Kaieteur News

Page 04

Kaieteur News

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

EDITORIAL

The effects of climate change on Guyana One of the issues Guyanese should be worried about is climate change and its impact on the country, but only a few are aware of, or are interested in it. Climate change is an important issue that should be of concern to all and should be taught in schools. It is an issue the world must grapple with now. Scientific evidence that global warming is taking place and is affecting the climatic conditions in several countries is compelling. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has stated that the majority of scientists have agreed that climate change is occurring on a global scale, but human activities are largely responsible for the climate-warming trends over the past century and is expected to continue throughout the 21st century and beyond. Scientists have contended that climate change has been going on since the birth of planet Earth. But recently, the pace of climate change has accelerated with the most harmful manifestations in the form of global warming that have resulted in sea level rise, floods, droughts and forests fires. Since 1950, there has been a significant increase in record high temperatures in several countries, including the United States and Guyana which have also witnessed increasing numbers of intense rainfall and floods in areas never flooded before. Guyana whose coastal plane is below sea level is at risk of climate change. It is vulnerable to the existential dangers of climate change and global warning which have affected its economy, hence its earning power. Guyana’s perilous situation is being recognized by the US, Canada and the European Union which are providing financial aid to shore-up its sea defense system. The main offenders of greenhouse gases emissions are China, India, and the United States with Russia close behind in fourth place. China and the United States which have the two largest economies in the world are also the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases. China is widely regarded as the biggest source of pollution and the least active in curtailment. It has agreed to give $3.1 billion to finance climate change in developing countries while the US has reaffirmed its pledge of $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund. Paying for their sinful acts does not mean that they should be forgiven. Climate change is not a new issue for Guyana. Its concerns were first raised in 1992 at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and again at the Kyoto Protocolin 2005.The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that was signed by 192 countries with the explicit goal to fight global warming by reducing man-made greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to an acceptable level that would not affect the climate system. It put the obligation to reduce current carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on the shoulders of the developed countries which are responsible for the current high levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It reaffirmed the principle that the developed countries should pay billions of dollars and provide technology to other countries for climate-related studies and projects. The Protocol also established a mechanism of compliance monitoring with harsh penalties for noncompliance. In accordance with the Kyoto Protocol, the United States, the European Union and 76 other countries have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Over the years, several CARICOM governments including Guyana have solicited grants from the developed countries to counter the effects of global warming. But the developed countries have been reluctant to grant aid to the Caribbean governments. However, because of its large rainforest, Guyana was able to sign a lucrative agreement with Norway with the promise not to destroy its rain forests in return for US$250 million. The agreement does not prevent Guyana from out-sourcing a section of its rain forest to Bai Shan Lin and Vaitarna Holdings of India for logging. Without proper supervision, the government expects these companies to respect the country’s logging laws. Would they?

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Letters... Where your views make the news

President Granger may have lost valuable political capital DEAR EDITOR, Until now I have deliberately remained silent on the raging controversy over the government’s decision to give a large increase in salaries to ministers and members of parliament. The reason being is that the more I reflect on this issue the more I am convinced that there is no easy way to bridge the present divide between the masses and the political leadership. I believe that in so far as this dispute is concerned there are too many spokes persons involved in explaining the whys of this matter. In doing so the views they express only serve to raise the anger of citizens. Take for example Prime Minister Mr. Moses Nagamootoo’s recent utterances on the issue. His explanation, coming shortly after President David Granger

had spoken, was not helpful. In a way it reopened wounds that the President tried to close. The Prime Minister demonstrated that he has tremendous comfort in the belief that Guyanese have short memory and will soon forget this episode. To some extent his reading of the Guyanese people’s waning interest in matters of national importance is correct, but he should not take this for granted and believe that in this instance their response will be the same. By expressing his support for the new salaries so early in the controversy President David Granger may have expended valuable political capital, at an inopportune moment. While his intention was honorable, objectively, it has left the coalition government with no room to retreat on

the increases. The salary dispute has now become a”zero sum situation” –with winners and losers. One does not have to be a political expert to recognize that this situation is not good for either the APNU+AFC government or the nation. Astute politics demand that the political directorate demonstrate the ability and willingness to make concessions to the people on this very grave matter. The earlier it does so, the better. It will be recalled that the President was reported as saying that the decision to increases the salaries was difficult but necessary. I got the impression that he was indicating that there was a great deal of soul searching by members of the Cabinet before the decision was arrived at. If my reading of the President (Continued on page 23)

Attorney-at-law bats for the Government DEAR EDITOR, I am grateful to you for publishing my articles which are written not to attract attention on me but on the issues I raise. Today I am really amazed at the continuous articles being published in all the newspapers concerning the increase of salary for Ministers of the Government. I am overcome by all the comments. Although I agree that as members of our society one has the right to raise issues that concern them. However this issue seems to have no end as comments upon comments are being made, neglecting more pressing issues. It has become clear to all and sundry in Guyana that this new Government in a very short time has been doing a great number of things like improving the sanitation around the County, exposing and bringing to light the many shortcomings of the previous Government leading to some prominent persons being taken to Court for their alleged illegal activities and others are yet to come. When you look at the excellent and somewhat efficient ways this new Government is endeavoring to bring all round improvement to our country, what is the big fuss if they have increased their salary as they did? This is a normal way of life. You don’t pay the same amount of money for a Toyota as you pay for a BMW or a Mercedes Benz. In the same way you cannot expect the current Government Ministers to work for the same money as the previous Government Ministers. They are like cheese to chalk.r What your present Ministers have achieved so far and what they are working towards are what the previous Government has failed to achieve in 23 years of Government. I hereby call upon civil society to make their presence felt. Quite recently I have been hearing that under the present Constitution, civil society is entitled to two seats in Parliament. If this is so then why is it you are not making your presence felt in relation to what is happening. No one can doubt that no one is perfect. I can recall reading in the Bible in a certain

situation when a woman was found unfaithful to her husband she was found guilty at her trial and when asked about the penalty she should receive Jesus said “he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone” but in today’s world and particularly in Guyana sinners are the ones who are throwing the stones instead of being stoned. At present everybody knows and understands that with the oil find in Guyana it is only time when Guyana will begin to experience change for the better in economic development. So if you have a team that is capable of such development why deliberate so extensively on the Ministers salary increase. The AFC and APNU by winning the last election have demonstrated that if all the races in Guyana cooperate and support each other much could be achieved for all. What seems to be happening is that the previous Government laid the foundation for the oil exploration but this new Government has the authority to proceed In this connection the Opposition seems to be picking at every straw in order to cause a Government

for the people to fail so that they can take over once more to reap havoc for themselves, friends and family and not necessarily for the entire Guyana as this present Government is trying very hard to do.The Opposition has been questioning everything this current Government is doing but is silent and says very little on the Venezuela situation or the Suriname issue. No effort has been publicly made to demonstrate any assistance to the rice farmers, Miner who are being t h r e a t e n e d b y t h e Ve n e z u e l a n Government etc. In the circumstances it can be interpreted by the Opposition’s present attitude that they are thinking only about themselves and not the people of Guyana as a whole. Civil Society where are you? Now is the time to step forward to assist in ensuing that we get maximum cooperation from all citizens of Guyana so that we can go forward together in Unity. The Bible says you should forgive absolutely and replace hatred and envy with love and affection. This is what Guyana Needs. Jonas. M.F.Coddett

Congratulations are in order for the Police Commissioner DEAR EDITOR, I wish to congratulate the Commissioner of Police for breaking the monopoly in relation to a single funeral parlor (Lyken) to transport deaths from unnatural causes. This move will definitely lift the standards and ultimately, benefit the relations of the deceased. My relative, Shiraz Amir Ali was murdered last week, Monday October 19th. The police summoned Lyken’s Funeral parlor to pick up the body which they did. They were also responsible to return the body of our relative for post mortem at GPHC on Wednesday October 21st .We were present at GPHC to witness the post mortem with the police. Lyken’s funeral parlor arrived late at GPHC with the

body resulting in the post mortem not being done on our relative. We are poor people and our relatives traveled from Berbice for this funeral to Good Hope, ECD on Wednesday 21stOctober. The post mortem was performed on Friday October 23rd. In addition, the storage of dead bodies at this parlor’s service needs to be reviewed by management of the parlour. In closing, this is the kind of service you get where there is no alternative funeral parlor. When there is competition, the standards will be lifted. Thank you once again to Mr. Seelall, Commissioner of Police for breaking the monopoly. I hope other agencies learn from this. Boyee Mohamed

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

I doubt this Govt. will be given another chance in 2020 DEAR EDITOR, Visiting one of my in-laws in Zeelugt during the past week, I was sadden to hear her moans after receiving her first water bill under this new administration although she’s a pensioner. She and many others are faced with the same dilemma but the cries do not stop there. During the day, water is turned off around 10am and turn on in the afternoon after 3pm. At Cornelida Ida, water flowing through the main is switched off around 6pm and switched back on around 6:15am next day. Most people have to resort to storing water in containers especially cane cutters who leave their house between 4-5am. At Uitvlugt, the water is switched off after 9pm and switched on back in the following morning. Many of these people don’t have meter but they still have to pay the full amount that is requested by GWI, whilst many without meter gets the full 24hrs service paying the same. Before the elections, I penned a letter commending the pressure that I was getting surprisingly after the election. I have to go back to using a bowl to full a bucket. With all the promises before the election I would have expected better, sadly like many others I am disappointed. Editor, after five months this present Government has failed to deliver on their promises and instead of admitting their failure, they reward themselves a huge salary increase and the President justify this by saying that they give up better to come and serve this nation. I would not talk about the method some of them use to attain their position but, many of them were earning money in a month that the average man cannot earn in a year and they still give themselves more although they now enjoy duty free concessions, free water, electricity, phone bills, security, gasoline trav-

elling allowances etc. So quite frankly given all of that, are they satisfied what they are earning now? They were the ones going around the country begging voters to give them a chance and now it seems as if they chance the get is to satisfy their needs and not the nation and with all the promises, they don’t seems capable of fulfilling. The road accidents, robberies, killings, blackouts, corruption at the different agencies still continue, so what changes are we to get with additional bills to foot their luxurious lifestyles? Finally Editor, a recently a survey was published with the results about school dropouts and drugs usage amongst our youths and years before I wrote a letter citing the high increase and used Zeelugt as an example. To date it still continues and vulnerable youths are being introduced to drugs and sex and crime. The resulting is infection with HIV. No one, organization or Ministry visit that village to offer help, but everyone jumps and cheers when the organization came, spend a huge amount of money to conduct survey to tell us what we already knows without any help. Our legal system need great improvement, instead of visiting places to tell us about the condition and blaming the previous administration, they should actually do something about it. We already know about the condition. We don’t need a reminder. Health Centres and Hospital are still without drugs. Dr. Jennifer Webster got charged and to date her matter is still pending in court. Similarly many other people are locked away in prison awaiting trial, but unlike her they don’t have freedom. We are reading everyday about corruption by the previous administration and this present administration’s intentions of getting them charged. But given the way

our legal administration operates, I am quite sure that another election will come and if they are to get charged, their matters will still be pending in the courts. Are we going to actually see improvement or continue to dream about it? In case they haven’t notice; things were going better under the previous administration. When the late President Desmond Hoyte became president for Guyana, he went all out to make life better for Guyanese and he was praised so much for his effort that people even give him the name Desmond Persaud but on Election Day they forget the good things he did and voted his party out of governance. He didn’t had five years to do it, but with five months gone already under this administration and no improvement compared to Desmond Hotye’s record, I doubt if this administration will be given another chance especially with their record so far. Sahadeo Bates

Big sister is watching DEAR EDITOR, In the interest of news continuity, could some followup information be supplied to the readers regarding the demise of 17 year old Nikacia Allen, mother of three who died following a C Section on September 20 last? It has become vividly apparent that certain issues gain mention and readers’ attention in the newspaper ( Kaieteur News, October 21, 2015), , but follow-up is only given if the incident in question does not open the proverbial can of worms- which this case certainly does or falls under the whim and caprices of the newspaper reporting personnel. To additionally compound my concern and inquiry, I have also failed to read of any input from the present Minister of Public Health Mr. George Norton on this tragic incident. Even to the most visually impaired, cerebrally myopic, and not to mention humans operating within a sane mental range, the situation serves to further reflect the incompetence/ misman-

agement of members of the populace where medical and or obstetrical care is concerned, especially as it pertains to our young. If you want to know how strong a country’s health system is, then the answer is found in looking at the wellbeing of its mothers. One cannot help but ruefully view the interdisciplinary lack of communication on the part of Social Workers, Police, Nursing Staff, Hospital Administrators etc. who negligently allowed the crack to widen wherein more victims can fall. Plainly put, or frankly spoken, the death of a mother is the ultimate event that is the result of a complexity of human dynamics and the measures in which problems are dealt with. No, a maternal death is not attributable to medical conditions alone, but due in part also to the distance between services and the clients, social inequalities and dynamics. Maternal mortality never exists in isolation. The present system in Guyana is indicted on all counts.

