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Kaieteur News
KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210
Editorial
The Roil in Oil Most Guyanese have been transfixed by the protests in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that have already toppled two dictators and are threatening several others. But the sudden jump in our gas prices should have alerted us to another dimension in the crisis that has affected every other country in the world: the future of oil. Whatever the outcome of the protests, uprisings and rebellions now sweeping the region, one thing is guaranteed: the world of oil will be permanently transformed. And oil, we should know by now, is what makes the world go around. While coal literally fuelled the 19th century industrial revolution – powering factories, railroads and steamships – it was cheap oil that made the modern, globalised world possible from the turn of the 20th century. That world would grind to a halt and crumble without a steady and continuous stream of oil – of which MENA produces 36% of the total world’s output – 29 billion barrels per day in 2009. While this may not seem overwhelming, consider that it exports more of its production than any other surplus area – 20 million barrels daily. And this fuel goes to the energy- hungry manufacturing behemoths – China, the US, EU and Japan. MENA’s strategic importance is accentuated when one considers that by 2035 its production ratio will jump to 43%. The hard fact is that twothirds of the world’s reserves are locked under MENA’s soil (or sand). Now we can appreciate why all these dictators were being supported for so long by western powers: they were simply securing their lifeline. Oil was discovered in Iran (then Persia) in 1908 and exploited by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (now BP). Churchill nationalised the company in 1914, then removed the pro-German Shah during WWII, replacing him with the latter’s son, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Himself soon deposed, he was reinstated by the British and Americans who overthrew the democratically elected PM Mossadegh. The point was to guarantee the supply of oil. After Pahlavi was finally overthrown in 1979 by Khomeni and the oil nationalized once again, we can understand the ire of the west against the Iranian regime. After all, they have the second largest reserves of oil after Saudi Arabia. Neighbouring Iraq has had a remarkable history. Not coincidentally, it’s reserves are equal or somewhat larger than Iran. The US invasions of 1991 and 2003 were all about controlling oil. The first Americans entering Baghdad immediately secured the Ministry of Oil HQ. However, the expected oil bonanza was never realized because of the war of attrition waged by the Iraqis. The experiences of Iran and Iraq may not be exactly comparable to those of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Oman, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen. But in all of them there have been western powers behind the installation of the high handed leaders. Interestingly, China has been one of the major backers of the dictatorial regime in Sudan. This simply illustrates the point that oil is vital for any nation that hopes to industrialise or maintain its industrial base. Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Oman, and Sudan are oil producers; Egypt and Jordan guard vital oil pipelines and, in Egypt’s case, a crucial canal for the transport of oil; Bahrain and Yemen as well as Oman occupy strategic points along major oil sea lanes. All have received substantial US military aid and/or housed important US military bases. And, in all of these countries, the chant is the same “The people want the regime to fall”. The kingpin and the largest prize, of course, is Saudi Arabia – which is connected by a bridge to Bahrain, now locked in unrest. The Saudi monarch is hoping to defuse any uprising in his kingdom by authorizing US$36 billion to be spent immediately to improve conditions for the poorer elements. While sectarian concerns may preclude a unified opposition (the province nearest to Bahrain is Shia, unlike the majority Sunni), on the other hand sectarian riots may just as effectively affect production.The bottom line is that oil will be roiling for quite a while.
Sunday October 12, 2014
Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
Crime solving not in the DNA of Mr. Rohee and the PPP regime DEAR EDITOR, With all that has been happening globally especially with EBOLA and ISIS, and regionally with the Chickungunya virus we sometimes tend to forget what is happening in Guyana locally. While the focus has been on the AFC “no confidence” motion and the ultimatum issued by the leader of APNU, David Granger to President Ramotar to call Local Government Elections, the fact remains that the high crime rate and almost daily murders remain unacceptable to the citizens of this peaceful nation. Day by day it is almost a certainty that someone will be
murdered by criminals or by a spouse. The murder toll for this year so far is 109 and this has increased by 23 percent compared to the same period last year. It is crystal clear that the Guyana is back to the days where the problem of crime, armed robbery and the “hire for murder” gangs pose a very serious risk to all lawabiding citizens. Clearly, the country is back to the killing fields experienced between 2002 and 2006, and quite significantly, business and innocent and hard-working citizens are the daily targets by criminals. As the General Secretary (GS) of the PPP, Mr. Rohee
seems to focus all his attention and energy on his party affairs rather than his ministerial responsibilities thus neglecting the security for the people. Either he resigned as the GS of the PPP or as the Minister of Home Affairs, because he does not have the luxury and the intellectual capacity to carry out both functions simultaneously. Both are very demanding in time and skills which he lacks in the case of the latter. The recent killings should force the government to return to the issue of crime, particularly as these latest murders have taken place at a time when the police claimed that the crime
rate has reduced and that they have the criminals under surveillance. Is the Crime Chief and the Commissioner of Police telling the truth? Are they in denial? Do they have a plan/strategy to fight crime? These murders remind us that not only the people lives are in jeopardy but the Minister in charge of Security has abandoned his responsibilities. This is unacceptable, something is horribly wrong. Guyana remains, it is said and known to be a major trans-shipment site and a domestic haven for illegal drugs, a trade which has its genesis in the gun trade and (Continued on page 7)
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Kaieteur M@ilbox RAM WRONG AGAIN
Kaieteur M@ilbox Devise new strategies to deal with incidents of suicide
DEAR EDITOR, I would like to congratulate the Permanent Secretary, of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Ms. Indira Anandjit for her erudite work on defending her Ministry against the sometimes very harsh and unrelenting critique and social activist, Mr. Christopher Ram. That being said, she was in her right to defend her Ministry against Mr. Ram’s accusations which were in their entirety, baseless and unfounded based on the exchanges that I read between the two parties. Mr. Ram began his arguments in a letter dated the 8th of October, 2014, under the caption, “Deficiencies in two legal areas” by saying that the Judicial Review Act is not being brought into force and that the Attorney General Mr. Anil Nandlall is frustrating the decision of Parliament by not bringing the Act into “operation”. Apparently, at the time he wrote that letter he didn’t know that there was no procedure in the Act to make what he is calling for effective, the procedure to do so was contained in the High Court Rules. The Attorney
General‘s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs had to draw that to his attention.Ms. Anandjit, highlighted Section 3(1) of the said Act which stated, “an application to the Court for relief against an administrative Act or omission shall be made by way of an application for Judicial Review in accordance with this Act and with Rules of Court.” Rather than being grateful for the learning he received, he launched an ill-advised attack on the Ministry of Legal Affairs in another letter dated the 8th of October, 2014, under the caption “Mr. Nandlall has taken the administration of Justice to its nadir,” contending that the Ministry was wrong and that the Rules of Court have been in force since 2010 and then demanded that the Attorney General extract, from the Rules of Court, the part dealing with the Judicial Review Act. Again the Ministry of Legal Affairs had to correct him by responding in another letter dated the 10th of October, 2014, captioned: “Comprehension could have avoided this entire
Plea to educate the public on Ebola DEAR EDITOR, I am writing to suggest that this newspaper runs a section daily on Ebola, detailing what it is, how it is transmitted, preventative measures, symptoms, and what is to be done if someone feels they might be infected. I don’t know how well equipped we are to deal with an outbreak here, but I suspect we don’t have the
capacity. And I am certain the person reading this is well aware of the consequences an ignorant population would bring about, should the virus arrive here, and so once again, I’m begging you to educate the public in the interest of the safety and future of ourselves, and loved ones. Concerned Citizen
exchange,” where it was articulated that the Rules were not in force and are to be brought in force, not, by the Attorney General, but by the Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Carl Singh. This was substantiated in the letter, where Ms. Anandjit highlighted from the commencement of Rules, the part which readthat, “Rules shall come into operation subject to the transitional provisions in Part 73, on a date to be fixed by the Chancellor, acting on the decision of the Rules of the Committee.” In any event, the Rules of Court are always dealt with by the Judiciary and not the Executive, as enshrined in Constitutional Doctrine of Separation of Powers. Mr. Ram, although he received legal training late in life, he is still a lawyer. Against that backdrop it is shocking, that a lawyer does not know what appears to be matters of an alphabetical nature. I was advised that Mr. Ram lectures law at the University of Guyana, if that is the case then I am truly sorry for the crop of law students that he lectures to. The institution would have to, in the future, make sure that they get capable persons to teach the prestigious law course or risk diluting its standards. Faruk Mohamed
DEAR EDITOR, As we continue to witness the increase in the incidence of suicide among our youths, it must be seen as imperative that we examine the efforts of the various agencies concerned with its eradication, and devise some new strategies to deal with this tragic phenomenon within our society. I have no doubt that the organisations involved are vigorously striving towards stopping our young people from taking this drastic step but, unless those afflicted have clear and readily available knowledge about where they should go to ease their suffering, then these efforts may prove futile. I am suggesting that we need to take positive steps towards becoming more visible in our approach, so that those who are contemplating this unfortunate means of solving their emotional problems can be aware of where they can obtain the necessary
professional assistance. I am therefore proposing that we create some campaign which would disseminate this information by way of signs in every community, so as to point those afflicted with depression and suicidal tendencies to the people and places where they could
readily access the needed emotional and/or spiritual help. I daresay that this may entail a fair amount of resources, but it must be obvious that the budding lives we are losing so frequently must make it exceedingly worthwhile. Roy Paul
A disturbing insinuation against the Foreign Affairs Ministry DEAR EDITOR, Further to my letter to you and your published response which appeared in today’s edition of the Kaieteur News, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes not to become embroiled in any exchanges with your newspaper, I am constrained to write only for the purpose to clarify for the reading public, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not been provided with any “facts” as mentioned by
you. Your insinuation that the Ministry is tolerating wrong doing is therefore disturbing. Elisabeth Harper Director General Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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Nations step up measures to Kurds urge more air strikes in stem worsening Ebola outbreak Kobani; monitor warns of defeat
A team of funeral agents specialised in the burial of victims of the Ebola virus put a body in a grave Madrid (AFP) - Countries across the world scrambled Saturday to stem a deadly Ebola outbreak that UN officials warn is getting worse as New York’s main JFK airport prepared to screen travellers from epidemic-hit west Africa. And in Madrid, the serious condition of a Spanish nurse, who was the first person to become infected with Ebola outside of Africa, showed signs of improving. More than 4,000 people have died from Ebola in seven countries since the start of the year, according to the UN’s World Health Organisation, and the disease appears to be outpacing efforts to fight it. “The virus is far ahead of us and every day the situation gets worse,” the head of the United Nations’ emergency Ebola mission Anthony Banbury, told UN leaders after a tour of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, the nations worst affected by the epidemic. “Collectively we must stop the spread to other countries and ensure that countries are prepared to rapidly detect, control, and eliminate the virus if it is introduced.” At John F Kennedy International Airport in New York, passengers and crew arriving from the three countries at the centre of the outbreak will have their temperatures taken and be screened for signs of illness and answer questions about possible exposure, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. “Exit screening might not find every person with Ebola, however, it does not have to
be perfect to help reduce the spread of Ebola,” the CDC said in a statement. Four other major US airports are to start checks next week. And in Macedonia, tests showed that a British man who died displaying Ebolalike symptoms did not have the virus, officials said. In Spain, attention remained focused on 44-yearold nurse Teresa Romero, whose condition “improved in the night. She is conscious and talks from time to time when she is in a good mood,” a hospital source told AFP. Romero is thought to have contracted the disease in late September in a Madrid hospital while caring for a Spanish missionary infected with Ebola in Africa who later died. Sixteen other people, mostly hospital staff, are under observation at the Carlos III hospital where Romero is being treated. The hospital said one of them was expecting final test results and could be discharged Saturday. The Spanish hospital source added that doctors started treating Romero with the experimental Ebola treatment ZMapp late on Friday. There is still no vaccine or widely available treatment for Ebola, but ZMapp, made in California, is one of several drugs that have been fast-tracked for development. And Russia’s Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova announced Saturday that her country has “created three (Ebola) vaccines... and we think they will be ready in the next six months”. “One of them is already ready for a clinical trial,” she added. Trials for an Ebola
vaccine are under way in Mali, which has no cases of the disease but borders Guinea where the outbreak began. “It’s purely a scientific step. The trials are on volunteer researchers,” Malian Health Minister Ousmane Kone said. That vaccine is being developed by the British drug company GlaxoSmithKline and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The WHO reported 4,033 people have died from Ebola as of October 8 out of a total of 8,399 registered cases in seven countries. The sharp rise in deaths came as the UN said aid pledges to fight the epidemic have fallen well short of the $1 billion (800 million euros) needed. The Spanish health ministry on Friday called on citizens “to continue their daily activities normally,” after a series of hoaxes fuelled fears of wider contagion. Police said Saturday they had arrested a man in the southern Spanish city of Cadiz who they said had triggered a safety alert by pretending to have Ebola symptoms. Officials at the Madrid hospital insisted there was no risk of infection from patients under observation, including Romero’s husband, who were photographed leaning out of the windows of their hospital rooms. Britain held a nationwide exercise on Saturday to test its preparedness for an Ebola outbreak. The eight-hour drill featured actors pretending to be infected with Ebola plus medical staff treating them at locations around the country.
Reuters) - Kurdish forces defending Kobani urged a U.S.-led coalition to escalate air strikes on Islamic State fighters who tightened their grip on the Syrian town at the border with Turkey on Saturday. A group that monitors the Syrian civil war said the Kurdish forces faced inevitable defeat in Kobani if Turkey did not open its border to let through arms something Ankara has so far appeared reluctant to do. The U.S.-led coalition escalated air strikes on Islamic State in and around Kobani, also known as Ayn al-Arab, some four days ago. The main Kurdish armed group, the YPG, said in a statement the air strikes had inflicted heavy losses on Islamic State, but had been less effective in the last two days. A Kurdish military official, speaking to Reuters from Kobani, said street-to-street fighting was making it harder for the warplanes to target Islamic State positions. “We have a problem, which is the war between houses,” said Esmat AlSheikh, head of the Kobani defence council. “The air strikes are benefiting us, but Islamic State is bringing tanks and artillery from the east. We didn’t see them with tanks, but yesterday we saw T-57 tanks,” he added. While Islamic State has been able to reinforce its fighters, the Kurds have not. Islamic State has besieged the town to the east, south and west, meaning the Kurds’ only possible supply route is the Turkish border to the north. The U.N. envoy to Syria on Friday called on Turkey to help prevent a slaughter in Kobani, asking it to let
“volunteers” cross the frontier so they can reinforce the Kurdish forces defending the town that lies within sight of Turkish territory. Turkey has yet to respond to the remarks by Staffan de Mistura, who said he feared a repeat of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia when thousands died. Kurdish leaders in Syria have asked Ankara to establish a corridor through Turkey to allow aid and military supplies to reach Kobani. A senior Kurdish militant has threatened Turkey with a new Kurdish revolt if it sticks with its current policy of nonintervention in the battle for the Syrian town of Kobani. “(Islamic State) is getting supplies and men, while Turkey is preventing Kobani from getting ammunition. Even with the resistance, if things stay like this, the Kurdish forces will be like a car without fuel,” said Rami Abdelrahman, who runs the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an organisation that monitors the conflict in Syria through sources on the ground. PLUMES OF SMOKE Turkey has been reluctant to help the Kurds defending Kobani, one of three areas of northern Syria where Kurds have established self-rule since the Syrian civil war began in 2011. The main Syrian Kurdish group has close ties to the PKK - which waged a militant campaign for Kurdish rights in Turkey and is listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies. Tall plumes of smoke were seen rising from Kobani on Saturday and the sound of gunfire was close to constant as battles raged into the afternoon, a Reuters journalist observing from the Turkish
side of the frontier said. After sunset, the sounds of gunfire and shelling continued. Red tracer gunfire lit up the sky in the eastern sector of the town, much of which has fallen to Islamic State. Battles also raged at the southern and western edges of the town. A Kurdish military official in the Syrian city of Qamishli, another area under Kurdish control, said thousands of fighters stood ready to go to Kobani were Turkey to open a corridor. But Ghaliya Naamat, the official, said the fighters in Kobani were mainly in need of better weaponry. “Medium-range weapons are what is lacking,” she told Reuters by telephone. “According to the news and the information in Kobani, there is no shortage in numbers. The shortage is in ammunition.” The symbolism of U.S.led air strikes failing to stop Islamic State militants from overrunning Kobani could provide an early setback to U.S. President Barack Obama’s three-week-old air campaign against Islamic State in Syria. The campaign is part of a U.S. strategy to degrade and destroy the group that has seized large areas of Syria and Iraq, threatening to redraw the borders of the modern Middle East according to its ultrastrict vision of Islam. If Islamic State seizes full control of the town - which U.S. officials acknowledge is possible in coming days - it would be able to boast that it has withstood American air power. The U.S.-led coalition has launched 50 strikes against militant positions around the town, most of those in the last four days.
Smoke rises after an U.S.-led air strike in the Syrian town of Kobani
Sunday October 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox Nobel Peace Prize awards could help build bridges between these two powerful neighbours DEAR EDITOR, I read with interest the decision of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee to confer on the Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai the Nobel Peace Prize along with Indian campaigner against child traffiking Kailash Satyarthi. The fact that an Indian and a Pakistani won the Nobel Peace Prize could help in building bridges between these two powerful neighbours especially at this time of rising tension over the situation in Kashmir. I think the award is most deserving for both of them who in their own ways have
helped to raise public awareness of the obstacles that stood in the way of children to grow up and realize their dreams of a better life. Malali was attacked in 2012 on a school bus by masked men as a punishment for advocating education for women and girls. Ever since she was shot and the news spread across the world I was following her recovery and progress. She came across as someone who even though a teenager knew what she was about and stood up defiantly and courageously for what she passionately believed in, namely the right for girls to
receive education and to pursue their dreams. I watched her speaking on television during her recent visit to Trinidad and Tobago and I have to say that I was highly impressed by her maturity and articulation of a cause that she believed in and for which she is now a global advocate. She has become the youngest person to receive that prestigious award, which is a fitting recognition of her struggle and determination to make her voice heard on behalf of children throughout the world. Hydar Ally
Crime solving not in the DNA of Mr... From page 4 is linked to murders. Every Guyanese on planet earth except for the Ramotar minority PPP regime know this. The Freedom House gang is in denial because they benefit from the drug trade and this is the primary reason why they have not prosecuted the major drug barons in Guyana; only the drug mules are being charged. Furthermore, the Police are highly under paid and many officers are not qualified or have the requisite skills to fight crime. Guyana has a police force that is extremely backward in collecting, coordinating, analyzing and disseminating information. They do not have a clue as to how these functions might be enhanced; and the mechanisms to review the performance and activities of the various agencies involved in National Security and crime prevention. Finally, the police, especially the criminal investiga-
tion department (CID) do not have the oversight to tackle not only questions of crime fighting, but also that more difficult issue of their effectiveness in fighting crime and solving murders. To date, the CID has only solved three out of every five murders or 60 percent. Except for the un-
touchables at Freedom House, no one else is safe in Guyana anymore. It is clear that solving crime has been an up-hill challenge for the police and it is not in the DNA of Mr. Rohee and the PPP regime to solve crime. Asquith Rose and Harish Singh
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Nervous gold miners ask for relief amidst price jitters The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miner’s Association (GGDMA) wants urgent and significant relief granted for the industry in light of the recent slump in global gold prices. Again, the mining body has stepped up calls for duty free concessions on fuel and a two percent reduction in royalties charged by Government, once the world price fall below the US$1,400 per ounce. According to the association, yesterday, it is continuing to monitor with deep concern the falling price of gold on the international market and is continuing its efforts to work with the government to find relief for the local mining sector. “The GGDMA has been working in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the environment since late last year when the price began its downward slide and to date several concessions have been made to help relieve the
Gold miners are asking for relief as prices remain shaky. situation.” GGDMA said that already the Government has approved an additional vehicle duty free concession for miners who produce over 500 ounces of gold annually and cleared the way for the duty free importation of matting used in the industry. “As recent as September 21, the GGDMA met with the Minister of Natural Resources and secured
further support including the establishment of a working group to examine further relief for the industry. “Since that date, however, the price has hit a record low, falling below the US$1,200 per an ounce and this has caused serious concern in the industry.” While the price fell below the US$1,200 mark two Fridays ago, last week the prices clawed its way back to US$1,230 per ounce. It
remained around US$1,223 yesterday. GGDMA is set to meet with Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud, on Wednesday to press further for urgent and significant relief to the industry. In addition to the reduction in royalties and fuel concession, the mining association said it will be seeking a 50 per cent relief of rental payments for Prospecting Mining Permits, small scale, claims and mining permits. GGDMA also wants an extension on the grace period for medium scale payments and a waiver of late payment fee penalties and duty free concessions for all tools and spares for equipment already listed under the Investment Development Agreement. “The association assures its members that it will continue to press for these and additional relief as the low price for gold has already led to a 12 per cent shortfall in gold production in Guyana.
Training of police Aircraft Pilots in limbo It has been one year since the Guyana Police Force selected 15 of its ranks to undergo training to become aircraft pilots but the plans appear to be in limbo. The initiative was in response to a challenge thrown out by President Donald Ramotar during his address to officers at the Annual Police Officers Conference last year. The training should have commenced this year as long as funds were provided in the 2014 national budget; and of course no funds were provided in this year’s estimates for the programme. In May last year, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said that police ranks at the level of cadets will be trained at the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Rohee said that the objective is to establish an Aeronautical Branch of the GPF so it could own and operate its own aircraft. Several senior police officers are a bit uneasy that such an important aspect of the force’s development is
being treated with scant regard. “The administration is just giving lip service to the development of the force,” one officer said. Subsequent to the conference, messages were disseminated for ranks with the requisite qualifications to apply to participate in the training activities. Applications were received from a number of ranks and interviews were conducted. In the end, 15 officers were selected and are now ready to be trained. The ranks identified by the force for the training, were interviewed a year ago by prominent local aviator Captain Gerry Gouveia, who yesterday said that he had no idea when the programme would get underway. “I did the shortlisting (last year) and I haven’t heard back from the police. I did what I had to do,” Gouveia told Kaieteur News, adding that he highly recommends and supports the programme. He stated that for the police to effectively provide security in the hinterland, there is a definite need for
them to mobilize more air support. He is impressed by the enthusiasm shown by the ranks who were selected for the programme. “It is a highly required skill and the young men were some very good young men, I don’t know why they (the police force) did not follow up,” Gouveia stated. Former Commissioner of Police and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Winston Felix, is also supportive of the programme. He said that Guyana needs a policy to address the issue of crime and it should include air, land and sea assets to fight crime in the interior. “In the sprawling hinterland community there is need for an aircraft. The police should have adequate vessels and vehicles and the force itself should have increased numbers that it can maintain a fighting strength to deal with the issues of the day,” he said. While the aircraft pilot training for police ranks appears to have been shelved
for a while, their counterparts in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) continue to benefit from programmes in the field of aeronautics However, the GDF is hoping to have its Skyvan back in operation soon especially since the Force’s Cessna 206 went down few weeks ago, incurring extensive damage. The Force is currently without its own operational fixed-wing carrier, but will have to use the service of private carriers should the need arise in monitoring and protecting the country’s 83,000 square miles. Apart from the fixed-wing carriers, three helicopters, including a Bell 412, complement the army’s fleet. However, one of the helicopters is down with engine failure and is currently being looked at. The other rotary-wing carriers remain operational. The army had earlier in the year expressed optimism about the recapitalization of the Force’s aviation arm. Deputy Chief of Staff, Colonel Khemraj Persaud Continued on page 64
The GGDMA believes that if these concessions are granted the shortfall from production could be reduced by at least 50 per cent.” Gold production is being regarded with significant worry as it was the biggest earner for Guyana in the last few years, amidst high world prices. However, a slide in the price last year from over
US$1,800 by as much as US$600, caused many miners to scale back operations with many of them owing banks and for equipment they had purchased. Declaration, according to the Government last week is about 12 percent behind the target. Production broke records last year with over 480,000 ounces targeted this year.
Dem boys seh...
