slingerz, this time around; it was the winning strike against Conquerors and Pele’s 10th goal of the league, the most by any team, an average of two per match. His 64th minute goal turned out to be the winner, his fifth
of the league so far and Pele’s third win which took them to the top of the leader board on 11 points, Conquerors remains on 7 and third place. Alpha United took the lead against the Guyana Defence Force when Grenadian forward Kithson Bain found the back of the nets in the 9th minute. It was a ding dong battle between the sides with the Army boys never backing off. They were rewarded one minute before half time with a penalty after a handled ball in the area by an Alpha player. Veteran player Seon Erskine was entrusted with taking the shot and he did not disappoint as he slotted past Alpha’s Sherdon Bowman in the 44th minute. The second half was as hot as the current weather pattern and did not produce any goals, the final outcome a 1-1 draw which saw Alpha falling to the number two position behind Pele, while the GDF moved to five points. The league continued last evening at the #5 ground, West Coast Berbice with two more matches. Slingerz faced Buxton United, while ‘The Upsetters’ GFC took on Monedderlust.
Jaguars’ 4-Day practice match at Bourda tomorrow
Johnson, Hetmyer to lead teams As the time to go into battle in defence of the PCL title, the Guyana Jaguars Franchise will polish off preparations with two four-day practice games with a final squad to be named shortly after the first practice game at Bourda which starts tomorrow. The Jaguars will face the Windwards Volcanoes from November 6 at Providence before facing the Leewards Hurricanes and Barbados Pride at the same venue before departing for Trinidad and Jamaica for the last two
games for the year. Tomorrow’s game is scheduled to commence at 09:00hrs and concludes at 16:00hrs due to the time of the year in Guyana. Admission is free and fans can use the Rohan Kanhai and the ‘old’ Kenny Wishart stands and expect four days of riveting cricket from all of Guyana’s top players and Bajans Raymon Reifer and Javon Searles. The second practice game will be played from October 26-29 at the Providence Sta-
Sunday October 11, 2015
dium and admission is also free. Teams: Leon Johnson’s Team: Assad Fudadin, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Leon Johnson, Vishaul Singh (vice - captain), Christopher Barnwell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Steven Jacobs, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Kemol Savory, Anthony Adams, Akshaya Persaud Shimron Hetmyer Team: Shimron Hetmyer, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Robin Bacchus, Tevin Imlach, Kevon Boodie, Kemo Paul, Dexter Solomon, Javon Searles, Paul Wintz (vice – captain), Steven Sankar, Keon Joseph, Raj Nanan, Gudakesh Motie, Raun Johnson
QUERTER FINALS ACTION TODAY Yacoob 101*, (No. 70 A), Singh 105* (No. 64) secure last places in quarters
Anthony Seeraj
Totaram Persaud
The Upper Corentyne 4R 20/20 quarter-final action is fixed for today with Yakusari Caribs vs. No. 64 Fighting Marines at Yakusari in Quarter-final 1. In quarter-final 2 Skeldon take on No. 48 Challengers at the Skeldon Community Centre, over at No. 69 Ground in Quarter-final 3, No. 69 Vikings will take on No. 73 Young Warriors and in Quarter-final 4 Corriverton will face off against No. 70 ‘A’ at the No. 73 Ground. All matches will start at 1:00pm. There were some exciting final rounds games at various venues where teams were trying to gain places in the quarter-finals. At the No. 72 ground No. 70 ‘A’ defeated No. 72 Cut and Load by 54 runs and qualify as the runner up team in their zone behind No. 69 Vikings. Batting first No. 70 ‘A’ scored 186 for 7 off their 20 overs with opener Naeem Yacoob hitting the ball all over the ground with 101 not out (7x4 & 6x6) and was supported by Omesh Kumar 30. Bowling for No. 72 Cut and Load Michael Singh took 2 for 25 off 4 overs, K. Ajib 2 for 