According to the State of the World Population in a 2013 report, Guyana was recorded as having the second highest rate of teenage pregnancy, in both the Caribbean and South America. What a horrible statistic, one of which we should all hang our heads in collective shame. Notwithstanding the fact that there are two known big killers responsible for maternal mortality-post-partum haemorrhage and pre eclampsia, nevertheless the third big killer which seemingly Guyana has not yet fully and firmly grasped is family planning and reproductive health. Let it be known, and stand for the records that failing to grant readers and by extension the public at large, follow-up reports of incidents such as the case of Nikacia Allen will not make it go away but instead be reflective of other reporting concerns which at this point in time I will leave unwritten and unexpressed. Remember however, that Big Sister is watching you. Yvonne Sam

Pleased that corporal punishment in schools is on its way out DEAR EDITOR, I was extremely pleased today having read that the new administration quote, “intent to completely eradicate the practice of corporal punishment within schools” (Hon Minister Dr Rupert Roopnarine). Editor you will recall, I wrote on the issues surrounding corporal punishment extensively in the past couple of years and I am finally delighted that the Education Minister will demonstrate leadership on the abolishment of the root cause to many of Guyana’s problems in our schools. Research shows that when children fail to succeed, the whole school community is harmed and keeping students engaged in the classroom is fundamental to aca-

demic achievement, attainment and success. The use of punitive discipline practices that rely on suspension, expulsion and other harsh consequences, often applied disproportionately to some students, undermine the goals and positive expectations of success for all. It is time we archive the policies of corporal punishment and seek to engage and embrace attitudes and methods from the huge list of successful alternatives. Dialogue, restorative justice, behaviour management systems, positive discipline and many more, are all tried and tested alternatives that will yield positive behaviour in schools and subsequently, the desired results and successes we all crave. It should

be every teacher’s ultimate goal to focus on relationship with the student rather than content and behaviour. If the relationship is not built the content will not get through. Positive discipline coupled with good student– teacher relationship is a comprehensive approach that uses discipline to teach rather than punish and, as a result, help students succeed and aim higher in schools. In a nutshell, what is required as a replacement for corporal punishment is for all stakeholders to be able to create a safe, supportive learning environment for all students to thrive without fear of physical abuse. I applaud this bold step by the Hon Minister and the new government. However, the idea or

thinking of establishing a central counseling body to be responsible for training and attaching counselors to each school will be costly, time consuming and tantamount to failure. Instead, every teacher can be and should be counselors in their own right by introducing behaviour management modules into the curriculum at the Cyril Potters College of Education (CPCE). Make teacher training the start point for acquiring the skills for good classroom and behaviour management systems which can later on be followed up in schools or by the regional bodies on those In Service Teacher Training days. I have a wealth of ideas in this regards and will be willing to help further. Brendon Mounter

Page 6

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Training of more pathologists gaining Minister’s attention Even as he lauded the expertise of the pathologists within the public health sector, Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton, is currently considering ways to have newly trained doctors venture into the field of pathology. Over the years very few doctors have delved into the field of pathology. Currently the public health sector has about three experienced pathologists whose efforts are complemented by at least two Cuban doctors. But according to Minister Norton, “The doctors we have in pathology are so good at what they do because they have been in the lab system before they became physicians. So the transition would have been easy for them. They would have been doing histology and the like practically on a daily basis.” Turning his attention to the state of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation mortuary, which is a crucial training ground for pathologists, Dr Norton shared his conviction that there is need for a change to that facility. “We have got to bulldoze that so called morgue and build something that is modern,” said Minister Norton. He asserted that the facility is not only an eye sore but “it’s a turn off” that is perhaps preventing many aspiring doctors from entering the field of pathology. “It doesn’t have to be smelly, it doesn’t have to be wet, it doesn’t have to

be hot...We have got to get away from this whole idea that we are hearing about, rats eating the corpses and so on,” said the Minister. “Many medical students have had a change of heart about the field of pathology after visiting the morgue.” He also claimed to have knowledge that even work study students are dissuaded from the medical field after paying a visit to the facility. “They want to do medicine yes, but they change their minds...the place is not conducive to encouraging anybody to be in that area we have got to change that,” asserted the Public Health Minister. However, there is a strategic method that can be used to encourage graduates of Medicine to gravitate to the field of pathology. Minister Norton is currently considering the possibility of a policy change that could see recently trained doctors being eligible for post graduate training well before their fiveyear contractual obligation to government has expired. “The policy of having somebody only available for post graduate studies after they have completed five years of contractual obligations with the Government of Guyana pertaining to their training, has to be something of the past...We have got to eliminate that,” asserted the Minister. He disclosed that he has had interviews with over-

CIOG to host financial seminar The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) in conjunction with the Islamic Development Bank of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be hosting a seminar on Thursday. The Seminar will focus on banking. It will feature two representatives of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to explain the Islamic banking system and financing. The IDB representatives

are Dr. Salman Syed Ali, Senior Researcher; and Yahya Aleem ur Rehman, Divisional Manager, Islamic and Finance Advisory. These individuals represent the intellectual arm of the IDB IRTI and are experts in the field of Islamic Banking. CIOG invites person who are interested in understanding Islamic Banking to attend the event.

seas-based professors who have advised that “from internship we should start gearing our GMOs (General Medical Officers) to follow the line of their specialities by the time they finish their internship rotation.” “If we can reduce that obligation of having to complete that five years, we think that persons will opt for these specialities if we offer it to them,” said the Minister as he made reference to the fields of pathology, psychiatry, radiology and physical medicine as fields with few specialists. But measures are ac-

tively apace to address the shortcomings. Just recently one doctor commenced post graduate training in child psychiatry, said Dr Norton. He related that a Master’s in Psychiatry programme is set to commence shortly. Already eight doctors have been identified for that programme which will be conducted through the University of Guyana’s collaboration with the GPHC. The programme, which will be gaining support from overseas universities, will be managed by GPHC’s Head of Psychiatry, Dr Bhiro Harry.

Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton

2011 drug store owner’s murder…

Transport was stolen during home breakage - witnesses A Transport (Deed of Title) went missing the night that‘ Robb Street Drug Store Owner, Harold Rachpaul was robbed and murder. This information was brought to the fore, when witnesses took the stand in the High Court, yesterday. Orvin Roberts, a minibus conductor, of ‘C’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, is on trial for Rachpaul’s murder before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed jury. According to reports, the 84-year-old man was reportedly found gagged, bound with an electrical cord and strangled in his apartment located behind Rachpaul’s Drug Store, on Robb Street Georgetown. The incident occurred some time between August 18 and August 19, 2011, during the course of a robbery. On that day Rachpaul’s killer had apparently forced him to open a vault which contained a large sum of cash, phone cards and other documents before murdering him on his premises. Rachpaul had been operating the business at 75 Robb Street, Lacytown, for close to 50 years. The victim’s son was among the witnesses who were called to testify at the commencement of the trial yesterday. Leonard Rachpaul, currently operates the business, which was once run by his father. He told the court that on the night of August 18, he secured his father’s Robb Street residence and business before leaving for his place of abode. Rachpaul said that his father instructed him to lock up the German Shepherd, “Jesse” before leaving and he did so. He related that he locked up the big dog, but left two smaller dogs in the yard.

The man said that he returned to the premises around 8:00 am, the following day. There, Rachpaul said that he made the gruesome discovery; his father was found wrapped up like a mummy with a sheet and cord wrapped around him. The witness said though that his son was the first to enter the premises and make the discovery. Rachpaul recalled that he was closing the gate behind when he turned around and his son (Vincent) came back running towards him saying, come see what happen to grandfather. Rachpaul said that not only was his father bound, he had a black and blue mark to the head. The locks on the doors were open and the safe, which contained money and other valuables, was also open. The items, including a deed of title were missing. The witness appeared nervous as he recounted the events. He fidgeted during questions by the Prosecutor Narissa Leander and Attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes. Questioned about his disposition, Rachpaul told the court that he suffers from anxiety attacks. He further told the court that no one else had access to the keys for the house or safe except himself, his father, and his son. Under cross examination by Defense Counsel Nigel Hughes, Rachpaul told the court that before he secured and left his father’s business place, he left the dog Jesse in the yard. The lawyer then confronted him with statements, he made in his evidence in chief. Hughes reminded Rachpaul that he told the court that he had locked the dogs away before leaving. The businessman

MURDERED: Harold Rachpaul told the court that he could not remember. He blamed his conflicting responses on his lapse in memory. He explained that his father told him to lock-up Jesse, who was reportedly a “good guard dog” but later told him to release her in the yard before leaving. Rachpaul said that he released the dog before leaving but when he returned the next day, Jesse was locked inside her pen. He agreed that no one could have controlled the dog except, himself, his father or his son. The witness admitted too that no (stranger) could have entered the premises without having to deal with the big German shepherd. The witness told the court that his father was not very social and would seldom have visitors. In response to questions about the alleged home breakage, Rachpaul accepted that besides his father, only himself and his son had access

to the keys for the safe and the house. Hughes then suggested to the witness that the crime might have been an inside job. “No way” Rachpaul blurted in reply. The witness then told the court that family members would have nothing to gain from committing such a crime. Nonetheless, Rachpaul admitted that among the stolen items was a transport. He told court that his father was the owner of more than one property, but he owned none. The witness said however, that he was satisfied to have been employed in his father’s pharmaceutical establishment. Further questioned, the businessman said that he was never questioned by the police about his whereabouts, the night his father was killed. He said that the police only took his fingerprints; they never questioned his wife or other relatives of his whereabouts the night the crime was committed. Earlier in the trial, Detective Sergeant, Cedric Gravesande told the court that investigators had questioned Robb Street residents about what they might have seen or heard on the night of August 18, 2011. Gravesande said that the police omitted to question relatives of the deceased about their whereabouts. The detective said, too, that the four big dogs were at the premises, when he arrived at the scene of the crime. Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh also testified yesterday. According to the post mortem report, presented by Dr Singh, Harold Rachpaul died as a result of asphyxiation due to compression to the neck compounded by blunt trauma.

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Kaieteur News

Cops charged for brothers’ deaths 14 years later A Deputy Superintendent is among three members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and an ex-policeman who have been charged with murder arising from a 2001 incident in which two brothers were shot and killed in St Andrew. Deputy Superintendent Mevrald Smith, corporals Byron Anderson and Lorie O’Gilvie along with ex-cop Altimont Shakes were arrested and charged following

a verdict by the Coroner’s Court. The four were granted bail in the sum of $500,000 and ordered to surrender their travel documents when they appeared in the Home Circuit Court today. They have also been ordered to report to the Constant Spring Police Station weekly. During a brief court appearance this morning prosecutors charged that on March 10, 2001 Smith led a

police team to a house on Whitehall Avenue in St Andrew. It is alleged that they knocked on the door and got no response and proceeded to breach the lock. The police reported that they were greeted with gunfire. It is reported that they returned the fire and the brothers were found with gunshot wounds. (GLEANER)

Police: 24% jump in murders since start of year KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Police High Command is reporting that, since the start of the year, there has been an increase in the number of murders across the island, with a slight decrease in serious crimes. The latest crime statistics released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Corporate Communications Unit show that between January 1 and October 24, 1,016 Jamaicans have been murdered compared to 822 for the corresponding period last year. This is an increase of 24 per cent. In the meantime, statis-

tics show that shooting decreased by one per cent with 898 reported cases for 2015 when compared to 906 for 2014. At the same time, the number of reported cases of rape for 2015 went down by 20 per cent with 460 reported cases compared to 576 for 2014. While aggravated assault dipped by 16 per cent with 490 report e d c a s e s when compared to 586 for the corresponding period in 2014. The statistics show an overall decline in serious crimes by one per cent. Meanwhile, the St James

Police Division recorded the highest increase in murders so far with 178 reported cases when compared to 122 for 2014 — an increase of 48 per cent. The St Catherine North and Clarendon police divisions registered the second highest reported cases of murders with 108 reported cases for both divisions when compared to 111 and 73, respectively, for the corresponding periods last year. The St Catherine North Division, however, recorded a three per cent decrease in murder. (OBSERVER)

Page 7

Page 8

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 27, 2015

No violence as Haiti holds elections Fuad: Kamla should step down General elections in Haiti have gone ahead without major incidents, less than three months after parliamentary polls that were marred by violence. Some 15,000 policemen and United Nations peacekeeping force members were deployed to prevent any incidents. Haitians were choosing from more than 50 candidates to succeed President Michel Martelly. They were also electing members of the Congress, which was dissolved in January amid a political crisis. Results are not expected to be known until next month. Turnout was high across Haiti, despite the failure of the 9 August vote. Only a few candidates were officially elected then. New polls had be held in a number of constituencies. Going really well’ “On August 9, I had left home to go vote, but I saw people pushing each other around, people causing mayhem and throwing things,”

Jovenel Moise has been chosen by President Martelly to run for the governing Haitian Party of Bald Heads (Parti Haitien Tet Kale) 26-year-old voter Franzty Jeudi told the AFP news agency in the capital, Port-auPrince. “Today, it’s going really well. I came to vote with my parents and we are at ease,” he said earlier on Sunday. President Michel Martelly is not allowed to seek re-election. But his chosen candidate, Jovenel Moise, is among the favourites. Mr Moise, who owns a banana exporting business, is

expected to face Jude Celestin, a Swiss-educated mechanical engineer, in a runoff vote on 27 December. Whoever wins will face a daunting task when taking over from Mr Martelly in February. Haiti is the poorest nation in the Americas. Since it was devastated by an earthquake in 2010, it has relied largely on international donations and foreign aid from the United States and other countries. (BBC)

Guatemala election: Jimmy Morales elected president

Jimmy Morales describes himself as a “common man” A former TV comedian with no experience in government has won the run-off vote in Guatemala’s presidential election. Jimmy Morales got more than double the votes of exfirst lady Sandra Torres, who is seen by many as part of the country’s unpopular political elite. Mr Morales campaigned on a promise to fight graft following the resignation and arrest on corruption charges of President Otto Perez Molina last month. Ms Torres admitted defeat once the margin of Mr Morales’ win was clear. Mr Morales received 67.4% of the vote and Ms Torres 32.6%. ‘Common man’ Mr Morales, 46, described his victory as a “brave vote,

a vote full of hope, a vote which wants to put an end to corruption”. He also described himself as “a common man”, adding: “I don’t have super powers nor magic and I’ve never said I do, but my heart swells with love for this nation and together we’re going to fight for her.” Mr Morales is a wellknown comedian, who for 14 years starred in a popular TV comedy alongside his brother, Sammy Morales. In the sketches, which are often lewd and coarse, he played everything from a hapless soldier to a country bumpkin. For one character, he donned blackface and wore a prosthetic behind, triggering accusations of racism. Women’s and gay rights

groups have also accused him of sexism and homophobia. As his campaign manifesto was only six pages long, little is known about Mr Morales’ policies, apart from favouring low taxes and limited government. He has been criticised for some of his more far-fetched policies which include the tagging of teachers with a GPS device to ensure they attend classes and giving each Guatemalan child a smartphone. Many voters said they were drawn to Mr Morales because he represented a fresh start and promised to fight against graft. The campaign was conducted against the backdrop of a widening corruption scandal which led to the resignations of the vice-president and the president. Both deny involvement in a scheme which saw business people pay bribes to evade customs charges. Ms Torres, who ran government social programmes when her ex-husband Alvaro Colom was president between 2008 and 2012, failed to inspire the confidence of voters, who saw her as too closely linked to Guatemala’s old political elite. “We were tired of the same faces of people who get rich off our money,” a supporter of Mr Morales told Reuters news agency. (BBC)

POLITICAL Leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Kamla PersadBissessar should step aside and not contest the upcoming party’s internal election. This according to a long standing member of the UNC and Member of Parliament for San Juan/Barataria Dr Fuad Khan. In an interview on i95.5fm on Monday, Khan said Persad-Bissessar should remain as Opposition Leader, but at this time, she would be better suited in the role of party’s chairman. There are 16 posts to be contested when the UNC’s internal election is held on December 5. Asked if his comments would affect his relationship with Persad-Bissessar, Khan said “it will.” “At the end of the day, my relationship with a lot of people have been affected because I talk the truth. But if people will look into what I am saying it makes a lot of sense,” Khan said. He said: “We need somebody strong to move the party forward. The membership will decide. If they

choose Mrs Persad-Bissessar fine, then so be it. Even (Patrick) Manning stepped down when he lost the elections last time. It is a matter of the way the system runs. It would have been the appropriate thing to do.” On Saturday, PersadBissessar launched her campaign in her constituency of Siparia. Several UNC MP’s openly endorsed her as leader but noticeably absent was Khan and five others including Dr Roodal Moonilal, Dr Tim Gopeesingh, Rudranath Indarsingh, Ramona Ramdial and Fazal Karim. Several people who spoke highly of Persad-Bissessar were UNC deputy leader Surujrattan Rambachan; UNC Members of Parliament, Rodney Charles, Dr Lackram Bodoe, Barry Padarath, and Dr David Lee; party chairman Khadijah Ameen and former People’s Partnership ministers Clifton De Coteau, Brigadier Carl Alfonso and Christine Newallo-Hosein. Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodhan , several regional corporation chairmen

and local government councillors and another former government minister Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh was also at the launch. At the beginning of her speech Persad-Bissessar said: “ I want to make it very clear that we did not invite people to come here. I did not invite MPs.” Contacted on Monday, Ramona Ramdial said: “The leader herself said at the launch on Saturday that she didn’t invite any of her MPs, she really wanted to confine it to the Siparia constituency so that was my reason for not turning up because we really were not invited. In addition to that though, I have not yet made up my mind, the position that I would be filing for. I will be filing for a position. With respect for leader or leadership team, that also is in abeyance right now until further notice.” Karim said: “I was not invited. I have not given any consideration to contesting the national executive election at this point in time.” (EXPRESS)