Hunt tell Sattaur to hunt elsewhere Dem boys seh overseas in North Korea, de people ain’t see de President, Kim Jung-Un, fuh 39 days and counting. Dem find it strange. But, dem boys nah find that strange in Guyana. Dem boys seh de leadah in Guyana hasn’t been seen longer than that. Dem boys ain’t hear much less see Donald fuh months. Diplomats does call de Waterfalls paper fuh ask if Donald in de country, if he sick or if he get kidnap. De man don’t answer he phone and even he siren gone silent. Is shame mek de man silent. Everybody doing all kind of thing under he nose and he don’t seh nutten. Imagine Sattaur write to de United States Embassy without notifying he bosses. Donald only know when Uncle Sam put Sattaur to he place. De letter putting Sattaur to he place come from de man Hunt at de US Embassy. And that is not de only Hunt Sattaur got to deal wid. He got de lawyer Hunte who know more tax law than he and who got he jumping and wining by heself. He hear that de dutty emails that he write come from one embassy and he decide fuh hunt. Sealey, he deputy tell he that dem got a Hunt at de US Embassy who is de Ambassador. When he hear de man name Hunt he decide fuh write de man. He nah like de answer he get. Dem boys hear that Ambassador Hunt tell he fuh know he place and find another place fuh hunt. That is how dem boys believe that Sattaur start a witchhunt. De boss man fuh de Waterfalls paper tell everybody that Sattaur start a campaign that he Sattaur can’t end. Knock got knock back and kick got kickback. Dem boys want all of dem to know that everything dem do somebody gun do back to dem. Dem think that because dem stop using email and using BBM and WhatsApp dem gun keep dem communication secret. Dem boys reading everything already. Talk half and wait fuh read de BBM revelation.
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Bibi Shadick lies - says broadcast analyst Very little space for TV, radio stations in city is not true - Opposition seems inept on broadcasting matters Several local broadcasters and political activists are opposed to recent comments by the government that there may be very little space left for more television and radio stations in the city. Critics are of the belief that this may be far from the truth and does little to mitigate suspicions that the government is trying to hold a reserve of frequencies for its ‘friends’. General Secretary of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Joseph Harmon, is now making a strong call for Bibi Shadick, Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority, to explain how this situation was allowed to take place. “When Shadick made these comments I was not surprised. They fit perfectly with the pattern the government has adopted— to steal the country’s resources for friends and cronies.
Perhaps, it could be the case that there isn’t anything left for Region Four. “How could there be when they are giving three and four stations to one man? But she will certainly have to explain this to the National Assembly,” the politician said. One local with experience in the broadcasting arena said that Harmon is wrong as usual. He said that no one got four or five stations. What has happened is that those who have received multiple frequencies, actually have been allocated a frequency for Georgetown, one for Berbice, one for Essequibo. Those frequencies will be used to form a network. “But that does not mean that this is right. They should issue one area –Demerara or Berbice or Essequibo at a time; this is the best policy. No further radio or TV networks should be allowed until the broadcast landscape is better
Murder accused granted bail after two trials The two accused after the verdict
mapped out,” the man explained. The frequencies, said the expert, do not mean several different signals or different stations; they mean that it is the same signal but with different frequencies serving several different areas. One knowledgeable broadcast critic said that it might be true that there are too many stations operating commercially in Region Four in view of the small advertising marketplace, but if organizations such as religious bodies are going to operate as non commercial operations requiring no advertising, there is no shortage of spectrum. To prove this point, the broadcast source said that occupied at present in Georgetown, are channels VHF 2,6,7.9,11,13 and in the UHF band CH14 (cable 65), 16 (cable 67), 18 [cable 69] and 46 [cable 102] “Between channels 18 and 102, there is space for more than 14 TV stations, so saying that no channels for TV are available are fabrications by Shadick and the PPP authority to keep the opposition views from the public, if an election is coming. In addition the UHF band extends to 900 megahertz (Mhz.) and channel 46 [cable
102] is 661 Megahertz. But in Guyana, for the government to facilitate the cable system of E-Networks, it is allowing the operator to use broadcasting frequencies to carry subscription wireless cable broadcast. “These frequencies are a national asset for broadcasting and we don’t know what they are charging this cable system to use it,” the expert asserted. He said that even if there are too many TV stations in Georgetown to make economic sense since the marketplace is so small, Region One certainly suffers from no such constraint. And Region Ten also suffers from no such overstocking of the spectrum. “But the government continues to deny a licence to Region Ten RDC.” The broadcast expert is of the opinion that the opposition has no one to blame but itself for these misconceptions being peddled by the government for public consumption. “There are knowledgeable people in the broadcasting industry who are supporters of the opposition, and if they are not, they are certainly not supporters of the Government…Broadcasting is not just playing a few movies to the air, it’s about
Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority, Bibi Shaddick freedom of speech and if religious or political bodies want space in the spectrum they should get it. “ I am still of the opinion that the Broadcasting authority is illegally formed since at the time the Bill was activated in 2012, the PPP had lost its majority in parliament and the opposition would have had to vote the Bill into law. A case currently before the high court seeks to establish this. “It’s very sad how all of this happened and points to the immaturity of the opposition to function effectively since they have created a barrier between themselves and their
knowledgeable supporters,” the critic added. Harmon reminded that after consulting with the relevant experts, certain amendments were made to the Broadcasting Act and it was subsequently tabled in the National Assembly. But since the initiation of this process, there has been no word on the progress of the amendments. The perception which followed was that the APNU appears to be “sleeping” on the Bill. “To date there has been no Bill or motion passed in parliament by the opposition which seeks to overturn the draconian $2.5 million annual fee,” one expert added.
City court orders probe into gangrape allegations by assault victim
The father and son who have so far undergone two High Court trials, both of which ended in hung juries, have been granted bail in the High Court. The duo Roy Pestano, 61, and his son Raymond Pestano, 37, of Number 41 Village West Coast Berbice are accused of murdering fellow villager Davanand Ramlagan, 25, on October 19, 2002. They were granted their latest reprieve when their most recent High Court trial ended in a hung jury before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed
Jury in the Berbice High Court. The incident is alleged to have been committed at the Breezy Point shop, Number 41 Village, West Coast Berbice. At the completion of the hearing, Justice Singh had told the two defendants that they will have to be remanded to prison and face a judge and jury again at the next sitting of the Berbice Criminal Court. Roy Pestano had blurted out in court, “I hope it gon be early this time.” Justice Singh had told him he will have to take his (continued on page 62)
Though he has only admitted to ‘cuffing’ a 15year-old girl to her abdomen, the man facing up to six months imprisonment on a common assault charge could possibly be prosecuted on a more serious charge following the orders of a magistrate at a city court on Friday. This is because a North Sophia teenager is alleging that she was gang-raped by three men she knows. She has, in fact, fingered the assault accused, Collin Kendall, as one of the three men who forced her to engage in sexual activities with them. The girl has explained that in the wee hours of last Monday morning (October 6), she was heading home alone after attending a party when she was offered a lift from a male friend named ‘Frankie’. The girl alleges that he took her to a house where he later raped her with the assistance of two of his friends. Providing details, the young woman said that about 03:30 that morning, she was
walking along Ganges Street, Prashad Nagar when ‘Frankie,’ whom she knows from her neighbourhood, came up to her with a bicycle and offered her a drop, which she accepted. She said when she arrived at the house in North Sophia, she and ‘Frankie’ started talking and he suddenly started taking off his clothes. The 15-year-old said she asked him why he was taking his clothes off and told him firmly that she didn’t want to do “anything.” She reported that he started to hit her and groped at her breast, forcing her to perform oral sex on him. According to the teen, another man, called ‘Stayon,’ came in and started bullying her to perform oral sex on him too. She said that she tried fighting back but Kendall, the assault accused, came in, took his clothes off, lifted her up and threw her onto a bed. The teen recalled that the older man positioned himself between her legs and demanded sex. Though she
refused, he pinned her beneath his body and started kissing her breast. Kendall, she claimed, didn’t “get through” but ‘Frankie’ said “pass her to me” and he had sex with her while the other two (Kendall and ‘Stayon’) held her down. The teen reported that as she and her mother were heading to the police station to lodge a report, Kendall confronted them asking if he had had sex with her. The mother also claimed that the young man threatened them saying that “he won’t stop until he has a pail of blood”. The mother explained that the police had taken statements in the matter but added that she was informed that they will only be “dealing with the assault charge for now”. The accused, however, is claiming otherwise. He said that the teen is involved in a triangular love affair with two cousins – ‘Frankie’ and ‘Stayon’. Kendall, who pleaded guilty to a common assault
charge, said that he used his hand to hit the teenager “in her belly” after she said he raped her. This case is being heard at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Geeta ChandanEdmond. The Court, in light of the revelations, has since ordered the Prosecutor to forward the new information stemming from the allegations of the teenage girl to his superiors. Additionally, the woman and her daughter were advised to report the alleged threats made by Kendall. The Prosecution is expected to offer a report to the Court on whether any additional charges will be laid on Kendall. Despite his guilty plea, Kendall was remanded to prison until Friday (October 17). The case has caught the attention of local human rights body Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), which has also started an investigation into the teen’s allegation.
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‘You are not welcome here’ - disgruntled Lindeners tell Granger The accounts given to Kaieteur News about the series of events which occurred on Friday night at Mackenzie High School, Linden, differed each time it was related. The only consistent bit of information is that Opposition Leader, David Granger, was chased by a group of disgruntled Lindeners. Granger, in his capacity as Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), visited Linden for a meeting which he said was advertised by mean of handbills. Kaieteur News understands that the meeting which was scheduled to begin at 18:00hrs, started on time but a contingent who got there about 18:30hrs was locked out. Region Ten Councilor, Leslie Gonsalves, recounted that he and approximately 60 other Lindeners were barred from entering the school compound and as such decided to protest the premises. He said that there were some 16 Lindeners inside listening to what Granger had to say. According to Gonsalves, the contingent went to the school with intent to convince Granger that he has to address pending matters. Gonsalves said that he and the others wanted Granger to understand that the people of Linden are not at all
happy with the way the Chairman and Councilors are being sidelined; neither are they happy with the imposition of a Coordinator, Sandra Adams. Gonsalves said that it is totally unacceptable that the grievances from the People’s National Congress Reform August congress are still to be properly addressed. He said that the matters from Congress include the ‘fact’ that a large number of Lindeners were
head n**ga in charge; to this we are saying no.” Gonsalves said that the group who shouted to Granger “you are not welcome here” does not have a problem with the leader himself. According to him, the Lindeners have a problem with the way Granger has been operating. “If you want to do something for Linden you have to consult with the people who living up here…Granger would not be welcome until he deals with
“This tells me that there is a substantial number of members who are still interested in the Local Government campaign and in APNU while there are some only interested in causing disruption”- Granger disenfranchised, “and we want him to sort out the Vanessa Kissoon issue as well”. Going back to the coordinator issue, Gonsalves said “We cannot understand why they have to impose a coordinator here. We live in Region Ten; we should know what is best for us. Sandra Adams cuss out PNC (People’s Congress Reform) in 2006 and left for the US. “She wasn’t here to work in the last election but now she want to come back and be the
outstanding issues.” The Councilor claimed that there were several efforts made before to contract Granger to confront the issues but he never responded. Asked why the group prepared placards if people just wanted to attend the meeting, Gonsalves said that they had no other choice but to put their concerns on paper. Some placards read that “Burnham and Hoyte turning in their grave” and “Remember July 18, 2012.” Gonsalves said that the latter was placed there because
APNU Leader, David Granger “Granger de go behind we back and make agreement for electricity with Ramotar.” However, even with all his concerns, Gonsalves said “We are still diehard PNC people.” Kaieteur News contacted Granger whose details of what happened differed significantly from those of Gonsalves. Granger said that over 50 Lindeners attended and participated fully in the meeting which went on for three hours. He said that while things proceeded peacefully inside the Mackenzie High School, a
contingent of just about 30 people caused ruckus outside. The politician said that from all indications, the group went with the intention of disrupting the meeting. “They came with placards and were making an extreme amount of noise so they were not allowed in…When I was leaving they started shouting all sorts of things.” Asked what the occurrence signaled to him, Granger said, “This tells me that there is a substantial amount of members who are
still interested in the Local Government campaign and in APNU while there are some who are not interested in those things but in causing disruption. “Last night (Friday night) convinced me that some Lindeners still want to see a united Party while some prefer to have a noisy protest.” He said that Lindeners who attended the meeting raised issues about unity in PNCR, land settlement, and the way news is being covered by the National Communication Network (NCN) in Linden. Granger added that a matter was raised about some persons who collected money in the United States for the Party but cannot account for it. Granger told Kaieteur News, “I had a one and one meeting with Gonsalves prior to congress but the main issue here that needs to be understood is that (Sharma) Solomon is not the Chairman of PNC (Peoples National Congress Reform). He is the Chairman of the Regional Demo c r a t i c Council. Solomon is an ordinary member of the PNC and so is Gonsalves a n d Va n e s s a K i s s o o n . They are not Party officials but they are preventing some officials from performing functions.” The political leader said that other councilors attended the meeting as well as several other people of Linden.
In the absence of Legal Dept. at Parliament ...
Opposition can’t maximize parliamentary majority position - Granger Opposition Leader, David Granger, is of the opinion that in the absence of a legal department at the Parliament, the political opposition has been unable to maximize the use of its parliamentary majority position. Granger made this comment during his recently held press conference at the Hadfield Street, Headquarters. Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, recently expressed deep concern over the absence of a legal department for the National Assembly. Trotman had said that based on “recent circumstances” it has become evident that the Parliament “is in desperate need of not just legal officers but a legal department. The Parliament is urgently in need of this, but it is being blocked by the Government.” General Secretary of the
Alliance For Change (AFC), David Patterson, had told this publication that the proceedings of the Tenth Parliament have demonstrated more than ever why the National Assembly should have its own legal department, for several reasons. Granger said that Patterson’s call is justified. He added that it is a reiteration of a call made by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) some two years ago. Granger said, “There is a public officer called the Chief Parliamentary Counsel (CPC) but he is located in a political ministry, the Ministry of Legal Affairs. The opposition has been unable to secure his services despite his position being, Chief “Parliamentary” Council. He isn’t available to the Parliament. “We called for the
appointment of an Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) and we have discussed this with certain international organizations for we are deprived of the legal advisory support which the majority requires in the National Assembly.” The APNU Leader also answered in the affirmative when asked if the absence of such a department has hindered the political opposition from maximizing the use of his position in the National Assembly. One of the reasons Patterson cited to underscore the need for a legal department was to support the legal drafting of Bills for all members, particularly Opposition members. Given the new dispensation, the AFC member had stated that the Opposition members may be desirous of amending
existing legislation or even drafting new bills, and such a process would require legal knowledge which not all Members of Parliament would have, and understandably so, since legal background is not a requirement of membership into the National Assembly. He had said that currently, the only State legal drafting unit is housed in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, which is under the direction of the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. Patterson had reminded that Nandlall, on several occasions, had stated that he would not be making his staff available for such purposes. Patterson had also asserted that without a legal staff, the opposition has not been able to take full advantage of their majority, since any bill or motion had to be privately executed.
The second reason the AFC General Secretary had highlighted was for research on legal matters. He believes that this is very important, and cited a prime example to justify this point. P atterson had said that during the budget issue, if such a department was in place, the political Opposition would have been able to do the necessary research, which would have guided the Parliament, as well as the Court. “Thus, when the Attorney General took the Speaker to court, it would have been the Parliament’s legal department that would have been defending that case,” Patterson had added. Another example the politician had mentioned, was that of the No-Confidence Motion, as well as other such bills and motions. The department, he had said, would have also been able to provide guidance on this matter to both the Speaker and
the Clerk of the National Assembly, thereby avoiding the public speculation on whether the No-Confidence Motion in its current format is legal or not. His last point, which he believes also underscores the need for the Parliament to have a legal department is the matter of the ‘Assent Certificate’ to certain Bills by the Attorney General. The AFC member had told this newspaper that while in the Constitution there is no provision for review by Nandlall before the Clerk dispatches a bill to the President for assent, he reminded that the AG claimed that it was due to “a convention”. Patterson had opined that Guyana may be the only Parliament in the Caribbean without such a department and the unwillingness of the Government to fund one, he said, is another prime example of its desire to control everything.
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GMSA President still not convinced on Amaila President of the Guyana Manufacturers Association, Clinton Williams, believes that there is need for clean energy in Guyana such as a Hydro Power Plant but believes that there needs to be a think tank on such a project. He has however refused to be boxed in to supporting the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Plant in its current construct. Clean energy, he said, is central to the whole concept of mitigating against climate change. “There is no way that we could take a position that is not consistent with what that means in Guyana.” According to Williams, hydropower has proven internationally to be the best means of generating clean energy.” He is adamant that hydropower potential in Guyana should be explored to the fullest and implemented at the earliest. Reminded that the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project was on stream up until recently when the political fallout caused Sithe Global to pull out, Williams said, “I am not going to comment precisely on Amaila but I am
…calls for think tank
GMSA President Clinton Williams going to comment on the need for clean energy and in that context hydro power.” According to Williams, if it were to be proven that Amaila is the best way to set up clean energy and a hydropower unit, “then fine.” Asked if he believes that the Amaila Falls Project is the best way to go, Williams contended that he has not done enough work or analysis to conclude that the
The Quest for Knowledge refreshes the mind, recreates the spirit, and motivates the body. It creates enthusiasm and desire to live an exciting and full day in spite of the routine.
best means of getting hydropower in Guyana is Amaila. “I don’t think I want to go in that direction at this point unless I have all the facts.” Asked to respond to several international bodies that would have already endorsed the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project, Williams said, “I am endorsing hydropower in Guyana…energy is central, is crucial, is vital, is the most critical element to allow for growth and development particularly in developing countries and economies.” He said that if hydropower is the best way
of pursuing clean energy in Guyana then it has to be pursued persistently. Asked about the political will to pursue the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project in Guyana, Williams drew reference to the fact that in several countries across the world, there are “think tanks” or a “policy unit”. These bodies would include all the politicians, academicians and others that would brainstorm the establishment policy direction for the economy. “I am certain that if something like that were to happen in Guyana then hydropower would have been central to the whole development thrust of this country.” He suggested that such a body, too, would foster greater political dialogue. Introduced in 2006 as a US$300M project the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project ran into a myriad of problems when stakeholders began questioning its feasibility. By the time the
developers had pulled out of the project in 2013 the estimated cost of the project inclusive of commitments made by the Guyana Government had reached a whopping US$1B. A Sithe Global team had visited Guyana and demanded parliamentary support for the project but when it did not receive 100 per cent support the company pulled out. Its President, Brian Kubeck, maintained that “a public-private partnership of this magnitude requires a national consensus in order for us to proceed further.” Kubeck was referring to the fact that the political opposition was divided on the pieces of legislation it had to consider in relation to the venture. Government’s point man on the project, Winston Brassington, last January, met with the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources and had disclosed that Government had started looking at a
number of options after the Sithe Global pullout, recognizing that the parties involved had spent considerable time and monies in developing it. The contractor, China Railway First Group, remains “keenly committed” to the project. So does China Development Bank, Brassington said. Brassington, the current Chairman of GPL, made it clear that China is willing to step in and “fill the gap” with regards to financing. Under the financing structure, in the original arrangement, Sithe Global would have been putting in US$152M; IDB US$175M, Guyana US$100M and CDB US$413M. China Rail had already signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) agreement with Sithe for US$506M. GPL was also set to commit several hundred million dollars as part of the agreement.
CRIP undertakes $155.7M road upgrades in Region Six
The contractor working on Third Street in No. 64 Village.
The Ministry of Housing and Water is upgrading several community roads, the sideline footpath in No.64 Village and several access roads in Miss Phoebe, Grassfield and Ankerville, Region Six to the tune of $155.7M. The projects are on schedule for completion. Last June, the Ministry through its Community Roads Improvement Programme (CRIP), signed the contracts with K.P Jagdeo General Contractor and H. Nauth and Sons for the upgrade of roads in Region Six. The project durations are four months each. According to Tejwattie Roopchand, CRIP’s Project Engineer, in Lot 1, Middle Walk, First Street, Second Street, Third Street and the Sideline Footpath were
deplorable and needed urgent upgrade to meet the needs of residents. The situation was the same with several access roads in Miss Phoebe, the internal roads network at Grassfield and Dispensary Street, Ankerville. Indeed, in some of these areas residents had to ply mud dams to get about their daily activities, she added. The Project Engineer said that the main access roads were upgraded from a Double Bitumen Surface Treatment to asphaltic concrete surface while the primary accesses were upgraded from either crusher-run surface or mud to that of Double Bitumen Surface Treatment. Safety features such as road signs, markings and speed humps have also been
included. Works are scheduled to be completed on time and within budget. Roopchand said that these infrastructure projects will improve the lives of residents by providing better access to health care, schools, community centres and markets. The economy of the communities will advance with improved level of efficiency in the delivery of goods and services, and improved access to business and places of trade. Another positive of having such developments in communities is motivation for residents to pay their taxes to Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) which will in turn allow these NDCs to better serve the communities.
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CHI gearing to celebrate eight years of laudable existence - has plans to further expand cardiac services By Sharmain Grainger Created with a vision to offer an invaluable, and at the time, non-existent service to the Guyanese populace, the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) for the first time opened its doors on October 14, 2006. It was an auspicious time for not only its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Gary Stephens, but the health sector as a whole - which was at the time headed by Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy - was taking immense pride in the undertaking. This meant open-heart surgery and a wide range of other heart operations were going to be readily available at a facility strategically situated at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Moreover, the venture was and still is being dubbed a public-private partnership. And even as CHI prepares to celebrate eight years of existence, there will be no little reflection on the inroads that have been made to offer quality heart services that are comparable to what is offered in the Caribbean and even further afield. In an invited comment, Dr Stephens reminisced on the path to making CHI a reality, even pointing out that “I still remember fondly the opening of CHI and all the big dreams we had”. He is therefore convinced that the institution in many ways is a representation of what is possible even when resources are limited. Having achieved what many thought was an impossible feat, Dr Stephens was eager to pinpoint some who were instrumental in CHI’s existence. “We owe a debt of gratitude to Pastor Fontanelle and the Revealed Word
When one criticizes officialdom one often finds oneself at the receiving end of official hostility. The reaction of a government agency against a stinging criticism by a section of the media is going to take a turn this week. Legal experts are going to challenge the move by the government department in public. Caustic statements are going to be made, but the person who is asked to preside will not want to upset officialdom and will actually do something that will cause raised eyebrows.
Dr. Gary Stephens, CHI’s Chief Executive Officer
Ministry. This is especially important, as it was Pastor Fontanelle who introduced me to President (Bharrat) Jagdeo, that made CHI possible,” Dr Stephens recounted. Moreover, he was keen in highlighting that CHI “still represents a source of pride for me, especially since we have been able to stick to our mission of providing a service, while making a (profit) margin that was important only to the extent that it made us sustainable.” He however noted that although significant progress has been made over the years and the potential to do even greater things is evident, the facility still remains at a crossroads. In order to achieve the possible, Dr Stephens is adamant that there is need for greater partnership with Government. “In the last few years the relationship had felt less and less as a partnership. The uncertainty with Government has made it difficult to raise private capital to invest in moving to the next level,” Dr Stephens reflected. “The ideas and vision that made CHI possible still exist. I want to spend less of my time fighting Government and bureaucracy and more fighting to ensure patients get quality care.” A Guyanese by birth, Dr Stephens is a leading Cardiac Surgeon in the United States, and has not failed to render his expertise, through CHI, to his homeland. Although at the start of the institution he was responsible for undertaking all surgical operations, with the aid of an overseas-based team, he had subsequently recruited Interventional Cardiologist, Dr Pratik Soni, an Indian national. Dr Soni has since parted ways with CHI. Currently the resident
Cardiologist is Dr Mahendra Carpen who was hand-picked by Dr Stephens to function as the institution’s Medical Director. However, all major decisions at the institution are made by Dr Stephens, who is therefore ultimately responsible for the quality of work that is provided. “My commitment to my fellow Guyanese remains unshakable, and anyone entering CHI can rest assured that they will receive the highest standard of care,” said Dr Stephens as he lauded the work done by Dr Carpen and the team at CHI. VALUABLE SERVICE Dr Carpen, in speaking to the value of the institution to the local populace, credited its survival to the foundation laid by Dr Stephens and all those who supported the vision of CHI. He acknowledged that since its introduction, there is no denying that the institution has considerably grown to a great extent with regards to the service provided to the
** Just when one thought that parents are not paying enough attention to their children, one parent is going to catch attention when she takes her daughter to task. The problem is that the state has certain rules about parenting and these rules do
not necessarily coincide with what actually works. This will not be the first parent to be sent to jail for disciplining a child. ** An indisciplined driver is going to stall traffic along the highway when he tries to overtake at the height of the peak traffic. The resulting accident will further stall traffic and cause tempers to flare. The police will take some time to clear up the mess but the loss of man-hours and property is something that a small country like Guyana should not have to bear.
patients seen. “I don’t think that you can overstate the importance of an institution like this to Guyana,” said Dr Carpen of CHI. He has classified the services offered by the facility as “immeasurable...you can’t quantify it.” Though he was not there from its inception, he noted that the facility started out offering services conducted by visiting Cardiologists but “we have moved from that time to where we have our own Cardiologists on the
Dr. Mahendra Carpen, CHI’s Medical Director
ground who can do all procedures that can be done pretty much elsewhere in the Caribbean, and we are set for even bigger growth in the near future.” Outside of the basic Echocardiogram, Stress Testing services, CHI also provides angiograms, angioplasty, stent placement, open-heart surgery, and has expertise to address congenital defects such as holes in the heart. Of course there is implantation of devices such as pacemakers, intra-cardiac defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization. The latter was in fact an historic procedure undertaken by CHI a few months ago. Currently CHI’s track record suggests that it is able
to conduct some 200 angiograms on an annual basis, while for last year alone, about 50 open-heart operations were conducted, an increase from previous years. Its open-heart success rate stands at an all-time high of 98 per cent, similar to reputable overseas-based cardiac facilities. Last year, too, about 25 pacemakers and device implantations were done, and according to Dr Carpen, weekly clinics attract about 500 patients and are likely to attract more with the planned expansion of cardiac services. According to Dr Carpen, “in the very near future, as early as January, we will be introducing cardiac electrophysiology where basically (Continued on page 30)
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Sunday October 12, 2014
The Cessna that vanished
A Cessna 206
By Michael Jordan Henry Fitt’s plane vanished in the Guyana jungle over three decades ago. That plane and its five British passengers have never been found. But elderly Victor Joseph Fitt, is convinced that his brother’s plane did not crash. Victor Fitt’s theory about the fate of that Cessna 206, and what happened to his brother, Henry Fitt, will shock you. Henry Fitt came from one of Guyana’s most famous aviation families. Victor Fitt himself was an experienced pilot, who had even assisted in the manhunt in the fifties for the infamous criminal Clement Cuffy. Henry was an experienced and respected pilot, having worked at Atkinson Field
(now Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri). At the time of our story, he was flying with Toucan Air Services Limited, which operated no-schedule and chartered services. He also held a senior position with the company. Mr. Fitt recalls that his brother flew often in the interior, “He was a good flier; anyone who wanted to go flying would go to Henry Fitt.” It was in late May 1981 that Henry Fitt was given the task of flying five British nationals on a sight-seeing trip in the interior. According to reports, the foreigners had wanted to see Mount Roraima, located on the border with Venezuela and Brazil. On board the Cessna 206 were Mr. and Mrs.
