Monday September 02, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Speaker to write President on outstanding Bills By Abena Rockcliffe Last Thursday marked the 21st day since four Local Government Bills, essential for the holding of Local Government Elections, were passed in the National Assembly. However, on to this 25th day, no word has been disseminated from the Office of the President as to whether Head of State Donald Ramotar has assented to the Bill or has chosen not to. As such, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman has signaled his intention to write the President on the pending pieces of legislations. He told Kaieteur News that he has to first consult with the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs and will then proceed with his endeavor. The constitution has provided the President with a 21 days period for his assent to a Bill. The President has to act on or before those allotted days have elapsed and has the right to withhold his assent and return it to the National Assembly. If a Bill is not assented to, it remains ineffective. Nineteen years after the last Local Government
- APNU will return to the House with Bills that the President refused to assent to
President Donald Ramotar Elections were held in Guyana, the National Assembly, on August 7th, approved a suite of legislation to pave the way for a fresh round of elections. The House approved the Fiscal Transfers Bill, the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill, the Local Government (Amendment) Bill and the Local Government Commission Bill. This was after a 12 year period of attempting to reform the process. Local Government Minister, Ganga Persaud, piloted all four of the Bills and while government supported the pieces of legislation, it
attempted to amend at least two of the Bills. The Bills were presented to the House after it emerged from a Special Select Committee, which is chaired by APNU’s Basil Williams and where the Opposition held a majority. Both Minister Persaud and Junior Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker lamented that the Opposition had hijacked the Bills at the Committee stage and included in the proposed legislation, aspects that had not even been submitted by the Local Government taskforce that was eventually disbanded. One of the contentious issues that eventually found compromise on the floor of the Assembly was the number of persons to make up the Local Government Commission. It was successfully amended from seven to eight after the Alliance For Change (AFC) voted in support of the amendment. Although the AFC and APNU have been
taking different stances on parliamentary issues lately, both parties are keen about the President’s assent to the four Bills. Contacted yesterday, Leader of the Opposition David Granger said that his party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is paying close attention to “the situation.” He said that he expects the President to fulfill his constitutional obligation—all other issues being put aside. Granger pointed to the fact that Ramotar warned last year that he will not assent to any Bill that didn’t attract the support of the People Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) in the National Assembly. The Opposition Leader said however that in this situation, the President has no excuse since the Bills were unanimously passed. The Opposition Leader added that it may be a constitutional crisis if the house unanimously passed a Bill that the President refuses to assent to.
New BRHA Chairman promises improved health care services for Berbicians Amidst a lot of negative reports and complaints from members of the general public, Berbicians are being assured that health care delivery services will see a drastic improvement. This promise was made by newly elected Chairman of the Board of the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA) Mr. Poonai Bhigroo, in the presence of Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran. The BRHA, he pledged, will live up to its motto. Providing healthcare, he acknowledged, is a very, very difficult and challenging task. “We will stand firm in our duties to ensure better healthcare delivery system, so that the BRHA motto: ‘We serve, We Care, We Deliver’ can go through and stand firm.” The new Board, he added, will welcome views from stakeholders. “This new Board will be willing to meet with every person directly or indirectly involved in the health care system, to listen to your suggestions and criticisms. I am appealing to the members of the BRHA that our meetings should be very, very short and precise...come to the point and wherever there is a
disagreement, we should put it to a vote and move on!” The Health Minister, who was present during the first Board meeting last week, stated that he wants to see a Visitor’s Book at the various health care facilities across the Region, “so when a particular officer visits from the Region or centre, the comments are clear.” Berbice is the first county in Guyana to establish a Regional Health Authority. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo stated that several factors were responsible for establishing such a body in the Region. “We had Heath Sector Reform and the idea was to choose a Region where the idea of an authority will be tested and identify a strong management team; provide support for the team...to develop more health authorities.” Mahadeo further added that all five levels of health care exist in the Region, in the form of two national hospitals: the National Opthalmology Hospital and National Psychiatric Hospital; Referral Hospital: New Amsterdam; District Hospitals: Mibicuri, Port Mourant and Skeldon as
Mr. Poonai Bhigroo well as eight health posts and 19 health centres. The rehabilitation centres in the Region also have two satellite centres as well as the Public Health Complex, which houses the N/A Blood Bank, VIA Clinic and Foot Care clinic. Since its establishment, the body has made significant strides in providing health care to persons there in the form of medical outreaches to the far corners of the Region, such as Black Bush Polder and other slightly remote communities. Mahadeo stated that an extended home-based care programme was also
established, whereby over 520 patients either bed-ridden or limited in their mobility, were visited. These persons receive medication right in their homes, which include physiotherapy sessions. Efforts have also been made to improve the poor public’s image of the BRHAl, since in recent times, numerous revelations and articles have been published in the media regarding poor conditions at hospitals as well as the poor attitudes of nurses and doctors. Staff evaluation and reports are two ways in which the senior officers in the BRHA collect data as to what is transpiring in the Berbice health care system on a daily basis. The BRHA came out as a result of the Health Sector Reform in Guyana. (Leon Suseran)
Speaker, Raphael Trotman
APNU Leader, David Granger
While unconfirmed reports suggest that the Bills remain with the Chambers of Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, AFC says it still finds it “very funny and quite phony” that Bills have to pass through the AG before they reach the President. AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan stated that he cannot understand what exactly the Bills are still doing at the AG’s Chambers. Ramjattan said that Nandlall told him that Bills have to go to him to ensure they are in accordance with the constitution before being sent to the Office of the President. Ramjattan told the media that he sees it as a mischievous delaying tactic. “It can stay there for another three months.” The AFC Leader said that he knows not about any written law that allows the AG to do so; but was told that it is a “convention” since the era where the People’s National Congress (PNC) governed the country. This is not the first time that the Speaker has seen the need to write the President on outstanding Bills. Earlier this year, Trotman wrote Ramotar reminding him of his duty in the regard of his assent to Bills. On that occasion, when the letter was written, 21 days had long elapsed since the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill 2012, and The Fiscal Management
and Accountability (Amendment Bill) 2012 were sent to the President. The President only returned the Bills to the National Assembly after he received a letter from the Speaker. Ramotar then refused to assent to the Bills, citing them as unconstitutional. The President’s withholding his assent to the two opposition-proposed Bills, which did not receive the support of the Government in the National Assembly, evoked criticism from the opposition parties. Very soon after the announcement by the President, leaders from both Parliamentary opposition parties expressed that they were not surprised that the President had withheld assent. Granger told Kaieteur News yesterday that he had written to the Speaker requesting a meeting with him at which he would like to discuss the President’s refusal to assent to Bills passed by the National Assembly. Granger said that the APNU intends to take the two opposition- proposed Bills back to the National Assembly. Asked specifically about his hope for the President assenting to the Bill to repeal the benefits given to former Presidents, Granger said that it is way beyond hope now. The Leader said that it is now all about duty.
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Kaieteur News
KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
Editorial
Trafficking in Persons There is some degree of confusion on the substance of the charges by the US State Department that Guyana is not taking effective steps in confronting Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in this country. The US annual report is an undertaking consequent to a UN initiative in 2000 to supplement the UN Convention Against Transnational Organisational Crime. The expanded approach was signed in the Italian city of Palermo (hence the name “Palermo Protocol”) and its name is very explicit in its aims: “UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children.” While the original Convention spoke to “transnational organisational crime”, the Protocol also concerns itself with human trafficking within countries. In our case, the US reports allude to both transnational instances (e.g. “ Brazilian women”) and intra-national (“women from the Coast trafficked into the interior”). Article 3 of the Palermo Protocol attempts an exhaustive definition of “Trafficking in Persons”: “The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power, or a position of vulnerability, or the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal or organs.” There are three main elements to the crime that should be noted: the movement of the persons, the “control” over them and the purpose for their movement. The element of “movement” includes recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons. In Guyana, for instance, women and girls are routinely recruited to work in the interior as cooks, shop assistants etc. to service the gold mining camps. As we have heard in several publicised cases recently, once in the interior, these females are then told to engage in prostitution. This is the classic case of “TIP”. In Guyana, most citizens, and evidently members of the government’s enforcement agencies operate on the premise that these recruited women “should have known what is going on”. That postulate is irrelevant to the crime: once the person was recruited for one job and then given one in the prohibited categories, the requisite “consent” is missing. “Exploitation vulnerability” is standard in the poor communities – especially Amerindian villages – and also vitiates purported “consent”. It is important to note that children cannot give consent: the situation is analogous to “statutory rape”. As far as “purpose” is concerned, prostitution is not the only prohibited purpose to constitute TIP: there is the clause that forbids recruitment and movement resulting in “forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery.” There are many instances of individuals being moved that would qualify under his clause especially in the forestry and mining industries. We need to be educated to the implications of moving individuals into isolated working conditions and then forcing them to work in sub-human conditions: this is tantamount to involuntary servitude and constitutes TIP. Finally there is the “control” element of the crime. Once the individual has been moved, and subsequently threats, use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or the giving of payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim are being employed, this will satisfy the requirement for TIP. The most egregious instance is the “abuse of power” by individuals in positions of authority such as business owners or law enforcement officials that might cow victims into “accepting” their exploitation. There is also some confusion between TIP and “human smuggling”. In the latter case, the element of exploitation is missing, which, if it occurs, would convert the smuggling of the persons into TIP. It is obvious that all Guyanese ought to be aware of the nuances of TIP and do their part to combat it.
Monday September 02, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
Other than the romantic notion of hydro, there is nothing redeeming about this particular project DEAR EDITOR, The news, debate and discussion on the Amaila Hydropower Project have dominated the headlines recently especially since some critical information became available. It is fair to say that everyone has had an opportunity to comment. Some of the commentators like Messrs. Ram, Goolsarran, Ms. Bulkan and others have sought to analyse the Project from the available information. Many others who have not even studied the available documentation and even if they were able to access it would not be capable of analysing anything, offered comments, often as surrogates for the Government. Even the American Ambassador and that other prominent American Dr. Joey Jagan felt it necessary to get in on the action at a very late stage. Dr. Jagdeo too. The fact of the matter is, that were it not for the insistence of the IDB that the Government obtain parliamentary approval for two peripheral pieces of legislation relating to Amaila, no information would have been made available to the parliamentary parties. Amaila
would have been fait accompli like the Marriot, burdening consumers and tax payers with a flawed project costing the GPL over US$2 billion over 20 years backed by a guarantee that if as consumers Guyanese cannot meet the payments to the promoters, then as taxpayers they will be forced to do so through taxes. The debate led to the piecemeal release of information by the Government including the Economic and Financial Evaluation Study on Amaila done by an international consulting firm Mercados Energeticos for the Government of Guyana and Sithe Global jointly. The study was concluded in November 2009 and revised in March 2010. Although it was quite late in the game to release this report, it is still useful to study and analyse it. It is prepared by independent professionals with experience and competence in the subject matter. The Government’s position has always been that Amaila will prove “cheap and reliable” power and this has not only been a ‘dream’ of Guyanese for decades but that this
project will be “transformative” and propel the development of the economy and the country as a whole. G o v e r n m e n t spokespersons and Sithe promised varying reductions of the present electricity tariffs ranging from 20% to 40%, the 71% and 91% in the longer term, often confusing cost of production (at Amaila), selling price of energy to GPL by Amaila, GPL’s new cost of production, and potential adjustments to tariffs. Responding to the propaganda that Amaila will produce “cheap and reliable” energy the critics have pointed to the secrecy and lack of transparency surrounding the deal; the extremely high cost of plant (probably the highest in the world of cost per megawatt); the failure to have competitive bidding and procurement and the ability of GPL in its present inefficient state to handle the receipt transmission and distribution of the power coupled with the fact that GPL’s tariffs are set by GPL itself based on its own licence will no meaningful role for the regulatory body the
PUC. It did not escape the critics’ eyes that the returns on funds provided were set at the exorbitant and usurious rates of 19% (Sithe) 9.5% IDB and 8.5% for China Bank. These rates are unprecedented in international transaction and altogther constitute over US$1200 million in interest payment alone, all payable in foreign currency, against which the rate of the Guyana Dollar continues to depreciate. All these costs will of course inexorably and ultimately find their way into the tariffs. And it did not pass unnoticed that Sithe with a promised investment of US$150 million or 17% of the whole deal will have majority control of the equity in the company and 100% control of Management and Operations. The documents released by the Government speak of a fixed annual payment of US$122 million to Sithe for energy supplied to GPL. This is a lump-sum, take-or-pay contract for the supply of power which no one can quantify since the contract provides for Amaila to “give” blackout for six different Continued on page 5
In the face of impossible odds, we the people who love Guyana can change it DEAR EDITOR, Guyana is at an at an important and perhaps very critical juncture of its history. Its people have survived colonialism, Jaganism, Burnhamism Hoyteism with some sense of accomplishment but under Jagdeoism nothing tangible has been achieved other than massive corruption, barefaced thieving, more crimes and the marginalization of the working class. That is the trademark and legacy of Jagdeoism. Guyanese have lost a golden opportunity to rid themselves of over US$90 million a year in fossil fuel purchase just because the PPP cannot ever do a deal that is not filled with huge kickbacks for themselves. The PPP and their Hydropower apologists, some of whom reside in the Private Sector Commission are crooked in their thoughts and will only concoct deals that will benefit their pockets. But as a people, we must not give up because we believe that the majority opposition will continue to hold the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal in check as they have done in Parliament with the last two budgets. We must
continue our efforts to recover from this Amalia fiasco and rebuild from this Sithe Global disaster. If the people had allowed the Amalia Falls Hydro power project to come to fruition, it would have stifled the economic well-being of Guyanese, especially the poor and the working class. As Guyanese, we must seize on the future and strive to erase the era of Jagdeoism from our history for it has blighted the country. Guyana’s future must be grounded in bringing economic security to the working-class families; something that does not exist. Over the last decade under the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal, these working class families saw their real income decline. They saw the cost of things like basic foodstuff like chicken sky rocketed. They lived through a so-called economic “expansion” for the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal and their tribe of close friends but they are not seeing the “honey” trickling down to the poor. Many are calling the last 10 years of Jagdeoism ”the lost decade” and the current Minister of Finance
marshaled the economy through most of it. What an absolute financial failure? So the anxiety that’s out there today isn’t new. Too many of those in the sugar belt, poultry rearing and in Linden now feel that they have no lost economic future because they cannot find jobs or purchase a house to raise their family. Long gone are the days when five subjects at CXC can almost guarantee one a job. Today, in order to have a good paying job, one has to have the added criteria of having a god father in the PPP. Doesn’t this remind you of the old Burnham days when the only thing that could have gotten you a gallon of oil at the KSI was the PNC party card. Now the young people are being forced to join the PYO to secure jobs in the state sector. Even during the Burnham reign, things were better; now all and sundry leaving the shores of Guyana to Suriname, Trinidad,, Barbados with the hope of reaching North America. Very few want to stay and punish under the PPP Government. Today, while the world is moving forward, our social
structures are in ruin and our children are failing in maths and sciences, Guyana pass rates in these subjects are at an all time low. We have an education system that continues to fail our children, a university that has collapsed, a poor health care system that provides little care if any to the people, and an economic policy that does not create jobs for the youths. Every opportunity the PPP cabal gets, they sink the nation. The white elephant Skeldon Sugar factory, the high toll on the Berbice Bridge and the Amalia Falls Hydro project are just three examples. We the people have to take to the streets and protest for our rights in order to make this corrupt PPP cabal understand that ruling a country is not about filling one’s pockets, but serving one’s people. We must take matters in our hands if we want to live up to the creed of ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION AND ONE DESTINY. In the face of impossible odds, we the people who love their country can change it. Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh
Monday September 02, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news
Other than the romantic notion of hydro, there is nothing redeeming... From page 4 reasons including inadequate flow of water, various types of maintenance and emergencies. As far as the critics are concerned, other than the romantic notion of hydro, there is nothing redeeming about this particular project given the way it is conceived, planned, architectured, structured and owned. Many see this as a gigantic rip- off in the making and the colonial mechanism of placing an agent in the GPL to take control of its revenues and its receivables (pledged to the project) is particularly offensive. It is in this context that the study conducted by Mercados Energeticos is useful in the sense that it may help to clarify some of the issues raised above and to answer the burning question: Is this Project at US$858 million a good project that will provide “cheap and reliable power” as the promoters contend or is it detained to be the biggest disaster ever to befall Guyana if it should go through? Mercados study could be helpful in answering this question. The Mercados Report is divided into two main sectors, one dealing with the economic and financial analysis and the second with hydrology issues. The main objective of the study was to ensure that Amaila Falls Project is: i. The least cost generation expansion option assuming the profitability of the project and ii. Compatible with medium and long term demand projections. In order to do projections that would have some possibility of achievement or near achievement, one must start with some known facts and build upon this base with educated estimates of the future, much of it informed by assumptions. Mercados operates on the basis of a 154 MW plant instead of 165 MW, GPL ownership of 142 MW of installed capacity (2009) as opposed to 163.9 MW (GPL data) distribution level losses of approximately 30% as against total system losses of 34.3% (2009) (GPL data). On the demand side, Mercados assumed that of the 131 GWh a year produced by self-generators, 60% would return to the grid in year 1 of Hydro and the remaining 40% in year 2; and that Linden would also be placed on the grid in year 1 at approximately 66.70 GWh a year. Mercados projected demand in 2011 was 619 GWh and sales at 436 GWh. Actual demand in 2011 was 653 GWh and sales 430 GWh with actual system losses at 32 %
as compared to Mercados estimate of 27.4%. Incidentally, Mercados system losses projection of 20.8% remains unchanged from year 2013 to year 2035. In the year 2013 System losses remain at around 31.2%. The reason we compare the Consultants projections with known data is merely to show the difficulty of estimates. Similarly, in its Base Case Scenario it uses a Crude Oil price of $75 per barrel (2013 – US$104 per barrel), which are directly related to the price of HFO and LFO used extensively by GPL. In its estimation, HFO prices are approximately 82.5% of crude prices and LFO 130% of crude. According to GPL, HFO is costing the company on average in 2011 104% of crude and LFO 144% of crude. These are sharp differences and point to the conclusion that either the international experts are plain wrong and quite inaccurate on their conversions or that GPL’s prices as a percentage of crude are overstated. This particular item requires further study since the fuel bill at GPL exceed G$22 billion (2011 Audited Statement). So far we have listed most of the problems encountered by Mercados in arriving at reasonable believable economic and financial results. However in their cost – benefits analysis of Amaila, Mercados used these figure of US$105 million as their fixed annual payment for energy from Amaila. The latest figure is US$122 million per annum, a difference 16.2%. In view of these discrepancies it is highly unlikely that the economic and financial results of the Mercados study can be relied upon to support investing US$858 million in Hydro. Of course the Mercados study does not deal with this capital sum nor does it concern itself with exchange rate risks, dealing exclusively in US currency and conveniently ignoring that GPL will be obliged to buy energy in US currency and sell electricity in Guyana dollars. Significantly too, it does not deal with the GPL’s licence and its methodology of setting tariffs. Nowhere does it factor in the massive GPL overhead (payroll, depreciation) exceeding G$6.6 billion (2011 Audited Statement) in addition to the production costs. Mercados focused on savings in fuel purchases for generation, savings in Operations/ Maintenance of GPL’s Thermal Equipment and savings in Capital expenditure in new thermal facilities.