Jack: Not interest in a UNC return Founder and former political leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Jack Warner said he has no desire to return to the United National Congress (UNC). Warner, a former chairman of the UNC, was responding to longstanding UNC member, Dr Fuad Khan, who called for the return of Warner, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and former political leader, Basdeo Panday. The UNC will hold its internal elections on December 5. Warner, who resigned as chairman after being removed from the Kamla PersadBissessar led Cabinet in 2013, reminded Khan of the persecution he faced by a group of people in the party. He said, “While I wish to thank and commend Dr Fuad Khan for his honesty and frankness on the matter of how the United National Congress (UNC) has found itself in its current predicament, I wish to make it very clear that I have no desire to rejoin the UNC in any capacity. I have no desire to inflict the likes of Kamla PersadBissessar and the rest of the Cabal upon the people of Trinidad and Tobago by returning those persons to government. The population would remember the persecution I faced inside and outside of the government by the Cabal who by their greed and hatred hounded me out of the

Jack Warner government and the UNC, in spite of everything I did to put them in power.” Warner recalled that his first act after winning the Chaguanas West by-election in 2013 was to offer the ILP as a member of the Peoples Partnership Government. “This was rejected by Mrs Persad-Bissessar and her cabal with an emphatic no. They did not want me when they had power, and therefore why should I allow them to use me again now that they are in the political wilderness, especially where all of them have lost all political appeal and currency, and where their continued presence in the UNC renders that party unattractive for government?” he

said. Warner, who is fighting extradition to the U.S which wants to put him on trial on multiple criminal charges, said the vindictiveness, treachery and deception of a group of UNC members have made it impossible for anyone to trust them or to want to work with them. He said that was the also the view of thousands of ILP members. He agreed that the leadership of the UNC needed to be sanitised as it had driven away once-loyal supporters. Warner said his home was in the ILP, which he founded and remains an honorary executive member. “The ILP is where I will invest my time, effort and love,” he said.

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 9

THE LOSS OF THE VENEZUELAN MARKET WILL AFFECT THE RICE INDUSTRY The rice industry is reeling. The loss of the Venezuelan market because of the approach of the government to the maritime issue with Venezuela means that rice exporters will lose a critical market. It was recklessness on the part of the government to not have considered the effects of their attacks on Venezuela and on the market for rice. The obsession with reliving the days just after Guyana became independent when Guyana faced the same threats as it is facing now, has led to the same responses now as was used then. This time though, Guyana has lost out because no one else is going to pay the high prices paid by Venezuela for Guyana’s rice. No one else also is going to barter our rice for oil. The government must explain to rice farmers why they did not make greater attempts to meet with the leaders of Venezuela considering the value of the rice market. Digging in our heels is not going to increase the price of rice or find a replacement market for sugar. There is no substitute for the Venezuelan market. The new government has dug a deep hole for rice farmer and this is a hole that is not going to be filled for some time.

The prices being paid at the moment for the various grades of rice are not going to encourage many farmers to replant for the first crop of next year. Right now, many farmers are waiting on the rains and the Doppler system is not advising them when these rains are likely to come. Guyana’s cost of production of rice is high. It is high even though yields have improved tremendously over the past few years. It is high because farmers are not willing to experiment with new varieties for fear of losses. It is high because farmers are relying too much on fertilizers rather than better land preparation to improve soil fertility. The cost of production is high because drying and milling costs are high. Cost of production is high because land preparation costs are high. The cost of production is high because acreages are too small. The cost of production is high because even during the era of cooperative socialism, Burnham refused to bring rice production under collectivist farms because some of his party’s major supporters were rice barons. You cannot plant a 40 acre plot and expect to have a low cost of production. This is one

Dem boys seh...

Rohee start he mischief Old people always seh that rain don’t fall at one man door. That is a saying that simply mean that no single person falls on hard times alone. When disaster strikes a community it does not affect a single person or a single household. That is why people does seh that wickedness should not be a part of people plan. Last week, Rohee talk about putting pressure on de government. He seh that dem got nuff ways and he party gun support all of dem. He seh that de rice farmers protest would be de first set of protest; de sugar workers would be de second. Rohee probably miscalculate because a week barely pass and de sugar workers strike. Dem seh that dem striking fuh more pay, which is all well and good. Dem always striking fuh more pay. Dem estate producing more cane than when Jagdeo was president. Factory that couldn’t even mek smoke when Jagdeo was president now producing sugar almost like first time. De more sugar is de more pay but de sugar workers decide that dem gun tek lead up. Dem boys seh that from de time de government start to talk bout pay increase Jagdeo get vex. He is a man who don’t want to see nobody wid money. He is de man who don’t have to give back nutten although he and all get back pay. But he tell his Members of Parliament to give back. Then he tell de sugar workers that de government pay demself and dem got to pay de sugar workers. He didn’t tell de same workers that when he was paying himself he didn’t even give de sugar workers a cent. But people got short memory. De other day, de same Rohee seh that he got to mobilize dem sugar workers to protest when de coalition government shut down some sugar factories. He want to see protest because he want to get back in power—he and Jagdeo. He would tell de sugar workers to bruck de sugar factories. He should remember that dem boys still checking pun Pradoville and he can be one sad man who wouldn’t get time to organise another protest. Talk half and tell Rohee to stop de wickedness.

of the major problems facing the rice industry and unless the government moves towards consolidating production by encouraging small farmers to come together, the situation will not get better. The lands have to be prepared better. Fertilizers are not the answers. These fertilizers seep into the drainage canals and encourage the rapid growth of weeds which in turn compromises the drainage systems. Farmers need to experiment with new varieties. Major rice-producing nations

undertake research on new varieties of rice. They are not going to share that with the rest of the world easily. As such Guyana has to invest in research of developing its own high-yielding varieties rather than importing these varieties.Some years ago there was a successful experiment with complementing rice farming with fish cultivation during the period when the fields were flooded. This is one way in which there can be cross- subsidization of rice production. The value of the

fish produced can be discounted from the cost of production of the rice thus allowing for a subsidized cost of production. The countries that produce rice cheaper than Guyana has state farms; they have both large and small farms. They obtain massive state support. They have large populations and a large internal market to stimulate production. We have none of these things. The solution to woes of the rice industry requires radical change. Unfortunately

both the government and rice farmers have been timid towards radical change and therefore Guyana plods along, waiting for another stroke of luck, some new market and some agency to lend them money to dig them out of debt. They may have reached the end of the road with the loss of the Venezuelan market.

No crisis at High Court Registry, says Chief Justice

…says JSC moving to appoint Registrar soon By Abena Rockcliffe Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, has denied that there is a crisis at the Supreme Court Registry. Kaieteur News had quoted Attorney General, Basil Williams, admitting that there is a crisis in the Registry. This crisis came from the fact that the Registry is 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 early October. Mohamed was basically managing the affairs of the Registry single-handedly. Therefore, there was no Assistant Registrar, Deputy Registrar or Registrar. The constitution mandates the appointment of a Deputy Registrar but the Judicial Service Commission did not see it important enough to make such an appointment. Defending this, Justice Singh told Kaieteur News, “Before I became a judicial administrator there was not a Deputy Registrar. When I came to the practice of law in 1983 there was no Deputy Registrar. That office existed but the vacancy was overlooked; so it is not the doings of this Commission as is being stated in the press.”

Justice Singh continued, “I want to take the opportunity to say that there is never any crisis in the Registry. True, it is that for a few days the contract of the person who was performing the functions of registrar ended with the passage of time. But arrangements were made for senior officers to continue the operations of the Registry.” He emphasized that the Registry never had to close its doors as a result of the absence of the Registrar. “Operations never ceased. (The Registry) continues to function on a daily basis.” Justice Singh said that the Judicial Service Commission, which he chairs, is in the process of drawing up advertisements to invite applications to fill the Registrar position. Asked if the Commission will now consider appointing a Deputy Registrar, the Chancellor said, “It might just be the prudent thing to do.” When Kaieteur News discovered the headless operations of the Registry, information received indicated that the issue was one that has existed a while now but was covered by an unconstitutional appointment. 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 Regis-

Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh trar of the Supreme Court”. The Constitution does not provide for any such position as Acting Registrar. Apparently, the Attorney General 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 “strange” since that position is not usually filled by a contract employee. 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 the day to day running of the Registry. “My role is in policy making and the smooth dispensation of justice.” Williams recommended that Assistant Registrar of Berbice be brought to Georgetown since she is the most qualified professional at the moment to take the reins “during this crisis”.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 27, 2015

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

A white man won an election The size of Justin Trudeau’s victory in Canada was against the expectation of the world. Many thought that he would have come into a minority government or barely win. He secured a parliamentary majority. One of Mr. Trudeau’s campaign promises was that he would legalize small amounts of marijuana. A white leader in a white

country wasn’t afraid to campaign on the marijuana issue. In the recently concluded elections in Guyana, the topic was absent from the total campaign trail, meaning all contesting parties. You don’t have to hold a doctorate in philosophy to know that the world will pass Guyana and leave it far behind. Of course the young

people who know that aren’t taking chances. They are grabbing the wings of time and leaving. I remember my child was a student at School of the Nations when the school’s management called a parents’ meeting to consult on the removal of the CXC exam structure and replace it with the Cambridge GCE. Only Roger

Luncheon and I disagreed. A prominent business woman who was recently appointed to serve on one of the state boards was trenchantly frank. She told the gathering that the change over from CXC to Cambridge was absolutely commonsensical, because the graduates will not stay in Guyana and their Cambridge GCE would serve them better in their foreign application. School of the Nation has done away with CXC. This country will be among the last to legalize small amounts of marijuana. And guess why? That is the way we are. Now one doesn’t mind accepting the paralysis of mind and soul of Guyanese but it is the persistence of the denunciation of the white man colonial legacy that annoys me. At every forum when the Third Worldist perspective comes up, there is the anticipated denunciation of the damage the white man did to us. There is never even a passing word of chastisement that long after the white man left, we are doing more damage to ourselves and dishonestly blaming the white man. Do you know who the most vocal rejectionist of the legalization of small amounts of marijuana is? Clement Rohee. When he was at Home Affairs (that is now Public Security; we changed from Home Affairs because it was

a white man thing) Minister, Rohee came out viciously against any kind of marijuana legalization even for medicinal purposes. Ironically Rohee’s origin was that of an ordinary, unemployed youth who grew up poor liming around the Metropole cinema. He has something in common with me; I grew up on the streets of Wortmanville. That is why I am against young people being jailed for possession of a gram of marijuana. That is not only nonsensical. It is sadistic. Trudeau becomes the latest white man to adopt a fresh, modern approach to the use of marijuana. The number of white leaders who will endorse that policy will grow. Conversely the number of non-white leaders who will frown upon it will rise exponentially. My own feeling is that it hasn’t got support among the major political parties in Guyana. But with some pressure from the ABC embassies on the APNU-AFC administration, we can see a change. The administration isn’t going to listen to its own scholars and specialists but once the ABC diplomats here nudge them they will respond. One suspects that the law against homosexuality may soon be a thing of the past. There are very strong feelings on this issue by the ABC countries. If left to the major

Frederick Kissoon parties in Guyana, anti- homosexual laws, like the ancient divorce laws will remain in this country forever. The key to the modernization process is the pressure the ABC diplomats and those from the EU mission in Georgetown put on the APNU-AFC regime. There is likely to be an accommodation of the persuasion of the ABC countries in the corridors of power in New Garden Street and this working relation could see a more modern, enlightened approach to life and the world among our ruling politicians in Guyana But even though our leaders will say yes to the ABC diplomats, the process will take a long time. Unless the Western diplomats really flex their muscles none of the changes – small amounts of marijuana, modern divorce laws, repeal of anti-homosexual laws – the Government will accept. It is my unshakeable belief that unless the Western missions really demand the changes and not just suggest them, this country will go into the 2020 election with the status quo. By that time many poor youths with a joint in their shirt pocket will have to watch their future sail away right in front of their eyes.

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Kaieteur News

FATF finds Guyana’s AML/ CFT regime still deficient Guyana has submitted its report to the Financial Action Task Force and amended its relevant legislation among a host of other measures, but the country remains deficient in relation to its international commitments. This past week Guyana made its most recent submission to FATF by a team headed by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams. FATF noted that since June 2015, Guyana has taken steps toward improving its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, “however, the FATF has determined that certain strategic deficiencies remain.” It has since recommended that Guyana should continue to implement its action plan, by ensuring and implementing an adequate legal framework for identifying, tracing and freezing terrorist assets. FATF also wants Guyana to ensure a fully operational and effectively functioning

financial intelligence unit; establish effective measures for customer due diligence and enhancing financial transparency and implement an adequate supervisory framework. Guyana’s deficiencies in meeting FATF compliance has seen it being placed in a category of countries with strategic shortcomings including, Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Syria and Uganda among others. In pronouncing on this group of countries, FATF did observe that as part of its ongoing review of compliance with the AML/CFT standards, FATF has to date identified several jurisdictions that have strategic AML/CFT deficiencies for which they have developed an action plan with the FATF. Guyana is one. The international body did note, too, that while the situations differ among each jurisdiction, each jurisdiction has provided a written highlevel political commitment to address the identified

deficiencies. In June when the newly installed coalition A Partnership for National Unity plus Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) got down to business, one of the first moves was to seek to pass the amendments to the AML/CFT legislation. During the course of that debate, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) opposition had argued that the legislative amendments would not be compliant with the Regional and international bodies. The Party also had heavy criticism for US Chargé d’ Affaires, Bryan Hunt, who had expressed his support for the revised bill. The PPP stated that the envoy “was not fully informed or was speaking about the wrong Bill”, by stating that the Bill was fully compliant with CFATF/ FATF regulations. The government subsequently went ahead with the tabling of the AML/ CFT amendments and subsequent passage.