Anthony Goodman of Stafford, England; Jerry Golda of London; Stephen Mulley of Essex; and Gerry Coe of Bath. The four men were quantity surveyors with Sir William Halcrow Ltd., a British consulting firm working on the Tapacuma, MMA drainage and irrigation projects. According to reports, aviation officials last made contact with the plane at around 9:35 a.m. on the day of the flight. At the time, the Cessna was over Phillipai Village in the Mazaruni, on its way to Kamarang. But afternoon came and the plane had still not arrived. Efforts to make contact with the pilot were futile. Director of Civil Aviation, Aubrey Alexander, spearheaded a search, which
included a team drawn from the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Airways Corporation. The pilot of another aircraft reported that he had been in contact with the missing Cessna, and that the winds coming the west at the time were at 100 degrees with a velocity of 30 knots. But night fell without them finding any trace of the Cessna. The search continued the following day with the same result, and eventually, local aviation and Government officials were forced to seek assistance. Fourteen members of the United States Air Rescue Unit, eight aircraft with Guyanese aviation officials and several privately-owned aircraft joined the air and ground search. An aircraft from the
Guyanese pilot Henry Fitt Trinidad and Tobago Air Rescue Unit also joined the team after four days of fruitless searching. Two bases were established at Kamarang and Ekereku. The Guyana Government also appealed to its Brazilian counterparts for assistance. And despite the border controversy, permission was granted by Venezuelan officials manning
the Magatir Tower in Caracas, Venezuela, for the rescue aircraft to fly over areas controlled by the Venezuelan authorities. Vincent Fitt recalls that two of his sons, who were also pilots, came from overseas to join in the search for their uncle and his five passengers. Eventually, after several (Continued on page 31)
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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
This is the way I see life On Thursday morning, my mother-in-law died in my wife’s arms in my car. When we arrived at the private hospital, people were very sympathetic. As I watched her lifeless body on the hospital bed, there was the merger of anger and sadness. Memories of my mother flowed like a fountain whose water was out of control. My mom never got to see me work in Guyana to provide her with a few pennies. President Burnham banned me from state employment; no private business wanted to touch me. She died broken-hearted. My mother-in-law saw 37 years of me (thirty-six of marriage to her daughter and one year of courtship) and in that period she witnessed what my mother often saw the terrible moments of repression directed at me. I never spoke directly to her on the subject, but I think it would have brought some satisfaction to her in her golden years to see her sonin-law share in a new Guyana that he gave all his life to. Since her death, I have received deeply felt sympathies. There was one particular moment that I would like to discuss. One of Guyana’s most likeable citizens, put his hand on my shoulder, expressed his condolence, and told me he knew my mother-in-law when she was a young woman running her supermarket in Wortmanville/Werk-en-Rust. Then he said, “I really like you, but Freddie I am worried for you.” Without even a tiny expression of concern, I asked why. He said I have taken on too many people and caused too many enemies. He intoned, “Freddie leave them,
do what you do best.” I had to go further with this because I needed specifics. He gave me specifics. He wants to know why I criticized Dave Martins, Shaun Samaroo, Oscar Ramjeet, Rickey Singh, Giftland Office Max, Survival Supermarket, Banks DIH, Republic Bank, John Lewis Styles, among other names I can’t recall. He went on; “Freddie, don’t make so many enemies, man, you have always done good with your politics, just stay on that road.” I told him I appreciated the kind words and I do have respect and admiration for him, but each of us in this world sees life from our own perspective. My point was that life is what you make it. Life is no bed of roses and life is not about pleasing people who don’t give a damn whether you live or die, or avoiding comments on people because you are afraid of their reaction or they are too big to be criticized. I emphasized to this nice gentleman that there are people out there who have formed an impression of you and it will not change, no matter what you do. I have been socially and politically active my entire life, and there are people who have formed impressions of me as mad, crazy, stupid, publicity-seeker, poor writer, poor academic, vindictive columnist, chauvinist, etc. They know nothing of my inner life, what I am made of, the essence of me. But that is their perception of me and no matter if I swing like Tarzan on a rope and save a baby from an ISIS bullet, I will always be that kind of person in their eyes. They don’t care to know about me. And that is their right.
Why should I care about how they feel, when as a columnist I write about their faults, exploitative behaviour, unbecoming conduct or unenlightened opinions on Guyana’s politics? There are people in politics, business, the media, social gathering etc., who will always see me in a certain negative light. I will never be a likeable person in their scheme of things. This is life. I will not let that characteristic of reality deter me. I know to whom I must carry out my obligations.
We ended our small con v e r s a t i o n w i t h m e telling him that all those persons and entities he named, I felt justified in my critical comments and I doubt those people ever think of Freddie Kissoon or he exists for them. Why should I bother with the way they feel about my comments on them, when those comments were devoid of malice and based on verifiable facts. I ended our conversation with a compelling example to him. Miles Fitzpatrick never
liked me the first moment he saw me. W h e n D r. H u g h l e y Hanoman sued Stabroek News over a column I wrote, Fitzpatrick, the paper ’s lawyer said, “I will defend the paper but not you, get yourself a lawyer.” Years later, Fitzpatrick defended one of the most tyrannical Guyanese rulers the Caribbean ever produced, with blood on his hands. I never violently hurt another human or took their property or cheated them or
Frederick Kissoon exploited them. Nothing I did would have changed Fitzpatrick’s attitude to me. That is life. That will always be the way of the world.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday October 12, 2014
UG Law Society elections…
New President, VP promise corporate involvement to develop department
(From right) Newly-elected President Patrice Wishart, returning Officer, Glenfield Dennison and newly-appointed Vice-President, Devin Singh, at the swearing-in ceremony. The University of Guyana Law Society (UGLS) has elected a new President and Vice President, as both executives promise to raise the bar and standards within the Law Department by involving corporate stakeholders and interested parties. The recent election results declared the newly-appointed President as Patrice Wishart while the elected VicePresident is Devin Singh. Polls were opened last Wednesday from 12pm to 6pm on voting day to facilitate some 216 students from first, second and final years. However, only 150 votes were cast. Patrice Wishart is a firstyear student and Devin Singh in his second year. Returning Officer, Glenfield Dennison disclosed that the electoral process had been transparent. Other officials who were elected include: Secretary, Arianna Beharry; Treasurer, Kaycia Ellis; Assistant/Secretary Treasurer, Shivani Lallram; Organising Secretary, Tevera Franklin; First-year
representative, Matthew Humphrey; Second-year representative, Rashulata St. Louis; and Third-year representative, Vaughn Paul. President Wishart expressed pleasure at the number of voters who had presented themselves this year to participate and gave a synopsis of his intended pursuits. “My platform is to get the involvement of the students and corporate Guyana to assist us in developing the Law Department. In the past, we have been relying too much on the Government of Guyana and the University of Guyana’s administration to do things for us, and as a result, not many things have been done,” Wishart said. Vice-President Singh noted that his main aim is to mindfully manipulate resources so as provide the student body; both present and future, with a law department that is of prestige. He underscored that his objectives also include involving corporate entities.
Two such projects he identified as necessary were getting more furniture for the department, since the increase in the number of students has resulted in a shortage, and secondly, the installation of an air-conditioning unit, so as to alleviate the ventilation issue which the department currently experiences. “Recently I observed as first-year students missed part of their class, as their time was taken up with taking combinations from one classroom to the other. No student should be at a disadvantage because there is a lack of furniture. This is why one of my first tasks would be to provide more combinations for the law department to facilitate the obvious increase in students,” Singh vowed. “As it relates to students’ welfare, I hope to implement a mentorship programme, where first-year students can benefit from advice and resources from second- and third-year students. This should help to make the year a smoother one; as first year can sometimes be a challenge in terms of transition for many students. In addition I will reintroduce the suggestion box where students can help to facilitate a change that can benefit them. I have also been in constant contact with the Attorney General concerning the entrance of future students to the Hugh Wooding Law School.”
Sunday October 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
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My column
The disappearing parent and the errant youth There has never been a school for parenting and one doubts that there will ever be one. But at the pace that society is changing, parents are required to change their techniques. At the same time, there is legislation in some countries that actually put additional pressure on parents. Back when I was a child,
parents adopted a simple technique; punish the child when he/she steps out of line. And the punishment was often painful in keeping with what sociologists at the time called one part of the pleasurepain principle. This was a simple principle; if the child did something worthy of reward then the pleasure part of the equation was adopted. It could have been a trip to the cinema or some special treat. Such was the incentive that children almost invariably sought the pleasure. At the same time the rest of the society was looking and adults were crucial. They had the power to scold any child because parents knew that
they could not be around their child all the time and therefore needed the extra eyes to help keep the child in line. The developed world tended to treat their children differently, especially during the latter portion of the last century. Of course the children were demanding their freedoms, so one found children moving away from home as soon as they considered themselves adults. When they did that, parents tended to have no control over what the child did. The good thing was that many left home with good values, so they were not as recalcitrant as they were likely to be. But they themselves became parents and did not apply the kind of pressure that their parents did with them. The result was that there was a new breed of children. In Guyana, technology brought what was happening in the other countries, and being a people who like to emulate others, we decided to let our children do what they saw their peers doing in the
other countries. Meanwhile, adults began to pay less attention to the children of others. Respect went through the window. When children once offered a greeting to any adult they may encounter, they simply went about their business ignoring whatever they encountered. Those parents who opted to take the rod to their children were looked at as some kind of pariah. There were even neighbours who reported such action to the police and since no one wanted to spend time in jail, many parents simply gave up trying to use the harsh method to discipline their children. This led to parents expecting teachers to instill discipline in children, but some of the teachers had children of their own, and many said that they were not going to “kill themselves” over other people’s children. It is therefore not surprising that children are going about their merry way doing as they very well like. They see themselves as adults
and try to do what adults do. So we come to what was posted on social media involving four or five schoolchildren. The comments were not pleasant, but those commenting on the children had been exposed to the same thing in their younger days. Many perhaps did the same thing, but there were no phones with cameras to record their activities. In one case, the child came from a home where the parents were decent people who tried to instill proper discipline in their children. What they did not teach that child was about peer pressure. Indeed, when children attain puberty the hormones rage. Without control, they simply succumb to whatever the urges are. It is the same on the streets. Young boys succumb to peer pressure and take up guns. They want material things, and hearing that they can get these things by violent means, they yield. It is not necessarily true that all
the young gunmen are from depressed communities. Some come from homes where parents try their damnedest to ensure that their children walk the straight and narrow. I do not have a solution to the problem and I do hope that the experts can help. Indeed, way back then there were youth clubs that occupied the children’s time, and at the same time, helped them develop people skills. These clubs provided some pleasure for the children, especially when they went on trips. A lot of focus was placed on the boy scouts and girl guides. These are not so prominent these days. In fact, there are not too many youth organisations. I walk by the various cricket grounds and I do not see as many young boys as I once did. This would explain the dearth of cricketers coming out of Guyana for the West Indies cricket team. If only some group could turn back the clock on youth activities, we may see a change in what people believe is the disappearance of
Adam Harris disciplined young people in Guyana. As someone suggested, we should open a school that would teach parenting, but then again many people, from the time they hear the word school, go running in the other direction.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday October 12, 2014
A youth’s vision for Guyana By Collin Haynes A few years ago, I produced a YouTube video entitled “A Youth’s vision for Guyana” as my view of the social, economic and political modernization that is need for our youth. Over the last 22 years of authoritarian rule, these issues have worsened. Political stalemate and the lack of effective and efficient systems within our public sector have seen many of our youth growing in despair and disbelieve. The next election will be a critical one in the history of our nation. A majority of the voting population will be under the age of 35. Many of my fellow young citizens are without jobs, without hope, struggling to survive, facing a bleak future. Many of us have seen
despair in the eyes of our parents, especially over the last decade under the rule of the PPP/C. Many of us have seen discrimination firsthand, especially folks like myself who grew up in Linden. But, in the midst of all our struggles, there has been a rainbow of hope. We have seen more than ever, a large portion of our population voting in favour of transparency and accountability, over tyranny, waste and mismanagement. My fellow youths are in deep despair because of the lack of economic opportunities, disheartened because by the lack of gainful employment, they all seek improved educational standards and improved standards of living and quality of life. Our Education System has failed us miserably. While
outstanding performances are laudable, we need to look at the overall performance of our school children. How many of them on completing secondary school, attain the necessary passes to enter university or the labour force? Currently, the administration of our institution of higher learning, the University of Guyana is appalling. And even if a student who has excelled intends to continue their education, the limited number of scholarships and grants does not afford students the opportunity to attend external colleges and universities. Abortion among our young women in Guyana is at an all-time high. While the National Assembly debates on timings and trimesters, mothers don’t have universal access to counseling and
contraception methods. Teens that become pregnant have to be face the stigma and marginalization of our society. This should not be. We should be providing
counseling and other support services to our teenage mothers, treat them with respect and dignity, and assist them to continue their education. The same applies to those affected by HIV/AIDS. There is a great need, according to the World Health Organization, for programmes geared towards reducing stigma among those affected by this pandemic. We need to engage in effective and efficient surveillance of areas that are affected across our nation and train a competent workforce; from doctors to nurses, public health practitioners, voluntary counseling & testing and PMTCT workers. Our nation’s health is our wealth and showcase to the rest of the world. A few years ago, I watched the Olympics in London. It was a joy and
delight to see my country on the international stage, but with little participation/ qualification in events it tells me one thing, we need to invest more in sports, from nursery to secondary, and at the community level. Cricket, football, and track and field; we need to place these as a priority to improve the physical capability of our youths to compete on the world stage. Now, I am not all about highlighting the problems in our country without sustainable solutions. So, here is a Youth’s vision for a social, political and economic modernization of Guyana: I envision a Guyana where VAT would be reduced from 16% to 8-10% so that our people have a bit more money in their pockets. In Education, I strongly advocate for effective use of public spending to facilitate better entrance rates, lower dropout rates, remediation, test scores scholarships, and grants to improve the standard of the majority of our youths and
Collin Haynes develop our UG curriculum to matriculate the best and brightest youth for the workforce. Narrow-minded politicians will continue to foster racial division among us, but we must insist to them that there is only a “Cooperative Republic of Guyana.” Let us give the most precious gift of all, commitment; commitment to serve our country in the best interest of all Guyanese. Until such time as we put country first and self second, there will continue to be a vast divide in our society and development will always be lopsided.
Sunday October 12, 2014
SUNDAY SPECIAL JOINT OPPOSITION STANDS FIRM WITH KAIETEUR NEWS AGAINST SATTAUR’S “DEVIOUS” ATTACKS HARMON In the face of what he described as former president Bharrat Jagdeo and tax chief, Khurshid Sattaur’s “devious” attacks to destroy Kaieteur News, General Secretary of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Joseph Harmon, has said that the newspaper will have his coalition’s “unwavering support in the fight for democracy against the powers that may be”. The Alliance For Change (AFC) last week Saturday also issued a statement in which it expressed dissatisfaction over the dilemma. Over the past weeks, several email between Jagdeo and Sattaur which exposed their apparent plot to “close down” the newspaper hit the news pages. Sattaur had sent the former president the tax information of several news entities. This information was then forwarded to Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. Many have said that it is, without a doubt, an undeniable breach of the Oath of Secrecy that was taken by the Chartered Accountant. Calls since the revelations by this newspaper have been unending for Sattaur’s immediate resignation. UK HIGH COURT OVERTURNS SUKUL DISBARMENT The United Kingdom (UK) High Court has overturned the disbarment of the former Appeal Court Judge, Rabi Sukul. The court, which ruled two Thursdays ago, ordered that his case be sent back to the UK Bar Council Tribunal. The London barrister, who was called to the bar in July, 1988, was disbarred on February 14, last, for “intentionally misleading his client by drafting false grounds of appeal.” The former Judge who filed an appeal had his disbarment formally suspended by the Bar Standards of England and Wales earlier this year. Following the appeal hearing, the UK High Court has ruled the disbarment null and void and ordered that the case be sent back to the UK Bar Council Tribunal which had imposed the disbarment in the Judge’s absence. His lawyers had learnt that a document dated January 6, 2012 that is central to the case was not disclosed to the Disciplinary Tribunal. British media had reported that the Bar’s disciplinary tribunal had heard that Sukul
Kaieteur News
APNU General Secretary, Joseph Harmon drafted a document to the Court of Appeal setting out initial grounds for an appeal against conviction on behalf of his client for drugs-related offences. The tribunal had found that he had created the document, knowing it to be false, with the intention of misleading his client into believing he had grounds to appeal his conviction, when Sukul knew there were no grounds of appeal. The fiveperson tribunal, chaired by His Honour Michael Baker QC, found unanimously that Sukul had intentionally misled his client and engaged in conduct likely to bring the legal profession into disrepute. In his absence, Sukul was ordered to be disbarred. Sukul had been appointed as a Court of Appeal Judge in Guyana but following his disbarment, he was asked to resign by Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Carl Singh. MONDAY EDITION SATTAUR POSES A THREAT TOALL GUYANA …BHARRAT JAGDEO NOWAPRIVATE CITIZEN WITHOUT IMMUNITY – HARMON J Edgar Hoover is the late famed director of the USA’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and used his office to amass secret files on political leaders and was reportedly in a position to intimidate and threaten anybody including sitting Presidents. Because of his blackmailing tactics, he was able to serve as the helm of the agency for decades, eventually dying in office. With the recent revelations about local tax boss, Khurshid Sattaur, some are wondering whether he will be allowed to continue carry out vendettas like Hoover. Sattaur has already effectively silenced popular columnist and social activist, Freddie Kissoon, and in a recent boast in an email sent
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AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan
Khurshid Sattaur, GRA Boss
Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall
KNews Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris
to Attorney General Anil Nandlall, he wrote “It is instructive to note that the reason why Freddie is now averse (reluctant) to writing trash concerning me is because a multi-million-dollar assessments hang over his head like the sword of demacles (sic).” Sattaur was also instructive in seeking to silence a prominent local businessman who was critical of the former President Bharrat Jagdeo, by launching a full scale audit into his operations. Included in the leaked emails sent by Sattaur to Nandlall, he also spoke of an impending audit of the Kaieteur News even as Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris, laments officials inquiring of his bank information. A Partnership For National Unity’s (APNU), General Secretary, Joseph Harmon, is now reporting too that he has been threatened by Sattaur and has also stated that given the recent revelations, all opposition Members of Parliament should feel threatened by the Guyana Revenue Authority boss.
office” charge against the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Harmon said that Sattaur, as the guardian of the country’s tax information, and as a Chartered Accountant, ought to know that such behaviour would be highly intolerable. He said, too, that his coalition considers Sattaur’s actions to be a most “sickening and frightening prospect for the people of Guyana”. The APNU General Secretary said that it is imperative that the charge be brought against Sattaur so that anyone who is to take Sattaur ’s position would know that it is not an untouchable office and that once certain offences are committed, the office holder would be answerable to the court.
(AML/CFT) Amendment Bill. In a statement, the body said that it recognizes the Guyana Government’s efforts to put in place alternative measures to address the technical deficiencies in its existing legal and financial legislative framework for assessment by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and applauds them. But CAB warned that it is one small step in actions required by Guyana in order for it to comply with international standards. “The passage of the AML Bill is not only about Guyana, but also about the international financial sector as a whole in order to protect all financial systems within the region, from ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risks. We are only as strong as our weakest link,” said CAB’s Chairman, Carlton Barclay.
seeing its public officials display unimaginable scales of lawlessness and corruption, it only signals strong support for that kind of behaviour and inevitably, sends a distasteful message to the nation. If government cannot keep its own officials in line and prevent excessive abuses against members of the Fourth Estate who are the eyes and ears of the people, then how do you expect citizens to believe that you have its best interest at heart?” This was the assertion of General Secretary of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Joseph Harmon, in light of damning evidence which reveals a plot between former president Bharrat Jagdeo and Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur to shut down the Kaieteur News. Harmon stated that it is imperative for citizens to understand what is taking place before them. “I want to appeal to citizens to understand the political gamesmanship that is taking place. The government can only be seen as condoning the actions of Sattaur, for they have been (Continued on page 47)
TUESDAY EDITION APNU TO BRING ‘MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE’ CHARGE AGAINST SATTAUR – HARMON After careful analysis of the recent “devious attacks” by the country’s tax chief, Khurshid Sattaur, and former president Bharrat Jagdeo, to destroy the Kaieteur News, General Secretary of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Joseph Harmon deduced that it is clear that “Sattaur thinks he is in the Wild, Wild West and his office is his ammunition.” The lawyer said that as someone who stands firm for transparency and accountability, he is left with no choice but to put the necessary steps in place to bring a “malfeasance in
CARIBBEAN BANKERS URGE GUYANA TO PASS ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LAWS The Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) is calling on Guyana to urgently pass its Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism
WEDNESDAY EDITION GOVT’S SILENCE ON SATTAUR’S BEHAVIOUR REFLECTS ITS ACCEPTANCE OF LAWLESSNESS – HARMON “When a government continues to be silent after
Caribbean bankers have urged Guyana to pass critical anti-money laundering legislations.