In spite of all the difficulties Mercados concluded that “the inclusion of Amaila Falls cuts down GPL’s average supply costs to US11.5c in the medium to long term”. All of this is based on the fact that GPL will continue to utilise Thermal power in significant measure. The whole notion that Hydro will replace fossil is dead wrong. GPL will always need to produce energy from fossil fuels for a variety of reasons. Incidentally, Mercados looked at the estimated cost of the energy produced by medium speed equipment running on heavy fuel oil with 16.07% return on equity and arrived at an estimated cost of 13 – 14 cents US per KWh and US$75 price of crude. The compares favourably with the now famous US11 cents bandied about by the promoters of the Project. As far as the writer is concerned it is much better to pay an extra 2 cents or 3 cents rather than investing US$858 million in a questionable project producing energy where 31% is not billed to anyone. Based on everything stated above, the Mercados 2009/2010 study and its conclusions on so-called savings are unreliable for an investment decision in 2013. The projections and assumptions of Mercados suffered from: 1. Poor estimation of System losses 2. Excessive and unjustified optimism on the return of self-generators to the grid. 3. Overly optimistic forecasts for Linden consumers. 4. Problems in demand forecasting 5. Failure to deal with GPL’s licence and tariff setting. 6. Estimating fuel prices as a function of crude oil prices. 7. Failure to estimate actual energy purchases from Amaila totalling US$122 million 8. Failure to account for exchange risks. 9. Failure to compute savings from system loss reduction and consequent positive impact on tariffs. 10. Use of Sithe’s financial model as an input for Mercados cost benefit analysis. 11. Failure to incorporate in the analysis the sum of US$122 million payable by GPL to Amaila for an undetermined amount of energy which under normal circumstances can be metered and measured. The whole business of paying US$122 million for energy without knowing exactly how much of this product is being purchased and therefore without knowing the unit cost is the
most incredible feature of the deal. Compounded by GPL’s legendary incapacity to manage its existing generating capacity, the uncertainty of the unit price raises serious doubts about whether and when GPL will be ready to cope with Amailaproduced hydro. In a wise statement Mercados concluded that that “Amaila brings structural benefits to the power system: a generation mix hydrothermal is better to hedge risks (oil prices volatility) than a system that entirely relies on thermal plants.” Conversely, entire reliance on hydro is misplaced. The second part of Mercados deals with its review of existing hydrology studies. The report made quite a few troubling observations and conclusions especially the question of lack of hydrological data in the design process and the fact that flows used were obtained by extrapolating results from Kaieteur Falls. It concluded that this methodology “may cause uncertainty regarding the expected power generation.” The report bemoaned actual data on the
site and suggested a way to obtain more accurate information. The main conclusions were that in wet months (June to September) more power can be generated and demand is covered but in months with low hydraulicity, demand is partially covered. This is as clear as it gets. Therefore, the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) reasonably cognisant of this eventuality makes provision for a “legal” blackout based on inadequate flow of water. Clearly, the very fact of the non-guarantee of year round flow is sufficient to seriously reconsider whether an investment of US$858 million in a hydro project makes sense at all. To overcome this problem would require costly engineering variations but Mercado notes that such variations to the structure proposed by Sithe will be practically impossible. CONCLUSION Mercados Economic and Financial Study needs to be reviewed, revised and
updated to take account of the latest information now available and placing greater emphasis on the impact of Amaila on GPL’s tariff. After all, the raison d’etre of Amaila is that it will produce cheap electricity for the GPL consumer. Mercados did not carry its analysis to the logical conclusion and destination i.e. the GPL consumer. This needs to be done using more realistic data and the figure of US$122 million. Using more realistic data or demand, Linden, selfgeneration shifts, system losses, GPL’s overhead costs (over G$6.5 billion 2011) fuel prices for HFO, normal and steady growth in demand, continued use of fossil fuel, a more realistic projection of the impact on present tariffs should Amaila at US$858 million proceed points to an increase in the order of 23%. As far as the problem of no-flow, this Project should be no-go. R. Gaskin (To be continued)
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
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Kaieteur News
Monday September 02, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
Freddie needs to provide evidence of discrimination DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Freddie Kissoon has not offered any evidence to support his contentious conclusion (KN column Sep 1) that Indians are not critical of aspects of PPP’s governance. There are numerous commentaries penned by Indians, including from this writer, critiquing aspects of government’s policies and actions and officials as well. So it is not true that Indians don’t speak out against wrong doings. One cannot condemn discrimination unless there is evidence to show there is discrimination. Clearly, Freddie is abusing his right of free speech making unsupported claims and irresponsible generalized statements as has been history as a columnist. People should have unfettered freedom of speech right but columnists like Freddie must exercise restraint in making claims that are not substantiated with facts or empirical evidence. For example, Freddie claims that there is ethnic discrimination in Guyana and Indians are not speaking out against such discrimination. Kissoon needs to take one sector and how show how
any group is being discriminated against. Balanced analysis is sorely missing in Kissoon’s commentaries. I can provide Kissoon with evidence to show how Indians are being neglected in infrastructure and housing in rural areas and in low pay in the sugar sector. Can Freddie cite authentic (real, not manufactured) figures to support his claim informing the world in what areas discrimination exists and how? Could it be that such discrimination does not really exist and Freddie is just making claims in order to have some kind of relevance in the media or retain a following from the other side? Freddie pens that some African liberation fighters, primarily those attached to the WPA, against the PNC dictatorship regret their action that helped to restore democratic rule because it has led to Indian PPP political domination. Is Freddie saying that Africans would have been better off had Guyana remained a PNC controlled dictatorship since October 1992. One should not support democratic rule or join a
freedom struggle based on ethnic consideration. It should be based on a principle that people have a right to democratic governance and equal opportunities regardless of ethnicity. Indians are grateful to the handful of Africans, like Bro. Kwayana, Nigel Westmaas, Ogunseye, Walter Rodney, Frank Fyffe, Clive Thomas, etc. who joined Indians, including this writer, in the struggle against the PNC dictatorship. Those Africans who now express regrets of standing side by side with Indians to fight Burnhamism are simply wrong. Opposing the dictatorship was the right and honorable thing. Since the fall of the dictatorship, full democratic rule has been restored in our country and people have freedom of association as well as to absolute freedom to pursue their goals. Political and economic opportunities are not based on ethnic considerations as happened under the PNC dictatorship as African liberation fighters had condemned. If Freddie feels otherwise, let him provide it to the public, not just make general statements. Vishnu Bisram
Monday September 02, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Monday September 02, 2013
Businesswoman’s body in Diamond house…
We know who the killer is Detectives yesterday continued to question Sergeant Collin Bailey as they seek to solve the bizarre murder of his reputed wife, Sirmattie Ramnaress, who was found dead in her Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara home last Saturday. Kaieteur News understands that Sergeant Bailey was questioned for several hours at the Ruimveldt Police Station on Saturday and again yesterday. Sergeant Bailey confirmed to Kaieteur News that he was questioned “as part of normal police procedure.” “I’m cooperating with the investigation; I want to ensure that this crime is solved. Despite the understanding that the husband should be the prime suspect, my conscience is clear, my whereabouts are known. “I don’t intend for my wife’s death to go just like that.” Sources say that investigators are not at all convinced that the 46-yearold businesswoman was the victim of a robbery. According to a source, some detectives believe that the crime scene was staged, down to the ransacking of the home, the dousing of the
- victim’s sister - reputed husband urges swift capture
The dead woman’s reputed husband Collin Bailey speaks to a relative at the scene property with fuel, and the placing of three bottles of beverages on a table to imply that three intruders had entered the house. The fact that the surveillance tapes from the victim’s house were missing has also led some to suggest that someone who was familiar with the premises is the perpetrator. Yesterday, one of the
businesswoman’s close relatives dismissed any suggestions that robbers killed Ms. Ramnaress. Nadira Budhoo, an overseas-based sister of the slain woman, told Kaieteur News that she knows the identity of her sibling’s killer and has provided an attorney with information about the matter. “We know who it (the
killer) is. They will catch the perpetrator if they work with the evidence.” Ms. Budhoo alleged that her sister had expressed fear for her safety, but declined to go into details. Kaieteur News was told that detectives have lifted fingerprints from a length of wood that the killers may have used to hit Ms. Ramnaress. Fingerprints were also lifted from the three beverage bottles that were retrieved from a table. Detectives also plan to examine the footage from CCTV cameras along the East bank and East Coast Demerara in the hope of identifying the individuals who made off with the murdered woman’s car, which was found at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. Sirmattie Ramnaress, also known as ‘Pavita’, of 21st Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, was found lying face down in her garage around 08:30 hours on Saturday, by a handyman who went to her residence. Singh’s body bore two stab wounds to the neck and hip and she also had a head injury. Bloodstains on the floor seemed to indicate that she
was attacked in her living room and was then dragged by her feet to the garage. A stacked storage bond at the back of the property was torched, while the house was doused with diesel fuel but not set alight. Investigators seem to believe that Ms. Ramnaress was murdered during the early hours of Saturday. A close friend of the dead woman disclosed that she had dropped her home at about 09:00 hrs on Friday. Some neighbours spoke of seeing Ms. Ramneress sweeping her yard early Saturday, but no one recalled hearing unusual noises. HANDYMAN’S DISCOVERY A young man who does odd jobs for Ms. Ramnaress told Kaieteur News that he went to the businesswoman’s home at around 08:00 hrs on Saturday. He said that the gate was locked and no one responded when he pressed the buzzer. The lad said he returned about an hour later, and this time he found the gate unlocked. He then entered the yard and raised an alarm after seeing the businesswoman lying motionless in her garage. Residents then went
Dead: Sirmattie Ramnaress to the scene and it was then that they observed that the bond was on fire. Residents who spoke to Kaieteur News said that an alarm would usually go off during the early hours of the day whenever someone stepped on the businesswoman’s bridge. None of them recalled hearing the alarm on Saturday. VISITED REPUTED WIFE’S HOME ON MONDAY Sergeant Bailey told Kaieteur News that he last saw his reputed wife alive on (Continued on page 20)
Surface upgrade for Soesdyke Linden Highway imminent Rehabilitation of several sections of the Soesdyke Linden Highway (SLH) to the tune of $57.5M is expected to commence shortly, according to Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon. According to a private engineer knowledgeable about the SLH, “There is need for rehabilitation of the wearing surface of the highway at this time, but this requires funding to bring it about.” The engineer asserted that current expenditure on maintenance of the highway should not be correlated with the quarrying of sand in its vicinity but should be connected with recommended highway maintenance practice. It was noted that feasibility studies for the design and construction of highways usually have a 20year horizon. During such a period, the capital investment in the highway would have been recovered either as toll revenues or as benefits to road users if no tolls are charged for the use of the highway.
Providing a brief history of the SLH, he said the structure was constructed from 1966 to 1968 and has therefore been in use for 45 years. It underwent rehabilitation in the mid 1990s, which involved the demolition of nine timber bridges and their reconstruction with reinforced concrete, the paving of the highway from Soesdyke to Kuru-Kuru with a new asphaltic concrete surface, and the sealing of cracks in the wearing surface between Kuru-Kuru and Linden with asphalt. Those works cost US$11 million. The engineer recalled that some depressions in the surface of the highway were diagnosed as being due to the changing exterior of the existing ground by excavating sand from one part and depositing it in another part. “What is called cutting and filling, caused the water table in some locations to come into contact with the sand below the highway base. This reduced the support
given by the sand to the base and weakened the base. This problem was eliminated by construction of what were called French drains in the sand below the base in such areas,” the engineer explained. He noted that the existence of sand quarries along the highway in general does not affect the structural stability of the highway, provided that the quarrying is done in accordance with regulations. According to the engineer, highways are usually designed with either flexible or rigid pavements. The SLH has a flexible pavement design that is made of stabilised soil bases and an asphaltic concrete wearing surface. He explained, “Its base (the load distribution component of the road structure) is constructed with white sand stabilised with asphalt. Flexible pavements deflect under wheel loads with most of the deflection disappearing after the wheel load passes. A small amount
The Soesdyke Linden Highway remains, which accumulates over the years until they become noticeable to the road user.” The engineer added that the quality of the vehicle ride on the asphaltic surface deteriorates and eventually requires a rehabilitation of the
wearing surface to restore it to its original smoothness. This is done by paving the highway with a new asphaltic concrete surface, or by physically digging up the existing surface, recovering the sand and crushed stone, mixing these with new asphalt
and paving the highway with these recycled materials. He said in more developed countries, best practice for maintaining the riding quality of asphaltic concrete highways is to renew the wearing surface at intervals of 15 to 20 years.