Cops detain five, recover murdered farmer’s phone Police may be close to solving the murder of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara farmer, Shiraz “Amir” Ali, after arresting five men and recovering his cell phone. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that police also recovered the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card that came from Ali’s phone. The suspects are reportedly from East Coast Demerara. Police are also trying to locate a sixth man, known as ‘Cartel’, who is said to have been in possession of the phone. ‘Cartel’ had reportedly told his associates that he found the phone near the Montrose Market. Detectives will be trying to ascertain whether DNA samples taken from the suspects match samples that were taken from cigarettes and other items found at the scene. Shiraz Ali’s body, with at least 14 stab wounds, was found in the bedroom of his Lot Two Good Hope Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara home last week Monday. Police said the 22-year-old was stabbed four times to the back, once to the neck and left

to the premises. While Ali’s phone was stolen, and the house was reportedly ransacked, police appear to believe that robbery was not the killer’s primary motive. The dead man’s mother, Bibi Hamid, had said that she went to her son’s home last week Monday after failing to reach him on his phone, “I called his phone (Monday morning) and it (was) ringing out. I called the neighbours and them say them come over and call and they not hearing nothing. “My mind say, ‘Let me come at the house and see what happen’. Hamid related that when she pushed the bedroom door it was to discover her son’s bloodstained body.

Shiraz “Amir” Ali side temple. According to reports, the stab wounds were most likely delivered while Ali lay face down on his bed. Kaieteur News understands that a hammer and a knife in addition to cigarette butts were removed from the scene, for possible DNA testing. Police sources said there were no signs of forced entry

Page 11

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Opposition denies instigating countrywide sugar strike The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has denied that a countrywide strike in the sugar industry was in anyway instigated by the party. The workers should, in fact, be supported in their quest for better wages and salaries and improved working conditions, the party said. The party’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee, was asked to respond to allegations that the countrywide strike might have been politically motivated. According to Rohee,

…as Union presses for talks with GuySuCo for 2015 salary increase “This strike as far as I am aware is an industrial action.” The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), explaining the countrywide strike in the sugar industry, pointed to the continuing postponement of discussions from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) on the 2015 salary increases for its workers.

The Union said that its wage claim was submitted to GuySuCo since March 2015, but to date GuySuCo is yet to meet to discuss the 2015 wages package. Rohee told media operatives that the party considered the action on the part of sugar workers as “industrial action taken by the sugar workers.”

General Secretary of the PPP addresses members of the media

He rubbished any other insinuations and said that his party would be ignoring those suggestions, namely that there was some political motivation behind the strike action. “What we are seeing now is really an industrial action by the sugar workers.” Rohee in fact told media operatives that if government sees it fit to dole out a 50 per cent salary increase for itself, “why is not justifiable from an industrial relations point of view for the sugar workers to demand more money.” He sought to emphasize the laborious nature of the industry. “I would want to believe like so many others in this country that we return to this same issue, that is, meat for the boys and bones for the workers.” The PPP General Secretary is also of the view that all workers that engage in industrial action to uplift themselves and the lives of their families-against the backdrop of the salary increase for government-

must feel peeved. “When workers feel peeved the only weapon that they have to resort to in order to make their voices heard is strike action,” said Rohee. He was adamant that in any situation where workers take industrial action, “to bring about greater economic benefits for themselves, we think it should be supported.” Grilled further on political involvement behind the strike action, Rohee said, “As far as the PPP is concerned I can’t see that, we see it as industrial action on the part of the workers.” He was adamant that the strike was in part, a result of the salary increases given to itself by the current administration saying “workers are thinking people too, workers in any sector, they are thinking people, they want to see their livelihoods improve.” Rohee repeated his position that given the circumstances faced by sugar workers, industrial action is the means by which it voices

its concern. He said that industrial action is a universal phenomenon where when workers feel threatened and that they would be afforded a sympathetic ear. Meanwhile GAWU is insisting that GuySuCo was continuously being urged over the past months to begin negotiations, according to GAWU. It was noted that at a meeting in September last the sugar corporation had fixed a date in the first week of this month to begin to address the Union’s claims for wages and adjustment to certain fringe benefits. “This date was set to follow the conclusion of the work of the Sugar Commission of Inquiry (COI) which was expected to be on September 30, 2015.” However, the Corporation by letter on the day before the proposed meeting requested a further deferment. That letter, according to GAWU in referring to the expected recommendations from the COI, GuySuCo stated, “Those recommendations you would agree will provide food for thought and a guide to all stakeholders on the way forward. Therefore, it would not be the opportune time for GuySuCo and the Union (GAWU) to commence negotiations when such an important report is awaited. GuySuCo had urged that negotiations resume after the report of the COI is submitted. GAWU further stated that in deference to the Corporation, the workers exercised restraint and goodwill. It observed, however, that the COI report was presented to the Ministry of Agriculture over a week ago but the Union has been unable to get the Corporation to sit at the bargaining table for wages discussions. The Union noted, too, that since the restoration of Collective Bargaining in the sugar industry in 1989, at the insistence of the international financial institutions, the commencement of wage negotiations for the 25 years never delayed as late as October.

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Kaieteur News

Govt must stick to UN Committee obligations ...calls for improved - SASOD support of LGBT community The Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is calling on the Government of Guyana to adopt recommendations made by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), with the ultimate aim of bettering the lives of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. SASOD officials last Wednesday held a forum to discuss recent recommendations coming out of CESCR, an international body tasked with ensuring states that sign on to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights stick to their obligations. CESCR released its recommendations on October 9, last, following a report from local nongovernmental organisation, SASOD. SASOD was one of many bodies that took up the opportunity to present some of Guyana’s current human rights issues. During the forum, SASOD Founder and Co-Chairman,

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Geneva was very significant because Guyana had not been before that body in a long time,” Simpson said. He added that after the review by CESCR, a SASOD representative was able to have an informal meeting with the committee. He said that SASOD was also the only local NGO to submit a report to CESCR. “They [CESCR] listen to the reports from Governments on what they’ve done and then they tell them what the gaps are and make strong recommendations on what needs to be done to meet the covenant obligations,” Simpson explained. Among the recommendations coming out the CESCR were reviews of many of Guyana’s approaches to the LGBT community, particularly approaches which foster discrimination based on sex, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity and health status in all areas of economic, social and cultural rights. CESCR also expressed concern at many of the issues

“We’re happy to see the government acknowledge the issues and acknowledge the concerns both by SASOD and by the UN Committee, but we want to move to a place where the issues are being addressed in terms of specific implementation, in terms of law reform, in terms of policy reform, and in terms of services and programmes that address the issues we raised.” – SASOD Founder, Joel Simpson Joel Simpson, explained that the covenant is one under the UN Universal Declarations of Human Rights. It has been signed on to by a number of countries. Guyana, he said, had been a party to this convention since the 1960’s and ratified it in 1981. The ratification entailed Guyana reporting within two years then every five years after that. However, Guyana fell short in its reporting. “Before 2015, Guyana had not reported in nearly 20 years because it had not submitted its periodic reports every five years,” he said. He said that a report was finally submitted in 2012. It covered about three reporting cycles with a special focus on the LGBT community. He explained that SASOD deemed it important to document and report on issues related to discrimination affecting the LGBT community. In its report, SASOD made recommendations on how LGBT persons would be able to access and fulfil their social, economic and cultural lives. “The review which took place in September at the United Nations Committee on

highlighted, including poor access to education and health as well as “wide scale” discrimination. Simpson said that the Guyana Government must be held accountable to the signed covenant obligations. He also emphasised that the onus must not rest solely on the NGOs but also on the wider populace. He noted that the Government is “definitely aware” of all of the CESCR recommendations as well as recommendations in SASOD’s report. “We will be approaching the government in terms of these rights. These rights fall under a number of ministerial portfolios and we will be engaging these ministers. There is the Ministry of Public

Joel Simpson Health, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social Protection, and we will have different kinds of engagements at the different levels,” Simpson said. “We will follow-up and see that these recommendations are implemented,” he added. He said that the Government has acknowledged the submissions made by SASOD and CESCR. He said that it was indicated that these issues will come up for discussion at the level of the constitutional reform committee. However, he opined that even this committee is too narrow a forum for this level of discussion. “These issues are far more crosscutting than being constitutional issues. Yes, we want to see sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for discrimination... but that is just one of our recommendations. The issues around decriminalisation are not specific to the constitution per se so we want some of these laws repealed and that is at the level of the Ministry of Legal Affairs,” he said. He stressed, “We’re happy to see the government acknowledge the issues and acknowledge the concerns both by SASOD and by the UN Committee, but we want to move to a place where the issues are being addressed in terms of specific implementation, in terms of law reform, in terms of policy reform, and in terms of services and programmes that address the issues we raised.”

Page 21

Page 22

Kaieteur News

SALON -Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal, Mabelline. -Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257 SERVICES

WANTED

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

1 Live in maid; must know to cook. Call: 683-2271

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 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 Landscaping: Palms, largest varieties of plants, Used in every one of our unique landscapes- Call: 648-1821/ 219-0468 Eagle’s fridge re-gas @ 99100 New Market Street $8,000 & washing machine repairs. Phone: 697-2969, 223-5818 Permanent & Visitors Vi s a Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building. visadocumentsgy@yahoo.com. Call: 225-6496, 662-6045 INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

TAXI SERVICES Mario’s Taxi Service; Travel & Collect Coupons to win a smart Phone, Drawing Every Month from October- Call: 225-7686; 225-7689 TOURS Tour to Suriname (20-24/ Nov- $34,000) & Brazil (25-30/ Nov- $46,000) transportation and accommodation, Book Now! between Oct29Nov13.Call: 660-0312; 695-4506

Affordable salon services: pedi, mani, wash & blowout, facials, etc $2,500 each. Vogue @ Kalyan Mall, Lamaha Street. Tel: 647-1773/660-5257

WOODMIZER LT 15 AND LT 40 OPERATOR- CAL: 688-6579/653-9752 Experienced live in waitress – 18-25yrs – salary $60,000 monthly. Call: 610-5043 1 Live in domestic must know to cook 25-50yrs, salary $70,000- Call: 610-3974 Live in domestic, hardworking, single, dependable, and trustworthy with no health problem. Call: 650-8632 (9:00am-7:00pm) Experienced bartenders, waitress, cooks and bouncers needed at Eden’s Bar (East Bank). Call: 652-0074

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Apartments for rent @ Nandy Park E.B.D-Call: 227-5194 Coolers for rent –Call: 6570424

One experienced dispatcher for taxi service. Call: 6220722; 644-7032 One hairdresser needed, must know to do everything. One nail station to rent. Call Mellisa: 610-1941 1Female housekeeper, to live in age 35-50years, must know to cook & clean. Call: 6939068 Experienced Roti/Puri cook, pastry maker, curry cooks, dish washers, apply at Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce Street. Female to work at restaurant in the interior, salary -$80,000 monthly- Call: 674-1767; 6707043; 685-8720 One gardener for E.C.D residence must be 40years and older, preferably from E.C.D-Call: 225-4096; 6216006 Experienced wash bay attendant with driver’s license, attractive salary. Call: 646-8748 Now Hiring: Night Auditor/ bartenders, waitress, cook, Security guards-Call: 6102227 or 698-6075 Urgently! 1 Graphics Artiste; male or female @ 21 Seaford Street Campbelville. Call: 2261877; 641-3687 Porters wanted to work on garbage truck in Georgetown – Call: 227-1717

Tuesday October 27, 2015

VACANCY Work from home earn $5,000-$20,000 daily. Call monday-friday (9am-5pm): 233-6517; 638-0595 or www.jobfairworldwide.com Experienced gent required for preparing procurement bid d o c u m e n t , mozatart@yahoo.com or 6637504 Welder/Fabricator: interested person can contact us on telephone number: 603-4094 Porters, Ripsaw, re-saw and moulder operators, security guard @ Eccles Industrial Site EBD- Call Richard: 6097675; 624-1705; 233-2614 Porters: apply at Alabama Trading Ferry Stelling Georgetown, Stabroek. Accountant, Bond clerk, male & female workers, drivers @ RA Soda Factory, Rosignol. Call: 330-2399; 6235920 Porters, Drivers, Mechanic (Melanie Branch) 1-Bond Clerk RA Soda Factory (Rosignol). Call: 330-2399; 623-5920 Caterpillar and Perkins mechanic contact 223-5273

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM 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 Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494

WANTED Driver for fielder wagon taxiCall: 646-8748. Security guard & a gardener: preferably from G/town and E.C.D. Call Neville Osman: 624-1737 (8:00am-4:00pm).

Dust – Dry coconut. Call: 6940907; 226-2132. Office is situated at Orange Walk Bourda.

Truck Driver wanted to work in Georgetown. Call: 218-1455

Wash-bay attendants, preferably males, residing on the East Coast. Living accommodations offered if needed. Working hours (7am-4pm) Call:227-5169

SECURITY GUARD WITH EXPERIENCE, FIT AND ALERT. KNOWLEDGE OF HANDLING A WEAPON, MILITARY BACKGROUND A+. CALL: 231-8529 OR 231-8344

Security officers wanted by security company-Contact: 672-1920, between 8:00am5:00pm One supervisor for Dixie Lee Fast Food contact 223-5273/ 4 One Supervisor to work at Hotel in Charity contact: 2235273/4 Experienced seamstress & persons to do hand work & pressing. Call: 264-2763 Popular East Coast Gas Station Day/Night: pump attendants, sales & office assistant. Contact: 658-2013; 695-9880, Strathspey E.C.D.

EDUCATION Princeton College Forms 1-5 CXC Adults Classes, Grade 1-6 Lessons: Phonic lessons @ East Street-Call: 690-5008; 619-7911 Obtain a guaranteed distinction in CSEC Principles of Accounts. Call: 654-1723 for more information TO LET Two bedrooms apartment, parking & other conveniences, Christian working couples, no children -$35,000 –Call: 218-3463; 6238759; 672-1586

PROPERTY FOR SALE

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461.