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Once upon a time, the 5th of October ¯ the anniversary of the 1992 general and regional elections ¯ was accorded an iconic status in the annual calendar as a sort of quasi-national day. The elections had resulted in the People’s Progressive Party’s return to office four days later on 9th October 1992. The ‘Fifth of October’ became more than the celebration of an electoral victory. That day, in the postelection euphoria of Dr Cheddi Jagan’s presidency in the early 1990s, was transformed into a major state occasion. The presentation of national awards was shifted from Independence Day, 26th May. There were rallies, symposia, broadcasts to the
Kaieteur News
nation, the printing of laudatory booklets and the publication of congratulatory newspaper articles and advertisements. Things have changed. This year, 2014, observances were muted, a sign perhaps that the PPP is suffering from intellectual exhaustion. It is more likely a sign that the population is suffering from PPP fatigue or, indeed, that there was simply nothing to celebrate. The PPP’s return to office led most certainly to the gradual ‘criminalisation’ of the country and the abnormal accretion of power in the state. During five consecutive PPP administrations – those of Cheddi Jagan, 1992-97; Samuel Hinds, 1997; Janet
Jagan, 1997-99; Bharrat Jagdeo, 1999-2011 and Donald Ramotar, 2011 to the present – these tendencies precipitated several grave crises. The cumulative effects have been the paralysing of the economy, the polarising of society and the precipitation of political confrontation. The public security crisis is the most severe. Armed robberies, banditry in the hinterland, murderous maritime piracy along the coastland, suicides, fuelsmuggling, gun-running and contraband smuggling still prevail. The combined cost of corruption, cronyism, graft and the narco-driven crime wave has taken a toll on the people’s quality of life. Public services are in
crisis. Regulatory and lawenforcement agencies – most particularly the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit; the Environmental Protection Agency and the Guyana Energy Agency – have been starved of adequate assets, equipment, financing and personnel to such an extent as to impair their ability to function effectively. The Government Information Agency, the National Communications Network and the Guyana National Newspapers Ltd (Guyana Chronicle) rigorously exclude Opposition political parties and the dissenting views of civil society. The state media have increasingly become agencies of the ruling political party – the PPP. There is also a severe human development crisis. Public protests have become the most effective expressions of resistance against the PPP’s mismanagement of public health, public security, public works and the public education system. Guyana, in the new millennium, has become more unsafe, unsanitary and more unstable than ever before, owing to the high rate of crime and the low quality of life. PPP policy-makers frequently criticise civil society – especially the Amerindian People’s Association; Guyana Human
Sunday October 12, 2014
Rights Association and the Guyana Trades Union Congress. The PPP, however, persistently fails to address the core issues of local democracy, poverty and unemployment which plague society. Youth are in crisis. Unemployment is the central issue affecting young people. The PPPC administration’s delay in dealing with the jobs crisis, and its disregard for measures to solve it, can detonate a social explosion which could have dangerous consequences. Young people suffer most, owing to the fact that school-leavers are inexperienced and have a long wait before they find their first job. The state of the public education system is parlous. Public schools are producing an increasing number of illiterate and innumerate youths. The Ministry of Education reports that nearly 7,000 children drop out of our primary and secondary schools yearly. Children who do not complete their elementary education satisfactorily will find it difficult to get jobs as adults. The majority of university graduates, unable to find employment, remain under- or un-employed, or join the throng of thousands who emigrate every year. PPP apparatchiks do not seem to understand why their
party is failing. They cannot comprehend the reasons for the loss of trust and confidence, even of its once staunch supporters. The party finds itself being rejected by the public because it’s concept of democracy was never about creating autonomous local democratic and other collective structures to empower communities. The PPP perceives governance as merely a form of social authoritarianism through which it could control society perpetually. The PPP’s re-entry to office in 1992 marked not a democratic initiative, but the installation of an elected dictatorship. It was an opportunity for the Party to rekindle its desire to transform the country into community it can control. The PPP’s biggest problem sprang largely from policies adopted specifically in the Jagdeo presidency and which exposed the ideological and political contradictions within the party itself. The combined cost of the narco-driven crime wave, corruption, cronyism and the degradation of national institutions has eroded popular support for the Party and taken a toll on the quality of life of the people. Guyanese, after twentytwo years, are fed up. Everyone wants a change. For the PPP, the party is over.
Sunday October 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
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CHI gearing to celebrate eight years of laudable... From page 21 that is treatment of heart rhythm disorder.” And it is the expectation of the Cardiologist that this venture will see CHI being able to forge an especially crucial partnership with Government through the Ministry of Health, thereby allowing the institution to be in a better operational place. To undertake this level of operation, efforts have already been made to procure an advanced Cardiac Cauterization Laboratory, and according to Dr Carpen, “I believe that within the next couple of months we will be the envy of many of the Caribbean nations.” INCREASED DEMAND With an increased demand for the services offered, Dr Carpen noted that CHI has been challenged to
accommodate, as far as possible, all of its clientele. In fact, he recalled that for a long time the facility had been alone servicing the cardiac needs of the population. “If you can imagine a small group of about 15 to 20 professionals trying to accomplish advanced heart care for that population, then you can imagine the challenges that are inherent in that process,” the Cardiologist noted. He went on to explain that apart from a space constraint, another challenge that is faced is that of a financial nature, whereby some patients cannot readily afford advanced cardiac care. “It is unfortunate that this is so, but with various means, especially with support from the Ministry of Health and the National Insurance Scheme,
we have been able to provide a lot more to patients who would have otherwise not had the option of accessing advanced cardiac care.” Dr Carpen added that “like any place that is doing well and wants to expand, there are challenges, and we are no exception to that.” The vision that CHI is currently embracing, according to Dr Carpen, is to provide quality cardiac care to all patients in need in a timely and effective manner. Added to this, he said that moves will be made to undertake more population-type researches that are relevant to the local population. This is in light of the fact, that “not everything that is relevant elsewhere is relevant to Guyanese patients. If you practice cardiology for any period in Guyana, you would recognize very quickly
Dr. Stephens attending to a patient
that some things are just unique to Guyanese patients.” But realizing the results that CHI has been able to achieve over the years has not been without the dedication and commitment of staffers, ranging from the administration to the nursing and other support staff, Dr Carpen emphasised, “The quality of service that we offer here is something that we take pride in…we take pride in going beyond and above what is routine or normal prior to CHI’s existence. You can talk to families (and) patients who have passed through here and you will get the same
response that ‘this is a surprising breath of fresh air’…the way the services are offered here.” THE CELEBRATION As part of observances for its eighth year, CHI will for this month be seeking to give back to the society. This, according to Administrator of the facility, Karen PereiraDebidin, will be characterised by the free implantation of devices to address heart conditions. According to PereiraDebidin, the devices, which amount to in excess of US$100,000 were donated by American Device Company, Biotronik, and include
pacemakers and complex cardiac devices that will be offered to selected patients who access the services of CHI. “The beneficiaries are among those who we would have profiled and realized that they really can’t afford it, so we are going to donate the devices to them for our anniversary.” The implanting processes are expected to start tomorrow, with two patients being the first to benefit and others being assisted throughout the month. “That is our big thing for our celebration; to give back ‘big time’ to our customers,” said Pereira-Debidin.
Sunday October 12, 2014
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The Cessna that vanished From page 22 weeks without seeing any trace of the plane, aviation authorities reluctantly called off the search. In Guyana, a memorial service was held for Henry Fitt. But what really happened to Henry Fitt and his passengers? At the time, aviation authorities suggested that the powerful winds could have blown Fitt off course. They suggested that although he had vast experience flying in the interior, the pilot would have assumed that he was over Phillipai Village, where he was supposed to have landed, when he was fact in another location. But nonagenarian Victor Fitt doesn’t for one moment believe that his brother crashed. When I spoke with him, he suggested that his sibling met a sinister fate. Victor Fitt’s theory is that while taking his passengers near Mount Roraima, his brother’s plane came under
attack and was accidentally shot down by hostile forces. He bases this theory partly on the fact that relations between Guyana and Venezuela were not at their best because of the border controversy. He believes that this incident was covered up. But others who assisted with the search have dismissed this theory. Aviation expert Captain Gerald ‘Gerry’ Gouveia was in the Guyana Defence Force at the time and recalled that all the pilots in the search and rescue operation were given specific areas to search. Gouveia himself flew low over Mount Roraima in an effort to locate the plane. “We searched for days and never found him.” As for Vincent Fitt’s theory about his brother being shot down, Gouveia said that despite the tensions at the time, the Venezuelans “were not in a shoot-down mode.” To illustrate this, Captain Gouveia recalled that he had
once accidentally ended up in Venezuelan territory while flying the army camouflage Skyvan plane near the border in 1982. He said that two Venezuelan fighter jets “escorted” him back into Guyana territory without a show of hostility. Captain Gouveia pointed out that in contrast, the Cessna Henry Fitt was flying was “a little plane”, which would not have aroused any hostility. “We never had any hostility from Venezuela…not from the air anyway.” The veteran pilot explained that Henry Fitt was flying from Anna Regina to Mount Roraima. “The minute he passed the Mazaruni River, he would have been flying into difficult territory.” “It’s not unusual that planes could fly into the canopy (of trees) and disappear; probably sink in a river. In Henry Fitt’s days, there was no GPS (Global Positioning System to assist pilots to navigate). So, Henry
Mount Roraima
Fitt was flying into very difficult territory, using all the bravery and skill of a bush pilot. He was a good and experienced pilot. He was taking tourists to Mount Roraima, which was quite an innovative thing to do at the time. “We have had a lot of
unexplained crashes. We could speculate forever about what happened to the other pilots. It points to pilot error, but families don’t want that legacy. Saying that the Venezuelans shot him down, is (perhaps) a way to keep his legacy alive.” If you have information
about any unusual case, please contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown offices. You can also reach us on telephone numbers 2258465, 22-58458, or 2258473, or contact Michael Jordan at mjdragon@hotmail.com.
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Sunday October 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
Profile: Malala Yousafzai (BBC News) It has only been five years since Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai wrote an anonymous diary about life under Taliban rule in northwest Pakistan. Since then she has been shot in the head by the militants and become the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She first came to public attention through that heartfelt diary, published on BBC Urdu, which chronicled her desire to remain in education and for girls to have the chance to be educated. When she was shot in the head in October 2012 by a Taliban gunman, she was already well known in Pakistan, but that one shocking act catapulted her to international fame. She survived the dramatic assault, in which a militant boarded her school bus in Pakistan’s north-western Swat valley and opened fire, wounding two of her school friends as well. The story of her recovery - from delicate surgery at a Pakistani military hospital to further operations and rehabilitation in the UK, and afterwards as she took her campaign global - has been closely tracked by the world’s media. She was discharged from hospital in January 2013 and her life now is unimaginably different to anything she may have envisaged when she was an anonymous voice chronicling the fears of schoolgirls under the shadow of the Taliban. She was named one of TIME magazine’s most influential people in 2013, put forward for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013, won the European Parliament’s Sakharov price for Freedom of Thought and her autobiography “I Am Malala” was released last year, and reversioned for younger audiences. Malala was only 11 years old when her anonymous diary - published between January and March 2009 on BBC Urdu - captivated audiences with its heartfelt account of the struggle for girls’ education at a time when the Taliban controlled Swat. She wrote under a pseudonym - Gul Makai, the name of a heroine from a Pashtun folk tale. Militants destroyed scores of girls schools in the time the Taliban wielded power over the valley. They had an implacable attitude to female education and this was Malala’s primary concern. In January 2009, as the school was closing for winter vacation she wrote: “The girls were not too excited about vacations because they knew if the Taliban implemented
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Meet Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, a saviour to children
Malala Yousafzai
their edict [banning girls’ education] they would not be able to come to school again. I am of the view that the school will one day reopen but while leaving I looked at the building as if I would not come here again.” She documented the anxiety she and her friends felt as they saw students dropping away from class for fear of being targeted by militants, and as the girls began to attend school in plain clothes not uniform, so as not to draw attention to themselves. Eventually, Malala and her family, like many thousands of other Swat residents, fled the valley when a government military operation attempted to clear the region of militancy. PA S S I O N AT E CAMPAIGNER Malala consistently received support and encouragement in her activism from her parents. The idea for the blog was even that of her father Ziauddin, who ran a local private school. In a lengthy profile published in Vanity Fair magazine, one teacher from Swat said that her father “encouraged Malala to speak freely and learn everything she could”. And her identity as the girl blogger from Swat eventually became known as she became more vocal on the subject of the right of girls to education. It is a subject she never ceased to be passionate about even after she returned home once the militants had been run out of Swat. In 2009 a documentary film was even made about her. Many more honours followed: in 2011 she was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize by The KidsRights Foundation and in 2012 the Pakistani government awarded her the National Peace Award - subsequently
renamed the National Malala Peace Prize - for those under 18 years old. She even confronted then US special envoy to the region, Richard Holbrooke, urging him to do something about the state of affairs for women who want an education. When she finally returned to Swat, Malala took advantage of the improved security and went back to school. Malala and her family were the subject of threats and it was on 9 October 2012 that these were borne out. The Taliban said that they targeted her for “promoting secular education” and threatened to attack her again. BACK AT SCHOOL The bullet hit Malala’s left brow and instead of penetrating her skull it travelled underneath the skin, the length of the side of her head and into her shoulder. Amid the outpouring of global support she was flown to the UK and at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the city of Birmingham she received specialist treatment and had a titanium plate fitted as well as a cochlear implant in her skull to help her hear. She began attending Edgbaston High School in March and her father has been given a job with the Pakistani consulate in Birmingham for three years. But she has continued her campaign and taken it around the world. A fund set up in her name helps children in education around the world and she even travelled to Nigeria, meeting President Goodluck Jonathan to press for action to free the 200 girls held by Boko Haram Islamist militants. It is all a far cry from the girl who wrote in her diary only four years ago: “Today, I also read my diary written for the BBC in Urdu. My mother liked my pen name Gul Makai. I also like the name because my real name means ‘grief stricken’.”
Indian children’s rights activist Kailash Satyarthi laughs at his office in New Delhi, Oct. 10, 2014. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi By Monique Villa (Reuters – Opinion) It is thanks to Kailash Satyarthi that thousands of children have been saved from a life of slavery and agony in India. It is thanks to his organization, BBA — the ‘Save the Childhood Movement’ — that these children can regain trust in other human beings, the vital ingredient of life. It was six months ago in New Delhi, in the gardens of the Imperial Hotel, that I first met Kailash. Sipping a cup of iced tea, he began telling me the story of two little boys he had just rescued. These newcomers were refusing to bond with the other children, sitting on the side, looking terrorized and suspicious. It was only days later, when another child got them to utter a few words that they said: “Why are these people so kind to us? Do they want our eyes or our kidneys?” They could not imagine for a minute that someone would want to feed them and look after them without wanting to abuse them even more. That story touched my heart. Imagine the kind of hell these children are coming from. They come from a place where children are beaten, abused, treated like a production tool and destroyed. It’s the parents who often give them away, conned by middlemen and a few rupees; but parents can also be abused by clerics, Kailash told me. These children have been terrorized and dehumanized since their youngest age. How can they conceive a world where a c h i l d i s respected and loved for nothing in return? The road to recovery is very long, and Kailash and his organization play a crucial role in this process. Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) puts these
children back on their feet, educates and trains them, makes them human again. To d a y, a l o n g w i t h M a l a l a Yo u s a f z a i , t h e symbol of a new brave generation of girls, Kailash Satyarthi has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. It is with immense joy that I congratulate them both on behalf of the Thomson Reuters Foundation and the Trust Women movement. Kailash has dedicated over 30 years of his life to the fight against human trafficking. At the age of 26 he gave up a promising career as an electrical engineer to fight child slavery, a crime that affects millions of children across India. That day in Delhi, Kailash told me the authorities were in total denial, they did not want to face the fact that children were – and still are — regularly used as slaves. So, Kailash was accused of being a CIA and a Pakistani agent, and two of his colleagues were shot dead by traffickers. His has been a constant fight. But Kailash managed to put child labor onto the global social and political agenda, using the strength that the rule of law gives him. He has brought many cases to the Indian Supreme Court, prompting some very important rulings that in turn helped him pursue his noble mission. In 1998, he launched the Global March Against Child Labor, an umbrella organization which today groups together more than 2,000 NGOs and trade unions
across 140 countries. The year after, he created the South Asian Coalition against Child Servitude which includes countries such as Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. A great admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, Kailash has led dozens of peaceful protests again child labor while promoting the cause of universal education. He has actively contributed to the rescue of 84,000 child slaves in three decades, while leading a national movement for the right to education in India, which resulted in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act ratified in 2009. This past May, Kailash’s organization led one of the largest joint rescue operations in India between anti-trafficking campaigners, railway police and child rights groups. As a result, 63 children were rescued and 23 traffickers were arrested. Human trafficking is one of the most odious crimes of our time. It is also a silent crime. Not many know that there are currently 30 million slaves worldwide, the highest number ever in history. The Thomson Reuters Foundation is one of the organizations at the forefront of the battle against slavery and human trafficking through the actions taken at the Trust Women Conference. A few months ago, Kailash and I decided to use the platform o f t h e Tr u s t Wo m e n conference to launch the End Child Slavery Week campaign on November 19 to put the spotlight on the issue. His Nobel Prize has already achieved this.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
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Controlling vectors Air Conditioning: Choosing in the environment right energy efficiency ratio (From the Desk of the Vector Control Director, Dr Reyaud Rahman) Ve c t o r c o n t r o l i s o f significant importance, as it has a proven record of reducing or interrupting disease transmission. Vector-borne diseases are estimated to account for 17 per cent of the global burden of all infectious diseases and over half of the world’s population is at risk of diseases such as Malaria and Dengue fever. It should be highlighted that the same mosquito (Aedes aegypti) that transmits the dengue virus also transmits the Chikungunya virus. Due to the changing dimensions of the world with environmental changes, international travel and urbanization are causing vectors and vector-borne diseases to spread beyond borders. Chemical control remains one of the most important elements in integrated vector management, if not the most important. When conducting mosquito control activities, two specific categories that are targeted are: larvacides (applied to mosquito breeding areas to kill mosquito larvae) and adulticides which target adult mosquitoes (applied by a mist or fogging). These activities are targeted at the larva and the adult mosquito which would directly solve the mosquito problem once done correctly and in a controlled manner. The insecticide used in Guyana to kill the larva is known as Abate (Temephous One percent). T h e Wo r l d H e a l t h Organization (WHO) has classified it as a safe insecticide and stated that o n c e u s e d c o r r e c t l y, i t
Dr Reyaud Rahman
should not present any hazard to humans. If overexposed to Abate it can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion, if exposed to very large dosages (for example in foods, etc.) this can pose serious health risks. Malathion on the other hand is used to fog and kill adult mosquitoes which are known to fly around the environment. This is also a relatively safe insecticide also approved by the WHO for this use. Malathion is even found in some shampoos that are used to treat lice. Once fogged it gets into the environment and works by affecting the breathing of the mosquitoes and causes them to die. If a human is exposed to Malathion, the body generally breaks down it quickly and excretes it readily. However in large quantities a human could have breathing difficulties and potentially be at
serious risk. Some of the signs of brief exposure are nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, slow heart rate, weakness and abdominal pain. Contrary to the views of some persons in society it should be noted that insecticides to control diseases such as Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria and other vector-borne diseases are efficient, and necessary to control the vector population (mosquito or otherwise). Public health programmes that use insecticides to control vector populations have an excellent record for public health safety and an even more impressive record of protecting humans from vector-borne diseases. For this reason it is advisable to continue to use the recommended insecticide as the benefits far outweigh the risk.
unit important - GEA For some, an air conditioning unit is considered a luxury, while others consider it a necessity. Regardless, by making wise use of your air conditioner you reduce energy consumption, which in turn reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and contributes positively to the environment. One underlying fact is that air conditioning (AC) aids significantly, especially in tropical climates like Guyana, in cooling offices and homes, according to the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA). AC units are a costly investment and incur significant energy costs over their lifetime. However, with the right information one can certainly choose wisely when deciding what type of unit to purchase and once the purchase has been made, there are simple things that can be done to maximize energy efficiency, thereby saving on electricity costs. The agency noted that the upfront costs for a new energy efficient air conditioner can be offset over time from the energy savings gained, through lower energy bills, by choosing a high energy efficiency ratio (EER) and seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) unit. Public Communications Officer of the GEA, Taiwo Williams, explained that air conditioners, popularly known as AC units, keep a room cool by moving heat from inside a home or office to the outside. They blow cool air into a building or room by pulling the heat out of the air. The air is
cooled by blowing it over a set of cold pipes called an evaporator coil. This coil is filled with a special liquid called a refrigerant, which changes from a liquid to a gas as it absorbs h e a t f r o m t h e a i r. T h e refrigerant is then pumped outside the house to another coil where it gives up its heat and changes back into a liquid. A pump, called a compressor, is used to move the refrigerant between the two coils and to change the pressure of the refrigerant so that it evaporates or condenses in the appropriate coils. Whether you are considering the first-time purchase of an AC unit or planning to replace your old one, there are tips that will help the atmosphere stay cool, save energy and reduce utility bills. The GEA noted that some of the steps that can be used include: invest in air conditioner units that have higher SEER/EER ratings from trusted manufacturers; ‘Energy Star’ certified air conditioners have a higher energy efficiency ratio (EER) and seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) than standard models. This makes them about 14% more efficient. “Choose the right size of unit, an air conditioner that is oversized for the area it is supposed to cool will perform less efficiently and less effectively than a smaller, properly sized unit. Locate the AC in an area near the centre of the room and on the shadiest side of the building. Minimize air
leakage by fitting the room air conditioner snugly into its opening and sealing gaps with a foam weather stripping material. Keep out direct sunlight and close curtains or blinds during the day to reduce the amount of effort your air conditioner expends to keep your home/office cool,” Wi l l i a m s emphasised. It was further noted that computers and other home/office equipment also generate heat; the GEA stated that these equipment should be turned off when they are not in use. This will reduce the heat load on the system and prevent the AC unit from using more energy for cooling. “Make sure all doors and windows are sealed properly to keep your energy consumption low. If the cool air your air conditioner is circulating into your home/office is escaping, your system will have to work harder and longer to keep you cool,” the GEA underscored. “Setting your thermostat at a colder temperature than normal when you turn on your air conditioner will not cool your home or office any faster. This could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense. Replace or clean your window or central air conditioning filters at least once a month or as directed by the manufacturer. Dirty filters restrict air flow and make air conditioners work harder to keep you cool.” (Rabindra Rooplall)
Sunday October 12, 2014
World Sight Day... In observance of World Sight Day (WSD), the Ministry of Health, Caribbean Council of Blind-Eye Care Guyana and Department of Ophthalmology, will be hosting Ophthalmic Continuing Medical Education (CME) sessions in various parts of the country. World Sight Day (WSD) is an international day of awareness, and the focal Advocacy and Public Relations occasion for highlighting the fact that 80% of blindness is avoidable (i.e. preventable and/or treatable) . According to research statistics, four out of five people have avoidable visual impairment. World Sight Day provides a platform for organisations to encourage governments, corporations, institutions and individuals to actively support global blindness prevention efforts. World Sight Day is held annually on the second Thursday of October to focus attention on the global issue of avoidable blindness and visual impairment. This year, WSD, which is co-ordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), was observed on October 9. To mark the observance locally, the Ministry Of Health held the first Ophthalmic CME Session at the Herdmanston Lodge, Georgetown, on Thursday last. And two other sessions are scheduled for New Amsterdam (Today at Little Rock Hotel Suite at 8:00am) and Linden (Egbert Benjamin Exhibition Centre, next Saturday October 18th at 1:00pm). During the CME Sessions there will be presentations by Eye Care Professionals about various sorts of eye-related conditions. Some of the sessions will be concentrated
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Heath Ministry aims at better access to essential eye care services Ministry is working to implement an active and effective Eye Health (or Vision 20/20) national committee country- wide. The MOH and the GPHC (along with international NGOs such as World Diabetic Foundation, Orbis and University of Toronto) are developing a plan to extend a Guyana Diabetic Retinopathy Screening and Treatment programme. During the session, the Guyana Eye Care Strategic Framework will be officially introduced to Eye Care Professionals.
A patient having his eye checked by an optometrist on Diabetic Retinopathy since Non-Communicable Diseases have become a major focus of the Ministry in recent years. Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran noted the programme has been quite successful. He said that the Ministry has made notable strides in terms of crafting strategic partnerships which has created opportunities for more trained specialists in the field of eye care. “Through our partnership with Eye Care Guyana, the Ministry was able to have more specialists trained in the field through various scholarship programmes offered,” Minister Ramsaran explained. “Eye Care Guyana has been instrumental in the training of a significant number of optometrists and other eye care specialists. In fact the programme at the University of Guyana has been attracting quite a few students from the Caribbean,”
As a result, he noted that “there are already certain new eye care instruments and specialised doctors to be dispatched to be hospitals at Suddie and Linden. World Sight Day is supported by over 120 worldwide member organisations, which include every major eye care NGO in the world, apex professional bodies for ophthalmology and optometry, teaching hospitals and corporations, united in working to eliminate avoidable blindness and visual impairment. This year, the World Health Organization,(WHO) Global Action Plan (GAP) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) encourage members and partners to continue with the rolling theme for universal eye health ‘call to action’ ‘No More Avoidable Blindness’. The call to action will draw attention to a few key interventions that are crucial
for the success of GAP’s target – reducing avoidable blindness by 25%, by 2019. The purpose of the action plan is to achieve this goal by improving access to comprehensive eye care services that are integrated into health systems. The WHO’s goal is “ensuring that all people have access to needed, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services, of sufficient quality to be effective, while also ensuring that people do not suffer financial hardship when paying for these services” This means all people should enjoy access to the best quality health care without risk of impoverishment. To meet the action plan’s objectives, the Health
This is a long-term plan and guide that was created by the Guyana Vision 20/20 Committee, in consultation with various eye care stakeholders, in an effort to provide guidance to Guyana in dealing with vision health issues so that it can reach the targets signed on to by the Vision20/20 Committee. In addition the Guyana Vision 20/20 Committee will be officially re-launched and will be tasked to continue monitoring Guyana’s progress in achieving its objectives.