Monday September 02, 2013
One guy left his home in Guyana and went overseas to live. One day he decided to return home and thought that it would be nice if he asked one of his new overseas friends to accompany him. The friend was keen to see this South American country but not being a man of great means, asked where he was going to stay on his trip. The Guyanese man told him not to worry that he had a fully furnished home which he had left unoccupied in Guyana and that all that was required when they came back would have been some sweeping and they would be very comfortable. The two friends departed for Guyana. At the airport, they took a cab and headed for their destination. When they arrived, the owner was shocked at what he saw. A number of persons had taken up residence in his unattended home. To rub salt
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in his wounds, when the owner tried to get through what was left of his gate, he was greeted by one of the unauthorised squatters who asked him where he was going. His home had been taken over by strangers. There were no less than five families living there. The place was almost destroyed. This scene is not unusual, especially for persons who leave their buildings unoccupied. They refuse to rent their homes because they know that there is a high risk that they would have problems evicting the tenant when the time came. This often involves a protracted legal process that sides with tenants. They also know that tenants are not usually under any obligation to take care of the premises and more often than not when they leave, the owner ends up having to foot a
heavy bill for repairs to the home. So they prefer to leave their homes unoccupied. The problem is that there are now persons, especially in the towns, looking for such homes. They notice an unoccupied home and they invade and take it over. In due course, other unauthorised persons also take up residence. But should assistance be extended to fast-tracking government house lots for persons trespassing? In Guyana, if you want a house lot, all you need to do is to go and squat and when the authorities come to destroy your structure, you are bound to qualify for a house lot. Why should these individuals be fast-tracked for house lots when there may be more needy persons who have applied before and are awaiting the processing of their applications? During the time when Mrs.
Parliament Building to be cordoned off, building to have facelift
Outside Parliament Building where development works would be executed. Parliament Building’s immediate environment would soon be cordoned off with the aim of shutting out unwanted elements such as vagrants, garbage and vehicles that destroy the parapets. According to Raphael Trotman, Speaker of the National Assembly, the barriers would only be opened on days that the National Assembly is in session. Trotman said that currently works are being done to improve the parapets that vehicles would have destroyed over the years. This initiative is one of the many modifications that are being done to improve the Parliament Building in time for
October, when recess period will end, he added. Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, during his recent post-Cabinet press briefing, enlightened that Government gave its noobjection for the award of the contract for the rehabilitation of Parliament Building’s roof to the tune of $31.7M. According to Trotman, the structure’s roof has been in a poor condition for some time and is actually the most critical area that needs rehabilitating. He said the works are being carried out by the Ministry of Public Works. He advised that the existing communal washroom would be modified and designated only for the use by Members of Parliament.
Meanwhile, a section of the building would be extended to accommodate a washroom for members of the public. Trotman mentioned that changes inside the Chamber include new furnishings for Parliamentarians, media operatives, and members of the public; and a new air conditioning unit. He said during the last sitting of parliament, he was forced to have the windows opened because the air conditioning unit was malfunctioning. Trotman emphasized that these works are being done simultaneously and already the air conditioning unit has been purchased and models for the new furnishings and the plans for the washrooms have been reviewed.
Janet Jagan was President she gave out a number of lots to persons in Tiger Bay and also assisted them financially. Today large sections of Tiger Bay remain a shanty town, with makeshift structures being thrown up on private property. This is the problem that property owners face in Guyana. Someone can take up unauthorized residence on your property and there is
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nothing you can do outside of instituting civil procedures. This is a real problem in Guyana. The government has to protect homeowners from these invasions by trespassers, allowing for a less time-consuming process for eviction where someone is squatting on someone else’s property. At present if someone trespasses on your property, you have to file
costly and length civil proceedings to have then removed. This is why the laws need to be changed to make it easier for trespassers to be removed. Unless this is done, this form of trespassing will continue unabated.
Dem boys seh
Is who spending de Norway Funds? China really give Guyana a lot of things. But of course, is something fuh something. Guyana decide to buy some laptop and right away de Chinee decide to give de country 9,000 more laptop. Jagdeo did plan to giveaway 90,000, suh when de Chinee give 9,000 Jagdeo shoulda save money but nobody ain’t even tell de people if Guyana getting a discount or if dem got to give away 99,000 laptop. Dem boys seh that de Chinee coulda afford to give away de 9,000 laptop because de price Guyana end up paying fuh de 90,000 coulda buy 80,000 more because when dem boys check de price fuh netbooks dem find that even at de retail price dem cheaper than what Guyana
was paying. Now things reach de stage wheh people wondering whether de same laptop programme still ongoing. Couple people get but dem boys sure that less than 30,000 share out. Suh dem want to know wheh de rest deh and if indeed Guyana getting dem. Now dem same Chinee give Guyana US$8million. Dem boys seh that de money is to pay off fuh some of de land in de goldfield that Rob Earth give dem same Chinee. Nobody ain’t paying attention but all of a sudden dem have nuff Chinee porkknocker. Dem suh nuff that China planning to open a bank in Guyana. This got some special advantage fuh Guyana because dem who got nuff
money ain’t got to worry bout any money laundering Bill. China ain’t got anything against money laundering but when one of dem own thief, is de firing squad. At one time dem boys believe that Donald would try some of that but it look like if he now getting into de groove. India opening another bank too. Dem boys want to know in which bank de Norway funds going because Republic Bank seh that it ain’t see none. Demerara Bank and GBTI ain’t see none too. Perhaps de Bank of Guyana getting all but is who signing dem cheque? Ash Knee? Bharrat? Donald? Or somebody who tekking instructions? Talk half and watch how dem laptops going.
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Significant amount of domestic abuse cases terminated daily While recent statistics show a steady increase in the amount of persons who are murdered, injured or permanently scarred as a result of domestic abuse, statistics reflect an even further increase in the abrupt termination of matters related to abuse and domestic violence that are placed before the courts. Two in every three cases of domestic abuse before the local Magistrates’ courts are aborted, owing to the reluctance of victims to offer evidence against their abusers. An average of 40 cases related to domestic abuse passes through the Magistrates’ courts every week. Human Services Minister Jennifer Webster had hinted at revisiting the current domestic violence legislation to ensure that even if a woman “backs out” on giving evidence against her abuser, the police can still proceed with the matter once there is sufficient evidence. The police had developed a zero tolerance approach to
domestic violence and issues related to abuse. The law enforcement agency has implemented a strict system whereby complaints of domestic abuse must be filed for court action. In a bid to highlight the underlying factor of the current statistics, several persons of judicial capabilities were interviewed by this newspaper. A number of those who spoke to Kaieteur News are convinced that the court should be in sync with the rest of the law enforcement chain and adopt a similar zero tolerance approach. However matters of such nature at a judicial level can be, ‘quite ticklish.’ Attorney -at- Law, Haymant K. Ramdhani, lauded the Minister’s effort to stop this sort of abuse. He however noted that an amendment of this kind threads on sensitive grounds given that it relates directly to relationships and families. “It will be a good initiative by the Minister. This amendment to the legislation has the ability of deterring
- Victims disinclined to offer evidence against their abusers abusers and potential abusers. However the matter is quite intricate and sensitive …. If the amendment is to compel a woman to give evidence against her husband, who is the breadwinner of home, this can cause a social predicament. There are all sorts of complexities implicated in such matters and the effects that such a law can destabilize marriages, and the society at large.” Mr. Ramdhani, a former Magistrate, pointed to Chapter 10:02 Section 22 of Summary Jurisdiction (Procedure) Act which relates to refractory witnesses. “The law stipulates, where any person attending either in obedience to summons, or by virtue of warrant, or being present in court and being verbally required by the court to give evidence in any case —refuses to be sworn or having been sworn refuses to answer any question put to
him by or with the sanction of the court, or refuses or neglects to any document which is required by the court to produce without offering a sufficient excuse for his refusal, the court may, if it thinks fit, adjourn the hearing of the case for any period not exceeding eight days, in the meantime, by warrant may commit the person to prison, unless he sooner consents to do what is required of him.” “It is my legal opinion that this section of the law can be applied in certain cases, since the complainant in any case is a witness and as such the court can persuade the complainant to give evidence against the accused,” Ramdhani said. Another judicial officer pointed out that in the judicial system, it is not a custom for Magistrates to force a victim into giving evidence against the architect of the crime. That decision lies solely in the hands of the victim. “However, Magistrates are not entirely powerless in
this regard, as couples can be placed on peace bonds. The Magistrate can send out a stern warning to abusers before the court, or in some cases involve the social workers (Probation Officers).” In outlining a major contributing factor for the disinclination of victims (which in most cases are women) offering evidence against their attackers, the legal officer said that victims often quip, “Yuh Worship, is me child father or my husband is the breadwinner for the family, me ain’t want no story.” “Most women back down because of the lack of empowerment, while some refuse to be empowered.” Meanwhile, APNU Member of Parliament, Deborah Backer believes that the issue should be tackled from basic standpoints. “If the Virtual Complainant refuses to go into the witness box and testify against his or her attacker, there is not much that the court can do ….however, if we have topics such as anger management or life skill classes woven into our education system, places
of work, or invest in billboards that campaign against domestic and interpersonal violence, this will raise awareness and we might see better results,” explained Mrs. Backer, who is an Attorney -at -Law. “Education is not just about academia or how much subjects a person can acquire. While being a high achiever in this regard is commendable, being a well rounded individual is even more important. That’s where I believe the Education system can advance. We need to start at the basics with our children, inculcating in their study lifestyle topics that will help build their character,” Backer reiterated. The main opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity APNU has recently uttered the need for a unit to address issues of interpersonal violence. APNU believes that there is a need for added support systems designed for vulnerable women and girls in crisis, and an increased number of safe homes for abused, battered, trafficked and sexually-exploited women and girls.
More shocking revelations about Amaila Hydro Project IDB was asking for higher rate of return than China Govt. deceptively kept information from public - Ramjattan While the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) would normally make loans available to Guyana and other countries at concessional rates in the vicinity of one or two per cent, the loan to the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project was set at a whopping 9.5 per cent. This would mean that the IDB’s loan was being made at a higher interest rate than that of the Chinese Exim Bank, which the opposition and some sections of civil society had already labeled ‘prohibitively high.’ The China Exim Bank was asking for 8.5 per cent on for its US500M that it had promised to lend for the Amaila Hydro Electric Project, while the IDB was asking for 9.5 per cent. This was confirmed this past weekend by Winston Brassington, who served as Guyana’s lead negotiator for the project. One analyst explained that the reason the IDB was asking for such a high rate of return is because it was for a private company, Amaila Falls Hydro Inc, and not a government that would
normally receive concessionary rates. Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan when contacted for a comment on the IDB rate of return for its US$100M said that it was shocking and even more prohibitive than the Chinese loan. The AFC Leader had met with the Chinese Ambassador in a bid to query the ‘prohibitive’ 8.5 per cent it was asking for. The AFC Leader yesterday said too that the revelation that the IDB was asking for 9.5 per cent has illustrated the deceptive nature of Government given that all along, stakeholders were of the impression that the loan was at a concessionary rate of 1.5 per cent. “They (Government) should have come out and clarified this,” said Ramjattan, as he asserted that government knew that stakeholders were operating on the notion that the IDB loan was at a concessionary rate. He further stated that had
Khemraj Ramjattan – AFC Leader government come out and explained that the IDB was asking for 9.5 per cent, then there would have been a better understanding in the public as to why the project was costing this much. He lamented that the confusion surrounding the project could have been avoided, had the government made public the various financial arrangements. The Confidential Project (Continued on page 20)
Monday September 02, 2013
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Monday September 02, 2013
His name is Kevin Pietersen. They call him “KP” but since last Sunday night if you called him “KPee” you would not be wrong. It has been claimed that following the final Test match in the present Ashes series played at the Oval in Surrey, England players including Kevin Pietersen, Stuart Broad and James Anderson reportedly queued up to relieve themselves on the square while their team-mates cheered. Off-spinner, Graeme Swann, England’s top wickettaker in the series, tried to impart his own spin on the event, “We did go out to the middle of the pitch, all the lads, drinking beers, singing a few songs and enjoying each other’s company… I think the call of nature might have come once or twice but it was nothing untoward…It was midnight, a private celebration in the middle of the pitch and the ground was dark.” Swann did not say if he tried to create his own Swanee River or Swann Lake and it was clear that nobody was sorry about their Surrey behavior. ESPN’s cricinfo website reported, “The England players have apologised for their celebra-
Kaieteur News
tions at The Oval after winning the Ashes 3-0 on Sunday. There were reports - neither officially confirmed nor denied - that they had urinated on the pitch but the statement issued via the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday did not go into the specifics of the incident.” The ECB’s ambiguous statement read, “The England cricket team would like to state that during our celebrations after winning the Ashes at no time was there any intention to disrespect Surrey CCC, The Oval or anyone else involved in the game we love. As a team we pride ourselves on respecting all things cricket including the opposition and the grounds we play at. We got carried away amongst the euphoria of winning such a prestigious series and accept that some of our behaviour was inappropriate. If that has caused any offence to anyone we apologise for that and want to reassure people that it was a simple error of judgement more than anything else.” Interestingly, the ECB did not view Monty Panesar’s recent urinary escapade at a Sussex night-club in
the same light. He was not included in the England squad in that final Test match and was replaced instead by another leftarm spinner, Simon Kerrigan, who went wicketless in the first innings (0 for 53 in 8 overs or an economy rate of 6.62) and did not bowl in the second. Panesar has 164 test wickets at an economy rate of 2.75. The ECB’s behavior is understandable if we take into consideration a recent statement by the top England batsman in the series, Ian Bell. In describing the difference between his batting style and KPee’s, he said, “He cuts, I pull. He flicks it, I drive it.” In other words, different strokes for different folks. Fortunately for those of us who love the game and respect its traditions, the ECB’s spinelessness was neither universal nor tolerated. Shane Warne, the greatest spinbowler of all time, spun the incident differently. Writing in the Mail Online, Mike Dawes said, “Australia great Shane Warne has called England ‘crass’ and ‘arrogant’ following reports that a number of players urinated on the pitch at the Kia Oval following the fifth Ashes Test. Aus-
tralian journalists present at the ground wrote eyewitness reports of England players relieving themselves on the pitch to loud cheers during late night celebrations that followed a 3-0 series win.” Warne is quoted as saying, “‘Unfortunately, the way people are judged these days it’s best to celebrate within the confines of the dressing room. Stay in there as long as you like, get as drunk as you like if that is what you want to do and enjoy your team-mates and the moment. But to go and disrespect something as ancient as the Oval pitch in such an unnecessary and crass way is a pretty ordinary and arrogant thing to do, I wonder also if the opposition was mentioned too?” I would not be surprised. As Dawes said, “It would not be the first time such a practice, however unsavoury, has been observed by a victorious cricket team but the incident has nevertheless attracted significant debate.” Nick Hoult of the Telegraph recalled, “In 2005 the England players famously celebrated winning the Ashes against the great Australian side with a mammoth drinking
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session after the match which culminated in a reception at Downing Street with Tony Blair where it later emerged one of the players urinated in the Prime Minister’s garden.” It was reported that Cameron was not amused. In fact, he too was pissed. David Hopps of espncricinfo, in a witty commentary on England’s “wee” party, wrote, “But judging by reports from Australian journalists, who arguably represent more dangerous opponents to England than their team, England’s players, who are well practiced in zipping up their mouths in an era of cautious media comments, may now have to receive training in zipping up their trousers…Certainly England’s weak bladders provided final justification for all those toilet breaks, but were there other more worrying explanations? Was it an indication of what England’s players think of the dry surfaces on which they have won the Ashes series - surfaces which
suited them but which often demanded laborious cricket? Australians scoffed that this was the first watering England’s Test pitches had had for months. Were they paying homage in a strange fashion to the antics of Monty Panesar, whose place in England’s Ashes squad for the return series is in jeopardy because he urinated from on high on a Brighton nightclub bouncer? Or were they simply marking out their territory after dismissing Australia 3-0 in the five-Test series? It is common in cats, especially male cats. Neutering is often proposed as a solution.” Perhaps the best solution comes from an old song, “If you ha’ pee and you know it, and you really want to show it, if you ha’ pee and you know it clap your hands.” *Tony Deyal was last seen saying that one solution proposed to the ECB was to fire the entire team from captain to cook. It was rejected because, in this case, Cook is the captain.