SALE! SALE! SALE One TOYOTA RZ MINIBUS GJJ series -$1.5Million. One Econoline FORD 2005 GSS Series -$1.5M. Call: 6046108

Pearl: Well Built 1,995 Sq. Ft concrete structure 45X165 lot, formerly meeting hall 13.5M. Call: 649-1670

One Ducati 1098cc motorcycle in excellent condition, will negotiate best offer-Call: 617-6934, 674-0137 Unregistered vehicles: Toyota Premio 2003 and Spacio 2004. Call: 227-5950; 681-7117 One RZ minibus RR SeriesCall: 685-2113

#53 Village: East Berbice, concrete house and land for sale, please submit offers, Call: 674-2155 Property at Diamond New Scheme: 1-Three bedroom flat concrete house, price $9.5M negotiable. Call: 2663962; 667-1240 Toyota Rush, Raum,AT212, IST, 2 Storied transported L-Touring & Fielder Wagon, concrete property upstairs 2 Tundra, Hilux 4 Runner, bedrooms, downstairs 2 Nissan 4 Door Pickup. Call: bedrooms; fully grilled, block 644-5096; 697-1453 ‘8’ Mon Repos, E.C.D -$18M. Call: 625-1514, 231-7255 One 1.5 Ton Toyoace Canter, 1 Church & 2 Storey building GLL Series, good working at 180 Charlotte Street. Call: condition. Call: 623-1202 624-7341; 227-6817 One Honda CRV, immaculate 3 Bedroom; 2 flat house for condition, 17" mags, AC, CD, sale, Enterprise, Lincolin price -$1.750,000 negotiable. Street, Lot 135 -$14M Call: 626-2884 negotiable. Contact: 597858-4554 (Suriname), 1 Toyota YRV, PKK 3075, price $850,000 negotiable. Guyana: 602-3643 Call: 696-2765 Transported property at For Immediate Sale: Ford Tuschen Housing Scheme, F150 Toyota Madza, Axela located around School -$7M Toyota Verossa, Nissan negotiable. Contact: 264Dualis. Contact: 6231050; 683-7045; 669-3553 3400; 231-3837 2 Storey 45x35 concrete One Navy blue Premio, Fully property, lower flat Loaded. Contact: 685-1609; incomplete. Land 65x120 @ 226-5986. Diamond N/S 5th Avenue, E.B.D- Call: 664-5052 First Class Auto: 08 Premio, Property at Tuschen-Call: Rush, Bluebird, 06 Premio, Spacio IST, Runx. Call: 609669-9055; 674-1291 8188; 638-3045 YARROWKABRA LINDEN, H/WAY, LAND SIZE: 100’X200’ FULLY FENCED, HOUSE, CHICKEN & PIG PEN. CALL: 676-0931 1 Flat house on 1 acre land with chicken pen & fruits tree at Unity E.C.D- $11M-Call: 642-7898 LAND FOR SALE Brand new 2 storey concrete 1500 Acres Transported land building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern near Bartica, Forestry, amenities –Call: 662-9335; Agriculture, loam, sand rock quarry, price to sell. Cal Mark: 612-3244 603-1266; 625-9788; 707-4654 Bedroom 2 storey house 2 2222 lot 80’X144’, bearing fruit trees, good condition all Land at Parfaite Harmonie amenities @Zeeburg W.C.D. $1.1M, $1.4M, $1.6M, Contact: 277-0024, 684-6106 Tuschen 2nd Street -$5.5M, Phase 2, $1.4M- Call:604-6724 Popular business place at temple Street, Windsor- Developed, fenced, bearing Forest, W.C.D, price fruit trees 40’X144’ @ Zeeburg W.C.D. Contact: negotiable. Call: 642-6664 277-0024, 684-6106, price negotiable

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

33Acres prime agriculture land located at Plantation Flensberg W.B.D-price negotiable-Contact Erick Boodhoo: Call: 6546229; 627-0556 Land @ Lot 1856 Farm, EBD, size: 50X80- $2.7M negotiable-Call: 676-5229 Continued on page 23

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Letters... Where your views make the news

Put Security personnel Disappointed in at each health centre Mr Yesu Persuad DEAR EDITOR, After reading an article carried in several media outlets, I feel compelled to make a much needed suggestion to the Government of Guyana. Recently, a friend of mine was robbed at gunpoint while performing his medical duties at the Sophia Health Center. According to reports, the bandit was a patient at the facility and had visited at least once before. While one cannot always foresee that a pa-

tient may return to rob an establishment of their belongings and peace of mind, it would be folly not to at least consider it. Therefore, my suggestion is that every public health center and clinic have an armed constable as a security figure henceforth. I have seen firsthand how unruly some patients can become, especially with the female nurses. This can become a catastrophic event should

someone get hurt as a result of being unable to control an unruly patient. If there aren’t enough constables to spread to various public health centers and clinics then employ some. Creating employment will always sit well with the population and any government would earn positive points for such an initiative. Time is of the essence especially when you can save a life from potential tragedy. Patrice Wishart

President Granger may... From page 4 is correct he seemed to have been caught between a rock and a hard place when his position is juxtaposed against Minister Trotman’s earlier position when in defending the decision to hike salaries Trotman said it had the full support of cabinet. When the announcement was made there was no mention of any increase in the President’s salary. Later the nation was informed by the PM, that the President got 5% increase in his salary. If this is true it represents the lowest increase in the package and can be interpreted as evidence that the President was trying to separate himself from the “pack” and his acceptance of small increase was an act of solidarity with his colleagues. As the fiasco evolved and immediately after President Granger ’s declaration of support for the increases, Opposition Leader, BharratJagdeo wasted no time in gathering as much political mileage he could have garnered by announcing that the PPPC Parliamentarians were distancing themselves from the increases. At face value this is good politics for the PPPC. However, the possibility remains that in spite of the f a c t that the Opposition Leader is on record as saying that the increases will be returned or donated to charitable organizations, that party may allow its MPs to use the increases on themselves. As I indicated earlier there is no easy way out of this unfortunate situation. I feel that in spite of the present difficulties we in the ruling collation - leaders and activists - have a duty to do a little soul-searching and engage in self-criticism. Our challenge now is to work privately and publicly to end the impasse between the masses and the political leadership over the ministerial and parliamentary increases in salaries. Serious politics re-

quire that we do so and stand up to our responsibilities in the present crisis. I feel the least the government can do right now, to regain the confidence and respect of the masses is to start a process of reconciliation by declaring to the nation that there will be no further in-

creases in minister’s salaries for the remaining life of the government. This is my humble recommendation to my comrades. Such a commitment in my opinion can go a far way to begin the healing process. Tacuma Ogunseye

Two heritage buildings being neglected DEAR EDITOR, Two buildings in Georgetown are crying out for attention. Both of these are, I believe, heritage buildings but have been neglected over the years and have now become eye sores. These buildings are the Town Hall and the Kitty market. The time is long overdue for the relevant authorities to come to the rescue of these two landmark structures. In the case of the Kitty Market, it has now degenerated to eye sore status, given the advanced state of physi-

cal deterioration. Moreover, it is fast becoming a health hazard to vendors and customers who do business there on a daily basis. It is clear that the City Council is unable to fund the rehabilitation costs required to bring back these buildings to any degree of respectability. Central Government, through the Ministry of Local Government should intervene as a matter of urgency having regard to the historic value of these buildings. Hydar Ally

DEAR EDITOR, I read with great surprise the letter of Mr. Yesu Persaud on the Diwali date controversy. Mr Persaud is a man I have the greatest respect for. I also admire his business acumen. But his advice to the Minister to endorse the Dharmic Sabha pronouncement of November 11, as Deepavali is wrong. This year Deepavali is a little tricky, but the decision is very clear, Deepavali is in Amawasya, (no moon) dark night . Poornima is full moon (Sukla paksh), the bright day, and then this moon gets a little darker each day until 15 days (tithi) is the darkest day, no moon, called Amawasya. Then again the moon starts a little each day and for the next 15 days it become the brightest or full moon (poornima). So diya (Deepavali) is lighted to bright the place, to see Rama’s face, to remove evils, you light one diya the day before etc. Our longitude is different from India, so we

must calculate the time difference. It is not rocket science. Surveyors and engineers, to establish Azimuth/whole circle bearings, sometimes must take a peep on the sun, at a particular time and date to establish your property boundaries as, eg N40 degree 20 seconds S, or 195 degree etc. Do you know that many Pandits cannot read the the Panchang/patra properly. Borrow my hundred year patra and see how many Hindu names are wrong.I must congratulate the minister, Ramjattan, for his explanation in the media. Maybe “Dem Boys Say” could speculate that he would be better as a pandit than to control crime. My personal belief is that Mr Ramjattan, has solved and taken affirmative action on more crimes than the last government. Pandit Yogesh(Joe) Persaud, Former President of the Canada Pandit’s Council.

From page 22

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Pool Tables and business property for sale- Call: 6216878 MILL CUT AND DRESSED GREENHEART FROM $160BM AND KABUKALLI FROM, $180BM- TEL: 6886579/653-9752 Toyota Spacio, PMM 3646. Call: 628-1620 CRV 2000 Model, 1998 CC PLL5892, Burgundy, immaculate condition- Call: 684-5868 Prado 2000 model, 2700CC, PPP2872, pearl white & silver, next to new- Call: 684-5868 House in Tuschen Main Road -$27M, 46ft fishing boat & 500lbs Nylon Seine -$2.3M. Call: 696-6074 One 40 outboard Tohatsu Engine, excellent condition. Call: 687-8239 or 675-3004 Plants: Foxtails Palms, Christmas Palms, Ixora, Ficus, Christmas Trees, Petunia, Pentas, Gerbera, Marigold, Periwinkle @ AK PlantShop. Call: 610-7363 Plants: Chrysanthemums 5 for $2000, Hibiscus 5 for $3,000, Bougainvilla 5 for $2000 @ AK Plant Shop. Call: 610-7363 Crazy deals! All Dell Desktop & Laptop computers-$55,000, free educational software and games. Call FuturetTech: 2312206 Golden Retriever pups and other breeds of dogs. Call: 625-0345 1 Farm Land to pant eddoes at Kuru Kururu. Call: 223-8331 or 626-4426 2 Jet-Ski –Call: 680-2095, 261-5401

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Robbery gang UN Committee calls for aid... remanded to prison Four men who have confessed to terrorizing and robbing a Pourderoyen, West Bank Demerara family and a Church’s Fast Food Outlet on the West Side, were yesterday slapped with seven counts of armed robbery, when they appeared in the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court. Gary Beckles, a/k ‘Blackboy’, 20, of Lot 106 North East LaPenitence; Damian Allicock, a/k ‘King Buck’ of Riverview Albouystown; Troy Gouveia, 36, of Lot 29 Howes Street, Charlestown, and Shundel Castello, 39, of Lot 1 East Ruimveldt, were all remanded to prison by Magistrate Christel Lambert. The defendants pleaded not guilty to four charges or armed robberies committed at Church’s and three charges of robbery under-arms carried

Damian Allicock out on the family. According to reports, the gang stormed a house at Lot 82 Pourderoyen and threatened to kill the family, before

escaping with $25,000 and a quantity of household items, last Thursday. They reportedly intimidated the family of three, for a long period of time with a gun, cutlasses, a piece of wood and a knife. It was reported that after the attack the men escaped in a white tinted Toyota 212. Police Prosecutor, Corporal Luckhai objected to the men being admitted to pretrial liberty. His objections were maintained by the Magistrate, who remanded them to prison until November 6. Meanwhile, an employee of the Church’s Outlet, who is said to be the mastermind behind the robberies, is currently in police custody assisting with investigations. Kaieteur News understands that advice is being sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as it relates to charging the suspect.

IT IS YOUR FAULT!

From page 3 announced that it has temporarily put on hold its two latest partial payments, 28.9M Eoros for the local sugar sector and 14.8M Euro for sea defence works. The EU had explained that it has temporarily put on hold its two latest partial payments until all eligibility criteria, including budget oversight, are “satisfactorily” addressed. Former UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Andrew Ayre had come in for criticisms from the then PPP government. He had reportedly said, as well, that UK taxpayers would

more than likely object to its government providing budgetary support to a country functioning without any means of parliamentary scrutiny. This was followed by a firm retort from former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon. He had accused the EU and the British High Commission of conspiring to dishonour the longstanding budgetary support agreement between the EU and the Government of Guyana. Reversal of Fortunes The new administration, under President David Granger, established a Commission of Inquiry earlier this year to determine the future of the sugar industry. The report on the findings and recommendations was handed over last week to the Ministry of Agriculture. The industry had fallen to a two decade low over the past few years, but according to the new administration, things seem to be looking up. Yesterday, GuySuCo said

it had completed its 13th week of grinding for the 2nd crop, 2015 and has surpassed the 10,000 tonnes mark for the fourth time recording 10,076 tonnes. Already this has been achieved at six factories with Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, completing its crop since October 17. The past week, GuySuCo said, the troubled Skeldon factory recorded its highest weekly and daily production, 2,980 tonnes and 550 tonnes of sugar respectively, since its commissioning in 2009. “In addition, the factory crushed an average 6,010 tonnes of canes daily, versus 8,400 tonnes, representing 72% of the design capacity of the plant. As at October 25, 2015, sugar production for the crop was 104,461 tonnes or 71.4 % of the estimate for the crop. Some 185,604 tonnes has been produced for the year to date which represents 81.6 % of the total sugar production estimated for the year.

From page 20 received by SASOD. “We have recommended that there is an amendment of the Prevention of Discrimination Act of 1997 to include sexual orientation, gender identity and health status,” Patrick indicated. She continued, “There are no laws or policies that protect LGBT persons in the workplace.” In turn, CESCR recommended, “The state takes all necessary measures to collect disaggregated statistical data necessary to assess the employment and labour market situation and to review and implement effective labour policies.” ACCESS TO HEALTH SASOD and Peace Corps Volunteer, Chase Gorishek, explained that Article 24 of Guyana's Constitution mandates that every citizen has the right to medical attention. However, he noted that there were some barriers in accessing medical attention and these barriers were founded in discrimination. According to Gorishek, the four main areas that Guyana must tackle to fully comply with Article 12 of the CESCR convention were discrimination when accessing healthcare services; mental health; sexual health; and

transgender health. SASOD also recommended the improvement of training and sensitisation of health professionals to increase the understanding of the impacts stigma and discrimination has on HIV prevention and treatment. SASOD also recommended that persons be trained and recruited while the system should be provided with sufficient mental healthcare professionals to address the needs of the general public. Additionally, it was believed that public hospitals should offer screening options for men who have sex with men (MSM) while the University of Guyana should introduce subjects such as intersexuality, transgender and hormonal replacement during the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery programmes so that the students will have a theoretical understanding of gender and sexual minorities. It is hoped that this understanding will prepare them to deal with such persons in their work. SASOD also recommended that the public healthcare system's scope be broadened to include sex realignment surgeries and hormone replacement therapy for transgender Guyanese. In turn, the committee rec-

ommended that Guyana should intensify its effort to improve the availability, accessibility, and quality of healthcare services, including in the mental health sector. It was also recommended that Guyana should take all the relevant measures to combat the epidemics of tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS and to remove obstacles which hinder access to sexual and reproductive services. “The Committee is also concerned at the drain of skilled workforce, particularly in the area of healthcare, and its negative impact on the enjoyment of the relevant rights by the people of the state party.” Brinn noted that the recommendations do not only focus the LGBT community but the general populace. “Their report is very broad but we, of course, are particularly interested in one area of it,” she said. The report has been made public by the United Nations. She also noted that these recommendations cannot be mandated by UN since the body is not a regulatory one. Nonetheless, she said that the Guyana Government must attempt to live up to its obligations signed in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Cops probe sudden death of... From page 2 rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) persons. According to the statement, Nicholson worked tirelessly in her quest for equal rights for all people regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. Her advocacy with the government, local politicians, and the UN Human Rights Committee was vital in advancing the national dialogue. The release added that as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Zenita successfully lobbied for resolutions on human rights, sexual orientation, and

gender identity at the OAS General Assembly. “As an active lead member of the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), Zenita worked closely with bilateral and multilateral donors to help Guyana reach its national goal of sustainable HIV epidemic control. “Zenita's work reflected her unwavering commitment to justice and equality for all people. Her passion has inspired many, both in Guyana

and throughout the Caribbean to continue this struggle. “While Zenita's life has been tragically cut short, it is our hope that her legacy will endure and that Guyana and the Caribbean will build societies free from the homophobia and transphobia against which she so effectively fought,” the Embassy said in a statement. The Embassy conveyed its condolences to Zenita's family and friends.