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ECHO to launch primary level ‘Most Improved School Yard’ competition
The Environmental Community Health Organization (ECHO) will be launching its regular “Most Improved School Yard Competition - for Healthy Schools in Guyana”, next week Monday, October 20. The objectives of this event are to raise awareness of the importance of the environment, provide an opportunity for teachers, parents and children to work together on a project aimed at improving conditions within school environment, and to improve the aesthetics of fifteen school yards in Georgetown. The categories to be judged for the school competition include water sanitation, garbage collection and disposal and condition of school yards. Fifteen primary schools will participate in the competition which will run for four weeks. Certificates and prizes will be handed over to winners at a subsequent ceremony. Earlier in the year, ECHO commenced its continued quest to reduce 30 percent litter in 20 schools within six
weeks. The body sought to raise environmental awareness in children and to improve the physical condition in 20 schools within the same time period. The event was opened with the planting of trees. Executive Director of ECHO Royston King has emphasised the positives of encouraging children to love the environment from an early age. He said the value of the tree-planting exercise was environmental as well as nutritional and that all schools should be part of caring for the environment. He noted that the mission of ECHO is to increase the eco-consciousness and social responsibility of members by providing them access to the natural world, state-of-the-art social media, innovative educational programmes and resources. “Through diverse collaborative partnerships, ECHO will develop the next generation of leaders who will have the knowledge, passion and skills to promote and work toward environmental sustainability.” Also, the
Some of the students who took part in the tree-planting exercise earlier this year vision of the organization is to be the largest and most widespread and comprehensive organization for youth environmental
education, connecting the community with youth, offering expansive programmes, and providing resources for schools nation-
wide. Participating primary schools include: St Margaret’s, St Stephen, East La Penitence, South Ruimveldt, Tucville, F.E.
Pollard, J.E. Burnham, Enterprise, Stella Maris, North Georgetown, St Angela’s, Ketley, St Sidwell’s and Smith’s Memorial.
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The role of exercise in diabetics Love of coffee at least
Lifestyle change (Diet and Exercise) is the foundation of any successful management plan for diabetes. In this article, emphasis is be placed on Exercise. Exercise plays a very important role in managing diabetes. Once a diabetic combines exercise, diet and medicine (when prescribed) they are on their way to take control of their weight and blood sugar level. This will improve the quality of life and prevent complications of diabetes. Exercise helps control diabetes by: · Improving your body’s use of insulin · Burning and reducing excess body fat, helping to decrease and control weight (decreased body fat results in improved insulin sensitivity) ·Improving muscle strength · Increasing bone density and strength · Lowering blood pressure · Helping to protect against heart and blood vessel disease by lowering ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and increasing ‘good’ HDL cholesterol ·Improving blood circulation and reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke ·Increasing energy level and enhancing work capacity ·Reducing stress, promoting relaxation, and releasing tension and anxiety EXERCISE TIPS ·Aerobics, dancing, brisk walking, riding and swimming are some good choices for people with Diabetes. The chosen activity should be safe, enjoyable, repetitive,
Dr Raj Kumar challenging and regularly done (4-5 times per week). Safe equipment and clothing are essential, and in many cases, certain medical checks will be needed before starting an exercise regime. ·To reduce the risk of hypoglycemia if you have diabetes, follow a regular routine of exercising, eating your meals, and taking your medicines at the same time each day. ·Prolonged or strenuous exercise can cause your body to produce adrenaline and other hormones that can counteract the effects of insulin and cause your blood sugar to rise. If you are participating in strenuous exercise (exercising at your maximum capacity) or prolonged exercise (lasting for several hours or more), your insulin and/or oral diabetic medicine or your calories may need to be changed. Talk to your health care provider about how to adjust your medicine. · Exercise with someone
partly genetic: study
who knows you have diabetes and knows what to do if you have a low bloodsugar reaction. · Wear a medical identification tag or carry an identification card that states you have diabetes. ·Check your sugars before, during and after exercise and always carry a small carbohydrate snack such as a fruit or fruit drink since low blood sugar can occur. · Depending on the time of exercise, reducing your dose of either long-acting insulin or short-acting insulin may be necessary. Your doctor can recommend how to make this adjustment. It is important to get started. Exercise is safe and highly recommended for most people with diabetes, including those with complications. Patient sometimes get intimidated (feel pressured) when they are told that they need to exercise. Please do not worry. Exercise is not costly and does not require you to spend any money in excess. Just a little determination and guidance, and you are on your way to a healthy lifestyle. Please feel free to send an email to kumarsukhraj@yahoo.com or call 6228032 for further enquiry and discussion on the topic. Patient education plays an important in the diagnosis and management of diabetes and any other illness. Please look forward for a continuation of the discussion on health issues in the next publication.
Need that cup of joe to get going in the morning? Or avoid it because java tends to make you strung out? Either way, the reasons may be written in your genes. A new analysis of tens of thousands of human genomes identified six new genetic variants associated with habitual coffee drinking that may help explain why individuals respond differently to coffee. “Like previous genetic analyses of smoking and alcohol consumption, this research serves as an example of how genetics can influence some types of habitual behavior,” senior author Daniel Chasman, associate professor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said in a statement. The researchers combined data from 28 studies of more than 120,000 regular coffee drinkers. Using self-reported coffee consumption in cups per day and gene mapping, they looked for versions of genes that regular coffee drinkers had in common. In addition to two genes that had already been linked to caffeine metabolism, they discovered two more locations in the genome tied to the way the body processes caffeine. Another two variants they pinpointed may influence the rewarding effects of caffeine in the brain. Still another two new variants may be involved in
influences on how much people eat, the study team points out in its report. For example, they note that simply eating with another person can cause diners to eat up to 44 percent more than when eating alone.
“While we often have good intentions before we go to a restaurant (I’m going to get the side salad instead of fries), when we arrive, a lot of cues can prime us to want to indulge. These include, the smells, what our companion eats, and now perhaps even the weight of our companion,” Brian Wansink told Reuters in an email. Wansink, who also worked on the study, is the author of “Slim by Design: Mindless Eating Solutions for Everyday Life.” The researchers selected 82 university students for the study. Half of the students served themselves food in the presence of a woman in a prosthesis, while the other half encountered the same woman with no body alterations.
What you eat might depend on who you’re eating with
Dining with an overweight person may cause people to eat more unhealthy food, according to a study in the journal Appetite. College students were more likely to serve themselves more pasta and less salad when a fellow diner was wearing an overweight prosthesis, or “fat suit,” in the study conducted at Cornell University in New York. When eating with an overweight person, people not only ate “a larger amount of unhealthy food, but they ate a smaller amount of healthy food,” said Mitsuru Shimizu, assistant professor of psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, in an email. Shimizu, who led the study, and his co-authors
think the presence of the overweight person derailed the students’ intentions to eat “healthy,” although the researchers don’t say why a heavy dining companion would have that effect. There are many unconscious
sugar and fat metabolism. People with gene variants for increased caffeine metabolism may tend to drink more coffee because their bodies process it more quickly, the authors write in Molecular Psychiatry. “Many of us might know this already but there are obviously differences in how we respond to coffee,” said Dr. Marilyn Cornelis of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, lead author of the study. “Some can handle four cups, and others can only handle one.” Pinpointing the exact genes involved has been difficult, Cornelis told Reuters Health by phone. Six of the eight gene variants correspond specifically to caffeine, not to coffee, she said. That makes sense since coffee is the main source of caffeine in the diet, she said. Genes aren’t the only factors that go into coffee consumption, though. Social and environmental influences are important too. “You need to consider that these genes have very small effects,” she said. If an individual has all eight gene variants pointing to habitual coffee consumption, that would still only explain an additional half a cup to one cup of coffee per day, she said. “The maximum effect we can identify is about one cup,” Cornelis said. And although it’s relatively easy for people to recall how many cups of coffee they usually have each day, the definition of a “cup” and the caffeine content of different coffee drinks can vary, she noted. In the future, knowing our genetic relationship with coffee could lead to individualized guidance on
how much we should be drinking per day, Cornelis said. But first we would need to know the healthiest amount of coffee to drink. “Some people may get agitated or have difficulty sleeping if they consume too much caffeine and then reduce their intake to develop a coffee drinking habit that balances pleasant and unpleasant effects of caffeine,” said another of the study’s authors, Rob M. van Dam of the National University of Singapore’s school of public health and National University Health System in Singapore. “This suggests that there may not be an optimal amount of caffeine that can be recommended to everyone, but that people should monitor their response to caffeine and cut down on their consumption if they experience unpleasant effects,” said van Dam. In some research, coffee has been linked to protection against certain health problems, and in others it was tied to adverse effects. Drinking coffee has been associated with lower risk of Parkinson’s disease, liver disease and type 2 diabetes, but its effects on cancer development, heart health and birth outcomes are still controversial, the authors write. So a genetic profile that reveals how much coffee a person can drink, or is likely to drink still doesn’t tell us how much they ought to drink, they caution. “If you were to tell people their genotype and tell them that they can metabolize caffeine quicker, they could drink more,” Cornelis said. “The question is, at this stage we don’t know what kind of guidance we would give them.”
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Sunday October 12, 2014
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ head to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth makes Disney XD TV in animated show actress Angelina Jolie a Dame
The misfit “Guardians of the Galaxy” super heroes are headed to television in a new animated series, Walt Disney Co’s children’s TV network said on Friday, after they saved the universe from destruction in the summer’s biggest movie. Marvel’s “Guardians,” a rogue band of aliens led by thief and explorer “Starlord” Peter Quill, will premiere next year on Disney XD, and follow the intergalactic heroes as they battle evil forces to keep the universe safe. The “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie opened in August to rave reviews and $94 million at the U.S. box office, the largest August movie opening in film history and the biggest movie release of 2014. It has so far grossed $655 million at the global box office, according to Boxoffice.com. Unlike Disney’s recent spate of Marvel superhero
films including the “Iron Man,” “Captain America” and “Avengers” franchises, the “Guardians” was a lesserknown comic book property and a risky choice for a stand-alone movie. The success of the film has already led the studio
to greenlight the sequel, due in 2017. Chris Pratt will reprise the role of Peter Quill, Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Vin Diesel as Groot and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer. (Reuters)\
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth made actress Angelina Jolie an honorary Dame at a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Friday in recognition of her campaigning to end sexual violence in war zones and for services to UK foreign policy. The queen presented Oscar-winning Jolie, who is special envoy to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. Dressed in a pale suit, she shook hands with the queen during an audience in the 1844 Room, named for the year when Russian Emperor Nicholas I made a state visit. Jolie, 39, co-founded the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative with former Foreign Secretary William Hague in
2012, and the award was announced in June when Jolie was co-chairing the End Sexual Violence in Conflict summit in London with Hague. “To receive an honor related to foreign policy means a great deal to me, as it is what I wish to dedicate my working life to,” she said at the time.She was among 1,149
people to receive an honor for their contribution to British society in the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honors list. Jolie is not a British citizen and therefore cannot be addressed as Dame. She receives the award on an honorary basis. (Reuters) Picture saved in folder as Dame
Green Day, Sting among nominees China bans tainted stars for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
from TV, movie screens
Stars who have used drugs, visited prostitutes or been involved in other law-breaking will not be allowed to appear on Chinese television, movie screens or other forms of broadcast, state media said on Thursday, following a series of scandals.The ban by the broadcast regulator, which includes radio and advertisements, is meant to “keep the industry healthy”, the official China Daily reported. “Celebrities who break the law should not be invited to appear in programs, and transmission of their words should be suspended,” the newspaper said, citing a statement from the regulator. “Recent cases
involving stars using drugs or visiting prostitutes have harmed the image of the entertainment industry and set a bad example for young people,” the newspaper added. Chinese prosecutors last month approved the arrest of Jaycee Chan, son of kung fu movie star Jackie Chan, after a suspected drugs offense, the latest in a string of celebrities to fall foul of the law. China has detained several other mostly B-list celebrities in recent months on drug-related charges, cases that have been publicized widely in both state and social media.
They have included movie and television stars, film directors and a prominent screenwriter. One director was detained on suspicion of hiring prostitutes. The crackdown has come as the government seeks to push forward a wider campaign against extravagance and decadence. Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to go after corruption and excess among the elite, a prime source of public discontent as the gap between the poor and the wealthy continues to grow. China’s Ministry of Public Security told police across the country in February to get tough on drugs, gambling and prostitution.
Punk rock band Green Day, rockers Nine Inch Nails and singer Sting are among the 2015 nominees announced on Thursday for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They lead a diverse list that includes The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the late singer Lou Reed, German electronic group Kraftwerk, Motown singers The Marvelettes, and The Smiths, who broke up many years ago. Artists are eligible 25 years after the release of their first record for induction into
the Hall of Fame, which was established in 1983. “Rock and roll incorporates the styles of so many different kinds of music and that’s what makes this group of nominees, and this art form, so powerful and unique,” Joel Peresman, the president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said in a statement. Rockers Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, soul group Chic, rappers N.W.A, the late blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, California funk group War, the R&B group The Spinners and
singer Bill Withers were also nominated. More than 700 artists, music industry professionals and historians will decide who will be inducted. Fans will also be able to cast their votes. The top five artists selected by the public will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be counted with the other ballots to select the 2015 inductees. The winners will be announced in December and inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Cleveland on April 18.
Sunday October 12, 2014
From page 27 nothing but silent on this front. They have not denied the content of the email published by Kaieteur News. Because he has caught them with their pants down, they will now try to damage the character of the publisher of the newspaper, Glenn Lall, because he is standing firm for democracy and transparency. “We cannot let him stand alone in this. We have to let the government know that the people of this nation are sick of their torture and terrorism games by any of its arms,” Harmon emphasised. The APNU MP said that he knows that government is running scared, because the Opposition is standing up for “a man who believes in democracy”. GRA LEAK OF SENSITIVE TAX INFORMATION…KN PUBLISHER FILES OFFICIAL COMPLAINT TO HIGHEST ACCOUNTING BODY Publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, filed an official complaint, Tuesday, with the country’s highest accountancy body, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana (ICAG), against the head of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Khurshid Sattaur. The official complaint, which was prompted by the illegal release of tax information, said that Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur is guilty of misconduct in office by his acts. This newspaper, in recent weeks, published details which revealed a shocking plot by top Government officials, in collaboration with Sattaur, to go after a number of private newspapers and news entities that have been highly critical of projects and the way taxpayers’ dollars are being spent. Kaieteur News has been at the brunt of the offence by Government which has been under increasing criticisms for a number of questionable contracts and deals with investors. By law, GRA is bound to keep secret tax and other financial information filed by
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the tax coffers. APNU’s Desmond Trotman
taxpayers. THURSDAY EDITION MP MOVES TO COURT AGAINST MARRIOTT …SAYS NICIL CONNIVED WITH EXECUTIVE TO AVOID PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT Member of Parliament for A Partnership for National Unity, Desmond Trotman, has again petitioned the High Court to prevent the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Atlantic Hotel Inc (AHI) and their head, Winston Brassington, from mortgaging, leasing or in any way transferring the title of the land and building on which the Marriott Hotel sits in Kingston. He has filed the action as head of the Committee for the Defence of the Constitution Inc. Trotman, through an action filed by Senior Counsel, Rex Mc Kay, Wednesday also sought to have the court grant a Conservatory Order restraining the Minister of Finance his servants or agents from encumbering, mortgaging, leasing, or in any form transferring the properties. The Conservatory Order is also meant to prevent the Finance Minister from empowering NICIL, AHI or Brassington from dealing with mortgaging, encumbering, leasing or transferring the title of the property. He is also looking to have the Court grant any other Order it may deem necessary.
In his affidavit, Trotman noted that NICIL is a wholly Government-owned company, while AHI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NICIL. He noted that by virtue of a vesting order issued in November 2010, the more than six acres of land on which the Marriott sits was transferred to NICIL. This information was published in the Official Gazette and three years later the land was leased for 99 years by NICIL to AHI. GOVT ORDERS PROBE INTO DUTY-FREE CONCESSIONS…REPORT FINGERS TOP GRA OFFICIALS IN FRAUD SCHEME A Government-ordered independent probe into a reported racket involving duty-free concessions for vehicles has implicated two top officials of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). A senior Government official Wednesday confirmed that the investigations were quietly ordered by the Office of the President earlier this year, with the report fingering a very senior official and one of his top aides who works in the Tax Exemption Processing and Verification Department. The probe was launched after complaints were made into the scheme which saw hundreds of millions of dollars being diverted from
FRIDAY EDITION JUDICIAL REVIEWACT IN LIMBO …AS CHANCELLOR DECIDES TO REVIEW HIGH COURT RULES FOUR YEARS LATER In a tit-for-tat that has seemingly exposed the indifference which obtains in the legal and legislative sector, Attorney General Anil Nandlall has accused Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram, of being unaware of what obtains when he accused him of deliberately not bringing into force the Judicial Review Act. Ram asserted that Nandlall’s Permanent Secretary, Indira Anandjit, had in defence of the Attorney General suggested that the High Court rules were yet to be completed, a notion debunked by Ram as a fallacy, since they were laid in the House in November 2010. In a twist of events, this publication has been reliably informed that Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, Thursday wrote to President of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), Ronald Burch-Smith, informing him that the rules which were laid in the House in 2010 had to be revised because of omissions and errors. The missive from Justice Singh to the Bar Association President came days after Anandjit sought to defend Nandlall’s position. Ram is of the opinion that by not bringing the Judicial Review Act into force, “what Mr. Nandlall is effectively doing is frustrating the decision of the Parliament by his failure to bring the Act into operation.” Ram posited that a delay of four years is clearly intolerable and falls down on his predecessor Charles Ramson’s promise “to bring the judicial process into the 21st century.” PARLIAMENT DESPERATELY NEEDS
LEGAL DEPT. – SPEAKER While Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman is concerned about the lack of a financial and analytical support team for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and for other parliamentarians, in the form of a Budget Office, he has also expressed deep concern over the absence of a legal department for the National Assembly. In a brief interview with this publication, Trotman said that based on “recent circumstances” it has become evident that the Parliament “is in desperate need of not just legal officers but a legal department. The Parliament is urgently in need of this, but it is being blocked by the Government.” In support of Trotman’s points, General Secretary of the Alliance For Change (AFC), David Patterson, told this publication that the proceedings of the Tenth Parliament have demonstrated more than ever why the National Assembly should have its own legal department. SATURDAY EDITION US$96M FINANCING SECURED TO REDUCE ELECTRICITY LOSSES, IMPROVE 24-HOUR WATER SUPPLY Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, signed two project agreements in Washington DC, with the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Union, yesterday. The agreements mobilize a total of US$96 million of development financing to benefit the electricity and water sectors of Guyana.These projects are also the first to benefit from the European Union’s new Caribbean Investment Facility (CIF). Signing the agreements alongside Minister Singh was IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno in the presence of European Union
Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs. The two projects are the first to be financed as part of the IDB’s new Grant Leverage Mechanism (GLM), under which IDB loan funds are provided to co-finance a project with grants provided by another development partner. In this case, the partner providing the grant is the European Union. SUSPECTED CASE OF EBOLA IN BRAZIL…”GUYANA SHOULD FEAR THE WORST”- GRANGER In light of the fact that neighbouring country, Brazil, is dealing with a suspected case of the deadly Ebola virus, Opposition Leader, David Granger is warning Guyana to fear the worst. The politician premised his statement on the fact that Guyana cannot seem to keep a disease like Chikungunya which is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito under control, thus what would be its response to Ebola, a disease which can be transmitted by mere sweat. “When you look at what is happening in West Africa, we need to start preparing now… given the experience with Chikungunya, I think Guyana should fear the worst,” Granger said. The Opposition Leader said that it is evident that measures need to be put in place to first prevent anyone with the deadly disease from entering Guyana and then to deal with the virus should it make its way here. In this regard, Granger told media operatives that Guyanese need to put pressure on the government to do what is necessary. He said information coming out from the Ministry of Health on Chikungunya and measures to fight it have been very inconsistent and he fears the same could happen when it comes to Ebola.
Sunday October 12, 2014
TRIBUTE TO RAFIQ KHAN
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VSO introduces 10 new volunteers to strengthen Can-Guyana ties
The late Rafiq Khan By Sir Ronald Sanders (The writer is a former Programme Director and General Manager of the Guyana Broadcasting Service, President of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Board Member of the Caribbean News Agency and Member of the Executive Board of UNESCO) I learnt of Rafiq Khan’s passing with a profound sense of sadness. He and I were rivals when we managed radio stations that competed for audiences and advertising revenue in the 1970s in an era when television did not exist and radio was the only form of electronic communication. But, we were also friends. We both recognised that added value was brought to broadcasting in Guyana by the spirited efforts we made to have our stations outperform themselves in high quality programming. But amidst our exciting rivalry, we also enjoyed engaging co-operation. Together, we started the Guyana Publishing and Broadcasting Association to set and selfregulate high standards for the media and to draw up a Code for advertising. Beyond that, we found easy ground on which to agree that joint coverage by the radio stations of important events better served the interests of the Guyana public. Our friendship endured after our Guyana sojourn when he was a Communications Consultant for UNESCO and I served as an elected member of its Executive Board. Rafiq took to his communications role in the Caribbean, the same passion, vision, intellect, and managerial skill that was so plainly obvious in Guyana. In more recent years, Rafiq lived in Jamaica where I called on him whenever I visited. In every visit our conversations resumed as if time had not passed in between, except when he lost his wife – his childhood sweetheart and life-long friend. He was never quite the same after that. But, he never lost his interest in broadcasting – and particularly in Guyana – once asking me, by email which I still have, if I thought the authorities in Guyana would accept an offer from him, Hugh Cholmondeley and me to conduct training programmes. He was a consummate broadcaster. Possessed of a mellifluous voice, he knew that excellence in broadcasting required preparation and diligence. He was a voracious reader and his attention to detail even in what appeared to be a simple broadcast distinguished him from many others and made his broadcasts renowned. One such broadcast was the joint coverage by Radio Demerara and the Guyana Broadcasting Service of the funeral of Guyana’s Governor-General, Sir David Rose. Rafiq was the final commentator in a relay of broadcasters, including Vic Insanally and me, who described the funeral procession through the streets of Georgetown to the Place of the Seven Ponds in the Botanical Gardens. I cite now the words that Rafiq spoke as Sir David was laid to rest. They are taken from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and are Horatio’s farewell to his dying friend Hamlet. They are wholly applicable to Rafiq Khan. “Now cracks a noble heart. Goodnight, sweet prince; And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”.
New VSO volunteers flanked by Canadian High Commission Official, Daniel Joly (left) and CUSO Guyana Representative, Melanie McTurk (right). The Canadian University Service Overseas (CUSO) International, a non-profit developmental organization that works with volunteers and collaborates with other developmental projects across regions like Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, introduced their 10 new volunteers that will be operating under the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) worldwide network. The event was held last Friday, at the National Library, on Main Street, Georgetown where Andrew Rhikkie Alexander, Ronald Cheong, Roshan David, Jillian Hess, Danielle Sparks, Thia BelmarMoncrieffe, Suresh Kandaswamy, Lauren Mumford, Kilby SmithMecGregor and Tazeem Weljie made their debut as volunteers. Also present at the event were CUSO Guyana Country Representative, Melanie McTurk; Women Across Differences Coordinator, Clonel Samuels-Boston; Guyana National Youth President, Tiffany Daniels; and the Canadian High Commission’s Head Counsellor to Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, Daniel Joly. The occasion outlined the areas to which the volunteers will be assigned with
developmental projects that target: persons affected by disabilities, education, health, agriculture, civil engineering, gender equality, natural resource management, hinterland community/ organizational development and sustainable livelihoods. According to CUSO’s Guyana Representative, the organization “works to promote equitable and sustainable economic growth, access to quality social services and active citizenship around the world.” The official also made reference to CUSO’s Caribbean Regional Program ‘Caribbean SEE (Social and Economic Empowerment)’, which has operations in Jamaica, Dominica, Grenada, Belize, St. Lucia and Guyana. McTurk also highlighted how the current set of volunteers will approach their mission. She said that the projects are intended to be: gender responsive, inclusive of people with disabilities, engaging Diaspora communities and sustainable development. Volunteers are also said to have backgrounds ranging from “expertise in Creative Arts to Monitoring and Evaluation of natural resource management.” In addressing the attendees, the Canadian High Commission’s representative
elaborated on CUSO’s background and involvement in the region. He stated that the group has been sending volunteers to Guyana for 52 years and since then CUSO has focused primarily on improving employment opportunities for youth, developing enterprises and entrepreneurship as well as decreasing injustice towards at risk groups. Joly also reaffirmed the Canadian Government’s support for CUSO’s developmental initiatives as it has been avidly contributing to the organization’s work since 1965, making donations of up to C’dn$67M to foreign affairs, trade and development which all fall under CUSO International’s Volunteer Cooperation Programme. The official said that the reason for the Canadian Government’s continued
support of the volunteer missions are “to deliver on Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s 2007 commitment to provide $600 million in development assistance to the Caribbean region” which will ultimately help to secure a democratic hemisphere. The new volunteers voiced their excitement and enthusiasm for being part of such a venture. “Coming from Canada, the weather takes some getting used to,” said Lauren Mumford, a volunteer who is part of the Women’s Agro-Processors Development Network, “but I’m looking forward to working with the people here and having an adventure.” Volunteers can be expected to be active in places ranging from Kuru Kururu on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway to the Rupununi Savannah. They will be here until February.