26 off 4 overs and Adbul Ajib 2 for 39 off 3 overs. In reply No. 72 Cut and Load were bowled out for 131 off 19.3 overs with Davanand Chatterpaul 43 and K. Ajib 28 were the top scorers. Bowling for No. 70 ‘A’, veteran second division cricketer Alim Haniff bagged 3 for 19 off 4 overs and Naeem Yacoob return with the ball and took 3 for 30 off 4 overs. Over at the Tagore Memorial Secondary School ground, No. 64 Fighting Marines defeated No. 70 M.Y.O by 81 runs. Batting first No. 64 Fighting Marines scored 186 for 5 in their 20 overs with Somdat Singh hammering 105 not out (10x6 & 2x4) and was supported by Ramesh Joseph 29 and Jason Itwaru 23. Bowling for No. 70 M.Y.O Alim Khan took 2 for 23 off 4 overs and was supported by Ahmad Khan 1 for 24 off 4 overs. In reply No. 70 M.Y.O were bowled out for 105 off 17.3
overs. Only three batsman reach double figures Fayaz Narinedat 30, Mahmood Khan 17 and Abbas Hussain 12. Bowling for No. 64 Fighting Marines Ramzan Subhan 6 for 18 off 4 overs did the job for No. 64 Fighting Marines. At the No. 69 ground, No. 69 Vikings defeated Crabwood Creek Sports Club by 8 wickets in a match which was reduced to 15 overs per side and toping the group with 7 wins and 1 loss. Batting first C.W.C Sports Club scored 129 for 4 off 15 overs with Naresh Deo 48, B. Sukhram 34 and Lionel Seegobin 28 being the top scorers. Bowling for No. 69 Vikings, former UCCA U -19 spinner Wadikar Ramrattan took 2 for 13 off 2 overs and was supported by Deon Brandit 1 for 15 off 3 overs and Viendra Gooniah 1 for 18 off 3 overs. In reply No. 69 Vikings scored 130 for 2 in 14.2 overs with Totaram Persaud top scoring with 65 (4x4 & 3x6) and was supported by Latchman Roopchand 19 and Viendra Gooniah 15. Bowling for C.W.C Sports Club M. Tulsi was the pick of the bowlers taking 1 for 20 off 3 overs. At the C.W.C sports complex, Corriverton defeated C.W.C Young Royals by 8 wickets, becoming the only team in the competition to win all of their preliminary rounds matches. Batting first C.W.C Young Royals scored 101 all out in 16.2 overs with Rabindra Singh 24, Jaleel Singh 15 and Raymond Yacub 14 were the only batsman to reach double figures. Bowling for Corriverton Deoprakash Ramdat took 2 for 1 off 1 over, Errol Byass took 2 for 5 off 2.2 overs and Amzan Appalsammy 2 for 11 off 4 overs. In reply Corriverton raced to 105 for 2 in 12.5 overs with Anthony Seeraj 53 not out (6x4 & 3x6) and Deoprakash Ramdat 22 not out. Bowling for the C.W.C Young Royals Rajiv Mohabir was the pick of the bowlers taking 1 for 22 off 4 overs. And at the No. 52 ground,
Somdat Singh
Naeem Yacoob No. 48 Challengers defeated No. 52 Survival by 10 wickets. Batting first No. 52 Survival were bowled out for 111 in 16.2 overs. Ravi Rampertab 15, Delton Lowenfield 13 and Akeem Jeffery 10 were the only batsman to reach double figures. Bowling for No. 48 Challenger J. Baijnauth took 4 for 20 off 4 overs and T. Persaud 3 for 20 off 3 overs. In reply No. 48 challengers raced to 112 in 8 overs with T. Persaud return with the bat and scored and even half century and Balram Persaud 49. Both were not out. This competition is being organized by the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association and is sponsored by Mr. Ricky Deonarain of 4R bearing of Georgetown. The final is set for the Crabwood Creek sports complex under lights with the winner taking $100,000 and a trophy. There will also be some other exciting matches fixed for that day which will be announced later. The UCCA wishes to thank Mr. Ricky Deonarain for this sponsorship as this is the biggest 20/20 second division competition to be played in Berbice. So far the competition was run smoothly with no delay in the fixtures so far. The Semi Finals will be played on Sunday October 25, 2015 at a venue to be announced. Semi final 1 will see the winner of Quarter Final 1 facing off against the winner of Quarter Final 4 and Semi Final 2 will be the winner of Quarter Final 2 vs. winner of Quarter Final 3.