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Hundreds dead after massive earthquake hits South Asia A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake has struck in northern Afghanistan and has been felt in a large area from northern India to Pakistan with scores of people killed across the region. The US Geological Survey put the epicentre of yesterday’s quake near Jarm in Afghanistan’s northeast, 250km from the capital Kabul and at a depth of 213km. The total death toll stood at 335 with at least 253 people

killed in Pakistan and at least 82 more in Afghanistan, according to official reports from the two countries. Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, cut short his visit to the United Kingdom to fly home to deal with the emergency. Hikmat Fasi, a resident of Parwan Province in northern Afghanistan, said the quake caused a lot of damage in the area. “We are safe but I saw a lot of buildings collapse,”

Hikmat Fasi said. “It [earthquake] caused severe damage to our area. We are just praying.” According to the InterService public relations office, all military hospitals and helicopters were put on standby and high alert. Strong tremors were also felt in New Delhi and Islamabad, residents said, as authorities in India and Pakistan issued warnings for strong aftershocks.

Five Britons dead after Canadian whale-watching boat sinks Five Britons were killed when a whale-watching boat sank off the coast of western Canada, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said. The boat carrying 27 people sank near Tofino, a popular tourist area on Vancouver Island, on Sunday afternoon, killing a woman and four men. Officials said 21 people had been rescued and one was still missing. The cause of the accident remains unknown but sea conditions at the time of the incident were said to be calm. Barbara McLintock from the British Columbia coroner’s office said the victims ranged in age from 18 to 76. Three were tourists on holiday from the UK, while two were British nationals living in Canada - one woman from British Columbia and a man from Ontario. The boat, Leviathan II, made a mayday call before sinking about 8 miles (12km) west of Tofino. A dive team from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is searching for the final missing person while Canada’s Transportation Safety Board has begun an investigation in Tofino. Mr Hammond said: “It is with deep sadness that I can confirm five British nationals have lost their lives when the whale watching boat they were on sank off Western Canada on Sunday. “My thoughts are with the family and friends of all those affected by this terrible accident.” Mr Hammond said consular staff in the region were supporting the family members of those who had died and were in close contact with the Canadian authorities. Within 30 minutes of the mayday call, a rescue helicopter and boat were on the

The boat, Leviathan II, made a mayday call before sinking about 8 miles (12km) from the shore. scene. Other boats in the area also responded to the call for help. Lieutenant Paul Trenholm, from the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in British Columbia, said people from the nearby indigenous First Nation villages had been first on the scene. “Without the assistance of the First Nation community this could have been much worse,” he said. Eyewitness Alec Dick, from nearby Ahousaht First Nation, told Canada’s Global News network: “They got swamped by a wave. It just flipped their boat completely. I’ve never seen, in my involvement with search and rescue, heard this happen before.” Tofino fishing guide Lance Desilets said at least 12 rescue boats were already out on the water when he arrived on the scene. “I saw a lot of personal belongings, a long diesel slick and the top 10 feet of the Leviathan II sticking out of the water,” he said. “It’s a sad day for our community.”

Canadian broadcaster CBC reported that because of the size of the boat passengers would not normally be requested to wear life jackets while on board. The 20m (65ft) boat was operated by Jamie’s Whaling Station and Adventure Centres. In a statement on the company’s website, owner Jamie Bray said: “It has been a tragic day. Our entire team is heartbroken over this incident. “We are doing everything we can to assist our passengers and staff through this difficult time. We are co-operating with investigators to determine exactly what happened.” Another whale-watching boat operated by the same company capsized in 1998, killing two people, including the boat operator and a tourist from Germany. The six-metre vessel was on a three-hour trip in the area of Plover Reef when it was hit by a large swell, throwing four people into the water. (BBC)

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Kaieteur News

Dozens dead in Pakistan

Patients who were shifted outdoors at the government medical college hospital after a strong tremor was felt in Jammu, India [Channi Anand/The Associated Press] Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said walls in the Pakistani capital swayed back and forth as people poured out of office buildings in a panic. Shaukat Iqbal, a resident from Charsadda district in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa said it felt as if the earthquake “kept getting worse with time”. “I could see homes, buildings shaking. We are terrified and I am unable to reach my family living in Malakand district. All phone lines are shut.”

Waqas Habibi Rana, a resident from Lahore, said many people fled their homes and office buildings as the city was hit by the tremors. “As soon as we felt the first tremor we stepped out of our home. It stopped for a few seconds, but started again,” said Waqas. “The third tremor was really severe. It was by far the worst earthquake I have ever experienced in Pakistan. Everyone was scared and praying. It has triggered landslide

in Baltistan [a mountainous region in Pakistan situated in the Karakoram mountains just to the south of K2], Waqas added. Al Jazeera’s Nidhi Dutt, reporting from New Delhi, said many residents of the Indian capital had already moved back into their buildings. “The city’s metro system was still down as part of the security measures,” Dutt reported. (Aljazeera)

Saudi prince held over record Beirut airport drug bust A Saudi prince and four other people have been detained in Lebanon in the largest drug seizure in the history of Beirut airport, a security source has said. Prince Abdel Mohsen Bin Walid Bin Abdulaziz was among those detained by airport security while allegedly “attempting to smuggle about two tonnes of Captagon pills and some cocaine,” the security source said. “The smuggling operation is the largest one that has been foiled through the Beirut

International Airport,” the source told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity. Captagon is the brand name for the amphetamine phenethylline, a synthetic stimulant. Manufacturing of the substance thrives in Lebanon and war-torn Syria, which have become a gateway for the drug to the Middle East and particularly the Gulf. The UN Office of Drugs and Crime said in a 2014 report that the amphetamine market is on the rise in the

Middle East, with seizures mostly in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria accounting for more than 55 percent of amphetamines recovered worldwide. The security source said the drugs had been packed into cases that were waiting to be loaded onto a private plane that was headed to Saudi Arabia. Lebanon’s state news agency said the private plane was to head to Riyadh and was carrying 40 suitcases full of Captagon. (Aljazeera)

Several dead in raids on suspected ISIL cell in Turkey Seven suspected Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters and two Turkish policemen have been in a shootout after officers raided several houses in the Kurdishmajority city of Diyarbakir. Turkish police yesterday entered several houses in a district of the southeastern city which they suspected were being used by ISIL, when the suspects opened fire, one source said. The police officers were killed after booby traps planted around one of the

houses exploded, according to the Anatolia news agency. Heavy shooting during the dawn operation lasted for at least two hours, an AFP journalist at the scene said. Police said they seized weapons, ammunition and organisational documents. The deaths come just days before the country holds general elections on November 1. Security forces are currently searching for suspects behind the October 10 Ankara suicide bombings that killed

at least 102 people at a proKurdish peace rally. The authorities have declared ISIL is the number one suspect over the Ankara bombings, the deadliest attack in the history of modern Turkey. Turkey launched air strikes on ISIL targets in Syria and Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq in July after another deadly bombing, and later allowed the US to use its Incirlik air base for air operations against ISIL. (Al Jazeera and AFP)

Page 27

Page 28

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Kaieteur News

Wallabies not satisfied just by making World Cup final LONDON (Reuters) Australia may have defied the gloomy expectations of a year ago to reach the final of the Rugby World Cup but they won’t be satisfied unless they win it. The Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has been branded a saviour for taking a team that was in disarray 12 months ago to the final, but he insists that’s no cause for celebration. As his team begin their final preparations for Saturday’s showdown against New Zealand at Twickenham, Cheika told reporters his players faced a simple question. “If you want to be happy with just (making the final), yeah okay that’s good, and we can go home and everyone will pat you on the back and say ‘well done’. Or do you want to something different?” “Do you want to go and have something you’ve got for the rest of your life? They’re the choices to be made and I know what choice this team will make.” Cheika, the only coach to have won the major club or provincial tournaments in the northern and southern hemispheres, is acutely aware of the hype surrounding the

match. Australia and New Zealand might be friendly neighbours but when it comes to sport, they are the fiercest of rivals. “That’s what you play the game for, to sit in the dressing room and have that feeling of satisfaction that you all put in a massive shift for one another,” he said. “Whatever you play, you’re not going out there to lose. That’s the joy of the game. There are going to be 46 fairly pig-headed players out there on Saturday, trying to get the outcome they want.” Cheika did however warn his players not to get too caught up in the hype over the teams’ rivalry, sticking to the coach’s mantra of taking things one day at a time and focussing on their own performance. “I’m still very new to the international coaching thing so I don’t know if the rivalry is going to make any difference. It’s the World Cup,” he said. “Any match you play and you are playing for your country, you are going to be doing your best. It’s nice for all the supporters and everything but for us, it’s about getting our own stuff right.

“We’ve stayed relatively introverted throughout the whole tournament in what we are doing. Getting caught up in all the other things just takes the impetus away from what we are trying to build up for ourselves.” The Wallabies are likely to go into the final as underdogs, having beaten the All Blacks just once in the 11 matches they have played since the last World Cup in 2011, which New Zealand won after defeating Australia in the semifinals. Apart from Saturday’s semi-final where they beat South Africa 20-18 in a tense encounter, they have cruised through the tournament while the Wallabies have done it the hard way after being drawn in the same pool as England and Wales then battling past Scotland and Argentina in the knockout stage. “We’ve been pretty much going knockout every week since we got here,” Cheika said. “We understand we’ve got to play better, that’s part of it. “What we need to do is make sure when we talk about improving we know how to make that happen.”

Tuesday October 27, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Contact with a lot of friends may take place today. Invitations to social events could come your way. Your relationship with your friends is congenial. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Today's intense celestial energy will help you make progress toward your goals. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your creative impulse should be high today. You might decide to try some writing. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Intense, vivid dreams spark your mental processes. You could wake up wondering why you dreamed what you did and what it has to do with what's going on in your life. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You might have a project you want to pitch, you might need to sell your way of doing something, or you might actually have to sell a product. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You might make money from a completed project, or you could receive some money to finance a project.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you're likely to be especially sharp. Your intellectual powers are operating at a high level. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your imagination is especially acute, so it's easy to visualize how the rooms will look afterwards. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may want to take a more judicious approach to your shopping sprees. Try spending the afternoon looking and trying on but not buying. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Today you have a quick intellect and intensified persuasive powers. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your intellect and way with words have served you well in the past. Now all signs indicate that you'll progress more rapidly toward your goals. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) If you've been considering writing or teaching, today is the day to get started. Your imagination is intense, you're inspired, and your way with words is sharper than usual.

Page 29

Hamilton will be better next year, warns Lauda AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) Niki Lauda expects Lewis Hamilton to be even better next season now that the Briton has secured his third Formula One world title. The Austrian, a triple champion himself who is now non-executive chairman of Hamilton’s Mercedes team, told Reuters that he could see the 30-year-old adding to his tally in years to come. “Yes, for sure. If he goes quicker every year, like he did this year, he will continue like this,” said Lauda. “He’s better (than last year). If you’re not better all the time, you don’t win world championships,” added the man who in 2012 persuaded Hamilton to leave McLaren and join Mercedes with the promise of success. “It’s very simple. He was better this year and he will be better next year.” Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff said it was up to the team to keep providing Hamilton with a car as dominant as the one he has enjoyed in the past two years. “I think he is capable of winning more if we are able to build a car that is going fast, and I have no doubt in our organization, and there are many more trophies to come,” said Wolff. Hamilton, who has always spoken of his desire to match the three titles of the late Brazilian Ayrton Senna, said he would not want for further drive now he had achieved that boyhood dream. “The motivation part is really easy, it’s kind of like I was born with it so it never goes away. I really don’t feel any worries about that,” he told reporters after celebrating his 10th win in 16 races. “Winning is winning and it never gets old. I still have the motivation for the next race, I want to win the next race. It just rolls over. Everything I compete in I want to

At the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi November 23, 2014. (Reuters/Hamad I Mohammed) win. I’ve not the need to search for motivation at all.” Hamilton had spoken before Sunday of how it would feel to join Senna in the alltime standings, likening it to climbing Everest and having no higher peak to climb, but he made clear he had recalibrated his ambitions. “Niki told me about the day he just didn’t enjoy it any more. Until that happens then I guess i’ll keep going,” he

said. “Whilst I got this championship, I really don’t feel that’s it, I feel like it’s just the beginning. So I’m just going to keep pushing. “Now I’ve equaled it (Senna’s three), I’m not looking at the others like (Alain) Prost has four, or (Juan Manuel) Fangio has five,” added Hamilton. “I’m now just on my own road and will see how far I can go.”

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Johnson places sixth in UWI Spec International Half Marathon -D’Andrade finishes 10th overall Trinidad and Tobagobased Guyanese distance runners, Kelvin Johnson and Lionel D’Andrade were no match for the Cuban, Richer Perez, who stopped the clock in 1:08:00 to win the UWI Spec International Half Marathon in Trinidad on Sunday. Kennneth Rotich of Kenya was close in 1:08:06 with Jamaican Kirk Brown third in 1:09:12. The Guyanese-duo placed among the top 10, as Johnson finished sixth in 1:12:43, while D’Andrade rounded out the top ten in 1:16:02. It was cold and rainy from start to finish. Hundreds of fans braved the weather to witness top regional and international runners from Kenya, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Jamaica and Guyana compete in the annual race. The Men’s title had been guaranteed to change hands long before the finish, when the defending champion, Brazilian, Daniel Chavez Da Silva

Tuesday October 27, 2015

PCL Four-Day practice match

Jacob’s 6-45 befuddles Bacchus’s X1 on opening day By Sean Devers

Kelvin Johnson

Lionel D’Andrade

was forced to retire in the early going, reportedly having suffered stomach cramps. “I felt good in the cool morning. I increased my speed at the half-way point and definitely saw an improvement from the Banker’s Insurance Half Marathon (August 2015) which was 1:20:04. So I am please with

my UWI Spec time,” D’Andrade said yesterday. “I’ve competed in 40 races for the year so far, and I have five more to compete in before the end of the 2015 race calendar,” he added. The AIMS certified and IAAF accredited UWI Spec Half Marathon had 1009 participants.

Watched by a handful of die-hard fans on another steaming hot day on the East Bank of Demerara, off-spinner Steven Jacobs captured 6-45 to help rout Robin Bacchus’ X1 for 141 despite a stylish 45 from the Captain and 25 from Raj Nannan on the first day of the final four-day practice match yesterday at Providence. By the close Leon Johnson’s X1 had reached 76-2 with Assad Fudadin unbeaten on 26, with his team still 65 runs in arrears. Fudadin and West Indies under-19 left-hander Shemron Hetymer (43) put together 75 for the first wicket before Hetymer, who reached the boundary seven times in his 77-minute and 44-ball innings, threw his wicket away just before the close when he pulled a short ball from Raun Johnson to mid-off. Night Watchman Gudakesh Motie was trapped LBW by Paul Wintz for a duck

off the final ball of the day after sloppy catches in the slip cordon let off Hetymer twice and Fudadin once. Bacchus’ X1 opted to bat first on a slow track with a tinge of green and a fast, parched outfield and the lefthanded Bacchus dominated a 38-run first wicket stand with 19 year-old Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who laboured for 38 balls for his three runs. Chris Barnwell ended Chanderpaul’s misery by having him LBW before Kandasammy Surujnarine (3) pushed forward to Jacobs and was taken at short leg at 43-2. Jacobs soon got rid of teenager Tevin Imlach (8) when was stumped just before Lunch at 55-3. After the interval, Kevin Boodie, with a century under his belt in the first game at Bourda, wasted the opportunity to further impress the selectors when he was removed for one by the 27year-old Jacobs, who has 32 wickets from 20 First-Class matches as Bacchus’s X1

slipped to 57-4. Bacchus continued to ooze confidence the longer he occupied the crease and played several audacious shots but he soon lost Jevon Searles (6) after he had dumped Jacobs back over his head for six when he was taken at leg-slip as Jacobs extracted prodigious bounce from the track. The 26-year-old Bacchus, with a single Regional 50-over game to his name, leaned back an slapped Raymon Reifer behind point for four after an imperious cover driven boundary off Jacobs got his innings going. But just when he was starting to flow Bacchus hit a catch off Jacobs to cover to leave the score on 77-6. Jacobs removed Kemo Paul (5) before Nannan was beaten for pace with an immaculately directed yorker from Keon Joseph and was bowled to leave the score 1078 before Motie (2-18) dismissed Dexter Solomon (19) and Steven Sankar (17) in quick succession.