Fire guts DaSilva’s House of Optics One of Georgetown’s oldest wooden buildings which houses the DaSilva’s House of Optics, was gutted by a fire which is believed to have started from a faulty air condition unit in the upper flat of the building. Kaieteur News was told that the fire started shortly after 13:00hrs yesterday afternoon. Fire Chief Marlon Gentle who was at the scene yesterday told Kaieteur News that the fire service began receiving calls just after 1:30 on Sunday afternoon. Gentle said that the Fire Service immediately responded and rushed to the scene. At the scene, he said, fire officers noticed that the building was heavily laden with smoke coming from the top flat of the two storey building. Gentle said that there were also flames coming from the center of the house. According to Gentle, the firemen quickly worked to contain the fire to just that one structure. He said that after the initial response,
there was need for more fire tenders which were subsequently summoned. As the firefighters continued to pour water onto the building, Da Silva family members were seen removing several articles from the lower flat, which served as the main office for the country’s leading local house. Family members lived at the top of the building. Brandon Milner, a relative of the owners of the property told Kaieteur News that at the time fire started, there were three occupants inside the house, including a one year old child. Milner said that the three were sleeping when they were awakened by the fire. He said that he was told that the occupants saw an air condition unit on fire. Meanwhile according to an eyewitness, around 2:00 pm, smoke was seen billowing from the top flat of the wooden structure. “I see this black smoke going up in the air from where I been at the hospital and then
Fire fighters attending to the building. I hear like glass breaking up inside,” the eyewitness said. He added that about 10
minutes after the blaze started, occupants who conducted business
downstairs were seen taking out a number of items from the bottom flat. He said however
that the persons who lived upstairs were nowhere to be seen.
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Police do not have absolute Widow blames hospital’s poor right to search without warrant service for husband’s death Several legal authorities believe that while Guyana’s legislation states that search warrants should be provided under certain circumstances, the culture and practice in Guyana demonstrate otherwise. Observers believe that the police and other law enforcement agencies have been abusing their authority by coming up with flimsy reasons to effect searches on the properties of citizens. In many cases, the police shelter under the “reasonable suspicion” clause to access people’s homes, vehicles and other properties to carry out searches which often come up empty. One experienced lawyer explained that a search warrant can be described as a written order issued to police officials by a Magistrate or a Justice of Peace, which authorizes the examination of premises. According to senior police officers, “First and foremost, what citizens must understand is that it is their constitutional right to challenge any officer who wishes to carry out a search.” “If you are approached by an officer, it is procedure for him to explain why he wants to carry out a search. And it is your constitutional right to challenge that officer for grounds of reasonable suspicion.” The officer said that it is mandatory for any person effecting a search to explain what is their “reasonable suspicion”. He explained that while there are some situations that do not require a search warrant, there are instances where one is required. According to the law, a
- Attorneys-at-law search warrant should be provided in the case where an officer is looking for a wanted person, fugitive, evidence to support a case before the court, stolen articles, among other prohibited or illegal items. In addition, laboratories and pharmacies cannot be searched without a warrant. “Further, a warrant clearly says what the search is for. If it is for a fugitive, then they can’t look for stolen items. Another warrant would be required for such and this is what is expected of the officer, according to procedure.” However, if an officer is in hot pursuit, a warrant is certainly not needed. The officers further explained that, Warrants are also not needed for the search for ammunition, firearms and drugs “because the officer has the right as well to stop, search and detain at any time, once there’s reasonable suspicion, and this is the law.” “And though it is wide, it allows the officer to do this because if a search is carried out by illegal entry, and any narcotic is found, it would still be used as evidence in court.” But according to a prominent attorney at law, “while Chapter 16:01 Section 19 of the Police Act may state that an officer has the right to, ‘stop, search and detain…,’ a search warrant is needed to search a premises for drugs according to the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Act).” “What is interesting is that the Police Act was in existence long before the
We know who the... (From page 8) Monday night at her home. Bailey said that he stayed overnight at the premises. The policeman, who is stationed at the Vigilance Police Station, said that he left on Tuesday morning and went to work. He said that on Wednesday, he attended a seminar. According to Sergeant Bailey, who resides at Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, he left a key at the premises for Ms. Ramnaress to pick up. Sergeant Bailey said that he and his reputed wife had access to both homes at any time. According to him, he spoke to his spouse on Thursday night. He said that she did not appear to be worried. Bailey said that he was at the airport at around 10:00 hrs on Saturday when he received the news of Ms. Ramnaress’ death. He then reported to a senior officer and was relieved of his duties. He then went to his reputed wife’s home, where he saw her body. He recalled that the house was soaked with diesel fuel which someone had taken from the bond behind the house. According to Bailey, detectives found signs of possible forced entry at grillwork located behind the house. He said that jewellery was missing and the perpetrators may also have made off with cash. In addition, he said that Ms. Ramnaress also wore a plain gold ring and a chain, which were also missing. The sergeant described his spouse as “an early riser” and suggested that she might have switched off the security alarm shortly after getting up. Bailey said that he is trying to provide all information that could lead to the arrest of his wife’s killers, and suggested that the media could also be of assistance.
enactment of the Narcotics Act. Further, when new offences became rampant, such as money laundering and unlawful possession of narcotics, legislations such as the Narcotics Act were put in place and there i s supposed to be rigid compliance with this but over the years, there has been none.” According to the legal luminaries, Chapter 35:11, Section 84 of the Narcotics Act says, “In any prosecution or other proceedings under this Act, no evidence shall be deemed to be inadmissible only on the ground that it was obtained by illegal search or trick.” The Attorneys added that while the law says this, there is no compliance with this law and, “this needs to be addressed.” One of the attorneys who spoke to this newspaper explained that in the United States there is the “Fruit of the poisonous tree” principle which is a legal metaphor that refers to evidence that has been obtained from an illegal search. “The principle suggests that if the tree is poisonous, then anything from it is also considered as being tainted. Therefore, if the evidence has been obtained from an illegal entry then the evidence is not admissible and the case is therefore thrown out. Unfortunately, in the case of Guyana, if the tree is tainted, the fruit is still considered good,” explained the seasoned lawyer. But according to the police, sometimes it takes too long to get a warrant. He suggested that in some cases the police have to circumvent the law in order to achieve results. “I agree that the law may say one thing but we as officers have a job to do. If systems or measures could be put in place where it does not take so long to obtain a warrant then I have no problem complying with that aspect of the law.” Another legal representative related, “a critical issue of note is when the police appear at your home to conduct a search for stolen items or even drugs, ammunition and firearm and you have objected to their search, irrespective of the their grounds for reasonable suspicion and force is used where your property is damaged and they turn up empty handed, in such a case, the Police Commissioner can be sued and the necessary charges would be brought against them.”
A mother of six, who is pregnant with her seventh child, is contemplating life without her husband, who died recently from a snake bite. In fact, 42-year-old Indra Peters says that while school reopens today, her children might not be able to attend classes until next week, since their father was unable to fulfill their requirements for the new term. More importantly, Peters is seeking the authority’s intervention since she is convinced that her husband’s death was as a result of the poor medical service he received at the Linden Hospital. The Kuru Kuru Soesdyke/Linden Highway resident said that her husband was kept at the Hospital for two days, but received no treatment for the snake bite. Peters said that while there was no doctor available to tend to her husband, she was denied permission to take him to another health facility. By the time she got that authorization, it was too late, because her husband died a couple hours later. Peters told Kaieteur News that she had been with her 53year-old husband, Keith Sampson for some 22 years. At the time of his death, they were raising five children, where he was the breadwinner and she the stay-at-home mother. Peters explained that three of the children are going to school; one lives with a relative, while the other two completed secondary school and are unemployed. She explained that on Saturday August 10th, Sampson was bitten by a snake in the Mabura area while plying his trade as a lumberjack. She said she received news about the incident via her oldest son. She then rushed to the Linden hospital, where her husband had been taken, arriving there just before nightfall. Peters stated that her husband told her that around 11:30 hours on that day, he was bitten on the right little finger. A tractor brought him out to the Mabura trail where a waiting ambulance took him to the Linden Hospital where he was admitted. At the time, she said her husband related that he had not received treatment for the bite, while it was understood that no doctor was at work. Peters said, knowing the seriousness of her husband’s case, she pleaded with the onduty nurses to let her take him to the Diamond or Georgetown Hospital where he could be treated. She said they denied and told her that a doctor has to see her
DEAD: 53-year-old Keith Sampson husband before he could be referred. During that time, she said her husband was only given saline. Peters told this newspaper that she reluctantly left her husband and went home. Early the next day, she was back at the hospital, but by then, her husband was spitting and urinating blood, yet there was no doctor to tend to him and he still did not receive medical treatment. Peters said when she approached the nurses they repeated that her husband had to see a doctor before he could be referred elsewhere. She said this infuriated her and she raised her voice at the nurses, who in turn,
started “hollering” on her. Peters explained that since she is pregnant, she had to back down because her breathing got heavy. The nurses however, got on the phone and spoke with a person who they said was a doctor and they were given instructions. The woman stated that after making another request, she was finally given the goahead to take her husband to the city for treatment. Peters said her husband arrived at the Georgetown Public Hospital at around 18:00hours that Sunday and by 22:00hours that evening, he was dead. She said medical personnel at the GPHC told her that the husband’s body had already been contaminated. The following Friday, a post mortem examination confirmed that Sampson had died as a result of the snake bite. Peters said she has not been able to make contact with the authorities as she is strapped for cash. This newspaper contacted Health Minister Bheri Ramsarran on the matter and he promised to address the issue at another time since he was in a meeting. Several subsequent attempts to contact the Minister failed.
Indra Peters (with sun shades) with two of her children.
MORE SHOCKING... (From page 12) Document, which had to be leaked to this publication, has revealed the money to be expended for the hydro project is in excess of US1B, as against the US858M that government had been touting. That document revealed that while the government had said it would only be putting US$100M to the project, it had in fact committed US$157M to the hydro project. That document also revealed that the Guyana Power and Light Company would have had to deposit in an ‘Amaila Debt Reserve Account,’ US$36M in order to ensure payments to Amaila. The power company, in order to prepare for the electricity from Amaila, would have also had to spend more than US$90M in capital works, in order to be ‘hydro-ready’.
Monday September 02, 2013
Kaieteur News
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As Heritage Month 2013 commences...
Amerindians urged to preserve their culture for future generations Heritage Month 2013 was officially launched last evening with warm spirits and high expectations for the remaining activities that will mark the 19th year of official Amerindian celebrations in Guyana. The event was hosted at the Amerindian Village in the National Exhibitions Complex, Sophia and saw a turnout of hundreds of Indigenous peoples from the various Administrative Regions. Among those in attendance were His Excellency President Donald Ramotar, First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, other Ministers of Government and members of the Diplomatic
Corps. As the evening’s events unfolded, much emphasis was placed on the appropriately chosen theme, “Honouring our Culture; Advancing our Future”. According to Chairman of the National Toshoas’ Council, Derrick John, a reflection into the lives of Amerindian ancestors should push the current generation to do what is necessary so as to preserve the rich culture for future generations. John pointed out that it is as a result of the First Peoples bold initiatives that the present generations are able to enjoy and reap the blessings of what was fought for in the past. “It is our role to uphold our culture. If we are not proud of who we are, then we
Singing of the National Anthem in Akawio don’t have a future,” the Chairman declared.
Monday September 02, 2013 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): You need to dive into this bold new adventure without thinking twice -- or even once, preferably! ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): You and your allies need to meet today -- even if it's over email or some other electronic medium. Your energy is just right for rallying the troops and getting everyone to embrace the same cause. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): People are prone to taking you far too seriously today -- so do what you can to clown around and demonstrate that you're just joking. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): You don't have to think too hard about that big purchase or decision -- of course you deserve it! The time may not feel right, but as long as the logistics work out, you need to go for it. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Your heart is as big as they say it is, so make sure that you're following its dictates and showing the world what it's missing when you're not around. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): It's a great day to hang out with friends or bond with coworkers. Your energy is perfectly attuned to socializing, and you may find it easier to make new friends and contacts. Have fun! *********************
LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): Your creative juices are flowing like crazy today, so speak up and make sure that your hottest ideas are out there for public viewing. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): You need to keep your desires to yourself for the time being -- but not for much longer! People just are less inclined to see things your way today and maybe tomorrow, but after that, it's clear sailing! ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): Your creative side is putting in long hours today -- without your having to lift a finger! Of course, if you want to get to work on all those great ideas, you should make some serious headway. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): People are just too demanding today -- but there's not much you can do about that. Try to just roll with the punches and do as much as you can, but expect to be pretty tired by the end of the day. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): You need to deal with something big and sudden today -- but that can be lots of fun, so you don't mind! ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): Coworkers may prove more trouble than they're worth today -- so try to go it alone, if at all possible.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai supported the Chairman’s admonition, noting that although there is much work to be done, the wealth of rich
traditions, customs and cultural heritage is invaluable. She applauded the villages who continue to lead the way in sustaining the rich culture and uniqueness of
Amerindians. The Minister said that the month of September offers Amerindians the opportunity to reflect on the progress made so far and how much has been achieved. “September is the month dedicated to the official observance of the development, prospects, challenges and perspectives of the Heritage of Guyana’s first people.” She noted also that Government recognizes the importance of indigenous people to be free to practice their traditions and cultures. Hence, support is granted by the Amerindian Act of 2006, which, according to the Minister, offers a legal requirement to pursue, maintain, protect and develop manifestations of Amerindian culture. As such, she urged those in attendance to commit to furthering development and cultivation of their heritage while preparing themselves with the attitudes necessary to take full advantage of what has been made available currently. The President, delivering his remarks also noted that the celebration is important since it “offers all the opportunity to reflect on the distance travelled.” He, too, applauded the choice of the theme, stating that “culture is a living thing, so we should strive, not only to preserve it, but also to enrich and develop it.”
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
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Monday September 02, 2013
27 Scouts complete Guyana Police Force Work Study programme With the motto “preparing our youths for a brighter future”, the Guyana Police Force on Friday rewarded 27 successful scouts for completing an annual work study programme, which commenced in July. According to the Scout Coordinator of the Guyana Police Force, Senior Superintendent Lyndon Alves, the month-long programme allowed the 27 individuals, who were taken from Berbice, Linden and Georgetown, to have a firsthand experience in a number of sectors including Forensic photography at the Criminal Investigation Department. Alves said that since the work study programme started, the scouts were able to build working relationships with ranks of the Force. “The main objective of this course is to help and fashion them to become progressive persons in
(From left sitting) Maxine Graham and Lyndon Alves flanked by the 27 scouts and their leaders. society. This closing exercise will mark a significant milestone,” Alves said. Senior Superintendent, Maxine Graham told the
youthful bunch and those in attendance that the scout group was resuscitated by the late Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene back in
2008. Graham urged the thriving candidates to use all that they have learnt in their future employment endeavors.
“Good things come in small packages, so I hope what was imparted will be a life lesson for you all,” Graham said.