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Sunday October 12, 2014
Abuse of the powers of the state By Ralph Seeram She was due to fly out the country the next day to Canada. She was very distraught, not because she was leaving her parents, siblings or her country, she was worried because she did not have a tax exit certificate to leave the country, a valued piece of document back then, a document used by the then PNC government to control its citizens, especially critics of the government. This was way back in the 70’s at the height of PNC power. I recall my late dear friend Guyanese Folklorist, Wordsworth Mc Andrew, telling me how he had to leave Guyana illegally to Suriname by way of Springlands, and then take a flight to the United States. The problem was that ordinary citizens who had no
political interest were also caught up in that control, like my friend whom I mentioned at the start of this column. It became a revenue stream (bribes) for those who worked in the tax department. Then as it is now, is who you know. I called on a friend who was in charge of the branch in New Amsterdam and he personally went after hours to the office and wrote out the tax exit. What the young lady could not achieve in weeks was done with a phone call. That was back in the PNC days in power, but one has to ask if anything has changed. Today we see the same trend emerging under the PPP government. It is using the POLICE POWERS OF THE STATE to control and or silence critics of the government, including this newspaper. The PPP is doing
the same thing the PNC did, but has taken it to a higher level. The barrage of frivolous libels lawsuits against this newspaper, coupled with the disclosure of efforts through the GRA, to “break the camel back” proves that the PPP is even worse than the PNC, when it comes to vindictiveness. The exposure of emails between GRA head Khurshid Sattaur, Attorney General Nandlall and former President Bharrat Jagdeo should drive fear into citizens. Some would conclude that those in a position of power are using their position to blackmail critics of the government. I have not read any clear denial by any of the involved parties of the authenticity of the emails. Sattaur made a feeble attempt at denial but claimed at the same time that his emails were hacked. Mr. Sattaur cannot have both. A word of advice to Sattaur, politicians have no
loyalty. He will find out that when “push come to shove” the politicians will him leave him “high and dry to bear he own chafe”. As the old saying goes “push gat push back”. One of the problems with politicians is that they forget that they are servants of the people; they forget that they were employed (elected) by the people to be guardians of their civil rights, their hard earned tax dollars and so forth. They are employees of citizens and as such citizens have a right to know how they spend their money, have a right to question their actions and most important a RIGHT to CRITICIZE them if they feel they are not doing their job as employees of the people. Today, some in the PPP government have been in power for so long that they have lost sight of this fact. They think that they are the boss and the people are their underlings; they feel they don’t have to report to the people, as if the people are
Scotia Bank hosts cake sale for breast cancer victims
Scotia Bank is one of the private institutions in Guyana that is consistently in the drive to help fight breast cancer. Each year it hosts a number of fund raising activities to help victims. One of the more popular events is a cake sale. This year the cake sale in aid of the breast cancer fight was held at the Robb Street office.
Murder accused granted bail ... From page 10 concerns to the DPP. The men, through their attorney Peter Hugh, petitioned for bail which was granted in the sum of $450,000 each by Chief Justice Ian Chang. Prosecutor Renita Singh in her opening address had recounted the October 19, 2002, incident in which she stated that at around 21.30 pm, the deceased Kenrick Ramlagan and his cousin Goel Ross were at the Breezy Point shop in Number 41 Village when the two accused along
with Roy Pestano Jr drove up in a white car. An altercation took place and Davanand Ramlagan was injured and was left lying in a pool of blood. The post mortem examination conducted by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh, concluded that there were four wounds on the body, two stabbing and two slashing, while the throat was almost severed. After the incident, Roy Pestano Sr. and his sons Raymond and Roy Pestano Jr. were arrested and charged with the capital offence.
They were tried earlier by Magistrate Kumar Doorsammy at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court and the matter was discharged. However, the men were ordered rearrested, and a new Preliminary Inquiry was held under Magistrate Roby Benn, but by them Roy Pestano Jr. had fled the jurisdiction. They were committed to stand trial in December 2011. They were first tried in the High Court in September 2013 and the jury had failed to reach a decision.
their subjects. I have said before, if you want to live at taxpayers’ expense you are subject to their scrutiny, whether it is through the media or otherwise. Apparently this has escaped those in power. Speaking about the media, and to support my contention, this week, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, who also happened to be the Minister of Home Affairs, called for the establishment of a “media regulatory body” to monitor the media. Does anybody have any doubt what is the meaning here, or what the intention for such a body is? It is to suppress dissent, stifle criticism of the government and control what the media can say. Rohee is a reporter’s dream. Every time he opens his mouth, the PPP is subject to more criticism. He is a public relations nightmare for the PPP. Rohee wants swift action to establish a regulatory board for the media, my my, why the rush, because according to him “the media escapes scrutiny due to the absence of a formal mechanism to judge its performance and to impose sanctions in cases where there are infractions”. Mr. Rohee is apparently not aware that there are mechanisms in place for media infractions. They are called libel laws, and the PPP or its Government officials have been using if not abusing them as can be seen from the thirteen libel suits filed by Winston Brassington at one go against this newspaper. Rohee claims that sections of the media have strayed from the fundamentals of journalistic norms and practices, and are providing fodder for the political opposition, translation Kaieteur News has been exposing corruptions and other irregularities by the government which is being used by the opposition. Here is another piece of
nonsense attributed to him; the media (meaning Kaieteur News) has contributed to the lowering of the country’s cultural standards. Is this guy for real? Media lowering the cultural standards of the country? What a joke. If we want to talk of lowering the cultural standards of the country, Rohee should start within the ranks of Ministers and government officials including him and he will see who really lowered the cultural standards of the Guyanese society? I can go on more about Rohee but I think readers get my point. Rohee can also be dangerous, he is the Minister of Home Affairs responsible of internal security. He has police powers of the state, and some allege that he used it against them. Only this week a reader by way of Facebook reminded me that he was harassed by the police a few years ago because he “bad mouthed” the government abroad. On his return he was detained unnecessarily, and had charges filed against him. They were dismissed. He reminded me that I wrote criticizing the government actions against him then. Those in government and officials who use their position to victimize critics and opponents of the government are working on the premise that the PPP will be in power forever, well strange things happen in politics. Should APNU and the AFC join forces not only to force new elections, but successful in winning the next elections as one party, well we will see a lot of exits at the airport by politicians. You just pay your G$4000 now at the airport for your tax exit, which brings me to another question, why one has to pay to leave a country? Just asking? Ralph Seeram can be reached email: ralph365@hotmail.com and Facebook
Copa Airlines to open Georgetown ticketing office Tomorrow, Copa Airlines will officially be opening its City Ticket Office (CTO) in Georgetown. The office will be located at 212 Camp Street, North Cummingsburg between New Market and Lamaha Streets. The CTO will be a fully functional office with customer agents who will be able to assist passengers in planning their itineraries, purchasing tickets and providing necessary refunds amongst other services. Country Sales Manager, Nadine Oudkerk, explained that “the team is looking forward to providing an
exceptional level of service to our clients who are looking forward to one stop connections to 69 destinations in South, North, Central America and the Caribbean.” The venture, from Oudkerk’s view, is a rather exciting one as it will allow for local and immediate services to both business and leisure customers. The airline stated that since beginning its services in July 11, last, Copa has recorded “unprecedented” support from the Guyanese public with generally positive reviews and is the reason Copa Airlines has decided to
develop its services in the country. According, to a press release the CTO will operate from Monday to Friday between 8:30 hours and 17:00 hours and between 9:00 hours and 12:00 hours on Saturdays. In addition to opening the CTO, passengers can also visit the airline’s ticketing office at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, in Timehri, contact them on2312491/231-2492 or visited their website: www.copa.com. Copa Airlines was established in 1947 and flies twice weekly out of Guyana to Panama.
Sunday October 12, 2014
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Kaieteur News
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$275,000/$250,000 Trike CanAm Motorcycle, 200cc new, reverse gear, unregistered, Call 639-2000, 621-4000 Reduced: $1.5M Cash Mitsubishi 3000GT sports car, 18" rims, excellent condition Tel: 662-0844, 639-2000 Reduced: Mercedes Benz S300 bullet proof, leather, automatic, $2.3 M Cash sound system, 19" rims , Tel: 6392000, 621-4000
1 New unregistered Mazda Axela 2006 Sedan - $2.350M Negotiable (never used in Guyana), very low mileage – Tel: 649-0956 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 Used Bedford Motor Lorry, complete with original winch, unladen Weight 5,000 KG, GPP series – Contact: 6125630, 653-7925 Blue RX8 Sports Car, mint condition, 6 speed manual, low mileage, Tel:681-4208, 220-6262 212 Carina, White, PSS Series - Call: 621-2992
LAND FOR SALE Diamond/Grove New Scheme, First Bridge, Corner lot with foundation and post - $7M - Tel:603-9700 One land Located at Cornelia Ida W.C.D, Phone, water & light – Contact: 6520709; 276-0556 Prime Land @ Corriverton, 1.3 Acres, roadside land suitable for gas station/ hotel/ shopping mall, etcCall: 626-6245 Parfaite Harmonie (100X50FT), $2.6M (Dairy), Eccles - $4.5M, Providence $4M, Herstelling -$4M, Schoon’Ord - $3.5M - Tel: 675-7292
MASSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heavens touch, visit us today! – 668-4554
Chicken Hatchery (Robbins), 28,000 eggs capacity fully ready, all racks, trays, complete, $3M neg. Tel: 6392000, 227-3939 621-4000. Tractor Massey Ferguson from Canada MF135- $1.2M, MF165 -$1.8M, MF285 $2.4M, Ranger Pickup - $1.5M – Tel: 682-5230; 628-9596
One 212 HB Series, good condition – Call:628-9232 1- L Touring Wagon car, Toyota Corolla – Call: 6632882
Special Sale: New Model Spacio with front & back camera, TV/DVD/CD, body kit, unregistered -$2.1M – Call: 617-2891 Toyota Vios for sale PPP Series, $1.6M negotiable Call: 661-0217, 685-5011 Toyota Premio $2.3M, Toyota Voxy - $1.8M, Vehicles fully loaded, never registered – Call: 617-2891 15 Ton dump Truck very good working condition, price very attractive – Call: 681-5988, 675-5448 1 Toyota Landcruiser Prado PMM Series Call: 219-5354 Monday- Friday 8:15-4:15Pm & Saturday 8:15-1:15PM One Unregistered Noah Call:652-0709; 276-0556 One pit bull 19 Seater BNN, Excellent Condition- Call: 652-0709, 276-0556 One 212 Carina Car PJJ Series – Contact: 609-8484 One pit bull minibus immaculate condition, never worked hire, going cheap – Call: 629-3663, 654-7032 Unregistered Premio with Rims - $2.250 – Call: 657-1796
WANTED
SALON
Urgently Wanted! Thirty Five (35) security officers, apply @ Security Alliance, Barrack Street, Kingston (upstairs FedEx).
Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
Cashiers, salesgirl, porters and a domestic maid, Apply to 1E Dennis & Middleton Streets Campbellville
Salon Stations @ 51 Robb & Albert Streets to rent, must have clients – Call:2314010, 627-8277, 669-6110
Contract cars & experienced dispatcher @ West Site Taxi Service - Tel:600-0680 or 613-0419 Diesel Mechanics to work in the interior (Perkins engine) Contact: 226-9768 Lorry drivers to work Labour lorry @ Enmore Estate, Handyboys to work; meals & live in accommodation. Tel:228-5655, 628-1756 Live in maid to work in town Call: 669-6030 We buy land in Parfaite Harmonie, Schoon’Ord, Eccles, Providence, Herstelling and all low income areas – Tel: 675-7292
WANTED 1984/85 Telephone Directory: Tel: 226-6848, 6438099 Experienced hire car & mini bus driver & dispatcher @ Providence – Tel:265-7076, 616-5419 One honest cook age 30yrs and over, preferably from E.B.D – Call: 682-2524
One cook to cook in kitchen in the interior – Call:681-6044
One Toyota Ax10 - $2.1M Negotiable, One Toyota Spacio $1.8M Negotiable Tel: 678-0109 or 618-2576
Toyota RAV4, Fun Cargo, Raum, AT212, AT192, AT170, EP71 Starlet, Tacoma, Vigo, Nissan Titan – Call: 644-5096, 697-1453
Now Available!!! Herbal Kidney Stone and Gallbladder Tablets – Contact: 592-220-4559 FOR SALE/FOR RENT
VEHICLE FOR SALE One Nissan Pick -up GG Series and one (1) mini bus – JJ Series in excellent, road worthy condition – Call: 2335108, 233-5023
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VACANCY Secretary: 20-30 years, literate in word (internet/ spreadsheet, leadership skills, ability to complete task efficiently) Office in Sheriff Street. Tel: 219-0468 LORRY DRIVER, Clean Driving Record, Residing on East Bank Demerara. Tel 266 4427 ACCOUNTS CLERK, very familiar with DACEASY POS and Accounting, Part Time, Flexible Hours, resident of E.B.D. Tel 623 9889 Pump Attendant @ Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm12pm) – Tel: 265-7305 Cashiers @ Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) – Tel: 265-7305 Earn $5,000-$20,000 – Daily, working from home (free training) jobfairworld wide.com or Tel: 233-6517/ 622-1957 One Experienced hair dresser/nail technician to work in a reputable salon – Call: 225-6492, 623-7953 One domestic helper, ages 30-40, Monday – Saturday 8am-4pm, wages $14,000 – Call: 227-7355; 615-2483 One male assistant, for restaurant, apply Flavours, Water Street – Call: 231-1837 One Trainee refrigeration technician – Call: 231-0655, 683-8734
Cleaners and counter staff living in and around the Industry Area – Call: 2262829 Live in Domestic, must know to cook, salary $60,000 monthly – Call: 610-5043 One male Clerk, marketing for music studio, carpenter, labourer – Call: 265-3586 One Canter Truck Driver from E.C.D –Call: 622-1782 Handyman, Yardmancontact 223-5273/4 One supervisor/manger for 704, must have catering and event planning experience contact 223-5273/4 Over edge and straight stitch operator to work at Garment Factory Call:222-2541 (Monday – Friday) Live out domestic, Live in / live out babysitter- Call: 2195354, Monday – Friday between 8:15-4:15PM. One part time or full time gardener/ handyman – Call Between Monday – Saturday: 219-5354 Experienced Drivers, cashier, counter staff, roti cook, pastry maker @ Hacks Halaal, Commerce Street.
TO LET Rooms to rent, Short or Long term- Call: 225-3234 Alberttown (apartment $60,000) Contact Diana: 2272256, 626-9382 Alberttown (new) - $90,000, Bel Air – US700, Camp Street- US1300 –Contact Diana: 227-2256, 626-9382 1-1 Bedroom apartment at Uitvlugt Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara – Tel: 680-4990 One two bedroom apartment for rent in Diamond New Scheme – Price$45,000, preferable no children – Call: 216-2339, 689-4003 Two bedroom unfurnished, flat house, in East La Penitance - $35,000 monthly – Call:227-1218 Mon-Fri 84Pm. New two bedrooms (house upstairs) UG Students or small family – Call: 654-9807 One bedroom apartment for rent 2387 Diamond Housing Scheme - $25,000 per monthContact: 602-9302
Drivers - $30,000 per week, Porters $21,000 per week, to work on W.C.D – Call: 6848231, 629-4236 Two wash bay attendant to work in Georgetown – Contact: 227-5169 FAST GROWING FOOD COMPANY IS SEEKING A CANTER DRIVER, FOR MORE INFORMATION & INTERVIEW – CALL: 2318344; 223-1034; 223-1035
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (Continued page 64)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday October 12, 2014
Defence threatens to file constitutional motion in murder trial (From page 63)
PROPERTY FOR SALE One two storey 3 bedrooms concrete house in Parfaite Harmony, size 25X57, Price $14.5M -Call: 622-1782, 6585803 Transported Property @ Grove/Diamond, 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained, concrete fence, grilled store room & Shed, (45X26) - Call: 660-1353, 216-4338 House and land for sale in D’Aguiar’s Park for details – Call: 686-1368 1 - 2storey wooden & Concrete house with 5 bedrooms upper flat & lower flat 4 apartments located@ Shell Road, kitty - $30M - Tel: 642-7898 Albouystown: Corner Spot Business and residence, 3 bedrooms upstairs, parking $10M negotiable – Contact:227-0583 House & Land for sale by owner at Cemetery Road Helena No1 Mahaica E.C.D, for details call: 689-0820, 6743902 Prime commercial property, Cummings & Middle Albertown, 3 Lots (business), (Nut Centre) ,$160M neg. Agents Welcome. Tel 621-4000, 6392000, 2273939 Eccles: Two Flat Executive Concrete House; Three bedrooms upper, Two bedrooms Lower (separate flats) – Price: Negotiable – Tel: 602-2135 Windsor Forest (W.C.D), 2 storey concrete building $27M, Phoenix Park $3.5M (Land) 90ftX47Ft, Parfaite Harmonie - $2.6M – Call: 6757292
EDUCATION CXC Adults/Students Day & Evening Classes, all Business and Science Subjects, 3 Street Alberttown Call: 231-5678, 690-5008 Classes in Mathematic s, Physics, Chemistry & Biology for High School to University Students –Call: 642-3300 PEN-PAL Single Hindu Male is seeking female for serious relationship, age24-29 – Tel: 592-666-7421
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, (SALE) AND MORE, SAWS & DRILLS -$10,000 - CALL: 675-0767, 667-2535 Business place for rent @ West Coast Demerara – 3000 SQ.FT – Call: 690-1740 Blocks to rent at Kurupukari Contact: 655-8499, 655-8669 One Three bedroom, two storey house in Parfaite Harmony- Price $45,000 monthly – Call: 622-1782, 6585803 One two bedroom apartment in Loghlan Dam, Vreed- EnHoop, Couple preferably$30,000 monthly – Call:6221782/618-2370/658-5803 One hair station to rent $5,000 per week, Contact Abe: 676-4316/225-4665 Restaurant & Bar with roof garden @ Bar Street Kitty – Call: 623-4700 Furnished apartment to rent, perfect for students, single or working couple @ Industry E.C.D – Tel: 222-6001; 6192388; 684-7853 Building for rent by flats Lot 93 Hadfeild Street, Werk En Rust – Tel Winston: 660-6446 Two bedrooms apartment for 7 Durban Street Lodge –Call: 687-5324 Prime commercial property, Cummings & Middle, Albertown , 3 Lots (business), (Nut Centre),$3,000 /$4,500 neg . Agents Welcome. Tel 6214000, 639-2000 Space to rent: part ground floor, Kent Garment Factory Building @ Plaisance E.C.D, Ideal for Supermarket – Call: 222-2541/226-3361 One two bedroom apartment at Lot 72 Samantha Point, East Bank Demerara – Tel:613-7596, 226-8643 One bedroom apartment – Tel: 678-7021 HEALTH Hazel’s Herbal Store, 244 D’ Andrade St Newtown, for herbal supplements, iridology Service available Monday October 13th, 2014 Call: 226-9136 CAR RENTAL Wings Car Rental- Call: 6906494/ BBM pin: 24E17558
The defence in the preliminary inquiry of the murder trial of New Amsterdam businessman Charles Henry, called ‘Charles Bristol or Wheels, 52, of Main and Lad Lane, New Amsterdam, is threatening to move a constitutional motion. The defence is taking this course of action after citing a number of undue delays in the matter. Bristol is on trial for the shooting to death of Errol Lindo, called ‘Son Son’, 51, on April 21, last, at High Dam, Caracas, West Canje. Bristol, a licence firearm holder, is alleged to have shot Lindo following an altercation over land. So far three witnesses have testified in the matter before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court. Witnesses Travis Crandon and Cassandra Arthur, after giving evidence,
were grilled under cross examined by Attorneys at Law for the defence, Nigel Hughes and Horatio Edmondson. The lawyers declined to cross examine Police witness, Detective Corporal Ryan Caesar, who had tendered the Post Mortem report. On the day in question, Bristol and some workmen were in the process of dismantling a house which allegedly belonged to Lindo. It is alleged that the enraged man was shot after he ran into the yard and attacked the businessman with an axe. He was picked up and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he succumbed. Henry and his workmen were subsequently confronted by a hostile crowd that had gathered at the scene. The men fled and Henry took refuge in a nearby residence. His Toyota Carina 192 bearing
registration number PGG 4048 was burnt and overturned. He had to be rescued by the police. Residents in the area staged a protest through the street of New Amsterdam the following day. During the last hearing in the Magistrate’s Court, Bristol’s battery of lawyers, among them Hughes, Edmonson and Mortimer Coddette, informed the court that it has been six months
since their client has been incarcerated and it is unfair that only three witnesses have been brought to the court so far. He threatened that if the remaining eight witnesses are not made available by the next hearing, they will be moving a constitutional motion based on Section 144:1 of the Constitution of Guyana. The matter is set for continuation on October 16.
Training of police Aircraft... From page 9 had told Kaieteur News in February last, that given the positive feedback from the government, he believed that moves to better equip the country’s first line of defence “will be coming soon”. The Colonel could not say wh e n t h e A i r C o r p s expected new or additional planes. He expressed however
that the army has had its share of challenges in terms of fleet maintenance, but he was optimistic that the Force would reach a point where all the carriers were operating. “There are always discussions with the leadership of the country and the Defence board, on the recapitalization, not only of the Air Corps, but other areas of the army,” he had stated.
Support integral to help those affected by the... (From page 16) persons died from various forms of cancer, with the largest number of deaths being 621 in 2011. However, Minister Ramasaran noted that the Ministry has been implementing programmes and strategies to aggressively tackle this issue. It continues its national response to ensure preventative methods such as immunisation against cervical cancer and screening are made available to the population, and has also put in place a programme for young women to undertake the Visual Inspection using Acetic Acid (VIA) or a Pap screening for cervical cancer. Thus far, over 15,000 people have been
CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTAL CALL: 225-7126/ 2263693 DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM/ WWW.DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL.COM Aidan’s Car & Pickup rental, cheap rate, low security – Tel: 698-7807/ 690-6494 PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL: CARS & SUV FOR RENTAL-$4,000&UPPERDAYCALL: 643-5122, 219-3900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM Top Quality cars for rental, latest series and models, best prices - Call: 692-1051, 685-5011
Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran presents a token to a member of the Periwinkle Club, earlier this year. tested for cervical cancer. Although genetic influences increase the risk for developing certain cancers, lifestyles, diets and socio-economic status also play a significant role in the determination of who will be afflicted. Minister Ramasaran said that support is vital to persons battling the disease. As part of its efforts, Ramsaran noted that the Ministry has partnered with nongovernmental organizations and various support groups to continue to raise awareness for the cause. “Our key focus is maintaining momentum spreading awareness and getting the key persons and agencies involved. For instance, encouraging the men to get involved to show physical and emotional support for their wives and partners at this time is critical to them overcoming this illness,” the Minister said. He noted that a significant
number of men were involved in this year’s awareness activities. The Minister said that support groups like the Periwinkle Club - cancer survivors providing support for patients diagnosed with the chronic disease - have been instrumental in helping to raise
awareness and making a difference in lives of those affected by the illness. He noted that the Health Ministry has been continually working and strengthening its connections with the various support base groups and organizations.
Special Needs Educator... (From page 58) or 85 per cent independent. Being independent back in the day meant that students were well equipped to use their Braille machine. However today because of technological advances there are laptops and other devices that can aid the learning of the visually impaired. Once students are able to utilise the various learning mechanisms well they can then be deemed independent, Peters said. “What is happening here in Guyana is that children are placed in the classrooms and they are being ‘spoon fed’...” lamented Peters who is adamant that this should not be the case. “There should be more individual attention to ensure that children are learning...especially at the younger level.” This, according to the awardee, will ensure that students are well prepared for proper integration at the secondary level.