Sunday October 11, 2015
Kaieteur News
Men’s Physique champion Emmerson Campbell is IPA / Universal Nutrition Brand Ambassador
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GCA/NBS second division tourney
Fernandes ton hand GCC massive victory, Wins for DCC, Police, Everest By Zaheer Mohamed
IPA Sales and Marketing Manager, Atisha Isaacs (2nd left) hands over the sponsorship package to Emmerson Campbell in the presence of the IPA’s Managing Director, Reginald Persaud (left) and Telemarketer, Fleur Blanckaert. I n t e r n a t i o n a l Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA), importer of the Universal Nutrition line of supplements has signed Guyana’s Men’s Physique champion, Emmerson Campbell as a brand ambassador. The terms and conditions of the deal which were agreed upon yesterday were not disclosed but the partnership runs until next year. Campbell placed second
in his first show last December at the annual Flex Night International event. Since then, he has dominated every local competition he has entered, including a coveted win at Senior National Championships in July. The 5’ 8" chiseled athlete also placed fourth at the CAC championships last month in the Bahamas. IPA and Universal said it is proud to support Campbell as he prepares to compete at
Flex Night once again this December and is proud to associate their portfolio of premium products with Campbell. Since opening its door 25 years ago, IPA has been the sole distributor of Universal products. Universal Nutrition has been providing cutting edge and staple n u t r i t i o n a l products to bodybuilders and hard training athletes the world over since 1977.
Elon Fernandes stroked a fine century as host Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) defeated Ace Warriors by 287 runs when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/ New Building Society second division 40-over tournament continued yesterday. The left-handed Fernandes added 173 for the second wicket with Manny Forde after the home team lost opener Martin Pestano Belle for 14. Fernandes struck thirteen fours and one six before he was run out for 102 as GCC rattled up 406-7 off their allotted overs, after they decided to bat. Forde hit eleven fours in scoring 74, while Ronaldo Ali Mohamed slammed 83 (8x4) and Devon Lord 43 (5x4). Nikita Lawson grabbed 3-49 and Quincy Gordon 2-92. Ace Warriors were sent packing for 109 in 15 overs in reply. Yekini Favourite
Elon Fernandes
Manny Forde
offered some resistance with 39 (6x4) while Roger Aaron and Gordon made 16 and 15 respectively. Mohamed returned to take 3-14 and Joshua Wade 2-43. At Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), the host thumped Guyana Defence Force (GDF) by seven wickets. GDF never recovered after losing a few early wickets and were bowled out for 110 in 27
overs. Francis Mendonca struck 35 (5x4,1x6) while Randy Lindore made 18 and Damien Ross 14. Off-spinner Lynden Lyght and left arm spinner Ashmead Nedd were the main destroyers; Lyght bowled with variation to finish with 4-12 including a hat-trick while Nedd had 433. Raymond Perez and Sherfene Rutherford put (Continued on page 79)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday October 11, 2015
Sunburst Orange Juice commits to Vieira once again After putting together two strong performances in Jamaica and Barbados, multiple times Caribbean M o t o r R a c i n g Championship (CMRC) Superbike champion Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira is oozing confidence ahead of the final leg of the Series scheduled to be staged in November, at the South Dakota Circuit. However, it is not only Viera who is brimming with confidence, but his main sponsor too, Continental Agencies Limited under its Sunburst Orange Juice brand. On Wednesday at the Company’s location in Industrial Site, Marketing and Sales Manager Avalon Jagnandan handed over a cheque for an undisclosed sum to the Superbike racer to enhance his preparations ahead of the season ending Meet in front of his supporters. In a release, Continental Agencies said it is pleased to continue its affiliation with