WICB mourns the F and H, Phantom register wins passing of Basil Williams KINGSTON, Jamaica – The West Indies Cricket Board would like to express its profound sorrow and heartfelt condolences to family and friends, following the passing of former Jamaica and West Indies batsman Basil Williams. He was 65. Williams played seven Tests for West Indies between 1978 and 1979, distinguishing himself with two hundreds in his brief career. “We mourn the loss of another servant of the game in the Caribbean,” said WICB president Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron. “Indeed, the Jamaica Cricket Association

and the Kensington Cricket Club family of which he was a part for all of his life will miss him. “I knew ‘Shotgun’, as he was affectionately known, having been a member of Kensington for so many years. He was captain of the first team and I had the honour of playing with him. He was a tough, but fair captain and a no-nonsense guy.” Williams earned his place in the West Indies side, partly due to a solid regional firstclass season in 1978 and the defection of many leading players to World Series Cricket. He hammered a hundred

against an equally depleted Australian side on debut in Guyana, ending the series with 257 runs at 42.83. This earned him selection for the subsequent Tour of India, where he again performed well, scoring 212 runs at 35.33 – including a hundred at Calcutta – but after that series the lea d i n g players returned from World Series Cricket and he was discarded. Williams continued to represent Jamaica with distinction until his retirement in 1986 and served the game in his homeland in a number of areas including selector, board member and team manager.

Players in action during one of the quarter final matches. F and H and Phantom recorded victories when the quarter finals of the Transport Sp o r t s C l u b d o m i noes tournament were c o n t e s t e d on Sunday night at TSC. F and H marked 76 games to beat Saddam 70 and TNT 56. Kenrick Maloney and Hazim Hakh made 17 and 16 games respectively for the winners, while Eon Rodney

chalked up 17 and Jillian Hyman 16 for Saddam. Shawn Morgan made 15 for TNT. Phantom mustered 77 games to overcome Spartons 70 and Masters 69 in their match up. Kenrick Solomon made 16 and Rawle Cameron 16 for Phantom, while Clarence Whitehead and L i n d e n Bowman got 15 and 14 in that order for the runner up

team. The semi final and final was contested last night. Meanwhile, Ryan Boodhoo will host his birth anniversary tournament tonight at Turning Point starting at 20:00 hrs. Entrance fee is $6,000. Teams that entered will receive 12 energy drink and prizes will be announced later.

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 31

Pakistan beat England in nail-biting finish DUBAI (Reuters) Pakistan overcame belligerent resistance from England’s tail-enders to win the second test by 178 runs on Monday after bowling out Alastair Cook’s men for 312 with just 6.3 overs remaining. Victory put Pakistan 1-0 up in the three-game series and maintains their record of never having lost a series in their adopted home of the United Arab Emirates. Starting the final day on 130 for three and chasing an unlikely 491 for victory, England slumped to 193 for seven after lunch. Adil Rashid (61) and Stuart B r o a d ( 3 0 ) t h e n added 60 in 90 balls before the latter was bowled by an inswinging Wahab Riaz yorker. Undeterred, Rashid and Mark Wood (29) were adroit in defence as Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq switched between pace and spin to try to end their resistance. His team’s appeals grew more desperate as the overs

ticked by and the game entered the final hour with two wickets remaining. Seven fielders crowded the batsmen and the pressure told when Wood edged Zulfiqar Babar’s turning ball to Mohammad Hafeez in the gully. Five overs later Rashid was last man out, caught attempting a drive through the covers off Yasir Shah. WAHAB THREAT Earlier, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow extended their overnight partnership, repelling the threat of paceman Wahab who had engineered England’s matchdefining collapse in the first innings. However, the England pair proved less able to deal with the spin of Zulfiqar (3-53) and Yasir (4-87). Root (71) was first to fall after edging Zulfiqar to Younus Khan. The slip snaffled the ball a fraction above the turf to reduce England to 157 for four. Misbah turned up the heat by positioning helmetclad fielders at silly point and

short-leg to accompany two slips. Bairstow initially read the spin well, lurching forward to pad the ball away and getting on his heels to defend, before he was clean bowled for 22 by a Yasir googly. Jos Buttler continued his poor form, edging Yasir to Younus at slip on seven, and Ben Stokes was removed for 13 when his wayward drive off paceman Imran Khan went to Misbah at slip. That brought Rashid and Broad together and they scored freely. Rashid brought up his maiden test half-century with a scrambled single but ultimately it proved in vain. Sharjah will host the final test from Nov. 1. Scores: Pakistan 378 (Misbah 102, Shafiq 83, Yo u n i s 5 8 , M a s o o d 5 4 , Wood 3-39, Moeen 3-108) and 354 for 6 dec (Younis 118, Misbah 87, Shafiq 79) beat England 242 (Root 88, Wahab 4-66, Yasir 493) and 312 (Root 71, Rashid 61, Yasir 4-87) by 178 runs.

Preparations for final leg of CMRC underway -Kristian Jeffrey to lead Guyana’s quest for supremacy Host Guyana Motor R a ci n g & S p o r t s C l u b (GMR&SC) has intensified preparations ahead of the final leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) which will be staged on November 15, at the South Dakota Circuit. The final leg of the Series which is the fourth following those staged in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados will see the best racrs in the Caribbean square off in a battle for overall and individual supremacy. Guyana, who is positioned third in the p o i n t s s t a n d i n g o n 511 points, currently trails leaders Trinidad and Tobago (658) by 147 and Barbados (533) by a mere 21, while Jamaica on 369 and Cayman Islands 138 are stationed behind in that order respectively. However, the Guyanese competitors will no doubt be looking to seize home court advantage and maintain the status quo as obtained in the other territories that the championship was hosted in. As customary, a large influx of overseas visitors and

competitors are expected to descend on these shores to witness what has undoubtedly become one of the biggest legs in terms of crowd support among the four host nations. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport recently, Vice-President of the GMR&SC Shairaz Roshandin Mohamed said that a large contingent from Trinidad and Tobago is expected, while Barbados, Jamaica and Suriname have also indicated their willingness to send their best competitors. Once again, reigning Caribbean and local champion Kristian Jeffrey is anticipated to lead Guyana’s charge to retain the title and support should come from his father Kevin, the maestro Andrew King, Shairaz Roshandin, Chet Singh, Danny Persaud, Afraz Allie, Rameez Mohamed and Ryan Rahaman among others. Jeffrey, who is just in his second year on the regional circuit has already built a solid reputation for himself and has shown no fear for his more illustrious counterparts, while displaying the skills and dexterity of a veteran in the sport. His dominance has really

bolstered Guyana’s chances of coming out on top again and it will take some extreme driving from the opposition to stop him from copping the individual title for the second straight time. In the Suprebike category, Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira, who leads the standings with 133 points, is followed closely by his cousin Elliott Vieira on 119 and they along with the experienced Joel Neblette (36) and the talented Matthew Vieira (25) should be enough to thrill the fans with their anticipated rivalry. Jamaica’s Robert McDo n a l d , w h o i s s t a tioned third on 45 points, could make things even more interesting in the division, but the Guyanese seems to have far more firepower and with home turf playing a crucial role on all the circuits, a clean sweep is what the fans will surely enjoy. A huge turnout is anticipated and loc a l supporters are being urged to make it a date to be there to rally around the local competitors.

Pakistan’s fielders mob Yasir Shah after Pakistan’s thrilling win, Pakistan v England, 2nd Test, Dubai, 5th day, October 26, 2015 ©Getty Images

Orin Ferrier to lead West Dem Football following elections

The newly elected executive of the WDFA following the AGM last Thursday. GFF NC Chairman Clinton Urling (3rd left) was present. The West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) held its elections on Thursday October 22 and their affiliates voted by slate to name Orin Ferrier as President. The elections were held under the backdrop of associations affiliated to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) ensuring they are properly constituted in the lead up to the parent body’s election next month.

GFF officials led by Normalisation Committee Chairman Clinton Urling were present to assist in the smooth running of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to elect the new executive. WDFA Executive Committee that will be in charge of the game on the Westside is: President- Orin Ferrier 1st VP - Christine Smidth 2nd VP - Alexander Clarke 3rd VP - Dellon Elexey

Secretary - Adrian Giddings Treasurer - Delyon Josiah Assistant Sec/Treasurer Kip Austin Ordinary Member Leroy Chilcott Ordinary Member Orvill Bobb Ordinary Member Adio Wright Ordinary Member Travis Bess Ordinary Member Kenneth Thomas

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 27, 2015

What comfort is there for a Free and Fair Congress? Rawle Welch FIFA Head of Associations Primo Corvaro speaking last year during his visit to Trinidad and Tobago to assist in the reformation of their Football Association’s Constitution told the gathering of officials and the Media that President Sepp Blatter always said that, “football is representative of the society.” With the Guyana society reeling from years of social and moral degradation, the FIFA President’s outlook could possibly hold true in Guyana’s context where the sport has suffered enormous setbacks due to extensive periods of maladministration, greed and downright dis-

crimination. FIFA, which is attempting to rescue Guyana’s football through a series of administrative measures, is itself mired in controversy and confusion following the suspension and indictments of the majority of its Top Brass including Blatter, his General Secretary Jerome Valcke, UEFA President Michel Platini, CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb among others in what has to be the biggest scandal in the history of the life of the world governing body for the sport. The FIFA Ethics Committee has to be the busiest department at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, as more and more bad

news about the organisation’s indecency related to its governance surfaces every day. The litany of accusations about fraud and bad governance is making it increasingly difficult for member Associations of FIFA to take its directives seriously and this is the dilemma that faces sober stakeholders. It is the belief of many that right here in Guyana those charged with the responsibility of ushering in a new era in football might be thinking that with everything that is going on within the corridors of FIFA, the moment could be seized to engage in nepotism during the intricate period leading up to the November 14 Electoral Congress (EC).

Commander, deputy don gears as former policemen take on contemporary counterparts

The thinking might be that with the chaos engulfing FIFA’s highest echelon, the gaze that is usually fixated on controversial member associations like us could be absent. By now, most stakeholders would have heard about the two slates that signalled their intentions to contest the EC and therefore would be using the period leading up to the voting to peruse the respective manifestos for the purpose of choosing the most suitable candidate to run the affairs of football for the next four years. The two Presidential hopefuls Wayne Forde of Team Integrity and Nigel Hughes of Team Unity are both individuals with impeccable character with little to separate them; therefore, it will come down to the supporting casts, and this is where those who are accountable for voting should really focus on. The Guyanese society is a closely knit one where most of the candidates are wellknown in their respective endeavours and constituencies, and because we have had instances of self-interests being promoted ahead of

the broader development of the sport and those who play it, it might be prudent to make those background checks for proper guidance and your vote. The talk of the possibility of cash-for-votes has surfaced again, while a promise of preferential treatment in exchange for votes is saturating the landscape. It is a fact that Guyana’s football setting, experiences a very volatile phase leading up to election of office bearers, it is a period where friends are lost and won and the resentment is too much to bear for some, who prefer to cower in fear than call a spade a spade. No matter what positives have been derived from the Elite League, this initiative must not be a factor in stakeholders’ deliberations since it involves some of the best teams in the country. No other competition was permitted to be organised during its staging, which would have determined its real pulling power. It made it impossible to arrive at an honest assessment of its true success; however this is not to

say that the idea was a bad one. Another point to note is that no member of the Normalisation Committee is eligible to run for office so whatever was done over the period of its stewardship, save and except for overseeing the implementation of constitutional reform, would have little relevance going forward. The new Executive will have to chart its own course and only those with the will and the players’ development at heart is going to succeed. The fraternity is one still plagued by suspicion and partiality and FIFA’s current predicament is not helping the situation. Many organisations and persons of influence have accused FIFA of being corrupt, and has presented overwhelming evidence to support those accusations so what comfort is there for a free and fair Congress in Guyana? FIFA itself is presenting no good example of good governance and transparency, but is trying to impose such tenets among its affiliates; this is called hypocrisy.

Gayle, Narine for Bangladesh Premier League Joel Gibson

Clifton Hicken

Ian Amsterdam

Commander of Police ‘A’ Division and recently installed President of the Georgetown Football Association, Clifton Hicken, will join with his second in command, Ian Amsterdam to take on a team of contemporary players of the Guyana Police Force when former players of that organization stage a match in honour of their late coach, Everoy Bobb, at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, this afternoon. The tournament was inaugurated two years ago and to

date, the contemporary players have carted off the spoils on both occasions. This time around, the former players will be out to improve their fortunes with the installation of several overseas based players who have returned to Guyana to participate in the current anniversary celebrations. The organizer of the event is Joel Gibson, also a past player, and he will compete alongside Mr. Hicken and his deputy, Senior Superintendent, Ian Amsterdam.

The other ex-members slated to be in the lineup are James Fordyce, Owen McGarrel, Dion Barnwell, Ivla Bascom, Jolian Lewis, Jermain Johnson, Terrence Brown, Linden Bruce and Nigel Massiah. Mr. Gibson stated that the former players are coming with a force to claim the honours this time around. Former defender, Earl O’Neil, is the coach of the Police team and he is more likely to field his best players for the highly anticipated clash.

Adams to lead Wakenaam in ECB/Busta Festival All-rounder Ricardo Adams will lead defending champions Wakenaam in the Essequibo Cricket Board

(ECB)/Busta 40-over festival which is set to commence on November 13. West Indies U19 allrounder Keemo Paul will serve as his deputy. The squad also includes wicketkeeper batsman Wayne Osboure, pacer Seon Venture, left arm spinner Imran Khan, Nokta Moses and Oyono Sampson. Wakenaam will travel to neighbouring Leguan to open their defence against the

home team. The squad reads; Ricardo Adams (Capt.), Keemo Paul (V. Capt.), Ryan Adams, Wayne Osbourne, Siddiq Mohamed, Navishaul Pooran, Imran Khan, Chandreka Ragnauth, Nokta Moses, Vickram Ramnarine, Lokram Narine, Oyono Sampson and Seon Venture. Wakenaam defeated Central Essequibo in the final of the previous competition at Imam Bacchus ground.