Sunday October 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
Liberia imposes media restrictions on ‘invasive’ Ebola coverage
An ambulance carrying American missionary Nancy Writebol, 59, who is infected with Ebola in West Africa arrives past crowds of people taking pictures at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia Reuters) - Journalists will need official permission to cover many aspects of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, under new rules that the government said aimed at protecting patient privacy. The move was announced on Thursday, the day an American cameraman working for NBC News in Liberia became the first foreign journalist to test positive for Ebola. There was no indication that the new rules were related to that case. Growing international media interest in the outbreak that has killed nearly 2,000 people and infected 3,696 in Liberia has highlighted the challenges to the West African country’s healthcare system. Journalists could be arrested and prosecuted if they fail to get written permission from the health ministry before contacting Ebola patients, conducting interviews or filming or photographing healthcare facilities, officials said. “We have noted with great concern that photographs have been taken in treatment centers while patients are going in to be attended by doctors. That is invasion of the dignity, privacy and respect of patients,” Tolbert Nyenswah, assistant minister of health and head of Liberia’s Ebola Incident Management
System, said. “Ebola patients are no different from any other patients. We should do that (report) under permission so that we don’t just take pictures or send out stories of naked people (in a way) that does not respect their privacy,” he said. CUBAN MEDICSARRIVE The outbreak of the disease which causes fever, bleeding, vomiting and diarrhea has overwhelmed health systems in the three most affected countries, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea where it originated. It has also spread to Senegal, Nigeria and the United States. The first person to be diagnosed with the disease in the United States could face prosecution in Liberia for making a false declaration on an airport questionnaire if he returns to the country, Liberian officials said on Thursday. Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian, had helped a pregnant woman in Liberia who later died of Ebola, just days before he flew to Texas via Brussels and Washington two weeks ago. On an airport questionnaire meant to help control the spread of the disease he wrote that he had not had contact with an Ebola sufferer. U.S. authorities said Duncan was in a serious condition and four of up to
100 people he had direct or indirect contact with, have been quarantined. The World Health Organization has declared the epidemic an international public health emergency, and governments from the United States to China, Cuba and Britain have sent troops and medics in an attempt to contain the disease. A first batch of 165 medical staff - 62 doctors and 103 nurses - from Cuba arrived in Sierra Leone on Thursday to join the fight against the disease after more than two weeks of training with international experts at a Havana hospital specializing in tropical diseases. Another 296 Cuban doctors and nurses will go to Liberia and Guinea after their training. “We have 165 medical officers, qualified health professionals that are here to help us in the fight against Ebola,” said Sierra Leone’s deputy Health Minister Madina Rahman. “As we know we need as much healthcare and professionals as possible. This will make a dent in the fight, we need more if we can get more,” Rahman said.
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Trinidad says illegal Jamaicans putting a strain on its resources Jamaica Gleaner - The Trinidad and Tobago government says the influx of thousands of illegal Jamaicans into that country is putting a strain on its resources, resulting in the loss of more than a billion dollars annually. National Security Minister Gary Griffith made the disclosures yesterday morning in a statement defending the actions of Immigration officers in the twin island republic who deported 13 Jamaicans last month. Griffiths says immigration authorities cannot act as a rubber stamp when it comes to allowing people into the country. According to him, there are more than 19,000 Jamaicans in Trinidad and Tobago who entered at legitimate ports of entry, but remains there illegally and cannot be accounted for. Describing the figure as alarming, Griffith pointed out that those persons who are in Trinidad and Tobago illegally are dependent on State resources such as education and health care. In addition, he says while some may be employed, they are not subject to taxes, which results in a net revenue loss of over $1 billion annually. The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) this week urged the Jamaican government to immediately address reports that Jamaican nationals were being harassed
Gary Griffith
when they visit Trinidad and Tobago. JLP spokesman on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Edmund Bartlett said he also wanted the government to deal with what he said was the increasing incidence of harassment and demeaning treatment of Jamaicans attempting to visit CARICOM member states”.
Brazil’s Rousseff questions timing of corruption allegations Fox News Latino Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff questioned Friday the release of reports about a corruption scandal in the state-run oil company Petrobras, just weeks before a runoff that will decide whether she gets a second term. “I think it’s very odd that there should be such an investigation in the midst of an electoral campaign,” Rousseff told a press conference at the presidential palace. Rousseff said that in all electoral campaigns, charges of corruption are bandied about “which later are not confirmed,” and questioned whether “part of the evidence” had been filtered to the press, precisely that which implicates her own
Workers Party, or PT. Several media reported Thursday part of what two witnesses confessed who admitted to participating in a corruption ring that supposedly diverted millions from Petrobras to finance several political parties and bribe politicians. According to the statement, 3 percent of the budget of Petrobras contracts went to finance electoral campaigns for political parties including the PT. The informers, making their confessions in exchange for shorter sentences, are former Petrobras executive Paulo Roberto Costa and businessman Alberto Youssef, owner of a currency exchange that supposedly
Dilma Rousseff managed the funds. Rousseff called for an “indepth investigation” of the case and set forth five proposals for strengthening the laws and penalties against corrupt politicians. “I never hid trash under the carpet,” the head of state said. The scandal has been exploited by Sen. Aecio Neves, Rousseff’s rival in the Oct. 26 presidential runoff, who on Thursday said that, according to the accusations, corruption looks like it’s “institutionalized” and has “become routine” in PT governments. In the first round last Sunday, Rousseff came out ahead with 41.59 percent of the vote, compared with 33.55 for Neves. According to the first voter-preference surveys for the runoff, the two candidates are technically tied.
Sunday October 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
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“West Indies must be angry more often!” West Indies were magnificent in ODI No. 1 v India, but expect the hosts to come back with a big bang. Yesterday’s game would have showed what direction the Indians will take for this series. It would also have shown if WI could maintain that intensity from the first game, trying to be consistent. Not for nothing has India such talents as batsmen Shikhar Dharwan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with bowling from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami. Shami is a good fast
bowler, tall and elastic. If he is rested enough, he could prove a handful for this and the Test series. But, like his team-mates, he could be jaded after so much recent work. India will try hard to hit back immediately. In ODI No. 1, they were badly outplayed and overshadowed, situations they have become quite unaccustomed to in recent times, so look out! But WI cricketers in India must also continue to b e a n g r y, e v e n t h o u g h their public, quite unfriendly and distasteful t e t e - a - t e t e w i t h We s t Indies Players Association,
and indirectly, with West Indies Cricket Board, has simmered down, at least for the time being. All are thankful for the professionalism shown. With WI’s team on the up-and-up, this unfortunate public shindig was simply not necessary at this time. S u r e l y, f r o m t w o published letters from Messrs Dwayne Bravo on behalf of the players in India, and that response by WIPA President Wavell Hinds, it is quite clear that full communications are still lacking. Anyway, that visage of ODI No. 1 seemed to show
Sunday October 12, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Be careful about being too boisterous and chipper around people who don't exactly feel the same way, Aries. Be sensitive to other people's feelings, and don't make jokes that are too harsh for the occasion. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Your mood should be quite good for the most part, Taurus, but there's apt to be some tension in your relationships. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): There's a deep longing to be comforted and reassured, Gemini. You may want nothing more than for someone fix you some warm, homemade soup. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): You may feel like you desperately need something, Cancer, yet you're unsure as to what it is exactly. Someone close to you may be trying to fit the missing puzzle piece into place, but this may be next to impossible if it's unclear which piece is actually missing. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): You may want to remedy every situation by talking things out or taking some sort of action, Leo. Be careful of making any sudden moves before you really understand what you're feeling. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): Compliments are apt to feel like gold to you, Virgo. There's nothing you need more than love and affection on a day like this.
LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): If you find that there's tension in a close relationship, you may get the feeling that this isn't the right partner for you, Libra. Don't automatically assume that the problem lies in your partner. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): When tension builds, your sense of security is likely to falter, Scorpio. You may have a hard time dealing with other people. You could be tempted to turn to food or alcohol for inner nourishment. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): You might have difficulty expressing your needs, Sagittarius. The bottom line is that there's no right or wrong way, although it may be difficult to see this on a day like today. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Although you may find it hard to express yourself in some ways, Capricorn, the one avenue that's completely wide open today is art. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): You might be feeling rather insecure when it comes to your peace of mind, Aquarius. Because of the insecurity, it may seem like your relationships are on the rocks. ********************* PISCES (Feb. 19 March 20): You may feel more reserved than usual, Pisces, especially when it comes to romantic relationships.
that WI players’ attitudes need stoking. If that is so, then, for whatever reasons, they must remain aggrieved. That victory was pure gold; truly amazing! Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin were highlighted in my preview of this series. I had a feeling that especially Samuels would grasp this, probably his last opportunity, to show how good he really still is. It was a tremendous pleasure to admire Samuels playing both left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Misra with a confidence and assurance seldom recently seen by any team playing against India. Carl Hooper and Lawrence Rowe, classical batsmen in their day, would have been proud to have played such an innings as Samuel’s 126 no., which included eleven fours and four sixes. What a momentous come-back innings, one that would be quite hard to replicate, but would at least have given great confidence! The thought must also always be that one of the first four WI batsmen must be prepared to bat though a 50-overs innings. With Samuels managing exactly that in ODI No. 1, it was a big bonus for West Indies. Also, any team batting first should almost always aspire to get at least three hundred runs; 100% scoring, if all 50 overs are delivered. Six runs per over in 50-overs cricket is not that difficult to achieve. WI team think-tank must take massive credits. Dwayne Bravo, opening the batting, allowed good flexibility, with Darren Sammy, that other allrounder, and left-arm spinner Suilleiman Benn able to be included and contributing considerably. That could be a good formula going to ICC World Cup 2015 too! With no Chris Gayle present, it also prevented Leon Johnson from getting into this cauldron too quickly. India looked somewhat tired after their tremendous year of Tests and ODI’s, and with players involved in the recent Champions League 2014. Truth be told, India has hardly had a really good rest recently. It must be very difficult to have returned home from that great tour to the UK, to go straight into Champions League 2014, followed immediately by this tour by WI.
But this type of continuous cricket is not new. For World Series Cricket (Kerry Packer Series) 1978, West Indies, Australia and World teams each played fourteen ODI’s in twenty one days. Talk about tired! Even with that wonderful 321-6 in ODI No. 1, WI’s Achilles Heel is still its batting, as was seen when they played Bangladesh recently. Yes, WI won all games then, but they did wobble some against the Tigers. In ODI No. 1 in Grenada, WI were 34-5 before Kieron Pollard blazed 89 in seventy deliveries to pull WI out of the fire. Both Ramdin and Darren Bravo scored centuries afterwards, in ODI No. 3, but the “Man of the Series” v Bangladesh was Sunil Narine, who, for all published reasons, will take no part here. Benn, though, could be a great blessing in disguise. He has bowled tremendously well over the
Colin E. H. Croft says: last year and his aggression, forcefulness and frugality could come in quite handily in those big arenas in India. Andre Russell is still trying way too hard. He n e e d s t o s e t t le down to understanding his roll. Either he is a stingy bowler, or a “blaster”, trying to shock batsmen out. Seldom can most fast bowlers be both. Russell, now, is neither. While he is favored by selectors, he still needs to continue his improvement. So, with that first win, WI are on their way. All they need to do is remain angry, and win again! Enjoy!
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India level series after West Indies implode ESPNcricinfo - Chasing 264, West Indies were coasting. Dwayne Smith had gone past his highest ODI score, and his second-wicket partnership with Kieron Pollard was assuming threatening proportions. With nine wickets in hand, a long list of batsmen waiting in the dressing room, and 128 required at exactly a run a ball, this was West Indies’ match to lose. They went and lost it. It started with the wicket of Pollard, who chased a wide ball and dragged Amit Mishra onto his stumps. From that point, West Indies imploded. On a twopaced Feroz Shah Kotla pitch, India’s bowlers put the brakes on the scoring, and panic took hold of the batsmen. West Indies lost their last nine wickets for 79 runs, and their last eight for 45. In ODI cricket, six an over is usually a doddle when you have wickets in hand and not too many runs left to get. On this pitch, however, scoring quickly wasn’t easy unless you had your eye in. India had discovered this to their detriment earlier in the day, both at the start and the end of their innings. Having opted to bat first, they had struggled to break the shackles against accurate newball bowling from Ravi Rampaul and, in particular, Jerome Taylor, who attacked a good-length area close to off stump and allowed the pitch to do the rest. The second-wicket pair of Ajinkya Rahane and Ambati Rayudu had looked quite ill at ease while adding 46 in 67 balls, and even Virat Kohli had taken his time to find his feet. Suresh Raina looked fluent right from the time he walked in,
however, and his front-foot stride - the surest sign that his mind isn’t entirely consumed by thoughts of the short ball - was light and sure whenever the bowlers gave him half an opportunity to drive through the off side. Raina and Kohli slowly got on top of the bowling, and began the batting Powerplay on the cusp of India’s first century stand for the fourth wicket since August 2012, and the score read 163 for 3. It looked like a launchpad to a 280-plus score, but the dismissals of Raina and Kohli, in the 37th and 41st overs, sucked the momentum out of India’s innings. Without MS Dhoni’s unbeaten 40-ball 51, it’s unlikely India would have gotten near their total of 263, with pretty much everyone else at the other end struggling to come to terms with the surface and West Indies’ adroit use of the slower ball at the death. The wicket of Pollard caused a similar, and even more dramatic, turnaround in the tempo of West Indies’ innings. Till then, Mishra had endured a frustrating evening. He had bowled a number of good balls, had had a close lbw shout against Pollard turned down, and had been picked off for three massive sixes, two of them by Pollard, and not necessarily off the middle of his bat. Having just struck his third six, he went after one tossed up wide outside off and inside-edged it onto leg stump. Following that
breakthrough, Mishra bowled 16 successive dot balls, landing everything on a good length on off stump, getting some balls to grip on the pitch and others to skid off the surface, and completely confounded Marlon Samuels, who had scored a century against this same attack three days ago. Smith carried on fluently at the other end, picking off Kohli’s wrong-footed legcutters for four fours in two overs, and launched Mohammed Shami over the long-on boundary in the first over of the batting Powerplay. In sight of his first century in ODIs and List A cricket, however, Smith received the perfect riposte from Shami, a full, fast ball that swung in a touch and cannoned off the pads and into the stumps. The required rate crept up to over seven, and Samuels slapped a perfectly slappable long-hop from Umesh Yadav straight to cover. The spinners then discovered the turn available on the pitch, Mishra spinning one sharply to find Denesh Ramdin’s outside edge, Ravindra Jadeja doing the same to beat Andre Russell’s edge and have him brilliantly stumped by Dhoni. By this point, West Indies had been knocked out - the four wickets that remained fell in the space of 26 balls, and India won with 21 balls left to play. Scores: India 263 for 7 (Kohli 62, Raina 62, Dhoni 51*, Taylor 3-54) beat West Indies 215 (Smith 97, Pollard 40, Shami 4-36, Jadeja 3-44) by 48 runs.
BCCDA launches 10/10 Inter... From page 69 fans while big screen projectors and cheer leader and dancers will also be in attendance. Fireworks display is also on the cards. Children and other patrons will also be catered for with Merry go round and other activities. Patrons will have an opportunity to walk away with gate prizes which will be up for grab. All the funds raised from the project will go towards charity. The tournament, which started in 2010 as a friendly game amongst business places, has now grown to become an agenda item on the calendars of the corporate businesses. The drawing of the fixtures was also done. The following match ups were arrived at: Nand Persaud Caribe Rice will take on Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha; Hand in Hand
Insurance versus New Building Society; Demerara Bank coming up against Republic Bank; Berbice Bridge Company meets Ansa McAl Stag Boyz; Oldendorff Carriers challenges Metro Office and Computer Supplies; new comers Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) matches skills with Neal and Massey, while in the final encounter new comers Js Super Market will play Banks DIH Limited. Some rules of the competition are:-The Competition shall be Berbice Chamber CBIS 2014 Cup and will feature 10/10 Cricket Soft Ball Cricket. Each Team is permitted two guest players (NO NATIONAL PLAYER). Employees spouse and children can register as staff of the Company if there are not enough employees to fill the team.
Wide and No Ball will be counted as Runs, the front Foot “No Ball” will be counted as run and will earn a “FREE HIT”, Runs earned as a result of overthrow will be recognized as legal runs, a maximum of 3 overs per bowler at semi and finals stages, while two overs will be allowed before. One side batting will be allowed in an attempt to conserve on time. However for the semifinal and Semi and Final Two side batting will be allowed, if a tie occurs a “super over” will be played. An Over should not exceed 3 minutes and the entire game not exceed more that 60 minutes. Third place finisher will be determined by the looser of the semi final with the higher scorer. The defending champions Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports will not be participating this year.
Sunday October 12, 2014
Charwayne Walker, Statistician, continues his Did you know series, looking back at local football facts of yesteryear. Did you know that the first time Guyana contested the CONCACAF Tournament was September, 1971 playing against Suriname. Guyana lost the home and away series 4 – 1 and 3 – 2. Suriname won the series opener by four goals to one backed by a boisterous and capacity packed house, the Dutchmen went ahead in the 22nd minute through Lebeda. Guyana equalized in the 32nd minute courtesy of Vibert Cardo Williams. Suriname scored again in the 62nd, 64th and 87th minute. Their goal scorers were Doesburg, Schaal and Bundel. Suriname starting eleven:Leerda– Goalkeeper Sordam Gesser Blaaker Hofti Puperhart Bundel Vanemburg Schaal Doesburg Lebeda
Guyana starting eleven: Edmund Calder – Goalkeeper Alvin Braithwaite Earl O’Neal Ovid Henry Clive Browne Lloyd King Maurice Enmore Vibert Williams Michael Pierre Ken Gibbs – Captain Gordon Forde In the return fixture played at GCC Bourda, the Dutchmen won a hard fought battle 3 – 2, eliminating the hosts. Suriname goal scorers were Armand Doesburg, Skipper Eritz Puperhart and Erwin Schaal. Guyana marksmen were Robert ‘Bobby’ Fernandes who scored a classic and 17 years old school boy Clyde Wholly Forde. Guyana starting eleven: Edmund Calder – Goalkeeper Clive Browne Ovid Henry Maurice Enmore Alvin Braithwaite Ken Gibbs – Captain
Lloyd King Vibert Williams Robert Fernandes Dennis Humphrey Reserves Michael Pierre Earl O’Neal Clyde Forde Fields – Goalkeeper The 1971 National Team that travel to Suriname and contested Guyana’s first CONCACAF Series: Edmund Calder – Goalkeeper Winston Grant – Goalkeeper Ovid Henry Clive Browne Alvin Braithwaite Earl O’Neal Ken Gibbs – Captain Lloyd King Robert Fernandes Dennis Humphrey Michael Pierre Clyde Forde (deceased) Vibert Williams Gordon Forde (deceased) Maurice Enmore Derrick Whitehead (deceased) – Manager George Greene – Coach Donald ‘Casa’ Neblett – Trainer
GCA’s Hadi’s two-day first division cricket
Sattuar, Chanderpaul & Perry score tons By Sean Devers The opening day of the latest round of action in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Hadi’s twoday first division cricket was highlighted by several outstanding performances and some shockingly atrocious cricket by GYO at the DCC ground in Queenstown. Brian Sattuar maiden first division century, half-centuries from First-Class players Derwin Christian, Chris Barnwell and two five-wicket haul from national pacerPaulWintzinsuredDCCblew away GYO by an innings and 286 runs inside one day of their onesided match. Taignarine Chanderpaul hit his second division-one hundred and has so far shared in a double century third wicket stand with Demerara wicket Keeper Joseph Perry who also registered an unfinished ton as Everest batted all day yesterday and lost just two wickets against GNIC at Everest. At Bourda a hostile spell of fast bowing from West Indies ‘A’ pacer Ronsford Beaton who captured 6-13 on his debut for GCC and a solid 78 from National under-19 player Renaldo AliMohamed put GCC in a commanding position against Transport Sports Club (TSC) going into today’s final day at Bourda. And Pernell London’s unbeaten 76 and two late afternoon wickets from leftarm spinner Anthony Adams
Beaton, Wintz & Sankar capture 5-wkt hauls left Police in a good position against host Malteenoes despite another five-wicket haul from Guyana U-19 legspinner Steven Sankar. At the small DCC ground, the 18-year-old Sattuar launched in brutal attack on the shell shocked GYO bowled as sixes rained way out of the ground as the left-hander hit 21 sixes and 12 explosive fours in a pugnacious 189 in 22 overs. Sattaur, who eventually fell to a catch on the mid wicket boundary to give Trevon France his second wicket, added 176 with Tevon Imlack (20) and 101 with Christian (75) after Trevon Griffith missed out on the feast with a first-ball duck. Sattuar at one point seemed capable of passing the record first division of 315 by David Harper for Everest and becoming the first batsman since Rajendra Chandrika (214) against TSC last year to score a ‘double’. The burly Sattuar however passed the 178 against Police made by Griffith against Police as DCC amassed 403- declared. Wintz had earlier snatched 5-29, while Barnwell had 3-16 as GYO were bundled out for 91 with only Garfield DeRouch getting to double figures with 35. Wintz struck again in GYO’s second innings bagging 5-18 as they crashed to the lowest total in recent
first division history to finish on 38-9 innings closed after GYO fielding for most of DCC’s innings with 10 men after Kwame Cross was sent off the field for giving advice to the Captain. At Everest, Chanderpaul hit 14 fours in his 125 after Chandrika (7) and Chanderpaul Hemraj (24) were the wickets to fall before Perry (102) joined Chanderpaul and batted to the end of the day. Shiv Chanderpaul, who makes his debut for Everest, is slated to bat next as Everest reached 271-2. At Bourda TSC were dismissed for 65 with Ryan Hemray making 39 and Raj Nanan (4-9) supporting Beaton before GCC replied with 203-8 declared with Kevin Cross picking up three wickets. TSC were 133-3 in their second innings still 138 runs from avoiding an innings defeat with Devon Nandan (49) and Hemraj (42) offering resistance as Nanan had 3-57. At MSC, Police fell for 187 with Steven Jacobs and Kellon Carmichael taking two wickets each to support Sankar (5-67). The host ended the opening day on 66-4 after Shemron Barrington (9) fell to Darson LaRose who bowled with some pace on a helpful track with the score on 19. Vishal Narayan (20) and Jacobs (11) tried to stage a recovery before they were both removed just before the close by Adams who had 2-11.
Sunday October 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
Ramchand/Rohan Auto Spares Softball cricket
Competition continued last Sunday with four matches The latest round of the Ramchand/ Rohan Auto Spares softball 10-over cricket competition continued last Sunday with four matches and the next round is scheduled for today at venues in Essequibo, East Coast Demerara and Georgetown. RESULTS FOR OCT. 05TH. In the Female division, Wellwoman defeated Sleep Inn Warriors by 37 runs. Wellwoman 94 for 1 in 10 overs. Zola Telford 42, Latoya Smith 40 not out. Sleep Inn replied with 57 for 9 in 10 overs. Mickelly hit 24; Z. Telford 4 for 9 and Amanda Bob-Semple 3 for 9. Trophy Stall Angels
defeated 4R Lioness by 5 wickets. 4R Lioness 92 for 5 in 10 overs. Akaze Thompson 25 not out, Ruth George 21. Kavita Yadram 2 for 14, Roxanne De Monick 2 for 15. Trophy Stall Angels 93 for 4. Roxanne De Monick 28, Monica Seals 26 not out. In the Male category, Industry Super Kings defeated Bel Air Rubis by 9 wickets. Bel Air Rubis 120 for 8 off 15 overs. Fizal Ali 37, Vijay Baljit 31 not out. David Harper 2 for 12. Industry 121 for 2 off 11.2 overs. Jagdesh Persaud 51 not out, N. Chand 26. Wellman defeated Floodlight by 4 wickets. Floodlight 108 for 5 off 15
overs. Ricky Deonarain 40, Vivanand Samlall 2 for 19. Wellman 111 for 7 in 13.3 overs. Shawn Massiah 42, Wayne Jones 4 for 8. TODAY’S FIXTURES: G.N.I.C ground: 9:30amFarm vs Young Guns. 12:30pm-Regal vs Challengers. Parika ground: 9:30amSavage Masters vs Frontliners. 12:30pm-Savage Masters vs Parika Defenders. Cyril Potter College ground: Pitch 1: 9:30amHerstelling vs Trophy Stall. 12:30pm-Speedboat vs Herstelling. Pitch 2: 9:30amSpeedboat vs Country Side. 12:30pm-Princess Hotel vs Warriors X1.