Graham also noted that since the scout groups were restarted, there have been a total of 600 serving members across Guyana.
Education Ministry steps in to weed school compounds The Ministry of Education was forced to intervene at the last minute to ensure that some school compounds under the purview of Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDC) in Region Four on the East Coast Demerara were in a state of readiness for today’s re-opening of schools for the new school year. The Ministry is blaming the People National Congress (PNC)/A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)controlled NDCs for willfully not executing their customary duties of cleaning the school compounds that fall within their districts. The negligent Councils include the Beterverwagting/ Triumph, Buxton/Foulis and Haslington/Grove NDCs. According to the Ministry, all other NDC’s assisted in weeding school compounds under their purview. There are 25 schools that fall under the purview of the various NDC’s in Region Four on the East Coast Demerara.
- accuses NDCs of shirking responsibility
A weeder attends to the compound of The East Ruimveldt Secondary School yesterday. Minister Priya Manickchand confirmed that her Ministry only received affirmation on Friday last that the three NDC’s had pulled out of the arrangement to weed the school compounds under their jurisdiction.
Some of the schools that would have been affected are; Golden Grove Primary, Golden Grove Secondary, Swami Puranda Primary, St. Andrews Primary, Victoria Primary, Hope Primary, Clonbrook Primary, Ann’s Grove Primary, Ann’s Grove Secondary, Buxton Primary, Bladen Hall Secondary, Buxton Secondary, Enterprise Nursery, Enterprise Primary, New Friendship Nursery, Friendship Primary, Stratsphey Nursery/ Primary, Paradise Primary, Company Road Primary, B.V Secondary, B.V Quamina Nursery, B.V Quamina Primary and Triumph Nursery. Information reaching this newspaper revealed that the
Education Ministry had to spend an estimated $1.3 million to cleanup these school yards that should have been cleared by the NDCs, in preparation for the new school year. Yesterday, this newspaper observed work being hurriedly done to facilitate the reopening of the affected schools. These NDCs have been doing this (weeding the schools compound) for years and all of a sudden at the last moment they refused to do it. What is all of this for? To make the government look bad? But we are a caring administration,” Minister Manickchand told this newspaper yesterday,
following a tour of the affected schools. But the NDC Chairmen who are being placed under the microscope are claiming that they are not to be blamed. According to Chairman of the Beterverwagting/ Triumph NDC, Bruce Adams, the NDC does not receive any money from Government to weed school compounds. He said that it is the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC) duty and responsibility to maintain the school compounds generally. “They want us to take this additional expense and put it on the Councils to bear. Some of the men that work with us from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority
(NDIA) are being paid by government but they are to look after drainage. However, they ask those men to go do some weeding,” Adams explained “The men did some weeding but they could only weed the big bushes on the fence and drains that would impede the drainage, but t h e y c a n n o t w e ed the compound because the grass has to be weeded with a brush cutter.” Chairman of the Buxton Foulis NDC, Randolph Blair said the weeding of school compound within the Region Four District falls under the RDC and the Regional Education Department. “That is not the function of the NDC. We could assist and we normally assist, but it is not our function. That is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education through the RDC. However, we have done some cleaning to assist the situation,” Blair noted. Haslington/Golden Grove NDC Chairman (ag), William Frank also lamented the lack of funds for the purpose of cleaning the schools. “We would normally assist when funds are available. There is a letter waiting on the Education Minister to weed the Haslington pump dam going to the secondary school, it is in a bad state, and we wrote the Minister because we cannot issue any contract above a certain amount, we are waiting on a reply.”
Monday September 02, 2013
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Obama and aides confront skeptical Congress on Syria strike (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and his top aides launched a full-scale political offensive yesterday to persuade a skeptical Congress to approve a military strike against Syria, but faced an uphill struggle to win over many lawmakers and a war-weary American public. Obama made a series of calls to members of the House of Representatives and Senate, with more scheduled for today, underscoring the task confronting the administration before it can go ahead with using force in response to a deadly chemical attack blamed on the Syrian government. Dozens of lawmakers, some in tennis shirts or shirtsleeves, cut short their vacations and streamed into the corridors of the Capitol building for yesterday afternoon intelligence briefing on Syria with Obama’s national security team. When they emerged nearly three hours later, there was no immediate sign that the many skeptics in Congress had changed their
minds. “I am very concerned about taking America into another war against a country that hasn’t attacked us,” said Representative Janice Hahn, a California Democrat. On the way out of the briefing, she said the participants appeared “evenly divided” on whether to give Obama approval. None expressed doubts that Syria had engaged in chemical warfare. “The searing image of babies lined up dead, that’s what I can’t get out of my mind right now,” Democratic Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz said after the closed-door briefing. But the credibility of the administration’s intelligence is turning out to be a less important issue than the nature and usefulness of the response. Earlier in the day, Secretary of State John Kerry invoked the crimes of Adolf Hitler and Saddam Hussein and warned of a potential threat to Israel a day after Obama’s decision to delay an imminent attack on Syrian targets and allow Congress to vote on it first. Even as Kerry took to the
airwaves touting new evidence that deadly sarin gas was used in the August 21 chemical attack near Damascus, the scope of the challenge confronting the administration became apparent. Lawmakers raised a broad array of concerns, including the potential effectiveness of limited strikes, the possible unintended consequence of dragging the United States into another open-ended Middle East conflict, the wisdom of acting without broader international backing to share the burden and the war fatigue of the American public. Many in Congress have been able to avoid taking a position on the merits of a military strike, focusing instead on demands that Obama consult them and seek their approval. While Kerry predicted Obama would win the endorsement he wants, a growing cacophony of congressional critics ranging from liberal Democratic doves to Republican Tea Party conservatives - illustrated just how hard that will be.
U.S. President Barack Obama (R) meets with his national security staff to discuss the situation in Syria in the Situation Room of the White House in Washington Saturday. REUTERS/Pete Souza/White House/Handout via Reuters At the same time, Kerry, the administration’s most impassioned voice for intervention in Syria’s 2-1/2year civil war, was left to publicly defend Obama’s stunning reversal, a decision that puts any strike on hold for at least nine days. “This is squarely now in the hands of Congress,” Kerry told CNN, saying he had confidence “they will do what is right because they understand the stakes.” In a round of television appearances, Kerry declined to say whether Obama would go ahead with military action if Congress rejects the president’s request, as Britain’s parliament did last week to derail London’s role in any Syria military operation. But, echoing Obama’s comments in the White House Rose Garden on Saturday, he insisted the president had the right to act on his own if he chooses that course. Obama is taking a gamble by putting the brakes on the military assault that he considers essential to maintain U.S. credibility after Assad crossed the “red line” set against the use of chemical weapons. The consensus on Capitol Hill is that Obama has a good chance of winning approval in the Democraticled Senate, but the vote appears too close to call in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where the president’s opponents rarely miss an opportunity to block him. Acknowledging that the administration has its work cut out for it to persuade some lawmakers, Kerry insisted they could not “have it both ways” by demanding a voice in the matter and then abdicating responsibility to uphold the international bans on chemical weapons use. Kerry used the television
appearances to provide further evidence backing accusations against the Syrian government. “I can share with you today that blood and hair samples that have come to us through an appropriate chain of custody, from east Damascus, from first responders, it has tested positive for signatures of sarin,” Kerry told CNN’s “State of the Union.” It was the first time the administration had pinpointed what kind of chemical was used in the attack on a rebel-held area, which U.S. intelligence agencies said killed more than 1,400 people, many of them children. “So this case is building and this case will build,” Kerry told NBC’s “Face the Nation.” Obama’s efforts are sure to be hampered by his dismal relations with congressional Republicans. Another bitter face-off on government spending is looming this autumn. Lawmakers for the most part welcomed Obama’s decision to consult them, but looked in no hurry to reconvene early from their summer recess, which lasts until September 9. Comments from leading Republicans and Democrats indicated how complex the debate will be - and raised doubts whether Obama would win their authorization. Underscoring a sense of wariness even from Obama’s traditional allies, a spokesman for Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy said the Vermont Democrat believes that the use-of-force resolution offered by the White House is too broad and that new language will be written for consideration. Mike Rogers, Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told
CNN: “I think there are some real challenges. I think that at the end of the day, Congress will rise to the occasion. This is a national security issue.” Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, speaking on NBC, took a more skeptical view. While saying he was “proud” of Obama for coming to Congress for authority, Paul said, “It’s at least 50-50 whether the House will vote down the involvement in the Syrian war.” “I think the Senate will rubber stamp what he wants,” he said. “The House will be a much closer vote.” The Senate is controlled by Obama’s Democratic Party, the House is in the hands of the Republican Party. Republican Senator John McCain said he was not sure Obama’s request would pass, but made clear his view that tougher military action was needed than the limited cruise missile strikes that the Obama administration is preparing. R e p u b l i c a n Representative Peter King of New York said it was unclear if lawmakers would sign off on an attack on Syria, but he warned Obama may have to overcome “the isolationist wing” of the Republican Party to prevail. Seeking to lay the groundwork for what is expected to be a heated congressional debate, Kerry tipped his hand on one tactic the administration will use linking the congressional vote to safeguarding U.S. ally Israel from the Syrian chemical weapons threat. “I don’t think they will want to vote, ultimately, to put Israel at risk,” Kerry said. Lawmakers of both major political parties recognize how important it is to be seen as defenders of Israel, especially at election time, when they compete to show voters who is a better friend of the Jewish state.
Monday September 02, 2013
Kaieteur News
Egypt’s Mursi to be tried for inciting violence CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s top prosecutor referred yesterday ousted Islamist President Mohammed Mursi to trial on charges of inciting the killing of opponents protesting outside his palace while he was in office, the state news agency said. The military ousted Mursi on July 3 after millions took to the street demanding he step down. He’s been held incommunicado since. Despite other accusations by prosecutors, yesterday’s decision is his first referral to trial. No date was announced for the trial. Mursi will be tried, along with 14 members of his Muslim Brotherhood, in a criminal court for allegedly committing acts of violence, and inciting the killing of at least 10 people. The case dates back to one of the deadliest bouts of violence during Mursi’s one year in office. At least 100,000 protesters gathered outside his presidential palace on Dec. 4, protesting a decree he issued to protect his decisions from judicial oversight and a highly disputed draft constitution that was hurriedly adopted in the Islamist-dominated parliament. Protesters demanded he call off a referendum scheduled days later. The next day, Islamist groups and supporters of Mursi attacked protesters who camped out there, sparking deadly street battles that left at least 10 dead and sending chills among Mursi’ opponents that he had relied on organized mobs to defend his palace. The state news agency said an investigation by prosecutors revealed that Mursi had asked the Republican Guard and the minister in charge of police to break up the sit-in, but they feared a bloody
Mohammed Mursi confrontation and declined. The agency said Morsi’ aides then summoned their supporters to forcefully break up the sit-in. Officials from the Brotherhood and its political party deny using violence to quell critics and said supporters were defending the palace. They accused opponents of starting the battles and forcing away police that had been guarding the area. Those referred to trial with Mursi include the deputy leader of the Brotherhood’s political party, Essam el-Erian, currently in hiding. They also include leading Brotherhood member Mohammed elBeltagy, arrested this week, as well as leading proBrotherhood youth leaders who were video-taped during the street clashes on the front lines. Since Mursi’ ouster, authorities have waged an intensive security crackdown on members of his group. The crackdown followed a violent breakup of a sit-in held by Mursi supporters for weeks demanding his reinstatement that left hundreds killed.
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South Africa’s Mandela back home after long hospital stay JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Anti-apartheid leader and former South African President Nelson Mandela returned to his home yesterday where he will continue to receive intensive care after three months in hospital with a lung ailment. Mandela, 95, had spent 87 days in a Pretoria hospital after he was rushed there in early June suffering from a recurring infection of the lungs, a legacy of the nearly three decades he spent in jail under apartheid. “Madiba’s condition remains critical and is at times unstable. Nevertheless, his team of doctors are convinced that he will receive the same level of intensive care at his Houghton home that he received in Pretoria,” South Africa’s presidency said in a statement. It referred to Mandela by the traditional clan name by which he is affectionately known. The Nobel Peace Prize l a u r e a t e ’s latest hospitalization in June had attracted a wave of attention and sympathy at home and across the world. His home in Johannesburg’s Houghton suburb had been “reconfigured” to allow him to receive special care there, the presidency added. Police blocked off a section of the street in the upscale neighborhood, where a crowd of reporters and camera crews had gathered. “The health care personnel providing care at his home are the very same
who provided care to him in hospital. If there are health conditions that warrant another admission to hospital in future, this will be done,” the presidency added. “It is a day of celebration for us, that he is finally back home with us,” Mandela’s grandson and heir Mandla said in a statement, acknowledging that he was “not a young man anymore”. Mandla said his grandfather ’s discharge from hospital disproved claims that Mandela was in a “vegetative” state “waiting for his (life) support machines to be switched off, in effect declaring him dead”. Thousands of wellwishers had visited the Pretoria medical facility during his stay there to leave flowers, cards and gifts. Mandela made his last public appearance waving to fans from the back of a golf cart before the Soccer Wo r l d C u p f i n a l i n Johannesburg in 2010. In April state broadcaster aired a clip of the thin and frail statesman being visited by President Jacob Zuma and top officials from the African National Congress. The ruling party said he was “in good shape” but the footage showed a weak old man sitting expressionless in an armchair. “He is out of hospital, that alone is good news for us. We don’t want to be thinking negative. We just want to remain optimistic. He is alive and kicking and a part of us, that’s good enough,”
Nelson Mandela Motemi Tinashe said outside the Mandela Family House Museum in Soweto, south of Johannesburg, where he lived before his imprisonment. For more than a decade Mandela has been out of politics, dividing his time in retirement between his home in Houghton and Qunu, the village in the impoverished Eastern Cape province where he was born. His admission to hospital four times in six months has reminded the nation of the mortality of the father of the post-apartheid “Rainbow Nation” and the morals he stood for. “I often wonder how much Mr Mandela knows about what is going on in South Africa and the state of politics. The ANC is a
disappointment and I pray he doesn’t know that,” said Thomas Mkhize, a Johannesburg taxi driver. “The current leaders care more about themselves and their pockets than the people,” he said. Many analysts and critics accuse the century-old ANC of having lost its moral compass. The anti-apartheid leader was elected South Africa’s first black president in multiracial elections in 1994 that ended white minority rule. Mandela’s imprisonment included 18 years on the notorious Robben Island penal colony, when he and other prisoners were forced to work in a limestone quarry and he first suffered the lung infections that were to dog him for years. The presidency requested that Mandela and his family be given “the necessary private space so that his continuing care can proceed with dignity and without unnecessary intrusion.”