Vieira, who is a Brand Ambassador for the Company. The released added that the local speedster has embraced the slogan of Sun Burst which is a branded juice of champions as emphasised by his dominance, during the Caribbean Series. Continental Agencies has over the years supported sports in Guyana in a wide array of areas including motor racing, badminton, football, table tennis, karate, hockey and golf and is committed towards the growth and development of sports in Guyana. The Company extended best wishes to Vieira as he aims to continue his dominance in the Region. After a somewhat disappointing season last year, the local speedster has looked revitalized and betting against him might not be the wisest thing to do. Vieira, who registered two first places and a second from three starts in Jamaica to commence the Series on a
Continental Agencies Limited Marketing and Sales Manager Avalon Jagnandan (right) hands over the sponsorship cheque to Superbike racer Stephen Vieira at the Company’s location at Industrial Site last Wednesday. high and that, included a blistering 1.11.665.lap to establish a new record at the recently constructed Jamwest Track in
Westmoreland. Vieira was extremely thankful to Mr. Rakesh Puri and Continental Agencies through its Sunburst brand
for the support they’ve offered him over the years. He added that come November he expects to be 100% ready to defend home
turf and title and urged all his supporters to come out and witness what is building up to be an exhilarating day of races.
Sunday October 11, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 85
11 Hand-in-Hand Insurance Nat. Park Meet th
Raynauth ‘Obeah Man’ Jeffrey blisters field in feature event His performance was as hot and scorching as the current weather pattern being experienced; it was Raynauth ‘Obeah Man’ Jeffrey at the inner circuit of the National Park yesterday in the feature event of the 11 a n n u a l H a n d - i n Hand Insurance 11-race cycling National Park Meet. The Team Coco’s rider lapped the 23-man field on his was to recording a resounding win. So dominating was Jeffrey, who recently returned from the USA following a surgery to his collar bone following an accident; that he achieved the feat of lapping the field by lap 17. He won six of the eight sprint prizes as he stopped the clock at in One Hour, 17 Minutes, 01.99 Seconds. Jeffrey’s teammate Hamzah Eastman placed second and th
was followed by Raul Leal (Team Gillette Evolution), Junior Niles (Team Coco’s), Horace Burrowes (Guyana Cycling Federation President), and Stephano Husbands (Team Coco’s). Husbands and Jamal won a sprint prize each. In other results; B M X 6 - 9 John Niles, Christopher Goring, Alexander Leung BMX Boys 9-12 S i m o n Chee, Christopher Goring, S h e a S u e H a n g BMX Boys 12-14 A d e l i a Hodge, Jonathon Jagdeo, Thuran Garbarran Boys & Girls 12-14 Ronaldo Narine, Ronella S a m u e l s Ve t e r a n s U n d e r - 5 0 Junior Niles, Horace Burrowes, Shameer Baksh Ve t e r a n s O v e r - 5 0 Linden Blackman, Virgil JonesJuveniles Jamal John, Raphael Leung,
Category winners and other competitors with representatives of the sponsors and organizer Hassan Mohamed after yesterday’s presentation.
Christopher Griffith Mountain Bikes S h a n e Bourne (1 win @ NP), Marcus Keiler, Seon Budhan Hand-in-Hand Insurance has st
maintained its tradition of presenting BMX bicycles and helmets to three young promising cyclists. This year’s recipients are Simon
Chee, Ajani Cutting and John Niles. Representing the sponsors at yesterday’s activity was Ms. Savita Singh, Ms. Chandranie
Karran and Ms. Bonicka Gordon. National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed MS., coordinated the event.