BCCDA launches 10/10 Inter Agency cricket competition - October 25th is scheduled at Albion Community Centre
Captain and executives of the BCCDA pose with the trophies that will be on offer. By Samuel Whyte The Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) on Friday launched the fifth edition of the Corporate Business in Sports (CBIS) Inter-Agency Softball cricket Tournament, fund day and exhibition cricket games amongst Corporate Business entities in Berbice under the theme “Fostering Unity among Cooperate Businesses.” The launching, which took place on the BCCDA office at Chapel Street, New Amsterdam, was attended by the respective captains of the participating teams along with sponsors and members of the BCCDA. The activity was chaired by Anil Beharry with remarks by President of the BCCDA
Mark Roopnarine Treasurer Chris Hicks and committee member Wazir Alli. The teams are expected to engage in 10/10 cricket, dominoes and other activities. The finals will be played under floodlights. A feature 20/20 exhibition cricket match between a Berbice select team and top club Albion Community Centre is also on the cards. The event will be held at the Albion Sports Complex on Saturday 25th October and will bring together 14 business organisations and agencies. The competition will be played on a knockout basis. The activity will held for the first time using permanent Light which were recently installed at the venue. The event, which is in its fifth year, is aimed at
promoting unity and fostering better working relationships between the entities and the public. The day’s activities as usual is expected to offer much excitement as patrons will have the opportunity to see professionals from various disciplines including bankers, managers, lawyers, presellers, cashiers, clerks all battling for supremacy. Fans will be in for a big treat as the organisers have introduced a number of new initiatives to make the activity a truly business, family oriented affair. The activities are expected to commence at 09:00hrs and go way into the evening under lights. Top stereos sounds Paragon International will entertain (Continued on page 68)
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Score’s Even, California Strike and Treacle to battle at Kennard/PPP horserace meet
Mr Quacy Henry {left} of the organizing committee receives the champion jockey trophy from Trophy Stall’s Christopher Ramlagan for the KMTC/ PPP President’s cup meet. With the Kennard Memorial Turf Club track and facilities in prime condition, thousands including President Donald Ramoutar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and other top government and regional officials are expected to throng to the Bush Lot Farm Turf Club, Corentyne Berbice, today. The occasion is that entity’s feature one day horserace meet in collaboration with the PPP/C. Being touted as having the best horserace facilities in the country and with Guyana’s top thoroughbreds including Score’s Even, California Strike, Treacle, Settle in Seattle and Battle Hymn set for battle. A pulsating and action-packed day of racing is anticipated with a large crowd expected to on hand to witness the excitement. The A class event is expected to be a top of the line encounter with a few questions expected to be answered. For sure Score’s Even of the Dennis DeRoop Stable will be looking for revenge against California Strike of the Shariff Stable following its loss a few weeks ago but the ever improving Treacle of the Dookie Stable is primed to spring another surprise. The other horses expected to blaze the trail for the coveted $1.5M winners prize and the President’s Cup are Run Nana Run, Princess She is Not, Grande De Roja, Church House, Dark and Lovely and Monsoon over 1600M. The D3 event for nonwinner’s in 2014 and E & Lower over 6 furlongs for a winning take of $600,000 and
trophy has such runners as Settle In Seattle, Right To Rule, Swing Easy, Young Elite, Appealing Harvest, Run Nana Run, Dark and Lovely, Church House, Settling Jet and Princess Alicia among the lot. The G1 and lower event over 1400M will see the likes of Damascus Dream, Battle Hymn, Release The Beast, War Craft and Top Of the Line among others battling for the $400,000 and trophy. The horses competing in the two-year-old West Indies Bred 1000M race will have the $300,000 top prize and trophy to aim for including Settling Star, Gold D Cova, That Son of a Gun and Midnight Blue. The race for G3 nonwinners in 2014 will go over 1400M and has so far attracted Silent Night, Bridal Stone Corner, Top of the Line, War Craft, and Monsoon for the $300,000 first prize and trophy. The Guyana bred twoyear old animals will be competing for a first prize of $200,000 and trophy also over 1000M with the likes of Slim Shady, Secret Escape, Miss Messiah, Amazon Warrior and Devil Woman to compete. The top ‘I’ class horses including Mary Ann, Affinity, East To Win, Savion, Party Time and the Road is Mine will race for a winning take of $220,000 and trophy over 1400M.
The J1 and lower animals will battle for a $200,000 purse and trophy over 1000M. The event for J3 and lower horses has a top prize of $180,000 and trophy also over 1000M. The final event, which is also a 1000M race, is for horses classified K and L and lower for a winning take of $140,000 and trophy. Among some of the horses entered for the final three races are Lady Secret, Famous Pride, Royal Cash, Little, Red Jet, Speed Vision, The Road Is Mine, Dance For Gold, Iron man, Royal Intention, Smarty Light, Pick Pocket, Million Dollars Man, Sunny Silence, Swift Way, Royal Stallion, Go Zapper, Fit To Fight and Triple S. Among the barrage of sponsors are Beverage Giants Banks DIH Limited, Demerara Distillers Limited, Ansa McAl Guyana Limited, Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables, Mohammed ‘Nankoo’ Shariff Business entity and Racing Stables, BK International, Berbice Bridge Company, Limacol Brand, Peter Lewis Construction, Fazal Habibulla and Dennis DeRoop among others. Persons with last minute queries can contact Mr Roopnarine Matadial 325 3192, Ms Nikita Ross 662 4668, Dennis DeRoop 609 9143 and Fazal Habibulla 657 7010. (Samuel Whyte)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday October 12, 2014
Boxing is a sweet science Tucville answer critics and a microcosm of life Courts/Petra Organisation Schools Pee Wee Football Competition
with another easy win
- defending champs St. Pius held to another draw Led by leading marksmen Keion and Rayheem Marques, Tucville answered the critics who questioned whether they could maintain their impressive form when they eased to a comfortable 3-0 win over St. Gabriel’s as play in this year’s Courts/Petra Organisation Schools Pee Wee Football Competition continues yesterday, at the Thirst Park ground. Playing in the penultimate game of the day, Tucville went ahead as early as the 6th minute through Raheem Marques, but were stalled in their advance for the remainder of the half. In the second period, Keion Marques netted the first of a double in the 21st minute of play, before returning six minutes later to complete his tally and secure an easy victory for the leaders. Defending champions St. Pius were once again held to a goalless draw against St. Angela’s, while F.E. Pollard showed no mercy on their Kitty-based counterparts J.E. Burnham, crushing them by a 6-0
margin. St . M a rg a r e t ’s a l s o looked impressive in their 3-0 triumph over St. Ambrose, while Enterprise and East La Penitence provided riveting entertainment for the fans as they went toe-to-toe for the duration of their encounter. In the day’s full results: Game-1 St. Margaret’s-3 vs St. Ambrose-0 Josiah King-50 seconds Makhi Adams-18th and 20th Game-2 South Ruimveldt-0 vs Smith Memorial-1 Omalli Harry-1st Game-3 F.E. Pollard-6 vs J.E. Burnham-0 Quincy Williams-7th, 17th and 21st Brian Williams-10th Makhaya Jarvis-15th Tramel McCurdy-27th Game-4 St. Puis-0 vs St. Angela’s0 Game-5 Success vs Ketley Ketley won via walkover Game-6
East La Penitence-0 vs Enterprise Primary-0 Game-7 Marian Academy vs Winfer Garden Marian Academy won via walkover Game-8 North Georgetown-0 vs Stella Marris-4 Jayden Pitt-10th Earl Grant-12th and 14th Darron Niles-19th Game-9 West Ruimveldt-3 vs Green Acres-0 Christopher Harris-1st Justin Persaud-14th and 28th Game-10 Tucville-3 vs St. Gabriel’s-0 Keion Marques-21st and 27th Rayheem Marques-6th Game-11 St. Stephen’s-1 vs Thomas Moore-0 Hosea Parkinson-19th Game 12 Redeemer and Comenius clash were declared a no contest since both teams failed to turn up. The competition resumes Saturday, at the same venue.
Boxing returns to California Square as GBA stages national Open C/ships California Square in the East Ruimveldt area will be a hive of activity on October 24, 25 and 26 when the Guyana Boxing Association stages their National Open Amateur Championships at the now popular venue. The venue has in recent times hosted the National Novices and Intermediate tournaments, attracting a large crowd on each occasion, giving much needed encouragement to the talented young pugilists and a big boost for the sport as the executive of the association look to push the sport forward and win back the large turnout of fans as in yesteryear. President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, informed that 50 boxers so far are expected to participate, representing the nine gyms around the country, which will all be looking to make their mark. Ninvalle further disclosed that the event has attracted at least three overseas fighters seeking to make their mark locally
Overseas boxers also in the fray and line up to represent their country. One fighter is a middleweight along with another boxer whose name will be released shortly, while the other is Quincy Small, younger brother of former Cruiserweight World Champion Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite. The GBA boss further noted that overseas-based Promoter Seon Bristol’s interest has been stirred and will be here to look at the current cadre of fighters with the intention of spotting talent. He has in the past assisted local boxing and has pledged his continued support. Small, is due here by October 19, while confirmation will be made this week on the other fighters traveling for the event. Fans are expected out in their numbers and will definitely be in for a treat. The previous events
Steve Ninvalle produced many slugfests and this will be no different, while the fighters on show will be much more skillful this time around. Boxers are currently being prepared at their respective gyms and things will heat up in the coming week as they prepare to take away national accolades.
By Michael Benjamin Years ago, as a voluntary Spanish teacher at a certain city school I had cause to upbraid one of my students that was talking incessantly while I was teaching. He complied briefly but as soon as I turned to write on the blackboard he resumed his garrulous feat. I asked him to stand in a corner until I found the time to deal with him but he not only refused to comply but arrogantly confronted me as though willing a fight. I left the classroom but returned shortly afterwards to inform the students that I was not going to resume teaching until the student in question obeyed my instruction. The ploy worked and those students took up my cause, berating the errant student until, feeling pressured, he complied. Shortly after classes were dismissed, I called the errant fellow and quite jokingly remarked, “Buddy, I have no intention of marching you to the headmistress’ office so I’ll make you an offer; let us go to the nearest ball field and sort this matter out in a fistfight and the one that wins is the future boss of the classroom.” He grumbled unintelligibly but did not take up the offer. We then got down into an informal gaff as I attempted to ascertain the true cause of his arrogance. “But Sir,” he replied to one of my questions, “you had your days of school pranks and you were not a bright boy.” I was taken aback as I was certain that I had left school long before this lad was even a conception and wondered aloud at his deduction. Naturally, I dug deeper only to find out that his mother and I had attended North Ruimveldt Multilateral School around the same era. I also found out that it was she that had fed her child such jargon. ‘That may be true buddy,” I remember informing him, “But I was well schooled and what I have forgotten, you have not yet learned.” To condense my tale; I visited the home quite unexpectedly and had a healthy discussion with his mother, carefully omitting what her child had earlier told me. We were able to arrive at a formula to assist her son. He eventually passed his Spanish test with flying colours. Now, you may ask, how did such a recitation wend its way into the sports pages and what is the connection? Simple! I saw that child as a replica of me during childhood. As Guyanese would say, ‘fight was my middle name.’ At an
Michael Benjamin (left) gets an award f rom Boxing Association President Steve Ninvalle for his reporting on the sport. impressionable age and bursting with energy, fighting was my most practical means of conflict resolution. I still remember that day when my classmate, the late Cedric Brusche, had had a heated quarrel during school hours and decided to engage in our method of conflict resolution when school was dismissed. We elected to go to a ball field some distance away from school so as not to attract administrative punishment. We reasoned that we were in our private time and therefore, it was no business of the school administration if we chose to settle our differences in such an unorthodox way. We were heading to the Tucville playfield less than a mile away with a large group of students in tow, eager to witness the slugfest. I remember that as we were going to the fight venue some distance from the school, a man on a Raleigh cycle, who later introduced himself as Emmille Amsterdam, intercepted and tactfully dissuaded us from the imminent clash of fists. It was not easy for him as I remember giving him the proverbial ‘length of my tongue.’ Despite my arrogance, he persisted and somehow won my confidence. He then suggested that I had the ‘shape’ of a boxer and advised that I seek refuge in the sport even if to ‘blow off some steam.’ That statement resonated but it was not until about one year later that I met former British Empire boxing contender, Cliff Anderson. He was a dumpy fellow with the most cheerful of dispositions and he arrived at ‘Multi’ with a duffel bag laden with gloves, headgears, skipping ropes and other boxing apparel, slung over his shoulders. Cliff was then attached to the National Sports Development Council (NSDC) and formed a cadre of coaches of numerous
disciplines that were dispatched to the various schools to teach interested boys the intricacies of sports; he introduced me to the art of the fistic sport. Recently, I engaged my boxing contemporaries, now into administration of the sport, in discussions pertaining to a reintroduction of the fistic sport on the schools’ curriculum. I also engaged the school’s administration and later broached the topic with Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam. The respective reactions were mixed; the coaches were enthusiastic, the school administration was optimistic and Mr. Sam was apprehensive. Children, like adults, will experience anxiety symptoms and seek redress through unorthodox means. Children, like adults, will encounter mood swings. Therefore, children, maybe, even more than adults, need to find ways of utilizing that excess energy. To deprive them of that opportunity to express themselves may be counterproductive. Boxing is not just fight; it is an art, it is sweet science but most importantly, it is a microcosm of life. The top brass at the Ministry of Education should appreciate this fact and find ways of working with the executive of the Guyana Boxing Association in finding a common ground in (re) introducing the sport into the school curriculum. That day, as I trooped to the Tucville playfield to engage my classmate proved to be the last time I traded punches outside of the law. I went on to perfect the art of the sport and today can attest to the fact that it has served me well. Boxing is way but disciplined war. To this day, the sport was, and still is my life and I am none the worse for my experience— neither physically nor mentally.
Sunday October 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 71
EBFA/MCYS U-13 League
Grove remain unbeaten, Agricola and Diamond secure their first points
Michael English (on ground) nets his second goal for Agricola against Kuru Kururu Warriors G r o v e H i Te c h consolidated their hold on the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports/East Bank Football Association under13 league when they edged Herstelling Raiders 1-0 at the Farm ground yesterday when play continued. It was predicted that the game would have been a keen contest and that’s how it unfolded. In the day’s other encounter, Agricola Red Triangle led by a double from Michael English, recorded their first points owing to a 6-0 triumph against the Linden Soesdyke Highway based Kuru Kururu Warriors. Diamond also got onto the points sheet via the walk over route since Soesdyke Falcons failed to put in an appearance. T h e Grove/Herstelling showdown produced some exciting action with both sides taking on each other in end to end play. The first 30 minutes failed to produce any goals. Grove would take the lead four minutes into the second half compliments of
a Kevin Padmore goal. As it turned out, that was the goal that made the difference between the two teams, the result kept Grove’s unbeaten record intact after three games while it was the first blemish for the Herstelling side that remains in second place. Agricola Red Triangle, having conceded their first two games to Grove and Herstelling respectively, ensured that the momentum would change for the better with a compact 6-0 win over Kuru Kururu Warriors. Leading the young Agricola unit was Michael English who netted their first two goals; an 8th minute penalty conversion sent them on their way, English adding his second in the 16th minute. The Warriors tried their best to contain their opponents but did not succeed as two more goals were added before the halfway mark. Kerry Barker in the 27th minute and Tyron Younge in the 28th saw their side a 4-0 advantage at the
Agricola scorers from right, Kerry Barker, Michael English, Keron Narine, Tryon Younge and Andre Hinds (1) half. K u r u K u r u r u improved their level of play in the second half and came close two scoring on a
few occasions. Andre Hinds made it 5-0 for Agricola in the 45th minute while Keron Narine, a skillful left footed
player sealed the deal from the penalty spot in the 55th minute with a powerful left foot shot.
M a t c h e s w i l l continue on Saturday at the same venue.Latest points standings
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Kaieteur News
CCF Elite C/ships – Time Trials
Sunday October 12, 2014
GMR&SC Int’l Drag Race Meet
Guyana’s team failed South Dakota Circuit to to medal on day one be turned into a Dragstrip
Claire Fraser Green
Marlon Williams Reigning female National Time Trial and Road Race queen, KU based Claire Fraser-Green ended a creditable 9th overall at the Caribbean Elite Cycling Championships Time Trials yesterday in Puerto Rico. Fraser-Green completed the 22.3 km course in 38 Minutes 55.400 Seconds, the event was won by Kathryn Bertine of St. Kitts and Nevis in 31 Minutes 49.300 Seconds with Tamico Butler of Antigua & Barbuda second (32m 30.000s) and Nichole Mitchell of Bermuda, third. In the men’s segment of the Time Trials, Raynauth Jeffrey ended 5th with Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams ending 8th. Williams’ performance has been described exceptional since he only got to the team hotel at around 03:00hrs yesterday and the race commenced six h o u r s l a t e r. J e ff r e y ’s performance has also been described as outstanding.
Race Secretary Desiree Lee (left) takes a photo op with some of the local dragsters who will represent Guyana today in the GMR&SC Int’l Drag Race Meet.
Raynauth Jeffrey Like the junior riders one week ago at the 9th Junior Caribbean Championships held in Suriname, the local riders competed with their road bikes as compared to the other top performers who are equipped with specialized Time Trial
machines. All the riders will be in action today in the road race, national Road Race king Geron Williams and Alonzo Greaves will join Marlon Williams and Jeffrey as they seek to end in the top three. Fraser-Green will also be seeking to claim a top podium spot today in the female race. Cyclists from the following countries are competing; Jamaica, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Marteen, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. (F. Wilson)
The South Dakota Circuit made famous for hosting some of the most exhilarating circuit racing between some of the best racers in motor sport in Guyana and across the Caribbean will be turned into a Dragstrip today when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) stages it’s International Drag Race Meet, starting from 09:00 hrs. Just for those who will be witnessing the sport for the first time, drag racing is an acceleration contest, on a track, or dragstrip, that begins from a standing start between two vehicles over a measured distance. A drag racing event is a series of such two-vehicle, tournament-style eliminations. The losing racer in each contest is eliminated, and the winning racers progress until one remains. Today, local dragsters
such as Anand Ramchand, Peter and Rondell Daby, Sanjan Persaud, Danny Persaud, Sunil and Ryan Singh will match ability and machine against their neighbouring counterparts from Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago in what has already been touted as the battle for bragging rights among the three territories. Earlier last week when Kaieteur Sport spoke to a few competitors, they all expressed confidence of doing well and even boasted of upstaging the foreign invasion and defending home territory. Today, all the predictions and whether their boast will stay true will be answered when the machines come under starter’s orders in front of what is anticipated to be a sizeable home crowd. The Surinamese are no strangers to the South Dakota Circuit and have been known to do well in this feature of
motor racing so look for t h e m t o b e G u y a n a ’s strongest opposition, a reputation that they’ve held for sometime now. Rondell Daby is the reigning champion, but if some of the prior predictions are to be believed then he will be hard pressed to retain his crown, while Persaud and Ramchand are no pushovers and could have a stake in the battle for supremacy. What is certain is that fans will be in for a treat and the South Dakota Circuit is the venue of choice for fans of motor sport. Additionally, race fans for the first time have the opportunity to witness the Porta Tree Timing System which is equipped with specialized starting lights that allow quarter mile speeds to be recorded. Admission for adults is $1000, $500 children, while those under the age of 12 and vehicles are free.
Lewis Hamilton on pole ahead of Nico Rosberg in Russia BBC Sport - Lewis Hamilton beat Mercedes team-mate and title rival Nico Rosberg to pole position at the inaugural Russian GP. The championship leader was 0.2 seconds clear of the German as Williams’s Valtteri Bottas lost a chance of a front-row spot with a mistake. The Finn was fastest after the first two sectors but
ran wide at the last corner. He took third ahead of Jenson Button’s McLaren and the Toro Rosso of the impressive Daniil Kvyat. “Pole is a great place to start,” said Hamilton, 29. “It’s great to come here. It’s a beautiful place, the weather’s been amazing and I’m really enjoying driving this track. “It wasn’t the easiest of
sessions. Rosberg and Bottas were looking quite strong and hooking up a good lap wasn’t the same as practice. It will be tough tomorrow in the race. It is a long way down to Turn One. We’ll see how that works out.” Bottas said he did not think he could have beaten Hamilton but felt second had been within his
grasp. “Looking back, I maybe took too much out of the tyres in the beginning of the lap and it got tricky in the last few corners,” he said. “I risked it a bit too much in the last two corners and went a bit wide and here, when you go off line, it is very slippery. It’s not nice to make a mistake. But it maybe cost one place maximum.” Kvyat
put in the best qualifying performance of his rookie season at his home grand prix, with President Vladimir Putin due to attend a race he was instrumental in creating. It was Toro Rosso’s best grid position since their former driver Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth at Silverstone last year. M c L a r e n ’s K e v i n
Magnussen qualified sixth but will be demoted five places with a penalty for changing a gearbox. Ricciardo was the best-placed Red Bull driver in seventh, ahead of the Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, with the second Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne 10th, 0.743secs slower than Kvyat.
Sunday October 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
Technology engineers UG Inter-Faculty basketball title
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Karunaratne grinds Windies-A on Day 1
Dimuth Karunaratne
Faculty of Technology’s Akeem Kanhai (airborne with ball) finishes a left-handed reverse layup against Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Friday night.
The victorious UG Inter-Faculty Basketball Champs, Faculty of Technology pose for a photo opportunity with Registrar, Vincent Alexander (left) and Sports Officer, Lavern Fraser-Thomas (second, left) following the final Friday night.
Hambantota, Sri Lanka Dimuth Karunaratne struck 139 on the opening day of the 1st “Test” for Sri Lanka A as West Indies A bowlers were made to toil at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium. After Shannon Gabriel got the early wicket of Upul Tharanga, Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne came together in a 217 run stand. The latter finished the day unbeaten on 85. West Indies A captain, Carlos Brathwaite
eventually got the wicket of Karunaratne. Gabriel and Brathwaite were the only bowlers on Day 1 to take a wicket. Summary Scores: Sri Lanka A 1st Innings: 261/2 (90 Overs). Dimuth Karunaratne 139, Lahiru Thirimanne 85*, Dinesh Chandimal+ 29*, Upul Tharanga 4; Carlos Brathwaite 19-3-46-1, Shannon Gabriel 10-3-30-1, Andre Fletcher 1-1-0-0, Assad Fudadin 4-3-2-0.
Brazil beat Argentina 2-0 in friendly
The Faculty of Technology engineered a mammoth victory Friday night when the nation’s top tertiary institution, University of Guyana (UG), h e l d i t s I n t e r- F a c u l t y Basketball Championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Owed to strong performances from its seasoned players, Technology built a solid foundation in the first half of the final against the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, before constructing the huge 81-67 win in the second half of the game.
First Division club players, Ruel Ritch and Akeem Kanhai were the architects of the victory with Ritch scoring 23 points and Kanhai a triple-double with 12 points, 30 rebounds and 10 assists. Yoel Meusa had a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds. The game was filled with highlights from Ritch and Kanhai. But the high-point has to be an ally-hoop dunk that the Chinese point guard, Kitfai Sue, lobbed for Kanhai. The fundamentally sound Sue, who clubs are expected to pursue, ended up with 14 points.
The Faulty of Agriculture and Forestry just could not cultivate their offence, despite them being the more talented of the two teams on roster. The Faculty trailed throughout the game, down 25-37 at halftime, before eventually losing. Seasoned club campaigners, Emmanuel Archibald, Quincy Easton and Nyembeyekere Bacchus led the scoring with Archibald putting up a game high 27 points. Shooting guard, Easton shot his way to 22 points while Bacchus had 12 points. The Faculty of
Agriculture had defeated The Faculty of Social Sciences 75-71 in their semifinal in an exciting contest. Technology had beaten Staff to advance to the final. Staff went on to win the third place game 73-71 with Ewart Smith scoring 38 points. Apart from Smith, Selvaughn Moseley scored 23 points. Meanwhile, Geoffrey LaRose scored 18 points for Social Sciences while Kadeem Duggan had 16 points and Sonesh Davram 14 points in another thrilling encounter of the annual competition. (Edison Jefford)
BBC Sport - Diego Tardelli scored twice as Brazil beat Argentina to win the Superclasico de las Americas in Beijing. Brazil, who included Barcelona’s Neymar in their side, took the lead on 28 minutes when Diego Tardelli volleyed in his first international goal. Argentina’s Lionel Messi had a penalty saved, before Tardelli sealed victory with a second-half header. This was Brazil’s third successive win as they look to rebuild following their 7-1 World Cup humiliation by Germany. Dunga, who replaced Luiz Felipe Scolari as Brazil coach after the World Cup, took a squad to China which featured a blend of youth and experience.Kaka, 32, and 30year-old Robinho, who both failed to make Brazil’s World Cup squad, were among the substitutes in Beijing. Neymar, whose World Cup came to a premature end after he fractured a bone in his spine, retained his place in the starting XI.
However, the 22-year-old Barcelona forward struggled to make an impression, notably scuffing a weak effort wide after being sent clear. Instead it was Atletico Mineiro striker Tardelli who made the biggest impression, opening the scoring with a volleyed finish after Argentina failed to clear. Messi, like Barcelona team-mate Neymar, failed to really impose himself throughout the contest, but should have levelled just before the break. After Manchester United’s Angel Di Maria was fouled inside the area, Messi’s weak penalty was easily saved by Brazil goalkeeper Jefferson. Tardelli made no such mistake, heading powerfully home on 64 minutes to seal victory for Brazil. As the clock ticked down, Kaka came on for his first international appearance since March 2013, while former Manchester City forward Robinho was also brought on.
t r o p S Courts/Petra Organisation Schools Pee Wee Football Competition
Tucville answer critics with another easy win - defending champs St. Pius held to another draw
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A host of Tucville players (seen in blue bibs) attack St. Gabriel’s goal area in their encounter yesterday.
Boxing returns to California Square as GBA stages national Open C/ships P.70
South Dakota Circuit to be turned into a Dragstrip P.72
India level series after West Indies implode
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