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Opposition wants President Bouterse to resign over son’s arrest PA R A M A R I B O , Suriname – CMC Opposition legislators in Suriname have called on President Desi Bouterse to resign as well as to clarify the circumstances surrounding the arrest of his son by United States law enforcement authorities in Panama earlier this week. Dino Bouterse, the son of sitting Surinamese President, Desi Bouterse, has been charged with drug trafficking in the United States of America. Bouterse was arrested Thursday in Panama by local authorities and turned over to US agents. He has been indicted in Manhattan, New York, but pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before Judge, James C. Francis Derek Maltz, one of the agents involved in the arrest of the President’s son, told Associated Press that the suspect is considered a “significant drugs trafficker.” The case will resume with hearings on September 9. Bouterse’s lawyer, Christopher Flood, refused any comment. Bouterse is suspected of smuggling cocaine into the US with, Edmund Muntslagn. Trinidadian authorities arrested Muntslag. The two men are alleged to have been smuggling cocaine into the US since 2011. The indictment says Bouterse was involved in
Desi Bouterse smuggling a suitcase filled with 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of cocaine aboard a commercial flight from Suriname to the Caribbean in late July. It is obvious that Bouterse and Muntslag have been shadowed for some time and have most likely been lured into a trap. Both men were arrested simultaneously. Panamanian authorities did not heed the fact that Bouterse was carrying a diplomatic passport. Immediately after his arrest he was flown to the US. Members of the main opposition Niewuw Front (NF) has since wrote to Bouterse asking him to “disclose what Dino Bouterse was doing abroad and why he was travelling on a diplomatic passport” when
he was arrested. Opposition legislator Asiskoemar Gajadien has also called for President Bouterse’s resignation. “In any normal democracy the president would step down over such a serious issue”, Gajadien told reporters, adding that the arrest is an embarrassment to Suriname given the fact that it has now assumed the chairmanship of the Union for South American Nations (UNASUR). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Friday confirmed Dino Bouterse’s arrest but that the reason for his detention remained unclear. “He has been arrested and handed to American Justice Authorities. The cause for his arrest remains unclear,” the Ministry said in a statement, adding it was “following developments closely”. In a “Security Notice” released Friday, the United States Embassy here confirmed that “agents from the Department of Justice have arrested the President’s son Dino Bouterse on August 29th. Key Surinamese officials have been notified and though we have not received any negative responses from Government, this is undoubtedly a personal issue for the president” The “Security Notice” said that while no retaliation was expected, staff members should remain vigilant.
Rambachan: Integrity Commission must probe Rowley Trinidad Guardian - Local Government Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan says the Integrity Commission should not only probe the controversial e-mails exposed by Dr Keith Rowley in May, but Rowley as well. Rambachan, who spoke to the Sunday Guardian after formally commissioning the Exile Rugby Sporting Facility at Charles Street South, Gasparillo, said he welcomed news of the probe. “I think the Integrity Commission is duty-bound to also probe the accuser,” he said. On Friday the Commission announced that it had started an investigation to determine the authenticity of electronic mails as provided to the Commission by the former president, Prof George Maxwell Richards.” In
May Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley exposed some 31 e-mails, which he purported to be an exchange between Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar, Rambachan and Attorney General Anand Ramlogan conspiring to kill journalist Denyse Renne and tap the phone lines in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Yesterday Rambachan said he has nothing to fear from the probe since, “there is no truth to any of these allegations that have been made.” “I was never worried and I continue not to be worried,” he said Rambachan declined comment on the resignation of St Joseph MP Herbert Volney from the United National Congress (UNC). “We have to wait and see
Dr Keith Rowley what happens. From what I have read in the newspaper reports this morning, steps have been initiated and I would not like to comment until we see the outcome of those steps,” he said.
“Please report any suspicious activities or any harassment, including from any host country officials,” it added. Panamanian authorities say Bouterse was arrested on an international warrant issued by the United States for drug and weapons trafficking, crimes he reportedly committed in the state of Florida. This isn’t Bouterse’s first brush with the law regarding the illegal arms trade. In 2005 he was convicted in a Surinamese court and sentenced to eight years in jail on drugs and arms trafficking charges but was released in 2008 due to good behaviour. His links with the illegal
arms trade had also caught the attention of the US government several years ago. In a Wikileaked cable from then US Ambassador to Guyana, Roland Bullen, he had noted that “Desi Bouterse’s son, Dino, organised a Surinamese soccer team’s trip to Buxton a few years ago. It is believed that the team bus carried weapons to Buxton.” For many years Buxton had the reputation of being a safe haven for heavily armed gangs in neighbouring Guyana. Shortly after the Bouterseadministration came into office in August 2010, the government established the
Dino Bouterse Counter Terror Unit in which Dino Bouterse allegedly had a prominent position.
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Kaieteur News
Monday September 02, 2013
Shaw: I’ll rebuild JLP, if elected leader Jamaica Observer — Audley Shaw has said that should he become leader of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), rebuilding the base of the party, which he suggests has been suffering neglect, would be high on his agenda. Shaw told his North East Manchester constituency delegates and hardcore supporters at a “consultation” late Wednesday, that workers and “foot soldiers” at the community level and leaders at the local level such as constituency and divisional caretakers needed special attention. Shaw said that those who had lost contests in the parliamentary elections of December 2011 as well as the local government elections in early 2012 had been ignored by the Andrew Holness-led JLP hierarchy. “Forty-two caretakers lost election in 2011, what have we done for them since we lost the elections?” asked Shaw. “We have lost all of the parish councils in the last parish council election; what are we doing for the councillor (divisional) caretakers? They are like lost sheep without a shepherd, they need assistance, they need mobilisation, they need encouragement,” he said. Wednesday night’s meeting at Holmwood Technical High School was described by Shaw as the first of several “consultations” to determine whether he will challenge Holness for leadership of the 70-year-old JLP later this year. His audience included chairman of the JLP’s Area Three, Winston Maragh, former member of parliament for North West Clarendon Michael Stern, as well as several divisional councillors and divisional caretakers, who all endorsed his candidacy. As part of the drive to build the community base of the party, Shaw said he would dedicate himself to the restoration of the party’s
Audley Shaw branch structure, which is the equivalent of the PNP’s group structure. “Jamaica Labour Party use to have a thing called branches, remember?” Shaw asked. “Branches are little gatherings in communities, all across Jamaica, where the MP can come, councillor can come and you sit down and you talk about policies, programmes...,” Shaw explained. Shaw, a long-standing deputy leader of the JLP and a member of parliament for 20 years, said the JLP needed more young people and women playing active roles in the party. “It is too male-dominated, we need more women candidates at all levels, parish council and constituency level, we need to include more women and more young people,” he said. Those selected for representation, he added, needed to be trained, as too often candidates selected ahead of elections were thrown off at the deep end to “sink or swim”. Linked to reorganisation of the party’s base, has to be reform of financing within the organisation, Shaw added. “We are talking about campaign finance reform for the country... but I am putting it to you that we need to have finance reform within the political party as well because it is not fair that one constituency can have all the resources they want... but the other one over there so, no
money is there to run that constituency...,” he said. Shaw told his constituency faithful that his decision to “consult” on a challenge to Holness followed months of being “inundated... by people from all walks of life... from Morant Point to Negril Point, delegates, friends, observers, business people, academics, people say to me ‘wha happen Audley? are you a coward?’” He recalled that on two previous occasions when presented with the opportunity to contest the leadership he had backed away. Firstly, following the exit of Edward Seaga in 2005 and again in 2011 when a hopelessly embattled Bruce Golding resigned as party leader and prime minister. Shaw said that in 2005 “I looked around and I say ‘No, mek Bruce (Golding) gwaan’ because I said ... although he had bucked his toe and formed another party and
then come back, he had racked up a long history in the Labour Party as general secretary, as chairman, as minister. I say: ‘you buck you toe but gwaan’ and then in 2011 came time for change again, the majority of the members of parliament at the time felt that we should try someone else (Holness). And mi sey ‘gwaan’ because at all times ... I have always put my party first and I have always put my country first”. He said the country now was in dire need of leadership, with the ruling PNP — which he described as “a wrecking crew” — failing in its stewardship which, he claimed, the PNP had consistently done on every occasion it had taken political power since the 1970s. Always, he said, the JLP had been the party to “save” the country following PNP failures. However, he said, to do that yet again the JLP must first win political power and having done so, couldn’t
afford to be a one-term government. Shaw noted what he described as “hysteria” in sections of the JLP because of his proposed challenge. “We have heard unfortunate comments that have been made about me, which, if I had not indicated an interest at this time, those comments would never come and I have had to say ... tone it down. I have had to tell them because somebody has to exercise leadership,” said Shaw. He said he was consulting with his colleague parliamentarians and would continue to do so, but stressed that “I am not asking any member of parliament to declare any support for me now. The time will come when you have an opportunity if you so desire...” Shaw ended his presentation by reading from his late father’s Bible, the first verse of Psalms 27: “The lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?...”
Earlier, delegates from the floor and platform speakers expressed their “love” for Holness but said the JLP needed a “strong leader” like Shaw to combat the PNP. “We want a strong leader to match with PNP,” said delegate Wilbert ‘Gramps’ Bailey. Councillor Cherry Brown of the Grove Town Division claimed Holness was no match for PNP president and prime minister Portia Simpson Miller. “I love Andrew, but I notice everybody can rule him...,” she said. “Portia tell him fi call election, him call it...,” she said. According to Maragh: “I love Andrew Holness, but me love the Labour Party more...” Arguing that a “new direction is required”, Stern urged Labourites not to be “afraid of democracy”. If the challenge was managed properly by the party it would redound to the good of the party. It would even lead to a more united party, he said.
68 Cuba-trained doctors join health sector today Jamaica Observer - A batch of 68 doctors, who finished training recently in Cuba, will be deployed into Jamaica’s health sector starting today. The doctors, all Jamaicans, represent the latest and largest batch of medical graduates to have been trained in the Socialist Republic since the Cuba/ Jamaica Bilateral Programme began over 30 years ago. The doctors, who graduated from the University of Santiago de Cuba’s medical faculty in July, will be deployed to hospitals across the island, with the bulk of them assigned to the Kingston Public Hospital and the Cornwall Regional Hospital, as well as the Spanish Town Hospital, May Pen Hospital, Mandeville General Hospital, St Ann’s Bay Hospital, Savanna-laMar Hospital, and Annotto Bay Hospital. Graduate Heron Grant is anxiously awaiting the day when he will be able to give back to residents in his community in Byndloss, Linstead, St Catherine, by offering affordable and quality care to children. The 27-year-old doctor said he also plans to positively impact the locals there, so “as soon as I am able I would like to see how I can
serve my community in paediatrics and make it as affordable as possible”. Grant and his collegues spent seven years at the university. The newly trained doctors were officially welcomed and congratulated by Health Minister Fenton Ferguson and outgoing Cuban Ambassador Yuri Gala Lopez during a reception hosted by the ministry of health at its office in downtown Kingston on Thursday. Minister Ferguson, who abandoned his speech and instead opted to have a conversation with the doctors, urged them to display the skills that they had learned and to add value to the current work of the local doctors. The minister also implored the doctors to recognise that their position comes with tremendous responsibility and urged them to serve with humility. “I know that many of you want to wear that doctor (title) on your forehead but that’s not it, that is just like a person who walks around and boasts that he is a Christian and Christianity must be manifested,” he said. “Being a good doctor should be manifested by your compassion, how you
Fenton Ferguson see your patients, how serious you take your oath. It’s not about how quickly you’re going to drive the Mercedes Benz or live in Cherry Gardens or Beverly Hills,” Ferguson stated. He advised the doctors that once they are steadfast and have a sense of mission and fixity of purpose, all the material things that they desire will be achieved. “Becoming a doctor is a great achievement, but becoming a servant of the people is a greater achievement,” said the minister, who also expressed gratitude to the Cuban Government. Ambassador Gala Lopez for his part said that Cuba is
committed to continue assisting Jamaica. Over 200 Jamaican students are currently studying in Cuban universities as a result of the programme, Gala Lopez said. The ambassador said that although the current economic condition had impacted the programme, it will not be discontinued, as four students left the island in July to study medicine. “For Cuba, it is not just giving others what we have to spare, but moderately sharing with them the little resources that we have,” he said. Chief medical officer in the health ministry, Dr Michael Coombs, told the doctors that they were joining the health system at a critical time, but urged them to call on God for guidance and strength when the job becomes too much for them to bear. Dr Matthew Lloyd O’Connor expressed gratitude to the Cuban and Jamaican government which made their studies possible. “The group is determined to revolutionise medicine in Jamaica and in the Caribbean. We have decided to turn our backs on the commonplace and the ordinary and drastically improve health care across the 14 parishes of the island,” Dr O’Connor said.
Monday September 02, 2013
Kaieteur News
Jamaicans pay high price for crimes Jamaica Observer Jamaican criminals have doled out more than $53 million in fines to the government since the start of this year. The figure is a representation of the total sanctions imposed in all courts except the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court, and was tabulated by the Criminal Records Office of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). It was issued in a news release Saturday night. According to the release, some 4,362 Jamaicans, 93 per cent of whom are males, were sentenced to spend between three days to life in prison, giving up an accumulated 4,960 years of freedom. The Home Circuit Court in Kingston and St Andrew, the release said, recorded a total of 319 convictions. Of that number, 50 per cent were arrested for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, while 16 per cent were convicted for sexual offences. Murder, assault, wounding, robbery and shooting each accounted for six per cent, while the other convictions were for manslaughter, abduction, and fraud. The statistics prompted Police Commissioner Owen Ellington to caution young Jamaicans about the implications of entering the criminal underworld. “As a father it is painstaking to see the number of young Jamaicans with brilliant minds who now possess a criminal record because of early involvement in crime when their time could
Owen Ellington be spent on productive activities,” said Ellington. He warned young Jamaicans to be mindful of the implications of crime on their career development. At least 306 persons have been convicted in the St James Resident Magistrate’s Court, reflecting total prison time of 653 years and more than $23 million in fines. Sixty per cent of the conviction came from drug-related crimes, while 10 per cent were for gun crimes, and 25 for fraud, larceny, assault, wounding and robbery. The others included persons who were arrested for stealing electricity. The St Catherine and Manchester Resident Magistrate’s courts recorded 524 and 407 convictions respectively, and some $6 million in fines. In St Catherine, wounding/assault and drug crimes each accounted for 30 per cent of the convictions, while the others were for larceny, fraud, rape, illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, and
breaches of the Copyright Act. The majority of the convictions in Manchester were for drug-related crimes, while the others: 13 per cent for assault and wounding, 11 per cent for larceny, seven per cent for fraud, and nine per cent for carnal abuse, gunrelated charges, and robbery, accounted for the other convictions. Sixty-four per cent of the persons convicted in Trelawny breached the dangerous drugs act, while 15 per cent were convicted for fraud, forgery, embezzlement and obtaining money by false pretence. Seven per cent were found guilty of praedial larceny and another 14 per cent were convicted for wounding, assault, rape and manslaughter. In St Ann, 268 persons were arrested and fines amounting to some $2 million were issued, while in Westmoreland 454 persons were convicted and a total of $610,000 in fines issued. Most of the convictions in St Ann were for drug possession, 14 per cent were for wounding and assault, five per cent were for possession of illegal firearm and ammunition, 15 per cent were for larceny, while an additional six per cent were for rape, malicious destruction of property, manslaughter and robbery. About 60 per cent were arrested in Westmoreland for drugrelated crimes, 20 per cent were given the book for wounding, nine per cent for larceny, and 11 per cent were sent to prison for house breakins, fraud and rape.