Noble House Seafoods 2nd division cricket
UG get 1st innings points from MSC GNIC 125-5 replying to TSC’s 233 By Sean Devers At Malteenoes, the home team were in dire straits on 12-2 in their second innings still 57 runs away from an innings defeat against UG, while GNIC were in a precarious position on 125-5 in reply to TSC’S 233, still 109 away from first innings points at the GDF ground when the first day of their G C A’ s N o b l e H o u s e Seafoods two-day quarter final games ended yesterday. At MSC, the hosts were bowled out for 130 with Shaquille Moseley top scoring with an unbeaten 30 in a 26-run last wicket stand with Jomal Mckenzie (4). ICC Americas batsman Akeem Dodson (29) and Skipper Steven Sankar (26) also offered token resistance t o o ff - s p i n n e r D e n n i s Heywood (5-48). Lloyd George (3-45) and Ray Newtown (2-14) supported with the ball for UG who took a 69-run first innings lead by making 199 all out. Sankar had three expensive wickets, while Nichosie Barker had 2-5 for MSC who lost two late afternoon wickets when
Devon Nandan hits Clyde Butts (4-65) for six during his attacking 59 for TSC at GDF.
Jomal Mckenzie is bowled by Dennis Heywood (5-45) to break a 26-run last wicket stand for MSC. Barker (0) and Jewel Alleyne (5) fell in the space of a run before bad light stopped play with Floyd Rawlings (1) and Dodson (4) at the crease. Earlier, after Barker (14) departed at 16-1 as no MSC batsman passed 30. Vishaul Narayan (10) was the only other batsman to reach double figures as the c o m p e t i t i o n ’s l e a d i n g wicket taker, Haywood decimated the batsmen in sweltering heat. UG’s Leon Williams began with an audacious
whip off his pads followed by an elegant push for a couple of boundaries off McKenzie before George (0) edged Delon Dalrymple to second slip at 8-1 and Provendralall Singh fell for 14 as the Students started shakily. Former Guyana U-15 batsman Williams (28) caressed Dalrymple past his ankles for a gorgeous four before he was taken at slip off Moseley who also dismissed Dwayne Dodson (19).
A boundary off Sankar from Shalim give UG first innings points while a six, which landed on the roof of the Tutorial Secondary School off Sankar, brought up Shalim’s 50. Shalim pulled a nice juicy full toss from Rawlings for Barker to hold a magnificent catch on the square-leg boundary to end his wonderful 73 with five fours and four sixes at 192-9. Shalim shared a 47-run ninth wicket stand with George who made 21 not out.
At the GDF ground, Adrian Hinds (10) fell at 191 before Charwayne McPherson (16), Sunil Singh (30) and Rayn Hemraj (27) all wasted good starts as Orlando Fraser grabbed two wickets to break the 43-run fourth wicket stand between Hemraj and Devon Nandan. Nandan hit Clyde Butts for six in his first over before clobbering the 58 year-old former Test player for two fours and a six in his second over which cost 20. Nandan took a liking to the off-
spinner and dumped his for another six before he eventually fell to Butts for 59, decorated with four fours and four sixes, at 156-5. Azim Azeez made 37 before he was run out, but only Joshua Wilson (12) got into double figures after that. Butts (4-65) and Frazer (377) were both expensive for GNIC who were led to their close of play score by 41 from Joshua Persaud and 26 from Ryan Shun before they both were removed by offspinner Wilson .
t r o Sp Stag Elite League
Richardson and Grant sends Pele to the top; GDF claw back to tie with Alpha
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Pele’s Ronel Gordon (#14) congratulates Travis Grant after his goal, Gregory Richardson (left) is about to do same.
4 Annual Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Competition th
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Action in the clash between St. Pius and North Georgetown yesterday, at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park.
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