Chris Gayle (Associated Press), Sunil Narine (AFP) DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC) — Superstar Chris Gayle headlines nine West Indian players set to participate in the Bangladesh Premier League starting next month, following Thursday’s player draft here. The left-handed Gayle will turn out for Barisal Bulls alongside all-rounder Kevon Cooper and left-handed batsman Evin Lewis, both of whom hail from Trinidad and Tobago. Gayle said following the Caribbean Twenty20 back in

July that he was expected to undergo surgery to deal with a troublesome back, and may have been out of action until December. While he has not retired from Tests, he has not played one since last year September. Meanwhile, West Indies Twenty20 skipper Darren Sammy will play for Rangpur R i d e r s , a l o n g s i d e We s t Indies batsman Lendl Simmons, while Test batsman Marlon Samuels, along with the trio of off-spinner Sunil Narine, left-arm seamer

Krishmar Santokie and fast bowling all-rounder Andre Russell, will play for Comilla Victorians. The West Indians are part of 19 overseas players in the tournament scheduled to run from November 22 and December 15. Overall, 82 players will represent six franchises. Notably absent are marquee West Indies players Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, two of the most indemand T20 players in the world.

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 33

V-Net T20 cricket set to commence on November 1 in Wakenaam By Zaheer Mohamed The inaugural V-Net T20 knockout cricket tournament is set to commence on November 1 in the E s s e q u i b o river island of Wa k e n a a m. The tournament which is being s p o n s o r e d b y V- N e t Communications was launched on Friday at the entity’s location 2 5 D e l p h Street, Campbellville. V-Net Communications provides internet service including satellite, VoIP and satellite phones. Good Success, Sans Souci, Sans Souci Jaguars, Noitgedacht SC, Maria’s Pleasure/Zeelandia and G Square Cavaliers of Belle Plaine are the teams that will battle for supremacy. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of V Net Communications Safraz

Sheriffudeen said he is happy to contribute towards the development of the sport on the island. Sheriffudeen, himself a former member of the Sans Souci SC has over the years contributed towards sports and education in the area, having sponsored a number of cricket and dominoes competitions in recent years. He also used the occasion to present a number of prizes to the Essequibo Islands Secondary School which will be given to the outstanding CSEC students. The CEO added that he is pleased to give back to the society from which he hailed and hopes that his input will influence others to support sports there and also motivate the players. Chairman of the Wa k e n a a m C r i c k e t Committee (WCC) Moses

Ramnarine expressed gratitude to Sheriffudeen for his continued support noting that Ricardo Adams and Keemo Paul are some of the players that have emerged from the island in recent times. In the opening fixtures, G Square Cavaliers will host Maria’s Pleasure/Zeelandia at their spanking new venue in Belle Plaine at 09:30 hrs while Sans Souci Jaguars will play Noitgedacht SC at 09:30 hrs at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground in Good Success and Sans Souci will take on Good Success at the said venue at 13:30 hrs. Trophies, medals and cash prizes will be given to the winning and runner up teams, while other prizes will be handed out to the tournament’s most valuable player, best batsman, bowler and man of the match in the final. There will also be a fair play award.

Chief Executive Officer of the V Net Communications Safraz Sheriffudeen (left) presents the cheque to WCC chairman Moses Ramnarine while some of the prizes are on display.

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Banks Premium Beer/ECDCA T20 tourney Launched Banks DIH under their brand Premium Beer in collaboration with the East Coast Demerara Cricket Association (ECDCA) on Sunday last launched a T20 knockout tournament at Enmore Community Center. 18 teams will battle for supremacy from Sunday with the winning team taking home a trophy and $200,000, runner up a trophy and $100,000 and losing semi finalists a trophy and $50,000 each. The man of the match and the player that effect the play of the day in the final will pocket $20,000 and $5,000 respectively.

Chairman of the ECDCA Tejnauth Jadunauth thanked the sponsors and encouraged the teams to maintain a high level of discipline. Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Anand Sanasie said he is happy to see cricket being played on a regular basis in the area adding that the GCB is always willing to assist. He lauded Banks DIH and congratulated the ECDCA. Also present at the launching ceremony was West Indies star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul who spoke about discipline and urged the teams to

respect the umpires’ decision. Chanderpaul gave some helpful tips to the captains present and wished them well. Banks DIH Premium beer Brand manager Shameer Shabid stated that they are happy to be associated with the game in the area and will make it an annual event. “Losing hurts, but winning is nothing if it brings out the worst in you,” he posited. Among the teams set to battle are Tiger’s XI, Ogle, Strathavon, Enmore and Fairfield.

Stag Elite League

Pele maintain lead with Fruta Conquerors draw; Alpha hammer GDF Action in the Stag Elite League (SEL) will continue this evening at the GDF ground with two matches. Leaders Pele will be seeking to increase their hold at the top of the points table when they face off with Georgetown Football Club in the opening game from 18:00hrs. The feature match brings together GDF and Monedderlust. Tomorrow, action will be back at the Tucville ground when the home team, Fruta Conquerors will square off with GFC which will be preceded by a clash between Slingerz and Buxton United. Meanwhile, when play continued on Sunday evening last at the Tucville ground, Pele was held to a 0-0 draw by Fruta Conquerors. The result ensured Pele maintained their stronghold at the top of the points table after nine rounds of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) organised league. In the opening game, Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United was in a no nonsense mood as they inflicted a 3-0 hammering of the Guyana Defence Force led by their most potent weapon, forward Delon Lanferman. By the end of the first half, Lanferman with his first goal of the match had Alpha leading 1-0 as the Army up to that point, kept within equalizing range. In the final 45 minutes, the GDF still could not find their scoring shoes unlike

Delon Lanferman Alpha. Lanferman doubled the lead for his side with his second of the match in the 56th minute, a goal which drew him level with Pele’s Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, the duo scoring seven (7) each so far. Alpha’s Captain Daniel Wilson put the preverbal icing on the cake with his 76th minute goal as Alpha wrapped up the game, 3-0 to maintain second place behind Pele and above Slingerz.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (third from right) share a moment with (from left) ECDCA Competitions chairman Anil Persaud, Shameer Shabid, Tajenauth Jadunauth, Anand Sanasie and Banks Beer brand manager Gavin Jodhan at the launching ceremony.

Windies cricketer ordered to pay huge compensation to ex- girlfriend P O RT O F S PA I N , Trinidad (CMC) – A High Court Monday ordered West Indies opening batsman, Lendl Simmons to pay TT$150,000 (One TT dollar =US$0.16 cents) inclusive of aggravated damages in a case dubbed here as “revenge porn”. In his ruling, Justice Frank Seepersad was critical of the Trinidad and Tobago archaic laws relating to the internet and social media. Last month, the judge had indicated he would rule on October 26 whether or not Simmons breached confidentiality by leaking sexually explicit photographs of an accounts executive with whom he had an extra martial affair. Justice Frank Seepersad made the announcement

Lendl Simmons

Therese Ho

after a day in which the court heard steamy details of Simmons’ short lived affair with Therese Ho, who was seeking substantial damages from Simmons for breaching the common law principle of confidence after he allegedly shared intimate photos of

her. She applied for and received an injunction on June 5, 2014, from Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh preventing any further disclosure of material which emanated from her relationship with Simmons.

5TH BRUSCHES CLASSIC BASKETBALL

JETS AND BULLS THROUGH TO SEMIFINALS The 5th Brusches’ Classic Basketball championships continue this evening when Georgetown clubs, Ravens face Plaisance Guardians in one game at 7.00pm and Colts and Pacesetters square off in the second at 9.00pm at the Burnham Court. The four City based teams contesting this year’s tournament in one half are battling for a place in the semifinals following the opening ten point wins by Half Mile Bulls 68-58 over Victory Valley Royals and Amelia’s Ward Jets 57-47 against Retrieve Raiders last Saturday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court. Tonight’s double header promises to be one where you either win or go home in

this eight team knockout tournament as they will join the Jets who play Bulls on Friday in one semifinal and the other pits the winners tonight against each other at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court on Friday night. Last Saturday the first game saw Bulls nudging ahead at the end of the first quarter 1413 but the Royals recovered to lead at half time 32-23 and then 46-42 at the end of the third quarter. But the Bulls sparked by the tiny guard Keifer Tappin who finished with 15 points and youth national Dennis Niles with a top score of 16 eventually romped home handsomely by ten pints with a comfortable 68-58 score-line. Terron Welch had nine points and Eon Reddock and

Michael Turner contributed eight and seven points respectively for the winners. Harold Adams had a game high 22 points for the Royals as their next best score came from Chris Williams with 10 and Trevor profit with eight. In the second game the jets enjoyed a 15-12 first quarter advantage but were behind 22-23 at half time before taking the lead 38-30 when the third quarter ended and stayed ahead to win 5747 against the raiders. The scoring for the Jets was shouldered by guest player Akeem Kanhai with 13, Amaniki Archibald with 10 and Omally Sampson eight. For the losers former national Neil Marks had 16 points and veteran Abdulla Hamid 11.

Tuesday October 27, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 35

Parsun Outboard Inter-County softball

Demerara A and B declared joint winners after bad light stops play By Zaheer Mohamed A large crowd was denied the opportunity of witnessing a dramatic finish to the Parsun Outboard InterCounty softball final after bad light put an end to the contest between Demerara A and B teams yesterday at Everest Cricket Club. Demerara B needed 13 to win off 11 balls with two wickets in hand when play was halted in fading light and both teams were declared joint winners by the organisers. Batting first Demerara A mustered 195-8 off their allotted 20 overs. Navin Singh struck a fluent 59, while Chien Gittens s l a m m e d 5 6 . Vi s h n u Tammechandra claimed 225 and Azaad Azeez 2-28. In reply, Demerara B suffered some early hiccups before Azeez and Mohamed Karim steadied the chase with level-headed batting, however Sewchand Budhu kept Demerara A in the hunt with steady bowling. The contest swung either

side as wickets continued to tumble even though the runs kept flowing; Demerara B ended on 183-8 in 18.1 overs. Man of the match Azeez scored 42 and Karim 36; Budhu snared 3-29. In the first semi final, Demerara A overcame Berbice A by eight wickets. Berbice A batted first and managed 121 all out in 18.3 overs. John Percival made 30 as Richard Latif picked up 419 to take the man of the match trophy; Khalid Haslim had 3-23 and Martin Dutchin 2-28. Demerara A responded with 123-2 in 10.4 overs. Gittens stroked 51 and Latif 20. Demerara B beat Essequibo B by 117 runs in their semi final game. Demerara B took first strike and posted 214-6 in 20 overs. Amrit Rai cracked 89 to earn the player of the match award; Safraz Karim got 43 and Lincoln Leander 24. Vijay Surujpaul and Shaz Grosvenor captured two wickets each. Essequibo B

Captain of Demerara A team Chien Gittens stooping second from right and Demerara B team skipper Amrit Rai stooping left with other prize winners and officials of the sponsors and organisers. were routed for 97 in 15.2 overs in reply. Patrick Rooplall made 22 as Shalendra Ramnauth grabbed 5-18 and Leo Singh 3-13. Greg Singh with 252 runs including two centuries

and eight wickets was given the tournament’s most valuable player and best batsman awards, Budhu who picked up 10 wickets took the best bowler prize. The losing semifinalists received a trophy and

$100,000 each, while the winners took home a trophy and $400,000 each. Additionally each participating team received prizes. The competition which was organised by the

Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc was sponsored by Crown Mining Supplies the distributor of Parsun Outboard, Ansa Mc Al under their Stag Beer brand and Digicel among others.

Herath and Siriwardana seal 2-0 series win ESPNcricinfo - Sri Lanka had come into the series against West Indies in a state of flux, after having lost two home Test series in a year for only the second time. Kumar Sangakkara had retired after the second Test against India, and coach Marvan Atapattu had resigned. However, they rallied to sweep West Indies 2-0, after a 72-run win before tea on the final day of the second Test at the P Sara Oval, despite four sessions getting washed out. Milinda Siriwardana, whose 68 in the first innings turned out to the top score in the match, picked up three wickets in the final innings to trigger the slide. Sri L a n k a ’s l e a d s p i n n e r Rangana Herath claimed four wickets to skittle the visitors, who began the day at 20 for 1, for 171. West Indies’ innings followed a similar pattern with one batsman making a fifty - Darren Bravo in this case - and the others deflating like cheap party balloons.

The victorious Sri Lankan players with Garry Sobers and Michael Tissera, Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 2nd Test, P Sara Oval, Colombo, 5th day, October 26, 2015 ©AFP Siriwardana struck in his first over for the third innings in a row, having Shai Hope stumped for 35. He followed that with the wicket of Jermaine Blackwood 20 minutes before the lunch. In between, offspinner Dilruwan Perera also chipped in to prolong Marlon Samuels’ lean patch against Sri Lanka.

Samuels was dismissed for his ninth single-digit score against the hosts in 17 innings, when he feebly poked and nicked to slip where Angelo Mathews completed a sharp, low catch. The dismissal was reviewed and Samuels was given out by third umpire Marias Erasmus, who decided Mathews had

caught it cleanly even as the ball bounced out of his right hand and into his left. Herath then engineered a double-strike in his fourth over after lunch to remove D e n e s h R a m d i n and Bravo. Jomel Warrican, one of the few positives in an otherwise dark series for West Indies, summoned

some late blows in a lastwicket partnership of 33 to only delay Sri Lanka’s victory. West Indies had begun the day brightly amid overcast conditions, before letting the advantage slip away. Hope was sure-footed and ticked along smoothly. He serenely drove Dhammika Prasad past mid-

on, and greeted Herath with a pulled four. Bravo looked fidgety early on, playing and missing outside off to add to a few pokey drives. Soon, a Prasad half-volley provided a release and Bravo found his mojo as he drove it through the covers. He then stepped out and hit Perera on to the sightscreen before a repeat of the big hit brought up only the third fifty stand of the match. We s t I n d i e s h a d squeezed out 14 partnerships of more than 20 in this series but none of them had passed 50, until the last day of the second Test. Hope and Bravo addressed the issue, adding 60 together, but it was not enough to help West Indies secure their first Test win in Sri Lanka. Scores: Sri Lanka 200 (Siriwardana 68, Warrican 4-67) and 206 (Mathews 46, Brathwaite 6-29) beat West Indies 163 (Brathwaite 47, Prasad 4-34) and 171 (Bravo 61, Herath 4-56, Siriwardana 3-25) by 72 runs.

t r o Sp PCL Four-Day practice match

Jacob’s 6-45 befuddles Bacchus’s X1 on opening day

Robin Bacchus cover drives Jacobs imperiously for four.

Steven Jacobs, who took 6-45, has Kevin Boodie caught at short leg.

Preparations for final leg of CMRC underway -Kristian Jeffrey to lead Guyana’s quest for supremacy

This is what the South Dakota Circuit looks like for a November CMRC.

Guyana’s Kristian Jeffrey leads one of the races in the CMRC last year. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210