Serious implications for Jamaica if US attacks Syria says UWI Professor Brian Meeks, Professor of Social and Political Change at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus believes that there could be implications for Jamaica if the United States takes military action in Syria. Meeks made the comment on Saturday following a report out of the United States that US led military action again Syria has been delayed after US President Barack Obama said he would seek congressional approval for the move. “One thing that we are already feeling is oil prices. Once there is instability in the Middle East , and there is a lot of it now, oil prices will go
up and have continued to go up . A more dangerous Middle East is a more dangerous world, the world will become more unstable and that can have tremendous impact on our economy if war spreads and more particularly on the price of oil”. Meeks is also of the opinion that the decision to take military action was not the best one for the United States. “The United States should wait to hear what the United Nations has found and should operate clearly in the bounds of the United Nations and multilateralism. I frankly think that the United States went the unilateral
route in Iraq and paid the price for it. I think they should wait until the international community clearly identifies what happened in Syria” he said. And the Syrian government says the country’s army is ready for potential foreign attacks and has its finger on the trigger. (RJR News)
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
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Kaieteur News
Monday September 02, 2013
US-based Buxton scholar continues to reward academic excellence (From page 31)
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Three more students from the village of Buxton have been added to the growing list of recipients of the Annie Daniels Award for outstanding scholarly performance. The three students are Okeme Beaton and Rike Semple, who attended the St. Stanislaus College and Bishops’ High School respectively, and Dencia Phillips of Friendship Primary. Beaton, secured passes in 12 subjects with eight Grade Ones (four distinctions) and four grade twos at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams, while Semple gained 10 grade one passes (four distinctions) to go along with a grade two. Phillips earned a place at Bishops’ High School with 520 marks at the National Grade Six Assessment. The Annie Daniels Award is the brainchild of former son of the soil, Distinguished Professor Kerwin Charles, of the University of Chicago, USA, who continues to reward excellence with a monetary donation. Charles strongly believes that he owes it to the village to give back something to those who have excelled academically, in memory of his grandmother, Mrs. Annie Daniels. This year’s recipients were presented with their awards by the mother of the
donor, Mrs. Paulette Charles, who noted that the woman in whose honour the award is given had been close to children throughout her life in the village, and it is only fitting that she is remembered with something like this. This year, Beaton received an award that takes care of his first year’s tuition fee at the University of Guyana where he is pursuing studies in economics. Semple who is desirous of pursuing studies for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) was presented with cash to take care of the books that she will need, while Phillips was provided with one term’s transportation from Buxton to her school in Georgetown. This is the seventh year of the award and according to Mrs. Charles, apart from a few, all the previous recipients have gone on to do well academically. The inaugural recipient, Abike Amsterdam, is certainly blazing a trail. “The inaugural recipient, Miss Abike Amsterdam, who came in ninth place at the 2007 Grade Six Assessment Examination, at a time when this community was under stress….I don’t want to recall what happened then,” Mrs. Charles told this newspaper. “Miss Amsterdam is now in the state of Michigan and she is in touch with Kerwin.
I’m so proud. She will be entering the Michigan State University as from next week and Kerwin has been extremely touched by the way she is behaving as a student. They keep an active academic link,” Charles disclosed. This year, the committee that identifies the recipients was forced to make a tough decision because of the exemplary performances of two Buxtonians at the CSEC examinations. “We said okay, let them write an essay, a short thing saying why they think that they should be a beneficiary of this award.…I think the boy outshone the girl,” Mrs. Charles explained. Beaton, who wants to be an Economist, told Kaieteur News that he was working towards receiving the award since he was inspired by his sister Shebiki, who was one of the recipients in 2011. He said that although he plans to achieve a master’s degree in the subject area at an overseas university, after completing studies at UG, he will BE one Buxtonian who will home to help develop his country. Semple has her sights set on the geo-science area. Despite the stigma attached to her village, Semple is proud of it and she sees herself as another example of the quality of citizens that it has produced. “In first form, there was
this kind of thinking that, ‘oh, she come from Buxton, she gone want fight me or something’, but then as the years go by, people just laughed it off by saying, ‘y’all don’t trouble she, she from Buxton you know’ . Everybody was just joking about it,” she said with a wide grin on her face. She explained that even though what was going on around her in her village did affect her as she was growing up, she kept to herself and focused on her “books” and it paid off. This year’s other recipient Dencia Phillips was overwhelmed when she found out that she was awarded a place at the school she had set her sights on. In fact she was not too surprised because she was doing well in school and had put in the extra studies to ensure her success. She credits her class teacher and her mother who both played integral roles in her achievements. “Well mommy, if I didn’t want to get up early in the morning, she would come and wake me up, telling me that if I do this now, all of this will end just now,” Phillips said adding that she feels very nervous to now be attending a school in Georgetown. “But I’m not afraid because I know who I am and I’m representing myself, and I know that God is always with me,” she said.
Residents block deplorable Kwakwani/Ituni road Furious residents of Ituni and Kwakwani continue to block the main access road into their community in protest of its deplorable state for the past 40 years. According to a source, the 36 mile long road has been in its deplorable state with no rehabilitations work being done to reconstruct it even as heavy duty trucks and vehicles constantly continue to traverse it. The residents commenced their protest since Thursday last and are vowing to continue until there is a concrete solution. “The road is in a terrible, terrible state and no one seems to care, so we came out to block the road and it will remain closed until we can get a proper response about what’s going to happen,” the source said. She added that because of the dreadful state the road is in, it takes commuters as much as three hours to complete the entire route from Kwakwani to Ituni. “When you travelling, it does be a real discomfort because of the deep holes they got and when the rain comes down it does be
A huge log blocks vehicles from passing along the Kwakwani/Ituni road.
another risk,” one resident said. Another resident explained that every year, a number of contractors go in with trucks and place sand on
the affected areas of the road. “They come and throw down the sand then they grade it down, when the traffic start back two mornings after that, the road
get worse. I want they do something about this road because it’s really bad,” the resident said. Meanwhile a minibus driver of the Kwakwani area told this publication that he and other operators were forced to raise the normal fare due to the pounding their vehicles have to go through. “It might sound like joke but every time we come out the road, we got to go to the vulcanizing shop because we develop some serious problems with these busses,” the driver said. He added that because of the state of the road, travelling the route costs them much more at the pumps due to the fact that vehicles burn more fuel. “We need something to be done about this road. We went to everyone and complain but no one seems to listen to us, so the next thing we gon do is close down operations until they do something to it,” the driver said. Regional Chairman of Region 10 Sharma Solomon also visited the area and spoke to residents on the way forward.
Monday September 02, 2013
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Kaieteur News
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Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick)
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES O F H IGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICKSILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $15,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Pure Breed Rottweiler: All breeding lines imported, adults and pups with full pedigree for sale- Call:6852584
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PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale in Enterprise E. C. Demerara Call: 627-5416/611-7437 Lodge, corner property with business- Call:223-7181/6274900 Furnished building in the interior, fully equipped along with six rooms- Call:604-6999
2008 Tacoma 4x4 automatic, excellent condition. Off road tyres with lift kit & access cab- Call: 610-5370 New ATVs: Introductory price $1,450,000 (Duty Free)Call:691-0234 Sprinter 110 admirable Vintage, enjoyable rideCall:644-4990
Property for sale by owner located at Regent Street, Georgetown- Call:225-1831 VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, self-contained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community- Call:592-6248704/ 592-684-9203 Property for saleContact:699-9926 1 Large 5 bedrooms house with Business @ DiamondCall:627-3902 Prime Business Property at East Coast- Tel:222-2014/ Cell:622-8004 Eccles $6M, West $5M, Charlestown $15M, Prospect $15M- Call Diana @ 2272256/626-9382 One two storey concrete building & land 48 x 500ft @ La Jalousie Public Road, W.C.D- Call:269-0778 serious inquires
VACANCY Vacancy exists for experience security and welder. Apply at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling
TO LET Harmony Inn: Apartments fully furnished, airconditioned apartments: $5000 per night- Call:6680306/602-8769/694-7817
Vacancy exists for driver/ salesman & security guard: please apply at Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products Ltd. Tel:225-7864/227-8607
Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call:6797139
24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant- Call:663-1751/6842838 Stores Supervisor: Maths & English Grade 1-3 CXC: F & H Printing Establishment 9092 John street, Campbellville Georgetown Driver: License for motor vehicles (car, truck & forklifts) F & H Printing Establishment 90-92 John st, Campbellville Georgetown Male sales person for Plant Shop 18yrs-25yrs, must have secondary education- call 648-1821 (between 8:00am4:00pm) For Cook or Kitchen Assistant @ Abbie’s Creole Snackette lot 6 public road Mc Doom- Call:233-1589 Pump Attendant @ Shell Service Station Providence, E.B.D: Must be able to work shift-Tel:265-7305 Email: shellramsburg@gmail.com Sales girl $10,000 weekly. Apply in person @ Dian’s Deli opposite Kitty Market Live in maid- Call:233-2725
FOR RENT Coolers and ScaffoldCall:657-0424 House to rent in Eccles scheme, block ‘CC’- Contact number:696-0573/683-5591
C a s h i e r, p o r t e r, s a l e s clerks: Apply with written application @ 2J’s General Store 148-149 Regent road Bourda, G/Town- Call: 2252350 Sales representative, experience in household items have own car a plus Please call: 642-4779
PUBLIC ROAD BUSINESS PROPERTY, W.C.D, suitable for food/ liquor restaurant, supermarket etc. Call:609-8132/672-8569 (Max) 385 SQ.FT SALON SPACE @ V/HOOP, W.C.D: ATTRACTIVE BUSINESS FRONT, BABER SHOP NEXT SIDE- CALL:626-8051 1 Two bedrooms apartment to rent at 111 Collings Wood Avenue Nandy park, E.B.DCall:660-2324/616-9775
CAR RENTAL A i d a n ’s C a r R e n t a l & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807 Premio, vitz call: 679-7139 Car Rental- Call: 643-1131/ 225-3234
1 two bedrooms apartment at Samantha Point, Grove $40,000- Call:613-7596 Barber stations to let for only $7,000 per week, fully furnished Barber ShopCall:646-9231 Two bedrooms furnished apartment- Call:665-2548 1 Two flat semi furnished house at 2nd Avenue Diamond Scheme $75,000Call:611-6632 Bel-Air $80,000, Campbellville $90,000, Queenstown US$1000, Lamaha Gardens US$2000- Call Diana @ 2272256/626-9382 Space in Robb St near Avenue of the RepublicCall:619-1334 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table - Call: 277-0578
EDUCATIONAL Electronic CoursePractical, 12 persons per c l a s s . R e g i s t e r early. Beginning 4th September @ Abdul Electronics - Call: 226-6551 or 225-0391 Lessons Classes: Phonics, Reading (A Beka System), Language & Mathematics (412 years) @ 197 Roxanne Burnham Gardens- Call: 6194355/218-2076 Institute of Academic Supremacy: Form 1-5 CXC adults/ lesson classes. CXC Maths, Engilsh, HSB & Business- Call:690-5008 Personalized teaching for CAPE sociology and Caribbean studies - Call:6041840 Alliance Francaise French classes, commence September, 2013- For further Information Tel:226-0854/6827943/218-1108/226-1897 (Continued on page 30)
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Defending champ Murray into Round 4 NEW YORK (AP) — Defending champion Andy Murray staggered around the court between points on a humid day at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Once a point started, he sprinted down every ball, as usual. Murray needed a set to find his rhythm against 47th-ranked Florian Mayer, then rolled the rest of the way to a 7-6 (7-2), 6-2, 6-2 victory Sunday in the third round of the U.S. Open. It’s classic Murray to grimace in apparent pain after losing a point, then race across the court to hit a winner with no hint of discomfort. Even if his expressions didn’t show it, the thirdseeded Scot is enjoying the role of reigning champ at Flushing Meadows. It was here a year ago that he cured 76 years of tennis misery for Britain, its first men’s Grand Slam winner
since 1936. Then back home for Wimbledon in July he ended its drought there, too, with the first title in 77 years. “The expectations are higher, but there’s not as much pressure to win,” Murray said in an on-court interview. “I feel much more comfortable coming into these events than this time last year.” He’ll next face 65thranked Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, who won a fivesetter against No. 20-seeded Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 3-6, 6-1. Fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych played his match on the Grandstand, the thirdlargest stadium at the U.S. Open. In a sport dominated by four players, Berdych is easily overlooked. But he is cruising so far at Flushing Meadows, where he reached the semifinals last year after beating Roger Federer. The Czech routed No. 31seeded Julien Benneteau 6-0,
6-3, 6-2 and has yet to drop a set at this year’s U.S. Open. Berdych, who lost to Rafael Nadal in the 2010 Wimbledon final, will face ninth-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka in the round of 16. Wawrinka beat Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (1), 7-6 (7). Lleyton Hewitt, the 2001 U.S. Open champ, returned to the round of 16 at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2006. At age 32, the Australian is back from years of injuries to make another run. He beat 102nd-ranked Evgeny Donskoy 6-3, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-1. 18th-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro needed 2 hours, 41 minutes to edge eighthseeded Angelique Kerber 46, 6-3, 7-6 (3). Bob and Mike Bryan were down a set and a break against unseeded Canadians Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil in their third-round
doubles match before rallying for a 6-7 (1), 7-5, 6-2 victory. The defending champs are trying to become the first men’s double team of the Open era, and the first since 1951, to win all four major tournaments in the same year. They’ve already achieved a “Bryan Slam” with four straight titles starting with the 2012 U.S. Open. Struggling with returning serve, the top-seeded Bryans switched sides after the opening set for the first time in about three years. After going down a break at 3-4 in the second set, the American twins immediately broke back against the 40year-old Nestor’s serve. They clinched the set by breaking his serve again, with Nestor double-faulting twice in the game, including on match point. The Bryans broke his serve twice more in the third set to advance.
Monday September 02, 2013
Serena runs away from Stephens in rematch
Serena Williams, right, shakes hands with Sloane Stephens after wrapping up a 6-4, 6-1 victory. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY NEW YORK — In the rematch between Serena Williams and Sloane Stephens, it ended up not being as much of a match as everyone had hoped. Williams, who lost to Stephens in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, dominated the second set on the way to a 6-4, 6-1 victory in the fourth round of the U.S. Open. Williams, the defending champion, will face Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain next. After she served out the match, in 1 hour, 28 minutes, Williams rushed to the net for what appeared to be a warm handshake. There were smiles from each, the 31-yearold 16-time Grand Slam champ, and the 20-year-old rising star. “It definitely felt like a really big match, because Sloane is such a great player,” Williams said in an on-court interview. There was big buildup to the match, not only because it was a clash of Americans of different generations at the top of the game. Following the Australian Open, a brouhaha erupted over comments Stephens’ made in a magazine article — calling Williams a phony, among other things. Even though Williams, at least publicly, stayed above the
fray, there was clear tension. Williams served well, especially when she needed to, and controlled the points. But the match was close through 4-4 in the first set. From there, Williams won eight of the last nine games. The 15th-seeded Stephens had 29 unforced errors. “I thought I played good. There were times I played some really good tennis,” Stephens said. “Second set got away from me a little bit, but overall I thought I played great.” Stephens, though still looking for her first WTA title, delivered a strong Grand Slam season. She was one of only three players, including Williams (and No. 3 seed Agnieszka Radwanska), to reach the fourth round in all four. But having Williams on her side of the draw isn’t ideal. “Yeah, it’s tough. But everyone has their time to shine,” Stephens said. “I think she’s obviously No. 1 in the world for a reason. “Maybe one day when she’s not playing people would be, Maybe I wish I wasn’t on the same side as Sloane. ... Things happen in their time. It’s an honor to be able to play on the court with one of the greatest tennis players of all time.”
Do what you have to... From page 35 and Inman spoke highly of E-Networks and ESPN’s flourishing relationship and congratulated the Company on its professionalism and commitment to outstanding service. E-Networks also marked its official partnership with HBO at the event. This partnership will include 21 channels with many of them being high definition channels. To show its support for this momentous occasion, HBO provided guests with authentic HBO merchandise including: pens, key chains, notebooks, water bottles, DVD’s, CD’s and plethora of other unique merchandise. Among those present were Managing Director Vishok Persaud, His Excellency President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Directors of the Company Alan Parris and Rakesh Puri, members of the Diplomatic Corps and the business community.
Monday September 02, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Bacchus, Barnwell and Santokie Warner dropped from ODI squad star as Warriors topple Red Force By Zaheer Mohamed O u t s t a n d i n g performances by Robin Bacchus, Christopher Barnwell and Kishmar Santokie guided the Guyana Warriors to a 10 run victory over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the second warm up game on Sunday evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. Opener Bacchus stroked a well composed half century and shared in a third wicket stand of 71 with Barnwell as Guyana posted 144-4 from their allotted overs batting first. Santokie then duplicated the form that earned him the leading bowler in the LCPL, he blew away the visitors top order with penetrative bowling after which they never really recovered and managed 134-7 in reply. Bacchus and Trevon Griffith added 40 for the opening stand before Griffith was run out for 17. The home team then lost Leon Johnson (06) at 66-2. Skipper Barnwell joined Bacchus and
entertained the small but vocal crowd with aggressive batting on a flat Providence track. Barnwell took a liking for spinner Sherwin Ganga, smashing him for 27 runs in the 19th over. Bacchus top scored with 60 from 62 balls with four fours and a similar number of sixes, while Barnwell slammed three huge sixes and three fours in scoring a rapid 47 off 27 balls. Rayad Emrit was the pick of the bowlers for the Red Force with 3-37. Santokie made early inroads when he had Adrian Barath caught behind off the first delivery of the Red Force innings and accounted for Nicholas Sookdeosingh (01)in the said over. He then uprooted the stumps of Jason Mohamed (00) two overs later to leave the score at 4-3. Pacer Keon Joseph sent Denesh Ramdin (09) packing at 22-4 before opener Evin Lewis (54) and Ganga (22) steadied the chase with a fifth wicket partnership of 74. Santokie justified Barnwell’s decision to bring
him back by removing Lewis, while Barnwell accounted for Ganga and Nicholas Pooran (04) to further dent the Red Force hopes. However Emrit with 21 not out and Navin Stewart, who was unbeaten on 10, tried desperately to bring their team back into the contest with aggressive batting, but the Warriors held their nerves to pull off a well deserved victory. Santokie grabbed 4-36, while Barnwell supported with 2-18. The Trinidad and Tobago Red Force used their two matches in Guyana as a warm up for the Champions League T20 in India later this month. Earlier in the day, Suriname XI defeated West Demerara Mavericks by 7 wickets and 2 balls to spare in an exhibition match. West Demerara Mavericks scored 78-7 batting first. Leg spinner Amir Khan claimed 3-13. Suriname responded with 823 in 9.4 overs. Khan returned to hit 33 not out. The game was reduced to 10 overs due to rain.
British GP: Jorge Lorenzo edges Marc Marquez for win BBC Sport - World champion Jorge Lorenzo ended Marc Marquez’s winning streak to take victory after a classic last lap at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Yamaha rider Lorenzo swapped the lead three times with Marquez, 20, through the last few corners. But Lorenzo managed to make the crucial pass and win for the first time in six races. Marquez’s Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa finished third, while Britain’s Cal Crutchlow was seventh. Marquez - showing no signs of discomfort despite dislocating his shoulder in a crash in practice just three hours before the race - still increased his lead in the championship to 30 points over Pedrosa. Lorenzo is nine points further back in the standings as he bids to retain his title. Valentino Rossi finished fourth, with Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl fifth and sixth respectively. British rider Bradley Smith was ninth. It was a lonely race for Smith’s compatriot Crutchlow, who crashed heavily three times in practice. After wrecking two bikes in big crashes on Saturday , Crutchlow was able to walk away from a scary crash in
warm-up on Sunday morning. He lost the front end of his Tech 3 Yamaha at Vale corner, coming to rest in a gravel trap. But Crutchlow and several marshals were then forced to sprint to safety as Marquez crashed seconds later at the same corner, with the Spaniard’s Honda skidding into Crutchlow’s prone bike. It was a close call for both riders, though Marquez’s participation in the race was put into doubt as he dislocated his shoulder in the accident. After treatment he was passed fit, and though he was subsequently punished by stewards for failing to slow down despite yellow flags being waved, he was able to start from pole position. However, Marquez received two penalty points for his part in the incident. If he reaches four penalty points he will have to start the next race from the back of the grid. Lorenzo made a fine start to take the lead - almost touching Marquez - but the youngster tucked in right behind him as Crutchlow shuffled backwards to seventh at the end of lap one. As the race progressed, Marquez put concerted pressure on Lorenzo without managing to find a way past.
He then made his move on lap 17 - diving inside at Brooklands to take the lead with two and a half laps left. Lorenzo regained the lead at Vale corner on the next lap before Marquez again forced his way through with three corners of the race remaining. But crucially the youngster left a slight gap and Lorenzo was able to nip through to take a muchneeded win. Before the race, the packed grandstands were treated to a tribute to Barry Sheene - the last British rider to win a premier-class grand prix - who died 10 years ago. Son Freddie Sheene and BBC commentator Steve Parrish were among the riders who took part in the parade on vintage bikes, including the 1975 Suzuki XR14 on which Sheene won his first 500cc race in 1975. In the Moto2 class, British rider Scott Redding did give the Silverstone crowd something to celebrate when he strengthened his position at the top of the standings with a win. Championship leader Luis Salom won the Moto3 race, finishing ahead of Spanish compatriots Alex Rins and Alex Marquez.
ESPNcricinfo -David Warner has been dropped from Australia’s squad for the ODIs against Scotland and England, while Mitchell Starc will return to Australia after complaining of lower back soreness. Steven Smith, who was part of the original 18-member limitedovers squad, has already flown back after a thigh injury. “David has been left out of the Australian ODI squad for this tour purely due to his recent lack of form in this format,” Darren Lehmann, the Australia coach, said. “By his own admission, David would acknowledge that unfortunately he hasn’t scored the weight of runs that he would like recently in one-day cricket for his country.” Warner was part of Australia’s Champions Trophy squad in England, but featured in just one match, scoring 9 against England, but was suspended from the team after a bar incident in Birmingham. He has only played three more ODIs this year, in January against Sri Lanka, and scored 10, 60 and 4. Warner scored a 42ball 53 on Saturday in the second T20 against England, but that wasn’t enough to sway the selectors. “Like all selection matters, it was a tough decision, but like all players he understands the situation and knows he needs to get back to playing Ryobi Cup and making a heap of runs that we can’t ignore,” Lehmann said. “I spoke with David at length about what he needs to do and I’ve been impressed with his attitude since I’ve come into the Australian setup.” Australia kickstart the ODI leg of the tour with a one-off match against Scotland in Edinburgh on September 3 before taking on
David Warner practices in the nets, Chester-le-Street, August 7, 2013 (Getty Images) England for a five-match series that starts on September 6 in Leeds. Squad: Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey, Fawad Ahmed, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Phillip Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade (wk), Shane Watson.
POORAN MAKES RED FORCE CLT20 SQUAD
Trinidad Express -Port of Spain, Trinidad - Talented 17-year-old wicketkeeperbatsman Nicholas Pooran has forced his way in the Trinidad and Tobago Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) squad after creating a buzz with his big hitting in the recently concluded Limacol Caribbean Premier League T20. The T&T squad that will travel India next month for the September 17 to October 6 tournament, was announced yesterday in a CLT20 media release. Pooran, who was drafted into the T&T Red Steel franchise for the inaugural CPLT20, slammed 54 off 24 balls with six sixes and one four to draw the attention of the commentators during his first match in the tournament against the Guyana Amazon Warriors. The teenager was unable to replicate that type of hitting in the remainder of the tournament with his next best innings being an unbeaten 20 off 15 balls with two fours and a six against the Jamaica Tallawahs. But the T&T selectors, chaired by Dudnath Ramkessoon would have recognised the youngster’s talent before his exploits in the CPLT20. “Pooran has been on fire this year. He played for Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year in the Regional
Nicholas Pooran Super50 tournament and then he played for the CPL team scoring a brilliant 50 in his first game. “He needs to be more consistent and produce good scores consistently but we recognised that he had tremendous talent and he is definitely a player for the future,” Ramkessoon said of Pooran. It is still unclear what role Pooran will play if he makes the starting XI for the Champions League T20, with skipper Denesh Ramdin expected to assume duties behind the stumps. Speaking about the T&T squad, Ramkessoon described it as talented, well rounded and experienced. The squad includes spinners Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree, fast-bowler Ravi Rampaul, opening
batsmen Lendl Simmons and Adrian Barath and stylish middle order batsman Darren Bravo with Ramdin as captain and keeper. “It is a fairly strong team and the best team available to represent Trinidad and Tobago at this point in time,” Ramkessoon said of the selections. ACLT20 media release noted that Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Kevon Cooper chose to represent their respective Indian Premier League franchises—Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals—in the Champions League tournament, which bowls off on September 17. Speaking about the experience in the squad, Ramkessoon noted that fastbowling all-rounder Navin Stewart, who was part of the T&T squad for the inaugural Champions League, is back in the team and that the all-rounder has shown improvement in his batting and bowling this year, evidenced by his good season with his club Moosai Sports on the domestic circuit. “We also have Jason (Mohammed) who has been a regular member of the team. He did not get picked for a CPL (Caribbean Premier League) team which I thought he should have been, but he has the experience and ability and we wait for him to deliver at this level.
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Monday September 02, 2013
India-WI Tests Trinidad Horseracing officials assesses racing situation here planned for November Not pleased with how sport is governed
Part of the Guyana Cup action. The slimmest of victories as Cat Messiah no2 edges Silent Night. By Samuel Whyte A number of top horseracing officials from the neighbouring Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago were recently in Guyana for the staging of the Seventh Annual Guyana Cup and to observe on how horseracing is conducted in this country. With an event as big as the Guyana Cup being staged, it was an ideal opportunity for the officials to make a reasonable assessment on how things are done in this country. Five officials were part of the team that came on a private visit and along with a few private owners in Guyana are in the process of trying to improve the standard and see how they could help to develop the sport here. The top officials making the trip were - Trainer Glen Mendes a veteran and top trainer in Trinidad and
Tobago with undisputable repute who has been in the sport for a long time. Mendes hails from Central Trinidad. He has trained many horses to championship glory in the twin Island Republic. Among his achievements are training top class runner Carnival Messiah, two time triple crown winner in Trinidad and Tobago. Brian Stollmeyer who is a member of The Trinidad and Tobago Horse Racing Authority is also a top personnel in the Horse racing fraternity in Trinidad. The Stollmeyer family is horse owners and is synonymous with the sports in that country and owns the Stollmeyer Estate and Farm in Western Trinidad. Stephen Jordon is another veteran trainer with high standing in the twin Island Republic, who is anxious to assist his Guyanese counterparts move forward.
GCA\NBS second division tourney
DCC refuse to play GYO, Rain ruins several matches Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) refused to play host Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO) yesterday in their scheduled match of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)\ New Building Society (NBS) second division 40 over competition. The game was rescheduled to start at 12:40hrs due to a damp area on the outfield and at the time of the toss, the DCC captain informed the umpires that his team will not take part in the match. Meanwhile, rain prevented a ball from being bowled in the other matches that were set for Saturday and Sunday as well as the scheduled games in the Banks Malta Supreme U13 25 overs tournament on Friday. Chairman of the competitions committee Shaun Massiah said that they are hoping to play the final preliminary round games in the U-13 competition on Saturday weather permitting; Transport SC is set to play DCC, GYO will take on Georgetown Cricket Club and Everest Cricket Club will face Malteenoes. GYO and Everest are leading the points table.
Considered one of the top trainers in Trinidad, Jordon has training experience in both Trinidad and North America with reasonable success in Canada. He has over the years trained a number of winners including Mob the Warrior the 2012 Gold Cup Winner in Trinidad. Dip Singh is also a top racing official in Trinidad and is an ex member of racing fraternity in the twin Island Republic. Sham Mohammed the youngest member of the entourage is the son of veteran trainer and Trinidad Express reporter Glen Mohammed. Mohammed is a member of the Glen Mohamed racing stable. Their entity is responsible for making the entire arrangements for the horses that are purchased in Trinidad to be shipped (Air Freight) to Guyana. Some of their engagements include making the necessary contacts and arrangements with the relevant Governments agencies in both countries including the relevant Ministries and GRA. The animals also have to receive a microchip which is placed in them so the authorities can keep a track of their movements. During the observation of the Guyana Cup, the officials inspected the horses that took part in the feature B class event. Their purpose was to identify the best turned out horse among those entered to compete in the feature $7M race for a first prize of $3.5M. Upon inspecting the horses they decided that Grande De Roja of the Jumbo Jet stables trained and groomed by Deonarine ‘Black Boy’ Ramroop was the best
groomed horses on show. They presented $10,000 to the connections of the animal. The officials came to Guyana using their own finances and were accommodated by officials of the Jagdeo, Elcock and Jumbo Jet Stables. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, Sham Mohammed bluntly stated that racing in Guyana has a problem how it is governed. He stated that although the races are competitive, Guyana has a far way to go to catch up. He mentioned the crowd on the track – no one should be on the track, especially during the race. It is an unhealthy sight and something should be done. He said that, too many persons were involved in all kinds of activities on race day that they should not be involved in. “If management falls down, then everything falls down,” he mentioned. There is almost no order in the way things are done, he noted, stating that - only a few persons should be allowed in the paddock area, such as, the grooms, trainer, owner, jockey and stewards, no one else, especially when a race is about to be conducted. The horses owners, jockeys, trainers should all have an association and their complaints should be directed to the relevant personnel who will act on behalf of their respective members. The Horse Owners Association should have a lot of say in terms of conditions of track, treatment of horse and owners and should inspect the track before races etc. Track management is lacking and a governing body or board should be responsible on race day. Not owners and trainers and stewards all getting mixed up and confused in who is to do what. It was observed that some of the same persons were weighing, judging, training, grooming, writing and a number of other things which are wrong; “In that way you cannot get fairness,” he asserted. He said that there should also be a bet and levy board in place, which will go a far way in eliminating many of the hiccups on race day. Every effort should also be made to eliminate the uncontrolled and illegal betting that takes place on race day. The forecast booths should also be reintroduced and that should help. There are a few suggestions being looked at on how to assist in eliminating the scourge.
ESPNcricinfo - The BCCI has planned a Test series at home in November against West Indies, ahead of the scheduled South Africa tour, thus giving Sachin Tendulkar the opportunity to play his landmark 200th Test at home; he will perhaps bid farewell to the game at the end of the Test series. Tendulkar, who is two Tests short of becoming the first cricketer to feature in 200 Tests, was expected to put an end to his 24-year sojourn at the highest level at the end of the South Africa Test series. The Tests series against West Indies, which will comprise at least two Tests likely to be played in Kolkata and Mumbai in November, offers him a perfect stage to sign off in his hometown. Following the injury to his left hand while playing for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a league match during IPL 2013, which effectively advanced his IPL retirement, doubts had arisen over the 40year-old’s participation in the South Africa tour. However, after undergoing a surgery on his injured hand, Tendulkar has been included in the Mumbai Indians’ squad for the Champions League Twenty20. Besides achieving the 200-Test landmark, Tendulkar would also be keen to sign off on a high. The veteran batsman has not been able to score a century in his last 38 Test innings, since his
memorable knock of 146 in Cape Town in January 2011. The closest he came to a three figures in Tests since then was against West Indies in November 2011, when he edged one to slips six runs short of what would have been his 100th international hundred at the Wankhede Stadium, his home ground. The BCCI claimed to have received an email from the West Indies Cricket Board confirming its interest in the series, and accordingly placed the proposal before the working committee. The plan for the West Indies series was announced after the BCCI’s working committee meeting on Sunday. Though the BCCI did not specify the number of matches that will be played, ESPNcricinfo understands that the WICB have been offered two options. “The tour could see either two Tests and three ODIs, or three Tests,” a BCCI official said. As important as the series is from the Tendulkar angle, the BCCI was also concerned about a possible dip in its revenues for the current financial year since, after the limited-overs series against Australia in October, India weren’t scheduled to play at home for the rest of the financial year. “That would have meant lesser gross revenue, and profits as a result, than the last year’s,” an insider said. “And it is something that none of the stakeholders in Indian cricket would want.”
Will Sachin Tendulkar’s 200th be at the Wankhede? (BCCI)